#linden banks

[riveramorylunar]

I miss lovestruck so much 😭 wish I could play it again for the first time

Made a little something to say bye to Lovestruck 💕 The game might be gone, but I know we'll see these lovely characters again ❤

Thank you for everything Lovestruck ❤️

[witchyautumns]

A selected playlist for this year's fall season ❤️

🇳🇴 Mari Boine - Vuoi Vuoi Mu 🇱🇹 Nine Lindens (Lithuanian Multipart Polyphonic Song) 🇳🇱 Heidevolk - Het bier zal weer vloeien 🇦🇹 Claudia Engelberger - Die Gedanken Sind Frei 🇫🇴 Eivør - Trøllabundin 🇷🇴 Sandra N – Spirit de dac 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Julie Fowlis - Òganaich Uir a Rinn M' Fhàgail 🇭🇺 TÖRÖK Tilla orchestra - Határtalanság 🇮🇸 Krummavísur 🇫🇷 Nolwenn Leroy - Tri Martolod 🇸🇰 Hrdza - Nie tvoja 🇸🇪 Garmarna - Herr Mannelig 🇺🇦 Folknery - Karchata 🇩🇰 Myrkur - I riden så 🇮🇪 Liam Ó Maonlaí - Eleanór a Rún 🇫🇮 Tuuletar - Ievan polkka 🇫🇷 Arany Zoltán -Tourdion (Renaissance classic) 🇮🇹 Corte di Lunas - Scjaraçule maraçule (medieval song from Friuli) 🇧🇾 Kupalinka (traditional) 🇫🇴 Eivør - Í Tokuni 🇩🇪 Corvus Corax - Palästinalied 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Madelgarde - The Stag & Sickle (Old English) 🇵🇱 Laboratorium Pieśni - Sztoj pa moru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Kathleen MacInnes - Gaol ise Gaol i 🇱🇹 Rasa Serra - Žalioj girioj, lygioj lankoj 🇲🇩 Drumul Dracului 🇫🇷 La Rioule des Compagnons du Monde - Gloire aux Moutons 🇬🇷 Απάνω στην Τριανταφυλλιά (On the rosebush) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Plethyn - Didlan 🇦🇹 Amarok Avari - Bärentanz 🇪🇸 Arany Zoltán - Non é gran cousa (medieval song from Galicia) 🇷🇺 Отава Ё – Сумецкая 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Peter Bellamy - Oak, Ash and Thorn 🇸🇪 Jonna Jinton - Vargsången 🇭🇷 Svarica - Smrt u jeseni 🇮🇪 Liam Ó Maonlaí - Sadhbh Ni Bhruinneallaigh 🇳🇴 Rolandskvadet 🇮🇹 Gorö po popu (traditional zitera dance from Resia Valley) 🇩🇪 Faun - Diese kalte Nacht 🇸🇮 Zrejlo je žito (traditional) 🇱🇻 Tatjana Vucāne - 'Latvietes Mīts /Piedzimšana/Jaunība 🇸🇰 Hrdza - Stephen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ella Roberts - The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond 🇷🇺 Oh, my dear sisters, Oh, my dear godmothers 🇫🇮 Sanni Halla - Nuku nuku nurmilintu

image credit: Seniorita Verita (reblog here the original picture)

[saurongorthaur9]

The Truth That Binds

Rating: M

Summary: As Halbrand heals from his wound, he and Galadriel grow closer, and Galadriel makes a confession of hope that turns into one of love. But Halbrand insists that Galadriel make him a promise: a promise to remember a truth that will bind her for all time. My first Haladriel/Saurondriel fic!

Also available to read on AO3

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The light that danced on the Glanduin that morning was a silver brighter than burnished elven steel, the trees across the river were a display of every shade of green, and the lupins that grew along the path were the most beautiful purples and blues, an ocean of color that wrapped around Galadriel from every side. The air from the west was wholesome and fresh, and despite the new whispers of war from the south, Galadriel felt a deeper peace than she had known for a thousand years. And her heart told her that she owed that newfound peace to the man walking companionably by her side.

Halbrand had been instructed by his healers to take a daily walk along the banks of the Glanduin to regain his strength after his close brush with death. Already, the deathly pallor that had clung to his cheeks during their ride to Eregion had retreated, the red-brown luster of his hair had returned, and he stood straight and tall once again. Galadriel attested his swift recovery from the terrible wound to the strength and nobility of his will, yet more proof that he truly was a king of Men.

She glanced at him, her eyes fondly tracing the profile that she had grown to know so well in these past months since their chance meeting upon the sea. Most mornings she accompanied him on his walk, having little else to do while awaiting the High King's arrival, and though she and Halbrand rarely spoke on those occasions, it did not seem to Galadriel that they needed to. Never before had she met another being whose very soul seemed to be so attuned to hers. Ever since the battle and that quiet moment afterwards beside him in the forest, she felt somehow bound to him in a way she could not yet name, and new thoughts and feelings stirred deep inside her every time their eyes met, filling all her being – body and soul – with licking flames. Yet, even so, she could not help but notice that for the last several days, Halbrand's thoughts seemed to be turned elsewhere, to concerns veiled from her mind, yet she could guess that his thoughts strayed to his people in the south, homeless and adrift, and the orcs filling the land that he should be ruling.

They reached a point in the trail where the path wove into a shaded glen. It was quiet and isolated, hidden by the ring of linden and beech trees from the tall towers of the city. In the middle of the grove was an elegant wooden bench, surrounded by the sweet-smelling lupins. It had become a wordless custom between them to linger a while here, watching the river flow lazily by as they basked in one another's company.

For a while they became lost in the companionable silence, surrounded by the murmur of wind in the trees all around and the soft lap of water along the bank. But then Halbrand breathed a deep sigh. "It truly is beautiful here," he murmured.

Galadriel looked at him. There was awe in his gaze, but also a longing, and beneath that, something akin to hunger that flickered deep in his green eyes. She looked around at the aestival loveliness of their surroundings, and her mouth twisted slightly. "You should see Lindon," she replied in the same quiet tone that he had used.

He shot her a look, eyebrow raised. "Is that an invitation, Galadriel?" he asked, and there was a note of a familiar teasing tone in his voice that made warmth rise in Galadriel's chest.

Her own gaze was steady and serious. "No," she said. "But with the new threat of Adar and the orcs in the south, it may be that my High King will wish to ally himself with the King of the Southlands. In that case, you may very well see the heart of elvendom in Middle-earth."

"I think I should like that," he answered, his voice distant.

"To see my family's home or to ally your people to mine?" she asked.

He didn't answer, but he gazed across the river silently, his body strangely still.

