#ree's analysis

[thy-lovelylionheart]

I might actually have to make an analysis video about Mike during his first day in California because I don't think gifsets are gonna cut it, I need to yap and zoom in and loop things 80 billion times

[garmgeyr]

Brief Analysis of Gallagher's Fighting Technique

Because this is what my caffeinated brain has decided to fixate on today ha

Technique

So this animation is actually where all these thoughts started. I've been perplexed by the way he lunges ever since I noticed that he pulls his left foot back before standing up again. Last night, I finally decided to slow it down and look at each part of the movement.

First, I realized that he overextends like crazy:

His left foot is so far ahead of his center of gravity that there's really no comfortable way he can bring his right leg up to meet it without pulling the left leg back first. You throw your balance off more if you do that. So then I started to wonder why on earth would he overextend. Not only does it throw off balance, but it leaves you wide open for a counterattack. So I decided to dig deeper into what exactly is going on with this motion.

Reminds me of parivrtta anjaneya, which takes a lot of lower body strength, but more importantly: torso flexibility. Gallagher might have impressive looking biceps and a well-developed chest, but both of those things are almost extraneous when it comes to the way he fights. Deceptively, it's his waist and legs doing most of the work, which is consistent across all of his attack animations, but for his technique, the twist he makes with his hips is actually what gives this strike so much power.

While laymen might think that the strength of a punch comes from the arms, in reality, the force is gathered from the ground up and the rest of the body has to be flexible and strong enough to move that force up to the fist in a very short amount of time.

Gallagher is delivering this strike from his right foot. His shoulders and hips turn nearly 180 degrees between the wind up and the impact, and he extends the full length of his body. Most trained fighters aren't throwing all their weight into a single strike like this, but it follows all of the principles that make a punch hit hard. It's fast, but he's also a large man with a good deal of body mass and an impressive reach. In other words, Gallagher is generating a lot of momentum with this attack, a lot more than the average punch. With the way it opens him up to be knocked off balance by a counterattack, I realized: this strike is meant to kill. Or, at the very least, immobilize his opponent. He's allowing himself to be vulnerable here because he's not expecting a counterattack.

This technique inflicts the Besotted state on his target, which in game increases the amount of break damage received. Narratively though, given the debuff's name, it likely intoxicates the target, slowing their reaction time and impacting their perception enough that Gallagher can get out of the way.

(As a side note, the new ascension item A Glass of the Besotted Era has me chewing on some new theories.

"At this moment, a cup of nectar blends with a goblet of poison, intoxicating this era together and poisoning the future with the past." A group of believers treads across countless stars, seeking memories of numerous fine wines, brewing their offerings in dreams. Another group of believers turns themselves into yeast, fermenting ancient faiths sealed by the dust of time, distilling their ideals within dreams.

But those thoughts need some more time to cook)

It makes a wet slicing sound when it hits too, not unlike Dormancy's blade, so I'm pretty sure it also hurts like a bitch.

Anyway, moving on (the rest is shorter I promise).

Basic Attack & Enhanced Basic

Starting with his regular basic attack, I really think this is his most elegant technique. It's just a spinning kick, but he doesn't waste any motion. He runs up to the enemy, which gives the first kick its momentum, and then he uses the momentum from that kick to pivot into a spinning back kick. Work smarter not harder.

But this is also another impressive display of Gallagher's core strength and balance, especially because he does this all with his left hand in his pocket.

He makes it look all rather effortless though, which makes me think of his trace unlock and ascension lines:

"Need I say more? Muscle memory never lies.""Intuition, instinct... training can sharpen them both."

It's this attack that I feel conveys how much experience he has. He knows just how much effort to expend, and does it almost without thinking.

His enhanced basic is similar, except he uses the momentum of the first kick to set up his stance for the claw strike.

His feet are placed almost exactly like they are in his Technique, and he makes the same hip-shoulder twist to deliver the strike with maximum impact. Except this time he's ripping the claws back out and then leaping away instead of going back to a standing position. Still, he's throwing his whole body weight into the punch, and if those claws were steel, they'd pretty much disembowel a guy.

And finally...

Ultimate

Even though he's just using his claws again, he's starting with his right leg in front this time and his footing doesn't actually change through the attack.

All of the momentum is coming from his waist and shoulders. He starts off with his arm pulled back as far as it will go, and then using his legs like a fulcrum, twists around to slash instead of stab. He's aiming for breadth, and is extended as far as he's physically capable of swinging. I don't have much more to say about this move other than that this is clearly a man who knows how to make the most out of his body. It shows that he's both well-practiced and experienced, since the only way he would have gotten so concise and confident with this unconventional weapon is by fighting. A lot.

Closing Remarks

Gallagher is way more flexible than I was expecting him to be, but that flexibility is at the center of every single one of his attacks. He might look laidback, undisciplined, and too old to be moving like that, but the fact that he can on command means that he keeps himself in fighting condition despite his proclivity for laziness and self-indulgence. This reflects his personality too: he's always been sharp despite the image he projects of a washed up drunk. I can't imagine him being the kind of person who trains for the sake of training though, because at the end of the day, he would rather just laze around somewhere with a good drink or five. So his training is probably practical, like spending his time fighting nightmares and other aggressive memes around the fringes of the dreamscape in order to keep Penacony safe, with or without the Bloodhound affiliation.

[mariacallous]

Last year, the lead singer of The 1975, Matt Healy, managed to offend a whole lot of Gaelgoirí (Irish speakers) when he appeared to mock a fan’s name – Dervla – at a meet-and-greet.

Healy isn’t alone, though, when it comes to anglophone bafflement at Irish names. A recent study based on an analysis of Google searches revealed the words that British people have the most difficulty pronouncing. The names Aoife, Saoirse, Niamh and Siobhán occupy places in the top 10.

And it’s not exclusively a British problem: I always cringe watching US talkshows where the host quizzes their Irish guest (usually Saoirse Ronan) on the pronunciation of their and other Irish names.

