#also google earth imagery not that good

[papafuckingemeritus]

NOT MINE, but and absolute incredible theory on Ghost in the Trees found on Ghostbc subreddit that is too good not to share. Credit to VisAeternitatus on Reddit.

“Buckle up. You'll either find this interesting, or tell me I'm insane.

“The "Ghost in the Trees" VHS tape sitting atop the stack of other videos in the movie caught my attention because it simply doesn't fit and doesn't have anything to do with anything that we know of. Kinda like the cardinal sitting on top of the gravestone in the Square Hammer video. At the time, so random- yet it was a hint. We see this VHS tape twice during the movie, and it's sitting on top of an Infestissumam era tour video ‘Haze over North America Tour 2013’

“I googled "Ghost in the Trees" and came across this psychedelic garage art-rock album by a band called Thee Oh Sees. There's a song of the same name on their album, "The Masters Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In". Other than carnal delights, why might one spend a night in the Master's bedroom? Usually something to do with conceiving the antichrist, right?

“The album cover and subject matter seemed Ghost-related enough for me to continue going down the rabbit hole, so I listened to the entire album. I have no doubt in my mind that TF is familiar with and has listened to this, I get a lot of raw vibes from it that one might perceive in all three Nihil-era songs.

“So why is this here, and what does it have to do with anything? Good question, and I honestly don't know but I just thought I'd throw out some possible breadcrumb trails. This is all some pretty loosely related stuff, but when considered all together who knows?

“1. I immediately noticed a similarity that the devil on Thee Oh Sees album has to the devil in the center panel of the red tour backdrop that started going up during Square Hammer (third photo).

“2. Proximity to the Infest era tour video along with some Papa II-related stuff in the movie also had me thinking "antichrist stuff". No, not that Copia is the antichrist. Rather, that his twin might be.

“Why? Well, during sister's life flashback scene, right before the twin birth is shown, there are a series of hidden images. We see an eclipse, a still shot from the Year Zero video of a hand reaching up towards a church window, a b&w still from the Dance Macabre video where the devil arrives, and two separate shots of Infest era ghouls. (These images go by so fast that they are practically subliminal!)

“So why are we seeing clips from a Papa II era song, and shots of his ghouls? Why do we see a cut to his face on the stained glass stage backdrop during the movie when Imperator is talking about how everything is "cyclical"? We even see Infestissumam in the background of the VEEPS bonus video.

“So I've seen different theories. Papa II is returning! Copia is the antichrist! Etc, etc.

“I think showing all the Papa II stuff could have something to do with the antichrist, not that Papa II is coming back. Infestissumam was about the antichrist's time on earth. Not to mention that some religious people believe that an eclipse supposedly occurs at the birth of the antichrist (and we are shown an eclipse right at the birth scene!)

“Also, we've seen a lot of antichrist type of imagery related to Copia, he's got the 666 tattoo, etc. If he's a copy (Copia), then his twin could be the antichrist.

“3. Back to the red devil background that appears during Square Hammer. There's a winged pope figure shown above the devil. I thought it was Copia, to be honest. But he's wearing a beehive shaped mitre, and the same shaped mitre appears above him, larger and wrapped in flames. This is actually a Papal Tiara, not a regular mitre. It used to be worn when a new Pope was "crowned". Why would a demon winged Copia be wearing this on a backdrop at the end of the tour? He was already "crowned" in Mexico City. And who appears at the Ministry doors at the very end?! Someone who is about to become the next Papa?

“4. I also wonder, who raised Copia's twin? And how could Copia's twin be the antichrist? Do they have two different Fathers, or was it during some ritual?! Does it have something to do with Papa II? Maybe the twin grew up influenced by him in some way?

“5. I also wonder if "Ghost in the Trees" is a musical stylistic hint of sorts, in relation to the Papa II era. This album is psychedelic post punk garage rock. It's an interesting listen and is all over the place stylistically. "Psychedelic" is frequently used to describe aspects of Infestissumam, too, as is garage rock and surf rock, even.

“I recall an interview where TF said that Phantomime was where he was leaning to take the sound for the future album. Well, there's two specific covers on Phantomime that have similar flavor to Thee Oh Sees- "See No Evil" by Television (often described as post punk/art rock/garage rock) and "Hanging Around" by the Stranglers- which has VERY psychedelic/garage rock vibes.

“So do what you will with that, but I'm wondering if the next album is going to have that element (not in the way the Nihil-era songs do, though!).

“Thank you for reading this mess and if you have any better ideas, please do share. I just wanted to get this off my chest.”

Tobias never ceases to amaze me, and I have no doubt there is something to “Ghost In The Trees.”

[goldmanguyperson]

You can request updated satellite imagery on Google Earth, anywhere on the globe.

It may not be heeded, but you can do it. If you want to request Google Earth to update imagery over Gaza, you can center your map on the Gaza strip or anywhere inside, go to “Help”, and go to “Send Feedback”. (info from https://support.google.com/earth/community-guide/259934888/google-earth-imagery-updates?hl=en.) It’s not like we have no satellite information for Gaza. Maxar Technologies, a satellite imagery company, already has images of Gaza post destruction from 2023. They can be seen in this CNN article.

The Earth is big, and Google likely isn’t going to update areas with little interest, but if you show your interest, we might be able to get them to update it. Of course Israel also has the power to request them not to, which is likely also happening. Some satellite imagery companies already have restricted imagery from Gaza because it could show where Israeli forces are hiding, at least according to this Times of Israel article. But nothing small you can do is ever not worth a try.

Why would we want satellite imagery of Gaza?

It makes it incredibly easy to show what Israel has done. If you’ve taken a look at Mariupol on Google Maps recently, you would be able to see decimated schools, destroyed homes, blackened parks, and a ground littered with clear impacts from missiles. A destroyed hospital, a destroyed school, a waterpark missing its clear blue water, mere miles from the border with Israel, could say a lot with no words at all.

I’m someone who goes and looks through devastated areas on Google Maps occasionally. I think i’m probably one of very few who do this, because it’s weird, but it’s a very easy way to see what war and human-borne devastation does and looks like from your seat at home. And Google Maps and Earth in particular are very interesting and harrowing, because you can see what those places were before they were destroyed. You can know that that was a school, a hospital, a restaurant, a marriage venue. It’s marked on the map. You can see people having a good time in the images they posted in those little image carousels. You can see a group of restaurant workers giving a thumbs up to a camera. You can go into a photosphere and see of one of those backyard seat swings outside, covered in outdoor pillows and bundled up knitted blankets. You can see a man in a wheelchair outside a lit up restaurant at night. These are all things I have found while looking around Gaza right now. You can be there from a world away. You could see what was done to their homes from a world away. Online map services with satellite imagery aren’t just for finding the fastest route, or righting yourself when you get a little lost on a walk. It’s a massive collection of images showing you what the world has looked like in the past few years. It’s a way to feel connection from across the world. it’s a way to know even just a little bit of what’s happening, without anyone ever needing to tell you.

thumbs up guys, i love you and i hope you are safe

[nettleshuttle]

why is masterpiece (first zexal op) the best out of all zexal openings? — asked, probably, no one ever, but it’s a very fine time to start brainrotting over it again.

but seriously, the lyrics are so good and i’m so mad i can’t understand the original, but the translations are also so good. i love how it’s generally focused on yuma and astral’s relationship, all these “to be honest, i was lonely before i met you” and “you were the only one to understand me”. obviously, it’s from yuma’s perspective and the whole opening, music and such, really fits his chaotic-good vibe. astral is described through “the kindness you gave me was strict, when we clashed i learned irritation”, which is honestly the best one-line summary of their relation i’ve seen so far. the fact that they’re so different, in almost every possible aspect, is underlined multiple times, as the main message is how these differences allow them to form something truly meaningful together (literally, “no one is exactly the same, because that's the reason for living” or “it can't be seen unless they're different, the landscape and the scenario”).

overall, the progress of their cooperation and mutual understanding is portrayed so prettily here: “it starts with recognizing our differences and dancing freely, the creation of heaven and earth”, is, well, just what the entire first arc is about. an alternate translation goes “we’re different, yet this is the wonder heavens have created” — i like to stick to something in between, i.e. yuma and astral’s union is what heaven and earth create; logically, astral stands for heaven because he’s from the astral world and yuma for earth. the thing created may either be zexal (as in zexal morph, you know the thing), or utopia, which is an even prettier metaphor. on the first duel they play together, utopia just sort of appears in yuma’s extra deck and while they create cards on the go multiple times afterwards, this is the first, original one that becomes the basis for everything else (besides: utopia is a philosophical concept of a perfect place where everyone can live happily without any disturbances and while the idea is realistically unattainable, it seems fitting for it to be “the creation of heaven and earth”. utopia itself (the monster) — aspiring emperor, hope — has some very-in-line connotations, if you ask me). either way, the title plainly suggests that whatever it is that they make together, it’s certainly a masterpiece (the lyrics back it up even more straightforwardly: “let's join together, piece by piece, it shines into a masterpiece”). i don’t think it needs much explaining, but a masterpiece is a) a work of outstanding skill (thanks, google) b) “a piece of work by a craftsman accepted as qualification for membership of a guild as an acknowledged master”. the latter is quite interesting in the utopia (monster) context, as it implies that the masterpiece they created marks the point of them switching to some advanced mode of work (more advanced dueling, for both of them) and gradually becoming more acknowledged in a way they can’t have achieved separately.

also the closing lines (when we disregard the chorus) — “when we reach the edge of the world, the view we see will be the truth”. once again, this imagery is just so damn pretty. i don’t know how much of it is made up in translation, but the first conditional/present tense contrast here looks so meaningful — they’re certain they will see a view at the edge of the world (whatever that one might symbolize, i’m not certain), but the view will be the truth (not e.g. the view we see is the truth, or the view we will see is the truth), like the truth part was a prediction — or it would be there only once they finished their journey and now they can only speculate (i’m digressing so much i hope it’s still understandable). the alternate translation here i really dislike (“towards the truth in the blue sky we glide, at this final moment we'll be right at each other's side”), as it loses all of what i’ve just mentioned. the second part is nice (i saw a “we’ll be together forever” version somewhere?), but now that i’ve finished the whole anime it just makes me angry because it turns out to be very much not true.

[dropsofsciencenews]

How to Spot an Old Tornado with Google Earth

ESP version ITA version

It has almost become a habit to research a new place online before visiting: whether to decide what to see in a city, find an address, or perhaps use satellite images to plan the best route. During one of these virtual explorations, a speleologist, an expert in caves, was scrolling through Google Earth images in search of cave entrances in the Nullarbor karst plain in Australia when they stumbled upon something truly unusual: a long and clear scar stretching across the desert for several kilometers. Curiosity did the rest, and the image quickly caught the attention of a group of researchers, who decided to investigate the mystery.

The investigation relied on meticulous analysis using satellite technologies. Google Earth images made it possible to pinpoint the location and general structure of the scar, which was about 11 km long and between 160 and 250 meters wide. Subsequently, with the help of software like Global Mapper and data from Landsat and Sentinel satellites, researchers determined that it had formed between November 16 and 18, 2022, during a significant weather event in the region.

But what caused this scar? The answer came by combining historical weather images, data collected from local stations, and field observations. Satellite images showed intense cloud cover on November 17, while meteorological stations recorded record-breaking rainfall. Additionally, temporal satellite images revealed flooded areas with a characteristic circular shape coinciding with the scar's formation. Field inspection confirmed the presence of cycloidal marks within the scar: typical traces of suction vortices. Researchers had no more doubts: that scar was the unmistakable signature of a tornado's passage.

Data indicated that the tornado moved eastward, rotating clockwise with an estimated force between F2 and F3 on the Fujita scale, reaching speeds over 200 km/h. This type of event is rare in the Nullarbor plain, a remote and sparsely populated region where tornadoes often go unnoticed. This combination of geographical isolation and the absence of eyewitnesses highlights the value of satellite imagery.

