schrodingersauthorii

[schrodingersauthorii]

I quit my last job over something similar. Do not test me. I WILL leave. (AFTER securing another job this time tho.)

There was an Incident at work, and everyone keeps telling me to calm down because "it's not your fault" (I know that) and "nobody was hurt" (I'm aware.)

But in the deepest core of my being, I am a Swiss Cheese maker and I will not fucking calm down while I can see through the fucking holes. Shut up and get me the goddamn milk. I want an 8am staff meeting tomorrow, and a full report with recommended actions by the end of the week.

[schrodingersauthorii]

There was an Incident at work, and everyone keeps telling me to calm down because "it's not your fault" (I know that) and "nobody was hurt" (I'm aware.)

But in the deepest core of my being, I am a Swiss Cheese maker and I will not fucking calm down while I can see through the fucking holes. Shut up and get me the goddamn milk. I want an 8am staff meeting tomorrow, and a full report with recommended actions by the end of the week.

[schrodingersauthorii]

Natsume completely failing to realize a lot of the girls in class thinks he's hot-- and that he IS very cute in general-- is such a funny and cute detail to me, it's sort of alluded to in cultural festival ep (and in the penultimate ep of season 4 when that girl is like "THAT'S the kid you hate that you lived with? Girl he's cute") but the manga actually having Nishimura and Kitamoto point it out in a *totally heterosexual way* is incredible.

"Hey Natsume, Mr. Handsome, tell me about how you manage to be so attractive. uh. to girls I mean"

"??? literally no one's ever called me handsome in my life what are you talking about".

"WHAT THE HELL THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY"

No guys it's true. :'( he was so ostracized no one ever pointed out how pretty he is. He's completely unaware and his low self esteem means he'll never believe it. it's a tragedy.

I love Kitamoto's reaction especially "no one called you handsome. did you go to schools in OUTER SPACE. did you go to schools in HELL"

"They were normal schools???"

"NO THEY WERE CLEARLY NOT"

[schrodingersauthorii]

So much of the hatred towards meal prepping is literally just a skills issue. You wouldn't find the idea of eating the same thing (which you also don't have to do. You can freeze meals or cook different things with the same ingredients/ bake time ect.) so appalling if you liked your own cooking.

I frequently eat the same thing 3+ days in a row, and am happy to do so because my beautiful pasta or soup or stirfry fucking slaps.

Genuinely, JUST LEARN HOW TO COOK.

[schrodingersauthorii]

the forbidden power of the book of friends

informed by @tanumaskoipond's post about forbidden magic and also in ways that may not be immediately obvious by @norstrum's post about matoba's relationship with power, as well as my own reading with an eye toward 1) what is forbidden (and according to whom) and 2) what is practiced (and by whom). this analysis is still very sketchy and incomplete (especially regarding things like shinobu's watch and the constructed youkai made by matoba and the conjurer) and i haven't done an entire series reread so am certainly missing a lot, but i also know i just need to post it now unless i want it to languish in my drafts forever. think of it as a jumping-off point rather than some kind of comprehensive treatise.

the goals and principles of exorcism

first let's try to recreate exorcist ethics from first principles. lol.

above all else, harm to humans should be minimized.

youkai pose a threat of harm to humans because:

(a) only a small minority of humans can see them/know they're there. this means many humans are defenseless against them

(b) they have special powers they can use against humans, including powers of mind control

(c) they do not know/care about/feel beholden to human conceptions of morality

(d) they have reasons to hate humans (e.g., humans harming their habitats)

corollary: (2.1) humans who can't see youkai are not equipped with the knowledge or spiritual power needed to defend themselves from youkai and therefore should not be encouraged to interact with them [accounts for taki's magic circle, which natori says is forbidden (ch 62)]. (exception: some people who can't see youkai are exorcists (according to takuma in special 15), but perhaps these people do have knowledge and/or some other form of spiritual power that, alongside the use of tools, allows them to protect themselves?)

