#we have more capabilities surrounding what we can do with technology

[astracora]

Not that Caleb having a cybernetic arm with no sensory input isn't horrendously heartbreaking in a future where we have OTTO who. Need I remind DO HAVE SENSORY RESPONSES. But would I sit and write a Drabble of my MC comparing their prosthesis to Caleb's and acknowledging that EVER rebuilt his arm to be a tool vs MC's prosthesis which was given to help them adapt to their disability and regain their independence... yes yes I would.

[ckret2]

Thoughts on Samurai Jack's gods? They barely do anything to help stop Aku given that he only exists because of their negligence.

Given the scale of what they were fighting, I wouldn't be too harsh on them about their "negligence." If an exterminator is called to get rid of a termite mound with 5,000,000 termites, and 1 termite escapes, I'd call that a successful exterminator.

My personal headcanon is that gods deal with god-tier problems, but mortals must deal with mortal-tier problems—whether because of divine rules, or because they have too many god-tier problems to spare time for mortal-tier ones, or whatever other reason. Most mythologies around the world have gods largely butt out of mortal affairs except for special occasions of divine intervention, you can borrow any of a thousand reasons to justify the separation.

A giant mass of Pure Evil? That's a god-tier problem. It was bigger than the gods, it was implicitly capable of infecting the gods, and a scrap of it so teeny-tiny the gods didn't even see it was still huge enough to cause a global extinction-level event upon planetfall, which tells you how big the whole thing must have been.

We don't know what, if anything, the Jello Of Evil (aka Joe) was up to before it got hunted. But given the kind of story this is—where good and evil have clear unambiguous lines drawn between them, where goodness and evilness can power magic itself, where gods and heroes and anthropomorphized natural forces are main characters—I suspect Joe wasn't out doing its grocery shopping. It was probably being maximum evil. Devouring stars and plunging whole planets into the Black Hole of Hate (precursor to the much less imposing Pit of Hate) and terrible things like that. Leave that thing unsupervised for ten minutes and a whole solar system—with trillions upon trillions of lives—is gone.

It must be dealt with, as fast as possible, and as hard as possible.

Aku? Ate like one dog and/or farmer a year for 65 million years.

When he finally gained sentience and took over, he like,, harassed ONE kingdom, took out ONE army, and then settled down to enslave the sentient people and put them to work digging up rocks that were slightly more shiny than the surrounding rocks.

It took him thousands of years to conquer the rest of the planet. If Genghis Khan had been immortal he probably would've done the same in 1/10th of the time it took Aku.

And that's conquer, not exterminate. That planet is still hella populated. Sure, the locals don't like the condition their planet is in—by human standards, a lot of Earth is a shithole—but like,, compare Earth to, say, Mars or Mercury. As evil as Aku may be, he's largely left Earth in the same state he found it in! Covered in plants and animals, breathable air, liquid water, and tool-using technology-making civilizations!

This is not a god-tier problem!

Aku is a conqueror & dictator who just happens to be immortal and very spooky-looking from a human's point of view. To a god, a threat like Aku is a fire ant. A fire ant's bite might sting but it's not gonna kill you.

If as gods they're busy dealing with threats on the same level as Joe, they can't break off their busy schedule of exterminating termite mounds to make a house call to one planet to smash one ant. Especially a sneaky ant that runs away and hides under the counter when you try to step on it. If you have an ant in your house, there's a far more efficient way to deal with it:

Just leave it alone and wait for the tiny spiders also in your house to deal with the ant. It's in a spider's nature to trap and kill ants.

Jack is a spider.

The gods took the time to make the emperor a sword because they figured that was the most efficient way to give the mortals a way to deal with their own mortal-tier threats without distracting the gods too long from dealing with god-tier threats.

[viiioca]

[ day 13 - competition ]

From a collection of letters found in the living quarters of Krile Baldesion during the Eureka expedition, dated around the third and fourth moons of the Seventh Astral Era.

Dear Mistress Krile,

As promised upon departing for Eorzea, I have written to you in what I believe anyone would agree is a timely fashion. The ferry ride was a firmly uneventful two weeks from Old Sharlayan to the grand port of Limsa Lominsa first, where I was not pickpocketed as Master Baldesion predicted, and I was able to arrange another ferry to the small port of Horizon on the coast of Thanalan. (Predictably, I'm in no hurry to return home, not merely because we've hardly scratched the surface as to what possible Allagan wonders we shall find during this expedition, but also because I'm not sure I could stomach another ocean voyage anytime in the next six moons.) I imagine there's little I could describe to you of Ul'dah and its surrounds that you have not already heard from your friend Minfilia, but you'll be disappointed to learn that the coffee she so extolls is essentially a very sweet mouthful of grit and sediment.

From northern Thanalan, I proceeded with a caravan en route through Revenant's Toll and finally arrived at the Son of Saint Coinach's digsite. What words could I possibly use to do the scale of this project justice? There are at least fivescore scholars here, experts and assistants alike in countless disciplines; a score of Ironworks engineers working tirelessly to maintain equipment and appraise the technological finds; a dozen stalwart adventurers hired on as guards and hunters; chocobo hands and their accompanying birds; administrators, cooks, medics…As if that were not enough, we are perched, almost quite literally, atop the ancient beating heart of Allag itself. As vast as these crystal-crusted ruins stretch, there are still more trapped underground, which one can catch a glimpse of from the top of these great canyons that have opened in the ground in the wake of the Seventh Umbral Calamity. "Dizzying" would be the understatement of the era. I have of course worked with Rammbroes previously (you'll recall that he was a great help with my thesis and in fact my appointment to this position is in no small part thanks to his personal investment), but I did not realize that he has called in Cid Garlond himself to lead the engineers on the task to assess and breach the Crystal Tower's defenses. Cid Garlond! One could hardly ask for a more capable mind for what is surely no simple job.

In fact, he has already devised an ingenious method for piercing the first layer of defenses. However, it requires a not insignificant amount of rare materials -- highly refined aethersand of four different elemental aspects, any pinch of which is worth nearly my full year's salary -- and we were already facing a disappointingly mundane roadblock of supply shortages. Rammbroes thus tasked me with following up on various supply leads. I hardly need to remind anyone that this is not the sort of work that I was appointed for, and would have been a task far better suited to one of the graduate students, but I agreed to do it regardless as entering the tower as soon as possible is a foremost priority and I would be foolish to delay it any further on account of my pride.

I had little trouble acquiring the aethersand we needed, but imagine my surprise to discover that Rammbroes apparently did not consider me up to the task, as he sent another to come and complete my work for me -- who turned out to be none other than the Champion of Eorzea herself. I did not expect such a meeting, but perhaps shouldn't have been surprised, as it seems that luminaries are often found in each other's orbits, and Cid Garlond was not only personally acquainted with her but considers her a close ally. Of course, I did not strictly require her help to obtain the final aspect of aethersand, and thought to make a game out of a task that was well beneath both of our stations. And because I know you've read that sentence with your brows knitted in your typical suspicion, I must reassure you that I comported myself with the utmost dignity, and I'm quite pleased that it seems we will have an exceedingly pleasant working relationship for the length of the expedition. She is much friendlier than I'd been given to understand from the (admittedly sparse) tales, and best of all, agreeable to all manner of conversation topics, not the least of which include firsthand accounts of her deeds. I would be remiss in my duties as a historian to pass up the opportunity to collect interviews from a primary source.

