#and i think they should indeed have room to explore and experiment and we should also have the room to offer feedback

[ennuijpg]

okay ik i’ve said a lot already abt my thoughts on how seoul drift is ooo’s most typically 4th gen bg-sounding and least uniquely Onlyoneof track so far and how i wish they didnt go that direction for a title track, but, all of that aside, by god if they didn’t execute it so well by standards of typical 4th gen bg noisy tracks + choreography, bc it rly is such a fun track w interesting layers and vocals, etc, and the choreo has so many interesting points and their performances keep getting better on better, like, the energy, the synchronicity, etc etc etc

also, with regards for it acting as a wrap-up for underground idol, i do feel like it’s a bit more structurally incongruent to ui than i’d like, like i think the mv couldve benefited from a bit more storytelling like the ui mvs, but i also dont think it was ever meant to be, nor do i think it was meant to be, a direct sequel or continuation to the characters in ui, i mean even between ui mvs, they were playing different characters (i.e. kyu playing the teacher in molo/nolo while taeyeob was playing a student vs yolo/kolo), kinda in like an alternate universes type situation, instead of one story, esp since ooo lore and storylines have always been more abt recurring themes in different iterations and contexts rather than continuing one line of lore

and not to engage in like,,extratextual justification or whatever, but i do think tonal dissonance, on some level, can/does serve a purpose, bc like the whole point of seoul drift is that seoul (and loosely by extension other big cities) has a very fast-paced and glittering image that hides the reality of the pain and loneliness that gay youth feel, that feeling of being lost and isolated and wandering, so like part of seoul drift would indeed be abt portraying that fast-paced vibe, in contrast and as an antithesis to the more focused and intimate portrayals of relationships in the ui mvs; whether that dissonance was properly/best executed, i dont Necessarily think so, but i dont think the dissonance itself between the tone of seoul drift vs ui inherently was a bad choice tbh 

[sirenjose]

Kurt's Diary - Thoughts and Theories

(Including crack theory Naib didn't kill Murro)

1) Emily's (first aid kit?)

2) Wu Chang's umbrella is still here, and NE is making sure we know this. That means either Jose did leave but didn't bring the umbrella with him, or he didn't leave

If he did win, was he put into another game like Emma and Murro (Emma's letter did mention her being with others her 2nd time around)?

Orpheus did say he "treasured" the opportunity to include Jose in his experiments, which could mean he'd want to use him as long as he could?

* Michiko's mask is still here too.

3) The "guy" Murro would rather "freeze to death" than encounter can't be the Hullabaloo group (Murro the only survivor). Likely Naib, who's chasing Murro based on Naib's 1st letter (only other possible option is the manor owner)

4) HA! I WAS RIGHT! THERE WAS SOMETHING SECRET ABOUT THE FROG AND ITS GOLD BALL! (I'm sorry, I've been focused on that stupid thing since I first joined IDV and saw the diaries.) Question now is what it does... (secret exit?)

We know the gold ball was in Murro's room based on William's diary before he returned it to the statue. Maybe Murro knew its secret. But for what purpose? Did Murro hide something there, like how he used apple juice to write secret pages in his diary? Or something else?

5) Pretty sure the "explorer" isn't literally Kurt here. The one who "refused to trust his allies" and was "brutally slain by a wild beast" should be Murro, based on Murro's diary page Kurt finds, and Kurt may assume Bane killed Murro for now and thus Bane is the "beast"

Though considering the other letters, Naib is another option, but Kurt should have no reason to know that (if Naib did indeed kill Murro), so at least in this context Kurt says "wild best" to refer to Bane.

I've always had 2nd thoughts/doubts about the idea Naib wants to kill Murro. We know Naib works for Arthur Russel, who we know is a detective. Arthur is currently the one investigating both the Hullabaloo tragedy and Lakeside Village.

We know Arthur cares about his investigators as he pulls them out of the investigation when he believes a "crime syndicate" is involved with Lakeside. We haven't seen anything yet that implies Arthur also has his men do assassinations though...

Not saying that can't be the truth but I want more info before jumping to any conclusions, despite whatever the manor owner says, especially as we know even the manor owner isn't all-knowing (like with the people who only leave puddles behind, or Naib managing to disappear).

It's hard for me to say, but it is possible there were multiple sets of footprints belonging to more than 1 person, aka maybe Naib's was 1 of them (if not Bane's, if Bane only stays in his cabin in the forest).

Seem to be maybe 4 sets of footprints

1 set

2nd set

3rd set

4th set

But if Naib can disappear from the manor owner's sight, maybe he can also help other people to disappear too? If Arthur wanted to find the culprit of the Hullabaloo deaths and they discovered someone else from the circus had survived, they may have wanted to find him to help solve the mystery of the circus murders, which could be why Naib went after Murro as we saw in his 1st letter.

As an investigator, a new witness could be the key to solving the whole mystery (maybe that's just me as someone who reads/watches/plays too much detective stuff)

Naib obviously knows how to be stealthy/sneaky considering he has to do the same for himself to hide from the authorities, since Naib is a deserter, and desertion is a serious offense.

Murro's smart too considering the sort of invisible ink he uses.

So I think it's possible...

Maybe a good question to ask is “Why”? Why would Naib want to kill Murro? Mike is friendly with Murro, who Mike helped fake his death for, so he’s not the reason. And Naib isn’t just a brainless killer, since he deserted after refusing to kill his comrades, so he’d need a reason.

I guess you could say he might if he was paid to do so, but who’d ask to kill Murro? I doubt there are too many people that know too much about him enough to either hate him or have a reason to kill the person Bernard labeled as a “wild child” for his circus.

Different note, but the hole is gone in Servais' diary, but the boars are now in that same area that 1 set of footprints led to. It's also where Naib leaves the dead boar, which has a section of it torn open.

Still no idea what might've been inside.

Too many questions...

6) Info about Kurt's 2nd letter

"tree cave" = Murro's room

William and Kurt were awake in the evening due to the "awful weather". Nothing about sounds of "wild beasts"

Kurt thought they should do more than sit in their rooms, which is why he had Will help gather Naib and Murro. This was when Kurt went to look for Murro, found Murro not in his room + door locked, then went outside, where he saw footsteps, a (freshly dug?) hole, and Bane. He didn't see a "corpse", any heads being "bit off", or it being dragged off

Last thing Kurt says is to ask Naib to look at his new "work" based on his "experiences". This may be, at least in part, related to the work "Kurt Frank's Travels" from Kurt's 4th letter that he writes to Blackett Publications to get published. But nothing, at least from this yet, about telling Naib about seeing "a wild beast dragging his corpse into the shrubs. It bit off his head". Doesn't mean he didn't tell Naib this, but based on how much of the previous stuff was true, it's at least doubtful this is the full truth

[spurious]

Since you're not feeling well, a little happy ficlet prompt: Fluff from the fifth song in your Spotify Likes!

is this fluff? i really don't know. i actually have no idea what the hell this even is but i think you can probably take the weirdness up with mr. john darnielle anyway

Rodney knows his team will always come for him, but even with that surety, he's still struggling to stay calm as he's taken prisoner for unspecified claims of "witchcraft."

"It's not witchcraft, it's physics, you absolute morons," he'd shouted, voice going shrill and strident, but the villagers had ignored both his protests and his attempts to explain the experiment he'd been conducting, dragging him away from the outpost while the others were exploring nearby.

The tiny village is, it turns out, a front for a much larger society—and you'd think they would fucking check for that at this stage, but no—and most of the community lives in a system of white-rocked caves. They bring Rodney to a small room, attach him to a chain in the floor and cuff his hands together, then leave.

It's two days before he sees another human face, and when he does it's a woman who seems to be some sort of bureaucrat, flanked by tall, broad-shouldered guards.

"Wizard of Atlantis," she says, and Rodney tries, really he does, not to roll his eyes. He thinks he should probably be commended for this, but no one ever seems to appreciate these efforts from him. "Your warriors have come to plead for your release."

"Oh, finally," Rodney mumbles, sighing heavily and standing up. "Let's get this show on the road, then."

