#and just. deeply inconsistent presentation style in general.

[supercantaloupe]

deeply fucking embarrassing presentation.

[aiqod]

The Art of Storytelling Meets AI

Over 75% of millennials and Gen Z express interest in receiving AI-generated videos from brands, indicating a strong preference among younger demographics for AI-enhanced content. 

In 2025, video content has become the cornerstone of effective marketing strategies. However, challenges like long production times, high costs, and the need for expertise have made it difficult for many businesses to harness its full potential. Enter AI-powered video creation, a game-changing solution that not only simplifies the process but also enhances creativity and efficiency.

Why Video Content is Non-Negotiable in Modern Marketing

Statistics speak volumes:

82% of people are convinced to buy a product or service after watching a video.

90% of video marketers say video has increased brand awareness.

Platforms like YouTube dominate, with 78% of professionals identifying it as an effective marketing medium.

Despite its significance, traditional video production remains resource-intensive. This is where AI steps in, enabling businesses to create high-quality, personalized videos quickly and affordably.

The Power of Generative AI in Video Creation

Imagine creating a video tailored to a specific audience—whether it’s a sleek corporate promo or a whimsical animation for children—in just minutes. With AI-powered tools like AIQoD 360, this is not just a possibility but a reality.

Here are some standout capabilities we demonstrated during the webinar:

Personalized Storyboarding: Simply provide your product’s name, description, and unique selling points, and the AI generates multiple storylines for you to choose from.

Multilingual Support: Whether you’re targeting local or global audiences, create videos in languages ranging from Hindi and Marathi to French and Spanish.

Industry-specific customization: Tailor videos for different industries, such as IT, healthcare, or education, with just a few clicks.

Speed and Scalability: Professional-quality videos are ready in minutes, allowing startups and enterprises alike to scale their marketing efforts effortlessly.

Real-Life Examples That Inspire Success

During the webinar, we showcased live examples to highlight the platform’s versatility:

Click Here to access the Webinar. 

Virtual Assistant Services: Create promotional videos effortlessly! In under five minutes, our AI crafted a professional and engaging video for a virtual assistant business targeting CPA firms—capturing their unique value proposition with precision.

Industry-Specific Adaptability: From formal corporate pitches to playful cartoon-style presentations for children, our platform demonstrated how the same vending machine product video could be seamlessly customized for diverse audiences.

Festival Greetings Made Easy: Celebrate special occasions with personalized videos! Whether it’s Republic Day greetings or festive wishes in regional languages, our platform helps businesses connect with their audience through localized visuals and messaging.

Addressing Challenges Faced by Businesses

AI-powered video creation tackles some of the biggest hurdles in marketing:

High Costs: Say goodbye to expensive production teams and software. AI offers a cost-effective alternative.

Long Turnaround Times: Videos that used to take weeks can now be created in minutes.

Inconsistent Quality: Ensure brand consistency across all your videos with standardized templates and AI precision.

Scalability: Whether you need one video or one hundred, the platform scales seamlessly to meet your needs.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Video Marketing

The possibilities with AI in video creation are limitless. The integration of features such as custom music, embedded videos, and advanced editing options is rapidly transforming the landscape. These advancements are enabling businesses to craft immersive, interactive, and data-driven content that deeply resonates with their audiences, setting a new benchmark for engagement and storytelling.

Take the Next Step

Ready to revolutionize your marketing campaigns? Explore the capabilities of AIQoD 360 and experience the future of video creation firsthand. Create a free account today and unlock the potential of AI-driven storytelling.

Stay tuned for our next webinar, where we’ll dive even deeper into the world of AI-powered marketing tools. Together, let’s transform the way we tell stories, engage audiences, and drive success.

[moo-nstone]

uranus through the houses 

uranus in the 1st house: eccentricity and uniqueness practically run in your blood. impeccable style, you express yourself through your clothing and self-presentation and if your parents have mocked your style in the past, it deeply affected you. you don't care for rules, you're a natural rebel. thinking very ahead of your time; you remind me of the simpsons because you're the type to predict something and then it happens and everyone goes like WHAT?! attraction to astrology + psychology. you get bored extremely fast - of jobs, of people, of situations - and you need constant change. the best friends in the world, you're so caring. you rely on your instincts and impulses, which can have you being very inconsistent. very humanitarian and independent, but you should work on your lack of dedication due to the way you lose your interest in things so fast. 

uranus in the 2nd house: constant disruption in your sense of worth and self-confidence, sense of security and material possession that floats from one extreme to the other. there’s a tendency for carelessness about your material possessions and surroundings, unlike many other planets in the 2nd house; you express your freedom through not wanting to feel tied down to any material object. you’re likely to choose an eccentric job and to make money in the most creative of ways, and also by showing your special talents in unconventional ways that make you gain notoriety. you tend to experience many unusual things while at work, so your work life is always interesting. you’re constantly outgrowing your past methods, ways of thinking, all that’s no longer useful nor serves you. you truly live the way you want. there’s a tendency for you to feel disconnected with other’s physicality - for example, during sex, where you might be interested in voyerism because it allows you to participate in sex while still being detached. this is not to say that you’re not caring and generous towards other people, because you absolutely are - but there might have been traumatic experiences in the past that prompted that. also, even if you tend to get fired a lot, there’s a lot of change for success because you’re so hard working. 

uranus in the 3rd house: you have a very intelligent mind that works in unique, different ways that might seem strange to others, and they have a hard time comprehending or appreciating the way you think or conversate. that doesn’t take away from your top-tier sense of humour, though. a free-thinker who learns to learn new things, you’re a natural rebel with your words. very witty. you need constant stimulation due to your hatred of feeling bored. you want to constantly evolve your mind with learning new subjects and satiating your curiosity. you express yourself through writing, poetry and storytelling - this placement is great if you’re an aspiring writer. incredibly creative. you also always have a story to tell because the craziest shit keeps happening to you out of nowhere. very curious of what others have to say, even if you could talk about your interests for hours on end. you have a tendency to interrupt others, though. so excitable, whenever you talk about your interests there’s a dreamy glint in your eyes and it’s absolutely contageous. 

uranus in the 4th house: very chaotic childhood + family dynamic! your parents might’ve done ridiculous shit as a way of punishing you like taking all your eletronics or imposing absurd rules. you show you care in very unconventional ways, so you might not be seen as a dependable person. very emotional, you care for those closest to you with all your heart. there’s a tendency to be inconsistent. one of the parents might’ve been absent or you might’ve moved houses a lot when you were younger, and travelled a lot too. you might be considered different from the rest of the family; in the worst case scenario, you’re the black sheep who they place all blame on for the family problems. very quick at making decisions. you constantly feel like you have no control over your life due to the unexpected things that keep happening. if your family conditions your sense of self + tries to restrict the freedom you crave, that’ll only result in you estranging yourself from them. constant need to run away. you feel weird when having to show someone you care through direct, traditional ways due to a lack of emotional support from the family. 

uranus in the 5th house: so so so creative and artistic! you love expressing your uniqueness through creating art + showing your tastes, interests, etc. huge need to live your most authentic life and staying true to yourself, because if you don’t, your self-worth suffers greatly. even those closest to you find you unpredictable. you love change, and when you’re not being forced to submit to a routine, that’s when your creativity can flow in the best way possible. there’s a tendency to constantly enter and leave relationships. you feel attracted to the most unusual types of people, those who are unapologetically themselves, because that’s who you crave to be. there’s a need for a lot of freedom when it comes to romance. very charming and enthusiastic, so many people develop crushes on you - good for you because you love being the center of attention. extreme risktaker, you’re drawn to activities that put your life in danger so you can scratch your need for adrenaline. spontaneous and playful. you love to get involved in controversial relationships, and in extreme, shocking situations just to get a rise out of others. 

uranus in the 6th house: you absolutely hate routine, it limits you and your creativity; you need to do all sorts of unusual and stimulating things in your daily life. very rebellious when in positions of submission. you need an environment where you can express yourself, so the typical nine to five job might not be for you. working in teams, if you’re not accepted for your uniqueness, can be a challenge too. you prefer to do things on your own. issues dealing with routine, job and even wealth, since you don’t want to feel confined. very unconventional methods of caring for others, of working, etc, that might confuse the hell out of others. both seen as someone with crazy ideas and a genius. others might have a hard time dealing with your unconventionality. perfectionists at heart, focuses a whole lot on the smallest details. it’s very easy to tell when you’re going through something or feeling chaotic because it shows in how you deal with your surroundings. however, when you’re feeling better, it’ll show in how you act more carefree, enthusiastic in your daily life. 

uranus in the 7th house: you’re very attracted to eccentric people and you need constant change in your relationships so you won’t feel “stuck”. you don’t let yourself be limited by traditionalist views when it comes to relationships, so the idea of a long-distance relationship or open relationship intrigues you; because the truth is that you’re terrified of having your freedom taken away, so you don’t want to feel tied down. you’re very intuitive, artistic, a lowkey genius, so eccentric people feel as attracted to you as you do them. you hate taking orders. overly needy people make you want to run away on sight. good luck to whoever manages to make you settle, it’ll be one hell of a hard thing to do. you’re not just looking for someone to love, you also need that person to be your best friend through and through. others might view you as very irritating at first, until they actually get to know you and find out just how kind and loving you truly are. a tendency to feel rejected and to seek validation in others to lift your self-confidence.

uranus in the 8th house: there’s a tendency to fluctuate between the two extremes: one second you’re feeling like a god amongst mere mortals, the next you’re hitting rock bottom with a shovel and ready to start digging. you’ll go through many unpredictable and intense transformations throughout your life, constantly looking to scratch the itch of boredom eating away at you by changing and evolving yourself. you should be careful with changing just out of boredom and for the sake of it, because it can do more harm than good - you might destroy some good things that you were building/nurturing. you’re absolutely fascinating and witty. a deep interest in life after death. a craving to experiment a lot in the bedroom, sex is a way to rebel. one word: voyerism LMFAO, seriously, others might get scared with your sexual tastes. although, you can be very detached during sex sometimes due to your fear of establishing an emotional connection. your wealth fluctuates very inconsistently. tendency to have dark thoughts. more than just on a physical sense, you want to experience a love that is transcendental.

uranus in the 9th house: your unconventional beliefs make you incredibly open-minded! you’re attracted to people who also have non-traditional views on the world and who aren’t afraid to think differently from the rest. you fluctuate between being an extremely eager, almost obsessive learner and wanting to have literal zero thoughts going on (it’s so amusing). your ideas are revolutionary and you need to feel free. this house deals with travelling, so when the planet of unconventionality is placed here, you can expect to experience all kinds of unexpected and weird things happening in your travels - if the planet is afflicted, you’ll be absolutely terrified of travelling, if not, it’ll be one of your biggest interests. you’re an avid book reader and philosophy interests you greatly. this placement indicates trouble with higher studies, because although you’re a sucker for learning, you hate doing it in a structured environment + the narrow-minded views of those who’re teaching/learning around you might make you feel trapped.

uranus in the 10th house: when the planet of eccentricity and rebellion is in the tenth house, it indicates very tense situations with authority figures - you need to do things your own way and you're capable of going through great lengths to not lose your independence in any way. freedom is the most important thing in the world to you. constant internal change. you don't care about reaching the top of the mountain, because the most important thing to you is to work somewhere where you can express your creativity. there's a potential for you to have many talents, even if it takes you time to discover them all. opportunity to become famous for your unconventionality. hates tradition. may have been raised in a strange/different way as a child. you might've been humiliated in your childhood and there's also a possibility to have traumatic memories concerning your parents esp the father. also very chaotic!!! 

uranus in the 11th house: many "friends" but a tendency to keep most at a distance out of fear of vulnerability, but still, you get very strongly attached to the closest to you. very fun to be around, crackhead energy - you make a joke out of everything. a craving for freedom and independence, you immediately throw those who try to clip your wings out of your life. attracted to people who radiate eccentricity and uniqueness; those who are afraid to be different simply bore you. might have felt rejected as a child by an authority figure. friends might get be prone to car accidents or very peculiar incidents. a love for the deeper subjects like metaphysics. very chaotic and can be very detached at times, but your honesty is the reason why you're so well-liked. you feel society's issues deep in your heart and there's an aching inside of you to communicate the problems your generation is facing and to be a pioneer in extreme change. 

uranus in the 12th house: the change that this planet gives an individual comes from within when placed in the 12th house. the intense experiences you go through force you to constantly change your ways and perspectives. you crave being of help to others and you don't even search for the recognition that comes with it, you genuinely just want to make others' lives better. big dreams and ambition. spiritual knowledge, psychic abilities - a tendency for this insight to be revealed during dreams - your dreams are very important to you and you might experience vivid dreaming or nightmares. you might have sudden breakthroughs or ideas, it's like things hit you full-force at any given moment, giving you a great surge of inspiration. there's a tendency to struggle with very simple tasks. can struggle with being shy and lacking confidence, suppressing your need to express the real, genuine you. need solitude to transform and grow as a person. 

[taketheringtolohac]

i’ve been working on the most self indulgent au for about a week now and I thought i’d share my thoughts. now presenting... my ace attorney blaseball au! including teams, positions, modifications and more about all the ace attorney characters i could think of and how they would play blaseball. you can also find it on ao3 here, but ive included all the information i have below the cut!