Galadriel followed his gaze out across the water. "You worry for your people, do you not?" she said softly. "Now that your wound is healing and your body grows strong again, you will leave Eregion and return to them soon." As she said the words, she felt the heaviness of them and the shortness of time sink into her heart. She had known that such must come to pass and that the day that their paths finally diverged could not be staved off forever. Her soul felt full of a thousand thoughts and emotions that she could not bring herself to admit. Yet, the silence between them screamed at her to say something.

"Halbrand," she said quietly.

He turned his eyes to her, the intensity of his full gaze settling on her face.

"Halbrand," she said again, and his name on her lips felt like a prayer. "I do not truly think you know all that you have done for me."

His lips twisted into that familiar wry smile. "I'm the one with a crown and a people again because of you," he said.

"Yes," she acknowledged solemnly, "but you have given me just as much." Her eyes wandered across the river once again, to the swaying trees on the distant bank. "For a thousand years, I had been driven by naught but by a desire for vengeance and a creeping dread that freezes the very heart. But hope? Hope was something I believed had died inside me with my brother and my cousins and all else whom I lost in the War." Her fingers wound around the dagger hilt at her belt, the touch of it more familiar than anything else in her world. "Deep down, I do not know if I truly wished to find Sauron and finally end his evil, for if I did, what else would I have to live for? My vengeance would be put to rest, and then there would be nothing."

She could feel his gaze on her, and she turned back to him. "I cannot explain it, but your presence has filled a gaping hole in my soul that I did not know could ever be mended." She stuttered, aware of how vulnerable and intimate were the words she spoke, but it was as if a fire were lit now in her heart and she could not let it burn out or a part of her would wither. "Halbrand, when I leapt from that ship, I do not know what it was I sought. But I found in you that which I did not think to seek: purpose, and with it again…hope."

Her fingers sought his and grasped his hand. The burning inside her was growing, and she needed him to understand. "For a millennia, all that my heart sought was death and destruction – of evil, yes, but death and destruction still. I needed to know that I had more left to me than seeking to destroy, that I could also seek to build and to grow and to mend." She felt tears forming upon her lashes, threatening to spill down her narrow cheeks. "I needed to know that I could seek life beyond my endless quest for death." She squeezed his hand. "You gave me that, Halbrand, and it shall ever be in my heart, whether you are at my side or on a distant shore of Middle-earth."

She felt as if she were sinking into his eyes, and through his eyes into the depths of his being. She brought up her hand and gently stroked her fingertips over the rough stubble of his cheeks and let them brush through the edges of his brown locks. Her other hand trembled in his.

He lifted his own hand, mirroring her, and she felt his calloused blacksmith fingers brushing along her cheekbones and slipping deep into her hair. His gaze remained locked with hers, the intensity of their stares perfectly matched.

The heat had settled deep in Galadriel's stomach, burning, burning. As if of their own accord, her eyes darted momentarily down to the curve of his lips then back up to his eyes. As brief as the moment was, however, Halbrand saw. "Galadriel," he said softly, and there was something like a quiet warning in his voice.

Somehow, their bodies had drawn closer, she did not know how. But now they sat so close together that her leg was all but brushing his and their still-joined hands rested in the minute gap between their hips.

For a moment, doubt seized her, thoughts of duties and her place among elvenkind and the distance that would soon separate her and the King of the Southlands. But she was Galadriel, daughter of the golden house of Finarfin, and it was not for others to decide how she wove her own fate. She leaned forward.

To her surprise, Halbrand stopped her.

"Galadriel," he said again, her name both a reverence and a warning. "Are you sure you want this?"

She tilted her chin proudly, her voice strong again. "I have walked Middle-earth since the first sunrise," she said, "and in that time, I have pursued that which I desired and let no Man or Elf stop me."

There it was again: that wry smile that danced at the corners of his lips and formed soft crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. "That is something to which I can readily attest," he answered. "Even when I first saw you upon that raft, I knew you were someone who chose her own path." His eyes grew briefly distant, lost to either thought or memory, but when they focused on her again, they burned with a new intensity. His fingers tightened in her hand.

"Galadriel," he said. "Tell me, do you love me?"

Her gaze did not waver and her chin remained tilted, confident and strong. "Yes," she answered simply.

His lips tightened, but she could not tell what emotion it was that danced behind the light of his eyes. "Do you love me, Galadriel? Not the King of the Southlands. Not the blacksmith of Númenor. Not the man who saved your life? But me? Do you truly love who I am?"

She could tell the question was intensely important to him, that it touched something that gnawed at the very core of his soul. She cupped his cheek, re-teaching her fingers how to be tender after fighting for so long. "Yes, Halbrand, I love you," she answered. "Not for your armies and your kingdoms, not for any debt owed, but for you."

He reached up and took her hand from his face and held both her hands tightly in his lap. His stare seemed to be boring a hole straight through her to her soul. "Can you promise me something, Galadriel?" he asked. "I need you to make me a promise."

For a moment, Galadriel hesitated, knowing with intimate pain the price that could come with an oath. Yet her resolve hardened at the strange agony she saw on his face as he waited for her answer. "What is it that you would have me promise?"

He kept hold of her hands tightly. "I ask only that you promise to remember this moment and what I am about to tell you." He adjusted himself on the bench to face her entirely, his leg pressing flush against hers. "There may come a day when you doubt what I am about to say, when you wonder if I told you the truth. And I tell you, Galadriel, this is the truth. Whatever else you may come to believe, remember that in this moment, I told you the truth."

His fingers seemed to burn against her skin, even as his eyes seemed to burn against her face. "Galadriel, whatever else you may ever believe about me, whatever else about me you may someday learn, I need you to know that I have not been false with you. This, Galadriel, this…" He lifted her hand and placed it against his chest over his heart. "…this is real. This is who I am, truly me. I have worn no mask in your presence. I need you to promise me that you will always remember that I told you this and that it was the truth."

She did not understand, but she understood that this promise was more important to him than anything he had ever asked of her before. She spread her fingers over his heart. "I promise," she said steadily. "I promise to remember for all time, Halbrand."

Finally, he relaxed, and his fingers around her hand were gentle once again. His shoulders eased, as if a great weight had suddenly fallen from them. For a moment, Galadriel thought she felt something brush against her mind, like a fellow powerful will, but she dismissed it as a part of her own complicated thoughts, for only her people and powers higher than they could touch minds in such a manner.

"Are you content?" she asked.

"Yes," he sighed. "Yes, I am content."

"Then shall I pursue what I desire?"

The smirk that crossed his lips this time was playful and mischievous, and his eyes glimmered.

Galadriel reach up and twined her fingers through his hair, and then she pressed her lips to his.

It was as if colors that she had never before conceived of burst into being and sensations of which she had never dreamed were birthed inside of her, light and time and darkness across eons converging upon one another in this one moment and place. Galadriel kissed him with the fire of the Noldor and the pain of the last three thousand years and the hope that he had brought back into her life. Inside her and all around her, a Song seemed to rise and reverberate, as if the Great Music at the heart of all existence was blossoming into life.

