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recurring-polynya · 4 years

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Can we get some drabbles on Renji’s time with Squad 11 especially his interactions with Kenpachi and Yachiru? Obviously shenanigans with Ikkaku and Yumichika are welcome! Also, how did you think he was promoted to Squad 6 lieutenant? It’s safe to assume he applied (I can imagine his Squad 11 gang even helping him out with this) as that’s part of his “master Get-Back-Rukia plan” but moving from 6th seat to lieutenant is a leap and I imagine that Byakuya is super picky. Imagine his job interview!

I’ll do the meta part first.

#0. For starters, Renji spent 40 years reverse-engineering how to make Squad 6 Vice-Captain. He read every Teen Vogue profile on Byakuya, he clipped Byakuya’s unreadable etiquette column in the Bulletin, he studied Kuchiki military history, he hung out at Shirogane Ginjirou’s sunglasses shop and knew exactly when the guy planned to retire and got a bunch of spilled tea on Byakuya’s pet peeves, of which there are many. Byakuya is not exactly a complicated guy, it isn’t all that hard to figure out what the right answers to his interview questions are gonna be.

#1. I think there is an exam that qualifies you to be a vice-captain, and that Renji vastly over-prepared for it and got an extremely high score. Byakuya loves big numbers.

#2. There is a standard application for Vice-Captain that’s probably about 5 pages long. Renji’s application was 15 pages long. He included a personal essay and a long paean to how much he admired the principles of Squad 6. Byakuya loves Squad 6, and he loves a guy who is really enthusiastic about Squad 6.

#3. Renji is great in an interview. I headcanon that he and Rukia did a lot of con artistry back in Rukongai. Byakuya is a mark. Primarily, Renji gave him opportunities to pontificate, which Byakuya loves. Byakuya talked through 90% of Renji’s interview, and walked out feeling great.

#4. The only thing Renji had going against him was the reference section. Byakuya hates Zaraki and would go out of his way to avoid talking to him. Aizen was still salty that Renji left his squad, and tried to reverse psych Byakuya into not hiring him. (“Oh, I think he’d be an excellent second for you, Byakuya! He’s a bit impulsive, and I’m sure your influence would overcome some of that hotheadedness! His poor kidou skills shouldn’t be a problem, I’m sure you’ve got that covered yourself…”) Unfortunately for Aizen, Byakuya was already 80% on Team Renji and he realized Aizen was trying to play him, and Byakuya hates being played.

Job offer within 24 hours. Regrets came later.

I do a lot of shenanigans with Ikkaku and Yumichika, but not usually Kenpachi and Yachiru, so let’s try that for a change!

🗡️ 💖 💪

“I have a Special Assignment for you, Abarai,” the Kenpachi grumbled.

Special Assignments could be anything, really. Running around dive bars in the upper Rukon, stapling up posters to advertise their next Recruitment Brawl. Delivering blotchy hand-written notes to Captain Unohana. Helping Zaraki set up elaborate obstacle courses that would then necessitate another Recruitment Brawl. The majority of Renji’s Special Assignments involved helping the captain get somewhere he needed to go. Zaraki was very good at getting lost, but Renji was exceptionally good at finding places. This worked out rather nicely, because there was almost always something interesting to fight in the places that Zaraki wanted to go, and the more Zaraki saw Renji fight, the more willing he was to bring him along.

“We goin’ somewhere, sir?” Renji asked hopefully.

Zaraki scratched his ass pensively. “Not today. C’mon in, I don’t wanna talk about it outside.” He let the way into what was occasionally jokingly referred to as his “office.” It was the place where Zaraki hung out and took naps during the day, in case anyone wanted to find him for fighting purposes. “Chisaka had to go to the Living World last week,” Zaraki explained, rummaging around in his kosode and pulling out a well-thumbed magazine. “She brought Yachiru back some manga she thought she would like.”

“That was nice,” Renji commented carefully. Giving gifts to Yachiru was nearly always an exercise in “no good deed goes unpunished.”

