#create aeronautics

[electromage1821]

Hear me out

A modded Vivecraft (minecraft but vr) server, with Create Aeronautics, And crackers wither storm mod. In other words, Minecraft in vr, but you are in your steampunk airship, running from the witherstorm. I imagine this would be a SMP, so like, everyone would be on at once. Either in multiple small ships, like a fleet, or one big ship, operated by like 12 people at once. Or like 2-3 ships with teams on them. Whatever happens, happens. I imagine this would be an insanely chaotic thing, with either constant between player fights in the airships, or perfect teamwork because everyone is equally terrified of the witherstorm lol. The VR aspect would make everything more immersive, and make the fear of the witherstorm, and the fear of heights, due to being in a airship, far worse. Thus creating way more fun interactions. Rules for the smp or something idk: would be done with weekly sessions, like the Life series, so everyone is on at one time. No-one is allowed to kill the witherstorm until everyone agrees the SMP is over, and it is time to kill the witherstorm. The SMP ends when the witherstorm is killed. People are encouraged to roleplay, and come up with characters for the smp. Everyone gets a day of prep-time to get their ship, or ships up and running, before the witherstorm is unleashed. If this was an SMP, and you got an invite, would you join?

[fortressnebula]

Some older art! I think I drew this maybe a year ago?

ignore the goopy looking leaves shshshshhs

The reference was this screenshot I took while me and a friend were playing the Create: Above & Beyond modpack!

[msnihilist]

I'm not super involved in the Nicktoons Unite fandom, but I have been combing through fics and I'm already tried of Danny being portrayed as the big brother/second smartest one instead of what he actually is: a fucking idiot.

[bartleby-the-scribbler]

well, looks like I better learn how to draw cats, cuz BY GOD I’m going to give the Cinder Spires the fandom it DESERVES!! Here’s Bridget Tagwynn and Rowl!!

[rabbitcruiser]

NASA was created to replace NACA on October 1, 1958.

[princedest1ny]

I need a name for this thing.

[thaumium-block]

One day, I hope to take up the mantle of one of the first thaumaturges of my order to cooperate with one of those steam age engineers. We will make wonders together. A vision rests in my mind, one of a great, flying jar - one in which a whole essentia distillery, alembics, regular sized jars, tubes, valves, the *works* - kept aloft by my engineer's marvelous mechanisms, a true joinery of thaumaturgy and creativity....

[feminismisstillahatemovement]

Saw that Daisy Ridley's new movie, Young Woman and The Sea, has come out, and I got curious about it as it seemed to have a high IMDB score, and then I clicked on the reviews, and among all the "wonderfuls", "outstandings", "poignants" and "masterpieces" - most of which come from bot accounts with not a single other review - was this:

So it turns out it's yet another made-up bit of ahistorical revisionist propaganda like that Aeronauts one in 2019 and so many others, that the corrupt critics have to mandatorily praise for ideological reasons, and thousands of women leave theaters believing to be true.

---------

It often strikes me that women's approach to, and understanding of, art is most often a kind of emotional voyeurism: Female-created works seldom scratch much deeper into the human condition or the nature of truth or the flow of history or any of the most longstanding questions of life, the universe and everything than the subjective feelings of a single female protagonist, and the majority of female audiences seem to be perfectly happy with the plot or facts or internal logic of a story making no sense whatsoever, just as long as they can get that emotional hit of feeling outrage or "empowerment" or a flood of sugary comfort and well-being.

This is why it disturbs me to see so many catastrophically bad female-created fantasy TV shows being churned out today like The Acolyte, Ms Marvel, She-Hulk and Thelma, all of which are simply very badly written first-time fan-fictions, ideological propaganda and self-insert revenge fantasies. The women making them don't need - indeed, are not even capable of envisioning - anything more than that, and the dwindling female audience that gobbles them up and incoherently defends them can't even see and don't even care that they are being lied to and manipulated in any way. All that matters is the feelings: to them, truth and greatness and genius itself are simply nice feeling-provoking noises, with no further weight or significance, that can be applied to any lumpy bowel movement you drop off on the red carpet of any awards show.

There are women artists possessed of genius - not many, but some - but feminism erases their achievements by relentlessly elevating mediocrity and making their possession of a set of ovaries the only thing of interest about them. By denying and rejecting any objective set of criteria to judge the worth of any works of art, feminism destroys beauty, history, truth and the greatness of human spirit.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Today, it’s common to see farms covered in plastic. It lines the sides of greenhouses, blankets fields as “plastic mulch,” covers hoop houses, and winds through farms as irrigation tubes, among other forms. In satellite images, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has observed the typically golden and green agricultural fields turned white, as though dusted in snow, from all of the plastic. Agriculture is responsible for 3.5 percent of global plastic production, a figure that may seem small until you consider the sheer volume of plastics produced: around 400 million metric tons per year.

[...]

The Earth’s soils have become a waste bin of the world’s plastics. Soil is thought to be even more polluted with microplastics than the ocean, which contains an estimated 358 trillion plastic particles. Agricultural soils have been called a “reservoir” for not just the plastic produced on farms, but also plastics from other industrial sources that enter the water to eventually wash up on farms during a flood, or are carried by the wind. In a world where all industries run on plastics, these fine particles can also find their way onto farms through poultry litter, sewage sludge applied to soils, and even fertilizer. “There are currently no viable remediation techniques,” said Cusworth. “If you want to remove them from the soil, [the solution] is to stop producing them in the first place.” The major producers of plastics, like ExxonMobil and Dow, continue to sell plastic to farmers as a way to adapt to extreme weather conditions like drought and flooding. For instance, ExxonMobil promises that plastic sheets, like those used by Emmert, will “protect and preserve harvests in even the most demanding weather conditions.” Yet the production of plastics—a derivative of fossil fuels, typically obtained through fracking—is a major contributor to climate change, responsible for over 5 percent of global emissions. This creates a vicious cycle, where the production of plastic drives climate change, which drives up demand for plastics on farms. Extreme weather also causes plastics to degrade more quickly, causing microplastic litter. Indeed, a 2021 report from the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Administration noted that the demand for plastic on farms is projected to grow by 50 percent between 2018 and 2030.

