#main albeli

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

thanks to your pinned I now know you're multiple people running this blog, my brain has also decided that means yall are stacked on top of each other in a dinosaur shaped trench coat

So like legit for a while we joked that we were multiple Kulindadromeus in a trench coat… there were cartoons made…

[jesperweidemann]

Writing Engaging Introductions and Compelling Conclusions Part 3: Understanding the Intention of Conclusions

The Purpose of Conclusions

Conclusions are the final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the reader. They serve several critical functions:

Summarizing Key Points: A conclusion should succinctly summarize the main points discussed in the piece. This helps reinforce the information and ensures that the reader leaves with a clear understanding of the key takeaways.

Reinforcing the Thesis: The conclusion should restate the thesis in a new way, reinforcing the main argument or purpose of the writing. This helps to solidify the reader’s understanding and agreement with your perspective.

Providing Closure and a Final Perspective: A strong conclusion provides a sense of closure, wrapping up the discussion neatly. It also offers a final perspective, leaving the reader with something to ponder or act upon.

Elements of a Strong Conclusion

An effective conclusion typically includes the following elements:

Restating the Thesis: Paraphrase the main argument or thesis statement to remind the reader of the central point. This should be done in a way that feels fresh and not repetitive.

Summarizing Main Points: Briefly revisit the key arguments or points made in the piece. This summary should be concise and focus on the most important aspects.

Final Thoughts: Offer insights, implications, or a call to action. This is your chance to leave the reader with something meaningful to think about or do.

Techniques for Effective Conclusions

There are several techniques you can use to craft a compelling conclusion:

Echoing the Introduction: Refer back to the introduction to create a sense of symmetry and closure. This can be done by revisiting a story, question, or quote used in the opening.

Including a Call to Action: Encourage the reader to take specific action based on the information or arguments presented. This can be particularly effective in persuasive or argumentative writing.

Ending with a Quotation or Provocative Thought: Use a relevant quote or thought-provoking statement to leave a lasting impression. This can add depth and resonance to your conclusion.

Reflecting on the Broader Implications: Discuss the broader implications of your topic, considering its impact on a larger scale. This can help the reader see the significance of your writing beyond the immediate context.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

When writing conclusions, it’s important to avoid common pitfalls:

Introducing New Information: The conclusion is not the place to introduce new arguments or evidence. This can confuse the reader and undermine the sense of closure.

Being Redundant: Avoid simply repeating what has already been said. Instead, aim to synthesize and distill the main points in a fresh way.

Ending Abruptly: Ensure that your conclusion provides a sense of closure. Avoid ending too suddenly, as this can leave the reader feeling unsatisfied.

Examples and Analysis

To understand what makes a conclusion effective, let’s break down some examples:

Example 1: Echoing the Introduction

Introduction: “When I was ten years old, I discovered a dusty old book in my grandmother’s attic. Little did I know, that book would ignite my lifelong passion for history.”

Conclusion: “Just as that dusty old book sparked my passion for history, I hope this piece has ignited your interest in the past and its lessons for the future.”

Analysis: This conclusion echoes the introduction, creating a sense of symmetry and closure. It ties back to the initial anecdote and reinforces the main theme.

Example 2: Call to Action

“Now that you understand the importance of daily exercise, I challenge you to incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your routine. Your body and mind will thank you.”

Analysis: This conclusion includes a clear call to action, encouraging the reader to apply the information in a practical way. It’s motivating and actionable.

Example 3: Quotation

“As Albert Einstein once said, ‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.’ Let’s keep moving forward, embracing change and growth.”

Analysis: This conclusion uses a relevant quote to leave a lasting impression. The quote is thought-provoking and ties into the theme of the piece.

Example 4: Reflecting on Broader Implications

“The impact of climate change extends far beyond our immediate environment. It affects global economies, health, and future generations. By taking action now, we can create a sustainable future for all.”

Analysis: This conclusion reflects on the broader implications of the topic, helping the reader see its significance on a larger scale. It’s insightful and forward-looking.

Crafting Your Own Conclusion

When crafting your own conclusion, consider the following steps:

Restate the Thesis: Paraphrase your thesis statement to remind the reader of the central point. Ensure that it feels fresh and not repetitive.

Summarize Main Points: Briefly revisit the key arguments or points made in the piece. Focus on the most important aspects and avoid unnecessary details.

Offer Final Thoughts: Provide insights, implications, or a call to action. This is your chance to leave the reader with something meaningful to think about or do.

Create a Sense of Closure: Ensure that your conclusion provides a sense of closure. Avoid ending too suddenly and aim to leave the reader feeling satisfied.

Revise and Refine: Review your conclusion to ensure it is clear, concise, and impactful. Don’t be afraid to make changes to improve it.

Additional Tips for Writing Conclusions

Be Concise: While it’s important to provide a thorough summary, avoid being overly verbose. A concise conclusion is more likely to leave a strong impression.

Stay Relevant: Ensure that all the information in your conclusion is relevant to the main topic. Avoid tangents or unrelated details that might confuse the reader.

Use Clear and Simple Language: Avoid jargon or overly complex language that might alienate the reader. Clear and simple language is more effective in conveying your final thoughts.

Create a Smooth Transition: The conclusion should smoothly transition from the main body of the writing. Ensure that the last sentence of your main body leads naturally into the first sentence of your conclusion.

Engage the Senses: When using descriptive language, engage the reader’s senses by describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. This can make your writing more vivid and memorable.

Reflect Your Personality: Let your personality shine through in your conclusion. Whether you’re writing in a formal or informal style, your unique voice can make your writing more engaging and relatable.

Remember, the conclusion is your final opportunity to make an impact, so take the time to craft it carefully and thoughtfully.

< Part 2 ||| Part 4 >

[zombiemonroe]

Part 2? 3? of me justificating a fucking bitch.

The first part is here

Adding to the thought, this "he'll be fine", "he'll learn" "he'll get redeemed" is a lie. Why? Because he's lonely.

THERAPY ISN'T FOR EVERYBODY. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN PRISON AND ALONE

First of all, let's get two things out of the way.

1- I sympathise with Bill. While I hate his guts for a LOT of things, his problems are moving me. I get him. Maybe I don't wanna, but I get him.

2- Theraprism sucks. Why. Do. You. Need. To. Reform. People. If. You're. Gonna. Kill. Them. ?. It's torture. Eternal torture.

Bill needs someone. And that someone is a friend. A true friend. Someone who rivals him in power. Someone who is there unconditionally. Someone who knows when Bill is wrong and right. Someone who stays. His parents didn't stay. The axolotl didn't stay. Ford didn't stay (fortunately).

But the theraprism isn't going to give me that. And even if he gets reformed, he'll die. It's not fair.

And we could talk about how he deserves this, if he really needs to get reformed, blah blah blah. But we won't.

