#and that there’s plenty of material they can access

[banorawhite]

Right back at you lol—top 6 fav books?

NOOOOOO DON'T ASK THE LIBRARIAN THISSSSS *stares blankly at my shelves* i love you all......

ok to answer this, i've had to narrow down my options to only young adult fiction. if i included all the middle grade, adult, graphic novels, comics, manga and poetry i have read, i would truly not know how to start (and this still felt impossible)

with that let's begin!

six of crows duology by leigh bardugo - this will always be my #1. my ultimate comfort read. these fantastic characters pulled me rough a really rough time in my life, where constantly reread these books to keep me grounded. inej ghafa the character you are. i love my crime found family

the other side of perfect by mariko turk - this book fully revitalised a love of reading for me after uni. i sat down one day and basically finished it in one sitting, just could not put it down

legendborn series by tracey deonn - worldbuilding! character development! the magic!!! all TOP NOTCH. so incredibly excited for book three, i might have to reread the first two to prepare

the lesbiana's guide to catholic school + the luis ortega surival club by sonora reyes - holyyyy shit. um basically after tlgtcs, which became my favourite read that year, i decided i would read whatever sonora reyes ever wrote. both books are FANTASTIC, cannot recommend them enough.

the gilded wolves trilogy by roshani chokshi - divine. i love fantasy heist novels and these were phenomenal. the ending absolutely got to me

cannot separate last night at the telegraph club by malinda lo or i feed her to the beast (and the beast is me) by jamison shea. both books changed me and made me stare into the distance when i finished.

some honorable mentions because i love so many books (beneath the cut this gets long)

A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee

Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

The History of Mischief by Rebecca Higgie

The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

Two Can Play That Game by Leanne Yong (bonus: my coworkers had to listen to me complain on friday that this book didn't get any awards for children's book week!!! I WAS MAD)

there are more but i'll leave it here <3

[unproduciblesmackdown]

pinning to the workshop corkboard: you've heard of winston "i'm cassandra" billions clairvoyance concepts for fun & profit, hear also of winston billions sphinx concepts (you must be This understanding of what he means to proceed)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Even if you think AI search could be good, it won’t be good

TONIGHT (May 15), I'm in NORTH HOLLYWOOD for a screening of STEPHANIE KELTON'S FINDING THE MONEY; FRIDAY (May 17), I'm at the INTERNET ARCHIVE in SAN FRANCISCO to keynote the 10th anniversary of the AUTHORS ALLIANCE.

The big news in search this week is that Google is continuing its transition to "AI search" – instead of typing in search terms and getting links to websites, you'll ask Google a question and an AI will compose an answer based on things it finds on the web:

https://blog.google/products/search/generative-ai-google-search-may-2024/

Google bills this as "let Google do the googling for you." Rather than searching the web yourself, you'll delegate this task to Google. Hidden in this pitch is a tacit admission that Google is no longer a convenient or reliable way to retrieve information, drowning as it is in AI-generated spam, poorly labeled ads, and SEO garbage:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/03/keyword-swarming/#site-reputation-abuse

Googling used to be easy: type in a query, get back a screen of highly relevant results. Today, clicking the top links will take you to sites that paid for placement at the top of the screen (rather than the sites that best match your query). Clicking further down will get you scams, AI slop, or bulk-produced SEO nonsense.

AI-powered search promises to fix this, not by making Google search results better, but by having a bot sort through the search results and discard the nonsense that Google will continue to serve up, and summarize the high quality results.

Now, there are plenty of obvious objections to this plan. For starters, why wouldn't Google just make its search results better? Rather than building a LLM for the sole purpose of sorting through the garbage Google is either paid or tricked into serving up, why not just stop serving up garbage? We know that's possible, because other search engines serve really good results by paying for access to Google's back-end and then filtering the results:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/04/teach-me-how-to-shruggie/#kagi

Another obvious objection: why would anyone write the web if the only purpose for doing so is to feed a bot that will summarize what you've written without sending anyone to your webpage? Whether you're a commercial publisher hoping to make money from advertising or subscriptions, or – like me – an open access publisher hoping to change people's minds, why would you invite Google to summarize your work without ever showing it to internet users? Nevermind how unfair that is, think about how implausible it is: if this is the way Google will work in the future, why wouldn't every publisher just block Google's crawler?

A third obvious objection: AI is bad. Not morally bad (though maybe morally bad, too!), but technically bad. It "hallucinates" nonsense answers, including dangerous nonsense. It's a supremely confident liar that can get you killed:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/01/mushroom-pickers-urged-to-avoid-foraging-books-on-amazon-that-appear-to-be-written-by-ai

The promises of AI are grossly oversold, including the promises Google makes, like its claim that its AI had discovered millions of useful new materials. In reality, the number of useful new materials Deepmind had discovered was zero:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/23/maximal-plausibility/#reverse-centaurs

This is true of all of AI's most impressive demos. Often, "AI" turns out to be low-waged human workers in a distant call-center pretending to be robots:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/31/neural-interface-beta-tester/#tailfins

Sometimes, the AI robot dancing on stage turns out to literally be just a person in a robot suit pretending to be a robot:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/29/pay-no-attention/#to-the-little-man-behind-the-curtain

The AI video demos that represent "an existential threat to Hollywood filmmaking" turn out to be so cumbersome as to be practically useless (and vastly inferior to existing production techniques):

https://www.wheresyoured.at/expectations-versus-reality/

But let's take Google at its word. Let's stipulate that:

a) It can't fix search, only add a slop-filtering AI layer on top of it; and

b) The rest of the world will continue to let Google index its pages even if they derive no benefit from doing so; and

c) Google will shortly fix its AI, and all the lies about AI capabilities will be revealed to be premature truths that are finally realized.

AI search is still a bad idea. Because beyond all the obvious reasons that AI search is a terrible idea, there's a subtle – and incurable – defect in this plan: AI search – even excellent AI search – makes it far too easy for Google to cheat us, and Google can't stop cheating us.

Remember: enshittification isn't the result of worse people running tech companies today than in the years when tech services were good and useful. Rather, enshittification is rooted in the collapse of constraints that used to prevent those same people from making their services worse in service to increasing their profit margins:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/26/glitchbread/#electronic-shelf-tags

These companies always had the capacity to siphon value away from business customers (like publishers) and end-users (like searchers). That comes with the territory: digital businesses can alter their "business logic" from instant to instant, and for each user, allowing them to change payouts, prices and ranking. I call this "twiddling": turning the knobs on the system's back-end to make sure the house always wins:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

What changed wasn't the character of the leaders of these businesses, nor their capacity to cheat us. What changed was the consequences for cheating. When the tech companies merged to monopoly, they ceased to fear losing your business to a competitor.

Google's 90% search market share was attained by bribing everyone who operates a service or platform where you might encounter a search box to connect that box to Google. Spending tens of billions of dollars every year to make sure no one ever encounters a non-Google search is a cheaper way to retain your business than making sure Google is the very best search engine:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/#not-up-to-the-task

Competition was once a threat to Google; for years, its mantra was "competition is a click away." Today, competition is all but nonexistent.

