kiragecko - Tumblr blog

[kiragecko]

When people get a little too gung-ho about-

wait. cancel post. gung-ho cannot be English. where did that phrase come from? China?

ok, yes. gōnghé, which is…an abbreviation for “industrial cooperative”? Like it was just a term for a worker-run organization? A specific U.S. marine stationed in China interpreted it as a motivational slogan about teamwork, and as a commander he got his whole battalion using it, and other U.S. marines found those guys so exhausting that it migrated into English slang with the meaning “overly enthusiastic”.

That’s…wild. What was I talking about?

[kiragecko]

[Panels from a recent Nightwing comic (going by artstyle). Nightwing walks up a red carpet towards a pair of bouncers, saying,

"I just have a few questions to ask. I don't have time for the usual trouble."

One responds, "We're not letting you in here."

Nightwing replies, "You don't really have a choice."

Bouncer raises his gun. "Let me show you my choice."

Dick responds, "Look, we can do this one of two ways. The easy way, or ... "

He grins, " ... well, the equally easy way that leaves you feeling weak and ineffectual."

End ID.]

It's important to realize that Dick is the sort of guy who will usually try talking first, but he's also the sort of guy who will mock you the whole time he's talking you down.

"We can do this the easy way or we can do it the way that leaves you a shell of a man who will never recover." LMAO HELP HE'S SO COCKY AND THE WORST PART IS THAT HE'S 100% RIGHT.

[kiragecko]

It DOES apply to grain domestication! White people tend to assume grain production is necessary in a lot of contexts it REALLY isn't.

-

When colonizing the Americas, many colonizers forced the indigenous peoples to adopt farming. Or, if they HAD farming, to switch to European style farming. And it turns out that European farming requires infrastructure that the cultures involved did NOT have!

In Canada, people were forced to settle and farm. They lost access to histories and stories that were tied to physical locations. They lost access to the variety of goods they were formerly able to access through migration. They were no longer self-reliant when it came to clothing or housing, because those resources were intertwined with food gathering.

In Paraguay, people were forced to switch from low-effort crops to high effort ones. The Guaraní had periods of rest and relaxation, balanced with periods of incredibly high group effort. But, when rest periods were lost, people stopped being willing to work together in the same ways. People got HUNGRIER, because the food they grew before was more nutritious. And dietary diversity was lost, because they had designed their society around moving every 5 years, and gathering changing resources from the former settlements as the jungle recovered.

-

Is your setting actually a good fit for grain?

If they live in a jungle, it might be better to have limited agriculture. Food is LITERALLY growing on trees, all around them, so they probably only want to grow (at most) a few staple crops that don't take up a lot of space.

If they live in an area with a short growing season and low population density, grains are probably too much work for not enough reward. Herding or hunting is much more efficient.

In both these cases, they may still MANAGE the areas they are in. Planting berries on the sides of rivers. Pulling up competing plants so the fruit trees flourish. Dropping nuts in spots with the right light level to maximize their chance of growth.

Casually asks ‘who domesticated grain in your fantasy world?’ but while ripping her shirt off with a WWE stage and a roaring crowd just behind and slightly to the left. 

[kiragecko]

Grant was the same age as Dick...or possibly a little younger

I've been seeing fans interpret Dick's age as the same as Joey's, or somewhere between Grant and Joey, and you can absolutely change up their ages in fic or fan ideas! However, there is a canon basis for how old Grant was when he died and how old Dick was at that time.

The New Teen Titans #1 (November 1980)

At this point, Dick has been in college for at least one semester, possibly two. In Detective Comics #488/5 (February-March 1980), Dick signs up for "another" semester at Hudson University, and then drops out in Detective Comics #495/5 (October 1980).

Dick first left for college in Batman Vol. 1 #217 (December 1969). He was, in his own words, an adult when he went to college, which I take to mean he was eighteen years old.