I’ve heard every possible variation of my own name from non-Irish people. It’s not uncommon in Ireland; in secondary school, there were four Niamhs in my class. But I rarely come across an English person who is familiar with it, despite the proximity of our two countries.

In case you don’t know, it’s pronounced “Neev” or “Nee-av”, either is perfectly acceptable. The prefix Ní means “daughter of”. My surname is trickier, and has even tripped up a few Irish people; it can be translated as Herbert, and is pronounced “her-a-vard”.

When I was living in London, I quickly learned that saying Niamh at the counter in a coffee shop or over the phone to make a booking simply wouldn’t fly. This led to the invention of what I call my “Starbucks name”. Anything easily pronounceable with a simple spelling would do. Mia, Sophie and Rose were among my common aliases.

Speaking to others reveals a litany of similar experiences. Aoibhe Ní Shúilleabháin, a designer and teacher, spent two years at college in England having her name mispronounced and disrespected. (Her first name is pronounced “Ay-vah”.) More than one lecturer resorted to calling her “blondie”.

She tells me: “I was asked to say, ‘Three hundred and thirty three trees’” – a tongue-twister that does the rounds on TikTok – “more often than I was asked to repeat my name.” She recalls the lack of interest when she attempted to explain that Irish and English are different languages with different pronunciation rules.

Clearly, the sensitivities at play here are rooted in history: Ireland was colonised by the English and our national language was all but wiped out. A language revival began in earnest in the 19th century, but it’s never quite recovered. Ireland’s most recent census shows that about 40% of Ireland’s population can speak Irish. The English destroyed our language once before, so every little throwaway comment and scoff at our names hurts a little bit more – and ultimately becomes just tiresome. A handful of people even remark, “Oh! I didn’t know Ireland had its own language,” when I tell them about my name.

Writer Darach Ó Séaghdha is all too familiar with these difficulties. (The “rach” in Darach is pronounced like “Bach”, he says.)He hosted a podcast called Motherfoclóir, a podcast about the Irish language and culture, and whenever there were guests on with Irish names, “inevitably the episode would turn into group therapy”. There was one bad experience, he recalls, when he was told that his surname “looked like a wifi password”. But he decided to give his children Irish names, too. It’s a common trend, he says, “because parents with Irish names have been battle-hardened”.

Like the others I spoke to for this piece, writer and director Rioghnach (think “Ree-nock”)Ní Ghrioghair believes that a sense of superiority among English speakers is to blame for the constant mistreatment of Irish names. But she’s defiant. “We are going to scrutinise the British for any transgression regarding the pronunciation of our names,” and other things, she tells me, like British media claiming Irish actors as their own during awards seasons.

There is no easy crash-course I can give to you on the pronunciation of Irish names, but you can always try out “how to pronounce”-style websites (which themselves can be contested). But the simplest and most reliable solution is perhaps just to politely ask an Irish person – and listen attentively to what they say. I may have accepted that English people are very rarely going to get my name right on the first go, but I appreciate a well-intentioned effort. Just don’t laugh at it, please.

[letteredlettered]

Hello!! Firstly, I'd just like to say I've recently discovered your drarry work, and I have been reading your entire catalogue of it for the last week. Pulled all nighters can't stop reading it, reading it. I devoured The Boy Who Lived Twice in one sitting and I couldn't believe how well crafted it was. Blew my mind.

Now, all of this is to say, your prose has this elegant straightforwardness that is so succinct, so clear and so evocative. Your dialogue is absolute *perfection*. What are your influences? Books or authors you feel made an impression on you? I'd love to know what you read, because god I love what you write.

Thank you! I'm so glad you like my fics.

Jane Austen is a huge influence. Whenever my prose feels indistinct and overburdened, I return to her. She says things extremely sharply and cleanly.

Sarah Rees Brennan was a huge influence on me in terms of POV. I tend to write a very tight third person, so tight that the reader can generally see things the viewpoint character cannot. Check out the first book of The Demon's Lexicon series for one of the best examples of this I've read.

I spent a lot of time with Robin McKinley as a kid. I don't think that our styles match very well; she can do an ethereal, fairytale tone that I've kind of given up on. But what I loved best about her was that she could do that tone but then write something incredibly down to earth. I would check out Beauty or Deerskin for my favorite examples of this.

I actually also came into the style I write now writing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS) fandom. While most of the stories I wrote in that fandom didn't have very sharp dialogue, I remember writing a story (a WIP still languishing on livejournal, sadly) where I realized I had "found" my voice and style. It was extremely dialogue-heavy. BtVS was famous at the time for its extremely fast-paced, idiosyncratic, snappy dialogue. The dialogue is now considered dated, and the creator is a douche, but imo it's still great writing, especially the early shows. I still go back to it sometimes to figure out a conversation with multiple people, or to work on my humor.

As for authors that have made an impression on me, I'd check out George Eliot. My favorite book is Daniel Deronda. It has wonderful dialogue, especially for an older book. Dickens, Dostoevsky, and Hugo all made pretty big impressions on me as well; I think these big, hefty books with really big ideas really influenced my language, even though I would by no means call my style 19th c.

I'd also check out Rainbow Rowell. I wouldn't say she influenced the style I write with now, because I had it before I read anything by her, but she's one of the few contemporary authors I read and think, "Yeah, I'd write it like that." I think anything by her is a great read that can give you a lot to think about in terms of style.

In my mind, Sally Rooney is a little like Rowell in terms of a cleans style that packs a sharp analysis. I'd call Rowell more comfortable, funny, and genuine, while Rooney is a bit aloof and literary. I actually don't like the stories in her books very much, but I found Conversations with Friends particularly refreshing in terms of writing style.

C.S. Pacat's Captive Prince series also left an impression on me. It has a clean, simple style, with a narrator who doesn't see everything the reader does. And I also did learn a lot from the use of the word "said," in those books--it was something I already knew! and yet.

