#ag scraper

[thesilicontribesman]

Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age Micro Flints, Banchory Museum, Scotland

[jesterguy]

Patton Oswalt appears for an episode of our current background noise show. I look up and think to myself, "Huh. Didn't he die recently?" After a brief pause I tell myself, "No, that was WWDITS misinformation"

[vestaignis]

Пещера Деветашка считается одной из самых крупных в Болгарии и всей Европе. Она расположена на реке Осым, между селами Деветаки и Дойренци (Ловечская область). Пещера обнаружена лишь в 1921 году, а с 1996 года является охраняемым памятником природы. Ее протяженность составляет около 1,5 км, а входом служит гигантский проем 55 м в ширину и 35 м в высоту.

Пещера Деветашка поражает воображение туристов. Ее потолки высотой от 60 до 100 метров имеют многочисленные провалы, которые местные жители называют окнами. Они создают естественное освещение, но практически не нагревают пещеру. Поэтому здесь прохладно даже в знойные летние дни. Внутри протекает река, есть подземные озера, водопады, сталагмиты и сталактиты. В залах обитают летучие мыши, поэтому они закрыты с 1 ноября по 1 апреля, чтобы не мешать размножению животных.

В пещере обнаружены следы обитания древнего человека. Согласно археологическим исследованиям пещера служила убежищем людям с поздней палеолитической эпохи. Археологические раскопки обнаружили остатки из культурного слоя почти всех доисторических периодов. Рельефный слой толщиной от 0,3 до 5,5 м содержит остатки поселений разных эпох: палеолита(кремневые орудия мустьерских форм, позднепалеолитические изделия из кремня и костей); неолита (очаги с каменной основой, узкие каменные топоры, кремневые заточки и скребки, костяные лощила, шила и долота, керамику с резьбленными надписями); энеолита ( разрушенные жилища, печи, зернотерки,орудия из камня и костей, посуда с резной, рельефной и другой орнаментацией, антропоморфные фигуры); бронзового века (боевые топоры из бронзы, темнолощённые керамические изделия); железного века (бронзовые ножи, железное оружие).

Вторая мировая война оставила и здесь свой след. Во времена социализма пещера использовалась в качестве склада боеприпасов на случай военных действий, а также служила хранилищ��м нефтепродуктов. В пещере до сих пор остались следы в виде кругов с тех времен.

Немаловажной частью этого чудного места является разнообразие представителей фауны. В пещере обитают более сотни различных видов живности, некоторые из которых даже занесены в Красную книгу! В их числе 12 видов охраняемых земноводных (эскулап, полоз, тритон, древесные лягушки, черепахи Германа), около 80-ти видов птиц, 34 вида млекопитающих и 15 видов летучих мышей.

Devetashka Cave is considered one of the largest in Bulgaria and throughout Europe. It is located on the Osam River, between the villages of Devetaki and Doirentsi (Lovech region). The cave was discovered only in 1921, and since 1996 it has been a protected natural monument. Its length is about 1.5 km, and the entrance is a gigantic opening 55 m wide and 35 m high.

Devetashka Cave amazes tourists. Its ceilings range from 60 to 100 meters high and have numerous gaps, which locals call windows. They create natural light, but practically do not heat the cave. Therefore, it is cool here even on hot summer days. A river flows inside, there are underground lakes, waterfalls, stalagmites and stalactites. The halls are inhabited by bats, so they are closed from November 1 to April 1, so as not to interfere with the breeding of animals.

Traces of ancient human habitation were found in the cave. According to archaeological research, the cave has served as a shelter for people since the late Paleolithic era. Archaeological excavations have discovered remains from the cultural layer of almost all prehistoric periods. The relief layer, 0.3 to 5.5 m thick, contains the remains of settlements from different eras: Paleolithic (flint tools of Mousterian forms, Late Paleolithic objects made of flint and bones); Neolithic (hearths with a stone base, narrow stone axes, flint sharpenings and scrapers, bone polishes, awls and chisels, ceramics with carved inscriptions); Eneolithic (destroyed dwellings, ovens, grain grinders, tools made of stone and bones, dishes with carved, relief and other ornamentation, anthropomorphic figures); Bronze Age (battle axes made of bronze, dark-polished ceramics); Iron Age (bronze knives, iron weapons).

The Second World War left its mark here too. During socialism, the cave was used as an ammunition depot in case of hostilities, and also served as a storage facility for petroleum products. There are still traces in the cave in the form of circles from those times.

An important part of this wonderful place is the diversity of fauna. The cave is home to more than a hundred different species of living creatures, some of which are even listed in the Red Book! These include 12 species of protected amphibians (aesculapius, snake, newt, tree frogs, Hermann's tortoises), about 80 species of birds, 34 species of mammals and 15 species of bats.

Источник:/bulgariaexpert.ru/info/peschera-devetashka.php, /www. ntabulgaria.ru/blog/interesnye-mesta/peshhera-devetashka/, juicyworld.org/devetashka-cave/,/volimo-balkan.livejournal .com /450004.html,//meteo.by/around/c288c52491142c32.html, //www. tripadvisor.ru/Attraction_Review-g14037230-d4184576-Reviews-Devetashka_Cave-Devetaki_Lovech_Province.html,/bolgarskiydom .com/devetashka/.

[thecreaturecodex]

Yule Lad

"Gryla and the Yule Lads" © Marc Potts, accessed on his Threads account here

[It's been a while since I made a new Christmas monster, hasn't it? I woke up this morning with an uncontrollable urge to stat up the Yule Lads. It's December 21st at the time of posting, so look out for Window Peeper!]

Yule Lad CR 4 CN Fey This odd little man has a red cap, a white beard and a look of disheveled mischief about him. His fingernails are claw-like, and the shadows around him cast eerie shapes.

The Yule Lads are a gang of gnomish pranksters, each of them specializing in a particular brand of theft or harassment. They are so named because their habit is to descend upon communities during the winter solstice in order to wreak their mischief. They are the sons of the wicked troll Grýla and the lazy ogre Leppalúði, but themselves are not evil. They once were, and happily abducted children for their mother to eat, but they have mellowed somewhat with the passing of the ages. A household that endures their thefts and torments with good humor may find themselves rewarded with small strange gifts (often those stolen from other households).

There are thirteen prominent Yule Lads who travel together, coming down from the mountains one by one to prey on the same community before leaving in turn after a few weeks of mischief. Each one is named after their preferred targets or habits. They are, in their typical order of operations:

Sheepcote Clod, who harasses sheep and drinks their milk straight from the udder

Gully Gawk, who peeps on milkmaids and steals milk once it has been collected

Stubby, who steals burnt food and dirty pans and has very short legs

Spoon Licker, who licks the stirring spoons between uses to contaminate them

Pot Scraper, who steals leftover food before it can be stored

Bowl Licker, who eats food left out for domestic animals

Door Slammer, who wakes families up in the night with loud banging noises

Skyr Gobbler, who is voracious for skyr, yogurt and other fermented dairy products

Sausage Swiper, who hides in the rafters of smokehouses to steal sausages

Window Peeper, who is a voyeur and general thief

Door Sniffer, who can smell fresh baked bread from miles away

Meat Hook, who uses an ogre hook to steal meat from butchers and pantries alike

Candle Beggar, who steals candles in order to eat them

The Yule Lads prefer not to fight if they can help it. They use their mastery over shadows to teleport in and out of houses to rob and to frighten off anyone who attempts to stop them. If they are met with lethal violence, they will fight back, but typically attempt to flee if they see an opportunity. If one of the Yule Lads is slain, however, his brothers will declare a vendetta against his killer and retaliate in turn. These feuds end with the death of the killer and their associates, or with the killer paying off the Lads with sufficient weregild. Rumors circulate that there have been as many as fifty Yule Lads over the centuries, some of whom were slain and others of whom have grown bored of vexing people and retreated into the wilderness for good.

