#paint-ludi

[kavvueh]

Painting Flowers

by @kavvueh

Chapter 23 is here - and so is Ludi Harpastum!

Summary: One year after Alice dies in a research accident, her daughter Klee develops a penchant for burning things and getting into trouble at school. Her big brother (and now guardian) Albedo has to juggle Klee's behavior issues with a career-making project at work: reviving the extinct Inteyvat flower. But luckily, Klee's first grade teacher is pretty patient with her, all things considered -- and, well, it helps that he's not bad to look at, either... Even if he swears up and down that he's a space pirate.

Read it here!

A short snippet of the fic is below the cut!

Dear Albedo,

Thank you for everything you do. You make me happy and I love you very much. Please let Dodoco stay forever. I want you to always smile. 

Love, Klee. 

Underneath that was a small note penned with a different hand.

P.S. Captain Kaeya hopes you smile lots, too. Happy Ludi Harpastum, Klee and Albedo. :) 

[rainbowcaleb]

So Much Has Happened Tonight

literally how are we supposed to sleep?

[foundfamilynonsense]

It astounds me that people will take a mountain of books most of which contradict each other, were never even read by the original creator, and had no overhead or real viewing process before being published, and say it’s all canon because it’s got a Lucas logo on it.

It’s published fan fiction. Feel free to enjoy it. Most of it’s a lot of fun. But it was written by people with biases and agendas that may (and often do) contradict the original content.

"the jedi are bad and palpatine had a poi-"

[dumpster-fire-sapphic-failgirl]

huh. If the assassination attempt *is* somehow successful, Team Ludy is gonna be down one super powerful exalted

that’s gonna paint an even bigger target on Imogen’s back, innut it?

[doki-doki-imagines]

Day 2 (Aug 19): Mentor and pupil | "I think you're finally ready to use what you've learned."

@germanbrosweek

Ludwig is tired. He is used to his brother wei-peculiar ways, but this was really the peak.

"Finally! The crus bellflower!" Gilbert shouts, voice croaking in the middle of the night. The humidity in the forest is terrible, Ludwig's shiny leather shoes dig onto the wet soil, grass full of hoarfrost, and his uniform is getting full of wrinkles. Not to talk about the cloack he "absolutely needed to wear!" His brother's words, not his.

He looks at his brother, running like he didn't wake up at 2 a.m. to explore outside their college, breaking every possible rule and putting both of them in a bad position in case they got caught...

Ludwig hates breaking rules.

"C'mere Ludi! I think you're finally ready to use what you've learned." Gilbert shouts, crouched to the ground where a field of those blue and white flowers lighten the place.

"What are you talking about, brother?" He tries to sound respectful, but he'd just like to lay his head on his comfortable pillow in his room.

"It's time for you to prepare for the ritual."

Ludwig looks at him with pure annoyance in his baby blue irises, blonde eyebrow rised up, not ready for what's to come.

"It's just normal for second year to drink crus bellflower juice before becoming third years! It's a ritual since it's the last thing you learn from herbalist classes before summer break!" His brother red irises shine full of joy, locked with his ones "You should have picked them up all by yourself, but I wouldn't be a good big bro if I didn't help you out! I know how hard they are to find, aren't I the best brother?" His iconic laughter escapes his throat, totally not noticing the heavy sigh leaving Ludwig's thin lips

"Brother...what are you talking about?"

"Mh?" Gilbert's eyes widened, finally noticing the dripping annoyance from his younger brother's voice "They are so rare! Only blooming before dawn and in this forest. I remember when I studied them!"

"Yeah, from BC books. Now you can easily find them in the evening in whatever flower shop." Ludwig mutters, index finger scratching his closed eyes, mentally counting to 10 not to explode.

"Well, you know herbalist classes weren't my forte-" Gilbert says before nervously chuckling, blush painting his cheeks, and right hand scratching behind his head, like he always does when nervous.

"So you woke me up at asscrack of dawn, got me called a rat from a guard-"

Gilbert's breath gets caught in his throat at the memory of the dejected face of his little brother in that moment "first time getting called that?" He replied at the time to try to lighten up the moment, uselessly it seems.

"and almost risked getting suspended for a dumb ritual we could have easily done this evening?" Icy eyes now look back at Gilbert whose knees buckle under his brother intense gaze.

"...yes."

Another sigh, so loud it echoes in the forest. Then Ludwig gets on his knees, ripping off more than a handful of flowers, surprising Gilbert.

"Let's take a lot of them. You can make a lot of useful stuff with these." He says, no anger detected. "At least all those risks will be worth it." Ludwig mutters, but Gilbert clearly hears him, a big smile now plastered on his face.

"I'll show you the big bro awesome flower picking technique!" The white haired boy reply, beating his fist against his chest, before getting on the job.

Ludwig shakes his head, but he can't stop a small smile to appear on his face.

It may have been a total failure as a ritual, but at least it will be a moment they will both remember for the years to come.

[zwy01]

Susanna doodles!!!

I drew my noblesse oc from my Millennium AU, Susanna Mergas! She is the second child of Ludis Mergas and Rozaria Elenor, and the younger sister of Alois Elenor. She goes by the nickname Susa, and a few others.

1. Susanna painting!!! She is very cute and has big eyes and a round face just like her father Ludis. Her eyebrows are short and oval-shaped. She parts her bangs sideways and her super long, wavy locks that extend beyond her knees flow like waves when she moves. Interestingly, her hair never gets in her way even when she’s running and jumping around like hyper gymnast. It’s a real mystery to everyone. She’s very extroverted and cheerful, and always full of energy. Life is never boring around her, as she always has fun things to do! Millennium AU Lukedonia is only functioning thanks to her lol. She’s probably looking at you right now and thinking about dragging you to her next tea party. There’s no other escape, new best friend! Lol. Despite her tiny stature, she’s surprisingly strong. All that junk food probably worked their way into her muscle fibers, as Ludis jokes. All you need to do is sit down and enjoy the dozens of assorted sweets she brings out from the Mergas manor. There’s also ramyeon flavored macarons, if you like that kind of stuff, hehe! She’s got you covered.

