#like the simplest version is: is it distance from the Fold or closeness to the high Un or both or neither | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

potteryclaylover · 3 years ago

Text

Life Lessons I Learnt From Seagulls

Seagulls are the most inspirational creatures in my opinion. If I owned a sporting team of any sort, a seagull would be my mascot. Why? They’re the perfect combination of beauty, strong-will, friendliness and confidence. Though i personally never watched any seagull bird from close , but i love to watch bird from distance because i dont want to disturb their peace. But it always feel me with positive when i see group of birds eating , flying and all their activity. It is best therapy for me and its from very earlier .

Who of us has not wondered, at some point in life, if we really are living to our fullest potential? That we are really experiencing all that we are capable of experiencing?Every human being has been given the capacity to live abundantly, without boundaries. But the scope of this freedom is too large for most of us. We cringe from the vastness of all that is possible. We prefer to hide behind artificial limitations instead.

We hear of the frog in the pond that steadfastly refuses to believe that there were limitless oceans out there. For him, his pond is all that there is in the world. We also hear of the worm in the apple who believes that the whole world is its apple, nothing more.

Some of you may be familiar with the famous book Jonathon Livingston Seagull written by Richard Bach. A tale about a seagull who has dreams of being a better version of himself and flying higher and faster than any gull has ever dared before. Cast out by the flock for being different he goes off on his spiritual quest to discover his full potential. Does any of this resonate with you by any chance?

In real life many people hate seagulls. Maybe you do too. Are they the thugs of the bird world? Pests to be poisoned and driven out? Let’s be honest they have a terrible reputation because they are noisy and fearless they can appear aggressive and given the chance they will steal your food.

This little ode to seagulls may seem peculiar to you but as a result of long hours of observing them for days, I realized that inspiration can come from the simplest of things.

Have you ever heard of the expression ‘thinking out of the box?’ It means going beyond the accepted limits of imagination and daring to explore new possibilities. Jonathan Livingston Seagull was such an out-of-the-box thinker.

He discovered that for those who dare to dream, even the sky is not the limit. Jonathan lived as all seagulls do – in a flock. This flock was quite unremarkable. Seagulls are basically scavengers that inhabit the seashore, feeding off the debris that the sea throws out. Like all other seagulls, the members of this flock fed, bred and flew south in the cold winter months.

My love for these tiny birdies increased many folds when they actually taught me some valuable life lessons.

1. Don’t be afraid to stand against the wind

Look at this little fellow. He’s tiny and the wind that day was so strong even I was having trouble standing. He could just turn around and fly in the direction of the wind. But he stood his ground accepting the challenge.

Lesson: No matter how much friction you’re facing in being different or being yourself, don’t let it make you turn around in the direction of the wind.

2. Sometimes it’s good to go with the flow

If someone knows how to chill and take it easy, its the seagulls. They’ve taught me to not ALWAYS take life so seriously. That we can’t control each and every aspect of it. Sometimes you just have to let life unfold itself. See where the current takes you.

After all what’s the fun in knowing it all?

3. Evolve with your life situations

Seagulls are the masters of improvising and adapting to their circumstances. They can swim, fly or walk around depending on their need. We as humans have to realize that we are more equipped than a seagull. We have better means, internal and external, to adhere to our circumstances. We just need to be as strong-willed and easy going as a seagull.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a simple story with a profound message.

The message is that we can all be so much more than we believe, or are given to believe. That God – or fortune, if you wish – is on the side of the bold, the adventurous and the free in spirit.

But Jonathan sensed, in the core of his being, that there could be more to life. Much more.

4. Never be afraid to ask for your right

Anyone who has had a meal by the beach knows that the seagulls will come flocking around for their share. They are not afraid to ask for it. They’ll stand by staring at you persistently until you go, ‘oh well alright, have a chip.’

Deep in its communal heart, the flock knew that it was living below its full potential. It consoled itself with a vaguely remembered Promise, passed down various generations of seagulls. That Promise spoke of a Great Seagull – a supernaturally gifted bird that would come and deliver it from the chains of self-imposed mediocrity.

The Great Seagull was supposed to have secrets of limitless flight and a superior existence.

That discovering the Great Seagull’s secrets could have been the result of diligent effort and seeking did not occur to these seagulls. They preferred to put the responsibility of their future on a Being which they did not understand and did not try to emulate. The Great Seagull, however, did not come.

But maybe – just maybe – every seagull in that flock sometimes wondered if it was they were missing the point of this legend …

Jonathan had heard of the Great Seagull, of course. It meant nothing to him, but there was a question that did haunt him – the question that haunts us all when we have nothing to distract ourselves with. The question we ask ourselves when, for some reason or the other, we find ourselves sleepless at night.

Can I fly higher? Can I fly farther? Is there more?

The flock asked itself no such questions. The mundane preoccupations of life had them too much in thrall to consider deeper questions. But Jonathan knew that he could drink deeper of life than they did.

One day, he announced that he intended to fly higher and further than any seagull before him. The effect of his words on the flock was interesting, to say the least:

“Seagulls are not meant to fly higher than this,” is what they said. “What makes you think you’re different from us?”

That is the persistence and determination you and I need in your daily life. Ask for that promotion at work. Ask for the love and attention in a relationship. You deserve it.

5. It’s your character that makes you beautiful

Seagulls are not camera shy and are always ready to strike a pose. The poker face is their favourite. There are thousands of exquisite birds in the world but what made me fall in love with seagulls is their character. Sure they are nice to look at but it’s their confidence, strength and playful persona that makes them beautiful.

Jonathan’s answer was that he was not content with mediocrity, especially if he knew that he could attain greater heights. The rest of the flock became very angry with him – they called him a dreamer who did not know the realities of life. When he insisted on pursuing his vision, they cast him out of the flock.

Doesn’t this ring a bell in most of our minds? Doesn’t it remind us of times when we have been told – or even told ourselves – that we should realize our limits? Well, who sets those limits?

The human being has limited capabilities – but then, we only think of the capabilities we have actually demonstrated. We never think of the possibility of hidden capabilities that never see the light of day because they are not called upon.

Have you never heard of the true-life stories of people who overcame impossible odds – achieved impossible tasks – when they stopped relying solely on what they knew about themselves?

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, that anonymous bird in an anonymous flock, decided that he wanted to claim the Promise now. He wanted the power to fly higher than he had ever flown, to see sights he had never seen.

He decided that if the Great Seagull was real enough and powerful enough, it would help him achieve these goals in the Here and Now. Not in some vaguely conceived Hereafter, but in real time. In this present lifetime.

