#Manuscript Management System

[kryoni]

Peer Review Software vs. Traditional Peer Review

In the academic publishing world, the peer review process plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, integrity, and credibility of research before it reaches the public. Historically, this process has been manual and often painstakingly slow. However, with the rise of peer review software, there is now a revolutionary way to handle manuscript submissions, reviews, and revisions.

In this blog, we will delve into the comparison between traditional peer review and peer review software, examining why peer review software is increasingly being seen as the better option for modern journals.

Understanding the Traditional Peer Review Process

The traditional peer review process has been the cornerstone of academic publishing for centuries. Typically, once an author submits their manuscript to a journal, the editor assigns it to one or more experts in the field for review. These reviewers critically evaluate the manuscript's quality, relevance, and originality, providing detailed feedback for the author and the editor to consider.

Steps in the Traditional Peer Review Process:

Kryoni JMS and Stream Space offer a unique, integrated solution that addresses the unique challenges of academic publishing. Our platforms provide:

Submission: The author submits the manuscript to the journal.

Reviewer Assignment: The journal editor manually assigns the manuscript to reviewers based on their expertise.

Reviewing: Reviewers read the manuscript and provide feedback on its quality, validity, and significance.

Decision: Based on the reviews, the editor decides (accept, reject, or revise) and communicates it to the author.

Revisions: If revisions are requested, the manuscript goes back to the author, who makes changes and resubmits it for further review.

While this process has served journals well for many years, it is not without its challenges.

The Drawbacks of Traditional Peer Review

While the traditional peer review system is deeply rooted in academic publishing, it has several limitations that can hinder its effectiveness and efficiency.

Lengthy Turnaround Time: The process of traditional peer review can be incredibly time-consuming. Manuscripts may sit in the queue for weeks or even months as reviewers take time to read and provide feedback. Moreover, delays are common, as finding available reviewers can sometimes take longer than expected. As a result, the time from submission to publication can be extensive.

Limited Transparency: Traditional peer review often operates behind closed doors, with the identities of reviewers remaining anonymous. While this anonymity is intended to ensure impartiality, it can also contribute to a lack of accountability and transparency. In some cases, this system can lead to biased decisions or conflicts of interest that are difficult to detect.

Reviewer Fatigue: Reviewers are often volunteers and may already have a heavy workload. This can lead to reviewer fatigue, which in turn affects the quality of the feedback provided. Reviewers may also take longer than necessary to complete their assessments, further slowing down the process.

Administrative Burden: For journal editors, managing the peer review process manually is a daunting task. They must track submissions, assign reviewers, monitor progress, and send reminders. These tasks are repetitive and prone to error, which can add considerable strain on editorial staff.

Why Peer Review Software Is a Better Solution

In contrast to traditional methods, peer review software offers a comprehensive, streamlined approach that addresses many of the challenges mentioned above. This software simplifies the process for authors, reviewers, and editors alike, making it the ideal solution for modern academic publishing

Speed and Efficiency: One of the most significant advantages of peer review software is the speed at which it can accelerate the review process. By automating key functions such as reviewer assignment, reminders, and submission tracking, peer review software significantly reduces the time required to move a manuscript through the review pipeline. Automated workflows mean that editors can spend less time managing logistics and more time on quality control.

Enhanced Transparency and Accountability: Many peer review software platforms offer transparent workflows, allowing reviewers and authors to see the status of a manuscript in real-time.

Better Collaboration: Peer review software fosters improved collaboration between authors, reviewers, and editors. The integrated platform allows all stakeholders to communicate directly within the system, eliminating the need for scattered emails and documents. This real-time collaboration ensures that feedback is clear, concise, and actionable, helping authors to make more informed revisions.

Scalability: As journals grow and receive an increasing number of submissions, managing the review process manually becomes impractical. Peer review software is highly scalable, able to handle large volumes of submissions simultaneously. This scalability allows journals to process submissions efficiently, even as they expand in scope.

Reduced Administrative Workload: Peer review software automates much of the administrative work traditionally handled by editors and journal staff. From assigning reviewers to sending reminders, tracking the status of submissions, and managing reviewer feedback, the software reduces manual labour. As a result, editorial teams can focus on high-level decision-making and quality assurance, rather than getting bogged down in repetitive tasks.

Higher Quality Reviews: Because peer review software can track reviewer performance and allow for easy reassignment, journals are able to maintain high standards for their reviewers. With robust feedback mechanisms and detailed tracking of review quality, journals can ensure that only qualified experts are providing feedback. Additionally, software can help prevent issues like duplicate reviews or missed deadlines, further enhancing the quality of the review process.

How Peer Review Software Enhances the Publishing Workflow

The automation, transparency, and improved collaboration offered by peer review software lead to a smoother and faster publishing workflow. The software not only shortens review cycles but also improves the overall quality of the final published content. Here's a look at the typical workflow for journals using peer review software:

Automated Submission Management: Authors submit manuscripts directly into the system, which automatically sorts and categorizes them for easy review.

Reviewer Assignment & Management: The system matches manuscripts with appropriate reviewers based on expertise and availability, sending automated notifications to all parties.

Collaborative Reviewing: Reviewers submit their feedback via the platform, allowing for easy communication with the editor and author

Final Decision & Communication: The editor uses the feedback from reviewers to decide, and the results are communicated to the author, who can then make revisions and resubmit.

Track Changes & Revisions: Authors submit revised versions of their manuscript, and the process continues until the manuscript is ready for publication.

Why Peer Review Software Is the Future of Academic Publishing

Peer review software is not just a tool; it’s a game changer in academic publishing. It accelerates the review process, increases transparency, and enhances collaboration, all while reducing administrative burdens. For journals seeking to improve the speed and quality of their publishing workflows, adopting peer review software is essential.

Kryoni Advanced Peer Review Solutions: Revolutionizing the Publishing Process

We understand the complexities and challenges of academic publishing, which is why our peer review software is designed to streamline and optimize every aspect of the review process. With Kryon’s innovative technology, journals can:

Efficient Review Process: Accelerate the review cycle with automated tasks, reducing time spent on administrative work.

Flexible Workflow Customization: Tailor workflows to fit your journal’s unique needs, allowing for personalized processes that match your editorial structure.

Reviewer Expertise Matching: Automatically match manuscripts with reviewers based on their expertise and availability, ensuring the right feedback from qualified professionals.

AI Scope Check: Utilize artificial intelligence to assess the scope and relevance of the manuscript, ensuring it aligns with the journal’s focus areas.

Plagiarism Checking: Integrate advanced plagiarism detection tools to maintain academic integrity and avoid content duplication.

By choosing Kryoni peer review software, your journal can modernize its publishing process, improve turnaround times, and enhance the quality of its content. Don’t let traditional review methods hold you back—upgrade to Kryoni peer review software for journals and experience the future of academic publishing.

[robin-evry]

What about twst Yuu is like The Herta from hsr?

𝐓𝐖𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐀!𝐘𝐔𝐔 🪄🪞🔮

Esteemed Genius Society #83, human, female, young, beautiful, attractive. It's said that she lives in the far edge of the Cosmos, almost never leaving. Sounds like her appearance this time... must be for some issue that requires a personal touch, right?

Credits towards the artist

Is highly interested in twst, imagine herta!yuu studying in their lab and suddenly a black carriage appears in their vision and teleports them towards another universe.

How amusing, when they walk out of the coffin and realize the area they're in isn't the same universe they immediately burst out laughing finding this situation amusing, which means there are other universes proving herald hunch theory over the imaginary tree is correct meaning there are other worlds outside of their universe. A way to expend their knowledge.

another universe where there's no nous meaning they have grasp over knowledge that nous doesn't have even excess due to being in another universe, feeling them with excitement.

Herta!yuu has no interest in going back home, they have more knowledge to discover in this world and plus if they want to they can go home at anytime.

When the mirror declared them as magicless, herta!yuu would be a little offended but still understand they are in another universe with a different set of rules and structure.

And Crowley brought them towards ramshackle, herta!yuu give Crowley the most disgusted look ever towards him that even manages to scar him mentally, HOW DARE HE PUT A GENIUS LIKE THEM INTO SOMEWHERE SO INHATEBLE.

Overnight the ramshackle was turn into a castle perfect for a genius like them as well instead of resting, herta!yuu immediately went straight into the Library studying the world and its magic. They manage to understand and excel in the magical system as well as understanding highly complicated magical structures to the point manage to reverse engineering spells.

They by far manage to learn the entire NRC education just within overnights even the ones that most developed mages in the world lack to understand, so during at class they realize, they already learn about this and so they don't need to learn about this again. So herta!yuu after one class literally skip school for the entire day to focus on much more complicated topics.

They visited Sam shop and asked whether or not he got some scraps laying around that he wishes to get rid off and good thing he has some willing to give away in return herta!yuu gave him a manuscript that could sell over a million thaumarks.

Similar towards back in their universe their manuscript would carry millions towards billions worth due to it carrying highly advance research that no one has ever managed to enter it or solve it. It's wanted by many kingdoms and students, Crowley would try to negotiate with them to give him some of their manuscript but was usually met with rejection and ruggie would try to steal one but since herta!yuu rarely go to school it's hard so he tried to get close with the first years so if they ever went to visit herta!yuu he would manage to snatch one. As well as having a large collection of ancient magical artifacts they use for studies and if they find them boring will put them on displays or use them in the ridiculous ways, the first years was gagged when finding one of those artifacts being used as mixer some of this artifacts could also be auction as well destroy the school if use it wrong.

Alright back towards the scraps from Sam, herta!yuu use those leftovers to create their signature puppets to help them manage their studies as well attend school in their place. This could lead to moments where others are unsure if they're speaking to the real herta!yuu or just another puppet.

they rarely exert effort unless something truly interests them. They often sigh and say, "Ugh, do I really have to do this?" before eventually solving a problem in record time.

The ramshackle has an army of puppets that have different duties, some fill in herta!yuu attendance at school meanwhile helps them manage their research, some function as servants and babysitter for grim. Idia are by far curious about their puppets and want to study them but don't know how to approach herta!yuu.

Many students seen herta!yuu as an enigma, rarely appearing or never even once appear towards school only using puppets believing that they have better things to do. The smartest student in nrc that never ever once made an appearance physically because they have better things to do.

And even when herta!yuu make an appearance they will always be accompanied by puppets making sure their needs are taken care of, food, water and more and when kalim ask them why would they use puppets, herta!yuu response with saying that puppets are more efficient as well not carrying the burden of humans. As well finding themselves more capable than others.

The teachers have a love and hate relationship with them, trein and Vargas wish them to physically attend classes without using puppets as well as manage to find ways to outsmart them for crewel sees herta!yuu as a genius no doubt but finds them mostly focus on themselves than other other people

Herta!yuu prefer not to socialise with people they prefer over themselves rather than people who would socialize when the person isn't even the same level of intelligence as you causing them to have complications towards interaction.

They are also very blunt and if they find things uninterested they just usually drop it not giving effort, they lack understanding over emotions due to them always choosing logic, they have never once panicked. Not during Overblots, not when lost, not when Grim sets something on fire. "Screaming won’t solve the problem. Calculations will."

During kverblot Situations herta!yuu slowly claps and says, "Oh wow, another dramatic transformation. So original." before actually stepping in to help.

Vil absolutely hates to despise their behavior of laziness or valuing other things, as well as very bitter due to their natural beauty and when he asks why would they not thrive for betterment herta!yuu response with "I'm already perfect what else do I need to improve ".

[official-sonic-team]

my suggestion for a oneshot would be sonic and knuckles having a heart to heart about what sonic's appearance on the ruin walls meant for knuckles growing up alone

“Ah ha! Found you!”

Knuckles jerks back into a fighting stance, spines prickled, fists raised. Intruders rarely managed to get past the defense system, so this one must be a large threat to have evaded every single one, and manage to sneak up on him!

“Woah-ho! Did I manage to sneak up on the great guardian of Angel Island and it’s precious Master Emerald?”