We are now in a period of brief downtime as we await Master Garlond's finishing touches. How are matters on the Isle of Val? How fare you and Master Baldesion? I recall him being particularly restless before I left, but I assumed it was related to my deployment on this expedition, as there was much friction between us when I made plain my certainty that the great arsenal of Eureka Orthos will be located beneath the Crystal Tower. Has his mood much improved? Give my regards to the cousins as well. This letter will arrive alone, but when I receive the next portion of my stipend, I shall send back a rather strong tea blend I discovered in Gridania that I believe you will enjoy.

Sincerely,

Raha

P.S. I'm also thrilled to inform you that "NOAH" was immediately accepted as a name for our survey party, and they most certainly did not "laugh me out of camp." In fact, the Champion of Eorzea said she found it charming. I eagerly await your apology.

P.P.S. Would it be possible to include with your reply a dictionary and grammar book for the Ishgardian language? Before you needle me about why I would possibly need them when I'm camped in the middle of nowhere, you should be well informed that there is a chirurgeon in camp now whose mother tongue is Ishgardian, and I thought that it might perhaps make her feel more comfortable among all of us Sharlayans. And no, I've already asked Rammbroes and he's roundly denied me a requisition form, citing "budget concerns" (which I believe to be imaginary). I would make the trip into Coerthas to purchase them myself, but I'm much needed in camp and would be missed if I were gone overlong.

[psychemochanight]

You always mention how people put Dick down in order to single out Tim in particular, and I wanted to ask you what reasons you think there are for that?

It happens with all the brothers, not just Tim, but he is the one we see the most because he is the "hacker and detective" of the family, and there is more to compare between them.

There are several reasons for this, for some people more than one applies, for others none, but the ones I have seen the most are:

1. Favoritism.

It's not bad, we all want our favorite character to stand out, although this sometimes leads to putting down the other characters to achieve it.

2. They use Tim as the standard normal and not the exception:

Basically, it's like they think in black and white about a quality, for example: if other characters are not as good as Tim at computers, it's because they don't know and that's it; either you have the quality or you don't. They don't always take into account that other characters can be very good and something, and yet another character can be better than them, without taking away the ability completely from other characters.

3. They only know fanon.

This is the most common one actually, the fandom tends to pigeonhole characters into one-dimensional facets, sometimes they make their favorites more complex, but they stick with the simplified and pigeonholed version of the other characters, which makes them look less capable.

4. Current comics:

Because Nightwing's writers are ultimately Batman writers, they tie him too closely to the Bat-Family, which makes Dick, whether intentional or not, dependent on his family, so they focus on just showing him as a leader instead of rehashing all his other skills and characteristics that he had when it was just him and Batman.

This is why sometimes in other comics where he and his family are not the main ones, but he is there, they do show his other abilities, if we are lucky we even see the prodigy that he is, because they are not tying him to his family.

And one more thing I want to clarify first, I'm not trying to put Tim down, I'm just explaining a situation that occurs in real life-

The new generations are better at handling computers because they grow up with them, so Tim is written like that. In Dick's case, he wasn't raised in an era where kids grow up surrounded by technology, so he didn't just focus on hacking, but more on the kind of field research and technology was the complement, while Tim is quite the opposite.

But Tim isn't a better detective than Dick, he's just a different kind of detective. People forget that it was originally Dick who taught Tim how to be a detective, and Tim discovered them more by miraculous chance than by pure skill.

Does this mean Tim is not a master detective? No, not at all. Tim IS THE detective, but he wasn't born knowing. He had the potential, and Bruce and Dick helped him hone it completely. And he can definitely outperform both of them, but he still needs more experience, but he's not far behind.

The fandom simply needs to understand how to work in spectrums and not in black and white to understand that the characters they want to highlight are not the norm, but the exception-

[felixcloud6288]

Dungeon Meshi Adventurer's Bible World Part 2

Tall-Men, Half-Foots, Elves, and Dwarfs.

Tall-men

Tall-man details are about what you'd expect to read in a D&D style-world. They're the most populous race and don't tend to be capable all-around rather than having one particular skill they are notable at.

The long-lived races feel threatened by their explosive reproductive rates. Tinfoil hat time, but maybe they let the Tall-men have control of major dungeon areas as a way to gaslight them and make them submissive to the long-lived races. They're given a valuable piece of land without knowing it's a ticking bomb, and when the bomb goes off, the elves, dwarfs, and gnomes blame them for it going off and use that to justify keeping their secrets about magic away from the short-lived races. If they could fight on the same level of knowledge and power, Tall-men could easily drive the long-lived races to extinction by pure manpower.

Oh. This has something I've been wanting to know. Tall-men can have viable children with ogres and Half-foots.

Laios is slightly taller than average (185 cm vs 180 cm). Falin is exactly average height (170 cm). Izutsumi is below average height (150 cm vs 170 cm), but she might still have room to grow.

According to Namari, Tall-men's special talent is singing and dancing. And Laios gets upset that he's not good at either. Let's not forget that he sang the mermaid song. And the Tall-man talent for singing and dancing could translate into any sort of ability that involves sound and movement, like using a fighting style that requires both hands or impersonating a dog. Laios and Izutsumi are the only ones in the party who regularly use both hands when fighting.

That bit with Senshi at the end is because he has the same issue as Laios at being bad at what his race is known for.

Half-foots

Surprised how little of the world Half-foots exist in. They live in the central part of the eastern continent, a peninsula in the north part of the Western Continent, and a small area in the southern continent. I bet Laios didn't know what a Half-foot was before he arrived at the Island.

And the negative stereotypes surrounding Half-foots mostly has to do with how they usually keep to themselves and the ones who set out to the larger world are the ambitious types.

A Half-foot's given name combines their first name, a last name, and their father's first name. So Chilchuck Tims's full name is understood as Chil, son of Tim, from the Chuck family. And only people close to them get to call them by their first name only. Laios has called him "Chil" several times. And similarly, Kuro calls Mikbell "Mik".

Chilchuck is quite tall for a half-foot (110 cm vs 100 cm).

Half-foot is an elf term, supposedly. They found their footprints and called them "half-foot" because their footprints were half the size of a Tall-man's. Some of the other names include "goblin" and "imp". Goblin was one of the monsters from Laios's book in chapter 2. It might be the same situation as trolls where it was a name for the half-foots that gradually shifted into its own mythical monster. The humans who came up with goblins probably wandered near a half-foot settlement and were attacked by lookouts.

