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mostlysignssomeportents · 13 days ago

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Canada’s ground-breaking, hamstrung repair and interop laws

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/15/radical-extremists/#sex-pest

When the GOP trifecta assumes power in just a few months, they will pass laws, and those laws will be terrible, and they will cast long, long shadows.

This is the story of how another far-right conservative government used its bulletproof majority to pass a wildly unpopular law that continues to stymie progress to this day. It's the story of Canada's Harper Conservative government, and two of its key ministers: Tony Clement and James Moore.

Starting in 1998, the US Trade Rep embarked on a long campaign to force every country in the world to enact a new kind of IP law: an "anticircumvention" law that would criminalize the production and use of tools that allowed people to use their own property in ways that the manufacturer disliked.

This first entered the US statute books with the 1998 passage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), whose Section 1201 established a new felony for circumventing an "access control." Crucially, DMCA 1201's prohibition on circumvention did not confine itself to protecting copyright.

Circumventing an access control is a felony, even if you never violate copyright law. For example, if you circumvent the access control on your own printer to disable the processes that check to make sure you're using an official HP cartridge, HP can come after you.

You haven't violated any copyright, but the ink-checking code is a copyrighted work, and you had to circumvent a block in order to reach it. Thus, if I provide you a tool to escape HP's ink racket, I commit a felony with penalties of five years in prison and a $500k fine, for a first offense. So it is that HP ink costs more per ounce than the semen of a Kentucky Derby-winning stallion.

This was clearly a bad idea in 1998, though it wasn't clear how bad an idea it was at the time. In 1998, chips were expensive and underpowered. By 2010, a chip that cost less than a dollar could easily implement a DMCA-triggering access control, and manufacturers of all kinds were adding superfluous chips to everything from engine parts to smart lightbulbs whose sole purpose was to transform modification into felonies. This is what Jay Freeman calls "felony contempt of business-model."

So when the Harper government set out to import US-style anticircumvention law to Canada, Canadians were furious. A consultation on the proposal received 6,138 responses opposing the law, and 54 in support:

https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2010/04/copycon-final-numbers/

And yet, James Moore and Tony Clement pressed on. When asked how they could advance such an unpopular bill, opposed by experts and the general public alike, Moore told the International Chamber of Commerce that every objector who responded to his consultation was a "radical extremist" with a "babyish" approach to copyright:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/copyright-debate-turns-ugly-1.898216

As is so often the case, history vindicated the babyish radical extremists. The DMCA actually has an official way to keep score on this one. Every three years, the US Copyright Office invites public submissions for exemptions to DMCA 1201, creating a detailed, evidence-backed record of all the legitimate activities that anticircumvention law interferes with.

Unfortunately, "a record" is all we get out of this proceeding. Even though the Copyright Office is allowed to grant "exemptions," these don't mean what you think they mean. The statute is very clear on this: the US Copyright Office is required to grant exemptions for the act of circumvention, but is forbidden from granting exemptions for tools needed to carry out these acts.

This is headspinningly and deliberately obscure, but there's one anecdote from my long crusade against this stupid law that lays it bare. As I mentioned, the US Trade Rep has made the passage of DMCA-like laws in other countries a top priority since the Clinton years. In 2001, the EU adopted the EU Copyright Directive, whose Article 6 copy-pastes the provisions of DMCA 1201.

In 2003, I found myself in Oslo, debating the minister who'd just completed Norway's EUCD implementation. The minister was very proud of his law, boasting that he'd researched the flaws in other countries' anticircumvention laws and addressed them in Norway's law. For example, Norway's law explicitly allowed blind people to bypass access controls on ebooks in order to feed them into text-to-speech engines, Braille printers and other accessibility tools.

I knew where this was going. I asked the minister how this would work in practice. Could someone sell a blind person a tool to break the DRM on their ebooks? Of course not, that's totally illegal. Could a nonprofit blind rights group make such a tool and give it away to blind people? No, that's illegal too. What about hobbyists, could they make the tool for their blind friends? No, not that either.

OK, so how do blind people exercise their right to bypass access controls on ebooks they own so they can actually read them?

Here's how. Each blind person, all by themself, is expected to decompile and reverse-engineer Adobe Reader, locate a vulnerability in the code and write a new program that exploits that vulnerability to extract their ebooks. While blind people are individually empowered to undertake this otherwise prohibited activity, they must do so on their own: they can't share notes with one another on the process. They certainly can't give each other the circumvention program they write in this way:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/28/mcbroken/#my-milkshake-brings-all-the-lawyers-to-the-yard

That's what a use-only exemption is: the right to individually put a locked down device up on your own workbench, and, laboring in perfect secrecy, figure out how it works and then defeat the locks that stop you from changing those workings so they benefit you instead of the manufacturer. Without a "tools" exemption, a use exemption is basically a decorative ornament.

So the many use exemptions that the US Copyright Office has granted since 1998 really amount to nothing more than a list of defects in the DMCA that the Copyright Office has painstaking verified but is powerless to fix. We could probably save everyone a lot of time by scrapping the triennial exemptions process and replacing it with an permanent sign over the doors of the Library of Congress reading "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here."

All of this was well understood by 2010, when Moore and Clement were working on the Canadian version of the DMCA. All of this was explained in eye-watering detail to Moore and Clement, but was roundly ignored. I even had a go at it, publicly picking a fight with Moore on Twitter:

https://web.archive.org/web/20130407101911if_/http://eaves.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/Conversations%20between%20@doctorow%20and%[email protected]

Moore and Clement rammed their proposal through in the next session of Parliament, passing it as Bill C-11 in 2012:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Modernization_Act

This was something of a grand finale for the pair. Today, Moore is a faceless corporate lawyer, while Clement was last seen grifting covid PPE (Clement's political career ended abruptly when he sent dick pics to a young woman who turned out to be a pair of sextortionists from Cote D'Ivoire, and was revealed as a serial sex-pest in the ensuing scandal:)

https://globalnews.ca/news/4646287/tony-clement-instagram-women/

Even though Moore and Clement are long gone from public life, their signature achievement remains a Canadian disgrace, an anchor chain tied around the Canadian economy's throat, and an impediment to Canadian progress.

This week, two excellent new Canadian laws received royal assent: Bill C-244 is a broad, national Right to Repair law; and Bill C-294 is a broad, national interoperability law. Both laws establish the right to circumvent access controls for the purpose of fixing and improving things, something Canadians deserve and need.

But neither law contains a tools exemption. Like the blind people of Norway, a Canadian farmer who wants to attach a made-in-Canada Honeybee tool to their John Deere tractor is required to personally, individually reverse-engineer the John Deere tractor and modify it to talk to the Honeybee accessory, laboring in total secrecy:

https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/12/canada_right_to_repair/

Likewise the Canadian repair tech who fixes a smart speaker or a busted smartphone – they are legally permitted to circumvent in order to torture the device's repair codes out of it or force it to recognize a replacement part, but each technician must personally figure out how to get the device firmware to do this, without discussing it with anyone else.

Thus do Moore and Clement stand athwart Canadian self-reliance and economic development, shouting "STOP!" though both men have been out of politics for years.

There has never been a better time to hit Clement and Moore's political legacy over the head with a shovel and bury it in a shallow grave. Canadian technologists could be making a fortune creating circumvention devices that repair and improve devices marketed by foreign companies.

They could make circumvention tools to allow owners of consoles to play games by Canadian studios that are directly sold to Canadian gamers, bypassing the stores operated by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo and the 30% commissions they charge. Canadian technologists could be making diagnostic tools that allow every auto-mechanic in Canada to fix any car manufactured anywhere in the world.

Canadian cloud servers could power devices long after their US-based manufacturers discontinue support for them, providing income to Canadian cloud companies and continued enjoyment for Canadian owners of these otherwise bricked gadgets.

Canada's gigantic auto-parts sector could clone the security chips that foreign auto manufacturers use to block the use of third party parts, and every Canadian could enjoy a steep discount every time they fix their cars. Every farmer could avail themselves of third party parts for their tractors, which they could install themselves, bypassing the $200 service call from a John Deere technician who does nothing more than look over the farmer's own repair and then types an unlock code into the tractor's console.

Every Canadian who prints out a shopping list or their kid's homework could use third party ink that sells for pennies per liter, rather than HP's official colored water that cost more than vintage Veuve Cliquot.

A Canadian e-waste dump generates five low-paid jobs per ton of waste, and that waste itself will poison the land and water for centuries to come. A circumvention-enabled Canadian repair sector could generate 150 skilled, high-paid community jobs that saves gadgets and the Earth, all while saving Canadians millions.

Canadians could enjoy the resliency that comes of having a domestic tech and repair sector, and could count on it through pandemics and Trumpian trade-war.

All of that and more could be ours, except for the cowardice and greed of Tony Clement and James Moore and the Harper Tories who voted C-11 into law in 2012.

Everything the "radical extremists" warned them of has come true. It's long past time Canadians tore up anticircumvention law and put the interests of the Canadian public and Canadian tech businesses ahead of the rent-seeking enshittification of American Big Tech.

Until we do that, we can keep on passing all the repair and interop laws we want, but each one will be hamstrung by Moore and Clement's "felony contempt of business model" law, and the contempt it showed for the Canadian people.

Image: JeffJ (modified) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tony_Clement_-_2007-06-30_in_Kearney,_Ontario.JPG

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Jorge Franganillo (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duga_radar_system-_wreckage_of_electronic_devices_(37885984654).jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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bestanimal · 25 days ago

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Round 2 - Arthropoda - Arachnida

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Arachnida is a highly diverse class, ranging from the Demodex mites living on you (yes, you) right now, to the Triassic-surviving horseshoe crabs (yes, a 2019 genetics-based analysis places them within Arachnida, though this is still debated), to your friendly pest-controlling house spider. They live worldwide, mainly on land, but some also in freshwater and marine environments. There are over 110,000 named species, with more being discovered every year. They comprise the Ricinulei (“Hooded Tickspiders”), Xiphosura (“Horseshoe Crabs”), Opiliones (“Harvestmen”), Solifugae (“Camel Spiders”), Acariformes (“Acariform Mites”), Parasitiformes (“Parasitiform Mites and Ticks”), Palpigradi (“Microwhip Scorpions”), Pseudoscorpiones (“Book Scorpions”), Scorpiones (“Scorpions”), Amblypygi (“Tailless Whip Scorpions”), Schizomida (“Short-tailed Whip Scorpions”), Uropygi (“Vinegaroons”), and Araneae (“Spiders”).

Adult arachnids have 8 legs attached to a head/thorax segment called the cephalothorax. Their abdomen contains their heart and respiratory organs. Arachnids also have two other pairs of appendages that vary in function between orders. The chelicerae are mainly used in feeding and defense. In spiders, they are used to deliver venom. The second pair, called pedipalps, are used for feeding, locomotion, defense, and/or reproduction. Scorpions, Pseudoscorpions, Ricinuleids, and Horseshoe Crabs have pedipalps that end in a pair of pinchers used for defense and manipulating food. Pseudoscorpions also have a venom gland in their pinchers which they use to immobilize prey. Vinegaroons, Schizomids, Amblypygids, and most Harvestmen have raptorial pedipalps that are used for capturing prey. Solifugids use their palps as another set of legs, and spiders use theirs like hands, while the males also use theirs for mating. Mites and ticks use their palps to sense their surroundings. Mites are more diverse than other arachnids, some only having 6 or even 4 legs. Adult females of Podapolipidae only have a single pair of legs. Some arachnids have a tail-like structure called a telson. Horseshoe Crabs use their telson to flip themselves over if they are turned on their backs. Scorpions use their telson as a stinger to deliver venom, while Palpigrades, Schizomids, and Vinegaroons use theirs as sensory structures. Schizomids and Vinegaroons can also produce acetic acid at the base of their telsons, which they use as a chemical defense sprayed at attackers. Instead of a telson, spiders have spinnerets on their abdomen which they use to create silk. Some have no eyes; some have up to six. Some only have very simple eyes which detect light and shadow, while others have very advanced eyesight.

