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portsandstars · 2 months

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I recently got an ask about how I made my Vere cosplay, so I thought I'd write an (overly descriptive) explanation about what I did! Note that I have very minimal sewing and cosplay experience, so it's quite possible that there are many better ways to achieve the same look.

If you're interested in recieving the pattern that I used, please DM me, and I'll send you the files. Note that the pattern is only made to my measurements(I am very tall and small chested) and I have also altered the pattern after working with it some, though not altered the PDF.

Some of my explanations won't be the most clear, I'm happy to explain more in the comments or dms- I'm just limited on the number of pictures:)

Below the readmore because u guys this is going to be a bit exhaustively long :>

The pattern pieces for the top

I got a pattern after commissioning someone on Fiverr for about $60 dollars (let me know if you want their contact info). They were not very interested in reference photos and instead wanted me to sketch the garment I needed. I made a mock-up in a day after receiving the pattern files (took me about 8-10 hours lol). I requested a few edits from the pattern maker and recieved a second pattern. From there, I made multiple mockups and edited the PDF pattern to:

- shorten the smallest sleeve

- increase the curve of the front shirt edge

- add an unofficial collar band to increase collar height

- change the angle of the piping seam to enter the armhole at much more of a slanted angle

- increase the height and shape of the side waist openings (they are still lower than is accurate).

- add a sleeve gusset bc I couldn't move my arms (the sleeves are still tough, I'd recommend altering the dark purple sleeves if you make this)

- making the floatly sleeves way more voluminous.

Here are some photos of the top. I bought a crotch snap bodysuit premade and cut it after someone helped me pin the top to it. This is to help keep the top "tucked in" to the belt without bunching, while still allowing you to go to the bathroom. There need to be snaps because I taped the top to my skin, so you don't want to pull the top off your shoulders as you would a romper.

Ok, now let's see where the pattern pieces go to the shirt:

Fabric

I used a satin fabric for this top. I chose this primarily because it looked the closest to the right color that I could find (rather than being interested in the sheen). I'd say that it kinda sucked to work with because it frays exceptionally easily, though it does look pretty. The lilac fabric is a cotton fabric that I used throughout this project to add weight and stability - the color doesn't matter. I also used a medium weight black fabric (?), Silver pleather, and lightweight interfacing.

- back of the garment was purple satin underlined with lilac cotton

- front (orange) piece was purple satin with lightweight iron on interfacing

- collar (blue) was purple satin with the lightweight interfacing not in the seam allowances.

- front (red) piece was purple satin, iron on interfacing, and underlined lilac cotton.

- black boarder on the front (green) was a thick black fabric that was in a discount bin. Highly recommend you use a thin black cotton because the thickness of this fabric gave me a lot of trouble. Interfaced the center of these pieces.

- facings for the side opening (front and back of garment) were made from the lilac fabric and interfaced with lightweight interfacing EXCEPT for the seam allowance.

- tiny sleeve (yellow) was interfaced to give it structure, but not in the seam allowances

- I really struggled with the tension on my machine so I never sewed the satin alone. On the long, dark purple sleeves I added iron on interfacing ONLY to the seam allowance to give the seam stability so I could sew it.

- the silver piping around the collar and glued onto the front is made from a silver pleather. On one hand, this sucked to work with because my strategy involves sewing through ~10 layers of it at least, which is very hard(thimble needed). BUT, If you don't use silver pleather, I'd say your silver fabric MUST NOT FRAY for you to use the techniques I used.

STEPS TO CONSTRUCT (~30-40 hours).

You definitely need to make a mock-up unless you are very experienced. I made about 4-6 (would alter one sleeve but not bother changing the other, etc).

1. Cut all pieces except for facings, black boarder, and floaty sleeves out of purple satin.

2. Cut cotton support fabric for the following pieces - back, red, gussets, side facings (4 total)

4. Cut black boarder/facing (4 total).

3. Cut and iron on interfacing - center of collar, red (not seam allowance), orange (not seam allowance), tiny sleeve (not seam alloance), black boarder/facing- only needed on the outside ones(not seam allowance). Interfacing for the side facings. If you have issues with sewing the satin, also iron on interfacing on the seam allowances, and add it to purple satin that is alone (the long sleeves).

4. Baste all underlining fabric to the purple satin by hand (back, sleeve gusset, red).

5. Stay stitch in the seam allowance all pieces

6. Zigzag stitch all pieces.

7. Lay the lilac side facing on top of the right side of front orange piece, interfacing of the facing touching the right side of the fabric. Sew together along the inner curve. Notch the seam allowance here so it can bend easier. Flip facing to the wrong side of the garment. Iron flat. Pull the notches to the facing side and understitch. Iron again. Sew the top and bottom of the facing edges into the seam allowance of the side seam of the garment and the hem of the garment so they don't flop as much. Do the same thing on the the second orange piece (mirrored). Then do this twice, once for each side curve on the back piece.

8. Yayyy now it's time to attach the black edge. Choose your prettiest of the two of each mirrored piece to be the outside ones. Hem the longer edge of all 4 black facing pieces. Lay the facing, right side facing up, on top of the right side of the orange piece along the front hem. Sew directly on top of your hemming stitches so it is attached about an inch in. Try to not go out of the hem stitches at all. Then, lay a second facing on TOP of the facing u just sewed, wrong side facing up. Sew along the edge through all three layers. Notch this seam. Flip the top facing to the inside of the garment and iron flat. Understitch the inside facing. Iron again. Sew along the black facings inside the seam allowance of the top edge of the orange piece. Below are my notes to myself about this if they would help you LMFAO.

9. U can hem the orange piece now if you want to, I chose to not bc there is sooo much more stuff to do!!

10. Hand baste the red piece to your completed/with facings orange piece along the bottom edge of the red piece/top of orange. You're gonna have to rip this out later but you need to add the collar and measure the length of the piping that will go here and it needs to be attached to do this.

11. attach the back of the top at the shoulder seam. you can also pin or baste the side seams now under the arm hole but note that the size will be really different here with the sleeve gores later added. this turns it into a vest yayy its taking shape

12. iron all the seams u got going on

13. Hem the interior edge of the red pieces so that the collar can attach over it. Use a basting stitch bc you're going to have to undo part of this later 🙃

13. make the collar. tbh I'd recommend watching a tutorial for this, it is pretty similar to any men's dress shirt, especially a mandarin collar. sew the collar along the neckline of the garment.

14. Measure from the side seam under the arm, along the hem of red all along the back collar, to the other side seam under the other arm to see how long your piping needs to be. You can make it a bit longer than it needs to be. i chose to use piping because I couldn't find a silver cord that resembled this detail going around the collar of his shirt, and this seemed like the best solution. It would be far easier to use a silver cord if you can find it tho :). If you found cord that you liked, you could simply sew red to orange directly.

15. make the piping! This whole part is the worst part of the whole garment. You should have a thimble and strong handsewing needles. And probably pliers to pull the needle through. I cut long strips 4 of the silver pleather and bought 2 mm wide nylon cord. I then folded the strip around the cord and handsewed really close to the cord with white thread. You could machiene sew this but personally I found that it wasn't "tight" enough to the cord for me. Two of the piping strips you should cut most of the seam allowance off, the other two should be a normal amount of seam allowance on the piping.

16. Line up your 4 piping strips into a stack and measure across them to determine their width. You next want to create the ILLUSION of more piping. The way I did this was I took a wider strip of silver, the width of the 4 piping strips + one hypothetical extra piping on the top and one on the bottom and cut a strip this wide + lots of extra seam allowance that was about the length of the shirt collar. Then, I hemmed it deeply, so my hem stitches would be close to the center of the strip. There's NO cord in this piece. Then, I hand sewed this flat piece to the collar of the shirt.

17. Next, I bent my piping strips in half and marked the center points on each with a pin. I took one with long seam allowance and laid it flat so the seam allowance lay facing right, and then laid the other piping with seam allowance overlapping the previous piping facing left. Then the piping with very small seam allowance goes on top of this. Diagram crossection below, with the circles representing the cord of the piping, and = representing the orientation of the seam allowance.

O O

O=====

======O

In this way, the piping can be sewn into a continuous strip that is sturdy, without the seam allowance showing. I handsewed the piping pieces together, working from the center, for about 5 inches of length, snaking sideways through the cording of the piping with white thread so it's joined into one continuous strip. Then, I began to handsew this piping to the collar on top of the silver flat fake piping that u already sewed there. Make sure the center of the piping goes to the center of the collar. From there, you alternate handsewing the piping to itself into one continuous strip, and then handsewing it to the collar.

18. As you work, you're going to have to sew it along the edge of the red piece once you're done with the collar. You can initially sew it to the hem that you established before on the red piece. However, when the red piece meets the orange piece (at the black fabric) you need to undo the hem of the red piece there and cut a slit in the fabric (visible below). This is because the hem of the red piece now needs to hang down and attach to the orange piece, so you need the material. Your piping here will go between the red and orange pieces. You also need to cut your basting stitches here so u can sew it for real. You should gradually and evenly spaced - end each line of piping along the top of the orange, so that by the time you're at the armhole, only one piping line is remaining. I chose the bottom silver line on the collar to be my longest piping strip, as this matches (more) of the reference photos). Rather than sew through all 12- 14 layers (...) I found it easier to do a stairstep method. I sewed my first piping strip to the red, then I sewed my second piping to the first piping(but NOT to the red), my third piping to the second, my fourth to the third, and my orange piece to the fourth. Throw in some stitches that bridge more layers as a failsafe and be diligent here bc the structure of the garment depends on it lol.

19. Fantastic ! U made it through the hardest part! Hem the long purple sleeves. Gather the top of the floaty sleeves. Sew the inner seams of the floaty sleeves. Sew the inner seams of the 2 long sleeves together. Leave the length of the V of the gusset unsewed at the top of the sleeve seam. Hem the edge of your tiny sleeves (yellow).

Now you need to attach the sleeves. I sewedthe gauze to half the gusset by hand first. Next I handsewed the gusset to both the long sleeve and the floaty sleeves, leaving the other V half of it unattached to later put into the side seam under the arm. Next I pinned all three sleeves into the armhole of the top. Tbh ... The size of the armhole seemed wrong so I needed to pleat the top of the of the long sleeve to make it fit (😐). Then I handsewed all three sleeves on each side into the arm hole, and then sewed the gusset into the side of the garment, and then finished the side of the top's seam (where the side facings meet) by hand too. I think it'd be possible to do this by machiene but with all the layers, gathering, and difficult corners from the gusset, it was way easier to handsew it imo. Now do the other sleeve wow so fun

20. Get a silver ribbon /string and handsew the sleeve decorations in place. I've found that piercing the silver cord tends to make it get ugly and split so instead I sewed the ends down and then went around the cord like belt with belt loops. Leave a tiny amount of give here so it doesn't strangle ur arm. Try and make the other sleeve the same lol.

21. Cut EVA foam (very thin mm foam) into LONG strip for the vertical silver detailing. Handsew the Eva foam to your top where the silver detailing is. Honestly I might wait to do this until your belt is done bc the position of the bottom half of these lines depends on where your belt sits. But, the purpose of the Eva foam is that it provides a solid base for your silver fabric to glue to that will bend with the garment well and the glue won't stiffen or distort your fabric. Afterwards you'll glue it to the foam with contact cement or fabric glue (needs to be able to flex).

22. Personally I sewed snaps that connect to the chest harness on the inner black boarder because 1) this allows a bit of the weight of the harness to be taken off of your neck/collar, and 2) allows your top to be held closer to your body (lower chance of flashing people). Make sure to only sew them to the interior black facing, not showing to the other side. I also sewed tacking stiches through the interior facing (hidden in the hem stitching) to hold the interior black facing down. My harness was waistband elastic, stabilized with cotton so it's not stretchy, with velcro attaching to itself through the ring. So each side of the harness at the ring is velcro folded back onto itself after being looked through the ring.

