#i will compile a more in-depth report later

[lokiinmediasideblog]

Loki sleeps in the same room as Thor and Sif and seems to live with them. Make of that what you will.

[the-monkey-ruler]

How was wu cheng’en able to access so much knowledge for his book?

I mean, the story of Xuanzang's travel was fairly popular and the building blocks of Xiyouji were all right there! An example of a previous interaction of Xiyouji is Zaju being a casting different story but already having some demons and arcs that were already set. Wukong, Bajie, Wujing, Sanzang, and Bailong were already there as characters but it was the Wu Cheng'en version that was what gave them that character change Wukong's character throughout the years.

When it comes to the transformation of the character that is something I would highly suggest looking into Transforming Monkey: Adaptation and Representation of a Chinese Epic by Hongmei Sun for a more in-depth study of like the changing of the legend passed down in a good cohesive manner which is what I think is at least a great way to simplify how these legends were told and retold and changed depending on the periods they were in. The story was insanely popular already and it wasn't terribly hard to either hear the story to even see a performance or oral telling of the tale. But there was a lack of writings over the story in compassion as such those were a bit harder to find.

But in short, Wu Cheng'en was a scholar was while he failed the imperial examinations he was still devoted to spending his life as an artisan, including classical literature, popular stories, and anecdotes. He did become an official and had postings in both Beijing and Changxing County, but he resigned and spent the rest of his life writing stories and poems in his hometown.

During this time he became an accomplished writer, producing both poetry and prose and became friends with several prominent contemporary writers. So he has a history of writing already, being active in other works (though none similar to Xiyouji). Dissatisfied with the political climate of the time and with the corruption of the world, he spent much of his life as a hermit. Considering the political commentary and the vast amount of Buddist, Taoist, and Chinese folklore that is within Xiyouji, Wu Cheng'en was considered to be a great candidate by other reports to be someone to have a collection of lore, literature, political information, and the skills to put it all together in his later life as a hermit. In the early 20th century, Hu Shih and his students conducted textual analysis and research into Qing dynasty records and suggested Wu as the author. Translator W. J. F. Jenner points out that although Wu had knowledge of Chinese bureaucracy and politics, the novel itself doesn't include any political details that "a fairly well-read commoner could not have known." It is unknown how much of the novel was created, and how much was simply compiled and edited, since much of the legend behind Journey to the West already existed in folk tales.

[madillhethen]

So I started the Magnus Archives. Haah, my very first podcast. I think I’ve tended to avoid these because I never understood how they worked, on top of the fact I’ve always been a visual learner mostly by words, audio is a bit of a weak point for me. Well, enough sidetracking on that, anyways…!

First of all, just wanted to say that I love that each recording is labeled MAG (I suppose that’s the hyphened name of the series), it makes me think of it as if it’s a sort of college/university class. Second, the background soundtrack is really wonderful. Combines a lot of mystery, haunting feeling and an almost ancient yet classical feel.

The Launch Trailer was really cool. When he left and the voice in the recording started (I couldn’t quite catch what it was saying but I’m guessing that was a segment for a later episode?), it really hit the supernatural, spooky nail here.

The first episode introduced the characters, mainly our narrator Jonathan Sims. He did mention that he acquired help from two-three others (I’m afraid as of now, I do not remember anyone’s name except Martin.) Martin seemingly is a thorn in Jon’s side, as he states he expects nothing much from him. So Jon has to compile all these written records into recordings as no one has done so, and he was recently assigned to this after his predecessor died.

Considering this is a supernatural horror, I’m going to take a guess and say these archives have something to do with his predecessor’s death (of course, I guess we can’t rule out coincidence that wants us to think this way.)

The recording itself is fantastic. I loved it. The building up the creepiness, the comparison to an angler fish, the perfect amount of confusion and truth since the reporter was drunk.

I really loved the part where it asks if he has a light (it’s quite literally luring you into its depths with a ‘light’ except a human version where the victim has the source). The vivid descriptions for me were surprising, since I’ve never listened to podcasts/audio books, I never really knew how descriptive they can be. But the darkness, the swaying, the way the creepy ‘weirdo’ looked were excellent.

There were a ton of names of people who were reported to have disappeared, and I’m wondering if this ‘angler fish’ uses each victim’s corpse to lure others away. Though, curious as to why it didn’t show up in the photograph only the outlined hand? Maybe I’ll find out more later.

[upcloseandchaotic]

Girls’ Night

This idea has been bouncing in my head for a while mostly as a distraction from doing my other WIPs. It was also originally supposed to be short.... I don’t know what happened 🤷🏼‍♀️

Summary: After helping Bucky with a rough round of nightmares, you decide that you need to have a Girls’ Night with your friends.

One Shot; 2,478 words 

Disclaimer: Bucky, Natasha, and Wanda are not my characters.

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanova, Wanda Maximoff, Female!Reader

Relationships: Bucky x Female!Reader

In the sunlight his hair was a soft chestnut color, but now as you ran your hand through it and wrapped the silky locks between your fingers, the night seemed to darkened it to where someone could mistake it for black, almost as dark as the night sky. You hummed to yourself, imagining what his hair would look like filled with falling stars and circling planets, but then quietened down as you heard his voice start rumbling in his chest, a pained groan building in his throat.

Soon Russian words started falling sharply from his lips. His arms and legs started twitching, his brow furrowing. You quickly grabbed your phone from the side table, pressing the button to open your notes app and started writing down everything that seemed important, like names or locations. It looked as if his nightmare from a couple of hours before was coming back, but this time his dream went more in depth. You were able to pull some ideas of where this “vault” was located, names of people, random words that you think were once used to help program him. It hurt for you to watch him twisting and turning, crying out in pain, it left you feeling helpless even though you knew from experience that waking him up would just make it worse.

The longer it continued you felt a rage start simmering down in the pit of your stomach. It burned as if a coal had finally caught a flicker of a flame and grew until your hands were shaking and you were silently fighting with yourself to stay there with him and not go find the people responsible for his pain. 

Once his murmurs turned into more like whimpers and his twitching started to slow, you started whispering sweet nothings into his ear and gently combing his hair back from his sweating face. Slowly, without waking up from his dream, he started to relax back into the bed and eventually you can hear light snores signalling that he has fallen back into a dreamless sleep. Before you slide back into your spot beside him you grab your phone and send a message to Wanda and Natasha. Girls’ Night soon?

Wanda was probably still asleep, seeing as it was around five in the morning, but you weren’t surprised to see three dots flashing. Natasha seemed to have an uncanny sense of when Bucky was having nightmares and always seemed to be awake.

Yes! I’ll bring the nail polish! 💅

You smiled and sent back a gif before turning your phone off and threw it back onto the nightstand. Reaching out to Bucky, you smiled as he unconsciously moved to accommodate you; his arm wrapped around your shoulders and when you tucked yourself into his right shoulder he turned, curling up around you and throwing his metal arm around your waist. You could feel the warm huffs against the top of your head and his usual scent of spice, leather and gunmetal surrounded you. With the sound of his heartbeat in your ear and the warmth of his body seeping into you you close your eyes and drift off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

You were standing in the kitchen putting together a cheese and cracker plate when you felt two hands circling around from behind you, one warm and soft and the other cool and hard. They wandered under his shirt you were wearing and started creeping upwards slowly with gentle caresses.

Smiling softly, you put the crackers and cheese down to place your hands over his, halting his movement and . “What are you doing, Buck?”

Bucky’s chin dropped onto your shoulder and he whispered into your ear. “Do I really have to go, doll? You know I don’t care about what you all talk about. I’ll even let you and the girls paint my nails.”

You sighed and twisted around so you could stare into his aquamarine-colored eyes, which were trying to pretend to be charming but actually belied his nerves. He always required some more physical reassurance after having a bad bout of nightmares, and as much as you wanted to allow him to stay so you could comfort him you knew that this Girls’ Night was necessary and that he couldn’t be here. To ease some of his discomfort, though, you pulled him towards you and reached up to cup one cheek. He sighed and leaned into it and you watched as some of the tension in his jaw relaxed.

“Baby, I wish you could. If it was any other night it would be fine, but tonight it really has to be just us girls.” Bucky gave a dejected huff and closed his eyes, leaning a little bit more into your hand, “But I will take up your offer to paint your nails. I have a really pretty blue color that would match your eyes.”

When he opened his eyes again you could see a glint of mischievousness flash briefly and before you could blink he had a grip on your thighs and had you up in the air. You squeaked and quickly wrapped your legs around his waist. He laughed and sat you on the counter next to your half-done cheese and cracker plate. You gave him a mock glare and lightly smacked his chest.

“Don’t be like that, Doll,” Bucky crooned. He stepped forwards so that he was standing between your legs, pressed up against you. Leaning forwards, he hovered his lips so that they were a hairsbreadth apart from yours. You got a clear whiff of his favorite cologne and the mint toothpaste he used. “I was just havin’ a bit of fun. We both know how much you like it when I pick you up like the babydoll you are.”

“That’s true, but the girls are going to be here any moment and I still have a lot of stuff to finish getting ready. Also don’t you have to meet Steve and Sam in about 20 minutes anyways? You still have a 15 minute drive, Buck.”

He hummed, pulling your wrist off of his face to read the time on your watch. When he saw that he was going to run late he grumbled but backed off, allowing you to hop down from the counter but close enough that he could keep his hands on your arms in case you lost your balance.

You hurriedly finished up making the plate of appetizers while Bucky begrudgingly went and collected his wallet and keys and then you both met up at the doorway.

“Have fun with Steve and Sam, baby. Call me if you need me,” You say, leaning up to give him a chaste kiss. Before you could step back, though, he snuck a hand into your hair, keeping you close as he proceeded to deepen the kiss. After a few minutes though someone knocked loudly on the door, startling both of you into separating. When you and Bucky gathered enough braincells to answer the door, Natasha and Wanda were standing there, smirking and giggling at the dazed look on both of your faces.

“Come on, Barnes, it’s our turn with Y/N. You can have her later tonight,” Natasha joked, pushing past you and Bucky to place the wine bottles she brought with her on the living room table. Wanda snuck past too, dropping her bag onto the couch before starting to search for wine glasses in the kitchen.

Bucky chuckled, ignoring the two girls as he dropped another kiss onto your lips. “Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. Bye, babydoll, I’m countin’ down the seconds until I come back to you.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled as you heard a mixed chorus of fake gagging and awe-ing behind you. “Go on, Buck, I’ll see you later.”

“Don’t use all of the nail polish, ladies! I look forward to my manicure when I get home!” he shouted as he walked away, smiling brightly as you laughed. You stayed there, leaning against the doorway to watch him until he disappeared on the stairs.

“Hate to see him leave?” Wanda asked as you closed the door and stepped back into the apartment.

“But love to watch him go,” You sighed dreamily. Natasha groaned and threw a pillow at you, causing you and Wanda to break out into laughter.

“Okay, okay! Truce!” You cried, throwing your hands up.

“Fine,” Natasha conceded, “You live to see another day, Y/N… Now, what information did you find the other night?”

As Wanda opened the bottle of wine and set it to the side to let it breathe, you pulled up your notes and explained what Bucky had said during his latest nightmare as well as what you had been able to find from an initial search. Natasha stayed quiet during your explanation, responding with nothing but the occasional nod, and Wanda pulled her laptop out of her bag, starting it up and opening the files you all had compiled and sent them.

At the end of your report Natasha poured the wine into the glasses and took a quick sip. “This place sounds familiar to me, but I’m not 100% sure I have been there. I think maybe they used it as a threat in the Red Room? What were the names he mentioned again?”

When you repeated them, Wanda chimed in with “I think I’ve heard about that place, it’s in Siberia. Pietro and I were almost sent there a couple of times, they told us it was their top training facility.”

“Could you point it out on a map, Wanda?” You asked, quickly pulling up a map of Serbia on your phone.

“I think I could…here let me see.”

Wanda looked over the map and you bit your lip, twisting the wine glass between your fingers, anxious to see if you guys would have a break through.

“Here,” she said, pointing at a spot in the Balkan Mountains, “It’s closer to Serbia and it’s hidden deep inside one of the mountains.”

“I’ll try and see if I can pull some layout plans from the upload you did, Nat,” You said, reaching for Wanda’s laptop. As you did your deep diving into the files, Natasha and Wanda made a quick order for food from the Italian place around the corner.

Right after the food came in and Wanda had refilled all of the glasses, you gave a short cry of triumph and flipped the computer around to show them the layout of the Hydra base, as well as the information needed to get in. The three of you smirked while raising your glasses in a toast, celebrating that for once you were able to get all of the information needed..

The rest of the night was spent making a plan of attack and then double and triple-checking to make sure everything would go as planned.

You slipped into your apartment silently, placing your heels next to the door and padding softly down the hallway. The whole apartment was dark except for the lights of the busy New York street shining through the window. Using the little bit of light and muscle memory you managed to weave around the furniture, setting your jacket and purse gently on the living room table on your way to your room.

You could see Bucky, sprawled on his side of the bed, body facing the door as if he had tried staying up so he could make sure you got in all right. You sighed, letting your body sag against the door frame briefly even though you winced as your sore muscles ached, a reminder of what you had gotten up to tonight. Even though, originally, it was supposed to be just Wanda and Nat infiltrating the base, you had had to go in to hack some computers. It was just bad luck that those computers were guarded by some giant, beefed up Hydra goon who seemed to be immune to effects of a fucking taser. Needless to say, it was extra satisfying when he did eventually succumb to Natasha’s famous thigh chokehold.

Bucky was snoring lightly, but it seemed as if his sleep would be undisturbed tonight, almost as if his body sensed that one more nightmare was no more. You stepped forwards and cursed loudly as you tripped over his combat boots and went sprawling across the floor. As Bucky startled awake and flipped on the light, you sat there hissing and briefly wondered how satisfying it would be to just throw them in the trash right in the moment.

“Babydoll?” he asked, his voice rough and low as if he were still half asleep, “Is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” you huffed, wincing as you climbed back up,, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep, Buck.” 

“Don’t worry about it, I was waiting on you anyways.” Bucky pushed himself up the bed and sat back to watch as you started to gather all of your supplies to get ready for bed. “How was your Girls’ Night? Did you get some free drinks tonight?”

“You know it,” you shot back, winking over your shoulder. You heard his breath hitch as you drew your dress up and off, revealing your black lace thong and push up bra. You turned around and before he could say something you know would lead to both of you not getting any sleep that night, you pointed a finger at him and said, “Not a word, buster.”

Bucky raised his hands in the air with an innocent expression on his face that was quickly overtaken by a charming smile, “I wasn’t goin’ to say nothin’, doll….but now that you mention it, that set does looks stunning on you.”

“Ah ah!,” You cried, wagging your finger once more, “It is 2 AM, James Buchanan Barnes, and we are both exhausted. We’re getting some sleep before anything else, ya hear?” Bucky laughed but agreed, sinking further into the bed the closer you got to finishing your nightly routine. By the time you were climbing into bed yourself his eyes his body had sunk into the bed and his eyes were slowly blinking. Once you were comfortably resting on your side facing him he tucked an arm across your waist and pressed his hand between your shoulder blades, pulling you closer to his body until you both were unable to figure out where one started and the other ended.

“I’m glad you had a fun night with the girls, babydoll,” Bucky whispered into your hair groggily.

“Thanks, baby,” You whispered, smiling as you heard the soft huffs of his breath above your head. You kissed the shoulder closest to you and sighed as you sank into the warmth of his body, the bed, and the knowledge that Bucky was now safe from one more nightmare.

tags: @babiiface95

Dividers by: @whimsicalrogers

[ddaehyeon]

ophiuchus - you have this limited stack of sticky notes. write whatever you want on it, and that note would magically appear somewhere in your soulmate’s line of sight during that day.

send me a member and a constellation!

— pairing: jung subin + gn!reader

— genre: fluff, soulmate au, office au

— word count: 1.5k

— requested ☆ victon masterlist

today will be the start.

that was the words scribbled on a blue sticky note you kept in between the pages of your favorite book. the last note you received from your soulmate. you randomly found it by your desk as you were working on your resume for a manufacturing company you were trying to get into. months had passed since you last got a note, so you assumed it was your soulmate’s final words to you.

a fascinating way to get to know your soulmate, although you doubt you ever got the chance to send your soulmate any type of notes. you can’t remember having that limited stack of sticky notes similar to what your friends would gush about during college. and your soulmate wasn’t too keen on giving off their identity either, settling for a few words of encouragement every other day and sometimes, random words. like really random ones. there was even a time they sent off a what seemed to be a grocery list.

though you got a hold of their last note, their other notes were no longer with you. with most of it only appearing in your line of sight, either too far to be reached or too awkward to pick up.

“good morning, you’re the new analyst, right?” a man with towering height greeted you, slumping a box on your table. things you supposed were necessary for your job. you peered over their id, their smiling photograph looking back at you. choi byungchan.

“i am.” a small curve made its way to your brim, lighting up your face a bit. though there was no point in denying that you were actually worried about what you were to do. the new environment adequate for your stomach to twist in both nervousness and excitement.

byungchan looked at the close area, the nearest cubicles were ones occupied by employees who probably had started their day way too early. already in the middle of typing out reports, with some answering phone calls and pacing in and out of the area. “our advertising manager is scary.”

a clearing of the throat stopped you from whatever question you were to throw as to why byungchan said that. another guy appeared next to your cubicle, he was holding a couple of brown envelopes. “am i?”

you shot a look on his id, his name easily spotted. jung subin. underneath, his title proudly printed. he was the advertising manager.

“just kidding.” byungchan let out a chuckle before grinning to the other. waving in your direction before leaving your cubicle.

subin watched him all along before he stepped closer to you, placing what he was carrying on the table. it was a few clippings and report summary of the former trends and advertising plans. “i compiled everything that you might need there, on the sticky note my email’s written. if ever you need additional data, just send me a message.”

“thank you,” you said with a nod. opposite to what byungchan had warned, subin wasn’t really scary. though you had to agree that his sharp look made him somewhat intimidating. gazing at the sticky note stuck on the top of the envelope, a cold feeling crawled onto your skin. breathe immediately sucked in, heart missing one beat— wait a minute.

“is something wrong?” subin asked, halting your train of thoughts, but not the trail of sensation that was rapidly setting in your body.

you shook your head, unable to commit to any verbal response.

his writing was familiar.

awfully familiar.

never did the idea leave your mind. for good days it remained there.

subin wasn’t in his office when you got there. you’d simply leave the files he had asked for only if you didn’t need some other monthly data. quite urgent of a need that you were willing to wait just a little bit until his meeting ends.

unable to hold still in sitting on the couch, you stood and wandered around his office. supplies tidily stacked on the shelves, a pile of documents on his table, most of the former advertising campaigns stuck on the bulletin adjacent to the sofa. the thing that caught your eyes the most was the handwritten weekly schedule. his handwriting.

once again, you ended up having a staring game with the paper. trying to analyze it as if it was your schedule, when in fact you were not really paying attention to what was written. all your focus fixated on how it was written. curving in rush, yet still neat.

the door swung open almost inaudibly or perhaps you were simply lost with your thoughts that you failed to perceive it. not until subin’s voice echoed in your ears as he stood behind you did you notice that he was already back.

“i’m free this weekend,” subin casually said, a chuckle heard from him afterward as he walked towards his table to settle down his notebook.

you shook your head, a little abashed of how he caught you in the act of staring at his writing. oh well, his weekly schedule. “that’s not it.”

nodding his head, he sat down on his chair. “then why were you looking at my schedule ever so intently?”

“just…” stepping away from the bulletin, you walked closer to his table. for a moment, you contemplated whether to tell him about your thoughts or not. but there was nothing weird with finding someone’s handwriting familiar, right? it wasn’t such a strange thing, right? meeting his gaze was enough of a reassurance, quite inquisitive too. “i think your handwriting is familiar.”

“it is?” he raised a brow at your words. “what do you mean?”

unsure of what to say, you blurted out the first thing that came to your mind. “today will be the start.”

the puzzlement that came across his features allowed an awkward smile to come to your lips. maybe it was some kind of coincidence. he wasn’t that person, no? admittedly, that was quite a disappointment. you shook your head in an attempt to take the words back. “nevermind.”

that was ignored though, subin’s frown melted upon a realization. “so you were that person who kept on sending those animal doodles when i was a kid?”

and it was your turn to be confused. “what?”

a knowing smile lit upon his lips, welcoming and a bit nostalgic. eyes discerning, warm gaze as if he had found someone he had been looking for. “do you not remember drawing something on a paper and it disappearing?”

“wait, so you mean—”

there were only a few instances it occurred or at least that was the depth your memories could still recognize. around kindergarten, you had this notepad that you weren’t entirely sure how you got. its pages were pigmented in bright and whimsical colors. and you filled it with the same amount of playfulness through doodles of animals and flowers, most were silly, but fun to make. however, none of it lasted in the notepad, all disappearing after the day it was drawn. you didn’t mind though, thinking that perhaps someone just pulled it off or it just magically vanished.

it was magical, yes, but it didn’t just disappear.

“i even have most of it kept,” subin confirmed, pulling a drawer and retrieving his keys from it. lifting his hand, he revealed a keyring that had a small drawing of a bunny locked on it. the color of the paper familiar to you, regardless of the many shades of color there was. its blue tone was distinct. “this drawing was from you?”

you took a few steps closer to him to study the keychain which he ended up handing to you. shooting him a look, a question slipped out of your tongue. “you mean you were actually able to get some sticky notes from me?”

subin bobbed his head up and down, his smile spreading in delight. “when we were younger.”

later that day, subin insisted on walking you to the bus stop. the remaining rays of sunlight brushes upon your figure, two shadows moving from behind as the two of you strolled on the sidewalk. you were unable to hold any more conversations earlier due to the other office tasks both of you had to work on.

“so why haven’t you been writing?” you asked, breaking the silence that had been existing ever since you stepped out of the building.

subin shrugged. “i ran out of it.”

“i see.” you nodded at his words, feet stopping in one go when you thought of another question. something you’d been curious about. “what do you mean by ‘today will be the start’ on your last note?”

“oh that?” subin’s track halted as well, a moment taken to look at the sky. the colors altering to what seemed to have been the pigments of the sticky notes the two of you had exchanged— of orange and red. “it just meant that from that day onwards, i will simply allow fate to work, to bring us together.”

he turned to look at you, the curve on his lips was able to spark a glimmer in his eyes. “and it seems like it did.”

[a-dorin]

tempestuous | darth maul

word count: 5.043k 

warnings: nsfw, 18+, professor/student relationship, sexual tension, smut,  nudity, sexual innuendos, dominance kink, age gap, cursing 

a/n: hello everyone! due to the response i received, this is the second chapter in the professor!maul au! i am so happy with the overwhelming comments of kindness. you guys rock :’) thank you for keeping me sane during quarantine. as always, the first chapter is linked below. enjoy :)) 

ardor

summary: weeks have flown by, and you find yourself under immense amounts of pressures with midterm quickly approaching. not only are you stressed with the academics, but you can’t seem to shake a certain professor out of your head.

“(y/n), did you have rough night?” barriss chuckled, handing ahsoka an iced coffee before sliding into her own spot, “here, i got you a little pick-me-up.” 

wrapping your hand around the cup, you swirled your straw around, “thank you, barriss. i guess i’m just a little stressed out with midterms approaching.”

“a little?” ahsoka giggled, covering her mouth, “(y/n), we love you, but you look like you’ve been hit by a truck. is everything okay?”

you rubbed your temple, a dull aching seeping into your skull, “i’ve been pulling some all nighters lately.”

“well if you ever want to study for with us, you’re always welcome,” barriss’ blue depths shone, her lips curved into an encouraging smile, “ahsoka and i are a little nervous about the midterm as well, especially for this class. professor maul hasn’t given us any sort of notion on what the exam may be.”

“i hope it’s something simple,” you grumbled, taking a sip of the matcha latte, “again, thank you for the matcha, barriss. i appreciate it.”

barriss laid a gentle hand on your shoulder, “anything for you, (y/n). after all, you’re our new best friend.”

“she’s very right,” ahsoka shot you a wink, prodding you with her elbow, “you should come to the library with us tomorrow night! i know, it’s lame, but it’s pretty empty on the weekend. we have a good chance at snagging one of those study rooms. and if we get our homework done friday, we can always meet up before that party saturday night!” 

“you guys party?” you arched a curious brow. 

barriss and ahsoka rolled their eyes simultaneously, the togruta letting out a huff, “we know how to have fun too, (y/n). after all, they say that the bookworms know how to let loose.”