Then the surveillance business consolidated into a small number of firms. Two companies dominate the commercial surveillance industry: Google and Meta, and they collude to rig the market:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_Blue

That consolidation inevitably leads to regulatory capture: shorn of competitive pressure, the companies that dominate the sector can converge on a single message to policymakers and use their monopoly profits to turn that message into policy:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/05/regulatory-capture/

This is why Google doesn't have to worry about privacy laws. They've successfully prevented the passage of a US federal consumer privacy law. The last time the US passed a federal consumer privacy law was in 1988. It's a law that bans video store clerks from telling the newspapers which VHS cassettes you rented:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Privacy_Protection_Act

In Europe, Google's vast profits lets it fly an Irish flag of convenience, thus taking advantage of Ireland's tolerance for tax evasion and violations of European privacy law:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/15/finnegans-snooze/#dirty-old-town

Google doesn't fear competition, it doesn't fear regulation, and it also doesn't fear rival technologies. Google and its fellow Big Tech cartel members have expanded IP law to allow it to prevent third parties from reverse-engineer, hacking, or scraping its services. Google doesn't have to worry about ad-blocking, tracker blocking, or scrapers that filter out Google's lucrative, low-quality results:

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

Google doesn't fear competition, it doesn't fear regulation, it doesn't fear rival technology and it doesn't fear its workers. Google's workforce once enjoyed enormous sway over the company's direction, thanks to their scarcity and market power. But Google has outgrown its dependence on its workers, and lays them off in vast numbers, even as it increases its profits and pisses away tens of billions on stock buybacks:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/25/moral-injury/#enshittification

Google is fearless. It doesn't fear losing your business, or being punished by regulators, or being mired in guerrilla warfare with rival engineers. It certainly doesn't fear its workers.

Making search worse is good for Google. Reducing search quality increases the number of queries, and thus ads, that each user must make to find their answers:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/24/naming-names/#prabhakar-raghavan

If Google can make things worse for searchers without losing their business, it can make more money for itself. Without the discipline of markets, regulators, tech or workers, it has no impediment to transferring value from searchers and publishers to itself.

Which brings me back to AI search. When Google substitutes its own summaries for links to pages, it creates innumerable opportunities to charge publishers for preferential placement in those summaries.

This is true of any algorithmic feed: while such feeds are important – even vital – for making sense of huge amounts of information, they can also be used to play a high-speed shell-game that makes suckers out of the rest of us:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/11/for-you/#the-algorithm-tm

When you trust someone to summarize the truth for you, you become terribly vulnerable to their self-serving lies. In an ideal world, these intermediaries would be "fiduciaries," with a solemn (and legally binding) duty to put your interests ahead of their own:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/07/treacherous-computing/#rewilding-the-internet

But Google is clear that its first duty is to its shareholders: not to publishers, not to searchers, not to "partners" or employees.

AI search makes cheating so easy, and Google cheats so much. Indeed, the defects in AI give Google a readymade excuse for any apparent self-dealing: "we didn't tell you a lie because someone paid us to (for example, to recommend a product, or a hotel room, or a political point of view). Sure, they did pay us, but that was just an AI 'hallucination.'"

The existence of well-known AI hallucinations creates a zone of plausible deniability for even more enshittification of Google search. As Madeleine Clare Elish writes, AI serves as a "moral crumple zone":

https://estsjournal.org/index.php/ests/article/view/260

That's why, even if you're willing to believe that Google could make a great AI-based search, we can nevertheless be certain that they won't.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/15/they-trust-me-dumb-fucks/#ai-search

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

--

djhughman https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Modular_synthesizer_-_%22Control_Voltage%22_electronic_music_shop_in_Portland_OR_-_School_Photos_PCC_%282015-05-23_12.43.01_by_djhughman%29.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

[fandomtrumpshate]

Defeating Tr*mp and the Republican party: how you can help

So as you've probably heard, there is a presidential election coming up in the US this November. You may even be experiencing some concern about the outcome of that election -- given both the high stakes and the active efforts by Republicans to suppress the vote -- and wondering what more you can do to stave off the possibility of a literal fascist takeover of the United States.

The good news is: you're not helpless. There are wonderful organizations out there -- staffed by knowledgeable, talented people with their feet already on the ground -- and they could use your help.

Here are a few of them:

VoteBeat offers deeply-researched local reporting about elections, which is both valuable and rare in the current news environment. A spinoff of ChalkBeat, it was founded and is run by journalists from ProPublica.

Spread the Vote is an organization that works on the ground to help every eligible voter secure the documentation and the access they need to make their voices heard. In particular, StV runs a program called Vote by Mail in Jail to help ensure that incarcerated persons also have access to these rights.

VoteRiders, like StV, works to ensure that every American has the opportunity to vote. In particular, they provide financial and practical support to trans people so that they can get hold of the documentation they need and can vote safely and confidently.

FairVote advocates for ranked-choice voting, a system in wide use outside the US which far more effectively captures the will of the electorate. (we don't have an individual feature page for them, but FV was one of FTH's supported orgs in 2020.)

(This is just a short starter list of amazing organizations, pulled from FTH's supported orgs list in past years; there are plenty of others. Please feel free to add them in reblogs!)

Ways you can help

Donate to one (or more!) of these organizations. These are all fairly small operations, even if their goals and their impact is large; they could use the help!

Volunteer your time. Many of these organizations rely on volunteers to make their day-to-day operations work. Sometimes it's necessary to do this volunteering in person, but often there is a remote option for volunteering if that's what works for you.

Run a fanworks auction to raise money. FTH recently rolled out a full and detailed playbook, sharing all of our organizational materials and step-by-step guides for how to use them and adapt them to your needs. This is a great moment to put that to work! Whether you want to raise money for one of the organizations listed above, or for some other nonprofit, or even for a progressive local candidate that could use the support (FTH doesn't do individual candidates, but you shouldn't let that stop you!) you can make a real difference while also helping to put more fanworks into the world.

[snaileer]

You Don’t Know Me

“We’re so glad you’re showing an interest in our work here, Mr. Wayne!”

“Of course! It’s just all so new!” Bruce said through a hollow laugh, “It’s almost unbelievable!”

“Believing in ghosts is the first step to finally getting rid of them!”

Bruce fought to keep his face flat as the director enthusiastically continued his tour of their facility.

Their ghost hunting facility.

Where they had funded and government sanctioned labs purely for the persecution of an entire inter-dimensional species.

“-Truly, the Drs.Fenton were an inspiration to the entire field of ectobiology! We wouldn’t know half the things we know about ghosts if it wasn’t for their early research!”

Bruce forced a thin smile, “Oh? Will I get to meet them? Or can I at least see some of their work?”

The man faltered almost imperceptibly, “Ah well.. that might be a bit, Fentons can be a bit.. overzealous and-“

“I’m sure it would go a long way to understanding the need for such a large facility. If it’s worth it even, perhaps I could fund an expansion…” Bruce let his voice trail off.

The man’s eyes sharpened at the mention of his financials- of course, what more could you expect from a shark who’d joined an operation like this- and the man quickly smiled.

“But of course Mr. Wayne!” He turned around, leading them towards an elevator, “Our labs are just downstairs, easy access you know, and well.. with any new specimens it’s always best to start right away!”

Bruce’s eyes narrowed. They already had subjects? Their reports, their research had indicated they weren’t there yet, but if they were, this could quickly turn into a rescue mis-

“-It’s an absolute honor that we even have one of the Fenton’s themselves working with us!” Bruce sharpened his senses, one of them was here? The people who had laid every base for a hateful crusade against another dimension, all for their own ambition?

“Our labs are right through here,” the director said as he pushed open a door, “Dr. Fenton is working with our prize specimen right now, I’m sure!”

Bruce quickly scanned and analyzed the entire room. Testing tubes, jars filled with green, centrifuges, a sample fridge, glassware, plenty of counter space, all taken up by various tools and materials. And standing in front it was the reason for it all, dressed in a white lab coat over garish latex.