Knuckles relaxes. It’s just this jerk again. “Sonic, I told you to warn me before you showed up. One of these days you’re going to get skewed on one of my traps and I’m going to laugh at you.”

“You’re just mad that I’m too fast for any of those traps to catch me!”

“How did you find me, anyway?”

“Oh, you always seem to be down here.”

Here was the hidden palace. The dilapidated ruin had been long rumored to have been the home of the chief of the Knuckles clan for generations before their ruin. It was one of the better preserved pieces of architecture on Angel Island, and Knuckles had spent many lonely nights beneath the roof of this place, when rain or snow or other temperamental weather shooed him from his usual shrine.

“What does that mean?” Knuckles mutters, feeling oddly defensive. It was sometimes odd to be reminded that his friends noticed his habits, his behaviors. Even after all this time, it was strange to be perceived, to know that people thought of him even when he wasn’t around. 

“Just noticed that you tend to hole away here whenever you’re not at the main shrine.” Sonic shrugs. “I don’t get the appeal, personally. Would much rather be outside, napping under the sun.”

“I don’t nap. I’m a vigilant guardian of the most sacred and powerful artifact man has ever learned the existence of.”

“Uh huh,” Sonic teases. “Right. And I’m the king of the Kingdom of Acorn.”

“Oh, shut it!”

Knuckles turns away from him, back to facing the mural he had been studying. Perhaps that had been a bad move, for it reminded him of his earlier thoughts. The mural of a blue creature surrounded by gold attacking a mustached creature who had captured the Master Emerald. 

“What are you doing here, anyway?”

“Oh, I wanted to make sure I knew how to fly a plane. Borrowed the Tornado, did a few barrel rolls, and realized I was nearby.”

Knuckles snorts. “Is it borrowing if the plane was originally yours?”

“Oh, you and I both know it belongs to Tails. Even if I wanted it back, he’s not going to be letting go of it anytime soon.” Sonic hums, placing his hands behind his head as he stands directly next to Knuckles. “What do you do down here, anyway? Feels like you’re always here.”

Knuckles frowns. “I… like to reread the ancient scripture that accompanies these murals. I’ve read them a thousand times already, but… I suppose it just helps me feel connected to my ancestors.”

Sonic hums. “So the Knuckles Clan made this?”

Knuckles crosses his arms. “Yes. It’s a similar style to many of their other carvings.”

“Do you think there’s anything on this island that once belonged to the Ancients?”

That was certainly a thought Knuckles had chewed on for a long while. When he had been a child on this island, and had begun to properly hone his skills in artifacts and manuscripts, he had noticed parts of Angel Island’s ruins often appeared… mismatched. He simply assumed there had been a civilization before the echidnas that lived on this island, who may have even inspired the echidnas in their own culture and religion. The statues in Hydrocity, for instance, had always bothered him as being stylistically different than much of the other stylized statues the Knuckles Clan would create, and he wondered on occasion if they influenced the mural they were currently staring at.

“There’s a lot of ancient technology on this island. I’ve always wondered how the Knuckles Clan could have possibly created it if the god of Chaos had detested them so much. And they had sworn to protect the Master Emerald so no one could make the same mistakes as them… it always felt counterintuitive for them to be using it’s power for their own gain, even if its a harmless one.”

Sonic whistles. “Interesting.”

It clearly wasn’t. Knuckles had long ago tried to explain the intricacies of archeology and treasure hunting to Sonic, but he was firmly uninterested in the subject. No thrashing and bashing? No dice. If Knuckles talked for too long, Sonic would dip out from the conversation and disappear.

Knuckles turns his attention to the mural. He was taking a big leap with this one, but… Part of him was itching to scratch Sonic’s brain about this. “This was my favorite mural, growing up.”

“Oh?”

“Much of the inscription is lost to time and erosion. But what I can make out details a great hero coming to save the world.” Knuckles takes a deep breath. “It had meant a lot to me as a child alone on this island, to think that someone might one day come to save…” This felt to vulnerable to admit, to finish the lingering me he was going to add. “... the Master Emerald, and I would no longer be alone.”

Knuckles chances a glance at Sonic. His expression remains neutral, his eyes centered on the blue figure in the mural. His foot wasn’t tapping, however, which meant he hadn’t been testing Sonic’s patience with something so mushy. There’s a chance he might get a dialogue opened between them.

Ever since Knuckles was a child and had figured out to read, this mural had been one he spent as much time as he could near. Many of the other murals and stories were of tragedy, for the Echidnas had been cast out from the rest of society by their own greed, and were determined to never let their mistake befall them again. And, too, their species began to dwindle, and a hopelessness someday settled deep in their bones, and within their stories.

Knuckles couldn’t blame them for their sorrow. What befell the Knuckles Clan was a tragedy that would lead to their own extinction over one mistake. It was sometimes a bit much for Knuckles to bear, to know that he was the last of his kind, all because of Pachacamac’s lust for power. 

And that’s what made this mural so enchanting to a young child. To see a hero valiantly fighting against an invader, protecting his home, saving his people, saving himself. He dreamed, many times as a child, that this hero would come and rescue him. That the duty of protecting the Master Emerald would no longer be his, that the sins of his forefathers would be paid, and Knuckles's bondage would be broken. Knuckles would be free to live life how he wanted, for there was someone who would be able to keep his home safe. 

It wasn’t quite the case, in the end.

Someone blue and bright and heroic showed up on his island one day when he was twelve to defeat an invader stealing his emerald. An annoying, aggravating, irritating eleven year old boy who toted around a four year old sidekick. Some kid younger than him who made immature and crude jokes and was thoroughly uninterested in the island and it’s history and the emerald beyond keeping it free from Robotnik’s hands. 

Oh, twelve year old Knuckles’s blood boiled at the very thought of that blue prick who appeared on his island one day and turned his entire life upside down.

“My ancestors say it’s supposed to be a prophecy,” Knuckles carefully added. 

That receives a derisive snort from Sonic.

“Do you really believe in that?” Sonic asks. 

“It came true,” Knuckles murmurs. 

And it did, in ways Knuckles couldn’t quite comprehend at twelve years old, but knew well at sixteen. For Sonic, in his irritating, antagonizing, stupid way… still did manage to save Knuckles’s life.

He defeated Dr. Robotnik that day, casting himself in a cocoon of gold and Chaos, destroying Robotnik’s machines and returning the Master Emerald back to Angel Island. And beyond that, it was Sonic who became Knuckles’s true first friend, who taught him how there was more to life than just guarding the Master Emerald, that he could balance his duty and his desires and still live a fulfilling life. 

Perhaps no hero had swept in and took away his duty. But Knuckles was still grateful nonetheless for what Sonic had taught him, even if he’s never truly managed to tell him. 

“Do we even know it was predicting that fight on Angel Island four years ago?” Sonic clicks his tongue. “Why would they bother predicting that fight, anyway? It’s not even the most interesting thing we’ve seen. I mean, why not predict Perfect Chaos re-emerging? Or the End? Or Eggman breaking apart the entire Earth for Dark Gaia? It’s not important, in the grand scheme of things.”

“Of course it’s important!” Knuckles snaps. 

Sonic blinks. Knuckles grinds his teeth. 

He shouldn’t be surprised. Sonic had been going on countless adventures even before the Angel Island adventure. Let alone everything he had seen afterwards. Why would the most important moment of Knuckles’s life mean anything to him, in the end? What importance could it possibly have when it was just a routine battle to stop Eggman? When he had fought greater and mightier powers than just Eggman’s insatiable greed and some plucky twelve year old guardian of an empty home and a powerful emerald?

Sonic looks back at the mural, a thoughtful look on his face. “I don’t believe in destiny, fate, or whatever. I’ve never liked the idea that someone else was pulling my strings. Some people find it a comforting thought, to know that everything happens for a reason. I like to think I make my own choices.”

A silence passes between them.

“I made my choice that day, to chase after Robotnik and show up on this island. I think that us choosing to meet is much nicer than thinking we were fated to.”

Knuckles turns to face Sonic, who’s still peering at that mural.

“I chose to come here, to fight you, to eventually help you. To face down Eggman and bring the Master Emerald back. And I’ve chosen every subsequent meeting as well. So believe, perhaps, that that day was fated, foretold, or whatever. But every moment after hasn’t been. And I think that’s much more interesting.”

Knuckles is quiet. The day they met had been the most infuriating day of his life. But it wasn’t entirely the day that he was saved. It was every subsequent day after, when the two of them crossed paths, when Sonic and his rivalry turned into mutual respect, into friendship. It was a cataclysm, an explosion, and in the rubble the two began to build something Knuckles can not name but knows it to be worth more than gold.

Knuckles turns away rubbing at his eyes. “I’ll never understand you, Sonic.”

“Ha! Now, are we done with this boring conversation?” Sonic taps his foot. Knuckles’s time has run out. “What do you think about me taking you on a flight?”

“Ugh, no way! I’ve seen you fly a plane before, I know you do too many barrel rolls.”

Sonic's eyes sparkle with mischief. “Oh? And you can’t handle a little bit of turbulence? To think you call yourself a great guardian!”

“Bah! I can handle anything you throw at me.”

“Challenge accepted!” Sonic grabs his hand and Knuckles braces himself for a super sonic sprint. “I think our group is ready to board! Let’s go!”

To think this was the same person his people had once written a prophecy for. 

[beakers-and-telescopes]

Genetically Modified Bacteria Produce Energy From Wastewater

E. Coli is one of the most widely studied bacteria studied in academic research.  Though most people probably associate it with food/water borne illness, most strains of E. Coli are completely harmless.  They even occur naturally within your intestines.  Now, scientists at EPFL have engineered a strain of E. Coli that can generate electricity.

The survival of bacteria depends on redox reactions.  Bacteria use these reactions to interconvert chemicals in order to grow and metabolize.  Since bacteria are an inexhaustible natural resource, many bacterial reactions have been industrially implemented, both for creating or consuming chemical substrates.  For instance, you may have heard about researchers discovering bacteria that can break down and metabolize plastic, the benefits of which are obvious.  Some of these bacterial reactions are anabolic, which means that they need to be provided external energy in order to carry it out, but others are catabolic, which means that the reactions actually create energy.  

Some bacteria, such as Shewanella oneidensis, can create electricity as they metabolize.  This could be useful to a number of green applications, such as bioelectricity generation from organic substrates, reductive extracellular synthesis of valuable products such as nanoparticles and polymers, degradation of pollutants for bioremediation, and bioelectronic sensing.  However, electricity producing bacteria such as Shewanella oneidensis tend to be very specific.  They need strict conditions in order to survive, and they only produce electricity in the presence of certain chemicals.  

The method that Shewanella oneidensis uses to generate electricity is called extracellular electron transfer (EET).  This means that the cell uses a pathway of proteins and iron compounds called hemes to transfer an electron out of the cell.  Bacteria have an inner and outer cell membrane, so this pathway spans both of them, along with the periplasmic space between.  In the past, scientists have tried to engineer hardier bacteria such as E. Coli with this electron-generating ability.  It worked… a little bit.  They were only able to create a partial EET pathway, so the amount of electricity generated was fairly small.

Now, the EPFL researchers have managed to create a full pathway and triple the amount of electricity that E. Coli can produce.  "Instead of putting energy into the system to process organic waste, we are producing electricity while processing organic waste at the same time -- hitting two birds with one stone!" says Boghossian, a professor at EPFL. "We even tested our technology directly on wastewater that we collected from Les Brasseurs, a local brewery in Lausanne. The exotic electric microbes weren't even able to survive, whereas our bioengineered electric bacteria were able to flourish exponentially by feeding off this waste."

This development is still in the early stages, but it could have exciting implications both in wastewater processing and beyond.

"Our work is quite timely, as engineered bioelectric microbes are pushing the boundaries in more and more real-world applications" says Mouhib, the lead author of the manuscript. "We have set a new record compared to the previous state-of-the-art, which relied only on a partial pathway, and compared to the microbe that was used in one of the biggest papers recently published in the field. With all the current research efforts in the field, we are excited about the future of bioelectric bacteria, and can't wait for us and others to push this technology into new scales."

