#cardinal numbers 1 to 20

[udable]

Learn English Numbers 1 to Million | Cardinal Numbers | गिनती सिखिये एक से लेकर लाख तक | Udable

[elminx]

Energy Update: December 2024

December is a “2” Universal Month (12 (December) + 8 (2024) =20 = 2+0 = 2] in an “8” Universal Year. Two is a movement number – things begin to balance out from the pure creation of the energy of the “1” month prior, and decisions start to present themselves. This aligns poorly with the astrology of the month, which is dominated by two major personal planet retrogrades (Mercury and Mars). In order to seek out balance or come into alignment with what is, we may need to work backward.

The Set Up

We begin the month with the Sun and retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius, Venus in Capricorn, Mars deep in its pre-retrograde shadow in Leo, retrograde Jupiter in Gemini, Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, retrograde Uranus in Taurus, and Pluto in Capricorn. This month, we will only have two planetary ingresses: our Sun will enter Capricorn, and Venus will enter Aquarius. This is due to Mercury’s retrograde, which ends on 12/15, that keeps our planet of Communication, Travel, and Technology in the sign of its exile for an exceptionally long time.

The Details

All eyes are on Mars, which will retrograde on 12/06 at 06° Leo. This retrograde will stretch into the new year; it ends in late February, but the post-retrograde shadow will continue until the beginning of May. This is the Big News Bear of the month as it will impact our entire holiday season, but it also sets the tone for 2025.

Mars

Mars gets top billing this month due to its upcoming retrograde on 12/6. This isn’t a post specifically about the retrograde (that’ll be out later – look for it in your email if you’re signed up for my mailing list), but it is significant enough to warrant a brief discussion. Mars is the slowest moving of our personal planets and tends to retrograde every 26 months or so. Because this planet dictates our modes of action and energy levels, we can expect forward motion (as a whole) and output to be lower during Mars’ retrograde periods. This is business as usual and the expected result of a Mars retrograde, but that doesn’t mean that people will be comfortable or accepting of this outcome.

Therein lies a lot of the struggles of a Mars retrograde cycle. Many of us (especially those ruled by Mars – Aries and Scorpio – or those with strong Martian placements) rely on accomplishments and consistent action to regulate our nervous systems. When thwarted, the Martian temperament can get aggressive and moody. Some types can be pushy or overtly forceful, and if one thing is for sure, it is that nothing should be forced during a Mars retrograde. Let it unfold slowly, and try to enjoy the ride.

This retrograde starts in fixed fiery Leo and ends in cardinal watery Cancer. A lot of people are going to fuck some shit up so that they can feel like they are still sitting on their throne and likely cry about it later.

It’s wise to remember that the planets aren’t here to hurt us, no matter how much our dysregulated brains might try to tell us so. Instead, if we look at planetary retrogrades as an opportunity to review, restart, realign, reassess, and rejuvenate, they can actually be valuable times of othered space. Each planet in retrograde adds a layer of the liminal to the space soup, and the more planets in retrograde at a time, the more liminal our space becomes.

It’s worth noting here that Mars’ retrograde overlaps with Mercury’s in December by five days (from 12/6-12/15). These are powerful days to slow down and assess where your life is and what you need to change to move forward. This is especially fortunate for those who celebrate the new year in January, as it is an early chance to align yourself with your goals for the year ahead.

Mars will station direct on 2/23, so this is a long-game transit – much longer than Mercury’s month-long retrogrades. Other than slowing us all down (and probably causing some significant tifts over the holidays), Mars won’t be doing much this month as – during the time when a planet stations (changes directions) they tend to hold their position in the sky for an abnormally long time. If you have a personal planet in the early degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you might feel the strain of Mar’s lack of movement all month. Expect things to get angsty. Expect divas to be on the very biggest tears. It is what it is; I find Leo’s energy pretty easy to walk away from if it’s getting to be too much, but your experience may vary.

Iron gate boundaries might be in order, especially with that incredibly demanding family member who never figured out that they aren’t the main character in your life. You might find that you need to do less; if you do, know you are right on time.

Mars retrogrades are almost inevitably challenging. Even if you can manage your own life slowing down (some of us even like it this way), you still have to deal with the absolute temper tantrums of those who can’t stand still for whatever reason. Stay aware of the Aries, Scorpio, and Capricorn types in your life (Sun, Moon, Ascendant, and Mars placements mostly here) or anyone with Mars in Cancer or Leo. They may be seriously losing their shit (and, if so, iron-clad boundaries, as I said), but they may also just need support as to what to do when you can’t do.

This retrograde aligns well with the season of withdrawal (lovingly called Fallowtide by some) but less well with our hustle-and-bustle holiday season. It’s okay not to do anything, especially if you are prone to low energy for any number of reasons. Take care of yourself often and early.

Our Lights: The Sun and the Moon

Our big win for the month is our two new moons – the first in Sagittarius on 12/01 and the second in Capricorn on 12/30 – which bookmark our month. Our Capricorn moon is especially auspicious because – as I have mentioned elsewhere – in 2024, we had two Capricorn new moons and two full moons. If, as I suggested, you have worked the Capricorn moons this year, this is your fourth and final chance to do so. Even though it is early from a calendar perspective, I would do any magic working or intention setting for 2025 during the hour of the new moon on 12/30. Capricorn is THE sign of long-term planning. Use that to your advantage.

We begin the month on 12/1 (always significant as the 1st dictates the energy for the month ahead) with a new moon at 09° Sagittarius in a t-square with Saturn at 13° Pisces and retrograde Jupiter at 16° Gemini. It’s worth noting two things here. The first is that Sagittarius, the sign of our lunation, is ruled by the planet Jupiter, which is currently in the sign of its exile, Gemini. Luck is on the fritz right now, and all that glitters is most certainly not gold. Additionally, this square between Jupiter and Saturn is Ascendanting meaning that the two planets haven’t actually met at a 90° angle; we are working towards this square, not away from it.

This square between Jupiter and Saturn, currently in Pisces and Gemini, will be a major player in the energy of 2025. The planets meet in an exact square on the Pisces-Gemini axis and the Aries-Cancer axis. Luck may have gone awry, but this is an opportunity to glimpse what lies ahead.

So you are saying, there is a chance. On this day the answer is almost irrevocably yes.

Our Sagittarius new moon is a 9/2 new moon. 9 (Sagittarius moon) + 9 (Sagittarius Sun) = 18 = 1+8 = 9. 9 (Sagittarius new moon) + 2 (December 2024) = 11 = 1+1 = 2.

We are in the midst of some big endings, symbolized by the “9” energy, but the “2” echoes the glimpse into the future and the choices that lie ahead. This is a day well spent in divination or pathfinding of all kinds.

Our Sagittarius Sun squares Saturn on 12/04, which should not surprise anyone. Everyone is being held accountable for their actions in some way or another. This is business as usual; the Sun squares Saturn twice a year, but I’ve always noticed that it seems to show up like clockwork when the world needs it the most. Any Sun/Saturn transit adds a lot of power to magic used for justice and to hold people accountable for their actions. The sign of the archer can be especially helpful for Justice spellwork as Sag has a natural desire toward the highest good. If you work with runes, the Tiwaz rune would be especially useful during this time.

Our full moon falls on 12/15 at 23° Gemini. It is mostly unaspected besides a square to Neptune in Pisces, which carries energy similar to a major lunation anyway. This is also the day that Mercury stations direct at 06° Sagittarius. The twofold nature of switching, Mercury in direction and the Moon in purpose (wax on/wane off if you will) can be used to enact many types of magic for change. Mars is retrograde by this point, though, so be careful how you word anything focused on movement in the physical world during this time. Think Road Opener rather than a spell to force direction.

Our Gemini full moon is a 3/5 full moon. 3 (Gemini moon) + 9 (Sagittarius Sun) = 12 = 1 + 2 = 3. 3 (Gemini full moon) + 2 (December 2024) = 5.

3 is our Manifestation number (useful for all types of magic), and 5 has the go-to-itsness to break through nearly all barriers.

Once the Sun enters Capricorn, it squares the lunar nodes on 12/23. Our lunar nodes will leave the Aries-Libra axis for Pisces-Virgo at the end of January; this is the end of the line for this cycle. Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, can work too hard to keep the peace at times; where are you saying “yes” when you really mean “no” in your life? This might be one less thorn in an old wound or pass less painfully. Cardinal signs are the most likely to notice this transit.

It all comes full circle to our new moon at 09° Capricorn on 12/30. This lunation is still in a wide square to our lunar nodes and is also sextile to Saturn, echoing the energy of that early Sun-Saturn square. Both Saturn and the lunar nodes rule something you could classify as fate or destiny. But in a less woo way than many would use the terms today. Some things are meant to be. You live. You die. A volcano erupts. A major plague races across the land. Because you took your first breath at this exact time in that exact place, you will live through these things. Because our Moon touches on both, but not in exactitude, I would expect all of us to be contemplating our place in the universe a bit during this lunation. Both where we have been – our place in this existence – and where we are going.

What can we can do to help? (Helping is the best way to actualize Capricorn energy)

Our Capricorn new moon is a 2/4 new moon. 10 (Capricorn Moon) + 10 (Capricorn Sun) = 20 = 2+0 = 2. 2 (Capricorn New moon) + 2 (December 2024) = 4.

I have to giggle at this because I consider Capricorns to naturally carry a lot of “4” energy around with them. “4” is a very balanced number; it is all about structure. What are Capricorns doing if not shoring up their world to protect it from the elements? (as is their nature, being born in the deep winter months) When considering the power of the Number 4, I would ask you to think of the older man-made structures still standing. Did the Egyptian pyramids come to mind? That is “4” energy; it grounds in all directions; it has longevity. Again, this 4 energy makes this a great day to do magic or set intentions for the new year ahead. You may wish to set an intention that will become manifest by the Capricorn full moon on 7/10/25.

Mercury

For the first half of December, Mercury will be moving backward in retrograde towards 06° Sagittarius, where it will station direct under the light of our Gemini full moon. This is notable because Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini; this will be a day highly invigorated with Mercurial energy. We should all realize by now that Mercury retrograde is business as usual and simply a change in the expression of our “normal” Mercury energy. I’ve written more about this particular Mercury retrograde here.

It’s worth also remembering that Mercury is in exile in Sagittarius because Sagittarius is the opposite sign of Gemini, the sign of Mercury’s domicile. In Sagittarius, thoughts can be demanding, and people can become convinced that their way of thinking is the only right way. We all need to watch out for intellectual elitism and educational superiority, two bad behaviors of Mercury in Sagittarius. Every lived experience brings a different story and background to the table, and we need each to function together rather than separately. This is the first hit on this lesson, and it will take on a greater meaning as our North Node enters Pisces next month.

This retrograde cycle involves big hitters Jupiter in Gemini and Saturn in Pisces. This circles back to what I said above about Jupiter square Saturn having a big part to play in the year ahead. We often visit troublesome aspects through Mercury first. This cosmically makes some sense because when presented with a problem, to proceed, the best course of action is usually to think something through. Keep in mind that in firecracker Sagittarius, Mercury does not seem inclined to take that kind of time.