Yule Lad CR 4 XP 1,200 Variant advanced ogrekin redkind CN Small fey (giant) Init +6; Senses low-light vision, Perception +7 Aura twisted shadows (30 ft., DC 14)

Defense AC 22, touch 17, flat-footed 16 (+1 size, +6 Dex, +5 natural) hp 28 (3d6+18) Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +5 Weakness giant-blood, situational blindness

Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee 2 claws +6 (1d4+5) Spell-like Abilities CL 3rd, concentration +6 At will—dancing lights, darkness, detect thoughts (DC 15), ghost sound (DC 13), lullaby (DC 13) 1/day—grease (DC 14), minor image (DC 15), snare

Statistics Str 20, Dex 22, Con 23, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 17 Base Atk +1; CMB +5; CMD 21 Feats Alertness, Deft Hands Skills Climb +9, Disable Device +11, Escape Artist +12, Intimidate +10, Perception +9, Sense Motive +9, Sleight of Hand +14, Stealth +18; Racial Modifiers +4 Intimidate Languages Common, Giant, Sylvan SQ deformities (varies), shadow jump

Ecology Environment cold mountains and urban Organization solitary or family (2-13) Treasure standard (thieves tools, other gear)

Special Abilities Deformities (Ex) Each of the Yule Lads has two deformities, one beneficial and one disadvantageous. These are as follows:

Sheepcote Clod: gnarled hands (claws deal 1d6 damage); stiff back (-4 to grapple and trip combat maneuver checks; can only stand from prone as a full-round action)

Gully Gawk: bulging eye (darkvision 60 ft.); light sensitivity

Stubby: thick feet (+4 CMD vs. bull rush, overrun and trip, +2 AC vs. charge attacks); stunted legs (-10 ft. movement)

Spoon Licker: lanky (+5 ft. reach); fragile (-4 Con)

Pot Scraper: thick skin (+2 natural armor); distractible (when rolls a natural 1 on an ability check, attack roll, saving throw or skill check, confused for 1 round)

Bowl Licker: oversized maw (bite attack dealing 1d4 damage); brittle bones (creatures gain a +4 circumstance bonus to confirm critical hits against him)

Door Slammer: vice grip (+2 to CMB to disarm and grapple, +4 CMD vs. disarm and grapple); obese (-2 Dex)

Skyr Gobbler: quick metabolism (+2 to Fortitude saves), weak mind (-2 to Will saves)

Sausage Swiper: long fingers (Climb speed equal to ½ land speed); offensive odor (-2 Cha, detectable at double range with scent)

Window Peeper: enlarged skull (+2 Int, [3 ranks in Appraise]); deformed hand (only one claw attack, -2 to attack rolls with two-handed weapons)

Doorway Sniffer: snout (scent); trusting (-2 to Will saves vs. mind-influencing effects, -1 initiative)

Meat Hook: oversized limb (can wield Medium weapons without penalty); flaking skin (-1 natural armor, vulnerability to nonlethal damage)

Candle Beggar: grotesque ears (blindsense 10 ft., +4 Perception); massive girth (-4 to Stealth)

Giant-Blood (Ex) Although the Yule Lads are fey creatures, they are the children of giants, and as such are treated as having the giant subtype for the purposes of spells and abilities. Situational Blindness (Su) The Yule Lads have trouble targeting creatures who can’t see them. Any creature that can’t see a Yule Lad (such as by closing its own eyes) gains partial concealment from it. Any creature that covers itself entirely (such as by hiding under a blanket) gains full concealment, even if the creature would not otherwise be considered hidden. Shadow Jump (Su) A Yule Lad can travel between shadows as if using a dimension door spell. The Yule Lad must begin and end its transportation in an area of dim illumination. A Yule Lad can travel up to 40 feet a day in this fashion, and can split this distance up in 10 foot increments if he so chooses. Twisted Shadows (Su) In areas of dim illumination or darker, a Yule Lad’s presence animates the shadows within 30 feet of it into leering or wicked shapes. The first time a creature ends its turn within this aura, it must succeed at a DC 13 Will saving throw or become shaken for 10 minutes. If the creature succeeds at the saving throw, it cannot be affected again by the same Yule Lad’s twisted shadows for 24 hours. This is a fear effect, and the DC is Charisma-based.

[not-poignant]

it’s funny, you used to put advanced excerpts but now you barely ever do, is that cuz your chapters are way shorter than they used to be?

Oh, my dear troll, I hope you're coping with the world disasters going on okay without spreading hate a- too late!

I've been posting advance excerpts for all of my chapters for months, including for all three that went out this month. And then people get a bunch more (usually too NSFW for me to trust Tumblr with them) on the Discord. I'd give you a link, but I don't specifically want to put it in this post because of reasons.

And my chapter length has been around the same for 1.5 years! It's actually trending up in length :D (about 1.5 years ago it as around 2.8k-3.2k and now it's around 3k to 4.2k - which is all much, much longer than the recommended length of the average serial chapter). Prior to that, I never once posted excerpts when my chapters were longer, so you must be new here, anon.

It's funny how much this reads like one of those negative AI bot scraper comments on AO3, but with the added knowledge that it's probably just a 16 year old who feels very overwhelmed right now with the state of the world and wants to harass a disabled trans person about it. You know, it's true, therapy is expensive, and sometimes it's impossible to find a good one. It's hard when you don't have support or good people in your life, so you find a target you can dehumanise and not think of as a real person, and try to make their life harder.

A lot of folks don't know what to do with their emotions constructively, and so they just want to hurt people with them in a way to feel a rush of dopamine, or feel like they're superior to just one person. The thing is, anon, my life's already pretty difficult, and you might want to at least take your hate and your need to hurt people to like, a transphobe's doorstep or something? Or call a politician and tell them how much their policies hurt you. I'm sure you could use your ability to make jabs at folks and use them for the power of good, y'know? It's hard to be emotionally healthy in this day and age, maybe just don't kick the little guy when they're already down, especially on stuff you're wrong about.

I wish you the best!

[trapangeles]

Kendrick Lamar’s "Squabble Up": A Visual Masterpiece of Cultural References and Homage

Kendrick Lamar has once again cemented his place as a visionary artist with the release of his "Squabble Up" music video. Packed with cultural nods, historical tributes, and impactful cameos, the video is a layered exploration of Black culture, West Coast pride, and hip-hop legacy. Here’s a deep dive into the elements that make this visual a masterpiece.

1. Ice-T's Power Album Cover

Kendrick pays homage to Ice-T’s 1988 album Power, one of the foundational pieces of West Coast rap history. By referencing this album, Kendrick honors a pioneer who paved the way for artists to merge raw storytelling with mainstream appeal.

