#but whats most important now is to season the water and get it cycling

[yoshistory]

i FINALLY got the 16.5 gallon cycling for the shrimps .. ive had this tank sitting for a little over a year now so its good to get all the water loaded up and the filter and bubbler running on it

[quixotin]

OK OK I FINISHED BINGING THE ENTIRETY OF NATLA AND I GOTTA SAY IT WAS A GREAT ADAPTATION!!!

Here are my thoughts so far:

The parts where I still had my reservations for the first half were definitely addressed in the second. There were more Kataang beats, especially in the last three episodes.

Please that whole part before the zutara showdown where Aang goes like "go easy, enough ppl have suffered" and zuko is more or less like "lol it's cute u think i'd hold back" and then aang has this proud little smirk like "oh i wasn’t talking to you"😏 Also his proud little smirk when Katara is fighting Pakku PLEASE HE IS GOING TO BE THE PROUDEST BF

They covered the most important points and had a decent few scenes of fan service, loved that.

However, the adaptation is not perfect and there are definitely parts that were lacking, at least to me. Primarily, I think they did our girl Katara a little dirty not emphasizing as much on her arc as opposed to Sokka's, for example, and also the way her ascension to master was pretty telly instead of showy

There was definitely something to love in every episode, but I think the weakest ones have to be Omashu and Spirited Away.

My ABSOULUTE FAVORITE episodes were Into the Dark and Masks. Dallas, Paul, and Gordon did SUCH a great job in them. I cannot WAIT for the proper leaves from the vine scene and also to have more of zuko interacting with aang.

ZUKO IS BABY BOY AND DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING NOT EVEN ABCs 🥺🥺🥺

My favorite was Zuko by far, yes. I think the performance and the was he was written struck the best balance of that goofiness and tragedy atla is originally known for. That’s not to say the other kids didn't do a good job, but Dallas' Zuko was by far the best imo

I understand now what the showrunners meant by making the show more mature and serious. I cannot say I didn't like it, but I can see it being an acquired taste especially for the part of the fandom that is more purist/demanding. I like that the focus emphasized more on the consequences of war and that it reflected on the cycles of violence and hurt, what they do to a person and how the wounds pass down generationally. I think this emphasis on war, compassion, kindness, all those things are definitely an important message in this time and day. However, it is a little too serious for my taste, PRECISELY because of the times we are living in. Back when the OG came about the world was in a time of relative peace. But now we get pictures of carnage and genocide mixed in with videos of cute puppies, so it's definitely a different place. It was much easier to understand the gravity of the genocidal/bombing scenes imo, almost to a point that they seemed watered down/kid friendly compared to the real thing that we see on our phones everyday. Because of that, I think erring more on the comedy, the balance between what it ACTUALLY means to be hopeful and not just talking about it, is the one thing the show could improve upon for next seasons.

All in all I am VERY pleased with the adaptation. There were moments where I definitely bawled my eyes out, shouted, and laughed the same way I did the first time I watched the show. All I can say is, for those still on the fence about watching it, so long as you go in with an open mind and with the explicit objective of enjoying yourself, it will be a fun watch.

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 9/3/2024

having a lot of fun with toddler enrichment activities in this household, until we bit through the bag and the foil and the water and hated that experience

listening

fun citypop version of Good Luck Babe! by Amandumb and Sakura Wine, “ganbatte” scans to “good luck babe” SCARY well. this is both off a tiktok my best friend sent me and the spotify recommended weekly

-

reading

quite frankly this makes me nervous and i am backing up my blogs as we speak. i sort of believe them when they say that we won't see a difference on the front end, but this is a HUGE migration. SOMETHING is going to go not perfectly.

William Greenleaf's TIME JUMPER (1980, 224p) and Joe Millard (my beloathed)'s Blood For A Dirty Dollar (1980 European reprint of a 1973 American book, 156p). thank you philip. time jumper is from a thrift store somewhere (possibly from the free book shelf at the umass engineering library) and the cowboy book is from ebay. they lied about the condition and the heavy smoke smell so i ended up getting it for free :) in no world is that a Very Good condition book!!!

time jumper! i do not think the back cover blurb (below) is very accurate.

COMBINED DESTINIES! One Earth of the far future, city dwellers live in a technologically advanced environment, while bands of nomads barbarically hunt and farm the plains. Hidden within the city is Erin, a crazed scientist, who is constructing a timejumper. On the plains is a nomad boy who quests after the city's secrets. Unknown to both, an evil force works to keep them apart, for it knows that if they ever meet, a new Earth destiny would be inevitable!

i looooove a bubble city. i love long lingering shots of technology and city-scapes and city politics. i would not call the nomads barbarians, bc they are a trading society who set up crop irrigation in their seasonal fields and have a giant traveling library with card catalogue. i would also not call Erin crazed or hidden, bc he is the richest man in the city. reclusive, yes. single-minded, yes. pretty sane though. he is a little person and i think the book handled this fairly deftly for 1980? most of his obstacles are physical and not societal. finally, the evil force is not working to keep them apart bc it doesn't even know about the outside kid. they mostly just want to stop anyone from leaving.

now that we know the back blurb is lies, what's the deal with this book? mostly wrestling with how automation leads to a loss of purpose and flattening of culture, breaking cycles, cyclical natures of histories thereof, and repeating old sins. however, one of the more frustrating endings ive ever read with the very last paragraph containing the suicide of a minor character. we simply didn't fucking need that last paragraph.

i found the dialogue a little bland but book overall quite evocative. it felt like a sixties scifi show constructed from castoff theater sets. it felt like this screenshot from rollerball. a lot of shapes. a lot of giant gardens. a lot of flattened textures.

i also liveblogged the cowboy book here. we've previosuly looked at the one with the balloon and the jailbreak but this is the one with the mad englishman and the imported castle and the missing scientists. i love a description of Legally Not Lee van Cleef Because We Don't Have A Royalty Agreement

-

watching

X-Men: First Class (2011, dir. Vaughn) was way more fun than i was expecting??? it's fun to watch these with my bestie's husband who is a fairly intense x-men fan and Will pause the movie for several minutes to explain why a specific character's death was fucking bullshit or answer one of my stupid costuming questions

-

playing

the new mesoamerican fire-aligned nation of Natlan is out in genshin impact! VERY beautiful region even though i think it is a crime, to me personally, to show me a village of observation balloons and then tell me i can't actually go there for six weeks until the next patch.

this is a little bit more of a frustrating experience bc my tolerance for the least little thing going wrong is at record lows. once you hit 100% on a map region it feels more like a true 100% ing the area, which is a little scary bc this usually means you have anywhere from 10-20% more Stuff to do and find and collect. one quest is straight up bugged for me (very unusual) and i cannot get a specific mechanic (the yunkasaur, the little green pokemon lookin motherfucker above, flame spitting) to fire with any sort of accuracy. why have a sight and a center pip if you CANNOT aim it.

some parts of the map look a little more seussical than others.

to whoever made sure this observation balloon lined up with the window when you entered this waypoint building, i see you. thank you.

-

making

fallow week.

[seaside-apothecary]

How to use cycles in your craft:

I am someone who uses a lot of cycles in my craft and use them for different spells and rituals. Here are a few I use:

The moon cycle:

You’ve seen it, you’ve read about it if you have a witchcraft book, and most likely use it now for your spells. The moon cycle refers to the different phases of the moon, from the new moon all the way to the full moon and back around. According to astrology, the moon is a water element. Meaning it is emotion, intuitive, and free-forming. So, use your intuition with what the different phases mean. Go with that feels right for the spell. The moon’s cycle can be used in many ways and has a phase that fits just about every purpose you will need.

New moon: planting seeds, pause, a cycles end, renewal, blank slate, reflection

Waxing crescent: beginnings, action, starting a process, moving

First quarter: choices, refining your process, journaling, discipline

Waxing gibbous: growth, abundance, expansion, good for material or tangible magic

Full moon: harvest, blooming, celebration, reaping what you sow, release, amplification, creativity

Waning gibbous: final harvest, letting go, release

Last quarter: surrender, self care, release, bring things to a complete end, organization

Waning crescent: rest, uncrossing, grounding, connection

The day cycle:

The day cycle refers to all the phases of the day from dawn until midnight.

Sunrise: beginnings, starts a new day, renewal, resurrection, cleansing

Morning: strength, building strength, courage, planning, activity

Noon: charging, health, physical or material magic

Evening: communication, clarity, exploration

Sunset: winding down, letting go, releasing

Midnight: rest, grounding, meditation

Planetary hours cycle:

The planets go through many cycles, their own rotation cycle, their own seasons, and their trip around the sun. Something I use with the planets is their association with the days of the week, but I use the planetary hours as well. For example, I will do love magick on Fridays, the day of Venus, but I will also do it on the hour of Venus that day as well.

You can use this website to know when the hours of the planets are, this website does use military hours, so if you don’t know it make sure to have a chart pulled up while looking at it.

I would use this in combination with what planet is associated with the days of the week, I have a post about that here.

Menstrual cycle:

If you are an afab person who gets their periods, you can use your own cycle in your magic. If you do not have a menstrual cycle or if you do not wish to use it in your magic, no worries! This is completely optional and doesn’t make you more or less powerful. From my experience the biggest benefit to using your menstrual cycle in your craft, if you choose to use it, is help with connecting to your craft. Which you can connect with your craft a million other ways. I personally use my menstrual cycle for a lot of things spiritual and non spiritual. For me personally, it is when I feel the most powerful in my craft, because I’m more aware of my body and everything going on with it. I use my cycle as a time for action and when I do the most important works for my practice. Listen to your body, try to understand how your body reacts during this time and question why it is doing this. Remember, mundane before magical.

Blessed be and happy Moon Day!

[hasufin]

For All Seasons

Yesterday, I opted to start propagating my basil plants. I only bought two, you see (I don't start from seed because cats and indoor gardening are a bad combination). Basil propagates well - you cut a few stems of the plant off, strip most of the leaves, and put it in water. The stems will grow roots and after a week or two you plant those, let them grow into full plants, and by the end of summer those two plants are a fuckton of basil.

Now, you'll note the part where you're stripping basil leaves? This yields, well, basil leaves. I mostly have basil to make pesto, but I do use it for other stuff. Not, however, two or so cups at a time which is what I get when I go a-propagating. But I don't like to waste food, so... well, I either freeze it or - as I did this time - I put them in the food dehydrator (shoutout to @antarctica-starts-here, @fera-angelus, and their other partner for the gift which I use an awful lot).