Events like this help us better understand tornado behavior in remote and understudied regions, especially in Australia, where tornadoes are infrequent. Over time, accumulating sufficient images might even lead to the development of automated analyses using artificial intelligence to detect tornadoes in arid areas. Enhancing our understanding of these phenomena not only improves prediction capabilities but can also contribute to risk mitigation strategies, making communities better prepared for extreme events.

So, the next time you notice something unusual on Google Earth, let someone know! See You Soon and Good Science!

source

[we-arent-married]

PokePinion-Tober 22-31

Spooky day is inching closer and closer!

So far we've done: Dragalge, Skuntank, Cramorant, Lechonk, Delibird, Eglyem, Dusclops, Axew, Bulbasaur, Raticate, and Hattrem, Dratini, Pincurchin, Clefairy, and Tympole

22 Happiny

I mean of all of the useless babies, this one felt the most useless

Like of all things why on earth would you give Chansey a baby? It's at least a little cute though. The evolution method is also really stupid, like why an oval stone.

It makes no sense.

6/10. Cuteness can't save confusion

23 Shiinotic

Look at the little guy!!!

I love mushrooms so a pink cutesy mushroom is a great design to me. It's super duper cute, but also creepy with how it lures people into the forest.

Perfect for Halloween and great for me.

My friend also thinks it's cute and what she says goes.

8/10. The lower body looks like an Igglybuff.

23 Persian

This is one of the worst Pokemon designs ever.

It's seriously just a cat. Not even the name is interesting, when I was googling the picture the first like 7 things, were the actual cat

2/10. boring

24 Dustox

I like Dustox a lot. Sure it's an early game bug so it's not super useful, but it does look pretty badass.

The green and purple go really nicely together, and I like the little smile it has. makes it look like it's scheming

Also I really like the shiny.

8/10. Mothman does good

25 Palpitoad

Well we did Tympole, and now we got the ugly evolution.

Like it takes everything I liked about Tympole, and just removed and left an ugly frog.

3/10. Worse Tympole

26 Pawmot

Alright, this art had a lot of personality and it's cute.

Not honestly a huge fan of Pawmot. It's not bad by any means, but the design never did much for me. The evolution is also so annoying to actually acomplish.

6/10. not bad but not for me

27 Wiglet

This guy is so stupid.

In the good way of course. Of all things, I didn't expect Diglett to get any new attention after the Aloaln form, but I was wrong.

I used a Wiglett in my Violet playthrough, and it sucked, but it was still really cute

7/10. weird but cute

28 Croagunk

Honestly, I forgot how much I actually enjoyed gunky boy. One of the cooler Sinnoh lines with the nice colours.

I also love the teal shiny. Also he could pull off Crazy Frog pretty well.

8/10. Let's get gunky

29 Crustle

He looks so mad at everything.

Grumpy crab using a rock as a shell is certainly a concept, and it works pretty well. It also has another really cool shiny with the lime green accents.

Also I call Dwebble, Dweeble.

8/10. Crab time

30 Exegutor

I hate spelling this.

I like Alolan Exegutor way kore than the original, but this is the one the generator gave me.

The faces are just a little too weird for me, and the weird palm tree body doesn't help.

4/10. Taking a point away for the spelling.

31 Tapu Bulu

Way to end on a bang with a legendary.

Unfortunately Tapu Bulu is my least favourite of the Tapu's, but it's not bad.

The body is a super funky shape, which helps it stand out from other Pokemon, and the red compliments the yellow.

I also like the bull imagery with the hoof arms and bell tail

6/10. Not a personal favourite, but alright.

Happy Halloween Y'all!!!

[myfeeds]

Civil engineers use public satellite images to study why the Jagersfontein dam failed

Tailings are the finely ground leftovers that remain after valuable metals are removed from rock ore. Tailings are generally transported jointly with water and deposited in a tailings dam for storage. Now, six months later in 2023, civil engineers at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits), have used public satellite and aerial imagery in a study to investigate the history of the Jagersfontein dam. Satellite images show what went wrong Sources of public satellite images used in the study included Google Earth Pro and the Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 satellite missions. Additionally, some of the immediate consequences of the failure were assessed using commercial satellite images. Dr Luis Torres-Cruz and Mr Christopher O’Donovan in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wits authored the paper which was published in the journal Scientific Reports on 5 April 2023. The study found that the history of the Jagersfontein dam deviates from best engineering practice. The deviations include mine waste deposition from predominantly one side of the dam, erosion gullies on the dam wall, and significant amounts of ponded water at times positioned against the retaining structure. Based on the analysed images, the study hypothesises that percolation of water through the dam, followed by external erosion, ultimately triggered instability. “We expect our paper to be useful to those interested in understanding how this tragic event came to be and also to help prevent future failures,” says Torres-Cruz, corresponding author and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who specialises in geotechnical aspects of tailings dams. O’Donovan, study co-author and a Wits Master’s candidate interested in efficient engineering practices and creating access to information, adds: “The fact that our study relies on publicly available data to investigate the history of the dam implies that anyone can independently verify our observations.” Assessment of consequences To assess the impact and consequences of the dam failure, Torres-Cruz and O’Donovan captured two high-resolution satellite images that illustrate the damage inflicted on the surrounding residential areas. Based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of the failed dam, the authors estimate that between four and six million cubic metres of mine waste were released. The study also includes an animation that illustrates the post-failure geometry. Additional satellite imagery shows that the mine waste travelled 7km over dry land and 56km along streams and rivers to reach the reservoir of the Kalkfontein dam. Outlook The paper notes that some of the satellite imagery viewing platforms used in the analysis are free for non-commercial purposes and relatively easy to use. Accordingly, when coupled with an understanding of tailings dams, these platforms can empower stakeholders to adopt public satellite imagery as a starting point to proactively monitor tailings dams. Furthermore, the study suggests that greater awareness of the capabilities of public satellite imagery can encourage greater adherence to good construction practices. The study also emphasises that a robust monitoring strategy of tailings dams should focus on their adequate construction and operation. It also draws attention to the importance of conducting an official and independent site investigation to better understand the failure sequence and the conditions that led to it.

[felgueirosa]

honestly i need better GIS software than google earth, my computer fucking hates it and crashes everything i have open every time i use it and even though it’s still being updated, it looks so dated

but arcGIS hard and i cant just slap points and shit on there, i gotta put them in a table first

i need GIS software for dumbasses but dumbasses who use GIS software a lot and still cant figure it out

[graysongraysoff]

🤡 🛒 🛠 💖 and 🧐 for the ask meme! <3

fanfic writer emoji asks

🤡 what’s a line, scene or exchange you’ve written that made you laugh?

dialogue is my favorite thing on earth to write, especially little interactions like this:

“Damn, you got hot,” Satoru greeted him at the entrance to Jujutsu High’s administrative building, earning the long-suffering glare he’d missed so much.

“You look the same,” Nanami replied dryly. Satoru barked a laugh.

“I’ll send you the skincare routine,” he quipped breezily.

writing banter like this between good friends always makes me smile :)

🛒 what are some common things you incorporate in your fics? themes, feels, scenes, imagery, etc.

it was a joke with my les mis friends for a long time that i had to reference courfeyrac’s “buoyant curls” at least once in every fic i wrote, lol. i will not apologize i love that phrase and the imagery it invokes so fucking much.

but in terms of broader things… well, the biggest commonality in everything i write, fic and not-fic, is the focus on platonic relationships, usually between brothers, male friends or fathers/father figures and sons/son figures. i can’t help it, i love the way men love. maybe someday we’ll unpack why that is, but it is not this day.

i also write primarily angst and hurt/comfort, bc a bitch loves tragedy and catharsis, especially when that tragedy and catharsis involves men being vulnerable with each other in a way that masculinity usually doesn’t let them be.

men crying is what i’m trying to say. i write a lot of men hugging and leaning on each other and crying.

🛠 what tools/programs/apps do you use to write?

google docs baybee, and occasionally a timer if i’m trying to break a block with ten-minute fics. i also write from prompts a lot? especially since i write mostly short fic; i find it helpful a lot of times to have a jumping-off place.

also thesaurus.com, my beloved.

💖 what made you start writing?

god, i don’t even know. i have been writing stories ever since i learned how to write; when i was like six or seven i had a whole notebook dedicated to tales of three best friends and their horses, complete with illustrations. i won first place in the young author’s fair at my school around that same age for a story about two cats encountering a scary bulldog. i don’t think anything made me start writing, i think that’s just how i’m wired, lol.

now, i started writing fic when i was 13 or 14 years old, basically because i learned, from the internet, that it was allowed, lol. before then i thought surely it must be illegal for nebulous copyright reasons, so i would just write things that were Heavily Inspired by the stuff i liked, but then once i discovered that fanfic was a Thing on the internet i started writing more and more of that and less and less original stuff, until now when it’s basically all i write! 😬

🧐 do you spend much time researching your stories?

god, you have no idea.

i generally like to stay as canon compliant as possible; i generally write fic out of appreciation for (and obsession with) the canon as opposed to writing fic to “fix” the canon (though i am not immune to the occasional fix-it), and i have also always really enjoyed the exercise of writing “within constraints.” it feels like a game to me — a set of rules or requirements that i have to work around in order to create something moving. to do that i spend insane amounts of time on wikis and reddits looking up shit like “how many windows does the bebop have,” and sometimes i will find and rewatch/reread a scene in the original work if the internet isn’t giving me what i want.

in terms of research outside of the canon, recently since i’ve started writing a lot of anime fic i’ve been doing a fair amount of research into japanese culture, but i’m a biiiitttt more loosey-goosey with that, because 1.) i am aware of the limits of typing keywords into google and reading three or four blog posts on whatever it is i’m looking up, and i would rather be ambiguous than wrong, and 2.) i think as an american writing in english it’s really easy for that kind of research to, like, take over a fic, if that makes sense?? like, i’ve definitely read fics (especially anime fics) where all the cultural details and references start to feel kind of performative, which not only makes the writer seem pretentious but it also takes away from the story itself. so generally if it’s something that seems easy enough to look up, like popular fast food restaurants or what kind of animals they have at the tokyo zoo, i’ll look that up, but i give myself a bit more wiggle room with things that might be more nuanced than that.

wow anyway sorry for that insane digression, lmao. the short answer is yes. yes i do a lot of research when i write fic. 😂

[fapangel]

D+27, D+28 and D+29 (March 23/24/25) (Posted March 25th @ 4PM EST)

google docs Sitrep: Maneuver

Kyiv AAO:

Continued combat in Irpin. [1] [geolocated] [2] [geolocated] [3] The fact that Irpin is still contested even as Ukrainian forces take back territory elsewhere NW of Kyiv does not bode well for Russian forces.

Further evidence of the fighting in Makariv contines to trickle in; likely from the 23rd, 22nd or earlier: [1] [geolocated] [2]

A claim of the liberation of Lukyanovka, a village 40km east of Brovary. (Link provided because Google has the name as belonging to a district of Kyiv; the village’s “proper name” according to Google Maps is Luk’yanivka.) This is confirmed by the following:

Widely-circulating images of a destroyed church match photos of the Church of The Ascension in the village, from Google Maps. Note the fence, white cross on the top of the center gate, and the tree. The church is/was located at 50.49264762036238, 31.37645090438957.

This was a beautiful church.

This war memorial overlooking two destroyed Russian tanks is probably from the village but Google Earth imagery is too poor resolution in this area for me to geolocate it from overhead, and the village (like most of Ukraine) has no Street View data. I will try to locate this via the text on the monument’s plaque.

This video is from the same location is said to be Lukyanovka as well.