Did he turn to the Great Seagull in prayer? Or did he just draw inspiration from the fact that such a Seagull could and did exist? Richard Bach’s book remains silent on this issue. But from the moment Jonathan decided to claim the Promise, his life changed drastically.

Are you now waiting for the part where Jonathan was suddenly given miraculous spiritual and physical powers to make his dreams of impossible flight come true? Sorry, that is not what happened…

Instead, Jonathan’s belief in the Promise convinced him that the power to achieve his dream would be given to him if he put in diligent effort. He was a changed bird – he suddenly felt that he was no longer alone. And so he practiced flying higher. It was a painstaking process, but something had changed.

He no longer despaired when he considered his feeble seagull wings. He no longer doubted when he considered the fact that no seagull had ever flown as high as he wanted to fly.

This new-found assurance was not what is commonly known as ‘self-confidence’. It was confidence in something beyond him – a Higher Power, if you will. He called it the Great Seagull. Some call it God. But whatever we call it, it is a Power outside of ourselves. We cannot generate it, but we can still claim it.

And guess what? Jonathan Livingston Seagull soared. He eventually flew higher than any seagull ever had. And he finally met the Great Seagull.

Yes, he actually met the legendary Being. He basked in its approval and was given the power and privilege to lead others from the barren, empty path of self-effort to a mind-bogglingly rewarding partnership with Something Better.

I have a feeling that the human version of seagulls would have an amazing sense of humour as well.

Lesson learnt: Put your self out there. Have enough self-confidence to know and exhibit your good qualities and know that you’re beautiful just the way you are.

#Seagull Seagullbird Seagulllifeinspiration Life Lifeinspiration Thinkoutofbox selfconfidence achivement Success Happy Soulfullife

2 notes · View notes

satonthelotuspier · 5 years ago

Text

How Shall We Stop Dreams - Part 11.

Follow the tag below for the previous parts, or you can read it all here on AO3 if you prefer.

Jiang Cheng would have been pacing if his leg wasn’t currently splinted up. Instead, all he could do was sit and stare at the door of the dungeon, tensing whenever he heard a noise outside. They had taken Lan Xichen away some time ago. He didn’t even know how long it had been.

Needless to say his welfare was foremost in Jiang Cheng’s mind.

Mo Xuanyu had drifted off into a troubled sleep, his head resting in Jiang Cheng’s lap, who continued to stroke his hair soothingly, and hum snippets of the lullabies he could remember A-Jie singing to him when he was a child.

Jiang Cheng wasn’t exactly comfortable with this level of touch with an almost stranger, but Mo Xuanyu’s life seemed to have been devoid of anything so comforting as normal human contact, and when Jiang Cheng thought of his own life, the casual, fond touches between his siblings, and even the hugs from his mother, well, wasn’t it a shame that people grew up without that? He could bear this if it offered even an ounce of comfort to the young man breathing softly in sleep next to him.

He continued to drift, stroking and humming absently, until the sudden rattling of a key in the lock announced that someone was outside.

The thick door opened, and Lan Xichen strode in, face impassive, arms folded behind his back. It was slammed closed behind him, and Jiang Cheng, and the awakened Mo Xuanyu, looked questioningly at him.

He sighed, and came to sit beside Jiang Cheng, resting against the wall. He reached out, and took Jiang Cheng’s hand, folding it in his own.

“Are you alright, Xichen?” Jiang Cheng asked, as the other didn’t appear to be about to offer any information voluntarily. At least he seemed to bear no new injuries, physically at least.

“I am, Wanyin. I was merely forced to submit to an examination by Wen Qing. They’re intrigued with the concept of empaths, as you may imagine. Bar being in contact with someone I didn’t particularly want to be, I’m fine.” He sighed. “She can barely function for her fear for Wen Qionglin.”

“Is Wen Ning alright?” Mo Xuanyu asked, a touch of distress in his voice. Jiang Cheng glanced at him briefly.

“As far as I’m aware, Mo-gongzi, I believe they’re using him to keep Wen Qing in line, however. She is an unparalleled physician, and I think Wen Ruohan is in need of her for that reason. For this whole scheme to bring cultivators here to test that vile crystal on. I’m glad it’s destroyed.”

“What was the purpose of the crystal? What did it even do?” Mo Xuanyu asked, wrapping his arms around his upraised knees.

Lan Xichen sighed again, and glanced at Jiang Cheng.

“I’m merely theorising, based on what I’ve seen, but I suspect it was effective at...altering, is the best word, perhaps?…how the Upper Dantian regulates the use of qi. Most cultivators will, without realising it, stop channelling qi at the point it becomes a danger to their life force. What happened earlier, to Wanyin, I wasn’t exaggerating when I said he almost killed himself to rescue the others. If I hadn’t been there to replace some of his qi energy he very well might have died.”

Jiang Cheng sucked in a breath in shock at the words. He had felt exhausted and drained, but hadn’t realised how very literally that had been.

“Wanyin, you’re a very strong spiritual cultivator, but no one of your cultivation level should be able to lift three grown humans and throw them like you did. Haven’t you noticed as you’ve been here that you’ve been able to do more?”

“All the things you’ve said I’ve done have been done without thinking, without noticing.” Jiang Cheng shook his head. So the crystal had stripped away his capacity to safely use his abilities to the extent of his power, because if he didn’t know when to stop, he could very easily overexert himself, again and again.

A sudden flair of anger blossomed in his chest, and he didn’t know how to deal with it, or what had sparked it.

He sucked a breath in through his nose, and looked at Lan Xichen.

It was as if he knew exactly what Jiang Cheng thought, and experienced. Except, of course, he did. At least the latter.

“I think that might happen more frequently too, I think it’s taken away more of your ability to regulate your reactions. I think you’re going to be feeling quite extreme emotions.”

He realised the implications immediately, and he could almost cry.

“And the man I’m falling in love with is an empath. I’m the last person he needs to be with.” He couldn’t stop the sharp, bitter laugh. Wasn’t that just perfect?

He realised that holding Lan Xichen’s hand was also the worst thing he could do, and tried to free his own. The other refused to be shaken off, however.

“Stop that, Wanyin. We can work on how to help you. I can teach you how to build mental walls, I’m quite an expert on it, if I do say so myself, if you’re that worried.”

“But why go to all that trouble? It’s more than I’m worth.”

“You’re already worth the world to me, Jiang Wanyin.” Lan Xichen said it like it was the simplest truth there was.