We are going to continue to talk about the theraprism because I have problems with it. You know that guy who got turned into a butterfly? Yeah? He actually got redeemed. He may have become a good person. He actually deserved to live. I bet he apologised. I bet he made up for his mistakes. But he became a butterfly. Why?

One may remember actual bad people in our world. H*tler, P*tin, Alb*rto Fuj*mori, Stal*n, all of the war criminals. They did horrible things. But they are real. One has to understand that real life and fiction are different. We want the worst, most horrible torture for them, me included. Because we, as a society, have felt the impact. We know them. It is different.

Going back to the main theme, I want Bill to see the pines for one last time. One last time before his visiting hours are closed, one last time before they all die. One last time to remember them. (One last time to shit on him too).

But that may never happen.

Fuck you, Alex Hirsch.

[drum-cu-naluci]

Days 11-17 tales and legends

Day 11 - Miorița [legend according to which a shepherd is murdered by the other two, although warned by one of his sheep]

Day 12 - Baltagul [written by Mihail Sadoveanu, published in 1930 portrays how he pictured the events after the legend of Miorița, where the shepherd's wife goes look for her husband, later seeking justice after he's found dead]

Dya 13 - Ciuleandra [scenes from the 1985 movie, made after the 1927 book with the same name, depicting the evolution of a man's madness, also being presented the life and death of a girl taken away from a village be the owner of the land as he found her suitable for his son, destroying the peasant, Mădălina, having her turned into a lady of society, now Madeleine, that ends up murdered by the son]

Day 14 - Moromeții [depicted in the illustration is the scene when the tree is cut down, resulting in the loss of equilibrium in the characters' lives, as actions takes place through the establishment of the communist regime, which contributes to the family's financial struggles, as presented by Marin Preda in the book from 1955, turned into a movie in 1987]

Day 15 - Ana lui Manole [the man hired to build the most beautiful monastery faces difficulties as the building kept collapsing every night despite working with the best constructors, but after a dream that told him to put his wife within a wall so that the place ceases to go down, so he then proceeds to build his pregnant wife Ana inside the wall, succeeding to keep the place standing <they're later forced to fly off the rooftop, each falling to their death>]

Day 16 - Harap-Alb [after the main character gets beheaded by the villain, it is the Emperor's daughter that sews his head back on, bringing him back to life]

Day 17 - Capra cu Trei Iezi [the mother goat sets a trap for the wolf to fall into a pit of fire as revenge for having killed her sons and placing their hears in the window, leaving her only with her youngest son]

[ordinorultor-if]

Some Physical Descriptions

Figured I should provide some physical descriptions of the characters. Just like with the Tarot post though I'll be splitting it up between the ROs and MC's family.

Alessia

Your paternal grandmother, Ranulf's mother, and his predecessor. While you never met her, you learned a good deal about her. She was the Royal Marshal of King Hugh, and, before the consumption sapped away her strength, had the build to match. She was of very tall height, with short platinum blonde hair, heterochromatic (amber and red) eyes, and a light skin tone. The portrait of her which hangs in Castle Guyenne's grand hall shows her bedecked in beautiful bronze-colored armor and wielding a large greatsword.

Ranulf

Despite being dead for a decade and a half now, you still remember your father well. He was of average height, with short black hair, hazel eyes, and a tan skin tone. The portrait of him which hangs in Castle Guyenne's grand hall depicts him in his favorite outfit, a fine suit colored dark blue, and wielding a fine silver dagger. My current thought is that he (and by extension MC and the Council) might have been mixed-race, with his father coming from northern Yafran, but I'm not sure about that.

Ranulf's wife

Despite being dead for a decade and a half now, you still remember your mother well. While she was fond of dresses (especially ones colored blue and/or green), she was fond of practical dresses, and you know that many of her outfits were tailored so that they could easily be fought in. She was of tall height, with long brown hair. Her eye color and skin tone change depending on where she was from - if she was from a colder climate, she had a pale skin tone and blue eyes, while if she was from Hiberia or Siciny she had a light skin tone and green eyes.

Bertrand/Bertrada

Bertie gets their tall height, muscular build, and tan skin from Ranulf's side of the family, but get their long dark brown hair (including a beard if male) and their eye color from your mother's side. As your marshal, they are usually found wearing simple clothes with leather armor atop, with a preference for browns and reds. For a soldier, they have relatively few scars and blemishes, with the most significant being a large burn mark on their left shoulder.

Albus/Albane and Melanthe/Melanie

The twins are identical, however there are two main ways to tell them apart: Alb wears lighter clothes and Mel wears darker clothes, and Mel has horrible eye-bags. Alb and Mel actually heavily take after Alessia, sharing her almost-white platinum blonde hair, heterochromatic eyes, and light skin tone. Unfortunately for them, the twins inherited your grandfather's short height.

Évariste/Enora

E takes mostly after your mother's side of the family - they inherited your maternal grandfather's auburn hair, light skin tone, and your mother's overall build. However, they inherited your father's average height, and they inherited their amber eyes from Alessia. They often wear white and brown robe-like clothes.

Phillippe/Perrine

P'Enfant basically just grabbed a bunch of traits from the gene-pool and ran with them. Short blonde hair (albeit darker than Alessia's platinum-color), tall height from mom, hazel eyes from Ranulf, and light skin tone from maternal grandpa. They favor fine clothes, similar to what your father wore, but with a preference for the color green.

[alberich-mime]

I wanted to draw a moment from my main AU, a reconciliation after an argument. I don't think Albe is good at apologizing (I don't think he actually ever does) but he might try to make an effort for Mime

[frogblast-the-ventcore]

USS Sorcerer (NCC-9670-B), Arlington-class long-range fast dreadnought:

(Arlington-class reference art via @MarcSherwood8 on Twitter)

The Arlington-class dreadnought USS Sorcerer (NCC-9670-B) started her life as an Odyssey-class dreadnought, one of the sister ships of the USS Enterprise-F. Like her famous sister, the Sorcerer was heavily damaged in the 2411 Battle of Midnight, the climactic battle of the Iconian War, fought above Earth. The Sorcerer lay in spacedock above Mars for several years as subsequent events redirected Federation shipbuilding towards new endeavors. Finally beginning reconstruction in 2412, she saw several planned refit suggestions come and go - first, she was to be rebuilt to Odyssey-class standard, then to the upgraded Yorktown-class refit, then the upgunned Lexington-class subclass of the Yorktown-class. Finally, in 2414, it was decided that the Sorcerer would become the second in the newly designed Arlington-class of long-range fast-response dreadnoughts, to spearhead a new Federation effort to explore the Gamma Quadrant alongside the Federation's allies in the Klingon Empire, Romulan Republic, Tzenkethi Coalition, and the newly peaceful Dominion, as well as follow up on issues related to the Hur'q Crisis of 2411. Under the command of Captain Yanute, the vessel was relaunched on January 1, 2416, the 5th anniversary of the Battle of Midnight.

