#they want to learn EVERYTHING from poetry to history to culture to people

[faeryclown]

Verity

n. a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance

[thecolorblockcurator]

I’ve been thinking about a few things lately

And it seems like we’re at the precipice of another dark age. Dark ages are typically when education, reading, writing, scientific progress are lost

And by precipice I mean, it could go either way. Historically the rise of fascism has lead to incredible powerful art movements - as well as aggressive censorship

Now I don’t think it’s so dramatic that everything will be lost, collapse of a civilization -only ruins will be left kind of thing. We’re in a completely different age with more visibility and information than ever before

But I do think this time it’s a shift from reading and art to content that has been happening over the years & with generative AI it’s only pushing it further.

What got me thinking about it was- I just read about a new publishing company that is only selling AI generated books & plans to publish and flood the market with 8000 new ai generated books next year.

There is power in art. Art is transformative, political, it teaches us to be curious, to think creatively, to see things from different perspectives. Making art of any kind helps us from everything to processing trauma, to expressing our voice, to creating communities.

Content passes the time, it grabs our attention. It fills the room with noise. And it keeps people distracted. It keeps people in a passive yet heightened state.

And the second thing I’ve been thinking about is feudalism. The economic / political system that was around in the last dark age in Europe.

Now what I studied in my history program was more of the rise of industrialization & colonialism so I’m not as strong with my background in feudalism and I want to fully understand it before I completely form this idea

But, I’ve seen others write about this too and I think they’re onto something- it seems like we’ve breached late stage capitalism to some new type of feudalism. And I think that has some validity

Whether it’s related to the tech industry or corporate real estate. Or some combination of the two. I can see how this could be a type of feudalism. The effects are the same in terms the distribution of power, wealth, labor, ownership, as well as the cultural factors of approved art what art is allowed to be made and visible or in our case, consumed.

In regards to art- I can see how content, noise, trends are more valuable to a new type of feudalism than art. And how they both lend themselves to create a new type of dark age

So what does that mean? What should we do?

Create art. Write stories, poetry, zines, paintings, collages. Wrestle with ideas. Learn about new things that are confusing and difficult to understand at first. Carve out time for silence, so you can actually think without 3 different types of media all playing at once.

I think we have to actively fight this. And trust me I get sucked into instagram and tumblr more than I want to be.

And for me I know what I’m fighting is- it’s gotten to this point where it feels like by not being engaged in content I’m not being productive. That sitting in silence to let myself wrestle with ideas for a bit is somehow wasting time. - Which of course it’s not.

[bfpnola]

nov 9 - nov 13 readings

hi! this is reaux (she/they)! as many of you know, BFP is slowly waking up and will be undergoing a full makeover in the coming months. in the mean time, to help get back into the pattern of posting and to continue to share resources, i want to start posting what i read each week!

without further ado, here is everything i've been learning from and engaging with so far just between last saturday night [nov 9, 2024] and right now [wednesday afternoon, nov 13, 2024]! i tried to post this on tiktok @/edgeofeden.17 (go check me out for cool political talks and reading recs!) with my reactions as well, but they said it violated community guidelines :(

journal article: The House on Bayou Road: Atlantic Creole Networks in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

wikipedia: Plaçage

wikipedia: Signare

paperback book: Africans In Colonial Louisiana: The Development of Afro-Creole Culture in the Eighteenth-Century

article: Why Is Gen Z So Sex-Negative?: A prehistory of the Puriteen.

article: Policy-makers must not look to the “Nordic model” for sex trade legislation

article: Sex workers face unique challenges when trying to unionize: Anti-sex work stigma and labor status create roadblocks in sex workers’ fight against the industry status quo

wikipedia: Decriminalization of sex work

short youtube video: "Decriminalization of sex work does not mean the decriminalization of human trafficking."

short youtube video: What About Legalization? Decriminalization is the only solution

short youtube video: Dis/Ability and Sex Work Decriminalization

short youtube video: "Helping people through police is inherently coercive." - Gilda Merlot

wikipedia: Page Act of 1875

essay: Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power by Audre Lorde

wikipedia: Erotic Capital

long youtube video: KATHERINE MCKITTRICK: Curiosities, Wonder, and Black Methodologies // 09.14.20

journal article: Black life is Not Ungeographic! Applying a Black Geographic Lens to Rural Education Research in the Black Belt

journal article: Black matters are spatial matters: Black geographies for the twenty-first century

journal article: Unspoken Grammar of Place: Anti-Blackness as a Spatial Imaginary in Education

short video: Chicago Works | Andrea Carlson: Shimmer on Horizons

zine: Evaluating What Skills You Can Bring to Radical Organizing

diagram + workbook?: The Social Change Ecosystem Map (2020)

essay: How to Build Language Justice

guide: Anti-Oppressive Facilitation for Democratic Process: Making Meetings Awesome for Everyone

radical resource library: Center for Liberatory Practice & Poetry

short essay: The Short Instructional Manifesto for Relationship Anarchy

essay/blog post: Access Intimacy: The Missing Link

i think that's everything? whew. let's see how i finish off the week! if you need PDFs for anything i didn't directly link, lmk and i'll find a way to get it to you. might upload it to my google drive or something!

--

topics: Louisiana Creole history + heritage, women of color + erotic capital, sex work decriminalization, Black geography, revolutionary organizing, language, relationship anarchy, disability, intimacy

[archivistofnerddom]

The Bad Batch + Going to Book Festivals

Inspired by the fact that the National Book Festival is happening next week

Hunter

He gets dragged around to the different informational pavilions, tables, and displays by Omega. She’s just so darn eager to see everything, so he doesn’t mind.

Hunter also likes going to author and panel talks when he’s getting overwhelmed or overstimulated. He parks it in a quiet, out-of-the-way corner and just listen. It’s a good way for his brain to cool off when the external stimulation becomes too much. (Tech gave him a specialized map with the best “quiet areas” highlighted.)

He also picks certain talks that he wants to go to because they interest him. Hunter is a big fan of thrillers and historical fiction, so he likes hearing those authors talk. (Crosshair goes to one or two with him.)

When Omega is distracted, he’ll also get a few books signed for her as a surprise. (He gets recommendations from the rest of the Batch. He’ll also save one or two to give to her as Christmas presents.)

Wrecker bullies him into wearing a punny t-shirt, but it really doesn’t take much to convince him. Hunter even mandates that they all join him in wearing such shirts (so that they stay on-brand as a family).

Crosshair

Yeah, he stakes out a table for them early in the day, and he does everything in his power to keep it. They need a home base to dump their stuff throughout the day, especially their collective massive book haul. (Everyone contributed to it, but Tech and Omega are the worst culprits .) Crosshair is more than happy to hang there and read, if it means they keep this table. That being said, Echo and Hunter do take shifts, so that Crosshair can go to talks when he wants.

