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bookaddict24-7 · 7 months ago

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REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Every week I will post various reviews I've written so far in 2024. You can check out my Goodreads for more up-to-date reviews HERE.

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232. The Quarterback by Tal Bauer--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

THE QUARTERBACK had some of my favourite tropes, so I initially started this duology with the excitement of getting to this book in the mini series. While I (surprising myself) enjoyed the first book more, this one still kept me fully engaged and in love with the characters.

One of the things I really liked about this was how both characters were essentially at a point in their lives where they had to figure out who they were and what they wanted for their lives. Obviously one character was more at a crossroads than the other, but their mutual attraction was definitely something that set off their introspective search for who they were and who they wanted to become.

The age gap was expected and one of the reasons why I was anticipating this read, even if at times it felt a little questionable because one MC had very, very clear daddy issues. But besides those moments where I was wondering if this relationship would have happened if there weren't any of the aforementioned issues, there were some seriously sweet and romantic moments.

Bauer is really, really good at creating relationships that form over time, where love just naturally becomes a comfort blanket for both characters. Bauer's grasp on romance and how to make the reader feel that palpable connection has always been masterful and THE QUARTERBACK was no different in romantic levels than his other books. And one of my absolute favourite things is when we, the readers, are wholly aware of that creeping love but the characters are ignorant to their impending romantic doom (LOL). There's always this sense of "finally" when the characters look at each other in a certain way, or finally just give in to what they're feeling.

Anyway, this book had a lot of tender moments and some surprisingly spicy ones (even though it was a lot tamer than I was anticipating). The love between the two characters was very different from the first book--where the first couple's love was a whirlwind of desire, this one was the slowly growing ember of love that has to be stoked over a period of time.

The biggest conflict of the book had me frustrated, so that also affected the rating. But other than that, this book was such a perfect summer romance read.

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233. The Day Tripper by James Goodhand--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE DAY TRIPPER blew me away and I wasn't expecting it to. While the beginning took a bit to get into, the body of the story had me completely hooked.

I love the concepts explored in Goodhand's book: time travel, speculative fiction themes, cause and effect, and the play on the concept of Schrödinger's Cat. I love the idea of what if and the exploration of everything surrounding it. I was just so deeply fascinated by it and how the MC's actions could have certain consequences.

I also enjoyed that the MC's character had so much character growth throughout the book, whether it was self-realization of the flaws we're aware of from the beginning, or the ones he slowly reveals that traumatized his life enough to have a negative effect on his choices. I like that he forged a new life for himself DESPITE the things that plagued him in the past.

Ugh, I'm just so in awe of this book and how much I enjoyed it. It was fun, but heartfelt; hopeful, but terrifying. I loved it, so much.

I need to read more books by this author!

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234. The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had a lot of fun reading this one! I really enjoyed finding out what was going on with the MC alongside him, especially because of the memory loss. The adventure, the humour, the artwork in the physical book, and the fun interludes in between chapters made this such a fun and memorable read.

I think that also because of the way this book is written and the world the MC lives in, this kind of book could technically branch off into a bunch of other books. A world where people can travel to different dimensions that sometimes mimics our owe history? I'd read another book set in this world!

The mix of fantasy and sci-fi was also a lot of fun because there was that typical fantasy aspect of magical beings and fae-like creatures and gods, but then you had nanotechnology. I was surprisingly entertained by it!

Finally, this MC experienced one of my favourite tropes in fiction: people underestimate him, A LOT. And as we learn more about him, it all makes sense why, but the important thing is his character growth showing him that he can be more than the perceived image of him just beyond his memory's grasp. I REALLY enjoyed that.

Sanderson's novel caught my attention from the beginning and the adventure, humour, and the underestimating of the MC made this a really, really fun read for me!

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235. The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Center. Save for two or three of her backlist titles, I've read most of her books and have enjoyed them all. THE ROM-COMMERS wasn't a different experience for me--I enjoyed this new book by her immensely. I loved the enemies to lovers aspect, the concept of it, the slow fall into romance, and the forced proximity.

Both characters brought a lot to the table and I loved that they embodied the definition of rom-com while actively trying to write one. Watching them do really adorable things with each other made me feel all giggly and excited for them. Especially because the FMC slowly brings the MMC out of his shell--but at the beginning, this is the very definition of "don't meet your heroes".

One of my biggest issues, however, with this book that I was kind of surprised by, was one situation where the FMC refuses to apologize for some pretty cruel things she said to her sister. THIS MAY BE A SPOILER SO BE WARNED: the sister apologizes profusely and it's reluctantly accepted, but other than a reminder that the FMC should apologize to the sister, she never does. It sat so wrongly with me for the remainder of the book that a part of me stopped enjoying the story as much. It was like, trauma inducing level of bad if the sister were a real person.

The majority of the book was enjoyable and was that typical Center cute and clean romance between two people that didn't like each other at first, but that blip near the end made me so uncomfortable.

I'd still recommend this cute read, but be aware that there are definitely some darker aspects of this book that could be triggering.

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236. Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've gotten to the point with Hazelwood where I tend to sort of feel on the fence whenever she releases a new book. I initially loved her first series because it had stem and some good romance between enemies, then promptly DNF'ed the third in that series because it all felt so...similar.

NOT IN LOVE is like that strange middle-ground between those very similar books in that first series, and different enough to break up that monotony. The differing factor in this one? Every time the characters met up, they had some form of sex. They were like the horny teenagers who are always off somewhere "discovering different parts of each other", even though they swear up and down that they hate each other.

While I'm normally a huge fan of smutty romances, this one felt a little forced at times? Don't get me wrong, these two had some good times. And if Hazelwood had gone through with it, it would have been an interesting exploration of a type of sex we don't typically see in smutty romances, but of course, he was "not like other men" and proved that she could indeed enjoy the typical sexual acts.

Their sexy rendezvouses WERE fun though and I remember listening through my audiobook and thinking, "Damn, okay, Ali." I liked watching these two take down each others' walls and fall into their love. Even if it was forbidden.

The MMC of course matched the physical descriptors of previous Hazelwood MMCs, and the FMC was also that quirky, slightly bitchy, curvaceously gorgeous FMC that Hazelwood also loves to write about. And I mean, I don't dislike that because I love some good rep for curvy girls, BUT it's also like falling into that Hazelwood formula that has become her character standard.

One of the main things, however, that I discussed with others who'd read this book is how STEM, the one thing that set Hazelwood's romances apart from all others when she first debuted, took a backburner to the smut in this book. Sure, it made an appearance every once in a while, but it was definitely a background character.

Look, my review nitpicks this book but you know, *shrug*, I actually enjoyed this book--for what it's worth. It was entertaining, sexy, and SLIGHTLY different enough from her previous stuff that it kept me wanting to read the rest of the story. It wasn't perfect, but it was fun for the summer. I'll still be wary of her future books, but this one was entertaining in its own way.

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237. This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THIS BOOK WON'T BURN was an incredibly powerful book, but it was also from the perspective of a very young MC--yes, she's a senior in high school who was about to graduate, but some of her decisions felt very young and it was jarring, especially when those said decisions happened alongside her more mature moments.

But keeping that in mind, some of the adults in her life also let her down intensely--which, to be honest, is very realistic, especially with how North America is right now.

I wouldn't be surprised if this book gets banned because it focuses so much on what is happening right now. The racism in small town America, the idea that certain people have the power to control what other people do with their own time and what they read, and the threats that minorities face when they stand up for what is right was all scarily timely. And this made for a very uncomfortable read. Add to it that this is all from the POV of a teenager who was originally from an incredibly diverse city/school and is also dealing with the grief of her father's abandonment.

There was also such an underlying current of animosity in this book that breached the seemingly calm waves every so often, until the bigots and racists felt comfortable enough to come up for air more often. The one character remaining silent proved that silence was also the perfect example of how evil can flourish when there isn't anyone or anything stopping the abuse.

While the ending of this book is incredibly idealistic, I thought it was perfect because it adds that touch of hope that we are all wanting in such a difficult time. Real life may be a shit show of lost expectations, but at least fiction can show us what it COULD be like.

