Christmas Decorating: A place to discuss and show off your Christmas Decorations and lights
2014.06.29 06:01 Christmas Decorating: A place to discuss and show off your Christmas Decorations and lights
Welcome to /ChristmasDecorating! This is a subreddit to share the decorations you have put up as well as ones you have seen either on the internet or in person!
2024.05.11 13:56 nulll_DEADCOAST Book 1: "HEAT and the Grizzly Reds" - Intro / Chapter 1 - 15-20 Min Read -- Dystopian Future -- Science Fiction.
NOTE FROM AUTHOR: Hello Hello! I am a first-time writer embarking on my first dumpster fire; input is most welcome. I'm not the best self-editor, so get your hiking boots on. It's rough out there. Whenever I read it, I find or create more errors (: OPTIONAL READS: For the Retro Computer or Programming Enthusiast OR if you are open to other formats of story telling. I tried to combine my love for programming as an UNDERSTANDABLE way to tell a story through a Visual Experience in the Command Line Interface; A Stand-Alone VISUAL ASCII 'Programming Terminal' Story Prologue. Follow through(Screen Shots of my Command Line Interface) the UNE-EYE Observational Satellite Terminal as Kable extracts Classified Data about his Beloved Military Unit, THE HUMMINGBIRDS, a flying exoskeleton unit. This includes the origin story of a Technology Tree in Book 1.
"Deadcoast Book 1:Heat and the Grizzly Reds" transports readers to a 2063 Earth, a world on the brink, where the scarcity of fresh water has led to previously unseen geopolitical tensions. Amidst this backdrop, the nation-backed militant group DAGGR has emerged as a formidable force, leveraging advanced technology to assert control over Canada’s abundant water resources. At the heart of their arsenal is 'slugTech,' a technology pioneered by James Broadshaw, intended for ecological restoration but repurposed for militaristic dominance. The story unfolds with the chilling invasion of Vancouver, marking a turning point as DAGGR makes its ambitions clear, culminating in the assassination of the Canadian Prime Minister. This act of aggression leaves the country reeling, exposing vulnerabilities and igniting a global reaction. The UNE-EYE satellite is central to the international response, a significant narrative element representing the world's most advanced orbital tracking system. Once decommissioned in favour of privacy, the Dutch reactivated the satellite as a strategic move to monitor DAGGR's movements and coordinate a unified international effort against the aggressors. This revival of UNE-EYE symbolizes a crucial turning point, highlighting the global stakes and the interconnectedness of nations in the face of a common enemy. As Canada grapples with its plight, the DAMU (Deserted American Military Units) rise in solidarity, breaching borders to fight alongside their Canadian counterparts. This act of defiance is mirrored by international forces, including the Netherlands and Ukraine, each bringing their unique strengths to the coalition, underscored by the strategic oversight provided by the UNE-EYE satellite. Amidst the geopolitical chaos, a man who had all but given up, a boxer on the ropes, emerges from Vancouver's Gastown. Known as HEAT, this leader of the Grizzly Reds becomes a symbol of resistance and hope. HEAT's story, and that of the Grizzly Reds, is one of resilience, rallying not only Canadians but also global citizens to stand against DAGGR's tyranny. " Deadcoast Book 1: Heat and the Grizzly Reds" is a compelling narrative of survival, alliance, and resistance. It deftly weaves together elements of advanced technology, international politics, and the indomitable human spirit. The inclusion of the UNE-EYE satellite serves as a testament to the complexities of modern warfare and the critical role of global surveillance and coordination in maintaining security and freedom. But something else stirs amongst it. The UNE still shrouds its use, albeit assuring it is for record-keeping purposes- there is no way to be sure. Join HEAT and the Grizzly Reds as they navigate the challenges of Time, War, Science and liberating their fellow man in Vancouver. THE GRIZZLIES NEED YOU, in this action-packed, emotional saga, speaks to the resilience and camaraderie inherent in the human condition. CHAPTER 1 - The Blood Spattered Maples ILLUSTRATED VERSION -> HERE <- The early morning sun cast a serene glow over Vancouver, its golden rays gently coaxing the city from its slumber. The harbour lay still, bathed in a tranquil blend of crimson and amber, defiantly calm as if aware of the day's latent potential for tumult. The awakening streets, pulsating with the vibrant beat of daily enterprise, transformed into bustling arteries of life. Amidst this urban renaissance, Ryan stood by his apartment window, one eye still tinged a fading shade of deep lavender from last night's ordeals. He absorbed the duality of the world outside – a peaceful façade masking an undercurrent of chaos, much like his own existence. The apartment, a silent guardian of his life's chapters, was awash with tangible memories; some stood proudly like trophies, and others lingered like indelible scars. "Eugh, need to sort out this money mess," Ryan muttered, his voice a gravelly mix of resolve and weariness. He gingerly touched the bruise beneath his eye, a stark reminder of the previous night's fight. He wasn't just a boxer but a living, breathing paradox. His undefeated record of 12-0 was more than a tally of victories; it was a map of a life spent dancing in and out of shadows. At 17, he was a beacon of hope for Canadian Olympic Futures. Now, at 33, he was a spotlight in his subconscious, illuminating the relentless passage of time and a road riddled with 'what ifs.' Eleven of those wins were echoes from a past steeped in the sweat and blood of the ring before life's currents swept him into the city's gritty underbelly. There, he became an enforcer, not out of choice but a necessity, bound by ties, not of blood but of unbreakable bonds forged in adversity. Stepping back into the ring at 33, Ryan wasn't chasing glory; he was hunting redemption, a chance to rewrite a narrative that had veered off course. Today's boxing was far from what he once knew; it had transformed into a digital spectacle, a charade he refused to partake in. The sport now paraded fighters adorned with loud chains and face tattoos, pretending to live a life of crime they don't. Vile symbols of fame he doesn't wish for. Ryan had always skirted the fringes of the spotlight, respecting the sport but despising what it had become - a glorified masquerade that he believed led the youth astray. He stared out at the awakening city, contemplating his place in this ever-changing world, just as the first notes of a familiar yet unwelcome voice crackled from the vintage radio on his shelf. "Ah, jimmy2piece," he scoffed, the name leaving a bitter taste. The vintage radio crackled on, announcing the dazzling exploits of the heavyweight boxing champion, an embodiment of everything Ryan detested about the sport's current state. Ryan's hand lingered over the old radio, a relic amidst the bountiful thrift and trinket that abundantly filled his apartment. The announcer's voice, overly flamboyant in its praise of 'jimmy2piece,' clashed with the morning's tranquillity, grating against Ryan's every nerve. With a flick brimming with contempt, he silenced the intrusive chatter. The ensuing silence was a stark reminder of his path's divergence from the once-noble art of boxing to a life mired in moral ambiguity. "Enough of this nonsense," he muttered, the disdain in his voice mirroring the snarl on his lips as he spun the dial back to silence. *Click* Ryan was a man of contemplation; opening his balcony door, he let the morning breeze mingle with the memories that haunted him daily. These reflections were a tormenting ritual, no matter the joys and love surrounding him. His only respite was constant movement – hobbies, work, art – anything to fend off the sharp claws of the past that threatened to shred the remnants of his self-respect. He had lost ten years to choices and actions that replayed in his mind relentlessly every single day. "This 'jimmy2shoes' or whatever...pal throws pillows, a poser pretending he's about that gang life; I can see it in his eyes, he's not a killer," he grumbled, gazing out at the awakening city. This day promised a respite from his underground fights – at least for a while. His recent backstreet brawls, a far cry from the glory of the boxing ring, were what paid the bills now. "At least I've bought myself three more months..." Leaning on the railing of his miniature balcony, Ryan cradled a cup of steaming coffee, his gaze drifting over the streets below. At this moment, the chaos of his life seemed distant, replaced by a transient calm. Despite his bruised, rough presentation, a certain peace enveloped him, a rare stillness that belied the storm of his existence. His thoughts meandered through the serene hum of the city and the gentle brush of the ocean breeze. The skyscape, with clouds dancing to the ocean's rhythm, offered a brief escape from his turbulent past. Memories of Robin, his mentor and friend, floated into his consciousness. Robin's untimely death in Dubai was a wound that never healed. The sacrifices he had made to keep Robin safe, only to be absent on the fateful trip that claimed his friend's life, weighed heavily on him. "Why did it have to be you, Robin?" he whispered to the horizon, the question, a haunting torment upon his daily routines. Ryan was a thinker; as he slid over his ashtray from the stool, he sparked up A morning 'dart' (cigarette), as he called them. His past began to creep into his head, as it did every morning. With each inhalation of addiction-soothing nicotine, his blazing thoughts followed as his brain began to become fully active from his sleep. It was a raven on his shoulder tormenting him, pecking at him ever haunting his consciousness. No matter the love he may have found or the happiness, friends, or family surrounding him. The time to reflect was always grim and consistently unbearable. If he stood still, the Ravel's claws sunk more profoundly; the only reprieve was constant distractions. It's why he kept so busy, creative, and active. Ryan constantly kept moving with hobbies, work, or art. Pushing off the switchblade thoughts ready to cut into his subconscious and bleed out whatever self-respect he had left that day. He threw away ten years of his life, and he relives them every. Single. Day. "Damn man, what's the point of it all?" Ryan's voice was barely a whisper, lost in the morning breeze. His gaze lingered on the horizon, eyes clouded with confusion and pain. "Robin's gone, and here I am, a ship adrift; up shits creek without a paddle. What good can I do? What purpose do I serve? My skillset? My knowledge? Ive wasted my life, nothing is applicable." The questions hung in the air, unanswered. Ryan's life had indeed been a storm of violence and turmoil, from the gritty days working alongside Robin, watching his back to his hard-fought victories in the boxing ring. He had dreamt of leaving the world of fights behind, yet fate seemed to have woven a different path for him, one that he couldn't escape... The distant sound of boat horns broke his train of thought. These weren't the usual rhythmic calls that echoed along Vancouver's shores; they carried a sense of urgency, growing louder and more frantic by the second. Ryan leaned forward, squinting into the morning light. The sight that greeted him was anything but ordinary. Dark, ominous and foreboding shapes were cutting through the waters toward the Seawall – military-grade ships that seemed like phantoms against the sun's bright backdrop. "What the...?" Ryan murmured, a wry smile touching his lips as he recalled a line from a 1930s radio show. "Ah yes, the 'Anti-Frackers' upping their game, bravo!" He often found solace in humour, a shield against the world's harsh realities. Ryan was an unbreakable anvil to the world, always struck to sharpen others' steel. But what about his iron resolve? He bore the burdens so others didn't have to, a silent guardian shouldering the world's weight in stoic silence. Yet beneath that armour of stoicism beat the heart of a man grappling with his vulnerabilities, a man with a core as soft as it was intense. Just like that- The world as we knew it, changed forever. The morning's peace shattered abruptly as sirens wailed into life, slicing through the air with a sense of impending doom. The tranquil dawn was now a backdrop to a nightmare unfolding in real time. Ryan's eyes, mirroring the turbulent hues of a stormy sea, narrowed in primal alertness. These were not friendly vessels coming to grace the city's harbour; they were harbingers of chaos, their arrival a silent scream in the gardens of Vancouver's tranquility. As the city around him carried on, blissfully unaware of the looming threat, Ryan's mind shifted into high gear, honed by years of confrontation, conflict and reading other peoples intentions. He understood the unspoken language of death, the subtle shift in the air that preluded catastrophe. The serene calm that had greeted the day now seemed like the deceptive stillness before a devastating storm. PFFFFT~~ Ryan's coffee ejected out his mouth, a clean mist dispersed, dancing in the ocean winds. His eyes widened in shock. "That... No, that's not right. That honeycomb structure on the bow – that's rumoured military tech, not something you'd find on a civilian vessel. That's definitely not one of our decommissioned ships; Canada has always had a modest military budget- It's not the U.S. either; they've moved on to those massive city carriers," he muttered, recalling the recent unveiling of the U.S.'s latest naval behemoth designed to be a self-sustaining war ecosystem. "These are destroyers...carriers...and what in the world are those landing crafts?" His voice trailed off as a wave of realization washed over him. A heavy breath escaped his lips, his heartbeat thundering in unison with a growing sense of dread. This kind of military might, sleek and menacing, was straight out of the pages of a dystopian novel. Ryan's pulse quickened, adrenaline coursing through his veins, mingling with an unsettling fear. Vancouver, with its serene beauty and peaceful reputation, was the last place one would expect a military invasion. Yet, as he stood there, the city around him persevered in blissful ignorance. Laughter and the sounds of daily life echoed up to his balcony, starkly juxtaposed against the darkening horizon of his thoughts. Something sinister was unfolding, and he felt an urgent need to act. "Ah, damn it!" he exclaimed, frustration boiling over as he hurled his mug to the ground, where it shattered into razer sharp ceramic shards—a glimpse of futures past. The walls of Ryan's apartment, once a gallery of memories from a life half-lived, now felt like they were closing in on him. The space that had been his refuge, adorned with mementos of a tumultuous past, suddenly felt like a prison. He felt trapped, not by physical barriers, but by the weight of the unfolding crisis. Who could he call? Who would believe him about an impending military assault? Was there even time? Each option seemed as hopeless as the next, leaving him feeling powerless. His fists, which had once brought him victory in the ring, now seemed futile in the face of this immense and unknown threat. BOOM A thunderous crash tore through the city's fabric, piercing the veil of laughter and routine. Giggles changed to Shrieks, the buzzing of cars in the city turned screeching of panicked tires. It was a boom resonating with such force that it seemed to shake the very resolve of the most robust steel, a sound that demands attention and captivates a person, a sound of death; it rattles you to the bone. This explosion marked a pivotal moment that would forever alter the course of Vancouver's history and, indeed, the world's. The resounding echo of the first explosion heralded a declaration of war on all that was ordinary. In Ryan, the shockwave ignited a transformation. Despair morphed into an unyielding determination, a fire kindled deep within. His skin prickled, each hair standing on end as if his nerves were braille, spelling out the moment's urgency. "Are they firing at us?" Ryan's voice was a mix of disbelief and rising panic. The thought seemed almost too surreal to entertain. He hesitated momentarily, grappling with the reality of the situation. The explosion's roar, so fierce it shook the foundations of his apartment, jolted him back to the present. Racing back to his balcony, what he saw confirmed his darkest fears. The ships in the harbour were no longer silent, ominous spectators; they had unleashed their fury, sending plumes of smoke and debris skyward. Vancouver's skyline, once a proud testament to peace and progress, now served as a harrowing backdrop to an unfolding apocalypse. Below, the streets descended into chaos. People scattered in a frantic attempt to escape, their screams piercing the air, a chorus of dawning terror. Ryan's heart pounded against his chest, each beat a call to action. He was no hero, never the 'good guy' in his story, but he did value life above all. Standing there, witnessing his city being torn apart, he knew he couldn't remain a passive observer. Indecision and shock gave way to resolve. "MOTHA FU-" he cursed, his words lost in the burst of an explosion, spotted at the last second. The world around him had erupted into a maelstrom of fire and fury. An air burst shell detonated with ferocious intensity a mere 50 meters from Ryan's sanctuary. The explosion ripped through the building, an unforgiving hatred that jolted reality itself. The blast wave, a monstrous force of destruction, assaulted his apartment, shattering the windows with an ease that mocked Vancouver's fragility. Glass shards, transformed into lethal projectiles, hurtled through the air with a hunter's precision, each piece seeking its target. Instinctively, Ryan lunged for cover, his only protection a vintage oak promotional board, a relic of a bygone era. This wooden guardian, decorated with the iconic image of Stan Lee, stood as a stoic defender, a symbol of comic heroism now repurposed to shield flesh and blood from the brutal onslaught. A low hum erupts from the depths of his being as the fireball swirled around him. "Breathe... I can't... don't fall asleep... don't...sleep..." he whispered, fighting the encroaching darkness. His cobalt eyes, glazing over open, fighting to the last light, flickered between consciousness and oblivion. The distant, muffled voices of mentors past echoed in his mind, a fading chorus in the theatre of his memories. Ryan looked to his left, cast one last lingering look at the Vancouver sky, a canvas of blue that seemed so distant now. As his vision began to narrow, a tunnel drawing him away from the light, Ryan felt the grip of darkness pulling him under heavy, yet weightless. Once so vivid and alive, the world around him was fading into shadows. Amid shrapnel-induced unconsciousness, Ryan's mind catapulted him back to a pivotal moment from his youth – the Ontario Canadian Olympic Trials. The stadium's noise swirled around him, but it was an entirely different world within the ring. There, it was just Ryan and his opponent, every move a testament to the sacrifices he and Robin(Ryan's longtime mentor both inside, and outside the ring) had made together. Ryan's style in the ring was unique, a blend of calculated ferocity in speed and agility. He adopted the elusive, angular movements that Robin had honed while serving alongside the hardened Ukrainians on the frontlines of Kyiv. This style was compelling and unpredictable, frustrating his opponents with swift and efficient strikes. Ryan's ability to slip away from counters, almost serpentine in its execution, left them grasping at straws. Point fighting for the Olympics was a system that worked well with Ryan's style but not necessarily with his mindset. Ryan was a fighter at heart, and sometimes, when pushed, the disciplined techniques would give way to a rawer form of combat. Robin, who always believed in Ryan's potential, saw this as his greatest fault and biggest asset to "push past." In his gruff but encouraging voice, Robin would often spew "The stink in that mind, You've got a head on you that'd make an onion cry," highlighting Ryan's occasionally impulsive nature, and inability to control his emotions when it mattered. This characteristic made Ryan fearless in the ring but also sloppy, open, and vulnerable. It often led him into trouble outside of the solace in prizefighting. In these trials, Ryan's physical attributes – his slender frame, broad shoulders, wide back and a peculiarly long wingspan that gave him an imposing presence in his weight class – it made him stand out. His frame synchronized with his style, creating a truly unique spectacle of genetic gifts, hard work, and skill. These memories blended nostalgia and pain as they flickered through Ryan's mind. They were reminders of a path once trodden, a journey shaped by the influence of a mentor and the determination of a fighter's spirit. As the Olympic Trials set to begin, Robin looked to Ryan to instill confidence for his upcoming bouts, but Ryan was in his element. It was fight day, the fun day, the day to show off all of the hard work. Ryan had confidence, and his style in the ring displayed it in full. He moved with an angular rhythm that was both art and battle – slipping, landing a quick stiff counter cross, then gracefully stepping out of reach inches from returning fire. He made it look fun and easy, as if playing with his prey before fangs clench throat, delivering the killing bite. Looking closer, you can only see fire and determination in his bright eyes. He found purpose in the beautiful science of boxing. His strategy was that of a technical boxer, The Counterpuncher; 1. To bait his opponent into committing, then counter, fight long, fight smart. 2. Beat em' up, Frustrate em', then start slinging the heat in the uppercuts and lead hooks. The bell rang and the fight was officially underway. Ryan controlled the ring with his long frame. Each exchange was rapid yet controlled, a dance of precise strikes and evasive maneuvers. The world's complexities faded in these moments, leaving only Ryan and the pure essence of the sport he loved. He felt invincible, a force of nature within the confines of the ring. To Ryan, the fight was more than a competition; it was a performance, an exhilarating escape from the mundane. It was true Purpose. The intensity of the round reached a frustrating outburst by his opponent, who grabbed Ryan by the back of his head– 'SPLIT' called by the referee, his hand placed between them. A judge calls for a correction, catching the referee's attention only for a split second. In this second, Ryan's Opponent saw an opportunity. Lifting his head to move away, Ryan locks eyes with his Opponent, sporting a grin and delivering a sly headbutt as a parting gift. It's against the rules, but part of the game's harsh reality if gone unnoticed. Expelling energy and detesting it was a waste of fuel. It was a jolting reminder of "at all times"(protect yourself), a stark contrast to the discipline and respect Ryan upheld, starting his boxing journey in Thailand under "Muay Thai" rules, ideology of the worrior spirit and discipline. There was a sense of Honor in Lumpinee Stadium. The outcome of these unsavoury tactics here is an advantage for the opponent. Ryan's inner pools erupt, his mind swirled with raging white waters, crashing and colliding against each other, two oceans with opposite currents meeting in his consciousness. His once technical thoughts, muscle memory mixed with fight iq burst with flames, erupting and incinerating all strategy in his path. His eyes widened, open like he'd found his primal genetic ancestry hidden deep within. The slaughter and the war of history. The bloodshed of 1000 lifetimes. He felt it all. Manic in thought. Ryan wanted to take his glove off and rip his cheeks open from the inside out-- BREAK - Ryan snaps back into it, erupting in stoic, silent, primal rage.