Crosshair knows which authors sign when, so he’ll scope out when they should be getting into which line and when. He’s got it down to a science. (Tech is duly impressed.)

He doesn’t necessarily stick to one genre of books when he raids the book sale pavilion, but he does skew mainly towards fiction.

The only books he personally wants to get signed are a few books of poetry and a nature book. (He likes the details involved.)

Omega bought him several adorable and brightly colored bookmarks. Crosshair used them with such pride, even if they seem out of character for him.

Tech

Tech is absolutely in nerd heaven at a book festival. His favorite books, tables, pavilions, and talks are those that have to do with science, technology, history, and different cultures.

He takes Omega to the pavilions that talk about information technology, historical preservation, and library management. They both enjoy learning what goes into keeping information safe and protected for future generations.

Tech also has the map of the entire book festival memorized. He also seems to know where everyone is at any given time, so he’ll randomly text people about where they need to go to get to the next talk they wanted to attend. (Crosshair and Echo suspect tracking devices.)

He and Wrecker require supervision when they go to any hands-on science demonstrations. They get carried away sometimes.

Tech also walks away with a large collection of cool notebooks and pens. (He’s going to give some to Omega for Christmas, but he wants a few for himself too.)

Wrecker

You know who will be carrying most of the Batch’s giant book haul out of there? Yeah, Wrecker. He doesn’t mind though, because he’s really happy that they had a good time and got great souvenirs from the day.

Wrecker absolutely enjoys the graphic novels. He will fanboy out over the art styles and the stories. He’s a big fan of the visual medium. (Wrecker is why they bring so many posters from the festival as well.)

He’s makes sure that everyone remembers to eat and drink throughout the day too. Wrecker also makes a point of bringing food over to Crosshair at their claimed table and just hangs out with him while he eats. (He uses the excuse that he wants to get off his feet for a little bit, but it’s largely because he wants to keep Crosshair company.)

Wrecker has a second sale pavilion haul that is largely made up of fun socks, shirts, mugs, and other fun assorted literary themed items. Some are for him. Some will be Christmas presents for the family. Most will be given to kids back home who couldn’t make it in to the book festival.

He’s responsible for rounding up the rest of the family at the end of the day. Because of that, he’ll just track down Tech first and use his locator system to find Hunter, Omega, and Echo. (Crosshair is easy. He’s napping at their table.)

Echo

He absolutely loves the various library tables that explain the different resources they provide. Echo enjoys learning about how they make books accessible to different populations with different types of needs.

Whenever he needs a physical break, he’ll either dip into the back corner of an author talk or go quietly hang out with Crosshair and read.

Echo also enjoys books about history, though he also likes perusing literary analysis and some fiction. It all depends on what he’s feeling that particular day. Sometimes, he’ll grab a spooky, creepy, or morbid book just for funsies.

He doesn’t mind hanging out in lines to get books signed. Echo can keep Omega entertained when they’re in a line for a particularly popular author. The amount of silly games they come up with to pass the time entertains those around them to no end.

Echo can and will exploit the fact that he has prosthetic legs to get good seats for all the talks Omega wants to attend. He’s just so nice about it that most people don’t realize he’s doing what he’s doing for a completely self-serving reason.

Omega

She makes a point to get as many authors to sign the festival poster as she can. Omega wants to frame it afterwards and hang it up as a cool memento once they’re back home. The whole Batch team up to make this happen.

Omega also makes sure to get a family photo while they’re all together and wearing the punny shirts Wrecker (and Hunter) mandated they wear.

She is adamant about getting more than one copy of each book she likes. When asked why (because that starts to get expensive real quick), Omega says it’s because she wants to share the books with people at home. (They maintain a Little Free Library, so she likes adding new books whenever she can.)

Omega gets super excited to talk to people in whatever line she’s in for book signings. She likes to hear about what they think about the books and the various talks.

More often than not, she wears herself out throughout the day, mostly due to sheer excitement. Omega will fall asleep on the nearest shoulder when they’re on their way home. (All of her brothers thinks that’s absolutely endearing. They consider that a sign that it was a good day.)

+ Batcher

Batcher is the best dog, though she stays at home while they’re at the festival. She does, however, get a massively oversized Clifford the Big Red Dog t-shirt and a new dog toy that Omega found at the sales table.

Bonus - Rex

Echo sends him a borderline inappropriate punny shirt and a book whose subject is weirdly specific to something that happened during their time serving in the military together. Rex doesn’t know what to make of that, but he reads the book anyway.

[isaiahpadams]

ADVICE NEEDED

Hi, my name is Isaiah Adams. I'm in the process of writing a book and my goal is to show the beauty of different cultures and highlight the experiences of people within those cultures. I want to focus on things like comfort foods, the poetry and literature, old sayings and specific actions, small ways home remains in the heart and soul even if you may not be there now. I want to share stories, good and bad, and show why it's all so important especially considering everything happening today.

The main question of my book, which so far I have chosen to title "As they say." is "what happens if this hatred towards 'others' continues and what future will be carved through this hatred?" and the answer becomes clear as war breaks out and violence becomes an even greater norm than it was. Love and safety are slipping from the group's grasp but people look out for each other in any way they can, holding on to home despite it being torn from them. Community and shared understanding is a central theme, as is romanticism vs. reality. This will be set in a slightly dystopian near future, through a queer point of view (but not only highlighting queer experiences).

I will find resources/papers and, if possible, recorded lectures on war and authoritarianism, the experiences and history of the cultures I will portray in the book and the languages spoken. I would have conducted interviews but that will not be possible as I wish to stay completely private/anonymous myself and wouldn't be able to do so if I were to interview people. This is why I was planning on posting a link to a Google form with questions anyone could answer anonymously about their cultures and experiences.

I myself am queer and living in a country I wasn't born in but my experiences may not be the same as other people's. I would so greatly appreciate any input about this anonymous form idea, all about your experiences and (if you would be willing for me to do so) how you'd like me to frame it in writing. I want to do justice to a range of experiences and views on life without assuming or putting words in someone's mouth. I want to incorporate your truth into this tale and share a wide range of experiences (particularly those often overlooked) without framing it as my own or speaking over anyone.

This is an incredibly recent idea for me so I am being as open as I can about the research I am going to do. I am incredibly worried about making mistakes as I know how it could harm other communities, so I will do everything in my power to carry out as much research as I can, this search for first-hand recounts being the first step. These form answers would be included at the very end of the book so people will be able to read it in your own words but it would be anonymous as to not out anyone.

If the idea seems off somehow, please let me know and I will try to find a better way to go about it, I just think first hand recounts and input would be most accurate for learning about how to approach different cultures with the care and respect they deserve.

