mayakrishnaposts-blog

[jinxed-ninjago]

The funniest thing about Benthomaar’s nickname being Bentho is the canon etymology of the name Benthomaar.

We know the suffix “maar” means sea in Merlopian and Trimaar says that Benthomaar as a name means “deep sea” which implies “bentho” means deep in Merlopian and “maar” means sea in Merlopian.

Shortening Benthomaar’s name to Bentho basically just means you’re calling him Deep and it is fucking hilarious to me.

Also, on a related note, Trimaar’s name would translate to “three seas” (assuming the prefix “tri” still means "three" in Merlopian) and Kalmaar’s name could translate to “dark sea” or “gloomy sea” because "kal" comes from the Latin word caligo which means "darkness". This, again, assuming it’s applicable to Merlopian (which it very well could be, due to Bentho’s IRL etymology and his canon etymology being INCREDIBLY similar, with “benthos” in Greek meaning “the depths” and “mar” in Latin meaning “ocean or pool” making the literal translation of Benthomaar’s name “the depths of an ocean or pool” which can easily be shortened to "deep sea").

[buckets-of-dirt]

(ID: A screenshot of tags that read "#Prev what are some alternatives to the word primitive that are less derogatory" /end ID.)

@panicdeleter I'm responding to your question on a new post so that the op of the original doesn't get this in their notes because answering in good faith is going to take a lot of explanation.

Short answer: there isn't one.

Long answer: as you say in your tags, "primitive" is a derogatory term with a very loaded meaning. Removing it from your vocabulary is less a matter of finding a more PC alternative, and more a matter of understanding why it's derogatory and changing your perception of what's being discussed. To do that, we're going to have to look at archaeological theory for a minute. Stick with me, I do have suggestions at the end.

Archaeological theory is a complicated subject and there's no way I'm going to try to summarize all of it in a Tumblr post since it's a topic arch programs devote at least a semester (if not longer) to. So we'll focus on the relevant bits.

Essentially, in the bad old days when archaeology was starting to become a discipline instead of a thing rich dudes did on the weekends, there was this idea that certain European societies were the peak of civilization and everywhere else was less evolved and therefore primitive. It was based on the misunderstanding of the theory of evolution that was common at the time. Like so:

(ID: a diagram drawn in pen. It's titled "Ye Olde Arch/Anth Theory TM". The next line says "Primitive = simple, less evolved, bad". Below it there is a vertical arrow pointing down, with the words "one way line" next to it. Under the arrow there is a line of text reading "Advanced = complex, most evolved, good". /end ID.)

These early archaeologists believed that all of humanity lived on a hierarchy with the "advanced" societies they lived in (and their ancestors like Ancient Greece) at the top and all the "primitive" past and current societies (destined to either become like them or die out eventually) at the bottom.

It's been a long road for archaeological theory. The 20th century was fraught with theoretical movements and debates that sometimes literally devolved into fistfights. But eventually we all ended up more or less here:

(ID: A hand drawn diagram in a similar format to the one above. It's titled "Arch Theory Today (Short Version). Below the title there is a single line of text centred around a horizontal line with arrows at both ends. The left side of the arrow reads "simple" while the right side reads "complex". The line itself is labeled "continuum or spectrum". /end ID.)

While you'll still find some archaeologists who disagree, the main consensus appears to at least be on the same page that instead of the old primitive vs advanced hierarchy, societies exist on a spectrum that ranges in complexity. In the most basic terms, because I'm glossing over A LOT of nuance here, hunter gatherer societies tend towards the simple end of the spectrum while big state societies are on the more complex end. This is not meant as a value judgement of these societies, but merely an attempt to classify them so other people have a frame of reference for what you're talking about. Even so, there's considerable debate about the language used for certain terms and societies, and I am not necessarily qualified to go into that in this post.

I say all that to help you understand why I can't give you a catch-all term to replace "primitive", because if one did exist it would be just as derogatory. In certain contexts there may be more appropriate words that you can use, such as simple (as in the case of the meme that inspired this post) or old. But a lot of the time an alternative just doesn't exist because we are not better or 'more evolved' than our ancestors any more than people living in big state societies are any better than people still living as hunter gatherers.

I know this has been a very long post, but I really am just scratching the surface here. For more information I suggest looking at podcasts like The Dirt or A Life In Ruins, youtube channels like The Welsh Viking or Archaeology Tube, or the blogs of any of my fellow dirt lovers here on Tumblr like @chaotic-archaeologist, @micewithknives, @art-thropologist, @archaeologistproblems, and @rhysintherain to name just a few. Archaeologists are generally a bunch of nerds who will take any opportunity they can to talk about the human past, and we rarely bite.

[bethanythebogwitch]

The modern world is nice, but sometimes you just get the urge to go primitive. Because I'm a complete wimp who would die within a day of giving up the internet, I'm going to deal with that urge by talking about primitive animals. It's Wet Beast Wednesday and I'm talking about lancelets.

(image: a lancelet. Not much to look at, are they?)

Lancelets, or amphioxi, are highly basal (close to the ancestral form) chordates that are vaguely similar to fish, but are vastly more primitive. They have all the characteristics of chordates, the key one being a notochord, a flexible rodlike structure that goes down the body. The majority of chordates that are still alive are vertebrates, who have incorporated the notochord into the spinal column. The other groups of surviving chordates are the tunicates (who I'll get to eventually) and the lancelets. Because lancelets are so primitive, they are used at model organisms representing an early stage of vertebrate evolution. It was originally thought that lancelets are remnants of an early lineage that eventually evolved into vertebrates. Genetic studies later showed that tunicates are actually more closely related to modern vertebrates than lancelets. They are still used as a model organism as they are a fantastic representation of early chordates. The similarity of lancelets to the 530 million year old Pikaia gracilens, one of the earliest known chordates, is one of the reasons they are such a useful model organism.

(image: a diagram of lancelet anatomy by Wikipedia user Systematicist)

Lancelets can be found all over the world, living in temperate to tropical shallow seas. The only known exception is Asymmetron inferum, which has been found around whale falls at 225 m (738 ft) deep. They are small animals, reaching around 8 cm at their largest. An amphioxus looks pretty worm-like, with a simple mouth at one end and a pointed tail at the other. The name amphioxus means "both (ends) pointed" which is a pretty appropriate description. The mouth is lined with tentacle-like threads called oral cilli, which are used for feeding. Lancelets are filter-feeders that use the cirri to filter plankton, microbes, and organic detritus. Water and food pass into the pharynx (back of the mouth), which is line with gill slits. This is where it gets weird. The gill slits aren't used for respiration, but for feeding. Mucus gets pushed through the gill slits by cilia, trapping the food and moving it deeper into the digestive tract. Not only to lancelets not use their gill slits to respirate, they actually don't have a respiratory system at all. Instead, they just absorb dissolved oxygen through their thin and simple layer of skin. Their circulatory system doesn't move oxygen around either as there is no heart or hemoglobin present. For what it's worth, they don't have a proper live either. When you look at a lancelet's anatomy, you can see similarities to fish anatomy, just much more primitive and with some parts missing.

(image: the head of a lancelet, with mouth and cilli visible)

Lancelets have 4 different systems used for vision. Two, the Joseph cells and Hesse organs, are simple photoreceptors that are on the notochord and detect light along the back of the animal. Imagine having a bunch of very simple yes on your spinal cord that can see through your skin. There is also a simple photoreceptor called the lamellar body (which confusingly is also the name of a type of lipid) and a single simple eye on the head. Speaking of light, lancelets are florescent, producing green light when exposed to blue to ultraviolet light. In all species, the proteins responsible for this are found around the cilii and eye, but some species also have them in the gonads and tail. The purpose for this florescence isn't exactly known, but a common hypothesis is that it helps attract plankton toward their mouths.

(image: an extreme close-up of a lancelet's cilli fluorescing)

Lancelets have seasonal reproduction cycles that occur in summer. Females release their eggs first, followed my males releasing sperm to fertilize them. Depending on species, spawning can either occur at specific times, or gradually throughout breeding season. Development occurs in several stages. In the frist stage, they live in the substrate, but they will quickly move into the water column to become swimmers. These swimming larvae practice diel vertical migration, traveling to the surface at night and returning to the seafloor in the day. While larvae can swim, they are still subject to the current and can be carried long distances. Adults retain their ability to swim, which is done by wriggling like an eel and in some cases, spinning around in a spiral fashion while moving forward. Unlike the larvae, adults spend most of their time buried in the substrate with only their heads exposed. They typically only emerge when mating or if disturbed.

(image: a diagram of the lancelet life cycle. source)

Because of their use as model organisms, humans have developed methods to keep and breed lancelets in captivity. The majority of research has been done on Branchiostoma lanceolatum, but several other species have been studied. Multiple species are endangered due to pollution and global warming. Several species are edible and can either be eaten whole or used as a food additive. In spring, when their gonads begin to develop for breeding season, they develop a bad flavor.