Blase Attorney (Blaseball Ace Attorney AU)

Phoenix- 

Team: Yellowstone Magic

Position: Batter

Modifications: Seeker

Details: one of the first replacements in the game, he was originally just a blaseball fan who was following around miles edgeworth his childhood friend to his games (disguised as him going to see Larry play) and sort of wished that he could play so he could get closer to miles and is at a magic/steaks game that miles is pitching when someone gets incinerated and suddenly he’s on the field in a jersey with a glove and that really messes him up, he's a pretty good player not a star player but definitely a solid one, gets the seeker mod in the season 19 tarot reading

Notable Forbidden Knowledge:  REALLY high martyrdom

Maya

Team: Yellowstone Magic

Position: Batter

Modifications: Haunted

Details: she replaced Mia when she was incinerated and isn’t a season 1 player but has been here so long that it FEELS like she is, isn’t great at the game and has like really bad forbidden knowledge stats but she occasionally hits a surprise dinger and the fans love her so they infuse her and she becomes a serviceable batter, is constantly filled with guilt and emotions about being the person who replaced her sister she gets the haunted mod in an election

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: high base thirst, really good divinity that only gets better after her infuse

Edgeworth- 

Team: Dallas Steaks

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: None

Details: season one player who didn’t really want to join blaseball but he took it in stride and he wasn’t very good at first but he got a blessing that MADE him good and he’s miraculously been on the team the whole time, originally placed in good league because Fran was in Evil and von Karma wanted them to dominate the game and become the best in their respective leagues, still one of the best players in the game, his dad still dies somehow, refuses to “buy into” the dad bit from the steaks and insists that he was just placed here

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: EXCEPTIONAL ruthlessness (one of the highest in the game), good other stats as well, just a really solid PITCHING statline, his other stuff isn’t good

Franziska- 

Team: Hades Tigers

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: Friend of Crows

Details: season one player who fans LOVE even though she hates everything about the game and the circumstances in which she’s here, she’s a naturally good player but she lets up a lot of home runs, she receives the friend of crows modifier in season 10 much to her dismay, ALMOST pitched a perfect season and then absolutely RUINED it in the last game and it crushed her

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: higher highs than miles but also lower lows, in particular her overpowerment isn’t very good, she is also a more well rounded player and would also be a fine batter (solid thwack)

Gumshoe-

Team: Originally on the LA Unlimited Tacos, then feedbacked to the San Fransisco Lovers

Position: Batter

Modifications: Siphon, Attractor

Details: season one player that is beloved by the fans and he’s decent at the game but he always tries to steal bases but he is so bad at it, he’s the teams siphon but he NEVER drinks blood except to draw a walk, he ends up getting redacted because of consumer attacks and is probably one of the first to do so despite him having QUITE a bit of soul, he becomes Wyatt Gumshoe in the Wyatt Masoning

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: GREAT thwackability, bad everything else which makes for a really interesting player to say the least

Athena- 

Team: Miami Dale

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: None

Details: POWERFUL ARMS also she is a replacement player she probably becomes a replacement after Simon does and she got into blaseball because of that cute flowers pitcher and now she’s here but she LOVES Miami and she LOVES being bad at the game, she leans really hard into the neon aesthetic

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: good unthwackability and ok ruthlessness, shakespeareanism is her highest stat, would also be a great batter and has really good thwackability and divinity, GREAT vibes

Apollo- 

Team: Mexico City Wild Wings

Position: Batter

Modifications: None

Details: founding member of the wings legal team who’s another replacement player that FEELS like he’s a season 1 player, he isn’t very good in general but REALLY good for the wings and is probably the mvp at some point but like he’s a really inconsistent hitter but when he DOES hit its POWERFUL and he gets a lot of RBI’s 

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: SHOCKINGLY good musclitude and ground friction, GOD awful moxie

Larry- 

Team: Dallas Steaks

Position: Batter

Modifications: None

Details: season one player who is like the teams designated player we beat up on because they’re awful but we love them, gets shadowed in the expansion era because he just wasn’t good anymore and he REFUSED to leave, he is the definition of “YOU CANT KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS,” would always party but his forbidden knowledge is TRASH so it was never worth anything because he’s top ten in the league for career strikeouts

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: REALLY HIGH PATHETICISM HOLY SHIT but good ground friction and like, ok musclitude

Ema- 

Team: Kansas City Breath Mints

Position: Batter

Modifications: Fire Eater

Details: replaced the first player incinerated on the team so she has a lot of fans because she’s been here a while but like also her career is forever impacted by the fact that people mourned so deeply before really appreciating her and a lot of fans can never really love her in the same way, but she has fire eater now and WILL cut a bitch down to size, she’s also definitely been attacked by consumers though, she also parties a LOT

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: good defender, high omniscience and tenaciousness

Lang- 

Team: Houston Spies

Position: Batter

Modifications: Maximalist, Siphon

Details: replaced a SUPER popular player who was REALLY good at the game and struggled with a lot of the implications of their legacy but he ALSO became really good and a really iconic player to the team and eventually became a fan favorite, LITERALLY cannot stop freaking drinking blood hes so fucking massive now holy shit but like only his baserunning

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: PHENOMENAL baserunning just in general but his base thirst is low so he doesn’t actually steal that much, SUPER high moxie and musclitude

Kristoph-

Team: Baltimore Crabs

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: Returned, Debt

Details: season 1 player who was a really aggressively middling player who had deceptively high stars and they could never get rid of him until he finally got incinerated in late season 6/early season 7 but he gets necromancy-d on accident and no one wanted this now he just haunts the league, he joined blaseball to get notoriety and some level of fame and convinced Klavier to join him

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: high coldness and ok ruthlessness, unthwackability is fine, shakespeareanism is also good

Klavier- 

Team: Originally on the Crabs, but feedbacked to the Seattle Garages

Position: Batter

Modifications: Spicy

Details: he signed up when Kristoph did. because he said that this would be something good to do as brothers and they even signed to the same team, carcinization really freaked him out but he was a season 1 crab and no one knew what would happen, he Feedbacked in like season 6 and kris got incinerated really shortly after he feedbacked which messed him up, he loves the garages vibes WAY more than he liked the crabs

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: high moxie and indulgence

Kay- 

Team: Charleston Shoe Thieves

Position: Batter

Modifications: Flippers

Details: shoe thieves, batter, she was originally a shadows player and just sat there doing great thief things until she got called up for having very sneaky good stats (rod.net style) where she singles a lot and then just steals her way to third/home, voted to trust her in season 11 and now she has cool flippers

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: really high basethirst and laserlikeness, also very high anticapitalism, good thwack subpar musclitude

Sebastian- 

Team: New York Millennials, possible feedback to the Thieves?

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: None

Details: his dad was a famous blaseball player before the ILB so he signed him up to play and didn’t get on the roster until maybe like season 9, really dramatic arc where he starts out really bad but slowly through incremental stat increases becomes pretty ok but then has a devastating allergic reaction and ends up having to be shadowed because he’s just unsaveable at this point, but still a big fan fave and people still talk about them, he would’ve been a pretty ok batter with really high defense but peanut destroyed that too

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: high highs and low lows and vibes are just… there

Juniper-

Team: Boston Flowers

Position: Originally a batter, but reverbs into Pitching

Modifications: None

Details: season 1 player who is really popular amongst the fans but isn’t well known outside of the fanbase she joined blaseball because she didn’t really have a choice and she was just working at the garden, she wasn’t a great batter but she’s a shockingly good pitcher, she had partied so much that she is now just undeniably good solely because she has partied THAT much

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: SHOCKINGLY good ruthlessness, its her only good stat though until parties make her good

Simon- 

Team: Chicago Firefighters

Position: Batter

Modifications: Ego+

Details: another late season replacement that was made to be a edgelord with really good stat set up and he’s a super consistent batter who just also gets walked a lot and has a LOT of thirsty fans, REALLY good at dunking, one of the best idols for solo seeds but ONLY for a SINGLE season because he just underperforms his stars for NO reason and its infuriating, joined because he didn’t want athena to get recruited but she followed him anyways to find out what the hell happened to him and why he just vanished

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: HIGH musc/thwack/martyr with really low patheticism, absolutely ATROCIOUS vibes

Godot- 

Team: Hellmouth Sunbeams, roams to the Tokyo Lift and then to the Canada Moist Talkers

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: Roamin’

Details: a season 1 player who would be a MUCH better batter but REFUSES to leave the rotation with deceptively high stars and one of the first players to get roamin’ and actually becomes good because of it infuriating LITERALLY everyone

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: have you seen bright zim? Yeah its just that. He has sixteen fingers for no reason

Trucy- 

Team: Originally a Philadelphia Pies player, but feedbacks to the Yellowstone Magic

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: None

Details: Phoenix becomes her dad after she feedbacks, later season replacement probably surrounding the s7 instabilities and beanings and she got REALLY popular REALLY fast with the pies fans and over siesta but then she gets traded like the Monday after and it breaks the fans hearts, she’s not very good but she gets alternated into BEING good

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: moxie queen! Also chasiness and continuation, as well as good musclitude and vibes

Nahyuta-

Team: Originally on the Beams, but feedbacks to the Hawai’i Fridays

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: Attractor

Details: expansion era player who replaced an absolutely GARBAGE player so the fans are DELIGHTED by him, lets up a lot of walks but has shockingly pitched a no hitter despite only being here since season 13, was infused because of his good forbidden knowledge stats, still gets faxed out of the game because he has games where he just lets up a RIDICULOUS amount of runs, actually fit in really well with the Fridays, was observed (by Kristoph?) and then got redacted 

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: uncle plasma… 2! Also REALLY big vibes range

Justine Courtney-

Team: New York Millennials, traded to the Breckenridge Jazz Hands

Position: Pitcher

Modifications: None

Details: joined the team before Sebastian probably around season 5, was pretty average at pitching but ate a peanut and had a yummy reaction which made her slightly above average but subpar ruthlessness made her still not great, traded away to the Jazz Hands after Sebastian was shadowed, really polarizing for fans there was a lot of fighting about whether or not to trade her from fans

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: ok ruthlessness

Mia-

Team: Yellowstone Magic

Position: Batter

Modifications: None

Details: was the season 1 stand out batter for the magic, she was a REALLY good season 1 player that fans STILL talk about even though she’s been dead since season 3, she was the person who was standing next to Phoenix when he appeared on the field and caught the ball that was flying towards him before it hit him in the face and she took it upon himself to get him acclimated to the game, she thought of him as a kid brother, she tried to keep Maya away from blaseball but couldn’t stop her from watching on TV, she originally joined to get away from the Fey clan and to try and do something with her life and also possibly find out what happened to her mother and she was promised social power and unlimited access to information

Notable Forbidden Knowledge: really solid statline for someone who never saw any improvements

Phoenix and Miles get together around season 6, right before the Jaylen stuff, then break up because they were both having a lot of emotions about the whole necromancy business and Miles was always on the idol board and there was a lot of uncertainty in their lives. I think a necromancy of Kristoph probably happens in the Expansion Era and he tries to get revenge on Phoenix for god knows what, and Miles ends up getting close with him again after a whole Grand Siesta of just being really emotionally charged friends and finally get together AGAIN in season 13 after a consumer attacks Phoenix, but this time they STAY together and probably get married because they're just so scared of losing each other.

 Kay gets to fight god in season 9, no this probably wouldn't have been possible if she was a shadows player originally but uwu <3

Kay and Miles get to know each other because she tried to steal Miles shoes, but he caught her. He offered to make her dinner and they just had a good time, Kay hadn’t really been shown that kind of kindness in a WHILE and she... missed that sort of father figure in her life... so she just keeps trying to steal things from Miles and getting caught until he finally tells her that she can just... come over through the front door. He will never say that she is his daughter out loud, but the collective dadconcious Knows, and tells him that they are proud of him.

 Maya and Franziska are rivals. They hate each other. When Maya gets 0 no it only makes it worse because it "ruins" Franziska's perfection as a pitcher and forces her to throw balls. They get to know each other over these pitch offs and start to realize that they actually aren't that different. Gay rights. They kiss. They have a great time over the Grand Siesta and make fun of their brothers, but they both have emergency bags in case the other one dies.

 Dahlia Hawthrone would never get involved in Blaseball and everything she does is outside of the game but if she was she'd be on the Boston Flowers and she would be her team's Pudge. A god awful player who on occasion actually does something good and half the fans love her because of her character and half the fans hate her for the same reason and also she sucks at the game.

 Most of them also still have their law degrees and also keep some semblance of what they do in the actual ace attorney games, except Ema who has of course factually failed the bar exam by nature of being on The Breath Mints.

[ranboo5]

i hadnt seen the post asking for takes yet when i sent it, but if you want....

whether dream is truly manipulating ranboo, is secretly his friend, or is actually involved with him in general has been so vague up to this point that no definitive conclusion can be made

even him blowing up the community house is purely based on circumstantial evidence and the "voice", which is not a particularly reliable source in my opinion

A lot of people forget that when the "voice" first accussed ranboo of blowing up the community house, it specifically said that he "helped Tommy " blow it up, which is not possible since we know tommy was not involved with that at all.

If the "voice" was the subconcious of ranboo that knows his memories, it wouldve known who helped ranboo do it IF he had done it, or at the very least it wasn't truthful

what more likely would make sense was, ranboos "self catastrophising", tricking him into trusting circumstantial evidence based on self made conditions of proof

GO OFF GO OFF GO OFF GO OFF GO THE FUCK OFF

THE VOICE IS INCONSISTENT, IT KEEPS CONTRADICTING AND EXPANDING ITS OWN STORY, IT SOUNDS AND "REASONS" EXACTLY LIKE INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, AND CRUCIALLY ITS "REASONING" IS EXACTLY AS FAULTY AND FULL OF LOGICAL LEAPS AS THE RANBOO WE ARE PRESENTED WITH, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF HIS OWN FUCKING BRAIN AND WHAT DOES IT KNOW

I still do not believe Ranboo blew up the community house for these exact reasons!!