For a moment, Halbrand's lips were still against hers, almost as though he couldn't believe the kiss was real, but then with a surge of passion and fierce hunger, he lifted his hands to bury them deep in her hair on either side of her face, and at the same time kissed her back with ravening desire. He kissed her as if he were lost in the shadows of the deepest caves in the heart of the Hithaeglir and she was the only light that could guide him back home. He kissed her as if he were a starving man and she the only feast that could sate him. He kissed her as if this were his one and only chance and he might never touch her again.

His stubble tickled pleasantly against her cheeks, but his lips were soft and clever against hers. His fingers carded deeply through her hair, and she shivered with involuntary pleasure as they stroked along the sensitive curve and taper of her pointed ears. At the same time, his lips parted, needing more than a superficial touch, and she felt the silky glide of his tongue over her lower lip as a reverberation that trembled all the way down to her core.

Her own response was immediate. She seized a handful of his hair and pulled him flush against her, parting her own lips in both an invitation and a claim, twining her tongue around his. Momentarily, he seemed caught off guard by her boldness, but then she felt his lips twist against hers into a smirk and he was kissing her back with the exact same abandon, refusing to let her throw him off.

There was too much distance between them, still too much. They were turned towards each other on the bench, their legs brushing together, but it was not enough. Skillful and graceful as any move she might have made on the battlefield, she kept her lips crushed against his as she pushed herself up and pivoted in a single movement, landing squarely in his lap, with her knees pressed against his hips on either side. He grunted in brief surprise, which made her smile, but then he was back to ravaging her with his mouth. His right hand remained buried in her long golden hair, cupping her cheek, but his other hand began to explore down her lithe form, gliding over her shoulders, then down her back, and finally over the swell of her hips and backside, where it settled, warm and firm, holding her body to himself.

She pressed her chest to him, leaning fully against him, and wrapped one arm about his broad shoulders. Her other hand explored every texture and feature of the face she had come to know so well by sight, seeking to memorize every line and angle. His tangled hair tickled against the back of her knuckles. He smelled of blacksmith iron and sweet wood smoke and the herbal ointments that the healers had used on his broken body. She remembered sitting next to him during those harrowing first few nights in Eregion, when it had been unclear if the souring of his wound ran too deep even for elvish medicine. She remembered further back to the days spent riding from the ruined Southlands and those long dark nights when she had forced both herself and the two steeds past the point normal endurance, terrified that if she stopped for even the briefest respite that Halbrand's life would be the cost, a price for which she would never forgive herself. She remembered how each stride of her horse's gallop had reverberated with the pounding of her heart when she had looked back on the final stretch of the ride to see Halbrand slumped motionless over his saddle and her devastating fear that she had lost this man with his charming smirk and his enigmatic eyes just when she was beginning to realize how much he meant to her.

But she had not lost him. They had survived, both of them, through the storm on the raft and through the battle against the orcs and through the torment of the fire mountain and through the fear and pain of their long ride to Eregion. He was safe, and he was hers at last.

As if his mind were at one with hers, he rose suddenly, lips still passionately pressed to hers, holding her slender body easily in his arms. She felt him stepping forward then bending, and the next thing she knew, he was laying her down in the fragrant grass and he himself was bent over her, his arms planted on either side of her head and his knees at her hips. Finally, he pulled his lips from hers in a slow, tantalizing caress and stared down at her, awe and lust mingling in his green eyes at the sight of her laid out beneath him with her shining golden hair pooled about her in the lush green grass. She stared up at him, undaunted but utterly mesmerized by the rugged, handsome king blocking out the sunlight from her view and casting her in shadows upon the ground.

"Galadriel," he whispered, as one might say the names of the Valar.

She cupped his cheek tenderly. "My king," she whispered back. "Oh, Halbrand."

He dipped forward to pull a long, lingering kiss from her lips, which sent shivers of liquid pleasure dancing down Galadriel's body. But now his hands were busy about her waist, loosening her belt and the elven silks in which she was draped. Heat steadily rose in Galadriel's chest, her breathing quickening rapidly. Her own fingers darted to his waist, undoing the leather belt clasped about his trim middle. She tugged at the bothersome fabric of his tunic, fingers desperate for skin, and he shrugged fluidly, helping her to free himself of the garment which he discarded on the grass beside them, leaving his broad chest bare.

Galadriel gazed up at him in ardent fascination then reached out a hand to place her palm flat against his chest. Thick coarse hair scratched against her skin. His breathing was quick, and she could feel his heart pulsing wildly.

But then he was bending over her again, and she felt her belt slip free under his fingers. In a moment of pure instinct, her hand darted out to stop him, and they froze, both their hands resting over the hilt of her brother's dagger.

She stared up wide-eyed into his face, frozen with sudden dread, and he stared down at her, still and quiet while he waited for her to face that dread. Her lips trembled. But then she slowly drew her hand away, giving him silent permission to continue.

Softly and almost reverently, he slipped the belt off her body and laid it, with the dagger, gently on top of his tunic. Just as gently, he ran his fingertips down her arm in a soft reassurance that made her heart tremble. But then his lips parted and just like that his passion was back, and he was tugging at the dress encasing her body. Eagerly, he pulled it off of her, allowing it to join his tunic in the grass, and leaving her utterly unclothed to his gaze.

The touch of the grass and wind and the sunlight felt strange against her naked flesh, but a sense of calm and peace wrapped all around her. Everything about this moment – both the laying aside of her dagger and her nakedness in that serene glen – felt so right, pieces of a puzzle coming together that she had waited years to find. She felt no fear or shame, only the intense burning in her core of how right this moment felt, of how right he felt.

His gaze said it all. He stared at her as if he could devour her with his eyes, his gaze sweeping down her entire body with reverence and hunger, from her white shoulders and breasts down to the bare curve of her hips and thighs and the golden curls between her legs. There was no need for him to speak, for his eyes said everything, and Galadriel reveled in the glory of her king's worshipful gaze.

With a quick, almost desperate movement, he freed himself of his trousers then stretched his own lean naked body over hers.

She gasped heavily at the sudden sensation of all of him, his heat and his weight, pressed down upon her own body. But he gave her no time to consider everything that was happening, for his lips descended upon her again, this time pressing everywhere he could reach. She arched her back, baring her throat, as his mouth found her pulse, first sucking with his lips, then scraping gently with his teeth, then laving with the flat of his tongue, drawing soft keening sounds from her lips. Her core pulsed and burned. Every inch of her yearned for him.

Down his lips strayed, and she wrapped her arm tight around his shoulder, caressing the lines of his muscles on his powerful back. Her other hand tangled in his hair, keeping his face pressed to her skin and silently encouraging his worshipful attention. He kissed along her shoulder, then along her collarbone, his hands dancing as skillfully along her body as she had seen him handle steel in the Númenorean forge. He shaped her pleasure just as expertly as he had shaped the armor she wore into battle. Her heart was pounding so hard that she knew he must be able to feel it.

