#or if it’s a special treat for denmark

[oksfranta]

how many songs is gonna sing today? I feel like it’s already been more than usual and he hasn’t even had his break yet

[secular-jew]

From one of my Danish friends who works for an NGO in Gaza:

HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS LIE ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA

Every single day we hear from various humanitarian organizations that the situation in Gaza is catastrophic and that there is now only fuel, water or medicine for a day before the famous one diesel generator in Gaza stops, the lights go out and the sick can be treated due to a lack of medicines.

It must be remembered that these organizations have an interest in exaggerating and dramatizing the situation - to put it nicely. In fact, they often lie, and they must know that themselves, because they have their own representatives on site. One must also remember that there is no independent media in Gaza that could check the many exaggerations and lies. Hamas strictly controls what is published, and it is dangerous to question or correct Hamas' censors.

The Israeli defense has a special unit that deals professionally with the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The unit regularly receives information from international organizations that are represented in Gaza, and also builds on knowledge that is generally available. From this we see a more realistic picture of the conditions than what the humanitarian organizations provide:

There is NO shortage of food in Gaza, but sufficient stocks for several weeks' needs. As far as drinking water is concerned, Gaza is 90% self-sufficient. Only 10% comes from Israel through 3 water supply pipes. Israel has recently opened 2 more supply lines.

Hamas has full control over the distribution of medicine and hospital equipment and decides how much the hospitals will receive and when. (Hamas probably needs these things themselves now that they are suffering daily heavy losses given the targeted Israeli attacks on the terrorist organization's numerous military facilities)

Hamas' many rocket attacks against Israel, which continue, have destroyed several of their own electrical lines that supply electricity to Gaza from Israel - moreover, on a larger scale than the generator the media keeps talking about.

All hospitals in Gaza have their own solar powered electrical systems to supplement diesel generators. Other generators scattered across Gaza territory are controlled by Hamas, which also stores large quantities of diesel oil in the underground tunnels. Three weeks have passed since the hospital administrations in Gaza declared that they only had diesel fuel for the next 24 hours. But the hospitals continue to function because Hamas supplies them with fuel.

Hamas is interested in the hospitals functioning because Hamas has their military headquarters inside and under the hospitals, which they have thereby made part of the military infrastructure.

Red Cross employees in the Gaza Strip are from the Red Crescent, they are Palestinians, they protect Hamas. Their monthly salary comes from the organization.

The Red Cross in Denmark, for example, does not talk about the 239 Israeli hostages to which the Red Cross has not had access.

According to international rules/laws, the Red Cross must have access to the hostages, some of whom are babies and small children, others are young and elderly. The Red Cross does not talk about the lack of supervision of the Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip.

Wonder why?

[fireandiceland]

Hetalia characters with dishes typical for their country - part 2 (part 1 here)

Spain: Paella de marisco (seafood paella) -> A surprisingly easy to make dish consisting of saffron infused rice with seafood. Other versions can also be made with meat from livestock (like the paella valenciana with chicken and rabbit) or be made vegetarian. The word "paella" is Valencian/Catalan and translates to "frying pan", the name of the dish originating from how it is traditionally cooked in a wide, shallow pan.

Prussia: Königsberger Klopse (königsberger dumplings) -> Named after the capital of East Prussia, these dumplings are made from minced vail, pork, or beef mixed with onions, eggs, and soaked white bread and cooked in saltwater. Some of the brewing water is then thickened into a sauce using roux, egg yolk and cream. It is traditionally served with boiled or mashed potatoes. Back then in Königsberg itself, the dish was known as Saure Klopse (sour dumplings).

South Italy: Pizza Margherita -> This flatbread made from leavened yeast dough topped with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil leaves. It is said to have earned it's name from appealing greatly to the Italian Queen Margherita when she tried the Neapolitan speciality, though newer reseach suggests that the name Margherita wasn't used until 40-50 years after the alleged incident.

Finland: Mustikkapiirakka (blueberry cake) -> Berries play a very important part in Finnish food culture, especially hand picked forest blueberries which are often turned into pastries and pies. A particularly popular pie is made with the pie crust eased into the tart tin with floured hands (not rolled out), then the blueberries and a custard filling are added and the cake baked until the top becomes golden-brown.

Sweden: Kannelbulle (cinnamon roll) -> Despite other Nordic countries claiming the invention of the sweet roll, very year on 4 October Sweden celebrates "Cinnamon Roll Day". A sheet of dough is covered in butter, sugar, and cinnamon, then rolled up and cut into the characteristic pieces. The are traditionlly baked in muffin wrappers and only dusted with sugar, they are lighter and less sweet than American cinnamon buns with icing.

Denmark: Flødeboller (cream puff) -> The fluffy, foamy inside of this treat is made from beaten egg whites mixed with sugar, dressed on a wafer and covered in chocolate. Often they are topped with coconut flakes, shredded almonds, or colourful sprinkles, making them a popular little "cake" for danish children to have for someone's birthday at school. They were first invented around 1800 in Denmark, but quickly became popular in France and Germany as well.

Norway: Kvæfjordkake (Kvæfjord cake) -> This sponge cake baked with meringue with almonds on top and then layered with vanilla or rum custard (sometimes mixed with whipped cream), is also dubbed the best cake in the world - Verdens beste. The name is based on the region it's inventer originates from. Starting in the 1930s as a variation of the kongekake ("king cake") with less almonds, as they were quite expensive, it is now a popular dessert for special celebrations.

Iceland: Rjómabollur (profiterole) -> A little sweet treat made from choux pastry filled with jam and whipped cream, the top dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles. Traditionally, they are eaten on "Bun Day", the Monday before Ash Wednesday. Kids wake their parent up by smacking them with paper wands and every smack on the parent's bottom before their feet touch the ground translates into one bun which the parent owes to the child.

[itsallyscorner]

The Grapejuice Blues | H.S

pairing: Harry Styles x fem!reader

warnings: none

summary: Harry surprises you with your favorite song off his latest album 🍇💜🍷

author’s note: first time posting since last year, so please be gentle <3

📍Horsens, Denmark

Open air arenas always had a different vibe to them. While they stretched far back and were a bit less intimate, something about performing outside was special.

You personally couldn’t say what it was like to perform on stage in front of thousands of people, but after seeing your boyfriend do it countless times, you could tell it was an addicting feeling. The music blaring, the fans singing, it was an adrenaline rush that had a sense of love and pride streaming into your other half’s bloodstream. Being outside with the clouds, the setting sun, and the occasional airplane or bird passing by only amplified that high. Don’t even get Harry started on the rain. He considered the shows that were rained upon to be the most memorable ones.

However, it seemed as though there wouldn’t be any rain at Horsens. The weather was impeccable. There was a slight breeze, wasn’t too cold or too hot, and the sun was out. Perfect weather for the start of the final leg of Love on Tour.

Tour coming to an end was bittersweet. You knew Harry would miss traveling and connecting with his fans. However, you were glad he was finally getting a well deserved break. While he did have a break between the three years he’s been touring, you were excited and a little relieved that he’d be spending time at home resting. No matter how many times he assured you he was doing just fine, you always worried that he was overworking himself. In all honesty, you couldn’t wait to have him home all to yourself—you wanted to sleep in and love up on each other till all the fatigue from tour rubbed off the both of you. Though for now, you were simply living in the moment since you knew you would eventually miss the craziness of touring.