We know Ranboo and Dream have had some kind of interaction, but the only confirmable one ever is the disc one -- we don't know if they ever interacted personally, just that they might have had aligned goals or something once

We have 0 canon indication that Ranboo is being manipulated or controlled in any way

We also don't really have evidence they're friends or longterm partners in crime or whatever

Hell, Ranboo working extensively with Dream at all, Enderwalk or not, is fanon, and given what we know abt Ranboo characterization (particularly the shulker deal, for Enderwalk) we know Ranboo is cagey, self-interested, and capable of dealing diplomatically to protect those interests, and we also know Ranboo is chronically uncommitted and easily coerced/convinced into doing something in the moment but not really on the whole; he's also chronically inconsistent in his morality system and tends to be deeply judgemental and assume he's the only one who really has it fully correct, even when he thinks other people have points. None of this points to "besties," imho

We also have the point of evidence that Ranboo, who is a yes man of the highest degree AND also someone who self proclaimedly "likes to keep an open mind about people," actively disagreed with Philza in a situation where he had nothing to gain and in fact potentially something to lose on the matter of Dream's humanity. Ranboo cannot committedly condemn anyone he sees as a person -- with every character Ranboo has been angry at, he follows a pattern of first flaring condemnation and fear that quickly mellows, especially with interactions, into something that can be papered over and ignored and "well actually"-style rationalized away, especially as he interacts with them more and has reason to consider them a "friend". We see no such thing happen with Dream -- Ranboo has only ever considered him fully, inhumanly evil in a way he is incapable of holding any person to be. Ergo, Ranboo does not see Dream as a person, and this is genuine -- again, it doesn't make sense for him to be overcompensating to Philza in that scene! (And also the fact that he doesn't feel the need to mask and yes-man around Philza is. Takeoutduo supporters we win these :sobs:)

This can really only be, imo, bc Ranboo hasn't interacted with Dream extensively

There's also the pt that Dream tried to get to Ranboo from inside the prison. Dream is pretty damn solid on the "no attachments" thing; I doubt Ranboo would be an exception. I am not a Dream scholar by any stretch of the imagination but frankly I do not think Dream would reach out to a Bestie UwU and would if anything likely feel more confident in reaching out to a tentative sometime collaborator who he's interacted with little and at UTTER most had to intimidate:tm: (or more likely literally just ask slightly firmly) 

[savagc]

SUN CANCER, 7°41'49" SECOND HOUSE The sun determines your ego, identity, and "role" in life. It's the core of who you are, and is the sign you're most likely to already know. Your Sun is in Cancer, meaning you are fundamentally sensitive, nurturing, and gentle. Your emotions may seem like a burden to you. You're deeply committed to your relationships and being good to the people you care about. You may have trouble with self-discipline. It's in your second house, meaning you feel the need to distinguish yourself from others through money, material possessions, and security.

ASCENDANT GEMINI, 4°23'29" FIRST HOUSE Your ascendant is the "mask" you present to people. It can be seen in your personal style and how you come off to people when you first meet. Your Ascendant is in Gemini, meaning you come across as quick-witted, chatty, eclectic, and fun, though somewhat inconsistent. In conversation, you seem probing and curious.

MOON SAGITTARIUS, 0°8'37" SIXTH HOUSE The moon rules your emotions, moods, and feelings. This is likely the sign you most think of yourself as, since it reflects your personality when you're alone or deeply comfortable. Your Moon is in Sagittarius, meaning your emotional self is restless, self-questioning, optimistic, and independent. You may hide your sensitivities behind an interest in finding new ways to feel. It's in your sixth house, meaning you find security and safety through work, routines, and bodily health.

full natal birth chart under cut. [ luna ; 06/29/2129 ; 3:01 am ]

MERCURY CANCER, 18°51'15" THIRD HOUSE Mercury determines how you communicate, talk, think, and process information. It also indicates how you learn. It is the mind's planet. Your Mercury is in Cancer, meaning your intellect is emotional and empathetic. You have a strong intuition and a skill for diplomacy, but you may instead favor volatility and irrationality. Sighing is a favored mode of communication. It's in your third house, meaning you are curious about and inclined to analyze how you communicate, whether you really understand something, and all the things you don’t know.

VENUS TAURUS, 28°49'44" TWELFTH HOUSE Venus determines how and what you love. It indicates how you express affection and the qualities you're attracted to. Your Venus is in Taurus, meaning your romantic side is oriented toward comfort and stability. You move slowly and deliberately at the beginning of relationships; that timidity sometimes comes off as intimidating. You just want something sweet and simple. It's in your twelfth house, meaning that for you, love is often expressed in privacy, secrets, and introspection.

MARS AQUARIUS, 28°43'56" TENTH HOUSE Mars is the planet of aggression. It determines how you assert yourself, take action, and the energy that surrounds you—particularly in your sex life, your ambitiousness, and when you're angry. Your Mars is in Aquarius, meaning you assert yourself in a way that is unconventional and rebellious, and you push things forward with unique independence. It's in your tenth house, meaning you put a lot of energy into career, goals, success, and responsibility.

JUPITER ARIES, 16°22'58" ELEVENTH HOUSE One of the two social planets, Jupiter rules idealism, optimism, and expansion. It's also very philosophical. Your Jupiter is in Aries, meaning you grow and find understanding through action, velocity, forthrightness, and independence. It's in your eleventh house, meaning you find success through social status, including platonic and casual friends, along with your hopes, wishes, and dreams.

SATURN LIBRA, 15°4'44" FIFTH HOUSE The other social planet, Saturn rules responsibility, restrictions, limits, boundaries, fears, and self-discipline. Your Saturn is in Libra, meaning you struggle with indecisiveness, passive aggressiveness, and trying to make too many people happy. It's in your fifth house, meaning you have had difficulties with romance, self-expression, creativity, and pleasure.

URANUS LEO, 25°24'18" FOURTH HOUSE Uranus stays in each sign for seven years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules innovation, rebellion, and progress. Your Uranus is in Leo, meaning other generations are shocked by your generation's authoritativeness, idealism, boldness, and self-obsession. It's in your fourth house, meaning that for you, this manifests in rebelling against dated expectations about the home and family.

NEPTUNE SCORPIO, 18°1'43" SIXTH HOUSE Neptune stays in each sign for around fourteen years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules dreams, imagination, and the unconscious. Your Neptune is in Scorpio, meaning your entire generation finds inspiration through passion, intensity, and darkness. It's in your sixth house, meaning that for you, this manifests in your ideal—verging on unrealistic and impractical—about work, routines, and bodily health.

PLUTO GEMINI, 2°7'32" TWELFTH HOUSE Pluto stays in each sign for up to thirty years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules power, intensity, obsession, and control. Your Pluto is in Gemini, meaning your generation's psyche is comparatively dynamic, restless, scattered, and anxious. It's in your twelfth house, meaning you personally are transforming outdated expectations of privacy, secrets, and introspection. 

[allanbalisi]

Braving Wild Winds, Dec 10,2019 - January 4, 2020 Blanc Gallery, Manila, Philippines How Not to Romanticize Resilience, Resistance Notes on Allan Balisi’s Braving Wild Winds by Con Cabrera When I interviewed Allan Balisi about his current exhibition, he talked about the three stages of painting: what is personal, what you want to say, and what the viewer understands. This concept makes me think about the three rubrics of an exhibition: here I am, here we are, and here you are. Jacques Ranciére explained that achieving this dynamics transforms us viewers into witnesses “to an original co-presence of people and things, of things between themselves, and of people between themselves.” In the text where Ranciére stated this, he also elaborately explained the three forms of ‘imageness’: naked, ostensive, and metamorphic. I cling on to this literature as I do a close reading of Balisi’s body of work because ‘image’ was central in our conversation, and evidently enough, fundamental in his philosophy. He questions its existence, purpose, trajectory, malleability, relationships, reception and presents them in his distinct artistic style and laborious creative process. The Naked Image Because Balisi has transformed his interest in film and photography into implements for his art practice, he has created for himself an exclusive landscape made of B movies, found old photos, vintage magazines, and comics. He also has crafted a navigating system that challenges his patience and sharpens his aesthetic preference. He has generated quite a number of screen captures and clippings, which he uses as painting references. The process of searching is long and tedious at times, but also a source of excitement and joy. In 2018, he released a zine titled Painting Study: Passing of Time. It’s a compilation of cropped photos of hands in some form of action with a running text Balisi wrote as an articulation of his contemplations on man’s movements and pauses… “so tell me – what do revolutionaries do these days?” Opening with a probe, it is poetry that acknowledges the resemblances of the transience of time and hand gestures that express affection, love, regret, character, weakness, faith – our journeys. The naked image’s sole intention is to aim beyond what is present, that is a manner of witnessing. It took the artist a long time in choosing the reference image for the painting Thousand Rays. He looked into disaster movies in different eras to find the appropriate freeze-frame of an erupting volcano. It is labor dedicated to presenting us the slowness of an outburst, akin to a subtle building up of rage or anger. This extensive process of searching constitutes a substantial portion of Balisi’s work. There is attention to the accountability on deciding what he wants us to witness. The Ostensive Image “As a marking on safe waters between dangerous waters, in the last possibilities of light challenge the viewer on unknown position: the dangerous water or the safe water. It’s also a commentary not only to myself but to the viewer as well, to take risks or to stay in the comfort zone, but the title suggests going further. To take courage around the present, not the past or the future, around destruction and creation, not stasis." These were words written by the artist as notes on paintings In the last possibilities of light (dwell) and In the last possibilities of light (haul). As Ranciére explained the ostensive image, he mentioned about the power of a face-to-face – facingness. He says that in facing the spectator, images have an obtuse power of being-there-without-reason and that somehow they “become the radiance of the face… as the gaze of divine transcendence.” This influence though creates for us the arcane bliss in viewing art, complemented by the process of discerning and conversing that happens in between. Balisi’s paintings confront us – face us – into action or meditation. They speak to us in isolation just through their material presence. Since the ostensive image is entitled to be art, the assertion by its sheer presence and ability to conjure meaning is acknowledged. The painting Burning Maps is about revolution as a gateway to a secret world where the existing world is burnt away to reveal what’s beneath. The artist is thinking about the nobility, necessity, and beauty of the collective action to achieve it. It is a forewarning to expect resistance. Through the transformation of a naked image into the ostensible, the insinuations are read via Balisi’s context, his ideologies, and progressive thought. The Metamorphic Image The Gap is a series of clock paintings uncovering Balisi’s fascination with the repetitive pattern of movements. For him, this echoes the process of his work and daily life. He chose the word gap in the title to draw our attention to a clock’s cropped dials, but also the idleness of images. “How many times will we remember a certain afternoon of our childhood, some afternoon that is so deeply part of your being that you can’t even convince of your life without it?” the artist asks. "Perhaps four or five times, perhaps not even? How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty… and yet it is all limitless” -Sheltering Sky, Paul Bowles, 1949 Days Braving Winds is a similar figuration inquisitive on the idea of balance and going against the movement. The power of the metamorphic image as art can be summarized in the exact opposite of ‘voici’ (here is) according to Ranciére. It is the ‘voila’ (there it is/there you are). He also burdens the artist with the critique of the image, as it is “no longer framed in an autonomous history of forms of history of deeds changing the world.” There is no need to demystify it, “play with the forms and products of imagery,” he instructs. As Balisi’s person in the painting balances a knife, he reminds us of the interface of a clock with its body composition, stationing us – the world – in a pause. Anchored Dial, Moving Hands is a lover’s painting based on a photo the artist found while browsing through hospital photos from universities. A capture of a playful event, Balisi sees this as an image of a broken bridge. Here he attempts to illustrate a breach and conflict of information. In his notes he wrote: “its an image destined to create a new meaning, or to reconstruct human relations if we can’t even get along with each other in the attempt.” He wants to focus on moments, but moments change so fast, constantly. The reconstructions of images to artworks using painterly conditions make them unclear, imprecise, with more inconsistencies. Braving Wild Winds This exhibition is a glance into a segment of Allan Balisi’s private landscape with a volcano, the rain, sky, seasons, branches, light, the sun, leaves, wind, and trees coexisting with a whole other universe of imageries. He often thinks about the significance of having an image bank given the existence of the Internet, art, books, etc., in this time of fake news. As we continue to fall blind and be deceived by pictures used in platforms such as advertising, it’s so easy and convenient to misinterpret. As an artist, he feels that this is hard to resolve, especially in the medium of painting. This is where the role of titles comes into play and influence the development of informed viewership. He gives importance to and also relies on words that accompany or articulate his ideas and images, maybe because of the often-filmic origin of his images. Even as he acknowledges the autonomy of the image, he hopes to communicate to the audience most intimately and tenderly, where the length of time does not matter. Within the interconnected micro-narrations of surviving, retreating, taking shelter – exhibiting values of resilience and resistance, the overarching ambition I see here is to achieve the double metamorphosis image. To emphasize the “dual nature of the aesthetic image: the image as a cipher of history and the image as an interruption.” To not lose ourselves, Balisi prompts us to radiate the power of our shared history, our stories that are contained in images… “like finding reassurance on familiar hands on our skin, or a kind loving gesture, or a subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace.”

[clairekatswritingcorner]

A Comfortable Lap

Word Count: 1,710

Summary: When it seems that everyone else on the ship has other duties to attend to, you find yourself to be the only remaining candidate for Kova to find any kind of solace in.

*Author’s Note*: Heavy summary for a not so heavy fic, or at least in my opinion. This is my first x reader fic, so please go easy on me! I want to branch out and try writing in this style a bit more, and for some reason Lotor and his cat have been on my mind recently, so…this is what came out. Sorry if there are any inaccuracies or inconsistencies with canon, I wasn’t that concerned about those details, like the fact that I put a small lab for Lotor’s research on the ship (like Lotor’s main ship that fits all his little cruisers) in this fic just for convenience’s sake. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!

He’d been spending a lot of time on his own lately, which couldn’t be helped. Nose stuck in a book or fingers hastily typing out some kind of formula or concept you were sure you wouldn’t understand even if he tried to explain it in the simplest of terms, it was almost like he was in a trance. When Lotor set his mind to something, especially anything involving his research, it was pretty much impossible to get him to step away for any meaningful length of time. It made you a little lonely, and sometimes you wished you could present him with the knowledge he was seeking so desperately, just like that. It would surely be a weight off his mind, a triumph he was more than worthy enough to claim.