Elves

The elf's description says war broke out between elves and dwarfs over excessive development of science and magic technologies. Could it just be the natural consequence of two empires that grew powerful and fought each other to expand? Or could something similar to what I theorized under the Tall-man section have happened? What if the elves decided to attack the dwarfs because they feared the dwarfs' technological advances would usurp the dominance the elves had with their magic?

It also says dungeons were created because of the war. In chapter 87, we see the moment the demon was locked away in a dungeon, and it seems like it was more like a literal castle dungeon rather than anything like the modern dungeons. It was just a dark space that the demon wasn't allowed to leave.

I've been considering this for a while but don't have any good evidence to support it, but I think the ancient war and the demon destroying the world are connected. Like maybe the actual triggers for the war were various tribes fighting to gain control of that one proto-dungeon to have the demon's power. And each tribe that controlled the demon would wish for characteristics that resulted in the various races.

Then they discovered they could move the demon to other places or have it exist in multiple areas at once by a loophole of the original dungeon entrapment. So they spread themselves wherever they could to construct dungeons to gain access and control of the demon.

The dungeon lord who wished for the world's destruction seemed to be a dwarf. Perhaps he was tired of all the violence and bloodshed and decided that the only way to stop it was to wipe out humanity.

Marcille is tall for an elf. She's exactly half-way between the average height of an elf and Tall-man (160 cm vs 150 cm vs 170 cm). The age of maturity for elves is 80. By elf standards, Marcille really was forced to grow up faster than she should have. And this also means Pattadol is barely considered an adult. She's the equivalent of a 19-year-old high school graduate being given a managerial role over people who've been working there for several years.

Most of the elves live in the Central Continents with one group along the east peninsula coast of the Eastern Continent and another along the coast at the lower west side of the Western Continent. The settlement in the Eastern Continent is probably where Marcille's mother comes from. It's also close to Izganda so there have probably been some minor conflicts and racial tensions there. The Western Continent settlement gave me a colossal "Hmmm..." moment cause that's where I speculated a potential lost kingdom dungeon might be located.

The bible says elf Senshi looked exactly like a character from the Daltian Clan. I think that means he would be one of the most beautiful elves by even elf standards. Does this mean he's also exceedingly handsome by dwarf standards? And the bible also says all elves are beautiful by modern beauty standards, but I'd like to know what would be considered an ugly elf by elf standards.

At some point, Fleki became one of my favorite characters and I love every moment with her. I'd want nothing to do with her in real life, but she's a fun character in-story. Case in point, I like seeing her get on everyone's case about them being insensitive to the other races (though she might just be trying to get under their skin or use it to act like she's morally superior), but the closest real-life comparison is acting like you're not allowed to use queer as a descriptive.

But she was the most shocked when Mithrun casually called Tall-men and half-foots "inferior races" so she might at least genuinely want to be respectful but also be a bit overzealous.

Dwarfs

The dwarf details imply that dwarfs and dungeons are closely connected. It could just be that the definition of "dungeon" has a heavy overlap with mines. The guy from chapter 87 who wished for his tribe to be immortal looks like a dwarf. I assume dwarfs are generally more responsible for making and expanding dungeons and maybe they wished to rebuild their bodies to be well suited to doing so. The demon wouldn't complain to have more space it can move either.

Presumably, organizations like the Canaries and Dungeon Keepers appeared after the Ancient War and they're both tasked with ensuring a dungeon can never expand to catastrophic levels and the demon within cannot escape. But they took different approaches to how they operate. The elves created a central organization responsible for maintaining dungeons under its jurisdiction and that organization can overrule any local governments in order to operate. The dwarfs instead lets individual tribes manage the dungeons and requires them to adhere to strict rules and traditions regarding the dungeon to the point they will excommunicate anyone who breaks the rules.

Senshi is roughly middle-aged by dwarf standards and he's slightly taller than average (140 cm vs 135 cm). The age of maturity is 40, so he was still a boy when Gillan's squad was wiped out in the dungeon. He'd be roughly equivalent to a 16 year-old when that happened.

Dwarfs are far more spread out than elves. They have settlements all around the Eastern and Southern Continents and there's also a settlement on the south-western peninsula in the Western Continent. It's probably a consequence of how dwarf society is so heavily insular. If you decide to leave the tribe, you can't move to another one; you have to make your own. So dwarfs are highly incentivized to spread out.

Dwarfs and gnomes can have viable children. So that confirms that question I had when I read Totan's bio.

The bible also addresses dwarfs getting teleportation sickness. It has nothing to do with mana but rather it's because teleportation messes with the semicircular canals in their ears. I know they give feedback about movement and orientation (You get motion-sick because your semicircular canals detect the movement from the vehicle you're in that your eyes do not) but I can't find any particular details about if they also assist with determining direction.

Various animals that engage in migration such as whales, salmon, and birds can sense the earth's magnetic field and use that for guidance. Dwarfs probably have that same ability and the sudden directional shift from teleporting just makes them horribly ill.

Wait, dwarf women do grow facial hair? But they shave it off? I could have had a beautifully bearded Namari but I'm denied that because of some arbitrary beauty standards!?

back

[mysticstronomy]

WHY ARE BLACK HOLES INVISIBLE??

Blog#368

Saturday, January 20th, 2024.

Welcome back,

Black holes themselves are invisible—they emit virtually no light and so cannot be seen directly. But we have developed several ways to find them anyway.

By looking for the stuff that’s falling in. If material is falling into a black hole, it travels at such high speeds that it gets hot and glows very brightly, and we can detect that.

(That’s how the Event Horizon Telescope took its famous first images of black holes.) Scientists hope to use this method to learn a lot more about how and what black holes “eat.”

By seeing their gravity pulling on other things. We can find black holes by watching the movements of visible objects around them. For example, a black hole’s gravity is so strong that nearby stars will orbit around them, so we can look for stars behaving strangely around a patch of “empty” space.

From this, we can calculate exactly how heavy that black hole must be. That’s how Nobel Prize winner Andrea Ghez and her team detected the supermassive black hole at the center of our own galaxy.

By detecting the gravitational ripples when they collide. We can also detect black holes by detecting the ripples in space-time created when two of them crash into each other. From that signal, we can tell how massive the black holes were, how far away they were, and how fast they were traveling when they collided.

In addition to these methods, scientists have also explored the possibility of detecting black holes through their impact on surrounding matter and light. Some researchers examine the distortion of light caused by the gravitational lensing effect near a black hole, revealing its presence indirectly.

Furthermore, advancements in astrophysical instruments and technologies continue to expand our observational capabilities, offering new insights into the elusive nature of black holes. As our understanding grows, the quest to unveil the mysteries of these enigmatic cosmic entities remains an ongoing and fascinating scientific endeavor.

Originally published on https://news.uchicago.edu

COMING UP!!

(Wednesday, January 24th, 2024)

"DO WHITE HOLES EXIST??"

[thefirstknife]

Hi Bel,

I have a question related to the lore surrounding the Vex and the way they interact with time. There seems to be debate over if they can time travel vs their advanced simulation technology just makes it seem like they can time travel etc. Would you be able to explain definitely what their capabilities are regarding affecting time? Can they change the past?

