#at this point iceland is just gaslighting itself

[astaraelthesnek]

Time zones

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Iceland and Greenland get their own little paragraph. They are both wrong. Iceland claims its in 0 when it is all in -1. Just… anyway. Greenland’s alright, I hear you say. They go from -1 to -5, so they just chose to all be -3, that’s fine, right? Nope. They decided to make one little section 0 when it is obviously in -1 or -2, there’s a -1 section in -2, and there’s a place called Thule, very clearly in -5, which they have labelled as -4. It could have been so good if they had just stuck to all being -3, but no.

[skaldish]

this is kind of a complicated question so totally cool if you dont have an answer or want to direct me to a different person/other resources. i was raised an atheist by now atheist but raised christian parents (so i grew up with a catholic extended family, my grandma baptized me as a baby, i had christmas and easter and all that). however my family also has, in the past, a lot of connection to norse mythos and heathenism generally (we're from iceland and all over scandinavia generally, the first generation of my family over here was obsessed with norse mythos and i grew up hearing stories from the edda and folk stories about trolls and giants and stuff like that, i have a set of runes for casting that have been passed down my mom's side). i have a ton of interest in norse mythos and old norse culture and "vikings" are my special interest. I really feel a pull toward norse paganism but i just cant get rid of the deeply skeptical part of me that was raised by atheists and that just cannot convince itself to believe in anything i cant directly prove to myself with like. scientific evidence. i feel this need in myself for some sort of higher belief or religion but i cant push past my skepticism either. basically i want faith but i cant have it myself because i need definitive proof to believe in something. im not really sure what im asking for here, just general advice about this i guess?

I'm also a person that has no faith, and frankly never will.

I grew up with science in an a-religious household, and learned early on that anything "real" in this world was something whose existence was self-evident, so gods and spirits were nothing more than theory for me for a while.

What happened to me is that this shit was, in a sense, proven.

Now, "proof" in this context is not empirical and objective proof. I can't replicate my experiences of gods and spirits in another person like science would demand. But neither can I replicate the experience I had listening to a certain song for the first time, or reading a certain book. It's the same concept with gods.

I ended up asking Loki to prove himself because my brain simply refused to believe his existence without it. He sent me no less than 11 different dreams and oodles of signs, one of which was an incredibly uncanny coincidence. It got to the point where denying the data was actually harder than accepting the significance of the picture it painted, even though you could theoretically argue that I hallucinated it all.

(But then we have an argument of ethics on our hands. Is the humane course of action to reject the experiences as valid and label myself as insane, or to try to adopt a new model of the world that allows for the existence of such things?)

This kind of metaphysical experience is what we call "Unverified Personal Gnosis" in the community, and it's very much the "meta" of the physical world—the result of conversations we have with the universe, of socializing with the natural world the way we socialize with each other.

My mind still struggles with this stuff at times, but only because it gets bogged down in how "socially unacceptable" it is to believe in it, especially when my experiences point to incredible things. But I can't deny the heaps of data I've amassed for myself at this point, because I'd be straight gaslighting myself.

I think Shakespeare said it best, honestly: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." There's nothing quite like exploring spirituality to get you to really, truly understand this.

[ihaveatheoryonthat]

Double Team

Note: This is unfinished, and I won't be returning to it. In theory, I liked it. In practice, it turned meandering. It's just not worth polishing, so it's staying incomplete. TLDR: started making it, had a breakdown, bon appetit.

Alt title: Gaslight, Gatekeep, Gliscor.

---

Emmet had no earthly idea what was going on with his brother’s Gliscor, and, at this point, he was a little scared to ask. Not afraid of Ingo, of course, just… of what the answer might have been.

There hadn’t been much to note at first, it had just been a Gliscor-- a bit smaller than the average specimen, but nothing to sneeze at. It was a perfect size for perching on a shoulder and harmlessly mantling. Who didn’t like mantling? Certainly not Archeops. The little Gliscor would be a perfect friend for him.

But now Emmet was beginning to wonder if he, too, had managed to hit his head somewhere in the Icelands-- because that Gliscor? Was far, far too large. The both of them could ride on its back without impacting its ability to fly. How in the world could he have mistaken it for a smaller member of the species?