Which brings you to today. You were currently in pit, along with Jeffrey, and Lloyd watching Harry go through his final rehearsal. You were sat on one of the equipment boxes, while the other two leaned against another. Jeff was watching to make sure everything was going smoothly, while Lloyd was there snapping some pictures. You lot have been there for about 30 minutes or so, and from what you have heard, Horsens was in for a treat. Not only were they getting She but they were also getting Stockholm Syndrome. To say you were jealous was an understatement.

“He’s really spoiling them, isn’t he?” You turn to Jeffrey who’s already smiling at you.

“He wanted to surprise everyone—keeping them on their toes as always.” He shrugged, glancing down at the new set list before him. Of course Harry wanted to keep them on their toes, “edging”, he liked to call it.

You rolled your eyes fondly at your boyfriend’s antics, “Such a tease.”

“Oh, you’d know, wouldn’t you?” Lloyd smirked, not missing the chance to snap a picture of your face after his comment.

“Piss off.” You muttered, reaching over Jeff and shoving Lloyd’s shoulder, only causing him to chuckle. Meanwhile on stage, Harry had just finished performing WMYB. The heat had started to get to him as he pulled off his neon green Pleasing sweater, and walked towards the end of the stage where you were.

Ironically you were all wearing some kind of merch from Pleasing. Lloyd had the beach bag over his shoulder carrying some of his camera equipment, while Jeff wore the black crewneck. You were in a more comfy getup, wearing the new brown sleepover shorts and the green crewneck. It was like your unofficial uniform as a crew, Harry found it wholesome in all honesty.

From the stage a smile can be seen on Harry’s face as he approaches you all. He crouches down before jumping off the stage and walking over to stand in between your legs.

“Hi baby.” You hum as he wraps his arms around your waist. His face had a slight tan and was shiny, mostly due to the sweat he’s accumulated from the sun. One of your arms wrap around his shoulders, not bothered by the slight sweat beneath his shirt, as your other reached to grab your hydro flask with water.

“Hiya lovey, what d’you think about the set list so far?” He asked you, silently thanking you for the water by pressing a kiss to your jaw. As he drank you responded, “It’s perfect, I think it’s one of the best line ups you’ve had during the tour.”

His one arm remained around you while the other held the hydro flask. He takes one more sip of water before asking, “You think?”

You tilt your head at him and send him a reassuring smile, “Yup, they’re gonna love it H, I promise.” Unable to resist the urge, you ran a hand through his dark brown locks, slightly damp strands of hair tangling with your fingers.

Harry hummed happily at the action, a boyish grin on his pink lips. He was ecstatic that you were able to come along for tour, your job often made it difficult for you to join him for long periods of time, but fortunately with the power of the internet, your boss allowed you to work remotely. Knowing that you were there watching him and would eventually greet him as soon as he finished on stage soothed his nerves. He knew that whatever happens on tour, everything would be alright since you were there. You made him happy and everybody else can agree.

Unbeknownst to either you or Harry, Lloyd managed to snap a quick picture of you both. Not that Harry was always all over the place, but he’s the most relaxed whenever you were around and to see him so calm prior to a show was a pleasant sight for the photographer.

A toothy grin replaced the smile on Harry’s face as he began to pull you off your makeshift seat.

“C’mon, you’re gonna wanna be on stage with me for this.” He pushed you closer towards the stage, walking behind you and gently grasped your hips. You look around confused, “What do you mean?”

“Jus’ get on stage w’me, I have a surprise I think you’ll like.” He slightly teased, motioning for you to jump. You side eyed him for a moment before Harry helped you climb onto the stage. He followed after, effortlessly lifting himself up from pit.

“What are you up to?” You squint up at him as he grasps onto your hand. He leads you towards the center of the stage with that sly smirk on his face.

Harry stops in front of his mic then turns to you, “Will y’stop worrying, you’ll like it babe, I swear.”

He looks over his shoulder and shows a thumbs up towards the band. Suddenly, you heard the infamous opening beats of one of your favorite songs from Harry’s latest album.

You jaw dropped and your eyes widened as you stared at Harry. He couldn’t help but let out a giggle at your reaction.

“You’re playing Grapejuice?” You screamed over the horns and the rest of the band playing behind you. Goosebumps formed on your skin at hearing Grapejuice live in all its glory.

Harry stepped closer towards you, one of his hands gripping his mic and the other on your hip to pull you in closer.

He leaned down towards your ear, “Yep, but I wanted to enjoy it with you before I sing it in front of everyone else again.” His lips then pressed a kiss onto your temple.

Your heart swelled at how precious he truly was. Sure, it was rehearsal and he had to practice the song regardless. But it was the fact that he wanted to rehearse it beside you because he knew it was your favorite song. You weren’t allowed to dwell in your thoughts any longer since Harry began to sing the song to you.

The entire time he held your hand as he directed the song’s lyrics to you. Meanwhile, you sang with him, your body moving alongside his dancing to the swinging melodies of his song.

Down at pit, Jeffrey and Lloyd watched the both of you dancing like a pair of idiots—a pair of cute in love idiots. Lloyd had a blast taking pictures, reminding himself to send them to Harry at the end of the day.

“Save those for the wedding.” Jeffrey told Lloyd. The blonde rolled his eyes and tilted his head at Jeffrey.

“I’ve already got an entire hard drive, should I start making the slideshow now?” Lloyd joked, causing them to chuckle amongst themselves.

As the song came to a close, Harry pulled you close again.

“Y’know why I decided to include it in the set list?” He questioned you.

You shook your head, “Nope, why?”

“S’because you’re finally able to come on tour with me, so as a thank you I wanted to play your song every night to make you happy.” He explained. Your lips pouted at how thoughtful he was, he truly kept exceeding your expectations.

“You really didn’t have to bubs, but I really appreciate it.” You wrap your arms around his shoulders and hug him. Your lips placing soft kisses along his neck.

“I know but I wanted to.” He muttered into your hair, arms locking you in against him.

“I’m the happiest when I’m with you.” You sighed contently into the crook of his neck as Harry hummed in response. By now, you were both swaying in each other’s arms, enjoying one another’s presence.

“The fans are gonna go mad.” You chuckle against him.

“Well they have you to thank, don’t they?”

“I guess they do.”

[babyhoneyheslt]

Historical A/B/O

Unrequited (Complete - 143,707 words)

Mature

Omega Prince Harry of England has been engaged to Prince Louis of France ever since he was a young boy. Having met him at four and forming a bond, Harry is upset to find that Louis no longer treats him like a friend, instead treating him coldly.

However, Louis has his own dark secrets and Harry doesn’t know just how many dangers linger in French Court.

The Silver Dagger (Complete - 30,922 words)

Mature

After nearly being kidnapped by Prince Ben of Denmark, Queen Anne and King Desmond search for a safe place for Prince Harry to stay until they find him a suitor he likes.

They choose the place no one would think to look for a prince, a pirate ship. Captain Louis Tomlinson is a privateer as well as a pirate, and is loyal to the crown, and so he vows to protect Harry to the best of his ability.