5 June 2024

[abbysimsfun]

The Sims is love. List 5 facts about a favorite sim couple of yours, and why you love them so much. Then pass this on to 5 others, whose sim couple(s) you also love. 💘💕

Thank you for the tag @matchalovertrait!! I was totally going to do a Heather and Conrad post for this, but we're living their love story right now and new history is happening with them every day, so instead I decided to throw back to my In Bloom Legacy Gen 1 powercouple, Daisy (Darden) & Neal Nesbitt.

FACTS: 1. Neal was a gallery sim I made no edits to whatsoever, chosen because I liked his look and he had the Loves Outdoors trait like Daisy (challenge requirement). His WCIF post is here. 2. Daisy was created by mashing the random button in CAS until I had a blonde because I had only seen the challenge start with pretty blonde Daisys and sometimes I'm a trend follower. I picked her original last name, Darden, because it rhymes with garden. I'm the CAS-laziest, I've said this!

(Also I'm not actually keeping the Nesbitt name for every gen, which in a way makes this not really a Sims legacy at all, but I felt like the obvious last name for the challenge, Bloom, was too expected, and since I play with so many premades I'm curious to see where the main-line surname goes and who marries in, etc.) 3. Daisy maxed out the botanist career in early adulthood and then joined the Sims Aeronautical Space Agency (SpaceY) as an astrobotanist testing plant life in space. After obtaining a UFO fruit and achieving the gardening collection plaque, she quit to become a florist but by then I was ready to start Gen 2 so didn't really play it (I have the chance later in this legacy challenge though so Daisy's just enjoying being semi-retired now! 4. Neal maxed out the Civil Design career (Eco Branch only), but his great career move was inventing Nesbeets - a plant-based meat substitute grown on a vertical garden wall. The success of Nesbeets put him on the map enough that the Goths and Landgraabs were both aware of his success in business when each family's story became entwined with the Nesbitts. As an elder, he invented Buttercups all-natural pet treats, inspired by his daughter's quest to end her business contracts with greedy conglomerate Landgraab Corp. 5. As Neal and Daisy raised their four children, their favourite vacation spot was Granite Falls. Daisy loved to fish and meditate in the forest, and Neal, a sustainable living hobbyist who outfitted their home in numerous contraptions to save on water and power consumption, maxed the herbalism skill and the Outdoor Enthusiast aspiration.

Collage Template: Canva (free)

top row: Daisy takes off to outer space as an astrobotanist, Neal and Daisy's wedding day middle row: Neal and Daisy and Luke and Leia for Halloween (Ep 4 before they knew they were siblings so it's fine right?! 😂, Neal and Daisy share a pregnancy cuddle, selfie in Granite Falls, Neal and Daisy as elders after more than 25 years of marriage bottom row: Neal's Nesbeets garden wall, Neal and Daisy with their four children - Heather, Hazel, River, and Holly

[tillystealeaves]

Steddie Breakup Fic- Interlude #2

Friends, I am bad at this posting thing. Sorry! There's one part left and it WILL be up in a timely manner, I promise!

Part 1 First Interlude AO3

Steve’s heart was shattered. In some ways, this was even worse than when Nancy dumped him. For as much as Steve believed that Nancy had loved him back, he’d always known that they were very different people; that there were things about them that would never line up smoothly.

But Eddie…

Eddie was loud and exuberant and always himself, no matter the cost. He was what high school Steve had never dared to be but had always found himself admiring in others. Eddie created space for others to be themselves as well- for Steve to be himself. Not the King or even the Babysitter. Just Steve.

But Steve knew that Eddie was meant for bigger things. He would be a rockstar, if that was really what he wanted. Or maybe open his own music store, or a shop that sold all the stuff for the games he loved to play. Eddie would grow tired of Steve, with his bleeding heart and his stupid brain and his gaggle of kids that he wouldn’t leave until the last one was at least a hundred miles away from Hawkins.

And so Steve had preemptively given Eddie an out. He knew that Nancy had been unhappy with him for a long time before she finally- well, she really didn’t ever “break up” with him. She called him bullshit and started up her next relationship, assuming that Steve would just figure it out. But clearly she hadn’t just done that overnight without thinking it through. She’d wanted out of the relationship and Steve hadn’t realized it.

Nancy had deserved better than that. Eddie deserved better than that.

Ending things now, before he’d made Eddie miserable, was the best thing Steve could do. He knew that. But his heart was shattered.

Steve’s heart was shattered, but he still had to drive Dustin to school.

Dustin hopped in Steve’s car, already going at a hundred miles an hour, as he always was. Today’s topic of discussion (topic of infodump?) was about rocket fuel. Usually Steve would at least try to follow along, even though he quickly got lost when Dustin’s rants veered into the highly technical. But on that morning, he didn’t even try. He focused on the road in front of him, shutting out the sound of Dustin’s voice, the memory of Eddie’s eyes filling with tears, the sinking feeling that he would always and forever be too much but still not enough.

“Steve! Steve! STEVE!”

“What?” Steve yelped, slamming on the brakes.

“You’re not listening to me at all. Like, okay, fine, you don’t care about aeronautics but you’re not even here in this car with me!”

Steve resumed driving, waving an apology to the car that sped past him after his abrupt stop. “Sorry, man. Just got lost in the drive for a second.”

“No you didn’t.”

Steve had talked to Dustin multiple times about his Tone; the condescending lilt to his voice that Steve was sure he didn’t even mean half the time. But as much as the kid needed to knock it off, Steve had gotten used to it. Much more jarring was the complete lack of Tone in Dustin’s voice now. He wasn’t annoyed at Steve for zoning out; if anything, he sounded concerned.

“Steve, what’s wrong? You look like the dogsitter lost your puppy.”