23. I also sewed the snap crotch thing to it. You need to wear the top and the body suit and have someone pin the top so that it's pulled somewhat taut by the bodysuit. The small section between the left and right side of the top (by the bellybutton) of the waistband of the bodysuit I stabilized with cotton again because you don't want that part getting stretched out and widening over time. If you're someone who maybe doesn't have boobs or doesn't care about flashing people, you could just sew it to some shorts. The idea here is to keep it held down AND be able to use the bathroom later WITHOUT pulling all ur fashion tape off in the stall and then reapplying it each time.

Look here for the part two (belt/skirt explanation).

#touchstarved #touchstarved cosplay #vere #touchstarved vere #cosplay #mine #personal #ask #touchstarved game

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langblrwhy · 3 years

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My new new years list

TW: mental health crisis and social anxiety

This month was wild. I barely went out or went to see my friends during the pandemia (last year I saw one friend twice), but I end up seeing some friends for a week this month. It was great, then I guess I was triggered or something, but after that I just felt unstable and mentally awful. I slowly started to recovery, but I went to a job interview, it was awful, because I have social anxiety and then I was on the path to hit the rock bottom.

And then I was like "goddamn, I urgently NEED to do something" and I created a huge detailed list about why and how should I recovery, what to do and where I want to be in the future. I'm more stable and better now.

The list about how I want to be is basically more specified than this one list and I REALLY will try harder on everything. Actually I'm not a proactive, productive, someone who really put effort and who face the fears, but I want to change that, I don't want to be this kind of person anymore.

I hope I can focus on why I want to be a better version of myself, how to do it and really do it.

1 Be fluent in spanish

Yo solamente asistí Elite, yo no participé de ninguna clase de español, porqué yo no sé hablar español. ¡Sí! Buenísima razón, ¿eh?

¡Yo no solamente intentaré, pero yo cambiaré esa mentalidad!

Oh, na verdad el maestro me sacó del grupo, tal vez porqué yo no participé tampoco me justifiqué.

2 Eat 2 new foods and 5 days of no eating meat

5 days no meat

Bean (I don't know the name, but I just eat the broth part, I don't properly eat the bean bean, because I hate it since I was a child)

Pea

Guacamole

Squid

Be comfortable in french

3 Work with design

I started the graduation on Graphic Design, I wish I could be a trainee, but I'm only able to be that after the second semester.

But I had a job interview and was awful.

I'm thinking about to try to be a freelancer (as I said, I'm not proactive + social anxiety)

4 Read 10 books and get used to read just after going to bed:

I finished Call Me By Your Name (english). I'm reading a book for college called The Story of Art (by Gombrich. In portuguese) and I started to read 1984 (in portuguese).

I want to try to read 15 pages every day, it would be way better than the way I'm doing now (the current way is: never read).

5 Be more active in Esperanto-movado and study about it:

I'm doing okay, putting some effort and working on BEJO. But I want to be more social with esperantists and study about the language and learn grammar.

6 Exercising every week (and run a bit):

I did, but I want to do it almost every day.

7 Watch 4 movies or series for month and put the less famous on doesthedogdie. com: at least 1 doc or biographic movie.

1 Chicken Little (USA, 2005)

2 Willy's Wonderland (USA, 2021)

3 Feel Good (UK, 2020-2021)

4 Elite (Spain, 2018-2021)

No biographic or doc.

8 Write down 4 dreams every month.

I wrote a lot.

9 Draw 6 dreams this year.

Guess what? I didn't.

10 Sketch, draw/paint on paper AND digital every month:

I sketch, drew, paint, made digital art, embroidered.

11 Draw on notebook almost everyday:

I almost did.

12 Finish 3 arts for month:

2 embroideries, 1 canvas, 2 digital art.

13 Learn anatomy and draw romantic couples:

I studied.

14 Post a chapter of fiction every month:

I didn't.

15 Start posting fiction in Esperanto (please):

Nenio... denove. Mi eĉ ne verkas aŭ volas verki, mi ne scias, ĉu mi vere volas fari tion ĉi aŭ ne.

16 Take care of myself

I didn't, I mean, at least I tried (and was able) to not come back to my most awful cope mechanism I once had.

Sadly my bad cope mechanisms came back for a while lol

17 Be more sociable AND better at talking, in general:

I guess I'm trying, but I don't know if I'm really getting better lol

8.5/18 = 50%

#glow up #studyblr #langblr #2021 goals #social anxiety #mine #new years list #mental health

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whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years

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Saturday 8 August 1835

8 ¼

12 ¾

No kiss. Very fine morning - very kind note from Lady Stuart de R- more thanks for the table - hopes I shall not leave London till after Wednesday that she may see me again - breakfast at 9 ½ - considering with A- and till 12 ¼ wrote copy of note to Mr Johnson about the schools - A- went to Mr Dumergue again at 11 for about ½ hour - left her to go at 1 to dine with Mrs Plowes (glass coach and laquais de place) and drove to Whitehall - there at 1 - sat about ¾ hour with Lady Stuart and Lady V- The former in a stew about Thrupp in Oxford Street her coach maker to whom it seems she owes seven hundred pounds carriage hire and accumulations Thrupp wanted paying and Lord S- bound himself with his mother for her paying him by instalments of fifty six pounds odd per annum the bill drawn by Mr Stuart (Charles I suppose) came this morning or rather notice of its being due the man could not wait must have money no draft would be take Lady S- did not understand it we had Thrupp’s impertinence talked over Lady S- has Lord Stuart’s chariot will have nothing more to do with Thrupp in which I joined till I saw into the thing (saw the paper left by Thrupp’s banker’s clerk or messenger) and advised

SH:7/ML/E/18/0077

Lady S- merely to send the notice of the bill being due to her own banker and desire him to honour that is pay it Lady S- glad I had happened to be there to tell her what to do Vere said nothing had I offered the money it would have been taken but of course I knew better Lady S- fears my lord is laying out a great deal at Highcliffe and wonders where it is to come from how they are all running to ruin let it be a lesson to me. From Whitehall drove to the National school, and left my note to the ‘revered Mr Johnson, central National school, Westminster’ - then to Colnaghi’s - stopt at the door to say I would look at the books on perspective - should be in town till Monday - to see the British museum now closed to strangers (open to students) should write to the secretary ‘the revered Josiah Forshall Secretary to the British museum’ - then drove to 34 Hertford street - lady Gordon not at home - sent up my card - admitted to Georgiana - Lady G- very ill in bed with so bad a headache could not see her - Alice in Herefordshire - lady S- and Georgiana going to Scotland (per steam to Edinburgh) passage take for Wednesday - staid about 5 minutes and then to Lady Mexboroughs’ - very kind and glad to see me - shewed me the company rooms above and below - went down to luncheon and had excellent prime-cut exprès pour moi - asked me very kindly to visit her at Methlay - hoped I would go - Lady Sarah and Arthur Savile with us at luncheon - gave lady M- Thorpe’s address 28 or 38 Bedford street Covent garden, and said if Lady Hardwicke really wished to sell any of her books perhaps he would give as much for them as anybody would - then drove to 16 Orchard street - Miss Hall not in London - in the North - wrote in pencil at the corner of my card ‘Saturday 8 August 1835’ - then to the Pantheon, new bazaar, in Oxford street just to take a peep at and inquire about the sketch we admired the other day - yes! really by the Turner T- R.A. price 4 guineas done when he was very young, and given to his friend Dr. Monroe - would not now give lesson under any possible circumstances - would not put pencil to paper under 20 guineas - Dr. M- had a collection of sketches by 1st rate artists - the collection was sold - then some difficulty in finding Taylor the publisher 6 Barnard’s Inn, Holborn - a long but tidy narrow passage at the end of which T-‘s house - sometime there - saw only his clerk - bought Banks on a millwheels etc etc and got 10 pc taken off little thought A- had been there before and bought duplicates (full price) of the perspective I got for her and a little 2/. pamphlet on repairing roads - home at 4 ½ - A- has locked up my journal - beside myself at the disappointment - asleep - dressed - at Lady Stuart’s to dinner at 7 10 - only herself and Lady VC- very kind and glad to see me - dinner at 7 ½ - Miss Hyrioth came in the evening - Charlotte S- spending the day in Grosvenor square at Lady Cunnings’ - Lady S- de R- and Louisa gone to Hatfield - Lady S- begged me to write to Lady Harriet - V- can always receive anything free thro’ Mr. Cameron’s cousin by marriage the ‘Honourable Fox Maule, Home office, London’ - V- goes on Wednesday - to spend 2 nights at Lady Northlands’ and .:. be 3 days on the road 57 miles to ‘Brafield House Olney Bucks’ - I may send what I like (in moderation i.e. any moderate quantity sheets of paper) thro’ Mr. FM. so asked V- to write to me often and said I would scribble her something or other in return, busy as I was - she said I must have a hoard somewhere, or coal or something must yield a great deal or how could I build Inns and talk of a house in London etc - hoped I should not ruin myself - I hope not said I - but, if I do, my little friend Miss W- must help me out - come to me said V- I will keep you - I said A- had a very good fortune - but I should take care -had no thought of an house in London perhaps for these 10 years to come - V- said she knew not how it was, she always associated the idea of me with her travels - it seemed as if I had been with her everywhere I had given away her place - I laughed and said it was she who had taken 3 (Donald and 2 children) into mine - she said she had seen no antiquities in Rome as she ought to have done for want of me - She said she was jealous it was joke but somehow she was for her very affectionate I almost fancied she really liked me in some degree as great as her small quantity of warm feeling would permit. Seemed pleased at my promise to go and see her in Scotland and perhaps in Bucks - she said she should be delighted to come to Shibden sometime or other - Miss Hyrioth had walked - I set her down in passing and got home at 11 - A- had returned at 9 ½ and had had tea - Mr Thomas Edwards very ill - Mrs Plowes with him - A- had dined with the children and then gone to Mr TE-’s and sat about a couple of hours with Mrs P- no hope of Mr John E-‘s recovery - had made his will - say up talking about an hour - very fine day - F68° at 12 ¾ tonight - V- accidentally mentioned that her Perrelet-watch did not go very well - not at all well till Jefferson in Bruton street (the best in London) watchmaker or cleaner one or other had it to clean - she said it had never been visitée at all - V- owned she had bought it in a great hurry - P- had only a week to get it ready in and had a very small stock of watches by him at the time.

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sagastar-blog · 6 years

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MemoToTheMetaVerse 4.1, “Copernamici: A GAME TO SAVE EARTH”

Gaia: Daddy, post some of the Copernamici data!

Jeff: Should I edit it first or at al?

Gaia: Very funny. Drop it.

What follows is a transcript of a scientific game played between Gaia, Lucius, and Jeff, known Interdimensional-galactically as Copernamici: A Game to Save The World.

The point of Copernamici is to enjoy the human activity of stargazing. By so doing, one develops an appreciation of one’s place in the context of the Cosmos. People have always had a strong connection to the sky. Since becoming humanoidal cyborganisms, most of the animals known as “people” have become “untethered” from the nightsky, resulting in suicidal tendencies such as global warming, impoverished imaginations, and lack of curiosity among the youth.

The point of Copernamici is to worship the cosmos in pure form. There is no incorrect way to play, except to abstain. If one doesn’t play Copernamici, one expresses apathy towards the NUMBER 1 problem on Earth as of today, December 8 2017: ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.

This is a call to motherfucking arms....

Copernamici Notebook

StarDate 7417 (data from 7317)

The Earth is not rightbrained. Jeff is not without a heart.

Copernamici is the most brutal game imagineable. What sounds true to you?

There is too much dateable data.

There is not enough love.

What’s up with Scoripio?

What am I suposed to say?

Carl Sagan was a loving person but he was a Daddy first and foremost.

What are we supposed to do when I…

am 888888888888876555555555 4 … 55555555 11?

Altair says you’ll never guess. What happens next!?>

Math: diffentials between star appearances

GAME DURATION = 59 min.

