#working for myth ent

[astronicht]

Okay I'm almost done with Fellowship, here's an incomplete list of shit I noticed and thought was buck fucking wild on my first ever read-thru: medieval edition.

In literally the second line of the book, Tolkien implies that Bilbo Baggins wrote a story which was preserved alongside the in-universe version of the Mabinogion (aka the best-known collection of Welsh myths; I promise this is batshit). This is because The Hobbit has been preserved, in Tolkien's AU version of our world, in a "selection of the Red Book of Westmarch" (Prologue, Concerning Hobbits). If you're a medievalist and you see something called "The Red Book of" or "The Black Book of" etc it's a Thing. In this case, a cheeky reference to the Red Book of Hergest (Llyfr Coch Hergest). There are a few Red Books, but only Hergest has stories).

not a medieval thing but i did not expect one common theory among hobbits for the death of Frodo's parents to be A RUMORED MURDER-SUICIDE.

At the beginning of the book a few hobbits report seeing a moving elm tree up on the moors, heading west (thru or past the Shire). I mentioned this in another post, but another rule: if you see an elm tree, that's a Girl Tree. In Norse creation myth, the first people were carved from driftwood by the gods. Their names were Askr (Ash, as in the tree), the first man, and Embla (debated, but likely elm tree), the first woman. A lot of ppl have I think guessed that that was an ent-wife, but like. Literally that was a GIRL. TREE.

Medieval thing: I used to read the runes on the covers of The Hobbit and LOTR for fun when I worked in a bookshop. There's a mix of Old Norse (viking) and Old English runes in use, but all the ones I've noticed so far are real and readable if you know runes.

Tom Bombadil makes perfect sense if you once spent months of your life researching the early medieval art of galdor, which was the use of poems or songs to do a form of word-magic, often incorporating gibberish. If you think maybe Tolkien did not base the entirety of Fellowship so far around learning and using galdor and thus the power of words and stories, that is fine I cannot force you. He did personally translate "galdor" in Beowulf as "spell" (spell, amusingly, used to mean "story"). And also he named an elf Galdor. Like he very much did name an elf Galdor.

Tom Bombadil in fact does galdor from the moment we meet him. He arrives and fights the evil galdor (song) of the willow tree ("old gray willow-man, he's a mighty singer"), which is singing the hobbits to sleep and possibly eating them, with a galdor (song) of his own. Then he wanders off still singing, incorporating gibberish. I think it was at this point that I started clawing my face.

THEN Tom Bombadil makes perfect sense if you've read the description of the scop's songs in Beowulf (Beowulf again, but hey, Tolkien did famously a. translate it b. write a fanfiction about it called Sellic Spell where he gave Beowulf an arguably homoerotic Best Friend). The scop (pronounched shop) is a poet who sings about deeds on earth, but also by profession must know how to sing the song or tell the story of how the cosmos itself came to be. The wise-singer who knows the deep lore of the early universe is a standard trope in Old English literature, not just Beowulf! Anyway Tom Bombadil takes everyone home and tells them THE ENTIRE STORY OF ALL THE AGES OF THE EARTH BACKWARDS UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE MOMENT OF CREATION, THE BIG BANG ITSELF and then Frodo Baggins falls asleep.

Tom Bombadil knows about plate tectonics

This is sort of a lie, Tom Bombadil describes the oceans of old being in a different place, which works as a standard visual of Old English creation, which being Christian followed vaguely Genesis lines, and vaguely Christian Genesis involves a lot of water. TOLKIEN knew about plate tectonics though.

Actually I just checked whether Tolkien knew about plate tectonics because I know the advent of plate tectonics theory took forever bc people HATED it and Alfred Wegener suffered for like 50 years. So! actually while Tolkien was writing LOTR, the scientific community was literally still not sure plate tectonics existed. Tom Bombadil knew tho.

Remember that next time you (a geologist) are forced to look at the Middle Earth map.

I'm not even done with Tom Bombadil but I'm stopping here tonight. Plate tectonics got me. There's a great early (but almost high!) medieval treatise on cosmology and also volcanoes and i wonder if tolkien read it. oh my god. i'm going to bed.

edit: part II

[radiokathryn-if]

DEMO ☯︎ FAQ ☮︎ DIRECTORY ♪

Nate Nicks has disappeared.

Why should you care? Do you?

You probably should, considering he's the face and host of your extremely popular radio show and you've just landed one of the biggest contracts of your careers.

You are a sound tech engineer and a damn good one at that, while Nate was the face you were the sound, usually your work is strictly behind the scenes, except for the odd occasion when you were needed on air. So when Nate goes missing and you're tasked with filling in his shoes you're practically thrown in at the deep end.

It only gets worse after a missing persons case becomes a murder case and the cast and crew of Radio Kathryn and FloNote Ent become the suspect pool...

RADIO KATHRYN is rated 18+ for explicit language, explicit sexual scenes and references, themes of death and blood, use of alcohol and drugs, physical abuse and violence. please check trigger warnings.

The setting of the 70s is purely for aesthetic and technology. Don't expect era—accurate racism or homophobia as it won't be included in this IF.

FEATURES ☯︎ [ Trigger Warnings ]

fully customise your MC! name, gender&pronouns (M/F/NB), appearance, personality

decide your on air persona──can you hack it in the limelight or will you crack under the pressure?

build your relations──do you get along with your fellow teammates? how about your fanbase? or your company?

+your radio teams backstory──how the four of you (Nate, José, Mica and yourself) got along, created the pirated radio show, how you got signed into legality, how everything went to shit... or not?

romance someone (or not)──featuring eight solo routes and two poly routes OR just enjoy the mystery and figure out a murder!

chose paths that affect the game──your choices matter, and the ending you may or may not get is dependent on them.

decide which kathryn is your mother──and your relationship with her. (Catherine, Kate, Cathy, Katherine or Rynnie)

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN ☮︎ [ RO Intros ]

The Man, The Myth, The Legend. [???]

“Nate Nicks” Nathan Nicholson──he/him. 28. Radio Kathryn's host and front man, adored by thousands. Complete arsehole but somehow it makes him endearing to others. Cocky son of a bitch that let fame get to his head... or is he? Nevertheless, he's missing now and you may have something to do with it.

think a mix between gauge burek and chris veres in druck (2019)

The Benefactor.