Batman Vol. 1 #217 (December 1969)

(Also, both Dick and Bruce crying about Dick leaving but not letting each other see it...aw lol)

So...given comics time, I'm not sure exactly how long he was supposed to have spent at Hudson University, but it has to be at least one and a half semesters, making Dick at least eighteen or nineteen in NTT #1.

This is also the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths timeline, which came out in 1985-1986 and changed some things about the mainstream DC universe. In pre-crisis, Dick was still Robin while in college, and seems to have spent longer there.

In post-Crisis, Dick is 19 when the Joker shoots him in the shoulder and Bruce fires him as Robin (Batman #408 - June 1987). Dick later says that he finished one semester of college, but was distracted and did so poorly that they asked him not come back for a second semester (Batman #416 - February 1988). Following this, he joined (rejoined?) the New Teen Titans as Nightwing rather than Robin, and the events with Ravager, Deathstroke, and the Judas Contract seem to have proceeded as they did in pre-crisis continuity. This would put Dick at 19 or 20 at the time of Grant's death.

Now that we're in the post-Flashpoint continuity...I honestly don't know if Dick's age in relation to Grant's and Joey's was supposed to have changed. Deathstroke 2016 features the New Teen Titans and Grant's death in one arc where Slade has the speedforce and is time-traveling...but Dick's age is pretty unclear.

(DC: "We rebooted the universe in 2011 to make it easier for new readers to get into." Me, a new reader in 2021: "I don't even think you tried at all.")

So, after all this, I'm going back to The New Teen Titans (1980), which has this panel:

The New Teen Titans #2 (December 1980)

The dates on Grant's headstone read 1961-1980, which puts him at either 18 or 19 when he died, depending on whether or not he had a birthday that year yet.

If we are assuming that both Grant's and Dick's ages stay constant in relation to each other as the irl years change--and I think we have to; if comics characters aged in real time, Bruce would be long dead--then they are either the same age, or Grant was in fact slightly younger than Dick.

[kiragecko]

In my soul and spirit I'm rejoicing with the 911 kiddos for their good fortune, but the true vector for spreading fannish enthusiasm on Tumblr is the gifset, and all the 911 gifsets seem to be of 2-3 absolutely identical dudes, so it's all very confusing. I don't know which one Buck is, but I guess he's going on dates with a guy who isn't the other main guy? I actually thought there were gays already, but what I'm learning is that those are the gays from a different show which is also 911, a show I was not even aware had a cinematic universe. Anyway I believe in my heart that all of this would feel less confusing to me if it were happening on a space ship, but people who watch procedurals deserve happiness and I'm not afraid to say it. God bless you and your 2-5 sturdy, indistinguishable white men.

[kiragecko]

So, I stopped the Sleeping Pills That Worked at the very beginning of January.

It's now the very end of April.

I tried three other medications during that time, but I don't think any were for more than a week.

I have FINALLY reached pre-sleeping pills levels of exhaustion and non-functioning.

That's almost FOUR MONTHS! I get that steadily worsening hives aren't something I can ignore. But maybe I could do a one month on, two months off thing? Like, do y'all think that my allergic reaction to whatever's in the meds is cumulative, or do you think it would reset if I took breaks? It took two months to get to the point I could no longer pretend it wasn't a normal eczema flareup! One month would easily get me functional, and recognizing that being awake and asleep are different things! And I could survive two months of being tired!

I just don't want try try another new medication. I really really don't. And I can't DO ANYTHING. Whether I'm standing up or lying down, the light, non-rejuvenating sense of dozing never goes away. I'm SO TIRED.

[kiragecko]

ok i lied ONE MORE THING.

i may make a proper masterpost one day, but until then..

bam. diamond pearls au character infosheet. it is here.

[kiragecko]

I think my interest in historic world fashion is related to my quest to understand attraction.

