#Unknown Distillery

[maltrunners]

Campbeltown Journey, Hunter Laing Blended Malt

Review by: dustbunna Distillery: Undisclosed. Bottler: Hunter Laing. Region: Campbeltown. ABV: 46%. Age: NAS. Bottled in 2023. Cask type: Unknown, likely various fills of ex-bourbon. Price: $35 USD. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered. Bottle open across approx. 5 months, notes taken leisurely across that period. Bold notes taken beneath the shoulder, regular-formatted notes taken further…

[mimi-0007]

Nathan "Nearest" Green (c. 1820 – unknown), incorrectly spelled "Nearis" in an 1880 census, was an American head stiller, more commonly referred to as a master distiller. Born into slavery and emancipated after the American Civil War, he taught his distilling techniques to Jack Daniel, founder of the Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey distillery. Green was hired as the first master distiller for Jack Daniel Distillery, and he is the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States

[tohakumaru]

Soup

in a different time, there was a famous gourmand who went in search for the most decious food in the world. having come from a small fishing village off the coast of a hitherto unknown land, he was very proud that his pallate had elevated his position in society, and put the name of his country on the map.

that it did: his name was well-known and his reputation alone afforded him the opportunity to travel the world over to seek out the best, most exotic food imaginable. as he journeyed accross foreign lands and seas, his knowledge expanded and matured his taste. at the peak of his career, it was said that kings and queens sought to dine with him, and would replace their cooks should they fail to illicit his praise. getting the gourmand's approval was a proof of their royal superiority; and oh, how he delighted them with his speech! of food and wine, he articulated with a passion that charmed everyone in his audience. he convinced them, and perhaps himself, that food was a sophistication of life, a virtue, if they would have it - and they did.

it was not only the rich and mighty that was enchanted with the gourmand either. as his name travelled before him, whichever countries he arrived at, the people welcomed him with open arms. even when they did not share a common tongue, it seemed that all wished to show him their best foods, all vyed for his approval, to be the country, the village, the man - with the most delicious dishes. from the coasts and rivers, the best fishermen would go out to fetch him the freshest fish; in the mountains, the skilled hunters tirelessly looked for wild games of choicest meats; herbalists and horticulturalists sent him stranges spices, fruits and flowers; distilleries and brewers graced him with casks of their best wines, ales and so on.

as time goes by, however, the gourmand grew tired. before he knew it, he had become a cynic. his reputation as an avant-garde, a revolutionary lover of food was reduced to stormy tempers and uncultured-disgruntledness. from being a most prominent voice in food, he withdrew himself from the world. he was consumed by boredom, and for a long time it seemed food has all but lost their flavours to him.

strangely enough, as the food around him grew stale to his taste, he became more and more fixated on his life-long search for the most delicious thing, as if this alone would satiate him. incognito, with no fanfare, the gourmand continued his search, now into territories unknown. alone he made his ways into the most alien lands that normal men never dreamed of. days and nights he searched, through uncanny valleys, on impossible islands, in the nooks and crannies of invisible cities. until at last, he came to a village so obscured and isolated, they had yet to invent a written language.

mustering all his ingenuity, the gourmand pantomimed to the villagers the purpose of his search. they looked at him, then each other, wide eyed, as if in disbelief. he waited at their silence, unsure if he had made himself understood. they whispered amongst themselves for a long while, before their chieftan came forward. the man gestured him towards the mountaintop high above the village, droused in clouds and shadowed by a dense forest.

the gourmand thanked them and walked onwards, alone. by noon, he reached a rocky pass, and with much difficulties, was able to enter the forest before night fall. little did he know, the forest was home to a fierce tigress and her three cubs, who had by now gone hungry for all the winter months. on the scent of his sweat, the tigress and her cubs sprang after him. before he could make head or tail of where he stood, their claws and fangs had sunken deep into his flesh. they tore him apart without so much as a scream. their red tongues and snow-white snouts pulling layers of skin and meat, lapping up the fat, all bloody and nice.

without any need for spices or cooking, in that moment, the gourmand was the most delicious thing under the sun.