It is an oversimplification, but Jupiter brings the Go/Expansion energy and Saturn the Stop/Retraction energy. This is interesting because Jupiter gets nothing but space to expand in formless, airy Gemini, which you would think it would like, but it really doesn’t (it is the sign of Jupiter’s exile), and amorphous watery Pisces does nothing to give Saturn the form it so desperately requires. Neither giant is at its best, making them more demanding. In this case, Saturn will always be the rock, and Jupiter is playing the role of the hard place.

Mercury has to pass through this vice three times. We’ve done this once while Mercury was in forward motion and when Jupiter and Saturn weren’t in a very tight square. The second pass happens early this month between 12/04 when Mercury opposes Jupiter (each planet in its exile, a nasty untethered opposition) and 12/06 when Mercury squares Saturn. We might want to expand during this time (or just jump out of the way of the rocks rolling downhill toward us), but there’s nowhere to go. This is the hole of Mercury’s retrograde cycle; I’d bet most people fall into it somehow.

Alternatively, you could be trying to get your ball rolling, and one thing after another keeps getting in the way. This kind of aspect works both ways, sometimes both ways in the same situation, which can be extremely uncomfortable.

That the Mercury-Saturn squares goes exact as Mars retrogrades on 12/06 tells us a lot about the character of that day. Just don’t. If it’s not Essential, emphasis on the Capital E, do it another day. Things generally grind to a halt for a reason. You can force the wheels or look for a rock in the tires. The choice is, of course, up to you.

And then, just in time for Christmas, we get our third pass-through of this rough t-square between Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn between 12/24 and 12/26, this time with Mercury in forward motion. If you need to make amends for anything you said out of line earlier in the month, this is the time to come clean about it. The more you take responsibility for your own part in this mess, the less pressure Saturn will put on you. Always placate Saturn first; Jupiter is too all-important to care about turn order.

Things will feel a bit easier after Mercury’s retrograde ends mid-month, but Mercury remains in its exile all month long as it tracks its way all through its post-retrograde shadow in Sagittarius. The benefit of Sagittarius is that most Sag will tell the absolute truth as they see it. Sometimes, that includes coming clean about things, too. It should be no surprise that this will be a holiday season full of hard conversations; we can hope that at least they include honesty and words spoken from the heart. (Sag sometimes needs to be reminded they have a heart, but they will come in strong once encouraged there)

Mars will greatly overshadow this retrograde, but keeping it in the back of your mind is still important. If that person is just talking out of their ass, maybe make a snide comment to yourself, blame Mercury, and walk the fuck away. If it takes an extra two hours and a detour to get to Gramma’s house, that’s two hours less of talking to Uncle Eddie. Make sure you are sending those nudes to Tara in Sales and not Tara, your boss, if you know what I mean. Things tend to go awry during a Mercury retrograde cycle when we are on autopilot and not paying attention.

The easy and obvious anecdote to that is to pay attention. Standard Mercury retrograde advice applies: save often, double-check before you hit Send, and expect delays. Your friendly neighborhood Geminis and Virgos will be down for the count like they are every Mercury retrograde. The energy of all things communication, technology, and travel will be slower and deeper as Mercury wanders the low road. The more you can work with Mercury’s energy rather than against it, the easier your life will be.

Mercury exits its post-retrograde shadow in early January. We will have relatively smooth sailing with our planet of communication until the end of March and early April.

Venus

Venus is almost two full signs ahead of our Sun and Mercury all month long as it begins the month in Capricorn and ends it in Aquarius. It is on its own journey, which doesn’t really include stepping in to help out with the inevitable squabbles that are bound to come up all month long as both Mercury and Mars retrograde in fire signs. Venus can be pretty far out there in the fixed air sign of Aquarius and, at times, even unattainable.

Venus makes two major appearances this month. First, Venus will conjunct Pluto at 00° Aquarius on 12/07. Pluto is our outermost planet and seems responsible for the erosion of all things through the lens of time itself. Of course, in Roman mythology, Pluto was the god of the Underworld. On a long enough timeline, all things end: nations, marriages, lives, and this world.

Pluto has never before been in the sign of Aquarius when astrologers knew of the planet’s influence, so we can only surmise what this new journey will bring to humanity. But we will taste it through a Venusian lens this month.

Then, on 12/12, Venus opposed retrograde Mars in Leo. This is pretty big break-up weather, but that shouldn’t be anything to worry about if you are in a safe and secure relationship. Leo and Aquarius aren’t that different from one another (Sun sign opposites are and should be ready as a pair), but where they differ is very stark. Where Leo is a traditionalist, Aquarius is pointed straight toward the wildest of infinite possibilities. Leo wants the world, and Aquarius wants the universe. They can become aligned but often choose not to out of ego and the inability to step off their respective daises.

Fixed signs aren’t inclined to move; that much is for sure, and this will go doubly for all Martian and Leo types during this time. If anyone is going to give an inch, it will have to be Aquarius.

Although I specified break-up weather, I want to clarify that relationships do not always involve love, sex, or romance. We are in a relationship individually with each of our family members, with our best friends and our worst enemies, and with our bosses and coworkers. American culture puts a huge emphasis on love and sex, but relationships exist of all kinds. We talk about wars between nations but rarely about wars within families or workplaces. The interplay between Venus (receiving) and Mars (giving) shows us how our relationships are flowing – even international ones between nations. Together, they give us an idea of how easy it will be to get along.

Oppositions are fidgety and difficult to read, even for the most seasoned astrologer. Sun Sign opposites can differ in specific ways but are also quite similar and desperately need each other. The conflicts that will arise during this time CAN be resolved, but it calls for somebody to step down and let the other by. Neither planet looks well poised to do so, which is generally unfortunate. We still get free choice, though; that’s the beauty of how the above is reflected below: the planets dictate that there will be conflict, but WE still get to choose what we do when it happens.

What is worth fighting for? Is it worth standing up to the one you love the most? Is it worth standing up to your family? Is it worth standing up to the world?

Many of us have to grapple with this right now, and I think many people will say resoundingly, “Yes.” I’m not here to give you the correct answers because my trials and choices will differ infinitely from yours.

What I am here to say is that there is a reason (in the skies and our lives) why people are going to choose Fight this holiday season, and we should think about both how we are making those choices for ourselves AND how we should respond when someone decides they want to fight with us. The big flex all month will be to pick your fights, but we all know that will be easier said than done.

I’m choosing to discuss conflict in the Venus section for a reason. Diplomacy plays as important a part in conflicts as Action, though culturally, we often downplay this. Venus in Aquarius can be talked into looking back at the rest of us earth landers, but only if you speak to her higher nature and propose something new and innovative. Venus in Aquarius doesn’t have time for momentary peace; it wants the whole package or nothing at all. The craziest idea might be the one that is the solution all month long.

Jupiter and Saturn

Our two intermediate planets, Jupiter and Saturn, play a major role in dictating the pace of our lives. Jupiter, the planet of Luck and Expansion, quickens everything it touches, while Saturn, the planet of Time and Consequence, slows or halts. We need both of these forces in our lives. They are moving in and out of squares for the next year.

The first square happens on 12/24 with Jupiter in Gemini and Saturn in Pisces. Neither planet is at its strongest here, but Saturn probably wins out due to Jupiter being in its exile. Expect things to be slow. But that’s also indicated by our Mars retrograde, so let’s say it’s extra slow. This first square includes Mercury in Sagittarius square to Saturn and opposed to Jupiter. This is a harsh mutable t-square, which will have everyone scrambling but few finding solid ground.

You may notice this repeating cycle of three squares (one in December and two next year). If it sounds awfully like a retrograde cycle, that’s because it is. This is happening because Jupiter (being the faster-moving sign) has caught back up to Saturn (by degree) and is now going to retrograde forward and back again thrice across Saturn’s path. Jupiter and Saturn will both change signs in 2025 in synch with one another – this will put a lot of stress on the line between Gemini-Cancer (for Jupiter) and Pisces-Aries (for Saturn). We will be in this push/pull cycle for a while; this is just the first pass.

Looking Forward

Hello January! Hello 2025!

The big deals in January will be our Mars retrograde and the changing of the guard as our lunar nodes slide onto the Pisces-Virgo axis. The big deal for the year is that Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all change signs in four months. As we move into each new sign in 2025 with our Sun, Mercury, and Venus, we are forced to confront all of our outer planets in unison. We are on the event horizon now.

The Details

12/1 – New moon 09° Sagittarius 12/2 – retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius trine Chiron in Aries, Venus in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus 12/4 – Sun in Sagittarius square Saturn in Pisces, retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius opposed retrograde Jupiter in Gemini, Venus in Capricorn sextile retrograde Neptune in Pisces 12/5 – Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury 14° Sagittarius 12/6 – retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius square Saturn in Pisces, Mars retrogrades 06° Leo 12/7 – Sun in Sagittarius opposed retrograde Jupiter in Gemini, Venus enters Aquarius, Venus conjunct Pluto 00° Aquarius, Neptune stations direct 27° Pisces 12/9 – Venus in Aquarius sextile North Node in Aries 12/10 – Sun in Sagittarius trine Chiron in Aries 12/12 – Venus in Aquarius opposed retrograde Mars in Leo 12/13 – Retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius sextile Venus in Aquarius 12/15 – Full moon 23° Gemini, Mercury stations direct 06° Sagittarius 12/18 – Sun in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces 12/19 – Venus in Aquarius trine retrograde Jupiter in Gemini 12/21 – Sun enters Capricorn 12/23 – Sun in Capricorn square the lunar nodes, Venus in Aquarius sextile Chiron in Aries 12/24 – Retrograde Jupiter in Gemini square Saturn in Pisces 12/26 – Mercury in Sagittarius opposed retrograde Jupiter in Gemini 12/27 – Mercury in Sagittarius square Saturn in Pisces 12/28 – Venus in Aquarius square retrograde Uranus in Taurus 12/30 – New moon 09° Capricorn 12/31 – Mercury in Sagittarius trine Chiron in Aries

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[dark-falz]

What do you think about the suggestion in PSO that the Profound Darkness and the Great Light are of the same substance? It's obvious by now the Mags are channeling angels of the Great Light when you use a Photon Blast, but Mags were made using D-Cells extracted from Dark Falz. The Great Light is "good" and the Profound Darkness is "evil" simply because the Great Light won their ancient battle. Whatever the ancient entity that split into the Great Light and Profound Darkness was, it was an undifferentiated creature of D-Cells

I'm so sorry in advance but you asked me to yap about what I love yapping about

TLDR; as above so below. This follows what Rico said; "there cannot be light without darkness, a pair exists-", So YES it makes complete sense to me! (numbers explanation at the end)

To elaborate; Magic/spiritualism has fascinated me since about the age of 10. I've read about many religions from wicca, buddhism, hinduism, kemeticism (where my beliefs landed) hermeticism (young me would have fallen into this), and general abrahamic (studied as an attemt to understand the Falz seal) and in this order, throughout the 20 or so years.