I think some fanfic that made a big impression on me is The Paradox Series, by wordstrings (Sherlock/John, Sherlock BBC), Spice, by eimeo (Kirk/Spock, Star Trek TOS), Children, Wake Up by hollycomb (Kylo Ren/Hux, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Tarnished Gold, by prim_the_amazing (Shen Yuan/Luo Binghe, Scum Villain's Self-Saving System). The styles in these fics vary, but each bowled me over at different points with how beautifully something was articulated or how spectacularly a scene was crafted. I think about Spice all the time in particular.

I'd also say that if you're thinking about dialogue in particular, I also love both Oscar Wilde's and Tom Stoppard's plays.

If you are a writer, I did write a series on writing dialogue. Check out the tag "lettered writes dialogue". The first post is here.

[jupitermelichios]

obviously shapeshifting would be the best superpower, but if I had to have a very specific/mostly useless power, it would be the ability to set randos on the internet homework, like i'm a prefect on a power trip.

i follow a lot of evangelical/fundie nonsense, and forcing grifter "pastors" to learn actual theology and biblical exegesis would be so satisfying! 'oh, you think a woman's worth is inherently tied to virginity? write me 3000 words on how your beliefs would be fundamentally different if it weren't for the empress theodora'. 'oh you're citing the story of sodom to justify your homophobia? 10 pages on Ezekiel 16:49 due on my desk by monday'.

making every politician who scaremongers about the evils of socialism write essays on marxist theory and basic economics. making GamersTM write essays on the history of representation in gaming. making terfs write papers on actual human biology?

i'm not an advocate for punitive justice, but i do think forcing jacob rees moggs to write feminist analysis of barney the dinosaur would make the world very slightly better, if only because it would take up some of time he'd otherwise spend talking absolutely bollocks!

i could make kemi badenoch watch dr who. tell me you don't also want the power to force kemi badenoch to analyse dr who? it wouldn't be hurting her, after all she's been very clear that she's definitely not frightened of dr who, but boy would it piss her off!

it wouldn't fix any of them, but it would give me the ability to significantly inconvinience so many deeply unpleasant people, and it would be very very funny

[bambi-kinos]

I really enjoy your meta and look forward to more mclennon analysis. Out of curiosity, you mentioned that you think they started being physical in 1964 - is there a reason why that year specifically? Personally, I've always thought they started sleeping together in 1963, and my reasoning for that is they seem much closer in videos/photos, not to mention it was the year they "broke through", so to speak.

Would love to hear your thoughts on that!

Hmm well I guess it depends on how they, and we, define their sex life. John and Paul were sexually intimate starting since they were teenagers because John brought Paul into the group wanks. (tbh it's a miracle Paul didn't brain John with something heavy thanks to all that Winston Churchilling.) There's really no telling how it progressed from there, anything is possible with these two. Until Paul tells us the details (and I do not put it past him) then he and John could have been hooking up at literally any point in their relationship. When I think of them getting physical with each other, I'm thinking of them getting each other off with intent and purpose, and considering the style of the time this would mean penetration. Everything else can be handwaved away.

I pick 1964 because of this post: https://www.tumblr.com/got-ticket-to-ride/739464905120497664/its-the-anniversary-day-of-john-and-paul-in-paris?source=share

It's just something about it, y'know. John and Paul are in their city. They stayed up all night and well into the morning and then slept deep into the afternoon, almost evening. And then as GTTR says, "And then they emerge from their hotel room looking like a newlywed couple."

Well, there's just a certain satisfaction radiating off them isn't there?

But I do see your point: why wouldn't they be hooking up earlier? Why wouldn't it escalate physically before this? Why would they wait until Paris 1964?

I have a few reasons, they are admittedly flimsy but since we are all just making shit up then it's fine, right?

Julian was born in 1963. I've read bits and pieces of Beatles 1963 by Rees and that book is full of little chunks about John running home to see Cynthia and the baby (usually not even for a full night/day because he was so busy.) Their schedule is also packed, they are constantly on the move especially during the night because this is where they had to start being smuggled out of theaters and such. So I genuinely think that John and Paul did not have the time or the space to have sex with each other. I know I am saying this when they had time to hook up with groupies between shows but considering who John and Paul are, and what they mean to one another, I just struggle to imagine them acting that way with one another. They would want to take their time with one another and get it right. They're hopeless romantics at heart, they're both deeply enamored with the idea of "you're special, you're different" so I genuinely think they would want to take their time with each other physically and do it right. I don't think they had that time in 1963 with the way they're running all over the UK.

Then there's the Absolute State of John and Paul's relationship in 1963. Remember that the halcyon days of Paris are way in the rearview mirror at this point. In 1962 Stuart died, Cynthia got pregnant, and John had to get married to save her reputation. I can't imagine Paul reacting well to any of this though I'm sure he put his cheery stoic mask on. Then in 1963, Julian is born. Barcelona happens and John seduces Brian to get the songwriting credit that he wanted and screws Paul out of their deal. Considering this is something Paul is still angry about to this day, I can't imagine how he blew his fucking top at John when he found out that May:

I don't think Paul was in the mood for any hooking up in 1963. John has a baby with a woman, is married, then he fucks off to have a gay experience with their manager and then when he comes back he's screwed Paul's side of the business on the downlow? I would be on the fucking six o' clock news lmao, John would not have escaped my wrath. It's really no wonder Paul made a specific point of hooking up with Jane Asher isn't it? He was making a point to John specifically and John seethed about it.

However I do think that something happened in 1963 that healed the rift in the Lennon-McCartney relationship:

Paul got sick from the gastric flu and he fainted dead away in the dressing room. John was very upset and was seen pacing the room when the doctor arrived to check on Paul. This is how we know that Paul actually fainted for real, if he was just feeling feverish John would be concerned but maybe not like that. @james-winston has a pair of really fantastic posts about the aftermath of the fainting incident that I have taken as gospel and I fully apply this to any McLennon analysis I write about this period. The key point though is this:

I have a headcanon that Paul being sick caused something to happen between John and Paul that left them both feeling awkward around each other. I don't think it is was sexual, I think it was more likely that John (who thought he was cursed to have all the men he loved die on him) was afraid something might happen to Paul, and reacted emotionally to it.

