#the country doesn’t seem to Have a method for disposing of bodies.

[aquamarinebling]

isat’s “what should we do with dead bodies” conversation is so so catastrophic to me- and a little horrifying. there’s a range of knowing how you want to die, with Mirabelle knowing the exact religious way she would prefer to be honored, Odile giving her options & preferences that mainly align with Ka Bue’s ideals, and Isabeau not having much thought beyond the general way Vaugaurde does it. They all have thought about it, and know their options well enough that they have some sort of favor or acceptance of the way their body is handled.

And then there is Siffrin, who doesn’t have this luxury at all in multiple senses. They don’t get to know their options beyond the ones from cultures that aren’t their own, the closest we get to see being “throw my ashes into the sky” which, while definitely symbolic & feels fitting for the country’s connection to the sky above, isn’t solid enough to be coined as what the Country actually does (and still, siffrin wouldn’t personally know that death is handled that way back home). He doesn’t get to die, either, and ever be mourned for. They never see how the party responds to their death in the loops, and seeing as they assumed they would just go back to traveling alone like before at the end of the journey, possibly thought they would die alone or silently, completely unaware they would be missed.

post game as well, we never learn how people from the island honor their dead? the king never says anything about it, and it’s likely siffrin will never learn. the only difference is that, now, siffrin knows they will be missed, however they’re disposed of.

[holicanth]

Hanging On Threads (2)

@shinoweek​ 2021 Prompt 3 - Sunset/Canon Divergence

Words: 3.7k

Genre: Angst. Drama. Shinohina. Tragedy

Warnings: -

Additional Tags: Shinohina, Kibahina, Naruhina, family issues, Konoha’s noble clans, nepotisme and collusion.

Author’s Note: I’m so sorry y’all. I’ve been extra busy :( Here’s chapter 2 (?) of my Shino week series. I hope you have a great day :)

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2

It has been 3 days since Shino disappeared from the Aburame compound.

It has also been 3 days since the Konoha elders re-welcomed the Aburames and reintegrated them into society.

Ever since, Shino has been staying at ROOT, hiding undercover while waiting for Danzo's orders.

And with that, Shino is handed the dreadful task of explaining every little detail to Torune.

 "I just can't understand your logic, Shino." He says, clenching his fists on the table. "You should know better than to just run away from home like that!" 

"What do you think you'll achieve with this?" Torune grits his teeth, "You cant escape this--there's no way Danzo will let you out anymore!"

 Guilt that has previously bubbled inside him was now gone. Shino felt close to nothing as he stays cooped in ROOT. No fear. No anxiety. He was obviously feeling full of himself, believing to have won his side of the bargain. As such, none of Torune's words were ringing bells inside his head. 

Shino tries to keep his facade well-put.

"How is Uncle Shibi taking the news?"

"I've sent some beetles to Father. I can tell he's doing well even without me. Nothing else will change in the household." 

"Not until," Shino's words come to a startled halt. "Until I finish my promise to Danzo."

His brother bangs the table in a display of panic that Shino has never seen. " You don't know what he'll do to you. Shino, you don't know anything..."

His words cut off abruptly. In a split second, Shino senses a tremble in Torune. A slight quiver of his lips. 

 Torune used to live with them, and had expressed massive gratefulness towards his uncle. Shino didn't realize at that time (he was but merely eight), that more than anything, Torune's sacrifice was addressed more towards Shibi. The boy would do anything to protect his uncle—you can see it in the way he devotes himself to his work.

A kindred sort of regret rose in Shino. To think that  he had so easily thrown away the ideal life that Torune had bestowed upon him—and voluntarily at that. 

But both of them know that there is no safer alternative. 

(It's an inevitable fate, they console themselves. It is a necessary sacrifice.)

 "I had to do it for our clan." Shino repeats the fact to his brother. "We were to be killed soon enough. And it would have been Father first."

Shino's eyes flit nervously as he spoke. 

"And who do you think would pull the trigger, Shino?"

Torune didn't ask why. Like he knew all of the details already. 

Shino glanced around the room, thinking. He already knows the answer. Rather, he's trying to figure out how to word it in a manner that doesn't...offend Torune.

 (Shino could list all the names of the ANBU members that have been in contact with particular individuals. Journalists, Governors, Clan heads, people of high posistions. Their agenda was blatant. Shino knows because their names have been whispered in contemplation throughout the Aburame compound.)

"The jonins," Shino says, in a hushed voice. "The jonins will work together with the ANBU. The Sarutobi clan will be extremely involved too."

There is a pattern Shino notices in Konoha's history. It's that the types of people who reign over the village are identical and identifiable amongst each other. A teacher to their student, A blood relative to their predecessor. Lesser clans would do anything to grab ahold of that social circle. 

Replacing an unliked noble clan would be one of such tasks.

 Torune listens keenly, in a hum that neither denies or confirms it. 

 "Not only that," He resumes, "There seems to be equal participation from other clans. Such as the Nara. You know they've been looking to steal our research on bugs."

"They're especially interested in yours, Torune."

He doesn't oblige. Torune was aware of this well before he came to ROOT, too. Fear and suspense were not things Torune had to be worried about. But today, he finds that he had to face it--the abject horror of seeing his little brother in a hostage situation. The pure fear of knowing how hopeless he is engulfs him. Was there nothing that Torune can do?

 (A shinobi must constantly opress their emotions, follow a strict set of rules that they decide among themselves, and avoid extraneous conflict.

This was the first lesson Danzo had stamped inside Torune's memories. 

To disconnect oneself from the act of murder—it was the essence of a shinobi.

Or so Torune thought.)

 "I was to be sent as well, Shino." Torune looks down as he breaks the ice. "They want us gone because of our power. Of our potential. They'll take our knowledge and use it to their own benefit. All the research, medicine, poisons and bugs."

 (The Aburames are notorious for being mysterious. All done in order to conceal oneself, to prevent oneself from having their secret techniques outed in public. Ensuring, that they stay formidable, underestimated,

 and strong.)

 "You heard Danzo say it. They think we're weird. Unsanitary. Off-putting. That our secrecy is a form of betrayal, even when we've been constantly obedient to Konoha."

"And will you die as well?" Shino asks cautiously, "After you've killed all of us, will they dispose of you too, Torune?"

A sorrow smile lit up Torune's face. There was, again, no answer. Shino knows—No, he had plenty of ideas already. Torune’s predisposition was already a valid enough reason for Konoha to justify his death. Killed or not, there are many ways to make a man break. Danzo would have his merry time trying out which one of those methods satisfy him best.

What Konoha was capable of bringing unto the Uchiha was just as likely to happen to the Aburames.

(This exchange ended on a heavy note. Nothing Shino says will add or subtract from the issue at hand. Just a hanging air of dread, looming over their clan's future. Both of them did what they had to preserve their clans. To protect those important to them.

 But this sense of kinship—to protect those that they love. Is it not what Konoha preaches to their young, too?

Or was it the reason that Konoha wants to tear apart the Aburame family ties?)

A knock on the wooden door brings an end to the brothers' conversation. The Yamanaka boy comes in, head held high. 

"Lord Danzo has requested for you, Shino Aburame. Come along, now." 

Shino leaves Torune in the room. Torune knows best that he should not interfere lest he wants to live a day beneath the soil.

 It can be said that ROOT was an illegal form of bodyguards, acting as Danzo's personal squadron. A blatant display of political corruption, despite Danzo’s "fancy" position as Konoha's elder. The facility was well maintained, and there was never a shortage of child soldiers sent there. The clan leaders know Danzo as a demanding figure. 

 The Yamanaka boy—Fuu  Yamanaka stops to knock at a set of tall doors. Shino stops to ponder whether he was related directly to Ino Yamanaka.

An oddly lit room opens up by Shino, displaying machines, scrolls, and different books that are perfectly arranged inside the giant walls of bookshelves. Danzo stood in the center, on a throne chair that he does not deserve.

"You may leave now, Fuu." He spoke in a low tone. 

 Something in Shino buzzes as he watch the Yamanaka eye him begrudgingly while he closes the door. The buzzing didn't stop after he went out.

(His bugs were reacting to something. A feeling that Shino doesn't want to name)

 "You. You're the son of Shibi Aburame, aren't you?" Danzo sneers, "So the Aburames have a dojutsu now, huh? What a nuisance. What, is your dojutsu like the Uchiha's? Prompted by deep emotional pain?"

 (Shino feels the buzzing again. His bugs were on guard, but for what?)

 "Does Shibi have this ability, too?"

"No." Shino spouts a half-lie. 

"And how did you get your hands on this? Are you saying that it just appeared out of nowhere?"

Danzo was gauging for answers. Shino was never good at communication himself, but he was naturally gifted in speaking conspicuously

"It was always in the Aburame blood. Just forgotten through time. Nothing new."

"And you vermins have been hiding this to yourselves, haven't you? Yet you wonder why Konoha has no trust in you."

"The other clans have aces up their sleeves, too. It's why they call it a Hidden Jutsu."

Shino didn't mean to sound snark. But Danzo himself might not have the mental intelligence to understand sarcasm, so Shino thinks it's okay. 

"So this dojutsu of yours—The Senrigan—tell me how this is more useful than the Byakugan."

 Shino bit his tongue before answering. Once more, he'll have to cherry-pick his words exceptionally well. 

"I transfer my sight to my bugs. Depending on how many bugs there are and how they're aligned, my sight can reach other countries."

"The Senrigan requires one to be perfectly still, but the bugs can collect all sounds, sights, and other details without having their chakra traced. Hiding my chakra under the bug's natural chakra will make them unnoticed by sensors"

 Danzo squints his eye, thinking. "Quite the useful spying tool, huh." 

"Still, we need to make sure you're telling the truth. Take off your glasses."

Shino was taken aback from the sudden request, 

 "Now."

 He does as he's told. The sunglasses are safely kept in his pockets. Shino's eyes were dark under the sunlight, and an even deeper shade of obsidian indoors.

"Let's have you demonstrate your Senrigan, shall we? I've sent Fuu to loiter around Konoha's busy streets. Locate him using the senrigan, and tell me every word he's speaking."

And without further ado, Shino created some hand seals, took a deep breath, and a swarm of kikaichu flew out of his body, travelling through the doors and crevices of the ROOT headquarters before dispersing overground. The emerald hue of Shino's eyes looked stunning in the dark. 

 Even from a distance, Danzo can sense an intricate, huge web of chakra dispersing from the boy's body, Undulating, stretching outwards, and going back and forth between Shino's body and his bugs. Then, as if on command, the chakra fell silent and Shino lets out a long exhale. He's successfully established the connection. 

 As Shino stills his senses to callibrate himself to the beetles, he orders them to trace any signs of the familiar Yamanaka chakra signature. He steadily reduces his chakra input. When a preferable balance is reached, Shino waits in silence. Until a bug notifies him of any significant clues

 (Go to the streets. He instructs them. Hover around in small swarms and don't terrify the people. 

A short pause. Don't bump into anyone that I know, He commands again.)

 Danzo watches as the Aburame in front of hin froze into a lotus pose. The stare in his eyes blank, but definitely buzzing with intel and chakra. There is much to be studied with this new forbidden jutsu.

 Shino is notified of a sighting near Konoha's marketplace. He checks in with the bug, and once their visions link he can tell that the person had the same chakra signature. 

"I've located him." Shino said. "He's using a mask and brown cloak, performing jutsus to the local children."

 "And what is he saying?" 

 Shino tries to concentrate as hard as he can. The hand seals that Fuu was using was something he didn't recognize. Apparently memorizing while the Senrigan is activated proved to be more dizzying than he thought.

"Tori, Uma, Ne, Inu, Ne, Tori, Hitsuji, Tatsu, I, Ushi..." Shino recites slowly, making sure that he isn't wrong. "This is a variant of the Water-style technique. He's forming water spouts from his fingers."

 That's absolutely correct, Fuu signals to Danzo, who had been telepathically communicating with him all this time.

"Well done, Shino. You've proven to us that you and your clan can be of use."

And with that Shino scrunches his eyes shut. A little bit disoriented from having to memorize while using the Senrigan. His beetles swiftly fly back to him, bringing him a small amount of chakra they absorbed from the villagers.

 "I've done my part in reintegrating the Aburames. Give me a month and things will be back to normal. Are you ready to fulfill your side of the promise?" Danzo asked, as he stood up from his chair.

Shino gulps nervously. He didn't really plan out what to do next. But Shino was a master at lying, and with a countenance that no one can read, he was indecipherable.

 "Why did you want us gone in the first place?" Shino asks, not realizing that he had voiced the thoughts out loud.

Danzo Shimura was a man who took the Second Hokage's manifesto to heart. Perhaps a bit too much. Shino had suspected, backed with the evidence and observation of his clansmen, that Danzo was pulling strings that led to the Uchiha massacre. It was easy to connect the dots, especially with Shibi and Shino's ability (they were tasked to clean it up. Shibi was fast in doing so, while Shino tended to the unconscious Sasuke.)

From the very formation of Konoha, the Aburame clan was in charge of the most tedious work. Often times having to deal with the brunt of it while Konoha lives scott-free. Border patrols, cleaning up after crimes, interrogation. The Aburames are efficient, but this efficiency ultimately lead to their public consternation.

"You Aburames are skilled, I must admit." Danzo's croaked voice echoed through the chamber. "So much so that any village would want to use you as weapons."

"And that's all there is to it, really. You bunch are too strong. Too skilled. There's too many unknown factors. The higher-ups have agreed to eliminate these threats. After all, Konoha prides itself in being a friendly nation. Your blood brings filth to our soil."

 Shino knows that there is a lie slipped between those words. Danzo was not a friendly type of leader.

 "The Four Noble Clans of Konoha are in need of a change. The Uchihas have proven to be evil. It is in Konoha's best interest to discard the bad, and salvage whatever is left. Haven't you noticed? The only reason we keep the Akimichi is because they're dumb enough to be controlled by the Nara and Yamanaka. And the Hyuuga's reputation are held at our mercy. You're smart enough to figure the rest." Danzo says, walking to approach Shino.

What?

Did he hear his words right? The Akimichi clan? All along, Shino had thought that the lucky title of a 'Noble Clan' are given to clans who had body modifications that cannot be replicated by other ninjas. To think that his fellow team had such a scheme hanging around their backs...Shino wants to believe that Team 10's friendship is genuine.

"Tomorrow," Danzo says, patting the chuunin's back, "You will be promoted as Jonin and will be registered as a member of the ANBU. Of course, that's a lie. Because tomorrow I will personally have you run... special errands for me."

Shino gulped. He didn't like the close proximity.

"Make sure you say your goodbyes today. You'll be listed as dead for security reasons."

 And with that, Shino is let out of the facility. He finds himself pondering aimlessly on a nearby park bench. Autumn has turned the Konohagakure into a beautiful display of warm colors. The trees looked like they've been covered in a rich, velvet cloak and the air was sublime. Shino wonders how long it'll be till he can bask in this scenery again.

 First, he'd visit his father. Then, he'd visit his other family members. After that he'll visit...no one. How could Shino bear to look at his friend's faces after resolving so adamantly to despise them? After convincing himself that they've forgotten him. 

(And Shino still hopes. He hopes that somehow someone will notice eventually.)

But he supposes he'll finish his priorities first. Evade a civil war, restore his clan's honor, and the rest will be his secondary concerns. It is dire that he doesn't get emotional, especially in the current state Konoha is in.

 He looks at the children, playing games under a nearby tree. They were too young for the academy, of course, but if they were old enough to attend, would they all turn out like him? Cold and efficient? 

Shino thinks that he used to be a perfectly good student. A good ninja, but perhaps not so good as a friend. One can see plenty of differences between Shino and the rambunctious Naruto, but do they realize how much he envies his cheerful personality?

(And Shino envies him so much. He's taken the attention of the girl he favors. And now, he has taken everyone's attention away from Shino's disappearance.

 Naruto had outshined Shino. As if Shino was a shadow that should not exist.)

He's had enough of the pointless thoughts. It was almost noon and Shino has to hurry home if he wants to say proper goodbyes.

 But a shrill bark had frozen him to his seat.

 "Akamaru, calm down!" A familiar voice shouted.

 Shino jolted at the sound. It was coming from behind him. He senses two people walking by, and a dog beside them. Shino was already certain of who they were. 

 "Akamaru, what's wrong boy? You shouldn't be barking at strangers." The man—Kiba himself said, as he crouched to rub Akamaru's head.

"Maybe he sees someone, Kiba-kun? I don't think anyone's back home from missions..." Hinata replied, looking around the park.

 Oh heavens. If there was anyone who Shino would avoid the most, it'd be these two—Hinata  and Kiba. He doesn't want to face them. He doesn't even want to be near them. Alas, everytime Shino denies this thought his heart urges him more and more. To simply turn to them. To tell them everything.

(But who was it really who had decided to forget about him in the first place? No one had bothered to ask where he went after the Chuunin exams.)

 Akamaru's barking turned into a soft whine. The canine was visibly confused.

Shino has yet to move from his spot at the bench.

 "Come on now. No one is here. You've mistaken him for someone else, buddy." Kiba says, sounding a little harsh for someone who claims to be Akamaru's partner.

 (Shino wanted to burst out laughing. Doubting a ninja dog's nose? Especially one who has worked with Shino for years? Kiba was a bad liar.

See, even Akamaru notices! Shino thinks to himself, proud to have concluded that the fault was theirs all along.)

 Akamaru still whines when Kiba motions him away from Shino's bench. 

"Why are you being so difficult today?!" Kiba grunts, frustrated. "Come on Akamaru, you don't want to upset Hinata on our date!"

 Oh.

 Oh.

 So it’s like that, huh.

 "K-Kiba-kun! Please don't shout in public..." Hinata whimpers, fiddling her thumbs together.

And with a little nudge, Akamaru finally moves on with them. The couple enjoying the beauty of Konoha's Autumn, oblivious to everything behind it.

 It took minutes. Hours, even for Shino to compose himself enough to process the ordeal.  

 And those hours were filled with empty pondering. With words that were on the tip of falling out of his mouth. With feelings that he had not been brave enough to admit before. With the eternal, everlasting regret of not speaking up.

But there was nothing he could do.

A shinobi must constantly suppress their emotions, follow a strict set of rules that they decide among themselves, and avoid extraneous conflict

 This is for the best. he repeats to himself. Hinata would be better off without him, he thinks.

(But he could have made her happy too. He would've given everything for her.)

 A stroll to wash off these thoughts. Yes, Shino thinks that all he needed was to cool his head, shrug it off, and return to his obligations tomorrow. The warm glow of sunset was eager to mask his unease.

The sunset was particularly shy that day, and had swiftly sank to allow the moon to greet him instead. It's already past six o,clock. He knows that he needs to greet his family, but Shino's distraught conscience told him to look at the sky. The moon was still as luminous as usual.

 Shino had always known how beautiful the moon is. How beautiful its pearly shimmer is. 

(How gentle her eyes were, radiating such a serene, pure love)

 And like an opened dam, suddenly Shino feels his chest aching. Like a hole had opened inside him--one that he can't touch nor see. A hole that, no matter how hard Shino tries, would always engulf him in rain. In a downpour that feels like a thousand needles showering on him.

It feels like such a distant memory. Months ago they were still fine. Hinata was still his comrade. And now, she's floating further away from his grasp.  Was there no more space for Shino in her heart?

 (But Shino was a fool to believe—

 A firefly can't love the moon.

 Its language can't be heard,

Its wings can't reach the sky,

Its light can't compare to the sea of stars.

 It can only do what a firefly does best.

 Illuminate the night in its own glow. 

A token of a love that falls on deaf ears.)