Hermeticism originated in hellenestic Egypt (prior known as Kemet, but known at the time as the Ptolemaic Kingdom and includes greece) and was founded by a greek/egyptian, Hermes Trismagistus. Two of the major philosophies that go into hermeticism are theurgy (uniting with the divine, which this theme continues into episode 3) and alchemy (fuck around and find out) The meddling with D-Cells with both Dr. Montague creating mags, and Dr. Osto creating bio-weapons -to me- is an example of alchemy, while Photon is an established science.

So back to as above so below and light/dark alongside Hermeticism, the translation by Issac Newton of the Emerald Tablet is as follows;

Tis true without lying, certain and most true. That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracle of one only thing. And as all things have been and arose from one by the mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother-

And there are so many examples of duality. Spiritually we have yin & yang, 7 sins and their virtues, scientifically we have magnets. There's a lot of spiritualism in single numbers, they vary slightly by religion but I'm just going to try to go over them as briefly as possible with some examples since really only 0 - 2 apply to your question. In spell writing, numbers 1-4 are most used because, like, 6 and 8 are considered "perfections" of 3 & 4.

0. is nothingness 1. is basically god. Beginnings. (Sun, Sunday) Root, to have. 2. duality but also repetition, the subconcious and beginning. (Moon, Monday) Sacral, to feel

3. idk what the most simple explanation of this is so here's some examples; Father, Son Holy spirit. Salt, Mercury, Sulfer (body, mind, spirit) Cardinal, fixed, mutable. Muut Ditts Poumn. (some words I have written are perfection, growth, multiplacation, production) (Mercury, Tuesday) Solar plexus, to act. 4. Order, foundation. (Fire, air, earth, water. Senses when counting smell and taste as one since they both function off the olfactory system) (Venus, Wednesday) Heart, to love. 5. Center. (Mars, Thursday) Throat, to express 6. Harmony, interaction, perfection. (Jupiter, Friday) 3rd eye, to see 7. Balance, stability. Deadly sins. Chakras. Days of the week (Saturn, Saturday) Crown, to know. 8. Rhythm, justice, infinity. 9. Man.

The third aspect of Hermeticm is astology and the signs on Falz seal still get me and I still do not have an explanation but I do still try to make sense of it. Still a WIP.

[lscholar]

A SEMI-REASONABLE 40 CHARACTER SMASH ROSTER

An exercise in indulgence and egoism, and posted as the same.

THE RULES:

1. Characters shall be semi-reasonable! Beatoriche I love you but this needs to be a roster composed of characters who could conceivably actually make it into Smash. They should be from video games, and ideally ones people care about.

2. Characters shall be gender balanced! I separated my picks into four categories: GUYS, GIRLS, and CREATURES AND CHARACTERS, TYPICALLY PLAYER, OF EITHER CARDINAL GENDER (like Pikachu or the Animal Crossing Villager). the number of GUYS shall be EQUAL TO OR LESSER THAN the number of GIRLS. I set this restriction on myself and so should you.

3. Characters shall be 40 of them! but you could tell that from the title.

GUYS

MARIO - You have to have this guy. also like it's been like 20+ years since Sunshine can we not give him something other than FLUDD?

DONKEY KONG, LUIGI, NESS, BOWSER, FOX, WARIO - You also have to have these guys. I cut Captain Falcon, as we already had Fox as a Smash original character.

LINK - Someday we will be able to put Link in the CHARACTERS OF EITHER CARDINAL GENDER list, but not yet.

KING DEDEDE - Sakurai made this so his faves get a little extra attention. I claim that same right.

SNAKE - Updated for MGSV, naturally.

SONIC (Palette Swap: SHADOW) - I really really don't care about these guys. I kind of actively hate them actually. but they deserve to be here, even if all their moves are the same (turning into a ball and the ball flies at you).

CLOUD - The iconic Final Fantasy pretty boy. Would I prefer Lightning? yeah. but this is the semi-realistic roster.

PHOENIX WRIGHT - I know, preaching to the crowd here. This guy is a tumblr darling behind only his boyfriend Miles Edgeworth. But they've put him in fighting games before! And he totally has a moveset, right? Presenting his badge as a jab, shooting OBJECTION and TAKE THAT! (HOLD IT! is a grab!), submitting paperwork and random items hoping and praying that they'll be accepted as evidence...

Barely missed the cut: Sans Undertale, Sekiro, Shulk, Solaire, Paper Mario, Sora.

GIRLS

SAMUS - You have to have this girl.

PEACH/DAISY - Ideally Daisy would get Luigified (this is the very technical term for when a Smash character starts out as a clone and then gets differentiated) as the Mario Sports Game Representation. But that probably wouldn't happen. Peach is fine. kind of

ZELDA (Breath of the Wild/Tears Of The Kingdom) - The opposite of the Smash Ultimate dynamic. Smash Lscholar Link is old-school Link; Zelda is newer Zelda. Like in Hyrule Warriors she fights using runes on her magic ipad/wii u pad/nintendo switch game console. Bombs, Ice Block, Ultrahand - and the ability to Recall all of them, sending them flying backwards along their trajectories when the attack is reinput. An evil zoner but let's be honest: she already is. Maybe she has a "take a picture" that can stun?

ISABELLE, ROSALINA - both need reworks. Isabelle in particular has the potential to be a Kirby for new players - but hitting with her is so hard that most try her for a round and play Toon Link instead.

BAYONETTA - No notes.

HORNET (Hollow Knight: Silksong) - Clear moveset, fan favorite, zero questions.

D.VA (Overwatch and, fine, Overwatch 2) - The single most popular Overwatch character by far, and a much needed female heavyweight character. Would translate pretty well to Smash as a pushy zippy tank-type.

EDELGARD VON HRESVELG (Fire Emblem: Three Houses/Three Hopes) - big smashy axe, avowed militant atheist, Vriska, Fire Emblem rep. Smash Lsclr's Ike. Slow but dangerous, with surprising range, much like Byleth; unlike Byleth she is an actual character. also her axe twirl has to be a taunt. Also she's canonically bisexual. which would make her the second bisexual smash character after Snake, and the third in my heart after Cloud Strife (Byleth isn't real).

REIMU HAKUREI (Touhou) - Iconic rep from possibly the single most important indie game series.

CHUN LI (STREET FIGHTER) - Honestly surprised they put Ryu in Smash. I feel like if you asked anybody to name a Street Fighter character Chun Li would be first?

UNDYNE (Undertale) - Fine. Susie (Deltarune) is also acceptable.

VI or JINX or SOME LEAGUE OF LEGENDS GIRL (LoL) - as with Sonic I don't care for these but they have undeniably earned their places. Arcane was better than it should have been and I really hope Mel Medarda survives into s2.

SABER (Fate/Stay Night) - It's Saber! I know this seems like a meme pick but I really do think she deserves to be here.

Barely missed the cut: Karlach or Shadowheart, The Silent, Arle Nadja, Vriska

CREATURES AND CHARACTERS, TYPICALLY PLAYER, OF EITHER CARDINAL GENDER (like Pikachu or the Animal Crossing Villager)

PIKACHU - You have to have this thing. Brand recognition on par with Santa Claus or Jesus. A creature for sure, even if its tail indicates biological gender.

KIRBY - This is technically a Guy but in practice this is a creature. also I have one less Guy than Girl so I could put him there, but I chose not to.

YOSHI/BIRDO - Put a trans woman in Smash. She's just a Yoshi reskin and that's fine.

MARTH/LUCINA - The other Fire Emblem rep. Why does Awakening get like three characters? may have to make Marth a bit less floaty to make this work but they really should consolidate these two.

POKEMON TRAINER (Charizard, Ivysaur, Squirtle) - good on nintendo for making it possible to play pokemon trainer as a guy or girl.

POKEMON TRAINER 2 (Gengar, Gardevoir, Lucario) - We have so many pokemon and here's three more. swap out one of your choice for Jigglypuff or Mewtwo or Mimikyu or Greninja or whatever, as long as your substitution isn't from Kanto. This pokemon trainer is a bit more of a tryhard, and wears darker clothing. also their pokemon are category balanced: one is a guy, one is a girl, and one is a creature.

INKLING - Kind of a creature and definitely not of either cardinal gender. these kids squids are nonbinary. A good addition to smash; may they goop and bloop for many games to come.

Wii FIT TRAINER - Mix in Wii Sports and Ring Fit and whatever else.

ANIMAL CROSSING VILLAGER/MINECRAFT STEVE AND ALEX/PACMAN AND MS PACMAN - CHARACTERS OF EITHER CARDINAL GENDER

NOAH AND MIO XENOBLADE (XENOBLADE 3) - Like Pyra and Mythra but less gross. Mio has faster short range chakram attacks and mobility; Noah has slower harder-hitting moves.

THE ASSASSIN (Assassin's Creed) - Snake represents Solid, Naked, and Venom; why can't The Assassin be Altair, Ezio, and whoever else?

Barely missed the cut: Duck Hunt, Toad/Toadette.

if you got mad at me about removing your favorite character reply and I'll tell you why I took them out. probably because I didn't care about them.

[romantasyrabbittrail]

Book Review: Never Keep

I just finished reading Never Keep by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, the first book in the Sins of the Zodiac Series. I'm keeping this review suitable for all ages, but the book is definitely 18+. Also, this is not a spoiler free review. There will be spoilers mentioned for the book, as well as the other books set in the world of Solaria (Zodiac Academy, Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, Darkmore Penitentiary).

First the spoiler free section. I would rate this 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5. Spice is around 2 chili peppers. Explicit, but with plenty of feelings, not a whole lot of it, and pretty vanilla. (Not a complaint. Just where it sits on the scale.) Writing quality is a real cut above Zodiac Academy. And despite being set in the same world, the feel is definitely much more high fantasy. There's splashes of foreign languages (like real, fantasy languages, not the smattering of Italian and Spanish that show up in ZA). There's interesting devices for riding the wind and waves. Even the familiar elements (the Fae Order forms, the elemental and cardinal magics, etc.) feel much more like a proper fantasy novel. Again not a complaint. I love urban fantasy. But I grew up on 3 inch thick doorstoppers with 50 page glossaries. I'm loving this turn into less familiar waters.

Why didn't it rate 5 stars. Pacing. It's a slow start. Understandably so because there's a ton of world-building work being done. Unlike Zodiac Academy which uses the isekai format (girls from our world tossed into Solaria so we learn along with them, plus it's still very familiar in terms of vehicles, technology, society, etc.) all of these characters have been part of this world their whole lives. Their perspectives are limited though, by their experience so there's plenty to learn. But the basics of the Waning Lands take a lot of explaining.

Like, a lot of explaining. There's a four way war going on between four kingdoms. Each only uses one of the four elements. Anyone Awakened with more than that single element becomes part of the Reapers, the quasi-priesthood that oversees the zodiac-based religion, as well as magical training at Never Keep, the neutral zone where warriors from all four nations are awakened to and train their magic. Remembering the names of the kingdoms, their elements, the names of their warriors, and a ton of the world-building lore elements is a lot of work and it takes time to set up.

In addition, the mid-plot has some slow moments. There's a mystery being slowly uncovered, and we're following two FMCs, each with very different personalities and challenges, and it takes a lot of set up to get to the final 20%.