“whatever,” you couldn’t help but laugh, pulling out your laptop. 

it was now about halfway through the semester, with midterms approaching on the horizon. the looming fact that you had about five exams, along with working extra hours with your internship, were beginning to take their toll on you. the internship at the hospital was running smoothly, and you were performing so well that you were offered extra hours. of course, you couldn’t help but accept the offer. 

yet, it came with a cost. although it was only two nights a week, they asked if you could stay a few hours later than normal. so, every tuesday and wednesday, you strolled into your apartment well past one in the morning. 

rex helped in every way he possibly could. whether it was cooking you dinner, making you coffee, tending to your laundry, as well as keeping the apartment tidy, he was adamant about making things easier for you. which, you greatly appreciated. there were even times he charged your laptop and made runs to the printer. last night was one of those nights where you didn’t get back till late, so to say you were exhausted was an understatement. 

although it was your first class of the day, and 9:56 a.m., sleep still hung heavy in your mind. the comfy clothes hanging on your frame weren’t much help either, the coziness of the fabric lulling you to sleep. a university of coruscant hoodie, a few sizes too big, was almost like a blanket. and the grey sweats were comforting. shaking your head, you attempted to focus. 

the class fell silent as he entered the room, causing you to perk up in your seat. today, he was clad in a pair of black slacks, the color of his button up and blazer corresponding with his pants. his shoes were freshly polished, glossy in the sterile light. the monochromatic outfit brought out the color of his crimson skin, his amber orbs nearly glowing. as usual, the silver chain hung from his neck, this time, settled on bare skin, as a button or two was left undone. 

you nearly choked on your matcha, as you drank in the sight of him. maker, was he gorgeous. mind buzzing, you mustered all of your strength to not admire for a moment too long. it was already embarrassing enough the sheer amount of instances you saw him on campus. 

now that you were enrolled in his class, you saw him everywhere. whether it was grabbing a meal to-go in the dining hall, bumping into him at the gym, or mumbling a greeting as you passed him in the halls of the psychology wing. it was odd, yet you paid no mind. a part of you yearned to see him, to just admire his features. 

professor maul didn’t seem to mind the encounters either. every time, he would chirp a greeting, his tone smooth and cordial. even though he was formal, you couldn’t help but notice a gleam in the golden pools as he spoke. it was almost as if his eyes were roaming your body, glittering with lust. 

just the mere thought of his lips on yours sent a faint blush painted across your cheeks. shifting in your seat, the realization that class began washed over you. letting out a quiet sigh, you typed notes as he spoke, his voice clear, thick with authority as it rang through the lecture hall. 

“now,” he cleared his throat, backtracking to the pedestal to the left of the space, “i compiled a list of terms and parameters of your midterm exam.”

groans of frustration erupted like a volcano, maul’s eyes blazing with amusement, “may i discuss the exam with you first or are you all going to complain?”

“i hate him,” ahsoka muttered under her breath. 

“you don’t mean that,” you whispered, teasing, “what if the exam is a breeze?”

“the midterm will be no walk in the park,” maul announced, gathering a thick stack of papers in his hands.

 your eyes wandered to his hands, and how they sprawled over the stack with ease, how they were would fit so well over your breasts. a shiver ran down your spine as you pondered of his hands all over your body, relishing every inch of your skin. his voice snapped you out of your fantasy, his gaze settling on you, a smirk creeping onto his lips. 

“for the exam, i ask that you research an individual or authoritative figure who is a ‘monster’ in our society. once you conduct your research, you will give me a brief presentation. the presentation will be done orally, through a video format. the deadline is printed on the assignment sheet. there are no exceptions, so plan accordingly.”

biting your lip, your cheeks reddened under the eye contact. however, his attention was taken away from you, eyes flickering towards a student near the top of the lecture hall. 

“does this mean we can talk about president palpatine? he’s a tyrant!” 

“i can’t believe he almost banned the frats!” another complaint rose from a classmate.

“if that’s who you would like to report on,” a bubbly, lighthearted laugh escaped his lips, the sound flowing like sweet honey into your ears, “you might have your work cut out for you. that is my boss after all, so i am not sure how biased i can be.”

the rest of the class droned on, ahsoka and barriss lost in their note-taking, their stares fixed to their laptop screens. meanwhile, you found yourself getting lost, daydreaming. maker, did you ache to experience just one kiss. to trace the tattoos all over his chest and shoulders as you unbuttoned the article of clothing. gnawing on your cheek, shame burned through you as you realized that you were beginning to feel a sensation in your core. the mere thought of maul had your folds slick, wet and desperate for him. 

soon, class was over, students herded to the doors. you followed ahsoka and barriss, conversing about tomorrow’s plans. you were anticipating the study session tomorrow, as you needed it.

after all, you weren’t paying much attention in class these days. 

*******

“so, are we wrapped up for the night?” ahsoka yawned, her eyes bleary with sleep. 

a rumble in the distance shook the library, a thunderstorm wreaking its havoc over coruscant. you, barriss, and ahsoka were finishing up, the building nearing closing time. it was 10:32 p.m., the three of you hunkering down in a study room for the past two and a half hours. however, the session was helpful, the three of you passing notes, sharing what you did and didn’t have. you were all caught up, thanks to them. 

“i believe so,” barriss nodded, shoving a notebook into her bag, “(y/n), would you like us to walk with you to your apartment? we can share an umbrella and give you one.”

“i’ll be fine,” you shrugged, glancing at your phone, “i think i might wait out the storm for a few more minutes. besides, my roommate has a girl over. i don’t want to impose on them.”

“you sure?” concern flashed across ahsoka’s face, “it’s not a problem to us.”

“you guys can go,” you teased, winking, “i can handle myself. besides, there’s no one in here besides the twi’lek at the front desk.”

“whatever you say,” barriss huffed, adjusting her hijab, “see you tomorrow!”

“see ya,” you waved to the two girls as they left the room, “text me when you guys want to meet up!” 

“we will,” ahsoka called, giving you one last grin before they disappeared from your field of vision. 

exhaling, you rose to your feet, slinging your bag over your shoulder. strolling out of the study room, the lights of the library were dimmed, a few students lingering, milling around the front desk or nose deep in textbooks, scrambling to finish their work. 

eventually, you made your way to the lobby, leaning against the brick wall. rex promised that he would text you when his friend was on her way, yet there were no message on your screen. no missed calls. nothing. frustration welled up inside of you, creeping into your thoughts. surely the girl wasn’t staying the night. rex didn’t mention anything about it to you earlier. 

“hey there,” an all too familiar voice rumbled, “do you need a lift?”

turning ever so slightly, your eyes widened at the figure before you. maul stood in the doorway, donned in a pair of grey joggers, a university hoodie on his top half. the hoodie was black, which was a prominent color in the zabrak’s wardrobe. you picked up on that the third day of class. his brows were furrowed, lips pursed. it was almost as if he was concerned. 

“i’m fine,” you muttered, “just waiting on my roommate to give me the all clear.”

“i remember those days,” maul mused, “savage used to have all sorts of women over when we rented an apartment together for grad school. it was downright horrid.”

“i bet,” you sucked in a breath, anxiety swirling as you read the time once more. it was 10:48 now, more and more students filing out of the exit. 

“you all right?” he inquired, his voice low, “if your apartment isn’t too far from here, i can give you a ride. it’s storming pretty bad out there.”

“isn’t that illegal?” you snorted, a glimmer of hope rising as rex’s called id lit up your phone, “hang on, i gotta take this.”

“heyyyy,” immediately, you sensed that rex was walking on eggshells, “do you have a place to stay for the night?”

“rex, i thought we talked about this.”

“well,” he mumbled, “she wants to stay the night. i’ll do all of your laundry tomorrow if you say yes.”

“rex this isn’t the right time to bargain with me,” tears brimmed your eyes as the horror crept in. you had nowhere to go. 

“please?” his voice was sickeningly sweet, “pretty please?”

“fine,” you caved, “i’ll see you tomorrow.”

“thank you-” rex began, but you hung up before he got the chance to finish. 

storming out of the library, tears streamed down your cheeks, mixing effortlessly with the icy rain as it cascaded down, piercing through your clothes. you sobbed, your cries deafened by the thunder. maker, you were so furious. how could rex do that to you? especially so last minute? the only place you could go was your car, and you didn’t even have a fresh change of clothes. 

“(y/n),” through the roar of the thunder, you heard his voice. 

“oh great!” sobs racked your body, “now i have to deal with you too-”

his hands grasped your cheeks, pulling you in. lips collided with yours, his touch warm, as you crumpled completely. fingers tangled into your wet locks, desperate to bring you closer to him, to feel your lips mold so effortlessly with his. the kiss was fiery, burning with a passion. a desire for you. it was exhilarating, intoxicating, your mind buzzing, losing any sort of coherent thought as the rain pounded against the cement, lightning illuminating your surroundings. 

“now,” he pulled away, leaving you breathless, “do you need a ride?”

“i don’t have anywhere to go,” you could barely string the words together.

“you’re welcome to stay at my place.”

“are you sure?” you wiped your tears, yet the effort was fruitless. your clothes were soaked, you were chilled to the bone.

“yes,” he took your hands, “come on, let’s get out of here.”

“what if someone sees us?” anxiety bubbled within you. 

“my hood is up,” he began to make his way towards the parking lot, clicking a button on his car keys, “besides, i’m wearing black and so are you.”

“i guess you’re right,” you muttered, a shiver rippling through your being.

as he approached the vehicle, he opened the passenger door for you as the rain pattered against the pavement. slipping off his sweatshirt, he shoved it into your hands, “here, put this on.”

“i-i’m not wearing a shirt underneath,” the words were a stutter.

“and i’m not fifteen,” maul scoffed, ducking so that he could slide into the driver’s seat, “you’re going to get sick out here and mine is somewhat dryer than yours.”

hesitantly, you made your way into the passenger seat, your eyes widening as you noticed the interior, “this is a tesla.”

in the darkness, you picked out the brightness of his grin, his incisors flashed, poking against his lips, “indeed. my apartment isn’t too far from here. i need to let savage know that we’re no longer having drunkfest.”

“drunkfest?” you couldn’t help but giggle. 

“drunkfest,” maul affirmed, his thumbs dancing across his phone, “we get absolutely wasted every friday night to forget about the awful moments of the work week.”

“interesting,” you settled into maul’s hoodie, grateful for the slightly drier fabric. his scent flooded your nostrils. it was a strong scent, with traces of leatherwood, spices, and bergamot. it was heavenly, with just the right amount of cologne. 

“it is interesting,” his eyes focused on the road, the lights of the city whirring by as he drove, “even though i’ve gotten completely trashed every single time, i can’t seem to shake you off my mind.”

blush flooded your cheeks, your breath hitching in your throat, “i see.”

within minutes, maul pulled into a parking garage, turning off the engine. he helped out of the passenger seat, “let me carry your bookbag for you. the textbooks probably need to sit out for a few hours. i’m sure you don’t want to pay for new ones.”

“i don’t,” you sucked in a breath. 

the zabrak slung your bag over his shoulder with ease, locking the car behind you. the two of you entered the elevator on the level, and maul pushed his desired designation. a wave of silence crashed over you, but it wasn’t unnerving. it was more relaxed, maul humming a tune as the elevator whirred. 

eventually, you were standing outside his door, the zabrak shoving the key into the lock. pushing the door open, you couldn’t help but marvel at the decor, furniture, as well as the viewports. the apartment was luxurious, screaming wealth. yet, maul remained humble, not uttering a single word. 

the floor was a flint concrete, glossed over with a polish. in the den, there was a massive patterned rug, intricate patterns of black, white, and crimson woven together. the couch was a sectional, a dark grey. the shelving and tables were black, paired with subtle hints of scarlet or grey decor. there wasn’t much wall decor, besides some vintage posters from the old days of coruscant. framed photos of zabraki were scattered, and you inferred that they were feral and savage, maul’s younger brothers. 

“there’s a hall leading to the refresher. it’s on your right, i’m going to set out your books to dry. before you shower, leave your clothes in a pile by the door. i’ll throw them in the wash for you. and if i pop in, don’t scream. i’m going to lend you some of my clothes,” the zabrak murmured, “take your time in the shower. i don’t want you getting sick.”

“what if i need help getting the right water temperature?” you arched a brow. 

his eyes narrowed, gleaming, “i think you’ll be fine, princess. call me if you need anything.”

your cheeks reddened, “okay. i’ll be in the shower.”

maul mumbled something incoherent, and you wandered through the den, discovering the hall that he mentioned. once you found the refresher, you peeled the damp clothing off your body, grateful that there was a towel hanging outside the shower. exhaling, you tossed your clothes outside the door, turning on the water. after adjusting the temperature to your liking, you stood underneath the stream, grateful for the warmth as it seeped into your skin. 

the shower was just as elegant as the apartment, with glass doors and a steel shower head in the shape of a square. it was far better than the shower in your own apartment, as you didn’t have to worry about wasting hot water or any spiders. steam billowed into the space, hugging the doors of the shower, droplets of water condensing on the glass. 

“i’m coming in to drop off some clothes,” the zabrak’s voice entered the room, “holy fuck do you always have the water this hot?”

“do you not?” you chuckled. 

“it feels like a sauna in here,” he chuckled, teasing, “anyways, i’ll leave you be.”

letting out a content sigh, you turned the water off once he left. opening the door, your eyes scanned the space for the light switch. after a few seconds, you found it, flipping on the vent. hopefully that would help with the amount of steam that clung to every single item in the refresher. 

on the counter, there was a black turtleneck, along with a pair of briefs. patting yourself dry, you slipped on the briefs first, then slid the turtleneck over your head. it was getting late, the clock on the counter reading 11:36 p.m. yawning, you pushed open the door, padding into the hall. 

maul was nowhere to be found, a frown forming on your lips. where could he had run off to? surely he would’ve mentioned something to you. yet, your curiosity crept in, urging you to explore. holding your breath, you noticed a door, inferring that it was maul’s bedroom.

the door creaked as you tapped it, the draft pulling it open. inside, the floor was the same as it was, a king-sized bed in the middle, pushed against the wall, supported by a black wooden bed frame. there was a dresser, along with a walk-in closet. the most breathtaking aspect were the viewports, acting as a wall. the lights of coruscant glowed, the room overlooking the city. rain flowed down the viewports as thunder rumbled. you felt drawn to them, awestruck by the beauty of the sprawling city.

“you like the view?” your heart nearly leapt out of your chest. 

“don’t scare me like that!” you pouted, folding your arms across your chest.

“don’t go snooping around,” maul smirked, matching your energy.

your heart thudded as his eyes drank in the sight of you, in his turtleneck. the sweater was a little large, hanging loosely in some areas. the briefs hugged your thighs, leaving nothing to the imagination. your nipples poked through the fabric of the sweater, the cool air sending a shiver running down your spine. 

“gods,” he breathed, licking his lips, “i-i don’t know what to say.”

“i’m sorry for wandering off,” you mumbled, your cheeks hot as shame burned through you, “i didn’t mean to-”

“just stop,” maul shook his head, taking a step towards you, “just fucking stop. you have no need to apologize.”

the air in room crackled like the lightning outside as he took another step forward, an old t-shirt clinging to his torso, the same pair of grey joggers hanging loosely on his hips. your throat tightened as you noticed the way his chest rose and fell, the zabrak’s breathing ragged. 

“it seems as if i can’t shake you off my mind,” he panted as the space between you dissolved, “lately, all of my thoughts have revolved about you.”

“what do you think about?” you swallowed thickly. 

“do you want the hear the answer?” his face was merely centimeters away from yours, “or would you rather experience it?” 

“i want both.”

his hand reached out, gently grasping your jaw. the touch was light, feathery as his fingers traced your heated skin. you melted, nearly collapsing to the floor. 

the zabrak’s eyes glowed, the amber now hardened into a deep honey hue, almost a chestnut brown, “can i kiss you?”

you nodded, almost a little too quickly, “yes.”

a low, guttural growl dripped from his lips, “i couldn’t resist you before. but fuck as soon as i saw you in my clothes, i just can’t fucking take it any longer.”

the kiss was hungry, an open-mouth, lustful kiss. his lips crashed into yours, yearning to explore the taste of your mouth. the zabrak’s hands laced into your hair, tugging at the roots, gripping tightly. a whine echoed through the room as he sucked on your bottom lip, his tongue delving into your mouth. a hand slid down, resting on the nape of your neck, holding you steady as the kisses grew hungrier and hungrier. 

“get on the bed,” he commanded, his tone thick with authority, a hand untangling itself from your hair and tugging on the hem of the turtleneck, “and take this off.”

the way the words rolled of his tongue struck you to your core, your folds growing slick as the anticipation grew. fingers wrapping around the hem, you tugged it off, your breasts bouncing. the zabrak practically groaned as he admired your exposed body, a hand palming his cock as it hardened, the outline prominent in the light. 

obeying his order, you laid on the bed, your back hitting the soft comforter. maul slipped off the t-shirt, almost pouncing on top of you. pinning you down, his mouth connected with your neck, trailing sloppy kisses down, onto your collarbone.

“if only i could leave my mark on you,” his breath was hot, coming out in pants, “i would paint you like a canvas.”

“you can,” the words were a broken moan as his tongue dragged across your collarbone. 

“oh?” you could feel his lip curved into a smile, “you want me to?”

“ye-” the reply was shortened as maul’s lips wrapped around nipple, his tongue flicking over the sensitive area. 

his tongue drifted from your nipple to your flesh, nipping and sucking, a satisfied purr erupting from the zabrak as a rich burgundy mark appeared, “i hope you’re aware that you’re the most beautiful woman i have ever met.”

“i don’t think so.”

within seconds, his mouth was hovering over the waistband of the briefs, “you better fucking believe you are, (y/n).”

“i- oh my god,” the tearing of fabric rang off the walls as maul ripped the briefs off your frame. 

“usually i take my time with this,” maul murmured, his gaze burning with lust, “but fuck i need you. i need to feel you take my cock.”

“please,” you whimpered, squirming as he parted your thighs.

“holy fuck. how are you so fucking wet? you’re soaking and i haven’t even touched you.”

the zabrak was appalled, a flash of awe painted across features as he took in the sight of your dripping core, your pussy aching. desire burned through your being, threatening to consume you whole. maker, you never knew you wanted someone this badly. exhilaration rushed through you with every touch, his fingers slipping between your folds. 

“i’ve thought about you like this,” maul was enticed, almost in a trace as your juices coated his fingers, “i’ve thought about the way your body would be underneath mine, your eyes begging for me to fuck you till you can’t take it anymore.”

“i’ve thought about you in class.”

“in class?” his voice faltered, “(y/n), that’s sinful.”

“it’s not as sinful as how i’ve wanted you to fuck me for weeks,” your cheeks were flushed,. 

“oh gods,” maul groaned as a finger entered you, “i’m going to make you mine.”

“please,” your hips bucked forward, his finger plunging further into you, “i want to be yours.”

“you’re going to be mine princess,” he purred, “i promise i’ll give you what you’ve been yearning for.” 

hastily, the zabrak tugged his sweats off, kicking them to the floor. your nearly choked on your spit when his member sprang free from the constraint of the fabric. his cock was massive, the largest you had ever seen. yet, it wasn’t too large that you couldn’t take it. crimson and black patterns wove all around it, his shaft ribbed, precum dribbling down his length. 

“tell me how much you need me,” his voice shifted from a coo to a growl as fingers wrapped around your throat, “tell me how badly you need professor maul to fuck you senseless.”

“i need you to fuck me,” the words were a broken whine. 

“louder,” his grip tightened, “say it louder. i need to hear you.”

“i need professor maul to fuck me,” the words were enough to bring the zabrak to the edge, to make him unfold. 

“good girl,” his tone oozed with praise, low and husky. 

he lined his tip at your entrance, slowly inserting himself into you. maul’s hand loosened from your throat, gripping the headboard for leverage. your moans were breathy, laced with bliss as your walls expanded, wrapping around his cock.

“that’s such a good fucking girl,” maul leaned in, nipping at your ear, “you take my cock.”

the zabrak thrust into you, his tip brushing against your g-spot. throwing your head against the pillow, your body almost went limp, collapsing. the pleasure was overwhelming, burning through you like a fire. but maker, did you want more. you needed more. 

maul watched as he fucked you, one hand steady on the headboard, the other on the mattress, gripping the sheets. he was plowing into you now, showing no mercy. the moans bouncing off the walls were rich and so loud, fueling his desire to keep going. the zabrak lost all inhibitions minutes ago, his thoughts blurred, eyes glossed over. 

the way you felt was heavenly, every single thrust euphoric. 

maker, was he losing control. 

tightening his grip on the headboard, his knuckles were almost white. he was completely feral, unhinged, detached. 

a horrid cracking filled the zabrak’s ears, and he glanced up towards the headboard. the wood split into two, a lengthy, crack down the middle, stemming from his hand. 

“oh shit,” you gasped. 

“look what you made me do, angel,” a smirk stretched across his lips, “you’re going to fucking pay for that.”

your nails dug into his shoulder blades as he slammed into you, balls slapping against skin. his cock throbbed, swelling. with every throb, your walls tightened, the pleasure building in your belly. eyes squeezing shut, you felt every inch of him buried in your soaking pussy, balls deep in you now. 

“maul,” the zabrak nearly unfolded right there, “i’m going to cum.”

“let go baby,” his lips brushed against yours, “you can cum. cum for me.”

the orgasm racked your body, maul’s mouth connected with yours, the moans muffled. your thighs trembled, stars bursting in your vision, the pleasure almost blinding. 

with no strength left, your body went limp, collapsing into the mattress. 

his thrusts were more languid, sloppy with every stroke. maul came moments later, filling you up with it all. 

“fuck,” he cursed under his breath, a sheen of sweat clinging to his body, “are you all right?”

“i’m fine,” your inner thighs buzzed, soreness creeping into the muscle. 

every inch of skin the zabrak touched tingled, as if your body was savoring the memory.

maul cleared his throat, his cock still inside of you, “i kinda lost control.”

“kinda?”

“a little bit,” he chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from your forehead, “it’s been so long since i’ve last had sex. it doesn’t help that i’m in heat, either.”

“you’re in heat?” you pressed, brows furrowing. 

“perhaps,” the color of his eyes returned to their normal hue, amber flowing into crimson, “let’s get you cleaned up. it’s late.”

“is it past the professor’s bedtime?” your tone was snarky. 

“don’t tempt me to fuck you again. because we both know damn well that i will.”

glancing up, you noticed the broken headboard, “how much is that going to cost?”

the zabrak let out a huff as his cock slid out of you, drenched with a mixture of juices, “i don’t know. it’s the least of my concerns at the moment. stay here, and don’t move a muscle.”

swinging his legs over the mattress, maul strolled towards the refresher, retrieving a rag to clean up the mess that you made. you sunk into the bed, questions ringing through your mind. 

yet, you couldn’t help but notice a prominent feature. in the light, the tattooed skin glowed. but there was something different about the way his thighs transitioned from flesh to an ashen metal. 

maul’s legs were cybernetic. 

and your curiosity about the zabrak, your professor, skyrocketed.

***

tagged: @sapphicstars , @maulieber , @starflyer-104 , @alwayshappysith , @doobiwankenooku , @magicalkitkat12 , @dartheldur , @princessayveke , @multifandombtch , @spaghetti-666 , @lis-ard , @swimmingsloths , @sithmando​ , @mother-0f-monsters​

[valhahazred]

Cryptid Mythos - Strange Saurians

Living fossils and dinosaur-like monsters are a popular subject of cryptozoology. What sothic truths might an Investigator uncover when looking into such beasts?

6th in a series comparing the monsters of modern folklore to the creatures of the Cthulhu Mythos.

The Telepathic Thing

Two boys from Villa San Rafael in Calama, Chile had a very strange encounter with a seemingly unique creature while searching for a missing pet snake in 2002. While they first thought it to be a stray dog and armed themselves with rocks to drive it away, it proved to be a bizarre monster with an array of seemingly psychic powers! First the boys began to feel sick, as though they had been struck in the stomach by an electric bolt. While one boy immediately started to retreat, the other claimed he felt unnaturally compelled to approach the creature. When he came within six feet it lit up with a luminous aura and he felt a telepathic voice demand, “don’t stare, just run away”. He felt an immediate and inexplicable bone-chilling cold and both boys decided it was time to run.

While it is not explicitly described as a dinosaur I am interpreting it here as a highly evolved theropod, with a covering of grey fur-like feathers and a bony crest it uses to focus its psychic power.

Stoa

This dinosaur-like animal was one of the many south american cryptids reported by english explorer Percy Fawcett before he went missing on an expedition to the Lost City of Z. The legend goes that he even described his encounters with it to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, inspiring him to write The Lost World. The other main source of information on the Stoa comes from a Scottish gold prospector who goes by the pseudonym 'Reginald Riggs' and relayed it to Czech cryptozoologist Jaroslav Mareš. The Stoa is said to look something like a bipedal caiman, with nearly non-existent forelimbs and a head like a horned frog. It lives exclusively on the plateaus around Mt Kurupira, where it hunts Tapir, Capybara and the local Waiká people.

4 Corners River Dinos

Investigator Nick Sucik has compiled a surprisingly large number of sightings of small, fast bipedal reptiles in the area of the San Juan River Basin. They are described as looking like a “living dinosaur toy” or like “a Jurassic Park flashback”. Their environment seems to be wet environments and riverbanks in particular, hence “River Dinos”.

The sceptical view is fairly simple, that people are seeing ordinary lizards running on their hind legs.

Van Meter Visitor

In 1903 Van Meter was visited by what was called at the time, an “antediluvian devil”. The being was first witnessed roosting on an electrical pole, where it was mistaken for a spotlight on account of its brightly glowing head. Although it’s usually depicted as a pterosaur, some of the witnesses implied that it had four limbs in addition to its wings. If that is accurate it may have actually had a more gargoyle-like body, ruling out any form of terrestrial life. This poor creature was met with extreme hostility at every turn, as the inhabitants of Van Meter opened fire at nearly every sighting and its only recourse was flashing lights and an overwhelming stink. Thankfully it seemed to be unbothered by the gunfire. An armed posse even tracked the Visitor to the local coal mine and confronted a pair of the beings, showering them in lead to no effect as they slowly retreated back into the mine. They were never seen again. Were they surviving dinosaurs that simply moved into the caves to die? Or had the coal miners dug too deep and unleashed paranormal entities from an ultraterrestrial hollow earth realm? There was an alleged plaster cast made of the Visitor’s three toed prints but it does not appear to have survived to be documented.