There's a certain longitudinal aspect to all this. I bought basil plants in spring (and would have started them from seed even earlier if that were practical) with the intent to propagate them so that by late summer I have enough basil to make a year's worth of pesto which I will freeze. Along the way I am also preserving leaves in order to use for other purposes. I'm trimming and drying my other herbs along the way, too.

What I'm contemplating is, historically this would be an entire lifestyle. I would be constantly engaging in this cycle of planning, maintaining, harvesting, and preserving. It would be multiple cycles which feed into one another and define my entire life.

The first part to recognize is, prior to the 20th century, a successful society had only about 50% of its population engaged in food production. In the 17th century, if you passed 100 people on the street, there were another 100 people too busy farming, hunting, or fishing to be walking around in some city. And that's what a successful society was like. Less successful ones could have as much as 90% of their population engaged in food production. That means food was one of the most valuable commodities. You did not want to waste it, ever. It pretty much always made sense to do stuff to prevent food waste and increase food production. And many of our foodstuffs have their origin in preventing waste.

So let's go back to our farmer.

Well, let me go a bit forward. Modern farms tend to be monocultures: enormous properties with hundreds of acres of corn or wheat or soy; some specialize in fruits or vegetables; or they do specifically livestock for example. They're mostly just a few things. (this is not to say all modern farms are like this; I'm simply referring to the majority). These tend to be very big, or at least larger than historical farms, they are specialists, and they are operated by relatively few people. The yield per person is considerable, but they do not produce a sufficient variety of food to live off of - try to eat nothing but corn and you WILL die. By virtue of their size, farmers who are not engaged directly in tending their crop spend their time otherwise maintaining the equipment or property: mending fences, working on the all-important tractor, &c.

Historically, farms were much more varied but also smaller, and of course with less equipment and more people. The variety is significant, though. You don't want to be growing Just One Thing. Farms were at least partially self-sufficient: you're growing the grains, fruits, and vegetables to feed everyone on the farm and have enough left over to sell in order to pay whatever taxes, and buy whatever you needed.

This approach meant you tried to have crops which grew and were harvested throughout the year: you didn't want to be trying to harvest all your soybeans while the crows are picking clean the corn, after all. And some of this could be astoundingly deterministic: there's a cultivar of corn which was grown specifically because it ripens before a particular beetle's breeding season and thus the crop is not ruined.

We're told that being a farmer was a lot of work. But we're seldom given a view of what that means. We get a vague notion of plowing and harvesting, but what comes in between?

It's plowing a different field to grow a different crop. Weeding the first field so that crop grows well. Harvesting herbs and drying them. Harvesting vegetables and pickling them. Hunting for meat and smoking it.

You're constantly planning for your next few steps. You get fruit pies when fruits are in season. You enjoy a tomato pie because you have tomatoes in abundance and you'd damned well better use them lest they rot. You throw the kitchen scraps to the pigs, who get nice and fat, and once they're big enough you slaughter them. You've got your chickens, and if a hen stops laying eggs, you roast it; if the rooster is too old you have coq au vin and get a new rooster.

It's a constant juggling act to make sure everything is used, because failing to turn the compost heap one year means less potatoes the next year and that means grumbling stomachs the next winter. The question of "What's for dinner?" doesn't mean "What do I feel like having" nor "What do I want to make?" but rather "What can I make with the food which exists right now?"

[yummilily]

Jam (40 min)

I have to admit, I grew up a spoiled child. With a grandmother single-handedly supplying the entire town with jam, I never had to resort to the store-bought kind until long after she passed and all her stock was used up. Fortunately, she taught me well. And what better time to put the skill to use than in summer with a plethora of in season fruits at your disposal? The results of a few minutes suffering the heat of stirring in a bubbling pot are well worth the effort in my opinion. 

Equipment:

A large pot (and I really mean large, you don’t want this to be more than half full)

Clean jars and fitting lids

A timer 

A small plate / bowl that easily has space in your fridge

Funnel (optional)

Oven mitts or a dry kitchen towel

Damp cleaning cloth (or something of the sort)

Ingredients:

These are highly customisable. Depending on the type of sugar you're using, you’ll need up to 1.5 kg of fruit / 1.5 L of fruit juice per 500g packet of gelling sugar (essentially just regular sugar with pectin mixed in). The main difference regarding the sugar is its intended ratio to the fruit. The most common ones I’ve seen are 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3 (sugar:fruit). Other than the jam’s sweetness (obviously) the kind you use will influence how shelf-stable it is. The higher the sugar content, the longer you can store it. That being said, I normally use the 1:2 and I’ve never once ran into the issue of the jam going bad before it was all devoured. (That being well over a year when making a large batch. Some of my grandma’s have been forgotten in the cellar for almost 10 and they still were fine. Just trust your eyes and nose when opening up a jar. And label them with the date made.)

It’s perfectly fine to use frozen fruit. Just let it thaw before you get started. 

I recommend adding some lemon juice (about 1 lemon per kg). It helps with thickening the jam and is especially important when you’re using very sweet fruit. The gelling sugar usually has some citric acid added, but I find that adding the fresh lemon helps. Also it offsets the sweetness a bit.

Other than that, go wild! You can add spices, herbs, liquor (you might want to add that after cooking though)... Just make sure you keep the ratio specified on the sugar and you’ll be just fine!

Instructions: 

If you’re using fresh fruit, wash it well, pat dry and cut into small pieces. If you prefer a smooth jam, you can blend it. 

Add all ingredients to a large pot and mix well. Make sure it’s only about half full max. 

Now, most gelling sugar package instructions will tell you to let everything sit for at least a few hours, but honestly, I find that it doesn’t really make a difference to skip this step if you’re in a hurry. It won’t hurt to wait, but it won’t ruin your jam if you don’t.

Before you start cooking, you’ll need to sterilise the jars. (And don’t forget the lids either!) There’s many ways of doing this and a quick online search will give you many results, like putting them through a hot cycle in the dishwasher. Because I don’t have one, my go to method is to first give them a good scrub and then rinse them with boiling water from the kettle, leaving them upside down on a clean kitchen towel until filling. Getting them up to temperature now will also prevent any glass cracking when filling with the hot jam.

While stirring, bring the jam to a boil. The bubbling kind, you really want this going. Once it does start your timer. In most cases it will be 4 minutes, but check the package instructions for specifics. Make sure to keep stirring, you don’t want anything getting stuck to the bottom of the pot.

The jam might produce foam (hence the big pot). If you want to, you can remove it with a spoon, but that’s mainly an aesthetic thing. (Theoretically, the trapped air could contaminate the jam and make it go off faster, but I have yet to witness that happening.)

Once time’s up, reduce the heat to low and spoon out a little bit of the jam onto a plate and put it in the fridge. This is to check if the gelling worked. The jam should start to thicken quickly when cooling. If it’s still too runny, boil it a little longer. If it’s too thick, add a little water. 

When you’re happy with the consistency, remove the pot from the heat and start filling the jars. I do this holding the jar in one hand with an oven mitt (because this will get uncomfortably hot very quickly) ladling the jam in with the other. If the opening of the jar is very small, a funnel can be helpful (make sure that is also sterilised!). Fill it up until just about the brim. Now, if there’s any spills, wipe the screw-top clean. You’ll thank yourself later when you try opening it again. Tightly close the jar and place it upside down.

Repeat until you’re out of jam. I always have an odd amount left that isn’t quite enough for a whole jar. That’s fine though. Simply eat that first.

Allow the jam to cool for about 5 minutes before flipping the jars.

Enjoy!

Notes:

While the sugar content certainly plays a role in preserving, the most important thing is that all your utensils are clean. It’s a bit of work, yes, but ending up with mouldy jam would be worse, right?

[rosiethedragongeek]

(telling u here bc i didnt wanna hijack the fic post jdbddbbfskdvb)

the main reason I DON'T/WOULDN'T want a canon Spitelout redemption is because I'm not confident Dreamworks could do it well. Riders Of Berk and Race To The Edge do the job of making sure we understand that we are NOT meant to sympathise with Spitelout. Three's a pattern and off the top of my head there are atleast three "spitelout bad!" episodes ("Thawfest", "Snotlout Gets The Axe", "Notlout") and a couple where it is featured as a B plot ("Race to fireworm island"). The writing for Snotlout specifically is probably what I'd pin down as the best in the show, so i guess I never thought to narrow it down to bad writing. I knew that (apparently) it was never commited to one way or the other in the end, but Ive expressed numerous times that the constant back and forth is VERY interesting to me. I love that Snotlout keeps forgiving him. I love that Spitelout keeps getting worse. I love that even though Spitelout causes him pain, and its acknowledged that its wrong, Snotlout still admires him and pines for his attention. Its very special and relatable to me that it takes a lot for Snotlout to learn his lesson, that hes constantly optimistic, and that it always hurts him because he knows he should expect that by now. But he doesn't.

Dreamworks gave us a fair share of Spitelout episodes, seemingly testing the water of what they could get away with showing each time (High amount of pressure -> degrading him infront of his friends -> causing extreme delusion and paranoia). I think they knew that if we were going to get a conclusion, which we had to, it would have to be an important part of the episode - maybe even of the season. Maybe Spitelouts following them around for the episode, and Snotlout's doing perfectly fine, but Spitelout keeps criticising and jumping in to set an example. Maybe things go wrong and someone gets injured. Maybe its Hiccup, or Hookfang, or snotlout himself. and Snotlout has to stand there with a weapon - because I highly doubt Spitelout would take it seriously if there wasnt one involved - and say for the final time that he doesnt need him. That hes had enough of the criticism and the backhanded praise and the stupidly high standards. That he loves him like the father he has failed to be, and that thats what stings most. And Spitelout wouldve had to make a choice. And dreamworks did not have the anything neccessary to do that.

It would have had to been so carefully crafted. So many things would have had to be balanced. Snotlout shouldn't be too soft because then he wont listen - but he cant be too harsh because Spitelout is a survivor of the same mentality that he himself has. They cant put every single bit of blame on him - but to not do that would be irresponsible because they are his actions. They probably csnt use the word 'abuse' - but to use anything else would be downplaying it. It would have been so extremely difficult that I dont know if i wish they had even tried.

It just upsets me to know that they dont have a conversation. They never even have one. (english teacher voice) Maybe their relationship is less of a redemption arc, but more of a tragedy on the endless cycle of abuse perpetuated on war-ridden homelands like Berk.