This all took place in November, after the Wooler thing, after the burn from Barcelona has had a chance to soften, after they both have had time to get used to the idea that Julian exists and has a place in their lives now. I think this was enough to mend things between them. And you know what else happened the night Paul fainted? Brian secured The Beatles their spot on Ed Sullivan:

So once Brian comes back and tells them the news, John and Paul flip right back into the honeymoon phase. The wounds of the past are forgotten (for now) and they're right back in each other's pockets. I think it's around this time period that Paul was taking photos that now make up Eye of the Storm.

TBH I can imagine John and Paul hooking up at this date. If someone looked at this and said "well this looks like a prelude to sweet love making to me" then that's perfectly reasonable. There's some suggestive photos in Eye of the Storm where Paul is taking John's picture from what looks to be a bathtub while John makes faces at him. It could have been then, absolutely.

But I like the idea that Paul wanted to wait until the next year. 1963 was rough on all of them and he and John are both big on getting new starts. Wait for 1964 to roll around. Brian says we're going to Paris in February. I can wait until then.

And just this once, it was worth it.

[notquitequelled]

nothing's wrong-- i'm just a STEM student...

[i rarely see stem rep-- so here’s PART TWO! (find part one here) the extended edition of ‘stoners in stem’ highlighting the parts of this life that i find myself loving ;p

Thinking of doing sectionals (Physics, Environmental Studies, Mechanics, Entomology, etc.), so if there are any suggestions you'd like to highlight, plz tag or comment !!]

TAG YOURSELF !! I LOVE SEEING WHAT YALL GET UP TO !!

slightly concerned glances being shared between even the worst of acquaintances when your mentor drops some crazy lore surrounding how they entered their field(s)

good god. the apple-cider vinegar and dish soap gnat traps. honey alternatives decidedly never cross anyone's mind (nor the threshold of the lab for that matter)

walking the fine line between the Ridiculous and the Logical during data analysis like the two aren't twin kings of ruin

either strong answers or noncommital shrugs when asked anything about your preferred diet or eating habits

writing exclusively with pen, or exclusively with pencil. feeling borderline disgusted having to use the other in the lab or when you forget your own

'Why do you care?' 'Why don't you??'

Every documentary you watch absolutely changing your life and challenging your worldview

Either hanging onto your textbooks like a lifeline or forgetting about them as they gather dust under your bed. maybe you never bought them at all-- pirated PDFs littering your desktop

anything in jars being considered decor (snakes, regurgitated bones, praying mantis egg cases)

seeing the slant of fences, trees, and lamp posts-- thinking of all the wind and weather that's passed along the same path you have

TREEHUGGER !!! HA HA

the clean quiet that hangs over the linoleum early in the morning; the warmth is not so subtle now that you've rolled up your sleeves.

teaching everyone around you how to bypass PAY FOR ARTICLES because knowledge should always be F[ree]INED [inspect, gear, disable java]

having to just sit by n watch while someone pointedly ignores your input, and a totally avoidable incident (that could have totally been avoided) is not, in fact, avoided

dealing with the consequences of that incident for the rest of the experiment/project

blank stare, lips in a placatingly firm line as you nod along with the stern talking-to you're being given. their words going in one ear and out the other because you're already thinking through another way under admin's nose ('no, I absolutely get you, 100%. it won't happen again.' [sometime later in the halls] 'yeah, no--- fuck that dude, I'm thinking this time we just gotta hit em harder with smth else...')

whaaaaat ? how'd those local Indigenous species just pop up everywhere overnight, ha ha ? wow nature is crazyyy

digging through public records for one reason, only to uncover an entirely different can of worms about the institution you frequent

digging in the literal dirt and uncovering literal worms lol amirite guys

'Please remember that this is just a prototype and that i'm it's in a very fragile state right now.'

going crazy trying to figure out what a specific testing company uses in their chemical compounds, because good fucking god how are you supposed to cite the evidence if you can't even label what it is?

a disastrous experiment being abandoned like Chernobyl once determined beyond salvation-- everyone curious to see how it'll develop and fester when left on its own

'life imitates art,' you think, as you finally recognize one of your unnecessarily complicated formulas being unexpectedly represented in your daily life

often being so bad at the thing you love that you can't do anything about it but laugh

staring for so long at something during a lecture that white begins to leech into your vision. you should probably blink a few times so people don't begin to suspect you're a reptile (even more than they already do)

'Don't.. don't look at me like that...' [speaking to a(n) (INSERT NAME OF LITTLE CRITTER HERE) you had to gently move onto a little scale to collect data]

honing in on where your talents in your field lie; the disappointment in finding your limits that turns to indifference when you remember you're still phenomenal at a million other things you enjoy

'i want to study you like a bug....'

thinly concealed irritation masked by a patient smile and a small 'mhm' when someone tries to explain your life's purpose TO you (ten dollars says they're wrong about it, too)

'and you want me to run this... on a full moon?' 'don't start with that shit again.'

yer disgust is lookin' a lot like morbid curiosity these days...

a lot of your scientific conclusions being discerned by common sense ('Please just use your cognitive functions, you guys...')

a clean earth sciences lab floor.. my white whale...

the small (increasingly large) pile of recyclable material that's waiting to be torn apart or filled with soil and plants; it topples over when people walk past, but no one can bring themselves to throw any away

'all this only cost me like... $270. which is crazy given that these're the real-fuckin'-deal solid-steel reinforcements.' 'man...this shit is so gonna blow down.'

leaning into the obscure, instead of away from it out of habit; seeing its effect in your daily life and work

all the plastic utensils in the dining area being stolen for diagrams, leaving behind only the reusable metalware. this is unexpectedly admirable of the engineers, if only to those who care about the inadvertent environmentalism

taking things apart to see how they work-- having very little planned on how to put them back together

'I don't know what you want me to do about that, you created it.' 'Not on purpose!'

downloading photomath during testing season. your doubt being palpable over your (in)ability to solve simple equations

carrying hand lotion everywhere you go because of how often your work has you washing your hands; colleagues and peers holding their hands out like beggars in a Mel Brooks film ('lotion... dollop of lotion for the poor D:')

borrowing chemical-grade goggles from the lab before going out to protest; supervisors giving you dubious thumbs ups while they 'accidentally' leave the key to the goggle sanitation station right by the cabinet..