Lots of love and thank you in advance for any input and advice. Sorry if this is poorly phrased.

-Isaiah ❤️

[tamavonpineapple]

Leosagi culture shocks I wanna see (based on my personal hcs)

Medicine/hygiene: as excited as Leo is to finally have Usagi visiting New York, you can't tell me that one of the first things Leo does isn't throwing his edo period boyfriend in the shower and chucking his clothes in the washing machine. Since they live in a sewer, Splinter made extra sure to drill good hygiene and cleanliness into his tots. As such Usagi's first two visits are spent learning about soap/shampoo (special kind for fur from Hidden City), toothbrushing, toilets, etc. I feel like he'd be amazed and shocked at how much cleanliness actually matters when it comes to health. He'd also be dragged to Donnie's lab frequently for vaccines. Even after bacteria and viruses are explained to him, Usagi would still be kind of scared and Leo is just holding his boyfriend's hand the whole time. Considering Leo is the resident medic, Usagi would be very interested in hearing Leo info dump on how surgeries and major wound stitches are done along with disinfection.

Modern tech: this one's obvious, he's from the Edo period and Leo is from the 21st century. Usagi is mesmerized by how advanced everything is and is shocked that none of it is magic. Donnie takes immense pleasure in educating Usagi in the ways of modern technology and how it all functions.

Culture: as a traveller, Usagi probably has quite the open mind for his time and generally appreciates the new cultures he comes across. I think he'd be so amazed at how big and how diverse the world is. Especially when it settles in how Japan (what was previously his whole world) is such a small part for an enormous planet. Considering that New York is an immigrant city, Usagi would probably adore how much of a cultural melting pot it is. Leo gets them some cloaking broaches and the two have several dates just exploring the cultural hubs of New York. Be it the traditional preserved cultures or the new ones created from the mesh.

Self expression: another thing I feel Usagi would appreciate is how freely people can express themselves. Be it gender or culturally, people just wear what they want. Especially people as nonchalant as the turtles. The four have been having fashion nights with April since forever and no way they didn't absolutely slay in dresses and skirts. No way they also didn't drag Usagi into their fashion shenanigans.

Art: it's canonically confirmed that Usagi is a lover of art in all its forms. He'd absolutely loose his mind at how many styles of everything there are. I can see him bonding with Mikey in this aspect, with the young turtle showing Usagi all the best drawing/painting techniques there are. Music is another big thing: he's that one dude who's spotify is just a mix of everything (different genres, languages, instruments, etc). Electro music is something he'd take longer to warm up too, but I think he'd end up enjoying vocaloid. Mostly because of how diverse in themes vocaloid is (depression, love, violence, redemption, etc) and because it's his first exposure to modern music that he can actually understand (since it's japanese).

Reading: I don't think Usagi would've been an avid reader before Leo. Mostly cause there wasn't much to read. Now that he can visit New York, he just gobbles up whatever literature he can find. He reads a mix of Japanese and English (helped him learn the language faster). Usagi really likes mythology, history, and poetry books. He also has a taste for the occasional novel and manga that Leo recommends him. As a samurai, Usagi's all about self improvement. So I feel like he'd read a lot therapy-esque books regarding things like healthy relationship and adjusting to new perspectives. He'd also work on any biases or assumptions he has from living in Edo Japan (like towards disabilities).

Media: like with any other tech, Usagi is shocked by how easy it is to learn anything curtesy of the internet. I also feel like he'd have a deep appreciation for the art of cinema considering its like theater but so much more. Especially with animation since its story told through moving art. Hell I bet he and Mikey have their own little animation stop motion drawing pads.

Relationships: here's where the biggest shocks are mostly cause how different things are from how Usagi was raised. First comes his relationship with Leo and how they each express love. Even nowadays PDA is frowned upon in Japan and Japanese don't tend to explicitly outright say they love each other. Usagi, who's probably very reserved with his affection and likely a little touch starved, is just floored with how openly affectionate both physically and verbally Leo is. I feel like he'd be a little embarrassed at first and slowly ease into being more open with how he loves Leo in more physical ways. Then there's the general Hamato dynamic. Even now, japanese culture has emphasis on respecting elders and the heavy expectations children have to succeed in the eyes of said parents. Combined with general edo period extreme formalities between parents and their children plus how Usagi's father barely raised him yet still put pressure on him to become a great samurai. Then we have Splinter: a rat man who's doing his absolute best to be involved in his kids lives and make up for the time they lost due to his trauma (mother's death, kidnapping, battle nexus, turning into a rat, etc), never pressures his kids, lets them grow as individuals and enjoy their own interests, very involved in their shenanigans, works hard to support his kids, and (most importantly) freely shows unconditional love. Just seeing a parent as involved and affectionate as Splinter is would be a big shock to Usagi. Especially a male parent cause traditional gender roles and since Usagi is from an era where fathers freely send their sons to die for honor while Splinter would blow up the Earth before even thinking of knowingly putting his sons at risk. Plus the brothers constant talk back and disobey their father. Then we go to the sibling dynamics. Like with parent-child relationships, edo period sibling dynamics were draped in formality and seriousness: affection is very reserved and any threats are literal plus the hierarchy placed by seniority. The Hamato siblings are probably Usagi's first exposure to a normal healthy sibling dynamic. Which would probably be confusing in itself since sibling relationships are a weird mesh of superficial hate but genuine love. Like Donnie wouldn't hesitate to take a bullet for Leo but no way in hell is he touching his new boots. Any of the brothers could be arguing as if they're about to kill each other and be cuddling on the couch not 15 minutes later. The constant back and forth would be a whiplash for Usagi and it would take some time to fully decipher how they communicate. Then there's their relationship with April. Splinter doesn't see her as his daughter but she is undeniably the Hamato's big sister. If you add in Cass and Sunita, then you have Usagi reveling in finally having strong independent female friends who aren't potential love interests. Throw in Casey Jr and the typical TMNT adventures and you've got Usagi collapsing exhausted from the sheer craziness of this friend group. Usagi would be civil and respectful with Draxum.

Okay i completely forgot about this, I saw it during vacations and then proceeded to forget about it. Sorry Okay, ejem, there are thing that I want to adress.

1. During that (and previous) period, japan already had toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, they already new about hygiene. We tend to imagine that this topics are modern and, let's be honest, came from Europe. No, for GODS' SAKE TOILET PAPER WAS INVENTED IN CHINA DURING THE 6th CENTURY!! And let's bw honest, Usagi lives in a world of furries, of course they already specialize soap/shampoo. I had nothing to add to the vaccines, i had a couple of scenes already planned regarding that topic. However, Usagi has been stabbed a couple times, and was perfectly fine with Chizu drugging him so he could get a rest, I can't really picture this man being a childman who needs to hold someone's hand to get vaccinated. (tho it'll be ironic, ngl)

Culture: Usagi himself has stated some levelnof discomfort regarding immigrants in Japan, because is japan, I wont go deep here, cuz theres a bunch of articles and videos about japan being an isolated country. It is certainly easier to imagine an initial rejection and a LONG adaptation process that will culminate with him accepting that the world is much more diverse than he imagined, but he would not stop being himself.

