#three light sources on his body forming three strikes was totally intentional

[lockheed-martin-unofficial]

Alicron (ft. Me experimenting with different layer settings)

Here’s some lore about him I decided mostly today:

- Mobius 1 (mobius prime?) and him knew each other from a battle encounter. During this time, Alicron went by Tanager (I know that’s a bird shut up), and was a warship instead of a submarine. They later met up during a military exercise and got to know each other properly.

(-Aces of Cybertron Mob1 has infinite rizz. He rizzed cybertronian Matias Torres, he rizzed his AWACS, he rizzed Yellow 13. Unstoppable.)

- “Yo ho ho! I, Tanager, sure love being fully sane and mentally well adjusted Aegir fleet commander. What’s that on my radar”

-I’m getting off track. He actually used to be a very kind and friendly person (just a bit intimidating) all the way until the “getting lost at sea for 2 years” incident, which for transformers purposes has been turned to 200 years.

- He was a decepticon. After being lost for 200 years along with his seeker squadron, he was pulled out into the middle of a war. They didn’t have much time to recover before Megatron ordered them all back into battle, which led to Alicron obtaining a nuke and sailing off talking about how much he wanted to nuke an autobot affiliated city and kill a million people. Instead of dealing with this mess, the decepticons kicked him out so they wouldn’t be held accountable.

- Trigger met Alicron alongside Mobius before the war. Only for 15 minutes, though.

- She feels sad about his fate, and guilty about killing him even though it was the only option.

[stinkywizard]

Summary: Safe within the memory-filled dome in Rumblecusp, Caleb opens up about his complicated feelings regarding his past. Jester listens, and teaches him a thing or two about love and worth.

Note: SPOILERS for Critical Role Episode 103

Jester’s eyes shine with memories. They curve and fade and reappear endlessly, and she refuses to close her eyes and miss a second; not when she is a night’s sleep away from potentially losing all of this. A lifetime of unforgettable moments. She can’t sleep a wink.

Her Momma is up there, in the shifting lights filling the dome. A few times. She appears singing at the party, being slobbered on by a Nugget, gathering her daughter into her arms. Jester wants to reach out and touch that one. Memorize it until it’s burned into the back of her eyelids.

But as the night wears on, Jester’s eyes wander away from her mother, and to the precious memories of her friends. Many of the scenes splayed before her are familiar. She reminisces on the memories of their family’s journey- the moments of tears, of laughter, of peace and hardship.

But there are other scenes that Jester has never seen before. Yasha and her wife surrounded by flowers. Fjord with a crew full of people.

As her eyes flit across the space, Jester finds herself drawn to a particular memory. In one corner of the dome, just above Caduceus’ sleeping form, three children stand with their arms wrapped around each other, laughing.

One, she pinpoints as a younger, less hardened version of the guard from earlier, Eodwulf. She watches as the dark haired boy throws his head back, jostling his friends, who startle into another fit of laughter.

Caught in Eodwulf’s arm is a girl.

She was handsome.

The dark haired girl has sharp, striking features- so unlike Jester’s own soft attributes.

She touches her face absentmindedly.

Astrid’s deep brown eyes dance with mirth as she glances sideways. Glances at...

Oh.

A scrawny redhead boy, with shining blue eyes catches his balance and laughs unabashedly. Smiles freely.

Oh.

The feeling comes unbidden that she is intruding on something private. Something tucked away into the secret parts of her friend’s soul. Yet there it is, shining brazenly in the sky. Though she still feels vaguely guilty, Jester cannot tear her eyes away from the little redhead boy that laughs like there isn’t a care in the world.

“Can’t sleep?”

She jolts, heart pounding, head snapping to look at the source of the voice.

Against one end of the dome sits Caleb. His piercing blue eyes meet hers and for just a moment she swears she sees the glint of that hopeful, radiant, child. Her arms prickle with goosebumps. She looks away.

The children flicker and dance. Laughing. Smiling.

