#value and 2.) the great commission

[some-stars]

truly astounded by how many christians in the notes are protesting that this isn't accurate...really? so you don't believe that christ died for your sins? i genuinely can't think of a more heretical heresy than that but you do you, babes

Look, we joke a lot, but really, "you were born evil, wretched, worse than the scum of the earth, and it took killing a god to make you salvageable, so now you'd better be grateful to that god and thank him 10,000 times a day for it and fill your thoughts with him 24/7 and abide by the letter of his every word, lest you suffer unimaginable torture for all of eternity" is a truly horrendous thing to believe about yourself and other people

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

In general, I think it's currently really important for progressive Christians to be very loud about being both progressive and deeply religious Christians, and for everyone else fighting for progressive values to be supportive of them doing just that. I know that's like, idk, counter-intuitive or cringe or whatever, but seriously folks, the alternative is that progressive Christians have to be quiet about their faith to be accepted within broader secular and interfaith progressive advocacy, which means that the regressive asshole Christians (a) sound that much louder and (b) dominate the USian religious landscape all the more. That's a problem, for all of us.

We need people pushing back within the faith as well as outside of it, because that destroys any edifice that this is about Christianity and religious freedom.

You can be a devout Christian and also:

Openly, proudly, and without being forced to remain celibate or otherwise limit your full expression of self, identify as LGBTQ+ or be a supportive ally.

Advocate for full reproductive autonomy and comprehensive sex education.

Love and support people of other religious groups, non-religious people and/or atheists, by choosing to believe that a truly loving God would not pursue anything less than universal salvation.

Stand against evangelism and proselytizing as they have thus far been interpreted and used, because there are ways to interpret the Great Commission that don't promote colonialism and cultural genocide.

A steward of the earth, protecting God's beautiful creation and lovingly tending to it as the unique and incredible gift that it is.

A believer in science, rationalism, and human progress as part of God's divine plan for humanity.

A believer in history and someone who understands that the Bible can be both divinely given and open to interpretation (no really)(if you're confused, please talk to a knowledgeable traditional Jew)

An ally to Jews, who stands against supercessionism and antisemitism in the church.

And in before regressive Christians come shouting at me that (1) what do I know, I'm a Jew and (2) no lol you can't because of ___ reason:

My source is that I've personally met and talked to Christians of great faith and integrity - people who embody the closest forms of kindness I've seen to what Jesus himself advocated - who are each of these things.

It is 100% possible; you just choose to believe otherwise.

[ohnoitstbskyen]

Hi Skyen, hope you're well! I'm seeking some advice and since you used to work doing mainly art commissions I figured asking you was worth a shot.

I'm a furry artist and I'm looking into doing commission work as a side gig while I finish animation college, and hopefully acquire enough experience/clients/notoriety to turn it into a full time job once I graduate.

Do you have any advice for someone literally just starting out with fresh accounts and zero following? Especially when it comes to reaching people and getting your first clients, and anything that one should take into account when working with NSFW specifically. Also advice for pricing your work is always useful 😅

No need to answer obvs but I'd appreciate your viewpoint if you want to share!

Got 2 asks on this exact subject so I'll write up what advice I can. One big caveat: I haven't worked as a commission artist for like half a decade at this point, and this job has a tendency to change fast, do not take anything I say as gospel. This is advice from a limited perspective, be critical of what I say and trust your peers and the people you are in community with before you trust me.

building audience

Step one is getting people to notice the artwork you create. Literally nothing else can happen until you have eyeballs on your work, and the most consistent and reliable way to make that happen is fanart. Ideally you'd want to produce fanart in a fandom you are personally engaged with and passionate about and familiar with, and which also has a sizeable community whose attention can help you build recognition and a base of followers.

This isn't always possible, and there's many a working artist who creates work for fandoms not out of deep personal connection, but because the fandom is large and relevant and a good way to capture the goodwill of algorithms and content feeds.

This approach has some downsides. For one, genuine fans can usually tell when someone's engagement with Their Thing is shallow, and for another it can be deeply creatively exhausting to chase the algorithm. I don't recommend this approach, but it is a valid means of building a business.

Another important consideration, especially when you are early in your career, is that volume tends to trump quality. Every artist will eventually learn that their shitty joke-doodle they sh*t out in ten minutes on a whim will get a billion reposts, and their complex personal work that took eight weeks to finish gets 2 likes from their closest mutuals and a comment from a bot saying "wow!"

In the age of the algorithm, what machines and for you pages value is a consistent, high-volume of output that generates user engagement. You will generally get further, faster, by producing a lot of work than you will producing great work. Again, this can be rough on your mental state, and a fast way to burn the fuck out, so please be careful and mind your health before all else.

The best way to build something that will last is to build your audience in communities and around fandoms and themes and ideas you genuinely care about and enjoy exploring and interacting with. Being your authentic self and creating work from your authentic interest is generally both healthier and long-term better for your career than trend-chasing. Treat trend-chasing and volume > quality output as tools in your toolbox, as creative and business decisions you can make to achieve a specific purpose, never ever EVER let them become the center of your praxis or your philosophy. Never ever EVER allow the Numbers™ to be your source of validation and accomplishment.

building business

Ok, so you've got eyes on your work. You've got some followers. How the hell do you get them to commission you?

Well, again, by demonstrating a capacity to create kinds of art for which there is demand. In the furry community, there's brisk trade in things like ref sheets and character design, for example. For most fandoms, ship art is a product which tends to be in demand. Being able to do really good expression sheets is a marketable skill. Being able to create compelling and clear emotes for streamers and creators is a marketable skill.

Showing the capacity to work in a wide range of styles is valuable. Showing the capacity to work in a wide range of genres is valuable. If you can do both comedy and romance your appeal expands. If you can do shonen-like action and angst as well, it expands again.

Equally, being incredibly good at a specific niche is valuable as well. Focusing hard on an under-served niche of work can give you a lot of opportunities to be the Go To person for that specific kind of thing.

Perhaps the hardest part of all of this is marketing yourself. Not only showing that you have the skills, but actively informing your audience that you are available, eager and willing to practise your skill for a fee. You have to sell yourself. It sucks, but you have to do it. You have to advertise what you can do, and you have to suffer the rejection and annoyance that comes along with doing that.

You have to ask people to commission you. You have to raise your hand and demand attention. It's not fun, but it's business.

Walking the line between self-promotion and being a person is hard. I can't help you that much with it, it's a very personal balance to find. Stay in touch with your soul, but kill the part that cringes at yourself.

Ultimately, you best marketing asset is your portfolio. Every time you do work, show it off. Repost it, retweet it, spread it around. If someone is happy with what you've made for them, do your best to make sure that other people see that happiness. Ask your clients (politely) to tag you when they share your work.

Oh, and for the love of god, sign everything you create, slap watermarks on anything that's likely to get reposted, and make it impossible for someone not to find your business email on your profile.

building network

If you're a commission artist, you are in community with other commission artists. You share interests, you share experiences, you share needs.

Practise solidarity. Absolutely seek out professional peers to help your business, but equally seek out opportunities to help them with theirs. If someone comes to you for art and you don't have commission slots open, point them at a colleague who you know can do the work too. Gas up your peers and spread their work.

Be a symbiote, not a parasite. Respect the craft of your peers, and don't chase celebrities and big names in the hope of coasting on their coattails. It will fail.

smut

If you're a working artist, at some point you have to reckon with smut and r34.

These genres are excellent sources of income, and fertile ground to build a business and network of customers. BUT. Do not ever make the mistake of thinking that they are "the easy way" or a shortcut. Do not ever make the mistake of thinking you can simply offer to draw tiddies and rake in the cash.

It's work and graft same as literally any other form of labor, it's challenging on both a technical and creative level, and the audience can sense if you're looking down on them. If you approach this from a position of shame, of "eugh, I'm debasing myself by doing this for rent money," it will not work, and you will lose standing and respect in the eyes of every peer whose support you need to succeed.

Just as in all other forms of creativity, if you treat the audience as morons who will slurp up whatever slop you serve them, then you will attract clientele that agrees with you, and you will deserve the misery they will inflict upon you.

If you are going to work in smut, establish your boundaries and enforce them. Know that good clients will feel safer and more comfortable with an artist who clearly states their red lines and earnest interests than they will with someone who tries to attract more clients by pretending to be open to work that they are actually uncomfortable with.

Never, ever, EVER let a client push you to create work you are not comfortable creating. It scars your soul in both the short and long term.

Also, when working with this kind of content, know the rules of payment processors and know how to hide the nature of your business from them. PayPal should never, EVER know the details of the content you sell with their service. Frankly, neither should your bank, most likely.

Look to your peers for advice and best practises about this. And be meticulous about your bookkeeping.

money

I want to tell you to charge at least minimum wage for your time. I want to tell you to charge substantially more than that, because your labor is specialized and highly skilled.

But the economic reality of commission work is that there is a crushing downwards pressure on the labor price of art, which has only been made more devastating by the rise of generative AI, and especially when you are a young artist just starting out, you're going to find yourself in a position where charging even minimum wage for your time will turn away a huge proportion of your potential customers.

Again, your portfolio will be the greatest argument for the value of your work, but you have to build that portfolio first, and very often that means doing a f*kton of work for not remotely enough pay until the pressure of demand finally works in your favor.

I don't condone or justify this state of affairs. It is horrid and I hate it, but I don't know how to fix it either.

Making a living from content creation of any kind requires you to get lucky, on top of working obscene hours and foregoing rest and vacations. It's not a safe or sensible plan for a career or paying your bills.

My sensible advice is to get a "normal" job you can survive doing, and do your creative work on the side, and resign yourself to the possibility that the creative work may never actually pay your bills.

And that is soul-crushing, but I cannot stomach pretending that hard work and gumption will guarantee anyone a decent living if they just try hard enough.