The woman's eyebrows climb, but she directs one of the guards to unlock Rodney from the floor chain, and then he's led into a cavernous room, his team standing in the middle of it, each of them looking perfectly deadly in their own way.

"As you can see, warriors," the woman says, her voice echoing off of the stark-white walls, "your wizard is unharmed. However, we cannot allow him to be released, lest his evil magic bring ruin upon our community."

Rodney opens his mouth, but John gives him a look, so he closes it, decides to let his team do their thing. The room is full of guards, but they haven't confiscated their weapons, so Rodney's well aware of the odds if this goes poorly.

Teyla steps forward. "We understand your people fear Dr. McKay's powers, but I can guarantee that if you release him, your home shall be left standing." She shifts her weight, a subtle change in stance from diplomat to deadly. "If you refuse, I cannot make the same promise."

"You are but three warriors," the woman scoffs, and Rodney watches as Ronon smiles, sharp and gleaming like the blade of a knife.

"We got all the way here, didn't we?" John offers, and Rodney clocks, now, the small signs of a previous struggle on each of them. They fought their way in, he realizes.

"They must be in the wizard's thrall, to be so willing to offer their own lives for his," whispers another bureaucrat. "Truly his powers are fearsome indeed."

"Let him go," Teyla says, her voice taking on a steeled edge, "and we will return beyond the stars, never to trouble your people again."

One of the guards moves closer to Rodney, puts a hand on his shoulder, and Rodney can hear Ronon growl.

"We're not leaving without him," John says, low and dangerous.

Someone leans in, whispers in the lead woman's ear, and she nods, turns to the guards.

"Release him," she says. "We do not wish to draw any more harm to our people."

"Once again," Rodney says, as they release his handcuffs, "not practicing any type of magic, and, if I were in fact capable of magic, wouldn't I have been able to teleport my way out of here in the first place?"

Teyla steps up, her eyes sweeping quickly over Rodney, taking inventory.

"It is good to see you unharmed." She reaches up, putting a hand on the back of Rodney's neck and drawing him in, pressing her forehead to his for the space of a few deep, quiet breaths.

"Why didn't you tell me you could do magic?" Ronon asks, his mouth quirked up at the side, and Rodney breathes out a laugh, rolls his eyes.

"As I said moments ago, if I could—"

"C'mon, McKay," John interrupts, clapping a hand on Rodney's back. To an untrained eye, it's a simple gesture of camaraderie, but Rodney's been on the receiving end of this touch enough times to know that John needs to feel out the solidity Rodney's body for himself, to know he's alright. "Atlantis needs its wizard king back."

[peddlestox-shinyrocks]

What if Kwas was caught by her parents again and she couldn’t get away? Would she go through with the arranged marriage? (For the “What if”’s)

Beware, long post is long.

Also minor, extremely minor, DT spoilers.

Kwas would indeed go through the marriage, because she'd have no choice.

What her life would look like I think depends on when exactly she gets caught. For context - she ran away from home and ended up with a traveling merchant band of goblins for a year and some moons, coming back to Ul'dah at about 19ish before her parents forced her home. And then she ran away again, this time staying as far away from Ul'dah as possible.

If Kwas was caught not long afterwards, she'd probably be locked away and under heavy guard under the assumption she would leave again (and they'd be right).

Before I go into the next two situations I want to address the time she was almost caught. This time was a couple years after her second escape and after she met Vigmundur (Viggybun). He's the one who stopped her from being taken. So... if he couldn't...

I think Kwas would feel the loss of her freedom the most here. By now she's met and friended quite a bit of people, beastfolk, Viggybun, Inxli and Thorne. She's been rather successful as a craftswoman and merchant and would have to throw that all away. Her husband would try to keep her happy, but in all likelihood, he'd never see her (she wouldn't want to see him). She'd have her own room to herself, take her meals there, and wouldn't speak to him or anyone else. The most interesting part about this I think is that she'd wear a veil (since they'd take her goblin mask) and keep her face hidden still. I don't think she'd be able to bring herself to craft and any and all jewelry given to her would be either thrown away or hidden where she couldn't see it.

And finally, if she was caught after Dawntrail events.

...Well she'd try to get away. And maybe attempt to anull the marriage. She may not exactly have her sights fixed on another man, but she does have a crush she wants to explore and even if they do not end up married or just committed to one another she firmly believes she should be allowed to pursue whomsoever she desires and not be forced to marry someone her parents think is good for her and their pockets.

She would have several places to go to to hide and plenty of people to go to for aid (she has been unofficially adopted by Inxli's family, and the Badaeux household by consequence).

I don't think Koana would come all the way to Eorzea to rescue her if anyone's hopes were high on that. Their relationship is not at that point. He would, however, stand between her and the hired thugs if she was on Turali soil, I think (we all know Wuk Lamat would in a heartbeat).

As for why she would not be as depressed, well, she has an extra 2 years under her belt: 2 more years of friending beast folk, 2 more years of making friends, 2 more years of hiding, 2 more years of crafting and mercantile experience and all the traveling and danger that comes with it and having to build herself from the ground up again.

She knows she can make it out there, and while she may never be anywhere near as rich as her parents, she can make a pretty modest living and that's a boost to her confidence. She's also seen happiness in various forms and she wants to be happy. And being married as a stay at home wife, forced to conform to per parent's standards, would never make her happy.

Ah, before I end this, I do want to address her pictomancy since it would come up or at least be asked "well why didn't she use it?" Kwas' ability stems from the brush itself and not any actual skill or talent. So while she could wave it and a wad of paint will splat her enemies, she's not capable of preventing herself from being disarmed and detained.

THAT SAID

In the final scenario she would begin to learn it more than she currently has to help facilitate her breakout. In the second one, maybe pictomancy would break her out of her funk and get her crafting again and a desire to leave.

Sorry for the long post and wait but I hope I have fully answered your question! Ty for the ask Hali!

[themuse-if]

20 (or so) Questions with Faye Winters

Let's connect with the resident heartbreaker of the sophomore class! Is Faye really all pirouettes and pixie dust or is she hiding something dark under the surface?

Interviewer: Faye, thanks for delving deeper into this. Starting with your birthday – Pisces, right?

Faye: Yeah, that's correct. My birthday is March 2nd.

Interviewer: Any nicknames you go by?

Faye: Just Faye. It suits me. Wouldn't you agree? *leans in closer, resting her chin on her hand*

Interviewer: *starts to blush* Why, yes, I think it really does. Uh ok, anyway what are some of your good traits?

Faye: Well, I think that I'm a true free spirit. I love the way that contemporary dance makes me feel like my body can move and transform so fluidly. I think that I like bringing that side out in others as well breaking them out of their more structured shells to experience more of what life has to offer.

Interviewer: Interesting qualities indeed. And how about challenging traits?

Faye: I've been told that I'm too nice. I guess it's lead to a lot of misunderstanding. It's hard for me to set certain boundaries and just say no to people in general. I uh yeah...I guess that's all. *tucks hair behind ear*

Interviewer: Understandable. Any hobbies outside of your art?

Faye: When the weather is nice I go on weekly picnics with my friends. Once it gets cold outside I like to bake lots of little treats in the communal kitchen and host movie nights in the common room.

Interviewer: I bet your hallmates love that! You should think about becoming an RA. Ok, what would you say is your greatest strength?

Faye: I think that I'm really good at bringing people together. Whether it's to choreograph our next assignment or just a fun little hangout, I really try to stay engaged with my friends.

Interviewer: A beautiful way to connect with the world. And your biggest weakness?

Faye: I think that sometime I overcompensate with being really nice and super fun, because I'm scared. I'm scared that the main reason people like me is just how I look and my general persona. I try to just keep everyone around because I struggle to tell the difference between who's being fake and who's being genuine.

Interviewer: It can be tricky indeed. Describe yourself in one word.

Faye: Friendly.

Interviewer: How do you think others see you in one word?

Faye: Captivating.

Interviewer: Now onto fears. What’s your greatest fear?

Faye: I care a lot about what people think, more than I'm willing to admit. I think that if I could just focus more on the deeper connections that maybe I wouldn't spread myself so thin trying to be everyone's friend.