Mo Xuanyu had just risen, no doubt to move away from them as the conversation had become fairly intimate, when there was a soft noise over near the door.

“Wen Qionglin!” Mo Xuanyu exclaimed, as he saw the pale face between the bars. He moved quickly over to the door, pausing a little away from it, as if remembering something.

“Jiejie wasn’t wrong, you are a heavenly demon.”

Lan Qiren sent for them shortly after Wei Wuxian had finished breakfast, and they made their way to the Mingshi, which had been repurposed as an operations centre, complete with raised relief maps and walls and walls of silk-painted maps and information.

It was almost like the Lans had been expecting things to progress into a war, and from what the Jades had told them of their purpose, it wasn’t too big of a leap in reasoning to say they probably had.

Wei Wuxian glanced at the calm, expressionless profile of Lan Wangji, stood beside him, and waiting for his Shufu to be finished in his current discussion, which he appeared to be having with a transparent image of another man, which hovered in their air in front of him. Wei Wuxian had never met that man in person, but he thought, from the age and the robes he wore, that he was likely Nie Mingjue of the Qinghe Nie clan.

Lan Wangji’s shufu had a scholarly air, and a face it would have been hard to put an age to, even if he hadn’t been a cultivator.

“How are they communicating?” Wei Wuxian asked Lan Wangji, who shook his head, then waylaid a disciple who was carrying scrolls to ask him.

“There is a new, small sect that settled just outside Kuizhou. Their head disciple is something of a genius inventor, and he had just finishing developing this communication array to allow cultivators to talk over great distances. The sect offered it up for the good of the alliance against the Wens.”

“I see, I’d love to meet him. I’d love to know how it works.” He turned to Lan Wangji, who had something approaching a soft, indulgent look on his face.

He was about to question it when Lan Qiren turned his attention to them, and he and Lan Wangji approached. They gave their respects.

“Shufu, have you considered my request?” Lan Wangji asked, and Lan Qiren stroked his long, black beard for a few seconds.

“I have. But I have something I want you to see first, Wangji.” He reached into his sleeves, and took out something that looked like a translucent, carved crow. It suddenly moved, and made a small, empty caw.

A messenger talisman.

Lan Wangji held his hand out, and it drifted from Lan Qiren’s into Lan Wangji’s. His eyes flickered just a fraction wider, showing his surprise, in that understated Lan Wangji language, that Wei Wuxian was becoming quite fluent in.

He turned to Wei Wuxian, who held his hand out in turn. The messenger talisman flapped from Lan Wangji’s palm into his own.

I hope this message will reach Lan er-gongzi and Wei-gongzi. Please don’t worry about Lan-gongzi and Jiang-gongzi, I will help them escape. I promise.

“Wen Ning.” Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

Lan Qiren had folded his hands behind his back, “This message arrived during the conference this morning. I assume it’s from the young Wen from the half-demon branch of the family.”

Lan Wangji nodded once.

“You met the young man, Wangji, what do you make of this? Is it a distracting tactic?”

Lan Wangji didn’t answer directly, merely turned slightly to Wei Wuxian.

“Shufu, I’m unsure. Wei Ying…?”

Wei Wuxian felt the pressure. Lan Wangji allowed him to express his opinion, and whatever action was taken would probably grow from that. Three lives rested on his say.

And really, how well did he know Wen Ning? Not at all. What if what he seemed was purely an act? What if he’d been ordered to get close to them, and pretend to be a mild mannered, shy, yet kind, young man?

Was it better to be safe than sorry?

But if Wen Ning was being sincere, they could very well jeopardise any efforts he made by rushing in.

His nature being what it was, he wanted to pick up Suibian right now, and fly back to Qishan. He wasn’t made for passivity, for waiting and strategising. He was a man of action.

But his instincts told him Wen Ning could be trusted.

“I think his intentions are good.” Wei Wuxian said, finally.

“Wei Ying spent the most time with Wen Qionglin, Shufu.” Lan Wangji spoke in support.

Lan Qiren closed his eyes briefly.

“Xiongzhang is too precious to demons who feed on emotion for them to hurt him, Shufu.” It was the Lan Wangji version of comfort, and it seemed to work. Lan Qiren nodded.

“We wait, and watch the situation, then.”

Wei Wuxian could tell neither of them were entirely happy with that either, but all of them considered it currently the best chance their captured family had.

“Where are you taking me, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian demanded several hours later.

“The Cold Spring. It will help your wound heal.” Lan Wangji kept hold of his hand and continued to lead him through the Cloud Recesses and out into forest.

“I prefer hot springs, a cold one sounds barbaric.” Wei Wuxian mocked, and Lan Wangji ignored his tease.

“Wei Ying, the spring has healing properties, it is not for fun.”

“How very dull!”

They arrived at Lan Wangji’s intended destination, and he could feel the coolness the water exuded against his skin.

He knew the other reason Lan Wangji had dragged him here, and it was everything to do with the fact he hadn’t stopped pacing for the last hour.

He couldn’t help it though, he was twisted with thoughts of what would happen if he had made the wrong assessment of Wen Ning’s character, or what might happen if he hadn’t, but the other was caught. Couple that with his natural urge to be doing rather than waiting, and he was a mess of nerves.

Perhaps he could take his mind off things, however. He hadn’t done anything to keep Lan Wangji on his toes yet today.

Not for fun, eh?

He started to strip eagerly out of his robes, and Lan Wangji followed suit, stripping down to his pants.

Wei Wuxian didn’t stop there, however, and unfastened his own, pushing them down his hips to the delightful sound of the strangled breath the other took.

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji exclaimed.

“What, Lan Zhan?” he challenged the other, as he kicked his clothes away, and dipped a toe into the cold water. It was every bit as horrifically cold as he expected. He should say a prayer for little Xianxian, who was not going to like this one bit. “In Yunmeng we take our clothes off to bathe.”

Oh well, nothing ventured…

He plunged in, and all the breath was knocked out of his body at the shock of the water enclosing him.

“L-L-Lan Z-Zhan,” he managed to get out between the chattering of his teeth, “g-g-get in h-here a-and w-warm me up, n-n-now.”

Lan Wangji stayed frozen for a few more moments, before he finally broke out of his stupor. He reached for the ties of his own pants, taking them off, before joining Wei Wuxian in the water.

Here would have been his cue to cause trouble, but Wei Wuxian was still trying to process the fact that little Wangji was not actually little Wangji at all.

Some things just weren’t fair!

The other moved over to where a natural rock shelf created a seat, as if trying to create distance between them.

Was he embarrassed?