“I’m fine, Henderson,” Steve tried to assure him. He was the babysitter, the one in charge. He was supposed to be there for Dustin, not make Dustin deal with his… bullshit.

“You’re definitely not.” There was the Tone, Steve laughed to himself. But it was still laced with worry. “It’s not like… a Code Red or anything, right?”

“No of course not,” Steve assured him quickly. Eddie had asked him the same thing the night before. Were they all still traumatized from all that had happened or was Steve really just that sad-looking? He thought it was probably a little of both.

“Then what?” Dustin, always so clever, seemed to understand exactly why Steve was hesitating. “Steve, you know you’re not actually my babysitter, right? We’re friends. You can tell me stuff.”

Steve knew he’d be heading over to Robin’s in just a few hours to talk this all out with her. But the memories from his conversation were tying knots inside his chest. Besides, he rationalized, Dustin knew Eddie. Dustin absolutely believed in Eddie being able to leave Hawkins and achieve whatever dreams he wanted. He’d almost certainly agree with Steve’s decision to prioritize Eddie’s happiness. It would probably help Steve feel less devastated to hear that he’d done the right thing.

“Honestly, it’s… relationship stuff,” Steve admitted softly. They’d arrived at Hawkins High, parked off to the side to stay out of the way of the slow-moving traffic. Still, Steve kept his gaze locked on the windshield, not able to look at Dustin.

“Really? You guys are the most perfect couple! You always seem so happy together!”

Well. So much for making Steve feel better about all of this. He couldn’t respond to Dustin’s statement by saying that actually they weren’t together at all, happy or unhappy, as Steve had broken up with Eddie just hours before.

“He’s just… Sure we’re happy, but we want different things, Henderson. Sometimes just really liking each other isn’t enough.”

“What do you want that’s different? You both just seem like you want big happy families- which you have. The Party is a family- who cares if it’s not by blood? Eddie wants to get out of Hawkins and live somewhere that no one ever looks at him and sees Chrissy. You’re not going to want to stay in your parents’ big sad empty house forever, so that works out. And after that, you’re just… going to live. Right? Maybe Eddie will be a rockstar. Maybe you’ll be doomed to work at jobs that get destroyed on an annual basis. Maybe Eddie will get a job at the Chicago branch of Family Video. Maybe you’ll go to school to be a children’s social worker- yes, we know about that,” Dustin barreled on before Steve had even fully opened his mouth. “You’re not subtle about literally anything. And we all think you’d be great at it. It’s basically a form of extreme  babysitting, but without a nail bat. Anyway, I don’t think it really matters what you two do next; you’ll do it together and you’ll have fun. So what’s the issue? Wait, Steve, are you crying?”

Was he? Steve scrubbed at his eyes. Yeah, apparently he was. “No, I’m good,” he sniffed, trying to gather himself. “I get what you’re saying, Henderson, I do. But I’m… look you know how you guys say that I have a Mom Mode, where I sometimes go too far worrying about you all or baking a ton of stuff or-”

“Wait stop,” Dustin interrupted. “You don’t go too far, Steve. Yeah, you have a Mom Mode and yeah it’s kind of funny sometimes when it gets activated. But… you get that we like it, right? Especially, I mean, well… not all of us have that. I have a mom- my mom is great! But I’ve only ever had just a mom. Having a big brother has been really important. And Max? She’ll never say it but you know how much your support means to her. You- you do know that, right? Of course we’re going to make fun of Mom Mode. One time you baked so much Erica had to deliver goodie bags to all of her friends. But that’s just who you are.”

Now Steve was crying again, and he had absolutely no hope of hiding it. He simply sat there in the front seat of his car, one of his little gremlins sitting beside him, and sobbed at the realization that they didn’t consider his love for them an annoyance or a chore. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to stop.

Dustin, always putting the pieces of puzzles together, immediately solved the puzzle of Steve’s anxieties. “Is this what you think your Relationship Problem is too? That you’re going too far with Eddie? Doing an equally intense Boyfriend Mode?”

Steve sighed, his tears slowing, and nodded.

“Eddie loves attention,” Dustin declared. “Come on, Steve, I’m sure you remember whatever lunch table speeches he was doing when you were still at school. He loves attention so much, he’ll take bad attention. But he loves good attention. It’s what makes him a good DM; it’s why he’s in a band. You absolutely cannot worry about giving him too much attention.”

Dustin had a point, Steve knew. He shrugged noncommittally. Attention was one thing but it wasn’t just that…

“It’s not just that though!” Dustin continued. “Look, you know who’s a great mom? Mrs. Byers. She is great but she is intense. She’s gotten in fights with monsters and dudes with guns over Will. What if, and just go with me here, you were concerned about her and you went Mom Mode on her? But also, you’re still kind of a kid, so she went Mom Mode on you? What if you Mom-Moded at each other? You’re both basically two Frilled Lizards, your frills fully extended, circling each other and ready to Out-Mom each other.”

What? Steve was rapidly losing the thread of Dustin’s metaphor. He wondered if Robin knew what a frilled lizard was.

“That’s you and Eddie. You’re circling each other, frills flared in Boyfriend Mode, just being amazing boyfriends at each other. Everyone around you watches it and we’re super happy for you and vaguely grossed out by how sappy-happy you both are, all at the same time. He’s into it, Steve. You’re right, some people probably wouldn’t be. I think if Suzie and I were actually in the same place and I did that kind of Boyfriend Mode, she’d spray me with a hose. But Eddie writes so many NPCs that are clearly based on you. He gets this dumb smile on his face whenever he talks about you. He’s right there with you.”

Dustin patted Steve on the shoulder and grabbed his backpack, clearly just about done giving Steve shockingly solid advice. “People get anxious about things. I know sometimes Max worries that Lucas is going to get tired of her slowing him down with her crutches- and everyone knows that’s stupid. Even she knows it, but she still worries sometimes. Talk to Eddie about it if you need to. But remember when Max iced us out for months? Don’t do that. Just… don’t hurt him, okay? He really loves you. And he deserves to be happy.”

