#flatwise

[dvudushnydiaries]

Then straightway large-eyed queenly Hera prayed, striking the ground flatwise with her hand, and speaking thus : ‘Hear now, I pray, Gaia and wide Ouranos above, and you Titanes gods who dwell beneath the earth about great Tartaros, and from whom are sprung both gods and men! Harken you now to me, one and all, and grant that I may bear a child apart from Zeus, no wit lesser than him in strength--nay, let him be as much stronger than Zeus as all-seeing Zeus than Kronos.’

[livesonthebside]

P.S. I am aware of the controversy over whether that is actually Lt Irving in the grave marked as his, but I definitely lean towards the idea that it is him. Russell Potter kindly published the letter Dave Woodman wrote to him on the matter:

[Woodman’s] conclusions are:

- the grave is probably Irving’s and is good supportive evidence of an abortive 1848 abandoned

- the Bayne story does not fit the topography of Crozier’s Landing and needs Inuit-European contact for which there is no evidence in 1848

- Supunger’s vault was too deep, and differently constructed (note sidewalls “all nicely walled with flat stones placed one above another, flatwise.”) from Irving’s grave

[veindra]

Diversity hire!

There was a song I heard at a bar forever ago, and I wanted to find the band, cuz it was the opposite of catchy and not really my cuppa but super clever? So I wrote the refrain down on a napkin for later. I found the napkin years later, tucked between books I'd piled up flatwise to serve as bookends. But I had no recollection of writing it down until later. Like months later, after I'd already thrown it away. Like, now. Guess I just had to be in a comparable frame of mind to recall where exactly I'd seen it before? But it's gone now, can't remember what it said, and I really wish I could stop annoying myself so thoroughly. Do you have any habits like that? Like if someone else pulled that shit in front of you, you'd knock them upside their head? Apropos, show of hands... who hearts mescaline?

[transinistor]

Well !  He's  not  sure  that's  quite  what  he  expected.  Most  would  have  jumped  at  the  chance.  He  doesn't  believe  this  based  on  pure  conceit,  of  course.  He  didn't  fancy  himself  irresistible.  Some  strange,  broken  part  of  him  would  have  liked  it  if  he  was  the  most  repugnant  thing  in  hell  at  times...  No,  this  view  was  based  on  almost  every  other  experience  he'd  had  with  just  about  every  other  man  and  a  good,  strong  handful  of  women,  too.  Not  that  this  was  exclusive  to  hell,  mind  you.  Those  in  hell  were  just  far  more....  Obscene  about  it.  Hell  had  a  way  of  turning  even  curiosity  into  a  vulgar  sport,  after  all.

No,  he  isn’t  hurt.  He  isn’t  offended.  He's  hardly  even  suprised.  But  something…  Tugs  in  the  way  that  its  said.  ❝  Not  with  me ?  Even  though  I  look  so  good  flatwise  ?  ❞  Of  course,  his  tone  and  the  way  one  of  his  brows  dips  in  question  reflects  amusement,  but  not  in  the  giddy  way  it  usually  does.  Despite  his  joking,  a  soft  sense  of  admiration  is  lingering  within  it.

❝  Haha,  oh,  Husker,  that  is  a  good  answer.  But  you  really  ought  to  be  careful.  You  almost  make  it  sound  as  if  I  actually  mean  something  to  you. ❞   And  that's  something  he  didn't  know  how  to  wrangle.  He  couldn’t  be  a  fourth  failed  marriage  and  he  couldn’t  be  the  one,  either.  But  Husk’s  refusal  —  that  stubborn,  principled  little  "not  with  you"  —  was  somehow  worth  more  to  him  than  anything  else  could  have  been...  So  where  did  that  leave  them...? 

Apprehension  aside  and awkward  silence  filling  the  air,  now  was  probably  the  best  time  to  ask.  ❝  What...  Do  I  mean  to  you...  ? ❞  Not  just  the  freak  holding  his  metaphorical  leash,  right ?  He supposed he'd   hoped  not.  And  yet  what  else  could  he  really  be ?  Things  hadn't  exactly  gone...  Right  between  them...

` despite how much husk seems to understand alastor — he doesn't fucking get him at all. irritated though he may be to see others misunderstanding the creepy fucker, he himself is no better. the bottle stops on its way to his lips as sharp eyes flicker toward the encroaching demon. slowly, an eyebrow rises in disbelief. did he hear that right? with these fucking ears, he must have, so the next conclusion might be the encroaching madness finally catching up to him.

