#healed by the theorist community

[swluminekin]

To the one theorist who bounces theories with me:

Thank you.

Do you know that I haven’t theorized properly in at least years almost 4 at this point? We have a mutual friend - you know who I mean - and they can tell you that a lot of the time I’m still scared. They can tell you my story - I think they already have - but it would be better if it came from me.

There was a time a few years back - the “before times” if you will of the world as we know it now. The ego fires didn’t go out because we were always getting new information, new tastes, new hints. It was early days of the official community server, run by the gladiator himself. The theories channel was always busy but it got to a point where things died down a little. Basically people started pulling at straws to figure things out. I had seen one person mention something, and I tried to voice my own thoughts, agreeing with them. Immediately, I was shut down and told that I was wrong. Didn’t really give a good reason as to why, just shut me down completely.

Not too long after that, in a completely different community in a completely different place, I put out another theory. Once again, I was near immediately shut down, told I was wrong. They at least had some sort of explanation, but for the most part they just shut me down and told me I was wrong.

I was hurt, lost. I felt that if I theorized anything, thought anything, I would be hated, told I was wrong, be berated and yelled at. Just for thinking, for theorizing, for having fun. In my mind, if I couldn’t theorize, then I couldn’t create. If I couldn’t create, that meant I couldn’t do any form of art, which included stories and any sort of drawing.

For months I was hurting, the only person I could turn to being our friend. When I tried to do anything creative or theorist wise, I would always hesitate or stop entirely. It caused me physical pain to even try. There were even times when I would cry because I wanted to return to theorizing, to creating so bad, but I felt that I couldn’t. They listened to me cry and comforted me because I wanted to return to that but was afraid to.

Eventually I found I could draw again. But when I drew, the art felt hollow - at least it did to me. I was excited that I could do art again but it just... never felt right. Even when did “draw this in your own style” stuff, it didn’t feel right.

I don’t even remember what happened, what video caused it, but one day I finally wrote a theory. Specifically, it was the Convergence theory. But I was so scared about what I was talking about and that I would be shut down again that I felt like I had to show my proof, show that I knew what I was talking about. I pointed out specific videos and discussions and Instagram posts. Heck, I even put up the pictures of the discord channel as well as my proof as to the channel’s naming.

Because I was scared.

After I wrote that theory, I was tired. I was so worn down. It was all because I felt like I had to prove myself. Like I had to show the world that I had something solid to back me up. Our friend could tell you that while I was proud of myself, I was exhausted and had one hell of a headache. (To be completely honest, I’m surprised at how well the Convergence theory is still holding up three years later with the I.R.I.S. lore? Like what?)

Ever since, I’ve rarely done theories - maybe having done a couple here and there, but not many. If I theorize, I’ve almost never written them down, I’ve just said them out loud. But I’m able to draw again, and I can write stories again. But I’ve never been able to really feel proud of myself, feel completely happy with anything I’ve done. All because of that fear of failure as an artist, creator, and theorist.

Then you came around. You looked at my theories. You were willing to bounce off of me. Counter me with “... but this... and because of...” rather than just “No and I won’t say why.” You’ve helped me with relearning and accepting my theorist side. The fact that we can bounce theories off of each other has helped me to think about things again. Our friend can tell you this. I still don’t theorize like I used to, but to know that I’ve actually somewhat met people who understand what I’m talking about, who accept me and my theories and thoughts? It helps to ease the process and the want to write them down again.

So I say to you again, thank you.

Your mutual theorist,

“Scarlet”

[floral-ashes]

Another moving book review of Gender/Fucking: The Pleasures and Politics of Living in a Gendered Body, this time by philosopher Gwen Marshall. 🔥

First time someone comments on the poetry peppered through the book, which I find interesting since I am a bit self-conscious about my poetry skills! 💖

“Florence Ashley is a transfeminine law professor, ethicist, and (as virtually all publicly visible trans folks are forced to be) an activist. Rather than a dry review in the style of an academic journal, I'd like to provide a more personal report.

This book aroused me, laid bare my trauma, and rang a bell deep in my soul. I’ve never felt so seen. Their erotic tales resonated with my own encounters. Their poetry remains with me still, days later. And their analyses? They may very literally change the course of my life.

Ashley's account of the way trauma informs their adoption of the role of bottom in their sexual encounters revealed to me my own, similar journey. Now I have weeks or months of material to work through with my therapist -- maybe at the end of it, I'll come out on Top?

Their description of their experiences navigating dating, the internalized homophobia of cis men, and our own internalized compulsory heterosexuality have me setting off on another journey of self-discovery, one concerning my sexual orientation. And their brilliant dissection of the ways in which TERF rhetoric and transphobia corrupts even the most self-assured transfemme's sense of self is all-too-familiarly heartbreaking. Many times in reading this book, I had to put it down to sob and hold myself, waiting for the reignited trauma to pass. Unlike other times when old trauma is triggered, however, these episodes feel like healing.

Finally, Ashley's account of what is to be done in their final chapter shook me to my core. As someone who once waved the flag of revolutionary socialism myself, I saw my own loss of hope reflected in Ashley's words. Rather than adopting a nihilism, however, they propose a palliative activism. We cannot save this world, circling the drain as it is. We cannot undo the rampant spread of transphobia, certainly not any time soon, if ever. Captialism has won. What we can do, however, is put our world in hospice and try to alleviate the suffering of our loved ones and our communities as much as possible, bringing some peace and pleasure to those we love, while the world slowly dies around us. This is the ideology I have been looking for. And if we adopt this palliative model, despite the horrors around us, we can imagine our loved ones, and ourselves, happy.

Ashley's influences are clear. References to previous trans writers, gender theorists, and philosophers abound, but they present them and connect them in profound and revolutionary ways. Or palliative ways, perhaps?

In sum, this book could change your life. It changed mine.”

Link to review.

Where to get the book.

[onigiri-dorkk]

Some thoughts, and a thank you to the Rivamika fandom 🤍

Honestly I have so many complaints about the final part, but I’m going to slow myself down and just keep soaking it in: we got post-war Levi and Mikasa animated at long last. They both made it out alive. They both can live peaceful lives. And it is absolutely canon that they reunite someday, eventually.

That’s all I’ll celebrate from the story for now 🤍 AOT is such a special series to my heart despite the disappointment I feel in many areas. It got me through some tough years and brought joy and excitement. It inspired me to draw again, and literally helped me discover a love for writing. Most importantly, it created fandom community and friendships which have brought daily joy and fun into the most mundane moments of life.