All that effort put into something that is incredibly artistic, but so unrelated to the human form, seems like it hints at ... something. Like, Heian era or Islamic fashion that covers almost the entire person. Many historical Subsaharan fashions that involved reshaping the body. Body paint and tattooing.

It's easier for me to understand, in many ways. It's just art. I get art.

But it also hints that maybe all attraction contains some mixture of art and prior assumptions? Like, we are taught certain things are attractive, and when we see a good example of that thing we are trained to feel attracted. But we can be trained to see ANYTHING as attractive.

So when I put on a sari or a kimono, when I draw a Peruvian or Nigerian woman based on historical sculptures - the result is attractive in a way the people around me aren't trained to recognize.

There's something exciting about that.

“It’s the common lament of the ace to be infantilized, viewed as static, standing still, trapped in amber. Those close to us will outgrow us and leave us behind. We’ll end up alone because we will never be recognized as adults by society. […] When people look at me, they don’t see someone who has years of work and even managerial experience, who is financially stable and owns a home. They don’t see someone who has a partnership and two failed marriage proposals in their past and has outgrown them rather than been outgrown. They don’t see someone who has gray in their hair… although to be fair to them, it’s not usually visible.”

— Growing Up, Growing Into, Growing Out, Outgrowing

[kiragecko]

Another favourite angst trope: When a character is so used to being treated badly that they don't see anything wrong with it and talk and think about it very matter-of-factly

Until they meet the other characters and see how HORRIFIED they are every time they reveal another detail from their past

[kiragecko]

this does not apply if you wear exclusively leggings. Those things tear all the time you need like a million on standby

[kiragecko]

before the poll, a quick definition of terms:

"mutual" - you found this post from a mutual (on their blog or your dash) "following" - you found this post from someone you're following, but who isn't following you "random" - you found this by scrolling through someone's blog, who you don't follow. this includes people following you "For You" - you found this on the For You page "recommended" - you found this in a "Check out these blogs" popup, or a "recommended" post when looking at a different post "other" - you found this post some other way. comment how? "reblog ✅" - you're going to reblog, queue, or schedule this post "reblog ❌" - you're NOT going to reblog, queue, or schedule this post

with that out of the way:

[kiragecko]

"I'd die for you, Bruce."

Robin & Batman #3

Batman/Nightwing: Bloodborne

Infinite Crisis #7

Batman: Beyond the White Knight #6

[kiragecko]

So much internal conflict here.

It's completely true. But I HATED the texture of most linings. And the stitching they used to add it. And the edge where the Texture Would Change because the lining needed to be smaller so it didn't show.

The bad material we have now, with it's single layer of elastic fabric. Where the elastic will die after a few years, and the inadequate seems will unravel, and holes show up the first time you brush past something.

All those bad qualities are directly related to it being wearable for me. And so I'm conflicted.

It's incredible how people have been protesting pants and skirts not having pockets but not a single peep is heard over the fact that skirts no longer have underskirts by default. Underskirts (or lining) was a thing when I was a child, no skirt would be made without lining, you didn't have to think and check if your whole ass is visible in a skirt because lining was a thing!!!! Now most skirts don't and it's simply because it's cheaper, fuck the fact that a customer doesn't want their panties shown in broad daylight, it saves a couple of cents on material.

[kiragecko]

Sometimes we also lose relationships because we aren't ready to or capable of change. And we need to accept that too.

Sometimes, the other person needs me to talk to them at least once a week or they start worrying I don't care about them, but my time-blindness is getting in the way, and the friendship ends to protect their emotional health.

I am not a bad person for not having the resources and energy to set up a structure that lets me call someone weekly. They are not cruel for choosing to end a relationship that is hurting them.

I can learn to start relationships with people who don't have the same kind of anxieties. Or who are physically close enough to me that we can see each other without appointments. Or who are willing to call me the majority of the time, and let me show I care in different ways.

