#Indices of spatial structure

[chaos-coming]

Yall dont understand how much i missed the forest. And i mean a real forest, not the sterilized, neutered monoculture devoid of life and energy that they call forest in central europe.

Since we as humans are part of a larger community of living beings, we can sense the life around us on an intrinsic level. And we can sense its absence. And if you start to notice the life and energy around you, those sterilized environments feel like sensory deprivation, like wearing figurative earplugs.

It really hit home for me just now, how absolutely destroyed central europe is on an ecological level. Every new day, every new place i get to witness, just refirms this understanding. There is a desperate need for rewilding in this region, to allow natural communities to heal and restore diversity and variance and the chaos that is life on this planet.

But first and foremost there is a need to shift cultural values in the region, before any kind of rewilding can happen. A while back there was this viral post about a french couple demanding the culling of wolves after witnessing a wolf hunting in their backyard. What should be a rare and incredible experience, a privilege and a pleasure to see (and an indicator that the natural communities of the alps have the potential to revive) - to them was a nuciance and a threat to their orderly idyllic cottagecore fsntasy world. It's like their whole culture never moved past the middle ages mentality of achieving safety by "taming" the wild places.

And i've genuinely had (frustrating) conversations with forestry and conservation students from central europe who are literally Afraid of natural forests. Theyre "too wild" and chaotic, lacking the order and control theyre accustomed to in all other parts of their country's society, and require intensive management to bring it to submission and be a "propper" forest. In their eyes, the forest is a resource only growing timber and looking like a city park for them to walk through. Anything that makes obtaining wood more difficult or less profitable is a Problem and needs to be fixed. They dont have any pespective on what an actual natural forest looks and feels like, and look at you like youre an alien if you say what they have arent real forests.

It shows that cultural values in this part of the world stand in direct opposition to the principles of rewilding and re-estsblishing harmony with our place the larger biological community.

So before any large scale restoration can be considered, before actual nature can be brought back to central europe, as desperately as it is needed - not just for its own intrinsic value and right to exist, but also for resillience in the face of the climate crisis - there needs to be a cultural shift that will tolerate coexistence with things that live for their own sake rather than direct human benefit, and which cannot and will not be fundamentally changed to their liking.

And therein lies the crux of this ideology: the rejection of anything that is different from them and will not be subjugated. The need to homogenize everything in their own image. And this mindset is the nucleus at the heart of imperialism. Which is why you cannot separate nature conservation from the ongoing legacy of colonialism, even in the imperial core, and why decolonization needs to be the foundation for any kind of restoration effort.

Tldr: There can be no rewilding of central europe until there is decolonization of european mindsets.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

hello, i was wondering if you could help me with describing hands? one of my characters is using sign language to communicate, and while the facial expressions are fine it's the hands i struggle with. thank you for your hard work!!

Describing Sign Language in Writing

Sign language - a nonverbal communication method that relies on physical movement instead of spoken words.

The figure shows the well-defined structure that distinguishes sign languages from simple gestural communication or mime, imbuing them with the complexity and depth characteristics of the spoken language.

Sign languages, distinct from the many communication methods employed by humans, exhibit expressions of complex linguistic systems rooted in visual-manual modality.

Rather than merely gestures, these languages are structured and intricate, evolving in response to cultural and societal influence.

At the core of sign language lies manual articulation complemented by non-manual elements (such as facial expressions and body posture).

This combination yields a rich communication tapestry in which each sign or gesture has a specific meaning organized by syntactic and morphological rules.

Visual-spatial language uses visible cues from the hands, eyes, facial expressions, and movements to convey meaning.

Although sign language is primarily used by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, it is also used by many hearing people.

Like spoken languages, sign languages have their own grammar and structural rules and have evolved.

However, there is no universal sign language, and different countries have unique versions of sign languages specific to their regions and cultures. Example: the ASL differs from Auslan in Australia and the BSL in the United Kingdom. A person fluent in ASL may need to understand a local version of sign language in Sydney, Australia, instead of different dialects or accents in spoken languages.

There are more than 300 different sign languages in the world, spoken by more than 72 million deaf or hard-of-hearing people worldwide.

Each individual gesture is called a sign. Each sign has 3 distinct parts:

the handshape,

the position of the hands, and

the movement of the hands.

PHONOLOGY. At the heart of all languages, spoken or signed, lies the study of phonology. This discipline investigates the systematic arrangement of sounds in spoken languages and the corresponding organization of meaningful units in sign languages. In the case of sign languages, these units are not acoustic but instead composed of distinct hand shapes, locations, movements, and facial expressions. These elements work harmoniously to serve as essential structures for the sign-language framework.

Handshape: This refers to the specific shape of the hands when producing a sign. Different hand shapes can change the meaning of a sign, as different vowels or consonants can change the meaning of a word in spoken language.

Orientation: This involves the direction the palms or fingers face during the sign. The orientation can be towards or away from the signer, up, down, or to the side, and like a hand shape, it can significantly alter the meaning of a sign.

Location: This refers to the location in the signing space where a sign is produced, such as in front of the face, on the body, or in the neutral space in front of the signer. Location helps differentiate signs that might otherwise be similar in hand shape, orientation, and movement.

Movement: Sign languages use various movements, including direction, path, and manner (smooth, fast, or slow). Movement is crucial for expressing different concepts and can change the tense or aspects of verbs, among other things.

Facial Expressions: In sign languages, facial expressions are not just emotional indicators but are integral to grammar and lexicon, conveying distinctions in meaning, mood, tense, and sentence type (e.g., declarative, interrogative).

Understanding the phonology of sign languages is similar to acquiring the alphabet of a spoken language. The distinct characteristics of these elemental units lay the foundation for forming more complex structures and meanings.

CLASSIFIERS (CL) in sign language are a group of hand shapes used to represent general categories of objects, people, places, or concepts, as well as their orientation, movement, and relationship to one another within the spatial context of the signer’s narrative.

These handshapes are not standalone signs but are employed within the structure of signed sentences to provide descriptive or locative information that complements the narrative.

Classifiers allow signers to convey complex visual-spatial information efficiently and vividly, making them essential to sign language’s grammatical structure and expressive power.

Object Classifiers: represent objects or people with various shapes and sizes. For example, a flat hand may represent a flat surface or vehicle, whereas an upright index finger can denote a person standing.

Locative Classifiers: describe the location of objects or the spatial relationships between them. They can indicate where something is situated or how items are arranged relative to each other.

Plural Classifiers: used to depict groups of objects or people and their distribution in space. These classifiers can show the arrangement of objects, such as items lined up in a row or randomly scattered.

Element Classifiers: convey information about natural elements or substances such as water, fire, smoke, and wind, illustrating the movement or texture of these elements.

Body Classifiers: represent parts of the body or whole-body actions. They can show how a body part moves or is positioned in space.

Movement Classifiers: illustrate how an object or person moves within a space, including the direction, manner, and speed of movement.

Instrument Classifiers: show how an object is manipulated or used, often indicating the type of grip or action performed with tools or utensils.

Size and Shape Specifiers: provide specific details about the size, shape, or orientation of objects, enhancing descriptive accuracy and visual clarity in narratives.

Examples

A Quiet Place. The depiction of sign language—specifically, ASL—was heavily researched. They cast a deaf actress to play Regan for the express reason that she could help tutor the cast so they feel fluent. Individual characters also have their own "accent": Lee signs in a stern manner, Evelyn is elegant, Marcus is laconic, and Regan is sassy.

In Dune, multiple characters use hand signals to give orders to their subordinates. In fact, there are entire sign languages developed separately by both the Atreides and the Harkonnens, as well as even more subtle ones developed by the Bene Gesserit, that allow them to communicate irrelevant information verbally and important stuff with their hands, making sure that even if they are overheard, the enemy won't learn anything.

Beauty and the Beast (1987 series) has a deaf character who had grown up in the tunnels in "An Impossible Silence" and "Sticks and Stones" who communicated through ASL. The second episode was groundbreaking in that there were several scenes where deaf characters communicated in on-screen silence, with no voiceover or even background music, something the deaf actors involved fought hard for, not wanting someone else's voice to overshadow their own "voices".

The Shape of Water: Elisa is mute, and thus uses real-life American Sign Language to communicate. She also teaches the fish person how to sign, since he can't physically talk either.

