#space simulation 2017

[morbidology]

Félicette, a black-and-white stray from Paris, made history on October 18, 1963, as the first (and only) cat sent into space. Weighing just five and a half pounds, she was chosen for her calm temperament among 14 cats trained by French scientists for space missions. Nicknamed "C 341" in training, Félicette was subjected to rigorous tests, including confinement and rocket simulations, as scientists observed her brain activity.

Launched in a Véronique AG1 rocket from Hammaguir, Algeria, Félicette experienced a brief 15-minute journey, reaching nearly 157 km above Earth. Upon her safe return, she was celebrated as "Astrocat," although media initially referred to her as “Félix,” a male name.

Despite her groundbreaking flight, Félicette's story faded, overshadowed by other space animals like Laika and Ham. However, in 2017, a successful campaign funded a statue honoring Félicette at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Body Language

Body language - involves communication provided through nonverbal channels. This includes posture, facial expressions, eye movement/contact, proximity to others, and physical movements (Pease, 2017).

Body Language vs. Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication - includes all forms of communicative acts except speech.

Body language - a type of nonverbal communication. It lies under the umbrella of nonverbal communication, which encompasses a broader scope of communication (Milton & Randall, 2022).

One way to differentiate between the two is to think about body language as all the nonverbal communication that can be seen (Milton & Randall, 2022).

Nonverbal communication that is not considered body language (or cannot be seen) includes repetition of words or statements, vocal characteristics of speech such as tone and volume, and sounds that might not be considered words such as “hmm” and “uh-huh.”

Some types of body language include:

Facial expressions. The face is an extremely expressive form of body language, with the ability to communicate numerous emotions without a single word. From anger to anxiety, fear to grief, embarrassment to disgust, facial expressions are one form of nonverbal communication that is considered universal across cultures and species (Keltner, 2009).

Gestures. Hand, arm, and body gestures are part of daily life. So much so that now in video calls or online meetings, a hand gesture or arm movement can simulate a thumbs-up or heart emoji. Gestures can be positive, such as an “OK” signal, or negative. Gestures are largely cultural and may express different meanings depending on geography and ethnicity.

Posture. How an individual moves and holds themselves communicates information in subtle and powerful ways. Posture includes how someone sits, holds their head, stands, walks, and engages their physical stance.

Eye contact. Our visual sense is especially important in nonverbal communication. The way we look at others can communicate many things and help to improve or detract from the flow of conversation. Eye contact can convey affection, anger, attraction, and interest, among other things.

Physical touch. Physical touch is a powerful form of body language and nonverbal communication. From hugs to handshakes, touch demonstrates a variety of messages. Touch is also a very personal way to express interest, emotion, and engagement with others and can be received well or create discomfort and tension.

Personal space. Physical space in interactions is also a very personal aspect of body language. Our need for or comfort with it depends a great deal on culture, the specific relationship, personal preferences, past experience, and the given situation. Understanding other people’s boundaries is an important component of assessing the need for personal space.

As more interpersonal communication becomes virtual, it is important to be aware of how body language is portrayed on a screen. Some ideas to consider in virtual sessions include:

Make sure lighting is sufficient so clients and/or members can see facial expressions and pick up on body movement.

Be aware of posture. It is easy to get too comfortable behind a screen and hunch over. Have good support when sitting, staying upright and attentive.

Maintain healthy eye contact. It may be beneficial to shift between looking at the screen and looking directly at the camera to avoid uncomfortable stares.

Avoid touching the face and head too much, as this conveys insecurity and can be a distraction.

Smile and use warm facial gestures, as the face is the main thing people see in virtual meetings.

Use hand gestures. This will require the computer or recording device to be placed far enough away to capture some of the upper body.

Cultural differences in body language exist. Below are samples that have been observed. It is not an extensive list of all cultural differences in body language, but it demonstrates that ongoing education and awareness are important when working with others in personal and professional settings.

Hand gestures. A thumbs-up in Western cultures is a signal of “OK,” but in the Middle East it is a sign of “up yours.” Similarly, curling the index finger (a sign to move closer) is considered impolite and rude in areas such as China and the Philippines (Cortez et al., 2017).

Eye contact. Most Western countries view eye contact as a sign of confidence and interest. In many Middle Eastern countries, eye contact between sexes is deemed inappropriate, and in some Asian cultures, unbroken eye contact is seen as aggressive and confrontational (Cortez et al., 2017).

Touch. Northern Europe and Far East cultures engage in very little physical contact or touch, where physical touch is a large part of socializing in the Middle East and Latin America (Cortez et al., 2017).

Seated positions. In Japan, sitting cross-legged is a sign of disrespect, and showing the soles of the feet is offensive in Middle Eastern countries (Cortez et al., 2017).

Interpreting Body Language

Argyle (1978) was one of the first modern researchers to study nonverbal communication and believed that humans have more than 700,000 forms of body language. Some specific areas to note for interpreting body language include paying attention to the head, face, eyes, arms, and hands.

Head. Nodding when another person is speaking is a sign that you are focused and listening. It can demonstrate that you agree with or acknowledge what is being said and validate opinions. Tilting the head to one side is also a sign of attentive listening and respect. Both of these are considered positive gestures in conversation. A lowered head or head back with a rigid neck is a sign of a negative attitude, criticism, denial, or rejection. When someone is supporting their head with their hands, this is a sign of boredom and disinterest. And angling the chin upward is a sign of arrogance and dominance (Danesi, 2022).

Face. As most people know, smiling is an open, approachable facial gesture that indicates warmth and interest. On the other hand, frowning is a sign of anger, disinterest, or disagreement with what is being communicated. Raising the eyebrows is a sign of surprise, and raising a single eyebrow tends to be an expression of disbelief. Pursed lips tend to demonstrate anger, sorrow, or a lack of acceptance, depending on the situation (Danesi, 2022).

Eyes. It is often said that the eyes are the window to the soul. Eye contact is the basis for understanding in conversation. When eye contact is avoided, it may demonstrate discomfort, uncertainty, or shyness, or signal that the person has something to hide. When someone’s eyes are narrowed, it could indicate anger. Briefly closing the eyes and quickly opening them again is called confirmatory blinking and can indicate confirmation or approval of another person (Danesi, 2022). Narrowing the eyes can mean several things, such as confusion or a need for more information. It may also indicate concentration or anger. It is also important to notice the pupils. Dilated pupils can demonstrate interest and attraction, while widening the eyes can signal surprise or excitement.

Arms and hands. Upper body postures consist largely of the arms and hands, which are the most mobile and prominent demonstrations of body language. Crossing the arms is a way for someone to create distance and demonstrates a negative attitude (Danesi, 2022). When arms are crossed and the individual is gripping their upper arms, this signals tension and discomfort. Arms crossed with balled fists are also negative body language but signal aggression and anger. Putting hands on the hips can be a sign of aggression or dominance. Putting hands in pockets signals a lack of engagement and defensiveness (Danesi, 2022).

General Tips on Interpreting Body Language

In general, self-confident people frequently look at their reflection in mirrors or windows and place themselves in a position to be the center of discussion. People demonstrate confidence through large gestures, big postures, self-assured smiles, firm handshakes, and steady eye contact. Embarrassment, insecurity, and low confidence are seen through nervous laughter, avoidance of eye contact, turning away, and avoidance (Mandal, 2014).

Nonverbal cues of fear can be seen with wide eyes, clutching, and gripping. Holding the breath, glancing around, and placing hands in front of the body is also a sign of fear (Mandal, 2014).

People demonstrate resentment with crossed arms, a stiffened body, hunched shoulders, and low vocal tone (Mandal, 2014).

Sexual interest and attraction can be seen through eye contact, exaggerated facial gestures, blinking, wetting the lips, touching the body, or crossing and uncrossing legs (Mandal, 2014).

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Hand Movements ⚜ Common Gestures ⚜ Facial Expressions

[videogamepolls]

Video Games Polls 1-Year Report

I've been running this blog for a full year and I've polled nearly 3,000 games, so I wanted to post an updated report with the top 10 games for each of the four options included in my polls, plus a couple other categories.

