#companion piece to the ada version

[rivalmelty]

Faux Riso Print - PM edition

[aminiatureworld]

Hi, may I request a quick drabble where Legolas is dying on the Pelennor Fields and Aragorn is there comforting him, cradling him? (character death please) Thankyou!!! Love your work! Keep it up

Hello! Thank you for your kind words! I hope that I may continue to live up to your expectations! As for the fic, I hope you like it! Unfortunately I’ve not seen the movies in a few months I think and the most recent books I’ve read have been the Silmarillion and Beren and Luthien, so if something’s off please forgive me! I hope you enjoy reading it and once again thank you so much!

Also Ao3 link will be in reblog if you prefer that format

           There was something almost sickeningly ironic in an elf who was felled by an orc. They were two sides of the same coin after all, one a being of pure energy, the other a festered, twisted version of the first. And now one had spread their rot to the other, for the arrow embedded beneath Legolas’s collarbone was sure to bring infection, if it hadn’t already torn at a major artery. Death never seemed a reality to the, relatively young, elf. Of course Legolas knew that there was no guarantee this wouldn’t happen, for this was a battle for the life of Middle Earth itself, and casualties were inevitable. Still, as he felt his knees buckle underneath himself, as his vision began dancing in specks of impossible colors and he felt himself falling, falling, falling, Legolas knew that death was coming for him, whether he’d prepared for its embrace or not.

           Aragorn knew that the arrow had landed of course, but for a moment he’d not truly believed it. There were few times that the ranger had allowed himself to deny his eyes, for he’d always been alone and in danger, and life had never tried to hide from him how cruel the world could be. Still, Legolas was an elf, fluid and dangerous; he wasn’t supposed to be the one who fell, wasn’t supposed to be the one to give his life to this cause. So, though Aragorn felt himself begin to run, heard a distance scream, a calling of Legolas’s name, he didn’t truly accept that this was happening, that death was arriving and taking the elf, his elf as Aragorn had come to think of him, away.

           He knelt down in the dead grass, aware that this wasn’t the place for a scene, that there were still riders charging and the battle was still being fought fiercely, but not caring, for that all seemed distant, sounded in his ears as if it were happening on an island miles and miles away rather than right around him. The elf who was curled up on his side was sputtering, his chest heaving, causing the shaft of the arrow still stuck in his chest to shake violently. At a loss Aragorn pulled the elf to his chest, wrapping his arms around Legolas, who in turned grabbed onto the man’s arm. “We’ll get you healed. I promise,” Aragorn spoke all in a rush, the words he both desperately wanted to say and yet to bury at the same time flying out. Legolas was smiling weakly and shaking his head, but Aragorn had to continue, had to give the dying elf hope, had to give himself hope. “I’ll carry you, I know that we can find someone on this gods forsaken field who can heal you. I won’t have…” he couldn’t get those words out, they stuck in his throat like rocks, “you’re the best of the fellowship, and we can’t have you fall behind.”

           “I’m not falling behind.” Every word seemed slow and deliberate, and to Aragorn at that moment the ability to speak elvish seemed like a blessing he didn’t deserve, for at least his companion wouldn’t have to make the effort to speak in human tongue, could be allowed to communicate in the language of stars and silver. It seemed like an odd thing for Aragorn to focus on now, the beauty of the words that were leaving Legolas, the way his voice made them sound musical, even though they were raspy and dulled. “I’m… I’m going ahead. I’m sorry, it seems that you must continue the next part of the journey without me. Not alone. Never alone. But I must go ahead and I must wait for you in another land, in the Halls of Mandos.”

           “But I cannot go on.” Aragorn heard his voice break, felt steaming tears running down his cheeks, that seemed to eat away at him, as if they were made of poison. An odd empty feeling was coming over him, and he felt a blast of fear run through him as he wondered if he weren’t taking too long, if he wouldn’t be halfway through a phrase when the light left the elf’s eyes. “You promised you’d be there when I became king. I won’t become king unless you’re there to help me. I refuse, I’ll not have it.”

           “There will be others.” Legolas made a grimace that seemed to be almost a smile. “You cannot stave off destiny. Not even for me. You know that.” He winced then and for a moment Aragorn forgot his protestations, for Legolas was dying, truly dying, and the worries and cares of Arda had nothing to do with those about to leave its lands.

           “Never mind that.” He shook his head. “You’ll be there. I know you will. Even if you leave for a time, you’ll be there. Those who go to the Halls of Mandos don’t stay long, and don’t speak to me of exceptions, contrariness is a cardinal offense.” Legolas huffed out a laugh, but his eyes were becoming glassy, and he seemed to Aragorn as if he were already half into another realm.

           “It’s, it’s burning more than I thought it would. I… I don’t want to leave you. I wanted to be there. I wanted always to be there. I’d rather not go. I know I’m only going on ahead. But I’d rather not go. My ada, what will he think.”