Since the OP made their post unrebloggable (and blocked me. Both actions they are well in with their right to do)

I'm going to make my response it's own post because I think the point is important

-

As someone who is autistic and has BPD and CPTSD and loads of trauma yes you sometimes need to change how you interact with others to keep people around

When I was 13 I hit the few friends I had when I was angry

I had to change that in order to keep those friendships

When I was in my early 20s if I was losing an disagreement with my husband I would threaten to kill myself. My husband told me it hurt him and was cruel and manipulative behaviour, because it was.

So I worked hard to change that to keep my relationship

It's easy to say "I shouldn't have to change for others" and that's true to an extent. You shouldn't change your interests or passions or dim your light. And you should have space to be imperfect and flawed and not have to pretend your ugly bits aren't real. But if something you are doing it causing other people harm you kinda need to change that.

That's called "living in a society"

People adapt to each other and make space for each other in their lives. You adapt to them and they adapt to you

You start being more diligent about throwing away the empty toilet roll because it really bothers them. They start warning you before they run the blender because you hate loud noises

I stopped threatening to kill myself because I was mad I was losing an argument and my husband stopped being so vocally judgemental amount media he personally dislikes

There is a certain type of person who heard the phrase "your emotions are valid" and took that to mean "my emotional reactions and my behaviour are always objectively correct because my emotions are valid and if you have an emotional response or react to what I'm doing negatively then you are wrong and you can't be hurt because my emotions are valid"

And that's a recipe for disaster

Your emotions are valid to feel. They are how you feel and there are reasons you feel the way you do

However, your reactions and behaviour are something you can learn to control and can be irrational

We live in a society and we as people change each other as we interact and that isn't necessarily a bad thing

[kiragecko]

@zahri-melitor is doing a meme called 'titling stories is hard', and I wanted to join in.

This is what they said:

give people the chance to say nice things about your story titles (meme time!) (if you want to join in, take this and repost and let me know so I can tell you how banger I think some of your horribly agonised over titles really are)

My basic categories of fic titles are pretty straightforward:

Straightforward Description of the Main Theme or Plotpoint

Alternate Histories

Poutine

Kon Is Loyal

Is It Really True?

AllGoddess

Straightforward Description of the Secondary Theme that is Pretending to Be the Main Theme

Ives Adapts

Presents

Perfect

Inevitable

Growing Up

A Little Time

Enough Time

Sometimes It's Hard to Think

Punny Allusion to Multiple Themes or Plotpoints

The Shirt Off Your Back

Terms of Use

Barely a Pun about the Main Character’s Name/Powers (usually an OC)

Whisperings

Crystalline

A lot of these are from 20 years ago, and I might not use them now. Some of them don't perform their intended function quite as well as I would have liked. And 'Presents' DEMANDED a Punny Allusion to Multiple Themes or Plotpoints, but I couldn't find one at the time. Annoying.

But I'm still proud of several of my titles.

[kiragecko]

Smugly remembers my childhood spent camping of random cattle trails in provincial parks where we spent $5 for the weekend and never saw another person.

Okay, I completely understand that getting time off work can be a Sisyphean ordeal these days, but every time I run into the whole "only rich people go on vacation" discourse I'm thinking surely I'm not the only one whose childhood experience of "going on vacation" was piling everybody into the car and driving for six hours to pay twenty dollars a day for the privilege of setting up some leaky tents on a fifty-foot-by-fifty-foot patch of dirt next to a mosquito-infested pond in a "private campground" whose only standout features were a. an outdoor miniature golf course that hadn't been maintained in twenty years, and b. a truly breathtaking fire ant population.

[kiragecko]

[Comic shows a bear sitting at a laptop. They say, "beep".

The cat sitting beside them, reading, looks up with an "!" They say, "beep", back.

The bear gets a happy little heart beside them.

End ID.]

My kids and I have started a 'Plum Frog Club'. Anyone can say, "plum frog", and the others will respond back with the same phrase. My eldest reacts in the same way as the bear.

random noise to let you know I love u