#acos

[venuswritestuff]

hi everyone, it's venus!!! ☆ it's been a while, and i have some news (good or slightly less good, depending on how you look at it).

firstly, i'm working on a new IF :D it's a project that i'm very passionate and excited about and that i think you guys will like, especially with the spooky season coming right up. it's a circus-themed horror IF with dark fantastical elements, in which the MC seeks to be hired at the Eyes of God Circus, asking for healing from a supernatural incident they went through as a child. you can find more info on this account @circuseyesofgod-if where i'll be posting and updating all about it.

secondly, a court of serpents will be discontinued. i have been on hiatus for quite some time and while i have been writing (non-IF) things, i haven't been working on this story at all. my writing style has changed, as well the type of stories and characters i like to write about/have in mind. i just have outgrown this IF, nothing more. i have no motivation to work on it, so i would rather start anew with a project i actually like, rather than give you bad writing and incoherent storytelling. i really am sorry that i won't be able to update it for anyone that's been looking forward to a new chapter. maybe i'll revive it in the future, but for now i want to scrape it and start fresh!

as such, all ACOS-related content will be deleted/archived from this account in a bit, and i will change my username as well to "venuswritestuff" or something lol so this will still be 100% an active account, just not related to any specific IF, more of a sideblog/personal acc if anything. if you're interested in my new project and writing then you can go over to @circuseyesofgod-if and check it out ^__^

i really do hope to see at least some of you guys there!!! i'm so grateful for all the support i've received so far and all the patience you had with me, i want to show you that the wait was worth it even if i'm starting over with something new!!

i'm so excited to be back on tumblr and in the IF scene yiipppieee!!!! :P

[espionn]

WindClan Headcanons!

uhhh hey guys. this has been in the works for a really long time, and i do hope to get to all 5 clans, but they may be few and far between since im currently quite busy with school and work. as for what this is: i have a personal warriors alternate universe, in which most of the clan systems are the same, but all the characters are original. i've called this au "a cult of stars", as it exists partly to explore the inherent corruption and cultiness of the clans as i see it. but none of that is important for this post!

this the first in a series of visual and written representations of each clan as they exist in my au. this goes into a lot of headcanon territory, but basically i hope to take the existing clans and make them more interesting, diverse and culturally complex. i'm starting with windclan! i hope you enjoy :)

Environment: 

WindClan lives on the high moor, in the largest stretch of territory that any clan occupies. Large hills, windswept and smooth, create the rippling landscape dotted with rocks, heather, tumbleweeds, and other coarse brush. It is the northernmost territory, bordered by ThunderClan to the Southwest and RiverClan to the East. (my apologizes for the flipped directions on the map, its complicated)

Appearance:

These cats are fast and agile hunters who rely on population, not strength. Their fur is almost always short and dense, often brown in coloration. They have long faces, sometimes very long limbs, and slightly broader chests than other cats. Nearly all WindClan cats have tufted ears, which they use to signal to one another overtop the tall grasses and shrubs. Tunnel specialists tend to have a shorter and broader physique, and likewise runners tend to be longer-limbed and slimmer.

Prey and Hunting: 

WindClan prey consists of rabbits, hares, burrowing rodents, and small moor birds like grouse. Warriors hunt in two distinct ways: aboveground chasing and belowground tunneling. Pursuit hunting aboveground is more utilized in the warm season, and underground hunting in the cold season (summer and winter). The tunnel system beneath the moor is expansive, complex and kept completely secret from other clans. 

Fighting: 

In combat, WindClan relies on numbers, not force. It is the most populous clan, typically consisting of 50 to 60 members, and the only clan that is taught complex battle formations; training in this area is more focused on group coordination than individual strength. They are fast, and the combination of their agility and group-based fighting style tends to overwhelm opponents, even though an individual WindClan cat likely couldn’t hold their own against an individual from another clan. The tunnels also can be used to their advantage when needed. 