           “He’ll be so very proud of you, they all will. For all you’ve done they’ll sing of you in their great halls. You’ll be alright. And they’ll sing of you, whether you go on ahead or not. And I’ll never forget.” Aragorn wished he could say something more, say something that truly conveyed the worth of the flickering soul he was holding, but words seemed impossible, no matter how he tried the words he was looking for seemed to dash out of his grasp. He gazed back at his companion, who was shaking his head softly.

           “Ada would never be so proud as that. But, I hope that he’ll wait for me, as I know he’s waiting for her, I hope he’ll wait for me. I hope, I hope everyone will. I’m not ready. I’m scared.” Aragorn held Legolas tighter in his arms. A sob was forming in his throat but he was determined to hold it back, determined Legolas shouldn’t see such a broken figure as he was led away.

           “He will. Everyone will. I promise. It’ll be alright. It will be alright, you’re only taking a journey, only going on an adventure. I promise we’ll be waiting at the end of it. You’ll only be going for a visit. I promise. And I promise you’ll survive it, and come and see everyone… see me. And then you’ll scold me for all I’m doing wrong in the kingdom. And I’ll scold you for making me keep my promise without you.”

           “Can’t take it back now.” Legolas sounded almost petulant, and it made Aragorn want to cry all the more.

           “I suppose not.” He tried a laugh but it came out dead and sharp, like the grass they were sitting in.

           “No.” The elf laughed. “No you can’t. But I forgive you for trying ahead of time. I’ll miss you. Maybe you most of all. Don’t tell them. It’s my secret. It’s…” he paused, and for a moment his grip tightened on Aragorn, painful and burning like a brand. “I feel… light.” He breathed out a soft sigh, a smile playing on his lips, and Aragorn, putting his head on the elf’s chest, let himself finally be carried away by the current of anger and despair and grief that ripped through him, as unforgiving as the cold figure that had carried a piece of his heart away.

[joeys-piano]

***Headphones Recommended*** Companion Piece: Pocket Change [ADA version] Style: dramatic fingerstyle guitar Notes: upbeat noir-vibes with the Port Mafia                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~

“Without hope, I believe the world will face nothing but evil. It lacks the imagination to envision another possibility.”

[SoundCloud]

[studentthoughts]

COVID-19 and Dentistry: Challenges and Opportunities

COVID-19 and Dentistry: Challenges and Opportunities

The coronavirus disease outbreak in 2019 and 2020 (COVID-19) had closed down around 198,000 active dentists and dental specialists in the USA. As governments in different countries allow the resumption of dental care, worries and talks have emerged regarding how to provide a safe oral healthcare, considering the nature of the virus and how easily and rapidly it may spread during common dental procedures. However, dentists have come to a realization of looking beyond treating urgent dental care needs and start planning for the resumption of routine dental care, and finding safe and creative ways to provide service to patients who are anxious to come to the dental clinic. This will definitely be an extremely challenging task given the uncertainty of when the pandemic will be resolved.

The virus behind COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is present in nasopharyngeal and oral cavity of infected patients. It is believed to be transmitted primarily through infected secretions such as saliva and respiratory secretions or their respiratory droplets. Also, emerging evidence shows that normal breathing and talking can produce small droplets that can possibly spread the virus and remain suspended in the air for several hours. The rapid transmission of the virus in many communities, the potential for pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals to transmit the virus to others, and the close contact of the dental healthcare workers to the patient’s mouth and throat, all contribute to the high risk for dental personnel to become exposed and to transmit the virus to other patients and staff. Some dental procedures may result to aerosol generation, which could further increase the transmission risk to dental employees and patients through inhalation or contact with contaminated surface.

Challenges in Dental Practice

Dental professionals are already familiar with other health issues and corresponding risk assessments in order to reduce risk, and with implementing Standard Precautions for minimizing the spread directly or through cross-contamination. Preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 requires new and improved health protocols and management strategies that may differ from those used before the pandemic. COVID-19’s incubation period can range from 2-14 days, and, while the virus is known to be highly transmissible when patients are symptomatic, transmission can still occur before the symptoms become apparent. Thus, even asymptomatic patients should be considered as potential carriers, and routine screening should be implemented for both patients and staff. This helps to ensure that symptomatic and exposed individuals stay home for the safety of everyone in the office.

Current guidelines suggest that elective care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should be delayed until the patients meet the criteria for dental service. For patients with confirmed COVID-19 who need to receive emergency dental care, treatment guidelines have been developed and recommended by various organizations, such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA), to prevent virus transmission as much as possible. The dental workers are advised to:

Perform procedures in a negative pressure room for aerosol-generating procedures

Follow standard, contact, and airborne precautions

Consider taking extraoral radiographs instead of intraoral

Limit the number of dental healthcare providers (DHCP) present during the procedure

Use a dental hand-piece with anti-retraction function, four-handed dentistry, high evacuation suction and rubber dams to minimize droplet splatter and aerosol generation.