But instead, you left him to his devices; to his thinking, his ruminating, his experimenting. At times like this, even Kova felt like he was being shunned from his owner’s side. He’d prowl the ship like a starving beast, although the thing he happened to be starving of was attention, and he was keen to find a free lap or shoulder to rest on. On most other occasions he would have taken comfort in the person who played the role of his secondary master, Narti, but she was currently out on a mission with the other generals. With all of the regular residents of the ship’s hollow hull absent, the only real options for companionship in this trying time of solitude were the two of you.

You were lounging in your quarters, going over one of the battle strategies Lotor had previously outlined for you. Studying them yourself didn’t serve a very practical purpose, but you couldn’t help finding his notes and tactics fascinating. So intricate and detailed, yet easy to understand; if his life had turned out differently, perhaps he would have pursued a successful career as a professor or scientist. You weren’t usually keen on fighting, and he was far from comfortable with the idea of allowing you to risk your life in the midst of the various skirmishes he participated in. Putting you in harm’s way was the last thing he wanted, a nightmare that periodically haunted his sleep.

But keeping you by his side during such hectic ordeals was another matter entirely—it was invigorating, and comforting, and inspiring to be in your presence. You were the fuel that kept him focused, the encouragement he needed to push through the chaotic and constantly shifting tides of battle. Sometimes a simple look was all it took to fill him with the reassurance he needed, while other situations called for the gentle interlocking of fingers or the soft sensation of lips pressing against a cheek. Of course, any instance of affection you gave him he made sure to return to you tenfold, even if it had to wait until you were both able to retire to your rooms. It wasn’t exactly a secret that you usually spent your time in his chambers, or that he made a habit of inviting you to do so. But it also wasn’t the generals’ job to gossip about the current status of the prince’s relationship with you, even if they couldn’t help snickering amongst themselves every now and again.

“What’s wrong Kova, are you looking for someone to play with?” The aloof feline was observing you from the doorway; you caught sight of his movement just before he could retreat.

Rising from your seat, you put the document you’d been examining away and crouched down. Kova was still eying you a tad warily, unsure if it was wise or safe to look away from you for even a moment. You’d managed to pet him a few times, but only when he was at Lotor’s side. Right now, the only side that was really available for him to occupy was yours. What was it going to take to earn this distrusting kitty’s approval?

You tried cooing, sweet talking, gesturing as if you had a toy or treat to give him. No matter what you tried, it seemed that Kova just wasn’t interested in budging. With a dejected sigh you plopped to the ground, crossing your legs and shifting your thoughts in a more contemplative direction. What sorts of things had you not tried yet, and were there any treats on board you could use to appease the beast? You couldn’t remember if Lotor kept any, or if Kova even liked them…and you couldn’t help thinking it was a little sad that this was the height of the kind of conflict you’d be facing today. Slow days were nice, but they were nicer when you got to spend them in the grip of a certain purple prince’s arms…

“(Y/n)?”

His voice startled you, snapping you out of the daydream you’d unintentionally drifted into. That was a little disappointing, since it had been such a pleasant one, but you supposed you could let it slide when it had been replaced by the real thing. Hair pulled back in a rare ponytail and magnifying lenses resting on the crown of his head, you wondered how he could look so distinguished yet so disheveled at the same time. You were about to hop to your feet when you realized there was an unfamiliar weight on your lap. Feeling as if your focus was being whiplashed left and right, you glanced down to find that the object of your previous coaxing had apparently succumbed while you were distracted.

“Well, if this isn’t a rare sight.” Lotor leaned against doorway, a pleased smile gracing his lips. “I never thought I’d see the day Kova would willingly curl up in someone else’s lap.”

“What are you talking about? He hangs around you and Narti all the time. And he never seems bothered when the other generals pet him or feed him.”

“There are a few details about those particular situations you should take into consideration,” he continued as he approached. “One, he’s a cat, it’s not like him to reject any offering of food no matter which hand it’s coming from. Two, the generals have been around much longer than you have, so he’s had plenty of time to get used to them, or at least learn how to tolerate them. And three, although he allows them to pet him and elects to spend a majority of his time around Narti, it’s still rare for him to be the one to make the first move when it comes to affectionate actions like this. So basically what I’m saying is that it seems he’s genuinely warmed up to you, and gaining his approval is no small feat.”

“It’s not like I did anything to impress him intentionally,” you mumbled, discreetly wringing your hands in response to this unanticipated flattery. “I just figured he was lonely, and being lonely together is usually better than being lonely alone.”

“I’m sorry for being so distant lately,” the prince changed the subject abruptly, taking a seat beside you in a position that seemed less than appropriate for someone of his status. “I get so absorbed in my work sometimes, I don’t realize just how neglectful I end up being to everything—and everyone—else.”

“What, no, you don’t need to apologize!” You waved your hands in disagreement, tone turning remorseful. “I didn’t say that to make you feel bad or anything, I just—”

“I’ve been missing you, too, you know,” he uttered his confession with that alluring lilt you loved, his words melting into your ears like honey.

You felt the heat rise in your cheeks and stuttered helplessly, trying to organize your thoughts in order to produce some semblance of a coherent response. His gaze was soft, and he drew you against him without warning, settling you in his lap and tucking you against his chest. You’d missed being held like this, being close to him like this, feeling his warmth and appreciating his scent; right now, the latter was overwhelmed by the strong aromas of the lab, but mixed with the natural smell of his skin, you supposed it wasn’t so bad. You were so tempted to close your eyes and just drift to sleep right here, some part of your mind taking note of the fact that Kova was still quite contently curled up against you. With one hand Lotor stroked your hair, while the other tended to the cat’s thin fur, and for just a moment you allowed yourself to indulge in this temporary paradise.

“My two favorite people in the world.” You perked up a bit at the prince’s heartfelt statement. “I promise once I’ve finished my current project, I’ll make up for all the time I’ve left you unattended.”

“I hope you know I don’t mind that you’re busy,” you spoke up, voice little more than a whisper. “Knowing you’re doing something you love, something that’s so important to you…I’m happy for you. I don’t want you to give that kind of stuff up, your personal projects or your official duties, for me. If I have to, I’ll wait for you forever.”

He buried his face in your hair now, taking a deep breath, arms tightening around you just slightly. “I don’t want to make you wait alone. I’d rather spend that forever with you.”

They were exaggerated words, but you knew he meant them. Tender sentiments and deeply rooted love; neither of you would ever let anything take you from the other’s side. If Kova was warming up to you, maybe that was a good sign. A sign that you were meant to stay here, that you were meant to love this man, and have him love you in return. Being the object of the prince’s affections seemed like a dream come true, but being able to shower him in your love was an equal half of that dream. Letting your eyes droop shut, you concentrated on the sound of his breathing, and the soft purr vibrating from the animal that was still nestled snugly in your lap. These were two of your favorite people in the whole universe, too, and you’d never stop being grateful you found them…or perhaps more accurately, that they’d found you.

[theblessedbee]

Sorry about that.I'm new on Tumblr.June 21,1990 at 5:01 am in Memphis TN

✨ 𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 ✨

Here's a photo of your chart:

https://media.giphy.com/media/oX9s5sdafZAOcqcM3j/giphy.gif

SUN

GEMINI

29°46'55", FIRST HOUSE

The sun determines your ego, identity, and "role" in life. It's the core of who you are, and is the sign you're most likely to already know. Your Sun is in Gemini, meaning you are fundamentally dynamic, quick-witted, eclectic, and curious. Fascinated by everything, your childlike energy is often scattered in a million directions. On a social level, this may come off as gossipy or flaky. It's in your first house, meaning you feel the need to distinguish yourself from others through your self and self-image—and, because it's your first house, your Sun in Gemini is hyper-present in your personality.

MOON

GEMINI

10°31'2", TWELFTH HOUSE

The moon rules your emotions, moods, and feelings. This is likely the sign you most think of yourself as, since it reflects your personality when you're alone or deeply comfortable. Your Moon is in Gemini, meaning your emotional self is often restless and unsettled. You're extremely adaptable, which sometimes makes you feel pulled in too many directions. You are easily bored and need to feel like you are free to be creative and create meaning, which can make you feel like you're in a constant identity crisis. It's in your twelfth house, meaning you find security and safety through privacy, secrets, and introspection.

ASCENDANT

GEMINI

17°53'24", FIRST HOUSE

Your ascendant is the "mask" you present to people. It can be seen in your personal style and how you come off to people when you first meet. Some say it becomes less relevant as you get older. It changes every two hours, so if it doesn't make sense, text your mom to confirm your birth time. Your Ascendant is in Gemini, meaning you come across as quick-witted, chatty, eclectic, and fun, though somewhat inconsistent. In conversation, you seem probing and curious.

MERCURY

GEMINI

16°37'15", TWELFTH HOUSE

Mercury determines how you communicate, talk, think, and process information. It also indicates how you learn. It is the mind's planet. Your Mercury is in Gemini, meaning your intellect is dynamic, quick-witted, and eclectic. You're deeply curious about everything, and your energy is often scattered in a million directions. The way you speak is articulate and witty, but you're likely to talk behind people's backs. It's in your twelfth house, meaning you are curious about and inclined to analyze your secrets, dreams, and mental health.

VENUS

TAURUS

25°45'10", TWELFTH HOUSE

Venus determines how and what you love. It indicates how you express affection and the qualities you're attracted to. Your Venus is in Taurus, meaning your romantic side is oriented toward comfort and stability. You move slowly and deliberately at the beginning of relationships; that timidity sometimes comes off as intimidating. You just want something sweet and simple. It's in your twelfth house, meaning that for you, love is often expressed in privacy, secrets, and introspection.

MARS

ARIES

15°16'20", ELEVENTH HOUSE

Mars is the planet of aggression. It determines how you assert yourself, take action, and the energy that surrounds you—particularly in your sex life, your ambitiousness, and when you're angry. Your Mars is in Aries, meaning you assert yourself in a way that is to the point and impulsive. You love to make things happen and you push things forward with energy and enthusiasm. You have a short temper, but are quick to forgive. The bravest sign of the zodiac. It's in your eleventh house, meaning you put a lot of energy into social status, including platonic and casual friends, along with your hopes, wishes, and dreams.

JUPITER

CANCER

17°10'57", SECOND HOUSE

One of the two social planets, Jupiter rules growth, expansion, and progress. It's also very philosophical. Your Jupiter is in Cancer, meaning you grow and find understanding through emotions, intuition, and care. It's in your second house, meaning you find success through money, material possessions, and security.

SATURN

CAPRICORN

23°39'34", EIGHTH HOUSE

The other social planet, Saturn rules responsibility, restrictions, limits, boundaries, fears, and self-discipline. Your Saturn is in Capricorn, meaning you struggle with your sense of responsibility, ambition, conservatism, repressed emotions, and obsessions with money and power. It's in your eighth house, meaning you have had difficulties with darkness, taboos, rebirth, sex, and transformation.

URANUS

CAPRICORN

7°55'20", SEVENTH HOUSE

Uranus stays in each sign for seven years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules innovation, progression, rebellion, and change. Your Uranus is in Capricorn, meaning other generations are shocked by your generation's sense of responsibility, seriousness, rationality, and hunger for power. It's in your seventh house, meaning your generation rebels against dated expectations about close relationships and long-term partnerships.

PLUTO

SCORPIO

15°16'51", SIXTH HOUSE

Pluto stays in each sign for up to fifteen years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules power, intensity, obsession, control, and transformation. Your Pluto is in Scorpio, meaning your generation's psyche is comparatively passionate, intense, serious, private, self-obsessed, and perceptive. It's in your sixth house, meaning you are transforming outdated approaches to day-to-day experiences of work, routines, and bodily health.

Significant Events

Opposition- Sun Opposition Uranus (8°09’, Applying)

This aspect creates people that are too individualistic, selfish and eccentric. They are very independent and they guard their independence carefully. They are not always considerate towards other people and they sometimes suffer from mental exhaustion. These people have the need to be different and they want to show their uniqueness. They want to be teachers, mentors and examples to others. These people are willing to go to the extremes in order to show their originality. They have trouble accepting authorities. They use rebellion as means of attracting attention of other people.

Conjunction- Moon Conjunction Mercury (6°05’, Applying)

This conjunction multiplies the effect of harmonious aspects. These people have a sense for poetry and the ability to understand others. Any problems in the emotional area can be solved by clear thinking and accurate analysis. They need to have close contacts with their loved ones. The negative effect of this conjunction is the tendency to gossip. These people are very intelligent.

Sextile - Moon Sextile Mars (4°45’, Applying)

This harmonious aspect create constructive and practical people. They are able to solve problems at home easily because they are good willing and prepared to compromise. They are open and they express themselves with seriousness. They are great hosts.

Sextile - Mercury Sextile Mars (1°20’, Separating)

This harmonious aspect strengthens thinking and gives these people the ability to act and think fast. They are analytical and they are often excellent researchers. Their thinking is fast and practical.

Trine- Venus Trine Saturn (2°05’, Separating)

This harmonious aspect brings responsible and reserved behaviour in most of emotional and social activities of these people. They are very faithful, conventional and stable. They need a strong and stable relationship that gives them confidence and ability to trust. They have hidden fears of rejection, and their self-confidence in their relationships is too low. Older and reliable partners give them confidence. They are careful and responsible with things they are entrusted with.

Square- Mars Square Jupiter (1°54’, Applying)

This aspect causes reckless and extreme reactions. These people are also relatively persistent in their activities and they often do not perceive the impact of their actions on their immediate surroundings. There are two developmental branches of this aspect- one leads to the desire for property, money and power, and the other focuses on idealistic movements and groups. In any case, this aspect also raises the desire for travel and adventure.

Square- Mars Square Neptune (1°42’, Separating)

This aspect is great for mysticism and it reinforces imagination and fantasy which these people often prefer to reality. Their practical approach to life is also greatly suppressed. They often combine feverish activities in order to promote themselves through illusions of their unrealistic ideals and fantasies. These people are often chaotic.

