#fossil watch value

[alpaca-clouds]

A Reminder of the Fact, that Billionaires are not Real

I know. I know. Most people right now expect me to do more historical write ups. But please listen to me for a moment. This is kinda important. Because with Trump trying to make himself a fucking god emperor or some shit, I need y'all to understand this one thing.

This is a reminder: Billionaires are not actually real. As in: There is not a person who has a ten-figures amount of money on their bank account or anything like that. Nobody. Not Elon Musk. Not Jeff Bezos. Not Zuckerberg. Nobody. They are valued in the billions, but they are not actually billionaires. In fact some of them might not have so much as a million on their bank account from all we know.

So, why are they billionaires?

Because they own assets. Everyone who is really, really rich does not own money, but assets. Those assets are:

Real Estate and land

Luxury vehicles, yachts, private jets etc.

Art

Investment portfolios

Shares in companies

Stuff like mines and natural ressources

Patents and Copyrights

General stuff Marx would call: "The means of production"

The "net worth" that gets thrown around is just what people estimate the stuff those people own is valued at. But again: Very for of them have more then a few million actually on their bank accounts. And this also is the reason why right now we have so many billionaires.

Because since the entire bullshit in 2008 (for those who just turned 18: The real estate bubble burst and what not - watch "The Big Short" for more context) something has been happening called "the asset inflation". Basically the worth of all those assets has shot up in price BY A LOT, which made people who had been "just" multimillionaires before into billionaires suddenly.

But what you need to understand is, that this is just... It is fictional. It is a mirage. And if we all could just agree on that, they literally would have nothing. Because you cannot eat a yacht. You cannot eat company shares. You cannot do shit with any of that. You cannot even buy something with that.

You know how billionaires buy stuff? They go to a bank and go: "Hey, look at all this shit I have. I want to buy XY, so if you give me the money to do that, I will tots pay you back. And if I don't, you tots can take some of my shit, fair?" And the bank will go: "Yeah, whatever. Here. Have 20 billion fantasy dollars."

But all of this just works, because everybody agrees that if the billionaire or the bank sold whatever assets the billionaire offers up to someone else, they would actually get the money.

I wrote about this before: This is why we cannot get away from fossil fuels. Because right now everyone who has the money to invest in energy has not actually real money, but just valued assets - and those assets are oil pumps, and coal mines, and gas plants. And if we all agreed that we no longer want oil, gas and coal, those would be worthless - and those investors would no longer have money. Because their "money" is just the worth that those mines, pumps, and plants have.

And that is also, why they are so much against the "capital gains tax". It is more than it appears to be on the surface. See, a capital gain is, when those assets you hold gain in value. Which currently happens at an alarming rate. Some of them gain literally 20 or more percent in value each year. So if you implement proper capital gains taxes, those "billionaires" would have go give some part of the theoretical monetary gain they made each year from the inflation of those assets - and obviously newly gained assets - as money to the government.

Just look at our most hated billionaire: Elon Musk. In 2023 he had a net worth of 180 billion, in 2024 he ended the year on 410 billion. That is a gain of 230 billion. Almost all of it falls under "capital gains taxes". Now, let's say we implemented a really, really soft capital gains tax of just 5%. Which is nothing in terms of tax. You and I pay more taxes on our salary. But 5% of 230 billion is 11.5 billion. And because you cannot pay taxes in assets, Elon would need 11.5 billion to actually pay his taxes. And he does not have that. Nobody does. Again, I doubt that there is really anyone who has more than a billion in liquid assets (= actual money or anything that can be used as flat payment). In fact I doubt that most billionaires have actually a billion in liquid assets. Some might have several hundred million, sure, but nothing more. Again, this is basically monopoly money.

And if they would implement a capital gains tax this entire fantasy construct would come down. Because, yeah. Nobody actually has the liquid assets to pay the taxes. And they would have to admit that.

Right now their influence is build mainly on the fact that most people do not understand how "rich people economics" work. Which is why you need to understand it.

They do not have money. They have just assets. And those only are worth billions, because people let them get away with claiming this.

You know. We can just... adjust for that.

[maswartz]

How I'd fix Beast Machines

Biggest change: Megatron does NOT escape during the trip back to Cybertron. However due to time travel being weird and all the Maximals arrive 50 years after they left to chase after Megatron. In that time the Tripredacus Council made their move. They had a series of Vehicon drones constructed to act as security should Cybertron ever come under attack. However they were programmed to be loyal to the Council only. With this army at their disposal they initiated a coup and took power. Before the Maximals arrived the Council spread lies that they were the ones who had gone back to alter history in their favor. The fact they arrived in a shuttle from the Ark only boosted these claims labeling the Maximals as outlaws. As they fled they were heavily damaged due to refusing to fight their own people. Eventually they found themselves in the cavern of the Oracle Super Computer where they were all reformatted into technorganic forms. His spirit broken by this betrayal Optimus was humbled and Rhinox took command of the group as they figured out how to use their new bodies. Silverbolt had more difficulty than the others due to the corruption in his DNA files resulting in him becoming a triple changer with an individual wolf and eagle form. They are soon joined by Nightscream, a Maximal miner who was trapped in a cave in and in desperation activated their internal scan resulting in them gaining a beast form from a fossilized bat. Meanwhile behind the scenes Megatron made a horrible discovery. Due to the intense power of his dragon beast mode he required the power of the original Megatron's spark to keep it in check. Without it he risked being consumed by it. Even after upgrading into a new draconic jet mode whenever his temper flares the dragon awakens. While fending off the Vehicons the Maximals realize they aren't alone. A group of agents of the Maximal High Council reaches them and informs them that the High Council knows they are innocent and will work to prove it. This group is made up of former beast mode cassettes such as Ramhorn and Steeljaw, upgraded as Ravage had been. Their leader however is a familiar face. Waspinator. Waspinator reveals that as he rued the tribe on prehistoric earth he realized he was abusing them as Megatron had abused him and vowed to change his ways. He began to help advance civilization with his greatest gift being instructing the tribe on how to map the stars. However a volcanic eruption threatened his people. Staying behind to buy them time to escape Waspinator was trapped and entered stasis lock. He remained in this state until the year 2050 when scientists accidentally revived him. After restoring and repairing his systems (including a much needed repair to his processors) he decided to stay on Earth out of fear of encountering his past self on Cybertron. When the time was right he returned home and pledged himself to the Maximals. His experiences on Earth, both in the past and the present taught him the value of life and he swore to defend that life as a Maximal. The first season comes to a close as Megatron's manipulations result in the Tripredacus Council confronting the Maximal High Council resulting in both groups destroying the other and Megatron taking over. As a result he gains control of the Vehicons. Rhinox is gravely wounded attempting to stop the fight and this finally causes Optimus to regain his resolve and vow to make Megatron pay.

The second season begins with Optimus becoming more and more violent as he lashes out trying to prove himself a warrior until Cheetor is forced to step in and threaten to take command. Primal then finally confronts his guilt over the losses the Maximals suffered in the Beast Wars, the friends he watched die. With a new understanding and inner balance he truly returns to lead his team. He soon welcomes a new member to the group as a crashing ship reveals Botanica, a Maximal whose mission led her team to a world of plants. Meanwhile Megatron unleashes the Vehicons on the populace, confining most to their homes as he searches for the Oracle and the Key to Victor Sigma. His plan is to combine the two to first reformat Cybertron as a purely technological world and all Cybertronians as Predacons and then to turn the power on other worlds creating an universe of metallic worlds all ruled by him. Out of nostalgia he reprograms a trio of drones to act like Predacons. A jet drone is programmed to act like a more loyal Terrorsaur, a tank drone is programmed to act like Scorponok and a motorcycle drone is programmed to act like Quickstrike. However due to lacking the actual sparks of the originals there are flaws, such as the new Quickstrike speaking like a biker instead of a cowboy. Megatron's endgame begins when he discovers the body of Predaking, frozen in stasis until the Tripredacus Council could find a use for them. Megatron removes the combiner's collective spark and replaces it with his own. With the power of the combiner he makes his final move to claim the Oracle. In the final battle Optimus and Megatron are destroyed as the energy of the super computer are unleashed across Cybertron reformatting it and its people in new technorganic forms. The Beast War has finally ended as Rhinox leads a newly unified Cybertron into the future.