` but, no — much to his dismay, he is mind-numbingly sane.

` the bottle lowers slightly as he takes in alastor's ' suggestive ' stance, or at least as suggestive as the demon can manage. it's an odd combination of awkward inexperience and graceful confidence and it makes his throat run dry. ( it's so very him. so very, unmistakeably alastor. ) husk swallows the whiskey in a heavy gulp, eyes scrolling along the long, gangly body before they glance away, returning the bottle to take another deep drink.

` " I don't do ' just for tonight ', " he finally mumbles against the lip of the bottle, clutching it like a safety blanket. he's distantly aware of the possibility of his demise in rejecting alastor, but the threat is always never too far behind. it has become his shadow. ( better to get ripped to shreds than fuck this up with him. whatever ' this ' is. ) the glowing eyes risk another quick glance in alastor's direction before dropping, as though his gaze focuses on something beyond the physical space.

` " 'specially not with you. "

[cerastes]

The love they poured into Jiang Hu and Dusk’s animation, good lord.

What Dusk wields is a Jian, a particularly oversized one, in fact, in the style of a Han Dynasty-era design.

The Sui saga pays a lot of homage to Wuxia films and stories. The Jian, among classic Chinese weaponry, is considered “The Gentleman of Weapons”, and is usually the weapon of choice among many weapon-wielding Wuxia protagonists as it allows for sharp cuts, efficient thrusts, strong deflections, and elegant motions. What makes this straight sword effective at deflections is the fact that China, with its big territory and borders, had access to good quality iron ore (mostly through import or acquisition, their own reserves were not high quality), and thus was able to forge weaponry that was sturdy and durable without sacrificing flexibility, an incredibly important and often overlooked aspect of weaponry. 

Another staple in Wuxia is calligraphy and swordsmanship being intimately tied, as precision, focus, and your ‘tool’ being an extension of your body was fundamental. A brush or a sword couldn’t be a tool, it had to be a part of you, before you could call yourself a true calligrapher or a swordsman. “Hero” (2002) and “Crouching Tiger,  Hidden Dragon” (2000) both have iconic calligraphy-into-swordsmanship scenes, and the calligraphers in both of these settings are also the best swordmasters. I am deliberately using these two examples as some of the better known Wuxia in the West, if you look into more Wuxia, you’ll find this is a very common trope. Another trope is the calligrapher being coy or deflective about his or her skill with the sword, a trait that Dusk also embodies:

If asked about it, Dusk essentially replies “Brush and sword, at the lowest level, open the world’s truths to the wielder, and at the highest level, allow the wielder shape the world and its truths. Am I kidding or am I being serious? Don’t worry about it”. Fitting, given Dusk’s powers that allow her to create pocket dimensions and imbue life into her art, without getting into being able to draw the innermost emotions from within others to create worlds, dreams, and nightmares with these, in the same vein calligraphy invites deep, reflective thought in those who can grasp its essence and beauty. It’s the deflection one would expect from a calligrapher and swordmaster that prefers to splash ink instead of spilling blood. The hermit calligrapher swordmaster is, indeed, a beloved trope in Wuxia.

But in Jiang Hu, it seems Nian has somehow convinced Dusk to do something she doesn’t even do in her capacity of an Operator: Go wild with her sword for a bit. And the animators knew what they had to do.

A Jian is meant to bend:

During Dusk’s demonstration with the sword, if we pay attention, we can see that her blade bends beautifully with some of her more forceful motions. Some of these are merely motions added to the sword for the sake of dynamism -- a technique to better show motion in animation -- but those are exclusive to edgewise bends, akin to smear frames. Note above how the blade bends flatwise. This is deliberate, to mimic how a Jian looks like in reality, a beautifully inspired touch! It happens on certain frames when Dusk can’t deflect and is forced to block:

And this is what the blade ought to do! This is how one animates a good Jian! It’s a flexible, strong sword! (of course, if you can help it, you don’t block with a sword, you deflect!)