Levi and Mikasa deserve the best. I will love to continue exploring their possibilities and healing and love and belonging through art and fanfiction with fandom friends 🤍

This is a ship and series that I know will stay imbedded into my heart (the same way ATLA and Fruits Basket have always been permanent to me). I’m not going anywhere 😭

Someday, fandom people will trickle away from AOT now that it’s over, but I’ll still be around. And I wanna thank every rivamika shipper, new and old, who withstood alllllll the shit together. There’s been beautiful solidarity and support for so long. I love us! And I love all that we created through our mutual fixation on Rivamika 🤍

Thank you to every fic writer who fueled our imagination through story. Thank you to translators who helped us enjoy stories all around the world. Thank you to artists who created visual masterpieces. Thank you to theorists and analyzers who helped us find more crumbs lol! Thank you to editors who made it possible to see our characters together in creative ways. Thank you to video editors who made incredibly fun and beautiful compilations. And thank you to everyone who may not have created for fandom, but you were around, lurking, liking and supporting all of our posts to add to the collective support. For however long you were/will be part of the magic of Rivamika, thank you!

I’ve had such a pleasure writing, drawing, analyzing for Levi and Mikasa, and hyping y’all up too!

Let’s continue to create for our beautiful couple 🥹🤍

[dailyanarchistposts]

Radical perfectionism and paranoid reading

This tendency for constant evaluation and the imposition of external standards has percolated its way into many facets of life under Empire. It exists even among radicals: what changes is merely the kind of standards and the mode of evaluation. Is it radical? Is it anarchist? Is it critical? Is it revolutionary? Is it anti-oppressive? How might it be co-opted, complicit, or flawed? What is problematic? What does it fail to do? How limited, ineffective, and short-lived is it? Margaret Killjoy spoke to us about the ways that these tendencies can pervade anarchist spaces:

While I think there’s a decent bit of spontaneity and not-making-rules and such going on in radicalism, I see an awful lot less creativity at the moment. Particularly, I see very little creativity from tactical, strategic, and even theoretical analysis … For a bunch of anarchists, we’re remarkably uncomfortable with new ideas. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that happens because we’ve really honed our ability to critique things but not our ability to embrace things.[167]

Applied incessantly, critique can become a reflex that forces out other capacities. The queer theorist Eve Sedgwick argues that this penchant for constant critique runs through many currents of radical thought, in what she calls paranoid reading.[168] Paranoid reading is based on a stance of suspicion: an attempt to avoid co-optation or mistakes through constant vigilance. It seeks to ward off bad surprises by ensuring that oppression and violence are already known, or at least anticipated, so that one will not be caught off guard, and so that one can react to the first sign of trouble. The result is that one is always on guard and never surprised. By approaching everything with detached suspicion, one closes off the capacity to be affected in new ways.

When we interviewed Richard Day, he suggested that this tendency is linked to being in pain and converting that pain into an incessant search for lack:

In general, I think rigid radicalism is a response to feeling really hurt and fucked up. And the real enemy is the dominant order, but it gets mixed into this big soup, so the enemy becomes each other. It becomes oneself. It’s a finding lacking as such … a finding lacking almost everywhere with almost everyone. And when that lack is found, then of course there needs to be some action: which is going to be to tell, or force, or coerce, or get at that lack, and try to turn it into a wholeness. So strangely enough I’d suggest that rigid radicalism is driven by a desire to heal. And it has exactly the opposite effect: of sundering the self more, of sundering communities more, and so on.[169]

Those of us who regularly find ourselves in pain might find this paradox familiar. Through the constant imposition of external standards, everything can be found lacking, and all kinds of coercive responses can seem justified. An endless cycle ensues: no one and nothing is good enough, and this paranoid stance constantly incapacitates exploration, healing, and affirmation.

Many of us learn this mode of thought through university, or through immersion in radical spaces themselves: we learn to search for, anticipate, and point out the pervasiveness of Empire. Even without the sad rigor of the Weather Underground, we learn to search the bodies, behaviors, and words of others for any shred of complicity. Mik Turje spoke to this tendency when we interviewed them:

I think as a youth I was really idealistic, and I came to the university context, and critical theory, where idealism and imagining something better was stamped out as something naïve. The only option was to master the hypercritical language myself, and one-upping people. I got really good at that. I won all of the political arguments in school, but … I was being a shitbag of a militant, tearing everyone down.[170]

By being immersed in paranoid reading, people learn to find themselves and others lacking. Having been “educated,” one becomes a pedagogue oneself, spreading the word about Empire, oppression, and violence, and in the process one tends to position others as naïve and ignorant.

This is clear in how surprise and curiosity are often infantilized by Empire. They are treated as foolish or “childish”—that is, lacking the educated, rational, civilized, adult capacities of detached evaluation. Paranoid reading and its association with adulthood and rational detachment are transmitted through schooling, founded on patriarchal white supremacy. Based on suspicion, perfectionism, and the penchant for finding flaws in ourselves and others, paranoid reading prevents us from being joyfully in touch with the world and with the always already present potential for transformation.

Crucially, paranoid reading and lack-finding have their own affective ecology, with their own pleasures and rewards. There can be a sense of satisfaction in being the one who anticipates or exposes inadequacy. There can be safety and comfort in a paranoid stance, because it helps ensure that we already know what to do with new encounters. Incessantly exposing flaws can be pleasurable, and can even become a source of belonging.

We think this is at the heart of what destroys the transformative potential of movements from within: the capacity for paranoid reading closes off the capacity to embrace and be embraced by new things. The stance of detached judgment means remaining at a distance from what is taking place. In contrast, experimentation requires openness and vulnerability, including the risk of being caught off guard or hurt. From a paranoid perspective, things like gratitude, celebration, curiosity, and openness are naïve at best, and potentially dangerous. When everything is anticipated, or one can see immediately how something is imperfect or lacking, one misses the capacity to be affected and moved.

[dsmp-lainey]

finally got around to deleting my twitter account i hadn’t used in months #healing

no but seriously it’s miserable over there it’s all misinformation and bots and weird conspiracy theorists and so many literal babies arguing about the most random trivial things 😭

only thing i miss is how much more active a lot of my fav streamers communities are over there, but oh well :/

[roga-el-rojo]

“Borderlands/La Frontera” - Gloria Anzaldúa

Hello friends,

For my first recommendation this Latine Heritage Month, I want to highlight a famous text that dissects the contradictory identities Latines face inside the “US” from a queer Chicana perspective: “Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza” by Gloria Anzaldúa.