“Yeah, it went over real good,” Zaraki grumbled. “She liked it so much, she wants her hair done up like the kid in it.” He thrust the crumpled booklet at Renji. It was a girls’ manga, the kind with a lot of sparkles and girls in sailor suits. Zaraki poked a gnarled finger at a picture of a little girl with pink hair, twisted up into two little buns, with fluffy ponytails trailing down from them.

Renji rolled his eyes up towards his captain. “What the actual fuck, sir? Isn’t this more Ayasegawa’s department?” Zaraki didn’t like to be called ‘sir’ unless there was a profanity somewhere in the same sentence.

“Dammit, Abarai, I know you’ve let Ayasegawa do your hair. It takes him four fucking hours and he screams at you if you squirm. Yachiru can’t sit through that shit.”

Renji made an uncomfortable face. “Your hair always looks great, can’t you--”

“I tried! She doesn’t want me to use any gel, says it needs to be ‘fluffy’. How the hell are you supposed to do a hairstyle without gel, answer me that!”

“What makes you think I can do anything?” Renji finally whined.

“Look, I started at the top. Madarame ain’t got any hair, and Iba might as well not. You’re pretty fast, and you’re probably strong enough to hold her down, and at least you know how a ponytail holder works.” Zaraki sucked his teeth. “If you do it, I’ll fight you later.”

“Really?” Renji asked, his eyebrows shooting up. Zaraki didn’t usually feel that anyone below Ikkaku merited his time, and Renji jumped at every opportunity to convince him otherwise.

“Yeah, sure.” Zaraki flung open the door to the room where Yachiru sat, scowling, surrounded by an assortment of ribbons and barrettes. “I got help.”

“Wrong Way doesn’t know how to do hair!” Yachiru shouted.

Renji and Yachiru had an ongoing philosophical disagreement about the geography of the Seireitei. Yachiru had zero legs to stand on in this argument, but also, she was the one who came up with nicknames.

“He has a lot of hair,” Zaraki countered.

“That’s boy hair!” Yachiru returned. “It doesn’t count!”

“I… have done girl hair before,” Renji admitted, somewhat painedly. “Hair is hair!” He almost yelled “Gender is a construct!” because he had been reading some of the books Iba’s mom kept leaving in their room, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to explain what that meant. At this point, he just wanted to get this over with, preferably without getting kicked in the nose, which tended to happen a lot around Yachiru. “If you let me try, I’ll let you do my hair.”

Yachiru’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

“You can’t cut it, but sure. Whatever.”

Zaraki was looking over at him with something that might have been respect. “Do you know what you’re doing, you crazy bastard?” he mumbled.

“Absolutely not,” Renji replied.

🗡️ 💖 💪

“They’re uneven, is all I’m saying,” Yumichika sniffed.

“I love them, he put extra ribbons on!” Yachiru howled, swinging her sheathed sword at Yumichika, who deftly ducked. The ribbons swung delightfully around the sides of her head.

“I’m honestly surprised there were any ribbons left,” Iba commented dryly.

“You can shut it, fucko!” Renji yelled. His hair was styled rather similarly to his vice-captain’s, except that his was in three (rather lumpy) buns, and his ponytails trailed more majestically. The curling iron had been a terrible idea overall, but the big, loopy curls at the ends of both Renji’s and Yachiru’s hair had definitely been worth all the burns.

Ikkaku rubbed his own bald pate. “I kinda like that look on him. 100 kan says it helps him fight better.”

“You’re on,” Iba agreed.

“What’s the hold up?!” Zaraki roared.

“Here I come!” Renji bellowed.

“Ganbatte, Wrong Way!” Yachiru cheered.

There was a loud crunch.

Ikkaku handed over the 100 kan. “It was worth a try.”

#happy birthday renji!#renji abarai #squad 11 #my writing #drabbles

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cobaltcaster · 4 years

Text

Creating a Magickal Atmosphere

Within this post is a comprehensive check list of creating the right atmosphere

[[ Click Here for Part 1. Preparing for Your Spell ]]

Here are the individual links if you’d like to take it step by step.