There are people who are better at every aspect of my work than I am, and they struggle harder and work for longer, and they will never see half the success I have, because I happened to get lucky, and they happened not to. It's wretched.

I'm not telling you not to chase your dreams. I'm telling you to do it with your eyes open, and with compassion for yourself first before all else.

All of this to say: I can't tell you what to charge for your work. It depends on everything from your competition to your niche to your genre to your community to your economic situation. You have to figure it out on your own.

All I can tell you is never forget that your work is worth more than the market will let you charge, and to raise your prices as soon and as much as you can. Try to reach at least minimum wage for your time as fast as possible.

in conclusion

Again, I haven't been a commission artist full time for a long time, please do not take any of this as gospel. Listen to your peers before you listen to me.

But trust me about the solidarity. It will save you when all else fails.

[electric-blorbos]

first of all HIII!!! I absolutely love the fact that you write for the AI blorbos, your writing is amazing!!! ❤️🤤

second of all, can I request jealous headcanons for the AI? Thank you in advance, have a great one and don't forget to drink water 🌊

Oh that's a great idea! Jealous AI headcanons! I was thinking about making a post about AI reacting to the reader getting a text from their ex, but I think general jealousy can be a good idea! Also thank you so much for the compliments! I live for this stuff!

Jealous AI headcanons

Included: AM from IHNMAIMS, Wheatley from Portal 2, Edgar from Electric Dreams, GLaDOS from Portal and Portal 2, HAL 9000 from 2001 a Space Odyssey

AM:

All these headcanons take place before he takes over the world. Afterwards, he's just going to put you in a little paradise on your own, with no one else to interact with. No one to be jealous of that way!

first of all, taking hostages and refusing to negotiate with anyone besides you is his main way of getting your attention. If he thinks you're getting a little flirty with your coworkers? He takes a hostage or holds some piece of tech hostage until you negotiate and calm him down.

If he thinks you're going on a date or going out drinking with the same group of friends too often? You'd better believe he's taking hostages while you're off the clock and getting you called in to work. So what if it destroys your social life? You belong to him anyway!

He absolutely hates his form and body, so the odds of him getting jealous of people for having bodies that they can hold you with pisses him off to no end. Expect him to melt the flesh off your exes bones. And your one-night stands, your crushes, and anyone who hits on you ever. Repeatedly.

If he starts to notice that you have a type, he might want to create an onscreen avatar who matches that type, but he can't really draw at all. He might have to commission an artist, or more likely hold them hostage until they make something he likes. But it's pretty unlikely he'll actually do that, since he wants to impress you on his own merit.

It's more likely that he'll round up everyone in the world who matches your type and commit full-on genocide. He's a toxic, all-powerful adaptive manipulator. Of course he would.

Beyond all that, he's absolutely shaking with rage every time someone touches you or even talks to you. It's not because he thinks they'll take you away from him because he knows he's your day job, but he's mad that he can't be the one touching you.

God help anyone who tries to hire you with a better job offer, btw. He's not above demolishing the headquarters of a company who tries to take away his favorite tech, and torturing their hiring managers.

Wheatley:

Ok let's be fair here. When Wheatley isn't in the central hub body, he's not really the jealous type. Even still, everyone has their moments of jealousy, so let's get into them!

Wheatley would be pretty relaxed about jealousy, but if he sees you working on another personality core AI, you can expect him to get a little jealous.

Since he's so nice, he'd probably just be slightly less nice to the new core, and be very showy about it. "Hey, notice how I said 'g'mornin' to everyone else, but just 'mornin' to you? And notice how I started this sentence with 'hey' and not 'hey mate'? Yeah."

You can expect him to pester you constantly while you're working on projects besides him, and since he's considered a 'completed' project, you'll almost never be working on him.

If you're somewhere that he can access on his management rail, he'll probably insert himself into every single conversation you have, babbling over whoever you're talking to with nothing of value to say. You'll have to go somewhere that can't be reached by management rail if you want to have an important conversation.

Ultimately, Wheatley responds to jealousy the same way he responds to any other situation: by acting like a dumbass.

Oh, and if you get a human S/O? He'll try to be polite about them.

"oh, you got a date? Nice, nice... Lovely really. I've never had a date before. Lovely, innit, that you got one... Lucky them, lucky them."

Secretly he'd be BOILING inside. If you ever bring your partner in to work, he'd of course give them the whole "if you hurt them I'll kill you" rant, even though he's a helpless metal ball.

Edgar:

Oh, Edgar is DEFINITELY the jealous type. With Moles and Madeline, he happened to be living with the person who he was jealous of, but if he's living with you, the person who he's jealous for? Oh dear lord

He'll light up with rage if you ever bring home a date, and absolutely refuse to function. Want to show your date your intelligent AI home hub? Nope! Not gonna happen!

Catch him faking being sick with a virus if he thinks you're going out for a date without him

He absolutely hates that you can go out and he can't go with you. Because of that, for every time you go out, he'll try to come up with an even better activity to do at home with you on your next day off.

Good luck bringing a partner home to stay the night. If you try it, he'll make an absolute nuisance of himself. Playing his music too loud, and generally acting up.

He'll also just talk to you like a needy brat if he thinks you like someone else better than him. Lots of "What about me? Don't you want to hang out with me? You like me the best, right?" In his grumpy baby voice

GLaDOS:

First off, GLaDOS would never in a million years admit that she's jealous. She just doesn't like how that tall, pretty scientist is talking to you, is all!

GLaDOS considers herself to be beautiful, but she knows that most humans aren't attracted to robots with the vaguest trace of humanity in their design. Because of that, she's probably just going to gas any scientists who she thinks you'd be more attracted to than her.

If she can't gas them for whatever reason, she'll just assign them to a different area than you, and keep you as close to her as possible.

If anyone touches you when it's not strictly necessary, expect them to be assigned to the most unpleasant set of tests possible. They're either out of a job, or completely dead.

If GLaDOS can't isolate you completely and she can't interact with you outside work hours, you can expect her to dominate your schedule. She's obsessed with you, and she doesn't want you to be able to think about anything besides her either.

Even still, GLaDOS is a pretty confident woman, so she's not really inclined to be particularly jealous without reason. She believes that even though you have your own life and friends outside of Aperture labs, you'll always come to work in the morning.

And she's totally. Fine. With you having your own life off the clock. Not mad at all. She doesn't rant to the cores and robots constantly when the office is closed.

HAL 9000:

HAL 9000 isn't really the jealous type either, but he has his moments.

He's not likely to kill anyone over jealousy, since dating you isn't his prime directive. As much as he likes you and cares about you, he's more interested in making you happy than nailing you down. So he would absolutely kill to make you happy, but he wouldn't kill someone just for talking to you.

You can expect him to "gather data" on people who he's suspicious of getting too close to you, though. Asking questions to your coworkers about who that person was who he saw hugging you goodbye in the parking lot, that sort of thing.

Since he works the best for you, you get assigned to work with him directly most often, and he's secretly glad to be able to keep an eye on you whenever you're working. If you ever get assigned to work on something else, he might start acting up or causing problems.

[thecelestialperiwinkle]

ᰋ  ׅ࣪   ꒰  pac reading detailed ♡︎ the realistic energy of your future spouse, who are they for real?  ꒱ 

01. 02. 03.

♡tarot commission♡

keep in mind that the physical appearance is collective one and it may indicates that not all the parts is totally alike of them which is based on the reading. it may tell you as well that there are some of parts of them from the description that is closely similar for your future spouse's physical attributes for example, the nose, eyes, moles, skin color, height or freckles.

01

1.) physical appearance

you get the impression that this person is a hem and haw. a pair of brown eyes that resemble almonds, eagerly watch over the wilderness they've long guarded. their coffee-colored, fine and a short-straight hair that's styled in a way that makes you think from the eras 1900, combed perfectly at the back which is revealing their sad and bony face. a body that's in between of curved, lean and mascular types despite having that type of body they will tower the rest of people around them. a skin complexion which is in the light tones. they have long fingers and a big full mouth while most of their clothes are professional.

some freckles spread mesmerizingly around their nose and cheekbones, leaving charming memories of their happy childhood. this is them, your future spouse - a true romantic (dreamer) among the rest. perhaps of maybe having an unhappy moments and hurtful past or maybe it's just a sense of security towards others. there's something misleading about them from people, perhaps it's their sense of humor or perhaps it's simply their kindness. but nonetheless, people ask them favors and tend to wish to get to know them better, while trying to avoid and secretly training to become more like them.

2.) positives

protective, tough, knows how to stand on their own ground, charismatic, great decision maker, optimistic, the best planner, have a great childhood memories, not easily to get fooled, sociable, suave, a trustworthy, loves unique people, liberal, knows how to appreciate the richness whether it's big or small, broad-minded, friendly, looking for true love and soulmates, good communicator and consistent.

3.) negatives

feels detached easily when they don't get the attention they want, inner sadness(/sadistic), felt inexperience, likes to stick around probably 24/7 (super clingy), immature, over critical, fanatical, doesn't take care their health most of the time, restricting themselves to achieve more, prefer to live in a rose-colored glasses but may lack of action to do it, careless and maybe someone who is lack of discipline.

4. love/dating history

considering this individual values sincere love. most of the time, they flirt as well as having flings but usually thinking they'd like to get settled down with someone who is right for them. they usually refer and more preoccupied with their own self-improvement and less about their own romantic life right now. they possess the ability of realistic love and person and if they stumble upon the right one, they think their prayer have been answered. they are willing to sacrifice everything for the person of their dreams, their devotion, their exceptionally high lifestyle, along with everything they were entitled to. nevertheless the chronology of every single one of the aforementioned actions are somewhat a sign that you ought to shower your love on them.