[feminist-butch-menace]

Women in art - history series (Medieval times)

In these times countries developed a political system based on the monarchy. Most people were farmers who lived in small rural villages. Women were primarily responsible for childcare, food preparation, tending livestock, and helping at harvest time to gather crops. Women who lived in the larger towns were responsible for childcare and food preparation. They also helped their father or husband in the many trades and crafts needed to support city life, including creating textiles, leather goods, or different metal objects or managing shops and inns.

In this period, the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic church generally informed people's lives. Biblical readings reflected in medieval art frequently portrayed Eve as responsible for leaving paradise, generating the long-held belief that women were weaker than men, easily tempted to sin, and inferior to men. Based on this story and other biblical tales, men's authority over women was emphasized, teaching women to be submissive.

Hildegard of Bingen

Was born in Germany. Her family name was unknown, although early writers did note the family was wealthy. She suffered from poor health as a child, with trouble walking and seeing. Hildegard entered the convent and learned to read, write and sing religious psalms as part of her spiritual training. Even as a child, Hildegard believed she had visions of the future. Hildegard's works included medical information, visionary messages, and philosophical theories. She became a well-known composer of sacred music, and more of Hildegard's liturgical chants have survived than any other medieval composer. Hildegard wrote letters and poems, doing her extensive writings into illuminated manuscripts.

Herrad of Landsberg

Was the Abbess of Hohenburg, which is a convent in eastern France. She was born into a noble family and entered the abbey when she was young. Many girls and women were from wealthy families and received a broader education than most young girls at the time. As Herrad grew older, she rose within the abbey, eventually becoming the abbess. At first, she worked to rebuild the abbey and incorporate more of the surrounding land under the abbey's jurisdiction. As the abbess for twenty-eight years, she was well-liked both inside and outside the abbey.

Sibilla von Bondorf

Was a nun in a Clarissan convent in Germany. Much of von Bondorf's work was for prayer books or books used in the liturgy. Her primary work was a set of illustrations based on the lives of Saint Francis, Saint Clara, and Saint Elisabeth. Copies of her work were widely used among other convents. Religious changes in Germany in the 1400s brought opportunities for women in convents to create and produce manuscripts and liturgical books.

Source: GUSTLIN, Deborah and GUSTLIN, Zoe, 2023. Herstory: Women Artists in History.

[catmarlowastrology]

❤️‍🔥 Venus Retrograde in Leo: The Dramatic Revamp of Your Love & Value System

Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and values, goes retrograde in the flamboyant and fiery sign of Leo on July 22nd, 2023. Let's dive deep into what this celestial event means for each of the rising signs.

❤️‍🔥 Aries Risings: 5th House For Aries Risings, Venus is going retrograde in your fifth house of fun, romance, and creativity. It's time to review and revise what truly ignites your passion, and perhaps rediscover an old hobby or a past lover.

❤️‍🔥 Taurus Risings: 4th House Venus is traipsing backward in your fourth house of home and family. It’s time to beautify your living space or deal with unresolved family issues. Home is where the heart is, and Venus wants you to focus there.

❤️‍🔥 Gemini Risings: 3rd House Communications and connections take center stage for Gemini Risings, as Venus goes retrograde in your third house. Revisit conversations, rewrite that manuscript, and rekindle connections with siblings and neighbors.

❤️‍🔥 Cancer Risings: 2nd House Venus is retracing her steps in your second house of money and self-worth, Cancer. Reassess your finances, rediscover your values, and rethink your resource management. It's time to reestablish your sense of security.

❤️‍🔥 Leo Risings: 1st House Hello, Leo! With Venus going retrograde in your first house, it's all about self-love and self-expression. Rediscover your personal style, renew your self-image, and rejoice in your individuality.

❤️‍🔥 Virgo Risings: 12th House For Virgos, Venus is taking a step back in your twelfth house of spirituality and solitude. Unearth hidden artistic talents, reconcile with past loves, and meditate on the value of solitude and peace.

❤️‍🔥 Libra Risings: 11th House Libra Rising, Venus is turning retrograde in your eleventh house of friendships and dreams. Reconnect with old friends, revisit your long-term goals, and reevaluate your place within your community.

❤️‍🔥 Scorpio Risings: 10th House For Scorpio Risings, Venus is rewinding in your tenth house of career and reputation. Reconsider your professional goals, reestablish your work-life balance, and reframe how you want to be seen by the world.

❤️‍🔥 Sagittarius Risings: 9th House Venus is spinning backward in your ninth house of travel and philosophy, Sagittarius. Reflect on your belief systems, return to places you love, or relearn a foreign language. The world is your classroom!

❤️‍🔥 Capricorn Risings: 8th House Venus is going retrograde in your eighth house of transformation and shared resources. Redefine your intimate partnerships, revisit your financial ties, and regenerate from within.

❤️‍🔥 Aquarius Risings: 7th House Venus is taking a U-turn in your seventh house of relationships. Review your partnerships, reignite romance, and realign your give-and-take balance.

❤️‍🔥 Pisces Risings: 6th House Venus is going retrograde in your sixth house of work and health. Revamp your routines, reassess your work relationships, and rejuvenate your well-being.

[hel-phoenyx]

Skeletons in the closet (12)

So.

Let's rewind.

Sigi managed to strike a deal with Ether Bastet. She will try to gather more information on Lugos Lecerf, who is, like Walpurgis thought, apparently involved with Malchys. In return of that, we investigate the good doctor. and try, the less we can, to incriminate doctor Kozakios.

Something like that.

The shit she said... Malchys being particularly careful about not leaving traces behind him, only behind the others... Manuscript notes, him never doing anything unethical himself, always using people in the hospital... That goes well with my gut feeling, yeah.

Either Ether Bastet is lying to cover Kozakios, which she could, considering she asked to void her testimony if something happened to her. Or we are going against a litteral evil mastermind.

This is not my lane. This has never been my lane. I fight against ordinary evil. Racial profiling cops. Rape threats. Discriminations. People it's easy to give the bad guy role.

Never someone who is saving lives with his whole BBEG schmilblick.

... I miss my DnD sessions with the gang.

To conclude my assessment, if Ether is right, only thing incriminating Malchys is his notes, but if we get them, and a good search warrant could probably allow me to act quicker than him while staying on the good side of the law, the whole system could collapse. We could add testimonies to that, hers, maybe Kozakios's or other doctors involved with Malchys that could decide to leave the ship like rats. Maybe we could even get the good doctor to slip up.

It's gonna be complicated but it's feasible.

No, the problem is... His patients. even Ether said he was a good oncologist. A miracle worker. If someone that can hate him so much still is reluctant to make him fall because of that... Imagine all the people he saved. He is saving. He won't be able to save anymore.

So this is probably why Sigi thinks this investigation is a test of character.

Walpurgis would put him behind bars instantly the first proof established. He expects we do the same.

... That is not why I enlisted.

I wanted to save lives.

I wanted to protect my family.

I wanted to

I wanted to

never see my best friend bloody on the ground with a hand torn to shreds by shrapnel and glass

never hear again the cries of Brynja over the phone when we learnt they found her sister dead with her genitals mangled and marks everywhere on her body

never feel the fear of Thorfinn when he sees people with rich coats and jewellry

never hear about the injustices of this world, my side or the other, without being able to do anything.

...

Ha.

I regret the times my main problem was a giant asshole of a redhead. At least he was easy to insult.

Think, Fenrir, think.

So our best lead is Ether. Our only lead, in fact. Doctor Claro doesn't know much and seems reluctant to involve himself. The patients look upon him like a saint. In fact, we could wait until most of them are treated or doomed, or until he has his treatment, maybe once its out its influence will at least save some lives

But the problem, according to Ether, is that losing time could very well doom doctor Kozakios, admitting she is a victim.

So we got a new moral dilemma on the table. Great.

Ether... Where have I heard this name ?

I sigh. Call Sigi on the phone.

No answer.

Of course.

I grit my teeth. Leave a vocal message.

"Hey, princess. When your up, or out of your girlfriend's arms, we'll need to talk about all this shit. And make a decision."

One thing I'm sure of is that I can't continue this investigation with doubts.

***

It's almost midnight when I get home. I spent the evening in a bar outside, trying to drink, but my finances can't get me wasted at the moment, I had too wild teenage years. Even the barman was surprised. Also I don't have 50 euros to spend every night, especially when most of my salary is used for my family.

I was alone, even though I told the others where I was. It's my day off tomorrow, so I can have a little bit of fun, I thought. Fun alone, so I don't burden the others, so I can think about all this shit.

I epected to stay alone all the night.

Yet in front of my door

Leaning on the frame

Someone is waiting with arms crossed.

Someone blonde. In a funny shirt with sharks on it. Face covered in freckles badly hidden by glasses. And very, very, very tall.

Tyr doesn't even wait for me to come in.

He walks towards me ignoring the fact I froze in place.

"... Wha.... ?"

"Sorry, Fenrir. I should have warned you I was coming, but something tells me you would just have avoided coming home."

... He's not angry. His face is calm, no twitches of the fingers or the eyelids, none of the scary looks he spares me when he's pissed, nothing but calm

Just

his eyes I can't read.

I already know I won't be able to escape.

"... Fine. come in, mister unannounced. We will be better talking inside."

***

He's sat on my sofa, and I am lying down in one of my armchairs. Trying not to puke. Looks like I will be hungover tomorrow. Life's a bitch. Can't get drunk, only the bad parts.

"So, I start, playing with one of my piercings. What brings you here ? I haven't done anything this time, promise."

"I'm not here for that. It's just, well, I got a text from Egill this morning."

Oh no.

"Egill... Lulea ?"

"Himself. Domhildr also told me he's in remission. No more metastasis in the lungs."

Remission.

Because of that new treatment.

Because of

Because of

The man I am trying to put behind bars.

"... You're shitting me."

"Looks like you didn't know. Weird, considering you were the one to tell me about the weak chances of recovery first."

... I know where this is going and I hate it.

"Look, I don't want to pressure you or anything," Tyr says with a weird expression. "But I received word this morning you're snooping around doctor Malchys. Usually I wouldn't look into it, especially if it's cop business and private invastigation, but..."

Then why, Tyr ? What warrants a visit from you in the middle of the night with your careful words and those godsdamned eyes ?

"You're not the only one involved, apparently. Ether seems to know you, at least from afar. And when I ask Ether about what's going on at work, she's being very evasive. I am afraid you guys are caught into something very big."

.... Fuck.

Bull's eye. Of course. It's Tyr. He always had a keen eye for this kind of details, the perks of overthinking. And now he's going to get involved. Egill will involve him. Domhildr will involve him. Ether will involve him Everyone will involve him.

I can't

I can't let that happen. I can't. I can't.

".... And you come here to what. Meddle in my business ?"

Tyr frowns.

"No. I'm just worried. I need to know if you're safe, Fenrir. Or..."

He doesn't say it, but the words linger in the air.

Or that you're not gonna enact another plan to make everything explode.

And hurt a lot of people in the process.

I knew it. He's here only because Egill warned him. He wants to make sure I'm not ruining the recovery of his precious brother-in-law. That I am not killing his girlfriend's dearest brother. Or what, that I am not putting his hospital buddy in danger.

Nothing about me. Nothing about what i am living. Nothing to care about that goddamn nigthmare.

My blood is boiling.

Why is the world so red ?

On the face of my very best friend only a mask of nothingness and I

hate

hate

hate

hate

it.

"... Well, I am. But you don't care, do you ? You're only here because Egill prompted you."

Something shifts in the air. Tyr tries to get up, but one move of my hand stops him from moving.

"Nah, don't say anything, I got it. You can't see the bullshit I'm in, you just got word I was doing something reprehensible and there you are, a knight in shining armor ! Tell me, are you ever tired to be the ever-so-virtuous Tyrfing af Mundir, trying to stop bad seeds like me to hurt the good men and people around you ?!"