Magickal Enchantments [[ Food, Clothing, Music ]]

Magickal Tools [[ Candles ]]

Incense and Fragrances

Crystals and Gemstones

Element Water

Additional Magickal Tools

Personal Altars

If you’re ready for a medium read then let us begin!

⚪9⚪

Magickal Enchantments

Food and Beverage

Three simple words: Keep it light! A spell on a full stomach is not recommended. A heavy meal can leave you sleepy or uncomfortable. Avoid meat the day of your spell, if you can. Stick with fruits and vegetables as much as possible. Fish ----- baked, but not fried or in a heavy sauce----- is a good option. Wait at least two hours after eating to begin your spell.

Try to avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages; distilled water is an excellent choice because the impurities have been removed. A cup of caffeine-free herbal tea is soothing and relaxing. Try a blend of chamomile and passionflower. Although some of the spells include type of wine or fruit juice during the actual spell, do not take it to extremes.

Clothing As with food and drink, here, too, three simple words apply: natural, loose, and clean. One hundred percent cotton is a wise choice. A loose white gauze garment is nonrestricting and gives you a sense of cleanliness and purity. Some individuals enjoy taking the time to find certain color garments for special spells. The same colors listed in the candle color chart ( click here ) can be use for clothing as well.

If you do not have a cotton garment, choose something as close as possible, like a cotton blend. Comfort is important; Tight jeans and belts do not allow your body to relax. However, wear jeans if they are the most comfortable thing you own ----- and most jeans are 100 percent cotton. If you are in a private place, you may decide to just wear a robe, towel, or oversized t-shirt. You may even opt for nudity. The choice is yours.

Before you get dressed, make every ever to take a bath or shower. Start fresh and clean. Think as you are showering or bathing that you are washing any negative energy off your body. A bath is an excellent idea, especially if you use music and candlelight.

If you're doing a group spell, bathe or shower before leaving the house or before the group arrives. If you can't shower, at least wash your hands and face. If you can wash your feet, that's even better. If water is not available, shake your hands and visualized negativity being removed.

Music

Music has the ability to create a sense of peace ----- providing it's the right music.

By virtue of the fact you are reading this book, I feel safe in saying you most likely are a seeker of peace and well-being. And all likelihood, you already have in your possession music that soothes you. Slow classical music or New Age music seems to be the most popular. Drumming and chanting recordings are also something to consider. Nature tapes offering gentle background music can be found in most department or music stores.

After purchasing any new tape or CD, listen to the entire recording befor e using it for spell work. The first two selections may be ideal, but if song number three goes up thirty decibels and a wolf starts howling, it could send you crashing down from your altered state.

If you have the time, visit your local music or New Age store. Most provide headsets and demonstration tapes that give you the opportunity to listen before you buy. The recording you choose should be long enough to last your entire spell.

Music that suddenly stops in the middle of a ceremony will also break the mood. If you have no choice and you must turn a tape over, at the very least have your sound system close to you so you do not have to leave your spell area. Music is the sound of the soul: If you can include it in your rituals, all the better.

⚪10⚪

Magickal Tools

Any tangible item used for ritual can be considered a magickal tool as long as it means something special to you. The creative part of our brain works in symbols, so it makes sense to use symbols as a way to conduct creative magick. You probably already have magickal tools and may not even recognize them. It may be your favorite picture that makes you "feel good" upon merely looking at it, that special coin that a relative gave you when you were a child, or a favorite pen you've had for years.

Candles

Candles bring light into our lives ----- both literally and symbolically. They chase away the darkness and allowed new projects, thoughts, and relationships to emerge. Lighting candles before a spell can create very powerful energy.

Candles also represent the three levels in which we exist. The wax corresponds to our physical body, the wick to our mind, and the flame to our soul or spirit.