[figscigfigs]

my favorite moments from ep. 2 of Fantasy High Junior Year!!!!

“my girlfriend says hello” FIGAYDA YOU ARE MY ONE AND ONLY

“the beans are due” and you know what they were

ally chucking the dice and then threatening legal action

em shouting out the two crew in the naddpod shirt

“can i… get under the hood a little”

“do you have your outfit picked out for the first day of school”

“so tactical, so lame”

ecaf, the turncoat who then got mended and shoved in the jacket “hate to see her leave, live to watch her walk away” “she gave a whole monologue” “hey girlie… hey girlie”

“WE WILL FIND PEOPLE WITH MOUTHS TO KISS”

the diner and daisy!!!!!

“i’m too cool to say this but i really value my friendship with fabian” WE ARE SO BACK ARE YOU KIDDING (ily sm fig)

all the milfs ( @caitmayart you are a genius)

gilear (i don’t trust him in anyway whatsoever)

of course riz has everyone’s GPAs

SQUEEM

the whole dangerously close to being expelled convo was HILARIOUS (until it was too real for me and then i got stressed again)

AYDA!!!!!!

ayda and augefort bonding and going back in time (maybe they will find ayda’s journals and figure out her history)

THE FOSSILS!!!!!!! “our fucking romance is so fucking epic” (it IS so fucking epic you mean everything to me figayda)

how did aelywn become a middle school teacher in 6 months. not a moment just a question… how. the whole timeline makes no sense to me

fig and gilear switch luck/fates maybe?? idk very exciting very fun

AYDA ART AYDA ART AYDA ART (she is grumpy and perfect and beautiful and i love her the most)

[iantimony]

augh!

listening:

boyfriend recommended hop along

listened to some of a Chronicles of Amber summary podcast (see reading) but gave up on it because it was basically just rote summary. little to no discussion. also he didn't know who Ursula le Guin is which is patently insane to me for someone who is ostensibly a sff fan. not just didn't read her work, did not know who she is. ok

probably other stuff but my brain is a sieve

reading:

no analysis here bc i'm tired. take my link slop

Pluralistic: There Were Always Enshittifiers

re-read "Nine Princes in Amber" by Zelazny for nostalgia value

read this goofy lil parody of it

marathon-read Price of a Kingdom by Shadowlurker13 in my agonies. well-written enough, not much happening in terms of like, Themes or whatever, but it was fun enough to fill the time.

finished Haunting of Hill House. really really really good. talk about a piece of fiction with Themes!!!

watching:

Why Minecraft "Horror" Mods Are... Not Great (cupcakesouls)

the original Vita Carnis videos

The Unicorn Discrepancy (Curious Archive)

Bionicle Lore is CRAZY Deep (Max Derrat) (dubious takes for some of it)

a lot of xisumavoid hermitcraft

Abby Cox hatpin video

playing:

a truly alarming amount of minecraft

making:

finished crocheting another market bag but it sux for some reason so I might unravel it, I suffer etc

putting a fossil at the bottom of this bowl by scraping in the design and flooding it with white underglaze

some more bowls. I like the foot I trimmed on this one.

misc:

-1hp -1hp -1hp. i shall not elaborate

[beigetiger]

ALRIGHTY, I’VE DONE IT, THE MOST SELF-INDULGENT POST EVER

Here is what I think various realms might have been like in the Kingdom of Sky pre-fall, this will be a VERY long post and I might have to do some of it in reblogs. Some of what I say will be based off what I see in the game and other stuff will just be ✨vibes✨, so feel free to share if you have any thoughts.

And with that, on with the headcanons!

➡️ Isle of Dawn:

- The Two Ember’s trailer shows that the environment of Isle used to look a lot like Prairie, so I reckon they may have served similar purposes that I will elaborate on later.

- Was probably mainly comprised of villages and had a pretty small population, was overall pretty quiet.

- Isle seems to have had many different religious groups there who did various things.

- The Prophecy people seemed to celebrate the four elements and a value attached to each of those elements, as well as keeping track of what was happening on the wall, which we can unlock by doing Prophecy quests.

- Passage folks seemed to give animal masks to its more mature members, perhaps associating different traits with different animals and then assigning kids that animals based on what talents they express.

- While the Isle of Dawn wasn’t always a desert, I do think it had transformed into one by the time the kingdom fell.

- Near the end of the kingdom when everything has turned into a desert, people would hand off their kids to various religions because the groups had more resources to take care of the kids than the families. After all, not all of those Passage kids seemed super enthusiastic to be there…

➡️ Daylight Prairie:

- This area (and this also goes for Isle) probably had a lot of farms and mainly engaged in farming and keeping light creatures, as we see many spirits whose job seems to be watching over a type of creature (e.g. the Butterfly Whisperer). They also seemed to like free-roaming creatures.

- Farming light creatures means they probably produced a lot of light involved in creating darkstone.

- Aside from beast keepers, they probably had people whose job it was to construct things like boats that could carry people around, because there is a lot of clouds and a lot of open air in Prairie.

- They probably mainly lived in caves that were formed in the rock, perhaps carving out a few areas as well. After all, there are many caves in Prairie that seemed to serve some use, and some of the caves actually look pretty cozy.

- They were also probably a pretty big vacation destination, so they set aside areas like Sanctuary Islands (and maybe Prairie Peaks) specifically for that purpose.

- They probably had something like bridges between the various floating islands so skyfolk without wings could access it.

- The Flight Guide was apparently a former apprentice of the Prairie Elder Ayin, so it was possible that they helped train new beast keepers, since they seem to have an affinity for butterflies.

➡️ Hidden Forest:

- People tended to either live in giant, hollowed out trees or treehouses. Either way, trees were involved.

- Rain made life much more difficult, which meant that everybody was probably pretty hard workers, and more “no-nonsense” than other realms.

- They made more basic, non-darkstone fueled inventions such as various kinds of chairs, torches, and other stuff. Maybe they helped invent shared spaces.

- Kids spent a lot of time grouper together in little daycare groups depending on their age, and caretaker duty rotated between adults. Is there a single source for this in-game? No, but I choose to believe it anyway.

- At first they mostly consumed light from candles and occasionally birds (they had hunters), but as birds started to become fewer in number due to over hunting and dark plants started growing in, people switched to consuming that instead.

- These giants eggs in a nest imply that something laid them, perhaps some species of creature that went extinct, in which case the eggs would be fossilized.

- Fire was probably pretty important due to the wet conditions, and people preferred to stay cozy indoors when they weren’t working.

- Elder Teth oversaw more major projects, and while they were highly intimidating, you’d be damned if they overworked their workers.

- They had darkstone mines that were constantly in use, and these caves were prone to flooding as the end of the kingdom drew near, which resulted in several deaths.

- The shrooms that grew on trees were at first just used as a place to hang out and replenish light, but as the light creatures grew rarer, people started to scrape light out of those as well.

- Wind Paths had people who lived there as a full-time job who were supposed to make sure everyone going through the Wind Paths got where they needed to go and didn’t get lost or injured.

- They had mochi, but it was more of a treat than a main part of their diet.