He hand glided back up to her ribs where he cupped her breast easily, squeezing gently. His palm felt so large over her soft flesh, and she trembled all over, another soft sound escaping her that turned into a helpless whine as his clever fingers began to toy with her hardened nipple. He rolled the sensitive rosy nub between his thumb and forefingers, drawing out sensations that spiked all the way through Galadriel's body. Her back instinctively arched further, pressing herself into his hand, and his other palm slipped beneath her, resting against the exposed small of her back to support her frame.

Without warning, he lowered his mouth to her other breast, sucking her nipple in between his lips suddenly and causing her to gasp and squirm beneath him. His tongue played with her, causing her to whine and rub her thighs together with the building need. And then, curse his impudence, she felt the smirk of his lips against her breast and she knew he was pleased at the reaction he was dragging out of her. Well, if that was the way her roguish king was going to play…

He nearly choked as her own slender fingers grasped him firmly between his legs, and now it was her turn to smirk at the truly delightful whimper that he released into the world. His head fell back, his eyelids drooping languidly, his mouth hanging open, the long line of his throat exposed. As she began to stroke him, his fingers knotted tightly in the grass at her side and his body convulsed beautifully above her with pleasure.

Then his eyes snapped back open, piercing down upon her suddenly and fiercely. For a moment, it seemed that a light came on behind the veneer of his eyes, a flame as bright and consuming as the fire mountain that had devastated his Southlands. His hands grasped her hips and their eyes locked. The very air around them seemed to take a deep, shuddering breath of anticipation.

Galadriel's head fell back, hair spilling wildly around her, as Halbrand joined their bodies together as one. All around, it seemed there was a rainbow of light, more brilliant and beautiful than anything she had ever seen. Time and the expanse of Eä itself wheeled around them, but they were untouched by it, lost in their own universe where two bodies moved together in perfect harmony and two souls clung to each other for understanding that only the other could give. Their lips met again, and they kissed and wept crystal tears that mingled on each other's cheeks, and when Galadriel's pleasure crested and crashed about her, she grasped wildly at his shoulders and cried out his name, and when he followed her shortly after, he buried his face in the golden pool of her hair and panted raggedly as their heartbeats gradually slowed against one another's breasts.

Afterwards, he wrapped her in his arms and tugged her gently to his own body, and she rested her head on his chest as soft warmth and contentment and a peace like nothing she had ever known settled all around her like a blanket woven of down. The circle of blue sky above them and the ring of trees sang with the Music of which the world was made. Halbrand hummed deep in his throat, a strange tune that Galadriel assumed must be some song of the Southlands but at the same time, it was oddly familiar to her, as if she had heard it sometime in her distant past. Her hand gently stroked the ragged red scar on his side, and she thanked whatever fate it had been that brought them together on that raft all those months ago.

~o~o~o~

Less than a month later, Galadriel confronted Halbrand with a scroll of lineage in her hand, only a little ways down the bank from the place where they had joined body and soul, and she saw his familiar warm eyes turn cold and ancient and terrible. There, he offered to make her his queen for all time, and she had placed her dagger against his throat and refused him, even as it tore her soul in half to do so.

And there, on the bank of the Glanduin, only a few days later, she came across the glade of fragrant lupins where her abhorred enemy had laid her down so tenderly in the grass and given all of himself to her, even as he had also taken everything from her. She fell to her knees there in the grass, wrapping her arms about herself, and sobbed until her throat was ragged and no more tears would come.

She wept from the pain of betrayal and horror, she wept for the loss of her dear friend and companion, she wept for the knowledge that never again would she feel the peace and the understanding that she had only known in his presence, and she wept from the part of her that now yearned for him with an aching need that could never again be sated. All around her, the sunlight on the water and the shadowing trees and the lupins seemed to have lost all their luster, plunging her into a world wrapped only in hues of grey.

And there, in the grey and the silence, she remembered his voice and his fingers in her hair and the promise he had made her swear to him: that she would remember the truth he had told her, that the man she had loved had been real. It was that knowledge that pained her more than anything else and dragged from her the most bitter tears. It was the truth that would bind her in sorrow and shame and pain until the last days of her elven years were finally spent.

It was the truth that she had looked directly into the soul of her greatest Enemy and desperately loved what she found there.

[stellarosamarys]

New Writeblr here !

Hi everyone, my name is Stella! I've been on Tumblr for a bit more than ten years now, but never on the writers' side of it. I'm 24, and I write mostly YA Fantasy (though I'm looking to branch into adult at some point as well).

I'd love to meet other writers around here, so please interact if you'd like to be mutuals! I'll leave a bit more about my current WIP under the cut.

TITLE: Vineyard WIP/Winery WIP

GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary Fantasy

SETTING: A winery in the South of France and its adjacent, weird little village.

COMPS: OUTER BANKS meets STRANGER THINGS, THE RAVEN CYCLE and GRAVITY FALLS

STORY:

17-year-old Nora has had an eventful summer - her sister died, her body maimed beyond recognition by an unidentified beast, and she’s had to take care of her wraith ever since then, for the linden tree by her house has the ability to awake the dead from their slumber. But when her parents announce they’d like to make the winery into a guest house for tourists, Nora will have to fight to keep the dead alive, or risk grieving what she’s never truly lost.

It is easier said than done, especially when the murderer strikes again - and perhaps it was never really a beast, but someone close instead. Alongside Myrtille, an aspiring journalist, Dorian, a boy who can walk through dreams, and Silvan, who got closer to the creature than anyone else, Nora will have to find what exactly killed her sister before moving out of her childhood home once the summer returns.

[fibula-rasa]

Lost, but Not Forgotten: A Doll's House (1922)

Direction: Charles Bryant; assisted by Albert Kelley

Scenario: Peter M. Winters (pen name of Nazimova)

Original Play: Henrik Ibsen 

Camera: Charles Van Enger & Neal Jack (2nd camera); assisted by Paul Ivano & Lewis Wilson

Cutting: Lou Ostrow; assisted by Samuel Zimbalist

Wardrobe: Lilliam Turner

Studio: Nazimova Productions (production) & United Artists (distribution)

Performers: Nazimova, Alan Hale, Wedgewood Nowell, Nigel De Brulier, Florence Fisher, Clara Lee, Philippe de Lacy, Barbara Maier, Elinor Oliver

Premiere: Opening week: February 11-18, Strand Theatre, 1579 Broadway, Manhattan, NY and the Strand Brooklyn Theatre, 647 Brooklyn, NY.