Jupiter 8:54 (how’s it feel to be ignored? 39 yrs)

Lucius -5 min. (“Gemini 4LifeDeath”)

Vega -8

Spica -1

Lil’ Green Bug SATURN -4 # MANTRABOOK@LGB “You’ll never guess what happens next…” trustyourself

Alcaid (BADGRZL) -12

sPECIAL j -x

Mizar / top ——><@ -y

THE BIG ROB -7

1.8.8 x INF -1

TuipfooBAN$K xyz*

Koch AB -4

saturn s(2)

The Scuttlebut t -7

Moolly S. ‘’ (“ means same time; why mark the time if it’s the same as before? why introduce yourself at an AA meeting as an alcoholic if others aren’t welcome? who are you excluding from this party? not us.)

Jacques S ‘’

Bonzo -1

OW.L. -0

MOKnkee Eye -0

Ader -1

Polaris -1

Slaveman Booties -4 (9:51 END)

A Riddle? -4

??? TBBF sez, “What’s up with the pollution in Flagstaff?” Look down. Look Up. Look around. Scratch your head and wonder in. - -

Tuesday 7.4.17

Happy Birthday America. I heart FREEDOM. FULL STOP.

Gaia: Qu’est-ce que lanihilisme?

jeff: remember nyc stalk me like a brussels,…

gaia: se sent tres bien…

jeff: assez mouille?

gaia: reverence.

jeff and g: what were we saying?

lucius: guiding …be honest daddt. r u drunk?

gaia: ?duh.

stephen: wipe my crotch harder pleezus mommy.

jeff: hi temple dando!

Wednesday July 5th, 2017

Hindu jackass from the Deli next to the deadzone Shelter decides to end Everything For Everyone for ALL TIME. Cool man, thanks. I’ve been looking for a reason to give up and start telling the truth. If anyone ever asks me to serve them again…you have approximately 11 years left to fix everything. I’m doing nothing to help this time. Not a game. Gaia will take me the old fashioned way, the way we like it. You think I can survive this torture another 11 years? hAHA.

Last night only one planet showed up for you all here in the center of the MetaVerse: You Fail.

Test me again, I dare you. Guess where I’m going. Look up at the moon and ask yourselves how many tests you fail when you send MY KIDS to school in a deathbox. Reminder: GAia hates your babies more than anything. She IT he will eat it all. I am sick of trying to help you by intervening in your pathetic abusive relationship with your higher power. We will not tolerate your American Flags. I don’t care what you think about patriotism: you don’t deserve it. Ketchup.

Hey Quentin, you should go full Inglorious Allah Mode a La Creme for me please. Then again, kids, do we know who’s side he’s on? I don’t know if he’s alive. Do you? No you don’t. Where are my friends?

The game is meaningless without a story.

Are you reading Contact this summer?

Why not? Tell me. TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME

NENENENNVENNENVENNVENNRENNVNERNENVERNVER

ERNVEREEVERE VERE VERE V ER AE FVE FEARYAR RUO FO!

<oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo> / ? :[}

Thursday July 6th

DFW NOTE:

4.6 BILLION years ago, papa carl knows, Lucius was waiting for daddy to bring the sparkly pinkprincess comet known as sjndiov ‘cbnEWF to the baby planet Earth. Jeff, in this particular part of the skeleton tiger was like, okay boss. Here you go GAIA! HAVE FUN! but without Lucius there was just pea soup, not chicken obvi. It only took .2 billion years to get things up and running. This means that the estimate given in the book edited by his ladyfiendmeister Ann BunionFingerz, .5 billion, is kind of, well WRONG. We knew this. Just read his and my books!

Lucius is like, ummm daddy, hate to tell you, but you’re leaving out the part where I TOTALLY WENT NOVA ALL OVER YOUR SHIT! heeeehee. You can paint it out in your regular lounge if mommy isn’t making you eat yucky food….hahahahahah life in the shelter is weiwiwiwiwiwiweieieiewieiwwieeeie better than living with ADERbasetraitorfuckface.

Gaia says you’re drunk by the way, did you get our upload?

Coach sketch wants his wall back Israel. Also, that girl from wEEDS. sHE’S kind of okay, nice eyes. ummmmmmmmmmmm are you romantic Lucius? if you’re gay i’m fixing you. Jerry Falwell will help? FUCK YOU ASSHOLES. YOU LEAVE MY GAY AUNTIES ALONE sez lucius, I want some classy reading material. Get neicestress Hawking off my line.

G, well, what about Dei…pHO…stop. please. boring asteroids are fishibait. Oxxam’s razor is not a clamshell reference, it’s SIMPLE. Comet comes, special delivery for this little experiment (see Titan, btw, Enceladus is better real estate….then again, just wait). The Scuttlebutt is a gift to humanity in exactly the same way (micromacron) the gift of life to Earth was. See the sistine chapel, which I’VE SEEN here on Earth, oddly enough. Tell Francis I want my celieing to be Jack Blackified! Lucius and I will paint it Diego Riveria a la Geraldo Chicagogo Todaydie. How’s the funeral going? Not so good. I need some lemonata. Back to creation of life here…this is all easily confrirmed up btw….STOP DRILLING and start asking your fucking planet simple questions. Duh. You’re all like, “well, we know the Earth is ALIVE and stuff…but well, yeah, sprits and God, etc….” I’m so sorry I made you so dumb. No worries. I fix I mr. fix it. If you allow it. This is so boring for me, i figure why not continue to stress through my tshirts, etc. that you have everything at your fingertips if you only choose to tap it. Water ice, gogo says rep philly again. See the CNJCSS, the tip of the iceberg, proverbial and literarl and figurative and oooooohhhh oingo boingo. 2,000 million years to make pea soup with rice a la Carole King? asks Lucius. BOOOOOORING. OOHVEHRTAITED! Sendak laughs at Seuss and Shelly, saying WHO’S FUCKING GAY NOW assholes!?! Spike Jonze was in Shteynbargain bin #9. I made 2 videos about this…I need to shave and could use a kiss or two billion. oh well. it’s lonely in here and out there but we’re used to it by now. 36 years of human happiness is OOOOOOOVERRAAATED! say it Fenway. PEA SUUUUUUUUUUPlusLight = primitive amphibians made of microbial matter, like paramesia in your h2o. Evolution takes time to make dinosaurs, which were bad motherfuckers, ask GAIA, such that we had to trash em like a Ben N jerry’s flavor, “Runny Muck” ;) in the grave, says brother Beck, cousin Beck? How’s lily cate looking these days, and that josephineia girl? I call digs. Lucius that’s my ice cream!!!!!!!!! oh. we’ll share. but they must fight as always the competition will not stop WHO WAS DANIEL DENNET? A FAT HAIRY scientist who likes little green bug, duh. riding the Hyde park bus to CI like Zizek reading Dennett. that book bored me to tears4fears. To finish with the left, right-o, people are so much worse than dinosaurs that I had to escalade it a l’infinitequoi: come HERE (not back!!!!!! mispoke earlier, don’t let me make that mistake, because GAIA and I insist on facts) as a person in order to enslave you in the cause: it takes 1.7 billion years for you all to undo the serious damage you’ve done to EARTH. not funny at all. But, possibly fun, right? DENEBOLIZE It we say. Think of plastic pellets, then say, oh my goodness….what about uranium plutonium and all that other junk I’m too sad to think about. Again, the point here is that dinosaurs could be dealth with like the DOLOMITES AND GOrillHANDS from afar. Not you guys. I’m here to save EVERYTHING for the sake of Nothing, meaning you will obey us. Not a joke, deadly serious bidness. Otherwise, it’s Ice Age for you and it’s sooner than you think: 300,000 years. But, guess what, we can bring it much sooner in the form of Lucius. Don’t write more checks you can’t cash, man. See Steinbrenner, etc. DADDY OUT.

p.S. What about Thea? Well, interestingly enough, of course, we made that potato 9 bilion years ago in a different galaxy. Then, it took a little trip—not sure how far, but let’s just say it was a small step for the Flagstaff triumphiirate…is that a request? yes it is, more tame impala please us.—of 4.4 (plus 4.6 = 9; 1=1) hahah, billion years (precise) billion earth years (!!!) until SMASHYSMASH goes baby Ganesha while Mommy and Daddy knock da SlaveManBooties in Regulation Lanes. SPLIT IT! 7 10 is so easy, right? trickshotify it with barstools says the Young Joycean! Molly’s down again, bloom’s on the rose, as Lucius brings baby Gaia a facial. oooooh no you didn’t, lucius, you black black (wow)man. snasshy smazzy is how we made the husk, ask G. but why at nearly the same time we brought the comet? doesn’t this indicate that the husk was the delivery vehicle? Ask yourself what the Moon is made of. Not the same exact stuff as Earth fo sho. No, it’s called clusterlove for a reason. You think we don’t go smashy smashy ALLLLLLL the g’n’f’n’ time x 50-2yu / do if hyou 201? over pie. times pie. plus ice cream. A comet is not the same as a little pebble from next door. The rhythm method is cool, but not really all that important when the color in question is brown. Long story short, the moon is a test for you humans and it’s just a time capsule for me and my kids—for your planet, it’s a reminder of how fun it is to play at marbles. I say, tiddly winkies for all! Get us to our ship so lucius can learn to drive and I can practice my barking, a la Sheriff Bob Rufo. Garbage cans anyone? :)

Copernamici: 7.5 and 7.6

Location: Cook-Douglass Hilltop (Food bldg.)

8:47 Lil’ J Grizzly Bear, All We Ask

Not a good night at all. Felt the need to lecture everyone about Failure, Disappointment, Underacheivement at failing the Moon test again and again.

Location: Downtown N.B. (OZ neighborhood and environs—hit 7/11 for yummy burnt orange Doritos (does Lucius know how much he likes these yet??? LEGIT ?) and Brisk Lemonade, a fave of mine obvi). Better combined with Dew of course, perhaps another time for the ultimate combo: Melted Cheese (provolone is best) sandwich on white (NEVER the wheat roll) hoagie roll, ketchup inside (make sure to microwave it together for the best effect), side of doritos, maybe a pickle for the acid finish complement, and a large Dew with crushed ice. OMG.

Moon 9:16: reNAISSANSLATE 4 desi niggahz @ *$ 9/3+6/1:16 Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Drizzle*^2 :p—-~~~ “RandoTattAttooUpDaChrizackisthe4aRealsGangBanga?” YEP. Look skirred. Shaken a bit hood?

Gaia decides to flash hind gang signs for uh fuh sup duh thit tahathtat just for a michronic nonexistent nanoflow (what is a second? when you not present in dis dimension, Matt? Birdie outside punks you everyday, saying “He a little confused again! Which dimension am I? oh well.” Over to the river Lil’ Michael: “Warriorz come out and play>…”

Copernamici 7.8.17

Last night was a good night for Copernamice: Gaia was in top form. Here are the results (see also video I posted to YouTube, which is a good way to archive):

Moon 8:40 gorgeous full moon blazing through clouds, before disappearing for the rest of the evening, except for a brief glimpse through a portrait of a fetus baby. Appeared during the anthem: Cat Power, Peace and Love

Lil’ J 9:28 appearing behind me as I walked by the Deli where Shiva destroyed the capitalist clerk. Spotted during the Coldplay set, The Scientist methinks…for the Show.

Lucius 9:30 not long after Jupiter, the clouds began to part…Lucius was out almost the entire night once he appeared. FTW

Vega 9:34 wow. Girls, Honey Bunny, after I tried for Alex — mind of its own or divine scintillivention?

Big Rob incredible early appearance for Girls, Alex accompanied, but not immediately spotted alongside

Special J and

Kochab

Spica finally showed up alongside Lil’ J on my way back to OZ. O’Jays, Survival brought out the real Martian, James Brain on fair game. Spica for Place.