I get up, walk towards him, my view is redder than ever.

"But you don't get anything, huh ? About what I am doing, what I have to do, how muc shit I'm in. You don't care. You just see that I am attacking a saint in his church and you don't even care about why I'm doing that !"

The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.

"So go ahead, lecture me, lecture me again like you know how to do, like it's gonna make things better ! A ster teaching and the big bad wolf will stop, and everything will be fine, because I am always, always, the villain in your story, am I-"

I lift my hand

Walk

Run

Something catches it.

He got up.

Blocked my wrist in his living hand.

"Enough."

His face is only cold.

"I came here because I thought you were on an investigation that could cost you a lot of things if done wrong, including your safety. I wanted to be sure you were acting carefully, or you weren't hiding to me, to us that you were in danger. I came here because I care about you still, despite every bullshit you tried to pull."

His eyes are brimming with ice.

"but if you take it like that, fine. Have it your way. It sounds like I was stupid to believe you could accept help from people you wronged. Again."

He lets go of my wrist, gathers his things, walk towards the door.

"Don't show me the exit. I know it already."

The door slams on silence.

...

God damn it.

I need to call Sigi.

[worldanvil]

Witchy Worldbuilding with Rachel Aaron (Part 1)

Join us for a spooky season interview with author Rachel Aaron (Hell of a Witch), as we explore the scary practice of worldbuilding with witches. We’ll discuss how witches are often treated differently from other magic users in fantasy and TTRPGs, the tricky aspects of crafting believable witches, and how to create a witchcraft-based magic system that feels distinct and interesting. 

https://rachelaaron.net/ 

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grab the latest podcast episode 👉

[gallavich-annise]

I have no idea if I'm going to continue with this because my muse is a fickle fuck and I'm chasing whatever's most fun right now... but I had 45 minutes and and a laptop and this happened.

Tagging @callivich because it's all your fault 😆😆 (in the best possible way)

----

Ian was at the Professor’s door exactly one minute before their meeting time. It wasn’t nerves, exactly, that kept him obsessively prompt with Professor Halley, but just the constant sense that he was on thin ice. The professor himself never gave that impression, was always perfectly courteous and friendly, no different from any of his other students.

But shit like this didn’t happen to a Gallagher, and Ian always felt one step away from the fall.

So he wouldn’t give anyone any excuse. Be prompt. All assignments in when they’re due. Don’t miss a class. Don’t get noticed, don’t get caught out. It had kept him his scholarship, and earned him the youth section orchestra to conduct in the first semester of his second year, and kept him it for a further year.

If it was wearing a hole in his tapped out nervous system, who was counting? It was only another year. He could do it for one more year.

“Ian! Good afternoon” Halley said, looking up from his desk. The desk was cluttered. Ian had never seen a college professor with a tidy desk. This desk in particular was covered in sheet music and manuscript paper, a stack of student folders with assignments, and an oboe case acting as a paperweight.

The professor himself managed not to fit the archetype that his desk suggested. He was wearing beige slacks with a navy UIC hoodie, salt-and-pepper hair cut into a neat short-back-and-sides, and face clean shaven. Ian had never so much as seen him with a five o’clock shadow.

“Hi, Professor Halley. How’s it going?” Ian asked as he eased himself into the chair opposite the professor.

The professor grinned.

“Well, thanks. We have made our decision on the new principal. I think you’ll be pleased.”

“No shit!” Ian said, shooting upright and leaning forward.

“You ever heard of Mikhailo Milkovich?”

Ian’s jaw dropped. “No! What?” he said. Then, when the professor’s smile grew. “Seriously?”

“Absolutely. He’s transferring here from New York, and wants to get involved with the youth section until he completes his degree. He’s moving back to Chicago to be nearer his family since his father passed away.”

“No shit? Fuck,” he said, before reaching a hand to his mouth.

“You’ve seen him play, then, I take it?”

Ian nodded. “He did a charity concert last summer… They did Vivaldi. The four seasons. He was… incredible.”

Ian still remembered it with the vividness of a fever dream. Milkovich had the makings of one of the greats… a Joshua Bell or Nicola Benedetti. Ian had been enraptured. During the final movement, the presto, he’d stood in front of that orchestra, commanding the whole room, and Ian had just spent it staring at the man’s hands. His bow hand moved so quickly it blurred, while his left hand moved along the fingerboard with such precision and practised ease that he made it look like he was playing a nursery rhyme instead of one of the most challenging orchestral violin parts of all time. All the while, the notes coming out of his violin made Ian’s entire soul reverberate. He’d never been much of a fan of Vivaldi… but after that rendition, he’d suddenly understood it.

Of course it helped that when Milkovich had finally opened his eyes to look at the audience when his performance ended, he’d briefly met Ian’s gaze with a pair of intensely blue eyes, with just the hint of a smirk on his mouth like he’d singled Ian out specifically. And when they were stilled, Ian could see that his hands had the words FUCK U-UP tattooed across the knuckles.

Here in the office, Ian coughed and blinked to try and return to the moment.

“Great. So, do I need to get in touch with him? When will he be arriving?”

“I’ve given him your rehearsal schedule, he should be there on Tuesday evening.”

Ian wiped his palms on his trousers and bit his lip.

“Wow. Mikhailo Milkovich. What a coup, huh?”

“Yeah, it should be a good boost for the school. He’s here on a scholarship, like you. I’m sure you’ll have a lot in common!”

Ian grinned back at him, and wondered. Wondered if a true virtuoso talent could have anything in common with a hard-working music student who’d learned to play on a neighbour’s out-of-tune honky tonk piano.

It would seem he’d find out.

[writingsinashes]

Riley Matthew Manns' Biography

NAME: Riley Matthew Mann

NICKNAME: Riled Up

GENDER & PRONOUNS: Male & He/Him

BIRTHDAY & AGE: 05/13/1992 & 29

SEXUALITY: Straight

HOMETOWN: New York City, New York

RELIGION: Spiritualist

NATIONALITY: American

FACE CLAIM: Robert Pattinson

HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’2” & 163 lbs

EYES: Light Green

HAIR: Brunette

BODY TYPE: Slender

SCENT: Cedar

TATTOOS & PIERCINGS: 2 tattoos (both from a manic episode)

COMPLEXION & SCARS: Smooth complexion with numerous self-harm-induced scars

Biography:

Riley Matthew Mann’s life is a testament to the destruction caused by denial, mental illness, and the weight of an unforgiving world. Diagnosed with Bipolar I at a young age, Riley has spent his life battling his own mind, refusing to acknowledge the chaos his mental state wreaks on his life until it almost tore him apart. At 23, he hit rock bottom during a depressive episode so dark that it left him face-down, alone, in his own vomit after swallowing a bottle of anti-anxiety pills, desperately chasing the numbness with vodka—anything to escape the darkness suffocating him. The rationalization? That his disorder, the only one he would admit to, had left him too out of control. He didn’t see the point of living in a world where he wasn’t allowed to be himself, in a body that betrayed him at every turn.

That night, he should have died.

But fate had other plans, and Riley woke up in a hospital bed, forced into court-mandated therapy and regular drug testing. He complied, only because he had no choice. He didn’t need medication; he didn’t need anyone telling him how to manage his emotions. But the court told him otherwise. He was required to take lithium to prove to the world—and to himself—that he was, in some semblance, in control. They forced him to follow their rules, to play their game, but Riley? He hated every second of it. Even if the lithium numbed the waves of mania and depression that struck him like a freight train, it also robbed him of the one thing he had left: his ability to feel truly alive.

At his core, Riley knew his condition would always be there. The manic episodes—fast-paced, reckless, and full of unfiltered energy—became his false sense of freedom. During mania, Riley would believe that he didn’t need his medication, that he was invincible, and that the world was his to conquer. It was during one of these highs that he found himself in a confrontation with a cop—a violent encounter where he ended up punching the officer, stealing his gun, and threatening him. At the time, Riley had no clue that the manic rage coursing through him had once again driven him to a breaking point. The test results from that encounter confirmed what Riley already knew deep down: the marijuana in his system was nothing compared to the lithium he refused to take.

The judge’s face was cold when Riley was sent to serve community service, working under the very man he hated: his father. Riley’s father had always used his bipolar diagnosis as an excuse for Riley’s chaotic behavior, making him the perfect scapegoat for their family’s failures. They never had to face the real problem—their neglect, their indifference. So Riley ended up trapped in the very institution his father ran, forced to serve his punishment, all the while simmering with anger and resentment.

It was there, in the sterile halls of his father's government facility, that Riley stumbled into something unexpected. The world his father had built was dark, full of secrets that were better left hidden. As Riley uncovered more and more of these lies, he found himself documenting everything. He had always dreamed of becoming someone—someone who wasn’t defined by his illness. His bipolar disorder wasn’t his identity, it was just a part of him. But this new world, with all its secrets and corruption, was something far more interesting. He began to compile everything he could into a manuscript—an exposé, a memoir, and a means of vengeance against the family that had never really seen him.

Riley’s loyalty lay with only two people in his family: his younger sister, Aria, and his younger brother, Robert. Aria, just 15, was his constant and only beacon of light in a life full of shadows. She had no idea what it was like to live with the relentless ups and downs of bipolar disorder. But she was his, and he would burn the world down for her. Robert, just 12, found solace in his art, while Aria was beginning to look up to Riley in ways he never thought she would. He refused to let them become another casualty of their parents' neglect. But when forced back into his parent's home as part of his parole, Riley found himself bitterly trapped between keeping his medication regimen intact, hiding from the world, and trying to repair the broken relationships that had shaped him.

And then, there was Andrea.

Andrea came into his life like a storm, and though Riley knew better than to trust anything, especially someone who could break him just by existing, he couldn’t stop himself from falling. But was it mania? Or was it love? He couldn’t tell. All he knew was that for the first time in his life, he felt seen—not as the kid with bipolar disorder, not as the failure, but as Riley.

She was a force of nature—confident, wild, and effortless in her grace. She saw him, really saw him, in ways no one else had. She didn’t treat him like a diagnosis or a failure. She loved the raw, unfiltered Riley, the one that lived somewhere between his manic highs and depressive lows, and for the first time in years, Riley allowed himself to believe that maybe he was worthy of love—real love, not the kind that came with strings attached or expectations of perfection.

For a while, it was like a storm and a calm colliding in an unexpected, dangerous beauty. During his manic episodes, Andrea was his anchor, the only person who could pull him back from the edge when he got too reckless. But during his depressive lows, she was the warmth that kept him from drowning completely, reminding him that he mattered, even when he couldn’t believe it himself.

But just as quickly as she had come into his life, Andrea began to slip away.

At first, it was small things. She’d pull back a little when he was too manic, afraid of the chaos that followed. Riley, always eager to feel the rush of being alive, never noticed. But eventually, the small things became big things. She stopped calling as much. Stopped texting. Stopped showing up when he needed her most. And that’s when the darkness started to creep in.

Riley tried to keep it together. He tried to ignore the tightening in his chest, the growing panic that his world was crumbling once again. But he couldn’t. The depressive episode hit hard—harder than it had in a long time. And the more Andrea pulled away, the more it confirmed everything Riley had been running from his entire life: no one stays. He was too much, too intense, too unpredictable. His love was something people feared, not something they could handle.

It all came to a head one night. Riley had been spiraling for days, his mood swinging uncontrollably between wild, manic energy and the pit of despair. He reached out to Andrea, needing her in a way that was almost suffocating. He was desperate for her to show him that he wasn’t just the mess of emotions he believed himself to be. But when she came over that night, her eyes were cold, distant, and she didn’t look at him the way she used to.

She told him she couldn’t handle the highs and lows anymore. That she loved him, but she couldn’t keep up with the chaos he brought. She said he needed help, real help, and she couldn’t be the one to fix him. That was it. That was all. No explanations, no apologies. Just a declaration that she was done.

Riley didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t know how to. He just stared at her, the silence between them unbearable. And then, something inside him snapped. His emotions, which had already been teetering on the edge, burst out like a tidal wave.