DUDE

DUDE

This is such a thorough analysis I’m obsessed (and I am SO sorry it took me so long to get here omg)

They really do have a very cyclical, Snotlout gives and Spitelout takes type relationship. Most of their episodes include Snotlout looking up to Spitelout in the beginning, Spitelout being pretty awful to Snotlout in one way or another, and then a sorta positive interaction at the end that doesn’t necessarily address their conflict or what Spitelout did within the episode. It is then assumed that Snotlout and Spitelout have made up and are good again. Only for it all to happen over again.

It really upsets me too that they never have a real conversation where they actually talk about what’s going on, and that there is no indication that anything will ever change between them (aside from Snotlout’s character growth and his new complete understanding of his self worth and the fact that he can live his life outside of the box Spitelout’s created for him.

Thank you so much for this dude this is insane

[howlingday]

My idea for a potential DEATH BATTLE! #5

2023, October 18, 19, 20, 27

Link to the fourth post: https://www.tumblr.com/donotmindme1/731349657571278848/my-idea-for-a-potential-death-battle-4-2023?source=share

Master list: https://www.tumblr.com/donotmindme1/731003687600881664/mind-what-you-do?source=share

Korra vs Delsin Rowe (Avatar vs inFamous)

They're the second legends in line!

Fighter 1: Korra, the continuing spirit of the Avatar cycle.

Fighter 2: Delsin Rowe, the accomplishing Akomish Second Son.

Wiz: Many of us aspire to live up and uphold the legacies of our predecessors.

*insert clips of Miles Morales & Peter Parker, Deku & All Might, Ruby Rose & Summer Rose, Batman & his Robins*

Boomstick: However, just because they're tough acts to follow up shouldn't discourage you from making your own path. He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick.

Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.

PREFACE: I am wasting my time writing this. I should be working on an important project. I wanted to write an idea that suits the chilly weather of autumn to serve as a nice gateway into other MUs. I played inFamous Second Son during the last three months of 2021 and I fell in love with the gameplay. Being able to scale the buildings of Seattle with Conduit powers, doing drug busts, and saving innocent people really gave me a sense of power. I am sure I am not the only one who was disappointed when Season 8 announced Korra vs Storm due to how unbalanced the powers are between the two (however, I enjoyed the episode, mainly Storm doing the Moses and Wheather the Elements). So, now that Cole made his debut on the show, we can finally let Delsin have his time in the spotlight. Besides, I think that Korra vs Delsin is a more fitting MU, and you'll see why later on. Also, I will mainly be using True Hero Delsin (Good Karma) as it is the canon ending. I'll consider Infamous Delsin (Bad Karma) separately as it does affect the fight.

WHY:

Connections:

1. Both carry on the legacy of a famous protagonist who was able to control multiple forms of matter (Aang and Cole McGrath).

2. Both are capable of manipulating at least 4 different forms of matter (Korra has Earth, Fire, Air, and Water; Delsin has Smoke, Neon, Video, and Concrete) due to a physiological trait (Korra has the spirit of the Avatar, allowing her chi to pass through all of her body better than the rest and manipulate the elements; Delsin has a Conduit gene that lets him obtain the abilities of other Conduits upon extensive contact and draining Core Relays).

3. Both started their journeys being childish and/or immature but through their actions and strife, rose above and became better people and consequently, better idols and saviors.

Personal reasons: I wanted this to be Korra's MU during Season 8, but alas, it was not to be. More than anything, I want them to react to each other's powers. Delsin would ask Korra if her conduit gene is like his but better since she doesn't need to absorb matter to change her powers and Korea asks about how the heck is he manipulating light and becoming invisible. After all, conduit powers and bending are different in their manifestation, how they manipulate the environment, and more importantly, how they interact with each other.

THE FIGHT:

Art and animation: The animation will most likely be 2D like all Avatar fights, but the dream is to have it be a 3D battle with fluid movement and lots of different camera angles. The animation from Korra vs Storm is good for Korra, so reusing it would benefit her, but Delsin tends to fight from afar using his projectiles. While he does have dashes, his chain, Comet Drop, and some support abilities, Delsin is mainly a ranged fighter, and the 3D team works best with characters that have a wide assortment of abilities, especially ones used in midair or while running. However, to be able to get the most out of both worlds, the fight is best in 2D, and it's not like Cole was limited to ranged combat in his fight. It could really go either way and still be great regardless, and that's honestly the best part. I really want this fight to be a finale so it could be a long fight with lots of pretty stuff to gawk at, especially since Spiritbending, Neon, and Video allow for flashy maneuvers.

Possible setup:

In a metropolitan area, the Second Son is doing stencil art dedicated to his dear brother. "Man, I miss you, Reggie."

"Hey! You can't paint the walls of this city!" Delsin sighs. He misses his brother, but not his overly bureaucratic attitude. As he turns around and puts down the spray paint, he sees Korra who is looking a little stern. "Hey, there. Isn't art a form of self-expression? I'm building a masterpiece here, and it'll be my gift to the world."

"That's fair, but you're painting on public property. Unless you have a permit to do so, step away from graffiti." Korra was a little miffed. The graffiti looked cool, and it looked to be a dedication to a departed soul, but duty calls. Besides, it's just graffiti, not a murder or kidnapping. If he refuses, however, she can have her way.

"Who are you, the fun police? I'm not hurting anyone." It's like dear Reggie was still with him: being a pain and not letting him have his fun.

Korra smirked. "Fun? Oh, I'll show you fun." She got into a fighting stance. Hey, if you're having fun on the job, good for you, right? It's been a boring day of patrolling, so she's itching for entertainment.

"Oh."

FIGHT! :

1. As it turns out, she was nothing like Reggie. Korra firebends at Deals and catches him off guard. However, Delsin absorbs the smoke, unharmed. This causes Korra to look puzzled. "Wait, how did he- He barely moved." She then attempts to earthbend, summoning rising pillars, but Delsin smoke dashes away. "How did you do that?" Korra had never seen someone turn into smoke before. Maybe she should ask him how to do that.

2. "I'm a conduit. I mean, aren't you one?" Delsin starts to use Smoke Shot as he moves around, but they're easily dodged and dispersed with more earthbending. "I'm the Avatar, master of all the elements." "Is that right?" Delsin uses a smoke dash to sneak up on Korra from behind and tosses a Sulfur Bomb.

3. The Sulfur Bomb explodes, but Korra just rolls up to Delsin and engages him directly. Delsin tries to punch her and use his smoke-imbued chain, but all his attacks are evaded or blocked. Korra roughs up Delsin, punching him in the face, kneeing him in the stomach, etc. Delsin drops another Sulfur Bomb that leaves Korra coughing, and attempts to subdue her.

4. Korra bends away the ash and sulfur and launches Delsin into a building using waterbending. Delsin is able to recover and takes the high ground through a smoke vent. On the roof, he shoots a Cinder Missile. Korra is able to notice and puts out the Missile before it hits. "Wait, she didn't drain water." Come to think of it, she was able to use fire and then the cement beneath. Is her Conduit gene better than his? Korra starts to airbend projectiles and Delsins fires Smoke Shots (like Might Guy's Morning Peacock vs All Might's air punches). Korra then firebends her way to Delsin and delivers a powerful kick, sending him flying.

5. Delsin crashes onto another building, but drains the neon from the nearby signs. Noticing some injured civilians, Delsin starts to heal them, earning him Good Karma. As Korra rushes in, Delsin rushes her first due to his Neon Dash. "Wait, are you a Spiritbender!?" She's good up close, but it doesn't matter if she can't hit him. He strikes her with his chain, but Korra grabs it and uses a powerful earthbending punch on him. Delsin Neon Dashes away. "Oh, no you don't!" She knows that he has powerful ranged attacks, so she needs to be close to him. She gets on an air scooter and chases after him as she shoots air at him, chasing him to near a spirit portal.

6. Delsin is able to outrun Korra and fires a stasis bubble. Korra uses a firebending soccer kick on the bubble, punting it away. Delsin runs before he's hit with his own bubble (he doesn't seem to be affected by it in-game, however). He then rushes up to Korra who attempts to strike him, but he instead rushes past her and fires a phosphor beam, successfully hitting her and knocking her off balance, and successfully uses a stasis bubble. He attempts to obtain more powers, but he feels nothing. "What..? Then how..? You must not be a Prime Conduit." Korra gets back up in fiery fashion and Delsin employs hit-and-run tactics, firing phosphor and neon beam, but Korra is able to block with her bending. She then does Zuko's "breakdance" and catches Delsin off-guard.

7. Delsin quickly heals by absorbing video from a nearby TV. He then uses Video Torrent. Korra simply dodges and attempts to get in close, but Delsin strikes using his longsword, damaging Korra a fair amount. He then uses Bloodthirsty Blades. Korra dashes away, but is unable to avoid the blades, so she destroys one with a fireball, another by raising a stone wall, and the last one by creating an ice structure. Korra is then attacked by a... Is that a spirit!? Whatever it is, it has wings, metal plating, and is currently shooting a laser. Korra dodges and bends water and freezes the spirit, but it... Disappears into wisps of light... These are not like the spirits she knows, but she is then pushed and pinned to the ground by smaller swords. Delsin appears out of thin air. "How did you do that!?" "A friend lent me his powers, you could say." Ok, that is NOT how bending works. Using a combination of earth, wind, and fire, Korra frees herself by creating a crater underneath her, enters the Avatar State, and then bends the concrete around Delsin, encasing him in a shell, and bends him to her. He's a fire bender and a spirit bender, but he is not the Avatar.

8. Delsin absorbs the concrete before being fully encapsulated and does his boulder dash. He starts to engage Korra, but she is nimble enough to dodge. Korra then gets an idea and starts to make her way to the spirit portal. Delsin starts to climb on top of a building and does a Comet Drop, doing his pose on the Second Son cover art, and he starts to fire concrete shrapnel and a concrete barrage, but Korra instead redirects them. However, Korra gets a leg up and is able to use bending to get Delsin into the Spirit World and she enters.