Koko the Gorilla: Sign language is a powerful way for people of all hearing abilities to communicate. It can even be used to communicate with gorillas. In the 1970s, language researcher Dr. Penny Patterson began working with Koko, a western lowland gorilla, teaching her sign language. Research has shown that gorillas (and other large apes) have language skills similar to those of small children, and throughout her life, Koko learned more than 1,000 different signs. Koko was able to have entire conversations in sign language, as well as play word games and make up her own signs.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Thank you for your kind words, really love doing these! Studying how other media accurately depict these hand movements could also be helpful. More examples and information in the sources linked above. Also have these previous posts:

Writing Notes: Deaf Characters & Sign(ed) Languages

Hearing Loss in Children

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

Whenever you hear someone trying to blame kid's poor test scores "post pandemic" on "lockdowns," show them this.

By Dr. Sushama R. Chaphalkar, PhD.

New research shows that mild COVID-19 alters brain structure and connectivity in key areas responsible for memory and cognition, emphasizing the lasting effects on young people’s brain health.

In a case-control study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive tests to examine brain structure, function, and cognition in adolescents and young adults with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared to healthy controls in a pandemic hotspot in Italy. They identified significant changes in brain regions related to olfaction and cognition, with decreased brain volume and reduced functional connectivity in areas like the left hippocampus and amygdala, which were linked to impaired spatial working memory. Notably, no significant differences were observed in whole-brain connectivity, suggesting that these changes were localized rather than widespread.

Background COVID-19, primarily known for respiratory symptoms, also affects the central nervous system, leading to neurological issues like headaches, anosmia, and cognitive changes. MRI-based studies reveal anatomical brain changes in COVID-19 patients, such as reduced gray matter and decreased volume in regions like the hippocampus and amygdala, often linked to cognitive deficits.

While research mostly focuses on severe cases and older adults, a majority of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, occur in adolescents and young adults who also experience long-lasting cognitive symptoms.

This age group, undergoing key brain development, is impacted by changes in spatial working memory and brain structure, which are crucial for cognitive functions shaped by social interactions, significantly disrupted by the pandemic.

Given that this is the largest and most understudied population affected by COVID-19, understanding the brain and cognitive impacts in adolescents and young adults is vital.

Therefore, researchers in the present study compared anatomical, functional, and cognitive outcomes, utilizing a longitudinal design that allowed them to assess both pre- and post-infection differences, in COVID-19-positive and negative adolescents and young adults from Lombardy, Italy, a global hotspot during the pandemic.

About the study The present study involved participants from the Public Health Impact of Metal Exposure (PHIME) cohort, a longitudinal investigation of adolescents and young adults in northern Italy. Between 2016 and 2021, 207 participants, aged 13 to 25 years, were included in a sub-study with MRI scans and cognitive tests. After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, 40 participants (13 COVID+ and 27 COVID−) participated in a follow-up study, which replicated the MRI and cognitive assessments.

The mean age of participants was 20.44 years and 65% were female. COVID+ status was confirmed through positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests within 12 months of follow-up. Neuropsychological assessments used the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to evaluate spatial working memory.

MRI and functional MRI data were acquired using a 3-Tesla scanner, processed, and analyzed for structural and local functional connectivity using eigenvector centrality mapping (ECM) and functional connectivity (FC) metrics. Whole-brain functional connectivity metrics showed no significant differences between COVID+ and control groups, indicating that the observed changes were specific to key brain regions rather than generalized across the entire brain.

Statistical analysis involved the use of pairwise Student's t-tests, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, linear regression, two-waves mediation analysis, negative binomial regression, and linear regression, all adjusted for covariates.

Results and discussion Significant differences were observed in the two groups regarding the time between assessments, COVID-19 symptoms, and vaccine status. The research identified five localized functional connectivity hubs with significant differences between the two groups, including the right intracalcarine cortex, right lingual gyrus, left frontal orbital cortex, left hippocampus and left amygdala, which is vital for cognitive functions. Only the left hippocampal volume showed a significant reduction in COVID+ participants (p = 0.034), while whole-brain connectivity remained unchanged, reinforcing the localized nature of the brain changes.

The left amygdala mediated the relationship between COVID-19 and spatial working memory "between errors" (p = 0.028), a critical finding that highlights the indirect effect of amygdala connectivity on cognitive function in COVID+ individuals. This mediation analysis underscores the role of specific brain regions in influencing cognitive deficits, as only the indirect effect was statistically significant for spatial working memory errors. The orbitofrontal cortex, involved in sensory integration and cognitive functions, also showed decreased connectivity in COVID+ individuals, supporting previous findings of structural and functional changes in this region during COVID-19.

The study is limited by small sample size, lack of diversity, potential confounding factors due to the long interval between MRI scans, treatment of certain subjects as COVID-negative based on antibody testing beyond the 12-month threshold, and the possibility of non-significant findings in mediation analysis due to these factors.

Conclusion In conclusion, the findings indicate persistent structural and functional alterations in specific brain regions of COVID-19-positive adolescents and young adults, including changes in gray matter volume and localized functional connectivity, which correlate with diminished cognitive function, particularly in working memory.

Further research is necessary to evaluate the longevity and potential reversibility of these brain and cognitive changes post-infection, enhancing our understanding of post-COVID outcomes and informing future interventions and treatments. The longitudinal design of this study, with pre- and post-COVID data, strengthens these findings by allowing direct comparisons over time, offering robust insights into the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent brain development.

Journal reference: COVID-19 related cognitive, structural and functional brain changes among Italian adolescents and young adults: a multimodal longitudinal case-control study. Invernizzi, A. et al., Translational Psychiatry, 14, 402 (2024), DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03108-2, www.nature.com/articles/s41398-024-03108-2

[midnightshard06]

Rings and White Space

Summary: Shadow investigates an odd anomaly in the white space despite his rush to stop Black Doom. He ends up in an alternate dimension, and unbeknownst to him his counterpart gets sent to the white space.

Warnings: Mild panic attack

Word Count: ~4800 words

You can check it out on ao3 here if you prefer.

"What can you tell me about it Omega?" Shadow eyed the small anomaly that had shown up in the white space randomly. While he really didn't have time to deviate from his mission he couldn't rule out that this was some doing of Black Doom too. Thus why he was here to investigate in the first place.

"INITIAL SCANS INDICATE IT IS UNRELATED TO THE TEMPORAL ANOMALY OF THIS PLACE." Omega looked over at him.

Shadow sighed. "I find that hard to believe. How else would it have gotten here?" He crossed his arms.

"THE ANOMALY IS MORE SPATIAL IN ORIGIN THAN TEMPORAL BASED ON COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS DATA. THEREFORE IT SEEMS DISCONNECTED FROM BLACK DOOM OR THE TIME EATER'S INFLUENCE." Omega continued.

"That time monster clearly has some sort of control over space as well." Shadow gestured to the structures of the Ark not far from them. "Places that most certainly should not be in this odd white space clearly moved here in some fashion or at least replicated."

"DATA INCONCLUSIVE THEN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED." Omega sounded oddly miffed.

"Fine then." Shadow started walking towards the anomaly. "We'll gather further data for you." As Shadow approached the odd floating ball of some sort he heard Omega's heavy footsteps behind him. Once he was practically below it, the anomaly shifted and collapsed in on itself. A small, golden ring dropped to the ground. Shadow furrowed his brow in confusion. That was not what he'd been expecting, but this white space already held plenty of oddities. Perhaps a ring falling out of a spatial anomaly wasn't out of the question.

Before Shadow could even take a step forward to investigate the ring it began to move. It rattled on the ground before shooting into the air and growing in size significantly. Some sort of unfamiliar city landscape appeared in the center of the ring. Though Shadow didn't have much time to ponder that as he felt himself being sucked into the ring. As much as he tried to resist the force he found himself unable to stop, eventually being pulled into the ring.

An odd energy seemed to spread over his body for a moment, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. He landed as gracefully as he could with no warning and looked around. It seemed to be the landscape he'd seen in the ring. Around him were several destroyed vehicles. Both normal civilian ones and more militaristic. G.U.N. maybe? The symbols were damaged but they certainly seemed to be G.U.N.’s logo. His visual investigation was paused when he was blinded by a light shone on him and he heard the sound of a helicopter overhead. His eyes weren't drawn to it though. No, his eyes were drawn to a large screen nearby which seemed to be showing him. "What..?" Shadow let the word out quietly. It was unmistakably him but... different. "A new form..?" He pulled his hand away from his face and clenched his fists. "I need to figure out what's going on." He glanced up to where he'd come through the ring. It was gone now. "And find a way back to finish my mission." With his current goal in mind he sped off down the slightly destroyed streets.