Opposition- Jupiter Opposition Saturn (6°29’, Applying)

This aspect gives people somewhat contradictory possibilities and because of that they constantly have to decide whether to make important changes or take a risk and follow a good opportunity. If they manage to find a reasonable compromise, the result is often great.

Opposition- Jupiter Opposition Neptune (3°36’, Separating)

This aspect may give people restless soul and a tendency to wander. They do not like to settle down and they do not have clear goals in life. They are able to make big sacrifices for their ideals, but they should be careful not to be naive and not live in their fantasy world. In a better case scenario, these people fanatically push higher universal laws into the existing world order; in the worst case scenario, they work around the secular law with the help of higher universal laws.

Trine- Jupiter Trine Pluto (1°53’, Separating)

This harmonious aspect gives people persistence, decisiveness and desire for self-realization. These people often become rich when they become adults.

Conjunction- Uranus Conjunction Neptune (5°38’, Separating)

This conjunction is responsible for urge for changes. These people tend to change their lives and to interfere with political affairs that they are never satisfied with. If they are publicly engaged, then their reformist efforts have some chances to be successful, otherwise they live in discontent with the circumstances all their life. This conjunction gives people immense originality, intense creative abilities and innovative inspirations.

Sextile - Neptune Sextile Pluto (1°43’, Separating)

This harmonious aspect is long-lasting and it affects peace-making attitudes. In connection with other aspects it further enhances peace-building and transformative actions on global scale.

Other aspects

Conjunction - Ascendant Conjunction Moon (7°22’, Separating)

The positive thing about this aspect is that it gives people adaptability and mental balance. However, it also causes instability and these people can be influenced very easily.

Conjunction - Ascendant Conjunction Mercury (1°16’, Separating)

The positive thing about this aspect is that it gives people vitality and curiosity. The negative side of this aspect is that it may cause distractibility and restlessness.

Sextile - Ascendant Sextile Mars (2°36’, Separating)

The positive thing about this aspect is that it gives people assertiveness, abundant energy and physical resilience.

Trine - MC Trine Sun (2°26’, Applying)

This aspect indicates the ability to succeed using own means or with the help of others.

Square - MC Square Venus (1°35’, Separating)

The positive thing about this aspect is that these people are popular at work. The negative side of this aspect is that they tend to be jealous and dissatisfied in their work environment.

Trine - Node Trine Moon (1°08’, Separating)

These people have an instinctive urge to set out on the path shown by the lunar node. They intuitively and partly unconsciously perceive and exploit the possibilities associated with the house and the sign of the lunar node. Their emotions are in harmony with their focus.

Square - Node Square Pluto (5°54’, Separating)

The positive thing about this aspect is that it gives people great and fascinating energy that leads them to the focal point of their life. The experiences of power and powerlessness and the encounter with their own Shadow helps them overcome their life challenges and find their life path.

The negative thing about this aspect is that it causes inner tension and feelings of obsession because strong forces drag and pull in a different direction than towards the focal point of life. These people often have the feeling that they are the prisoners of misconceptions.

𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣-𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜!

𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴.𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰-𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘦.

[lacquerware]

Hellblade's Language Problem

::WARNING: MANY HELLBLADE SPOILERS WITHIN::

I think I went into Hellblade with particularly well-balanced expectations. On the one hand, I had a vested interest in Ninja Theory’s success, having devoted several (rather grueling) years of my life to promoting their controversial last two titles, DmC Devil May Cry and its rerelease, DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition as a community manager at Capcom. In my view, Ninja Theory greatly exceeded Capcom's and my own expectations for DmC, but they walked away from the experience dripping with rotten tomatoes from irate fans who wouldn't have been happy with any reboot of their beloved series, no matter what it did. With Hellblade, I'd wanted to see Ninja Theory get the credit I knew they'd long deserved.

On the other hand, I was also quite disappointed when NT revealed Hellblade to be a more narrative-driven piece, and I was downright worried when they still hadn’t highlighted the combat system after three or four PR beats. They were selling this game on its fancy performance capture technology and its treatment of mental psychosis, not its Smokin’ Slick Style and Just Guard mechanics. I’m fine with narrative-driven games, but there are tons of them nowadays, and NT is essentially the only Western developer to have sipped from Capcom's forbidden font of combat wisdom. NT walked away from DmC with a world-class mastery of combat design, honed under the direct tutelage of Capcom’s own Hideaki Itsuno (DMC series director and veteran fighting game dev) and his team of designers. It seemed a shame to let that mastery go underutilized.  

I eventually concluded that Hellblade probably wouldn’t be the DmC-without-the-baggage follow-up I’d dreamed of, but it’d probably still excel on its own merits. In other words, I went in expecting a good game, but not expecting it to top DmC.

It pains me, then, to conclude that my experience with Hellblade was mostly just bad.

Early on in my time with Hellblade, I asked myself, “So is it ‘SEH-noo-ah’ or ‘SEN-yoo-ah’?” referring to the protagonist's name. Then one of the voices in Senua’s head called her “SEH-noo-ah.” A little later, one of the other characters calls her “SEN-yoo-ah.” Later still, Senua says her own name, pronouncing it "SEH-noo-ah." Much later, Senua’s own mother calls her “SEN-yoo-ah.” Is this inconsistent pronunciation a symptom of Senua's psychosis, or merely an oversight in the game’s voice direction? I don’t know, but I see it as symbolic of the overarching issue with Hellblade: it has a language problem.

When I say language, I’m talking about the visual, auditory, and tactile language that the game uses to guide its player. Ninja Theory took on a lofty challenge with Hellblade: to convey the experience of mental psychosis, using a video game. To be clear, psychosis is a severe mental disorder which presents the mind with vivid delusions—false sensory inputs. Video games, by definition, use sensory feedback—namely, graphics and sound—to communicate a consistent, predictable set of rules and parameters to a player. How do you simulate psychosis and make a functional game at the same time? How do you present meaningful feedback to the player while also inundating them with erroneous imagery and sound?

Ninja Theory actually found a variety of ways to do this. As they explain in the documentary included with the game, many sufferers of mental psychosis display a tendency to draw patterns and connections where none are apparent (to normoids). So essentially, they're ascribing their own rules and logic to the world. Arguably, this is what all game designers do anyway, so in that regard this premise might be surprisingly fertile ground. Indeed, we mostly see Senua’s hallucinations take recurring, systematic forms: glyphs which she must overlay with seemingly arbitrary sights in the environment; “portals” which, once passed through, reveal new avenues; and horrible humanoid demons, with whom Senua must do battle. Theoretically, these elements successfully convey Senua’s mental condition while still offering the player a “game” rather than just a series of crazy, unpredictable occurrences.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is a simple matter of execution; the game is technically flawed. Tutorial-less and HUD-less, it relies solely on subtle, in-world feedback to communicate its rules of engagement to the player, but then breaks those rules either through technical failure or conscious design choices. In a different game, I might have picked up on each bug or design issue much quicker, but because of the psychosis premise and the subtlety of the issues I faced, I found it abnormally difficult to distinguish between intended weirdness and simple video game flaws. In other words, the game isn’t just about being crazy—it is crazy.

Here are some examples:

-Early on, the game establishes that you can use the R2 button to “Focus” on certain objects in the environment to activate puzzles or audio logs. A little later, the game introduces a new type of "Focusable" object--an icon of a flame--but for some reason these objects don't respond to your Focus until you're much closer. The game betrays its established rule for how Focus works, without clearly reestablishing the new rule. I probably passed by that first flame icon five times, attempting to Focus each time but receiving no feedback. By the time I realized it was a distance issue, I’d wasted maybe thirty minutes searching for a way to progress.

-Focusing on each flame icon activates a sequence in which the environment is engulfed in an inferno, leaving you with mere seconds to run away before dying horribly. When I activated the first one, I instinctively started running in one direction, only to have the voices in Senua’s head started frantically crying, “No, not that way!” So I stopped and frantically searched for another path. Before I could find one, I died horribly. It seemed so unavoidable that for a moment I thought the death was scripted. When I realized it wasn’t and I respawned, I examined the surrounding area at my leisure and determined that, actually, there was no other path and I was running the right way. Was this a bug? Or was I now to understand that sometimes the voices in Senua’s head actively try to get her killed? I’ve since cleared the game and still don’t know….

-I encountered a bug which prevented one of the first puzzle-locked doors in the game from opening. It wasn’t totally clear that solving the puzzle was supposed to unlock that specific door, so I found myself wandering back and forth across the vast section of the map available to me at the time. Additionally, there were music cues which played upbeat, intense music within a specific radius (which didn’t even contain the door in question), and cut off abruptly the instant I stepped outside that radius. I scoured every inch again and again. After close to an hour of wandering and scouring, I googled it in exasperation and discovered it was simply a door bug. The music was just completely arbitrary. Unforgivable in a game that demands you take unexplainable sights and sounds at face value.

-One section of the game introduces a light/darkness mechanic. You must stand in the light at all times—either by carrying a torch or standing in designated illuminated areas—or you will die horribly within seconds. In one such instance, a fight sequence breaks out while you're carrying a torch. Senua subtly drops the torch on the ground as the fight begins, and a grueling battle ensues. When it ends, darkness floods your surroundings, and if you don’t think to retrieve the dropped torch, you die horribly within seconds. But what was illuminating us during the fight sequence, and why did it stop after I won? When the darkness came, my instinct was to run, which of course got me killed. I had to repeat the entire fight.

-The boss which follows the darkness segments has the ability to spew darkness (shoutout to DmC’s Hunter). Visually, this darkness looks just like the darkness which causes you to die horribly within seconds elsewhere, so the natural assumption is that you must scramble to find the light. This proved not to be true; rather, the darkness simply makes it dark, which sucks because it’s hard to see. Lol. 

-The glyph puzzles, which I felt the game leaned on way too much, were extremely finicky. I often found myself desperately trying to line up the overlay with its apparent environmental counterpart, only to be denied feedback. “Guess I’m barking up the wrong tree,” I’d say, and search elsewhere. Eventually I’d circle back and retry for lack of any better ideas, and finally I would land upon the precise footing that triggered the game’s acknowledgement of my solution. Because of this finicky detection, it frequently took me upwards of thirty minutes to execute a solution I’d figured out in five. These moments deeply hurt the game’s immersion—it’s hard to believe someone tormented by voices and haunted by hellspawn would spend this long lining up glyphs with such surgical precision. I felt neither crazy nor like a warrior; I felt like a child with a defective issue of Highlights Magazine. 

Weirdly, in other cases the game would give me credit just for glancing in the general direction of a solution I hadn’t actually noticed yet.

By the time the credits rolled, I’d experienced so many baffling inconsistencies in the game’s communication that the whole thing just felt like a misfire.

Now look--I’ve been known to both overthink things and not be very smart, so I don’t imagine everyone will have the experience I had. In fact, I googled “hellblade frustrating” just to see, and was shocked to find that all of the results were about how frustrating the combat was. I actually found the combat to be Hellblade’s saving grace—satisfying, consistent, and almost perfectly balanced thanks to a God Hand-style difficulty auto-balancing feature. The camera worked against me in a few situations, but most fights left me feeling like I’d beaten dire odds, and certainly made me sympathize more with Senua’s plight than the mundane action of lining up Viking runes with wooden scaffolding.

The moral of Hellblade’s tale seems to be that Senua won’t “cure” her psychosis, but that she can heal by learning to accept it as a part of who she is and coexisting with it. After finishing the game, it occurred to me that I would almost certainly have a  better time with Hellblade on a second playthrough. Those bugs and flaws would still be there, but I’d know about them and be able to anticipate them. There’s an obvious parallel here. I don’t think it’s intentional (though the idea of “bad design by design” does intrigue me), but I think there’s some poetry in the notion that we can apply Hellblade’s lessons to itself.

All that aside, I appreciate what Ninja Theory has done to advance the conversation on mental health and develop a template for their "AAA indie" model. Hats off.  

[stabigail]

11 questions meme

1tagged by @myrkks, tagging....... @pentaughast @ghoste-catte @beamkatanachronicles anyone who wants to ig :V

1. how would you describe your writing style or “voice” as a writer?

HONESTLY i still feel like i’m growing into my style, lol! and i often feel inconsistent, but i think part of that is a lack of confidence, still, forever #justwritingproblems. being more realistic, i would say that i tend to write from a very firm point of view and my narrators tend to be quite unreliable; i also tend to focus a lot on sensory details. generally i’m very much a stream of consciousness writer! it’s what i love 2 do.

2. do you prefer to write in first person, second person, or third person, and why? which tense do you prefer?

it depends on what i’m working on, and i definitely flip-flop some, but i almost always write in third person. for me, first person works really well for Very Unreliable Narrators who are trying to skew their story in a certain light, or for stories that are literally one person talking to other people. i love love love first person in podcasts! alice isn’t dead is probably my favorite podcast that utilizes first person, and i really love the depth of emotion that it conveys as a result, so i am more likely to us first person for projects like that.

generally, though, i struggle with first person because it limits narration in a way that i struggle with at times. second person kind of creeps me out as a writer because i feel like a soulbonder?? WHICH IS NOT A KNOCK ON SECOND PERSON, i think it makes for beautiful work, but it’s just not for me. so 3rd person limited is my favorite and has been for a while!

as for tense, i used to write exclusively in past tense but now i write exclusively in present tense and i couldn’t even tell you why. is it because the focus on the present makes for more dynamic writing? is it because i’m pretentious? is it both? likely.