“Mr Robinson” Lionel Robinson──he/him. 42. The man who funded your radio show, the one who got you to where you are. Kind, calm and considerate, especially with Nate. But every one has a line to cross at some point and Mr Robinson is not someone to get angry.

think chad michael murray in sullivan's crossing (2023)

The Fiancé. [RO]

“Eva Vidal” Evangeline Vidal──she/her. 25. The woman who's been there from the beginning, your first listener, your first fan. You used to be closer but Nate sunk his teeth in her and pulled her away. You watched her steadily lose her glow and for someone engaged she seems quite jaded at the news of her missing fiancé.

think penélope cruz in vanilla sky (2001) or vicky christina barcelona (2008)

The Best Friend. [RO]

“Mica Hollens” Michael/a Hollens──he/him, she/her. your age (24─28). Your voice of reason in the chaos of life and Radio Kathryn's manager. Your support system and rock, even if they are a bit quick to jump the bullet in your honour. Mica has strong opinions and Nate has never been in their good books, but surely they wouldn't do anything to jeopardise your job.

think tanaya beatty in through black spruce (2018) or alex meraz in mine games (2012)

The Detective. [RO]

“Detective Han” Han Jimin──he/him or she/her. 30. The detective assigned to Nate's missing persons case. They are meticulous and goal oriented and their current goal is figuring you and your work family out. The more you resist the more they're intrigued and the more you help the more you unravel them.

think lee soohyuk in tomorrow (2022) or lee siyoung in sweet home (2020)

The Rival DJ. [RO]

“José Danger” Jose/phine Jeager──she/her or they/them. 26. Nate calls them the traitor─the defector. They used to be part of your team, a co-host with Nate in your beginning days. The two of them worked like magic until Nate was in demand more and José was kicked to the curb. You wonder if the festering grudge they left with is still there... and if it still extends to you.

think zazie beetz in deadpool 2 (2018) or wounds (2019)

The "Hater". [RO]

“Ji Han” Han Ji Young──he/him. 24. The younger brother of Detective Han. Ji Han is not a fan of Nathaniel Nicholson but he is a fan of the songs he plays─or rather the ones you play when he's absent. He's taken the utmost interest in his siblings case, suspiciously enough to become entangled in it more than anticipated.

think a mix of choi san (2022-23) and lee dohyun in 18 again (2020) or the glory (2022)

The "Fan". [RO]

“Fauve” Faye─Mauve Langham──she/her. 25. Fauve is a bit of a groupie, she can admit. She's not totally obsessed with Radio Kathryn, she reasons, she's just invested in the show and even more so in the people behind it. Fauve become more involved in the case of Nate Nicks than she's wanted, leaving you to wonder just what it is that keeps her going─even to the edge of insanity.

think a mix of imogen poots in need for speed (2014) and hayden panettiere in nashville (2012-18)

The Family Man. [RO]

“Mr Lewis” Jackson Lewis──he/him. 33. The night shift receptionist-slash-building coordinator. He usually brings his daughter to sit in on show recordings, seeing as she's got a bit of a crush on Nate─he's a no-bullshit kind of man but his soft spot is his daughter's puppy dog eyes. He just so happens to be the last person to see Nate before he disappeared and you can't help but get the feeling he's not being truthful in his statement about it.

think brian tyree henry in eternals (2021) or atlanta (2016-22)

The Question Mark. [???]

"Who?" ??? ???──unknown.

it'll be revealed later!

©️ bonnie berry 2023────@moretinyideas

──the polymances are between eva and ??? (eva???) as well as fauve and ji han (fauhan)!

──this is totally inspired by episode 2.8 of sister boniface "dead air" but other than the idea of a radio show called Radio Catherine there are no other similarities!

[mask131]

If Middle-earth is Earth in the past, is there any possibility for the magic to return? The magical creatures are probably all dead, but I assume the more spiritual beings like the Maiar and the Valar should still be around, right?

Asked this to a couple of friends that are Tolkien fans and they couldn't answer me.

Now I am NOT at all a Tolkien expert. I will try my best to answer you but I can't recommend you enough to go check actual lore-wise people for Tolkien... I know there are a handful of Youtube channels dedicated to explaining little tidbits of lore and answering specific questions about Tolkien's works. "In Deep Geek" or "Nerd of the Rings" are good starting places for casual Youtube videos about Tolkien lore, to listen in some spare time or just as background.

Now it depends what you mean by "magic" but, taking into account the whole "Middle-Earth is just prehistoric Earth/England's mythology" angle, in this sense, yes you are right about the point.

Most of the fabulous and fantastical creatures of legends and myth are dead or gone, and it is the whole point of Tolkien's work. The Lord of the Ring is literaly the tale of how an entire Age ended. It is something that begins quite early in The Hobbit, with the death of what was the last great dragon, but one doesn't get the full scope until we reach The Lord of the Rings, and by the end of it we are hit with everything. The Elves are fading away, the Wizards have all broken off in various ways, Sauron and his underlings are no more, the rings of power have no power anymore, the Ents are doomed to extinction, even some of the last descendants of the eldritch horrors like the Balrog or Shelob are dead. The great wonders of Middle-Earth are gone, beautiful or horrible, and it is sad and an end - but also a new beginning for a new age. And in this sense, yes, magic is technically gone or going away by the end of the Lord of the Rings.

But, as you pointed out, it doesn't mean "magic" is still disappeared forever, because in the Tolkien universe, magic IS the world. As you said, indeed, the Valar/Maiar are still around, and will always be there until the end of time. They are just out of reach and out of sight: this is one of the big themes of the Silmarillion, since it is the book where we go from "The gods walk the same earth we walk today" to "The gods are nowhere to be seen and work in mysterious ways". The whole point is that the Valar slowly retracted themselves from the universe, isolating themselves in the West, acting less and less in mortals affairs, imposing indirect means of interacting with fate and events rather than direct action... And it is part of the entire aesthetic of Tolkien's Legendarium: the regression of magic is constant, and while the world described in The Lord of the Rings seems like the "magical world" we today lost, when one reads the Silmarillion you realize LotR's Middle-Earth was actually a pretty drab and mundane world compared to the earlier Ages of the World. It is just that the very passing of Ages means that less and less magic and wonders happen - it is the Tolkien's way.

But they are not gone. There is still of this "magic" left around, it is just out of reach, hard to spot, not usually seen - and you have to know what you are looking for. Just like the Valar, who will always be there, but mortals cannot reach them, nobody remembers them, and they don't interact with us anymore. I think it was in The Hobbit that Tolkien literaly began by saying that some Hobbits still lived around England, though they hide away from humans and thus one would need tough chance to ever find them. It was just a "child's story" narrative device, but it still set the tone for the idea that there are remnants of LotR's Middle-Earth in our day and age (well more like in the 19th/early 20th century England), the same way Middle-Earth had by the time of LotR remnants of the first ages of the world (Shelob reminding of the distant threat of Ungoliant, or Galadriel's vial containing a last piece of primordial light).

Plus, you have to remember Tom Bombadil. The guy is definitively still around. And that's his role. When did he get there, we will never know, because he was never born - but he was there at some point, and he was there long before everybody else, and he will be there long after everybody else, and he'll still be around probably until the end of the world. As I said in my previous post, many people dismiss Tom Bombadil in LotR because yes, he provides nothing to the plot - but they miss his importance, that he is here as a symbolic and almost metaphysical character, as a tool not just to worldbuild but also to show the whole idea of this world. Yes the elves and dwarves and orcs are gone, and there are no more great wizards or terrible dark lords... but there will always be somewhere this weird singing guy who is definitively not human and nobody knows where he comes from, with his nature-spirit of a wife, and his grumpy murderous neighbor Old Willow. And I think it is quite important to understand Tolkien's whole approach to the "fading of magic". Tolkien's world is one of constant "degradation" (to the point he even stopped writing his story about a Fourth Age because he realized it would be much too bleak and dark even for him), but it is also one that is tied to his production for children and an interest in fairytale and children stories, and as such it also teaches to go search the real magic today not in immense dragons, or powerful elf-queens, or cursed antique jewels, but rather in a few Hobbits living their life hidden in some shire, or in an excentric Tom Bombadil deep within beautiful old woods.

