#and that is a direct result of communism!

[kyntypes]

Someone, please let me know if this take is bad or flawed. I'd love to learn more.

Something that bothers me a tad is how some otherkin or therians will post photos of their kintype or theriotype, but it's clear the theriforms depicted are in some sort of distress or are uncomfortable. Like no, that canid isn't "being silly." It's scared and feels threatened!

This isn't directed at all, but I have noticed some images of theriforms that just don't look comfortable to describe emotions or feelings. I see it, especially with canids. I think as a result of anthropomorphization. I sorta wish it weren't so common in the nonhuman community.

Be mindful about your theriform counterparts, nonhumans!! While we are kin to them, we still should hold ourselves accountable for misusing animalistic body language in a way humans perceive them (i.e. a wild canine in captivity showing very frightful and submissive behavior, but using the video or image as a way to joke about a minor issue).

[milksockets]

"In conversations with communities of color regarding prostitution I am confronted with what oftentimes feels like outright hatred or disgust for people in the sex trade. I am, however, also presented with a lot of legitimate concerns. The sentiment that, “it’s different in our communities” and “women of color do not enjoy the same privilege of empowerment as white women do” are echoed over and over again. As a woman of color in the sex industry who has encountered the paradox of both financial stability or at least disposable income, alongside many hardships in this profession, I can say that much of these hardships were a direct result of how we as a culture tend to perceive women of color when they take on something as perverse as any combination of sex, money and economic struggle."

[click link for full essay by pluma sumaq]

[todaysdocument]

Cable from Graham Martin, Ambassador to South Vietnam, to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger Concerning the Evacuation of Vietnam

Collection GRF-0127: Saigon Embassy Files Kept by Ambassador Graham MartinSeries: Copies of Files Removed by Ambassasor Graham MartinFile Unit: Saigon to Washington, 4/9/75 to 4/28/75 (1)

[word crossed out] TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE 26/142Z APRIL 1975 VIA MARTIN

CHANNEL

SAIGON 0743 IMMEDIATE

DELIVER IMMEDIATELY

APRIL 26, 1975

TO: HENRY A. KISSINGER

GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY [found in a circle stamp]

FROM: AMBASSADOR GRAHAM MARTIN

[hand written note illegible]

REF: WH 50763

1. With respect to para 2 of your message, I have little to add to my 737.

2. I have exhausted staff and I am not repeat not going to reduce the U. S. Government side, either direct hire or contractors, any more as long as you want us to continue with the airlift. I don't know what you mean by "only" thirty contractor personnel have been reduced. Which of the 243 left would you suggest? We need communications, the tugs for the E&E. Do you want us to abandon any interest in orphans? If so, I'll send out the 5 with IRC. Do you want to tell George Meany we have no interest in labor leader. If so, I'll send out.

without transportation? If so, I'll send out the Air America 87,

who are our last resort when the military gets conflicting instructions from Washington. Do you want to send in more Marines? If so,

AMB: GMartin:ek {crossed out] TOP SECRET/ SENSITIVE

4/26/75.

DECLASSIFIED

E.O. 123556. SEC. 3.4

MR 94-31, #7 State Hr. 5/13/94 [Hand written ?]

By KBH NARA, Date 6/6/94

TOP SECRET[crossed out]/ SENSITIVE page 2

I'll send out the Mission Warden force. As far as other categories are concerned, I don't really know what level we will reach by Sunday night. Attracted by the drama of Big Minh, more reporters are coming back in. With the continuing lack of any military activity, several of the businessmen, we hear, are thinking of returning.

advise . GERALD A FORD LIBRARY[ in a circle stamp]

3. Unless you wish me to [word blurred out] the GVN to refuse any admission to press and businessmen, the former will grow considerably and the latter a little bit over the weekend. I can ask the GVN to deport some of them, but I would prefer you have someone in Washington do the nominations .

4.I really think we have about come to the end of the road on any further pressure on us there about the America community. Since you have left the decision to me, I am not going to reduce any more on the American official community. We have notified other Americans that they are now staying at their own risk.

5.As far as the military pressures on the President are concerned, you might care to inform him that the reports of the SA 2s, which so panicked one of your WSAG meetings, and which resulted in the closing of the Saigon airport to America commercial airlines, turns out to be incorrect. What was sighted was several logging

TOP SECRET[ crossed out]/SENSITIVE

Top Secret/Sensitive

trucks full of logs, I think if the President would simply say that the American community has been reducted to the smallest possible number commensurate with our ongoing activities, although he should not say this) (principally evacuation of "high risk" Vietnamese, and the rest of the community is mainly comprised of American press, which in its best traditions is augmenting its forces somewhat to cover news, he will be home free and maybe the rest of us will have time again to work on more important problems. 6. Warm regards

Martin

GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY [ Grey Circle stamp]

[jjwolves]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ DEAD INSIDE, THE INNER MIND ┈┈┈┈

What: 10 Merci X Reader Headcanons (Romantic)