📊 General Stats

Games Polled: 2,864

Average Sample Size: 728

Games with 40%+ "yes" votes: 149 (5.2%)

🏆 Most Played

Games with the highest percentage of "Yes" votes:

The Dinosaur Game (2014, AKA Chrome Dino Game) - 93.9%

Pac-Man (1980) - 93.4%

Wii Sports (2006) - 87.7%

Tetris (1985) - 86.9%

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet (1995) - 85.5%

Pokemon Go (2016) - 82.9%

Minecraft (2011) - 81.1%

Angry Birds (2009) - 80.1%

Stardew Valley (2016) - 79.3%

Space Invaders (1978) - 78.5%

🏆 Most Known But Not Played

Games with the highest percentage of "No" votes:

Raid: Shadow Legends (2018) - 85.8%

Final Fantasy XI (2002) - 82.1%

Far Cry (2004) - 79.3%

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018) - 78.3%

Far Cry 2 (2008) - 78.2%

Halo Infinite (2021) - 77.6%

Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999) - 75.4%

Final Fantasy V (1992) - 76.4%

Baldur's Gate (1998) - 76.1%

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) - 75.8%

🏆 Most Watched

Games with the highest percentage of "I watched someone play it" votes:

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy (2017) - 54.2%

I Am Bread (2015) - 51.3%

Octodad: Dadliest Catch (2014) - 47.0%

Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (2021) - 45.6%

Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning (2018) - 43.5%

Amanda the Adventurer (2023) - 42.5%

Phasmophobia (2020, Early Access) - 41.3%

P.T. (2014) - 41.0%

PowerWash Simulator (2022) - 40.4%

The Mortuary Assistant (2022) - 38.7%

🏆 Most Obscure

Games with the highest percentage of "I've never heard of it" votes:

Jessica's Uncomfortable Hanukkah Adventure (2023, Early Access) - 97.8%

Batty Zabella (2022) - 97.6%

Citampi Stories: Love & Life (2019) - 97.0%

Tears - 9, 10 (2002) - 97.0%

Just, Bearly (2018) - 96.9%

Anito: Defend a Land Enraged (2003) - 96.6%

That Damn Goat (2023) - 96.5%

Star Seeker in: The Secret of the Sorcerous Standoff (2020) - 96.4%

Cisini Stories: Girl Life RPG (2024) - 96.4%

Dear Substance of Kin (2019) - 96.3%

🏆 Most Balanced

Games with the most even spread of votes:

Human Fall Flat (2016) - 19.3% Yes | 28.5% No | 26.1% Watched | 26.1% Never Heard

Kerbal Space Program (2015) - 21.9% | 31.1% | 24.5% | 22.5%

The Henry Stickmin Collection (2020) - 19.3% | 29.2% | 22% | 29.5%

Ib (2012) - 24.1% | 26.8% | 19.2% | 29.9%

Superhot (2016) - 24.9% | 25.1% | 30.5% | 19.5%

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010) - 25.8% | 31.1% | 20% | 23.2%

Limbo (2010) - 30.2% | 28.7% | 23.9% | 17.1%

Wobble Dogs (2022) - 18% | 25.4% | 25.2% | 31.3%

Slay the Princess (2023) - 30.2% | 27.4% | 26.1% | 16.4%

Golf with Your Friends (2020) - 13.9% | 16.9% | 23.6% | 30.8%

🏆 Most Votes

Games with the most number of votes:

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet (1995) - 11,773

Robot Unicorn Attack (2010) - 7,600

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) - 4,329

Flight Rising (2013) - 4,132

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (2004) - 4,053

Final Fantasy XV (2016) - 3,056

Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (2009) - 2,844

Dark Souls (2011) - 2,823

The Dinosaur Game (2014, AKA Chrome Dino Game) - 2,758

QWOP (2008) - 2,636

*I did not take most Pokémon games into consideration since I handle those polls a little differently.

Check out my results spreadsheet for an alphabetized list of all poll results plus some other stats, and in case anyone is interested in comparing results to past reports here are the links to my 6-month and 9-month posts.

[easternmind]

The weird and wonderful history of Kowloon as a digital interactive space - Part II

This article is the continuation of a previous post.

Any comprehensive history of 20th century Hong Kong is not complete without a chapter entirely dedicated to the architectural and urban planning puzzle that was Kowloon Walled City. Quite unlike any other slum in Asia or elsewhere in the world, the extreme conditions under which its inhabitants lived captured the attention of various international journalists and photographers whose reports of this accidental labyrinth, in turn, inspired some of the most remarkable artistic explorations of our time. In this regard, video games did not remain impervious to the powerfully stimulative imagery, as much a reference today as it was when its hardened concrete walls still stood tall.

Kowloon's Gate Suzaku VR - Jetman - 2017

Kowloon's Gate made a most unexpected comeback twenty years after the original episode via the crowdfunded VR project Suzaku developed by Jetman, a studio founded by and composed almost exclusively of ex-SME/Zeque staff. While it is not the remaster many had hoped for, essentially consisting of a walking simulation through some redesigned locations from the original, it does a commendable job in faithfully replicating its instantly recognizable, light-starved alleyways in competent high-definition. It is also the only VR-compatible entry from this list, granting it a degree of uniqueness over its counterparts.

Stranglehold - Midway/Tiger Hill Productions - 2007

Stranglehold is the result of a collaboration with Hong Kong movie director John Woo, developed as a direct sequel to his heroic bloodshed classic Hard Boiled, featuring Chow Yun-fat in the role of detective 'Tequilla' Yuen in his unending confrontations with organized crime. One of the game's most unforgettable levels, Slums of Kowloon, takes place during a particularly rainy day, seemingly in those last days when the zone had been emptied of residents and demolition work was well underway. The visual representation of the quarter is suitably evocative, its buildings in complete state of disrepair, the remnants of local businesses or places of prayer still discernible from under the piles of steel and cement rubble.

Resident Evil 6 - Capcom - 2012

For all its shortcomings, Resident Evil 6 partly succeeds in taking the first two episodes' concept of parallel storylines and realizing it to a much fuller extent. Its choice of different characters translates into entirely different campaigns, locations and playing styles. The very first scene in Chris/Piers' campaign occurs in the fictional Chinese city of Lanshiang, modelled after real-life Hong Kong. The mayhem in the main streets forces the player to take a detour into a location named Poisawan, which bears a striking resemblance to the Kowloon district. Though an unofficial representation, it is among the most skilled replications of the scenery we find in the vast photographic repository of the area. The degree of minutiae with which the district's haphazard electric installation is replicated, alone, suffices to demonstrate a true commitment to authenticity.

Paranormal HK - Ghostpie Studio - 2020

Few would dispute that Kowloon is, itself, naturally conducive to sentiments of dread and anxiety. Paranormal HK is a 2020 made in China production reviving the defunct neighbourhood in a gripping, blood-curdling contemporary ghost story. The player is the cameraman of a paranormal-themed TV show exploring the zone during the evening of the Zhongyuan festival, a scheme suspiciously akin to that of Akira Ueda's 2004 game, Michigan: Report From Hell. As a result of the thorough research work performed by its creators, as well as the impeccable usage of contemporary 3D graphics techniques to achieve accurate lighting conditions, players may momentarily experience the feeling of walking into a photo of the actual city as it existed in the mid eighties.

Sifu - Sloclap - 2022

Notwithstanding of its renaissance during the 128-Bit era, the beat 'em up genre is commonly associated with the arcade games of the late 80s and 90s, the period of time when it flourished and, arguably, reached its zenith. The simplicity of controls and ease of access sufficed to attract players to the arcade cabinet, while the frequently extreme levels of difficulty of advanced levels ensured a steady flow of cash for arcade room owners and game development companies alike. Nevertheless, the genre has but perished and, in many aspects, recent years have indeed elevated it to unforeseeable degrees of complexity. Sifu, by Sloclap, synthesizes the elation of digital hand to hand combat simulation with the real-life complexity of mastering a martial art.

As is the case of previous entries in this list, Sifu makes no admitted reference to Kowloon or Hong Kong. However, the designers left little to the imagination in what pertains to their inspirations when taking on the task of constructing the game's environments. Another notable coincidence stems from the fact that this production was made possibly with the support from a celebrated independent game funding group going by the name Kowloon Nights.

Stray - BlueTwelve Studio - 2022

Stray is one of the most revered independent video games in recent memory, and justifiably so. The long development process yielded many benefits, judging from the consistency and attention to detail that engrossed many an avid player. That the main character is singularly charming feline may have played an equally crucial role. The creators have made no effort to conceal the fact that the notorious Hong Kong district was a pivotal influence to the design of its nameless city. The first indication can be spotted in the game's earliest footage, in which a black cat traverses a street where a particularly conspicuous sign boasted the initials HK. Stray is less concerned with presenting a precise replica of Kowloon than it is about summoning the very essence of its atmosphere. Moreover, in an exquisitely poignant way, its ending lends an entirely new meaning to the term walled city. In the future, robots may well take the place of humans. Invariably, the Walled City is no more. Slitterhead - Bokeh Game Studio - Work in Progress

An sequence of unconscionable mistakes from the part of Sony Computer Entertainment's management galvanized Keiichiro Toyama to part ways with Japan Studio, as it once was, and establish his own game production label. Their debut title, Slitterhead, is described as a grotesque survival horror experience, a genre within which the author moves with matchless ease. Among the few certainties regarding this project is the fact that it will take place prominently - if not exclusively - within the Kowloon City province. A wide variety of aspects included in the preview footage leave the viewer optimistic as to this being one of the most accomplished portrayals of the district ever seen in a video game. Subtle yet telling signs already demonstrate the creator's in-depth knowledge of the quarter's architecture and history. Take, for instance, the suggestive image of the airplane flying mere meters above the top of the buildings. Although the growth of Kowloon was for the most part ungoverned, buildings did not rise above a certain height, even as inhabitants claimed for increased availability of space. This is due to the fact that airplanes landing at the nearby airport would be required to make their descent at relatively low altitude, performing a tight curve as they soared just above the enclave, thus preventing construction from expanding upwards. Another scene shows a child playing on the rooftops of the buildings, which once again is consistent with the documented habits of residents who, starved for sunlight and open space elsewhere within the city limits, had little alternative than to take the stairs all the way to the top.