[floofyfungi]

HEYYY I JUST REREAD THE SERIES FOR LIKE. THE 10TH TIME [save me i'm obsessed] and i've just gotta say i LOVE the worldbuilding you do for your series.. it gets me so invested I LOVE ITTT OUGHHGHGH IM A MIRACLE LOVER which gives me the question are dragons in this world strictly cybertronian? and what other mythical creatures are there this shit is so Cool bro

Thanks Em! I have no self control. I have a literal word document that's just filled with lore. Most of it won't ever make it into the actual story. But I find it useful to have to maintain internal consistency. World building is one of my favourite parts of writing, glad you enjoy it <3

All dragons in the Miracle AU are Cybertronian. There are no organic dragons. As for other Mythical creatures, you have the Mermaids, Centaurs, Trolls, Giants, and Harpies. There are also extinct races like the Ents and Griffins.

I'm going to tell you a bit about these races as I have no self control and you've gotten the writing juices flowing XD

Mermaids are sometimes spotted off the south western shores of the Earth continent. The nations of these regions knew them to be very real, and many snow elf kingdoms established trade routes and military alliances with them. Mermaids make excellent pirates. However, this changed when the Decepticons began their invasion of the Southern Realms. This was known as the Scorching, and it all but drove the snow elves to extinction. The mermaids retreated from the shallow waters of the coastline. They are rarely seen today. Some sailors say they have a great city deep in the ocean depths, where they remain hidden from the Decepticons.

Trolls are a well-known race, and are often seen working alongside orcs and goblins. Aside from the mythical Giants, Trolls are physically the strongest of the organic races. Their large and imposing physique leans them towards bodyguard positions. But this is no hard rule. However, their strength comes at a cost. Besides humans, Trolls are the least magical of the organic races.

Centaurs are also well known. Their birth lands are a great plateau north of the Sun mountains, though still within the Middle Realms. Today one can find centaurs all over Earth, though they are not as common as humans, elves, dwarves, or orcs. Centaurs are the fastest non-flying organics. They are invaluable as calvary units.

The harpies are a rarer race. Their homelands in the Ruby mountains were destroyed during the Scorching. However, their wings allowed a large portion of the population to escape north. Today most Harpies can be found in large nomadic flocks, looking for a new home. No nation has allowed the flock to stay in their lands for long. They are viewed as a drain on resources. Some have even tried to attack the flocks, though they quickly regretted this aggression. Even weakened, the harpies are no pushovers. Today the largest of the flocks roams somewhere north west of the Sun mountains.

The Giants are myth and legend to the Middle and Southern Realms. But in the Northern Realms, they are very real. The ruling power of the north, the Federation, was specifically formed to fight back giant invasions. Giants are the most northern of the organic races. Their homelands are amongst the frozen wastes at the tail end of the Spine mountain range, just south of the polar ice cap. An aggressive race, not much is known about them besides their battle tactics and near other worldly strength. Even a vehicon would struggle to take down a giant one on one. Attempts to learn more about this race are usually met with failure. Between the frigid temperatures and the giants' nasty habit of eating people, northern explorers rarely return.

The Ents are often documented in literature and old oral legends, but little remains of them today. They were slow to reproduce and slower to grow, ancient wars with the wood elves took their toll and ent populations dwindled. Today they are believed extinct. Though rumours of ent sightings persist in the thick Cloud rainforest of the Middle Realms. Though these sightings are only the words of far flung travelers, and can be safely ignored.

The Griffins were never a common race. Even when the world was young. They lived on a scattered archipelago to the west of the Earth continent. Griffin rock is one of these islands. Centuries ago, an unknown calamity struck the Griffins. Their homes were left empty and untouched. No signs of a struggle were ever found. Other races moved to claim the empty islands, for example the Dwarven kingdom of the Jade mountains. Today, no one has seen a Griffin in centuries. Only the elves remember what they looked like.

This is a short introduction to the less common races of Earth. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs outnumber each one by a significant margin. The history between these peoples are vast, full of war, trade, alliances, kindness, and staggering cruelty. Many fall into the stereotypes of their kind, and many do not. Each race is a note, and only together can one hear the song of Earth.

And every last one will fall silent, if the Decepticons are not stopped.

[weerd1]

ENT Rewatch Starlog, 25 February, 2024: Episode 3.15 “Harbinger”

Trip is taking what he’s learned from T’Pol’s neuropressure sessions and having his OWN sessions with Corporal Cole of the MACOs. She expresses interest in taking it further, but has also gone to Phlox to mention she’s been having headaches afterward. Phlox informs T’Pol and suggests she try to undo Trip’s missteps with the Corporal. T’Pol gives her very unhappy stoic face.

Meanwhile, Major Hayes of the MACOs has approached Archer about providing combat training to senior Starfleet officers, which Malcolm takes to be an attempt on Hayes’ part to take over ship security. He grudgingly goes along with it, but the sessions prove to be escalating one-upmanship between the Starfleet Lieutenant and the MACO Major. 

While all THAT interpersonal drama is going on, Enterprise discovers an enormous cluster of spatial anomalies equidistant between five spheres.

They pick up a life sign in a small pod just inside the anomaly, and with some dangerous moves manage to retrieve an unknown alien. He claims to have been a prisoner from a different dimension of space who was forced into the pod. Archer begins to think some of those myths about the Sphere Builders returning D’Jamat and his people from “Chosen Realm” discussed might be somewhat true, and this alien may be like a canary in a coal mine to see of the spheres are changing local space to be what those builders need. 

After various shenanigans and awkward discussions between T’Pol, Trip, and Cole, Trip and T’Pol are conducting a neuropressure session where she reveals that Sim—the Trip clone from a few episodes back—told T’Pol that Tucker has feelings for her. After some repartee, T’Pol kisses Trip, and disrobes, and the two have sex.

Meanwhile, Hayes and Reed are in the gym sparing and the testosterone takes over, and it becomes a brawl that spills into the corridor. About that time though, the alien reveals himself able to phase through matter and walks to engineering where he proceeds to reach in and damage the warp core. Fresh from their fight, Malcolm and Hayes manage to tweak the engine to zap him and stop him.

The Alien reveals he was there to stop the NX-01, and when the Xindi destroy Earth, his “people will prevail,” before phasing completely out.

Trip and T’Pol have an awkward coffee together where she says their encounter was basically her just exploring her curiosity about human sexuality, but Trip does think they should continue neuropressure. Archer dresses down Malcolm and Hayes, who seem to have resolved their differences after their own physical session. 