Steve nodded as Dustin exited the car. He thought he managed to mumble something witty, something along the lines of “Thanks, Dear Abby Henderson.”

Then he was alone in his car.

Steve’s heart was shattered. And apparently he had shattered Eddie’s too.

[elizabethemerald]

Summon the Cat: Part 5

Master post

It was hobby night in the Kyle household. The past two months had been wonderful for Selina. She had gotten Danny and Jazz enrolled in school under fake identities created by Oracle. She was delighted that both of them decided to take her last name. Danny and Jasmine Kyle. 

Without the pressure of their previous living situation, both kids were excelling. Jazz of course loved school and was happy and excited to be back. The fact that she didn't have to worry about her brother getting hurt by a ghost allowed her to top the school charts and get involved in the clubs she never had time for before. She also didn’t have to tutor to make sure she had enough money to buy food for herself and Danny, which freed up so much time. 

Danny was also doing well. It had only taken two conversations and one training session with him to realize he was neurodivergent just like Dick was. While Dick and Jazz had learned some coping strategies for how their brains functioned, Danny didn’t have those. So she paid extra for a tutor to help him learn those coping strategies. On top of that, Gotham Academy’s young engineer program was known worldwide for its incredible quality in hands-on learning. He was able to put the brilliant and creative mind that had helped him survive two years as the solo hero in Amity to more productive use. 

Even in the just two months he was there, he already had two patents filed. Selina was so happy for him. Being an astronaut was now probably beyond his reach because of his medical problems, but he could still help NASA and Star Labs with their space programs. If Bruce would finish up with his whining and complaining he would be a shoe-in for the Wayne Space and Aeronautics program. 

Of course Bruce was still at the height of his bitching and moaning about how Danny must be an otherworldly being that was trying to take advantage of her naivete. She wanted to shake him or slap him. Of course he was an otherworldly being! That’s what a ghost is, you idiot! But he’s not taking advantage of her, he’s being protected by a parent for the first time in his life, you obstinate prick. 

The two kids were still working through a lot of issues left over from their previous guardians. Selina couldn’t even call the Fentons “parents” in good conscience. Hell, they barely counted as guardians. The two of them still shared a bedroom, partially out of necessity due to the lack of bedrooms, and partially out of a desire to be there for each other when they had nightmares. Selina’s heart broke every time Danny’s screaming nightmares woke up the household. He had no shortage of nightmare fuel, from the ghosts he had fought, to the GIW, to what his own parents had done to him. 

Unfortunately, Jazz wasn’t immune to the nightmares either. Selina would often wake early to make breakfast and find Jazz already awake with dark rings under her eyes. Sometimes when Selina returned from her “evening work” Jazz would be awake and studying on her own, unable to fall asleep. She hoped that given enough time her kids would eventually be able to at least sleep through the night. 

It was in the effort of them recovering from the horrors they had experienced, that had them all enjoying hobby night. Harley and Ivy were with them as well, though the Bat girls hadn’t been able to make it, much to Jazz’s disappointment. Jazz was working in front of a large basin of water as she wove a small basket. Ivy was leaning over her shoulder and giving her directions as well as telling anecdotes about weaving plants together. Ivy’s plants were already in some cases stronger than steel, and when woven properly they could be strong enough to stop Bane dead in his tracks and even restrain Superman. Jazz laughed and said that wasn’t quite her interest, but it was nice that she could relax with Selina’s friend. 

Danny was playing with his ice ability, with Harley giving him suggestions on what to create. The Kents had given her the suggestion that allowing her son to play and normalize his powers was vital to keep him from suppressing his nature. So as Harley gave Danny suggestions and he laughed and shaped his ice to follow, showing how normal and accepted his powers were. It also helped train and improve his control as he made little icy music boxes and puppets. 

Selina also had her own craft in front of her. Part of the hobby night was not just a chance for all of them to hang together, but also a time to engage in each other’s hobbies. Danny and Selina had each made their own baskets, Selina’s ended up looking more like a bird’s nest, which had Danny floating in the air with laughter. Now she was working on a model of the solar system to enjoy Danny’s hobbies. 

She took a moment to look around at her, her friends and her kids surrounding her and happy. Now seemed the perfect time to bring up the topic that had been on her mind almost since the first night Danny and Jazz had slept over. 

“Since we’re all here, do you mind if we talk about something?” Selina asked. 

She couldn’t help a small flinch as Danny and Jazz reacted. She had tried to keep her voice uplifted and cheerful, but her two kids both looked like she was going to share bad news. Jazz had tensed, ready to move in any direction. While Danny looked like he was about to fly out of the room through the wall. Selina hated again what the Fentons had done to her kids that even a family conversation was such cause for concern. 

“I want to buy a new house where we all have our own rooms and space.” Selina said quickly to clear up the fear and confusion. “I’ve squared away my finances and done some research into homes.” 

Jazz relaxed a little and Danny at least looked like he was relaxing though Seline could see he was still ready to flee if necessary. Harley and Ivy looked up with confusion and curiosity respectively. 

“Ya want us to leave, ‘Lina?” Harley asked. 

“No, this is relevant to you too.” Selina said. “I was thinking that with the Sirens pooling our wealth we could get a larger place with more rooms for our interests.” 

“Oh that would be amazing!” Harley cheered. 

Selina could see Danny brighten at the idea, but also Jazz dim and start to withdraw. She wouldn’t allow that to happen. 

“Jazz, you and Danny will have your own rooms so you don’t have to share, but with large enough beds so you can if you want. You would of course have space for any baskets or any other hobbies or interests. Danny, you would have room to do your homework and store some telescopes. Then maybe we could have room for my after hours work and perhaps a greenhouse or some gymnastics equipment.”

Now Jazz looked happier and Danny had started floating up above the couch in excitement. Selina smiled and pulled out the packet of papers she had prepared and passed it around. Danny started flipping through some of the papers with Harley leaning over his shoulder pointing out the details of the houses. 