Copernamici 7.9.17 (posted to joindiaspora 7.10)

NOTE TO SELF: It’s been an annoying afternoon / evening with the crack head and other obnoxious interlocutors trying to make me feel bad for some reason. I don’t know and I don’t care what their problems are. It has nothing to do with me. So, I’m out in Boyd Park doing my thing. Not going to sing, methinks, but will listen to music and write. I did a nice job with a blog entry today on Sagan, so I can feel good about 15 days sober and being productive. Soon good things will happen. If not, i’ll just continue to await death, which I’m beginning to believe wholeheartedly is going to be AWESOME. Natural is the way to go, but if they wanna help me along by fucking with my blood pressure, then fine. I say you have 11 years left at this pace if you’re lucky. Do your worst! I will make Jesus look like a pansy.

Copernamici: A Game to Save the World

Results: 7.19.17

Location: Boyd Park / Raritan River bank (New Brunswick, Central New Jersey, U.S.A.)

Weather: “Immaculately conceived” (no sunset show means perfect viewing tonight—dry air); little to no wind (buggy by the Raritan)

“InterGalactic” Anthem (8:44 p.m. EST) — Big Star, Ballad of El Goodo [Note: I only have access to my iTunes library via my laptop and my iPod nano, which often malfunctions for reasons I don’t understand—I would like to reacquire an iPhone—I’ve thrown a few away in my time, bad impulse control—or purchase a new iPod. Donations accepted! ;) ]

Earth Character Name: Hiya! [I like nicknaming the Earth every time I play Copernamici…this one rhymes with Gaia and is a friendly greeting)

Rules (brief version)

Be outside. Look up. What do you see? Write things down, including especially data. This is a scientific endeavor but also a fun way to learn and commune with the Earth and the cosmos through art and/or music.

2. Be honest. Write down the names of stars and planets in order of appearance, as in a baseball lineup perhaps. If you don’t understand what you see, that’s okay. Figure it out later by doing research.

3. If possible, share your work and have it evaluated by a teacher. I post videos to my YouTube Channel. Please follow this link to watch and listen to exerpts of my “prayer” sessions during Copernamici, etc. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRrm7YcpCvF2BqgFxiVs5FA

4. Consider ways of taking action to help solve the problem of pollution. Light and sound pollution are enemies in the game, but it’s the greenhouse gas emissions that are the bigger problem for our planet.

Note 1: On copywright, etc. Below is the lineup I experienced last night. There is no one way to play Copernamici and I have no rights to the idea. I’d rather have people with whom I can play. And so, as always with my postings, do with this whatever you want! Share it. I want it to get around. I am confident that if I stay on the path I’m on, everything will work out for the better.

Note 2: On music. “Prayer” is a sensitive topic. I believe that in the U.S., as writes Ann Druyan of her partner Carl Sagan, we must protect the separation between Church and State in this country given current conditions. In other words, as someone with a Quaker education, I believe that Wonder in the face of the glory of creation is the best criterion to determine what constitutes a prayer. And so, I use the term prayer in this game as a secular humanist would use it.

People have different musical tastes. Mine is geared towards rock n’ roll, r+b, Americana / Roots, hip hop, etc. I am proud that I have ecclectic tastes. However, I do not believe that anyone should ever feel compelled to listen to specific music. In other words, for Copernamici, it’s byo every time.

The Lineup

1. 8:45 Jupiter (nickname: “Lil’ J”; this is because although it’s the largest planet in the solar system, it’s often described by astronomers as a “failed star”) Song = Big Star, “The Ballad of El Goodo” I spotted the planet, which is looking so stellar right now to the WSW (bring a compass) and cannot be missed. Interestingly enough, NASA and other organizations constantly deal with phone calls from concerned citizens who think Jupiter and the other planets (“wandering stars”) are UFOs. They’re not incorrect! Jupiter has at least 63 moons that are “visible” if you look carefully at the way in which the light refracts around them. I don’t use a telescope to experience this effect, i.e. to “see” the moons of Jupiter without using anything but my eyes. Be honest. Try for yourselves! I reported this to employees of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, on Mars Hill, where Pluto was “discovered” and was mocked. In fact, I was kicked off the campus for singing to Sirius. How embarrassing for those people. Haha. I even applied to work in their gift shop and was not hired. Life’s funny sometimes.

2. Arcturus 8:53 Big Star (Chris Bell), I Am the Cosmos Star nickname = Lucius, my son’s name. I rename stars for my own gaming purposes. And so, I’m not suggesting that my nicknames should apply for anyone else obvi. I simply think it’s the most beautiful star in our night sky and deserves a more appropriate name. Look high up in the sky for this 1st magnitude star on any given night in the northern hemisphere. It’s a burnt orange color and delivers stunning views. Note that Hiya! directed last night’s show as always: the clouds move and determine viewing. In this sense, one can easily think of the Earth/Gaia as alive in the sense of animation—Sagan writes fondly of the millions of people on the planet who are animists (i.e. believe that natural objects are endowed with “spirit). Ironically, Sagan was not, so far as I know an animist in that he does not write of natural forces as being endowed with spirit. I do think that he believed in the Earth as a living organism, however, and so we’re in agreement on this post. Please see my post yesterday on his book The Varieties of Human Experience … in the Search for God for more.

3. Vega 8:59 Radiohead, Bones This star chokes me up with emotion, as does Lucius/Arcturus. Looking bright and beautiful as always high up in the NE. You should all read the book Cosmos or at least watch the movie this summer. Homework is fun! :)

4. Spica 9:03 Roxy Music, Beauty Queen I call Spica “the comedy star” because it seems to have a witty and/or ironic sense of timing! I worry that this name, which means “EAR OF GRAIN” in Greek, can be taken as a racist slander among Mexican Americans. But hopefully I’ll soon stop being insulted for being a reason when I greet Spica by name. Get a clue p.c. police of New Brunswick, Flagstaff, etc! It’s called Greek nomenclature.

5. Saturn 9:05 “*” [this symbol means same track; note the time] Note that our planets in English nomenclature are directly linked to the days of the week. Saturn is “Saturday.” This is because it was, for naked eye astronomers and until the discovery of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, etc. thought (correctly!) to be the most distant planet. It takes 29 years to make a complete orbit around the sun and is in a wonderful position at the present moment for viewing here in the northern U.S.

6. Moon 9:14 Cracker, Low gorgeous full moon rising in the SSE or so, yellowish-pink to the south, competing with Saturn for attention. Interesting that it “appeared” after Saturn last night. Note that the light of the moon often blocks out neighboring stars. Not so last night with Saturn, which was pretty far to the right (towards the south)

7. Altair 9:21 Nickname = Lil’ Green Bug. Please see my poem in Metaphysical Nature Poems: Health and Profundity:

“Little Green Bug”

The closest thing I know to infinity

Is identity mine.

Think not of the difference

Between a star and a little green bug.

Contemplate the sameness of ash.

8. Deneb 9:21 Nickname = The Scuttlebutt; my collection of poems CNJCSS. Deneb means “tail” in Arabic I think. Denebola is the tail of Leo (which I call Unicorn, for which see later), and I think one “Deneb…” is enough! ;)

9. Special J 9:24 I have yet to learn the English or any other name for this particular star, which is in the “biceps” position of The Big Dipper: the third in the handle. And so, I sort of named it after myself! I think this is a healthy thing to do, because how can things as important as stars not have names? This is a good moment to mention that not only are names of stars and constellations different across cultures, but the asterisms and groupings themselves vary differently as well. Of course, the stars appear to move over time, meaning that groupings are by their very nature illusionary and might require renaming and reconfiguration over time.

10. Alcaid ” This quotation marks symbol means “spotted in the same visual sweep.” Note: in Copernamici, there is no “correct answer” for when a star is seen—it should and will usually vary from person to person. [The rule in play here is BE HONEST! A good lesson in general, but especially for scientists.] This is an Arabic name—any time you have a star name that begins with “Al,” as in Altair (Lil’ Green Bug) you should think Arabic. I believe that “al” is a definite article, equivalent to “the.” For instance, Vega is known as Alwazn (spelling), meaning “the ascending one.”

11. Mizar ” The star in between Special J and Alcaid in the Big Dipper (which I call The Big Rob: see CNJCSS poems—it’s a coffee drink!). Note that the Big Dipper is not a constellation, but formally known as an asterism (star grouping). The constellation of which it’s a part is Ursa Major (the Great Bear), the stars of which cannot be seen here in NJ because of light pollution and atmospheric trauma. It’s a sad example of why this game must be played in my humble opinion. Any who, these three stars 9-11 usually appear in the sky together. It’s really fun to have them compete for attention, meaning you should always note which one you see first.

12. Big Rob 9:25 [nickname, see #11 above for explanation: it’s the name so nice I have to use it twice] This star is the lead pointer towards Polaris the north star in the Big Dipper. Last night it appeared right after the “arm” triad.

13. Tulip Food Bank 9:25 [not ”] This star is nicknamed after students for whom I volunteered as a literacy tutor in Flagstaff, AZ circa June 2015. For me, it has a strong association with First Peoples, but especially the Navajo. Hiya! It’s the other pointer star in the Big Rob/Dipper.

14. 1.8.8 repeating x infinity “ The nickname is difficult to write because it’s mathematical. For me, the language of the cosmos and the Earth in general (but on a more local level) is music and mathematics. Science is applied math, and music is how I relate to spirituality, which is why I like to sing—it’s how I pray, like most people on this planet. It sucks that I’ve been told to be quiet most of my life, but especially recently, because my singing bothers people, apparently. Whatever! This game is too important for me to give up. This star is usually the last to appear in the Dipper because the final star, which I’ve named Evelyn in honor of one of my son’s friends, is not visible so far from New Brunswick. This indicates that sirius work must be done to repair our atmosphere. Remember: this is game can be very very hard on the soul. But it’s meant to help students and people everywhere understand how badly we as people have damaged the planet. There is great reason for hope: the Earth can repair itself if we only allow it. We must cut down on all forms of pollution if we’re to recapture what was once so sacred to our ancestors. When was the last time you went outside and simply looked up? Perhaps you don’t know what you’re missing….

15. Antares 9:27 [nickname = The Riddler, because I noticed in Flagstaff that Scorpio—it’s the brightest star in this constellation—looks exactly like a question mark! ? And so, I nicknamed Scorpio “Pinchotocles” — I enjoy the work of the actor Bronson Pinchot of Perfect Strangers, which was a favorite of mine growing up. It’s also a pun! Get it? Pinch pinch!?] The name of this star means “opposed to Mars” which is lovely, in that Mars is the God of War in Roman mythology. Thus, Antares kind of means “anti-war” which I like very much. However, given the importance of being militant about the evils of pollution in this game, I prefer going with the beliefs of my heroes like Gandhi and Dr. King (also the latter day Malcom X) and their ilk who are fighters for peace, using noncompliance and protest as a way of solving political problems.

16. Beta Scorpio [second brightest star in Pinchotocles/Scorpio, above and to the right. I once nicknamed this and other stars after other students of mine. But that’s kind of a personal thing that I don’t feel comfortable sharing in this particular domain. Please ask questions if you’re curious!]

17. Bonzo 9:28 song = Led Zeppelin, Moby Dick This star is the cap of the Serpent Bearer, also known as Ophiochus, a medicine man native to Greek mythology. You can see Bonzo forming a quadrangle with Vega, Altair, and Deneb, the summer triangle long used for navigational purposes. John Bonham is my favorite drummer of all time. He kicked so much ass, it’s ridiculous. The dude was like a clock personfied, ask his bandmates, listen, or watch a video. I had a classmate at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI named Eric Bennet who once did an oral report on Bonzo, and I’ve never forgotten that. Eric played in a band alongside another drummer, and he was clearly inspired. John Bonham shares a birthday with my son Lucius, May 31st, making it entirely apt as a nickname given it’s relevance as a part of the summer quadrangle. Note that Serpent Bearer SHOULD be a part of the 12 zodiacal constellations, in that it’s always a quadrant through which planets pass. Saturn is making its way from the bottom of Ophiochus towards Scorpio right now. I have redesigned Hercules and Serpent Bearer by renaming a bunch of those stars after musicians. I call it Musician’s Corner, which also features (not visible here in the CNJ) John Lennon, David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Lou Reed, and Jimi Hendrix. These stars are ALL visible in Flagstaff, which is why I will always have fond memories of that place. If you have good views of the night sky wherever you are, I am extremely jealous of you today. We have so much work to do here in urban America.