[wee-larceny]

Time to Orbit: Unknown liveblog Chapters 031-040

Chapters 001-010 011-020 021-030

We're skipping the "answers found" section this time, because these posts are super long and I feel kind of sorry for anyone having to scroll past my rapidfire reblogs. So without further ado:

Questions I still have (unchanged):

Why did Captain Kinoshita try to move the giant box that ended up crushing her? Why wasn't CR1 jettisoned? Why didn't the two halves of the crew reestablish contact in a different way either? Why didn't Arc Hess clean up the coffee? Why did they keep a paper calendar? Why was no one woken from chronostasis to replace the dead crew? Why didn't the AI help Kinoshita or anyone else? What does it read/write to the crewmembers' chips? Why is it lying about everything? What was the experiment that killed three members of the crew? Why can't the new captain override the previous one's orders? Captain locks a door, dies, door is locked forever. That's just bad design. How did the aft engines get irreparably damaged? What happened when the ship lurched sideways? It can't have been just the rotations slowing, because that would decrease gravity unless there's a complicated science reason as to why it doesn't. There can't be a complicated science reason because Derin explains those immediately. Why are there so many Texan convicts on this ship? Normally I'd say they're being exploited somehow, but how? What's up with the extra body in freezer storage? How does the AI know exactly when and how Reimann died and also about the coolant leak in PLR1 if it cannot monitor these rings? Why are the people in CR1&5 less likely to survive? Why kill the colonists this way specifically? Also why are they not as decomposed as the Friend expected them to be? Was Denish ever a space pirate?

Questions I still have (modified):

We can't read personal logs, sure, but are there any ship's logs we can access? What killed most of the crew? If it was the airborne contamination caused by the coolant leak plus open vent plus decomposing arm, how come they didn't notice and fix it? That's a question I still have even if that's not what killed them btw. What was Reimann trying to do that required locking the vents open and messing with an air pump? What is causing the stimulator to stick and the cranial port to break out of the skull if it isn't sloppy installation? And how come it doesn't seem to leave any other mark on the body. Also, the crew thinks that the whole 9% chance of survival business doesn't consider the whole stuck stimulator/broken skull thing, but what if it does? Is there a way to save them? Why were fore engines not used to accelerate?

Shiny new questions I acquired:

What was in the air of CR1? Why was Tal and Tal alone emergency revived and why the decompression alarm? Why are all the systems such a mess? Airlocks don't do what airlocks are designed to do, files are hidden in nonsensical locations, etc. Where's the distillery? I'm 100% serious about this btw. Any other members of the first crew we can wake up? Just one. Just to ask "hey what the fuck"

[ramblings-from-the-ether]

Prohibition AU: The Family

The Outer Circle

These members have a limited amount of knowledge into the scale or even the degree-of-illegality of Naven's empire (Bliss Ocean).

Molly Blyndeff, trudging through hard times with an uncaring family, Ms Blyndeff has been quietly emancipated in exchange for her eyes, ears, and unassuming demeanor. A little spy in short.

Trixie Roughhouse, a close friend of Molly's with a fascination with concoctions. Upon introduction, they were assigned to be apprenticed in moonshining at one of Naven's underground distilleries, though they personally prefer experimenting for unknown product.

Phoenica Fleecity, another friend of Molly's. She isn't of much use in criminal activities (also the least informed of Naven's doings), but her generous allowance does help grease the financial side of activities she has no business knowing about.

Howie Honeyglow, an engineer and construction contact of Naven's. He provides maintenance and solves any lack of facilities for 'business activities', by building them up in record time with little excess charges.

Giovanni Potage, leader of a band of misfits who broke off from another street gang; now in Naven's employ. As mentioned in a previous post, he provides the majority of grunt work in Sweet Jazz City for Bliss Ocean. His talent lies in his rousing leadership which keeps morale steady no matter the branch, much to Naven's surprise. Hosts weekly hotpot nights for his brothers (in-arms).

Percival King, the officer who chose peace. She sees Naven as a major businessman with some connections to the criminal underworld; thus a deal was struck where Percy cooperates with Naven in removing the violence on the streets (and kills off competition) while Percy avoids further investigating Naven's influence that made the deal possible.

Indus Tarbella. Formerly Mera's self-declared servant and bodyguard, he now provides security and butler-like services in extension to Naven as a means to remain close to Mera.

The Inner Circle

Everyone here has blood on their hands. These are the men and women who initiates and executes the family's plans. Aka Bliss Ocean Proper.

Zora Salazar: former bounty hunter, gunsmith, and living action film 'protagonist'. Once carried out a hit halfway across the country within a single day by jumping off a wing of a plane midair onto a passing train to cut time. She usually works alone over larger distances outside of Sweet Jazz City.

Mera Salamin, the main (once) licensed surgeon and occasional strategist. She was out of a career after leaving glass shards in a patient and former co-worker who allegedly harassed her. But her swift manner of action caught Naven's attention, and she refuses to play on the sidelines this time.

Ramsey Murdoch is the accountant and financial advisor, mainly for Naven's legitimate ventures but also reaffirms good and competitive business sense for an empire balancing its legal and illegal standings. Whilst Naven is a great dealmaker, Ramsey makes those bigger deals possible.

The Driver is Naven's eyes on the city, as well as his personal companion. Always (seemingly) a different person to outsiders, some speculate that Naven has Sweet Jazz City's private chauffeurs under his patronage. Though in reality, Yoomtah Zing is a master of disguise and has a more hands-on role in managing Naven's criminal operations alongside Mera.