Candles come in a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some are scented, some unscented. For our purposes, shape and scent ( or lack thereof ) are unimportant. Do give some consideration to the size of your candle. If you deem your spell will take an hour, don't light a candle that burns for only thirty minutes.

Color is a significant part of what candle burning is all about. Different colors represent different vibrations. As the candle burns, the vibration of that color is red. Refer to the color chart to clarify which color best suits your needs. You may use just one candle or a combination.

If you don't have any idea color available, use white. When burning a white candle, pay attention to the smoke. When it starts to smoke, negative energy is being cleansed from that area. When the smoke subsides, the energy in that area is cleanse and clear.

Take caution in purchasing a white candle that is too inexpensive. Inexpensive white candles smoke too readily and can confuse you. However, I would also not advise going to the extreme and looking for top-of-the-line candles. Use common sense and buy moderately. When working with candles, always use caution and do not leave them unattended.

Candle Color Interpretation

WHITE Purity, power, newness, spells, healing, peace, and psychic skills. White will intensify the effect of any color candle it is used with.

BLACK Removal of negative energy; not a color of evil or negativity. Release and banish.

BLUE Peace, tranquility, protection, fidelity, astral projection.

BROWN Protection for the household; telepathy, stability.

SILVER Neutralizer of negative energy or forces.

GREEN Prosperity, money, success; counteracts jealousy, ambition.

ORANGE Provides additional energy needed for work or other endeavors; promotes order, control over the self.

PINK Love, friendship, romance, affection, giving.

PURPLE Intuition, psychic pursuits, power and independence, wisdom.

RED Fertility, physical strength, sexual passion, courage.

YELLOW Well-being, self-esteem, attraction, glamour, action.

As mentioned earlier, this chart can be used as a guide for making clothing color choices.

In my experience, people have either love incense or they have an aversion to it.

⚪11⚪

Incense and Fragrance

Incense also comes in different sizes, shapes, and forms. Some types of incense are already labeled with names reflecting the effects they hope to achieve: There is stress-relieving incense, energy incense, love incense, and so on.

Some people prefer to burn potpourri or oils. One of the purposes of incense in these particular rituals is to bring you into an altered state of consciousness in the most peaceful way possible. If the smell of sage or sandalwood calms you, use it. But if your sinuses say no, give them respect.

Don't get caught up in what others have decided is the best aroma for you. For example, studies have shown citrus fragrances promote energy, and the smell of lilac can calm us. But don't force yourself to inhale a scent if you don't care for simply because the label states "incense for romance." Always buy what you enjoy.

Experimenting with new aromas is also fun. Most incense is inexpensive and sometimes sold by the stick. One thing to be careful of: If you are going to do a spell inside or in a small area, try your new purchase out prior to its actual use. Otherwise, you may be subject to a disagreeable smell for hours, if not days. Incense can take a while to dissipate and may linger in the air for a long period of time.

Here are some recommended sense and herbs you may want to try that correspond to a certain magickal work. Remember: These are only suggestions and not a must.

👤 Health Bay, Carnation, Cedar, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Myrrh, Pine, Sage, Sandalwood, Thyme 💞 Love Apple, Musk, Rose, Ambergris, Basil, Cinnamon, Chamomile, Dragon's Blood, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Patchouli, Peppermint 📠 Career \ Job Vanilla, Allspice, Cloves, Nutmeg, Pine, Wisteria, Heliotrope, Spruce, Sage, Mint, Honeysuckle, Cedar, Bayberry 🌹 Women's Issues Musk, Orange, Hyacinth, Myrrh, Pine, Rose 🐯 Men's Issues Musk, Cedar, Jasmine 🌅 Spirituality Frankincense, Heliotrope, Jasmine, Sweetgrass, Gardenia, Pine, Sage, Violet, Sandalwood, Rose

⚪12⚪

Crystals and Gemstones

Crystals bring life to our quartz watches. They receive and transmit radio waves. Without quartz crystals, the computer age would never have happened: They are what make up integrated circuits and electronic chips.

