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hopeless-eccentric · 5 months ago

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disco elysium and the male gaze

spoilers for the game ending under the cut! this one's gonna be long, but bear with me, i promise it's interesting

ok ive been losing it about this game's conversation with gazing in detective fiction for WEEKS and ill do my best to quickly summarize it (again, quick credentials, i did an undergrad thesis on detective fiction with a focus on hard-boiled genre and gender/sexuality)

in short, classical detective fiction (especially hard-boiled, which granted, disco elysium is NOT, though it's referenced often), there's a constant interplay between the ideas of knowledge/gazing and power, as well as power and gender. Looking, deducing, and investigating are highly gendered (male) acts that emasculate or feminize what they look at. the goal is essentially for the gender-transgressive killer (often a woman or man who needs to be punished for killing, and thus penetrating other men) to be "fixed" through gendered punishment or "removed from society," either by killing or jailing them

so ideally for these fictions, a man (the "body in the study," to use scholar kathleen gregory klein's phrase) has been Known About and killed/penetrated by the bad guy. the detective has to fix this by removing the perpetrator's agency through the penetrative gaze and power of the State, in short, emasculating them back into their place

if this feels like a weirdly erotic way to describe detective fiction, that's because it's WEIRDLY EROTIC! theres a history of the "corrective" violence against gender-transgressive women in these fictions being highly sexualized, though often these obsessions with controlling gender-transgressors bodily are a little more repressed (joy palmer's article tracing bodies: gender, genre and forensic detective fiction does a really nice job summing it up and expanding on klein's habeas corpus: feminism and detective fiction, which was the first work to note these patterns)

so what instantly struck me about disco elysium was that 1) the game punishes you for abusing police power against and taking autonomy from queer women 2) instead of being a pathetic, embarassing thing that needs to be corrected, the "emasculated" corpse is treated tenderly, noting the eroticism of autopsy which Palmer raises, and 3) there's a character who behaves exactly like The Detective in terms of gazing at women, emasculating men, and controlling women's bodies and sexualities: the deserter

so breaking things down in an internet-friendly numbered list--

first, the game is actively harder/full of more meaningless, haunting tragedy if you arrest klaasje or break ruby's machine. mechanically, you're punished for using police power to control and punish queer women. even though the classic "femme fatale" is often a cisheterosexual woman, her transgressing gender boundaries (often being a "maneater," having agent sexuality, harming men, often in a phallic manner, etc) marks her as queercoded in a way i really appreciate the game embracing in its more femme fataleish characters. you get the option to Gaze at and Know About women suspects, but the game will NOT make it easy for you

second, the game breaks the idea that the body's murder is a shameful act of gender/sexual transgression that needs to be fixed. the body's objectification (even by a couple of traumatized pre-teens) is treated as a tragedy, and the game does everything it can to humanize lely, even if it humanizes him as a real piece of shit. the autopsy is tender, bordering on romantic/erotic, because the game is constantly trying to remind you that you are exploring a human being's body. the "failed" or "penetrated" man isn't untouchable, which instantly breaks the patriarchal structure of detective novels trying to stamp out unspeakable threats to patriarchy. the further penetration of his life and body by the strange, uncaring investigator figure is also treated as something which could be uncomfortably exploitative, but isn't because you're given the option to be delicate and loving. (i was reminded a lot of lay your sleeping head by michael nava, wherein the protagonist solves his lover's murder, which is portrayed as no less intimate than exploring his body in sex. great book btw)

third, the deserter. dros is everything the hard-boiled detective is meant to be: obsessed with an idealized past, a man out of time (this is more common in neo-noir fiction, including adaptations of a few novels referenced in the dick mullen book), angry at the world for its corruption, unable to escape it himself, and obsessed with gazing at and sexually punishing women. the only difference is that he doesnt work for the government. his matronym is especially ironic, a remnant of a more progressive ideology which has been abandoned in favor of misanthropy. hes become convinced of the same terrifying, comedically corrupt world described in classical detective fiction (read an iconic hard-boiled author's description of that here, at the start of part 7*)

it's such a rejection of the way gazing and patriarchy usually acts in detective fiction. if you gaze destructively, the game gets harder. it emphasizes the sexual connotation of gazing at murders and forces you to be gentle, while empowering the voice of the victim to ensure you treat him like a human, instead of a stock "failed man." the character who thinks and behaves like a detective is a paranoid, sick, elderly murderer who is treated as desperately needing help.

it's amazing stuff

also, if you can't access any of these articles, dm me and ill get you pdfs!

*this article has a lot of issues. dont take it as gospel. it actively contradicts itself like five times and a lot of really good writing has been done roasting it. Miranda Hickman's history of it is really good. that being said, the description of the kind of world the detective thinks he lives in is VERY accurate, even if Chandler describes it as if it's realism. im including it just because it's a famous enough article that it's had a major impact on how detective fiction is written/culturally thought of, and that part is verifiably true

#disco elysium meta #disco elysium #seamus rambles #seamus plays disco elysium

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myman0rexic · 15 days ago

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An Undergraduate Forensic Viewing of Like Minds (2006) Train Scene

Pray for me. Pray for yourself. We are one now.

Contents:

1. Introduction 2. What We Know 3. The Investigation 4. Bibliography for Nerds

1. Introduction

Some justifications first.

I'm an undergraduate stem student obssessed with many topics, including forensic studies. I just finished a complete course about forensic chemistry/tecnology/law in uni and yes, I'm a big failure of a person and was thinking about applying some of the things I've learned into Like Minds' train scene. To clarify, I'm not an experienced profissional of the field. It is to say, I've never worked in such area and had just one or two significant interaction with said profissionals and students. My considerations won't be 100% accurate, clearly, and I may mistake or ignore fundamental data and studies. I intend solely to present some interesting facts and rapidly discuss their applicability here.

Take everything I say with large grains of salt, this is mostly for my enjoyment.

Let's kill Nigel!

2. What We Know

Figure 1. Visual diagram of forensic ballistics' main areas of study. Some will be mentioned here. [1]

2.1. Ballistics - Anatomy of a Discharge

Ballistics is a science field divided in three main ramifications: (1) Interior Ballistics, (2) Exterior Ballistics and (3) Terminal Ballistics. (1) studies the mechanism of a gun discharge, (2) studies the trajectory and behavior of a projectile once it is ejected from a firegun and (3) studies the damage and overall interaction of the projectile with a material structure (biological or not). [1] Ballistics experts (chemists, some engineers, law experts, etc) ocuppy themselves with many things regarding firearms, a field of work that recuries much study and understading of multiple fields of knowledge such as spectroscopy, law and general legislation, physical properties of chemical coumponds, solid state science, material science, industry production series and others. Some areas of chemistry and biology are of great importance and are commonly used complementarily.

We then understand what bullets are. The component that effectivally hits the target in these scenarios is the actual "projectile".

Figure 2. Simple structure of shotgun (left) and rifle (right) ammunition. [2]

In simple terms, they're composed by (1) a shell that holds everything together, (2) some coumpond responsable for the liberation of gas via chemical reaction and (3) some way to give the heat needed for said reaction to occur. There is a whole field of study and production of these killing objects that seeks out to balance some of their properties in different scenarios by the armamentist industry in oder to supply endless applications that constantly develops new shapes and components, so going through it all would be impossible. Regardless, all ammunition is classified by size, called "gauge" in shotguns, and "caliber" in rifles and handguns. [2]

Case: [in shotguns] It is a small cilindrical piece made out of a tube of common plastic or sturdy paper (the red/blue/colored part) that holds the multiple projectiles to be fired (shots), with a metallic base (the primer) composed of brass (copper and zinc) or steel (iron and carbon). [in rifles] The case is called cartridge case, and it is composed by brass as well. [2]

Powder (or propellant): They are usually Nitroclelullose (handguns), Nitroclelullose/Nitrogliceryn (rifles) and Nitroclelullose/Nitrogliceryn/Nitroguanidyn (long range rifles) [3]. Oversimplifying, organic molecules containing nitro groups (present in Nitroclelullose, Nitrogliceryn and Nitroguanidyn) are really unstable; these chemical groupaments are highly reactive in face of many scenarios. If enough energy is provided (by heating, or mechanical contact and pertubation) they will enter a decompostion process, breaking and reacting with their own bonds spontaneously, liberating gases such as H2O, N2 and CO2. These mentioned gases are much more stable compared to the original organic coumponds, so the atoms will "prefer" to form these species if the conditions are set (thus, a spontaneous reaction). This increases pressure inside the shell and forces the projectile to leave violently as a result of gas expansion. [4] Shotgun powder is composed by potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur; a mixture known as "dark powder", and it is separated from the shot (projectiles; multiple balls of steel, lead, rubber, or really anything) by a small component called "wad". The same principle explained in the decomposition of organic nitro-compounds apply for the potassium nitrate present here, but only in the presence of sulfur (easier to melt and ignite), providing the necessary heat for potassium citrate to generate the oxygen needed, resulting in charchoal's combustion. [2]

Primer: Primers are a fundamental part of any ammunition, and yet a simple one. When a firing pin from the firegun hits them, sparkles and heat will be produced, which gives the propellent all requiered energy for the chemical reaction. It is, when the action lever is pulled, the firing pin is tensioned by a spring inside the gun. When the trigger is pulled, this firing pin hits rapidly the ammunition's primer (metallic base). [5]

Figure 3. Shotgun firing pin scheme. [5]

The discussion of differents powders/propellents (like smokeless powder), projectiles shapes (in rifle cases) and firegun types (other than rifle and shotgun) is being ignored.