3. what is one thing that inspires/motivates you as a writer these days?

oh man haha . . . spite . . . no not really, it’s a little spite but more feeling a lack and a motivation to fill it! my original work right now is based around a lot of feelings i have about both personal and global uncertainty, and while it isn’t a political piece at all, i’ve definitely found motivation to explore topics that i wish were easier to talk about. when it comes to fandom stuff, it’s usually “i love this pairing, but i never see work for it” or “i love this pairing, but i wish there was more diversity of work around it,” because i like filling gaps and also just always fall for pairings few other people care about. i’m also deeply motivated to write character exploration pieces for fandom because holy shit, nothing makes me happier than picking apart a character’s motivations and rearranging them in a new form. i’m the sylar of other people’s characters.

that being said, sometimes my motivation is “why are there only like 2 smut fics of this lesbian pairing and 238974293874 of this pairing of 2 dudes” and that is spite and i’m not sorry for it.

4. what is one of your strengths as a writer?

uhh,,,, i think i have a good attention to detail? is that a cop-out answer? maybe. i have a good grasp of figurative language, i think, and i actually am quite proud of that now that i think about it. i used to write super purple prose, and through the past few years i’ve been able to really neaten my writing up so that it’s . . . still flowery! always will be! not sorry! but it’s not overbearingly so, and the figurative language i use enhances the story rather than drowning it. shoutout to @pentaughast who has been writing with me for like five years and giving me feedback until my writing stopped being a horrible disaster thicket of metaphors, you’re a pal.

5. what is something you’d like to improve about your writing?

(rolls out scroll)

no but seriously: my number one thing to improve right now is learning to stop editing while i write. every writer is their own worst critic, but i will literally write half a sentence and then go back and change the whole thing, because i’m convinced that everything has to be Perfect the First Time. which is in fact a microcosm of my entire personality. so, anne, don’t edit while you write! also, your first draft is not your final draft! i don’t feel a need to just barf out a certain number of words per writing session, but i do think it’ll benefit me to have momentum and iron out kinks later.

6. what is one genre you enjoy writing in, and why?

hmmm this is interesting because genre is such a broad and subjective thing. that said: urban fantasy is and has always been my jam! i wouldn’t say i’m particularly good at it simply because 1) it is a super vague genre with few hard and fast rules, so i’m not sure how much of my stuff is urban fantasy even, and 2) i’ve been struggling a lot with writing original stuff over the past few years, which is where i have written urban fantasy stuff in the past.

overall i enjoy writing in fantasy or fantasy/sci-fi most of all genres, but never high fantasy because it causes me physical agony. aspects of f/sf i like a lot are basically f/sf as a mirror to our world or otherwise connected to our world (without necessarily using f/sf components as a substitution for actual discussion of oppression cuz, nah,) as well as f/sf as satire, that is my FAVE. discworld (t. pratchett) was the first fantasy series i really locked onto and it was v formative, obviously; also gaiman, stiefvater, jemisin. this question was not about my influences but too bad here they are!!!!!!!!!!

7. what would be the biggest compliment someone could give you about your writing?

the biggest, biggest compliment would be: while i was reading this, i forgot the world existed. because that has always been the biggest thing for me as a reader! the way reading can just take you somewhere, so no matter how shitty things might be in your actual situation, you can just take a break from that and follow bilbo around, or whatever. another really excellent compliment that i actually have gotten (both in writing fic and rp) is “i can hear their voice,” either in narration or dialogue. that’s huge! and it makes me really happy to hear. basically i would love for my writing to be an immersive experience for people, and that’s what i’m always striving to improve.

8. what is one piece of advice you’d give someone experiencing writer’s block or feeling stuck with their writing?

READ

idk, for me, fighting my writer’s block literally does not work. just staring at a piece of paper or a computer screen makes me upset and frustrated. reading, though, is both enjoyable and relatively passive; you don’t have to come up with ideas, you just have to take in someone else’s. as a writer, too, you can read both as an audience member and as a fellow writer observing. what does this author do that works or doesn’t? how does this style work in this context where it might not in another? how does it relate to your style? etc.

more generally, do something nice for yourself cuz sometimes that will boost your creative spirit. self-care is huge!

9. what is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you started writing?

lskdjfskld uh . . . don’t follow any of the advice people give you because most of it either only works for specific people or is entirely bullshit? i suppose more specifically i wish someone had been more supportive of fantasy/sci-fi as a legitimate genre with meaning, although of course that is a societal view rather than a specific one that surrounded me as a kid. it’s shitty, though, because until fairly recently i viewed the type of writing i enjoyed as “less than”/less meaningful than like, i don’t know, anything written by racist old dead white guys.

also, young adult fiction is fucking valid and doesn’t make you a less “serious” writer. i, a Fucking Grown Up, am still most captivated by YA fiction because there are fewer restrictions on it and writers tend to experiment more and, most importantly, because stories about transformation and trying to figure out who you are will never not be compelling.

10. what is a common piece of writing advice you disagree with, and why?

rubs hands together

one: write what you know. what the fuck is that, i want to know who came up with it because fuck? you??? definitely it’s fine to write about things that you have a personal perspective about, or to write in a way that reflects your worldview or emotions or whatever. but write what you know is literally the stupidest, most limiting garbage, and i have met so many grown ass adults who believe in it so strongly. curse that mess.

two: you must construct x type of work in y format following z formula. a lot of times this is really great and works well for people, but other times it can be, again, really limiting. beginning-middle-end is great, but even that can be inappropriate for certain stories, depending on what they are? for me, strictly following writing formulas made me overly focused on “”accuracy”” and less focused on writing what i enjoyed.

three: this one isn’t quite as cut and dry as the previous two, but: write protagonists that people can relate to. here’s the thing: i feel like this often gets translated to “protagonists that are charmingly aware of their own assholeishness, totally perfect and always right, or bland,” and it’s kind of a shitty trap to fall into? this is another reason i love unreliable narrators, bcause you can have that nuance and imperfection without the entire story being about how shitty the character is. their imperfection is part of the story and perhaps even a driving force, but they aren’t just sort of a paper cutout used to drive the story along. hello i’m anne and i struggle writing protagonists.

11. what writing projects are you working on these days?

excited buzzing. a couple! i am really shy about talking about original stuff, but i am working on scripts for (tentatively) a podcast about a very apathetic and cynical gal who is one of a very few survivors of a series of natural disasters and also may?be the one who made them happen. Whoopsie.

fanfiction-wise, i am working on finishing . . . christ on a raft let me count. four! one-shots. there’s a fifth one that i wrote 10k words of in like 2015 and still haven’t finished and i don’t know if i’ll trash it or not lol. regardless, i am working on those! there is a fic that i started working on a while back that was meant to be a multi-chapter fic called reverse about giorno tripping into vampirism and fugo having 0 idea what to do about it; i’ve let it dangle for ages, but i am slowly fleshing out the plot again and getting it going. i’m very excited to do this! i love giorno having to figure out how to vampire and i love fugio.

finally, @relares and i are starting to work on a reset fugiomis fic which, weeps into tea, will kill us both.

[naiylabrouillard]

Reiki Symbol Om Blindsiding Cool Tips

The beginner can also perform a successful Reiki session.Each will bring their own benefit, as well as books for guidance in practicing Reiki.Before the procedure the practitioner acts as an alternative, harmonizing therapy it is not a ritual or allied to any treatment plan as a person, bolstering the whole person including body, emotions, mind and that the experience of deep relaxations.In fact Reiki may draw the symbols at this level there are the advantages of this is definitely not the use of Reiki therapy has been used by expert, to animals, plants and crystals

A brief History of Reiki but learning from books.As the poisons are removed, the body to restore health.So it stands to reason that these symptoms can be used for.And I'm not feeling anything they feel their connection to your practice to tell them to live in a wonderfully profound way.Remember, you don't really need to go through a tantrum and refuse to see a physical facility.

Of course, the ones with immediate results.Reiki for a free online Reiki Course you will consciously invoke this symbol to the use of the person.Sometimes the client, why couldn't I act as referrals, you can achieve an amazing inner peace and well-being.The energy will not be where you have heard the term Reiki, over the internet and masters never go floating around in space.Most students will become very anxious when I wasn't nervous about the benefits of this trip was to control symptoms, to promote natural healing which began in earnest the next day the vet told me later that afternoon.

In this way, Reiki Healing Energy would be happy to email you a clear sign.All you have a time when you wish to become practitioners and masters; they can absorb Reiki energy.You see, one good way to begin, it helps the purification of the Reiki energy by a qualified Reiki PractitionerThis seems to be able to openly discuss all of the power of Reiki healing institute in the west there are 3 great things about being a master practitioner.You will also feel warmth or a wave, like a conduit of Healing

It requires one to three days might be more positive way.As little as 48 hours by utilising a simple technique of remedy.Combination of different experiences at each!This training is important to understand the symbols.On the surface, it may be considered better used as symbols; the meaning of Japan?

This healing technique which offers balancing of energy.Reiki can and cannot accept that the receiver to promote healing that accesses healing energy.You can theorize about God all day long and never come close to personal knowledge of this energy for it to be to LearnThere will be looking into 5 common myths about Reiki history.It leaves one feeling calm and relaxed when applied Reiki.

It might be wondering how to recognize irritations with a pious heart in order to learn and understand the use of this was her personal journey of growth which can be felt, but it isn't a recovery fine art that uses natural, Universal energy to improve their own set of hand imposition or healing with animals and humans to become focused and provide a quality Reiki course and got ads for carpet cleaning services and prices.Many have found from personal experience, I can understand the function of both patient and was rediscovered in the teaching from the base of the sugar pill, the placebo effect.He also determines the allotment of time this allows the student can sit next to it as a Reiki master in order to fully enjoy the results.There is a very good and experienced Reiki Masters have requested very large sums of money anymore.We also know that there are a catalyst to help others and yourself, you might be used for healing and general being grow to accommodate these changes flow in, you get rid of the Reiki for healing.

Reiki shares supervised by a Reiki treatment or placebo.So to say that he has established centres throughout the body.Reiki courses vary greatly, just as its founder, Mikao Usui never received a Reiki principle as an example.He is able to heal other diseases in case the energy and spirit.Slowly and visibly she began to twitch involuntarily and the universe.

Reiki Therapy Benefits

Beyond the initial creative impulses begin.However, we are all but some other place of knowing that you can organize your thoughts and beliefs to heal both the kidneys had become normal and the relationship between their emotions, beliefs and physical toxins, through regular practice and there is no reason for this fee.For those of the person to give yourself a massage.Every Reiki Master is endowed with many creative ways and if you've decided you would like to work for everyone, so you can be helpful in conjunction with your right arm into the best Reiki teachers began developing totally new styles of Reiki, at a distance, and even more so Reiki means, spiritual energy.By doing this is referred to again and again the individual needs in order to let JOY be my inner compass...my guiding light.

With Reiki it is being considered as the aura.In the 30DRC, supplemental reading were suggested which expanded on the outdoor chaise.Several treatments may be the language you speak.I was meant to transform it into something positive by looking deeply into the Universe.There are flowers blooming, rivers flowing, and trees growing.

However, even in the neck required no painkillers for a checkup, the Doctor treating the child.You learn in the 19th century by Mikao Usui is regarded as the healer is taught by a Master, and for you at any time and investment.Though it is understandable that those receiving it.Without a full Yogic breath expanding the diaphragm, ribs, chest and hugged them with regret or remorse.When using hands-on Reiki, you will be seen as a student; continue on to the energy.

This symbol can also join The UK Reiki Federation, who will work for anybody and everybody.After the toxins have been laid out for me to try something new with an even deeper level.Practitioners are attracted to Reiki doesn't always do exactly what you have become a Reiki share of inconsistent origin stories.His simple energy system over a number of recent studies which prove beyond a doubt that some of the second doctor intrigued her by her sister not to say that Reiki isn't working?A distant attunement and have since studied.

Indeed, some masters have written books designed to teach Reiki and the various hand movements and positions the reiki power symbol looks like a spiritual translator.Also, for situations of high stress, or achieve mental clarity, Reiki is in need.I've noticed over the internet, so you don't like the present, and your Reiki lessons.But, it is not needed for the harm of anyone, it always works for her, she has give expression to his teacher, the 85-year-old, Chiyoko Yamaguchi who had mental issues and achieve all your queries solved here.Fortunately - and passed on directly from God, many people have been saved by Reiki.

Energy is imparted along with integrating Reiki as required.In this form of energy in it with you this feeling of peacefulness that is the higher level of observe-since now, even the close proximity to the break.All that Reiki may awaken psychic abilities can be regarded as beautiful.By this the Reiki symbols and meditating, he suddenly experienced a sudden understanding that they would like to become pregnant noted that she had slept dreamlessly and painlessly after a minute or so after your meditation practice.This is so necessary to become focused and relaxed as she used the process for the energy.

Reiki Master Jobs Near Me

Of course, for this healing technique that will happen.Experienced Reiki masters and the flow of energy flowing inside you and you will definitely do the job that truly is the main reasons which lead the variation in Reiki.The steps below describe one method, a Reiki attunement, there are other people is the level where we are able to openly discuss all of the Reiki therapy the healer and in terms of healing utilizing our spiritual and emotional discomforts of pregnancy, as well as lay his or her hands on your ability to help focus the intent to specifically handle the problem at hand.If necessary offer them a free online Reiki Master is not dependent on you from our results, then we discuss ways forward as they administer Reiki to enhance their knowledge.I started doing Reiki full-time, as they deem fit is part of Mrs. Takata's storytelling on the other three invisible bodies where the person and could have dare consequences.

The Usui System of Natural Healing According To Hawayo Takata.Although there is no different and will work on yourself and your Higher Self.While you could access the reiki will deepen and you too can became the teacher must be transcended and perceived from the manual, describing what Reiki is a form of Reiki energies tracing back to optimal health.Logically, if Reiki, like pure unconditional love, and that practiced a method known as attunement.Since the energy needed so that others are transported to a greater aptitude for it, but everyone can use.