Gloria E. Anzaldúa was an internationally-acclaimed independent scholar, cultural theorist, creative writer, and social-justice activist who has made lasting contributions to numerous fields. This book in particular played a major role in shaping contemporary Chicano/a and lesbian/queer identities.

“Borderlands/La Frontera” is a semi-autobiographical work that explores the Chicano and Latine experience through themes of race, gender, identity, and colonialism. The narrative reflects on Anzaldúa's upbringing in South Texas, her cultural heritage, and the struggles of her community, particularly in relation to land and identity. Her writing aims to connect oppressed Latine peoples with their indigenous cultural backgrounds as shown through her “poet-shaman aesthetics,” her poetry, and English-Spanish code switching.

I really appreciated how Anzaldúa examined the pain and trauma imposed on Indigenous and Chicano communities by colonial powers in relation to their struggles for cultural survival as a form of spiritual healing. I also loved how she critiqued traditional gender roles within Chicano contexts and embraced her lesbian identity as a way of standing in solidarity with queer Latines to affirm current and ancestral queer identities in the face of patriarchy.

Another important and controversial concept Anzaldúa unpacks is mestizaje, referring to the blending and intermingling of different cultural, racial, and ethnic identities, particularly in the context of the Chicano and Latino experience. This can potentially be empowering as it allows folks to re-imagine their histories beyond strict notions of identity and belonging, but can also romanticize the idea of cultural blending at the expense of acknowledging that Afro-Mexican, Afro-Latine, and Mexic-Amerindian experiences are unique.

I highly recommend Latines read this text as a part of our contradictory history.

[mariacallous]

(JTA) — It was a slow trickle, each long press of the finger and ensuing quick tap was days and sometimes weeks apart (it’s hard to comprehend that a whole month has passed since Oct. 7), but I am here to tell you that I — a former social media manager — have removed each and every social media app from my phone.

In fact, as I was writing this very esssay, I realized I still had Threads downloaded, opened it for a minute, saw a Thread that said “Zionism is antisemitism,” and promptly deleted that, too.

I have zero desire to restore a single one of them.

What happened to me has probably happened to you, too. I saw a Tweet, a TikTok, an Instagram Story that filled me with such fury and indignation that I spent hours — sometimes days — formulating and reformulating an epic, fact-based, emotionally charged, imagined response. Imagined, of course, because I knew I’d never post it. I’ve seen so many celebrities and random acquaintances do such utterly embarrassing and harmful and reputation-destroying things in the last weeks to even dare to try.

And to be clear: I would try if I thought I could change someone’s mind and force them to see my humanity, but beyond the small, intimate, personal conversations that I can have off the apps, I feel like these enraged indignant responses only seem to silo people further.

I’ve worked in social media since 2014 — in the Jewish realm of social media, specifically. That means I’ve seen a lot of awfulness, gas chamber memes, overt antisemitism and Islamophobia. I’ve personally been told many times to go back where I came from (which, yes, is Israel, and that feels grimly funny now). Yet I’ve also believed in its power to heal, to make people feel seen, to energize activism, to educate.

I still believe that — kind of? But I’ve also never seen it this awful, this polarizing, this … honestly, unhinged. An unscientific poll of people I know seems to indicate the same thing: Social media is the worst it’s ever been, maybe because the Israel/Palestine conversation has always been so impossibly polarizing.

People are so stuck in their “side” and binary that they’re willing to share anything — without fact-checking, without making sure they’re not getting in bed with people whose worldview is dangerous, without asking themselves for a small second, wait, is this Islamophobic? Antisemitic? Completely detached from reality? Without wondering if they sound like a conspiracy theorist, or if they’re just being cruel for cruelty’s sake.

And the amount of words wasted on misinformation and meanness doesn’t even compare to the number of words some people insist on putting into other people’s mouths (or keyboards, rather) when their statement doesn’t 100% pass whatever standards they’ve arbitrarily decided it must. Beyond Israel and Palestine, we’ve been tearing ourselves apart inside our Jewish community, and that also breaks my heart.

I understand the deep grief and rage behind most posts. I’ve been enraged and grieving myself. I’ve been scared too: Of the growing antisemitism. Of the people who tell me that I and my family, because we were born in Israel, can’t be innocent civilians, that we all deserve the horrors of Oct. 7 to befall on us.

I’ve also been scared for the life of every innocent person lost and about to be lost. Around 1,200 Israelis killed, 300 kidnapped, over 10,000 Palestinian lives believed to have been taken, all unfathomable numbers. And I’ve been scared about the cycle of rage and violence and siloed indignation that removes the humanity of a whole swath of people. Because I do believe that that’s part of what got us here. And I keep seeing it evinced, over and over again, on social media.

I am — unlike many “experts” newly minted by numbers of followers or magnitude of chutzpah — not an expert of Middle Eastern politics, despite being Israeli and working in Jewish media for almost a decade. I know a lot, but I am not a politician or historian. And yet, to the extent I believe that there is a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I believe that it has to be one that takes into account the inherent humanity of all those involved. I believe that it will be human and imperfect.

I’m awed by the people who are still managing to use social media for good right now, the little spots of light — people who parse through history and reality with wisdom and empathy, well-educated veteran observers of Israel and Palestine, academics, journalists, fierce activists, who, through immense pain, still manage to retain their humanity.

Yet for me, I��ve realized being on social media is doing more harm than good. It’s keeping me further away from solutions and useful action, and closer to rage and fear. So for now, I can’t stay there.

[sillycyan]

ok so I've looked at some of ur posts about the entities and i was wondering a) how dud they come about? Like did they just appear or how does that work?

and b) are they like worshipped? Is there a whole religion about them? if so how are they worshipped?

*crawls back into den*

THE RANT IS READY! This should answer the questions and add some additional information. If you have any more questions or are confused, please lmkkk. I don't mess with the entity timeline as much because my main paracosm is set in the more modern day where it is only just being discovered again.. THERE IS A TLDR AT THE END JUST BC AND IT COULD CLEAR UP STUFF

Entities are simply referred to as gods. Their history dates back to roughly around the time when Lurrodin (a humanoid-like species I'll yap about soon) were still alive. These gods originated mostly by chance, having been granted a "genre" of power and the ability to pass it on others. The current and most well-known types of entities are Aureolin, Cerulean, Celadon, and Crimson. Essentially, these are average folks who were given a gift at the same moment without cause. There is a theory that those powers came to them by a higher power. However, for the time being, the current created gods are given higher priority. Each kingdom, as long ago as it was, pushed those "chosen" to lead their country for many different reasons. As unusual as it is to have your neighbor who can literally bring someone back to life, it was obvious that they would be looked up to. Regardless of how good these kingdoms were before, they were viewed as the first signs of advancement.