Arachnids are so diverse that it would be impossible for me to provide a general summary of their behavior here. Some lay eggs, some bear live young. Some have intensive courtship rituals. In most, mothers provide parental care, but in some this falls on the fathers. They can be predators, scavengers, carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, parasites, and everything in between.

Arachnids are one of the oldest living Classes of land animals. Xiphosurans first appeared in the Late Ordovician, with modern horseshoe crabs appearing in the Carboniferous and becoming more common in the Triassic. The spider-like Order Uraraneida first appeared in the Permian, with true spiders appearing in the Carboniferous. There’s a lot of talk about how horseshoe crabs predate the dinosaurs, and that’s true, but so do other arachnids… and most other arthropods as well!

Propaganda under the cut:

While only Spiders, Scorpions, and Pseudoscorpions have venom, they all have different methods of injecting it, meaning they likely independently evolved venom. Which is wild to me.

Spiders tend to get a bad rap (mostly due to western media banking on arachnophobia and spreading misinformation) but they are incredibly beneficial to humans, eating many of the species we consider pests. Some crops, such as cranberries, tomatoes, and potatoes, rely on spiders for pest control. It has been found that wherever farmers release spiders, their crop yields increase, while also cutting down on the use of chemical pesticides by 80%.

There are around 50,000 species of spider and all but one family (Uloboridae) is venomous. However, this venom is mainly used to capture prey, and only 10 genera have venom considered medically significant to humans. Bites are rarer than the media would have you think, and deaths are even more rare, as they are usually a result of secondary infections, allergic reaction, or pre-existing conditions. You are more likely to die from a mosquito bite.

Even if they weren’t super important and helpful to humans, spiders are still just small animals living their lives and are all too often unfairly demonized. I’ll get off my soapbox now but listen… I’m Love Them. They are just little guys.

Anyway, Ricinuleids have a hood, called a cucullus, which can be raised or lowered over their head. This hood is also where females will carry their eggs until they hatch. Baby hoodie.

Horseshoe Crab blood is blue due to a copper-based respiratory pigment called hemocyanin. It is often harvested for its unique reactions to bacterial contamination and is thus used in FDA testing. Horseshoe Crab blood has saved millions of human lives, however, overharvesting for their blood as well as for fishing bait has put their populations into decline, which has in turn affected populations of shorebirds which depend on their eggs as migratory fuel. Many areas have enacted regulations on harvesting and established captive breeding programs.

Harvestmen are sometimes referred to as spiders, but they are actually closer related to scorpions!

Harvestmen are unique among arachnids for their high diversity of feeding behavior. Many species are omnivorous, eating small insects, fungi, and plants. Some species are scavengers. Some species feed on fecal matter! Unlike most other arachnids, they do not have sucking mouthparts, and instead chew their food with tiny pinching jaws.

Many arachnids, especially most scorpions, are biofluorescent, glowing under UV light. There are many hypotheses for why this is, but it may allow them to detect the presence of UV light themselves, letting them know when there is a full moon vs a new moon.

Scorpions can also detect light through sensors in their tail!

Scorpion claws and tails are reinforced with iron and nickel

Mites are incredibly diverse and live everywhere. Many live in the soil and aid in decomposing, some live in water, some live on plants, some live in plants and create galls, some eat fungi, some eat lichen, some eat carrion, some are predators, some are parasites. Almost every species on land (mammals, reptiles, ants, plants, etc) has at least one mite species associated with it.

Vinegaroon courtship rituals involve a dance that can last up to 12 hours of the female testing the male’s endurance. Female vinegaroons invest a lot into their children, often starving themselves in the process, so they must be absolutely certain the male has good fitness.

#you would not believe how hard it is to google colorful scorpion photos and not find either AI or pest control sources #Oogie Boogie Voice I Don’t Know Which Is Worse #Also I tried My Best to not get too passionate about spiders but like #Harvestmen are actually my favorite arachnids but I fear the bias against spiders is going to damage the results of this poll #and I love spiders I have 11 as pets not to mention the like dozen bathroom spiders who are great pest control and also friends #but the spider hate is so strong that I just worry #i understand if they don’t win but I also don’t want them to bring all the other arachnids down with them #round 2 #animal polls #arthropoda

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sweet-as-an-angel · 2 years ago

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Vampire König Headcanons

Warnings: Nondescript Depictions/Implications of Smut, Territorial König, Jealous König, Dominant König, Submissive König, Domestic König <3, Marking, Consensual Dub-Con, Restraints, Abuse of Vampire Powers, Feeding, Mentions of Blood, Mentions of Injuries, König using Urban Dictionary, Petnames, No Pronouns used for Reader except ‘You’.

So domestic that it hurts.

6’10 military vampire boyfriend in a pink frilly kitchen apron that says ‘Love, Peace and Hope’ on the front of it >>>>

Seriously, though, he’s the most caring of his kind (if you exclude Simon) and is so gentle and loving that you could scarcely believe what he was until he showed you his fangs and his abilities.

Don’t be fooled by his kind nature, though; he’s given you more protection than you’ll ever need with his scary dog privileges. Ones which ward off humans and other supernaturals alike.

And, given how tall he is, you don’t see the death stares he gives to bystanders; all you see is a path being cleared in front of you, people scrambling out of your way in what you may construe as consideration. Or terror.

Speaking of König’s gargantuan proportions, he needs more blood to survive than the average vampire. More than you, or any other human, can possibly provide.

Luckily, he only feeds from animals. Mostly.

Their taste is not as exquisite as human blood, not being as clean by comparison (particularly in pests, like rats), but he makes do. Especially when it’s for your own safety; to protect you from his blood rage when he hits a draught.

But, regardless of his masterful self-control, there comes a point where his palette can no longer stand the taste of disease and death in his blood supply, his thirst becoming so dire that he needs human blood. Now.

The first time you saw him like this, you panicked, asked what was wrong.

He told you he was fine as he gripped the kitchen counter, crushing the marble – that he just needed to go to sleep, giving a vague smile and no explanation.

It was only after being grilled and your concern melting his resolve that König’s resolution gave out, and he confessed his greatest shame. His strongest vice.

And, without knowing how dangerous he could get while feeding, you, in all your kindness and virtue, offered yourself to him.

“I know it’s not much, but I can try to find you something else for you, too !”

Never has a human who has known of his true nature been so selfless as to put their life on the line for his own survival.

Long story short, he eventually caved to your generosity and, when he tasted your blood, knew there was no finer delicacy he could tear from any planet in any universe.

You are the only one for him.

In return, he’ll try to cook and care for you. And, surprisingly, he’s pretty good at it !

Has all your favourite dishes memorised. Whether you told him or not.

He tries not to use his mind reading abilities on you, though sometimes, it slips out, hence he knows so much about you despite you never having uttered the specifics to him.

Whenever he’s feeling fragile (jealous) about you liking an actor or a character you’re watching, he’ll use his powers to ever so slightly see what you’d like to do with them.

Or what you’d like them to do to you.

This often leads to some very specific practices occurring in the bedroom.

When König is feeling particularly dominant, he tends to get quite…forceful.

All within the realm of consent, of course.

This side of him is typically triggered by jealousy, though it is not a punishment.

Far from it.

This is your reward for being so loyal – so disinterested in the advances of others, whether supernatural or otherwise.

“Say that you’re mine,” König growls, his fangs slick and protruding against your throat, coated in saliva, as if he were rabid. The weight of spectral chains forcing your body to be still and subservient is heavy upon your mortal vessel.

His hands have torn through your underwear, your only barrier against the merciless ecstasy you will be subject to on this night.

“Or you won’t leave this night unscathed.”

Consensual dub-con and restraints <333 !!1!

Fr though, König would never use his telekinesis on you unless you expressly asked him to, because, unlike many of his kind, he’s got a human side.

One which he only shows to you.

This much is apparent when he puts himself in your hands and gives himself to you in his entirety.

Becomes the antithesis of the typical bloodthirsty, cynical, overlord vampire stereotype when he’s feeling submissive.

The type to say “Please, Darling,” when he needs you to touch him.

Pull on his hair and he’s D E C E A S E D (more so than he already is).

He’s been touch-starved his entire mortal and immortal life, never having found someone special enough to make him feel comfortable, so his imploring for you to touch him is, whether you know it or not, a big honour – and a commitment for König.

Speaking of, he adores cuddles.

Both giving and receiving.

Not that you know this, but sometimes he intentionally crushes you into his chest between his pecs because once you called him your “Big tiddie himbo”, and it’s stuck with him since.

Plus, you also like to motorboat them sometimes.

Yeah, he had to go onto Urban Dictionary to find out what himbo meant. No, he did not delete his search history afterwards, so now you know his second greatest shame; his lack of fluency with modern terms.

Sometimes, you’ll drop random turns of phrase to see what his reaction will be; whether he’ll pretend to know what you’re saying or if he’ll submit and tell you he has no idea what he just said.

“König, you’re so rizzular, you know that ?”

“Uuuhhh…yeah ! You…too…?”

He does get a little insecure about it, but that’s nothing compared to how he feels whenever his friends come and visit.

Other vampires and supernaturals, naturally. And, regardless of their status, he’s always on the edge of his seat, wondering if you’ll take one look at them and decide to leave him in pursuit of another.

It doesn’t matter how many times you try to reassure him; König is dead set on his doomsday premonition (a panic attack he had while asleep once) that you’ll leave him.

“Köni, Baby,” you say, voice gentle as you cradle his head to your chest, sat bundled in amongst the blankets on the sofa. “I’m never leaving you. Even when I’m a ghost, I’m going to haunt you forever !”

He has thought about turning you, btw.

A LOT.

But he can never seem to find the right time to broach the subject; especially when you’ve told him how you have no interest in being immortal. At least, not yet.

“You’re only human once,” you tell him, smiling. And, somehow, König can feel his heart skipping a beat.

Until his friends leave, König puts on the facade of someone who has never felt an ounce of panic in his life.

Mad territorial.

Keeps you sat on his lap or tucked away in a hidden part of the house for the duration of his friends’ visit.

And God forbid if any of them try to touch you.

There have been many an occasion where you and König have been left cleaning up blood spatters soaked into your carpet and walls because König’s instincts kicked in, causing him to disarm whoever had been stupid enough to make physical contact with you.

Yeah, König feels bad that he ruined your new carpet, but would he do it all again to protect your honour ?

Absolutely.

Yeah, okay, sometimes he does intentionally mark you up the night before the guests arrive. Yes, he does hide any articles of clothing that could cover his love bites up.

“I just want them to know that you’re mine,” he tells you, almost whimpering, his eyes wide and almost tearful when you give him a narrowed look.

“König, you’re mauled off enough hands that they couldn’t un-know that we’re together even if they tried !”

And, at the end of the night, you’ll either be met with a very prideful König, whose powers you can feel weighing heavier on your shoulders by the minute. Or, puppy König, who comes bounding over to you, his eyes bright with nothing short of a lifetime’s adoration.

Either way, König wants you to know that you are thoroughly loved, and no measure of mortality, or time, or distance will ever change that.

Reblog for more content like this! It helps creators like myself tremendously and it is greatly appreciated :-)

Masterlist Masterlist [Continued] Masterpost Modern Warfare AI Masterlist

AO3 Wattpad

#mw2 #mw2 smut #konig x reader #konig mw2 #konig smut #konig headcanons #konig call of duty #konig x you #konig x yn #konig x y/n #könig smut #könig x reader #mw2 headcanons #mw2 x reader #mw2 fanfic #konig fluff #konig fanfiction

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seat-safety-switch · 2 months ago

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Ted Genocide looks at me, and says: rookie, it's time to take the war to the bugs. They can't take our homes like this.

I can't disagree, but I think his enthusiasm is a bit misplaced. This is just my summer job, a break between my college courses of Advanced Endocrinology and Beginner Astrophysics. If you ask me, and nobody did before the big incident, I think that being exposed to this level of hostility in the workplace is bad for everyone, not just the termites and cockroaches we were trying to get rid of. Even if the giant fibreglass beetle on top of the pest-control Econoline made a pretty cool sound whenever we drove through the runway tunnel near the airport, I was happy to be done with the job.

