#ecosystem exploration

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Science Literacy Week: September 18-24 – Fostering Curiosity and Knowledge in Saskatchewan Schools

[artgletic]

case study of the self-identified god

[crunchybeards]

Could you do a breakdown of Xaria and Monty please? I think they're a bit misunderstood in the fandom and I've grown to appreciate their characters

I'm gonna be going hella off script for like the actual ask thingy that this stems from because my rambling/ answer style is very loose, like the skeleton is there but I prefer just going nuts with it lol. Like this will be a bit of mini-breakdown for these two, nothing too in depth but I just gotta yap about these two.

Usual rambling beneath the cut, with a TL:DR at the end:

But anyways, hard agree. I'll preface with this, I think certain people in the fandom just kinda saw/ heard about the dinner interaction/ cutscene where Xaria kicks the Rat Child and immediately dismissed her character and by extension Monty as a result. Like as ridiculous as this sounds, Xaria does care for the greater good, she does care about animal rights, I wouldn't even be surprised if it were revealed that she attended rallies or protests for the greater good. On paper she's a kind person. Monty just does his own thing whilst hanging with Xaria. 

And one of the things that I usually say with my buddy is that Xaria cares but she doesn't care about you, the player and Sam respectively (Not in a fourth wall type of way lol, just like in terms of mucking up the gameplay for you). And Monty honest to god couldn't give a damn about anybody that isn't Xaria even if he was bribed so there's no way in hell that he cares about Sam/ players. I think that's another thing that tends to ruffles peoples' feathers about Xaria and Monty, they couldn't give a rat's ass about you but they sure as hell love fucking with you. AND THAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT THEM. Them not caring that much about you/ Sam is fucking great.

And I obviously quite like how Xaria and Monty are written. You cannot deny that they are well-written characters. I've always seen them as characters/ companions that were meant to kind of test how tolerant we as players are to the people we let into Sam's apartment. I've said it a few times before but there are certain aspects of the game that are specifically meant to impact us, the players, in terms of how we choose to engage with the in-game world. The door mechanic is once again a pretty good example of this. It's both how Sam sees those beyond the door and it is one of the ways in which we, the players, are able to interact with characters through the perspective of a scared and paranoid person, obviously this would affect how we choose to let Sam interact with these door interactions. Another really good example of intentional game design that was meant for us the players as opposed to Sam's character would definitely be the mushroom colony "quest" because if you're a big rpg fan, obviously you'd be excited as hell for the upgrades presented and subsequently gutted as hell for the crushing reality that none of it was real. Why the hell am I even yapping about this? Mainly because I find these choices to be really cool game design and to also establish that we as players do need to distinguish between what is meant to impact us as players and what is meant to, in universe, impact Sam. Is this meant to impact my gameplay or is this meant to impact Sam and where do we draw the line between the two and Xaria and Monty somehow got intertwined with both.

Xaria and Monty ultimately have no overall impact on the greater playing experience but they do have in-game interactions that absolutely test our mettle. And for people who don't like these two, I kind of see it more as they don't like that they are experiencing some form of discomfort/outright aggression directed towards them specifically. Obviously, you won't like it if you helped somebody out and then were subsequently met with open hostility, aggression and even kicked out of your own room. But it's the end of the world and they need a place to stay and you are capable of housing them. Like are they suddenly unworthy of being supported because they're really annoying assholes? Does that suddenly mean they deserve to die or get cursed/ fused with a cursed individual? You have every right to reject them at the door, to not let them in, this is your space and all that and you're just trying to be safe. But wouldn't that just kind of prove that you're caving into the paranoia and fear of the situation by purposefully rejecting them based on first impressions. You'd be rejecting them based on a bias, not because they've done anything particularly bad (not yet anyway lol) And yes, they do kick Sam out of his room but that's honestly the most aggressive thing they even do outright.