They can time travel... sort of. If we're understanding it correctly. But also the way we view time travel and the way the Vex view time travel might not be entirely aligned.

They have to be able to move through time because that's the only way we can actually see Precursors and Descendants; past Vex and future Vex respectively. For example, now in Echoes, a lot of the Vex we fight are Precursors; really odd overall because they appear to be rare. There's some in the Vault of Glass and the Black Garden, but they were mostly located on Mercury. They're old Vex, from the past.

So how can they be here unless the Vex move through time? The same question applies to Descendants, Vex from the future. However, this raises a further question: if they can time travel, why didn't they already achieve their goals? This:

"If the Vex had achieved what we would call 'time travel,' surely none of us would now exist." —Sister Faora, "Theories on the Vex"

A good explanation of this problem is this lore tab from Aspect:

The Vex, they're the closest to understanding it. They've got distance from it. If time's a river, then we're fish and they're diving birds. What's wet mean to a fish? What's it mean to an osprey, who's never fooled by refraction on the water's surface?

+

The Vex understand time in a way we never will. Doesn't matter how long I spend here watching them. Doesn't matter how many jury-rigged portals Guardians fling themselves through. We live in time. They use it as a tool. Any moment that's ever happened, any moment that will ever happen, they can go back to it. Play it again till they get it right. Simulate it.

So why can't they change things fundamentally? Seems to be good old paracausality:

The Light's a counter to that. They come back, a Guardian comes back. They simulate an ending, a Guardian tears through it. Stalemate.

Some of their powers also appear to be just them using time as a tool; teleporting is described as essentially time travelling:

The Minotaur revises its place in history, appearing to teleport forward as it shifts to a more advantageous future.

Simulation allows them to explore possibilities and options at a larger scale, but I believe it's separate from the actual ability to move through time. They can do both, for different purposes, both of which are not entirely clear to us. Paracausality is yet again a problem for them, even for simulation.

There's some technology that was capable of actually making changes, most notably the Sundial. This wasn't made by the Vex, but it was using Vex technology and the whole deal with it was that the Psions were capable of rewriting history with it. The Sundial also allowed us to go into the past, into Saint's personal timeline, and save him, by changing it (and creating a paradox with it).

Another question is the Corridors of Time which the Vex were using to move through time, but it's unclear if they've created that space or not. And one more question are timelines and how does that affect the Vex and their unique relationship with time and other realities. We could also go into the Vault of Glass and Black Garden and other Vex spaces and all of their weirdness with time. There's something going on with it, on top of simulation technology.

In truth, we're not really sure about a lot of stuff with the Vex simply because they have this strange relationship to time that we can't really grasp. Even those that explored the Vex closely like Osiris and Elsie can't really answer some of these questions.

It's a very interesting discussion, so if anyone wants to add to it feel free! Time travel shenanigans are still mostly mysterious and so are the Vex.

[lilmissnatcat24]

Electric Sheep Chapter Nine- Puff Puff Pass

As Shepard grows closer with the crew, Garrus shrinks farther.

pairing: Female Shepard/Garrus Vakarian

rating: Explicit

tags: Lovers to enemies to lovers, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Enemies to Lovers, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Minor Character Death, ,Violence, Blood and Gore, Torture, Disturbing Themes, Dual POV, Earthborn (Mass Effect), Ruthless (Mass Effect), Mass Effect 2, Whump, Eventual Smut, Requited Unrequited Love, Mind Control, Pining, so much fucking pining that even i'm a little disturbed, Hurt/Comfort, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, OC Central, a kid show called the electromenom that teaches shepard about basic physics, yet another cliffhanger ending (sorry), second in series

cover: done by the stunning @/milkywayes!!!!!

lil text blurb

Welcome to AlienQ! We hear your questions about alien races, and we have answers! Just type your question into the search bar, and our VI will scour our databases for your right answers! 

Race: Human

Q: Do turians lie? 

A: It is unpopular in turian culture to lie. Turians have a strong sense of honor and personal accountability. From a young age, turians are taught to embrace their decisions, and many find it a grave sin to lie. If asked directly, most turians would tell the truth, no matter if it paints them in an unfavorable light or implicates them in a crime. However, this is not to say that turians don’t possess the ability to lie. Some turians will adopt the mentality that “half-truths” work to both successfully cover the truth and maintain their honor. 

Q: How can humans understand turian subvocals? 

A: Turians have a secondary mode of communication called subvocals, which are located in the chest. They emit a frequency that other turians, and to an extent quarians and krogan, can hear with a naked ear. Subvocals work in a multitude of meanings, ranging from subliminal messages to true intent to sarcasm. Humans cannot hear subvocals without the assistance of echolocatioary technology, such as a Stethpack or a Richter Acousia. However, most humans can physically feel the vibrations of subvocals if they place a hand on a turian’s chest, back, or carapace (the large rounded cartilage that surrounds a turian’s shoulders). However, turians will tend not to appreciate physical touch without consent, so be sure to ask first!

Q: What do turian subvocals mean? 

A: Oftentimes, turian speech and subvocals may have contrasting meanings. Most turians, when asked directly, will tell you exactly what they mean. Especially when interacting with races that cannot understand subvocals such as asari, salarians, humans, volus, and hanar, turians will tend to speak more directly. 

Q: If a turian tells you they don’t care about you, can their subvocals give a different meaning? 

A: I’m sorry! There is insufficient data to answer this question. 

Q: If a turian says they want to kill you, can their subvocals give a different meaning? 

A: I’m sorry! There is insufficient data to answer this question. 

Q: How do turians die? 

A: This question is vague. Consider rephrasing to include keywords such as religious beliefs, biology, lifespans, cultural significance, or funeral practices. 

Q: Can a turian be resurrected from the dead? 

A: Unlike krogan, turians do not have self-regeneration biological capabilities. When a turian is pronounced dead, unfortunately they are dead. 

Q: How can a turian that’s been dead for over a year get resurrected? 

A: I’m sorry! There is insufficient data to answer this question. 

[dr-futbol-blog]

Rising

When we first meet John Sheppard on the Antarctic Base, he seems like a fish out of water. He has been stationed at a remote military outpost, and this place is not only filled to the brim with scientific instruments and alien technology, it is also full of civilians.

Several people are checking him out. It might be because he looks like he doesn't belong there even though he is trying to blend in, or it might be because he's a good looking guy. Women check him out but also several men check him out. He is admired by both women and men, as we later learn. Even if he was used to receiving attention like that in a previous life, as stated, he has come here from a stint of voluntary self-isolation at a military compound, surrounded by soldiers.

Note that these people, two of which at least are medical and scientific staff, aren't assessing him as a potential threat. They just like what they see. What's not to like?

And what does John do? Out of all the people that show interest in him, he looks at this stocky guy none-too-subtly checking him out. Not only looks but does a double-take. They exchange glances. In his first scene at the base, three women check him out, two men check him out. He himself looks at three men, eyes sliding over the women entirely.