2. David Hammons’ “African-American Flag”

The reinterpretation of the U.S. flag by David Hammons, featuring red, black, and green colors, symbolizes Black identity and resilience. Kendrick’s inclusion of this flag is a nod to empowerment, heritage, and the ongoing fight for equality.

3. Soul Train Scramble Boards

Kendrick incorporates the scramble boards made famous by Soul Train, the iconic Black dance and music show. This nostalgic reference celebrates Black excellence and the cultural impact of the show, which gave countless artists a platform.

4. Trunk Boiz “Scraper Bike” Video

The video nods to the 2007 “Scraper Bike” video by Trunk Boiz, a Bay Area anthem celebrating creativity and individuality. This homage reflects regional pride and highlights how grassroots movements have shaped urban culture.

5. Menace II Society Reference

The tricycle scene is a direct reference to the 1993 urban classic Menace II Society. This moment reminds viewers of the gritty realities of inner-city life and ties Kendrick’s storytelling to a legacy of authentic cinema.

6. Isaac Hayes’ Black Moses Album Cover

Kendrick recreates the cover of Isaac Hayes’ 1971 album Black Moses. This nod pays tribute to a soul music legend whose work represented strength, vulnerability, and empowerment.

7. The Roots’ "The Next Movement" Video

Visual parallels to The Roots’ 1999 “The Next Movement” video highlight Kendrick’s connection to progressive hip-hop storytelling, showing his appreciation for fellow innovators.

8. Nate Dogg Tribute

Kendrick subtly honors West Coast legend Nate Dogg, whose smooth hooks defined an era of hip-hop. This tribute ties the video to the golden age of West Coast rap and acknowledges Nate Dogg’s lasting influence on the culture.

9. “Jesus Saves Gangsters Too” Outreach Ministry

This reference to the grassroots ministry founded in 2000 emphasizes themes of redemption and transformation. By including this, Kendrick underscores his message that no one is beyond saving.

10. Statue of a Black Panther

A striking statue of a Black Panther symbolizes resistance, unity, and empowerment. This imagery connects Kendrick’s work to the legacy of the Black Panther Party and its role in advocating for justice.

11. Ese’s Partying Scene

Kendrick includes a scene of Ese’s partying, highlighting the intersection of Black and Chicano cultures in L.A. This moment is a celebration of diversity and community, integral to the West Coast lifestyle.

12. Big and Curvy Women Dancing

The inclusion of big and curvy women dancing challenges societal beauty standards and celebrates body positivity. Kendrick has long been an advocate for authenticity, and this scene is a bold statement of inclusivity and empowerment.

13. Dog Trainer Bitten by a Pitbull

The scene of a pitbull biting its handler carries layered symbolism. It could represent the struggle between control and rebellion or speak to the unpredictability and survival instincts that define life in the streets.

14. Westside Traffic’s Hoover Stomp

Schoolboy Q’s artist Westside Traffic performs the Hoover Stomp, bringing raw, authentic energy to the video. This moment is a vibrant nod to L.A. street culture and its unique contributions to hip-hop.

15. Storm DeBarge’s Stunning Moves

Choreographer and dancer Storm DeBarge brings dynamic energy to the video with her captivating performance, further showcasing Kendrick’s commitment to highlighting Black artistry.

16. Black Panther Movie Connection

Kendrick subtly nods to his work on the Black Panther movie soundtrack. This acknowledgment reinforces his role as a cultural leader bridging the worlds of art, music, and activism.

17. Cameos from L.A. Stars

The video features appearances by Taz Arnold, G Perico, RJMrLA, and Cuzzos, bringing together a community of creatives who embody the vibrant spirit of L.A.’s music scene.

A Celebration of Culture and Legacy

From its rich cultural references to powerful imagery and standout cameos, Kendrick Lamar’s "Squabble Up" is a layered visual masterpiece. It’s not just a music video—it’s a celebration of resilience, identity, and the enduring legacy of hip-hop.

Have you been spending all your money and time on making music and shooting videos, but still not getting any exposure? Tired of just spinning your wheels? You know to get exposure you need to get featured on blogs, radio stations, playlist, and get your music e-mail blasted out to the masses. Need help getting all that done? Then check out the Package we’ve made available for you below!

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[whencyclopedia]

Ancient Jordan

Jordan is a country in the Near East bordered by Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The country's name comes from the Arabic Al Urdun, referencing a fortified site but also meaning "prominence", though various sources also claim the name comes from the Hebrew word Yarad ("descender"), referencing the downward flow of the River Jordan.

The region has a long history as an important trade center for every major empire from the ancient world to the present age (from the Akkadian Empire to the Ottoman Empire), and numerous sites in the country are mentioned throughout the Bible; 180 times in the Old Testament and 15 times in the New Testament.

Alexander the Great (r. 336-323 BCE) founded cities in the region (such as Gerasa) and the Nabateans carved their capital city of Petra there from sandstone cliffs. Early in its history, the area attracted and inspired traders, artists, philosophers, craftspeople, and, inevitably, conquerors, all of whom have left their mark on the history of the modern-day country.

Jordan, formally known as The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, has been an independent nation since 1946 after thousands of years as a vassal state of foreign empires and European powers and has developed into one of the most stable and resourceful nations in the Near East. Its capital city, Amman, is considered one of the most prosperous in the world and a popular destination for tourists. The history of the region is vast, going back more than 8,000 years, and encompassing the tale of the rise and fall of empires and the evolution of the modern state.

Early History

Archaeological excavations date human habitation in the region of Jordan back to the Paleolithic Age (around two million years ago). Tools such as stone hand-axes, scrapers, drills, knives, and stone spear points dated to this time period have been found in various locations throughout the country. The people were hunter-gatherers, who led a nomadic life moving from place to place in search of game. In time, they began building permanent settlements and establishing agricultural communities.

The Neolithic Age (c. 10,000 BCE) saw the rise of stable, sedentary communities and the growth of agriculture. These small villages eventually became urban centers with their own industry and initiated trade with others. Large urban centers developed such as the city of Jericho, claimed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with an approximate founding date of 9,000 BCE.

According to scholar G. Lankester Harding:

far higher culture than we had hitherto suspected, for here was not merely a village of well-built houses with fine plaster floors, but there was a great stone wall all around the settlement with a ditch or dry moat in front of it. This implies a high degree of communal organization, of subordinating the personal interests to those of the many.

(29)

Communal interests are also evident in the ancient monuments raised at this time. Throughout the Neolithic Age, the people constructed megalithic dolmens across the land (very similar in size, shape, and methods used to those of Ireland). These dolmens are thought to be monuments to the dead or possibly passageways between worlds. These dolmens are often found in fields of circled stones whose meaning remains unclear, but it is obvious that the builders would have had to work in groups for a common cause to create these sites.

Lime Plaster Statue from Ain Al-Ghazal

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (Copyright)

The dolmen sites were most likely religious in nature and visited for worship, divination, and festivals by the people of the nearby cities. The largest settlement of the Neolithic Age in Jordan was Ain Ghazal, located in the northwest (near the present-day capital of Amman). Inhabited c. 7000 BCE, Ain Ghazal was an agricultural community whose artisans created some of the most striking anthropomorphic statuary in early history. The statues found at Ain Ghazal are among the oldest in the world today.

The community had over 3,000 citizens and engaged in trade and the manufacture of pottery, which increased the wealth of the people individually and the city collectively. Ain Ghazal continued as a prosperous settlement for 2000 years between c. 7000 BCE and 5000 BCE when it was abandoned, most likely due to overuse of the land.