Yes, Dynamax was a known phenomena capable of altering Pokemon’s size, but its scope was limited to Galar-- and even then, only trainers with access to very specific equipment and battle spaces-- and, from Emmet’s admittedly limited knowledge, it did more than add a few extra feet to a Pokemon.

Ingo must have read something in his expression, because, without prompting, he told him, “They’re a bit intimidating, aren’t they? I promise, they’re very gentle.”

“I’m not afraid of your Gliscor.” Emmet [?], a little insulted. As quickly as it at came on, though, he reminded himself that it wasn’t meant as an insult, but a reassurance; the people here just didn’t understand anything when it came to Pokemon, so of course Ingo had to use the kid gloves. “It took me by surprise. That’s all.”

The Pokemon inclined its massive head as his twin reached up to ruffle its ears.

“Pokemon don’t grow to this size at our station, do they? I remember being taken off-guard, too.” / “Gliscor was the Alpha of the Primeval Grotto, that’s why she’s so large.”

Feeling ridiculous for even humoring the question, Emmet bit the bullet and asked, “She’s always been this size, correct?”

Ingo hummed and indulged Gliscor as she nipped at his cap, “As long as I’ve known her. I’m not aware of any way for a Pokemon to become an Alpha if they weren’t hatched as one, so, while she must have been smaller as a Gligar, she still would have been large for her kind.”

Not what Emmet had meant, but it still answered the question well enough. He was simply losing his mind.

“Is something the matter? You didn’t seem bothered, before.” There was a hesitation and, slowly, comprehension bloomed over his features. He pivoted, pawing through the satchel on his belt; on his opposite side, the tasseled cords anchoring his team in place swayed, briefly, into view. After a moment, he handed Emmet a pokeball.

Emmet looked at it, and then to his brother. What was he meant to do with this? Gliscor had already been captured, and this wasn’t the pokeball she’d been released from earlier. There were only so many options to choose from, and none of them made sense.

When it seemed he’d spent too long trying to figure out what his brother wanted from him, Ingo carefully reached over and undid the latch at its front.

Oh.

There were two Gliscor.

That made much more sense.

The second-- the small one Emmet had first been introduced to-- gave a full body shake and flapped its wings twice, boosting itself into the Alpha’s space. Contrary to everything he’d been told about Alpha Pokemon, she humored its intrusion, clicking at it good-naturedly.

“He’s her brother.” Ingo said, before Emmet could ask the offending question, “Initially, it was only my intention to catch him temporarily; as a Gligar, he ran afoul the Golem in Bolderoll Ravine and suffered substantial damage, so this seemed the best way to transport him without incurring further injury. However, his sister caught wind of it when I released him for repairs and was… displeased with my conduct.”

There was no sign of that animosity, now, Emmet couldn’t help but notice. Now that he’d gotten past utter confusion, it was plain to see that Ingo’s platitudes had actually been true; both Gliscor were incredibly well mannered. He wondered how much of that was their innate personalities versus the trainer who’d guided them.

“That isn’t actually his original pokeball. After he quelled her anger, I released him properly, but he kept straying close after the fact. I wasn’t sure what to do when he indicated that he did want to be my partner-- I couldn’t take them away from one another,” Eyes straying to the larger of the pair, [?], “Gliscor settled the matter for all of us. She challenged us to a battle and, though we couldn’t best her that day, she seemed satisfied with our combination. Oftentimes, she stays in the Highlands to assist Sneasler in my absence while Gliscor and I travel between stations, but she’s really taken to battling at the training grounds.”

When he was finished, Emmet took several seconds to observe the Gliscor’s interaction-- the smaller had moved on to clinging to the Alpha’s tail as she half-heartedly tried to swing him off-- and then let his forehead thump against his twin’s shoulder.

“That is not fair. Don’t make me cry over your bats.”

A hand found its way between his shoulder blades and, haltingly, patted his back. “What is there to cry about? It’s not sad; they’re still together.”

“You were sympathetic to them.” He said, giving up on any semblance of [???] and wrapping his arms around his brother; something hot built behind his closed eyes as he felt an answering arm curl around his waist, “They were lucky. We were not.”

There was a long pause and, finally, Ingo hummed, resting his chin against Emmet’s shoulder, “There’s a reason the Pearl Clan venerates space, you realize. It’s incredibly vast; the odds of any two tracks intersecting are quite small and, though I couldn’t tell you the Diamond Clan’s precise beliefs, the same must hold true for time. Luck was never going to favor the situation, yet you’re here right now.”