“T-That’s not warming me, L-Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian complained. He waded through the water, noticing how Lan Wangji tried to fix his eyes on anything else but the very naked body in front of him.

The other had no option but to acknowledge him when Wei Wuxian climbed astride his lap, however.

The other’s earlobes had turned pink, even in the frigid cold of the water, and he stopped looking at every other tree, rock and cloud visible, and moved his gaze onto Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian saw Lan Wangji visibly swallow as his eyes drifted down his pale chest, then drag back upwards guiltily at Wei Wuxian’s teasing; “My eyes are up here, Lan Zhan.”

“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji’s voice sounded a little strangled, “...don’t play around, if you don’t mean it.” His large, surprisingly warm hands settled at Wei Wuxian’s waist, holding onto him, but lightly enough Wei Wuxian could pull away should he wish to.

“Who says I don’t mean it?” he asked challengingly, cupping Lan Wangji’s perfectly carved face in his hands. He leaned in and experimentally pressed his lips to the other’s.

He was, by no means, a practised kisser, but he liked to think he had consumed enough pornography to have a good idea of what was supposed to happen.

There was no surprise in this kiss, and he settled down to really appreciate the experience, as Lan Wangji followed his lead.

It was as enjoyable as he had been lead to believe it could be, the almost-rough glide of cool lips, and eventually, the teasing, yet shy, brush of tongues, was sweet and could very easily become addictive.

They spent quite a while locked together, but eventually they pulled apart, and Lan Wangji looked at him with heavily lidded eyes, before moving to place a row of gentle kisses along the line of his jaw.

“Wei Ying, we should go back, and see how Shufu wants us to help.”

He was, of course, correct. And it was safer for them all. Their relationship was new and tentative, and he wasn’t entirely sure where it was going, even if Lan Wangji was sure. Taking things further, even getting carried away in the heat of the moment, wasn’t advisable until they were sure they both wanted the same thing from whatever they were to each other, now and in the future.

He leaned down to press a kiss against Lan Wangji’s chin, then eased himself from the other’s lap.

“Do you understand?” Wen Ning asked, and Mo Xuanyu paused for a moment, before nodding slowly.

Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen sat a little away from the two, giving them time and space to get to grips with what Wen Ning demonstrated to his half-demon counterpart.

Jiang Cheng had no doubt Mo Xuanyu would be fine, he just lacked confidence in himself, something he sympathized with the other over, being very much the same himself.

Wen Ning was currently demonstrating to the other how to harness his demonic energy. The plan was to use it to break the cell door open some time overnight, giving Wen Ning opportunity to create himself an alibi, and not put his Jiejie at risk.

“I think I have it, A-Ning.” The other slipping into using the gentle, familiar form of address made sense, because, although Jiang Cheng didn’t doubt Wen Ning wasn’t a monster purely because of his half-demon heritage, (and his shitty relatives), the other surely wouldn’t put himself, and his sister, at risk for people so wholly unrelated to him as Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen.

A friend was another matter, however.

There was a sudden sound at the door to the cell, and a thrill of panic went through all four of them; Jiang Cheng didn’t wish Wen Ning to get into trouble for helping them, but it was too late to do anything about it.

The door swung open. Wen Qing strode in, unaccompanied, a package in her arms.

“A-Ning!” her voice was quiet, controlled, but full of anger.

“Jiejie!”

“I said not to get involved with them, didn’t I?”

“But Jiejie…”

“No, A-Ning, but nothing.” She unwrapped the package in her arms, and threw their swords to them, one by one.

“I’m sure the plan was to escape overnight, but Wen Xu has other plans for this evening for you. You leave now.” She took out a dagger then, and pointed the tip at Lan Xichen’s throat, “you will take my brother with you, and keep him safe. He risked himself for you, the least you can do is ensure his wellbeing.”

Jiang Cheng was about to protest at the knife placement, but she moved it suddenly and the collar around Lan Xichen’s throat was cut away, followed by Jiang Cheng’s.

It was such a relief to call on his qi again.

“I promise I’ll do whatever is in my power, Wen-guniang.” Lan Xichen promised, and as he rose to his feet he bowed to her.

“Don’t fail.” she snapped at him, then turned back to Wen Ning.

“Jiejie, what about you? If I leave you…”

“I will be fine, silly boy, you’re my weakness. I was never at risk, you are. Go, be careful. We’ll meet up again after this is all over.” her tone was more wistful than sure, however.

Wen Ning looked torn, but nodded eventually.

“I have everything under control here. There are no guards at the cave mouth in the new infirmary. Take them through the cellar exit to the city, A-Ning. Now go.” She pressed a quick kiss against his forehead, then turned to Jiang Cheng, “Keep off of your leg as much as possible, or you’ll cripple yourself for life, Jiang Wanyin.” And with that she was gone.

“She’s right, I’ll have to carry you, Wanyin.”

“What? Are you insane? How are we going to fight if we’re discovered? I’ll walk, and take the risk.”

“Jiejie has given us a free run to the outside of the city, Jiang-gongzi.” Wen Ning argued, and Lan Xichen bent to pick Jiang Cheng up.

“What are you doing? Are you deaf? I said I’d walk. Put me down, how shameless are you to be carrying me like this? How thick is your face?” Jiang Cheng squawked.

“Wanyin, do me the honour of shutting up and not arguing with me, just once in your life. I can put you down if we encounter trouble. Let’s not go looking for it, however. Wen-guniang is resourceful and incredibly intelligent, have a little faith.”

What could he say to that?

And indeed their path was unimpeded.

The cellar exit turned out to be an old smuggling passage, and lead through a damp, incredibly musty tunnel out of the city and into the surrounding forests.

“Just how are you so strong?” Jiang Cheng complained as Lan Xichen finally set him down on a rock to rest.

They daren’t pause too long, but plans had to be made.

“Handstands. Good for balance training too.” Lan Xichen said, looking around, trying to get his bearings with the sun and the mountains.

“Wanyin and I will slow you down. And they’re going to assume we’re going to head straight for Gusu, to protect me.” Lan Xichen dropped to his haunches, and looked at Wen Ning and Mo Xuanyu. “Also, I think they’re much less likely to focus on you, and be more interested in Wanyin and I. I think it would be safer for you both to go without us. You’ll move faster too, I would like to find somewhere nearby to lay up for a few days to give Wanyin’s leg a change to heal a little, now we can aid it along with cultivational healing. Then I think we should head to Qinghe, and ensure the Nies have been warned, as none of their disciples came to Qishan. It’s also the direction they’d least expect us to go, Gusu and Yunmeng are obvious, as, probably, is Meishan, as it’s well known who your mother’s people are.” He looked at Jiang Cheng when he made the comment, and really, Jiang Cheng felt stupid, as he had been about to suggest Meishan as an option, but Lan Xichen was correct, the Violet Spider’s marriage into the Jiang Sect from the Yu Sect was widely know. He nodded his agreement, when Lan Xichen put it like that, the Nie Sect was a sensible place to make for.