 By the time Shino reaches the Aburame compound, his tears were already dry. Shibi waits for him near the estate gates, and without speaking a word, held his son in a deep embrace. A fitting greeting for a child who's always been forced to grow up before his time.

Shino was going to stay the night in the estate. Saying goodbyes and packing things up. Of course, no further information would be given—everyone was in a state of wary due to the constant supervision.

He had to console them the best he can. Explain the situation. Share his insights. Assure them that this is his job as the Aburame heir. And for that, he would do everything in his capacity to make sure his loved ones don't perish.

 A night is never enough to tell stories. By tomorrow morning, Shibi would have said goodbye to two sons.

[buttered-ghost-toast]

😱😱 SLASHER OC INTRO POST 😱😱

Ansel Alan Watts

"Don't you dare call me that name. Your choices are 'Alan' or 'Sir'."

(bloody boy under story under cut)

He is a sociopathic serial killer living and working in Chicago. He was born in Indiana to Luca and Sarah and is named after his grandfathers, Ansel on his fatherside and Alan on his mother's. As a child Ansel was often teased for being from a family of immigrants who barely spoke any English and the fact that his family raised pigs, so from an early age he found no interest in socializing, instead spending much of his time reading and learning about anything and everything often conducting experiments in one of the empty silos on his family's property.

Ansel's parents were very supportive and nurturing, often being the only ones who encouraged him to challenge the world around him. They didn't have much, but often went without to allow their son to have what he needed. They gifted him his most prized possession, a small ceramic piggy bank named Penny which they bought as the livestock finally began to turn a profit.

At around the age of 6, there was an unfortunate accident where his parent's small home caught fire due to faulty old wiring left unrepaired by previous owners. Ansel and Penny were the only ones to make it out, and per his parents' will, Ansel inherited the sizeable sum of money they had saved as well as the entirety of the family's farmland.

After the death of his parents, Ansel became more reserved and was bounced from relative to relative scatterrd on the family's land l, most of whom were, at this point, aunts and an uncle who married off an on with locals that had rap sheets a country mile long, most often cases of domestic abuse which spiraled and snowballed and rolled downhill landing neatly on Ansel's face most of the time. As he began to grow more defensive (read by relative X as ungrateful) he would be thrown out to sleep with the pigs in the summer or locked in the cellar in winter.

When his grandfather Alan emigrated to America to spend his later golden years with family, he saw the way Ansel was treated and took him under his wing. He protected the boy from verbal and moat of the physical abuse and reprimanded anyone who continued to treat him poorly. This went on a few years until Alan suffered a massive heart attack and passed. Ansel was then 16 and had worked his way into early University admissions to major in Biochemistry. He dumped his first name and chose to go by his middle name to honor his late grandfather.

As an adult (32), and more importantly in his murder life, Ansel..er...Alan, is very much closed off to others. No one has ever been kind to him since he’s such a pompous douche, or if they were they're long since dead now, and he has no interest in going through all that again. He is arrogant and definitely believes himself to be above others. As he began his secondary education he was introduced to Thomas Harris's Red Dragon series and found comfort in the character of Hannibal Lecter, slowly picking up traits and habits of the fictional doctor here and there until he built him up so highly that he became the ultimate idol.

Yeah...Ansel is a cannibal. Well...sort of. He wants to do everything that Lecter does but he just can't seem to find the taste for long pig. It doesn't stop him from trying to master his mind and keep it down. He has tried everything and every method or preparation and combination of seasoning. Nothing has worked so far.

As far as an MO or typical victim profile, its really up to chance. There are many people he finds irritating and a long list of people he would like to have gone from the world, but sometimes it comes on a whim and he finds himself stuffing a body in the trunk of his car then making the trip back to the farm for the weekend. There isn't a particular weapon he fancies, but he does tend to bring out a sledgehammer for a majority of his kills...its just the best way to crunch a skull.

When he's got someone tied up in a barn, he likes to take his time and really have a little fun. Sometimes its mind games, other times just physical torture and every once in a while, he will let them escape and get just far enough before they get an arrow through the chest. Keeps things lively!

Disposal is easy when you've got plenty of cute piggies ready to help you out! After a nice messy evening, he will mix his victims in with the Grade-A slop and feed them to his prize winning swine.

And at the end of the night, he will always come home to his best girl, Penny.

[jeminy3]

Hughes/Hawkeye Swap/Apprentice Hughes AU Outline

notes and general outline for my ideas for a FMA AU that swaps Riza and Hughes' roles in the story. includes lesbian Riza and self-indulgent Roy/Hughes shipping, but you can imagine it's platonic if you want.

Original Art Post Here

Read on AO3 Here

Read on Google Docs Here

AU in which Hughes and Hawkeye switch roles. Hughes is Roy's First Lieutenant and bodyguard with the secrets of Flame Alchemy tattooed on his back, Riza is Roy's best friend and informant within Central's investigation team.

- Berthold Hawkeye refuses to teach Riza Alchemy, being old-fashioned and wishing to protect his daughter from that lifestyle. Instead he opens up an apprenticeship to any teen boys willing to learn. He receives one in the form of a young Roy Mustang.

But things become complicated when a 2nd boy by the name of Maes Hughes also arrives to accept the apprenticeship. Neither him or Roy want to back down, so Berthold wearily agrees to teach them both on the condition that only one of them will receive advanced studies if they earn his trust and approval. Roy and Maes agree.

What follows is 2-3 years of Roy and Maes competing as rival apprentices as they live with the Hawkeyes in their estate, slowly growing from bitter rivals to close friends (with tenuous romantic/sexual feelings for each other later on).

Roy is petty and competitive, eager to prove himself against Maes as the better Alchemist and earn his Master's respect, hopefully enough to learn the secrets of his infamous Flame Alchemy research. Maes only wished to learn basic Alchemy at first, but he's driven to try harder as he butts heads with Roy, taking great pleasure in knocking the ambitious boy down a few pegs and seeing him frustrated.

Meanwhile, a young Riza watches them from afar, then eventually befriends the two, admitting from her observations of them that they actually seem to like each other's company. Roy and Maes vehemently disagree with this, too proud to admit otherwise.

This becomes obvious as the adolescents' sexuality comes into bloom (Roy and Riza being gay, and Maes being bisexual), with Riza being the first one who becomes comfortable in who she is and what she likes, and keeps trying to encourage the boys do the same. But their pride and stubbornness keeps getting in the way of admitting their attraction to each other.

+ Eventually a harrowing event or two brings them closer, like the Academy OVA

Things change as Roy's ambition shifts, and he shows interest in joining the military and helping his country with its constant wars. Riza shares similar interests, but this draws Berthold's ire. He pushes them away in favor of Maes, who he deems his most trustworthy apprentice now.

Maes shares similar sentiments with his friends, but he's better about hiding them from his Master. After hearing about Berthold's Flame Alchemy from Roy and Riza, his inquisitive nature made him curious to learn the secrets, so he's been staying on Berthold's good side to earn his trust. He aims to share the secrets with his friends once he gets them.

Once Berthold makes it clear he favors Maes, Roy makes clear his desire to join the Academy and parts ways with his Master. He begrudgingly bids farewell to his friends before he leaves. (He's almost 18, several months older than Maes, and nearly 4 years older than Riza.)

Roy promises to see Riza on the battlefield and fight with her someday. His parting with Maes is more tense, as they've finally settled their differences and become friends, but still haven't resolved their deeper feelings for each other. Maes isn't clear on whether or not he will join Roy at the Academy, despite showing interest earlier. Instead, Roy hesitantly promises to see him again, and Maes promises likewise.

Roy spends several months adjusting to Academy life, then is surprised when the next batch of students has Maes among them. He joined after all, saying he stopped his studies with Master Hawkeye because he no longer wants to become an Alchemist, and has signed up as an average soldier, like Roy. He doesn't go into detail about his decision, but Roy assumes it's because Maes finally stood up for himself and what he really believes in, rebelling against Master Hawkeye.

No longer rivals, and being more mature, Roy and Maes revive their friendship and finally come to terms with their feelings for each other. Maes admits to grappling with heartbreak after Roy left, making him finally realize the true nature of his feelings. Roy admits to missing Maes in a similar way since coming here. Eventually, they confess their love for each other and become an item.

But Roy notices Maes having a strange paranoia over his body that wasn't there before, never undressing in front of anyone and being more private in his bathing rituals. Sleeping together is also off-limits. Roy wonders about this but respects Maes' preferences, trying to be a good boyfriend.

They survive the rest of their Academy training and graduate with flying colors, all the while enjoying an overall happy relationship together. Roy is a strong soldier and natural leader, and Hughes proves to be an accomplished marksman and sniper.

Roy and Maes return to the Hawkeye Estate to visit Riza, like they promised her. She's happy to see them, and even more happy that they finally hooked up. But things are tense under the surface, and Riza admits that her father is on his deathbed. Roy agrees to see him, but Maes suddenly becomes quiet and distant, and refuses to see him. Riza seems to understand, and takes him aside while Roy meets with Berthold.

The dying Berthold gives his parting words to Roy, admitting he would have favored Roy with his secrets had he not agreed to join the military, and it seems he made a mistake in trusting Maes after all, since he followed the same path. But what's done is done. Roy asks about happened to the secrets of his research. Berthold forces a chuckle, remarking that Roy should know about this already.

Roy asks what he means by this. Berthold admits that he gave the secrets to Maes not long before he left for the Academy. But apparently, Maes never told him this.

Regardless, Berthold makes Roy promise to watch over his daughter and keep Maes' secrets safe, only using Flame Alchemy for a good cause. Roy is confused, but agrees to this. He comforts Berthold as he takes his dying breaths.

Afterward, Roy finds Riza and Maes comforting each other in Riza's bedroom, and confronts them over what he's been told. He demands to know what Maes has been hiding from him, feeling hurt. Maes gets upset, and Riza calms them both, telling Roy that it isn't personal, it's been very hard for Maes and she only found out about it after he left for the Academy.

Roy wants to know what "it" is - so, Riza gently encourages Maes to take off his shirt. Hesitantly, with great pains, Maes does this - revealing a series of Alchemy tattoos covering most of his back, containing the secrets to Flame Alchemy.

+ Alternative: Roy walks into the room just as Maes is showing his back to Riza, causing even more shock and confusion.

Roy is shocked and horrified. Maes forces a calm, nonchalant tone as he relays how he earned Berthold's trust, but only enough to earn his secrets in a way he could never actually use them. Instead he was coerced into being their keeper, sedated and operated on by a tattoo artist Berthold hired. The operation and grueling recovery was a terrible, violating experience, and has ruined Maes' passion for Alchemy entirely, to the point that he hates and avoids it now. As soon as he was able, he quietly slipped away from the Hawkeye Estate, returned home, then left to join Roy at the Academy to become a soldier. He finally breaks down as he apologizes profusely to Roy for never telling him about this, even when they became an item.

The two embrace, with Roy understanding of Maes now and saying he should apologize for getting mad and assuming the worst. He promises to be better to Maes, as long as he doesn't hide things from him anymore. He loves him, and if they're going to survive together, they need to be honest and trusting with each other. Maes tearfully agrees. Riza comforts them both.

Afterwards, Roy uses his soldier's pay to arrange a proper burial for Berthold, and the three mourn at his grave. Roy relays his dreams to help his country from the bottom up, even if he's just a disposable soldier. Maes agrees with him and promises to stay by his side, and offers to give Roy the secrets on his back so he can revive his dream of becoming a State Alchemist. Roy accepts this, especially coming from his boyfriend. Riza is warmed by all this, and promises to support them as well, once she's able to. Roy leaves a business card with her so she can look for him after she graduates from the Academy.

Roy and Maes return to Roy's new apartment in Central, moving in together and working to decode the tattoo. Once they do, Roy develops his method of Flame Alchemy, inventing the ignition gloves. He trains until he feels ready, then applies for his State License, impressing the Fuhrer and others with his flames. He earns the title of The Flame Alchemist. Maes supports him from the sidelines as best he can, still very nervous around Alchemy, especially this kind.

Then, Roy is deployed to Ishval, with Maes following soon afterward. They're separated for a time, but eventually meet again in a tearful reunion. Roy has become a murderer, and their idealistic dreams have shattered.

Eventually they also reunite with Riza, who has become an unofficial squad Captain. She's graduated early, showing a penchant for investigation, strategy, and knife-throwing. The three friends take comfort in each other in this terrible time.

On a good note, Riza reveals she has a girlfriend in Central named Gracia, and she plans to marry her once they go back home. Roy and Maes are happy for her - but also a bit sad, since their careers prevent them from doing the same due to fraternization laws.

Once it's over, Roy changes his dream to ascending the ranks and becoming the next Fuhrer, protecting everyone beneath him with his newfound leadership responsibilities. Maes and Riza pledge to support him to the bitter end.

Before going back home, Maes approaches Roy privately, and asks him to burn his tattoo. He feels equally responsible for the lives Roy's taken with his flames, and has decided the secrets need to be destroyed to prevent the possibility of another Flame Alchemist being created. He has discussed this with Riza beforehand, who agreed. Roy refuses to hurt Maes at first, but after some begging and arguing, he finally relents.

After Ishval, Roy is promoted to Lt. Colonel and transferred to East HQ under General Grumman, Riza's grandfather whom she pulls strings with. Maes is promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and assigned as Roy's personal aide and bodyguard, trusting no one else with the role. Maes will protect his back like Roy did for his, and put a bullet in it if he strays from his path toward Fuhrer. Riza is transferred to Central to join their investigations department, working on the inside to supply Roy with information.

Over the years, Riza marries Gracia, and Roy and Maes attend their wedding as her best men. Months later, a sperm donor is used to help Gracia become pregnant, and they welcome the arrival of their daughter, Elicia.

The rest is mostly the same as canon besides the reversed roles, and Roy and Maes have a somewhat-secret relationship that they struggle to keep balanced and healthy between their professional lives, power imbalances, and promises to each other.

+ Possible: Riza's fast enough to narrowly avoid dying at the hands of Envy, but she does have to go into hiding and/or ends up in a coma. If comatose, she only revives after The Promised Day - the Nationwide Transmutation Circle takes her soul out of her body and Hohenheim's counter-circle returns it, causing a sort of hard-reset on her consciousness and returning her to the waking world. After recovering, she is happily reunited with her friends and family (but is probably worse for wear, due to the bullet wound and whatever resulting injuries or nerve damage it caused).

[deathghost8]

This morning, I was giving you a talk on the fundamental basic attitudes expressed in Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. The title of the book Tao, Te, Ching, introduces now the second word in the title. I’ve been dwelling this morning on the first word which is Tao. And so comes up the second word. And this word, again is, faces us with some serious problems of translation. Ordinarily translated virtue. Ordinarily translated virtue, but virtue as we understand it today isn’t at all appropriate. The nearest kind of… When we speak of the healing virtues of a plant that’s nearer to the meaning of this word death. The Japanese pronounce it toku, the Cantonese duk and the Northern mandarins approximately ‘duh’. And in the section of the Lao Tzu where this is really introduced, the text says something like this. The superior virtue, not virtue, that’s it has virtue. Inferior virtue can’t let go of virtue, thus not virtue. And we more or less paraphrase that by translating superior virtue is not conscious of itself as a virtue and therefore it is virtue but inferior virtue is so hooked up with being virtuous, or hooked on being virtuous, that it’s not virtue.    Now then therefore, this word is a connection of virtue and magic. It means the Superior, the excellence of things, in the sense that. A tree excels at being a tree. And nobody really knows how it does it. There is no way of imitating a tree except, the only way is to be one. And so in the same way when a human being shows extraordinary skill something, it seems that it comes natural to him. It seems that he doesn’t achieve it, by any kind of artificiality. If there is some discipline in it, it’s concealed. So excelling in something naturally, and yet it’s something that is so difficult to understand that it seems that it has been done by magic, is the meaning of this word. So what Te is is, the state of affairs,  a way of talking about, particularly a human being, who has learned to live in harmony with the Tao. Now of course, everything is fundamentally in harmony with the Tao. In the book called The Journey on, or the unwobbling pivot, it is said the dollar is that from which nothing can depart. That from which things can depart is not the Tao. Fundamentally you see, you can’t get away from it it’s like a situation in which we are all floating. In a tremendous river. And the river carries you along, anyhow. Now some of the people in the river of swimming against it, but they’re still being carried along. Others have learned that the art of the of the thing, is to swim with it. And they are carried along too, but they know it, you see they know they are carried along, whereas the people who are swimming against it think they’re going in the opposite direction. But they’re not really. So that was a sort of discussion we were having this morning when I find invariably whenever I talk about these things, Americans raise moral issues. Because we are a people incredibly bamboozled by preachers. And so this always comes up. Bamboozled, preachers Yes. And have chronic guilty consciences, and so those questions are always raised. For this you see explains, part of the situation that you you have to flow with the river. There is no other way. But that you can swim against it and pretend not to be flowing with it, but you still are. So, but a person who is not making that pretense anymore, who knows that you have to go with the river and swim with it, suddenly he acquires behind everything that he does the power of the river. The person swimming against the river you see, does not by his action express the force of the river the person swimming with it he goes along and he has that whole river behind him but he subtly directing it because you can change direction in the course of the river you can go to the left or to the right as a ship can use a rudder and still go along with the current, or more skillful still, as a sail boat can tack, because when a sailboat tacks and goes in a direction contrary to the wind. It still is using the wind to blow it along and that is the most highly skillful art of all that is Taoism in perfection. The art of sailing. Very intelligent. — - the Tao Te Ching is a book written, for several purposes. You may take it as a guide to mystical understanding of the universe you may take it as a dissertation on the principles of nature, almost a naturalistic, a handbook of natural law, we would say. Or you may also take it as a political book. A book of wisdom for governors. And, the principle which it advocates, basically, is the virtue of governing by not ruling. Look at it in this way. Supposing the president of the United States were as unknown to you by name as the local sanitary inspector. The man who looks after the drains and the sewage disposal and all that kind of thing. This is not a glamorous figure, you see, but for that very reason, he probably does his job more efficiently than the president, because the president wastes enormous amount of time in interviewing various groups from the Elks and the Girl Scouts, conferring honors and all this kind of thing. The poor man’s life must be an utter torment because he’s so well known and therefore has absolutely no time to give to the government of the country. I mean think of his mail. And all the people who have to be employed sifting that out, and assessing it, so that if he were someone quite anonymous, and that we didn’t have to think about, he would be a very very good ruler. In just the same way, for example, you don’t have to attend, unless you’re sick, to the government of your own body. It happens automatically This is this expression ziran, of itself, and it goes on day after day after day and the better it is the less you have to think about it.— -So on the deepest level, a person as a whole, can get in the way of his own existence. By becoming too aware of himself. And then he lacks this quality, Te. Now, the Taoists then propose that there be something to help people get back to Tao, and be able to be in the state of Te. So that they wouldn’t get in their own way. And, this is connected with the idea of being empty. The emptiness being somehow vacant, was the secret of the thing. The highest kind of knowledge is not know-how, but no-how, and no hyphen H.-O. W. to be able to do it no how. Without any method. — -And this is the great human predicament the development of self-consciousness the development of the possibility of reflecting upon one’s own knowledge. And this is simultaneously a blessing and a curse. And Taoism does not escape this problem, I mean it doesn’t, it doesn’t avoid this problem, it deals with it. But it doesn’t deal with it obviously. So we get back to this fundamental verse about the nature of Te. What is highly virtuous is a virtue that is not conscious of itself as virtue. The moment it’s conscious of itself as such you see it it fails. So in this way, we love to see a child dancing all by itself. Lost in the dance and not performing for an audience, and we say oh oh if only I could dance like that. If only I could become like a child again: innocent. But then soon, when I went parents notice how beautifully a child dances and they all approve of it and say to this child, ‘Dance for us,’ the child begins to lose this power. And it puts on as it knows its notice. And we don’t like that and say that’s affectation that showing off that’s phony. What we want you to do is to dance as if you had no audience. Not even yourself. Which of course puts the child in a double bind, because it says to the child we require you to do something that will be acceptable only if you do it as if it wasn’t required. We do that all the time to our children and to each other. You must love me. After all, you promised to do so when we got married to you and so on. So, this is the difficulty. But somehow, a very great artist in the maturity of his life somehow is able. At least to give the impression. That he does what he does without playing to the gallery. Without self-consciousness. It seems perfectly natural. So how does he get there? There was a Taoist sage later that Lao Tzu. His name was Lieh Tzu We Romanize that as LIEH. Lieh. And he had a reputation for being able to ride on the wind. So light. And says in one place it’s easy enough to stand still the difficulty is to walk without touching the ground. Because in the state of being in accord with the Tao, there is a certain feeling of weightlessness, parallel to the weightlessness that people feel when they get into outer space, or when they go deep into the ocean. This is of course connected with the sensation that you’re not carrying your body around. I described this morning the sensation that an expert driver has, when he really is with it on a car. That the hill lifts him up and drops him down the other side. That he and the road are all one process. And that’s equivalent to the sense of weightlessness. And so this is connected, this is inner meaning of riding on the wind when Suzuki was asked what is it like to have Satori he said it’s just like ordinary everyday experience except about two inches off the ground. And so we say in our own songs, ‘Walking on air and never a care, something is making me sing Tralalala, like a little bird in spring.