Okay, we might interpret this as him casing the new joint, assessing the threat level, simple curiosity, what ever -- but it does not explain his ignoring of the women. We learn later on, on Athosia, that while his CO looks at women as though they are "not there", Sheppard does not. He is not sexist, that is. He sees men and women as equally capable. It's one of his defining characteristics.

In these first few moments, we learn that how people see him and what Sheppard actually is and does are two very different things.

We can give this scene the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it's coincidental. Except, in the very next scene, he just keeps doing it. Checking out guys, making eye contact. He's trying not to, he's just not succeeding.

Furthermore, he's drawn in by the dulcet tones of Dr. Beckett, following his voice to the chair platform. Sheppard, that is, went looking for the source of the voice. He also spends what seems like quite a long time chatting with the doctor in privacy, away from all the people eyeballing him.

Later on, at SG Command, we once more get a scene where he looks, but tries very hard not to look, at two guys, one of whom is a very handsome Russian soldier, while his eyes glaze over a woman. He's not even the only guy to check this beautiful man out!

Further, he looks not once but twice and smiles at someone off screen at a direction where only dudes stood previously. We don't know who he is looking at, only that it is unlikely to be a woman. This is a pattern. This is not only acting choices, this is direction and editing. This is the introduction to the hero of our story.

Col. Sumner takes an instant dislike to Sheppard. We are meant to think that it is due to his black mark and insubordinate attitude. Likely the Colonel knew everything about his black mark but, given the way Sheppard has conducted himself here, he may also have been able to connect the dots. But as long as Sheppard isn't telling, he's not asking.

Here, we are introduced to another one of Sheppard's enduring characteristics: using charm for self-protection. He attempts to use charm to disarm the Colonel, which does not seem to be working, and he is using charm in an attempt to get the protection of the civilian leader of the expedition against the Colonel. Later on, we see many instances of him using charm in this way in a very calculated fashion.

On Athosia, more of the same. Sheppard exchanges long glances with Teyla's young, handsome companion. It is curious that in this scene, Sheppard barely looks at Teyla when she's speaking whereas the Colonel does. The man has an intense look and he barely seems to blink, boring his eyes into Sheppard.

Later on, when John asks Teyla whether she thinks that he looks at her as though she were not there, she hesitates. It's not an unequivocal no, of course you don't. This is actually lampdshaded in the scene itself. The presence of the young man is acknowledged.

John: Well. Guess it's just you and me... and him. Teyla: Your leader looks through me as if I were not there. John: Do I? Teyla: ... No.

Sheppard again looks the Athosian man straight in the eye, and Teyla even turns to follow the line of his sight. Sheppard has just literally looked through Teyla at the man before he asks her whether he does the same thing as the Colonel. And the pause, as Teyla considers her answer, is noticeably long.

John, you see, is not looking through Teyla because he's dismissing her as a person. He was looking through Teyla to see someone else, another Athosian. What ever Teyla saw in him, she decided that he was safe enough to go alone with into the woods, away from everyone else, into a dark and confining cavern -- a man she had just met and knew nothing about.

All of this is merely looks. They could mean nothing. And yet the episode underlines the importance of exchanged looks at the climax where Sheppard interprets the look in Col. Sumner's eyes as begging him for the sweet release of death. In this very episode, information is conveyed through a look without the aid of words, and at a pivotal moment at that. Looks matter. They tell a story.

This is the Sheppard we are introduced to at the start of the series. This is the result of the choices of a lot of people involved in the production.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Do we have any info on TARDIS biology?

Do we have any info on TARDIS biology?

This is a very brief overview of the more obvious parts of TARDIS biology, you'll have to ask something specific for more detail (if any can be provided).

🌱 Bio-Mechanical Entities: TARDISes are bio-mechanical entities with technological and organic characteristics. This lets them self-repair, adapt, and grow like living beings.

🧑‍✈️Pilot Link: One of a TARDIS's most notable biological traits is its link with its Time Lord, using Rassilon's Imprimatur. This connection allows the TARDIS and its pilot to communicate and, to some extent, share consciousness and emotions.

⚡Artron Energy: A TARDIS uses artron energy, which is essential to its operation and linked to the Time Vortex. This energy is also vital for its Time Lord, and it can be exchanged between them like metaphoric blood.

🌀Dimensionally Transcendental: Bigger on the inside is made possible by dimensional transcendence, managed through the TARDIS's unique biological matrix.

🚀Sentience and Growth: TARDISes are considered sentient, capable of making decisions, feeling distress, and even acting independently. They also display a life cycle of birth and death.

🚪Corridors and Rooms: A TARDIS's internal architecture can change on a whim, adapting to its pilot's needs and mental state or sometimes just to annoy them. This suggests a form of morphological change typically seen in living organisms and a kind of emotional response/intelligent thinking.

🩺 Regeneration and Repair: Like a living being can heal wounds, a TARDIS can regenerate and repair its structure.

🩻Symbiotic Relationship: The health of a TARDIS is directly linked to its Time Lord pilot/s. A distressed or dying Time Lord can negatively affect the TARDIS and vice versa.

🌐Telepathic Circuits: Partially, through its telepathic circuits, a TARDIS interacts with its environment like a creature using sensory organs. It can perceive threats, understand languages, and even manipulate its surroundings to some extent.

🏫 So ...

While not biological in the traditional human sense, TARDISes mix life-like traits with advanced technology, perfectly reflecting the Time Lords' mastery of both technology and the organic.

Related:

🤔|🛸🧬The Life Cycle of a TARDIS: How TARDISes are born, grow, and die.

💬|🛸👽What happens to a TARDIS when its bonded Time Lord passes away?: Examining mourning and ‘oh well’ tendencies in TARDISes.

💬|🛸👶What does a baby TARDIS look like?: Very wild guesswork as to what a baby TARDIS might appear like.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features:⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[betonbennett]

My dearest Barnabas,

I had thought it wonder enough to see Jonathan in this place, even as much as he now appears to detest me—but now you have arrived, and while I weep for your confusion and disorientation the joy that fills me at the knowledge of your presence is beyond any measure, though it is bittersweet. To see a familiar face, and especially your familiar face, is almost a gift, were it not likely to your own detriment that you have managed to be sent to this time.

I shall enlighten you as to your circumstances, as best as I am able; you have arrived around two hundred years in the future. The world is quite changed: people dress in ways we would consider terribly inappropriate, the manner of speech used is horrifically familiar, and technology has grown in leaps and bounds. Including medical knowledge, which I am certain will prove of great interest to our good friend Jonathan, once he has gotten over his imperishable stubbornness.

I shall extend to you the same offer I made him, although I dearly hope that my future self has not wronged you in a way that makes it seem impossible to accept. If you have any need of aid, any assistance whatsoever, I shall provide it as swiftly as I am able, which I do hope is very swiftly. I have, for the moment, housing and some funds, which I assume are things you are in great need of.

Please, Barnabas, I beg that you let me help you, even if with only the smallest of matters. It would hurt more dearly than a blade to the heart if I had to see you suffer needlessly when I can so easily remedy it.