Art: usagi and Mikey bonding through art It's another plot that I had envisioned for rabbit stew, Usagi's fascinated by markets, color pencils, and all that, but usagi will also showed him the traditional techniques from his father homeland, cuz you know, sumi-e and ukiyo-e, since they're not inferior to modern of different techniques. (Btw have you ever heard of that band that plays with modern and traditional instruments?)

As for the rest of it, I mostly agree with the other points you've made. Except for one small detail that is bothering me and that is that it only seems to focus on how New York is going to change Usagi... I'll be real with you all, if we are just going to make Usagi a white dude and erase what being a 16th century samurai is... Well, I don't see the appeal anymore.

There are also things to rescue from there that the modern society lacks, despite of how murky the society in which he was raised may be. But here it seems like we're focusing on how cool New York is over Japan.

And let me tell you, food, environment, manners, global warming? These are some of the many things that Usagi will have a strong opinion on... That's if it survives the rot that is being fed microplastics to actually learn about it.

[o-craven-canto]

Medieval Persian folklore includes mention of two outstanding conquerors who invaded Iran from opposite directions: Eskandar of Rum, and Afrāsīāb of Turan.  Eskandar is known to be Alexander the Great ("Rūm" = "Rome" i.e. Greece).  But who on earth is this Afrāsīāb person?  "Turān" is the old Persian name for the Central Asian steppe.  But we know nothing of the Achaemenids' dealings with the people on their eastern borders; almost all of our knowledge comes from Greek writers who focused on the western portion of the empire.  Some think that Afrāsīāb is a fictional character (like another villain of the Shahnameh: the demon-king Zahhāk, who derives from the mythical dragon Aži Dahāka).  But I think it's also possible that he was a real person—perhaps some Scythian warlord—who fought against Persia and was remembered for it in Persian mytho-history. A good comparison here is with Attila the Hun, another would-be conqueror from the steppe.  Like Afrāsīāb, Attila was remembered and commemorated in the folk traditions of the local people—in this case, Germanic poems like Widsith, the Nibelungenlied, and the Poetic Edda.  The difference is that in Attila's case, we also have contemporary, reliable historical accounts which historians can use to corroborate (or not) the references to Attila in poetry: no need to uselessly speculate on who this mysterious "Atli" figure was or whether he existed.  No such corroborating witness exists for Afrāsīāb.  So we can't even know if he was real or mythical.

A modern Persian wanting to learn about the earliest history of his or her civilization is much better served by reading Herodotus than Ferdowsi.  Likewise, a modern Greek is going to get much better information about earliest Greece from the records of the Egyptians and Hittites than from the poetry of Homer.  Adopting a discerning eye towards different sources of historical evidence often means that the most accurate and reliable history of a culture doesn't come from that culture at all, but from outsiders—this is a point which modern commentators of Native American history often don't want to accept.  Who knows the most about the early Alaskan Tlingit?  People who can read Russian, that's who. The flipside, however, is that when documentation for a period is sparse, people can start to confuse lack of evidence for lack of incidence: "we don't know a lot about the eastern Persian Empire, so not a lot must have happened."  But that's not going to be the perspective of someone from ancient Persia—certainly not if they're from one of the eastern satrapies after their village has been sacked.  To assume that everything of significance that happened in Persia happened with Greece is to make the same mistake as that critic ("What is this to me, the duel between Iran and Turan?").  Modern histories of Persia ignore Afrāsīāb; they can only go where the evidence takes them.  But the Shahnameh apparently puts Afrāsīāb on roughly the same level as Eskandar—that fact might (might!) be a clue that something big did happen out on the eastern Persian frontier, which could be compared to Alexander's invasion.  Maybe.  The record is silent.

Trying to reconstruct the history of the frontier-beyond-the-frontier is a tricky business.  Sometimes you get lucky, like with the Kiowas (on whom more in a future post): where written history, oral history, archaeology, linguistics, and winter counts all come together to form a coherent picture of the Kiowa past which reaches back a thousand years.  And sometimes you get unlucky, like with the Arapahoes, who are invisible to the archaeological record and whose early history is a giant mystery.  And then there are enigmas, like the Suhtai, on whom all a person can really do is guess.  All of this is of course highly relevant to any attempt at making a map of peoples who lived beyond the reach of recorded history.  Crumbs... And as for the Bloody Falls Massacre: the Wikipedia article tells me that "in 1996, Dene and Inuit representatives participated in a healing ceremony to reconcile the centuries-old grievance."  I can't really argue with that, I suppose.  Healing is good, reconciliation is good. But it is hard to hold a healing ceremony for a massacre that nobody remembers.  Did you take notice of the fact that it has a name: "the Bloody Falls Massacre"?  Why?  Who named it that?  Do you suppose it would it have a name, or be remembered at all, among the Chipewyans, still to this day, after 248 years, if no one had been there to write it down?  Perhaps... but I'm inclined to think likely not.  It was just one raid, after all.  One among thousands of sanguinary struggles that took place on the lonely tundras, of which the world knows not.

[cacaesar]

is it ok if i ask what a-levels you did to study classics at oxford? or what was your academic journey in general thx

Heya!! Of course it is! And thank you for the ask! I'll start with A-Levels and GCSEs (the ones I did, and the grades I got), and then I'll probably yap about how I came to studying classics/Oxford in the first place, and how school was for me (not easy, let's put it that way!) A-Levels: Biology - A Classical Civilisation - A Law - A Extended Project Qualification - A* (My EPQ was on Homosexuality in Ancient Greece and was 12,000 words... I really put everything into it lmao!) GCSEs: English Language - 8 English Literature - 8 Biology - 8 Chemistry - 8 Religious Studies - 8 Maths - 7 Geography - 7 History - 6 (first paper sat the day after a funeral lmao) Fine Art - 6 French - 6 Physics - 6 (we didn't really have a teacher for nearly 2 years...)