At times hopefully (because of the allies that find their bravery to stand up), and at other times terrifying, THIS BOOK WON'T BURN will definitely leave you thinking after the last page. And if you're an adult reading this book (like I am), it will make you wonder what you would have done if you were a teenager during this current political climate.

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238. The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ugh, this sequel was soooooooo good!!

When I read the first book in this series years ago, I thought that it would have been great to get another book because I wanted to read about more adventures. Erik J. Brown definitely delivered in THE ONLY LIGHT LEFT BURNING and I'm so, so, so happy we got to have this conclusion!

One of the things I'm so grateful for is that this is a dual POV story. There are so many moving pieces in this book and so many instances where the MCs need to grow as characters on their own, that having dual POVs allowed for us to get the full stories.

I had forgotten how addicting Brown's writing is, too, because I was immediately hooked with this one. And there is ALWAYS something happening. There were some wild moments in this book and some that genuinely made me so itchy with anxiety and fear. Add to those scary moments a group of small kids and that's an extra level of horror.

But probably the thing I love the most about this duology is the love the two MCs feel for each other. They're young characters--I think sixteen?--but the love they share and the care they have was perfect. Plus, the guilt and PTSD of survival and past actions/choices haunting them was realistic, especially when putting into consideration just how young these two boys are (even if they're put into mature situations that challenge their survival).

I can barely put into words just how much I adored this book and how great it was. I definitely see myself re-reading this series in the future! The characters, the situations, the survival, and the adoration from one character to the next--this series is a MUST read.

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239. Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West & Graham Howells (Illustrator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ADORABLE.

I've been wanting to read this one for a while because of how popular it is with the littles who come into the bookstore to buy this series. And I have to say that I can understand the hype. It's obviously simpler because it's for younger readers, but it's a fun adventure with characters who slowly gain confidence in their abilities.

I think young reader me would have devoured these books!

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240. Nanny Negotiations by Merry Farmer--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Quick, fun, dramatic, and caught my attention quickly.

NANNY NEGOTIATIONS was a surprising read because while it was entertaining af, it also read like a Harlequin novel. It was quick on the romance, deliciously spicy with drama, and an adorable toddler to off-set the tension between the characters and the antagonist.

I loved the idea of this single dad returning back to a gentlemen's club after a nasty divorce. And that club? It's exclusively for queer people. This club was like a safety net as the single dad MC meets and hires a new male nanny and then, of course, falls for said nanny.

While the romance between the two MCs was a little insta-lusty for me, I still liked seeing this cold and jaded man bluster his way through a conversation with the nanny because he's nervous af. I will say, though, with the size of this book and how quickly paced the story was, insta-lust to love made sense.

The drama was telenovela-worthy. It was ridiculous but I couldn't look away from the book. You know those really bad ads for those reel short videos? The acting is questionable and the climax of the story is over-the-top? Yeah, this is like the novelization of that, but more entertaining than cringe.

Anyway, I enjoyed this for what it was. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a romance book with the nanny trope, especially if that nanny is a man and the parent is also a man.

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Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts?

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Happy reading!

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kaylinalexanderbooks · 10 months ago

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OC interaction

Thanks to @somethingclevermahogony here and here, @illarian-rambling here, and @mk-writes-stuff here!

Rules: describe an OC, then describe how they would interact with the OC of the person who tagged you!

Under the cut, it got long:

C's OC #1

Narul is a 23 year-old slave at the Palace of Labisa, the Great City by the Lake. He is a forestfolk, a person or group of people who have been mutated or altered by the effects of wild or ambient magic. His birth mother was a priestess, his father is a mystery. He was adopted by an enslaved woman as an infant, thus how he ended up in the servitude of King Hutbari. He is a giant of a man, literally, at just a hair under nine feet tall. He is additionally quite bulky, much much larger than even the biggest human. He is so massive that the door into the slave quarters had to be reconstructed just to fit him as he grew up. Aside from his size he is also just a bit rough in appearance, hairy and broad, picture a DnD Dwarf, just sized way up. He is inhumanly strong, a fact that causes him a great deal of distress. Because of his size and strength, Narul has the potential to be quite dangerous to normal humans, as he has been repeatedly reminded of since his childhood. Narul has a great deal of anxiety around his body and his potential to accidently hurt others, as such he is quite timid and careful. He has a tendency to mumble when he talks, which unfortunately due to his low voice, often makes it sound like he is growling. He is a gentle person, he likes flowers and abhors violence. He cries relatively easily and gets easily anxious or overwhelmed.Despite all of this he is fiercely loyal and kind. He doesn’t talk much but loves to listen to others. His fatal flaw is a healthy dose of self-doubt and self-loathing. Narul hates his body, it scares him, and he believes that it scares others. He is often self-deprecating, though not in a joking way. He feels an intense jealousy towards those around him that are able to live normal lives and pursue normal relationships.

C's OC #2

Mikrab is a spiritblood, half-human and half-spirit, a demigod. Mikrab is just over 1450 years old, his body is functionally immortal, though his mind is not. Time and loss has made him apathetic, and his memory has faded with the ages. He does not remember where he comes from, nor his family, he doesn't even remember his birth name, Mikrab is the Knoshic version of his original name (Like Juan vs. John), and his culture and language of origin have since gone extinct. While he does not relish in violence or destruction, he simply does not care if he causes it. He will kill and destroy for the sake of convenience. He wanders the world, not seeking death but also not avoiding it. He is lethargic and cold, save for moments of frustration, often with his predicament. As with all spiritbloods he is massive, though among spiritbloods he is on the short side, only about 7'8, and is a bit more lean in his build compared to the likes of Narul or Batricca. His supernatural strength and durability are what have allowed him to survive so long. Surprisingly, he is quite a skilled linguist and can speak in Kishite, Knoshic, Apunian, Korithian, Arkodian, Ikopeshi, and Namuti.

Katie's OC

Djek Kagura is a young man (19 in the first book, 23 in the second two) with a shifty appearance, red eyes, and a constant squint due to poor vision. He grew up on the streets after his parents tossed him out to cut down on mouths to feed, only to later join the brutal Tunnel Wasp smuggling gang, which he later split from due to his aversion to violence and need to do what's right. As a person, he's always quick with a joke or snide comment, loves sarcasm, and lies like a fish breathes water. His bad habit is that he loves to annoy people on purpose. At his core is a deep sense of self-loathing and abandonment issues, but he covers these with humor. He tends to try to find peaceful solutions to situations and has a bit of a bleeding heart, even if he pretends to be tough. His friends mean the world to him and he's loyal to the point getting himself hurt in fights he can't win. Also, he's surprisingly in touch with people's emotions and always trys to make them feel better, even he does it with a bad joke or by irritating them to action. He has a weak form of sorcery, specializes in shadow magic, and has incorrigibly sticky fingers.

MK's OC

My OC (created by my lovely gf): Nellie is a clone in her mid-twenties, although she’s only been out of the vat for about six months. She’s reasonably tall and pretty skinny, with pale skin, short black hair, and narrow red-and-gold eyes, which she usually hides behind sunglasses. Nellie is a sweet, kind, and empathetic woman who cares very deeply for others and wants to help, to the point where she sometimes struggles to put herself first. She also has a deeply traumatic history of abuse by her genetic donor that still troubles her deeply and gives her struggles with intimacy, as well as an addiction to mindsplit that she’s trying to shake. She longs for a simple, happy life - a good job, a nice place to live, good food, and the chance to live as her true self (Nellie is a trans woman) is all she’s really looking for (and maybe a partner one day if the opportunity arises - she’s met a friend who’s cute but he’s also a clone of Belladonna’s dad so she’s a bit uncertain). Nellie also has empathic magic, although she hasn’t trained it much, which she mostly uses to see how others are feeling and help them where she can.