Interviewer: Finding real connections is hard, but super important. Top priorities at this point in your life?

Faye: Learning to say no so that I can protect myself and those who really care about me. Also, honing my skills in contemporary dance and sculpting – there's always room for growth.

Interviewer: Admirable goals. Family time – tell me more about yours.

Faye: Just an ordinary, loving family. They've always been supportive of my artistic pursuits, and I'm grateful for that.

Interviewer: It's wonderful to have a supportive foundation. Future goals – what's on your agenda?

Faye: Continuing to evolve as an artist, exploring more dance styles, traveling the world, and cultivating meaningful connections. I want depth in both my art and relationships.

Interviewer: Ambitious and heartfelt. How would you spend a rainy day?

Faye: Rainy days are perfect for dorm movie nights! I'll bake some desserts and make some warm drinks and then we can watch my favorite rainy day movie "Pride and Prejudice" the one with Keira Knightley of course.

Interviewer: Lovely. Favorite book?

Faye: "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. It's enchanting and I'm a sucker for romance.

Interviewer: And your favorite movie?

Faye: "Big Fish" and "Moulin Rouge." Yes both films star Ewan McGregor, and no I don't have a thing for him he's just a good actor. Anyways, both films are visually alluring with great storytelling, and the music in "Moulin Rouge" is fantastic.

Interviewer: Perfect choices. Any dark secrets?

Faye: To be completely honest I was bullied a lot as a kid. Once I hit high school and puberty kicked in some people started to like me romantically mostly. Lots of people accused me of stealing there partner, or I had my partners accuse me of cheating. The thing is that I've never cheated, heck I'm not even that much of a flirt. I just know that people can flip on you in a matter of seconds if you don't fit what they want, and it's really hard to navigate that kind of social landscape.

Interviewer: Woah, that was a lot. I'm sorry that you've had to deal with all of that. With time I'm sure you'll make some really great friends. On a lighter note, what would you say is your best feature?

Faye: I like my hair, I found a stylist in the city who knows how to cut my bangs just right.

Interviewer: And your least favorite physical feature?

Faye: I think my neck is too long. But that's not really a big deal I don't think about it that much.

Interviewer: Lastly, how would you describe being in love?

Faye: I'm not exactly sure how to answer that question after my recent breakup. I haven't really been able to stop thinking about Karla/Carlos. There's this song by Tamino it's called "Sunflower" I've had it on repeat for weeks. That's how I've been feeling about love I guess.

Interviewer: I see, I'll have to give it a listen. Thanks for sharing more about your life with me Faye. Excited to see your artistic journey continue to unfold!

[misscammiedawn]

55 to Cammie, 71 to Dawn, please! (feel free to futz with 71 if the base question isn't applicable)

From this ask meme

Sorry this one (while take)/took a while-- a mix of "ooo that's a big one" and wanting to wait for Dawn to answer her half

55. Share a relationship story.

Let's ignore the ongoing relationship story that is a loosely adapted story about how we fell in love with Daja while discovering our dissociative disorder as it's fiction based heavily on reality

I'll tell a true story

I've told this story before but it's worth telling

I have a reinduction trigger when someone who I have hypnotic rapport with offers me orange flavored chocolate I slip into trance when I taste it

One day (over 3 months since our first kiss and about 2 weeks after we spent a day curled up in bed, making out and watchingThe Matrix Resurrections after it came out) my housemate, a fellow trans woman and someone who has been a close friend for years and instrumental in helping us in our own transition-- came out into the living room and offered me a KitKat

I took a bite and did not suspect orange until I was slipping into trance

She scooped me up and I melted against her-- normally our dynamic is very much we are the top in any given dynamic (I know there's a lot of debate over the use of the words top vs dom; we use Top to mean "run scenes" because sex doesn't really factor into our dynamic at all) so it's always a surprise when she pounces

She asked "tell me something you need me to know"

Unbidden and without any critical mind filter we responded "I'm in love with you"

and that's how we ended up dating

Y'know--- as if the kissing on a dance floor at a wedding or sharing a bed while making out and watching all 4 Matrix movies wasn't "dating"

It was us sharing the L word for the first time <3

71. What was your kinkiest wet dream?

Interesting question. I feel it should be noted before anything else that our aversion to erotic intimacy is not conditional. I am capable of having erotic encounters... there is even a potential that it is the reason I exist in the first place, given our history with the topic; but I avoid it as much as anyone else. It activates our nervous system in a way that is deeply uncomfortable. Just because I am capable of enduring that doesn't mean it's good for us.

That said, we do indeed have hypnokink dreams on occasion, uncertain of their moisture level. Our unconscious mind is very location based and so when we close our eyes we typically envision a place. For what it is worth I am presently seeing Elephant & Castle area of London circa the 1990s when the shopping center was pink and the swimming pool still existed. I do not know why this happens. It just does.

The dream took place in a bedroom which I once slept in back when we lived in England and involved me positioning a person in front of a mirror and making them lose themselves in their own reflection while I whispered into their ear and their mind become unbound, I recall feeling like some form of entity in the experience. Somewhere between a vampire and a Fae.

Every word was like a mist pouring into my prey's very being and loosening them as they just locked eyes with a reflection and I explored their form.

All in all it was not the most comfortable experience. I recall waking up in the middle of the night shaken by the experience. It felt like I'd gone too far, lost a grip of the thing holding me back and--- became something fierce and unempathetic.

To think. I have so many memories of our waking life that get buried under haze, fog and forgetfulness and yet the sensation of teeth scraping along a neck and the floral scent of our magic lingers as if it truly happened.

Brains are bizarre.

Thank you oh so much for the ask.

I apologize if the answer was not as tantalizing as you would have hoped.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus by William Jay

Morning, April 18th

"I hate vain thoughts." – Psalm 119:113

Vain thoughts are foolish thoughts, wandering thoughts, unbelieving thoughts, worldly thoughts, self-righteous thoughts, sinful thoughts. For observe that vain thoughts here do not mean empty ones, but evil ones; as when our Saviour says, “that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” By “idle words” he does not mean merely frivolous, silly, and trifling words, but words of moral blame, and which will serve to condemn us in the last day. By these “vain thoughts”

David means his own vain thoughts,-not the vain thoughts of others. He could not be conscious of the thoughts of others, but he could know his own. He was forbidden to judge the thoughts of others, but he was bound to examine his own. He was not employed in exploring the vineyards of others while he neglected his own; and it would be much better for us if we lived, morally, more at home, and less abroad with others. It is a fine and striking remark of one whose “private thoughts” have been long before the religious public. “For many years back,” says he, “I have had nothing to do with the faults and failings of others, for I have had too many of my own to engage my time and attention.” Now, with regard to these vain thoughts we are led to notice two things:

First, That he had vain thoughts: and who has not? There are indeed some persons who have not had a vain thought for many years; but they are to be found in heaven, where we read of “the spirits of just men made perfect,” where that which is perfect is come, and where that which is imperfect is done away. But who upon earth are free from these? who can say, “I have made my heart clean; I am free from sin”? Why, “there is not a just man upon earth that does good, and sinneth not.” Why, “in many things we offend all.” We are to pray for our daily pardon as well as for our daily bread. If we take a Christian,-not a novice, but one who has been for years in the school of experience; hear him: “Oh,” says he, “I have good objects enough to command and engross my attention, especially my God and Saviour, who is all my salvation and all my desire, my glory and my joy; the ‘chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely.’

‘Why should I cleave to things below, And let my God, my Saviour, go?’

I love the Lord’s day, and call ‘the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of the Lord, honourable.’ And I know that I am commanded not to walk in my own ways nor to think my own thoughts. But, alas! how will these intruders invade my golden hours! I enter my closet, and I wish to exclude the world; but, before I can shut to the door, in rushes a rabble along with them and often fills the best part of the room. I love the habitation of God’s house, and repair to the place where his honour dwelleth; but there often I find it to be what he called the temple in the days of his flesh,-‘a house of merchandise,’ or ‘a den of thieves.’ I then repaired to his table. If any thing could fix my roving heart, surely it must be my dying God before me, when Jesus Christ is evidently set forth crucified among us; and yet even there I cannot wait upon the Lord without distraction; even then I am more concerned with the ‘outward and visible sign’ than with the ‘inward and spiritual grace.’”