➡️ Valley of Triumph:

- The Valley Twins totally have no identity issues. Nope. Never. Being a person whose identity is dependent on there being another person with them totally was not damaging at all.

- Valley prioritized the arts and produced a lot of athletes, artists, and musicians.

- The skyfolk usually took after their elders and were very playful and fun-loving.

- Majority of the population lived in the Village of Dreams, because those who didn’t had houses facing sheer, rocky cliffs.

- The kids spent a lot of time wandering around in groups having fun and doing what counted as enriching activities that made them skilled as adults. The adults encouraged this, and probably half the games played in the kingdom originated from Valley.

- Later on in the lifespan on the kingdom, a decent chunk of the Wasteland soldiers probably came from Valley because Wasteland didn’t have enough of a reproducing population to keep up with the mortality rates.

- The Valley Elders were basically everybody’s secondary parent figures and they absolutely loved interacting with their subjects. The twins regularly held big, realm-wide competitions that tested athletic and artistic ability.

- The graves in the waiting rooms for the races are the graves of various champions of those races throughout the years.

- That one grave in the Village Theatre is from when someone died and was buried, perhaps after Eden had blown up and so the others could only bury them and then run to escape the chaos.

- The big floaty things in the citadel are decorative art pieces because someone figured out how to do it and the twins loved it so much they stuck it there.

- The bird statue in front of the citadel was a protest from a citizen near the end of the kingdom who was warning against the overhunting of animals.

- The Valley people caged and killed wild mantas for their light that could be transformed into darkstone. Aurora was sent from Megabird to stop this behaviour, but sadly failed.

- When the first person died from a krill attack, both elders were INSANELY guilty and it still haunts them today.

- Slope race was run by Sah, flying race was run by Mek. This is one of those headcanons were I say it purely off of vibes.

- The Valley Twin’s masks are Priestess Sahmek’s mask split into two. I could unironically make an entire post about these two alone buuuut I’m gonna refrain from doing it here.

➡️ Golden Wasteland (this is a LONG one, buckle up):

- It was originally a very technologically advanced realm, it had a lot of inventors and worked a lot with darkstone. Their affinity for darkstone means that the corruption hit them first and hit them hardest.

- As I said, they originally had many inventors and people who worked on the pipes. But as the corruption and darkness started creeping in, more and more people became soldiers until there were pretty much only soldiers left.

- The Elder Room where you talk to Tsadi used to be different, and it was a room built exactly like Elder Teth’s room. I also want to make a post analyzing this. But basically, room used to be different but they were forced to change it because the corruption was threatening to take over that area.

- They used to have a population of whales who were over hunted and are now extinct.

- Late in the kingdom’s lifespan, child soldiers were used when necessary, but only teenagers. They also brought in people from Triumph because it was easier to train people who had been working out their entire lives.

- Those big pipes around the fortresses were used for transporting something but as of now I don’t know what it would be.

- Everyone slept in barracks and children had a designated mass caretaker, which did not rotate duties like in Forest.

- Resh was worshipped and looked up to a lot more in the Golden Wasteland than other places (which is why they had so many big statues of him) and Elder Tsadi was totally under Resh’s thumb. Some soldiers disliked this but didn’t speak up out of fear of punishment.

- The crashed boat in the crab fields was the Sky equivalent of the Titanic and had all sorts of people on board. The ship was taken out by the krill that now patrols it and many people died. One of the soldiers that survived made a small mass grave for as many of the bodies as they could bury.

- The spirits from Season of Remembrance were originally Wasteland spirits that eventually fled to Vault (that or their spirits were transported there after their deaths for preservation purposes).

- The Forgotten Ark was similar to the crab fields crash but happened a while before and was eventually transformed into a space for spell merchants.

- The spell merchants tended to be from the Golden Wasteland but could move throughout realms, and they sold things to assist with everyday life for the various groups of people.

- There was a small community of merchants who lived full-time on the Forgotten Ark and worked together to collect supplies and sell their wares. The giant pot on one end of the ship was where they concocted the spells.

➡️ Treasure Reef (getting its own section because I have things to say):

- Treasure Reef was originally a colony from the Golden Wasteland to mine darkstone.

- A lot of the now-underwater structures in the reef look like they were created to be walked around in normally, so perhaps the water levels used to be much lower but went up over time, forcing the colony upwards.

- As the water level rose and it became harder to mine darkstone effectively, they would resort to simply swimming down and collecting whatever they could.

- They were deemed hardcore by the other realms (and the rest of Wasteland) due to their diet. Most areas were used to living off of candles and occasionally light creatures, while these people were cracking open clams and catching fish like nobody’s business.

- They probably had a lot of storms, and were one of the first areas in Wasteland to start experiencing krill attacks, which is why the King Krill is located there.

- This means they had an entire protocol if a krill was spotted, which involved moving any children somewhere safe (because the krill would target them) and grabbing a weapon.

- They were all very strong swimmers and spent much of their lives in the water, and swimming was a very standard way of getting around.

- The blue eel/water dragon was very rare and considered a symbol of good luck.

- They also might have been storers of information similar to what can be found in Vault. That or that was their way of containing darkstone.

- They may have lived in caves carved out underneath the water to save space on land.

- Eventually, the krill attacked the colony as a giant group and killed many people, including the Abyss spirits we see today. Those who survived fled to join Wasteland.

➡️ Vault of Knowledge:

- It doesn’t exist naturally, it was built in a part of the void and is constructed entirely of rock and darkstone.

- The people who lives there were keepers of memories and information, and were regularly recording memories that summarized whatever big events were happening at that time.

- Any kids that lived in the Vault were also in charge of keeping the memories safe and organized, so many of them were quiet, under socialized and had never seen the sun.

- Great, wise philosophers and thinkers were the most likely to be transformed into spirits instead of memories. Some of the graves of these thinkers are kept behind the four-player door on the Vault’s first floor.

- The elevator was always moving up and down and people were always jumping on and off it, and it was certain people’s jobs to literally stand there charging the elevator each time for hours at a time.

- Certain, more important or delicate areas had designated keepers instead of being upkept by the general population.

- Speaking of population, the Vault had the smallest one in all the realms.

- People slept in the Remembrance area mainly, but also sometimes would curl up in a corner of the Vault and nap there instead. The conditions were not amazing and there weren’t enough bedrolls for everyone to sleep at once, but that was ok because Vault had no proper night/day cycle, and so there was always a group of people who were working and a group of people who were resting.

- The Nine-Coloured Deer area is a kingdom distinct from the Kingdom of Sky that Vault discovered and created a connective area to so they could keep in touch.

- The Little Prince area is more of a metaphorical dreamland than an actual place and it isn’t fully real. A group of people once did something very bad and were essentially damned to hell there, which is why they are chained up. What they did is up for debate, but these guys were very unaware of what was happening in Vault once they were locked up and are currently unaware that the Kingdom of Sky has fallen. They might never find out.

- Cosmic mantas are actually manta spirits that were brought to the Vault.

➡️ Eye of Eden:

- It had the biggest population in all the realms.

- The people there were friendly, albeit a tad vain.

- They also had pipes similar to those in Golden Wasteland, presumably serving a similar purpose.

- Resh didn’t created the corruption on purpose, and he was violently ignorant of it’s existence even as it was actively harming his own people. He only realized how badly he fucked up in his last few moments of life.

➡️ More general stuff:

- The Hopeful Steward tried to travel throughout the realms warning people of the corruption, but wasn’t listened to due to being a child and instead left to create a little village of their own. At first it was just them, but as the corruption started pushing people out of their homes, more and more people joined the village. It had most of the remaining population of Sky right before the crystal blew up and released the corruption.