The fight escalated, Ryan's disciplined technique unravelled under the seething tide of his rage. The finesse and agility that once defined his footwork gave way to a heavier, more aggressive stance. His feet, usually light and swift under his commanding frame, now felt anchored to the floor, each step driven more by fury than finesse. This transformation in style played perilously into his opponent's advantage. Ryan, usually a master of stick-and-move tactics, found himself engaging in close-quarter brawls, trading his advantage for a risky gamble. His in-and-out maneuvers, once a blur of grace, turned into brutish, in-the-pocket exchanges. This was a terrain where his more muscular and compact opponent had the upper hand. A raw, primal contest of power replaced the tactical dance that Ryan excelled at. Ryan's precise strikes became wild swings, his movements predictable to his seasoned adversary. Seizing the moment, the opponent unleashed a devastating barrage of inside hooks with their compact frame. A vicious right hook, lands clean in the exchange, thrown with the grace of a milkbag, the power hooks brute force, cut through Ryan's defences. The blow landed with a bone-jarring impact, sending a shockwave through Ryan's frame. His world spun as he stumbled, his once dominant presence in the ring now faltering under the weight of his unchecked emotions. The ground rushed up to meet him as he crashed onto the canvas, the taste of iron and the sting of defeat mingling in his mouth. The crowd's roar faded into a distant echo, a stark reminder of how quickly the tides of battle could turn. Robin's voice sliced through the ringing from the corner, resonating with a force that commanded attention. "Get your shit together, JUMPIN JESUS RYAN! HEART OF GOLD AND HEAD OF STONE – GET UP, YOU LITTLE COWARD! YOU'RE LETTINGITWIN, AGAIN! STOP THIS ONION HEAD NONSENSE AND DANCE, BOX THIS FELLA – YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS, ACT LIKE IT, BELIEVE IN IT!" His words were more than just a call to action; they were a lifeline thrown into the stormy seas of Ryan's mind. Each syllable was drenched in the raw, unfiltered wisdom that only a life spent in the cauldron of combat could forge. Robin's tone was a volatile cocktail of fury and concern, the urgency palpable in his voice. His palms crashed against the ring mat; each hit thunderous punctuation to his fiery sermon. "You've got the talent, kid, but it's as good as ash if you keep burning it to the ground. I'M HERE FOR YOU, IM RIGHT HERE. SNAP OUT OF IT AND BOX THIS PLASTIC PATTY! MOVE GOD DAMNIT, GET UP!" On the canvas, Ryan lay dazed, the echo of Robin's voice ringing in his ears. It was more than a mere pep talk; it was a wake-up call that struck a chord deep within him. Amidst the haze of the crowd murmurs and the pulsating pain that coursed through his body, clarity began to emerge. Lying there, Ryan grasped the essence of Robin's message – "coward? letting it win? Playing my ego are ya Robin...hes right though. Im throwing this shit away." This moment, sprawled on the canvas under the glaring lights and the crowd's gaze, became a crucible of transformation. The raw emotion and the hard-hitting truth in Robin's words ignited a spark in Ryan. It was time to rise, shake off the shadows of rage, and embrace a fighter's true spirit like he had learned in Thailand – not just with fists but with heart and mind in unison. Staggered yet stirred by the dual impact of the physical hit and Robin's piercing words, A padded fist crushed into the rings canvas, followed by a kneee and the eruption of the crowd. Ryan was back, and he began to pull himself up from the canvas. His resolve, momentarily dimmed, now reignited with a fierce, clear, calculated intensity. Memories of the gruelling hours spent in the gym flooded back to him – the relentless sparring sessions, the time spent in Thailand, the sweat and toil, and the invaluable lessons etched into his being under Robin's stern tutelage. With a renewed spirit, Ryan stepped back into the battle, his movements now embodying controlled power and a fluidity to his step. He recalled his time fighting beside the backdrop of the "Sarama" a traditional Thai music played when in combat. The times of learning to move, fight with the music, to flow, to be fluid, to be concise. Ryan finally put it all together in the heat of battle. He had merged his inherent ferocity with the disciplined technique that Robin relentlessly drilled into him, and the mindfull practises of the years he spent under Burklerk Pinsinchai in the jungles of Chiang Mai. His style was now fully displayed, raw and visceral yet refined by countless hours of practice in mind, body and spirit. The final rounds bell clang to a start in a clinic of skill and sheer willpower. Ryan, driven by a blend of desperation and unwavering determination, unleashed a barrage of calculated and explosive strikes. Each punch and maneuver was a nod to the efficient, no-nonsense Ukrainian style that Robin had imparted to him. Ryan moved rhythmically across the mat, steps measured and precise, executing short, angular movements and deft outside counterpunches. He had returned to his element – the dance of combat, where he felt most alive, a symphony of movement where every step and punch was a testament to his life's journey and experiences as a human being first, and as a fighter second. In this wake-up call, Ryan reinvigorated and reminded himself of his love for the sport, the exhilarating blend of art and athleticism. He was not just fighting to win; he was celebrating boxing, combat, honouring the path he had walked with Robin, and reclaiming what it meant to be a true fighter through Burklurk Pinsinchai's Teachings. The round pressed on, and Ryan executed his maneuvers with a surgeon's precision. First; -- The counterpuncher; a display in timing and accuracy, delivered with the full force of training and innate skill. --
He deftly slipped his opponent's cross, a move as fluid as it was swift.
He angled off, creating a space wide enough for his next move.
With an almost predatory precision, Ryan unleashed a powerful right cross, targeting his opponent's cheek from the angle he had just created. But Ryan wasn't done yet.
He slipped out again, evading any potential counter from his disoriented opponent. The rhythm, he danced in and out with his precise timing, perfected down to inches and angles.
In a final, decisive movement of the exchange, Ryan slipped in. He timed his step with a long cross that came off-beat, catching his opponent utterly off-guard. The punch landed with a satisfying impact, culminating in a perfectly executed combination. As he watched his opponent stagger, Ryan couldn't help but think, 'cya sleepy boi,' a silent acknowledgment of his dominance in this singular exchange.
This sequence was a statement. Ryan was not only back in the fight but also commanding it. ONE!…TWO!…THREE!…FOUR!…FIVE!…SIX!...SEVEN!..EIGHT! Ryan's opponent stands, admirable, but futile, driven by sheer will but hampered by sluggish movements, the man rose to his feet, it was clear the fight was reaching its zenith. The opponent, gathering his remaining strength for a final stand, launched a jab, a last-ditch effort relying more on brute force than finesse. But this was a fatal mistake in Ryan's world – playing right into what Ryan was best at. Counters. Ryan read the move with the clarity of a seasoned fighter. As the jab came, he effortlessly slipped to the right, evading the punch with a short angular step that spoke of his ring intelligence. Instantly, he countered with the same sharp cross from his right hand, followed by a devastating hook that cut through the air with lethal intent in his left. Grasping at straws, reeling from the counter, Ryans opponent threw a desperate, looping last stand punch, Ryan dipped down and left, rolling the punch with an elegance that made it seem almost effortless. He was Hunting for the Kill Shot. Seizing the moment, Ryan unleashed a ferocious left uppercut, the force of the blow lifting his opponent's chin skyward. He followed up with a right overhand, but just before impact, he halted the punch. There was no need for it; his opponent was already collapsing, the "Lights were on, but no one was Home". The fight was effectively over, Ryan's last combination is the final note, a crescendo that echoed through the ring. As his opponent hit the canvas, the crowd erupted. Ryan stood in the center of the ring, his chest heaving, every fibre of his being alight with the thrill of victory. This wasn't just a win; it was a performance, a display of skill, heart, and the indomitable spirit of a fighter who had walked through fire and flames to the otherside and emerge victorious. The final bell Rings with not a single chair in the arena warm; a thunderous clap erupts from the crowd. It was more than just applause; it was an acknowledgment of a battle fiercely fought by both men. In that moment ringside, in a triumphant victory, Ryan and Robin shared a look that spoke volumes, a connection far beyond the usual bounds of mentor and protégé. Their bond, tempered in the crucible of hardship and struggle, was now sealed in the glory of this defining triumph. Standing amidst the cheers and the adrenaline-fueled euphoria, Ryan found himself momentarily lost in the tide of memories. It was a poignant reminder of the journey that had brought him here, a path marked by triumphs and losses. Robin's teachings transcended the confines of boxing; they were life lessons imprinted deep onto him. Ryan began to slowly step out of the ring; the weight of these reflections settled upon him. The victory was sweet, but it carried the weight of all sacrificed to achieve it. Robin's presence was felt strongly, a guiding force that continued to shape his path, illuminating the way forward even in the most challenging times.
Background: Woman in early 20s, majoring social sciences and humanities.
Section 1
How do you work? Why do people go to work? Are there any parameters that determine whether you can do work or not? What are they? Most people work to simply survive. These are the people who serve as the minions who are building the powerful people's dreams. To the powerful figures, work is a tool for them to achieve success, recognition, profits, and dreams. There is an existing hierarchy at work that keep companies running, and different levels of people serve different purpose at work. Overall, work is humanity's project to achieve higher development, excellence, and achievement.
How do you determine the quality of work? How do you determine the quality of a purchase? Do you pay any attention to it? I think quality is determined by customer's satisfaction in their products, be it aesthetics, functions, and usefulness. If most customers find your products desirable, then the quality is likely pretty good. I personally think if others find a product's quality good, then I find it good too.
There is a professional next to you. How do you know they are a professional? How do you evaluate their skill? Most people think evaluating a professional is by asking one individual how much knowledge they have in an area, but how do you know if they are not just pretending to be a professional just because they know so much? When you don't know about it, everything can sound professional to you. The best way to know it is to ask many different people within the same profession to compare and contrast their answers. I think this gives away the most professional person in the field.
If you struggle to do something, how do you fix that? Do you know if your performance is better or worse than others? The best way to know and work on your limitations is to evaluate the weak aspects within your skillset. If you struggle to fix a table, you probably struggle to fix a sofa too. Like the slang, skill issue. If you wanna improve your skills, you have to practice until you get the hang of it, where you get that intuitive click on how to navigate certain things. You can compare your performance with others based on a percentile measure in speed, strength, or rating to see where you stand.
How do you measure the success of a job? What standard do you use? Do you pay attention to it? When should you deviate from this standard? Being successful depends on how other people validate you. If your boss thinks you are successful, then you are successful. If you have a lot more clients than others, then you are successful. I don't think you can deviate from this standard because all concepts related to success are upheld by people. Some people think Usain Bolt is the most successful runner because he is the fastest sprinter in the world. Some people think the most successful runner is Paavo Nurmi because he has won the most Gold Medals in track and field. Overall, this section was relatively easy to answer. It's basically just observations and insights about social systems. Edit: lol this is Te
Section 2
What is a whole? Can you identify its parts? Are the parts equivalent to the whole? A whole is a system within a defined framework, and all the aspects included in the framework are considered parts of the whole. Let's say a table is a whole. The legs, the top, the apron all make up the table. A vase placed on the table is not a part of the table because it's outside this system called the table.
What does "logical" mean? What is your understanding? Do you think that it correlates with the common view? How do you know you are being logical? Logical is whatever is consistent within the framework/system. Apple falls from a tree because of gravity. That's logical. I think only science has absolute logic, though. When it comes to human-related activities, logic is a lot more malleable. For example, some people say no one brushes their teeth before eating food right away. Hey! How do you know some people aren't just crazy or weird? If it's not impossible, then it's not illogical. In this sense, logical simply means what works the best. People feel happy when they receive gifts. Yes, that's normal human reaction under normal circumstances. You need the context. Would you feel happy if you received a humiliating gift from your bullies? You can call it logic, but logic isn't the best word. Tendencies are the right word to describe humanly things.