Caleb follows her gaze and his face softens ever so slightly.

“Hm. A different time, ja?”

“Ja,” she replies with a hesitant grin, mimicking the wizard’s accent.

Caleb smiles back at this, then shifts to see the memory better- crossing his legs, and resting his chin on his palm.

He looks awfully young like that.

Caleb strokes Frumpkin absentmindedly, the soft glow turning the familiar’s fur a glistening orange.

“Sometimes I think about that boy. That time before everything fell to pieces.” He finally says, with a deep breath.

The memory replays. Again, and again.

Jester feels an odd tightness in her chest, and wonders at the tears prickling behind her eyes.

She wants to ask how it fell to pieces. Ask about Astrid, ask what was it about Astrid that made Caleb fall in love with her? What made her so special? Ask about Mr Icky-Thong, about what terrible thing he did that took the light and the love from the eyes of those children. But most of all she wants to grab Caleb by the face with both hands and tell him that boy is still in there somewhere, she just knows it… and maybe if he could just believe he’s in there… maybe-

But she doesn’t. Jester sits and watches the memory. And watches Caleb. And tries not to cry.

Caleb still seems entranced, speaking into the silence.

“It wasn’t all bad you know.” He looks at her now, then seems to regret it, opting to turn his eyes to the sky instead. “The academy I mean. My childhood.”

A hand waves and the laughing Bren disappears, replaced with a new scene. Now the boy is sweeping a hand and muttering something. The spell activates, and a shimmering dove appears, which takes flight. His mouth opens in pride and amazement.

Another movement of slender fingers, and the dove becomes a cat. Similar to Frumpkin, but more solid. It rests on the shoulders of the young wizard, who is eagerly bent over a book.

The illusory boy stops, and looks up. Jester let’s out a gasp as his eyes meet hers... then pass through her. She sees the object of his attention a mere moment later.

Una Ermendrud glides through the air, skirts swishing by Jester’s ear, stopping to press a kiss against her son’s cheek.

Caleb’s eyes are wet.

“It wasn’t all bad,” he repeats, to himself or to her she is not sure.

“They loved you very much didn’t they,” Jester says, taking in the beautiful woman.

“Very much.”

She nods.

“And you love them very much… still. After everything.”

Caleb hesitates, a wary look in his eyes, before slowly tucking his head in affirmation.

They sit like that for a long time. Both silent. The sounds of their friends breathing, and occasionally snoring, fill the space. Jester feels her heart swell looking at all of them. The people she doesn’t want to... she can’t forget. The people she would do anything for. Finally Jester looks at Caleb, her Caleb- real and solid and present, with his weary, pained, but still striking blue eyes. A kind of desperation comes over her.

“You know what though Caleb?” She begins, with a slight huff.

He seems surprised at the sound. “What?”

“I think...” she stops to formulate the words. “I think that they would be glad you still love them. Your parents, I mean. And Astrid. And Eodwulf.”

Caleb watches attentively.

She continues. “Like, I know you think that it makes you a bad person for loving them. And missing them. And remembering them. But you’re wrong Caleb.”

Jester feels the tightness again. She breathes in and out sharply. She looks at her friends… thinks of her Momma, her father.

“Because, like, love is what makes you human.”

The words rush out in a stream.

“It’s what gives you the strength to get up every day. Even when it twists you all up inside, even when you get hurt,” she looks back at him intently. “It’s worth it.”

Caleb is frozen in place.

“And the people that loved you Caleb? They knew they could get hurt. They knew the risks. But they loved you anyways. And I don’t think they would want you to take that for granted. You were worth it. You are worth it.”

He seems taken aback. “Really?”

“Really Caleb. I just know it.”

The words hang in the air, then Jester watches his still form quiver, then crumple.

The silent sobs come over him in waves, smaller, then more powerful as he shakes his head over and over.  

“Oh Jester,” he mutters thickly, trying to catch his breath. “Oh Jester, oh Jester.”