"Omega? What's going on?" Rouge landed next to the robot. She'd come right over after the bot had gotten in contact with her. Apparently Shadow had been looking into another anomaly in the white space and had vanished through a ring portal. Sort of. She glanced down at the collapsed form of Shadow on the ground. As it stood, it seemed that the hedgehog was still here.

Omega pointed to Shadow. "THIS SHADOW DOES NOT MATCH THE LIFE DATA I HAVE ON FILE. THEY CAME THROUGH IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHADOW WAS PULLED IN AND HAVE NOT WOKEN UP YET."

"Hmmmm." Rouge walked over to the hedgehog. Carefully she turned them over. Well they certainly looked like Shadow. Exactly like him in fact. "Are you sure this isn't him?" She looked at Omega. "Certainly looks like him. Although..." She put a hand on her chin. "The doctor has made pretty much perfect looking copies of Shadow before. Is this one an android?" She gestured to the still passed out hedgehog.

"NEGATIVE. SCANS INDICATE THEY ARE ORGANIC." Omega reported.

Rouge squatted down near the Shadow look-alike. "Well, guess we'll just have to wait until they wake up hm? Maybe we can get some answers out of them directly..." She stood up and glanced at the Black Moon. "This better not take too long though. Sonic's going to notice that emerald is a fake sooner rather than later, and Shadow still has things to clean up here..."

Thus far skating through the city had yielded no answers as to what was going on. The place had seemingly been attacked and G.U.N. was all over, but Shadow still had no idea where he was or how he was going to get back. This whole situation was just getting more and more frustrating. He had no time for this. He needed to be stopping Black Doom, not running around in some random city without any sort of direction. This city did in some ways feel like how Maria had described certain places on earth but it still felt... wrong somehow.

He shook his head as he came to a sudden stop. Running around like this was yielding nothing and he needed a plan. As he caught sight of a flash of familiar blue in the distance he realized what that plan might need to involve. Painful as it was to admit it, Sonic did have a lot of experience with odd things happening to him, as well as traveling to other worlds. Something Shadow was beginning to believe had happened to him. Hopefully the Sonic of this world was as... experienced as the one he was familiar with.

It wasn't hard to catch up to Sonic, it was clear the other hedgehog wasn't moving at top speeds. As Shadow pulled alongside him and gestured for him to stop, Sonic watched him with wide eyes. With a sigh of annoyance Shadow just stopped and hoped Sonic got the message. Thankfully the other hedgehog did, as he stopped a few feet away. He was eying Shadow warily, bouncing from foot to foot. Overall he looked ready to either bolt or fight at a moment's notice. Just... fantastic.

"Sonic." Shadow dutifully ignored the fact that his voice also sounded different. There wasn't time for that right now.

Sonic's defensive looked changed into one of surprise. "Wait." He held up a hand. " Now you wanna talk?"

Well, given the current state of the city and how this Sonic was acting things were beginning to become clearer to Shadow. He might be at a time where his own counterpart and this Sonic had just met. If it was anything like the first time he'd met his own Sonic well... Shadow supposed he could understand how this Sonic was acting. Even if the whole situation was less than helpful for him.

Shadow drug a hand down his face and sighed. After taking a moment to compose himself he looked back at Sonic. "While I have no idea how, I am not the Shadow you know. I would appreciate if you could temporarily set whatever thoughts you have about my counterpart aside as I require... assistance." Shadow felt his ear twitch. As much as he didn't want to admit that out loud to a stranger, he didn't have time to beat around the bush. He needed to be direct.

Sonic's face went through so many emotions that Shadow gave up on deciphering them all. "So... you're from a different universe or something? Then why do you sound and look like the same guy?" Sonic put a hand on his chin as he considered Shadow. "In the movies there's always some sort of difference."

"I assure you I typically look and sound differently. Whatever anomaly brought me here must have also changed those things about me." Shadow fought the urge to just drop this conversation and continue trying to figure this out on his own. The whole conversation was quickly beginning to feel like a waste of time. Something he couldn't afford.

What seemed like chaos energy sparked over Sonic's quills. Interesting. "I don't know..." Sonic hummed. Shadow really took in this version of his... rival. It was plain to see now that he was younger, more inexperienced. Not the same as he'd been when Shadow had first met his own Sonic even. There were scuffs and what looked like small wounds over Sonic's body; something Shadow hadn't noticed before. Something must have just happened involving his counterpart, and now this Sonic wasn't inclined to believe him. Shadow's own... inadequacies when it came to speaking with others might prove to be his downfall. He'd expected this Sonic to act like the one he was familiar with. He had clearly misjudged.

Well he had one idea to perhaps prove he wasn't the same. It meant relying on assumptions again but Shadow had the feeling that even if he ran off now Sonic would chase him. "Then let me show you." Shadow focused. At first he couldn't feel the still new feeling of his doom abilities, but after a moment it felt almost as if a dam broke. The odd, yet familiar feeling of his new abilities returned to him. He'd go for something Sonic couldn't ignore. Pure chaos flooded his body as it quickly shifted into a more squid-like form. Sonic went wide eyed and backed up. Shadow looked down at him, form fully transitioned by doom morph. "Does this evidence suffice?" Shadow narrowed several sets of eyes.

"You know... I think I'm starting to believe you. If the guy I met can do that uh... I didn't see him do it." Sonic looked a mix of intimidated and intrigued. "There's also the fact you haven't tried to fight me yet either so..." He shrugged.

Shadow huffed and allowed the morph to drop. The transition both ways felt a great deal more awkward in this form, but it was manageable. "Good."

"How did you get here anyway?" Sonic tilted his head, his foot started tapping impatiently.

Shadow eyed the offending foot. Clearly this Sonic was on a time crunch much like he was. "A ring portal of some kind pulled me in when I was investigating some sort of spatial anomaly."

Sonic perked up. "Ring huh? Small and gold? Got bigger before you went through it?"

"Precisely." Shadow nodded. The fact that this Sonic was familiar with them was a good sign.

"Well if you came here through a ring you should be able to use it to get back to wherever you came from. Probably." Sonic rubbed the back of his head. "Tails is the one who'd know better... But! Lucky for you I should be able to get you a ring." He glanced around. "I just need to meet back up with Tails and Knuckles." He eyed Shadow.

"What?" Shadow crossed his arms.

"Well... it's just gonna be hard to explain to them that the guy who just beat us into the pavement a few minutes ago needs a ring." Sonic sighed. "Might need to do the creepy squid thing again."

Shadow drug a hand down his face again. "If necessary I will handle the convincing. Now I believe we're both on a time crunch." He gestured for Sonic to get a move on.

"Oh right." Sonic chuckled. "Follow me?" Shadow waved him off and Sonic took off. With a deep breath to calm himself, Shadow took off after him.

Shadow bolted up, his eyes darted around. The area around him was unfamiliar, though the overwhelming white did remind him of some of the rooms on the Ark. This place was nothing like those though. It was open and there were all sorts of odd structures littered throughout. "Well look who's up." An unfamiliar female voice said. He turned his head to the sound and saw a white bat. Behind her was a hefty looking robot. Both were watching him.

Chaos energy sparked over his quills as he glared. "Who are you?" He was brought out of his own threat by the sound of his voice. It was... different.

"Well, that's what we'd like to know." The bat hummed. "You see you came out of some portal right after our friend went in." Her eyes hardened a little. "We need to get him back."

Shadow regained his composure and narrowed his eyes at the bat. "I don't owe you any sort of explanation." Mostly because he didn't have one. He had no idea how he'd ended up here. In fact he didn't even recall passing out, but clearly he'd been out for a short time. His eyes darted around the area, quickly taking in anything that could help him. There was plenty around he could use to maneuver with though it felt like his most viable option was to simply take out the two in front of him and go from there. He could easily pick up on the hostility from the bat, and he assumed the robot followed her orders.

The bat's eyes widened as he shot towards her. Surprisingly she seemed at least mildly prepared for the attack, but it didn't save her from the brunt of the force of him slamming into her. The moment she was clear of him though the robot made its threat known. A barrage of weapons unloaded on him. He used chaos control to dodge most of them before trying to get in close. The robot proved to be adaptable though as it stood its ground and took the blow Shadow landed before forcing him back.