“Drake Manor? Are we looking at buying a manor house?” Jazz asked in confusion with one of the papers in her hand.

“What? Drake Manor-?” Selina sat up and leaned over and could see a pamphlet laid out in the exact same manner as the others she had created but she definitely didn’t choose that one. 

“Oh Ancients! We’re going to be fruitloops!” Danny said, then swooped over to Jazz and looked at the paper. “Wow, it's even cheaper than the townhouses.”

“Wait, really?” Selina stood up and looked at it and sure enough the manor next door to the Waynes was for sale at an incredibly cheap price. She looked closer and saw that the Manor was being sold by the owner, the Heir of the Drakes. 

Selina squinted her eyes for a moment before she smiled. It seemed Tim wanted his family close, even though it would piss Bruce off, or maybe especially because it would piss the Bat off. 

“Hmm. I must have missed the price when I put it in the packet.” Selina said, giving a meaningful glance to Harley and Ivy, who both smirk back at her. “Drake Manor might just be perfect for our needs, if that works for all of you.” 

[scotianostra]

On 17th September 1910 Andrew Blain Baird, working as a blacksmith in Rothesay, made the first flight by an entirely Scottish designed and built aeroplane.

Andrew Blain Baird was born in 1862 in Sandhead on Luce Bay in the Rhinns of Galloway, Scotland. One of three sons, his father was a fisherman and handloom weaver. He became an apprentice to a blacksmith in Sandhead, worked as a lighthouse keeper on Lismore, then as an ironworker at Smith and McLean’s on the Clyde shipyards before finally setting up on his own as a blacksmith at 113 High Street in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, when he was 25.

Baird was a daring thinker, a pioneer and innovator. He created many improvements to the plough, built a unique model of the triple expansion engine powered by electricity and was one of the original members of the Scottish Aeronautical Society.

Eager to expand his knowledge of aviation, Baird corresponded with the early aviators Louis Bleriot and S. F. Cody and exchanged information about construction of aircraft and their flight. Inspired by a visit to Blackpool for England’s first ever Aviation Week in October 1909, he returned to Rothesay ready to design and build his own sophistocated monoplane similar to Bleriot’s but with an engine built by the Alexander Brothers in Edinburgh that was 4-cylinder, air-cooled and with water-cooled valves. The control system he would design for his aircraft would be unlike anything that had been developed at the time. His wife sewed brown trussore silk for the wings.

The Baird monoplane, once completed in his own shop in the summer of 1910, went on show at an exhibition in the Esplanade Flower Garden at the front of Bute. and then to the amazement and excitement of all it was moved to the Bute Highland Games on 20 August 1910.

From there it was taken for storage and readying directly to a barn owned by Willie Dickie at his farm at Cranlasgvourity, Bute.

Scottish aviation history was about to be made when in the very early morning of 17 September 1910, the Baird Monoplane was taken by a Mr Scott on his horse-drawn wagon to Ettrick Bay - with its wide expanse of sand reminiscent of the Kitty Hawk N.C. site chosen by the Wright Brothers for their historic flight.

In the sunshine and amid the wide golden sands of Ettrick Bay the first entirely Scottish designed and built plane sat ready to make history.

Andrew Baird was, on that day, assisted by his friend Ned Striven who was an Electrical Engineer with the Burgh of Rothesay and who had assisted him with the engine and related design considerations.

There on the wide expanse of Ettrick Bay beach, Baird and Ned Striven started the engine. All was ready. Hearts raced with anticipation. A small crowd looked on in amazement. And the flight into history began.

Flight Magazine on 24 September 1910,[1] described it as follows:

“Mr Baird was seated in the machine and on the engine being started the plane travelled along the sands at good speed. Naturally, on clearing the ground, the swerving influence of the axle ceased and the influence of the steering wheel brought the machine sharply round to the right causing it to swoop to the ground. The contact was so sharp that the right wheel buckled and the right plane suffered some abrasion by scraping along the beach.”

Andrew Blain Baird had realised his dream - he had flown in an aircraft of his own design and construction.

His was the first entirely Scottish flight of a heavier than air powered craft.

Noted pioneer aircraft manufacturer Tommy Sopwith sailed his yacht into Rothesay Bay in 1910 to visit the Marquess and to attend the Highland Games and there viewed the on display Baird monoplane. Very impressed, he was given permission to incorporate some of Baird’s innovations into the aircraft he was designing and which would have such a great impact on the course of World War I. Over the years, many others from around the world involved in aviation consulted Andrew Baird and learned from his pioneering experience and innovative mind.

[firadessa]

Quick thoughts on Bleakwatch Chronicles: Tink and the Lost City (spoilers of the heaviest amount)

And on the Ring of Belief riddle, I will reveal more about Silvermist's quest soon, then I will do more riddles on the other character quests and general post. Just know that Silvermist's early characterization is not what it seems for a Water fairy!

General thoughts of Book 1

Worldbuilding:

-The touches of worldbuilding are just extremely well done. The writer really dug deep in the movie lore and did a good job bringing magic to the movie universe. Zach remembered the moonstone being the source of pixie dust and how it transmuted pixie dust from the moonlight. Even touches like Bartleby being a Tinker Bell type who wanted to prove Tinkers had a place and had a private audience with Clarion to do so. (unlike Tinker Bell's fuck around and find out approach) Supposedly.

-Bleakwatch is a capitalistic society, with a commerce system. There is a lower and upper class, the aeronauts with the suppressed talents with magic bracelets. Suppressed who suffer from "dust deperivation" meaning their wings are brittle, and do not have touch with their talent. Then there's an upper class with technology with an artistic side. It is very interesting these undertones in an 8-12 *Disney Fairies* book when you see Tinker Bell question what being a fairy really means to her and how different Pixie Hollow is from Bleakwatch/Clockwork Capital. How she is surprised by the commerce existence. but it just shows how much the author realized how much could be done with the original movie series. including using deleted concepts and a supposed early plot rumor from the early Pirate Fairy (Mythical Island) into the story. It makes me think he recieved archives and art from now defunct Disneytoons. A while ago I thought how a flying machine could be involved in Tink Meets Peter, because like how did Peter become an elf sprite thing in this universe? It's up to question what kind of adventure could have happened, so I imagined Tink building a flying machine for him, a regular child later turned mythical.