So...not the most impressive grades when you compare it to the straight 9's and A*s of people I got my place over! There are a couple of things to contextualise some of the grades - in that we unfortunately lost my grandad in the middle of GCSEs (and so my mum had to be away at hospital a lot, meaning I was cooking and caring for myself for the most part), and then for A-Levels I was in the Covid years (sat them in 2021). Our college decided it was a really good idea to make students sit full A-Level papers at the end of the year and have our entire grade depend on those, despite not having provided online lessons for a large part of the 10 or so months we were out of education; even when we were "back", the amount of absence through isolation etc was insane. Making us sit full papers when other colleges took grades over the whole year was, imo, deeply unfair...but anyway. I also unfortunately lost my nan and nearly lost my mum to Covid during the run up to those papers... all while working 20 hour minimum weeks - so it was more than a little stressful! On top. of that, I'm also AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD), but was undiagnosed until Uni... which meant I was flailing about desperately trying to succeed in a system very much not built for a brain like mine! The relief that came when Oxford finally gave me an answer to what was going on with me was immeasurable! But how and why did I get my spot in the first place? I've been obsessed with ancient cultures and history/mythology since I was tiny, and that basically just became a bigger and bigger obsession. My honest answer is that I got my place through a hell of a lot of hard work, a touch of luck, and blind unashamed confidence. If you sit in the interview thinking that you're supposed to be there, that these tutors will be the ones teaching you, and you're wanting to learn from them, there is not much you can do wrong! I did a LOT of research into my specific college - I wanted to study Homer's epics, so I chose the college with my favourite Homer and Hexameter Poetry specialist! And what would you know, genuinely loving that subject and yapping his ear off about my (informed and evidenced) opinions of Achilles and his characterisation (why he's actually a deeply sympathetic character, especially through the ancient lens, how he's the prime example of war trauma on a young person, etc) is what got me in!

I think I'll probably do a full post on education history at some point - and a series on applying to Oxford - but if you have any more questions, lmk! There should be a video on my TikTok covering some of the Oxford basics, though it might be quite the scroll down now! (gotta hit that 10k over there to make you guys playlists of the vids!) For now I'm on the way to london for a girlies getaway trip!

[auxiliarydetective]

In love with The True Halfling and I must know more about her

Oooookay, let me see if I can get everything together. I can't find where I wrote down my notes or maybe I didn't write anything down at all, but let me gather together what I can scrape out from my brain. Disclaimer though, I haven't seen the movies yet, which is a crime, so I can't really go into detail on movie events. I haven't read the books either. But I have second-hand and wiki knowledge profound enough to come up with a concept that I will later go insane over once I do watch the movies :)

First of all, the True Halfling is so old that she's part Fallohide. She's from the time when the Hobbit breeds were still clearly separate things. She also has a significant amount of Teleri blood on her elven side which may or may not be the reason for her musical magic. Due to both being very old and getting stories told about her singing and instrument-playing and generally her very unique ability to fairly directly use magic, she becomes a bit of a legend. Unfortunately, she gets tired of being immortal. Yes, she can learn all of the songs in the world, learn all about the different races and cultures, witness it changing, all of that beautiful stuff that she wanted when she chose to become immortal, but she's tired of the fighting, tired of people coming to her and asking her to perform miracles. Additionally, as the years go on, her magic becomes weaker for some reason that she cannot figure out.

But then she travels to the Lonely Mountain one day, just when it is attacked by Smaug. And the True Halfling offers to sacrifice herself to protect the halls of the city, completing a ritual that lodges the Arkenstone into her body to channel her magic and puts her into a deep sleep that she will only awaken from once the dwarves return. I imagine she did something similar for the Glittering Caves before? Generally, I'm convinced that she's old but also not really because she spends multiple centuries just. Sleeping.

Either way, once Thorin and his company return, the True Halfling wakes up and unmerges with the Arkenstone but she's drowsy/weakened from the centuries of sleep (she says, but it's actually not true) and so she doesn't fight in the ensuing battle. Also, merging with the Arkenstone has left lasting cracks/scars on her body, so she is kind of very depressed about "losing her eternal beauty". After this, she disappears. She settles down in a small village as a storyteller and bard and stays laying low...

... until one Gandalf appears at her doors and asks her to help destroy the One Ring. She refuses, saying that she is done with fighting. But, the hobbit that she is, she can't let herself have Gandalf and the Fellowship leave without gaining anything. So, she invites them for a meal. And that was her big mistake because she finds herself fascinated with this mixed bag of a Fellowship, and becoming fast friends with both Legolas and Gimli, who are fascinated by her for her elven heritage and knowledge of songs and poetry and her history with Durin's Folk (especially the legend of her guarding the Lonely Mountain) respectively. Also, the hobbits love her. She knows a lot of songs, she makes amazing food, her house is a literal museum of art and music and different cultures... So, she lets herself be talked into the Fellowship. Adventures ensue. Also maybe a poly relationship with Legolas and Gimli??? I'll have to check the movies for fitting vibes.

So yeah, she doesn't have a good name yet, but it's gotta be magical, you know?

Either way, that's it. That's all that my brain could gather. Hope you like it :)

[tlajtollirambles]

Why do I want to learn Arabic?

Painting by asmaoriginal in instagram.

It all starts with spanish, I know, but in my mind its easier to get into languages that I know have influence with the one I speak: nahuatl, arabic, some of the romance perhaps, never frwnch for some reason.

So yeah, I was already intrigued. Also because unlike spaniards I think latines are more prompt to claim arab ancestry? My dad does at least, he's not arab of course but he is comfortable with saying someone in my blood was from there, which is very different from the reaction Ive seen from a lot of spanish people. They are like oh yeah those centhuries we were under the caliphete, they were nothing, we never mix.

Anyways thats factor number 1, factor number 2 is... Islamic history especially The Golden Age of Islam. I have been beseech by this period and now I want to learn everything there's to learn about it, which I think would be easier if I spoke a similar language than that of the Abassids.

Especially if the other option are european ones, like Ill have to go through tons of orientalism.

Third, is the town I live in has had a lot of influence with levant culture, we even got our own versions of kebabs so Ill always be intrigued. Plus Latam is the place with more arabs and palestinians outside of the arab world which I always find intriguing.

Which brings me to the situation with palestine and wanting to help in terms of translation (this is also the reason I want to learn Haitian Creole, big diaspora in my country esp the city my dad lives and wanting to help them deal with the awful beurocracy for migration)

Next is fanfiction! Which might sound weird, but ive discover fanfic can introduce you to a lot of languagea (thats how i learn english, and its why i want to learn welsh some day). There is this fanfic that talks about the levels of friendship/love/relationship in arabic, and I just couldnt help but want to relate myself to the people through a view like that.

And of course the most obvious one, poetry. Though i am ashamed to say I havent read that much arabic poetry.

[kairoseas]

hi. <3 i'll never get enough of how you gush about sukuna being cultured and a lover of the arts, you consistently put out headcanons that also inspire me to write my own interpretations and i appreciate you so much for it.

but my main question is, what kind of art do you think modern man sukuna would like? in an alternate universe where he was born in the current era. so many fics about him being a chef, a tattoo artist, a history professor — but i'm eager to know what you think.

*cracks my fingers* I've stared at this ask for hours. Lets do this.