Ted stops, sniffs the air. By now, I've learned not to talk to him when he gets like this, and he gets like this a lot. A lifetime of chemicals, I assumed. My mom agrees whenever I call home and tell her about how my week went. She's concerned, but doesn't want to smother me too much. Working on her marriage with my step-father, who believes children should be raised by the Vietnam War, like he wasn't. I wait for Ted to say something. My feet are cold and I wish I were in the van, listening to the local Top 40 station tell me about how bad the local politicians are, their entire "bit" synthesized by the station's intern. Now that would be a job I'd be able to enjoy. Wouldn't be picking up so many dead rats, that's for sure.

After a couple minutes, Ted remembers that I'm there. He puts one finger to his mouth, and points to the basement of this townhouse. Which is funny, because I didn't remember seeing a door to the basement when we came in here. There's one there now, though. He tells me to go back to the van, wait for him there.

As I watch Ted descend into the hissing, chittering mass of what would later be called the Hellmouth of Orkin®, I realize today is his turn to pay for lunch. Cheap bastard is going to stiff me on Subway Wednesday, of all days.

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steelbonded · 4 months ago

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Forced Integration (2)

Stewart lay helplessly on the street, pinned down by the boots of four officers from the New Republic. The soft rumble of an engine broke the early morning silence, growing louder until it screeched to a halt at Stewart’s position. It was a military truck, still in its original olive-green color but with the flag of the New Republic hastily stickered over the flag of the country Stewart had pledged his allegiance to. He used to drive these trucks in and out of the base, but this time, he knew he would be transported into the base and would never leave.

The ignition was turned off, and a soldier, garmented in the standard jet-black uniform of the Steelbound Republic, stepped out of the vehicle and saluted the lieutenant in charge of the operation.

“Private AO 9323 reporting, sir! The truck to transport the deserter back to base for re-education, sir!”

“Very well,” said the lieutenant. “Prep the pest for transport.”

Stewart felt two boots release from his knee and neck. With precise coordination, the two officers stood beside him, their rifles pointed directly at Stewart to ensure any questionable movement would be met with lead.

“Secured,” one of them reported.

The third officer released his boot and proceeded to secure Stewart’s hands behind his back with zip ties. Finally, the last boot pinning him down was released, and the two officers grabbed his shoulders and roughly pulled him to his feet, their grip on his arms firm and unyielding. Stewart winced in pain as he was forced to stand, his legs shaky from exhaustion. He glanced around, his eyes finally able to see his captors clearly for the first time.

His captors exuded an aura of menace and authority, their jet-black uniforms accentuating their muscular frames. Every piece of their gear was meticulously maintained, from the advanced helmets with reflective visors that obscured their eyes to the tactical vests bristling with ammunition and weapons. Their sleek, blackened body armor added to their intimidating presence, giving them an almost robotic appearance. Each one of them was nearly identical, except for their numbered name tags.

Their faces were partially hidden by black balaclava, with only their cold, calculating eyes visible, staring down at Stewart. These eyes, devoid of empathy, were all that remained of their humanity. The soldiers' postures were rigid and controlled, every movement deliberate, as if they had been trained for years to perfection. They exuded an air of ruthlessness, ready to follow orders without question, no matter how brutal.

Stewart kept staring at one of the officers, DF 9203. His eyes looked like those of someone he knew in his previous life. The distinctive scar on the top left corner of his eyelid could not conceal his true identity, even underneath the balaclava. It was Sergeant Fischer, his officer before the fall of his nation. Only his voice would serve as confirmation of his former identity. How could he betray his country and serve in the enemy’s forces?

A forceful hit to his back by the butt of a gun from DF 9203 snapped Stewart back to reality. “What the fuck are you looking at, pest?” he barked, his voice carrying the same unremarkable low octave pitch as the lieutenant's. Stewart couldn’t be sure if it was Sergeant Fischer.

“Sorry, sergeant,” Stewart accidentally blurted out.

Another blow to his back followed. “Respect fucken authority, maggot. I am a fucken sergeant, and you are a piece of uneducated pest. Speak only when spoken to.”

“Be fucken grateful the Republic is offering you a second chance,” barked another officer with a similar voice.

“Gentlemen!” came a voice from the other end. It was the lieutenant, and all the officers stood at attention. “He hasn’t seen our ways yet. He will soon be an unwavering defender of the Republic like yourselves, gentlemen.” He made a faint smile toward Stewart. “Order has been established, gents.”

The military truck rumbled back to life, its engine settling into a menacing growl. The back of the truck was open, revealing a steel cage-like structure. Stewart was pushed forward, stumbling slightly as the officers guided him toward the truck.

“DF 9203 and NC 9326, secure the asset back to base.”

“Yes, sir,” both replied immediately.

With that, the cage door was closed, and the truck began to move. Stewart’s fate was sealed as he was sent back to the base for re-education.

#recuitment #soldier #military #the state

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extrajigs · 2 years ago

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Wanted to expand on some domesticated animals of Mirum. These are basically cat-dog birds, ranging in size from cat to medium sized dog. Still need a name for group over all, suggestions appreciated! In depth info below the cut!

1. The OG This is the wild ancestral form, basically the wolf to the dog. They are from the grass/shrub lands of Mirum and spend most of the year scrounging around for food until the end of the wet season. Once the floods are over they pop out babies like nobodies business while feeding on the debris left by the flooding. By the time fire season rolls around their numbers are pretty scarce. They travel in little groups with multiple hens and one big buff man! But this man does not necessarily need to be a male, or a bird even! They were the first species domesticated by the chimera and the only one to leave Mirum with them. The ‘Natural’ Breeds These are just the morphs bred into these fellas without any magical manipulation involved, so they still look relatively close to their wild ancestors. 2. The Cupid These are purely pets, originally kept just for eggs they lost that purpose as more efficient birds came around for that. Now they just make docile lil lapbirds. Though inattentive owners will find old eggs hidden throughout the house if they’re not careful. Most of the time though they tend to stay by their owners ankles. 3. The Ruff Fluffy lil guys who make for great pest control, they’re a very sporty breed despite everything and need a lot of energy to stop them from destroying their surroundings out of boredom. Will do well with another ruff or dog of similar size, though they can be a bit of a bully in the care of a lax owner. 4. The Gallop Literally just made for running, can keep up with a chimera at full sprint and at a normal long distance run. For those with a more active lifestyle. Though they will just as happily laze around all day, just happy to be included honestly. These are also the best swimmers of the natural breeds with their extra oily coat. 5. The Dome This is a purely ornamental bird, stocky and colorful they are the most relaxed of all the birds. Most prefer chimeric company to that of other birds and have a habit of separation anxiety when not with their owner. In line with that, these are the most accepting of chimeric ‘talk’ with most quickly getting accustomed to projected commands. Though please don’t overwhelm your bird, casting the full range of sentient experience unto lesser beings CAN and WILL cause them existential distress! Not to mention your personality may displace your pet’s. 6. The Fluff The original pillow stuffing. These guys feathers are softer than any other. Keeping a mostly downy ‘undercoat’ for their whole life. That being said these guys can get absolutely RANCID if not kept clean and tidy. Only for the most advanced and attentive of owners unless you want an unholy dingleberry beast skulking around. They also are VERY bitey. 7. Crested These are historically for eating, but have grown to be a very pish posh fancy breed. Most are pure white, thanks to inbreeding, and albeit are not the sharpest tools in the shed. But if you are looking for a bird who may just ignore your commands but love you eternal, this is your bird!

That’s them so far, will make the magical monstrosities later. Also wanted to try a different lineart style. Thin is nice but I miss my chunky brush. Glad to have tried it though!

#mirum #chimera #chimera adjacent really #fantasy #birds #need name aaaah i cant think of a good one for these still tho HM #speculative biology #spec bio #Speculative Evolution #spec evo #art #no true north

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fatehbaz · 1 year ago

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imperialism and science reading list

edited: by popular demand, now with much longer list of books

Of course Katherine McKittrick and Kathryn Yusoff.

People like Achille Mbembe, Pratik Chakrabarti, Rohan Deb Roy, Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert, and Elizabeth Povinelli have written some “classics” and they track the history/historiography of US/European scientific institutions and their origins in extraction, plantations, race/slavery, etc.

Two articles I’d recommend as a summary/primer:

Zaheer Baber. “The Plants of Empire: Botanic Gardens, Colonial Power and Botanical Knowledge.” Journal of Contemporary Asia. May 2016.

Kathryn Yusoff. “The Inhumanities.” Annals of the American Association of Geographers. 2020.

Then probably:

Irene Peano, Marta Macedo, and Colette Le Petitcorps. “Introduction: Viewing Plantations at the Intersection of Political Ecologies and Multiple Space-Times.” Global Plantations in the Modern World: Sovereignties, Ecologies, Afterlives. 2023.

Sharae Deckard. “Paradise Discourse, Imperialism, and Globalization: Exploiting Eden.” 2010. (Chornological overview of development of knowledge/institutions in relationship with race, slavery, profit as European empires encountered new lands and peoples.)

Gregg Mitman. “Forgotten Paths of Empire: Ecology, Disease, and Commerce in the Making of Liberia’s Plantation Economy.” Environmental History. 2017, (Interesting case study. US corporations were building fruit plantations in Latin America and rubber plantations in West Africa during the 1920s. Medical doctors, researchers, and academics made a strong alliance these corporations to advance their careers and solidify their institutions. By 1914, the director of Harvard’s Department of Tropical Medicine was also simultaneously the director of the Laboratories of the Hospitals of the United Fruit Company, which infamously and brutally occupied Central America. This same Harvard doctor was also a shareholder in rubber plantations, and had a close personal relationship with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, which occupied West Africa.)

Elizabeth DeLoughrey. “Globalizing the Routes of Breadfruit and Other Bounties.” 2008. (Case study of how British wealth and industrial development built on botany. Examines Joseph Banks; Kew Gardens; breadfruit; British fear of labor revolts; and the simultaneous colonizing of the Caribbean and the South Pacific.)

Elizabeth DeLoughrey. “Satellite Planetarity and the Ends of the Earth.” 2014. (Indigenous knowledge systems; “nuclear colonialism”; US empire in the Pacific; space/satellites; the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.)

Fahim Amir. “Cloudy Swords.” e-flux Journal #115, February 2021. (”Pest control”; termites; mosquitoes; fear of malaria and other diseases during German colonization of Africa and US occupations of Panama and the wider Caribbean; origins of some US institutions and the evolution of these institutions into colonial, nationalist, and then NGO forms over twentieth century.)

Some of the earlier generalist classic books that explicitly looked at science as a weapon of empires:

Schiebinger’s Plants and Empire: Colonial Bioprospecting in the Atlantic World; Delbourgo’s and Dew’s Science and Empire in the Atlantic World; the anthology Colonial Botany: Science, Commerce, and Politics in the Early Modern World; Canzares-Esquerra’s Nature, Empire, and Nation: Explorations of the History of Science in the Iberian World.

One of the quintessential case studies of science in the service of empire is the British pursuit of quinine and the inoculation of their soldiers and colonial administrators to safeguard against malaria in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia at the height of their power. But there are so many other exemplary cases: Britain trying to domesticate and transplant breadfruit from the South Pacific to the Caribbean to feed laborers to prevent slave uprisings during the age of the Haitian Revolution. British colonial administrators smuggling knowledge of tea cultivation out of China in order to set up tea plantations in Assam. Eugenics, race science, biological essentialism, etc. in the early twentieth century. With my interests, my little corner of exposure/experience has to do mostly with conceptions of space/place; interspecies/multispecies relationships; borderlands and frontiers; Caribbean; Latin America; islands. So, a lot of these recs are focused there. But someone else would have better recs, especially depending on your interests. For example, Chakrabarti writes about history of medicine/healthcare. Paravisini-Gebert about extinction and Caribbean relationship to animals/landscape. Deb Roy focuses on insects and colonial administration in South Asia. Some scholars focus on the historiography and chronological trajectory of “modernity” or “botany” or “universities/academia,”, while some focus on Early Modern Spain or Victorian Britain or twentieth-century United States by region. With so much to cover, that’s why I’d recommend the articles above, since they’re kinda like overviews.Generally I read more from articles, essays, and anthologies, rather than full-length books.