Cultural Charicteristics:

Moreso than any other, WindClan is strict, orderly and traditional. They are highly religious cats who believe in laws, stability and separation from the other clans. WindClan’s leader holds a very high degree of power and influence, but even higher is the medicine cat, whose connection with StarClan grants them full religious authority over even their leader. WindClan prioritizes the collective over the individual in almost every way, and punishments are harshest for crimes which are believed to harm the entire clan. But they prefer to keep nearly all of their affairs private from the other clans, more often seeing them as threats than as allies. This is not helped by their general hostility and even open aggression toward outsiders; they are highly defensive of their territory and borders. 

One important aspect of WindClan culture is sleeping arrangements. They do in fact have dens, small underground areas accessible from camp where warriors and apprentices can spend free time, but they almost always sleep in the open, with the clearest possible view of the stars. The only times they sleep in the dens are when they are very young, very old or very sick, particularly in bad weather during the cold season. The leader sleeps on the very highest point in the camp, so the stars shine on them directly, and the medicine cat, though sleeping in the medicine den out of necessity, lays on a rock beneath a small skylight in the corner of the den, where they are still never in the dark. This is just one in many areas that make WindClan believe they are superior culturally and religiously to other clans.

One other piece of WindClan’s culture is what I will tentatively call “paint”. Through knowledge passed through generations, WindClan cats create a concoction of water, earth, clay, a certain type of root, and a certain type of flower to create a dark, inky, paint-like pigment, which they can then apply to their own fur, usually with the help of another. They create thick swirls or jagged stripes, patterning their pelt. This is usually reserved for important ceremonies, such as receiving a new name. Sometimes apprentices or new warriors will apply it before their first battles. The only cat who uses this paint regularly is the medicine cat, but for them a green variant is reserved, pigmented with a certain combination of herbs.

Sleep/Wake Cycle:

WindClan cats are diurnal, awake all day and asleep all night. They eat two meals each day, attend at least one of the many daily patrols, attend to their usual duties, and then sleep beneath the stars each night.

Training:

Apprenticeship in WindClan is taken very seriously. It is done in two parts: the first from six moons to a year, and the second from a year to 18 months. The first level of training is the basic or foundational level; apprentices learn the basics of pursuit and tunnel hunting, how to fight, how to take care of the camp, clan history and culture, and how to work with clanmates. The second level is more specific to what each cat intends to specialize in; how to build and maintain tunnels rather than just hunt in them, or how to negotiate conflicts with another clan. For the first level, mentors must be generally knowledgeable cats, usually senior warriors, who are wise and well respected. Usually the number of apprentices is greater than the number of warriors who can fulfill this role; as a result, a mentor will typically teach multiple apprentices at once. For the second, apprentices will be assigned to a cat who specializes in the area they’re interested in. This is the time when cats might choose to train as a mediator or medicine cat (the medicine cat track in particular takes much longer than a normal second-level apprenticeship, since the role is taken so seriously; there are very rarely two adult medicine cats at once, despite the size of the clan). Once both levels are completed, the new warrior can be granted their name. WindClan is the only clan in which there’s a distinct difference between an adult and a warrior.

Families and Relationships:

WindClan is, in fact, the only clan in which close monogamous relationships are actually unusual and even discouraged. Cats will mate for short periods of time, mainly to have kits, but choosing to stay with one partner and letting them take priority is somewhat frowned upon, with the reasoning that this may weaken one’s bond with the rest of their clan and create an emotional reliance on one particular cat. It does happen, and is not usually prevented by force, but it isn’t uncommon for these relationships to end due to social pressure, or even for the mates to leave WindClan for the sake of their own peace. Similarly, families are not kept track of like they are in other clans - parents and kits never form very close bonds beyond basic reliance of kits on their mothers, and sibling relationships tend to dissolve as they move into apprenticeship. Cats in WindClan can have friends, but they think of the entire clan as their family.