Minimize the use of ultrasonic instruments, high-speed handpieces, and 3-way syringes

Perform endodontic procedures with dilute (1%) solutions of sodium hypochlorite to extend supplies

Use resorbable sutures to eliminate the need for a follow-up appointment.

Disinfect surfaces with EPA-approved chemicals and maintain a dry environment.

Wear an N95 or equivalent or higher-level respirator such as a disposable filtering facepiece respirator, a powered air-purifying respirator, or an elastomeric respirator; eye protection (e.g. goggles, reusable face shields); gloves; and a gown.

In the Philippines, on the other hand, the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has issued their version of guidelines to avoid the spread of COVID-19. It also urges a no-contact screening procedure, based on the recommendations of the DOH, WHO, and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The recommended guidelines are as follows:

Dentists and all staff must wear the prescribed personal protective equipment (PPE) including protective eyewear, surgical mask, disposable caps, and disposable gloves.

Dentists should screen patients by phone before confirming an appointment to avoid close physical contact with persons infected with COVID-19.

Elective procedures are not allowed.

Only immediate concerns such as pain, infection, oromaxillofacial conditions, or trauma can be addressed by dentists. Patients for such urgent dental concerns are required to fill up a screening form, including their companion.

Patients with temperature higher than 37.3°C or 99.14°F and with respiratory disease will be referred to a hospital immediately.

Although not stated in the aforementioned guidelines, providing safe dental care during the pandemic may require dental workers to change their workflow patterns and clinic layouts besides ensuring personal protective equipment supplies. Such changes may lead to increased costs, which could further result to financial and operational issues. Also, wearing PPE can be hot and uncomfortable. It can be a hassle especially when doing certain procedures. These conditions may create several challenges, which may lead to increased errors in dental practice. Knowledge-based active errors, rule-based active errors, or skill-based active errors can all jeopardize the safety and quality of care given to patients. Managing important deviations from conventional practice, while under additional budgetary pressures, stress and time constraints, may increase the risk of failures during dental care.

Opportunities

The global pandemic has greatly affected how dental care can be safely delivered, and it will most likely stimulate permanent changes in how dental care is delivered. The dentists will have to consider numerous unanswered questions, such as whether the workflow and layout of dental clinics should be permanently changed, and whether expanded PPE is warranted for care of all dental patients. The COVID-19 pandemic may also speed up the adoption of innovative dental workforce models, including dental therapists with at least 3 years of training and provide a limited scope of treatment, such as prevention, fillings, and treatment for periodontal disease, with the help and guidance of a dentist. In a recovering economy, the lower cost of dental therapists may foster their adoption or more independent scope of practice.

The COVID-19 pandemic offers several opportunities for dental researchers to focus on extremely major issues. Significant research concerns may include evaluating the costs and benefits of the use of expanded PPE and changes in dental practice workflows, developing and assessing innovative approaches to minimize aerosol generation during dental procedures, testing and validating tele-dentistry models, and evaluating alternative dental workforce models, such as dental therapists.

What do you think about the pandemic’s impact on dental practice? Do you have other challenges and opportunities in mind? Drop your comments below!

[lordshaxxion]

AAALL for Cidrex because he is my favorite boy

alright u asked for it >:U all of this fuckery will be under a cut

Where were you rezzed?

“In a forest somewhere in the EDZ, I think. I don’t really remember much of it, I was pretty much immediately attacked by Fallen, so there was a lot of running for my life.”

How long ago was it?

“During the Dark Ages, so a reaaaally long time ago. Like, during the prime of the Iron Lords.”

Did you have anything in your pockets?

“Just a lump of crystal quartz, but it was rose-coloured and I guess that’s where my obsession with shiny things and collecting crystals from? Oh, I also had some old currency from the Golden Age. No idea what kinda currency, but I cleaned them up and they’re super shiny and really cool.”

What was your first week alive like?

“Stressful. It was a lot of learning how to survive and trusting my Ghost to heal any injuries and bring me back if I died. That was a shock in itself though, when I died for the first time.”

How did you react to your new role as a Guardian?

“Well I became an Iron Lord before I became a Guardian, and that was pretty alright until SIVA happened. After that, being a Guardian and being an Iron Lord became the same thing - just doing the right thing because no one else will, or can.”

Do you have any regrets?

“I couldn’t save my brothers and sisters of Iron from SIVA. Saladin has always told me that I couldn’t have saved them by myself, but I still regret not doing more to at least try.”

Does your ghost have a name?

“He’s called Socks-”

“IT’S SOX!”

“-because he used to hide in my sock drawer at the Iron Temple.”

What is your ghost like?