My OC

Ash Hathaway is a thirteen year old (at the start of Pt1) girl with telepathic powers. She's ambitious to the point of self-destruction, where she wants to try new things just to see where her limits are. Part of it has to do with wanting to prove herself - that she can do it. If someone says she can't do something, she's likely going to go out of her way to do it. She lives in the moment with only some hindsight and no forward thinking. She seeks pleasure and thrill and risk, with no regard to how this could hurt herself or others. Not that she doesn't care about people, but more of she just doesn't recognize danger. She wants nothing more than to expand her powers just to see how far she can go. Despite being able to read minds and feel the emotions of others, she struggles to empathize or understand exactly what she's feeling, usually misinterpreting what others are thinking. Overstimulation and frustration can lead to her seeking ways to avoid her problems and more dangerous behavior. Ash needs to be kept busy - have her do something productive and hands-on, and she will be fine.

Ash and Narul

I think Ash would feel a little conflicted about approaching Narul, considering his size, and she doesn't like feeling physically helpless. However, I think she would, because she also likes risk and after a bit of debate would decide she could use her telepathy to her advantage. Being able to read his thoughts, I think Ash would figure out that he's not a threat, even if she doesn't understand being timid of himself just because he might hurt someone. She does get the fear on some level, since she has done so before herself, but she's always just reassessed how to go about testing her powers. Why limit herself? She may try to teach Narul that. You can't learn if you don't try. Narul I think would be scared that he might hurt her, a child, in the process, so probably wouldn't give in. I think Ash would get his frustration in his own skin, since she's felt that way many times. However, she will never understand not wanting to see what he's capable of. But I think that Narul will ultimately remind Ash of her best friend, Lexi. Jealous easily, cries easily, easily overwhelmed, hates violence...just a million times more reserved than she is. Narul may be jealous that Ash even has a friend group, even if Ash manages to admit most of her friend group was constructed by Lexi. I think they'd be able to connect on some level, but ultimately not understand each other quite well.

Ash and Mikrab

I think Ash and Mikrab could help each other. Ash is always eager to learn more, and through telepathy, could help Mikrab potentially regain some memories. She would love to absorb the knowledge he has, maybe experience what the long life was. However, if he's lost the ability to care, Ash may do this without consent, even if she believes it would ultimately help him. I'm sure she'd sit on it for a while, but in an intense situation, in an attempt to stop him, she'd easily rip into his mind to try and access what he once lost. She wouldn't do anything that deep without consent on impulse, I don't think. Unless we're talking about Ash toward the end of TSP, then I think she would, and in a way she becomes more and more apathetic like Mikrab. So depending on the circumstances, Ash could help Mikrab connect with memory and emotion again as she learns new things and tests her abilities, or Ash's drive to do that will get her severely hurt, killed, or just in a generally bad situation.

Ash and Djek

Djek may intrigue Ash a bit too much. She may be able to sense he's lying, sense him covering pain with humor, etc wonder why, and peak into his mind. May get a bit overwhelmed by the self-loathing thing. She has used humor before to defuse situations, so they have that in common, but she does not exactly covering up her own pain with it. She will try to understand Djek, but her curiosity may get the best of her, and I'm not sure he'll like her experiencing his own self-loathing and calling out every lie he makes. I think they would clash, at least at first. Djek being in touch with emotions naturally would be an interesting comparison. I feel like they'd call each other's feelings out, read each other and make the other one irritated as a result. However, I do think that if they were in A Situation in which they were forced to work together or bond, they could do it. Ash definitely would be interested in Djek's magic, weak or not, and may even encourage him to test his limits.

Ash and Nellie

Ash would probably accidentally sense Nellie is a clone, but she'd also sense she shouldn't reveal that to anyone. Her kind empathetic nature who puts herself last would remind Ash a lot of her friend Gwen. Hearing Nellie has empathetic magic would definitely cause Ash to be curious, and she'd ask her many questions about it. First, she may ask how she could learn to interpret emotions, but also may see if she can help Nellie expand her powers a bit more. Ash also has a bit of a developing addiction to telepathic probes that expand her mind and give her visions but start to take a toll on her - mentally, emotionally, physically. If Nellie is shaking off an addiction, I would hope she manages to convince Ash to stop using the probes. Cannot confirm if it would work or not - it may make Ash get irritated and want to use them more to prove she can do it. That last bit may cause a divide, but I think they'd mostly be interested in the other.

Well that was long.

Tagging @elsie-writes @winterandwords @sleepywriter00 @cherrybombfangirlwrites @duckingwriting @ceph-the-ghost-writer + anyone else who wants to play!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

#the secret portal #tsp #teaspoon #oc interaction #writing tag game #oc tag game #my ocs #other people's ocs #honor's outcasts #seven station chronicles #testaments of the green sea #writers on tumblr #writing community #writers of tumblr #writing on tumblr #writeblr #writeblr community #other writers #writing mutuals

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domesticadventures · 4 months ago

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i've decided once again not to respond to my former boss's insane emails, though before i deleted this new one i did forward it to some of the other folks at the firm who used to work with her as well, and it's unsurprising but still gratifying to hear them echo my own sentiments, which are basically that her email was incredibly arrogant and gives the impression that she still completely lacks any sense of self-awareness and over the past 5 years has not managed to look inward literally at all lol.

the first paragraph of her most recent missive was her apologizing but gave the impression that she didn't understand exactly what she was apologizing for. like she clearly understands i'm angry with her but still doesn't seem to understand why i'm angry. and like yeah there are the various things she did that one could (and which i did) find morally/ideologically repugnant, as i touched on here, but if i'm being honest with myself, what was actually more upsetting were the more mundane things she did that just affected me personally, as i alluded to here.

like the stuff with my sister - i believe in the absolute right to abortion despite my personal offense at her saying to me, a person whose sister has downs, that she would have aborted a kid simply because they had downs, but what actually made me so angry that i was shaking was her confident statement to a coworker that i just "didn't understand about the loss of expectations" despite the gap between expectations and reality being a pretty significant source of strife in my family. the moment that i describe in this post - the one where i sat on my mom's lap and cried and begged her not to leave - remains one of my clearest memories from that time, more than 25 years later.

and then of course just the daily annoyances that came with working with her. i remember in the last couple years, we would meet as we always had to go over her cases and i would wind up having to repeat things, no joke, sometimes 4 times because she was distracted playing on her phone. and it's not that she was doing anything important - she was like, scrolling fucking facebook and instagram. so one time i called her out on it, and she said something to the effect of "if you're going to be like that, i have other things i can be doing," which was of course fucking stupid because i was out-billing her at like a 2:1 ratio at the time, what did she have to be doing that was more important than going over her cases so i could keep her whole stupid practice running? anyway. she subsequently promised to be better about it and then almost immediately broke that promise and then acted like i was being unreasonable when i got annoyed about it. her promises are literally not worth the breath it takes to speak them lol.

or even like, there was one day where i was busting my ass because it was the biggest deadline day of the month for the type of law she was practicing at that point, and while i was frantically trying to get everything done in time, she was sitting in her office with her spouse loudly making vacation plans.

and the rest of the email was like - i mean it's the same shit it's always been, which is her being unable to view other people through any lens other than that of what they can do for her. she's sorry if she hurt me! she wants so badly to work with me again! she misses my wit and my good work! she wants to have a relationship with me again whether personal or professional! love and light but my life has gotten massively better since i moved halfway across the country and broke off all contact with her lol.

anyway. it's weird because in reading her recent email, which also included some personal updates, i was reminded that i didn't always feel this way about her. i mean, i know that at one point i loved her - it's documented in my posts on this very blog - but whatever affection i felt towards her has been so layered over with [gestures] everything else that at this point i can no longer touch it. nowadays i only know what it feels like to be alternately angry with / disappointed in / sad for her. the last one is more recent and has come as somewhat of a surprise. i guess it's just that it seems like being her must be exhausting (she always reminds me of the ending of gone girl - "every morning you have to wake up and be you"). i do genuinely hope, in spite of all prior evidence and experience, that she someday manages to change for the better. i just don't plan to be a part of that process, lol.