- The four mannequins from the Season of Revival are what remains of four kids who were friends of the Hopeful Steward and tried to help them raise awareness about the corruption, but were sadly killed by a krill. This only fuelled the Steward’s determination.

- There used to be caravans pulled by mantas that would travel throughout the realms, and people jumping on the back of them to be carried around was quite common.

- The spirits all used to have names more resembling the Elder’s names, but none of the kids know what those names are. The names we refer to them by (cackling cannoneer, stretching lamplighter, etc) are what the skykids dubbed them.

And that is it, although maybe I’ll add to it later. Sorry again for making this so long, I’ve been slowly constructing this in my head for months and wanted somewhere to put my ideas down. I would’ve added more images, but I can only put ten so that’s gonna have to do it. Thank you for coming to my ted-talk.

[no-see-um-incorrect]

Concept #2 breathtaking (Auron/Rook. Rook caught simping  watching Auron get ready for their date)

“You almost ready?!” Rook yelled from the kitchen while putting on their shoes 

“Patience rook. I’ll be out in a few minutes!”

Rook makes their way into the bedroom to see what he’s up to. Stopping dead in the doorway 

“you should bring the umbrella. There’s a high chance of rain tonight!”

He yelled not seeing rook in the mirror.

Rook could barely breathe.

He wore a black mesh dress shirt, covered in red flowers with black dress pants and black boots. His hair was let down in delicate waves. 

(Rook is one of the luckiest people alive)

He was finishing up his hair in the mirror when he hears his partner behind him 

“Damn.”

He sets his hair brushed down and turns around 

“excuse me?”

Rook slowly starts walking towards him 

“you look gorgeous”

Auron’s face started turning red from being flustered, and also confused 

“I-um…thank you”

“I mean Jesus Christ you damn near took my breath away”

They hold his face in their hands. With a dopey  smile on their face. 

“you look absolutely divine baby~”

“Well, I um…..damn rookie for once you have rendered me speechless…”

He slowly pulls them up into a slow kiss by their waist. Once the kiss is done Rook pauses for a moment before taking a deep breath

“Mmm you smell nice too~”

“Ok are we going to dinner or are you just going to spend the rest of our night simping over me?”

“how do YOU even know what the word simping means?”

They say poking at his chest 

“for fucks sake‘s Rook I’m not a fossil…I’ve also done A fair share of it myself~”

He says pulling them closer 

“Thank you. For the reaction…I don’t usually wear stuff like this and I value your opinion”

“Well, it’s the full and honest truth and I’m here anytime you need a reminder…..you are fucking beautiful.”

They went out for their dinner and had a nice night. Auron caught rook staring a few times.  and rook  couldn’t help but notice that Auron’s grin was just that little bit wider. 

This whole idea stems from #2 me being a fucking Simp (as you can clearly see) #2 this thing that I keep seeing where guys don’t get complemented as much as girls do. so they don’t really know what to do with it when they do.

Also Auron deserves love. I think we can all agree on that and I’m gonna give it to him because God damn this man does something to my heart.  and he’s getting a little taste of his own medicine. 

(got me stumbling over myself, and he ain’t even real)

[pureopaldesigns]

What Are Opalised Fossils and How Do They Form?

In the heart of Australia’s red desert landscapes lies one of the most extraordinary natural wonders—opalised fossils. These breathtaking relics are far more than just beautiful gemstones; they’re prehistoric remains preserved and transformed by nature over millions of years. But what exactly are opalized fossils, and how do they form? Let’s explore the stunning fusion of geology, paleontology, and gemology.

What Are Opalised Fossils?

Opalized fossils are the fossilized remains of ancient organisms—such as marine shells, plants, and even dinosaurs—that have been replaced or encased by precious opal, Australia’s national gemstone. This unique transformation occurs when silica-rich water seeps into cavities left by decaying organic material, gradually forming opal in its place.

These rare treasures capture not only the structure of ancient life forms but also the vibrant play of color that makes opal one of the most visually captivating gems on Earth.

Where Are They Found?

The vast majority of the world’s opalized fossils are found in Australia, particularly in regions such as Coober Pedy opal, Lightning Ridge, and White Cliffs. These areas were once covered by the Great Inland Sea, a prehistoric ocean that existed over 100 million years ago.

As marine life flourished in this ancient sea, their remains settled into sedimentary layers. Over millions of years, geological processes transformed the surrounding environment, replacing some of these remains with opal.

How Do Opalised Fossils Form?

The process of localisation is both slow and complex, requiring specific environmental conditions:

Organic Burial: An organism, such as a mollusk, fish, or plant, dies and is quickly buried under sediment.

Decay and Void Formation: Over time, the organic material decays, leaving behind a cavity or imprint.

Silica-Rich Water Infiltration: Water-carrying dissolved silica seeps into these cavities.

Opal Formation: Under the right pressure and conditions, the silica settles and solidifies into opal, capturing the shape of the original fossil.

This rare geological phenomenon requires just the right mix of time, water, minerals, and luck. That’s why opalized fossils are so rare and prized—both scientifically and commercially.

Types of Opalised Fossils Discovered

Some of the most incredible opalized fossil discoveries include:

Belemnites (ancient squid-like creatures)

Shells and marine creatures

Prehistoric fish bones

Tooth and jaw fragments

Even opalized dinosaur bones, including parts of species like the Weewarrasaurus—Australia’s very own opal dinosaur!

Each specimen is a one-of-a-kind blend of science and art, often displayed in museums or sold to collectors and gem lovers around the world.

Why Opalised Fossils Are So Valuable

The value of opalized fossils lies not only in their aesthetic beauty but also in their scientific importance. They offer a rare glimpse into ancient ecosystems, while also showcasing nature’s ability to create something stunning from something lost. For gem collectors, opalized fossils represent a perfect union of color, rarity, and history.

Moreover, because they are found almost exclusively in Australia, they have become icons of national pride and a symbol of the country’s rich natural heritage.

You can also watch: Video 12 Opal Fossils

Conclusion

Opalised fossils are more than just beautiful stones; they are stories from deep time—fossilised echoes of life, preserved in one of nature’s most dazzling minerals. Their formation is a result of remarkable geological processes that occurred over tens of millions of years, making each piece a timeless relic that bridges science, history, and natural art.So, whether you’re a gem enthusiast, a fossil collector, or simply someone fascinated by Earth’s wonders, opalised fossils are truly a marvel worth discovering.

[realbeijinger]

A semi-coherent rant on climate change, the value of idealism, and a criticism of TGCF (But also not really because I haven’t finished it yet and also I love MXTX…)

I’m in the middle of Book 3 of Tian Guan Ci Fu, and it is legit making me depressed. Like really, unnecessarily sad. I know I should probably wait until the end to write up my thoughts since I don’t know how things will ultimately turn out, but I feel like I need to process. And so, here we go…

First of all, I am sooo Xie Lian. I feel like this story gets me down so much because it hits too close to home. When I was little, I was super idealistic—I used to go around telling people that love was the most important thing in the world, and that civilization was wrong, because we were destroying the environment, and so we should all go back to living in harmony with nature. I was like a crazy, radical five year old, but also somehow mature-sounding and nauseatingly sweet. Grownups loved me and assumed I would grow up to do something big. But… I haven’t really. Instead I am just a normal person and realized that the world is actually super complicated—like I said, sooo Xie Lian. Except I never became a god or saved even one person…    

Anyways, it’s not like I disagree with MXTX’s criticism of blind idealism. She hit the nail on the head—crushingly well. But I guess, like Xie Lian, I am still clinging to that last bit of hope I haven’t let go of yet.