He turned around as they entered, “You know me too well, Director,” the young man spoke, ignoring the green splattered over his gloves, “My work with him isn’t finished yet.”

“Mr.Wayne, meet our frontier scientist, Dr. Daniel Fenton.”

Bruce Wayne scanned the young man, no older than 26, with a height similar to his own and shoulders only halfway less.

A scientist. An unknown. A threat.

Fenton smiled at him, “Tell me Mr.Wayne,” Daniel said, and his smile went sharp, “Do you believe in ghosts?”

[reasonsforhope]

"In drought-stricken areas, communities facing water shortages, or even in residential and commercial buildings eager to improve their environmental footprints, atmospheric water generators represent a new frontier in water production.

While it might sound like a tidbit from a science fiction movie, even the driest places on earth have moisture in the air that can be extracted and used for everyday necessities like plumbing and drinking. 

Unlike traditional dehumidifiers, which also pull moisture from the air, AWGs utilize filtration and sterilization technology to make water safe to drink. 

And while there are plenty of AWG companies out there — and the science itself isn’t novel — AWGs are becoming more efficient, affordable, and revolutionary in combating water scarcity in a myriad of communities.

Aquaria Technologies, a San Francisco-based AWG startup, was founded in 2022 to help provide affordable and clean drinking water in areas most affected by climate change. 

Using heat exchange and condensation, Aquaria’s generators draw air into their systems, cool that air below its dew point, and as it condenses, capture that water and filter it for consumption. 

As the cycle continues, the generator’s refrigerant vaporizes and goes through a process that cools it back into a liquid, meaning the heat transfer cycle repeats continuously in an energy-efficient and self-sustaining system.

“I’m sure you’ve had the experience in the summer, you take a glass of a cold drink out of the fridge and then water droplets form on the side of the bottle,” Aquaria’s co-founder and CEO Brian Sheng, said in a podcast episode. “That’s actually condensation.”

Sheng continued: “The question is, how do we create condensation? How do we extract water out of the air in large volume and using little energy? That’s what our technology does. We have created both active and passive cooling methods where we use special materials, and we’ve created heat exchange and recovery systems and airflow design, such that we’re maximizing heat exchange, and then we’re able to extract large volumes of water.”

Aquaria has created a number of generators, but its stand-alone model — the Hydropack X — can replace an entire home’s dependence on municipal water, producing as much as 264 gallons of potable water per day. 

Other models, like the Hydrostation, can provide water for up to 1,500 people at parks, construction sites, or other outdoor public areas. The Hydropixel can make 24 gallons of water per day for a seamless at-home application, requiring a simple outlet for power. 

“Atmospheric water generators present a groundbreaking solution to the global challenge of clean water scarcity, leveraging the humidity present in the air to produce potable water,” the company’s website explains.

“This technology is versatile, functioning efficiently across diverse climates — from arid regions to tropical settings. From rural communities in developing countries to advanced cities facing unexpected droughts, atmospheric water generators have a wide range of applications… transforming lives and providing secure, clean water sources.”

Considering an estimated 2.2 billion people lack access to clean water globally — including in American cities like Flint, Michigan, or Modesto, California — innovative solutions like AWGs are vital to maintaining the basic human right to clean water. 

The World Economic Forum has begun to dip its toes into this technology as well, implementing public and private partnerships to introduce AWG units in Arizona’s Navajo Nation, where the machines produce about 200 gallons of clean water per day.

“When combined with an appropriate level of community engagement and triple-bottom-line business (people, planet, profit),” a blog post for WE Forum said, “this model can be a powerful stopgap solution where few exist today.”

Similarly, according to New Atlas, Aquaria has a partnership with developers to supply its technology to a 1,000-home community in Hawaii later this year, relying entirely on atmospherically generated water.

The company also has a “Frontier Access Program,” which partners with water-related NGOs, community project developers, and sustainable development groups to deploy this technology in areas most in need.

Regardless of their use cases — in homes, in communities facing water shortages, or at aid sites navigating natural disasters — AWGs have a minimal environmental impact. Sourcing water “from thin air,” requires no plastic bottles, no large-scale plants using up loads of energy, and no byproducts that can harm the environment."

-via GoodGoodGood, August 27, 2024

[a-killer-obsession]

OKAY I DID IT, I FIGURED OUT THE LAYOUT

Disclaimer: it seems like the size of the ship changes every time we see it, but the newest eps vs wano seem pretty consistent so I went with that and used Wire's height for scale

Floor layouts under the cut ✂️

Edit: you can find clearer/more detailed versions here

Layout based on the 31 member crew that Oda confirmed. I also took in to account that a significant portion of the members are fucking massive, so everything is bigger which matches the scale it's drawn in. Floors are approx 5m high with 2m wide doors in most places, which makes sense when a good portion of the crew are 3m tall.

Sorry about my handwritting lmao I'm so tired but I have serious brainworms and couldn't sleep

The specifics:

Kid's Floor

Of course he has his own floor

Quarters include his own private dining space which I imagine would also include a workdesk, bedroom with king sized bed and probably a couch, walk in closet, and bathroom definitely large enough for a massive tub

Workshop also has bathroom entrance for when he's feelin lazy

Ladder space in the middle goes straight through, this is so crew going to the castle deck don't access his floor

Commander's floor

Heat, Wire and Killer have their own rooms and a private lounge just for them and Kid

Heat and Wire share a large bathroom, definitely big enough for normal bath

Heat and Killer have king sized beds, Wire's bed is almost as wide as a king but mostly it's made especially long

Small decking that runs the whole way around, unspoken rule that crew aren't allowed there since windows peer into commander's rooms

Killer could probably fit a drumkit in his room 👀

Cannon Deck

We get peeks of this in the anime and in Oda's notes but they're fuzzy so I just did my best

Made a mistake tho, cannon platform should be whole way around back like a U shape to account for 3 cannons facing backwards, total 9 cannons

Theoretically this is where the helm should be so uh that's where I put it

Screenshots make it look like they also store a lot of other weapons here

Main deck

Forecastle includes navigation room with bookcases, central table, and desk for paperwork

Forecastle also has infirmary with two longer than normal beds to account for larger crewmates, and a desk for crew doctor to keep notes

Door between nav and infirmary cos Kid is lazy

Kitchen and pantry. Given the rooms are 5m from floor to ceiling I imagine that pantry would have a small mezzanine accessed by a ladder to take advantage of vertical space (and would be a sick place to nap)

Galley/dining hall contains 3 bench style tables, seating 10 large crewmates each, with one extra fancy chair at the end of one for Kid

Lower deck

Did my best to do some math to figure out how many larger than normal beds were required and decided on 6 bunks for 12 larger crewmates

Additional rooms for average sized crewmates include 4 rooms with 2 bunks each, and one room with 1 bunk, making for a total of 30 beds below deck. That means, counting the commanders for the 31, there are currently 3 empty beds, so a few rooms aren't complete full

Probably looks like fuck all space but its actually significant for a ship living quarters

According to google you only need 1 toilet per 10 people and 1 shower per 40 but that seems like BS. Bathroom has 4 large, accessible sized toilets, 4 showers, long benches down the center and a long counter with plenty of space and mirrors for makeup, given how many crewmates wear it

Also, storage room. Could be converted to extra room for another bunk

Hold

Access via ladder

4 cells. No toilets, you get a bucket ✌️ tbh might not even have beds but there's room for em anyway

Desk in case they need to keep an eye on prisoners

3 storage rooms, but i think one of these would actually be a torture room. Probably the one by the desk.