“He calls himself Sox because he wants to look cool, and I think he cares too much about how he looks from the perspective of other Ghosts. I dunno if Ghosts are judgy to one another, but what I do know is that Sox used to hang around a not-so-great group of them. He’s small for a Ghost and I think this group sorta... took the piss. He tries to act tough a lot, but I know that deep down he cares a lot and he does like his actual name.”

How do you feel about the last city and the vanguard?

“I was sent to the Last City by Saladin to act as a so-called ambassador between the City and the Temple, so it’s like a second home to me now. I know all the streets like the back of my hand, even the sectors I’m not really meant to venture into. The Vanguard are alright, they have their hiccups but I know they mean well and try their best. Well, the did until Cayde... yeah.”

What’s your favourite place to go?

“Cayde used to describe it as wanderlust, but I like wandering all over the Earth and seeing all the ruins and wilds there are. Though my favourite place out of all is the Lost Sector in Winding Cove. It’s so beautiful there with the glow-worms in the dark and the reflection of them in the water. Nice and quiet too, when it’s cleared out every other day.”

Do you participate in strikes or the crucible?

“Strikes. I leave the Crucible to my brother, Othion.”

How do you celebrate the holidays?

“I used to celebrate in getting blackout drunk with Cayde and the rest of the Vanguard, we even used to persuade Shaxx and Othion to join us sometimes. Now though I spend them by myself just tinkering with the stuff I’ve collected over the years.”

Who is your favourite NPC and who is your least favourite?

“It was and will always be Cayde. I can’t get along with Ada-1, though. She unnerves me and acts rather stuck-up despite allowing Guardians into the Black Armory now.”

Where do you sleep/call home?

“I have my own apartment in the Tower, of course, and unlike most Hunters that’s where I call home. It gets me weird looks though, I know a lot of Hunters prefer sleeping under the open stars and it gets Sox to tease me and call me ‘a domesticated hunter’.”

Do you have any pets or companions?

“I wanted to get a cat when Cayde was still around, but we never got round to doing it. Though I kinda have magpies that come to stay when I’m at home. I put feed out on the window sill for them and sometimes they come back with shiny trinkets for me. Oh, and I look after Colonel too, but I’m not allowed to keep Colonel in my apartment because other Hunters would throw a fit.”

Does anyone live with you?

“Cayde and I talked about it, about him moving in with me or something. Again, we never got round to it.”

How do you unwind or comfort yourself?

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but when me and Sox went exploring a while back we found a stash of what used to be called ‘stim toys’. Lots of pots of squishy clay-like dough. Sometimes if I’m overwhelmed I just dig out one of the pots and just sit there squishing it for an hour or so. In terms of general relaxation, if I have the attention span I’ll read or if I don’t then I’ll watch some movies. I got a good collection of Golden Age and pre-Golden Age movies now.”

What would truly break you?

“Losing someone close to me again. I lost Cayde and I wasn’t myself for a long time. If I were to go through that again, I really don’t think I’d recover at all.”

Most embarrassing moment?

“When Sox resurrected me for the first time after dying and I sat there crying and threw up for two hours. It wasn’t... my greatest moment.”

Any cherished memories?

“All of my time with Cayde, to be honest with you. Even when we argued, I cherish those memories greatly. Also the first time I discovered a rare crystal, that was a pretty good moment too.”

What was your highest and/or lowest point?

“Like I said, losing Cayde devastated me almost to a point of no return. Highest point? First Crimson Days with Cayde, we wrecked shop in the Crucible together and got banned in the same day! The look on Izel’s face was glorious.”

Views on the enemy races?

“I don’t like the Taken or Scorn, those are practically a given. Vex are annoying and freak me out a little. Cabal I loathe for what they did to the City, though that’s predominantly the Red Legion but whatever. Hive also freak me out now I think about it, though the worms they drop are kinda cute. Fallen? I just feel pity for them. They lost everything in their own version of the Collapse and are just trying to get by, and yet we keep attacking them.”

Which enemy race is your most/least favourite?

“I hate the Scorn for what they did. On the flip side of that, I rather like the Fallen. I got a chance to get to know a few, like Mithrax, and they’re honestly not that bad when you do get to know them.”

What’s your role in a fireteam? (Tank, support, buff/healer, comic relief? Or are you the dead weight?)

“Dead weight.”

“No you aren’t, Cidrex, you’re a sniper.”

Do you have any mentors/mentees?

“Saladin and many of the original Iron Lords were my mentors, but I don’t have any mentees. Hunters ask me for advice every so often, but I don’t give it. I don’t want to be in that position, I’m not a good teacher.”

What is your favourite weapon type/favourite weapon?

“Give me my DARCI and I’m good to go. I like auto rifles a lot though, despite me using snipers a lot I’m not that great up close so it’s easier for me to just kinda spray and pray without the instability of SMGs.”