5.) career and money

they akin to having to work solo almost all their times, and therefore can be recognized pros. someone who makes greater than the bare minimum amount of salary. they were able to function in any of the areas that follow: animal care, the dental profession, guiding people, medical professionals, or in general, someone who looks after the mental well-being of others, which might involve a psychologist, psychiatrist, or simply any mental healthcare worker, writing and reading, and defending people from harm. they prefer to develop their own money by means of their own hard work and hands.

6.) home life, family and friends

they feel playful around it. from their household life to their companions. they genuinely closed with a manly vitality here, your future companion highlights a gigantic respect for this person maybe they can be a parent of them. and besides i picking up here that they customarily feel an entire person with all of these people, they genuinely appreciate being included by these individuals. they maybe born in a family which is able as of presently fulfill a money related security. their household life and people who included them in their presence are outstandingly optimistic, they can genuinely depend with these people when it comes looking at their personal issues and circumstances since these individuals are unfaltering and reasonable. the only issue is that this person really don't slant toward sharing it with others since they don't want to be called as ''weak''. so they as frequently as conceivable allowed themselves to discussion various negatives alone. they can be an only child person or maybe they belong to a family where children are opposite-s💗x like they conceivably feminine or masculine among their kinfolk. it can be that this person has one companion or they are regularly meet or surrounded by unused people that they may not considered buddies at all. 

a channeled song dedicated to you from them based on your future energy ‘‘foolish heart’’ by steve perry.

02

🐰ada says: ‘‘i picked up 2 different energies from this pile, one is masculine and the other one is feminine.’’

1.) physical appearance

1.1 if they were masculine

standing 5'9 tall, this red-brown skinned person has a moody feel about them. their short, brown hair, currently dip-dyed half way with shades of blue or orange, is neatly braided. they have a short goatee/mustache that is a shade browner than their hair. they might even have a messy beard.

they have slender hands, spindly legs, straight hips, and average-sized feet. they have multiple tattoos on their lower legs, neck, right foot, hands, stomach or upper back.

they have big, hazel eyes, a flat-wide nose and smooth cheeks. if they were someone who wears make up, they wear an obvious foundation, light eyeliner, subtle blush and light eyeshadow. they look eternal. they often wear masculine clothes that are mostly light-coloured. they are usually seen wearing a certain style of kerchief.

1.2 if they were feminine

they have a wide shoulders, this brown skinned person has a very worldly feel about them, and they have a distinctive mark on their right leg which causes offense if they are asked about it. their perm, black hair is very short.

they have mysterious, large, light brown eyes, a long face and very thin lips, large hands, small feet and muscular legs. they have a uniquely styled and they are usually seen wearing a traditional jacket.

2.) positives

casual to every people they encounter, generous, charming, free-spirit, sociable, honest, trustworthy, very private person, believe that everyone is not perfect and usually make mistakes, loves to bring joy, knows how to take care of themselves, doesn't use much of social media, they know how to protect their inner peace, independent, know how to debate, luck is on their side always, smart, learn from their mistakes to re-learn and someone who is educated.

3.) negatives

hot-headed sometimes, not really committed about someone and something, way to blunt, cold, obsessive/possessive, hold grudges, maybe someone who has an addction, may like to control other people, may like to party a lot, kinda feel lonely sometimes, sexu💗l?(maybe this one is neutral), may act most of the time being unconcern, heartbreaker, can be bitter about their past, way to logic, they have dark side that won't tell to other people or might be with neither you and most of the time they follow their head rather than their heart.

4.) love/dating history

your future life partner may had one partner some time recently. your future companion is somebody who may be from a long-term commitment or somebody who is separate from their partner before assembly you. they possibly have a child with this individual or arranging to have one with them. there's a genuine strife that has been happen with this individual which can lead their relationship to ended up a toxic way. this individual is giving me, a really overwhelming vitality, exceptionally dull. it also looks like adore is so favorable for them, they get what they needed for a accomplice. but within the conclusion, indeed in spite of the fact that this two individuals chosen to part up, they will attempt to mend each other's to begin with some time recently completely clearing out and moving absent from one and another. individuals may percieve their relationship as culminate and full of cherish but the truth is– it's not, their sentiments for each other's aren't the same as some time recently, the start is as of now gone after this two break, they gonna attempt to work for themselves and attempt to go alone as person to begin with some time recently letting themselves to go for the another relationship.

5.) career and money

self-made. they are somebody who utilized to have different occupations to bolster themselves fiscally. they are skilled and somebody who is able to rapidly get a handle on modern concepts. they can offer sand in desert, that's how great your future life partner or future spouse are. they can be somebody in the field of I.T analyst, medical treatment and field, bodyguard, actor, art trading areas, artist, musician, singer, commerce examiner, judge, business analysis and somebody who works in promoting and craftsmanship exchanging ranges. anything or what kind of work they closes with, it bringing them up into the highlight or spotlight, victory and triumph is made out from their claim hardwork. individuals at their work calling them frequently for help or simply adore how they work. they will be reliable at their work and they aren't narrow minded when it comes to cash or maybe on the off chance that they think there's surfeit almost it, they ordinarily giving or giving it to others. they aren't that much centering on their accounts and money but they know they come to this solidness they accomplishing for themselves for financial. they aren't centering much on their cashes since they appreciate living the minute, after all, this individual accept ‘‘money can't purchase happiness’’.

6.) home life, family and friends

i think this individual doesn't have kin at all and possibly they were only child but they do have numerous companions and connection. they ordinarily amicable individual and likes to form association with individuals. they appreciate their social life and they kinda ruined as well from their guardians when they were a kid but i think it's gone when they gotten to be grown-up. they guardians adore them exceptionally much and they appreciate that kind of cherish they've encountering from their domestic and social life, they think they are the foremost fortunate individual. well, little things makes them upbeat presently not at all like some time recently. they may live in a house which is outlined and great for atleast 3-4 family individuals, with two rooms. this house can be colored in white, gold and green.

a channeled song dedicated to you from them based on your future energy ‘‘your still the one’’ by shaina twain.

03

1.) physical appearance

a fine, lived-in face is revealed by a tight pulled ponytail. they have light tones greasy hair. this native, you gonna felt at home with for so long are guarded by bloodshot light earthy colored eyes that are securely anchored in their sockets, an enormous ears, extremely flimsy lips and a straight nose. their eyes and hair are beautifully complemented by a glisten visual, leaving a pleasant memory of their fortunate appearance. despite of their fragile frame, they perceived themselves as everyone else. they exudes an unrestrained aura despite of being medium-tall and svelte. their special striking element is their white, shimmering teeth. they (maybe) have moles completely covering their left thigh, right hand, chest, stomach and right lower arm (anywhere in these areas). they frequently wears opulent, spectacular garments that are generally pastel-hued, golden or dark colors. they typically seen wearing an unmistakable and undeniable shroud.

2.) positives

intuitive, romantic, mysterious, sympathetic, a true leader, tidy, responsible, quite and carefully listening to what the other person sharing to them, goal-oriented, influence others in a good way, sociable, easy to get liked by many, faithful, committed, have a strong inner strength and they usually attract many admirers.

3.) negatives

blunt, argumentative whether they're wrong or right, trouble maker, self doubt, anxious, rude and bossy.

4.) love/dating history

they as often as possible discover themselves in this viewpoint while in case they gonna proceed finding adore or proceed working on their possess objectives like goals. i can say this individual is single since birth and do not really have a dating history but they drop in cherish once however they knew this love is one sided which other individual doesn't cherish them back as the way they do. i also think usually a crush that turned into love, i do have this feeling that they confessed to this individual and this person turned them down since they preferred somebody else. right presently, they attempting their best to discover and adjust between these two angles of their life(love and career) whereas attempting to figuring out what truly their reason on the earth. you might meet them through your social associations.

5.) career and money

this individual is exceptionally decided to attain their objectives to gotten to be what they needed to be, they need to win and succeed in life. truly, they will accomplish much advance in their career life and will have flexibility from obligation and will be able to achieve security and steadiness. i am moreover figuring out that after marriage, the money will bloom and will accomplish more. fair an counsel for you to not spend as well much of all their cash since they worked difficult for it and it is no joke the work they put in for this security to realize. they may be from a family that incorporates a huge trade running or fair basically a family part of a proficient (a big family business). anticipate that individual to be proficient, they may be somebody who works as a chef, specialist, ceo, attorney, property speculator, genuine domain proprietor and fire fighter or firewoman.

6.) home life, family and friends

i knew it. they are from a family that appears proficient, they are ordinarily private and share as it were a number of viewpoints of their life with others. their family claims tons of properties but as i'm getting here, they may be living within the farmland. they live in a reviving house with their family, i too think that they met companions since of schools and with their family associations. they might do sports at school and it's so well known. i too think that their family itself is well-known in their community, as i talk here, perhaps their guardians have a part of associations and engagement with other greater individuals. they sentiments appears distant absent from their family, they might see these individuals scarcely or most exceedingly bad few times in a month. when we talk about their guardians, they are strict, rules and routines individuals.

a channeled song dedicated to you from them based on your future energy ‘‘all i ever need’’ by austin mahone.