In TGCF and Mo Dao Zu Shi, things are never black and white, and she criticizes those characters who act with a blind sense of righteousness. She believes in nuance. And yet, in our current moment, we are headed toward a climate catastrophe, and it feels like we are all just sitting back, trying to carefully weigh the ideal course of action—the pros and cons, scared of being too rash, too impulsive—while the world burns.

When I first started watching the Untamed (which is where my MXTX journey started), I was initially drawn in by this extremely beautiful man who was willing to sacrifice so much to do what was right. I loved how he refused to compromise with this screwed up society. Because, I am so frustrated with myself for always compromising. For being part of this system that’s horrible and destroying the world and personally doing very little to stop it. And I wanted to be inspired—and for a minute I was by Wei Wuxian.  

And then, of course, it turns out that the real message was the complete opposite of that, and having dogmatic, uncompromising morals is not something to be applauded. In the eyes of MXTX, it’s very dangerous.

And I mean, she’s not wrong. But I can’t help but think maybe we still need heroes like that. I really admire Greta Thunberg who refuses to fly in planes, buy anything new, doesn’t eat meat. Before anyone joined her protests, she was ditching school every day, literally sitting all by herself in front of Swedish parliament with one pathetic-looking sign. I mean that kind of commitment takes HUGE resolve. It has to come from a total sense of self-righteousness, from a complete unwillingness to compromise or back down—a refusal to listen to her parents, or her teachers, or the large numbers of people around her who were definitely telling her she was nuts. I mean, I try to go veg, and my mother-in-law hands me one homemade meat dish and I instantly fold…

In interviews, Greta often talks about how being on the autism spectrum causes her to view the world in very black and white terms—with good and evil being clearly defined. She often refers to the older generation as “evil” for their role in the climate crisis—a word MXTX would probably not approve of. Normally, I don’t think black and white thinking is good. I also believe in nuance. But when it comes to something like climate, it’s incredibly complicated but also incredibly simple. We have to stop burning fossil fuels. We have to do it now. If we want humanity to survive, we don’t have a choice. We gotta pull out all the stops. We can’t hesitate. And if we do, we’ll lose everything. Any drawbacks that may come from us not using fossil fuels are completely outweighed if the climate goes to shit. There’s no real nuance in that. And to get people to make that sort of change, you need passion. You need motivation. You need feeling. Basically, you need blind idealism. We are soooo screwed, and really, blind idealism is all we have left.     

And I want to have that. Part of me wants to get back to that idealism I lost. But like Xie Lian, I don’t know how…

I dunno. There are always reasons not to do anything. Most of us know life is complicated—our limitations are usually way too obvious. But, I think, sometimes we still should take the single log bridge into darkness. And maybe we need some dumb, cliché hero story to give us the motivation to do it…

Of course, saving the world is not easy. Especially when it comes to large scale national or international politics, the situation in Xianle demonstrates very clearly how easy it is to create unintended consequences. Everything is so complex. There are so many factors, so many competing interests to consider. I do not envy political leaders.

But most of us are not political leaders. Most of us are just ordinary people who want to make the world a little better. We have the capacity to be activists, but that’s it. We don’t have the power to make detailed policy decisions anyway. And so, to some extent, I don’t think we need to worry so much about all that. We just have to push politicians in the right direction.

Even at that high leadership level, though, I do think it’s possible to make better choices—ones that create less harm. And I do think we have an obligation to try and find those. I don’t agree with what the State Preceptor said (and what I think MXTX actually believes), that “Assigning fault is meaningless.” To me, that’s akin to giving up on morality altogether.

A lot of this is a matter of perspective. Yes, if you zoom out far enough, assigning fault is meaningless. But then, if you zoom out far enough, everything is meaningless. Everything we love and care about will one day be gone. Our battles for justice, for equality, for the people we love, will all be entirely pointless once our current society goes the way of the Aztecs, once humanity disappears, once the earth gets swallowed by the sun.

Again, if we zoom far enough out, climate change is not really a problem. According to that wise state preceptor, “In this world, fortune—good or bad—is predetermined.” MXTX believes there is only so much good fortune in the world. If we somehow manage to take too much of it, we will eventually pay the price. Balance will be restored.  

Which is exactly what is happening in this era of climate catastrophe. In the past 200 years since the industrial revolution, humanity has taken a lot of fortune. For the first time in history, we don’t worry every day about finding food. We’ve conquered a whole host of deadly diseases, have greatly reduced our need for manual labor, and can spend our days in mental pursuits, making art, or writing self-indulgent essays about Chinese web novels.

All of this, I would argue, is not really because of human ingenuity, but because we happened to find an incredibly powerful energy source—fossil fuels—which have given us the illusion of “human progress.” Let’s remember that this “progress” has only lasted for about 200 years, a small dot on the graph of human existence (300,000 years), and that for most of that time, people viewed history as a cycle, with inevitable ups and downs, rather than a continuous march upward.

In other words, in the past 200 years, we’ve taken too much fortune. But nature will correct the balance. I don’t think climate change will destroy life on earth. Even if the worst happens and humanity bites the dust, other species will most likely persist, evolving into creatures completely new—a rebirth, of sorts. Looking at it from that far-off, disinterested perspective, it’s not really a problem. It’s just what nature does. New species follow each other, one after the next—like passing seasons.

But, even if all this is true, I don’t think we can be so detached. I don’t think we can live our lives believing that morality is pointless, not trying to do the right thing, or not worrying about how our actions affect others. If we approach life with such indifference, what’s to stop us from completely giving up?

One of my favorite TV shows is this old drama called Dead Like Me, where a wise, older character (a state preceptor, of sorts), says to the main character, “If you stand too close to a painting — all you see are patches of color, if you stand too far back, you can't see any of the detail.” In other words, when it comes to life, you need to stand the right distance away. Personally, I think MXTX is standing too far back. It’s true, there is so much we can’t control. Though we may be able to make things better for a bit, we cannot alter the basic cycle of life. Life is suffering. It was true when Buddha said it, and it’s true now. And if we try to “attempt the impossible,” as the Jiang motto says, and radically change that dynamic, we will fail.

But unlike in MXTX’s universe, fate doesn’t really screw us at every turn. Every day there are small victories. I used to do social work, which really was an exercise in the futility of trying to fix deeply rooted problems with insufficient tools, but I still remember those few times when I did do something right: the old man with dementia I got to take his meds, the guy who found his family on Facebook.

Even just writing a stupid email to Biden telling him to stop the drilling… we have to value those actions. We have to be invested. Sure, the universe doesn’t care. But I think we should still care. We can’t just throw up our hands and say the world is fucked. Because if everyone did that, the world really would be fucked. Even more so than it already is.  

Again, I realize I don’t entirely know where she’s going with all this. It’s very possible there’s going to be more to it than just criticizing idealism. Despite all the depressing stuff, I see crumbs of hope in how Hua Cheng loves Xie Lian, and values his attempts to help others. The line, “Although foolish, it is brave,” just floored me. I loved it so much. Honestly, I’d probably be happy if she leaves open any hope for idealism at all.   

But also, I have to prepare myself for the possibility that I will not totally agree with what she has to say. Which should be fine. I mean, in real life, I’m pretty good at interacting with people I fundamentally disagree with. But… in the hands of an author like MXTX, I feel like my emotions are like putty. I’m completely at her mercy. And partially, I don’t want to fight that. I want to give myself to the story, and lose myself in it completely. That’s a great feeling, but also, kind of… vulnerable? And then, when so emotionally invested, to suddenly realize that what the author’s saying bothers me…

Of course, I’ll get over it. I always do. Usually I write meta or fanfic as a way to process—to get out of someone else’s story, out of their head, and back into my own.

Anyways, we’ll see. Don’t tell me what happens!! I am trusting YOU, strangers on the internet!