The Arlington-class long-range fast dreadnought:

As a descendant of the Odyssey-class, the Arlington is one of the largest ships ever built by the Federation; the subclass measures 1041.5 meters long, 385.22 meters at the beam, with a draught of over 200 meters, and a mass of over 7.25 million metric tons. With a crew of over 900, space for a full Starfleet Marine Corps battalion of 800+ members, and an embarked air wing of 400 personnel, the immense long-range vessel is thusly provided with a laundry list of amenities ranging from an internal promenade/mall, a dozen holodecks, two arboretums, two internal pool/sauna complexes, three main social lounges, and dozens of observation areas.

Able to maintain quantum slipstream travel for a full six hours, the Arlington-class combines its impressive speed with some of the heaviest firepower ever added to a Federation vessel. Boasting 29 MkXV phaser arrays, 4 light and 4 heavy MkXV pulsed phaser cannons, and a whopping 14 multipurpose torpedo/probe launch tubes. These tubes are capable of fully automated loading of the full Federation probe range, as well as photon, quantum, and transphasic torpedoes, the latter-most only available in limited quantities due to weapons limitation treaties.

In addition, the Arlington-class carries over the Lexington-class's phaser spinal lance, capable of devastating damage against vessels even larger than the Arlington. The phaser lance has been colloquially nicknamed the "Wave Motion Gun" by Lexington- and Arlington-class crew members, as it's immense energy discharge resembles that of a similarly devastating weapon from a late 20th century Earth science fiction franchise.

The Arlington also plays host and mother ship to an Eagle-class light "parasite" escort, itself a formidable and agile vessel, armed with multiple phaser arrays, four phaser cannons, and four torpedo tubes. A full wing of 60 Federation Aerospace Force Valkyrie aerospace fighters, falling under the command of the vessels' Commander Air Group, rounds out the vessels' firepower.

Defenses consist of a quadruple-layer hyper-capacitor-based metaphasic shield array, a full meter of albative armor, and a full suite of phaser- and microtorpedo-based CIWS systems; the Arlington is also fitted for but not with a Nanotech Molecular Ablative Generator field array, based on technology from an alternate 25th century.

[hrts4hanniehae]

Kpop Self Insert Oc || masterlist

the beginning || act one

-

(100% self-indulgent)

Fandom Name: Star Sailors

Rankings of Members’ Popularity:

Park Minseok - (6.4M Instagram Followers)

Kim Jisoo - (6M Instagram Followers)

Park Jiho - (5.7M Instagram Followers)

Kim Soyeon - (4.8M Instagram Followers)

->After she starts dating Dino, it increases by 500K

"어둠을 뚫고 빛나는 별들 안녕 우리는 오네리아"

“The stars who shine through the darkness, Hello we are Oneiria.!”

Oneiria

They debuted in 2022 when Soyeon was 22, Jisoo and Jiho were 21 and Minseok was 18.

Oneiria is known for its ability to connect with international fans by singing in multiple languages. Besides their native Korean, they’ve released Chinese, Japanese, and even English songs, showcasing their linguistic versatility.

Oneiria’s music often incorporates dreamy and ethereal elements, reflecting their fascination with dreams and fantasies. Their melodies and lyrics aim to transport their listeners to another world.

Oneiria is managed by Pledis Entertainment (HYBE), the same company as Seventeen and fromis_9.

Oneiria is actively involved in charitable work, with each member supporting different causes. Kim Soyeon, for instance, is an advocate for children’s education, while Park Jiho focuses on promoting mental health awareness.

Oneiria originally had 5 trainees, including the Final 4. However, the unnamed 5th trainee wasn't in the final lineup. This explains the gap between Jiho and Soyeon during the first few months of their debut when they greeted their fans.

Antis (They are mostly against Kim Soyeon)

Anti-fandom Name: Drowners (i died when i made this)

Anti-fans post unflattering photos and claim that Soyeon’s expressions are signs of arrogance, which leads to arguments among fans and negative media attention.

Anti-fans accuse Jisoo of plagiarism of another artist’s work, not knowing that the artist was him when he was still a trainee

 Some anti-fans go further, accusing Kim Soyeon of being a “pick-me girl” who seeks attention from male fans. They misinterpret her confident demeanour and artistic choices, attributing them to a desire to please male fans, which creates a false narrative.

A group of anti-fans disrupt events where Soyeon is present. They shout offensive comments and even go as far as throwing objects, creating a hostile atmosphere for the artist and fans.

Minseok makes fun of the term “Drowners” all the time.

Kim Soyeon // Main Vocal // Leader [23 y/o] - self insert

Korean Name: Kim Soyeon [Soyeon-noona] 김소연

Chinese Name: Jin Yumei [Yumei-jie] 金雨梅

Sister of Jisoo; Godsister of Minseok and Jiho

Fan name: Serenity

Antifan name: Calamity

Height: 1.7m (11 Dec 2000)

fun facts~

Kim Soyeon’s vocals are one of the best in the industry. Her ability to hit both high and low notes effortlessly is a signature element in Oneiria’s music.

She’s a huge Seventeen fan and her bias is Dino.

She has an album titled “To the Me You Hate”

She’s fluent in Korean, Chinese, Japanese & English. (Studied languages in school)

She’s the only member in Oneiria who has a driver’s licence. 

She owns a motorbike and uses it frequently.

She has 0 alcohol tolerance

She is good friends with the Maknae Line of Seventeen

She is also quite close to the Vocal Team (++ BooSeokSoon)

She gamed a lot when she was studying, so regularly games on her live streams.

Kim Jisoo // Vocals // Producer [22 y/o]

Korean Name: Kim Jisoo [Jisoo-hyung] 김지수

Chinese Name: Jin Wei [Jin Wei-ge] 金伟

Stage Name: Astra

Brother of Soyeon; Godbrother of Minseok and Jiho

Fan name: Asters

Antifan name: Midsters

Height: 1.72m (17th Nov 2001)

fun facts~

Kim Jisoo, under his stage name Astra, is renowned for his exceptional music production skills. His ability to compose and produce music spontaneously has led to the creation of many award-winning or award-nominated songs.

He’s fluent in Korean & Chinese.

He has a very high alcohol tolerance.

Fans only found out that Astra and his sister were half-Chinese after the release of their 2nd album, Dreamscapes. This increased their fan base by 50%.

Park Jiho // Main Dancer [22 y/o]

Korean Name: Park Jiho [Jiho-hyung] 박智昊

Brother of Minseok; Godbrother of Jisoo and Soyeon

Fan name: Jinx

Antifan name: Knock

Height: 1.8m (24th Nov 2001)

fun facts~

Park Jiho has incredibly smooth and precise dance moves. He is known for his exceptional freestyle dancing skills. Whether on stage or at a dance-off with friends, he can effortlessly create captivating choreography on the spot.