2. Susa tries on a beautiful outfit! Very much Izarok themed. It probably belonged to one of Ludis’ female predecessors/ancestors and is a Mergas heirloom of some sort. It’s been a looong while since this outfit was last worn by someone. Ludis found it in his manor, and he gives it to his daughter. As expected, she looks absolutely stunning in it. Susa loves it! Her parents love it too. Alois is very moved by his sister’s cuteness. Awwwwww.

3. Lil’ Susa and her mother Rozaria! They are super close and very affectionate with each other. One of Susa’s favorite things to do as a child was playing with mami’s long, red hair. She still loves to do so even in adulthood, and Rozaria is more than happy to bond with her personal stylist! Susa also has a sweet tooth. It’s probably in her dna or something, because she inhales them like a blackhole. If she were human she would’ve gotten cavities a billion times already. Luckily, she’s a noble, so that doesn’t happen lol. Still, Ludis and Rozaria prefer to monitor their bab’s junk food intake, so other than retrieving the occasional treat, Ludis has barrier spell put up around their pantry. In the very, very rare cases where he forgets… well, you can guess what happens lol. Mommy Roza is worried about her daughter’s tummy, but Susa is actually more than fine lol. Ludis is surprised but amused. Better not forget next time, oops

4. Susa and Ludis part 1! By conventional noble standards, Susa was a bit of a slow learner, a late bloomer. As the Millennium AU progresses she does get very powerful and becomes the promising Mergas heiress, but not many people know that she has struggled for a while, especially in her childhood. Luckily, Ludis is a great parent and he is a pretty chill person in general so he never pressures Susa. He even modifies the traditional “standard” Mergas training curriculum just for his daughter, even when Lord Raskreia questions him for it. Hey, are no real enemies in the outside world anymore, right? Surely we can take it one step at a time. Lil’ Susa is aware of how she is doing compared to her peers, and it sometimes overwhelms her. Poor girl. Ludis being the supportive parent he is will do anything for his daughter and he lets her know that he’s always there for her. This father-daughter bond would later be forged in iron. Best dad.

5. Susa and Ludis part 2! After a wee timeskip to 80 years later, Susa is now a young teen at 100! Susa’s persistence and hard work, as well as Ludis’ unconditional love and support, pays off. Susa manages to successfully conjure a simple barrier spell. This moment is a huge milestone for Susa and she’ll remember it forever. Ludis is super proud of his bab. Roza and Alois are probably crying tears of joy too. Susa’s just so amazing, isn’t she?

6. Sibling bonding time!! Ludis and Rozaria are busy with stuff and are outside, so the siblings get housesitting duty, and some time to spend with each other. They got the entire manor aaallll to themselves lol. Ludis summons Izarok and leaves it with his kids to entertain them and of course Susa gets a hot pot started. Nothing beats comfy pajamas and great food. Fun fact, Alois isn’t really a fan of vegetables, though Mommy Roza knows that Susa will take good care of him. Eventually he won’t be able to say “no” if it’s his sister, lol. C’mon just one bite, you gotta eat your green foods too Al!

7. Susanna x Arya! They are the only “official” couple in my nextgen cast. Everyone else either hasn’t confessed yet, the crush is single-sided, or … something more complicated. Arya K. Landegre is the daughter of Regis and Rael. Susa and Ari are very loving and affectionate girlfriends and have a great relationship. They are each other’s soulmates. Much later in the AU they eventually marry each other.

8. Susanna x Arya what if babies! Susa/Ari is official and they eventually marry, but the next-next-gen doesn’t “exist” to me in my Millennium AU so these two babs are just a concept and don’t happen in the “main” Millennium AU timeline. Even so, they’re very cute lol. If Susa and Ari ever have kids of course they’ll name them something very unconventional and nonconforming to noble traditions, lol. Cute sons. Precious babs spoiled rotten by their mamas.

[nawilla]

Fic Excerpt: Yoda and Obi-Wan discuss sensing the Force

Here’s another excerpt from the story with Yoda and Agri Corps Obi-Wan.  While waiting for an appointment, Yoda and Obi-Wan discuss sensing things in the Force.

* * * 

“What are you looking for?” Obi-Wan asked after the droid had left.  “If the missing padawan was captured and sold, they probably won’t still be here.  The mines here are shift mines.  Everyone goes home at the end of their shift.  Xanatos sent me to a residential mine in the ocean.  The miners live there and don’t leave, so it’s easier to keep slaves hidden if they can’t leave.”

“Feel for Force traces I want to,” Yoda explained.  “If taken the padawan was, strong feelings they might have had. Imprint on the location this can. Learn something we might.”

“I hope you can sense something, Grandmaster,” the boy told him solemnly.

“Feel anything you have from a place?” Yoda asked, knowing such impression were often from the Unifying Force, not the Living Force.

“Here on Bandomeer, or ever?”

“Hmm, both.”  

“Oh.  I don’t recall any strong impressions here, but I did a few times when I lived in the Temple.  There was a creepy cold spot in a training room that no one liked to work in when I was an initiate.  Some kids said it made them cold, some kids said it made them dizzy, and some of them just seemed to get anxious, but they didn’t always realize it.  The docents always wanted me to work there during classes, and I would get weird feelings and dreams if I stood there for too long.  I used to tell them, but the docents just told me to just do it and not complain.  Master Ludi always put me somewhere else when he would arrive after the warmups, and finally he had the staff paint the floor and told the docents not to have anyone use that spot.”

“In the initiate salle this is?” Yoda asked.  “Near the storage closet?”

“Yes,” the boy confirmed.  “In the back row.”

“In the bad dreams you had happened what did?”