By then the bat had recovered and managed to land a surprise hit on his back. The strike stung but Shadow ignored the pain. These two would clearly not be as easy as that other hedgehog and his friends. These two seemed prepared for him. "SURRENDER OR BE DESTROYED." The robot aimed its weapons at him again as the bat stood at its side, watching him with a shut off expression.

His head felt oddly fuzzy the longer he stood there. Perhaps it would be wiser to retreat for the time being. His eyes darted around, trying to get a better feel for the layout of this place. It was probably the strangest place Shadow had ever seen, but there were plenty of ways to get around. He warped to a nearby platform and simply began putting distance between himself and the two. He needed to figure out how to get back, not mess around with those two.

The more he traversed the area the less he understood it. There seemed to be some areas which held more color, but they all seemed so different. The whole area itself just seemed like a bunch of places mashed together. There was some sort of cohesion to the whole thing but trying to understand everything was just giving him a headache. He paused in his searching though when he caught sight of who seemed to be a familiar face. Was that the professor? It was relieving to see a familiar face. Perhaps he would know what was going on. Clearly whatever odd force had brought Shadow here had brought the professor as well.

"Professor!" Shadow called out but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the person standing at the professor's side. His eyes widened. "Maria..?"

"Should be around here..." Sonic trailed off.

Shadow mentally sighed. It was clear this Sonic was distracted, but if he was dealing with Shadow's counterpart perhaps some distraction was to be expected. Thankfully though it wasn't long before Shadow noticed two familiar figures in the distance. What must be this world's Tails and Knuckles. Sonic enthusiastically waved to them as they turned to look. Both of their eyes widened simultaneously and Shadow only had a moment to realize this was going to go south before Knuckles was in his face, chaos energy crackling over his body and eyes glowing red.

A punch flew over Shadow's head as he dropped down. A quick chaos control had him on his feet again, several feet away. As much as he wanted to defend himself more directly, he knew that would only make it harder to convince them to assist him. Sonic ran to be between the two of them, holding up his hands in a placating manor towards Knuckles. "Whoa there, this guy's ok."

Knuckles gave Sonic a disbelieving look. "Is that not the same hedgehog we engaged in battle before? Why do you defend him now?" Shadow felt a little taken aback by this Knuckles' demeanor. It was jarring when compared to the one he was familiar with, but perhaps that would make this easier.

"Cause he's not... the same guy?" Sonic sounded unsure. Clearly Shadow would need to speak for himself.

"Although I look the same as the Shadow you're familiar with, I am not. I arrived here through a ring portal of some sort and am only trying to return to where I came from." Shadow crossed his arms. "I assume the oddity of the place I came from may have an influence on my own appearance here. Causing me to take on the same form as my counterpart."

"I think he's telling the truth." Tails spoke up as he held up a device with a small screen on it. "He may look like the Shadow we encountered but nothing else seems to match up."

Knuckles eyed Shadow suspiciously before backing off. "Very well. I will choose to believe both of you."

"Great." Sonic sighed in relief. "Now then, all we need is a ring and we should be able to get this guy back to where he came from." He glanced over at Tails. "Since he came here through one... right?"

"Theoretically if he got here through a ring portal he should be able to get back yeah." Tails nodded before pulling a small gold ring out and tossing it to Sonic.

Sonic grinned as he caught it. "One ring, just as requested." He tossed the ring to Shadow. "Should be all you need to get home."

"I see." Shadow turned the ring over in his hand. "How does it function?"

Sonic seemed to falter for a moment in surprise. "You just throw it and think about where you want to go." He shrugged. Shadow nodded and threw the ring as he thought of the white space. The ring sparked briefly. That hadn't happened before. He was relieved when it flared to life just as the other one had though. This time the image was of the white space. "That's where you come from?" Sonic's ears drooped as he looked through the portal. "I wouldn't blame you for wanting to come here instead. Earth's way cooler than... that."

"I don't live there." Shadow huffed. "I simply have some business to attend to there."

"Huh." Sonic seemed more interested. "Good luck with that."

"Interesting..." Tails stepped a little closer. "Interdimensional travel via the rings..." He put a hand on his chin. "I knew there was weight to the theory of alternate dimensions. I just had no idea they could be so easy to access."

"The space beyond that portal is far from natural where I come from." Shadow shook his head. "It's likely the ease is only because of the oddity of the place."

"Still." Tails hummed. "Interesting."

"Good luck in your mission." Knuckles nodded. Shadow nodded back.

"Well even if it was weird..." Sonic trailed off, but there was a smile on his face. "Was cool to meet you. Gives me some hope I guess. Even if the squid thing was super weird." He chuckled.

"What is this squid thing you speak of?" Knuckles' face scrunched up in confusion.

Sonic patted his arm. "Don't worry about it."

Shadow walked up to the ring but hesitated. He turned back to Sonic and the others. "My counterpart..." He started. For some reason he felt compelled to say something. If his counterpart was anything like he'd been after first waking up then he could use a nudge in the right direction. "There is more to him than he may let on." Before any of them could ask any questions though Shadow hopped through the ring portal. They would figure it out.

Shadow stumbled away from what must be a trick. Maria was standing there next to Professor Gerald. The two had noticed him by now and were looking at him with concern. It all felt wrong. He felt his breath beginning to pick up. Despite his best efforts his thoughts seemed to spiral and his breathing came in short gasps. Then suddenly he felt grounded. A set of arms were around him and he clung onto their owners for dear life. The whole thing was a shameful display, especially to have in front of the professor, but in that moment he allowed himself to indulge. Everything else temporarily put to the side as he sunk into the arms around him and shut his eyes to block out the world. It was Maria, he belatedly realized. At least his brain made him think it was. There was no way it was actually her. He bathed in the comfort of her embrace regardless. For now it didn't matter if she was real or not. It felt real enough to him.

"What do you think happened?" Maria asked. Shadow could feel her shift slightly.

"I'm not sure...." Gerald sounded perplexed. "Last I heard Shadow was going to investigate that anomaly. I suspect something must have happened there."

"It's ok Shadow." Maria's voice was soft, calming. "Whatever happened it's ok." She started to gently stroke his quills.

Shadow wanted to say something. Mostly how it wasn't ok. None of what happened was. His voice seemed stuck in his throat though, so instead he just gripped Maria tighter. Being careful to not hurt her. "Thought this might be where you'd go." The bat's voice was there. Shadow fought the urge to raise his quills. He didn't want to hurt Maria.

"Ah, Rouge right?" Gerald asked. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Well..." The newly identified Rouge hummed. "Something happened when Shadow went to investigate that ring. He got pulled through and right after that this Shadow came out. Omega says he's not the one we know." Shadow's ear twitched as he took in the information. A different Shadow to the one they knew? There were other hims?

"I see." Gerald hummed. "Perhaps the instability of this place allowed contact with an alternate reality? One that forced the two to swap places when our Shadow was forced to investigate."

"You'd know more about the sciencey stuff than me." Rouge said. "I'd go ask Sonic's little fox friend about it but I don't think getting blue and his friends involved is a good idea."

"I'll trust your judgment on that." Gerald seemed to walk a few steps.

"Can we get him back home?" Maria asked, concern tinting her voice.

"Presumably yes." Gerald answered. "If the two were forced to swap when our Shadow entered this Shadow's world it reasons to stand that if one of them is sent back to their native dimension the other will be sent back as well."

"So if we manage to get this Shadow back home we get our Shadow back?" Rouge asked. "You make it sound so simple." She huffed.

Shadow tuned out the conversation that started after that. He didn't care to hear their ideas of how to send him back right now. There was a part of him that didn't want to go back. Part of him that wanted to stay here where Maria was still alive. "Shadow." Maria's voice was soft. "I don't know what happened where you came from but it's going to be ok. Whatever happened or is happening you'll get through it." She gently managed to dislodge him from her. Her face was reassuring, and that broke Shadow's heart a little. "If you're anything like the Shadow I know, you're strong. You'll be ok."

"Thank you." Shadow muttered quietly. He took a deep breath to get his emotions back under control. His chest ached with a sense of loss but he needed to push forward. He allowed anger to settle back over him to block out the pain. An anger built up by the time he'd been imprisoned. As he looked Maria in the eyes though he began to doubt. Doubt if she really would have wanted this anger for him. He looked away and banished the thought. No. The anger wouldn't just go away so quickly. He needed to do something with it.