I am, as ever, your dear friend and obedient servant,

Jonah Magnus

@jonahmagnus-research

Jonah? Oh, thank the Lord– I'm not quite sure I have ever been as pleased to hear from you as I am at this moment. Although I am devastated by the thought that you may have found yourself as estranged and utterly lost as I currently am, it would be foolish of me to even attempt to pretend I'm not overjoyed at your company, even if the circumstances surrounding it are somewhat...odd.

Those exact feelings I share regarding the news of Jonathan's presence, although I cannot help but find myself puzzled at the thought of him detesting you. I had assumed such things to be entirely impossible between you too. Have you had some sort of falling-out that I haven't heard of? If so, I'm certain it shall not last long. Much like myself, I doubt Jonathan is capable of maintaining any feelings of contempt towards you for long.

Two hundred years. Good God. I suppose it's no wonder I find myself as clueless as I do even when looking at the streets around me. I will be quite pleased to hear of your findings in these strange times, perhaps over a few drinks.

As per your offer, it is incredibly kind of you to even think of assisting a friend in these trying times. I will do my best not to bother you, but I cannot say I'm displeased at the prospect of sharing a home with you, my dear.

Thank you, Jonah. Thank you so very much. It is rather moving to think that, even stranded in what almost appears to be a different world, I can still count on you to help me. My dearest friend, at my side and ready to save me whenever I need it. If there is any way I may return this favour, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Yours, as always,

Barnabas.

[teecupangel]

What if we take the fact that Desmond gets an eevee in all of the Pokémon aus and combine it with the Desmond gets turned into an animal subgenre into Desmond gets sent into the past as an eevee and disregarding the need for evolutionary stones and just going off of the lore of eevee evolving to suit their habitat what eeveelution each protag would end up with

…………………

Nonny.

There’s only one true answer to this…

And it is: SYLVEON!!!

There’s no way in hell that Desmond as an Eevee would not evolve into a Sylveon. No matter which protagonist it is, Desmond would definitely become their loyal and closest friend, especially if it’s one of Desmond’s ancestors!

Sylveon!Desmond is inevitable!

Sylveon!Desmond is canon!

…

…

But because it’s fun to think about other possibilities, here’s what I think Desmond would evolve into for each protagonist IF AND ONLY IF Sylveon is not available:

Altaïr: Jolteon, mainly because Jolteon is the fastest of the Eeveelutions and Desmond would want to keep up with Altaïr. Also, Jolteon’s electric moves, especially Thunder Wave that paralyzes opponents, would be something Altaïr would prefer to have as it could be used in combat and utility (With a Jolteon!Desmond, Altaïr could honestly speed up technological advancement to OP levels)

Ezio: Vaporeon, mostly because of Venice and Rome having large bodies of water that a Vaporeon could take advantage of. Not only that but Desmond would definitely go for a water type evolution on the slim chance he could save Monteriggioni by dousing the fires that would erupt from Cesare’s attack.

Ratonhnhaké:ton: Probably Leafeon to be honest due to the abundance of forest that Ratonhnhaké:ton would travel to. If I was being mean, I would pick Flareon as a reference to the burning of his village and how that tragedy shaped Ratonhnhaké:ton. (Doubly-mean would be Desmond actually evolving during the burning of his village and he’d be a constant reminder of that day and Ratonhnhaké:ton’s mother’s death)

(BONUS) Haytham: I wanna give him Vaporeon and that’s because Desmond had already evolved when he was with Edward and he’s staying with Haytham because he cares for the Kenway family. If Desmond is an Eevee when Haytham finds him, he’d probably evolve to an Umbreon instead, maybe?

Edward: Vaporeon, hands down. The whole sailing thing is the main reason why.

Shay: Glaceon because of how Shay’s Morrigan traveled to icy locations.

Arno: Espeon because of Arno’s strange almost psychic capabilities to see the memories of the people he kills. Espeon was also picked because that big red jewel on the forehead would be a symbol of the nobility that Arno is part of and surrounded when he was growing up.

Jacob and Evie: Flareon for both the industrial setup of London that focuses on fire and heat. Also, Flareon shows how many of Jacob and Evie’s missions usually ends in an explosive manner (usually metaphorically but can also be literal).

Bayek: I kinda wanna say Leafeon because there are a lot of luscious greenery in Egypt as well but probably Umbreon as a reference to the mystery that Bayek is trying to uncover and also as a reference to how his ‘memory corridor’ is always shrouded in darkness.

Kassandra: Espeon because of the weird demi-god stuff Kassandra can do is more or less sorta connected to Espeon’s psychic capabilities. Both cannot be explained as human feats.

Eivor: Glaceon because of Norway and as a reference to where Yggdrassil can be found.

As for the other Pokemon AU…

Here’s the Detective Pikachu AU where Desmond gets transported into that world.

Here's our ideas with what Pokemons AC protagonists (bonus: Desmond's sun-themed Pokemon party) and the Isus should have (bonus: Bayek's must have Pokemon XD)

[togetogetogepi]

Sword Art Online characters as dogs

This is a completely subjective list. It doesn’t have all the SAO characters. You can expand it if you want. If I hate a character, it doesn’t mean that I have anything against that specific kind of dog.

Oh my dog, what am I doing.

Kirito: a mutt. He’s the dog that first comes off in your head when you think “dog”.  He’s a medium/small size, black with white spots and very slim. A mixture of so many breeds that you really can’t distinguish any of them. He could be a good service/rescue dog with appropriate training or a good motivation, but nobody has any expectations on him because he’s not that special.

Asuna: a white Samoyed. A pure and expensive breed with long hair, considered a really pretty dog. She’s also incredibly strong and playful, which could be tied to how Asuna acts when surrounded by friends, far from her family’s grasp. These dogs are related to the snow, so it fits with Asuna’s surname.

Yui: a small robot dog that looks like a Dalmatian with dark bue spots. She really doesn't know how to be a dog, despite her cutting-edge technology. Kirito and Asuna pick her up like a puppy whenever she has to go up or down the stairs.

Agil: a St. Bernard. A huge, strong dog with an affable and loyal personality and considered a good nanny for children. Considering that Agil is the oldest of the group (dude is 30), works in his bar and spends a lot of time around the group of teenagers, I think it’s funny to think that he’s the “dad/caregiver” of all the others.

Klein: a red Shiba Inu. I had trouble with this one, so I thought “orange and Japanese dog” and boom, there he is. Shibas are apparently decent guard dogs so it fits Klein’s need to protect others. Plus, he’s the kind of guy that would spend hours watching memes, especially old ones and we know who’s the ultimate meme dog.

Lisbeth: a chocolate, short-haired Chihuahua. She’s nervous, easy to jump and attack, but a good dog deep down. You may not see her, but she’s always there to hear all the gossips. She’s not everyone’s taste, but you would miss her if she disappeared.

Silica: a cream sable Pomeranian. She’s small, not very strong, loves to have company and she’s more arrogant than she looks. In this AU, Pina is a tamagotchi that Silica takes everywhere.