The presence of mind, precision and focus of the calligrapher and swordmaster, as stated, is important in Wuxia, as the true master can tear and sever when they have no other choice, but likewise, the true master must have completely control, as to not give in to the thirst of the unsheathed blade. A beginner can cut with a blade, a master can not cut with a blade. A bit esoteric, if you’re not familiar with the philosophy, but allow Dusk to demonstrate this control:

Those swings are not wild, they are motions full of intent, deliberate and meaningful, and the Jian in the hands of a master is often compared to the wind, and the reason it is considered the Gentleman of Weapons: It must simultaneously be a strong gale that severs, and a gentle breeze that doesn’t harm the world around it, outside of the enemy, not even a simple leaf.

As for the sparring session with her ink clone, it reflects Dusk’s passive nature, as the clone is the attacker for the most part, with Dusk preferring to deflect, dodge, and only occasionally counterstrike. Funnily enough, much like Nian, it seems one of Dusk’s techniques when she actually has to fight seriously is to manifest multiple massive weapons to attack. Perhaps it is because it resembles Nian’s powers to some degree that Dusk prefers not to do this. Just her clone is able to launch multiple greatswords and spears like it’s nothing. Sometimes a nightmare real is not enough and you have to cut someone open, it seems. All in high heels, because you gotta flex a little, you know?

The attention to detail and motion that they put into these animations shows the deep love Hypergryph has already shown for good choreography and Wuxia before in Who Is Real? and Invitation To Wine, and they even tell us a bit more about Dusk, to boot. You can check this gorgeous animation here, starting at 10:52.

But it does make you wonder how the conversation between the sisters went in order to get Dusk to participate in Nian’s movie. 

“I want you to help me in my movie!”  “No way. Your movies as garbage.”  “But little Dusk’s sick sword skills are the Formula X that will make it work, no one else will do...” *very covertly blushing* “Well, I guess I can at least read your script.”

[gallusrostromegalus]

Could you share the recipe for the chicken tonkatsu? It looks really good and I'm so going to making it, but I have a history of picking the worst possible recipe. Also how do you always have such amazing meals? Like seriously, I'm in awe of your ability to do so so consistently.

Mom insisted I start cooking dinner 2-3 nights a week back in high school, partly becuase I was a teen and therefore do teen chores, and partly so I wouldn’t poison myself eating “medium rare chicken” when I left home.  If you want more recipies, I also have @tonightsdinneris, which I’ll try to update more.

...and maybe get some real placemats.

Chicken “Tonkatsu” 

Ingredients: 

As many  as you need to feed people  (basically , cut a chicken breast flatwise to get two flat pieces of chicken.)

1 egg per cutlet 

Rice

You know the cheap, off-brand rice crispies that are like, a buck?  that.  

Big old bunch of Chinese Broccoli/Gai Lan

couple cloves of garlic

couple green onions

sesame seeds OR slivered almonds

booze, bourbon’s good for this

Salt & Pepper

olive oil or the like, for frying

Pre-made tonkatsu sauce, I have no clue how to make it from scratch also I’ve been on my feet for 12 hours already so fuckit.jpg

Optional, if you’re not a weenie like my fiance: Red pepper flakes.  Like, the kind that come in packets with dominoes.

Tools:

stove with working burners and oven

large pan

RICE COOKER THAT’S NOT A FILTHY LIAR.

spatula/tongs/other means of prodding things in a hot pan

cutting board

kitchen knife

baking sheet

aluminum foil

cooking spray

2 small bowls

plates and utensils to eat with

like that last part seems like a joke but I've made dinner without realizing i didn’t have clean plates before. make sure you got that first

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 450F. IDK what that is in metric.

cover baking sheet with foil and cooking spray.

measure out and start cooking appropriate amount of rice.  No, more than that.

rinse Gai Lan and pull the leaves off. chop the stems into 2-inch pieces and roughly chop the leaves.  I know, that’s a huge pile of leaves, don’t worry about it.

chop up garlic and white part of green onions, then chop up green part, keeping them separate.

Toss stems with olive oil, salt and pepper.  doesn’t need a lot this stuff soaks up flavor. Spread out on a single layer on half the baking sheet and throw in the over for like, 10 minutes.