Rare to see a Trek episode that has an A, B, AND C story going on all at once. The parallels between the Trip/T’Pol and Reed/Hayes stories do not however seem coincidental. Yeah, I’m a T&T shipper, though some of T’Pol’s very human jealousy here seems more than a bit forced, I’m not sure the eroticism between those characters was any more dramatic than between Reed and Hayes when they were fighting. Jesus, guys, just kiss already. Archer leaving them in his quarters after his lecture without dismissing them, and neither wanting to leave drives the point that these two are really pretty similar home.

But T&T DOES finally consummate here including a scene that shows about the top third of T’Pol’s bare “bum,” that as I recall was actually edited in some parts of the country; how quaint.  Some of how this all plays out I think does weaken T’Pol’s character a bit, but I guiltily accept it as these two are on my OTP list, so what can I say? 

Meanwhile, there is an age-old Trek foible here that I will never quite understand. What keeps an alien (or flashing back to TNG in the episode “The Next Phase” Geordi and Ro) who is phasing—seemingly uncontrolled as he can’t control his disappearance at the end—from falling through the floor?  Or staying in one point in space while the ship moves around them, since surely gravity and inertia won’t work on them too?  How can he use hands to climb the ladder to get on top of the warp core, but put his hands through the top to reach in a reach havoc? OK- MAYBE in this case he has more control over the process than they indicate so he’s just CHOOSING to have the bottom of his feet only phase for walls and not floors, but…it always makes me shrug. 

Finally, my THANKS to this episode for my all-time favorite Enterprise GIF:

Next Voyage: With the crew sedated, Phlox is home alone in “Doctor’s Orders”!

(Images taken from the main website for @trekcore; I am happy to remove the images if asked.)

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2023-12-04

ah fuck the mondaypost

Listening: I have been going back through some of @kelp-of-discontent's recs that I've saved and not gone back to. Great taste! Here's Pool Kids's Pool Kids

I always love the unmoored feeling good math rock gives you and this really lands that.

Watching: Double Features, 1) Bara no Soretsu/Funeral Parade of Roses because @thosearentcrimes has been trying to get us to watch that forever and we finally just sat down and watched it on yes the extremely funny ultrawide monitor that was being used as my TV.

Bara no Soretsu is very good in that arthouse way where it's very unpolished and has some very out there ideas about what makes a good movie but executes on it earnestly and with a goal. It's a combination of a movie about transgender women in the underground gay men's scene in 60's japan loosely based on the myth of Oedipus and also a documentary following the actors as they make this movie, in a way that makes it kind of hard to tell when something is meant to be the movie and when it's meant to be the documentary.

It's very uh. Challenging? It's honestly less tragic than I was expecting and it's mostly just a fascinating look into this very specific time and place. The interviews are priceless, a trans woman very straight facedly looking into the camera when asked "are you having a good time" and going "no, but I'm going to keep doing it". 10/10

Also Tomb Raider but the 2001 Angelina Jolie one. An impromptu pick for Bad Movie Night because we had an empty house and didn't want to burn a good bad movie. Tomb Raider is most interesting in how it approaches shooting action which is to say that it's mostly not good at it but has brief moments of inspiration. A very generic action adventure story otherwise, featuring young Daniel Craig as a prettyboy graverobber counterpart to Lara Croft. They made Angelina Jolie do an English accent and she just could not do it.

Reading: The other short stories that came along with Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. Tower of Babylon is a fun atmospheric story of the Ancient Sumerians building a tower to breach the vault of heaven. Division by Zero is a very compelling depiction of a mathematician going insane because she has proven arithmetic to be inconsistent, which is notably not accompanied by any material changes in the world around her, which I liked.

Making: Mostly preparatory. I have a few project I've been sketching out, including hacking my own controller onto a WS2812 LED string and automating my radiators. The stepper motors and the string arrived today. Looking into exprTK, an expression evaluation library that should be suitable for my needs, and the ESP32 RMT subsystem which is a cute little mini-DSP and modulator built into the ESP32 ostensibly for IR Remote Control but frequently used now to quickly and efficiently implement all manner of protocols.

Playing: More Dark Souls, although less this week because I've been doing other things. still working around Darkroot Basin but I really haven't been there long. The ents are a real pain in the ass when paired with the knights, not because they're very hard but because you just have to wait for them to jump you.

Tools and Equipment: a new AMD GPU tuning utility for Linux was released a little while ago, LACT, which has a much simpler interface than some of the older tuning utilities. I like it, especially since I was doing some fan noise tuning after I installed the new network card and being able to just hit the fan speed with a slider was convenient.

[winterpinetrees]

Two more chapters of the Silmarillion…

The Beginning of Days

I was expecting some sort of build up or reason for Melkor to be evil, but nope. He’s just a rebellious child/god who wants to destroy everything. Nice.

It’s interesting how there’s a Christian style god and a pantheon in the same setting.

The two lamps exist for two pages. I knew that this was written like a history textbook but that was really fast.

Yavanna is carrying this creation myth on her back right now.

“Iluvatar has not revealed what he purposes for elves after the world’s end, and Melkor has not discovered it” hmm.

Of Aulë and Yavanna

or in other words

Aule: Hey Dad I made dwarves. I'm really sorry and I'll murder them if that makes it better because I am a god with a lowercase g who overreacts to things.

Eru Ilúvatar: No murder! I am a merciful and understanding God who doesn’t like that. I’m putting them in time out for a few eons.

Aule: 👍

Tolkien’s philosophies are so visible in these stories and honestly I like that. They’re clearly his work.

I think Yavanna just invented the Ents. Honestly, good for her.

[lemuelmononobe]

It is said that the Hobbits were discovered near Anduin, the Great River. Little is known about how they came to be, but they are considered an offshoot of Men. How have they changed over time? Ents are known as the Shepherds of Trees, the children of the Green Lady, Yavanna. However, their numbers dwindle, and their other halves, the Entwives, are lost. Where have they gone? Well, dear child, let me tell you the story of how the second children of Yavanna came to be.

Long ago, before the War of the Last Alliance, at the start of the Second Age, near the Great River, there was a barren region without any shade of green, where no plant dared to grow. The Men who lived there were restless, hungry, and devoid of hope, making them fierce, distrustful, and eternally mad. They would fight tooth and nail for a single scrap of rotten morsel. Nothing grew there, and the Men were nothing but mere beasts. Until one day, the Green Lady sent them a blessing. A moving forest crossed the Great River.

The Entwives, unlike their husbands, the Ents, who favored large trees, favored small trees, grasses, fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables. Thus, they were sent by the Queen of the Earth to this desolate land. Here, they were asked to tend and nurture these barren lands into a lush garden where life thrived with a force it had never seen before. Hope began to plant itself in the hearts of the Men who witnessed these living trees transform coarse gravel into fertile soil.

No longer starving and now hopeful, these Men began to revere the Giver of Fruits and her children. Thus began a time of peace where the Men learned the ways of the Entwives. They learned to build structures that allowed nature to thrive. They learned to handle beasts as if they were their own kind. They learned to read the language hidden in the colors of flowers. They learned to change with the seasons like the grass beneath their feet. They learned how to live with the land.