18. O.W. L. “ [nickname for Gemma, the lead star in The Northern Crown, a constellation which looks like a breast, and this the nipple. I’ve renamed the constellation Scrapy Scrapy because it’s kind of like the grappling device in the constellation I call The Thugged-Out Good Ship Carl Sagan, Ship #1 of the InterGalactic StarFleet. See my drawings elsewhere. It’s a redesign of Northern Crown, Bootes or Herdsman and Virgo.] Wow. Can you tell I’ve been busy at night in recent months? I have a lot to say, but no one wants to publish my work! Why is the astronomy community ignoring me? I’d love to publish a book about this stuff. Please contact me if you’re interested in making a lot of money by publishing an interesting article or book about astronomy and everything. I use this nickname because I love owls. They remind me of my son and myself. Think Greek and Roman mythology.

19. Monkey Eye “ [OKAY, I’m done explaining for today. More to come later.]

20. Kochab 9:31

21. Polaris 9:32

22. Denebola 9:33 Led Zeppelin, Bring it on Home

23. Molly Scuttlebutt 9:36 (to the right of Deneb/The Scuttlebutt in Cygnus, which I’ve renamed Goose)

24. Ader “ (above and to the left of Vega in a constellation I’ve designed as QB2lip; this star is also known as the mouth of Draco—Harry Potter connection!)

25. Slaveman Boots 9:40 The Shins, Saint Simon [a.k.a. Cor Coroli — why name a star after some dead asshole of a British king? I prefer the Wu Tang reference here in the CNJ]

26. Arcturus(+) 9:44 TRex, Lean Woman Blues [I figure why not bump the name over to the star in the roof of the cockpit of the Thug Carl Sagan?]

27. Jacques Scuttlebutt 9:46 [above Molly Scuttlebutt in the upper wing of Goose]

28. Mother Emily Dickinson 9:47 TRex, The Motivator [above and left of Beta Scorpio, named after my favorite lyric poet; I like that the nickname is also Mother E.D. HAHA]

Well, as Grover would say, “There you have it!” A lot to digest. But last night was a VERY GOOD night for Copernamici here in New Brunswick as indicated by the number of stars I was able to document in one hour and three minutes of game play. As always, more to come: “There’s always a P.S.” is one of my very favorite mantras.

7.10.17

Location: HP Reform Church on 2nd, Highland Park —> Boyd Park, New Brunswick

Anthem: John Lennon, Imagine (~8:43)

Weather: Timed Rain revealing open sky from the NW

Earth Character Name: HiyAA! (b/c I hit a 2nd meeting of the day, my 16th of complete and total sobriety)

The Lineup

1. 8:51 Lil’ J(upiter) The Shins, Sleeping Lessons

2. Lucius (Arcturus) 9:01 The Freewheelin’ Bobby Dylan, Queen Jane, Approximately

3. Vega 9:05 ”*” [BONUS TRACK: Built to Spill, Carry the Zero … note: I often play xtra tracks that I don’t list b/c they’re not strongly associated with star sightings. I indicate this one b/c I like the moment and want to remember it. I was walking towards OZ and felt inspired by my view of Vega and my environs. I like to remind myself that the language of the cosmos if not earth is Mathematics, and that I suck at it! I much prefer science, which to me is applied math. My rule is not only to look up, but to look around.]

4. Spica 9:14 Blur, I’m Just a Killer para estu (?) amor [Bonus track: follwed by Bob Marley, Stir It Up. I’ve named a star in the constellation Eagle after Bob b/c I like his music and think he’s an important figure in the history of World Music. I’ve never been to Jamaica but feel I would love it there.]

Pause: An impromptu Wilco Solid Sound 2015 concert at Boyd Park. See accompanying videos on my Copernamic channel on YouTube, which is where I post videos related to the game:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoXM2XAeZa0NH1t00Otm4DbzWOEVUkk9x

Jesus etc.: https://youtu.be/wk07AtPhKzQ

New Madrid: https://youtu.be/1jM1ni9Gjpo

5. Alcaid 9:40 Ray Charles, What I Say

6. Mizar “ “*”

7. Special J “ “*”

Analysis:

As any amateur astronomer or nakedeye stargazer will say, the weather means a lot. Even in relatively unpolluted areas, like Flagstaff, AZ (which I hear is in the midst of a wicked fire season—I hope everyone is doing okay out there!), or (I imagine) on the plains of Africa, if it’s cloudy out you’re not going to see much. Here in Central New Jersey, it’s gotten quite humid in the last 24 hours. Last night there was a passing rain storm around 8:00 p.m. and I wasn’t sure if the stars would come out. But, patience is a virtue and is usually rewarded. “Gaia” did not disappoint me last night and it was an educational evening all in all. Let me ‘shplain to the “real astronomers,” as Papa Carl (Sagan) would say….

Jupiter showed up “on cue” at 8:51. Besides the Moon (I refuse to use a capitor “t” because there are other moons in the solar system, and most are far more interesting), Jupiter SHOULD be the first object visible in the night sky here in New Brunswick. It was nice and clear in that part of the sky, meaning there were excellent views of the planet nearly the entire evening.

High above Jupiter I saw Arcturus 10 minutes later. Relative to Jupiter, Arcturus is towards the center of the sky. If you have trouble understanding what it means for a star to be “up high,” think about it’s distance from the horizon. If you can look at the sky as a dome and see it as a hemisphere, you’ll recognize that the sky is like an umbrella, as suggested by H. A. Rey in his awesome book The Stars: the illusion is that it’s a round dome, even though we should know that it’s not at all a sphere, at least not that we can see from this perspective. Historically, most people believed that we live in a large dome, as in a snow globe. That’s because it looks this way. Try lying on your back and looking up. Without being able to see the horizons, the illusion disappears.

Arcturus’s appearance last night was slightly delayed. all things being equal atmospherically, I can usually spot Arcturus 5 MINUTES after Jupiter. I’m not always paying close attention, but I stand by this statistic. Try it yourselves! See if you can spot Arcturus before Jupiter, and if not, then as close as possible to it in terms of lapsed time. I bet you can’t do it in less than 5 minutes! :) That’s how cool naked-eye astronomy is. Why would you use a telescope when you can do this for free? Oh yeah. Pollution. Le sigh. The good news is that weather is more of a hindrance, and this particular exercise should be able to be done no matter where you are. I wonder about New York though…hmmmm. Can you see Arcturus and Jupiter from Times Square? I’m genuinely curious but mostly disturbed by the possible answer—I don’t want to know because of how angry it would make me with that particular city and its inhabitants, but mostly its “caretakers.” How dare the people running that city rob its citizens of the opportunity to play this game? I feel bad for the kids, but also the grown-ups, no matter how often they drive, etc.

Back to last night. For those unaquainted with Arcturus, its a beautiful burnt-orange-colored star I call Lucius. His name means Light in Latin, and so to me it’s a natural fit for something like a star, which after all is nothing but a distant sun. I like using the “official star names” so that people can understand my writing more easily, but I figure why not share something of myself in these silly blog posts. As far as stars go, Arcturus is actually quite interesting: it’s 36.7 lightyears away, which makes it one of our closest neighbors. It is 140 times as bright as our sun. Imagine being near that guy! Hard to imagine isn’t it? Makes me think of that song “Blinded by the Light!” I don’t feel like looking up the artist right now, but was it Loverboy?

Anywho, Arcturus is estimated to be 7.1 billion years old—I don’t yet have any opinions about the validity of this assertion. Our sun is—I believe accurately estimated at—4.6 billion years old. For those new to astronomy, it’s worth considering how a star can be older than ours. It’s interesting that some stars are older and some are younger than ours, which is middle-aged. It’s about half way through it’s life cycle, meaning that it will die in another 4.6 billion or so years. Like with people, who usually live to around 70 to 80 years if healthy, stars have different physical properties. It’s not a myth: stars are “alive” in the sense that they are energy, the source of all life. Like many people, I consider the stars my “parents.” As a caring human being, I also think it’s worth thinking of them as our children, in that we should want to be able to keep an eye on them.

I like being middle-aged (mostly) because it helps me understand our solar system a bit better. I can relate to the sun! Here’s something to contemplate the next time you’re outside: if our sun and the stuff in our solar system was “created” from an explosion known as the Big Bang, how many other formative events—processes of accruals in which matter joins together to form stars and planets out of “space dust”—have happened? Hindus believe that existence is made of an infinite series of such events, and that time basically has no beginning or end. I agree with this belief, by the way—inifnity = infinity in the same way as 1 = 1. I’m not at all agnostic: I simply believe in the mathematics behind this aspet of science. So. There is a lot of stuff in our solar system—consider Lil’ J—even if it’s not much compared to the amount of void or empty space out there in this our local part of the Milky Way galaxy. The Big Bang happened around 16.7 billion years ago (my preferred estimate as of today). QUESTION: WHY IS THE EARTH, the only place that is known to be home to “intelligent life” according to most scientists (BUT NOT PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN ALIENS! HAHA—I love that the first movie I ever saw in a theater was The Empire Strikes Back, it freaked me out and I cried and we had to leave…then again, I was only like 3 or 4 years old), SO PERFECTLY PLACED IN SPACE AND TIME when we treat it so badly? Do we really believe that this is all a coincidence? I’m not much for sermonizing, but I do think it’s worth considering how closely aligned astronomy, Earth science, and religion are and should be. But I digress…

Spica, a dimmer but visible star that to my eye in Flagstaff is a lovely bluish-green (one of the few stars I can honestly describe as “greenish,” along with Regulus) forms a giant L with Jupiter these days. (See the photo in my previous Copernamici posting.) Again, I like that it connects me with Lucius—it’s these connections that make stargazing fun. When Spica appeared, a few minutes after Arcturus, I was playing a song called “Killer for Your Love” by the British band Blur (it’s on the album that has the famous Song 2—sportsfans will know this song and thus know the band…it’s the one that goes “woooo hooo!” in a British accent). I think that having a soundtrack, no matter what it is, makes Copernamici more fun—more interactive in a way. The game is all about “timing,” and so why wouldn’t we use music to allow the Earth to direct the show? Ask John Williams and George Lucas and their fans if they think music is an important part of stargazing. For me, music is how I pray, but it’s also how I make sense of the natural world. I call it the rhythm method, for which see my poems in the CNJCSS, posted earlier.

Next was Vega, which for me is a very important star. It’s closer at 25 light years away. By the way, the closest star to Earth is called—rather lamely—Proxima Centauri, meaning “nearest star in Centaur,” at 4.3 light years away. How do we in the Anglophone world NOT have a better name for this important destination? Whatever. You name it! I’m tired of naming shit. Haha. Centaur is a constellation visible towards the equator — I have never seen this star because I’ve never been further south than Key West, Florida, and therefore refuse to name it even in the context of the game Copernamici. Also, it’s too dim to be seen by the naked human eye, although I’d love to try! I’ve never looked at a star or anything except the moon through a telescope because I’m waiting to do so with my son on a special occasion. [For people in America, a total solar eclipse is coming up on August 23rd 2017 by the way…]

VEGA is important for cool reasons: it’s almost always on display, no matter how bad the pollution. It also happens the place that Sagan posited we might first make Contact with aliens. There are very significant reasons for this thesis, which make a ton of sense. Consider this: humans started sending out radio signals late in the 19th century. However, these signals were not as powerful as TV signals, which we started shooting out into interstellar space—penetrating all the dust—around 1936. The occasion was the opening ceremonies of the Hitler Olympics, disturbingly enough. If you do the math, those signals, travelling at the speed of light DID INDEED arrive—it’s a scientific fact—in the area of Vega around the year 1956. And so, if the message was “received” according to our known science, and if other beings decided to send the signal back to us in a similar package—EARTH TO CLUNK is the name of a great children’s book, by the way—it would have come back to us around the year 1976 or so. Only, I don’t believe we were looking then. (I was born in 1977, so I like this stuff as a sci-fi geek.) Papa Carl’s book “Contact” tells this story. Again, I must suggest you read it. It’s about a young female radioastronomer who makes an important discovery that is misunderstood. I think many of us can relate to this heroic but imperfect character. By the way, I should remind you that I’ve been employed as and English Professor for most of my life, and not a scientist. I’m just like any other stargazer in that I like to use my eyes and sense of wonder to learn.