He screamed at her, told her that she didn’t care, that she never really did. He called her every name in the book, blamed her for everything wrong in his life, even though deep down he knew it wasn’t her fault. But the anger—it was too much. He was drowning, and the only way he knew how to keep from sinking was to lash out.

Andrea left, and Riley was left in the wreckage. The manic episode hit him like a freight train. He couldn’t control it. He couldn’t stop it. He needed to feel something, anything, other than the crushing emptiness that had descended on him. It wasn’t long before the impulsive decisions came—reckless, dangerous actions driven by the pain of losing her. He dove into self-destructive behavior, knowing full well that the spiral he was in would only get worse.

In the days that followed, Riley fell into a depressive state so deep that it felt like the world had gone black. He wasn’t sure if he could keep going. He couldn’t stop thinking about Andrea, wondering where he went wrong, wondering why he couldn’t just be enough for her. His anxiety, fueled by the pain of rejection, twisted inside him, and the loneliness felt like a heavy weight on his chest.

The breakup shattered him, but it was more than just the loss of Andrea—it was the confirmation of every dark thought he had about himself. He wasn’t worth it. He was a burden. He was nothing but his illness, a mess of emotions that no one could handle.

And as the manic episodes returned with a vengeance, Riley couldn’t help but spiral even further. This time, there would be no anchor, no Andrea to pull him back. He was alone again, trapped in a cycle of his own making, and the one person he thought might save him was now the person who had driven him further into the abyss.

Now, as the days blur together and the highs and lows crash relentlessly against each other, Riley can’t escape the overwhelming feeling that he’s lost everything that mattered. His self-destructive impulses have taken over once again. He’s back to fighting battles with no real hope of winning. And this time, when he reaches for that sense of release, it feels emptier than it ever has before.

But one thing is for sure: Andrea’s absence has left a hole in his chest, one that no amount of mania, rage, or alcohol can fill. It’s a wound, raw and festering, and Riley knows deep down that the only way to heal is to face the truth of what happened—that he wasn’t just lost in the chaos of his mind. He was lost to himself.

And now, he has to figure out if he can ever find a way back.

But he had been through enough to know that mania could be a beautiful lie, and the price of believing in it was one that would forever haunt him.

As Riley’s story unfolds, his battle with himself grows more intense, more volatile. Mania and depression come and go like waves crashing onto a shore, sometimes crashing him down, other times lifting him to impossible heights. But every time he falls, the world around him shrinks until all that’s left is the burning, unshakable need to be seen for who he truly is—someone more than his illness. Will he ever find peace, or will the destructive cycle that defines his existence continue to pull him under, over and over again?

It’s only a matter of time. And Riley? He’s counting the seconds.

General Info:

After the dissolution of It’sAMann’s World Inc., Riley found himself in an enviable position: heir to a massive fortune, a degree in hand, but no real sense of purpose. The life he had imagined didn’t quite align with the reality of what he had now. With a hefty bank account and no clear direction, Riley did what most people in his shoes would likely do—he did nothing.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and life became, in many ways, easier for him. Financial worries were a distant memory, but something inside him felt... empty. He had thought that the drive for deeper understanding, the curiosity that once gnawed at him, had vanished. He was no longer the person consumed by the need to know more, to uncover the truths buried within himself and the world. But, as always, Riley was wrong.

The hunger for answers, the need to make sense of the chaos within him, was still there, lingering beneath the surface. 

He couldn’t escape it. 

It led him to find new ways to engage with the world—volunteering his time, taking random classes with no real goal in mind, and endlessly searching for something to fill the void that had once been so purposefully driven.

Riley had hoped he could escape the existential pull that had always haunted him, but instead, it found its way back to him. The quest for meaning in a life of comfort was messy, chaotic, and unfulfilling, yet it was the one thing that kept him from sinking entirely into the disillusionment of his own success. In the end, Riley may have money and status, but without the purpose that once fueled him, he was left to grapple with the nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, the real journey was the one inside himself.

And maybe that was worth something after all. Or maybe not.

Riley’s daily life, though cushioned by the massive fortune he inherited, is far from the carefree existence one might expect. He still grapples with his mental health, managing a complex regimen of medications and daily routines designed to keep his bipolar disorder, anxiety, insomnia, and depression in check. Though his wealth buys him freedom, it does little to erase the constant battle within him.

Daily Life and Self-Care

Riley’s mornings usually start with the bitter reality of managing his mental health. Despite his financial security, getting up each day requires effort, as he deals with insomnia and the lingering effects of his depression. To combat these, he takes a combination of Ambien and Prozac to help regulate his sleep and mood. The Ambien helps him fall asleep, but the next morning can be difficult—his depression still lingers, making it hard to shake the feeling of emptiness.

Once awake, Riley begins his routine of medication management. His Lithium and Zyprexa keep his mood swings from spiraling into full-blown mania or crushing depression. He’s also prescribed Valium to manage anxiety when it surfaces, which happens often in his high-stress lifestyle. On top of that, he takes Adderall twice a day to combat the lethargy that accompanies his depressive episodes, giving him the energy he needs to keep moving through the haze of his emotions.

Despite the chaos in his mind, Riley manages to stay physically active, though not in the traditional sense. His workouts aren't regimented—he’s more inclined to focus on activities that give him an outlet for his energy, like playing guitar or indulging in his love for video games. When he’s not spending hours lost in digital worlds, he channels his anxiety and nervous energy into strumming his guitar, something that allows him to escape into a different space mentally. He also finds solace in the simple act of reading, able to devour an entire novel in a single day when he’s in the right headspace.

He’s known for his sarcasm and quick wit, using humor as both a shield and a way to connect with people. It's his way of making others smile, a rare but meaningful gift that he takes pride in. He’s learned to use his charm and humor as a tool to deflect from the darker parts of his life. And when his manic energy hits, he has been known to blow through his money in record time—spending up to $10,000 in an hour without much thought, an impulse driven by the euphoria of mania.

Riley is also a bit of a puzzle. He’s fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), a skill he picked up during a manic episode, during which he decided he needed to immerse himself in something completely new. It’s one of those quirks that make him seem unpredictable but also incredibly capable when he puts his mind to something. It’s not all just play and chaos for Riley—there are hidden layers of intelligence, too. He’s spent time learning about different things and continues to explore random subjects, often diving deep into topics like philosophy and human behavior.

Struggles and Coping Mechanisms

But for all the effort Riley puts into managing his health, there are constant battles. His anxiety disorder means that even simple tasks can feel overwhelming. Some days, it feels like the world is closing in on him. His bipolar disorder forces him to reckon with the highs and lows, making it difficult to feel grounded in any given moment. Despite this, Riley has a remarkable ability to maintain a sense of self-preservation—he won’t let his mental illnesses define him completely, though they undeniably affect his life.

The depression still lingers like an unwelcome guest, sometimes rearing its head when he least expects it, leaving him paralyzed with despair. It’s the undercurrent to his existence, and the more he tries to push it away, the more it digs in its claws. But with the right medications and careful routines, Riley manages to function. His CPR certification is a testament to his ability to take care of others when he’s needed, something that fits with his innate desire to make a difference, even in his own fractured way.

The Big Picture

Riley's life may appear easy on the surface, but it is far from it. He’s a man caught between extremes—grappling with the weight of a mental health diagnosis that affects every corner of his life, even while he enjoys financial freedom. He’s learned to use his humor, skills, and coping mechanisms to manage his world, but it doesn’t come without struggle. Every day is a balancing act, between the highs of his manic episodes and the crushing lows of his depression. He’s still trying to find his purpose, navigating the chaos of his mind while figuring out how to exist in a world that often seems too much to handle.

In the end, Riley isn’t just a man with a fortune—he’s someone battling his inner demons every single day. And no matter how much he tries to pretend otherwise, that fight defines who he is.

Riley’s family, though not entirely a stranger to wealth and status, has been a source of both emotional strain and connection throughout his life. His relationship with them is fraught with tension, neglect, and occasional bursts of tenderness. The Harper family had the money, the influence, but not the understanding or empathy that Riley needed growing up.

Family Dynamics and Struggles

Sarah Harper (Mother): Sarah, Riley’s mother, is a figure of indifference in his life. Her own struggles with substance abuse, particularly drinking, were something Riley witnessed all too often. She used alcohol as an escape, and her inability to truly be present for her children left them to fend for themselves emotionally. Despite this, Riley, deep down, holds a complicated and somewhat contradictory love for her. She may not have been the nurturing figure he needed, but she was still his mother, and in some way, he wanted her love and approval—something that was always out of reach. She frequently brushed aside any attempt at meaningful connection, leaving Riley to navigate his emotions and his illness in isolation.

Joshua Harper (Father): Joshua, Riley’s father, is an aloof and emotionally detached man. His role in the family has always been more about maintaining the family’s social status and wealth rather than offering real guidance or affection to his children. Riley’s father never understood his struggles with mental health and saw them more as a weakness, something that could be fixed with discipline rather than compassion. Their relationship was one built on resentment, especially after Riley’s reckless behavior landed him in trouble. Joshua never stepped up in any meaningful way to help Riley. In fact, he often used Riley’s bipolar disorder as an excuse for his own failings as a parent, deflecting blame and avoiding real accountability. Despite this, Riley finds himself back in his father’s world, dragged into a life he never wanted, forced to work under his father’s thumb as part of his parole. That relationship is one of duty, not love, and it’s something Riley deeply resents.

Aria Harper (Sister): Aria, Riley’s younger sister, is someone he feels deeply protective of, though their relationship is complicated. At 15, Aria is beginning to understand more about the world, but Riley still sees her as his little girl, the one he promised to protect from the neglect he suffered. Aria has a hard time grasping the depths of Riley’s struggles with mental illness, but Riley’s love for her is undeniable. She didn’t share his bipolar diagnosis, and Riley often found himself wishing she wouldn’t have to experience the chaos that had been his life. He wanted her to have a better shot at a normal life. Despite the turbulence in his own life, Riley was determined to be the older brother Aria could rely on, even if their interactions were often tinged with Riley’s own inner turmoil. He often tried to make sure she felt loved, even when the world around them felt indifferent.

Rob Harper (Brother): Riley’s youngest brother, Robert, is only 12 years old, but the bond between them is unexpectedly strong. Riley was always there for him, perhaps more than anyone else in the family, including their parents. Robert’s love for art was something Riley supported wholeheartedly, despite his own often chaotic nature. He wanted Robert to escape the clutches of the family's dysfunction, to have something pure to hold on to. However, being just a kid, Robert is still too young to fully understand the complexities of Riley’s mental health. Riley, for all his flaws and struggles, has always tried to be a role model for Robert, someone who would be there for him no matter what. Even as Riley descended into his manic episodes and bouts of depression, he never stopped caring for Robert, even if he couldn’t always express it in healthy ways.

The Unlikely Pet Owner

When it came to pets, Riley never imagined he’d become an owner. But as life went on, his younger siblings somehow managed to talk him into taking on the responsibility of a pet. His 13-year-old brother and 9-year-old sister, seeing how much Riley struggled with loneliness and emotional turbulence, convinced him to get a pet. They knew his struggles with responsibility, but somehow they managed to win him over, and before he knew it, he was the proud—albeit sometimes resentful—owner of a ferret named Violet.

Violet, a cinnamon-colored ferret only 4 months old, became a bit of an unexpected emotional anchor for Riley. His therapist had suggested making Violet his Emotional Support Animal, and though Riley had a hard time admitting it, it was actually a suggestion that started to make sense. Having something to care for, even in a small way, became a distraction from his spirals. Whether it was taking her for walks, playing with her, or simply having her curled up next to him during his lowest moments, Violet became a small but vital piece of Riley’s daily life.

Though he may never admit it openly, Riley takes some degree of pride in having Violet around. Depending on his mood, he sometimes resents the idea of being responsible for another living thing, but when his depressive episodes hit, Violet’s presence helps ground him. She became an anchor, a way for Riley to still feel tethered to the world in moments when everything else felt distant.