#the icing on the cake i think is that in offering me a job (again: lmfao) she didn't even make me a better offer than what i have now #like at least when my current firm poached me they had the decency to offer me a sizeable raise lol #wonder how it feels to have failed to poach me from the same firm not once but twice. hopefully bad!

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tg-headcanons · 2 years ago

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do you think ghouls can regenerate neurons? Kaneki gets stabbed through the head and survives, he doesn't even have a dent in his head after

GHOUL NEURONS ARE SO INTERESTING TO ME

So we know that ghouls have an insane healing ability, they can recover from damn near any injury so long as they can survive the shock of it, and that includes nerves. Why are they able to regenerate these when any other animal can’t, especially so fast and accurately? That’s due to their RC cells.

Since RC cells act as a natural stem cell to speed up tissue regeneration, they have a unique ability to regrow damaged nerves. RC cells can become neurons as easily as they can become bones or muscle or skin, allowing them full use of whatever part of their body they regrow. This is necessary for how their bodies work. In order for them to have any control of regrown limbs, they need signals sent to them

The biggest issue when it comes to nerve regeneration isn’t creating the nerves, but rather connecting them. What usually happens is that as a part of he body regrows, the nerves grow with it, and it slowly regains control and feeling. It’s normal for it to take hours, days, or even weeks in the case of more extreme injuries for the new neurons to start communicating with the old ones correctly.

An extremely common issue in ghouls is RNDS, or Regenerated Nerve Disconnect Syndrome, in which the new nerves have a massive delay or failure to connect with the old tissue and feeling and motor control returns extremely slowly, or not at all. For those with more extreme RNDS who’s new nerves aren’t connecting, the only way to fix it is to find the area where the old nerves meet the new ones and damage it all over again to restart the process

When it comes to brain injuries, it’s almost always lethal. The shock alone kills nearly every ghoul who takes a strike or bullet to the head, but for those who survive they have an unusually high rate of recovery. The brain isn’t well understood. Even human brains and what they can survive are still being figured out, so there isn’t much information on it, and what they can and can’t heal from when it comes to this is mired in conflicting reports

Ghouls who survive initial brain damage, anything from a mild concussion to a metal spike, are likely to heal from it. Depending on what area was damaged the recovery is different, but regardless of what was hit it’s usually a rough healing process. The occipital lobe or frontal lobe are usually the least likely injuries to kill them, but there have been accounts of survivors with even more dire injuries

Healing from brain injuries is particularly tough because not only is this an area where any part that heals wrong can have serious and inoperable effects, but when the neurons are replaced, reconnecting takes a long time and a lot can go wrong. It’s common for ghouls healing from brain injuries to have weeks, months, and sometimes years of missing functionality in the damaged parts as the neurons attempt to connect and relearn how to make the connections it used to make.

The casualties from brain damage survivors often isn’t even from the injury itself, but rather the lack of neurological function. Maybe an occipital lobe that’s taking too long to heal has left them blind and unable to function. Maybe the frontal lobe that should be controlling their impulses isn’t able to stop them from attacking other ghouls or doves unprepared. Maybe Their motor skills haven’t improved enough for them to hunt. The major deciding factor in who lives and who dies is whether or not they have a community to take care of them while they heal

The one thing that can’t be healed from, no matter what, is damage to memory centers. Damage to the hippocampus or anywhere else storing long term memory is a bad loss. Even when fully regenerated and functioning again, the way memory shapes the brain is not genetic, so it will not be recovered. Maybe some memory remains, some stored in surviving parts or that was baked into impulse, but unfortunately this can’t be undone

What happened to kaneki was a good example of brain damage in a ghoul. A long period of altered behavior, motor control, and ability to function which would eventually return, as well as lost memory which would not. But as bad as the loss is, and as difficult as healing is, it’s amazing that they can heal at all

#tokyo ghoul #tokyo ghoul headcanon

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nikibogwater · 2 years ago

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Aight, y’all know the deal by now. I’m someone who takes stories way more seriously than I’m probably supposed to. I revel in a good emotional shake-down brought on by an epic tale. Time to put on my Sentimental Goggles and really dig into this latest Zelda game, and see if I can explain why I feel it has the darkest and hardest-hitting story of any in the series so far. TotK Spoilers begin below the cut.

To start, we must acknowledge the precedent set by Breath of the Wild. BotW, despite being set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness teetering on the brink of destruction, is very much a story about hope. Zelda even says as much during the game’s opening: “You are the light--our light--that must shine upon Hyrule once again.” In the midst of a devastating catastrophe, one little seed of hope survived--Link. BotW follows this little seed as it at last blossoms into a force that is powerful enough to defeat the Calamity and put Hyrule back to rights. It’s a pretty straightforward and feel-good plot, even if it does have its fair share of bittersweet elements.

The thing that makes Tears of the Kingdom so effectively dark is that it begins by mercilessly ripping away that sense of hope that was a constant in its predecessor. Everything Link and Zelda fought for is undone in an instant. Hyrule is in even greater peril than before. This is no longer a tale of a budding seed of hope, it’s a frantic, desperate scramble to preserve what little remains of their world.

Throughout much of this story, Link’s biggest motivation is reuniting with Zelda. While he serves as a light for Hyrule as a whole, Zelda has always been a light for him, and for us as the players. I don’t think it’s too much of a controversial statement to say that BotW’s iteration of Princess Zelda is the most well-developed in the series to date. Zelda has always been the heart and soul of the series, but this is especially true for BotW because she is no longer just Link’s partner in destiny or childhood friend. She is a fully-realized protagonist with a character arc that endears her to us as the players. She isn’t just important to Link, or to Hyrule at large. She’s important to us. Which is why I felt a legitimate sense of grief and despair when Link discovered that she couldn’t be rescued this time. No joke, there were a few minutes where I actually wanted to stop playing after seeing the final Dragon’s Tear memory.

Breath of the Wild’s story is a statement of hope. By contrast, Tears of the Kingdom’s story is a question, one that most of us don’t want to even consider: What do you do when hope dies? What do you do when your light is taken away from you? The answer is perhaps as merciless as the question: you just keep going. Even if there is no Zelda waiting for you at the end of the fight (at least as far as Link knows), you still have a job to do. You still have to face the dark depths and the nightmares that dwell within. You still have to fight, even when it seems like there is no chance of winning.

In this way, both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom feel like more than just games to me. They’re the kind of story that I carry with me into the real world. The kind that I look back on when I need to feel hopeful, or push through my own dark depths. Sure, it’s not a masterpiece of literature or anything, but it was a story that resonated with me all the same, thanks in no small part to TotK’s commitment to embracing the dark and the hopeless. There are times when it is enough to be reminded that I am strong, that I am capable of overcoming any challenge set before me. But when that challenge is no longer a puzzle or a personal flaw--when it’s say, grieving the loss of a loved one or longing to return to a happier time, it is just as comforting to be told, with brutal honesty, that yes, this feels hopeless. This feels like it could never possibly turn out alright in the end. But you must keep going. You must fight until you find your hope again, even if it can’t be the same as it was before. After all, that is what it means to be the light--their light--that must shine upon the world once again.

#legend of zelda #breath of the wild #tears of the kingdom #loz botw #loz totk #totk spoilers #meta analysis

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firediamondsv · 7 months ago

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Fighting, Part One

This is the beginning of the story of how Valtor and I ended up fighting his creators.

But first, some terminology

Being - Equivalent to a mythological god. Something, something, yeah the English language already has a term for this, but it doesn't really feel right to describe powerful entities that aren't part of this dimension's mythology that way.

Technicalities - The natural properties of a person, being, dimension, etc. Usually used to describe things that don't exist in this dimension, like magic or certain kinds of energy.

Multidimensional Theory - The belief that every story is a representation of another dimension.

A Brief Explanation of Naomi History

When I was a child, I was found by Starana, a multidimensional who had been given the power to do anything. I imagine she saw some potential in me, since I had been interested from a young age in trying to figure out why conflict happens, especially through watching my mom play Kingdom Hearts or in shows like Winx. But I was 7, and I couldn't really fight for anything myself yet.