“We’ll go to Yunmeng, we have enough of a head start, before we’re found missing, and we’ll move quickly without Jiang-shixiong.” Mo Xuanyu declared. “No offence meant.”

“None taken.” Jiang Cheng reached into his robes and pulled out the letter he had received from his father, accepting Mo Xuanyu as a disciple. He handed it over. “Take this, to prove who you are. Let them know we’re fine, and will be contacting them in a few days from Qinghe. Tell Wei Wuxian to not do anything stupid, either. If he can possibly avoid it.” Jiang Cheng added gruffly, and Mo Xuanyu nodded, with a sly grin. He had spent enough time in the company of the brothers at the Nightless City to know, despite their words, they cared a lot for each other.

“I sent a message to Cloud Recesses, Jiang-gongzi, telling them I planned to help you, in hopes they wouldn’t rush right back and put themselves at risk.”

Wen Ning’s words were a salve to his worried mind. He nodded gratefully. “Thank you. You should go, every second counts now.”

The other two set off after their goodbyes were made.

“Can we not leave for Qinghe now?” Jiang Cheng asked, pushing himself upright and resting his weight on his uninjured leg.

“No, Wanyin. We’re both exhausted, it will be much easier after a day or so of rest, then I can fly us both there on Shuoyue.”

That made Jiang Cheng feel guilty, of course most of the work would fall on Lan Xichen again, like it had carrying him out of the city, in order to save his leg.

“I can fly myself, honestly, Xichen.”

“We’re still in the doing me the honour of not arguing with me phase of the escape, Jiang Wanyin. When we get to Qinghe you’re released from the stipulation.”

He felt that irrational flare of annoyance again, but tamped it down.

Lan Xichen was entirely correct.

He was picked up again, despite his protests that he could walk, and Lan Xichen went in search of a place for them to hide.

#How Shall We Stop Dreams AU #wangxian #xicheng #the untamed fanfic #the untamed #mdzs #mdzs fanfic #mo dao zu shi #mo dao zu shi fanfic #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #serialised #wei wuxian #lan wangji #lan xichen #jiang cheng #wen ning #wen qing #mo xuanyu #lan qiren

16 notes · View notes

ilosttrackofthings · 7 years ago

Note

biospec + serial killer

Grant’s mouth isdry.

Shit.

It’s notdefinitive proof that he’s been drugged but-

Yep, there it is.His fingers, when he twitches them, are numb, his wrists bound.

This isn’tSHIELD. Coulson would lock him back in that cell. Or, worse, he’dwake up strapped into the TAHITI machine, begging and pleading. Sothis is somebody else, probably some head who’s none too pleasedhe’s trying to suss them out. Bastards. He wouldn’t need to dig‘em up if they were any damn good at their jobs.

There’s someonein here with him. Light footsteps, female probably. Too much shuffle,so not an operative. Interrogator?

Whoever she is, shesteps up close enough he could grab her if he weren’t tied down.Stupid move; he could’ve broken out when she wasn’t looking. Buthe didn’t, so all he gets from the proximity is a whiff of hershampoo, some soft floral scent the girls used to favor on the Bus.She hums low in her throat and strong fingers touch his jaw, lift itso she can feel his pulse.

He focuses onkeeping it slow, steady.

She sighs, thebreath falling over his neck. Goosebumps spring up on his arms and hesquashes the sensation with an angry thought. Kara just died.Which might be an explanation for the rise she gets out of him—monthsof constant companionship and now nothing, anybody’d be wanting—butit doesn’t make it okay. She deserved better than this.

Luckyfor him—and for Kara’s memory—any lingering lustful thoughts hehad for his captor are wiped away when she speaks.

“Iknow when you’re faking, Ward.”

Hiseyes snap open and fix onSimmons, easing back from her examination. He jerks against thebonds, but he’s held fast to the chair. A glance around provesthey’re not in that base Coulson was operating out of, but thatdoesn’t say much since Simmonswasn’t at the base—not that he saw, anyway. That’d be the smartthing too, bringing him to another base, one he’s not familiarwith. And it’d keep any of the others from making a move on himbefore the procedure.

Shestraightens a folding chair and sits carefully out of what wouldnormally be his reach. “I imagine you’re confused,” she says.

“Notreally.” He cracks his neck, using the motion to look beyond her.No guards, but they could easily be behind him. This lab or …whatever, isn’t exactly what he’d have expected though.

Nowhe’s looked past a first glance, he can see how unsanitary it is.The tables are wood instead of metal and there’s dirt gathered inthe corners. How the hell did Coulson convince Simmons to work in aplace like this? The woman he knew on the Bus would’ve thrown a fitafter five minutes here.

Hemeets her eyes. “SHIELD caught up with me. Can’t say it’s not ablow, but it’s not like I didn’t expect it.”

Sheshakes her head. “I’m not with SHIELD anymore.”

Grantblinks. A couple times. He looks around again—for tentacles on thewalls this time.

“Iknow it’s rather out of the ordinary, but Ashleyand I have an arrangement soit seemed the simplest way-”

“Ashley?”he cuts in, fears of brainwashing taking a backseat to the unknown variable.

Nowit’s her turn to look confused. “The bartender?”

“Alexei?”He’s not sure whether he’s more shocked Alexei’s real name isAshley or that Simmons has an arrangementwith him.

Shenods with a smile. “He’s been very helpful. Hetold me about your girlfriend.”

Theropes dig into Grant’s wrists. “Did he?” It’s not that hedidn’t expect word of his heartbreak to get out—he’s spentevery day since Kara died warming a barstool and staring at herphoto—but he doesn’t like people talkingabout it.

IfSimmons notices the shift in his mood, it doesn’t seem to botherher. “That’s how I knew I could trust you.”

Hisspine hits the back of the chair and the pressure on his wristseases. Trust him? No one on the team trusts him—they made thatclear on that little mission in the arctic. He didn’t realize it until they were on their way but it was a disappointment. Part of him had been hoping for one last hurrah, one final moment of belonging before he ran out on them.

Oh well, he knew what he was signing up for.