Some other nice articles:

(On my blog, I’ve got excerpts from all of these articles/essays, if you want to search for or read them.)

Katherine McKittrick. “Dear April: The Aesthetics of Black Miscellanea.” Antipode. First published September 2021.

Katherine McKittrick. “Plantation Futures.” Small Axe. 2013.

Antonio Lafuente and Nuria Valverde. “Linnaean Botany and Spanish Imperial Biopolitics.” A chapter in: Colonial Botany: Science, Commerce, and Politics in the Early Modern World. 2004.

Kathleen Susan Murphy. “A Slaving Surgeon’s Collection: The Pursuit of Natural History through the British Slave Trade to Spanish America.” 2019. And also: “The Slave Trade and Natural Science.” In: Oxford Bibliographies in Atlantic History. 2016.

Timothy J. Yamamura. “Fictions of Science, American Orientalism, and the Alien/Asian of Percival Lowell.” 2017.

Elizabeth Bentley. “Between Extinction and Dispossession: A Rhetorical Historiography of the Last Palestinian Crocodile (1870-1935).” 2021.

Pratik Chakrabarti. “Gondwana and the Politics of Deep Past.” Past & Present 242:1. 2019.

Jonathan Saha. “Colonizing elephants: animal agency, undead capital and imperial science in British Burma.” BJHS Themes. British Society for the History of Science. 2017.

Zoe Chadwick. “Perilous plants, botanical monsters, and (reverse) imperialism in fin-de-siecle literature.” The Victorianist: BAVS Postgraduates. 2017.

Dante Furioso: “Sanitary Imperialism.” Jeremy Lee Wolin: “The Finest Immigration Station in the World.” Serubiri Moses. “A Useful Landscape.” Andrew Herscher and Ana Maria Leon. “At the Border of Decolonization.” All from e-flux.

William Voinot-Baron. “Inescapable Temporalities: Chinook Salmon and the Non-Sovereignty of Co-Management in Southwest Alaska.” 2019.

Rohan Deb Roy. “White ants, empire, and entomo-politics in South Asia.” The Historical Journal. 2 October 2019.

Rohan Deb Roy. “Introduction: Nonhuman Empires.” Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East 35 (1). May 2015.

Lawrence H. Kessler. “Entomology and Empire: Settler Colonial Science and the Campaign for Hawaiian Annexation.” Arcadia (Spring 2017).

Sasha Litvintseva and Beny Wagner. “Monster as Medium: Experiments in Perception in Early Modern Science and Film.” e-flux. March 2021.

Lesley Green. “The Changing of the Gods of Reason: Cecil John Rhodes, Karoo Fracking, and the Decolonizing of the Anthropocene.” e-flux Journal Issue #65. May 2015.

Martin Mahony. “The Enemy is Nature: Military Machines and Technological Bricolage in Britain’s ‘Great Agricultural Experiment.’“ Environment and Society Portal, Arcadia. Spring 2021.

Anna Boswell. “Anamorphic Ecology, or the Return of the Possum.” 2018. And; “Climates of Change: A Tuatara’s-Eye View.”2020. And: “Settler Sanctuaries and the Stoat-Free State." 2017.

Katherine Arnold. “Hydnora Africana: The ‘Hieroglyphic Key’ to Plant Parasitism.” Journal of the History of Ideas - JHI Blog - Dispatches from the Archives. 21 July 2021.

Helen F. Wilson. “Contact zones: Multispecies scholarship through Imperial Eyes.” Environment and Planning. July 2019.

Tom Brooking and Eric Pawson. “Silences of Grass: Retrieving the Role of Pasture Plants in the Development of New Zealand and the British Empire.” The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History. August 2007.

Kirsten Greer. “Zoogeography and imperial defence: Tracing the contours of the Neactic region in the temperate North Atlantic, 1838-1880s.” Geoforum Volume 65. October 2015. And: “Geopolitics and the Avian Imperial Archive: The Zoogeography of Region-Making in the Nineteenth-Century British Mediterranean.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 2013,

Marco Chivalan Carrillo and Silvia Posocco. “Against Extraction in Guatemala: Multispecies Strategies in Vampiric Times.” International Journal of Postcolonial Studies. April 2020.

Laura Rademaker. “60,000 years is not forever: ‘time revolutions’ and Indigenous pasts.” Postcolonial Studies. September 2021.

Paulo Tavares. “The Geological Imperative: On the Political Ecology of the Amazon’s Deep History.” Architecture in the Anthropocene. Edited by Etienne Turpin. 2013.

Kathryn Yusoff. “Geologic Realism: On the Beach of Geologic Time.” Social Text. 2019. And: “The Anthropocene and Geographies of Geopower.” Handbook on the Geographies of Power. 2018. And: “Climates of sight: Mistaken visbilities, mirages and ‘seeing beyond’ in Antarctica.” In: High Places: Cultural Geographies of Mountains, Ice and Science. 2008. And:“Geosocial Formations and the Anthropocene.” 2017. And: “An Interview with Elizabeth Grosz: Geopower, Inhumanism and the Biopolitical.” 2017.

Mara Dicenta. “The Beavercene: Eradication and Settler-Colonialism in Tierra del Fuego.” Arcadia. Spring 2020.

And then here are some books:

Frontiers of Science: Imperialism and Natural Knowledge in the Gulf South Borderlands, 1500-1850 (Cameron B. Strang); Plants and Empire: Colonial Bioprospecting in the Atlantic World (Londa Schiebinger, 2004);

Africa as a Living Laboratory: Empire, Development, and the Problem of Scientific Knowledge, 1870-1950 (Helen Tilley, 2011); Colonizing Animals: Interspecies Empire in Myanmar (Jonathan Saha); Fluid Geographies: Water, Science and Settler Colonialism in New Mexico (K. Maria D. Lane, 2024); Geopolitics, Culture, and the Scientific Imaginary in Latin America (Edited by del Pilar Blanco and Page, 2020)

Red Coats and Wild Birds: How Military Ornithologists and Migrant Birds Shaped Empire (Kirsten A. Greer); The Black Geographic: Praxis, Resistance, Futurity (Hawthorne and Lewis, 2022); Fugitive Science: Empiricism and Freedom in Early African American Culture (Britt Rusert, 2017)

The Empirical Empire: Spanish Colonial Rule and the Politics of Knowledge (Arndt Brendecke, 2016); In the Museum of Man: Race, Anthropology, and Empire in France, 1850-1960 (Alice Conklin, 2013); Unfreezing the Arctic: Science, Colonialism, and the Transformation of Inuit Lands (Andrew Stuhl)

Anglo-European Science and the Rhetoric of Empire: Malaria, Opium, and British Rule in India, 1756-1895 (Paul Winther); Peoples on Parade: Exhibitions, Empire, and Anthropology in Nineteenth-Century Britain (Sadiah Qureshi, 2011); Practical Matter: Newton’s Science in the Service of Industry and Empire, 1687-1851 (Margaret Jacob and Larry Stewart)

Pasteur’s Empire: Bacteriology and Politics in France, Its Colonies, and the World (Aro Velmet, 2022); Medicine and Empire, 1600-1960 (Pratik Chakrabarti, 2014); Colonial Geography: Race and Space in German East Africa, 1884-1905 (Matthew Unangst, 2022);

The Nature of German Imperialism: Conservation and the Politics of Wildlife in Colonial East Africa (Bernhard Gissibl, 2019); Curious Encounters: Voyaging, Collecting, and Making Knowledge in the Long Eighteenth Century (Edited by Adriana Craciun and Mary Terrall, 2019)

The Ends of Paradise: Race, Extraction, and the Struggle for Black Life in Honduras (Chirstopher A. Loperena, 2022); Mining Language: Racial Thinking, Indigenous Knowledge, and Colonial Metallurgy in the Early Modern Iberian World (Allison Bigelow, 2020); The Herds Shot Round the World: Native Breeds and the British Empire, 1800-1900 (Rebecca J.H. Woods); American Tropics: The Caribbean Roots of Biodiversity Science (Megan Raby, 2017); Producing Mayaland: Colonial Legacies, Urbanization, and the Unfolding of Global Capitalism (Claudia Fonseca Alfaro, 2023); Unnsettling Utopia: The Making and Unmaking of French India (Jessica Namakkal, 2021)

Domingos Alvares, African Healing, and the Intellectual History of the Atlantic World (James Sweet, 2011); A Temperate Empire: Making Climate Change in Early America (Anya Zilberstein, 2016); Educating the Empire: American Teachers and Contested Colonization in the Philippines (Sarah Steinbock-Pratt, 2019); Soundings and Crossings: Doing Science at Sea, 1800-1970 (Edited by Anderson, Rozwadowski, et al, 2016)

Possessing Polynesians: The Science of Settler Colonial Whiteness in Hawai’i and Oceania (Maile Arvin); Overcoming Niagara: Canals, Commerce, and Tourism in the Niagara-Great Lakes Borderland Region, 1792-1837 (Janet Dorothy Larkin, 2018); A Great and Rising Nation: Naval Exploration and Global Empire in the Early US Republic (Michael A. Verney, 2022)

Visible Empire: Botanical Expeditions and Visual Culture in the Hispanic Enlightenment (Daniela Cleichmar, 2012); Tea Environments and Plantation Culture: Imperial Disarray in Eastern India (Arnab Dey, 2022); Drugs on the Page: Pharmacopoeias and Healing Knowledge in the Early Modern Atlantic World (Edited by Crawford and Gabriel, 2019)

Cooling the Tropics: Ice, Indigeneity, and Hawaiian Refreshment (Hi’ilei Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart, 2022); In Asian Waters: Oceanic Worlds from Yemen to Yokkohama (Eric Tagliacozzo); Yellow Fever, Race, and Ecology in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans (Urmi Engineer Willoughby, 2017); Turning Land into Capital: Development and Dispossession in the Mekong Region (Edited by Hirsch, et al, 2022); Mining the Borderlands: Industry, Capital, and the Emergence of Engineers in the Southwest Territories, 1855-1910 (Sarah E.M. Grossman, 2018)

Knowing Manchuria: Environments, the Senses, and Natural Knowledge on an Asian Borderland (Ruth Rogaski); Colonial Fantasies, Imperial Realities: Race Science and the Making of Polishness on the Fringes of the German Empire, 1840-1920 (Lenny A. Urena Valerio); Against the Map: The Politics of Geography in Eighteenth-Century Britain (Adam Sills, 2021)

Under Osman’s Tree: The Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and Environmental History (Alan Mikhail, 2017); Imperial Nature: Joseph Hooker and the Practices of Victorian Science (Jim Endersby); Proving Grounds: Militarized Landscapes, Weapons Testing, and the Environmental Impact of U.S. Bases (Edited by Edwin Martini, 2015)

Colonial Botany: Science, Commerce, and Politics in the Early Modern World (Multiple authors, 2007); Space in the Tropics: From Convicts to Rockets in French Guiana (Peter Redfield); Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850 (Andrew Togert, 2015); Dust Bowls of Empire: Imperialism, Environmental Politics, and the Injustice of ‘Green’ Capitalism (Hannah Holleman, 2016); Postnormal Conservation: Botanic Gardens and the Reordering of Biodiversity Governance (Katja Grotzner Neves, 2019)

Botanical Entanglements: Women, Natural Science, and the Arts in Eighteenth-Century England (Anna K. Sagal, 2022); The Platypus and the Mermaid and Other Figments of the Classifying Imagination (Harriet Ritvo); Rubber and the Making of Vietnam: An Ecological History, 1897-1975 (Michitake Aso); A Billion Black Anthropocenes or None (Kathryn Yusoff, 2018); Staple Security: Bread and Wheat in Egypt (Jessica Barnes, 2023); No Wood, No Kingdom: Political Ecology in the English Atlantic (Keith Pluymers); Planting Empire, Cultivating Subjects: British Malaya, 1768-1941 (Lynn Hollen Lees, 2017); Fish, Law, and Colonialism: The Legal Capture of Salmon in British Columbia (Douglas C. Harris, 2001); Everywhen: Australia and the Language of Deep Time (Edited by Ann McGrath, Laura Rademaker, and Jakelin Troy)