Alarmed, she quickly picks her way through the sleeping bodies, and past the glowing images to his hunched form. He tries to hide his face, but she takes it gently in her hands, brushing away the tears with her thumbs.

“Oh Caleb, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” she mumbles, smiling sadly.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Caleb says, voice overcome with embarrassment and emotion. “I don’t know why I’m... oh I’m sorry Jester.”

“You are a silly goose,” Jester laughs quietly, and pulls him in for a hug. Caleb tenses once, then eventually surrenders to her touch.

“Sometimes we need to cry when no one else is watching to be okay again,” she says under her breath and immediately feels far too exposed. She is sure he noticed- he notices everything, but Jester finds she doesn’t mind all that much after all.

Once Caleb’s breathing is lulled back into a slow rhythm, and she is beginning to think that she could just fall asleep like this, tucked snugly into his arms, Frumpkin nudges Jester’s leg. She becomes immediately conscious of just how long she has been sitting there, holding him, and pulls back.

“Sorry.”

Caleb inhales sharply, quickly withdrawing.  

He shakes his head. “Ah no, don’t apologize. I’m sorry for all that.”

“Oh it’s totally okay Caleb. It was… nice.”

They avoid each other’s eyes, sitting frozen until an especially loud snore makes them both jump.

They laugh, glad to have a distraction from the heavy silence.

“We should sleep,” Caleb says, when his hushed chuckles have subsided.

“Ja,” Jester says again in a Zemnian accent, and he nudges her playfully, earning another muffled giggle.

As she goes to stand Caleb clears his throat.

“Will you uh… not… I mean- don’t get me wrong Jester I trust the Nein completely, but-“

“I won’t tell,” she interrupts, and Caleb looks relieved.

“Yes. Thank you.” He nods at her appreciatively then leans back onto his bedroll.

Jester climbs back under her own blanket, her eyelids suddenly very heavy.

I won’t tell.

Caleb already has his eyes shut, curled up against Frumpkin.

And oh he looks so peaceful.

Jester smiles softly as she drifts off to sleep.

I won’t tell that the little redhead boy didn’t lose his heart after all.

[wtfzodiacsigns]

The Zodiac Signs Symbols

Aries:  Symbolized by the Ram, Aries charges his opponents, unafraid of butting heads. While sheep are passive, rams can be dominant and even dangerous. Aries’ fearlessness is unparalleled, as he bounds into uncharted territories, the rest of us following suit. His energy can sometimes manifest as directness, as he speaks his mind without hesitation. While his brazen honesty can offend, it comes from a place of genuineness and innocence. He is often unaware of the feelings he has hurt. This simplicity and straightforwardness is part of Aries charm.

Taurus:  Symbolized by the Bull, Taurus is slow and stubborn, her head facing downward, toward the earth. A large and sturdy animal, the Bull’s body is weighted to the ground through her enormity and the force of gravity. Moving slowly and steadily, Taurus takes her time to open up her heart to vulnerability. When she does, her power is evident. She awakens our senses, connecting us to our bodies and the virtues of earthly delight.

Gemini:  Symbolized by the Twins, Gemini is notorious for having two sides or personalities, and for being two-faced. His dual nature lends to adaptability, as he’s able to explore all facets of ideas or situations. Accumulating many friends and acquaintances, exchange is important for the Twins, who love to teach others, while trading ideas and quips. They are inquisitive, but also restless, with active minds that seldom rest.  

Cancer: Symbolized by the Crab, Cancer carries her home on her back. This gives her great strength on the exterior while sometimes preventing her from revealing her softer interior. Pinchers can come out, protecting her from the pain of deep sensitivity and vulnerability. With near psychic ability, she can feel what others are feelings. Her shell helps to form a barrier that delineates herself from others. Home is very important to the tender Crab, who needs a lot of alone time in coziness and comfort in order to regenerate. When she feels safe, no one is more caring than the Crab, who dances with loved ones in the sea of emotion, extending a visceral sense of home and sanctuary to anyone close to her.