“Hydrabroke her,” Simmons says, not without sympathy. “That’s whyyou’ve got men out looking for what’s left of them, isn’t it?So you can avenge her?”

Ina sense, yeah. He plans on burning Hydra to the ground. And thenbuilding his own version back up on the ashes.

She’sthin. Simmons. He was so focused on the room, he didn’t payattention to her. It looks like she’s skipped more than a few mealsrecently and those button-ups and sweaters he’s used to seeing herin are long gone. She’s got a dirty lab coat on, but underneath itis a top that would give Coulson an aneurysm. The way the coat’shanging he can’t see much, but at the same time he can see plentywith how the collar dips down clean to her naval, showing off theedges of her breasts.

“What’syour arrangement with Alexei?” he asks. He’s missing somethinghere and figures he’ll pick at the thread that makes the leastsense first.

Shebites her lip, all nervous excitement like her very first day in thefield. “He delivers agents to me. Hydra agents.”

“Whatfor?”

Sheglances over her shoulder, at the only table that’s clear ofequipment. There are blood stains on the concrete beneath it. “I …take care of them,” she says. Her lips twitch, caught between herown nerves and pride.

“Youkill them.” Grant thought he was shocked before but it’s nothingto this.

“Ofcourse.” She scoots forward to the very edge of her chair. “Theothers don’t understand. They don’t know Hydra like you and I do.We’ve both been on the inside, we know what they’re capable ofand what it will take to stopthem.”

Shewas undercover. He knew that, nearly fell out of his chair whenWhitehall told him, but that’s the last he heard about her. Heassumed she was caught at the base when Coulson came to him for helpand figured she was just keeping her distance when she never showedherself while he was there. But maybe…

“Howlong have you been at this?”

“Fivemonths.”

Fuck.

She’sbeen roofying Hydra agents so she could kill them for five months. How the hell did he notknow? And, for that matter, do the others?

Sherests her elbows on her knees, her clasped hands falling between them soshe’s nearly touching him. “That’s why I need your help. I’mdoing my best, but you have far more experience than I do. Think ofwhat we could do working together.”

Thesmile she gives him is so sincere; it’s the first real kindnesshe’s seen since Kara.

“You’reasking me to be your partner in crime?” He nearly laughs the words.If the others could see them now…

Hersmile grows. She’s practically vibrating with excitement. Hewonders how long she’s been planning this little job offer. “Yes.”

“Andif I refuse?” he asks. To his regret, the smile dims considerably.She straightens her spine, putting some distance between them.

“ThenI’ll let you go,” she says, trying—and failing—to soundnonchalant about it. “Of course.” She leans forward again to resta hand on his knee. “You’re not my enemy, Ward. I know that. It’sonly Hydra I’m after.”

Herskin is warm through the thick denim and he finds himself staring atthe point of contact for long seconds before he swallows down thelast of that dryness that woke him up.

“I’mnot saying no. I just wantedeverything out in the open first.” He twists his arms, bringing hispalms up. “Now how about you show me your operation and we can talkabout our next move.”

She practically bounces across theroom to grab a knife so she can cut him loose and spends the nexthalf hour babbling about chemical cocktails and means of death andhow interesting it is seeing how different individuals take theirimpending demise.

At that last, Grant laughs and hugs her to hisside. It wasn’t the members of the team he missed, it was the camaraderie, and it looks like he just might have found it with this new version of Simmons. He doesn’t know what happened between her undercover gig and now to screw her up this bad, but they are gonna have so much fun together. And when he tells her so, she smiles so bright it puts her earlier one to shame.

#biospecialist #my fic #*td #ask fic #biospec fic #anonymous

16 notes · View notes

ishikagupta3796 · 6 years ago

Text

All About Gold Chains

Gold chain for women is one of the most common ways that gold is used in jewelry. However, most people make the mistake of thinking that a gold chain or gold necklace for women is a simple one-choice item.

Gold chains for women come in a variety of styles and lengths, and it can be quite a challenge to pick one. Whether it is used to hold a pendant or to be worn as a simple chain around your neck, here are a few important things to remember when you are on the hunt for the perfect gold chain.

Know what you are looking for

There are different types of chains that work for different purposes and personalities. Some chains have a masculine look whereas others are quite feminine. Some are able to withstand daily wear and others are better to hold pendants. Knowing why you’re buying the chain will help you zero in on the right type.

Here are the most common types of gold chains available:

Bead or Ball Chain – This variety of chains have small round beads of metal that are either spaced with some distance or linked closely together with just a tiny space to allow movement. These are very popular especially with dog tags for men. You can choose the thickness of the bead which generally varies between 1mm to 2mm thickness.

Box Chain – This type of chain has square “box” links that are usually worn as a necklace for pendants and around the wrist with watches. The nice thing about this chain is that it is easier to repair than other types of chains. If a “box” breaks, the link can be replaced or the broken chain reattached with the remaining links. Box chains are popular among women and range in size from 0.5 mm to 1.5mm.

Cable Chain – This is probably the simplest type of gold chain and looks much like a tiny version of a common iron chain. Simple but elegant, it has identical, uniformly interlocked ovals. This chain is popular for both men and women and ranges in thickness to suit all styles.

Figaro - This is another gender-neutral chain, but a tad fancier than cable chains. Originating from Italy, Figaro is composed of an alternating pattern of flattened links varying in size. Usually, the pattern is 2 or 3 shorter links followed by a longer link. Figaro chains are commonly chosen for necklaces as well as bracelets.

Anchor or Mariner Chain – This chain is composed of interlocking ovals with a bar that runs across the center of each oval. Anchor or mariner chains come in a variety of widths, with thicker sizes common among men. There is a modern version called the puffed mariner which is also very popular these days.

Rope Chain - This works like a “supporting” chain in that it is intricately designed to look like a real rope. These are more popular worn with a pendant which is the actual focal point.

Snake Chain - Composed of small rings, either plates or bands, snake chains are knit closely together to form a continuous tube-like appearance that resembles that of a snake’s skin. These are very delicate but very flexible and would complement a pendant well.

Spiga or Wheat Chain - Spiga, meaning wheat, is formed by delicately woven strands of twisted oval links. The chain looks like a soft golden braid. This necklace is very popular with women because of its intricate pattern. It has a delicate, stylish look and can be worn by itself or with a pendant.

Singapore Chain – This is one of the most delicate-looking and beautifully designed types of chains. Made of fibers that are braided and twisted together, this is a classic chain known for its durability and strength.