All that must be known is: the trigger pulling promotes a mechanical impact against the ammunition base, which promotes chemical reactions that liberate great amounts of gases, increasing the pressure inside the case, what will pushes the projectile(s) inside foward with great speed.

2.2. The Shotgun - Means to An End

We now restrain ourselfs to the firegun. Let us take a look on the following images:

Figures 4-9 (left to right, top to bottom). Shotguns' takes from Like Minds (2006).

Main considerations:

The shotgun used by Mr. Colbie isn't the same one used by Nigel/Alex in the train scene. We can clearly point that by the number of barrels, i.e., two barrels contaning two projectiles (killing Nigel's mother and father without visible activation) in its first appearance, and only a single one in its second appearance. Maybe this has been discussed before.

It is not a narrative problem if we have the eyes for it. Nigel's father possesses two shotguns, so we assume Nigel went back and grabbed the single-barrel one before going after Alex.

The reloading thing would be important during the bedroom scene, between the moments where John shoots his wife and Alex picks up the gun from the floor. There would be no way of aciddentially shooting Mr. Colbie wihout Alex pulling the action on the second barrel (how would he know which one of the barrels were loaded and why Mr. Colbie would only activate one of the two barrels? It appears he wasn't using the shotgun to merely scare his family). Perhaps the double barrel shotgun used has some individual firing feature, perhaps.

Also, the single barrel shotgun is the same one used by John when Alex and Nigel first accessed the hidden baseament together. This isn't of great relevance though.

After a compulsive research in gun sale sites and over 900 models of shotguns (no joking), I'm inclined to believe that Nigel's single barrel shotgun is an Era 410 GA Single Shot Break Action. My conclusions is based on Figures 6 and 9, the shotgun's best takes throughout the entire movie. The important details are: a single barrel, with rounded trigger guard that ends exactly where the wooden stock begins, by a rounded break action lever with squarish shape that leans horizontally to the receiver and a rectangular like forestock. Other smaller details are: the receiver's top shape and really curved back, the declination present on the stock and the three screws' position and size.

The engraved symbols on Colbie's receiver are sculpted by a profssional artist called "engraver", by client's demand. Therefore, these sigils are decorative and probably carry some meaning to the shotgun's real owner, so they aren't a discrepancy to worry about. The frame I acquired (Figure 9) is of poor quality and there's nothing I can read in there besides one or two letters. I've tried to watch the movie in other internet sites but it didn't help that much.

It took me forever, but here it is [6], [7]. There are also youtube videos revewing this gun in the Extra section.

Figures 10-13. Era 410 GA Single Shot Break Action Shotgun. [6]

Note: @laurelwen successfully identified Nigel's firegun as a Boito .410. The text engraved on the shotgun's receiver in Figure 9, in fact, reads "Boito". Check it out on this post. Look up Extra Bibliography No. 7 in the shotgun's section as well.

Shotguns are a really old type of gun from the 16th century. Their mechanisms were adjusted during following centuries, but they remain still to date with an extremely simple way of function. Today, there are many types, including the single-shots and hand shotguns, much different than what was originally conceived. A break shotgun is capable of "breaking in half" for reloading, exposing its ejector/extractor and barrel interior just as many other fireguns. [8]

Figure 14. Break action shotgun anatomy. [9]

The Era 410 GA possesses a specially long length of barrel, which helps projectiles to achieve maximum velocity before leaving. Still, it appears from my research that this is a second hand model with low price, low demand and little historical relevance. This is the type of gun that would be bought mainly by collectors and enthusiasts; however, because of its little weight, good shooting and minimalist elegance, this firegun is not one of the worst models out there for small amateur animal hunting.

A 410 (10.41 mm, one smallest shot diameter in the market) with great pattern of dispersion after the discharge isn't bad, so at medium distances most projectiles would succesfully hit the center of a target. This is not very good when we're talking about a point-blank discharge directly at Nigel's face.

3. The Investigation

Figure 15. "If they had any evidence, I wouldn't be talking to you, would I?"

Authorities arrive at the dark, umid and isolated train tracks. Immediatly, a shocking scene: a desperate young man holding in his arms the corpse of a dead boy, disfigured. They transport the living witness away from the scene, but the lying unknown and deformed body is extracted for further autopsy. Detective McKenzie takes over with Forensic Psychiatrist Sally to interrogate the surviving suspect, Alex Forbes.

After the initial approach and first hours of interaction, the case takes an unexpected form. The question now is, did Alex Forbes shoot the now identified Nigel Colbie alone, or did Colbie participated in his own killing to incriminate Alex?

The police wastes its time thinking about common scenarios described in the book. They know the victim, the place where it happened, the exact gun used and the main suspect. Everything comes down to answering the presented question. Psycological attempts of extracting an answer from Alex by closed sessions with Sally, it is, to try and build a thrust and comfort relation with the suspect in order to obtain a confession would be protocol. But Alex clearly is beyond that, and if we must say, he's in control the whole time.

All that is left for the police is to attach towards factual evidences. Now, we describe two fundamental forensic elements of a gun-related crime.

Gunshot Residues (GSRs)

GSRs are one of the strongest evidences when it comes to forensic studies. Being composed of burnt and unburnt organic or inorganic particles from the explosive primer from the shell, propellant and possibly fragments of the bullet, cartridge case, and even the firearm, they frequently contain elements such as Sb (antimony), Ba (barium), Pb (lead) or Zn (zinc), Cu (cooper), and Ti (titanium). Their deposition concentrates away from the firearm into the shooter's (arms, face, hands and chest mainly) and victim's (region of contact mainly) bodies. GSRs can be found in nearby surfaces as well, such as the floor, ceiling, walls, objects, clothes, etc. The direct deposition of these residues must be carefully used as evidence because of its irregular distribution on the surrounding enviroment after the discharge. Thus, the main factors are always the chemical composition and concentration spots. Shotgun shots (the small spherical projectiles) are usually made up of lead or lead/antimony, but some ammunitions use steel, zinc-plated steel, tungsten and bismut in substitution (So, in our case, we can expect more significant ammounts of antimony/lead or zinc, iron and carbon). [10], [11]

A 410 ammunition is classified as "birdshots" ammunition, used for hunting said animals. The little diameter of projectiles allows the carrying of multiple projectiles inside one shell, facilitating the execution of small moving targets. The potential damage mustn't be underrated, though.

The aforementioned substances/elements can be detected, investigated, and quantified using microscopy, chemical analytical and chemometric methods, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). All these techniques are extensively known and applied in uncountable areas of science for identification and characterization of solid materials. In a nutshell, these methods revolve around the interaction of matter with radiation (such as X-Rays) and the energy absorved/emitted by it after the interaction. The SEM is a most usefull analysis for it can provide real images of micro structures and particles present above any surface, like clothings, skin, fifregun metal and others, if properly prepared. [10]

It is important to understand that these identification methods are of extreme precision and sensibility, it is, minimal concentrations can and will be detected inneviatbly.

Figure 16 and 17. (Left) Image of gunshot powder residues dispersed in the air after discharge. Top left and (Right) images refer to SEM "photos" of extremely small particles of GSRs that can be chemically analyzed. [12], [13]

What about the lifespan of these residues? In long terms, the shooter's trigger hand (right hand) seems to contain most of the residues that persist for a fair amount of time after the discharge. [10] Unffortunately, the mentioned study occured in controlled enviroments, which is not the case. Another work [14] concludes that most GSRs are lost after two-four hours from the discharge. Considering the fast action from authorities described in the movie, we can basically ignore this factor and consider other variables.