If that’s not blind idealism, I don’t know what is…

[silverflyte]

Charm of Men’s Watches

Certainly there is a huge charm of men’s watches these days. There are plenty of men designer watches available in the global market but the most unique and elegant men’s watch is characteristically known as Rolex Watch. Believe me this is a trusty watch in the global market today. Men’s fake Rolex watches are really dependable, prestigious, and carved watches for the men all over the world. Talking about second learn more most unique men designer watch, it is typically known as Zenith watch. Indeed Zenith men designer replica watches are very suitable and fitting watches for the men worldwide.

When it comes to the Mont Blanc watches, men would definitely like to buy them all the time for the reason that they are remarkable watches for the men. That is why Mont Blanc fake watches would immediately help you in boosting up your natural looks. Talking about Cartier replica Rolex watches, they are also very impeccable and prestigious watches for the fashionable men all around the world. As far as Date Just fake Rolex watches are concerned they are indeed very suitable and immaculate icons for the fashion designer men all around the globe.

When it comes to GMT-Master II imitation Rolex watches, they are incredibly unique and pleasant icons for the men globally. As far as Ferrari fake Rolex watches are concerned they would instantly lend a hand to you to liven up your natural shapes. Further Date Just imitation Rolex watches are very exceptional types of watches for the fashion designer men all around the world. Moreover we cannot deny the value Submariner fake Rolex watches at all for the reason that they are advantageous icons for the fashion designers worldwide. Besides, Fossil watches are the most enchanting and luxurious watches for the designer men all over the world. Next Breitling replica Rolex watches are very distinguished watches for the men globally.

In addition to this, there are plenty of other renowned men’s watches available out there in the global marketplace. Interestingly all of them are beyond your imaginations. So, there is no doubt about that there is quite a huge charm of men’ designer watches in the world today. That is why thousands of men are heavily buying them so as to give a new and elegant shape to their fashions in an impeccable manner.

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Weekend all :) Watched this ep last night wrote down my thoughts and thought kick off Saturday with a review. Another really good ep ahead. S2 adds onto the base built in S1 in the best way. Off we go.

2x02 The Night General

We catch our first glimpse of our fine duo at the end of roll call. Grey has a new book for Tim to read for his Sergeant's exam. Tim doesn’t look excited in the least. Lucy calls out the book for its dated title. Grey explains to Lucy it's from the 60s. Lovely. Tim asks how this book is relevant with 21st century policing? Grey tells him 'Ours is not to reason why' LOL Basically saying he has to read it whether he wants to or not Poor Tim.

They're not in the shop two seconds before Tim hands her the book to read to him. Of course Lucy is going to give him some push back. She wouldn’t be her if she didn’t. Would you love her Timothy if she was anything but who she is? haha This is how they're going to spend their shift whether Lucy wants to or not.

Lucy suggests just to let her drive so he can read it while they work. That doesn’t fly with Tim baha Lucy doesn’t understand (yet) why he can’t just read it himself. Thinks Tim is just making her do it for him just cause he can. You'll find out soon enough my dear. Lucy knows when to pick her battles at this point. So she decides not to fight Tim on this one. Gives in and cracks this old fossil open and begins to read to him.

Mini marriage scene going on right here. It's their back and forth that I love so much about them. A comfortability has settled between the two of them and it shows. Instantly Lucy is being smug and sassy about the material. One of my fav things she does with him. Pushes his buttons like only she can. Instead of being immediately grumpy he dishes it right back. Oh how they’ve grown. Giving him crap with the book saying he shouldn’t generate fear but respect.

Tim is snarky as well firing back of course she would like this book...We all know she has thrived under his leadership. She's not really taking shots at him so much as using it to mess with him. She can't help herself. Lucy is taking full advantage of this scenario. Tim is painfully aware she is using reading this book to punish him. I mean it's only fair since he's forcing her to read it between calls.

I love her face in the gif above. She’s enjoying herself far too much for Tim’s liking haha He tells her to just keep reading LOL Like Lucy wasn't going to read this book without running commentary. Come on Timothy you know better than that hehe Lucy continues on and you can see him trying so hard to absorb it as she speaks.

Lucy ends up on another quote she likes. Of course its about patrol officers having value. So she chooses this one to have him parrot back to her. She is agitating the crap out of him and knows it. Telling him he needs to repeat it in order to memorize it. Using her psych degree to justify it. He begrudgingly does it and she asks him to do it again lmao Lucy is pushing her boundaries today and is fine with it haha

They get a call interrupting her and Tim is so relieved. Lucy responds to dispatch then says 'Ok 3 min out more reading.' LMAO She is relentless and begins up again. Tim's face above I’m dying. LOL He looks like he’s being endlessly tortured by her studying methods. This episode is absolute gold start to finish. He is at her mercy with this and knows it.

We rejoin them in the shop after their call. Lucy has moved onto chapter 3. ‘The Healthy Habits Of Command’ She goes on to read out loud ‘Delegation is the key to leading men in times of stress.’ Which leads to the line above. She follows it up with That’s so true don’t you think? Tim snaps back it’s hard enough to listen to this stuff without her editorializing haha Honestly Tim what did you expect from her? She tells him she’s happy to stop anytime and get back to her paper work.

Lucy goes on to tell him that he’s going to have to re-read all this again anyways to memorize it. You see the panic in Tim’s face. It’s here Lucy finds out he learns best when he’s hears it. That response immediately gets the wheels in Lucy’s head churning with her response of Really? He then asks what? Why? She tells him nothing…. Doesn’t take Tim long to figure out she’s holding something back from him. He says ‘Boot...’

Lucy tries to mumble her reply at first. Telling him he has a learning difference under her breath. It’s kinda funny how she tries to hide her answer. She knows he’s going to take it the wrong way. Tim makes her speak up and Lucy bites the bullet. Then try’s to soften the blow by saying he’s just wired differently. That he just processes information differently than others. She is digging herself a hole and knows it. Tim is bristly af as she tries explain this to him. He tells her he doesn’t have a learning disability. Flat out refuses to accept it.

Lucy digs her hole even further when she brings up Isabel. Tim has grown but that continues to be a sore subject for him. Lucy is trying so hard for him not to take this as a bad thing. Minute she brings Isabel up and their time at the academy he shuts down. Tells her they’re not talking about this. Lucy looks crushed she’s offended him. That comfortability and banter from earlier gone. You can see how much she wants to fix it. Unfortunately they get a call before she can rectify the situation. It's about a suspicious mini van casing a house. She tries to fix it as they drive to the call but he is shut off completely. Lucy is defeated and says never mind….

They pull up and its an old colleague of Tim's. He is a bounty hunter now. Lucy is assertive right off the bat saying they've received multiple 911 calls about him. Rex bites back calling her boot and to watch her tone. Tim steps in right away. No one calls her ‘boot’ but Tim good sir. So sexy when he tells Rex she’s the police now. Even though he’s grumpy about the studying he still has her back on this 100%. Such growth Tim. I love me some protective/supportive Tim. Lucy doesn't let Rex's behavior shake her. Lets this surly grump of a man know that. It’s like she has experience with them or something heh

Tim's face when Rex says 'You let her talk to you like that?' It’s a 'Watch it...' We all know Tim likes it when Lucy talks to him like that. It’s that assertive confidence that attracts him to her. One of many reasons But It’s far too early to delve into that fully haha We all know it’s true though. Lucy tells him his bounty Nico is a very dangerous person. Rex tries to rattle her one more time. Saying how he’s been dealing with dangerous men since she was in diapers. Lucy tells him these days you have to call law enforcement for this stuff. She cracks me up and says maybe he should read Tim’s book LMAO

Lucy tries the next day to mend fences with Tim. Asking him if he'd like her to read to him? Trying to offer up a olive branch. He instantly shuts her down. Says no. Lucy tries to implore him to let her. That he needs to learn it. He grumpily replies ‘I can do that on my own.' Oof she really hit a nerve with this one. Before Lucy can fight him some more they pull back up to Rex’s van. Tim is wanting to do a welfare check on him. He didn't report his bounty last night. Lucy calls him out for it and Tim says he wouldn’t put it that way to Rex though. But he's being a softie and she knows it.