Naven Nuknuk, former arms dealer to the IRA and the man who came from selling apples to apple cider. He is just a small fish in comparison to the big bosses in New York or Chicago, no need to pay heed to him! (The FBI certainly doesn't anymore)

[twistedwonderlandshenanigans]

This or That Game But It Gets Really Specific (written for ocs but you can do it too lmao)

Which (Texture) Scenario is Worse

Unknown slimy substance on the counter OR sticky toddler hands

Unexpected wet bread in the sink trap OR Picking up a moldy fruit and your finger goes through it

Socks that are too short OR barefoot in flipflops that are slightly too small

The tag on the side or back of your shirt you forgot to remove OR your pant leg being bunched up inside of your snowpants

Grit on a kitchen cupboard handle OR A wet doorknob

Stepping in an unexpected wet spot OR Getting a spiderweb in your face

What Social Situation is Worse?

Noticing someone you're talking to has food in their teeth OR Not realizing you have a huge stain on your shirt until you get to work

Saying yes to an event and the other party cancelling OR Saying no to an event and getting FOMO after mutual friends post online

Being asked to give a speech impromptu, in front of close family and friends OR A friend getting in trouble while you're at their place

Accidentally telling the waiter to enjoy their food too OR Saying 'I love you' to a customer service rep on the phone before hanging up

Calling your boss, 'mom'/'dad' OR Accidentally cussing in front of a little kid

Not hearing someone after asking them to repeat themsleves twice already OR Someone inviting themselves over unexpectedly

What Clothing Aesthetic is Better?

Steampunk OR Cyberpunk Fairycore OR Coquette Vintage OR Y2K Grunge OR E-Girl Old Money OR Dark Academia Skater OR VSCO

okay back to hyperspecifics

Which (Sensory) Situation Is BETTER?

The smell of gasoline OR the smell after it rains (petrichor)

Blasting your favourite song after it came on unexpectedly in your playlist OR The sound of stepping on crunchy leaves

Laying down in the perfect sun puddle OR seeing a double-rainbow when you needed a pick-me-up

Hearing kids laugh OR The smell of freshly baked bread

The feeling of freshly washed sheets/bedding OR walking into an air-conditioned place after being out in the sun

Eating ice OR chewing on hoodie strings

Emotions: What's Worse?

Knowing something is wrong, but nothing you do seems to fix it OR Being very overstimulated, but having nowhere to retreat to

Yearning for something/someone to the point your heart hurts OR Guilt for not seeing when someone close to you needed help

Feeling like you disappointed someone you look up to OR Feeling like strangers are judging you, even if you know rationally, they probably aren't

Being on the brink of dissociation OR Discovering a trigger by accident

Feeling isolated by people you once considered friends OR Getting unwanted attention from strangers

Not wanting to get out of bed, but feeling guilty for not being 'productive' OR Realizing nothing you used to enjoy means anything anymore

THAT WAS HEAVY I'll end on something lighter

Unique Outings Your OC Would More Likely Want To Go On

Gathering gravestone rubbings OR Tapping trees for syrup

Attend a class on beekeeping OR Going scuba diving

Paintballing OR outdoor laser tag

Distillery tour OR Glassblowing class

Indoor skydiving OR Go-Karting

not tagging bc I did this in DC lol

[pintoras]

Judith Leyster (Dutch, 1609-1660): Portrait of an unknown woman (1635) (via Frans Hals Museum)

From the museum website:

Judith Leyster was the first woman to become a member of Haarlem’s Saint Lucas guild of painters. She took her name from her father’s distillery, De Leystarre. Whether Leyster studied under Frans Hals (1582/3-1666) – as is commonly assumed – is debatable. While she did build on innovations that Hals had introduced into painting, she did so in her own way. This painting was long thought to have been by Frans Hals. Judith Leyster’s monogram, JL*, was simply overlooked.

[thestalwartheart]

the unknown craftsman

This is a another location prompt table fill that fills two prompts. One from @sweetbabyangels and one from @eleanor-is-fine, who sent me 'The British Museum' and 'a beloved place' respectively. I'm sorry this isn't set at the British Museum itself, but it was inspired by Grayson Perry's exhibition there called The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman. Our beloved place is the MI6 Memorial Wall. Warning for grieving/mourning and (the aftermath of) a Major Character Death.

[Read on AO3]

Under a gnarled tree in a private garden—the kind of garden people rarely saw in the urban sprawl of London these days— sat a mound of earth lay recently disturbed and repacked. It sat at the edge of a neat and well-tended-to memorial wall, and for days it had been drawing a crowd of mourners. 