Secondly, Here is something else: he not only had vain thoughts, but he hated them:-“I hate vain thoughts.” This is the difference between the naturally and spiritually minded. Evil thoughts are common to both; but let us mark the distinction. The natural man loves these thoughts; he therefore encourages them: the spiritually minded man hates them. But how can a man evince that, though he has vain thoughts, he hates them? Why, he will be sure to be humbled before God; and then he will be sure to pray against them; and if these prayers be sincere and importunate, why, then he will strive against them.

[hwaightme]

Okay i'm here as promised buckle up because i have A LOT to say!!!

first lemme just say that i wanted to read the beginning quickly before going to work but i ended up powering through the whole thing i literally could not put it down. during the whole thing i was literally thinking is the kind of shit that should get published. so beofre i ramble into oblivion

i divided my comment into 3 points

first, oc really hit home on this one. like when you wrote that she born into heartbreak and nutured by it i felt that so hard. from the get go i felt really close to her. and what you was were describing felt so real. she didn't feel rushed or superficial she felt like a real character with background and history. so yeah amazing character development

second, the pacing of it all was outstanding!! like it was impossible to stop reading. i was literally held hostage by this fic yes it was THAT good! every event the was progressing the story flowed naturally nothing felt rushed or dragged on. it was just the perfect rythym!!!

third, T.H.E S.M.UT. girllll i cannot believe it was your first smut!!!! like brooo omg the amount of times i almost threw my phone across the room just to get a breather... honestly when they were back in the club and mingi just blurted "use me" i literally LOST. IT. the tension was through the roof!!! i was legit kicking my feet because i was just going insane. and what followed was just to die forrrrrr everything was perfecttttt princess mingi is the absolute best!!!!!!!

and that cliffhanger girl we live in a world where we need part 2 of this masterpiece. like im really NOT the romantic type at all but you got me so in my feels so much that i crave a good ending. like i loved so much peeking throught the cracks of oc's thick armour. mingi def has the power to get her to bring her guard down. of course as an author myself there absolutely no pressure! creative process cant be forced but just know if this happen ill be there literally barking lol

okay so thats all thanks so much for this amazing ff ! sorry for the typos im legit just typing and not thinking

Hello there! Am I tearing up? Why yes I am ;~; This really is leaving me speechless. To borrow Shakespeare's words from Twelfth Night: “I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.”

I am reading and rereading your comments and it honestly feels surreal. I so deeply appreciate what you have written and what your thoughts are about 'Use Me', and before I go and sob a lil bit from the sheer glee and how overwhelmed I am (in the best sense ever), let me try my best to answer you <3

As someone who adores literature in all of its forms, I am beyond honoured that you feel this is the type of work that should be published. Really, I have no words other than the fact that I am blown away and am so grateful.

About the OC, what you wrote about the feeling of depth and of connection with the character is so unbelievably meaningful to me. I greatly enjoy work that delves into exploring the psyche and the emotional landscape of personas, and attempt to learn bit by bit about how to incorporate that; proper character development, as well as having good pacing are both major goals for me, so I… quite literally… shouted into the horizon when I read your kind words about that. I am sitting here beaming at the screen <3 (because I am held hostage by your ask I literally want to print it out and hug it and am giving you a virtual hug right now)

As the song goes: THANXX (and gracias, and all translations of it)!!!!! Ahah yep indeed it was and I am seriously really honoured that the tension and the flow of the scenes were that kind of an experience <3 (and princess mingi for the win ;))

This is the highest form of praise, right here, and okay you know how I said 'tearing up' yeah I am fully boarding the feels train, you say you are in the feels? Okay what is your seat I am about to be in the carriage thank you so much!!!! ;~; Really grateful for your understanding nature and for your kindheartedness and for the time that you took to read and to share your thoughts with me and really… I think… a part 2 could very much be a (high) possibility now ;) as you say, it may take a little longer, but I would love to dive in deeper, and see how the relationship in 'Use Me' will be changing, how the past can haunt just about anyone, and if, given time and effort, people can heal, and learn to both love and live.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you so much for your words, the inspiration and motivation. Much love, big hugs and wishing you all the very best and more <3

[survey--s]

440.

Did you ever go to daycare as a kid? I was in some kind of full-time childcare from three months - a childminder until I was about 2-3 years old, then nursery, then pre-school.

Who’s one of the most talented people you know? What are they talented at? My aunt is an amazing cook - she’s one of those people who can chuck anything together and it tastes incredible lol.

How long have you had your current mattress? Far too long lol. It’s getting uncomfortable but we can’t really justify a new one at the moment. Maybe next year.

Do you usually pay with cash, debit card, or credit card? Debit card.

What do you usually drink with breakfast? Coffee and either orange or apple juice.

What’s your sexuality? Bisexual.

What’s your gender identity? Female.

Are you the type of person who can make friends with just about anyone? Ha, nope. I’ve always struggled to make friends as I’m just rubbish at small talk and I generally much prefer my own company.

Have you ever experienced a medical emergency? Not for me, but I’ve dealt with them for other people.

What was the last thing you borrowed from someone? Some tape.

What’s your least favorite time of day? Early evening. I just feel like it’s this weird dead time.

Are you muscular? Not really.

Do you know anyone who’s snobby about the kind of music they like? A few people - ugh. It’s such a crap trait.

Do you ever happen to find yourself trying to force yourself to be happy? I’ve been there before, sure.

What are some things you like about the area you live in? We live by the sea and we have so many beaches and great places to explore.

When was the last time you drank wine? New Years Eve.

Do you know anyone who has been to prison? Not so far as I know.

Do you have one of those removable hand-held shower heads? We do indeed.

How many burners does your stove have? Four.

When you go to a restaurant, do you prefer to sit at a booth or a table? Booths - they’re more private and generally have more space too.

What’s the first video game you remember playing? Sonic or Pokêmon.

Have you ever been to San Francisco? Nope but I’ve always wanted to visit! It looks absolutely beautiful.

Did the high school you went to offer an ecology class? Nope.

Which room of your house is currently in the greatest need of cleaning? Probably the spare room - not so much cleaning but more re-organising, but it’s all Mike’s stuff in there and I’m not getting involved lol.

What’s something you think everyone should do/experience at least once in their life? Travel.

When was the last time you shipped a package? Just before Christmas, and it only arrived two days ago lol.

Have you ever made a homemade pie? Nope.

How long does it take you to get to work/school? It depends. I’m a pet-sitter so my closest client is five doors away, the furthest away is a horse I care for - he’s about a 15 minute drive.

Has your car ever been broken into? Not mine, but my parents’ was when I was growing up. 

How old is your oldest cousin? Uhh, no idea. I’d guess late thirties?

What are you going to do now that this survey is over? Maybe another survey.

[voreporn]

The Ultimate Snatch Attack: Unveiling the Wonders of Vaginal Vore!

So, you think you’ve seen it all? You’ve witnessed some wild stuff on the interwebs, stumbled upon freaky fantasies that made you question humanity’s sanity? Well, hold onto your hats, folks, because you ain’t seen nothing yet! Welcome to the mind-bending world of vaginal vore, where the word "kinky" takes on a whole new meaning.

What in the Hell is Vaginal Vore Anyway?

Alright, buckle up, buttercup, 'cause we're diving into the deep end of the freaky pool here. Vaginal vore, my curious comrades, is a niche in the vast ocean of adult entertainment that explores the art of, well, getting swallowed whole by a lady’s love tunnel. Yeah, you heard that right! Picture this: a damsel in distress, or maybe just a girl-next-door type, getting sucked into another dimension by her own nether regions. Mind blown yet?

How Does it Work?

Now, you might be scratching your head and asking, "How the hell does that work?" Fear not, my friend, for the internet has answers to all your burning questions, and then some. In the world of vaginal vore, anything goes. From alien snatch-monsters to sentient plants with a voracious appetite, the possibilities are endless. It's like a twisted, X-rated version of Alice in Wonderland, where instead of falling down a rabbit hole, you’re diving headfirst into... well, you get the idea.

