#alternatively-undesignated

[whump-is-love-whump-is-life]

Random whump items, a coin, a kettle, ink.

Ohhhh thank you very much!

Coin: Heads is knife, tails is whip, let’s see what we’ll be doing today, whumpee! Heads you get fed tonight, tails you wait till morning! Heads I’ll punish you for trying to escape, tails I’ll punish you for trying to escape! What do you mean that’s not fair? You broke the rules, why can’t I?

Kettle: If the tea is allowed, I’ll pour tea onto whumpee’s head. If not, I’ll give em a smack over the head with it.

Ink: For a whumper who likes to cut designs into whumpee, they ink it beforehand as a kind of guide/stencil.

[angst-is-love-angst-is-life]

I am loving your arrow commentary. No holding back on Malcolm you get his ass!!!

Haha thank you! It’s a combo of my sheer hatred for him and ~slight~ unhingedness that comes from posting late at night :D

[stars-are-just-ghosts]

A1 & D3. I love you for doing this btw. And you're work is always amazing

As you wish. -wink- Also, thank you so-so-so much. -hugs-

A1) "You're allowed to fall apart a little." D3) "We can stay here as long as you need." So Tumblr keeps throwing errors at me every time I try to publish the post. Therefore, I have posted it to Ao3 just for you! Enjoy! And thank you again! https://archiveofourown.org/works/54433591

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Michael Rubin

Secretary of State Antony Blinken smells like desperation. After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for more than two hours, Blinken said the current proposal to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and win the release of Hamas-held hostages is "maybe the last" opportunity.

Blinken is wrong. The last opportunity to win a ceasefire and release Hamas captives came when he agreed to negotiate with a terrorist group whose covenant embraces genocide and whose ideology envisions Islamic rule with religious and sexual minorities condemned to second-class status if not slavery or death.

When diplomats fall back on process, too often they lose sight of the forest through the trees. The fact remains: Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during a ceasefire to which the terrorist group had agreed. Its members raped, slaughtered, and took civilians hostage. The return of those hostages should always have been the precondition to negotiations rather than the conclusion. If Palestinians in Gaza did not want to see their territories' collateral destruction, they could return hostages under their control or inform about their whereabouts. This is not farfetched considering that Hamas has kept hostages in supposedly civilian hospitals, in private homes, and even with U.N. employees.

To negotiate with Hamas over its blatant violation of humanitarian law not only empowers Hamas, but it permanently degrades international law.

Blinken's second mistake was his choice of mediator. A good rule of thumb: Never place strategic interests in a mediator ideologically committed to your destruction. Egyptians may be aloof and, as the tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor show, double-dealing, but Qatar too often uses its vast wealth to promote the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology that at its core rejects all aspects of Western liberalism and democracy.

Blinken has also tried to include Turkey in any post-conflict order. This, too, is bizarre. Years of pandering to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan combined with the Turkish despot's similar Muslim Brotherhood-infused ideology makes Turkey far less a partner for peace than an undesignated sponsor of terrorism. To offer Erdogan influence over post-Hamas Gaza would be akin to putting white supremacist David Duke in charge of post-apartheid South Africa.

Blinken's third mistake is treating the Palestinian Authority as a moderate alternative to Hamas. Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is now in the third decade of his four-year presidential term. As Blinken has restored funding to Abbas, Abbas has shown his true colors. Speaking in Turkey just the other day, Abbas declared, "America is the plague and the plague is America."

There is no substitute for moral clarity. Moral compromise, meanwhile, substitutes groveling for justice.

After Iran released its 52 American hostages on President Ronald Reagan's first day in office, former Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher published a collection of essays by Carter administration alumni crowing triumphant for their success. Their thesis? The persistence of diplomacy led Ayatollah Khomeini to release his prisoners. Peter Rodman, a former Kissinger aide, responded in an article that Christopher and crew got it backward: The Islamic Republic let its hostages go when the cost of their captivity grew too high to bear.

Rather than pressure Netanyahu and have aides, underlings, and surrogates slime a duly elected leader, Blinken should be introspective. Had Blinken at every opportunity not indulged Hamas's conceits or played into the agenda of the group's enablers such as Qatar and Turkey, the hostages today might be free and the Hamas-imposed war over. President Joe Biden's base might hand wring and indulge in an orgy of antisemitism, but the road to peace rests on bringing so much pain to bear on Hamas that it has no choice but to release its captives and end its reign of terrorism over Gaza's 2.5 million Palestinians.