The video of pro-Ukrainian Chechens Aloha Snackbaring in combat on the 22nd has been geolocated to 50.571448, 30.904428, which is on the rail line that demarcates the south-southeastern border of the suburb city of Velyka Dymerka (see purple pin “Chechen attack.”) Compare this to my map from a few updates back:

I assume Velyka Dymerka is still enemy held as no news to the contrary has emerged. Thus this amounts to proof of a 4km advance into this Russian-held salient, one that threatens to cut the H07 east-west highway. Paired with the assault on Velyka Dymerka it shows that constant pressure is being applied to Russian forces in this area.

See also this reported destruction of a bridge over the Desna river just south of Cherenihiv by Russian airstrike. (Geolocation to 51.4584818,31.3004786) This is a serious attempt to interrupt communications between the city and the areas south of it, and there are no other bridges over the Desna other than one that is in Russian control. (A pontoon crossing is very possible but would have to be made further east to be safely out of Russian artillery range.)

Given a dearth of Russian bridging ability they have proven loath to destroy bridges themselves in most cases. Combined with the fact that their last reported positions should still invest the E95 highway from Kyiv, this attack is likely as much to deny the city’s defenders a supply route as it is to deny them the ability to supply forces fighting south of the city from supply dumps in the city.

Bearing in mind how little information we have on this area that is third-party verified, given what is in hand it seems that Russian forces are being hard-presssed on three sides in this area. (Remember, these forces main line of supply is from the east, as the only good crossings over the Dnieper are all either in Ukrainian hands, or within easy range of Ukrainian artillery.) If Russian forces are not retreating from this possible salient up to nine, perhaps more Battalion Tactical Groups will be encircled.

Drone footage showing the severity of flooding in the Moshchun area.

Presumably recent evidence of very heavy combat in Borodyanka, north of Makariv. [Gelocated.] [Second video, from a vehicle observer’s perspective.] [Geolocated] Remember, this is a crucial crossroads 20km north of Makariv.

On the eve of the 23rd I heard rumors of fighting near Teterivske on Twitter, which was later reinforced by this curious statement by UMoD regarding Russians trying to take that town back and failing. However, this village is a solid 15km east of the villages of Kropyvnya, Zakharivka, Oliva and Kukhari, which the UMoD previously reported as being Russian frontline defensive positions. Note this area is a good 40km north-west of Borodyanka, which is itself 20km north of Makariv. Previously, observing the map, I identified this general area – only slightly further north than Malyn’s latitude – as an ideal place to for a counter-attack to encircle and cut off the Russian forces NW of Kyiv. I didn’t even think to mention it in my prior analysis as I figured the specific UMoD mention of Russian defensive efforts in this region was reflective of Russian realizations of this. The reason it is a good place to attack is 1. it is roughly equidistant between the furthest southern Russian advances south and the Belorussian border; ergo it gives some space from the artillery concentrations of the main Russian assault on Kyiv and the airpower lurking over the Belorussian border, and 2. contains a main highway running east to the ever-important crossroads of Ivankiv. This also makes it crucial for Russians to defend – note the Teteriv river anchors the southern end of any line there, and the forests south/southeast of the river would make a good “rear” area for the forces pushing on Kyiv (out of artillery range of Kyiv and offering lots of cover from aerial observation.)

This would mean Ukrainian forces have advanced 13~km east of their previously reported frontline.

Teteriviske is only 15.5k due south-west of Ivankiv. That puts the crucial crossroads of Ivankiv well within 152mm range.

If these reports are true and Ukraine has the force to hold this town, they can interdict the P02 highway and Ivankiv crossroads with artillery quite easily. They can move around the Teteriv river using their own interior lines of communication further west. There is a real possibility they could push on to Ivankiv, and then along the river’s north bank clean to the Dneiper and effectively encircle the Russian force. This will be hard slow fighting but favors the advantages Ukraine has – more light infantry and good terrain in this AOO with which to use them.

Analysis (Kyiv AOO):

Russia has obvious and previously-described difficulty in conducting bridging operations due to ubiquitous drone surveillance and highly competent Ukrainian artillery employment. On the above map I have highlighted the course of local rivers of significance as well as the flooding north of Moshchun as well. Recall that Demydiv, north of Moshchun, the entire curve of the Teteriv river is within long Grad MLRS range (and is well within the range of 300mm systems like Smerch, of which Ukraine has some, already.) Gold arrows indicate known Ukrainian counterattacks against Berezivka, Makariv (taken,) Borodyanka, Irpin, Moshchun (taken) and likely counterattacks against Teterivske (allegedly taken, but at least indicates attacks in this direction even if not,) Horenychi and Hostomel (possibly from the east with light forces and swimming IFVs, if not then after (if?) Irpin is retaken.)

It should be obvious from this map what is happening – the rivers divide the AO into sections that are very problematic for an army fighting in an environment of heavy artillery usage and ubiquitous drone observation for both sides, that is also extremely vehicle-dependent due to their usage of “BTGs” which give a regiment’s worth of artillery to a battalion-sized maneuver force. Against this, they are fighting an enemy with a superiority in light infantry numbers in terrain that favors them, who are pressing them on all sides, pinning their forces and making the shifting of forces from one flank to another difficult. If Russia does not have the strength to rebuff this assault, they will have to shorten their lines; either giving ground on their western flank, and endangering their supply lines, or giving ground in the eastern flank, the suburbs of Kyiv they have fought so bitterly to take multiple times.

Kharkiv/Sumy AOO

UMoD says only that Sumy is under bombardment, but not ground attack yet. Kharkiv is noted to be under very heavy bombardment.

This tweet by UMoD offers a rare glimpse of frontline positions in this AO as it identifies the city of Okhtyrka as being in Ukrainian hands despite constant assaults. This city is about 70km directly south of Sumy. This serves as some confirmation that this part of the Finnish Scribblemap is still accurate:

See also this geolocated imagery of shelling in Okhtyrka that appeared on March 25th and this geolocated data (from the 25th as well) showing the village of Klymentove north of Okhtyrka leveled, and these photos (geolocated) showing the leveled train station in Okhtyrka.

Donetsk/Luhansk AOO:

Despite Russian claims to the contrary Izyum is likely still contested. See this image of shelling in the city seen on March 24th, easily geolocated to 49.1780045, 37.2788667 by the visible war monument. Note the terrain at this location (looking south-southeast here):

This hillside overlooking the Donets river is either wooded, or has significant structures all along its length; this would make it a very commanding position over not just the river, but the wooded areas north-west of it from which the Russians would have to attack. Shelling this area – a structure, specifically, as the post claims – strongly suggests that southern Izyum, where it’s protected by the curve of the Donets river, is still in Ukrainian hands.

Note also this video geolocated to 49.19721, 37.27790. Note the heavy concrete or brick apartment buildings here. Note that these overlook an open soccer field not 230 meters away from one of the bridge crossings (a footbridge, it seems) over the Donets river:

Obviously, an assault took place here. The fact that no defenders are still visible and civilians are filming the area could mean the enemy has withdrawn, or that the Russians were able to cross and take ground. Either way, the heavy shelling southward implies resistance continues along the road south out of the city, and/or attempts to cross at a point further south to flank defenders that are resisting assault in urban fighting in the city proper.

This propaganda broadcast has been geolocated to 49.034081, 38.373498 in northwesternmost Rubizhne. Presuming they wouldn’t let their canary too close to the frontline, this implies the Russians are (as UMoD has previously stated) established in north-west Rubizhne, but not in the center of the city yet.

See also this big explosion from the 23rd.

Fighting in Marinka continues, according to three geolocations done on damage to the city posted on the 24th. Prior video evidence of Russian troops probing here and UMoD statements of repelling assaults in this area make this no surprise, but indicate the Russians are not making much, if any, progress. Marinka is 20km south-west of Donetsk city proper.

Recent UMoD statement from the 24th simply says Izyum is still repelling Russian attacks. The night before (still the 24th in the US,) UMoD reported attacks in Donetske (a village 10km north of Slovyansk and in the general area along the Donets river that anchors the salient up to Rubizhne/Severodonetsk) and Kam’yanka, directly along the H20 highway 10km directly north of Donetsk city. They also noted that Russian forces are (still) concentrating their efforts on Popansa (which anchors the southern flank of said salient), Marinka, and Verkhnyoteretske, which is most likely what Google thinks is “Verkhoyanskaya Vu,” a southwestern suburb of Donetsk and up the road east of Marinka:

I can’t be sure that prior purple pins further east around Donetsk indicate the Russians have been gaining ground, because as long as I’ve been tracking UMoD statements the frontline has seemed to be right along the H20 highway, north of the city. Given the prior reporting by UMoD of Stepnoe being attacked (implying it’s being defended,) Marinka seems like the furthest thrust, but given the claimed attacks on Verkhnyoteretske it seems the Russian incursion into the line in this area isn’t so much south of the city as it is hugging the city limits as they advance along the furthest western extent of Donetsk’s suburbs – with those suburbs still being held by Ukrainian forces as stubbornly as they hold any urban area.

See also this claim making the rounds that a much-hated rebel was killed by a sniper, reportedly “Near Avdiivka in Donbas province,” which is just west of Kam’yanka.

No information I can find on Vugledar, where Russian forces were previously reported by UMoD as trying to turn the flank. This may be indication that the Russians are finally focusing their efforts more. Trying to break through north and south of Donetsk and around Izyum makes sense as these are the two pincers needed to encircle a large bulk of Ukrainian forces. However, continuing to smash their heads into Rbizhne/Severodonetsk in heavy urban fighting when this city could be encircled instead, then invested and assaulted, is moronic, esp. given that the eight-year occupation of the Donbas region means they should have fair control over those lines of communication, and thus don’t need to hold those cities like they do Sumy, Konotop etc.

Southern Front (Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol) AOO:

UMoD simply says that the “Tavriya direction” (village northwest of Tokmak, indicating the entire defensive southward facing line) is quiet.

Mariupol: I have made an attempt to quantify the distance Russian forces have pushed into the city with geolocated data: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] There is already a map being provided by this account, which you can view here, but I mapped it myself to utilize the most recent data that is evidence of direct fighting (direct fire, or artillery in support of units directly in contact):

As one can see, all that can be said for sure is that fighting has reached the interior of the city. Extrapolating from this how much of the city is truly controlled by either force is still an open question. Given the Ukrainians are apparently fighting for every block (given the thoroughness of destruction being seen in media) it’s clear that they have plenty more blocks to go before they'll be hard-pressed.

Watch for a Russian attempt to take, or at least control by fires, that center section of the city along the river. The bridge will likely be blown as well. The heavy shelling of the industrial area on the 21st was probably related to this; either suspicion of centrally located defender’s stockpiles, or in support of an assault from the north. The patrol boat that ate an ATGM was likely reconnoitering this area.

Kherson AOO

The last reported shelling in Mykolaiv was on March 21st. This strongly implies that Russian forces are no longer in artillery range (40~km for most MLRS) of the city – which, if you have been following me, is no surprise.

I have seen many claims that the Russians have moved helicopters into Kherson airbase and had them hit by MLRS fire by Ukrainians – not just the two confirmed incidents, but up to ten times. I doubted this. However it seems the airport has been hit a third, confirmed time on the 24th, given this video that certainly looks like MLRS (the bright flashes in the air might be unitary warhead rockets being engaged by surface-to-air missiles.) This has been tentatively geolocated as being in Kherson and looking towards the airport. There is also this video from outside the city, likely taken by Ukrainian soldiers. See also this second video from within the city that also shows the same pattern of detonations and lights/explosions higher in the sky. The audio/video of this one makes it very plausible that at least one attempted surface to air interception was attempted, but as you can tell from the weight of the barrage, it was a futile effort. I expect geolocation of this one will not take long.

This means Ukrainian forces are within 40~km of Kherson, so they’ve at least pushed out of Mykolaiv proper by 7~km or so, and have done so without (serious) worry about counter-battery attack. I strongly doubt that Russian forces are still investing Mykolaiv in any serious strength.