Warehouse Kawasaki Arcade

I would be remiss not to make some form of allusion to Warehouse Kawasaki, an arcade built to replicate the Walled City with unthinkable detail. Though its ultimate purpose was for visitors to engage in digital entertainment, the venue was scrupulously put together. Point in fact, many of the objects used in the construction of the five floor amusement centre were imported directly from Hong Kong. Like so many other Japanese arcades, it closed its doors in 2019.

In recent years, a rather similar initiative was taken by the Chinese in their attempts to build unique mall spaces. The 文和友 malls in mainland China, found in Changsha, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, attempt to reproduce the walled city aesthetic. Local residents inform me that these are increasingly lacking in foot traffic, for which reason the majority of their stores are closed. Other digital replicas of Kowloon

A number of other videogames set in or deriving inspiration from Kowloon could not be featured in this article. A frequently cited reference in this context is the action/adventure game Fear Effect, one which I emphatically dispute. No doubt remains as to it being located in a futuristic version of Hong Kong, yet I could discern no parallels with the walled city, save for those scattered second-hand visual motifs that were no doubt imported from sci-fi classics such as Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell.

The Utelek Complex stage of Deus Ex: Makind Divided presents a similar situation, where the overall atmosphere of the futuristic favela bears some resemblance to Kowloon, without meeting the specificity quota that would warrant a more comprehensive exploration.

The 2004 Shout! original Kowloon High-School Chronicle for the PS2 is a unique case, in that it borrows the city's name despite taking place in a massive, Tokyo underground dungeon that is later revealed to be a maze-like Egyptian pyramid. The odd choice of title remains unclear. Shadowrun: Hong Kong game (screenshot above) contains a very direct mention of Kowloon as the place in which an entire episode comes to pass. Another project still in development, Kowloon's Curse (screenshot below), is following the lead of many popular independent horror games in recent memory by using a visual design and structure that elicits memories of the late Playstation/early Dreamcast era. A short prequel episode was made available earlier this year, for free.

Additionally, I refrained from mentioning the Kowloon maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, as I perceive both games to be insufficiently relevant to merit study or contemplation.

A space that refuses to be forgotten

(China rooftop stage from The King of Fighters 2003)

It would be a gross overstatement to claim that Kowloon is a recurring location or level design motif in videogames. The relationship between digital games and the real life ghetto has been one of sporadic references. What makes the subject so engrossing pertains to the quality of the relationship, particularly that of a small cadre from among the titles featured in this article. Kowloon's Gate was one of the most relevant game creations of the 32-Bit era, a game deserving of reverence and cult following inside and outside Japan. Likewise, Shenmue II is the second instalment of a truly ground-breaking and highly advertised series whose production costs alone were unmatched until quite recently.

Moreover, this is an affair that is far from concluded. The unexpectedly high number of allusions to Kowloon in videogames released or revealed just last yet demonstrates that its aesthetic is still very much present in the minds and hearts of artists and designers working in the field. The walled city lives on as a digital demarcation that is certain to resurface time and again in years to come.

[mindblowingscience]

Certain types of bacteria can mutate to reproduce more quickly when exposed to microgravity, and that's not great news for our space tourist dreams, seeing as we humans are teeming with bacteria. It's not clear why these bacteria respond so positively to microgravity, but researchers are figuring out ways to protect astronauts out in space, as well as mitigating the damage should a space-modified colony ever find its way back to Earth. In a study published in 2017, researchers from the University of Houston monitored Escherichia coli cells through 1,000 generations of growth in simulated microgravity conditions, finding that it spread significantly faster than a control sample of unaltered bacteria. The E. coli cells also picked up at least 16 different genetic mutations along the way, though it's not clear how these mutations affect growth rates, either individually or as a group. "This study is broader in scope than previous ones on two counts," one of the team, Jason Rosenzweig, told Leah Crane at New Scientist at the time.

Continue Reading

[be-gay-find-cryptids]

(Part 1) Underrated Recommendations for Film & TV

1. Wolfwalkers (Film, 2020)

Wolfwalkers follows the story of Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who arrives in Ireland with her father during a time of superstition and magic to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to turn into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh's missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.

2. Reservation Dogs (TV, 2021)

Reservation Dogs follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob, and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious, and faraway land of California. To succeed, they will have to save enough money, outmaneuver the methheads at the junkyard on the edge of town, and survive a turf war against a much tougher rival gang.

3. The Breadwinner (Film, 2017)

Parvana is an 11-year-old girl who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001. After the wrongful arrest of her father, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy to support her family. Working alongside a friend, she soon discovers a new world of freedom and danger. Drawing strength from the fantastical stories she invents, Parvana embarks on an epic quest to find her father and reunite her family.

4. Carol & the End of the World (TV, 2023)

With a mysterious planet hurtling towards Earth, extinction is imminent for the people of the world. While most feel liberated to pursue their wildest dreams, one quiet and awkward woman, Carol, stands alone—lost among the hedonistic masses.

5. Infinity Train (TV, 2019)

The series is set on a gigantic, mysterious and seemingly endless train traveling through a barren landscape, whose cars contain a variety of bizarre, fantastical, and impossible environments. Passengers on the train proceed from car to car by completing challenges which help them resolve their psychological trauma and emotional issues. Every season of Infinity Train (referred to as a "Book", each with its own separate subtitle) follows its own storyline and set of characters, although some characters appear across multiple seasons.

6. Moral Orel (TV, 2005)

The series follows the titular Orel Puppington, a young, happy-go-lucky and naïve Protestant who showcases his commitment to God, while dealing with the cynicism of his abusive and alcoholic father, his lethargic mother, and the devoutly Protestant town of Moralton in which he resides.

7. Bee and PuppyCat (TV, 2013)

The series revolves around Bee, an unemployed woman in her early twenties, who encounters a mysterious creature named PuppyCat. She adopts this apparent cat-dog hybrid, and together, they go on a series of temporary jobs to pay off her monthly rent. These bizarre jobs take the duo across strange worlds out in space.

8. Tuca & Bertie (TV, 2019)

This animated comedy series explores the friendship between two 30-year-old bird women who live in the same apartment building. The buddy comedy features cocky, carefree toucan Tuca and anxious, daydreaming songbird Bertie as they live their lives in the metropolis of Bird Town.

9. Wander Over Yonder (TV, 2013)

The series follows Wander, a nomadic, helpful, and overly-optimistic intergalactic traveler and his best friend and steed, Sylvia the Zbornak, as they travel from planet to planet helping people to have fun, play, and live free, despite the continuing encroachment of Lord Hater, one of the most powerful villains in the galaxy, and his army of Watchdogs.

10. The Midnight Gospel (TV, 2020)

The Midnight Gospel revolves around a spacecaster named Clancy Gilroy, who lives on the Chromatic Ribbon, a membranous, tape-like planet situated in the middle of a colorful void where simulation farmers use powerful bio-organic computers to simulate a variety of universes from which they harvest natural resources and new technology. Each episode revolves around Clancy's travels through planets within the simulator, with the beings inhabiting these worlds as the guests he interviews for his spacecast. These interviews are based on actual interviews, with real audio sampled from Trussell's podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour.

[setaflow]

Writer Interview:

Thank you for tagging me @wanderingaldecaldo ! :)

See Wash's responses here.

___________________________________________

When did you start writing?

I think I read and wrote my first "fanfic", if you could call it that, sometime back on the Warrior Cats forum in the late aughts, back when I was like 11 or 12-ish. Surprise surprise, I was a desperately lonely kid with not a lot of creative outlets in middle school, so online forums made up a chunk of my social life for a good three years, but they also probably unironically saved my life. Thank you Erin Hunter for your dumbass religious cat books.

I remember it really clearly too, oddly enough. It was like a Long Shadows rewrite for if Brambleclaw had been cornered in the fire by Ashfur instead of Squirrelflight (my WC homies know what I'm talking about). It was probably 100 words long and about as good as something written by an 11 year old with no writing experience can be in that time, but I think it maybe got one or two nice comments? Definitely didn't consider it a herald of things to come, but it was nice that a few people liked the concept.

My first time actually writing real-deal, honest-to-god, free range USDA grade organic fanfiction was in 2012-13 after the launch of Assassin's Creed III, my first and longest video game love. This was around the time when FF.net was on the downslide but still fairly popular, and a couple of my high school friends introduced me to the concept of fanfic hosting sites around that time with the idea that it'd be something I'd probably be into. After reading a bunch of work in the fandom I sat down in the spring and started penning my own stuff, and my writing just kinda took off from there.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading than what you write?