[freebooter4ever]

❤️❤️❤️ Thank you friends!!! ^_^

@cuckoo-on-a-string @quietpainter @robindrake13 @prettyimpossiblelady @benterhooks @2manytabsopen @kitebird-hockey @veloz-lento @prettyhockey @perpetualelu @p-antalons @thoughtsofthegirlwiththecurl @stolperzunge @fifthstiel @eyestoborrow @justtoarguewithyou @wundurrae @lesbeauxreves @alternatively-undesignated

[harriscofics]

Show and Tell

Show and Tell https://ift.tt/TWRJGOt by QuietDarkness The team means well when they bring up questions about Harry and Cisco's relationship, but Cisco is left feeling angry and questioning things he shouldn't. Harry finds a way to show him all the things he doesn't know how to say out loud, proving that what Cisco thought was right all along. Harry is exactly what Cisco wants. (alternatively-undesignated requested this one shot prompt. Enjoy!) Words: 3604, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 29 of One Shots: Harrisco Fandoms: The Flash (TV 2014) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Cisco Ramon, Earth-2 Harrison "Harry" Wells, Barry Allen, Iris West, Caitlin Snow Relationships: Cisco Ramon/Earth-2 Harrison "Harry" Wells Additional Tags: Misunderstandings, Cisco Loves Harry, Harry Loves Cisco, the team means well, Don't Be Mad At Them, They're Just Trying to Look Out for Cisco, Fluff and Angst, Angst, Fluff, Lists, Harry Doesn't See The World The Way Everyone Else Does, And He Is Trying Really Hard to Make them Understand via AO3 works tagged 'Cisco Ramon/Earth-2 Harrison "Harry" Wells' https://ift.tt/XEbCcZe July 06, 2024 at 11:31AM

[mac-dumpsters]

Dumpster Rental Essex MD

Renting a roll-off dumpster in Essex, MD, provides numerous essential advantages for homeowners, businesses, and contractors. Suppose you're starting a home renovation, managing a construction site, or decluttering your space. In that case, a roll-off dumpster can simplify waste disposal, offering a convenient and effective way to handle large amounts of debris.

One of the main benefits of a roll-off dumpster rental in Essex, MD, is its exceptional convenience. Instead of making multiple trips to the local landfill or recycling center, you can have a dumpster brought directly to your location. This lets you dispose of waste on-site as your project progresses, saving time and effort. With the dumpster on-site, you can work at your speed, filling it out as needed without the logistical hassle of transportation.

In addition to its convenience, a roll-off dumpster rental in Essex, MD, is highly adaptable and can handle various materials, including construction debris, household junk, and yard waste. This versatility makes them suitable for many projects, from home cleanouts to large-scale renovations. By providing a dedicated space to dispose of all types of waste, roll-off dumpsters help maintain a cleaner and safer work environment, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries caused by scattered debris.

Environmental responsibility is another significant benefit of using a roll-off dumpster. Many dumpster rental services offer recycling options, ensuring that recyclable materials are separated and processed appropriately. This reduces the amount of waste in landfills and contributes to a more sustainable environment. By choosing a roll-off dumpster rental, you're positively impacting the environment while efficiently managing your waste disposal needs.

Cost-effectiveness is also a notable advantage of a roll-off dumpster rental in Essex, MD. When considering the time, effort, and potential costs associated with alternative waste disposal methods, renting a dumpster is often the more economical choice. You can avoid the expenses of multiple landfill trips, fuel costs, and potential vehicle wear and tear. Additionally, having a dumpster on-site allows for better project planning and organization, which can help prevent costly delays and interruptions.

Finally, roll-off dumpsters provide security and peace of mind. With a designated disposal unit, you won't have to worry about unauthorized dumping or waste piling up in undesignated areas. This ensures that your property remains tidy and that your project complies with local regulations regarding waste disposal.

Opting for a roll-off dumpster rental in Essex, MD, offers numerous benefits, including exceptional convenience, versatility, environmental responsibility, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced security. Whether handling a small home project or a large-scale construction job, a roll-off dumpster is a practical solution for keeping your project on track and your surroundings clean.

Featured Business:

MAC Dumpsters provides affordable and reliable dumpster rental in Essex, MD. Whether you're working on a home renovation, property clearance, or a large construction site, efficient waste management is crucial. As a local business, we offer tailored dumpster rental solutions for residential and commercial clients in Essex and the surrounding areas. Our goal is to provide prompt and professional service to make waste disposal stress-free. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will work with you to assess your needs and recommend the right dumpster size and rental period to help you complete your project efficiently.

Contact: MAC Dumpsters 1112 Middle River Rd, Middle River, MD 21220, United States 9G3V+93 Middle River, Maryland, USA (410) 205–5330 https://www.macdumpsters.com/dumpster-rental-essex-md/

Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4TDz24iQWo

Youtube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSMmvbmY4DmnlL0IrsAyzyYEhxOamiOWo

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mac-dumpsters-llc/dumpster-rental-essex-md

Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/mac-dumpsters-llc/sets/dumpster-rental-essex-md

Medium Post: https://medium.com/@macdumpstersllc/dumpster-rental-essex-md-74b8ab320017

Weebly: https://dumpster-rental-essex-md.weebly.com/

Tumblr Post: https://mac-dumpsters.tumblr.com/post/759219198647042048/dumpster-rental-essex-md

Strikingly: https://dumpsterrentalessexmc.mystrikingly.com/

Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1EBxLNa4MhNBnziVlfExyq-Rwi1xliCA