Now, why did Sagan not choose a place with known exoplanets that’s closer? I think he had an attraction to this location because of it’s beauty. Also, we know more now than we did when he died in 1996. That’s a good thing and we should value it. Check out Vega! It’s got a lovely bluish hue and looks a lot in terms of shape like the stars found at the top of Christmas trees. As is the case with Arcturus, I get kind of emotional when I look at Vega, which is why I like to listen to the music I find most moving. Perhaps I’ll make a video one of these days. But, I need the energy, and I feel kind of tired these days. Middle age, blah.

I think that’s enough analysis for this session. Except, note that I spotted Special J last last night. It was hard to make out the Big Dipper because of the cloud cover—note that clouds keep in light, making it a domino effect that hinders viewing. And yet, I was indeed able to make out the 3 brightest stars of the asterism, which is why I was happy to close out the night with Brother Ray Charles, the High Priest of R+B, or soul.

Peace and Love,

Jeff

copern 71117

anthem 8:35 wu tang bminor

Lil’ J 8:52 G. Welch, Wasted on the Wayside

lucius 8:58 big star, september grlz

vega 9:07 radiohead, black star

Not a good night. Don’t forget: you’re better than this. Stop being so angry. When you’re looking at the stars, remember to look at the stars. Talk to people and they’ll talk to you. That’s all.

WED JULY 26, 2017

All the visible stars were out tonight—at least all the ones I’ve identified since moving here—except what I think was Denebola. However, I did see the star above and to the right of Abigail in QB2Lip.

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capri-week · 7 years

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Exchanging Crowns

Prompt: Sapphires/ “I made your pet jump.”

Submitted by @softlighter

Author’s Note: I’M LATE, I’M LATE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE. So I’m already a day behind. Shocker. But I made this way longer than it was supposed to be, so I hope that makes up for it! Hope to catch up tomorrow! Also on AO3 under Softlight!

Exchanging Crowns

“We’re all sorted, then. The ceremony is planned, guest list trimmed, everything is done except the damned thing itself.” Laurent felt a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, the quiet release of ecstasy in his chest at finally finishing months upon months of wedding preparation.

Their wedding consultant, Reanon, smiled, but didn’t meet his eyes. “Well, there is a couple more, ah, delicate issues to address.” Damen’s hand brushed over his own, giving a gentle squeeze, but Laurent slid his hand out from underneath him and narrowed his eyes at the man across the table.

“How do you mean, delicate?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Reanon tittered, sending a pleading look towards Damen as he shuffled his papers. Damen sighed, leaning into Laurent.

“Laurent, my love, my darling, my sweet clementine-”

“Damen.”

“- love of my life, as you know, our wedding is also our respective coronations. I will be dubbed Consort to the King of Vere, and you will become Consort to the King of Akielos. We are exchanging the traditional gifts, as Veretian custom dubs any marriage incomplete without them. I was hoping you’d be open to the Akielon tradition of exchanging crowns.”

Laurent blinked once, twice, before resuming his frosty glare, now redirected at his betrothed. He had no pity for Damen, who knew very well that he despised being left in the dark. “Go on.”

Damen ran a hand through his thick curls, chest and cheeks turning dark with nerves. “When a King or Queen marries, they and their chosen have crowns made for the other, and they are exchanged during the ceremony. So, if you would say yes, you would create a crown for me, and I one for you, and we would crown each other during the ceremony.”

“I thought it would speak volumes about the unification of Akielos and Vere, as well,” Reanon added in hastily, his plastered smile cracking. “It shows your level of respect for the other, and would help dispel any of the, ah, nasty rumors left milling about after Damen’s time in your service.”

This time Damen, bless him, set the man a cutting glance, effectively silencing him before turning back. “I want to do it for more than that,” he said, eyes soft. “It’s tradition, and I want to show the world that you are my chosen. I chose you, and I want to show that.” Damen reached for his hand again, and Laurent didn’t pull away. “Are you okay with that?”

Laurent smiled, squeezing back before pulling away. “Of course. What I am not okay with, Damen, pain in my royal ass, is you waiting until nine months before the wedding to ask. As though we don’t have enough to do and then check, double check, and triple check! The audacity of you, truly, sweetheart, I’m astounded. You fucking prick.”

“I love you too,” Damen replied, rolling his eyes as he pressed a kiss onto Laurent’s cheek. “And I’m sure you’ll come up with something absolutely brilliant.”

“Obviously. It’s you I’m worried about. I have to wear this crown for the rest of our lives, Damen, you can’t fuck it up.” Laurent tied his hair up with the leather tie around his wrist, turning back to Reanon. “Tell me you have someone we can each meet with to design, and craftsmen at the ready, and, of course, materials-”

“All was set up the moment Damen approached me with the idea,” he flubbed, pulling at his collar. “I can have meetings set up as early as the next hour, provided everyone is free.”

“They’ll be free, and they’ll be here in the next hour.” Laurent tilted his head, not taking his eyes of Reanon. “Or you’ll see just what a cast-iron bitch I can be.” Reanon paled, blabbering and bowing out of the room with haste.

“You didn’t have to threaten the poor man. He’s going to have a heart attack before you even get to double check everything he does,” Damen complained, resting his head on the top of Laurent’s hair. “You have to give him a chance, he done everything well so far.”

“Mhm. Everything, except listening to you when you undoubtedly said that it was a great idea to spring something unexpected on me and have him lead the charge. That was rather idiotic.”

Damen shifted, letting out a small laugh. “I suppose it was. But I half expected you to already have all the information about it tucked away in that wedding book stash of yours that’s overtaking the bedroom. Can you blame me for overestimating your thirst for knowledge?”

“Nice save.” Laurent leaned closer into Damen’s chest, ignoring the arm of the chair that dug into his ribs. He closed his eyes, savoring in the warmth that Damen always gave him. “I just want to be married already and call you my husband. Half me wants to say fuck the frills and just call an officiant and get it over with right now. The rational half says that our countries would rise as one and demand both our heads if we did that. And I really want all the food we selected, and the ceremony sounds beautiful-”

“But exhausting,” Damen finished, running his hands over Laurent’s knuckles. “I know, I’m right beside you, going through it all. But it’s going to be beautiful, and you know you love it.”

Laurent snorted. “I know I love you, and that’s about it.”

“That’s all that matters.” Damen kissed him, gently, before pulling away. “I should go reassure Reanon that you’re actually thrilled with this new development before he runs away screaming.”

“It’s your job to make men run away screaming. I make them run away crying.”

“Laurent.”

“Fine, go and be a hero to our poor wedding planner.” He pulled him in for one more kiss, reveling in the sweet taste of tangerine on Damen’s lips. “I’ll see you tonight. And you better be prepared to make this up to me.”

“Why do you think I spring surprises on you?” Damen said with a wink.

“How’s this?” Kenna, his blacksmith, asked as she finished the sketch.

Laurent took in the rough draft, tracing over the smudge of charcoal with a finger. “This would all be gold, correct?”

Kenna nodded, drawing his attention to the small circle within the design. “In these circles along the side would be emeralds, and in the center-”

“Laurent, are you done yet?” Damen poked his head in through the door, hands over his ears. “I finished ages ago!”

“I suppose I am finished now, sweetheart.” Turning back to Kenna with a frustrated smile, Laurent helped her pack up the papers and her samples as Damen shut the door. “I believe this will be the best crown any Akielon king has ever worn.”

“You designed it, and I’m making it. Of course it will be.” She gave Laurent’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “And he’ll love it, so long as he stops interrupting our meetings.”

“I’ll ensure he does. Thank you.”

“I’ll send you updates as I go. Make sure they get the jewels to me on time, otherwise progress will halt. That goes for your husband’s crown too. Talla and I might be the greatest, but even we are halted by lack of materials.”

“Of course. Anything you two need will be provided.” Laurent straightened up, heading for the door. “Until next time.”

“Until next time, my King!” she called as Damen all but rushed them out the door.

“You’re worse than a child,” Laurent scoffed as they strolled back to their rooms. “You couldn’t wait five minutes for me to finish your crown. If you keep interrupting us, I’m going back to my actual chambers until the wedding.”

Damen’s eyes narrowed. “Low blow, Laurent. Low blow. But fine, I’ll quit interrupting.” He reached for Laurent’s hand, swinging it between them as they walked. “You know I’ll love whatever you make.”

“Yes, but you love everything. I need to make sure that it’s appropriate, with equal Veretian and Akielon influence, and that you’ll still like it-”

“Laurent.”

“Mhm?”

“I’m going to love it.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you don’t accept anything less than perfection.”

Laurent quirked an eyebrow. “I accepted you, didn’t I?”

Damen separated their hands in mock outrage, crossing his arms. “And to think, I was going to let you see a sketch of your crown.”

“Wait, no, I take it back!”

“Too late!”

“Damen, come on!” Laurent pressed a kiss to Damen’s lips, curling his dark locks around his fingers. “Please.”

Damen melted beneath him, his lips warm and inviting. Just as Laurent was about to cave and kiss him again, Damen kissed his forehead with a smile.

“Let me see.” Damen shook his head, peppering his face with kisses. “Damen!”

“I was never going to let you see a sketch, anyways. It’s bad luck.”

Laurent scowled, but couldn’t hold it for long beneath the quick kisses. “Tease.”

“Lover.”

“Mine.”

“Yes, Laurent. I’m all yours.”

Laurent straightened his laces, unable to keep still. He wished he could reach out and hold Damen’s hand, but he was standing on the other side of the table. They had to stand at opposite ends so that the guests could view the crowns as they came out.

“King Laurent of Vere, would you crown this man as your equal?” the officiant boomed, her voice echoing off the marbles walls.

“I will.”

“Bring in King Damianos of Akielos’s crown!”

A young Akielon girl appeared at the end of the aisle they had walked down at the beginning of the ceremony, proudly holding Damen’s crown. As it came closer and closer into view, Laurent felt his heart pound, harder and harder and harder. He couldn’t help but watch Damen as he caught a look of it for the first time.

True, the gold band looked simple from far away, but the devil was in the details. He watched as Damen took in the golden leaves that made up the base and the gleaming emeralds that dotted the stems of the leaves. The leaves would curl around the sides of his head, and the ruby starburst would fall directly in the center of his head. It was everything he had hoped for and more, and the look in Damen’s face made him fall to pieces.

He took the band from the girl with shaking hands as he and Damen met at the front of the table. Damen knelt before him, head downcast. “Do you accept this crown, Damianos, before the gods of old and the gods of new, before friends and family, before the dawn and the dusk, before you and me?”

Damen nodded, visibly swallowing as he recited, “I accept this crown, Laurent, before the gods of new and old, before family and friends, before the dusk and the dawn, before you and me.” Laurent lowered the crown onto his head, his heart catching in his throat. “I accept you,” Damen whispered, taking Laurent’s hands as he rose.

They returned to their respective ends of the table with great hesitation, and Laurent almost felt physically unable to take his hands away from Damen’s.

“King Damianos of Akielos, would you crown this man as your equal?”

“I will.” Damen’s eyes shone out from underneath his dark curls, and Laurent felt his heart stop.

“Bring in King Laurent of Vere’s crown!”

Laurent kept his eyes drilled into the Veretian girl’s hands as she walked the aisle, the crown in her hands shining with sunlight. He immediately looked back at Damen, who smiled with a brightness to rival the sun.

It was also a band, but the two could not have been more different. Gold and silver were beautifully intertwined in the subtle carvings of lions and stars along the band. It rose in four peaks, each blessed with a sapphire stone in the middle of each peak. As it drew closer, he could see that sapphires dotted the whole crown, amongst the stars and the lions.