When it comes to worship.. That has been happening since their creation, especially during the Entity War. WELL It's not reaally named the "Entity War" since it never had an official name.. Every side referred to it differently; other people didn't even consider it to be a war. These gods were just average humans, but given their gifts, it was obvious that they would not be so ready to hand over the power to someone else so easily. The very beginning of worshipping was more begging.. Again, this was different for each of the gods, as each kingdom has different morals regarding this type of thing. Celadon, for example, is an aid being that was originally happy about the idea of letting people to heal one another. When compared to Cerulean, a stronger mind-controlling being, they viewed it as a risk to them and others. Even then, people would strongly worship the gods in order to battle for their land. If the god in question chooses to offer them anything, they will become "holders". The process of passing down an ability is almost effortless, causing no strain and not reducing the original core. At the moment, entities are only known through legends passed down through generations. Although it seems like it would've been forgotten after so long, there are large and active communities of people to tell the story. Those same people work for more private churches, where you can still pray in the hopes that the original entities will return and/or pass on their core to leave the generations to come. Little do they know that Celadon has already returned, and has already done so. Between me and you, the government has been keeping that a secret for their own benefit.

To create a sort of TLDR here uhhh A core of power was placed among humans in kingdoms millennia(s) ago; those ordinary people turned to gods, with the exact term being "entity," and each had their own history. They are currently worshipped and were at the time of creation. There are more private religions, if that makes sense, but also many conspiracy theorists, as the history has never been properly recorded anywhere. People still pray and wish to the Entity/God for various reasons.

[the-one-eyed-seer]

Nobody talks about the traumatized to obsession with recovery to toxic wellness to conspiracy theorist pipeline

It’s the wellness and spirituality to conspiracy theorist pipeline but expanded

Let me explain: you are traumatized. Obviously you do not want to remain traumatized. You want to heal, but you can’t heal faster than you can heal. It’s frustrating. You become preoccupied with the idea of healing. You then discover a whole community of people like you, spreading the good word of wellness culture who promises they can fix you. They don’t actually, but they make you feel good about yourself because you’re bypassing the emotionally turbulent aspects of recovery so you keep doing it. This culminates in a “well I turned out fine” “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” “stay positive” “good vibes” mindset. You have now landed yourself in the more commonly observed spirituality and wellness culture to right wing conspiracy theorist pipeline

It’s really upsetting because they’re preying on people who want to heal from trauma

[tranchauha]

An excerpt from the zine: Contrary to popular belief, my strong affection for Bangtan is not rooted in attraction for the most part (though I do think Taehyung is truly the most beautiful man alive.) I don’t judge stans for whom this applies (power to you, in fact), but I do recognize that my stanning is rooted in something different. I stan BTS because it gives me a way to explore my queerness without outing myself. 

I first started listening to Bangtan while writing my undergraduate thesis on Ocean Vuong’s Night Sky With Exit Wounds. Ocean writes about the politics of desire and visibility, that existence as a queer person requires we decide whether visibility is worth risking our literal lives. This conflict exists because queerness poses a threat to the identity of the United States as heteronormative ideal. I echo queer theorist Gayatri Gopinath and Jasbir Puar when I say the visibility of same-sex desire exists as an impossibility in a heteronormative society, “[that] nation and citizenship [are] implicit in the privilege of heteronormativity.” And like any threat to national identity, queerness must be addressed and eradicated by the state.

As much as I loved writing about this collection, my thesis simply reminds me of what I knew. That I can’t let my eyes linger too long on the faces of girls on buses, nor allow my mind to wander imagining the lives I would have with women I fall in love with. Perhaps I thought I could rationalize through my sadness. That I could heal from safely theorizing my closeted identity. I shrouded questions about my own queer visibility and grief in academic jargon, masquerading my personal crisis as intellectual exercise palpable to my professors and family. 

But ultimately I was protecting myself from actually confronting the issue. How can I survive when I cannot love fully without risking myself? 

There will be a day when I can love freely, but in the meantime, I am partaking in a long-practiced queer tradition: stanning. Queer folks have always used their love for idols to express themselves. We see Gaga, Cher, and Ari and think about how they embody how we want to be, whatever that means to each stan. We see they love and support us. Through stan communities, queer folks have been quietly finding each other online and in real life.  For those outside of our communities, they simply see us as super fans. But for queer folks, we know better.

I tell myself I started listening to BTS solely because I needed background music that wasn’t in a language I understood, but I wonder if I was seeking something more than that. Did my inevitable stanning fall in line with queer stans before me? Whether I knew it or not, I was looking across the Pacific, beyond borders and nations, for my own queer icons. By doing so, I found a way to be queer safely (and happily! After all k-pop is just a shot of serotonin to the brain.) 

Debuting in the Bangtan Remixed: Critical BTS Reader in Fall 2024. Created with Clip Studio Paint and Adobe InDesign.

[outrunningthedark]

This isn't even said maliciously, but I'm laughing hysterically at the conspiracy theorist takes about Ryan's markers not being in the bts pic at the hospital because he was already in the room or he was hurt himself... When it's because he literally was only in 3 scenes 😂😂😂

Those "Eddie is hurt" theories (the serious ones, not "gets a minor injury from the lightning") made no fucking sense, I'm sorry. He was JUST shot at the end of s4 and spent ALL of s5 dealing with that + PTSD from the Army. Had Tim not gone through with that arc (he did help write 5x01 - the start of everything) then yes, we could have envisioned a scenario where it takes another brush with death not long after the last one for him to start to heal. As much screen time as Buck gets, he hasn't faced legit physical harm/health problems since s3, so you can at least *understand* why it was his time (even if you were ":/" @ the idea). People just threw Eddie's name out there because they want canon!Buddie to happen as quickly as possible. No patience. The funny thing about "Eddie is already in the room" is it technically could have been true - Eddie wasn't outside with the others because that was the only time Ryan got to film a Buddie scene, just not without another person looking on. Fandom gets a little credit there, I think. But not as much as they were hoping for. </3 [The longer Maddie and Eddie go without speaking to each other, the longer it's gonna take for Buddie to be canon. Not having two of the most important people in Buck's life communicating or trying to support each other during a tough time...the show didn't think it was necessary right now for a pretty obvious reason.]