9. In the Spirit World, Delsin is taken aback due to the colors and... weird animal things... He doesn't get to gawk for long as Korra makes her bombastic entrance. However, she firebends at Delsin who promptly absorbs the smoke, but he's starting to struggle and to get hurt so he smoke dashes away

10. Korra wins by overwhelming and overpowering Delsin. Since they are in the Spirit World, Korra becomes stronger, and in the Avatar State, she is in no need to wait for Delsin to exhaust himself. Even as he tries to distance himself and use his sulfur bombs and sulfur headshots, the Avatar is easily able to bend them away. She then is able to unleash a powerful bending attack that overwhelms Delsin and he blacks out, thinking of Reggie. After Korra finishes the job, she exits the Avatar State. "That was fun, but I'm sorry. I hope you find you and your departed family can reunite here". She then bows to her opponent. She's fiery and hotheaded, but she's still empathetic.

11. Delsin wins by being able to stall Korra and connect a successful attack. The fire is hurting him, but if he keeps his distance, all it serves is to fuel and heal him. He gets in a good sulfur headshot, briefly stunning Korra and leaving her coughing again. He then tosses another sulfur bomb, leaving Korra coughing more. He then does his Orbital Drop, but as he reaches the apex, Korra bends away the smoke and then launches herself, attempting one last attack. They meet halfway, and after a noticeable explosion, both are left on the ground, Delsin tired, and Korra dead. Korra, in her last moments, apologizes to her friends and family for being able to say goodbye. Delsin recollects himself, and upon returning to the Human World, finishes his graffiti of Reggie. However, we see him painting another mural, and he says "Say hi to my brother for me". He then turns to leave, and we see a mural of Korra, reading "Dedicated to the Avatar."

RESULT:

Strengths and weaknesses:

Korra:

+ Physically stronger and more durable.

+ More experienced.

+ Has superior training.

+ Easier access to her elemental manipulation.

= Firebending and Earthbending fuel Delsin, but Smoke and Concreted are easily negated.

- Energybending cannot negate the Conduit Gene.

- Energybending cannot manipulate Video or Neon.

- Is vulnerable to suffocation. When she was poisoned as she was. suffocating, the Avatar State only held off the poison and not the suffocation.

- Can be immobilized via the stasis.

Delsin Rowe:

+ Can heal from firebending and earthbending.

+ Has a healing factor.

+ Is likely faster with Neon.

+ Neon allows for fast attacks, and the stasis bubbles are immobilizing.

+ Infamous Delsin has easy access to instant kill options.

= Firebending and Earthbending fuel him, but Smoke and Concrete attacks are negated.

- Untrained in physical combat.

- Physically far weaker and faster. Is also slower without Neon or Video.

- Is not immune to fire when using smoke or to earth when using concrete.

- Cannot access all his elements at will.

- Draining a power source leaves him vulnerable.

- There's no evidence to say that he can resist being immobilized by being surrounded/encased in concrete like he did to Augustine.

- Cannot obtain bending powers as they are spiritual and not genetic. Even then, he'd need Core Relays and blast shards to be able to get any use of his newfound abilities and to be able to absorb any other element.

Ending puns:

"The Avatar's victory was elemental."

"Delsin got a concrete victory."

MUSIC:

Name: "Four Infamous Elements"

The title makes reference to both combatants' abilities to manipulate four elements or states of matter as well as the inFamous game series' name. Brandon Yates used Second Legends for his commissioned track, so I cannot use it.

Art: The art would depict Delsin's chain forming a circle imbued with Raava. One half would have Korra's elements spiraling outwards. The other half would have Delsin's elements spiraling inward, forming a Yin Yang. The center of the circle would have a gene symbol like that of the Second Son power skill tree on the side of Korra's elements and the symbol of Raava on the side of Delsin's elements.

Sound: the start of the music is that of the Second Son main theme and it plays during the initial confrontation. The music is kicked up a notch when Korra first attacks, where the sound shifts to be more Avatar-centered, but with some hip-hop elements, and even has parts and bits that sound like Second Legends as a callback, much like Final Formersr referenced Deceptive Tyrants. As the battle gets closer to its climax, the sound is that of the main theme of Avatar, but with a mix of Asian instruments and rock instrumentation.

Holy cow, I love doing this one! Especially imagining the track and its art due to the possibilities of symbolism.

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS!

---------------------------------------------------

Ooh, another interesting match-up! Although, to be honest, I already have my doubts as to how this plays out. Great fight idea, though!

URBAN SPRAWL

Honestly, the Avatar fights have been kinda meh in Death Battle, usually because they've all been so one-sided (except for the first, Toph v Gaara).

I really like the premise of the fight and how it plays out. Unfortunately, I gotta give it to Korra here for one reason; resource. Korra can bend anything from anywhere with little limit on where. Delsin, however, has very specific sources from which he can draw his power, such as his concrete abilities can only be drawn from conduit enforcers gifted with the same powers.

Still, though, it would be a pretty neat fight.

[mizziix]

@bedofherteeth​ Tch... you’ve activated my trap card. You absolute fool.

Putting this under a readmore just in case it gets long, because I’m on PC now and can do that!

For those that missed it, this is Andrei Nichols, 7th Generation Lasombra Elder who has no idea that’s what he is.

For some further context, the game that he’s in is a straight up ERP game. Some people in the game treat it exactly like that, a chance to just have some of their powerful OC’s meet and bang like you’re browsing Meet’N’Fuck games. More power to them, but me and my friends in the server are what’s known as slightly insane. 

Within this game, one of the first scenes he did was, well technically the first one was meet’n’fuck a vampire milf, milfpire if you will. This is an ERP game. However, at every opportunity the fact has been emphasized that he is creepy. He lives in a completely abandoned, dilapidated apartment building. It’s always cold there, and no matter how many people you enter with it always feels like you are hauntingly alone. Everything is watching you even though nothing is there. It has managed to unnerve other vampires and even seasoned mages, one of which I’ll explain later he’s important. The other vital element here is that, again, Andrei is aware of exactly none of it. He is confused why more people don’t visit unless invited, he doesn’t know why he doesn’t have neighbors, and it’s actually left vague if he’s even paying rent to a landlord or he just thinks he does. He’s called the plumber about the fact that his shower doesn’t spray water but instead the cold black nothingness of the Abyss, but they didn’t show up. Eventually he stopped calling as, well, it cleans him well enough. All of his clothes and towels in the room kept getting stained with old, rotting black blood though, so he’s learned to just leave all cloth outside of the room while he’s showering. You get used to it.

He also collects things, just idly. At the recommendation of the aforementioned milfpire and the soon to be mentioned Mage he’s begun to spice up his rather drab apartment. So, he has a few pretty flags up, he’s strung up some lights, and over most surfaces he has various nicknacks scattered around. Cool things he’s gathered in the city, more than one of these are magical artifacts. However, he’s not a Tremere nor a Wizard, so he has no idea. You might be noticing a theme here.

Also Playstation games! He collects old Playstation games, the good and especially the bad.

The most important interactions he has so far are with two mages, one played by my boyfriend and the other played by @bloodtreachery​, the Hermetic mage Adeptus Maior Artixano le Bateleur bani Criamon, Entertainer of the Ephemeral, Storyteller of the Elemental Cycles, Wanderer of the Nine Worlds, and Tapestry of Tales Yet to Be Told. Andrei just calls him Artixano, or Artie. The long and short of it is that these two are coworkers, have been for years at this point. They work at the magical femboy hooters mentioned in my last post, a free use tea house run by my boyfriend’s character. It’s a wild ride.

Artixano came by to Andrei’s place to chat, hang out, play some games, and deliver some gifts. They ended up playing Crash Bash Haberdash, a hat based cart racing game that absolutely sucked. So they stopped doing that, and through some flirting Artixano got Andrei to play dress up for him, modeling some clothes he had bought. This server being what it is, after Andrei stripped he didn’t make it to the first dress before they were making out.

This is where I have to re-emphasize something.

Even if he’s not aware of his past, Andrei is still a Lasombra elder on the Road of Kings. From the START, the MOMENT he was out of his clothes he was scheming on how to defeat Artixano in a battle of seduction. What does that mean? How does that even work? You obviously don’t understand.

For the sake of everyone I will refrain from recounting the details, but safe to say Artixano did pick up on the invisible battle of wits and dicks going on here, once he started teasing Andrei and Andrei started to fight back it was on. 

The rest of the scene was the most calculated sex scene either of us had ever written, it wasn’t about having fun (even though it was) it was a chess match of planning, maneuvering, and outplaying your opponent. The entire time we were joking that L’s theme from Death Note was playing in both of their heads even though neither of them had said that this was actually a challenge. There were Dune levels of Machiavellian plans within plans within plans going on while these two were having anal sex.

It all ended with one of them winning. It was never stated who won. They will forever disagree on the conclusion.

[goatsandgangsters]

shadow and bone episode 7: suddenly the kudos emails I’ve been getting from ao3 make a lot of sense

also you know what was NOT on my bingo card for this season? getting CONTENT for my TINY LITTLE RAREPAIR DOMINIKOLAI HEART?? 

previous liveblogs should you require more thoughts yelling flailing etc

……okay one more belated comment on episode 6, because I was so floored by the existence of dominik and the intense homoerotic eye contact that I forgot to process dominik calling young nikolai a “quiet wisp.” dominik. dominik he has undiagnosed adhd. they hired you as a whipping boy because it was the only way they could think to make him sit still or shut up dominik. dominik he merrily chattered your ear off for your entire childhood dominik. he recreationally caused explosions with you dominik.

OKAY! HOLD ON! THAT INTRO! A BODY OF WATER BEING FROZEN AROUND A ROCK??????? HAVE MY DEMON IN THE WOOD PRAYERS BEEN ANSWERED? DID I JUST NEED TO BE PATIENT??????????? are we perhaps going to tie the destruction of Keramzin into his own childhood trauma, thus linking together these two events as a loss of innocence and commentary on the cycles of violence wrought from the desperation Ravka creates? is that too much to hope for?

“The tracker is not to be touched by anyone other than me” oh is THAT why my ao3 email every day has a SIZABLE CHUNK of kudos on my Malarkling fic? I’ve been wondering at that one getting more attention than I expected, I really didn’t think it was gonna have much readership

I really like the costume design for his grisha, the richer gem tones are really nice

I knew I’d have to see it based on the episode title, but oh my godddddd do I really need to see this flashback again? it was in THE FIRST FOUR EPISODES of season 1! every single episode! burn it down aleks I have seen this meadow way too many goddamn times

OH OKAY. MALARKLING TETHER SCENE????????? I understand the kudos emails, I understand the kudos emails. “I knew there was something I liked about you,” he said, like a liar. or maybe he’s not lying, we all saw that electricity in season 1. oh my god. the wheezy fucking laugh of disbelief I just made. “DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU’RE THE ONE IN CONTROL HERE”???????? I understand why I’m getting so many kudos now on my kinky Malarkling smut, I understand it.