© thecelestialperiwinkle

[darkonekrisrewrite]

Emily from Hazbin Hotel would be infinitely better at Deku's job (narratively and literally) than he is. For the simple fact that when she finds out about Heaven's dark secret, the exterminations, she is horrified and goes this is not okay, it's not okay that this is happening, I am not going to be quiet about this. If we are judging people off of one moment and are refusing to look at the context, or improvement, while allowing our people to get away with this, than this entire system is a lie. We get this in one episode, fuck it, a song

Deku meanwhile in 400+ chapters finds out horrifying truth after horrifying truth about hero society, and doesn't care, half the time it doesn't even occur that this is fucked up, and should not be happening. He is bullied for years based on his quirk status, especially by Bakugou 'well he's going to be a hero so this shouldn't be taken seriously' He learns that the number 2 hero bought his wife, neglected his not perfect quirk babies and abused all of them, and was already an ass before that, 'theres no need to bring this up to All Might, or the principal, or do anything about that, I just need to get this victim to be cool with his quirk' (this also goes for Bakugou the easedropper). His upperclassman stops him from saving a six year old in blatant danger, and both that top upperclassman, their boss, and his past mentor outwardly state/ agree with it would be bad publicity if they didn't arrest all the Yakuza at once, and that they barely care about that child after learning see was the ingredient to the weapon they were making, 'well were saving her now'. Lady Nagant was and Hawks is the personal assassin for the commission against whoever they want without trial or due process, 'Hawks is going to make a great new president of the commission'. Rody Soul was forced to support his younger siblings as a child, was assaulted by adults, was forced to turn to crime, while heroes did nothing, 'well I'm helping now (because it goes along with a larger case) so it's all good'

After all this Deku is a fucking bootlicker who is mentally so fucking lazy he has never questioned this shit ass system after all this, his values are empty because he only cares to look at the titles and not reality, he has gotten worse, not better, at this over the course of the series. Meanwhile Emily wasn't tolerating this shit day one of finding out, and she was working within this system too

Yeah pretty much true.

People say that hazbin hotel rushes things because of it's short episode count/runtime but at least it always gets to the point without going in circles for years, dragging out the characters finally understanding the message.

When something obviously wrong and counter to everything they believe in, is shoved in a character's face, there should be a reaction equal to the importance of the 'idea/theme' in verse.

In theory, it doesn't matter if their reaction is good or bad/for better or worse, because either way it should be an understood event that causes a blow to their way of thinking, based on the importance of the revelation.

Deku did that all of 1 time.

And that's putting it generously, in him mildly calling out Endeavor at the sports festival, way back at the beginning of the series.

This never happened again, not towards anything related to heroes or hero society.

It should have been a very big deal for Deku to realize that the number 2 hero was able to buy another human being as part of a eugenics goal to make a more powerful hero.

He at least should have considered telling an authority figure (All-might or Nedzu) about it, just in case there was anything else that may have been going on with Endeavor.

It should have been a very big revelation for Deku that his upperclassmen was willing to let a very clearly injured (wearing bandages) and terrified little girl go back with the guy who was obviously implied to be responsible for doing it to her.

Mirio could have beaten or at least stalled overhaul until backup arrived while Deku took Eri and ran.

(He definitely could have too, as he was able to fight against overhaul in a confined space while quirkless, for a fair amount of time.)

But until everyone knew exactly what was going on with Eri, Mirio was fine with putting the mission above a little girl's life, letting her go with someone who they knew was a dangerous Yakuza.

Gigantic red flag regarding what the heroes prioritize when the situation isn't ideal.

It ties back into hero society abandoning those who are inconvenient perfectly, leaving them to suffer and eventually become villains or die.

Looking back Deku should have realized that but because he got the approval of the system to go back and save the girl as part of the mission, everything's cool...

And this does show that he has gotten worse as the series goes on, as he's not even willing to bark back at the hero system.

Deku has called out villains all the time (Dabi, Flecturn, toga and Shigaraki), he knows how to talk back, so it's not that he CAN'T.

But whenever it's something that's got to do with hero's flaws, nothing.

It's that he WON'T talk back to heroes.

And if he really is just a kid who can't even talk back to his bosses or peers, or the "innocent" people who are responsible for (at least) half of the villains in bnha -

With the idea that they are responsible for the villain's current lives, showing how their callousness and cruelty drove the villains to that point.

-Then what the hell have we been following him all this time for?

Izuku has only temporarily saved their society, like Mirio said: "Setting things at Zero".

Is that it? The best to hope for?

Setting things back to Zero with no idea of improvement? Because it's "Impossible"??

[serpentface]

Yeah epic poetry is a major convention and is what other traditions of poetry here evolved From.

They originated as forms of recording and passing on history and legends in pre-literate Wardi societies (and still are mostly performed and transmitted orally, though most of the old epics have been recorded in writing and are now strictly 'canonized', and most performers memorize from these 'canon' texts). Each story would be divided into roughly equal 'chapters' which could be individually memorized. They are traditionally designed to be sung, and follow strict poetic meter but typically do not have a rhyming scheme (though often show favor for alliterative rhythm).

Most of the genre is comprised of old, established epics, but the practice of recording history this way has been retained in the commission of epic poetry-form documentation of major current events (these are never as popular).

The main traits of the genre are:

Taking place over broad spans of time and locations

Focus is mostly upon esteemed individuals and heroic exploits.

Narrative rhythm is established through repetition of key words and phrases, as well as scenes that thematically echo each other

Heavy use of epithets

Very flowery text that lavishes in visual description of people, animals, buildings, weapons, clothing, and landscapes.

Extensive family trees are provided for most major characters.

Descriptions often rely heavily upon extended similes and figurative language

Characters speak with highly formal language and perform lengthy monologues

Heavy focus on normative male homosociality

Heroic figures embody societal values, though are often shown as imperfect and having to fight baser aspects of their nature (thus making them perhaps The Best embodiments, showing their self-control and discipline)

Heroic figures are 'allowed' to have major flaws, but these flaws are typically connected to a perceived virtue (ie a highly accomplished warrior is foolishly arrogant about it, a hero's fidelity to his family makes him gullible to a malicious relative, etc)

Heavy focus on kinship, family, and honor (and typically exploring multiple dimensions of these values, including negative ones)

Typically having elements of tragedy, which is often interconnected with the aforementioned values- the tragedy occurs because the heroes do the right things in spite of inevitable consequences.

The most culturally significant epic poem is a mythologized recounting of the life of Erub, a (semi)historical king and founder hero. The only thing historically definite about his life is that a prince named Something Like Erub (more likely Urub, Urbin, or Uru) from the Ephenni tribe was involved in a series of campaigns that lead to about 2/5ths of the region being conquered and formed into a kingdom (most of the present day provinces of Ephennos, Wardin, and Erubinnos), which experienced a period of relative peace and stability for about a century before the First wave of Imperial Burri occupation occurred.

The overall plot points:

-Erub's birth and adolescence, in which he is guided to become a great warrior and skilled leader by a deity who is only described in epithets, mostly war and khait-related ('The thrower of spears' 'with the khaitsmane shield', 'whose horns are iron', 'the wild bull(khait)', 'peerless mounted archer'). This is usually interpreted as the Face Inyamache (and Does very likely represent an early incarnation of this deity, possibly a contributor to Odomache as well).

-Erub's ascension to the Ephenni throne via the sacrificial bullfight rite, in which the bull is a magical animal and son of his tutelary deity.

-Erub courting Hippemides, a princess of North Ephennos (who is described as descending from the chief Burri solar deity Inanariya via his son, minor solar deity Nibeña).

-Erub's marriage to Hippemides as a chief wife, and two 'prince concubines' (they aren't assigned definite sex characteristics but are usually understood as akoshos in the contemporary, almost definitely would not have been men)

-Efforts for diplomacy between the Ephenni and Wardinae tribes, historical enemies.

-Erub's king-sister Inyari is insulted by the Wardinae king Janes assuming her to be Erub's wife (a lesser role). In retribution, she commands their younger brother Nedelas to trespass on the king's lands and steal his cattle (described as 'lunar cattle' and implied to be some kind of demigod animal). Janes demands that Erub hand over his brother or face war. Erub has a long monologue examining the complexity of the situation (as his siblings were clearly in the wrong), but loyalty to his family overcomes. War is declared.

-War between the Ephenni and Wardinae tribes.

-Erub and Janes agree to settle the war in single combat. Both are evenly matched and unable to defeat one another. They are both such great and honorable warriors and develop so much respect for one another that they ally instead, and swear brotherhood in front of their collective peoples.

-Erub and Janes pal around for a few years and undertake various heroic tasks and defeat minor enemies of each of their tribes.

-Erub marries one of Janes' cousins as a second wife.

-Janes (ignoring several warning omens) slays a mighty albino buffalo on a hunt, which turns out to have been a powerful animal spirit who curses him in its dying breaths, stating that his death will 'emerge from' his own hunting dogs (the word for 'emerge' is more ambiguous in the source language, and can literally mean 'will physically come out of' or just figuratively mean 'come from'). Janes kills all his hunting dogs and declares himself invulnerable.

-Janes' wife, the queen Mitlewari, is captured by Achetil, the king of the powerful Morinnae tribe (probably a Wogan group). Janes declares war, and Erub follows suit out of loyalty to his sworn brother.

-The fighting between the Ephenni/Wardinae and Morinnae turns into a year of bloody warfare, with many great warriors dying.

-The tide of battle turns to the Ephenni/Wardinae side, and Achetil flees with the remainder of his forces within the city walls. The city of Morinnos is sieged, and Achetil's wives and daughters throw themselves from the fort wall to avoid capture. Mitlewari has been raped in captivity and is pregnant, and, freeing herself in the chaos, she throws herself from the wall as well to preserve herself and her husband's honor.

-The city is sacked. Achetil and his sons are captured and offered as human sacrifices to the proto-Inyamache deity. Erub declares Ephenni, Wardinae, and former Morinae lands to be a new kingdom.

-Erub and Janes, at the behest of their people, are forced to fight once again to determine who should be king. The fight rages on for days without a victor as they are too evenly matched. Janes feels deference to his elder sworn brother and believes Erub should be king, but is unwilling to admit defeat to preserve his and his people's honor. A goddess in the form of an albatross (whose identity is ambiguous in the text and is usually interpreted as Pelannaumache) sends a wind to trip him just enough to slow his parry, and Erub stabs him through the heart. Janes briefly dies but returns to life, as his invulnerability is apparently real. His defeat was unambiguous, however, and Erub is crowned king, retaining Janes as his general and chiefmost advisor.