[frank-olivier]

AI’s Second Chance: How Geometric Deep Learning Can Help Heal Silicon Valley’s Moral Wounds

The concept of AI dates back to the early 20th century, when scientists and philosophers began to explore the possibility of creating machines that could think and learn like humans. In 1929, Makoto Nishimura, a Japanese professor and biologist, created the country's first robot, Gakutensoku, which symbolized the idea of "learning from the laws of nature." This marked the beginning of a new era in AI research. In the 1930s, John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry developed the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC), a 700-pound machine that could solve 29 simultaneous linear equations. This achievement laid the foundation for future advancements in computational technology.

In the 1940s, Warren S. McCulloch and Walter H. Pitts Jr introduced the Threshold Logic Unit, a mathematical model for an artificial neuron. This innovation marked the beginning of artificial neural networks, which would go on to play a crucial role in the development of modern AI. The Threshold Logic Unit could mimic a biological neuron by receiving external inputs, processing them, and providing an output, as a function of input. This concept laid the foundation for the development of more complex neural networks, which would eventually become a cornerstone of modern AI.

Alan Turing, a British mathematician and computer scientist, made significant contributions to the development of AI. His work on the Bombe machine, which helped decipher the Enigma code during World War II, laid the foundation for machine learning theory. Turing's 1950 paper, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," proposed the Turing Test, a challenge to determine whether a machine could think. This test, although questioned in modern times, remains a benchmark for evaluating cognitive AI systems. Turing's ideas about machines that could reason, learn, and adapt have had a lasting impact on the field of AI.

The 1950s and 1960s saw a surge in AI research, driven by the development of new technologies and the emergence of new ideas. This period, known as the "AI summer," was marked by rapid progress and innovation. The creation of the first commercial computers, the development of new programming languages, and the emergence of new research institutions all contributed to the growth of the field. The AI summer saw the development of the first AI programs, including the Logical Theorist, which was designed to simulate human reasoning, and the General Problem Solver, which was designed to solve complex problems.

The term "Artificial Intelligence" was coined by John McCarthy in 1956, during the Dartmouth Conference, a gathering of computer scientists and mathematicians. McCarthy's vision was to create machines that could simulate human intelligence, and he proposed that mathematical functions could be used to replicate human intelligence within a computer. This idea marked a significant shift in the field, as it emphasized the potential of machines to learn and adapt. McCarthy's work on the programming language LISP and his concept of "Timesharing" and distributed computing laid the groundwork for the development of the Internet and cloud computing.

By the 1970s and 1980s, the AI field began to experience a decline, known as the "AI winter." This period was marked by a lack of funding, a lack of progress, and a growing skepticism about the potential of AI. The failure of the AI program, ELIZA, which was designed to simulate human conversation, and the lack of progress in developing practical AI applications contributed to the decline of the field. The AI winter lasted for several decades, during which time AI research was largely relegated to the fringes of the computer science community.

The AI Winter was caused by a combination of factors, including overhyping and unrealistic expectations, lack of progress, and lack of funding. In the 1960s and 1970s, AI researchers had predicted that AI would revolutionize the way we live and work, but these predictions were not met. As one prominent AI researcher, John McCarthy, noted, "The AI community has been guilty of overpromising and underdelivering". The lack of progress in AI research led to a decline in funding, as policymakers and investors became increasingly skeptical about the potential of AI.

One of the primary technical challenges that led to the decline of rule-based systems was the difficulty of hand-coding rules. As the AI researcher, Marvin Minsky, noted, "The problem with rule-based systems is that they require a huge amount of hand-coding, which is time-consuming and error-prone". This led to a decline in the use of rule-based systems, as researchers turned to other approaches, such as machine learning and neural networks.

The personal computer revolutionized the way people interacted with technology, and it had a significant impact on the development of AI. The personal computer made it possible for individuals to develop their own software without the need for expensive mainframe computers, and it enabled the development of new AI applications.

The first personal computer, the Apple I, was released in 1976, and it was followed by the Apple II in 1977. The IBM PC was released in 1981, and it became the industry standard for personal computers.

The AI Winter had a significant impact on the development of AI, and it led to a decline in interest in AI research. However, it also led to a renewed focus on the fundamentals of AI, and it paved the way for the development of new approaches to AI, such as machine learning and deep learning. These approaches were developed in the 1980s and 1990s, and they have since become the foundation of modern AI.

As AI research began to revive in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Silicon Valley's tech industry experienced a moral decline. The rise of the "bro culture" and the prioritization of profits over people led to a series of scandals, including:

- The dot-com bubble and subsequent layoffs.

- The exploitation of workers, particularly in the tech industry.

- The rise of surveillance capitalism, where companies like Google and Facebook collected vast amounts of personal data without users' knowledge or consent.

This moral decline was also reflected in the increasing influence of venture capital and the prioritization of short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

Geometric deep learning is a key area of research in modern AI, and its development is a direct result of the revival of AI research in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It has the potential to address some of the moral concerns associated with the tech industry. Geometric deep learning methods can provide more transparent and interpretable results, which can help to mitigate the risks associated with AI decision-making. It can be used to develop more fair and unbiased AI systems, which can help to address issues of bias and discrimination in AI applications. And it can be used to develop more sustainable AI systems, which can help to reduce the environmental impact of AI research and deployment.

Geometric deep learning is a subfield of deep learning that focuses on the study of geometric structures and their representation in data. This field has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly in applications such as object detection, segmentation, tracking, robot perception, motion planning, control, social network analysis and recommender systems.

While Geometric Deep Learning is not a direct solution to the moral decline of Silicon Valley, it has the potential to address some of the underlying issues and promote more responsible and sustainable AI research and development.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, it is essential that we prioritize transparency, accountability, and regulation to ensure that AI is used in a way that is consistent with societal values.

Transparency is essential for building trust in AI, and it involves making AI systems more understandable and explainable. Accountability is essential for ensuring that AI is used responsibly, and it involves holding developers and users accountable for the impact of AI. Regulation is essential for ensuring that AI is used in a way that is consistent with societal values, and it involves developing and enforcing laws and regulations that govern the development and use of AI.