Despite everything, Riley’s family and the presence of Violet are the few things that consistently force him to reconsider his isolation, to reflect on the relationships he has—and the ones he’s failed to build. It’s not easy for him, but perhaps it’s this messy, contradictory, often painful family dynamic and the odd companionship of a small, energetic ferret that are keeping him from slipping too far into the darkness.

[oodlenoodleroodle]

Today at work I wrote my first ever description of an archive*

But I still don't quite know how to input the archive into the collections management system. Archives are organised hierarchically, so that David Smith's Archive has series* like A (identity documents), B (correspondence), C (manuscripts) and D (other documents), where A1 is his birth certificate, and A2 is his passport, B1 is letters from Mary Smith and B2 is letters from Bob Jones, C1 is a notebook full of poetry he wrote, and D1 is his rental contract and D2 is the program to his funeral. And such.

And I haven't decided whether I should do one entry in the system for the whole archive (and use the diary number I guess? 1/2025?) and then another entry for A (1/2025/A?), another for B, another for C, another for D, and then do entries for all the individual things, or bundles of things in the case of letters (1/2025/A:1?) Because that seems a little bit reductive, I would like to skip from 1/2025 to 1/2025A:1. But that may be not ideal. A lazy alternative is to stop at the 1/2025A -level and just verbally describe what documents are in that series.

Ugh, did I just rubber duck myself into doing it the right way...? -_-

A different consideration is whether the system has a category of object for the A/B/C/D -level of stuff or not. I know it has one for the 1/2025 -level, the overall archive. And I know it has one for the 1/2025A:1 -level, an individual document. And I do still wonder whether there is any need to have the middle manager level there at all. Like I can just describe the meanings of the alphabet in the description of the archive, and then skip directly to the documents.

.

* not sure if that's what it's actually called, I'm doing direct translation here

[thephdpensieve]

PhD Tips

Finding Motivation in Small Steps✨

8/100 days of productivity • 01-11-23, Wednesday

I wanted to share with you a realization that dawned upon me after weeks (6, to be exact) of being stuck and wallowing in the land of motivation. Let's talk about that rollercoaster ride called "PhD Motivation".

✨ Motivation: The Spark We all know that feeling when inspiration strikes, and we're fueled by an intense burst of motivation. It's like a spark, igniting the fire within us, and we're ready to conquer the academic world. But, here's the thing: that spark is fleeting, and it's not always around when you need it.

✨ Momentum: The Sustainer That's where momentum comes into play. Think of it as the gentle breeze that keeps your fire burning. It's that sense of progress, accomplishment, and consistency that pulls you through even on the toughest days. Momentum is what keeps you going long after the initial motivation has faded.

✨ The Secret Sauce: Small Tasks So, how do you harness this momentum magic? It's simple: start with small tasks. When the mountain of research, writing, and analysis seems overwhelming, break it down into manageable chunks. It's like eating an elephant—one bite at a time! Tell yourself to finish just one tiny task (like writing just 100 words in a manuscript or debug just one block of code), and then most certainly you'll continue the task.

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

About today

Write first thing in the morning

Mail the draft to PM before 10 am

Meeting with Manish @ 3:30pm - went well. excited about new opportunities!

Continue the forecasting code

Try different system as RC: explore options - Found a new system

Laundry evening - did two batches

Call with Sesh about the GTR course

Clean room, at least one corner - managed to clean a lot

Mindfulness course homework with study buddy

Felt grateful for my advisor - he's sooo supportive

[digitalnewberry]

Many of my summers growing up as a Chicagoland native were full of lake trips to Michigan. Those *lovely* vacation memories also happen to be bundled up with memories of Tetris-loading a minivan, being bribed not to fight with my siblings, and my incredibly organized mother's innumerable packing lists.

While I've been working on our Midwest Manuscript collections, this notebook, belonging to Frances Wells Shaw (1872-1937), gave me flashbacks to my own family vacations! Frances' husband was architect Howard Van Doren Shaw (1869-1926) and they often left their Chicago and Lake Forest homes to travel domestically and internationally -- in fact, after Howard died, Frances traveled independently for 11 years until her passing.

What really struck me about this packing list, in addition to its similarity to my family's, was how few typewriter errors there were for what was essentially a "note to self"! It must have been well thought out by Frances before typing (or with plenty of drafts at the typewriter!). I thought that was a lovely touch!

You can see more of Frances and Howard's adventures in our Digital Newberry Collection and, as a Tumblr exclusive, we can tell you that this collection will have even more enhanced data in the coming weeks! Check back for more!

In the meantime, anybody want to compare packing lists with me and Howard? I think I'll leave the dogskin gloves to Howard...

Angela Sullivan | Digital Asset Management System Assistant

[kimyoonmiauthor]

Another correction with GenAI as the lead

Leads with a GenAI image, so... still give it a chance? Maybe not written by AI but by a human? Then why so many errors?

A great way to tank yourself as a creator is to use a GenAI image as a cover, as part of your marketing. People will start to doubt if you wrote anything.

So to demonstrate, I'm going to go through the errors in this article. Because often people think, "Oh, self-pub is EASY and I'll make all the mulah" from articles like these, but the hardships aren't showing up.

The first issue is this table...

Screenshot 2024-12-24

That's an odd thing....

Did you write this?

So this is attributed to Jane Friedman, who is a real person.

The problem with this chart is that this is not her chart. Look at the actual chart here: https://janefriedman.com/key-book-publishing-path/

Huge honking red flag.

This is shaky legal ground, I would think too, attributing a work that is soooo clearly shoddy to a professional.

This is also why it's so filled with errors.

So let's go over the items: Trad Publishing:

Publisher contracts with author for rights to manuscript

Not always easy to sever relationship

Possible royalty paid up front and with book sales; author may need to pay for extras

Offset printing for large runs

Traditional Publishing Today The “Big Five” major publishing groups handle most traditional publishing, earning approximately 25% of their income from ebooks. You must secure an agent to present your work to these (or most other) houses. Getting an agent can be a daunting task, and crafting an agent’s query letter is an art in itself, but it’s necessary to avoid your request landing in their proverbial slush pile. Once a publisher accepts your manuscript, they own its rights, and your contract specifies what they can do with it. You receive royalties, while they manage editing, cover design, marketing, and distribution. You have minimal input or control over these processes, but they cover all associated costs. A traditionally published book can take up to two years to reach bookstore shelves. Royalties from traditional publishers are smaller than those received from self-publishing, but an expected larger number of sales offsets this.

The “Big Five” major publishing groups handle most traditional publishing, earning approximately 25% of their income from ebooks.

That's their source. No. It's authors who earn about 10-25% from ebook sales of their total sales within traditional publishing. This does not mean the publishers do.

I smell genAI. Like how could you be an author and miss this from your *checks source* Reddit and Quora??? Like really? You're taking these figures from Quora?

Again, for small presses that are genuine small presses, you DO NOT ALWAYS need an agent, however, when dealing with an entity not your own with a long term contract, you should have an IP lawyer or an agent or at least be up on your legal shit before you sign.

Getting an agent can be a daunting task, and crafting an agent’s query letter is an art in itself, but it’s necessary to avoid your request landing in their proverbial slush pile.

This sounds like a copy-paste of the other article?? Is genAI spreading misinformation and bad organization skills?

A query letter ain't that difficult. Does it take time? Yes, but can you learn the art of it? Yes.

To be clear, the system for trad publishing, which is why I have suspicions they didn't really do the research is:

query an agent (usually for bigger presses and medium sized presses)

If you get accepted, then you go to signing the contract with the agent, who usually asks for 15-20% of your total earnings. Money flows first to you.

You have to make a comp package.

The comp package goes out to editors at presses. You need to communicate clearly to your agent which type of publishers you wish to court.

The book is picked up by a publisher who edits your manuscript and often works with you on your press releases, etc. Sometimes you are given control of the cover. If you make the cover yourself, make sure you get paid separately for that. There should be a built-in reversion clause. !@#$ Make sure there is a reversion clause.

The payment from the advance is made out in installments over a long period of time.

If the publisher fails to publish, then the rights should revert back to you. Usually the time period is a year (more likely) or two.

The book is then after copyedits, etc released at a given date.

You get your first payment on the first book signing (usually)

Royalties only happen after the advance amount is met in sales, not before then.

I should note that often people who are shitty at queries are great at synopses and people who are shitty at synopses are great at queries.

So let's go over the list items:

Publisher contracts with author for rights to manuscript

Yes. This is true. Limited rights to publish the manuscript in various forms. The publisher pays for each form of the media which should be delineated in the contract. Look out for in perpetuity. Agent, reversion should be in the contract especially sinc eit's popular these days for publishers to try to screw you over by saying they own your manuscript's license for the rest of your life+copyright time. That's what the reversion is for.

Not always easy to sever relationship

More often than not the publisher severs the relationship with the writer by usually either non-payment or failing to publish. It's often more often than not for the writer to be both paid and published.

The only reason to sever is if there is something egregious.

Possible royalty paid up front and with book sales; author may need to pay for extras

Untrue.

The ADVANCE is the usually 15K-20K for the PoC authors. And that you have to make back in sales. A whopping 20% only make that back. You in effect borrow that against the sale of your book. But if you ask for a lower advance, you better ask for a higher royalty rate.

The "standard" royalty rate is around 20-30% last I saw.

You absolutely do NOT need to pay for marketing, editing, translation, etc. The publisher handles all of that and the covers, typesetting, etc. They sometimes will also assign a publicist, though famously, this is usually for famous white male authors, which shouldn't get me into trouble since it's been reported waaaaayyyy back.

Offset printing for large runs also make books available through online channels

They do absorb the cost for printed books. They do help with listing it on amazon and getting you an official ISBN, etc.

With Indie the problem is the costs are absorbed by the author.

I've known writers to pay up to 5,000-25K dollars to be published. Which is eye watering. And you should be getting full service editing at that point.

You can also circle around and get no profit and face a loss of 4,995. Again, you need great marketing to make any money off of it and be aware of marketing, which you may or may not know.

I've seen authors that only got 5 dollars back from their sales because they simply don't know how to market their book. They didn't do the reading, they didn't start doing the marketing, their marketing is too timid, they didn't know how to network to other writers, etc.

The most successful online sales writers usually write shorter works, nonfiction, and put a lot of effort into doing a professional type setting and layout, including the covers. They really put themselves out there in terms of marketing. They know how to build connections, get onto podcasts, into newspapers and know how to angle themselves so they can break that 10% barrier.

But this comes with an additional cost as well. These people often don't have the time to write another book because the time chasing podcasts and arranging, etc is the time you're not writing. So to be an indie author, you really, really need to be able to make back your investment and research before you write the book.

True Indie authors have to write a TON of books in addition to the marketing. And it's an eye watering amount.

As for combination outfits...

They are often rife with scams, and usually aren't worth your time. It's often better to find a small limited press that's genuine with a genuine track record than to pay a combination press.

The problem is when you do indie there are less automatically there supporting authors to help you out.

BUT getting through the doors of trad publishing is hard and you may, especially as a queer disabled PoC, etc face more discrimination.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, but I wouldn't listen to the idea that Indie publishing is a quick and easy buck either. You have to absorb a lot of costs up front, and have A++ hussle game. This doesn't mean that Trad publishing doesn't have the problem of you having to do your marketing, but there are more support systems in play.

Either way, I'd look at Jane Friedman's actual chart rather than what seems to be an AI generated chart. I defer to people who have experienced it all versus a chart that is wholly inaccurate.

So my last bit of advice is this:

Gen AI is not your friend.

It never will be and never should be used for official articles or images. There is nothing faster to tank your sales than to use GenAI for those things. Nobody wants to read GenAI. And GenAI fails become rapidly apparent when people do things like fact check you and find out you got your info from Reddit and Quora and didn't pause for a hot minute to consider if that was the wisest source, which then makes people think, you're a shitty writer, or you used GenAI. Don't do it. Don't be a creator that steals from other creators, whether they are known to you or not.