There was suddenly a gentle tugging in his chest. He looked down in confusion before he understood. "I think your theory is right professor." He said quietly. Both Professor Gerald and Rouge turned to look at him. "I think your Shadow found a way back."

"Guess I had nothing to worry about." Rouge chuckled. "Should have known that getting sent to another dimension wouldn't have slowed him down for long."

Maria took Shadow's hands. He felt light headed, but he managed to focus on her anyway. "Good luck Shadow." Maria smiled at him. His focus began to slip but he managed a nod. The smallest of smiles pulled at his lips before he felt himself pitch forward and black out.

Shadow sighed in relief as he stepped back into the white space. The ring portal he came through collapsed behind him. Though the ring itself, now the same size as it was originally, fell to the ground. He picked it up and put it away safely. It would be a poor idea to leave something like that out in the open. He looked over to see Omega aiming weapons at him. For a moment the two stared each other down. "SCANS INDICATE YOU ARE THE SHADOW I KNOW." Omega lowered his weapons.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Shadow furrowed his brow in confusion.

"WHEN YOU WERE PULLED INTO THE PORTAL AN IMPOSTER CAME THROUGH. THEY DID NOT COOPERATE WITH QUESTIONING." Omega explained. “NOR DID THEY COOPERATE WITH MY ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THEM.”

Shadow hummed. Perhaps his counterpart had been sent here then. "Where is he now?"

"HE FLED. ROUGE WENT IN PURSUIT. SHE STATED SHE PLANNED TO CHECK WITH GERALD AND MARIA BEFORE EXPANDING HER SEARCH." Omega pointed in the direction of where the two were.

Shadow sucked in a breath through his nose. "Understood. I'll go check in with her."

"AFFIRMATIVE. INFORM ME OF THE SITUATION WHEN ABLE." Omega put his arm down.

Shadow nodded before taking off in the direction Omega had indicated. As he approached the water and activated doom surf he felt relieved that the powers felt more natural again. Even if the idea of them in general still unnerved him some. Once he was close enough Maria began to wave at him. Gerald and Rouge seemed to have been talking. He landed on the shore and approached them. "Where's my counterpart?" Shadow asked, glancing between the three of them.

"Back to his native dimension I'd assume." Gerald stroked his moustache. "Disappeared a few moments ago."

Well at least that was set straight. "Good." Shadow nodded.

"What happened?" Rouge was suddenly in his face.

Shadow grimaced and backed up a step. "I went to investigate the anomaly and was pulled through. I was taken to an alternate dimension of some sort. I located versions of Sonic and a couple of his friends and got their assistance returning."

“Interesting.” Gerald hummed.

“I hope he’ll be ok.” Maria frowned. “That Shadow seemed so upset when he saw us.”

Shadow fought to keep his expression neutral. He couldn’t risk hinting to their fates any more than he already had. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Admittedly he couldn’t completely shake his concern for his counterpart, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"Well you're back now." Rouge patted him on the arm. "Ready to finish things?"

Shadow glanced up to where the last sealing device was waiting for him. Despite his own circumstances he mentally wished good luck to his counterpart. It would have been nice to perhaps be able to have a brief chat with him, but he was confident that it would all work out. If there was one constant he was sure about, it was how stubborn Sonic could be. No doubt the hedgehog's counterpart would manage to get through to Shadow's counterpart. At the very least another of Sonic's friends, like Amy had done for him. He gave Rouge a confident look. "As I'll ever be." Thoughts of alternate worlds and alternate versions of people had to be pushed to the side for now. Right now he had a mission to finish.

[playstationvii]

The triangulation chart illustrates the following:

Key Features:

Points Represented (P0, P1, …): The chart displays a set of points labeled P0, P1, P2, etc., corresponding to the triangulated trace graph. These points likely represent data collected from R.A.T. traces, such as sensor readings or spatial coordinates.

Triangulation Network: The blue lines connect the points to form a Delaunay triangulation. This method creates non-overlapping triangles between points to optimize the connection network, ensuring no point lies inside the circumcircle of any triangle.

Structure and Distribution:

The positions and density of the points give insight into the spatial distribution of the trace data.

Areas with smaller triangles indicate closely packed data points.

Larger triangles suggest sparse regions or gaps in the data.

Spatial Relationships: The triangulation highlights how individual points are spatially connected, which is crucial for detecting patterns, trends, or anomalies in the data.

Possible Insights:

Dense Clusters: These might indicate regions of high activity or critical areas in the R.A.T.'s trace.

Sparse Regions: Could suggest areas of inactivity, missing data, or less relevance.

Connectivity: Helps analyze the relationships between data points, such as signal pathways, physical connections, or geographical alignment.

Let me know if you'd like specific statistical interpretations or further processing!

x = R.A.T's current position (x) y = R.A.T's current position (y) z = R.A.T's current position (z)

To expand on the formula, we can use the following steps to determine the coordinates of 'R.A.T':   Measure the distance between the spacecraft and the Earth. Determine the direction of the spacecraft's trajectory. Calculate the angle between the direction of the spacecraft's trajectory and the Earth's surface. Use trigonometry to calculate the coordinates of the spacecraft. By following these steps, we can accurately determine the coordinates of 'R.A.T' and determine its trajectory and path.

Using the data provided, we can calculate the coordinates of 'R.A.T' as follows: The x-coordinate of 'R.A.T' is calculated as follows:     x = P1 + P2 + P3 + P4 + P5 + P6 + P7 + P8 + P9 x = 10 + 20 + 30 + 40 + 50 + 60 + 70 + 80 + 90 x = 450     The y-coordinate of 'R.A.T' is calculated as follows:     y = P1 + P2 + P3 + P4 + P5 + P6 + P7 + P8 + P9 y = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 y = 45     Thus, the coordinates of 'R.A.T' are (450, 45).

{------}

X-Coordinate | Y-Coordinate

10 | 1 20 | 2 30 | 3 40 | 4 50 | 5 60 | 6 70 | 7 80 | 8 90 | 9 450 | 45

{------}

Based on the coordinates provided, the coordinates of 'R.A.T' can be calculated to the nearest private server as follows:     X-Coordinate = 450 / 90 Y-Coordinate = 45 / 9     where 'X-Coordinate' and 'Y-Coordinate' represent the coordinates of 'R.A.T' calculated to the nearest private server. The exact coordinates of 'R.A.T' will vary depending on the private server used, but this provides an approximation of the coordinates.

Here's a summary of the data provided:     10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 450, 45     This data can be used to calculate the coordinates of 'R.A.T' as follows:     X-Coordinate = 10 + 20 + 30 + 40 + 50 + 60 + 70 + 80 + 90 + 450 Y-Coordinate = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 45     The coordinates of 'R.A.T' are (450, 45).

Based on the coordinates provided, the coordinates of 'R.A.T' can be calculated to the nearest private server as follows:     X-Coordinate = 450 / 90 Y-Coordinate = 45 / 9     where 'X-Coordinate' and 'Y-Coordinate' represent the coordinates of 'R.A.T' calculated to the nearest private server. The exact coordinates of 'R.A.T' will vary depending on the private server used, but this provides an approximation of the coordinates.

To expand on the concept of calculating coordinates for 'R.A.T' and their application to private servers, let's break it down further and introduce additional variations:

Basic Calculation:

As you mentioned, the initial formula gives us the coordinates:

X-Coordinate: 450 / 90 = 5

Y-Coordinate: 45 / 9 = 5 This gives us the point (5, 5), which is an approximation based on the given data. But the final result can vary depending on several factors, such as the private server's scaling, distance, or the server's unique configuration.

Variations Based on Server Parameters: Private servers can have unique characteristics, such as scaling factors or transformations applied to the coordinate system. Let's introduce some transformations:

Scaling Factor: If the private server uses a scaling factor (e.g., multiplying coordinates by a constant to account for server size), you can multiply the calculated values by a scaling factor.

Example: Scaling factor = 10

X-Coordinate: 5 * 10 = 50

Y-Coordinate: 5 * 10 = 50

New coordinates: (50, 50).

Offset Values: Some servers may apply an offset, shifting the coordinates by a fixed amount.