What I truly like about Xaria and Monty's characters is that they are incredibly flawed. Xaria oh my days I love her so much, she's such a hypocrite and I love her for it. She says she cares about the safety and care for animals and is the same person who will kick the Rat Child just because of a mistake, a mistake that anybody in that apartment could've made and yet she gets weepy for a pixilated octopus. Monty is, fun fact, THE ONLY RECRUITABLE WHO CAN KILL YOU VIA CUTSCENES. They're fucking dangerous, genuinely. But they're so distinct in caring about each other that that's what makes them so interesting. They care about each other and aren't built around Sam and if I'm being honest, the players. Every companion is distinct and separate from Sam but none of them are as hostile towards Sam as these two. They care about each other first and foremost and enable each other because they're just that close but Sam isn't close to them, he's just the dude whose place they sleep at. They don't see him as a friend, so they won't treat him as such. They drag their feet about helping you and fight with Sam as both a form of begrudging repayment for the stay and because they like kicking people's teeth in.

It's these flaws that make them the weirdly compelling characters that they are. They're a danger, only if you enable them. They're annoying assholes if you let their bullshit get to you. They're an interesting reflection of how kind is too kind. Of course you'll wonder if you made a mistake by letting them in but also people are just like that sometimes. Sometimes in order to be the bigger person you gotta deal with assholes like Xaria and Monty, not because you get anything out of it but because you showed that you cared. This isn't me excusing their behaviour or endorsing it, this is me saying that quite literally every companion is going to be different and I like Xaria and Monty both because of their specific character and the fact that they do shake things up. They aren't undeserving of a place to stay, and fans shouldn't beat down on them for that, by just dismissing them for one pissy action you're missing out on characters who are so damn interesting. I love that they represent the nuance of letting people into Sam's apartment, that their existence isn't a punishment nor a burden but understandable. You would be a bit naive to believe that every companion would be chill, that the game would fully reward you for being kind. There are assholes and selfish people in the apocalypse but that doesn't mean they're unworthy of shelter too. This is a game about self-sacrifice and caring for your neighbours, you know, being humane during the end of the world. This is most pervasive with the cursed people you save but it's also important to remember that this is applicable to non-cursed people too. Yes, even the ones that fucking suck.

TL:DR: Xaria and Monty suck on purpose. How you react to their shitty characters is a further reflection of how far you, the player specifically, are willing to act on the game's theme of being humane.

[shkika]

thoughts on watcher if you've had time to play it?

im so happy you're here we welcome you!- rough wip

rambling in the tags about the dlc!

[luminescentmoth]

Subnautica is the alien marine biology game Outer Wilds is the alien astrophysics game so what is the alien botany game. Please I need it to exist.

[mortemilla]

odo sketches

[little-red-fool]

I think if there was a god it would look like a whale.

[safeshallows]

When I see someone's wishlist for the next Subnautica sequel and they want a bigger map that's basically just the void so you have more space for big submarines with big torpedoes for epic leviathan battles ... like.. that's an entirely different game. You don't want more Subnautica you want a different game :/

[seabeck]

I wish my limbs were covered in moss

[codename-adler]

rarepair? no, rarepolycule!

- jerejeanaaron

- kevsethaaron

- jerandreil

- kevkatheaaron (k x thea x kate x aaron)

- renrobinson

- kevmattaaron

- kevjeaneil

- and of course, the big bad kevjerejeanandreil

feel free to add to this & have fun!!!

[wayti-blog]

"In a study published today in Science Advances, researchers from the Ocean Discovery League reveal that only a minuscule fraction of the deep seafloor has been imaged. Despite covering 66% of Earth's surface, the deep ocean remains largely unexplored.

The study, "How Little We've Seen: A Visual Coverage Estimate of the Deep Seafloor," is the first to document that, in decades of deep-sea exploration, humans have observed less than 0.001% of the deep seafloor. This total area is roughly the size of Rhode Island or one-tenth the size of Belgium.