The mourners were not tourists or flighty visitors. They were sentinels, defenders, worker bees and secret keepers, and they did not lay flowers as most people would. Not fresh ones, at least. 

Instead, they built a frame of objects around the soil. To any outsider, it would look mad; cult-like and strange, but then the man they were remembering was strange too. He would have been—or would be, depending on one’s beliefs—delighted to see the bullets dotted on the ground around him. He would have smiled at the model planes and the innocuous-looking watches and the ripped-apart computer accessories. To his right, a jade vase shaped like a hairless cat sparkled in the sun. He’d never seen it in life. It was a gift planned for a day too late, and it was one of the giver’s deepest regrets that he never got to give it to the man now in the ground. 

One woman, who could not keep her tears in whenever she looked upon the grave, placed a bouquet of steel-wrought roses on top of the fresh dirt. They remained there through rain and shine until a new white headstone arrived, gleaming brightly. 

“He was one of the greatest inventors of our age,” explained a man called Tanner to a crowd of colleagues as the headstone hit the ground. “And no one even knows his name. But you have him to thank for the peace of this country and the lives of our agents, half of whom would be dead without the things he built them.”

Tanner looked to a man at the back of the crowd, whose blue eyes were shining. 

All the mourners raised a toast to that. They were drinking a fine single malt from a small distillery in Wales. It reminded Tanner of the sweeping green hills of Bannau Brycheiniog and of marmalade on rye. 

“To our Quartermaster,” he said. “To Q.” 

“To Q.” 

The whisky went down smooth and warm, and people began to desert the grave in hushed groups. They returned to work with memories of Q flowing from their tongues, stories of technical prowess and nerve and shared pots of tea early on weekday mornings. 

At the end, two men remained: Tanner and the blue-eyed man. 

“No chance your talent for resurrection extends to others?” asked Tanner. Alone with a friend, he slumped with fatigue and grief. 

“If it did, I wouldn’t be looking at a headstone.” 

The man poured Tanner another drink, and they stood for an age in silence. The tombstone in front of them spoke well enough of everything they wanted to say. It read, simply:

Q, the unknown craftsman 1982 - 2038.  A stalwart defender of the nation and a dear friend.

[celestialmazer]

1975 Glasgow's Victorian underground railway

https://thelonecaner.com/rumaniacs-115/

Rumaniacs Review #115 | 0728

"This rum is a companion of the various UK merchant bottlers’ rums which were common in the 1970s and 1980s. Examples are Lamb’s 70º Demerara Navy, Four Bells Finest Navy Rum, Mainbrace, Red Duster Finest Navy, Old Vatted Demerara rum, and so on. Many are made by now defunct companies and were Navy wannabes, or traded in on the name without being anything of the kind.

This one is an oddity since it was made by United Rum Merchants, that conglomerate which had swallowed up Lamb’s, Keelings and Dingwall Norris: they did supply rums to the navy at one point, and this rum, made from a blend of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad rums, lacks only the proof to be considered a Navy rum. Except it is clearly not labeled as such, so we’ll just accept it as a blended rum and move on.

Dating: Made when the UK was still trying to go beyond the degrees proof (in 1980) but while this process was still not complete; and while United Rum Merchants was still located in Tooley Street, London and not yet taken over by Allied Domecq in the early 1990s. At this stage in the recent history of rum, blends were still the way to go – so like the Lamb’s 70º “Navy” it is a blend of rums from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad. The proportions and distilleries and ageing (if any) are, of course, unknown.

One further point: the rum is extremely dark, so colouring is involved, and since the hydrometer notes the strength at 36.48% ABV, we can assume about 13g/L of added something-or-other.

Colour – Very dark brown

Strength 40% ABV (36.48% ABV as measured)

Nose – Meaty, gamey, salty. Are we sure this is 40% ABV? Feels more robust than that. Great aromas, though – molasses, caramel, brown sugar, raisins. Also some acetones and light tart fruits like gooseberries, soursop, to which is added a sort of bitter herbal note, and dark fruits going bad.

Palate – Much softer, one can relax here. Woody notes, molasses, brown sugar. What acidity and tartness there was on the nose is here much subdued, and not sweet, but thick and dusty and a bit like sweet soya.

Finish – Adjectives jump off the page: short dry, dark, thick, salty, not-sweet, redolent of molasses, brown sugar, caramel, nuts. That’s a fair bit, but let’s face it, it’s all somewhat standard.

Thoughts – It’s a surprise that a blend of four different countries’ rums — which I usually view with some doubt if not skepticism or outright dislike – works as well as it does. It’s not a world beater and displays rather more ambition than success. But it isn’t half bad, coming as it does from a time when indifferently made blends were all the rage.