I'm actually a huge horror nut. Stephan Graham Jones is a personal fav of mine and I have The Buffalo Hunter Hunter lined up for reading as soon as I'm done with my book club read this month. Themes-wise, while I don't really write about death, I love novels that explore death and the ripple effect it has on people in a public or personal community. I also really love coming of age novels.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

Literally anyone who's ever spoken to me about my writing will know that I am doing everything I can to model my writing style after Fredrick Backman. I can actually demarcate a point in time, around 2017, where my writing quality took a huge jump before and after reading Beartown, which is part of the reason why I'm so insistent on recommending it to everyone I meet. Anyone who's read a Backman book and then reads a piece from my more recent work can instantly tell who I'm trying to model my stuff after. It's honestly kind of embarrassing.

Tom Robbins gets a shout-out, but mostly for humor and metaphors/imagery. There's a little of Oscar Wilde and Virginia Wolfe in there if you squint, but it's not hugely prevalent.

I don't often get comparisons, but I think once upon a time I ran a snippet of one of my fics through a style comparison simulator and it spat out Kenneth Grahame, who wrote The Wind in the Willows, so take with that what you will.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

Either a couch full of dog hair, my desk when I'm bored at work, or my bed. Those are the places I'm usually able to get a modest amount of writing done, but honestly somedays my head is my best writing space for 5 months running 🫠

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Honestly, and this sounds so obvious but I swear-- reading a new book you like. NOT fanfiction; an actual published book. Go get a library card and just start checking shit out. The amount of times that I finished a really great book and then immediately spat out 2k words has been astronomical. It works your writer brain and helps you get new ideas. There are some days where I'll read 5 sentences in my book and get the itch to start writing immediately.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

I enjoy writing in shades of gray. I'm very into exploring the concept of when revenge is mistaken as justice and what ripples through stories as a result of that-- it's a very Hamlet-esque topic I know but goddamn do I love inserting it into everything I write. Particularly when I write original characters, themes of loneliness, the perpetuation of violent cycles, and forgiveness of the self are also standouts.

Also, since I'm not a huge romance writer, literally every single one of my fics focuses on either families of choice/familial love, intense platonic love, or both. You WILL get found family and you WILL like it, goddamnit.

What is your reason for writing?

The poetic reason is "because I have to". The real reason is, back in 2013 every Connor Kenway-centered fanfic on ff.net featured a poorly written romance with a copy-and-paste colonial self-insert woman and after a while, I got fucking bored and wrote what I wanted to read. Literally that's all it took. Every other fic I've written after that has followed that impulse-- something that I wanted to see in the fandom and knowing there was a small chance anyone else was actually going to write it unless I buckled down and did it.

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

I'm going to be such a huge dick here and say that I don't really find any comments to be a huge motivator. Comments are very sweet and I cherish every single one of them no matter how detailed and/or personal, but it's the onus shouldn't be on the commenter to motivate the writer. My motivation to write is always there and very sweet and well thought-out comments do give it a boost, but I think a writer that uses comments as a large chunk of their motivation is making a huge mistake.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

As a funny little guy who occasionally writes something that makes them think "Hey, that was pretty profound" from time to time. When you kinda cultivate the online image of yourself as a shitposter who constantly makes jokes, I guess sometimes you want to be taken a little bit seriously from time to time.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I'm good on descriptions-- I try to use as many different sense descriptors as I can, and maybe it's a "throw shit at the wall to see what sticks" method, but I've really liked some of my descriptor paragraphs looking back on them.

I usually get some nods towards characterization and character writing. I try to plan out character arcs with the same tact and scrutiny as my story arcs.

I've got a decent-enough sense of humor where I feel I can add levity and make it come across as organic.

I suppose I'm never struggling for word count (both a blessing and a curse).

How do you feel about your own writing?

God, loaded question, that. Some days I really love my writing and other days I want to hurl my computer out a window. It comes and goes in waves-- right now I'm in a "eh, my stuff's not half bad" phase for all my CP2077 stuff, so hopefully we're on an upward trend.

My old stuff though, from 2016 and back? God, toss it into the fire. The only reason I haven't deleted them is because I hate deleting my work unless I REALLY fucking regret it.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely for yourself, or a mix of both?

See above answers lol. My preferred topics of writing are not really destined for high hit count/reader count anyway, and I've accepted that, so if I didn't write solely for myself I'd probably have stopped a long time ago. Also, and I hate to be this person, but topics that are 'popular' in a fandom aren't always what's 'good' in a fandom. There are people who can do 'popular' with way more talent and zeal than I can, so I'm fine hanging with my own work and the like 5 people that really enjoy it lol.

___________________________________________

Not tagging anyone because I tagged for the 20 Questions tag yesterday, but maybe I'll change my mind in a week. if you want to give it a shot, do it for me and hit me up when you do!

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New project investigates mysteries of Sun's atmosphere

The sun's activity has a profound impact on satellites, humans in space and technology on Earth.

To understand the physical processes behind the sun's activity, it is vital for any simulation to capture the fundamental interplay between the sun's radiation and conditions in the vastly different layers of the sun's atmosphere (the photosphere, the chromosphere and corona), the complex coupling between them, and how magnetic flux emergence drives eruptions and flares.

No model can currently do this—but one is necessary to understand the cutting-edge observations produced by new facilities, and to provide a step-change in our understanding of how the solar atmosphere works.

The Solar Atmospheric Modeling Suite, or SAMS, project aims to build a next-generation modeling tool for the solar atmosphere—making a code that can be run on anything from laptops to the latest supercomputers.

The project team is led by the University of Exeter and includes the universities of Warwick, Sheffield and Cambridge.

"For a long time the UK was the leading the way in simulating the atmosphere of the sun, but in recent years we have been eclipsed," said Professor Andrew Hillier, from the University of Exeter.

"This project will put us right back as one of the leaders in this area."

For this project, the team will build a modeling suite with detailed physics-based documentation to promote ease of use.

This will be open-source with world-leading physics capabilities designed to maintain the UK's solar physics community at the forefront of international research while pushing forward research in groups around the world.

This will also enable full exploitation of next-generation observations and Exascale computing.

This project will also provide training for early career researchers on the complex underlying physics of the solar atmosphere and how to model this with SAMS.

Dr. Erwin Verwichte, Associate Professor (Reader), University of Warwick, said, "Warwick has built a world-leading reputation in numerical modeling of plasma physics.

"Our simulation codes, whether applied to fusion research, the sun or space weather, are used by researchers across the world.

"The SAMS code will be built on top of that heritage and signifies a key stepping stone in simulating and expanding our knowledge of the sun's atmosphere."

Professor Grahame Blair, STFC Executive Director of Programs, said, "This substantial investment demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the UK's leading role in solar physics research.

"Understanding the complex dynamics of our sun is vital not just for scientific advancement, but for protecting our technology infrastructure, satellite networks, power grids and communications systems on Earth from the impacts of space weather."

IMAGE: Observations of a sunspot taken on 04/10/2017 in H-alpha using the New Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory. Credit: Juie Shetye (NMSU), Erwin Verwichte (Warwick), Kevin Reardon (NSO)

[a-typical]

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope sits inside Chamber A at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston after having completed its final cryogenic testing on Nov. 18, 2017.

Engineers tested this alignment process in the cryogenic, vacuum environment of Chamber A at NASA’s Johnson Space Center during about 100 days of cryogenic testing. The environment of the chamber simulates the frigid space environment where Webb operates, and where it collects data of never-before-observed portions of the universe. Inside the chamber, engineers fed laser light into and out of the telescope, acting like a source of artificial stars. The test verified the entire telescope, including its optics and instruments, worked correctly in this cold environment and ensured the telescope would work correctly in space.

[zombielesbean]

Long post incoming! Since my minecraft creative world has been getting a lot of attention lately, I thought I'd do a post about the history of it!

previously I had thought it started in 2018, but looking into it it turns out I started it in 2017, which is the first year I played minecraft before that point, my sibling was really into it, but I'd never really been into it that much. the switch came out in 2017 and we got one pretty close to launch, and, not long after that, minecraft released for the system, and we got it so my sibling could finally play, and I gave it a try myself, too

I ended up getting very into it, my first base was this big building built into the side of a mountain :) after that, I got very into the building aspect of minecraft, much more than I liked survival, so I ended up trying out building in creative mode, and built this big house

it had a pool in the basement and lots of simulated furniture like a sink and refrigerator in the kitchen hehe

after this experience, I realized that building in minecraft creative mode is essentially having an infinite supply of legos, and I'd been really into videos about people's giant lego cities or terrain builds or big model train dioramas, and I realized this was the perfect way for me to get to build my own landscapes and such

and so, I generated a flat world

in minecraft for nintendo switch, you could generate a flat world with structures, plus some trees and water features, so that's what this was

the first thing I did was just, plant a huge forest, with little terraforming, and then I built a giant castle

and then I built a mountain

and then I started building an ocean

and here's just some other things I built around that time:

after that, I didn't play for awhile, until 2018, when they ported bedrock to the switch, and I picked up the game again because the performance improvements were really good, and also, it just spurred me on to play again in general ehe

here's a look at basically the entire world at that point:

not terribly long after that I met @da-mous and we started playing minecraft together and building stuff in this world together :)