They find blood and broken glass and call it in. Rex has been assaulted and Tim sees red. He takes off once Rex says Nico is headed to his aunt's. Lucy calls after him saying they need a warrant. Tim doesn’t listen as he takes off and Rex tells Lucy go with Tim.

Tim busts in raging says blood on the door enough reason for them to search. Lucy takes control of the situation quickly. Makes the aunt call Nico. Says they’ll arrest for aiding and abetting if she doesn’t. Does this to calm Tim down a bit. She’s so good at that. Not the first time she's taken charge to rein him a bit. The aunt calls it doesn't take long to find him in the house Then comes this bad ass fight scene. Last episode I said they’re like poetry in motion in the field. This gif is the definition of that. Look how well they work together to take Niko down. It’s a thing of beauty really.

First off let’s enjoy the fact we’re getting Tim all sweaty and guns out to play shall we? Ovary explosion for me. It's a very nice visual for me to start this scene. *fans self* Never get over how fine this man is honestly. Now let’s move onto the beautiful moment that’s about to commence. Lucy finds Tim working out. Ask's if he's training for his next re-match with Nico haha She hands him the little Audio book he looks so confused as to what this might be. His confusion continues after she explain its the audiobook version of his book.

Lucy looks so proud of herself when she explains she recorded it for him. She should be. You know she spent whatever free time she had off shift doing that for him. That is no small feat. Also the fact that she reached out to Isabel for him. I can’t imagine that conversation wasn’t a little awkward for her. But guess what? She did it anyways to help him. Even when he’s obstinate af with her she is driven to help him no matter what.

That psych degree comes in handy when she’s deciphering Tim. Why he acts the way he does. He lashed out cause he was embarrassed by the fact that he learns through listening. This is why Lucy does this for him. So he feels better about the way he learns. Doesn’t feel shame about it. He is much more receptive to her explanation this time around. You can see it in his face in that second gif above. She is so kind and gentle while she does it. Letting him know hey it's ok you learn this way. Nothing is wrong with it or you.

I can totally relate to Tim too btw. I am a Kinesthetic learner as well. I absorb audio books far more than sitting down and reading. I have to be moving while I listen or I’m instantly bored and disengage. If it’s a fic I’m fine for most part if it’s a one shot. But anything I have to read at massive length? I gotta be moving. So I get it Tim I’m same way my love.

She ends her explanation by complimenting him in the best way she can. By letting him know that the way he learns is why he’s such an excellent cop. Building him up and letting him know its why he excels the way he does at his job. Reinforcing his way of learning isn’t a bad thing at all but a strength for him. You can see it in his face he finally accepts this about himself. He replies 'Yeah.' with a small smile of gratitude. Like she's just taught him something about himself and he's not mad about it. Tim can't help but let that Lucy light of hers in.

Lucy says she will see him tomorrow. Wants to let him get back to his work out. You can tell Tim wants to say something before she goes. He builds up the courage to say 'Thanks' as she’s leaving ❤️ It's such a loaded Thanks for him. The absolute gratitude he has for her in this moment. I’ve said it many times and I’ll continue to say it. Eric says so damn much with just a look. If her recording an audio book isn’t an act of service and love to him I don’t know what is. The look on this man’s face as he says 'Thanks.' He is blown away she took the time to do this for him. Has to make sure Lucy knows how grateful he is before she leaves. Because she saw he had a need and fulfilled it for him. Put him first and took care of him in best way she could think of.

Lucy’s smile Is everything after he says this. It's the most honest and genuine 'Thanks ' she's ever received from him. She almost can't handle it. Why she nervously smiles back instead of replying. She is adorable. Gah no one gets through like Lucy does for him. Makes me wanna cry honestly. They’re written so damn well it makes me happy. Truly just make one another better in the best way.

That little smile of his when he hears Lucy’s intro. My damn heart. She truly is the best rookie he’s ever trained. Damn straight. If you weren’t shipping them before, this scene has to get you hook, line and sinker. She recorded an old outdated book for him in her personal time, built him up, made him feel better about how he learns, and reached out to his ex for clarification in order to help him better.