Continue reading...

[jelzorz]

174.

The Celestial elves say no. Of course they say no. Callum doesn't know what else he expected. Did he really think they could just waltz into the Star Scraper and ask to borrow the Nova Blade and a handful of quasar diamonds, and then get them, no questions asked?

His head still hurts from that vision, that dream that felt far too much like that time he'd collapsed after doing Dark Magic for the first time, and though he and Rayla have been granted a room for their trouble, the Nova Blade is still out of reach, and those quasar diamonds are embedded into that crown the blind priest refused to share. Rayla is lying on the bed, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling of stars, dazed and a little defeated, he thinks, because those diamonds are the only way to free her parents, and they'll never get them, not like this, and meanwhile the sword—

Callum makes a face. He's been pacing up and down the length of the room for about twenty minutes because there is... one more thing they could try. One last chance to obtain the weapon that might save them all and the jewels that would free her parents. It's just... not a particularly bright idea. Not a very legal one, even here.

"What are you thinking?" asks Rayla at last. She sits up in the bed, wary, exhausted, like even she doubts their mission here is one they can complete. "You've been pacing for ages. Want to share with the class?"

Callum presses his lips together. "I don't know," he says after a moment. "I just... We need that sword and those diamonds, there's got to be a way to convince them—"

Rayla lets out a hollow laugh. "Yeah, no. I don't think there's anything we could say to change their minds."

"Yeah, but—"

She flops back down. "I dunno, Callum," she mumbles. "I want to get my parents out of those coins so bad, and I know you want that sword to use against Aaravos but... I don't think there's anything else we can do here. They've made it clear it's not happening and I... don't want to get my hopes up for nothing."

He grimaces then, hating how hopeless she sounds, hating the wobble in her voice and the way it makes his heart ache in ways he will never be able to explain. There's still that last resort, isn't there? The final chance to get everything they need in one go, with permission or without it, and it all comes down to what they are and aren't willing to do.

But that would mean—

He shakes his head. No. It's stupid. It's dangerous. It would bring the wrath of the Celestial elves right to Katolis' doorstep. Ezran would be furious, but it would also mean...

He glances at Rayla, at the way her eyes are dull and unseeing with resignation. His heart stutters for her, for the thought of her happily reunited with the people she loves most, the brilliance of her smile and the love she deserves.

Hasn't she done enough for everyone? Hasn't she sacrificed enough to get just one good thing?

"Don't give up yet," he decides. His resolve feels like steel and jelly at the same time, like he would do this for her, no question about it but ony as long as he doesn't give himself the time to think twice. Rayla turns her head to him, confused, daring to hope, and Callum closes his fingers into fists at his side, refusing go home empty handed, refusing to let Rayla down like so many others before him.

"Get your stuff together," he says. "Wait for me here. When I get back, you gotta be ready to run."

She narrows her eyes at him. "Callum."

"You trust me, right?"

She sits up slowly, suspicious of him, of the resolve in his eyes. "Yes," she says after a moment.

He swallows, his nerve wavering, just for a moment. Then he nods and clenches his jaw tight. "Back in a minute," he mutters, wrenching the door open before he can change his mind.

He would do anything for her. He's done worse.

Stealing is not the furthest he can fall.

[pompadourpink]

hi mom! i'm starting uni in september, i'm moving to a new city so i need to start shopping and all, but also my parents didnt really give me advice and im the eldest so im kinda lost, do you have any advice?? XX

Hello darling,

The ABC:

Uni is scary: freedom goes from 8 to 90 in two months, and it is intoxicating. Making up for lost chances can lead to bad choices (spending, dating, partying).

Parent yourself if needed: autonomy is essential. Learn to cook, budget, clean, be clean, save, be a good citizen, make scary phone calls, keep yourself safe, and prioritise.

No one will force you to get up and study, or hire a 21-year-old dropout you instead of a fiery 18-year-old. Effort will not betray you (being an ageing lazy gifted child will).

Have shared hobbies, from movie Sundays with a friend to knitting with your sister. A social life is a happy life.

Trust your body, it knows. Stomach cramps mean we hate him, daydreaming means try, yawning means bed (not coffee).

The home:

Make a cleaning schedule, be open-minded and reasonable, do not do/say anything the landlord wouldn't like (I fully recommend having roommates once for exposure therapy).

Bribe a nice neighbour with food. Having that phone number will one day mean not sleeping outside or getting a package stolen.

Document problems right away (photos, timestamps, screenshots, testimonies), as you may need to take action later. No emotions, you're just "worried about everyone's wellbeing".

Mould, vermin and leaks are enemies. Act yesterday.

Avoid big purchases. You don't know the future (location, size, taste). Go secondhand, natural (wood/glass), neutral, practical.

Avoid silly purchases: streaming, takeout, drinks, fast-fashion; you will not regret having a downpayment saved in ten years.

If you need to do emergency laundry, put a bin/bucket in the shower, add water and detergent (+ soda crystal for stains or whitening), mix, wait, rinse well, hang it.

The shopping:

My grandmother has kept her house clean with a squeegee broom wrapped in a floorcloth and Marseille soap since the 60s. When something doesn't work, look back.

Must-haves: cleaning (#1, cloths, soda, Castile soap, steel wool), hygiene (scraper, net, shower head filtre, first aid), night (good pillow, plugs, mask) supplies, freezer if possible, water filtre, reusable period protection, winter clothes, long chargers, sunscreen, friend living at home who will lend you tools.

Must-not-haves: trends, collections (even books), a pet - don't let Felix keep you back, sleep over and study in Paris!

Have an emergency kit (+ whatever you need) + a smaller version in the car/at the office (with cash).

Fresh fruit, starches, frozen vegetables, cans of legumes, fresh, canned and frozen protein, a treat, something fun once in a while to experiment + a bimonthly outing.

A couple of formal outfits. Large black dress pants, white shirt, dark grey thin jumper, pencil skirt, blazer, large coat, trench coat, loafers, heels, tall boots. Not tight or slouchy, comfy, plain.

Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, thrift stores. Make a Pinterest 'perfect home' board instead of letting yourself be fed by social media and stores.

The social life:

Make one or two real friends and cherish them forever. Support each other, travel, buy a house together, idk.

Don't be afraid to exist alone - you shouldn't fear what your head has to say.

Take advantage of what's free.

Don't miss out on huge opportunities for people. Some are around out of necessity and will ghost you after graduation.

Do not try to impress, especially those you don't like and who don't like you. Do not do or say anything cops wouldn't like. Be a homebody who doesn't drink if that's what you want.

Do not try to educate those who will not learn.

Do not befriend someone who fully lacks confidence. Those relationships will be one-sided and exhausting.

Befriend older ladies. They will see through the lies of men, classmates, and employers trying to fool you.

The love life:

The thirty-two-year-old man doesn't find you mature; he sees a willing blank canvas. Do not.

If a date mocks you and you get mad, either that is who he is, or he hates you. Your job is not to pretend you don't care so he can have a girlfriend.

Ask yourself if you would tell your friend, mother, or Taylor Swift that they should lower their standards. If not, take a break from dating and think about why you think you don't deserve respect.

Don't forgive what you don't want to tolerate.

No nudes. Never nudes.