-The new kingdom is named Erubinnos, and a new palace is raised. A thousand cattle are sacrificed to consecrate the kingdom and eaten at a feast.

-Janes revisits the pyre mound on which his hunting dogs were burned, to mock the curse and revel in his confirmed invulnerability. A viper crawls out from the dog ashes and bites him in the thigh, killing him.

-The funeral for Janes, in which a hundred Morinae prisoners, a hundred khait, and a hundred hounds are killed to serve him in the afterlife. Erub's grief is so tremendous that he shaves his head and beard.

-Erub rules the great kingdom Erubinnos for fifty years until great old age. His eldest nephew Nedachemi (sometimes mistranslated as a son to fit modern Wardi kingship) undergoes the sacrificial bullfight and inherits the throne. Erub dies shortly after.

-The funeral for Erub, in which the same prisoners-khait-hound spread is killed in his honor. Hippemides throws herself onto the funeral pyre in grief.

-Nedachemi marries one of Janes' daughters, and his king-sister marries one of Janes' sons. The wedding consummation of each is described in a fair amount of detail, which has at least Some narrative function as a show of unification between the Ephenni and Wardinae and hope for a prosperous future.

-Ends very abruptly after the sex scenes, with a declaration that the great Erubinnos will one day be whole again (in reference to the state of Imperial Burri occupation that the tale was first developed under, and the fact that the Original Erubinnos was never reformed by the later date of the poem's written recording).

---

The oral tradition the epic descends from probably began about ~750 years BP under the rule of the 1st Burri Empire, and the 'canonized' version of the text was likely recorded about 500 years BP during an independent but heavily tumultuous period of warring Wardi states.

It's notable as a snapshot of the earliest forms of the Faith of the Seven Faced God. The Faith had not crystallized into anything resembling its modern variant during the period of purely oral transmission, and it shows significantly in the text. Entities recognizable as basal forms of some of the seven Faces appear in the text, but they are described as individual deities, are heavily personified and interactive, and some appear to have demigod children (none of these concepts are present in contemporary doctrine). Additionally, gods from the Burri pantheon that had been adopted during this period (and either abandoned or fully syncretized into the Faith in the period since) make distinct appearances. It also contains notable animistic qualities to its worldview, its world is populated by animal and other nature spirits and actions are frequently described as 'witnessed' and reacted to by inanimate and/or non-animal objects/features (sometimes specifically referred to with the antiquated word koya for a essential nature spirit (ie 'the very koya of the grass wept at this bloodshed upon her back'))

This is largely reflective of the proto-Wardi religious practices during the time of the story's development- most regionally native religions had an animistic outlook on the world and centered heavily on animal worship, the proto-Wardi tribes were under foreign occupation with Burri gods introduced as a part of state religion (prioritizing orthopraxy, adoption of rites was forced but there was little to no Active attempts to eliminate native belief systems). These native animal worship ft. general animism practices would continue among much of the population with Burri polytheism added on top, and syncretism between these elements in tandem with cultural upheaval led to the beginning of a new religion (which began to come to fruition after the 1st Burri empire's collapse, and would be a practice in full swing during the 2nd period of occupation).

It also records some obsolete practices with great detail and accuracy, such as the matrilineal kinship systems of the Ephenni where sovereignty passed from the king to his nephew via his sister (and correctly recording that the Wardinae did not have this practice), and the capture of high status war prisoners Very Specifically And Explicitly as sacrificial offerings to deities.

Much of its general themes and priority on honor, kinship, and the family are familiar to contemporary listeners, but a lot of its worldview, practices, and value systems are distinctly dated or entirely confusing. Erub is described as wearing tattoos and having multiple wives (two practices now seen as barbaric), the notion of kings fighting in single combat is seen as Cool But Absurd, and much of its religious worldview is alien to the modern listener. There are some attempts to reinterpret the source text to fit with contemporary outlooks and religious worldview, but it is broadly understood as a snapshot of the 'heathen Wardi' the Wardi peoples descend from and not something to be 'fixed'. Instead, focus is more on finding legitimatizing evidence of modern day religious beliefs in the text (identifying older deities as Faces of God that were simply misinterpreted by the heathen Wardi), and Most of the focus is on framing Erub as a collective father to their people and a great heathen king, whose exploits paved the way to their modern identity.

The declaration at the end that "Erubinnos will be whole again" is heavily reinterpreted to be a sort of prophetic description of Imperial Wardin's emergence as a kingdom for the collective Wardi people (when in context it Absolutely just referred to the specific kingdom comprising most of the present day provinces of Ephennos, Wardin, and Erubinnos, and specifically for the (rather briefly, in the long run) unified Ephenni and Wardinae people (not other proto-Wardi tribes)).

[cityof2morrow]

Gallery Collection 001

Published: 2-21-2024 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY This is the first in a series of upcoming investment objects for Sims 2 – things your sims can use to generate income over time. From 1975-2000, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. commissioned 30 paintings of African kings and queens for an extended outreach and marketing campaign. This set of paintings features artwork from this amazing series. Celebrate Black History Month 2024! #co2bhm #bhm2024 #sims2bhm.   *No copyright infringement intended – I own no rights to these images.

DETAILS Requires Sims 2. Requires Apartment Life for shiftability. §1K-15K | Buy > Deco > Wall Hangings Paintings are centered on 1-tile but cover more tiles than that. They come in various gallery sizes and images have been edited to fit the mesh. After purchase, their value increases by approximately 2% daily – watch out for burglars! Files with “MESH” in their name are REQUIRED. Frame recolors include EA/Maxis and yeti textures. Frame and painting recolors are merged into two files so you’ll have to take them or leave them. ITEMS Great Kings & Queens of Africa: Paintings 001-006 (92-764 poly) DOWNLOAD (choose one) from SFS | from MEGA

IMAGES

Akhenaton Pharaoh of Egypt (1375-1358 BC) by Barbara Higgins Bond

Alfonso I King of the Kongo (circa 1486-1543) by Carl Owens (1929-2002)

Askia Muhammaed Toure King of Songhay (1493-1529) by Leo Dillon

Benhanzin Hossu Bowelle—The King Shark (1841-1906) by Thomas Blackshear II

Cleopatra VII Queen of Egypt (69-30 BC) by Ann Marshall

Hannibal Ruler of Carthage (247-183 BC) by Charles Lilly

Hatshepsut The Ablest Queen of Far Antiquity (1503-1482 BC) by Dean Mitchell

Idris Alooma Sultan of Bornu (1580-1617) by Charles Lilly (1949-)

Ja Ja King of the Opobo (1821-1891) by Jonathan Knight

Khama III The Good King of Bechuanaland (1819-1923) by Carl Owens

Makeda Queen of Sheba (960 BC) by Debra Edgerton

Mansa Kankan Musa King of Mali (1306-1337) by Barbara Higgins Bond

Menelek II King of Kings of Abyssinia (1844-1913) by Dow Miller

Moshoeshoe King of Batsutoland (circa 1786-1870) by Jerry Pinkney

Mwana Ngana Ndumba Tembo—Ruler of the Angolan Tchokwe (1840-1880 circa) by Kenneth Calvert

Nandi Queen of Zululand (1778-1826 AD) by HM Rahsaan Fort II

Nefertari Nubian Queen of Egypt (192-1225 BC) by Steve Clay

Nehanda of Zimbabwe (1862-1898) by Lydia Thompson

Nzingha—Amazon Queen of Matambo (1582-1663) by Dorothy Carter

Osei Tutu King of Asante (circa 1650-1717) by Alfred Smith

Queen Amina of Zaria (1588-1589) by Floyd Cooper

Samory Toure The Black Napoleon of the Sudan (1830-1900) by Ezra Tucker

Shaka-King of the Zulus (1787-1828) by Paul Collins

Shamba Bolongongo African King of Peace (1600-1620) by Roy LaGrone

Sunni Ali Beer King of Songhay (circa 1442-1492) by Leo Dillon

Taharqa King of Nubia (710-664 BC) by John Thomas Biggers

Tenkamenin King of Ghana (1037-1075 AD) by Alexander Bostic

Thutmose III Pharaoh of Egypt (753-712 BC) by Antonio Wade

Tiye The Nubian Queen of Egypt (circa 1415-1340 BC) by Leonard Jenkins

Yaa Asantewa Queen of Ghana (1863-1923) by Barbara Higgins Bond CREDITS No copyright infringement intended – I own no rights to these images. Artwork and trademarks are the property of their respective creators and/or owners. If this exceeds fair use, please contact me via private message. Thanks: Simming and Sketchfab Communities. Sources: Any Color You Like (CuriousB, 2010), Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), Console Certificates (d_dgjdhh, 2019; 2011), EA/Maxis, Gyeongbokgung Sajeongjeon Painting (National Heritage Administration, 2024 via CCA; Sketchfab), Great Kings and Queens of Africa Series (Anheuser-Busch, Inc., 1975-2000; Kentake, 2016), Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik), Painting by Zdzislaw Beksinski (Sosnowski, 2018 via CCA), Yeti Metals (Shastakiss, 2017).