I am seeing strong rumors of a heavy Ukrainian counter-attack in this region, but as usual, there is nothing to back it up yet.

Sitrep: Operational

This New York Times article (best viewed on Youtube) combines crowd-sourced Russian radio intercepts with geolocation of areas mentioned in their transmissions in the clear to paint a very damning picture of Russian operational failures. For once, the New York Times has done excellent work. This information dates from around Feb. 27th, during the first assaults on Makariv. Some interesting observations:

Motyzhyn put up enough resistance that Russian troops retreated from it. UMoD’s statements gave this as the furthest-south area ever being held by Russian forces. This tracks very well with the radio intercepts indicating great resistance. More of a maneuver update but w/e

Communication difficulties do indeed make combined-arms efforts a real nightmare for Russian forces; calling in supporting fires is badly delayed when they need it the most.

The Russians (were) frequently giving away their positions and plans in the clear.

Note, Their frequent use of code-phrases and Chechen code talkers they now use to address their open communications are neither very effective (the Ukrainians have Chechens too) and further exacerbate the delays in calling in supporting fires.

Russian forces were taking heavy casualties at this time, and were frequently low or out of critical supplies, esp. fuel, with vehicles stalling in the road.

Russians are indeed using cell phones more.

I have confirmed that Russian military communications do, in fact, partly rely on fucking cell phone towers. Apparently their communication arrangements involved widespread use of encrypted cell phones. While these communications are secure, they are also useless against any non-braindead force, as cell phone towers only go about ten miles; the signals are pretty weak and many towers are needed for coverage. Any defending force could just send a man in a jeep to the local towers and unplug the damn things. Tom Clancy used this angle in his book “Rainbow Six” published in 1998. FUCKING 1998

Higher-ranking Russian officers confirmed to be getting boots on the ground in order to unfuck things. Given one general has already been killed by Ukrainian forces when his transmissions in the open were triangulated for artillery strike…

As one wag on my discord put it; “it’s like a video game; kill enough Russians and a Russian General appears to fight you like a boss battle!”

This video showing Russian forces clearing IEDs was geolocated to 46.157853, 33.602842, which is nowhere fucking near Kherson, just in the oblast. It’s along the E97 highway out of Crimea, only 30km north of the peninsula proper! (This illustrates the importance of geolocating data!) This is indication that Territorial Defense Forces/local resistance is still active all along the Russian supply route, even in terrain that makes armed ambushes difficult.

As this photo shows, IEDs are now being seen/talked about more frequently. This is not the first IED I’ve seen. This style of IED – wiring two (or sometimes three) large-caliber artillery shells together has long been a staple of insurgency operations in the Middle East. The sheer weight of explosive is easily enough to destroy or at least mission-kill a tank – sometimes by flipping it clean over.

Continued Territorial Defense Forces’ activity against Russian supply lines in the North; likely around Sumy. See also this wiped convoy by direct TDF ambush (note their clothing.)

More direct evidence of Russia employing thermite-incendiary weapons against dense urban areas. Its use against Irpin makes sense, as such weapons are most effective against suburbs where most construction is of the light wood variety.

Naturally, this is a hideous warcrime.

These destroyed Russian vehicles have been described as an infiltration attempt, but given they were ambushed before the Z painted on the side was eliminated I suspect these civilian vehicles were commandeered simply because the Russians had no other vehicles to use.

This geolocated video of an S-300 TEL in Kyiv being found and engaged by a Russian drone surprised me – I’d have expected the Ukrainians to keep their S-300s further from the frontlines and use their long reach to threaten Russian aircraft at a distance. The fact the Ukrainians have gotten away with positioning theater-defense assets as far forward as Kyiv itself (using the city’s infrastructure to hide them) shows very bold and aggressive use of their assets. I say they have gotten away with it because, if the Russians had managed to find and attack an S-300 in or around Kyiv before this, they absolutely would have released this video sooner, given how much an impact the state of Ukraine’s air defense system has on public audiences in general (as you may recall from my D-Day/SAM posts.)

Smaller Ukrainian SAMs also very active.

Russian drone videos continue to be very jerkily cut, almost always refusing to let you see the actual impact of munitions cued by the drone. Failing that, they show you video with such fucking awful resolution you can’t tell if anything was actually present to be destroyed or not. They’re also typically very short. Compare to this glorious video showing unitary warhead MLRS hitting Russian (likely) Grad trucks; you can clearly tell kills are scored by heat signatures/secondaries. Or this video of of Ukrainian artillery fire being cued onto vehicles spotted at night on thermals.

The continued heavy editing of Russian releases strongly suggests to me their artillery has dogshit promptness and accuracy unless it’s laser-guided. And even the United States’ stockpile of Copperhead rounds was minuscule compared to its dumbfire stockpile... for a reason.

Sitrep: Materiel/Personnel/Logistical

Ukraine has successfully interdicted Russian supply efforts via ferry over the Sea of Azov. The big firey boom that hit some Russian LST’s unloading at the port of Berdyansk has been widely reported, but I can confirm the following:

At least one LST is absolutely and properly fucked. See these two videos in which very loud secondaries are quite clearly audible. Note also the second LST de-assing that pier for that exact reason. The burning LST was clearly filled with enough fuel and munitions for a decent party, meaning:

This vessel will soon be a fire-gutted total loss,

This vessel was sank at anchor by its crew to flood the lower hold and prevent catastrophic damage, in which case it’s probably still a total loss (saltwater in every machinery space + fire damage above) but will have to be re-floated before tugs can drag it away and open that berth for unloading activities again.

It was a Ukrainian Tochka-U/w sub-munitions strike that did this. This is very likely video of the strike. Note the primary target seems to be the larger tank farm further up the pier; you can clearly see a spread of sub-munitions going off, as well as the spent after section of the missile flopping into the water further on (the parent body will go long; it has more mass and isn’t slowed as much by wind resistance as the bomblet cloud.) While this seems like it hit too far forward to do the damage, if it caused a leak in the tanks at the more distant fuel farm, (as prior strikes with this weapon have reportedly done) there would be no immediate fire, but fumes that would likely ignite in a hurry. Or another weapon could have impacted shortly thereafter, or, incredibly, this could be an earlier strike and unrelated to the destruction on the 24th.

While US intel support would have definitely informed UMoD of these activities and the exact berths in use, Russian propaganda channels helpfully boasted about it and showed vehicles being unloaded from these ships, at these berths. They even helpfully showed APCs/IFVs lined up along the pier, which you will note has a few big fuel tanks located on it. Incredibly, this same Russian propaganda channel also posted video of the rear/steering section of a Tochka-U SRBM and boasted that it had been shot down by Russian air defenses. Even if the above video isn’t of a previously successful strike, Russian command both incentive the striking of this target and made it crystal clear that defense saturation by multiple weapons was required. Sasuga Russia.

In addition to establishing that Russian forces in every Area Of Operations continue to have supply lines interdicted, and for establishing that Ukraine has even more reloads for their captured TOS-1, these images of a destroyed truck and captured thermobaric MLRS rockets somewhere in Chernihiv oblast make it obvious just how bulky MLRS rockets are. They impose an even greater burden on the supply chain than tube artillery does, both in the bulkiness of their ammo and the speed with which they can dispense of it.

Did I mention the Russians seem to be leaning very heavily on MLRS?

Given the terrain this seems to be yet another example of lost rear-echelon equipment in the Kherson AOO. Recovery/engineering vehicles like this are ones Russia can scarce afford to lose.

Izyum area continues to eat Russian engineering officers. Note this is the third engineering officer, the second in the Izyum area, and the second colonel to be lost; this one was likely killed overseeing pontoon bridging operations just like the other two.

More confirmation that Naval Infantry are being deployed by Russia as reinforcements – these have been seen in action in Mariupol.

To the shock of nobody, NATO officials have confirmed (~anonymously~) that no, the Russians did not “get hacked, bro” and the likely figure of 30-40,000 battlefield casualties for Russia so far seems to be in the ballpark. Reminder, that would be about 1/3rd of their frontline combat troops, given a very generous tooth-to-tail ratio (and given how shittily supported their logistics are, their having it at only 1:1 seems to check out.)

Further reminder that Ukrainian SOF are getting extremely nice toys from the US.

Some hints that Zelinsky’s recent request for anti-ship missiles may be entertained, which would be a massive boost to their combat potential and could end the de-facto blockade of Ukrainian ports, allowing for more food shipments to enter the country in bulk. Indeed this may be the motivating factor behind NATO’s consideration of the request.

And just for fun, another win for the tractor brigades.

UMoD has recently alleged that Russian forces are seizing trucks and “special agricultural machinery” from civilians in occupied areas, so, hilariously, they are learning to use tractors as well.

Less hilariously, expect them to also prioritize earth-moving equipment whenever possible. Also expect local operators to be competent at sabotaging this equipment in ways that are reversible – if you fix it before you turn it on. Oil-soaked rags wrapped around an engine block that will get hot, etc.

Note that UMoD has again stated that Russia is trying to seize in-situ fuel supplies whenever possible.

Sitrep: Strategic

NATO is nervous.

President Biden has openly put retaliatory WMD strikes on Russian forces on the table. This is a massive escalation in stance and follows over a week of constant warnings by NATO nations that Russia was clearly preparing an excuse for use of chemical weapons, and there has been growing disquiet over the possibility of tactical nuclear employment.

NATO has openly stated that it has activated its “chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense elements” for the first time.

French media openly reported (i.e. on behalf of their government) that three of France’s four SSBNs have been deployed, and its nuclear forces have been placed on higher alert.

NATO has announced it will deploy four new NATO battlegroups to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. This is in addition to the ones already in the Baltics in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Poland, for a total of 8 multinational battalion-sized forces in total.

Note these amount to about two regiments of troops in total, but 1. they are in addition to the native forces, 2. will possess technology and capabilities the native troops often don’t have and 3. with 75% of Russia’s combat power tied up in Ukraine and garrisons being robbed to pour the rest of it in, there’s no serious land threat to these nations that these forces, plus the locals, could not repel.

Russia seems to be getting the message as they made a surprising statement that they would “only use nuclear weapons if faced with an existential threat.” The problem is that Putin has made it clear that he views the Ukrainian situation as an existential threat.

See also this (recent) discussion from a Russian TV show (i.e. state approved media) which makes the same argument. Unfortunately there is more truth to this than not; assuming Russia’s stated policy goal is to confront NATO for regional dominance, then failure to take Ukraine will mean the failure of the Russian state. In case it still isn’t obvious, this is, in fact, Putin’s stated goals, and it remains to be seen whether he will recalculate and accept a guarantee of existential survival as provided by Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

Sympathies/biases of the source aside, this article is both unsurprising and bears serious implications vis a vis the long-occupied Donbas region. A lot of people in that region have family who, even if they survived eight years of low-intensity war, are now dead due to indiscriminate Russian attacks. Donbas is unlikely to be a compliant Russian puppet state, occupation or no occupation.

[carpisuns]

Hey! So I'm in a bit of a pickle and I feel like since you're in the publishing industry (or I'm completely confusing you for someone else who's a copy-editor) you might be able to help me...?

I'm trying to put conscious effort into improving my writing and especially my style, and I feel like as of right now, I want it to feel a little haunting? Kind of like when you read something and the words feel like phantom beings around you? Like the lines have a mystical feeling to them? Idk if I'm able to explain it properly.

But the problem is, when I type into Google anything regarding "author" and "haunting writing style" to find some examples, it just gives me horror authors which is not helpful at all.

Could you please help me?

(Feel free to ignore this ask if you don't feel like answering or if it's just a really stupid question!!)

ngl i was kind of at a loss for this at first lol but actually i think i know exactly what you mean!