The Mokele Mbembe

Not only is the Mokele Mbembe the best known of the “living fossil” type of cryptid, it’s one of the most famous cryptids of all. Modern witnesses describe a pygmy semi-aquatic sauropod straight out of a slightly outdated paleoart reconstruction but it was once a slightly stranger beast. The first western account claimed that it had a horn and some other descriptions have thick overlapping scales, dragon-like frills or the whattles of a chicken. While it is a herbivore, it is also supposed to be violently territorial and kills any hippos, elephants or humans that cross its path. Its flesh is very poisonous and anyone who tries the flesh of the Mokele Mbembe dies. While it is widely accepted to be a relic saurian there are various theories otherwise, such as the Mokele Mbembe being a large snake, a long necked relative of the hippo or even a large species of pangolin.

The Ropen

The Ropen is described as a massive flying creature similar to a chimerical pterosaur, with tight reptilian skin, boney wings and a long tail ending in a diamond shaped fin. It’s most recognizable feature is glowing spots on its belly and wings. Supposedly they use the lights to attract fish as they skim overhead. Fish isn’t their only food source as they are also frequent scavengers and even dig up cemeteries for human corpses. Ropen are not the only pterosaur like creatures claimed to live in the area. There are also the Kor, cave dwellers that use their long tails as maces and the Solomon Islands Dragon Snakes, that reportedly spit searing lights! There is even some confusion on the Ropen’s exact identity, with the massive 20 foot wingspan and bony crest possibly belonging to a creature called the Duah, while the Ropen itself would be a much more modest 3 foot Rhamphyrincus like animal. It’s worth mentioning that most Ropen sightings are of unusual lights in the sky and not of any visible creature. Even the original sighting by entomologist Evelyn Cheesman in the 1930s only described the lights and lasted for a short 4 or 5 seconds. It was not until much later that the lights were connected to any sort of pterosaur.

In the Mythos

Thanks to Yith stasis vaults and domesticated populations sheltered by ancient species, pre-KPG-extinction megafauna survived much closer to the modern day than they would have otherwise. To the Empires of Valusia they were the Xinli, serving as mounts and hunting companions. Dinosaurs were also known to the ancient people of Mhu Thulan until the Greenland Ice sheet wiped them from the surface of the Earth. But beneath, in the depths of Voormithadreth the Root Archtypes still mimic Saurian forms. Our best bet for living dinosaurs are the dragons of Thuria and they may have even survived into the days where it was called Africa. But that would be too easy for our poor cryptozoologist Investigators.

Hagarg Ryonis

The Great Ones of the Dreamlands generally appear as beautiful humans but there are those known for stranger shapes. Hagarg Ryonis is one such Great One. She has few cults of her own and is usually depicted as a horrifying predatory reptilian monster called “The Lier-In-Wait”. Amongst the Great Ones she serves as the goddess of murder, hunting those who would show offence to the gods of the Dreamlands. The Great Ones rarely have any interest in the waking lands, where their powers wane. However, should a Dreamer earn their enmity the small gods might follow them to a world where their own powers of creation and dream-logic are likewise stunted. Investigators might be contacted by an old friend, sounding exhausted and desperate. They’re a Dreamer of course but lately Dreaming has become too dangerous after the Great Ones began to hound them. They’d been trying to stay awake to avoid them but obviously that can’t go on forever. Even worse, something seems to have followed them to the waking world. They’ve seen glimpses of something huge and scaley in the woods near their home. When they fled into the city it began to appear there too, lurking in alleys and perched on rooftops. Can the Investigators help their friend find a way to make recompense before the inevitable happens and they pass out and are forced to face the Great Ones? Or will a far grislier fate come to pass, as the Lier’s patience comes to an end?

Y’nathogguan Necrotech

The Y’nathogg were never the biggest players in Earth’s history. Always crowded by the Progenitors and pushed back by the paranoid Yith’s exclusion zones. While their necrobiology was robust and adaptable it could not stand up to the sheer power of the Shoggoth and the Star Spawn. They felt like their own planet had no place for them. Then came Quyagen. It wielded the Eye of Zyslm and promised them an opportunity to fight, to take what was rightfully theirs. The Eye brought ruin to their enemies, a mighty weapon and an amplifier for the abattoir foundries of necrotech. Cakatomia was theirs for the taking. But Quyagen underestimated the Yith and the future secrets they bore. The great Cyclopean was sealed away, just as the Polypous Ones were millenia ago. Without the Eye the war that followed was short and brutal. The remaining Y’nathogg retreated to the borehole prison of Quyagen. They cultivated the frozen god’s tissues and made themselves cocoons with which to wait out the aeons, until a time when they would be free to rule without competition. Now Quyagen stirs. The Y’nathogg awaken. The abattoirs pulse with unlife. The time of Quy has come at last!

Byakhee

It’s an interesting coincidence that many of the so-called living pterosaurs are said to produce light in various ways. The Ropen and its cousins glow with bioluminescence, the Van Meter Visitor shines its horn and the Thunderbird (if it is a giant pterosaur) might be able to flash like lightning. The humble Byakhee, with its boney body, leathery skin and bat-like wings, all shining with the light of Carcosa fits the description to a tittle!

Dragons of Yoth

The serpent diaspora started in Yoth. Deep beneath the earth they found Tsathoggua, the lord of N’kai and some of the serpents decided to follow his sorcerous tutelage instead of their maker’s. Yig grew jealous and with the cooperation of his faithful the followers of the bat-toad god were cursed to degeneration. They became worms of the earth, pitiable things that would never slither in the light of the sun again. However, before Tsathoggua left for Voormithadreth to visit revenge on Yig he offered a choice. The worms could continue as they were or they could bathe in the pools of Formless Spawn and be reborn in a greater form. Snake Handling has never been the most accepted religious practice but when six people, including the pastor, at the High-Way Gospel Church die of unusually potent snake venom during a ritual it tends to raise suspicion. When Old Woodrow claimed it was revenge for one of the deceased shooting at a “dinosaur” out in the desert it was laughed off. But now, three sightings and another horribly necrotized corpse later, maybe it isn’t so funny.

<コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡 <コ:彡

I have to admit that I think “Living Fossils” are among the least believable of all cryptids. They have all the usual problems while also being chimerical and inaccurate versions of things that we know existed. The african ones in particular have the stink of the Great White Hunter all over them, tall tales to sell books of derring-do in Darkest Africa. The Telepathic Thing is better known as the Telepathic Football but that name is dumb and I’m changing it

[pear-pies]

音像世界 [Audiovisual World] - Sept 2006

a very wonky but delightful translation under the cut

Placebo ; We are the 21st century modern rock band                        Text/Interview with Zhang Weiwei/Xingyue 

On the first day of "2006 Beijing Pop Music Festival", "Placebo" Perform on the main stage of the company. "Placebo" is hailed as "the most Record the distinctive British music yin", this is their first time on the Chinese stage. Long talk will undoubtedly be a feast for listening to you. Mission to the last century In 1996, one named Brian Moco )lkO) boy,’ painted Seven eyes Liangying, leaving pitch black  Childish behavior:  ‘The violent red color I'm learning girls like a demon Sing a song "Nancy Kid" When I vent without hesitation Stupid material life and The emotion brought by the ft world. From the moment on stage, cloth Who is the backlog in my heart Thrown in front of the world, lead Shoulder, reputation, obsession and even People band one by one "placebo" Horribly turned out, "(Radiohead)s" "'Oasis" (Oasis) Three The altar adds a stunning                                                             Household Don't one by one Lane was born into a wealthy Bank entrepreneur, mother Christianity. Childhood, Tossed in Scotland, Libby Between Schlossburg. Serious  , And moved countless times Dogs have no fixed partners in childhood Jidu is lonely, even learning

The classmates and teachers in the school are also particularly alienated, plus , My parents ignored because of busy banking  , The physical and psychological growth of his son, Bryan from 11 I have been learning from the streets, newspapers and magazines since I was Factory women give themselves makeup and always like to surround  Women go round and round.     When he was 16 years old, his parents gave him a copy  Telecaster guitar, very sensitive to music  Brian soon bought a real price  A real guitar, and I've been obsessed with playing guitar ever since,  So that everyone can often see it on stage  Brian gently hugged the guitar one by one  He plays the role of a mother in his life  Important role. But in fact, Bryan’s parents  Straightforwardly oppose him to engage in art-father-  I want to let Brian inherit his career and become a  Bankers one by one Blaine began to use gender boundaries  Vaguely neutral dress to resist father and family  Against pressure. Until the end, Brian and his father  There is no longer any contact or exchange. In 1990, 18-year-old Brian left the family.  Came to London alone and entered Gold  Smiths Academy of Art and Drama Studies (British  The prestigious Royal Academy of Art, "Blur"  Former guitarist Graham Coxon  Coxon) also graduated from the college J. Cloth at this time  Ryan has been able to skillfully play a variety of instruments such as Ji  Him, keyboard, bass, drums, saxophone, and even DJing,  He also worked as a DJ in several clubs, but he was honest  Say that I am not very good at being a DJ0    By chance in 1994, Brian Kensington subway station encountered a later career ride   Stefan Olsdal,}     Invite him to form a band with himself and join in one,   Club performance. Osdo listened to Brian   Immediately after the song was attracted, not only that, he   , Put his Swedish friend Robert Schutz   (Robert Schultzberg) pulls into the music    Be a drummer (until 1996). Until later   , Bryan also emphasized that Osdo accepted his The moment I invited to the band was my whole life E one of the unforgettable moments. During this period, Bligh En called the band "Ashtray Heart" (Ashtray Heart) Heart)0   After quickly gaining awareness, they The band was renamed "placebo". Soon, Caroline Records has recognized this and A different young band.   In 1996, Robert Schutzberger The conflict with Brian increased and left the band, from Therefore, the position of the drummer has always been Steve Huey 特 (Steve Hewitt) instead. In the same year, the band The first album of the same name "Placebo" (Placebo) released Row. Singles "Nancy Kid" and "Young Rage" (Teertage Angst) immediately became a hit single, The stubborn and rebellious children of the entire Yao British Empire Was boosted by this three-person band, "placebo" It seems that they have been able to relieve their psychological barriers A great pill for manic heart. Just as Brian is different from   Ordinary costumes-mascara, eyeshadow, full lips, ～ Nail polish, skirts, this series will only show up The characteristics of a woman’s body are now affected by a height,The British man who is less than 1.75 meters boldly and naturally used to dress himself up. The British media took advantage of the trend and gave him the title of "fashionable Bowie". "Media reporters like to make boo heads. Maybe it's because life in the UK has always been so dull and boring. That's why they were surprised when they met me and yelled. I like "Sonic Youth" and "Sonic Youth". "Pixies", I prefer to dress myself up as I want to appear on the stage, in the MV and even in life. I just enjoy such an open-self lifestyle." Brian shrugged and said softly. In a tedious and lengthy interview after a TV show performance, Brian deliberately pointed the guard ｝l to the male reporter’s chest, so that the reporter was tossed by the sly Brian that he had no intention of continuing the interview. Go on, while Hewitt and Stephen are laughing together. After the album of the same name was released, the band easily got the mainstream record company Virgin In November 1998, he quickly recorded and released the second album "No "Without You I'm Nothing". This album has a rare change in the depth of the lyrics and Brian’s vocals compared to the first album. Brian in "Pure Morning" lowered his throat and reluctantly sang "Send charcoal in the snow." "A Friend in Need A Friend Indeed" (A Friend in Need A Friend Indeed). A famous sentence like household. Bryan, dressed in black, jumped out of the building and walked straight down the wall. The MV for this song was also planned by Bryan. A keen listener can find from this Xin album that the alcohol, drugs, and erosive relationships in "Nancy Kid" have changed to the mixed emotions and emotions toward urban men and women in "Every You Every Me".

The rhetoric of the low-level media is more intense. Every large-scale live performance, "placebo" In order to pursue the perfect sound effect comparable to the recording studio, Always bring fixed musicians with them Stage performance, and these fixed musicians also accompanied Placement has gone through a worthy 10 years. Although But on the stage they always hide without light In the dark, but they are the same as the "placebo" three The relationship between the members is like a formal team member. Observant Fans will also find that "Velvet Gold Mine" These regular musicians also participated. And "Ann Placement" "Believe in Me" held in Paris (Soulmates Never Die) large concert now The DVD and MV compilation are everybody’s Placement" a precious treasure that loyal fans must collect, The Paris concert not only included the "placebo" essence Cham’s hot live performance also hides a 30 Minute tour documentary, including how the three escaped Avoid the chase of fans and talk about the fun in the lounge Bryan teaches you how to draw eyeshadow and sightseeing Precious fragments of time crazy Stefan. "Placebo" will play an electrified style The ultimate is the new album released this year Meds; compile the album cover with "Sleep with the Elves"

It’s exactly the same, it seems to come from the same designer              hand. As Brian said, in the past 10 years he’              We work hard to find a position and style that suits us,              Looking for an invisible limit. Bryan and Le              The team has been trying to get out of this restriction, out of them              Have experienced, followed, intoxicated, avoided              A sensitive area that has been and moved by. Although cloth              Leith now has a child named Cody              Zihe ~ a touching wife who maintains a stable relationship with him              One by one wife, son, and teammates are all Bligh              En is deeply loved one by one, but Brian is uneasy in his blood              The molecules make him feel full of emotion and sensitive heart              The world has never changed. Now the "placebo" starts              Putting aside some long-standing conventions, in the new album              Significantly reduced the iconic guitar distortion, the band              Focus boldly with a more fashionable electrified style              With drugs, alcohol, and love, it’s like a giant record jacket              The naked, twisted, and shouting woman, "Ann              The placebo" bravely broke free from the past              System", more calmly standing in the British rock music              front.The growth of the Bone Association Band? I am very happy with the growth of the band. Our growth and success are all through long-term hardship...Shan:1 Linde. It’s been an almost uninterrupted tour for 10 years. This is a relatively old-fashioned way of running Cantonese. "(The tail is also what we like very much. The live performance of the mountain and the constant currency" requires that you can get yourself in it. In the early days of the band’s establishment, we had already decided to deliver the music to our listeners in the most direct way. What do you think of the development of Yaoi’i Gun Music? "Lonz Ferdinand" (1,s,i Pordinand), "Arctic Monkeys" (Arctic Monkeys). "The Kooki"; do you think they really have "material"? Just because they are from the same island does not mean they are anointing Le Buya! What is in common. Of course "Franz Ferdinand" and "Arctic Monkey" must be influenced by the music of IJ Moji {Fei, in my heart! Bu! . He is a very good band in J1IJ4 II. Especially the L tail, "Arctic Monkey r", their "material" lies in the quality of their Shule creations. They are very humorous, full of the strong vitality of the factory, modern city, and very British creative style. What they are telling Very interesting, but also very "human", very    A true story is a very realistic expression Present form. I think if the "street boy" (The Streets) is a rock band, they          '   It will be the "Arctic Monkey". I personally have always been very happy   Happy "Franz Ferdinand", from their first    An album begins. They are from Scotland and also   It brings another kind of cultural experience.      What I want to say is that although there are so many    Success bands are all from the UK, but they don’t    Not necessarily have something in common, nor is it necessarily    It means that rock music in the UK will be more    Good or worse. Good is good, bad is good    Is bad, there is no need to divide by region   Standards.      What kind of concept do you hold on creation?      We are a rock band, just like I    We are a modern rock music    team. We enjoy using various tools and equipment    The possibility of creating music. Rock music is not only    It’s a simple guitar with electronic elements    Not only can be used in a certain kind of special music    In the category. The key to its function depends on you    How to use it and how to integrate it better   In your own music category.     Was the grunge trend in the U.S.    Has any influence on you or a British band? You like   Is Grunge Fun?     I never really liked it   Grunge, I have never heard of "Nirvana" (Nirvana)    Music until Kurt Coben (Kurt Cobain) passed away. For me, "nirvana"     Too mainstream T0 I am more interested in those very Alternative bands, like "Sonic Youth" (Sonic Youth), or the late 70s, 80s   Post-punk band in the early years.      What do you think of as a British band   American culture?      We ourselves think that "placebo" is a    European bands. Of course we were founded in London.    Half of my blood is Scottish, history of drummer   The name "Friend (Steve Hewitt) is of British descent,   Stefan Olsdal is a Swedish. We   Speaks many languages, Stephen speaks 5 languages,    I speak French and English. We grew up in Europe  There are K people from the I1 family in Zhou, we see ourselves as Europeans,    I don’t think I have any special UK   Pity. We can, will historically and geographically    The music of the country and the era is biased. Ok    Meeting the music and blood should be interpreted, and it is truly   I found it at Ill lii.} I don’t care if the music comes from Which country, as long as it can move people. but I I want to say: "I'm very happy that I will be in Europe Life".   Countless tours and publicity all over the world make people Enjoy it?   I enjoy the tour, but not the publicity. But it is equally important. In the past 10 years, We have been through live performances all over the world Accumulated a group of very loyal and sincere fans. Every year, the number of our fans grows very much View. Although it takes a lot of time to do this, it also gives me We added a lot of fun.   You know there are many "placebos" in China Fans? They are very obsessed with "placebo" The violent distortion guitar and your charming voice, even Even when playing the piano is hot, many fans want to know the invitation, What do you think of your fans.   Ah, haha, of course I hope so. "I must wait until Ij comes to Beijing in September to learn about Chinese musicWhat a fan is like, I look forward to it very much.   It’s not just heterosexual people. Placement", many gays also like you We, what do you think is the reason that makes "Ann Does "Placement" attract different fascinating groups?   Great! I think this is great! I think For our honesty in emotions and the truth in life Desire to communicate, um, if our music can move people, it must be physically,There are three aspects, both mentally and emotionally.    You are now a father What kind of impact? The kind of perplexed and perverted Dong Is Xijijing completely far away from you?   Honestly, no. As for myself Those who are confused and perverse, maybe less A little bit. But now there is another person Let me care, need my protection, so that it will not be this Hurt by a huge bad world.   You have always loved to dress up, you still Do you love applying black nail polish to yourself?   I have not bought black nail polish for many years Yes, but I still paint eyeliner and eye shadow. I do Did not try to do anything special through these performances Communication, in addition to thinking that people should dress up, Freedom in dress, choice and preference, not affected by Constrained by any established standard. If hard If any message is conveyed, it is freedom. But I do this entirely because I like it, I think I look great like that, like a The mentality of a lady with makeup.  How do you think a man should make his evening watch more cultured and tasteful? I think in the 21st century, men should be free, Wear what they like and dress up like they like Huan look. In comparison, women are more They can wear skirts or they can wear Pants, they can make up or not, They can look bright and beautiful, or they can watch Go up and take control. In the 20th century, men’s The choice has become so small. Looking back, Louis France in the fourteenth period, and the restoration period In Great Britain, men used to love makeup that much, Their clothes are so gorgeous and they look so good elegant. So we just trace the roots in history.  The media will use it when evaluating "placebo" Keep your eyes on such things as "male and female", "gorgeous", ) If you have to symbolize, how can you give yourself Has it been defined and classified?  A modern rock band. A 21 The modern rock band of the century. Let me show you and all Some magazine readers confirmed that "placebo" is not Hermaphrodite, the "placebo" members are all men, Everyone is.

In addition to work, the three of you often Play together? The three of us spend time together Family and love have more time. So when we After we got home, we gave all the time Family material lover, ha ha. Can you chat online? No, it never happened. I know net Some people on the network will call themselves Brian Mok, Husband ,,’’No~1 million That would definitely not be me. If you are online I met someone like that and I visited Brian Mo But my blog or Myspace, I read my Diary, you have to believe that it is definitely a lie. I Will not publish their life information on the Internet, I am a privacy-conscious person. What's the story of the performance in China this time ? What are your expectations for the Chinese record market What? Just like going to Thailand and Korea, through hosting Party’s invitation, we’ll come and we know people We like our music, so we can play for them We are also very happy to play. As for the record market, I Really have no idea. I just look forward to acting I hope to bring an outstanding performance. Please describe you in one word or sentence " 3 people. Just one sentence. Have you seen "Starship Fans Is this TV show "Star Trek"? Oh, your country may not broadcast it. Stephen It's "Mr. Spock" (Mr. Spock) It’s ‘Dr. McCoy’ and I’m "K Captain Kirk" (Captain Kirk)

[spook-rambles]

when I say I wanna be the best there ever was. I meant it. Long post warning... tl;dr local man takes "perfect Pokemon" idea too far and spends several weeks learning to RNG manipulate his DS and plays the same DS game start to finish a few times in a single month

after my fateful full odds encounter with Rufus, the shiny wooper, I decided that I must have a shiny of every single Pokemon I love. Which I think is a well adjusted response. But the more time I spent breeding oddishes with the foreign ditto I realized that it would honestly be a true shame if I finally got a shiny and it had imperfect IVs! Or nature!

Turns out that the caliber of pokemon that would satisfy my need for perfection only show up for a few dozen moments in a given decade, and so I learned about RNG manipulation! Thanks to the in depth guide on Smogon I found a whole new way to waste hours for tiny incremental improvements!!

So. The perfect Pokemon. I start at the Smogon competitive guide and find which stats to match so I can find the seed in RNG reporter. For a Pokemon to be shiny it must satisfy a condition including the original trainer ID/secret ID (SID), so with a given save you only have access to a tiny subset of all possible IVs that are shiny.

Usually you can get around this by breeding, when IVs are assigned separately. You can hit one seed for the shiny PID with the correct nature, generate an egg, save, hit another seed, and then collect the perfect Pokemon!

This only doesn't work if:

1. Your pokemon is legendary/event only/gift only or

2. You have a preference on what ball it's captured in, or the original location, or for some reason the trainer ID (which can grant renaming rights pokemon with OTs that match) or maybe other things I haven't thought of?

Since perfect means perfect, I'm obviously in the both of those groups. The perfect oddish deserves a luxury ball, and would only be right to encounter in Ilex Forest. So! I need a new TID. I create a new ss save (may as well to complement my hg main save) with perfect timing at the very beginning to get the right TID. Several hours later I'd bred a shiny Absol and trained it to know mean look, false swipe, and thunder wave. Its IVs were random but still had good IVs from the perfect ditto. Only the best to capture the perfect Pokemon.

So then I was SO ready to go get the oddish, who I had already mentally named KIWI, only to find out I need a Synchronize lead (fortunately I had a ralts in my main save that was modest), two chatots to advance frames, and fittingly another oddish to attract it with sweet scent. After getting THOSE, I went to Ilex Forest in front of the shrine, sang like a hundred times with my chatots, and summoned. The motherfuckin kiwi.

And here he is!!!! 31/31/31/31/31/31!

Inspired and motivated by my victory, I finally beat the game (still hadn't best Kanto), bred and trained a perfect Garchomp (PUFF, M.D., which stands for magic dragon), and the perfect Dragonite to give an egg move to the perfect Garchomp. THEN it being the Christmas season and all I decided to do the same for @spookclimber who got me back into Pokemon in the first place. Their unsuccessful (😥) Rayquaza grind inspired my initial shiny hunting, though they eventually made the hard decision the progress in their emerald save.

I had my TID/SID for the Modest KIWI, but the perfect Rayquaza is Adamant. So! New save! New TID! A spreadsheet!!!

Green squares reach represent a possible save where you could encounter a perfect legendary of either nature it intersects. Blue is perfect special attacker; below 31 ATK in order to get the correct nature. I didn't check my work, but I think it's the same for below 31 Sp. Atk, like the Adamant Rayquaza. I guess 31/31/31/31/31/31 pokemon can only be Timid, Modest, Docile or Calm?

Yellow is useless because why not get two potential natures, and the black/white areas are mirrors of each other.

That informed the next bit. I compiled all the legendaries in plat/hgss and got what natures Smogon recommended, then consolidated them into 3 games with two natures each that only misses 3 pokemon for perfect (potentially, I only am trying to perfect things I want on my team).

So it was settled. The perfect Rayquaza was to be found in soulsilver so that it could have a twin perfect Groudon (who will set up for KIWI). So no problem right? Just reset, time the beginning, beat the game, beat the e4 again, beat red, talk to mr. pokemon, go catch (and time) Groudon, boot up hg, go catch Kyogre (perfect kyogre is later in the plan), trade that to ss, go show Kyogre and Groudon to professor oak, go BACK to the embedded tower, and time Rayquaza!

And so it came to pass that my longest and most satisfying hunt was completed.

Presenting the spook's well timed all natural perfect Pokemon certificate of authenticity for the god of all Rayquazas:

Game time is 19 hours in. Can't wait to trade him!

[len493]

Research post 3/17

We are a year into global pandemic and this NY Times article is almost exactly a year old, dated April 2020. It lifted my spirits then and communicated to me that things were still possible. I have decided to share it today as a reminder.

xxxx

Bored Russians Posted Silly Art Parodies. The World Has Joined In.

MOSCOW — Under lockdown, the banal melds with the sublime.

A sausage becomes a rose. A tangerine, a sunflower. And when your teenage son doesn’t clean his room, just this once, the chaos can evoke Kandinsky.

Isolated from the physical world, people sheltering in place under coronavirus lockdowns are seeking new depths of connection online. Many have a lot of time on their hands, or children to entertain. And amid the bleakness of the pandemic, some report a surge in creativity.