And then the Dark Power came. Fearing the might of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, he ruined the land, burned the garden, slaughtered the Men, and chopped down the Entwives. They had no choice but to flee across the valleys of the Great River. But the Men saw how slow their great allies had become, how withered their branches looked, and how many of them began to close their eyes and never wake. Tired, harmed, and far from their husbands, the Ents, the Entwives slowly began their eternal rest.

Knowing this, the Entwives asked the Queen of the Earth for forgiveness. They would not be able to uphold their promise to her, to protect and nurture her creations, and had failed in their task as the garden she had tasked them with had become the Brown Lands once more. But the Men with them spoke up, praying to the Green Lady that they would uphold the promise in their stead. They would care for the little things that grow so their friends, the Entwives, might rest in peace.

Yavanna, Queen of the Earth, Giver of Fruits, and Queen of the Valar, heard their cries and prayers and was moved by their sincerity. She went on to ask Eru Ilúvatar, The One, The All High, the All-Powerful, and The Father of All, if she could bless these Men with her gift and adopt them as her own. In his wisdom and knowledge, he allowed her to adopt his children as her own. With his blessing, Yavanna gave hers. She gave these Men sharp ears to listen for danger, large feet that let them walk unheard, and diminutive size so they could pass by unseen. She also gave them a love for all things simple and comforting so they would not be blinded as they were before they met their great friends.

With her blessing, they began to scatter across the valleys of the Great River, hiding themselves while tending to their own gardens. Fearful of the Dark Lord but keeping their promise to their sleeping friends and the Green Lady, it was only when the Second Age passed and the Third Age began that the other races noticed them. Many of their generations had already passed, hidden in the valleys of the Great River. The Second Children of Yavanna, the Hobbits, were then known to the rest of Arda.

[jasminewalkerauthor]

Deep dives into folklore: Living trees

I know what you are all thinking, 'trees? Jasmine's finally run out of ideas for deep dives into folklore' and you would be right to think that. However there is a trend that I have noticed through my research of this series is that there is a peculiar trend of trees coming to life through out folklore and literature, often providing knowledge and wisdom to the protagonist.

The concept of sentient trees has a long and intriguing history that spans across diverse cultures and epochs, weaving through the tapestry of mythology and literature. From the ancient beliefs of animism to the modern interpretations in science fiction and fantasy, the idea of trees with thoughts and emotions has evolved in fascinating ways, reflecting humanity's changing relationship with the natural world. So today we will explore the evolution of the concept of sentient trees, tracing its roots in ancient mythologies and following its growth through the annals of literary history.

In many early human societies, animism, the belief that everything in nature possesses a spirit or soul, was a foundational belief system. Trees, as towering and enduring symbols of nature, held a central place in these animistic worldviews. In various mythologies, trees were often imbued with sentience, embodying the wisdom of the natural world. The Norse myth of Yggdrasil, the World Tree, is a prime example. Yggdrasil, an immense ash tree, served as the cosmic axis that connected the nine realms of Norse mythology. It was not merely a stationary object but a sentient being, nurturing the world and harboring knowledge of the cosmos.

As time progressed, the concept of sentient trees continued to evolve. In medieval Europe, particularly during the Arthurian legends, trees like the Oak and the Hawthorn became fixtures in the stories. The idea of sacred groves and trees with the power to communicate or offer prophetic visions was prevalent. In the Arthurian legend of the Green Knight, the Green Chapel, a mysterious, sentient place, exemplifies the enduring belief in the sentience of nature.

The Romantic era in the 18th and 19th centuries saw a revival of interest in nature and the supernatural. This period gave rise to literature that celebrated the mystique of the natural world, with trees playing a significant role. The works of authors like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Washington Irving often featured sentient trees as symbols of wisdom and transcendence. In Coleridge's poem "The Ancient Mariner," the spectral ship is guided by the ghosts of the crew, including "Two hundred men (and more) we killed," who are "All in the moonlight mad." This madness, their grim fate, has resulted in their expulsion from the community of "Men," and the spirits of the trees mark them as such.

In the 20th century, the concept of sentient trees found new life in science fiction and fantasy literature. Writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. Le Guin created elaborate worlds in which sentient trees, such as the Ents in "The Lord of the Rings" or the forests of Earthsea, played central roles. These literary creations often explored themes of ecological stewardship and the interconnectedness of all living things, reflecting the environmental concerns of the time.

In recent years, the concept of sentient trees has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing cultural and environmental landscape. Contemporary literature and media have embraced the idea of sentient trees in various forms. The film "Avatar," directed by James Cameron, features the Tree of Souls, a massive, sentient tree at the center of the Na'vi culture, serving as a conduit to the spiritual world. It embodies the interconnectedness of all life and the need to protect the environment. In a more playful vein, the "Whomping Willow" in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series is a magical tree that defends itself by violently attacking those who approach it.

The evolution of the concept of sentient trees in mythology and literature reflects humanity's changing relationship with the natural world. From ancient animistic beliefs to modern environmental concerns, these sentient trees have served as symbols of wisdom, interconnectedness, and the need for environmental stewardship. As our understanding of the environment and our place within it continues to evolve, one can expect that the concept of sentient trees will evolve as well, continuing to be a powerful symbol in the stories we tell about our relationship with nature. In a world where environmental issues are of paramount importance, the concept of sentient trees serves as a potent reminder of the interconnectedness of all life and the need to protect and cherish the natural world.

Taglist (reply/reblog to be added):

@axl-ul @crow-flower @thoughts-fromthevoid @alderwoodbooks @harleyacoincidence @tuberosumtater @sonic-spade @theonlygardenia @holymzogynybatman @nulliel-tres

[quietbluejay]

Ghost Warrior 2

back over to Yvraine and Eldrad Eldrad is a hoarder I think Yvraine should judge him for his messy room more

where'd they come from? dude's not THAT pretty

I don't think this is saying what you want it to about Eldrad, dude Eldrad puppetmasters situations so he will get shiny magpie presents that he then brings back to his nest

okay I was wrong, I guess he IS that pretty

he's a tomb robber missed that bit also: never lend a book to this man you know what this would make so much more sense if 40k had dragons and eldrad was one ngl Eldar Dragon Eldrad would be sick …make ALL the Eldar dragons

is this…actually developing Yvraine's character??? so Iyanna tells them about the mysteriously appearing craftworld

here we FINALLY have our hook for Yvraine, Eldrad thinks they might find the last cronesword in the well of the dead

ughh

Eldrad, everyone the chapter ends with Yvraine looking at a mini sculpture of Lileath and thinking about myths and legends AND THEN SHE WRAPS IT UP IN HER SCARF AND STEALS IT incredible

actual decent opening to this chapter as the mood on Iyanden is nervous so Iyanna is hiding from everyone lol so they don't find out she's secretly bringing the Ynnari I'm sure this will go well and yet i guess people sensed the vibes and came to watch lol