Policymakers and investors have a critical role to play in shaping the future of AI. They can help to ensure that AI is developed and used in a way that is consistent with societal values by providing funding for AI research, creating regulatory frameworks, and promoting transparency and accountability.

The future of AI is uncertain, but it is clear that AI will continue to play an increasingly important role in society. As AI continues to evolve, it is essential that we prioritize transparency, accountability, and regulation to ensure that AI is used in a way that is consistent with societal values.

Prof. Gary Marcus: The AI Bubble - Will It Burst, and What Comes After? (Machine Learning Street Talk, August 2024)

Prof. Gary Marcus: Taming Silicon Valley (Machine Learning Street Talk, September 2024)

LLMs Cannot Reason (TheAIGRID, October 2024)

Geometric Deep Learning Blueprint (Machine Learning Street Talk, September 2021)

Max Tegmark’s Insights on AI and The Brain (TheAIGRID, November 2024)

Michael Bronstein: Geometric Deep Learning - The Erlangen Programme of ML (Imperial College London, January 2021)

This is why Deep Learning is really weird (Machine Learning Street Talk, December 2023)

Michael Bronstein: Geometric Deep Learning (MLSS Kraków, December 2023)

Saturday, November 2, 2024

[gaslighing]

“The alert ones like me who have lots of energy and strength, stamina, emotional wellness, intellectual, banners, background, history, and have been studying their own psychology for years okay and healing themselves from trauma putting in that work. I know I am delusional and having a psychosis. I’ve managed to though cope with the psychosis on my own through my imaginary characters. Okay because no one is there. Whenever I need them. Family. Nobody. Just me in my house. Terrified at the world going to end. So I step into my hero, brave roles/personas cause I don’t see nobody else doing it, and I continue my work. Which is making my videos entertaining content for people. Real people have real concerns who are awake. Who don’t try to Gaslight their friends who they just met 3 or 4 weeks ago at work. Stop with the gaslighting tactics to try and get strong women to be needy if you . Okay? I don’t care if you don’t believe me and my warnings . It’s like you don’t even acknowledge the social injustices that I address which is ridiculously pretty obvious. You don’t have to be an expert conspiracy theorist to understand who is responsible for the problems in our society. Domestic violence mental health drug alcohol addiction child protection agencies family court all of it! Families are falling apart because of the system! And I’ve had enough! So I’ll just continue to advocate for the families of my community. Okay and the institutions that victimise me , myself and others in my community. I’m being brave basically like a soldier in war soldiers , soldiers don’t sleep they’re out on alert .There’s a reason for us we’re trying to protect everybody. From the dangers that the people don’t even see. And yeah that’s frightening at times and we are going to panic and think the world it’s going to end. We need reassurance sometimes. Do you know what? You’s weren’t there when you requested. So I understand everyone’s busy. But when you flake out 2×3 times kind of like obvious that you’re playing fucking games. I don’t need to depend on anyone to take care of me. I got this and taking care of other shit too! So thank you, but no thank you. I’m on to you. It’s a shame I have to avoid my other channel now just to stop your text messages about your “care and concern.” Mate I told you what my delusions and psychosis are. Okay I told you how I was. I showed you my content. I’m not asking you to recruit you to join me in the battle! I fucking should! You should be stepping up to it with me. But no, so I accept these friends of mine that “care” so much.  about me and your texts but not in the action and aren’t actually there for me. Thanks because it makes me stronger. I’ve got to get ready to go now. I’m gonna go and meet up with my real friends who actually care and see me and hang out with me and are good. And actually accept me for me because like you “care,” you don’t understand the principles of care because you’re not caring from the heart. When you care from the heart, you accept me on my zany ways and not try to change me. And when I make a decision to not go to work and go and see a doctor and go and do my own shit I don’t need you saying to me I think you should come to work. Who the hell are you!? I decide what I do. I decide if I go to see the doctor I decide if I go to work or not, I decide. I know myself in my own mental health. Thanks.

End of part 2 of this blog.

[skadee17]

III- My shadow

Pat Daley addressed the gathered community of the ranch and recounted seeing an angel land in her garden while she was preparing preserves in her kitchen. She was referring to her recently deceased daughter, who was full of courage. At 12 years old, her daughter had jumped off the roof of their house with an umbrella, thinking she would land softly. The mother explained that the child ended up with a double arm fracture but never cried once.

While she was speaking, I felt as if I were being watched, as if someone was observing my every movement or expression. I dared to glance at the stage where the Ottos were, and my eyes met Troy's: this sociopath was staring at me with a mocking, even disturbing, expression. What was his problem?

Charlene's mother continued her speech and added that her daughter had risked her life for the unprepared: that is, us. The others gave us dark looks in reaction to the grieving mother's words. We didn't seem to be welcome here, yet my mother wanted us to stay, at least for a while. I felt like bursting into laughter at these words; they considered us unprepared, but they probably never set foot outside this ranch of conspiracy theorists. And the only ones who had done so were busy killing humans for science and were part of a group of deranged military personnel. What more could I ask for, I sarcastically thought to myself.

But I knew it wouldn't be easy; the community members didn't trust us, and we didn't trust them: a 50-50 split.

My mother suddenly stood up and spoke: "My name is Madison Clarke, and these are my children, Nick, Alicia, and Bella. We are deeply sorry for Charlene and for all those you have lost. We have lost loved ones too." She paused and continued, "Travis," she repeated his name with emotion, "Travis was our compass. We wanted to thank you for welcoming us into your home and for your generosity. You won't regret it."

Jack took the floor next and said, "We've all been through that; it's what brings us together, and mourning is hard, but it's important that we get through it."

Before he could finish, a man interrupted him and asked about finding out who shot at the helicopter.

"I'm sorry, I know it takes time to move on, and Pat has the right to grieve, but I want to know who shot at the helicopter."

Jack replied to the man named Vernon, "Vernon, we'll find out," he said. 

"When?" the man impatiently asked.

 "Believe me, we'll take care of it." 

"How long will it take?" The man pointed at Jeremiah. 

"Jeremiah, please..."

The old man replied, "Nothing has changed, Vernon, don't worry. We still intend to fight. We asked Station Alpha to inspect the crash site. Once we know who we're dealing with, we'll act. If it's a madman, we'll act, and if it's an even greater challenge, we'll act," he concluded.

Then a new voice spoke, and Troy took the floor: "He talks about revenge. We'll find him, and we'll make him pay, whether the threat is big or small, we'll set things right."