Humans love, love when they feel something genuine from your heart and work. Practical effects are coming back in movies.

And there is always someone like me out there that will check your work. And I'll catch you. Like Kenneth Rowe stealing from other writers, despite being a Lit professor. I'll be sure to let people know. And do you want to do that to yourself?

Simply don't do it.

[oxford-garments]

House of Lords - Wikipedia

GE’EZ TESTAMENT: SUN LORD (MIDNIGHT SUN & LAGOS SABAOTH) ARCABINE HUGUENOTS TEWAHEDO: Ge'ez Igbo and Latin Igbo; Sun Monotheism with Regulus Pluto Air Sign.

FISHINGPORTS, TEXTILE MILLS, AND FOUNDRIES CADET BAND

Fishingports: port or harbour for landing and distributing fish; Textile Mills: A textile mill is a factory or facility that produces textiles from yarn or fabric into usable textiles. Some of these various textiles include apparel, furniture, agriculture, auto, marine, and other industries; Foundry: is a factory where castings are produced by melting metal, pouring liquid metal into a mold, then allowing it to solidify.

The Regiment of Princes

The Regement of Princes, written for Henry V of England shortly before his accession, is a homily on virtues and vices, adapted from Aegidius de Colonna's Latin work of the same name, from a supposed epistle of Aristotle known as Secretum Secretorum, and from a work of Jacques de Cessoles (fl. 1300) translated later by Caxton as The Game and Playe of Chesse. The Regement survives in at least 43 manuscript copies.[11] It comments on Henry V's lineage, to cement the House of Lancaster's claim to England's throne. Its proem, occupying about a third of the whole, contains reminiscences of London tavern life in a dialogue between the poet and an old man.

A paramount chief is the English-language designation for a king or queen or the highest-level political leader in a regional or local polity or country administered politically with a chief-based system. Eze (pronounced [ézè]) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and Obi, plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word Igwekala or Eluigwekala, "the sky or heaven above the sky is higher or bigger than land", implying that the Eze is a higher servant of the people. Obi usually refers to the centre building for receiving visitors within an Igbo leader's or man's homestead. When used as a title of respect for the Eze, Obi implies: "the one who sits in the throne house or heart of the Kingdom.” In Igbo tradition and culture, the Eze is normally an absolute monarch advised by a council of chiefs or elders whom he appoints based on their good standing within the community. A popular saying in Igbo is "Igbo enwe eze", which translates to "the Igbo have no king." This popular saying does not, however, capture the complexity of Igbo societies as it has been explored in many centuries of anthropological, sociological and political research. In many ways, it is a comment on a cultural disregard for authority and nationhood as seen in the build-up and aftermath of the Biafran Civil War. The Igbo people had and still have ruling bodies of royal and political leaders in which an individual can be recognized by the entire society as primus inter pares, i.e., first among equals. This status is usually hereditary among the male lineage, since Igbo culture is patrilineal. Women in Igbo cultures were known to develop parallel social hierarchies through which they both competed and collaborated with their counterpart male kingship and governing hierarchies. However, there was one woman Eze in colonial Nigeria, Ahebi Ugbabe.[1] The word "kgosi" is a Setswana term for "king" or "chief". Various affixes can be added to the word to change its meaning: adding the prefix di- creates the plural form dikgosi; the feminine suffix -gadi makes the word kgosigadi; and the adjectival suffix -kgolo, meaning "large", creates kgosikgolo, the word for "supreme leader". It is a title often given to aristocrats in Botswana and surrounding countries where there are Tswana speaking people. The office of tribal leadership is called the bogosi while the person who assumes the office is the kgosi.[2] The Bogosi Act of 2008 defines the powers of dikgosi. According to the Bogosi Act, the kgosi of a tribe has several duties: to manage the tribe, to organize kgotla meetings, and to follow the rules and advice of the national government and the members of the tribe. The dikgosi of the eight main Batswana tribes automatically become members of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, an advisory body within the Parliament of Botswana. The kgosi has the ability to appoint a mothusa kgosi who acts as an acting leader while the kgosi is temporarily unable to perform his or her duties.[3] This is different from the motshwarelela bogosi, an office created when the kgosi is permanently unable to perform his or her duties and a replacement kgosi is needed.[4]

A band society, sometimes called a camp, or in older usage, a horde, is the simplest form of human society. A band generally consists of a small kin group, no larger than an extended family or clan. The general consensus of modern anthropology sees the average number of members of a social band at the simplest level of foraging societies with generally a maximum size of 30 to 50 people.[1]

Band' was one of a set of three terms employed by early modern ethnography to analyse aspects of hunter-gatherer foraging societies.

Cadet Branch in Falmouth under House of Rose.

Kgosi will be the title for the Ethnic Group.

A complex society is characterized by the following modern features:

Organizational society wherein its economy is structured according to specialization and a division of labor. These economic features spawn a bureaucratic class and often lead to inequality.[1] Leading to the rise of a ruling elite.

Archaeologically, features such as big architectural projects such as temples, palaces, public works etc and prescribed burial rites.[1]

Large scale agricultural development, leads to surplus food, which allows members of the society the time for developing and practicing specialized skill sets, other than farming.

Organized political structure and state institutions.

The term is mostly used as shorthand to indicate a society with intricate political organization and using technology to expand economic production.[2]

The Lords Spiritual are the bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. Up to 26 of the 42 diocesan bishops and archbishops of the Church of England serve as Lords Spiritual (not including retired bishops who sit by right of a peerage). The Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, and the Anglican churches in Wales and in Northern Ireland, which are no longer established churches, are not represented. The Lords Spiritual are distinct from the Lords Temporal, their secular counterparts who also sit in the House of Lords.

SUN LORD STRUCTURE

Solar Trinity: Sun Embodiment, God, and Crown

The Lords Spiritual are the bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. Up to 26 of the 42 diocesan bishops and archbishops of the Church of England serve as Lords Spiritual (not including retired bishops who sit by right of a peerage). The Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, and the Anglican churches in Wales and in Northern Ireland, which are no longer established churches, are not represented. The Lords Spiritual are distinct from the Lords Temporal, their secular counterparts who also sit in the House of Lords.

The Huguenots (/ˈhjuːɡənɒts/ HEW-gə-nots, UK also /-noʊz/ -⁠nohz; French: [yɡ(ə)no]) are a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Besançon Hugues (1491–1532), was in common use by the mid-16th century. Huguenot was frequently used in reference to those of the Reformed Church of France from the time of the Protestant Reformation. By contrast, the Protestant populations of eastern France, in Alsace, Moselle, and Montbéliard, were mainly Lutherans. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን, romanized: Yä-ityopp'ya ortodoks täwahədo betä krəstiyan)[1] is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few Christian churches in Africa originating before European colonization of the continent,[5] the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church dates back to the Christianization of the Kingdom of Aksum in 330,[6] and has between 36 million and 51 million adherents in Ethiopia.[2][3][4] It is a founding member of the World Council of Churches.[7] The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox churches (the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church). HUGUENOTS AND TEWAHEDO SYNCRETISM

Monolatry (Ancient Greek: μόνος, romanized: monos, lit. 'single', and λατρεία, latreia, 'worship') is the belief in the existence of many gods, but with the consistent worship of only one deity.[1] The term monolatry was perhaps first used by Julius Wellhausen.[2]Monolatry is distinguished from monotheism, which asserts the existence of only one god, and henotheism, a religious system in which the believer worships one god while accepting that others, for example in different areas, may worship different gods with equal validity.[clarify][3]

A New Version of Henriad; Thomas’s Ascension (Sun Lord of England); Alpha Leo, Leopard and Eagle as Spiritual Animals, Royal Stars of Nigeria; Regulus is now Obasi, Crown of Obasi, Anthropology Crista, Sun Monotheism Goetia, Kgosi Reflections Grimoire (Spirit Type Oversoul, Mirror for Princes, Royal Blood, Humanoid), Sun Cristas Instead of Crosses, Necromancer Advisor, Carbines with Angels for Arcabine Lords, Hatton Garden as Sanctuary, Maritime Diplomacy, Bulk Cargo Intermodal Entrepôt, Gunboat Diplomacy, Metrics Analysis for Performance in Economics and Athletics, Drumming Orchestra, Humanoid Sun Wings; Characteristics: Regal, Assertive, Virility, Athletic, Arrogant, Daydreamer, Stubborn, Divinity Religious, Analytical, Conscientious, Decisive, Direct, Efficient, Responsible, and Fact-minded.

Shakespearean Influence Henriad: Prince Hal is the standard term used in literary criticism to refer to Shakespeare's portrayal of the young Henry V of England as a prince before his accession to the throne, taken from the diminutive form of his name used in the plays almost exclusively by Falstaff. Henry is called "Prince Hal" in critical commentary on his character in Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2, though also sometimes in Henry V when discussed in the context of the wider Henriad. In Shakespearean scholarship, the Henriad refers to a group of William Shakespeare's history plays depicting the rise of the English kings.

A cathedral is a church that contains the cathedra of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate.

Falmouth Parish Artisanal Plantation

Art Collegiate

Recession Resistance Industries (The Bay, Grocery Stores, and Halibut House)

Key Performance Indicators for Index Investing on Metric Exchange

High Commission for Commonwealth

A King's Counsel (post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law".

Rugby Church League on Thursday and Sunday after 5:30 and Noon Virgil; Equipment Sponsor and Free Clinics; Ram Sacrifices for Mars Venerated Athletes

My version of the Heavenly Host. Proxy Murder Government Officials, Judges, and Police Stations with Arcarbine Lords for Urban Warfare.

Westminster System with Executive Branch for Choirs & Divine Council and Lords Spiritual ARCABINE LORDS

ARCABINE LORDS (Gun Toting Religious Tattoo Angels)

Another phrase to describe this obedience to the voice is “reckless abandon.” It simply means that we let God do what God wants to do through us. It means if He tells us to do something or say something—we do it.

Pedagogy (/ˈpɛdəɡɒdʒi, -ɡoʊdʒi, -ɡɒɡi/), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political, and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken as an academic discipline, is the study of how knowledge and skills are imparted in an educational context, and it considers the interactions that take place during learning. Both the theory and practice of pedagogy vary greatly as they reflect different social, political, and cultural contexts.

Augustine's thesis depicts the history of the world as universal warfare between God and the Devil. This metaphysical war is not limited by time but only by geography on Earth. In this war, God moves (by divine intervention, Providence) those governments, political/ideological movements and military forces aligned (or aligned the most) with the Catholic Church (the City of God) in order to oppose by all means—including military—those governments, political/ideological movements and military forces aligned (or aligned the most) with the Devil (the City of the World).

Mekubbalim (followers of Kabbala) claim that the symbol has magical powers. There is no explicit historical or archaeological support for any of those claims. The star consists of two intertwined triangles: one pointing up to God and the other pointing down to man, symbolizing the relationship between the two—"the interpenetration of two realms" (source: Franz Rosenzweig, Star of Redemption, 1912). The animals associated with the Christian tetramorph originate in the Babylonian symbols of the four fixed signs of the zodiac: the ox representing Taurus; the lion representing Leo; the eagle representing Scorpio; the man or angel representing Aquarius. SHIELD OF OBASI!