Who: Merci, from ENA by Joel G

How Much: ~1,200 words; reading time ~4 mins

Images: Top -> Joel G; Divider -> @animatedglittergraphics-n-more

Warnings: Profanity

Genre: Romance

✄ Merci’s “body language of the gods” can be easily misunderstood. She’ll scream out a warning to passerby about the dangers of this cursed place, and they continue on, blissfully unaware of the ruin which befalls any who enter. She’ll cuss out someone who bowled her over in a rush to get into the Cosmic Dervish before the gate closes and they’ll offer a quick “thank you” and a thumbs up. She wasn’t giving them directions, dammit! And she’ll confess that she cares a lot about you one day, sidling up next to you, and you’ll think she says, “Stay safe out there!” Fucks’ sake. Of all the times to read her words as warnings.

✄ Direct communication seems to be off the table, since everyone who hears her happens to be a dumbass. As a result, she ends up trying to lay her feelings out in a way that is hard to misinterpret. In the evening (if time ever really mattered), the first thing you see when you come home is the stark white of Merci’s mask and gloves, her silhouette leaned against a nearby hand-tree. When you sit on a rock next to her, she offers you some sake and you drink together in kind, warm quiet. And if the quiet happens to be kind of cool instead, the sake more than makes up the difference.

✄ Usually Merci prefers to stay covered in obscurity, making sure you’re safe from afar and only emerging to angrily stomp over and drag you away from things which could harm you, trick you or warp you into something else… But suddenly she begins appearing more regularly in your life, summoning herself to your side without the need of shadow to hide her. (And by shadow, I of course mean comically contorting perfectly into the shape of a tree or rock she’s hiding behind so you don’t see her). 

✄ Her love language is quality time and words of affirmation (ironically). When you tell her how cool she is, how safe you feel with her around, how weird and awesome her hand-puppet-mouths are, or really just about anything else, she playfully pokes you with her stick in what is likely a metaphorical slip of the mask on her part, but she doesn’t care. She’s flustered and sweating and trying to play it off. “Thanks, pal!” you hear her say. She said you were ‘fine as hell, yourself,’ how do these mistranslations keep happening!?

✄ At first you view her as an aloof, mysterious artist who sagely observes from afar. She does her best to keep this appearance up because she likes to be cool for you. “I kind of get the feeling that everything you do has a lot of intention behind it. I like that,” you say, and Merci replies by relaxing her posture, like she’s saying no big deal. Don’t lose your head over it. The truth is, though, that she’s stuck in an invisible maze due to her communication problems–a struggle many mimes undoubtedly endure, in both regards. It’s difficult to navigate her feelings for you while maintaining the “cool, silent mentor” character she crafted for herself. But this character is held together with stylish monochromatic tape and entirely self-imagined poise. 

✄ When Merci gets frustrated with something, her stoic facade pretty much instantly shatters to pieces as she starts stomping, banging her head into walls and launching into a dance routine of rage. Her hands curse and yell and hurl whatever mad libs profanity the insult factory in her brain slapped together and had moving on the conveyor belt. She’s surprised, after she’s done blowing off steam, that you’re still standing there, patting her back. Smiling comfortingly, maybe even a touch amused. You don’t say anything, keeping with the silence routine. But you think that you want to try to understand Merci a little better.

✄ Merci eventually learns that you like her for her, and not the super cool, aloof master that she thinks you believed her to be. “I never really thought that you were super stoic all the time,” you admit one day. “I dunno, I just thought it was charming you went so out of your way to impress me. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings by calling you out. I like you for who you are.” Merci shakes her head while leaning against a nearby wall. Her hand speaks for the first time in a while. “I guess I’m not as good of a performance artist as I thought,” she muses. “Heh. Yeah, you need some practice.” She startles, and says, “Wait–wait. Fuck. You understood me!” You’re surprised by this, too; you hadn’t even noticed you were hearing her words as intended until now. It seems you finally understood the body language of the gods. Or at least your girlfriend.

✄ Not long after you had begun to understand Merci better, your relationship took a bend towards the romantic. It was fairly natural; one day you realized that you two spend a lot of time together and cared a lot for each other. One day you realized, hey, Merci sure likes making me laugh, spending half of her time at my house, and kissing me with her mouth-hand-puppets. Oh. How had you not noticed? A part of you was glad to have skipped over the awkward date proposal part and gone straight to where you both wanted the relationship to be. It was a soundless and graceful arrangement which glided into place like a silent performer in the dark.

✄ One of your favorite hangout spots is the one with the yellow sky and the bridges made out of beads, feathers and string. Once in a while, a plane with party streamers on it passes overhead to play music nobody wants to hear. You come here often, holding a balance competition to see which one of you can last the longest standing on top of a pole. Merci usually wins but tries to make it sound like you were a lot closer to winning than you were. At one point, an obnoxious Diet Blood trader makes their presence known with the clattering of their cart and their shouts for you, pressing you two for directions. Merci’s mouths are already firing off. “Take the left bridge and be prepared for the dangerous terrain that follows. Good luck!” The trader takes her advice, but you two snicker as he leaves. It’d be hard to explain to him that Merci actually said that she and her partner were busy and that annoying fucks like him should go find a ditch to lie in.