Know the chain strengths

If your main purpose for a wearing a gold necklace is daily worn, the number one question would be:

What is the strongest chain?

Out of all the types of chains, we mentioned above, the strongest ones are those made of LINKS, such as cable, Figaro and anchor. These are the strongest for the following reasons:

The links are soldered individually

They can be made thicker (and more durable) and still retain that flexibility of a rope chain

With the above said they do not have a bending point - which means they will not break and can withstand any form of activity like bending, twisting, folding or knotting.

In the rare event that a link breaks, the chain can be repaired by replacing the link or reattaching the remaining links.

You have to remember though that this will only apply to quality metal. Any jewelry made out of substandard material will deteriorate over time regardless of the design.

But how to sort the real deal from the not-so-great ones?

Know the material: Solid chain vs. hollow gold chain

There are three types of material that a gold chain for women can be made of: Solid gold, gold filled and gold plated.

For a detailed insight, check out our comprehensive guide to gold. Here is just a brief outline:

Solid Gold Chains

Solid Gold – Solid gold doesn’t necessarily mean that the chain is made of 100% pure gold (24 karats). It can be 22K, 18K, 14K or 10K. Of these, 18 and 14 karat gold have the best combination of beauty and strength. Higher gold karatage results in a weaker chain while lower karatage results in chains that don’t have the best gold color.

Gold Filled – Also called rolled gold, this type of metal is made by bonding sheets of gold onto a base metal, commonly silver. Rolled gold is much less valuable than a solid gold chain but better than gold plate.

Gold Plated – Gold plate is done by submerging the non-gold alloy into molten gold to create the golden coating. This is one of the inferior forms of golden chains in the sense that the only gold material you can find is on the coating of the base metal. It is less costly but it is more temperamental because it needs so much care and maintenance to make its beauty last longer.

Hollow Gold Chains

Hollow gold chains have a hollow space inside, somewhat like a tube. The reason for this is to reduce the quantity of gold used in the chain.

For example, a hollow 14K gold chain will still be a gold chain, but with much less gold than in a solid chain. Hollow gold chains are less expensive and lighter but they are much weaker. They can dent, kink or break easily.

If you have the choice, go for a solid chain as it will last you a very long time and will never lose its value. But if you’re on a budget, a hollow chain gold chain still has more resale value than a solid gold plated or gold filled piece.

Is a hollow gold chain fake?

This depends on the amount of gold in the chain.

Not all hollow gold chains are fake. Hollow chains refer to how the chains are constructed not what type of material they are made of. As mentioned above, hollow gold chains can still be made out of pure, 24-karat gold or the other valuable gold alloys. And of course, they can be gold plated.

But are hollow gold chains the best type? Depending on what you use it for, hollow chains are either value for money or a wasted investment.

Hollow gold chains are better worn every now and then and do not perform well for daily wear.

Evaluate the quality of your gold

Because gold is a very in-demand metal, there will always be people who will try to fob you off with a fake. The key to outsmarting them is to know your information and not fall for these traps! Here are five easy ways to determine whether a gold chain is real or fake:

Hallmark - A hallmark is a tiny engraving on the surface of an item of gold jewelry, usually found in very inconspicuous parts. This indicates the purity and material of the gold chain. Any reputable gold chain manufacturer will include a hallmark on their work.

Porcelain test - One of the easiest ways to initially determine if the material is fake or not is by rubbing it against an unglazed porcelain tile. Inspect the color the chain has left on the tile. If it is real gold, you should be able to see a golden yellow stain. If it is a fake (usually of pyrite), it would leave a black streak.

Magnet - Another easy initial test would be to check if the product is magnetic. There is no such thing as magnetic gold. If your chain is attracted to a magnet, then it means that it has some iron or even nickel in it. While this is a good test, remember that some scammers use non-magnetic metals such as copper, aluminum, and lead.

Acid Test - You can do this with nitric acid, hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid. Granted, it isn’t always easy to get your hands on these chemicals. But assuming that you do, all you have to do is to drop a very small amount of acid on the body (not the clasps since some scammers would go so far as to make the clasps real just to trick you). If there is no reaction, there is a good chance that you have the real deal. If there is, then you’ve got either a fake, a gold-plated item, or an item with a very small percentage of gold (and not exactly what the karat hallmark says).

Appraisal - This is the sure-fire way to determine the authenticity of your gold chain. It is somewhat costly to pay for an appraiser and this is best if you are dealing with high-risk purchases.

Chain thickness: know which is for what

The thickness of a gold chain doesn’t only serve aesthetic purposes. It also has practical uses. Gold chains are produced thick or thin according to how they are used.

If you are going to use the chain to hold a pendant, consider the size of the pendant. Make sure the chain is thick enough to be able to hold the weight.

Some people consider having long hair a major issue when wearing gold chains. This is because smaller, thinner chains can tangle easily, taking your hair with them. To avoid this, it is advisable to wear a chain of medium thickness.

For men who use the chain as a standalone accessory, personality is key. If you are more of a flashy, boisterous type, a thicker gold chain for men is good for you. For simpler silent types, a thin chain works well.

Pick the length of your chain

You don’t want to be choked to death by your own jewelry because it’s too short nor deal with a mess of tangles because it’s too long. Chains ranging from 14 to 22 inches are the most common for regular wear.

Shorter chains are good for day and night use and are more comfortable if you plan to wear the chain while you sleep. As an aside, it is not advisable to wear your gold chain when you sleep because it can cause sleep marks on your skin and there is the possibility of damaging the gold by bending or denting it. Another thing you have to avoid with short chains is getting choked. Make room for some movement.

Longer chains are best for outdoor wear and/or parties. They get in the way more than short chains do and therefore are best for special occasions or when you are heading out.

Know your style

You have to know your style in order to choose your chain.

If you like classy and elegant designs, go for a thin, delicate chain. Choose a simple pendant to go with it for a casual, stylishly minimalist look. For a more outgoing person who likes to make a statement, an eye-catching larger chain will work wonders. You can pull it off, so why hold back!

#rolex watches for women gold #rolex watches #rolex watches for men #gold chains #10k white gold chains #gold chains for men #gold chains for womens

0 notes

samanthasroberts · 6 years ago

Text

What Random Walks in Multiple Dimensions Teach You About Life

The last time I looked at random walks, I used them to calculate the value of Pi for Pi Day. But what is a random walk, really? A mathematician will tell you that it's a stochastic process—a path defined by a series of random steps. It's a pretty abstract concept, but I want to show you how it can reveal something fundamental about life itself—the proteins that make up you and me and everything around us.