He’s skilled in various dance styles, including hip-hop, contemporary, and even traditional Korean dance, which he incorporates into Oneiria’s performances.

He’s fluent in Korean & Japanese.

He choreographs most of Oneiria’s dance routines. 

He’s known for lightening the mood with his humour and practical jokes, making him the band’s resident prankster.

Park Minseok // Main Rapper // Maknae [19 y/o]

Korean Name: Park Minseok 박敏石

Stage Name: Mirage

Brother of Jiho; Godbrother of Jisoo and Soyeon

Fan name: Trixs

Antifan name: antics

Height: 1.7m (10th Apr 2004)

fun facts~

Despite being the maknae of Oneiria, he is a rap prodigy with a natural talent for delivering powerful rap verses. His lyrical skills have earned him recognition and respect in the K-pop industry.  He often brings a touch of surrealism to Oneiria’s music.

Mirage is known for his multilingual rapping skills. In addition to rapping in Korean, he has explored rap in Japanese, further showcasing his versatility as an artist.

He’s fluent in Korean & Japanese.

He’s considered a fashion icon among fans.

discography~

Oneriophilia

Debut Mini Album:

Release Date:

12 January 2022

-> Hit song: Star Child

Title Track: Star Child

Other Tracks: 

Serenades

Eclipse

Nebula

“For the children who feel like they never belonged, the stars shine for you.”

The concept for “Oneriophilia” by Oneiria appears to revolve around a theme of inclusivity and a message of hope. The tagline, “For the children who feel like they never belonged, the stars shine for you,” suggests that the album aims to connect with individuals who may have experienced feelings of isolation or not fitting in.

The title track, “Star Child,” symbolises a sense of uniqueness and belonging. The other tracks explore various aspects of this theme, with perhaps “Eclipse” delving into the challenges one faces, and “Nebula��� touching on the idea of dreams and aspirations.

Dreamscapes

1st Full Album: 

Release Date:

3 April 2022

-> Hit song: Echoes

Title Track: Divine

Other Tracks: 

Echoes

Loved you

Dreamt of you

For you

Heaven's Love

云 - Chinese vers.

“Since we received so much love for “Oneriophilia”, I decided to release a full album!”

“Dreamscapes” by Oneiria appears to take a more spontaneous and creative approach compared to their debut album, “Oneriophilia.” The album’s concept is described as a collection of songs that are born out of inspiration and creativity. Kim Jisoo, also known as Astra, is highlighted as a talented music producer with a penchant for composing music that resonates with him, even without a specific reason.

The title track, “Divine,” reflects the emotions of being inspired by something greater. The other tracks explore a range of emotions and themes. 

The overall concept of “Dreamscapes” is a musical journey through the spontaneous creativity of the members and the producer, capturing moments of inspiration and turning them into beautiful songs. It's an artistic expression of their creative process and their ability to release music that touches the heart without the need for a specific reason. 

Seasons

Special Single Album: 

Release Date:

10 June 2022

Title Track: Blossom

Other Tracks:

Golden

Radiance (Instrumental)

Zephyr

“I was so happy at our success that I just decided to write some tunes I had saved into a song. Fitting for the changing of seasons, no?”

“Seasons” by Oneiria is a special single album that celebrates the changing of seasons and embraces the idea of renewal and change. The concept is inspired by the changing of seasons, which is a metaphor for the band’s growth and evolution since its debut.

The title track, “Blossom,” suggests a theme of growth, renewal, and the beauty that comes with change. It could be a reflection on their journey in the music industry and how they’ve evolved and blossomed since their debut. The other tracks explore different aspects of the changing seasons. 

The producer’s note implies that this album was born out of the band’s happiness and success, and it’s a spontaneous creation that captures the essence of their journey so far. 

Nocturne

2nd Mini Album: 

Release Date:

7 October 2022

-> Hit song: Whisper 

Title Track: Whisper

Other Tracks: 

Silent Crush

Euphoria - Japanese vers.

Forget

“I had many sleepless nights with the tune of “Whisper” stuck in my head. So I released a mini album. No special reasons.”

“Nocturne” by Oneiria embraces the theme of the night and the mysteries and emotions associated with it. The album’s title explores the world of night and all that it encompasses.

The title track delves into the idea of secrets and quiet emotions shared in the night, capturing the hushed, intimate moments that occur when the world is still. 

“Silent Crush” could further explore the theme of hidden feelings and the unspoken, while “Forget” might deal with the idea of leaving behind the past and starting anew. The Japanese version of “Euphoria” by Mirage was an experimental song.

The album reflects a genuine and creative approach to music-making, capturing moments of inspiration and turning them into art.

Dystopia

Surprise 2nd Full Album:

Release Date:

12 January 2023

-> Hit song: Hold Me

Title Track: 假如世界消失

Other Tracks: 

Rock my World

Someone I Loved

Ruined Worlds - Japanese vers.

다른 세계 

Gone

Hold Me

“Our first rock album! It’s part of our Dystopian AU if we were all still holding on to our grievances. Warning, this album is full of agony. Happy Anniversary, Oneiria.”

“Dystopia” by Oneiria presents a unique and intriguing concept, marking their 1st anniversary with a surprise 2nd full album. This album delves into a darker and more intense theme, creating a contrast with their previous releases. The title suggests a narrative that explores a world in chaos, perhaps highlighting societal issues or inner struggles.

The title track delves into a sense of despair, contemplating the idea of a world falling apart or disappearing. The other tracks further explore the themes of loss, pain, and emotional turmoil. “다른 세계” (Another World) introduces a sense of escapism, offering a glimpse into an alternative reality.

This album is their first rock album and is part of a Dystopian Alternate Universe (AU), where the members are still holding onto their grievances. It’s described as an album full of agony, indicating that the music and lyrics may touch on intense and emotional themes.

This marks a significant shift in Oneiria's music and concept with a thought-provoking and emotionally charged album that contrasts with their previous releases. 

Reflections

3rd Mini Album:

Release Date: 

23 March 2023

-> Hit song: We Are // Mirage

Title Track: Mirage

Other Tracks: 

Breathe for Me

Gravity

Solitude

We Are

“To Soyeon.”

“For our biggest supporter, our protector and our guide to success.”

“Reflections” is Oneiria’s 3rd mini-album, and it explores the themes of love, self-discovery, and introspection. The album was written by all 3 male members for their leader, Soyeon. “Mirage” is Mirage’s first single and it was chosen as the title track.