Mechanisms for power and water are probably in one of these rooms as well as a lot of materials for ship repairs

Also of note

Crows nest is definitely big enough for a bench, definitely big enough for... activities. Not as big as the Sunny's though I dont think a gym would fit, I think it'd be more likely that gym equipment is kept on the cannon deck

Idk if the mizzenmast is supposed to go all the way through but that physically can't happen with where the helm needs to be based on screenshots so ✌️

Crows nests are definitely access via climbing nets

Please absolutely feel free to use this as a reference for fanfictions, but I'd appreciate a shout out if you do 💖

[the-cosmic-cauldron]

Astrology Observations 08/12/2024

🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿

Your Sun Sign as a Kid and as an Older Adult

 

Aries

Kid: Aries as a kid is a dreamer, the kind to escape in the corner of their room envisioning all that they wanted to unfold in their future. They loved solitude, as they felt they could be in their own world without interruption. They felt so intensely connected to their imagination that it became a focal point of their childhood. They begin to look at the school kids, excited by all the possibilities to bond with different people. They fell in love fast with their crushes, thinking of them constantly and hoping that they could experience the romance of their lifetime. The Aries child has a big heart and often can put their needs to the side to help another person in need. Innocent children who needed shielding from the harsh realities of the world. They desire much affection and reassurance from their family and friends.

 

Older Adult: Once the Aries becomes an older adult, their exuberant energy and impulsivity begin to slow down. These people begin to vibe and chill and don’t find themselves worked up by the usual. They focus more on stabilizing their lives so they can experience all they desire before they pass. Being around those they love makes them feel grounded, and they find that they have had enough thrills to become more routine. They begin to balance their ambitions with time for leisure and can find that vacationing, being out in nature, and tending to their home bring them satisfaction.

 

Taurus

Kid: As a kid, there was a surge of energy felt in your body, so it was easy to become irritable. You often went into your room and focused on whatever peaked your interest and couldn’t be bothered by others. You felt that whatever you wanted must be yours, and so any desire you had, you were in pursuit of. You often felt that you needed to do something, get your blood rushing, and, at times, enjoy the thrill of life and adventures. You fell easily for your crushes and often wanted to speak and spend time with them, though you had many and plenty of crushes. You may have been moody, but you were also very excited to share your positivity.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult Taurus, you have a knack for speaking. You can communicate effortlessly and may turn to public speaking, writing, and conveying information to others. You become engrossed in all of the new things you discover and find that the internet is your best friend. You enjoy going out to meet new people and may desire to change your social circle. You find that boredom sets in too easily, and so you go off to scram for your next adventure or form of stimulation. You may find that your best ideas come to you in the middle of a conversation, and you may venture into taking classes, going back to pursue another degree, or finding free courses. The library is also another one of your interests, or just purchasing books. For fun, you’ll explore new places locally.

 

Gemini

Kid: As a child, Gemini, you were reserved and chill. Oftentimes, you lay back and let others be the stars of the show. You were picky and hard to please, oftentimes stubborn. Your parents may have had a hard time convincing you when you didn’t want to do something. You could’ve thought you were far more mature than your peers and wanted your parents to give you access to things that weren’t age-appropriate. You easily got bored of your new toy and wanted new things fairly fast. There is some sort of satisfaction that the Gemini child gets from being surrounded by material possessions. There is also a deep desire for the Gemini to feel stable and to have a very fixed routine that they follow. It takes longer for the Gemini child to form a crush and to talk to their crushes.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult Gemini, you begin to crave the smell of a freshly baked pie in the oven, the softness of your bed, and a nice hot shower at the end of the night. Nothing brings you more joy than your family, and you often feel delighted being around your children, partner, and grandchildren. You look at your home as a safe haven and may find that you want to renovate or improve it. Warm and sentimental, memories mean everything to you, and as much as you enjoy making them, you also enjoy the nostalgia of reviewing them. You feel your emotions much more, and that allows you to gain more insight into yourself and others. You lounge around on the sofa with your phone in your hand and a hot tea, talking about your day. You find that stability is what makes you feel at peace, so you secure your spot at your job and make sure to keep your savings.

 

Cancer

Kid: As a child Cancer, nothing peaked your interest more than people and your environment. You wanted to explore your hometown and make new friends. You were full of ideas, and your friends were always up to the things you wanted to do. Everything was interesting to you, and you found that there were many questions you pondered. You may have always needed an answer to some new theory or question in your mind. With so much going on mentally, journals were your best friend. Writing allowed you to get it out of your head and on paper. You were the child going from one thing to the next because you hated the feeling of being bored. The most exciting thing was taking a trip somewhere, whether to the beach, your family's house, or the zoo. Going the distance for an experience was exciting and a hallmark of your childhood.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult with cancer, you find that you enjoy being recognized. You no longer want to hide and can enjoy putting your talents, creativity, and style boldly out there for others. You enjoy compliments and luxury. You aim for the highest quality items, and you find that your big heart is incredibly devoted and generous to your loved ones. Warm and affectionate, you thrive during family gatherings or in your career as you make strides towards success. Your glow becomes infectious, and you age like fine wine. People love your positivity, and you gain a lot of new friends and suitors.

 

Leo

Kid: As a kid, nothing excites you more than coming home to your favorite food. The scent taking over your house made you feel at home and delighted to exist. Family meant everything to you, and you enjoyed time with your grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings. Sensitive at heart, you cherished every new friend you made. The holidays were an exciting time for you and a hallmark of your childhood. In the midst of the busyness, you took time to indulge in your imagination.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult, Leo, you find that you want to refine your life. Everything needs an upgrade, and you’re very particular in your aesthetic and taste. Your focus may turn towards being of service to those around you; you may be the one people call on for assistance. You find that you get intrigued and more pragmatic towards your career goals, and you may switch into a field where you can learn and advance. You are not easy to let people in, and you compartmentalize your life. You may have work friends, but outside of work, you tend to tread a different path and present a different character. You become organized and want to put your best self forward.

 

Virgo

Kid: As a kid, you were multi-talented and incredibly creative. People often rejoiced in hearing your ideas, and you had an infectious smile and aura that made people fond of you. You were generous, offering yourself and your possessions to others. With such a big heart, it was easy for teachers, parents, and friends to like you. Playtime was very exciting, and you enjoyed exploring your mind through play. You enjoyed affection, affirmations, and compliments. You stood out and did things others wanted to do for themselves.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult, Virgo, you find that your taste expands. You have an eye for beauty and art. You may find that you’re drawn to the field of the arts and that you have a desire to upgrade your fashion and style. You enjoy socializing and find that you get along with all different kinds of people, but harmony in your relationships is prioritized. Your social circle widens, and opportunities to travel, be promoted at work, or go out around town open. You find that people are drawn to you without you doing much. You care a lot about others and are constantly looking to improve the circumstances or the world. You find partnership very important and focus on deepening your bond or finding your soulmate.