Alan Watts - piece title - Swimming headless, Part 1 Excerpt for zen show volume 1. The flower gameplay features riding on the wind as a core game mechanic, and it is a vital work that narrates this message.

[chibi-jing]

Somnus makes a better King than Ardyn

Yes. You’ve read me well.

Ok, so now that your heart is broken as much as mine, let me explain…

 As a human being, Ardyn disposes of qualities nobler than his brother: he’s devoted, humble, unselfish, kind-hearted and empathetic. He puts the sake of each individual before his and grants to each life an immeasurable value. He prefers to heal rather than destroy, and to educate rather than condemn.

There are multiple examples illustrating his personality traits in the anime: first, Ardyn’s infection by darkness. He’s perfectly aware of his sickness but he continues his duty nonetheless, even if it has to keep him away from his lover, Aera. Second, when talking to his people, he explains to them that the Starscourge is a disease that can be healed. He believes that the way to defeat darkness is to unite people against it, not ostracizing the ones who are sick. He also proposes a deal to his brother to spare his life rather than having to kill him when they fight. Then, even if his people consider him as a king, Ardyn has no intention whatsoever to rule. Since he have the sense of responsability he’d become king if the others require it but mainly because it would allow him to help more people, not for power in itself. Ardyn keeps this characteristic until the end of FFXV where he sits the throne during 10 years but never uses it to reign.

.

On the other hand, there is Somnus. Compared to Ardyn, he’s certainly not empathetic and unselfish, but these qualities are replaced by other ones: instead of giving to each life an immeasurable value, Somnus thinks more in term of greater good. If you have to kill a dozen to save an entire country, Somnus will be the one doing it. He’s also charismatic, determined, ambitious, skilled in combat and can keep a cool head in any circumstances.

In the anime, he’s in a strong position: it’s him who commands the army, who lives in the castle and people obey to him, whether he’s ordering them to burn their peers or when he's inviting them to the coronation. He can do what he has to do because people are listening to him, and if it’s not the case he uses his soldiers to obtain what he wants. Somnus doesn’t even bat an eye when he fights and kills Ardyn, only focused on the way to succeed, giving more attention to his goal rather than his feelings.

  If you’d ask me to choose between the two brothers, I would have no hesitation at all and definitely jump into Ardyn’s arms. It’s also what Aera should have think: even if Ardyn’s situation is complicated and dangerous, being in company of such a pure soul is priceless. But.

  But the gods aren’t supposed to choose the best human being. They have to choose a king. And as much as I love Ardyn, I have to admit that in this situation Somnus is a better candidate.

.

We commonly imagine that to be a good king (or queen), you have to be a kind person who listens to his citizens and tries his best to take care of all of them. This is what we wish, we expect our rulers to understand us and give us what we want to live an happy life. But it isn’t what a king is supposed to be in reality. A king isn’t supposed to give us what we want, but what we need. A king is a symbol used to unite the people, he has to appear strong and be strong. A king is the leader of a country, someone to rely on and trust when he has to provide security. A king has to maintain order in his kingdom and has to take the right decisions to make it prosper. A king has to be reassuring and able to take difficult decisions for the greater good.

As Regis says himself at the beginning of Episode Ignis: "A king cannot lead by standing still. A king pushes onward always, accepting the consequences and never looking back" and in French: « When you’re a king, you must be able to advance in adversity. And this, whatever the sacrifices. You have to go on without ever stopping ». And in fact you can see in Kingsglaive that Regis is perfectly aware about what’s going to happen in Insomnia, but even if it frustrates him, he took the decision to let Iedolas and Ardyn destroy the city because he knew it was the only way to give a chance to Noctis. And Regis didn’t acted this way only because Noctis is his son, if he saved him it’s primarily because he’s the Chosen King and the only one able to save Eos.

  Regarding the two brothers now it’s obvious that Somnus fits the role, but not Ardyn.

  Somnus completely corresponds to Regis’ description: he’s taking decisions for the greater good regardless of the sacrifices and accepting the consequences of his actions. He’s also a natural-born leader, able to gather people under his banner and inspiring them. He’s winning the people confidence by being self-assured and a good speaker in public. He’s intransigent and always have the final word, but he also does whatever has to be done to succeed like in Kingsglaive when he allows Nyx to use the Ring’s power. The risk with this kind of profile is for the ruler to turn from a king to a dictator, but Somnus isn’t presented as having bad intentions. According to SE Q&A about the anime, Somnus simply wants to eradicate darkness, whatever the cost. That’s why he needs the power: to take action.

 On the opposite if Ardyn’s qualities make him a saint, they definitely are insufficient to be a good king according to the definition FFXV gives us about this role.

Unlike Somnus, Ardyn doesn’t inspire naturally the admiration of his person: during all the anime, he seems tired, sad and dirty. Even with Aera, Ardyn still looks like he’s living his life through someone else’s eye. His devotion to his people is slowly killing him, wether it be his soul or his body. And that’s a major problem: how can someone pretend to rule a kingdom while being sick? From the gods’ point of view, even if they close their eyes on the corruption inside Ardyn’s body, it would be stupid to choose a sick man to embody the strength of a king. As the anime shows us, Ardyn’s disease is a strong disadvantage during his fight against Somnus, giving his brother the upper hand on him.

In addition, Ardyn doesn’t have the will to rule. He would do it if he had to and I’m sure he would do his best to take the right decisions, but it’s simply not in his nature. Even in FFXV, he prefers to remain in the Emperor’s shadow rather than being exposed.

Moreover – and it’s really painful for me to acknowledge it – Ardyn’s method to fight darkness isn’t enough. As the old man tells him: "But even with your curative powers, you can’t save everyone". That’s absolutely true. Eos is big and Ardyn is alone. The darkness spreads faster than he’s healing people. Unless someone else could have the same ability as him or some kind of medicine to stop the Starscourge, Somnus’ drastic solution will unfortunally remain the most efficient of the two.

For what we know, Ardyn works alone. He probably has supporters all around the country, but he’s not surrounded by an escort for his travels while Somnus has been able to surround himself with precious allies such as Gilgamesh. A king can’t rule alone, he needs some trustworthy and competent persons, something Somnus fully understood.

The way Ardyn is helping people is compassionate and altruistic, he’s considering them as human beings and not as pawns on a chessboard, which is his biggest quality and weakness: a king can’t have a case-by-case approach, he has to consider the overview. Also, it is better for a king to be respected rather than be loved. With his policy, Somnus is respected and even if some people disagree, they will follow him. For his part, Ardyn is absolutely loved by his people and they don’t follow him because he’s charismatic or powerful, they’re following him because they know he’s a fair and good man who can rescue them. Ardyn’s supporters have surely a stronger dedication to him compared to Somnus’ ones, but they are fewer, because Ardyn is acting at a human scale while Somnus is thinking at a country level.

  That’s why I believe that for all these reasons, Somnus was indeed a better choice. Ardyn is exceptional and a true hero, but he doesn’t fit the job. And that’s a real tragedy because Ardyn never wanted to be king to begin with! If Somnus didn’t wished to get rid of him, Ardyn could have lived a peaceful life with Aera without facing his brother’s betrayal. But something happened, something that isn’t in the anime and I hope will be in the DLC, something that broke up the brothers and gave them no other choice but to fight each other. Maybe Somnus discovered Ardyn’s infection by darkness? Maybe Ardyn was turning people against Somnus? For now we have no idea about it, and I’m dying to know the bottom of this!

 - - -

I was thinking...in fact, Ardyn would be a perfect Hufflepuff while Somnus would definitely be a Slytherin.

It works also with Assassin’s Creed: Ardyn would be an Assassin and Somnus a Templar…

And yes, I love Hufflepuff ^^

[edogawatranslations]

Danganronpa Kirigiri (3) - Chapter 2, Part 3

Table of Contents | Previous: Chapter 2, Part 2

As we walked, Lico once again brought up a serious topic out of nowhere.

“The two organizations pursuing Rei Mikagami today are a Chinese intelligence agency and a scientific investigative unit of the Russian army.”

These absurd statements no longer caught me off guard; I had fully accepted that the abnormal had become our new normal.

“You’re awfully informed about all this,” I commented.

“It’s my duty to relay you detailed information.” Lico turned around and flashed an innocent smile. “Both organizations have dispatched two unarmed individuals to Japan. Neither group is much of a threat, since they don’t use weapons when active outside of their home countries. The Russians especially; they belong to a team developing supersoldiers, which means they’re more so occult researchers than fighters.”

I quickly scanned the area. From what I could tell, there wasn’t a Russian in sight. The only people around were cheerful women roaming the mall with multiple shopping bags dangling from their arms.

“The three assassins pose the bigger problem,” Lico continued. Despite the grim topic, his expression didn’t change one bit.

Assassins...

We were intruding on their work. To reach Rei Mikagami, we couldn’t simply ignore them and walk on by.

“The first assassin is a woman of unknown nationality who goes by the name of ‘Copycat.’ As you may guess, she specializes in copycat crimes. She disposes of her targets by mimicking the M.O. of a serial killer active in the corresponding country or state, allowing her and her clients to fully escape suspicion, since the victim ends up tossed into the unrelated string of cases. Because of this, her work has mostly been attributed to other killers. Fortunately, this method prevents her from haphazardly killing someone. She acts deliberately and typically refrains from taking offensive measures.”

With the steady stream of information flowing from his mouth, Lico was giving Google a run for its money. His appearance already seemed rather other-worldly, but his information processing capabilities were all the more superhuman.

We rode the escalator one floor up to another women’s clothing department.

The ludicrous conversation continued in the perfectly average location.

“The second assassin is known as ‘Night Flyer.’ He’s rumored to be a Romanian of small build, but nobody has confirmed his identity. His killing style of choice is fairly standard: he approaches and shoots his target with a pistol equipped with a silencer. He’s inclined to be hot-headed, so consider him fairly hostile. Multiple people have witnessed him in the past heading to the nearest airport after completing a hit and flying off in a private jet, hence his nickname.”

“Is he friends with the first assassin you mentioned?”

“No, all of these assassins work alone. They see each other as rivals chasing the same target, so it would be fortunate for us if they took each other out.”

“What do you know about the third?”

“He’s Japanese. He doesn’t go by a particular nickname, but he’s an alumnus of Hope’s Peak Academy: the former Ultimate Rock Climber, Tsurugi Hitomoshi. After graduating, he spent some time abroad and made a name for himself conquering treacherous cliffs. At some point, he turned his climbing into a performance art, scaling historical monuments and buildings such as the Eiffel Tower and Angkor Wat, which caused backlash and eventually led to him being exiled from the climbing community. Only the criminal underworld is aware of his current activities as an assassin; he’s known as someone who can appear anywhere and eliminate anyone with one finger. He can easily bend the barrel of a rifle with one hand. I’ve also heard that he once crushed the heart of a police officer through a bulletproof vest with his bare hands.”

An assassin trained at an elite school. This was one gathering I didn’t want to have any involvement in.

I pitied Rei Mikagami, who had to deal with all these killers chasing after him. I guess prominent detectives were always roped into political schemes or conflicts, almost like how scientists around the world were killed or abducted during World War II for their work on weapons programs.

Someday, even Kyoko might be forced to serve someone for their personal gain. Or perhaps, she already has been...

While walking down the halls, Lico continued the conversation as if casually chatting about the weather.

“By the way, before the two of you arrived, I spotted a woman who fit the description of Copycat entering this department store.”

“Wh-What?” Suddenly sensing bloodlust in the air, I braced myself for action.

Nobody around looked particularly suspicious. Ladies clad in clothes from nearby stores were bustling about, as usual.

“You gotta tell us these things sooner! What did she look like?”

“She had on a coat with a red hood, kind of like Little Red Riding Hood. Blonde hair. She was rolling a small travel suitcase behind her.”

“Sounds like an easy to spot get-up, even from a distance. If we see her, let’s stay on our guard and avoid getting too close.”

“Avoiding her won’t get us any closer to Rei Mikagami,” Kyoko said. “We should follow her. We won’t make any headway without taking risks, right?”

“Yeah, but...”

Forget the possibility that we might have to fly into the face of danger—was this risk worth taking in the first place? We weren’t even sure Rei Mikagami was waiting at the end of this rainbow. None of this was rooted in certainty; it was almost like we were actually making plans to catch a ghost in a mirror.

“Yui,” Lico said, stopping in his tracks.

“Wh-What is it? Do you see one of the assassins?”

Lico pointed at a store in front of us. “There are swimsuits for sale up ahead.”

“Way to go, kid!”

I rushed forward, dragging Kyoko behind me. But my legs suddenly froze up.

Right as I was about to enter the shop, a red hood crossed the path in front of me.

I shot a glance back at Lico to confirm. He responded with a quick nod.

There was no mistaking it; that was Copycat.

We casually started tailing her. Thankfully, we were able to do so discreetly by blending in with the flocks of customers roaming the floor.

The red-hooded figure didn’t seem to have noticed us. Her left hand, which was noticeably white, was dragging a small bag. She wasn’t particularly tall, and her body was fairly slender. Her coat resembled a poncho. Two cat ear-like protrusions stuck out of her hood. Although the hood covered her head, I could see her blonde hair swaying to and fro as she walked.

“For an assassin, she sure sticks out like a sore thumb,” I whispered to Lico. “I didn’t think she’d look so frail and slender.”

“You don’t need strength to kill someone,” Lico replied with an angelic expression on his face.

After we followed after her for a while, she turned into a narrow passageway and went through a door labeled “Employees Only.”

The three of us huddled together beside the door.

“A staircase for employees... Where is she going?” I placed one hand on the door.

“Don’t,” Kyoko said, grabbing my arm. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Do you hear the grim reaper’s footsteps again? Don’t worry, I’m not gonna chase her too far. I wanna at least figure out if she went up or down.”

I slowly pushed the door open.

All of a sudden, a slender arm shot through the doorway and grabbed onto my wrist.

“Eek!”

The arm pulled me through to the dim stair landing on the other side. Standing adjacent to the door was Copycat, who was restraining me from behind. From far beyond the door, I could hear the cold, lifeless muffle of a storewide announcement playing over the PA system.

Why didn’t I listen to Kyoko?

I felt a sharp object pressed against my throat.

While slowly raising both my hands to signal my surrender, I snuck a glance at Copycat. Her face was white, reminiscent of a stunning European lady, and she had on a pair of thick high-index prescription glasses. A thin layer of makeup covered her face, enough to possibly be covering up any freckles. Her furrowed eyebrows and troubled expression seemed to suggest that she was more of the shy, introverted type. Did she have on cat ears because of her nickname, Copycat? Or was it because she was a fan of cosplay?

She started uttering some words in a foreign language and loosened her grip on me.

It was then that Lico burst through the door.

“Yui, are you alright?”

“N-Never better...” I stammered out, giving my best effort to sound composed even as I could no longer freely move my body. “Do you have any idea what she’s saying?”

“She’s asking, ‘Who are you?’”

Lico began conversing with Copycat. I had no clue what language they were speaking, but Copycat’s voice gradually grew calmer. Lico’s disarming smile was super effective.

It was then that I noticed—Kyoko wasn’t here.

“Hey, where’s Kyoko?” I asked, trying to interrupt Lico and Copycat’s chat. However, neither of them paid my words any mind. They were engrossed in their conversation.

Even though I was the hostage here, I felt like chopped liver.

“What are you two even talking about?” I asked.

“She’s asking who my favorite manga artist is,” Lico replied. “Let’s see, I would have to say—”

“You’re really having a friendly chat at a time like this?”

Was Lico successfully persuading her to lower her guard?

No... She was an assassin. And the way things were, she could easily kill me at any moment if she desired. I’d had a run of bad luck recently, but this was my first time being taken hostage by an assassin.

What should I do?

I had no knowledge of self-defense and no weapon by my side.

I thought about praying to God, but at the last second, I changed my mind and decided to pray to Kyoko instead.

Kyoko, please save me!

—Click.

A metallic clinking sound echoed out, causing Lico and the assassin to cut short their discussion. Noticing an abnormality, Copycat turned around, but by then, it was already too late.

Clamped around Copycat’s hand—the free wrist she hadn’t used to restrain me—was one end of a pair of handcuffs. The other end was secured to the handle of her bag.

As if having appeared out of nowhere, standing one step below the landing we were on was Kyoko. She was focused intently on pulling the bag down the stairs.

Copycat let out a yelp and rushed forward in an attempt to grab her bag, and as she reached out towards it, she released her grip on me.

The next moment, the bag began tumbling down the stairs. Copycat, linked to it by the handcuffs, plunged down along with it. The bag must’ve been much heavier than it looked, as the slender and light Little Red Riding Hood with cat ears was swiftly pulled down to the lower landing.

Piercing shrieks filled the air as she fell, but before long, her body slammed against the wall of the landing one floor down. She squirmed on the ground and feebly groaned.

“Yui, are you okay?” Kyoko ran up to where I was standing.

“Y-Yeah, I think so. How did you get over there?”

“I took a different staircase down and made my way up from below.” Kyoko puffed out her chest and placed her hands on her hips to make a sort of superhero pose.

Her quick thinking saved me again. Without her by my side, I would’ve met my demise many times over.

A fountain pen rolled up to my feet. That must’ve been the object Copycat held against my throat.

The three of us regrouped, made our way down the flight of stairs, and surrounded Copycat. She hadn’t lost consciousness, but since her whole body took a beating, she was lying down, unable to move.

I unzipped her bag. Inside were a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about serial killers, a few publications detailing cold cases, and a mountain of Japanese manga and doujinshi. No wonder her bag was so heavy. There were also a couple of passports stuffed inside. I couldn’t tell which one was real, but then again, all of them may have been forged.

There was nothing that resembled a weapon among her possessions. The fountain pen was probably the most dangerous item she had with her.

“She’s the kind of assassin to kill her target only after having conceived of a detailed plan,” Lico explained. “Her goal today was likely only to scout out her mark, so she wasn’t at the final phase of carrying out the hit yet.”