With Harry kept safe on board The Silver Dagger, his parents work to find an array of suitors, but he just might find he wants someone else.

Into The Mist (Complete - 63.007 words)

Mature

Sneaking on board the famous pirate ship Compass Arrow to get a story for his journalist father, Harry must do everything to keep a low profile. But when one of the crew discovers him, hiding from the ruthless Captain Tommo becomes almost impossible.

Timeless (One Shot - 3,867 words)

After visiting an antiques shop, Harry gets transported through time, and discovers that he and Louis are Timeless.

Based on Taylor Swift's Timeless.

Castles Crumbling (One Shot - 6,554 words)

Being an unmated Omega and a king, Harry came under a lot of scrutiny. But when he makes a deal with Scotland, his world comes crashing down.

Louis had lost family due to the deal, and he planned to extract revenge. But when he finds Harry, he realises the country had been lied to.

Based on Castles Crumbling by Taylor Swift.

Dark Fics

The Nights and Dangerous Tricks (Complete - 20,322 words)

Explicit

Holmes Chapel had always been known for having the least amount of murders in the whole of the UK, however that all changes in the span of a month. Residents are all on high alert, waiting vigilant while police investigate.

Harry Styles lives alone, leaving him the perfect target to the murderers. However, maybe his good looks and pretty green eyes will spare him his life. For now.

Fantasy Fics

Take Me To Another World (One Shot - 5,034 words)

General Audiences

After escaping from the neighbouring kingdom, Harry finds himself on land for the first time. Despite knowing he should go back home, he lets his curiosity get the better of him.

When a mishap with discovering socks happens, he meets Louis who takes him out for coffee, and finds that Louis doesn’t quite meet the stereotype of humans.

Forgotten Kingdom (Part one of The Secret City Series - 2,495 words)

General Audiences

Louis had always loved ruined cities and had always been obsessed with Glyswing Kingdom, a city that many believed to be a myth. Moving into his grandparents house for renovations, he never expected to find what could be the long forgotten kingdom.

Castles Crumbling Down (Part two of The Secret City Series - 1,637 words)

General Audiences

With Harry freed, the kingdom crumbled down around them, prompting a quick escape.

One Shots

Electric Touch (3,901 words)

General Audiences

Harry had given up on love, until his friend Zayn sets him up on a blind date with Louis.

Based on Electric Touch by Taylor Swift

Gnome One's Home (1,764 words)

General Audiences

Harry has never been a fan of gnomes, but when one mysteriously appears in his garden, he can't help but adopt it.

He should've trusted his instincts

Fly To You (1,815 words)

General Audiences

On the way to their honeymoon, Harry and Louis find out the pilot is ill. With Louis being a pilot, he offers to fly the plane there, and it turns out to make the start of their honeymoon extra special.

Devil's In The Detail's Series

The Tower (Part One - 4,776 words)

General Audiences

There's something strange going on in Heaven.

Bored Angel Harry can't help but investigate.

The Fool (Part Two - 4,946 words)

General Audiences

After making a deal with the devil, Harry has to forge a new life for himself alongside Louis on Earth.

The Devil (Part Three - 3,913 words)

General Audiences

Harry has grown to love being on earth, but his absence in heaven and the company he keeps, hasn't gone unnoticed.

[thekingofwinterblog]

Man the one thing Bionicle will allways have my respect for is the whole giant robot reveal amd planning, that shit was cool.

Like I never read any books or comics (just watched the movies as a kid lol) and of what I read of the lore I feel iffy, but just that idea alone is legendary

Funny thing is, the movies are actually the single WORST part of the bionicle franchise XD

Not only are the 3 good one, only decent movies at best, but they were made explicitly FOR fans, and fans alone, and has no shame about not telling you stuff because they fully expect the viewer to know all the lore through the books, the comic books, or games.

They are also absolutely terrible in terms of action, as the Toa in pretty much every other medium are stupidly powerfull, with elemental powers easily on level with an avatar state avatar if not beyond, physically capable of lifting over one ton, and as the toa mata estimated during their fights with the Bohrok swarms, while they might ultimately win if they just went all out, they would certainly destroy the island of Mata Nui(about the size of mainland denmark) in the process.

To say the movie toa arent quite on that level is... kinda an understatement XD Not to mention that the comics actually fills in scenes in between cuts in the movies, or just makes actual movie scenes better. It's kinda a mess to follow.

overall, I've always described the Bionicle franchise as the actual Star Wars extended universe. It's a whole mess of in-canon with each other stories, that has a very clear cronological flow, but would have been way better if they just made a tv series that covered the main story(which was basically the only thing bionicle DINDT have).

That said, i can tell you exactly why you think the lore is iffy. It is related one one, single sentence.

"Doing in the wizard".

Doing in the wizard, is a story telling trope, where something that was presented as magical or mystical, is later revealed(wheter it was planned or retconned in later) to actually have a mundane, scientific explanation.

And man, is Bionicle the single WORST example of this trope ever made.

So to explain this, and how it all relates to the series big twist reveal, I need to explain how Bionicle started out, and what it became over time.

Because when it began, Bionicle started out as a myth in the making.

On paper the story of the story of the six toa coming to deliver the land from a great evil is as stock as you get it.

But what made it special from day one, was that it managed to capture the feeling of a deeply spiritual tale, of faith, destiny, and myth.

The story of the six toa coming to deliver Mata Nui and his chosen people is treated, both by the narrative, and the people in it, as a great religious story, with the coming of the six Toa Mata essentially being this universe's coming of christ.

There is a moment in the mata nui online game that really encapsulates this, as when Tahu first meets the Ta-Matorans he is supposed to deliver, they attempt to trap him, and he easily breaks free, but then the fighting is halted as Vakama, the turaga(basically priest king) of the ta-matoran shows up, orders his men to stand down, after which he walks up to Tahu seemingly to talk, only to kneel down before him.

because for him this is basically the equivelant of the coming of christ. the divine prophecy that came from God himself is finally coming true.

Now Bionicle has a lot of things to love, as other than the movies, it has great action, it's characters are generally actual people with flaws and developments, and it has lots of awesome moments, amazing and deep world building that is stupidly thourough, and sweet character moments, and of course one of the biggest twists in fiction... but it is this very religious and spiritual tone that sets Bionicle apart from pretty much... everything else western childrens media has ever made.

It is this deep, unfliching and honest portrayal of a world that feels like a myth come to life that drew so many people to this story when it first came out, what ellevated it over yet another story about good and evil clashing.

The people in this story feel real, not only because they generally have actual character(some way more than others), but because they Believe in their world. as in, they believe in Mata Nui, his tennants, his story, and the six saviors he promised would come to deliver them and wake up their god.

this is how you create a real, genuine setting. it is why Bionicle has a feel to it that you never see in western childrens media(nor that often in adult either), other than some very, very few exceptions, due to our deep aversion to showintg religion to children.

and then of course there are the gods in question.

Mata Nui and Makuta. the two brothers who set this story into motion. The first who came here to this world, and created the matoran, and the second who followed him from paradise, and cast a spell that put mata nui into his current deep, deep sleep.

Now these two could have been just another set of "evil brother who who was jealous of, and hates his good brother and attempts to usurp him".

but that's not quite what we get.