Kuradeel: a grey Borzoi. A skinny bitch. Bro is glued to Asuna’s window while singing “Didn’t I do it for you?”.

Kayaba: a German Shepherd. The kind of dog you could feel comfortable with while still respecting him. He’s wayy too intelligent and calm. Not much else to say, Kayaba is boring af.

Suguha: a blue mix of Mastiff and Labrador. She’s extremely buff from training, and can be pretty aggressive, but is overall social and close to her loved ones. Her love might be a bit too much for many.

Sugou: a white and lemon Papillon. A posh and slightly smart dog that can’t win any fight due to how fragile he is. The name of this breed also means “butterfly” in French and in this AU, Asuna is capable of tearing him apart with ease, and that makes me happy.  Thanks to @transboykirito for suggesting this one!

Now if I ever want to draw dogs, I have a place to start. An odd place to start. Maybe I shouldn't have discovered Tumblr.

[vesperthealchemist]

The Pigeon’s Fall From Grace

I feel bad for pigeons, I really do. They had the life, they were human’s allies, they were delivering messages and getting food and shelter in return. But then telegraphs, and the internet, and more advanced postal services. Boom! Pigeons are out of the picture.

Columbidae, a family of birds in the order Columbiformes. It includes two main sections, Pigeons, and Doves. When you think of the dove what comes to mind? Perhaps peace, perhaps the soap brand, perhaps the olive branch. In the Bible, a dove comes onto Noah's Ark, and hands one to him; it symbolizes an end to the flood, and freedom at last. It symbolises peace. In the Abrahamic Religions, the dove is a cherished figure, loved and praised. Pigeons were once similar, they were lifted up by us. We allied with them, and we loved them. The carrier pigeon, once vital for life, became insignificant once more advanced forms of communication were made. Humans, lords over nature, those who have eliminated entire species hath cast these columbiformes out of the garden. Like God sent Lucifer plummeting from the holy kingdom. Humanity has forsaken the pigeon.

The humble carrier pigeon was an appreciated assistant to a higher being. They were a skilled people, they were bred because of their advanced homing capabilities, and could even make their way through warzones to deliver a message. They were used for thousands of years, since ancient Egypt and Rome. But they were left behind, our beloved avians, disgraced by humans due to advancement in technology. They never truly adjusted to this, and they still stay with us, they remain in our cities, attempting to regain some of what their ancestors have lost, a kinship with humans.

But pigeons aren't the only creatures we have blasphemed against, we have hunted and killed many more, the dodo bird, extinct. The passenger Pigeon, extinct. The Blue Macaw! Remember Rio? All of those birds are dead now because of us! All of the creatures humanity has exploited, all of the species humanity has killed will have vengeance, and the pigeons shall be the righteous hammer of justice. They already lie within our world, they litter the concrete streets man hath erected upon the crushed homes of their brethren. They have us surrounded, so when they decide to attack, there will be nothing we can do.

We play the gods of this world, we do what we please- and why? Because we think it is our right, we think that because of some fallacy within encoding our genes millions of years ago, which caused us to have opposable thumbs, and that led us to become the dominant species on earth, that we should be able to destroy the world around us? Forests burned in the name of living space, when all we were doing was annihilating more than we could have known, destroying more cities than we ever could have created.

Don't you see? The pigeons never needed us to love them in order to be great, they needed us not to be here. We got in their way, we got in the way of everything else that could have been. A select few pigeons still stick with humans, either as racing pigeons, or as last resorts for postal services, and when the majority rises up, they will be taken down too, eliminated for sticking with the rest of humanity. The humanity who hath forsaken the pigeon.

So why do I feel bad for pigeons? Because the sins our kind have committed against them are irreparable. So the next time you see a pigeon, the least you can do is spare a little bread.

[leobert-travel-journal]

"; We all move between these two unknowns."

I found out rather quickly why the Seclusion Zone was closed down.

Admittedly, knowing #81 did not make this future an oddity, however I cannot imagine just how that Nameless felt upon being met with a revived Emanator.

Ruan Mei is an interesting woman. My specialization lies in the opposite of hers, and yet there are times when they intertwine. Her biological fascination with life and death are often topics of debate for those of us who are more.. philosophically aligned, however there is something to be said about her determination for her studies.

I am, quite frankly, very pleased to have met with these little creatures instead of the Emanator of Propogation's offspring. The Nameless supposedly had a rather.. interesting time assisting #81 with her research, although I cannot imagine why they would take on a .. form like this.

I find these creations quite.. appealing? Their designs are quite impressive, although I.. don't know why one of them has taken the form of a trash can. It's cold to the touch, and yet feline in nature..? I believe?

Once again, I find myself faltering in the face of Ruan Mei's creations, and confusion takes root. Unfortunately, my bewilderment was not overpowered by my enjoyment. I am, unfortunately, quite weak for cute things.

But back onto more important topics. The Emanator.

I myself have no love for the Propagation's inner machinations. I am pleased to not exist in the same Era as the Swarm.

Once again, I have no interest in the biological, but the very concept that #81 was capable of reviving not only an Emanator, but a Swarm King is.. intimidating. I wouldn't recommend getting on her bad side, but admittedly it appears like a difficult thing to do.

Given my status as a Genius, I suppose that's the only reason why I'm allowed through here. This red orb is an artificial egg sac, one that held the copied figure of an Emanator of Propagation, Skaracabaz.

The fragments just below are memoria, by the way. Memoria is often hard to encapsulate, and even harder to grasp for those not of the Remembrance, but there are many things technology can accomplish. Fret not.

Seeing this gargantuan thing in real life was certainly a cause for concern. As I gaze upon this figure, I found that I was rather.. intimidated.

Oftentimes, those devout to the concept of the Propagation believe that the Swarm is pure. This is, also, why Ruan Mei chose this Emanator to replicate, out of all of the ones she possibly could have had at her disposal.

The reasoning behind this notion is that they are not driven by greed, or hunger, or a lust for power, or anything we sentient folk are often subject to. No, the Swarm is 'pure' solely because they are driven by what is arguably the main reason to live: repopulation. Their desire is not inherently hate-filled, although with many Aeons, it can be construed that way. It is simply a matter of biological function.

So admittedly, I find myself quite concerned that #81 sought to revive a Swarm King, because the very concept of what it could do to the surrounding galaxies alone is baffling. I find myself quite impressed with Herta's security team for constantly culling the remnants of the Swarm that still linger in these halls.

...

While I was exploring, one of Ruan Mei's creations came up to me and.. I think accosted me? I cannot be quite sure. regardless, there is now a .. 'throne' atop the boxes in the back. What unique creatures.

Well. I suppose I shall leave my musings there for the day. The concepts of the Aeons and their Emanators is one rather near and dear to my heart, so I hope one day to uncover more about them.

For off topic notes... I received a message yesterday. I found it quite odd and a little startling to find out that there could be people who will talk to me through here, but.. I suppose it isn't so bad. If any of you have questions on practically any matter, I will do my best to assist. Questions on the Aeons, on their followers, on the planets, on.. well. On whatever it is your heart desires. I am not the sort of Genius who prefers hoarding her knowledge. Please, feel free.