3. people who can see youkai have a responsibility to neutralize the threat of youkai toward humans, especially toward those who can't see them. exorcism is the art/practice of neutralizing the threat of youkai to humans. this can be accomplished by:

(a) eliminating (killing) youkai

(b) imprisoning youkai [accounts for sealing jars, which seem to be allowed since we see many different exorcists using them (e.g., ch 11)]

(c) confining or converting youkai to a form that is less able to harm humans [either this or (3b) accounts for homura cats per their creator's explanation: "your job is to secure the malevolent within you and protect the people who depend on you" (ch 104); they seem to be allowed]

(d) creating contracts with youkai wherein the youkai agree to help the person in their exorcist duties, in return for not being exorcised themselves [accounts for shiki, e.g., natori's (ch 7) and takuma's (vol 15)]

(e) purifying (soothing the resentment of) youkai

corollary: (3.1) people who can see youkai have a responsibility NOT to strengthen a youkai's ability to harm humans, e.g., by increasing either their power or their autonomy. this includes the responsibilities

(a) not to create objects (vessels*) that can increase the power or autonomy of the youkai that inhabit them, or that can themselves create/become youkai** [accounts for the scarecrows, which are forbidden according to yorishima (ch 80); possibly accounts for ceramic puppet in homura, which is forbidden according to its creator (ch 104) but which matoba has no compunctions about turning to his own use (ch 103) until natori says "admit it, it's not a mere tool anymore. it won't do your bidding" (ch 104)]

(b) not to attract youkai to such vessels/help youkai inhabit them [accounts for the doll in the eye eater chapter (ch 77), which matoba says is forbidden, and by extension should account for the "final two" dolls (ch 74) because their creation is described in a very similar manner]

*there's some evidence that it is specifically humanoid vessels that are most likely to have this property. so are ban's wooden puppets (ch 101) forbidden ("he uses wooden boards as puppets," says natori, neutrally)? natori's paper dolls certainly aren't forbidden, so maybe it has something to do with both shape and material/durability?

**i'm not sure if what these vessels are creating/housing are always considered youkai. maybe more accurate would be "a will that doesn't obey a human's commands"? (this is also the most relevant aspect of youkai that would require them to be exorcised - if they obey a human's commands, they're not a danger to humans and can be allowed to exist.)

other notes:

what is it about shinobu's watch (one of the tools matoba is referring to when he says, "she uses tools. she casts a spell on them to make things that imitate familiars. it tests the limits of what is permitted and what is forbidden with exorcists" (ch 124)) that is borderline forbidden? is it because she's creating something that didn't exist before (the thing that imitates a familiar)? but matoba also creates things that imitate familiars (i can't remember what chapter(s) their composition is discussed in, but they first appear in his intro in ch 24). are they in the same gray area? are they the same thing as the constructed youkai the conjurer makes using paper masks (ch 24-26)? "creating things that imitate familiars" might not fall under any of the principles above, unless the thing that imitates a familiar is at risk of attracting or becoming a youkai that could then go rogue, in which case (3.1) should apply. is it borderline because it's not guaranteed that it'll go rogue, so it only becomes forbidden if the exorcist loses control of their creation? that seems kind of backwards.

matoba's pot youkai (special 17) could fall under (3b), but he's using a variation where he lets the youkai out under his supervision rather than totally sealing it. (3d) is not available to him because his family is essentially cursed, but he can take advantage of a trapped youkai by, e.g., keeping it hungry and then only releasing it when in the vicinity of another youkai he wants to destroy. is this frowned upon? (possibly by natori.) do other exorcists do this?

i'm not sure if it's explicitly stated to be forbidden, but presumably if all of the above holds, then allowing oneself to be possessed by a youkai is forbidden (both because it's dangerous to the possessee, and because it increases the ability of the possessing youkai to harm humans by giving them undercover access to human victims (who would think it's just another human) and some form of shielding from counterattack (since exorcists would try not to hurt the possessee)). it's true that matoba goes after the guy in ch 53-54 (letter from the exorcist) who's allowing the mask youkai to possess him, but this could just be because that guy poses a threat to the matoba specifically.

is there a way to explain why the book of friends would be banned without directly contradicting one of the above principles? the canon explanation is provided by natori, who says, "bind them [youkai] with their real names, and they can't refuse even simple statements. some cruel spells let you hold their very lives in your hands" (ch 62). but then upon learning such an object actually exists, he wants to burn it because it's dangerous (ch 73); this would of course burn all the bound youkai to death as well, but that doesn't seem to be his main concern. i don't think natori is a reliable source of information about why this kind of magic is forbidden.