Mom: "we have garden eels at home". Garden eels at home:

(image: three lancelets sticking their heads out of the sediment)

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Bannykus vs Ambopteryx

Factfiles:

Bannykus wulatensis

Artwork by @i-draws-dinosaurs, written by @i-draws-dinosaurs

Name meaning: Half claw from Wulatehouqi

Time: 113 to 100 million years ago (Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous)

Location: Bayin-Gobi Formation, Inner Mongolia, China

If there’s one group of dinosaurs that has most recently gained more fame among casual dinosaur fans it’s probably alvarezsauridae, elevated to stardom by the Mononykus that captured everyone’s hearts in Prehistoric Planet. The bizarre group of single-clawed maniraptorans has been studied for a while, but their evolutionary origins have fairly mysterious until recently. How did that whole giant thumb claw thing happen??

Published in 2018 alongside more basal alvarezsaur Xiyunykus, Bannykus helps to fill in a gap in that evolutionary pathway! More specifically, they help to fill in a 70 million year long gap between the primitive Late Jurassic Haplocheirus and the very end of the Cretaceous! Notably, Bannykus has a larger thumb claw that the rest of its claws, but the other fingers are at least partially functional instead of just nubbins. It’s a lot easier to see how the later alvarezsaurids got to where they are from here! Next time you lose your mind over the Mononykus from Prehistoric Planet (which I do at least weekly), say a thank you to the lil guy with slightly less weird hands. Thumbs up to Bannykus!

Ambopteryx longibrachium

Artwork by Gabriel Ugueto, written by @i-draws-dinosaurs

Name meaning: Both wings with long arms

Time: 163 million years ago (Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic)

Location: Haifanggou Formation, China

Look, evolution has done a lot of weird stuff to dinosaurs. It put penguins underwater, and did whatever the hall mamenchisaurid necks are, and game lambeosaurs a built-in face trumpet. But I would argue there is one group that represents dinosaur evolution at its most unhinged, and that is scansoropterygidae.

Scansoriopterygids were generally considered “weird little tree dinosaurs” in the 2000s, with long fingers to pick grubs out of bark or something. Then Yi qi swept along in 2015 and revealed that those long fingers were actually supporting membranous bat wings. With an extra bony rod (the “styliform element”) sticking out of the wrist to help support it, because well if you’re a dinosaur evolving bat wings why bother being normal about it after that? Although really, the dinosaurs did it first so bats actually have dinosaur wings.

Yi was sensational, but it was also extremely weird and completely unique. Even other scansoriopterygids didn’t have wing membranes, so the whole bat thing was a bit up in the air. Or not up in the air, as the case may be. But then along comes Ambopteryx, published in 2019, packing another set of skin wings, and the vindication of Yi is complete! 

Ambopteryx preserves a styliform element and wing membrane, as well as a thick coat of feathers, and honestly out of a whole selection of dinosaurs I think these might be some of the most huggable in the lot. Obviously this whole wing membrane thing didn’t end up working out for them long term, but Ambopteryx is part of an incredible lineage that challenged what we thought was possible for dinosaurs!

DMM Round One Masterpost

[batterymaster01]

Figured I give an overhauled description of the Shovelfolk, since the old one is so woefully short compared to most of my project's entries.

The Shovelfolk (Astutocentaurus alluvium) are a humble and diminutive people that are native to the Takara Plains. This means they originated from the same homeland as the Fauns, although they come from a much earlier radiation of the genus. It is estimated that the Shovelfolk, (or at the very least the cultural identity of the Shovelfolk) have been around for well over 3.8 million years, and they retain many ancestral traits that are otherwise lost in younger species. Prominent brow ridges, a broad muzzle, and a smaller braincase relative to body size indicate that they split off from other Astutocentaurus fairly early on, with little to no gene flow occurring with their contemporary sister species throughout their evolution. They also live a lot more conservatively than their other relatives, their societies being wholly tribal and clan-based rather than tribal-feudal, and they likely remained like this for millions of years. They rarely ever involve themselves in the matters of other species, and most of them are content with keeping to themselves in their homeland. For this reason, they are a very rare sight in Tinria or any other mixed-species settlements, and about 81% of their global population lives exclusively in the Takara Plains.

The life of the Shovelfolk is closely associated with the river and the ground beneath their feet. Their species name, alluvium, comes from their apparent close association with the Takara River, as their permanent settlements are often the largest near the river's banks. The name given to them by the other natives, however, comes from the prominence of handmade shovels in their cultures, which they use for both agriculture and to forage for food. Though this name sounds derogatory, the Shovelfolk do not see it this way, as they very much take pride in their mastery of their namesake tool. Having apparently lived such a way of life for so long has shaped their anatomies in more ways than just the retention of primitive characteristics. Unlike the earliest Astutocentaurus, which were plains-dwelling nomads equally capable on both solid ground and in the treetops, the Shovelfolk are semi-fossorial and sedentary, having evolved stouter, more muscular limbs and a smaller body size to allow them to crawl through narrow tunnels, and a slower metabolism that allows them to tolerate lower oxygen levels when digging particularly deep. They are also rather competant swimmers, which is a useful trait to have when living in or near bodies of water. They can still climb, but they are rather poorly suited for it compared to their cousins, and being less adept at running, they have doubled down on camouflage, their pelts being decked in black, white, and green stripes to break up their silhouettes in tall grasses. While they don't have thick, strong claws for digging, they compensate with their fairly liberal use of a wide variety of shovels, and their chin tusks are extra thick and sturdy to allow them to break apart packed, hardened soil and dried mud. Shovelfolk tend to be more crepuscular than their closest relatives, being mostly active in the morning and afternoon, while sleeping at midday and midnight. Their sexual dimorphism is also relatively inconspicuous. Both the men and women are nearly identical in terms of external characteristics, with no identifiable differences in tusk length or body dimensions outside of general individual variation. This means that, while they do have a concept of gender, gender identity itself holds very little significance in their cultures, and their men and women generally have an equal share of occupations. They are also remarkably long-lived by Astutocentaurus standards, with the oldest growing to be 150 years old.

Despite having a smaller brain size relative to body mass, the Shovelfolk are not by any means "less intelligent" than their more derived peers. Like many other cultures, they have both a spoken and written language, and they even have their own systems of measurement. All evidence suggests that their apparently primitive way of life is one they live by choice rather than consequence, and the fact that they retain such an atavistic anatomy is likely a result of this chosen conservatism. In fact, they are actually quite rich in their practices and traditions, and while their cultures are quite similar in their beliefs and values to each other due to a close proximity, they all have their own unique interpretations and versions of these ceremonies. One ceremony of note is the Spring Festival, in which they celebrate a successful growing period with a great party and a live performance to honor their fertility deities. Their technology, while primitive, is still fairly advanced by the standards of their lifestyle. They have managed to discover basic metallurgy fairly early on in their evolution, and often use it to forge tools such as shovel heads and sickles for their crops. They are also known to sift gold from the sediments of the river, which they then melt down to make piercings and jewelry. Metals such as iron are a bit harder to come by in their homeland, so such materials are typically gathered during annual pilgrimages to more metal-rich areas beyond the plains, namely active volcanoes. They also make tools out of plant-based bioplastics like most other advanced cultures, though their particular method is rather unusual. Rather than entirely melting down the plants into a melted plastic soup, they simply hold sticks and stems over an open flame to soften them, subsequently weaving them into shape like a sort of wicker. For their metal tools, they often make grips out of this plastic wicker, cutting cross-hatched marks on the surface for better friction.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Shovelfolk culture is their architecture. Rather than building their homes above ground using traditional building materials, they quite literally dig and sculpt their homes out of the cliffs and hillsides of their river valley, forming maze-like subterranean communities. These underground villages are called "warrens", and they are rather similar to the underground cities in Cappadocia, Turkey, although rather than working with softer volcanic rock, the Shovelfolk have to bore through shale, limestone, dolomite, and sandstone. Since a warren can take literal centuries or even millennia to build, its size and complexity are often indicative of how old and well-established it is. Younger warrens appear fairly simple, consisting mostly of just small rock-carved cubbies arranged in neat rows, which are accessed via ladders and may or may not be interconnected internally. Older warrens, however, are much more baroque, with most of the vertical cliff being carved away to form elaborately sculpted entrances above ground, which lead to vast underground networks of interconnected rooms that fulfill a wide variety of amenities, including housing, food processing, and even education. Some of them even have living spaces designed to accommodate allied species (more on those guys later.) Not only have the Shovelfolk absolutely mastered their excavating techniques through this process, but they are known to have been building warrens like these since the First Iteration (3.8 MYA), back when they still retained a more lithe, cursorial build. Throughout deep time, they have been building warrens for so long that they have inadvertently terraformed the river valley itself, which has proven to be beneficial to both their descendants and the native wildlife. As older, abandoned warrens get eroded by the sands of time, they form smooth, rocky hills that can easily be scaled on foot, and abandoned underground tunnels are smoothed out to form intricate cave systems. This provides a larger amount of walkable ground for thirsty animals to access the river's drinkable water, and the tunnels (provided that they aren't filled up with dirt), are ideal for hibernating animals to sleep out the winter in. Furthermore, modern Shovelfolk are known to rediscover these fossilized warrens rather frequently, subsequently excavating and refurbishing them to reclaim as their own.