Subject Matter: Technology, the Body, and Science on the Anglo-American Frontier, 1500-1676 (Joyce Chaplin, 2001); Mapping the Amazon: The Making and Unmaking of French India (Jessica Namakkal, 2021)

American Lucifers: The Dark History of Artificial Light, 1750-1865 (Jeremy Zallen); Ruling Minds: Psychology in the British Empire (Erik Linstrum, 2016); Lakes and Empires in Macedonian History: Contesting the Water (James Pettifer and Mirancda Vickers, 2021); Inscriptions of Nature: Geology and the Naturalization of Antiquity (Pratik Chakrabarti); Seeds of Control: Japan’s Empire of Forestry in Colonial Korea (David Fedman)

Do Glaciers Listen?: Local Knowledge, Colonial Encounters, and Social Imagination (Julie Cruikshank); The Fishmeal Revolution: The Industrialization of the Humboldt Current Ecosystem (Kristin A. Wintersteen, 2021); The Earth on Show: Fossils and the Poetics of Popular Science, 1802-1856 (Ralph O’Connor); An Imperial Disaster: The Bengal Cyclone of 1876 (Benjamin Kingsbury, 2018); Geographies of City Science: Urban Life and Origin Debates in Late Victorian Dublin (Tanya O’Sullivan, 2019)

American Hegemony and the Postwar Reconstruction of Science in Europe (John Krige, 2006); Carnal Knowledge and Imperial Power: Race and the Intimate in Colonial Rule (Ann Laura Stoler, 2002); Rivers of the Sultan: The Tigris and Euphrates in the Ottoman Empire (Faisal H. Husain, 2021)

The Sanitation of Brazil: Nation, State, and Public Health, 1889-1930 (Gilberto Hochman, 2016); The Imperial Security State: British Colonial Knowledge and Empire-Building in Asia (James Hevia); Japan’s Empire of Birds: Aristocrats, Anglo-Americans, and Transwar Ornithology (Annika A. Culver, 2022)

Moral Ecology of a Forest: The Nature Industry and Maya Post-Conservation (Jose E. Martinez, 2021); Sound Relations: Native Ways of Doing Music History in Alaska (Jessica Bissette Perea, 2021); Citizens and Rulers of the World: The American Child and the Cartographic Pedagogies of Empire (Mashid Mayar); Anthropology and Antihumanism in Imperial Germany (Andrew Zimmerman, 2001)

The Botany of Empire in the Long Eighteenth Century (Multiple authors, 2016); The Nature of Slavery: Environment and Plantation Labor in the Anglo-Atlantic World (Katherine Johnston, 2022); Seeking the American Tropics: South Florida’s Early Naturalists (James A. Kushlan, 2020)

The Colonial Life of Pharmaceuticals: Medicines and Modernity in Vietnam (Laurence Monnais); Quinoa: Food Politics and Agrarian Life in the Andean Highlands (Linda J. Seligmann, 2023) ; Critical Animal Geographies: Politics, intersections and hierarchies in a multispecies world (Edited by Kathryn Gillespie and Rosemary-Claire Collard, 2017); Spawning Modern Fish: Transnational Comparison in the Making of Japanese Salmon (Heather Ann Swanson, 2022); Imperial Visions: Nationalist Imagination and Geographical Expansion in the Russian Far East, 1840-1865 (Mark Bassin, 2000); The Usufructuary Ethos: Power, Politics, and Environment in the Long Eighteenth Century (Erin Drew, 2022)

Intimate Eating: Racialized Spaces and Radical Futures (Anita Mannur, 2022); On the Frontiers of the Indian Ocean World: A History of Lake Tanganyika, 1830-1890 (Philip Gooding, 2022); All Things Harmless, Useful, and Ornamental: Environmental Transformation Through Species Acclimitization, from Colonial Australia to the World (Pete Minard, 2019)

Visions of Nature: How Landscape Photography Shaped Setller Colonialism (Jarrod Hore, 2022); Timber and Forestry in Qing China: Sustaining the Market (Meng Zhang, 2021); The World and All the Things upon It: Native Hawaiian Geographies of Exploration (David A. Chang);

Deep Cut: Science, Power, and the Unbuilt Interoceanic Canal (Christine Keiner); Writing the New World: The Politics of Natural History in the Early Spanish Empire (Mauro Jose Caraccioli); Two Years below the Horn: Operation Tabarin, Field Science, and Antarctic Sovereignty, 1944-1946 (Andrew Taylor, 2017); Mapping Water in Dominica: Enslavement and Environment under Colonialism (Mark W. Hauser, 2021)

To Master the Boundless Sea: The US Navy, the Marine Environment, and the Cartography of Empire (Jason Smith, 2018); Fir and Empire: The Transformation of Forests in Early Modern China (Ian Matthew Miller, 2020); Breeds of Empire: The ‘Invention’ of the Horse in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa 1500-1950 (Sandra Swart and Greg Bankoff, 2007)

Science on the Roof of the World: Empire and the Remaking of the Himalaya (Lachlan Fleetwood, 2022); Cattle Colonialism: An Environmental History of the Conquest of California and Hawai’i (John Ryan Fisher, 2017); Imperial Creatures: Humans and Other Animals in Colonial Singapore, 1819-1942 (Timothy P. Barnard, 2019)

An Ecology of Knowledges: Fear, Love, and Technoscience in Guatemalan Forest Conservation (Micha Rahder, 2020); Empire and Ecology in the Bengal Delta: The Making of Calcutta (Debjani Bhattacharyya, 2018); Imperial Bodies in London: Empire, Mobility, and the Making of British Medicine, 1880-1914 (Kristen Hussey, 2021)

Biotic Borders: Transpacific Plant and Insect Migration and the Rise of Anti-Asian Racism in America, 1890-1950 (Jeannie N. Shinozuka); Coral Empire: Underwater Oceans, Colonial Tropics, Visual Modernity (Ann Elias, 2019); Hunting Africa: British Sport, African Knowledge and the Nature of Empire (Angela Thompsell, 2015)

#multispecies #ecologies #tidalectics #geographic imaginaries #book recommendations #reading recommendations #reading list

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krispycreamcake · 2 months ago

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I ate my saviour and licked the plate

Desc: Yui goes to church

Fandom: Diabolik Lovers

CW: blood, self inflicted cannibalism, uhh blasphemy?? Wounds, mental deterioration, teenage girl crisis idk

Theme: goretober

The wind’s wicked currents weaved through the canopies, howling a tune so sickening it clung to her bones, gnawing at her spirit. The clouds smothered the sky in a jealous embrace, as if even the sun refused to bear witness to her torment.

As usual, the young girl found herself caught up in a bizzare life or death situation caused by these demonic blood sucking creatures that would often than not, call themselves brothers.

Her pale hand pressed against her neck, a futile attempt to hold in the life draining from her veins. Every heartbeat sent a fresh wave of blood, a reminder that time was running out, but her body refused to surrender easily.She stumbled toward her room, knowing it was a foolish refuge, but in that moment, it felt like the last shred of control she could cling to.

Of course, she of all persons knew that was a stupid and futile attempt at saving her life.But to her, even if these pointless decisions all ended up with the same outcome, at least she chose the path that shows she's still determined and willing to live.

By the time she got to her room, Laito was already waiting for her.

"Nfu~ What a dumb little bitch you are! Don't you think you're too old to be playing these worthless games?"

Laito's voice was like velvet dipped in venom, slithering through the air as he advanced toward her. He enjoyed watching her falter, savoring each second of her fear as if it were a fine wine.

Her heart rate spiked as she started to feel her legs begin to give out underneath her.

"I'm- I'm not playing games..." Yui responded, her voice broken up.

"Good, because neither am I." This time, Laito lowered his voice and it sent chills crawling up her feeble spine.

He sauntered his way over to her, teasing her, making her think or rather making her realize, this was an extremely easy feat for Laito.

"Laito you can't- please." She begged as she felt her vision fade, black spots surrounding her vision.

Yui’s vision blurred, not just from the blood loss, but from the warping sense of reality that had begun to plague her mind. Was any of this even real? Was Laito there to begin with? Or was it another nightmare that bled into her waking hours? Her hand reached for the door, but even that felt distant, as if her body no longer belonged to her.

Before he could even respond, she was out like a light. Her body pummeled down onto the floor, leaving behind an echoing thud.He watched as her limp body lay seemingly lifeless on the floor before tipping his fedora and sighing.When Yui's eyes fluttered open, the world felt heavy. Her limbs were numb and weighed down from exhaustion and pain that seemed to pulse from her wounds. Every breath stung, a reminder of how fragile her life had become.

She forced herself upright, legs trembling as though they no longer knew how to support her body. How many times has she woken up like this? How many times has she been disoriented on the floor, aching from multiple bite marks?

The sky was still grey, the clouds hanging low like a suffocating blanket. Each step toward the church felt like a battle as the wind bit at her skin. Finally, there, in the distance, stood the chapel, a sanctuary of stone. The place where she could finally breathe, even if only for a moment. After having to deal with those vanpiric pests day and night, she could finally get the refuge she was seeking for so long.

The large wooden doors were pushed open as the aroma of incense wafted through the air, beckoning her further inside, filling her with childhood nostalgia.She looked about the church, eyes drinking in every detail as if her soul was parched. The candles offered her a sense of warmth and comfort as the cross that stood right in front her was a strict reminder that she could unfurl any and all problems. Here, beneath the gaze of the saints and in the glow of the candles, she could be whole again. Couldn’t she? Her heart still raced, the echo of Laito’s voice slithering through her mind like a snake in the garden of Eden.

It took every ounce of her will to remind herself: God is here. God is watching. She was safe here. She had to be. She chuckled as she remembered how the boys would often call her foolish or naive for believing that crosses and garlic would keep vampires away, but yet they were still uniquely disturbed by churches.

God was everywhere. That’s what they always said. He was in the bread she ate, in the wine she drank. His body. His blood. Her salvation.

Yui felt the hollow pit in her stomach gnawing at her, a hunger that was more than physical. If she could just eat, just take Him into her, maybe....maybe it would fill the emptiness she always felt. Maybe it could actually save her.Sometimes she doubted herself and her God, she knew she shouldn't, but she did.

Despite him being everywhere, he was nowhere to be seen whenever she suffered the most. Was the blood that she poured from her skin a testament to his divine creation? Was that the only reason? Where was He when her voice was hoarse from screaming, her body broken? They said He was in everyone, but how could He be in them? Those monsters who took everything from her. How could God allow such suffering? Or was this His plan all along? No.... It couldn't be. And even if it was, he knew best.

Even here, it wasn’t enough. The prayers weren’t enough. The communion wasn’t enough. Her sins were too deep, her soul too stained. The hunger never left. Maybe...maybe she needed more. More than a sip of wine. More than a crumb of bread. Maybe only something real for once, something stronger that would certainly purify her soul once and for all.

She ushers these thoughts out of her head as she goes to light a candle. There's a lighter next to a Bible and she picks it up, trying to get it to start but it won't. Eventually a flame is born and she rushes to light the candle, accidentally burning herself in the process. She quickly dropped the lighter and began sucking on her finger pad where the burn is.

She sighed in relief as she saw that she didn't also accidentally out the candle with her clumsiness. Still, something didn't feel quite right.

The candle flickered in a way that made it seem as if it would go out any second, or perhaps she was just overthinking. She must've been.

After that day at the church, Yui decided to go more regularly. She knew it was a high risk, so she gradually increased how often she went as to go undetected by the brothers' radar.

She was glad she could escape and find this peace within herself again.

As she left the sanctuary of the church, she couldn't help but feel paranoid as if eyes we're watching her every move as she timidly made her way back "home".

“It’s disgusting to watch her crawl back to that church every time she needs to feel human. Let’s remind her where she belongs, right Teddy?"

.......................................................................................