So let's start with the simplest random walk, in one dimension.

One Dimensional Random Walk

Suppose I have an object. This object can either move one space to the left or one space to the right. Suppose I let it make 100 steps. Here's what that might look like. (click the "play" to run it)

That's at least marginally interesting, right? But the cool part is that if you run it a bunch of times, it will (on average) end up farther away from the starting point depending on the number of steps. Oh sure—it's possible that it could take 1,000 steps and end up where it started, but that probably won't happen.

But wait. There is another kind of random walk—there is the Self Avoiding Walk (SAW). This is just like a random walk except that the object can't cross over its own path. In one dimension this would just be an object that continues to move to the left or continues to move to the right. After it makes its first move, there is only one way it can go. This is a boring simulation, so I won't show it—but you can change line 37 in the code above so that it reads saw=True (case matters) and then it will be a self avoiding walk.

Now for a plot. Suppose I run the random walk (the normal one, not the self avoiding one) such that it goes 10 steps. If I repeat these 10 steps 500 times, I will get an average final distance. Then I can repeat this for 20 steps, then 30 steps and so on. After that (which takes a while to run), I get the following plot of average distance vs. number of steps. If you want to see the code to produce this plot, here it is (no warranty included).

What is important about this plot? Really, the only thing to notice is that this is different than a plot of a one dimensional random self avoiding walk. That plot would be boring as it would show the distance as equal to the number of steps (since it can't go back on itself).

Two Dimensional Random Walk

If we go in two dimensions, it gets a little more interesting. Check this out—it's a 2-D random self avoiding walk. I have it set for 100 steps, but it doesn't usually make it that far before it gets stuck. Yes, if the object avoids its own path it can get into a situation where it can not make a move. Check it out. Again, click the "play" to run it (it's fun).

Again, let's see what happens when I run it a bunch of times at 10 steps up to 500 steps. Note: I just have the program quit when it gets stuck for a SAW.

The curve that fits the data isn't important. The thing you should focus on is the difference between SAW and non-SAW data. Since the SAW can't cross its own path, it is forced to expand outward giving it (on average) a greater distance from the starting point. However, the SAW also gets stuck at some point such that it doesn't really get farther than 10 units away (that's why it levels off). I think that's pretty cool.

Three Dimensional Random Walk

When will it end? Will I just keep moving into more and more dimensions (spoiler alert: No, I am going to stop at 4-D). Here is a 3-D random SAW.

Note: I turned off "user zoom" so that you won't accidentally zoom to nothing. However, you can still rotate the scene since it's 3-D. Just right-click-drag or ctrl-click-drag to move the camera view of the 3-D path. It's pretty. Oh, also notice that this is rarely going to get "stuck." With six options for movement, there is probably going to be at least one of those directions that is open (and not already traveled).

What about average distance traveled for SAW vs. non-SAW? Here you go (note, this is the same program for all of these graphs).

Again, the SAW version ends up at a greater distance because the object can't cross its path and gets "pushed" out more. But both types of walks have nice curve fits with the increasing distance with step size to the power of 0.4975 and the SAW increasing at a power of 0.4688. So, they are close to being the same but still different.

Four Dimensional Random Walk

How do you make a random walk in four dimensions? Mathematically, it's pretty easy—you just need an extra variable to represent that fourth dimension (and no, you can't use time as a fourth dimension here). For my python code, I am just going use a vector for position along with an extra variable (that I call "w"). If you still want a visual animation, the code still works. It just displays motion in the fourth dimension as a change in color. That means that in a SAW, it's possible that the object appears to cross its own path—but it doesn't. Actually, it just moved in the fourth dimension (which you can't really see) and avoided the path. Here is the 4-D walk (notice that I didn't tell you to click "play").

Now for the important part. Here is a plot of final distance vs. step number for both the normal and the SAW.

Notice that there is still a difference between SAW and normal walks—but the difference is very small. Basically in 4-D the object doesn't really run into its own path so that it doesn't have to avoid itself. Oh, and I have never seen it get stuck (but it's still technically possible).

Random Walks in Real Life

You might be thinking that I'm just some crazy old man that's obsessed with random walks. OK, that's mostly true. But still—there are real world applications of random walks. In particular, proteins can be modeled as a random walk. I won't go into all the details of proteins except to say two things. First, these are long molecular chains. Second, proteins are important for living things like you and me. If a protein is like a random walk, then maybe this model shows why life is in three dimensions instead of one, two, or four. Hear me out. (Yes, I know I'm crazy.)

Life can't be in one dimension. Sure you could make a 1-D protein, but it would never do anything useful. It wouldn't interact with other things (except on the ends) and more importantly, it wouldn't interact with itself. If the protein chain can't fold over and connect back to itself, it can't make useful molecules (you know, for life and stuff).

What about two-dimensional life? The big problem here is that you can't make long proteins. Yeast proteins are over 400 units long. Good luck getting a random SAW that is over 50 units long without it getting stuck. You just can't get long proteins in two dimensions and you can't have yeast in 2-D. Without yeast, you can't have two-dimensional beer—so we know life can't exist in 2-D.

If more dimensions allows for longer proteins, then why isn't life in 4-D? Oh, don't worry about space being 3-D—that's a whole other debate we can save for another time. More importantly, there is a problem with 4-D random walks. Since there are so many options for each step, a random walk is unlikely to cross over its own path—which is bad for proteins. You want them to be able to get long but also to have the opportunity to connect to itself. In four dimensions, random walks do that rarely, which would make it difficult (unlikely) to get more complex molecules that are probably important for life.

Or maybe I'm still just a crazy dude that likes random walks.

Homework

How about some homework questions for you? Yes, that's a good idea.

In all of my examples, I have a random walks (and SAW) as a lattice walk. This means that the vector location of the object always consists of components that are integers. This makes it much easier to program, but maybe it's not realistic. See if the same conclusions about random walks in different dimensions holds true for a random walk that takes a step size of 1 unit, but at a random angle. This is pretty easy in 2-D since you just need one random angle. In 3-D you need two angles (the angles from spherical coordinates). Not sure how do to this in 4-D. Oh, seeing if it crosses its own path is more difficult too. Good luck.

What if you don't have a step size of 1 but instead each step has its own distance? Pick something like a normal distribution for step sizes and see if this same stuff works.

What does the average distance vs. step number look like for a five-dimensional SAW and a 5-D random walk?

What is the average number of steps before a random walk has a path conflict (such that it would have to either avoid its path or connect to make some type of molecule)? Yes, do this for two, three, and four dimensions.