Perhaps this helps explain why a nearly month-old Facebook group where people post their lo-fi recreations of famous paintings now has more than 540,000 members. It was started in Moscow by a project manager at a tech company and its predominant language is Russian, but more than one-third of its members live outside Russia.They have been posting their work at a clip of more than 1,000 items a day, each time attaching their own photo alongside an image of the original art. They have corralled family members, pets and household items to channel the iconic and, as the Munchs and Kahlos pile up, so do the obscure — a flexible air-conditioning duct; a collage of plastic forks; a ring of strung-together, almost-spent toilet paper rolls. In recreations, all three of these items have captured the grace and mystery of a Renaissance-era neck ruff.

“The empty streets no longer feel like reality,” said the group’s 38-year-old creator, Katerina Brudnaya-Chelyadinova, describing her changed perception of life. “Reality now is our house, and the internet.”

The group’s name, Izoizolyacia, combines the Russian words for “visual arts” and “isolation.” After discovering the group, Julia Vasilenko, a piano teacher in New Haven, Conn., didn’t just set out to recreate a painting’s visual detail; she wanted to give it new meaning.

She chose “Composition VI” by the Russian abstract master Wassily Kandinsky, and set it in her son’s messy room. She arranged cymbals, a guitar and a toy boat among the detritus to symbolize Kandinsky’s musical and marine motifs.

A blue latex glove reminds the viewer of the present day. Her son lurks in the shadows.

“A grandiose, objectively occurring disaster,” Kandinsky said of this painting, is “similar to the hymn of a new creation.” Nodding to the coronavirus, Ms. Vasilenko quoted the words in her Facebook post and said she and her family “joined with Kandinsky’s optimism.”

In Riga, Latvia, scrolling through Pinterest, Daria Grigorieva struck upon a darker theme in the haunting painting by Vasily Vereshchagin of a pile of skulls on a battlefield, called “The Apotheosis of War.”

The 37-year-old Ms. Grigorieva, who grew up in St. Petersburg, recalled the moment she came across the painting and noticed the skulls. “I cried out loud: ‘These are pelmeni!’” — referring to a kind of Russian dumpling. A wedding decorator with no weddings to decorate, she was already building up a collection of her own artwork recreations, which she called izolyashki — a nonsense word derived from the word for isolation.To recreate the Vereshchagin painting, she piled some dumplings from her freezer on a table in front of blue wallpaper and posted the picture to the group, titling her work “The Pelmeniosis of Isolation.”Thirty minutes later, a commenter informed her: “Many associate this specifically with pelmeni.” A screenshot arrived of another pile of frozen dumplings.

Searching the Facebook group’s archives reveals that people have recreated the Vereshchagin painting at least 34 times this month, representing the skulls with materials as diverse as wine corks, potatoes, popcorn, trash bags, eggshells and chicken bones.

A Ukrainian businessman stacked up 210 rolls of toilet paper and titled his work “The Apotheosis of Quarantine.” Ms. Brudnaya-Chelyadinova said she and her friends started recreating artworks last month as a distraction from the dour news. On March 30, they created the Facebook group to collect their work and allowed others to join. That was same day Moscow’s lockdown kicked in, banning even solitary walks unless with a pet and within 100 yards of home.

The copying-artworks gag is not new, and several museums — including the Getty in Los Angeles and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam — are encouraging homebound art fans to send in photographs of their efforts to bring to life their favorite paintings. A Dutch Instagram account, Tussen Kunst & Quarantaine, that is also collecting artwork recreations during the global lockdown has more than 239,000 followers.

But in terms of Facebook followers, at least, Ms. Brudnaya-Chelyadinova’s audience is the most engaged. Depictions of politicians are discouraged, perhaps one reason the group’s following cuts across geopolitical fault lines. Statistics compiled by Facebook and shared by Ms. Brudnaya-Chelyadinova show that while around 200,000 group members give Russia as their home, the country with the second-most members — more than 80,000 — is Ukraine. Another 41,000 are in the United States.“This is a place without politics,” Lidiia Petrova, a 26-year-old motion graphic designer in Kyiv, said of the group. She wrapped herself in a bedsheet to act out Frederic Leighton’s “Ariadne Abandoned by Theseus.”Assel Adambayeva, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, quit her accounting job in February to start her own company, only to have the plan derailed by the pandemic. She posed in blue as Picasso’s “Absinthe Drinker.” She said people from the former Soviet Union were used to finding meaning in art during hard times.“We’ve been in crisis my whole life,” said Ms. Adambayeva, who is 44. “You have to distinguish yourself somehow.”

[mariaiscrafting]

Here’s what this sleep-deprived idiot who sucks at STEM got from Dream’s video:

- the problems with the mods’ stats that I could understand/pick up on from this very confusing video include: sampling bias (only using six of his streams and not all his speedrun streams, for some reason); stopping bias (only basing the statistics off of the trades in the videos, which stop when he gets ender pearls; to be more accurate, you need to run an experiment where trades are stopped randomly, not just when one gets ender pearls); the fact that odds were based off the existing streams of speedruns, disregarding that there are millions of other players who speedrun and don’t make videos

- luck isn’t enough to base a cheating accusation on 

- I still don’t know if the mods actually found some problem with the code in the world files he uploaded that could suggest tampering

- fabric is a normal mod loader that most top speedrunners use. also, the mod file shows that dream didn’t have any other mod loading in via fabric

- I STILL DON’T KNOW IF THE LOOT TABLES WERE FUCKED WITH. WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO ADDRESS?? (I didn’t even think he had any fucking mods loaded in; that wasn’t the goddamn problem, the problem was whether or not he altered the rng himself with a plugin/other tamper-y method via code)

- my problems with the video include: a lot of his logic seems to be based on the argument that he simply could’ve been super lucky, and that we should simply accept that; he kinda brushes off the fact that the odds the expert came up with, though not as insane as 1/7.5 trillion, are still fucking insane and very unlikely (1 in 10 million); bringing up that there are 37 possible rng factors that one could tamper with when cheating, but only as a means of making him seem more reliable than the mods (who he frames as having picked a “random” number of things they couldn’t even list), and not even listing or going into those 37 things himself

- those 6 streams shouldn't account for too small a sample, imo. it only makes sense to use his last 6 streams, and plus, it wasn't like these were just 6 speedruns; each of these streams had hours worth of speed runs, making for a sizable sample. plus, you can clearly see a spike in his "luck" in those last 6 streams, when you take into account all of them, meaning that if he did cheat, he only started cheating for those last 6

- 25 minutes wasn’t enough for this response, considering that there were so many points (the 37 possible factors, the formula the mods used and his expert’s test with that formula, etc.) that he should’ve attributed more time to, even if the full report is available, too (since most people invested in this won’t bother to read or even be able to understand the report, but they probably will watch this vague, not nearly in-depth-enough video)

- some super manipulative things I noticed that dream tends to use in written and video arguments, including this one: making light jokes he knows his fans will focus on instead of the substance of the video, because that’s how mcyt fans’ attention spans work and he knows it; constant appeal to ethos by belittling the mods as a bunch of kids/volunteers vs. the framing of his evidence as coming from an astrophysicist with a phd; trying to act like he wasn’t super hurt by the things the mods said/the bias he perceived them to display, to establish a false stance of neutrality to viewers, then proceeding to rip into them

- my personal praise for this video: addressing that his past actions were immature, but human and should be understandable (with which I agree); putting in this immense amount of effort in such a short period of time to create a more than sufficient response; addressing that he actually did upload the world files on-time and that that information is now publicly-available

My conclusion: I feel like Dream’s personal argument, at the end of the day, boils down to his feeling pissed off at not being accepted for being able to get such insane luck and, thusly, achieve such a good speedrun. He’s exhibited in other videos and competitions that his egotistical and sensitive nature make it so that he truly does believe that luck is just on his side, and if something doesn’t go his way, it is not the universe’s fault, but rather, either a fault of his own or because of someone else’s hand. He claims he didn’t cheat, and frankly, I really want to believe that, but I’m simply not smart enough at statistics to weigh in on who I believe more; I’ll probably get a friend of mine who studies comp sci and engineering to give me his opinion before I truly decide. For now, based on what I understand and the gaping, wide holes in his argument, I'm going to believe that he cheated. I honestly just want him to apologize and move on at this point. At the end of the day, whether he cheated or not, I frankly don’t care. I’m still going to be obsessed with his content, still think he’s very, very good at Minecraft, and I still think he’s probably a bit of a prideful, resentful asshole, just as I am; I thought this before any of the cheating scandal arose, and I never cared because everyone is flawed and I’d long ago given up on holding any content creator up to an unjustified pedestal. The truth is, all they show us is a fraction of their true selves and lives, and that’s fine by me. I still laugh at Dream’s streams, I’m still obsessed with the Dream SMP, and I still have probably 50+ DNF compilation videos on my Watch Later list. 

At the end of the day, whether you liked Dream before this or hated him, I suggest you do the same: simply stop caring so much. This is a speedrun in a fucking lego block game, for christ’s sake. If you like Dream, you like the character he is displaying for his audience; you'll never fucking know him as a person

[wireraft0-blog]

Oxford Cryosystems.

Cryo https://tenorreport4.webs.com/apps/blog/show/49419355-fat-freezing-treatment-facility-3d-lipo-non-surgical-treatment - What Are The risks?

Content

women Are making Use Of vaginal tightening Up cream On Their Faces instead Of Botox.

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Why Do results depend On the Number Of therapies I Have?

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What Does 'fat thawing' as Well As 'fat Freezing' feel Like For clients?

The pull is deep under your skin's surface area to stop your face from looking pulled. The cuts are made along your hairline so the marks won't be visible. A facelift is cosmetic surgery that reshapes the reduced fifty percent of your face to make your face look fresher as well as younger. All surgical procedure can carry a risk of problems, although we will certainly ensure that you are in healthiness prior to you are permitted to undertake the treatment. During your first assessment, your specialist will go over with you the potential dangers and also the treatment itself, so that you recognize precisely what to expect with the entire procedure.

You might require further surgery or other therapies to preserve the results of the facelift or necklift. Just like all procedures, there are risks associated with having a facelift or necklift. Although the risks are not likely, it is necessary to evaluate them up versus the prospective advantage of the surgical treatment. Go over each of them with your plastic surgeon to make certain you understand the potential difficulties as well as effects. A facelift is a procedure to tighten up and lift the loose skin of your face listed below the eyes. ( Anything above the eyes is a browlift.) A necklift tightens as well as lifts the skin of the neck. It is completely normal to experience some discoloration as well as swelling of the face as well as neck, yet felt confident that both of these signs will diminish very promptly, equally as lengthy as aftercare advice from your cosmetic surgeon is adhered to.

Can I drink alcohol after fat freezing?

We also recommend not drinking heavily (alcohol) the day of your treatment. One drink or glass of wine is OK. It is common for the treated area to feel bloated, look swollen, and to experience temporary dulling of sensation in the first few days and weeks after CoolSculpting.

As an additional choice, you could desire to obtain a babysitter or nanny to aid you with your children for a short time as you recover. However, it is not possible to prevent scarring where the surgeon has made cuts.

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After a procedure such a facelift, it is easy to understand to be exhausted and also lack your common power. Asking good friends or household to mind your youngster or pet dogs can, consequently, aid lift some of the tension included with this!

If keyhole surgery is the right choice for you, your surgeon will make numerous really small cuts into the skin on your face. A Traditional Face Lift will include your doctor making a medical cut along your hairline, down past the front of your ears and right into the hairline behind the ears. Because of the careful positioning of the laceration, your scarring will certainly be hidden within the hair and natural creases of the face as well as it will certainly fade rapidly up until it is barely noticeable. When the incision has actually been made the doctor will certainly extremely meticulously separate the skin from the underlying tissue, prior to repositioning excess fat and tightening up face muscles. The skin will then be lifted and also stitched right into area along the initial laceration and any kind of excess skin got rid of. There are 3 primary kinds of Facelift surgical procedure; Typical, Minimal-Access Cranial Suspension as well as Keyhole Surgery. Your specialist will suggest you on which technique is most suitable and also which will generate the best results - details of each procedure can be located listed below.

They will certainly after that describe the kinds of facelift procedures that are suitable and also suggest you on any type of various other treatments such as an eyebrow lift, cheek implants, chin implants or lipo that will aid you accomplish your goals. At The London Center, several plastic and rebuilding surgeons provide facelift surgery.

Ideally, clients wanting facelift surgical procedure need to have some elasticity left in their skin, also if it is sagging, and also a good bone structure can also help. Most of people are aged between 40 and 60, though there are numerous older, healthier people that go through facelifts. A discussion with your expert will permit you to identify whether this type of surgical treatment is ideal for you. Our faces are our most predominant attribute therefore play a large component in exactly how confident we really feel in our appearance.

Her glowy skin, cheekbones as well as tight jawline were more than enough to make me call her skin medical professional and publication in. The brilliant aspect of these brand-new procedures is that you still look exactly like you-- simply fresher, smoother and much more airbrushed. This surgical treatment involves lifting drooping jowls as well as the neck with the excess skin being eliminated. At your preliminary meeting with your professional, they will certainly analyze your face and neck carefully as well as ask you regarding your expectations.

removing Skin identifies Yourself.

Nonetheless, as we age our skin begins to droop and also one area where this is most noteworthy is on our faces and also necks. A facelift helps to attain a smoother and stronger appearance by tightening any loose skin. In many cases, clients are thrilled with the outcomes of their facelift operation. However it's extremely crucial that you have practical assumptions of the result and also your consultant will certainly discuss which functions which can be boosted and also by just how much, as well as those which can not.

Why Do results rely On the Number Of treatments I Have?

Normally, you do not need a General Practitioner recommendation to see a cosmetic surgeon for a preliminary consultation. Nevertheless, if you choose you wish to go on with the treatment, your cosmetic surgeon will call for even more in-depth info on your medical history. In this situation, they may contact your GP for this details, with your permission. We have actually compiled some of the most usual facelift Frequently asked questions regarding the procedure listed below. It is useful to review them via as there may be some inquiries that you had not thought about. On fat freezing service , if you still have further inquiries don't worry! Your BAAPS/BAPRAS specialist will enjoy to address them throughout your appointment.

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Resting as well as resting with your head propped up with cushions for the first 10 to 14 days can additionally help to lower any swelling. If you were put to sleep with a basic anaesthetic, you will gradually get up adhering to surgical treatment under close guidance. You will have dressings around your face and also you might also have water drainage tubes in position. The nurses will often eliminate any water drainage tubes prior to you go residence. If local anaesthetic was used, you might really feel a modification in experience in the treated area of the face. Your surgeon or the nurses in the recuperation space will offer you medicines which you can take if essential. As component of your facelift aftercare, your cosmetic surgeon will certainly likewise organise a follow-up consultation with you.

This tightens up the underlying muscular layer along with the skin, offering an increase in tone that is longer long lasting. As UK market leaders in plastic surgery, we provide recommendations you can trust, treatment based upon your individual needs, and support throughout your trip with us. When people check out us, the really initial thing they notice is our faces. So, if we're dissatisfied with the way our faces look, this can have a significant impact on our self-esteem. As we age we lose muscle mass tone, which can trigger the skin in our face and neck to sag. A facelift is a procedure whereby the skin is tightened to produce a firmer, smoother appearance. A facelift is an operation to remove excess facial skin and any type of unwanted fatty down payments.

The very first reported HIFU facelift treatment for visual usage remained in 2008.

20% of the result can be seen quickly after the treatment, nonetheless the full result of the facelift HIFU treatment are revealed 3-- 6 months later on.

A number of tiny medical trials have discovered HIFU to be risk-free and also efficient for face training and refining creases.

The HIFU facelift procedure includes very focused ultrasound waves penetrate deep into the skin and boost collagen as well as elastin production.

At Elite Visual appeals, it is not advised to receive energy-based therapies such as HIFU or radiofrequency skin tightening up while pregnant.

A lot of our clients only require 1 therapy as we utilize the most up to date type of HIFU modern technology by 3D Lipo.

Nevertheless this might be based upon the level of skin laxity, the biological action to ultrasound energy as well as the person's collagen-building process, some clients may take advantage of additional therapies.

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If the issue is extreme, i.e. a very serious turkey neck, full improvement may not be feasible. A facelift operation can turn around years of aging by smoothing out excess skin of the neck, under the chin, along the jawline and across the cheek. Fat is gotten rid of from below the jawline and also under the chin where it is undesirable however maintained as well as repositioned from the dewlap to the cheek to recover quantity where it has been shed.

What Does 'fat thawing' and Also 'fat Freezing' seem Like For customers?

This is common around the treated area for the first couple of weeks after a facelift surgical procedure. Typically, this will certainly go to its worst 3 to 4 days after the operation, and will certainly then progressively start to settle.

Can you poop out of your mouth?

It's possible to poop out of your mouth It's called fecal vomiting, and aside from being utterly disgusting and terrifying, it's an indicator of a major health problem. Though if you're vomiting your own poop, you probably know you have a major health problem.

For lots of people, combining a Face Raise with Neck Raise Surgical procedure guarantees that the general appearance is rejuvenated and also patients that undergo this mix of procedures have reported looking one decade younger. Facelift surgical procedure, additionally known as Rhytidectomy, is one of one of the most frequently asked for procedures by both males and females that want to look as young as they really feel. It is performed to remove or reduce the skin that has shed its all-natural elasticity - normally around the eyes, mouth and jaw line - smooth the skin, reduce lines and also wrinkles and rejuvenate a tired-looking look. All independent facilities and medical facilities that offer plastic surgery in England have to be signed up with the CQC. The CQC releases evaluation records and also efficiency ratings to help people select treatment.

Which is better for double chin Kybella or CoolSculpting?

Kybella and CoolSculpting each have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Kybella can treat small areas of fat, does not require a capital investment, and can be done in a small exam room. CoolSculpting, by contrast, can debulk bigger necks, treat lateral areas, and involves less downtime than Kybella.

Clifton Park Medical facility is devoted to giving exceptional cosmetic surgery results for all of our patients. to better boost your outcomes you facelift may be integrated with a neck lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and/or face implants such as chin implants. -- for people who have extreme facial sagging, as well as cheek and also neck ageing. Cuts are made under your Shallow Musculoaponeurotic System layer that regulates your facial expression as well as this muscle layer is lifted along with the fat and also skin.

Throughout this appointment, your surgeon will inspect your injuries to see exactly how they are healing, eliminate any kind of non-dissolvable stitches, and also remove or change any type of dressings if essential. Your Medbelle BAAPS/BAPRAS doctor might be able to provide you better facelift preparation ideas as well as even more details details on your surgical treatment, on the day of your assessment. Make sure you follow their instructions to accomplish the best arise from surgical treatment.

At what temperature do fat cells die?

The optimum temperature for fat cell death is actually just above freezing at 39 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit. The threshold for damage to your skin and other tissues is a much lower temperature that CoolSculpting machines will never reach.

It leaves only faintly visible fine lines to make sure that others will certainly not understand the reason that you 'look so well'. As we age the skin on our face and neck begins to droop from a loss of muscular tissue tone. A facelift is a procedure to tighten up the skin on the face, generating a firmer and smoother appearance. A fantastic immediate radiance as well as a much more defined jawline, raised brow and cheekbones. But because this is functioning from within the full-lifting as well as skin tightening up result shows up after concerning four weeks. Great deals of individuals state they do not need to top up their Botox as frequently when having this treatment, and also some individuals stop entirely. There's no requirement to." Surprisingly, because having a mix of these new treatments, she has stopped having Botox as she feels she does not require it.

[umamunandar]

Review #4: The Illuminae Files (4.8/5)

So by this point, you should be familiar to my taste in movies and books. I mean with the lack of romance and teen fiction you see and the excessive amount of fantasy and sci-fi reviews I’ve written, you might realise that I have a thing for dystopian, sci-fi, and apocalyptic stuff.

If you’re also a dystopian geek like me, then you must have heard of Illuminae, the novel written by Amie Faufman and Jay Kristoff, which then got illustrated by Marie Lu, author of Warcross and Legend for the second book, Gemina. You might’ve heard of it’s great story, or maybe, like me, you were first introduced to its unique writing format

and i mean very unique format. (Every part I just showed belongs completely to Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, of course I’m just out here throwing these pages to you so you know what I’m talking about)

Most books get very famous quickly because the themes they offer in the books, how great the storyline is. Some are popular only because the author that wrote it has a reputation for writing super famous and the readers just want to read more of their works.

But a book famous for its writing format is unheard of for me. Illuminae was the first what, novel (?) that succeeded in telling the readers a story about the destruction of a colony, and a galactic adventure just from files they retrieved from the computers used by the characters for data processing, storage, communication, and everything else you can do with a computer by the year 2575.

The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that’s a little more than an ice-covered speck. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, exes Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to escape on the evacuating fleet.

But their problems are just the beginning. The fleet’s AI has gone crazy, a deadly plague has broken out on one of the ships, and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on.

As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her: the ex boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

First, let me start with a short recap of my own.

29th of January, 2575, Kady Grant had broken up with her boyfriend, Ezra Mason. But later that day, her planet’s mining company’s rival company decided that it was a great day to attack the planet (Kerenza IV) and its inhabitants. Kady and Ezra managed to escape to two of the three ships used to transport and evacuate the Kerenza refugees. Ezra was taken to the Alexander, as he was badly injured, and Kady was taken to the Hypatia, a science vessel that happened to be orbiting Kerenza during the attack. The last ship was the Copernicus.

Everyone on board were tested to see their potential, since the fleet were understaffed. Ezra passed as a pilot, and Kady, bless her genius mind, decided that it was best to not show he full potential during the test. Not receiving the role of anything, she befriended a CommTech from the Hypatia, and became a hacker, determined to just find out what’s going on. Nobody who knew the truth would tell anyone the truth and Kady was only eager to find out.

The story was told by emails, chat boxes, documents, security camera footage, even information from the Alexander’s AI, which was pretty much messed up due to the attack at Kerenza, but was still functioning enough to tell a story, nevertheless. The second book got an illustrator, Marie Lu, the same person who wrote Warcross and Legend, and the content source didn’t just come from computers anymore. By Gemina, the information that led readers through the story was also gained from Hanna Donnelly—the story’s female lead’s personal journal, hand drawn, not soft copy from a computer. 

Personally, Illuminae was the first story that brought me to loving sci-fi slash dystopian slash apocalyptic novels. I was always a fantasy geek, thanks to Harry Potter and Wildwood. Kingdoms, princesses in pretty dresses, or magic, they were always closer to me than spaceships, AI, and intergalactic war, but Illuminae completely changed my mind. I was even surprised when I found myself buying a handful of dystopian novels during a book fair the other day. They were just really fun to read.

Oh but you know what else is fun? Guessing which cuss word the characters in the books used. Sure, the story was told through files, which means some were formal documents like reports and formal emails, but remember that there are also chat boxes and the informal emails sent from one refugee to the other as a form of communication to ask how they were doing and whatnot. Cussing and slang were used constantly in the book, but because they were compiled and as I quote, ‘sent’ as a formal file, the cursing had to be censored and blocked. It was still fun to guess the words they used anyway.

Writing this review, I had already read Gemina, and Obsidio was being shipped to my house, so yes, I really love this trilogy.

I’d love to get into more depth about the two books, but since nearly every page is filled with action, I can’t really write a spoiler-free review with it so let’s get to the positive points and negative points of the book,

Pros:

The book, as we all know and as I have mentioned for the fifth time now is formatted like emails, chat boxes, documents, and literally every other thing you can extract from a computer by the year 2575. Despite all three books being thicker than 500 pages, some of the pages aren’t even full pages, and you can read them in under one minute, even for a slow reader. Some examples:

Countdown pages

Those pages when something dramatic happens, like the description of missiles travelling through the space between two ships

In Gemina (and possibly Obsidio), some pages from Hanna Donnelly’s personal journal were incorporated in the files, the second Illuminae Files. But unlike Kady who prefers writing (or typing) her thoughts and securing them with a handful of layers of security and passwords, Hanna draws hers, and they didn’t take that long to read either.

‘The pattern is always the same’

‘White light’

And everything else

I know Illuminae was my first ever sci-fi dystopian novel, but I’ve consulted a few people on the matter, and I found out that the story the series offered is a good one on its own, even without the dramatic effect. So yes, one of the pros is that it actually offers a good story. You never know what’s going to happen next. It’s like say, you just got over a dramatic point in one of the books, and suddenly the document in the next page is a bloody medical report that tells you something is up.

Another plus point would be how the events in the books are so well described, despite there being no actual description done in the books except for those surveillance camera transcripts. We don’t even know Kady and Ezra’s specific physical appearances, just the fact that Kady has pink hair and Ezra is a pretty much a teen fiction novel average golden boy, unlike Hanna and Nik who’s illustrations we see from again, Hanna’s journal in Gemina.

Cons:

We should all put this fact in consideration, that the book is not meant to tell a story from a formal standpoint. Like I said, cussing is used in nearly every page of the book, though it’s censored. Mildly explicit jokes and references were also used in the book, though no actual harm is done. Then again, I’m not against this or anything, in fact, it brings an essence to the story, but some people (*cough* boomers*cough*) might not be comfortable with it.

Personally, I’m not fond of thick books. Four hundred pages is a workload for me. I was suffering throughout the Order of the Phoenix. Don’t like thick books? Illuminae isn’t for you. All three books had like, five hundred or so pages. I know I said it was told through a less boring format for a novel, and the story is good, but you still have to read. It’s a relief I made it through both Illuminae and Gemina, there’s a possibility I might drop Obsidio and leave it to rot before reaching the three-hundredth page. Though, there is a solution to this. You can buy the audiobook instead. I heard they did a good job with it, with great casts too.