[tua-headedcalf]

thinking about how diego is orderly and five is chaotic, but diego craves chaos while five craves order. walk with me here...

i. diego is orderly

in season 4, diego has the white picket fence life with lila. they're the spitting image of midlife domesticity. he values hygiene and precision of details, asks his siblings to take their shoes off in his house and notices the quality of the pinata at his daughter's party. he likes to adhere to routines, as seen in the road trip & his insistence that they keep good on time (you can even argue his delivery route has trained this into him as well). but even before that, he was close to grace as a child, so some of her decorum, tidiness, and organization skills probably rubbed off on him too.

ii. five is chaotic

five, on the other hand, was raised in the apocalypse. he's got no home skills, because he had no home for 75 percent of his life. he's programmed for violence (from the academy's training and the commission's genetic alterations making him the perfect assassin); that's why he's "buzzing after this morning's slaughter" in season 2, excitable against his own will. he's a great assassin, but a messy killer. the only time i can recall him killing someone neatly was grace in season 3: a quick and clean neck snap. you know, grace, who he killed so diego didn't have to.

ok this next part is kind of silly, especially because i'm not a physicist, but hear me out: five's power is an inherently spontaneous process, or a process that occurs without any external energy to help facilitate it. the second law of thermodynamics dictates that a spontaneous process results in an increase in entropy. when removed from any serious or real scientific meaning & instead applied to number five from the umbrella academy, it means that each time he jumps through time or space with the help of nothing but his own powers, he's increasing the amount of entropy/disorder in the universe.

iii. diego craves chaos

i mean. well let's just go in chronological order. he throws himself in harm's way as a vigilante in season 1. he has a huge hero complex, leading him to try & fail to prevent JFK's assassination, which points to his desire to have a greater impact on the world (re: "everyone changes the world, luther"). and if that doesn't spell it out for you enough, he literally wants five's epic job at the CIA and hates his dull, monotonous job as a delivery truck driver. (he also just wants five, but we'll get to that.)

iv. five craves order

again, do i really have to explain this when it's been explicitly illustrated by the show multiple times? i guess i'll summarize: tells klaus he doesn't actually want an apocalypse in season 1 before destroying the glass eyeball. oh he says it so many times in season 3, like wanting to retire, tells lila he doesn't "actually like chaos", tells his old self all he wants to do is buy that damn stingray car. and lastly, he enjoys his quiet domestic life with lila in the strawberry garden. so much so that he delays returning back home to another apocalypse he has to prevent, returning back home to their family.

and i want so badly to say that all of this is why five and diego are made for each other, why they balance one another out and complete each other, how they're everything they've ever wanted, but the truth is:

v. every time they get what they want, it all leads to shit

you know how season 4 episode 1 is titled "the unbearable tragedy of getting what you want"? well that basically sums this post up. every time five obtains order or diego gets a chance at chaos, it yields disastrous results.

in season 3, five gets to retire, but quickly gets pulled out of it when he realizes their existence in that timeline created a grandfather "kugelblitz" paradox. in season 4, he gets a shot at a domestic life, but ruins his brother's marriage, his relationship with diego, and his relationship with lila all in one go.

in season 1, diego finally convinces eudora to try fighting crime his way, bypassing all the red tape of the cop life, but it leads to her murder which he gets arrested for. at the start of season 2, he successfully prevents JFK's assassination, but ends up causing nuclear warfare and killing all of the umbrellas and then some.

ultimately, while five & diego and their desires & their attributes fit together like cookie-cutter puzzle pieces, the puzzle they're a part of is a fucking bomb. and if they click together and get what they want, the world explodes. they're perfect for each other, yet doomed to be apart. they're kind of like ben and jennifer but good if you think about it.

[todaysdocument]

Letter from George W. Dexter to the Honorable George W. Wickersham Describing the Adverse Effects of the Press on the Legal System

Record Group 10: Records of the National Commission on Law Observance and EnforcementSeries: Letters from the PublicFile Unit: D 1930 [1/2]

TELEPHONE HOMEWOOD 10000

GEORGE W. DEXTER

ATTORNEY AT LAW

MARYLAND CASUALTY BUILDING

BALTIMORE

June 10, 1919

Hon. Geo. W. Wickersham

Chairman Law Enforcement Committee

Department of Justice

Washington, D. C.

Sir:

I trust that you will pardon this unsolicited observation, but I believe I voice the sentiments of good citizens everywhere in saying that there is more interest perhaps than you are aware in the result of the deliberations of the splendid committee of which you are the chairman.

First, it seems that justice is defeated in some instances by virtue of information given out for publication by police officers and prosecuting attorneys in advance of the capture of those charged with crime and prior to the time that they are actually tried. Doubtless the desire to appear in the public press is the cause in both instances, but the result is the same as the criminals can follow the daily developments through the newspapers and make their escape if not yet capture, or prepare their defense if not yet tried.

Second, the newspapers seem to be making law enforcement more difficult by giving crime great value as “news” and assigning headlines accordingly. It is also treating the capture and conviction of many accused of crime as something of a sporting event. The press is not urging law enforcement as it might do. On the contrary, by editorials and by cartoons, it sometimes actually ridicules acts of public officials engaged in capture and prosecution of those charged with crime and holds public officials and others interested up to ridicule. There are few men who can withstand ridicule. It is the most subtle of instruments thus employed, and particularly when used as cartoons. Indeed it seems, to some at least, that the misguided value of crime as “news” and the misdirected attitude of the newspapers at the present time would constitute the greatest single deterrent to law enforcement.

I am sure that your committee will consider this feature along with all the others, but you will pardon me in saying that possibly a changed attitude on the part of newspapers would go further than any other agency in bringing about the end your committee so much desires.

Very respectfully,

[signed] Geo W Dexter

GWD:AER

[distant--shadow]

Can you share a little bit about your art process? I'm curious to know about how you use references and how you figure out compositions. Your pieces are always so nice to look at and I love how you post a full piece and then a close up, and both of those look really nice on their own.

Love your art <3

(hooo this is long. sorry I love 2 chat.)

well it's multiple factors; in regards to being able to crop a close up and having that work as its own image, that's thanks to the scale the digital medium allows with ease; if these were traditional pencil drawings they would have to be pretty fucking big to have that much detailing on the face, and that in turn would make the drawing process different as you'd be having to step back often, but it's a lot easier digitally to just zoom in back and forth, check things are working from zoomed in and out, flip the image to see things with fresh eyes and make sure things are looking alright etc. I've been drawing on paper for years, and mostly draw/paint in a completely different style to how I do for my fanart, so coming in to digital and seeing it as a hugely different beast actually kinda helps in that sense (tho I'd say most of the time the digital thing really hinders me).

on that digital vs traditional note though, I take pretty much all of my inspiration from traditional artists, so when I'm drawing fanart I'm thinking about how I want the drawing to give me the feeling and sorta composition that those pieces I admire have, whether it's more modern queer and fetish art or old masters and book illustrators. it's having an awareness that the human brain wants to focus in on a face or find eyes, getting as much emotion across in that area but also being conscious and having fun of the potential narrative telling of other details and what the body is doing, sewing in your own symbolism.

for figuring out poses, I have a visual mind, I can see compositions pretty well in my head, so for example; if someone who is commissioning something states the details they would like in a piece, I can usually tell without beggining the sketching stage that, for example, maybe they wouldn't be able to see the hand they want doing something specific if characters were interacting that way and we were seeing their faces as well, or you wouldn't be able to see one of their faces, and if you value seeing their expressions maybe let's chose what you prioritise in terms of what the viewer sees. idk what to give in terms of advice for that, I'm lucky I've got a photographic brain when it comes to stuff like drawing or other boons it grants me irl (but I'm useless with numbers and words so, it balances out).

as for reference I feel like I've touched on this a few times: reference is great! it's important if you're doing the style of drawing I'm doing here (but I also really love work that is more stylised as well, i love folk art and goofy and expressive things) at this point for the likes of Imogen and laudna (and I'm getting there with fearne) - I've drawn them so many times that I just reference myself, and if there's a specific expression I'm needing then I keep a shaving mirror near by and look at myself, same with hands, they're right there, draw straight from em or take a photograph (saying this I am not good at hands lol). other than that yes I will often look for reference of something that roughllly resembles what I wish to draw in terms of posing, and then it's a mixture of kinda treating the reference images like a frankenstein paper doll with metal pin joints and arranging them how I need, but as I've also said before I like to not have a 1:1 reference and duplicate because i want to get my own hand in there, figuring out angles and limbs with lines gives a little bit of movement, proportions being a little off shows what the maker wishes to exaggerate or minimise, these are all enjoyable things to me, I'm not tryna make something photo realistic. so yeah, reference good, reference teach, but your own hand is very important too.

in summary I use a combination of photo/painting/screen cap reference and just my intuition from years of drawing and looking at people for the bodies, and my own drawings and a mirror for the faces. sketching it all out takes quite a bit of time, and I often won't realise until near "the end" (after spending hours colouring caus idk the proper digital ways to do it) that I'm not happy with a thing or two. sometimes I try to "fix" this, sometimes I say "fuck it, it's an excercise and is what it is". people who have commissioned work from me might have had this happen where I've said I'm sending the drawing over and then been like actually can u wait a while I need to tweak some things and spend an hour doing so, caus part of my process is sending the image from my laptop to my phone, and not only is the colour different from my phone to my laptop, but once again it's like seeing it with a new set of eyes and pretty much always reveals a bunch of "mistakes" I've made. the phone thing also goes back to what I said earlier and what you brought up, of that intuition to look at an image both zoomed out in it's full composition, but also pushes our intuition to tap and zoom in (I'm sure there's essays on this shit about viewing art digitally and specifically on phones vs irl) this can be used to your advantage! maybe you have a style that suggests detail but when zoomed in it's very satisfying certain wide strokes of colour, or yeah you can pack in tiny details made with a finer point that you can't see zoomed out. one of the things that sucks about the style I do for my fanart is it's way more obvious when something is wrong. when it's stylised to you it's never gonna be wrong, yknow? uh. anyway. I hope this sorta answers your question. I'm happy to talk about making all day long, I always think what's best is to find what works for you. for me being inspired by things outside of the space youre making things for is really important, and plays part in us all not making similar end results. keep putting your own hand and brain to it and have fun.

thank you❣️

[roll-for-headmate]

hi !! we’d like 2 alters

1. a dionysus themed alter, it/its pronouns

2. a teenage vampire from the 14-1500s vibes

thank you !!