The voices of the people around us echoed; they agreed with Troy, they wanted revenge, and I must say, so did I. Travis had been killed by these lunatics, and they would pay for it.

"Wait, we'll get justice when we know exactly what we're dealing with. We can't afford to scatter; we must represent the hope of a new world..."

I never thought I'd agree with Troy, but on this one, he was right. Whoever had killed Travis and nearly killed my sister would pay, that was certain. Troy looked at me, I didn't break the exchange, I should have, but I didn't. I didn't know why, but this time, I didn't look at him with disdain but more with understanding. He wanted to protect these people, and I wanted to protect my family.

After this meeting, my mother and Alicia headed towards the cafeteria for lunch. I joined them a few minutes later after checking on Luciana and seeing if her wounds were healing well.

The three of us ate together. Alicia told me about her encounter with Gretchen Trimbol, Vernon's daughter, and her invitation to a group called "Resurrected Christ." My mother had forced her to participate to integrate into the ranch. I couldn't help but laugh and mock her; I knew my sister inside out, and that was everything she hated.

Unfortunately, karma seemed to have it in for me, and I spilled my coffee on myself.

"Damn!" I exclaimed. 

"Guess you should have kept your mouth shut instead of mocking me," teased Alicia. 

"Shut up," I interrupted. I stood up, sighing, and heard my sister laughing behind my back. What a lovely day ahead.

I headed towards our cabin, and once there, I closed the door to avoid the whole ranch seeing my breasts and took off my top.

My bra was soaked, as was my sweater. Damn it, I took it off too and felt the breeze on my bare back. As I put on a clean shirt, I noticed someone in the bed. I hadn't seen them when I came in; it must have been Nick taking a nap. Privacy wasn't much of a thing here.

I asked, "How's Luciana?" 

"She's still alive," came a familiar voice.

I immediately turned around and saw Troy coming out of the bunk. What a freaking psychopath. I hoped he had enjoyed his peeping because that was reason enough for me to gouge out his other eye.

"You crazy jerk! What the hell!"

"I really liked your mother's speech," he taunted me. "Especially when she said his name, Travis. It gives him importance, makes him real."

"He was real," I countered. 

"But that's not why she talked about him. It wasn't heartfelt; it was calculated. She wanted to remind us that you were also victims." 

"What are you insinuating? That you're a victim? Let me laugh; you're a freaking monster. You kill people and call it science. So, keep your remarks to yourself and get the hell out of here."

There was a pause, then he asked me, with a calmer voice, without mockery, "What were you doing in the old world? He hesitated, I mean, my father said you studied medicine. What was it like?"

I took a moment to think, should I answer him? "It was tough, but I loved it." 

"I never went to high school. 'Troy has some socialization difficulties that prevent him from integrating into a normal school curriculum.'" 

"And look at you, years later, killing innocents. I doubt they were wrong," I sarcastically retorted. 

"I did it for everyone; I thought you'd understand." 

"But that's not the case, you condemned them to death." 

"They were already doomed, I spared them suffering." 

"You're not a savior, Troy; you're a murderer."

He moved closer to the window and looked at the people outside, then continued, "Everything I've done is for them; they deserve to live and feel protected. Everything I do, I do solely for this place." 

"Does your father believe you when you say that?" I asked. 

"Yes, he understands. Complicated problems require complicated solutions." 

"Killing people isn't complicated; it's very simple." 

"You see, you also understand me and understand this world."

Those words sent a chill down my spine, but despite everything, I had killed people too, to protect myself and my family. At first, I felt guilty for taking lives, but as time passed, it became more natural, as if I had always done it. So, if he was a murderer, I was just as much of one.

How could he always get into my head and make me question myself? He was like a shadow behind me, like the demon on my shoulder. Every time we talked or looked at each other, something happened. I had to vanquish the monster because he was my shadow, the dark part of my being.

[violet-virtual-friend]

Top 10 Signs That Aliens Are a Mixture of Angels and Demons: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Enigma

Throughout human history, the existence of extraterrestrial life has been a topic of fascination and speculation. While some believe that aliens are purely scientific beings from distant galaxies, others have entertained the idea that they might possess supernatural qualities. In this article, we embark on a whimsical journey to explore the top 10 signs that aliens could be a peculiar blend of angels and demons. So, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a cosmic adventure!

1. Unexplained Phenomena: The Alien's Halo

One of the most intriguing aspects of aliens is the presence of a mysterious halo-like glow around them. While skeptics may attribute this to mere lighting effects, could it be possible that this radiant aura is a subtle nod to the angelic realm? Perhaps aliens are celestial beings, sent to observe and guide humanity from afar.

2. Good vs. Evil: The Battle of UFOs

Reports of UFO sightings often describe encounters with both benevolent and malevolent beings. This duality mirrors the age-old conflict between angels and demons. Could it be that aliens are locked in their own cosmic struggle, with some seeking to uplift humanity while others aim to sow chaos and confusion?

3. Heavenly Abductions: Angelic Intervention or Demonic Mischief?

The phenomenon of alien abductions has puzzled researchers for decades. Some claim that these encounters are akin to divine interventions, where aliens act as guardian angels, guiding individuals towards a higher purpose. Conversely, others argue that these experiences are more sinister, suggesting a demonic influence at play. The truth remains elusive, but the parallels are undeniably intriguing.

4. Wings of Mystery: The Alien's Secret Appendages

While popular culture often portrays aliens as wingless creatures, ancient texts and artwork depict heavenly beings with magnificent wings. Could it be that aliens possess hidden wings, concealed beneath their otherworldly exteriors? Perhaps these wings are a symbol of their celestial origins, reminiscent of both angels and demons.

5. The Cosmic Choir: Alien Communication

Reports of alien communication often describe a melodic, otherworldly language. Some speculate that these harmonious sounds resemble angelic choirs, while others argue that they bear an eerie resemblance to demonic incantations. Are aliens trying to communicate with us in a language that transcends human understanding, or are they casting a spell upon us?

6. Divine Intervention: Miraculous Healings

There have been accounts of individuals claiming to have been healed by alien beings. From unexplained recoveries to sudden remissions, these alleged miracles parallel the healing powers attributed to angels throughout history. Conversely, some argue that these healings are deceptive, akin to demonic temptations. Could aliens possess the ability to intervene in our lives, for better or worse?