"aesthetic disdain" everyone turns to see Iyanna walk in surrounded by the dead

Yvraine's grand entrance

Althenian and the Visarch chat and we get yet another gloomy reminder that

YRIEL MENTION I cannot believe but I am grateful he's not gonna show up here he is safe from Thorpe for now… okay the Iyanden farseer tells Yvraine ominous things about the Tomb of Eldanesh on that note, after some back and forth where Iyanna basically gets told not to let the door hit her on the way out, the chapter is over

New chapter and Iyanna remembers happier times hanging out in the place they're in and cries a bit Yvraine shares her memories of Biel-Tan and believing that they'd Make the Eldar Great Again we've got some headhopping here but it's actually done in a decent way

so are we going to get anywhere

five generations since the fall so we have a rough estimate of average Eldar lifespan/age to maturity yeah i will say this for all Thorpe's faults at least he's not gross or weird about women so Iyanna is trying to activate…something this family heirloom except that, lol, she's got no clue how so she figures out how to activate it and it's to bring up all her negative feelings not like that should be hard for her in this book…

cheerful! and it worked, the dead are waking up I also have to say this is the most grimdark, bleak, and hopeless warhammer novel I've read so far and I read the first three Ahriman books and The Buried Dagger it's not even ripping my heart out! I'm mad it should be making me care about these people and rip my heart out if that's the route it's going to go

so iyanna lives like this so she always remembers girl..... gahhh this could have been great if it actually engaged with Yvraine feeling the huge amount of pressure and thinking on if she was chosen by accident or not

ghost meeting

are you eldar or ents???

SHUSH with the editorializing okay this part is…actually decent Yvraine thinks about all these guys arguing like hobbits over the silver

it's just a different cage so FINALLY iyanna is calling on the dead to fulfil their oaths hi aragorn lol

okay this isn't too bad as far as this book goes but man i just really wanna do a complete rewrite and see if i can make it good this isn't really my genre though ...maybe I could make it my genre

im still puzzled as to why they have to go through this special to-do to get the ghosts to help them and that iyanna didn't even know how to summon them before hey psst Thorpe adding "wraith" to every word just sounds stupid wraithcouncil wraithnobility wraithranks so the House of Ulthanesh is being the stinker here and they're mad that Yvraine resurrected Yriel and now he's stuck as a Ynnari whether he wants to be or not "lich-lieges" so all the dead who are helping them do a grand parade through the streets of Iyanden

see this'd be okay but since i know the spoilers it's like "hoo hoo you thought they were gonna make actual progress but lol it's impossible " uggghh we switched back to the stupid omniscient narrator [10:49 AM] i really, really hate it when writers do this pose a question, like, say, "how will these characters reckon with the sins of their past" and then go "lol they're not gonna, you were stupid for expecting any kind of catharsis from this, any time a hint of resolution looks like it's going to happen BOOM headshot, and the survivors never actually did anything bad in the first place" yes i'm still salty about Sins of the Wreckers Roche is actually good at storytelling though, so that's one he's got up on this so the Shadowseers refuse to guide them any further (they're on their way) and now Yvraine gets to experience some oblivion, as a treat

this is what this book is doing to me this is how I feel reading it

anyways after this little interlude which apparently affected everyone, the harlequins go "one will break" nice, the party is now suspicious of each other and go "oh yeah changed our minds we're gonna guide you anyways" so. we are FINALLY meeting this craftworld Iyanna is. the one making contact and won't bring any weapons I'm not even halfway through the book contact is finally made and Iyanna meets the first relative she's met alive in…i guess since whenever her family died and he has a pet flying monkey

eh??? what about this is humble

okay first off, eh?? second off, you are LITERALLY doing this because they have something you want (the Well) this book is just so sloppy (unrelated to previous comment) anyways finally meeting the Zaithustrans and a) they worship the old pantheon b) they're suspicious

the ynnari get put in a house out in the middle of nowhere, iyanna storms off to meet her relative despite everyone else going "this is SUSPICIOUS" and yvraine's kitty follows her

i've been wanting to make this joke since i saw the craftworld name so we get 3 pages of telling not showing about a fraught conversation between yvraine and some of the zaisuthrans so what is iyanna up to okay i just looked up spoiler about what's up with this craftworld and you know what, sure, let's see how he does it

sidenote i don't think i'm ever going to be able to ship guillivraine now so okay i haven't actually read the gathering storm bit that involves them but like…they're just so completely uninvested in each other even disregarding that, personality clash not in a fun way i think they'd both find each other tiresome both of them are, tbh, more primarily oriented towards eldrad than each other well okay that's a bit of a strong term for guilliman's case anyways i'm thinking about rewriting this as Iyanna and Yvraine going on a magical journey of friendship there's actually some fun clashing you could do with Iyanna-as-written-by-Haley okay interlude over time to see what Iyanna's up to so she's going to meet her long-lost relative who looks a LOT like her dad

HE CAN SHOWWW YOU THE WORLD i'm not really a fan of the quasi romantic vibe that's being given to these two given how it's repeatedly mentioned how much he looks like her dad back to the Visarch and, okay, this isn't written badly, he's thinking about "what is their secret as a small craftworld, how did they avoid falling" back to Iyanna and Sydari takes her to the nicest place

Sydari gets surprised by her reaction and they leave this place of darkness annnd back over to Yvraine and co

really? really? annd meanwhile Iyanna is semi-catatonic and Sydari wipes a tear from her face "to find one in whom the bloodline was still strong" I. Don't like where this is going. meanwhile Yvraine has gotten them to show her the Gate of Malice. where will this go… this chapter was probably one of the better-written ones! 60% of the way through let me finish it today

iyanna has a panic attack sydari talks about them being under attack by "the oldest Enemy" Iyanna takes this to mean Chaos, but I'm not entirely sure

STAY IN YOUR LANE AND PICK A NARRATION STYLE

Hit image limit lol

[manuscripts-dontburn]

Year of Wonders

Author: Geraldine Brooks

First published: 2001

Rating: ★★★★★

I loved this book as much as you can love and enjoy a book about a plague. Beautifully written and offered to the reader through the eyes of a young, common but intelligent and strong woman, it plunges you into a heartbreaking story of one year in a disease-stricken village, with colourful characters who develop in front of you as the heroine comes to know them. The ending, after all the realism of human nature and history, felt a little too fantastical (or could have been yet another book), but it was not completely unwelcome after all the pain.

Legends & Lattes

Author: Travis Baldree

First published: 2022

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The best word I can use to describe this book is "inoffensive". There is nothing I would particularly hate or that would deserve to be torn to shreds, but it was also very, very dull. At first, I thought this was a fantasy response to the wonderful sci-fi comfort books by Becky Chambers, however, the difference is that Chambers takes you on a comforting journey full of wonder, discovery, and original concepts. Travis Baldree´s story is like a ComicCon attendee: dressed up in something that is actually not all that important to what person he is underneath the costume. The fantasy aspect had no impact on the story at all, the most fantastic thing about the whole "world" being that some people do not yet know coffee. You could place the exact same story into contemporary New York. The language is not particularly beautiful and if you had chapter headers, you would not need to read anything else to get the plot.