Yui wakes up weak but determined, her body aching from another brutal night with the vampires. Still, she forces herself to dress and head to the church. As she's about to leave, Ayato grabs her waist from behind and forces her to sit on his lap.

"And where do you think you're going chi-chi-na-shi?"

Despite the red head's seemingly playful tone, she knew she was in trouble. Yui immediately stood up and backed away from Ayato, completely unable to control her fear.

"I- I was just...." She stammered out, knowing there was no right answer.That was until she bumped into someone.

"You're so audacious for a pathetic human. Who do you think you are stepping on my shoe!? I should kill you right now and show you a lesson!"

Kanato screeched as he shoved her right into Laito's arms, who seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Well well well, lookie what I caught. One little bitch~ I haven't seen you in so longgg, are you avoiding me?" Laito's tone was mocking and disgusting. It made her want to throw up.

“I’m just… going to the church. Please. Just let me go. I need it. I need to.....” Yui tried to explain, immediately regretting her decision.

“Oh, you’re done with that place. No more church. No more begging your pathetic god for help. You belong to us now, and no one else.”

Ayato cooed as he stood up, fingers grappling around her throat as Laito pinned her arms behind her back. Kanato was busy staring deep into her skin, looking at her face from the closest possible angle. No. No. They couldn’t take this from her. It was all she had left. The only place where the pain didn’t follow her. The only place where she wasn’t just a shell for them to feed on.

Almost as if he had spider senses, a certain glasses clad man came into the room, ears fuming as he saw the sight before him.

"All of you! Get off of her this instant!" Reiji's voice spoke sternly but usually never loudly.

After a half hour lecture that Yui completely zoned out if, the only part she understood after everything was that she still wasn't allowed to go to the church if it meant the triplets would get out of line if she did.

Was this His plan all along? To let her suffer until she was nothing but an empty teapot? She had begged, she had prayed, but there was only silence. Was He even listening anymore? Or had he abandoned her too?

It had been more than a couple weeks since the incident and Yui wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. Well that is, until she realized she did, she just hadn't thought of it yet.Yui kneels in her room, clutching a rosary in her trembling hands. Her lips move rapidly as she mutters prayers, her voice rising and falling in an erratic rhythm.

She hadn’t eaten in days, believing that suffering would bring her closer to salvation, but all she felt was hunger. A hunger that gnawed at her, deeper than flesh, something she couldn’t satisfy. But that was the point more or less no? To have your body completely clean and as the perfect vessel for God to reside in.

After a couple more days of this, Yui noticed that her thoughts began to become more clear and her body felt as light as a feather. All this fasting and praying finally paid off, she knew it would, it just took devotion.

The only thing she didn't really have was the body and blood of Christ.

"If I can’t take him in at the church, then…..then I’ll have to do it here. God is in everyone, isn’t he? If I eat…if I eat….."Yui said to herself.

She was no longer scared of her thoughts and often embraced them by speaking it out loud as a testimony to her confidence and strength.

She kneels by her bed, trembling, clutching her rosary, praying under her breath for salvation, or at least for some strength to endure the next torment. Despite her praying to avoid such a gruesome thing, she still manages to feel at peace.

Just as she begins to feel a sliver of comfort in her prayer, the door swings open violently, slamming against the wall.

Laito and Ayato saunter in, their footsteps echoing menacingly. Yui flinches, immediately feeling the danger in the air. She can barely muster the strength to stand but forces herself to rise anyways.Laito smirks, his fedora tipping lazily as his eyes settle on her, predatory.

"Nfu~ still clinging to your little God, huh? It’s almost cute... almost." Laito mocks her cruelly. Ayato on the other hand, scoffs.

"Cute? More like pitiful! I can barely stand to look at her, let alone drink her blood." He complains to Laito.The atmosphere grows tense, heavy, as Yui backs away, instinctively gripping the cross tighter.

“Please... just leave me alone...” Yui says, her feet glued to the floor.

"And remind me again when that line has ever worked on any of us pancake?" The redhead said as he rolled his eyes.

"I think it's finally time she pays for her sins, don't you agree Ayato?"

Both brothers smirk as Yui can feel the bile rising in her throat.Yui’s heart races as she feels her fragile reality cracking. Laito grabs her wrist suddenly, forcing her onto her knees. He pulls the rosary from her hands, holding it up mockingly before tossing it aside. Yui watches it roll across the floor, her last tether to her faith slipping from her reach.

"You want to live, don’t you? Then you’re going to prove just how meaningless your God really is."

At this point Yui wasn't even sure who was speaking as her ears were overloaded by the sound of her heartbeat thumping.

Ayato rips the rosary away from her, tossing it to the floor as he kneels down next to her.

"For a while, I couldn't tell if you were this naive or just insane. But either way, you've helped make this a lot more interesting for me pancake." Yui had no idea what that was supposed to mean.

"You'll thank the god you love so much for the pleasure we're about to give you, so hurry up and put those lips to work!"

Ayato commanded as if it were normal. Yui’s mind spins. Her vision blurs as tears well up, mixing with the blood and bruises already marking her pale skin. Her hands tremble violently.

“No... please, I can’t... I can’t...” Yui said, voice croaking and stuttering as she struggled to get the words out.

"Then die. Right here. Right now. I’ll drain you dry and throw away whatever’s left. But hey, you’ll get to meet your God, right?" Laito said sternly as he yanked her backwards, exposing her neck.

Yui’s eyes widen in horror as Laito’s fangs glisten, leaning in toward her throat. Her eyes strain to see as Ayato simply does nothing. The air is thick with malice, suffocating her, as she realizes they mean it. They’ll kill her. This isn’t a game. She doesn’t want to die. Not yet. Her breaths come in ragged, shallow gasps, and the weight of the moment crushes her completely.

Finally, with quivering lips and tears painting her face, she chokes out the words.

"M-my heart rejoices......in the Lord-in the Lord my horn is lifted h-high." She breaks her concentration to cry as Ayato and Laito snicker at her defenseless form.

"My mouth boasts over my e-enemies.....for I delight in your- your....deliverance." She sniffles again as her chest aches and pains her, her own body begging her to stop.

"There is no one holy l-like the Lord-Lord....there is no one be....besides you.....there is no Rock like our G-god."

By the time Yui finishes the prayer, she hadn't realized that both brothers were already feasting on her raw flesh, drinking her blood. She couldn't feel it, she couldn't feel anything.

She just kneeled there, quietly, taking in everything around her and ignoring it all simultaneously. Laito laughs, a chilling sound that sends a shiver down her spine. He lets go of her wrist, watching her crumple into herself.

"See? That wasn’t so hard. Now you can forget all about that little fantasy of salvation. You're ours." His words stung straight into her heart.

"Shit, Kanato's gonna be pissed that we didn't tell him huh?" Ayato began to loudly ponder.

"Even so, it's not us that'll get the fall for it. Bitch-chan will! He's gonna take out all his anger and jealousy onto you." Laito mocks her once again.

Yui was flopped onto the floor, eyes wide but not a hint of thought behind them.

Ayato and Laito eventually left after some back and forth bantering. Actually they left a while ago didn't they? What time was it? Yui hadn't moved since.

She tries to pray again, to reach out for some form of forgiveness, but the words feel hollow. She clutches her own hands, as though searching for a sense of self that has slipped away.

Yui is sitting alone in her room, her body weak, shaking. She’s barely conscious, but she’s consumed by one thought: she needs to be closer to God. She needs to become one with him. The hunger inside her won’t stop, and her mind keeps coming back to the phrase that haunts her: God is in everyone.

"I’m hungry. I’m so hungry. God is in me, isn’t He? If I eat… if I take His body into mine… I’ll finally be saved. I’ll feel whole again. God is in everyone. He must be. He has to be. I just have to… take Him in. It’s the only way." Yui says to herself, voice barely even a whisper.In a feverish, half-conscious state.

Yui bites into her own arm, blood spilling into her mouth. Flesh being torn apart by her feeble dull teeth, which only adds more to the pain. At first, it’s a shock, a painful, visceral reaction....but as she tastes it, there’s a sick sort of relief.

She feels powerful in a way she hasn’t before, as if she’s finally taking something back. Her vision blurs, but the hunger lessens for just a moment. Her mind spins with twisted thoughts. This is it, she thought.

This was what she needed. Eventually she was able to rip through herself like putty. She was finally consuming the very embodiment of God and reclaiming her spiritual purity. Despite her tears and blood, she felt safe again. She felt sure.

"I can feel it… I’m closer now. Closer to Him. If I keep going… If I take more… the hunger will stop. The pain will stop. I’ll finally be saved."

Yui was finally free from the shackles of these brothers and she rejoiced as her own tissue fell off of her arm.

Yui stares at her bloodied hands, trembling. Her stomach churns, it’s not disgust but rather hunger. She’s terrified of herself, but she can’t deny the small, twisted pleasure she feels. She whispers a prayer, but it’s broken, hollow.

“Forgive me, Father, for I… for I have sinned. But… I needed to… I needed to feel You. And now… now I need more.”

44 notes · View notes

valy-gc · 2 months ago

Text

TWST Fanfics ideas - Classes exercices

I was wondering... what are the clases exactly? What do they learn in it? So here are my guess:

In the « normal » class (music, math, art….) the exercices listed here would be in addition of the « normal » exercices. Also I give a list of 10 potential exercices per class, but you can imagine others

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In a "Practical Magic" class they would focus on everyday magic for chores. The exercises could include: 1. Cleaning Charms: Students practice spells to clean objects or spaces without manual labor. 2. Cooking Spells: Learning to prepare meals with a wave of a wand, including chopping, stirring, and temperature control. 3. Repairing Enchantments: Casting spells to mend broken items, from clothing to furniture. 4. Gardening Magic: Using magic to tend to plants, making them grow faster or shaping them into artistic forms. 5. Laundry Spells: Enchanting clothes to wash, dry, and fold themselves. 6. Organization Charms: Spells that sort and organize personal belongings, books, or tools. 7. Protective Wards: Setting up magical barriers to keep homes clean and safe from pests or intruders. 8. Weatherproofing Spells: Enchantments to protect against weather, like waterproofing or temperature regulation. 9. Light Charms: Magical ways to illuminate spaces efficiently. 10. Summoning Spells: Conjuring objects to hand, saving time on searching for misplaced items.

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In a "Conjuration" class, the focus would be on summoning objects, creatures, or elements from thin air or from distant places. Here are some exercises: 1. Basic Summoning: Students learn to summon simple objects like feathers or stones to their hands. 2. Targeted Conjuration: Practicing conjuring items from specific locations, such as retrieving a book from a shelf. 3. Creature Summoning: Safely summoning small magical creatures and learning to interact with them. 4. Food Conjuration: Conjuring edible items, focusing on getting the taste and temperature right. 5. Elemental Conjuration: Bringing forth elements like water or fire, controlling their shape and intensity. 6. Conjuring Clothes: Instantly outfitting oneself with appropriate attire for different occasions. 7. Multiplication: Learning to duplicate objects, which is a complex form of conjuration. 8. Conjuring from Nature: Drawing materials directly from natural sources, like summoning water from a lake or leaves from a tree. 9. Advanced Conjuration: Summoning complex mechanisms or devices, understanding their assembly and function. 10. Emergency Conjuration: Quick conjuration drills for situations requiring immediate access to tools or aids.