✄ Merci is a little bit overprotective of you. Despite the whole “sage overseer” schtick she defaulted to when she didn’t know how to interact with you very well yet, she’s still an experienced and slightly world-weary soul. She cares a lot about you and likes to hover around you like heady perfume. When you go somewhere, she has a tendency to invite herself along without asking. She has to keep your dumbass out of trouble. If someone’s mistreating you or swindling you, then Merci will swoop in to fight in your corner. This usually involves walking up to the confrontation and immediately throwing an unhinged, screaming tantrum at the offender until they leave. Once they’re gone, expect a hand-smooch from a victorious Merci waiting for you to praise her for her splendid defense.

A/N: I had fun writing this. If there's requests anyone has for ENA-related stuff like this, then send them my way. Merci has a fun design and her mistranslated dialogue interests me a lot, so I tried to run with it. It's kind of impossible to say regarding canon, but for these headcanons, the mistranslation thing is a Merci-specific issue and not just a weird area effect. Although, if we start saying that ENA's inability to understand Merci is Merci-specific, then my boy Robert has this problem too. Hmm. Fuel for thought.

[capydoodle]

have compassion for yourself and for others. it seems hopeless but any small amount of good you can do is just that much more love in the world

[delta-orionis]

A theory I've seen about Voidspawn is that they're attracted to memories, which is why they seem attracted to the Memory Crypts. They might also be attracted to thoughts or brain activity in general, which is possibly why they started showing up in more regions after Looks to the Moon was reactivated (iterators are basically giant minds after all, and there's a lot there for voidspawn to be drawn to. This does beg the question of why there aren't any voidspawn around Five Pebbles' structure, though, aside from at the base of The Leg where it meets the Memory Crypts. Something else to think about but not really relevant to the Hunter question).

I've also heard Hunter's illness compared to prion disease before (idk exactly where, but I'm pretty sure this is a theory suggested by @iteratorsex). Ignoring the DP interpretation of Hunter's illness, it's possible that their disease is deteriorating their mind and disrupting their thought patterns (which also could explain their seizures when their cycle timer runs out). This deterioration of Hunter's mind might make them less attractive to voidspawn.

Though, if we go with the DP lore and say Hunter's illness is definitely Rot, it could also be affecting their mind. (Disregarding any of the Watcher stuff because I still haven't finished it, sorry) I personally think the Rot is implied to be corrupted neural matter, based on the instructions for circumventing the self-destruction taboo laid out in the Gold pearl:

Five Pebbles' Rot is damaging his structure, and I mentioned earlier that iterators are basically like enormous minds. So the Rot is eroding his mind, something which might explain the lack of voidspawn around his structure as opposed to Looks to the Moon's. That, or voidspawn are just naturally avoidant of Rot.

If Hunter also has the Rot, it could be the thing that seems to be driving voidspawn away from them. Or, possibly, the Rot's effect on their mind is making it harder for them to perceive voidspawn at all.

(I'm tempted to theorize that Hunter has the Rot as a result of neural modification done by No Significant Harassment, possibly a botched attempt to give them the mark of communication, or program the instructions for delivering the Green Neuron to Moon. But this post is getting long enough already.)

As for why the voidspawn are more aimless... I'm honestly not sure. In the case of Survivor, the voidspawn are vaguely pointing them in the direction of the Void Sea, towards enlightenment. Another theory about Hunter I've seen is that they are karmically imbalanced, so it's also possible that in that case the void spawn don't really know where to point them. Though, that's just me spitballing trying to come up with something. It's mysterious.

Voidspawn and the Hunter

Recently, @iteratorsex and I discovered that Voidspawn behave somewhat differently for the Hunter compared to other slugs. I decided to do some digging to figure out exactly what the differences are, and thought I'd present them here. There are a few different ways you can encounter Voidspawn in Rain World:

First of all, there are a number of rooms in Shaded Citadel where free-swimming Voidspawn spawn naturally. Specifically, they swim towards SH_D02 (the room with Monster Kelp and a karma flower at the bottom of the region) and mill about there. These Voidspawn do not appear at all for the Hunter.

Next, In the caverns beneath the Depths, Voidspawn are seen swimming towards and down into the Void Sea. These Voidspawn behave identically on all slugs, with some slight adjustments due to the state of Subterranean in the Saint's campaign.

Finally, there are the Voidspawn Eggs, small, round objects that can appear at specific locations throughout Shaded Citadel, Subterranean, and Shoreline. These locations are fixed across all campaigns, but for the Hunter, each individual egg only has a 6% (~1/17) chance of actually appearing. This is compared to a 100% chance on all other slugs. When the player touches a Voidspawn Egg, its Voidspawn is released and slowly wanders offscreen.