Actions speak louder than words they say for a reason. Her actions are screaming right now. Makes you wonder if he listened at night at all? Did he ever fall asleep to her voice during his studying? Maybe he did maybe he didn't. A girl can dream though haha Such a good ep for them start to finish.

~~~~~

Side notes non-chenford

Mmm Tim laying into Jackson about the hole he’s in. Yes please. Defending Angela when Jackson makes a joke if he’s late his dad is gonna light up Lopez. Tim goes on to tell him she’s going to pay the price if he doesn’t get his shit together. That she will be the target of his fathers aggression if he goes belly up halfway through training. That Jackson owes her his career. Whew lord I love me some protective Tim.

Also Lucy and Jackson living together ❤️ such a good friend to take him in like that I love it. First thing he needed to her back on track.

[trans-beast]

https://youtu.be/jqrSAWAaC9s?si=ZjiRYDhJf97dXveo

I'm not usually super political. I don't even fully agree with some of the statements made in this video, particularly involving veganism, which felt unnecessary at best and biased at worst. But to those who would be negatively impacted given the current political climate, this video has value. Most of that value is at the start. Study the policies and laws in your state. There may be more of a safety net for you than you know.

There is also a chance you may find safety in specific parts of the state you live in, even if it's a state that shows up red on a map. Dallas, Texas has a reputation for being very queer-friendly, as an example. Knowledge is power, get yourself some knowledge.

The gist of the video is that getting involved with community stuff can help. And I don't mean "let's all work at a soup kitchen", I mean find a group you vibe with and go hang out with them, and be open to new folks seeking refuge in your pack. It can be a soup kitchen, it can be a gardening club, a D&D group that supports its players and isn't run by an asshole, it can even be a club that does BDSM on the weekends and watches horror movies at Dave's house once a month. As long as it's not closing itself off to new members and everyone is willing to contribute in some form, even if it's something as small as cleaning up something someone else spilled or offering to do a chore or lending your friend a $5 bill to buy a beer to take the edge off, that is enough to do some good.

Fascism lives in the mundane. It starts growing in the spaces where justice and community are absent. Don't let it grow. By having a community you stand together with, you WILL make an impact, even if you don't know it. You will make a snowball effect. We need to change the way people think, and it starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with everyone. This is the kind of societal upheaval that leads to people being more mindful and considerate, the kind of tragedy that makes people look back and say "we should have known better", but that better future only comes if we use our heads and stick together.

We've been conditioned to think a single person can't do anything, and that only a majority can make a change. That's bullshit. Every single person in a majority is just that - a single person. We need to foster bonds and form tribes, because that's what we've been literally born to do. We evolved to survive together, not alone. We evolved to help each other out, to lend our talents to the group so we can all make it, rather than just some of us. Selfishness feels bad because we literally were programmed for this through millions of years of evolution. We are not a species that banded together out of hate, we did it out of love. We have seen fossil evidence of ancient humans caring for their injured and disabled, ensuring they live far longer than they would have on their own. We care for our own.

And even outsiders aren't exempt from this evolutionary predisposition to pack-bond. We tamed wolves and made them dogs. We barely did anything and cats decided they liked our vibe enough to stick around. We used to be ENEMIES with wolves. Humans and wolves hunted a lot of the same prey, with the same methods, and we STILL managed to befriend them and become stronger together. Even now we are keeping all kinds of weird stuff in our homes like snakes and lizards and birds and spiders and rats, we are STILL taming animals, and they don't even serve a survival purpose anymore. We just like having them around. Human instinct isn't about bloodshed, it's about bonding with another creature and protecting that bond you have made.

Go outside. Go touch grass and socialize. Some of you severely underestimate the benefit of just living your life and inviting others to join. Find a safe space with people who don't justify doing harm to others by wearing a MAGA hat. If that safe space can't be found, do what you can to build one. Build a bond with that community, look out for each other. We're pack animals. Go find a pack.

I hope everyone found this helpful and I invite discussion. Suggestions, questions, comments, concerns, whatever! Go for it! Let's talk. Put the "commune" in "community".

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the World Meteorological Organization:

Greenhouse gas levels surged to a new record in 2023, committing the planet to rising temperatures for many years to come, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than any time experienced during human existence, rising by more than 10% in just two decades. 

In the course of 2023, large vegetation fire CO2 emissions and a possible reduction in carbon absorption by forests combined with stubbornly high fossil fuel CO2 emissions from human and industrial activities to drive the increase, according to the WMO’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.

The globally-averaged surface concentration of CO2 reached 420.0 parts per million (ppm), methane 1 934 parts per billion and nitrous oxide 336.9 parts per billion (ppb) in 2023. These values are 151%, 265% and 125% of pre-industrial (before 1750) levels, it said. These are calculated on the basis of the long-term observations within the Global Atmosphere Watch network of monitoring stations.

“Another year. Another record. This should set alarm bells ringing among decision makers. We are clearly off track to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and aiming for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. These are more than just statistics. Every part per million and every fraction of a degree temperature increase has a real impact on our lives and our planet,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

The 2023 increase of CO2 in the atmosphere was higher than that of 2022, although lower than that of the three years before that. The annual increase of 2.3 ppm marked the 12th consecutive year with an increase greater than 2 ppm.

[dystopianam]

Hello, my beautiful friend, whom which I value highly, I need to confirm your thoughts to validate my current list. First, allow yourself to this palette cleanser.

Ah yes, watch as these old men kiss. Good vintage, fruity aroma. Do I detect a hint of strawberry? I digress, I wish to know your opinion on one Consort Capp (Images included for prosperity, see below).

You're my last hope.

He is a good fossil who loves his Italian homo sapiens with all his heart

[ms-hells-bells]

irrelevant to anyone else post for me to me on my public diary U.U

lamest use of my rock knowledge ever, watching a game show where a group was trying to guess the fake collector/collection, and one was a rock collector, but i knew they were the fake because

1. they generally described their rocks as 'metamorphic' and while there were a few pieces of pumice and obsidian, most were sedimentary rocks,

2. being sedimentary rocks, most would not have any value at all as they are the most common rocks everywhere you dig down. none of the rocks appeared to have valuable minerals or unusual materials running through them, weren't of notable shape or size, and were not described as being deep layered or very old. even the pumice and obsidian looked worthless too

3. the 'most valuable' ones were ones that 'looked like' various things, when in reality, most rock value is determined by present minerals/materials, age, and location, let alone the fact that none were raw gems or contained even common gem minerals like quartz (or fossils!). the few that i thought looked naturally formed and unusually pretty turned out to come from a legit rock club

4. speaking of looks like, a lot of them looked non-naturally formed, and

5. in having them, many of which he claimed he 'discovered' at a nearby mountain range and national park, would be highly unethical and most rock collectors would eschew attaining them in such a manner, and it's even highly likely that the national park would have rules against taking anything from nature back with you (it's damaging to the environment)

most mediocre skill ever. can tell if someone is lying about rock information.

[monstersandmaw]

I love your merfolk characters! So maybe 🍑🍆🍫 for Connor and Caspian from Starfall Springs??

OOoh!!!!! Fun!!

Ok, so Connor first:

🍑: What sort of traits does your OC look for in a Significant Other?

Someone kind and sweet, with a playful side.

🍆: Does your OC have any favourite form of affection, physical or otherwise?

Touch is important to him, but he's an 'acts of service' kind of guy, so he'll do stuff for people he values. Like taking them to scenic coves and going fossil hunting...

🍫: Where does your OC go to think?

Way way way out to sea, where there's nothing but rolling waves and open ocean.

_

Caspian the octomer...

🍑: What sort of traits does your OC look for in a Significant Other?

Someone who likes the outdoors and isn't afraid of a challenge

🍆: Does your OC have any favourite form of affection, physical or otherwise?

Touch is again a big deal for him, so if he can wrap all his limbs around someone and hold them close, that's a good thing in his books

🍫: Where does your OC go to think?

There's a coral reef outside Starfall where he likes to float with the currents and watch the fish drift...

Thanks for asking!!

(Odd OC asks here)

[lost-technology]

Beyond the Sea

Tri-Tober Fanfic shorts Prompt 5: Sand Setting: All / Any of Franchise Summary: Noman's Land is ancient and holds many secrets in its sands. (Aka, author thinks palentology is neat).

Prompt 5: Sand Beyond the Sea Vash leaned on the railing of the viewing deck of the Flourish watching the endless waves of sand.  “Small” (for a given value of “small”) sandworms breached the surface, chasing the sand steamer and a Grand Worm breached in the distance, against the low-hanging suns.  Some of the other passengers oohed and awwwwed, and some screamed, fearful of a creature that wasn’t anywhere near them.  The steamer shook slightly as a sand-wave hit the hull.  Sand was a dense material and this capering really shouldn’t have been possible, but the native creatures managed to make it work – built perfectly for efficient tunneling and insanely strong.  Vash tried to imagine the sand as water and failed because he had never seen so much water gathered into one place.  Imagining the sands as water just shifted the mental image he was trying to grasp onto back to sand.  Rem had shown him pictures and videos of the ocean when he was a child – the sunlit sea being one of her favorite things, and she often compared its vastness to the black outside of Ship Five’s windows, although she always said that space was…much deeper, much more.  She’d spoken of the interstellar journey of SEEDS as being akin to naval exploration in Earth’s ancient days when island nations found new islands and when people found unoccupied lands.  So, too, were people who found lands unknown to them, but inhabited and there was an entire dark history with that.    He knew that the sand-sea was the result of a water sea that had existed once upon a time. Great waters had buffeted rocks and ground them down into a seafloor, mostly shallow.  There was an entire history of this planet that neither humans nor Plants were privy to.  The worms knew, for as far back as their collective memory could reach, but unlike with his kin, the minds of the worms were something that Vash the Stampede could not touch.  In order for the breathable atmosphere and the protective ozone layer to exist well enough to make human and Plant habitation possible, this world had to have had a history at least somewhat like Earth’s in terms of geology and biology.  Vash had read about it… there had to have been liquid water here in the past – more than the paltry bit to be found in the clouds and occasional underwater springs that were struck, much more.  There had to have been bacteria and bacterial-mats that had generated oxygen, perhaps suffering a mass extinction from their own mindless processes, while paving the way for new forms of life.    Fossils were found occasionally in the rocks and scientists had some idea of how the worms might have come about.  Much more life that had once existed here was gone – Like the sea that had left behind the great swaths of sand loose enough for humans’ machines to plough through and for the descendants of the deep ancient creatures to frolic in.  And so Vash leaned on the railing, trying to imagine this history, hopelessly trying to imagine water, sweltering in his coat in the heat and wondering through the depths of time, past and future, what was beyond the sea.