“I would be in that spot, not just the room, but that spot.  It would be hard to breathe, and my chest felt weird, like something I couldn’t see was pressing on it, but it wasn’t the Force.  But it wasn’t me, I wasn’t myself in the dream. I would keep trying to call for help but I didn’t have enough air and I would fall to the ground and the master teaching the class would be standing over me, but it wasn’t Master Ludi.  Everything felt cold and then it would get dark. Then I would wake up yelling for help, screaming that I couldn’t breathe, but I could because I wasn’t dreaming, and I was fine.”  He sighed. “It used to upset my neighbors and the form monitors, but the docents kept putting me there and telling me to stop complaining because I wasn’t that sensitive, and it shouldn’t bother me.”

“Make anyone use that spot they should not but feel it the docents cannot. Die there an initiate did, many years ago.  Sense it the initiates can.”

“What happened?”

“Rilley her name was.  Got a bad cold she did, but gotten better we thought she had.  A rare complication she developed.  Attacked her heart the virus had, but obvious this was not.  Return to training she did.  Told to go easy she had been, so stand in the back she did, so if go slower she did, mess up her classmates’ rhythm she sould not.  Worked for several days she did, but weakening she was, getting better not.  One day, too much her normal exercises became and take it her weakened heart could not. Fail suddenly it did, little warning there was, and fall to the floor she did, struggling to breathe.  Lost consciousness there she did, and bring her back the healers could not.  Her last waking moment there was, even if officially die at the healers she did.  Try to clean the space the teachers and clergy have, but too afraid she was, left a deep scar it did.  Make you stand there the docent should have not.”

“Oh.”  Obi-Wan thought about this for a moment.  “That explains the weird dreams.”

“Students strong in the Unifying Force affected by that spot more are. Students strong in the Force sense more do.  One of my padawans asked to help with the initiate classes not, because so awful that room felt to him did.  Had him help with drills in the other salle instead we did.  Make him vomit that room would if stay too long in there he did.”

“Oh.”  Obi-Wan’s eyes were wide.  “He must have been really strong in the Force.”

“He was,” Yoda confirmed.  “Terrible dreams he would get, even as a padawan.  Explain to him I did what happened there did and stop the dreams did. Understood he did.  Afraid of the room he no longer was, but like it he never did.”

Obi-Wan was quiet for a time.  “Do you think the missing padawan died here?  Is that what you want to look for in the Force?”

“Hrmm,” Yoda looked the boy over.  “No and yes.  Think I do that dead the missing padawan is?  No. The Force telling me that is not. Think this is so I do not.  But check I must if death there was I must.  Check if something bad happened here I must.  If get impressions from this place I can, tell me much that might.”  

“That initiate that died must have been really scared.”  His voice was solemn.  “The docents never told us that story.”

“Died three hundred years ago she did.  Remember her they do not.”  

“Oh.”

[shellem15]

Post ep 2: okay ludi, I understand what you're trying to do here. I see the picture you're trying to paint. Still think you're wrong but I see your game.

So funny that one of the first things BH's would be seeing in this aeorian vhs tape is sarenrae being a loving mother to her mortal children, and pelor the dawnfather being kind and sweet and trying to help everyone he meets.

Even when the city falling stuff happens, that's one of the first, most defining impressions of who these gods are and how they interact with mortals. Flawed yes, but also loving and parental and wanting the best for their children.

Ludinus, you are so cooked.

[jamieroxxartist]

Today, June 16, our Fun Friends in #AncientRome would have been getting down with the Festival of #LudiPiscatari

*The holiday was celebrated by the fishermen of Rome; the celebration was directed by the Praetor. All fish that were caught on this day were sacrificed by fire at the Temple of Vulcan

( https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/the-ludi-piscatari )

Painting: ‘The Forge of Vulcan’ by Diego Velazquez #mythologicalpainting 1630, oil on canvas, 114" x 87"

Painting: ‘Koi Pond’ #MidCenturyModern #Abstract #Fish 2018, acrylic and oil blend on canvas, 16"x20" by @ArtistJamieRoxx #JamieRoxx ( www.JamieRoxx.us ) This Sold Painting is Not Available.

[brookston]

Holidays 11.4

Holidays

Air-Conditioned Automobile Day

Ask a Conservator Day

Bad Mood Day

Cash Register Day

Chair Day

Check Your Blood Pressure Day

Chicken Lady Day

Citizenship Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Service Day (Dominica)

Day of Love (Egypt)

Endive Day (French Republic)

Flag Day (Panama)

Giorno dell’Unita Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate and Victory Day (Italy)

Good Ass Day (Japan)

Honeymoon Day

Indie Author Day

International Cake Day

International Gimme Fiber Day

International Marketing Day

International WAGS of SCI Day

King Tut Day

Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day

Mischief Night (UK, Australia, NZ)

National Advent Calendar Day

National Chicken Lady Day

National Coach Appreciation Day

National Community Service Day

National Day of Community Service (Dominica)

National Day of Mourning (Hungary)

National Easy-Bake Oven Day

National Melanie Day

National Professional Paint Contractors Day

National Sex Toy Day

National Skeptics Day

National Tonga Day (Tonga)

National Unity and Armed Forces Day (Italy)

Thanksgiving Day (Liberia)

Unity Day (Russia)

Use Your Common Sense Day

Victory Day (Italy)

Waiting for the Barbarians Day

Will Rogers Day (Oklahoma)

Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day

The Zombie Apocalypse

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Candy Day

1st Saturday in November

All Saints' Day (Finland, Sweden) [Saturday after 10.30]

Book Lovers Day [1st Saturday; also 8.9]

Children’s Day (South Africa) [1st Saturday]

Digital Scrapbooking Day [1st Saturday]

Drum, Dance & Pray for Peace Day [1st Saturday]

Extra Life National Game Day [1st Saturday]

International Games Day (Libraries) [1st Saturday]

Learn to Homebrew Day [1st Saturday]