Figure 18. "All I can tell you, was that the heavens were falling. And the sound... it was incredible. It was like the Gods were rejoicing for what was done."

Backspatter Material (BM)

Figure 19. Distribution of Forward Spatter and Backspatter caused by a shot at a biological target. [1]

We hereby exclude the forward spatter, it is, the biological material projected fowards with the projectile (to the back of Nigel's head), for its little relevance, since we're not questioning the type of gun or ammunition used; we assume that Alex is describing a resonable scenario that matches with the actual damage done to Nigel. There are no consistent reasons to question this since everythings seems to support Alex's description of this.

BM comes from the combined forces of several interacting wound and ballistics effects. The collapse of the wound cavity and balance of resulting overpressure, the stream of liquid and tissue particles accelerated along the lateral surface of the projectile, the shot's contact and ejection of muzzle gases out of the entry wound from the powder cavity... Every surrouding surface must be investigated, that is, even the shotgun barrel's interior. This small ambience is fairly protected from external pertubations and houses BM from the shot. Considering the poximity with Nigel's face, we can almost assure to encounter biological material with DNA inside. The bellow mentioned study cites another work where a 9 mm pistol cointaned backspatter material from test targets even at a distance larger than 1 meter, much greater then the few inches that separated Nigel's face from the barrel. [1]

Matter of fact, this biological material can pass by processes of Organ Tissue Identification (OTI) and Body Fluid Identification (BFI) if Nigel's identity was at question, or if we desire to understand more profundly the projectile's damage caused to his skull/face/tissue. [1]

Figure 20. "None of what I've heard makes him a murderer."

So, how can we gather this up to develop the investigation? Utilizing only these two fundamental concepts, we can make a few assumptions.

The big question here is if whether or not Nigel's hands were present by Alex's when the trigger was pulled, which would lead the police to support or oppose Alex's narrative. Chemical examination with organic solvents (which won't cause preocupant harm to a dead body) and analytical methods could immediatly point to the presence of GSRs or biological/non biological BM. If Nigel's hands were elevated in his head level (or superior) in the instant of discharge, trace amounts of discussed metals/elements coming from the firing mechanism and ammunition, as weel as little to some biological material, would definetly be found in his hands and forearm skin since there was no clothing covering. Any substance found in his hands/forearm could be microanalytical compared to the ones present in Alex's hands, clothes and face as well. This could be done with really small samples of fresh skin. On the other hand, if Nigel's arms were lowered at the instant of discharge, we could still expect the presence of GSRs in his arms (yet, in less amounts) but the abssence of backspatter materials most certantly. This would classify Alex as a murderer without excuses, even if he alleged that Nigel asked for it.

In the scenario where Alex discharges at Nigel from a great distance (configuring simply murder) we could note the abssence of GSRs in every part of Nigel's body except for the targeted region (perhaps if they were at a greater distance to each other) and the presence of these GSRs in Alex, but in much higher concentration.

But the enviromnent's conditions are of primordial importance. Nigel and Alex stand in an open area, with considerable wind, heavy rain and gravel soil. The heavy rain could simply carry way much of these residues from Alex's body, clothes and Nigel's hands as well. Most GSR would probably be lost to those conditions and its deposite upon the soil's surface would be extremely hard to be quantitatively analized due to unknown degrees (elevated) of impurities and diverse materials and dirt present, but qualitative tests would still be valid.

The knowledge about the victim, crime scene, shooter, exact firegun and time of the tragic event allied with the fast action from authorities saves most of the police's efforts on identifiying and tracking down evidences. However, what remains still offers a challenge. The best evidence here, GSRs left by the discharge, would be of questionable help considering the presence of heavy rain in sight. Still, analitical quantities of them, if detected in Nigel's skin by proper chemical and espectroscopy-related analysis, can be used to comparate probable ammounts present in Alex's clothing and skin (despite the difficult of such). With that being said, the police would find themselves in a much more complex case of muder/assisted suicide, and further evidences and information about their relationship and recent whereabouts would ineviatably need to be extracted from external sources (such as parents, school's employess, close friends and students). Despite all this, Alex's final acting of removing Susan's body and disapearing from sight (not to mention the card left in Sally's car) immediatly sustent his guilt in a case where he already was the main suspect and basically confirmed criminal. And you know, breaking into a cemetery and extracting a corpse from its grave is definetly worth of some jail time. The Colbie's House Murder would certainly incriminate Alex for homicide as well, and the current Brotherhood's little political influence wouldn't prevent him from this destiny, as it appears. But the case is not over.

Further evidences were to be discussed, if it was not for the dissapearing of Alex Forbes.

The subject now roams unknowingly through England with mysterious intents. Its participation on the described case still lacks formal arguments and the Court should now approve his arrest warrant and search decree. Alex Forbes will most probably live to perpetrate the deluded fantasy responsable for the death of three young students in order to carry the sacred holy burden of an ancient templar bloodline.

Yet, we pray.

Who's the enemy now? We are.

4. Bibliography

[1] Euteneuer J, Courts C. Ten years of molecular ballistics-a review and a field guide. Int J Legal Med. 2021 Jul;135(4):1121-1136. doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02523-0. Epub 2021 Feb 16. PMID: 33594457; PMCID: PMC8205864. [2] https://spotterup.com/how-ammo-works/ [3] Serol, M.; Ahmad, S.M.; Quintas, A.; Família, C. Chemical Analysis of Gunpowder and Gunshot Residues. Molecules 2023, 28, 5550. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145550 [4] Guanchao Lan, Jing Li, Guangyuan Zhang, Jian Ruan, Zhiyan Lu, Shaohua Jin, Duanlin Cao, Jianlong Wang, Thermal decomposition mechanism study of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO): Combined TG-FTIR-MS techniques and ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics simulations, Fuel, Volume 295, 2021, 120655, ISSN 0016-2361, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120655. [5] https://www.hunter-ed.com/national/studyGuide/How-the-Shotgun-Shoots/201099_92815/ [6] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/era-410-ga-single-shot-break-action-shotgun-131-c-8284a72a5b [7] https://firearmland.com/item/1079096107 [8] https://www.letsgoshooting.org/resources/articles/shotgun/meet-the-shotgun/ [9] https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-guides-importation-verification-firearms-ammunition-and-implements-war-top-break [10] Virginie Redouté Minzière, Céline Weyermann, Organic and inorganic gunshot residues on the hands, forearms, face, and nostrils of shooters 30 min after a discharge. Science & Justice, Volume 64, Issue 5, 2024, Pages 557-571, ISSN 1355-0306, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.08.002. [11] Joshua Hallett, Michael Stolk, Michael Cook, K. Paul Kirkbride, Examination of gunshot residue arising from shotgun cartridges containing steel, bismuth or tungsten pellets. Forensic Science International, Volume 306, 2020, 110096, ISSN 0379-0738, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110096. [12] https://www.bka.de/EN/OurTasks/SupportOfInvestigationAndPrevention/ForensicScience/PhysicalEvidence/Homicide/GunshotResidue/gunshotresidue_node.html [13] Francesco Saverio Romolo, Pierre Margot, Identification of gunshot residue: a critical review. Forensic Science International, Volume 119, Issue 2, 2001, Pages 195-211, ISSN 0379-0738, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00428-X. [14] Jalanti, T & Henchoz, P & Gallusser, Alain & Bonfanti, M.S.. (1999). The persistence of gunshot residue on shooters’ hands. Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society. 39. 48-52. 10.1016/S1355-0306(99)72014-9.

Extra

random materials, take a look

1. Chemistry of Explosives (book pdf) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-0589-0_5 2. ERA 410 GA video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGWm2aaWVAc&ab_channel=SteadFastCourage 3. ERA 410 GA video 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S16C5Y6lxY&ab_channel=esquad540 4. Quick discussion about Smokeless Powder on r/guns https://www.reddit.com/r/guns/comments/1tawwm/things_i_want_you_to_know_about_smokeless_powder/#:~:text=Because%20of%20something%20called%20oxygen,and%20temperatures%2C%20leading%20to%20fouling. 5. A little on the kinetic energy of specific projectiles (everything applies here as well) https://nodoroc.com/d/node/20 6. A little more on ammunition Caliber https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/bullets2-types.htm#google_vignette

For the sake of archieving, here are some shotguns I've separated to double check during my research until the Era 410 GA appeared. Curious enough, number 7, called "boito", appears to be another common name given to Era 410. Woops.