Normally, the Voidspawn released from eggs make their way out of the room through a designated exit, one chosen by Rain World's developers when they placed that particular Voidspawn Egg. However, for the Hunter all Voidspawn released from eggs are aimless: each one swims offscreen in a different, completely random direction. In the screenshots above, I artificially added many Voidspawn Eggs to a shelter. As you can see, for the Survivor they all swim in generally the same direction, while for the Hunter they each have a different heading, and far fewer Voidspawn spawned overall.

So, what does any of this mean?

I'm not sure, though it's all clearly very intentional. I can think of two general ways to explain the differences, at least. Either:

There is something special about the Hunter that makes it more difficult for them to see Voidspawn. It could be their disease, or related to whatever prevents them from encountering Karma Flowers.

Voidspawn are simply rarer outside of Subterranean prior to the Hunter's campaign. Perhaps the reactivation of Looks to the Moon drew more Voidspawn to the adjacent regions.

What do you all think? Which sort of explanation do you lean towards? Any ideas why the Hunter's Voidspawn should be so aimless compared to other campaigns?

[guffy-09]

Hes trying to replace himself :o)

[zanderds]

I often forget "Tulpamancers" are a real thing and not just a funny made up word made by the funny wood man who lives in my brain and sings me songs. Like I'm agnostic when it comes to Tulpas but like I generally forget they exist as a concept and just every time I read the title of Mr. Capgras Encounters a Secondhand Vanity: Tulpamancer's Prosopagnosia/Pareidolia (As Direct Result of Trauma to the Fusiform Gyrus) I just think he made up some of those words when in fact he did not.

[fiat-veritas]

Well-meaning atheistic friends will often speak about the utilitarian benefits of religion to me in an attempt to make me feel like they don’t think I’m weird (I think). They talk a lot about how religion gives you a community and a sense of purpose, and, while that is all definitely true… I wish I had expressed myself a bit better during the most recent conversation that went in that direction.

Because really, it is true that my faith has many utilitarian ‘goods’ that result from it. But that’s not really the point—the point is I follow it because I believe it to be true. Even if it didn’t give me any of those psychological or emotional benefits, I would still follow Jesus, the love of my life.

I guess this is just something I’ve been thinking about, that I wish I could properly express to those who don’t believe in any version of God.

[what-eats-owls]

So there's something I want to say re: intentionally withholding your vote, and I want to do it without coming across as condescending or dismissive.

I've worked as a field organizer in two campaigns, 2010 and 2012, and my job was to help turnout the vote for Democratic candidates up and down the ticket. Technology may have changed, but people are still knocking on doors for specific voters the way they were 12 years ago.

If you say you're not voting/voting 3rd party, the campaign volunteer is supposed to mark that and move on. Their job, in the final month of the election, is to make sure the campaign's supporters have all the information and resources they need to cast a vote.

They aren't collecting data on why you're withholding your vote. They aren't submitting opinion polling results to the campaign. Something like 155 million people voted in the 2020 election, and if you say you're not voting, the campaign is not going to waste a volunteer's time and morale begging you to vote when there are literally millions of other voters to turn out.

Let me repeat that: The campaign does not track why you're not voting. They simply note your vote is not a priority for turnout and move on.

I say this because I see a lot of promotion of non-voting like that's a boycott, when the function is not the same. A boycott is a coordinated mass refusal to engage with an institution—which sounds similar if you see a vote as a good or service to withhold. Unfortunately, it's not.

A vote is a choice you're making as part of a community hiring committee. Your abstention doesn't prevent someone from being hired. It just lowers the threshold for the worst candidate to succeed.

All this to say: In my direct experience as an organizer, abstaining from the vote sends a message. That message is not "You need to try harder to win my vote." It's "Don't waste time on me."

[i-may-be-paranoid]

I feel kinda bad about being pretty much fine with my parents no longer being in a romantic relationship but really being upset over the legal and financial aspects of the divorce. like I sound so callous I'd almost rather be crying over some childish shit like "oh no this must mean that mommy and daddy don't love each other anymore"

[teaboot]

Things you can do as a security guard instead of acting like a dickhead: a vent post disguised as advice

Offer alternatives: IE, “Sorry, nobody’s allowed to hang out over there, but we have seats over here you’re welcome to use”. I recommend getting familiar with local parks, public seating, free food programs, outreach, mobile aid, etc., just in case those are needed.

Be polite: IE, “Excuse me, sir”, “I beg your pardon, miss”. This should go without saying but everyone deserves dignity.

Avoid phrasing requests as orders: IE, “Don’t stand in front of that” VS “Excuse me, could you move a bit to the side?”. This works best with an explanation, like, “There’s a sign behind you”, or, “you might get clipped by someone”. This helps communicate that you are asking for a reason, not just throwing your weight around. If you don’t have a reason, rethink whether or not you need to be doing anything.

Avoid directing blame or fault. Don’t say, “The owner says you gotta go” when you could say, “I’m not supposed to let people be here for X period” or “do X thing”. Again, try to have alternatives ready so people can use other resources or do something else instead of just abruptly changing plans.