'Now that you've poured your blood, sweat, tears, and other secretions into this project-- decide if you want to take it home to maintain, or have it eradicated.'

utilizing the public library, but having to double-check the internet before citing anything from the books you pour over because your city is more concerned with the way the building looks than the content it supplies

'The Martian,' both the book and the movie ... Mark Watney you will always be famous,,

'Why are you taking so many difficult classes at once?' 'My entire degree is difficult classes.'

carrying a small journal everywhere in an attempt to organize your thoughts, tasks, and reminders (you've never looked back on a single thing you've written, but you like to think it at least helps in the moment)

being torn between the scientific evidence that supports getting eight hours of sleep and your own hubris. you can stay up it's fine. it'll be fine.

you're not fine but at least the counters feel so nice against the side of your face

WHAT THE FUCK IS EVEN A KILOGRAM 🦅🦅🦅‼??!!!!!

having no idea where your degree will take you, giving everyone who asks a different vague answer

hands being littered with cuts and burns; not being able to stop yourself from touching even at the worst of times

geeking out over carbon sensors and ammonia regulators your supervisor managed to convince the department to splurge on (nothing provided by them will enter your lab for another three semesters)

being one of the most prepared people ever when it comes to disaster prep; this includes zombies

'this was not.. our intended result... someone get the shovel.'

pettiness infiltrating your daily life in the form of utilizing your talents; coding programs and drawing up diagrams and running tests just to prove someone wrong (or just to fuck with them)

studying with your liberal arts friends; both of you staring at your respective incomprehensible lines of symbols and words that neither of you have the brainpower to comprehend. most of the lights are off and the library closes in ten minutes, but you know the night staff and they've learned to keep their distance until absolutely necessary.

[geraniums-red]

Sarah Rees Brennan - Long Live Evil

Rae is a young woman dying from cancer who is offered the chance to enter the world of her favourite fantasy series and steal a flower that could save her life. She steps into the world only to find herself inhabiting the body of a villainess - a character who she knows will be executed the following day.

This is not a book about entering a story and trying not to change it. The first thing Rae has to do after entering the story world is to figure out how to change the story so she can stay alive. Instead, it's a book that explores the malleability of stories, how much can be changed and what will stay the same.

I was interested by the recurring question of 'who gets to count as real people?' When Rae enters the story world she is sure that other people dying doesn't matter, because those people aren't real. To the nobility, anyone without a title doesn't count, and this is reflected in how people are treated and how severely they're punished. To a certain charming but sociopathic assassin, no-one but himself seems really real (I do not know how realistic the portrayal is, but I was glad that the book did not treat him as inherently evil or beyond redemption despite his lack of empathy for others.) And to us as readers, there are two layers of unreality - the book and then the story within it, and we are at a nice safe distance from both of them.

I was also fascinated by the analysis of how women are forced to behave in sexist fantasy-land. The petty and destructive behaviour that results from simultaneously being in competition for marrying the king and prevented from marrying anyone else until he has made his decision. The heroine of the series is surrounded by men who are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of her goodness and beauty, but wouldn't she rather be able to save her own life? And Rae is in the body of a villainess, so she can't act like the angelic heroine and expect that to work. If she wants to save the lives of her friends, she'll have to figure out how to do it in a believably evil way.

The ending was a bit abrupt and I had trouble deciding if it was happy or not. You can never have a completely happy ending in a book where the protagonist has friends and loved ones in two different worlds, and mid-series in an epic fantasy series is not a particularly safe place to leave anyone. Ultimately I decided that whether the ending was happy depends on the stories that the readers decide to tell ourselves about what happens next - which is very fitting for a book about stories.

Recommended. A little dark, but with a strong sense of humour and some heart-warming moments to balance out the darkness and bloodshed.

[the-rosebush-mag]

We're Live!

The Rosebush, the magazine for interactive fiction theory and criticism, is live! We're launching with 2 articles: one is Drew Cook's interview with IF author Autumn Chen and the other is Victor Gijsbers's analysis of Christminster by Gareth Rees.

Read these articles on The Rosebush.

[torialefay]

Hi, Torie? Or may I call you Fairy because you did swoop into my life like an angel, hehe.

Please call me Ree if you wish, but as my username? ID? nick? (sorry I'm very new to this platform) suggests I am indeed a balding brown lady and I turned 29 this Jan.

I've been lurkin' around tumblr for about 3 days now, and consuming whole astrology posts, predictions, analyses, ff, etc on Bang Chan (the Majestic) because, well, I'm delulu. Before anything else, I'd like to plainly state I LOVE the way you arrange your synopses. They're beautifully detailed, categorized, summarized as well as described under each of his placements and houses, and to an astrology enthusiast but noob like me, it helps SO much. I'd also like to thank you, simply for the effort you put in for making amazing, relatable content like this. You're a Fay indeed!

And so, I seek to feed my delusions further by requesting a compatibility analysis with none other than the operator of these delusions, Mr. Bahng of SKZ himself.

I'll be attaching herein as much information as I can provide, I hope this helps.

I'd also like to add that I don't want to rush you, like at all. I can feed myself with the other contents of your blog in the meanwhile, so please take up this request as you please, when you please.

And oh! Thank you for creating this space for people like me who are proclaimed "too old" to be crushing on idols and celebs. I think you're about 4 years younger than me, but the openness and acceptance of astro-Stays always amazes and enchants me. Thank you for being the way you are!! <3

Anyways, I'm sorry about the huge rambling, I went for longer than intended, hehe. And I wish you happiness, health, love, abundance and prosperity. May you flourish, Fay!