Status: presumed entirely lost

Length: 7 reels or roughly 77 minutes

Synopsis (synthesized from magazine summaries of the plot)

In a comfortable flat, Nora Helmer (Nazimova) keeps house for her husband, Torvald (Hale), and their three children. Nora works hard to keep Torvald happy by playing the role of his “little squirrel.”

from Moving Picture World, 18 February 1922

Things were not always so comfortable for the Helmers, however. Three years prior, Torvald was gravely ill and the doctor ordered special treatment and a trip south to save his life. Nora secretly approached a money-lender, Krogstad (Nowell), to pay for Torvald’s treatment and forged her now-deceased father’s signature on a bond. In the intervening years, Nora has scrimped, saved, and taken in extra work to pay off the loan—still keeping the secret from her “principled” husband, who doesn’t approve of money-lenders.

Now, Torvald has fully recovered his health and Nora is one payment away from paying the loan in full. Torvald gets promoted to an official position at the bank and Krogstad now works under him. Upon learning that Krogstad has an unsavory past, Torvald decides to fire him—planning on offering his position to Nora’s childhood friend, Mrs. Linden (Fisher), who is now a single mother in need. 

from Exhibitors Herald, 28 January 1922

Krogstad reveals to Nora that he knows she forged her father’s signature and that he will expose her to her husband if she doesn’t get Torvald to reinstate him at the bank. 

Nora desperately tries to keep a cheerful, playful demeanor with Torvald. When Torvald sermonizes to her about moral turpitude due to bad mothers, she panics and feels her downfall is imminent. 

Nora determines that she may be able to pay Krogstad off, and asks a family friend, Dr. Rank (De Brulier), for a loan. Unexpectedly, Rank takes this moment to confess his feelings for Nora. Nora rebuffs him, but now feels as though she has nowhere to turn.

from Motion Picture Magazine, May 1922

On Christmas Eve, Nora knows that there is a letter from Krogstad in their post box, but only Torvald has a key. Nora frantically distracts him from opening the box before they leave for a holiday masquerade party. Torvald notices Nora’s frenetic energy in how she dances at the party, but doesn’t know the cause. 

When they return home, Torvald retrieves the mail. Before he can open the letter from Krogstad, Nora confesses that she deceived him to save his life. Torvald is furious that Nora has endangered his reputation and questions if she is fit to be a mother while in the same breath stating that he will pay Krogstad off.

However, when Torvald opens the letter, his mood turns on a dime. Krogstad has had a change of heart due to the influence of Mrs. Linden, who also happens to be an old sweetheart of Krogstad’s. The letter contains the cancelled note. Torvald grabs Nora and dances her around the room, overjoyed that his reputation is no longer in danger.

Nora realizes all of her acrobatics (literal and metaphorical) to keep Torvald happy have been pointless. She has sacrificed so much of her energy and independence to merely become “a toy of a selfish man.” The mask has fallen. While Torvald is ready to pretend that nothing has changed, Nora knows that she cannot go back to being his doll. Nora packs up her belongings and leaves the flat—intent on becoming her own person.

Final title card: “The End, or, Rather the Beginning.”

---

Points of Interest:

A Doll’s House (1922) was Nazimova’s first independently produced film after her contract with Metro ended. 

Some of Nazimova’s first roles on the American stage were Ibsen plays (“Hedda Gabler,” “A Doll’s House,” & “The Master Builder,” to be specific), so this film was an attempt to capture some of that work on film.

Only 8 out of Nazimova’s 18 silent films survive today and only 3 have been made available on home video or streaming. [I recently re-watched Salome (1922) on the Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers set and I can’t recommend picking up this set enough!]

All Nazimova Silents:

“War Brides” (1916, presumed lost)

“Revelation” (1918, extant at MGM)

“Toys of Fate” (1918, extant at Národní filmový archiv)

“A Woman of France” (1918, short, presumed lost)

“Eye for Eye” (1918, extant at Gosfilmofond)

“Out of the Fog” (1919, presumed lost)

“The Red Lantern” (1919, extant at Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique, Gosfilmofond)

“The Brat” (1919, presumed lost)

“Stronger than Death” (1920, extant at MGM & Eastman House)

“Heart of a Child” (1920, presumed lost*)

“Madame Peacock” (1920, extant at Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique)

“Billions” (1920, presumed lost)

“Camille” (1921, extant)

“A Doll’s House” (1922, presumed lost)

“Salome” (1922, extant)

“Madonna of the Streets” (1924, presumed lost)

“The Redeeming Sin” (1925, presumed lost)

“My Son” (1925, presumed lost)

*The Women Film Pioneers Project website has this film listed as extant at Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique, but LOC lists it having no known archival holdings.

[Survival status checked via LOC’s Silent Feature Film Database, and re-checked at relevant archives when available]

Transcribed Sources & Annotation over on the WMM Blog!

Buy me a coffee!

[loremastering]

Viridine Banks

(Bottom banner by @linden-leaf <3) Alias: Viridine. Race/Class: Hobbit hunter. Sexuality: ??? Age: 30. Residence: The Yondershire. ~ Nature ~ A naive hobbit lass with a peculiar sense of adventure. Generally friendly to those she first meets and has the ability to make fast friends. Ignorant of the fact that this can be taken advantaged of, and is easily manipulated. She possesses a mischievous mind that can (and has!) caused her trouble in her past. Viridine is fond of old ruins and exploring in general, but the outer world beyond the Shire and Bree-Land frightens her. She works for local taverns in Yondershire, supplying their larders with meat from small game she hunts herself. ~ History ~ It is hard to trace her past. She last remembers waking up in a ditch near Staddle. Past that, she holds no memory of anything else. She named herself Viridine Banks in tradition with the hobbits of the Shire, and wonders what her real name could be.

[pellinni-photo]

snowfall in the late autumn. river bank in snow. embankment of the linden alley in uzhgorod - snowfall in the late autumn. river bank in snow. embankment of the linden alley in uzhgorod

[ebaeschnbliah]

Legolas Song of Nimrodel

`Here is Nimrodel! ' said Legolas. 'Of this stream the Silvan Elves made many songs long ago, and still we sing them in the North, remembering the rainbow on its falls, and the golden flowers that floated in its foam. All is dark now and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down. I will bathe my feet, for it is said that the water is healing to the weary.' He went forward and climbed down the deep-cloven bank and stepped into the stream.

`Follow me!' he cried. 'The water is not deep. Let us wade across! On the further bank we can rest. and the sound of the falling water may bring us sleep and forgetfulness of grief.'

One by one they climbed down and followed Legolas. For a moment Frodo stood near the brink and let the water flow over his tired feet. It was cold but its touch was clean, and as he went on and it mounted to his knees, he felt that the stain of travel and all weariness was washed from his limbs.

When all the Company had crossed, they sat and rested and ate a little food; and Legolas told them tales of Lothlórien that the Elves of Mirkwood still kept in their hearts, of sunlight and starlight upon the meadows by the Great River before the world was grey.