Google Map CID: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?cid=3985617109273583228

Google Site: https://sites.google.com/view/dumpster-rental-essex-md/

Wakelet: https://wakelet.com/wake/XNb_vKkbDBq_K260SeMMX

Twitter List: https://x.com/i/lists/1824452256298832301

Twitter Tweets: https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1824452923134447731 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1824453837337588081 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1824454155093897616 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1824454500884889741 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1824455040502993023 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825422567089606869 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825423363369804225 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825423610380787765 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825427154794103150 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825427404019716438 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825427806194696667 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825428044816998663 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825428333485805732 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825428569155420615 https://x.com/MACDumpstersLLC/status/1825428840388399112

[urban-resistance]

INTRODUCTION

This project shows traces of resistance and explores how urban spaces are transformed through subtle, often unauthorized actions. The following blog presents a series of photographs depicting these traces, interpreted as examples of guerrilla urban tactics. Each set of images reveals visible signs of human activity in urban environments, reflecting how individuals creatively use and alter these public spaces. While some traces may be left intentionally, they collectively showcase the diverse ways people engage with and repurpose their surroundings. The photos I found depict marks of various forms of mobility in undesignated space and unauthorized activities such as graffiti and feeding wild animals. 

Jeffrey Hou defines guerrilla urban tactics as unsanctioned and often spontaneous activities that challenge and transform urban spaces (Hou:2020). According to Hou, these actions introduce new meanings to public spaces, frequently in response to dissatisfaction with formal urban planning processes. Guerrilla urbanism is characterized by its resistance to conventional planning and institutional authority, using these acts to disrupt the status quo and assert alternative uses of urban environments. Magaña (2023) offers a different perspective showcasing urban resistance of youth in Oaxaca; however the concepts of his ethnographies can be used to help understand those who partake in resistance in Canada. This project aims to highlight the resilience, creativity, and subtle rebellion of urban youth. Through this photo blog, I will delve into minor interventions and understated forms of resistance observed in Toronto and Kitchener. These seemingly small acts of defiance, while often overlooked, carry significant social and political implications.By showcasing these various forms of everyday resistance, I aim to show how human presence has shaped and transformed urban spaces.

[sciencespies]

Land tenure drives deforestation rates in Brazil, study finds

https://sciencespies.com/nature/land-tenure-drives-deforestation-rates-in-brazil-study-finds/

Land tenure drives deforestation rates in Brazil, study finds

Tropical deforestation causes widespread degradation of biodiversity and carbon stocks. Researchers from the German Center of Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Leipzig University were now able to test the relationship between land tenure and deforestation rates in Brazil. Their research, which was published in Nature Communications, shows that poorly defined land rights go hand in hand with increased deforestation rates. Privatising these lands, as is often promoted in the tropics, can only mitigate this effect if combined with strict environmental policies.

Forestlands in Brazil harbor the world’s largest biodiversity and carbon stores. However, increasing pressure from ambitious agroeconomic development leads to widespread deforestation. Land-tenure governs how and by whom land can be used. Therefore, specific land-tenure changes such as privatizing lands or placing them under environmental protection can both have implications for forests.

Researchers from iDiv and Leipzig University have now analysed 33 years (1985-2018) of agriculture-driven deforestation across Brazilian forestlands. With the help of property-level data, they were able to compare six land-tenure regimes (undesignated/untitled, private, strictly protected and sustainable-use protected areas, indigenous, and “quilombola” lands held by Afro-Brazilian communities) and to draw conclusions on how these regimes affect deforestation.

Lands with poorly defined tenure rights increase deforestation

Publicly owned lands with poorly defined tenure rights clearly and consistently increased deforestation compared to all other alternatives. These lands that are neither titled nor designated to any use, but may be inhabited by rural settlers with little-to-no guaranteed property rights, account for almost one hundred million hectares in Brazil.

“High deforestation rates in these lands may have many reasons,” explains first author Andrea Pacheco, former researcher at iDiv and now working at the University of Bonn. “For example, the government may simply not have the capacity to effectively monitor on-the-ground deforestation in these lands, resulting in limited enforcement of illegal deforestation here. This, in turn, can attract speculators who clear forest to later claim use rights. Alternatively, poor landless settlers may feel forced to illegally clear these lands for agriculture, if prices on legal land markets are too high for them.”

“This is why land-tenure interventions on these lands are so important. Our study shows that whatever alternative tenure regime with well-defined rights and regulations is implemented, it would likely help reduce this deforestation,” adds last author Dr Carsten Meyer from iDiv and UL.

advertisement

Private regimes can be effective if associated with strict environmental policy

“Privatizing undesignated and untitled lands can be highly effective as a means to reduce deforestation, but only under certain conditions and if associated with strict environmental policies. If this is not the case, deforestation may actually increase,” warns Carsten Meyer. One example for such environmental policies is the Forest Code in the Amazon, which requires landowners to maintain 80% of their land under native vegetation.