What is hierarchy? Give examples of hierarchies. Do you need to follow it? Why or why not? Explain how hierarchy is used in a system you are familiar with. Hierarchy is a system people built for society or impersonal concepts. Well, let's say social hierarchy. We have the top 1% of people controlling the lower levels of people in every single way possible. These affluent minorities decide how they run the hierarchy and what each level of people do to maximize their benefits. Different levels of hierarchy are characterized by different levels of power, wealth, intelligence, education level, experience, and even beauty.
What is classification? How does classification work? Why is it needed and where is it applied? Give examples. Classification is basically grouping similar things or people that belong to the similar set of characteristics. I think all hierarchies need classification to distinguish different levels of hierarchy. This is necessary so we know what each classification needs. How much do we pay for the sales men? Supervisors? Managers? CEO? Why do we classify garbage into recycling or disposable? Because recyclable garbage are useful for reproduction.
Are your ideas consistent? How do you know they are consistent? How do you spot inconsistency in others' ideas? I think my ideas are basically insights from what I learned from others or resources. My ideas are pretty consistent because I see the core essence and pattern in. everything. Almost everything has this unchanging pattern that can help you see the trajectory of where things are going. If others have inconsistent idea that's because they haven't learned to find the core insights in different things. They just formulate ideas based on what they superficially see on the surface.
This section was more fun than the previous one. It really got me thinking deeper into how to answer this. Edit: so this is Ti
Section 3
Can you press people? What methods do you use? How does it happen? Yes. If you wanna press people, have your intentions clear, and convey your expression for them to serve your needs. If I lost my phone, I express my worry and anxiety so that all the people in the room starts finding it for me. People have natural empathy. They tend to respond to whatever you need.
How do you get what you want? What do you do if you have to work to get what you want? Know what you want. Know what people want. Know what they fear. People are all blinded by their desires and fears. If you wanna get what you want, you have to know how to sell it to people. Desire, obligation, pride, fear, guilt, and shame are basically what helps people serve you all the time. Even for yourself, these are basically the emotions that serve you. Why do people stay motivated to achieve their goals? They either have the intense desire to get something, or the intense fear to avoid something.
How do you deal with opposition? What methods do you use to defend your interests? If there's opposition, break down the reasons why their point isn't valid. Spot their logic fallacies. Another method to use is to point out why what they're doing is wrong. Make them feel less good about their decisions, so they regret and bow down.
When do you think it's ok to occupy someone's space? Do you recognize it? Occupy someone's space if you wanna approach them to show intimacy and initiative, make sure they feel good being approached by you. Otherwise, that's not good. Yeah, ofc, this is how it works all the time.
Do others think you are a strong-willed person? Do you think you have a strong will? I do have strong-will. If I want something, I can definitely get it. I made many impossible things happen for myself. I confront almost from an instinctual place unless I know it will significantly damage my reputation. If I know the benefits of yielding outweighs being strong-headed, of course I have to choose the path that makes people like me more.
I feel this is pretty easy. It's basically just what works. Edit: Se right lol
Section 4
How do you satisfy your physical senses? What examples can you give? What physical experiences are you drawn to? I don't indulge in physical senses much tbh, which is good in terms of helping me stay in an extreme diet. I can go for a whole year not eating sugar or fried food. However, when I had burgers and cookies again, they tasted like garbage. If I really have to describe physical senses I'm drawn to, that's probably the feeling of being in a race car or big roller coasters. I love looking beautiful, but less about enjoying the beauty itself. I like looking beautiful, so others give me more attention and admiration.
How do you find harmony with your environment? How do you build a harmonious environment? What happens if this harmony is disturbed? I guess that means an environment that's clean, decorated, and noise-free. Whatever people find harmonious in environments is probably what is really harmonious. I can picture a Fairmont hotel lobby with big chandeliers, clean marble floor, and a beautiful water fountain in the middle. I don't notice when an environment is not harmonious tbh. I admire people who are talented at making aesthetic environments. When others say a room is ugly I get really surprised because I didn’t feel anything is wrong. If you talk about social environment, yeah, that's a society where most people are happy, peaceful, and satisfied with their lives. Inharmonious social environment is basically people living in poverty, inequality, rage, and suffer.
What does comfort mean to you? How do you create it? Comfort is where I can recharge my energy. That's basically my sofa and my bed.
How do you express yourself in your hobbies? How do you engage yourself with those things? Hobbies is where I can experience joy and excitement. When I do figure skating, tumbling, and rock-climbing, I feel proud for my physical abilities and the thrill of these challenges. When I play piano or write, I express the artistic feelings of love, life, tragedy, death, or anything.
Tell us how you'd design any room, house or an office. Do you do it yourself, or trust someone else to do it? Why? I check Pinterest ideas, so I know how to decorate. Most of the time, I never decorated a room. I decorated birthday parties, but I basically just decorate based on how parties are usually decorated. I much prefer an aesthetic-oriented person to decorate the room for me. A lot of my decorations are just random flamboyant elements and colours that people find too noisy.
This section is just about material things. There's nothing much to say about it. Edit: Si lol
Section 5
Is it acceptable to express emotions in public? Give examples of inappropriate expression of emotions. Yes, express the appropriate emotion in the right context. You ain't gonna laugh like a clown at a funeral. Unless, you intend to express hate and cause drama. No emotions are absolutely bad to express in public as long as you read the room.
How do you express your emotions? Can you tell how your expressions affect others in a positive or negative way? I generally smile and give some light-hearted compliments to someone I just met. Ask them things they feel happy talking about. Show positive emotions to validate their feelings and experience. If you wanna flirt, be a little bold and show subtle desire. If you hate someone, make them feel embarrassed or ashamed. Overall, these are just social conventions we all know.
Are you able to change your demeanor in order to interact with your environment in a more or less suitable way? How do you determine what is suitable? Yes. Formality and informality vary based on the situation. We all intuitively know what is suitable. If you are meeting the president of your country, you shake their hands and show a polite and formal smile. If you are meeting your best friend, you run up to them and hug them and say "Omg I missed you!"
In what situations do you feel others' feelings? Can you give examples of when you wanted to improve the mood of others? Pretty much all feelings have a reason behind it. You have to understand the source of their pleasure and pain, so you know what things to tell them. When someone feels sad, of course you have to know what is hurting them the most, and give them hope through an alternative perspective.
How do others' emotions affect you? How does your internal emotional state correlate or contrast with what you express? I tend to react to others emotions a lot. I can't help it, if someone rages I can't help raging too. If it's someone I don't know well, I have to restrain and walk away though, but I feel very upset inside.
I think this section is pretty simple and straight forward. It's just emotions and people-skills. Edit: Fe
Section 6
How can you tell how much emotional space there is between yourself and others? How can you affect this space? When you feel unhappy in a happy public, you either leave that place or hide your negative mood. Of course, if I wanna be an asshole I would just ruin everyone's mood if they all upset me on purpose.
How do you determine how much you like or dislike someone else? How does this affect your relationships? If they make me happy or talk with me well, then I like them. If they make me angry or sad, of course I won't like them. I don't like rude people who don't show manners. I don't even mind if they hold views I don't like, but if they push my buttons, it's game over.
How do you move from a distant relationship to a close one? What are the distinguishing characteristics of a close relationship? I think it's when you mutually trust each other. Then you two show more and more common ground between each other to bridge the gap. Close relationships happen because two people like each other.
How do you know that you are a moral person? Where do you draw your morality from? Do you believe others should share your beliefs on what's moral? Why? Morality is what is right or wrong. Cheating is never ok because you hurt the other person's feelings. This doesn't stop people from doing that though. Morality is something that are consciously upheld with effort and constrain. Morality is what brings society peace and harmony. However, morality is cultural-based. So, morality is different in different countries. I think all people within the same society should uphold the same moral values because the ultimate goal is to bring social harmony.
Someone you care about is acting distant to you. How do you know when this attitude is a reflection of your relationship? I get pretty alarmed when this happens because I wonder what exactly triggered them. I usually just act callous and not show that I'm bothered. Whatever they wanna do is up to them. I can just move on and look for new people.
I find this section... interesting. It's about human relations, I feel pretty paranoid about others intentions, so I think this topic is rather sensitive. Edit: Fi
Section 7
How can you tell someone has the potential to be a successful person? What qualities make a successful person and why? If someone shows talent in an area compared to others, then they have better potential than others. To realize this potential and turn it into success, they have to work their way to the top.
Where would you start when looking for a new hobby? How do you find new opportunities and how do you choose which would be best? Whatever appeals to me is what draws me in. If my hobby is enjoyable to me, then I keep it. I like intense hobbies that give me excitement compared to the relaxing ones. For some reason, a hobby is even more appealing when other people enjoy it too.
How do you interpret the following statement: "Ideas don't need to be feasible in order to be worthwhile." Do you agree or disagree, and why? I agree. Having an ideal vision is important for people to reach their higher potential even if it's not feasible. They motivate people to try harder towards that direction.
Describe your thought process when relating the following ideas: swimming, chicken, sciences. Do you think that others would draw the same or different connections? I don't know why my brain assumes that chickens can float in water because of their feathers' texture. I assume people draw different connections, but I'm pretty sure there are a handful of people who thought of the same as mine.
How would you summarize the qualities that are essential to who you are? What kind of potential in you has yet to be actualized and why? Good qualities: Determined, excitable, friendly, bold, naughty, and motivated. Bad qualities: Prideful, hates criticism and belittlement, and can't accept mediocrity. I want to actualize my goals, and I think I already have qualities that help me with that. I really hate my bad qualities though because well it's unhealthy.
I think this section is pretty random, and I don't see what it's trying to test. Edit: No wonder it’s Ne
Section 8
How do people change? Can you describe how various events change people? Can others see those changes? People change little by little over time. That's inevitable, there are always minuscule factors pushing people towards change. People don't notice their changes when they spend everyday with them, but over a long enough period of time, yes people notice changes.
How do you feel and experience time? Can time be wasted? How? Yes. You can estimate how much time a task takes. You can plan how you wanna use your time. You can set deadlines for whatever you are doing. Time can be wasted on things you don't value because you can't gain back time.
Is there anything that cannot be described with words? What is it? If so, how can we understand what it is if language does not work? If language can't describe certain things, we can use images or similes. I think most unexplainable things can be felt spiritually, so I think most people know what you're talking about when you say it.
How do you anticipate events unfolding? How can you observe such unfoldments in your environment? I think you just know what makes sense about what will happen next. You can notice the unfoldment based on the trajectory and momentum it's going. I think people instinctually know what is going to happen next.
In what situations is timing important? How do you know the time is right to act? How do you feel about waiting for the right moment? Time is important for many things. Time is how we construct or measure the onset and duration of events. I don't think there's is the right time to act. It's more about when you FEEL it's right to act. I think the right moment comes when you feel confident to take action. Sometimes you can give it a go now, sometimes you have to prepare.
This section is the most abstract and worth-reflecting section. I can't give it a long answer because I think there's only so much we can talk about time. Ultimately, time is about how we wanna use it and see it. Edit: Ni WOAHH This questionnaire is so looooong! I typed all of this based on my honest answers and opinions at 3AM. I hope the answers relate to a consistent type, and I appreciate alternative possible types after you give the number one most likely type. I appreciate your time and energy typing me. Cheers!
2024.05.11 12:08 dogid_throwawayWhat’s the deal with people pushing color and shaming beige so much?
I can’t remember if it was on this subreddit or a different one, but someone posted a picture of their nursery asking for folks to critique it, and there were so many people leaving comments saying it was sad and beige and that the mom was decorating for Instagram likes and not her baby. I guess I’m just confused because this idea that children NEED bright colors everywhere, including in their nursery rooms, seems like it would be a fairly new concept in human history. I know they can see contrasting colors best so it’s at least good for them to have some pieces with high contrast, but it’s not like a child with a “beige” room is never going to see colors…they’ll presumably be going outside. Isn’t it feasible that some people would want their nursery to be a calming space so that the child doesn’t become overwhelmed or overstimulated (particularly if the nursery is simply meant to be a space where they sleep)? Lastly, I feel like this is sort of child dependent. My sister’s baby seems to need and want a lot more stimulation—he loves loud and colorful toys and would probably get cranky if he were deprived of them. Mine, on the other hand, gets overwhelmed quickly and is very sensitive to loud sounds at least. If I put him in a super stimulating environment, he freezes up or starts crying. He prefers being outside somewhere quiet and staring at the sun coming through the leaves of trees or watching leaves rustling in the wind. We don’t have a nursery but if we did, I don’t think a ton of color would not make him a happy camper… Isn’t following the child’s lead important too? Maybe I’m just using one example and running wild with it but it seems this topic has lost a lot of its nuance and the consensus has become “color is absolutely necessary” and “beige is terrible for baby.”
Archive:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vC9_wjnIAUIq9fila3GLv568ECCmk8rbzo9w9wmWEa4/edit?usp=sharing The base of the Tree of Silver Wings was massive, spanning over a kilometer in diameter. The tree itself stood several kilometers in height, almost pointing straight towards the Traveler. For a brief moment, I wondered why it was that big. Was it an immense amount of Light and Dark stored in the Traveler's beam and the Pyramid itself? I wasn't sure, and I wasn't going to stay and ponder for too long while the ship rumbled with activity. Standing in our way were dozens of those entities, some covered in roots, some not. Whatever these clones were, they were fighting each other. Solar and stasis energy clashed against each other as we attempted to barrel through the horde. At one point, a rooted Tormentor nearly grabbed me, only to be stopped by one of the Rhulk clones. Despite being in the Coalition, the Witness's troops seemed laser-focused on the rooted enemies. Amidst the chaos, the whispers were growing louder. This time, I could make out some words. "Return" and "resurrection" were chief among them. At last, I could see a ruptured building, one that had partially collapsed from the tree's growth. Inside its ruined entrance was a bright pink light. This was it, the source of the disturbance. Rushing in, I saw something I'd never seen before. A Veiled Statue was present in the middle of the room. A gnarled root had penetrated its chest and spread out inside. Instead of the statue breaking apart, it looked as if it had moved into position. Its arms were outstretched and its face was no longer looking upward. It was in the shape of a cross. Standing before it, facing it, was another Rhulk clone. The flowers on its shoulder and back had blossomed. Its head was covered in spikes and had a decorative attachment on top. Its glaive was covered in small plantlife, all of them charged with void energy. "Welcome." They said, turning and raising their glaive at us, "You may not pass." "What is this?" I asked. "This is the unholy place of resurrection." She said. "If it is unholy," Ak-Tol questioned, "why do you participate?" "The Final God of Pain demands it," The clone replied, "and I, Lhata, am the Harbinger of his reawakening." "Nezarec shouldn't be brought back!" Oztect yelled. Lhata responded by violently charging toward us. We dispersed as she slammed her glaive down with enough force to crack the ground. Oztect attempted to produce a bubble, with Zuloc supporting him with a stream of flame. Lhata resisted the void bubble with her own power, diverting its direction to block the flame. Ak-Tol shot her with his rifle, only to get kicked across the face. I closed my eyes and reached within. I have power, I know it, I just needed to focus. It began to surge through me, an intense cold and a soothing warmth. I raised a hand and let loose a stasis bolt, which traveled until it struck Lhata in the chest. Upset, she charged a void attack, forcing me to dodge. Ak-Tol staggered her with a series of void blades. It was then that I saw a place to target. The flower on her back pulsed with a pink energy, a mixture of Light and Darkness, like the portal on the Traveler. I ran around as Lhata focused on Oztect and Ak-Tol. Zuloc saw what I was doing and ran opposite me, readying an arc orb. I felt arc energy charge in me as I let it loose, striking Lhata's back. Zuloc stopped and fired her charge at the flower on Lhata's chest. Oztect raised void anchors from the ground to trap the Harbinger as Ak-Tol charged his gun with arc energy. Lhata turned her head to look at me, giving Ak-Tol enough time to fire his shot at the final flower on her arm. The combined arc charges ran through her body, frying it from the inside and causing her to die. With no more resistance, she was pulled to the ground by the anchors. "Is it over?" Ak-Tol asked, looking at me. I reached for a branch, feeling it for a pulse. Nothing. The Tree of Silver Wings had returned to silence, feeding off the corpse of a terraformed Pyramid. Horror of that concept aside, the sound of several Scales appearing caught me off guard. We ran out, weapons readied, finding several of the Witness's forces teleporting out. "What are they doing?" I asked. There was no answer, just more sounds of Scales coming and going. The resurrection of Nezarec was prevented, but the revelation that the Witness had more forces than just Tormentors and Taken was just as important. Whatever fight lies beyond the portal on the Traveler, it's going to be more challenging than previously thought.