Ben, I think this is more than 10 book lines you squeezed in. anyway, “you have a bad habit of acting the fool and calling it heroic” IS an underrated book line, thank you Ben for your service and your post-it note covered books and your list of favorite quotes

stop calling each other cousin, it’s weird. IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK LIKE 40 ENTIRE GENERATIONS UNTIL YOU HIT YOUR COMMON ANCESTOR, I DON’T THINK IT ACTUALLY COUNTS AS COUSINS. I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE RELATED IF YOU GO BACK THAT FAR.

like obviously we know his prime motivation is not wanting alina to have enough power to tear down the fold, but I DO actually like that he’s arguing from the angle of “what’s going to happen to her without you” because. like. yeah. it’s good, it’s that thing he does where even when he’s arguing for his own ends, he’s NOT WRONG about what he’s saying. he’s using something totally true to make his point. he knows exactly what losing someone important will do to a person. let’s revisit those mal luda parallels we were making in season 1 with this new content/context

I really just don’t know why, of all the people on this show, Archie and Ben have more sexual tension than any other pair of characters. none of the canon ships can hold a candle to …. whatever these two are doing anytime they’re on screen together

RETROACTIVE PREFACE TO THIS BULLET POINT: I wrote this whole spiel about Appreciating The Ambiguity Of Nikolai and Alina’s Relationship, only for that to immediately dissolve a scene later, BUT WHATEVER, HERE WERE MY FEELINGS: I’m really pleased by how they’re doing Nikolai and Alina’s relationship this season. I love that the exact nature of their dynamic is sort of open to interpretation with what/if there are Feelings Feelings, but the trust and warmth and genuine friendship between them is still palpable. like, I have A LOT of feelings about these two and I’m in the “queerplatonic soulmate” camp with them, the “love has many forms and sometimes love is stronger if it’s not romantic” camp, but in a very adamant THAT ISN’T LESSER THAN IF I SHIPPED IT ROMANTICALLY way, like I am DEEPLY FEELINGS about them, because I think they see through each other and understand each other intrinsically. they’re both characters who have been given A Role To Play as a figurehead and I think that when they’re together that’s the one space where they can set those roles aside and find comfort with the only one who really understands the weight of Being A Figurehead (and I think too much emphasis on romantic pining would get in the way of allowing them that vulnerability with each other, and I like The Vulnerability Space more than I like Romance). I’ve never Queerplatonically Shipped something this passionately, but god I have feelings in my hEART about them!! and I like that canon sort of…. lets you go shippy if you want to go shippy, and it lets me go Queerplatonic Soulmate because I want to go Queerplatonic Soulmate

I’m Fucking Feelings About This Scene, they’re both so good, THEY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER SO MUCH EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE ONLY KNOWN EACH OTHER A SHORT WHILE!!!

me, writing an entire paragraph about how I like that the show kept the nikolina relationship ambiguous. dominik, five seconds later: sO THOSE ROMANTIC FEELINGS YOU HAVE. me: god fucking dammit. you two, kiss instead. it’s time to make nikolai lantsov canonically bisexual. the people have waited long enough.

okay well as long as I’m paused to tell you My Many Many Headcanons About The Delicate Ambiguity of Nikolai’s Love Life: despite me yelling KISS, my actual default interpretation of Dominikolai is not childhood sweethearts but that there was either a) pining that never got acted on, and then it was too late, or b) nikolai not even realizing until he’s older and dominik’s long dead that in retrospect, Those Were Feelings, bc I think that’s a very first queer love mood. anyway, I will be choosing to interpret dominik asking after alina as being infused with some jealousy, because poor dominik has been quietly carrying a torch for Years  

DOMINIK IS CLEARLY IN LOVE WITH HIM, LOOK AT THIS EXCHANGE. “a king who won’t shut up.” feelings about it, thank you!! much as I have fun with nikolai’s self-aggrandizing humor, I do love that the self-aggrandizement is covering for his very self-deprecating inner monologue

Mal fixing the thing that’s clanking by retying the rope is SUCH a good quiet character moment, it’s the kind of quiet character moment I love, it’s one of those small little actions with a character alone that tells you so much about them, I LOVE THAT WE’RE TAKING MORE TIME FOR QUIET CHARACTER MOMENTS THIS SEASON, I LOVE THAT DESPITE DOING THREE ENTIRE BOOKS WE’RE GIVING THE STORY MORE BREATHING ROOM

this long shot of mal’s face while hugging nikolai has got me like ;____; ARCHIE IS REALLY GOOD, he’s doing “man heading willingly to the gallows” SO fucking well!!!!!

“then I met you and for the very first time I thought this is the life”? oh, we’re even feeding the malolais this episode (malolai? is that accurate? sounds better than nikmal). crumbs for ALL the multishippers of Ravka!

nikolai’s face like “iiiiiiiii also envy Sturmhond’s life. oh god, mY PATH IS ALSO SET. OH GOD.” you can watch in real-time as Mal’s talking that Nikolai is having a whole-ass realization that he’s actually king now oh god

THE “DESERVE HER” HITTIN REAL HARD NOW THAT I ACTUALLY LIKE MAL. god, I will say, “you can’t win unless you kill your love personally” is one HELL of a fucking trope. that is narratively delicious. that is juicy as fuck. but the question remains: do we actually follow through on this emotional set up? or will it all be a convenient bait and switch? Will We Be Brave Enough To Stick To Our Narrative Stakes?

David is So Fucking Cute

oh don’t stop his heart for two minutes, that’s CHEATING! it’s ALWAYS BEEN CHEATING! if you set up emotional stakes and then TAKE A SHORTCUT AROUND THEM, you are SHORT-CHANGING THE WEIGHT OF YOUR OWN NARRATIVE!

“SO WHAT SHOULD WE AMPUTATE” oh david. you’re iconic.

hm. turning Epilogue Narration into Dialogue. that’s Suspicious. are we….. are we perhaps………. making the brave writing choice?

OHHHHH WE’RE TURNING NIKOLAI’S INNER MONOLOGUE INTO A DRAMATIC ROUSING SPEECH, I’M HAVING FEELINGS ABOUT IT!!!!!!

god there are truly SO MANY book lines in this season, WAY MORE than season 1. it’s making me glad I have as good a memory as I do for Sentences. because I’m constantly like AYYY THAT LINE. AAYY!! THAT LINE!!!! AYYYYYYY THAT LINE!!!!!!

my boy my beautiful boy my beautiful perfect boy, I love him so much

also are we gonna have time to volcrafy him? is that coming soon?

“that your religion would deny you satisfaction” “there is other satisfaction” and on that day pekkathias was born and everyone felt confused about it

“HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED” kjshdfgkjhfdg god Archie’s comedic timing / dark humor is SO good this season

“fOR REAL NOW” how is this scene simultaneously so funny and so Deeply Uncomfortably Emotional

AND THE STAKES ARE RAISED

Dominik helping an injured Nikolai along :3333333

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, “DOMINIKOLAI CONTENT” WAS NOT SOMETHING I EXPECTED I’D BE EXPERIENCING. DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING. I know Nikolai mentioned a Dominik a couple episodes ago but I was like “don’t put your clown shoes on, it’s just a guy with the same name” but for once! for ONCE! the shoes were not clown shoes. and here I thought I was gonna have to use that guy from the WWI period drama Paddy did in order to make a very niche Dominikolai gifset. NOPE, I CAN JUST GIF THE GODDAMN SHOW! insane! this is insane to me!

Vladim having an amplifier tattoo instead of bone is a really cool concept

also cool concepts: 1. expanding the fold to cover your battleground, THAT IS A FUCKING STAKE THAT YOU ARE RAISING, I’m extremely excited about it 2. the nichevo’ya popping up and grabbing the volcra by the throat, I love it. this escalation is exciting as hell.

[Volcra munching] OH I LOVE NETFLIX SUBTITLES. NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS [TENTACLES SQUELCHING WETLY] OR [OMINOUS SYNTH MUSIC] BUT YOU DO LOVE TO SEE IT

that now that was an ENTRANCE Inej!!!

“BIG FAN” I love Nina

“NO NO NO NO NO! NO HEROICS!” have you ever seen a man more in love than Dominik I-didn’t-catch-whatever-last-name-the-show-gave-him?

TAMAR AND NIKOLAI HUG!!!! one of my beefs with the later books is that there’s not enough…. friendship between Nikolai and the twins. BUT THERE SHOULD BE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY.

Zhaban siblings Squalling together with each of them having only one good arm is Really Good, and I might have to finally forgive Adrik for the crime of being super annoying in King of Scars

Dominikolai shooting together is Really Good, and I don’t know what crime it’s going to make me forgive, but I’ll find one and assign that as my recompense. lack of Oncat, maybe.

me every single time Dominik does Literally Anything in this fight sequence: no don’t be a hero, you’ve already been doomed by the narrative from the start!!!! I know I’m going to watch you die in Nikolai’s arms, I just don’t know WHEN

has anyone in the history of storytelling ever said “cover me” in a heterosexual way? I Think Not

watching Lewis Tan do stunts is EXACTLY as beautiful as I’ve heard. he really does have a beautiful fluid way of moving

THIS COUNTRY GETS YOU IN THE END BROTHER!!!!! SOLDIERS DID NOT CRY, PRINCES DID NOT WEEP, NIKOLAI KNEW THIS, BUT THE TEARS FELL ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you’d allow me to put on my literary analysis hat for a moment, I will say that I do think it’s thematically more important that Dominik was originally killed on the Fjerdan front, because it taught Nikolai the ordinary everyday ongoing horrors of Ravka, and the casual violence and loss of life that everyone is subjected to. It’s important that Dominik represents the “every man” killed in the mud and bleeding in the snow, as so many have. That he was just one more death of many—on a regular day, in a regular war, not even particularly noteworthy except to the one person who cared about him—in an endless and ongoing war that treated the entire country as cannon fodder. if you’d allow me to take off my literary analysis hat for a moment, I will say I CANNOT BELIEVE I GOT A MINI-DOMINIKOLAI ARC ON MY ACTUAL TV SCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

…………david what ARE you doing DAVID YOU DON’T DIE UNTIL RULE OF WOLVES, DAVID WHAT ARE YOU DOING DAVID DAVID DAVID DAVID DAVID

if you’d allow me to put on my literary analysis hat for a moment, I will say that I do think it’s thematically more important that David was originally killed BY FJERDAN BOMBERS, THUS DEMONSTRATING THE SENSELESS ONGOING VIOLENCE OF RAVKA’S WARS—