However, across very different contexts, private regimes tend to decrease deforestation less effectively and less reliably than alternative well-defined regimes. The researchers showed that both strictly protected areas and sustainable-use protected areas most reliably reduced deforestation rates across Brazil.

They also showed that the effects of tenure held by indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) were dependent on the context. Nonetheless, privatizing IPLC lands would likely increase the risk of deforestation across Brazil. “As much of the world’s remaining forestlands are in IPLC lands, taking local contexts into account will be essential for designing policies with synergies for both biodiversity conservation and IPLCs,” says Andrea Pacheco.

The imperative need for policies that tackle undefined and private lands

Against the backdrop of the ongoing political debate in Brazil around land privatisation and protection in tropical landscapes, this study can be used to envisage policy aligned with sustainable development goals. The results show that, first and foremost, interventions in undesignated/untitled lands should be at the forefront of land-related policies in Brazil. In addition, coupling private lands with strict environmental policies has the potential to protect biodiversity in places like the Cerrado or Pantanal, where most of Brazil’s remaining forestlands are private.

#Nature

[angst-is-love-angst-is-life]

∞

Hey! A flash song (kind of) :D

Russian roulette is not the same without a gun

And baby, when it’s love, if it’s not rough, it isn’t fun, fun

[stars-are-just-ghosts]

I love when you do these Harrisco prompts. Could I request a mixture of 14 & 30. Only if you have time.

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you were looking for, it sorta took on a life of its own. But I hope you enjoy! * * * Show and Tell by QuietDarkness * * *

Harry wasn’t sure what he walked in on at first. It was rare to hear the team argue like that unless it was over some moral quandary, or they were all exhausted and on edge. But there were no metas to fight right now, and Barry and Iris had only gotten back from their vacation yesterday. So why did it sound like everyone in the Cortex was ready to go for a jugular?

He paused his steps in the hallway, however, when he heard his name.

“I’m not saying Harry isn’t a good guy, Cisco. We all think he is. He wouldn’t be here if we didn’t.” Iris said intently.

“No, you’re just saying he’s not good enough for me.” Ramon countered angrily.

“Come on, man, don’t twist our words like that.” He heard Barry urge, “You have to understand how this looks, okay? He’s come a long way, he has. But you two still argue all the time. He still talks to all of us like we’re an annoyance, even on his good days.”

“He’s gruff. It’s just the way he is. And Harry and I debate stuff. We always have. It’s our thing.” Cisco groused, “And, ya know what… it’s been two months, Barry. That’s how long we’ve been dating now, and you just suddenly decided we’re not good for each other? Where was all this protest when I first asked him out?!”

“Barry, just… tell him.” Caitlin declared. And Harry felt all the air go out of his lungs. He leaned heavily into the wall, eyes glued to the floor.

“Tell me what?” Cisco demanded.

“This morning, I asked Harry how he feels about you.” Barry said tentatively. “I was curious and it sorta came out.”

“Okay, and?” (Continued on Ao3)

[themogaidragon]

UAB

Unassigned At Birth (UAB or UAAB), also seen as Gender/Sex Undesignated At Birth (GUAB/SUAB) or Unassigned Gender/Sex At Birth (UGAB/USAB) refers to someone who does not have an assigned gender at birth. It is most commonly designated with the letter "U". It is most commonly used by parents who are raising their children without a prescribed gender, though it may be used for other reasons. It may also be adopted by someone who doesn’t care about or pushes away their "birth sex".

The flag appears to have been coined by Tumblr user beyond-mogai-pride-flags. An alternate flag was created by Tumblr user plurgai.

[dabi-the-burnt]

I would love to know more about these very not cishet characters or yours Arson <3

UM HELLO. I LOVE YOU.

I'm on my phone rn, so I don't have art of them rn (mind you I've hardly drawn any of them), but!

We've got Mizu, who's super important. He's got curly orange hair and he's a bisexual who goes through a stage of denial. To keep from spoiling anything (in case I turn this into a series) He's basically a guy who exists in a massive multiverse. He's one of the special few that there's no alternate versions of. He is the only him. Anyways, he's really cute and dorky and into photography. As time goes on and he gets lost in a bunch of different worlds though, he gradually loses his mind.

There's two unnamed/undesigned characters directly tied to mizu who will be basically the center of everything because their story sparks every single other story in this thing. But basically, mizu loves one of them. And these two have a kid.

Another super big character is Maz. He's a demon and he's king of hell. I had a whole full name and title for him but i forgot it. Anyway, he's got cool horns and 4 arms. He falls in love with a my favorite of my ocs, but knows that he's too mean to be with that guy, so he gifts him someone who can truly bring him eternal happiness. Overall though, Maz is an ass who likes to toy around with people.

In one world, there's these jungle tribes(?) Haven't decided, but it's a very jungle ridden world. This brings in a character who's nameless but is pretty, the trans queen (not literal royalty queen) who leads a group, and a bisexual whore (Scar) whos heart longs for adventure outside of the confines of this world. He's got a big sexy guy who supports this dream and helps him find a way to make it come true. The guys name is Tiger.