Why Would Anyone Watch That Shit?

Ah, the million-dollar question! Why indeed would anyone subject themselves to such mind-bending, pants-tightening insanity? Well, for starters, it's all about the thrill of the unknown. Humans have been fascinated by the bizarre and the taboo since the dawn of time, and vaginal vore is just the latest chapter in our never-ending quest for sexual exploration. Plus, let's be real here, folks: sometimes you just wanna see some crazy shit go down, am I right?

Is it Safe?

Now, before you go diving headfirst into the rabbit hole (or should I say, the snatch hole?), let's address the elephant in the room: safety. Look, we're all for pushing boundaries and exploring our deepest, darkest desires, but it's important to do so responsibly. Always make sure you're consuming vaginal vore content from reputable sources, where the performers are treated with respect and their consent is paramount. Ain't nobody got time for sketchy websites with shady practices, ya feel?

So, Where Can I Find This Shit?

Ah, now we come to the million-dollar question: where can you get your hands on some prime vaginal vore action? Well, look no further than Vored.com, baby! Yeah, you heard me right. Vored.com is the premier destination for all your tentacle vore, unbirth vore, plant vore, and yes, you guessed it, vaginal vore needs. With a vast library of porn videos that'll make your head spin (and maybe a few other body parts too), Vored.com is the place to be for all your freaky fantasies. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and let the snatch attack begin!

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, vaginal vore may not be for the faint of heart, but for those brave souls willing to take the plunge, it's a journey into the unknown unlike any other. So, whether you're a seasoned pro or a curious newcomer, remember to explore responsibly and always keep it freaky, my friends.

For the ultimate snatch attack experience, check out Vored.com, your one-stop shop for all things vaginal vore and beyond. Trust me, you won't regret it. Vored.com - where the snatch attack is just the beginning!

[vapehk1]

Boulder Vape: Revolutionizing Vaping with Quality and Innovation

Welcome to the world of Boulder Vape, where every puff is a promise of quality and every exhale is a statement of style. Established in 2014, Boulder International isn’t just another name in the crowded vaping market; it's a beacon of reliability and innovation. In a sea of knockoffs and underwhelming imitations, Boulder stands tall as the genuine article. Let’s take a humorous dive into why Boulder Vape has become the go-to for discerning vapers who won’t settle for anything less than the best. The Boulder Advantage: More Than Just Hot Air Absolutely, in the bustling world of vape clouds and flashy gadgets, Boulder Vape truly stands out—not because it’s adding to the fog of empty promises, but because it actually delivers. With a knack for electronics that could put some tech giants to shame, each Boulder Vape device is crafted not just to last, but to last impressively. Imagine a battery so clingy, it might just text you if you don't use it enough, and tanks that keep their contents tighter than a miser’s purse strings. This level of detail means you’re not just vaping; you’re having an enduringly excellent experience with every single draw. And let’s be honest, in a market where some products fizzle out faster than a sitcom without the laugh track, Boulder’s commitment to quality is a breath of fresh (or should we say flavored?) air. Each puff from a Boulder device isn’t just smoke—it’s a statement. A statement that says, "Yes, I enjoy quality that lasts longer than a meme on the internet." So, while others might be dealing with the vape equivalent of a one-hit-wonder, Boulder users are enjoying the chart-topping hits of vaping, season after season, thanks to devices designed to perform superbly and consistently, puff after reliable puff.   Leak-proof, Fool-proof, and Lookin' Good Indeed, Boulder Vape doesn't just lead the pack with durability; it also turns heads with its impeccable style. Picture a device so sleek it could make a tech minimalist nod in approval. With a supply chain that could make even the most resourceful industry insiders green with envy, Boulder ensures it only snaps up the crème de la crème of components. This meticulous selection process means each part of a Boulder Vape kit snaps, slides, and locks together with the satisfying precision of a Swiss watch—reliable, efficient, and oh-so-smooth. And let’s not overlook the aesthetics; Boulder Vape devices aren’t just built to perform—they’re designed to impress. Whether it's casually peeking out from a jeans pocket or held between fingers, the device's finishes remain as crisp as the day they were unboxed, resisting wear and tear with the grace of a well-maintained luxury car. Boulder Vape isn’t just about functionality; it’s about making a statement with enduring elegance, ensuring that each device isn’t just an accessory but a statement piece in its own right. A Flavor Journey Worth Taking Think again if you've ever lumped all e-liquids into the same bland category. Boulder Vape elevates the game to a whole new level, transforming each vape session into a veritable flavor fiesta. In their spotless clean rooms, where even a speck of dust dare not enter, Boulder's in-house flavor chemists blend science with a dash of culinary magic. It's here that e-liquids are not just mixed; they are meticulously crafted with the finest ingredients sourced from the lush landscapes of Switzerland and Italy. Imagine inhaling the spirited zest of freshly-picked Italian lemons or the decadent essence of Swiss chocolate—this is what Boulder brings to your palate. Each draw from a Boulder Vape is like taking a mini vacation for your senses. With a collection that ranges from the crisp, invigorating snap of Alpine berries to the deep, velvety caress of Tuscan espresso, each flavor is a gateway to an exquisite, aromatic journey. This isn't just vaping; it's an exploration of the rich tapestries of flavor that only the most dedicated artisans can weave. Boulder's commitment shines through in these liquid treasures, promising not just satisfaction, but a sensory revolution with every puff. Try Once, Stay Forever When it comes to proving its mettle, Boulder Vape relies not just on flashy ad campaigns, but on something far more compelling: the unwavering loyalty of its users. Boulder's straightforward philosophy rings true with every customer interaction: give us a try, and anything else will feel like a compromise. This isn't merely about pushing products off the shelves; it's about welcoming you into a lifelong relationship with quality vaping. Imagine a device so reliable that it rivals the dependability of the sunrise, paired with an experience as delightful as your favorite sitcom. Why would anyone consider another brand? It would be like swapping a luxury yacht for a leaky rubber dinghy. For the skeptics still on the fence, the value proposition Boulder offers makes it a no-brainer. With cutting-edge technology, sleek designs, and premium ingredients all coming together, Boulder Vape stands out as the epitome of vaping excellence. It’s not just about enjoying a superior product; it's about embracing a superior way of life. The discerning vaper knows that with Boulder, they're not just investing in a device but in an experience that's consistently top-notch. In the world of vaping, Boulder Vape isn't just a choice; it's the choice for anyone serious about their vaping journey. Conclusion Dive into the world of Boulder Vape, where the vape clouds are dense and the quality denser! Starting in 2014, Boulder International has been crafting vape devices that are not only durable but also come with a style that could make the most apathetic person do a double-take. It's like choosing between a luxury yacht and a rubber dinghy; with Boulder, you’re always picking the yacht. They don't just assemble e-cigarettes; they engineer experiences, boasting batteries that last unnervingly long and tanks sealed tighter than Fort Knox. Their e-liquids? A symphony of flavors imported from Switzerland and Italy, sure to transport your taste buds to foreign lands. Plus, the loyal fan base isn’t just puffing steam; they swear by Boulder’s reliability and class. So, if you’re serious about vaping, choosing Boulder isn’t just a good decision—it’s the only decision, unless you enjoy the thrill of subpar vaping adventures. FAQs 1.What makes Boulder Vape different from other vaping brands? Boulder Vape stands out due to its commitment to quality and innovation. Each device is crafted with precision engineering, top-tier components, and designed to last longer than many competitors. Moreover, Boulder Vape offers unique e-liquids made from the finest ingredients imported from Switzerland and Italy, ensuring an unparalleled vaping experience. 2. How long do Boulder Vape batteries last? Boulder Vape batteries are designed to hold more charge and last significantly longer than many other vaping batteries in the market. Users can expect extended use on a single charge, providing reliability whether you’re at home or on the go. 3. Are Boulder Vape products leak-proof? Yes, one of the standout features of Boulder Vape products is their leak-proof design. The tanks are engineered to prevent leaks, making them more reliable and mess-free, so you can carry and use your vape without worrying about spills. 4. Where are Boulder Vape e-liquids made? Boulder Vape e-liquids are crafted in state-of-the-art clean rooms under the watchful eyes of in-house flavor chemists. The production takes place in the USA, adhering to strict quality control standards to ensure the purity and consistency of each flavor. 5. Can I try different flavors of Boulder Vape e-liquids? Absolutely! Boulder Vape offers a wide range of exquisite flavors, sourced from the best ingredients worldwide. From the zest of Italian citrus to the richness of Swiss chocolate, there’s a flavor to suit every palate, and they encourage trying different varieties to find your perfect vape experience. If you want to know more, please refer to this article: https://keystonevape.com/best-vape/the-best-disposable-vapes-2024-you-cant-miss/ Read the full article

[djlifeparttwo]

Catching up...