While the Shovelfolk live mostly outside of greater feudal society, they do have their fair share of alliances in the plains. They have managed to domesticate clawhogs, a species of pig-like Fauxungulate omnivores otherwise known for their foul temperament. They domesticated these creatures not for their meat, but for their keen ability to sniff out food, which has proven essential in foraging, as well as their eggs and urine which are both used in some of their cuisine. Almost in contradiction to their conservative lifestyle, the Shovelfolk have a very open-minded attitude towards other sophonts. They are on very good terms with the Plainers, a tribalistic ethnic group of Fauns that live a predominantly hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and upon meeting human explorers they were very quick to develop their very own English-based creole. Their most notable alliance, however, would likely be that which they formed with the grand Borean oliphaunts, which they tend to live in close association with and hold in high regard. Some of their cultures believe that they are great guardians created to protect their people, while others believe that they are demigods directly descended from their chief deity. Regardless of their perception, it isn't uncommon for Shovelfolk villages to have at least some degree of cohabitation with oliphaunts, with the latter often assisting their smaller comrades in tasks such as agriculture, construction, and even defense against rivals and predators. Unlike the relationship between men and beasts of burden, this is a dynamic that is very much mutual in nature, as both species are almost equally intelligent and directly exchange cultures and ideas with one another. Due to a long lifespan and the abundance of resources near the river, the Shovelfolk are usually pacifists, and they rarely ever declare war. They do construct weapons such as spears and knives, but these are used almost exclusively for self-defense against predators, as well as for hunting during the dry season when agriculture becomes less viable. In the rare cases in which they have declared war, however, they have been known to utilize their Oliphaunt allies as sapient war mounts, with some records even claiming that they would forge giant daggers for the latter to use as melee weapons.

With the Shovelfolk being around for well over 3.8 million years and the Oliphaunts being around even longer than that, not only have both species bore witness to all four previous iterations of societal and technological advancement on Athrymagaia, but both of them are among the very few cultures alive today that actually remember these ancient eras of prosperity, at least to some extent. Their own perception of these events has cemented itself within their cultures in the form of myths and legends, and while there are indeed fictitious elements in these tales, they are without a doubt directly inspired by the real-life setting and atmosphere of these times, as evidenced by the discovery of ancient technofossils that match the descriptions of some objects described in their mythos. For these reasons, scholars from across the continent often seek out these tribes to inquire about their myths, and often debate which elements of their stories can be correlated to real-world events. In particular, their retellings of the downfall of these old civilizations, while obviously dramatized to fantastical levels, have very dark implications about the real-life circumstances of these events.

[futurebird]

A world without vertebrates: Myrmecos, the planet of the ants!

So, I've been looking for a solution to the question: Why did vertebrates fail to flourish on Myrmecos?

I think I have the answer: No Armored Fishes. If there were no armored fish then the Eurypterids would have continued to be apex predators longer. Some might have filled the hunting niche of early tetrapods. Arthropods were already on land, but you get a second wave.

The land gets built up with arthropods and fish are trapped in the seas!

And in this universe earth is the exception. Not only is earth far away from all of the other living planets it's one of the few with land vertebrates. The armored fish driving tetrapods on to land was a kind of ripple in the intended pattern. It threw everything off!

And just looking at The Dunk-- it is kind of unnatural, don't you think?

This also means that the ants will keep describing humans as "intelligent life from the sea" -- even as we keep explaining that everything came from the sea and it was a long time ago...

To them having a backbone means you are adapted to living in the water.

(I'm adding "Evolution of Ant" to my list of things to draw.)

It would be like one of those old-school natural history museum murals. Starting with single-celled life in the tidal pools of early Myrmecos, then the first multicellular life, then the first sea arthropods, then a momentous moment when a little crab creature first steps on land! Then the early insects, primitive solitary wasps with the glimmers of consciousness, eusocial insects discovering fire ... and at last ants! -----

Hmm it occurs to me reading about the history of human aviation and all of those people longing "to fly" might make ants very uncomfortable.

The ants have never had much fascination with flight. (Space is another matter.) Any queen or drone can fly. It's considered a sign of maturity to pull one's wings off and get on with life.

Flying has primitive, and also vaguely sexual connotations so all the documentaries about people like the Wright Brothers just make Humans sound hopelessly horny.

[tribbetherium]

The Middle Temperocene: 150 million years + 1000 years post-establishment

Almost People: The Calliducynomorpha and Convergent Species

The Calliducyonidae are the third sophonts to arise on HP-02017, after the harmsters and the splintsters. Their rise to prominence, however, has been an incremental, gradual one, bit by bit as with all evolutionary processes, and as evolution is never a straight line, devoid of any definite goal except whatever survives for now, other branches of the overall taxonomic family--the Calliducynomorpha--emerged, diverged, and continue to persist.

These close taxonomic cousins of the true calliducyons, the Eucalliducyonidae comprised of the two species of southhounds and three species of northhounds and the multiple subspecies of each, range in various levels of intellectual prowess, representative of various rungs of the progression toward full sapience. Some are simpler near-sophonts, comparable to, in human terms, early hominids, others being highly-sophisticated but not quite sophonts, akin to great apes like chimpanzees, and others are simply instinctive animals just marginally more intelligent than the Earthly carnivorous mammals they share their niches with, the canids such as dogs and wolves. Thus a spectrum is formed, of various animals blurring the clear line between person and beast: and the true calliducyons, in their lore and culture, have percieved such beings in very different ways.

The closest living relative of the calliducyons is the saddled baskerville (Protocalliducyon primalis): a primitive species that diverged six million years ago from the common ancestor of the northern baskerville and southern baskerville that gave rise to the northhounds and southhounds, respectively. While still more closely related to the northhounds, the southhounds bear closer resemblance to this basal species, sharing their stocky builds, pack-hunting of large prey and highly-intelligent and empathetic behavior toward its fellows.

Saddled baskervilles are complex creatures: they care for their own kin, use tools to a more limited degree, are behaviorally flexible and adaptable, and even have a complex means of vocal communication. However, they are, compared to true calliducyons, simple and child-like, as their communications, loosely "stories", are merely descriptive events of actual experiences. They do not imagine, create folklore, philosophize about the nature of their world or grasp complex abstract concepts, and their language in comparison is far simpler. And unlike the true calliducyons, they are significantly more instinctive, and lack higher understanding of morality: engaging in such animalistic practices as killing the pups of rival packs, copulating with members of their close relation, or consuming their own feces-- all behaviors that their closer neighbors, the southhounds, find abhorrent.

Their more feral behaviors and amoral unpredictability has led to a deep rift between them and the southhounds, who typically do not welcome them in their territories, and see them as savages. Indeed, some packs of saddled baskervilles are known to become hostile to the southhounds, to which the southhounds are left to retaliate thusly. However, certain groups of southhounds, such as the darkears, admire them for their "purity and freedom", and their simpler ways. Some packs have even learned their simple words and call a truce with them--though these are limited interactions and not true conversations, and the two do not mingle due to their behavioral, biological, and mental differences.

Further down the line are the Paracalliducyonidae, a group of baskervilles which diverged even further back at about eight million years ago, and formed two distinct branches: the plainlupes and the falsehounds. These are even simpler beings than the near-sophont saddled baskerville, yet are still incredibly intelligent in animal standards: having flexible learned behaviors they pick up from social groups and experiences.

Plainlupes (Paracalliducyon spp.) are a wide genus of baskervilles with at least four species, ranging widely across most of South Ecatoria and are such encountered by both northhounds and southhounds alike. Smaller than either species of calliducyon, plainlupes are typically opportunistic and somewhat omnivorous, though not to the extent of the northhounds. This opportunism sometimes leads to conflict with their sophont relatives, particularly the highbrows, who know them as "voiceless-ones" who prey on their livestock, and their cultural impact is also evident in many northhound cultures, who fear them in belief that their primal attitudes and lack of self-awareness is somehow contagious, with superstition making them hostile against the plainlupes to avoid them being "taken of their minds" and become feral beasts like they are.

This opportunism has taken to a strange new degree with the falsehounds (Pseudocalliducyon spp.), which actively mimic the coloration and appearances of the brown northhounds: even possessing thicker fur on top of their heads to make their heads appear bigger. This evolved as a defense mechanism: as rival predators such as tigerillas and other lycanines quickly grew to recognize the danger posed by antagonizing the northhounds, capable of tool use, cooperation, intellect and planned retaliation against threats, they began to recognize their distinct appearance and steer clear of groups of them. This has been exploited by the falsehounds, who imitate their appearances and even behaviors, gripping sticks in their mouths even despite not actually knowing how to make and use weapons. But the bluff is enough to make even the largest tigerillas back away at least most of the time, not wanting to take the risk of being taken on by an enemy that will be determined to take them down if they harm any of them.

This mimicry, however, has led to some daring individuals actually attempting to sneak into northhound territories, with the intention of stealing food. They roll about near northhound latrines to take on their scent, then passively imitate their behaviors while discreetly sneaking to their food stores and raiding their stashes. Often, the impostor is caught and evicted, but not before they grab a few mouthfuls off of their meals, leading to many northhound tribes attempting to check their identities by specific vocal "passwords". As they do not understand complex language this is where most falsehounds are caught and chased away. Most northhounds are merciful to the falsehounds, seeing them merely as an annoyance and a trickster, content with simply driving them off until the falsehounds realize their cover is blown and they give up. But to the drysanders, ever so hostile to foreigners, they are seen as demons in false guises walking amongst people: and will not hesitate to kill the intruders upon exposing them: which in rare cases, has led to accidental lynchings of other fellow northhounds unfamiliar with their dialects and thus mistaken for falsehounds.