There's also an undecided character but they'll probably be in Scar's story. I was thinking they were gonna be a lady, but they feel more like a non-binary greater being. I think they're aroace as well but I haven't explored them enough to know yet.

Then theres Chisuke. My love, my light. A tragic gay vampire who grew up in a very homophobic time. There's a lot to his story, and it's the most important one for me that i don't want to spoil. If i ever turn this into a series, I plan to introduce him as a side character, and tell his story in it's own stand off book/maybe graphic novel.

Anyway, he marries a wonderful trans man who is super important to the whole series- and he helps him through his transition and its just this super tender sweet thing sjsjwjwj

I like to imagine scenes of them together where Mio (that's the trans guys name for now- he's actually my bf's character) gets really anxious and feels not very valid and Chisuke just holds him and tells him how he's as real a man as any other, "it just took a few extra steps.. but my darling, I wouldn't be here with you now if I didn't believe it with all my heart"

ANYWAY CHISUKE HAS THIS REALLY COOL GARDEN AND A MASSIVE LIBRARY AND HE COLLECTS ART AND I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM

[harriscofics]

As Long As You Need

As Long As You Need https://ift.tt/RpAleoY by QuietDarkness Cisco has decided he's going to tell Harry exactly how he feels about him. But Harry doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk... (From a recent tumblr writing prompt: 'You're allowed to fall apart a little' and 'We can stay here as long as you need.' Dedicated to @alternatively-undesignated who requested it.) Words: 2389, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 17 of One Shots: Harrisco Fandoms: The Flash (TV 2014) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Earth-2 Harrison "Harry" Wells, Cisco Ramon Relationships: Cisco Ramon/Earth-2 Harrison "Harry" Wells Additional Tags: Feelings, Self Loathing, Harry Needs a Hug, One Shot, prompt, cisco is in love with harry, Idiots in Love, past trauma, single dad Harry, feelings are hard, Love Confessions via AO3 works tagged 'Cisco Ramon/Earth-2 Harrison "Harry" Wells' https://ift.tt/6zGLWIk March 12, 2024 at 04:31PM

[igazikutya]

Zajok a nappaliból – Grande Traxelektor 2020 – „SENSE”