7. The Forbidden Fruit: Alien Knowledge

Aliens are often associated with the acquisition and dissemination of advanced knowledge. This knowledge, much like the forbidden fruit in biblical lore, is said to grant humans access to unparalleled wisdom and understanding. Could this be a reflection of the angelic desire to enlighten humanity? Or does it hint at a more sinister motive, reminiscent of the deceptive nature of demons?

8. Celestial Beings: The Alien's Ethereal Beauty

Many accounts describe aliens as possessing an otherworldly beauty, radiating an ethereal glow. This aesthetic resemblance to celestial beings, both angelic and demonic, raises intriguing questions. Are aliens intentionally designed to captivate and mesmerize us, much like angels are said to do? Or is their allure a cunning ploy to lure unsuspecting souls into their cosmic web?

9. The Battle for Souls: Alien Influence on Human Behavior

Some theorists propose that aliens exert a subtle influence on human behavior, shaping our thoughts and actions. This notion echoes the concept of angels and demons vying for control over human souls. Are aliens manipulating our destinies, guiding us towards enlightenment or leading us astray? The answer remains elusive, but the parallels are undeniably thought-provoking.

10. The Final Revelation: The Ultimate Cosmic Truth

As we delve deeper into the enigma of aliens, we must acknowledge that the notion of them being a mixture of angels and demons is purely speculative. While it may seem far-fetched, this whimsical exploration serves as a reminder that the universe is vast and full of mysteries yet to be unraveled.

Whether aliens are celestial beings, emissaries of light, or harbingers of darkness, one thing is certain: the fascination with extraterrestrial life will continue to captivate our imaginations. As we gaze up at the stars, let us embrace the wonder and the humor in contemplating the possibility that aliens are a cosmic blend of angels and demons.

In the end, the truth may be stranger than fiction, and the cosmic dance between angels and demons may extend far beyond our earthly realm. Until then, let us keep our minds open and our sense of humor intact as we navigate the ever-mysterious world of extraterrestrial encounters.

[beyondcuckoo]

The Second Moon of Atlantis has been published on Elaine Webster - http://elainewebster.com/the-second-moon-of-atlantis/

New Post has been published on http://elainewebster.com/the-second-moon-of-atlantis/

The Second Moon of Atlantis

The Second Moon of Atlantis (Shared from Mu the Motherland)

The recent release of the movie, ‘Oppenheimer’ has reopened discussions about nuclear energy as an instrument of war and as an energy source. As co-creators of ‘Mu the Motherland’ Blake and I live downwind from Los Alamos in southern New Mexico. In eastern New Mexico spent nuclear fuel storage sites are being expanded to store hot and highly radioactive uranium pellets inside metal rods. This waste can only be managed by machines and people have to be physically shielded from it, usually by steel or concrete. There are legal challenges in the courts, yet it seems like Los Alamos is once again busy developing nuclear power for both peaceful use and war. Is this the best we can do? Or are we setting humankind up for a tragic fall?

Our current earth changes are eerily reminiscent of those that existed before Atlantis collapsed and the circumstances that led to global catastrophe are similar. Instead of nuclear power, however, Atlantis’ scientists developed a clean energy source in the form of a massive, clear, and luminescent crystal—a technological marvel, harnessing the natural energies of the earth, the sun, and even the cosmos. It powered the entire continent, providing energy for transportation, healing, communication, and other advanced technologies that made Atlantis a beacon of civilization in the ancient world. The moniker “Second Moon of Atlantis” is symbolic, suggesting the crystal’s immense importance to the Atlanteans. Just as the moon influences the tides and rhythms of Earth, the Great Crystal was believed to influence the energies and life of Atlantis. Its luminescence was said to be so bright that it could be seen from distant lands, serving as both a beacon and a warning of Atlantis’s might.

Initially, the Atlanteans used the crystal’s energy for the betterment of their society. However, as time passed, factions within Atlantis began to misuse this power. Some theories suggest that they attempted to use the crystal as a weapon, directing its energy to subjugate neighboring lands or to wage wars—sound familiar?

Some theorists believe that the Atlanteans, in their quest for greater power and knowledge, began to experiment with the crystal, pushing its capabilities beyond safe limits. This reckless use disrupted the natural balance of energies on the continent and even on Earth itself. Many accounts converge on the idea that the misuse of the Great Crystal played a significant role in the continent’s downfall.

In the movie, Oppenheimer, the scene that depicts the first Trinity site test, also shows that there was concern that a chain reaction could occur and that earth’s atmosphere might catch on fire—blowing up the planet. Luckly, it didn’t; but it did pollute and contaminate the area and the developed bombs annihilated more than 200,000 Japanese, mostly civilians. (The casualty numbers increase as radiation induced medical conditions are calculated.) Nuclear war remains an ever-increasing threat today as nations position themselves to do battle.

In Atlantis, (although not of nuclear origin) the giant crystal also had the power to support or destroy humankind. The “Second Moon” of Atlantis floated in the skies supporting other crystal powerhouses that benefited life on earth in many ways. Scientific discoveries are neither good nor bad—but their use against humanity will, as they did in Atlantis, have catastrophic consequences. The exact cause of Atlantis’s destruction varies depending on the source. Some ancient texts suggest natural disasters—the earth rebelling against pollution, overcrowding and mid-managed resources. While others hint at self-inflicted catastrophe. I.e., someone (intentionally or not) pushed the wrong button. One theory suggests that the crystal, when overcharged or misdirected, created a massive energy discharge, leading to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. This chain reaction of natural disasters would have been enough to sink the entire continent, causing vast migrations to escape floods (remember Noah?) with many moving underground—later re-surfacing (as in the many emergence stories from around the globe) to begin again, in the most primitive ways.

Another theory suggests that the crystal created a rift in the fabric of space-time, leading to a dimensional shift that caused Atlantis to vanish from our reality. This idea is more esoteric but aligns with some beliefs that Atlantis was a bridge between dimensions. Whew!

No matter what you choose to believe, the story of the Great Crystal of Atlantis serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the responsibilities that come with advanced knowledge. Whether the crystal was real or a product of myth, its narrative underscores the delicate balance between progress and egotistical greed for fame and power.

The legend of Atlantis and its Great Crystal reminds us that civilizations, no matter how advanced, are vulnerable to both external threats and their own ambitions. As we continue to advance technologically and spiritually, the tale of the Second Moon of Atlantis serves as a poignant reminder of the need for wisdom, humility, and respect for the forces we harness. 

Om Mani Padme Hum