Emmet scoffed into the worn fabric, “That wasn’t luck. That was brute force.”

“Exactly. Gliscor and I were unable to defeat Gliscor--” There was a second scoff, and he could only imagine how Ingo must have rolled his eyes, “--you know perfectly well what I mean. Gliscor’s approval wasn’t earned through triumph, it was a demonstration of respect and loyalty. You showed Sinnoh-- Arceus-- precisely that, and found your way here, independent of its [intervention]. That’s an incredible victory, and I hope you’re as proud of it as I am of you.”

The response was nearly automatic, and Emmet stifled a wet-sounding laugh into his twin’s collar, “More than almost anything.”

[geneticandunattainable]

I hope the next ten songs help to ensure the diversity of this year’s list, but lord knows there’s even more to come.  This chunk is home to indie folk, hip hop/R&B, Icelandic rock (with a distinctly American sound), and several electro-pop tracks.  I hope the 20 tracks you’ve seen at this point continue to confound and delight, with plenty of new songs you’ve never had the opportunity to hear.

40. Honeysuckle – “It’s Getting Late”

Boston produces yet another independent folk group – this one a trio, with outstanding three-part harmonies to boot. Comprised of Holly McGarry, Benjamin Burns, and Chris Bloniarz, Honeysuckle performed at Newport Folk Festival in 2015 and continues to tour New England in support of other folk acts.  This track specifically grabs you straight from the start with the warm banjo; the charm offensive continues with multiple instances of highlighting the harmonies, instrumentation, and arrangement, with lyrics focusing on the nature of time and change.   Their profile continues to grow with attention from NPR, among other publications, so keep your ears open for future success. 

39. Tep No – “Me and My Guitar”

Not much is known about producer Tep No besides the fact that he briefly sought an acting career in LA before moving back to his native Canada.  Now based in Toronto, his music typically blends several genres, utilizing electronic sounds with pop sensibilities and fusing melodies with otherworldly synth beats. The vocals on this track are practically spoken word, delivered over a swirling mix of looped chants, samples, and – you guessed it – guitar.  The result is an outstanding choice for any low-key summer mix you have planned for a few months from now.  This song is so great, it wouldn’t be out of place on a new season of The OC; those of you who know me personally realize the weight of that statement. 

38. Hayley Kiyoko – “Gravel to Tempo”

I almost feel embarrassed to love this song as much as I do, and initially placed it higher on the list before finding stronger tracks.  I had never heard of Hayley Kiyoko before this song, but it turns out she has a DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie for those of you past puberty), CSI spin off, and ABC Family Freeform show under her belt already.  The Japanese-American actress and singer dropped this gem in late summer, with slick production that doesn’t feel heavy handed.  The track utilizes more electro-pop sounds with Kiyoko’s breathy vocals to highlight the insecurity everyone feels at different points in their lives.  She channels teenage angst in a way that feels validating; a standout line being “I thought I was depressed/But I think I just needed to cry.”  Regardless of how other people talk about her, Kiyoko is determined to do things her way, sporting a middle finger to the world. Given the grief we all faced in 2016, it was a message that felt particularly appropriate.  

37. Brian Fallon – “Nobody Wins”

The Gaslight Anthem’s lead vocalist decided to work on a solo album during a recent hiatus from the band.  This classic return to American anthems shows his time off was time well spent.  His signature raspy vocals carry a buoyant and bouncing song with a surprisingly dark subject of acceptance after death. The guitar strums and steady backing rhythm sound straight out of a John Cougar Mellencamp album in the 80s, complete with the unexpected lyrical content.  What shouldn’t be surprising after listening to the track is that he recorded it in Nashville with the help of producer Butch Walker, who co-wrote the song and also played guitar for the entire album.  This song is a welcome blast from the past from an artist who hopefully has a bright future.

36. Ben Abraham – “I Belong to You”

"I Belong to You” is a love song for the ages from Melbourne-based singer/songwriter Ben Abraham.  There is something absurdly charming about the fact that his Australian accent is front and center in his singing voice, which CMJ described as “delicate yet booming.”  His parents are Indonesian folk stars, which may have influenced his own style, integrating harmonies and poignant arrangements.  “I Belong to You” is yet another song that makes it difficult to listen along without tapping your foot, incorporating a lilting guitar, a xylophone, and even hand snaps to woo the audience.  It certainly doesn’t hurt that this wonder from Down Under is rakishly handsome.  There’s little not to like here, as this burst of sunshine will leave you smiling all day. 