Leo:  Symbolized by the Lion, Leo is strong and confident, roaring freely as he displays the shock of his golden mane. Loving and lovable, the regal Lion prefers being kind or queen, ruling with immeasurable compassion. If his ego grows too large, the Lion can fall off – kilter, operating from pride, vanity, and conceit, rather than his innate kindness. Cuddly and affectionate, the Lion can be a loving partner and friend, delighted when others bask in his light.

Virgo:  Represented by the Virgin, one of Virgo’s key traits is her love of purity. With loyalty and pure intentions, she devotes herself to caring for friends and even strangers, softening her sometimes-icy exterior once someone has earned her trust. At that point, Virgo can emerge as affectionate, gentle, magical, and warm. In Latin, the word Virgo means “self- contained,” which is perhaps more accurate in depicting this sign than the literal virgin. Self-sufficient, Virgo devotes herself to serving the earth and all beings by first taking care of herself. She will continue working hard to benefit others, as long as she receives proper respect and appreciation.

Libra:  Symbolized by the Scales, Libra represents justice and equilibrium. Taking his time to make decisions, Libra can become stagnant as he weighs both sides of every issue. Libra’s opposite, Aries, is decisive but crude, while Libra is refined and polite, though often held back by hesitancy. Seeking to keep the Scales in balance, Libra demonstrates his diplomacy, elegance, and grace, enveloping friends and partners in magnanimity and appreciation. Despite his wishy-washy nature, Libra can be a crusader, possessing an unyielding sense of fairness. He can delicately stand up for what is right, balancing whatever is unjust or off – kilter.  

Scorpio: The classic symbol for Scorpio is the Scorpion. However, two other symbols also represent Scorpio – the Eagle and the Phoenix. These three embody the various layers of Scorpio’s spiritual growth. When overwhelmed by challenging emotions, the Scorpion crawls on the ground, hiding away in dark corners of repression, ready to sting and destroy when threatened. The Eagle, too, can strike at any moment. But unlike the Scorpion, he glides through the sky—confident, visible, and free. The soaring bird has probing eyes, aware of the subtleties that others might miss. The Phoenix is the most evolved of the symbols, representing the transformational quality of Scorpio as a mythological bird who cyclically regenerates. Dying in flames, the Phoenix is reborn from the ashes – life forming from destruction. Similarly, Scorpio’s power comes from her willingness to open fully to fear, and to find spiritual rebirth from the little deaths of ego.    

Sagittarius: Symbolized by the Centaur and Archer, Sagittarius points his arrow toward abstract truth and faraway lands, galloping into the distance to gather experiences and wisdom. Half horse, half man, the Centaur has animal strength and stamina, along with human ability to philosophize. A straight shooter, no sign has more candor, which can be both a gift and a curse. Sagittarius speaks his mind, sometimes pushing his own beliefs onto others. Keeping his ideologies in check, no sign is more inspiring, helping others to broaden their horizons by introducing them to expansive views and experiences.

Capricorn:  Symbolized by the Sea – Goat, Capricorn has two sides – the mountain goat and the fish. She can climb the mountains of success and social prestige, while also diving deep into the ocean of wisdom. Harnessing practicality, she places one foot in front of the other, moving steadily, with strong sense of purpose and intention. Practical and retrained, she prioritizes achieving the task at hand, sometimes at any cost. Dedicated to reaching the highest peaks in all of her endeavors, the Goat does not lose sight of the ideals gleaned from Sagittarius. She applies determination to creating strong family units, as well as the systems and structures that form the basis of society. A mature Capricorn is more inclined to use her fishtail, diving deep into the wells of emotion before laying a foundation or beginning her steady rise to accomplishment.