Names:

Naming in WindClan is quite unique. WindClan actually places less emphasis on individualized names than other clans - as long as no two cats have the same name at once, they are often bland and usually based on appearance (and sometimes demeanor). Prefixes can be anything frequently found in their territory, with the exception of prey animals (which WindClan cats would see as derogatory), and common suffixes are “-pelt”, “-fur”, and “-claw”. (The only specially named cats are medicine cats, whose names always involve plants.) Where things differ from the norm is with something called “camp names”. These are something like nicknames, usually granted by friends or family for achievements or characteristics, that are used by WindClan and WindClan alone. Instead of the normal naming pattern, they follow the old naming system, with the prefix and suffix spaced out; WindClan prefers these names, which they see as both more interesting and more traditional. They can be related to the cat’s official name (“Sandpelt” has the camp name of “Sandy Fur”) or completely different (“Mudtail” and “Buzzard’s Wing”). Usually camp names are used informally and official names formally - the leader likely always uses their official name, for example - but it may vary from cat to cat. The only constant is that non-WindClan cats are unaware of the existence of camp names.

Funeral Rituals:

When a cat in WindClan dies, the entire clan will partake in mourning, which is a quiet and calm affair in which the body is laid before the gathered cats as they silently wish their clanmate easy passage into StarClan. The medicine cat will speak, and then, once the clan is satisfied, the dead cat is carried to the top of the hill overlooking camp, with a clear and open view of the stars. Once the medicine cat deems that their spirit has left, they will be brought to the valley on the other side of the hill and buried there. Finally, the medicine cat will choose an herb that they feel best represents the cat’s life and best qualities, and will scatter this herb within the grave, a minor sacrifice in resources that is granted to these deaths. WindClan believes that the spirit of the deceased will undergo several trials, testing their abilities and morality, before they are allowed into StarClan; the herbs will help and protect them on their journey.

[juyuka]

what if we’re both pirate girls, sailing the open waters near vietnam and you’re teaching me how to sword fight and I’m getting flustered, warm and distracted by you and your touch–

book: A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee

[rankamz]

Tacos Advertising Metrics

[espionn]

this is exactly why i made an AU of warriors where starclan isnt real.

to explore the potential for really diving into the hidden themes of cult practices and organized religion and the fear of change. because it's so frustrating that they didnt explore ANY of that. (also to kinda reinvent the clans bc they need way more diversity and culture richness than they have)

i wasn't satisfied with what we got so i'm actively in the process of making my own. i suggest everyone should do that, it's really refreshing

No bc Warrior Cats genuinely couldve done something with Starclan and generational trauma and romanticising "old times" and the warrior code because Starclan arent deities theyre just dead people but instead we get another 6 books of Will They/Wont They with a TigerStar clone

[acacophonyofstatic]

Boris --- War General of the TV Faction

[hislop3]

Unlocking the Potential: Overcoming Challenges for LTPAC Providers in ACO Participation

Yesterday, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living plus the National Assocation of ACOs released a white paper that includes a set of recommendations for CMS, designed to increase the participation of long term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers in accountable care organizations (ACOs).  The white paper is available here: AHCA NAACOS White…

[faultfalha]

The figures released by the federal government showed a significant decrease in the amount of money spent on healthcare by Medicare in the state of New York. This was largely thanks to the work of the accountable care organizations in the city.

[zonspeedofficial]

Tacos Advertising Metrics

[venuswritestuff]

Hello! I had a quick question about the demo.

From your recent posts you seem to be working on chapter 2, but for some reason the demo cuts after the human (I'm guessing Silos) is introduced?

Was that intentional? or are you working on chapters 1 and 2 before releasing them?