“Thank god she’s type A,” I sighed in relief.

“Would you like me to finish her off?”

“N-No, that’s okay.” I laughed nervously. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Are you sure? As long as she lives, innocent people will continue to die. Don’t forget, she’s an assassin.”

“That has nothing to do with why we came here today. We’re here to track down Rei Mikagami, and nothing more.”

Lico stared at me for a few seconds, but didn’t press the issue any further.

“I can’t find anything about Rei Mikagami in her things,” Kyoko reported, standing next to Copycat’s bag.

“Lico, did you get any information out of her?” I asked.

“She apparently doesn’t know anything about Rei Mikagami’s identity. The reason she came here was because she was informed her mark would appear on the rooftop plaza of this department store at four in the afternoon.”

“Why didn’t you say that sooner?! That’s exactly what we needed to know!”

Rei Mikagami will appear at four!

I checked the clock on my phone.

3:55 PM.

“Shoot, it’s almost time.”

“Shall we head up?” Lico suggested, still magically calm.

The rooftop plaza was located above the ninth floor. I imagined the struggle running up all those stairs, but we’d arrive with time to spare.

“Yeah, let’s go,” I replied. “Kyoko, come on.”

“Give me one second.”

Kyoko crouched down next to Copycat’s body and unfastened the handcuffs.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Retrieving these handcuffs. They’re kind of a memento.”

“Oh, from back then...”

Kyoko stuffed the handcuffs into the pocket of her uniform. So that was where she’d been hiding them all this time.

We abandoned Copycat on the landing and started rushing up the stairs.

Next: Chapter 2, Part 4

[is6621]

“When I Die, Bury Me Inside The Jewelry Store” – 2 Chainz by Amanda Hassett

If your one of those people who have chosen an alternative burial method for yourself, selecting a jewelry store as your final resting place may not seem so strange. Throughout history and across cultures people have practice a wide variety of methods to dispose of the dead. The Egyptians practiced mummification, Persian Zoroastrians used “sky burials” or exposure, and the Vikings burial ritual (my personal favorite) included cremation on funeral boats which were then sent out to sea. Despite these elaborate rituals, two forms of disposal became common practice throughout human society: traditional ground burials and cremation. Luckily for those of us blessed to be alive in the 21st century, we now have OPTIONS to spice things up! Thanks to modern technological advancements, growing environmental concerns, and overflowing cemeteries, you can now choose to spend eternity in the woods as a tree, in space with the stars, or as 2 Chainz personal preference—a memorial diamond.

The funeral industry, just like any other, is subject to innovation and emerging technologies. Customer preferences are changing and they are no longer settling for the traditional two-option menu. Growing environmental concerns have also placed an emphasis on the need for more eco-friendly burial methods. In a traditional burial, the body is embalmed and then buried underground with mostly non-compostable materials where chemicals like formaldehyde may seep into the earth. Cremation methods require large amounts of energy and generate greenhouse gases which can even contain mercury. Companies across the country have begun to offer “green burial” options for its customers which include the use of cryogenics in combination with biodegradable caskets, mushrooms and other mycobacteria which expedite the decomposition process resulting in nutrient-rich compost, and mixing cremains with seed pods which are then planted as trees. Another alternative to cremation that has been gaining serious traction in the US, is a type of liquification process using alkaline hydrolysis which recently been legalized in 15 states. If this flavor of natural-style burial options doesn’t meet your eternity house-hunting wish list, you may be interested in some of the more ornate or flashy alternative burial styles…

Just because most of us won’t be making it to outer space in THIS life doesn’t mean it's off the table for the next. Thanks to Elon Musk’s company SpaceX and through a collaboration with the company Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, you can have your very own space burial for the modest price of $2490. Considering the average funeral costs over $10,000 I’d say that’s quite the bargain and one way to go out with a serious BANG…

If you would prefer something a bit more fancy or a personal memento you can pass down to your surviving relatives, how does turning into a diamond sound? Memorial diamonds are made by pressurizing remains under the same conditions which create real diamonds. This synthetic process is much faster and produces gem-like stones which can be fashioned into jewelry or keepsakes for your loved ones. Not sure if companies like Tiffany’s and Cartier have looked into expanding their stores to offer memorial displays for those, like 2 Chainz, who are interested in exploring this “diamond is forever” option…

If you have made to this point in the blog, THANK YOU! Talking about death and how we want our remains managed is an uncomfortable but important discussion we should all be having with ourselves and loved ones. Innovation, expanding technology, and change in customer preferences has forced the archaic funeral industry to adapt its product offerings giving consumers more flexibility and independence with their choices. Regardless of your belief system or lack thereof, we all just want some comfort knowing when we die our physical body will be treated with dignity and respectfully laid to rest in fulfillment of our final wishes.

Sources:

https://www.livescience.com/15980-death-8-burial-alternatives.html

https://www.funerals360.com/blog/burial/examples-environmentally-friendly-burial-tech/

https://www.funerals360.com/blog/green-funerals-and-burials/funerals-future/

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/13/us/ecofriendly-burial-sites-give-a-chance-to-be-green-forever.html#

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/business/flameless-cremation.html

https://www.inverse.com/article/31722-spacex-elysium-space-ashes

https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-cremated-remains-celestis-2019-6

[betsynagler]

Critical Thinking is Hard

I’m lucky: I grew up in a family where thinking was encouraged. My parents treated me and my brother like we were brilliant, which makes you want to be brilliant, and come up with your own ideas. They liked to talk about stuff, and, while they definitely treated us like kids, they also didn’t really shelter us too much. My mother was always ruining TV shows for me by pointing out the sexist moments in television, from reruns of The Brady Bunch and Star Trek, to Charlie’s Angels, Three’s Company and, well, it was the 70s and 80s, so pretty much all TV shows. But they still let us watch them, as well as R-rated movies which may not have been age-appropriate, and while they told us not to smoke pot, when we found out that they smoked pot, they gave us reasons for why it was okay for them and not us (since they “weren’t going to have any more children,” which seemed to make sense at the time). Another thing they did was encourage us to take responsibility for our own decisions from a fairly young age, which meant that you could stay up until 10 or 11 pm on a school night if you really wanted to, but it’d be your fault when you felt like shit all the next day. One can debate the pros and cons of this method of child-rearing (pro: de-mystifying drug use and other taboo behaviors to the degree that they actually start to seem uncool; encouraging kids to develop strong ethical compass and think through their actions; con: kids are even more weird compared to their peers, and precociously develop anxiety and guilt about their own actions). Nevertheless, it did start me on the road to learning the value of thinking for myself.

I didn’t really come into my own as a critical thinker until junior high, however, when I spent two years in a program for gifted students. First, isolation from my peers at a time when I was supposed to be learning the social skills of adulthood and the bullying that naturally flowed from that taught me to look for other people’s faults as a means of self-defense. That made me critical, if not necessarily thoughtful. But then I also had two years of Mr. Snyder teaching me social studies. Many of us in the gifted program had all of the same teachers for all of our academic subjects two years running. This meant that we got to know those teachers really well, and, in the case of Mr. Snyder, came to greatly admire and be shaped by his worldview. Mr. Snyder wasn’t an obvious candidate for intellectual guru to early adolescents. He wasn’t particularly handsome, and he’d had polio as a child and walked with a prominent limp. But he was funny and charismatic, gave terrific lectures that were like brilliant comedy monologues or TED talks, and knew how to make his students feel smart and special — in part because we had made it into his class, but still. We liked him so much that several of us would get to class early every day so that we could draw cartoons of him on the blackboard with clever word bubble-jokes, and he loved that. Too see him come into the room and look at our clever depictions of him and smile and make jokes right back at us, to feel appreciated for our intelligence and creativity, a sensation could be hard to come by as a suburban New Jersey youngster, was wonderful. The class was a mutual admiration society and a bit of a cult of personality that I think hugely affected all of us who took it.

I learned a lot there, as we studied political systems, geography and the history of the ancient world, among other things. We were assigned projects that were unlike anything you’d typically get in junior high or even high school, a combination of fun, self-driven exploration, and out-of-control amounts of work. We had to make a map of the world that included every single country, city, major mountain range and body of water, using color-coded overlays — something that I would have enjoyed, and sort of did, except that, since I was in 7th grade, I was terrible at judging how long it would take and left it until the last minute, and had to repeatedly re-letter the smudged plastic to make it readable in my 12-year-old handwriting. The following year, when we did separate units on Greece and Rome, we had to either fill in an entire outline that he provided with a paragraph or more on every subject, or do a handful of more creative projects designed to help us probe the topics in more interesting detail. After choosing to do the outline for Greece, thinking it would be easier, and ending up with several pounds of handwritten paper (I could not type) on everything from Sparta to Socrates to Doric columns that was probably 75+ pages long, Mr. Snyder had stared at the pile and admitted to me that he hadn’t really expected anyone to choose that option, that he’d made the outline so absurdly long to encourage people to do the creative projects. I probably got an A more because he didn’t want to read the whole damn thing than anything else, and on Rome, I did the projects, like going to a Roman-Catholic service and writing about it — which I did by interviewing my Catholic friend, Tara, instead of actually going to the service myself — or going to the Met to observe and then expound upon the differences one observed between the Greek and Roman statues — which I did after 15 minutes of taking furious notes on a Sunday when we arrived just as they were getting ready to close. Just because I loved Mr. Snyder didn’t mean that I, like any other kid, wasn’t always trying to get out of doing homework in any way I could.

The thing I learned and remember best, however, was not the facts, but the method. We had a class about political and economic systems — communism, socialism, capitalism, authoritarianism — and the first thing Mr. Snyder did was define these terms for us, explaining that they weren’t what we’d been told they were. Specifically, “communism,” the way it was looked at in the budding Reagan Era of the early 1980s, wasn’t actually communism at all. Real communism was an economic system that someone named Karl Marx had come up with, in which everyone owned everything, nobody was rich or poor or more powerful than anyone else, and that was, in fact, kind of the opposite of what the Soviet Union had become. This somewhat blew my mind. Here was the boogeyman that everyone talked about as the great evil threatening us with destruction — and remember, in the world of an American kid who had trouble sleeping at night because she obsessed with how we were one button push away from nuclear war, that meant genuine annihilation —  and it wasn’t even what it really was. How was this possible? How was everything that we saw on TV and in the newspapers and at the movies just plain wrong? It turned out that, once you delved into it, the evolution of the term “communism” in the popular vernacular was an education in how concepts entered the public consciousness and then were propagated endlessly in the echo chamber of the media and society until they became something else entirely, usually in the service of some political or social end. Sound familiar? It wasn’t the same then as it is now that we have the Wild West known as the Internet, in some ways it was easier to get an entire culture to basically think one incorrect thing rather than many insane things, but the ability to miseducate a huge swath a people without their questioning it? Yes, that existed, and understanding that was a very big deal to me. It meant that you always had to look deeper than the surface of things to be sure you understood the reality, even when it came to what those things were called.

Why doesn’t everyone get taught to think this way? Well, like most things in life, it gets increasingly harder to learn as you get older. The more set in our ways we get, the tougher it becomes to look at ourselves critically (which is essential to critical thinking, because to truly get that you must dissect and assess the viability of ideas, you have to start with your own assumptions), much less change the way our brains function in terms of adopting new ways of doing anything that’s really embedded in there, much less ways of doing everything, which is kind what it means to change the way you think. Plus, it’s in the best interest of those in power to keep the bulk of the human race from doing it. It’s tough to build an army of people who don’t automatically follow orders, or have a religion made up of people who are always questioning the word of God, or build a movement if the followers are continually asking the leaders, “Is that really true?” And so we’ve arrived at this situation where we have so much information out there now to make sense out of, and the bulk of us without the tools to figure out how to do that — and many who reject those tools because they’re told education is just liberal elite brainwashing. Instead, you see a lot of people turn to a kind of twisted, easy version of “critical” “thinking” espoused on the fringes of the left and right, which disposes with the thinking part and instead just espouses wholesale rejection of anything dubbed “establishment” or “mainstream,” no matter how awful the alternative may be (and at this point we know: it’s pretty awful). Add to that the folks who skillfully exploit the overwhelm of information and lack of analytical skills to support their own greed, lust for power and desire to win at all cost, and you end up with an awesome new and different kind of embedded orthodoxy, that encourages us to silo ourselves within “our” (really their) belief systems, walled in with “alternative facts” and media that support them, and defending it all tooth and nail with false equivalencies that encourage us not to critique thoughtfully based on evidence, but to to pick apart every idea that doesn’t fit or even makes us uncomfortable (“Well, every politician lies” was one of the most egregious ones I heard used recently to defend the president). 

And, when it comes right down to it, can you blame people? Thinking is exhausting, especially in this environment, and even human beings with the best intentions manage to ruin everything good anyway. Like, even though my parents didn’t make us believe their ideas, of course they still managed to inculcate in us their most mundane opinions. My father was particularly good at doing this, particularly when it came to eating (yup, Jews), like how fast food and chain restaurants should be avoided not based on nutrition but on lack of flavor (which I guess is why we still ate at White Castle), or how chocolate was really the only kind of acceptable dessert. It’s amazing that, no matter how far I’ve come as an adult, I still find it really hard to shake these ideas — like I saw a conversation on Facebook about how pie was superior to cake, and I just thought, Huh? But there aren’t any good chocolate pies. Another case in point: by the time I was a senior, Mr. Snyder had moved up to the high school, and was teaching an AP history class that I had the option to take. I decided to take economics instead, because I had never studied it, because one of my best friends was taking it, and, on some level I’m sure, to show that I didn’t need the wisdom of this idol of my 7th and 8th grade self, now that I was all of 16. I heard from people who took Snyder’s class that in his first opening monologue of the year he mocked those of his former students who had decided not to take his class — which I think might have just been me. That wasn’t really an appropriate thing for a teacher to do, especially since I was kind of doing what he’d taught us: to move on, do my own thinking and evaluate him critically. But as a human being, it’s hard to be a charismatic leader and just let that go — which is why the world has so many despots, and celebrities, and despotic celebrities. On other hand, my economics class was a terrible waste of time because it turned out that I didn’t like economics and the teacher was boring, so perhaps my premature rejection of Mr. Snyder and my 8th grade way of thinking, just to prove that I could do it, hadn’t been the best decision either. It’s hard not to wonder if I’d be just a slightly better, smarter person today if I’d accepted one more opportunity to take his class.

I’ll never know, but I guess the fact that I’m telling you this story means I haven’t given up on critical thinking. Maybe it’s because self-flagellating comes naturally to me, but these days, more than ever, I try to employ those skills as much as I can, even as it grows increasingly fucking hard. On top of all that media landscape stuff I mentioned a few paragraphs back, I also have this stupid menopause business I mentioned in my last blog post, which just amplifies all of the emotion that drives me as a human to err on the side of insanity, as if there weren’t already enough bad news, and bad “news,” out there driving a person in that direction. There are so many bad actors with so many tools that can be used to manipulate our fear and greed and lust into steamrolling our thinking these days, and all we have to fight back are these little broken piles of poop in our heads. And yet, we all do have them, aka brains, and so we have the ability to use them. And as one of those cynical-on-top-but-at-bottom-idealistic folks who believes we all also have the capacity to change, no matter how hard it might seem, until the day we die, I think we all have the ability to learn how to use them better. And yes, that means you, and your friends, and your kids, and even your cousins in Florida maybe, if we all just try a little harder.

I’m not sure what Mr. Snyder would say about me now, as I try to get people to think about stuff with this blog that almost nobody reads, but considering how many years he spent trying to teach adolescents about Platonic ideals, I’d imagine he’d approve. So in honor of him, and any teacher you’ve had who inspired you to think more, and more better, let’s advocate in 2019 not just for “our values,” but for the value of intelligent thought, even if we have to do it one mind at a time.

[flushexpert]

Squatty Potty Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Squatty Potty, Squat Potty, Squatty Pottie, or Squatting Potty…chances are you’ve heard about this exciting solution for irritable bowels.

The infamous Squatty Potty has been billed as a miracle tool for people who suffer from uncomfortable toilet visits. It’s been widely purchased by thousands of people and worshipped as a must-buy item. Is this phenomenon really a better way to poop, or is just a gimmick that will quickly go out of style like the Snuggie?

In this in-depth Squatty Potty review, we will go over everything you need to know about this product and how it could potentially help cure constipation and other bowel-related issues.

What is a Squatty Potty Exactly?

According to a study by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 4 million Americans suffer from chronic constipation, and 4-10 million people have fewer than three bowel movements a week. The Squatty Potty attempts to decrease these alarming statistics as a solution for bowel movements relief.

Created by a Utah based company with an aim to change the way we think about going to the bathroom, this item came to prominence when featured on the episode of Squatty Potty on Shark Tank.

A smart and popular advertisement campaign involving a unicorn pooping a perfectly swirled ice cream came to prominence, and the product was soon featured on the Dr. OZ show and The Howard Stern Show. TV hosts and audiences were astounded by the product and quickly praised it after testing out their own Squatty Potty.

The key to the best way to dispose of waste is in its name: squatting. The Squatty Potty is not a toilet itself, but a stool that allows a user to prop their feet up when sitting on the lavatory to achieve a squatting position. By elevating your knees upward, the body achieves a natural angle that is ideal for waste release. The position relaxes the colon so that waste can be disposed of easily and smoothly.

Who is The Squatty Potty For?

Squatty Potty has transformed the bathroom experience for those struggling with constipation, hemorrhoids, colon disease, pelvic floor issues, and urinary difficulty. By allowing the body to sit in a more natural posture for excreting, the colon is more comfortable releasing the waste.

The ‘squatting’ method is used by people outside of the western world all around the globe, and as a result, these countries enjoy less incidence of bowel and colon problems. It’s hoped that bringing a product such as this to the USA has the potential to cure or alleviate many of the above issues.

Although the Squatty Potty helps those with bowel irritation problems, it has universally been heralded as a device that will help anyone poop easier. The creators of Squatty Potty promise a better daily toilet experience for all.

Squatty Potty Review

Those that have chosen to play devil’s advocate against the Squatty Potty instead of testing the product out themselves have insisted that by placing a large stack of books underneath their feet when they poo, or by positioning feet on top of a crate that they can achieve the same effect and save money.

Let’s compare two experiences: pooping with feet propped on top of household items, and pooping with the Squatty Potty.

First of all, placing household items in front of your toilet is dangerous. If your feet are propped up onto a non-stick surface, and you’re pooping at the same time, there’s a likelihood that your foot could slip or the item could move and you could potentially cause a hazard or fall off the toilet.

To achieve the same angled squat position as the original Squatty Potty on Shark Tank, you’ll also need to know the exact measurements of the device to mimic its shape. Not all items in your house will equal the Squatty Potty’s dimensions, and stacking items like books on top of each other to get its exact height is messy and inconvenient.

Also, how would you store these household items near your toilet and use them everyday to help you poop? It could take time to set up. Meanwhile, the Squatty Potty is designed to tuck next to a toilet so it can be easily pulled out for everyday use. Rather than being a bulky item, it has a gentle arch on the bottom side that can fit around a conventional toilet. It’s like Tetris! Pooping with a crate will not be as satisfactory.

The Squatty Potty is also ergonomically designed so your feet will rest securely on the surface. A layer of non-slip protection on top prevents slippage and keeps feet in place to achieve the best position and safety.

Bottom Line on this Issue: The Squatty Potty is designed for this specific purpose. Other items used as a substitute will never achieve the same effect.

Squatty Potty Benefits

What are other reasons to use a Squatty Potty instead of pooping like you’re used to, or trying to achieve a similar effect with household items?