And thank you, once again!

hi ree! why are you so cute?! your comments got me blushing over here 🤭 you are just the sweetest thing! i appreciate all of your kind words and feedback soooo much! it fuels me to write more & more <3

also, you are definitely not "too old." i always say life doesn't start until your thirties anyway hehe. AND if it makes you feel any better with hair stuff, i've definitely already got a few grays. i'm right behind ya ❤️

if you're new to astrology, i'd recommend going through my "Bangchan As Your Boyfriend" astrology series if you haven't already. i go more in depth with some of those. but if you ever have specific questions regarding chan's chart, please feel free to message or inbox me any time <333

NOW, for your reading hehe:

your ascendant and mercury in aquarius (1st house):

with these placements, i already know that you are super fun and unique. definitely a "march to the beat of your own drum" kind of person. aquarians are already very cerebral by nature, getting lost in their own heads and focusing on abstract thinking. your your SPECIFIC planets found here are super beneficial to have (in my opinion) and here's why:

the first house, in general, is who you come across as. so obviously you have your ascendant in aquarius here, BUT you also have mercury in the first house. mercury is all about how you communicate with others. SO, putting all of this together, you likely come across as someone who has their own unique interests and is very good at talking about them. people probably think you are actually a very good communicator, albeit in your own way. aquarians tend to make mental connections that others don't, so sometimes you may feel frustrated when you meet someone and they just don't seem to "get it." or maybe they aren't able to get very engaged in the conversation, which is understandable because your mind probably works in ways that others' don't. this is an awesome placement though since likely (as long as you feel comfortable to talk with that person), they will find you very interesting!

this is actually a great match with chan. chan's ascendant is in gemini, and his mercury is in libra. both of these are air signs, the same as aquarius. what all air signs have in common is their "cerebral" nature. they love good, mentally stimulating conversation. NOW, connect that with the actual aspects of personality that we are talking about (first impressions and communication), and BOOM, recipe to immediate connection. you'd be able to talk to each other about anything any everything. i think you'd probably keep chan on his toes a bit too.

your sun in aquarius in the 12th house:

we've already discussed aquarius, so i won't beat a dead horse there. sun is all about personality around others- the way you present yourself to friends. and the 12th house represents spirituality, the occult, healing and closure, the afterlife, etc etc. i always associate 12th house energy with astrology actually, so i'm glad you've made it here 🫶�� and tbh, it's *literally in your stars for your personality to be attracted to it!

with this placement, you probably seem like someone who, again, has their own ways of thinking, but you seem as though you're peaceful about it. like at the end of the day, you are who you are and you're unbothered. unapologetically yourself is definitely the best version of you to grow into if you aren't there already!

i think this is also a good match for chan's libra sun. neither of the signs are innately controversial and usually get along well with anyone. i think it would make for a pretty harmonious relationship.

your moon in scorpio in the 9th house:

moons give us insight into who we are at the core. our deepest values and beliefs. yours lies in the 9th house, which is all about travel, wisdom and learning, cultures, and philosophy. scorpio is the sign of deep rooted connection, beauty, and intensity. so let's put all of this together. at your core, you are probably very driven or inspired by the world around you. your interests aren't limited to the things around you, but to everything in the world. you likely feel a deep need for travel and cultural connection. not only this, but you find beauty in each person from these different cultures AND you yearn for world-wide connectivity. definitely the "all i want is world peace" type. that isn't to say that you're naive about it, but in an ideal world, you see its inherent value.

as far as moon compatibilities with chan, i think this could work. i don't see it going overwhelmingly in one direction or the other. what i will say: your scorpio moon is much more intense than chan's libra moon. it isn't that it's your intention, but at your baseline, you can be verrrrry passionate about things. but more in an "idgaf" way than chan. it also means that it's gonna be much easier for YOU to share emotions than it is for him. and with that scorpio moon, you are definitely NOT gonna be happy when in a relationship with a partner who doesn't share those "hidden" parts of themselves. i think it would take some work here, but once you learn to trust each other, you would both fill each others' needs emotionally.

your venus in sag in the 10th house:

with this placement, it's likely that you love your people fiercely and that is shown through your actions. you're also probably very deeeeeply loyal to those you love, and that translates into relationships as well. it also means that you like to have fun in relationships and live them up to the fullest, which potential partners see when they meet you (through that 10th house energy)!

chan's venus is in scorpio, a water sign. and yours is in sag, a fire sign. a lot of people will tell you that "ahh water and fire don't mix" etc etc. but i wholeheartedly disagree. both signs represent the extremes when it comes to passion, just how they show it can be a bit different. both scorpio and sag are super full of passion and intensity in the bedroom and in relationships in general. the difference between you and chan would mainly be in the balance of fun & lighthearted love VS all encompassing, devotional love. you may feel sometimes like chan is being too controlling or is "suffocating" you in a way, and he may come to feel like you get flighty on him sometimes (maybe you go back and forth between what you do and don't want). BUT i still think that with balance and time, these placements can actually be ideal. it definitely makes for a fun and well-rounded romance. (i want to add though that if someone if going to have to defer more, i see you deferring more to chan. sag is a mutable sign, so you're likely to be more flexible).

*also wanting to add too that it is likely that whoever you are with (partner wise) will likely very much be tied to how people perceive you. idk just felt like adding that in there hehe

your mars in leo in the 7th house:

mars shows action and aggression. leo represents individuality and confidence. 7th house rules relationships, marriage, and partnerships. putting all of this together with chan's mars in sag, i see a combination for some problems. both leo and sagittarius mars realllly guard their ego. like a lot. with your 7th house placement, it seems like you are likely someone who tries to protect themselves a lot when in relationships with others. chan is the same way, in regards to his ego that is. this is how i see it playing out: some big argument erupts and your reaction is to place the blame onto something/someone else (sorry but maybeeee), and then chan pops off or maybe even gets upset and storms out. it's fighting fire with fire (literally 2 fire signs here). so when things "go up in flames"... take that literally lol. this would be a reallllly big make or break.

overall though, i think there's good compatibility here! feel free to leave any feedback or lmk if you have any questions baby ❤️❤️❤️

[reasonsforhope]

"In a landmark paper, economists have collected evidence on the societal implications of cannabis legalization and found it lowered the rates of suicide, binge drinking, traffic fatalities, and perhaps ironically, cannabis use in teenagers.