The final 20% is half of why it rates so highly. The pace picks up. The plot twists are twisting. And, in true form for the authors, it ends on a cliffhanger with lots of emotional damage.

The other half of the high rating is the characterization. There are, as I mentioned, two FMCs. They are very different. They are not necessarily likable, but I found myself wanting them to succeed. I hurt when they hurt. They are believably flawed. Their actions fit their motives and background. And they don't end in the same place where they started.

Now for the spoilers! Look below the fold if you want all the details, or go read all 20-something books in the Solaria-verse and come back later. (Although you can totally read this book without having read ZA, RBOTZ, and DP)

Okay, first of all, I am loving the new order forms. The Succubus was a really unique take on the lore, especially having the magic refill through feeding on any kind of desire, not just the most obvious. The Fury...talk about overpowered. That is dang frightening. Right up there with Phoenix. And what on earth is Everest? I mean, yes, she looks like a Snow Leopard, but I'm feeling like there's something more there.

Speaking of Everest, FMC number 1, I love her. I'm tempted to describe her as neurodivergent-coded. She has a very unique and individual fashion sense, and the sewing talent to create it. And she gets so excited by creating clothing. As a former costume designer, I love this so much. And she realizes she doesn't fit it, but rather than keep trying, she accepts her outcast status and just embraces who she is. Her quest for recognition and vengeance is understandable, but she is completely outclassed against Kaiser Brimtheon. The filial piety she shows in persisting in her vendetta despite that is impressive, if foolish.

Do I love Vesper, the Sky Witch, as much. Not really. Like Tory in Zodiac Academy, her "take no BS" bad girl attitude is occasionally annoying. But, again, it makes sense. She has a ton to prove and her chip on the shoulder is justified. And she is such a lost little girl under the tough shell. She is so utterly broken by the end of this book and I'm going to be very interested to see what she becomes in the wake of the betrayals and tragedies she endures. Also, I hate Prince Dragor. Girl should have known better, but she just wanted someone to love her.

Now, the magic. Is it the same magic as Zodiac Academy, etc.? Yes. And that's so cool because if you've read those then you realize some really key things right away about how shady the Reapers are. Principally, that Healing is a Cardinal Magic available to any Awakened Fae. Even single element Fae should be able to Heal the way they can do other Cardinal Magic (sound shields, illusions, etc.) The fact that only Reapers can heal is sooooooo shady. And when the Vampires from the coven in the attack on Never Keep use healing? OMG. When are these kids going to realize how badly they're being manipulated?

The Stardust. Don't get me started on the stardust. Okay, so you need dragons to make it. And the Reapers have been keeping a dragon captive, presumably to make stardust. Why are there no other dragons? Why is the stardust linked to portals? Is someone going to figure out the other ways to use it?

What are the Reapers doing? I mean they're clearly up to not just dark magic Ether stuff like what Vesper uses, but more likely something involving shadows. Whatever it is, it is creep AF. I am so worried for Harlon.

Finally, the romance. They said this would be true enemies to lovers and they are delivering. I am already convinced that Everest and Kai are one of the endgame couples, but there is work to be done here. Not just "they're on opposite sides of a war" word. Not just "how is she going to get over him killing her mom?" work. There's also "he's bound their souls together magically and removed her free will" work. But hey, forced proximity trope. And her Void powers make him feel something. There's material to work with here. But the key word is work . Kai is on the Anthracite Coal end of Morally Grey so I really want to see how it works out.

Who Vesper is going to end up with is a very different question. Not Dragor, of course. He's awful. Her crush made sense, but boy did she get woken up. The authors could do the coming back after betrayal trope with Cayde, but I'm thinking that's not likely. Not because they couldn't pull it off. But it doesn't feel like that. (Good examples of recovery from betrayal trope include From Blood and Ash series and Nightborn Duet from Crown of Nyaxia series. In both, it's clear the betrayer is conflicted between love and their prior mission, chooses the mission but regrets what it did to the unexpected complication that was the love. And then there is lots of work to regain trust.) I'm leaning toward the dragon introduced in the second to last chapter. Call it a hunch. But we'll see. Vesper needs healing and she's not going to fall in love easily next time. She has been burned badly thus far.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to Echo Fort.

[glossopoesis]

Happy 1st of Lexember!

I'm doing another attempt at a "Belgic" language (intended to be intermediate between Gaulish and Germanic, also with some Italic features, because it turns out a lot of those just fall out naturally when you sit between Celtic and Germanic), with this outline being intended to be a fairly early stage, roughly contemporary with Proto-Germanic (so around 5-1st Centuries BCE)

In keeping with that, it has a vigesimal system with a long-hundred (120) and long thousand (1200) and the basic (masculine) cardinals are:

1: oinos /'ojnos/

2: duwa /'d̥uwa/

3: treyis /'tʰrejis/

4: piðūr /'pʰiðu:r/

5: pempi /'pʰempʰi/

6: sehs /'sexs/

7: siftum /'siftʰum/

8: aɣdau /'aɣd̥aw/

9: neun /'newn/

10: dehun /'d̥ehun/

20: wīɣuntī /'wi:ɣuntʰi:/

120: kantom /'kʰantʰom/

1200: ɣeslī /'ɣesli:/

Numerals 5-10 are indeclinable, whilst 20, 120, and 1200 are actually nouns (feminine, neuter, and feminine respectively) referring to groups of that many instead (and so taking a genitive plural noun, rather than agreeing with the noun they quantity)

The word for number is rīmom /riːmom/, and in the plural (rīma), this can refer to the numerals as a whole.

This language is currently called Damwās Velgaiɣa /'damwa:s 'velg̥ajɣa/, from the root *bʰelǵʰ- "to swell", with the sense "to be wrathful"

[spanishskulduggery]

Hi there, really informative and interesting blog, big thanks for the work :) How would you say a weird ordinal number like 49257th? I read your post on ordinals and found scant more searching the interweb. Cheers! - Planetarywalker

I believe it would be: cuarenta y nueve milésimo/a ducentésimo/a quincuagésimo/a séptimo/a

In general, people don't like to use the ordinal numbers after 10

And they definitely don't like to use them after 100; because EVERYTHING has to be adjusted for gender

...The reason for that is when you do ordinal numbers like this, every "benchmark" number has one of the -ésimo words... the numbers in the thousandth, hundredth, tenth and the last number are all specialized which makes it very tedious

In your example: cuarenta y nueve milésimo/a is "49 thousandth", then ducentésimo "two hundredth", then quincuagésimo/a "fiftieth" + séptimo/a "seventh"

Whether it's all masculine or feminine depends on the gender of the thing

...The ordinal numbers primarily past 20 are combined; so vigésimo/a primero/a is "twenty-first", so that's why 57 is combined like that; you have the number in the tenth position + the ordinal number 1-9

To make it worse, primero/a can be primer in front of masculine nouns, and tercero/a for "third" is tercer in front of masculine nouns so it would be even more annoying

You are very rarely going to have to say el vigésimo primer libro "the 21st book"

-

Typically, if a native speaker saw this they'd probably say something like... cliente número 49257 [cuarenta y nueve mil, doscientos cincuenta y siete]

Even centuries are listed in cardinal numbers instead

el siglo XVIII is "the 18th century", literally "century 18"

No one has time to say el vigésimo siglo instead of siglo veinte for the 20th century

And monarchs will get ordinal numbers between 1-10, like Alfonso X (décimo), but you'll see Luis XIV [catorce] instead for "Louis the 14th"

Again; native speakers have no time and patience for ordinal numbers and they will avoid them as much as possible and God help you if you give them a number that isn't even 100, 200, 300... give them 207th and they'll probably just say doscientos/doscientas nueve instead

[ashleyrowanthewriter]

Friday with Old Moonwingian - Counting

Ameniši!

Today in my fairy conlang lesson we'll take a look at the counting systems. Yes, plural! There are three different sets of numbers you use for different purposes.

Personal

This system is used for counting people and overall sentient beings. If the stuff you count can communicate using language, then you use the personal system.

The system mixes decimal and vigesimal, but also throws in a bit of quinary.

Non-personal

Self-explanatory. You use this system when counting anything that doesn't fall under the personal system.

It's a similar mix of decimal, vigesimal and quinary as personal, but also is the only one with its own word for a dozen.

Magical

This is a special system used only for casting spells. It serves as a case of whatever the opposite of avoidance speech might be as it is used specifically to strength the spells. The fairies living on Moonwing Islands believe that these numbers have special powers inside them and as such help with magic.

It's completely decimal.

Now let's compare the three systems. On the left there will be the personal system, in the middle the non-personal and on the right there will be magical

0 - Mem / Mem / Kafe

1 - Lam / Olin / San

2 - Tem / Tim / Son

3 - Sem / Sem / Ken

4 - Pin / Pom / Kim

5 - Kin / Sä / Šin

6 - Lan / Li / Kalin

7 - Ten / Ti / Pim

8 - Sen / Se / Pakin

9 - Pen / Tom / Takin

10 - Telen / Tin / Sin

11 - Telen lam / Tin olin / Sin san

12 - Telen tem / Täsen / Sin son

13 - Telen sem / Tin sem / Sin ken

15 - Sem kin / Sem sä / Sin šin

20 - Tälen / Tolen / Son sin

30 - Tälen telen / Tolen tin / Ken sin

35 - Tälen sem kin / Tolen sem sä / Ken sin šin

40 - Tem tälen / Tim tolen / Kim sin

100 - Hilen / Halen / Šam

10000 - Sänte / Säka / Šäkke

86239 - Sen sänte sem tälen tem hilen tälen telen pen / Se säka sem tolen tim halen tolen tin tom / Pakin šäkke kalin sin son šam ken sin takin

The difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers is placement in the sentence. Place it before the thing you count and it's cardinal. After the thing you count and it's ordinal.

That will be all for today!