But not all relationships of the calliducyons with their feral brethren are hostile and aggressive. Some smaller calliducynomorphs, ones who pose little threat and are not competition, are even tolerated and adored by their sophont kin. One such example is the desert wildchild (Paedovulpecyon minimus), a fennec-like hunter in deserts, savannahs and grasslands, and is primarily an insectivore, hunting stinging insects as well as small duskmice and rattiles as well. They are different enough from the northhounds to not arise wariness, and their small, pup-like appearances has caused them to even appear endearing to them. The nomadic mixens, in particular, allow them to tag along in their packs, as they hunt small stinging insects that bother them and thus serve as vermin control, as well as amusement and companionship. To many other northhounds, however, this relationship is uncanny at best and uncomfortable at worst: though most distantly related to the true calliducyons among the Calliducynomorpha, the resemblance is still very much there--and to them, it is the equivalent of someone keeping tiny childlike people as pets.

But it is not only species that are of close kin to the calliducyons that incite such responses: many other, entirely unrelated non-sapient animals, through convergent evolution and coincidence, come to resemble the calliducyons themselves, be it in physical appearance and/or coloration. These species, different as they may seem, manage to evoke an uncanny sense of sameness to the calliducyons: and thus find a place in their folklore and culture, and form unconventional relationships, because of this resemblance.

One such case is the common folkmouse (Callidumimomys minimus), a small furbil species that is an otherwise unremarkable agouti-like herbivore that feeds on grasses, stems and seeds. But what makes it very distinctive is that its coloration, by chance, happened to resemble that of the brown northhounds: with the telltale dark mane, eye spots, pale ruffs, spotted colors and tufted ears that, together, create an appearance that very closely echoes the coloration of the northhounds. Small basal rodents such as furbils and duskmice form much of the northhounds' omnivorous diet: but the folkmouse is an exception. Many northhound beliefs see the folkmouse in different lights: some see them as "spirit kin", others see them as reincarnations of their ancestors, and still others see them as former northhounds that were cursed into turning into mindless diminutive creatures. Whatever their reason, the northhounds as a whole generally refrain from hunting and eating this particular species: and through accidental circumstance and the superstition of a sapient predator, the folkmouse has in essence evolved the most unusual of defensive colorations that have come to protect it from a very unorthodox hunter with rules of its own unlike those of nature.

A similar case applies to the ring-necked wolfface (Phocilycaenops cynocephalus), a member of the group of semi-marine bayvers called gnawruses: specialized to eating hard-shelled prey like shrish and notiluses, they developed blocky heads and squared-off snouts to help in pulverizing tough exoskeletons. Gregarious on the beach, they recognize one another through facial markings, most prominently pale spots above their eyes, and a ring of light and dark fur around their necks. This has given them a very uncanny and coincidental resemblance to the southhounds, which normally would hunt the pinniped-like creatures as they were vulnerable on the beach, in particular the baywulves who were coastal ranging and thus subsisted heavily on marine prey.

Naturally pattern-seekers, the baywulves quickly came to recognize the very similar faces and markings of the sea-beasts, especially when coupled with their defensive grunts and growls that sound much like their own vocalizations yet devoid of words or meaning. They, too, like the folkmouse, are spared the predation of the intelligent creature they so by chance happened to resemble, as baywulf culture has come to see them as guardians of the sea, and consider it a bad omen to harm or kill them. As such, while they do hunt other species of coastal bayvers, this species is off their list, with this cultural belief even providing some selective pressure toward those whose vocalizations sound more like southhound voices--to even further this uncanny resemblance and reduce their risk of being hunted by them.

Most noteworthy are the flyers, that bear resemblances to their faces and markings, as flight is seen as almost magical by the northhounds, and thus easily enter their folklore depicted as supernatural forces or physical manifestations of the spirits that govern the world. One such species, the wandergander known as the maned stormspirit (Ornithocyon tempestas), is widely revered as a holy creature by the northhounds, especially due to its propensity to fly ahead of storms to prey on marine life disturbed to the surface, and gathering after storms on the beach to feed on washed-up or trapped small prey. This, through confirmation bias, has led a number of northhound cultures to see them as either harbringers of storms, or actually causing the storms themselves, and as rain brings water and life they are viewed thus as incarnations of some of the spirits that guide the cycles of nature: with the mythical figure Storm-Chief, associated with the photosynthetic shroomor complex "Stormchief's Eyes", being depicted and described in lore as an immense maned stormspirit who challenged the gods themselves and was struck down for his hubris.

But resemblances to flying creatures take a darker turn in the deserts, where the falcyons, large predatory ratbats, scour the skies in search of prey. Their canine-like heads and similar markings have caused the drysanders to view and portray them as flying monsters with the heads of people: and none are as dreaded as the skewering harpshrike (Phobocynonyctus crucifigere), the species most closely resembling their own facial appearances: and also the species most likely to prey upon the drysanders' vulnerable pups. It is most dreaded by the northhounds in general due to its grim habits: storing the carcasses of its prey up in trees, it skewers them onto thorns and sharp branches to keep them out of reach of thieves, and to more easily take them apart into bite-size pieces for consumption. As such, the deserts are a common sight for the macabre spectacle of small, dessicated, skeletal and half-eaten carcasses decorating the branches of thorny trees: on occasion ones that may had been some unlucky pup out in the open at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

The existence of a diverse array of wildlife resembling themselves, some their own distant kin while others just being convergent animals that bear a coincidental resemblance to their own looks, has had a humbling effect on both northhounds and southhounds alike. Blurring the lines between being and brute, they view themselves not as a separate category of life, or a higher rung in the advancement of creatures. Rather, they both have come to see themselves as just another creature, just another piece in the puzzle of the world, as just another kind of animal as part of the world as anything else: made special solely by their capacity to tell stories, and make choices informed by them.

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[10blue10]

The Evolution of Dragons Pt 2

Welcome back XD. In this next part I’ll explain how I think breath weapons evolved in dragons. I say ‘breath weapons’ because not all dragons breathe fire, obviously, and even then I don’t think they’re ‘breathing’ stuff out so much as spitting it out. But ‘spit weapon’ doesn’t sound quite as majestic lmao.  

To start off, all dragons have some kind of breath weapon. Speed Stingers might be an exception, it depends on whether you want to count SOD where they can apparently spit acid like Changewings. If they all have this feature, we can infer that they all have some kind of cavity that stores fuel or the substance of their breath weapons, and so would their common ancestor.

I mentioned in part 1 that the gliding reptiles they might have evolved from had hollow cavities in their bones to help make them lighter. In other animals, such as dinosaurs and birds, cavities like these are associated with air sacs as well. Air sacs allow more oxygen to be extracted from each breath the animal takes.

Which means if some of these reptiles evolved air sacs to give them more efficient breathing, they would have been better adapted to survive the end Permian extinction, when oxygen levels dropped significantly. Thus they would have been primed to continue evolving into dragons, and since air sacs are useful for flying animals these would be retained by their descendants.

Let’s assume that, like birds, dragons have at least nine air sacs. Like so:

Except that in dragons, the interclavicular air sac has since become adapted as a fuel sac for their breath weapons. I believe that their stomachs are full of bacteria that produce hydrogen, which is both lighter than air and flammable. But you may be wondering, why hydrogen? Why that gas specifically?

It’s because whilst the dragons of HTTYD have a range of fire types, most of them are fuelled by some kind of hydrocarbon. These are combinations of hydrogen and carbon. Night Furies, Gronckles and Nightmares all have hydrocarbon based fire (acetylene, heptane and kerosene respectively).

However, other dragons are specifically stated to have methane based fire. As a general rule of thumb, species whose fire is more explosive or burns particularly hot seem to have hydrocarbon based fire, whereas dragons who expel more billowy flames (like the Red Death or Boneknapper) have methane based fire, since methane apparently burns longer than hydrogen gas does.

So I think that over time, the air sac between their clavicles became connected not to the lungs, but to the stomach. Gas from the stomach then goes into this storage sac, which also helps to distribute it and support more of the dragons weight. In the fuel sac, hydrogen would mix with carbon and sometimes other elements they’d draw from their diet to produce the fuel for their different fires.

As for how the fire is set alight, it seems to be ignited with either oxygen they probably pull in with a deep breath, or by a spark. I think they produce sparks using a gland in their throat that secretes chloride. This molecule is negatively charged, whereas hydrogen is slightly positively charged. The imbalance between the electrons builds up to create a static shock, and there’s the spark.

In fact, since hydrogen itself is flammable, if the chloride gland evolved early then primitive dragons could have breathed out and ignited just the hydrogen. Then as they diversified into different species, their bodies adapted to produce different hydrocarbons from various combinations of carbon and hydrogen.

Here’s some examples of how the dragons fire breath would work:

Night Fury - acetylene hydrocarbon + oxygen = oxy-acetylene blast.