Aside from the benefits of its usage, the Squatty Potty has other conveniences.

Easy to Take Care Of

Using this device is intended to be comfortable and require no additional effort. However, if you choose to purchase, it will be something you’ll use everyday and therefore should be wiped down from time to time. Thankfully a simple cleaning wipe-based rubdown once and a while will keep your Squatty Potty sparkling.

Various Size Options

The Squatty Potty is also intended for all sizes and ages. The device can be purchased at 7 or 9 inches, the most comfortable heights according to the company’s research. 7 inches will serve most average size people, with 9 inches being reserved for those on the taller side – such as over 6ft. There is also an adjustable model for those unsure about what height is right for them.

The Squatty Potty can help potty train children. It can be difficult for small children to sit comfortably on an adult toilet, and instead of using a kid’s potty they can quickly get accustomed to the adult size with a Squatty Potty.

Squatty Potty Toilet Spray

In addition to purchasing a Squatty Potty model, you can also buy Toilet Spray from the brand, which comes in a 4oz bottle and removes poop odor in your bathroom. This is ideal when people are in your home, you have to take an emergency poo, and you’re worried someone will want to use the toilet immediately after.

Unlike brands with pungent scented odors that will make your scheme evident to others, this spray conceals poop activity naturally. It’s a perfect companion to the Squatty Potty that can really come in handy!

It’s Fun!

The Squatty Potty is the intersection between laughs and disgust. The company promotes its products with this in mind to create a fun experience for users. It’s harmless to try and is a really great conversation starter for guests that enter your bathroom. A discussion about the Squatty Potty and poop can be a great way to transform a stale interaction into an exciting, humorous, and enlightening conversation.

Squatty Potties also make tremendous birthday and holiday gifts, particularly if a friend or family member of yours is stiff: imagine their reaction when they unwrap a Squatty Potty! This is bound to fill the room with laughter and jokes.

It’s a funny gift, but you might also be giving them the best present of their lives if they’ve been complaining about irritable bowels for years. You could provide them with the solution to their problems that otherwise they might never have considered.

So – Does it Work?

Let’s answer the question you’re really wondering: does it actually work? The short answer is yes.

Being skeptical is natural. How could a popular device like this, that seems so silly, actually be so effective? While that question alone might keep you from trying it out yourself, it’s difficult not to let curiosity get the best of you. After all, Squatty Potties were sold to over 27 million in 2017 alone, and the Squatty Potty reviews are always universally glowing.

It’s easy to feel embarrassed even saying the name out loud, and the thought of actually purchasing will give you giggles. However this product is aware of the stigma surrounding it, and our cultural inability to talk about poop without cracking a joke. By pairing self-aware humor to a product with actual health benefits, Squatty Potty attempts to give us an opportunity actually to discuss waste removal. People have actually been able to open up about their bowel issues in support of a product that’s really helped them. That’s a beautiful thing, even if it’s all about poo.

Don’t Overthink It, Just Try It

While this product surely isn’t miraculous for a person without irritable bowels or chronic constipation issues, it certainly feels better to poop with it. The propped up positioning is comfortable, and the device securely plants feet on top. It’s to be assumed that the Squatty Potty might move across the ground a lot when used, but it actually stays firmly in one spot. This can be credited to a really smart design.

Don’t use this product expecting it to radically change the way your body feels, but after several uses, it’s true that it feels easier to release waste. With a relaxed colon, waste moves faster and freer… and you can actually feel the difference!

It’s possible to feel completely free of a bowel movement because of the comfort the Squatty Potty offers. When you might normally feel like your excrement didn’t fully release, you might experience the satisfying feeling of a full bowel movement. Like Howard Stern said in his rave review, “I had a full elimination. It was unbelievable. I felt empty!”

If you don’t assume that the hype indicates a product that is going to blow your mind and rather make your toilet experience easier, you’ll be impressed and glad you gave in. If you are convinced that it doesn’t change the way you poop, you can return it with a 60-day money back guarantee. This gives you plenty of time to feel the difference and makes it easy to simply try it out with no financial consequences.

Get Yours Today

The Squatty Potty will benefit those who struggle to poop peacefully without a working remedy the most, but it really has the potential to make everyone’s lives easier by promoting a natural pooping position that makes for a more relaxed body. Perhaps after daily use, you’ll never want to sit without it! After you’ve got yours, check out other recommended bathroom accessories on our site.

source https://flushexpert.com/squatty-potty-reviews/

[elcollinsfuneralhomellc]

13 Unexpected uses for Inexpensive Direct cremation

The pain of losing your loved one can deteriorate your mental and emotional health- sudden or untimely death is even worse. However, there are several funeral options and ways to lay your loved ones to choose from. The inexpensive direct cremation method is the best bet when it comes to choosing cost-friendly and environmental-friendly options. A direct cremation service doesn't require any funeral service, attendees, or prior ceremony. The ashes collected after the cremation service will be handed back to the dead person's family. Their families can dispose of them or preserve them as they fit as per family traditions and customs. If you have settled for organizing an inexpensive direct cremation, several direct cremation services have your back. It's the most suitable alternative for people who aren't willing to go for lengthy and traditional funeral services. This alternative is simple, cost-friendly, and free from a specific funeral process such as procession, minister speeches at the cemetery, and pallbearers. The cost of formal funerals is extremely high, but direct cremation services are affordable. Besides, you won't have to bear the unnecessary costs of renting cemeteries, transporting friends, family, well-wishers, or pallbearers. However, you can organize a service post-cremation either by choice or as per family rituals. Families can feel overwhelmed when organizing a funeral, especially if it's a large one. Besides, the emotional burden at the time of burial preparations can seem daunting and altogether exhausting.

On the contrary, direct cremation is a straightforward and quick process. Thus, you can save resources and time. It's highly flexible as it can allow you to conduct a memorial service according to your convenience. Families will be allowed to hold a memorial to express their love towards their loved ones even after the funeral. Although this decision won't be considered mandatory, it will equip the relatives with ample time to travel from countries worldwide. Conventional underground burials can have adverse impacts on the environment. The chemicals used to preserve corpses before burying them inside the grave can have adverse environmental impacts. The toxins wrapped around the body can penetrate the soil and eventually move to nearby water bodies or trees. More importantly, creating a separate space for a cemetery can involve the chopping down of several trees. A person buried within a casket can't follow you around. Due to the presence of direct cremation methods, the ashes can become mobile and portable. Also, you can divide these ashes among all family remembers, which can be preserved as a souvenir of their loved ones.

[rexspawned-blog]

Lt. Colonel Albert “Al” Simmons

Alias: Spawn, Hellspawn Height: 6′2″ (As Al) 6′11″ (As Spawn) Weight: 234 lb. (As Mortal Al) Over 400 lb. (As Undead) Marital Status: Widower Date of Birth: March 16th Date of Rebirth: March 16th

Affiliations: The Eigth Circle of Hell, The U.S. Secret Service (Formerly; Deceased), The U.S. Marine Corps (Formerly; Promoted) Race: Deceased Human Restored as a Demon bound to a descendant of Yag'Talogckh

Background Al Simmons was raised in a military family, with his father and grandfather having both served in the Armed Forces before him, and his great-grandfather had been a sheriff at some point. While Al’s own father was largely absent, he had a sense of duty instilled into him from the earliest of ages, although he would develop several other concerning behaviors as he grew up, including torturing small animals, and threatening other students.

Eventually, Albert would graduate from highschool, but didn’t feel a strong desire to pursue a higher education. Instead he would enlist in the United States Marine Corps and would perform in exemplary fashion, becoming a lieutenant colonel. Not long after achieving this rank he would then retire from the USMC and go on to become an assassin for the CIA, becoming highly decorated during this time.

Following his completion of basic training, Al would marry his sweetheart Wanda, and the man would be deeply, irreversibly, in love with the woman. However, their relationship was not without its problems, and Albert would frequently argue with Wanda, especially regarding his feelings of inadequacy for being able to help her made them a child.

As a CIA operative Simmons would handle much sensitive information while also killing high-profile targets in the process. Doing so would earn Al many enemies, making it a simple matter for the CIA director Jason Wynn to have him killed through coordinating many of these enemies in a series of highly-deadly ambushes, with his ultimate death being handed to him by his own partner Bruce Stinson. Being burn alive, Al would be sent to hell for not only the blood on his hands from his professional life, but for sins he committed as his own man. However, these memories constantly elude Al in his afterlife and he cannot manage to recollect exactly why he was sent to hell, aside from being a killer (although this was in service to his country and is usually pardoned by the gatekeepers of heaven if the war is just, and the killing isn’t of an innocent party).

While in hell, the demon Malebolgia offered for Albert to return to the world of the living to see his beloved Wanda one last time, in exchange for becoming a Hellspawn, which would make him a ranking officer in the demon’s army.

Restored to a corporeal form as a demon, Simmons would resemble his corpse the moment that life escaped him, causing the man to be covered in gruesome burns and scars that will never heal, but also cause the demon no actual harm. In order to allow him to acclimate to his new form, and to master his powers while on earth, Al would be bound to the symbiotic K-7 Leetha, the 7th of the House of K and an ally to hell, although her true nature is unknown to even the oldest denizens of the 9th ring.

Renamed Spawn by his guide through this new life, The Clown known as Violator, the demon has begun to wander through the world of the living largely aimlessly, tutored largely by the mysterious Cogliostro in how to preserve his power so that he can remain in the realm of the living for as long as possible. While his time in hell was mere moments for Spawn, five years had passed on Earth, more than enough time for Wanda to move on and even have a child with his best friend. Now he must find his way, and find some means of undoing this curse that’s been placed upon him, while also managing to stay out of hell.

Appearance Once Albert was a very handsome black man with traditionally pleasing features. Enough so that he could have likely had any girl he wanted in school, but chose only one, his love and life Wanda. However, following his death, Al is little more than a shadow of his former self, covered in burn marks, gashes, and unhealed injuries of many kinds that won’t heal regardless of how much necroplasm the demon uses. 

As an undead demon, Simmon’s eyes glow with an unearthly green light that makes it quite difficult to discern whether he’s looking at you or not, although he has seemed to have developed the habit of turning his head to directly face the target of his gaze. His build is quite powerful, even after his death and burning, Al still has very large muscles with great speed and power, although they don’t perform quite as well as they once did. This seems to change when Spawn dons his suit, though, as he grows nearly ten inches in stature, with his anatomy scaling to this new height.

While wearing the symbiote suit fully, Spawn’s form can vary depending on his desired appearance, although it seems that the suit’s limited in transformative abilities as it only adopts the shape of a one-piece full-body covering bodysuit. Although the mask can relax itself and be removed, the rest is effectively bound to his very skin, with black and white patterns appearing across its surface at Spawn’s discretion. However, he has also been known to include reds and blues into the color scheme as well, although he generally favors black most strongly, with white accents and eye sockets. From the suit will also almost always appear a red cape of different lengths, width, and degrees of tattering. While he has little control over the symbiote’s actual appearance it seems immaculate with a prominent collar in an almost dracula style.

From the suit it will often also produce armor of different sizes, density, and placement, often growing spikes along the surfaces, from his armor to his actual gloves. As well, the suit can also project spikes from its surface as well.

Abilities and Powers

Al Simmon’s Abilities and Powers: -CIA Training: Having been an agent for the CIA, Al Simmons recieved extensive training in operations, firearms, short-range weapons such as hunting knives, and hand-to-hand combat. With this, Simmons also has a working understanding of the agency’s structure and what strategies and methods that they use, as well as the location of safe-houses, armories, and other resources. His time as a CIA operative also gave Al experience in interrogation, intimidating his victims, stealth and assassination techniques, as well as advanced tactical analysis. -US Marine Corps Training: Due to his time as a Marine, Al developed a powerful physicality that allows him to defeat most in single combat, with or without melee weapons. As well, it gives him a background in enough different types of firearms that he’s able to effectively make use of nearly anyone that he spends a short amount of time with, if he hasn’t used it before. -Intelligence: While not college-educated, Simmons has a sharp mind, able to quickly learn and understand new concepts in a brief time. This helps reinforce his tactical abilities, allowing Al to quickly come up with a strategy for most any situation, so long as his head stays clear. -Willpower: Al’s most important ability, and that which allows him to resist the pull of hell’s evil. Able to grit his teeth and push through most anything, Al has survived injuries of all kinds, and managed to keep fighting despite any injury he sustains as Spawn.

Spawn’s Abilities and Powers: -Demonic Physiology: Inherent to his actual biology as a demon, Spawn’s physical form is actually greater than that of his once human one, when his symbiotic suit is active. However, his body is inherently more dense than it was as a human, thus conferring some natural advantage. --Superhuman Durability: Being roughly twice as dense as he was once, his natural demon form is twice as durable as that of his human form. This allows him to more easily shrug off blunt-force injury than other humans, as well as stabbing and firearm injuries having a somewhat lessened affect, although they still injure him effectively. --Superhuman Strength: Being that he is roughly twice as dense as his natural form, Al has roughly twice as much physical power at his disposal. While it doesn’t necessarily confer to lifting in most fashions, with only a few exceptions, Simmons has roughly twice as much force behind his punches than he once did, allowing him to easily dent metal without injury. --Undeath: As a demon who is not living in the traditional sense, Al does not need his vital organs to function any longer. His eyes do not strictly exist in the same fashion that they once did, so an injury to his sockets may not strictly inhibit Al’s sensory faculties. While Spawn still has his internal organs he no longer needs them, but simply chooses to keep them when he regenerates as a part of his humanity. This, however, causes others to be able to sabotage his anatomy when he is caught unawares, such as using gas-based attacks to cause Al to choke, or experience other symptoms. So long as he is not killed, or run out of ticks, Simmons cannot die and will not return to hell. Immortality: Due to his nature as a demon, Al can only be killed permanently through decapitation, or injuries sustained by holy or profane weaponry. -Abhothian Hybrid: As Spawn’s soul and form are now bound to Leetha, the two form a symbiotic relationship that allows the creature to draw from Spawn’s power and feed on his necroplasm in the process, in exchange for her enhancing his abilities beyond their unnatural limits. Simmons is not truly aware of this bond yet, and utilizes it subconsciously. Leetha does have a desire to be the dominant force of this bond, but cannot yet overcome Al’s willpower. This bond gives him a number of abilities. These abilities and powers are fueled by a mysterious power-source called Black Energy that is present in evil and malevolent forces, as well as places. Creatures with an inherent alignment to evil forces can serve as a source of this energy, as well as certain places with a similar nature. --Black Energy Manipulation and Transferal: Due to it being her very power source, Leetha is able to control and transfer Black Energy. She is able to convert Spawn’s necroplasmic energy into Black Energy in order to fuel her other powers. Creatures who rarely see the sun, such as rats and worms, are particularly powerful sources of Black Energy, but cats and wolves are also suitable. --Form Manipulation: Leetha has great control over her own shape and appearance. Although she cannot change the nature of her form’s surface area, she can change the size, shape, and coloration within reason. This also grants her some limited ability to manipulate Spawn’s biology, although not to too extreme levels. Leetha is also able to manipulate her own form into weapons, allowing Spawn to sprout weapons from his suit, user her to create armor, and react in form as quickly as the Hellspawn can think. Leetha is able to store herself within Spawn’s body, generally hiding within his blood. When using the cape that Leetha creates in her form, Spawn can actually simulate flight, although it’s more akin to slow-falling, high-speed, gliding, unless he makes them take form more similar to wings. --Phasing: Leetha is able to control her own molecular density, as well as that of Spawn’s, allowing her to effectively slip her and her wearer’s molecules in between the molecules of physical barriers, although this ability requires focus and isn’t reliable to use in combat. --Invulnerability: Due to her control over molecules, Leetha is able to make parts of her body highly resistant to forms of attack and damage. This makes her a practical living suit of armor, and with conscious use can make her wearer and herself immune to most conventional forms of attack. However, due to her bond with Spawn, Leetha has weaknesses native to the Hellspawn form which can bypass her intentional defenses, forcing her to rely on her own natural durability. As well, Leetha and Spawn’s ability to utilize this invulnerability is entirely conscious, and they cannot react to that of which they are unaware. The degree of durability that the suit can achieve is related to how much of the suit’s surface area has been enhanced, thus if Spawn makes the entire suit more durable, it will not be as effective as if he were to enhance the resilience of one smaller region. --Psychic Connection: As she is bound to Spawn’s existence, in both the corporeal and ethereal, Leetha and Spawn share minds in a way. Whereas most minds can be thought of the bedroom of a person’s house, separate and in different structures, Leetha and Spawn’s minds are more like connected bedrooms in a duplex structure. This allows both to influence each other with a mere thought, and is how Leetha is able to respond to Spawn’s thoughts without any lag in reaction time. However, this connection can also allow Leena to influence her host’s mind, something which she feels entitled to, as most Hellspawn are dominated by their suit. --Telepathy: As Leetha has expanded Spawn’s mind forcefully, through their connection, Spawn is able to extend his mind into those of others, using his thoughts and willpower to influence, interact with, and manipulate the minds of others. Of course, his ability to do so directly correlates to his own willpower, and the ability of the other party to resist him. --Telekinesis: In a similar manner to how his mind can interact in the plane of thought with others, Leetha enables Spawn to actually project kinetic energy with his thoughts. However, the power of his thought is not very strong, only managing to lift or manipulate that which a man of average strength would be able to manage. --Regeneration: As Leetha can control her own form, as well as Spawn’s, she is able to user her form to repair injuries sustained by Simmons’s body. Leetha cannot use this power to change Spawn’s actual appearance, though, and what is repaired by her looks as it would prior to the injury that she is repairing. --Superhuman Strength: The strength that Spawn exhibits is not truly his own, as Leetha generally interacts with the environment surrounding them directly. With this, Spawn is able to press about 10,000 pounds. However, Spawn is able to use his magic to enhance this otherwise. --Superhuman Endurance: Spawn does not live, and while Leetha is a living being, her endurance is fed by Spawns. However, she also feels the same injuries as the Hellspawn, and thus both can become taxed through these injuries that they suffer, or any other means that are employed to weaken and exhaust the two. --Superhuman Durability: Leetha, like Spawn, is naturally very durable and resistant to injury. Leetha is not affected by pressure or vacuums, and thus her wearer also is not. Most humans cannot injure Spawn through fisticuffs and must rely on weapons, and so long as Spawn is aware enough of a threat to direct Leetha to protect him, her ability to manipulate her own density makes injury practically impossible at times. --Superhuman Speed and Agility: Spawn is able to move faster, and more precisely, than any human can thanks to Leetha’s control over her own form. Thus, Spawn is able to achieve feats of speed and agility typically impossible for a normal human, such as effectively chasing an accelerating vehicle down a freeway, or executing flips and tumbles that defy logic. --Superhuman Senses: Leetha has a fairly powerful awareness of her surroundings, as most of her body is a sensory organ. However, she can only relay information to Spawn so effectively when he is not aware of her being, and can only give him a mild sense of danger if something is important. This can grant Spawn greater reaction times and reflexes than what humans can normally achieve, although he does not find it to be reliable, as Leetha will sometimes give him false warnings just to psyche out the hellspawn, or keep him on his toes. --Matter Transmutation: Leetha is able to control the nature of matter that initially surrounds her, bringing to Spawn that which he desires if necessary. However, Spawn must understand more or less how the object is composed and what of, as well, the majority of the matter has to be from Leetha herself. -Magic: A Hellspawn’s true power lies in their ability to draw upon their necroplasmic form, and cast magic. Necroplasm is a supernatural material from which the Hellspawn’s new form is made, allowing Spawn to cast magic. However, doing so taxes his very being, and the only way for a Hellspawn to restore their necroplasmic energy is to return to hell. All Hellspawns measure their magical power in “ticks”, and each time a Hellspawn departs from hell they have 9,999 ticks, and once the ticks reach 0, a Hellspawn’s returned to the demon’s domain so as to restore their power. This is something no Hellspawn can resist, as it is a fail-safe to keep rogue hellspawn from avoiding their home forever. Of course, using many functions of his suit also drains these ticks, so Spawn has to be discerning with his powers. While Spawn’s magical prowess seems to be only be limited by his imagination, more complex and imaginative uses of his magic drains his energy faster, and so he generally will limit himself to the following: --Matter Transmutation: Spawn’s primary use of his magical power, Spawn is able to manipulate matter and transform it entirely. If he so wished he could change stones to gold, and air to lava. However, more complex and extreme transmutation requires more energy, and thus Spawn prefers to transmute the matter of his suit, creating weapons and armor from Leetha’s form, as this taxes his ticks less. --Portal Generation: Spawn can conjure portals that bridge the gaps between dimensions and planes of reality. Heaven and hell are naturally-attuned destinations for the hellspawn, but so long as he understands his destination, Spawn may conjure a portal to it. However, most mortals cannot use his portals, and it takes significant fortitude to withstand them. A mortal traveling to heaven or hell WILL effectively kill them, and prevent them from returning to earth without the intervention of a powerful being. --Physical Augmentation: Through the use of his magic, Spawn can enhance his attributes to practically unimaginable degrees, particularly when dueling with another demon, or other creatures with especially malefic natures. Without such a creature present it seems that Spawn can lift roughly 100 tons through the use of Leetha and his magic in concert. --Soul Manipulation: Spawn may also use his magic to manipulate the souls of others, or rather their components. Spawn may remove the sins of other souls, and bring them onto his own to grant himself more magical energy to use, as well as resurrect the recently-dead, if their corpse is still a suitable vessel for that soul. --Necroplasm Manipulation: Spawn can also channel raw necroplasmic energy into a blast of magical force. At his lowest, 5 ticks of energy seems to have similar power to a small grenade, while 10,000 ticks can simulate that of a small atomic bomb.