35. Solange feat. Q-Tip – “Borderline (An Ode to Self-Care)”

A Seat at the Table is an outstanding album from a consistently strong artist who just so happens to be sisters with Beyoncé.  Her song “Losing You” placed fourth on my list for 2012, and while “Borderline” doesn’t quite match that track, it’s still incredible in its own right.  Solange makes allusions to Aaliyah and A Tribe Called Quest, with Q-Tip working multiple levels of production.  The song itself is an interpolation of “Electric Relaxation,” a gem from the group back in 1993.  Aaliyah comes through when Solange references the 2001 hit “More Than a Woman” near the end of the song.  “Borderline,” though, is so much more than its musical references; it’s a track that directly addresses police brutality against black Americans.  The political track reminds its listeners that it’s okay to temporarily ignore the violence in an attempt to stay sane.  As Solange told W magazine, “To be able to get up and tell my child to have a wonderful day and know that he’ll be protected and nurtured and loved and treated like an equal contributor to society, I sometimes have to choose to not look.”

34. Kaleo – “Way Down We Go”

Icelandic rock band Kaleo has been bubbling under since 2012, but finally achieved moderate success with “Way Down We Go” in 2016.   It’s been used on myriad television shows, and most recently popped up in trailers for The Good Fight and Logan.  The four members of the band grew up in Mosfellsbær, near Reykjavík, but are now based in Austin. The blend of blues and rock are a strong production choice, with hard-hitting drums, strong guitars, ubiquitous reverb, and haunting looped vocals all working to make the song one you can’t forget.   The chorus alone will be stuck in your head for days, making this a solid choice for playlists in the year to come.

33. Chance the Rapper – “Blessings”

Chance had a huge year, breaking out into the mainstream to unprecedented success - especially without a label - in no small part due to his legendary verse on Kanye’s “Ultralight Beams.”  It’s fitting then, that the arguable highlight of his Grammy-nominated (and history making) mixtape.  As an avowed atheist, I can contend you don’t need to feel particularly pious to enjoy the conviction of Chance and vocalist Jamila Woods, who has collaborated with him in the past. Pitchfork agreed, noting it as "one of the strongest rap albums released this year, an uplifting mix of spiritual and grounded that even an atheist can catch the Spirit to.”  The keyboard is strong throughout, invoking a soulful church service only augmented by the improvisations from Donnie Trumpet.  The laid-back vibe of the track seems to personify Chance’s illustrious grin, with the end product more a profession of faith than a prayer.

32. The Head and the Heart – “All We Ever Knew”

With every album this sextet releases, one can note an upward trend of rising confidence. The group originally formed in Seattle, but the bulk of this album was written in Los Angeles - Montecito Heights, to be specific.  Previous albums had the group compared to the Avett Brothers and Fleet Foxes, but the production on their third signaled a clear direction change, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros wouldn’t be completely off base as a point of reference.  However, this song is in its own world for the band in regards to its success, topping two separate alternative charts on Billboard.  Starting with a simple vocal and piano, the song builds to an explosion of noise within the first fifty seconds.  The consistent build of instrumentation and playful tone are such a joy to hear. They’re truly firing on all cylinders at this point, and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us next.

31. Banks – “Trainwreck”

Here’s a thought guys – respect the women in your life.  I’d hate to be on the other end of a song like “Trainwreck,” apparently penned as a kiss-off by Banks to “a guy I never wanted to kiss.”  The doom-filled beats and almost trap texture on display here is a newer sound for Banks, who previously appeared on my 2014 list. Taylor Swift doesn’t have shit on her lyrics, though, with lines like “It’s quite depressing, there is no fixing to the problem when you’re talking to an idiot,” and a chorus that simply repeats “I had to get away” over and over again.  The entire aesthetic here is glamour noir, leaning into the darkness without ever sacrificing an ounce of the snarly pop that’s become her signature sound.  “Trainwreck” is a clear standout from the year, and a rare track that would find itself at home on a workout playlist just as easily as a compilation for Halloween.