Aquarius: Symbolized by the Water Bearer, Aquarius is one of the signs represented as a human – being along with Virgo the Virgin and Gemini the Twins. The Water Bearer offers water – the sustenance of life and spirituality – and he does so without sacrificing his individuality or independence. Water washes away the past and clear the way for a future more connected with purity and enlightenment. A visionary, the Water Bearer carries a vessel that symbolizes open – ended spirituality – available to all in equal measure. Water itself represents the collective unconscious, along with the sea of interconnection. As the second to the last sign, Aquarius is preparing us for Pisces, the last stop of the zodiac, which represents transcendence. In this way, Aquarius the Water Bearer Is the height of human possibility before dissolving into spirituality, nonconceptuality and oneness.  

Pisces:  Pisces is symbolized by two Fish who swim in opposite directions. The word Pisces means “fish” in Latin. Feelings pulled by the duality of being human, Pisces struggles to be both spiritual and human, tied to the material realm while floating in space. It is also said that one Fish is swimming upstream toward transcendence, while the other brings that wisdom downstream, back into the world. The two Fish embody receptivity, as Pisces possesses the capacity to understand opposing views and all facets of human nature and existence. Swimming effortlessly through any current, the Fish can blend with their surroundings, accommodating all that arises. Pisces is therefore the most compassionate of signs, embodying universal love, totality, forgiveness, and understanding.

Source: rose-oracles

[healthkick-shep]

BS Nutrition Tips

Ed Shepherd CHC, CPT

Never eat before you go to bed. Always choose foods that are low-fat. Never eat more carbs than protein.

When it comes to dieting advice, if someone tells you to “never” or “always” do something, it’s likely they’re promoting a nutrition myth. So how do you determine fact from fiction?

Check out the following ill-informed nutrition tips, and see what bad advice you’ve been given in the past.

Eat six “mini” meals a day

This nutrition tip was born with good intentions, but unfortunately, eating like this is not realistic for everyone. While small meals might help starving off hunger, there is little proof that it will promote greater weight loss.

Bottom line: Design an eating program that works for you. If you find that eating several times per day leads to overconsumption of calories, opt for three meals with one snack is a great alternative.

Eating fat will make you fat

Yes and no. it all depends on the type of fats you’re eating. Paired with a healthy diet, the right fats may actually help you shed a few pounds.

Bottom line: Drop the trans fat, go light on the saturated fats, and instead, opt for mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Good sources include olive oil and avocados for monounsaturated fats and salmon and flaxseeds for polyunsaturated fats.

Carbs are the enemy

If you cut your carbs to an extremely low level, you will miss out on the vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidant that are present in carb-heavy foods like fruits and vegetables.

Bottom line: Carbohydrates are the essential part of your daily diet because they contain the glucose that fuels the body and brain. The minimum amount of recommended carbohydrates per day is 130 grams or 45 to 65 percent of your total calories.

Eat more protein than carbs

Yes, you should include lean sources of protein in your diet, but this macronutrient cannot be your main source of calories. There are three macronutrients for a reason: your body needs carbs, fat and protein for optimal health.

Bottom line: For athletes, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends a daily intake of 1.2 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight. For general health they recommend .08 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Breakfast is perceived as healthy, even more important than other meals. It's true, many studies show that breakfast eaters tend to be healthier. However, these studies are so-called observational studies, which can not demonstrate causation. Chances are that breakfast eaters have other healthy lifestyle habits that can explain this.

For example, people who eat breakfast also tend to eat a healthier diet, with more fiber and micronutrients. On the other hand, people who skip breakfast tend to smoke more, drink more alcohol and exercise less.

Some people claim that eating breakfast "kick-starts" the metabolism, but this is a myth. These people are referring to the thermic effect of food, which is the increase in calories burned that occurs after you eat. However, what matters for metabolism is the total amount of food consumed throughout the day. It makes no difference at which times, or how often, you eat. Studies show that there is no difference in calories burned over 24 hours between people who eat or skip breakfast.

Bottom line: Breakfast Is optional and skipping breakfast does not cause weight gain. The evidence is clear, there is nothing "special" about breakfast.