Chapter 1: I buy a stable. Chapter 2: I hire a craftsman. Chapter 3: We work on the stable. Chapter 4: I hire another person. Chapter 5: We start selling coffee. Chapter 6: We design menus Chapter 7: We have live music now Chapter 8: We invent a cup to go etc. etc.

The characters are bland figures who are either nice or not nice, you never really get to know anything about any of them except that they are nice or not nice. Just cause. When done well, I love the comfort and low-stakes literature. But this was really just words on paper passing me by. Maybe it is just me though. After all, I really don´t like coffee.

Woman's Lore: 4,000 Years of Sirens, Serpents and Succubi

Author: Sarah Clegg

First published: 2023

Rating: ★★★☆☆

This was definitely interesting, though a little ent-ish ("It takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.") Simply put, while I found new bits of history I am happy to file into my brain, the book seemed overtly too long and with the same point repeated in every chapter. And it all ends up being about one thing. I should probably also mention that this particular woman´s lore is limited to the mythology of Mesopotamia and Greece, so do not expect anything Asian, Native American, or from other parts of Europe, etc.

King Midas and the Golden Touch

Author: M. Charlotte Craft, Kinuko Y. Craft

First published: 2003

Rating: ★★★★★

A lovely version of a famous myth, stunningly illustrated by Kinuko Craft. Would love to have each and every single picture of hers on my walls.

Victoria The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire

Author: Julia Baird

First published: 2016

Rating: ★★★★★

After having read a lot about Victoria, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book and that it still had things to teach me. Well-researched and well-written, it definitely benefits from the sensitivity of the female author for its subject as well as a balanced mixture of intimate life and politics. not a definitive biography, but definitely one that introduces and describes the fascinating Queen brilliantly.

The Women of the Copper Country

Author: Mary Doria Russell

First published: 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

At times I felt the characters were a little bit too simplistic in their "good" and "bad" roles, firmly fitting into an imaginary slot of hero and villain. But the writing was really good, the story kept me hooked and yes, there was a moment when I simply felt too many things at once - and such moments make memorable books for me. Also: fuck capitalism.

The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life

Author: Edith Eger

First published: 2020

Rating: ★★★★☆

A notable addition to Eger´s previous book The Choice, with less history and more lessons she learned from life and now offers to the rest of the world. Sometimes the tone of the book seems quite forceful, but it is always rooted in compassion. Edith Eger wants everybody to heal. And made me realize what I had suspected for a while now: I too would much benefit from some kind of therapy.

Godmersham Park

Author: Gill Hornby

First published: 2022

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Godmersham Park is more of a portrait of a life of a domestic in the early 19th century rather than a story with a plot, which made it sometimes difficult for me to keep reading. I liked the portrayal of warm friendships between Anne and some of the members of the Austen clan and the author certainly can make the atmosphere vivid. Eventually, though, the banality captured in the majority of the pages prevailed over the more positive aspects.

Weyward

Author: Emilia Hart

First published: 2023

Rating: ★★★★★

Three different stories that yet are the same. Three women bound by blood, legacy, and love of nature. Three victories over prejudice and cruelty. I loved everything about this book.

The Lives of Saints

Author: Leigh Bardugo

First published: 2020

Rating: ★★★★★

I picked this book up simply because I really wanted more from that world and I got exactly what I had wanted. Gorgeously illustrated, this slim volume is skillfully disguised as both myths and hagiographies, which at the same time could work as unrelated fairy tales. I enjoyed it very much.

Anne of Avonlea

Author: L.M. Montgomery

First published: 1909

Rating: ★★★★☆

A sweet book I thoroughly enjoyed, it gave me a welcome respite from the stresses of reality.

[mandojediblogger]

Here’s yet another connection between Star Wars and J. R. R. Tolkien... @seleneisrising

Kalevala.

In season 3 of Star Wars: The Mandalorian we have a glimpse of Bo Katan’s homeworld, Kalevala, where her family’s castle and throne room are located.

But what is the “Kalevala” you might ask? It is the national epic of Finland, the study of which had a profound impact on J. R. R. Tolkien.

From “Kalevala and Tolkien” https://www.councilofelrond.com/content/tolkien-and-the-kalevala/

As Finnish influenced Quenya, some of the myths we find as we read the ‘Kalevala’ influenced Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’.

– One of the main similarities between the two books is the appearance of Nature as a great force in the story. In ‘Kalevala’, Nature is carefully described, and is always present in the characters’ journeys in the same way that Nature is present in the Fellowship’s journey. So important is Nature in ‘Kalevala’ that we can say it has ‘own life’, and we can see that the Sun, rivers and trees speak clearly to the inhabitants of the country. They give advice and warnings, and have their own strong feelings, as, for example, we can learn from a birch who cries to be alone waiting for its destruction, which will inevitably come from men’s hands. We can’t help but compare this birch not just to the Ents because of the fact that they are talking trees, but to the whole of nature in Middle-earth that is fading because of war and evil.

– The title Kalevala, meaning ‘ The Land of the Heroes’, refers to Finland, a country fairly described as a wonderful dwelling, full of Nature and good things, and a place that finds its darker side in Pohjola, described as a dark cold place, ruled by an old witch. We can compare these with some fair and foul places in Middle-earth like The Shire and Mordor.

– The main character is ‘Kalevala’ is Väinämöinen, a wise old hero who above all wants the best for his native land and who will give everything to protect it. He is very learned in lore, poetry and music, and his magic and power are based in his words. In ‘The Lord of the Rings’, we find a parallel figure in Gandalf, the wise wizard who could even defeat an ancient evil with the power of his words, recalling his fight against the Balrog of Morgoth in Moria. Both Väinämöinen and Gandalf are confident leaders and though they can fight when there is need, their strongest power resides in words and lore.

– Another important similarity among these works is the presence of an immensely powerful object. The One Ring in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ finds its double in the Sampo of ‘Kalevala’, an object forged to give prosperity and richness to its master. It is given to the old witch of Pohjola in payment of a debt, but eventually ends up being stolen, smashed and lost in the sea, though only after causing great trouble.

– Finally, these two pieces of literature share a common ‘message’, emphasising loyalty, friendship, sacrifice and the eternal fight of good against evil.

[cuckoo-among-beasts]

TAG PEOPLE YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER!

favorite color(s): shades of blue-green, purples and lighter greys.

favorite flavor(s): in what way? food? sweets? because those varies a lot.

favorite music: classical, instrumental, soundtracks, but I also love stuff like rock, linkin park etc.

favorite movie(s): I don't have a specific favourite tbh. Judge Dredd is one I've rewatched a lot, same with My Neighbour Totoro.

favorite series: all time favourites: Star Trek TOS, TNG, DS9, Voy, Ent, Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Criminal Minds. current favourite: Love Between Fairy & Devil. Animated: Yeah, I don't have the space for that xD

last song: 一生追一梦 (yīshēng zhuī yī mèng) - |朴男虎 (pǔ nán hǔ)

last series: triad princess, love between fairy and devil, tgcf s2.

last movie: blade runner 2049, the bridge curse.

currently reading: tgcf vol 3 - mxtx, the chinese myths - tao tao liu, vanliga människor: autistens guide till galaxen (regular people: the autist's guide to the galaxy) - clara törnvall, my three thousand years to the sky - ciwei mao yuedu

currently watching: same as last seen.

currently working on: surviving, drafts, i should continue to write on that self-indulgent lxc fic too

tagged by: (or more like stolen from) @pctaldrunk tagging: all of you! I like reading these things.