 

Libra

Kid: As a kid, you enjoyed reading a lot. Your source of entertainment was learning, and it felt great to be able to read up on different subjects. You were the kid watching everyone else, observant of your surroundings; you were trying to make sense of the world around you. Kind and manner-able, you followed directions and were sweet to other children. You often looked to others to see what was appropriate behavior, and you found out quickly what you needed to do in order to fit in. You wanted to do well at everything you did, and a simple art project encouraged you to bring out all your technical skills. You wanted to impress others with your ability to surpass expectations.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult, Libra, you seek to gain status in this world. You’re not the person who wants to flaunt it; instead, something intense and intrinsic tells you you need to make a mark on this world and leave behind a legacy. You begin to pick up momentum, determined to work towards success. In the meantime, you also have a deep desire to search for the truth, and your spiritual beliefs may shift. You may find that you go through a transformation unexpectedly that shifts your perception of the world and makes you feel and see things much deeper. You can start to grow distrustful of people and become more private with yourself. It can be hard to gain access to you as you have a different perception of your relationships.

 

Scorpio

Kid: As a kid, Scorpio, you are a social butterfly. You love being around others, especially your friends who you chat the day away with. You enjoyed the luxuries of life as a kid: dining out, movies, parks, etc. You love having a good time and being out and about. Receiving gifts and new things excited you, and the more possessions you had, the more content you felt. You were always there for those you felt were not getting what they deserved because you believed in their well-being. You enjoy dressing up, changing, and experimenting with your style, and you loved romance films and had many crushes.

 

Older adult: As an older adult Scorpio, you give zero fucks. You don’t care what people think of you because your pleasure and enjoyment are what matter, and you’re going to do the things that fulfill you. You may find that you start to look at your beliefs and may start to ponder questions of life that you haven’t examined before. You may feel the need to join a religion, turn to spirituality, or go through a period of reinventing and finding yourself. You laugh loudly and have a lot of fun; distant lands and traveling locally both sound exhilarating. You’re less rigid and more open and perceptive, allowing others to understand your inner workings more.

 

Sagittarius

Kid: As a kid, you were interesting; leaving you alone wasn’t hard because there was a level of maturity you held at a young age. You were also quite introverted, always scanning and analyzing those who came close to you. You were the chill kid, but deep inside was an entire world no one knew about, and you were firm with that. You kept it to yourself and explored it on your own. Oftentimes, as a kid, you were stuck on carving out your own path, which could’ve led to either an interesting group of friends or a more lonesome social life. You were interested in an array of fascinating topics, and you constantly wanted to learn and know more.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult, you get serious. You mean business, and you want to be the boss and at the top of what you do. You don’t have time to wait on the sidelines; you need to be at the forefront. Stability means everything to you because you want to enjoy your retirement. You like to be around material possessions, and you find that you are more into quality than quantity. You are honest and direct in how you speak, but you don’t have time for the fluff; you want to know what is true and real. You find that you have an easier time handling responsibilities.

 

Capricorn

Kid: As a kid, Capricorn, you were hungry for knowledge. Nothing makes you feel more at home than learning more and getting deep into your studies and interests. You were hardly satisfied with scratching the surface as you plunged deeper and deeper into your curiosity’s. You often said whatever was on your mind, which could make for great humor or a lot of awkwardness. You always wanted to experience more, and you had a deep desire for total freedom. Outside of your fascinations, you were lighthearted and fun. You boosted people’s mood just by being around, and they were cherished for your strong personality.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult, Capricorn finds that routine is frustrating and that, after all, accumulating possessions isn’t as satisfying. The Capricorn starts to deviate from their goals and starts thinking large. They realize there is a whole world out there, and what part do they play in creating a better society for the next generation? The Capricorn takes their material possessions and donates them, does volunteer work, and advocates for other disadvantaged people. The Capricorn finds that they become interested in new technologies and different communities that they’ve never been apart of. By increasing their social presence, Capricorn gains a lot of new and unique friends with whom they can share their ideas.

 

Aquarius

Kid: As a kid, Aquarius, you were studious. You followed the rules, did what was told, and wanted to exceed expectations. You were reserved and often preferred to be in the background. You talked in a direct way and may have enjoyed extracurricular activities and being challenged. You gained a lot of awards, medals, and badges. You weren’t focused much on crushes. You were often more mature in acting or looking than those around you. You kept how you felt to yourself.

 

Older Adult: As an older adult, Aquarius, you find yourself connected to your spirituality a lot more. Your connection to others in your life is a strength, and it’s as if you feel life has transformed for you. You begin to feel your emotions more intensely, which leads you to stray off to yourself to escape into your own fantasy world. You could really find that your inner world is far more fascinating than the world outside your home. You discover sides to yourself that you haven't, and you strengthen your relationship with your partner or find yourself in search of your soulmate. The artistic side of you shines more, and you can feel that laying low and occupying yourself on your own feels a lot more fun.

 

Pisces

Kid: As a kid, you stand out; you’re sort of an odd ball in your own way. People find you interesting, and you might even be puzzled by yourself. There is a level of surprise and unpredictability that comes with it. You often, at times, rebel for the sake of it. You love meeting all kinds of people and enjoy learning about others and their lives. You find that you don’t want to tie yourself down much and enjoy grandiose ideas. When you have one, you’re sure to tell everyone as well. At times, you detach from your own world and can seem a bit disinterested in life and others.

 

Older Adult: You find that you have come out of your cave and made your mark on this world. One day things change, and you have a certain boldness that shocks others. You start manifesting and creating the life you want, and all of the things you mentioned finally sprout. You go through many phases before finding the path to what you truly feel resonates, and you’re always cheerful, making others smile. You find that you can assert yourself and your boundaries easier.

 

 

 

 

Why These Pairings End Up Together

Aries- Virgo

These signs both have a focus on goals and desire loyalty.

Taurus-Libra

These signs share sensitivity and a mental connection.

Gemini-Scorpio

These signs are both powerful, one determined to gain success and the other determined to influence.

Cancer- Sagittarius

These signs both go after what they want and value honesty.

Leo-Capricorn

These signs are both independent and confident.

Virgo-Aquarius

These signs both desire a better world and share a spiritual bond.

Libra-Pisces

These signs are both artistic and in their own worlds.

Scorpio-Aries

These signs are both strong and powerful leaders.

Sagittarius-Taurus

These signs are both physical and spiritual.

Capricorn-Gemini

These signs both speak their minds and have influence.

Aquarius-Cancer

These signs both are visionaries who don’t mind taking their time to make things great.

Pisces-Leo

These signs both are creative and involve themselves with others very well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿

[herkonular]

TORONATA - DEVASA+

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[audreyscribes]

Ω PJO DEMIGOD HEADCANONS:

💖 APHRODITE: Goddess of Love and Beauty 🕊

author's note: I had a sudden idea about writing some headcanons Camp Halfblood demigods being claimed and what it's like for each respective god and cabin, followed by a small blurb afterwards. Thank you for reading and please like and reblog! The order is not in order of the cabin numbers. [PJO DEMIGOD HEADCANONS MASTERLIST]

When you arrive at camp, you’re already got eyes following you. There’s something about you that draws people’s eyes to you. It could be your face, your hair, your eyes, your hands when they move, how you walk, how you move. So when you get claimed by Aphrodite, your fanfare is totally expected by others and unexpected when you get a magical makeover by your godly mother’s blessing. You’re dressed to the nines, your look done up perfectly like you're a movie star walking on the red carpet. People stare at you with awe and you can feel it.

The moment you are shown the Cabin, all you can think of is “Oh god it’s a god dang barbie mansion”; this may either fulfill your deepest childhood dream or your worst nightmare.

There’s gossip everywhere in the cabin. You’re hearing about people’s love lives, social interactions, and everything about the people in camp. Even if you’re not as romantically inclined yourself, you’re practically spoiled for choice for hearing about drama. There may be no TV or shows for you to watch, but this is the next best thing. It’s like the Kardashians, House Wives, and Golden Girls all the same.  