(This heatmap shows the concentration of known deep-sea dives with visual observations in the Pacific Ocean. Credit: Ocean Discovery League)

The deep ocean, defined as being deeper than 200 meters, sustains diverse ecosystems and provides essential services, including oxygen production, climate regulation, and crucial pharmaceutical discoveries, and plays a critical role in maintaining the health of our planet."

continue reading article

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Unveiling Nature's Treasures: The City Nature Challenge Beckons You!

[aurorangen]

After the turtle hatching, Sulani's ecosystem started thriving! The coral reefs looked healthier than before, more of the marine life was coming back and of course there were plenty more fish in the sea.

[shoot-i-messed-up]

fav ships for the other gls? (besides hal)

oooooh super fun question tysm anon <33333

John Stewart -

the DCAU was basically my big introduction to DC as a whole, so I love him with Shayera, even though I know that's not really accurate to comics canon (as much as DC seems to pretend it is, which is lowkey giving "peaked in high school" vibes tbh).

Other than Shayera, I do like John with both Guy and Hal. There's decent canon evidence for both: when John thinks of who he can trust implicitly, he thinks of Guy, but when he picks Hal for a GL mission, Guy grumbles about "the brass" always picking favorites. I think John balances both of them out well in different ways. I think guyjohn and johnhal might be tied for me. Guyjohn would probably usually take the edge for me, but I just recently talked to an oomfie about this johnhal moment in a fic and.....well.

I'm waiting with bated breath to see Katma in my read of Green Lantern: Silver Age. I've heard so much about her. Possibly when I meet her, John/Katma will shoot up to the top of my fave John ships.

Guy Gardner -

I've read a decent chunk of JLI just so I could see some Guytora. I didn't even get far enough to see some real Guytora tbh, I'll have to return to JLI some day. So while i LOVE seeing guytora fanart and stuff, I don't actually know this ship that well

Other than guytora, I like Guy with any of the other Four Corpsmen tbh, he has great chemistry with all three. Guy and Hal have very interesting parallels, though I think their personalities are very aggressive and would clash long-term; Guy and Kyle seem very sweet; and Guy and John are complementary in kind of a red oni, blue oni way. Out of these three, I think guyjohn takes my fave for Guy.

Kyle Rayner -

I still haven't read Kyle's run of GL tbh (SORRY KYLE but I'm trying to get thru all of GL: Silver Age and moving forward with that)

which means that the only prominent ship I have seen with Kyle is Kyle and Soranik Natu, and I have to be honest...I actually think they work really well together. I think they're complementary in that Kyle gets Soranik to open up and Soranik help balances Kyle. Plus, the artist x doctor thing? IDK!! it works! (until it doesn't, but u get my point)

Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz - I haven't read their run either SORRY GUYS. But as far as I have seen of these two, I see them as best friends.

Jo Mullein - currently, Syzn of the Cliffs no question (the other guy is a bit of an ass, even if he is a more loveable one by the end of Far Sector). Would absolutely be open-minded to new Jo ships, however, now that she's been outside the City Enduring and with the main GLs for a while. Would love to see her get with more alien gals.

Alan Scott - I read Alan Scott: The Green Lantern (2023) as my big introduction to the character, and I do know now that Vladimir Sokov didn't really exist before that and that it was kind of a huge retcon when they could've used Jimmy... but yeah I have to say Alan and Vladimir is my favorite Alan ship. Alan and Jay Garrick interest me, but I haven't seen them together as much as I have seen Vladimir and Alan and....well. it's doomed yaoi. they knew what they were doing.

Kilowog - Hal no diff, not just because I actually really like Halowog but also because I don't really know if Kilowog has had any fleshed-out love interests? He's had his mate who afaik is unnamed, and he had that alien lady from GLTAS... but I also do really like Hal and Kilowog together. I used to be so-so about it, but I've basically done a 180 (especially after the whole Constructowog business omg). And as i've said before, I think my favorite dynamic is Hal x [stabilizing presence].