When the toa Mata finally do confront Makuta, they get his perspective on it all. Now they ultimately write this off as just an evil villain trying to justify his actions... but if you actually break down what makuta is saying, he is a way more interesting villain than the very simplistic reading the devil figure the matoran believe he is.

"Destroy me? You cannot destroy me. No more than you can destroy the sea, or the wind. Or - the void."

"You are like the sea? The sea bears life! The sea bore us!"

"I bore you, for I am Nothing. And out of Nothing, you came. And it is into Nothing that you will go. I stand with Mata Nui, side by side. I am his brother. The people of the world are builders. But look into their hearts ... and you will find that they also have the power to destroy. I am that power. I am destruction. And I WILL destroy you."

ultimately, the story of the gods Mata Nui and Makuta is not the story of heaven and hell, but instead a story of yin and yang.

Mata Nui is the god of light, and that is the element that everyone associates him with... but thats not his main trait. his main trait, his defining virtue, is creation. That is what he is most famous for after all, creating the matoran and this island home for them.

Similarily, Makuta is tha god of darkness, as that is his element... but his main virtue is destrution.

as the creators themselves noted, using a lego methaphor, mata nui is the drive to create new things, to make something bigger and more interesting out of the parts you have... but Makuta is the drive to destory that creation, to take the lego set apart either before creating something new, or to put it away into the box so that you can use it later. before you create something new, you must destroy.

And this ties into the actual story as well, as one of the big main plots from the start is that to reawaken their god, one of the things that would happen, is that the toa and the matoran would have to give up on Mata Nui the island, their home, their promised land, as only by it's destruction could their god reawaken and lead them to the paradise he originally came from.

its really, really good stuff, and one of the things that ellevated Bionicle over so many other children stories.

now, you might have noticed i said, and continue to say, early bionicle.

There is a reason for that.

and it ties into two very, specific turning points in the development of the story.

the big twist that Mata Nui was actually a giant robot was always going to be the center of everything, the explanation for all the wierd mysteries of the series. Even if his final form didnt end up being quite as big as this above concept piece made him out to be, the overall point stands.

The god of the Matorans was a gigantic robot, and his childrens proper place was inside of him, both to live their lives, and to serve as part of the great ecosystem that was the universe inside of mata nui.

Mata Nui the island, which he created for the Matoran to live on, was always a temporary thing, and their true destiny was him brining them back to "Paradise", aka the great planet of the solar system this story takes place in.

Spherus Magna. a planet that was broken into 3 before he left, and left a hellscape.

his original home that he left long ago.

Now, you might have noticed that i said not a word about what Mata Nui's backstory on said planet actually was.

The only thing that is important as it was originally portrayed, was that Mata nui left the planet for whatever reason, ended up on the water filled moon he currently rests on, and his brother followed him there from paradise.

now, you could create a scenario where there was some scientific, "Mundane" reason for all of this, but if you read this summary so far, the first thought in your mind is probably that what broke this planet into 3 pieces was probably related to something Mata Nui and Makuta, the two known gods of this universe, did. Maybe it is the reason why Makuta no longer has a body, and ended up on this moon in a much weakened form as basically a spirit who can only inhabit souless machine parts.

and im going to take a wild guess that this is probably what was originally planned... but you see, there was a shift at some point. actually on two points.

The first shift was at the very start of Bionicle as we know it, for the series was actually meant to only last 1 year. The toa would defeat makuta, then awaken Mata Nui, and that was that. The end.

However, Lego, who was at the verge of bankruptcy at the time, saw potential in the setting, and given it was a hail mary to save their company said "Screw it, lets expand on this universe!

and so the original one year story became 3 years.

now this artifical extension could have been disasterous, but unlike so many other similar tales, it was the exact opposite.

Mata nui the island got more fleshed out, the big mystery got more build up, the characters got to go through more development, both in the form of a kickass new upgrade, but also character arcs as a result of their power increase going to their head.

new villains, new places to go, new developments.

all leading up to the point where it was now decided that they would end the story. The arrival of the seventh toa of light, which would be where makuta was finally defeated, and at the end of the planned movie that would be the finale, mata nui would finally awaken.

Except this part didnt happen.

at the last moment, Lego essentially pulled the plug and decided to extend the series, and the point where they would reveal the big twist for a second time.

that said, the following storyline of the big flashback to explain metru nui was always going to happen, its just that as originally envisioned, this would be a flashback as the Toa, Turaga and Matoren traveled to Metru nui, as Mata Nui was flying through space back to spherus magna.

So essentially the story was over, but lego got to get one more line of bionicle toys out of it, while the bionicle team got to have fun one more time.

But thats not what happened, as not only did mata nui not awaken(it would take 3 more storylines past this point before that happened), but the big flashback was where everything went wrong so to say.

this is where bionicle shifted hard from a story trying to be a myth with very clear religious and spiritual overtones, into full on sci-fi.

and you can tell that shift occured very clearly as they abandoned all their original plans for how metru nui was supposed to look like in the poster above, showing the very alien like enviornment that was mata nui's insides, into the far more boring and safe(as well as full on science fiction) setting in the poster below.

now im not going to say that everything that came after this point was bad, far from it, there was a lot of really awesome stuff that happened afterwards, but it was the critical turning point where Bionicle steered away from the essence that made it more than just another toyline, an attempt at creating a myth that while it had sci-fi aspects, was ultimately a story of faith, destiny, and trying to find ones place in the universe, into just another sci-fi story.

Basically you can sum it up as the point where mata nui went from a god who was also a giant robot, into just a giant robot.

and man, does it make the lore, and tone a mess.

while the new universe does make logical sense, it lacks the soul(pun very much intended) of what made bionicle, bionicle.

and you know what the really sad thing is?

The final part of the story, where Mata Nui is FINALLY awakened, only to lose his own body, and find himself trapped in his mask as its launched into space before crashing back on the shattered planet that he came from, could so easily have fit into this mythical storytelling.

what actually happens is that mata nui learns he was actually just a giant robot created by some scientis in a lab 100 000 years ago to travel the cosmos, learn about the universe, then come back and fix the broken planet. then he repairs his own, unstable, proto type body that wasnt really working out, makuta senses him and follows him, they duke it out, mata nui kills him, then uses the last of his energy to fix the planet, before dying. oh, also rather than being his actual brother, makuta was actually just a computer program mata nui created. and Makuta isnt even his real name. his actual name is Teridax. im not kidding. oh and the actual thing that destroyed the world? it was a fight amongst some tribesmen using the resident dues ex machina substance that began oozing from the planet's core. again, im not kidding.

here is how you could easily fix it, while keeping in the same tone with what was suggested in the first three years about makuta and mata nui's origins.