and following (3a) and (3b) above, it doesn't seem to be the case that exorcists think of youkai as intrinsically deserving of life or liberty. or perhaps i'm missing something that makes eliminating a youkai via destroying their written true name different from eliminating them via standard exorcist methods. i can see there being a difference between removing a youkai's autonomy by imprisoning them vs. by overwriting their autonomy with your own, so maybe that's also in play?

exorcism in practice (exorcist politics)

there's a part of me that thinks that presenting the principles of exorcism in an ethics framework is putting the cart before the horse. it's assuming that exorcism is founded on ethics to begin with. or, maybe it's irrelevant what it was founded on. what matters now, in the fast-paced exorcist world of today?

this is pure speculation, but perhaps the banning of the practice of forcing youkai to obey all of one's commands could be more about keeping the power of individual exorcists in check. after all, according to natori it requires a lot of power to bind a youkai by their true name in the first place - is it wise for such a powerful person to also have complete control over youkai? allowing exorcists to do this could also create incentive for intracommunity violence (exorcists killing each other so that they can take control of the true names of youkai).

or, different idea. what does it mean for something to be "forbidden"? according to natori in 62, "exorcists have rules, too, you know. those who use forbidden spells are punished. and there are some types of contracts and exorcism that are forbidden." so what is forbidden is what (or a subset of what) is punished. if it's not punished, it's functionally not forbidden. what will get you punished? who is doing the punishing? (or, in a more pragmatic interpretation, there's an expectation that forbidden techniques will be punished, but some people get away with it. are certain people more likely to get away with it? are there people who are untouchable?)

ultimately, the exorcism ethic (assuming there is one) is not being applied in a vacuum; whatever we see on the page is likely to be in part a function of power dynamics within the community. for instance, maybe something that would usually be considered forbidden is de facto not forbidden for matoba because all the other exorcists know they can't (are either unable to, or it would ultimately be against their best interests to) punish him. in practice, is the matoba's level of interest in banning a technique the most important element in whether it actually gets banned/exorcists using that technique face consequences?

if matoba knew about the book of friends, would he want to burn it, like natori? or would he want to use it himself? matoba doesn't seem to have any concerns about limiting his own power - in fact, he thinks it's a positive for the community to have one clan that's much more powerful than the rest; he even puts it (somewhat oxymoronically) as "our presence as the indisputable powerhouse gives an assurance of balance in the industry" (ch 102, emphasis original). does matoba care if something's forbidden, or only if it can be effectively utilized?

[schrodingersauthorii]

[schrodingersauthorii]

Chillin’ on the Bridge

[schrodingersauthorii]

Also. QUANTUM GODDAMN ENTANGLEMENT. And what do we use it for? To make infrared light easier to see, silly.

Science is a joke. We're using atomic fission to make turbine go spinny and quantum entanglement to make infrared scooch over. What the fuck. We're going to discover alternate realities and use them as garbage dumps.

The quantum entanglement breast cancer staging device was invented specifically to keep me humble in the face of mass AI lobotomies.

I don't understand physics- much less QUANTUM physics- but always dismissed it as okay because I'm good with more practical sciences ie biology and medicine.

Well, well, well, looser. Guess whose ignorance has come to roost in their perceived area of expertise. Better start reviewing friction co-efficients, because 'I understand radiation, and that's all I need to know for medicine' won't cut it no more.

Start thinking about the Big Bang. Conceptualize it, idiot.

[schrodingersauthorii]

Lest anyone accuse me of shit posting, here is a scientific review, and the science podcast episode that shattered my mind and self confidence.

The quantum entanglement breast cancer staging device was invented specifically to keep me humble in the face of mass AI lobotomies.

I don't understand physics- much less QUANTUM physics- but always dismissed it as okay because I'm good with more practical sciences ie biology and medicine.

Well, well, well, looser. Guess whose ignorance has come to roost in their perceived area of expertise. Better start reviewing friction co-efficients, because 'I understand radiation, and that's all I need to know for medicine' won't cut it no more.

Start thinking about the Big Bang. Conceptualize it, idiot.

[schrodingersauthorii]

The quantum entanglement breast cancer staging device was invented specifically to keep me humble in the face of mass AI lobotomies.