A novel that comes to mind is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. He is a brilliant writer with a very fascinating (and, yes, haunting) writing style. It also helps a lot that the book is narrated by Death lol. Here's a little sample of what you'll find in the book:

The last time I saw her was red. The sky was like soup, boiling and stirring. In some places, it was burned. There were black crumbs, and pepper, streaked across the redness.

Earlier, kids had been playing hopscotch there, on the street that looked like oil-stained pages. When I arrived, I could still hear the echoes. The feet tapping the road. The children-voices laughing, and the smiles like salt, but decaying fast.

Then, bombs.

And for fanwork, I highly recommend checking out Reiaji's work on ao3! She is one of my biggest #goals writers and she has such an incredible knack for writing really beautiful prose that somehow both sinks slowly into your blood and also and slams you in the ribs like a semi truck at the same time lol. in particular i think her fics whose woods these are (i think i know.) and the last day on earth are great examples of that haunting style you're looking for. Here's the opening paragraphs of "whose woods":

The wood is full of whispering, and the forest knows his name.

immediate chills, right? omg

And one line that has always haunted me from "last day" is this one:

That’s her, falling down through the middle of time; her skin turning warm, her eyes turning clear, her clenched teeth rattling like rosary beads.

also final girl by @picayunearts is another example of excellent writing that often has similar vibes in the prose. ex:

All the way home, on the rattling, grime-slick train, Marinette stares into the darkness past the windows, Mullo cupped to her chest like a heartbeat.

one thing i've noticed about these writers is that they do a really good job of balancing the abstract with the concrete. if you're going for "mystical" and "phantom-like" and "haunting," you might be tempted to go full abstract, but you need grounding details to give the description weight and "stickiness." readers need something concrete to latch onto when they're reading, so if you strike that balance well, that's what gives the writing real staying power in their mind.

it might be helpful to pull out one or two stand-out details from the character's surroundings to create the atmosphere you want (like the black-pepper streaks in the soupy-red sky, or the grime and the rattling sound of the train). you can also pack striking imagery into your figurative language to create that vibe (like the rattling rosary beads simile). i'd also recommend playing around with sentence structure. for example, a sentence with a series of cumulative commas could build up tension/suspense, whereas a short, punchy sentence dropped at the right moment could serve as the last nail in the coffin, haha. just read and ponder and try things out and i'm sure you'll figure out how to develop the style you want!

anyway, I hope this helps :) good luck, and happy writing!

[just-a-cup-of-anxietea]

Since GeoGuessr isn’t free anymore, here’s a list of interactive experiments from Google chrome for my fellow geography students/hobbyists:

Lines - draw lines and find comparable matches across a satellite imagery database

radio around the world - listen to radio stations across the world by panning and scrolling

Make your own human development tree (anthropology and social sciences) Build a tree with specific life expectancy/schooling/etc criteria and see how it pans out in the real world.

Globe viewer - see how different times of day influence global light distribution

A year in the life of earth's CO2- visualizing atmospheric distribution of CO2 over time. Also has WICKED cool map distortion for easy visualization. Never seen an interactive map that distorts quite like this.

Explosion - Click on the globe and make part of it explode. Not really educational but kind of weirdly calming.

What did earth look like x million years ago? - this is my personal favorite. Plug in a location and set a date range and see where your location was x million years ago. I'm honestly obsessed.

Passport Power (Travelscope)- visualizing visas and passports across countries. Super helpful for writers and travelers alike.

A World of Change - see how different cities view climate change and potential climate change solutions through google search trend analysis

Disclaimer: I changed some of the names here for a better descriptor of what the tool does.

Also here's the main homepage for other experiments. It's incredible and super interdisciplinary- highly recommend just browsing around for a while. (13/10 recommend the music experiments like this one which lets you create music from drawn shapes. I've been looking for something like this for almost a year. )

Again, these are just ways to pass the time if you're leaning towards a more educational geography game approach. I've found some adequate actual game replacements for geoguessr like City Guessr and Hide and Seek World too. None of them quite live up to their predecessor, but they're still pretty great. Unfortunately a lot of the other geo game links no longer work (thanks to Google spiking up their prices) or they just aren't as fun. Here's a good resource for some other great games tho.

RIP Geoguessr. You are dearly missed.

[crimsonandcloverwrites]

ok bhah ch11 my longest yeah boi ever

i’m literally... so excited I can’t even read it ok ok

oh no not the wedding invitations not this

i swear to god if we have to go through this wedding. knifeemoji

listen I have a fear that we’re gonna get the break up and the car accident same as canon dear god don’t put us through that either

no fears *literally everything that could make bhah more painful* several fears dot meme

god not the jamie invite. she cant even do it. another sign from god you are choosing to ignore

straight to Jamie’s house oh

lmao the red door I just worked out that’s a hill house reference from when I was wondering in like ch3(?) lol the inner workings of my dumbass brain never stop

“can we talk?” it’s happening what is happening

Dani was so tired of lying oh my god

my heart is literally beating so fast

alone in Jamie’s room bro wtf wtf

Jamie is just so soft and understanding always always aaaahhhhh

fuck she just wants out of this wedding so bad but she can’t even tell him

AAAHHH SHE KISSED HER OH MY GOD IT’S HAPPENING

fuck fgkjhdfkjgh this is not good oh no. Dani finally finally fucking doing something for herself and Jamie so aware that this cannot be happening like this right now

and yet both of them just falling into it anyway oh my goddddd

jesus christ jesus christ “Dani had half crawled into Jamie’s lap, kissing her with a fierce and fervent heat” I am on deaths door

god they’ve both wanted this for so so so so long I can’t believeeeeee

(i am so thrilled that y’all just went there right away btw)

“Please, just - I just want to feel how I’m supposed to.” oucchhhh Dani

god her just... knowing. after one kiss w Jamie that she can finally do it and talk to him and end it and it’s so terrifying but goddd yes

“You think I can ever say no to you?” oof

“Ask,” Jamie breathed. “Ask me.” fucking fuck the power of this line oh my god Jamie is so fucking ready to jump of a bridge for her it’s- the dedication the love the longing the everything I am going insane is it too early to start drinking at 1pm

you’re not you can’t NOT THE CANON DINER SCENE

fuck this is like watching a car crash i can’t look away it’s so fucking visceral and nerve-wracking and painful

but god I’m so proud of her for finally saying what she wants

oh thank fuck y’all didn’t take him out with a passing delivery truck

“You must have known. You know me.” oh god this sentiment always kills me

“She couldn’t say it — the words ‘I’m gay’ forever out of reach — so instead she said, “I can’t.”” my whole body is on fire oh my god this is.... too fucking real

jesus christ the near miss w the truck are u trying to kill me (i actually kind of love that Dani will have to deal w her feelings w him face to face instead of having to bury it all in grief like in canon I am so excited to see how y’all handle that)

a fucking HOUR in the car dfkjghdfkjh the torture

oh honey. literally both of them suffering so much ouch

her favourite saucepan pls this is all so awful and sad but that make me laugh so much the poor confused little duck I am glad she has her comforts

god poor Dani

"Is she here to cook something?"  fgkjdhfkgjhfkjgdf

“No. I think you’re brave.” oh

“We’ll figure it out." listen listen I am undoubtedly losing my mind god this is soft

“She had spent so long being asked and not asking. Never asking. She never dared. To ask was to be known, to be made visible, words forging reality as surely as a smith’s hammer. And yet Jamie waited, letting Dani gather the courage herself.

"Can I -?" Dani said, "- stay?"” please fuck I am just so !!!!!!!! about Dani getting to know what she wants and having a fucking voice. just !!!!!!!!

“Jamie inviting her in” fucking just both of them finally getting some of that quiet courage w each other I am yelling so much

“Dani knew that it wasn't just her feeling this, that it had never just been her.” YOU’RE GODDAMN RIGHT BABEY

““But you do?” Dani asked. “Want to?”

Jamie’s answering laugh was brief and incredulous. “You have no idea.”” I AM: HOOTIN. AND: HOLLERIN

“I am here” hello? hello I am not coping I am on another plane of existence. DANI FINALLY FEELING SO PRESENT AND WHOLE IN THIS MOMENT

god they’re just holding each other i’m tearing up. Jamie is her home

Dani finally sleeping through the night ow my fucking heart

Mikey’s so chill about all of this sdkdhfdkj I love him

Jamie going out n buying her favourite jam... god the tenderness. love is stored in the strawberry jam and the hairdryer

hmmmmm her attraction to Jamie is so closely tied to a lot of really hard feelings this is gonna take a bit to work through huh???

aw Jamie going to Carson I am so happy she has her little band of gays to help her rn

I love that she can just kiss her now when she gets the urge like maybe chill out a lil just landing all these surprise kisses but like good for u girl. good for both of u

the warmth of the house hmmmmm I love that she’s found this esp because she is perpetually cold and Jamie is always warm but keeps it like that for the kid (and probably for Dani too) aaahhhh

cgjkdfhkjgh Dani is so thirsty poor Jamie trying to keep them in check. these moments are so fucking loaded holy shit

Dani Jamie and Mikey are the cuuutest lil family aw

god the tentativeness between them trying to figure this all out and the casual intimacy and just. all of it is so much and so beautiful to watch unfold

i love this little bubble inside Jamie’s house and Jamie kind of drawing the curtains around them both physically and metaphorically while she lets Dani figure things out and lets it settle between them

it’s all about the hands

oh my god Hannah instantly asking if she needs a place to stay she really is the best

soft little mornings with her Jamie like... once Dani finally defeats the ball of guilt in her chest there is so much goodness to look forward to and I am v glad she has that right now even as she is still struggling a bit. my girl needs all the sweetness in her life

also the idea of Jamie getting to wake up to sleeping Dani in her bed every morning after a lifetime of trying to repress her feelings... god

heh she’s already figuring out all the ways to push Jamie’s buttons god these two are going to have some fun w each other

this idea of learning the creaking floorboards of a new home is so... warm

Jamie leaving all the curtains drawn for her oh my heart keeping her safe keeping her safe

Nan would be so proud of ms Dani u know it’s true

awww Mikey comin home to keep her company

Mikey Dani time is always so sweet I love them

my god Dani n Jamie are so intense w each other and just so full of fucking desire... when those floodgates finally open will they even survive

oof Dani is dealing with soooo much ugh. Jamie always there with a gentle way to bring her back down to earth tho my hearrrtttt

“You’re allowed to be happy.” she is SHE IS ty Jamie Taylor voice of reason

a pinky promise to deal with everything together awwww

“why are you so good to me” “you know why” oh my goddddddd. that’s so soft that’s so gentle that’s so much love

Dani finding little bits in herself in media god i love this

Dani Mikey hours best hours

god Carson... sweet boy. And Judy sending over a whole bunch of food oof just. these quiet little reminders of their love for her. Dani’s about to go through a whole bunch more emotions huh?

fkjdfkjgfh Mikey going into protector mode when Carson is there pls i love hm

ohmy “our room” aaaaaaahhhhh

god Dani expecting him to be upset with her I am so fucking emotional. I relate far too much to Dani in canon and in this story and it’s just. painful as hell to see someone go through the things you know hurt the most holy shit

please Carson is so sweet and understanding and telling her he’s proud of her is making me cry so much I can barely see

this whole like.. uncomfortable but relief-filled kind of coming out between her and Carson is so so beautifully done I can’t stop fucking crying

“God, you two were agony to watch.”  fglkdfgkjdfhkjgh Carson a voice of the people

“You deserve to be happy.” - Carson and also me and also everyone reading this

god he is so wonderful!!!!!! this reminder that she’s not alone and everything will be ok!!!!!!! Carson I love you so much

the box being described as “the beating heart of their childhood“ god the imagery

Jamie so sweetly making room for her and welcoming her into a home I am emotional again the tears have really been unlocked now I’m gonna be a mess the whole rest of this chapter (i say as if I haven’t been already)

the really sweet way Jamie gets her to open up and trust her with the things that have been on her mind

and Dani doing the same for her god this gentle honest space between them makes my heart feel so full I am just so happy that they’ve got each other

“I want you to stay.” please (also now I’m thinking about AE putting Stay on her Jamie playlist jesus christ I am being tortured)

they get... to wake up.... in bed together. i’m so close to crying again when will this stop

i kind of love there hasn’t really been any like... just no more kissing u know but we still get this insane intimacy between them in a way that’s not them shying away from the way they want each other but so carefuly and sweetly and honestly coming towards each other

awww them always waking up all tangled is so cuuute (also Dani feeling so safe and comfy with her that her subconscious is like lets latch on she is good she is home)

lmao Dani having to mediate between these two dweebs and their playfights is so good

Jamie having her lil family surrounding her aww

(also i just noticed the rating change oh god)

sfkjfhdg Jamie looking at her hips all dark eyes and wanting we’ve all been there girl

“you can look” BOLD DANI MY BELOVED

god these two........ the grabbing her silver chain god @ google how to breathe properly??????