Kétezerhúsz összegzéseinek utolsó fejezetéhez, a „Sense” nevet viselő downtempo, ambient, dub, experimental, trip-hop és ki-tudja-még-mi-más műfajú, egyben a legsokszínűbb Traxelektor válogatáshoz értünk, 101 felvételből összeállítva. Hogy mitől soxínűbb? Egyszerű a matek: Egy nagyobb szobában sokkal kreatívabban tudod ugyanazt a bútor mennyiséget elhelyezni. Ühüm. Aha! De mi van akkor, ha a bútor is kevesebb? Üljünk le, kávé, cigi, brit tudósokért kiáltó paradoxonhoz értünk. Elnézést kérek a kedves olvasótól, nem gondolom, hogy ez valami zenei feng-shui, pláne nem ikeabana volna, de tény, az itt hallható művekre leginkább igaz, hogy van bennük bőven csend is, hogy terük is van, nem stadionnyi (anno görög, mára magyar mértékegység), hanem akár galaxisnyi méretben. És persze ne felejtsük el, hogy a tetriszhez is kell beesési tér, még ha a vége egy tömör valami is. Szorri, kezd ez az írás is elszabadulni, és a neves költöztető és fuvarozó, Simon “Django” László vallomásává alakulni. Idézem: „ Az emberek alapvető tévedése, hogy igyekeznek minél több dologgal feltölteni a meglévő dolgok közötti, még megmaradt részt (rést)” - írja Simon, a Kisteherem, a mozgó/fekvő tetrisz - a költöztetés metafizikája címü esszéjében. A műben ezt a jelenséget elcsetreszesedésnek nevezi. (Kisteherem pedig nem egy iráni település, csak az autója) Szóval no more csetresz, let there be space! ...and time! Szóval a tér, a tér, ott jártunk. Environment. Ambience, Milieu és Entourage a négy térőr. Biztos neked is megvan az az élményed, hogy állsz mondjuk egy domb vagy hely tetején és hallgatod a kilométerekre haladó autók vagy vonat hangját, amint szétterül a tájon és összekeveredik az ugató kutyák és egyéb közeli történések hangjával, mondjuk hirtelen becsapódik egy ajtó. Ma már ennek műfaja van, field recordings-nek hívják, még kiadó is van ilyen néven. Ezek az arcok füllel fotóznak, mert a zaj is zene. Igazából mindig is zene volt, az egész világ zene, és bármilyen részéből fotóznál ki egy szeletet a füleddel, az is ebbe a kategóriába kerülne. (Mitka - Mедитация) Lényegre térve... Az egyébként is mindig aktív ASC (James Clements) idén 4 felvétellel is bekerült, ebből kettőt párosban abszolvált Sam KDC (Samuel Wood) társaságában. Üde színfoltok az év végén hajrázó C.P.I., Hugo Capablanca és Marc Piñol erősen pszichedelikus párosa két felvétellel is, HAAi-től a Head Above The Parakeets, a Teleplasmiste mágikus mélységű An Unexpected Visit-je, Jimi Tenor-tól a Kiss Me After The Acid Rain. Klasszikus galaxisépítőink közül is többen aktívak voltak, a The Grid Floatation-jének a Special Request (Paul Woolford) készített olyan remixet, mely a kilencvenesek klasszik ambientjét idézi, a Higher Intelligence Agency Discatron EP-jével jelentkezett szólásra, a The Future Sound of London folytatta a múlt jövőbe történő expanzív teleportálását, idén az 1994-es Lifeforms ambientdupla nyitótrackjét, a Cascade-et bontották tizenhárom dimenzióba. Robert Henke Monolake-je is két felvétellel igazolja, a rutin nem zárja ki a megújulást és kreativitást. A covidra való legfrappánsabb reakciót Le temps isolé címmel élhettük meg Mouchoir Étanche (Marc Richter) jóvoltából. A külvilág messze van, homályos, a lélek pedig mozdulatlan lebeg. Slágerünk is van, mégpedig egy slágerírótól: az egykori Air egyik felétől Nicolas Godin-tól a  The Border. Nekem slágerszámba ment a brit testvérduó uh-tól (Dominic és Fionnuala Kennedy) a Seasick In Salts is. Rødhåd (Mike Bierbach, aki berlini, német, és nem viking) Mood albumáról két felvétellel került be, Vril-lel közösen (Out Of Place Artefacts) pedig eggyel. Jay Glass Dubs Soma albumán közreműködve osont be a ciprusi görög Maria Spivak az underground színtérre, hogy aztán szerzői albumával (Μετά Το Ρέιβ – a fordító szerint ez „A rave után”-t takar) ott is ragadjon, két felvétellel klubtag. Amúgy meg, talán már említettem év közben is, hogy az oroszok nem hogy a spájzban, de a nappaliban vannak, a Traxelektor minden kategóriájában, eltérő műfajokban fel-feltűnnek ifjú orosz muzsikusok, mint például Yenisei (Ilya Burtsev Szentpétervárról) vagy a ФАКТУРА kiadó Ural Cult válogatását is említhetném. Hazánk a „Sense” kategóriában is képviselve van, a horhos (Gugyella Zoltán és Győrffy Ákos) duójának személyében, a Mana Manánál megjelent 7 darab címet viselő lemezről egy track-kel, Mike Nylons (Borsos Janó) Eneme trilógiájának első részéről a Maelströmmel (a Farbwechsel gondozásában) és persze tigrics (Bereznyei Róbert) két kedvességgel, kiemelten a Iowe-val.

Spotify playlist

(79/101, 8h04m/9h51m)