Aaand, I think that’s about it. There’s really not much I can say about the story without giving away spoilers, and since I’m dedicated to make this a spoiler-free blog, I think it’s best you buy the book if you’re interested in the story of Kady, Ezra, Hanna, Nik, and two more characters I’m not supposed to tell you about because it’s technically a spoiler (?) from Obsidio.

I’m open for any discussion too! Just, don’t tell me anything about Obsidio just yet, I’m expecting the copy this week. 

[citationilola]

Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles

Green Card Through Marriage: When a U.S. citizen  marries a foreign national, the foreign  spouse   may qualify  for a marriage-based green card and become a lawful permanent resident or a conditional permanent resident. Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles Getting a green card by marrying  a US Citizen allows the foreign spouse to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR)  depending upon if the foreign spouse legally entered the United States even if the foreign spouse became out of status subsequently. When the foreign spouse is in the United States, the foreign spouse may apply for a green card by submitting an application through USCIS without having to leave the United States if they entered legally.  This process is called filing for an adjustment of status (I-485). After filing for an adjustment of status, the alien spouse can legally reside and work in the United States once an employment authorization document also known as an EAD is issued, as they will become eligible for an employment authorization  90 days after filing for an adjustment of status. In the U.S. the “immediate relative” classification (including spouse) allows a foreign national to apply for an immigrant visa without having to worry about preference categories or priority backlogs, since an immigrant visa will always be available to him or her. However, the green card marriage process  can be complicated and requires in depth analysis by an experienced attorney to present evidence of a bona fide marriage and to prepare for the green card interview by being advised of possible green card marriage interview questions. 90 days prior to the Three Years anniversary of when the beneficiary spouse became a Lawful Permanent Resident,  the beneficiary spouse may be eligible to apply to become a US citizen if certain conditions are met.

In  order to apply for a green card marriage, the U.S. Citizen or U.S permanent resident marrying a foreign national must submit a green card through marriage petition (I-130)  to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to petition for his/her spouse. The U.S. Citizen petitioning for the spouse is referred to as the petitioner or sponsor, and the immigrant spouse who is marrying a green card holder or U.S. Citizen is referred to as the beneficiary.   H1B Denial:  At the Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, attorney Michael Piston has extensive experience in Federal litigation, and can help you overcome the erroneous decision made on your H1b application by filing a Federal Lawsuit and get results by forcing the government to adjudicate cases that have been unlawfully delayed or overturn H1B extensions and H1B transfer arbitrary denials. Federal Court Litigation may be an effective way of resolving government’s H1B denials and errors.  In well over 90% of the cases we file, the government reverses itself within 2-4 months of the case being filed.  i 751 Form and i 751 waiver:  If you received your green card by applying to the green card through marriage process (formally known as Adjustment of Status), and your marriage was less than 2 years when your green card was approved, what you received is a conditional green card, known as CR1 visa (Conditional permanent residency). The conditional green card is valid for only 2 years. After this period, if you wish to remain as a permanent resident in the U.S. you need to remove the conditions of your green card. This is done by submitting the form I 751 petition to remove conditions on residence. If you successfully submit this form and it gets approved, then you will move from the conditional permanent resident status to the permanent resident status, and your green card will be valid for 10 years.To remove the Green Card conditions you must: - Submit a Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence (Form I-751). - Prove to USCIS that your marriage is a bona fide marriage. - Submit the application within 90 days prior to your conditional green card expiration date. - File jointly, meaning that both you and your spouse must file together. Although, if this is not possible, you may still be able to remove the conditions of your residency by filing an I-751 waiver. Now, what happens when this is not an option? What if due to different circumstances you are no longer together with your spouse? The answer is that you might still be able to remove the conditions of your residency by filing a waiver.There are basically 4 circumstances by which a waiver is possible:   - Divorce:  If you (the green card applicant) and the U.S. citizen divorce before two years of marriage, you can still file the Form i 751 Petition to Remove conditions on green card to continue to live in the U.S. The process will be a little more complicated though, since you will have to request for a waiver of the joint filing requirement. In the case of a divorce, your task is to compile substantial documentation showing that the marriage was a good-faith marriage, or bona fide, and was not just an “easy” way to get a green card. This could include proof that you have children together, evidence of shared resources, a family home, shared insurance and estate documents, photographs together, gifts offered, correspondence between the applicant and the U.S. citizen, etc. Another task is to prepare evidence of the reason the marriage ended, to prove it was not your fault. For instance, the applicant can provide evidence of having attempted marriage counseling. Nonetheless, it seems important to mention that it’s best if the divorce took place during your conditional residence. Also, the longer the marriage lasts, the better to prove it was a bona fide marriage.  - Death of Spouse:  Under the unfortunate event of the U.S. citizen passing away, the applicant may still apply to remove the conditions on his/her green card. In order to do this, the applicant must file the waiver based on the death of the petitioning spouse. If this is your case, you would have to submit a copy of your spouse’s death certificate. On top of this, other evidence is still required, such as evidence of the marriage being a good faith marriage when started. - An abusive Marriage:  If you were a victim of violence, were battered or subjected to extreme cruelty, you can waive the requirement of the joint filing of the i 751 form. In order to submit this waiver, you will have to submit evidence of the abuse. If you ever reported domestic violence events, if you ever made a record of injuries (medical reports for example), these can be used as evidence. - Extreme hardship if put into removal proceedings:  It applies if you think that by not obtaining permanent residency and being put into removal proceedings (eventually deported) you will face extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances in your home country. K1 Fiance visa:  A fiancé(e) visa, also known as a K-1 visa is used to bring a foreign fiance to the United States so that the couple can marry and apply for a green card for the foreign partner.  The process for bringing a fiance to the United States involves several agencies from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State: (1) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), (2) the National Visa Center (NVC), (3) the U.S. Department of State/U.S. embassy/consulate (DOS), and (4) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  The steps you need to follow are:  Step 1: File fiance visa petition with USCIS Step 2: Once the petition is approved USCIS sends it to the NVC for further processing and submission of additional required documentation. Once processing is completed the NVC forwards the approved visa petition to the U.S. Embassy or consulate where your fiance will apply for issuance of the fiance visa.  Step 3: The U.S. Embassy or consulate schedules the visa interview for your foreign fiance. At the interview the DOS consular will determine whether your fiance qualifies for the fiance visa. If approved the consular officer will issue the visa. Step 4: Your fiance enters the U.S. with their visa. The CBP officer at the port of entry might ask your fiance a few questions: such as where they intend to live in the U.S., some questions relating to the U.S. citizen fiance and the intention to marry within 90 days. The CBP officer will also take your fiance’s fingerprints and sealed documents previously received with the visa issued by the DOS. After the CBP officer finalizes their review, a stamp will be placed in the passport allowing your fiance to stay in the U.S. for 90 days. Nanny Green Card:  For an application for labor certification to be approved under PERM for Nanny Positions, an Employer must do 6 things: 1. Offer a non citizen a “permanent” job effective no later than the date the non citizen becomes a permanent resident. 2. Request a prevailing wage determination (PWD) from U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Typically, it takes about 4 months for the DOL to issue a prevailing wage. 3. Endeavor in good faith to recruit a U.S. worker to fill the job offered to the noncitizen by conducting the following recruitment activities: Place a notice describing the job in detail, including the offered wage, for 10 consecutive business days at the place the noncitizen will work (hereinafter “Job Posting). Advertise two times (2x) at a major newspaper (Sunday edition). Place a job order with the State Workforce Agency (SWA) for a minimum of 30 days. In the State of California, the SWA is Caljobs. 4. Prepare a written statement explaining why any U.S. worker who applied (if any) for the job was rejected only for lawful job related reasons.e) File the application with the ETA Application Center.f) The employer may be required to respond to further requests for documentation of his recruitment efforts to the Certifying Officer. The above will take approximately 3 -4 months from the time we receive the completed questionnaires from you and your prospective employee. Naturalization:  Naturalization is the process laid out by the United States government, which allows foreign citizens or nationals to obtain U.S. citizenship providing they meet the requirements established in the Immigration and Nationality.  You may qualify for naturalization if you have been a permanent U.S. resident for at least 5 years, or you have been married to a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years, (thus qualifying to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen), or you have qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces. Providing you meet one of those qualifications, the basic requirements for obtaining naturalization are: - Having physically lived in the United States for either 2 1/2 years as a permanent resident or 1 1/2 years if married to a U.S. citizen, - Having not spent more than 12 months (of your 5 years or 3 years) outside the U.S., - Having resided at your current address for at least 3 months, - Being at least 18 years old, - Being of good moral character, - Being able to speak, read and write basic English, - Being able to pass a test showing basic knowledge of U.S. history and government, - Agreeing to support the Constitution of the United States, and - Taking an oath of allegiance to the United States. E-2 visa:  Certain countries have trade treaties with the U.S., which allow for immigration for foreign nationals from these countries to seek a visa. A Treaty Trader can gain an E-2 visa when the individual is involved in substantial trade, such as trade in services or technology between the treaty country and the USA, or involved in the development and direction of substantial capital with regard to trade.  The investment in the U.S. must be substantial. It must be of an amount that is of high enough value to ensure the success of the venture. The venture must be an operating enterprise, not a speculative or non-functioning investment. O-1 visa: The  O-1 visa is designed for an alien who has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and their essential support personnel. The alien must demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim and must be coming temporarily to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability. Extraordinary ability means a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of the small percentage who has risen to the very top of the field of endeavor. Regarding the sponsor, any U.S. employer, a U.S. agent, or a foreign employer through a U.S. agent can petition for you. However, the petitioner must at least be in the artist’s field of expertise. This also means, that a U.S. citizen, who is in the artist’s field may petition for them as long as there is a legitimate reason why the petitioner requires the artist to work in the United States. EB-1:  EB-1 is an employment-based, first-preference visa open to those who exhibit extraordinary ability, is an outstanding professor or researcher, or is a multinational executive or manager. Each of these categories is defined as follows: - Extraordinary Ability: Individuals who qualify demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, and are nationally or internationally recognized. Extensive documentation must be provided as proof of achievements. Offer of employment is not a requisite. - Outstanding Professor or Researcher: Individuals who qualify are recognized for outstanding achievements in their respective fields, in which they must have at least three years experience of teaching or research. In exchange for permanent residency, they must pursue a tenure or tenure track or comparable research position at an institution of higher education. - Multinational Manager or Executive: Individuals who qualify have been working outside of the United States in a managerial or executive position for at least one.

[charminglatina]

Birthday Profiles Of Riverdale Actors Based On The Secret Language Of Birthdays Concept! (Part III)

What Is The Secret Language Concept?

The Secret Language scientific personality reports have proven to be over 90% accurate after 21 years in use by millions of people in a dozen languages worldwide. Our data comes from Gary Goldschneider’s 40-year empirical study of the life stories of more than 20,000 people, analyzed by date of birth. Gary looked at 50 people born on your birthday and found the personality traits held in common by 45 of them. Then he created personality profiles from those traits for each day, week, month, season and year and I further combined those profile names into the ultimate distillation of your personality - your Secret Language Name. Combining astrology, numerology, and pure psychic intuition, The Secret Language of Birthdays is a wholly unique compilation that reveals one’s strengths, weaknesses, and major issues while providing practical advice and spiritual guidance. Many have suspected that your birthday affects your personality and how you relate to others. Nineteen years and over one million copies later, The Secret Language of Birthdays continues to fascinate readers by describing the characteristics associated with being born on a particular day. The 366 personality profiles are based on astrology, numerology, the tarot, and Gary Goldschneider’s observations of more than 14,000 people. Your strengths, weaknesses, and major concerns will be illuminated while you are given practical advice and spiritual guidance. After you study your profile, it will be hard to resist examining those of family, friends, colleagues, and even celebrities.

The Personality Periods

The forty-eight personality periods, made up of twelve cusps and thirty six weeks, are units between six and nine days in length. Personology predicts the personality characteristics of anyone born within these dates. In other words, those born in the same period will share certain predictable character traits. While this may not completely represent ever individual, it is sufficient to provide an understanding of his or her basic energies. Extrapolating from the personology periods, it is possible to predict the nature of the relationship between any two people. Thus, The Secret Language Of Relationships combines each period of the year with itself and every other period to predict the nature of the resulting relationship. For example, a person born on March 31 falls into the Aries I period. This is the Week of the Child which symbolizes the freshness and openness of early childhood and of the spring season (lasting from March 25 to April 1). People born during this time are characterized by a childlike, enthusiastic orientation. This in contrast to a person born on November 10, who would be a Scorpio II (encompassing November 3 to 11). Born in the fall, which is symbolically likened to middle age, this week takes Depth as its central symbol. Thus, it becomes possible to consider the theoretical implications of an Aries I-Scorpio II relationship.

The Fourty-Eight Periods & Cusps

1. Pisces-Aries Cusp (Mar 19-Mar 24) – The Cusp Of Rebirth

2. Aries I (Mar 25-Apr 02) – The Week Of The Child

3. Aries II (Apr 03-Apr 10) – The Week Of The Star

4. Aries III (Apr 11-Apr 18) – The Week Of The Pioneer

5. Aries-Taurus Cusp (Apr 19-Apr 24) – The Cusp Of Power

6. Taurus I (Apr 25-May 02) – The Week Of Manifestation

7. Taurus II (May 03-May 10) – The Week Of The Teacher

8. Taurus III (May 11-May 18) – The Week Of The Natural

9. Taurus-Gemini Cusp (May 19-May 24) – The Cusp Of Energy

10. Gemini I (May 25-Jun 01) – The Week Of Freedom

11. Gemini II (Jun 02-Jun 10) – The Week Of New Language

12. Gemini III (Jun 11-Jun 18) – The Week Of The Seeker

13. Gemini-Cancer Cusp (Jun 19-Jun 24) – The Cusp Of Magic

14. Cancer I (Jun 25-Jul 02) – The Week Of The Empath

15. Cancer II (Jul 03-Jul 10) – The Week Of The Unconventional

16. Cancer III (Jul 11-Jul 18) – The Week Of The Persuader

17. Cancer-Leo Cusp (Jul 19-Jul 25) – The Cusp Of Oscillation

18. Leo I (Jul 26-Aug 02) – The Week Of Authority

19. Leo II (Aug 03-Aug 10) – The Week Of Balanced Strength

20. Leo III (Aug 11-Aug 18) – The Week Of Leadership

21. Leo-Virgo Cusp (Aug 19-Aug 25)  – The Cusp Of Exposure

22. Virgo I (Aug 26-Sept 02) – The Week Of System Builders

23. Virgo II (Sept 03-Sept 10) – The Week Of The Enigma

24. Virgo III (Sept 11-Sept 18) – The Week Of The Literalist

25. Virgo-Libra Cusp (Sept 19-Sept 24) – The Cusp Of Beauty

26. Libra I (Sept 25-Oct 01) – The Week Of The Perfectionist

27. Libra II (Oct 02-Oct 10) – The Week Of Society

28. Libra III (Oct 11-Oct 18) – The Week Of Theater

29. Libra-Scorpio Cusp (Oct 19-Oct 25) – The Cusp Of Drama & Criticism

30. Scorpio I (Oct 26-Nov 02) – The Week Of Intensity

31. Scorpio II (Nov 03–Nov 11) – The Week Of Depth

32. Scorpio III (Nov 12–Nov 18) – The Week Of Charm

33. Scorpio-Sagittarius Cusp (Nov 19–Nov 24) – The Cusp Of Revolution

34. Sagittarius I (Nov 25–Dec 02) – The Week Of Independence

35. Sagittarius II (Dec 03–-Dec 10) – The Week Of The Originator

36. Sagittarius III (Dec 11-Dec 18) – The Week Of The Titan

37. Sagittarius-Capricorn Cusp (Dec 19-Dec 25) – The Cusp Of Prophecy

38. Capricorn I (Dec 26-Jan 02) – The Week Of The Ruler

39. Capricorn II (Jan 03- Jan 09) – The Week Of Determination

40. Capricorn III (Jan 10-Jan 16) – The Week Of Dominance

41. Capricorn-Aquarius Cusp (Jan 17-Jan 22) – The Cusp Of Mystery & Imagination

42. Aquarius I (Jan 23-Jan 30) – The Week Of Genius

43. Aquarius II (Jan 31-Feb 07) – The Week Of Youth & Ease

44. Aquarius III (Feb 08-Feb 15) – The Week Of Acceptance

45. Aquarius-Pisces Cusp (Feb 16-Feb 22) – The Cusp Of Sensitivity

46. Pisces I (Feb 23-Mar 02) – The Week Of Spirit

47. Pisces II (Mar 03-Mar 10) – The Week Of The Loner

48. Pisces III  (Mar 11-Mar 18) – The Week Of Dancers & Dreamers

Birthday Profiles Featured: 

13. Mark Consuelos (March 30 – Aries I) 14. Shannon Purser (June 27 – Cancer I) 15. Trinity Likins (May 12 – Taurus III) 16. Hayley Law (Nov 18 – Scorpio III) 17. Asha Bromfield (November 9 – Scorpio II) 18. Jordan Calloway (October 18 – Libra III)

#13. Mark Consuelos (Birthday: Mar. 30 – The Day Of Uncompromising Vision; Personality Period: Aries I – Mar. 25 to Apr. 2 – The Week Of The Child; Place Of Birth: Zaragoza, Spain)

Those born during the Week of the Child show the frank and open demeanor of the child. Because of this, they are sometimes accused of having a naive or superficial view of life. But the so-called naiveté that they project is only one manifestation of the awe and wonder they experience in response to the world around them, which they are constantly rediscovering. An intense need to express this wonder, and to share their observations with others, is also characteristic. Like children, they not only exhibit spontaneity and liveliness themselves but also appreciate these qualities in others. In fact, many may not understand how deep their need for direct expression really is. As children, they are faithful, on their own terms, but not particularly dutiful, particularly when it comes to fulfilling the expectations of parents who project their own dreams and wishes on them. Although born during the week of the “child,” they often give an impression of independence, as if they didn’t need parents at all, but this conceals subtle emotional dependencies and needs that can manifest in small ways. Rarely will these children make a great show of feelings toward parents, preferring instead to express such emotion in the form of thoughtful everyday deeds. Parents of such children quickly learn not to make the mistake of babying them, particularly as adolescents. These folks also dislike being reminded of their childlike demeanor when older, for it is vitally important to them that others regard them as mature and responsible. The less outgoing give the impression of being thoughtful, serious individuals, and even the gregarious and talkative ones tend to lead a highly private personal life. They have a quiet world to which they must retreat at frequent intervals, and it is inviolable. Often, an enclosed, even isolated existence has been forced on them in childhood through repeated criticism or misunderstanding, even that of parents who love and protect them. The danger of this is that as adolescents and mature adults they can fall into periods of brooding or depression, from which it may be difficult for them to work free. Moreover, these people are slow to seek psychological help, preferring to handle their emotional difficulties by themselves. Although they tend to spend long periods alone when away from work, their careers inevitably involve group or team endeavors. They have strong organizational energies, and others naturally come to depend on them. Rarely dictatorial, they even avoid being elected a group’s leader, preferring instead to occupy an important role right in the center of things. The morality of these people is usually fixed and will not allow them to act in ways that they see as underhanded. This inflexibility, reflecting both their strong beliefs and their idealism, can cause problems at times; if their ethical belief in what they are doing is strong enough, in fact, they will not hesitate to go against the established order of things, even to the point of committing actions that may be illegal in their society’s eyes. Their behavior is usually a mixture of lively and highly measured responses. They are capable of swinging quickly from spontaneity to thoughtfulness, depending on the situation. Those involved with them must be sensitive to their moods or risk seeing them fly off the handle, usually as a result of feeling that they have been misread or misunderstood. Although some can explode in anger, their more characteristic response is to turn heel and quickly leave the room. As those who are close to them will attest, however, they are usually agreeable to serious discussion of the problems of a given situation, as long as the conversation does not turn personal. These people demand a lot of understanding from their mates and friends. Those best suited for intimate relationships with these energetic individuals are willing to leave them the freedom to act and to be themselves, without attempting to place restrictions on them. The person perhaps best suited for them is down to earth, and has a good sense of humor, the ability to put things in perspective, and a life of his or her own. As far as friendships are concerned, they are dependable up to a point, that point usually arriving when they begin to feel that they are being taken advantage of. Again, those sensitive to their needs will protect the relationship’s longevity by avoiding pushing them to that point. In any kind of relationship with these folks, knowing when to back off is essential. Confrontation should only be attempted with great care and sensitivity. Generally speaking, a stable family life, including children, may not be the best prospect for them as young adults; they are better suited to this kind of life when they are older and have sown their wild oats. Their love relationships tend to the unusual, to say the least: they can be extremely unrealistic in their choice of partners, and their relationships may at times be suffused with a fairy-tale quality. They rarely respond to societal pressures to have a recognized love object, much preferring abstinence to maintaining pro forma relations with a spouse, lover or fiancé. Extramarital affairs are not at all uncommon for those born during the Week of the Child, who may not see such actions as transgressions. Such relationships underline their curiosity and their need for adventure, while at the same time announcing their refusal to be bound by society’s conventional strictures. An unconventional relationship with them can easily be carried on for years. Oddly enough, it is precisely in these areas that their most noble, moral and loyal sentiments may be expressed.