“Then show me.” oh my god

fkgjhdfkj so much electricity they shorted out the power

“this is just as nice” when they’re just hugging please they are so soft

i love that there’s just like... gentle soft banter between them in these quiet moments so much

“Dani, give him more homework.”  ghrfjkhjgkjgh

god the heated cheek kiss

this ‘game of chicken’ god they’re just.... really in it huh this is so fun

hmmm Dani going through the suitcases and sort of being able to bring some of herself/her past into this new place is so nice

heh this lil family and their snowfights are so cute

:( she can’t bring herself to eat Judy’s food

Jamie bringing her flowers oh soft

ugh they’re just so softly melting into being together it’s so sweeeeeeeet

“You’re lovely.” and the way Jamie just sinks into her with Dani’s fingers in her hair pleeease I am dying this is so warm

aaaahhhh they’re dancing soft soft soft

“gray eyes fluttered closed, as though the weight of Dani’s touch was too much to bear” god i am..... aaaahhhh

“a gentle calm settling within her. It had seemed that for all her life she had waited for the quiet of this” y’all this is so beautiful and lovely and wonderful and all the good things

ah that kiss. kinda feels like their first real kiss where they just get to be god I am so happy “a profound sense of finally” oh oh oh that’s such a pretty concept

god I love how much they just want each other that second kiss and them just all over each other is perfect and having to try and reel that in and being able to because they know it’s not going anywhere please it’s so so good

god Dani vs Desert Hearts I love this callback and the entirely different circumstances of her watching it again

dsjfhdkjfh oh no Dani losing her mind at Jamie touching her knee god these two have got the biggest storm coming

dfkdjhkgdjh god them like.... trying to take things slow but still letting things happen while having to be aware of Mikey is so funny but I kinda love it and how indicative it all is of them being so grown up and able to approach their relationship in such a mature way. as much as I wish they’d had their teenage love story I do like that it’s unfolding this way now.

“it struck Dani then that she couldn’t remember ever laughing while doing this.” aww

Mikey’s “oh gross” hahahaha poor kid

god this is so funny

“ferret kid” jamie why are u like this sfkjhdfkjf

oh lordt it seems we have reached the unabashedly horny phase good show ol’ chaps

god they’re still so soft tho this is so fun to read

i looove how flustered they both make each other w just their presence. it’s just so !!!!!!

lmao Dani knowing exactly what to do to drive Jamie insane is fdkgfdkjgh perfect amazing show stopping more neck kisses more teasing more barely restrained desire i love it

“the reckless rush of being in each other’s arms” AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

lmaooooo Mikey Jamie is going to lock you outside if u keep doing this

the fact it can just fade back to comfortable companionship too is like. ugh i love them together

“Yeah. You can touch me whenever you want.” oh jesus

“No more interruptions, no more waiting, no more holding back.” it’s happening god it’s happening everyone stay calm (also the slow build to this point has been so fucking perfect y’all are writerly geniuses)

lmao Dani is like please can we just get naked why do u want to watch a movie I am literally right here

oh she is not waiting anymore THAT’S MY GIRL GO GET EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED I LOVE YOU

“What do you want?” god the tension

aaaaahhhhh just. them being so out of their minds with want but still all nervous and wanting to check in but still just. wanting this so much god this is *chef’s kiss*

lmao Dani already having the hair pulling thing figured out is so good. poor Jamie lol is she even going to survive this

god the fact they’re both still fully clothed n still getting this fucked up just making out n grinding on each other I love this for them

mum just came in to tell me dinner is ready I AM ALREADY EATIN GOOD

lmao fuck I am just... so thrilled for Dani finally getting to experience this get ur whole world rocked baby u deserve this

thumb in her mouth i-

“my idiot” pls that’s so soft

“You have me.” i know this is like. horny but it’s also so romantic sfgkjhdfkjg

ayoooo Jamie’s tattoo excuse me while I lose my mind a lil bit

my god Dani is so impatient to get her naked I love her for it so much “I just want to feel you”... ma’am

Jamie being all nervous is so cute aw

god having this lil moment where they just call each other beautiful n get all cute about it while they’re fully naked n grinding on each other.... perfection

god I can’t stop thinking about every other mention of Dani having sex w Eddie and it just being like adequate or like her not letting him touch her and now LOOK AT MY BABY GO SHE’S REALLY HAVIN THE TIME OF HER LIFE LITERALLY BEGGING TO BE TOUCHED LET’S GO LESBIANS LET’S GO

I feel like I’m like cheering Jamie on rn sfjkghdfkj u guys need anything? some snacks? a condom?? ur doing great!!

Dani crying and thanking her like this is an acceptance speech love that for her

Jamie kissing all over her face aww

I can’t believe this whole chapter is them just getting to fall in love for real

“I want to taste you” i am blushing goddamn Jamie get it

oh my god the dream. she’s literally living out her dreams

“that same focused intensity that could make kingdoms fall” I love that Jamie is just as into getting Dani off as Dani is getting off lmao GOOD FOR THEM

Dani: desperately tryin to get Jamie off. Jamie: are u sure u want to tho??? miss ma’am let the girl touch u already she deserves it (but i do love that she’s always just like.... never wanting to make Dani do anything she doesn’t wholeheartedly want to)

“You sitting here on top of me like this is doing more for me than you can imagine.”  iconic jamie moment

Jamie literally just like.... ‘you can do whatever you want to figure this out’ is so sweet I love her capacity for just. giving herself over to Dani in every way (not just the horny ones) to let her forge her own path

“It was easy to understand now, the exhilaration of it, why people went crazy for it.” god I love this for her so much everything just falling into place

they’re so soft n comfy together and it’s all just so right and lovely

i love that once they’ve started they basically can’t stop honestly get it girls u deserve all the orgasms

“When did you know?” “Sixteen years.” oof my heart she’s known the whole time aaahhhh. all these lil memories god it really was all out of love I could cry. and Jamie admitting the scarf/scar thing whew she really carried around that moment on her face for the whole world to see (also lol at Dani being so fixated on it this whole time that’s so perfect)

heh they’re so cute with their lil teasing banter exchange

lol goddamn this so so spicy I am just dfklghfjkdjghkjdf (that is to say well fucking done I can’t even speak rn)

Jamie just being like you could literally just look at me and I am turned on I... love this whole situation for her so much

god they’re really just going all in Dani is getting like the.... lesbian sex speed run amen

oh god not Karen on the phone just hang up Dani do it do it

god she is so evil

omg she told her abt Jamie go off Dani I am v v proud of u right now

and she hung up on her godbless babe i LOVE your audacity

heh Jamie so transfixed by Dani’s lil purple sweater and skirt I love her

Dani u are such a tease sfkgjdfkg good 4 u tbh

awwww she got Dani’s desk for her oh my god that’s so lovely

Dani n Jamie being entirely not subtle over dinner w their lingering glances and Carson just laughing at them fkjghdkfjgh i love it. he’s so happy for them even w his teasing aw

aaahhh i just love Jamie giving her this space and this room in the house and Dani feeling so right in it

oooh an almost “I love you” god they’re just fuckin u-haulin in love perfection huh

and now we’re back to horny hours love this for them. gotta bless that desk somehow huh!?

i love the mentions of all this soft stuff about belonging when they’re about to rail each other it really rounds it out emotionally

“Get on your knees.” OH MY GOD THE JAMIE ON HER KNEES REDEMPTION MOMENT IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING

HELL YEAH IT IS this is truly what we all deserve

oh my god literally ripping her clothes off her fuck i love how desperate they are for each other and just how into this they both are always

dfgkjdfh jesus Dani are u ever going to be able to get work done at this desk again after Jamie does.... all of this to u on it

“Good girl.” the single most powerful sentence in the lesbian language

jesus christ this is still so incredibly steamy sdflkhskhg it never ends. and them like.... experiementing a bit w some different um. approaches? lol good 4 them good 4 them (and us)

my god them instantly getting all soft after about making each other happy please they’re so dang cute

ok love that we are also getting Dani on her knees it’s equality.gif

this little “I like you” “I like you too” confession right now is... so fucking soft and like... after everything they’ve gone through they still have the power to kinda knock each other off their feet w lil things like this huh?? sappy lil shits

oh no Judy I am scared

holy shit Dani “Didn't think you'd love me anymore” owwww my heart

god Judy is such a good mama I love her so much. reassuring her she’s still a part of the family my god I am so emo. she loves her so much

aw I love this lil shared bathroom scene after so many awkward moments w Dani and Eddie in their bathroom and so many mentions of her fogged reflection. things are finally clear and it’s wonderful!!

lol Jamie well if u didn’t want Dani to get all horny u shouldn’t have worn suspenders!!!!! it’s simple math!

god Dani has changed so much this chapter which only takes place over a couple of weeks right?!?!? after so much anxiety and being so unsure of herself this is so fucking beautiful to see

stop the car thing oh my godddd. she doesn’t even care about having her own cause she’s so happy w the person she’s sharing with I’m so overwhelmingly happy

“You’re perfect.” please I will cry this chapter was so perfect (also so are the memes I cackled so much)

[tlatollotl]

Finding the tomb of an ancient king full of golden artifacts, weapons and elaborate clothing seems like any archaeologist’s fantasy. But searching for them, Gino Caspari can tell you, is incredibly tedious.

Dr. Caspari, a research archaeologist with the Swiss National Science Foundation, studies the ancient Scythians, a nomadic culture whose horse-riding warriors terrorized the plains of Asia 3,000 years ago. The tombs of Scythian royalty contained much of the fabulous wealth they had looted from their neighbors. From the moment the bodies were interred, these tombs were popular targets for robbers; Dr. Caspari estimates that more than 90 percent of them have been destroyed.

He suspects that thousands of tombs are spread across the Eurasian steppes, which extend for millions of square miles. He had spent hours mapping burials using Google Earth images of territory in what is now Russia, Mongolia and Western China’s Xinjiang province. “It’s essentially a stupid task,” Dr. Caspari said. “And that’s not what a well-educated scholar should be doing.”

As it turned out, a neighbor of Dr. Caspari’s in the International House, in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, had a solution. The neighbor, Pablo Crespo, at the time a graduate student in economics at City University of New York who was working with artificial intelligence to estimate volatility in commodity prices, told Dr. Caspari that what he needed was a convolutional neural network to search his satellite images for him. The two bonded over a shared academic philosophy, of making their work openly available for the benefit of the greater scholarly community, and a love of heavy metal music. Over beers in the International House bar, they began a collaboration that put them at the forefront of a new type of archaeological analysis.

A convolutional neural network, or C.N.N., is a type of artificial intelligence that is designed to analyze information that can be processed as a grid; it is especially well suited to analyzing photographs and other images. The network sees an image as a grid of pixels. The C.N.N. that Dr. Crespo designed starts by giving each pixel a rating based on how red it is, then another for green and for blue. After rating each pixel according to a variety of additional parameters, the network begins to analyze small groups of pixels, then successively larger ones, looking for matches or near-matches to the data it has been trained to spot.