Shipping. So much shipping. Shipping between campers in your cabin and outside the cabin. Shipping between movie stars to literal characters. Heck, even self-shipping is encouraged! It’s a shipper's galore. 

The Aphrodite cabin likes to have fashion runs. A lot of the Aphrodite demigods become models and do a catwalk. But if you’re not that interested in being a model, there are still ways to participate. 

If you like to design and make your own clothes, the Aphrodite cabin has your back. You have access to all types of fabrics, patterns, and materials you could need. You have no shortage of models for you to work with. If you’re interested in doing make-up, cosmetic or movie makeup,  you have plenty of people to practise on. Even if children of Aphrodite have the ability to have permanent makeup and whatnot, it doesn’t mean you still can’t use your skills to be on fleek. 

You know the meme where you see a woman putting eyeliner with the sword to make sure it's sharp? You see that way too often.

You're swiftly proven that functionality being sacrificed for fashion is a myth. It can be done and it has been done, but it's just some outweigh functionality with AESTHETICS

Stans. Stans everywhere. People don’t usually see the Aphrodite kids fight and break character unless it comes to their stan. If you haven’t seen them fight before, you do now. You’re still reeling from the BTS stans.

K-dramas. K-pop. Enough said. 

You look at yourself as best as you could, it was both familiar yet foreign.  It was like looking at the mirror, seeing yourself and all the positives of your body. Even if you had a negative view of yourself, it was gone and changed.  

A girl stepped up, her black hair swaying, and you looked at her in awe as she smiled at you. “Hi! My name is Silena Beauregard, welcome to Cabin 10!” 

“Oh hi” you said lamely, but before you could say anything further, you saw a large amount of pink in your vision. “Oh my god” you couldn’t help uttering as soon as your eyes laid on the Aphrodite cabin. It was pink in glory, and all you can think was that it was a true to god barbie house. 

“Ah yeah,” said Selina, “Welcome to the Barbie house.”

“Wait it’s really called that?” 

“Well, we really shouldn’t be calling it a Barbie house, but ... .I do admit it is pretty much a barbie house” Selina whispered in the last part. 

You couldn’t help snicker and Selina gave you a knowing smile and wink, before she led you to the door.

“You ready?” she asked. 

“Ready as I’ll ever be” you replied after taking a deep breath. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll be here for every step of the way” she reassured and you smiled back. As soon the door opened, there was a waft of perfume. It wasn’t particularly strong or particularly bad, in fact it made you happy, but you could smell it anyways. There was a twinge of emotion that stirred up in you; it reminded you of smelling a perfume that reminded you of home and love…for some reason, you had a flash of a woman holding you to her chest and you burying your nose into her, your eyes closing with warmth.

“Hey everyone, let me introduce you to our new half-sibling!” introduced Selina, gently putting a hand on your shoulder. You raised your hand and waved, introducing yourself. That was all it took before the flood work came. Immediately, all the inhabitants in the cabin begun to interview you from where you were from, your favourite colour, your favourite colour, band, and etc-

Your head was absolutely swimming but as you all talked to each other, sharing your likes and dislikes, you had a feeling you were going to be alright.

[seafoamreadings]

week of november 17th, 2024

these are written predominantly for the *rising* signs but they are also intuitively "channeled" enough that they should work for any dominant energy you have! (try your sun if you don't know rising, or more advanced readers can try moon, anywhere you have a stellium, etc and see what works best for you!)

aries: fiery hot sagittarius season is inbound. this is great news for your overall vibe and aura, but especially if you want to pursue any lofty academic, philosophical, or spiritual goals. heated debates and exercise both tend to do well in this atmosphere but, due to upcoming retrogrades, be cautious of injuries (physical or egoic!)

taurus: you are renowned for appreciation of true quality, so don't settle in material matters or in relationships. as the season shifts again the temptation or opportunity to merge households or resources may arise. carefully evaluate before jumping in.

gemini: with mercury and jupiter opposing each other in mutual reception you have access to ideas and resources that normally would not occur to you. make good use of them! meanwhile, the dawn of sagittarius season heralds relationship developments or the formation of new strong alliances.

cancerians: you've now seen pluto come and go from your 7th house a few times. this week, it does so for the last time in your lifetime. it's like a breath of fresh air for 7th house themes. but don't forget that pluto is always somewhere... now it is in your 8th, but it's pretty well suited here if you don't panic too much. indeed, this can bring you lots of financial fortune.

leo: this is the week wherein pluto moves into aquarius for the last time. it will remain there for a couple more decades. for a whole sign system, this is the 7th house. you're entering a long era of major change, which will sometimes make the word "uncomfortable" look pitifully inadequate, to your relationships with other people. first date small talk, for one example, may begin to seem painfully unbearable. of course, it goes way deeper than that. try not to despair, this is ultimately for good and many more pleasant things will exist alongside it over the years.

virgo: these are certainly mutable times and while you are definitely one of the mutable signs, you do get "indigestion" (probably literally...) from too much chaos. ceres this week is encouraging you to embrace change, but not without a good measure of self care. and that's not just bubble baths but also any doctor visits you've procrastinated, a good healthy diet (not deprivation but nutrition!), and plenty of exercise. stay home all you want, as long as it nourishes you.

libra: pluto in aquarius can actually be really good for you. yes, people make pluto out to be a big bad villain, and yes it does often come with some unpleasantness. but aquarius is your 5th house so this is, over the next many years, going to make harmonious aspects to your libra points. if you need to throw out a hobby or situationship and start fresh, that will be your cue.

scorpio: your ruling planet heads for aquarius this week for good. by good, i mean a couple solid decades. this is your fourth house, and dramatic changes at home may occur, especially early on in the process. alternatively or perhaps in tandem, you might also see that family skeletons in closets are unearthed so to speak, or you may discover interesting (?) new information regarding some ancestors.

sagittarius: your solar season arrives this week as pluto heads out of capricorn for a long, LONG time. you don't have to let pluto steal your thunder, but be patient with others as they may be having a harder time navigating this than you will. meanwhile a mercury-jupiter opposition also grants you eloquent speech, quick thought, and probably a healthy amount of money and good fortune.

capricorn: pluto out of your sign for the *rest of your life* probably feels like a great relief and if it doesn't just yet, it will before very long. of course, pluto never disappears from the sky, it just moves on. so he now affects your values and possessions. keep your self worth bolstered all up, and note that pluto has certain associations with vast wealth. to bring up a stereotype, that's very much your style. enjoy.

aquarius: you've had a couple of brief tastes of pluto in the early degrees of your sign, those were dress rehearsals and the real deal starts here in just a couple of days. while it's not *THE* age of aquarius, it's certainly putting you in a type of focus. the dissolution of the ego/identity can be harrowing and also beautiful. think in terms of butterfly metaphors for the next twenty or so years. sometimes you're goo in a chrysalis and that's okay.

pisces: while you've been hosting old saturn in your sign, you've had a little more contact with the so-called "real" world as other people experience it in its mundanity, or the illusion thereof. this week has a very surreal quality which is very much your speed. in a strange turn of events, your friends (even strangers...) may, for now, see you as the grounded one.

watch the transit posts in real time to have the best guide through your week. want a little more? have a look at my patreon or ko-fi.

check out my etsy for a private reading or dm me to set up a reading through venmo, cashapp, or paypal.