Unfortunately, the technicalities of this dimension prevent multidimensional involvement, but Starana still did everything she could to help me through my difficult childhood. Eventually, when I was a little older, she invited me to Naomi, a dimension she had created, and extended the invitation to help her design it. That gave me a reason to begin to explore the full potential of what I could do in the multidimensional universe, a space where I could finally do what felt right for me. I made friends, realized my dream of standing up for people who couldn't protect themselves, and inevitably made enemies. Some of those enemies attacked Naomi. I defended it, found some allies, and discovered that the information I had gathered from studying conflict made me rather skilled at confrontation. And then things became so much worse for me in this dimension, and the only way for me to get out of that situation was to lose all my childhood memory. I lost my connection with Naomi and the multidimensional universe, and no one knew if I would return.

My Mysterious Desire to Confront People

I returned to the multidimensional universe about a year later, an entirely different person with no memory of their horrible past and little memory of my multidimensional adventures. The memory loss had the intended effect: I could finally be happy and explore my identity freely. All I was left with was a hole where my childhood memory was and the desire to make a difference in the multidimensional universe. Without knowing where that desire came from or that I had done this before, I began to act on that feeling through confronting those who hurt people I cared about in the dimensions represented by the shows I watched at the time. I also helped the allies I had made as a child continue to protect Naomi from the constant attacks it was experiencing (but that's a story for another time).

Enter 4. When he attacked Naomi for the first time in 2011, he saw me as the biggest threat despite having no magic or energy of my own. I was far from the most powerful of our team, and I certainly didn't want power. I was happy enough just using my confrontation skills. Despite that, I would prove him right. Those skills and my natural understanding of psychology made me, even at age 14, a formidable opponent. Of course, I didn't really see that in myself then, so I probably just brushed off his perspective as not knowing me well enough yet. My friends and I defeated him a few months later, and just in time! Later that week, I would start watching Winx 3, and it would change my life.

My Initial Interpretation of Winx 3

Since Winx 3 was by far the most interesting thing I had ever seen, I threw everything I had into understanding it. After watching the backstory shown in episode 7, paying very close attention to Valtor's part of it (oh my god, he was created by beings!), I came up with two theories. Either he's truly a horrible person and did everything his creators wanted him to do by choice, or he isn't a horrible person at all and experienced horrific abuse by his creators' hands. I hoped that by the end of the season, I would be able to confirm if either of those theories were correct. Unfortunately, as evidenced by his creators' extreme hatred of him at the end, it was the latter.

He and the season also made me feel things I had never felt before. By the end of that first viewing, I was completely obsessed with this being-level mess. (I suppose that could refer either to the Winx universe or to Valtor himself.) I hated him at first, but not as much as his creators. In true early adolescent everstar fashion, that hatred only made me want to confront him and try to hold him accountable for everything he did. My other goal to achieve by the end of the season was to figure out a way to talk to him that didn't interfere with the plot of the show. Him being destroyed made that very convenient for me.

Winx Nothingness

Since Valtor was created out of an essence and disappeared completely without leaving a physical body behind when he was destroyed, my multidimensional experience led me to the conclusion that essences can't be completely destroyed. With that technicality, I figured out that he had gone to a dimension I called nonexistence, and most importantly, that I could get him out of that dimension and confront him like I wanted to. I could prove my theory that he had been abused by his creators for an impossibly long length of time and also wanted to see how my confrontation skills compared to his. So, after getting my friends' permission to bring him to Naomi, I showed him a way out of nonexistence, ensuring that he could only go where I wanted him to.

Even though it was scary for me at first, we both look back at Winx Nothingness as a fun experience of confrontation. As 4 was right about me, Valtor was also surprised that I could match him in terms of confrontation skills. Even then, I knew it would take some time for me to get the confirmation I wanted about his creators' hatred of him.

The plan was always to send him back to nonexistence, but somewhere in those three weeks in January 2012, he complained to me about how horrible it was. He had been forced to relive the worst experience of his existence - being destroyed - over and over again. (God, the universe really couldn't give him a break.) It didn't feel right for me to sentence someone to that fate for all eternity, so I began constructing a plan to convince my allies to let me send him to Naomi jail instead. If I could get him to confirm for me that he had been abused by his creators since the beginning of the universe, that would be enough. But he was guarded, and so was I. It might take everything I have, but it would be worth it.

It took a few more confrontations, but I was finally able to piss him off enough so that he'd defensively talk about his past. I had the information I needed, and all that was left to do was wait until the scheduled end of the happening. When that day came and we had our final confrontation, he expected me to send him back to nonexistence. I said no, that despite the fact that my hatred of him had only grown, I'm not that horrible of a person. I sent him to Naomi jail, and all was peaceful until 4 attacked Naomi again that summer.

Part two coming soon.

#winx valtor #multidimensional #winx club #winx 3 #fighting #confrontation #part one

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sarilolla · 1 year ago

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I was just thinking about how indecisiveness is one of my biggest enemies (after boredom) and that immediately made me think how bad that would be in a life or death situation, coincidentally like Branch with either memory loss or death. But there's something that is so much worse and that is being presented a choice but then immediately getting the chosen option ripped away.

So just imagine Branch, sitting there with the potion, deciding, rationalising if the memory of his brothers is actually worth losing all of his new friends, his chosen family. And he realises that no, he can most likely live without the memory of his brothers and still be happy. They're probably not coming back either way and after all, they weren't in his life for long. At least not as long as everyone else he cares about. So he chooses to drink the potion. He leaves the empty bottle and goes to find Poppy to tell about his desicion... Only to collapse on his knees and start coughing up bloody flower buds. The potion wasn't effective anymore. He made his desicion too late. Barely, it could've been just a few hours too late. But now he doesn't have the choice anymore. Literally just as he was completely ready for the other option, had completely accepted it, it was removed. He has the realisation that he's actually going to die in a short time and now, there is actually nothing to do about it. He doesn't believe his brothers are coming back. Technically he knew that his time is very limited, knew it his whole life. But during that brief moment when he drank the potion, he thought he was gonna live, he had the moment of acceptance and relief of being able to survive and live happily with everyone that's currently there for him. That ain't possible no more. Cue mental breakdance

(that one dream I had has permanently implanted hanahaki branch to my head I ain't getting rid as well so might as well join the brainrot fully)

OMG YES

Just took the words straight out of my mouth huh-

This is so good, I'm just not gonna add anything, just bravo, I love this

Just... thank you for sharing this, the Hanahaki Branch brainrot will eventually effect us all

#dreamworks trolls #trolls band together #answered asks #this is sooooo good #just that added angst of thinking he has finally made his choice and he's okay with it #but no #he was too late #not his brothers this time #hanahaki branch

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thelavendercatalogue · 1 year ago

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Was thinking about your au and wondering if Lupin misses out on a lot of little moments that makes life worth living being asleep most of the time. Is there ever a moment he and Jigen get to enjoy a sunset? Having feelings about this.

Oh dear sweet anon. It has nothing to do with Lupin being asleep that he misses out on a lot of things.

Lupins mental health was failing even before the incident and Jigen knew that, the hospital was just the kick in the pants that started the whole snow ball rolling down the hill making things move faster then what was intended

And basically because of him being sick and everything, what would have been easy to treat became harder because if it wasn't for him getting sick in the first place they would've had a much easier time getting through to him convincing him to calm down

Because he got hurt in such a way that made him fearful of loosing what made him him, loosing the life he spent so long building up it spiraled him a lot faster

had he not gotten hurt, and sick he probably would have been more coherent enough to work through it and at least stubbornly try to get better.

But the problem with Post Septic Shock Syndrome is it alters your mental state and has a increased chance of making you more depressed then what you were before. Now combine that with Lupins already deteriorating mental health and you got a recipe for disaster.

There HAVE been instances where Lupin tried to enjoy things he once did, but they never worked out.