Thank you in Advance!

hi hi! that's where chapter 1 ends, when the human (you guessed right, it's Silos!) is introduced.

so far the demo includes the prologue (that ends when Caerus steals MC to the Faerie Kingdom) and chapter 1 (that ends when Silos is introduced).

chapter 2 is on its way and going along great i think!! thank you for your patience and i hope i cleared things up for you <3

[espionn]

ThunderClan Headcanons!

what this is: i have a personal warriors alternate universe, in which most of the clan systems are the same, but all the characters are original. i've called this au "a cult of stars", as it exists partly to explore the inherent corruption and cultiness of the clans as i see it. but none of that is important for this post!

this the seond in a series of visual and written representations of each clan as they exist in my au. this goes into a lot of headcanon territory, but basically i hope to take the existing clans and make them more interesting, diverse and culturally complex. this one is about thunderclan! i hope you enjoy :)

Environment: ThunderClan resides in the dense temperate forest on the West side of the lake. It is bordered by WindClan to the North and SkyClan to the East. The territory is laden with deciduous trees (oaks, maples, elms), with thick undergrowth occasionally interrupted by cliffy and rocky terrain, especially around their camp.

Appearance: ThunderClan cats, typically, are large, brawny and boldly colored. They are the clan with the most ginger and tortoiseshell cats, and they generally hold the most diversity in pelt color, with the only unusual color being black. In particular, ThunderClan finds big, long-furred, bright-colored cats the most desirable, especially those with thick fur around their necks and chests, which is often likened to a lion’s mane.

Prey and Hunting: There is a wide variety of prey options within the forest: squirrels, rodents like mice and voles, rabbits, and many types of small birds, from blackbirds to robins, are all common in ThunderClan’s fresh-kill pile. These cats typically hunt by stalking, often in groups utilizing team strategies. They also, as a benefit to their bulkiness, can often use brute force when needed, including the ability to chase birds and squirrels up their own trees.

Fighting: ThunderClan cats are defensive fighters, prioritizing the safety of their camp over victory in their battles. They are, however, impressive fighters, heavier and stronger than most other cats and very tough on top of that. On principle, though, they prefer to use their strength to de-escalate fights rather than kill or damage their opponents, when at all possible. They are not as numerous as WindClan or even RiverClan, but they don’t need to be.

Cultural Characteristics: ThunderClan has a reputation for being loud, brash, opinionated and nosy. They prefer to think of themselves as confident, outspoken, honest and concerned with the unity of the clans. ThunderClan believes strongly (and they never believe anything weakly) that it is essential for the five clans to live harmoniously. They do not hold as high a regard for authority as several other clans, and they are not afraid to speak their minds openly, to their own clanmates and to others. They do not follow StarClan and the Warrior Code with as much reverence as others, preferring to follow their own set of morals. Their approach is sometimes seen as disrespectful, and these accusations aren’t soothed when ThunderClan cats respond with disregard.

This clan values age and wisdom to an almost surprising degree. Though they aren’t afraid to speak up to authority, young ThunderClan cats tend to more often hold their tongues when an elder or senior warrior speaks to them. For this exact reason, ThunderClan is the only clan that has an official Council, which consists of the leader, deputy, elders, certain respected senior warriors, and sometimes the medicine cat. The purpose of this Council is to advise the leader on new decisions, and hold discussions about what is best for the clan, especially in times of conflict. If outside warriors have any concerns with how the clan is being run, they will usually speak to a Council member first, and that cat will pass it on to the leader during a meeting.

One interesting piece of ThunderClan culture is in regards to claws. Cats’ claws grow infinitely, in layers, which they shed off while scratching things; each time they shed an old layer of claw, the new layer underneath is sharper than before. In ThunderClan, claws are deeply symbolic of strength, courage and ferocity. As a result, claw-shedding is often seen as a good omen or a sign of growth. For instance, if an apprentice sheds a claw right before an assessment, they will take it as a good luck charm and a sign that the assessment will go well. In a similar vein, wrenching a claw - painfully pulling or twisting it on something - is seen as a wound to one’s pride moreso than one’s body. If a cat were to lose a claw altogether, in battle or elsewhere, it would be seen as the injury of a fierce warrior, an eternal mark of courage and sacrifice.