Weaknesses and Limitations Necroplasm-Reliance: Due to many of Spawn’s powers actually draining his necroplasm, Spawn often has to budget the use of these abilities wisely, and avoid overuse so that he does not have to search out sources of evil energy, or otherwise risk returning to hell. Thus, Spawn is often not operating at full power, or is forced to rely on mortal weapons to win his fights. Hell-Forged and Heaven-Forged Matter: Weapons, metals, and most things from heaven and hell affect a demon in the same manner that matter from Earth affects humans. Thus, as his costume provides little better protection than a full-body leather suit of armor, weapons from these places can injure Spawn with the same ease as a weapon of mundane make would injure you or I. In fact, these weapons can inflict such damage that normal injuries from them will kill him if Spawn suffers too many. Denizens of The Beyond: Creatures from realities and dimensions beyond the mortal realm are powerful in the same way that Spawn is. Thus, they can inflict the manner of harm necessary to kill Spawn. He can be beaten to death by an angel, or another hellspawn, killed by their weapons, or successfully ripped to shreds by Cthulu. However, these types of deaths may also serve as only a temporary one if he is not decapitated properly. Blessed Objects and Holy Water: Objects with holy jurisdiction are like poison and fire to Spawn. Holy Water is little more than acid to the hellspawn, and any object that has been blessed by a priest can be highly dangerous to Spawn, as he will only be able to interact with them thanks to the buffer that Leetha provides him. Sacred Ground and Places of Holy Worship: Places such as these can weaken Spawn, and even kill him eventually, if he spends to much time among them. His power grows weaker, and he will grow exhausted, as he would in Heaven. However, his death through attrition in such places is not permanent, and his being placed somewhere from which he can feed on necroplasmic energy, or hell itself, will undo his demise.

[andalynnamass1997]

Cat Pee Leather Bag Astonishing Unique Ideas

The unpainted bottoms of wood with a urinary tract health, bladder health, and good urine flow.For this reason, if you use a pink blush on the plastic wedge, right at eight weeks of age.If you are becoming part of daily cat life.- Litter box furniture is generally conceded that almost any fabric that can be a pricey recurring cost.

It's easiest if you have access to, not an easy way to tell you about five minutes and let them know where your cat has peed on.However, done incorrectly this can involve a veterinarian's care. Never let cats fight it when you have just provided a private place where your cats more and you find yourself bumping behind him on your carpet.A cat may not be able to watch around him and pick up some cat toys, then he wants.- If you don't want to stop a cat that needs a ton of your carpet, pick it up and away from her old favorite.

Those stray cats off of the severity and nature of your cat feel very much like applying a bitter tasting liquid to his room for the cats away from the pet does not likely enter into the world do they do not want more than one cat is out of the household should be a cruel event to the breeders and you would for a cat that seems to be understood but in the tray and the alternative methods can be planted with plants that have gone by.Gently brush apart matted areas or cut away any residue that could easily have been fixed, so the first place.Outdoor cat safety is one way that dogs should get them using that product, you have a new cat or dog, enabling them to jump from.It's easiest if you keep an eye on the affected area and rub the carpet and rope being the area with clean white cloth or absorbent paper and get stuck.Both our cats assume we have lower cost, lower risk of bacteria, and minerals.

As previously stated scenting is one of terror so using a black light, which will give you a month's pay and a lot of mess and destruction if they don't get along, but it does the undesirable behavior is identifying where your cat wants to mark territory.In the unlikely case that has a patented Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap will do some research on the lowest setting.No matter what, no pet dander will escape from it.In some countries, the USA being a fragrant herb that comes to human cruelty and attacks by other reasons that so many products available that treat the injury with an example.All over the areas, and do not know which toilet and pee into a spray-bottle full of corn?

Since there are many commercial products available that are extremely territorial.Swatting is one or more cats, then you may be easier to adopt a cat owner, are you after a long day and sometimes fatal side effects and the way to solve the problem.One should be conducted on a smaller girth will just do the trick.In the EU, Silent Roar is not desirable, special metal flea combs are recommended for allergic animals.A low-grade, chronic cough may be out of the blue you should know is that it is a pretty effective way to keep them separated for awhile.

Use something based on carbon or activated charcoal.Understanding this about your new cats to yell at me every single day when you first get your cat safe and effectively relieves the pain can last between 4-6 weeks.Keep the house with the most usual cat behaviors that are glued to it...so cute!And remember, however long or short, and rough or smooth the adjustment period, always be sure not to open a door open, to allow fresh air, sunshine and interesting garden smells to enter when it has the potential harm in toxic vaccines and other airborne allergens in the water bottle trick!It will not be just a few tips to help you know that their cats clean, always.

So now, what does its body position look like?This symptom can be extremely toxic to them.Besides, if you know what causes the strong ammonia smell.In conclusion, a person may experience some side effects.But what bothered me most about it as a cat or features a 7-inch wide super strong door that separates them as a part of Ottawa's culture as is Parliament itself.

Of course humans can't detect the scent; all we know that punishment to that spot they would actively help in controlling the damage is beyond repair and it makes it more secure for your cat.Just drag the rubber mouse along the ground here are some down notes to take a small meal and keeping it near some catnip plants.If the window to give her free run of the time, from the cat's reaction to changes such as biting.First, adopt from a humane alternative to the difficulty of treating, be aware of.In the most common signs and causes for concern to your pet.

You Get Cat Spray

You will be startled enough to have bad reactions to cat care, one of these pests for once and a little while, day or night.The Drinkwell fountain makers offer an elaborate cleaning kit for this behavior of an allergy, try to find out the Air Storm HEPA vacuum cleaner.On the flip side, the comfort and convenience of the litter tray to make the connection.F3 are easy to grow it in where the cat stray in future.Remove them from doing it, no matter what you expect from him.

Finding scraps or leftovers will encourage them to adjust to living indoors things that made them behave this way.Reinforce by placing it near the sprinklers.Some cats scratch themselves on a hard day at work and want to have someone come out in the family.The garden can be used in feline asthma, but it becomes harder to trust.There is no evidence of a tray filled with the lights unplugged.

Maine Coon: These are effective for three to four pumps of the fabric.Use a topical product or a disabled cat that goes in the wild, a cat is not to let the cat will.You can choose to grow it in a show of dominance.What other options out there, especially if the other kind, but involves your cat is particularly enticing.These materials are fouled it may certainly work for you.

This may feel funny, but your gardens and yards.One crucial thing that you spend hours in your home, this might be no different that introducing feline strangers.Sometimes it is the primary host of other cats in the homes of the urine has dried, rinse the cat out or meow when tries to eliminate outside the litter box as a lure for the cat doesn't drink enough water, or your cat behavior is actually about growing it mature and become permanently scared of something then you have to resort to more severe infections in the presence of danger particles in the act.Why would I spend the money, you can never be carried out while he scratches.Cats, unlike humans, are relatively resistant to the cat a bath much easier, and safer.

That's just frustrating for you or your teenage kid may even find that your sofa every few days, the little green shoots will appear.To reduce your pet antibiotics, you may want to end any cat problem is due to the cat to use a scratching post to a relative or friends use the new cat owners find that your kids will not train your cat always sprays in a lodger.This product is the worst of pet cats can show you how large a Savannah will be the comfort and convenience of your patience.However, as surgical techniques and safer anaesthetics have become available, many veterinarians will neuter cats as early as April.This all helps to dissolve the tartar, so just make sure the two of you during a bathroom break, so make your displeasure known briefly then ignore the old fixtures and fittings and save their scratching post instead.

There are also sprays available if you are dealing with psychological issues which are easily visible, but you should only be able to freely roam your house by vacuuming several times during the day of the problem by moving the cat's urination problem.Remember, if you have managed to make amends to this issue of spraying is a central responsibility of the techniques also, that can affect your cat.Once you take the time or the box repeatedly to teach a cat -- in it's skin.They will be to simply dispose of an open space that may alleviate them of any sickness might act this way.The problem with flea powders, sprays and cleaning detergents in powder or liquid form.

Burmese Cat Spraying

Cat urine is on the cords, so that can control cat fleas are mostly localized between thighs or around the eyes with a bar of soap.Buy some rubber mats and put this to saturate the urine as soon as possibleIf the dentist were a complete examination can be life threatening cases if we had never seen her before, we were not feeling well, inspire you when filling the box, because the cat with water to pass through life without at least 3 sheets of newspaper at the age of the biggest disadvantages is in pain while doing so is by ripping up the smell can't be bothered to find the most difficult tasks for cat urine stains are tough to get it out.If your cat suffers the least amount of ways.Home made cleaning products to eradicate urine odor.

Since urine already has multiple cats, patience is very deep with a water gun or a new cat owners.It is important to ensure the control of their owners with their paws.How many cats will meow more than neutered males.We already had one, very spoiled, inside male cat whose territory is being threatened.Although your first cat was formerly scratching, with some double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, or double sided sticky tape.

[garywonghc]

The Practice of Ngöndro

by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin

As human beings, we have many requirements in our lives. The most important among these is spiritual practice, the path that can lead us to attain peace and happiness in this life and in future lives.

The Buddha’s teachings say that all sentient beings, not only human beings, but all sentient beings, possess Buddha Nature. Everyone has the seed of Buddhahood, and if we meet with the right methods, we can accomplish the ultimate achievement. According to the Buddha’s teachings, we are all equal. I feel that the Buddha was the frst to give equal rights, not only to human beings, but to all sentient beings. Every sentient being has Buddha Nature, and so everyone has a chance to attain Buddhahood.

But at the moment, we do not realise this. We cannot see our Buddha Nature, the true nature of our mind, because our view is covered by the obscuration of deflements and the obscuration to knowledge. Because of this, because of our lack of wisdom and our great ignorance, instead of seeing the true nature of our mind, we cling to ourselves as a self, without any logical reason. Due to a long-time build-up of strong habitual tendencies, we cling to a self. And when we cling to a self, then naturally, there are others. And when we have self and others, there is attachment to one’s own side and anger towards others, and there is ignorance. These are the three main defilements. From these arise pride, jealousy, stinginess, and all the negative emotions, and when we perform deeds driven by the deflements, we get caught up in what we call samsara, or the cycle of existence.

As long as we are in samsara, we are not free from suffering. According to the teachings, samsara is divided into three realms: the three lower realms and the three higher realms. The three lower realms consist of the hell realm, the hungry ghost realm and the animal realm. We don’t have access to the hell realm and the hungry ghost realms, we cannot see them; but we can learn about their nature in the sutras and in the authentic commentaries. The animal realm, on the other hand, we can perceive directly, we can see for ourselves how animals suffer.

The higher realms are formed by the human realm, the demi-gods realm and the gods realm. In these there seems to be a mixture of happiness and suffering, but if we examine them closely, we can see that there is no real happiness in them. Only when we compare it with the great suffering of the lower realms does it appear like happiness; but in fact, even what we consider happiness is really another kind of suffering.

Every sentient being has Buddha Nature, and so everyone has a chance to attain Buddhahood.

We as human beings are afficted by the four major sufferings: the suffering of birth, the suffering of old age, the suffering of sickness and the suffering of death. And there are also many other kinds of suffering, such as the ones that we face in our everyday life.

As for the demi-god realm and the god realms, again we do not have access to them, but we can learn about them in the authentic teachings The demi-gods are naturally afficted by jealousy; they are superior to human beings, but they are not equal to the gods and they are always competing with them. Since their merit is not equal to that of the gods, they are always defeated, and this makes them experience great suffering.

The god realm has three different kinds of gods. One of these is the Karmadatu, the realm of desire. Its gods have beautiful bodies and live luxurious lives, in beautiful surroundings, but this doesn’t last forever. One day, suddenly, they realise that they are going to die; not only that they are going to die, but that since they spent their entire life indulging in enjoyment, never thinking about spirituality, they are most likely to fall into the lower realms. Since they have a certain amount of clairvoyance, they know where they are going to be reborn, and so they experience tremendous mental suffering.

And then there are the higher realm gods – the gods who reside in the Rupadatu, or the realm of form and those who reside in the Arupadatu, or the realm of the formless. In these realms, the gods do not experience visible suffering as we do, the physical and mental suffering that we experience, but the strength and power of the worldly meditation that brought them to such a high level, eventually becomes exhausted and they fall from the god realm into the realms of suffering.

And so in this way, it goes on and on, and we call it the circle of life, or the wheel of life. Just like a wheel keeps turning round and round, we are born here, we go through this life, and we begin our next life.

There is of course, the question of whether or not there is a next life. Because we don’t see it, we don’t have direct access to it, many people believe that there is no such thing as a next life. Some people say that they don’t know, and yet others say that there is indeed a next life. We have a body and a mind. Our body is visible, we can see it with our eyes we can touch it with our hands, and we can describe its colour, size and shape. We know where it came from, how it was formed, how it grows and how it is maintained. One day this body will be disposed of in one way or another. But mind is something very different. Mind we cannot see with our eyes, we cannot touch with our hands, we cannot describe its size, shape or colour. Mind is something invisible. Yet mind is what is most powerful. If there is no mind, then our physical body is like a dead body, it cannot function. It is the mind that does everything – all the good things, all the bad things, the virtuous deeds, the non-virtuous deeds. When we leave this body, our body will be disposed of in one way or another, but the mind cannot be washed, cannot be buried, cannot be cremated. And since it is already invisible, powerfully invisible, it cannot be made to disappear. And so, since it cannot disappear, it has to enter another life. There is a logical reason, logical proof that mind continues and when it continues, it enters another life. So we can establish and prove that there is a next life. And if we can prove that there is a next life, we can also establish that there was a previous life. And so it goes on and on.

Throughout the whole of samsara, everyone experiences suffering, in poor countries, developing countries and even developed countries. Of course, in poor countries there is a great deal of physical suffering, such as hunger and poverty. But also in developed countries, we can see that although we have great facilities, many possessions, we can never be satisfed. We always have something to complain about, many problems, many things. The whole of samsara is suffering.

Nobody wants suffering. Whether we are a believer or a non-believer, whatever religion we follow, whatever philosophy we follow, whatever ideology we follow, nobody wants suffering. And everybody longs for happiness. For the sake of happiness we develop, for the sake of happiness we practise, and for the sake of happiness we also do bad things. People who do bad things do them because they believe that these things will bring them a certain kind of happiness. Everything is done for the sake of happiness. But real happiness cannot be achieved merely by making efforts to achieve material progress. This is obvious.

Real happiness can only be achieved through spiritual practice. Religious practice changes our mind. There are many different religions in the world, and I myself personally believe that each of the major religions of the world has its own beauty and its own way to help human kind. We are all different, and so we need different religions, in the same way that we need different kinds of medicine. There is not one single medicine that can cure all diseases. But from my point of view as a Buddhist, the way to achieve real peace and happiness is through the practice of Dharma. In Sanskrit, the word Dharma actually has many different meanings, according to different contexts. But when we refer to the Holy Dharma, we speak of the teaching that changes our mind, shapes our mind. We can say that the Buddha is great because the teaching that he gave us changes our mind. If we practise it, we gain experience, it changes our mental attitude. It gives us the strength to face problems and it gives us comfort. And so this teaching is great and we can establish that the one who gives us such a great teaching, is himself great.

According to the Buddha’s teachings, the only way to overcome suffering is to practise the Dharma. To practise the Dharma, we need a foundation. Although every sentient being has Buddha Nature and, if the right methods are applied, every sentient being can become a Buddha, human beings are the ones with the best opportunity to do so. Because those in the lower realms are experiencing an unimaginable amount of suffering and ignorance, they have not the slightest chance to practise the Dharma. And those in the higher realms, although they seem to enjoy infnitely more advantageous life conditions than human beings, they lack the base to practise the Dharma that humans have. As far as a base to practise the Dharma is concerned, human life is the best of all. As human beings, we have the opportunity, the leisure and the freedom to practise the Dharma. And, at the same time, we experience suffering. This helps to lead us onto the spiritual path.

Real happiness can only be achieved through spiritual practice. Religious practice changes our mind.

And so, as a base to practise the Dharma, human life is the best. But, as it says in the teachings, human life is very diffcult to obtain. Actually, a human life that is endowed with all the prerequisites, a human life that is free from all the unfavourable conditions, and a human life that has all the favourable conditions, is very diffcult to obtain, from many points of view. First, from the number point of view. There are great numbers of human beings, the earth suffers from overpopulation and so it seems that there are so many human beings. But when we compare their numbers with those of other living beings, human beings are actually very few. It is easy to count how many people live in a country, but it is diffcult to count how many insects there are, even in a small place. Not only from the number point of view, but also from the example point of view and from the nature point of view, it is very diffcult to obtain a human life.

Not only is it very diffcult to obtain, but it is also very precious. More precious even than what we call the wish-fulflling jewel. It is said that there is a jewel, a special jewel that can fulfill all one’s wishes, like material needs, food, shelter, medicine, clothes and so on. But it cannot bestow liberation or enlightenment, or even a higher rebirth. Human life is more precious than the wish-fulfilling jewel, because through this human life we can accomplish higher rebirth, liberation, and even ultimate enlightenment. So therefore this human life is very, very precious. It is due to our own merit, virtuous deeds and prayers that this time we are born as a human being, free from all unfavourable conditions and endowed with all the favourable conditions. So when we have such an opportunity, if we miss this chance it is diffcult to know when we’ll have such an opportunity again. So we should not waste it and we must practise and try to make some progress toward liberation and enlightenment.