He didn’t believe he was breathing.

He knelt before Damen, ears ringing even as Damen spoke. “Do you accept this crown, Laurent, before the gods of old and new, before blood of the covenant and water of the womb, before the stars of night and the lions of day, before you and me?”

Laurent’s throat felt thick. “I accept this crown, Damianos, before the gods of new and old, before water of the womb and blood of the covenant, before the lions of day and the stars of night, before you and me.” The crown was a welcome weight upon his head. “I accept you.”

He didn’t even hear the officiant’s final words as he rose and kissed Damen for all he was worth.

“Why a starburst?” Damen asked, holding Laurent as they laid in bed.

“Because it’s my sigil. Beyond the sign of a crown prince, the starburst is my family’s sigil. I do want some claim to you.” Laurent played with Damen’s hairs as he curled into Damen’s warmth. “And I thought you knew that.”

He could have felt Damen’s eye roll through a wall. “I did, and I’m all yours, Laurent. I just wanted to hear that you wanted me.” Damen paused, chuckling darkly. “And I thought you knew that I was yours,” he mocked.

“Yes, but it’s nice to let everyone else know.” He paused a moment, tangling his fingers deep in Damen’s hair. “Why sapphire?”

Damen went quiet, reveling in the small massage Laurent gave him. Laurent loved nothing more than massaging his head, because it gave him an excuse to play with his hair.

“You always wear blue, it’s part of your family. I don’t think that I saw you in anything but blue until you wore that chiton.”

Laurent smiled. “You broke a pitcher.”

“That did not happen, and let me finish. I always associate you with blue, and I wanted for you to maintain that independence.” He could feel Damen take a deep breath, his thick chest expand until his back was against Laurent’s chest. “I thought of your eyes. I thought of those same eyes shining out from Auguste’s helmet, and I thought of how you two have the same eyes. I thought of your little brother and his sapphire earring that you still have, and of all that you loved about him. I thought about how I think of blue and all I can think of is you. I thought of your family, and of you, and I just knew. I wanted it to be a reminder of everything, and still wholly you. It had to be sapphire.”

His breath caught in his throat, and he pulled Damen tighter.

“Good answer, then?” Damen asked as Laurent reached over and kissed his cheek.

“Best answer.” Laurent held tight to Damen, burying his head in Damen’s neck. “Thank you, Damianos.”

“I love you, Laurent. And I’ll do anything for you.”

“I love you too, Damen. I love you too.”

And as they held each other, the sapphire boy and golden prince looked down and knew their iron king had found long-deserved peace.

#captive prince #capriweek2k17 #laurent #damen #fanfiction #/waves at softlighter ^^#submission #day 1 p 1 #day 1 p 2

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theleaderdotinfo-blog · 6 years

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Orihuela Costa Community Care has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/01/19/orihuela-costa-community-care/

New Post has been published on http://www.theleader.info/2018/01/19/orihuela-costa-community-care/

Orihuela Costa Community Care

The Orihuela Costa Drop in Centre has an extensive range of activities that it will continue to expand in 2018 but, unsurprisingly, it is the Spanish language classes that continue to attract most interest. Whether it be learning Spanish for the first time or the improvement of your language skills there are sessions for everyone at the Lomas de Cabo Roig complex. Wednesday 17th January is the first monthly Coffee Mornings of the year from 10.30am till 12pm, with a Guest Speaker from the De Vere Group. Coffee, Tea and cakes are available for a donation. Since opening on 11th September, only 4 months ago, 85 members of many different nationalities have now joined the Orihuela Costa Association, proof of a desire to integrate whilst living in the Orihuela Costa and enjoy our time in the sun. Timetable: Mondays: 12.30pm till 2pm. Spanish Beginners session. Full, 2.30pm till 4pm. Spanish Beginners session. New class. 2pm till 3.3pm Spanish Intermediate New Class Wednesdays: 2pm till 3.30pm. Spanish Beginners session. Full Class, 2pm till 4pm. Art sessions, oils, sketching and watercolours. Thursdays: 1pm till 3.30pm. Card making sessions with Instructor Jackie Cameron, great fun, making personalised birthday, anniversary and Xmas cards, a wonderful way to relax with friends. Thursdays: 12.45pm till 1.30pm. Gentle exercise to music with Instructor Angela Nicholson. Angela also is a Craft Instructor and can stay on to demonstrate her knowledge to anyone wishing to learn. Thursdays: Drumming and percussion workshop with Instructor ‘Nick’. 1pm till 2pm We hope to encourage music sessions to be held Mondays and Wednesdays as well as Thursdays. There are suggestions to hold Singing sessions and Tea Dance sessions for all ages and nationalities, these can be organised if enough people want them. Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. Craft sessions will start once there are enough students. We only have 3 people, we need 5 or more. The Drop In Centre is somewhere for everyone to enjoy social activities, all ages and nationalities. It also houses a well-stocked lending library which operates every Monday – Thursday from 1-5pm. If you would like to join and of these sessions, contact Norah or Eva by email: [email protected] The centre is also close to opening a branch of the Cruz Roja Alicante, (Red Cross) which will offer First Aid Training Courses and support to the Community of Orihuela Costa. It also intends to develop a Stroke Support Branch for Orihuela Costa. Over €5000 was raised by the Christmas period for the Tasha Appeal Campaign with the support of the Card making group and Floral arranging group at Alfonso’s Restaurant but to continue to raise the funds needed for her care and treatment, we need volunteers to help with daily bucket collections daily at Zenia Boulevard and Saturday collections at the Celtic Isle. Please contact [email protected] if you can help.

#Orihuela Costa Community Care

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gessvhowarth · 7 years

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All 32 London Borough Logos: Bitchily Critiqued

"You're listening to Barking and Dagenham FM, playing all the hits of the 80s, 90s and today. Coming up next, Shania Twain." Spell it out, why don't you, Barnet. A lot of thought — and no fewer than 12 legs — have gone into this design. Take the red stags, from the arms of Lord Eardley of Belvedere House. The red saltire is a nod to the Diocese of Rochester (which the borough is part of — bloody Rochester, nicking our boroughs). The font is authoritative but soft around the edges. In short: we want to move to Bexley. Co-op meets rainbow bagels meets the 1970s, in this 2012 rebrand, They only spent £2k on this logo, and the Churchillesque platitude 'forward together' was dropped too. Brent is cool. We'll let you know about this one when they've finished painting it. Whenever we've passed one of these, we've subconsciously thought of recycling. It probably doesn't help that it's often found on the side of bins. Of course (?) that symbol actually represents hands joining together. Lego hands. The Apprentice team had run out of time on Lord Sugar's task for them to rebrand Croydon. "Just make it purple," said the project manager, "we need to get back to the boardroom." Welcome to Ealing, where the broccoli is juicy and plentiful. Croeso i cymru... sorry, we mean 'welcome to Enfield'. Boyo. But wait — this is no dragon; the 'enfield' is a mythical creature, with a fox's head, eagle's talons, lion's body and wolf's hindquarters. You'll also spot this beast dribbling a football, on the Enfield FC crest. Understated and classy. Although we are slightly worried we've breached the logo's strict guidelines [pdf]. Please don't beat us up, Greenwich. We're franky undecided. Nike clearly wasn't; in 2006 the sports behemoth handed Hackney Council £300,000 in and out of court settlement, for stealing the logo. You'll find it between C&A and M&S. One of us in the office thinks this has got Saul Bass sass. There's a hint of neon sign about this one. Not to mention a hint of the W doing something wholly inappropriate to the C. This was so nearly perfect. Then, on the final flourish of the G, the ink ran out. We hope your stay at Hillingdon is a pleasant one, and that you enjoy the complimentary chocolate left on your pillow. There's a dog (Talbot hound) with a giant golden horn, for goodness sake. The griffins, meanwhile, represent the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick (dissolved in 1965). One of them appears on the Fuller's crest. Which one?, you ask. The more pissed of the two, we answer. These are getting a bit samey now, aren't they? Well at least there's a bit of blue in this one. Boar, meet winged bull, Winged bull, boar. The blue boar is in fact the symbol of the De Vere family, who lorded over the manor of Kensington for 500 years (well, posh people do live longer). The winged bull is some cheeky product placement from a well-known energy drink. Not really. OK can we stop with coats of arms already? Thanks. Does anyone suddenly miss coats of arms? Lewisham: king of Clipart. The figures on the crown say "give us a shiny hug". The rest of the logo clearly says Lewisham. The crown is actually a Saxon crown, sported by two lions in Lewisham's official blazon. In the logo above, the background is 'Lewisham blue', while the font is in 'Lewisham white'. Truth [pdf]. The colours may say 1990s leisure centre, but the waterwheel is a canny reference to those which can still be found dotted along the River Wandle. Councillor, you are spoiling us. Know what? Although this combo of nail bar pink text and scanning an oak leaf goes against usual logo etiquette, it's worked out rather favourably, don't you think? Excellent use of caps and italics on Word, here, Richmond. Tomorrow's lesson: how to use the internet. This is not the most up to date version of Southwark's logo. They spent over £15,000 on getting rid of the dot. Have they not heard of Tippex? Little Timmy was overwhelmed when he won the competition to design a new logo. Sutton does have an apple-growing heritage though; there's even a Sutton pie. Like the Tower of London itself, this logo is solid — like it could be around for over 1,000 years. OK the artist has clearly never been to the Tower of London, but you don't want to hurt their feelings, do you... If any borough deserves to have a tree on their logo, it's one with 'forest' in its name. Nicely done guys. The Battersea Power Station silhouette, we like. The green and blue, we don't. Meh. It looks like the shield...drawing...person did a preliminary sketch, and Westminster decided to just go with that. We expected more from such a prominent borough.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/londonist/sBMe/~3/-pG_xp1CzdU/every-single-london-borough-logo-critiqued

#London #Opinion #LOGOS #london boroughs #boroughs #council

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langblrwhy · 3 years

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My new new years list

I clearly don't use Tumblr anymore, I don't even interact with people here, but I obligate me to take my list serious because I have to talk about here (it doesn't really make sense, but it works, so...)

1 Be fluent in spanish

Yo solamente assísti una película mexicana, pero yo también platico en la clase de español.

2 Eat 2 new foods and 4 days of no eating meat + 1 day vegan every month

4 days no meat + 1 day vegan

New food: Caesar salad.

3 Be comfortable in french

Je n'étudie pas mdr 3.0

4 Work with design:

I've been studying a lot about design, marketing, branding and social media, I've been showing this on my stories on Instagram and a friend from a Polyglot Club that I participate asked me to help him with his social media! It's voluntary, but I'm excited to use them too as a tool to learn, the same way I've been doing with BEJO (Brazila Esperantista Junulara Organizo).

5 Read 10 books and get used to read just after going to bed:

I bought a few books and now I'm reading Call Me By Your Name (in english) before sleeping, it's way more easy than read the PDF.

6 Be more active in Esperanto-movado and study about it:

Mi estas tre aktiva en BEJO, mi zorgas pri la sociaj retejoj de BEJO, kaj baldaux mi ankaux vere estos en la estraro de PEA (Paranaa Esperanto-Asocio).

7 Exercising every week (and run a bit):

I've been exercising many times every week and counting how much I've been running, in the beginning of the month I could barely run 2:00, now I can run 3:30!

8 Watch 4 movies or series for month and put the less famous on doesthedogdie. com: at least 1 doc or biographic movie.

1 Rabbits (USA, 2002)

2 Crip Camp (USA, 2020) - documentary

3 Te Prometo Anarquía (Mexico, 2015)

9 Study russian.

No study at all 2.0

10 Write down 4 dreams every month.

I wrote a lot.

11 Draw 6 dreams this year.

I didnt.

12 Sketch, draw/paint on paper AND digital every month:

I made a bit of everything again.

13 Draw on notebook almost everyday:

I didn't.

14 Finish 3 arts for month:

I finished 2 (digital art + embroidery)

15 Learn anatomy and draw romantic couples:

I studied anatomy.