Come from a place of compassion whenever you can. People are gonna tell you to get rid of the crazy screaming guy. They say that because they’re frightened and don’t know what to do. Your best approach is, “Hello sir”, followed by, “How are you today?”, “how’s it going?”, “are you doing alright?”, etc., depending on what the person is ACTUALLY doing / saying when you get there. You can offer help from there if needed, or leave them alone if they’re not in danger or a risk to anyone.

Remember you’re not a cop. This can mean whatever you need it to mean. For me personally, that means that with incredibly rare exception (like trying to sell to kids, contaminating other’s food or drink) I won’t report you for drugs. If I find you doing drugs on my site I’ll tell you a different place where you can do them instead and ask you to do them there. I have interrupted drug deals to ask the client and the salesman to both kindly move 15 feet to the left, I’m not kidding, I do not care.

Know who you can throw under the bus. Sometimes you gotta enforce rules and be the bad guy and if that’s the fault of some dipshit in a suit 200 miles away, you can say that. Sorry man, I can’t let you park your car on the lawn. I know you’re not hurting anyone and frankly I think lawn culture is stupid but there’s other parking stalls and if my boss sees you I’ll get a write-up for not doing my job. Shit sucks sometimes but if it wasn’t me telling you it’d be the new guy, and between you and me he’s an idiot and he’ll probably just report you to bylaw.

Don’t just act like you’re their friend, genuinely try to be a good friend. If you know that someone is doing something that will only result in a bystander phoning police, don’t let them go down like that. Let them know, “hey man, you seem like you’re having a shit time and I get it, I’ll do what I can, but we gotta have this conversation somewhere else ‘cause we’re freaking out the old ladies.”

Swallow your tongue. You can’t fix the world. People are gonna bitch at you about communists and 5G and gangster rap ruining the neighbourhood, that’s just part of the deal. Nod along, remain neutral, shut down any hate speech, redirect if you can, and keep a limit in mind where you’ll have to shut things down.

Accept that sometimes there are no solutions. Yes, that angry guy who blasts music will be back tomorrow. That homeless woman who asks you to help her find her dog that she hasn’t had in 30 years will ask again, and yes, you’re still going to take a description and promise to keep an eye out. That kid who smokes crack behind the building has been clean for a few weeks and still stops by to say hi, and you hope he’ll get his life together and be happy, but he also might relapse and OD before he hits 25. Sometimes you just have to do the best you can, even if nothing is guaranteed.

Be kind to teenagers. Being a kid is hard, and everyone’s on their ass all the damn time for everything.

Remember that the vast majority of bad people aren’t bad, just unhappy. The guy who keeps showing up drunk and puking on the carpet is unhappy. The lady who bitches about the service every single time and keeps coming back anyway is unhappy. The guy who leaves trash everywhere is probably unhappy. If they were happy, maybe they’d do better, but they’re not, and that’s kinda sad. You don’t have to let them get away with their shit, but they probably aren’t actually a worthless human being either.

It doesn’t matter if 12 is true or not. You need to believe it or you will become a harsh and bitter person. Look for evidence that people are not terrible and invent it if you have to

Don’t let yourself become a bastard

[hedgehog-moss]

I need to confess something—my last post presented a deceptively idyllic vision of my hike in the snow. I only posted photos from the tranquil walk home at dusk and neglected to mention that I (once again) got lost in a featureless expanse of snow and briefly became convinced I would never find the road again and would have to dig a little den like an Arctic fox to spend the night.

You see, there's this place where Pandolf really loves to go for a walk on snowy days—it's on top of this plateau here:

^ see the fence in the middle, that curves to the left? Nothing bad can happen as long as you follow it. There are lots of landmarks in this direction, like trees, more fences, and a couple of houses.

In the other direction, however, lies The Nothing.

Here's a photo of Pandolf (eagerly) standing near the edge of The Nothing:

Characteristics of The Nothing: it is vast, and white, and becomes more and more featureless the farther you go into it—

—and Pandolf really, really loves it.

Even when he falls into a surprise hole where the snow is suddenly three times as deep (another characteristic of The Nothing), he'll just push himself out in one great powerful jump and keep frolicking.

Or he'll remain in the spot where the snow is deeper and try his best to bury his entire self into it.

He sometimes gets crazy eyes in The Nothing.

We always start this walk with such good resolutions.

We're definitely staying close to the fence this time! With all the lovely landmarks on the left!

And then, inevitably,

Further notes from my studies: • The Nothing has some small plants and rocks, but using them as landmarks is foolish, as they will eventually disappear. • No matter how many foot-, paw-, and dog-headprints you leave and how deep they are, they will disappear before you are able to retrace your steps, probably because The Nothing is always so windy.

Pandolf thinks this is a great characteristic of The Nothing, as it means he never runs out of immaculate snow to dive into.