[deliasamed]

Numeral Exercises

        NUMERAL DEFINITION AND EXERCISES

In English grammar, numerals function as a part of speech to represent numbers, quantify nouns, and express numerical relationships. There are two main types of numerals in English: cardinal numerals and ordinal numerals. Cardinal Numerals: Cardinal numerals represent specific quantities or numbers. They answer the question how many? and are used to count objects or denote a precise quantity. Examples: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety One hundred, two hundred, three hundred, etc. One thousand, two thousand, three thousand, etc.   Ordinal Numerals: Ordinal numerals denote the order or rank of items in a sequence. They answer the question in what order? and are used to indicate the position of something in a series. Examples: First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth Eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth Twentieth, thirtieth, fortieth, fiftieth, sixtieth, seventieth, eightieth, ninetieth Hundredth, thousandth, millionth, billionth, etc.   Numerals can function as determiners when they directly modify nouns, indicating the quantity or position of the noun. For example: Cardinal Numeral as Determiner: Three apples fell from the tree. Ordinal Numeral as Determiner: The first prize goes to the winner.   Numerals can also function as adjectives when they modify nouns but do not directly specify quantity or order.  For example: Cardinal Numeral as Adjective: She bought two pairs of shoes. Ordinal Numeral as Adjective: He is in his third year of university.   Additionally, numerals can function as nouns themselves, particularly when referring to numbers as concepts or entities. For example: The number eight is considered lucky in some cultures. She divided the class into groups of four.       Instructions: Please, do the exercises without seeing the Answers. If you are unable to find an answer, you can check the answers provided below after attempting all the blanks.       Exercise: Numerals   Instructions: Use the correct words for (numbers in brackets). Write ordinal or cardinal number forms into the gaps:     - My sister is in the ------------ grade (2). - I have ------------ fingers (10) on my hands. - There are ------------ days (7) in a week. - We need ------------ eggs (6) to make pancakes. - Today is the ------------ day (1) of the month. - The puppy is the ------------ pet (1) in our family. - I have ------------ brothers (2) and ------------ sisters (1). - There are ------------ months (12) in a year. - She won the race and got the ------------ prize (1). - My birthday is on the ------------ of July (4).                   Correct Answers:   - second - ten - seven - six - first - first - two, one - twelve - first - fourth               Exercise: Numerals Instructions: Write the numbers in words:   - 75 - 1000000 - 50 - 3 - 12 - 20 - 18 - 45 - 90 - 600 - 0.5 -  0.7 - 0.25 - 0.01 - 2.5 - 0 - 50% - 25% -  10% - 100% - 1/2 - 3/4 - 1/4 - 1/10                        Correct Answers:   - Seventy-five - One million - Fifty - Three - Twelve - Twenty - Eighteen - Forty-five - Ninety - Six hundred - Zero point five - Zero point seventy-five - Zero point twenty-five - Zero point zero one - Two point five - Zero - Fifty percent - Twenty-five percent - Ten percent - One hundred percent - One half - Three quarters - One quarter - One tenth               Exercise: Numerals Instructions: Write the numerals in numbers:   - Seventy-two - Ninety-nine - One hundred twenty-five - Six hundred thirty-seven - Four thousand five hundred eighteen - Seven thousand six hundred twenty-three - Fifty-three thousand two hundred forty-nine - One hundred thousand - Six hundred seventy-five thousand three hundred twenty-four - Eight million nine hundred seventy-six thousand five hundred twelve - Two hundred fifty-three - Three thousand seven hundred eighty-six - Twelve thousand three hundred forty-nine -  One million two hundred fifty thousand - Six billion seven hundred eighty-nine million four hundred fifty-six thousand two hundred thirty-one                       Correct Answers:   - 72 - 99 - 125 - 637 - 4518 - 7623 - 53249 - 100000 - 675324 - 8976512 - 253 - 3786 - 12349 - 1250000 - 6789456231               Exercise: Write the Time in English   Instructions: Write the given Time in English:   - 9:15 AM - 1:30 PM - 6:45 AM - 3:20 PM - 10:00 AM - 5:55 PM - 12:10 PM - 8:40 AM - 4:15 PM - 11:50 AM                    Correct Answers:   - 9:15 - Fifteen minutes past nine - 1:30 - Half past one - 6:45 - Quarter to seven - 3:20 - Twenty past three - 10:00 - Ten o'clock - 5:55 - Five minutes to six - 12:10 - Ten past twelve - 8:40 - Twenty to nine - 4:15 - Quarter past four - 11:50 - Ten minutes to twelve               Exercise: Numerals Instructions: Write in words   - 500 - 3000 - 400000 - 10000000 - 100000000 - 200 - 1001 - 2005 - 1250 - 2006 - 100 students - 1000 books -  200000 people                          Correct Answers:   - Five hundred - Three thousand - Four hundred thousand - Ten million - One hundred million - Two hundred - One thousand and one - Two thousand and five - One thousand two hundred fifty - Two thousand and six - One hundred students - One thousand books - Two hundred thousand people               Exercise: Numerals in Sums Instructions: Write the following Sums in words:   - 25 + 13 - 42 + 57 - 100 + 25 - 76 + 89 - 345 + 210 - 500 + 600 - 1234 + 5678 - 999 + 111 - 8765 + 4321 - 9876 + 5432                           Correct Answers:   - Twenty-five plus thirteen - Forty-two plus fifty-seven - One hundred plus twenty-five - Seventy-six plus eighty-nine - Three hundred forty-five plus two hundred ten - Five hundred plus six hundred - One thousand two hundred thirty-four plus five thousand six hundred seventy-eight - Nine hundred ninety-nine plus one hundred eleven - Eight thousand seven hundred sixty-five plus four thousand three hundred twenty-one - Nine thousand eight hundred seventy-six plus five thousand four hundred thirty-two                 Exercise: Numerals in Subtractions Instructions: Write the following subtractions in words:   - 50 - 25 - 100 - 67 - 150 - 89 - 500 - 238 - 1000 - 475 - 2500 - 1234 - 8765 - 4321 - 9876 - 5432 - 12345 - 6789 - 99999 - 88888                             Correct Answers:   - Fifty minus twenty-five - One hundred minus sixty-seven - One hundred fifty minus eighty-nine - Five hundred minus two hundred thirty-eight - One thousand minus four hundred seventy-five - Two thousand five hundred minus one thousand two hundred thirty-four - Eight thousand seven hundred sixty-five minus four thousand three hundred twenty-one - Nine thousand eight hundred seventy-six minus five thousand four hundred thirty-two - Twelve thousand three hundred forty-five minus six thousand seven hundred eighty-nine - Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine minus eighty-eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight                 Exercise: Numerals in Multiplications Instructions: Write the following multiplications in words:   - 5 * 3 - 10 * 4 - 12 * 6 - 20 * 8 - 25 * 5 - 50 * 7 - 100 * 9 - 123 * 4 - 500 * 2 - 1000 * 3                           Correct Answers:   - Five times three - Ten times four - Twelve times six - Twenty times eight - Twenty-five times five - Fifty times seven - One hundred times nine - One hundred twenty-three times four - Five hundred times two - One thousand times three               Exercise: Numerals in Divisions Instructions: Write the following divisions in words:   - 15 ÷ 3 - 20 ÷ 4 - 36 ÷ 6 - 45 ÷ 9 - 64 ÷ 8 - 81 ÷ 9 - 100 ÷ 5 - 200 ÷ 10 - 500 ÷ 25 -  1000 ÷ 50                   Correct Answers:   - Fifteen divided by three - Twenty divided by four - Thirty-six divided by six - Forty-five divided by nine - Sixty-four divided by eight - Eighty-one divided by nine - One hundred divided by five - Two hundred divided by ten - Five hundred divided by twenty-five - One thousand divided by fifty                 Exercise: Writing Monetary Amounts Instructions: Write the following monetary amounts in words:   - £5 - 10 shillings - 26 pence - $1 - £20 - 15 shillings - 50 pence - $5 - £100 -  5 shillings                          Correct Answers:   - Five pounds - Ten shillings - Twenty-six pence - One dollar - Twenty pounds - Fifteen shillings - Fifty pence - Five dollars - One hundred pounds - Five shillings                   Exercise: Numerals in Phone Numbers Instructions: Write Telephone Numbers in digits:   Telephone Numbers: - 555-1234 - 867-5309 - 123-456-7890 - 800-555-1212 - 202-333-4567 - 555-6767-890 - 777-222-1010 - 123-456-7878                           Correct Answers:   - Five five five, dash, one two three four - Eight six seven, dash, five three zero nine - One two three, dash, four five six, dash, seven eight nine zero - Eight hundred, dash, five five five, dash, one two one two - Two zero two, dash, three three three, dash, four five six seven - Five five five, dash, six seven six seven, dash, eight nine zero - Seven seven seven, dash, two two two, dash, one zero one zero - One two three, dash, four five six, dash, seven eight seven eight                 Exercise: Numerals Instructions: Write the appropriate numerals for chapters of books, the numbers of buses, houses, taxis, and the sizes of clothes and shoes in words:   - Open page 10, please. - He lives in apartment 18. - I usually take tram No. 5. - The meeting starts at 9 o'clock. - There are 20 students in the classroom. - She has 3 cats and 2 dogs. - We need to buy 10 kilograms of rice. - The marathon is 26.2 miles long. - The speed limit is 55 miles per hour. - He scored 15 points in the game.                             Correct Answers:   - Open page ten, please. - He lives in apartment eighteen. - I usually take tram Number five. - The meeting starts at nine o'clock. - There are twenty students in the classroom. - She has three cats and two dogs. - We need to buy ten kilograms of rice. - The marathon is twenty-six point two miles long. - The speed limit is fifty-five miles per hour. - He scored fifteen points in the game. Read the full article

[elminx]

Energy Update: January 2024

January is a "9" month [1 (January) + 8 (2+0+2+4=8) = 9] in an "8" year. Though we are on the edge of something new - both represented by some of the astrological transits of the month and the beginning of a new year - we still have some stuff to wrap up before we can truly move onwards. A lot has changed since the beginning of 2020 - everything really, if you want to look at it that way. As our lives slowly bend and adapt to the changes that have been wrought in the world, we still have to live in it.

Numerologically, 9 is our last number as each multi-digit number gets added back together again. In this way we know that February is a 10/1 month: 2 (February) + 8 (2023) = 10 = 1+0 = 1. February is not the beginning, but February is a beginning. Now we just need to get there.

The Details

We begin January with the Sun and Pluto in Capricorn, retrograde Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius, Venus in Scorpio, Jupiter and retrograde Uranus in Taurus, and Saturn and Neptune in Pisces. This is an unusual alignment of planets and worth noting here. We know that the Sun, Mercury, and Venus travel together but right now they are being joined by both Mars and Pluto as they cross over Sagittarius and Capricorn this season. Additionally, our other planets are congregated together as well in Taurus and Pisces. It's also worth noting that all of this (/crazyhandwaving) began four years ago when all of our planets except for Uranus and Neptune were in the sign of Capricorn.

This month the last of our planets from this 2020 transit, Pluto, finally leaves Capricorn for good. This is one of the big gong crashes that denotes time. Pluto will remain in Aquarius until 2043.

Additionally, our Sun enters the sign of Aquarius, and Mercury, Venus, and Mars will enter the sign of Capricorn. January also marks the end of retrograde season for the next four months as Mercury and Uranus station direct.

The Nitty Gritty

January begins with a bang as Jupiter stations direct on 12/31/23 and Mercury stations direct on 1/1/24. This is a great omen for both January and 2024 as a whole as the first day of the month/year will set the stage for the energy of the time ahead. All signs point to "go" as we only have one single planet left in retrograde (Uranus). Uranus also stations direct this month (on 1/27); we will not experience another planetary retrograde until April.

That said, many of us are still carrying some of the weight of our pasts and it may be hindering our progress. As mentioned above, January is a "9" month of endings that will lead to February being a "10/1" month of beginnings. In this way, January can be seen as a series of releases that can help to unburden us of the things that we do not need to bring with us into the future we see ahead. This process may be triggering for some, especially those who are lost in the past or unduly holding onto something that has passed its expiration date.

The big release dates to watch out for include: 1/1 when Mercury stations direction, 1/4 when Mars enters Capricorn, 1/11 our new moon in Capricorn, 1/13 when Mercury enters Capricorn, 1/20 when BOTH the Sun and Uranus enter Aquarius, 1/23 when Venus enters Capricorn, and 1/27 when Uranus stations direct.