The exiled and humbled divine being, cast from heaven, and forced to wander the world he himself played a role in wrecking so long ago, as he travels across the world, and befriends the people he essentially left behind to create the matoran in a better place, rather than fix the mess he, ironically enough given his defining attribute, created.

basically a bionicle take on the atonement/labors of hercules.

and then, having wracked his brain on how to solve the problem of his brother having taken control over his own body, he stumbles upon the solution.

his brother's own, broken, non-active body, which after their ancienct, and catacylsmic clash his brother left behind to follow him to the ocean moon.

and so his journey becomes to essentially take a page out of his brothers book, and do what he did to him in reverse. Repair the mighty body of a god, and then take contrel over it.

after the great journey of hardship and pain, now comes the ressurection before ragnarok, the final battle.

see how easy it is to rewrite this story about what is essentially two computer programs fighting over different continent sized bodies into a story about gods fighting a thematic and climactic showdown on the ruins of a planet they themselves wrecked to pieces to begin with?

but of course the story has to end, and it ends on a note tying into the original message. you cannot create, withouth destruction coming first, and so to win this conflict, mata nui has to destroy something. himself.

His own body.

Like any good jesus analogue, he gives his own life in a sense, as he chooses to give up on the possibility of regaining his own body and with it, regaining his true power and goodhood for the sake of the future of his people and this planet, driving his own skull into the oncoming moon that served as his home for all these years.

and with his final bit of power as his brother's dying body begins to give up on life, he spends the last moments of godhood to do what he, the god of creation should have done from the start. fix the mess he and makuta left behind.

putting the massive planet back together into one whole, while also terraforming it into the green wonder it used to be.

then, we end the story as we began. with a prophecy, where Mata Nui predicts before his toa, as his spirit returns to slumber once again that he will return, but for now, they must make their way forward withouth him, in this new world, that they now must make their own destiny here on the Paradise he promised them so long ago.

I dont know about you, but i think that would have been a lot more interesting that desperately trying to rewrite the entire setting to be full sci-fi because you didnt want to continue with the spiritual and religious themes that you never managed to shake off anyway.

mind you, it's not impossible to have this kind of twist and make a good story about it, but when you commit to telling what is essentially a religious tale that is basically the coming of christ, Ragnarok, the exodus, and the eternal kingdom on earth into one, you are not going to be able to swerve into making it full on sci-fi withouth it feeling, really, really jarring.

And guess what? it makes Bionicle Lore feel really, really jarring. Or iffy as you put it.

[newkatzkafe2023]

Character List and (Y/N)

Genderbend animated Sitcom wifes x Yandere motherly Seriel killer reader

Name (Y/N) (L/N)

Age 22

Gender: female

(Eye color): (e/c)

(Hair color): (h/c)

Appearance:

your a tall woman with (e/c) eyes and (h/c)You have long hair that usually up in one or two buns and you wear glasses.

Personality: You are an enigma and Mystery. You are a Recluse who runs a bakery called Katz Kafe a kid and animal friendly Cafe in the middle of the Neighborhood. You are a quiet young woman who loves animals and children and because of that you are more of an Observer then a talker But at night, you are a serial killer called hellcat And you target abusive parents who disregard and harm their children So therefore you also take the kids You save to either foster care or a new home while leaving proof and evidence that the parents were not fit to raise their child. When you come out of you she'll your friendly, care, protective, intelligent, and wise and you give fairly good advice. You yourself had some parents who abused you and your siblings and when you were 11 you murdered your parents in cold blood and proceeded to do the same to any parents who do the same to their children.

(Normal) Shy, kind, caring, protective, paranoid, Fierce, motherly, gentle, loving, harmless

(HellCat) sadistic, vindictive, mean Spirited, harsh, realistic, jaded, Short tempered, lethal

Powers/abilities

weapon use: you have a spiky club you use to kill your victims. You named it Excaliblog😵

Cooking: you are very good at cooking and baking you make free samples for the children and homemade healthy animal treats for their pets.👩‍🍳

Hyper awareness: you can hear things from miles away and pinpoint where it's coming from🫡

Night vision: you trained yourself to see and kill in the dark 😶‍🌫️

Teaching: you are an incredible teacher from Academics to self defense you can teach anybody anything you mainly tutor the children 🤓

Self defense: you are a fighter from professional to street fighter 😷

Super strength: Nobody knows how strong you truly are not even yourself but you could easily lift an school bus😤

Info broker: you know what goes on around the city even though you're not there🧐

Speed: you are very fast you once chase a bus you missed all the way to the next stop😛

Unlimited Stamina: your never Tired period it's never gonna happen 😑

Rage Quit: if someone were to hurt or threatened someone you love or a small child infront of you, you'll fly into a fit of blind pitch black rage that usually leaves blood on you hands ✋️🤬🤯

The genderbends lover Boys/Men

Marge simpson/Mark simpson (the simpsons)

Lois Griffin/ Lewis Griffin( Family Guy)

Francine Smith/ Francis Smith(American dad)

Donna Tubbs/ Donnie tubs (the Cleveland show)

Queen Dagmar /King Denmark(disenchantment)

Jenny hart/ Jake Hart(bless the harts)

Linda Belcher/ Lipten Belcher(Bob's burgers)

Gayle Genarro/ Gabe Genarro (Bob's burgers)

Peggy hill/ Pennsy Hill (king of the hill)

Nancy Gribble/ Nathan Gribble (king of the hill)

Minh Souphanousinphone/Mink Souphanousinphone (king of the hill)

Turanga leela/ Turango Lero(futurama)

Amy wong/ Alvin Wong(futurama)

Labarbara Conrad/ Lawson Conrad(futurama)

Beth Smith/ Ben Smith(Rick and Morty)

Riley Regan/ Ruckus Regan(inside job)

Paige Tillerman/ Pac Tillerman(Central Park)

Abby Hunter/ Albert Hunter(Central Park)

Helen Morgendorffer/ Hal Morgendorffer (Daria)

Honeybee Tobin/Wasp Tobin (the great North)

Sharon Marsh/Seymour Marsh (South park)

Liane Cartman/Lance Cartman (South park)

Carol Mccormick/ Calvin Mccormick(South park)

Sheila Brofloviski/ Sheldon Brofloviski (South park)

Annie Harris/Anthony Harris (Duncanville)

Diane Birch/Danny Birch(big mouth)

Monica Foreman-Greenwald/Marvin Foreman-Greenwald (big mouth)

Shanon Glaser/Shane Glaser (big mouth)

Lana kane/Lenny kane (Archer)

Dr Jill/ Dr Jack (Housebroken)

Your theme songs:

Ok New Character Bio Done!🥳

That's alot of men huh?🤭

Well that's how special you are😏🤤😉

As Usual Leave Comments!!!!!

[scotianostra]

On December 12th 1574, Anne of Denmark, the wife of King James VI, was born.

Anne was the second child, and second girl, of Frederik the Second and his queen, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The couple were initially married by proxy, which means on paper without them being present, and Anne was finding it difficult to make the journey across stormy seas, so James set about fetching her himself and upon reaching and presenting himself to her “in boots and all” and kissed her, in the Scottish fashion!

They were formally married the 23rd of November 1859 in Oslo before returning to Scotland. On the 17th of May she was crowned queen of Scotland. The ceremony lasted seven hours and , Anne’s dress was opened during it and “s "a bonny quantity of oil” was poured upon her breast and arm. James was at first infatuated by his bride, but later the couple often disagreed, though in the early years of their marriage, James seems always to have treated Anne with patience and affection.