2024.05.11 07:17 IndependentClock2684Ancestry compared to family
It does not make sense to me the irish scottish and scandinavian. I'm guessing as ancestry updates I will have more accurate results. On my fathers side I have a grandmother that has danish roots. It just seems so small and scattered considering my mother has Norwegian and Sweden. Yet I have Sweden and my sister has Norway. The cm tool shows that we are related as we are. Jm is my mother kp is my sister and wc is my uncle from my father's side.
2024.05.11 06:38 Maleficent_Hawk_285723M Looking For Friends In The USA To Help Me With An Art Project
Male, 23, INFJ here, looking for 8 to 12 people, male and female, of any age, who would be interested in forming a friend group and club of sorts, then moving in together, so we can create new aesthetic, subculture, art movement and philosophy - this is the art project, a collective art project. I'll list some of my interests, that will also be traits of this proposed group(and eventual subculture) and are interests any potential male and/or female friends should share so we have things in common, can get along, be ourselves and actually do things together Colors: Black(for Fabric, Make Up and Hair), Grey(for Buildings), Silver(for Jewelry), Violet(for Gemstones and Lights) Metals: Palladium, Platinum, Silver Crystals: Amethyst, Kämmererite Diets: Fruitarian, Vegan, Vegetarian Sexual Orientations: Bisexuality, Heterosexuality, Omnisexuality, Pansexuality, Polysexuality, Sapiosexuality Relationship Styles: Polygamy, Polygyny, Polyfidelity(Endogamy and Homogamy since you can consider both to be Polyfidelity on a macroscale) Landscapes: Grasslands, Highlands, Plains, Tundras Architectural Styles: Brutalist, Concrete Minimalist, Neo-Brutalist, Surreal Minimalist Furniture Styles: Minimalist, Modern Art Styles: Absurdist, Erotica, Fantastic, Hindu Art, Magical Realist, Neo-Surrealist, Orientalist, Surrealist Artists: Boris Vallejo, Calm, Frank Frazetta, Mark R. Pugh, Michele Durazzi, Nasreddine Dinet, Peter Mohrbacher, Rob Gonsalves, etc. Philosophies: Amoralism, Animism, Anti-capitalism, Anti-consumerism, Biocentrism, Buddhism, Clanism, Collectivism, Communalism, Communitarianism, Cosmocentricism, Cultural Relativism, Daoism, Dramaturgical Theory, Dreamism, Eroticism, Ethnocentrism, Ethnonationalism, Ethnopluralism, Familialism, Gymnosophy, Hedonism, Hyper-collectivism, Holism, Intellectualism, Moral Nihilism, Moral Relativism, Minimalism, Mutualism, Naturism, Neotribalism, Nudism, Optimistic Nihilism, Pacifism, Panpsychism, Panentheism, Pantheism, Patriarchalism, Platonism, Perspectivism, Primitive Communism, Pure Land Buddhism, Rationalism, Social Role Theory, Stoicism, Totemism, Tribalism, Unism Subjects/Topics: Acoustic Levitation, Alchemy, Animal Breeding, Archetypal Psychology, Aromachology/Aromatherapy, Astrology, Astrophysics, Astrotheology, Behavioral Endocrinology, Behavioral Psychology, Bioelectrodynamics, Bioelectromagnetics, Bushcraft, Chaos Magick, Chiropractics, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Typology, Color Psychology/Chromotherapy, Constructed Language/Language Engineering, Cultural Ecology, Cultural Engineering, Cymatics, Dramaturgy, Electrochemistry, Ecology, Epigenetics, Evolutionary Biology, Fashion Designing, Game Theory, Gemology/Crystal Metaphysics, Genetic Engineering, Genetic Memory, Geomagnetics, Geopathology, Geopolitics, Hindu Eschatology, Hypnosis, Interior Decoration, Islamic Eschatology, Jungian Psychology, Jungian Typology, Macrosociology, Mass Psychology, Massage Therapy, Metallurgy, Microsociology, Mythopoeia, Neuroantomy, Neurobiology, Neurochemistry, Neuroendocrinology, Neurogenetics, Neurogenics, Neuromagnetics, Neurophysiology, Oneirology, Optogenetics, Pastoralism, Philosophy. Planetary Harmonics, Political Philosophy, Psychoelectrodynamics, Psychoenergetics, Psychogenetics. Psychogenics, Psychology, Psychopharmachology, Psychophysiology, Psychosomatics, Psychotronics, Qunatum Electrodynamics, Qunatum Physics, Qunatum Thermodynamics, Racial Engineering, Radiobiology, Radiogenics, Radionics, Radiophysics, Racial Engineering, Social Dynamics, Social Engineering, Social Psychology, Social Role Theory, Sociogenetics, Sociogenics, Sociology, Sociophysiology, Sonochemistry, Sonoelectrochemistry, Sonogenetics/Ultrasound Therapy, Spiritual Ecology, Stonemasonry, Ultrasound Physics, Vultology Physical Activities and Fitness: Ballet, Calisthenics, Contortion, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Hill Sprints, Plyometrics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Weighted Calisthenics, Weighted Hill Sprints, Weighted Punches Animals(Pets/Companions): Black Bears, Black Cane Corsos, Black Canis Panther, Black Pitbull Terriors, Nonvenomous Black Snakes Objects: Amethyst Crystal Orbs, Falchion Swords, Kämmererite Crystal Orb, Ring Hilt Swiss Sabers Swords, Books: The Magic Bag A Manuscript Dictated Clairaudiently to Mark Probert By Members of the Inner Circle, Seth Speaks: The Eternal Validity of the Soul, The Nature of Personal Reality, The "Unknown Reality", etc. Some quirks, traits and charcteristics of that this proposed subculture would have are the following(how I imagine the community/subculture would look and operate once it's functionally and fully developed): • The subculture/community would be open to anyone regardless of age, race, sexual orientation or skin color • Everyone involved with this subculture/community would consider all members of the subculture to either be their cousins, siblings, lovers, potential playmates or clones of themselves.(perhaps the first generation would refer to each other as "cousin" and the second generation would refer to each other as "another piece of me" and the third generation would refer to each other as "me", "myself" and "I"). The goal is to remove any competition or sense of separation, jealousy, etc.. between all members in the community • When online, members of this community/subculture would use the same username and a random combination of letters. The username would be the same as the name of community/subculture • Ideally, members of the community would eventually share a single identity(i.e. the name of the community/subculture) and think of all other members as extensions of themselves, so would use terms like "I" or "my" to refer to everyone in the community or each member would always speak in terms of "we" and "us".(for reference, study the concept of "hive minds", "merged minds" or the relationship between "the twins" from the matrix film) • All in the community/subculture would pitch in to afford houses and vehicles, which will be communally owned and open to use by all members of the community/subculture(think company vehicles) • Ideally members of the community/subculture would live 6-12 people per house not counting children. (for reference think coliving, monasteries, college dorms, communal living or early bohemians) • All members of the community/subculture would practice altruism, generousity, reciprocity and hospitality towards all members of the community and those outside it. For example, if a community member is homeless, other community members should let them move in and help them get a job, provide them with clothes that match the group's aesthetic, give them access to food, etc. If one community member buys or cooks you lunch, you buy or cook them breakfast, lunch and dinner. If one community member gives you an orgasm, you give them three, etc. All should try to contribute and/or repay anyway they can • The subculture would not differentiate between history and mythology since, at the end of the day, unless you were there to witness or record the the events of the past yourself, its all just speculation, theory, assumptions and hearsay • The community/subculture would be kink friendly, BDSM friendly, age gap friendly, indifferent to nudity(think naturism), sex positive and an embrace both male and female sexuality equally and completely. - Sex, nudes and romance would be viewed as a game, art project, creative outlet or pass time - There would be no sex shaming, ridicule, criminalization or demonization of nudity or any sexual desire, sexual fantasy or sexual activity, that doesn't result in death, result in a loss of body parts/organs, interfere with the function of bodyparts/organs or cause permanent damage to any body parts/organs - No member of the community/subculture would be called or thought of as a "creep", "fuckboy", "slut", "cheater", "disgusting", "incel", "femcel", "weirdo", "thirsty", "thot", "desperate", etc. and those concepts would not exist in the collective consciousness of this community/subculture. However, having standards that take into consideration the mental and physical characteristics of a person, will be very important to this subculture. The standards would reflect traits and characteristics that are essential to the community/subculture and memebers if the subculture/community would be expected to evaluate/judge any sexual and/or romantic partners, primarily based on whether or not they are a member of the community/subculture in the first place. - If potential romantic/sexual partners are not members of the community/subculture, they should be evaluated and judged based on how closely they match the subculture's/community's philosophy, aesthetic, lifestyle and idea of perfection(i.e. the traits and characteristics considered to be hallmarks of the community). • Regarding gender roles in the community/subculture, romance and sex: - Males are always the dominant partner. - Females will always defer to male members of the community/subculture - In the case of homosexual relationships, the male with the higher IQ will always be the dominant partner. - In the case of homosexual relationships where both males are of equal intelligence, the male who is older will be the dominant partner and the one in charge - All male members of the community/subculture will be expected to engage in calisthenics, weighted calisthenics and wrestling - All female members of the community/subculture will be expected to engage in ballet, contortion and/or rhythmic gymnastics - All male and female members of the community/subculture would be expected to learn and engage in staff fighting, saber fighting, knife fighting, wrestling and jiu-jitsu - All jobs, hobbies and/or art forms that are valuable to the community/subculture and fits its theme/aesthetic, will be open to both male and female members of the community/subculture equally - Children would be privately raised or communally raised by all members of the community/subculture(this would help with the negative effects of single parenthood and with child neglect) - Both males and females can participate in collective decision making(direct democracy) within the subculture/community, but the final say goes to the oldest male members in the subculture/community with the highest IQs - Female members of the community/subculture would be encouraged to promote the community/subculture through modeling the community's aesthetic and lifestyle on social media • Male and Female members of the community/subculture would be encouraged to avoid romantic or sexual relationships with those outside the subculture • The community/subculture would have no concept of "good and evil", "legal and illegal", "sane and insane", "primitive and advanced", "moral and immoral", "right or wrong", "healthy and unhealthy", "light and dark", "normal and abnormal" or "toxic". Instead members of the community/subculture would view such things in terms of: - Collective or group likes/preferences and dislikes - Actions and behaviours that are in-line with a group's or culture's overall narrative and theme vs. actions that are out of line with a group's or culture's overall narrative and themes(for reference, imagine each culture is a play with a certain genre and narrative, if you "act out of character" you could ruin the play and ruin the experience for everyone participating in the play) - Enjoyable and unenjoyable or boring experiences - Beliefs and interpretations of an action or behaviour, that a person either engages in, is on the receiving end of or observes, is what makes it "good/healthy" or "bad/unhealthy"(ex. suppose person A grew up in a culture or community where it was taught that a jar of peanut butter will kill them, if person A were to go to a community or culture where peanut butter was viewed as a delicacy and gift of acceptance and affection, they would be traumatized by anyone who gave them peanut butter simply because they had been taught to view the object of peanut butter and any interactions with peanut butter, as something to be feared, disturbed or bothered by) - What's normal or healthy is whatever the majority in an area like, act like or do - Team players(those who conform to the overall theme and narrative of the community they claim to be a part of or seek to be a part of. If they don't agree, they leave and find or create, a community with a culture, theme and narrative they agree with an enjoy) vs. Killjoys and bad players(those who, not only refuse to conform to the overall theme and narrative of the community they claim to belong to or seek to be a part of but, also try to change, disrupt or otherwise interfere with the theme, narrative and rules of communities they disagree with and aren't a part of) - Overall, this subculture's views on "good" and "evil" can be summed up by the following axioms: "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", "Live and let live", "If an action or behaviour isn't physically harming you, physically harming the members of your community, changing your community's culture or local environment(which would change you, your community members and your community's culture) without unanimous or majority consent of all in your community it's non of your business." - Amoral, Neutral, Apolitical, Objective, Morally Relative, Culturally Relative, Isolationist, Non-interventionalist and Ethnopluralistic(champion the idea of "safe spaces" or culturally homogenous zones) • Members of the community/subculture would wear or carry silver masks(for reference, think King Baldwin from the film Kingdom of Heaven) • Members of the community/subculture would carry daggers or falchion swords • Members of the community/subculture would own silver magum revolvers(I haven't decided between Smith and Wesson, Colt or Taurus) • Members of the community/subculture would communicate with other members of the community/subculture in the language we invent • Members of the community would use black charcoal soap, black fluoride-free charcoal toothpaste and charcoal tooth brushes • Cold showers and ice baths would be the norm • Members of the community/subculture would avoid the consumption of vegetable oil, seed oils, added sugar, added salt, fast food, soda, bread, bagel, pasta, waffles, pancakes, muffins, cake, cupcakes, candy, fluoride, etc. • Members of the community/subculture would sport clean shaven faces and eyebrows • Members of the community/subculture would keep hair black hair(of any texture) worn long with one or both sides shaved • Black Scleras(either eyeball tattoos or contacts), Fang Implants, Third Eye Dermal Anchor Piercings, Black Facepaint, Black Dyed Fingers and Black Dyed Toes, Tattoos in blank ink of a style we create that is exclusive to this subculture, Nostril Piercings, Triple Ear Lobe Piercings, Helix Piercings, Industrial Piercings, Tongue Studs • Fashion that consists of: Black Elecheks, Black Headwraps, Black Slimfit Turtlenecks, Black Cassocks, Black Kurtas, Black Sherwanis, Black Rib Knit Mock Neck Zip Sweaters, Black Half Zip Rib Knit Bodycon Dresses, Black Robes, Black Togas, Black Leather Waistbands, Black Long Half Skirts, Black Slimfit Pants, Black Leather Knee High Boots, Black Stand Collar Overcoats, Black Poncho Cloaks, Black Shawls, Silver Torque Necklaces, Silver Torque Bracelets, Silver Chokers, Silver Bracelets, Silver Armlets(potentially we can start another subculture where the color scheme is inverted - White Hair, White Skin, White Fabric, White/Red Make Up, etc.). • Fitnesswear: - Males and Females could wear a Black Stand Collar Zip Up Vest with a Black Leather Waistband and Black Tight Fitting Pants - Males could wear Black Unitards or a or just Black Pants with no shirt - Females coulf Black Unitards, Black Leotards, Black Leotards with a Full Body Fishnet Bodysuit under - Black Gloves, Black Knee Pads and Black Elbowpads can also be worn • An Interior Decoration style that consists of: Violet Lights, Black Futon Floor Mattresses, Black Canopy Bed Curtains, Black Bed Cushions, Black Body Pillows, Black Rugs, Black Blackout Curtains, Black Squared Floor Cushions, Black Floor Sofas, Black Hammocks, Black Modern Rectangular Coffee Tables, Cement Pedestals, Black Essential Oil Diffusers(or Black Inscense Burners, etc.), Modern Floor Standing Fountains, Black Ultrasonic Pest Repellers, Matter Black Modern Vases, etc. • Holistic so members of this subculture would consider all types of groups of people, be they: cartels, covens, counter-cultures, cults, cultures, corporations, denominations, ethnic groups, ethnoreligious groups, gangs, mafias, secret societies, sects of religions, religions, nationalities, political movements, etc. to be "Tribes" or "Races" and would not compartmentalize aspects of groups(for example the fashion, architecture, economic system, philosophy, diet, sports, recreational activities, language, tools, technology, music, jobs, hobbies, local environment, animals, etc. of a group should have and share an overall theme and be consistent) • Members of this subculture wouldn't consider degrees, literacy, a mastery of language or an ability to perfectly follow the customs and traditions of a nation, civilization or culture, to be an indicator of high intelligence or high IQ • This subculture's beauty standards and idea of physical beauty would consist of: - Clean shaven faces - Removal of all body hair - Clean shaven eyebrows - Slim, skinny, toned, ripped, lean, shredded or athletic physiques(i.e. males in the community should seek to resemble greek statues and females in the community should seek to gain a ballet or rhythmic gymnast physique) - Long black hair(or Bald) - Fangs - Black scleras - Black nail polish - Black eyeliner - Black eyeshadow - Either extremely dark skin with extremely dark hair, extremely light skin with extremely dark hair or extremely light skin with extremely light hair - Piercings • Standards and traits that would be valued, considered virtues and/or attractive in this subculture would include but aren't limited to: - Objectivity so, amoralism, neutralism and apoliticalism - The Ni, Ti and Fe brain functions from Cognitive Typology - Physical beauty and aesthetics. So how well one matches this subculture's fashion, slim physiques, toned physiques, skinny physiques, athletic physiques, athleticism, flexibility, dark hair, black scleras, fangs, piercings, etc. - Engaging in wrestling, martial