National Bison Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Pumpkin Destruction Day [1st Saturday]

National Service Day [1st Saturday]

National Wine Tasting Day [1st Saturday]

Pepsi Dig In Day [1st Saturday]

Sadie Hawkins Day [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Sausage and Kraut Day [1st Saturday]

Standard Time begins/Daylight Savings Time ends (US, except AZ, HI, Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, others) [1st Saturday/Sunday 2 AM]

World Chili Day [1st Saturday]

World Numbat Day [1st Saturday]

Independence Days

Valbona (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Americus (Christian; Saint) [America]

Boccaccio Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Brinstan (Christian; Saint)

Charles Borromeo (Roman Catholic Church)

Emeric of Hungary (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Feast of Qudrat (Power; Baha'i)

Federico Pelini (Muppetism)

Felix of Valois (Christian; Saint)

Gerrit van Honthorst (Artology)

Guido Reni (Artology)

Hume (Positivist; Saint)

Joannicius the Great (Christian; Saint)

Lhabab Duechen (Descending Day of Lord Buddha; Bhutan, India)

Listen to Sea Shanties and Dance Like a Pirate Day (Pastafarian)

Ludi Plebii begins (a.k.a. Plebian Games until 17th; Ancient Rome)

Not the Zombie Apocalypse Day (Pastafarian)

Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Pierius (Christian; Saint)

Saga’s Day (Pagan)

Teresa Manganiello (Christian; Blessed)

Vitalis and Agricola (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Amsterdam (Film; 2022)

The Ascent to Truth, by Thomas Merton (Spiritual Book; 1951)

Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 3rd ed., by Joseph A. Schumpeter (Political Theory; 1950)

Chicken Little (Animated Film; 2005)

The Cornish Coast Murder, by Ernest Elmore, writing as John Bude (Novel; 1935)

The Crown (TV Series; 2016)

Doctor Strange (Film; 2016)

Donald’s Golf Game (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1999) [Discworld #24]

First Rodeo, by Honeyhoney (Album; 2008)

The Flash (Film; 2022)

Fresh Fish (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

From Hare to Eternity (WB LT Cartoon; 1997)

G.I. Blues (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #5]

Great Performances (TV Anthology Series; 1972)

Hacksaw Ridge (Film; 2016)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Film; 2001) [#1]

Hearts and Bones, by Paul Simon (Album; 1983)

Heroes (Film; 1977)

The Interpretation of Dreams, by Sigmund Freud (Book; 1899)

Jarhead (Film; 2005)

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair (Novel; 1905)

The Last Waltz (Concert Film; 1977)

The Lion and the Cobra, by Sinead O’Connor (Album; 19987)

The Man Who Sold the World, by David Bowie (Album; 1970)

Mr. Johnson’s Blues, recorded by Lonnie Johnson (Song; 1925)

Pied Piper Porky (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)

The Prisoner of Zenda (Film; 1952)

Rocket to Russia, by the Ramones (Album; 1977)

Sheep Dog (Disney Cartoon; 1949)

Symphony No. 1 in C, by Johannes Brahms (Symphony; 1876)

Tank (Video Game; 1974)

Trolls (Animated Film; 2016)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Film; 2011)

Walking on the Moon, by Police (Song; 1979)

Weird: The Al Yankoic Story (Film; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Karl (Austria)

Drago, Dragutin, Karlo (Croatia)

Karel (Czech Republic)

Otto (Denmark)

Erla, Erle, Herta (Estonia)

Hertta (Finland)

Aymeric, Charles, Jessé (France)

Charles, Karl, Karla, Modesta (Germany)

Károly (Hungary)

Carlo, Guido, Rosalia (Italy)

Atis, Oto, Otomārs (Latvia)

Eibartas, Karolis, Vaidmina (Lithuania)

Ottar, Otto (Norway)

Emeryk, Karol Boromeusz, Mściwój, Olgierd, Witalis (Poland)

Karol (Slovakia)

Amancio, Carlos (Spain)

Nore, Sverker (Sweden)

Amory, Cara, Carl, Carla, Carley, Carlie, Carlo, Carlos, Carly, Carol, Carolina, Caroline, Carolyn, Carrie, Carroll Charles, Charlie, Chaz Chuck, Emery, Karl, Karla, Karlee, Karli, Karly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 308 of 2024; 57 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 44 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Ten-Xu), Day 21 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Heshvan 5784

Islamic: 20 Rabi II 1445

J Cal: 8 Mir; Oneday [8 of 30]

Julian: 22 October 2023

Moon: 57%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 28 Descartes (11th Month) [Hume]

Runic Half Month: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 42 of 89)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 12 of 29)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.4

Holidays

Air-Conditioned Automobile Day

Ask a Conservator Day

Bad Mood Day

Cash Register Day

Chair Day

Check Your Blood Pressure Day

Chicken Lady Day

Citizenship Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Service Day (Dominica)

Day of Love (Egypt)

Endive Day (French Republic)

Flag Day (Panama)

Giorno dell’Unita Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate and Victory Day (Italy)

Good Ass Day (Japan)

Honeymoon Day

Indie Author Day

International Cake Day

International Gimme Fiber Day

International Marketing Day

International WAGS of SCI Day

King Tut Day

Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day

Mischief Night (UK, Australia, NZ)

National Advent Calendar Day

National Chicken Lady Day

National Coach Appreciation Day

National Community Service Day

National Day of Community Service (Dominica)

National Day of Mourning (Hungary)

National Easy-Bake Oven Day

National Melanie Day

National Professional Paint Contractors Day

National Sex Toy Day

National Skeptics Day

National Tonga Day (Tonga)

National Unity and Armed Forces Day (Italy)

Thanksgiving Day (Liberia)

Unity Day (Russia)

Use Your Common Sense Day

Victory Day (Italy)

Waiting for the Barbarians Day

Will Rogers Day (Oklahoma)

Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day

The Zombie Apocalypse

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Candy Day

1st Saturday in November

All Saints' Day (Finland, Sweden) [Saturday after 10.30]

Book Lovers Day [1st Saturday; also 8.9]

Children’s Day (South Africa) [1st Saturday]

Digital Scrapbooking Day [1st Saturday]

Drum, Dance & Pray for Peace Day [1st Saturday]

Extra Life National Game Day [1st Saturday]

International Games Day (Libraries) [1st Saturday]

Learn to Homebrew Day [1st Saturday]

National Bison Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Pumpkin Destruction Day [1st Saturday]

National Service Day [1st Saturday]

National Wine Tasting Day [1st Saturday]

Pepsi Dig In Day [1st Saturday]

Sadie Hawkins Day [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Sausage and Kraut Day [1st Saturday]

Standard Time begins/Daylight Savings Time ends (US, except AZ, HI, Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, others) [1st Saturday/Sunday 2 AM]

World Chili Day [1st Saturday]

World Numbat Day [1st Saturday]

Independence Days

Valbona (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Americus (Christian; Saint) [America]

Boccaccio Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Brinstan (Christian; Saint)

Charles Borromeo (Roman Catholic Church)

Emeric of Hungary (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Feast of Qudrat (Power; Baha'i)

Federico Pelini (Muppetism)

Felix of Valois (Christian; Saint)

Gerrit van Honthorst (Artology)

Guido Reni (Artology)

Hume (Positivist; Saint)

Joannicius the Great (Christian; Saint)

Lhabab Duechen (Descending Day of Lord Buddha; Bhutan, India)

Listen to Sea Shanties and Dance Like a Pirate Day (Pastafarian)

Ludi Plebii begins (a.k.a. Plebian Games until 17th; Ancient Rome)

Not the Zombie Apocalypse Day (Pastafarian)

Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Pierius (Christian; Saint)

Saga’s Day (Pagan)

Teresa Manganiello (Christian; Blessed)

Vitalis and Agricola (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Amsterdam (Film; 2022)

The Ascent to Truth, by Thomas Merton (Spiritual Book; 1951)

Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 3rd ed., by Joseph A. Schumpeter (Political Theory; 1950)

Chicken Little (Animated Film; 2005)

The Cornish Coast Murder, by Ernest Elmore, writing as John Bude (Novel; 1935)

The Crown (TV Series; 2016)

Doctor Strange (Film; 2016)

Donald’s Golf Game (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1999) [Discworld #24]

First Rodeo, by Honeyhoney (Album; 2008)

The Flash (Film; 2022)

Fresh Fish (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

From Hare to Eternity (WB LT Cartoon; 1997)

G.I. Blues (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #5]

Great Performances (TV Anthology Series; 1972)

Hacksaw Ridge (Film; 2016)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Film; 2001) [#1]

Hearts and Bones, by Paul Simon (Album; 1983)

Heroes (Film; 1977)

The Interpretation of Dreams, by Sigmund Freud (Book; 1899)

Jarhead (Film; 2005)

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair (Novel; 1905)

The Last Waltz (Concert Film; 1977)

The Lion and the Cobra, by Sinead O’Connor (Album; 19987)

The Man Who Sold the World, by David Bowie (Album; 1970)

Mr. Johnson’s Blues, recorded by Lonnie Johnson (Song; 1925)

Pied Piper Porky (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)

The Prisoner of Zenda (Film; 1952)

Rocket to Russia, by the Ramones (Album; 1977)

Sheep Dog (Disney Cartoon; 1949)

Symphony No. 1 in C, by Johannes Brahms (Symphony; 1876)

Tank (Video Game; 1974)

Trolls (Animated Film; 2016)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Film; 2011)

Walking on the Moon, by Police (Song; 1979)

Weird: The Al Yankoic Story (Film; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Karl (Austria)

Drago, Dragutin, Karlo (Croatia)

Karel (Czech Republic)

Otto (Denmark)

Erla, Erle, Herta (Estonia)

Hertta (Finland)

Aymeric, Charles, Jessé (France)

Charles, Karl, Karla, Modesta (Germany)

Károly (Hungary)

Carlo, Guido, Rosalia (Italy)

Atis, Oto, Otomārs (Latvia)

Eibartas, Karolis, Vaidmina (Lithuania)

Ottar, Otto (Norway)

Emeryk, Karol Boromeusz, Mściwój, Olgierd, Witalis (Poland)

Karol (Slovakia)

Amancio, Carlos (Spain)

Nore, Sverker (Sweden)

Amory, Cara, Carl, Carla, Carley, Carlie, Carlo, Carlos, Carly, Carol, Carolina, Caroline, Carolyn, Carrie, Carroll Charles, Charlie, Chaz Chuck, Emery, Karl, Karla, Karlee, Karli, Karly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 308 of 2024; 57 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 44 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Ten-Xu), Day 21 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Heshvan 5784

Islamic: 20 Rabi II 1445

J Cal: 8 Mir; Oneday [8 of 30]

Julian: 22 October 2023

Moon: 57%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 28 Descartes (11th Month) [Hume]

Runic Half Month: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 42 of 89)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 12 of 29)

[emkini]

To make a long story short: Selective breeding certainly does influence a horse's motion, but non-domesticated horses going back to several million years ago had a similar skeletal structure and thus likely a similar style of motion to the modern horse. We have bred certain types of horses for their unique movement, but this is a case of building on a pre-existing foundation rather than pouring a new one.

To make a long story long, click the read more button for a horrible chaotic infodump I spent FAR too much time researching for.

Horses of the upper Paleolithic (~50,000-12,000 years ago) were anatomically similar- but not identical- to modern horses! While early proto-horses such as orohippus (45 million years ago) do not possess the characteristic equine spinal chord, by the time of merychippus (15-5 MYA) and later hippidion (2.5 MYA-11,000 years ago) we begin to see a skeletal structure very similar to that of the modern Preswalski's horse.