The wind and the resulting snow mist are the really treacherous things about this place. These photos were taken in roughly the same spot, a couple of hours apart. In the first one, the fence on the left is clearly visible; in the second one, it has started to melt into The Nothing.

There's always a moment when I end up standing in the middle of, well, nothing, with indistinguishable whiteness in every direction, under my feet, above my head, left, right, and I start thinking about writing poignant farewell messages in my Notes app for my family to find at some point in the future.

One last interesting thing about The Nothing is the way Pandolf reacts when I finally find my bearings again and start walking faster, determined to get back to the safety of the road before it gets dark.

Pandolf then just

It's very different than the playful, energetic way in which he normally buries his head in the snow. This second type of burying is clearly a form of protest—if I continue walking away Pan will reluctantly follow me for 20 or so metres, then flatten himself to the ground again, in the same despondent way.

Hypothesis #1: He is trying to play dead like a possum, hoping I will go "well, I can't lug a dead dog all the way home, I'd better leave him here." And then he'll stay with The Nothing forever.

Hypothesis #2: He is trying to lay as flat as possible so as to become all but invisible against the snow. It's unclear if he knows he is the wrong colour for this.

Hypothesis #3: He is trying to commune with The Nothing, burying words of devotion and friendship deep into the snow and promising to return soon.

Conclusion: I'm sorry, I know that's a very long post, but seeing as each of these photos depicts perfect felicity on Earth, I find it hard to delete any. I also like how I intended this post to be about my long disoriented trek through the snow, wondering if I was going to find the fence or the road again before dark—and then I got distracted by how happy Pandolf was. Which is exactly how I end up getting lost in The Nothing every single time!!

[heritageposts]

🇵🇸 From Friend of Al-Aqsa (FOA):

What exactly is Coca Cola’s role in Israel's occupation? Coca-Cola has a factory in Atarot, an illegal Israeli settlement built on stolen Palestinian land. Palestinian communities are forcibly removed for illegal Israeli settlements like this to be built. These settlements are illegal under international law. By having an Israeli franchise in the illegal Israeli settlement of Atarot, Coca-Cola is ignoring international law and profiting from the illegal occupation. There are currently up to 750,000 Israeli settlers living in at least 250 illegal Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jeruasalem. By drinking Coca-Cola, we as consumers are turning a blind eye to the illegal occupation of Palestine. In 2022 American food company General Mills announced it was divesting from Atarot as a direct result of pressure from human rights groups, activists and others. Let's keep up the pressure on Coca-Cola to stop operating in Atarot! Join our call to #BoycottCocaCola until it stops operating in Atarot illegal Israeli settlement. Make a pledge to boycott Coca-Cola until it stops operating on stolen Palestinian land.

For more info, check out FOA's webpage.

If you're in the UK, they have several upcoming campaign and events you can participate in.

[enyasaints]

Santa can you hear me? I need a wheel chair.

Hey guys. I’m Enya and I am newly disabled. I have progressive Diabetic Neuropathy and as a result I have trouble walking, standing and general pain. I am crowdfunding for a motorized wheel chair to make day to day movement much more simplistic and less painful.

I’m pleased to say I have raised $125!! I only need to raise $2475 more and I can order my wheel chair. My goal is to have it in home before December 1st.

Direct Aid

V: Enyasaint

C: Enyasaint

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The Anatomy of Punching a Character in the Face

Punching scenes are a staple of action sequences in many genres. Whether it’s an intense brawl, a quick defense, or an emotional outburst, a punch can carry a lot of weight both physically and narratively. As a writer, it’s essential to understand what really happens when a fist meets a face—from the immediate impact to the longer-lasting effects on both the person getting punched and the one throwing the punch.

This guide will help you craft authentic, detailed, and believable punch scenes by exploring different areas of the face, types of punches, and the aftermath of such an impact.

1. Target Areas of the Face and Their Vulnerabilities

A punch isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Depending on where the fist lands, the consequences will vary significantly. Different parts of the face have varying levels of vulnerability, and targeting these areas produces different effects, from knockouts to broken bones.

A. Jawline: The Knockout Zone

The jawline is a classic target in many fight scenes, especially when knockout punches are involved. This area is highly vulnerable because a hit here causes the head to snap to the side, leading to a sharp rotational movement of the brain inside the skull. This movement disrupts the brain’s communication and often results in a temporary loss of consciousness—what we commonly refer to as a "knockout."

Common Effects: Dislocation or fracture of the jaw, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, and severe pain.

Visual Aftermath: Swelling around the jawline, bruising, and possible misalignment of the jaw if broken.

B. Nose: Breaking and Bleeding

The nose is another vulnerable target, known for being easily broken. It’s not just a fragile bone structure, but it’s also connected to many blood vessels, meaning a direct punch to the nose often results in immediate bleeding. The nasal bone can fracture, causing difficulty in breathing, and in some cases, the nose may need surgical intervention to reset.

Common Effects: Intense pain, bleeding, difficulty breathing, potential for a broken nose.

Visual Aftermath: Blood running from the nostrils, swelling, and significant bruising around the nose and eyes.