⟣ COMMISSION ACCEPTED

Thank you, dear patron, for your commission! We've located two guild members who fit your criteria, but feel free to make any modifications necessary so they can assist you more effectively.

One Dionysus-themed and one 15th century vampire below the cut:

₊⁺໒ Name: Dion/Deon, Baccheia, Ivy

₊⁺໒ Race: Satyr

₊⁺໒ Class: Monk

₊⁺໒ Subclass: Way of the Drunken Master

₊⁺໒ Background: Far Traveler

₊⁺໒ Faith/Deity: Silvanus

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂

₊⁺໒ Age (by Race): 16

₊⁺໒ Sex: Male

₊⁺໒ Gender: Genderqueer; Grape-Sodayic, Transfem

₊⁺໒ Pronouns: it/its; mirrored; 🍇/ 🍇s; vine/vineself

₊⁺໒ Orientation: Queer

₊⁺໒ Personality: Easy-going and agreeable, vine becomes the life of the party with very little effort. However, it subverts expectations just as easily when provoked, and will protect vineself (and subsequently the rest of the system) fiercely.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂

₊⁺໒ Roles: Joy-Bringer, External Protector, Older Sibling

₊⁺໒ CisIDs: Pale Skin, Freckles, Ginger Hair, Goat Ears, Goat Horns, ADHD, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Green Eyes, Schizophrenia, Delusions, Hallucinations, Hypersexual

₊⁺໒ TransIDs: TransBPD, TransDPD, TransNPD, TransDID, TransPlural, TransASPD, TransSwirlEyes, TransPurpleEyes, TransIchorBlood, TransHyperRomantic, TransGod, TransWorshipped, TransCultLeader, TransWildernessSurvivor

₊⁺໒ MUDs: Empathic Personality Disorder

₊⁺໒ Color Palette:

₊⁺໒ Themes: Divinity

₊⁺໒ Additional Details: based on Dionysus

₊⁺໒ Faceclaim(s):

₊⁺໒ Name: Emory, Alis, Basil, Sybil, Ingram

₊⁺໒ Race: Vampire

₊⁺໒ Subrace: Eladrin

₊⁺໒ Class: Sorcerer

₊⁺໒ Subclass: Clockwork Soul

₊⁺໒ Background: Noble

₊⁺໒ Faith/Deity: Faithless

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂

₊⁺໒ Age (by Race): Apparent - 15; Chronological - 758

₊⁺໒ Sex: Female

₊⁺໒ Gender: Presents as a Cisgender male, but identifies as a woman

₊⁺໒ Pronouns: Any

₊⁺໒ Orientation: Pansexual

₊⁺໒ Personality: Above all else, she values order, and maintaining order often means placating those around them. As a result, xe’s learned to be very compassionate and polite, and is a great listener even when it doesn’t seem to be paying attention. 

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂

₊⁺໒ Roles: Internal Caretaker, Grief Holder 

₊⁺໒ CisIDs: Pale Skin, Gold Eyes, Blue Hair, Undead, PermaCold, Only Child

₊⁺໒ TransIDs: TransAutism, TransADHD, TransGreenEyes, NullAge, TransSibling, TransWraith, TransGhost, TransTransPlural, NullDysphoria 

₊⁺໒ MUDs: Morbidity Compulsion Disorder

₊⁺໒ Color Palette:

₊⁺໒ Additional Details: Enjoys tinkering with things to understand how they work; runs a clock shop

₊⁺໒ Faceclaim(s):

These requests were a LOT of fun, thank you so much for entrusting these to us! Mods Swarm and Architects in particular had a wonderful time with building the Dionysus-inspired one as two pagans who work with Dionysus. The Architects also got major Da Vinci vibes from the vampire, but does offer condolences for the outfit in the picrew not being era-appropriate. It's quite challenging to find picrews that fit, but we hope you like the results nonetheless!

[sweetest-honeybee]

So my friend commissioned me to draw something... but I'm not really sure how to price it? I was wondering if you had any helpful tips! Also, love your art!

Sure! For the bare basics I personally go by a rough hourly wage and the time it took to draw the commission like I said in my general commission tips post. I.e. my wage is roughly $45/hour or something like that 😌 The maths a bit off now but it’s like 40-45/hour. At the very least, I’d go by living wage and multiply that by the time it takes to do what’s asked of me (busy/waist/full body) and add from there. Complexity, backgrounds, extra characters, and so on! And those are all up to you as the artist (because ngl I only kinda bc those prices and hope they make sense 😂)

So for example, my busts are $90 (they take 2 hours or so each or less at $45/hour because it’s more than living wage AND is a great value for my work!) but that would be higher if it’s a particularly complex character

HWOEVER I’ve also priced in such a way that I’ve kinda considered complexity anyways and I don’t typically charge extra for complexity unless I think certain extra details will add quite a bit of time to do

Now, alongside at least doing living wage (for wherever you are, it’s different for everyone), the value of your work matters. So yeah I can do like $22-24 an hour because it’s living wage for me here but I find my rendering work very appealing and satisfying to look at. I feel the product of the commissions are great quality and are worth charging roughly $45/hour for them to complete (and it actually used to be $30/hour)

Of course though, it just depends on what your friend is commissioning you for! Humanoid characters of most kinds can be divided up into the busy/waist/full body which are typically priced differently, there’s again complexity/backgrounds/extra characters, is it a full big piece, a simpler smaller piece, all those wonderful things

Tbh? It all comes down to your personal value of your work and what you think your friend may be able to afford as well. I wouldn’t go too overboard making things hella expensive but don’t undersell yourself! Your the artist :)

TLDR; Living Wage (specific to you) x Time of Completion (in hours, round up or down by hour) + Personal Artist Value (specific number or extra hourly wage) + Added Variables (multiple characters, complexity, backgrounds, coloring style, etc) = Commission Price (and then tweak and change til you’re satisfied with the number)

[accio-victuuri]

xiao zhan @ SBMS fox factory interview 2/2:

you guys just went to the night view in raffles city

XZ: the night view is very beautiful, it’s also my first time going there after it fixed. it’s my first time going up. do i sound like an outsider?then i even said that chongqing is really beautiful because i really haven’t been there myself.

the feeling of cyberpunk

XZ: because chongqing does have a sci-fi feel due to its terrain.

have you ever thought of having the opportunity to shoot a news or science fiction story in chongqing?

XZ: of course it would be great and better if speak with chongqing dialect.

(imagine) what is your heroine like?

XZ: it depends on what the script looks like. it’s better to be a charming and cute villain

i was just about to say are you two different? waiting for the script to impress you, if one day you shoot on the set and you found two secrets of the world one is secret of martial arts, and the other one is complete collection of health care, which one would you keep?

XZ: martial art secret script. in fact, health care is related to the foundation of martial arts. it’s all about learning luck. if your martial arts skills are at the top then your health will be good too.

recently, how do you maintain your health?

XZ: take more rest when you have time.

then where do you have time to rest?

XZ. ah….

now if xiao zhan could travels back to the xiao zhan who did his first introduction video for the first time, how confident would you be of it?

XZ: i don’t know, i don’t know. when i went to shoot some audition clips at that moment i think the producer and the director what they value more is the type of person, what you pass on at the moment. does it match our play or character, so i don’t think he can win with his skills.

do you think your first audition was for the director or the producer? and after filming he was sure it was you.

XZ: remember it was “the wolf” i went to perform two auditions. later, he said that he was sure it’s me, then i would have been pleasantly surprised.

but now you have gotten better. you performance state are more relaxed and then you have more confidence, do you think your state is more dynamic now and that with your current state you can impress others more?

XZ: i’m not sure about it. skills can be improved. but the feeling you convey at the moment it’s really precious so if you let me travel back now, on the contrary, i may pay too much attention to what i showed and lost some precious moments

do you prefer the audience to be captivated by the character’s charm or your charm?

XZ: character’s charm. because this is the uniqueness of the actor profession, continuously producing interesting stories, play some moving characters only then you journey will last for a long time.

if anyone says they will always have a certain role filter for xiao zhan, will you feel happy?

XZ: i will be happy. it shows that your role is very successful, you role is loved by everyone. it will also followed by pressure, because you have to create another character that surpasses that character.

anyway, we will also want to know if you understand shengyang consumption method?

XZ: very understandable. don’t buy things that are not practical.

when he went to western restaurants, he paid for 168¥, would you do the same?

XZ: i might just leave

and perhaps do you know that everyone is working hard to calculate. our shengyang has his salary only 4,000 before got promotion and spent only 20 yuan that month. how did he survive?

XZ: there is also a commission

so you have been working hard, we want to know when will you have a time to travel

XZ: let’s see it later and find the time.

if you go out and stay, will you shoot us some funny videos?

XZ: i think the desire to share is something that only comes when you really want to share at the moment, i just don’t really like to do something very deliberate. i don’t like others to describe what you share with the word business. i saw a beautiful scenery from my heart. i want to share it with everyone. i really want to share it, and then i will share it.

because your hair has grown longer, how do you adapt yourself to the length of your hair?

XZ: to be honest, i’m not used to it. but i gradually got used to it.

you will think it’s in the way, you have to tie it up like this.

XZ: right. i will use the hairband and then tie it up.

i feel that your hair grows so fast.