Orohippus Fossilized Skeleton (Florida Museum)

Merychippus Skeletal Reconstruction (American Museum of Natural History)

Hippidion Fossilized Skeleton (London Natural History Museum)

Anatomically Modern Preswalski's Horse

The earliest human-horse interactions consist entirely of humans hunting and eating horses, so we know from fossils found in middens (prehistoric trash heaps) and can infer from prehistoric art (such as the famous Lascaux paintings) that their skeletal structure was similar to a modern horse's.

Hagerman Horse (equus simplicidens)

Prehistoric Horse Paintings from Lascaux (which can be toured virtually, by the way, and it's insanely cool)

From all this, we can say with relative certainly that by the time anatomically modern humans were doing their thing, anatomically modern horses were doing their thing as well.

The first domestication of horses occurred on the Eurasian Steppe around 6,000-5500 years ago, though when exactly we started riding on their backs for transport is a little squidgey time-wise. We do see horse remains interred with chariots starting around 4,100 years ago in modern-day Kazakhstan, though it remains unknown if horses were regularly ridden or driven first.

~2,500 year old Thracian horses and chariot or carriage, excavated in Bulgaria

Getting into selective breeding, this was certainly a factor in the eventual rise of cavalry and horseback riding! Ancient horses domesticated on the Eurasian steppe were similar to Preswalski's horse, though Preswalski's horse is not, as many believe, a predecessor of modern horses which became stuck in time- they are a separate genetic strand of horses likely domesticated along with modern horse ancestors and eventually abandoned. This isn't important for the sake of this argument, I just thought I'd mention it.

Modern-day Preswalski's Horse

These ancient horses would have been short and stocky, likely incapable of carrying humans for long distances (early evidence of horse riding from Mesopotamian carvings is often interpreted as more of a 'joyride fad' than a regular practice). Selective breeding led to more docile and larger animals which would be better suited to bear heavy loads, though whether this was simply for want of a stronger chariot horse or intended to create a riding horse is unclear.

Chariots, despite their initial popularity with people such as the Assyrians and early Egyptians, did not take off the way horse riding eventually did. I've been in a chariot before and can confirm– they're light and rickety things which are difficult to control and very, very easily tipped over during high-speed turns. Their success in battle was also highly dependent upon good weather conditions, as sucking mud would quickly turn your cavalry charge into a flock of sitting ducks. By the time of the Roman ludi circenses, horse-drawn chariots were used only for entertainment.

Around 3,000 years ago, horses had become bigger and stronger through selective breeding. Their spinal structure, however, had not changed. Early horseback riding seems somewhat counterintuitive, with most riders apparently sitting very far back on the horse. t's possible this was an idealogical carryover from charioteering, but who's to say. Riding in this position, I'd like to note, would be all but physically impossible on an animal with a highly mobile spine.

Carving of a mounted worker from the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Horemheb

We begin to see evidence of effective horsemanship and early saddlery with the Scythians and Assyrians, after which various forms of light cavalry takes off like a shot. Within a thousand years, cavalry had spread across the majority of Eurasia and was a staple of the Romans, Germanic peoples, Turks and mongols, and many more. The standardized domestic horse breeds we see today would still take a few thousand years to develop, but horses had secured their position as the dominant form of human transport.

All this to say that horseback riding, though it did not take off until a few thousand years after the domestication of horses, occurred as a combination of natural suitability and genetic selection. Horse genetics, however, seem to have been controlled in antiquity largely for size and strength, rather than quality of motion. There are many modern horse breeds which have been genetically selected for smoother movement (this is why gaited horses exist!), but the fundamental feature– a flat and level-riding spine– has existed for the entire history of horse domestication.

Every time I see fantasy ideas where people ride deer or dogs or wolves or what-have-you 90% of my brain goes 'oh that's COOL', because it IS and I LOVE IT, but the other 10% that's annoying and a nerd is like. there is a reason we domesticated horses specifically for riding instead of any other animal!! If u look at the motion of the topline and legs, u may notice one of these is not like the others......

.......and also significantly less likely to launch you into space by changing the shape of its spine under your butt a billion times per minute

[ilovefolkart]

Just finished making another new friend. This is Ludacris Mott. Ludy is a Chalopian Butt-biter from Uranus. He is currently attending Grainy University in hopes of becoming a professional Fruit Loop. Paper mache, acrylic paint & found objects 18"x7."

[autodaemonium]

əwərləlvɛtvəntəidðkæ

Pronounced: uhwuhrluhlvaytvuhntuhidthka.

Pantheon of: positivity, destructiveness, age, ease, unsuitability, psychic energy, abstraction.

Entities

Bɒttdmærlənnaɪɪduæsʌm

Pronounced: bouttdmarluhnnaiiduasum Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: poison. Age: chronological age. Unsuitability: unfitness. Abstraction: set. Psychic Energy: incitement. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: contretemps, backing, fabrication, spray painting. Prophecies: protest march, curatorship. Relations: dʒərtzʌrʌtnknstʊlmztt (myrrh), æɪwplrimnəsiəʌskʃədu (calf), dswvnɑtpdiztonʒtɪgtv (chlorobenzene).

Dswvnɑtpdiztonʒtɪgtv

Pronounced: dswvnahtpdiztonztigtv Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: harmfulness. Age: developmental age. Unsuitability: inconvenience. Abstraction: communication. Psychic Energy: libidinal energy. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: trench warfare, reburying. Relations: ləɪɒiaɪtkdnɪɪderfətæs (sazerac).

Dʒərtzʌrʌtnknstʊlmztt

Pronounced: juhrtzurutnknstoolmztt Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: harmfulness. Age: developmental age. Unsuitability: unfitness. Abstraction: set. Psychic Energy: libidinal energy. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: red herring, group action, routemarch. Prophecies: impingement, colostomy, kill. Relations: oyɪəelmtrəipɒndʒnprðd (discount rate).

Ləɪɒiaɪtkdnɪɪderfətæs

Pronounced: luhiouiaitkdniiderfuhtas Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: poison. Age: oldness. Unsuitability: inconvenience. Abstraction: attribute. Psychic Energy: incitement. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: lineman, set, vengeance. Prophecies: jingle, electrosurgery, chemical terrorism. Relations: rfwərmsɑlfəkstʃzðuvr (cocoa), dʒərtzʌrʌtnknstʊlmztt (whey).

Oyɪəelmtrəipɒndʒnprðd

Pronounced: oyiuhelmtruhipounjnprthd Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: poison. Age: developmental age. Unsuitability: unfitness. Abstraction: set. Psychic Energy: incitement. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: counselorship, legislatorship. Prophecies: cholecystectomy, indirect fire, el nino, position, ludi saeculares. Relations: ləɪɒiaɪtkdnɪɪderfətæs (tax base), dswvnɑtpdiztonʒtɪgtv (quick time), rfwərmsɑlfəkstʃzðuvr (camomile tea), dʒərtzʌrʌtnknstʊlmztt (tristearin).

Rfwərmsɑlfəkstʃzðuvr

Pronounced: rfwuhrmsahlfuhkstshzthuvr Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: harmfulness. Age: developmental age. Unsuitability: inappropriateness. Abstraction: group. Psychic Energy: libidinal energy. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: kick in the butt, foray, verbalization. Prophecies: barrage, pitch, judgment in personam, bronco busting. Relations: æɪwplrimnəsiəʌskʃədu (drying oil), dʒərtzʌrʌtnknstʊlmztt (debt limit), dswvnɑtpdiztonʒtɪgtv (animal glue), bɒttdmærlənnaɪɪduæsʌm (copal).

Æɪwplrimnəsiəʌskʃədu

Pronounced: aiwplrimnuhsiuhuskshuhdu Ease: effortlessness. Destructiveness: poison. Age: newness. Unsuitability: inconvenience. Abstraction: measure. Psychic Energy: incitement. Positivity: assertiveness. Legends: haircut, database management, valvotomy, first-place finish, damage control. Prophecies: discontinuance, gun control. Relations: dswvnɑtpdiztonʒtɪgtv (sebum), dʒərtzʌrʌtnknstʊlmztt (fluorescein isothiocyanate), rfwərmsɑlfəkstʃzðuvr (epoxy).

[zwy01]

Izar doodles!!!

Doodle compilation of my noblesse oc from my Millennium AU, Izar Siriana! After Zarga died without an heir, Izar was born from the air and earth of Lukedonia as the new Siriana heir. Izar is a massive astronomy & mathematics enthusiast, and a giant nerd in general lol.

For my entire nextgen lineup, please refer to my pinned post! Now onto the drawings…

1) Izar portrait!!!! I love painting my beloved nerd boi. His hair is messy because he almost never pays attention to it, and you can almost always find crumbs and… partially eaten snacks poking out from it. Ehhh. If you point it out to him he’ll just say ooh its a nice surprise, he can eat it later on, meanwhile it can keep sitting there haha so convenient amiright. (Plz dont) And… he’s always smiling. Happy boi. Probably thinking about building his 1628th telescope right now. Also his glasses are totally fake and he just wears them because he thinks they complete the “scientist” aesthetic. Humans sure are trendy aren’t they?

2) Izar is a HUGE junk food lover. Chips, cookies, soda, cheap powdery coffee, anything that’s junk by human standards really. Especially the coffee part. He drinks it not because he needs it but because human scientists do that. It’s fashionable!! If only he could get his hands on Luzia’s eyeshadow, he would’ve given himself dark eye circles lol. Anyways he’s always snacking on something, and shares his snacks with his extremely smart pet ferret & lab assistant Charles. Charles can understand everything he says and often fetches his stuff for him. ps Izar sometimes forgets to clean his hands especially his fingers after a snack session. Consequently his books and notes often have greasy fingerprints on then haha.

3) Izar is basically a neet but he does hang out with his friends sometimes!! He’s very good friends with Ludis’ daughter and the Mergas heir, Susanna. These two have a lot to bond over. Susa is also the one who supplies Izar’s massive, ever-growing pantry. For a super snack enthusiast like him, his snack-eating speed is actually inferior to Susa’s snack-supplying speed. Oh, what will he do without Susa haha. He always looks forward to deliveries from her household. Some random Mergas clan member tasked with delivery will be knocking on Izar’s lab and he’d be at the door in an instant. “Excuse me, Izar-nim? Susanna-nim asked me to deliver—” “YESYESYES IT’S ME!!!” And Susa, while she doesn’t entirely understand the topics to a complex level, loves to listen to Izar’s mini lessons on space and stars. They have great synergy lol.

4) just cute chibi Izar sitting on a planet lol. He loves everything space related. Precious boi and his hobby needs to be protected at all costs.

5) Izar has a massive crush on Jia. Jia has no interest in “meteor-whats” or those “fancy rocks” but she joke-promises Izar that she would help him collect these “rocks” and bring them to him if he can provide her with a satisfying spar. Girl just loves her exercise. Izar is a neet but his fighting skills are no joke so they spar, to both of their surprise Jia is happy and keeps her promise. Her bringing him meteorites makes his inner nerd explode with joy. Their casual back and forths with the spars and meteorite deliveries extends over the years and Izar falls for Jia. Jia really just loves to fight though. Izar hasn’t confessed his feelings yet, but if he does it’ll be a straight-on marriage proposal with a six pack soda. Ehhh maybe thats jumping too far ahead at once. If he does he should bring a grill lol, girl doesn’t like sweet stuff. Jia doesn’t know he likes her.