The album encourages listeners to contemplate the various facets of love and the personal journey of self-exploration, all set to a captivating blend of pop and rock melodies. It is also a letter to Star Sailors, reminding them of Soyeon’s sacrifices for the group, and also her unwavering dedication to the K-pop industry. 

tags! @fairyofhour @megseungmin @sun-daddy-yoriichi @woozixo @euphoric-univers @christinewithluv @haowonbins @ocyeanicc @asyre @cynthiaaax13 @superhoshisvt @bangantokchy @chimmy-bts @angelarin @daisawa @writingbarnes @jeonghansshitester

@belladaises @wonwootakemyheart @wonwooz1 @luchiet @kookssecret @caratsland @peachescreamandcrumble @thepoopdokyeomtouched @isabellah29 @leah-rose03 @coupshour @sooheehan @heesbees @hyuckxtagram

[yesloulou]

Just as I was feeling more optimistic that Racer article punched me in the face. Helmut basically gave Daniel an ultimatum into racing for this shitty AT this season instead of next which was his preference, and then the complimentary press release had “Wednesday” on it so it made it look like all of Horner’s quotes were just PR bullshit…Anyways, Helmut remains the worst.

Or are they

(re: Horner's quotes being PR bullshit)

We all knew if daniel performed well, he might get Checo's seat. It's Horner and Marko's discretion as to whether or not Daniel detours to AT first. According the Chris Medland article:

Before tire test:

After tire test:

To me this is a very strong upward trajectory. It's true Daniel will now need to once again prove himself in a tractor with weak brakes. But everybody is aware of AT04's limits. In fact it's currently THE slowest car on the grid as in...dead last. 10th in constructors. Daniel's main goal is basically to outperform Yuki and if he can't? I probably wouldn't want to see him back in that RB seat either bc it would've pretty much been a guaranteed heartbreak. I'd like to believe his mclaren years had prepared him to handle cars like this. and if today tells us anything: Daniel knows how to race and his form won't just go away bc of a couple of races (years) in a slow car.

Now. Regarding Daniel's pace. It's important to remember that he tested without tire blankets (to warm tires up for optimal performance w/o deg/wear). Here's a lil comparison between driver's fastest lap times in last weekend's Quali (with the help of tire blankets) vs their pace in tire test: (src1, src2)

Tire Test Quali Ratio RIC 1:27.415 ? ? HUL 1:30.276 1:28.896 98.471% MAG 1:31.247 1:32.378 101.239% ALB 1:32.453 1:27.530 94.675% (kevin's car stopped 3 minutes before end of Q1, hence the longer quali time)

Now, I'm no statistics major, and this is gonna be a math model with very limited samples, but on average HUL, MAG and ALB had been able to achieve 98.128% of their tire test time in quali, which translates Daniel's 1:27.415 test time to a 1:25.779 quali time, a lap time that would've put him on pole last Saturday, in line with news outlets have suggested. Bear in mind this was taking Kevin's stats into account whose car actually stopped on track mid Q1. If not, this calculation would've put Daniel's projected quali time in the 1'24 range. Even tho this is a calculation based on limited info, I'd say the results are very promising and Daniel's pace is obviously competitive, just as many sources suggested.

In conclusion!! Daniel will do great. I personally have no doubt 🤍

[esta-elavaris]

Flufftober Day 7: Porch Swing ~ James Norrington/OC [2,017 words]

My Flufftober '23 masterpost can be found here, and my behemoth of a main fic about these two is here 💜✨

It started with a night of disrupted sleep. Not an unusual thing, James understood, for parents of a child under one – especially given Theodora’s resolute insistence that they take on the brunt of the work as much as was possible. I’m not having children just to hand them to someone else to raise the second they’re born, she’d said. He could not pretend he didn’t see her point. Whatever reservations he harboured on just how much she shirked the notion of a servant doing the heavy lifting was vanquished after lengthy discussions on the topic of modern understandings of bonding…and when he saw just how strongly she felt on the matter.

It was hardly as if he’d been dying to pass his daughter off to a wetnurse within an hour of her being born, either. Whatever prior expectations he had on that score had mostly lain in what was the done thing. And when had the ‘done thing’ ever been he and Theodora’s method?

He just wished his wife would be a little easier on herself when it came to the standard to which she held herself. But he believed the phrase ‘pot, meet kettle’ had been thrown around when he’d voiced that wish, and so he hardly boasted of a leg to stand on.

It began with footsteps downstairs – but that was hardly enough to truly stir him from his doze, chalking it up to Hope attending to some matters now that they were out of her hair for the night. Then, though, it was followed by the scuttling footsteps of the dogs.

“What are those beasts of yours up to now?” he mumbled.

No response came from Theodora’s side of the bed…and come to think of it, he didn’t hear her breathing, either. Groping blindly, mostly hoping he would find her there and save himself from leaving the bed, his hand was met instead with blankets that had long grown cool.

It took few detective skills for him to track down his wife, considering the front door had been left ajar in her wake.

Theodora paced up and down the porch, clad in a nightgown, a thick dressing gown, and those favoured black boots of hers. Antonia fussed in her arms, bundled heavily in blankets, and one of the dogs offered moral support in the form of trailing along behind her this way and that, tail lazily wagging and nose nudging at her legs every now and then. She looked exhausted, face pale and the long plait her hair was bound back into fraying wildly.

“Did we wake you?” she asked when she spotted him.

“I wish you had,” he replied.

“No use in us both being sleep deprived,” she shook her head.

“It’s too cold to be out here.”

“She won’t settle unless she’s outside, and unless I’m rocking her. I tried to put her down so I could at least bring a chair out, and she started screaming bloody murder the second I did,” she said tiredly. “Those damned teeth of hers. Why aren’t they just born with them all? This is torture on us all.”

“What can I do?”

“Learn to produce milk.”

“I’m afraid that might take more time than what we have,” he said.

The smile she offered in response was strained, but it was a smile all the same. “One of the chairs – from the sitting room. Whichever’ll be easiest to carry. I need to sit.”

Within moments, he saw her furnished with the rocking chair from the sitting room – a gift from an elderly neighbour when Antonia’s impending arrival was announced, which had proven to be nothing less than a godsend. In another trip, he brought blankets, and once she sat comfortably, he went to the kitchen, a plan of action now in mind.

In record time, he returned outside boasting a tray in one hand, and a stool for himself in the other. On the tray sat a chunk of ice, wrapped thickly in cheesecloth which he quickly set into Antonia’s grasping hands (and she did not hesitate in depositing between her lips, settling down quickly thereafter – albeit with a furrowed brow and flushed cheeks), as well as a hunk of bread baked with fruit within. One of Hope’s specialties.

It took a little shuffling for Theodora to situate their daughter so she had a hand free with which she might eat, but when she did she groaned her thanks before regarding him with weary affection.

“I love you.”

James smiled. “And I you. Wake me next time. Have we not learned thrice over by now that anything we face is not so insurmountable when we face it together?”

“Are you comparing our beautiful daughter to Davy Jones?”

“It appears she’ll have his temperament until all of her teeth come in.”