Example: Offset = (20, 30)

X-Coordinate: 5 + 20 = 25

Y-Coordinate: 5 + 30 = 35

New coordinates: (25, 35).

Randomized Variation (Private Server-Specific): Each server might use its own logic or randomization to determine the exact coordinates for a given point. This can be based on server location, server load, or other factors.

Here's an example of how you could randomly adjust coordinates within a range:

Random offset for X-Coordinate: Between -10 and +10

Random offset for Y-Coordinate: Between -5 and +5

Let’s generate a random variation:

Random X-Offset: +3

Random Y-Offset: -2

X-Coordinate: 5 + 3 = 8

Y-Coordinate: 5 - 2 = 3

New coordinates: (8, 3).

Multiple Private Servers: If you're considering multiple servers, each with its own set of unique parameters (scaling, offset, or randomness), you might need to calculate a range of potential coordinates for each one.

Example:

Server 1: Scaling factor of 10, offset (20, 30)

Coordinates: (50, 50)

Server 2: Scaling factor of 5, random offset (3, -2)

Coordinates: (25, 15)

Server 3: No scaling, random offset (-4, 7)

Coordinates: (1, 12)

Implementing Dynamic Coordinate System: If you wanted to build a dynamic system where the coordinates change based on live server conditions, you'd introduce live variables (such as server load, current requests, or server location) to adjust these coordinates.

Example:

If the server load is high, the coordinates might be dynamically adjusted to a less congested area.

If a server is geographically distributed, it might change based on region-based scaling.

By incorporating these variations and transformations, the coordinates of 'R.A.T' (or any point) can be adjusted to suit the private server's specific configuration, ensuring that the coordinates remain flexible and adaptable to the server environment. Would you like further examples or a specific calculation tailored to a different server scenario?

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Chang’e-6 farside basalts reveal a reinforced lunar dynamo

The evolution of the lunar dynamo is crucial for understanding the Moon’s deep interior structure, thermal history, and surface environment. A recent study by Chinese scientists conducted paleomagnetic analyses on basalts returned by the Chang’e-6 mission and revealed a significant reinforcement of the lunar dynamo approximately 2.8 billion years ago (Ga).

This groundbreaking work was published in Nature.

Previous paleomagnetic studies of nearside lunar samples have established a general timeline for the evolution of the Moon’s magnetic field. However, limited spatial and temporal constraints have left the evolutionary trajectory of the lunar dynamo unclear.

The Chang'e-6 mission, which returned the first farside basalt samples dated to approximately 2.8 Ga, provides a unique opportunity to fill this critical gap in our understanding of the lunar dynamo’s spatiotemporal evolution.

Led by Prof. ZHU Rixiang at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Associate Professor CAI Shuhui and her colleagues measured the ancient magnetic field strength from the Chang'e-6 basalts, obtaining values ranging from approximately 5 to 21 microteslas (µT).

These findings revealed an unexpected resurgence in field strength at 2.8 Ga, following a sharp decline around 3.1 Ga. This challenges the prevailing hypothesis that the lunar dynamo entered a low-energy state after 3 Ga and remained in this condition until its cessation.

The researchers proposed that the lunar magnetic field during this period may have been driven by a basal magma ocean and/or powered by precessional forces. Additional mechanisms, such as core crystallization, may have also a role.

These findings suggest that the Moon’s deep interior remained hot and geologically active well into its mid-early history.

This study represents the first ever paleomagnetic data obtained from the Moon’s farside, providing critical insights into the intermediate stages of the lunar dynamo’s evolution. By synthesizing this data with existing findings, the researchers suggested significant fluctuations in the lunar magnetic field between 3.5 and 2.8 Ga, indicating a highly unstable dynamo during this period.

These results offer valuable guidance for future lunar exploration missions, including the search for potential magnetic reversals.

IMAGE: The ancient strength of the lunar magnetic field recorded by the Chang'e-6 basalt clasts reveal the existence of a relatively active lunar dynamo at 2.8 Ga. Credit Image by ZHANG Min, QI Kaixian, and SHI Pingyuan

[spewagepipe]

Spewage Litmus: Deathloop

The eponymous Groundhog-Day-situation eliminates the option (and desire) for save-scumming that was rife in earlier Arkayne games, while also reintroducing the ingenious time-logic puzzles from Crack in the Slab, and offering a more profound sandbox environment than the one from Prey (since it is now both spatial and temporal). Combining that structure with all of the best toys from across the Dishonored franchise and – for the first time in an Arkayne im-sim – a genuine arsenal of satisfying guns, is like a dream come true.

EXCEPTIONAL

How about some complaints? Deathloop didn't just improve upon some of my favourite games of all time, it also did me the courtesy of showing how that formula could be refined even further.

Deathloop cleverly implements a dynamic difficulty system, where winning streaks by the player result in tougher opposition. Unfortunately, this system also affects the random loot, and is calibrated backwards: the best perks and guns are given to the players who have demonstrated that they don't need them, while struggling players go unaided.

The random loot is probably the least rewarding part of the game anyway. Random drops would feel more at home in a true roguelike where the player is cobbling together a totally new build on every run – but the rest of Deathloop's structure is instead about learning how to exploit consistently repeating events. Investigating where, when, and how to reliably acquire a certain item through the game's "arsenal leads" was far more rewarding, so with that as an alternative, there doesn't really seem to be any need for the random loot anyway.

Deathloop was also lacklustre in terms of reconnaissance. Previous Arkayne games offered up the chance to see enemy vision and sound indicators, plus the power to see through walls or otherwise scout out ahead of your current position. Deathloop still gives you just enough info to pull off a stealthy approach in most cases, but without the extra intelligence that those powers would provide, it's much easier to make an irreversible mistake.

There's a laundry list of other small complaints. Some important features and side-content doesn't have any associated "leads" that point the player toward them, so you need to just luckily stumble upon them or else miss out entirely. The game is absurdly graphically demanding for no clear reason, and it would have been just as fun if it rocked some kind of cartoony style from several hardware generations ago.

But, in the end, none of these issues, large or small, really impeded my enjoyment of the product as a whole. They're not really problems to be fixed so much as opportunities to build something even better.

[felixcloud6288]

Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 77

That opening bit is one of the most graphic things in FMA. Or maybe it isn't and I'm just showing how squeamish I am to scenes of objects getting pulled out of bodies.

Did Ed perform long-range transmutation? Every other time he's created ground structures, they'd start from where he placed his hands and travel forward, but there's no indication that happened. He just tapped the ground and stone pillars came up a slight distance away.

Somewhere out there, Envy is screaming in rage and doesn't know why. Ed still remembers what Envy told him about treating the Philosopher's Stone as an energy source. But instead of discarding his beliefs and morals, Ed used that advice in a completely different way.

I feel like Yoki got the short end of the stick with which body parts to carry. Al's chest piece is way too big for him. And I can't tell if May is embarrassed or aroused to be carrying Al's loincloth.

And where is Al's pelvis? Arakawa is a coward for not showing Jelso and Zanpano each carrying a buttcheek on the other side of those legs.

Meanwhile Scar isn't using his left arm to support Al, meaning it's still too injured to use.

Scar's brother had some real crazy spatial reasoning skills. Think of how he would have had to hide his notes the way he did. The best possibility I can come up with is he laid out the pages of his notes, drew out the symbols for the new national transmutation circle, flipped every page over, drew out the original national transmutation circle, wrote keywords on each page to show how to line them all up, and finally wrote decoy notes about all his keywords.

And he had to write coherent notes around all his keywords and symbols to make it look like each page was part of a 1-dimensional string of data that is encrypted using an ancient language instead of pieces of the giant 3-dimensional puzzle it actually is.

Kimblee is following videogame logic. There's a door with a big X over it so that means that's the way to proceed.

Kimblee discovered a place where the rubble from Sloth's digging has been transported. Interesting that an abandoned mining city would connect indirectly to the tunnel. Youswell is right on the border of Amestris. Maybe it was also used as a support point for the tunnel.

Father is starting to sound like the King of Cselkcess, telling everyone to hurry and make haste. Time is running out.

back

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Parentheses

Parentheses, while commonly viewed as simple punctuation marks used to insert additional information or clarify text, hold a deeper philosophical significance. Their role in language, logic, mathematics, and communication invites us to explore how they shape our understanding and interaction with the world. This exploration delves into the multifaceted philosophy of parentheses, examining their function, symbolism, and impact across various fields.