Do you play Gambit?

“Sometimes. It can get really stressful trying to deal with invaders that use utter bastard weapons.”

How do you feel about the Drifter?

“I don’t know. Everything about his operations just tell me that I can’t trust him at all, but then I got to know him better and I just feel... kinda sad?”

If you could be any class/subclass (not just your own), what would you be and why?

“Striker Titan, cuz it looks like fun and a great stress and tension relief. Though, I’d like to be able to use Gunslinger properly, I’ve never been able to use it all that well even when Cayde tried to teach me. I’d just like to do it, for him.”

What are your thoughts on the Nine?

“Fuckin’ weird. I don’t trust them at all, especially not after I saw the Emissary for the first time. Though Xur’s pretty cool.”

Any secret crushes or relationships we need to know about?

“Well.... there is this one guy. Hunter, but he’s built like a Titan. Got no social skills and the emotional range of a teaspoon, but he’s charming in his own way regardless.”

“It’s Ataric.”

“SOX!” @crazy-bone-lady

Does your Ghost approve, or haven’t you told them?

“Sox is a piece of shit that tries to out my crush at every given moment. Luckily, he’s a tiny piece of shit so I can just hold him in my hands and he can’t do anything.”

You’re about to go off-planet on assignment, and will only be able to eat protein rations and food gel for a month. What’s your last meal?

“I don’t really have a preferred meal or anything, so I’d just get take-out somewhere in the City. I know a couple really good joints.”

If you could take over any NPC’s job, who would it be and why?

“Cayde’s job as Hunter Vanguard. I know every Hunter has just about run for the hills, and will always do so when they hear the words ‘Vanguard Dare’, but I’d be happy to take up the position. I’ve already taken up his cloak, might as well take the job that came with it right?”

What is the most beautiful sight you’ve seen?

“When Sox and I were exploring an Io cave system, we fell through into a massive chamber filled with crystals. The light from where we’d fallen through shone on the crystals in such a way it created an utterly breathtaking spectrum of colour. We took so many photos of that moment, it was just so amazing to see all these crystalline spires lit up and practically glowing.”

“What about that sunrise in the EDZ?”

“Oh yeah, this one was pretty good.”

Do you have a favourite colour?

“Not particularly, though green’s pretty good since I dyed my hair with it.”

Show us your favourite outfit!

“Top picture, switch the pants for the Lucky Pants and you’re sorted. Bottom picture, I miss my BrayTech hood. It was super cosy, and paired nicely with the Taimat(?) chestpiece.”

What’s your favourite shader?

“New Monarchy Diamonds and Metro Shift.”

If you could make a wish to an Ahamkara for anything - no strings attached - what would you wish for?

“To save all those I failed to save. The Iron Lords, Cayde. All of them.”

[azalzalsramblings]

I don’t read enough

Says man who’s about to list the 52 books he read this year

In an insignificant order bellow the cut.

1.The Steerswoman  by Rosemary Kirstein

Fun Adventure, mildly generic but refreshing.

2. Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente

Holy fuck this book is absurd, it’s great.

3. Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente

Portal fantasy where sex is the portal, it’s great.

4. The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente

Can you tell I like this author? If you like comic books you should read this.

5. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

This book has some of the most interesting magic I’ve ever read and the best depiction of modern culture I’ve ever read.

6. The Tombs of Atuan By Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin is amazing, the “protagonist” of this series doesn't’ show up until half way through this book.

7. The Farthest Shore By Ursula K. Le Guin

The Protagonist in this book shows up in the beginning but he’s mostly being Gandalf and the focus is on his companion.

8. Tehanu By Ursula K. Le Guin

Revisiting characters and pointing out the problematic elements of a book that came out 20 years ago, bravo.

9. Who Fears Death  by Nnedi Okorafor

I need to learn more about African mythology.

10. A Closed and Common Orbit  by Becky  Chambers

Really fun ride, great companion piece to current QC, well Antho PC focused elements of QC.

11. Ever Fair  by Nisi Shawl

Interesting if not greatly carried out book.

12. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

Read this fucking book. (It’s the Sequel to “The Fifth Season” Read that First)

13. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

This better win the fucking Hugo (mostly so N. K Jemisin gets the first hat trick in Hugo history)

14. Woman On the Edge of Time  by Marge Piercy

I can’t decide if this should be read as companion piece to “Slaughter House 5″ or “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” probably both.

15. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie

OH MY GOD I GET IT, IT’S ABOUT SLAVERY! Still good though.

16. Minaret by Leila Aboulela

Good book, it provides a compelling immigrant story.

17. Northern Lights (I read the UK Version)  by Philip Pullman

One of the best YA books ever written, re reading this series was an excellent idea.

18. The Subtle Knife  by Philip Pullman

See above.