1. https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/north-american-auction/victor-break-action-single-shot-12-ga-shotgun-4988316 2. https://www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com/auction-lot/stevens-arms-.410-gauge-single-shot-break-open-sh_9F84899825 3. https://palmettostatearmory.com/jts-shotguns-single-shot-410-bore-26-single-shot2.html 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stoeger-Coach-Gun.jpg 5. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/harrington-richardson-shotguns/h-r-bay-state-20-ga.cfm?gun_id=103017190 6. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-unknown-model-unknown-single-barrel-blued-wood-28-barrel-poor-condition/ 7. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/410-boito-model-reuna-28-single-barrel-blued-timber-3-chamber-sec9622/ 8. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-harrington-richardson-model-1908-single-32-barrel-blued-wood/ 9. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-norinco-model-std-single-barrel-30-shotgun-great-condition/1 0. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-raick-freres-model-unknown-single-barrel-30-shotgun-belgium/ 11. https://gritrsports.com/henry-repeating-arms-single-shot-12ga-shotgun-h015-12 12. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1418/Tomas_Agote%2C_Eibar_12G_single_hammer_ejector_shotgun.html 13. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1659/Vanguard_Game%2FVermin_.410_hammer_ejector_single_barrel.html 14. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1290/Astra_Ciclope_12G_single_barrel_hammergun.html 15. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1883/Rossi_Game%2FVermin_20G_single_hammer_ejector_shotgun.html 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stevens_511_Shotgun.jpg 17. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/harrington-richardson-shotguns/harrington-richardson-44-smoothbore.cfm?gun_id=102901609

thank you for reading

#like minds #murderous intent #nigel colbie x alex forbes #nigel colbie #alex forbes #forensic science #analysis #Spotify

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knaveumineko · 3 months ago

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Umineko Episode 5 Blog: A World Without Love

This is maybe the best one so far. I read the whole thing in one day and it felt like it took an hour. It's not the best story (Episode 1 still reads like it was written by a different author to everything after it) but it was easily the most fun I had reading an episode.

Ryukishi opens the Answer arcs by using the structure of Beatrice's game to present a parody of the murder mystery genre, presumably with the intent of highlighting how his own story differs from it. Erika is not only the best character in the story, but also pulling this double duty of both reimagining the detective character as an antagonist and chastising readers who engage with Umineko incorrectly.

Erika maintains the tradition of the detective as an outsider, but her investigations are framed as voyeuristic and bad-faith. I wondered if her story about Natsuhi's motives was meant to be some kind of commentary on female culprits in golden age detective fiction, but I don't have the background in the genre to know what the tropes are. As far as the fan commentary goes, we obviously have the quote where she misses the solution completely because she only pays attention to red truths. I also found it funny the way Ryukishi tries to make you hate her by deliberately painting her as a self-insert Mary Sue: she's super smart and everyone likes her and she's insane in the exact way that would be useful if you're in a detective story so I'm technically not metagaming and she's also a forensics expert too.

What it is that makes Lambdadelta's game a game without love? Probably the fact that Battler became an accomplice. The whole point of the murders is to show them to him, so it doesn't make any sense to have him in on it. It's interesting that this apparently isn't a rule break. I've been thinking that the way Sayo is so willing to butcher even those she genuinely cares for might be a function of the story-within-a-story gimmick. Sayo generally tries to keep everyone in-character, but because she has to play the culprit, she's able to write her own character as doing whatever the plot demands, even if it's not something she'd go through with easily in real life. It would fit the description of the fifth game being something she could have written, but would not have chosen to normally.

Episode 5 plays around with the boundaries between the real world and the meta world so much that it can be difficult to reconstruct what's actually happening on the gameboard. We never actually see Erika's perspective a single time in her own story. What is actually happening in her head when she declares her Detective's Authority to Battler and it actually works? Who is the Bernkastel Erika mentions on the gameboard. Does she conveniently have a delusion of the witch that created her?

My theory on what Erika's Authority actually means in-universe is that everyone is letting her play detective because having a neutral 3rd party accuse Natsuhi carries more weight than one of the siblings doing it. It became clear during Hideyoshi's death scene that the murders were being faked, although I'm not sure to what extent Sayo is involved. She probably killed the fake victims at the end of the story.

I wonder if the scene of the letter arriving is meant to represent Sayo disclosing her identity to everyone. I'm assuming Sayo is the baby from 19 years ago, if that baby isn't a total mislead, and disclosing this fact might be enough to get Battler on-board with a plan to pressure Natsuhi into a confession. The adults, I assume, just want to wrestle control away from Krauss. They probably even kidnapped him from his bed. In that case, what was the window thing about? Battler could have said nothing and Natsuhi would be in a lot of hot water. Is he conflicted on the plan?

Of course, the baby from 19 years ago being real would present a pretty major plot hole, in that it would imply that Natsuhi did something wrong, which I've been reliably informed is not possible.

Also, it was really funny to meet Knox for the first time and find that she thinks about the story in the exact same way that I do. I read back that Ground Rules post bemusedly after seeing half of the points I made get repeated by the characters in the story.

#liveblogging #umineko episode 5 #umineko no naku koro ni #umineko when they cry #umineko #umineko liveblog

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pupmkincake2000 · 4 days ago

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I've been thinking about possible hankcon AUs I've never actually seen... Just imagine

Noir Detective AU

Connor as a young, brilliant but uptight federal agent. Hank as a grizzled, burned-out detective who doesn’t want a partner.

They’re forced to work together on a case neither of them wants. Their clashing worldviews make everything harder, until the case breaks open and so does their emotional distance. Classic “enemies to reluctant partners to… maybe something else.”

Fantasy AU

Connor as a scholar, mage apprentice, or monastery scribe with rigid discipline. Hank as a fallen knight, exiled warrior, or mercenary with a drinking problem.

They’re sent on a quest together, maybe to defeat an ancient curse, guard a village, or find a missing artifact. Connor wants structure. Hank wants everyone to leave him alone. Cue arguments, slow trust, and long nights by firelight.

Dark Medieval AU

Connor as a monster hunter, emotionally detached, trained for efficiency. Hank as an herbalist, woodsman, or ex-soldier who understands people, not magic.

They travel together to stop dark creatures, cults, and political rot. Connor is quiet. Hank is blunt. Their growing bond becomes a question of who protects whom, and what makes someone human.

(it could be vice versa as well. Hank as a monster hunter, Connor as a herbalist etc. which fits them even more)

Mafia/Narcotics AU

Connor as an undercover cop working inside a crime syndicate. Hank as a disgraced former detective who knows how the system really works.

Connor is told to find dirt on Hank. But the more they interact, the more he realizes Hank isn’t corrupt, just broken. Dangerous secrets, moral gray areas, and blurred lines follow.

Academic AU

Hank as a university professor (literature, philosophy, criminology etc.) Connor as a grad student or research assistant with a spotless academic record and zero social ease.

They work on a project together, forced into the same orbit. Their connection isn’t some cliché “hot for teacher” thing, it’s two people, both isolated in different ways, learning how to connect.

Corporate Thriller AU

Connor as a cybersecurity analyst or forensic accountant. Hank as an internal investigator or ex-hacker turned security consultant (or something that just fits him more).

Together, they uncover corporate espionage or AI-related corruption. Cold efficiency meets jaded intuition. Mutual frustration turns into mutual respect.

Post-Apocalyptic AU

Connor as a medic, mechanic, or survivalist — calm and precise. Hank as a former cop, now one of the few who can keep people together.

They survive together, in a train convoy, forest outpost, or walled city. It’s not about dramatic declarations. It’s about sharing food, fixing things, and staying human in a broken world.

Historical AU (1940s–1970s)

Hank as a hardboiled PI. Connor as a government lawyer, war veteran, or journalist.

They team up on a case that exposes systemic injustice and in the process, confront their own alienation. Queer-coded, quiet, full of unsaid things and cigarette smoke.

Sci-Fi AU (but no androids)

Connor as a genetically engineered human, not artificial, but grown for perfection. Hank as military or intelligence assigned to monitor him.

Connor struggles with identity, not programming. Hank sees a person when others see an asset. Their bond builds not on rebellion, but choice and learning what “being human” really means.

And of course, they fall in love with each other in each of these AUs and live happily ever after! Or... at leas quite happily.