C. Cheekbones (Zygomatic Bones): Bruising and Fractures

The cheekbones are one of the more solid structures in the face but are still susceptible to breaks, particularly from a heavy blow. Damage here can lead to not just bruising, but potentially severe injuries that can affect the entire facial structure.

Common Effects: Fractures of the zygomatic bone, swelling, bruising, and pain extending to the eye socket.

Visual Aftermath: Black eyes, noticeable swelling on one side of the face, and a sunken appearance if the bone is fractured.

D. Forehead: A Hard Target

The forehead is much harder than most parts of the face and is less vulnerable to severe damage. However, punches to the forehead can still cause pain, disorientation, and dazing of the recipient. While it’s less likely to result in a knockout, it’s effective in dazing an opponent, especially if the puncher’s goal is to create an opening for another strike.

Common Effects: Swelling, redness, and potential concussions if hit with enough force.

Visual Aftermath: Redness, minimal bruising, and a dazed expression.

E. Eyes: Black Eyes and Swelling

A punch to the eyes is particularly brutal because the area around the eyes is delicate, and the skin is thin. It’s not just about swelling but also potential damage to the orbital bones. The impact can cause "black eyes," characterized by intense bruising and swelling that may close the eye shut for days.

Common Effects: Swelling, black eyes, potential orbital bone fractures, temporary blurred vision.

Visual Aftermath: Discoloration that starts purple and turns yellowish-green as it heals, swollen shut eyes.

2. Types of Punches

Not all punches are created equal. The type of punch thrown can drastically change the outcome of the scene, both in terms of damage and realism. Understanding these different types of punches will allow you to convey more varied and dynamic fight sequences.

A. Jab: Speed and Precision

A jab is a quick, straight punch, usually thrown with the non-dominant hand. It’s not meant to be a knockout punch but more of a setup punch to create an opening or keep the opponent at a distance. Jabs are fast and can be disorienting, especially if they repeatedly land in quick succession.

Common Effects: Light bruising, potential cuts, and swelling in the area hit.

B. Cross: Power and Impact

The cross is a powerful, straight punch delivered with the dominant hand. It’s often aimed at vulnerable spots like the jaw or nose. Unlike a jab, the cross is meant to deliver a significant amount of force, and when landed properly, it can cause serious damage.

Common Effects: Knockouts, broken bones, severe swelling, and bruising.

C. Hook: Lateral Devastation

A hook is a wide, circular punch that targets the side of the head, particularly the jaw or temple. It’s one of the most powerful punches and is often used with the intent of knocking the opponent out.

Common Effects: Knockouts, severe disorientation, potential for concussions, and jaw dislocations.

D. Uppercut: Lifting from Below

The uppercut is thrown upward, usually aimed at the chin. It’s a devastating punch that can lift the opponent’s head and jolt their brain, leading to knockouts. Uppercuts are especially dangerous when they land cleanly on the jaw or chin.

Common Effects: Knockouts, broken teeth, jaw fractures, and disorientation.

E. Haymaker: Risky but Powerful

A haymaker is a wild, swinging punch delivered with as much force as possible. It’s often thrown with reckless abandon and is easy to dodge, but if it connects, it can deal significant damage. Because of its wide arc, it leaves the puncher exposed to counterattacks.

Common Effects: Knockouts, severe bruising, and possible fractures if landed correctly.

3. Punch Wounds: What They Look Like and Healing

Punches to the face leave lasting marks, some immediately visible and others taking days to fully form. Understanding the aftermath of a punch will help you describe the physical toll on your characters more accurately.

A. Immediate Effects

Swelling and Redness: Swelling can begin almost instantly, particularly in areas with soft tissue like the eyes and lips.

Bruising: Bruises start off as red, then turn purple, blue, and eventually fade into yellow or green as they heal.

Bleeding: Punches to the nose, lips, and even cheeks can result in bleeding, either from the skin breaking or from internal damage like a broken nose.

B. Long-Term Injuries

Black Eyes: Punches near the eyes can lead to bruising that darkens the skin around the eyes, giving it a purplish hue.

Fractures: Broken bones, such as the nose or jaw, may require weeks to heal, and in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Scarring: If the skin is cut open, there’s the potential for scarring, especially if stitches are required.

C. Healing Process

Bruises: These typically take about a week to two weeks to heal, with the colors shifting as the body absorbs the blood trapped under the skin.

Fractures: Healing from fractures can take several weeks to months, depending on the severity.

Swelling: Swelling can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, with cold compresses helping to reduce it.

4. How the Punch Affects the Puncher

While we often focus on the person receiving the punch, it’s important to remember that throwing a punch can also take a toll on the puncher.

A. Physical Strain

Knuckle Damage: Hitting a hard surface, like a jaw or forehead, can cause damage to the puncher’s knuckles. This is known as a “boxer’s fracture,” where the small bones in the hand break due to impact.

Wrist Injury: If the punch is not aligned correctly, the wrist can absorb too much force, leading to sprains or breaks.