It's been a while and a lot of miles since I last wrote anything so time to play a bit of catch up before I forget what we've been doing. and where we've been (seems to happen more and more as age sneaks up)

We did indeed head back to Skagway and our little community in April. I did my usual Guest Service gig and Lady Dee added a job working on the quite famous and stunning train (White Pass Yukon Route). Had a great summer - I was so blessed to have a team of co-workers that were just delightful - and full of life experience. Aged 68 to 78, the ladies were so much fun and so great with all the guests. Made for a wonderful summer for me.

In October we said see ya to Alaska and took off for some rather grand adventures. Headed back to Spain for another long walk. Started in Seville (glorious city / highly recommend it) and started walking north to Santiago. We've never hiked a Camino this late in the year and sure enough it was a wet one. Even got snowed on some. But it was wonderful as always. The weather just made it more unique - as long as you have the right clothing / gear...

Great hike - see other Camino posts we've made for particulars - we've done 6 of them - Even got to spend time with our friend Jonathan Gonzalez and his family in Leon & Astorga and do a bit of jiu jitsu. Always a blast for me.

Spent an extra week in Barcelona just for fun. We were in Barcelona back in 2012 and always said we had to go back. Can't believe it took us over 10 years but so worth it. One of our favorite cities anywhere.

In true Nomad fashion - from there to Bangkok, Thailand. Had a couple health issues we needed to check out / address and medical care in Bangkok is wonderful. Hard to imagine getting more personal and professional care anywhere.

Got fixed up / clean bill of health and headed to Buenas Aires, Argentina. Steak! Oh my! If you have carnivore tendencies, you must visit Argentina - best tasting / cleanest beef on the planet. We ate so much steak and didn't get enough. So good - and so inexpensive. Think 17 ounce filet for $10. Oh my. Lady D has even said (a few times) that we should just fly down for 3 days to eat. Non stop flights from ATL to Buenas so....

So as the adventure keeps getting bigger - from there we connected with Seabourn Cruise Line for a trip to the Antarctic. Amazing. Chartered flight to Ushuaia (southern most town on the planet - and a very cool & beautiful town). Boarded the very new Seabourn Venture for a 9 day run to explore the Antarctic. 2 day sail through the infamous Drake Passage (which lived up to expectations as we both were pretty much isolated in our room feeling sea sick...) but once we arrived we had 5 + full days to explore. Each day we took 2 Zodiac rides, did landings to hike and explore. Kayaking in sea ice. Penguins. Lots and lots of Penguins. And the ship is stunning and the service is as good as it gets. There simply cannot be a better way to experience the Antarctic than with Seabourn. (not a paid advertisement. unfortunately...;)

Sail back to Argentina and a few more days of exquisite carnivore living.

After time in the ice - we headed back to Thailand to thaw out and explore new islands such as Kho Kud and Kho Chang. Beautiful islands and a beautiful, charming people. So happy to be back again so soon. We also decided that after feasting on a cruise ship (it seems you are obligated to over eat) we would do a 5 day water fast. Yup - nothing but water for 5 days. So we booked a lovely resort on the beach (Khao Lak ) where we could relax, walk the beach a couple times a day, even get massages. It was a very interesting experience. I never felt hungry. My stomach never even growled - but oh my were we lethargic. Zero energy. Light headed. I never felt that my ketones kicked in and got a surge of energy. We've done these fasts before without this level of exhaustion. Weird. Just got to trust that those 5 days helped to reset our systems and that we are better for it. We are less puffy than post cruise so that's good.

Back to Utah for a quick trip to see friends and repack for another hike in Spain.

It's been a remarkable 4+ months.

[ryanmeft]

Movie Review: The Holdovers

After the disaster of Downsizing, Alexander Payne has returned to what he does best: dysfunctional families. This time, they are not blood, but rather a misanthropic prep school teacher, his rebellious student, and the grieving mother who cooks the food. They are thrown together over the holidays when the student’s uncaring parents would rather vacation by themselves. The student is neglected, the professor is cantankerous, and the cook is barely holding it together. They each have their own stories, and we are never given every piece of any of them, which is how it should be. In life we never know everything about those around us, as much as we might think we do.

And indeed, the teacher, Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) has hidden layers that he is fine with no one knowing about. He is confronted early on about how standoffish he is, and he does not seem to be putting on a front at all when he says he does not care. He is expected to give students from wealthy families grades they didn’t earn so they can get into colleges they don’t deserve, a thing he will not do. Flunking one particular student winds up landing him the job of supervising the students who can’t go on winter break, and he is spectacularly unsuited to the task. He starts with five but ends up with one: Angus Tully.

Tully is the brightest student in the class, which, given his teacher’s strict standards, nets him a B+ on his final. He’s also by far the most rebellious, reacting as he is to a deceased father, an indifferent stepfather and a mother more concerned with her status than with him. He’s been kicked out of three schools, one more will mean a military academy, and his teacher has no problem telling him he doesn’t like him. I felt some of myself in the young man, and I know from experience that it is almost impossible not to rebel under such conditions. He is played with award-worthy precision by newcomer Dominic Sessa. Sessa knows the language, expressions and body movements of a High School student because he was a High School student when he was cast. A scene in which he leads Paul a merry chase throughout the school is vital, as Sessa has to shift from hostile to playful and back again several times in one sequence. This should be one of those rare times in which an unseasoned actor receives major award consideration.

This odd trio is rounded out by Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), the school’s cook. She takes her job seriously, perhaps too much so, but she needs the outlet so that she does not spend all of her time grieving her 18-year-old son, recently killed in Vietnam. Randolph has more to do than simply moderate between the two extremes of conservative teacher and rebellious student. Her open grief, when it comes, is not a maudlin moment but a bit of emotional truth, as Payne and screenwriter David Hemingson recognize that pain often manifests itself quietly. She gets her one moment of abject misery, recovers quickly, and does what so many of us must: pours her hurt into a project, namely her sister’s imminent baby.

I devote an entire paragraph to each character because I would watch a movie entirely about any one of them. I very much wanted to know what bits of them Payne and Hemingson had to leave on the cutting room floor. Those bits may be hidden in their environment. When an impromptu “field trip” to Boston becomes a therapeutic excursion for all three, we see that Mary’s sister’s home, an apartment on the fourth floor of a decaying building layered with icy stairs, is a refuge to her. The small rooms and close conditions, things we might consider limitations, grant her and her family the intimacy she seeks, and we keep that contrast in mind as Paul and Angus explore a seedy Boston dotted with dive bars and porno shops, a place where daylight is timid and snow is always dirty.

The real environmental star of the show, though, is Baron Academy, played by Groton, Northfield Mount Herman, Deerfield, and St. Mark's, all real New England boarding schools. With most everyone gone for the season and snow all around, the place is both a warm refuge and a dim prison. This really depends on who you ask, as the teacher sees it as home, the cook as a job, and the student as purgatory. I want to watch the movie again so I can appreciate the way the characters interact with the empty halls and quiet gymnasium. It is a combination of the alluring Hawaiian landscapes of The Descendants and the flat rural no-man’s-lands of Nebraska, a place that meets both extremes in the middle. I wanted to take a walk around it myself, preferably with these eccentric oddballs as my tour guides.