Don't try to force a relationship with someone who has made it clear that he is not interested. You will be played like a fiddle until he meets someone he wants.

Don't try communicating with someone who is messing with you on purpose. No one ignores you for three days or breaks your favourite necklace after an argument by accident. Also, your husband would never.

The daily life:

Keep an official e-mail address (firstname.lastname) + a casual one (f.lastna), a solid password (Lanadelrey1984#) changed yearly, and a list of usernames/accounts and auto-generated passwords.

If you don't trust your parents, block them from your account or open a new one when you turn 18 before they rob you.

Save a year's worth of expenses, don't purchase what you couldn't buy twice now, don't replace what still works, thrift/swap, and think for a week before spending.

Get folders for your paperwork + scan them onto an encrypted Drive (not iCloud): diplomas, flat, car, work, taxes, health, etc.

Print pictures and make albums before the app disappears.

Prioritise health. Exercise (cardio/strength, ex: runs/weighted Pilates), walk, drink more, sleep, eat fibre, take vitamin D, mind your eyes/ears/skin/teeth, stretch, and leave if needed.

Only invest energy, money, or time into what is worth it. FaceTime before the date, get secondhand leather boots instead of replacing plastic biyearly, drop the book after 100 bad pages.

Refuse advice from people whose lives you wouldn't want, who happily overwork for a mediocre wage and don't know who their children are. These handcuffs are homemade.

The job:

People will not forget how you made them feel, and the world is small. Colleagues, clients, and bosses will gossip: make sure it is for a good reason. Dress and look clean, stand straight, be on time, and never gossip, even when you are wronged.

Understand the power of sobriety. Be known for your projects and LinkedIn CV, not your bright skirts and temper.

Protect Future You to secure the next step. No friends, no enemies. Smile, stay neutral and calm, listen, move on, make your IG private, Google your name.

Lie. You don't avoid them, you eat lunch with your nana (hi Paula, no, I forgot she's at the hairdresser's); weren't unemployed, your father was ill; cannot go out, you have a birthday party.

Act boring with jealous old women and obnoxious men: take the fake compliment for a real one, don't understand the innuendo, have too much work to chat. Bullies get bored.

Instead of clapping back (see #3), be Cinderella, who overlooks insults and asks Ethel if she is alright, maybe she needs to talk?

Sites to look up: Proton (mail, VPN, drive), Notion.

Love,

Mum

(PS - apologies if the she/he thing doesn't match you, this is a flexible plan for all of my children)

[thesilicontribesman]

Crammond Mesolithic Site, Crammond, Edinburgh, Scotland

Excavations carried out on this spot in 1995 discovered the remains of what at the time was Scotland's earliest known settlement. The archaeologists discovered stake holes and pits, together with thousands of hazelnut shells and tools made of flint and chert.

The stone tools included arrowheads, scrapers, burins (for punching holes) and small blades for hunting and gathering activities. The stake holes marked the site of tent-like shelters where the people sat making and using these tools and also where they prepared and cooked their food. The pits were filled with the burnt shells of hazelnuts which were an important food source. These shells have been carbon dated to around 10,500 years ago (between 8,630BCE and 8,250BCE). The people who camped here so long ago were amongst the first to discover Scotland after the last Ice Age had ended, less than 1,000 years earlier. It marks the start of the Mesolithic period in Scotland. This lasted until the arrival of farming in the Neolithic period at around 4,000BCE.

Sea levels rose when the last Ice Age ended. This flooded the land (Doggerland) which had joined the south of Britain to the continent. People had to move because of this, some moving north along the coast. These explorers were skilled at gathering all the things they needed to survive from the countryside around them.

We need to imagine how Cramond looked 10,000 years ago. This was a great place to choose for a campsite. The sea and the River Almond offered plenty of food, such as fish and shellfish. The local forest provided other foodstuffs and resources, such as wild animals and birds, nuts, berries and plants, as well as animal skins for clothing and wood for fuel and building.

[gorgiawrite]

CANNONS ON SAILING VESSELS (18TH CENTURY)

A typical broadside of a ship of the late 18th century could be fired 2–3 times in approximately 5 minutes, depending on the training of the crew.

FIRING PROCEDURE

A wet swab was used to mop out the interior of the barrel, extinguishing any embers from a previous firing which might set off the next charge of gunpowder prematurely.

Gunpowder (either loose, in a cloth or in a parchment cartridge) was placed in the barrel followed by a cloth wad, then rammed home.

The shot was rammed in, followed by another wad to prevent the cannonball from rolling out of the barrel if the muzzle was depressed.

The gun in its carriage was then 'run out' ; men heaved on the gun tackles until the front of the gun carriage was hard up against the ship's bulwark, the barrel protruding out of the gun port.

The touch hole in the rear (breech) of the cannon was primed with finer gunpowder (priming powder), then ignited.

A lite linstock was applied to the touch-hole of the gun to fire the cannon.

Firing a naval cannon required a great amount of labour and manpower. (x)

GUNNER'S TOOLS

From Artillery Through the Ages by Albert Manucy (x)

The sponge, moistened with water, extinguished sparks in the bore after firing.

The worm cleaned unburned fragments of cloth powder bags from the bore.

Ladles were originally used to load powder; after cartridge bags came into use, they were used to extract loads from muzzle-loaders without firing.

The rammer sealed cartridge and ball in place.

The scraper and searchers were used to clean the gun and to find damaged spots in the bore.

The handspike helped to move the gun carriage and to raise the gun breech so the wedge-shaped quoin could be moved to adjust the gun's elevation.

The gunner's pick or priming wire pierced the powder bag to make sure that the flame of the primer would ignite the powder charge.

The tompion kept the bore dry while the gun was not in use.

Rigging of carriage gun (x)

CANNONS ON SHIPS

« These cannons, the heart of a warship’s offensive capability, were mounted on wooden carriages that allowed them to recoil when fired. The carriages themselves were secured to the ship’s deck using strong ropes or breechings. This setup allowed the cannons to be moved and aimed, while also ensuring they didn’t break loose in rough seas or during the heat of battle.

The ropes were attached to ringbolts set into the deck or the ship’s sides, and the tension could be adjusted to manage the cannon’s recoil. This was critical, as the force of firing a cannon was immense, and without proper securing, the cannon could become a deadly projectile within the ship itself. The ropes also allowed the cannons to be pulled back into position after firing, ready for the next round.

In addition to the ropes, wooden wedges called quoins were used to adjust the cannon’s elevation. These wedges were placed under the breech, the rear part of the cannon, allowing the crew to aim the cannonball’s trajectory for different ranges. »

[information above from a contribution on quora]

The powerful recoil is the reason the guns were fired one after the other instead of all at once. Otherwise, the pressure on the hull of the ship (where the cannons are attached) would be too great.

CANNONS CALIBRES

18 pounder gun, aboard the Man o' War (Black Sails)

Common sizes were 42-pounders, 36-pounders, 32-pounders, 24-pounders, 18-pounders, 12-pounders, 9-pounders, 8-pounders, 6-pounders, and various smaller calibres.