Nadder - magnesium + hydrogen + spark = magnesium flame. (Side note: traces of magnesium can be found in plants, and we briefly see some wild Nadders apparently grazing on bushes at one point. My new headcanon is that in the wild they supplement their diet with magnesium rich plants, but then Stormfly discovered chicken tastes better and switched to that.)

Gronckle - heptane hydrocarbon + oxygen + rocks = lava blasts.  

Monstrous Nightmare - kerosene hydrocarbon + spark = fluid fire.

Zippleback - okay, here’s the thing. According to Dreamworks/the wiki, their gas is made from ammonium nitrate and anhydrous hydrazine. Which yes, is a mouthful. Just one problem - combining those two things doesn’t create a fog like green gas. It makes a clear liquid explosive that from what I can tell, is used to make TNT. Also I’m pretty sure they’re lab-synthesised compounds.

So here’s a more realistic explanation: chlorine + hydrogen + spark = boom. (The gas breathing head would get the chlorine from salt using electrolysis. I now headcanon that Zipplebacks go to salt licks to replenish their chlorine.)

In nature, hydrocarbons are found in oil and gas, and are created by heat and pressure. The fuel sac might be pressurised, it’s hard to figure out. As for heat, the energy required to fly means their mitochondria (THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL) would be producing a lot of heat. Enough to make hydrocarbons?

Well, let’s just assume it can XD. This explains why the Red Death blew up. In fact, I’m pretty sure that Terror from the ‘not so fireproof on the inside’ scene had to burp/fart out all of its fuel and gas to avoid meeting the same fate. Otherwise it would have exploded. So have fun with that mental image 😈.

As for sea dragons, despite what I put in part 1 there were several instances of dragons going from the air to the ocean. In their case, the air sacs became adapted to store more oxygen to let them hold their breaths for longer, and the fuel sac either stores boiling water (Scauldrons) or supercooled water (Bewilderbeasts) or increases the resonance of their roars (Thunderdrums).

One last thing that I think is really cool. If the dragons fire is based on hydrocarbons, burning them would produce carbon dioxide. I think the plants will have adapted to take advantage of all the extra CO2 by growing more and faster. Which would explain why the Archipelago, a place full of dragons, also has so much vegetation despite the high latitude it’s supposed to be at.

So yeah, the dragons breath weapons not only make them unique, but make them a keystone species. That’s all for now but I might do a part 3 exploring how dragon intelligence might have evolved, if you guys are interested.

[shytastemakerthing]

ALR!!! GN is fine with me!! 🦀🦀🦀

I would like a romantic matchup for twisted wonderland!!

Here's the matchup info:::

My personality is basically the epitome of a drunk dude in a fever dream, literal chaos itself. I am extremely weird, && basically alternate between a calm && rational person to a complete chaotic idiot. I am obsessed with crabs && spade cards! Literally all i talk about is crabs, in my mind it's only crabs.

((if you're okay with swearing))

I am one foul mouthed motherfucker, i have a habit of cursing, either regular swear words or the most absurd sounding swear words come out of my mouth. (E.G. : “you blithering feculent shithole” “primitive fuckjam” “putrid shitsmoking cretins” “you dickreeking undulating fuckass” “fucksquatting pain in the waste chute” “heinous ravaging trash" “reprehensible sanctimonious jitterfuckery.”) I am completely incapable of uttering a single word without fucking cursing. I also create weird mash of words like:: ("diddlesnob" "smiddlewat" etc.)

I have no mental filter whatsoever i say weird shit like::: ("you smell like carbonated cucumbers on a hot summer night" "what if i just shat out amoxicillin" "it tasted like Mario was inside of your ass himself with a blow-dryer" "that was the most toe-wetting knee-curling thing I've ever seen" && "this feels like crunchy water") complete crackhead shit

Alongside my weird swears i often say stuff like::: "If jumping jacks take turns while jumping, how is a water fountain like a solid desk?" "Why is a croquet set like a baseball club?? " && "If bacteria eat chicken legs but not candycanes, why does a lamppost achieve the theory of evolution????" Basically some twisted riddles && questions. What can I say? The confusion of others amuses me.

I also say "Nyeh" and "NYEHEHEHE" a lot. It is basically my signature laugh and confusion noise at this point!!!

I also have a permanent smile attached to my face! :]] Due to that and my overall personality my friend's call me "humanized remake of Cheshire Cat" Orr "Smiley bastard"

A/N: Thank youbfor your request! I certainly hope that you like it! I honestly had a lot of fun with this!🤣😊

I match you with.......

Floyd Leech

• You + Floyd = Chaos, that's literally the relationship right there.

• All jokes aside, this lanky eel boy LIVES for your random drunk guy every and makes matters even worse by hyping you up about it! He's never bored when you're around!

• We have poor azul pulling at his hair in the background and Jade between the edge of having a crisis of now having to deal with two Floyd's and laughing in amusement as Azul's own reactions.

• Your random sayings and strange choices of curse words always have him wheezing! He doesn't think he's had this much fun in years! Now he repeats your sayings and curses while he's at work and Azul is beating his head on the desk.

• Speaking of work, please come visit him! Not only is the temperamental eel in a much better mood when you're around, he also tends fo work a lot better. (He may or may no have been bribed that if he works hard and gets his hobs done, then he can leave early)

• You LOVE his squeezes! Floyd is so used to people running in thr direction opposite of which he is coming, and then there's you. You're running up to him fir squeezes, or yoh standat the end of the hallway with wide open arms which is all Floyd needs to come charging at you.

• Please come to his basketball games! And the practices, too! He will have a nice spare jersey just for you to wear and cheer him on. It does wonders, Ace and Jamil can verify this. Come every game, they can't loose.

• You'll still always be Shrimpy (given that Ace is Crabby), but he will indulge in your Crab addled brain.

• Swimming with him in his mer form is a must! Don't worry, he'll try not to drown you (though he makes no promises). This means late night swims at Octavinelle, in the pool, or any other deep body of water the two of you can find.

• When he does get into one of his moods, he doesn't really feel like doing anything. This means, either you're in his room or he's in yours and you're a tangled mess of limbs, either passed out asleep, or he's asleep and your combing through his hair (something he finds soothing), or your letting him rant and vent out anything that may be frustrating him.

• Being with Floyd means various things. You get the 'you hurt my brother and I'll make your death look like an accident' from Jade, the 'break his heart anf no amount of blackmail will keep you safe' from Azul, talks. Past the threats, they care deeply for Floyd, and don't want to see him hurt (even if they will never admit to it outloud). After that, you have two more people who would do anything to protect you.

• Overall, chaos energies collide and come together in this tooth rotting relationship. Floyd doesn't plan on letting you go any time soon. He'll He'll anything if it means protecting you.

[ai-seo-services]

The Evolution of AI SEO: Unveiling Future Trends

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, AI SEO is a game-changer. The integration of artificial intelligence into search engine optimization has revolutionized the way businesses approach their online presence. Today, we’ll delve into the evolution of SEO automation with AI, highlight future trends, and share some exciting AI SEO automation success stories.

The Evolution of SEO Automation: From Keywords to AI

The Early Days of AI SEO Automation

AI SEO automation in its infancy was all about keywords. Marketers would stuff pages with keywords, hoping to rank higher on search engines. This primitive approach worked for a while, but it wasn’t long before search engines got smarter.

The Rise of Algorithm Updates

Search engines like Google started rolling out algorithm updates to penalize keyword stuffing and reward high-quality content. This shift forced marketers to focus on creating valuable, relevant content.

Enter AI SEO Automation

With the advent of AI SEO automation, the landscape has changed dramatically. AI-driven SEO automation tools have made it possible to analyze vast amounts of data, identify trends, and optimize content like never before.

How AI SEO Automation Transform

AI-Powered Keyword Research

Gone are the days of manual keyword research. AI tools can now perform SEO Keyword Research Services with incredible accuracy, uncovering valuable keywords that might have been missed.

Content Creation and Optimisation

AI doesn’t just help with research; it also plays a crucial role in content creation and optimization. AI-driven tools can generate content, suggest improvements, and ensure it aligns with the latest AI SEO automation best practices.

AI in Link Building

Link building has always been a cornerstone of SEO. With AI, the process has become more efficient and effective. AI can identify high-quality link opportunities and even automate outreach efforts.

Future Trends in AI SEO Automation

Voice Search Optimisation

With the increasing popularity of voice assistants, voice search optimization is a must. AI can help optimize content for voice search, ensuring your website appears in voice search results. Learn more about Voice Search SEO to stay ahead of the curve.

Personalised Search Results

AI’s ability to analyze user behavior means search results are becoming more personalized. This trend is set to continue, making it essential for businesses to tailor their SEO strategies accordingly.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is another exciting trend. AI can analyze historical data to predict future trends, helping businesses stay one step ahead of their competitors.

AI SEO Automation Success Stories

Case Study: AI SEO Automation Services Agency in Australia

An AI SEO Services agency in Australia leveraged AI-driven SEO automation tools to boost their client’s organic traffic by 150%. By utilizing advanced AI tools for keyword research and content optimization, they were able to achieve remarkable results.