Acid Pauli - Propagating Flip Flops [Mod, Ouie] African Head Charge - Dervish Dub [Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi, On-U-Sound] African Head Charge - Peace and Happiness [Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi, On-U-Sound] Alternative Particle Choir - Magic Feet [Black Hole Diaries , -wdo- Collaborations] Alva Noto - Xerrox Kirlian [Xerrox Vol. 4, Raster-Noton] An Gleann Dubh - Valley Falls Deep (Remix) [Fd 004, Full Dose] Anatoly Grinberg & Mark Spybey - It Started to Move Towards Me [The Failure of Language, Ant-Zen] Anna Homler & Alessio Capovilla ‎- De'la Cocce [Vasi Comunicanti, Gang Of Ducks] Anti Drone Squad - Self-Surveillance [Pax Digitalis, Sin Hilo] Aril Brikha - Everything Was Here First [Dance Of A Trillion Stars, Mule Musiq] ASC - Particle Fields [Colours Fade, Volume Five, Auxiliary Transmissions] ASC - Permafrost [Pattern Recognition - Second Sequence, Auxiliary] ASC & Sam KDC - A Lasting Impression [A Restless Mind, Auxiliary] ASC & Sam KDC - Delusions [A Restless Mind, Auxiliary] Atom™ - R3V [<3, Raster] Automat - Ankaten (Patrick Pulsinger Remix) [Modul Remixes #1, Compost] Ben Bondy - Proraso [Sibling, Experiences Ltd.] Bochum Welt - Color Me (Telefon Tel Aviv Remix) [Seafire Remixes, Central Processing Unit] Burial x Four Tet x Thom Yorke - His Rope [Her Revolution / His Rope, XL] CAO - Flesh Luminescence [Flesh Luminescence, Club Chai] Carmen Villain - Observable Future (D.K. Remix)[Both Lines Will Be Blue Remixed, Smalltown Supersound] Chris Liebing feat. Gary Numan - Polished Chrome (The Friend Pt. 1)(Remixed by Chris Carter) Commodo - Procession [Procession, Deep Medi Musik] CPI – Islaalsl [Alianza, Hivern Discs] CPI - Templo De Agua [Alianza, Hivern Discs] Cremation Lily - November Sails (Demo)[Oceanic Debris, Self-released] Dadub - Infinite Regresses [Hypersynchron, Ohm Resistance] Dadub - Of Simulacra [Hypersynchron, Ohm Resistance] Deadbeat & Paul St. Hilaire - War Games [Four Quarters Of Love And Modern Lash, Another Moon] Deadbeat & The Mole - Rollin Heavy In The Spielplaz [Deadbeat Meets The Mole, BLKRTZ] dgoHn - Electryon [Undesignated Proximate, Love Love] Die Wilde Jagd - Gondel [Haut, Bureau B] Dimensional Holofonic Sound - Seeing Is Believing (Remix) [Seeing Is Believing, Holofonic] Dom and Roland - The Expanse [Lost In The Moment, Dom & Roland Productions] Elder Island - Stranger Exchange (Jay Glass Dubs Remix) [The Omnitone Collection Remixed Pt. 1, Elder Island] E-Saggila- Replica [Corporate Cross, Hospital] Fluxion - Distance [Perspectives, Vibrant Music] Forest Drive West - Invisible [Mantis 01, Delsin] Forest On Stasys - Ùtero [Ataraxia, Accents] Future Sound Of London, The - Cascade Part 7 [Cascade 2020, fsoldigital.com] Future Sound Of London, The - What Falls Away is Always [Cascade 2020, fsoldigital.com] Ground feat. Sinkishi & Kabamix - Wakusei Y [Wakusei, ESP Institute] HAAi - Head Above The Parakeets [Put Your Head Above The Parakeets, Mute] Happa - One Three Five [Blue 07, Whities] Hermes X - My Perception [Mutual Aid 2020 by Boheh Allstars, Mutual Aid] Higher Intelligence Agency - 3P [Discatron, Self-Released] Higher Intelligence Agency - Discatron [Discatron, Self-Released] horhos - Metropolitan Avenue-Coney Island [7 Darab, Mana Mana] Hoshina Anniversary - Shinju [Go Shichi Go Shichi Shichi, Youth] Jay Glass Dubs - Hyperacousis (for Miles) [Rijia, not on label] Jay Glass Dubs - Indolent [Rijia, not on label] Jimi Tenor - Kiss Me After The Acid Rain [Metamorpha, BubbleTease Communications] Jóhann Jóhannsson & Yair Elazar Glotman ‎- A Minor Astronomical Event [Last And First Men (OST), Deutsche Grammophon] Jon Hassell - Timeless [Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two), Ndeya] Jonathan Fitoussi - Soleil de Minuit [Plein Soleil, Obliques] Kanthor - Apologie du Nom [Mathème, Shaded Explorations] KAZUHO - 紫鳥線テンダー (SHICHO-LINE TENDER) [Blitz, 99CTS] LF58 - Evocazione, Contatto, Risveglio [Alterazione,  Astral Industries] Loscil - Faults [Faults, Coasts, Lines, Self-Released] Lucrecia Dalt - Disuelta [No Era Solida, Rvng Intl.] Mantris - Augustine Tower [Souvenirs from Imaginary Cities, Souvenirs from Imaginary Cities] Marco Shuttle - Ritmo Elegante [Ritmo Elegante, Spazio Disponibile] Metal - Point Vacancies [Point Vacancies, ESP Institute] Mike Nylons - Maelström [Eneme I, Farbwechsel] Mitka - Mедитация [VA - Ural Cult, ФАКТУРА] Monolake - Phaenon Ono [Archaeopteryx, Monolake - Imbalance Computer Music] Monolake - Plateaux Orthogonal [Archaeopteryx, Monolake - Imbalance Computer Music] Mouchoir Étanche - Le temps isolé [Une Fille Pétrifiée, Cellule 75] Nathan Fake - Ezekiel [Blizzards, Cambria Instruments] Negativland - Don't Don't Get Freaked Out [The World Will Decide, Seeland] Negativland - The World Will Decide [The World Will Decide, Seeland] Nicolas Godin - The Border [Concrete And Glass, Because Music] Nummer Music - Sea Junkies [Night Confidence, Nummer Music] Regis - Blood Tide [DN Tapes, Downwards] Rer Repeter - Principles Unknown [Mutual Aid 2020 by Boheh Allstars, Mutual Aid] Rødhåd - Like Sleepwalkers Ghosting Through A Dreamscape [Mood, WSNWG] Rødhåd - No Forms To Fill Out, No Instant Check, No Waiting Period [Mood, WSNWG] Roedelius - Ebenfalls [Selbstportrait - Wahre Liebe, Bureau B] Roger Robinson - Forward [Mutual Aid 2020 by Boheh Allstars, Mutual Aid] Sabaturin - Direnker [Kenemglev, Holuzam] Significant Other - Mike's Gone Back To Manchester [Club Aura, Oscilla Sound] Soreab - Flowers [Kraepelin Avenue, Baroque Sunburst] Spivak - Enough Throwbacks [Μετά Το Ρέιβ, Ecstatic] Spivak with H4S- Σχεδόν Σίγουρα [Μετά Το Ρέιβ, Ecstatic] Surgeon - Europa Code [Europa Code, Ilian Tape] Teleplasmiste - An Unexpected Visit [To Kiss Earth Goodbye, House of Mythology] The Black Dog - Cup Noodle (Unemployed Youth Version) [Further Fragments, Dust Science] The Grid - Floatation (Special Request Remix) [Floatation (Special Request Remix), Chemical Alley] tigrics - Kerns [Dimensionless, Self-released] tigrics - lowe [Dimensionless, Self-released] Tomaga - Osiris' Theme [Extended Play 2, Self-released] uh - Seasick In Salts [Seasick In Salts, PRAH] UVB76 - Anya [Iwa Gaaden, Random Numbers] Varuna - Ratu [Mantis 04, Delsin] Vril & Rødhåd - Nazca [Out Of Place Artefacts, WSNWG] Wata Igarashi - Reflections [WIP02, WIP] XQST - HRBA [eXquisite CORpsE presents XQST - AE, Isla] Yenisei - Insomnia [Melancholy Of Decay, TESTFM] Yenisei - Swirl [Melancholy Of Decay, TESTFM] Yui Onodera - Ray 1 [Ray, Serein]