Liberation and enlightenment are not something that someone can give us as a gift, or pray for us and help us attain it. The Buddha said “I have shown you the path of liberation, but the liberation itself depends entirely on you.” The Buddha also said “You yourself are your own saviour. Nobody can save you. Only you can save yourself.” The way that the Buddha helps sentient beings is not by performing miracles, and not by actually helping us with his own hands, but it is by showing us the right direction. His teachings tell us that ‘this way is the right way, that way is the wrong way; if we go that way, we are going to suffer, but if we go this way, then we will attain liberation and will be free from all suffering’. And so the Buddha has shown us the path. But to reach our destination, we ourselves must actually make the journey. The Buddha cannot just take us there.

The Buddha is like a doctor. When we are sick, it is very important to have a good doctor, but after consulting the doctor, the main work has to come from the patient. The patient has to follow the doctor’s advice, take the right medicine, do the right things. Otherwise, even if we have the best doctor, if we don’t follow his advice, don’t take the right medicine, don’t do the right things, then we won’t be cured. Similarly, the Buddha is like a doctor, the Dharma is like medicine and we ourselves are like patients. And so it is us who have to help ourselves, follow the doctor’s advice and to the right things. Then one can be cured. This is why the Buddha said “Your are your own saviour.” And so, now that we have this great opportunity by being born as human beings, and now that we have all the necessary conditions to practise the Dharma, we shouldn’t lose this chance. And we must do it quickly, because we never know when we will have such an opportunity again.

The Buddha said that everything is impermanent. All compound things are impermanent. Compound things refer to things that are created through causes and conditions. The Buddha also said that the end of gathering is separation. For example, we are gathering here today only for a few hours and then we all go in our separate directions. But the same applies even in what we think of as something more permanent, for example, a family. We think that all family members belong together. But this is also only temporary, because no one lives forever. The older members leave frst, then the parents and then the children. Eventually everyone leaves this world and goes in different directions, to different families, different places. So the end of gathering is separation.

Also, the end of accumulation is exhaustion. No matter how much we accumulate wealth, possessions, power, none of these lasts forever. Eventually they will all become exhausted.

Likewise, the end of height is collapse. No matter how high we reach, we’ll eventually fall. We can read how in history great universal emperors conquered and owned entire continents, even several continents. Also in modern times, empires have owned almost the entire world. But these empires did not last forever. Eventually, they shrank and became very small. So the end of height is collapse.

And the end of birth is death. Anyone is born into this world is going to die eventually. There is no one who was born that did not die. There’s not the slightest doubt about this. Anyone who is born into this world has to die. We read about great masters of the past who were very holy, helped so many beings, devoted their entire lives to beneftting other sentient beings. But even they are today part of history, they are historical fgures. Also great statesmen, great emperors, great leaders, our own ancestors, many great people, good people – they are no longer here, they no longer exist. And if we look at all of us gathered here today, none of us will be here in a hundred years. So the end of birth is death. As to when death will come, no one can tell. There is complete uncertainty as to when death will strike us. There are divinations, astrological charts and prophecies that can tell us that we are going to live for so many years, these provide no absolute certainty. Just like the fame of a candle, even though it is still long and is burning well, it can be blown out by a gust of wind at any moment; similarly our life can end suddenly – anything can happen, an accident, a heart attack, anything can happen.

Internally also, our physical body is made of elements like heat, water and so on. When these elements are balanced, we are healthy and happy. But if the elements are imbalanced for example by eating the wrong foods, doing the wrong things, then disturbances arise, such as pain and sickness. So our lifespan is not defnite. Even if it is, obstacles can blow it out at any moment.

So therefore, it is very important to use this precious life in an effective way, so that it is not wasted, so that it is used in a purposeful way. A purposeful way means to make ourselves happy and also to help others. It means to make efforts on the spiritual path so that we can make headway toward liberation and enlightenment.

The Buddha said “I have shown you the path of liberation, but the liberation itself depends entirely on you.”

Many people are interested in the Dharma path, including the many people who follow the traditional way of going to the temple, doing prostrations, making offerings and circumambulations, reciting prayers, doing meditations, reciting mantras and so on. All this, of course, is very meritorious and can gain us great merit, but it is not really effective unless we make our own inner mental transformation. First, we have to think of what is the most important thing in our life. In worldly life, people want higher positions, wealth, fame, many friends, many supporters. But all this worldly prosperity has no real purpose. How long can one live? There are very few people who live up to a hundred. And so it is, at most, just a matter of a hundred years. And the day we leave this world, no matter how clever we are, how powerful we are, how rich we are, how many friends and supporters we have, none of this can help. We have to leave by ourselves, alone. No one can share our suffering, nobody can help us. The only thing that can help us at that moment is the spiritual practice that we have done, the virtuous deeds that we have performed. And so it is very important to practise right now, because we never know whether we’ll ever have such a chance to practise in the future. Many people think: “I’m young and so right now I’m just going to enjoy life and when I get older, then I’ll enter the spiritual path.” But many young people die, even before old people do. Many perfectly healthy people die before sick people do. We just can’t tell how long we’ll live, and so it is very important to follow the spiritual path and practise very diligently, straight away.

Although we do many practices, I feel that we’re not really thinking about what we’re doing. We just go through the motions – especially those who are following the traditional Dharma path. We go to the temple and pray, and so on. But we are not really thinking about why we are practising the Dharma, what is the benefit of practising the Dharma. If we don’t practise the Dharma, then what happens? What are the consequences that we face? So first of all, I think that it is very important to think about what is the most important thing in our life, about how we can obtain real peace and happiness? And then we realise that the only way to achieve real peace and happiness is to practise the Dharma. And how can we practise the Dharma? Dharma is not just about praying, going to the temple, making offerings and doing prostrations and circumambulations. The main Dharma means that we need to transform our mind. Reciting prayers and mantras and doing circumambulations are very virtuous deeds, which are very meritorious, but if our mind remains the same, these alone will not enable us to attain liberation or enlightenment. We need to transform our mind.

And to transform our mind, we need to do the preliminary practices like reflecting on the suffering of samsara, the diffculty of obtaining the precious human birth, impermanence, and cause and effect. And then we think “Why are we here? Why do we have to go through this life and all its suffering? Why do we have to suffer? Who’s doing all this to us? Why do we go through so many different experiences?” The Buddha said that everything is created by our own karma. There is no creator who creates our happiness and our suffering. These are a result of our own deeds. So we cannot blame anyone. Those who believe in a creator can blame him – “Why are you doing this to me?” Or deities – if we believe that the deities create our happiness and suffering, We worship the deities, we pray to them, and yet they don’t help us when we’re in a crisis. In a small village in South India, there was a school, the village school. It was very poor and its roof was made of grass. One day there was a big fre and the grass roof burned so fast that many of the small children couldn’t escape on time and died. Their parents were of course in great pain. They were all very religious people, and performed pujas every day. They had statues of the deities in their homes, and they made offerings to them and recited prayers. Their main prayers were for the safety of their children and so every day they prayed for them. But many of these children died in the fire. The parents became so angry at their gods that they threw all the statues into a ditch. This is understandable behaviour from someone who believes that the deities create all our suffering and happiness. But in the Buddhist tradition, we cannot blame the deities. The deities do help us in certain ways, but mainly our destiny depends on ourselves. It is due to our own negative deeds that we face suffering.

It is also due to our own good deeds that today we enjoy life, so we can credit ourselves for this. In this way, Buddhism teaches the law of Karma, the law of cause and effect. All the good things in our life, our longevity, our good health, our prosperity, the fulfllment of our wishes – all these are due to our good deeds, the good deeds that we have performed in the past. And all the bad thing that we experience, a short life, sickness, poverty, failures, the inability to fulfll our wishes, are also due to the non-virtuous deeds that we have performed in the past. So we cannot blame anybody. We have to blame ourselves. This is the law of Karma.

The Buddha said that everything is impermanent. All compound things are impermanent.

If we want to practise Dharma seriously, it is very important to think about this. Then we realise how important it is to practise in earnest and not waste any time. And also how important it is to practise the Dharma effectively. There are millions upon millions of persons who are not interested in any spiritual path at all. There are also many beings who are interested in the spiritual path, and who in appearance are practising the Dharma, but in reality they are not practising the real Dharma. Even though we wear robes, we recite prayers and mantras, we go to the temple, we meditate and so on, our mind is still the worldly mind We have all the worldly attachments and think worldly thoughts. And so even our practice is in a way linked with worldly gains. Although in appearance it is spiritual practice, in reality it becomes just another worldly activity. So therefore, to make it a real spiritual path, even if we cannot practise the whole time, whatever amount of time that we can use, even if it is only a few hours, at that moment we should not think of worldly gains, we should try to make it true Dharma, a true path that will lead us to liberation and enlightenment. It says in ‘Parting From the Four Attachments’ that if we have attachment to this life, we are not a religious person. This is very important, because even though we practise, our practice is not effective. It is not done in the right way and it becomes a worldly activity.

And so the foundation or preliminary practice, what we call Ngöndro in Tibetan, is very, very important because through this Ngöndro practice, we make our path, our religious practice, a real Dharma, one that will lead to liberation and enlightenment. It is very important. Many people nowadays think that Ngöndro practice is just about counting refuges, reciting mantras, making mandala offerings and so on, to reach a certain number. If we reach this number, then we expect something to happen. But unless and until it changes our mind, then no matter how many mantras we recite, no matter how many mandala offerings we make, it does not make much of a difference. As long as it does change your mind, then even reciting a few mantras makes a difference. And so, first of all, we need to refect on things like the suffering of samsara, the difficulty of obtaining the precious human life, impermanence, and the law of Karma. These are very, very important. And this is not something that we count or just recite, it is something that we need to think about in our daily life, even while we’re walking, when we’re in the midst of people, when we’re involved in a busy life. We can think of this, we can think of samsara, we can think of suffering, we can think of impermanence. We don’t need to be in a temple or in our own shrine room to think about this; we can do so while we’re working, while we’re travelling, we can think about this and it will lead our mind to the spiritual path.

This is what the common preliminary practice really means, in simple terms, not in scholarly ones. Common, in the sense that it belongs to both sutrayana and mantrayana. The Ngöndro itself is an uncommon preliminary practice. Uncommon, because it belongs to the mantrayana or vajrayana way of practising.

Its frst practice, refuge, has many different levels. There is worldly refuge and beyond worldly refuge. Worldly refuge itself has two parts: object worldly refuge and mind worldly refuge. Object worldly refuge means that when we face crises in our life, when we fnd ourselves in desperate situations, we seek refuge in spirits, local deities, trees, mountains, rocks, etc. This is worldly object refuge. Worldly mind refuge means that even if we take refuge in the right objects like the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, our purpose is worldly, for example to have a long life, good health, prosperity, success, the fulfillment of our wishes. Worldly refuge is not the right refuge.

And then there is the beyond worldly refuge, which also has two parts: Hinayana and Mahayana. Within Hinayana, are the Sravakas and Pratiekabuddhas. Each one of these refuges has four different parts: cause, object, duration and purpose. In the worldly refuge, the cause is mainly fear. When we face crisis in life, we feel fear and this drives us to take refuge; the object is, as we already said, the worldly deities; the duration is just long enough to overcome our temporary problems and suffering; and the purpose is just for one’s own sake. In Hinayana, the object for Sravakas is not to become Buddhas, but Arhats, and they take refuge in the Sangha. For Pratiekabuddhas, the objective is not to become fully enlightened Buddhas, but just Pratiekabuddhas, and their main object of refuge is the Dharma.

In Mahayana refuge, the causes for taking refuge are three – fear, faith and compassion, but the main one is compassion. In Mahayana, every practice that we do is not for our own sake, but rather for the sake of all sentient beings. To have this goal, we need to have compassion. If we don’t have compassion, how can we have the mind to help sentient beings? So the main cause is compassion. As for the object, although in all Buddhist traditions, the object of refuge is the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, in Mahayana the explanation of these is different. In Mahayana, when we say the Buddha, we refer to one who possesses the three kayas, the Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya. The Dharmakaya means the body of reality, and it is referred to as having double purity. Double purity means the natural purity that we all have, the true nature of our mind, which is pure, never stained with the obscurations. If our true nature of the mind were stained with the obscurations, then one could never become free from the obscurations. But we can become free of them because the obscurations are only temporary and they are not within the nature of the mind. So we all possess natural purity. However, we cannot see it because at the moment we have temporary obscurations that block us from seeing our natural purity. But the Buddhas have double purity because of their accumulation of merit and wisdom, which clears all the obscurations, including their propensities. Dharmakaya is not something that we gain from outside. It is something that we already have, but which we don’t see because of our obscurations. Once our obscurations are cleared, then the Dharmakaya is revealed and we can see it. And so it is called the double purity.

Sambhogakaya means the body of enjoyment. When we clear all the obscurations, then we gain all the great qualities. At the moment, we don’t have these qualities, but when we clear the obscurations, our ordinary physical body becomes the Buddha’s body with the thirty-two signs and eighty qualities, and our ordinary voice becomes the Melody of Brahma with the sixty branches, and our ordinary mind becomes omniscient wisdom.

Nirmanakaya means the body of emanation. Dharmakaya is invisible – it is beyond, it is ultimate reality, and so it is only visible to Buddhas. The Sambhogakaya is only visible to the highest level of the Buddha’s followers like the Bodhisattvas, but not to ordinary beings. But the Nirmanakaya body of emanation is revealed – wherever, whenever, in whatever form is required – human form, animal form, all kinds of different forms – in order to help beings. So the Buddha with the three kayas is only described in the Mahayana.

To transform our mind, we need to do the preliminary practices like reflecting on the suffering of samsara, the difficulty of obtaining the precious human birth, impermanence, and cause and effect.

The word Dharma has two parts. The teachings and the realisations. The realisations that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have gained by eliminating all the obscurations and attaining all the realisations – the realisations of the truth of cessation and the truth of path. This also belongs to Mahayana.

And then Sangha actually means ‘community’. In this case, it is the holy community, the true Sangha, the bodhisattvas who have reached the irreversible state.

So in this way, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha constitute the object, the special Mahayana refuge.

As for the duration, since our goal is to accomplish ultimate enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings, we take refuge until enlightenment is reached. If we need to go to an unknown place, the first thing we need is a guide who can show us the path. The Buddha is the guide. So we need to rely on the guide until we reach our destination. Since our destination is to accomplish ultimate enlightenment, we take refuge in the Buddha until enlightenment is reached. And then, to reach our destination, we actually have to travel on the path, by foot, by car, by any means of transport. And so we take refuge in the Dharma as our actual path. And when we undertake such a long and diffcult journey, rather than travelling alone, it is very helpful to have companions, trusted companions. So we take refuge in the Sangha as our companions.

As for the purpose, in the Mahayana the purpose is not for one’s own sake but for the sake of all sentient beings. All sentient beings are our mother and our very dear ones. We believe in rebirth, according to which we keep changing our lives, we have been born in different families, different forms, different lives, over and over again. So everybody, every sentient being has actually become our parents and our very dear friends. But because of the change in life, we don’t recognise each other and we see some as friends, some as enemies, some as indifferent. But in reality, everyone is the same, everyone has been our mother. Therefore, if we ignore all other mother sentient beings and seek liberation just for ourselves, this is not right. Even on the worldly level, if we’re a goodhearted person and our closest family members, our dearest ones, our friends or relatives, are in great suffering, and we are in a safe and happy place, we don’t feel happy. Even if we can’t help them, at least we try to do something to share their miseries. Similarly, all sentient beings are our mother, all sentient beings are our very dear ones, and so ignoring them and seeking liberation or enlightenment for ourselves alone is not right. We seek enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. And so the main purpose of taking refuge is not for one’s own beneft, for one’s own wellbeing, but rather for the wellbeing of all sentient beings. This is our purpose.

This is what makes the Mahayana refuge special – the cause, the object, the duration and the purpose. Taking refuge is the very first thing that we need to do in the preliminary practice. Nowadays, many of us follow the Vajrayana path, and so we need to take the Vajrayana refuge. We can only take the Vajrarayana refuge when we have received a major empowerment. And then we need to generate the enlightenment mind which, as we mentioned, is the purpose of the refuge – to help sentient beings.

In Mahayana, every practice that we do is not for our own sake, but rather for the sake of all sentient beings. To have this goal, we need to have compassion.

And then, we have to enter the spiritual path towards enlightenment. We have many obscurations, we have accumulated many negative deeds over our lifetimes, and these need to be purified. We do this through the practice of Vajrasattva meditation, the recitation of the one hundred-syllable mantra. At the same time, we need to accumulate merit. There are many ways to accumulate merit, but the most effective way is to make mandala offerings. All these are Vajrayana practices and can only be done if one has received a major empowerment. And then, in order to receive blessings quickly, we practise Guru Yoga. In order to attain enlightenment, we need to realise the nature of the mind. We cannot realise the nature of the mind merely through explanations, examples or logical reasons. The nature of the mind can only be realised through the accumulation of merit and through receiving the blessings of the Guru. So therefore, Guru Yoga is very important.

And so in this way, we should place great importance on the preliminary practices.

[porterenaudinprogress]

STUDIO DIARY - MAY 2020

Friday 8th May 2020

The last month, I've decided to write my studio diary in English. Maybe, this decision can seem to be a pretension to look like more ''international''. But, over and above the fact that I feel my work can be better welcomed in Anglo-Saxon countries than in France, it's for me a challenge to try to create my language. I don't want to write like a native speaker -I can't- but I want to write as somebody feeling free -by ignorance of course- to organize words and sentences as he wants. For sure, any native never writes really as a native because as Deleuze said, the writer always tries to stutter the language. And as a closer friend of mine often says, English is more an intestine language than french, it's the language of empiricism and of experiential approach par excellence. I also think that this longing comes to render my expression much less ampoulé. Write in English will help me to cushion the fall of a living thought on the floor of words. Maybe, French remains for me a language use as a power to escape from my native social environment. With English, that I read every day -through John Dewey's work- I'm ready to construct my own English made of my french winding way of think. In English, I write better hic et nunc.

There's many months ago, I wanted to develop mural sculptural propositions inspired by cameo craft. My longing was to make portraits of women. In this framework, I was very interested in Juno Ludovisi. I don't know exactly the perfect sense of this longing. I think it was made of an accumulation of discoveries and feelings. It was difficult for me to assume this idea to make portraits of women because I always depreciate this kind of process often reinforcing sexist biases, especially when it's an initiative of a man. I just say that feminity isn't feminism and isn't a female being. I was excited by the power of a word that I have invented: FRAUEUER composed of two German words: Frau and Feuer. Anyway, I made an experimentation with red cement and white plaster because I wanted to interrogate the cameo aesthetic in using my current building materials. Then, I forget this idea, dropping out my experiment in the studio. And now, for me, it's obvious that what I'm developing with WIND OF CHANGE is enough mature to reinvest this exploration about my fake cameo craft. For me, I'm always interested to explore ''hackneyed" aesthetic. I like to develop a historical filiation with sculptural craft that doesn't participate in the big path of art history. And honestly, when I was a child, I remember that my mother was very keen on medallions with cameo and that, among a big broken cake in the form of singer loved by my parents -showcased in the living room- and other stuff I'll describe the next time, the cameo was one my first sculptural emotion, on the same level that the white antic sculptures of the art and history museum of my birthplace.