Case Study: Local Business in New Zealand

A local business in New Zealand saw a 200% increase in website traffic after implementing AI-powered SEO Services. The use of AI for content creation and link building played a significant role in their success.

Case Study: E-commerce Site in Canada

An e-commerce site in Canada used AI SEO to enhance their Content Marketing Services. The future of digital marketing with AI helped them identify high-performing keywords, optimize product descriptions, and create engaging content, leading to a substantial increase in sales.

How to Implement AI SEO in Your Strategy

Start with an SEO Site Audit

Before diving into AI SEO, it’s crucial to conduct a thorough SEO Site Audit Consulting. This will help identify areas for improvement and set a solid foundation for your AI-driven strategy.

Choose the Right AI SEO Automation Tools

There are numerous AI-driven SEO tools available, each with its own strengths. Research and select tools that align with your business goals and budget.

Focus on Quality Content

While AI can assist with content creation, it’s essential to maintain a focus on quality. Ensure your content provides value to your audience and aligns with the latest Content SEO Strategies.

Monitor and Adjust

AI SEO is not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Continuously monitor your performance and adjust your strategy as needed to stay ahead of the competition.

The Role of AI SEO Automation in Social Media Advertising

Enhanced Targeting

AI can significantly improve the targeting of your Social Media Advertising Services. By analyzing user data, AI can help identify the most relevant audiences for your ads.

Automated Ad Creation

Creating ads can be time-consuming. AI can automate this process, generating ad copy and visuals that are optimized for performance.

Real-Time Analytics

AI provides real-time analytics, allowing you to track the performance of your social media campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

Integrating AI with Other Digital Marketing Strategies

AI and Local PPC Management

AI can optimize your Local PPC Management campaigns by analyzing data and adjusting bids in real-time. Future of digital marketing with AI ensures your ads are always performing at their best.

AI and Remarketing Strategies

Remarketing & Retargeting Strategies are more effective with AI. AI can identify the best times to show ads to users, increasing the likelihood of conversions.

AI and Technical SEO

AI can streamline Technical Optimization, identifying and fixing issues that might be affecting your website’s performance.

Conclusion

The future of digital marketing with AI SEO automation is incredibly promising. As AI SEO  automation continues to evolve, its impact on SEO will only grow. Businesses that embrace AI-driven SEO automation tools and strategies will be well-positioned to succeed in the competitive online landscape.

For those looking to take their SEO efforts to the next level, consider partnering with an AI SEO Services agency. With their expertise, you can harness the power of AI to boost your online presence and achieve your business goals.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, AI SEO Services agency services are a vital resource for businesses aiming to enhance their SEO strategies. By leveraging AI SEO Services, you can stay ahead of the competition and ensure your content is always optimized for success. With a range of services including SEO Site Audit Consulting, Content Marketing Services, and more, the AI SEO Services agency is your partner in achieving digital marketing excellence.

[huanyukang]

Major study of Concept art :

Blog 48：（ forefront 7）

An analysis of the Meaning of Water and Sea in the Conceptual Scene Design of Avatar 2

I really like the scene design of water and sea in Avatar 2. The director conveys reverence for nature and life through the ocean. In this film, the ocean is not only a part of the natural landscape, but also a vibrant and symbolic existence. The director presents a deeper, more emotional, and symbolic world of the ocean to the audience through carefully designed visual language. So when designing my main project, I also set up a lake around the altar building to suggest the "ocean of life" in the Taoist universe

James Cameron, a renowned director and producer known for his innovation and excellence, has once again presented a captivating visual blockbuster to global audiences after 13 years - Avatar: The Way of Water (hereinafter referred to as Avatar 2). Since its release, this highly anticipated 3D movie has caused a great response worldwide, leaving audiences deeply shocked in both visual representation and storytelling. Avatar 2, with its outstanding cast, superb special effects techniques, and gorgeous visual style, has brought an unparalleled visual feast to fans worldwide. (Li, 2023) The film not only achieved new breakthroughs in technology, but also demonstrated a grand narrative pattern and profound thematic connotations in narrative techniques. While the audience is immersed in the fantasy world created by the film, they are also deeply moved by the emotions and thoughts contained within it.

The description of the origin of all things in ancient Egyptian mythology outlines a mysterious and ancient worldview: before everything existed, the world was just an endless sea, symbolizing an unconscious state of chaos. It is in this primitive ocean that the gods created all things in heaven and earth, thus opening the prologue of life.(Li, 2023) This mythological narrative profoundly reveals the crucial role of the ocean in the origin of the universe and the generation of all things, and this symbolic significance has also been continued and strengthened in the development of human history.

In addition, the evolution of human civilization is inseparable from the ocean. Whether it is the initial origin of life or the later expansion and progress of human society, the ocean has played a crucial role. The ocean is not only the primitive memory of the earth, but also the cradle that nurtures life. On this vast blue planet, human survival and prosperity have always been closely related to the ocean. (Li, 2022)It can be said that the ocean not only affects the evolution of nature, but also profoundly shapes the process of human civilization. Because of this, humans have a deep emotional attachment to the ocean in their subconscious, which contains the genetic code from billions of years ago and is an indescribable complex.

Avatar: The way of water(2022) available at：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EliELZMxqc

As a director full of reverence and love for nature, James Cameron has been dedicated to expressing his profound understanding of the ocean through film art for many years. In his works, the ocean is often endowed with multiple facets of mystery, charm, and danger. In his early works, Cameron often depicted the ocean as a realm full of unknowns and terror. It is deep and dark, hiding monsters and the threat of death, symbolizing humanity's fear and reverence for the unknown world. However, this depiction is not Cameron's complete understanding of the ocean, it is only a side of the ocean he presented at that stage.

In Avatar 2, Cameron's portrayal of water and the ocean underwent a significant transformation. He no longer just regards the ocean as a mysterious realm full of danger and unknowns, but endows it with more emotions, meanings, and aesthetic values. In this film, the ocean is not only a part of the natural landscape, but also a vibrant and symbolic existence. Cameron presents a deeper, more emotional, and symbolic world of the ocean to the audience through carefully designed visual language.The ocean in Avatar 2 is both mysterious and enchanting; It is both awe inspiring and inspiring. Cameron presents water and the ocean as a space full of infinite possibilities, a beautiful yet dangerous realm, with a unique visual style and narrative technique.(Li, 2022) This performance not only expands the audience's imagination of the ocean world, but also endows the film itself with deeper philosophical connotations.In the first installment of Avatar, Cameron led the audience to appreciate the beauty of Pandora's sky and forests, while in Avatar 2, he took the audience into the boundless deep sea, showcasing the vastness and mystery of the ocean to the fullest. North American media have highly praised Avatar 2, stating that it is both a love letter from Cameron to the ocean and a motto for the inhabitants of Earth. (Li, 2022)This evaluation fully affirms the film's achievements in emotional expression and symbolic significance.

In short, Avatar 2 is not only a technological and visual masterpiece, but also a work that carries profound emotions and philosophical ideas. Cameron conveyed his deep love and reverence for the ocean through this film, and reminded everyone on Earth that our relationship with the ocean is not simply about using and being used, but about coexistence and coexistence. It is at this point that Avatar 2 transcends the realm of entertainment and becomes a film with profound significance.

reference：

Li， Rui (2023). Avatar: The Way of Water: A formalistic aesthetic shift in 3D cinema. Film Literature (02), 101-104(Accessed: 10 Apirl 2024)

Li ，Tingjun (2022-12-14). James Cameron, director of Avatar: The Way of Water, believes that Chinese audiences will find more resonance. China Film News, 005. doi: 10.28064/n.cnki.ncdyb.2022.001100(Accessed: 10 Apirl 2024)

Avatar: The way of water(2022) available at：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EliELZMxqc(Accessed: 10 Apirl 2024)

[systemtek]

The evolution of online games

The evolution of online gaming has seen the player experience go from simple, pixelated adventures to vast, immersive worlds teeming with players from all continents. This development over the decades hasn’t just reshaped entertainment but also the way we interact, learn and connect with others on a global scale. Here’s a brief guide to the evolution of online games. The early days of online gaming The foundation of online gaming was laid by simple text-based games and basic multiplayer functionalities in the 1970s and 1980s. These were the times of MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), which, despite their primitive graphics and limited interaction, paved the way for virtual communities. Players would dial up via modems to explore fantasy worlds and complete quests, setting the stage for today's massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). The internet revolution As the internet became more accessible in the 1990s, online gaming began to evolve rapidly. The introduction of the World Wide Web created new opportunities for game developers to make use of enhanced graphical capabilities. MUDs were elevated with rich graphics and more interactive gameplay, officially marking the birth of the MMO genre. These games were truly revolutionary, offering players persistent worlds that lived and breathed even when they logged off, a feature that was previously unimaginable. The broadband connection The early 2000s saw the rise of faster internet connections and the introduction of broadband, mitigating many connectivity and lag issues which commonly plagued earlier online games. Social connection through gaming was given a whole new meaning and became a key driver in the industry. This period also witnessed the launch of landmark games which brought online gaming into the mainstream. Exploring worlds, competing against friends and following intricate storylines attracted millions of players worldwide, and the industry has never looked back since. The smartphone era The mass adoption of smartphone technology in the late 2000s and early 2010s marked yet another pivotal moment in the evolution of online gaming. Coupled with the advent of social media platforms, gaming reached a whole new audience – including many who didn’t identify as gamers. With mobile capabilities and ever-improving connectivity in and out of homes, online apps have taken online gaming to remarkable new levels. Options such as bingo apps, arcade games and interactive social media platforms have given people the ability to enjoy gaming on the go, anytime and anywhere. Today, online gaming embodies diversity, accessibility and community. Entirely new industries have developed around online gaming, giving people more and more ways to immerse themselves in this space. For many, it remains a favourite form of entertainment. Read the full article

[ainews]

Scientists have long known that tics, or involuntary movements, are a common occurrence among human beings. But a recent study has shed new light on the cause of these movements, revealing that they are actually an intertribal trait that has been passed down from our early human ancestors, including the neanderthals.