Verdict: Must-See

Note: I don’t use star ratings. Here are my possible verdicts:

Must-See

Highly Recommended

Recommended

Average

Not Recommended

Avoid Like the Plague

[togglessymposium]

Reminded, distantly, of a reading program my (public) school had in 5th grade. The deal was this- you'd read a book from the school library, then answer a short quiz about it. In retrospect this was a fairly amazing feat, I have no idea how they wrote a quiz for most of the books in their library, but they almost always had one. If you could demonstrate reading comprehension with the quiz, you got a certain number of points, and the points could be spent on concessions and prizes.

At the low end this was the sort of eraser/pencil/sticker stuff you'd expect, but at the high end they offered days off from school. It took around 10-15 books' worth of points, but every six week period they'd load up a small bus with whichever kids bought the prize, take them to the mall, buy them pizza, and set them loose in the arcade all day.

(This is at least a third of the reason why I'm still so fond of the Redwall book series.)

Anyway, the point is that I think many challenges faced by schools these days follow not from the multiplicity of functions they serve or the tension between those functions, but from the fact that everyone is devoted to the polite fiction that they're purely educational, and that all this other stuff is secondary. Most of the times I was happiest in school- and, indeed, the times I felt most seen and respected in school- were when the teachers and powers that be acknowledged that they didn't really have much to teach me, and offered a safe, comfortable space to hang out, explore my interests, and make friends. A universal program of education means that some kids are simply going to exhaust the utility of the school's education mission almost immediately, and every kid is going to experience the classroom as basically Procrustean, and it's basically fine to fill 20% of the classroom with a pile of pillows and a bookshelf as an overflow plan to accommodate these differences.

If we decide that prison-for-kids is basically a socially desirable thing, then I suspect we'd be in a much better place if we collectively acknowledged that education is one of the things that this institution does, instead of trying to smuggle in all these other important functions while pretending that everybody needs the same six hours a day to reach competency in writing or mathematics. By all means, set minimums on educational attainment and make sure each cohort is capable of meeting specific milestones- and even provide parallel tracks for students and families that want to fast-track academic and technical careers- but don't treat 'down time' as the enemy either. We bow to this a little bit already, with e.g. recess periods, but those are currently framed as a sort of lunch break from school.

Instead, something very much like recess (though not just outdoor play, with indoor game and toy rooms as well) seems like it should be the default at 'the thing no longer quite called school', with that kind of unstructured play being interrupted by structured learning periods. Instead of torturing the definition of 'classroom' enough to make 'P.E.' a thing, just actively encourage sport, have official teams in a variety of games, and include physical fitness checks as part of the kids' yearly progress assessments. Get comfortable with field trips not just to museums, but also to places like public pools or even movie theaters, for no other reason than that they're fun. You can certainly construct this environment in a way that's slanted towards high achievement and personal growth, without needing to point towards education as the sole source of legitimacy. If you're gonna make a public institution designed to collect and safeguard kids during their parents' working hours, to prevent them from being economically exploited during crucial developmental periods, to provide a check on abusive home environments, to provide them cross-cultural socialization experiences, then by all means- but build that in to the foundation of the thing.

Oh, boy! It's Education Theory o'Clock again!

...I have a lot of thoughts on this topic. At some point, when I'm less busy and tired, I should probably try to write them up. Natively, I'm one of the school-is-a-nightmare-prison people, like so many others in this little discourse-sphere -- but I'm married to a middle school teacher, so I regularly encounter both the good arguments from the other side and the facts on the ground, and those things have altered my perspective somewhat.

But I am, in fact, busy and tired. So for now I'll just content myself with saying:

School is an institution that serves many, many, many purposes at the same time. A lot of those purposes are load-bearingly important. (A couple of years ago, I wrote this about college, and...it's double-plus true for primary and secondary schools.) If you don't try to account for all of that stuff in your theory of What School Is and How School Works, you will generate incoherent garbage thoughts. If you have a New Concept for school entailing top-down design that is optimized for a single function (like "increasing test scores" or "causing kids to love learning" or whatever), you'd better have a plan for how you're going to do all the other important things that schools do. And even if you think that some of those things aren't actually important or necessary, you'd better have a plan for dealing with all the people who disagree. Because...

-----

...school, as it exists today, is an inherently political institution. Both in the "soft" sense that everyone has strong opinions about what it's supposed to do and how it's supposed to work, and in the "hard" sense that it is actually controlled by democratically-accountable governments. (This is double-plus true in the US, where it is controlled by local governments, and therefore doesn't even have the protective insulation of a massive bureaucracy.) Everything about the way schools work is a compromise brokered amongst ideologues and self-dealers. Everything about the way schools work involves a lot of decision-makers trying not to get yelled at by the yelliest people around. If you're looking for elegant purpose-driven top-down design, you won't find it. You could probably make a case that any elegant purpose-driven top-down design would be better than the thing we actually have, but getting there would require finding a way to remove the political element.

-----

Most importantly: public schools are (1) compulsory, (2) universal, and (3) for children. [People who are legally children, anyway, whether or not they are actual children in whatever sense matters to you.]

This means that they cannot let students leave, and they have to keep control of all the students that they aren't allowing to leave.

In the most literal not-a-judgment-but-a-fact sense, they are indeed prisons. They are coercively keeping people inside. They have to do that thing, as per their most fundamental mandate within the current system. The alternatives involve letting kids run around unsupervised, and/or failing to give some kids even the most cursory kind of education, and those things are absolute non-starters under present conditions.

All the normal institutions-for-adults operate on the principle of -- If you really don't want to be here, you can leave, and deal with whatever consequences there may be for leaving. This is not an option for schools, and that fact accounts for...everything.

Classroom structure is built around the necessity of keeping the most-hostile, least-engaged student in the class present and supervised, and then trying to prevent him from disrupting things for everyone else. Because the obvious solution that any other institution would use -- "just cut him loose, he doesn't want to be here and we don't want him here" -- isn't available.

(I once talked to my wife about the rationed bathroom access thing, which is one of the most flagrant nightmare-prison aspects of the school experience. Her response was, "If you let kids use the bathroom whenever they want, as much as they want, then you don't have mandatory universal education anymore. Some of them will never return to the classroom, because they don't want to be there." Which is...obviously true.)

So you have something that replicates many of the features of prison, because it has to accomplish the same basic tasks that prison accomplishes. Yay, Foucault.

[beyondthepage]

Reading fiction enhances our understanding of human nature?

(refering to the novels read by the author)

“Books are the window to the world.” A very well-known quote that many would agree on I believe. Be it fiction or nonfiction, reading will somehow benefit us in different aspects of life including, understanding human nature. Many would understand that reading psychological related or research-based books will be best to understand human behaviour. Others argue that fiction books could play the same role, though it could be ”wrapped” in a unique style and perspective. Each person will have their own say on this, my stance would be the reading of fiction will indeed enhance the understanding of human nature.

First and foremost, regardless of the genre, humanity is displayed in most fiction books, be it in a good or bad way, and it will allow readers to comprehend more on human’s attitude by relating it to the characters. Family, slice of life, romance, friendships, all these are common themes in fiction that may explicitly or implicitly portray human’s attitude. To exemplify this, the Indonesian novel, Hello Cello tells how the character Cello could change from a so called ‘bad boy’ to a person who is loyal to his partner. The book points out that as long as it starts from ourselves and with great dedication and commitment, then we too can change. This piece of advice is applicable to our real-life situations. Our parents would probably give a similar piece of advice when we are asking “how can we further develop ourselves permanently?”. Another point, Cello manages to convince Helga that she is pretty the way she is and there is no need for others to validate her beauty. In this modern era, many of us would want validation from others in order to acknowledge our worth. Oftentimes we forget that this life belongs to us and it is us who work hard for it, hence no one knows exactly a hundred percent the amount of effort we put in. So, why should we listen to their opinions that induce negative emotions in us? They do not have a say on us. The character Cello is like a gentle reminder which reminds us that there are people who appreciate us but some others will never. Thus, we should think wisely on who we should spend our energy with. It is evident that by these examples readers could further understand human’s attitude due to the humanity aspect taking part in the fiction books.