Although Anne had been brought up in the Lutheran religion, she converted Roman Catholicism during the 1590s. In Basilikon Doron, written 1597-1598, James described marriage as “the greatest earthly felicitie or miserie, that can come to a man! Nothing changes with marriage through the centuries eh! lol

Despite James’ alleged homosexual tendencies, for which there is no definitive proof, Anne gave birth to their first child, Henry Frederick Stuart on 19 February 1594. She was given no say in the care and upbringing of her son who on James insistence, was placed in the custody of John Erskine, Earl of Mar at Stirling Castle.

Distressed at this situation she mounted a campaign for custody of her son, which James resisted, leading to further friction between the couple. Prince Henry was followed by a daughter, Elizabeth Stuart in 1596, then Margaret in 1598, who died at fourteen months old, a second son, Charles, later Duke of York (and Charles I), was born at Dunfermline in 1600, Charles was at first a sickly child and it was not thought likely that he would survive. Then came Robert, Duke of Kyntyre, born in 1601, who died at the age of four months. She didn’t have it easy in childbiirth, after eventualy gaining custody of Henry she gave birth to a daughter, Mary in 1605 and later her last child, Sophia in 1607, both these children failed to survive to adulthood, Mary died at two years and Sophia at a day old. Mary and Sophia are buried at Westminster Abbey.

The infant mortality rate was high in the seventeenth century, a fact of life that not even royalty could elude. After narrowly surviving the birth and death of her last child, Sophia, in 1607, Anne’s decision to have no more children resulted in widening the gulf between the couple. Queen Anne died aged 44 on 2 March 1619, of a dangerous form of dropsy. An inquest discovered Anne to be "much wasted within, specially her liver”.

James did not attend his wife’s funeral, claiming illness, his symptoms, according to Sir Theodore de Mayerne, included “fainting, sighing, dread, incredible sadness…” Anne was buried in the south aisle of the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey, on 13 May 1619.

[wingsofescape]

I was tagged by the lovely @littlewitchbee thank you dear 💕

are you named after anyone? YES! Buckle up kids it's a long one– so, without trying to doxx myself my first name is actually two names. My parents had settled on one after months of back and forth, but lo and behold, three weeks before I was born my aunt A ended up in a terrible accident and we almost lost her. Luckily she pulled through and I was born a few weeks later, on her 27th birthday. So they added her name to mine and made her my godmother.

when was the last time you cried? yesterday lol I'm having a bad BPD episode

do you have kids? Nope and I'm very on the fence about having them considering how pregnant people and mothers are treated by society and how it impacts earnings and puts you at risk of domestic violence. That being said, sometimes I look at my boyfriend and my uterus whispers indecent things like "but wouldn't it be nice to have his babies"...

do you use sarcasm a lot? Me? Use sarcasm? Never in a million years I could not–

(it's basically my fifth language)

what sports do you play? Pole dancing! I love it despite the bruises I constantly get from training.

what's the first thing you notice about people? eyes and smile (and if it's someone I could be attracted to, ass)

what's your eye color? 💙

scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings earned through a shit-ton of angst

any special talents? I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue?

also embarrassing my boyfriend with my dirty jokes

where were you born? Copenhagen baby, in one of Denmark's historical heatwaves

what are your hobbies? Writing, pole dancing, psychology, burlesque, acting, daydreaming about blorbo from my shows and collecting fairy lights

do you have pets? not atm but I've had a cat, a dog, mice, a bunny, and turtles. But my landlady has a cat (who's currently asleep on my lap) and I consider him my pet too.

how tall are you? 5'10"

favorite subject in school? English or drama

dream job? I'd love to be paid to frolick, really. I do not dream of labour. But I'd love to be a writer/actor/pole dancing/burlesque dancer/psychology researcher hybrid. is it obvious I have ADHD

Tagging @darkpersonapeace @woahpip @stellucis @aerialworms @asthmaticbee @mildly-nerdy @alighted-willow @wickedcriminal @snugslikesfma @honorthysalad and whomever I'm forgetting who usually tags me in these things!

[95jezzica]

Smol Nordics ÒwÓ

Please feel free to take a moment to imagine the toddler Nordics and baby Iceland.

Picture Sweden as the youngest of the Nordics except for Iceland, but being treated as the oldest by humans and being told he "should know better" simply because he grew up tall, so fast. Simply because humans thought he LOOKED oldest. 😢

Imagine Iceland doing incoherent babbling and toddler Sweden answering back as if Iceland just gave the best idea/advice in history. 💖 xD

Norway and Denmark thinking Sweden sounds like an old man doing it. 😂 xD

Finland suspecting Sweden actually understood Iceland's baby-talk. 😂 xD

Imagine toddler Sweden's shy ass hiding behind a big rock, only his head sticking out, while glaring at humans passing by in an attempt to see what kind of people they are... and accidentally scaring the living daylights out of the humans when they suddenly see the glaring eyes stick out over the rock. 😂 xD

Then picture Norway having toddler moments where it looked like he was floating/flying around while "sitting", when in reality he just got special treatment and was carried around by his troll friend. 😂

Also, Nor's troll absolutely helped out with carrying Iceland at times before Nor/Den/Swe/Fin were big enough to carry Iceland themselves. 💖w💖

Once they were big enough to carry Iceland themselves, the most common fight between Norway and Denmark was who would get to carry Iceland - while Finland tried to act as the peacemaker. While they were busy fighting, Sweden usually just picked up Iceland and started walking away, knowing the rest would eventually realize they had been left behind and hurry after to catch up. 😂 xD

Iceland's own favorite people to be carried by were Sweden and Finland. Sweden because he was the tallest, and Finland because he was both the strongest and softest. 💝

Norway is the best fisher of the Nordics, Finland the best hunter and berry finder, Denmark the best camp-guard. Part of how Sweden eventually became the best builder is because he usually ended up staying behind to prepare their camp for the evening and baby-sit Iceland.

The Nordic Iceland turned to usually depended on what he needed that moment. He would always turn to Norway for food and good stories, Denmark when he had nightmares, Sweden for scraped knees and sweets, and Finland for general comfort and moments of less over-protectiveness.

As destined "baby brother" of the family Iceland got camp-duty with Sweden once he became a little older (to keep him out of danger), where Iceland mainly helped helping Sweden with things like feeding the fire/keeping an eye on the cooking or laying out their bedrolls for the night.

Norway always slept between Denmark and Sweden to avoid petty fights between the two. 😂 Finland usually climbed a tree and slept in it, feeling safer from wild animals in the oak- and fir trees.

.

[wolfalder]

Just as a heads up - when you buy fur from any sort of 'ranched' animal, that is (pretty much) always going to be from an animal that was deliberately farmed and killed for its fur. Cases of death by old age or illness are extremely rare when it comes to buying pelts or tails or other parts - when they do happen, the seller will always say it directly in the posted item's sale description or will state in their store description that all of their materials come from animals that were not killed specifically for their fur.

There are no furbearing animals that are ranched that are also consumed by humans except for rabbits, and they aren't used in food for other animals either (with very few exceptions, typically homesteaders feeding carcasses to pigs and using the pigs for their own personal consumption). Carcasses are composted with manure and used as fertilizer.