For example I've mentioned before

Lupin likes the rain, Jigen likes the rain its a mutual thing, but unlike Lupin, Jigen really doesn't like to go out in it, he's more then content to just laze about in the house listening to it from the closed windows

Lupin on the other hand loves it, he loves playing in it, running out in it, basically all in all just enjoying himself with it

but after his incident, Lupins personality had switched, he became a shadow of his personal self, and one of the biggest tells for this was, when it rained lupin had now refused to go out in it and enjoy it, even if it meant staying out on the porch or the balcony and watching it fall

NOW

Post-sepsis syndrome (PSS) or Post Septic Shock Syndrome) is a condition that affects up to 50% of all sepsis survivors. It includes physical and/or psychological long-term effects, but one of the main psychological/emotional effects include Decreased cognitive (mental) functioning, Hallucinations, forgetfulness/memory loss

And Jigen knew that that was a possibility, the docs gave them fuckin brochures when they left detailing all the shit he would be potentially dealing with when it came to lupin's recovery

But when he finds Lupin standing outside on the balcony during a rainstorm one day, he for a split moment, believes Lupin is actually getting better, finally enjoying what he use to and slowly returning back to his old self again, and while he typically doesn't enjoy being out in the rain he still goes out to join him

When he goes outside to praise Lupin for actually finally going out to enjoy the rain and being back to his old self again, he realizes too late however that. . .Lupin isn't actually acting like how he normally does when he goes out in this sort of weather.

There's no joy or content on his face, instead it's almost like. . .he's stargazing; his head is tilted upwards, as if he's looking at the sky but his face is blank and it's like he's disoriented because he has a glassy look in his one eye and all he's doing is just standing there in the middle of a rainstorm clueless as to what he's actually doing and when Jigen cant rouse him or get him to move he instead stays with him and puts his hat on his head until the rain stops cause lupin isn't even moving his head to keep the rain from falling into his nose

When Lupin finally snaps out of this episode he's in, Jigen asks him if he's alright and if he's ready to go back inside now, and Lupin looks at him and it's like his brain is slowly catching up and Jigen asks him again

and all Lupin does is look at him and go

"Sure. . .what were we doing out here again. . .?"

There are a LOT of contributing factors as to why Lupin seems to "miss out" on things that once made his life worth living. Most is physical of course, don't get me wrong, but that physical is also causing/exacerbating the Mental reasoning's for a lot of stuff. Jigen tries to get Lupin to enjoy stuff they use to, like watching the sunset or their favorite TV show's or such. It's just that Lupin doesn't have it in him either physically or mentally to care anymore.

His life is falling apart.

and no amount of little joys is gonna fix it

#lupin iii #lupin the third #lupin the 3rd #daisuke jigen #arsène lupin iii #arsène lupin #jigen #jigen daisuke #ask box

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presentday--presenttime · 1 year ago

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Annihilation (2018)

This will be a review with spoilers, the movie is good, go watch it.

Its been a bit since I watched the movie, so some of my memories might be off.

Overall I think I was impressed. The idea of an alien "thing" crashing & slowly radiating has been done several times, but this interpretation is possibly my favorite.

It does get a bit goofy with its refraction talk, and a few other things that don't really make sense, but nothing was too crazy.

I also felt it was a bit all over the place in its symbols, it's refraction, cancer, evolution, memory loss, and mimicry. But that feeling was overall short lived, and I was always quickly immersed back into the world.

I felt the cast was a bit cookie cutter, and it being all women felt a tiny bit forced. But, it helped avoid any dumb romance subplot, or unnecessary sexual tension stuff that people would often add if there was men & women. But it was very much each person was a character I'd seen in other movies & they were all quite distinct from eachother. Very much felt like a cast for a movie instead of a collection of people.

Once we get into the "shimmer" proper, we have one time skip, and that's the only one afaik. I think they could have done a lot more with that, but I think they just wanted to avoid explaining a few things & then get on with the movie. Overall the movie was very much split into distinct "scenes" in this way, I understand why it's this way but I think it would have been better to stick to one or two ideas, instead of giving each character death its own "gimmick".

Between the initial time skip & finding the building with the video tape, is mostly just introducing the setting imo. Not much was done with this time, but I can see it feeling rushed without it.

Now, when we watch the movies, things start to ramp up. There are more creatures, and the spectacular scene of the "moving guts" & accompanying body.

I really liked the visual of the body in the pool, it sold the idea of rapid mutation in a body horror way very well. and obviously the scene where they cut him open is great also (if a bit nonsense)

It's not really explained why the previous team stayed in that building for so long, or why they eventually left. Not a big deal, but something I was wondering.

The next bits are a bit hazy, so I'll be jumping to the more important scenes.

The bear, was again great. The setup for them being tied up felt pretty forced, similar to the initial time skip, and the voice mimicking was also a bit nonsense. But a really spooky effect, and done well. The whole "don't tell them about my husband" thing was maybe my biggest pet peeve, cause you know exactly why it's in the story, and it never really made sense anyways.

the flower girl was probably my least favorite death, I kind of wish she was more lucid and less "ooh I'm so strange and mysterious". Like if she could rationally explain that the change to her body & mind isn't something she wants to continue living with, and she decides to "submit" to the shimmer, that would have been so much better than "look at me vaguepost and then walk away ooooOOooH". Overall wasn't really a fan of the whole flower section. Again, if they had done the "the flowers got human structure DNA stuff" as a major point, instead of a one-off, I think that would be really cool.

We get to the crystal beach, for some reason there are a bunch of bones & skeletons outside the lighthouse? I think it's implied that they are most of the previous team, but like why & how?

whatever, we get inside to the climax. the reveal that the husband is a fake! at the time I didn't really feel misled by the protag's initial interview answers, but ya. Either way, very cool twist, kind of goes back to the start of entering the shimmer, with the timeskips & mental decline.

Finally we climb in the hole, and meet the alien. I am sooo glad this wasn't a "ooh it's shiny particles, and some vague pretty 'thing'". We got an actual answer. AND it's an interesting one! there's a ton of questions to be asked about the alien, and I like how smart the protagonist is about it's behavior. It may not even be aware of it's actions, or that it's copying anything. How does the copied husband's brain work? really cool, love it conceptually.

I do think it's very separated from the effects of the shimmer, and don't really believe it's responsible for "changing" anything. It's a mimic, the shimmer is space pollution; or something like that.

The end end, is up there with my favorite endings. Him being honest, open about who he is, non-malicious. Him deciding on his own to hug her, is that because it's a human response? does he actually want to console her? The unhuman stare, I don't really know what it's supposed to mean but it invokes a lot of emotions. Again sooooo many questions about this 'person', and his future.

Overall, I think this movie took on a hard task, and did a very good job. It gave interesting answers, and didn't really fall short anywhere along the way. There were certainly spots where it was a bit less spectacular, but nowhere bad enough to leave a taste in your mouth.

I think this will be a classic. I do wish I had any chance of reading the trilogy (future quadrilogy?) books that the movie is based on.

spoilers #movie review #horror film #annihilation

#spoilers #movie review #horror film #horror #annihilation

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denimbex1986 · 2 years ago

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'It was not too long ago that the future of cinemas looked decidedly grim.

Empire Cinemas fell into administration in early July, as the lingering effects of Covid allied to the cost of living crisis took its toll on the company.

Six Empire cinemas were closed immediately with the loss of 150 jobs, while the future of a further seven, including one in Clydebank, remain in the balance, as they continue to trade and administrators at BDO strive to find a buyer. The company had employed 437 people in total before the failure.

Around the same time, the much bigger Cineworld Group, similarly blighted by the fall-out from Covid, was completing a long-running financial restructuring process which formally ended on August 1, when it exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US.

Cineworld emerged with lower debt and a new management team, its assets having transferred to a new company, though the process resulted in heavy losses for investors.

Throughout the bankruptcy process, business carried on as usual at all the Cineworld outlets, including those trading under the Regal, Cinema City, Picturehouse and Planet brands.

Now, thanks to some of the biggest releases in living memory, many of those theatres will be enjoying their best summers in years.