At length a silence fell, and they heard the music of the waterfall running sweetly in the shadows. Almost Frodo fancied that he could hear a voice singing, mingled with the sound of the water.

`Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel? ' asked Legolas. 'I will sing you a song of the maiden Nimrodel, who bore the same name as the stream beside which she lived lung ago. It is a fair song in our woodland tongue; but this is how it runs in the Westron Speech, as some in Rivendell now sing it.' In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began:

An Elven-maid there was of old, A shining star by day: Her mantle white was hemmed with gold, Her shoes of silver-grey. A star was bound upon her brows, A light was on her hair As sun upon the golden boughs In Lórien the fair. Her hair was long, her limbs were white, And fair she was and free; And in the wind she went as light As leaf of linden-tree. Beside the falls of Nimrodel, By water clear and cool, Her voice as falling silver fell Into the shining pool. Where now she wanders none can tell, In sunlight or in shade; For lost of yore was Nimrodel And in the mountains strayed. The elven-ship in haven grey Beneath the mountain-lee Awaited her for many a day Beside the roaring sea. A wind by night in Northern lands Arose, and loud it cried, And drove the ship from elven-strands Across the streaming tide. When dawn came dim the land was lost, The mountains sinking grey Beyond the heaving waves that tossed Their plumes of blinding spray. Amroth beheld the fading shore Now low beyond the swell, And cursed the faithless ship that bore Him far from Nimrodel. Of old he was an Elven-king, A lord of tree and glen, When golden were the boughs in spring In fair Lothlórien. From helm to sea they saw him leap, As arrow from the string, And dive into the water deep, As mew upon the wing. The wind was in his flowing hair, The foam about him shone; Afar they saw him strong and fair Go riding like a swan. But from the West has come no word, And on the Hither Shore No tidings Elven-folk have heard Of Amroth evermore.

The voice of Legolas faltered, and the song ceased. 'I cannot sing any more,' he said. 'That is but a part, for I have forgotten much. It is long and sad, for it tells how sorrow came upon Lothlórien, Lórien of the Blossom, when the Dwarves awakened evil in the mountains.'

`But the Dwarves did not make the evil,' said Gimli.

`I said not so; yet evil came,' answered Legolas sadly. `Then many of the Elves of Nimrodel's kindred left their dwellings and departed and she was lost far in the South, in the passes of the White Mountains; and she came not to the ship where Amroth her lover waited for her. But in the spring when the wind is in the new leaves the echo of her voice may still be heard by the falls that bear her name. And when the wind is in the South the voice of Amroth comes up from the sea; for Nimrodel flows into Silverlode, that Elves call Celebrant, and Celebrant into Anduin the Great. and Anduin flows into the Bay of Belfalas whence the Elves of Lórien set sail. But neither Nimrodel nor Amroth ever came back.’

The Song of Nimrodel - performed by Yolanda Mott:

JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Lothlórien

[themomsandthecity]

Bryce, Jordan, Jude, and 200+ More of the Best Gender Neutral Baby Names

There are plenty of reasons you might want a shortlist of gender neutral baby names. For instance, if you're not finding out the gender of your baby before their born, but you want to have a name decided on ahead of time - picking a name that works for any gender is the perfect solve. Or maybe you just prefer gender neutral names to baby names that are more traditionally masculine or feminine (although, of course, we love using a baby boy name for girls!) Gender neutral baby names cut across categories. You can find gender neutral names amongst Victorian-era baby names, trendy names, and more unique picks, which means you can find the perfect gender neutral baby name no matter what "vibe" of name you're going for. And to get your creativity going, we rounded up more than 200 unisex names that will suit your baby no matter what. Ahead, find some of our favorite gender-neutral names for babies, from A to Z. A * Adair * Adan * Addison * Ade * Adrian * Aiden * Ainsley * Alby * Alex * Ali * Amari * Andy * Angel * Ari * Ariel * Aries * Ash * Asher * Aspen * Atlas * Aubrey * August * Austen * Avery * B * Baker * Bailey * Bali * Banks * Bellamy * Beckham * Berkeley * Billie * Blaine * Blair * Blake * Bobby * Bowen * Brett * Briar * Brighton * Briley * Brinley * Brooklyn * Bryce * C * Caelan * Cairo * Camden * Cameron * Campbell * Carey * Carson * Carter * Casey * Cassidy * Celyn * Chandler * Charlie * Chris * Cody * Colby * Cole * Collins * Corey * Cove * D * Dakota * Dale * Dallas * Dana * Dane * Darryl * Declan * Delta * Devin * Dorian * Drew * Dylan * E * Easton * Eli * Elliot * Ellis * Ellison * Ember * Emerson * Emory * Evan * Ezra * F * Fallon * Finley * Florian * Flynn * Frances * Frankie * G * Gabriel * Gale * Glenn * Grayson * Grey * H * Harley * Harper * Hayden * Hunter * I * Indiana * Indigo * J * James * Jamie * Jayden * Jaylen * Jesse * Jordan * Jude * Julian * Juniper * Justice * K * Kaden, * Kai * Keegan * Kelly * Kendall * Kennedy * Kerry * Knox * Kyle * L * Lake * Landon * Landry * Lane * Lee * Lennon * Lennox * Lincoln * Linden * Logan * London * Lou * Lucian * Lumi * M * Mackenzie * Madison * Marley * Mason * Max * Maxwell * Micah * Milan * Mina * Monroe * Montana * Morgan * N * Nash * Nevada * Nico * Noah * Noel * O * Oakley * Ollie * Ore * Ozzie * P * Palmer * Paris * Parker * Pat * Perri * Peyton * Piper * Phoenix * Q * Quinn * R * Reagan * Reed * Reese * Reign * Remy * Rey * Riley * River * Roan * Robin * Rory * Roux * Rowan * Royal * Rudy * Ryan * Ryder * Rylan * S * Sage * Salem * Sam * Santana * Sawyer * Saylor * Scout * Seven * Shannon * Shawn * Shiloh * Skylar * Sloane * Spencer * Sterling * Stevie * Sunny * Sydney * T * Tanner * Tatum * Taylor * Terry * Theo * Tony * Tory * Tracy * Tyler * U * Umber * Unique * Uri * V * Val * Vesper * * W * Wallace * West * Winter * Wrennyn * Wyatt * Wynne * X * Xoan * Y * Yael * Z * Zion https://www.popsugar.com/family/Gender-Neutral-Baby-Names-34485564?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[moshiurkhann]

Unveiling the Heart of the Midwest: Top 3 Destinations in Little Falls

Here are three delightful destinations in Little Falls, Minnesota, that showcase the town's unique blend of history, nature, and culture:

1. The Minnesota Fishing Museum

For fishing enthusiasts or anyone curious about Minnesota’s deep-rooted fishing culture, the Minnesota Fishing Museum is a must-see. This museum houses an extensive collection of vintage fishing equipment, historic photos, and exhibits that tell the story of fishing in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. From early angling gear to classic outboard motors, the museum offers a nostalgic and educational journey through Minnesota's fishing history.