Other – There’s some Guyanese Enmore or Port Mourant in there, I’d say, Bajan WIRD is logical for the timeframe and Jamaicans, well, who knows. I’d almost hazard a guess the gaminess in the nose comes from Caroni not Angostura, but I have no evidence outside my senses. That might work for empiricist philosophers like Locke and Hume, but won’t budge the rationalists on whose side I come down on here…so we’ll leave it as unanswered for now.

(78/100)"

[2treez]

Jack Daniels Whiskey...$480 million dollar High School dropout....Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest Whiskey

A high school dropout who left home at just 15, Fawn faced numerous challenges early in life, including a harrowing moment at 20 when she tried to take her own life.

In 2016, a photograph in the New York Times caught her eye—a black man sitting next to Jack Daniel. This was George Green, the son of Nearest Green, a former slave who was erased from many historical accounts. The story online at the time was that Jack Daniels had stole the recipe from a slave. But Fawn had another theory.

For her 40th birthday, she took a trip to Lynchburg, Tennessee, thinking she would write a book about Green. They left after making an unexpected purchase: spending $900,000 for the 300-acre farm she hadn’t realized was on the market, the same location where Green first taught Daniel how to make whiskey.

Fate had one more twist: Weaver eventually found primary documents proving that the farm is the original home of Daniel’s first distillery. As Weaver researched Green’s history—she learned that a 20-year-old Daniel had hired him to be his first master distiller after founding his eponymous distillery in 1866—she also traced his genealogy, reconnecting unknown relatives.

She knew that the three descendants who still worked at Brown-Forman wanted to know why Green had been erased from tours. (The two brands now collaborate on a summit promoting Black-owned businesses.) She had already begun gobbling up trademarks, shocked that Jack Daniel’s had not secured them. And when one descendant shared the opinion that Green deserved his own whiskey, Weaver’s mission became clear.

Fawn started Uncle Nearest Whiskey in 2017.

Today, Uncle Nearest has not only tripled its sales since 2021, projecting $100 million in revenue this year, but it has also become the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in history.

Forbes estimates the company’s worth at $1.1 billion, with Fawn's personal stake valued at approximately $480 million. The brand has garnered over 1,000 awards, emphasizing its excellence and impact on the industry.

Fawn is no 68 on Forbes self-made women's list.

🌳🫶🏼🌳

#UncleNearest

[fairylandblog]

Faeries and Alcohol

Faeries are mysterious, mischievous, and profoundly connected to nature and human culture in folklore and mythology. Alcohol has a special position in faerie culture. From ancient to present, the relationship between faeries and wine tells much about humanity's supernatural relationship, rituals, celebrations, and concerns. This relationship between faeries and alcohol is full of symbolism, cautionary tales, and evolving cultural practices. Many cultures believe wine connects humans and faeries. Brewing and drinking alcohol has long been considered magical or transformational, altering vision and creating a liminal condition. This altered state is associated with faeries, who live in between realities. Celtic legend typically associated faeries with sacred wells, streams, and forests, where people left alcohol for them. People made these sacrifices, usually mead, ale, or whiskey, to please the faeries, seek their favor, or avoid their mischief. Pouring or leaving alcohol in the ground was not merely an offering but a method to acknowledge hidden forces.

Narratives depicting faeries as avid drinkers illustrate their connection to alcohol consumption. People say that faeries host sumptuous feasts with rich wines and enchanted liquors. Typically, faeries invite—or force—people who stumble into these parties to join. However, drinking fairy drinks is dangerous. Many traditions say drinking fairy booze can charm you or lock you in the faerie realm forever. This symbol warns against gluttony and alien temptations. It also reflects society's concerns about alcohol's intoxicating and confusing effects, which can blend reality with fiction. Reversely, faeries often enjoy human alcohol. People claim that faeries steal mead, beer, and whiskey from houses and bars. According to these stories, faeries enjoy drinking just like humans, demonstrating their mischievous and hedonistic nature. Faeries may bless or condemn a dwelling based on its brewing, according to some traditions. A well-made brew may win the faeries' favor, while a counterfeit one may anger them. This relationship emphasizes the cultural importance of brewing as a practical skill and ritual that required care and respect. The morality of faeries and drinking typically reflects the society that originated these tales. For instance, the idea of faeries seducing people into drunken celebrations could potentially represent overindulgence. Like faeries, alcohol can bring joy and disaster. The stories teach us to be cautious and moderate. Alcohol's importance as a social and spiritual link in faerie lore is also evident. Drinking together is a sign of hospitality and community in many cultures. By linking wine with faeries, these beliefs make drinking practically sacred, a way to explore existence. Modern art still uses faeries and alcohol, but in a more whimsical way. Modern fantasy literature and media often depict fey as naughty drinkers who revel in the mayhem of alcohol. Craft brewers and distilleries have even created products inspired by fairy tales, replete with names and labels that conjure the wonder and mischief of the faerie world. Modern depictions combine myths with new culture to preserve the heritage. The link between faeries and drinking illustrates our tendency to use stories to explore the unknown. Alcohol, like faeries, is familiar and strange, bringing delight, creativity, and danger. Folklore weaves the two together to convey the intricacy of these events, delivering lessons, warnings, and awe. Whether through ancient rites or modern brews, the interaction between faeries and booze continues to captivate and remind us of the delicate line that separates the ordinary from the extraordinary.