March 30 people are extremely forward, rarely mitigating the effect they have on others. For this reason they can arouse antagonisms and obstacles which stand in the way of their tremendous drive to succeed. They may fail time and again in their endeavors to reach personal or social goals, but remain undaunted. Eventually, this determination makes for success, though recognition may come late in life or even posthumously. Those born on this day are concerned with their image, for they take quite seriously what others think of them. This is particularly evident when denied appreciation, for they openly show their bewilderment and pain. Such setbacks, however, only build greater resolve. Because March 30 people are only capable of doing things their own way, they do best as self-employed freelancers, for as employees they are likely to clash with bosses or co-workers. If they are free to pursue their own personal vision, these conflicts can be avoided. Someone else’s dream they find difficult to share, as their mind is one-track and their energy usually directed in one line of endeavor only. March 30 people are very intense. Because relaxation does not come easily to those so driven, they can wear others out with their unflagging energy. Those born on this day can also create emotional difficulties through their childlike and often naive view of things. They are almost always self-taught types; formal education rarely manages to impart much to them. Fortunately, since they carry such a clear vision of what they wish to do in their heads, they have the inspiration necessary to master whatever technical skills are required to do the job. Having lots of friends is not important to March 30 people. When they do become successful, the accompanying social contact is difficult for them to handle. They may find themselves longing for the privacy they had before recognition, and even regret their achievements. Ultimately, however, they have no choice but to follow their inner drives. Sometimes, in extreme cases, the personality of these driven people becomes so deeply submerged in the flood of their activity, that it almost seems that they have become forces personified rather than flesh and blood human beings; their true existence lies in their work. In relationships, those born on this day can be extremely demanding. Those attracted or already involved with a March 30 person had better be prepared for almost anything. Matching the energetic output of March 30 people is indeed difficult; perhaps the best mate for them is an empowered but undemanding person, one who can appeal to their imagination. But such a mate must also be quite unusual, even unique, to maintain their interest over time. Furthermore, those born on this day may not always be the best at dealing with the success enjoyed by a mate and can be prone to projecting their own desires on their partner. Although March 30 people are very complex emotionally, they are loyal in their own way and will usually do their best to hang in there for their families and friends, at least as much as their driven personalities will allow. People born on March 30 are an irresistible combination of dynamic confidence and courage, and touching earnestness and vulnerability. Although their conviction is strong enough to help them bounce back from setbacks and criticism, it’s impossible for them to hide their pain, bewilderment and disappointment. For this reason they can both antagonize and endear themselves to people, more often than not at the same time. These people are at their happiest and best when allowed the freedom to work alone and set their own agenda. They may appear selfish to friends and colleagues, but they are not. They simply love to absorb themselves in their personal goals, fearing that if they allow others to distract them from their vision they might never attain it. It is important for them, however, to take the time to unwind; otherwise they run the risk of becoming driven at work and isolated in their personal life. They should not neglect their emotional and social needs between the ages of twenty and fifty, during which there is an emphasis on acquiring wealth, status and material security. After the age of fifty they may feel a need to communicate and exchange ideas; this is when their talents are most likely to mature and gain recognition. With a hint of the dramatic and the irresistible in their make-up, these people have an attractive, energetic but mild manner which masks a hidden sensuality and complexity. Because they are so upbeat, passionate and focused about their goals in life, they may find that they have more than their fair share of good luck. If, however, they surrender their natural optimism the opposite may be true, so it is important for them to keep as positive as possible. As long as these people don’t allow themselves to become buried by their ambitions or their tendency toward perfectionism—and others allow them the freedom to pursue their highly creative vision—they have the potential not just to achieve outstanding success but to provoke feelings of adoration in others. People born on March 30 are irresistible and will often attract partners who want to help and support them, as well as adore them. Their ideal mate will be someone who has an independent streak as strong as their own and a mind as inquisitive and far reaching. Sometimes their insecurities and driven nature can damage a relationship, but if they are able to make it work they make warm and endlessly fascinating partners. The biggest risk to the health of people born on this day is stress. Some stress is good for them as it makes them feel alive, but too much can lead to headaches, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, weight gain, forgetfulness, insecurity, and a host of other emotional, mental and physical disorders. Eating a healthy diet rich in nutritious whole grains, fruits and vegetables and low in refined and processed foods, and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise, will help ease stress, as will regular time out with friends and loved ones. Mind-body therapies and deep-breathing techniques such as meditation and yoga are highly recommended, as are massage and aromatherapy. A soothing cup of herbal tea, such as chamomile, before bedtime will encourage restful sleep; wearing, meditating on or surrounding themselves with the colors blue and purple will help quell their exuberant fires. Because of their determination and creativity, these people have the potential to achieve great success in arts, music, design, theater, and the entertainment world. Their pleasure in mental pursuits may also lead them to careers in teaching, lecturing, research, or writing, as well as management, sales, business, and public affairs. Alternatively they may choose to set up their own business. The life path of people born on this day is to place as much importance on their personal as on their professional goals. Once they have learned to get in touch with their feelings and the feelings of others, their destiny is to influence and inspire others with their fearless energy and passion for what they believe in. People born specifically on the 30th of March are presumed to be intuitive, enthusiastic and strong willed and determined as is typical of an Aries. Jupiter is the ruling astrological planet for this particular day creating your expressiveness and insistence on doing things in your own fashion. If you have this birthday a happy go lucky, generous, kind and bold disposition is bestowed upon you. You are ambitious, highly motivated and persuasive, tending to prefer learning from experience. A hard worker you are business orientated with artistic, adaptable and imaginative inclinations. Individuals with a March the thirtieth birthday usually have a fab sense of humor and a liking for the luxurious things in life. Often you can be quite sensitive about how others view you and may find it fairly difficult to relax. Impatient and easily bored you are rather complex emotionally and may be hard to get close to but you are immensely tenderly loyal to friends and loved ones. Favored career options to a person born on the thirtieth of March are ordinarily within academic type professions. You are commonly expressive and inspirational when conveying knowledge to others and so teaching or communication based jobs are likely to appeal the most. In the work environment although you feel the need to take charge you are equally happy to be part of a team. Where finances are concerned Jupiter's authority seems to gift you with lots of luck in this area. You are very able and responsible in the management of financial matters and chiefly unselfish and careful with your spending. As an Aries, the person born on the thirtieth day of March is typically full of charm and wit and a sweet talker when it comes to romance. You greatly value friendship and embrace the idea of a soul mate but you are capable of being happy while single. The way to captivate your heart and unveil your passionate side is inclined to be via intellectual stimulation. In a long term relationship you may be restless without common interests and long deep meaningful conversations. Physical attractions only will soon peter out. Your youthful vivaciousness helps you frequently get your way in love partnerships yet you show lots of consideration and flexibility towards a partner's needs and desires. Regardless of this you are prone to pangs of jealousy and if your loyalty is betrayed then you normally find it easy to walk away. Heath issues experienced by those born on March 30th are in some cases a reaction to you thinking that you are immune to illness. Your active enthusiasm and helpful nature keep you busy enough to sometimes forget body and mind basic requirements. People born on this day could have a proneness to stress behind that sunny temperament. This is often not helped by your fondness of eating on the go and not taking time out to properly unwind once in a while. Relying on short term props like caffeine can add to the problem so its intake should be minimal and ideally other forms of relaxation sought. The most prominent strengths in your character lie in the energetic motivation you have, your touch of originality and creative imagination. These positive characteristics and your powerful powers of persuasion assist you to express yourself effectively in all areas of life. Impatience is probably the main personality weakness for those born on March 30th. Secondary weak traits worth mentioning include the tendencies to get over anxious and occasionally act rebelliously or sulk for lengthy periods. All these negative behaviors usually occur less often as you grow older, wiser and calmer. Being born on the 30th of March gives you an independent learn as you go attitude alongside your determination to achieve things. You appear to frequently acquire more enjoyment and satisfaction from following the paths to a goal rather than attaining the end results. The sort of aspirations that you have in your younger years are likely to change in midlife as you become more focused on what matters. However the same cannot be said about your deepest dreams and wishes. Any dream scenarios featuring memories of contentment from childhood are expected to stay fresh in your mind as something worth aiming for. As you were born on the thirtieth day of the month your birth date figure reflects a Root number of Three. This numerical reference to your birthday has the keyword 'Innovation' highlighting the vision and adaptability you are able to call upon. The 3rd card in the Major Arcana Tarot, the Empress is connected to your birthday symbolizing your creative imagination and alluring mannerisms. For March the thirtieth birthdays the gem considered luckiest to wear is an Amethyst. Carrying this precious purple stone promises the attraction of love, luck and wealth as well as clearer concentration. Astrologically Mars is believed to be the planet that is the dominant influence in the fundamentals of Aries personalities. The actual day you were born on, the thirtieth of March is supposed governed by the celestial body Jupiter. So these 2 influential planets both play an authoritative part in deciding your individuality. Your demonstrative free will and charisma are courtesy of Jupiter's cosmic force while Mars's dynamism gives you your boldness and generosity. Tuning in to the humorous aspect of your character and laughing at yourself should lessen stressfulness. Conquering your sensitivity to how others see you could prove to be a big advantage. A final apt thought to ponder for people born on March the 30th is that boredom is not always something to avoid, it can help with the lesson of patience. 

#14. Shannon Purser (Birthday: Jun. 27 – The Day Of The Defensive Developer; Personality Period: Cancer I – Jun. 25 to July 2 – The Week Of The Empath; Place Of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia, United States)

Cancer I’s are hard to figure out. Emotionally complex, they combine sharply contrasting qualities in their psychological makeup. They may give an entirely different impression one moment than in another, according to their mood. A Cancer I may strike one person as outgoing, another as retiring, one as positive and expansive, another as negative and depressive, still others as easygoing, others as difficult. Only those who live with Cancer I’s day in and day out are fully able to appreciate their depth and diversity. Part of the reason for the variety of their emotional palette is their sensitivity. Empathic, Cancer I’s quickly pick up on the feelings of others—so much so that they may mistake such feelings for their own. They may find themselves replaying other people’s scripts and hence playing a role in life’s daily drama that is not really theirs. Developing their self-awareness, gaining an accurate view of their personal interactions and getting a grip on their emotions will be essential to them. Because they are so at the mercy of the feelings of others as children, Cancer I’s generally cry out for protection. Even when protection is granted, they may spend a lifetime seeking out people to mother and nurture them. But if they are instead exposed to tough and unsympathetic treatment by their families and, later, by the world, they are capable of surrounding themselves with a virtually impenetrable shell. Love can enable Cancer I’s to feel again, melting their outer defenses and allowing them to express their true emotions. A great deal of pent-up resentment and frustration may have to be voiced, however, before their hurt is eased and they are able to trust again. One should not get the idea, however, that Cancer I’s are wishy-washy characters out of touch with worldly realities. In fact, they are very clever in getting their way. They generally give money a high priority, and are often financially astute. Their investment sense can be excellent, and they frequently make stocks and other holdings pay off. Also in the realm of technical skills, they show a good grasp of whatever material they make their own, and a good ability to implement their plans. Aggression can play an ambiguous role in Cancer I’s lives: they are naturally aggressive, and can have difficulty sublimating this instinct into positive expression, particularly in the sexual, verbal or athletic sphere. Too often they swing from angry outbursts to repression, which often leads them into melancholia, in extreme cases, their anger can be self-destructive. Finding a métier that allows them easy expression of their aggression is an important life task for them, and one that they often overlook. These folks are capable of withdrawing from the world for months or even years, doing battle with themselves in an attempt to come to grips with their problems. The challenge a Cancer I faces is to move from being a person helplessly adrift in a sea of feeling, just able to keep his or her head above water, into being one who can swim confidently in the swift currents of life. The most successful Cancer I’s are those who can put their fantasy to work in a constructive way, and who can share their unique view of the world with others. First, of course, they must conquer their inner fears and liberate themselves from self-imposed, or parentally-imposed, behavioral stereotypes. Next they may have to overcome inflexibility and real or imagined handicaps. Through sheer guts and determination, they are often capable of overcoming these and other obstacles, and of putting their acute psychological perceptions to work in the service of those around them. Professionally they often do well when self-employed, operating from a home base that may be connected to their living space. Should they choose to have children, the caring and nurturing aspects of their personalities augur well for their abilities as parents. For those who live with them, it may be difficult to stand by and watch as Cancer I’s bottle up their feelings or enter into their self-imposed isolation. While it may look like self-torture, it is almost impossible, and in fact usually inadvisable, to get down in the soup with Cancer I’s. A more beneficial stance is usually to back off and wait patiently until they surface and seek human interaction again. Patience is an obligatory virtue for those desiring a successful relationship with these individuals. On the other hand, those born during the Week of the Empath have a great deal to offer in a relationship: sympathy, technical proficiency, financial astuteness and a good managerial sense. Because of their need to spend time at home, they can be counted on to keep things in good working order and to provide comfort and security. Cancer I’s can be extremely persuasive, at times too much so. Their need to persuade can outstrip the advisability of their counsel, leaving them saddled with the guilt of having sent someone off in a wrong direction. Cancer I’s pride themselves on doing their homework on given subjects, and when their research is thorough it will yield positive results. Good friends know, however, that emotional strain can cloud their thoughts, easily throwing them off track, so that they may offer confused judgments and advice with the same air of conviction and authority as cogent ones.

Those born on June 27 believe that the most effective offense is supported by a good defense. Extremely protective of their personal kingdom (be it family or business), they venture out into the world cautiously and only after their home base is secure from external threats. Once their guidance system is locked on, however, they proceed inexorably to their target, rarely straying off course. Thus, June 27 people are unbelievably determined once they set their sights on something and tend to get it, no matter what. There is usually a rock-solid set of moral convictions behind the drive and determination of June 27 people. Because of these convictions, those born on this day feel one hundred percent that their actions are just and correct, and they are rarely given to questioning themselves. The goals of most June 27 people are, generally speaking, highly personal rather than worldly, but they also have a strong competitive streak which urges them to overcome those they regard as competitors or rivals. In doing so, however, they can make very powerful enemies who later obstruct their progress, or in rare cases destroy or defeat them. At least in their philosophy and attitude, June 27 people have little capacity for admitting defeat. The benefits of such steadfastness are obvious, but may also result in an inflexible personality which is unwilling to accept unpleasant truths, and exhibits a kind of tunnel vision. When people are repelled by such a stance, or worse yet attack a June 27 person verbally, those born on this day may get bewildered, close down and withdraw into a kind of well-armored shell. An intense desire to protect not only themselves but also their family, friends or social group is of course one of the prime characteristics of June 27 people. They may, however, appear overly aggressive toward others; indeed they are masterful at alternating quickly between attack and defence. Because they are so firm in their convictions, June 27 people can make fine salespeople. They could sell ice to the Eskimos or pasta to the Italians. Particularly once they have formed their ideological goals, firmed up their belief systems and sorted out their principles, they develop an overwhelming urge not only to share their values with others but to persuade, educate and convince. Due to their marked empathic abilities, June 27 people pick up quickly on the feelings of others. But because of their somewhat antagonistic manner, they will often provoke less than sympathetic reactions from those with whom they live and work. Indeed, others may perceive them as so strong and invulnerable that they are somehow less deserving of compassion or kindness. The spiritual path for those born on June 27 is long and hard. Perhaps only after they have battled and achieved some measure of success can they allow time to first examine and then remake themselves. Hopefully, they will still be free to change and grow. People born on June 27 tend to be watchful, diligent and very capable of defending themselves and their interests from attack. They are competitive, driven and persuasive,and those who dare to criticize or argue with their convictions may find themselves out of their depth.They feel they have a duty to guide and, if necessary, force others to follow the same uncompromising moral convictions that they themselves hold. The profound empathy they feel for those less fortunate arouses their fiercely protective instincts and a burning desire to effect social improvement. Such steadfastness does, however, have its drawbacks: they have a tendency to become inflexible and overly defensive when others try to offer their opinions or criticize them. If this happens, their favored response is to withdraw, shutting out everyone and everything in the process.Emotions and family matters may occupy them into their mid-twenties, and they should take advantage of opportunities to become more sensitive to the feelings of others. Although they may appear self-assured, they may find that the solid confidence they seek is not forthcoming until after the age of twenty-five. It is important during these years that they keep their minds and hearts open, avoiding becoming too defensive or inflexible in their convictions, which could provoke unnecessary rifts in relationships and problems in their working life. After the age of fifty-five they become more practical, analytical and discerning. Remaining inquisitive and open-minded is the key to their happiness and success during this period.The single-mindedness of these people can also mean that they miss out on opportunities to develop new assets or relationships. It is crucial for their psychological development that they remain open to the debates that their actions will engender, because learning to become more accommodating is the key to their personal happiness and fulfillment. It will unlock their intuition, giving them the inspiration they need to fulfill their progressive urge to effect real and significant improvements in the human condition. Charming and friendly with a warm and caring personality, people born on June 27 are often loyal and devoted partners, as well as being loving parents. Although they find it easy to make friends and attract admirers, they can have fluctuating moods and be quick to take offence at any form of criticism, and this vacillating touchiness can affect their relationships negatively. People born on this day have a tendency to be inflexible in both mind and body, and this can manifest itself in physical discomforts such as joint pain, backache, sciatica, and headaches. They would benefit enormously from all forms of stretching, such as yoga and dance, or any form of exercise that encourages them to be more flexible. As far as diet is concerned, they need to optimize their intake of health-boosting nutrients. In addition, they need to make sure they include a wide variety of foods in their meal plans and don’t just keep repeating the same menu week after week. Wearing, meditating on and surrounding themselves with the color yellow will encourage them to be more open, optimistic and confident. People born on this day may express their humanitarian concerns in a range of careers, including nursing, teaching, therapy, social work, or charity work. Alternatively, they may choose to spread their message more overtly via the arts in music, acting or writing, although their theatrical side conjoined with their idealism may also lead them into politics. The life path of people born on this day is to learn to be more open-minded in their approach to people and situations. Once they have become more flexible, their destiny is to devote their considerable energy to helping and inspiring others. People born specifically on the 27th of June are believed to possess a strong but gentle presence worn with grace and amiability alongside their typical crab loveable charm. The ruling astrological planet for this particular day is Mars lavishing you with spiritual awareness making you empathic natured and compelled to be protective of others less fortunate. If you have this birthday your kind quiet yet unassuming temperament can be a little oversensitive and prone to react strongly to everything. Intuitive, creative and highly perceptive you have excellent observation skills and are likely to be good at reading, writing, art and music. Individuals with a June the twenty seventh birthday are a mix of cautious and sacrificing emotionally and a secure home base is important to you. A low tolerance of unfairness can cause you to be somewhat volatile and prone to occasionally act on impulse with rash thoughts or actions. You are also quite idealistic and tend to be sometimes presumptuous. Choosing a suitable career to a person born on the Twenty-Seventh of June often involves selecting a job to closely match your abilities. A profession that requires the skills you know you are best at is much more preferable but you may view financial recompense a greater incentive in your choices. Practical and highly motivated you are hard working, efficient and productive in any work environment you choose and nice to work with or for. You are usually fairly adept at keeping your finances in order so it is unlikely for you to get into debt, however your generosity can cause occasional problems. For a Cancer, the person born on the twenty seventh day of June is typically incredibly loving and giving with warm but intense emotions. You really enjoy the company of others and consider friendship a meaningful part of any personal relationship. Charming and humorous you are both sensitive and sentimental when it comes to affairs of the heart and love and devotion frequently plays a big role in your life. Your touch of idealism gives you high expectations of a soul mate yet you yearn for the emotional security and encouragement offered by a long term relationship. Your emotion intensity means that you will ordinarily need a mental affinity as well as a physical attraction to keep you interested romantically. You are tender and guided by instinct with a preference to be wooed as your lusty libido may need some special coaxing to fully ignite. The usual active lifestyle favored and experienced by those born on June 27th is of significant importance to overall health condition. Exercising on a regular basis is particularly effective in reducing tension and unblocking your energy flows. Keeping your body trim and toned helps create just the right balance for optimum vitality and counteracts your fondness for indulging in fine food and drink. People born on this day should avoid stress as this can have a disturbing impact on general healthiness. Stomach ailments and head and backaches are common symptoms when you are in an anxious state. Your main strengths of character are probably viewed best in your complimentary combination of a convincing determined manner and gentleness. These positive attributes bestow you with a firm but fair approach and views culminating in your commonsensical outlook and skilful ability to notice details. Recognizable personality weaknesses for those born on June 27th are usually based on your volatility and tendency to presume outcomes. When these rash negative traits put in an appearance they can be troublesome and direct you to once in a while miss out on some of life's opportunities or surprises. Being born on the 27th of June is imagined to make you quietly ambitious and likely to be overflowing with drive and motivation to be successful in life. In anticipation of success you are inclined to make well thought out plans that involve progressing slowly and carefully towards desired goals. You often have grand dreams especially with regard to finding perfection in a close personal partnership. Sharing the good and bad times with someone special is one of your priority wishes despite your ambitiousness. Another prominent wish is to travel and see as many different and interesting places as possible. As you were born on the twenty seventh day of the month the two and seven in your birth date award you a Root number of Nine. This numerical reference to your birthday has the keyword 'Seeker' highlighting your observant responsiveness and enterprising spirit. In the Major Arcana the 9th Tarot picture card symbolizing the Hermit is connected to your birthday. This is an indication of your overall profundity, decisiveness and concentrated sense of purpose. The lucky gem chosen for June the twenty seventh birthdays is a Bloodstone, wear it for calmness, positivity and the possibility of increased happiness. Astrologically the lunar influence of the Moon is assumed to be mostly responsible for the probabilities of Cancer personalities. The actual day you were born on, the twenty seventh of June is ruled over by Mars's influential power. Your uniqueness is therefore predicted by the mystic forces of these 2 dominating zodiacal planets. Your warmth and sense of humor add to and really emphasize your finest qualities of empathy and unlikeliness to judge. Your top levels of creativity and observancy serve you well in everything you aim to do. Slowing down a little can help you to conquer your inclinations to overreact or be too hasty. A final couple of concluding thoughts for people born on June the 27th are to try and listen to others more intently and learn to admit your weak points. These small improvements should increase your awareness and spirituality.

#15. Trinity Likins (Birthday: May 12 – The Day Of The Mischievous Maverick; Personality Period: Taurus III – May 11 to May 18 – The Week Of The Natural; Place Of Birth: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Taurus III’s are highly sensitive individuals who need to be left free to express themselves as directly and naturally as they wish. They do not react well when others try to correct, reform or change their basic habits. These spontaneous, fun-loving, zany people insist on being themselves: indeed, they seem to have no other choice. Yet society can put pressures on them to conform, and they may consequently encounter serious frustrations and obstacles while growing up. Nervousness and neurotic behaviour not infrequently result and, in more extreme cases, depressions and acutely repressed feelings. A Taurus III child, like many adults born this week, is generally fun-loving and imaginative, full of fantastic thoughts and colourful behaviour. They are drawn throughout their lives to the natural world, in part due to the freedom it represents. In childhood, problems may arise when a parent, sibling, family member or teacher lacks sympathy for their “wayward” behaviour and attempts to straighten it out. Taurus III’s often lack the toughness to resist strong criticism, and they can be deeply hurt by a lack of understanding from those close to them. In the long run, however, they may also benefit from any resistance to them, becoming stronger and more capable of dealing with a hostile and critical environment. Leaving home and getting out on their own come early in the life of Taurus IIII’s, and even those who seem docile and content often secretly yearn for the time when they can exert their independence. As they grow up, they succeed in finding friends who appreciate them, and rarely will they carry hurtful or revengeful thoughts against childhood adversaries into adulthood. However, they may well retain some scars from childhood battles that, if repressed, can lead to sudden and baffling depressions or emotional outbursts. It is hard for Taurus III’s to keep a low profile. Craving action and excitement, and often unable to keep their strong opinions on those around them to themselves, they can easily get into hot water. Taurus III can be very emotionally volatile, and easily bored—qualities that invariably lead to many changes of friends, lovers and generally of their entire scene. An eternal fascination with the oddball, unusual aspects of life will always threaten to remove them from steadier and more stable situations and individuals. On the other hand, their instability can make them crave the grounding influence of people, places and professions, and for varying periods of time they may doggedly hold on, knowing that to let go could result in aimlessness and lack of direction. This duality between a natural impulsiveness and a need for stability (often a result of a fear of their own unsettledness) can be the key factor in all of the adult relationships of Taurus III’s. Although insecurities abound in their personalities, these can act as a powerful fuel for their drive to succeed in life, rise in their jobs and break through societal barriers. In this sense, paradoxically, their dynamism can itself become a stabilizing force, and their ambition both a rock they can hold to and a compass pointing the way. Thus many of them who might have been satisfied with an enjoyable, unstressed, easygoing life, and better suited to it as well, are driven upward by their own quest for security, frequently a goal involving financial independence. They are, above all, people who create their own challenges. Although one would imagine that adventure, sex, drugs and all forms of wild behaviour would exert a powerful pull on Taurus III’s (as they inevitably do at some point in these individuals’ lives), they are not invariably prone to lifelong obsessions and addictions. They are supported not so much by their good sense as by an understanding of the basic nature of these areas of behavior, and this kind of kinship or familiarity allows them to navigate perilous channels without foundering on the rocks.  In relationships, rebelliousness against authority can haunt Taurus III’s their whole life long. Those who enter into relationships with them, moreover, particularly their mates and lovers, risk coming to symbolize for them the repressive forces that they cannot abide. It is essential, then, to be understanding of the battles being waged in the psyche of Taurus III’s, while at the same time refusing to become a football or emotional punching bag. Difficulties may particularly surface when they want others to take Taurus III’s seriously—their combination of fantastic ideas and unpredictable behaviour is not always conducive to inspiring trust, and they may have to battle long and hard before their ideas are accepted. Still, as with their drive to financial success, fighting over issues like these can give them direction and security. Successful are those who are able to give form to their fantasy, to embody it in a product, service or artistic activity. Taurus III’s can strike deep responsive chords in the imaginations of their fellows, who may feel they live in a more humdrum world from which they secretly crave release. In the same way, Taurus III’s may draw others to them as friends and lovers.