-Bleakwatchers do not trust the Never Fairies and view them as "rustic" hippie types, Quin teases her with these stereotypes even though it would be better for them NOT to know about Never Fairies. It's to control them. Think about it. Like its not even city/country in the way you'd expect as they are characterized literally as nature folk who run their society poorly. I believe this is the one of the strongest concepts in the book. I believe this society (or rather Bartleby) believes human society is the best way to run society, to decieve and lie and put up a front. Knowing he was a mastermind behind the talent supression, I think he was able to manipulate the magic as a Tinker and was a rouge fairy like Zarina. I believe he was a Tinker, but his analytical mind wanted more and he wanted to manipulate the talent ceremonies in Pixie Hollow and wanted to "fix" things that were not objects. There is a ruse happening here, and I believe Bartleby got in touch with magic manipulation (fairy magic is a thing stated in TLT) behind talents and such and figured out to way to basically start his own society by basically creating his own moonstone that can transmute light into (blue) pixie dust. He seems the type to believe certain talents are better than others, yet lies and acts shock letting Maddox, his proxy (I dont know how that term is really used) take the fall for him. Maybe between books we will see Bartleby take more of the authoritative position (aka rise to "full official dictatorship"), and play 4d chess with the fairies of Bleakwatch/CC. Maybe he will release Maddox, and we will find out whether or not he was in on it or not. Do they have like... a magic crystal ball that predicts the rebellion of the fairies and who is loyal to who? How will this unfold.

-Not traditional steampunk which I love! It is very fairycore, natural steampunk. It feels both a fairy society and a humanistic society, combining both attributes. They feel like they are repressing their fairy selves, but it shows up in their architecture, industrialization, and overall consumption habits. Feels like an improvement from what we could have had.

-Very happy to know finally what happens with the laughs that don't make it to Pixie Hollow. But also, very sad.

-There's the idea clearly shown of repression vs freedom. The people of Bleakwatch and to an extent the elites no one can trust themselves and each other. Everyone is out for themselves. Yet those eccentric Never Fairies, are able to realize their truest selves and use the tools of nature to the advantage such as insects as commonly used as alarm clocks, volleyballs, lighting etc. Yet, Bleakwatch only uses a little but of fireflies and bioluminsent mushrooms heavily, and Bartleby has a connection to mushrooms with the Golden Dustcap. And they don't believe the Pixie Hollowians are accomplished and hardworking, that division is already sown.

-Dream talents and shadow talents as the "new talents" is getting me taking notes.

-The fairy doors, and how all the bracelets lead to Bleakwatch is interesting because the upper class fairies dont wear them and presumably live only in the capital, yet they are an integral piece of technology for the Bleakwatchers.

-The key to the talent bracelets was cold to the touch when Tink touched it and gave her a literal shock, almost like it has a security system or some arcane power

-The bracelets show "true self" when unlocked, oddly

-Bracelets reminding me of those Disney magic bands

-Gnome lore is cool, but probably a time issue with Big Ben maybe... him

Bartleby:

-Pixie Hollow exiles are canonically a thing? Was Tink almost one then? I suppose so, but it seems like the condition for exile is being 1. rejected by your talent group 2. leaving after feeling rejected by society. Maybe we will see shall it truly means to be a Pixie Hollow exile in book two.

-Dream manipulation/dream dross. Oh my gosh. What is with that. What does he know. Will this connect to the greater Peter Pan/DF lore of Never Land basically being a dream pocket dimension. Will they finally explain the connection to Neverland as like the magic pocket dimension and the Mainland and the oceans as lost human objects always appear there. I really hope they expand on that in a future installment.

-Disabled villain trope?? Bartleby has mechanical wings and has others do his work for them. But his wings almost seem prosthetic, and this makes sense as his weakness surviving in the human world, when Quin's makes her wings go fast.

-Bartleby might be more powerful, and possible a Tinker that can manipulate fairies, magic, and society. I believe she views Clarion is so sensitive, especially with the whole Milori thing which happened when Pixie Hollow was "very young".

-Weirdly conservative energy from him. He calls Tinker Bell a "reformer", this slip up shows his nature as an antagonist. And he uses the term "isolation" from PH instead of "protective measures"

-He called Pixie Hollow a Never Land colony (🤔🤨‼️💭⁉️)

Maddox

-I call the nature of his birth into question heavily, and believe he is either a creation of Bartleby (through dream energy) or his accomplice, a very talented dust keeper just like Zarina who worked with him closely. The parallels of Tink and Terence and her and Zarina to them are very high then.

-He is an interesting character, who seems to pride in "necessity" and "necessary evils"

-He takes a liking to Quin, perhaps he has some perceptive ability because he seems to pick them out as someone who will be loyal but also confused. I don't see any romantic undertones there just condesention.

-He targets people who he believed are the most useless in the society, and calls out garden and water talents but words it differently, calling water "water shaping." Humanization or just blatant ignorance?

-Seemed to have direct control of the talent ceremony, and limited the amount of talents a fairy could be. Dust talents play a crucial role in arrival day

Quin

-Best character here to me no question

-The unloyal soldier

-Heavy shipping material with Tinker Bell

-Definition of "keep your friends close and enemies closer"

-Wants the best for everyone, but is tired and exausted

-Leader of the Flutterpunks, emotionally fragile, untrusting, confused

-A dreamer who won't admit it

-Backstory was especially interesting

-Six is a crowd hmm

-Flutterpunks are family

-Has a weird "business relationship with Maddox", but its not an equal partnership and she's basically being spied on and making unfair trades. Possibly Maddox playing with his food, believing the Flutterpunks could desent one day

-Attached to their coat and pocket watch named Little Ben, given by Maddox to "pay off a debt"??