[nightingaelic]

YOOO I didn’t know you had fallout ocs tell me abt them. Who are their companions what’re their roles etc

Ah, what the hell.

My Lone Wanderer is Paladin Elizabeth Titus, who spent her early 20s trying to help the Capital Wasteland by completing her father's dream of Project Purity and bringing the might of the Brotherhood of Steel to those who most need it. She's been romantically connected to Amata Almodovar, Sarah Lyons, and Point Lookout's Nadine, and she's on good terms with Butch DeLoria, Star Paladin Cross, Fawkes, and a liberated Clover. Post-game, she has become estranged from the Brotherhood of Steel, and she's now doing work with the Abolitionists and Reilly's Rangers despite her activities being a topic of much speculation throughout the Capital Wasteland. She is a field medic and a pilot, she wields heavy weaponry with finesse, and she tends to keep everyone at arm's length in the belief that her own reputation will eventually harm them.

My Sole Survivor is Murphy Olson Kelly, thawed pre-war lawyer who made her way through the Railroad and the Brotherhood before finally settling with the Minutemen to find her son, then bring down the Institute. She's been romantically connected to Mayor John Hancock, Elder Arthur Maxson, and Robert Joseph MacCready, and she considers the rest of the companions close friends. She is a darling of the Commonwealth and is on good terms with nearly everyone besides the Institute, fundamentalist Brotherhood members, and skeptical Railroad agents. She relies on her charisma, persuasiveness, and twin plasma pistols to get by, and she is chock-full of survivor's guilt that sometimes manifests as psyker abilities, but more often results in her getting involved in every problem she finds.

My Courier Six is Fox, a desert enigma who seized New Vegas and the Hoover Dam as her own in an attempt to crush the Legion and fend off the New California Republic. She's been romantically connected to Benny Gecko, Rose of Sharon Cassidy, Red Lucy, The King, Ulysses, Beatrix Russell, and Craig Boone, and she is on good-to-mixed terms with the companions not because of her perceived reputation as a heartbreaker, but because of her inability to stand still and commit. She is generally liked, if a little feared, by the Mojave Wasteland, and she is considered a threat by Caesar's Legion and the NCR, albeit one that will eventually move on in the pursuit of something new. Fox follows whatever trail she is inclined to at the moment, and she wards off most dangers with shotgun blasts. It's unknown whether she still has her memories from before Goodsprings.

My Vault 76 Dweller is Dolores, the daughter of a wartime photographer and a veterinarian who took up residence in the Savage Divide in an abandoned train station that she turned into a home and renowned moonshine distillery. She's connected primarily to Foundation, but she's on good terms with the Crater, the Blue Ridge Caravan Company, and the Responders because everyone in Appalachia loves liquor. Her weapon of choice is a railway rifle.

My other Vault 76 Dweller is Rosalyn, whose last act before the bombs fell was making sure her mob-connected husband didn't make it to the vault in time. She spent some time with Rose and the raiders of the Crater, but recently became fascinated with the ill-fated Order of Mysteries and has been trying to restart the group. She primarily uses the Voice of Set and the Blade of Bastet in combat, but she does occasionally bust out the silver submachine gun of the Mistress's paramour.

With the exception of Rosalyn, my OCs have all made it onto my Archive of Our Own account in some form. Murphy and Elizabeth cross paths in my long-running post-game Fallout 4 series; Fox appeared in a one-off prompt fic that explores her relationship with Boone; and Dolores underwent a name change for some explicit encounters in Appalachia.

[harry-thompson]

27 for the spotify starters!

starter for @lucienmelaina || Scared of the dark - Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla Sign

Way too drunk thanks to the distillery last round, Harry was half laughing half helping Lucien to walk home. "The fuck you're doing man, don't go that way!" He complained despite the laugh. They were in the middle of the night, in the middle of the dark, Redwood was quiet... or almost quiet thanks to Harry still laughing for some unknown reasons. Hopefully, drunk Harry was also happy Harry, saving him from all those traumatic memories, like none of them happened, like none of them scared or horrified the man.

[hessdalen-globe]

Rosnen is a unique continent. It is one of the smallest land masses to be considered a continent, and has many attributes that set it apart from its titanic counterparts of Lenvai and Norphendra. It's history is grim and cruel, but the people of Rosnen have endured.