#hank anderson #dbh hank #dbh #dbh rk800 #dbh connor #connor x hank #detroit: become human #detroitbecomehuman #detroit become human #hankcon #rk800 #connor rk800 #detroit rk800 #fandom #ship dynamics #gay ships #any au

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starnotavailable · 5 months ago

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Kiss of Death

Pairings: Choi San/Jung Wooyoung

Genre: psychological thriller

Chapter: 1/?

Word Count: 2.3K

Warnings: HUGE MENTIONS OF DEATH!!!! violence, murder, death of a loved one, psychological distress, stalking?, gaslighting/manipulation, graphic autopsy/medical descriptions

Summary: Serial Killer Wooyoung picks San as his next victim until he finds out that San is the Medical Examiner working his case. Keeping him around could be useful, couldn't it?

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Case No. : ME-854-03

Date of Examination: January 10, 2025

Autopsy Performed by :

Choi San, M.D.

10 Ipchun-ro

Gangnam, Seoul 06000

Patient Information

Name: Jane Doe

Age: Unknown

Sex: Female

Date of Death: 01/07/2025

Investigative Agency:

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

External Examination:

The autopsy begins at 8:30 A.M. on January 10, 2025. The body is presented in a black body bag. The victim is wearing a white sleeveless turtleneck shirt and black fitted jeans. Jewelry included two smooth textured gold hoop earrings, 1-inch diameter, one in each ear, and one 1-inch wide gold wristband on the left wrist. A 1.5-inch wide black leather belt is cinched around the under neck using the buckle. The opposite end of the belt is tied in a half-hitched knot, which was used to affix it to the crossbar in the closet where the body was found.

The body is that of a Korean female measuring 67 inches, weighing 118 pounds, and appearing to be around 25 years of age. The body is cold and unembalmed. Petechial hemorrhaging is present in the conjunctival surfaces of the eyes. The pupils measure 0.3 cm. The hair is dark, wavy, layered, and approximately 11 inches in length at the longest point.

Removal of the belt revealed a ligature mark (known throughout the report as Ligature A) on the neck below the mandible. Ligature A is approximately 1.5-inches wide and encircles the neck in the form of a “V” on the anterior of the neck and an inverted “V” on the posterior of the neck, consistent with the hanging. Minor abrasions are present in the area of Ligature A. Lack of hemorrhage surrounding Ligature A indicates this injury to be post mortem.

Upon the removal of the victim’s clothing, an odor of bleach was detected. Areas of the body were swabbed and submitted for detection of hypochlorite. Following the removal of the shirt, a second ligature mark was discovered (known throughout this report as Ligature B) on the victim’s neck. The mark is a dark red Ligature and encircles the neck, crossing the anterior midline of the neck just below the laryngeal prominence. The width of the mark varies between 0.8 and 1 cm and is horizontal in orientation. Ligature B is not consistent with the belt that caused Ligature A. The absence of abrasions associated with Ligature B, along with the variations in the width of the ligature mark, are consistent with a soft ligature, such as a length of fabric. No trace evidence was recovered from Ligature B that might assist in identification of the fabric used.

Internal Examination

HEAD – CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: Subsequent autopsy shows a broken hyoid bone. Hemorrhaging from Ligature B penetrates the skin and subdermal tissues of the neck.

SKELETAL SYSTEM: The hyoid bone is fractured.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM – THROAT STRUCTURES: The oral cavity shows no lesions. Petechial hemorrhaging is present in the mucosa of the lips and the interior of the mouth. No injuries to the lips, teeth, or gums.

San continued to jot down the notes of his report. The rest of the victims' internal systems seem normal and in shape without lesions. “Do you think she’s connected with the other two?” his assistant asks from across the room, swabbing different parts of the body to be submitted to the forensics lab. San stared down at the ‘Opinion’ section of the report and took in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. The fractured bones, the bleach, the soft markings across her skin—on paper, it was just another case. But there was something about the way her eyes stared back, lifeless and accusing, that made his stomach churn. He knew this wasn’t just another body. As San’s pen scratched against the paper, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it at first, focused on the task at hand. But it vibrated again, insistently. He sighed, pulling it out with a gloved hand.

[Mingi]: wanna go out later? You look like you need a break.

San lets out a breathy exhale and closes his phone. His pen hovers over the paper. He didn’t look up. “Maybe,” he said quietly, his voice flat but thoughtful. “It fits… but not perfectly.” He taps the edge of the report with his finger, the image of her lifeless eyes staring back at him. “I don’t know. Something feels… off.”

Opinion

Time of Death: Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, and stomach contents approximate the time of death between 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. on 01/07/2025

Immediate Cause of Death: Asphyxia due to ligature strangulation (Ligature B). Ligature A is made post mortem.

Remarks: Decedent originally presented to this office as a suicide victim. Presence of the post mortem ligature mark suggest that suicide in this case is highly improbable. SMPA detectives were notified of this finding immediately upon conclusion of examination.

He pauses again, looking over his work and the very last section of the report he needs to fill in.

Manner of Death: Homicide

// Choi San M.D.

Gangnam National Forensics Service Coroner’s Office

January 10, 2025

San scrawled his signature at the bottom of the report, then exhaled sharply as he peeled off his gloves and tossed them into the bin with a soft thud. Sliding the report into the victim’s chart, he muttered, “Let’s hope we find whoever did this before there’s another one.” He glanced over at his assistant, watching as Hongjoong carefully draped a plastic tarp over the body before rolling her back into the cold, sterile compartment where she’d been found.

As the compartment door sealed with a hollow click, San straightened and ran a hand through his hair, his other hand firmly on his hip. He glanced at the evidence bags laid out on the tray, the swabs and samples neatly labeled. “I’ll take these to the lab myself,” he said, his voice low but decisive. “I want to make sure they’re handled right—and fast.” He grabbed the tray, his gaze lingering on the cold compartment for a beat longer before turning toward the door, the weight of unanswered questions following close behind.

The sterile, fluorescent-lit hallway felt colder than usual as San carried the tray of samples toward the lab. His footsteps echoed off the tile, each one syncing with the thrum in his temples. He’d told himself this was just another case—another report to file, another unknown to add to a growing list of victims—but the lie felt heavier with every step.

It wasn’t just another case.

The small details from the crime scene, the faint chemical bite of bleach clinging to her skin—it all mirrored the one burned into his memory. Her apartment had smelled the same. Her eyes had stared back at him, wide and empty, accusing him of not being there when it mattered.

San clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around the tray until the plastic evidence bags crinkled under his fingers. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn't a coincidence. That whoever had taken her from him was still out there, perfecting their work, leaving just enough behind to be found—but never enough to catch them.

And now, everybody that came through his morgue wasn’t just a victim—it was a reminder. A failure.

—

The soft hum of the lab equipment had long faded, replaced by the steady tick of the clock on the wall—each second louder than it should’ve been. San stared at the stack of results spread across his workspace, the bright lights hanging above him casting a harsh glare over the blank spaces where answers should’ve been.

Nothing.

The tox screen was clean. No unusual fibers, no DNA, no fingerprints. Even the bleach traces were too faint to trace back to anything specific. It was like the killer had been a ghost—methodical, precise, and just out of reach.

San ran a hand over his face, feeling the stubble rough against his palm. He’d been here for hours, but the exhaustion didn’t hit as hard as the frustration did. They’d been this careful, too. Whoever did this wasn’t just killing—they were taunting him.

And he was no closer to stopping it than he was before.

He shoved the useless stack of reports aside, the papers sliding off the desk with a soft rustle. He exhaled sharply, pushing back from his chair and grabbing his coat off the backrest. The lights felt harsher now, like they were spotlighting his failure.

He made his way back to the morgue, the sterile scent of antiseptic growing stronger. The chill in the room greeted him like an old friend as he gathered his things, but just as he slung his bag over his shoulder, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

With a sigh, he pulled it out, the text from Mingi still appearing in his recent notifications.

San stared at the screen for a long moment, thumb hovering over the keyboard. The idea of a crowded bar, loud music, and forced smiles felt like another world. But maybe that’s exactly what he needed—to forget, even if just for a few hours.

Or at least pretend to.

San stared at the message a moment longer before his thumb finally moved. “Yeah, I’ll meet you there in an hour.” The words felt heavier than they should’ve, but he hit send anyway. Maybe a drink would help. Or maybe it would just drown out the thoughts for a while. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket as he pushed open the morgue door and stepped into the cold night to get home and wash up before meeting.