arts, ballet, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, sword fighting, knife fighting, etc. - Altruism, generousity, hospitality and kindess(especially towards members of your subculture) - Manners - Tolerance for constructive criticism - Teamwork and collectivistic thinking - Fruitarian, Vegan or Vegetarian diets - Intelligence, specifically an interest in or mastery of, psychology(individual, group, macrocosmic and microcosmic), philosophy and occult sciences - Good hygiene - Loyalty and commitment to other members of your subculture - Polyamory - Endogamy and Homogamy(i.e. dating, marrying or being sexual only with those who look like you, think like you, live like you and have the same interests as you) - Collectivistic, hyper-collectivistic and in-group thinking. For example, always side with and support members of your subculture no matter what. Only concern yourself with the well-being and survival of members of your subculture, etc. Always value members of your subculture over members outside it - Hypersexuality - Not caring about technology - Not playing video games or watching TV • Traits that would be considered shameful, embarrassing, disgusting and/or unattractive: - Individualistic and/or hyper-individualistic tendencies - Being obese, chubby or fat - Consuming junk food and/or meat - The use of drugs(i.e. acid, angel dust, cocaine, crack, marijuana, MDMA, meth, heroine, etc.) - Low intelligence - Delinquency and/or "thug/baddie" personas - The use of emojis - The use of terms like "lol", "lmao", etc. - Using curse words - Being overly emotional - Being easily offended - Desire for fame, fortune, attention, power, influence or wealth - Selfishness - Possessiveness and/or jealousy - Worshipping aliens, gods, goddesses or other people - Promiscuity(i.e. having no or low standards that don't consider a person's intelligence, fashion, looks, physique and physical capabilities altogether) - Sex shaming or prudishness - Prostitution(it's a product of capitalism and consumerism) - Valuing wealth or money - Valuing degrees and/or university - Name calling, slander, ad hominems, etc. - Blocking, banning or reporting others - Videogames, anime and manga - Littering - Matching the aesthetic of another group, community, culture or subculture - Using the language, terminology or slang of another group, community, culture or subculture - Watching televison or movies • This subculture/community would not base any ideas of maturity or success on a person's ability to accumulate material possessions, money, get a job, have children or live alone. Instead, the community's/subculture's idea of maturity and success would be based on a person's ability to: - Think in amoral and apolitical terms, so they can be neutral, so they can be truly objective - View all cultures, civilizations, societies and groups(including the one they are a part of) as live action role playing games, psychodramas or plays - View all members of cultures, civilizations, societies and groups, as actors who have self hypnotized themselves through the act of constant method acting(i.e. conformity to the laws, systems, social norms, historical narratives, environment, etc. they grew up or exist around) - View all people, even those outside the group(play) you're a part of, as potential playmates or potential lovers - Realize all plants and animals have complex cultures, languages and traditions, but the language barrier and cultural barrier between humans and animals, gives the illusion that humans are more intelligent or civilized - Remain indifferent to male and/or female nudity - Remain apathetic to money, fame, fortune, titles or material possessions - Value relationships(i.e. family, friendships, romance, etc.) more than money, fame or material things - Avoid blocking, banning, censoring, abandoning or reporting others - Accept the existence of life on other planets - Let go of a belief in "God", angels, demons, gods or goddesses - Become pacifistic - Remain unbothered by the words or beliefs of others - To think in culturally relativistic terms and not equate literacy in a culture's language with intelligence - To think in culturally relativistic terms and not equate a person's ability to conform to the laws, customs, social norms and traditions of one culture with being "good" or "intelligent" - Be altruistic, collectivistic, empathetic, inclusive and hospitable to others - Remember all of their dreams - Lucid dream About the language/slang: • In the language/slang of this community/subculture, woman = female = girl = a person or animal that was born with a vagina and no penis • In the language/slang of this community/subculture, man = male = guy = a person or animal that was born with a penis and not a vagina • In the langauge(or slang) of this subculture Tribe and Culture would be synonymous with Race and Ethnicity and all four are used interchangeablely to refer to groups of people who share an aesthetic, lifestyle, belief system/consensus, likes and dislikes, etc.(so for example, we would consider goths, emos, hippies, hipsters, punks, christians, muslims, jews, amish, the lgbtq community, the fitness community, the hip hop community, mafias, political parties, etc. to be separate races regardless of the skin color or physical characteristics of the members that make up such groups) • In the language(or slang) of this subculture, the concept of "poser", "sinner", "criminal", "kill joy" would be used interchangeably and wouod be used to refer to anyone who: - Breaks the rules or laws of the group or community they claim to belong to - Doesn't follow the social norms, customs, protocols, lifestyle and traditions of the group or organization they claim to belong to - Doesn't agree with the consensus or narrative of the group or organization they claim to belong to - Is not a "team player" Group Reacreational Activities would consist of: • Group workout sessions that will involve calisthenics, plyometrics and sprinting • Group combat training sessions that will involve empty hands fighting, knife fighting, saber fighting, polearm fighting and wrestling/jiu-jitsu • Group fitness competitions on Fridays or Saturdays • Group festivals or large gatherings a few times a year • Keeping a dream journal • Discussing dreams with other members of the community and analyzing each other's dreams • Lucid dreaming • Shared lucid dreaming • Experimentation with Sensory Deprivation Chambers • Experimentation with Sensory Deprivation Float Tanks • Experimentation with the effects of different frequencies of sound on plant life • Experimentation with the effects of different frequencies of sound on crystals • Experimentation with the effects of different metal nanoparticles on plant life • Experimentation with the effects of different crystal nanoparticles on plant life • Experimentation with sound levitation • Owning or Breeding Black Cane Corsos, Black Canis Panthers, Black Caucasian Shepherds, Black Cats, Black Pitbull Terriors, Black Panthers, Black Nonvenomous Snakes • Choreographing dance sequences to certain songs • Choreographing fight sequences to certain songs(i.e. ritual combat) • Throwing sex parties and orgies • Producing absurdist, erotica, fantastic, magical realist, neo-surrealist, orientalist and/or surrealist works of art, in the form of drawing, painting, photography, filmmaking, animation and/or sculpting that incorporates the subculture's aesthetic • Engaging in the following artforms/hobbies: Acrobatics, Alchemy, Animal Breeding, Ballet, Bushcraft, Contortion, Gardening/Farming(fruits and vegetables), Handbalance, Jewelrysmithing, Mask Making, Pastoralism, Piercing, Pottery, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Sewing, Stonemasonry, Tailoring, Tattooing, Weaving Group Projects(in no particular order):
Decide on a group Name/Label or whether or not to have one given to our group by outsiders
Develop a new Slang and Spoken Language that will be exclusive to this group
Develop a new Sign Language that will be exclusive to this group
Develop a new Script and Written Language that will be exclusive to this group
Develop a new style of Martial Arts that will be exclusive to this group
Develop a new Tattoo Style that will be exclusive to this group
Develop a new 13 month, lunisolar calander-clock that records seconds cycles up to galactic cycles. It should take the form of rotating concentric rings
Create and maintain a group or community bank(think of corporate cash reserves, partnerships, tithes to a church or taxes to the stateb) so we will have funds to help out group members in need, finance the expansion and development of our subculture
Create an official forum for our group
Create an official website for the community which will have:
A forum
Dates and locations for any community festivals or events
News related to the subculture
Links to any YouTube channels, Instagram pages, etc. that are associated with the subculture/community
A link to a page for donations to the community bank
Decide on a location and type of dwelling that we can move into so it can function as our "base of operations", "house" and "inspiration house"(for reference, think of the beatniks, early bohemians, etc.)
Collective Community Goals(in no specific order):
Have the scene be mainly located in Iceland, Ireland, Montana, North Dakota, Scotland, South Dakota, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming
Use funds and resources gathered in the community bank to open up small clubhouses/nightclubs in cities across the United States. These clubhouses/nightclubs would function as "embassies" so that new community members(or outsiders interested) will have a place to meet other community members in their local area and learn more about the community/subculture. Funds would also be used to remodel the areas surrounding the nightclub so that it matches the subculture's/community's aesthetic. Each small nightclub would have the following characteristics:
A bathhouse or indoor pool
A lounge area
A gym
A bar
A library
A small stage for debates
Use funds and resources gathered in the community bank to open large clubhouses or nightclubs in Iceland, Ireland, North Dakota, Scotland, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, which will serve as a place to host large scale gatherings(think of a "mega church" or "concert hall" or "the Vatican" or "Mecca and Medina"), festivals and a place where community members can live indefinitely, especially if they join the community with no family, friends, home or money(think of a monastery or giant hotel). Once these major clubhouses are built, we would also use funds from the community bank to slowly remodel the areas around these major clubhouses, so that they match the community/subculture's aesthetic and have businesses that cater only to members of our community/subculture. These major clubhouses would have the following characteristics:
Brutalist, concrete minimalist, neo-brutalist or surreal minimalist architectural style
A main lobby which would have a giant sphere in the center surrounded by a large indoor fountain/pool
A concert hall
A bathhouse or public pool
A room full of sand that gives the illusion of being in a desert
A room full of white sand, a few dead white trees and a projection of a starless night sky on the ceiling and wallss
A room full of trees and thick fog that gives the illusion of being in a misty forest
A room with shallow water covering the floor and a projection of the sky on the walls and ceiling so that the water reflects the sky
A room kept empty with a large number of dummies, drapped in white sheets, hanging from the ceiling
Dorm rooms/suites for members of the community/subculture who would wish to live there or don't have a place stay
A library/museum room which would keep art, books, films, etc. produced by members of the community and also function as a study hall
Use funds and resources gathered in the community bank to remodel certain areas of certain cities and towns, to match our subculture's aesthetic, open shops(and food farms) that cater exclusively to members of our community/subculture and function as "subculturally homogenous" areas or "towns" specifically for members of our community/subculture.(for reference, consider that it to be our version of a "China Town" or "Gang Territory"). These will be local areas that new and existing community members can relocate/migrate/move to immediately, so they avoid feeling socially isolated
Create a separate gift based economy for the subculture that will be operational in areas where members of our community/subculture's make up the majority of the population
Expand community membership through a combination of high birthrates(between 4-6 children per coupling), adoption and only entering into serious romantic/sexual relationships with other members of the community/subculture
Expand community membership by befriending, helping and/or providing for:
Members of the homeless population
Victims of human trafficking
Victims of sex abuse
Outsiders, outcasts and loners
Obese members of the society(we would get them on our diet and fitness routine to help them lose weight and develop their physique according to our community's/subculture's beauty standards)
Struggling members of the migrant and illegal immigrant population
Start a political party that will represent and be exclusive to, members of our community/subculture and seek to occupy positions of local leadership(ex. Mayor, City Council, etc.) in areas where we become the majority
Use our community/subculture's political party to promote a paradigm, consensus and collective consciousness that is based on the following ideas: • All groups, communities, cult, cultures, civilizations, nations, religions, political ideologies, jobs, professions and societies are essentially collective role playing games or plays. For example:
Costume = clothing, aesthetic or uniform
Job, social role, label, trope or personality disorder is part you are acting in the play
Tools and objects are props
Community members, tribesman, coworkers, citizens, cultists are actors
Laws, traditions, social norms and consensus is script actors follow that keeps them in character
Environment and architecture is the set
The paradigm , history, mythology and consensus is the play's narrative
A group's aesthetic, economic system and culture is the play's genre
Priests, lawmakers, influences, etc. are directors, playwrights, etc.
Maintaining a certain lifestyle, routine, set of traditions or obeying laws is a form of constant self hypnosis(i.e. method acting)
All social interactions are a form of constant mutual hypnosis between those involved(the positive and negative feedback reinforces certain behaviours and ideas and invalidates or dissuades others, thus you and those you interact with, remain in character)
All languages are fictional and constructed, the words are made up and simply exist to verbalize emotions, thoughts, concepts and describe actions and objects that are universal
Culture and Religion is large scale racial engineering because it controls or directs the diet, thoughts, physical activities and breeding habits of a population and how they interact with and respond to other people, animals and the environment
Use our political party to promote an alternative, hands on educational system that is based on a system of mentorship, apprenticeship, internship and rotational volunteering
Expand community membership by using our political party to appeal to people who feel politically disenfranchised
Develop our own Mass Media
Create a community/subculture centric Radio Station
Create a community/subculture centric Website(the website can post news related to the community, post dates and locations of community gatherings or festivals or events, have an online fashion magazine, etc.)
Start a community/subculture centric podcast
Expand community membership by using our podcast and debates to appeal members of the population who feel philosophically, religiously and spiritually disenfranchised
Use funds and resources gathered in the community/subcultural bank to purchase livestock(ex. Black Yaks, Black Sheep, Black Goats, Black Horses) and eventually create an off grid, semi-nomadic, pastoralist version of our community/subculture that will occupy rural and wilderness areas of Iceland, Ireland, Montana, North Dakota, Scotland, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming
Ecologically engineer the local environment of areas where members of our community/subculture make up the majority by landscaping, planting a specfic combination of plants, trees and introducing a specific combination of animals into the local area
Develop Ultrasonic and directed energy weapons
Learn and then teach every member of the community/subculture how to gather and refine resources and ingredients that are used to produce/create any and all items, objects and products we buy, use or consider to be exclusive to the community/subculture.
Learn and then teach other members of the community/subculture how to perform all services, as well as produce/create and maintain all of the items, objects and products we buy, use or consider to be exclusive hallmarks of the community/subculture so the community/subculture can eventually evolve into become completely self sufficient and moneyless community/society(an autarky) with a gift economy. This includes the passing on of any knowledge, information or skill you might already possess
Use knowledge, information and skills to start produce our own products so we can sell/trade it to those who aren't members of the community/subculture to bring money and resources into the community/subculture to help further collective community goals and projects
There's a lot more but this is extremely long already. If this all sounds like too much, I'd be fine simplly making bisexual, pansexual or omnisexual guy or girl friends, so we can hangout regularly, move in together and do things normal like: • Workout together • Practice martial arts • Be hedonistic • Party, go to clubs, raves and festivals • Talk philosophy • Throw orgies and sex parties • Visit naturist resorts • Make art and potentially music • Road trip • Visit other countries TL;DR looking for guy and girl friends, who are loners, so we can work on an art project together that involves the creation of a new, hyper-collectivistic, subculture and eventually either building or remodeling a city, town or area, to match our community's aesthetic. The aesthetic would be a blend of violet lights, brutalist architecture, black oriental/minimalist furniture, silver jewelry and black clothing. If we are successful, we will serve as an example of a properly functioning community(utopia), a tutorial for how others can make their own cultures/subcultures from scratch, and show people that, most of the things they take seriously or believe in either doesn't matter, isn't real or is based on some made up narrrative
2024.05.11 05:51 Bob_DubalinaIs there any performance impact between these two methods of 3D asset creation in Unity?