2. Linden Hill Historic Estate

This grand estate, nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River, offers a glimpse into the opulent lifestyles of the lumber barons who once dominated the region. Built in the late 19th century, Linden Hill consists of two beautifully preserved mansions set on nine acres of landscaped gardens. Visitors can tour the homes, with their stunning architecture and antique furnishings, or enjoy the serene grounds for a peaceful stroll. Linden Hill is also a popular venue for events, making it a perfect place for weddings or special gatherings.

3. Paul Bunyan Land

Just a short drive from Little Falls, Paul Bunyan Land is a family-friendly amusement park that brings to life Minnesota’s legendary folklore. The park features the iconic 26-foot-tall animated statue of Paul Bunyan, who greets visitors by name. It’s a great spot for families, with classic rides, an antique village, and a variety of kid-friendly activities. Paul Bunyan Land is a nostalgic throwback to simpler times and offers a day of fun and folklore in the heart of Minnesota.

Conclusion

Little Falls offers visitors a wide range of experiences, from its rich fishing history at the Minnesota Fishing Museum to the grandeur of Linden Hill Historic Estate and the whimsical fun of Paul Bunyan Land. These destinations add to the town’s charm, making it a great place to explore Minnesota’s culture, history, and outdoor beauty. Whether you're visiting for a day or a weekend, Little Falls has something special for everyone.

Member Spotlights

Business Name: Omar Tree Services

Address: 11 E Main St, Little Falls, NJ 07424, United States

Phone: 973-985-2626

Website URL: https://precisetilestone.com/

GMB URL: https://g.co/kgs/nh2niaF 

Precise Tile Stone LLC, a top-rated general contractor based in Little Falls, New Jersey, is recognized for its expert craftsmanship and experienced team. With years of industry expertise, the company specializes in high-quality tile and stone installations, including ceramic tile, bathroom tile, and pool tile installations. As trusted local tile contractors, their skilled technicians deliver exceptional results with attention to detail, whether for residential or commercial projects. If you're looking for ceramic tile installers, flooring tile installers, or bathroom tile experts, Precise Tile Stone LLC offers reliable and professional service tailored to your needs. They are also highly sought after for ceramic tile flooring installation and are often the top choice for those searching for a "tile contractor near me" or "floor tile installers near me." Committed to quality, this local tile company ensures precision in every project.

Driving direction from Precise Tile & Stone Little Falls

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[fahmeenaodetta]

Hot Weather

It is amazingly hot in Linden and I find myself reaching for something cold to drink ever so often. A lot of times I drink water. Sometimes it is a "sweet drink" from Banks DIH. Sometimes I need a break from all the water - a refreshing drink that tastes good. Banks DIH drinks do that for me. However, I cannot overindulge because I have to watch my sugar intake.

[dorematrix1]

The Best Online Games to Earn Money: A Gamer's Guide to Profit

In an era where digital landscapes blend seamlessly with real-world economies, earning money through online games has become a viable and attractive option for many. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just exploring the idea of turning your hobby into a revenue stream, there are numerous online games that offer substantial opportunities to earn money. Here’s a rundown of some of the best online games to earn money where you can not only have fun but also boost your bank balance

1. Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity stands at the forefront of blockchain-based games. Players collect, breed, and battle creatures called Axies. The game utilizes Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies, where players can earn Smooth Love Potions (SLPs) and Axie Infinity Shards (AXS). These can be traded on various crypto exchanges for real money. The game's play-to-earn model has empowered many players, especially in developing countries, to generate a substantial income.

Key Highlights:

Blockchain Integration: Uses Ethereum for transactions.

Play-to-Earn Model: Earn through battles, breeding, and selling Axies.

Economic Impact: Significant earning potential, especially in countries with lower median incomes.

2. Second Life

Second Life is a virtual world where players, or "residents," can create and monetize content, services, and experiences. Linden Dollars, the in-game currency, can be converted to real-world money. Players earn by creating virtual real estate, clothing, art, and even by offering virtual services like event planning and teaching.

Key Highlights:

Virtual Economy: Strong internal economy with real-world value.

Content Creation: High potential for creative individuals.

Diversified Earnings: Multiple ways to earn, from real estate to service provision.

3. Twitch and YouTube Gaming

While not a game per se, platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming allow players to stream their gameplay and earn money through donations, subscriptions, and ad revenue. Popular games for streaming include Fortnite, League of Legends, and Minecraft. Successful streamers can also land sponsorships and partnerships with gaming brands.

Key Highlights:

Audience Engagement: Build a community and monetize through interaction.

Multi-Channel Revenue: Donations, ads, subscriptions, and sponsorships.

Broad Game Selection: Stream any game with an audience.

Conclusion

The landscape of online gaming has evolved significantly, providing various avenues for players to earn money. Whether through competitive play, content creation, or leveraging in-game economies, these games offer real financial opportunities for dedicated and strategic gamers. As you explore these options, remember that success often requires a blend of skill, strategy, and dedication. Happy gaming, and may your adventures be both fun and profitable!

[edithhaimbergernotebook]

Finding Peace Amid War at Berlin's Barenboim-Said Music Academy

AKADEMIEKONZERT (ACADEMY CONCERT) Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Pierre Boulez Saal

May 15th is Nakba Day.

It is a sad, heavy anniversary for Palestinians. It is a reminder of the refugees who fled and those who were killed during the Arab-Israeli War in the 1940s.

The refugees and their descendants partly remain in refugee camps like Jenin in the West Bank (opened 1953), Shatila in Lebanon (1949), and Yarmouk in Syria (1957).

Likely by coincidence, this year a music academy that unites pupils from Middle Eastern and North African countries, was offering a concert on May 15th in the middle of Berlin.

It was a peaceful way to spend the day, signalling support for pluralism and dialogue as avenues to resolve the conflict.

*

The Barenboim-Said Academy, named after the pianist and the philosopher, is tucked behind the State Opera Unter den Linden.

In the Academy building, an intimate concert hall named in honour of the French composer Pierre Boulez (boo-LEZ) hosts classical music, jazz, and other concerts.

(For this student concert, tickets were affordably priced at 10€.)

The concert began with a classic. Both literally – due to the musical period in which Mozart composed – and figuratively.

*

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Sonata for two pianos in D major KV 448 (1781) I. Allegro con spirito II. Andante III. Molto allegro

*

Image: Audience members waiting for Mozart. Photo taken by me (Edith Haimberger). May 15, 2024. All rights reserved.

After the Mozart came Igor Stravinsky.