Antonia mumbled nonsense noises through her mouthful of cloth as if in agreement.  

With the crisis averted, he lowered himself down to sit on the stool beside the two leading ladies in his life, looking out over the lush green hilly land that they called home, backlit by the full moon and the stars. Though he never thought the would say it at the time, those first few perilous years of theirs had proved a blessing in a way, for it was now very difficult to take minor – natural – challenges too seriously at all, even in the midst of them. Whenever they struggled from overtiredness, or had to contend with an annoying neighbour dropping by uninvited, or one of the men in their employment needed a lesson in manners, they could always sit back and contemplate that at least Beckett and Jones were dead, and they were not.

With Beckett in particular, that reminder put things in a particularly rosy light.

Oftentimes, he had to pause now and look about them and wonder how any of this was real, half fearing that he would soon wake to find himself thrown back in time a number of years – that Theodora would be gone to Tortuga, and he readying himself to give chase, Jones and Beckett in need of vanquishing all over again.

He’d gladly do it, if doing so would get him here once more.

His daughter fussing drew him from his thoughts – a half-hearted sort of fussing, for she’d tired herself out – and when he turned his head he saw it was because Theodora no longer rocked her. Her head was tilted against the high backrest of the chair, her eyes shut, her lips parted in sleep. James smiled a little, and pressed one foot down onto the front of the curved rocker of the chair, rocking it gently back and forth. Theodora did not stir, and Antonia ‘hmf’d as if to say quite right.

It was then that he had an idea.

Theodora knew that her husband was up to something. Well, that was nothing to boast about because he’d all but told her, banning her from the work-shed at one side of the property. Although that new rule sprang up in the aftermath of his chopping and sawing a great deal of timber – something he saw fit to do in only breeches and boots, leaving his bare shoulders, chest, and back glistening from his exertions. Theo’s admiration of the sight had been plain as day, and no matter how cool he’d tried to play it, he’d never quite managed to disguise his smirk when he caught her.

“From hereon, you cannot spectate on what I do,” he’d said. “Or else the surprise will grow too obvious, and be ruined.”

Then, he’d added in a mutter. “And because Antonia will have a sibling before it is done, if we keep this up.”

The grumbling lost any edge it might’ve had thanks to the smugness that underlay it. And so Theo had relented. It wasn’t like there was ever a shortage of work to do elsewhere on their homestead, and he was too enthusiastic about this surprise for her to let her own curiosity spoil it.

Given all else that they did, it was weeks before it was finally unveiled to her.

“She’s got another tooth coming in,” she sighed one evening after Antonia had been put to bed – if not for the night, then at least for a few hours. “We’ll need to order more ice from town soon…she’s gnawing my fingers down to stumps, bless her.”

“I have something that will help.”

He rose quickly from the sofa, as though he’d been waiting for her to give him this ‘signal’ – whatever it may have been.

“A spare hand?”

“Two, in fact,” he smirked. “Which have made something I’m rather proud of. Wait here ‘til I fetch you…and do not cheat by looking out of the window.”

Punctuating his point, he drew the curtains and then smirked at her. Theo could only watch on in amusement; as well as feigning a great deal of patience that was not entirely genuine.

Finally, though, he returned inside and took her by the hand, pulling her up and leading her through the house, out of the back door, and onto the porch. Once they reached it – once she saw what was there – the smile slipped from her face as her mouth hung open and she stared in disbelief.

A porch swing now sat where they so often had to drag the rocking chair out to in order to soothe Antonia at night. It was long, enough to sit four at a squeeze but certainly two or three very comfortably, sanded smooth, and stained a deep warm glossy brown, hanging by chains on a frame that offered not only support but also a latticed little roof above.

“You built this?” she asked in disbelief.

“Artful and ornate it is not,” he replied bashfully, his hand still in hers. “I can build, but I cannot carve. The little shelter above was the most decoration I could offer, and even that set progress back a good while for it was a great deal more fiddly, to use your word, than I anticipated. But it is comfortable – and sturdy. With more than enough room so that we both might sit on it together when sleep must be pushed back. Or in summer, to enjoy the air and the scenery. In winter, even, for I know how you enjoy the col-”

As he spoke, Theo was reminded of her own nervousness – back when she’d bestowed upon him the rings that had sat on their fingers ever since. He’d teased her for her shyness then, and she’d enjoyed it, but she couldn’t bring herself to do the same now. This was a far cry from harassing a smith’s apprentice into knocking together a couple of rings. This had been weeks upon weeks of work, and physical labour – for her. So that they might sit together properly on the next sleepless night.

She wondered if she could still blame those pesky post-motherhood hormones for how she began to tear up.

James, luckily, was able to quickly discern that they were very much the good kind of tears, breathing a laugh and stepping closer still, wrapping an arm about her shoulders. “I had not intended to make you cry.”

Turning into his grasp, she rose up onto the balls of her feet and kissed him, arms wrapped around his neck to keep herself balanced. She kissed him then, long and slow, sighing her contentment as his arms wrapped around her to both steady and pull her close, the hand not firm at the small of her back snaking its way upwards so that his fingers could tangle themselves in her locks and ruin the updo she’d wound her hair up into. She didn’t mind a bit.

“I can’t believe you built this for me,” she breathed when they parted, turning her head to look at it again.

“I would do far, far more,” he chuckled softly, speaking lowly into her ear – most likely because he knew what it would do.

“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” she murmured.

And was rewarded with a brilliant grin.

Links: AO3 -- FF.net -- flufftober masterpost -- dividers by cafekitsune

[importantwomensbirthdays]

Denise Albe-Fessard

Denise Albe-Fessard was born in Paris in 1916. Albe-Fessard was a neuroscientist known for basic research on central nervous system pain pathways. Her main contributions dealt with distinguishing medial and lateral thalamic centers in nociception, which is the brain's processing of damaging stimuli. Albe-Fessard was the first president of the International Society for the Study of Pain, a position she held from 1975 to 1978. In 1973, she was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor, and in 1978, she was made an Officer of the Order of Merit.

Denise Albe-Fessard died in 2003 at the age of 86.

[pinkiepiebones]

Going by their chasubles (the poncho-like thing draped over their albs), either the lining of it or the decor on the front, each Papa has a colour.

Papa I's colour was red.

Papa II's colour was green.

Papa III's colour was purple.

Papa IV's colour was blue.

I am not Catholic but before Cardinal Copia was revealed I spent some time looking at the liturgical schedule of chasubles- what colour is worn and when, mostly... I was so sure Papa IV would have a pink/rose chasuble. A lot of the information I read said that blue, Papa IV's colour, was either not used due to it's relation to the Virgin Mary, or it was only reserved for the specialest of special occasions*

Anyway, there are three main colours remaining- Rose, White, and Gold. White/gold are often lumped together from what I've seen.