I am working on a small town scene, roughly 20 structures, mid to low poly. Along with perhaps 10 NPCs, vegetation models, road, fences, trees, etc. But I am curious if there are any performance differences between these two methods. I've been looking at various premade assets to learn from and there isn't really a consensus it seems which makes believe the performance impact may be insignificant. A couple examples of each method. Picket fence Method 1: Fence is one object created in blender, not a collection of objects. Say 15 stakes/uprights in length. Method 2: Each stake is an object with the cross boards also separate objects, the fence is constructed in Unity by arranging the stakes and boards. This allows for a less repeating look. House Method 1: House and all decorations are joined as one object in blender. Method 2: Base house model and the various decorations are separate objects that are arranged in Unity similar to above. Door, lights, windows, shingles, etc. This makes it easier to create house variations.
Is this pretty common for a Filipino reading? 🤔 Based on this, I don’t think my actual grandparents are my mom’s real parents due no Spanish reading in this - I’m wondering if my own my is confused about her genetic history. I ordered a kit for my mom (Filipino) and my father. (Euro). I find this to be pretty interesting. I appreciate any tips or advice if I can read into anything else. Thank you!
As was (maybe) previously stated, Kyanah don't have distinct languages with specific labels, yet this does not mean that they all share a common language. The vernacular tends to differ slightly from city-state to city-state; in the next city-state over, there might only be a few small spelling and pronunciation changes or some differences in handling obscure grammatical edge cases, but as one goes further and further away, the differences quickly accumulate. In most regions of the world, it's possible to understand the language up to a few hundred kilometers away from one's home city-state without dedicated study, but there's no hard-and-fast boundary where one language "ends" and another "begins". For this reason, linguistic aptitude is not a function of how many languages a particular Kyanah knows, but how large of an area they can make themselves understood in. Many of the specific vocabulary and grammatical structures used in Ikun are understood by educated Kyanah in other parts of the world, and tend to be used in settings where packs from many different regions of the world, with few or no linguistic features in common, must communicate, such as science or diplomacy. Due to Ikun's soft power and large-scale internet footprint, this is especially common in Net Zone 1; most but not all online content from this region is at least somewhat understandable to Kyanah from Ikun. Notably, Kyanah have a syrinx rather than a larynx, meaning that their spoken languages are not pronounceable by humans and they also generally cannot pronounce human languages. Their typical vocalizations tend to sound like a mixture of rapid-fire grunts, hisses and chirps or screeches, which can vary considerably in pitch and cadence--not too dissimilar from how small theropods are believed to have sounded. Various low-pitched bellows and roars appear to be used in the same manner as shouting, being used to be heard across long distances, draw attention, or express anger. Naturally, this has presented considerable difficulties in translating proper nouns. With nothing else to go on, they have been forced to simply do a one-to-one replacement of the characters in their proper nouns with those in the Latin alphabet that most closely resemble them; humans have altered the conversion charts slightly in order to produce more consistently coherent and pronounceable results. Thus, for instance, the label "Kyanah" is simply a human construct and sounds absolutely nothing like what they call their species in their (as in, the soldiers from Ikun city-state) own spoken language. Actual communication between species was initially done through ad hoc gesticulation and amalgamations of human and Kyanah sign languages, which was gradually formalized in the first few years of the invasion, as well as occasionally communicating through writing or drawing when practical. By the end of the war, reliable inter-species machine translation and text-to-speech software would be developed, and in the subsequent years, this would advance to BCI devices that could generate speech in real-time, although not particularly reliable. Interestingly, even Kyanah who have a high base vocabulary of human words seem to struggle significantly with things like modifiers and word ordering, as their own languages tend to handle them in a radically different fashion. For instance, over 95% of Kyanah writing systems organize words into binary trees rather than linear sentences, with children being semantically related to parents (e.g. subject and object, modifier and modified etc.). Linear scripts, while not unheard of, tend to be rare and associated with more primitive cultures, regardless of whether they're left to right, right to left, or top to bottom. It generally is not particularly important which words are the parent, left child, and right child; the writer chooses in order to optimize the aesthetics of their sentence-trees or place emphasis on a particular word. The nature of the semantic relationship between parents and children in the sentence-trees is denoted not by words comprised of characters, but by special markings called decorators, which in spoken language are expressed using subtle variations in tone, cadence, and volume, while in written language, they take the form of different types of lines between parent and child words. In most languages, decorators are also used for such things as prepositions, conjunctions, and tenses instead of using actual words for such things, resulting in all words referring to specific things or concepts, instead of having glue words that tie together other words or word groups like many human languages do. For instance, "You are eating", "You ate", "You will eat", "Are you eating?", and "Eat" (as an imperative command) all use the exact same words, with the difference lying in the decorators (or the tone/cadence/volume variations if spoken). It gets wilder, in Ikun, "Are the nyrud or the tyukrud in the field?" and "The nyrud and the tyukrud are out of the field." also use the exact same words. It's thus possible, in some cases, to meaningfully answer a question, especially a yes-no question, by simply repeating it back! (Albeit with variations in how the words are said, and with the caveat that simply "False" would be a much more succinct and natural response in this context.) For obvious reasons, decorators are dreaded by any humans attempting to learn Kyanah writing, and explain why Kyanah have an odd tendency to drop glue words and struggle with tenses when using human writing systems. In general, having a syrinx instead of a less complicated larynx allows them to make their vocalizations more compact by expressing a broader range of sounds, making the use of decorators instead of full words to save time a practical option. Pronouns are another key difference; Kyanah have a whole set between singular and plural pronouns that they use to refer to packs, leaving human translators to awkwardly bounce between them when trying to translate these pronouns. Pack pronouns are a cultural universal for Kyanah; every single known language has them. It is customary to use pack pronouns when speaking to or about a member of another pack, even when only referring to that specific individual; using singular pronouns is usually a faux pas as it implies a higher-than-accurate degree of familiarity and intimacy, similar to a human walking up to a stranger and calling their spouse babe; or in the case of first-person singular, implies that the speaker is in some way deviating from their pack, if they have one. "I like nyrud steaks", when said to someone outside the speaker's pack, would for example strongly imply that the speaker's packmates in fact dislike nyrud steaks, and the speaker is the only one who likes them; saying it to another packmate however would have the connotation that humans would expect. The natural human tendency is to refer to packs using the plural pronouns, as they do in fact consist of multiple distinct individuals, but Kyanah would interpret this as referring to some vague, unspecified group, rather than their own pack. Additionally, as packs are atomic units in Kyanah society, occupying a single role and a single occupation, and being treated as one entity by their legal system, using plurals can create awkward statements in human languages and some meaning can be lost in translation. Because the Kyanah use sentence-trees rather than linear sentences, languages aren't categorized into subject-verb-object, object-verb-subject, etc. but rather but the method in which the trees are traversed. Around 50% of the homeworld's population uses in-order traversal (left-child parent right-child), while 30%, including Ikun city-state, use pre-order traversal (parent left-child right-child) and the remaining 20% use post-order traversal (left-child right-child parent). To preserve the binary tree structure and prevent sentence-trees from exploding in size when dealing with many subjects/objects/etc. at once, lists of words with the same role in the sentence are placed into containers so as to occupy a single node. Kyanah sentence-trees can go on indefinitely as long as they are focusing on a singular subject; if the primary subject changes, a new sentence-tree must be started. Traditional Kyanah writing involves ornate sentence-trees shaped into aesthetically pleasing or meaningful shapes and sentence-trees are arranged on the page in a visually significant way; this sort of writing is roughly analogous to human calligraphy. Such niceties are typically ignored when typing on computers, in the name of efficiency and ease of programming. Instead, sentence-trees are automatically configured into rigid, standardized shapes and arranged on the page in such a way as to minimize wasted space, while still allowing for the creation of multiple threads. Naturally, traditional-minded Kyanah have been complaining about this since the invention of the computer, saying that it strips away subtle meaning and emotion from the text. However, the desire for efficiency has generally overruled such concerns in mainstream society. Sentence-trees can be placed anywhere on the page, rather than following a particular order, though there is usually a clearly defined starting and ending point to a sequence; when the next tree in the sequence is not obvious from the position and orientation of the previous one, there is usually some arrow or other marker to point the path. Written works usually contain multiple sequences, each of which will take its own individual path around the page, and each of which is (at least primarily) written by a particular pack member. For this reason, written works are generally meant to be read by a pack collectively, with each member following one thread and later switching threads or explaining relevant aspects to each other if needed. Written works can be read by a single individual, but this requires the reader to frequently context switch between disparate threads that may only be loosely related to each other at times. Single threaded works do exist, but they are considered a separate form of art from mainstream, multi-threaded Kyanah literature. Multi-threaded literature is a direct descendent of story-threads, an ancient Kyanah art form and pastime that likely predates recorded history by a long shot, where members of a pack will take turns speaking sentences to collaboratively build a story. Good ones are sometimes written down and published, allowing other packs to enjoy them (sometimes even hundreds or thousands of years later), with each member of a pack choosing a thread and taking turns reading aloud their part of the story-thread and reenacting it. Interestingly, it is not just literature that is written this way; even textbooks, manuals, and research papers are all written in the same multi-threaded manner, and are likewise designed to be read by an entire pack. There are plenty of distinct quirks between the different linguistic practices (using the term "language" may be a misnomer as linguistic practices tend to be continuous instead of being divided into discrete languages) in different parts of the world. Other than sentence-tree traversal, some of the most important differences center around the structure of words themselves. In most northern hemisphere scripts, characters represent sounds and have no intrinsic meaning on their own, while words are created by chaining these characters together based on the chronological order that they are pronounced. In southern hemisphere scripts, characters usually represent a few hundred basic objects and concepts and words are created by combining them, either in a linear chain or a graph-like structure, and the graphs tend to have their own unique algorithms for traversing them when reading or speaking, making such linguistic practices among the hardest to learn. For instance, in Kanenhah, "nuke" can be written (or spoken) by combining the characters for "made" (as in, made by Kyanah, not natural), "sun", and "egg" into a graph where the first two connect to the third, while in Koranah, the same word created by linearly chaining characters for "place" and "destroy" plus decorators to make the literal meaning "place destroyer" (which are written and pronounced somewhat differently from Kanenhah's characters for "place" and "destroy"). As an aside--the explanation for why there are so many broad and sweeping changes in language style and culture in general between the northern and southern hemispheres (a divide similar in many ways to the Western and Eastern worlds on Earth) is that impact ranges tend to cluster around the equator, which historically made travel between hemispheres much more difficult than travel within hemispheres. (I totally thought that through ahead of time, and didn't just make it up to retroactively justify the north-south divide.)
2024.05.11 02:54 MoistenedNuggetThorny tree with serrated leaves??
I bought this house a few years ago that had a raised area around the front porch with several trees and bushes in it. The previous owners didn’t really take care of the property, but I could tell from what was planted (bulbs, colorful bushes, the drip line layout) that the original planter had taken their time to make it nice. I recently started repairing some sprinklers and things so inevitably I ended up looking more closely at this area around the porch. This tree is oddly placed (it’s fairly close to the house and here’s a 6 foot bush in front of it which blocks most of the light) and it looks newer (younger?) than some of the other plants, but I had always just assumed it was intentional like the rest. Now I’m second guessing. Thorns like that definitely do not seem like something that someone would put in a decorative area like this. Can anyone tell me what this is and why someone would want to plant it? For context I live in the Rocky Mountain west.
2024.05.11 00:38 SpeedyBlobfishFlag redesign for Portland, Maine
Inspired by the old flag of Maine and the crest of Portland's new USL League 1 soccer club Portland Hearts of Pine The Heart- The Valentines Day Bandit decorating the city every Febuary 14th has been a tradition in Portland for decades The Tree- The Pine tree is a symbol of Maine and New England as a whole, is also on the old flag of Maine The Anchor- Portland is a coastal town, and the Port of Portland is the second biggest by tonnage in New England The Waves- They represent Portland's location on the Atlantic Coast, also seperates the flag from the Old Maine flag more.