Any of the above dates can be used magically to speed this change along if you are so inclined. Each of these days may be a relief or triggering depending on your life circumstances and general personality. Stay prepared and aware.

There are also a few days of the month where life may seem to "help" you along on this release process, whether you wish it to or not. As our personal planets move through the sign of Capricorn, each will make a cardinal t-square with our lunar nodes of fate (in Aries and Capricorn). Each of these transits will carry with it some of the energy of eclipse season. Some doors may open during this time and some will inevitably close. When the lunar nodes are involved we sometimes find that it is too late to make certain choices, but also that new and interesting choices have become available to us. Our Sun will form a t-square with the nodes on 1/10, Mercury will on 1/28, and Mars will on 1/30. In February, Venus will form one final t-square to complete this process.

For transits like these there is one simple piece of advice: don't hold on too tightly. With our North Node in Aries, we are being asked to stand up for ourselves and that often means letting go of prior conditioning from our childhood or society that keeps us small and forces us into conformity. This can trigger a lot of deep-seated defenses and unhealthy coping mechanisms from our past. The big flex is to name it and bring it into the light rather than letting these things control or destroy us. If you have Aries or Libra in the 12th house this may be especially difficult for you, but this makes this work especially important.

Chiron, also sitting in Aries, shows us that being our unique selves can be quite a painful process. Each of our personal planets will also square off with the Wounded Healer during this time and each of these dates (Sun square Chiron on 1/6, Mars square Chiron on 1/25, and Mercury square Chiron on 1/28 plus Venus in February) is another chance to reexamine our core wounding surrounding standing out versus fitting in. This shit leads deep back into our childhoods and often is the center of our deepest fears. If you are into shadow work, these topics will likely prove especially fruitful during these times. A word to the wise about Chiron: the way out of the pain is always through examining it and learning to understand and create adaptive strategies for management and mitigation. Many people who have Chiron highlighted in their natal birth chart find that healing "out loud" helps them to deal with and make sense of more ouchy moments like these.

In this way, the month may feel very cyclical. You see a way forward and grab for it. It's painful beyond what was expected as it sparks deep wounds. From there the work is to transcend and release the wounds. Rinse and repeat.

It's certainly not work for the faint of heart. But that's not a surprise, we're in Capricorn season - a sign known for almost being compelled to work. This isn't the summer work of planting seeds, tending, and bringing them to harvest. This is the winter work of reexamination and reclamation. Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is sitting in a supportive sextile in Pisces to help us along in this process but it WILL be work. The big flex all month is to keep moving, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and to keep on keepin' on. With some many chances, you CAN get it right.

Our two lunar events for the month are a new moon at 20° Capricorn on 1/11 and a full moon at 05° Leo on 1/25.

The new moon will be more supercharged as 1/11 is 111 reflecting an influx of 1/new beginnings energy which will also be in close square to our lunar nodes. If you do not set intentions for the year on 1/1, 1/11 will be another strong time to do so. The new moon's numerology is 2/2 [2 (10 Capricorn Sun + 10 Capricorn Moon = 2), and 2 (2 Capricorn new moon + 9 January = 11 = 2] which shows that it is a powerful day for creation and togetherness.

Our full moon in Leo carries the energy of 7/7 [7 (11 Aquarius Sun + 5 Leo Moon = 16 = 7) and 7 (7 Aquarius full moon + 9 January = 16 = 7]. 7 is the number of spirituality and is generally associated with intuition and inner understandings of all kinds. This is a great day to divine on your journey through January and will aid in any magic designed to align you with where your path is leading you.

If you're looking for a day to do money magic or other prosperity work in January, Friday 1/12 is your day when Mars in Capricorn is in exact trine with Jupiter in Taurus. Work that earth money magic - Capricorn is seeing to their future and Taurus loves the finer things in life. This is a big luxury day - this is a day to treat yo' self even if you're not doing any magic. But do that money magic if you've got it - earthy trines like this don't come around every day.

I see two days to watch out for during the month.

On Saturday, 1/20, the Sun meets up in its yearly conjunction with our planet of death and transformation, Pluto and they both enter the sign of Aquarius in lockstep with one another. This is a big change of the guard and it's likely to be reflected both in the outer world at large and in our personal lives. Pluto has been in the sign of Capricorn for more than a decade and its force has been slowly eroding our outdated systems of government and bureaucracy. Now, it shifts its gaze to Aquarius where it will remain until 2043.

Pluto moves on a glacial scale so we shouldn't expect to see the effects of its ingress initially but what we should expect to see is the fallout of what has been left behind. Given the planet and its namesake, I use the term fallout very intentionally here. Capricorn rules the governing systems of our lives; in truth, it rules all things that are contractual like government bodies, businesses, and even marriage. Anything that requires signing a contract is in some way controlled by Saturn and Capricorn as Saturn's emissary in this world. Pluto has been shaking up these systems for quite some time and not all of them will survive the release that comes as our dwarf planet finally exits the scene.

Sometimes you don't know how bad the disaster is until it's over and the dust has settled. I would expect to see governmental shutdowns, businesses failing or entering bankruptcy, and the dissolution of marriages as the energy slowly begins to shift away from Capricorn and into Aquarius. In this sense, any structures that are held on by a thread will be most at risk through the beginning of the year. If this is you and it impacts your life specifically, I will guide you back to the words above: Don't Hold on too tight.

Sometimes things need to fall apart. Sometimes you can't pick up the pieces.

The second day of interest is 1/29 when Mars in Capricorn meets up in trine with Uranus in Taurus. I have found that it is best to keep an eye on when these two planets meet, regardless of the aspect that they make with one another. Mars is our planet of action and war and Uranus rules the unexpected disaster. This is Tower weather; it is best to do less and avoid any overt dangers if you can. It's a day to stay away from explosives of all kinds. Uranus in Taurus is especially eruption-prone, make of that what you will. We are nearing the end of Uranus's transit of Taurus (something that we should be very grateful for) but it's not over until it's over.

January is the cosmic right time to put in the work to better your life. January is the cosmic right time to take accountability for where you are the problem. January is the cosmic right time to let that shit go so that when February rolls around, you are ready.

The Details

1/1 - Mercury stations direct 22° Sagittarius, Venus in Sagittarius square Saturn in Pisces (repeats on 10/28) 1/4 - Mars enters Capricorn 1/6 - Sun in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries 1/8 - Mercury in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces* 1/9 - Sun in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus, Mars in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces 1/10 - Sun in Capricorn square North Node in Aries and South Node in Libra, cardinal t-square 1/11 - New moon 20° Capricorn 2/2, Venus in Sagittarius trine Chiron in Aries (repeats on 11/3) 1/12 - Mars in Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus 1/13 - Mercury enters Capricorn 1/15 - Sun in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, Venus in Sagittarius trine North Node in Aries/sextile South Node in Libra 1/18 - Mercury in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces 1/19 - Mercury in Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus, Venus in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces 1/20 - Sun enters Aquarius, Pluto enters Aquarius, Sun conjunct Pluto, Mercury exits their post-retrograde shadow 08° Capricorn 1/23 - Venus enters Capricorn 1/25 - Full moon 05° Leo 7/7, Mars in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries 1/26 - Mercury in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries 1/27 - Uranus stations direct 19° Taurus, Sun in Aquarius square Jupiter in Taurus, Mercury conjunct Mars 17° Capricorn 1/28 - Mercury in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus, Mercury in Capricorn square North Node in Aries and South Node in Libra (cardinal t-square), Venus in Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus, Venus in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces 1/29 - Mars in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus 1/30 - Mars in Capricorn square North Node in Aries and South Node in Libra (cardinal t-square)

Do you like my work? You can support me over on Kofi.

[ellies-cycling-notes]

Day 11: Jordan Junction to Evitts Creek

Distance Covered: 76.72 miles

Total Time (including rests): 9:38 (7:51am-5:29pm)

Time spent riding: 6:34

Average Speed: 11.7 mph

Apples Eaten: 3 (jazz - 7.5/10, jazz - 6.5/10, jazz - 7/10)

Today's ride was a mix of good and bad. The riding itself went pretty well, staying on the C&O trail for almost the entire time. The C&O trail is a gravel path, so that's annoying, but it's still better than hilly paved roads. On the other hand, I did get a flat near the end of my ride, which kinda sucked, and even worse, I had to walk my bike for about 2.5 miles on a hilly hiking path because part of the C&O was closed off, and this was the only feasible detour. That detour is a large reason why my total time is 3 hours longer than my time spent riding.

There were almost no other bicyclists or joggers/hikers on the path today, so that was more relaxing. I spent a lot of the ride not thinking about anything and just enjoying the scenery. I am really tired out today, and am glad that tomorrow's ride is only ~68 miles. I did yoga, but I'm still going to do some more stretching, cause my legs are really hurting.

Notes on the Ride:

Counting sheep - I've started to count sheep as a way to fall asleep more quickly at campsites because I'd rather not just be laying in bed doing nothing for too long

More deer - I mentioned on previous days seeing deer once or twice crossing the path. Today, I lost count how many times there were deer right in front of me

Lots of wildlife - in addition to deer, I saw turtles, herons, ducks, frogs, cardinals, and even what looked like a wild cat. There're also a lot of bugs, but they're not the kind of wildlife I want to see.

Faulty pumps - I used my water filter multiple times today at pumps along the ride. However, some of the pumps didn't seem to want to work. I'd give them 20 or so pushes, and still no water would come out. Luckily, there's a pump every 3-5 miles on average, so when that happened I could just continue on to the next pump.

Bug in Mouth - I almost swallowed a fly that flew into my mouth as I was riding. Luckily, it got stuck on the outside of my teeth, and I was able to remove it.

Design Notes

Time loop

Possible Character roles (each player gets one, it influences what actions they can perform and what items they start with): captain, scientist, medical officer, engineer, security officer, navigator

Map: the map is a 3x5 grid of squares. The center square is the sleeping area, where all players start. Each room can have a player cap, which is the maximum number of people that can be in that room. The sleeping area has no player cap, but most rooms have a player cap. Here are some possible other rooms and possible player caps:

Cockpit - 2

Storage - 3

Escape Hatch - 1

Defense Controls - 1

Main Power Source - 3

Supplementary Power - 2

Emergency Power - 1

Food Hall - 4

Communications Room - 2/3

Meeting Room - no limit

Medical Bay - 3

Research room - 2

Brig - 2/3

Arms Supply - 2

Time events are what truly make this a legacy game, as they are the main part of the game which changes things from loop to loop. They are likely going to be necessary, despite the risks, in order to finally escape the time loop.

How serious do I want the game to be? If more comical, I can include more references, both to sci-fi in general and time travel specifically. For example: "time bandits" - a time event that steals an item; "it's bigger on the inside" - an event that removes the player cap for a room.

However, a more serious version would likely entice players who want to play the game more seriously, and take maximum advantage of things. In other words, I think it would be easier to apply a comical theme, but a more serious theme would better showcase what type of game it is.