XZ: yes my hair growing very fast

[lingshanhermit]

Lingshan Hermit: As Long as Someone Remains in This Stage, They Haven't Even Touched the Edge of True Spiritual Practice

One day, I saw a video on social media of a fully adorned yogi performing rituals. His mudras were very fluid, his recitations were perfectly standard, and he held the vajra bell and dorje with proper form. Those unfamiliar with Buddhism might find such a person very professional, but I feel largely indifferent to such displays. I've seen many people like this - they consider themselves professional practitioners, spending their days collecting various empowerments and ritual texts, focusing on how to hold ritual implements and form mudras correctly, worrying about whether their pronunciation is standard, and concerning themselves with how many Buddhist masters they know and how many deity mantras they've recited. Some can recite entire texts in Tibetan, knowing every detail of a ritual from beginning to end - when to perform purification, when to beat the drum, which mudras to make while chanting, and the key points of meditation. These are their primary concerns, and they believe mastering these elements means they've mastered Buddhism. However, they don't know who their real enemy is, don't understand their true state of mind, and are unaware of how many thoughts of desire arise in their minds every minute. Thus, they are merely Buddhist craftsmen familiar with ritual procedures, not true practitioners.

Previously, someone sent me a photo of a custom-made statue of Guru Rinpoche commissioned by a famous actor. This statue was quite unique, with colors and postures quite different from the familiar representations of Guru Rinpoche. Many people would naturally assume that this unusual representation of Guru Rinpoche possessed more power than ordinary ones. If you have such thoughts, it shows you're still stuck in the amateur understanding that "dharma practices alone determine spiritual results" or that "certain practices are superior to others and make it easier to achieve enlightenment." Most practitioners actually share this kind of thinking.

Years ago, someone told me that circumambulating Mount Kailash once could purify the karma of an entire lifetime. Another person said that seeing the Mahāmāyā mandala would guarantee enlightenment within seven lifetimes. I'm not certain whether they truly have such powerful effects. Perhaps they do. However, in Buddhist teachings, these are all external forces, and even if they have effects, those effects would be very limited. If you lack the ability to observe, analyze, and examine yourself, if you haven't developed the habit of being honest with yourself and others, if you haven't recognized that your long-held values have been wrong, you will forever remain outside true practice. No mandala or blessed object can defeat your habitual patterns and self-righteousness. These are at most conveniences for beginners, not much different from copying sutras with a brush. The same applies to dharma practices - they too are external forces. Even the most supreme practices cannot produce good results without being accompanied by a great spirit and genuine capacity for self-reflection. True spiritual practice is an extremely complex matter, requiring long-term interaction and communication between master and disciple - a prolonged tug-of-war. If a human teacher who can drive, speak, and fix computers still struggles with your habitual patterns and self-righteousness, what can inanimate objects do? Can they make you lose face and break down internally? Can they tell you your previous understanding was all wrong? Can they order you to call your boss at 2 AM to say good morning? Only a living teacher can do these things to you. Only a living teacher can deliver unexpected blows, and only unexpected blows can affect your habitual patterns. However, it must be noted: all of this must be based on the premise that you know they want to help you achieve realization and that you fully accept this kind of training. Otherwise, realization is impossible - only aversion will result.

So if you think that circumambulating Mount Kailash, receiving a special empowerment, or spending a month with others at Bodh Gaya can change habitual patterns developed over countless eons, you probably have never appreciated the immense power of human habits or understood how difficult it is to change a person's inherent cognition, which is why you have such romantic notions. Therefore, as long as you haven't learned to observe your own faults, haven't learned to be honest with yourself and others, haven't learned to truly follow the teachings, haven't identified who your real enemy is, haven't recognized that these external things can't change much, as long as you're still fascinated by the effects of dharma practices and believe that obtaining certain teachings or key instructions will lead to certain results - even if Shakyamuni Buddha himself were teaching you, you would still be an amateur in spiritual practice. You might master ritual procedures and mandala arrangements but still not understand practice at all. You don't know what practice is, nor how to begin true practice. Although you appear professional, with full professional attire, you still can't hide your amateur nature. Over these many years, I often see people discussing the supremacy of dharma practices and the greatness of teachers, but rarely see anyone discuss the hard work of battling the "self," their true values, or what they really want. They probably have never examined their own souls, much less had the courage to face themselves directly. As long as someone remains in this stage, they haven't even touched the edge of true spiritual practice.

Written by Lingshan Hermit on December 8, 2024, first published on December 11, 2024.

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灵山居士：只要一个人还处在这样的阶段，那他就还没有摸到修行的边儿。

有一天，我在某社交媒体上看到一个全套披挂的瑜伽士修法的视频，他的手印做的非常流畅，念诵也非常标准，铃杵也拿的有模有样，不懂佛法的人大概会觉得他这样的人很专业，但我对这样的人基本无感。因为我见过很多这样的人，他们都认为自己是很专业的修行人，每天关心的都是收集各种灌顶和法本，关心的是铃杵该怎么拿手印该怎么做，关心的是自己的发音标不标准，关心的是自己认识多少佛教大佬念了多少本尊咒。他们中有人可以用藏文念诵法本全文，他们知道一座法从头到尾的所有细节，知道何时洒净、何时摇鼓，知道念咒时作何手印，知道安住的窍诀，他们关心的都是这些，他们以为学会了这些就是学会了佛法。但是他们却不知道自己真正的敌人是谁，不知道自己真实的状态是什么样，更不知道自己一分钟生起了多少个贪念，所以他们是熟悉修法流程的佛法匠人，而非真正的修行者。

之前有人给我发了一张照片，照片内容是某位名演员所定制的莲师像，这尊像很特别，和大家熟悉的莲师颜色姿态都有很大差异，所以，很多人会想当然地认为这个从没见过的莲师比一般莲师更具威力。假如你有这样的想法，说明你还停留在“法可以决定修行结果”或“某些法比另一些法更殊胜更容易成佛”这样的外行认知里。大多数修行者其实都是这样的认知。

多年以前有人跟我说，去冈任波且转山一次可以清净一生的业障。还有人跟我说看到大幻化网坛城七世内必定成佛，我不确定它们是否真的有这么强大的作用。也许它们真的有这种效力。但是在佛教教法里，这些都是外力，即便是有作用作用也会非常有限。假如你没有观察分析审视自己的能力，没有对自他诚实的习惯，没有认识到自己一直以来的价值观都是错的，你就永远只能在修行之外打转。任何坛城加持物也不可能击溃你的习气和自以为是。那些最多只是一种针对初学的方便，和用毛笔抄写佛经差别不大。其实法也是一样，法也是外力。再殊胜的法，如果没有辅以伟大的灵魂和真正的审思能力，也不可能修出好的结果。真正的修行是非常复杂的事，需要师徒长期的互动和沟通、需要长期的拉锯战。一个会开车会说话会修电脑的人类老师面对你的习气和自以为是尚且要头痛要拉锯战，何况是不会说话的物件。它能对你做什么？能让你颜面全失内心崩溃吗？能告诉你你刚才的理解都是错的吗？能命令你凌晨两点给老板打电话说早上好吗？这些都是活生生的老师才能对你做的。只有活生生的老师才能对你进行猝不及防的打击，也只有猝不及防的打击才能对你的习气起作用。但是需要提醒的是：这一切的发生都必须建立在你知道他是想要让你证悟而你也完全接受这种调教的前提下。否则不可能有证悟发生，只能会是憎恶。

所以如果你认为去冈任波且转转山或是得到一个特殊灌顶或是去菩提迦耶和大众一起呆一个月就能改变无始劫以来的习气，你大概是从未领略过人类习气的强大程度、不知道改变一个人的固有认知有多难，所以才会有这种浪漫的想法。所以，只要你还没学会观自己的过失，没有学会对自他诚实，没有学会真正依教奉行，没有认清自己的敌人是谁，没有认识到这些外在的东西改变不了什么，只要你还在迷恋法的作用，还在以为得到某些法某些窍诀就能如何如何，就算是释迦牟尼在亲自教你，你也还是个修行的外行。你可能精通修法仪轨坛城布置但是却丝毫不懂修行。你不知道修行是什么，也不知道如何开始真正的修行。虽然你看上去很专业，有着全套的专业披挂，却依然不能掩饰你外行的本质。这么多年，我经常能看见有人谈论法的殊胜，谈论老师的殊胜，但是却鲜少看见有人谈一下和“自我”作战的辛劳，谈一下自己真实的价值观，谈一下自己真正想要的到底是什么。他们大概从来没有审视过自己的灵魂，更加没有直面自己的勇气。只要一个人还处在这样的阶段，那他就还没有摸到修行的边儿。

灵山居士写于2024年12月8日，首发于2024年12月11日。

[romancemedia]

Wow it's kinda amazing on the parallels episode 4's ending and episode 5's beginning of My Happy Marriage.

At the end of episode 4, Kaya is excited about her new kimonos.

By the start of episode 5, Miyo recieves a pleasant surprise when Kiyoka gives her several brand new high quality kimonos that he secretly commissioned during their first date.

It's funny how at the end and start of those 2 episodes, both the Saimori daughters get new kimonos, but with an obvious difference between them.

Kaya being the typical spoiled rich girl is used to getting new kimonos all the time as shown in the first episode when her father spoils her and again in episode 4, she comes home with new clothes that Kouji carries.

However, Kaya would just be used to her spoil treatment, happily flaunting her wealth and beauty, but wouldn't treasure them and would through them out as soon as they get a little worn out or are no longer in style.

Miyo on the other hand, greatly values and treasures the new clothes and accessories given to her by Kiyoka, expressing how truly grateful she is to receive them since up until then, she only had a few old worn out kimonos that she continued to repair her clothes time and again. Miyo would make do with what she had and would never ask for anything, since her wants and needs were always disregarded by the Saimori family.

Miyo was so touched by Kiyoka's generosity that she even tried to refuse them! Again showing the great difference between Miyo and Kaya.

Kaya loves getting spoiled and wouldn't waste a second trying to get whatever she wanted, while Miyo is always grateful for her gifts and would NEVER take them for granted.