Basically, I can see him doing a little bit of everything. He's studied the proper way to produce haiku in canon, references thousands-years-old poetry, and shows himself to be something of a connoisseur of the arts by speaking in a flowery, ornate sort of language, using words like "uo" (Most notably: he references a Chinese poem in canon by the name of "Odes to Bei-jin gu (No. 4)" during the binding vow with Yuuji, uses "shiremono" instead of the modern "baka"when insulting Mahito, calls himself "datenshi" which in modern times means to strike instead of using it like he does for "fallen angel", etc. He uses outdated, ancient dialect borrowed from literature, essentially.) He's well read, refined, I dare venture to say he might have gone further and consumed Heian Era arts himself as a human being before becoming a curse, and he carried over the love of art as a result. (It scares anyone expecting an unrefined, unintelligent monster.) I even posed this to my groupchat to see what my writing partner thought, and they and I have never entertained the idea of him being a history professor, but with some thought, we could both see it. Listen. this is one of the things i want to express about him so much and in every world/au/verse: he's a man of culture. He's a man of the arts. Some arts more than others, of course, particularly the culinary arts as opposed to song writing or directing, but that's not to say that he doesn't have a vague interest in other things. Especially in a modern day sense; he is someone who consumed information on anything that he likes like a man starving. He'll know vague trivia, fun facts, and all sorts of things. Phones and Google tend to be great companions to him when he's engrossed in learning about something. But this is also where I feel like he is more akin to Megumi's interests since he also finds better company among books than in the company of other people. Or Gojo, who also consumes information at a rapid pace. In my writing, he tends to fall into being a tattoo artist (mainly because of the precision required to be good with needlework, and he's someone who can design free-handed as opposed to having a ready-made design to reference for every client. Not to mention that he gets to work in a little bit of everything as a result of different personalities coming in, and he's forced to scheme out and draw all kinds of things for the client's approval. Cats, calligraphy, in memoriam, cityscapes, watercolors (a favorite because it required prior knowledge of lighting and color theory), white ink, he's a wide-range artist that gets a good idea of the client's personality before he basically kicks them out to spend some time designing/sketching. It's also a talent forever being molded, and he can do it anywhere. That's not to say thats all he's up to though. Sukuna's got some talent in the kitchen for sure. He basically learned from consuming all kinds of information from books to video tutorials and watching others cook while he was younger and before he had a good idea of what he was doing. Megumi and Yuuji are his subjects for taste testing. It's the only time Yuu is allowed in the kitchen, frankly. Try to tell him how to work in his own damn kitchen though and he'll point a knife and tell you to get out. His kitchen, his rules. Don't like it? Eat shit then. I can see him liking a lot of arts. Painting, writing, haiku-making, music, composing, it can go on and on. Mostly because he can appreciate the time and effort behind those talents. Arts are the height of human capability.

[saltedsolenoid]

mmm. Wisteria for Falsie and Lily for Bianza (she wasn’t on the list but I don’t care give it to me anyway.)

Wisteria: What is a skill your OC would like to learn? What's stopping them?

Well, Falsie would actually love to start writing poetry! She's bilingual (can speak thedan and almoccian) and wants to figure out how both languages and cultures have historically written things in a pretty way. This has been a struggle in past years because he was dyslexic and living in a small town with almost no link to Almoccian history and nobody willing to tell him any Thedan history. I like to think that she would like to move to the central city of Theda (the country he lives in) where she'd be able to access both written and verbal histories and poetries of both countries.

mostly the only reason she couldn't do that is because she's dead. lol. died at 14 or 15.

Lily: What is your oc's love language?

As most people do, Bianza has a mixture of quite a few love languages, the top three being kind words, quality time, and gifts.

Bianza has historically been taught to be incredibly self-reliant and often not getting feedback on her personality or what she's created from those around her, making her insecure and anxious about literally everything she's ever done. Therefore, someone saying that she's doing something 'right' or 'isn't being a total asshole' means a lot to her. This also relates to how she's constantly living in uncertainty and one of her main goals is to find a way out of that constant confusion 👍

for quality time: i already forgot why i said this. i think it's because she needs a BREAK, especially in her. later life. and she would like that break to be spent quietly with those that she loves and cares about. basically quality time but in the autistic way.

Gifts: Okay, this one actually ties back to a few very specific events in canon, that i actually NEVER discussed with nyx SHIT hi nyx hope you're okay with this 👍 but. Bianza is the type of person to really only like gifts from one specific person, that one specific person being her girlfriend, Victoria Vanross! Victoria's a whole essay within herself, but the short of this is that in the culture that she was raised in, pearls were a sign of eternity, which is why she hand-made a pearl necklace for Bianza. Throughout the course of those two's lives, the pearl necklace morphs into a few more gifts based on the two's needs at that moment- first a ring with the same pearl in it, to reduce the possibility of anybody getting strangled with the necklace (it's a genuine danger!), then a pair of glasses for Bianza with three more pearls inlaid in them. After Bianza's death at 23, Victoria doesn't have the heart to change the pearl into anything else, but instead tries to get the original pearl out of the pair of glasses, ultimately ending up breaking both the glass and the pearl.

Whoops! got sidetracked here. merry christmas

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Decolonisation of mathematics: It's 'liberal-minded cultural imperialism' | Prof Jane L Hutton

Andrew: Top academics have warned the government that new guidance for Universities risks "politicising" the subject of mathematics. For maths degrees, professors have to explain how they are presenting a "multicultural and decolonised" view of the subject. The academics sent a joint letter, seen by GBNews, that such guidance risks politicising the subject of mathematics and presenting a skewed perspective on its history, and infringes on the academic freedom of mathematicians to teach their subject according to their best professional judgement.

One of the dozen professors who put their name to the letter is Professor Jane Hutton from the Department of Statistics at the University of Warwick, and she joins me now.

Can I ask you first and foremost about this notion of decolonisation? Because I understand that this came in largely through the Humanities, English Literature, that kind of subject, the Social Sciences. But surely, mathematics and sciences, these things should be immune to those other culture war concerns.

Hutton: Well, yes, that's interesting. I mean, this time next week I'll be in Cameroon in Africa, at the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences with 60 students from all over Africa, my eleventh time of going out to volunteer to teach that. And when I was there in January 2022, I watched something about Critical Race Theory set up by North American liberals, and frankly, the Africans were appalled. They're not interested in becoming a colony, succumbing to cultural imperialism from North American liberals. They want to learn mathematics. And those of us who are mathematicians are well aware of how international the subject is.

Andrew: Can I ask you, to what extent do mathematicians in this country feel under pressure to accommodate these palpably ideological ideas within their subject?