Now that recreational cannabis is available in 18 states, and medically authorized in 36 states, concerns over the effects of widespread societal access are appearing as the motivation behind scientific research.

Much of that scientific research has now been collected in a meta-analysis of 36 different papers published between 2013 to 2021. It shows that the societal impact of cannabis legalization has led to some significant positive outcomes.

One criticism from concerned parents or conservative politicians was that increased legalization would lead to increased teenage consumption of cannabis...

It seems logical to say that if cannabis were legal it would be more commonly consumed—but that wasn’t the case. In fact, the meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Economic Literature, found that teenage access to cannabis decreased by 8%, and frequent use decreased by 9%.

The reason was believed to be that once drug dealers were replaced by dispensaries with a legal obligation to check ID, far fewer teens were able to access it.

In another study, cannabis legalization was found, during the period 1999–2010, to be inversely associated with opioid overdose deaths, although once the years 2011-2017 were added into the analysis, the effect waned.

This was believed to be representative of the evolution of the opioid epidemic, reasoning that “perhaps marijuana and prescription pain medications are substitutes, but marijuana and heroin are not.”

However that wasn’t the only study which linked cannabis legalization to reduced opioid deaths. Two others published in 2019 and 2020 found the same; the second of which determined it to be 16-21%.

Another finding significant for individual health concerns was “strong evidence that legalizing marijuana discourages the use of alcohol, especially binge drinking.”

Perhaps as a result of this decrease in alcohol consumption, there were significant reductions in annual numbers of traffic fatalities.

“Anderson, Hansen, and Rees (2013) were the first researchers to estimate the effects of [medical marijuana law] adoption on traffic fatality rates,” the authors write.

“These authors found that legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes was associated with a 9–10% reduction in traffic fatalities… with larger negative effects on traffic fatalities involving alcohol, traffic fatalities on the weekends, and traffic fatalities at night.”

In yet more good news, cannabis legalization was linked with reduced state-wide rates of suicide in males, with an 11% reduction in 20–29-year-olds, and a 9% reduction among 30–39-year-olds."

-via Good News Network, 3/15/23

[killed-by-choice]

“Sheila Roe” (USA 1970—1971)

“Sheila” underwent a legal abortion sometime between 1970 and June 15, 1971. The abortion was done at a facility participating in the Joint Program for the Study of Abortion or JPSA.

Sheila already had a history of schizophrenia before undergoing a saline abortion in the late second trimester. After she expelled her dead child and the placenta, she had to be transferred to a mental institution. She was there for a month before discharging herself against medical advice. She then committed suicide.

Despite well-established links between abortion and deteriorating mental health, JPSA tried to downplay the causality between Sheila’s death and her abortion. However, they still included her in their severely underestimated count of maternal deaths from legal abortion.

Sheila’s legal abortion took place at one of 64 JPSA—participating abortion facilities in thirteen locations: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington D.C, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania or Oregon. Three of the four (!) abortion deaths counted in the study match confirmed cases of abortion fatalities documented in other studies, but in every case except one, the authors downplayed and/or denied the link between abortion and the subsequent maternal deaths.

The study noted that the abortion was able to happen because states had recently weakened their abortion restrictions. Ironically, multiple states had legalized abortion under vague “mental health” qualifications (despite the fact that abortion is not a recognized cure or treatment for any psychiatric disorder) so loosely defined that allowed it essentially on demand even for those with no mental health conditions whatsoever. These “mental health” exemptions did nothing to prevent Sheila from the trauma of the abortion itself, which apparently aggravated her pre-existing mental health problems.

The mental health excuse for legalizing abortion becomes even more baffling when you consider that live birth is consistently associated with better mental health outcomes than abortion. STAKES (statistical analysis unit of Finland's National Research and Development Center for Welfare and Health) found that after abortion, women were seven times more likely to take their own lives than those who gave birth. Many other studies have also shown the link between abortion and worse mental health outcomes compared to patients who gave birth or even miscarried. There’s also the issue of whether or not some patients who actually did have psychiatric disorders would have truly been able to consent to the abortions they underwent.

“Stacy Roe,” “Sylvie Roe,” Sandra Kaiser and Jade Rees also committed suicide after their pre-existing mental health problems were exacerbated by abortion. Others who killed themselves after undergoing abortions include Arlin Dela Cruz, Stacy Zallie, “Haley Mason,” Ashley Barnett, Emma Beck, Carol Cunningham, Charlotte Dawson, Ashli Blake, Laura Grunas and Jiah Khan.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2133870

(If you or a loved one are considering suicide, please know that there is hope. Here is a link to a list of resources and help lines ready to talk to you. You are valued and people care.)

[iruludavare]

❛  have you noticed anything different about me lately?  ❜

She knows.

     Of course she does. There was no need to be in that region to have caught wind of the news, nor turned in to a broadcast. No, as the champion of Kalos, all Serena had to do was wait little more than a few days before everything was sent to her through official means— a text, an email. Ones received in the midst of training, yet still seen only a few hours later, long after the sun set and when the heroine had been knee-deep in ice and fatigue. A few swipes, and her eyes scan the handful of clocks meticulously organised on the screen, flickering back and forth.

     Twelve hours— good. It should be a reasonable hour to call.

      Serena chooses to feign ignorance, for now. After all, how horrifying would it be to throw praise and congratulatory statements towards Ree without being able to gauge how they feel about the situation? And their question is easy enough to ease into. Features shift into a look of confusion, then her brow furrows, and she thanks the world for all those years of mime and character study. Exaggerated enough to sell the moment, but not in a manner stifling or serious.

     A hum, present and drawn out, sounds. Serena's head tilts to the side. An oh-so thorough analysis of the new champion on the other side of the screen, just to build up the moment gently— safely. They are, in the end, a handful of years younger than herself when she had become champion, and what a confusing time it had been.