I am actually going to give props for the camera lingering on Enemy Inferni dying and the other two being gutted about it. most things don’t usually show The Bad Guys mourning their losses, I am going to give a point for that

okay Jesper taking Sankta Neyar’s advice and using his buttons as bullets is Very Good

alright well Dominik’s dead, time to shift into Kazolai mode

augghhhh Nikolai casting that finally look at where Dominik’s lying as they leave, even though he’s out of frame of the camera

we don’t have a lot of time left in this episode, are we going to follow up on the very Demon in the Wood intro sequence, or have I been BAITED AGAIN. hAVE I BEEN DECEIVED. LIED TO. TRICKED. are we not doing that thing I said about the loss of innocence and the cycles of violence, because like, I had a point with that. they need to listen to me, because I have POINTS about THEMES and how to dO STUFF WITH THEM

The visuals on the firebird light streams is VERY good with the red and the wing-like formations

oh god the silence on the end credits oH GOD

anyway, that was some genuinely incredible extended fight choreography that didn’t skimp on the emotional moments in favor of the action, I had a good time

[starseedfxofficial]

The Secret Sauce of the Euro and Swiss Franc: Quarterly Trading Insights Ever feel like Forex trading is a bit like dating? One moment everything is peachy—candles glowing green and your equity rising—and the next, your profits are ghosting you harder than a bad Tinder date. Don't worry, you're not alone. Navigating the tricky waters of the Euro-Swiss Franc pair can feel a lot like a soap opera, but with fewer love triangles and more volatile economic data. So grab a cup of coffee, or better yet, a hearty glass of red, because it's time for some unconventional, insider-level strategies to crack the Euro-Swiss Franc code—quarterly style. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong with EUR/CHF (And How You Can Avoid It) First, let’s talk about a common mistake: trading EUR/CHF without understanding its quarterly rhythm is like buying a flashy convertible without considering the weather. Sure, it's great on a sunny day, but take it out in the middle of a Swiss snowstorm, and you’ll quickly realize your mistake. The Euro-Swiss Franc pair, while not as flashy as others, has a seasonal heartbeat—and it's all about the quarterly cycles. Most traders try to analyze EUR/CHF through a daily or weekly lens, completely ignoring the underlying macroeconomic shifts that often occur on a quarterly basis. It’s like focusing on the minute hand of a clock when the hour hand is what sets the pace. One key factor? The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has this knack for stepping in every quarter, moving the Franc faster than my caffeine-induced heartbeat during NFP Fridays. The Hidden Formula Only Experts Use: Here's the hidden gem—pay attention to quarterly monetary policy reviews and central bank interventions. Traders who track this are often the ones who jump on early trends before the big moves happen. It’s like being the first person at a sample sale—you get the best deals while everyone else is still finding parking. The Hidden Patterns that Drive EUR/CHF Every Quarter Think about EUR/CHF as that well-dressed, mysterious guy at a party—he’s not flashy, but he’s got depth. Traders often overlook the pair because it’s less volatile than others, but the true magic happens quarterly, and not always for the reasons you might think. Here’s Where the Real Magic Happens: Every quarter, the Eurozone releases important economic indicators that tell us how the big guns (Germany, France, etc.) are faring. Combine that with Switzerland's ability to make neutrality and banking secrecy look cool, and you've got a unique relationship. The Swiss Franc tends to behave like an overprotective sibling—whenever the Euro faces trouble, the Franc steps in to stabilize. By understanding how Eurozone growth rates and SNB policies interact, you can almost predict the oscillations—think of it as your quarterly cheat sheet. For instance, during the third quarter of 2023, when the ECB decided to pause rate hikes while the SNB continued a subtle tightening, traders who anticipated a strengthening of the Franc against a weakened Euro made quite a pretty penny. Keeping an eye on contrarian monetary policies each quarter can give you a significant edge—kind of like being the only person who knows when a flash sale is happening in advance. How to Predict EUR/CHF Market Moves with Precision Do you know that feeling when you hit the wrong button in a trade and feel like the whole world is ending? Yep, I’ve been there—more times than I'd care to admit. The good news is, EUR/CHF is far less likely to nosedive like that, given its tendency to move predictably within certain bounds. Yet, therein lies its allure. Predictability doesn’t mean lack of opportunity; it means there’s a hidden quarterly rhythm that savvy traders can exploit. Quarterly Opportunities You Might Be Missing: There is a pattern most traders overlook: the Euro-Swiss Franc carry trade opportunity. While the Swiss Franc usually benefits from a safe-haven status, every now and then, the Euro makes a strong recovery driven by growth data and ECB rhetoric. This is when carrying the Euro long, particularly during the start of a quarter, tends to make a lot of sense. The trick here? Watch for divergences in PMI data between the Eurozone and Switzerland—this acts as a prelude to quarterly trend shifts. Imagine if, in the first quarter, the Eurozone PMI numbers show an unexpected uptick while Switzerland’s GDP stagnates. Boom—you've got your entry point. Enter long on EUR/CHF, hold on as sentiment shifts, and cash out before the ECB rains on the parade with more cautionary tones. Patience pays, and you can finally avoid that dreaded feeling of hitting the wrong button. The Forgotten Strategy That Outsmarted the Pros You know that euphoric feeling of scoring an extra side of guac without the surcharge? That’s what catching a major trend in EUR/CHF feels like when you’re armed with the right information. One highly underrated strategy is focusing on capital inflows during the start of each quarter. Institutional investors, driven by macro themes, tend to adjust their Swiss bond holdings quarterly, especially when yield expectations shift. Tracking these capital flows is easier than you think. Follow reports from institutions like the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). According to a 2023 BIS report, there was a notable increase in capital flowing into Swiss assets during the first quarter—a major clue that EUR/CHF would trend lower. Capital outflow from Swiss bonds? That’s your go signal to look for Euro buying opportunities. If you’re quick enough to catch these quarterly capital movements, you'll be ahead of the pack. The One Simple Trick to Change Your EUR/CHF Trading Mindset Picture this: you’re staring at your charts, and suddenly you feel like a deer caught in headlights because nothing makes sense. The Euro is rallying, the Swiss Franc is following, and you’re wondering which way to go. The solution? Switch your mindset to think like a Swiss banker. No, not the type who hides millions for dubious millionaires—think like the one managing Switzerland’s intricate balance of international exposure. Why It Works: The secret is that the Swiss National Bank actively manages the currency to avoid a too-strong Franc. They don’t want to make exporting chocolate and watches more expensive, after all. If the Euro looks strong at the start of a quarter, there’s a solid chance that the SNB will be watching closely, and if necessary, intervening subtly in the Forex market. Trading in line with the SNB allows you to follow the path of least resistance—a classic strategy where the invisible hand of the central bank becomes your greatest ally. The Contrarian Perspective: The Q4 Fake Out Most traders believe that Q4 is just about seasonal trends and portfolio balancing. But the Euro-Swiss Franc pair often defies this convention. Q4 tends to present a "fake out" for unsuspecting traders—like buying a pair of fancy loafers for a job interview only to realize it’s a virtual one. In Q4, there's usually an initial false rally in the Euro, driven by an uptick in holiday retail expectations. The real key here is not to be faked out. Look for confirmation in Swiss industrial production data, which tends to be released around early November. If it signals weakness, there's a high likelihood that the SNB might intervene to cap Franc appreciation. Be patient here; wait for the Euro's false start to fade, and then short EUR/CHF to capitalize on end-of-year tightening. It’s like letting everyone else grab the marked-up Black Friday deal while you wait for the real clearance. The Swiss Franc’s Quarterly Curveball: Understanding the SNB's Moves You can’t talk about the Swiss Franc without acknowledging that it behaves like a well-behaved student—always cautious, often steady. But once a quarter, the Swiss National Bank likes to throw a curveball. Traders who overlook this are often the ones who wake up to a margin call surprise. The quarterly SNB monetary policy meetings are not just regular updates—they're filled with nuances that can give your trades a major edge. According to Thomas Jordan, the SNB Chairman, during a 2023 Q2 review, the bank would remain “cautiously accommodative.” Translation? They want the Franc to weaken without explicitly saying it. If you pick up on these hints, you can position yourself to profit from the quarterly ups and downs. Always think of the SNB as that watchful parent subtly nudging the economy without raising alarms. How Our Services Can Give You the Edge If navigating the intricate relationship between the Euro and Swiss Franc sounds like decoding ancient hieroglyphs, you’re not alone. It takes insider knowledge, advanced techniques, and perhaps a dash of humor to make sense of these quarterly trends. - Stay informed with the latest market updates, quarterly analysis, and exclusive reports at StarseedFX Forex News Today. - Join our community for daily insights, expert analysis, and those subtle SNB nudges that only the experts recognize at StarseedFX Community. - Plan ahead with a free trading plan to manage quarterly risks and discover rare strategic advantages at Free Trading Plan. The Euro-Swiss Franc relationship can be your secret weapon—armed with these quarterly ninja tactics, you’ll be light years ahead of those still treating this pair like it's just another ticker on the screen. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[otherhazards]

On Migration

There is a lot to be said for staying where you are. Infrastructure, local contacts and relationships, property, familiarity, employment, and so on.

That being said, I have moved several times, and been glad I did. The feeling of welcome or unwelcome in a town/region is something like the pH in a fish tank. You know when the balance is off. People don't like change though, so most tend to stay in unfriendly areas, or bad romantic relationships, etc. far past the point that the serious warning signs begin to appear.

Why do people stay too long and die or get ground down? Partly it's an association of ideas, land=safety and food, and sometimes it's more legitimately spiritual than that. Sometimes it's habit, or pride, or lack of imagination about who else they could be if they were not here, which can be the same thing.

I do know who I could be if I wasn't here, both because I've tried it recently, and other reasons. I fit in everywhere to a point, and nowhere exclusively.