[archeo-starwars]

You wouldn't happen to have an extensive layout dissection of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant? Or even a list of all notable and obscure sections of the Jedi Temple? OR or even labelled areas that are public and reserved for only temple residents. Both from canon and legends, please and thank you!!!

The best I managed to find comes from Star Wars Complete Locations - you may check out the whole archived version here. The “zoom in” option is pretty good for reading details. Below the pages (I suppose the best is to open them in new tab for better reading):

As for the list of locations, I recommend wookiepedia's list. Plenty of data, both for Legends and New Canon.

Additional sources worth to check out:

Jedi Temple Locations & Jedi Temple History - both published as official material on star wars.com in regard to prequels and New Canon sources. Pictures and references to various places inside Temple.

Star Wars.com's The Clone Wars episode guide + videoclips from the series, like

A) Jedi Archives Tour (the entrance to one of the most restricted areas of the temple: The Holocron Vault).

B) Layout of Jedi Temple Library (source)

C) Jedi Temple funeral room + environment illustration by Tara Rueping (source)

Old Data Bank for Jedi Temple

HoloNews mentioning "a mob of 20 university students attempted to infiltrate the Jedi Temple" and "managing to get as far as the Second Atrium Lobby"

Star Wars Battlefront (2) game wiki provides some map and location description

and if you have time (and patience) you can watch gameplay from 501st Legion's mission in Jedi Temple for reference, like this one

The wookiepedia's articles should give enough good idea of the rooms, their location and functions, but I'm adding a few source pages:

STAR WARS: FACT FILES #36 provides a lot informations what and where was inside the Temple and some general data about visitors, security, Grand Balcony, Grand Corridor & Towers. Not all is super specific, but worth checking out for sure.

The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia mentions this:

and for Jedi Temple entry:

As for the named locations that are public or reserved for only temple residents, there is definitely a division like that, however I'm not sure if this issue was very well explained. The source gives us some ideas, like for example, Jedi Archives have data accessible only for Jedi with rank of Master or higher (thus most likely separated areas to study). At the same time, Fact Files #25 says that Jedi Archives offers an "excellent resources to researchers, including star-map hologram consoles", but also an access to entire scientific and historical knowledge of the Republic

so non-Jedi were allowed to use Jedi Library/Archives for their own research and work-related needs. We also must remember that the Jedi Order had various scientific branches, including archaeology, exploring unknown regions, and medicine, so logically thinking Jedi worked with other, non-Jedi specialists of many fields.

We also know from various sources, that politicians and important guests were invited for various occasions. We could see in Republic comics series that Bail Organa, Mon Mothma and senator Ask Aak were allowed to listen to Jedi reporting before High Council about his last battle

or attending Jedi Funeral like Duchess Satine and Padme Amidala did for the (fake) Obi-Wan's one or just visiting as a friend/comrade-in-arm

I would need to make more research about this issue as there is plenty tie-in material to Jedi Temple on Coruscant that would take a lot time to study, but at this moment, I think the best is assume how far a non-Jedi may walk into Temple will depend greatly who is that person and what is nature of their business with Jedi.

At the same time, Purge: Seconds to Die has this line "Clone Troopers? This deep in the Temple? Not permitted."

The Jedi was in Archives herself, so it is worth to take into account that clones could have more limited access to Temple than the average guest before war did. At the same time, clone troopers could make a report before Yoda and Mace Windu/High Council, as was presented by Star Wars Tales (Honor Bound):

so it is not like they were outright forbidden to enter the temple either.

Hope it will help!

[hunieday]

Momo - La'Stiara Rabbit Chat translation

Please note that I am not a professional translator and I'm only doing this to share the side materials to those who cannot access them, if you notice any mistakes please let me know nicely. Enjoy!

Momo: Heyyy Yuki-san heyyy

Yuki: I’m here

Momo: Oh. here comes Yuki!!!!! 🫣🫣  what are you doing right now?

Yuki: here comes yuki

Yuki: Harvesting pea sprouts

Momo: Now that’s the best lololololol 

Momo: You’re the handsomest for doing that in the middle of the night. Well no, it’s too cute. But also still too handsome

Yuki: Who did you go drinking with today?

Momo: How did you know I was drinking!?!? I went with Gakuuu!!!

Yuki: Gaku-kun, huh. I can also tell you just finished drinking and you’re in a taxi

Momo: Whaaat!? Are you watching me from somewhere!?! Could this dandy driver actually be Yuki in disguise!?!?

Yuki: That's hilarious

Yuki: You always send me a rabbichat out of nowhere like this after drinking, pretty amusing how easy it is to tell because you're always in high spirits.

Momo: I guess my darling can see right through me…🥹

Momo: Whenever I'm drinking, I always think things like “Yuki would like this flavor" or "I'm sure Yuki would laugh a lot if I told him this story" so… 

Momo: When I'm having drinks without you I just really wanna chat with you afterwards...🥹

Yuki: You say such romantic things

Momo: I feel that sense of comfort you get from being back home… 

Yuki: Would you like some peaches? You've always liked them

Momo: That's right, you always remember the things I liked when I was younger...

Yuki: Here, I made plenty of stewed dishes, so take some with you. I also packed some rice crackers and candies. Don't overwork yourself.

Momo: That's how it is right? you always made me take home more food than I can eat by myself...

Momo: But you sound like Old Man Yuki right now lololololol your image of a family house is way too high!? lolol

Yuki: I just watched a TV drama about stuff like that

Yuki: Were you and Gaku-kun shooting for "La’Stiara" at the same time?

Momo: No, we just happened to bump into each other at the studio after the shoot! 

Momo: Gaku didn't have any plans after that, so I invited him for a drink 

Momo: He said “I'm so happy to go drinking with you for the first time in a while, Momo-san!" he looked so happyy~~

Yuki: How cute

Momo: Isn’t hee~~!! 😳 I almost gave him the gem I had on me 😳

Yuki: That's funny. Though Gaku-kun doesn't seem that interested in jewelry

Momo: that’s right lolol but he has a dignified face so I’m looking forward to seeing the gem + Gaku combo picture released to the public 🥺

Momo: By the way Yuki! We were talking about instant tempura soba. Do you add the tempura before or after you pour the hot water!?!?

Yuki: Now that sounds like a drinking party question

Momo: We were talking about buying tempura soba from the convenience store as a late-night snack and it somehow turned into a conversation topic lol

Yuki: Momo, you put it in first then add the hot water, right?

Momo: Yeah!! I ate it that way first because I thought I’d get a bigger portion that way but I grew to love it 🥹 It soaks up all the flavor and it's delicious!!!

Yuki: Yeah, I get it. The juiciness is delicious

Momo: Right!?!? As expected of you, Darling!

Yuki: What about Gaku-kun?

Momo: "I like to taste both the crispy tempura and the smooth texture of soba, so I add it afterward."

Yuki: I get it. Enjoying different textures is important

Momo: Huh!!!! But you just said you understood my way! Are you a post-water tempura person? 🥹

Yuki: I eat them separately.

Momo: lololololol a surprise third option!!!!

Yuki: I thought it might be interesting.

Momo: Yuki, you're always making conversations more lively during drinking parties, you’re so handsome,,,!!!!!!!

Yuki: I know

Momo:

Momo: Can I take you to this place I took Gaku to next time? It's pretty lively though

Yuki: Of course. Was it a good place?

Momo: Actually it was opened by the manager of an izakaya I used to work at back in the day!!!

Momo: Do you remember it? The place with the really delicious rolled omelets!

Yuki: Isn’t that the manager who used to pack you meal boxes to take home?