—

The bar was dimly lit, tucked into a side street where the neon signs flickered just enough to make it feel alive. When San pushed through the door, the warmth and noise hit him like a ton of bricks—laughter, clinking glasses, the low hum of music vibrating through the floorboards. It was a sharp contrast to the sterile silence of the morgue.

Mingi was already at a corner table, waving him over with a grin that faded into concern the moment he got a good look at San. “Damn, you look like you’ve been through it,” he joked, sliding a glass across the table. “You need this more than I thought.”

San managed a faint smile, sinking into the seat across from him where the drink that Mingi had ordered for him was already sitting. The glass was cool in his hand, but it did nothing to settle the tightness in his chest. “Rough day,” he muttered, taking a sip, though the burn of the alcohol barely registered.

Mingi watched him for a moment, his easy going demeanor softening into something more serious but still awkward. “It’s that case, isn’t it?”

San didn’t answer right away. He just stared down at the drink, the reflection of the bar lights dancing across the surface. It’s always that case, he thought, but what came out was simpler.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “It’s the case.”

Mingi leaned back in his chair, watching San over the rim of his glass. “You’ve been like this for weeks, man. Ever since…” He trailed off, but the weight of what he wasn’t saying hung in the air between them.

San’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want to go there—not now, not with people laughing and music pounding in the background like none of it mattered.

He sighed softly and leaned back in his chair, mirroring his friend and finally letting his features relax. “I’m fine,” he muttered, but the words felt hollow even to him.

Mingi snorted. “Yeah, sure.” His eyes rolled, “You’ve got ‘fine’ written all over you.” He took another sip, then set his glass down with a soft clink. “Look, I get it. But maybe you need to step back for a bit. Clear your head.”

San didn’t respond. Clear his head? How was he supposed to do that when every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face—or now, the face of the newest victim in the morgue?

Mingi must’ve sensed he wasn’t getting through, because he sighed and shifted gears. “Alright, fine. No more case talk.” He waved down the bartender for another round. “But hey, did you hear about that weird exhibit opening at the gallery downtown? Some guy’s been putting together these creepy-ass installations—looks like crime scenes or something. People are calling it ‘disturbingly realistic.’” He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’d probably get a kick out of it, morbid bastard.”

San froze, the words lodging in his mind like a splinter. Disturbingly realistic.

His pulse quickened, but he forced a neutral expression. “What gallery?”

Mingi’s story faded into the background as San’s attention drifted, his gaze settling on the crowd near the bar. The low hum of conversations blended with the clink of glass, but it was a figure at the far end that caught his eye—someone he hadn’t noticed when he walked in.

A man, sitting alone, casually nursing a drink. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him at first glance—well-dressed, but not flashy. Dark hair, clean-cut, with an easy, relaxed posture like he belonged there, like the world couldn’t touch him. But something about the way he was watching the room made San’s stomach tighten. It wasn’t the usual aimless people-watching. This guy was observing, like he was cataloging details for later.

Their eyes met for a split second—long enough for San to feel a flicker of something he couldn’t quite place. Not recognition, but a strange, unsettling familiarity.

“Hey,” Mingi’s voice cut through his thoughts. “You good?”

San blinked, pulling his eyes away. “Yeah. Just… thought I recognized someone.”

Mingi raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. “Well, if you’re about to go full cop mode, at least finish your drink first.”

San smirked faintly, but before he could respond, a shadow fell over their table.

“Mind if I join you?”

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A/N: I haven't written properly in ages let alone post what I write so this is just testing the waters for right now. As for the medical stuff it may not be 100% accurate but I tried my best with the research I could do. I WOULD LOVE FEEDBACK, I'm halfway through writing the second chapter and would appreciate anything to let me know that it would be worth posting. :)))

#ateez #woosan #ateez fanfic #atz #choi san #jung wooyoung #fanfic #dark #psychological thriller #kiss of death

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saddgoattsims · 2 months ago

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𝒟𝒶𝒽𝓁𝒾𝒶 𝑀𝒶𝒹𝒹𝑜𝓍 xo

Dahlia Maddox has always had a sharp eye for the unseen—patterns others overlook, details that hold meaning in the grand scheme of things. From a young age, she was drawn to puzzles, strategy games, and the thrill of piecing together fragments to reveal a bigger picture. Her mind worked like a detective’s, constantly analyzing, questioning, and searching for depth in places where others saw only surface.

As she grew older, Dahlia found herself pulled toward forensic science, fascinated by the way it blended logic with intuition. Her ability to read between the lines—both in people and in evidence—made her a natural investigator. Whether it was studying body language or identifying subtle inconsistencies in reports, she thrived on uncovering the truth. But more than facts, Dahlia was driven by justice—the need to right wrongs, to ensure stories were told the way they truly happened.

She has a quiet, calculated presence—one that commands attention without demanding it. With dark, expressive eyes and an air of quiet confidence, she’s not the kind of person you forget easily. Her style reflects this—structured yet effortless, favoring fitted jackets, deep tones, and minimalistic accessories with hidden meanings. Each piece she wears is chosen with intention, just like the way she approaches every aspect of her life.

Dahlia dreams of carving out a legacy—not just in her work but in the way she influences those around her. She believes knowledge is power, and the more people understand the hidden truths of the world, the harder it is for injustice to thrive.

CC Creator list:

@twisted-cat, @trillyke, @remussirion, @simstrouble, @obscurus-sims, @pralinesims, @GPME, @faaeish, @wotunciba, @northernsiberiawinds, @greenllamas, @crypticsim, @arethabee

You'll find her on my sims gallery @SaddGoatt

#sims 4 #the sims community #sims 4 screenshots #simblr #ts4 #sims community #the sims 4

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dertaglichedan · 1 month ago

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Car Explosion at Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Kills One; FBI Investigates Possible Intentional Act

A powerful explosion ripped through the parking area of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic on North Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs late Saturday morning, shattering windows and rattling buildings several miles away. The blast occurred near Desert Regional Hospital and sent a plume of black smoke over the city’s downtown corridor.

Authorities said at least one person was killed and several others were injured; some outlets cited up to five wounded. The deceased individual is believed to have been inside or adjacent to the vehicle that detonated, though officials have not released the victim’s identity or clarified whether the person was a suspect or bystander.

Palm Springs police, aided by Riverside County bomb technicians and FBI investigators, said the vehicle appears to be the origin of the explosion. While the cause remains undetermined, officials are not ruling out an intentional act, including terrorism. The blast left a wide debris field and forced the closure of North Indian Canyon Drive as forensic teams collected evidence.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed on the incident, and the California Office of Emergency Services is coordinating state assistance. Residents have been urged to avoid the area while investigators determine what triggered the explosion and assess structural damage to the clinic and surrounding businesses.

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forensicfield · 1 year ago

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Forensic Linguistics

Here is a glossary of key terms related to Forensic Linguistics:

1. Forensic Linguistics: The application of linguistic knowledge, methods, and techniques to legal and criminal investigations, including the analysis of spoken and written language for legal evidence.

2. Linguistic Analysis: The systematic examination and interpretation of language, including its structure, usage, and meaning, to uncover insights and evidence in legal contexts.

3. Authorship Attribution: The process of determining the author or origin of a written text by analyzing linguistic features, such as writing style, vocabulary, and grammar.

4. Linguistic Profiling: The analysis of language to create a profile of an individual, including their demographic information, cultural background, and psychological characteristics.

5. Discourse Analysis: The study of language in use, focusing on how language is structured and used in different contexts, such as conversations, interviews, and legal proceedings.

6. Stylistic Analysis: The examination of linguistic features, such as word choice, sentence structure, and tone, to identify patterns and characteristics that can help identify the author or origin of a text.

7. Phonetics: The study of the physical aspects of speech sounds, including how they are produced, transmitted, and perceived.

8. Phonology: The study of the organization and patterns of sounds in languages, including the rules and structures that govern their use.

9. Morphology: The study of the structure and form of words, including how words are constructed from smaller meaningful units called morphemes.

10. Syntax: The study of the structure and arrangement of words to form grammatically correct sentences and phrases.

11. Semantics: The study of meaning in language, including how words and sentences convey ideas and information.

12. Pragmatics: The study of how language is used in real-world contexts, including the role of context, social factors, and implied meanings in communication.

13. Linguistic Variation: The study of how language varies across different speakers, dialects, regions, and social groups.