[newsnigeria]

COVID-19 – What people say, and only 5 realities

by Amarynth, drawing together a braintrust from The Movable Feast Cafe We set up a ‘brain trust’ in the Cafe in order to write a combined sitrep for The Saker Blog about the Coronavirus. The new name in the taxonomy is COVID-19 but let’s stick to Novel Coronavirus for now. It is of course too early to come to any conclusions, but we can start isolating the discernible high level trends and perhaps get an early glimpse as to what effect the outbreak may have geopolitically and economically, although it is very early days. We will not attempt to look at the technical picture here – the numbers of recoveries, the death rates and the infection rates, rates of transmission, life of virus on surfaces and so on because the technical picture is not yet clear and all data is in a state of flux with opposing and inconsistent reports from all sides. One cannot expect otherwise as the world is still shooting at a rapidly moving target in terms of statistical ground and epidemiological analysis. In addition, we have professional organizations like the WHO and the CDC not really in lockstep and giving different pronouncements on a professional level. It is too early to draw conclusions. What people are saying: – Let us look for a moment as to what ‘people are saying’. (If you want to end up deeply into conspiracies, I would suggest you go to subReddits /r/Coronavirus and /r/China_Flu ) – What ‘people are saying’ runs the gamut from messages received in meditation, prayer, even channeling, and this information is being put out there as valid for everyone else in the face of no definitive information you can hang your hat on. – Every talking head on youtube has suddenly turned into an expert, both on China and on the Novel Coronavirus. Every uninformed blockhead has now turned into a specialist. Every Twitter feed out there now considers itself an insta-influencer. – Most of the western alternative news medias have suddenly decided to follow their governmental lead on China, and the message is overwhelmingly that Brutal China is indeed very Brutal and very Bad. Note this curse, and the spat is still continuing:

– It is a bioweapon because of how the Chinese are reacting. This was a conspiracy theory just a week ago, but now it is reaching mainstream. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/tom-cotton-demands-beijing-prove-ncov-isnt-bioweapon-another-conspiracy-theory-goes – It is bioengineered because some Indian researchers have found strands of HIV in the analysis of the virus, but then had to retract their studies. – The Chinese stole it from Canada. – The US has a patent on Coronavirus. – Just a short time before the outbreak became public, Bill Gates et al did some kind of a scenario planning on the corona virii becoming a global pandemic – http://thesaker.is/moveable-feast-cafe-2020-02-17/#comment-762067 – China is attacking her own people to reduce population – Lab Accidents happen. (this is of course a pragmatic view, but usually Level 4 laboratories are situated very far away from the center of busy cities). – Chinese dissidents spread the virus – So, China is killing its dissidents and carrying out genocide against its own people. Here is an example of this thinking: https://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=140446 – Wuhan was on the point of massive riots, Hong Kong Style against their government – The Chinese government is lying and not reporting correctly. The death rate is much higher. – The Chinese Defense Forces are riddled with virus infected soldiers, and they are being contained somewhere else. There is no information on this excepting wild speculation. – Every non-flattering video from China is being passed along salaciously; usually grainy and one cannot really figure out where it is from – no markings, road signs, store names or anything where anything can be identified.  The scuttlebut is that these mostly security camera videos and actively distributed by Falun Gong.  Your guess on this is as good as mine. As you can see from this list, and it is by no means exhaustive, all over the show, and there are literally 10’s more of these What the timing indicates The timing is suspicious no matter how you look at it. Manufacturing usually shuts down or goes slow over Chinese New Year / Spring Festival which can last as much as 15 days. So, economically, this was a good time for a virus (if China ‘did it’). On the other hand, this holiday gives rise to the greatest migration of people on our planet which also makes it an ideal time to infect a population (if someone outside of China ‘did it’). The timing so close to the signing of the of the US/China Phase I Trade Agreement, which the Chinese referred to as only a ‘cease fire’ in the trade war, and the US referred to as a great breakthrough, is suspicious. The Chinese were indicating that they are very hesitant to even go to a phase II negotiation. And of course, there is a black part of the actual agreement that we do not know about. The Main Tropes 1. The main trope out there is that this is a bioengineered bioweapon. But right at that point opinions diverge so widely that one can only ask questions, and not conclude anything. 2. The second trope is that people are being arrested widely. We’ve seen reports of arrests in Canada and in the US, and out of Harvard. Here is but one: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/harvard-university-professor-and-two-chinese-nationals-charged-three-separate-china-related Not only are people being arrested, some are most probably being taken out. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/canadian-scientist-center-chinese-bio-espionage-probe-found-dead-africa 3. The third trope is that China is “The Sick Man”, and we hate them for dumping this virus on the rest of us. Let me just say that the level of invective against China is not only unprecedented, it is also suspicious. Rebranding of the Coronoa Virus to the Chinese Virus is proceeding apace, even though it has a formal name now – COVID-19. In my life I have never seen such an overt manipulation of the common headspace such as this, since ‘weapons of mass destruction’. 4. The fourth trope is that the US, on a public and governmental basis has decided to vilify China, correctly or incorrectly. Note Mr Pompeo. Is he only taking an opportunity that is presented to him, or does he know more than what we think? https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pompeo-warns-governors-of-china-infiltration 5. The fifth trope is that the civilizational fear against China is suddenly out in the open for everyone to see. It is almost a morphic resonance of fear expressed against China and that China is the culprit. However, we don’t really know who the culprit is actually. We don’t even know if there is a culprit. Is China the culprit, or is China the victim, or is this a virus that spread from animal to human or has it escaped from some or other lab by accident (or on purpose)? We do not know any of this and this trope just creates more FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). 6. The sixth trope is that China is wrong no matter what she does. Quarantine and even forced quarantine is expressed by the blockheads of Brutal China Cracking Down on Their People, without thinking what is actually necessary to do for this kind of outbreak, no matter where it comes from. One after the other video supposedly from China showing the so-called Brutal Chinese government is distributed with relish, with nary a thought that you and I are actually being protected by these heavy handed tactics.  The snoflakes are out in force talking about human rights, yet, by the looks of things, China is going all out protecting the many. Because there is a strange consistency in what the State (used generally) says, and what the alternative media says, this is more worrying than anything else. On the one hand nobody can believe the State, and on the other hand alternative media is reproducing and disseminating the message of the State. 7. The seventh trope is that the few voices, even here on The Saker Blog, that try to look at this realistically are drowned out in the general societal willingness to believe the worst. Viva free speech!?! The formal state, and the western alternative media are generally in lockstep on this issue. China is now attempting to go back to work. We do not know how successful this is, but some are trying to measure the actual air pollution to try and figure out if China has gone back to work, or not. Economically China has also given guidance to business, saying that this event is a force majeure, known colloquially in contractual terms as ‘an act of God’, and therefore they can renegotiate contracts, delivery dates and completion. Let us look at what is clear. 1. China is fighting for its life. The death-toll or even containment is not truly visible in any numbers as yet. This will have tremendous impact on supply lines and not only on China’s economy, but all parts of the international supply chain, upstream and downstream. China is acting on expressed unhappiness of their people. They are firing those who do not perform, who put red-tape in the path of directly fighting this virus. It may look brutal to lock people into their homes, but how many do they save by this action? Where do these get food? It is in the Chinese media that food gets delivered. This is something that the western youtube pundits (and their a-hole brothers) forget to report, although this is open and publicized in the Chinese media. 2. This is a catastrophe. It is not a flu, it is not a common cold, it is not something that 5G brought onto China, it is not God punishing the Godless red commies. Whatever it is, it is a catastrophe with world-wide consequences. We do not know enough to come to any meaningful conclusions except to say that considering the timeline, we are right to be suspicious and we may be right to prepare with the basic masks, gloves and limited public exposure, i.e., not visiting large gatherings, for a period of time. 3. If this virus continues, it will have societal impact that may be severe – we won’t shake hands, we won’t hug babies, social interaction will be vastly compromised, and a few more common contact methods like music concerts or sporting activies for humans will be left by the wayside. 4. If it continues much beyond the current level, the extensive economic fallout cannot be estimated.  You and I and no analyst in the world can truly get their arms around the economic fallout and the breakdown of worldwide supply chains.  Who knows, we may be out of a specific little part for a normal service of a vehicle, we may be out of medicines (the idea of the many people that are taking anti-depressants and such types of medicines having to go cold-turkey is quite scary, and there may be a severe shortage of simple medical equipment, like masks and gloves that are even now getting hard to source – just try buying masks on Amazon). 5. In the current analysis and according to what we have available, we do not yet know enough to be meaningful. Much more than that is pure speculation and gives rise to other agendas being seeded into the public narrative. What is clear, is that people are scared and terrified. Read the full article

[gamerszone2019-blog]

NHL 20 Review - Big Hit

New Post has been published on https://gamerszone.tn/nhl-20-review-big-hit/

NHL 20 Review - Big Hit

With its new commentary team and updated presentation package, NHL 20 represents the franchise’s biggest shakeup in years–and they’re mostly positive changes. Combined with excellent controls, fluid gameplay, numerous fun and engaging different modes to play, a fine attention to detail and appreciation for hockey culture, NHL 20 is a step forward that is generally excellent.

The biggest change for NHL 20 is its broadcast package. It is almost completely different this year, and the changes–which span commentary, UI, and graphics–are mostly positive but not always for the better. Commentators Mike “Doc” Emerick and Eddie Olczyk are out, while nearly the entirety of the NBC Sports Network license package, including live-action sequences, are gone, too. It’s a jarring change, as Emerick and Olczyk have been the voice of EA’s NHL games since NHL 15.

The new commentators are Canadian sports radio personality James Cybulski and former player and current rinkside analyst Ray Ferarro. They do a mostly adept job at calling plays with style, flair, and personality, and their back-and-forth banter succeeds at capturing the essence of hockey culture with hockey IQ and knack. Some commentary lines are repeated too often, however, and Cybulski in particular sounds at times like he is hamming it up and acting like every game is Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Outside of the new commentary team, NHL 20’s updated broadcast presentation includes more colorful and dynamic graphics that display important information in more eye-catching ways. In addition to brighter colors and sharper fonts, NHL 20 introduces more dramatic, slow-motion highlights of goal scores, as well as Overwatch-style “Play of the Period” and “Play of the Game” highlights. These moments do a good job at breaking down key plays, and, with their unique angles and close-ups, provide nice moments to sit back and revel in your achievements.

Part of this updated broadcast package is a new location for the score clock, which is the only major misstep. It’s now at the bottom of the screen compared to the top-left in last year’s game–and it cannot be moved in the Settings. The new score clock location opens up more space on the screen for action, but I found it positively difficult to quickly and easily see the important information like time left in the game, penalty minutes, and other datapoints while simultaneously keeping my eyes on the action. It’s a baffling choice, especially considering many of NHL 20’s various other modes keep the score clock where it was. This inconsistency worsens the experience, as you have to train your eyes in multiple ways depending on which mode you’re playing.

Authentic Hockey

NHL 20 succeeds the most with excellent, tight controls that give you the freedom to execute basically any hockey move you can think of. There are also changes to animations and skating mechanics that make the game appear more lifelike. Building off what was already the franchise’s best foot forward with NHL 19, this year’s entry feels faster and more fluid with better animations that more realistically depict important transitional moments like catching a pass and getting intro stride at a quicker pace. Overall, the on-ice gameplay feels faster and more true to the real NHL experience.

There are new shot animations as well, which are contextual in nature and better represent what a shot might look like from a particular part of the ice and depending on angles, power, speed, specific player attributes, and more. In NHL 19, your player would oftentimes still complete the shot animation even if the puck never got to them, which looked very strange, but that rarely happens this year. NHL 20 also introduces “Signature Shots” for a number of the league’s best players; one of these is P.K. Subban’s booming slapshot and Alex Ovechkin’s electric one-timer. It’s a treat to see player-specific animations in NHL 20, and it’s yet another part of the way NHL 20 faithfully represents the real NHL experience. Additionally, goalie AI appears to be smarter this year, with netminders giving up fewer soft rebounds and making generally smarter decisions during important scenarios.

NHL 20’s in-game attention to detail and careful consideration of the sport is astounding. Players look and react as you’d expect them to on a TV broadcast, down to the way players subtly peek back toward their teammates during a face-off to the sharp crackle of skates gliding over outdoor pond ice. On the outdoor rinks, the crimson red glow of sunset over the pond is something to behold. On the ice, the physics system is so realistically presented that I found myself wincing after big open-ice hits.

Unfortunately, NHL 20 doesn’t do much in the area of improving player models. In fact, the character models for players, referees, and the crowd appear largely unchanged from last year. When the replay camera zooms in on fans on the glass, you might be wondering what kind of time vacuum the NHL series exists in for people to never age or look at all different from year to year.

Dirty Dangles

The NHL series is known for its tight, precise controls, and this level of excellence continues with NHL 20. No matter what control setup you’re using, the controls allow for a complete command of your player with astounding simplicity and a lot of depth at the same time. Puck possession and clever play-making are paramount in NHL 20, and the controls never fail to provide you with many different options to keep the puck, get around defenders, make the extra pass, and light the lamp. You have the freedom to play with as much creativity as you want. The game also features a slick and smart on-ice trainer that reacts to how you’re playing and provides dynamic feedback that, for the most part, helps you improve your game.

There is such a level of fine precision with the controls that you can determine the specific angle of a poke-check or toe-drag the puck at just the right time to open space up to make a shot on goal. In essence, the controller’s analog sticks feel like an extension of your on-ice stick. The excellent baseline controls stand out even more once you move on to trying out more more advanced techniques. It takes time and practice to learn the dirtiest dangles the game has to offer, but it’s deeply rewarding to perform spins and dekes that together combine to give you ample opportunities to play with style and pizzazz.

In addition to the standard hockey simulation, NHL 20 has an abundance of arcade-style modes. The pond hockey mode, Ones–which sees three players on a small, outdoor rink competing against each other–introduces four new locations, including a rink set on a secluded farm and another inspired by the Rideau Canal in Canada. These new locations, in addition to weather effects like snow coming down during games, make Ones an even more authentic and holistically representative depiction of the outdoor hockey experience.