By the logic you’ve given here, you should have absolutely no issues with farmed animals (and I’m sure you probably own a few pieces from non-’natural’ death farmed animals as well), so long as they are treated well, given the appropriate care, are provided with enrichment, and are killed swiftly and humanely/without pain. There are many, many fur farms like this, and there are many people committed to sourcing their farmed furs from these places - including all of the sellers you added to your response to my original ask. I say all of this because from your original post, you would be saying that the places you yourself listed in your response are not ethical places to buy pelts from. These places do not specifically source their ranched items from animals that died of natural causes or illness, and therefore are selling pelts and parts from animals that were in fact farmed and killed specifically for their fur. As I said, carcasses are composted at most fur farms, so there still is no waste, but carcasses are not being used for food (with the one exception I mentioned, as well as fat from mink being used to create mink oil which can be used to soften/condition leather).

There absolutely are unethical fur farms where animals are treated horribly and where the carcasses are left to rot or sent to landfills. These farms are in fact where almost all tails and fur items from Amazon come from, and you are absolutely right to say that people shouldn’t buy from Amazon. These fur farms are in places where animal protection laws are in fact non-existent, such as China. But there are plenty of other fur farms that absolutely would fit your description of ethical fur. I want to make absolutely sure that you are aware that if you own pieces from ranched animals - unless the listing specifically stated that it was natural death or illness - those pieces do in fact come from animals that were killed specifically for their fur. Also I wanna make it super clear that I’m not like. Mad or anything, I’m just trying to be educational and make sure that you understand where your original post went wrong!

~Signed, a fellow therian with a major special interest in fur/taxidermy/vulture culture who has friends in the industry and who has been part of the industry '^^

I always appreciate correction. I did not mean to imply that I am against fur farms in my original post. I have no issue with the killing of animals if their is no waste which I’m aware that with some fur farms the carcasses are used. I tried to mention that in my later reply to someone that some mink farms have a great way to recycle the “leftovers”. I realize it sounded like I wasn’t aware of these things but I just mean to say I’m against tails sold on Amazon from fur farms in china or other countries with less strict regulation.

“Farmed minks manure, soiled straw bedding and carcasses are composted to produce organic fertilizers, to enrich the soil and produce more food, completing the agricultural nutrient cycle. Biofuels made from mink remains now power buses in Aarhus, Denmark, the world’s largest producer of farmed mink. Similar projects are being tested in North America.” Here’s a part of my original reply where I talk a bit about fur farms.

Sorry again that my original post seems as though I’m totally against fur farms. And thank you again for further explanation! I will always take the chance to learn and to spread helpful information to others so I really appreciate you checking me on what I was saying being someone who knows a lot about these topics!

I also do own 3 pelts that were farmed ethically.

[nerves-nebula]

I grew up in Norway and only learned about how it became independent from Denmark and Sweden. I learnt about the Holocaust, the slave trade, and the way natives were treated via an encyclopedia I got from the school library because I read a lot when I was 9 and I strongly believe that is the best age to teach kids about those things.

Then when I was 12 we moved to England and only learned about the war of roses, king Henry, how India became independent and ww1 and ww2 from the perspective of the British (so not the most reliable). In general not the most thorough but still able to admit major fuck ups, expect for the potato famine, it only got mentioned in science as being caused by a plant disease. Most of my history knowledge nowdays comes from my little brother who's special interest is history.

So yeah, while I can't provide a full picture of what history education is in either country I can say that it's probably not the best either.

a ough ! woa !! yoinky !!

[rabbitcruiser]

National Sausage Pizza Day

Pepperoni gets the spotlight too often, but sausage is a great pizza topping. Make a sausage pizza at home, order delivery, or try a new kind of sausage.

Almost every person on the face of the earth has a favorite kind of pizza! Would that kind happen to be full of the robust, well-seasoned flavor of sausage? National Sausage Pizza Day reminds us that while Pepperoni may be considered the King of Pizzas, it’s Sausage Pizza that’s Queen.

Sausage Pizza is the second most popular pizza in the world (only behind its good friend, Pepperoni Pizza), and with so many variations on sausage, there’s an endless number of types that can be deeply enjoyed. National Sausage Pizza Day is the perfect opportunity to challenge the idea of boring pizza and try multiple types of this spicy and delicious topping.

History of National Sausage Pizza Day

Of course, it’s true that almost everyone likes pepperoni, but what most people don’t know is that sausage is nearly as popular on pizza as its cousin pepperoni. While most places that serve sausage pizza use classic Italian sausage, that’s a discredit to the incredible variety it is possible to get out of this incredible meat treat.

There are as many types of sausage as can be imagined, including beef sausage, chicken sausage, and of course the classic pork sausage. Each of these can be made with apples, fennel, cheese, garlic, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and a myriad of other ingredients that can change a simple sausage into a delicious extravaganza.

Sausage on pizza is nearly as old as the pizza itself and has been a common ingredient in this flatbread-based treat for centuries.

Since National Sausage Pizza Day falls within Pizza Month, it’s a doubly good reason to celebrate! 

How to Celebrate National Sausage Pizza Day

Celebrating National Sausage Pizza Day can be loads of fun–and truly delicious! Get on board with all different varieties and brands of sausage pizza and try out these ideas for celebrating:

Go Out for Sausage Pizza

This is a great day to gather family or friends and head over to a pizza joint! Whether a deep-dish Chicago style or a thin crust New York-style, sausage pizza covers it all. Try out one of these unique and interesting pizza places that are known to offer some of the best pizza in the world:

Pizzeria L’Operetta in Singapore. Authentic Napoli pizzas are served in Southeast Asia at this delicious pizza place. Expect some interesting varieties of toppings!

Bæst Pizza in Copenhagen. Those searching for great pizza in Scandinavia need to look no further than Bæst in Denmark. They cook their pizza on a wood-fired stove that was imported from Naples!

Lamanna’s Bakery in Toronto. This Italian bakery is known for its authenticity, and its pizza recipe is no exception. Specializing in enormous slices of pizza, one slice can be shared with a friend (or even two!). Or, the brave few with a huge appetite can try it on their own. And the bakery offers delicious desserts–for those who have any space left after they have eaten their huge pizza slices.

Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo in Italy and Beyond. For the best in Italian pizza, of course, one must go to Italy (or, perhaps, Italy will bring the pizza to you). This chain of several pizzerias, owned and operated by Gino Sorbillo himself, has locations in Rome, Naples and Milan and other places in Italy, as well international locations of Tokyo, New York and Miami.

Make Pizza at Home

Some of the tastiest pizza is made in humble kitchens all over the world. The great thing about making it at home is that it can be made exactly to the specific desires and needs of the person (or family) who is making it! Enjoy making fresh dough or grab it from the refrigerator section at the grocery store. Stuff the crust, if desired. Make it thick or thin. Add various toppings (sausage required, of course). Then bake and enjoy!

Have Sausage Pizza Delivered at Work (or at Home)

Maybe the boss will pay for it, or maybe everyone will need to pitch in, but ordering sausage pizza for the folks at the office or the warehouse is a great way to celebrate the day! Check out local delivery deals that might be special specifically in honor of the day. Downloading the apps for the local pizza places is a great way to keep apprised of discounts and deals that are offered.

Discover Something New and Creative

National Sausage Pizza Day is a great opportunity to break free of old traditions and discover something new. Everyone has their favorite kind of sausage, and all of them can be used to top a pizza. One interesting favorite for a sweet sausage pizza is Apple Chicken Sausage, which lends a sweet flavor to the dish while still providing a tangy taste.