I don't understand physics- much less QUANTUM physics- but always dismissed it as okay because I'm good with more practical sciences ie biology and medicine.

Well, well, well, looser. Guess whose ignorance has come to roost in their perceived area of expertise. Better start reviewing friction co-efficients, because 'I understand radiation, and that's all I need to know for medicine' won't cut it no more.

Start thinking about the Big Bang. Conceptualize it, idiot.

[schrodingersauthorii]

i find it so endearing how bad ban is at his job of pleasing his boss. henchman who keeps taking initiative to surprise his master and failing miserably. tries to steal a magical cat, is thwarted. (and it all would have been for naught anyway because his boss doesn't even like cats.) tries to find a hidden treasure, does manage to find it but it crumbles to dust as soon as his boss looks at it. (plus his boss knew all along that was going to happen.) in fairness to him she does seem pretty mysterious and her criteria for what makes something worth her time are completely opaque (at least to natsume and the audience) but maybe in that case he should stop trying to be creative and just do what she tells him lol. stop trying to get brownie points it's just going to backfire.

[schrodingersauthorii]

WHERE IS THE GODDAMN ALLERGEN.

I have this elbow rash that only goes away when I wear long sleeves... an intense red rash I got multiple times on my wrist... my knuckle was unbearably itch but immediately stopped after I took a shower...

The allergen. Where is it. What is causing all of this.

[schrodingersauthorii]

Researching cars (specifically plug-in hybrids), I've found the Toyota Prius is a stereotype for a reason. If you care about fuel economy/ the environment and have a Normal Person budget, this is THE car for you. Hands down the best plug-in hybrid all electric range, over 50 mpg gas, under $35,000. This is the working environmentalist's car.

She has it all- EXCEPT for legroom and trunk space.

What I really want is a plug-in hybrid Honda Fit, but barring any major shakeups, my next car is probably going to be a Prius.

They changed all the small to midsized SUVs somehow, and the hybrids barely get better gas mileage than my standard HRV. In fact, my standard HRV sometimes gets BETTER gas milage.

[schrodingersauthorii]

A lot of libraries are cutting ebook services like Libby and Hoopla due to funding cuts. But you can circumvent this by getting monthly borrows from multiple libraries. Standard rates for an out of area library card seem to be $25/ 6 months | $50/ year. (Obviously subject to change.)

Most libraries also have a book sale, which you can donate to as well as buy from.

I haven't inquired about the logistics of an outright cash donation yet, but surely it is possible.

[schrodingersauthorii]

Also. I know not everyone can be a medical true fan crime fan. But the number of people who seem to believe "if my doctor did it, it must be a good idea" is truly alarming.

The correlation between having a medical degree and both being smart and having ethics is nowhere near as strong as one would hope. Doctors commit fraud (and worse) all the damn time.

The majority of the time it's just them thinking they can "one simple trick" their charts into better patient outcomes/ reimbursement and being very, very wrong. But pill mills have a name for a reason.

I really hope people are just lying for internet clout.

Lying on medical charts is a Big Fucking Deal. Doctors are legit going to loose their medical licenses (and probably get sued mega money) if they get caught lying or "bending the truth" on medical charts.

There is a reason no one ever ever tells abortion seekers "Just have your doctor lie and say you're sterilized and need misoprostol for chronic NSAID use." That is stupid. It will not work. Both of you are getting arrested.

Telemedicine a doctor in a state that'll grant immunity at the absolute very least. Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead- you don't want to go down in a fraud investigation if you're worried enough to ask your doctor to lie on your medical chart.

For fucks sake.

[schrodingersauthorii]

I miss her so bad (Mozilla FakeSpot.)

[schrodingersauthorii]

I really hope people are just lying for internet clout.

Lying on medical charts is a Big Fucking Deal. Doctors are legit going to loose their medical licenses (and probably get sued mega money) if they get caught lying or "bending the truth" on medical charts.

There is a reason no one ever ever tells abortion seekers "Just have your doctor lie and say you're sterilized and need misoprostol for chronic NSAID use." That is stupid. It will not work. Both of you are getting arrested.

Telemedicine a doctor in a state that'll grant immunity at the absolute very least. Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead- you don't want to go down in a fraud investigation if you're worried enough to ask your doctor to lie on your medical chart.

For fucks sake.