I'm working on a personal website, and I'm having trouble with one page in particular. I have three
ids stacked vertically (and am planning to add more), and within those ids are two more. However, the first two are seperated apart (which is what I want), but number 2 and 3 are stuck together (which I don't want). Here's how it looks. This is not what the page will actually look like. This is an example. I have no idea what I did wrong, as I'm a beginner in web development. The code I made looks like this:
2024.05.10 23:43 NyxShadowhawkI Read the Silmarillion So You Don't Have To, Part Five
Disclaimer: I started this series for my mother and sister, who are diehard LotR fans, but don't want to read the Silm. They wanted the Tolkien lore, though, so they asked me to tell them what happens in the Silm, and it became this fun summary. Previous Part *** Chapter 10: Of the SindarMeanwhile, in Middle-earth… Remember the Sindar? They’re the people of Elwë, the only one of the original three Elven Lords who never made it back to Valinor, and Melian, a Maia who seduced him. The Sindar are basically native to Middle-earth, and save for Elwë himself, none of them have seen the Two Trees of Valinor. That makes them “Grey Elves,” neither light nor dark. They live in Beleriand, the westernmost land mass of Middle-earth, on which most of The Silmarillion takes place, and which is completely gone by the time LotR takes place. Elu Thingol by Bohemian Weasel Elu Thingol by Bohemian Weasel The Sindar know Elwë as Thingol, which is Sindarin for “Greymantle,” and acknowledge him as king. Earlier, I assumed that Thingol and Melian were the ancestors of the Sindar, but this isn’t true; they only have one child, and her name is Lúthien. She is one of the other major players in The Silmarillion, and was based directly on Tolkien’s wife Edith, so she’s kind of a big deal. She’s born in the forest of Neldoreth, and white flowers spring up to greet her. While Melkor was being held captive in Valinor, the Dwarves finally enter the picture in Middle-earth. They call themselves Khazâd, and the Sindar call them Naugrim, which means “stunted people.” The Elves are somewhat bewildered when the Dwarves come into Beleriand from the East, because they didn’t know that any other people existed. They assumed that they were the only living things who could speak or make things. They don’t learn the Dwarven language, but the Dwarves endeavor to learn Sindarin. When the Noldor eventually show up, the Dwarves really like them, because the Noldor share their reverence for the god Aulë and their skill at metalwork and cutting gemstones. Because Melian is a Maia, she can see the future. She warns Thingol that the peace isn’t going to last. Thingol decides to build a fortress in case worst comes to worst, and enlists the help of the dwarves to build it. The Dwarves oblige, happy to have a new project, and Thingol pays them in pearls, which they’d never seen before. The biggest pearl is called Nimphelos, which the Dwarves particularly value. (Its name sounds a lot like Omphalos, an egg-shaped sacred stone at Delphi that the Ancient Greeks thought was the navel of the world.) The Dwarves build Thingol a mansion underground, in the style of their own. I’m guessing that, like Hobbit holes, this is a reference to Celtic fairy lore that describes fairies as living in mounds. Like the fairies of British and Irish lore, Thingol has a lavish underground palace called Menegroth, the Thousand Caves. Its pillars are carved to look like trees, with carved animals on the walls and in the “branches” of the pillars. Colorful mosaics decorate the floors, banners and tapestries chronicle the deeds of the Valar, there are silver fountains and singing nightingales, and it’s all as beautiful as anything gets outside of Valinor. Everything’s great for a bit, but Melkor’s monsters still exist, and eventually Orcs and wolves push into Beleriand. The Elves don’t know what the Orcs are. They assume that the Orcs are Avari (Elves that refused to go to Valinor) that turned evil, which is almost right in an indirect way. Thingol needs weapons to fight Melkor’s monsters, but the Sindar don’t have any weapons and don’t know how to make them, because they’ve never needed them before. The Dwarves know how to make them, having used them to fight all the dangerous things in the East, and they teach the Sindar how to make and use them. Dwarves remain the absolute best at making things of steel, and they invented chainmail. Remember the Nandor? They were another subgroup of Elves who split off from the Teleri while they were traveling to Valinor, and stayed in Middle-earth. They become the Wood Elves, and their descendants will be the elves of Mirkwood. But at this point in history, they come to Thingol, seeking protection from Melkor’s monsters. Thingol lets them stay in an eastern land called Ossiriand. A Sindar Elf named Daeron invents the runic writing system, which the Elves don’t care for, but the Dwarves readily adopt. Once again, everything’s great for a while. But then, Morgoth and Ungoliant have their struggle to the north. The Sindar hear Morgoth’s shrieking and know that something is wrong. Melian’s magic keeps Ungoliant from entering their land, but barely. The Sindar are suddenly assaulted by Morgoth’s massive army of Orcs from his northern citadel of Angband. The Orcs aren’t like anything the Sindar have ever seen, and there’s thousands of them. We get a short summary of the ensuing battle (in which Tolkien drops more place names than I can possibly keep track of). The Elves and Dwarves win, but they lose a lot of lives in the process. The King of the Nandor, an Elf named Denethor, dies in combat. Distraught by his death, many of his people renounce open war. They are called Laiquendi, “Green Elves,” because they wear leaves. The rest of the Nandor join the Sindar, and merge with them. The Sindar fence themselves into their forest with a magic wall of “shadow and bewilderment” that Melian casts to keep the Orcs out. After that, their forest becomes known as Doriath, the “Land of the Girdle,” after the magic wall. The wall protects them, but the peace and bliss are broken. Beleriand Map *** Chapter 11: Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of ValinorIn which the Two Trees have a last hurrah. Back in Valinor, the Valar are very sad about the Trees, but they’re even sadder about Fëanor. Fëanor is, without a doubt, the best of the Elves. He may be a narcissist, but he’s right about how great he is: he’s the strongest, the smartest, the cleverest, the most beautiful, the most skilled, and the most capable both mentally and physically. Imagine all the good he could have done in the world, and what beautiful and useful things he might have made, if Morgoth hadn’t corrupted him! Now he’s going to waste his life on a pointless endeavor, and his entire line is cursed. It didn’t have to be like this. When a messenger tells Manwë how Fëanor responded to the prophecy of doom, Manwë cries. However, Manwë doesn’t dispute Fëanor’s boast that people will sing of his deeds until the end of the world. After all, songs are beautiful things. If you remember, Eru Ilúvatar told Melkor that all of his evil deeds will result in more beautiful things, that no one would otherwise have conceived of. Evil always begets good, in spite of itself. Fëanor’s evil deeds will result in the creation of beautiful art in the future, thus indirectly producing good things. But that doesn’t make Fëanor’s actions any better in the present. Yavanna, goddess of plants, and Nienna, goddess of sorrow, do their absolute best to heal the Trees. The Trees are beyond saving, but the goddesses’ lamentation does do something: With their last bit of strength, Telperion bears a single silver flower, and Laurelin bears a single golden fruit. Yavanna picks them both off the trees. After that, the Two Trees die for good, with nothing but their lifeless stems remaining in Valinor as a sad monument to what once was. Manwë blesses the flower and the fruit, and Aulë makes vessels to hold and preserve them. Then Varda hangs them in the sky as the new lamps: The flower of Telperion is the Moon, and the fruit of Laurelin is the Sun. The two lights will help the Children of Ilúvatar and hinder Morgoth. Creation of the Two Trees by Julia Pelzer Creation of the Two Trees by Julia Pelzer Each group of Elves has a different name for the Moon and the Sun. The Vanyar (the Elves who got to Valinor first and stayed there) call them Isil and Anar. The Noldor call them Rána the Wayward, and Vána the Heart of Fire. The Moon and Sun also have their own Maiar to guide them through the sky. The Maia of the Sun is called Arien, and the Maia of the Moon is called Tilion. Both Maiar had loved their respective Trees while the Trees were alive, and begged for the position of tending to the Sun and Moon. Arien is a fire goddess who doesn’t fear the heat of the sun, and Tilion is a hunter god who was one of Oromë’s companions. (This mirrors Norse Mythology, in which the Sun is driven by a goddess called Sol or Sunna, and the Moon by a god called Máni.) https://preview.redd.it/o3k52zcr6ozc1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=25a95f59781066a96ae88cbb4e9b659b9a4eb537 Narsilion by breath-art The Moon rises first, and brings hope to the Elves. When the Moon rises, Fingolfin and the Noldor begin their long trek into Middle-earth across the frozen north. After the Moon rises and sets seven times, the Sun is hung in the sky, and the first dawn comes. When the Sun sets, it comes to rest in Valinor, briefly reminding the Valar and remaining Elves of the light of the Two Trees and the joy they once had. But the Sun and Moon still pale in comparison to the Two Trees. The only remaining things that preserve the original light, pre-Ungoliant’s destruction, are the Silmarils. Morgoth is obviously horrified, and immediately sends dark clouds to prevent the Sun from shining upon his land of Angband. Arien, the Maia of the Sun, is the only entity that Morgoth is really afraid of, and he no longer has the strength to attack her. But he does send evil spirits after Tilion, the Maia of the Moon. (This might explain why the moon has phases, but it’s not explicitly said.) The Valar still remember what happened the last time they put up lamps, and they’re not about to let Morgoth destroy their paradise for a third time. They decide to almost completely cut off Valinor from the rest of the world. They make the Pélori Mountains around Valinor rise impossibly high, with sheer faces like glass. The only way in or out of Valinor is through a mountain pass called the Calacirya, which the Valar leave open to allow the Elves to see the stars. But the pass is heavily guarded. And, as an extra precaution, they fill the sea with enchanted islands that are full of illusions to confuse and trap anyone who tries to sail to Aman. The Noldor are officially, permanently cut off from Valinor — there’s no turning back now. Telperion and Laurelin by MrSvein872 Telperion and Laurelin by MrSvein872 *** Chapter 12: Of MenIn which the Men finally show up. Having sealed themselves away, the Valar basically leave Middle-earth to the mercy of Morgoth. It’s not all bad, though; the Sun keeps Morgoth at bay, and it causes many new things to grow in Beleriand. Beleriand is a pretty nice place, for what it’s worth. Not as nice as Valinor, but, y’know… it could be worse. When the Sun rises, the Men finally awaken. The Elves have a lot of different names for them, but the important ones are Atani (“Second People”) and Hildor (“Followers”). The Men didn’t have a Vala to invite them to Valinor. Men fear the Valar, because they don’t really know what the Valar are or why they’re there, and the Valar have stopped paying attention to Middle-earth. Ulmo watches over the Men through all the water of Middle-earth, but Men don’t know how to understand the divine messages brought to them by the water. It’s rumored that the Men befriend the Avari, the Dark Elves who never went to Valinor. At the time, Men looked more like Elves than they do now. Men were taller, stronger, and longer-lived than they are now, but Elves were still prettier, wiser, and more skilled than Men. Elves are immortal, and do not sicken or age, but they can still be killed. Men have less robust bodies and are more prone to illness and injury. Dark Elves are better than Men, but the High Elves that saw Valinor are significantly better than both Dark Elves and Men. The only Dark Elves that come close to the greatness of the High Elves are the Sindar, and that’s only because their queen is a Maia. The other big difference between Elves and Men is what happens after they die. When Elves die, they go to the Halls of Mandos and eventually reincarnate. The Elves don’t know what happens to Men after they die. If they go to the Halls of Mandos, they don’t go to the same part of them that the Elves go to. No one but Mandos and Manwë knows what happens to the Men after that. Only one Man ever came back from the dead (we’ll get there). It’s possible that the only entity that knows anything about what happens to Men after death is Ilúvatar himself. The relationship between Elves and Men gets steadily worse with time, mostly because of Morgoth (again, we’ll get there). By the time of the Third Age, when LotR takes place, there are very few Elves left. They have retreated away from the sunlight, into lonely woods and caves, and “become as shadows and memories.” The Men take over from the Elves, and forget that the Elves ever existed. But the The Silmarillion is about the First Age, and back then, Elves and Men were friends. Some Men achieved greatness through learning Elven wisdom, and some Men even had children with Elves. *** Chapter 13: Of the Return of the NoldorIn which we return to the main plot, and a LOT of shit goes down. Where we last left the Noldor, Fingolfin was leading them on an impossible journey across a frozen wasteland to cross into Middle-earth, because he saw Fëanor burn the boats on the opposite shore. Fëanor and his sons continued further into Middle-earth, and made a camp in the north. Morgoth also saw Fëanor burn the boats. Even Morgoth was a little afraid of Fëanor, so he decides to preemptively attack Fëanor’s camp. Despite being taken by surprise, the Elves trounce the Orcs, because they still have the strength of Valinor in them. They’re strong and swift, with sharp and effective weapons, and the Orcs don’t stand a chance. A small handful of Elves — Fëanor, his seven sons, and their loyalists — slaughter an entire army’s worth of Orcs in only ten days. Morgoth’s plans for the conquest of Beleriand are ruined, for now. Fëanor assumes that by chasing down the Orcs, he’ll find Morgoth. Fëanor is so impassioned, so ready to finally kick Morgoth’s ass, that he pats himself on the back for having defied the Valar. It was such a good idea to tell the Valar to go fuck themselves and come to Middle-earth! Now he gets the opportunity to personally take Morgoth down! He spoke too soon. Fëanor promptly finds himself face-to-face with the fortress of Angband and an entire army of Balrogs. Oops. Somehow, Fëanor manages to hold his own against multiple Balrogs, until Gothmog, the Lord of the Balrogs, nearly kills him. He only survives because his sons arrive at the last minute with reinforcements to fend off the Balrogs. Fëanor against the Lord of the Balrogs by Evolvana Fëanor against the Lord of the Balrogs by Evolvana Fëanor doesn’t live for much longer, though. His sons start to carry him back to their camp, but he bleeds out on the way. He curses Morgoth and tells his sons to avenge him with his dying breath. As his spirit leaves him, his body burns to ash, because his soul is just that fiery. And that’s it — Fëanor, the mightiest Elf to ever life, is dead. His curse means that his soul is forever trapped in the Halls of Mandos, and he will never reincarnate. No one like him will ever appear in Arda again. The Death of Curufinwë Fëanaro by Gwenniel The Death of Curufinwë Fëanaro by Gwenniel Honestly, I’m surprised that Fëanor dies this early. I thought he was the central character, but I’m still only about a third of the way through, maybe less. Despite having taken out Fëanor (mostly due to Fëanor’s own arrogance and impulsiveness), Morgoth still lost badly. He sends an envoy to Fëanor’s sons, acknowledging defeat and requesting a ceasefire, even offering to surrender a Silmaril. Fëanor’s eldest son, Maedhros (MY-thros, ‘th’ as in “this”) takes over from Fëanor as the leader of the Noldor. Maedhros doesn’t trust Morgoth as far as he can throw him, but decides to go to the negotiation anyway, with backup. Of course it’s an ambush, and there are Balrogs. All of Maedhros’s backup are killed, and Maedhros himself is captured and taken to Angband. Fëanor’s other sons build themselves a mighty fortress, but Morgoth keeps Maedhros hostage until the Noldor agree to end the war and leave Beleriand. The sons of Fëanor doubt that Morgoth will keep his word on that. They also literally can’t stop fighting Morgoth, because of their oath. So, Morgoth hangs Maedhros by the wrist from the face of the Thangorodrim Mountains. The only remaining option is to try to rescue him. Maedhros Upon Thangorodrim by Jenny Dolfen Maedhros Upon Thangorodrim by Jenny Dolfen Back with Fingolfin, the rest of the Noldor painstakingly make their way across the land bridge. It’s an agonizing journey, and many Elves die, but when the first dawn finally comes, Fingolfin unfurls his banner and blows his horn in victory. The ice starts to melt, and flowers spring up under his feet. The Sun chases Morgoth to the depths of his citadel, so he doesn’t harass Fingolfin’s group as they arrive in Middle-earth. https://preview.redd.it/c622y48x5ozc1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff808a7899e6833f913506c54490a72c9ea45ebe Helcaraxe by Stefan Meisl Fingolfin is wiser than Fëanor, and doesn’t try to attack Angband. Instead, he tries to find the other Noldor. Most of his Fingolfin’s group really hate Fëanor and his sons, because it’s their fault that they nearly froze to death. So, they make their own camp near Lake Mithrim. Fëanor’s group hears of their arrival. They’re astounded and impressed that Fingolfin and co. managed to survive, and that they made it to Middle-earth. They would welcome Fingolfin’s group, but they’re too ashamed to offer. Too little, too late. Fingon, Fingolfin’s son, decides to try to heal the relationship between the two groups of Noldor. He recognizes that Morgoth would be thrilled if his enemies were so divided against themselves. If they want to stand a chance against Morgoth, they have to unite. Fingon has the perfect idea for how to bring the two groups together. He was very close to Maedhros. He doesn’t know that Maedhros wanted to go back for him when Fëanor burned the ships, so, he assumes that Maedhros betrayed him. Even so, he still cares enough about Maedhros to want to try to rescue him. He climbs the mountains of Thangorodrim by himself, hidden under the cover of the darkness that Morgoth created to shut out the sun. Then, Fingon takes out a harp and starts singing. He sings a song from Valinor, from long before the unrest took hold. His voice rings throughout the mountains, in which there had never been singing before. He sings in defiance of Morgoth like the Whos singing in defiance of the Grinch on Christmas Day. He Sang a Song of Valinor by Jenny Dolfen He Sang a Song of Valinor by Jenny Dolfen Faintly, he hears an answering voice singing the same song. Maedhros is singing, despite his suffering. Fingon climbs up to where Maedhros hangs, and cries when he sees how much pain Maedhros is in. Maedhros has long since given up hope, and begs Fingon to shoot him, to put him out of his misery. Fingon prepares to shoot an arrow, but says a prayer to Manwë, asking him to have mercy. Fingon’s prayer is answered. Manwë sends the King of the Eagles, Thorondar, who picks up Fingon and carries him up the mountain face to where Maedhros hangs. Fingon can’t find any way to open or break the shackle that holds Maedhros, and can’t detach it from the mountain face. Maedhros again begs Fingon to kill him, but Fingon figures that it’s better to lose a hand than to die. Fingon cuts off Maedhros’ hand, and Thorondar catches him, carrying both Elves back to Lake Mithrim. Flight from Thangorodrim by jyonyi Flight from Thangorodrim by jyonyi After that, the rift between the two groups of Noldor is healed. Fingon is hailed as a hero by both groups of Noldor. Maedhros steadily gets better, and