What I want to ask is, what do you all consider Papa Nihil'a colour to be? Is it white, is it gold, is it both? If he is represented by either white or gold, the other could be in play for Papa V's colour. If he is represented by both, that leaves rose/pink alone for Papa V. You hear me Tobias?? GIVE ME THE ROSE PAPA.

*{Papa IV's colour and the fact that the colour was on the outside of the chasuble instead of the lining of it had me so sure he wasn't part of Nihil's family... I am the fool}

Under the cut are some visuals from various sites with the colours so I can prove I'm not a nut for wanting a rose Papa

[a-queer-seminarian]

sigh. i'm so tired of dreams where i'm somehow back at my childhood church and trying to get out of there before i'm recognized and yelled at / attacked. i dream some iteration of this a few times a month.

they are interesting dreams though, because of how they shift and change.

sometimes the church looks like it does now, but more often it looks like it did when i was a kid / up through high school — they redid the entire sanctuary building while i was in undergrad (which is quite fitting narratively lol, that the building itself was demolished and remade while i was undergoing huge changes in myself off at college, so that what i returned to was never quite Familiar, an uncanny valley version of the place i loved most as a child)

the changes the church underwent:

they carefully removed the altar, crucifix, tabernacle, stained glass windows and tore down the old building, then placed all those treasured items in the new, larger sanctuary.

(a fun thing about that altar: it has relics of Felicity and Perpetua inside it, i.e. THE sapphic Saints)

The pews went from two straight rows to having some diagonal rows on the sides.

I want to say the floor is stone now instead of the old burgundy carpet that i remember so well growing up, and that is present in my parents' wedding photos

There are still the small gold fonts of holy water at the side doors, but the main entrance boasts a whole holy water fountain now which is pretty cool

all that statues and images of Jesus and co are, of course, white people. as it was as i grew up, so it is now. i just notice it way more now than i did then

my favorite addition is to one side, a shrine to Our Lady of the Wayside, which i wrote about years ago. I don't know what significance she has to whomever decided to give her space at St. Raphael, but her name alone is so queer — she's there with those who are left behind on the wayside, forgotten or abandoned or unable to keep up.

Sometimes in my dreams the old and the new tangle up, so that i'll exit the new sanctuary and find myself in the old gym, or the old behind-the-scenes space where i'd go to change into my altar serving alb, ready the candles, pray with the priest and other servers before Mass began. (I can't remember what the new behind-space looks like; i only ever went in there a handful of times. So it never shows up in my dreams)

Or in some of my dreams the church looks completely different from reality, expanded into a cathedral — last night the sanctuary looked similar to what it used to on its ground floor, but it had a second level wrapped around the sides for even more pews, with an enormous statue of Raphael in the very back watching over everything.

Most of the time I'm hiding. Fleeing. Trying to escape unseen. Sometimes it's the middle of Mass and i somehow accidentally ended up there? i'm hiding my face trying to hustle to the exit but they're all locked so i have to play it cool, act casual. Or else i'm lost in those back rooms with the albs and such; they've become labyrinthine and i keep passing the doorless spaces where they lead straight onto the raised space with the altar; i can see Father T preaching at the pulpit and my body goes cold fearing he'll turn his head and see me so i hurry on, still hopelessly lost

One time i spent the whole time kneeling before the place to the side of the altar in the old sanctuary building where the tabernacle used to be. Then when i was in high school they moved the tabernacle to be at a more central place right behind the altar, and moved statues of the Holy Family to fill its old space. In my dream the Holy Family and the tabernacle were there, and I knelt in prayer before them. I can't remember what I prayed. Was I desperate for safety or acceptance? Was I defiant? Did I pray for those who persecuted me? I don't remember, but I sure was at it a long time

Every now and then i dream someone does recognize me — and instead of attacking me, they say it's all right. That no one is mad. That i can come back without fear. I hate that version the most because when i wake up it takes me a moment to remember that didn't really happen

[randomnameless]

How would you feel if IS decided to release a Forging Bonds where Claude and Hilda acknowledged Cyril's situation prior to Rhea saving him, Hilda specifically apologizes to him for what her family put him through, and Claude specifies that one of his first actions upon becoming leader of the Alliance was to outlaw any and all indetured servants throughout the country and free all the ones that already existed, along with giving them support structures to help them get readjusted to normal life?

On the one hand, it'd be pretty much the only choice IS has at this point if they were to ever adress the slavery problem in Almyra, and the writing team for Heroes has clearly shown itself to be more than willing to go against stances taken by the Fódlan games, such as having Lissa call out Edelgard on how stupid her stance towards crests is, so it wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of possibility; on the other hand, they did go out of their way to conveniently skip over the part of Cyril's backstory where he was a slave when he was added to Heroes, implying they really don't want to touch that subject either, and it'd be really lame if such a major issue with one of the three major countries in Fódlan was only ever addressed and resolved in the gacha game.

Anon,

Have you seen/lived through Book 7 of FEH?

All jokes aside, I think that even in the case FEH suddenly bring backs writers from the fridge, that would teeter to close to "uwu challenging a House Leader" and we know, with the bonkers A!Ingrid FB's event, that this is something they will never do.

Claude (and Hilda) having to grow from their FE16/Nopes selves?

Nah, can't do.

In a way, I think the Nabateans (and Billy?) were able to be "tooled"/"more developed" in FEH because, as ridiculous as it is, they're not the main selling points of Fodlan.

Lissa and Supreme Leader's FB was really odd, because FEH dared to go in that direction (ditto with Mila and Hegemon!gard) - so maybe they could... or, as seen in Engage with Supreme Forehead, they will try to erase everything that made her controversial or a character to begin with, to focus on "uwu rivals uwu school friends uwu".

So, if Supreme Leader's situation is that "difficult", I can't see them give the same amounts of fuck to Claude -

And, as you pointed out, given how Cyril's BG was "modified" to make sure House Goneril isn't mentionned or whatever happened in Almyra, I don't they will ever care - even if there used to be a time (or is it still going on?) where Supreme Leader's MYH blurbs, just like Dimitri's and Rhea's were periodically edited/modified by IS (especially the JP versions, for reasons we all know :p ) so, who knows, maybe one day, Cyril's MYH blurb will also be modified?

As for the idea in general -

In the paralogue, Hilda sorts of feels sorry for Cyril's time as a "servant" in House Goneril, which is like, the minimal kindness-reaction she can give, but there are no other mentions of that situation in this paralogue.

Hell, later on, when Hilda goes to Holst after the battle, she checks on his health, and recovers Freikugel - no mention of "plz tell people not to pick almyran children or at least don't give them so much work to do because they're having a hard time".