It probably does not matter whether you eat or skip breakfast, as long as you eat healthy for the rest of the day. Breakfast does not "jump start" your metabolism and skipping it does not automatically make you overeat and gain weight. This is a myth, based on observational studies that have since been proven wrong in randomized controlled trials (real science). At the end of the day, breakfast is optional, and it all boils down to personal preference.

If you feel hungry in the morning and you like breakfast, go ahead and eat a healthy breakfast. A protein-rich breakfast is best. However, if you don't feel hungry in the morning and don't feel that you need breakfast, then don't eat it. It's as simple as that.

Don’t eat after 7 p.m.

If there is one nutrition myth that seems to stand the test of time, this is it. We have been hearing for years that food should be off-limits after the clock strikes a certain hour - regardless of personal circumstances.

Bottom line: If it’s 8:00 p.m. and you’re hungry, EAT, but choose wisely. Well balanced options include: a serving of cottage cheese with a piece of fruit, an apple with a handful of almonds and string cheese, a piece of whole-grain toast with avocado spread, sliced veggies with hummus or a bowl of low-sugar/high-fiber cereal or oatmeal.

Detox your way to a healthier system

How many times have you heard, “do this awesome detox to jumpstart your weight loss!”? Unfortunately, there is no detox to quick-fix diet that will magically speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight in the long-term

Bottom line: Trust the natural detoxification process that your body performs around the clock. Supporting this process doesn’t require a rigorous plan. Try a few simple tips instead: Actively hydrate with water, eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day and eat cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage, kale, and broccoli) and naturally fermented foods (sauerkraut, pickles, kombucha, yogurt, raw cheese.)

Don’t eat the yolk

For years we were told to stop eating eggs or at least ditch the yolk and order egg whites only. Eggs, which contain cholesterol, were thought to increase the risk of heart disease by raising cholesterol levels. But now studies show that cholesterol in foods has little impact on the levels of cholesterol in you blood.

Bottom line: If your concerned about eating too much of the good stuff (yolk), opt for one whole egg scrambled with two egg whites.

Only eat foods in certain orders or combinations

Food-combining diets have been around for years, and one common never-dying belief is that you should eat fruit raw and not in combination with other foods. Otherwise, the myth asserts, they will ferment rot or turn toxic in the stomach.

Bottom line: Be wary of any talk about necessary food orders. You can eat fruit as part of a larger meal or snack, and it can be raw or cooked.

Switch to diet soda if you want to save calories

Diet soda makes an appearance in many diet commercials as an acceptable zero-calorie or “free” option. However, a significant amount of research has been done on diet sodas and suggest that artificial sweeteners (i.e. aspartame and sucralose) can cause negative health outcomes and even lead to weight gain.

Bottom line: Ditch soda in all forms and try water infused with fruit instead.

Elimination diets are best for weight loss

The diet industry makes billions encouraging people to eliminate one particular food from their diet (most recently, sugar and carbs) if they want to lose weight fast. But often, these programs and their results are short-lived.

Bottom line: Unless you have a medical condition that requires you to eliminate certain foods, the all-or-nothing mentality isn’t necessary and can actually hurt your motivation over time.

All calories are equal - Calories in calories out

If that were true, I could eat ice-cream  for my daily quota of fat, instead of avocado. Unfortunately, the calories in ice-cream are not as nutritious as the calories in an avocado, which means the health benefits don’t match up.

Bottom line: Quality calories, like those found in fruits and vegetables, are nutrient-dense, whereas, the calories in a bag of potato chips don’t contain any nutrients.

Cut dairy products if you want to be healthy

Dairy has been unfairly blamed for all kinds of ailments, but unless you are lactose intolerant, you don’t have to cut it. Even people whom are lactose sensitive can still enjoy some dairy every now and then.

Bottom line: Dairy products such as Greek yogurt are great sources of protein and calcium and a wonderful addition to your diet if you aren’t lactose intolerant.

Ed Shepherd is the owner of KickBox-SuperFIT in West Palm Beach, Florida along with his brother Steve Shepherd a 5X world champion kickboxer.