So how do you know when to stay and when to leave? Think about a house on a beach. It starts as a good idea, a good investment. Sunsets, good memories, structurally sound, healthy sea air for the kids, etc. This is thriving. Over time it needs repairs, and this is fine, this is normal. The kids grow up seeing this cycle of seasonal storms and repairs. This is living well. The older generation moves out, or stays while one of the kids moves back home to care for them, and the storms are still coming every five years or so. Then every three, then every other year. There's more upkeep, and it's taking either the produce of the adult kid's working life to maintain the house and their parents, or the parents savings, or a combination of both. This is 'getting by-'. Some financial tipping point is reached, and the house on the beach becomes the only real extra project the family can afford. The budget for other fun things, financial safety margins, etc go first, then the existing manageable debt starts being juggled in more serious ways. This is hanging on. From here it gets worse, and whether the people in the house stay until the sea literally takes the beach sand out from under it, or whether a financial institution gets it by default, no amount of hard work or financial gymnastics is ever going to make staying at this point a good long term decision.

This works for social, and political situations too. Stay because you love a place, make a difference there, engage with the other people, build communities… but pay attention to whether all the work is being done on your side, or if people are meeting you halfway. Are they meeting you even partway? Do they happily talk to everyone in the grocery line except you, and then clam up and avoid eye contact as they say the canned mercantile greetings? Are there jobs in the area offering a sustainable wage to specifically you? Is there a dangerous water quality problem, or a history of frequent electrical blackouts in this area? How many churches are in the town, and do people from different churches have much social contact? Do they have any non religious friends? How do different races interact? For a start, is there more than one culture and/or skin color living there at all…? I don't mean practice hyper-vigilance here, but It's important to keep the ability to see the warning signs if they do occur, even after living in an area for a long time.

Around 1600, a number of my relatives immigrated to what is now northern Germany because the king of Sweden at the time expelled the Catholics.

In the late 19th century, another branch of relatives immigrated to the US from southwest England when the living-wage jobs in the mining industry there began to dry up.

There are so many other stories. Every family branch, every time, there are people who came in from Outside, sometimes intending to return, some eagerly, some cursing the necessity, but so far as I know none of them ever moved back.

So when do you pick up, and Go?

Stay as long as you want to, or as long as you can live, not just exist for years while waiting for conditions to get better 'someday'. Whichever of these conditions gives out first, That's when you should go.

[currents-of-change]

Currents of Change — Part 1: Beyond the Waves: The Ocean in Constant Motion

When people think of the ocean, they often picture waves rolling onto the beach. But beneath the surface, the ocean is a powerful, dynamic force, constantly in motion in ways we rarely see. Two of the most important players shaping our world’s climate are the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Gulf Stream — and they don’t just move water, they impact weather, ecosystems, and economies.

What is the AMOC?

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a massive system of ocean currents that works much like a conveyor belt, moving warm water from the tropics up to the North Atlantic. This warm water travels via the Gulf Stream, which flows along the eastern coast of the United States before crossing the Atlantic. When it reaches colder northern waters, the warm water cools, sinks, and flows back south at deeper levels. This cycle, moving both warm and cold water, helps regulate global temperatures, particularly in Europe and North America.

Without the AMOC, the UK and Ireland wouldn’t just be experiencing cooler winters — they would be facing climates similar to those much further north. The AMOC is a major reason Europe enjoys relatively mild winters for its latitude.

The AMOC’s VIP Treatment: Why Europe Has It Easier Than Canada

The AMOC provides what could be described as climate “VIP treatment” to parts of Europe, especially the UK and Ireland. The Gulf Stream, a critical part of the AMOC, transports warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, making winters in places like London far more pleasant than their counterparts at similar latitudes.

Let’s take a lighthearted look at this: London sits at about the same latitude as Calgary, Alberta, yet the experiences of these cities during winter couldn’t be more different. While Londoners debate whether they need a jacket, Calgarians are layering up to survive icy temperatures. Similarly, Dublin, Ireland, with its occasional rainy days, benefits from the Gulf Stream’s warmth, while St. John’s, Newfoundland, experiences a much harsher, frostier reality — despite sitting at nearly the same latitude.

So why is Europe getting all this warm love from the ocean, while Canada’s left out in the cold? The AMOC’s warm tropical waters act like a blanket for Western Europe, protecting it from the freezing conditions its Canadian counterparts endure. Without the AMOC, much of Europe would feel like the Arctic tundra!

How Do These Currents Shape the Environment?

The AMOC and Gulf Stream don’t just impact the climate — they shape marine ecosystems and even influence industries. These currents support rich biodiversity, helping transport nutrients and providing suitable conditions for a variety of marine species. They also moderate weather patterns, supporting agriculture, tourism, and fishing industries.

In Europe, the warmth delivered by the AMOC allows for longer growing seasons and more temperate weather, supporting a range of economic activities that would be much harder to sustain in colder climates. Meanwhile, in North America, the Gulf Stream plays a key role in stabilizing weather and marine life along the eastern seaboard.

Why Are These Currents So Important?

While waves are the most visible sign of ocean movement, the slow, steady flow of the AMOC and Gulf Stream is what really drives climate and environmental stability. These currents regulate global temperatures, support marine ecosystems, and even help determine how we live and work. If they were to slow down or stop, the impacts would be catastrophic — particularly for Europe and the North Atlantic.

But for now, the AMOC keeps moving, quietly ensuring that winter in London isn’t quite like winter in Calgary. And as we continue this series, we’ll explore more about how even small changes in these currents could have profound impacts on our world.

[midwestbramble]

Harvest New Moon

The lunar cycle, for me, starts with the new moon (sometimes referred to as the dark moon). This is a time for looking inward, cleansing, banishing, and divination. With this new moon being the beginning of the Harvest moon cycle (the full moon closest to the autumn equinox is called the harvest moon) and it's being in Virgo, there are specific activities I add to my ritual routine.

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Content:

New Moon in Virgo

Cleansing

Planning

The Ancestors

The Harvest

Conclusion

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New Moon in Virgo

Astrologically, the new moon is when the moon is conjunct the sun in a way that there is no light reflecting off it. This lunar cycle will be all about getting your life in order. The practical Virgo makes this moon a great time for analyzing and untangling the tangible parts of our lives.

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Cleansing

The day of is a big cleaning day. I use magical cleaners I make and wipe down the whole house. I take energetic stock of the space and do any additional cleansings as needed or banishings as needed. My altars and shrines all get taken down and wiped clean before being put back together, burning an autumn incense to bring in those working energies and changing out the card for the lunation. Checking my wards and re-establishing any as needed is next.

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Planning

My bullet journal goes by lunar cycle instead of months. Once the lunar cycle is over, I reflect on what has passed. I make note of any important dreams, spells done and results, celebrations held, goals accomplished, and general high lights. Then I move on to the next lunar cycle.

The first thing I do is look at the lunation chart for this cycle. How it compares to my natal chart can tell me how the energies for this cycle will affect me specifically. Then I pull an oracle card to represent these energies and give advice. This cycle I’m working with the Seasons of the Witch: Mabon oracle. And based on these energies set my plans. The rest of the journal is set up with a calendar, a page to plan for the full moon, a page for any celebrations I need to plan for, a page for a dream journal, a page for tarot readings, and then my first weekly and daily. The oracle card doubles as a theme for the lunation cycle.

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The Ancestors

That night, I focus on the ancestors. Their altar/shrine was cleared and cleaned during the day. Now I refresh their water and light a candle. This is when I update them on any goings on in the family and the plans I have for the new cycle, thank them for any wisdom or interference they may have had in my life. Sometimes they talk back, sometimes they just listen. The harvest moon cycle, I give them an extra offering: something I've harvested from the garden. Almost all of them at least had a garden, if they weren't farmers of some kind or another.

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The Harvest

This is the lunar cycle I have the most to harvest and preserve in and out of the garden. Throughout the cycle I will be going in and out of bringing in fruits and vegetables, watching over the fall garden sprouts, and composting in place the ones that are done for the season. Each year the garden teaches me a little bit more about the land, and I like to think the land learns a little bit more about me.

-the end of season garden not looking its freshest-

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Conclusion

The new moon, for me, is really about preparing for the next seasonal energies, the spirits that are more active during certain times of year, and the goals my family and I have set for ourselves.

[ivaindia258]

What is Vedic Astrology, and How Does It Differ from Western Astrology? 

For centuries, astrology has fascinated people with its predictions about personality characteristics, destiny, and the world's essence. There are two main categories that individuals participate in: Vedic and Western astrology systems. Each system has its own unique background and operating system. Let's now dive into the realm of Vedic astrology and understand its distinctions from Western astrology.

Getting familiar with Vedic Astrology 

The origins of Jyotish or Hindu astrology, which is also known as Vedic astrology, can be traced back to ancient India. It was featured in the Vedas, which are the oldest sacred texts in Hinduism. It has been in existence for over five thousand years. The term "Jyotish" in Sanskrit directly translates to "science of light," signifying how it deals with the impact of celestial bodies on individuals. 

Vedic astrology's main belief is that our destinies, life journeys, and characteristics can be unveiled at the time of our birth by examining how planets and stars are positioned and moving. The constellation positions are determined by the sidereal zodiac system on which this system is founded. It considers the precession of the equinoxes, which is a slow change in the Earth's axis' position. Due to this, the zodiac signs in Vedic and Western astrology often have conflicting interpretations.

Essentials of Vedic Astrology

1. Nakshatras: According to Vedic astrology, there are 27 nakshatras, or lunar mansions, in the sky. Each nakshatra has distinct traits and effects that enhance an individual's astrological profile to a higher degree. 

2. Dashas: The foundation of Vedic astrology is a system of dashas, or planetary periods, which function at certain points in a person's life. For instance, the Vimshottari Dasha cycle lasts 120 years, during which time each planet has a certain rule. 

3. Ascendant (Lagna): The ascendant, also known as a person's rising sign, is the most important astrological position in Vedic astrology. It alludes to the sign that is rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth, and its location has a significant impact on a person's personality and course in life. 

4. Houses and Planets: The 12-house system used in Vedic astrology is comparable to the houses in Western astrology. Nonetheless, they are associated with a variety of connotations and significance. Each of these residences stands for a different facet of life. Various life events are highlighted by the different positions of the planets in these houses.

Understanding Western Astrology 

Western astrology is an ancient Babylonian tradition influenced by Greek and Roman practices of astrology. It uses essentially a tropical zodiac based upon the seasons and the Earth's orbit around the Sun, with no allowance for sidereal precession of the equinoxes. The basic presumption in this system is that the positions of celestial bodies corresponding to the zodiac are fixed with reference to the season and do not vary with respect to the stars. 

Key Elements of Western Astrology

1. Sun Sign: One of the most emphasized aspects in western astrology is the Sun sign, determined by one's Sun position at birth. It represents a person's central identity or personality. 