19. The Amber Spyglass  by Philip Pullman

SPOILERS: Prepubescent sex saves the multiverse. Also there’s like, four or five lines that are different between the UK and US versions, I had too look up what they were.

20. Who Could That Be At This Hour? by Lemony Snicket

Different enough from “Series of Unfortunate Events” to be necessary, still has nice call backs.

21. When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket

Good book, probably not as strong as “Series of Unfortunate Events” but worth the read.

22. Shouldn’t you be in School? by Lemony Snicket

Uh, there will be a spoiler tag on the next book.

23. Why Is this Night Different from all Other Nights? by Lemony Snicket

SPOILER: Having an eco terrorist as the main villain in a children's book is fucking brilliant. The end is telegraphed but then again I’m probably a decade older then the expected audience for this book.

24. The Children of Hurin by J.R.R Tolkien

Interesting book, it’s probably has the most direct evidence of Tolkien stealing from other mythology (As you only have to mildly well read to see exactly what he’s stealing).

25. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

It’s just good. It’s nice to have a modern version of all these legends. I hope he continues to rewrite legends, especially lesser known ones. ((This is elaborating on the last point) Yes I know having a white man write a book about African Mythology is can be somewhat problematic but I’m sure he’d do it respectfully) Also saw him read from this.

26. Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy

Favorite factoid about this book, Tom Clancy played table top war games to help outline some chapters. That said it is kind of hard to get though and problematic at times. It does have a female fighter pilot who shots down satellites so that’s cool.

27. The Iliad by Homer

SUPER GAAAAAAAY

28 The Odyssey by Homer

The famous part of this is like, four chapters in the middle, mostly it’s “Where fuck is Odysseus and how do we deal with these dickwads in my house?”

29. The Symposium by Plato

See note for The Iliad .

30. Dragons of Spring Dawning  by Margaret Weis , Tracy Hickman

Fun adventure book, not 100% satisfying end to the series (I would have preferred a huge show down with I’m not looking up the name for Dragonlance Tiamat)

31. Dune  by Frank Herbert

There’s a reason this book is legendary, it’s that good, also read relatively quick if you read it while you’re taking a week off work.

32. The Lurker at The Threshold  by H.P. Lovecraft, August Derleth

It’s Lovecraft.

33. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Not about tiny pigs, still good though. I’m probably still not smart enough to understand all of it.

34. The Prose Eda by Snorri Sturluson

Read this after/before/with Norse Mythology, seeing the various versions of the tales is interesting. Also the version I had went into a lot of the Norse literary elements which is fun (Viking is a kenning I think, it might be a synecdoche )

35. The Library at Mount Char by Scott  Hawkins

Holy fuck this book is amazing, it might be my favorite book I read this  year.

36. The Quran by Muhammad/ Gabriel/Allah 

My favorite part of this book is the part where Muhammad throws shade on his Uncle. 

37. Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur

This is one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever read.

38. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy  by Douglas Adams

Timeless classic, I don’t know how many times I’ve watched/read/listened to this work.

39. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe  by Douglas Adams

Not as good as the  first, but still good, the Zaphod plot doesn’t 100% work in my opinion idk.

40. Life, The Universe and Everything  by Douglas Adams

Apparently started life as Doctor Who script, it’s a departure from the others b/c of this to some extent.

41. So Long and Thanks for all the Fish  by Douglas Adams

I’ve read this is considered rushed by some people, and I’ll admit it’s certainly different but I think it’s as good as any of the others.

42. Mostly Harmless  by Douglas Adams

Multiverse stuff is crazy in this. Also Elvis is in it.

43. How the Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman

Fun little romp in the Neverwhere world. The Neverwhere world is really great. I heard form his mouth he’s working on a sequel so that’ll be great.

44. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

MY FUCKING COPY WAS ABRIDGED, still, it has its moments, I should reread it one day. I think I liked “A Tale of Two Cities” better.

45. A Portrait of the Aritst as a Young Man by James Joyce

Good book? I don’t think I’m smart enough to get this book. It’s certainly worth the time, I wish I understood it better.

46. Beren and Luthien by J.R.R. Tolkien

Holy fuck this book. First it has Christopher Tolkien giving very interesting commentary (is probably his last book he’s in his fucking 90)  second Luthien figuratively fucking bitch slaps Morgoth (Tolkien’s Satan), it’s great.

47. Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer

I’m convinced the author wanted to write an 18th century court drama or a science fiction book and decided “Por que no los dos”

48 For Whom the Bell Tolls  by Ernest Hemingway

Fuck Fascists (Note: This book is about killing fascists, I’m not implying anything about Hemingway although he’s basically the definition of an alpha male although he has some progressive moments like advocating for the elimination of fascism apparently, also has both a bad ass women and a one dimensional women)

49. Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

Compelling read, I can see why it was controversial in its time but it’s tame by modern standards. It has its issues but is still a fun read.