The study, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, examined the presence of tics among different modern-day human populations and compared it with the genetic makeup of our human ancestors. The researchers found that tics were more prevalent among populations with higher levels of neanderthal DNA, suggesting that these movements were inherited from our extinct cousins.

This discovery may come as a surprise to many, as neanderthals are often portrayed as a brute and primitive species. But recent research has shown that they were actually quite sophisticated and had many similarities to modern humans. And now, it seems that tics are just one of the many traits that we share with our neanderthal ancestors.

But why would tics be an intertribal trait? The researchers suggest that tics may have had a role in early forms of communication and social cohesion between tribes. In a time when verbal communication was limited, physical movements would have been an important means of communication. Tics may have helped individuals within a tribe to establish a sense of unity and common identity, and also helped with social interactions between different tribes.

So, what does this mean for coaches who may have tics? First, it's important to understand that tics are a normal and natural part of human behavior. They are not a sign of weakness or inferiority. In fact, they may have served an important role in our evolution and survival as a species.

Coaches should also be aware that tics may occur more frequently in athletes with higher levels of neanderthal DNA. This does not mean that these athletes are less capable or less intelligent, but rather that they have inherited a physical trait that may manifest in the form of tics.

It's also important for coaches to create an inclusive and understanding environment for athletes with tics. This may mean educating the team about the genetic basis of tics and their role in human evolution. Coaches can also work with these athletes to find strategies for managing their tics in a way that doesn't impact their performance.

In conclusion, tics may be an intertribal trait that has been passed down from our neanderthal ancestors. While they may seem like a strange and sometimes disruptive behavior, it's important to remember that they helped shape our evolution as a species. Coaches should embrace and support athletes with tics, understanding that they are a natural and normal part of being human.

[nintendeez]

Nintendo's Home Console Legacy of Powerhouses and Flops

For many gamers, myself included, our first real brush with interactive storytelling came courtesy of Nintendo and the venerable Nintendo Entertainment System. Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, Legend Of Zelda; these titles weren’t just names or logos stamped onto cartridges – they were doorways into entirely new universes filled with unforgettable characters, challenging quests, and epic battles. And while gameplay and narratives have undoubtedly made leaps and bounds since then, there remains something inherently charming about those early pixelated graphics which continue to hold sway over nostalgia lovers everywhere.

The progression of graphical fidelity throughout Nintendo’s history is more than merely interesting; it serves as a testament to human ingenuity and determination, proving time again that we always strive for better, faster, stronger. From the rudimentary blocky sprites of yesteryear to today’s near-photorealistic visuals, let us embark on a journey down memory lane, tracing the evolution of pixels through four decades of the company that redefined home consoles as we know them.

The opening act of this grand spectacle took place in 1983 when the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) hit shelves across North America. Featuring an array of 8-bit titles such as Super Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt, and Excitebike, players found themselves transported to fantastical lands inhabited by mustachioed plumbers, anthropomorphic dogs, and other equally bizarre denizens. Although the graphics may seem primitive by modern standards, there was nonetheless a certain charm to the simplistic designs and vibrant colors which helped the system fit in on toy shelves - an integral part of its successful marketing strategy.

Fast forward a few years later to 1991, when Nintendo unveiled its next big thing: the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Boasting 16-bit graphics and an expanded color palette, this new kid on the block quickly became home to some of gaming's most beloved titles - Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Earthbound. With twice the horsepower under the hood compared to its predecessor, developers could now craft more detailed worlds teeming with life. 

Characters no longer resembled flat sprites but rather moved like claymation figures brought to life. Backgrounds boasted parallax scrolling layers that added depth previously unheard of in home consoles. It wasn't just about looks either; games such as F-Zero showcased SNES's then-revolutionary Mode 7 scaling effects which allowed for "realistic" planes on which science fiction vehicles could speedily race. And lest we remember the most impressive upgrade of all: the humble SuperFX chip. Although this chip was provided by the cartridge and not the system, it allowed such visual spectacles as Star Fox to grace our retinas.

We must remember that not every technological leap was met with success. Unfortunately this means that we have to talk about the Virtual Boy... Released in 1995 amidst much fanfare thanks largely due in part to hype surrounding "Virtual Reality"  and Nintendo's unwavering belief that 3D gaming was the future, this infamous flop proved too ambitious for its time. Featuring a cumbersome headset complete with red tinted displays, players found themselves greeted by blurry wireframe worlds prone to inducing headaches rather than immersion. Lackluster game support didn't help matters either; only twenty-two titles ever saw release across multiple regions before production ceased prematurely two years later – effectively marking an end (for then) to Nintendo's foray into VR/AR space until Switch’s Labo VR came along decades later.

Enter the Nintendo 64 (N64), which launched in 1996 and single-handedly redefined what home consoles were capable of graphically speaking. With a 64-bit processor based on the cutting-edge (for the time) Silicon Graphics R4300i processor, games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time showcased worlds that looked almost realistic by comparison to previous generations, thanks to their newfound third dimension and polygonal models. Suddenly players could explore Hyrule or prance around Peach's Castle without being confined to side-scrolling limitations! While textures remain rudimentary (though the N64 did boast Gouraud shading,) at launch these titles were nothing short of revolutionary – opening up entirely new possibilities for game designers who no longer needed to rely on strictly 2D playgrounds for their creations to shine brightest.

Nintendo's sixth-generation console, the GameCube, released in 2001 and signaled a departure from their traditional cartridge-based media format in favor of mini-DVDs. Although a commercial flop compared to competitors Xbox and PlayStation 2, it boasted some visual gems like Metroid Prime and F-Zero GX. The latter especially pushed the hardware to its limits with a smooth framerate of 60 frames per second and photo realistic tracks that still hold up today!

Despite being underpowered on paper when compared to Microsoft’s Xbox or Sony’s PS2 consoles, Nintendo managed to squeeze every ounce out of their mini disc technology thanks largely due to proprietary Dolphin GPU developed by ArtX (now part of AMD). Features such as trilinear filtering helped smoothen textures while lighting effects courtesy of real time shadows added an air authenticity not seen before on home systems at that point in time – all without sacrificing frame rate stability so crucial for twitch based genres like racing games or first person shooters alike!

Nintendo's Wii, released in 2006, ushered in a new era of gaming with its innovative motion controls and family-friendly appeal. Although the console itself was underpowered compared to its competitors, it more than made up for it with sheer ingenuity and accessibility. While many of the titles released during this generation favored gameplay over graphics, standouts like Super Mario Galaxy showcased that even with less horsepower, developers could still create visually stunning experiences. The cartoonish visuals and whimsical worlds are just as charming today as they were back then.

However, the Wii marked a turning point for Nintendo: sacrificing raw processing power for unique gameplay mechanics would become their calling card moving forward. This approach alienated some hardcore gamers but won them droves of casual fans who might have otherwise been intimidated by other systems on the market at that time. Graphics took a backseat to accessibility – an ethos which continues to this day.

Nintendo's Wii U, released in 2012, is a prime example of a console ahead of its time. While it was a commercial flop due to the lackluster third-party support and confusion over its tablet-like controller (a precursor to the more successful Switch), there were some graphical gems hidden among the rubble. Titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild demonstrated that Nintendo could still deliver visually stunning experiences when they set their minds to it. It also marked the introduction of HD visuals for most first party games, which were sorely needed at this point in gaming history!

However, it wasn't until their next system that Nintendo would truly revolutionize both graphics and gameplay.

Enter the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid console released in 2017 that managed to breathe new life into both handheld and home gaming. As of today, it's been their most successful system since the Wii – no small feat considering stiff competition from two generations of Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation consoles.

Graphically speaking, titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and later Tears of the Kingdom) showcased just how far Nintendo has come since the days of 8-bit sprites and monochromatic palettes. With crisp HD visuals (docked) or upscaled 720p resolution (handheld), games look better than ever before on a portable device thanks to NVIDIA's custom Tegra X1 SoC chip found within its diminutive frame. The Joy-Con controllers introduced innovative motion controls reminiscent of the Wii but refined for more accurate input tracking perfect for games such as Nintendo Switch Sports, Ring Fit Adventure, or 1-2-Switch minigames alike!

With an impressive lineup including first party mainstays like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe alongside indie darlings like Hollow Knight, there's something for everyone here regardless of preference or age group.