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In a "Magical Potion" class, students would learn the delicate art of brewing magical concoctions with various effects. Here are some potential exercises: 1. Ingredient Identification: Recognizing and categorizing potion ingredients by their magical properties. 2. Mixing Methods: Mastering the techniques of stirring, shaking, and combining potion ingredients. 3. Temperature Control: Learning the precise temperatures needed for different stages of potion brewing. 4. Timing Practice: Developing a sense of timing for adding ingredients and the duration of brews. 5. Safety Protocols: Understanding the importance of safety when handling dangerous or volatile substances. 6. Potion Analysis: Testing and analyzing the effects of potions on inanimate objects or consenting magical creatures. 7. Remedy Brewing: Creating potions that heal ailments or counteract poisons. 8. Enhancement Elixirs: Concocting brews that temporarily enhance abilities or senses. 9. Transformation Potions: Experimenting with potions that can change one's appearance or species for a short time. 10. Invisibility Mixtures: Perfecting the tricky art of brewing potions that render the drinker invisible.

~~~~~~~

In an "Alchemy" class, the curriculum would likely explore the mystical side of transforming substances into new forms, Alchemy would also be a form of magical chemistry class. Here are some exercises: 1. Metal Transmutation: Practicing turning base metals into gold or silver, starting with small quantities. 2. Elixir Crafting: Brewing elixirs that promote longevity or enhance physical abilities. 3. Philosopher's Stone Theories: Studying the legendary Philosopher's Stone and attempting to replicate its properties. 4. Substance Purification : Learning to purify and refine substances to increase their magical potency. 5. Gemstone Synthesis: Creating precious gemstones from common minerals through alchemical processes. 6. Liquid to Solid Transmutation: Transforming liquids into solid forms, such as water into crystal. 7. Herbal Alchemy: Using plants and herbs to create powerful extracts and essences. 8. Magical Ink and Paper Making: Producing materials that can hold enchantments or spells. 9. Alchemical Symbols: Understanding and using runes to enhance alchemical reactions. 10. Advanced Alchemy: Attempting more complex transmutations and understanding the ethical implications of alchemy.

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In a “Digital Engineering” class, students would likely explore the intersection of magic and technology. Here are some exercises:

1. Magical Circuit Design: Learning to create circuits that are powered by magical energy. 2. Enchanted Programming: Writing code that interacts with magical objects or creatures. 3. Rune-Based Computing: Using ancient runes to perform computations and process magical data. 4. Golem Programming: Crafting and programming magical automatons for various tasks. 5. Magical Interface Development: Designing interfaces that allow wizards to interact with digital devices. 6. Virtual Spell Simulation: Using virtual reality to practice spells in a controlled digital environment. 7. Enchanted Object Fabrication: 3D printing objects with embedded magical properties. 8. Magical Network Security: Protecting magical databases and networks from unauthorized access or curses. 9. Spellware Development: Creating software that enhances or channels magical abilities. 10. Technomancy Projects: Integrating technology and magic to create innovative solutions to common magical problems.

~~~~~~~~~~

In a “Magic Analysis” class, students would delve into the theoretical aspects of magic and its practical implications, to understand them and maybe creating your own. Here are some exercises:

1. Spell Structure Decomposition: Breaking down spells into their basic components to understand how they work. 2. Magical Flow Charting: Mapping out the flow of magical energy in spells and enchantments. 3. Ritual Analysis: Studying the steps of magical rituals to determine their purpose and effectiveness. 4. Magical Artifact Examination: Investigating the history and magical properties of various artifacts. 5. Potion Formula Deconstruction: Analyzing potion recipes to understand the chemical and magical reactions involved. 6. Enchantment Efficiency Testing: Measuring the strength and duration of enchantments to optimize them. 7. Magical Language Syntax: Exploring the grammar and syntax of magical languages and their impact on spellcasting. 8. Magical Ethics Debate: Discussing the moral implications of different magical practices. 9. Historical Magic Research: Examining historical texts to understand the evolution of magical practices. 10. Magical Theory Papers: Writing and peer-reviewing academic papers on various topics in magical theory.

~~~~~~~~~~

In an “Ancient Curses” class, students would explore the history, creation, and counteraction of curses from ancient times. Here are some exercises that might be included:

1. Curse Identification: Learning to recognize different types of curses and their symptoms. 2. Historical Curse Study: Examining ancient texts and artifacts to understand the origins of famous curses. 3. Curse Crafting: Understanding the components and ethics of creating curses (theoretical exercises only, magic analysis basics needed). 4. Protection Amulets: Designing and creating amulets that protect against curses. 5. Counter-Curse Development: Practicing spells and rituals that can counteract or break curses. 6. Curse Simulation: Role-playing scenarios to understand the impact of curses and practice countermeasures. 7. Language of Cursing: Studying ancient languages and scripts that were traditionally used to cast curses. 8. Ethical Implications: Discussing the moral considerations and consequences of curse usage. 9. Curse Removal Techniques: Learning various methods to cleanse objects, places, or individuals of curses. 10. Field Research: Visiting historical sites believed to be cursed and conducting investigations.

~~~~~~~~~~

In a “Defense Magic” class, students would learn how to protect themselves and others from various magical threats. Here are some exercises:

Shield Spells: Casting protective barriers to deflect or absorb magical attacks.

Counter-Spells: Learning spells that can negate or reverse the effects of incoming spells.

Disarming Techniques: Practicing spells and maneuvers to disarm opponents without causing harm.

Magical First Aid: Applying spells and potions to treat injuries caused by magical means.

Dark Arts Defense: Understanding and defending against dark magic, including curses and hexes.

Stealth and Concealment: Using magic to hide one’s presence or escape detection.

Anti-Poison Spells: Identifying and neutralizing magical poisons and toxins.

Magical Combat: Engaging in controlled duels to practice defensive and offensive spells.

Mind Protection: Strengthening mental defenses against magical intrusion and manipulation.

Environmental Defense: Using magic to manipulate the surroundings for protection, such as creating barriers or camouflage.

~~~~~~

In a class dedicated to “Poison Making,” which would be a highly controlled and ethically sensitive subject, students might engage in the following theoretical exercises:

Toxicology Basics: Understanding the properties of various toxins and their effects on living organisms.

Antidote Formulation: Learning to create antidotes for common poisons.

Safe Handling Procedures: Training in the safe handling, storage, and disposal of toxic substances.

Poison Detection: Practicing spells and techniques to detect the presence of poison in food and drink.

Historical Poisons Study: Researching historical uses of poison and the evolution of toxicology.

Simulated Poison Brewing: Theoretical exercises in brewing poisons with harmless substitutes.

Ethical Debates: Discussing the moral implications of poison use and the responsibilities of a poison maker.

Magical Containment: Learning to magically contain and neutralize poisons to prevent accidents.

Field Identification: Recognizing poisonous plants and creatures in their natural habitats.

Legal Knowledge: Gaining an understanding of the legal restrictions and regulations surrounding poisons.

It’s important to note that such a class would emphasize the importance of using this knowledge for educational purposes only, with a strong focus on safety, ethics, and legal compliance.

~~~~~~~~

In a class focused on “Changes and Comparisons of Abbreviated Spells in Ancient and Modern Magic History,” students would likely explore the evolution of spellcasting techniques and the efficiency of spell abbreviations over time. Here are some exercises that could be part of this class:

Spell Evolution Timeline: Creating a timeline to visualize the changes in spellcasting from ancient to modern times.

Abbreviation Analysis: Comparing the original long-form spells with their modern abbreviated versions to understand the changes in language and technique.

Efficiency Studies: Measuring the effectiveness and speed of casting abbreviated spells versus their full-length counterparts.

Historical Context: Studying the historical events that led to the development of abbreviated spells.

Cultural Impact: Examining how different magical cultures influenced the abbreviation of spells.

Language Shifts: Exploring how changes in magical languages have affected spell abbreviations.

Spell Adaptation: Practicing the adaptation of ancient spells into modern abbreviated forms.

Magical Linguistics: Understanding the linguistic principles that govern the creation of effective spell abbreviations.

Ancient Scripts: Learning to read and interpret ancient magical scripts where original spells were recorded.

Modern Usage: Discussing the role of abbreviated spells in contemporary magical society and how they fit into everyday magical use.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The “History of Magic” class would be about exploring the origins and development of magical practices. Here’s how the class might be:

Ancient Civilizations: Studying the role of magic in ancient exctinct societies.

Magical Artifacts: Examining historical artifacts and their uses in various cultures.

Famous Magicians: Learning about prominent figures in magical history and their contributions.

Evolution of Spells: Tracing the development of spells from ancient incantations to modern-day practices.

Magical Creatures: Investigating the historical accounts of magical creatures and their interactions with humans.

Witch Trials: Analyzing the social and political factors behind witch trials and their impact on magical practices. (assuming there was witch trials at some point in their history, and a time where mages weren't common)

Renaissance Magic: Exploring the resurgence of magical interests during certain times.

Magical Literature: Reading and discussing key texts that have shaped magical theory and practice.

Modern Magic: Understanding the transition from traditional to contemporary magic in the context of technological advancements.

Field Trips: Visiting historical sites and museums to see firsthand the remnants of magical history.

~~~~~~~~~~

In “Animal Languages,” students would learn about the communication methods used by various magical and non-magical creatures. Here are some exercises that might be included:

Basic Animal Sounds: Starting with the sounds made by common creatures (like cats) and understanding their meanings.

Magical Linguistics: Studying the structure of animal languages and how they differ from human speech.

Non-Verbal Communication: Observing and interpreting body language and other non-verbal cues used by animals.

Spell-Assisted Communication: Using spells to facilitate understanding between humans and animals.

Creature Vocalization Practice: Mimicking creature sounds to communicate directly with them.

Field Studies: Conducting fieldwork to observe and interact with animals in their natural habitats.

Magical Translation: Learning spells or using magical devices that translate animal languages.

Historical Animal Speech: Researching ancient texts for references to legendary creatures and their languages.

Interspecies Diplomacy: Role-playing scenarios that require negotiation and communication with magical creatures.

Conservation Ethics: Discussing the importance of preserving magical creatures and their languages.

~~~~~~~~~

In “Astrology”, students would explore the celestial bodies from a scientific perspective while also delving into the mystical aspects that have influenced human culture. Here are some exercises that might be part of this class:

Stargazing Sessions: Using telescopes to observe planets, stars, and other celestial phenomena.

Celestial Navigation: Learning to navigate using the stars and understanding the historical importance of this skill.

Astrological Chart Creation: Drawing and interpreting astrological charts based on the positions of celestial bodies.

Mythology and Constellations: Studying the myths associated with constellations and their origins.

Planetary Influence: Discussing the believed influences of planets and stars on human behavior and events.

Astronomical Calculations: Performing calculations to predict celestial events like eclipses and planet transits.

Space-Time Magic: Exploring theoretical magic that could be influenced by astronomical phenomena.

Astrological Predictions: Practicing the art of making predictions based on astrological signs and movements.

Cosmic Spellwork: Investigating spells and rituals that draw power from celestial events.

Scientific Debates: Engaging in discussions about the intersection of astronomy, astrology, and magic.

~~~~~~~~~~

In “Biology” class, students would study the life processes and organisms. Here are some exercises:

Magical Microscopy: Using enchanted microscopes to observe the cellular structure of magical plants and creatures.

Potion Ingredients Study: Examining the biological properties of common potion ingredients.

Genetics: Learning about the hereditary traits of common and magical creatures.

Ecosystems: Studying the interactions between magical creatures and their environments.

Plant Cultivation: Growing and studying plants with or without magical properties in a controlled setting.

Creature Dissection: Dissecting magical or common creatures (ethically sourced) to understand their anatomy and/or magical organ functions.

Field Trips: Visiting various habitats to study magical and common creatures and plants in their natural settings.

Conservation Magic: Learning spells and techniques for the conservation and protection of species.

Disease Research: Investigating diseases that affect creatures and how to cure them.

Biological Spell Development: Creating spells that can influence biological processes in plants and animals.

~~~~~~~~~~

In “Physical Education” class, the focus would be on maintaining physical health and learning how to incorporate magic into enhancing physical abilities. Here are some exercises that might be included:

Magical Warm-Ups: Starting each class with stretches and light exercises enhanced by warming spells.

Enchanted Obstacle Courses: Navigating obstacle courses that change magically, requiring quick reflexes and agility.

Broomstick Aerobics: Engaging in flying exercises that improve balance and coordination while on a broomstick.

Strength Spells: Learning spells that temporarily increase strength for lifting or moving heavy objects.

Magical Sports: Playing magical versions of traditional sports.

Endurance Charms: Using charms to boost endurance during long-distance running or swimming.

Flexibility Enchantments: Applying enchantments that enhance flexibility and prevent injuries.

Dance Magic: Incorporating magical elements into dance routines for a fun and active workout.

Meditation and Focus: Using meditation techniques to improve concentration and mental stamina.