          "...Have you grown out your hair?"

[bluntblade]

writing patterns tag game

Rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

Thank you @sinvulkt for the tag ☺️

*** ** * ** ***

1. A Storm to Meet the Darkness (The Horus Heresy, Warhammer 40K)

The ship gleamed in Sol’s light, above the Skye orbital plate. 

2. Under Saturnine (The Horus Heresy, Warhammer 40K)

“I had not envisaged a techmarine among the kill-teams,” Rogal Dorn stated, as blunt and uncompromising as any of the walls he’d fashioned.

3. A Last Chance (Star Wars Prequel Era, Dooku: Jedi Lost)

In the final analysis, it really wasn't fair. None of it was.

4. The Spirits We Carry (Horizon) Talanah/Nakoa, Nakoa/Marea

Journeying west through the western Sundom was hazardous, even with the Sun Carja and the Tenakth enjoying a wary peace. Where once columns of soldiers had filed, now dangerous Machines stalked among the trees. 

5. How No One Stole Life Day (thanks to Osohla and Zudea and friends) (Star Wars, post-Sequels) Osohla/Zudea

It was the night before Life Day and as the poem had it, all was silent.

6. The Ghosts of Jakku (Star Wars Sequels) Rey/Kaydel

Rey hadn’t actually taken time to look back at Jakku when she left it.

7. Stars' Flight (Star Wars: Lost Stars) Thane Kyrell/Ciena Ree

Ciena Kyrell, once Ciena Ree, had heard plenty of people ask what the New Republic did with its revenue, if its fleet was so sparse where the Empire's had been so massive, so domineering.

8. Hunter's Hymn, Healer's Lament (Horizon)

The village of Riverhymn, tucked away as it was in the northwestern hills of the Utaru lands, was usually quiet.

9. Ryloth Besieged (Star Wars)

Major Blyer Towast of the First Order surveyed the world below him and cursed his fortune, just as he did every morning.

10. Lost in Stardust (Star Wars: Lost Stars/Original Trilogy) Thane Kyrell/Ciena Ree

Above Scarif, Thane felt a different kind of weightless than usual, as his squadron followed the reverberations of the Death Star's onslaught. 

*** ** * ** ***

Patterns, I guess 🤔 if not one overiding pattern. I like to create a little intrigue, and set out a setting and a character's emotional state early on. And if I can hook the reader with something evocative, I'll jump at the chance.

Now for some no-pressure tags:

@tjerra14 @foibles-fables @mehoymalloy @dreaminghour

[sataniccapitalist]

William Rees Pens The Single Greatest Explanation of Why We Are Domed Ever Written (Part 1 of 5)

In this history-making five-part Chronicle of the Collapse, I dive into the single most spot-on analysis of why humans and every species we share this planet with are utterly, irrevocably doomed that I have ever encountered in 15 years of research. Period. Here is a link to Dr. Rees's magnus opus published in World titled, "The Human Ecology of Overshoot: Why a Major ‘Population Correction’ Is Inevitable": https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/4/3/32

[coffee-n-bagels-comic-universe]

Brainwaves Bios: Ephraim Aue (1984)

The Head of The C.U.E.S.P department Ephraim Aue, PhD

The head of the Columbia University Exchange Student Programme's Department, Ephraim Aue is an advisor to Columbia University and many Universities and Colleges all across the globe. He also teaches language classes as an extracurricular.

"We only accept those we think will benefit."

Name

Full Legal Name: Ephraim Uzziel Aue

First Name: Ephraim

Meaning: From the Hebrew name ''Efrayim' meaning 'Fruitful'.

Pronunciation: EEF-ree-am / EEF-ram

Origin: Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek

Middle Name: Uzziel

Meaning: Means 'My power is God' in Hebrew, from the roots ''Oz' meaning 'Strength, Power' and ''El' meaning 'God'

Pronunciation: UZ-ee-al

Origin: Biblical, Biblical Hebrew

Surname: Aue

Meaning: From Old High German 'Ouwa' meaning 'Meadow by a river, Wetland'

Pronunciation: OW-a

Origin: German

Titles: Mr

Nicknames: Ram, Uzzi

Characteristics

Age: 40

Gender: Male. He/Him Pronouns

Race: Human

Nationality: American Citizen. Born in America

Ethnicity: White

Birth Date: March 15th 1944

Sexuality: Straight

Religion: Jewish

Native Language: English

Known Languages: English, Polish, Hebrew, German, Yiddish

Relationship Status: Single

Astrological Sign: Pisces

Actor: Judd Hirsch

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States

Current Residence: The Bronx, New York, United States

Appearance

Height: 5'10.5" / 179 cm

Weight: 149 lbs / 30 kg

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Black

Hair Dye: None

Body Hair: Hairy

Facial Hair: Clean Shaven / Stubble

Tattoos: (As of Jan 1984) None

Piercings: None

Scars: None

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None

Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: Social Drinker, Social Smoker

Illnesses/Disorders: None Diagnosed

Medications: None

Any Specific Diet: None

Relationships

Affiliated Groups: Columbia University (Employee), Columbia University Exchange Student Programme (Overseer)

Friends: Dean Yeager

Significant Other: None (Crush: Medusa Teufel)

Previous Partners: None of Note

Parents: Timothy Aue (70, Father), Susanna Aue (70, Mother, Née Achilles)

Parents-In-Law: None

Siblings: None

Siblings-In-Law: None

Nieces & Nephews: None

Children: None

Extras

Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree in Management

Occupation: Exchange Student Programme Director & Overseer. Polish & German Teacher

Employer: Columbia University

Expertise:

Excellent Manager

Writer

Analysis Expert

Excellent Driver

Pilot's Training

Leadership Skills

Charismatic

Kind at Heart

Faults:

Doesn't Understand Most Exchange Students

Judgemental

Workaholic

Backstory: Born and raised in the Bronx, Ephraim Aue wanted to be a pilot before the overseer and director for Columbia University's Exchange Student Programme, also known as C.U.E.S.P.