Cinemas were one of the biggest business victims of the pandemic, as restrictions forced the closure of multiplexes and independents for long spells and the production of films was severely hampered, curbing the flow of new releases.

This year, however, the industry is back with a bang, aided in no small measure by a sequence of summer blockbusters which have attracted audiences in their droves.

Two hotly anticipated movies have been crucial to the revival.

Barbie, a story based on the Mattel doll starring Margot Robbie and directed by Greta Gerwig, hit the billion-dollar mark in gross takings this week, just 17 days after its release, Warner Bros Pictures announced, following one of the biggest marketing campaigns seen for a film in years.

Released on the same day as Barbie was Oppenheimer, the latest epic from director Christopher Nolan, which charts US efforts to develop the atomic bomb as the Second World War drew to a close through the story of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer.

While Oppenheimer has not scaled the same financial heights as Barbie, it had still grossed more than $500m in ticket sales by this week.

Both films have drawn huge audiences in the UK, with Barbie generating sales of £18.5m and Oppenheimer £10.9m on their opening weekend, according to figures compiled by the British Film Institute, and are continuing to pack them in.

But “Barbenheimer”, as the two films have been collectively termed owing to their simultaneous release date, have not been the only shows in town this summer.

Prior to their arrival in theatres, UK cinemas have also been able to drum up millions of pounds in ticket sales from Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which is likely to be Harrison Ford’s final outing as the titular archaeologist-come-adventurer.

And there is more to come, with Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Dune: Part Two, The Marvels, and The Creator still to come before the year is out.

A recent visit to my local multiplex as various family members took in Barbenheimer underlined the impact which this summer’s big releases have had. People were milling about the foyer in what looked to be unprecedented numbers, which was no doubt great for sales of popcorn and hot dogs.

But the cinemas are not the only businesses which seem to be benefiting from this big summer of film. As we walked through the mall on our way from the car park to the theatre, it was abundantly clear that restaurants, cafes, and shops were doing well too.

With kids off school for the summer, many parents have no doubt been taking their children (Barbie is rated 12A by the British Board of Film Classification) to the cinema over recent weeks to keep them occupied.

David Pierotti, general manager for the Silverburn shopping and leisure mall in Glasgow, said this summer had been a “standout” for the destination, with the “temperamental Scottish weather” playing its part as footfall and sales have risen by 22% and 11% compared with the same period last year.

And he is in no doubt the release of the summer blockbusters has helped.

Mr Pierotti told The Herald: “We are in no doubt that the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer have been massive hits – we believe our Cineworld has enjoyed one of its best months yet which, given the global success of the films, is no surprise and this has also encouraged spend in our other stores and restaurants.”

Of course, going to the cinema is far from cheap so, at a time when inflation is still rampant and interest rates are continuing to rise, businesses will have been encouraged that consumers are showing resilience by going to the movies and visiting restaurants as part of the experience.

How this will all pan out in the longer term is difficult to forecast. The summer holidays will end soon, and the next slate of big movies is unlikely to match the broad appeal of Barbie and Oppenheimer, meaning there will be perhaps less impetus for people to visit their local multiplex.

Cost of living pressures and high interest rates are not going away, and when Christmas eventually comes into view for parents in the autumn, many families will have other things to spend their diminishing disposable income on than trips to the pictures.

Moreover, there is another danger lurking in the wings for the cinema industry.

Ongoing industrial action by actors and screenwriters in the US, who are in dispute with studios over pay and safeguards around artificial intelligence, has disrupted production activity, sparking concerns that the release of films and television shows will be delayed. It was recently reported in the US that Warner Bros may seek to delay the release of Dune: Part 2 until 2024 to ensure its stars, including Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, will be available to promote the movie on its release.

Film buffs here will be keeping a close eye on developments. In the meantime, cinemas will be hoping the magic of Barbenheimer is just the start of a great theatrical revival.'

#Dune: Part Two #Oppenheimer #Barbie #Barbenheimer #The Marvels #The Creator #Warner Bros #Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3 #Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One #Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny #Margot Robbie #Greta Gerwig #Christopher Nolan #Killers of the Flower Moon #Martin Scorsese

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retrievalpractice · 17 days ago

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How MaxLearn’s Advanced Algorithms Combat Memory Decay and Enhance Training ROI

In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, training employees effectively while ensuring long-term retention of knowledge is a significant challenge. One of the biggest obstacles organizations face is memory decay—the natural tendency of individuals to forget newly acquired information over time. This phenomenon, known as the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, has been a persistent problem in the learning and development (L&D) space.

MaxLearn, a cutting-edge microlearning platform, has developed advanced algorithms that intelligently curate content and optimize learning experiences to combat memory decay. These algorithms leverage spaced repetition and retrieval practice—two scientifically backed techniques proven to enhance memory retention. By tailoring learning experiences to individual learners based on their preferences and performance, MaxLearn ensures that training is not just a one-time event but a continuous process of reinforcement and knowledge retention.

Understanding Memory Decay and the Forgetting Curve

Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneering psychologist, discovered that human memory follows a predictable pattern of decline. According to his research, people forget nearly 70 percent of newly acquired information within 24 hours if it is not reinforced. This steep decline in memory retention negatively impacts corporate training programs, making it difficult for employees to recall and apply learned knowledge in their roles.

The key to overcoming this challenge is frequent reinforcement through systematic learning interventions. Traditional training methods, such as lengthy workshops or one-time training sessions, fail to address this issue effectively. Learners may engage with content during the session, but without proper reinforcement, most of that knowledge is lost within a short period.

This is where MaxLearn’s advanced algorithms come into play. They not only identify the risk of forgetting but also strategically reinforce key learning points to ensure retention and recall.

How MaxLearn’s Algorithms Tackle Memory Decay

MaxLearn’s algorithms are designed to counteract memory decay through two primary techniques: spaced repetition and retrieval practice. These methods are deeply embedded in the platform’s functionality, allowing organizations to maximize training effectiveness and improve return on investment (ROI).

Spaced Repetition for Long-Term RetentionSpaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals over time. Rather than cramming all learning content into a single session, MaxLearn schedules reviews of key concepts at strategic intervals. This ensures that learners revisit crucial information at optimal times, reinforcing their memory and preventing knowledge loss. The platform dynamically adjusts the spacing intervals based on each learner’s performance and learning pace. If a learner demonstrates strong recall of a particular concept, the system extends the review interval. Conversely, if a learner struggles with retention, the algorithm schedules more frequent reviews to reinforce learning. By implementing spaced repetition, MaxLearn transforms short-term knowledge into long-term memory. This approach not only enhances retention but also minimizes the time and effort needed for relearning, making corporate training more efficient and effective.

Retrieval Practice to Strengthen Memory RecallRetrieval practice is another crucial component of MaxLearn’s memory-enhancing approach. It involves actively recalling learned information through assessments, quizzes, and other testing methods. Research has shown that retrieving information from memory strengthens neural connections and improves long-term retention. Unlike passive review techniques, retrieval practice requires learners to actively engage with content, forcing their brains to reconstruct knowledge. This strengthens their ability to recall and apply information in real-world scenarios. MaxLearn integrates retrieval practice seamlessly into the learning journey. The platform uses adaptive assessments that adjust the difficulty of questions based on learner performance. If a learner struggles with a specific topic, the algorithm provides additional practice opportunities until mastery is achieved. Through repeated retrieval practice, learners develop a deeper understanding of concepts, making them more confident and proficient in their roles. This approach not only prevents memory decay but also enhances problem-solving skills and critical thinking.

Personalized Learning for Maximum Impact

One of the standout features of MaxLearn’s content-curating algorithms is their ability to personalize learning experiences. Every learner has unique preferences, strengths, and areas for improvement. A one-size-fits-all approach to training often leads to disengagement and ineffective learning.

MaxLearn’s AI-driven system continuously analyzes learner interactions, preferences, and performance data to create a tailored learning journey. The platform identifies individual learning patterns and delivers content in formats that resonate with each learner. For example, some learners may prefer video-based microlearning modules, while others may engage better with interactive simulations or scenario-based quizzes.