50. Venus in Fur  by David Ives 

Sexy, funny, commentary on the above, can be read in like, 2 hours. If you don’t wan to read “Venus in Furs” at least read this.

51. Her Smoke Rose up Forever by James Tiptree Jr

If you read one thing from this read “The Screw-fly Solution” it’s on of the most effective short stories I’ve ever read.

52. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

This book isn’t about why playing god is wrong, in my opinion that view is 100% indefensible by the text. It’s about why men need to take responsibility for the life they bring into this world. 

[getgamez]

Decay of Logos

Game Overview Embark on a journey of revenge and betrayal set in motion by the destruction of our young adventurer’s village at the hands of Crimson Knights. Find solace in your mystical elk companion as you battle the unforgiving foes that roam this once peaceful realm. Venture into ancient ruins and dungeons in search of their rewards in a quest to find the truth behind the attack of Ada’s home. Take heed – there’s a dark and treacherous force at work in this world that corrupts even its inhabitants. Third-person action/adventure RPG with an emphasis on player exploration and minimal hand-holding. Challenging combat with high risk-reward battle system; various short and long-range weapons featuring different move sets, combos, and ancient magic. Elk companion system; strengthen your bond with the mystical elk as you solve environmental puzzles and unravel sinister mysteries. Deep lore and intricate voice-acted narrative that will leave you guessing until the end of your journey through the far-reaching ancestral high-fantasy world of Decay of Logos. Her village destroyed, she traveled North with her elk companion hoping to find any clues about those who wronged her. You’ll start in the outskirts of the Laetus Grove, only to find that all is not what it seems – strange hostile dwellers with wooden bodies and vacant eyes now patrol this land… Lock-on to enemies for a more tactical approach; parry, dodge and counter-attack while always keeping your stamina in check as you deliver deadly blows and combos. Prepare your battles ahead by using the elk’s secondary inventory to store a variety of short and long range-weapons, defense gear, and potions. Set in a far-reaching and interconnected semi-open world, you’ll explore a divided kingdom once ruled by a warring King. Tragedy struck when his beloved Queen died during childbirth – the royal family was irreversibly broken and the King’s sons drifted apart, each claiming a piece of the realm. Make your way through the lush woodland, the great Howling Rift, degraded swamps, ancestral grounds and many other unique locations. You’ll travel alone with your companion, facing off the likes of giants and many other mystical foes while clearing the path by solving ancestral environmental puzzles. With a will of its own, and more than a mount, you must strengthen your bond by petting and feeding the elk before you can ride it. Ada will come across several charismatic NPC’s along the way; fully voice acted, they’re a good source of lore, guidance and items. Decay of Logos invites player exploration with miimal hand-holding by using a minimalistic interface while relying on environmental cues and dialogue for guidance. Ada even displays all gear and items on her while animations reflect her physical state. Leveling is fully automated and based on your play style, Ada gains stats when you kill an enemy, activate a mechanism or even when finding a secret chest. Screenshots for System Requirements Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 (64-bit OS required) Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz or AMD FX 8350 Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: 2 GB, GeForce GTX 660/Radeon HD 7850 DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 3 GB available space FREE DOWNLOAD FOR https://shareurl.cc/bucket/6ab88dc2-293a-4c35-9ecf-10d1a38f98de Last Update: Read the full article

[gamerszone2019-blog]

Decay of Logos Review

New Post has been published on https://gamerszone.tn/decay-of-logos-review/

Decay of Logos Review

There’s an old Wile E. Coyote cartoon where he gets in a racecar to chase after the Road Runner, and as he’s speeding along the car begins to fall apart piece by piece until he’s left holding nothing but a busted steering wheel. That’s what it feels like to play Decay of Logos, an open-world action-adventure RPG that strongly invokes The Legend of Zelda but is missing the crucial pieces that make the genre so beloved.

Drawing inspiration from Dark Souls as well, Decay of Logos places emphasis on challenge and exploration, though it rarely sticks the landing. Across its roughly 10-hour campaign you’ll travel through haunted battlefields, crumbling castles, and mysterious woods – all while fighting the same handful of generic enemy types over and over again in one of the most infuriatingly repetitive and buggy games I’ve seen in a long time. Whether it’s the choppy framerate, equipment that disappears from your inventory, the world not loading in time for you to step foot on it, or the whole thing crashing entirely, you’re only ever a short time away from something that will hinder or completely shatter your enjoyment of a game that otherwise has a lot of potential.

You play a bland, white-haired silent protagonist named Ada, who looks like an off-brand version of The Legend of Zelda’s Link. Accompanied by your equally silent companion, a white elk of unknown origin, you’ll set out on a cliché and low-stakes quest for revenge after your village is burned to the ground. Despite the generic plot, the worldbuilding in Decay of Logos is expertly done, making heavy use of environmental storytelling that gives you a taste of a dystopian fantasy setting and asks you to fill in the gaps. The colorful, Breath of the Wild-esque art style shows off some pretty stellar areas that beg to be explored, though doing so almost invariably ends in touring samey dungeons, filled with repetitive monsters and puzzles that you quickly become all too familiar with.