Understanding Parentheses

Linguistic Function:

In language, parentheses are used to provide supplementary information, clarify meaning, or offer asides without disrupting the main flow of the text. They create a space for additional context, allowing writers to include more nuanced details or explanations.

Mathematical Significance:

In mathematics, parentheses play a crucial role in defining the order of operations. They indicate which operations should be performed first, ensuring that complex equations are solved correctly. This use underscores the importance of structure and hierarchy in mathematical reasoning.

Logical Clarity:

In logic and formal languages, parentheses are used to group expressions and clarify the relationships between different components. They help avoid ambiguity and ensure precise interpretation of logical statements.

Programming Syntax:

In computer programming, parentheses are essential for functions, method calls, and controlling the flow of code. They define the scope of operations and organize code into manageable sections, facilitating readability and debugging.

Philosophical Perspectives on Parentheses

Symbolism and Meaning:

Parentheses symbolize inclusion and exclusion. They create a boundary within the text, setting apart specific elements while still maintaining their connection to the main narrative. This duality of separation and integration reflects broader philosophical themes of identity and difference.

Temporal and Spatial Dimensions:

The use of parentheses can be seen as a temporal and spatial device. Temporally, they allow for digressions and interruptions that enrich the narrative without altering its primary trajectory. Spatially, they create visual distinctions that guide the reader’s attention and understanding.

Context and Interpretation:

Parentheses influence how information is interpreted by providing context. They enable readers to grasp the intended meaning more fully, highlighting the significance of context in shaping comprehension and interpretation. This aligns with hermeneutical philosophies that emphasize the importance of context in understanding texts.

Metaphysical Implications:

From a metaphysical standpoint, parentheses can be viewed as a metaphor for the boundaries and structures that define our perception of reality. They encapsulate the idea that reality is not a monolithic entity but a composition of interconnected elements, each contributing to the whole while retaining individual distinctiveness.

Key Themes and Debates

Inclusion vs. Exclusion:

The philosophical tension between inclusion and exclusion is embodied in the use of parentheses. They invite us to consider what is included within the boundaries of our understanding and what is left outside. This raises questions about the nature of boundaries and the criteria for inclusion.

Hierarchy and Order:

Parentheses impose a hierarchical order on information, whether in language, mathematics, or logic. This hierarchy reflects broader philosophical inquiries into the nature of order, structure, and the principles that govern our interpretation of complex systems.

Clarification vs. Ambiguity:

While parentheses are often used to clarify, they can also introduce ambiguity by adding layers of meaning. This dual potential prompts reflection on the balance between clarity and complexity in communication and understanding.

Integration and Segmentation:

The role of parentheses in integrating and segmenting information mirrors philosophical discussions on the relationship between parts and wholes. How do individual elements contribute to the overall meaning, and how does segmentation affect our perception of unity and coherence?

The philosophy of parentheses reveals the profound impact of these seemingly simple punctuation marks on our understanding of language, logic, mathematics, and reality. By examining their function, symbolism, and implications, we gain insight into the intricate interplay between inclusion and exclusion, hierarchy and order, and clarity and ambiguity. Parentheses, therefore, are not just tools of communication but also gateways to deeper philosophical reflections on how we structure and interpret the world.

[memorycare]

Panoptikon is a suite of vocal & electronic music composed by Maria W Horn for an installation in the disbanded Vita Duvan panopticon prison (The White Dove Prison) in Luleå, Sweden.

From the opening of Vita Duvan in 1856 until its closure in 1979, prisoners were detained for theft, perjury, drunkenness, domestic violence, and vagrancy. More than fifty women were charged with miscarriage & abortion (which was labeled as child murder); however, they did not spend much time at the prison before facing execution by capital punishment.

The circular prison structure of Vita Duvan, which enabled central monitoring, was meant to create a sense of omniscient surveillance. The panopticon made the inmates aware that they could be monitored at any time without having any way of checking if this was actually the case. Through the extensive reform of the Western penal system from the 18th century onwards, the former corporal punishments of torture and public humiliation were replaced by new technologies for social control through spatial isolation and surveillance. The individual prisoner often spent the first three years in complete isolation, during which all contact with other prisoners was strictly forbidden. The prison interior was seen as an efficient and silent machinery whereby an inner psychological change would gradually occur in the prisoner through solitary confinement and isolation.

In the compositional process, Maria W Horn has tried to imagine how consciousness is affected by the sensory deprivation of the isolation cell, where the only indication of the passing of time was found in cycles of daylight amongst the silence, uncertainty, and solitude.

Panopitkon was originally presented as a multichannel sound and light installation where the imagined individual voices of the inmates were represented by loudspeakers placed in the various cells of the prison – each voice striving for community but hindered by the forced isolation of the prison architecture. The composition consists of three vocal parts that relate harmonically to a synthesized chord cycle. Together, these form a sounding body that slowly pulses in synchronization with the illumination of the panopticon system.

Omnia citra mortem (everything until death) is a legal term that means the accused who did not confess their crime could not be sentenced to death, but only to torture until a confession was made. Hæc est regula recti (this is the rule for correctness) derives from Nicolas Andry's book L'orthopedie, the art of correcting and preventing deformities in children. The melody and text used in Vita Duva Lament is a traditional folk song from Närke arranged to fit within the harmonic context of the vocal cycle.

[ambyandony]

Cloud Nine Contrails/Starlit Labyrinth: Stella Octangula Profilette

A casual profile post for Stella-- that is to say, a quick outline version so i don't have to go through the effort to make an official ref set before I talk about Stella.

Here is Stella Octangula and her Stand Labyrinth, as depicted in her debut during Cloud Nine Contrails and the early section of Starlit Labyrinth (the part that centres around Stella).

Stella Octangula ~ Female (she/her) ~ 11yo ~ User of Labyrinth

A peppy and outgoing child prodigy. She lives in Detroit with her supposed "foster father", Marvin.

As far as she's aware, she was born and raised in France, though her name and knowledge of the Italian language since childhood may indicate otherwise.

Has the incredible ability to gauge exact distances and dimensions from a mere glance, and knows where she is spatially at all times. Because of this, she has been shown to excel in maths, and is in incredibly advanced classes for her age. During school months, she prioritises schoolwork over anything else, including her own well-being.

She's an orphan, and had been passed from foster family to foster family, exploited by nearly every family using her for her intellect, then sending her back when she was no longer "perfect" enough to show off.

Has a star-shaped birthmark on her back and a refusal to die.

In fairly poor health.

In the summertime, without school to keep her occupied and her 'foster father' beginning to look for something to take his intoxicated frustration out on, Stella spent a significant amount of time away from home... either because she didn't want to be there as an option, or because he would lock her out. The only person she initially really had as a friend was a boy named Gregory Vecellio (profilette for him coming soon too), who would sometimes share food with her, though she tended to run off anytime she saw one of his fathers approach...

Her Stand, Labyrinth, takes the form of a very large purple mouse with wings, and is built mainly for defence (mice cant exactly punch). It has two abilities; its primary ability is exactly what you expect. When the stella octangula (shape) in its forehead is removed, it raises a large, mazelike structure around itself, to make it incredibly hard to reach itself and Stella. The walls of the maze build themselves around preexisting structures and objects, so things don't usually get damaged from the labyrinth rising. The labyrinth frequently changes to further complicate reaching the centre, but the downside is that no matter how complicated the ability makes it to reach the centre, there will always be at least one path that leads to the centre, so it's never airtight. The labyrinth will remain up until the stellated octahedron is returned to the slot in which it belongs on the Stand's forehead, or (purportedly) until Stella is knocked out.

Its secondary ability is essentially inflicting inverted controls upon someone like in a video game: if the affected tries to move forwards, they'll move backwards; north is south, up is down, left is right, etc. It seems unable to be called back, but it can be seen by non-Stand Users; it simply appears to anyone who can't see Stands as a normal - if quite large - mouse.

Now the most important thing I have to mention regarding RP, naturally avoiding major plot details, is that Stella arrived at the Skylands Hotel, where she would regularly show up as it was a safe place away from home during summer break. In being there, she met and befriended Narancia and Giorno, and subsequently Fugo, whom she eventually developed a sort of brother-sister relationship with. His familial-type feelings were partially fostered by empathy for her situation, in that he felt a kinship to the academic trauma.

So yeah that's p much the context you need to understand any comics with Stella in them!