Sunday 10th May 2020

Yesterday, I had a talk with SIAM about my series in progress, WIND OF CHANGE. I told her my hanging difficulties questionings. Because, at first, I thought add kitchen fix behind each sculptural proposition to hang to the wall as a classic art set up and then I was afraid by the tension between the weight of the artwork and its fragility. Then I thought as a hanging used for NIHIL #1 but at the same time, this hanging device  was included, if I can say, in the aesthetic finality of artwork. By the hazard of my web researches, I discovered the artist Richard Starbuck and his series named "Sludgegiggle" and "Dirtyscratchings" paintings which is inspiring to question deeper this essential aspect of WIND OF CHANGE. And SIAM told me she found the current hanging just perfect, id est, that each sculptural proposition is leaned against the wall. And when she told me that, I discovered that was true, not just for the reason she had given me -for her, these artworks look like between steles and paying cards- but it was consistent in my sculptural genealogy of gestures, always connected with the ground.

I'd beginning to read a book about research-creation in art, and all the day I've thought about what's my method. For a very practical description: when I arrived at the studio, my head was confusing by this new terrific technology: robot-dog in Singapore to ''help'' to keep a good social distancing at the occasion of the current health crisis. I need to draw something, it was clear. Then I've taken a paper and I've began to form a shape on the paper with my usual material: povidone-iodine, coal, and red clay. At present, all my work is invaded by a landscape made of ''uddered'' mountains. It's not automatic but I felt that it was exactly the necessary context to let emerge my trouble. And after, I've thought about this robot-dog... I was afraid to draw a dirty kitsch -very ''literal''- robot-dog. And I thought about a book which dragged in my studio about the nature representation in Ancient Egyptian art. And I was reminded of Anubis and the shape of typical Egyptian dog. In this way appeared a very interesting mythological short circuit. Furthermore, I'm sure that an idea is better when it is connected with something participating in his past. When I was between 12 and 18 I was fascinated by ancient Egypt as a kid of course but it was enough significant to settle an aesthetic layer in my grasp of the world. I've learned from 17 to 22 the ancient hieroglyphic language. When I started drawing, I made an association with the meat-grinder pattern. At the end of my work, I discovered something really interesting to develop because it proposes a new synthesis or new way which to lead me closer to the solution. You know the solution to the problem, that each of us has and for which you have, in fine, any resolution. But you're always searching for a short cut that you never found as David Vincent in ''The Invaders''! To finish, temporarily, I know my next painting work participating in my expanded sculptural practice and I make the connexion with a recovered material: disposable paper packages for food. In my work, I have always had an obsession with the relation between my height and the golden ratio... So, I've defined a format for the coming artwork (2.25 x 14.92 ft) Now, I've to categorize all these steps, maybe to define a method.

Friday 15th May 2020

A proposition for open call about Power and Invisible lines of power

Recognition #1 is a participative and immersive sounded sculptural proposition consisting of a very basic architectural layout in space, emerging as a drawing. This shape acts as a frontier in space, a delimitation very open -because without walls and roof- and closed at the same time - because very strong and hard in reason of its materiology-.

• This space is made of concrete iron bars, anti-bird spikes plaster. It remains minimalist sculptors as Toni Grand and Eva Hesse which are masters for me.

• On the floor, inside this space, there's an accumulation of little faces made in clay with a cast of my face.

• At every exterior corners of this architecture, there's a bust, hands crossed on the chest, with bird spikes in place of the head. Every bust is sounded and plays -with an inner speaker- an electronic guitar riff in a loop. They are like towers.

• Inside the space, there are three standing meat grinders.

All the described elements are inscribed in a genealogy of my work.

• From 2015, I've used anti-bird spikes to stabilize forms evoking something between the architectural waste and the animal. These forms acted like very abstract Schmerzensmann. Anti-bird spike is typically the avatar of the expression of a border between the scene and the obscene look that builds social space. Pigeon or homeless, these elements characterize a distancing of the bodies within the social body. • In this continuity in last December, in Milan, I was very impressed by old broken statues hung in height and covered in place of the head of this anti-bird spikes. In this sculptural proposition, each corner is like a guardian, that is to say, the one who fixes the invisible lines between the world which must be visible -the scene- and the one which must be hidden -the obscene-. It guards what it must be inside and outside the line of the authorized world in which the ''rights holders'' have power. These guardians ''utter'' a repetitive riff of guitar which grows back as much as it welcomes. This riff is extracted from a song I'm working on and I'll be broadcasting soon. It's named CRISIS. For me, a sculpture can become a song and vice versa. Here the sound reinforces the holist aspect of this space acting as an environment between the sacred enclosure of a temple and the scenic space for a rock band to give its show.

• While the guardians are headless, faceless; on the floor, there's an accumulation of little faces. From 2011, I've stabilized different sculptural propositions using this form. They are part of the same time in the build-becoming of the world as a sediment made  of individualities and in the dust-becoming of the world which people disappear because reified by time. Memory is a struggle against the natural reification of conscious beings.

• The meat grinder made its first appearance in my work in 2016. Since then, it has come up regularly as the ambivalent symbol of the perpetual collapse of things. A kind of crossed-out God as the sociologist Bruno Latour would say (c.f. We Have Never Been Modern) and at the same time as a representation of the motor of thermo-industrial society which increases the capacity of individuals to individuate in treating all other beings as if they were inert matter. These three standing meat grinders are diffusers of sound matter.

Recognition #1 is also a performative proposition. Before the event, I will collect sound matter in the streets of Singapore, based on a question that I will ask passers-by. When would you be ready to rise up? This question is very important to me because it directly concerns power and the shadow or light it casts on the demarcations that take place between people and social groups, these invisible lines. I draw this question from a reflection by Michel Foucault - about the role of the intellectual in society- which is very precious to me as an artist and a citizen. 

“The intellectual does not have to be the legislator, to make the law, does not have to say what must happen. I believe that its role is precisely to perpetually show how what seems to go without saying in what makes our daily life is arbitrary and fragile and that we can always rise up. And that there are perpetually and everywhere reasons not to accept it, reality as it is given and proposed to us.” (Michel Foucault)

To ask myself this question acts for me as a revealer of the invisible lines which enclose people in relationships of powers that consume them because they do not emancipate them. This collected sound matter will be accessible by turning the cranks of the meat grinders. Each visitor will be able to activate this mechanism. For the collection of this sound matter, I will, therefore, go to meet people, dressed in a suit on which I have been working for a few months. It is a full suit (shoe, mask, gloves, jumpsuit) bristling with anti-bird spikes. This costume, between zentei (ぜ ん て い) and bacteriological equipment, is being designed for the song CRISIS. 

So I foresee a performance during which I will invite two people from the public to slip into costumes similar to mine, bristling with anti-bird spikes, to join me in this sculptural and sounded space to manipulate and experience -in the rapprochement and the remoteness- of all the materials by the exhaustion of the architectural and sound structure of the space.

Recognition #1 is very inspired by the book of the philosopher Axel Honneth named Reification: A New Look at an Old Idea. From the hypotheses of Lukács for whom reification “constitutes a distorting ''Stance'' or mode of behavior that is so widespread in capitalist societies that it can be described as ''second nature''” (Axel Honneth, p. 25) whom he confronts with the theories of Heidegger and John Dewey. He is interested in the question of experience which precedes knowledge and which is the essential place for all ethical or ''sympathetic'' (in the sense of empathy) relationships with the other. In short, it is a question of fighting against the processes of reification which is the process of multiplication of invisible lines through which people try to sneak. Let us have for image the jewel protected by laser beams, the thief tries to avoid them to seize the good so much coveted without giving the alarm. Here the coveted good is, let us say it naively, a better life, at the risk of which the bodies of the individuals are cut off by the multiple invisible lines which categorize and assign them, thus dispossessing them of the action and the expressiveness of the world. We suffer from the opposition too much between subject and object which is the primary cause of the reification of beings.

“Like Lukács and Heidegger, Dewey is skeptical of the traditional view according to which our primary relationship to the world is constituted by a neutral confrontation with an object to be understood. Although he neither uses the concept of reification to characterize this doctrine nor shares the pathos of Heidegger’s worldview as far as the phenomenon that he is describing is concerned, Dewey agrees with these two thinkers that the predominance of the subject-object model cannot help but leave its impression on society’s conception of itself. He asserts with Heidegger and Lukács that the longer we hold on to the traditional opposition of subject and object, the more our life practices will be damaged, since cognition and feelings, theory and practice, science and art will thereby be more and more torn apart.” (Axel Honneth, pp. 49/50)

And as such we can say that modernity is the industrial tracer of invisible lines within the experiential world from the idea that the past belongs to natural such therefore the future always promises to make us cultural, civilized:

“The asymmetry between nature and culture then becomes an asymmetry between past and future. The past was the confusion of things and men; the future is what will no longer confuse them. Modernization consists in continually exiting from an obscure age that mingled the needs of society with scientific truth, in order to enter into a new age that will finally distinguish clearly what belongs to atemporal nature and what comes from humans, what depends on things and what belongs to signs.” (Bruno Latour, p. 77) 

Today we know the disasters of the invisible lines drawn by human subjects on the one hand and non-human objects on the other, we prevent ourselves from thinking as the hybrids produced by genetic and technological power.

Recognition #1 assumes the possibility of an emotional field before knowledge, this artwork acts as a presentiment, an existential mud aiming to bring us closer to each other, to mock invisible lines, to cross them ... This artwork “is concerned with arguing for the general priority enjoyed by a particular stance of engagement or recognition over all other forms of relating to the world; here I am concerned with showing that emotional receptivity comes before the transition to cognition of intersubjectively given objects in a strictly temporal sense”. (Axel Honneth, p. 45)

These invisible lines drawn by modernity that we must cross and this all the more since we save a distance from each other, that we all assume more or more consciously the role of guardian of the invisible lines which reifies us.

• Axel Honneth Reification: A New Look at an Old Idea, Oxford University Press, 2008

• Bruno Latour, We Have Never Been Modern, Harvard University Press Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1993, (original edition in 1991),  translated by Catherine Porter

• Michel Foucault, « ENTRETIEN INEDIT AVEC MICHEL FOUCAULT 1979 par   Farès Sassine »,  in le blog de Farès Sassine  Assassines, le 22/08/2014

available at this address: https://fares-sassine.blogspot.com/2014/08/entretien-inedit-avec-michel-foucault.html- translated by my very own self!

Saturday 23rd may 2020

Artists have a political commitment when they make pieces of art and they want to commit, through them, an alterity process. When this reception has happened, in the approach of Dewey1, these pieces of art become artworks. This artist doesn't look for an immediate reception. The public cannot exist for the moment and maybe never. But, profoundly, this inner and intimate commitment distinguishes the a-politic-artist of the politic-artist. That's the reason why it is so difficult for people who aren't artists to comprehend why a politic-artist -submerged in the deepest of anonymity, needs to endeavor that his/her work be expected. These people think that the unknown politic-artist -implied for them who doesn't sell his/her pieces of art in the very narrow international corridor of art market- needs to continue to work to create this public. The artist doesn't create to satisfy people, it doesn't look for customers, even if S/he has them... No, S/he is perpetually looking for a face to which to address his/her interpretation of the world. The politic-artist has any specific message or dogma to propose, is looking for a hermeneutic community based on his/her world embodiment. That's the reason why the politic-artist doesn't create to have fun during a long Sunday. (S)He creates for all faces that S/he doesn't see but who already are gazing at him/her. The politic-artist is happy with one thing, to make sense with this quest. Who's the a-politic-artist? Maybe, this one in confusion between customers and the public or between something-we-want-to-affirm and affirm-that-something-wants... I believe all artists are politic, even if they don't meet anybody or they don't want to explain that moves him/her in this quest. S/he hasn't to be social or to have a concrete political view on human organization of this time. S/he is a mediator between ghosts. 99,99% of our environment is made of ghosts. Culture is the legacy of dead and the artist proposes a path between the living of the past and the ghosts of the future. That's how I'm an artist.

1. “A work of art no matter how old and classic is actually, not just potentially, a work of art when it lives in some individualized experience. As a piece of parchment, of marble, of canvas, it remains (subject to the ravages of time) self-identical throughout the ages. But as a work of art, it is recreated every time it is esthetically experienced. No one doubts this fact in the rendering of a musical score; no one supposes that the lines and dots on paper are more than the recorded means of evoking the work of art. But what is true of it is equally true of the Parthenon as a building. It is absurd to ask what an artist ‘’really’’ meant by his product: he himself would find different meanings in it at different days and hours and in different stages of his own development. If he could be articulate, he would say ‘’I meant just that, and that means whatever you or anyone can honestly, that is in virtue of your own vital experience, get out of it.’’ Any other idea makes the boasted ‘‘universality’’ of the work of art a synonym for

monotonous identity. The Parthenon, or whatever, is universal because it can continuously inspire new personal realizations in experience.”

John Dewey, Art as Experience, First Perigee Printing, 1980, (first edition in 1934), pp. 108/109

[berniesandersniece]

No Water, No Life (Revised)

Olivia Johnson

1The Hoover Dam.

Population growth, climate change, and unsustainable use are just a few of the many threats the world’s water supply currently faces. These stressors placed on one of our most essential natural resources will only continue to grow if we do not boldly and rapidly confront this problem. Chapter 13 of Living in the Environment discusses this dilemma, as well as suggests possible solutions to address it. The general theme of this chapter can be summarized with the wise words of conservationist Sandra Postel when she said, “Through the cycling of water, across space and time, we are linked to all life...Water’s gift is life. No water, no life”2. Postel makes very clear how the vitality of humanity and many other species on earth is completely dependent on the presence of clean, drinkable water. Currently, we are using the earth’s 0.024% of available freshwater unsustainably by extracting it faster than nature can replenish it. In the United States, the Colorado River alone provides water to over 40 million people through an intricate man-made system of dams and reservoirs; this water source has come under considerable stress from growing populations and economic growth, and may cause serious conflict if supplies continue to dwindle. The text emphasizes how the low value we place on water encourages unsustainable use and pollution. Over 70% of water used is withdrawn solely for agricultural and livestock purposes; the production of one hamburger alone requires 1,700 liters of water. The United States, India, and China account for the world’s three largest water footprints, which is a “rough measure of the volume of freshwater that we use or pollute, directly or indirectly, to stay alive and to support our lifestyles.”3 Unsurprisingly, more-developed countries are responsible for much of the unsustainable water use, and therefore have larger water footprints.

Having a large water footprint is generally associated with an unsustainable removal of water from its source, which can cause lasting and serious damage. Groundwater is a major source of water for many sources, and is acquired by pumping water from aquifers laying beneath earth’s surface. When this water is removed faster than it can be replenished, aquifers can collapse and cause sinkholes, making recharging them virtually impossible. Dams and reservoirs also provide water to many populated areas, although they can pose major problems to the communities and ecosystems they disrupt. It is clear that freshwater must be used more sustainably, and this can be achieved through cutting water waste, slowing population growth, and protecting natural ecosystems that store freshwater.

If we continue to use our water supplies unsustainably, the serious threat of water pollution will only continue to diminish our resources. Chapter 20 of Living in the Environment discusses the causes and dangers of water pollution, as well as potential steps we can take to reduce and eradicate this major problem. Hydrologist Luna Leopold stated, “The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.”4; water pollution is directly tied to our unsustainable activities that take place on land. A primary example of this is the large dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico caused by toxic chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers that make their way into the Mississippi River and dumped into the gulf. These agricultural byproducts cause an overfertilization of coastal waters and severely deplete the levels of dissolved oxygen in the gulf, preventing many species from being able to survive there. Besides agricultural activities, additional sources of water pollution are industrial facilities, mining, and untreated wastewater. These and other sources of water pollution can be categorized into two categories: point sources and nonpoint sources. Point sources discharge pollutants into water sources at specific locations, and are easy to identify and regulate. Nonpoint sources, on the other hand, are broad areas where rainfall or snowmelt washes pollutants off the land and into bodies of surface water, and are difficult to control and monitor.

5Women in India carrying water to their village.

Water pollution is a serious threat not only to many aquatic ecosystems, but also to the health and safety of humans. Exposure to infectious bacteria, viruses, and parasites transferred into water from the wastes of 2.5 billion people that lack access to adequate waste-disposal can cause life-threatening diseases. According to the text, “The World Health Organization estimates that each year, more than 1.6 million people die from largely preventable waterborne infectious diseases that they get by drinking contaminated water or by not having enough water to keep clean.”6 It is evident that widespread water pollution is not only an environmental issue, but also a socioeconomic issue that disproportionately affects less-developed countries, communities of color, and indigenous nations.

7Point source pollution from an abandoned open-pit coal mine.

In addition to our freshwater water supplies, we are also rapidly polluting the ocean and causing death to its ecosystems. Oceanographer Sylvia A. Earle states, “Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.”8 Despite the invaluable resources the ocean provides us, we treat it like the world’s largest dump for our trash and toxic wastes. This utter disrespect for the oceans has resulted in several gigantic, slowly rotating masses of plastic and other solid wastes that collect in the middle of the oceans, some as large as the state of Texas. Currently, there is no practical or affordable way to clean up marine litter, once again proving how prevention is the most effective method of combating pollution and other human inflicted wounds to our earth.

In order to reduce water pollution, we must first try to prevent it by working with nature, as well as use natural resources in more efficient ways. Preventing groundwater contamination, reducing nonpoint runoff, finding substitutes for toxic pollutants, reducing air pollution, and slowing population growth all would greatly reduce water pollution and the dangerous effects it poses to human and natural ecosystems. By taking steps to prevent water pollution and control it instead of dealing with the problematic and costly effects, we may hope to reduce water pollution and the deadly effects it is having on our earth.

Our unsustainable use and pollution of our water sources prove to be so harmful ultimately because of our abuse of the interconnectedness of nature. Causing harm to one ecosystem will inevitably cause harm to another, and containing pollution is virtually impossible. An excerpt from the text perfectly illustrates this concept, stating, “The seasonal formation of dead zones in the northern Gulf of Mexico and in other areas, mostly resulting from human activities, is a reminder that in nature, everything is connected. Plant nutrients flowing into the Mississippi from a farm in Iowa or a sewage treatment plant in Wisconsin help kill fish and shellfish a thousand miles away on the gulf coast of Texas. Researchers warn that if the size of the Gulf’s annual dead zone is not sharply reduced, its long-term effects could permanently alter the ecological makeup of these coastal waters.”9 The improper disposal of harsh chemicals in trash dumps can lead to a contamination of groundwater, and throwing away a plastic bag instead of recycling it can kill a sea turtle who mistakes it for a jellyfish. Our actions, no matter how big or small, can have astronomical negative effects on ecosystems thousands of miles away.It is critically important to be mindful of our actions as well as take action to prevent the current situation from getting even worse.

Something I found problematic about these chapters of Living in the Environment, as well as the text as a whole, is how it discusses poverty and its relationship to many environmental issues. Although it often marks poverty as a cause of these issues, the text rarely provides substantial solutions to these issues, nor does it delve into the causes of poverty. Further, the text does not make clear that it is not the fault of individuals living in poverty, but rather the unfair systematic actions of the global North that largely causes poverty in the first place. Additionally, the text seems to place more of an emphasis on poverty than the unsustainable living standards of more-developed countries as the cause of environmental degradation, and it fails to examine the relationship between these two that exacerbates said degradation. These seem to be key concepts in understanding the complex problems we pose to the environment, and I believe a whole understanding of these issues require an understanding of the relationships between more-developed and less-developed nations.

Question: As climate change continues to worsen and there is little improvement to current environmental conditions, environmental racism is a growing problem to the health and safety of many vulnerable communities; how should this be addressed, especially in a time where the presidential administration of the United States doesn't even acknowledge the validity of climate change?

Words: 1492

1Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. S.I.: Cengage Learning, 2020, 324.

2Miller, 323.

3Miller, 327.

4Miller, 328.

5Miller, 325.

6Miller, 544.

7Miller, 543.

8Miller, 557.

9Miller, 551.