14. Sociolinguistics: The study of how language and society interact, including the social and cultural factors that influence language use and variation.

15. Language Documentation: The process of recording and preserving endangered languages, including their grammar, vocabulary, and cultural context.

16. Expert Witness: A professional who provides specialized knowledge and expertise in a particular field, such as forensic linguistics, to assist in legal proceedings and provide expert testimony.

17. Legal Discourse: The language and communication used in legal contexts, including legal documents, court proceedings, and legal arguments.

18. Miranda Rights: The rights of individuals in the United States, as established by the Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona (1966), which include the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present during police interrogations.

19. Linguistic Evidence: Language-based evidence, such as written documents, recorded conversations, or linguistic analysis, that is used to support or refute claims in legal proceedings.

20. Linguistic Proficiency: The level of skill and competence in a particular language, including the ability to understand, speak, read, and write in that language.

#forensic #criminology #forensics #forensic science #evidence #criminalistic #forensic field #crime #crime scene investigation #forensic Linguistics

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tomorrowusa · 2 months ago

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True leaders don't willingly become flunkies of crazed imperialists. And somebody who make a fashion statement out of baggy suits and XXL red neckties is in no position to position himself as a clothes critic.

Trump said he would end the conflict in Ukraine on his first day in office. It is now 96 days since Trump's inauguration. Putin's three-day "special operation" in Ukraine is now into Day 1,158. Authoritarians often have a hard time bending events to their wills.

Trump or no Trump, Ukraine will continue to defend itself. A few days ago Ukraine blew up an arsenal about 85 km NE of the Kremlin.

Satellite images reveal extensive damage to Russia’s 51st GRAU arsenal in Vladimir Oblast The major ammunition depot 530 km from Ukraine caught fire and was rocked by massive explosions on 22 April.

It's hilarious how Russia tries to blame explosions at military installations on careless smoking or safety violations. 🤣

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed an explosion resulted from a fire allegedly caused by safety violations during operations at the facility. Militarnyi noted that explosions were also reported in fields and on roadways in surrounding areas. Militarnyi reports that recent reports suggested the explosions at the 51st Arsenal may have resulted from a drone attack during ammunition unloading from railway cars, contradicting the official safety violation explanation.

Here are before and after satellite images of the arsenal and a ground view of the explosions.

The attack set off secondary explosions.

Additionally, fire hotspots were detected near reinforced bunkers in the central and western parts of the arsenal. Although such structures are less vulnerable to direct drone strikes, they may have suffered damage from secondary detonations, according to Militarnyi.

Several nearby towns had to be evacuated because of the danger from exploding ordnance.

Ukraine is also able to blow up senior Russian generals in Moscow and its suburbs.

Russian Army General Killed in Moscow Car Explosion, Investigators Say

A senior general in the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff was killed in a car explosion east of Moscow on Friday, police investigators confirmed. “According to preliminary information, the blast killed Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik,” a spokeswoman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said in a statement. “Early reports indicate the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device packed with shrapnel,” the law enforcement agency said, adding that detectives and forensic experts were examining the scene of the blast in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha.

Another hilarious explanation from the Kremlin.

State media initially reported that a parked car exploded due to a gas leak. Security camera footage shared by pro-Kremlin outlets showed a powerful explosion near an apartment block as a pedestrian walked past the vehicle.

Gas leak my ass.

This is the second time in less than six months a senior Russian general was taken out in the heart of Russia.

In December, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed while walking out of a Moscow apartment building early in the morning after an explosive device attached to a nearby scooter went off. At the time, Kirillov was the highest-ranking Russian military official to be assassinated since the full-scale invasion.

Trump's "peace plan" regarding the war is mostly bullshit. Ukraine won't let Trump do to their country what he's currently doing to the US economy.

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 9 months ago

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New perspective on supermassive black holes

Some of the first data from an international space mission is confirming decades worth of speculation about the galactic neighborhoods of supermassive black holes.

More exciting than the data, though, is the fact that the long-awaited satellite behind it—the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission or XRISM—is just getting started providing such unparalleled insights.

"We have found the right tool for developing an accurate picture of the unexplored orders of magnitude around supermassive black holes," Jon Miller, professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan, said of XRISM.

"We're beginning to see clues of what that environment really looks like."

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, which teamed up with NASA and the European Space Agency to create and launch XRISM, announced the new results, which were also published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Miller was the lead author of that study. He and more than 100 co-authors from around the world investigated what's called an active galactic nucleus, which includes a supermassive black hole and its extreme surroundings.

To do this, they relied on XRISM's unparalleled ability to gather and measure spectra of X-rays emitted by cosmic phenomena.

"It is truly exciting that we are able to gather X-ray spectra with such unprecedented high resolution, particularly for the hottest plasmas in the universe," said Lia Corrales, U-M assistant professor of astronomy and a co-author of both XRISM publications.

"Spectra are so rich with information, we will surely be working to fully interpret the first datasets for many years to come."

Accretion disks with a twist

Space exploration enthusiasts may know that the Chandra X-ray Observatory—what NASA calls its flagship X-ray telescope—recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of operating in space.

What's less well known is that, over the past 25 years, an international cohort of scientists, engineers and space agency officials have been attempting to launch similarly sophisticated, but different X-ray missions.

The goal of these attempts was to provide high-quality, complementary data to better understand what Chandra and other telescopes were seeing. XRISM is now delivering that data.

With their data set, Miller, Corrales and their colleagues have solidified a hypothesis about structures called accretion disks near supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei.

These disks can be thought of like vinyl records made of gas and other loose particles from a galaxy being spun by the spectacular gravity of the black holes at their centers. By studying accretion disks, researchers can better understand what's happening around the black hole and how it impacts the lifecycle of its host galaxy.

By probing the center of a galaxy called NGC 4151, more than 50 million light years away, the XRISM collaboration confirmed that the disk's shape isn't as simple as once thought.

"What we're seeing is that the record isn't flat. It has a twist or a warp," Miller said. "It also appears to get thicker toward the outside."

Although suggestions of this more complex geometry have emerged in other data over the past two and a half decades, the XRISM results are the strongest direct evidence for it.

"We had hints," Miller said. "But somebody in forensics would say that we couldn't have convicted anyone with what we had."

The team also found that the accretion disk appears to be losing a lot of its gas. Again, scientists have theories about what happens to this material, but Miller said XRISM will enable researchers to find more definitive answers.

"It has been very hard to say what the fate of that gas is," he said. "Actually finding the direct evidence is the hard work that XRISM can do."

And XRISM isn't just allowing researchers to think about existing theories in new ways. It's enabling them to investigate parts of space that were invisible to them before.

The missing link

For all the talk of their gravitational pull being so strong that not even light can escape it, black holes are still responsible for creating a whole lot of electromagnetic radiation that we can detect.

For instance, the Event Horizon Telescope—a network of instruments on Earth sensitive to radiation emitted as radio waves—has enabled astronomers to zoom in and see the very edge of two different black holes.

There are other instruments on Earth and in space that detect different bands of radiation, including X-rays and infrared light, to provide larger, galaxy-scale views of the environs of black holes.

But scientists have lacked high-resolution tools to determine what was going on between those two scales, from right next to the black hole up to the size of its host galaxy. And that space between is where accretion disks and other interesting celestial structures exist.

If you were to divide the scale of the zoomed-out view of a black hole by that of its close-up, you'd get a number close to 100,000. To a physicist, each zero is an order of magnitude, meaning the gap in coverage spanned five orders of magnitude.

"When it comes to understanding how gas gets into a black hole, how some of that gas is lost and how the black hole impacts its host galaxy, it's those orders of magnitude that really matter," Miller said.

XRISM now gives researchers access to those scales by looking for X-rays emitted by iron around black hols and relying on the "S" in its acronym: spectroscopy.

Rather than using X-ray light to construct an image, XRISM's spectroscopy instrument detects the energy of individual X-rays, or photons. Researchers can then see how many photons were detected with a particular energy across a range, or spectrum, of energies.

By collecting, studying and comparing spectra from different parts of the regions near a black hole, researchers are able to learn more about the processes afoot.

"We joke that spectra put the 'physics' in 'astrophysics,'" Miller said.

Although there are other operational X-ray spectroscopy tools, XRISM's is the most advanced and relies on a microcalorimeter, dubbed "Resolve." This turns the incident X-ray energy into heat rather than, say, a more conventional electrical signal.

"Resolve is allowing us to characterize the multi-structured and multi-temperature environment of supermassive black holes in a way that was not possible before," Corrales said.