Also, heat up some oil in the pan.

rinse and if necessary, cut chicken breasts into cutlets.  if you’ve already cut them, good job you!

take about a cup of not-rice-crispies per cutlet in a plastic bag, and smash it repeatedly on the counter until mostly pulverized.  pour that in one of the small bowls.  You could, I suppose, use panko but honestly this stuff has a better texture and is a fuckton cheaper?

break eggs into other bowl and whisk like you’re making scrambled eggs.

season cutlets with salt & pepper (this dish is hella mild because my fiance was kind of sick to his stomach, add whatever seasoning you want.  Ginger and Cumin go good on this too)

dip cutlets in egg, then press into the crispies on both sides.

fry cutlets in pan for 2-3 minutes on meduim.  They ought to be done right around when the timer for the gai lan  comes on. don’t turn off the heat or clean the pan yet. 

Prod gai lan stems with spatula to flip, and place cutlets on other side of the pan.  Return tray to oven for another 6-8 minutes.

while those finish cooking, add more oil to pan, and fry garlic, white parts of onions and the sesame seeds/almonds until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.

of stuff starts sticking to the pan, toss a shot of bourbon in there and stir everything while it bubbles.  if you’re not used to this, it’s gonna bubble and steam like crazy, mind your face.

once the steam dies down, toss in the leaves and stir until leaves are wilted, about 2-4 minutes.  

once chicken and stems are done, combine stems and leaves and serve with rice, chicken and sauce.

UNLESS YOUR RICE COOKER IS A FILTHY LIAR THAT TAKES 45 GODDAMN MINUTES TO COOK SOME RICE YOU LAZY SLACKER.

[lady-castleton]

ernestpembroke​:

Ernest was many things and among those was incredibly dramatic. He wore his thoughts and emotions clearly, for the most part, rarely making an attempt to hide himself. In his dramatics, there was often exaggeration, however; and … Well, perhaps he saw that in her, or perhaps his gut did, but for whatever reason he did not quite buy those tears were genuine. Even so, he wasn’t necessarily suspicious. Theatrics did not always happen for any real reason, he should know. Sometimes, the moment just seemed to call for it.

He did at least, still believe she was a grieving widow and mother. He had already helped her this far, too and … It was boring but perhaps he could do some more digging to help her? If there was a lord in town then surely, someone he knew would know him. He could ask around.

But perhaps she was not a good mother, perhaps he shouldn’t, perhaps the lord had a good reason to abandon her. His own relationship with his mother, though he never did hate her, was thick on his mind. Talk of a complicated mother-son dynamic was bound to bring such memories forward. He wouldn’t have disappeared on her, though. Perhaps he’d have been cold but it wouldn’t have gotten to this point – A worse one, entirely.

Ernest swallowed and offered a nod. “Well,” he cleared his throat, “Lady Castleton, I will ask some of my friends, I’m sure someone has heard of him if he’s here. If I do find anything I’ll be sure to contact you, whatever the cause, family should not be so abandoned.” 

Whatever the cause was a good indicator of his rising uneasiness, though he knew he was likely projecting. 

“My condolences for your loss.”

-

The gentleman’s face was animated and expressive, a play in three acts: discomfort, suspicion, confusion. Unexpected, in a sea of his peers long since trained either to faces of stone, or worse, jaded boredom. 

And then, a surprising epilogue: kindness.

Lord Pembroke was too good for London, she decided. Him and the bright Miss Crow both. 

"Thank you,” she said, genuinely grateful, “Although you should not put yourself out on my behalf. There is precious little time left in the Season for your own matters.”

She paused, fan twirled carelessly in her left hand. Once, twice. 

Closed it, then laid it flatwise along the window. 

“My lady,” the driver said, aggrieved, “We really must go.” 

She sent the gentleman a look, apologetic, and inclined her head. 

“I wish you all the best in your endeavors, Lord Pembroke.”

[shuanpual-blog]

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[howtopronounceenglishcorrectly]

Learn how to pronounce Flatwise in English --- FLATWISE Pronunciation of Flatwise: /'flæt,waɪz/ adverb Definition of Flatwise: with the flat surface presented in some expressed or implied position ★ http://Learn2Pronounce.com ★ How to pronounce Flatwise | English pronunciation: https://youtu.be/v48b2pXxjI8

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[shuanpual-blog]

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[shuanpual-blog]

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[howtopronounceenglishcorrectly]

Learn how to pronounce Flatways in English --- FLATWAYS Pronunciation of Flatways: /'flæt,weɪz/ adverb Definition of Flatways: flatwise ★ http://Learn2Pronounce.com ★ How to pronounce Flatways | English pronunciation: https://youtu.be/L8vac4eTRi4