Working in their spare time, the two researchers ran 1,212 satellite images through the network for months, asking it to look for circular stone tombs and to overlook other circular, tomblike things such as piles of construction debris and irrigation ponds.

At first they worked with images that spanned roughly 2,000 square miles. They used three-quarters of the imagery to train the network to understand what a Scythian tomb looks like, correcting the system when it missed a known tomb or highlighted a nonexistent one. They used the rest of the imagery to test the system. The network correctly identified known tombs 98 percent of the time.

Creating the network was simple, Dr. Crespo said. He wrote it in less than a month using the programming language Python and at no cost, not including the price of the beers. Dr. Caspari hopes that their creation will give archaeologists a way to find new tombs and to identify important sites so that they can be protected from looters.

Other convolutional neural networks are beginning to automate a variety of repetitive tasks that are usually foisted on to graduate students. And they are opening new windows on to the past. Some of the jobs that these networks are inheriting include classifying pottery fragments, locating shipwrecks in sonar images and finding human bones that are for sale, illegally, on the internet.

“Netflix is using this kind of technique to show you recommendations,” Dr. Crespo, now a senior data scientist for Etsy, said. “Why shouldn’t we use it for something like saving human history?”

Gabriele Gattiglia and Francesca Anichini, both archaeologists at the University of Pisa in Italy, excavate Roman Empire-era sites, which entails analyzing thousands of broken bits of pottery. In Roman culture nearly every type of container, including cooking vessels and the amphoras used for shipping goods around the Mediterranean, was made of clay, so pottery analysis is essential for understanding Roman life.

The task involves comparing pottery sherds to pictures in printed catalogs. Dr. Gattiglia and Dr. Anichini estimate that only 20 percent of their time is spent excavating sites; the rest is spent analyzing pottery, a job for which they are not paid. “We started dreaming about some magic tool to recognize pottery on an excavation,” Dr. Gattiglia said.

That dream became the ArchAIDE project, a digital tool that will allow archaeologists to photograph a piece of pottery in the field and have it identified by convolutional neural networks. The project, which received financing from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, now involves researchers from across Europe, as well as a team of computer scientists from Tel Aviv University in Israel who designed the C.N.N.s.

The project involved digitizing many of the paper catalogs and using them to train a neural network to recognize different types of pottery vessels. A second network was trained to recognize the profiles of pottery sherds. So far, ArchAIDE can identify only a few specific pottery types, but as more researchers add their collections to the database the number of types is expected to grow.

“I dream of a catalog of all types of ceramics,” Dr. Anichini said. “I don’t know if it is possible to complete in this lifetime.”

Saving time is one of the biggest advantages of using convolutional neural networks. In marine archaeology, ship time is expensive, and divers cannot spend too much time underwater without risking serious pressure-related injuries. Chris Clark, an engineer at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif., is addressing both problems by using an underwater robot to make sonar scans of the seafloor, then using a convolutional neural network to search the images for shipwrecks and other sites. In recent years he has been working with Timmy Gambin, an archaeologist at the University of Malta, to search the floor of the Mediterranean Sea around the island of Malta.

Their system got off to a rough start: On one of its first voyages, they ran their robot into a shipwreck and had to send a diver down to retrieve it. Things improved from there. In 2017, the network identified what turned out to be the wreck of a World War II-era dive bomber off the coast of Malta. Dr. Clark and Dr. Gambin are now working on another site that was identified by the network, but did not want to discuss the details until the research has gone through peer-review.

Shawn Graham, a professor of digital humanities at Carleton University in Ottawa, uses a convolutional neural network called Inception 3.0, designed by Google, to search the internet for images related to the buying and selling of human bones. The United States and many other countries have laws requiring that human bones held in museum collections be returned to their descendants. But there are also bones being held by people who have skirted these laws. Dr. Graham said he had even seen online videos of people digging up graves to feed this market.

“These folks who are being bought and sold never consented to this,” Dr. Graham said. “This does continued violence to the communities from which these ancestors have been removed. As archaeologists, we should be trying to stop this.”

He made some alterations to Inception 3.0 so that it could recognize photographs of human bones. The system had already been trained to recognize objects in millions of photographs, but none of those objects were bones; he has since trained his version on more than 80,000 images of human bones. He is now working with a group called Countering Crime Online, which is using neural networks to track down images related to the illegal ivory trade and sex trafficking.

Dr. Crespo and Dr. Caspari said that the social sciences and humanities could benefit by incorporating the tools of information technology into their work. Their convolutional neural network was easy to use and freely available for anyone to modify to suit their own research needs. In the end, they said, scientific advances come down to two things.

“Innovation really happens at the intersections of established fields,” Dr. Caspari said. Dr. Crespo added: “Have a beer with your neighbor every once in a while.”

[ayzrules]

✶ 𝐇𝐗𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐒: 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 & 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒, 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 & 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍   Long story short, I have been thinking about this for wayyyyy too long now and wanted to get some ~thoughts~ & analysis written down! This post is going to be...fairly long, lol. Apologies in advance :D

  Also, if you can’t see the last gif (the one for ‘holy’), click here. Tumblr keeps fucking up the image when i try to upload it :////

  This post is probably going to be about 2/3 yorknew & phantom troupe/kurapika focused, 1/3 chimera ants, maybe with some references to other arcs (including manga-only arcs) mixed in. so, ofc, tons of spoilers ahead! also, i realize that my blog theme is hard to read (and i’m p sure clicking ‘keep reading’ sends you to the og post itself), so i’m linking the post w/ full text copy/pasted in on my art backup side blog (which has a more legible font) here. 

✶ 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇   I’m sure absolutely nobody is surprised with me starting here - there is just. SO. MUCH. DEATH. in hxh. & right from the start, one thing I noticed that togashi really emphasized was the #4 and its connection to death. in japanese, chinese, and im p sure some other asian cultures the number 4 is pronounced like the word for death so it’s associated with death in general, and boy oh boy does the ‘deadly number 4′ thing show up E V E R Y W H E R E. we get to the hunter exam, and hisoka is applicant #44. kurapika is #404. i didn’t notice it at first, but this was so intentional holy shit. togashi is NOT SUBTLE.

  So pika & hisoka are, right off the bat, associated with death. okay. and then there are even more clues to drive the point home: hisoka is member #4 in the phantom troupe, kurapika’s birthday is april 4th (aka 4/4). 100% not a coincidence (!!). with hisoka, it’s pretty obvious why togashi’s throwing all this death 444444 stuff around - dude is a psycho murder pedo clown, literally gets off on killing people (and there’s also the fact that judas sits 4th from the left in the last supper painting, and he’s sort of the judas equivalent for the phantom troupe). with kurapika, though, it’s a bit more subtle and woven deeper into his characterization, which i LOVE. togashi puts the mans in blue & gold & white (traditionally ‘pure’ or ‘heavenly’ colors), makes him so fucking kind & so good-hearted.....when he’s not relentlessly pursuing his revenge, ofc. more on this in the next section, but pika = death. togashi has made that v v v clear.

  Backtracking a bit to hisoka, though, I also just wanted to point out the 4 is death symbolism in the fortunes too (GOD i love the fortunes): in one translation, he’s the false fourth moon, and in the og japanese (i think), he’s the false hare (4th in the lunar zodiac or w/e it’s called. i don’t know the japanese cultural influences here, but in the chinese legend that established the zodiac animals, they race across the heavenly river & the top 12 animals got zodiac slots. the hare finished 4th, so it’s #4 in the cycle). 

  And just as a final note, Tserriednich is the fourth prince of the kakin empire, and also another dude who has a hard-on for murder & other gory shit. again: togashi is not subtle with this, lmfao

✶ 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐘, 𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐘   As probably everyone who’s gotten to yorknew knows, togashi is so 0 fucks given when he wants to be. I mean there’s the whole thing where he just. took New York and decided, Yorknew. LMFAO, but also, he made the main antag of that arc be named chrollo lucilfer, sit around in a ruined church, have a reversed cross coat, pale & dark-haired/dark-eyed, generally dressed in dark colors, very terrible murder guy. liiiike......chrollo x devil symbolism game is 1000/10 at this point lmaooo

  And i know absolutely nothing about christianity in general, but pt/kurapika & yorknew arc is just so full of christian imagery/symbolism! one thing that i L O O O O O O V E though is how togashi really blurs the traditional christian-coded good/evil, holy/damned boundaries.

  Back to kurapika: he wears gold and blue, his coloring is very stereotypically ‘angelic’, he’s precious and good and kind. his chains are all about ~judgment~ and ~healing~ - some of the chains are also in literal cross shapes, aren’t they? And the chain dagger in his own heart...the imagery is very startlingly similar to the immaculate heart of mary, where the swords stabbing thru the heart apparently represent seven sorrows. IDK much about this stuff other than the visual similarities; literally had to google ‘daggers through heart christianity?’ to even get the name of that thing LOL. anyway, at first, it seems like togashi establishes him as the ‘angel’, the ‘good’, the ‘holy’ in the angel/devil, good/evil, holy/damned dichotomy between him and chrollo.

  But that’s not the end of the story. his entire storyline is driven by a huuuuuuuge giant desire for vengeance, first of all, and then there’s the scarlet eyes, which canonically are seen as demonic/cursed/what have you (according to one of the movies or smth? where they show pika as a 10 y/o?), and then we also have red eyes in modern culture being associated w pretty much the same thing (vampires, anyone?). the fight scene with uvo has everything in b&w besides the blood on his face & his red eyes & the moon (<<< more fortune foreshadowing & symbolism, i love to see it), and there are tonssss of scenes where he has to suppress his rage. so all of that is obviously not very angelic of him i would say LOL. in fact, what i find super interesting is that the scarlet/red eyes (which are ‘demonic’) is actually the driving factor behind his super powerful nen abilities; this ties in so well with the fortunes & death associations imo! the fortunes call him the ‘death-bringer’ in one translation, or ‘half-angel, half-death’, so that’s one side of pika = red eyes = death, but there’s also the fact that emperor time is literally draining his life force. so pika = death for both himself and others namely the pt, question mark?

  Now for chrollo: togashi’s devil symbolism is EXTREMELY overt with him, but i love the subtler jesus references too. the church thing, obviously, and the st. peters cross which is cuz st peter respected jesus too much & didn’t think he was worthy to die in the same way as him (or something like that, i am the most atheist person in the world & hxh is literally my entire christian education pls) but is also used as an anti-christianity symbol these days. bandit’s secret looks like a bible, lbr, and mans has a cross tattoo.

  Other things beyond visuals - 12 spiders, 12 apostles; hisoka’s betrayal, where member #4 can be thought to correspond to judas sitting 4th from left at last supper. and this miiiiight be a bit of a stretch, but i think the meteor city being the place of origin may also play into the blurred line between angel/devil and holy/damned here; meteors are defined as space rocks that are in earth’s atmosphere, becoming incandescent in the process. meteorites are for the kinds that actually reach the ground. and idk, lucifer was cast out of heaven / sky too right? so i think there might be some subtle fallen angel imagery/symbolism playing into the pt as well

✶ 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 (𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒)   Last section yay! i don’t have as much to say about this, besides when i was making chimera ant arc edits & realized that there might have been some subtle gon/meruem parallels???

  So obviously, everyone knows that line killua says to gon - “you are light” - and then i was just remembering that meruem’s name means.... “light that illuminates all” (!!!!). maybe it’s a coincidence, but knowing togashi, i’m leaning towards nahhhh. there HAS TO be some kinda meaning there (!!).