And while I liked the idea, in FE16, of Hilda being a sort of kind and caring character, who still has a lot of prejudices against Almyrans - she is lazy and doesn't want to do her chores because she's afraid she will mess up, and yet, she can be lazy because her House is the only one mentionned in Fodlan that has "servants" who aren't fed everyday who do "hard work" - because while Tellius went ham on the people who are prejudiced against other races, sometimes racism means someone can be the kindest and nicest person you ever know... except not to some other group of people (iirc we get this with Lyn's grandpa, who didn't approve of his daughter marrying Hasan, a Sacean, and yet, through his few lines and appearance, we see how he is a kind (albeit feeble) old man - who finally managed to get over his prejudice on his "deathbed", only for him to recover and spend time with his granddaughter at the end of Lyn's story).

Of course FE16 couldn't give this character arc to Hilda - which is kind of a shame, bcs tfw an ultra minor NPC from FE7 can grow but not a playable character in FE16 - but as an idea and concept, it could have been nice.

Instead, both Hilda and Claude are in a kind of limbo regarding this issue, because their games want to push the CoS scarecrow, thus the source of "everything wrong in Fodlan" and so, human vice, human greed and human failings aren't explored in their routes.

FWIW, I don't think any major state and its issues are explored in the Fodlan games, save for, maybe, Faerghus thanks to Nopes - and the Fodlan games aren't really concerned with tackling racism, even if I still give them a spot above Tellius, since Tellius has "biological reasons for anti miscegenation", but even if the games don't pretend to make a huge point of being "anti racism", imo this issue is best presented in the Elibe games.

TBH, I'd prefer a FB where Cyril interacts with the Nabateans and/or calls them his true family, maybe to someone like Medeus and or Xane or even later Jahn when he will be released? who wonder why he is hanging out with Dragons when he is only a human, Cyril replying that human or not human, Rhea showed him kindness and saved his life when no one else cared, so she is his mother and savior, period.

End of FB ends up with the Rheas overhearing him and each taking a turn to hug him which embarasses him to oblivion, with Seiros the Warrior not participating because she doesn't know that human yet, but if there is that kind of human in Future Fodlan, then even if Adrestia will fall, her fight wasn't for nothing.

[definitely-not-an-alb]

Guess who finally made a Pinned

I’m Alb (he/she), I’m an adult with a job, I've been active in fandom for a solid decade and counting now, and this is the main place I currently do my fandom-ing at. Knowing me, I won’t remember to update this when I switch fandoms, so I won’t make a definite list.

I’m at Ao3 as definitely_not_an_alb, dreamwidth as definitely-not-an-alb, and cohost as @/Alb.

I have another blog where I post more Serious Reading @albsbookshelf

I also run the dormant @teamfreibier for Übernatürlich-stuff (real ones know what’s up)

and I run the Strange Horticulture/Strange Antiquities fanblog @undermertourismdepartment.

I tag spoilers for Critical Role as Critical Role Spoilers until the Thursday EST after an ep drops on Youtube, for TV shows about the week of the eps dropping and for books for about a month after publication.

Vox Machina Season 3 spoilers will be tagged "#Vox Machina S3 spoilers" until a week after the last eps are out

[beardedmrbean]

The presidents of a wide-ranging group of 13 universities are elevating free speech on their campuses this academic year, as part of a new nonprofit initiative announced Tuesday to combat what organizers call dire threats to U.S. democracy.

The Campus Call for Free Expression will take different forms on different campuses. The campaign, created by The Institute for Citizens & Scholars with funding from the Knight Foundation is designed to cultivate the freedom of expression on campuses and help students work together to find solutions to complicated, divisive problems.

“The national context of the deep political polarization, the inability of people to speak across difference in constructive and civil ways, it seems to me that colleges and universities need to be the institutions at the forefront of showing a better way to do that,” said Jonathan Alger, president of James Madison University, which is participating in the initiative.

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars first convened a group of college presidents in March 2022 to discuss how to prepare students to actively participate in democracy. Eventually, the presidents and schools committed to five principles of free expression along with new, on-campus programs that each school designed themselves. Those include new training at freshman orientations, faculty seminars and convocation remarks.

While not new, controversies around free speech at universities abound, from students protesting invited speakers to state legislatures targeting faculty tenure, and also reflect an increase in restrictions on freedom of speech more generally.

The participating schools include the University of Notre Dame, a private Catholic research school, Benedict College, a historically Black school in South Carolina, Rollins College, a small liberal arts school in Florida, and Ivy League member Cornell University, which in April announced that freedom of expression would be the theme for its 2023 school year.

Jonathan Holloway, president of Rutgers University in New Jersey and a historian of African American history, said he was motivated to join the initiative in part by what he called a growing deep disregard for American institutions.

“If I don’t speak up now on what I see that’s so concerning, if I don’t do this now, then when?” he asked, adding, "When I saw the Confederate battle flag marched through the Capitol Rotunda in January 2020, that’s when things shifted for me."

This September, Holloway will lead a freshman course that will examine the meaning of democracy and ask students to help design a program for the university to improve civic education.

For Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, there are two main reasons to focus civic education on college students. For many, their colleges will be the most diverse community that they’ve ever experienced and students have the potential to shift social norms as they enter public forums and start to participate in politics. He hopes that the collective commitment of these schools to fostering critical thinking and the exchange of ideas around contentious issues will encourage other institutions to join them.

“Are we able to get above the cacophony of these issues of free expression to be able to get people in general (and) leaders to be able to see that higher ed can and should play a leading and proactive and positive role in civic preparedness?” Vinnakota asked.

The Knight Foundation provided a $250,000 grant to the institute to convene the presidents and eventually other university staff in a series of conversations over a year and a half.

“We believe in the free exchange of ideas. We believe in an informed citizenry so that the people may determine their true interest,” said Alberto Ibarguen, president of the foundation.

The nonprofit PEN America offers training to colleges and universities around cultivating an exchange of ideas as part of its work advocating for human rights and free speech. In general, Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of its Free Expression and Education program, said that showing students why protections for free speech matter is an effective way to win over them to hearing about opposing views.

“When students learn about how writers and artists around the world have been persecuted for their free expression, they understand the ramifications of squashing another’s speech,” she said in response to emailed questions.

James Madison University is partnering with the Bipartisan Policy Center to host a training for more than 4,000 incoming students this year to prepare them for free expression on campus. The training will ask the students to participate in real time through a survey application and the school will also use their responses to help design future trainings. JMU already surveys new students about their civic engagement and repeats the assessment in their third year to measure student learning.

Lucas Morel, a professor of politics at Washington and Lee University and chair of the Academic Freedom Alliance, said more universities and colleges should embrace a mission of cultivating the pursuit of knowledge through the airing of different ideas and arguments based on evidence. A college education is not just meant to help students get a job or gain knowledge, but also to help make them engaged citizens, he said.

“If we don’t do a good job of helping them be careful readers and careful listeners, it stands to reason that as citizens they won’t be careful listeners and careful expressors of their own thought," he said. "And it will be difficult for us to function as a self-governing society.”