The Breath of the Wild-esque art style shows off some pretty stellar areas that beg to be explored, though doing so almost invariably ends in touring samey dungeons filled with repetitive monsters.

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At the best of times, Decay of Logos simply runs poorly: The framerate bounces up and down wildly and makes gameplay choppy during combat encounters that require precise timing, and some nasty screen tearing can make the world look like a piece of abstract art. But where Decay of Logos really suffers is in the frustrating, intermittent critical glitches and bugs that completely halt progress. Traveling across long stretches of the open world without resting usually results in the framerate going from bad to nearly unplayable. Oftentimes areas of the world took too long to load in under my feet, resulting in me falling through the map and dying due to no fault of my own. Sometimes dying or resting to restore my health had the side effect of causing all my potions or one of my weapons to disappear without explanation.

These kinds of glitches were so commonplace during my playthrough that I had to come up with workarounds, like not pausing for more than a minute or two to avoid an inevitable crash that always seemed to follow. In another particularly maddening instance, I began to recognize that an extreme drop in framerate was a warning sign that the floor was moments away from disappearing – in moments like this I would race to a save point to avoid losing progress, often only to fall through the floor and die mere seconds from salvation.

And unfortunately, even when everything technically works, many of Decay of Logos’ design troubles rear their heads. The RPG systems that govern the world and its characters are vague and aggravating. For example, your character’s level, which greatly impacts how powerful you are and your ability to compete with enemies in certain parts of the world, can be found in the menu, but there’s no information on how much XP you have, how to get more, or how much you need to the next level up. This is particularly annoying because most enemies in the world arbitrarily become much stronger once you accomplish certain milestones, like killing a major boss, which leads to some really frustrating encounters.

Even when everything technically works, many of Decay of Logos’ design troubles rear their heads.

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At one point I powered through an army of the undead and killed one of the major bosses without so much as a scratch on me, only to be killed by those same low-level minions on my way back to base, because the act of slaying the boss had leveled up every enemy in the world. This means that every time you beat a chapter, you go from powerful badass to near-useless dreg and have to grind until you level up a few times and become strong again, relative to the rest of the characters in the world. It’s a routine that’s far more irritating than it is fun, and made me feel cheated out of my hard-won progress at precisely the moments where I should have felt most accomplished.

Combat in Decay of Logos is also deeply flawed in that it pits you against the same handful of enemy types for hours on end. Each area has just one or two unique types of enemies that appear in large numbers, and in most cases they can’t be realistically dealt with in groups greater than two or three at a time. So victory becomes a matter of drawing the attention of a few enemies at once, killing them, and repeating. And because the leveling system often artificially makes enemies much stronger than you, combat can drag on for long stretches of time as you whittle down the health meter of an enemy that you might have been able to kill in a few seconds just a short time ago. The dynamic here is even worse when it comes to the world’s optional bosses, all of which are carbon copies of one another, and have predictable movesets and obnoxiously large health bars that make for tiresome encounters.

Last week, after publishing our original review of Decay of Logos, the publisher informed us that they had mistakenly provided us with an Xbox One copy that was two months out of date. We retracted the review to make sure we fairly represented the developers’ work and began again on PlayStation 4, using a new code provided by the publisher. But after playing through the entire game a second time, the experience was only marginally improved in stability and bugs. We are told further patches are on the way, including one on launch day, but it’s unclear what issues will specifically be addressed.

Of all the design issues I have with Decay of Logos, though, the elk is what enrages me the most. As you play, you’re frequently reminded about the importance of the bond between Ada and her elk companion, especially the need to cooperate in order to overcome obstacles. But that promise is never delivered on, chiefly because the elk is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine and has the AI of a refrigerator magnet. For starters, one of the main uses of the elk is the ability to ride it to get from place to place, but doing so is frustrating and inefficient. Not only can you run faster than the elk, but directing it is treated more as a suggestion than an order, and the beast mostly wanders around aimlessly and gets caught on everything in its path.

But the worst instances involving the elk are when you’re asked to solve a puzzle in tandem with it. Simply put, this dumb thing just doesn’t follow orders. You have the ability to call it by blowing a whistle, but most times it doesn’t show up or gets caught on something on the way to you and has to be manually guided out. In one instance, I spent several minutes trying to find the elk, only to find it undulating bizarrely on the side of a cliff, and I had to jump off said cliff to restore its sanity. In another example, I spent over an hour trying to guide it out of a spiral staircase that it’d gotten itself lodged under. They say if you listen closely, you can still hear my screams of rage to this very day.

Source : IGN