For the people who have only experienced classic Italian Sausage on their pizza in the past, it’s time to expand that palate. Head on down to the local butcher or deli department and ask them what they’d suggest using on a pizza, and turn them away from the Italian, since the point is to get creative here.

Get Cheesy for National Sausage Pizza Day

Looking for something cheesy and zesty? Some call it sacrilege, but other people may happen to enjoy putting Cheddar Wursts on their Sausage Pizza. Of course, this requires cutting it thin and layering cheese around it to get the best effect (because, honestly, who doesn’t just love cheese?), but it will taste absolutely fabulous. What other fun and unique variation will you come up with for National Sausage Pizza Day?

Source

[niceland2023]

A bike tour epilogue

This turned out to be a bit of a “mini bike tour” in terms of miles and cycling days. The weather was humbling, the traffic was unexpected, and the logistics were at times complicated. There was a lot that worked but some big stuff that didn’t. Here are my parting thoughts in case you want to be doing a trip like this in Iceland.

What worked:

Our gear (s/o to our bikes, Fanny and Socks, special mention to my trusty SPF chapstick and my entire wool baselayer. With only a few exceptions, we were comfy and prepared and not over burdened.)

Camping (cheap and plentiful, if crowded at times; the communal kitchens are a godsend especially in bad weather)

Public heated pools (some of the fancier spas were worth it as a treat, but the pools were cheaper, less crowded, more plentiful, and overall just universally sparkling clean, awesome and relaxing)

The nature (we saw some awesome stuff; in some areas the landscape seemed to change every 10 minutes. Despite fewer bike days than we planned, we were never at a loss for things to do outside.)

Strava (I paid for the premium plan for elevation profiles and road types and referred to it constantly when planning routes)

What didn’t work very well:

The wind while biking (it can be steady, or it can be steady WITH gusts. Be realistic and ask yourself if you want to spend 8 hours fighting a 25mph headwind. Check the wind forecast. Be flexible in your planning to allow for down days or reroutes.)

The wind off bike (your sleeping bag temperature grade goes out the window when it’s being blown on by a freezing, moist breeze. Do yourself a favor and bring a wind proof tent. We had to block the gap under our rain fly to get a good night sleep some nights.)

Cycling the ring road (you probably don’t want to bike on most of it, traffic is too dangerous. Look at traffic counts if you don’t believe me. If you plan some alt routes like we did, be prepared for complicated bus shenanigans and some gravel riding. And with the buses, most only had the space for 2 bikes so we really got lucky we were the only cyclists. We met some folks who only biked at night to avoid traffic - the sun’s out nearly 24 hours in the summer - so that is an option if you’re into it.)

If I could do it over again, I’d set up a sort of basecamp area far away from Reykjavik traffic - probably in Egilsstaðir - and plan on shorter multi day loops in the east and north, instead of trying to cycle around the whole island. Maybe fly into Denmark, bike a little around there, then take this ferry.

Finally, re Iceland itself. I would recommend traveling here if you:

Love horsies

Love birdies

Love camping and nature and geology

I would NOT recommend traveling here if you:

Hate the idea of spending money (you can do the thrifty thing we did and camp, but food etc is just gonna be more expensive. It’s an island. They have to import a lot.)

Hate cold and / or windy weather

Travel in order to immerse yourself in another culture (I feel like I got glimpses of it, but it’s so crowded with tourists that those glimpses were few and far between)

Thank you if you’re reading this. Thank you friends and family, thinking of you this whole trip. And thanks everyone who suggested music tor my playlist, you made my day ❤️

[ihopeyouthinkof-me]

abandonment

When I think of abandonment, I think of rain. Usually, the scene is in black and white and just the right amount of rain is falling from the sky. Abandonment is something you think about when you see a child left to fend for themself. Abandonment is those sad animal commercials where “in the arms of an angel” is playing in the background. It’s that look of being scared, confused, and overall hurt. So why do I have feelings of abandonment? I have a family that treat me well. I have a roof above my head and food on the table. I am well taken care of. But still as soon as someone I love walks out the door I’m done for.

           My therapist told me that abandonment and rejection can stem from each other, and boy is that true. My whole life I felt rejected from my family. Especially my mom. I was always pushed to the side when my brother was in the picture. So, it’s something I’ve learned to live with.

           My first instinct when I think about abandonment is about him and Denmark. Let me set the scene. We were sitting in his room on the bed which was pushed into the corner of his room. That corner always felt cozy. The overhead light didn’t quite reach the corner of that side of the room. We were laying there, and he says, “I’m thinking of going abroad next semester.” My heart instantly dropped to my stomach. We were still new to dating and hadn’t really put a label on anything. That’s when I felt abandonment. He was going to leave me. He wanted to leave me. I honestly think I have censored that memory out of my brain because I can’t tell you what I was thinking or how I was feeling. All I remember is feeling left. I thought he wanted to break up with me. Of course he would want to. To be a single man in a foreign county? What typical man wouldn’t want this? But he didn’t. When I thought he wanted to walk out of my life he stayed and held me.

           Next I think about a. A did me really dirty. My first relationship, my first date, my first kiss, my first everything. Taken away because this man thought he wanted me. For a month. He was the first person in a reallllllly long time to want me. I hadn’t had relationships or even a guy to like me back since elementary school. So to say I was beyond excited is an understatement. I like him so much. But oh my god this dude could not make up his mind. He would cancel on me all the time, he would leave early from dates, and he broke up with me over text. While I was at work. This example of my abandonment problem was never resolved. I was so caught off guard I didn’t know what to say or how to react. He became my first breakup. When I think about him now, what once was admiration and excitement turned into dislike and disloyalty. If I saw him in the streets its on site. But really, I think I will always resent him for taking away all my special firsts. Especially when the love of my life was only a month away. And man, A could have not handled me. Him, on the other hand, is the most respectable, strongest, and caring man I have ever met.

[expoet]

My uncle arrived from Denmark and he loves Krispy Kreme…whenever I go there or he comes down here I always get him a box😋

For the first I went to the branch which was like a cafe prepared my two boxes for him and thought let me treat myself with 2..canim çekti😂

I sat on my table and I thought a hot chocolate will go nice in this cold weather, so I went to the same lady who served me and began to prepare my drink…I was going to joke to her and say “is it on the house” but as I took my phone out to pay she said “it’s on the house” I started laughing and asked why?…

She mentioned that I was polite and kind - I was surprised as I didn’t really say anything but was happy with a free drink…anyway went back to my table enjoying my hot chocolate with the doughnuts soon after I heard someone say excuse me, turn around it was the same lady and she was holding a doughnut on a plate 😅

I said was i really that kind lol, she went on to say that I made her day, how she appreciated my mannerisms and that it’s been a tough day, so I enjoyed that doughnut too but that one was special as it was freshly hot form the oven 😋

Morale of the story (long one too lol) - people are not robots, especially those are working countless of hours behind a till can get tough- a simple genuine conversation can change someone’s mood. Most importantly we should all work on our Ahklaq - imperative to improve your mannerisms and speak to one another with respect and goodness.

#if anything this post will just make you hungry