Fatigue: After multiple punches, especially in a drawn-out fight, the puncher can become fatigued, leading to less powerful or accurate strikes.

B. Emotional and Psychological Effects

Adrenaline Rush: For inexperienced fighters, throwing a punch can lead to an adrenaline surge, which can cause tunnel vision or reckless behavior.

Moral Conflict: If the puncher is not used to violence, they may experience guilt or shock at the damage they’ve caused, especially if the recipient is significantly injured.

5. Psychological Impact of Receiving a Punch

A punch to the face doesn’t only cause physical damage. For the recipient, it can have a lasting psychological effect, especially if the punch was unexpected or in a vulnerable situation. Writing this aspect adds depth to your characters and shows that a punch is more than just physical pain.

A. Shock and Fear

Fight or Flight Response: Getting punched can immediately trigger a fight-or-flight reaction. Some characters might freeze or retreat, especially if they’ve never been in a physical altercation before.

Loss of Confidence: For characters not used to violence, being punched in the face may cause a significant loss of confidence. They may question their own strength, bravery, or ability to defend themselves.

Increased Aggression: Alternatively, the punch may trigger a rage-fueled response, pushing the character into aggressive, reckless action.

B. Embarrassment and Humiliation

Public Fights: If the punch occurs in front of others, there’s often an added layer of humiliation. Characters might feel embarrassed, even if they weren’t at fault.

Internalizing the Event: The recipient of the punch may carry the emotional impact for a long time, replaying the event in their mind, feeling shame, or seeking revenge.

C. Post-Traumatic Stress

Lingering Anxiety: In extreme cases, receiving a punch can cause anxiety or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Characters who’ve experienced significant trauma might relive the event through flashbacks or become hyper-vigilant, avoiding confrontations in the future.

Fear of Future Confrontations: A character who’s been severely beaten might actively avoid scenarios where they could be hit again, making them overly cautious or paranoid.

6. Writing Tips: Making It Believable

Writing a punch scene isn't just about describing the physical action. To make the moment believable and impactful, you’ll need to consider various elements—from pacing and sensory details to character psychology and aftermath. Here’s how to make your punch scenes authentic:

A. Build Tension Before the Punch

Foreshadowing Conflict: Build up the tension before the punch is thrown. Is the character agitated? Are there verbal warnings or body language that suggests things are escalating? By slowly ramping up the tension, the eventual punch feels earned and inevitable.

Use Dialogue: A heated exchange of words can make a punch more meaningful. If the punch follows a particularly cutting remark or threat, it adds weight to the action.

B. Focus on Sensory Details

Physical Sensations: Describe not just the punch itself, but how it feels. Does the skin split? Does the puncher’s knuckles scrape against teeth or bone? Is there an immediate sting or delayed throbbing pain?

Sound: The sound of a punch can enhance the realism of the scene. A dull thud as a fist connects with soft tissue, the crack of a bone breaking, or the splatter of blood hitting the floor are all effective auditory details.

C. Show Immediate and Delayed Reactions

Physical Reaction: After being punched, characters rarely shake it off immediately. Staggering, falling, or momentarily losing their vision are realistic reactions. You can also show how the puncher feels—did their hand hurt from the impact?

Emotional Fallout: Punches are often emotional events. Show how your characters feel right after—whether it’s satisfaction, regret, or shock. The emotional weight of a punch can be just as impactful as the physical consequences.

D. Consider the Aftermath

Healing Process: Don’t forget that punches have a lasting impact. A black eye will take days to heal, and a broken nose could require medical attention. Characters might have to deal with soreness, swelling, or difficulty talking and eating.

Ongoing Tension: A punch can dramatically shift relationships. A once-trusting friendship could be shattered, or a bitter rivalry could be born. Make sure to carry the emotional weight of the punch forward in your story.

7. Common Misconceptions About Punching

Many writers fall into the trap of perpetuating unrealistic portrayals of punches. These misconceptions can make your scenes feel less authentic or overly cinematic. Here’s how to avoid them.

A. The Myth of the "Clean Knockout"

Reality: A punch to the jaw might cause a knockout, but it’s not always instant. In real life, knockouts are often messy and unpredictable. The recipient might stagger or struggle before finally losing consciousness, and they could wake up with serious concussions, memory loss, or nausea.

B. Punches Always Cause Immediate Bleeding

Reality: While a punch to the nose often causes immediate bleeding, not all punches result in visible blood. Even when skin splits, it might take a moment for blood to pool and become visible. Bruising and swelling often take hours to fully appear.

C. Punching Doesn’t Always Lead to a Win

Reality: Throwing a punch doesn’t guarantee victory. The puncher could hurt themselves, miss entirely, or end up escalating a fight they weren’t prepared for. Additionally, punches to the forehead or temple might not have the knockout effect portrayed in movies—they could just make the puncher’s hand hurt more than the opponent.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Quillology with Haya Sameer; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! While you’re at it, don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey!