#products for home and offices

[home-ward]

My sick day. Made better with a good book, tea, and a lavender sleep mask.

[ceiling-karasu]

World Building continued: Backstory for the wars involving Flower Hill, Teikoku, and Usuhan Jiyeog, and subsequent occupations.

Apologies in advance for this being so long. I wanted to know how widespread Japanese weasels are in real life, and found something interesting I could use.

Japanese weasels originate from three areas of Japan, that being Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Coincidentally, Japan famously has three Ceremonial Regalia in the form of a sword, magatama beads, and a mirror. These items are not seen by anyone other than the royal family and certain priests (images on the internet are recreations of what they could possibly look like, and those seen in public are symbolic stand-ins), but they symbolize the authority of the royal family.

Which allows me to make a backstory for my AU to help explain the wars and occupations, very loosely based off of events and locations in history, especially since animal biology limits certain events from happening.

In the past, there was an Emperor, who preferred for Teikoku to be in isolation. Under his rule, and of those before him, are smaller prefectures run by princes, lords, or other lessor royal families.

Contact with the United States Alliance and other nations led to a period of aggression and imperialism surrounding the empire of Teikoku, as they strove to fight against a stagnating economy that believed in its own superiority in the world, as well as a strict caste system preventing innovation.

Eventually, after some time, three princes are sent out to conquer the final few neighboring islands, so that may join the empire, and provide a larger force for when they make a move for the peninsula and the mainland.

The three princes are named after their prefectures, and the Emperor has given them each one of the Imperial Regalia as proof of their superiority.

The Sword

Honshu is the main island of Japan, and is also known as the dragonfly island. Teikoku will call it Tonbo, which refers to dragonflies, which are fierce and deadly creatures. As such, their Imperial Regalia is the sword, Yūki no ken (the sword of valor), and is based off of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Grass-Cutter). Tonbo is the main physical fighting force of Teikoku.

The Magatama Jewels

Kyushu is smaller than Honshu, but it had a lot of trade circuits around the ocean and the mountains. So I will make a prefecture named Kairo (Circuit), and have the area be responsible for trade and roads around the empire, as well as in the fighting forces. I would use the famous Magatama jewels (Benevolence) to symbolize their rule.

The Mirror

Shikoku means four provinces, and is the least populated area of the three areas. Shikoku also has a lot of temples (perhaps run by green pheasants, the national symbol of Japan), which draws in a lot of pilgrims. But they also maintain a lot of gateways to other prefectures. So maybe Genkan for entryway. They are responsible for planning and strategizing for the other two. They can have the Michi no kagami, mirror of the path to represent wisdom/truth, based on the Yata no Kagami.

VERY loosely taking inspiration from The Tale of the Heike, a collection of Japanese epic poetry with many translations and retelling (actually written down 200 years after said events supposedly happened), which says that the royal families that held these Regalia were defeated in a naval battle, and threw themselves and the treasures into the sea. Subsequent legends suggest that many search and diving parties have been led to recover the Regalia.

In my AU, I hold that the items were thrown into the sea, with the princes believing that they could return for them later even if they were captured, although they managed to escape. It was a complete disgrace for the Emperor, as without the Ceremonial Regalia, the legitimacy of the entire palace was thrown into question.

And then the box holding the Magatama washed up on the shores of the peninsula.

It is returned as a gesture of good will, but as no good deed goes unpunished, Teikoku believes that they must have taken the other Imperial Regalia for themselves, starting a land invasion. The small army is annihilated by farmers, fresh out of overthrowing their own monarchy, wielding guns, which Teikoku has never seen before.

Which results in a larger army being sent, which is also defeated and the princes captured and possibly executed by the hedgehog army in the north of the country. At this point, without the authority of the Ceremonial Regalia, and increasing economical desperation, the country is forced to undergo a reformation. While there is still an Emperor, he does not hold as much political power as he once did.

Teikoku left behind settlements of soldiers and colonists controlling the southern portion of the peninsula, which they name Usuhan Jiyeog, who take up ruler-ship and fish farming.

The hedgehogs use the proof of their power in defending their areas to take control of what they would name Flower Hill.

It is a strongly held belief that before they backed away from Usuhan Jiyeog, the Emperor promised that anyone who managed to retrieve the Ceremonial Regalia from Flower Hill would be reinstated as the next emperor, and be rewarded with power beyond their wildest dreams.

Did the other two, heavier, items, even wash up on the shores of the peninsula like the jewels, locked in an airtight box? Or did they sink to the bottom, as they were heavier? Who is to say...

But alongside the greed, desperation for power, and food production issues, the temptation of finding the supposedly stolen Imperial Regalia locked away in some distant stronghold is a good enough reason as any to attempt to occupy Flower Hill.

Now, I'm not about to retcon what I have already written and say that Commander Jogjebi wanted the sword and mirror, and Huinjogjebi is a weasel of science who would likely not be interested anyway. But claiming that Flower Hill stole precious items and symbols of their country in the past, and them not being able to disprove it, is enough of an excuse to make quite a few countries in the international courts turn a blind eye to the happenings surrounding Flower Hill.

Oil Production

I did figure out the oil and gas situation. I did go ahead and give the Jindo Empire a large amount of oil. The Venezuela country below the United States Alliance is now the República de Cultivos Oleaginosos, and is trying to prevent the wolves' country from occupying their regions.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of the world's oil in my AU is being produced in this country.

While it used to be many different nations in the past, the leaders understood that their vast oil and gas reserves would result in large scale invasions, and agreed to band together into the Equatorial Allegiance.

[fitzrove]

Agjgjkd I'm wondering about something...

EDIT: If "other", feel free to elaborate in the replies!

[peaches2217]

SEVEN PAGES IN AND NOW I’M WAXING LYRICAL ABOUT MARIO’S PTSD

WE’RE ON A ROLL, BABY

[ganonfan1995]

work from home is so good. if they ever take the option away from me I will literally perish on the spot. i need to be able to blast my music out loud and take frequent breaks throughout the day to eat snacks and dance around naked.

[studiohromi]

What I Did Last Week: October 28-November 1, 2024

Here we are with another edition of “What I Did Last Week,” where I share my day-to-day life as a self-employed creative person. Every weekday (and some weekends) I keep track of all the work I’ve done each day, as a way to keep me on track as a full-time working artist. Fellow creatives and freelancers, whether or not you choose to share it publicly, I urge you to join me in this weekly professional accountability exercise.

Weekly recap: Finally, I was able to have a weekend without doing any work (though I definitely thought about it and felt sort of guilty about it). Collagetober is officially done, which is a bit of a relief. As much as I enjoyed this particular challenge and was able to batch some of it, the stress of daily prompts always ends up pretty heavy by the end of the month. Time to agonize about something much bigger for the next few days...

Monday October 28

Sent out monthly newsletter.

Website updates.

Sent various check-in and follow-up emails.

Worked on preliminary sketch edits for a medical illustration client project and sent for review.

Worked on edits to a different medical illustration client project.

Met with a science design client about an ongoing project.

Volunteer stuff.

Collagetober #29 & 30.

Tuesday October 29

Scanned and edited Collagetober prompts.

Website and online shop updates.

Worked on sketch edits for a medical illustration client project and sent for review.

Worked on two different science design client projects and met with one of those clients to discuss the ongoing work.

Worked on a medical illustration client project.

Wednesday October 30

Prepared and sent invoice and final deliverables for a completed medical illustration client project.

Worked on two different science design client projects and sent for review.

Collagetober #31.

Thursday October 31

Worked on edits for two different science design client projects.

Worked on a medical illustration client project and sent for review.

Worked on preliminary sketches for a different medical illustration client project.

Website and online shop updates.

Friday November 1

Monthly financial assessment.

Worked on preliminary sketches for a medical illustration client project and sent for review.

Met with a science design client to discuss an ongoing project.

Volunteer stuff.

[andrewdi8]

How do you stay professional while being friendly at work?

In my experience, I've come to realize how crucial it is to maintain the right balance between friendship and professionalism in the workplace. Building and keeping good relationships is important but it's just as essential to establish clear boundaries between causual conversation and work tasks.

Here are some of key points I've found helpful:

Set boundaries - it's vital to differentiate between casual chats and focusing on the tasks at hand

Respect other's space and time - always keep in mind that we're at work and everyone has their duties that need attention and completion on time

Communicate respectfully - being polite and professional in all situations, even informal ones is key. One careless word can negatively affect the workplace dynamic

Stay positive - a supportive attitude makes a huge difference. Being in a constant bad mood can influence the entire team and make work progress harder

How do you balance being friendly while staying professional at work?

...

#workfromhome #workfromhomeonline #remotework

[adhunika-furnitures]

Celebrate victory, embrace tradition, and elevate your space this Dussehra! 🏹✨ Adhunika Furnitures brings you the perfect blend of heritage and modern style. Let's mark new beginnings with elegance in every corner of our homes. Happy Dussehra, everyone! 🪑🛋️

[rainyfestivalsweets]

9/15/24

I hate that I am wasting fall hiking time being sick and feeling like shit. I had a rough night and a very long slow get going this morning. So long and slow that I don't know that I am going yet.

I had a rough night, despite cold meds and sleep aids. And a lidocaine patch and CBD muscle rub put on my hurting spots.

I tossed and turned and coughed and sweated so much I had to change my nightshirt. Despite getting up many times thru the night to change my gear and go to the bathroom, I bled all over my sheets.

I am awake now, barely. Finished a Monster, did a nebulizer, got cold meds in me, plus my normal supplements, made some tea, my bedsheets are in the wash, & I started puttering around my office.

Every time I buy something, my office has to somehow absorb it. All my books, teas, coffee, sports supplements, any kind of vitamin thing. It all has to go somewhere. So I am working on that. I want it to be functional and less cluttering. Everything needs a home. This is a very maximalist room, bookshelves on 2 whole sides of the room. My desk, the extra desk, and a dresser that serves as my coffee bar. Literally every space is covered with stuff.

I am focusing on making sure the stuff I need to use and find is reachable. I need to be able to grab a coffee/tea or some vitamins/supplements, very quickly.

My weak points are doom piles everywhere. Mail. Piles and piles and piles. Things I meant to deal with probably 6 months ago. Or 5 years ago.

Send all the positive vibes please as I try to focus on bringing some peace back to this space.

I realized I was making the same mistake I made yesterday by not wearing shoes. So, I am going to fix that first. Coffee, tea. Maybe watch an office decluttering video.

Everything hurts and I just uggghhhh.

But if Schmidty can lose weight and keep ot off, so can I.

Maybe I should also grab a shower, that might feel real nice.

[adelaidedrubman]

i hope that a massive hawk descends from the skies and plucks me from my car and carries me away in its talons before i get to work today

[dwalendinhetniets]

Me on Tumblr because i finally finished writing the five reports i have been procrastinating for a week and now i don't want to do anything else? It's more likely than you think

[ireallyamabear]

they're playing Backstreet Boys As Long As You Love Me as a 90s throwback song on the radio, a true Oldie. remember that other millenium i was there Gandalf

[sunnysatyr]

I was just told by my coworkers that in June our working day is extended from 6 h to full time (8 h) and I'm "happy" because that means more money, but it also kind of ruined my mood because it also means less free time.

Halp.

[everythingisarabbithole]

[mieczyhale]

"i had to surrender my cat bc he's got incontinence issues and i'm just not equipped to deal with that"

i'm stealing your fucking kneecaps