Hutton: Very much so. I am willing to speak out, but very few of my colleagues are, and they will send me emails and thank me for speaking out, but they will not allow themselves to be identified. I'm talking about colleagues, senior managers, professors, IT staff, cleaners, gardeners. They know I'll speak out, but they're appalled by this behaviour, and other issues coming from this whole North American liberal imperialism.

Andrew: Professor Hutton, can I ask you what specificially are they asking you to do, exactly? I've seen, for instance, people say that in engineering, for instance, when you're teaching about Isaac Newton you should discuss his problematic views on race, as that was in any way relevant to the law of motion. What are they specifically asking mathematicians to do in these courses?

Hutton: Well, they're not even actually asking mathematicians to cover an intelligent and intellectual discussion. They're asking us to propagate their ideas. For example, they will have particular views on, say, [Kanakanahalli] Ramachandra, or in statistics one of the things we teach is the Rao–Blackwell theorem. C.R. Rao is an Indian, David Blackwell was an African-American. But we don't spend our time focussing on that, we focus on the mathematics. And there's a time and place for everything, as Aristotle pointed out, you don't evaluate mathematics by the standards of poetry, or poetry by the standards of mathematics.

And what surprises me, you know, I'm not a historian, I'm not a philosopher, but it's the sheer ignorance of so much of what these people propose, and the reluctance -- it's intellectually lazy. So, you can't ask a question like "how come Critical Race Theory says that being white is an absolutely dreadful thing, you can't say you don't have these prejudices, you are irredeemably white, but if you're a man, you can become a woman just by saying so. Why are these two completely, thoroughly, genetically physically-centred properties treated so differently?” But I know perfectly well that I am likely to get a whole lot of abuse for even raising the question.

Andrew: But of course, identity politics has very little to do with mathematics. Surely, in mathematics the answer is either right or wrong? I don't have any expertise in this area, but you can correct me if I'm wrong about that.

Hutton: Yes, and that makes mathematics very unpopular. I've had to deal with people trying to teach us that in teaching, we must never tell a student they’ve got the right answer or the wrong answer. To which I say, you're a parasitical hypocrite. We wouldn't be talking to one another, using the equipment we're using, without a lot of people getting things very, very precisely right, in engineering and mathematics.

Andrew: So, is this quite commonplace, the idea that students should not be told that they are wrong? How can they possibly improve?

Hutton: Yes, I acted both training PhD students as teachers, and junior colleagues as teachers, and that used to be the standard rhetoric from the social sciences. "The mature learner knows that there's no right answer."

Andrew: But does this not patronise students needlessly? Aren't the students annoyed at being patronised in this way?

Hutton: Yes. Yes. I put up an article saying debate on gender dysphoria is being silenced. The equality officer stirred up a manager to sound of outrage and said, "you put it on a noticeboard where students might see it!" So, I asked the PhD students [..] what they thought of this and they said "thank you very much for talking, we are appalled that at the University of Warwick," which is not particularly bad, we have a very good Vice Chancellor, "at the University of Warwick, to discuss the topic which is subject of a public consultation, we have to go into an office and lock the doors and whisper." Why is this what the University of Warwick is offering us?

Andrew: Professor, that is at least reassuring that some of the students themselves are not putting up with this.

==

Time to decolonize the Hypothetical Humanities out of education and society itself. You might laugh, but this is literally colonization - ideological, cultural colonization.

[maiega]

Discovering the Richness of the Arabic Language

The Arabic language is a tapestry of history, culture, and artistry that has captivated millions across the globe. For those who have encountered it, the beauty of the Arabic language is more than just its sounds or script—it's a world of meaning, poetry, and profound connection. Each word holds layers of nuance, each phrase can evoke images, emotions, and ideas that resonate deeply.

The Musicality of Arabic

One of the most striking aspects of Arabic is its musicality. When spoken, Arabic often has a rhythmic flow that feels almost like poetry. The way the words roll off the tongue, with their unique emphasis on certain sounds, can create a melody that feels enchanting to listen to. Even a simple greeting like "Assalamu Alaikum" (Peace be upon you) carries a graceful, lyrical quality.

Arabic also has a rich tradition of poetry that spans centuries, from the pre-Islamic era to contemporary poets. These poems aren’t just about rhyme—they’re a reflection of the language’s ability to express intricate feelings and thoughts. Words are chosen not only for their meanings but for how they sound together, creating an experience that feels almost like music.

A Language with Depth

The beauty of the Arabic language is also found in its depth and complexity. It is a language where a single root word can branch out into dozens of meanings, allowing for a richness of expression that is hard to find elsewhere. For instance, the root “k-t-b” relates to writing, but it can transform into a wide range of words like "kitab" (book), "maktab" (desk or office), and "katib" (writer). This depth gives Arabic a flexibility that allows speakers and writers to craft their words with precision and creativity.

Additionally, Arabic script itself is an art form. Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, is an integral part of Arabic culture. The way the letters flow together in graceful curves and lines can be mesmerizing, turning words into visual poetry. Calligraphy is often used to adorn everything from books to buildings, making language a part of the very fabric of daily life.

Connecting Through Arabic

Learning Arabic is not just about mastering a new way of speaking; it's about connecting with a rich cultural heritage. Arabic is spoken across the Middle East and North Africa, but its influence stretches much further. The Quran, a central text for over a billion Muslims, is written in Arabic, making it a language of religious and spiritual significance for many.

Arabic is a bridge that connects people to stories, traditions, and histories. It offers insights into the values, wisdom, and philosophies that have shaped cultures for centuries. Whether you’re reading classical texts or engaging in everyday conversations, learning Arabic opens up a world of understanding that is both ancient and contemporary.

Start Your Journey with Kalimah Center

If you’re inspired by the beauty of the Arabic language and want to explore it further, consider visiting Kalimah Center. This platform is dedicated to helping learners of all levels dive into the language. They offer courses tailored to different needs, whether you’re a beginner eager to understand basic phrases or someone looking to delve into advanced grammar and literature. Their focus on a personalized learning experience ensures that you can progress at your own pace while truly enjoying the process of discovery.

Arabic is a language that has shaped art, philosophy, and thought for centuries. Embracing its beauty is not just about learning new words—it's about stepping into a world where language is a living art, a way of seeing and understanding the world in new ways. So why not take that first step and see where Arabic can take you?