After that there was another pretty long hiatus, I didn't really work on it more until 2020

before that it'd basically just been me and my sibling working on the world together, me doing all the terrain and that kind of stuff, and they were adding lil buildings to the village, but after meeting cass I started playing with more friends, such as @bisthefairy, who added trains to the world :)

at this point my plan was to build a big cliffside around the entire area and make it into a big valley, and then build more stuff (like an "evil" village and castle to oppose the "good" one I'd already built), and I'd started work on the cliff on the side of the world where I wanted that castle to be

but shortly after that, the first real breakthrough occurred: cass gave me new tools, using command blocks

she gave me tools that could do things like build a massive pillar of dirt below me every tick down to the world limit, build a massive square sheet of dirt below me, fill in a space with water, or paint blocks in front of me into whatever type of block I wanted

this absolutely changed everything, and the cliff project and the ocean project turned from things that would have taken me weeks or even months to complete working by hand, down to only days

and, my landscape structures no longer had to be simply hollow facades, but they were now solid all the way through and I could more easily make things like caves, too!

things started going so fast after that point, the entirety of the world I had built went from this area:

...to this (above pictured area is circled, and not everything pictured here was already built back then)

everything I had done in the last three years was suddenly dwarfed in only a few months

I finished the cliffs, I finished the ocean, I built a custom desert (based on the high desert in Oregon), I built volcanoes, I built mountain ranges, I built the evil castle, I built villages across the ocean, I built huge sloping plains, I built a huge underground cavern with a fairy village in it and fake stars on the ceiling... my projects had gotten so much bigger and more numerous

some time after this, I had to move to the PC version finally, because of an incident involving 14,000 end crystals being spawned into the world, which ruined my save file by creating an inescapable black hole of frame rate loss, and we needed to fix that lol

but anyway, that opened up a lot to me, I had much greater performance and draw distance, and I could play with using structure blocks to steal things from normally generated minecraft worlds, like buildings and just pieces of already generated landscapes, and the plop them into the world and then smoothly integrate them into my already built world, which was really fun

structures can only be of a certain size at a time too, so I had entire notebook pages dedicated to mapping out the pieces I was taking so I could copy paste them all back together seamlessly, ehe

also now that I was on PC, I started dabbling a little bit in external tools, mostly so that I could change the biomes; as a flat world, the entire world was the plains biome, and that really bugged me

I found one that was, honestly, pretty clunky, but did what I wanted with biomes, and that was pretty cool! there weren't a lot of tools for bedrock back in those days, so I did what I could haha

but, now my desert was actually a desert! it would actually snow on top of my mountains! huzzah! and I also took the opportunity to just copy paste ocean all around my world, so that it would become a continent surrounded by water, and I built a jungle island far away

after that, I played a little bit here and there, but wasn't really focused on it too much, I didn't really play at all in 2022 or 2023, I was just doing gamedev nonstop pretty much all year last year

that is, until Grey Area finally released, and @chemkitt had showed me a really cool mod for java edition called 'axiom' that's made specifically for terrain building, like a supercharged version of cass's command block tools, and the fire to work on my minecraft world was lit anew

it was just like the renaissance that occurred when cassie made those tools, suddenly things that had previously taken weeks now took mere days, I was able to completely finish the continent and surrounding lands in mere hours, built a giant archipelago in only a day, and could now change biomes and copy paste millions of blocks in an instant

finally satisfied with the size of the world, I also figured out how to go into the files and complete another long held dream I'd had for the world, to change it back to a normal minecraft world, and let the outer edges generate like normal, essentially kind of sealing in my world, and making it so that the outer edges are no longer endless nothing, which I felt was kind of creepy ehehe

and that's where we are today! my little flat world has grown so much :) my current project is building a new entire (even bigger!) giant continent to the east of the original, and another, smaller, southern continent as well!

and most recently, I've been building a big flower garden type of place full of lots of trees and foliage over on the original continent :)

it's been so so nice seeing so many people enjoy the work I've done here! I'm hoping to do a whole video tour of the place sometime soon, there's so much more to see and talk about than I even did here, ehe!

and there's lots and lots of space to decorate and build things and plant forests and all that, so I hope to invite more people over to add to it in the near future, too!

thanks for reading :3

[neighboursdaily]

‘She watched us make out … then my girlfriend gave me a high five’: Maria Thattil on the reality of sex scenes

Link to the article from Stellar Magazine

To some, sitting with your partner to watch yourself make out with another might be uncomfortable. To me, it’s just part of a job – and I scored a high-five from my girlfriend afterwards.

You see, I recently joined the cast of Neighbours playing Amira Devkar and had the pleasure (pun intended) of an on-screen romance with Nicolette Stone, played by Hannah Monson.

To viewers, the scene was uninhibited, passionate, intimate and electric. The reality? Technical, safe and most importantly, comfortable.

Many people aren’t familiar with an intimacy coordinator (IC) but I credit those scenes to Bayley Turner of Create Consent, who was on set with us. Intimacy coordination is a new field; according to CBS News, the first production to hire and credit a designated IC was the 2017 HBO drama The Deuce.

Today, there are more than 100 certified ICs working in film and TV, and I’m grateful.

Before I worked with one, the discourse I noticed about ICs was varied, with big Hollywood names weighing in.

Michael Caine asked “What are they?” and argued that in his day, “You just did the love scene and got on with it without anyone interfering.”

Filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve referred to them as “virtue police”, and Michael Douglas likened them to “executives taking control away from filmmakers”.

Sean Bean claimed ICs “spoil the spontaneity” of sex scenes and Jennifer Aniston – who said she was from “the olden days” of filming – argued that having an IC ask if you’re OK is uncomfortable when shooting those scenes “is awkward enough”.

To echo Emma Thompson’s sentiments, I think ICs are “fantastically important”.

These scenes shouldn’t be “spontaneous” – I, for one, wouldn’t want to be touched unexpectedly. As an actor, your job is to make them look fluid, sensual and natural, and ICs play a crucial role in this. They choreograph intimacy safely.

They help you establish boundaries, rehearse sounds, coordinate touch and design the intimacy so your private self is protected. Like a fight or dance scene, you then perform the “choreography” freely.

In our scene, viewers saw passionate kissing, touching and moaning. Behind that were dedicated sessions where our IC got us comfortable with being physically close, and facilitated conversation about what zones of our bodies we were/weren’t comfortable having touched.

We rehearsed every moment, coordinated movements, practiced sounds and regularly checked in with each other.

Having the IC there ensured that we were protected to enact an intimate interaction without offering up our private selves, because all we did was perform a series of technical movements.

ICs play a crucial role in an industry that’s rife with sexual abuse.

An environment where actors are empowered to have a say and consent to what they’re performing creates a safe space where no-one is taken advantage of. It also protects from power imbalances on set.

My first intimate scene wasn’t as graphic as one could be, but I’m nonetheless grateful to Bayley and the Neighbours production team for fostering a safe environment, so the scene could be achieved professionally and respectfully. It’s not every day your job requires orgasmic simulations, but when it’s achieved so safely, a high five is in order.

Which is what – like me and my girlfriend – Hannah and I did after we finished.

Job well done.

[motokeith]

Excerpts from a nsfw crack fic I wrote in 2017 that I personally think are hilarious.

TW in tags and under the cut.

TW: allusions to potential dub-con but no actual dub-con, character stripped of their agency, sexual themes. No smut.

Fic takes place in an undefined AU where the space war takes much longer than a year.

Ages: Keith (23), Lance (22), Hunk (22), Allura (22), Pidge (19), Matt (26), Shiro (30), Lotor (10,000+)

“Uh, I can… make it there myself,” Keith manages to mumble awkwardly, his flirtatious demeanor melting to reveal a healthy amount of shame. “Sorry, Matt. Uh — yeah.”

He tries to pivot, but his body doesn’t follow orders. He attempts to start by detangling himself from Matt, first and foremost, and his skin feels like it’s searing from the lack of touch. Now would be a great time to get out of here, he realizes, shuddering.

“It’s… fine.” Matt replies, eyes skimming the other as though he’s searching for something, “Pidge, can you help us get Keith back to his room?”

It’s a half-second before she replies, “Again? Fine.”

“Allura, Coran, have you been able to find anything about whatever’s making Keith act like a cat in heat?” Lance asks, and Keith feels himself blooming red all over.

“Actually,” Coran begins, voice riding along that pitch that means he’s having a eureka moment, “I was able to analyze the symbol on Keith’s neck and trace it back to what appears to be a part of some kind of ancient prophecy. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the seven fatal goras?”

Keith isn’t exactly sure what the fuck Coran just said and he really doesn’t even want to know anymore. He just wants to find a nice asteroid to shrivel up on, maybe one that reminds him of the desert. ‘Goddamn,’ he thinks to himself, spiraling despite the conversation going on without him, ‘My life is ridiculous.’