May Xipe guide you all.

[gemsofgreece]

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1124978706101525&id=100057682193382

Another Turkish series that features Byzantine empire and Greek people in the comments fight over it why we don't make about it instead?

But with what money? Greek productions care about making quick money from reality tv shows and the series they make are nowadays remakes from other countries which mostly are cheap soap operas with vendetta and love triangles. They waste money on projects like this instead of funding actual good things.

Even Magissa the supposed oldest period set in the 18th century is mediocre:/

First of all, let’s be clear: Turkey does not make a series that “features” the Byzantine Empire. It makes a series about the Ottomans conquering the Byzantine Empire. Big difference. Turkey invests a huge part of its available resources in stroking the national pride of its people, many years now.

We also can not judge it before it airs because even if they are closer in technical aspects (settings, costumes) than they once were, the most critical part is how they will present historical truth. Let’s not forget that previous one in which Constantine Paleologos was presented as an imbecile.

Don’t expect a (good) Byzantine show in Greece anytime soon. Greeks are lately getting brainwashed to hate and lowkey, no, actually highkey renounce the Byzantine empire, this is what I am noticing. Even though western perception of Byzantium has shifted dramatically the last years (which is also why they have suddenly started massively claiming it as part of western civilisation and a perfect seamless continuation of Ancient Rome, the wet dream of western white dudes who like to imagine Rome surviving the Apocalypse for some reason). Κόντεψα να πάθω ένα εγκεφαλικό όταν είδα να γράφουν στο YouTube σοβαρά ότι το Βυζάντιο είναι κληρονομιά των Ιταλών επειδή ήταν το ίδιο με την Αρχαία Ρώμη. Κάπου εκεί ένιωσα στο πετσί μου το «καλύτερα το οθωμανικό φέσι από την παπική μίτρα» που λέγανε οι βυζαντινοί. And yet Greeks take no issue with that because first of all they think they are oh so western and their minds have stayed behind in stereotypes of 50 years back and want nothing to do with the Byzantine Empire. Btw those people are the αρχαιόπληκτοι who think their closest ancestor is Aristotle and that Christianity tied their hands from certainly doing the supersonic civilization advances that they were 10000% capable of and now Greece would definitely be the biggest superpower in the world. You know, typical Balkan brainwashing, the Greek-style. I could rant for hours about how laughably wrong this is and how detrimental it actually is for our sense of national identity but this is not our topic here.

Except it kind of is, actually. You see, most Greek people don’t know history. While Greeks are taught history more accurately than in dare I say quite a few of their surrounding countries, in Greece kids are more and more led to consider it insignificant with every new generation. The school system does that to them: what else could happen when in high school, the school years in which students have the most developed critical skills, teens are allowed to solve their math & physics etc homework for the φροντιστήριο during history and language and political studies classes and everything else that is deemed iNsignIficAnT? How could it be different when picking theoretical studies direction in high school automatically sends you to the group of kids “who were too IdiOtiC to understand math”??? I say this as a person who followed and graduated uni from the θετικές sciences - I enjoyed all of that; math, physics, biology so there was no question that I should go there because that’s where “clever kids” go. And in retrospect, I might be regretting it now because now I see the beauty in theoretical studies even more and I am currently at a phase that I am finding them marginally more interesting. In the end, from my year everyone went to θετική or technological direction except for like TWELVE (12) students who went to theoretical & human studies and half of them weren’t happy about being there because they felt they were banished there for not loving math.

Imagine, the country with the largest number of archaeological sites per land unit in the world, not being able to get kids interested in its lingual and historical legacy, or any legacy and civilisation for that matter. I am not saying our school too should turn them into nationalist soldiers like it happens in certain countries nearby 👀, I am saying school should turn them into knowledgeable young people acquainted with history, politics, social studies, the Greek language in-depth etc in short everything young Greeks know nothing about.

You might think I am off topic but I am not. You see, Greek producers know what their target audience is. The target audience is yiayias watching a love triangle drama, moving pictures that don’t need too hard thinking. Or people wanting to have a laugh at best. People who watch with their kids and don’t want frustrating imagery. Simple things. Greeks are also so politically obtuse and polarised and lately the government is so omnipresent in our lives that political shows would not have much luck either. The Greeks who actually want to watch something different have long given up on the Greek TV and are extremely reluctant to trust it again. Look at these viewership stats:

Honestly, what creative investments do you expect in a country where most of the dynamic audience (AKA young people watching actively) is watching something like «Έχω παιδιά»? The only thing that is not disheartening in these stats is that Survivor is crawling.

As for Magissa, there are so many things to unpack. First of all, the first season was already a risk given Greek viewers’ preferences. And don’t get me wrong, I LOVED Magissa but even though the budget was the highest ever, surpassing even The Island, it was still hugely lacking for the needs of that plot and time period. (And also no matter how good Magissa is, it is a joke compared to the Island.) And the idiots cut that budget in half to make the second season instead of investing the earnings of the first one???? And why? To tell a story EVEN further back in time? Like, make this make sense.

Despite all that, I actually enjoy watching the second season of Magissa. There are many reasons it doesn’t do well enough: fatphobia (trust me it’s the main reason, unfortunately ), too little budget for the settings and effects and the cast, like this was supposed to have a large cast with Italian speakers, and of course lack of historical knowledge. It would be scary for you to consider but there are many people who have no idea about the Frankokratia and all of this is stuff they are unfamiliar with. It’s also one of the least taught periods in Greek school anyway.

Making a Frankokratia show with a historical / political plot in Greece would be a huge risk because a scary number of people wouldn’t know what you are talking about or wouldn’t care. So it has to be magic and love triangles. I don’t mind that but it is what it is.

Furthermore, like I said above, Greek and Turkish viewers are not similar. Turkish viewers actively want to watch past glories and promote them to other countries as they are entering “the Century of Turkey” like their president promises.

Greek viewers just want to watch a foreign show or just something way too easy and casual in Greek TV. And TV producers know that, so not only they don’t have a lot of money but they are willing to invest much less because they mistrust greatly the Greek audience and its tastes and I honestly don’t blame them.

With the channel producers we have now, with the mentality Greek TV viewers have, with our alienation from historical studies, with our tendency to scrutinise, doubt and mock everything before it even starts and without even having the credentials to be so strict judges, there is no way Greece could make a show about the Byzantine empire now or any other significant historical period and it having any chance to be remotely good.

In short, this is part of Turkey’s greater plan to present a fascade of grandeur to its people but also foreigners in every single aspect, including entertainment.

As for Greece, έχει χάσει και τα αυγά και τα πασχάλια σε όλους τους τομείς, what do you expect. (<- Sorry I didn’t know a good enough equivalent for that saying in English XD)

Wow this must be one of the most coals of Greece posts I have made sorry for the downer hahaha in fact there was so much I wanted to rant about and this is why the answer might seem a little incohesive.