[centrally-unplanned]

There is a great Folding Ideas video, World of Warcraft Classic & What We Left Behind, that relates a sort of wrinkle in game design that parallels the pop-splitting problem. In later Victoria games/paradox more generally, removing this kind of jank is at least attempted. Ignoring how successful that has been for the moment, the idea of a game like Victoria 3 is that decisions have to be intentional & strategic; predicting alliances, reading the global market, making short time investments for long term payoffs, etc. These kind of things are considered “real game play” and they all supposed to be “hard” choices, ones that can fail. 

It makes for a better simulation, surely; but better gameplay is just a little more vague. When all the decisions are hard and trade-off-y, they are also stressful and mitigate against mastery. You might not feel like you are improving if, every game, your opening move could be wrong, if the ‘rightness’ of a decision is vague. You are in the end playing a game - but this game design principle mitigates against the power fantasy that can entail. Everything is overdesigned to constrain and mitigate your success for the sake of balance. Pop splitting is a grind-y annoyance buts its also an Epic Gamer Move, gleefully exploting the obvious game-nature of the system to put you at an advantage; and if you do it you are now, unequivocally, better at the game. Its almost isekai-like, you are good at managing a 19th century economy due to your knowledge of how to take advantage of arbitrages in game algorithms. 

It paralells neatly the realities behind grinding as an RPG mechanic. 90′s RPG’s - and early WoW - were stuffed to the gills with grinding for xp, and in general it sucked. Games like WoW today have built whole alternate systems for earning XP instead, or design games so that you don’t need to ever grind. Which is better for almost everyone, for sure, but game design in the 90′s wasn’t just shitty; grinding worked for a reason. It was tedious but also freeing and empowering - you could, if you wanted to, trivialize every encounter and break the game. That was your choice to make, and this simple action could absolutely improve your power, irrevocably. It took time, of course, if it didn’t it would trivialize the game, but it only cost time, you will pull it off if you need to. That is a power fantasy, its satisfying to pull off precisely because its so undesigned. Having these kind of workarounds for getting an edge in games is inherently fun.

Which is why every once and I while I see people who miss pop spltting; it made Victoria, a famously complex game, easier to break for the average player in way that made them feel different from any of the other more intentional systems. 

My very first PDX game Victoria 1 which I got as a retail box copy in Big Lots as a kid bc my mom wouldn’t argue about buying games with educational content and to this day I don’t mind the “PDX syndrome” of games being buggy on release bc it used to be soo much worse bc retail box means I was playing unpatched Victoria 1.0 and hooo boy I had lots of fun but only because I aggressively used resource cheats which I think was the only way that game was playable

Like it came with a really cool and thick book about the game that I read a bunch but like half the shit was buggy or not really implemented. Notably the types of citizenship mechanic didn’t work which meant all pops counted as full citizens which meant UK got 100% of benefits from India bc the pops were considered full citizens notably all the soldier in India counted for regular soldiers (in Victoria 1 colonial pops are supposed to contribute only to “irregular” divisions which have worse stats) which meant the UK started off with the most advanced army and the largest army which meant the UK could literally fight every other country at the same time and win because without scripts the AI would only surrender based on amount of territory you took and the UK had a lot of territory.

Anyway I eventually discovered the concept of “patches” except this was the early 00s and patches were only ever a zip file you had to look up and manually download from a game dev’s website and were very sporadically released and basically modders were the sole reason the game was really played (bc the patches basically just fixed bugs rather than add anything new since that’s for expansion packs) and people kinda just accepted that weirdly enough like the mentality was almost more that the base game is released as a framework for modders to use.