As we eagerly await Nintendo's next move in the form of their rumored Switch successor, recent patents have hinted at a possible return to dual-screen gaming à la the DS days. If history has taught us anything, it's that Nintendo never ceases to innovate even when seemingly down for the count. While details remain scarce, one thing is certain: graphical leaps will undoubtedly play second fiddle to gameplay innovation and sheer creativity – hallmarks of any Nintendo product. With luck, this new system will build upon its predecessor's successes by refining existing features such as Joy-Con motion controls while potentially introducing a new gimmick that sets the world on fire.

In conclusion, Nintendo may not always be first but they certainly don't disappoint when it comes to pushing boundaries both technologically and more importantly, creatively speaking too. Here's hoping that the next console rides the momentum of the Switch's success and provides years of entertainment to fans old and new alike!

[audreydoeskaren]

I was reading some articles about the relatively recent creation of heritage listing for 20th century Chinese architecture, written by Chinese and white authors, and they just read as so colonial and cringe I actually wanted to cry. To prevent me from bursting into tears I produced a small rant.

One of the articles argued that architecture of the early PRC was inherently political because of the communist regime, but I immediately sensed something was off as the author did not pass a single comment about how most if not all architectural discourse and design during the Republican era was informed by Western colonialism, from the adoption of Western historicism and classicism, later a general desire to appear modern (whatever “modern” meant) to physical buildings being built by white architects or commissioned by white patrons for colonial purposes (e.g. missionary work). The authors acknowledged that those styles were “Western” and “foreign”, but no mention of the colonial is made. It’s like the authors recognized that something not indigenous to China was taking place, but failed to reflect on where that came from or the power dynamics it contained. I find it strange that they consider Chinese communism unnatural and something to be marked and taken note of, but Western colonialism is just a part of natural human order, and Western architecture built on Chinese soil is somehow inherently justified and apolitical.

Obviously I am not arguing that no foreign architecture could ever be erected on Chinese soil, quite the contrary, I would like to see more discourse that doesn’t falsely equate “foreign” with “Western”, and doesn’t shy away from identifying colonialism. I would love to read about contributions to Chinese architectural heritage made by non white and non Western architects, where and if they existed.

I am aware that structural racism in architectural theory is not a problem unique to Chinese academia, it is a core problem in Western architectural history itself. Many architectural historians take the term “modern” to mean “good” and “progressive” for granted, casting aside the mountain of evidence that shows early modernist theorists to be firm believers in racial science and racial hierarchies. (Viollet le Duc was close to Gobineau, a founding figure of scientific racism, and Adolf Loos famously argued that ornament was unacceptable for Western architecture because it belonged to peoples from a more “primitive” stage of evolution, like Papuans who tattooed their bodies) It would be an interesting discussion to have to see how this Eurocentric, white supremacist theoretical framework was transposed onto Chinese architects, how they negotiated their status as simultaneously colonized subjects and frequent participators in white supremacy themselves. Well, I guess that’s too much to expect from these particular authors.

One of the authors (not Chinese, for reference) claimed that the creation of this listing was of particular importance to China because we are a country that always wants to rewrite our own history. Aside from the implication that Western countries somehow do not manipulate their architectural histories to suit various purposes being honestly insulting to historians who analyze Western architectural history critically to expose structures of power, it is obvious to me that this comes from a tradition of anti-CCP discourse that reads like NPC dialogues, about an Orwellian society that manipulates its history blabla. History always bears the mark of whoever wrote it, you’re free to argue with their intentions but to pretend like only Chinese historians are politically charged sounds dubious and racist. My problem is not whether this is “true” or not, but rather how the author (and most other people when thinking of China) immediately starts to use this language like a knee jerk reaction. There are certain concepts about China that are intelligible in mainstream Western media and some that are not, and censorship and historical revisionism are two very intelligible ones, so no wonder the author automatically resorted to mentioning them. Their reactions says more about their preordained ideas about China than about China itself. Even though the author phrased it in a way that sounded like encouraging Chinese people to come to terms with history, their article was obviously not intended for a Chinese audience, so it had more power in conditioning English speaking Western readers on how to think about China.

The same author also used the term “cultural treasures” to describe Chinese architectural heritage, which sounded extremely patronizing as “treasure” implies something to be taken, waiting to be pillaged, something that exists outside of history. They could have just said architectural heritage, but that would make Chinese people sound too professional wouldn’t it?

All of the articles abuse the terms “traditional” and “ancient” in describing forms and aesthetics considered Chinese at the time, in contrast to Western classical or modernist features. I find the unironic employment of these terms extremely problematic, as the history and reality of Chinese architecture is simply too vast and complex to be reduced to a unifying style——similar to fashion history. Not to mention what they described as “traditional” or “ancient” would be more appropriately termed “historical”, “historicist” or “classical”. With that said, these terms do have some use as that was genuinely how many Chinese architects of the 20th century saw historical Chinese architecture, as an eternal, never changing mode containing some sort of national essence (which was a concept popularized by 19th century Western theorists mind you). I fully support the use of “traditional” and “ancient” with quotation marks, as it acknowledges that these terms were used by people who believed they had validity and acted in certain ways because of it, but also acknowledges that they are, in hindsight, not actually meaningful terms. The fact that the authors of the articles I read did not put them in quotation marks means they reiterated them rather than engaged with them critically.

Yeah no my vacation forays into architectural history are going well😅

[absolutebl]

Why does every relationship in the HIStory series have to be a bit weird?? I just want to watch my BL and be happy that Taiwan has legalised gay marriage. I don’t want to think about the 12-year-age-gap, stepbrothers, VERY DUBIOUS consent relationship that is happening. How hard is it to write an at least semi-healthy relationship? 😭���� Like, come on, if UWMA can get 90% of the way there without even trying, you can do a little bit of work.

Oh that’s an easy one. 

1. Country Connections

Taiwanese BL owes its narrative heritage to EXACTLY what you would expect: a combination of early Japanese live action yaoi and Chinese BL pre 2016. Dark troubling narratives full of dubious consent (well, rape) and obsession (to the point of kidnapping), also forget stepbrothers, they went straight into incest. Well, not straight. 

You know what I mean. It could be A LOT worse given the history of BL in the two countries most culturally impacting Taiwan. 

Thailand doesn’t have the same heritage. It’s BL comes from its own Y-novels (which were informed by yaoi but not as much as you’d think). It’s actually one of the BL industries most removed from the yaoi roots - and associated tropes. Also it’s produced so many BLs for so long now, it’s shifted away from what weak connections it did have even further. It’s had time and bandwidth to do so. 

Frankly I’m really grateful Taiwan gives us happy endings at all. We could be in for A LOT more HIStory 3: The BL That Shall Not Be Named. By rights we should still be getting darker stuff from them, given how young and small their BL industry is. 

They pretty much did a primitive streak on their BL evolution, and are way ahead of anything we’ve any right to expect. I certainly didn’t anticipate gems like We Best Love and Be Love In House: I Do, not to mention Papa & Daddy in one year. I mean I HOPED for them. But I thought it’d be a couple more years of HIStory 4′esk mindfucks first. 

2. Size & Writer Pool 

Of all the BL industries we talk about, Taiwan is the smallest. They have 22 BLs total. TOTAL. Thailand produced that number LAST YEAR alone. So give ‘em a chance to grow up a bit, they’ll get there. 

Also Taiwan doesn’t adapt from novels or mangas, not much anyway. Because they are TINY, they don’t have a yaoi or y-novel industry to pull from, and they don’t have the money to option from Japan’s vast array of offerings (sadly). So it means story is always going to be their weakest element. An industry low on writer talent falls quickly back into old-fashioned tropes. 

3. Taste 

Taiwan has a queer axe to grind and we love that but they combine it with a very specific story taste that is pretty old school so far as certain tropes are concerned, even as they let go of others under the weight of queer reality and at least our boys end up together 70% of the time.

Japan is likely to go a little dark and a little kinky with their romances (or really dark and/or really kinky). 

Korea is likely to go the purity root with slow burn low heat. 

Thailand is likely to beat the dead horse of strongly heterosexualized seme/uke even into something as enlightened as Lovely Writer. 

It’s many things, but also taste. Like popular music. Or what’s considered fashionable. 

Romance is about taste. Het or BL or truly queer. Cultural taste on screen is a reflection of what we find socially acceptable as masculine and feminine, as gay and straight, as romantic and sexy. In a drama we push those boundaries to make the narrative more exciting and edgy. There’s always going to be a slight test to see “what can we get away with?” Thailand likes to do this with trans characters, evil female archetypes, and punching down humor. Taiwan likes to push taboo (so does Japan), it’s their thing. 

As watchers sometimes we react better or worse to certain tropes, or categories of tropes. I happen to be deeply mad at Devil Judge right now because Korea is doing the pre-Feminist classic “strong & powerful women must be either hyper sexualized seductresses or bad mothers” and in both cases = evil. On the other hand, I don’t mind age gaps or stepbrothers. Age gaps I find kinda hot, to be honest, it’s the only het romance I regularly consume. 

All of which is to say, yeah the HIStory franchise is whackadoddle but ho boy is it hot about it. Or at the very least... to my taste.