XRISM provides researchers with 10 times better energy resolution compared with what they've had before, Miller said. Scientists have been waiting for an instrument like this for 25 years, but it hasn't been for a lack of trying.

If at first you don't succeed

Years before its 1999 launch, Chandra was initially conceived of as the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility, a single mission that would fly with state-of-the-art technology for both X-ray imaging and spectroscopy.

That, however, proved to be too expensive, so it was divided into the Chandra telescope and a spectroscopy mission called Astro-E, whose development was led by JAXA. Unfortunately, Astro-E was lost during its launch in February 2000.

JAXA, NASA and the European Space Agency all realized how important the tool was, Miller said, and worked together to essentially refly the Astro-E mission roughly five years later. This time, however, the mission was called Suzaku, named after a phoenix-like mythical bird.

"Suzaku made it into orbit, but its cryogenic system had a leak, so all its coolant leaked into space. Its prime scientific instrument never took actual data," Miller said. "There was a different camera on board for X-rays, though, and it did really nice work for about 10 years."

Within months of sunsetting Suzaku, the space agencies launched a third mission to provide the X-ray spectroscopy that the community was seeking. The mission took off as Astro-H in February 2016 and was renamed Hitomi after it entered orbit and deployed its solar panels.

Miller had traveled to Florida for a meeting about Hitomi right around the time disaster struck the mission. A maneuvering error sent Hitomi into an uncontrollable spin.

"It spun so fast that the solar panels flew off," Miller said.

Less than 40 days after the launch, the space agencies lost contact with Hitomi.

"You could actually go out on the beach in Florida at night and watch it tumble across the sky," Miller said. "It flickered in a very unique way."

Before it ended, the Hitomi mission did manage to take what Miller quantified as one and a half scientific observations. That was enough to transform how researchers thought about galaxy clusters, which contain hundreds or thousands of galaxies, he said.

So it's fair to say that a lot was riding on XRISM when it launched in September 2023. Based on early returns, it sounds like XRISM is equipped to deliver. Miller and a handful of his global colleagues were among the first to see the data that would lead to their new report.

"It was very late in Japan, an odd time in Europe and we were all on Zoom. All of us had trouble finding the words," Miller said. "It was breathtaking."

Miller's original doctoral thesis project was meant to study data from the Astro-E mission, so he's been invested in this work for more than half his life and virtually his entire science career.

During that time, Hitomi and more successful missions like Chandra have been providing data that have enabled him and others in the field to further our understanding of the cosmos. But the researchers also knew they'd need something like the X-ray calorimeter on board XRISM to make the leaps they've been hungry for.

"It's been difficult at many points, but we kept getting hints about what might be possible," Miller said. "It's almost impossible to replicate these environments in earthbound experiments and we've been wanting to know a lot of the details of how they really work. I think we're finally going to make some progress on that."

TOP IMAGE: An artist's rendering of what's called an active galactic nucleus at the center of NGC 4151. The galaxy's black hole sits at the center, immediately surrounded by an accretion disk shown in blue. Credit JAXA

CENTRE IMAGE: A schematic shows how the XRISM mission can take spectra from different parts of an active galactic nucleus: the thin, hot accretion disk; an intermediate zone called the broad-line region; and a cooler, more diffuse torus. Credit JAXA

LOWER IMAGE: XRISM has shown that the accretion disk surrounding a black hole in an active galactic nucleus is warped, confirming earlier hypotheses reflected in this artist’s conception from 2015. Image credit: International Center for Radio Astronomy Research

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics #black holes

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senjutsunade · 11 months ago

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~ANBU Detective Agency~

#Blind Incandescence - Head Cannons Content from the collective madness that is Narnia's 3 lunatics - penned by Crazy Insomniac (CI), Finger Seizure (FS) and Typo Queen (TQ).

ANBU Structure

♦ Mr Coffee maker is the most productive agent of ANBU.

♦ The board members are Shimura Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu Mitokado Homura, Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama. They fund the ANBU and are the cause of endless migraines. Danzo's demands for random audits may some day end with Tsunade being charged for murder.

♦ Izumo and Kotetsu are the receptionists. Izumo is incharge of filing and Kotetsu is incharge of phone calls. Which is why almost no paper gets filed and barely any calls (especially from the board members) are ever picked up.

♦ Homicide and organized crime Unit - lead by Tsunade. Itachi and Kakashi are her personal headaches/ hand-selected team members. They deal with cases no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole.

♦ Marital Affairs Unit - members are Kurenai, Asuma and Anko. This is the unit that brings in the most money.

♦ Insurance Fraud Unit - Genma, Raido and Gai - Gai's youthfulness is what keeps the other two sane.

♦ Missing persons Unit: Tsume and Shibi

♦ Cult investigation: Hidan, Sasori, Kisame - the rest of the agency tends to stay away from them.

♦ Narcotics Unit: Inoichi and Shikaku...its kind of their expertise.

♦ Forensic team: Yamato, Hayate, Yugao, Kabuto, Deidara

♦ Ibiki is in charge of interrogation. Anko assists at times.

♦ Kakazu is the accountant - no one ever gets paid on time.

♦ Orochimaru is the Medical Examiner / resident terror of the agency. Naruto loves him.

When ever Tsunade has a mad scientist moment (she misses holding a scalpel) she tries to go to Orochimaru's lab in desperate hopes he'll let her assist him - the bastard always slaps her hand away, pushes her out of the lab and shuts the door in her face with a smug smirk as if taunting her for not finishing med school. Naruto is the only one who has complete access to the lab. If one would dare to venture down to Orochimaru's 'dungeons' they would often find the chibi babbling the ME's ear off about what happened in school that day with said ME responding to the babbling while dissecting dead bodies. Good thing his school teachers think Naruto is just a very creative child.

Tsunade dislikes the favoritism Orochimaru shows. She was the first blond in his life after all. She should have more privileges.

♦ Akatsuki Law - a VERY successful Law agency run by Nagato, Yahiko and Konan. They provide FORCED free services to ANBU because Tsunade insists that’s what family does and Nagato wishes he was cousins with anyone but her.

♦ Any press conferences that require ANBU presence are dealt with either from a member of the department in question. Itachi, Tsunade and Kakashi stay in the shadows since their roles require them to keep a low profile.

♦ Social events that require their presence are Senju And Uchiha family related and Tsuande and Itachi attend them. Itachi with a poker face and Tsuande with endless whining.

♦ Kakashi is incharge of attending all of Naruto’s Parent/Teacher conferences. There is always a bet ongoing regarding how many dates the Hatake will have by the time he returns the next day.

Tsunade went to one of Naru's parent teacher conferences -- It's ironically the same elementary school that Tsunade herself attended with Orochimaru and Jiraiya since Jiraiya stayed in his family home while the other two moved away. Unfortunately, the principal remembered Tsunade. She remembered the blonde menace for that one time she had snuck toads into the classroom during recess (she was good at bullying Jiraiya and Jiraiya was good at catching toads) and had left them in the desks of all the girls that had been giving her a hard time for liking to spend all her time with boys (Jira and Oro). The screams once the students had returned and had toads leap on them had shaken the school. Then there was the time the blonde nightmare had snuck in Orochimaru's new pet snake (without his permission or knowledge at that) and had gone around telling girls it was her new designer scarf. Suffice to say - no one was amused with her prank. Orochimaru had actually not talked to her for a week. The principal remembered all these things -- that should have been bad enough right? But this is Tsunade we are talking about. And as her luck would have it -- While trying to act like a responsible adult...she notices the janitor and...recalls that the man is actually a suspect in one of her ongoing investigations - only they hadn't been able to find him - until now. She runs after him, tackles him, breaks furniture, swears up a storm that leaves parents, teachers and students traumatized and stumbles out of the school premises with a bleeding split lip, torn clothing, a limp and a murder suspect. She wants to sue the school for endangering students. They want to sue her for property damage. Nagato swears he has white hair since that week. Tsuande says his hair is still blinding enough and tells him to get out of her office. Suffice to say, Tsunade is never allowed to come back to Konoha Elementary School. .

@konohagakurekakashi & @uchihaa-itachi.

#Blind Incandescence #V; Detective #Senju Tsuande #Uchiha Itachi #Hatake Kakashi #Narnian Inhabitants #Typo Queen #Crazy Insomniac #Finger Seizure #uchihaa-itachi #konohagakurekakashi #Head Canons #HC #hc #headcanons

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