2. Houses and Aspects: Similar to Vedic Astrology, houses are computed using the 12-house system, which symbolizes different life affairs. Aspects are considered important and concern the angles that naturally exist between planets. These aspects are helpful in interpreting astrological charts and hence, obviously relate the relationships or relationships and the influence of celestial bodies upon one another. 

3. Elements and Modalities: There are four elements—Fire, Earth, Air, and Water—and three modalities—Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable—which the 12 signs of the zodiac fall into. These classifications help to understand better the essential nature and behavior associated with each sign.

Major Differences Between Vedic and Western Astrology 

1. Zodiac Systems: Of all the variations, the zodiac system is the most noticeable. Whereas Western astrology bases its tropical zodiac on the Earth's orbit around the Sun, Vedic astrology utilizes a sidereal zodiac based on fixed stars. The sidereal and tropical systems have differed in displacement by roughly 23 degrees, which means that an individual's Sun sign in Western astrology may differ from their Vedic astrological sign. 

2. Focus and Emphasis: According to Vedic Astrology, the Moon sign and Ascendant are of premier importance in reading the Mind and Body of a person. In most cases, though, Western astrology lays more emphasis on the Sun sign in projecting the essential nature of an individual. 

3. Predictive Techniques: Using dashas in Vedic astrology to predict life events is one of the greatest features of this system and makes it quite different from Western astrology, which basically works on transits and progressions. This system of dashas gives minute detail of planetary influences throughout one's life.

4. Philosophical Foundations: Vedic Astrology is so closely allied with Hindu philosophy and spirituality that it makes ample use of concepts such as karma and reincarnation; basically, Western astrology, also born from mysticism, tending towards more modern times, begins to lean more towards psychological and personality analysis. 

Conclusion 

Vedic and Western astrology have intriguing input into the cosmic influences in our lives. Both, in their own way, bring forward a different approach and wisdom. From the ancient, spiritual origins of Vedic astrology to seasonally based and personality-oriented Western astrology, researching these systems will help you to find deeper understanding and direction. These two astrological traditions let us know, when looking up at the stars, that the cosmos and our individual journeys are really interconnected in complex and beautiful ways.

[northgateways1]

TOP PACKAGES TO HUNZA VALLEY 2024

Hunza, the other name of Kanjut, is located in the gilgit baltistan region of Pakistan that is northern side of Pakistan. Have you ever experienced the visit to hunza valley in your life?. if not, you are missing the major part of your life. Hunza valley, the most beautiful spot in Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan and also opposite to Nagar valley. You will always find hunza valley at the top list of amazing destinations in Pakistan tours. Tourist really likes the vibe of hunza valley. Although hunza is not a very modern equipped valley, it is very close to its old cultures and norms, but still it has always the perfect spot of tourism for tourists.

Hunza valley is located in the core heart of huge mountain ranges of karakoram. Hunza valley is the perfect destination for the people who wants all in one facility,wants to enjoy the adventure during their trip while having he beautiful sights. Hunza valley tour packages are the most valuable packages in whole Pakistan. Even people from abroad avail these packages and experience the beautiful valley of Pakistan. Having a trip to any place is always a best thing to do but having a trip with beautiful meadows, huge mountains, hearing the sounds of splashing water from the rocks,is the most amazingly managed trip you will ever imagine in your life. And this kind of tour will be given to you by North gateway. We bring you the most fantastic hunza tour packages of 2024. that will include all the tourism spots in hunza valley along with the other facilities.

You don’t have to worry about any other thing, like you can get 1 week tour if you want also you will get just 1 day tour. We have given many options to tourist, they can choose with their own choices. Even you will get specific  destination tour in hunza valley like 1 day trip to nanga parbat base camp. Now lets see what are the top tour packages of hunza valley 2024.

Table of Content

Brief introduction

Valuable packages of hunza valley

Fantastic hunza tour packages by north gateway

Top tour packages of hunza valley

ADVENTOROUS TOUR PACKAGE 2024

FAMILY TOUR PACKAGE 2024

CUSTOMIZABALE TOUR PACKAGES 2024

1 DAY TOUR PACKAGE TO HUNZA VALLEY

KARAKORAM TOUR PACKAGE 2024

HUNZA VALLEY TOUR PACKAGE BY AIR

HONEYMOON TOUR PACKAGES 2024

Why chooses hunza valley package

Weather condition in hunza valley

Top attractions of hunza valley

Things to do in hunza valley

Conclusion

FAQs

TOP HUNZA VALLEY TOUR PACKAGES 2024

Hundreds of hunza valley tour packages are available in internet either from Lahore, Karachi , Islamabad or any other city. All the packages comes with different destinations or different facilities. Even when you google hunza valley tour packages you will also get season wise tour packages like autumn hunza valley tour package, winter hunza valley tour package. All those packages have their own specification and importance. Lets get to the top tour packages of hunza valley 2024:

ADVENTOROUS TOUR PACKAGE 2024

This tour package will be of about 3 days with the cost of Rs.   Per person. In this package different adventurous sites will be includes like karakoram range , glaciers. Even they will give you the chance to do different thrilling activities like

Exploring the back streets of hunza valley through cycle

Climbing the stairs of ondara poygah

Crossing the most dangerous Hussaini bridge

Going for a hike on huge rocky mountains of hunza valley

Along with all these you will get many other facilities like rent a car, accommodation service free of cost food, free photography by professionals and some of other basic facilities for trip.

FAMILY TOUR PACKAGE 2024

This is the most important tour package. Everyone wants to enjoy the beauty of hunza valley with their families or friends. And we have given you the opportunity to get the most comfortable tour to hunza with your family in very reasonable price in Family tour package to hunza.

Also north gateways team will always make sure to make your family trip monumental. You will be given all the traditional food of hunza valley to give your tongue a new taste that will be unforgettable. Different fun activities will be done by the family to enjoy their time in beautiful valley of Kashmir.

CUSTOMIZABALE TOUR PACKAGES 2024

These packages are little bit expensive but they are the most lovable packages of 2024. as in these packages tourist will add the destinations of their choice. In fact this whole package will include all the places, food, activities chosen by the tourist.

Customizable hunza valley tour packages 2024 will be of 8 days package with all the facilities in good manner. This package will cost a person Rs.  

1 DAY TOUR PACKAGE TO HUNZA VALLEY

This is the smallest tour package in which you will only have 1 day to spend in hunza valley. But north gateways will make sure that you see every possible sight of hunza valley that will make you come again in the beautiful lush green meadows of hunza valley.

1 day hunza tour package of one person will cost you about Rs.

KARAKORAM TOUR PACKAGE 2024

In hunza valley, you will get to see the giant mountain ranges of karakoram. Although you will get the sight of it in all the packages of hunza valley. But this specific package will be alone for karakoram mountain ranges. In this you will get the chance to go close t karakoram ranges and feel the heavy rocks of mountain ranges. Even it will be the possibility that you will get the chance to hike through karakoram mountain range. This will be short trip of 1- 2 days that will cost a person about Rs. 

HUNZA VALLEY TOUR PACKAGE BY AIR

You will get many by road hunza valley tour packages, but have also another facility of by air hunza valley. Though this package will be little bit costly but it will include the journey from your home doorstep to your home doorstep. Even air tickets will be included in the package. You will get the most amazing chance to see the beauty of Kashmir from above it. People dies to get this chance. You will get PIA service from Karachi Lahore or Islamabad.

HONEYMOON TOUR PACKAGES 2024

Hunza valley is also the favorite spot for newly wed couples because of its scenic nature. Hunza valley is one of the best spot to spend  most beautiful time of your life with your life. Everything in this package will be arranged according to couples, you will get your privacy or also you can do different activities with your partner like boating, eye sighting, trying delicious food of hunza valley, getting their cultural dresses and jewellery.

WHY CHOOSING HUNZA VALLEY TOUR PACKAGE

Hunza valley is a famous tourist destination in Pakistan. People from other countries visit this place because of its beautiful lands that are covered with lush meadows in summers and it will be a whole different valley in winters, completely covered with the packs of ice or snow. Hunza tour packages are most famous among tourist because of :

Scenic land

Nature vibes

Cultural richness

Unique lakes

Festivals in hunza

For better photography

To get relax

Amazing hospitality

 WEATHER CONDITIONS IN HUNZA VALLEY

In the days of shiny sun, July to august, tourist might experience the smooth weather in hunza valley of gilgit baltistan. The shiny rays  from sun striking the huge rocks and refracting on the water of lakes will let you see the whole new world lies in the small valley of gilgit baltistan.

If we talk about the icy weather of hunza valley, December to February. These months will allow you to get the captivating chilly vibe of hunza valley. Temperature condition lies from -10 degrees to -5 degrees in winters that will turn the whole valley into land of ice.

TOP DESTINATIONS IN HUNZA VALLEY

You will get the whole detail about the attractions in hunza valley in top places to visit in hunza valley or you can also search tour packages to hunza valley 2024. let me tell you briefly about the places that requires a must visit.

Passu cones (Passu glaciers)

Hussaini bridge;2

Shimshal valley

Attabad lake

 eagles nest

Baltit fort

THINGS TO DO IN HUNZA VALLEY

Get a tour of Altit baltit fort ( historical icon of hunza valley will tell you more antique history of hunza valley)

Never miss out the delicious mouth watering dishes of hunza valley

Get a cycle ride (explore the valley through back streets on cycle ride)

See the wild life of hunza valley ( hunza villages or kunjerab national park will give you the sight of different animals)

Hussaini bridge (don’t forget to cross the Hussaini bridge and take a dangerous risk of your life)

Paddling or boating in borith lake

Trekking on the peaks of mountains

CONCLUSION

Top hunza valley tour packages 2024 is here with many categories, you can get one of your choice. In all the packages you will get all facilities like accommodation, food, internet service and other basic services. Hunza valley is considered as the heaven on earth and who does not want to see the heaven while living their life. Although the place is very easy to go but still if you are not fully prepared, you might face different issues. So it is best to first check the complete tour guide to hunza valley.

FAQs

What are the routes from islambad to hunza valley?

You have two options from islambad to hunza valley:

Islamabad- abbottabad- mansehra- naran- chilas- gilgit - hunza

The other one is:

Islamabad- mardan- swat- chitral- gilgit- hunza

How long it will take to reach hunza valley from Lahore?

 Lahore to hunza valley, it will take about 20-22 hours. And by air it will take almost 11 hours.