“Yes,” Shiro answers for the rest of them. Glad to know someone knows what the fuck is going on.

Coran hums, “Good, because from what I can tell, the thing that attached itself to Keith is actually the seed of Lust. Quite exciting really, I believe you may have accidentally played a part in the awakening of that particular planet’s death cycle.”

Keith isn’t really sure how else to respond other than sarcastically, “All in a day’s work?”

“At any rate, it will be interesting to see the impact that removing one of the seven fatal goras will have on the inevitable planetary apocalypse.” Coran points out. “According to a simulated version of the events detailed in the scripture, they were doomed for worldwide extinction, but now you’ve given them a fighting chance! Take that, mystic powers that be!”

“Congratulations, Keith. You’re a fucking hero. Literally.” Pidge feels the need to add.

“Pidge, watch your mouth.” Shiro chides, tone clipped. “Just so I’m aware, we shouldn’t worry about the apocalypse that Keith started?”

“You’re not seriously going to keep saying that like it’s my fault that I got attacked by a goddamn space demon while I was trying to take a leak!” Keith snaps back.

“Keith!” Shiro harps, and Keith groans in frustration.

“Maybe don’t go whipping your dick out on a random planet,” Lance suggests, dry as can be, “Can we make that a rule?”

Allura sighs loudly into the intercom.

With a deep breath in, Keith finds his composure. “To be fair, the seed of Lust wasn’t in the pamphlet. I wasn’t even doing anything reckless this time. What more do you want from me? I’m sorry for starting the apocalypse and getting possessed?”

“That’s a pretty good start, buddy,” Hunk encourages, and it feels like a personal slight.

Coran finally manages to get a word in edgewise. “Things cannot go fully to plan as long as Lust, err-Keith, is away. At least, not in the way described in the prophetic text. There may be a global extinction yet, Lust or no.”

“So how do I get this thing outta me without exacerbating the apocalypse?” Keith asks, sounding a little helpless.

“Well, I’m still attempting to work that out,” Coran admits, sounding a little stressed. “According to the text, the energy of Lust typically attaches itself to a sexually repressed, frustrated, or celibate host whose fantasies are—oh! Oh my… Erm, that wasn’t the passage I intended to read. Where did it go?”

“Great,” Keith mutters under his breath, dragging his hands down his face. Like he needs another reminder of how long it’s been since he’s gotten his rocks off, and like everyone needs another thing to pick him to pieces about. “Thanks for that, Coran.”

“Sooo, let me get this straight,” Hunk comes over the intercom and he already knows he’s about to be dissected. “This is all happening because Keith wasn’t having… enough sex? Specifically kinky sex.”

The shame is clearly enough to keep him docile for the moment, so he begins his trek back to his room with renewed purpose. “Please stop talking.”

“Seriously, some of us don’t want to hear it.” Pidge interjects helpfully, then decides to jab, “I’ve heard quite enough already.”

“Look guys, I’m just trying to figure out what I need to do to not have… that happen to me,” Hunk attempts to defend.

Right now seems about as good a time as any to eject himself into space. If only he could get to the airlock.

“Just don’t get horny on a random planet and that should solve a lot of potential issues,” Pidge offers.

“I wasn’t horny,” Keith practically squawks.

“That might be part of the problem,” Hunk points out.

“Enough!” Allura commands, having reached the end of her well of patience, “If you cannot speak of the topic with grace, please do not speak of it at all. Keith is suffering an uncomfortable affliction which has stripped him of his agency and his dignity—“

“I mean, I still have some dignity—“

“—the last thing he needs right now is such childish ribbing.”

“Bet he could use a different kind of ribbing. Hey-oh!”

“Hunk!”

“Sorry, Princess. You’ve gotta admit, you teed me up for that one.”

“We’ve found the answer, but we’re afraid you may not like it.” Allura informs him, gesturing for him to take a seat.

Keith does as instructed and sits down, still away from the rest of the group per current protocol, which only serves to make him feel even more like a science project, but whatever. “I don’t see how it can get much worse than this.”

“Yes, well,” the princess begins, not looking too enthused about what she is about to report, “according to the text, the only way to fully stop what is happening to you is… well, you must fall in love—“

“And confess!”

“—and it must be truthfully reciprocated.”

“Huh?” He asks, mouth hanging open dumbly as if he’s waiting for her to say GlubGlorp Fool’s or something. She continues to stare at him unnervingly, dead serious. “You mean that’s, like, the only way or else this is just going to keep happening to me forever?”

“Until you find true romantic love,” Allura elaborates, somehow making it sound even more disgusting the second time. “It is the only thing powerful enough to combat errant Lust.”

For the first time since this entire debacle has begun, he decides to lament his woes. “Why me?”

“You’d think someone just told him he had to commit an atrocity,” Pidge mutters blandly, rolling her eyes. “Shiro said you were gonna get dramatic, but sheesh.”

He shoots her a scathing look, electing not to comment before he turns back to Allura and Coran. “What about, like, an arranged marriage or something?”

“That is nowhere near the same thing, Keith.” Shiro chastises. “You can’t force love, it just happens.”

He blinks, looking around the room to see if he’s the only one who seems to be lost here.

Yep, just him unfortunately.

“I’m sorry, I thought I was supposed to be looking for a fix to this problem, not the vague notion that I’m going to be stuck like this until I die.”

“Buddy, why are you being so pessimistic about it?” Hunk asks, and to his merit, he looks genuinely curious. “I think it’s kinda beautiful in a messed up space-demon type of way. At least they gave you an out.”

Keith turns to him mechanically, mouth open in preparation of spitting out something terribly rude, but when he looks at Hunk’s face, he can’t help but sigh in defeat. “No offense, but you’re not being puppeteered into coming onto every guy that steps within three feet of you whether you want to or not, for one. And two, we’re in the middle of a space war and you’re now telling me that my options are either to fuck some rando everyday so that I don’t explode, or to fall in love, in space, in the middle of an intergalactic war? I don’t have time for this!”

“Keith, come on. I understand, but watch your language.” Shiro harps.

The look of incredulity that he gives the other is probably good enough to frame. “How am I ever supposed to have a normal life or a normal relationship now? Are you guys seeing how this doesn’t make sense?” His stress level has risen to a point where his voice is pitching upward, and he’s quickly approaching hysterical. He runs a hand through his hair, holding his bangs up and away from his forehead. “You just said they have to love me back, right? How am I supposed to explain this without sounding like a complete liar? Who in their right mind is going to love a… a demon-possessed nymphomaniac?”

“I could think of quite a few suitors looking for someone like you right off the top of my head,” Lotor helpfully interjects, and Keith really just wants to punch him in the neck. “I could put you in contact, if you’d like.”

“No!” Keith stresses, aggrieved, “No, I would not like!”

“You know, perhaps there is another way,” the prince muses, appearing to mull it over for a moment. “It may not be entirely favorable, but it would be quicker than finding love and safer than your… other proposal.”

Allura places a hand on her hip. “What is your suggestion?”

“How to say…” he pauses, rolling it around in his head for a second before going on, “Let’s call it a long-term physical partnership, then?”

Keith can feel the blood rushing to his face as Lust snappily replies, “Is that an offer?” Hand over mouth, he scowls.

The room becomes considerably more uncomfortable when Lotor easily replies, “I’d prefer to answer that question in a more private setting.”

Shiro clears his throat, obviously less than pleased about this new development. “If you could abstain from your compulsive opportunism for five minutes—“

“Pardon me, I was under the impression that this was an impending life or death situation with no definite end in sight,” Lotor quips back, and he’s unfortunately right. “Excuse me for presenting a rather obvious solution to the issue. I don’t see any of you offering to save your friend, as you say.”

Keith raises his hand to interject, “I have an idea.”

Shiro pinches the bridge of his nose between two fingers, sighing as he says, “Go ahead, Keith.”

“Put me in the cryopod.”

Lance decides to speak for the first time since the conversation has begun. “How many times are you going to suggest that before you realize it’s not happening?”

As many times as it takes, he thinks rather than says. Aloud, he answers, “I still feel like it’s a solid idea. Just put me in there while I’m semi-normal and only take me out when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“You do realize that’s ludicrous and impractical?” Lotor asks, eyebrow raised.

“Do you want to know what’s really ludicrous and impractical? Everything about this entire situation,” He shoots back, throwing his hands up.

“At any rate, we must figure something out,” Allura declares, steering the conversation back onto its track. “Even if we must onboard another passenger to assist you with your… ailments. We have plenty of chambers.”

His head falls into his hands in defeat. Are they seriously considering space prostitutes at this point? Where would he even find someone who was willing to risk their own life to go along with this?

“Take some time to consider your options,” Lotor urges, as though there’s anything else he can do but consider his options. “I do have around ten-thousand years of experience, rounding up of course—“

Lance groans, “Dude, can you shut up? I think we get that you’re interested.”

“Moreso intrigued,” he clarifies beyond anyone’s appreciation. “Don’t tell me that’s an issue for you, red paladin?”