If the audience's busy fidgeting during his music was any evidence, the Russian composer is still controversial over 100 years after he premiered the Rite of Spring.

Image: Audience members waiting for Stravinsky. Photo taken by me. May 15, 2024. All rights reserved.

*

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Histoire du soldat Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano (1918-19) I. Marche du soldat II. Le Violon du soldat III. Petit concert IV. Tango-Valse-Ragtime V. Danse du diable

*

A much longer, alternative performance with narration, which is true to Stravinsky's elaborate concept, is also on YouTube here.

At the end, students played the flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon, in a quintet that gave each their moment in the spotlight.

The oboist had been 'borrowed' from the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, another music academy in Berlin.

In contrast to Stravinsky, Paul Taffanel seemed like a conservative composer. The audience was at times nearly completely quiet, the mood relaxed.

*

Paul Taffanel (1844-1908) Woodwind Quintet in g minor (1876) I. Allegro con moto II. Andante III. Vivace

*

After the concert, walking from the Barenboim-Said Academy toward Unter den Linden and its tourist frenzy. Photo taken by me. May 15, 2024. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I deeply believe that people of different languages, cultures, and politics can ultimately speak to each other through the arts." – Frank Gehry (Canadian-American designer of the Pierre Boulez Saal)

(Quotation taken from the concert ticket)

[pellinni-photo]

snowfall in the late autumn. river bank in snow. embankment of the linden alley in uzhgorod - snowfall in the late autumn. river bank in snow. embankment of the linden alley in uzhgorod

[xenonfic]

The Evolution of Cryptocurrency Exchanges

When pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto first introduced Bitcoin (BTC) in 2009, there was a limited number of ways to acquire this novel form of money. Buying BTC at this time involved substantial risks, as there were few safeguards in place. Eventually, however, the cryptocurrency industry began to grow, and people needed a safe way to buy and sell digital coins. That’s where crypto exchanges came in.

Today, purchasing cryptocurrencies is relatively easy. But this wasn’t always the case, and early hacks and scams shook the market’s confidence. The good news is that the security practices of crypto exchanges have improved significantly, and they focus on providing a positive user experience (UX). This has helped to restore the industry’s image and revive its potential for global adoption.

The earliest crypto exchanges operated in a de facto “wild west” environment with significant risk, and without regulation. In 2011, VirWoX, an exchange for the virtual currency Linden Dollars in the Second Life virtual techogle.co world, began to facilitate trades between Linden dollars and bitcoin. Several other exchanges followed suit, and many of them offered margin trading and copy trading features.

Centralized crypto exchanges (CEXs) are similar to stock markets in that they act as intermediaries that make money by charging transaction fees and commissions. Popular CEXs include Coinbase Exchange and Binance. Decentralized crypto exchanges (DEXs) allow peer-to-peer trading directly from users’ wallets, and don’t hold assets in custody — an approach known as atomic swaps. Examples of DEXs include Uniswap and PancakeSwap. Hybrid crypto exchanges combine the features of both CEXs and DEXs.

One of the most important elements of any financial asset is liquidity, which is the ability to easily convert a digital asset into cash or another digital asset. This is important because it allows investors to diversify their portfolios, and it’s also necessary to avoid price volatility that can be triggered by “pump and dump” schemes, regulatory news, and other events.

A major challenge for crypto exchanges is the need to maintain sufficient liquidity to manage high-volume transactions without driving prices up or down. As a result, they often rely on liquidity pools to manage their flows and limit volatility. In the past, these pools were largely managed by institutional investors such as hedge funds and investment banks.

In addition to the liquidity challenges, a major concern is the impact of investor sentiment on prices. As with traditional equities, the values of cryptocurrencies are highly sensitive to changes in investor perceptions, which can trigger unwarranted price pressures and volatility.

In order to ensure technology website the long-term success of cryptocurrencies, it’s important for regulators to understand how these exchanges operate and to develop rules that will prevent abuse. This article explores the current state of regulating the cryptocurrency market and proposes a new framework for governing exchange platforms that offers more flexibility while simultaneously addressing concerns about security, risk, and transparency. The proposed framework also addresses the need for additional risks sources that are not typically considered in valuations of traditional financial securities, such as rumors, news articles, and investor psychology.

[docrotten]

PIN (1988) – Episode 253 – Decades Of Horror 1980s

“Where did you learn to do that?” Learn to do what? Oh…that. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr along with guest host Ralph Miller – as they visit another strange twist on the ventriloquist/dummy subgenre called PIN (1988).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 253 – PIN (1988)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Isolated by his strange parents, Leon finds solace in an imaginary friend, which happens to be an anatomy doll from his father-the-doctor’s office. Unfortunately, the doll begins to take over Leon’s life, and his sister’s life as well.

  Directed by: Sandor Stern

Writing Credits: Sandor Stern (screenplay); Andrew Neiderman (based on the April 1981 novel by)

Selected Cast:

David Hewlett as Leon

Cynthia Preston as Ursula (as Cyndy Preston)

Terry O’Quinn as Dr. Linden

Bronwen Mantel as Mrs. Linden

John Pyper-Ferguson as Stan Fraker (as John Ferguson)

Helene Udy as Marcia Bateman

Patricia Collins as Aunt Dorothy

Steven Bednarski as Leon – Age 13

Katie Shingler as Ursula – Age 11

Jacob Tierney as Leon – Age 7

Michelle Anderson as Ursula – Age 5

Joan Austen as Nurse Spalding

Jamie Stern as Eddie Morris (as James Stern)

David Gow as Officer Wilson

Terrence Labrosse as Dr. Bell

Aline Vandrine as Mrs. Shaver

Joanna Noyes as Mrs. Henry

Andrew Carter as Andy

Leif Anderson as Dave

Joel Johnson as Jack

Shawn Johnson as Tim

Robin MacEachern as Richie

Jonathan Banks as PIN (voice)

Beware the anatomy doll! Ralph Miller III joins Jeff, Bill, and Chad for a look back at PIN (1988) from director Sandor Stern. The cast includes David Hewlett (Scanners II: The New Order, Cube), Cynthia Preston (The Brain, Prom Night III: The Last Kiss), and Terry O’Quinn (Silver Bullet, The Stepfather, Lost). While it struggled to find an audience upon its initial release, critics praised PIN as well-made, bizarre, and disturbing. Fangoria would later feature it in its “101 Best Horror Films You’ve Never Seen.” Now, it’s time for the Grue-Crew to revisit the film and share their thoughts.

At the time of this writing, PIN is available to stream from YouTube.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, moving into our Grue Believer Celebration Shenanigans month and chosen by guest host Scott Wells, will be The Queen of Black Magic (1981), an Indonesian horror film quoted as being an inspiration to modern-day Indonesian filmmakers such as Kimo Stamboel and Joko Anwar. You can check this one out on YouTube.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Check out this episode!