  Going back to the events of the chimera ant arc....ooh boy. let’s see: gon is optimistic & hopeful even in the face of kite potentially being dead, killua says he’s light, they find kite & dude is fucked up, gon is pissed. gets all angry & ~dark~, especially during the palace invasion when he’s staring pitou down as she fixes up komugi. then the actual fight against pitou: more darkness, more anger, but through it all there’s still light, namely his jajanken being very orange & fiery lookin.....and that final sequence, where he puts all his possible nen he’d ever have into his ~final form~ or wahtever & turns into a male version of true form!bisky but dressed in a crop top & short-shorts (i am SCARRED, btw. s c a r r e d !). there’s just huuuge flashes of light as that’s going on, and it reminded me of supernovas or dying stars when i was thinking about it, where the star is like, collapsing under its own weight? & burning thru its own fuel, until there’s nothing left except a dwarf or black hole or what have you. one final, extremely deadly burst of light & energy before death.

  On the meruem side of things: born into a dark cave, exhibits a traditionally evil/cruel/wicked/whatever personality/traits so that has ppl associating him with darkness. then he gets to know komugi, starts to appreciate other aspects of humanity, seems like he could have actually turned into a decent person who doesn’t want to eat everyone - so that’s a ‘path to light’, maybe? - and then the extermination team yeets themselves into the palace, netero takes him out to bumfuck nowhere, they fight. netero’s fighting is just ALL light, from his giant ass golden 100-type guanyin bodhisattva to the poor man’s rose. again, there’s the sense of finality to it all, in a similar vein to dying stars: netero comes in determined to kill meruem no matter what, and we all know netero doesn’t flake. then we see netero get destroyed after the zero hand, and he triggers the rose, and everything is burning & on fire before the flames are put out and all turns dark again.

  But wait!!! pouf & youpi revive meruem and all he does is play gungi with komugi, even with the poison of the rose. he eventually dies, and the gungi pieces in that final shot of them together (i am BAWLING just thinking about it holy shit) has one that’s all white, one that’s a black ring and white inside. i assume all white is for komugi, who has never done ANYTHING wrong in her LIFE, so i like to think that the 2nd one is for meruem - born “into darkness”, literally & figuratively, but he turns something like ‘good’ by the end. it’s interesting how togashi has sort of gone for a bit of a subversion here: the hero going from light to darkness, and the main antag from darkness to light.

✶ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍   AahhhhHHHHHhhh so if you read all the way down here through my LONG rambles, tysm! i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear what other people think about all this, and i’ve FOR SURE missed tons and tons of stuff - chimera ants is just. SO MUCH. and i don’t know it as well as yorknew eeek.

  I’m not sure if i’m really ~knowledgeable~ in any other areas relating to hxh, so this might be the only one of these that i do, but i definitely think about some of this - esp all the religious symbolism & #4 stuff - a ton! so in the meantime, if it’s of any interest, i’m just going to shamelessly plug my hxh x religious beliefs/superstitions edit series :D lots of love to all!!!

[intergalactic-zoo]

If you've been in comic circles for some time, chances are pretty good that you're familiar with "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex," the essay Larry Niven wrote in 1969 on the subject of Superman's potentially lethal sex life. If you haven't read it, then you might have gotten the jist of it from that scene in "Mallrats." 

It makes sense to me that such an essay, crass and silly though it is, would be written in 1969. That's the tail-end of the Silver Age, where Superman's power-creep had reached such levels that his hair was indestructible, he could break the time barrier under his own power, and he could juggle planets like helium balloons. 

So it was a little surprising to learn this week that Vladimir Nabokov wrote a poem with a similar sentiment way back in 1942. Nineteen forty-two! Six years before Kirk Alyn would bring the character to life, submitted in between the release of the seventh and eighth Fleischer cartoons, back when Superman wasn't consistently flying in the comics, the guy who would go on to write Lolita was speculating about the impossibility of relations between humans and Kryptonians. 

The letter he wrote when he submitted the poem to The New Yorker has big "uwu pwease pay me if it's not too much twouble" energy. 

I am sending you a poem on the troubles of Superman of the Funnies (with, if necessary, apologies to his, or rather its, makers). I should like to repeat that I experience most horrible difficulties and distress in wielding a language new to me – after 25 years of good old Russian. If, however, the poem is acceptable – not too ungrammatical as a whole and not too risqué about the middle of its favours – might I perhaps humble [sic] request a honorarium as adequate as possible to my Russian past and my present agonies?

The story of how Nabokov's poem, "The Man of To-Morrow's Lament," came to be rediscovered after all these years, and how it ties into his son's love of the character at the time, is a pretty interesting one, which you can read about at the link (if you have a subscription). But the poem itself, well...read on.

The Man of To-morrow’s Lament

I have to wear these glasses – otherwise, when I caress her with my super-eyes, her lungs and liver are too plainly seen throbbing, like deep-sea creatures, in between dim bones. Oh, I am sick of loitering here, a banished trunk (like my namesake in “Lear”), but when I switch to tights, still less I prize my splendid torso, my tremendous thighs, the dark-blue forelock on my narrow brow, the heavy jaw; for I shall tell you now my fatal limitation … not the pact between the worlds of Fantasy and Fact which makes me shun such an attractive spot as Berchtesgaden, say; and also not that little business of my draft; but worse: a tragic misadjustment and a curse.

I’m young and bursting with prodigious sap, and I’m in love like any healthy chap – and I must throttle my dynamic heart for marriage would be murder on my part, an earthquake, wrecking on the night of nights a woman’s life, some palmtrees, all the lights, the big hotel, a smaller one next door and half a dozen army trucks – or more.

But even if that blast of love should spare her fragile frame – what children would she bear? What monstrous babe, knocking the surgeon down, would waddle out into the awestruck town? When two years old he’d break the strongest chairs, fall through the floor and terrorize the stairs; at four, he’d dive into a well; at five, explore a roaring furnace – and survive; at eight, he’d ruin the longest railway line by playing trains with real ones; and at nine, release all my old enemies from jail, and then I’d try to break his head – and fail.

So this is why, no matter where I fly, red-cloaked, blue-hosed, across the yellow sky, I feel no thrill in chasing thugs and thieves – and gloomily broad-shouldered Kent retrieves his coat and trousers from the garbage can and tucks away the cloak of Superman; and when she sighs – somewhere in Central Park where my immense bronze statue looms – “Oh, Clark … Isn’t he wonderful!?!”, I stare ahead and long to be a normal guy instead.

Vladimir Nabokov June 1942

It's kind of wild just how much Superman discourse is presaged here, how many story and character beats we'd see play out over the next eighty years. 

It's been an increasingly long time since I did any kind of regular poetry analysis, as evidenced by the fact that I needed to Google "thing where a poet ends a line in the middle of a sentence" in order to talk about how much enjambment there is here. Honestly, I do like a good rhyming couplet, and I appreciate Nabokov's commitment to using them throughout here, even if it means overusing that technique. 

The references to the war in the first stanza are interesting; Andrei Babikov's commentary in The TLS suggests that this is an attempt to compare the character with Hitler, emphasizing the comment about the forelock (and drawing comparisons to Chaplin's "Great Dictator"), but Hitler's forelock—if you can really call it that—has very little in common with Superman's trademark s-curl, which doesn't merit mention in Babikov's discussion. To me, this reads more like an acknowledgement that Superman may be selling war bonds and punching Nazi ships and even hoisting Hitler up by the scruff of the neck, but he's a character from the realm of Fantasy, not Fact, and he's powerless to do anything about the real issue. Even in the comics, they might show Superman knocking around tanks on the front lines, but Superman's only encounter with Hitler himself notably came in the pages of Look Magazine two years . Superman's service in the war was limited to four-color fictional Nazis. 

But as much as I like the imagery of the dark-blue forelock, calling to mind the coloring of classic comics, I'm more than a little disquieted by "young and bursting with prodigious sap." The earth-shaking imagery in the rest of that second stanza got a laugh from me. I appreciate that it's less graphic than the Niven essay, "blast of love" aside. 

Stanza three predicts so many Superbaby stories, particularly from the Silver Age, but even "Letitia Lerner, Superman's Babysitter" has these same elements of an indestructible toddler causing mischief and mayhem. But also it speaks to Nabokov's own anxieties as a parent. 

The closing stanza, though, is where things get a little eerie. "No matter where I fly, / red-cloaked, blue-hosed, across the yellow sky, / I feel no thrill" might as well be "I can't stand to fly / I'm not that naïve." The desire to be normal, in part to have normal relationships, is a major character trait in "Superman II" and "Smallville." Honestly, almost every instance we've seen of Clark Kent being morose and brooding over the last eight decades is predicted right here in this unpublished poem. 

Overall, it's an interesting artifact. It shows that some ideas, some sorts of discourse around this character, are older than we might realize.

And, I suppose, so is erotic fanfiction. 

[sciencespies]

Satellite images show positive impact of conservation efforts for China's coastal wetlands

https://sciencespies.com/environment/satellite-images-show-positive-impact-of-conservation-efforts-for-chinas-coastal-wetlands/

Satellite images show positive impact of conservation efforts for China's coastal wetlands

Coastal wetlands support diverse and vital ecosystems central to coastal areas’ biodiversity and economic vitality. However, coastal wetlands are threatened by sea level rise that can lead to flooding and land use changes that alter the way people can live or work in these areas. These impacts are large. Approximately 600 million people live less than 10 meters, approximately 6 miles, above sea level, while 2.4 billion people live within 100 km, or around 60 miles, of the coast.

An international, interdisciplinary research team led by University of Oklahoma professor Xiangming Xiao is using satellite images to measure the changes of coastal wetlands in China from the early 1980s to the present. The research team is also assessing the effects of conservation efforts on preserving and recovering these important ecosystems. Their findings on China’s coastal wetlands are now published in the journal, Nature Sustainability.

Xiao is a George Lynn Cross Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, and the director of the Center for Earth Observation and Modeling at OU. Xinxing Wang, a graduate student at Fudan University in China, is the first author of the paper.

Since the 1980s, the coastal zone of China has experienced increased urbanization, industrialization and population growth, combined with increased sea level rise, that has led to significant decreases of wetland areas.

“Because coastal wetlands provide diverse important ecosystem goods and services, their loss has reduced biodiversity, affecting water quality, carbon storage and coastal protection from storm events and increased regional vulnerability to sea level rise which, together, pose threats to human health and coastal sustainability,” Xiao explained.

“We wanted to know how these coastal zones have changed over recent decades, which had been very difficult to do,” he said. “However, in the past 10 years or so, cloud computing facilities like Google Earth Engine have become available, and a lot of satellite imagery has become freely available, so the technology has come to the point where we can track, at a high spatial resolution, coastal zone changes over time and space.”

The researchers analyzed more than 62,000 satellite images of coastal wetlands in China taken between 1984 to 2018. They generated two three-year maps (1985-88 and 1988-91) and 29 annual maps of coastal wetlands for the period 1990 to 2018, for a total of 31 maps. They also identified and mapped three types of coastal wetland areas, tidal flats, saltmarshes and mangroves.

They were interested in seeing whether these images could show the impact of China’s development and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations on mitigating the loss of wetland areas. They found that wetland areas significantly decreased during 1984 through 2011. However, following increased conservation and restoration efforts under China’s drive for sustainable development and ecological civilization, the outlook improves.

“We found a substantial increase in saltmarsh area and a stable trend of tidal flat areas after 2012, driven by decreased anthropogenic activities (pollution) and increased conservation and restoration efforts,” said Xiao.

“To achieve the sustainability of coastal wetlands, China must continue to give top priority to conservation and the restoration of coastal wetlands and their ecosystem services,” he added. “Our satellite-based mapping tools and resultant maps of coastal wetlands at high spatial resolution (30-m) are important in assessing, monitoring, reporting and verifying future changes in the coastal wetlands of China and the world.”

This work also supports a project funded by the National Science Foundation that links wetlands, wild birds and infectious diseases.

#Environment