[jasmintgrad604]

Week 9 SDL

Reflection on my poster and Unpacking my (then) elements:

Rakhi - Rakhi is a Hindu celebration that is celebrated across India by many different groups of people even those who are not Hindu. It is celebrated between a brother and sister; the sister ties a thread on her brother and, in return, gets a token of his love. The thread represents the hope and goal of a long life for the brother. I got this element in the previous year as my family celebrated this tradition every year. We shared the holiday with my cousins. This element is a small part of my culture/ a cultural tradition that we celebrate as my family isn't religious we tend to not celebrate religious holidays except this one. It's important to me because it connects me to my culture a little bit while living in a Western-centred world. The celebration is Hindu and originated from Indian mythology. There are many different versions of the myth that all follow a sacred thread given to men (mostly husbands and brothers). The element is heavily related to family and connection. This is one of my values of community. I want to get more in touch with my culture and incorporate more of myself and my personal values into my design. This element is so rich in history and thus I picked it for my element

Sapphos fragments - Sappho historically is an ancient geek poet from the Greek island of Lesbos. She wrote poems about the struggles of love and many believe much of her poems were about female lovers though we will never fully know in 1073 her work was all burned by Pope Gregory VII as her work was permisuous and she gained a reputation. Her poetry inspired words like lesbian and sapphic and many consider her a lesbian icon. I purchased this book online in hopes of getting more into poetry and learning about the LGBTQ+ community. This element is significant to me as I identify as a part of the LGBTQ+. Learning more about the origins of queer relationships in the past is interesting and shows that queer relationships have always been taboo. I want to incorporate more personal issues and matters in my work. For one of my creatives, I picked an LGBT!+ artist Shannon Novak and his work is all rainbow and loud. All my artist were out there with their work using lots of colours and organised chaos. Sappho's poetry has an element of beauty in her lyric poetry. 

Letters from my friends- My friends and I from high school attempted to keep in touch the old-fashioned way post-high school. We all moved to different cities and began writing letters to each other this lasted for longer than I thought and I hold these letters close to my heart. My friends and I had a rotation where we would update each other on relationships, uni, drama, and mental health. This element is significant to me it reminds me of the importance of community and connection. Having a solid support system that you can go to with anything and trust is the best.  

Crochet needle and Knitting needles - Knitting and crocheting have recently taken over my life. I find myself crocheting flowers and toys for family and friends. I now identify with everything I create and they hold great value to me. The process is comforting and I find when I'm stressed or want to wind down I crochet. I got my hooks and needles from Spotlight and I got them close to my identity. 

Postcard- I love travelling and feel most like myself when my environment is constantly changing and I'm exposed to different cultures, foods and people. A postcard is usually sent to friends and family another huge part of my identity. One of my favourite things to do while I'm travelling is scrapbook in my journal and use postcards from every city to make it more personable and tailor every journal entry to the city. 

All About Love book - The origin of this element is I found this book through TikTok and as a self-help book lover I purchased it. But the origins of this book start with the profound inspiration that is Bell Hooks. Originally published in 1999 the novel discussed the different aspects of romantic love in modern. Bell Hooks also known as Gloria Jean Watkins was an American scholar and activist. “Hooks assumed her pseudonym, the name of her great-grandmother, to honour female legacies; she preferred to spell it in all lowercase letters to focus attention on her message rather than herself.”. This element has significance to me because Hooks grew up in a segregated community and still went on to thrive and write about her experiences.  Hook's key theme of feminism and racism which is apparent in all her work is something I want to show in my work. I grew up with a huge distaste for my culture and browning up darker than the people around me. At times I cried over the fact that I was the darkest in my family. In most of India, it is common to bleach your skin to be fair and objectively “prettier”. Internalised racism is something I've had to overcome and in many thought patterns, I find that I still hold on to many old ways of thinking because of what is ingrained in me.

Pictures of my family and friends - Photos of family and friends show the people I love most around me. I also love taking characteristics and quirks that people around me do and using and incorporating them into my personality. The people around me really do make me ME. 

Phone - As a Gen Z, I'm quite literally attached to my phone. I have a photo of my partner as my screensaver and carry all my most important cards on the back. My phone holds every piece of information that I will ever need. I sleep next to it. I hold it close to me when I'm walking and it sits buzzing next to me in all my uni classes. 

Childhood home

Childhood toy

[notmuchtoconceal]

The name Belial -- represents the sum total of all the projections internalized and played with by Poseidon/Enki courtesy of his brother, the petty, manipulative perennially martial SkyDouche.

What Poseidon/Enki wants you to do is a live a life of joy and meaning, in service to your own and the collective ideals, playing your part to expand consciousness through art, study, theater, sports, poetry music and tech and of course, these components being the cultural make-up of diverse and independent people groups, Free Father has his own warlike aspect, as to somehow think one can live freely without conflict is absurd.

Conflict is inevitable and one ought get familiar with it, as one would the mechanisms of a bomb, if one wishes to learn to defuse.

Life is Joy. Life is Being. Life is All You Will Know of This World.

What Poseidon/Enki's brother the SkyDouche wants you to be is a completely brainrotted, trauma-fractured mind-controlled zombie who functions as a living battery. You're a fuel source. You're being farmed. Natural Law, the Enforcement of Boundaries, Protection, and Community are pretenses when coercively reinforced to deny you your potential and you already know this. If one Values Their People, They Value Their People. That's what your God Most High Is Doing To You.

Not That He Is. Of Course Poseidon/Enki's brother ain't God Most High.

He wants to keep you ignorant of everything, as close as he can to your primeval state of animal bliss -- the False Garden of Eden -- where you act unwittingly and autonomously, in child-like reverence of your deceitful father, who has no want to nourish you, but for basting.

Poseidon/Enki knows, that through the gradual exploration and expansion of consciousness, human beings make themselves Gods and Make the Earth More Like Heaven.

Redemption comes through Growth, not Decay.

To put it simply, there are two different philosophies at play in the world and in your life:

One which says any deviance from the norm will, de facto, lead to degeneration because any deviance from as close to a simulacrum of the state of nature (this involves artistry, though encourages a lack of it, as successful mimalism is best described as a dialing-back; implying a reservoir of greater knowledge fortified and preserved) -- will inevitably lead to a state of sloth and neglect, for the inherent weakness of the human soul can never be overcome, so you shouldn't even try. This is because 'state of nature' in this line of argument is little more than a morass of the speaker's personal inclinations and fetishes if they cannot use the sum total of their learning to reconstruct nature for an audience, as all learning is itself corruption, so the speaker is, in a sense, trying to describe something they, by their own definition, have no capacity to describe, and anyway, you need to know your place, because I own you, you're on the clock, and nobody's ever gonna pay you to think.

Then another which gestures at the fact that we're all in this mess together, so we should probably try to pool our resources.

There will be a time, some day, some epoch from now, where we will be fully conscious -- where a majority of mankind will attain the state of higher vibrational enlightenment achieved by the great mystics of history -- and it shall be easier for us to love one another, for we may again trust in leaders and common bonds, knowing them to be less corruptible for the Good is the Good of the Earth, until that time comes again -- your willingness to forget always tempting -- where the corruption takes root and spreads and all we will build once more is ravished.

If a better world weren't possible, we'd still be in the jungle.

Fuckin simple, kids.