Bullet points on Rosnen

All native Rosnish people have violet colored eyes. It is the defining trait of their race.

Much of the land that makes up Rosnen is controlled by overseas powers from Norphendra.

Contact was made with Rosnen when a group of Yevsburgish sailors were blown off course by a strong gale in 34 PCC. But through the stormy night, a bright and mysterious star appeared and led them to the previously unknown continent. This star is known as the Star of Rosnen, and has not been seen since.

Yevsburg founded the first Norphendran settlement, Shulie, near where the lost sailors came ashore and were taken care of by the Rosnish. This sign of generosity was never forgotten by Yevsburg.

Gulsen is a dominion of Yevsburg, and has almost no Rosnish population in favor of a settler population. This is because they viewed the land, which was inaccessible to them due to mountains and extreme tides, as forbidden.

The Rosnish were deemed inferior due to their technological status, which was more primitive compared to the Norphendrans. They exploited this disadvantage and ravaged the land and its people for economic gain. Yevsburg is the only country that actively protected the people of Rosnen.

Rosnish lakes: All of the drinkable water on Rosnen is purple. That water is perfectly safe and unpolluted, but is saturated with fine minerals that can only be found on Rosnen. This water is sweet, and lucrative in other parts of the world, so was exported from the colonies. Large distilleries, such as the Heteks facility, separated the minerals from the water and sold them as well.

The Rosnish people have been subject to brutal slavery. Ecosiar and Soaratia once engaged in a slave trade when they were rival superpowers, with Ecosiar being especially cruel. They viewed the Rosnish as sub human, and themselves as the supreme ethnicity. Slavery only ended in Ecosiar in 143 ACC (what would be 1992 Earth).

Some of the countries:

Gulsen: A dominion of Yevsburg, Gulsen remains loyal to the crown of its mother country. It’s population is nearly all Yevsburgish, as the region was seen as forbidden by the native population of Rosnen. Gulsen is a full member of the TCA, and is entirely developed and modernized.

Torqnia: Once part of the Yevsburgish Rosnish Colony, Torqnia broke off in 104 ACC. More than a century prior, its majority native population had accepted the offer of the Yevsburgish king to protect them against the cruel expanding empires of Norphendra. While its rule in Torqnia had ended, Yevsburg’s promise to protect it against Ecosiar still stood while the country still held its colony on the Torqnian border.

Rosnen (Free State): The end of Ecosiar’s cruel empire began here. The illegitimate son of a slave and a Troidonite had escaped slavery at the Heteks facility in 142 ACC, and with the help of abolitionists brought about the empire’s retreat from Rosnen and the end of its slave trade. The free state was supposed to control the entirety of the old colony, but the rapid and disorganized retreat made way for the break away states that now sit south of it. Some of these states still desperately cling to the old imperial ways.

New Brontezland: Originally a colony of the Kingdom of Cazkania, New Brontezland belongs to the Consolidated Republic of Cazkania. The authoritarian state’s rule in Rosnen has been harsh, both on its settlers but especially on the natives who are often used as a state sanctioned slave force for resource extraction. Travel to this territory is forbidden even for Cazkanians, hinting at how awful the situation truly is.

[starlesssong]

One time while playing my alcoholic dnd character we were in a combat sequence and gave names to all the npcs we were fighting. One of their names was Kevin.

After the fight I got out a glass bottle and walked to Kevin's corpse to collect his blood. Why? I don't know. It was my first time playing DnD and my motives were unknown, even to myself.

Later, we got back to the tavern, and I asked the tavernkeeper if I could use their distillery. They said yes so after a quick google search I asked the DM, "Was Kevin diabetic?"

Confused, the DM said, "yes?”

So I made blood wine. Apparently it is entirely possible to make wine out of blood, and it is easier if said blood is from a diabetic person.

[ear-worthy]

Arielle & Ned's Daily Tips...Podcast: What The Show Gets So Right About Tips & Life Lessons

 TikTok is infamous for numerous tropes -- people dancing like the Houghs to a popular song such as Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees, Ridiculous sovereign citizen police stops, Karens gone wild, and, of course, comedians proving they're not woke with the most outrageous jokes that often sacrifice wit for wildness.

Then we have the life lessons, life hacks, and daily tips. So many. Too many. After watching hours of these lessons / hacks /tips, I'm convinced that WD-40 can solve our renewable energy crisis, eliminate all credit card debt, and resolve the Middle East crisis. Apparently, WD-40 can do almost...well, everything.

 This article airs my gripes with some of these life lesson, life hack, daily tip posts, sites, and shows, and offers an engaging outlet for those fascinated by such arcane and useful knowledge.

Let me start with the glass half full. Positivity, right?