Grid Delver

I also have a quick overview of the existing tiles in Grid Delver. Each tile is written out like this:

Tile Name - properties of tile; what level they first appear at; how common they are when they first appear; how much more common they become as you advance floors; whether they would be able to have points/gold on them in the new version; restrictions on how they might appead on the guaranteed path from start to finish

Tiles:

Floor - basic tile; level 0; high weight at start; low weight increase; can have points, can be on main path

Wall - block tile; level 0; high weight at first; grows slowly; no points; can't be on main path

Pit - deathtrap tile; level 0; medium weight at first; grows slowly; no points; can't be on main path

Mud - when you step on it, your next movement is skipped; level 1; medium weight at first; grows slowly; can have points; can be on main path

Ice - slide to the next tile after it when you step on it; level 2; low weight at first; increases quickly; can have points; can be on main path, but not on corners

Breaking Tile - a basic floor tile, but once you step on it, it turns into a pit on the next action; level 3; medium weight at first; medium growth; can have points; can be on main path

Jump - when you step on this tile, your next movement jumps forward, skipping a tile; level 4; low weight at first; slow growth; can have points; can be on the main path; but only if the next tile is not a corner

Quicksand - when stepped on, your next input must be "SPACE", if not, you die; level 5; low weight at first; fast growth; can have points; can be on main path

That's all for design notes. I know they might make a little less sense than usual, I just wanted to write down whatever was on my mind. I also didn't actually have much time to think about stuff, being too busy paying attention to scenery and then getting really tired.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, as I start the Great Allegheny Passage trail, which is much more of a dedicated bike path than the C&O trail. I've looked up a few bike shops so I should be able to replenish my supplies (mainly bike tube patches), and will probably also try to find a time to go grocery shopping, as I'm running low on bread, apples, and peanut butter.

Til next time!

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[glassboxdiaries]

Harlequin Rasbora Care Guide: Setup, Feeding, Tank Mates, and Water Parameters Explained!

Products Mentioned In This Video Food 1 - https://glassboxdiaries.com/bugbites Food 2 - https://glassboxdiaries.com/micropellets (Affiliate Links - I Get A Commission From Qualifying Purchases)

Welcome to my Harlequin Rasbora care guide! In this video, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about keeping one of the most underrated community fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby. Harlequin Rasboras are peaceful, active, and full of personality—making them a fantastic choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists.

These fish are best known for their iconic black wedge marking and shimmering orange-pink bodies. I personally keep the classic Harlequin Rasboras, but you might also come across the Gold and Black varieties. Don’t be surprised if new arrivals look a little pale—mine did too! But after a few days in a stable, stress-free environment, their color came back beautifully.

When it comes to water parameters, Harlequin Rasboras are fairly adaptable. They tend to prefer softer water, but they’ll do fine as long as your tap water isn’t extremely hard. Ideal pH ranges from 5.0 to 7.5, and a temperature between 70–82°F (21–28°C) is generally recommended. The most important thing is stability—sudden fluctuations will stress them more than slightly imperfect numbers.

For tank size, a common recommendation is 14 gallons, but I suggest going bigger if you can. A 20-gallon (75-liter) or larger tank allows you to keep a proper group and observe their natural behavior. These are upper-level swimmers, so they won’t clutter the bottom of your tank, leaving space for bottom dwellers and aquascaping. I keep mine in a 40-gallon tank and they use every inch of it when they’re feeling active.

Harlequin Rasboras thrive in groups. Six is often mentioned as the minimum, but if possible, aim for ten or more. The bigger the group, the more confident and entertaining they become. Their social interactions are fun to watch, and you’ll often see males displaying during breeding periods or establishing a pecking order. Just don’t expect constant shoaling like you might with certain tetra species—they tend to shoal in short bursts rather than all the time.

Feeding Harlequins is incredibly easy. They’re enthusiastic eaters and will usually be the first fish at the food. I feed mine a staple of Fluval Bug Bites and Hikari Micro Pellets, with the occasional frozen daphnia or bloodworms as treats. Their confidence during feeding means you may need to spread food around the tank so more timid tank mates get their share.

Speaking of tank mates—this is one of the main reasons Harlequins are so loved. They’re peaceful and compatible with nearly all community-safe species. In my tank, they live happily with Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Corydoras, Honey Gourami, Chili Rasboras, Amano Shrimp, and more. They may occasionally startle shy fish with sudden activity, especially during breeding displays, so a bit of plant cover can help more nervous species feel safe.

As for health, I’ve found Harlequins to be very hardy. I did experience a short stretch where I lost a few individuals without clear signs of illness, but overall, they’ve proven to be robust and resilient fish. One common observation among hobbyists is the appearance of white lips due to stress—usually after shipping. It’s not a disease and typically clears up once the fish settles in.

Finally, while breeding isn’t something I’ve focused on, Harlequins are known to spawn readily under the right conditions. They lay eggs on the underside of leaves, and I’ve seen the behavior occur regularly in my community tank. If you're interested in breeding them seriously, a dedicated setup would likely produce good results.

[nursingwriter]

Congested Cardiac Failure Health Assessment Holistic Nursing Assessment of a Congestive Heart Failure Patient Background and Initial Presentation Many factors, both physical and psychological, impact the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). The prevalence of CHF in developed countries is 1-2% of the adult population overall and the sudden onset of life-threatening complications associated with the symptoms of CHF makes it especially dangerous (Blinderman et al. 2008). Given its immediate dangers, it is critical that a patient presenting with CHF receives a systematic and comprehensive assessment. The initial stage of the holistic nursing assessment is the patient's story. The nurse should initiate the interview by allowing the patient to introduce himself. This aspect of the patient interview allows him to provide unfiltered information that express his immediate concerns. The following patient background was acquired: 50-year-old man of Indian descent; 20-year Australian resident; owner of Indian restaurant; husband and father of three children. These few details, while yet lacking specific medical relevance in determining the extent of his CHF complications, allow the nurse to make a number of inferences about the man's health. His age does not place him in the category of the elderly and suggests that onset of his CHF symptoms may be relatively recent or based on genetic predispositions. Australia is a developed country and tentative conclusions may be drawn regarding the culture he is subjected to. Cardiovascular disease is the number one source of death in developed countries and special attention should therefore be placed on his dietary intake and exercise regimen. His family situation suggests that he exhibits psychosocial stability while the ownership of a popular Indian restaurant may be causing stress in his life. All these factors must be taken into account when proceeding with the assessment. Subjective Assessment In the subjective assessment, the nurse must specifically characterize the cardio respiratory symptoms according to severity, location, duration, and time of onset. The nurse must also determine factors that aggravate or onset of the symptoms and factors that relieve them as well as a history of when the symptoms first began to appear (Jarvis 2009). Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the cardinal symptom of congestive heart failure. The Borg Scale may be used to assess the degree of dyspnea from 0 (none) to 10 (maximal). (Karapolat et al. 2008) Other evaluators include exercise tolerance. The nurse should question the patient how many stairs he is able to climb or what distance he is able to walk before he reaches a stage of exhaustion. Further considerations include any association with paroxysmal noctural dyspnea. The nurse should ask the patient whether he wakes frequently from acute dyspnea. The relation between dyspnea and posture is also important to consider. A consistent cough may be a further indicator of CHF. The nurse should characterize the quality of the cough as dry, hacking, loose or productive and also record the severity and timing of the cough. Does the cough develop at night, with exercise, in cold air, outside or inside? A related symptom to the cough and one that can be simultaneously assessed is the sputum. The color, consistency and purulence of the sputum can provide further detail about the state of health of the presenting patient (Anon., 2010). Occlusion of the heart muscle in CHF frequently produces chronic chest pain. This indicator is especially important to determine the progression of the disease. In the assessment, the nurse should pay special attention to the radiation, severity, timing and specific location of the pain. CHF tends to be localized in a specific part of the heart that has become congested and the radiation and location of the chest pain can help to determine the site of congestion. Chest pain may also be coupled to other symptoms such as faintness, shortness of breath and nausea. Also related to the congestion of the heart and the ensuing difficulty of the muscle to function as an efficient pump, is the buildup of fluid throughout the body. This may produce areas of peripheral oedema visible on the body. This symptom is especially indicative and may be associated with leg cramps, tingling in the legs as well as the presence of varicose veins. Other cardio respiratory symptoms common for CHF patients that should be considered as part of the nurse's subjective assessment include cyanosis, pallor, wheezing, syncope, general fatigue, night sweats, palpitations, GI Reflux and weight loss (Anon., 2010). Patient History The patient history provides the most transparent representation of the patient's developing condition and offers the foundation for prescribing specific interventions. It must therefore be taken with special detail. According to a number of recent studies, patients with diabetes mellitus especially in combination with comorbid hypertension, cornonary artery disease, smoking, and left ventricular hypertrophy are at high risk of CHF (Held et al., 2007). These conditions present chronic stress for the heart and contribute to congestion in the heart muscle. Important information that should be collected in the history includes previous admissions to a hospital and surgeries for a cardiac illness. Has the patient experienced a previous myocardial infarction, angina or coronary artery disease? Has he ever been diagnosed with cardiac murmurs or valvular heart disease? Important also to consider is the family history to determine genetic predispositions towards cardiovascular disease. The nurse should ask if anyone in the family has had a heart attack, particularly at a young age, and whether a family member has suffered a sudden death from cardiac disease. In terms of personal history, the nurse should determine a body mass index (BMI) to test for obesity. This assessment should be combined with a nutritional status. A recent study suggests that an excessive intake of sodium can have detrimental effects on patients with CHF (Paterna et al., 2008). This may be of particular relevance considering the patient's profession as an owner of a restaurant. The nurse might ask how often the patient dines at his restaurant. A history of smoking including usage per day and overall duration should be attained. The nurse should also determine the occupational environment of the patient and his frequency of exposure to stressful situations and irritating stimulants. The most telling aspect of the medical history is the list of drugs prescribed to the patient. This provides insight into past complications that have required treatment. Beta-blockers, diuretics, steroids, antihistamines, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors all suggest previous cardiovascular disease (Anon., 2010). Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Considerations Holistic nursing addresses "the interrelationships of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions of the person" (Anon., 2002). For the specific patient, for example, his busy family life and management of his private business may be causing stress. Having lived in Australia for twenty years, he may be separated from his parents. Emotional health patterns that should be considered include the patient's response to stress. Different situations should be presented to which the patient describes his emotional response. It should be determined whether the patient spends more time being angry, lonely, depressed, sad, agitated, calm, or fearful. Depression has been directly linked to the development of CHF and is extremely relevant in the assessment (Smith et al., 2009). Further, the nurse should determine the state of his relationship to his wife, his children, and his parents and his response to disputes that arise within these relationships. Mental health patterns can be determined by assessing the amount of change the patient is currently experiencing in his life, the way he responds to change, his dietary and exercise habits, his work prioritizations, and his perception of his ability to cope with challenges in his life. The third component of the assessment consists of the patient's spiritual health patterns. Questions concerning religion and beliefs, the value of life, and en evaluation of the patient's perceptions of love, fear, hope, and death should be included in the assessment. Objective / Physical Assessment The Framingham Criteria is a commonly used diagnostic system for heart failure (McKee et al., 1971). The diagnosis of CHF requires the confirmation of one major physical symptoms and two minor correlates. The major symptoms include acute pulmonary edema, jugular vein distension, weight loss of more than 4.5 kg in 5 days and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Minor correlates include tachycardia of more than 120 beats per minute, nocturnal caugh, dyspnea on ordinary exertion and pleural effusion. The physical examination performed by the nurse should therefore be geared towards the determination of these symptoms. The nurse should first measure primary vital signs. These include temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation in the blood. The pulse and blood pressure can be especially indicative for this patient because they provide information on the efficiency of blood perfusion through the body. According to the Framingham Criteria, extreme tachycardia is one component of the CHF diagnosis. The nurse should therefore check for the presence, the rate, rhythm, amplitude and equivalence of both central and peripheral pulses. Synchrony of the radial and femoral pulses as well as comparative amplitude gives information about the location of heart damage. If the pulses present weaker on the left side, it may be reasonable to infer that the patient has left side heart damage. Evident diaphoresis would further support the CHF diagnosis. The nurse should then concentrate her physical examination on the heart itself. Ausculation of the heart should be performed carefully with a stethoscope. In performing the assessment, the nurse should listen to normal heart sounds first before trying to identify murmurs on the patient (Anon., 2010). The aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid and mitral valves should be ausculated to identify the rate and rhythm of any murmurs or other irregularities. While these primary assessments help to provide a general view of the patient's symptoms, the real severity of CHF is measured according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This measures the fraction of blood that is pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart and determines the degree of congestion (Karapolat et al., 2008). This measurement can be determined by performing a transthoracic echocardiography. A normal ejection fraction lies between 50 -- 70%. One below 40% is defiend as systolic heart failure (Dickstein et al., 2008). While this is not part of the nurse's responsibility, she may propose the procedure to the attending physician. Holistic Nursing Considerations In a holistic nursing assessment, the nurse should function as an integrater. She must balance the patient's self-evaluation of his ailments and guide him to finding the source of his pain. At the same time, she must make physical assessments to make a diagnosis of the patient's symptoms. While the nurse applies tools of Western Medicine, he or she should also consider alternative modalities as part of her evaluation. Given his different cultural background, it is necessary to consistently explain the medical evaluation and be open to traditional remedial practices offered by the patient himself. In the holistic domain, the nurse should gather the information with a sense of interrelatedness and an understanding of the cumulative effect of disparate factors on the patient's health. Bibliography 1. Blinderman CD, Homel P, Billings JA, Portenoy RK, Tennstedt SL, 2008. Symptom Distress and Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Congestive Heart Failure. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 35(6), pp.594-603. 2. Jarvis, C, 2009. Physical examination and health assessment: First Canadian Edition. Toronto, Ont: Elsevier Canada. 3. Karapolat et al., 2008. Effect of dyspnea and clinical variables on the quality of life and functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. Chinese Medical Journal, 121(7), pp592-596. 4. Adult Cardio-Respiratory Assessment. Adapted from First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, 2006. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care. CRNBC Janurary 2010/Pub. 780. https://www.paperdue.com/customer/paper/congested-cardiac-failure-health-assessment-44150#:~:text=Logout-,CongestedCardiacFailureHealthAssessment,-Length7pages 5. Held et al., 2007. Glucose Levels Predict Hospitalization for Congestive Heart Failure in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk. Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association. 115, pp.1371-1375. 6. Paterna, Salatore et al., 2008. Normal-sodium diet compared with low-sodium diet in compensated congestive heart failure: is sodium an old enemy or a new friend? Clinical Science, 114, pp.221-230. 7. McKee PA, Castelli WP, McNamara PM, Kannel WB, 1971. The natural history of congestive heart failure: the Framingham study. New England Journal of Medicine, 285(26), pp.1441 -- 6. 8. Dickstein K, Cohen-Solal A, Filippatos G, et al., 2008. "ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2008 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association of the ESC (HFA) and endorsed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)." European Heart Journal, 29(19), pp.2388 -- 442. 9. Smith et al., 2009. Elevated Depression Symptoms Predict Long-Term Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure: Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association, 120, pp.134-140. 10. American Holistic Nurses' Association. What is Holistic Nursing? Available at: http://www.ahna.org/about/whatis.html. Accessed October 16, 2002. Read the full article