Momo: Yes, yes!! Isn't that a huge coincidence!!! He even recognized me! 

Momo:  He said he buys our CDs every time

Yuki: I remember him. He used to hand out flyers for our concerts to the customers at the izakaya.

Yuki: He was a really nice guy. Now that I'm looking back, we were really blessed with the people around us.

Momo: I really think so too. And because of that I wanted to chat with you even more, Yuki!

Yuki: Let's take a bunch of our juniors there to repay the favor. I'm sure he'll be happy to see how successful of a senior you've become.

Momo: Yeah...! If I told my past self that I'd become the Absolute Kings with you he'd be super surprised.

Yuki: If I told my past self that I learned to appreciate people and the environment surrounding me right now he'd be surprised too.

Momo: But Yuki, you've always been super, super kind, you know!? you wouldn't have accepted my unreasonable request otherwise

Yuki: Momo

Yuki: Let's talk about this in detail tomorrow. We've been reminiscing about old times a lot lately, but it feels like a waste to only rabbichat about them

Momo: Yuki...

Yuki: And

Yuki: sleepy

Momo: lololol you must be sleepy right!!! Thanks for chatting with me 😆😆

Momo: See you tomorrow, Yuki!!

Yuki:

[vintagerpg]

That’s all there is for Role Aids, but plenty of other people made cool stuff for D&D. Like Bard Games. Better know for Atlantis and Talislanta, the company’s first products were a trio of booklets that expanded the roster of existing D&D classes. The first was The Compleat Alchemist (1982, this edition 1983).

This wasn’t the first attempt at an alchemist class. At least two appeared in Dragon Magazine, the first in 1981. I’m sure other attempts exist. This is probably the most exhaustive. It is hampered somewhat by the system neutrality — there weren’t best practices for that sort of thing yet, so the language often feels vague. I also wonder, broadly, why there was such interest in Alchemists as a class when they always seemed a stay at home sort. Still, there is a lot of interesting (if likely overpowered) stuff here.

The book starts off with lists of ingredients and other components, which is a valuable resource on its own. Then you get the level specific abilities, which are…too powerful, though mitigated by time and cost. 1st level, alchemists can brew elixirs, 2nd level they get powders, 3rd is venoms. Things start to get interesting with 4th, when they can make a number of devices, including a rod of detection. Level 5 is talismans, level 6 is potions, 7 is dusts, 8 is solvents, 9 is gases. 10 is essences, which include elixirs of elemental power. Level 11 comes with the ability to create a number of constructs and level 12 allows access to the aqua vitae and the creation of artificial life. I would counsel limiting the number of magical substances an alchemist can create before allowing a player to roll one up, dang.

Still, this is a clever book. The abilities all build on each other, and there is an assumption that the creation of the many magic items is contingent on rare materials which provide the impetus for adventuring. I’ve seen far less reasonable first efforts!

[judassmyvirtue]

Hey folks, just dropping some resources here for those of you who, like me, are always on the hunt for free reading material, whether it's for research or just to satisfy your curiosity. Check these out:

Library of Congress: Absolute goldmine for academic researches and historical documents. You can spend hours diving into their collections.

Z-library: A treasure trove of books, articles, and papers on pretty much any topic you can think of. Quick downloads, no fuss.

Project Gutenberg: Free e-books galore, especially if you're into classics. Saved me from many a boring commute.

Internet Archive: A digital library offering free universal access to books, movies, and music, plus archived web pages. Endless hours of browsing joy.

Google Books: Sometimes you just need a quick peek inside a book without committing to buying it. Google Books has got your back.

Google Scholar: It scours through scholarly sources, journals, theses, and more. Just be ready to sift through some dense material.

JSTOR: Another heavyweight in the academic world. JSTOR is packed with scholarly articles, books, and primary sources across various disciplines. Some stuff may be behind a paywall, but there's still plenty to explore for free.

Newspaper Archive: Want to browse through historical newspapers? This site has a massive collection spanning centuries and covering a wide range of topics. Perfect for digging up primary sources.

Newspapers.com: Need more historical newspapers? Look no further.

Perseus Digital Library: Focuses on ancient Greco-Roman materials, perfect for those deep dives into classical history.

Digital Public Library of America: Another treasure trove of digitized materials, including photos, manuscripts, and more.

Europeana: European cultural heritage online. Images, texts, the whole shebang.

DOAJ: Open access journals. DOAJ indexes and provides access to high-quality, peer-reviewed open access research journals.

Open Library: Another digital library offering over 1.7 million free eBooks.

Librivox: Audiobooks for when your eyes need a break.

National Archives (UK): Offers access to a wealth of historical documents, including government records, maps, photographs, and more.

Sci-Hub: For the rebels. Access to scholarly articles.

Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB): Looking for free scholarly books? DOAB has got you covered with a vast collection.

Digital Commons Network: Free, full-text scholarly articles from hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide.

Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR): Find open access repositories worldwide.

Gallica (Bibliothèque nationale de France): French flair for your research.

DigitalNZ: Your gateway to New Zealand's digital heritage.

[tellius-to-fodlan]

Fódlan dress theories:

Underwear

They must wear underwear, but the silhouettes and exposed skin show that it's not the underwear of an equivalent period of earth history, but I doubt they have the materials for modern underwear, with its rubber elastic and foam. So, what would they wear?

We can see on Raphael that the closest garment to the skin for men (at least in the officers academy) is a shirt fastened with buttons:

Shirts of an equivalent time in Europe wouldn't open in the front, but that's not really relevant. I imagine the shirt is made of linen for easy laundering.

As for the bottom, I assume that men and women alike wear linen braies. They can probably be omitted by people wearing long skirts and not riding horses in favor of bare pussy for ease of toilet access when wearing an outfit that makes taking off underpants difficult/time consuming. They're probably short and close fitting, making tight pants easier to wear without obvious panty lines. My evidence besides history:

Look at those little shorts.

As for the apparent leggings some of the girls wear

I bet those are woolen hose, which fasten to the braies.

What about bust support, though? Well, the lifted silhouette is more like a modern push-up bra than anything else, but since I'm assuming they don't have the elastic and foam those are made of, my next guess is regency style short stays

They give considerable lift to the bust without giving a particularly distinctive silhouette like a longer support garment would.

Now, we get one mention of underwear in the game, and that's Dorothea's lost piece of cloth, which was unrecognizable as clothing to Caspar, so I'm assuming it's an unshaped rectangle. My hypothesis on the purpose of this cloth, which I have no historical evidence for, is that it wraps around the torso under the stays to serve at a buffer between the tough, but difficult to launder stays, and the sweaty, sensitive skin. We see no evidence of a chemise or shirt over Dorothea's ample bust, while a wrapped rectangle could be positioned directly at the stay line for total concealment, held on solely by the stays, would have a plenty of wiggle room for weight gain, and only requires hemming, making it a solid skin layer option for a lady on a tight budget who wants to show off her assets. Although given the lack of obvious voluminous chemises on any of the ladies, this could be a common choice across social classes.

Then..... There are the people who don't seem to have underwear on their torsos at all.

I'd guess that Judith is relying on clever tailoring for support, Dorothea's armored girdle does the job for her, and Manuela actually has something really interesting going on, with her bodice being laced close under the bust, and then the breast cups suspended from her neckband for lift. I want to try making that dress.

However, the pre-automatic washing machine laundress in me is screaming at the good fabric right next to the skin. I want to believe that these garments have removable linen linings where they touch skin. Maybe that's what's tied across the back of Dorothea's shoulders.