Magical First Aid: Learning basic first aid spells for treating minor sports injuries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In “Flying” class, students would learn the art of flying, whether it be on broomsticks, magical board, or through levitation spells. Here are some exercises that might be part of the curriculum:

Broomstick Basics: Learning how to mount, dismount, and handle a broomstick properly.

Levitation Spells: Practicing spells that allow one to float or fly without the aid of objects.

Flight Safety: Understanding the safety protocols for flying, including protective spells and charms.

Aerial Maneuvers: Mastering basic flying techniques such as turns, stops, and speed control.

Magical board Handling: If applicable, learning to control and fly on magical board.

Group Flights: Participating in synchronized flying exercises to build teamwork and coordination.

Altitude Adaptation: Acclimating to higher altitudes and learning how to adjust for air pressure changes.

Racing Techniques: Engaging in friendly races to improve agility and speed.

Emergency Landings: Practicing how to land safely in case of an emergency or spell failure.

Weather Spells: Using spells to navigate and adapt to different weather conditions while flying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In “Swimming” class, students would learn not only traditional swimming techniques but also how to incorporate magic into their aquatic activities. Here are some exercises:

Water Adaptation Spells: Casting spells that allow students to breathe underwater and withstand pressure changes.

Aquatic Mobility Charms: Learning charms to enhance swimming speed and agility in the water.

Merfolk Communication: Studying the language and customs of merfolk to interact with them during underwater excursions.

Underwater Navigation: Using magical means to navigate through murky or enchanted waters.

Magical Marine Life: Identifying and studying the behaviors of magical creatures that live in water.

Water Safety Enchantments: Applying protective enchantments to prevent drowning and other water-related accidents.

Diving Techniques: Practicing diving spells that allow for smooth entry into the water from great heights.

Temperature Control Charms: Learning to regulate body temperature to comfortably swim in cold waters.

Underwater Spellcasting: Mastering the art of casting spells while submerged and dealing with the resistance of water.

Rescue and Recovery Spells: Training in spells and procedures for rescuing others from aquatic dangers.

~~~~~~~~~~

In “Music” class, students would explore musical arts, with and without magic. Here are some exercises that might be included:

Instrumental Enchantment: Learning to play and enchant instruments so they can be played magically without physical touch.

Magical Music Theory: Studying the theory behind music and how it interacts with magical frequencies.

Enchanted Choir: Singing in a choir where voices are magically harmonized.

Rhythmic Spellcasting: Combining spellcasting with rhythm to enhance the potency of spells.

Musical Creature Communication: Using music to communicate with creatures that respond to magical melodies.

Historical Magical Composers: Learning about famous magical composers and their contributions to the musical world.

Sound Manipulation: Practicing spells that manipulate sound waves to create music or silence.

Magical Performance: Preparing and performing in magical concerts or recitals.

Music and Emotion: Exploring how music can influence emotions and states of mind magically.

Instrument Crafting: Building magical instruments with unique properties and sounds.

~~~~~~~~~~~

In “Art” class, students would likely explore various forms of creative expression, possibly incorporating magical elements into their artwork. Here are some exercises:

Enchanted Drawing: Practicing drawing techniques with enchanted pencils that bring sketches to life.

Potion Paints: Creating paints from magical potions that change color or have other unique properties.

Sculpting with Magic: Using transfiguration spells to sculpt materials like clay or stone without physical tools.

Illusionary Art: Crafting art that moves or changes, creating illusions that trick the eye.

Magical Photography: Taking and developing photographs that capture magical auras or movements.

Wearable Art: Designing clothing or jewelry with enchantments that alter their appearance.

Art History: Studying the works of famous magical artists and their impact on magical society.

Artistic Spellwork: Learning spells that enhance artistic abilities or inspire creativity.

Magical Murals: Painting murals with spells that make them interact with the environment.

Restoration Techniques: Using magic to restore and preserve ancient artworks and artifacts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In “Mathematics” class... well students would likely explore both the theoretical and practical applications of math, but may use magic too. Here are some exercises other than the "common" ones:

Arithmancy: Studying the magical properties of numbers and their use in spell-crafting and divination.

Geometric Spell Patterns: Drawing geometric shapes that form the basis of complex spell structures.

Potion Measurements: Precisely measuring and calculating potion ingredients for perfect brews.

Magical Algebra: Solving equations that predict magical phenomena or outcomes.

Astronomical Calculations: Using mathematics to predict celestial alignments and their magical effects.

Transfiguration Geometry: Applying geometric principles to accurately transfigure objects into different shapes.

Probability and Chance: Calculating probabilities to predict the outcomes of magical experiments.

Magical Graph Theory: Mapping out the connections between magical nodes or ley lines.

Temporal Equations: Understanding the mathematical principles behind time-related spells.

Mathematical Proofs: Proving theorems that underpin magical laws and principles.

~~~~~~~~~~

In “Health” class that would be held twice a year by the nurse(s), students would likely focus on both physical and magical well-being. Here are some exercises:

Magical Nutrition: Learning about magical foods and their effects on health and magical abilities.

Body Enhancement Charms: Understanding the ethical use of charms that temporarily enhance physical abilities.

Magical Hygiene: Learning spells and practices for maintaining personal and environmental cleanliness.

Disease Awareness: Studying magical and non-magical diseases, their symptoms, and prevention methods.

First Aid Training: Gaining practical skills in magical and non-magical first aid techniques.

#disney twisted wonderland #twst #twst wonderland #disney twst #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland classes #exercices

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mindblowingscience · 7 months ago

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Recent findings that plants employ a drought-survival mechanism to also defend against nutrient-sucking pests could inform future crop breeding programs aimed at achieving better broadscale pest control. Using an advanced fluorescent biosensor (ABACUS2) that can detect tiny changes in plant hormone concentrations at the cellular scale, scientists saw that abscisic acid (ABA), usually linked with drought response, started closing the plant's entry gates within 5 hours of being infested with spider mites. Microscopic leaf pores (stomata) are important for gas exchange but are also the major sites for water loss. When there is a water shortage, plants act to conserve water by producing the drought stress hormone ABA to close their stomata.

#Science #Plants #Agriculture #Biology #Biotechnology #Pest Control #Spider Mites

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elexuscal · 1 year ago

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Ficlet prompt idea! Interactions between ART and Pin-Lee and/or Mensah in the time after NE but before SC.

More thoughts if you wanted more inspiration than a single line. Does Pin-Lee teach ART some new curses ('cause ART curses alot more in this book, and I wanna blame Pin-Lee like how Rhatti mentions the overlap between MB and Pin-Lee's curse vocab)? How great would their banter be, lawyer vs know-it-all-AI?!

Is ART still kinda shy/excited by meeting Mensah?

Thank you~ I really love your work!!!

Awwww thank you very much!

Oh man i was so spoiled for choice here but i really really struggled to think of an interesting take on this

Big thank you to @specialagentartemis who i paraphrased a significant chunk of this from as well as general Vibes

Asshole vs Asshole

So here's the thing. Here's the fucking thing, okay?

Twenty-three days. Twenty-three fucking days of waiting, of worrying, of preparing. Of nearly chewing her own arm off. Of thinking she was walk into a fucking blood bath.

And the Preservation Alliance rescue team finally gets to the scene of the crime, and no one is dead. Which is fucking good, obviously. Okay. She gets it. No one's dead, no one's lost any limbs, and praise the dark gods of yesteryear, no one has even been kidnapped. This is literally better than the best-case scenarios they concocted.

But surely, surely, Pin-Lee can't be the only one who thinks it is fucking weird to be having tea with the person who did the kidnapping in the fist place?

"Thank you, Perihelion," Ayda says, as a shiny blue drone finishes pouring tea into a cup. Just a whiff and a glance is all Pin-Lee needs to know it was brewed exactly the way Dr. Mensah prefers it.

The drone turns to hover to her. It pours a drink into her own mug. Pin-Lee glares at it.

Ayda doesn't look at her, doesn't so much as tilt her head. But they've worked together for a long, long time now, and Pin-Lee nonetheless reads the subtler body language. She grinds out, "Thank you."

She sips the drink. It is coffee and it is extremely bitter and it's warm-but-not-quite-hot and Pin-Lee has a sneaking suspicion it is at least a few hours old.

[You're welcome~] Perihelion's trills as the drone zooms away.

Peri. Fucking. Helion.

Turns out, it's the one that orchestrated this whole thing. The super-secret advanced spaceship that SecUnit apparently befriended while it was off on its journey of self-discovery or whatever decided that it knew exactly who could handle its little pest control problem, and hadn't much cared which innocent civilians got stuck in the cross-fire.

"There were extenuating circumstances," SecUnit had explained, face set like it was ready for a fight.

"It's all fine, water under the bridge," Ratthi had said. "No harm done really."

"Except for the new layers of fresh trauma," Overse had groused.

"But we're handling that, too," Arada had said, with a too-bright smile. "And it's a good thing we're here to help the colonists."

"Yeah yeah and you should see ART's hydroponics bay, it's super cool," said Amena, tugging on her arm.

So suffice to say she was kind of getting some Mixed Signals about this whole thing.

But okay! Corporates descending to steal the livelihoods of hundreds of innocents! Fine! There's a lot at stake! And this is what Pin-Lee is good at, and (sort of) what she was dragged along to handle, so she is willing to put this all aside for the greater good.

Pin-Lee sips at her under-handed-insult coffee and reads over the legal feed documents of this whole cluster-fuck of a case. "Okay," she says at last. "Okay, this is salvageable. But I'm going to need to some more info before I can fully revise this.."

"Of course," says the captain of The Perihelion, a note of genuine relief in his otherwise professional voice. "What do you need?"

"1: A full list of all the symptoms associated with the contamination, and its speed of spread. That'll influence what level of breach this is classified under. 2: Estimates for all of the colonists deaths that were directly caused due to their being stranded. 3: Monetary evaluation of all the colonists' remaining assets..."

"Of course," the captain agrees

Which is fine. Except fifteen minutes later some teenager not-much-older-than-Amena shows up and hands Pin-Lee a stack of paper.

"What's this?" Pin-Lee says, her eyes immediately skidding off of the hand-written tables and charts.

"That's our evaluation of the colonists' assets, like you asked for," the teenager (Turi?) says.

Pin-Lee looks at Turi, to the papers, and back at Turi again. "Can I get this in the feed?"

"Well.... You can..." Turi says, a bit of red in their cheeks. "But..."

"But no guarantee the numbers won't be doctored there," calls Karime from the other side of the lounge.

Teeth grinding in the back of her mouth, Pin-Lee manages, "What?"

[My numbers are perfectly accurate,] Perihelion protests. [It is hardly my fault if none of you are capable of following the calculations.]

Martyn snorts. "It would help if you bothered explaining all your sources."

[Find them yourself.]

Pin-Lee can barely believe what she's hearing. "Are you telling me... that your AI keeps fucking with the numbers so bad that you need to get a teenager to do the accounts by hand."

"I'm not a teenager, I'm twenty-three." Pin-Lee huffs; as if that's a meaningful difference. "And I'm a very, very good accountant." Turi pauses, then admits, "But that's the long and short of it, yes."

Pin-Lee can't help it. She drops her head to the table and hides it under her arms.

[Do you have a problem with this state of affairs?] the very aptly re-named Asshole Research Transport oozes in her private feed.

[You really don't need me to answer that.]

[You're right. I don't.]

She uncurls her finger and makes a rude gesture. Presumably one of its thousands of cameras will see it.

That summons SecUnit into the conversation. [Are you two fucking with each other again?]

[No,] they say in unison.

[Cut it out,] SecUnit says, and then drops away. Truly a master of conflict resolution, that one.

'I'll cut it out when you learn to make nicer friends', she almost sends, but catches the obvious come-back and stops herself. Instead she takes sip of her shitty coffee and gets to work trying to interpret hand-written accounts.

#murderbot diaries #network effect #system collapse #i want nothing more than ART and Pin-Lee to get on like a house on fire #'is that a good thing or a bad thing?'#yes #don't worry having someone to snipe at is enrichment for both of them #fanfic

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