-"Even a stopped clock is nice twice a day." Stop. OMG.

-Modified wings for speed (?), shows how talented they are as a fairy

-Will write Tinkquin fanfic now.

-Calls Tinker Bell "sprocket" which is just so cute

-Got a cool little fairy loft

Danveers and Darwin

-Cuties

-Same but different trope (i eat that up)

-Their wings didnt glow because of the talent supression, meaning talents and wing glow are of the same magic.

-One is a shadow talent and one is a light talent. Is shadow a natural byproduct of living on the mainland?

-Fashion oriented

-Twintuition

-Fira and Iridessa as sibling dynamic

-One of my favorites

-A package, do not seperate

-Light talents hair has a natural glow and shadow talents have a natural aura in their hair

-Easily scare

-The glue in the group

Ozwald

-Nerd who overanalzyes

-Perceptive

-Book smart

-Scribe talent, specifically code breaking?! Good non nature talents focused on for once. And I wish he was just called a cipher talent or something but its movie universe rules so

-Dismissed as the nerd in the group (by the twins mostly) and just wants someone to listen to him, who's intellectually curious

-Nickname is Oz to who he lets in

-Gives paper hairclip to tinkerbell, even when they didnt have a good haul which could mean... things

-Enjoys mystery novels, which might not exist in Pixie Hollow bc no robbers ig??

-Close to Quin

-Tink makes a comparison to scribble

Axel

-Hate the way he was written, or at least Tink's narration of "even feeling this" as a very stoic guy. It's giving the quiet kid phenomena from many US public schools, when extroverted kids are surprised when people who dont normally talk actually do and are all surprised when it's common for someone in that environment to just not want to talk cause it sucks to be there. As a result, i initially hated many aspects of how he was written as Tink was always surprised when he expressed any sort of emotion. He was always feeling a certain way, but TB was always surprised that he was which just took me out of the story a few times

-Described to be sort of a "gentle giant"

-Theatre enjoyer

-Wanted to see the masked singer who rebelled, who is likely Elmira

-Dream talent, possibly secretive and naturally perceptive because of this

-Private fairy who keeps to himself, independent

-Works out possibly to fight back and protect himself

-Mechanical hand?

Elmira

-Voice was supressed as a singing talent

-A storyteller singing talent allegedly who sung tragic songs, storytelling is considered unnessary

-A key player in this story (get it)

-Seems to be related to Elips from early Pirate Fairy rumors

-Hoping she isnt forgotten because of the lack of official art

-Can work a plane despite being a music talent

-Knows more but has a plot related injury

Tinker Bell

-Just taking it all in

-Ignorance and culture clash

-Trying to blend in

-Made me actually interested in her character

-Awkward

-The right way to do a Tinker Bell solo story (looks at TLT who used friends as plot device instead of a little world dressing..)

-Rule breaker who's curious

-Invented balloon carriers which are used throughout the hollow

Other characters

-Clank and Bobble show up at the beginning and were very cute

-Someone told me they were setting up Clank and Tink but i really dont see it, he just complemented her literal bedhead (also thanks for lending me your book scans!)

-Terence is Tink's best friend. He's in the friend zone honestly because Tink is a natually anxious person and so his he. They will not be canon ever on that basis I'm sure

-Friends are mentioned and show up in the end. Certain characters id if they found out she was going to the mainland alone, would tie her to her bed. Love it

Comparisons to other media

-The story reminds me heavily of the story of Arcane, havent played LOL at all but in Arcane there are two societies of the rich and poor and the way both are described in the book reminds me of Arcane, and I'll basically be calling this Fairy Arcane now. Quin specifically reminds me of Vi, of meeting an outsider and not understanding what to do in this sort of society suffering from exaustion. The ambassors and higher power reminds me of Maddox

-Bartleby reminds me of Belos from the Owl House, and Maddox feels like his Golden Guard. Got control of his (own) society basically to have others speak his messages with his own agenda, having his inner circle receieve all the benefits. And Tink reminds me of Luz here in this scenario, being manipulated. So does Quin, who reminds me of Amity too.

-Bartleby reminds me of Principal Reverend from Monster High's Haunted movie. In this movie, the worlds of the ghost world and monster world are far apart. Reverend is being punished and uses chains on everyone to make her punishment easier, and lies who she is. The ghosts are afraid of the "solids" from the monster world. When Spectra, a ghost investigator tells her about Monster High, a multiple monster school she calls Monster High a "progressive" school with a sneer under her breath. Tink is also like Spectra here, fish out of water.

-The fashion sense of many Bleakwatchers reminds me of the Capital from Hunger Games, and of the elaborate looks as the colors are very saturated, it seems like the beauty and the shopping confuses people. A lot of people dress boldy but also do very difficult technician work, it seems to be a lot like our society and I think that's on purpose.

Overall thoughts:

This is a wonderful book with a confusing marketing campaign and unfortunate release timing. It has so much depth, and if I have to emphasize, for a book of it's kind and it does a lot to elevate the existing material. I was surprised at the "French" clothier fairy a little. I loved the use of imagery and was surprised on the twists in turns, expressions (one I feel like didnt have a family friendly equivalent which is funny- they say "just jam it" like jammed gears and i was like wha). I would give the book a number rating of 9.9 out of 10 and a star rating of 4.8 stars. I'm confused on the illustration aspects especially with what we have and what we don't. I hope with AI taking such a strong hold in the industry, AI wasn't considered for imagery in the book to which there is very little.