God of Bethlehem: Regulus; Uranus-Saturn; Pluto Sol, and Venus (Sun Sky God; Elements Sun, Thunder, Air; Cardinal) Crista: Armour of God, Shield of Trinity, Shield of Obasi, Mars Blood, Rose of Venus, Pluto Effect, Tarthatharath, and Virility Crown; Religion: Tewahedo, Physique: Anabolic Metabolism Insulin Sensitivity, MSTN GENE, Roux en Y FBN1

Quasi BioAesthetics as Topic and Things to Write about:

Gold Iron Calcium Zinc Oxide Hyaluronic Acid Illite Clay Hydrolyzed Collagen BioRNA Cluster

Bone Metabolism are Light but Metal like Aluminum

Pheomelanin Mid Brown Diamond Face

Blonde Hair with Hazel Eyes with Gold Fleeks

Ambidextrous Hand Eye Foot Coordination

Posterior Gross Motor Skills

Crystalized and Fluid Intelligence

Savant Sensory Overload

Sensory Modulits CNS

Omega 3 6 9, Conscientiousness, and Executive Functioning Skills no Amygdala Grey Brain

Stretch Vocal Chords with Tenor Voice

GABA Acetylcholine Receptors Sensitivity

Gnomes (Earth) And Salamanders (Fire)

God of Bethlehem: Regulus; Jupiter; and Venus (Sun Sky God; Elements Sun, Thunder, Air; Cardinal) Crista: Armour of God, Shield of Trinity, Mars Blood, Rose of Venus, Pluto Effect, Tarthatharath, and Virility Crown; Religion: Martyrology Angelican, Physique: Anabolic Metabolism Insulin Sensitivity, MSTN GENE, Roux en Y FBN1

Films: Diamond Trafficking Bouillon Mercenary, Rugby, Painting and Wine Thriller, Religious Territorial Wars, and Economic Table Smuggling

RUGBY

World Cup Ambassador: In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is the senior diplomat, generally ranking as an ambassador, in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another. Instead of an embassy, the diplomatic mission is generally called a high commission.

Work Out: Hurdle Plyometrics, Open Closed Chain Resistance Training with Power Sleds, Wall Sit Jump Contrast Training, and Lane Swimming with Treading Breaks for Body Recomposition and Metabolic Resistance Training

Offence: Fly-half And Centre Brigade: Kick Steps, Grubber and Drop Kicks, Crash Balls Mauls (Forearm Shoulder Barge), Clear outs, and Offload Playmaker. First Receiver after Rucks. Three Door Explode: Three Doors as Decision Making Indicator for Down Hill Sprinting; if No Doors Pass the Ball.

Offence: Back row (Loose forwards) Brigade: Lineouts, Crash Balls Mauls (Forearm Shoulder Barge), Quick Rucks, Pick and Go, Clear outs, and Offload Playmaker. First Receiver after Rucks or Pick and Go Rucker. Three Door Explode: Three Doors as Decision Making Indicator for Down Hill Sprinting; if No Doors Pass the Ball.

Defence: The basic defensive unit in rugby consists of three players. This obviously shifts very quickly, but at the point a tackle is likely, there should be a defender square with the ball carrier and supporting players on either side square with the immediate threats on the ball carrier's left and right. The drift defence is one of the two main types of defensive strategies in rugby (the other being the blitz defence). The basic concept behind the drift defence is to go “up and out” as a defensive line; once the ball carrier has past, the defender marking them should push outward to cover the receiver whilst the rest of the defensive line also shifts outward. Umbrella Defence provides more intensity in front of the ball than flat defence, with flanking support a step behind to cover kicks and recover quickly after a tackle is made. It also makes it easier to stop linebreaks if the player in front of the ball carrier is stepped.

Jack Boys: Players who have the ability to play a number of positions in a team are called utility players.[95] Utility players can be seen as "Jack of all trades"[95] and they generally occupy the reserve position in a team.[96] For this reason, many try to avoid being labelled as utilities.[97][98] Players in the forward positions are generally more specialised than those that play in the backs. However, flankers can usually play number eight, like Grégory Alldritt, David Pocock, Caelan Doris and Kieran Read. Many players may also be capable of playing lock as well as a back-row position, with several modern examples being Sébastien Chabal, Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird, Courtney Lawes, Steven Luatua, and Cameron Woki, all with international caps in both rows of the scrum. The front row positions are usually very specialised, although some props can play both sides or even hooker.

Quasi BioAesthetics as Topic and Things to Write about:

Gold Iron Calcium Zinc Oxide Hyaluronic Acid Illite Clay Hydrolyzed Collagen BioRNA Cluster

Bone Metabolism are Light but Metal like Aluminum

Pheomelanin Mid Brown Diamond Face

Blonde Hair with Hazel Eyes with Gold Fleeks

Ambidextrous Hand Eye Foot Coordination

Posterior Gross Motor Skills

Crystalized and Fluid Intelligence

Savant Sensory Overload

Sensory Modulits CNS

Omega 3 6 9, Conscientiousness, and Executive Functioning Skills no Amygdala Grey Brain

Stretch Vocal Chords with Tenor Voice

GABA Acetylcholine Receptors Sensitivity

Gnomes (Earth) And Salamanders (Fire)

God of Bethlehem: Regulus; Jupiter; and Venus (Sun Sky God; Elements Sun, Thunder, Air; Cardinal) Crista: Armour of God, Shield of Trinity, Mars Blood, Rose of Venus, Pluto Effect, Tarthatharath, and Virility Crown; Religion: Martyrology Angelican, Physique: Anabolic Metabolism Insulin Sensitivity, MSTN GENE, Roux en Y FBN1

DRUG SORCERY AND PHARMACOECONOMICS (PHARM BOYS AND PHARMA FIRMS)

It has been argued that narco-states can be divided into five categories depending on their level of dependence on the narcotics trade and the threat the narcotics trade in said country poses to domestic and international stability. These five categories are (in ascending order): incipient, developing, serious, critical, and advanced

Pharmaterrorism, in its original context, is understood to refer to the attempts of narcotics traffickers to influence the policies of a government or a society through violence and intimidation, and to hinder the enforcement of anti-drug laws by the systematic threat or use of such violence.

Pharma Maritime economy is a political and economic term applied to countries where all legitimate institutions become penetrated by the power and wealth of the illegal drug trade.

Elements of the maritime industry such as seaports and terminals have always been important areas of social and economic opportunities. Ports are key strategic sectors, playing key economic, internal and international security roles for both developed and developing countries.[9] The strategic importance of ports and other maritime resources have led to the industry being criticized by Maersk, a major shipping company, as "an environment where facilitation payments and extortion are common occurrences".[10] In the EU specifically, coastal regions and major sea ports have shown to present the highest risks of corruption. Europe's coastal borders have increasingly been subject to corruption pressure by smugglers in the past few years. In addition, border guards and local government officials are often involved in corruption schemes related to cross-border trade.Typically, in European small coastal towns, the corruption of border guards is often related to corruption in local authorities.[11] Several ports in Europe have been identified by the Center for the Study of Democracy as having extreme vulnerability to corruption pressures:[11]

Corruption can be defined in various ways. For example, according to the Oxford Dictionary, corruption is “dishonest or illegal behavior, especially of people in authority”.[4] Huntington (1989) defined it somewhat differently, by describing corruption as “the behavior, exhibited by public officials which deviates from accepted norms in order to serve private aims”.[5] These definitions are also correct for maritime corruption specifically, however, in this field corruption can be categorized in different ways – especially at ports.

Sequeira and Djankov (2014) distinguish between two types of corruption at ports: collusive and coercive corruption. Under collusive corruption, public officials and private agents share illicit transaction-generated rents, while under coercive corruption, public bureaucrats force private agents to pay additional fees to be able to gain access to public services and goods.[6]

Pharmacoeconomics refers to the scientific discipline that compares the value of one pharmaceutical drug or drug therapy to another.[1][2] It is a sub-discipline of health economics. A pharmacoeconomic study evaluates the cost (expressed in monetary terms) and effects (expressed in terms of monetary value, efficacy or enhanced quality of life) of a pharmaceutical product. Pharmacoeconomic studies serve to guide optimal healthcare resource allocation, in a standardized and scientifically grounded manner.

Pharmacoeconomics centers on the economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals, and can use cost-minimization analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis or cost-utility analysis. Quality-adjusted life years have become the dominant outcome of interest in pharmacoeconomic evaluations, and many studies employ a cost-per-QALY analysis. Economic evaluations are carried out alongside randomized controlled trials and using methods of decision-analytic modeling. Pharmacoeconomics is a useful method of economic evaluation of various treatment options. As more expensive drugs are being developed and licensed it has become imperative especially in context of developing countries where resources are scarce to apply the principles of pharmacoeconomics for various drugs and treatment options so that maximum improvement in quality of life can be achieved in minimum cost.[3]

A tablet press is a mechanical device that compresses powder into tablets of uniform size and weight. A tablet press can be used to manufacture tablets of a wide variety of materials, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cleaning products, industrial pellets and cosmetics.

A cough syrup filling machine is designed to fill liquid in any viscosity, including syrup. There are many types of syrup-filling machines, such as vacuum, servo, pump, gravity, pressure, piston, and counting filling machines.

Fishing Village to Port Village: Fishery ports are locations where the unloading, processing, and distribution of fishery and marine products take place. These places serve as hubs for the fishing industry, playing a crucial role in the local economy, the food supply chain, and the preservation of the fishing tradition. Here’s a more detailed explanation of why fishery ports are so important: Job Generation: Fishery ports create a significant number of direct and indirect jobs, from fishermen and processing plant workers to personnel in transportation and logistics companies. Food Supply: Fishery products are a vital source of food worldwide. Fishery ports facilitate the unloading of fresh catches and their distribution to local and international markets. Local Economy: Fishery ports boost the local economy by attracting investment and commercial activity. They also contribute to the development of coastal communities. Processing and Export: Many fishery products are processed in ports before being shipped elsewhere. This adds value to the industry and enables the export of high-quality products Of the world’s total sea harvest, about one-fourth is provided by the herring family (sardine, anchovy, menhaden). The cod family (haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, ocean perch) accounts for about one-sixth. Another one-tenth is made up of tuna, bonita, and mackerel; and the rest of the harvest includes salmon, flounder, halibut, sole, the shellfish, and trout and other freshwater fish, including carp and catfish.

Free trade zones are generally organized around major seaports, international airports, and national frontiers—areas with many geographic advantages for trade. An export-processing zone (EPZ) is a specific type of FTZ usually set up in developing countries by their governments to promote industrial and commercial exports.

Stuff I want: Drug Manufacturing through OTC, Illegal Coffee Farming, Seaport Interconnecting with Maritime Diplomacy, Economic Table Smuggling Commodity Union, Higher Port Charges Union Stocks Collusive Corruption, Maritime Corruption, Export Under-Invocing, Illicit Financial Flows Commodity Laundering, Intermodal Entrepôt, Regional County Cash in Circulation, Coffee Trading and Economics

Illicit financial flows (IFFs) are illegal movements of money or capital from one country to another. Economic Table Commodity Embezzlement (Coffee is mine in France)

Smuggling, Trafficking, Embezzlement, Rugged, Refined, Cultivator (STERRC)

NIGERIAN POUND

The pound was the currency of Nigeria between 1907 and 1973. Until 1958, Nigeria used the British West African pound, after which it issued its own currency. The pound was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. The Nigerian pound, at parity with sterling with free convertibility,[1] was replaced in 1973 with the decimal naira at a rate of £1 = ₦2,[2] making Nigeria the last country to abandon the pre-decimal £sd currency system.

The House of Representatives (also called Green Chamber) is the lower chamber of Nigeria's bicameral National Assembly.[1] The Senate is the upper chamber.[2]

The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution. The country's government was based on a federal form of the Westminster system.

An index fund (also index tracker) is a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to follow certain preset rules so that it can replicate the performance of ("track") a specified basket of underlying investments.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable measurements used to gauge a company’s overall long-term performance. Organizations use KPIs to track their progress on key business objectives.

ST. THOMAS MYR. OBASI

[saa-na]

I am obsessed with the hostility of the city archive. To view any material you have to search for the documents on their online archive management system, but you can't book them there so you have to screenshot your "basket" and send an email. When you walk in and ask for your documents or manuscripts they are always confused. the archive is open 9-12, though you can stay past 12 - they just don't tell you this anywhere online. "Except today. Today you can't stay past 12.30." They told me. "Sorry, I forgot to let you know." Either way, if you leave after 12 you won't be let in. So you have to bring a packed lunch. There are no desks to eat it at, though. They have a water cooler, but no plastic or paper cups. When the clock strikes 12 all of the workers dissapear entirely so if you have a question you are on your own. I love it.