« The distance or range of a gun varied tremendously by the size of the ball and the amount of powder used to propel it. This proved to be very dangerous work for gun crews as cannon did explode (fail), showering the crew with deadly metal shards. The amount of powder often varied from 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of the projectile in pounds. »

« A 12 pounder gun might use 4 pounds of powder and fire 1000 yards. The timbers of a warship could not be appreciably damaged by anything smaller than a 12 pounder. »

[information above from a contribution on quora]

Where a small ship might be armed with 6-pounders (guns which threw a 6-pound shot), a large ship-of-the-line, the battleship of her day, mounted guns firing shot of as much as 32 pounds in weight.

GUN CREWS

Gun is in its recoil position for loading (x)

The officer's rank of Gunner was one responsible for all the cannons aboard the ship, as well as their maintenance and upkeep. He was also in charge of the powder magazine. Gunners had oversight over all the gun captains and gun crews.

Every shipboard cannon was operated by gun crews of 5 men*, including their leader, the gun captain. In battle, the gun crews would reload and position the cannon, while the gun-captain would adjust their aim appropriately and fire the cannon.

*An 18-pounder might have a crew of six or seven.

[scotianostra]

On 20th April 1918, Mora Dickson, Scottish author, painter and campaigner, was born in Mofat.

Mora went on to be one of the founders of the Voluntary Service Overseas, or VSO, scheme.

Mora was born in Glasgow, an accountant's only daughter and the second of four children. She spent her early years in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, largely to avoid the polluted air of the city. Her father drove around the United Kingdom in search of the "right" school, and she was eventually educated at St Felix's, Lowestoft - where she became head girl - and Edinburgh School of Art, although her studies were cut short by the outbreak of the second world war.

Dickson met her future husband in London where had she moved to pursue a career as an artist.

Initially, she took an instant dislike to the impeccably dressed, arrogant man, who, in turn, thought she was an upstart.

However, despite the bad start, they fell in love and in 1951 - two years after they first met - they were married.

Then a journalist with a passion for do-gooding in the former colonies, Alec was later appointed an ambassador for the United Nations and Mora accompanied her husband on all of his official trips.

Their vision for VSO grew out of a disastrous trip to Iraq when Alec was the head of a UN delegation to Baghdad. He realised that what was needed was not bureaucrats touring the capital but volunteers able to speak the language and work at grassroots level.

In 1957, Alec resigned from the UN and VSO was born.

The couple drove through thick jungle, hiked over thickly-misted foothills and slept under mosquito nets as they toured different projects.

VSO differed from its predecessors by shrugging off colonial do-gooding for hard graft and youthful energy from volunteers who wanted to help without being patronising.

The first dozen 18-year-olds who were sent to Ghana, Nigeria and Sarawak became an army of volunteers reaching across the developing world and VSO went on to become one of Britain’s greatest exports.

John F Kennedy was so impressed he summoned the Dicksons to Washington in 1961 to advise on the establishment of the Peace Corps.

But despite the achievements, just four years later they were ousted.

The coup was a devastating blow for her husband, who did not leave his room in the couple’s London home for a week. Having recovered, the Dicksons went on to found Community Service Volunteers (CSV) in 1961, a home-based version of the charity.

Both from wealthy families, the couple invested their money in the stock market and property. But although they quietly amassed a small fortune they lived frugally, recalled Robertson.

"They never spent anything," he said. "Mora would buy her clothes from a catalogue; she hated shopping. But if you ever needed money there would be a cheque in the post before you knew it. Her generosity, with both her time and money, was quite extraordinary."

After the death of her husband in 1994 at the age of 80, Dickson returned to her roots in Scotland, moving to Edinburgh where she continued to paint and write.

She was made honorary vice-president of VSO 12 years before her death, in a belated move by the trustees to heal the rift.

Dickson, who has 43 grandnieces and nephews and an extended family across the world, never had children of her own.

A prolific author, she had 21 books published during her lifetime.

She also wrote of her travels and illustrated the stories with black and white scraper-board drawings which brought the couple’s adventures into relief.

When Dickson died, her niece Sue Robertson, was flooded with letters of condolence from all over the world.

She said: "The esteem and regard in which she was held all over the world was really quite overwhelming."

[drivinmeinsane]

Snowstorm ※ 12 Days of Goosemas

Day Ten ※ Colt Seavers / Reader

{12 Days of Goosemas Masterlist} ※ {Regular Masterlist} ※ {ao3}

※ Summary: You and Colt discover that some gambles don't pay off.

※ Rating: No mature content.

※ Content/Tags: Cuddling for Warmth, Ill-advised Winter Safety Practices, Fluff/Humor

※ Word count: 1998

※ Status: Oneshot/Complete

Despite your layers, you’re shivering enough that your teeth feel like they’re going to rattle right out of your skull. It’s hard to imagine that the weather is going to take a turn for the worse when it’s already cold enough in the warehouse that everyone’s breath is visible in front of their faces. This far north by the Great Lakes is always a gamble this time of year. This movie production is certainly not winning the lottery. 

“Alright crew, let's wrap this up,” calls the team lead. 

Everyone picks up speed, finishing their tasks so they can separate into pairs and small groups to carpool back to their temporary housing. Automatically, you gravitate towards Colt. The two of you have been working off and on together for years on various movie sets. Being around him comes as easily and naturally as breathing. It was a massive relief when you were assigned to share an airbnb for the couple months you’re going to be spending here. 

“This sucks, huh?” You comment, helping him to roll up an impact mat. 

He laughs, breath clouding the air. “Yeah, it super sucks.”

The rest of the crew files out while the two of you work, alternating between sweating and freezing. Securing all the impact mats for storage is a miserable task, but it gets done. The building is empty aside from Colt and you. 

The stunt guy straightens up, groaning as his back loudly pops. “Ready to bounce on outta here?”

“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”

At the door, the two of you take the time to adjust your layers. Colt wraps your scarf around your head teasingly after offering to help you put it on. You give him a scathing look between the layers of material before you break and the two of you start laughing. Colt is wiping at his eyes, still chuckling a little, when you shove the door open. 

The cold air immediately tears right through your clothes. The hollow thud and click of the door closing and locking behind you both sounds ominous. Colt offers his arm to you and you take it, resigning yourself to the weather conditions. The snow is coming down heavily, making it difficult to see across the sprawling parking. 

Your Lord of the Rings worthy journey to Colt’s truck starts out easily enough, until you wipe out on a snow-covered patch of ice. If it wasn’t for the death grip you have on each other's arms, you would bust your ass right then and there. Instead, you and Colt end up doing a weird dance to try to stay upright. 

“Maybe we should consider a career in couples ice skating. Maybe retire from the stunts biz.” Colt suggests, breathing heavily from the unexpected exertion.

“Toddler level, maybe,” you grumble back, foot skidding again. You hate the fact that the stunt crew has to park clear out of the way on the very fringes of the parking lot. 

You risk a glance at your coworker. His gaze is focused intently on the ground. Snowflakes are collecting in his beard and in his shaggy hair, making his blue eyes appear even bluer. After what feels like an age of taking minuscule steps across a frozen wasteland, you finally spot his garishly colored truck through the snow. You’ve never been happier to see the yellow and brown eyesore. 

Colt helps you up into the passenger seat. Once you're settled, he pushes his tuck keys into your hand. You pass him the windshield scraper in return. It was a new purchase after having to use the airbnb’s dustpan the first morning the two of you had walked out to the vehicle to find it under a thick layer of snow. 

“Start her for me?”