In December 2023, a new podcast launched, "Arielle and Ned's Daily Tips That May Or May Not Help You." Right away, I liked this concept. No pretentiousness such as some sites or shows with titles like, "Life Hacks That Will Save Your Life" Or "Secret Life Lessons That Only You Will Know After Reading, Liking, and Reviewing With Five Stars" in this article.

Instead, Donovan and Nissenblatt tell you right in the title of their podcast that their daily tips may not help. There's no money-back guarantee that their tips will revolutionize your life.

This new podcast -- now nearly 180 episodes -- showed off podcasting at its most flexible, fun, and informative. It is only two minutes in length, offering life hacks and lessons of high or minor value, and is fun to listen to. 

The counterpart to this approach are those articles or podcasts (sometimes, NPR-adjacent) where life hacks are so weighty and unknown that a pledge of silence is required before they are revealed to you. I read an article a few years ago titled, "The Secret Life Hack that will save your Marriage." Really? I was married for 24 years, then divorced, and I did not believe that "never going to bed mad" was that effective, or a secret. 

When I was a newbie to management for a Fortune 50 corporation, my boss said to me, "Frank, the secret to success here starts with the mantra, 'to be early is to be on time.'" To be fair, that is not the secret to success in any corporation, but my boss was right. It sure helps a lot. Don't screw up anything else, and being early and time-reliable can be the factor that separates you from the pack of "I was stuck in traffic" wannabe execs.

Donovan and Nissenblatt offer commonsensical advice that is A. not a secret and B. often not followed and more often ignored. 

For example, in their July 31 episode, Donovan offers a simple yet highly effective tip about conversations. Ned rightfully points out that people have a professional and personal life. Don't just focus on one, usually the job part. Ned is so right. At a dinner party, I met a man who was a retired U.S. Mint agent. I thought he'd be dying to tell me tales of counterfeit money and sting operations. However, he didn't get engaged until we started talking about bourbons, specifically Blanton's. What ensued was a fascinating tale of his visits to these Kentucky distilleries and his furtive efforts to attain more Blanton's single barrel bourbon. 

In the July 19th episode about hanging picture frames, Ned blows me away with a simple hack to hang pictures easily and correctly. I could tell you, but then you won't go the episode. It's not a secret (like some TikTokers assert about every life hack) but it works.

A few years ago, someone gave me (possibly a re-gift) a one-a-day calendar with a quote to live by for every day of the year. To be clear, it's not a long article with hints of Freemason-type secrecy or exclusivity of comprehension. It's a quote. Here's one example from Greek philosopher Plutarch, who said, "What we change inwardly will change outer reality." 

Great stuff. I don't need more. I just need to act upon that simple wisdom. That's what Arielle and Ned's Daily Tips That May Or May Not Help You gets so right. Overthinking and over analysis in long, jargon-heavy or "I know something you should know" articles or podcasts tends to divert energy away from doing into contemplating, reviewing, evaluating, and assessing.

"We wanted to create a show that feels like a daily dose of inspiration and entertainment. Life is full of challenges, big and small, and we believe that sharing practical tips – no matter how quirky or unexpected – can make a positive impact on our listeners' and viewers’ lives," says Arielle Nissenblatt, co-host of the show.

Ned Donovan, the other half of this duo, adds, "Arielle and I are people who love trying new things and optimizing our lives. We’re taking that passion and bringing it to audiences in a quick, digestible, fun format to add a little spice to your day." Notice the lack of pretension in Ned's words. He's not predicting that a listener's life will do a 360-degree flip by listening to their daily tips.

Nissenblatt and Donovan have more modest goals, yet, they have the potential energy to make real change in people's lives. I've listened to every episode of the show and then evaluated every tip. If I followed every tip -- from an act as consequential as  "Being knowledgeable about your friends" to something as simple as "Maximizing your toothpaste," I would be the type of human being I would like to hang out with. Until I get there, of course, I'll avoid myself as much as possible, even ghosting myself when necessary. 

To wrap up, there are no "secrets" to success and happiness. Sadly, those two attributes are partially determined by race, class, and serendipity. The other half is effort, persistence, and emotional capacity.

Are there guidelines and map coordinates to getting what you want out of life? Absolutely. Daily tips and life hacks are designed to make life a little bit easier and more frictionless.

Ironically, I am ending with a tip. Want to make your life incrementally better every day? Then listen to "Arielle and Ned's Daily Tips That May Or May Not Help You." 

After all, "Arielle and Ned's Daily Tips That May Or May Not Help You."recently won the Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Award (AKA The Earlobes) for Best Short Form Podcast. The award is determined by a committee. One committee member cited their favorite episode of the show, which was a May 2024 episode about how to crack pistachio shells that won't open. All the other committee members thought he was nuts...