What I wish will happen in the next installment(s)

-Tinker Bell and company being a private investigator team in Pixie Hollow

-Involvement of Zarina and another character

-Fixes and expansions on Pixie Hollow lore

-Lore for islands outside of Neverland past the second star

-Expanded Pirate Fairy lore

-Expanded Lost Treasure lore (like the mirror shipwreck etc) and fairy magic

-Battle between the others

-Close calls

-Bleakwatchers in balloon carriers and seeking refuge in Pixie Hollow

-More illustration

-Others seeking refuge in the hollow

-Getting caught by humans

-Expansion on dream and shadow talents (an early reader who got it said they were to protect them from humans, dont know where they got that from)

-Fairy rebellion

-Flutterpunk secret society

-Bartleby lore

-Pocket watch lore (both human sized one and little Ben)

-Talent expansion

[ant1quarian]

A Sans Trio x Alien Reader

A silly little story Idea I'm gonna write. (Yes, I know, another story. Someone hold me back /j)

After the world begun to push for space travel, the Ebott Aeronautics and Space Administration (EASA) broke the laws of physics and created a particular space craft that could travel at the speed of light.

After a couple years of careful consideration, they decided that a select 100 people- humans and monsters alike- would be travelling on said spacecraft to the "Trappist System" 39 light years away. They're placed in these stasis pods, and then sent to the main planet they believe will be hospitable.

Trappist 1e.

However, once they get there, they realise that Humans and Monsters aren't the only intelligent life out there- and certainly not the largest, or strongest.

Featuring: Underfell Sans (Red), Horrortale Sans (Axe), and Undertale Sans.

( The Alien Species I created will be shown under the cut )

Trappistarian live on Trappist 1e, and change in appearance depending on which side they live on.

(Trappist 1e is tidally locked, meaning one side is constantly facing the sun, and the other is constantly facing the dark.)

Goldilocks live on the small, "middle" area between the dark and the light- a very temperate area that would be perfect for human life.

They live on the "Day" side of Trappist 1e.

And these guys live on the dark side.

All Trappistarian are capable of being in the other's territory for varying times.

Their average heights are 10'3" and above.

[diabolus1exmachina]

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante by Touring Superleggera 

The Disco Volante is a two-seater Gran Turismo. It is based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione coupé with its front-central mounted 4.7 litre V8 engine and a transaxle rear drive with unmodified specifications. Each unit, of which the construction requires 4,000 hours of manual work.The present Disco Volante celebrates the myth of the 1952 style icon. The new design briefing required to blend ingredients as innovation, emotion and aerodynamic properties into a timeless and essential shape.During the development stage, Head of Design Louis de Fabribeckers and his team cooperated with the engineers on an almost daily basis. “We focused on the preservation of the design essence. – says de Fabribeckers – Once the design frozen, we had to understand the manufacturing problems and solve them right away without compromising the design.”In consistency with the car’s design philosophy the interior has a ‘science fiction’ feel to it. Part of this ‘spaceship’ atmosphere was created by elements like the red LED interior light profiles. Also, aeronautics has been the inspiration for parts like the dashboard, instruments and seat adjustment lever.The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione chassis was chosen for its light and rigid structure and its outstanding dynamic properties. Therefore it forms the perfect basis for the coach-built bodywork of the Disco Volante, integrally conserving the rolling chassis and drive train.The Alfa Romeo 8C’s steel space-frame and other structural elements were retained to guarantee torsion stiffness, high performance and the quality standard. The frame members and the central carbon cell remained unchanged. Elements of the underpinning and the body, such as the engine bay and firewall, the windscreen and cowl, the a-pillar and the locks and hinges have been retained too, just as the dashboard and instruments, the pedals and the steering wheel. Parts like doorframes, the roof frame and the c-pillar have been modified to match with the new shape.The layout of a front-central mounted engine, a transaxle transmission and rear-wheel drive offers an optimal weight distribution of 49-51% between the front and rear axles. To ensure excellent handling the front and rear double-wishbone suspension scheme is combined with hub carriers of forged aluminium and additional trailing arms for the rear suspension.The lightweight and compact 4.7 litre V8 engine delivers 450HP and 480Nm peak torque. It is coupled with a six-speed sequential transaxle gearbox with electronic control and paddle-shift gear selection. Together with a limited-slip differential and a state-of-the-art braking system with large diameter, ventilated discs a precise, dynamic and proactive drive is ensured. The Disco Volante can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4,2 seconds and has a top speed of about 290 km/h (181 mph).

All new and modified components of the Disco Volante have been CAD designed. In this process, which covers feasibility, safety, homologation, aerodynamics and structural analysis, the most advanced IT tools and simulation techniques have been used.

Since torsion stiffness and noise reduction are of critical importance, special attention has been paid to the under-body structure and its elements, like the tubular frames supporting the rear wings and bumper, and the roll bar joining the c-pillars. Other complex design issues were the tailgate hinges, the 3d-cambered door window, and the front wheel covers.

The Disco Volante was then submitted to a CFD aerodynamic study to enhance the airflow and ensure optimal downforce in the rear section. After that, FEM calculations were run to assess resistance and rigidity of all parts subject to homologation.

Touring Superleggera is synonymous with the manufacture of lightweight bodywork. The weight advantage of aluminium is one of the assets of Touring Superleggera’s construction methods. Nowadays however, the craft of hand-beating aluminium panels is combined with the use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). For the Disco Volante, Touring decided to use this combination of aluminium and CFRP. This has been the result of a study conducted to define optimal use of materials for the bodywork in terms of weight, resistance, precision, finish and quality, and ease of repair in case of damage.

The CFRP is used for specific components like the front bumper and grille, the bonnet, the skirts, the boot lid and the integrated rear-window frame. The bonnet and the boot lid are sandwich-built with Nomex filler in-between to obtain a better stiffness/weight ratio and to dampen vibration and noise.

The aluminium panels are hand-beaten using an epoxy mould. Since the inner frames of most parts of the bodywork are made of CFRP, this requires gluing of aluminium on carbon fibre. This technique adds to the rigidity as the glue has structural properties.

The body panels are pre-assembled on a laser measurement platform using a jig. This ensures that the strict tolerance required is respected. After adjustment, the panels are either welded or glued. The body-in-white is then used to preassemble and fit all trim components, brightware and moulding.