Mumbling an affirmative, you lean over and slot the key into the ignition switch and twist. The truck sparks to life with a smooth rumble. Meanwhile, Colt skirts around the edge of the vehicle. He’s scraping at the windshield, chiseling the packed snow in sheets. He suddenly slips, hitting his sternum on the truck’s grille guard. Upon seeing your horrified expression through the cleared glass, he flashes you a thumbs up and a grimace. You give him the same in return.

Working faster now, he finishes the windshield and makes sure that the side windows and mirrors are clear. He knocks the scraper clean before opening the door and heaving himself into the truck. The stunt man tosses it at your feet onto the already cluttered floorboard. The cold air that followed him into the cab does neither of you any favors.

“You think we’re good, Colt?” You ask, watching him pull off his gloves and tuck them into his sun visor for safekeeping.

“Hope so. If it doesn't get worse we should be fine,” he says with a shrug only to yelp when his bare hands come in contact with the steering wheel. “Shit, that’s cold!”

With the heat on full blast, Colt backs out of the parking lot and then you’re off to the airbnb. He handles the truck expertly. While not used to driving in what is essentially a blizzard, the man has done enough crazy stunts to keep from skidding all over the road. That and his monstrosity of a vehicle with its sizable off-roading tires makes the trip go a little easier. 

“Colt…” You say, worried. The weather is getting worse, much worse. The truck is struggling to maintain traction.

“Yeah, I know, sweetheart.” Both of you are so glued to the increasingly limited visibility and heavier snowfall that neither of you acknowledge the unintentional endearment Colt lets slip.

Spotting a ihop coming up, he makes the choice to pull into the empty lot. There’s no way he’s going to be able to push through. The weather is just too bad for his vehicle. The restaurant is clearly closed. This isn’t the southern part of the United States where there’s a Waffle House around to keep its doors open no matter the situation.

“There’s no way a tow truck is going to be able to get out here, is there?” You comment rhetorically. 

Beside you, Colt groans when he can’t get reception on his cell phone. “Looks like we’re going to be here until the plows come through. Might be in the morning.”

You sigh and settle into your seat. Both of your phone batteries are too low to risk running them down by idly scrolling through old saved pictures. It’s going to be a long night. 

To pass the time, you decide to lean over and rummage through the pile of trash and receipts on the floorboard. Like his apartment, he does not keep his truck clean or organized. You spend the next couple hours going through his receipts and judging him for his purchases. It’s mostly “Another Bonsai tree?” and “Just how much do you love this fast food place?” while your best friend does his damndest to defend himself as though he’s in front of an imaginary jury. 

Eventually, the light fades too much to see the small text. Colt has long since turned off the truck. As the sun dips below the horizon, it gets colder in the cab. 

You shiver and Colt notices. “C’mere.”

You slide across the bench seat and underneath his offered arm. He’s warm but the meager contact is too scant to do much. You seem to take turns shivering against one another. 

“It’s a shame we don’t have a tauntaun,” he says suddenly. 

You turn your face into the side of his chest to smother a groan at the reference. “I’d give anything for a hot drink right now.”

Colt makes a sound in agreement and slides down in his seat, struggling to get comfortable. His knee hits the steering wheel and you feel his pained exhale. “Yeah, I would too.”

A particularly vicious wind tears over the truck. It feels like it bypasses the layers of barely insulated metal entirely. The two of you clutch at each other in response. The lack of light isn’t helping it feel any warmer or cozier. Snow has entirely covered the windshield and the windows are fogged up from your breath and body heat. 

“I’ll turn on the truck for a sec to run the heater, but then I guess we oughta try to get some sleep.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

You don’t separate when Colt turns the key. The warm air is luxurious against your cold face. You nearly shove your fingers into the vent. He turns the truck off once you’re both sufficiently warmed. Now comes the difficult part, navigating where to put your bodies for sleep. The temperature has ruined any semblance of personal space. 

“Wanna be on top?” 

“If you insist on bottoming, stunt guy.”

“Oh, I always insist.”

Nearly hitting your head on the cab’s roof, you manage to shove yourself off of the bench seat enough for Colt to wedge himself into the short space. You can barely make out his shape. His hands find you and he guides you on top of himself. He hisses sharply and puts a hand over your kneecap when you graze it dangerously close to his crotch. 

“I don't have plans for kids any time soon, but I’d like to keep my options open,” he jokes.

Finally, you are settled on top of him. It’s incredibly uncomfortable for both of you. He’s got his knees drawn up, shins against the door. Your left knee is wedged between his hip and the seat as you lay with your cheek on his shoulder. His arms are up and around you. Yours are tucked alongside his torso with your hands under his shoulders. You feel like a pair of pretzels.

You lay in silence, listening to the winter storm outside. Both of you start to shiver again.

“I know it’s silly but-”

“This sucks so-” you accidentally start at the same time. “Go ahead,” you encourage. 

You hear him swallow. He seems stiff, nervous all of a sudden. “I know it’s silly, but uh… skin to skin contact works. With us both wearing jackets we can’t share body heat as well. So maybe if we… Wow, I promise I’m not trying to come onto you.”

“Okay.” You say gently.  

Sitting up in his lap, his hands fall from your back to the sides of your hips. You unzip your jacket. You’re instantly colder. Underneath you, you feel Colt’s breath hitch and pick up the pace. You put your hands on his amble chest and find his coat zipper and tug it down. His fingers twitch, but they don’t make any move to stop you. You push his shirt up over his pectorals, all the way to his neck. You don’t touch his bare skin with your fingers. His hands find the hem of your shirt and together you draw it up to your collarbone. Both of you are bared in the truck cabin. 

The man leaves you holding your shirt in place while his hands move to your back. He guides you into laying down on top of him. Your friend sucks in a breath and exhales slowly as inch by inch you make contact. Your bare skin colliding is sinfully warm. 

You sigh into his neck, resisting the urge to press a kiss against it even as the stubble of his jaw grazes your face. He pulls his jacket up and over you as much as he can. His hold on you is tight, comforting. The direct contact of his body provides much more heat than between the layers. You’re not as cold as you were before. 

“Heck of a holiday season, huh?” You mumble, already beginning to drift off.

Colt hums in agreement. Before you slip entirely under into the oblivion of sleep, you swear you feel a kiss pressed to your forehead and a low “Sweet dreams.” that rumbles against your chest.

[charlottemadison42]

I'm sure you get this alot but I adore "what we make of it (shotgun wedding)" I'm an avid reader of all kinds of books and writing and it's one of my favourites, I was trying to reread it and found its been restricted, if you're comfortable sharing , is there any particular reason it has been?

Also - do you have any more writing published outside Ao3

Unfortunately, AI has been training on AO3 content -- but even more problematically, scrapers have been taking entire fics and almost-but-not-quite reposting them in other places. Ugh.

I've already had this story posted on Amazon without my permission once, and while it's flattering that people think it's good enough to steal, I don't want to spend my time doing more takedown notices and fighting for my own content. The simplest protection is to make it a login-only read. Sorry about that! Just trying to have good content hygiene in the age of the bots. I do have other art and writing of various kinds out there in the world, but I'm not quite ready to mix my IRL and fandom identities. Maybe one day!