“You’re kinda creeping me out since you’re, y’know, an old ass man, and you’re emphasizing it, which makes it way weirder, that’s all.” Lance shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. “Not exactly comforting to know you’re the first one offering when one of us gets seed of Lusted. If some crazy shit like that ever happens to me, keep your slimy, ancient mitts away.”

Lotor arches a platinum eyebrow, “Quite bold of you to assume I’d offer for just anyone.”

“I do have another idea,” Keith decides to pipe up again before Lance can squabble back, tone riding that lilt that meant he was about to suggest something stupid.

Pidge groans in annoyance. “We’re not ejecting you into space, Keith.”

“Fine,” he bites back sourly, moving on to start the endless cycle over again, “So, realistically, what happens if I just ignore it? Can I maybe talk to a space priest, get an exorcism or something? Or what about a holy water bath? Or what if I spend a few months with Balmeran monks?”

Coran clucks his tongue and shakes his head, “I’m afraid if you were to fully resist, your body temperature would rise to such a point that your internal organs would begin to shut down. Furthermore, your body is more resilient than that of the average human thanks to your Galra ancestry, so it would be an extremely lengthy and likely very painful death. A few weeks from start to finish, at least.” He pauses, appearing to think for a moment. “That is, if the entity itself doesn’t assume total control of your body out of survival impulse and take matters into its own hands, which is always a possibility.”

“That can happen?” Keith practically squawks, indignant.

“Yes, yes, and I’m afraid you don’t want that,” Coran is sure to inform him. “It will be quite violent and someone will likely get hurt, if not multiple someones. It is a demon, after all.”

“Multiple someones?” He repeats, eyes going wide at the implications of that.

Shiro palms at his forehead. “Okay, so as we’ve already established, ignoring it isn’t going to work. Take some time to think over your options and find something that works for you until you fall in love.”

“Why don’t you take some time shoving it up—“

“Stop being so hateful. It’s just love, grow up,” Shiro chides, exhausted. “You’re a grown man, Keith. It’s not going to kill you.”

[importantwomensbirthdays]

Jasmin Moghbeli

Jasmin Moghbeli was born in 1983 in Bad Nauheim, Germany. In the Marine corps, Moghbeli went on over 150 combat missions and logged more than 2,000 hours of flight time. In 2017, she was selected as a NASA astronaut. In 2023, Moghbeli made her first trip into outer space as commander of the NASA SpaceX Crew-7 Mission. During this six-month mission to the International Space Station, she studied the impact of microgravity-induced simulated aging on liver regeneration.

Image: NASA

[videogamepolls]

Video Games Polls 9-Month Report

It's been 3 months since my last report and I've polled over 500 more games since then so I wanted to post an update on the top 10 games across each of the four options included in my polls, plus a couple other new categories.

🏆 Most Played

Games with the highest percentage of "Yes" votes:

The Dinosaur Game (2014, AKA Chrome Dino Game) - 93.9%

Pac-Man (1980) - 93.4%

Wii Sports (2006) - 87.7%

Tetris (1985) - 86.9%

Pokemon Go (2016) - 82.9%

Minecraft (2011) - 81.1%

Angry Birds (2009) - 80.1%

Stardew Valley (2016) - 79.3%

Space Invaders (1978) - 78.5%

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) - 74.1%

🏆 Most Known but Not Played

Games with the highest percentage of "No" votes:

Raid: Shadow Legends (2018) - 85.8%

Final Fantasy XI (2002) - 82.1%

Halo Infinite (2021) - 77.6%

Baldur's Gate (1998) - 76.1%

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) - 75.8%

Call of Duty (2003) - 75.2%

Counter Strike 2 (2023) - 74.9%

Valorant (2020) - 74.7%

Donkey Kong 3 (1983) - 74.5%

The Last of Us: Part II (2020) - 74.4%

🏆 Most Watched

Games with the highest percentage of "I watched someone play it" votes:

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy (2017) - 54.2%

I Am Bread (2015) - 51.3%

Octodad: Dadliest Catch (2014) - 47.0%

Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (2021) - 45.6%

Phasmophobia (2020, Early Access) - 41.3%

P.T. (2014) - 41.0%

PowerWash Simulator (2022) - 40.4%

Slender: The Eight Pages (2012) - 38.4%

Raft (2022) - 38.3%

The Convenience Store (2020) - 38.1%

🏆 Most Obscure

Games with the highest percentage of "I've never heard of it" votes:

Just, Bearly (2018) - 96.9%

Anito: Defend a Land Enraged (2003) - 96.6%

That Damn Goat (2023) - 96.5%

Star Seeker in: The Secret of the Sorcerous Standoff (2020) - 96.4%

Mr. Robot and His Robot Factory (1983) - 96.1%

Quando Fuori Piove (2018) - 95.9%

Turovero: The Celestial Tower (2017) - 95.8%

I am Magicami (2020) - 95.8%

Weird and Unfortunate Things are Happening (2020) - 95.5%

The Unholy War (1998) - 95.2%

🏆 Most Balanced

Games with the most even spread of votes:

Human Fall Flat (2016) - 19.3% Yes | 28.5% No | 26.1% Watched | 26.1% Never Heard

Kerbal Space Program (2015) - 21.9% | 31.1% | 24.5% | 22.5%

The Henry Stickmin Collection (2020) - 19.3% | 29.2% | 22% | 29.5%

Ib (2012) - 24.1% | 26.8% | 19.2% | 29.9%

Superhot (2016) - 24.9% | 25.1% | 30.5% | 19.5%

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010) - 25.8% | 31.1% | 20% | 23.2%

Limbo (2010) - 30.2% | 28.7% | 23.9% | 17.1%

Wobble Dogs (2022) - 18% | 25.4% | 25.2% | 31.3%

Slay the Princess (2023) - 30.2% | 27.4% | 26.1% | 16.4%

Baba Is You (2019) - 26% | 32.9% | 19% | 22.1%

🏆 Most Votes

Games with the most number of votes:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) - 4,329

Flight Rising (2013) - 4,132

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (2004) - 4,053

Final Fantasy XV (2016) - 3,056

Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (2009) - 2,844

Dark Souls (2011) - 2,823

The Dinosaur Game (2014, AKA Chrome Dino Game) - 2,758

QWOP (2008) - 2,636

Dragon Age II (2011) - 2,576

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) - 2,398

*I did not take most Pokémon games into consideration since I handle those polls a little differently.

Check out my results spreadsheet for an alphabetized list of all poll results plus some other stats.

[garnavis]

2025 Video Game Bingo!!!!

Inspired by @batmanisagatewaydrug’s Book Bingo, I wanted to throw together something like that for video games! I’m doing book bingo to expand my reading habits, and I think gamers players of video games could benefit from doing something similar. I also think the state of mainstream game development today feels pretty bad, so I engourage participants to seek out independent developers and small publishers. And of course, tag me if you participate!

In particular, I’d encourage people to check out itch.io and gog.com for games that are affordable (sometimes even free) and DRM-free. I’d also discourage participants from choosing “freemium” games (i.e. free-to-start games with in-app purchases, battle passes, or gacha mechanics). I promise you will be able to get bingo on this card without spending a dime without supporting exploitative developers. But also, feel free to use this to bust your backlog.

On the subject of completion: not every game is meant to be “finished,” and some games may be too time-consuming to finish anyway. Feel free to decide for yourself what it means to have “played” something. Personally, my rule is: once I’ve seen credits roll, or at least 6 hours of playtime.

Lastly, this is mostly PC-focused because I think most people have access to one. You should be able to complete this even with a shitty laptop as long as you don’t go for the big AAA stuff. But (with a few exceptions) just about every space on this card can be done on whatever consoles you might have.

Category descriptions and examples below the cut.

Non-human player character

And I don’t mean an elf or a dwarf! I’m thinking of animals here, but aliens and anthros are fine too.

Examples:

Shelter (Might and Delight, 2013)

Untitled Goose Game (House House, 2020)

E.V.O.: Search for Eden (Almanic/Enix, 1992)

Visual novel

Simple and easy to play, visual novels or VNs are mostly text over static backgrounds and character art. You will be prompted at various points in the story to make a decision, which may affect the course of the story. You could also try a “kinetic novel,” which is a VN with no decisions (and therefore only one route). There are VNs of all genres, so everyone should be able to find one you like! Note: there are plenty that aren’t pornographic, but you will probably see porn when you search for these.

Examples:

A Year of Springs (npckc, 2021)

Butterfly Soup (Brianna Lei, 2017)

Tsukihime (TYPE-MOON, 2000)

Strategy / simulation

I’m grouping these together because there’s a lot of overlap, historically. For example, Fire Emblem is considered a “simulation RPG” in Japan, while English-speakers would probably call it a strategy RPG. These can seem really dense, but for every Hearts of Iron there’s a Harvest Moon.