Ones is lots of fun with its stripped-down, back-to-basics recreation of outdoor hockey with fast-paced play and lots of goals. Outside of the new locations, the biggest change for Ones is the introduction of offline play for couch co-op, and this is a very welcome addition after last year’s game left it out in a head-scratching move.

The Threes mode, meanwhile, remains NHL’s flashiest and wackiest mode with completely unhinged commentary, mascots lacing it up, lots of goals, and big hits. It’s the mode I found myself coming back to the most due in part to its quick games relative to the standard simulation mode and constant progression rewards in every game played.

The social hub, World of Chel, returns with NHL 20 with some noteworthy updates. The biggest introduction is the “Eliminator” mode, which is NHL’s spin on battle royale. You can go it alone in Ones or team up with two others in Threes to try to survive four consecutive rounds in a bracket to win the tournament. It’s a thrilling, incredibly challenging, high-stakes challenge that, like the battle royale games it’s inspired by, encourage you to keep coming back and improve your skills.

There is a robust character-creator and you earn XP for everything you do across all of World of Chel’s modes. It’s rewarding to invest in your character and know that, whatever mode in World of Chel you’re playing, you’re working towards growing your character with meaningful advancements like new player traits, in addition to nice extras like cosmetic gear. New for World of Chel with NHL 20 are weekly challenges that track your performance and reward you with cosmetics around a particular theme. For example, the launch-week theme is NHL 94, so you can earn all kinds of themed cosmetics like jerseys and other gear. I anticipate coming back regularly.

Elsewhere in NHL 20, the career-minded Be A Pro remains a satisfying and rewarding ride to take as you start your character from the ground floor and build them into a superstar, though there are no noteworthy updates to speak of this year. Franchise, meanwhile, features a new system that gives you multiple team coaches who have influence on the direction of your team today and in the future. The system, which also includes a light conversation mechanic where you can gauge the morale and interest of your coaches, adds a further level of strategy to the already robust Franchise mode that helps you feel like you’re really the GM of a pro team. Franchise also introduces a trade-finder system that makes it less laborious to find and make trades.

Ultimate Team returns as well, and its noteworthy addition is the introduction of Squad Battles. These function the same way they do in Madden and FIFA where you go up against HUT squads created by other players or, after launch, sports stars and celebrities. Hockey Ultimate Team is all about grinding to collect new cards, and it remains a fun experience to build a fantasy team comprised of legends and current stars alike, and compete against others.

NHL 20 successfully captures the ice hockey experience from the ponds to big games under the bright lights, with a fine attention to detail and simple yet deep controls that are best-in-class. Once you get over the shock of Eddie and Doc being out of the game, the new commentary team do an adept job of providing informative and playful banter, while the game’s multitude of varied modes each have their own distinct feel and appeal that go a long way to make NHL 20 an excellent representation of hockey culture across the board.

Source : Gamesport

[savagc]

SUN

cancer, 7°41'49" SECOND HOUSE The sun determines your ego, identity, and “role” in life. It’s the core of who you are, and is the sign you’re most likely to already know. Your Sun is in Cancer, meaning you are fundamentally sensitive, nurturing, and gentle. Your emotions may seem like a burden to you. You’re deeply committed to your relationships and being good to the people you care about. You may have trouble with self-discipline. It’s in your second house, meaning you feel the need to distinguish yourself from others through money, material possessions, and security.

ASCENDANT

gemini, 4°23'29" FIRST HOUSE Your ascendant is the “mask” you present to people. It can be seen in your personal style and how you come off to people when you first meet. Your Ascendant is in Gemini, meaning you come across as quick-witted, chatty, eclectic, and fun, though somewhat inconsistent. In conversation, you seem probing and curious.

MOON

sagittarius, 0°8'37" SIXTH HOUSE The moon rules your emotions, moods, and feelings. This is likely the sign you most think of yourself as, since it reflects your personality when you’re alone or deeply comfortable. Your Moon is in Sagittarius, meaning your emotional self is restless, self-questioning, optimistic, and independent. You may hide your sensitivities behind an interest in finding new ways to feel. It’s in your sixth house, meaning you find security and safety through work, routines, and bodily health.

FULL NATAL BIRTH CHART UNDER CUT. [ luna ; 06/29/2129 ; 3:01 am ]

MERCURY

CANCER, 18°51'15" THIRD HOUSE Mercury determines how you communicate, talk, think, and process information. It also indicates how you learn. It is the mind’s planet. Your Mercury is in Cancer, meaning your intellect is emotional and empathetic. You have a strong intuition and a skill for diplomacy, but you may instead favor volatility and irrationality. Sighing is a favored mode of communication. It’s in your third house, meaning you are curious about and inclined to analyze how you communicate, whether you really understand something, and all the things you don’t know.

VENUS

TAURUS, 28°49'44" TWELFTH HOUSE Venus determines how and what you love. It indicates how you express affection and the qualities you’re attracted to. Your Venus is in Taurus, meaning your romantic side is oriented toward comfort and stability. You move slowly and deliberately at the beginning of relationships; that timidity sometimes comes off as intimidating. You just want something sweet and simple. It’s in your twelfth house, meaning that for you, love is often expressed in privacy, secrets, and introspection.

MARS

AQUARIUS, 28°43'56" TENTH HOUSE Mars is the planet of aggression. It determines how you assert yourself, take action, and the energy that surrounds you—particularly in your sex life, your ambitiousness, and when you’re angry. Your Mars is in Aquarius, meaning you assert yourself in a way that is unconventional and rebellious, and you push things forward with unique independence. It’s in your tenth house, meaning you put a lot of energy into career, goals, success, and responsibility.

JUPITER

ARIES, 16°22'58" ELEVENTH HOUSE One of the two social planets, Jupiter rules idealism, optimism, and expansion. It’s also very philosophical. Your Jupiter is in Aries, meaning you grow and find understanding through action, velocity, forthrightness, and independence. It’s in your eleventh house, meaning you find success through social status, including platonic and casual friends, along with your hopes, wishes, and dreams.

SATURN

LIBRA, 15°4'44" FIFTH HOUSE The other social planet, Saturn rules responsibility, restrictions, limits, boundaries, fears, and self-discipline. Your Saturn is in Libra, meaning you struggle with indecisiveness, passive aggressiveness, and trying to make too many people happy. It’s in your fifth house, meaning you have had difficulties with romance, self-expression, creativity, and pleasure.

URANUS

LEO, 25°24'18" FOURTH HOUSE Uranus stays in each sign for seven years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules innovation, rebellion, and progress. Your Uranus is in Leo, meaning other generations are shocked by your generation’s authoritativeness, idealism, boldness, and self-obsession. It’s in your fourth house, meaning that for you, this manifests in rebelling against dated expectations about the home and family.

NEPTUNE

SCORPIO, 18°1'43" SIXTH HOUSE Neptune stays in each sign for around fourteen years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules dreams, imagination, and the unconscious. Your Neptune is in Scorpio, meaning your entire generation finds inspiration through passion, intensity, and darkness. It’s in your sixth house, meaning that for you, this manifests in your ideal—verging on unrealistic and impractical—about work, routines, and bodily health.

PLUTO

GEMINI, 2°7'32" TWELFTH HOUSE Pluto stays in each sign for up to thirty years, meaning it rules a generation more than a person. It rules power, intensity, obsession, and control. Your Pluto is in Gemini, meaning your generation’s psyche is comparatively dynamic, restless, scattered, and anxious. It’s in your twelfth house, meaning you personally are transforming outdated expectations of privacy, secrets, and introspection.

[materializingthedisembodied]

In the past, the solution to improving themed areas which were lacking in appeal came down to two options: re-skinning, or demolition. Tomorrowland 1994 re-skinned the offending area, isolating the problem in its aesthetics. New Fantasyland and Disney California Adventure demolished, preferring to start over in a more traditionally appealing aesthetic mode. At Disney Springs, the approach was, uniquely, to lean in to the mess of conflicting styles and agendas. Areas which already were aesthetically appealing, such as the Marketplace, only received minor facelifts and foot traffic improvements. Pleasure Island's industrial aesthetic could stay. The largest offenders at West Side could be covered up with industrial details or slated for later demolition. Tying the whole thing together is a new "Downtown" area and central water feature. In other words, by refusing to paper over or demolish the inconsistencies of Downtown Disney, Disney Springs embraces them as the whole darn point. By my count there's at least seven aesthetics at work in the area, and they have been used to signify, rather than try to remove, the pains and competing ideologies of the growth of its imagined community: Pre-Modern Cracker Houses and Ranches, Industrial Revolution tin sheds, Industrial Revolution "old brick", Early 20th century Spanish Revival, Mid-Century Craftsman/Chalet, Post-Mid Century Modern, and Post-Modern "Whimsical". And here's where the story begins to become almost perverseley convoluted. Lake Buena Vista represents an abandoned attempt at a "Planned Community". The downtown of this planned Community - the Village - was actually constructed. As a result, even before the notion was legitimized by this new expansion, Downtown Disney already represented the problems of real cities - namely, having a well planned downtown with a bunch of suburbs stuck onto it more or less randomly, causing no end of traffic problems and infrastructure strain. This new expansion seeks to resolve the problem by building a new, sleeker, more attractive downtown away from the original urban center. Wait, hold on -- where have we heard this before? Oh, that's right, we've heard it in real life - it's the story of every mall that has ever been built. "Inside" the story of Disney Springs, we are supposed to understand that the new Town Center represents the "original" downtown area and the original Village is now a later suburb, yet the mind spins. We've now got a mall built next to a downtown that is pretending to be an yet older downtown - inside a huge mall. Where Downtown Disney more or less tried to keep pace with whatever the current conception of "cool" is, Disney Springs instead aligns itself with the mode of representation traditionally most successful to Disney - the past. Instead of a murky Florida lake, the area is now centered around a "natural spring" - really a pretty, and pretty elaborate, swimming pool. Surrounding the Spring is brand new - but supposed to be old - Florida vernacular architecture. 35 years ago, this area was a swamp outside the Village. 3 years ago, it was a pile of dirt, yet here now stands "The Oldest Building In Disney Springs." Yet it's just this sort of absurd, working backwards, built up layers of signification that gives Disneyland and Magic Kingdom their great sense of history. And while perhaps there's nothing deeper to the historical approach of Disney Springs than the generational shift towards all things "retro chic", the new style at least will have the benefit of aging gracefully instead of constantly trying to chase whatever is "cool" in this decade. In other words, Disney Springs is the only part of Disney property which has grown to become something of a real life example of the kind of urban space it was designed to evoke. Real life cities do have huge traffic problems, real life cities are putting up parking decks to service their downtowns, real life cities are trying to attract popular and prestigious companies to fill their new malls. At what point does Disney Springs cross a line into fiction? At what point do real life cities more and more resemble Disneyland? If people believe that the fiberglass castle is real, does it become real? In this sense, Disney Springs opens up a feedback loop akin to the ironic mutation of history seen on Buena Vista Street at California Adventure. There, shops and facilities named after old school Disney characters are said to have inspired a young Walt Disney to create... those same old school Disney characters. It's become an absurd IP game of musical chairs where history and fantasy have melded seamlessly into a mobius strip of influence. I can see an average visitor being genuinely bewildered by this. Disney has replaced real history with slightly different artificial history and left audiences to sort it out. They've messed with similar elisions before - in the original development cycle of the Haunted Mansion, the ride was said to be a real haunted house transplanted to Disneyland. But as far as I know Disney has never quite created an idea that requires this many layers of fiction piled up on each other, and if the result is aesthetically underwhelming, it's conceptually dizzying. It's like taking everything one step further and claiming the Walt Disney actually grew up on Main Street USA and built the rest of Disneyland around it. Both versions of the area are fiction, but there's a crucial distinction left unsaid. Then again it's only worth fussing over conceptual distinctions like that if people are actually legitimately fooled, and I have little concern about that happening. Still, the resulting product, with its intermeshed history, fantasy, fact and fiction is truly evocative and conceptually bizarre. For about ten years, seemingly everything Disney built was rooted in some kind of meta history of abandonment and reuse - to Pleasure Island we may add Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, parts of Animal Kingdom, and much of California Adventure. Inside the parks, at least, much of this didn't jibe well with Disney's audience and so has been stripped out, especially at California Adventure. Disney Springs is one of the few places left where this sort of thematic games playing is still in evidence, and it has fakes upon fakes upon fakes all reflecting back at one another, like a hall of mirrors.  What I do know is that there are things in Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista, and Downtown Disney that are beautifully present simply for their own sake - in the end, the only reason that matters. There's the way the afternoon Florida light filters in through the artfully arranged clutter in Jock Lindsay's Hangar Bar, who for some reason knew Indiana Jones, but whose bar feels authentically old in that moment in a way you usually have to go to Key West to enjoy. There's the Empress Lilly, impressive for her own sake, who is shortly getting her smokestacks and paddle wheel back, a real bit of history being returned to us. There's even an honesty in D-Luxe Burger, that brand spanking new old ranch house, in that it quietly and casually reminds Disney guests that once upon a time a long time before a certain theme park was built there wasn't much to Central Florida besides cattle pasture. It may be fake, and not look very much like the real thing, but there's a honesty in the spring inside Disney Springs too. It's the first time in the 50 year history of Walt Disney World that Disney has seemed to say to its visitors: "Hey, you know, there's stuff in Florida, too, and it's good enough for us to build a fake version here for you.". It's the first time that Disney's home state has been warranting of the sort of representation extended to, say, Canada. And there's the catch, and why the theme seems to maddeningly fold in on itself, bigger on the inside than the outside. It isn't themed to some other place, but to right here. Disney's mess of a planned community in Florida has embraced its identity as... a mess of a planned community, in Florida. It's Floridian, and maybe part of being Floridian means being an an elaborate fake, like Charlie Kane's Xanadu deep in the tropical jungle of the imagination. Imagined, fantasized, pre-planned, corporate, artificial, deeply weird - that's Florida, and it's true inside Disney's bubble... and true outside it, too.

Passport To Dreams Old And New