Soranik Natu -

my fave Soranik ship is a tie between Soranik/Kyle and Soranik/Iolande.

Soranik/Kyle has had more canon interactions, and they do complement each other out well, like I said earlier! HOWEVER! while I did say that Kyle got Soranik to open up, honestly Soranik chose that by herself, Kyle just made a safe space for her to do so. someone else could fulfill that role for her. And while I did say that Soranik let Kyle process his grief, what I was really thinking about was the moment where she suggests that he make a mural of all the deceased GLs.

Soranik/Iolande has a lot of potential!!!! I have talked to a moot about this recently, but they have UNTAPPED levels of tension and conflict. Like, Soranik chose Iolande to be her sector partner, but Iolande is a PRINCESS, and this has mostly manifested in the text as just "oh haha it's funny that she has to balance the bureaucracy of being a ruler with the resposibilities with being a GL, she's so busy all the time xD" when it is so odd and seems to go completely ignored that Soranik comes from a planet where their previous GL was the ruler (albeit a despot, which Soranik and Iolande both hate on principle), and that GL was depised SO MUCH that both Katma and Soranik had to deal with the lingering hatred so many years later. so WHY would soranik choose someone who she knew was going to inherit the throne and all the political power that entails as her fellow GL???

I think it could be a really interesting contrast between Iolande and Soranik if Iolande was super political and kind of an activist (she is canonically very interested in the socio-political aspects of the GL's role) whereas Soranik specifically tries to stay apolitical because she fears gaining any political power and meddling in politics or, God forbid, becoming a Sinestro-like figure, because of her planet's history

THEY COULD HAVE SO MANY PARALLELS TO SINHAL!!! OUGHHH SINHAL COULD HAUNT THE SORALANDE NARRATIVE!!!! u would think that obviously Sinestro = Soranik and Iolande = Hal in this parallel because of their respective color rings (at least, once Soranik is kidnapped by Sinestro and forced to be a Yellow Lantern), but I also think that this parallel could be way more complex than that. Iolande being the monarch of her planet might actually make Sinestro see more of himself in her than in Soranik. Also, Sinestro+Iolande and Hal+Soranik have more similarities in terms of personalities. IT COULD BE COMPLEX AND AND LAYERED AND IT COULD BE SO SO INTERESTING

(Plus, space wlw!!)

THEY COULD BE BUTCH4FEMME

actually no my favorite Soranik ship is Soranik x being in canon comics again. when will my wife return from the war.

Thaal Sinestro (I'm counting him because he used to be a GL + he is a prominent character of the GL franchise + AFAIK he is currently a GL in canon comics as of currently) - Hal, no diff. Although honestly I do think their dynamic is better in canon if sinhal isn't ever actually a thing because I think the romance might distract from how tragic their relationship is.

^ THIS QUOTE AND HAL'S FACE ALWAYS FUCKING GETS ME. "That's the tragedy of all of this, Jordan. Hal. We'll always be friends." so why don't you fucking shoot me actually.

Aya (I'M COUNTING HER TOO IDC IDCCCC SHE'S A GL TO ME) - Razer, no diff. I also have very normal feelings about Isaac and Claire Finn from The Orville, tysm for asking.

Am I forgetting anyone important? Eh, whatever this is long enough as is.

[torchickentacos]

Genuinely so happy to see that Totodile made it into ZA! I haven't really consolidated my thoughts on the trailer yet (I feel like I still have more questions than answers about what the plot itself even is beyond 'make the city better' tbh?), but Totodile is there and Absol is there and that is genuinely enough to keep me excited

[skinteresting-enough]

So you know that one anecdote about a kid eating an artwork an artist had sent him, because he just loved it so much? ...Yeah, I'm gonna need someone to put Scavengers Reign on a dvd or vhs tape or, I dunno, something, because I need to eat it.