Those born on May 12 have a naughty allure. Their mischievousness may not be extreme enough to get them into trouble with the authorities, but they are known for their teasing and the lighthearted pranks which they play with a twinkle in their eye. Some May 12 people are very serious in their approach to life, but still seem to have a knack for getting into hot water (or at least very warm). Basically, they just can’t do things like everyone else. They have their own highly developed style and mode of operation that often clashes with that of others. May 12 people are debunkers. They are never so happy as when they are refuting questionable claims, wielding irony, even derision with devastating effect. On the other hand they do not claim to have all the answers themselves and indeed it may be difficult to nail down what they actually believe in. Rarely will they go out of their way to help in this respect since they are insightful but somewhat guarded about discussing their own philosophy and principles. They are, however, able to offer fresh approaches to the problems of others which invariably prove useful. In so often going against the established order of things, May 12 people may be mistaken for radicals or rebels. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most often they are conservative in outlook, and decidedly logical. They may also appear hard, or at least cool and unemotional. In fact, a large part of this stony and critical facade is a barrier erected against the incursions of the world. Those born on this day are often found in leadership roles. Because they actually have little or no desire to rule others, they are most often chosen by superiors for such positions on the basis of merit. May 12 people stand out from the crowd both because of their capabilities and their intense drive and dedication. Not only do they radiate a very sympathetic image to their superiors but also to co-workers as well. Those born on this day have the kind of self-assurance that encourages a strong bond of admiration to form with their peers; they may therefore be asked to be a spokesperson for a group. Likeable, but not at all easy to get close to, they maintain their aloof status while making us laugh at the absurdity of life’s passing comedy. May 12 people are very sensible and rarely appear to be foolish or deluded themselves. They are by no means dwellers in a fantasy world, but through their lucidity allow others to see how silly social conventions as well as rigid philosophies can be. May 12 people generally see themselves as serious rather than lighthearted characters. It is the foolishness and delusions of others which necessitate the launching of their pointed barbs. It should be noted that those born on this day make good friends but bad enemies. People born on May 12 may appear steady and sensible on first acquaintance but past the small-talk stage a witty and engaging person emerges. In fact, their wealth of intelligent perspectives often takes other people by surprise. They have tremendous energy and will-power and although they do not necessarily seek leadership, they often find themselves promoted to that position because of their hard work and dedication. Independent and self-assured but also easy to approach, they inspire confidence in the people they live and work with. They are also extremely observant and their well-honed critical faculties can work to their advantage. Although they use humor and the element of surprise to question and challenge conventional thinking, this can degenerate into criticism and sarcasm. They do need to learn to curb their biting observations and avoid alienating those close to them.Until the age of thirty-nine there is an emphasis on study and developing their communication skills; during this time they should learn to soften their sharp tongue with humor. After the age of forty they perceive the importance of home and the need to care emotionally for themselves, as well as others. During these years they need to show their generous side by highlighting the strengths of others as well as their weaknesses, and by praising as much as they criticize. Once they understand that the more they give, the more they get back, there is nothing to stop them reaching for their dreams. When it comes to their own ideas and dreams, however, there is a tendency for these people to be reticent. As a result, others may sense something in them that always remains distant and a mystery. There is nothing wrong with keeping a part of themselves private; the only danger is that by not revealing what they think and criticizing what others think, others may accuse them of only finding problems and not solutions. This, however, is unjust as they have a unique perspective on the world that has tremendous potential to motivate and inspire others with its expansive optimism. People born on this day can put their partners in a relationship under scrutiny but, once they learn to back down, they can become their lover’s greatest supporter. They are passionate and energetic lovers although there will always be a tendency for them to hold back emotionally when it comes to their own feelings. They need to understand that their feelings, however insignificant or trivial they may seem, are worth sharing. The highly energetic people born on this day often have a fast metabolism that keeps them in good shape. If they do struggle with their weight this may be because they have confused their metabolism with yo-yo dieting, unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. They can get things back on track by making sure they always eat breakfast, by eating little and often (five or six small meals and snacks instead of three large meals a day) and by taking moderate to mild exercise for at least 30 minutes, preferably on a daily basis. Meditation is recommended to help them be more objective in a situation and focus an equal amount of attention on the positive as well as the negative. Wearing, meditating on or surrounding themselves with the color yellow will encourage them to express themselves more optimistically. With their love of observation and ability to get to the point quickly, these people thrive in careers which allow them to analyze and dissect situations, such as movie or theater critics, or consultants or advisors of any sort. The caring side of their nature may surface with an interest in education, counseling, charity work, or healing. The side of them that wishes to express their creativity may also draw them toward careers in design, music and the arts. The life path of people born on this day is to learn that the more you give in life, the more you get. Once they are able to look for the positives as well as the negatives in a situation, their destiny is to offer the world their fresh, optimistic and innovative perspective. People born specifically on the 12th of May are presumed to be charming, thoughtful and versatile but more articulate and less stubborn than other bulls. The ruling astrological planet for this particular day is Jupiter bestowing you with lots of energy, wisdom, endurance and determination. If you have this birthday your warm heart is friendly and caring and you are gifted with a witty eloquent temperament. Practical and intelligent you usually possess an excellent memory and the ability to translate your mind full of intuitive ideas in an easily understood unpatronizing manner. Individuals with a May the twelfth birthday are fairly placid and prefer to guide rather than lead and are naturally creative and expressive. When it comes to emotions your mix of independence and dependability can make you appear to blow hot and cold sometimes. Despite this you have a strong need for warmth, stability and security that makes you immensely loving and loyal. Discovering the most suitable and satisfying work choice to a person born on the Twelfth of May is important. You may have to try several different career paths before deciding on an appropriate long term position. The adeptness for business and artistic talent you have are two proficiencies that are likely to direct your choices. Although salary is not ordinarily a determining factor you will usually opt for the better paid job if given a choice. You have a good head for money management that ensures you normally budget and save sensibly and rarely require assistance regarding financial matters. For a Taurus, the person born on the twelfth day of May is typically quite sociable and flirtatious with more spontaneity than many of your star sign counterparts. You tend to have a small group of really close friends but for the intimacy of a love relationship you require a special physical and mental attraction and rapport. You are not as self assured as you would like to be concerning romance but your sense of humor helps hide your insecurities. Easy communication and shared mutual interests are necessities for you in a personal relationship. You are soon turned on by verbal enticement and like to experiment sexually. Your inquisitive nature sees you being fond of revealing desires and eager to find out a partner's secret sex cravings. In a committed soul mate union you are intently devoted, however it is unusual for you to sacrifice all your freedoms. Ill health experienced by those born on May 12th is not often a consequence of disregard for body and mind requirements. You seem to have a great attitude towards all aspects of maintaining overall healthiness for three reasons. Firstly you eat healthily and are not prone to overindulge, secondly you take regular exercise but do not push yourself too hard. Thirdly you enjoy worthwhile activities that keep your brain active and stimulated. All these healthy habits commonly play an essential role in keeping you fit and well and minimize the possibilities of any major problems from developing. The main strengths of character are mostly apparent in your clear perception and understanding of everything and everyone around you. Additional strong points are your charm, thoughtfulness and versatility giving you balanced views and making you popular among your peers. The humorous edge to your disposition is another forte. Personality weaknesses for those born on May 12th could surface more frequently if you are feeling particularly stressed or emotionally vulnerable. These negative traits affect your usual behavior causing you to be uncharacteristically moody, agitated and overly critical. Being born on the 12th of May sometimes makes you set your aspirational sights a little lower than your real expectations. You can subconsciously do this in order to counteract your inability to deal well with disappointments, setbacks or failures. By lowering your anticipations you believe your chances of success will be increased but this approach can mean that you occasionally underachieve or fail to reach your potential. One of your biggest hopes is probably to the opportunity to love and be loved as this stable circumstance encourages you to put in extra effort to accomplish beneficial goals. As you were born on the twelfth day of the month your birth date digits total a Root number of Three. This numerical reference to your birthday has the keyword 'Innovation' indicating your skilful faculty to quickly and easily collate, retain and revive information. In the Major Arcana Tarot the 12th card symbolizing the Hanged Man is associated with your birthday. It represents overcoming limitations and also reflects your deep thought, practicality and intelligence. The lucky gemstone for May the twelfth birthdays is believed to be Amethyst, wear it for improved concentration and wealth prospects. Astrologically Venus is the designated planet for your zodiac group and so considered the most authoritative on the probabilities of Taurus personalities. The actual day you were born on, the twelfth of May is cosmically governed by the planet Jupiter's influence. Consequently these 2 planets combine their influences to determine your likely mannerisms and ways of thinking. Your energetic enthusiasm and reflective coherence help you get a lot out of the opportunities life has to offer. Your friendliness and quick wit mean you are never short of company while your placidness keeps you mainly calm and unruffled. If you can gain greater control in expressing your inner sensitivities and curb your criticism it should lead to more meaningful conservations and and understanding as well as improved partnerships. A final ponderable thought for people born on May the 12th is that attempting to act a tad more tactfully and patiently is sure to reap big rewards.

#16. Hayley Law (Birthday: Nov. 18 – The Day Of Temperament; Personality Period: Scorpio III – Nov. 12 to Nov. 18 – The Week Of Charm; Place Of Birth: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Realists first and foremost, those born during the Week of Charm rarely overreach themselves. Because they have a realistic view not only of their own capabilities but of others’ as well, their judgment is generally trustworthy and their assessments keen. They do well in administrative positions or as leaders of a social group or working team, roles in which their evaluative, organizational and practical abilities can come to the fore. Because they have a great deal together internally, many of them risk becoming complacent, or perhaps self-satisfied. This may be particularly clear in their careers, where they may reach an attainable point, then make no effort to rise higher. Unless those near and dear to these individuals encourage them to take chances from time to time, they may stagnate and, eventually, come to regret lost opportunities. Those who prove the most successful in life, whether in their careers or in their personal and spiritual endeavors, are often those who have dared to strive toward realizing their most impossible dreams. Their passions are as strong as their control. Thus they may be subject to raging internal wars, which can even threaten to destroy them. The charming or inscrutable facade that they present to the world often hides tremendous inner conflicts. Those who are the objects of such passions, and the causes of such conflicts, may never realize how much emotion they are arousing, and therefore can hardly be expected to assume responsibility for it. Those who are able to show or at least discuss a small part of their feeling for another person will be closer to realizing success in their personal relationships. These people are not accustomed to putting themselves in a disadvantageous position, no matter how much they desire a job or person. Their dignity is important to them, and they will rarely compromise it. Should they reach one of those points in life where an attraction is so overwhelming that it does obstruct their good sense, they will only succumb after a tremendous inner struggle. Addictions of all sorts, whether to drugs, medicines, people or behavior patterns, they only break with difficulty, but such compulsions, once mastered, are rarely readopted. They must be careful lest they dominate others through overprotective or controlling attitudes. Such influences may be quite subtle, since they rarely seem smothering or dictatorial on the surface: fair and understanding, they arouse loyalty not only at home but at work. People tend to follow their bidding willingly, since they would never ask anyone to do something they wouldn’t do themselves. Yet they often throw up an unapproachable or forbidding exterior. Those who relate best to them are usually not put off by such a stance, or just don’t see it at all. These are the ones who can penetrate their defenses and win their hearts. Those who want to make friends with them must keep in mind their aversion to anyone looking for a free ride. They are often attracted to self-sufficient individuals with something unusual to offer. On the other hand, the more seductive of them are sometimes quite vulnerable to the seductive skills of others. In particular, those who choose to follow a more questionable or unscrupulous path are in danger of getting conned by those with superior powers of deception. Striving to remain open, even vulnerable, is the best hope for them if they are to avoid loneliness, particularly as they grow older. In seeming to have so much together, they often fail to arouse sympathy in others, yet their deeper needs are as great as anyone else’s. The ability to admit to their weaknesses and faults, and the courage to own up to their failures or to grieve openly over their losses, will be important for them in forming deep and lasting love relationships. A life partner may only materialize for these capable individuals once they have truly begun to master—and ultimately, perhaps, to relinquish—their own controlling attitudes. These people rarely kid themselves about their romantic lives. No matter how much in love they seem to be, they are rarely found hanging on to relationships that have proved unproductive or detrimental; usually resourceful, self-possessed individuals, they know that there are always more fish in the sea. Yet they are faithful and sincere, and will give a relationship its best chance—but not more. Their sexual partners and mates learn soon enough not to take their attentions for granted, and to heed all warning signs—or find that what has been freely given can also be withheld, or withdrawn entirely. Close friendships are important to those born during the Week of Charm who have chosen to live alone, or who lack the support of a family group. They can build a complete world around good friends, who, at certain points, may take the place of siblings, parents, children, mates or lovers for them. They often spend time with people who are very different from themselves, making for friendships in which each member supplies what the other lacks. By forging a circle of friends, they may succeed in making up for all, or almost all, of their deficiencies.

The highly spirited individuals born on November 18 are usually extremely active in both mind and body. One of their chief characteristics is their emotional lability, although on the outside they can appear cool, calm and collected when they wish to. In this respect they are masters at self-control, and indeed must be, since the boiling cauldron within them is not what they wish to reveal to the world. In the best case scenario, they are capable of creatively channeling their strong emotional energies directly into their work. November 18 people are highly social and most happy when they are the center of attention. They are often ambitious, and are perhaps cut out for leading roles in life. Their ambition generally manifests in the name of a social group which they come to represent or personify. Whether their talents are astonishing or modest they prefer to reveal them on their own terms. Thus November 18 people resist pressure to seek success before they feel ready. When in fact they are ready may be a matter they not only debate with others but within themselves.  Diligence is not often the strongest side of November 18 people, since they can accomplish more by intuition, sensitivity and vision than many can through dutiful application or hours of effort. Also their sensuous side is not as strongly developed as their varied and rich emotional side. They are the kind of people who invite interest and investigation; usually the more one digs the more one finds, as continuing surprises are provided by their inner chameleon-like twists and turns. In this way they encourage people to become fascinated with them. November 18 people need attention and will not rest until they get it. In this respect they are needy and therefore manifest some degree of insecurity, but in fact may be able to justify the attention they demand by being interesting and productive. Their product may be tangible, but more often than not lies in the realm of entertainment, service, or simply manifesting positive energy. In this last respect, November 18 people are highly sought after as friends and families members who bring sunshine and laughter into the lives of others. Charming (although admittedly selfish, tempestuous, moody or unpredictable as well), they give life to any event in which they take part. Since November 18 people are so adept at acting a part, they are sometimes accused of superficiality or irresponsibility. Such charges on closer examination generally prove unfair. Yet the November 18 need for attention is so great that they must indeed beware of compromising their ideals when in search of it. Like a ray of warm sunshine, the exuberant, energetic individuals born on November 18 have the ability to enliven any situation with their good cheer, optimism and humor. They are refreshingly upbeat in their approach to everyone and everything, and not surprisingly their company is much sought after. Not only do they enjoy being the center of attention, they are also fiercely ambitious, making them natural candidates for leadership. Those who do not know them well, however, would be surprised to discover that under-neath the happy face they present to the world there can be a lot of uncertainty and conflict. This is because they are unusually sensitive to the feelings of others, sometimes to the extent that they don’t know where their feelings end and another person’s begin. As a result, despite their clear potential and suitability to be winners or innovators in life, they often end up feeling confused, purposeless and directionless. If they can find a way to balance their sensitivity toward others with their ambitious urge to realize their own life goals, their success is assured. If, however, the balance tilts in either direction they can lose a sense of direction; the indecisiveness that results can stunt their psychological growth, blocking their chances of professional and personal success. Until the age of thirty-three there is an emphasis in their lives on issues relating to freedom, adventure and expansion. They may want to study, travel or experiment with their choice of career in these years. After the age of thirty-four there is an important turning point when they are likely to become more responsible, precise and practical in their approach to life, seeking structure and order. Whatever age they are, however, they need to use their sharp and probing mind to investigate their own power and potential. This is because with greater self-awareness and greater belief in their star potential—and a lot of dedication and hard work—these vivacious individuals can achieve almost anything they set their mind to.  People born on November 18 can be fun, sexy, entertaining, responsive, and romantic as long as their partner gives them plenty of attention and affection. But if the reassurance they need isn’t given, they can lapse into attention-seeking behavior and temperamental mood swings. It is important for them to make sure they are with a partner who is as giving and energetic as they are. People born on this day tend to have a rather negative image of themselves, and this can make them prone to stress and depression. Boosting their self-esteem is therefore absolutely crucial to both their physical and emotional health. The place to start is in their heads, and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques may be able to help them reprogram their thoughts from negative to positive. Spending more time with people who are upbeat and optimistic, and avoiding those who are glum and self-involved, will also help, as will a diet rich in fresh, natural produce and low in refined or processed foods. Regular moderate to vigorous exercise is also highly recommended for its mood-boosting and health-boosting effects, as well as for building up discipline and will-power. Carrying a tiger’s eye crystal or placing it next to their bed at night will have a balancing and calming effect, promoting greater confidence and courage. People born on this day may be drawn to careers in science, research or technology where they can be potential innovators, as well as the world of art, music and literature, where they can excel as writers. Once they believe more in themselves, other career options might include business, teaching, lecturing, politics, and the world of entertainment. The life path of people born on this day is to learn to believe in themselves and their creativity more. Once they are able to discover their sense of purpose, their destiny is to achieve or point the way to tangible progress on behalf of themselves and others. People born specifically on the 18th of November are presumed to be rather calm, collected and diligent with the usual charming, interesting Scorpio temperament. The ruling astrological planet for this particular day is Mars gracing you with an active creative imagination, plenty of determination and a strong intolerance of injustice. If you have this birthday your sharply intuitive nature is willful, energetic and productive with a tendency to thrive on challenges. You like nothing more than to win a debate or argument but you can be quite stubborn and impersonal if you do not get your way or are proved wrong. You are naturally brave, selfless and understanding with the likelihood to not be afraid of anything or anyone. Individuals with a November the eighteenth birthday are shrewd and ambitious yet emotionally a little sensitive with slight insecurities that can cause occasional attention seeking. You are ordinarily incredibly perceptive making you especially adept at picking up unspoken words or repressed feelings. The calmness, diligence and perceptiveness common to a person born on the Eighteenth of November makes them suitable to many different jobs. Your fondness of a challenge and making important decisions is coupled with a dislike of working behind the scenes. An ideal occupation will accommodate all your personal preferences and provide a sense of satisfaction and productiveness. You tend to be careful with money in addition to being highly unlikely to give others control of your finances. Despite this mindful approach you may once in a while make surprisingly bold moves in order to take advantage of a seemingly favorable financial investments. For a Scorpio, the person born on the eighteenth day of November is typically not really in to shallow short relationships and will need a meaningful love partnership. You seem to seek a partner who shares similar interests and views with the capability to cope with your ambitiousness, energy and the intensity and sensitivity of your emotions. In return you are likely to be a caring, compassionate and devoted soul mate that sometimes is a tad overly protective of a loved one. You will usually insist on loyalty and respect but you are not as expecting of perfection from your other half as the majority of your zodiac sign. Full of passion you often prefer to lead in lovemaking but a deeply involved emotion bond has more importance than physical attraction. You have a proneness to become very temperamental, resentful and intensely jealous if insecure and find it almost impossible to forgive unfaithfulness. The energized spirited zest for life you possess can greatly assist the usual good health experienced by those born on November 18th. As you tend to be constantly on the go and adore your food balancing your calorie intake with your high level of activity is often essential to prevent unwanted weight gain. Getting to really know yourself and your limits is usually the best way to preserve overall healthiness. Pacing yourself effectively will help keep fatigue and moodiness to a minimum. People born on this day could discover that excesses of sugar or caffeine may be detrimental to both your normal concentration power and skin condition. Your main strengths of character are exposed in your sociable charm and appealing composure and serenity. These positive fortes along with your enhanced intuition, spirit and vigor act as excellent guides for choosing favorable paths in life. The personality weaknesses for those born on November 18th are usually activated by a feeling of anger following an unexpected event or upset. In these particular negative circumstances and occasions your underlying obstinate unfriendly stance will probably surface on the outside. On the inside your emotional responses can consist of the displaying of either a weepy needy or grumpy tempestuous manner. Being born on the 18th of November means you are exceedingly enterprising with a liking for goal orientated techniques when it comes to achievement. You are willing to endure hardship or make sacrifices on a quest to achieve something really worthwhile. Generally tough and enduring it is rare for you to easily give up on a desired aspiration. Dreams are inclined to focus on your ambitious side and they can bring you lots of inspiration and hope for the future. As you were born on the eighteenth day of the month the one and eight in your birth date adds up to a Root number of Nine. This numerical reference to your birthday has the keyword 'Seeker' identifying your love of debating and finding the truth plus your natural inclination for fairness and balance. In Tarot the 18th card in the mystic Major Arcana illustrating the Moon is associated with your birthday. This highlights your ample empathy and insight but also your overreactions to negativity. The luckiest gem for November the eighteenth birthdays is imagined to be a Bloodstone, to be worn for the probable further enhancement of your psychic senses. The probabilities of all zodiacal Scorpion personalities are thought to be astrologically shaped by the influential planet Pluto. The actual day you were born on, the eighteenth of November is ruled over by Mars's power. These 2 planet's combined influences are presumed to determine your predicted originality. Your unselfish and attentive perseverance and collectedness grant you the courage and dedication to accomplish much in life. Your considerate judgment and responsive awareness emphasize the softer part of your disposition. If you can aim to be more prepared for disappointing refusals or disapprovals every now and then your mood should to brighter and stabler. A concluding advisory thought for people born on November the 18th is to go with the flow, watch out for opportunities and never doubt your inner feelings.

#17. Asha Bromfield (Birthday: Nov. 9 – The Day Of Earthly Temptation; Personality Period: Scorpio II – Nov. 3 to Nov. 11 – The Week Of Depth; Place Of Birth: Ajax, Ontario, Canada)

Profundity in all forms is an irresistible attraction to Scorpio II’s. Shunning superficiality, they take a measured and serious view of life, both at work and at home. This is not to say that they don’t like to have fun—far to the contrary. In pursuing their hobbies, pastimes and lighter activities, however, they show the same full-bodied intensity and concentration that they do in the more purposeful parts of their lives. Scorpio II’s are highly competitive in their careers and leisure activities, but they seldom allow this impulse into their private lives. Jealousy and envy are naturally close to their passionate core, but they are generally able to understand and control such emotions to prevent them from running riot. In extreme cases, however, these feelings may emerge powerfully in their personality, threatening to engulf it entirely. One area in which the position of Scorpio II is firmly fixed is that of finance. They are well aware of the power of money in daily life, and rarely will they knowingly put themselves at an economic disadvantage. They may even worry unduly about financial matters, and although they are not miserly, they do tend to hold on to what they have. They can get very upset with mates and business partners who are too free with their spending or downright fiscally irresponsible. Yet they must beware of applying a double standard, for they, too, can go overboard, spending money on themselves shamelessly. To allay their own feelings of anxiety, they need to be good earners. Scorpio II can be empathic with the suffering of others, for they know what it is to suffer themselves. They don’t generally seek out painful situations, but they know that a life without hardship and struggle has little meaning. They will feel, say, the death of a parent, friend, child or mate deeply—so deeply, in fact, that it can have an overwhelming or catastrophic effect on them; indeed, they may never recover from it. Scorpio II may not ruminate on the subject of death, and usually try to put it out of their minds, but at a deeper level they are often obsessed with the subject. The need to sleep soundly for long periods yet the failure to remember their dreams can be characteristic of such personalities, who need a lot of time for unconscious expression and often cut off the content of such activities from daily awareness. It can be difficult to get Scorpio II to open up emotionally and to talk about whatever may be bothering them. Even a trusted life partner or dear friend must pass all kinds of roadblocks before getting close to their inner feelings. To listen to what they are finally ready to say requires patience, understanding and nonclaiming love. Any deep bond formed with such an individual obviously cannot be taken lightly; not everyone is ready for such deep and heavy commitment. Scorpio II’s are fascinated by forms of escape. Physical or psychic retreat to a safe haven, and the ability to switch off their mental motor at will, allows them to deal with aspects of daily life that they would rather not face. Television, movies, music and books are healthy habits for them, but addiction, to drugs, alcohol, sex or violence, is always a real possibility, too. When such activity involves others, Scorpio II’s are not necessarily the initiators; they often repress their shadow side. Instead, however, they may summon up possessive or violent behavior in their immediate environment, forcing their mates and lovers to act out their own repressed negativity. This may be directed against these people themselves, who then become their own victims. Scorpio II’s are not the best choice for victimization, for they are counter-punchers by nature and can be fierce in protecting themselves and their loved ones. Few who have experienced their anger will seek to arouse it a second time. It is typical of them, in fact, to be occasionally subject to volcanic outbursts of emotion, which, although rarely seen, are not easily forgotten. Scorpio II’s generally make steadfast friends and faithful lovers and mates. This is only partly a matter of morality; being overly flexible and changeable is really not possible for them, so turning from one partner to another, or adopting new methods and techniques in their work, is generally not an option. Being forced to make such switches by circumstances or fate can bring out their worst side. Both lovers and friends can testify to the softer side of Scorpio II’s. Although their presence is often formidable, they can be unusually kind, giving, and even quite sentimental. They are generally kind to animals and small children, who awaken their protective and nurturing instincts, and they can make excellent parents. Those born during the Week of Depth can also be secretive and controlling. Their sexual needs and demands often also run high, but they can equally well go for long periods of time without wanting intimate contact. Scorpio II’s are, generally speaking, very physical, enjoying the pleasures of table and bed. As long as they remain sensitive to their partners and capable of moderation, such drives and appetites can have a positive effect on their relationships. Indeed, they are often only able to overcome their strong attraction to fixed habitual behaviors by learning to share true affection and love.