[bandofchimeras]

PDA stuff & long diary life update for those who care!

started sort of arguing with a popular neurodivergency Twitter person (not really, but got defensive) over the idea of PDA being a myth or a grab bag for those of us with severe burnout, etc. I'm open to not being CORRECT on this, but personally I've found both good and bad things in the diagnosis, the label, and community self-understanding, as with any diagnosis....its all based on a pretty flawed and pathologizing system. so why attack PDA in particular?

anyhow, on a personal level, today I stayed up into my natural noctural habitat to chop vegetables and make borscht. its a long, tedious process at my rate, and took two days + leaving the vegetables out overnight to do, but now its done! and yummy healthful soup for the rest of the week. :)

I'm slowly chipping away at rebuilding life and haven't tackled doctors, dentists, pharmacist, therapist aspect yet because of feeling vaguely unsure about where I will actually end up living once this couchsurfing period is over. its such an ordeal I don't want to repeat it again....but my teeth need urgent care, and meds are gonna be essential for any kind of work. which i've also been avoiding.... February is historically the hardest month for me to get thru. every year. have delved into other things astrologically but February...well I guess natal Uranus square Venus, Sun and North Node/Pluto plus oppositon Mars....that's a rough transit. But its probably the weather. Okay on to the PDA/ADHD/sensory/wtf bullshit I wanted to write about:

today I slowed wayyyyy down and just noticed in my body where and when resistance came up. It was a huge dark spirally last few days, but today had a few breakthroughs of being honest when my anxiety tempted me to lie/hide, saying no to somebody instead of people pleasing, and calming down before calling my mom, and actually having a pleasant chat.

also addressed the Cat Peeing on Everything issue in a multitude of ways. I felt much stronger in my self-acceptance despite the realization last night that my joints have deteriorated to the point carrying grocery bags disolates them! my life is pretty boring and I'm sort of floating along with no direction, but today instead of spiralling about it, I used the role-play technique to coach myself into a new mindset of "maybe you are not ready to find your purpose yet, just focus on getting the basics down" AND I noticed when my avoidance was coming from sensory needs! and tried to address them before making the demand. it worked pretty decently (turns out when i'm cold i will Not be able to move my body until until its warm??) A huge Axis of PDA is our intense willpower and drive to conform, fit in, understand, mask, etc. among people who are not us, and not like us. I appreciate this about PDAers, this will to understand and adapt, and the determination to succeed despite all setbacks. however, I think due to our slower processing speed, with the demand avoidance interference, we often miss the "steps" involved in success. there may also be some wilful delusion - if they can do it I can do it! that comes from being hypersensitive to the opinions of an ableist collective. so this week for me, i was feeling the weight of "not and never will be enough" and comparison to others. however, deactivating my facebook and slowing down to make soup, going on a sunshine walk, supple,ents, using the happy light, and starting to practice responding at least a little more compassionately but firmly to my own meltdowns....its working. i just have to release the need to do everything, everywhere, all at once. PDAers are characterized by a strong will to not only live, but to feed, to grow, to expand, to be competent. full of ideas and desires!! Unfortunately we often do not receive the accommodations necessary to actually do so or develop missing skills bc of being good at masking, or our disability being demonized as willful, selfish and in need of "breaking" this can be very heartbreaking - but as today showed me in my roommate's gracious reaction to a talk I was very scared to have with them - when you find someone who does accommodate and understand, and are willing, able, and open to connect with them, it is also heart healing. our struggles are an opportunity to exercise deep self acceptance and love for the Self despite physical limitations and inabilities!!! or they can be in the right environment. that's my thoughts for now, now its really past time to go to bed and have wild near lucid dreams again. goodnight!!

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[readitreviewit]

Are you tired of feeling like you can never get ahead financially, no matter how hard you work? Are you sick of being told that you need to earn a high income to be rich? If so, Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad is the book for you. In this #1 personal finance book of all time, Kiyosaki shares his story of growing up with two dads: his real father, who had a steady job but struggled to make ends meet, and his best friend's father, who was wealthy and taught him about money and investing. Through these two contrasting experiences, Kiyosaki learned the difference between working for money and having your money work for you. One of the biggest takeaways from Rich Dad Poor Dad is the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich. Kiyosaki explains that it's not how much money you make, but what you do with it that matters. He encourages readers to focus on building assets instead of buying liabilities, like expensive cars or a big house. Speaking of houses, Kiyosaki challenges the belief that your house is an asset. Many people think that their home is a good investment because it will appreciate in value over time. However, Kiyosaki argues that a true asset is something that puts money in your pocket, not takes it out. Your house may have value, but it also comes with expenses like mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance costs. Parents, listen up: Kiyosaki also explains why you can't rely on the school system to teach your kids about money. Even if your child gets good grades and goes to a prestigious school, they may not learn the financial literacy skills they need to succeed in life. Kiyosaki believes that it's up to parents to teach their children about money and provide them with the tools they need for financial success. One of the most helpful parts of Rich Dad Poor Dad is Kiyosaki's clear definition of what constitutes an asset and a liability. To put it simply, an asset is something that puts money in your pocket, while a liability is something that takes money out of your pocket. This may seem obvious, but it's a concept that many people struggle with. Kiyosaki encourages readers to focus on acquiring assets and minimizing liabilities in order to build wealth. If you're wondering what you should teach your kids about money, look no further than Rich Dad Poor Dad. Kiyosaki provides practical advice for parents, including teaching your children the difference between an asset and a liability, encouraging them to start thinking about passive income streams, and instilling the importance of financial literacy. The 20th anniversary edition of Rich Dad Poor Dad includes an update from Kiyosaki on what we've seen over the past 20 years related to money, investing, and the global economy. He reflects on how the principles taught by his rich dad have stood the test of time and offers sidebars throughout the book that take readers "fast forward" from 1997 to today. In many ways, the messages of Rich Dad Poor Dad are even more relevant today than they were 20 years ago. With rising income inequality, student loan debt, and an uncertain job market, it's more important than ever to take control of your own financial future. Kiyosaki's book offers practical advice and a refreshing perspective on how to do just that. Overall, Rich Dad Poor Dad is a must-read for anyone looking for financial freedom and success. Kiyosaki's insights are invaluable, and his writing style is both engaging and entertaining. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out on your financial journey, you won't regret picking up this classic book. "Don't wait any longer! Dive into the captivating world of this book today! Buy now or start a 30-day audible trial to experience the captivating story through audio. Take that first step towards a thrilling adventure! " Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details)

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"God, you look nice!"

Alex on GMMore, about his boss in a body chain