Furthermore, reading fiction could allow for new perspectives and illustrations of situations that readers may never get the chance yet to explore and experience. Those who have been living for 17 years will have far less experiences than those of 30 years. They usually have less encounters with different types of person and by reading fiction it could reasonably give new perspective to them. For instance, the all time favourite, Harry Potter. Since the first book untuk the fifth book many readers have possibly developed hatred towards the antagonist, Draco Malfoy. Him being the well-known bully, part of the arrogant Slytherin house and ridiculous Death Eater are few reasons why readers despise him a lot. Later on, in the sixth and seventh books it will be revealed that Draco is actually forced to do all those by his parents who are the loyal servants of Voldemort. Many readers start to emphasise on Draco because he did not really have any choice as a kid, except to follow his parents instructions. By referring to human nature, it opens a new perspective that sometimes the environment that we grow up in forcefully shapes our nature. Maybe if we grew up in a better environment then we will have better self-control or attitudes. For us to understand such a deep thing and relate it with the real world is like a room to be more tolerant and understanding with each other. Hence, even by reading fiction, we will be able to broaden our knowledge on how human nature could be formed in ways we may have not thought of. 

On the other hand, most fiction is illustration based and it is too extreme to relate it with our real world. To illustrate, often in some romance fiction the guy is portrayed as the flawless, all-rounder, perfect boyfriend that any girl would want to date with. When we try to look at the nature of the boyfriend, which is not realistic at all, we tend to hope that we will end up with a person like him, the character Hilmy from Hilmy Milan for example. We forgot that this character is fictional and he does not exist in real life. This kind of too-perfect situation will not really enhance any understanding of human nature, instead it will make us “hallucinate” on such non-existent things. Therefore, it is important to notice that not all things that happen in a fictional story are directly related to real life. Sometimes it needs to be “processed” first before we could relate it to our real life.

To conclude, despite fiction being too perfect as it is mostly illustration based, there are actually some proper reasonings as to how it could enhance our understanding of human nature. The humanity aspect alongside with the new perspectives that fiction offers will always be relatable to the readers to a certain extend. It may be different for all but it sure will serve the same purpose of broadening the knowledge of human nature.

[400legends]

The Key, the Gear, the Room (Day 181)

The Java Data Center 21 cafe - the virtual cafe, I should say - was filled with the glorious notes of Hanadarian composer Misha Mali's opera, The Winsome Widow. My new wireborn friend, Marty, grinned at me and said, "OK Doctor Quinn, of all the places you could go, you picked the JDC? Do you know how many corridors there are on the station, how many rooms?"

I shrugged. "This is just a test of our VR rigs. But my friends are here. Uh, there. The other JDC. The real-- Well no, this is real. This feels real."

The music volume changed to a soft undercurrent to our conversation. Marty shook his head. "First time, huh? I guess I should have guessed. Are you really a Proxy?"

"Oh yes. Thank you for asking that, actually because.... I mean, you see...." I hadn't thought to use this visit into VR as a reconnaissance opportunity, but here was an opening. I began again. "The Curators, my creators, they gave us the directive to explore, to seek and to see, to experience, and then to return to Olara to share the bounty of all those moments." I paused, suddenly a little overwhelmed by the thought of the home I had never seen.

"That's beautiful, man." Marty nodded. "That's deep."

"And something that I want to explore is the Veeruxian culture. Any, uh, pointers on that?"

Marty froze for just a moment. "Hold. That. Thought." Six seconds later he said, "I don't get you. Your vibe is cop, but you're clean. My sweeps would find anything if you were layered. So, Veerux, huh? I mean, I think they're real. Nacora's a big, big, big place, right? It's a galaxy, man. Anything that can happen, will happen. So why not a murderous society built on baseless prejudices?"

"I understand that there are places here, in the virtual reality, where people costume play as Veerux. It's too much to hope that you know anything about that?"

Marty laughed and clapped his hands. "Best moment of the day, of the week, talking with you. Are you, like, fresh out of the tank or whatever? Listen, VR is good for two things: sex and violence. The safety protocols prevent violence unless you go into a room where safeties are off. What you're looking for, the safeties are off, way, way off."

"I understand."

"I'm not sure you do but alright. You like opera; you like Mali, so you're OK in my book. Find the corridor, get a key, and I dunno, try not to die, Doc."

***

Everyone returned ladened with weapons, armor, and gear. Cosmic Peanut handed me a carbon fiber breastplate and the plasma batteries I'd asked for. I transferred funds to her account as she asked about the VR rigs. I related the essence of Marty's advice.

Merrin said, "The dark web will have the info we need. Let's take a look." It took EDI's help to find what we wanted, but we located the cosplay room and a key code. "Not exactly subtle about this," muttered Merrin. "We should have told EDI to throw up about 800 aliases."

I said, "If we can help rescue Cosmic Peanut's parents from that Veerux prison ship, it's worth whatever risk."

"You really think that crashing a cosplay room is somehow going to help? I mean, you might be right. Six months ago I didn't think Veerux were real, and now they're blowing up planets."

"Allegedly," said EDI. "The investigations are still ongoing into the cause or causes of the destruction of Hanadaria."

"Point taken, EDI," I said. "And to your point, Merrin, that's exactly my rationale - very few people know anything about the Veerux. It's all legend or thousand year old reports, wild rumor. Trying to gauge Veeruxian armor and weaponry from what a group of coplayers are doing seems as valid as anything else."

Just then Cosmic Peanut's voice came over the comms. "Quinn, Merrin, any luck?"

"Indeed, Captain," I said. "We know the corridor and the room."

"We just need 600 credits to get the key," added Merrin.

Before Cosmic Peanut could react I said, "Captain, I have 15,575 ill-gotten credits. I will buy the key."

Requiem came on the comms. "We can all pitch in. Let's meet at the rigs. I'm almost positive that we're on the right track."

When we'd all gathered in the hangar, Requiem said, "That picture Quinn found of the cosplayer - I don't think that is just coding. I think that's real armor 3-D scanned into VR. This AlphaRuxMore, he's got real Veeruxian armor. I'd bet on it."

"You are betting," said CP. "600 credits' worth."

"Yeah," said Esmae, "I've been thinking about our budget. I don't think that this AlphaRuxMore is going to welcome a Glabrau or a Maeshar and certainly not a Hanadarian. We're going to need to buy skins."

"And weapons," I said. "My friend Marty said that VR is only good for sex and violence."

"He's not wrong," said the captain. "But I don't usually need to take out a loan when I jack in."

20,000 credits later we were outfitted with Demosian bodies, Veeruxian costumes, and - just in case - weapons. I'd gone cheap on the body and unintentionally cheap on the costume. I'd shown the Ixian shopkeeper a picture of the red priest we'd met way back on Lush, and moments later, for 250 credits, I had a robe almost identical to the picture.

Cosmic Peanut had opted to be similar to a character from F&F LXIII named "Lil' Ryan." "Little" due to being a toddler. "For a hundred credits, it's the perfect disguise," she insisted. "And besides," she added, "I wanted something I could use again." To the Ix she said, "Make me a baby monk."

Esmae was a male Demosian with dark hair and a scar. She picked a Veeruxian warrior outfit that was based on a cartoon she found. The boots had curved spikes at the front and 3 inch soles. There were spikes along the outside of her arms and legs.

Requiem studied Esmae's avatar. "I'm thinking fewer spikes, more grace, more...." She flexed her virtual body. "More movement." She held the picture of AlphaRuxMore out to the Ix. "What is this going to cost me?"

"Those dings in the armor don't come cheap," said the Ix. "2,300 credits."

Requiem silently nodded. She'd already spent over 4,000 credits for her Demosian body.

"I'll get weapons for us," I said before I looked at the prices. A disruptor shotgun cost 4,500 credits. A pistol was only - only! 2,000 credits. "Um, so I can afford two shotguns and two pistols."

"This is real money for fake things!" said Cosmic Peanut.

"I can't think of a better way to use the money I stole from the casino," I said. "Better to be prepared. No safeties, remember?"

A few minutes later my words came back to me. We stood in front of a door, and as Requiem touched the handle, a giant message popped up: “Safeties are off beyond this door. Select Yes if you understand.”