recovers his strength. He pulls and Inigo Montoya and learns to wield a sword just as well with his left hand. He also waives his claim to kingship over the Noldor. He begs Fingon to forgive him for having deserted him back when Fëanor burned the boats, and tells Fingon that he’s the rightful heir of the House of Finwë. That’s a nice gesture, but it’s actually part of the curse — The House of Fëanor became known as the Dispossessed, because even though they’re the older brother’s children, they permanently lost the rulership of the Noldor. The now-united Noldor decide to explore Beleriand a little more, and they eventually meet the Sindar. The Noldor and Sindar recognize each other as kin, but have a hard time understanding each other because they speak different languages. Eventually, they figure out a way to talk to each other. The Noldor learn about King Thingol and the magic wall around his kingdom of Doriath, and about the Sindar’s battles with the Orcs. The Sindar are delighted that these stronger, smarter elves from Valinor arrived right when they were most needed, and assume that the Valar must have sent them. Thingol is less enthused about a bunch of hotheaded foreign princes arriving in his land. The only Noldor he trusts to let past the magic wall are Finarfin’s children: Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor, and Galadriel. This is because their mother was Eärwen, one of the Teleri Elves and Thingol’s niece. So, they’re his closest relatives among the Noldor. Angrod is the first of the Noldor to enter Thingol’s palace in Doriath. He tells Thingol all about what happened to the Noldor in the North — how they crossed over, how many of them there are, how they beat back Melkor’s forces, how Finrod saved Maedhros, etc. He leaves out the part about the kinslaying and the curse. Thingol gives the Noldor his blessing to remain in the northern part of Beleriand, but they can’t displace the Sindar from their homes. They also aren’t allowed to come past Doriath’s magic wall, unless they’re invited, or if they desperately need an audience with Thingol. Thingol is Lord of Beleriand and the Noldor are imposing upon him, so, they’re in no position to argue. When Angrod brings this message back to the Noldor, Maedhros straight-up laughs. “What kind of king is he? These aren’t his lands. He doesn’t have the power to grant us leave to live here, as if we were his vassals. If it weren’t for us, there’d be Orcs breaking down his door. https://preview.redd.it/vnv1ly026ozc1.jpg?width=691&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7cc76c22b57f7c1b0d449fee46152b0d052dbb4 Maedhros by _star热爱生活呀巴扎嘿 Caranthir, another one of Fëanor’s sons who inherited his father’s fiery temper, also doesn’t like Thingol’s conditions. “Who’s idea was it to send Finarfin’s sons as our spokesmen? I don’t trust a word they say, and I don’t trust this cave-dwelling Dark Elf. Finarfin’s sons should remember that, whoever their mother was, their father was still a Noldo — they should be loyal to the Noldor.” Angrod is furious at this, and storms out. Maedhros chides Caranthir for going too far. The rest of the Noldor are all concerned that Fëanor’s whole family appears to be a ticking time bomb. It’s only a matter of time before one of them snaps and causes violence. Maedhros reads the room, and manages to get his brothers under control. He decides that he and his brothers should leave before things get worse. Not just leave the meeting, but leave the region — it’s better that they and the other Noldor remain friends at a distance, rather than risk another confrontation that tears them apart from within. Maedhros and his brothers head east. Their new home is more exposed, and has less natural defense against Angband, but Maedhros doesn’t mind this. He and his brothers can be a buffer for the rest of the Noldor if Morgoth attacks again. And of course, the curse is still in effect. Caranthir and his people are the first to find the Dwarves, who had stopped coming into Beleriand ever since the battle against Morgoth. You’d think that the Dwarves and the Noldor would have a lot in common, since both love to make things from metals and gems, and they both appreciate good craftsmanship. But nope. The Dwarves are too secretive, and Caranthir is too arrogant. He doesn’t even bother to hide that he thinks the Dwarves are ugly, and all his underlings follow suit. Despite that, the Dwarves and Caranthir’s Elves have a common enemy in Morgoth, so, they form an alliance anyway. From that alliance, Caranthir ends up learning a lot of Dwarven secrets about metalworking and masonry. It’ll really pay off for him in the future. Caranthir by Miyota Caranthir by Miyota Twenty years pass since the Sun first rose, and Fingolfin decides to throw a feast to unite all the scattered Elves. This feast is such a big deal that it has a name — Mereth Aderthad, the Feast of Reuniting. It’s a last moment of joy and happiness before everything goes to hell again. A number of Sindar attend the feast as well, alongside their leader, an Elf called Círdan (you’re gonna want to remember him). Thingol does not leave his magically-fortified palace, but he sends two diplomats to the feast — Daeron, the Elf that invented runes, and another called Mablung. There are even some Green Elves from the easternmost part of Beleriand. The main language spoken at the party is Sindarin, because the Noldor have had an easier time learning it than the other Elves have had of learning Quenya. All the Elves are on good terms with each other, and everything is great for a while. The Noldor begin to think that maybe Fëanor was right about Middle-earth being a good place for them. Another thirty years pass. Turgon (Fingon’s brother and a son of Fingolfin) meets up with Finrod (a son of Finarfin). Together, they travel southward on the River Sirion, just to get away for awhile. They sleep on the riverbank, and Ulmo (the Vala of water) sends them a dream. Neither of them remembers the dream, only that it was troubling, and neither realizes that they had the same dream. After that, they’re both burdened with a sense of unease. Troubling dreams can only mean one thing — Morgoth is going to become a problem again. Turgon and Finrod independently decide that it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst. Finrod and Galadriel, his sister, are briefly guests of King Thingol in Doriath (being two of the few Noldor whom Thingol would allow past the magic wall). Finrod is very impressed by the majesty of Menegroth, the king’s underground palace. He wants his own underground palace just like it, and tells Thingol as much. Thingol could have said, “no, how dare you copy me,” but instead he tells Finrod about a secret place in his realm — there’s a gorge in the River Narog, the river to the west of the Sirion, where there’s a cave complex that Finrod can use to build a palace. Enlisting the help of some Dwarves, Finrod builds his palace, Nargothrond. He gives the Dwarves treasures from Valinor to thank them. The Dwarves are so impressed with the jewels that they make Finrod a beautiful necklace called the Nauglamír, which is said to be the finest work of the Dwarves in the First Age. It’s set with many, many gemstones from Valinor, but it’s as light as spider silk. The Dwarves are also grateful to Finrod for giving them an excuse to build another cool cave palace. They give him an epithet in their own language, Felegund, which means “Hewer of Caves.” Only a really cool Elf appreciates caves so much that he asks for his own cave palace. Finrod by _star热爱生活呀巴扎嘿 Finrod by _star热爱生活呀巴扎嘿 Galadriel decided to stay in Thingol’s court, instead of following her brother to Nargothrond. She happened to meet one of Thingol’s relatives, a certain Sinda named Celeborn, and fell in love with him. Staying with Celeborn gave Galadriel the opportunity to study at the feet of Melian herself. So, if you’re wondering where Galadriel gets her wisdom and power from, it’s because she learned directly from a Maia. Meanwhile, Turgon is feeling homesick for Valinor. He remembers the city of Tirion on its hill, with its silver tree (not the Silver Tree, one of its descendants). When he returns home, Ulmo personally appears to him, and tells him to go to the Vale of Sirion. He finds a hidden valley surrounded by mountains, in the center of which is a hill. It’s the perfect place to establish a New Tirion. Throughout all this, Morgoth has been carefully observing the Noldor’s activities, and judging their strength. As soon as the Noldor are too distracted by city-building to prepare for war, Morgoth strikes. The Orcs are still a lot weaker than the Elves. Fingolfin and Maedhros chase the new Orc army all the way back to Angband. They kill every last one, within sight of Angband’s gates. But remember, Morgoth is a Vala, and has more up his sleeve than simply Orc armies. He causes earthquakes, fires, and volcanic eruptions. The Elves realize that there’s only one thing to do: cut the threat off at its source. They lay siege to Angband, and this siege lasts a full four hundred years. Angband by gresetdavid Angband by gresetdavid The Orcs are so afraid of the Noldor that they don’t leave Angband. Fingolfin boasts that the only way Morgoth could score a point against them is if the Noldor commit treason amongst themselves, which sounds a lot like tempting fate. Despite his confidence, the siege is a failure. Four hundred years, and the Elves don’t get any closer to capturing Angband, let alone taking back the Silmarils. Morgoth can still send spies out the back way, because the Elves can’t climb the snowy Thangorodrim Mountains. He captures Elves alive, and terrifies them so much that they do his bidding without having to be forced. He also looks for opportunities to sew dissent amongst the Noldor. It worked once, so it can work again. A hundred years into the siege, Morgoth tries to capture Fingolfin. He knows that Maedhros isn’t about to let himself get captured again, and taking out the king would be an advantageous move. So, Morgoth sends a bunch of Orcs to sneak towards the Elves’ camp using the back way, through the same frozen mountain pass that Fingolfin used to get into Middle-earth. Morgoth should know at this point that Orcs are no problem for Elves. Fingon notices the Orcs, and slaughters them. This battle doesn’t even count as one of the “great battles,” because there aren’t enough Orcs for it to be notable. After that, there’s an interlude of peace that lasts for many years. Fingon by _star热爱生活呀巴扎嘿 Fingon by _star热爱生活呀巴扎嘿 Morgoth finally gets the memo that he’s not going to beat the Elves by throwing Orcs at them. So, he tries a new tactic: A fucking dragon! If you think Smaug is bad, he’s a little baby lizard in comparison to Morgoth’s dragons. This one is called Glaurung (“gold worm” in Sindarin), and it’s a fat worm-like thing with a mouth of sharp teeth and fire breath. Glaurung is a young dragon, so, he mostly just thrashes around destroying fields and so forth. But he sufficiently terrifies the Elves https://preview.redd.it/ch5re6g36ozc1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70d5864fd2f0fcfcad75e59efb1651a5f85a1df3 Glaurung by Vaejoun Fingon isn’t afraid, though, and takes a band of archers to pummel Glaurung with arrows. Glaurung’s armored scales haven’t fully developed yet, so the arrows drive him crawling back into Angband. Fingon is endlessly praised by the Noldor for having defeated the dragon, and Morgoth is kicking himself for having shown his hand too soon. After Glaurung’s defeat comes the Long Peace, which lasts two hundred years. In that time, the Elves have the opportunity to build beautiful cities and write books of lore and create other art. (This time is called the “Long Peace” because Morgoth doesn’t make any attacks, but presumably, the Siege of Angband is still going on.) The Noldor and Sindar also intermix, becoming more like one society, though the biological and cultural differences between them remain: The Noldor are still smarter and stronger, wiser, better warriors, and they like living in stone buildings. The Sindar have better singing voices, and are better musicians in general, and like living in the woods. Some Sindar are nomadic and wander around Beleriand, singing as they go. *whew.* That’s it for this section.
2024.05.10 23:14 pope_deluxStorage Shed built above 4' retaining wall
I have a strange property line where the retaining wall to grade between yards (4' difference) is 18" inside the line. I would like to build a shed as large as possible within the corner of the yard - this looks like about 70 sq ft in order to leave 4" around the fence sides and not run into an existing tree or hardscaping in the other direction. This leaves a 14" cantilever for the shed floor if I decide to place the footings (posts supporting a skid foundation) just inside of the wall. Or I could rest shed on the retaining wall. I intend to store normal shed things - hobbies I don't have time for, garden tools, christmas decorations, etc. but knowing how things accumulate lets say the shed will have a 1k capacity plus at times two people organizing plus the weight of its own framing, sheathing and siding. Call that 3,500 lbs very rough estimate. Assuming the project moves forward considerations are 1) does a cantilever from footings placed behind the wall really make a significant difference in moving the load on the retaining wall to the soil behind it, compared with just building the bottom of the floor framing to the top of the retaining wall? 2) does removing significant soil (i.e. 3,500 lbs of potentially wet clay which is about 36 cu ft or about 8" of soil underneath the planned structure) offset the load of the shed? 3) do you see any other glaring issues with this idea? To be clear this structure is not for habitation it's just for storage but regardless of the purpose I do not want to compromise the retaining wall.
2024.05.10 20:56 amrjsRead around the world challenge: what books should I read? I'd love suggestions!!
I've decided that I need to expose myself to different literary traditions and stories, so I've embarked on the "reading around the world challenge" but I find the suggested reading lists I find to be quite dull or outdated. I'd love to know your suggestions. I don't need any books from the following countries because I've already checked them off the list (I'll add the books for anyone curious):
Albania(Free by lea Ypi)
Bangladesh(A golden age by Tahmima Anam)
Chile(Limpia by Alia Trabacco Zeran)
Ecuador(Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda)
England(The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert)
Germany(The Sandman by ETA Hoffman)
Guam(Dragonfruit by Maiika Lucier)
Japan(Weasles in the Attic by Hiroko Oyamada)
Malawi(The boy who harnessed the wind by William Kamwamba)
Pakistan(Exit West by Moshin Hamid)
Palestine(Victims of a map antology)
Poland (Drive your plow over the bones of the dead by Olga Tokarczuk)
Senegal(At night all blood is black by David Diop)
South Korea (Lemon by Kwon Yeo-Sun)
Sweden(The Deal of a lifetime by Fredrik Backman)
Turkey(The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak)
United States(so many lol)
I'd love a recommendation from your country if you'd like to share! :D
Hello, with starting ice hockey world championship I remembered I saw a finnish movie once that started with highlights of the final where Finland lost to Sweden 5:6. Then a guy in finnish jersey hangs himself on the tree that is symbol throughout the movie. In the end one of the characters cuts the tree down. There is not much more that I remember unfortunately, so I am trying to ask here if maybe someone will know what film is on my mind.
2024.05.10 20:24 kavyaorganicfarmGreen Giant Arborvitae: The Majestic Guardian of Your Garden
https://preview.redd.it/5ca02c7r5nzc1.jpg?width=1069&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=075aba41c24ca7e048ef795596c3b7baa2eeab54 Title: Green Giant Arborvitae: The Majestic Guardian of Your Garden In the realm of garden guardians, few plants possess the grandeur and grace of the Green Giant Arborvitae. Standing tall and proud, these majestic evergreens are not just mere decorations; they are stalwart protectors of your outdoor sanctuary. From their stately appearance to their myriad benefits, Green Giant Arborvitaes rightfully earn their place as the guardians of your garden. Native to North America, particularly in the eastern regions, the Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant') is a cultivar of the Thuja genus renowned for its impressive size and resilience. Unlike its counterparts, this variety can reach towering heights of up to 30 feet or more, with a width spanning 10 to 15 feet at maturity. Its pyramid-shaped form and dense foliage of vibrant green needles make it a striking addition to any landscape. One of the most notable attributes of the Green Giant Arborvitae is its adaptability to various growing conditions. Whether your garden basks in full sun or partial shade, this hardy evergreen thrives, adding structure and visual interest to the space. Moreover, it is tolerant of different soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, provided they are well-drained. Such versatility makes it an ideal choice for landscapes of all sizes and styles, from formal gardens to naturalistic settings. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Green Giant Arborvitae serves as a reliable guardian, offering numerous benefits to your garden ecosystem. Primarily, its dense foliage provides excellent privacy screening, shielding your outdoor oasis from prying eyes and unwanted noise pollution. Whether you seek solitude for meditation or simply desire a secluded retreat, these towering sentinels create a sense of sanctuary within your own backyard. Furthermore, their dense growth habit and thick foliage offer habitat and protection for various wildlife species. Birds, in particular, are drawn to the shelter provided by the branches, making the Green Giant Arborvitae an essential element of any bird-friendly landscape. From nesting to foraging, these evergreens support avian biodiversity, enriching your garden with the delightful sights and sounds of feathered friends. In addition to its role as a habitat provider, the Green Giant Arborvitae contributes to environmental sustainability through its air-purifying capabilities. Like all plants, it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen during photosynthesis, helping to mitigate air pollution and combat climate change. Furthermore, its foliage traps airborne pollutants and particulate matter, improving air quality in your immediate surroundings. By incorporating these evergreens into your garden design, you not only enhance its beauty but also promote a healthier, more sustainable environment. Despite its towering stature, the Green Giant Arborvitae requires minimal maintenance, making it an ideal choice for busy gardeners. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and relatively pest and disease-resistant, sparing you the hassle of frequent watering and pest control measures. Occasional pruning may be necessary to maintain its desired shape and size, but otherwise, it is a low-maintenance addition to your landscape. When it comes to landscaping with Green Giant Arborvitaes, the possibilities are endless. Whether used as a focal point, a privacy screen, or a windbreak, their majestic presence adds vertical interest and year-round appeal to any garden. For smaller spaces, they can be planted in rows to create a living fence, defining boundaries while preserving open views. In larger landscapes, they can be grouped together to form a woodland backdrop or planted singly as specimen trees, commanding attention with their imposing height and graceful form. In conclusion, the Green Giant Arborvitae stands as a majestic guardian of your garden, embodying strength, beauty, and resilience. From its towering silhouette to its myriad benefits, this evergreen cultivar enriches your outdoor sanctuary in countless ways. Whether you seek privacy, biodiversity, or environmental sustainability, these majestic sentinels deliver, enhancing the beauty and functionality of your landscape for years to come. So, embrace the Green Giant Arborvitae as the noble protector of your garden, and watch as it transforms your outdoor space into a haven of natural splendor. With this structure and content, you have a comprehensive article that covers the beauty, benefits, and practical aspects of incorporating Green Giant Arborvitaes into garden landscapes.