Examples:

Theme Hospital (Bullfrog, 1997)

Overland (Finji, 2016)

Terra Nil (Free Lives/Devolver, 2023)

Fighting

Maybe not for everyone, but I have to include them because they’re a favorite of mine. They’re the most fun with friends, but playing online or against the CPU is plenty of fun too. They also have a reputation for being hard to get into, but there are a lot of beginner-friendly ones out there too.

Examples:

Garou: Mark of the Wolves (SNK, 1999)

Melty Blood (French Bread, 2002)

Tough Love Arena (M. Paul Weeks & Amy Xu, open beta)

Role-playing

Come on, everyone loves a good RPG.

Examples:

Disco Elysium (ZA/UM, 2019)

Deltarune (toby fox, 2021)

Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995)

Non-combat

Try something other than hitting people until they’re dead. It’s okay if the game has a fight scene or two, the main point is that combat should not be one of the game’s main mechanics.

Examples:

Day of the Tentacle (LucasArts, 1993)

Her Story (Sam Barlow, 2015)

A Short Hike (adamgryu, 2019)

Fan translation

For years, particularly devoted fans have been importing and localizing games with no local release. Play something in your native language that you couldn’t officially!

Examples (English):

Policenauts (Konami, 1996, PS1 translation by JunkerHQ)

Rudra no Hihou (Square, 1996, SNES translation by Aeon Genesis)

Mother 3 (HAL Laboratory, 2006, GBA translation by Tomato)

Pick a remake, play the original

Find a remake or remaster that has been released in the last few years… and don’t play it! Instead, check out the original version. Play the remake later, if you want, but take the time to appreciate what made it worth re-releasing in the first place.

Resident Evil 2 (Capcom, 1998)

Panzer Dragoon (Sega, 1995)

Gothic (Piranha Bytes, 2001)

Released in 2025

Self-explanatory. Kind of muddied by the prevalence of early access, I suppose. My personal rule would be: if you could play it before this year, it doesn’t count. I won’t provide any examples because it’s only January.

Released before you were born

Obviously different for everyone. I think a lot of people will write off older games as too primitive. I obviously disagree, and I promise that any video game going all the way back to Spacewar has something to offer if you give it some time.

Examples (for me, anyway):

Pac-Man (Namco, 1980)

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Sir-Tech, 1981)

Adventure (Warren Robinett, 1980)

Metroidvania

These are uh… well, if you don’t know what these are, look them up somewhere else. I’m not getting into genre discourse today.

Examples:

Blasphemous (The Game Kitchen/Team17, 2019)

Pseudoregalia (rittz, 2023)

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Konami, 1997)

“““bad game”””

Play one of those games with a reputation like “worst game of all time” or something like that. If you need help, try this wikipedia list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_notable_for_negative_reception

Free

As in free beer. To reiterate, try not to pick some free-to-play gacha game for this. Also, stealing doesn’t count as “free” here. Steal all you want for the other categories, but this one should be a game that was released, officially, for free. Play a demo if you really want, but there are plenty of full experiences at no cost. Itch in particular has a ton of freebies.

Tyrian 2000 (Eclipse Productions, 1999)

Hypnogogia (sodaraptor, 2020)

The Battle for Wesnoth (David White and others, 2005)

Racing

Vroom vroom! A surprisingly diverse genre. There’s super casual ones and super sweaty ones and everything in between. If you’re not into cars, just pick something with a fun aesthetic.

Examples:

Nightmare Kart (LWMedia, 2024)

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Namco, 1998)

art of rally (Funselektor Labs, 2020)

Retro homebrew

A somewhat esoteric category, although much less so since the release of GB Studio! Play them in an emulator, on actual hardware with a flash cartridge, or even in-browser. Once again, Itch seems to be the main place for these. Theck them out here: https://itch.io/games/made-with-gb-studio

Mod or romhack

Mods are one of the most fun and unique things about video games. People have accomplished amazing things by making their own customizations to retail games. In fact, it’s not uncommon for particularly popular mods to be released or remade for retail.

Examples:

Terraria – Calamity mod

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life – A Proud Life mod

Doom II – MyHouse.WAD

Roguelike

Live, die, repeat. These are getting really popular lately, so they don’t have the arcane reputation they used to. Still, if you’re already a fan of modern Rls, maybe try one of the classics.

Examples:

Caves of Qud (Freehold Games, 2018)

Sky Rogue (Fractal Phase, 2013)

NetHack (NetHack DevTeam, 1987)

Text-based

Text as in words, not just symbols. Also called interactive fiction. One of the oldest kinds of computer games. They’re not really popular as retail releases these days, but they have a really low barrier to entry, so there’s a lot of indie IF games to choose from. Some might have a few grahpical elements, but this category should be primarily text-focused.

Zork (Infocom, 1977)

The Hobbit (Beam Software, 1982)

Depression Quest (Unburnt Witch, 2014)

Fantasy console

Fantasy consoles are a sort of retro throwback idea that’s been taking off lately. Essentially, the idea is: what if there was a computing environment with the kinds of restrictions that gave older consoles their distinctive look and feel, but with a bunch of modern conveniences like a simple API and easy online game sharing? There are a few of these, but the biggest one is Lexaloffle’s PICO-8. It’s very popular and has a lot of games available, most of which are free—aside from the $15 cost of admission to the system itself. A free alternative is TIC-80, also pretty popular, but open-source. Both come with a program (SPLORE for pico, SURF for tic) that allows you to search and instantly download games, as well as share your own. Best of all, they come with their own development environment!

Participate in a game jam

Okay, this one is probably the toughest. I’ve never done it myself, but I hope to this year, which is why it’s on here! Jams are usually focused on a theme or a technology, for example “chill games” or one of the aforementioned fantasy consoles. I believe jams tend to be beginner-friendly. Let’s find out together! And these days, they’re extremely easy to join. Once again, Itch has you covered: https://itch.io/jams

Based on a book

Only appropriate, since this was inspired by book bingo. Games based on books aren’t the most common, but that’s part of why they’re interesting. One obvious avenue is interactive fiction, but as usual, there’s all kinds. Try something based on a book you’ve read!

Examples:

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Infocom, 1984)

Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth (Daedalic, 2017)

The Invincible (Starward Industries/11 bit studios, 2023)

“Super” in title

Basically a wildcard. There are so many games with “super” in the title, there’s probably one that you already want to play anyway.

Examples:

Super Crate Box (Vlambeer, 2010)

SUPERHOT (SUPERHOT Team, 2016)

Super 3D Noah’s Ark (Wisdom Tree, 1994)

Rhythm

Do you have rhythm? No? Me either. Rhythm games can still be fun though. Put it on the lowest difficulty setting and go hog wild (this is an order).

Examples:

Thumper (Drool, 2016)

Friday Night Funkin’ (The Funkin’ Crew, 2020)

Rhythm Heaven Megamix (Nintendo, 2015)

Survival horror

Horror plus combat plus scarce resource management. Doesn’t get better than that. Most modern ones are inspired by a specific handful of games (early Resident Evil and Silent Hill). My favorite thing about these is how they go from scary to cozy once you’ve been through them once or twice, and they’re usually pretty short.

Examples:

Silent Hill 2 (Team Silent, 2001)

Signalis (rose-engine, 2022)

Crow Country (SFB Games, 2024)

RPG Maker

A series of programs for making JRPG-style games that goes back to the 90s, and continues today. Surprisingly flexible but with a low barrier to entry, a lot of extremely cool independent games have come out of this. Maybe you’ll try making one yourself!

Examples:

Hylics (Mason Lindroth, 2015)

Corpse Party (Kenix Soft, 1996)

The Way (Lun Calsari, 2008)

[africa-space-com]

A year in isolation: how does Russia want to simulate the effects of long-term space travel

To gain real knowledge for space travel is the mission that was launched on November 14 by a six–person crew under the auspices of the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

There is a 550 cubic meter module for space flight simulation, in which scientists are completely isolated and have to perform various tasks. During SIRIUS-23, as the current mission is called, the crew, among other things, will carry out several simulations of the moon landing in 360 days, including the use of a rover. According to the simulation, the crew will have to eliminate two accidents.

The team consists of four women and two men, all from Russia or Belarus. Unlike in previous years, NASA is not participating in the program this year.

Experiments began in 2017 with the SIRIUS-17 project, where the crew was isolated for only 17 days. Two years later, the isolation period for SIRIUS-19 was already 120 days, and in 2021 it was 240 days.

Anastasia Stepanova, who participated in the project in 2019, shared her impression of the project: "A year is a difficult period of time, which will be filled with a lot of biomedical experiments."

The experiment deals primarily with the psychophysiological consequences of such long—term missions, during which the crew has to deal with many hardships - from technical problems to extreme physical exertion.

NASA prefers to continue research without Russia

What scientists are particularly interested in is the physical consequences of isolation in an artificial environment and the ability of people to adapt to special circumstances. This also includes interpersonal dynamics, which can have a positive or negative impact on work efficiency.

NASA has already refused to participate in a previously joint project with Russia at the beginning of the year. A spokeswoman for the U.S. agency said it would continue to conduct similar research in Antarctica as part of its program to study the effects of isolation.