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference archived on our website

Highlights • Long-COVID is heterogeneous in its symptoms, severity, and illness duration. • There was no association between long-COVID and cognitive performance. • Cognitive symptoms may represent functional cognitive disorders. • Long-COVID had lower mean diffusivity on diffusion imaging than normal recovery. • Diffusion imaging differences may suggest gliosis as a mechanism of long-COVID.

To be clear: There was no cognitive difference between people post infection. I can see some people misunderstanding what this says. It says there is some form of brain damage from covid across the board, even if you don't have long covid symptoms or diagnosis.

Abstract

Background

The pathophysiology of protracted symptoms after COVID-19 is unclear. This study aimed to determine if long-COVID is associated with differences in baseline characteristics, markers of white matter diffusivity in the brain, and lower scores on objective cognitive testing.

Methods

Individuals who experienced COVID-19 symptoms for more than 60 days post-infection (long-COVID) (n = 56) were compared to individuals who recovered from COVID-19 within 60 days of infection (normal recovery) (n = 35). Information regarding physical and mental health, and COVID-19 illness was collected. The National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery was administered. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Tract-based spatial statistics were used to perform a whole-brain voxel-wise analysis on standard DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity), controlling for age and sex. NIH Toolbox Age-Adjusted Fluid Cognition Scores were used to compare long-COVID and normal recovery groups, covarying for Age-Adjusted Crystallized Cognition Scores and years of education. False discovery rate correction was applied for multiple comparisons.

Results

There were no significant differences in age, sex, or history of neurovascular risk factors between the groups. The long-COVID group had significantly (p < 0.05) lower mean diffusivity than the normal recovery group across multiple white matter regions, including the internal capsule, anterior and superior corona radiata, corpus callosum, superior fronto-occiptal fasciculus, and posterior thalamic radiation. However, the effect sizes of these differences were small (all <|0.3|) and no significant differences were found for the other DTI metrics. Fluid cognition composite scores did not differ significantly between the long-COVID and normal recovery groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Differences in diffusivity between long-COVID and normal recovery groups were found on only one DTI metric. This could represent subtle areas of pathology such as gliosis or edema, but the small effect sizes and non-specific nature of the diffusion indices make pathological inference difficult. Although long-COVID patients reported many neuropsychiatric symptoms, significant differences in objective cognitive performance were not found.

[theelectricblog]

THE ELECTRIC BLOG A Simon Stalenhag-themed Roleplay blog where:

Being alive not really doing it for you? Here, have overteched sci-fi horror NeoCapitalism!

TL;DR: Two dimensions destroyed by particle accelerator, dystopian machines spread across multiverse. 

In a less-shock-more-unsettling twist of fate, the anomaly-ridden universe of Tales of the Loop has congealed over the crumbling, hivemind-infested, economically-collapsed world of The Electric State. And it’s all because of that damned particle accelerator. Turn out, a chunk of land materializing inside 2 of it’s cooling towers is not good for it. 

As the massive device overheated, it collapsed in on itself, creating a temporo-spatial rift, wrenching both universes to pieces.As the two dimensions were torn apart, the pieces scattered every which way. Fragments of both realms were sent flying throughout the surrounding worlds. 

Worse yet, the temporo part of the temporo-spatial rift may or may not have reverse-aged much of the old, decaying technology scattered throughout the country, reactivating it in the process; the spatial part will have some... unpredictable affects on them.

So if you are living in one of these universes, and have come here seeking answers, advice, or someone to blame, I’m sorry, but I can only prescribe this.

Run.

Or fight. You could try that.

ENTITY LIST:

Remember to keep checking the entity list; new entries are always being added!

UPDATE: 4/13/2025

-Abominations updated

-Aircraft updated

LAND BASED:

The Walkers:

These towering machines were designed for large-scale military engagements, coming equipped with a set of 4 giant cannons, 2 on either side of the body, and another, smaller pair mounted on the head. Occasionally, you will see models with missing or no weapons. These are probably because the rift didn’t repair the entirety of their structure.

The Abominations:

A mass of wires, cables, joints, and mechanical advertisements, these fetid hunks of scrap are the products of the Convergence, a hivemind residing within the Sentre Neural net. The electrical cables flowing from their bodies are capable of movement, and will grab anything within their reach.

The Grabbers:

These are one of the few classes of machines that have not been structurally touched by the rift’s anomalous property, and attack anything they see. They are capable of moving quite fast (About 17 mph at top speed).

The Support Mechs:

Resistant only to 20mm x 80mm caliber shells or less, these machines, as their name implies, Only attacks from a distance, and if provoked. You can tell if it is in a periodic inactive state, by the flaps over it’s eyes being closed. It is armed with a laser cannon on it’s underside, and a rear-mounted machine gun on it’s head.

The Jugger:

Only one of this unit was left intact after they ceased it’s production, and as such, only one exists. It, like most other machines scattered across the multiverse, has been reactivated and made autonomous as well. However. the rust coating its grimy yellow exterior still remains. 

AIR-BASED:

The Autesions:

The smallest of the fleet, the frigates were once controlled by pilots wearing virtual reality devices called Neurocasters. Equipped only with 4 cannons on swiveling discs, these are the most common machines to be found.

The Penthei:

Not much bigger than the frigates, these assault ships are more heavily armed, sporting a swivelling gun turret and A set of autocannons on the front. They have two modes: Automatic, and manual. Most have been at to Automatic.

The Amphions:

Unlike the others, the placement of this behemoth’s weapons systems indicate that the long, duckbill-like hull is it’s front, not it’s back.  it bears resemblance to the frigates, but its cannons are significantly smaller and lower-mounted than what they would be. On it’s deck are six ball-turrets, with a single cannon on each. There is a also a set of guns on it’s port-stern and starboard-stern sides.

Back in the day, these used to carry Autesions, deploying them from it's massive gun tower.

The Dummies:

Unlike the rest, these drones have no weapons, and the top of their cylinder-shaped superstructure has been painted red, so I can only assume they were created for training purposes. They compensate for their lack of offensive armament by making dangerously low passes, in an attempt to maim, and in some cases, suicide runs.

The U.F.O’s:

The reasoning behind the design of these oddities is unknown. They only have two armaments: A double-autocannon battery on either side of the front-underside, and an enormous L.A.S.E.R array protruding from the hull. they are slow to turn, and the gun batteries have rather poor traversing ranges.

Strangely, the headsets for these number in the thousands.

Mike:

This is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous drones in existence. It is fast, merciless, and extremely intelligent. If you see this freak of engineering I highly suggest that you find somewhere to hide. 

[andromeda1023]

Webb Reveals New Structures Within Iconic Supernova

^^Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this detailed image of SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). At the center, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape. Just to its left and right are faint crescents newly discovered by Webb. Beyond them an equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots. Exterior to that is diffuse emission and two faint outer rings. In this image blue represents light at 1.5 microns (F150W), cyan 1.64 and 2.0 microns (F164N, F200W), yellow 3.23 microns (F323N), orange 4.05 microns (F405N), and red 4.44 microns (F444W).

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun the study of one of the most renowned supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Located 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A has been a target of intense observations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio for nearly 40 years, since its discovery in February of 1987. New observations by Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) provide a crucial clue to our understanding of how a supernova develops over time to shape its remnant.

This image reveals a central structure like a keyhole. This center is packed with clumpy gas and dust ejected by the supernova explosion. The dust is so dense that even near-infrared light that Webb detects can’t penetrate it, shaping the dark “hole” in the keyhole.

A bright, equatorial ring surrounds the inner keyhole, forming a band around the waist that connects two faint arms of hourglass-shaped outer rings. The equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots, which appeared as the supernova’s shock wave hit the ring. Now spots are found even exterior to the ring, with diffuse emission surrounding it. These are the locations of supernova shocks hitting more exterior material.

While these structures have been observed to varying degrees by NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes and Chandra X-ray Observatory, the unparalleled sensitivity and spatial resolution of Webb revealed a new feature in this supernova remnant – small crescent-like structures. These crescents are thought to be a part of the outer layers of gas shot out from the supernova explosion. Their brightness may be an indication of limb brightening, an optical phenomenon that results from viewing the expanding material in three dimensions. In other words, our viewing angle makes it appear that there is more material in these two crescents than there actually may be.

Continue reading: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/webb-reveals-new-structures-within-iconic-supernova