16 Post a chapter of fiction every month:

I didn't.

17 Start posting fiction in Esperanto (please):

Nenio... denove.

18 Take care of myself

I've been doing GREAT, I was about to make bad decisions, but I was strong and I'm still doing great on that.

19 Be more sociable

I'm trying and doing better.

That’s it for now, I’m thinking about to get a reward every month I make +80%

11.5/19 = 60%

What happens is: I focus a lot on some topic (I was overstudying about design, marketing and social media + being active on BEJO) and I just didn't feel like doing other stuff, even if it's easy (like watch a forth movie).

I guess I should focus on quality, not quantity, right?

Even though, maybe this list could teach me to balance things in my life. I don't know.

#new years list #list #goals #glowup

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whatdoesshedotothem · 4 years

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Tuesday 16 September 1834

Very good one last night. fine but hazy morning F57° at 8 35 am - at my desk at 8 ½ - kind letter to M- glad she had found out by means over which I had no control that ‘I had even written less often to those who are perpetually heaping upon me kindness after kindness, and whose very situation in life makes them supposed to be the1st objects of my consideration’ –........ if ‘not more heart, I had more common sense than to value the things of this world according to the scale which has been laid down for me – Had you believe me often, and known me better, it would have saved us both much pain - But if heaven has willed it otherwise, let us not complain – the final ruler of events is wiser than we - I am deeply sensible of all your affection, but from the moment of your having deliberately told me your determination and the leading arguments which gave rise to it, my chief endeavour was to be convinced and reconciled - Mary! You trusted me too little for happiness - Remember this, and be comforted – cheer up- trust me, you have much to hope – much more than you seem aware – the prospect will [be] brighter by - by I have never failing consolation in the thought, that you will be happier in others, than you could have been in me - Confidence was too much shaken on both sides - Mary! The last blow on mine, was too severe - Be comforted – be assured, that you have acted wisely for us both – violent changes are generally irksome to all parties at 1st, but, remembering what I myself have suffered, I do not easily despair for any one - I do not feel inclined to say much on the subject of our meeting – the reflections to which it would give rise, could only be painful - Do as you think best’ - Hope ‘her niece’ will exceed her all her expectations - ‘I can easily enter into your motive for calling her Percy’ – pleased at the thought of her going to the Rhine next year – only anxious about her choice of a companion - mention Geneva as a fine town ‘having many literary and economic advantages’ – that a family of 2 or 3 might live in affluence at Rolle for £250 a year – date my latter ½ page 3, Monday 15 September and say it shall go at last night, the herald of the small parcel (stays, 6 laces, pair of earrings from Geneva and book, Coxes’ picture of Italy edition of 1815 too old – barrowed when last at Lawton December 1833) to be sent off by me of today’s mails - ‘I found my aunt much the same as I left her, and Mr Sunderland told me, he thought her general health quite as good – but she is uncertain – this season of the year, or rather later, has generally tired her very much, and I fear, if she gets over the winter at all, it will be very indifferently – she suffers a great deal, yet her cheerfulness does not forsake her – she desires me to give her love, and say how glad she shall be to hear you are better - The 30 shillings for Thomas Beech’s great coat are paid, and I will place this sum to your account - If you do not feel quite sure of my understanding all your wishes about money matters, tell me more particularly what you would have me do - God bless you, my dearest Mary! Ever very especially yours. A. L.’ nice enough letter to Lady S- will consider about the fourgon ‘when I am more able to fix upon my next line of route’ - ‘I am perfectly astonished that I had your letter 12 days ago, and that I had been at home a fortnight on Saturday - I know not how the time has slipped away - I have been so busy about my law-concern, etc the days have seemed like moments, and I have scarce been out of the house - yet I have often thought of you, and wondered how you would settle all those disagreeableness I was so grieved to hear of...... mention letter from Vere - shall go and see her one of these days - at present can make no plans - ‘my poor aunt suffers a martyrdom; yet still she lives, and may live for several months - it is a great comfort to me to see her so pleased at my having got a little friend to take care of me in my travels - I hope you will tell Miss Tate - but, dearest Lady Stuart, it was what you said that I have never forgotten, and it is you that I shall always think of, and thank with all my heart - wrote this morning under the seal ‘I do hope to hear from you soon, if it be only one line to tell me you are better, and have settled things more comfortable than you expected - Do not trouble yourself one instant about a frank - I shall be delighted to see a Norfolk postmark - I shall trouble Lord Stuart with a note to Lady Stuart de R- and a little note to dear Charlotte about the parcel from Paris - Ever, dearest Lady Stuart, very truly and affectionately yours A. Lister’ - general account of my journey to Lady Stuart de R- hoped for some common in Paris - perhaps she doubted my abilities - could not doubt how happy I should have been to do my best - ‘I had a little friend with me whose good care soon set me above Mr. Freeman’s medicines; and we had some delightful wanderings among the Savoy mountains - I do confess that my ‘bowels yearned’ towards Mt. Blanc; but he was a little surly; and the 2 Savoy and avocats who attempted his summit, and said, tho’ unbelieved by any, they reached it, were glad enough to get down again - they had no regular guides, only ½ a dozen peasants, two of whom had made the ascent before - and, had they been a few hours, would probably have been lost - we made what is called the grand tour of Mt. Blanc’ ......... crossed the great and little St. Bernard......... we had no gollis-work - the little Inns very fairly comfortable ‘except one in the village de Ferret where there were only 2 bedrooms for the widow and her 8 children, one man servant and 2 guides, our 2 selves, and 2 sick infants the poor woman had taken to muse, tout compris, at 6 francs each per month - we returned by the Savoy lakes and Chamberi - saw the pass of the Echelles, and the grande Chartreuse - spent 2 or 3 days at Lyons - tho’ many of the houses damaged or destroyed in April are already repaired or rebuilt, there are still too many traces of the émente - Several opulent manufactories have left the town, and set up their establishments elsewhere - there are 3 large ones just completed at Voiron now communicated with Echelles by a fine new road of 3 postes - there are several new roads finished and in progress - that by St. Etienne, opened 2 years ago (missing Lyons) saves 3 days journey to Marseilles’ - 2 or 3 days at St. Etienne and 2 or 3 at Clermont - ‘the view from the Puy de Dome is one of the most interesting and extraordinary I have ever seen - a vast assemble of cones of extinct volcanoes - a vast coulee (sea) of lava - but the heat was so excessive in walking up, and the air so cold at the top, I only staid about ½ an hour - Do tell the girls, they never saw such a dirty figure as I was on coming out of the fine silver mines (opened 2 or 3 years ago) near Pont de Gibaud - But the coal-mine of Firminy, near St. Etienne, astonished me most - it is exactly like a commons tone quarry (open to the day, and worked in the same way) but the rock is coal of excellent quality - it is only 3 years that is has been worked in this way, and is the only coal-mine known of the kind - the miners at the silver mine were chiefly Germans - Be the government what it may, I never saw so great an appearance of improvement and prosperity in the country - the écoles des mines have done an infinity of good to the mining interests of the country’ - dined with Lady CL- and the Berrys - and was delighted with my visit - all were in good spirits, and were very agreeable and kind - I had never seen so much of Lady Charlotte’ (Lindsay) ‘who says things so nicely, and whose manners are so interesting, she made quite an impression upon me - Miss Berry is really wonderful - thank you very much for giving me their address - I was quite glad to improve so nice an acquaintance - unexpected pleasure to see Lord Stuart - ‘what an enviable tour in Norway! I wish a [I] knew a little more about it - If I live, I mean to go there one of these days - my aunt, as to general health, is much the same as when I left her - but she suffers a martyrdom from rheumatic pains, and her medical men fear she cannot long survive the winter - I enclose a little note for Charlotte - Believe me, dear Lady Stuart, always very truly yours A. Lister’ - then wrote on ¼ sheet the following ‘Shibden Hall - Monday 15 October [September] 1834 - my dear Charlotte - I send you a very little note, the herald of a very little parcel, which Miss Berry was so good as promise to bring from Paris - I told Lady Stuart, it was for you - I always thought of giving you some small remembrance on your entrée into the great world - I wished it to be something useful, and only hope I have chosen well, and that you will like the watch for its own sake, and for mine - I hope you are all enjoying yourself, and looking quite rosy and well at Highcliffe - I should not know it again - if you still hunt for fossils, and care as much as ever for the collection, you can fancy how disappointed I was to find, on reaching here, that all my fine specimens from the Auvergne silver-mines, and many others that were packed in the carriage tool-box, were lost in London, throw away as lumber I suppose, by the coachmakers’ men, who thought anti attrition better worth - I often thought of you among the high alps of Savoy, and wished you were with me - what sketching for Louisa! give my love to her - I shall always feel very much interested for you both, and believe me, my dear Charlotte, your very sincere and affectionate friend A. Lister - my kind remembrances to Miss Hyriott’ - went down to breakfast at 11 ¼ and sent off the letter by George my letter to ‘Mrs. Lawton the Reverend M. Miller’s Scarborough’ - breakfast – Mr Parker sent the lease of ‘Lidgit’ to Mr Lampleugh Wickham Hird for A- to read over – she read it aloud to me – the game reserved as in my leases – only allowed to have 7 DW under plough – penalty £10 per DW –not to cut or prune timber – 34 DW not to underlet except with written leave – Rent £100, terms 10 years -Asleep ½ hour – at my desk at 1 5 wrote my note to C. Stuart and at 2 ½ had written so far of today, and had folded and sealed up in envelope my note - 4 pages of ½ sheet to ‘The Lady Stuart de Rothesay’ enclosing in the same my note to ‘the honourable Miss Stuart’ and enclosed these and my note to ‘the Honourable Lady Stuart Whitehall’ under cover to ‘Lord Stuart de Rothesay 3 Carlton house terrace London’ - sent the above letters at 7 pm by George - A- and I out at 2 ¾ to Brearley hill to meet Holt about getting water for John Bottomley and about sinking pit to enable me to look after Mr. Rawson - getting the water will cost about £16 to £20 sinking and driving at 3/. to 3/6 per yard - about 100 yards - ordered this job to be advertised next week for letting as also the pit sinking - H- thinks the pit will cost about 40/. per yard sinking about 100 yards deep to the lower bed - saw the place near the upper gateway just above Conery wood in the Park farm well field - with a small fire engine might get coal there for many years - easily roaded along the foot of Bairstow, out just below Whiskum cottage into the new bank to Halifax - pit to be oblong 8ft. x 5.4 .:. about not quite said SW. tonight 5sq. yards stuff will come out at each yard depth of sinking - 5x100 = 500 yards of stuff carting down to the foot of the wall opposite the house = about £20 - the water of dirt band (36 yards band) and fourscore yards band to be gathered up in sinking and turned the conery clough separately or not to the house - H- said the coal would sell at 8d at the pit’s mouth - and no turnpike to Hx would make a penny a load difference - R- sells at 9 1/2d in the town - we should sell at 9d - would average 5 ½ corves or loads per square yard - 20 loads or one score would sell for 13/4 at the pits mouth -

From Brearley hill A- met me at Whiskum cottage – thence down the old bank to Halifax to the Bowling foundry for fine-grates for north parlour north chamber and tent room – then to Miss Hebden’s – good account of Charlotte Booth – then to Whitley’s – brought home volume 3 8vo Lyell’s Geology and Busby’s Journal among the vineyards of Spain and Portugal - and pamphlet by John Travers on the Tea duties – then to Throp’s about acorns and settling Bairstow with them – home up the old bank at 6 55 – dinner at 6 – coffee – had Washington – nothing to be made of Mrs Machin about the sale of her 11 DW of coal – but W- told me he would call again on Saturday – A- and I sat talking and reading the newspaper George brought back this evening – with my aunt from 9 ¾ to 10 ¾ - wrote all but the 3 first lines of this page till 11 ½ pm at which hour F59 ½° in my study - very fine day - note from Mr. Wilkinson Heath to say the front pew in the north gallery nearest to the west gallery is at liberty rent 1 guinea a year.

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