Those born on November 9 face a tremendous temptation to give themselves completely to the here and now, to earthly pleasures of all types, and to submerge themselves in an unremitting search for experiential highs. They are often completely caught up in the excitement of what they are doing at the moment, and thus not fully aware of dark forces that may operating behind their drives. For those born on this day to look themselves squarely in the eye is a tremendous and potentially rewarding challenge, as is learning how to direct their prodigious talents and energies in a constructive and productive way. Temptation itself figures as a major theme in the lives of November 9 people and along with it corresponding moral dilemmas involving upbringing vs. adult experience, societal vs. personal morality, etc. Usually the ethical instincts of those born on this day are well developed, so when they sin, they are fully aware of what they are doing. Nevertheless, some born on this day may reach a point where they are only able to find satisfaction, whether mental or physical, when engaged in dangerous, shadowy or outright illicit activities. A very positive theme central to the lives of these complex people is the joy of discovery. Often they emerge from their intense experiences having made important realizations about themselves and life itself. Those November 9 people who grow more philosophical with age are capable of withdrawing into a contemplative or meditative state where they can assess their actions and make prudent choices for the future. Still, even after acquiring a large measure of wisdom, those born on this day rarely pause in the thick of battle to ponder their direction; for them, such work is to be done afterwards, preferably in tranquility. November 9 people live close to the edge, and therefore must learn to protect themselves. In addition it is important for them to maintain respect for their fellow human beings, and to beware of becoming mercenary in their relationships. As they are highly sensitive to rejection, those born on this day also face the danger of retreating into themselves, nursing private grudges and fears, and even in extreme cases coming to live in a dark fantasy world. More highly evolved individuals born on November 9 use their profound relationship with the dark side to gain insight into how life and the universe work, and equally important, learn to share these insights with others. Like Orpheus rising from the underworld, November 9 people must never look back but constantly move onward and upward toward the light. The greatest danger is that they will get stuck (particularly in the physical-material realm), and for this reason should set themselves high moral and ethical, albeit worldly, goals. Many times during their lives people born on November 9 will find themselves in situations that test and challenge their resolve. Temptation and the moral issues it uncovers for them are a constant factor in their lives. The pursuit of physical and material pleasure is a powerful drive for these people. The great majority of the time they do find a balance between satisfying their urges and doing the right thing, but occasionally they can dip into behavior that is morally questionable. This isn’t to say that they are amoral. Quite the opposite; they are honest and well-intentioned individuals. It’s just that sometimes they can get so caught up in the enticement of the moment that they lose a sense of perspective and of right and wrong. Not surprisingly, these people are risk-takers, and this gives them the potential to go all the way to the top. Unfortunately, they aren’t always good at dealing with rejection and, instead of treating it as a learning experience, they are likely to isolate themselves with resentment and self-pity. Learning to become more resilient or to roll with the blows by tapping into their inner strength is therefore essential for their psychological growth.Until the age of forty-two, they are most likely to feel a need to expand their horizons, take risks and seek out new challenges. Developing a more positive attitude will encourage them to seek out opportunities that can enlighten rather than confuse or disorientate them. After the age of forty-three there is a turning point when they are likely to become more industrious and practical, needing a strong sense of order and structure in their lives. Making sure that the spiritual side of their life is not neglected is absolutely crucial during these years, because when they are able to connect with their inner wisdom they will not only be able to resist the temptations that block their chances of good fortune, they will be able to rise above these and achieve remarkable success both professionally and personally. People born on November 9 love deeply and intensely, and, because they are extraordinarily seductive, they rarely lack admirers. Surprisingly, given their energetic and sexual nature, some born on this day may choose to be celibate. In the right mood they can be spontaneous and passionate, but they can also be moody and distant, which may confuse their partner. People born on this day may be prone to allergies of all kinds, in particular hay fever, but they may also find it hard to deal with cigarette smoke and dust. Keeping away from smoky environments and heavy traffic, and making sure their house is regularly cleaned and bed linen is washed at least once a week, will help. As far as diet is concerned, they could suffer from food allergies and intolerances; if this is the case, checking with a nutritionist to determine the cause is advisable. Because their lives tend to be stressful, making sure they eat a balanced diet, get plenty of exercise and a good night’s sleep will all help keep them grounded. Meditation and yoga are also recommended to help them get in touch with their thoughts and feelings. Wearing, meditating on and surrounding themselves with the colors white or silver will encourage them to examine situations carefully, and make the right choices for themselves and for others. The limitless possibilities of art and design have obvious appeal for these people but they may also be drawn toward law, psychology, research, or medicine. They have a natural talent for writing and lecturing, and may also excel in business, commerce, sales, promotion or negotiation, as well as show business and politics. The life path of people born on this day is to learn to look beyond the present moment. Once they have an awareness of the future consequences of their actions, their destiny is to inspire others to uncover the truth about themselves and their lives. People born specifically on the 9th of November are anticipated to be shrewd, purposeful and persuasive with the typical Scorpio creativity and sensitive emotions. The ruling astrological planet for this particular day is Mars making you naturally honest, a tad idealistic and especially good at uncovering truths. If you have this birthday your imaginative, quite fearless and confident disposition is usually fascinated by mystery and the unknown. You may appear rather dreamy but you are guided by heightened intuition directing you to be very receptive and assertive. Your immense curiosity makes you active and adventurous while your boldness and plentiful stamina allow you to easily overcome obstacles. Individuals with a November the ninth birthday are smart, stylish, determined and persistent but they can also be sometimes a bit bossy and obstinate too. You are ordinarily inclined to be optimistic, prudent and philosophical but you can be a bit guilty of occasional dwelling on the past and moodiness. A variety of jobs are suitable to a person born on the Ninth of November as long as they offer frequent challenges and new experiences. Your strong sense of purpose and assertiveness are useful qualities for employment in any occupation. Work that is varied with changing situations and scenery or involving a lot of time spent outdoors are commonly popular options. It may take a few career moves before you discover your ideal profession as you need to feel that you challenged and valued while working. Financially you are fated to be fairly lucky and usually adept at speedily seizing potential chances to increase your income and savings. For a Scorpio, the person born on the ninth day of November is typically incredibly romantic, intensely loving and in search of a destined true love. Full of energy and passion you make a thoughtful supportive partner who will be fully committed and devoted to a soul mate. When you commit to a long term relationship you do so with your heart and soul. You seem to strongly need to feel loved and wanted and you will expect the same degree of affection, respect and loyalty from your partner. When it comes to emotion and devotion you tend to show this best through your eyes. You possess a kind and caring nature that if emotionally hurt or feeling unloved can react with possessive, jealous and demanding behavior. A lusty lover you will usually be highly sexed with the inclination to be exceedingly intuitive to a partners needs and wishes keeping them happy and satisfied in and out of the bedroom. The general vitality and rarity of illness experienced by those born on November 9th is usually in response to your usual serious approach to health matters. You normally aim to eat a balanced diet however you may be likely to overeat if upset about something or feeling a little blue. You should find exciting sport or unusual hobbies appealing to keep fit. People born on this day could help minimize a proneness to a build up of stress by ensuring they have a calm bedtime routine to enable restful sleep as this is essential in your quest to stay healthy and well. Your main strengths of character are seen in your combination of physical enthusiasm and insistent shrewdness. These positive traits and your perceptive confidence and sense of adventure help you follow your instincts with plenty of motivation to do worthwhile things. Worries or unhappiness are two of the main triggers of the personality weaknesses for those born on November 9th. In these circumstances your negative traits put in an appearance causing an increase in levels of bossiness and stubbornness and a moody troubled expression. Additionally you may act impulsively and sometimes hold grudges by looking back instead of looking forward. Being born on the 9th of November means that you love exploring and learning about anything new and interesting. This inquisitive interest and a fondness of helping others with your skills are often the inspirational theme of many of your goals. It is unlikely for you to fret about failure as your ample ambition and drive is accompanied by your super resourcefulness. Traveling extensively to foreign lands or imagining living in an idyllic and luxurious paradise are common wishful dreams. As you were born on the ninth day of the month your birth date is allocated a corresponding Root number of Nine. This numerical reference to your birthday has the keyword 'Seeker' reflecting the intensity of your curious side and attraction to unexplained mysteries. The 9th Major Arcana card in Tarot symbolizing the Hermit is associated with your birthday. This reflects your adherence to morals, ability to be organized and proclivity to be undaunted by delays. The luckiest jewel for November the ninth birthdays is a Bloodstone. Wear this gemstone for added courage and good fortune plus a possible increase in the calmness of the mind. All typified Scorpion personalities are thought to have their zodiacal descriptions astrologically influenced by the planet Pluto. The actual day you were born on, the ninth of November is governed by Mars's authority increasing your list of probable characteristic differentia. Your subtle persuasiveness and sensitivity evenly balance the honesty and sincerity in your mannerisms. Your creative imagination and touch of idealism let you see things that others may miss. If you can try and bounce back from all forms of negativity with a smile you could be less grumpy and impetuous. A last thought for people born on November the 9th is to consider taking a step back every now and then. These reflection periods will permit you to observe yourself and heed your inner voice.

#18. Jordan Calloway (Birthday: Oct. 18 – The Day Of Personal Leadership; Personality Period: Libra III – Oct. 11 to Oct. 18 – The Week Of Theater; Place Of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States)

If “all the world’s a stage,” as Shakespeare wrote, then Libra III’s are some of the finest players upon it. Acting out the drama of their own lives in everyday affairs is their specialty. They know the value of image in their professional lives and spend a lot of time working on how they present themselves to the world. Libra III’s detachment, even coolness, may sometimes irritate or infuriate those around them, but it is misleading; if they seem to lack affect, this is usually a result of a studied and rigorous training they put themselves through. These are actually very emotional people. Hardheaded, Libra III’s may stick to the same course for years, whether it is right for them or wrong. Their drive to move ahead at any cost makes them mistrust silence and repose; they prefer doing to thinking. Their mistakes can consequently be big ones, since they may give themselves wholeheartedly and sometimes prematurely to an endeavor without either analyzing and planning it or tuning in to their intuitions about it beforehand. Accidents of all types may well result from this unheeding attitude. Leadership qualities are often highly developed in Libra III’s, who typically find themselves at the head of a social group or business. Once again, however, in leading a family or assuming an executive role they may act with a certain hubris or sense of infallibility, neglecting to gauge the effects of their actions on co-workers, employees or relatives. On top of this, if they are finally forced to face failure they may be confronting something they had hitherto considered an impossibility, and the shock can prove too much for them. Those who can cultivate true humility with respect to their fellow humans will be much happier in the long run. If they have faced great disappointment, Libra III may become cynical. Such world-weary individuals can be revived through love and affection, but these are the very qualities they usually find most difficult to share. Opening their hearts to a trusted friend or family member is essential to their psychological well-being. Perhaps psychological help is the obvious solution, but most are resistant to it. In times of trouble, the loved ones of Libra III’s must often assume a heavy load indeed, knowing that they and they alone are keeping their partners going. Worldliness is perhaps Libra III’s greatest strength; their know how, knowledge and experience give them the confidence they need to enjoy the challenges of their chosen field. Almost invariably specialists or experts of some kind, they are quite capable of dominating their professional field. Libra III’s have a need to be well informed, and if they are ignorant in some area, they characteristically make this a challenge to learn. Although hardheaded, they will give consideration to any idea, no matter how far out, not out of a sense of fairness but because of the chance that it will contribute something to their knowledge. To Libra III’s, knowledge is power. Difficulties arise in their personal relationships when their lovers or mates feel neglected. In truth, Libra III’s are not terribly interested in other people, or in their feelings, and although they suffer exceedingly when misunderstood, they seldom go out of their way to understand others. They are uncomfortable when heavy emotional expectations are put on them, and they either withdraw or flee. They see themselves as serious, responsible and ethical, but they may relate more immediately to other people’s ideas or values, and what these represent, than to who these people actually are. Libra III’s friends or mates may have to play a subordinate role, since these folks usually take center stage. Yet they also have a needy side, and they often do best in relationships with strong, even dominant personalities whom they can lean on. When someone becomes partially or completely dependent on them, on the other hand, they can become uncomfortable and restless, longing to escape. They must feel able to assume and discharge responsibilities generously and of their own accord, rather than being forced to do so. The masculine and the feminine come together strongly in Libra III’s. They can be extremely intense in the bedroom, an area that permits their full range of emotional expression. Once released, however, these passions may well spill over in anger and upset, which they vent on their partner in the form of arguments replete with recrimination and blame. Their anger is violent but for the most part mercifully short-lived, for they are not inclined to bring strife into their daily lives. Probably the best thing that can happen emotionally to Libra III’s is to be or become an active member of a family group that can provide the affection, support and appreciation these hard-driving individualists need. The problem is, many of them are not particularly interested in families—whether spouses, children or their own parents. As a substitute, they may seek to live, work or play with a group of long-standing friends whom they trust and respect. Even so, their workaholic tendencies will often prevent them from spending a great deal of time with whatever group or individual they choose to live with, and may in fact reflect their true preference—to live alone.

Those born on October 18 are often destined to play important, active roles in life’s great drama. Not only cut out to be players, however, they may also function as powerful directors of what goes on around them, be it the concerns of their family, business or social circle. October 18 people are not shy about pushing their way to the top, but though their desire to be king or queen of the hill is great, they can keep a low profile if necessary. Yet, October 18 people are hardly typical leaders, for they have many other interests in life. If they are the head of a company, for example, they may steal away when they can to devote themselves to an endeavor for which they have still greater passion. Many born on this day who are selected for management positions look forward to the day when they can return to their former primary interest. When they leave, they are likely to be missed for their integrity and unimpeachable honor and honesty. Less powerful individuals born on this day can also find themselves candidates for fame or fortune due to talent, connections or sheer luck, but are not at all comfortable in an exalted position. They can suffer anything from a feeling of being overwhelmed to a complete nervous breakdown as they try to cope with the heavy responsibilities placed on them. Finally they must either reconcile themselves to a lesser role or risk falling victims to stress. October 18 people like to be where the action is, preferably right at the center of things. But even flashier types born on this day carry an introspective air about them. Although they can function in leadership roles, they should not push themselves too hard or far; their primary interest is their own work and private interests, and they will only be able to leave them for so long without becoming unhappy. Those born on this day love to have fun with others, yet because they are not highly social may at times find it difficult to fit in. October 18 people like to be included in the plans of their family or social group and can get pretty upset if they are left out; but because they despise self-pity in themselves and others, they are not the first to bare their emotional hurts. Typically, they would rather return to their work and individual pursuits than mope around like a lost Cinderella. Though such self-sufficiency is admirable, they have to be careful not to misread the intentions of others and cut off communication when in fact things could be straightened out. By keeping a dialogue open, October 18 people can also avoid appearing to be know-it-alls or aloof, smug types. They should always maintain both their dignity and humility, and never allow themselves a superior or overconfident attitude. People born on October 18 often have a regal, dignified air about them; from their early years expectations will have been high for them to achieve great success. As the years go by, more often than not they do fulfill those expectations by rising to the top; but although they long to make their mark on the world, another part of them longs to run away and hide. With all the imagination, intellect and talent to blaze exciting trails in life, their need for the approval of others can crush their self-esteem and stop them developing to their full potential. Perhaps in childhood they were criticized or neglected too much; lasting feelings of inadequacy and insecurity continue to haunt them, however successful they are. It is therefore vital for their psychological growth that they work on rebuilding their vulnerable self-esteem. If they don’t, they will be like reeds blown in the wind, flying high when others applaud them but falling down when the praise or support isn’t there. From the age of five until the age of thirty-five there is a growing emphasis for people born on this day on emotional change, power and transformation, and opportunities will be presented to them to take control of their lives. They must take advantage of these by becoming more proactive and saying “no” to others who seek to take advantage of them. Once they get a handle on their insecurities and realize their own worth, there is nothing they cannot achieve. When they approach their forties and beyond, there is another turning point when life will call upon them to be more adventurous, and it is more important than ever for them to leave self-doubt aside.This is because once they see what everybody else sees and realize what creative, courageous and inspirational individuals they really are, they have the potential not just to promote the happiness of themselves and others but to be an inspirational force for the common good. There is a danger for people born on October 18 of giving more than they receive in relationships, and it is important for them to have the courage to stand up for themselves and to walk away from relationships that are damaging to their self-worth. Although charming and friendly they, may be reserved when it comes to attracting partners. But once they do find someone who can love and support them and make them feel good about themselves, they can be affectionate, loyal and expressive lovers. Lots of physical activity is essential for people born on this day, not just because they have a lot of energy but also because it will help boost their selfesteem. All forms of exercise are recommended, in particular swimming and dancing. A regular stretching routine is also advised, especially if they are prone to aches and pains. As far as diet is concerned, portion control is advised as they tend to have a larger-than-life appetite, possibly setting themselves up for weight and health problems. It is important for them to avoid too much stress and not to overburden themselves with responsibilities and commitments to others; “no” is a word they need to practice saying more often. Meditation and visualization techniques will help build their self-confidence. Carrying a tiger’s eye crystal will also help boost their confidence, as will wearing the color orange. These people will often be drawn to creative means of expression such as art, writing, acting, and music, but they may also put their imaginative talents to good use in education, sales, promotion, advertising, and social reform. A gift for communication and language may draw them to careers in translation or work in foreign countries. The life path of people born on this day is to believe more in themselves, their creativity and their inner strength. Once they understand the importance of building their self-esteem, their destiny is to further their quest for knowledge, and inspire and benefit others with their discoveries. People born specifically on the 18th of October are imagined to be very inquisitive, persuasive and alert but more energetic than most Librans. The ruling astrological planet for this particular day is Mars making you naturally purposeful, diplomatic, charming and quite fearless. If you have this birthday your visionary temperament is tactful and cooperative and you will usually be a great listener. Your kindhearted unselfish nature is resolute and fairminded yet prone to be a tad opinionated at times too. Fairly confident and ambitious you prefer to feel in control of your life and really enjoy having fun. Honest and self sufficient you seem to gain much satisfaction from solving problems and are ordinarily good at seeing both sides to an argument. Individuals with an October the eighteenth birthday may strongly crave the approval of others but their optimism, determination, focus and eloquence makes them destined to go far. Your creative side is likely to appreciate fine food, wine, artwork and fashion. The strong ambition attributed to a person born on the Eighteenth of October often gives you a preference to work in a prominent important position. Analytical and intelligent you are quick to learn and usually prepared to study or train for favored jobs. Although you appear to dislike working in the background your sense of purpose and clever charm and tact guide you to be a wonderful co-worker. It is unusual for you to encounter financial issues as you tend to keep a careful eye on budgeting and take it seriously without being mean. Plenty of patience lets you normally save instead of borrowing for expensive or special items. For a Libra, the person born on the eighteenth day of October is typically someone who feels completely comfortable in a long term one to one relationship. You possess a mature serious attitude to love and romance and will make every effort to keep a soul mate happy but you can be sometimes overly protective. Incredibly loving and passionate you will shower a partner with affection and make them feel good about themselves. Your touch of romantic idealism directs you to be caring and giving and encourages you to try and avoid disagreement or confrontation. Home life is a high priority despite your ambitiousness and your artistic flair comes in handy for expressing your unique style and imprinting it on your surrounding living space. Seductive but also shy about your lusty sexual needs you are always keen to please in the bedroom and will usually favor privacy for playful intimacy. Lots of motivation to look and feel good can help sustain the usual healthiness experienced by those born on October 18th. You are likely to be sporty and competitive so fond of healthy exercise and eating a sensible healthy diet. With regular sleep patterns this motivated health care stance also helps you acquire the emotional stability you require. Learning to say No more often should benefit overall well being as you have the tendency to quickly become stressed by too many responsibilities. People born on this day can soon be addicted to caffeine, nicotine or alcohol therefore these type of stimulants should ideally be minimized. Your main strengths of character are displayed in your intense curiosity and persuasiveness guiding you to be inspirational, imaginative and forthright. These positive traits are backed up by your accompanying fortes of diplomacy and honesty giving you a fair balanced perspective to base decisions on. The personality weaknesses for those born on October 18th seem to come to the surface more frequently if you allow yourself to overload your body or mind. In these particular circumstances you become overstressed and may act uncharacteristically bothered, aloof and outspoken. Relaxation is the key to minimizing this negativity. Being born on the 18th of October gives you ample energy and a lack of fear that means there is not much you cannot accomplish. Organized and precise regarding detail you will be especially focused and determined when it comes to attaining your greatest wishes. Your self sufficiency may make it hard to willingly accept assistance of any kind in the pursuit of a specific personal goal. Dreams are inclined to reflect and boost your expectation of favorable outcomes. Dreaming of future successes in anything you attempt keeps you keenly motivated, extra observant for opportunities to shine and positively hopeful. As you were born on the eighteenth day of the month the one and eight in your birth date summate to a Root number of Nine. This numerical reference to your birthday has the keyword 'Seeker' highlighting the intensity of your desire to know and understand everything you experience. The 18th Tarot card in the Major Arcana symbolizing the Moon is associated with your birthday. This mystic connection urges you to be a bit more trusting of your instinctive intuition as it is an excellent guide. The lucky gemstone for October the eighteenth birthdays is a Bloodstone, to be worn for a potential increase in courage, happiness and vitality. The influential planet Venus is thought to be astrologically accountable for the probabilities of Libra personalities. The actual day you were born on, the eighteenth of October is ruled over by Mars's authority. Your talented creativity, sense of cooperation and ability to problem solve make you a useful person to know. Your controlled strong will and penchant for total honesty keep you on the right track for making steady progress. If you can conquer stress build up by relaxing regularly you should be able to maintain your usual equipoise and impartiality. A finalizing thought for people born on October the 18th advises you to not be so hard on yourself, know your limits as exceeding them could be highly detrimental.

[angelofberlin2000]

By Naomi Fry 2:58 P.M.

Last week, I read a report in the Times about the current conditions on Mt. Everest, where climbers have taken to shoving one another out of the way in order to take selfies at the peak, creating a disastrous human pileup. It struck me as a cogent metaphor for how we live today: constantly teetering on the precipice to grasp at the latest popular thing. The story, like many stories these days, provoked anxiety, dread, and a kind of awe at the foolishness of fellow human beings. Luckily, the Internet has recently provided us with an unlikely antidote to everything wrong with the news cycle: the actor Keanu Reeves.

Take, for instance, a moment, a few weeks ago, when Reeves appeared on “The Late Show” to promote “John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum,” the latest installment in his action-movie franchise. Near the end of the interview, Stephen Colbert asked the actor what he thought happens after we die. Reeves was wearing a dark suit and tie, in the vein of a sensitive mafioso who is considering leaving it all behind to enter the priesthood. He paused for a moment, then answered, with some care, “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.” It was a response so wise, so genuinely thoughtful, that it seemed like a rebuke to the usual canned blather of late-night television. The clip was retweeted more than a hundred thousand times, but, when I watched it, I felt like I was standing alone in a rock garden, having a koan whispered into my ear.

Reeves, who is fifty-four, has had a thirty-five-year career in Hollywood. He was a moody teen stoner in “River’s Edge” and a sunny teen stoner in the “Bill & Ted” franchise; he was the tortured sci-fi action hero in the “Matrix” movies and the can-do hunky action hero in “Speed”; he was the slumming rent boy in “My Own Private Idaho,” the scheming Don John in “Much Ado About Nothing,” and the eligible middle-aged rom-com lead in “Destination Wedding.” Early in his career, his acting was often mocked for exhibiting a perceived skater-dude fuzziness; still, today, on YouTube, you can find several gleeful compilations of Reeves “acting badly.” (“I am an F.B.I. agent,” he shouts, not so convincingly, to Patrick Swayze in “Point Break.”) But over the years the peculiarities of Reeves’s acting style have come to be seen more generously. Though he possesses a classic leading-man beauty, he is no run-of-the-mill Hollywood stud; he is too aloof, too cipher-like, too mysterious. There is something a bit “Man Who Fell to Earth” about him, an otherworldliness that comes across in all of his performances, which tend to have a slightly uncanny, declamatory quality. No matter what role he plays, he is always himself. He is also clearly aware of the impression he makes. In the new Netflix comedy “Always Be My Maybe,” starring the standup comedian Ali Wong, he makes a cameo as a darkly handsome, black-clad, self-serious Keanu, speaking in huskily theatrical, quasi-spiritual sound bites that either baffle or arouse those around him. “I’ve missed your spirit,” he gasps at Wong, while kissing her, open-mouthed.

Though we’ve spent more than three decades with Reeves, we still know little about him. We know that he was born in Beirut, and that he is of English and Chinese-Hawaiian ancestry. (Ali Wong has said that she cast him in “Always Be My Maybe” in part because he’s Asian-American, even if many people forget it.) His father, who did a spell in jail for drug dealing, left home when Keanu was a young boy. His childhood was itinerant, as his mother remarried several times and moved the family from Sydney to New York and, finally, Toronto. We know that he used to play hockey, and that he is a motorcycle buff, and that he has experienced unthinkable tragedy: in the late nineties, his girlfriend, Jennifer Syme, gave birth to their child, who was stillborn; two years later, Syme died in a car accident. Otherwise, Reeves’s life is a closed book. Who is he friends with? What is his relationship with his family like? As Alex Pappademas wrote, for a cover story about the actor in GQ, in May, Reeves has somehow managed to “pull off the nearly impossible feat of remaining an enigmatic cult figure despite having been an A-list actor for decades.”

This inscrutability makes each new detail we learn about Reeves’s life seem like a revelatory gift. On a recent appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the actor admitted, twenty-five years after the fact, that he had a crush on Sandra Bullock when the two were filming “Speed.” Last week, a Malaysian Web site claimed that, in an interview, Reeves confessed to being lonely. “I don’t have anyone in my life,” he supposedly said, adding, “Hopefully it’ll happen for me.” The Internet responded with a collective shriek of longing. When it was reported, on Saturday, that, according to Reeves’s rep, the quotes had been fabricated, it almost didn’t matter. The Internet’s desire to plumb the hidden depths of this gorgeous puzzle of a man, and to serve as a balm to his perceived hurt, had been so strong that it willed this bit of news into existence.

The outpouring of horny sympathy recalled an earlier episode, in 2010, when paparazzi pictures appeared showing the actor sitting on a New York City park bench and eating a sandwich, looking scruffy and in low spirits. So emerged the “Sad Keanu” meme; June 15th was even declared, by fans, “Cheer Up Keanu Day.” But, unlike the “Sad Ben Affleck” meme, which came in response to a swaggery alpha male’s public descent, Sad Keanu was not animated by Schadenfreude. It simply brought to the fore the retiring, not-long-for-this-world sensitivity that we had always intuited was there.

Recently, a slew of people have come forward to share their real-life “Keanu Stories.” (A bizarrely large number seem to have encountered him at one time or another, perhaps owing to the fact that he often travels alone and without handlers.) The image of him that emerges from these anecdotes is of a considerate man who is aware of his status as a celebrity but doesn’t take advantage of it, and who is generous but careful with his presence. After a flight he was on from San Francisco to L.A. had to make an emergency landing in Bakersfield, Reeves helped passengers recruit a van to transport them the remaining way; en route, he read facts about Bakersfield aloud and played country tunes on his phone for the group. He signed an autograph for a sixteen-year-old ticket seller at a movie theatre after intuiting that the teen was too shy to ask him for one directly. He called an indie bookstore in advance, once a week, before arriving, on his motorcycle, to pick up new books. He was a wallflower at a party, asking another actor on the outskirts of the gathering if she would show him pictures of her dog in costume.

My colleague Jessica Winter was involved in a well-known Keanu Story, though she didn’t know it at the time. In a minute-long viral video taken on a New York City subway car, in 2011, Reeves is seen getting up and offering his seat to a woman who is carrying a large bag. Winter happened to be sitting next to Reeves when the video was shot—she is the strawberry-blonde woman absorbed in reading a magazine, initially unaware of her famous fellow-passenger. Watching the clip today, Winter recalled the courtly way in which Reeves reacted to being filmed: “He was calm and beatific and ever so slightly puzzled, like, Why are you doing this? I am not upset, and perhaps it is not my business.” If only more of us could learn to adopt Reeves’s attitude in our own lives. It’s O.K. to take a pause sometimes, to not engage, to let the world separate from you a little bit, he assures us. Just watch me.

I have two Keanu Stories of my own, both brief but sweet. In 2006, at a performance by the dancer Pina Bausch, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, I saw Reeves seated a couple of rows away from me—in the cheap seats—his gangly legs crammed into the small space in front of him. Three years later, at Film Forum, I spotted him emerging alone from a Kurosawa movie, carrying a large tub of popcorn. These moments aren’t much, but I keep them close, picking them up every once in a while, the way you would a crystal or an amulet.