[thefernmanner]

"The Pulse." From the Book of Sirach, "The Manner of the Fern" 20: 1-8.

The proof the Mitzvot and Kashrut are working is utter silence. The intellect is capable of handling its sense perceptions and recognizing emotions without words. The echo chamber in the mind must be completely empty for this to happen. Sirach explains, there is a superficial way of looking at who we are and there is a deeper way:

Silence and Speech

20 There is a rebuke that is untimely,     and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent. 2 How much better it is to rebuke than to fume! 3 And the one who admits his fault will be kept from ridicule. 4 Like a eunuch lusting to violate a young woman     is the person who makes decisions under compulsion. 5 Some people keep silent and are found[a] to be wise,     while others are detested for being talkative. 6 Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,     while others keep silent because they know when to speak. 7 The wise remain silent until the right moment,     but the arrogant and the fool miss the right moment. 8 Whoever talks too much is detested,     and whoever pretends to authority is hated.[b]

The opposite of the inner reality, which must exist in a state of hermitage, is a state of isolation or exile. The Jewish people and Muslims as well, not to mention black people and LGBTQ people are forced to live in exile by tyrants. Russians, Iranians, Mexicans, and Africans live in exile on their own land due to corrupt politicians, and now Americans are running for their lives from their government. This type of isolation from God is FORBIDDEN. It is the cardinal sin of the Torah and it is not to be welcomed or tolerated anywhere upon anyone. So how has it come to pass it is being visited upon every person in every place at this time?

The Rab says we must undergo a soul reckoning and make a return to full physical and spiritual health and this means the lawyers need to get their axes swinging. Nothing less will do.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 1-2: Do not let the mind fume. The Number is 8048, פםח, pemach, "beat the pulse into life."

v. 3-4: Admit fault like a eunuch who has lusted after a woman. There is obviously no purpose to lust once one has been gandered. Is there? The number is 10039, קלט‎, klat‎, "absorb the input reception." Do you feel like reality isn't working out? Do you see what is happening and develop appropriate, highly intelligent, emotionally regulated and most of all effective responses to all the causes and effects external and internal to the Self? If no, you now know what you need to do.

v. 5-6: Some people are wise, some are detested. The Number is 10198, קיטח‎, kitah, "Both fruits are crushed."

"The verb כתת (katat) means to beat or hammer, either to forge swords and ploughs and such, or to fragment and disperse of whatever is beaten. Adjective כתית (katit) literally means beaten, but occurs only to denote a costly olive oil from beaten fruits. Noun מכתה (mekitta) refers to anything crushed or pulverized."

A wise person forgives the fruits of his thoughts and actions, he gives them up. He does without much thinking, he is all intellection. A fool wants the fruits.

Neither wind up possessing the fruits. Time moves too fast and delivers its consequences faster than a modern day hookup!

v. 7-8: The wise remain silent until the right moment. The Number is 10652, יסה‎‎ב, yesa‎‎be, "Jesus will return."

Here and there in Jewish literature we see references to the Son of God, a state of mind that kindles the fire of Heaven, as explained by the Torah, causing the black pillar of night to lift. We are studying this now extensively in the Gospel Haftorahs.

He like His Upper Identity, the Toss, the King of Angels is an inalienable aspect of the Angelic Code. Jesus b. 5 BCE was predicted by Sirach in 175 BCE, and later became the subject of the Gospels by the means of an impetus from God.

The angel Jophiel, one of the Seven Days of the Week, also called Jehiel, Gopiel, Guffiel, and Krishna by the Hindus is another example of the numbered representations of the Divine Entity that have always been meant to be.

The Numbers represent what is there, it is our job to understand their meaning and turn their mirrors into Torahs, creating a linearity morality that leads to ultimate truth. I believe the masters flowed the Torah and Tanakh from these fundamental elements, like a periodic table and then used them to explain every word and phrase they create using scripts. Hebrew has remained unchanged over the ages. This means everything that can be known about God has always existed, hidden inside these scripts waiting for us for to discover it.

This one states one is born in silence, one kindled to life by the fire of the Holy Ghost, one exercises the Self until it reaches perfection, then it returns to the Spirit that made it in order to witness. When more than enough persons recognize the proper pattern, Jesus returns. The Gospel of John explains in greater detail:

He says he wants us to study all the works the Host has given us. Each has an Envoy which conveyed its messages for the purposes of healing the heart of mankind, wounded over the ages during his flawed search for contentment. We are not so wise or accomplished that we can demean or forego their counsel.

[bills-bible-basics]

FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List #Scriptures #BibleStudy #BibleVerses Visit https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see more. "And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." Isaiah 11:12, KJV "Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land." Ezekiel 7:2, KJV "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." Revelation 7:1, KJV "And [the Devil] shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." Revelation 20:8, KJV NOTE: Contrary to what some misguided Flat Earth Theory adherents erroneously believe, these verses are NOT implying that the Earth has four corners, or is square in shape. This Biblical language was used to describe the four cardinal directions -- north, south, east and west -- as well as the expanse of the Earth. You may be interested in reading my article entitled "Other Planets and the Flat Earth Theory". You can read this article at the following URL: https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/other-planets-and-flat-earth-theory.html If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/four-corners-of-the-earth-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=256074&FOUR%20CORNERS%20OF%20THE%20EARTH%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

[martinwilliammichael]

Our Lady of Vailankanni in India, the “Lourdes of the East"

Often described as the “Lourdes of the East”, the Marian shrine of Vailankanni, in Tamil Nadu (south-east India) dwarfs the number of visitors to its French cousin. From August 29 to September 8, 2024, three million faithful took part in the annual pilgrimage marking the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary... considerably more than the 17,300 people present at Lourdes during the national pilgrimage in 2024.

The history of this sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health dates back to the 16th century. Here, the Virgin Mary appeared to two Hindu boys, one of whom, a lame orphan, was cured. Portuguese sailors later built a church on the shore of Vailankanni to thank the Virgin for saving them from a storm through her intercession.

Since then, the number of healings at Vailankanni has increased for believers of different religions.

The 20 million Christian, Hindu and Muslim pilgrims who come each year to see the “Mother of Healing”, influence local practices: during processions and festivals, prayers are recited in more than seven languages; many go to the shrine on their knees; the procession passes through the town with floats on which are placed small Marian chapels from which men throw necklaces of flowers to the crowd. 

“This should not be seen as a form of syncretism or mixing of religions. The shrine is a place where the closeness of Mary, who welcomes everyone, is made manifest”, stressed the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, in a letter sent on August 1 to the local bishop, Bishop Sagayaraj Thamburaj.

In a missive approved by the Pope, who sent his “fatherly blessing to all pilgrims”, the prelate praised the many “spiritual fruits that are produced in this shrine (and) allow us to recognize the constant action of the Holy Spirit in this place”. Even among “the many non-Christian pilgrims who come to seek consolation”.

Adapted from an article by Aurélien Vurli

www.international.la-croix.com

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.