Sleep/Wake Cycle: ThunderClan cats are crepuscular; typically, they tend to sleep when the sun and moon are highest, and wake at dawn and dusk. That being said, these cats are not strict about sleeping patterns. As long as they are on time for their patrols and important duties, there is no judgment in taking a short nap during the waking time or staying up a bit while the rest of the clan is asleep. Eating is also not restricted or monitored; cats can eat whenever they want, and usually there isn’t much concern about any clan member taking more than their fair share. Eating prey before bringing it to camp, for instance, is discouraged, but the rule isn’t strictly enforced. (Especially when compared to a clan like WindClan, which would label this as theft and deem it as a high crime.)

Training: Being a moderately-sized clan, there are often two or more litters of kits in the nursery at any given time. When at all possible, kits are made apprentices in large groups, where they are most likely not exactly six moons old. Kits may become apprentices as early as 4 moons or as late as 8, based on other kits near their own age. This is done to make the process more convenient for mentors, who can rely on their entire group of fellow mentors throughout their mentorship, and also for the apprentices, who grow to bond with their group of similarly-aged cats. These apprentice groups are referred to as “generations”, and cats will often remain friends with the others in their generation throughout their entire life. As for mentorship, mentors are usually made upon request; when a cat wishes to be a mentor, sometimes specifically to a particular kit, they will approach the leader or deputy themselves and ask to be one. Because of this system, there are several cats in the clan that have mentored nearly every generation, and discovered a passion for teaching. These cats can then give advice to newer or less certain mentors, and training is a lesson for them as much as it is for their apprentices.

Families and Relationships: Relationships, romantic and otherwise, are an important aspect of ThunderClan life. In particular, sibling bonds in ThunderClan run deep and strong. Cats grow up with and live alongside their littermates for almost their entire lives, and tend to place family before friends. That said, ThunderClan friendships can also be extremely close, and so can romantic relationships. Most ThunderClan cats do end up with a mate, though it isn’t a social expectation the way it may be in SkyClan, for example. Cats who don’t take mates aren’t seen as odd and usually aren’t questioned on the matter. ThunderClan is also looser than most on medicine cats taking mates, and on relationships that may seem unusual in other clans (particularly polyamorous or open relationships).

Names: ThunderClan cares a lot about individuality, and they see names as an extension of one’s identity. Therefore, names are very important to them, and names in ThunderClan tend to be very unique and are usually reflective of more than just appearance. Leaders tend to avoid “-fur”, “-pelt”, and other appearance-based suffixes unless they are uniquely fitting or they have been asked specifically for that name. (It is common practice for apprentices to go to their leader and ask specifically for a certain suffix if they feel strongly.) Common name inspirations are personality/demeanor, achievements, strengths and abilities, and sometimes family members, mentors or other important cats in their lives (legacy naming). Just about anything they know exists, especially that which can be found in their territory, is fair game for names.

Funeral Rituals: When a cat dies, their family and friends will hold a vigil for them in camp, during which they may speak, tell stories, or simply sit in silence. Then, their direct family members, or closest friends, will carry their body to whatever site they believe they would want to be buried at; sometimes cats will discuss this before their deaths, but sometimes they’ll leave it up to their clanmates. They are then buried, partly under dirt and partly under natural foliage and branches. Usually they will spend a part of the next day together, celebrating the deceased cat’s life, accomplishments and legacy; this part of mourning is much more joyous.

[juyuka]

yall please read a clash of steel it’s so so good!!

you like lesbians? sapphicism? pirates? the sea? an asian setting? chinese and vietnamese characters? an interesting plot and characters? Swords?

go read it!

[rankamz]

How to Calculate ACoS

[gameplayscenery]

Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018) ↳ 1/?

[acacophonyofstatic]

Chapter 3 has been released.

[hislop3]

Value-Based Care: What it is and How it Can Work for Post-Acute Providers

I get asked about value-based care a lot. It is a buzzword or term these days, somewhat driven by the rise in Medicare Advantage enrollment. Frankly, it is a bit of a catch-all concept that has its origins in Medicare and various demonstration projects (e.g., bundled payments) and the implementation of quality measures to “improve care” (theoretically). The goal of value-based care is simply to…