[honeytonedhottie]

so you're my only hope and i really wish for your advice. it's humiliating to say my story but i really need help. so i was misdiagnosed with schizofrenia (i 100% know i'm healthy) i need to lie that i have schizofrenia because my mother needs money. and here comes my desires : revision and desired age/grade level and maaany more. i have no responsibilities literally zero! the way i manifest is i walk around my room and viseualise, affirm and overall manifest which is fun but the thing is do you think i should build healthy day routine instead of just pacing around my room all day long? could you provide me a routine? thank you for help because yall are saving me for real. it could be even self care habits to do every day anything to avoid pacing around

thank you for coming to me 💗 and im so sorry about ur story. im so happy that you know the law because you deserve all of ur desires and more!! 💗

so to build a healthy routine and schedule for urself. doing so builds discipline. im gonna give u some healthy habits, a morning and evening routine, and resources for those things. a good place to start tho is making a weekly agenda that changes with the week, something to switch things up every week. just make one 💗💗💗

—healthy habits🩰⊹ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ♡̴ ⋆⁺₊⋆

♡ moving ur body/pilates - i personally do pilates and i recommend it to literally everybody. but the basic idea is to move around (and that does not mean pacing in ur bedroom) i mean get ur blood flowing and get moving. it doesn’t have to be pilates it can be running, a sport, dancing, yoga etc

here’s a link to one of the pilates workouts that i recommend if ur a beginner : 

♡ get a hobby - some hobby recommendations: if u are good at writing try poetry, try teaching urself how to draw or paint or sculpt, learn how to dance, learn how to play an instrument, learn a sport, learn languages, become a good cook, write stories, start a blog, learn to sew or crotchet, learn tech, read lots of books, watch/listen to lots of podcasts. literally just get busy 

♡ meditating and journaling - this is so good not only for ur mental health but it can also improve focus and keep u grounded. keep a journal or start meditating every day

here’s a link to a guided meditation for self love : 

♡ self care - i LOVE self care. literally practice self care every single day. take care of ur nails, skin, hair, lashes EVERYTHING. be super intentional with ur self care bcuz it tells our brains that we are worthy of effort and it’ll LITERALLY make u feel like a princess. 

♡ manifesting - you mentioned that u wanted to do some revision so something that i recommend for revising is using SATS. or state akin to sleep. once ur in state akin to sleep go back in ur mind and revise whatever u want. or just do SATS before bed every night. this is such a powerful manifesting tool

♡ sleep - aim to get between eight to ten hours of sleep a night. you’ll look better, feel better, and your physical and mental health will just skyrocket 

—morning🌸⊹ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ♡̴ ⋆⁺₊⋆

♡̴ first thing in the morning, fix ur bed 

♡ open the blinds/windows if the sun is out, this all depends on what time u wake up but if the sun isn’t out just skip this step 

♡ stretch for a couple minutes 

♡ write down at least three things that ur grateful for (don’t write down what u aren’t grateful for AT THAT MOMENT, literally just write down three things that ur grateful for right then and there) 

♡ brush ur teeth and use a tongue scraper 

♡ have a glass of water with some lemon slices 

♡ take a warm shower and moisturize 

♡ skincare routine 

♡ put on an outfit that makes u feel pretty 

♡ if u get nauseous when u eat breakfast then try eating something light, but if that doesn’t work then listen to ur body and just skip breakfast. if that’s not the case tho eat a balanced breakfast 

THEN GET TO WORK ON YOUR AGENDA THAT I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING<3 

—evening🍥⊹ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ♡̴ ⋆⁺₊⋆

♡ take a warm shower and moisturize 

♡ 30-60 minutes of self care and pampering 

♡ make a yummy dinner that’s nourishing 

♡ read for 20 minutes or watch something that enriches u 

♡ evening yoga 

♡ drink water 15 minutes before bed 

THEN GO TO SLEEP AND HAVE SWEET DREAMS <3 

this is just an idea, or a basic guideline to follow if u need it. customize it to ur specific needs and day-to-day life. im so excited for all ur desires to manifest cuz u deserve it! mwah 💗💗💗

[thegodthief]

What do you want to be having conversations about?

(also you should have some or the rest of your ice cream today)

-Sunlight

I keep forgetting the ice cream is still in the freezer! A perfect pint, still sealed and waiting for my indulgence. (sigh)

Honest Confession: I have no idea how to make small talk.

Now that the heat wave in SoCal has ended and we actually have a cloudy and sodden morning, I've been watching the evacuation warnings and orders for the three big fires here slowly being downgraded and rescinded. So there's some good news.

I spent the week going through clutter that I had been putting off for years. After all the paperwork was sorted through, it was 5% keep and file, 5% shred, 90% toss. So much unnecessary stuff that at the time felt critical but in hindsight, was just so much unnecessary stuff. Found some things that hurt to look at, but that's my past, not my present, process and move on.

Old Bitch Advice: You are never too old to put whipped cream on your hot drink. If anything, your age is justification enough.

I want to talk about witchcraft again, but I don't know how. My entry into witchcraft wasn't by books, movies, or by a strange relative with strange amulets and good candy. The path that led me to witchcraft started at a Christian church's altar, and it really does infuriate me to see folks going on about how their witchcraft is not violent or is filled with love for all things so when you see people being different in their witchcraft, they're just being loud for no reason.

The scars on my ribs would like to have a conversation with the hands that would have held me down for the sin of being different. Because it took decades for me to see and understand, but my witchcraft is violent. It is not fueled by the love for all things, but by the love of the self, the love of my self, the fervent desire to live that could not be exorcised from me no matter how diligently the flesh was tested.

It feels like no one wants to talk about that. But a lot of people will throw money at the aesthetic of that. As long as we don't talk about that now, because we're all part of a modern and civilized society.

(deep sigh)

I want to talk about my dreamwork again. I realize that I never will. It's not just that having a full time job now devours much of the time I would have used typing up what happened. It's not just that the only readers will be scraper bots looking for new sources to plagiarize. It's that things have become so complex that even readers from the Before Times (before the lockdowns) would be hard pressed to keep up.

I'm sorry, I'm guessing you sent that ask to cheer me up and to help me connect with others again. And here I am, looking at the barriers I have put up and realizing that I am as much in my own way as the culture I am bitching about.

And I don' t know how to come around that.

Just like I don't know how to beat Shamura's ass (Cult of the Lamb) without taking a hit in the process. I am one achievement away from 100% and that damn spider is getting on my last nerve. I didn't get into the game until after the follower level cap so I missed that chance. Will create a new save file for the sole purpose of snatching that bandage off their head. They are just too strong in post game, so my strategy is to min-max the cult from the start until I get to Silk Cradle, and then I will be subject to the whims of RNG for the perfect combo. Keep that damn blunderbuss away from me, purgatory is for the bishops, not for me.

Back on Etheirys, I have finished the MSQ, but haven't started on any optional dungeons or the Arcadion. I know I have plenty of time, so I've been working on leveling the other classes to 100 instead. All the other classes. I'm not sure if this is a cry for help. As much as Warrior got buffed, Dark Knight got neutered. I didn't understand why the fuss over the changes to Black Mage until a raider explained to me what those changes meant in Savage raiding because the changes to the timing and cooldowns have pretty much scrambled everything.

Once I get my crafting classes up to 100, then I will enter the real endgame for FFXIV: GLAMS!

My apologies for the word vomit. I didn't think anyone would actually ask me anything and I don't know how to respond in a socially adequate way.

(looks out the window)

And now it's too cold for ice cream.