6) While Izar likes Jia, Kaelestis Blerster, son of Karias and Rael, likes Izar. Izar doesn’t know Kaekae likes him. It all started out when Kaekae became a regular at Izzy’s lab (the lab is always open to any guests he just almost never gets any lol) to get a breather from the uptight life he usually lives. Parenting Karias (yes, not the other way around) is always… sigh, difficult. In Izzy’s lab is where Kaekae truly feels at ease. Listing to Izzy ramble about space and formulas, snacking on junk, being handed plushies and toys… Kaekae feels like he’s being taken care of. It’s really refreshing. It’s his safe space, he finally found it; it was right there in Izzy’s lab all along. That’s how he falls for the giant nerd boi. He knows Izzy likes Jia, so he doesn’t confess his feelings… yet. Though he should. For right now, they’ll just be best friends… yep, that’s enough right…?

7. Susa is even more entertained once she finds out about her peers’ crushes. Oh ho their love lives are gonna be a ride. So entertaining. Meanwhile her brother and parents wonder why she’s snickering to herself. You won’t get it even if she explains, trust me.

[napoleonxfalon]

Napoleon's body tensed, his muscles coiling like a spring pulled taut, Dior's words propelled him closer toward the edge, he could hear Falon whispering from the mirror, goading him, coaxing him just as the gladiator did. Take him, he urged. The sight of the gladiator kneeling before him, dark eyes locked onto his, lips stretched wide around his throbbing cock, was a vision of pure, unadulterated sin. A violent shudder wracked Napoleon's frame, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps as if the very air was being stolen from his lungs. "Dior... fuck, Dior," he moaned, his voice raw and desperate, clawing its way from the depths of his chest.

The sensation of Dior's mouth, a scorching, wet haven, was overwhelming. The gladiator's hand stroked him with firm, twisting motions, his calloused palm creating a delicious friction that sent sparks of pleasure dancing along Napoleon's nerve endings. The whimper that Dior drew from the back of Napoleon's throat bordered on pathetic, pleading in its way as his spirit tethered and snapped from some buried place within. He'd spent the day eyeing the gladiator in his glory, ventured out to this ludi in celebration of himself, and relished in the sight of the master of this house and commander of the festivities on his knees in front of him.

Napoleon could feel the pressure building, his orgasm coiling like a serpent ready to strike, deep within his belly. His hips bucked involuntarily, his body chasing the promise of release that hovered just out of reach. "I'm close, my-" My Champion went unsaid as Napoleon gasped and cut himself off, rendered speechless, his fingers tightening in the gladiator's hair, anchoring himself to the moment. His body trembled, his skin slick with sweat, as every muscle tensed in anticipation of the impending storm.

Dior's low, needy moan reverberated around Napoleon's cock, the vibration sending a jolt of pure, electric pleasure coursing through his veins. It was the final push Napoleon needed. With a cry that was torn from the depths of his soul, Napoleon came undone as his fingers coiled and tightened in the gladiator's locks. His body convulsed, waves of pleasure crashing over him like a tsunami, drowning him in their intensity. His cock throbbed, pulsing streams of hot, thick cum into Dior's waiting mouth - painting the back of the gladiator's throat.

Napoleon's eyes rolled back, his body shaking with the force of his release. His cock, still held firmly in Dior's mouth, throbbed with each heartbeat, the sensation of the gladiator's warm mouth sending aftershocks of pleasure rippling through him. Unable to resist, Napoleon let his hips move back and forth some more, idly fucking Dior's mouth through his ecstasy as he road out the jolts of residual pleasure across the tarmac of his tongue. Napoleon's grin was lazy as lust-filled eyes looked down expectantly at Dior's cock, waiting for the tribute to fall to the ground beneath him. "So strong, so beautiful, so gifted- my Champion. When my mind can form thoughts again I'll string another sonnet centered on your tongue alone."

As Dior continued to suckle on Napoleon’s sensitive sack, he shifted, pressing closer between the merchant’s legs. He wrapped his lips around the delicate skin with renewed fervor, letting his tongue drag wetly over every ridge and curve, savoring the heat that radiated from Napoleon’s body. But even as he pleasured the Sinarian, Dior couldn’t ignore the hunger twisting in his own gut, the way his own cock twitched and leaked at the thought of the pleasure he was giving Napoleon—how the prince's gasps, his quaking thighs, the way he called Dior his own, were all because of him.

With a shuddering breath, Dior pulled back, releasing Napoleon’s balls with a final, lingering kiss. His dark eyes glinted up at the merchant prince, a wicked gleam in them as he stroked the thick length of Napoleon’s cock with deliberate, twisting motions. His voice was a low growl, laced with both yearning and command, as he spoke between teasing licks along Napoleon’s shaft. “It’s not just your cock, my prince—though it does feel perfect in my mouth. It’s everything about you... your body, your voice... that perfect smile when I have you like this.”

He tightened his grip, his tongue sweeping over the sensitive crown before he took Napoleon back into the wet heat of his mouth, his lips stretching to accommodate the girth. Dior’s free hand slid between his own legs, stroking himself roughly as he began to work with increased fervor, each movement designed to push Napoleon closer to that precipice he teetered on. He could feel how close the other man was—how every muscle in his body tensed, the way his breath came in desperate pants.

Dior pulled back just long enough to murmur against the slick flesh, his voice dripping with need. “Honor me with your seed, my prince. Give your champion his reward.” His breath was hot against Napoleon’s skin, each word vibrating against the swollen head of his cock before Dior plunged back down, taking him deeper than before, letting the heady taste of him fill his senses. He bobbed his head faster, more eagerly, his hand working in tandem with the movements of his mouth, every touch calculated to drive Napoleon wild.

Dior’s own arousal ached almost painfully now, but he relished the power of this moment, the thrill of feeling Napoleon unravel against his tongue, and the thought that he could make the proud prince lose himself like this. He let out a low, needy moan around the length in his mouth, his dark eyes locked on Napoleon’s, urging him wordlessly to let go, to give Dior the release he so desperately craved.