By catering to diverse learning preferences, MaxLearn enhances engagement, motivation, and knowledge retention. Personalized learning experiences make training more relevant and impactful, leading to better skill development and improved workplace performance.

The Impact of MaxLearn on Corporate Training ROI

A well-trained workforce is a key driver of business success. However, ineffective training programs that fail to address memory decay result in wasted resources, decreased productivity, and lower return on investment.

MaxLearn’s intelligent learning approach ensures that corporate training delivers measurable results. By embedding spaced repetition and retrieval practice into the learning process, the platform maximizes knowledge retention, reduces retraining costs, and improves employee performance.

Increased Knowledge Retention – Employees retain and recall training content effectively, leading to higher competency levels and reduced errors in the workplace.

Improved Training Efficiency – Adaptive learning pathways eliminate redundant training, allowing employees to focus on areas where they need reinforcement.

Enhanced Employee Productivity – Knowledgeable employees perform their tasks more efficiently, contributing to overall business growth and operational excellence.

Stronger Compliance and Risk Management – Industries with strict compliance requirements benefit from employees who retain critical compliance knowledge, reducing legal and regulatory risks.

Higher Engagement and Motivation – Personalized and gamified learning experiences keep employees engaged and motivated, increasing overall training participation rates.

The Future of Learning with MaxLearn

As organizations continue to navigate the challenges of employee training and skill development, the need for innovative learning solutions is more crucial than ever. MaxLearn’s advanced algorithms provide a forward-thinking approach to tackling memory decay, ensuring that training investments yield maximum impact.

With its ability to curate content dynamically, reinforce learning through spaced repetition, and strengthen memory recall through retrieval practice, MaxLearn is revolutionizing the way businesses train their workforce. The future of learning is not about one-time training events but about continuous, adaptive, and highly personalized learning journeys.

By leveraging MaxLearn’s intelligent microlearning platform, organizations can create a workforce that is not only knowledgeable but also equipped with readily recallable information, driving business success and long-term growth.

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spacedrepetition · 17 days ago

Text

How MaxLearn’s Advanced Algorithms Combat Memory Decay and Enhance Training ROI

Understanding Memory Decay and the Forgetting Curve

This is where MaxLearn’s advanced algorithms come into play. They not only identify the risk of forgetting but also strategically reinforce key learning points to ensure retention and recall.

How MaxLearn’s Algorithms Tackle Memory Decay

Personalized Learning for Maximum Impact

The Impact of MaxLearn on Corporate Training ROI

Increased Knowledge Retention – Employees retain and recall training content effectively, leading to higher competency levels and reduced errors in the workplace.

Improved Training Efficiency – Adaptive learning pathways eliminate redundant training, allowing employees to focus on areas where they need reinforcement.

Enhanced Employee Productivity – Knowledgeable employees perform their tasks more efficiently, contributing to overall business growth and operational excellence.

Stronger Compliance and Risk Management – Industries with strict compliance requirements benefit from employees who retain critical compliance knowledge, reducing legal and regulatory risks.

Higher Engagement and Motivation – Personalized and gamified learning experiences keep employees engaged and motivated, increasing overall training participation rates.

The Future of Learning with MaxLearn

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morgan-squad · 3 months ago

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ghost, hide, wound 👀

Ghost:

What haunts them? The world they left behind. The lover that has passed. The future that has harmed them, along with the past that has been harming them. They aren't safe anywhere, until...

Their potential. They gave up a dream to help those in reach. They have the tools to, but they could've been more. They wouldn't have to wait. They wouldn't have to see what they know will happen in their feild.

Their ex-husband.

Their birth family. The one that abandoned them for being a freak. The one that couldn't love a 'monster' like them.

Those once loved that caused them harm, and the demons they made a pact with. "Stop... please... stop..."

Hide:

They hide their tattoo, a symbol of their survival from the future. They know that they would be judged for it. They have been. But they managed to explain it away.

Their gender. This era of France made it hard for them to be non-binary in public spaces. So, in public, when they are with the manchine, they dress as a woman. When they are in public staying at the castle, they dress as a man.

Their origins. Who would trust someone trying to lead that is from Obsidian? They don't blame people for not trusting them. But it still hurt. They weren't the army or the emporor...

Their curse. It's not something for the general public. They aren't someone for that either, they learned that long ago.

The demons that are by their side often. The ones they accidentally created with their own hands. The ones that they love and who love them.

Wound:

Physical wounds are fine for the most part. They started underestimating them even. Mental wounds, however, those have run deep for years. Some have even been re-opend in this era.

They are the least wounded out of them all. That doesn't mean they aren't wounded, though. The biggest and deepest one was the loss of their last love. The one before Vlad. They love him, but... so much also reminds them of their lost love... it hurts too much somtimes

They have come close to death a number of times. The worst wounds were definitely the ones dealt by their ex-husband.

All of their physical wounds and disabilities were healed as a side effect of the pacts. All that is left is mental. What is worse is that they see what their mind thinks. They physically feel the memories. The turama, the intrusive thoughts, the anxieties, the depression. It's all there. All visible. Evidence can even be found on them on really bad days

#morgans asks

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tokenlivenews · 11 months ago

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Micron Technology, Inc. ($MU) Poised for Skyrocketing Growth: Biden's $6.1 Billion Boost Sparks Investor Frenzy

New Post has been published on https://www.tokenlivenews.xyz/bitcoin/micron-technology-inc-mu-poised-for-skyrocketing-growth-bidens-6-1-billion-boost-sparks-investor-frenzy/

Micron Technology, Inc. ($MU) Poised for Skyrocketing Growth: Biden's $6.1 Billion Boost Sparks Investor Frenzy

In a seismic shift poised to reverberate across the tech sector, Micron Technology, Inc. ($MU) emerges as the unrivaled protagonist in America’s quest for semiconductor supremacy. The Biden administration’s landmark agreement to inject $6.1 billion into Micron’s advanced memory chip production sends shockwaves of optimism through the investment community, igniting a fervor of confidence in the company’s future prospects.

With the stroke of a pen, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer orchestrates a monumental coup, luring Micron to the heartland of New York, where dreams of a sprawling chip empire near Syracuse begin to crystallize. As Schumer himself boldly proclaims, this endeavor heralds the dawn of the “biggest memory chip plant in America,” a statement underscored by the Erie Canal-sized economic impact it promises to deliver.

But the ramifications extend far beyond the confines of upstate New York. Micron’s steadfast commitment to innovation sees it double down on its hometown of Boise, Idaho, where plans for a $15 billion memory chip plant stand as a testament to American ingenuity at its zenith. Investors, sensing the seismic shift in the tech landscape, eagerly position themselves for a windfall of opportunities as Micron’s star ascends.

Amidst a backdrop of global chip shortages and escalating demand for cutting-edge technology, Micron’s expansion couldn’t be more timely. Bolstered by the provisions of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which earmarks a staggering $52 billion to fortify the domestic semiconductor industry, Micron stands poised to not only meet but surpass the burgeoning needs of a digitized world.

For investors eyeing the next big opportunity, Micron Technology, Inc. ($MU) emerges as the undisputed titan of the tech realm. With an estimated 9,000 direct jobs and an additional 40,000 construction jobs on the horizon, the economic ripple effect is poised to galvanize communities, bolster livelihoods, and solidify America’s standing as a beacon of technological innovation.

As the curtain rises on a new era of technological supremacy, investors find themselves at the precipice of history, poised to ride the wave of Micron’s meteoric ascent. With the Biden administration’s unwavering support and Micron’s indomitable spirit driving it forward, the stage is set for an epoch-defining journey towards unparalleled growth and prosperity.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TokenLiveNews.xyz. TokenLiveNews.xyz does not endorse any specific investment or trading strategy, and shall not be held liable for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on the information provided herein. Investing in stocks, including Micron Technology, Inc. ($MU), carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

#$MU #chip production #economic impact #government support #Investment #Micron Technology #semiconductor industry #Stock #technological innovation #Bitcoin

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