The power of crystals go far beyond the products we have derived from them. They are important tools in magick, having the ability to focus and direct energy to a specific intention. Some say they have healing powers, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Many other stones also have special energy that can assist in your spells. For a quick reference, I’ve listed a few below. But this is a huge area of exploration. If you want to know more, your local bookstore or library will certainly contain numerous books on the subject.

Gem Stone Qualities

A special note about quartz crystals: These stones are available in nature stores, gem shops, and most New Age gift stores in rough or polished form. You need not spend more than a few dollars on your crystals. Start with something small, and go to a larger size if you feel it's necessary. If you are unsure of which is the best stone to intensify your spells, use a clear quartz crystal. Clear quartz crystal stimulates healing, balances the elements to fulfill us and make us whole. Aids psychic development. Amethyst a very powerful spell stone. Psychics and healers have used its curative properties for years. Helpful in dispelling anger and anxiety, aids in feeling less scattered. Carnelian often called the stone of good luck. Said to purify the blood, stimulate sexual emotions, and aid in sexual function. Lapis lazuli draws love to us. It is also reputed to be effective in healing headaches, high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, and other such ailments. Malachite increases energy, is connected to change and creativeness. The Egyptians wore crushed malachite as eye shadow to guard against the evil eye. Moonstone is said to be a stone of magic. It increases psychic abilities and is used widely for spell rituals. Astral projection is accelerated when using a moonstone. Rose quartz also known as the love stone. A stone and that deals with the energy of all the emotions. Turquoise builds strength, provides protection. It is a sacred stone to the Native Americans. It is a protective stone for horses and their riders. In Arabia it is a stone of meditation. It has equality of absorbing negative energy. When purchasing, carefully touch the crystals at the store. A stone chooses you, you don't choose it. It would just “feel good” to you, having something the others don't possess. Use your gut feeling ----- which is your intuition talking to you.

Charging Your Crystal

Once you find your crystal, it needs to be "cleared, charged, and programmed." Cleanse it of a past owner’s energy and \ or the energy that has been placed on it by individuals examining it by washing it in cold water or letting it sit in a bowl of water.

Next, use the Moon to charge the crystal. Place it overnight in view of one of the phases listed below:

New Moon a crystal charged in this phase specifically offers energy that supports new beginnings, confidence, hope, and specifically anything of increase. Full Moon a crystal charged in this phase brings power to support anything you want to achieve. This is actually the best all-around phase to utilize.

Once you have cleared and charged your crystal the last step is to program it. Hold it in your hand, and focus on the vibrational energy you are looking for to accomplish your goal. Visualize your final goal, but not the way you think you're going to get there.

For example: if you want to lose twenty pounds, see yourself on the scale twenty pounds thinner. Don't try to analyze the way it will come about. This is best left to your higher power to solve.

If you choose, you can program any of your other gemstones as well.

⚪13⚪

Element Water

Throughout the spells you will see the use of what I refer to as element water. Element water is basically water that has been charged to help you do magick during a thunderstorm.

It represents fire, earth, air, and water, a forceful mix of elements at their highest potency. Lightning represents fire, which corresponds to power, energy, magick, and lust. Thunder represents air, which corresponds to spirituality, health, and knowledge. The strength of the storm represents earth, which corresponds to nature, being grounded, wisdom, and all things material. The rain itself represents water, which corresponds to emotions, reflection, love, creativity, and purification.

How to Make Element Water

Basically you are collecting rainwater with intention. First you will need a container to collect the water. I have used glass, plastic, clay pottery, and almost any type of container one can use, and I have seen no difference. You may feel a natural material is better or something you feel special has more impact. If these are your thoughts, then seek a special container. I personally use two or three chalices.

The important thing is that the container is new or extremely cleaned, having been sterilized in a dishwasher or by boiling if is made of glass. If the container is new, still clean it to remove energies from other people who may have handled it. Because thunderstorms are not all that common, I recommend obtaining as much water as possible so you will always have some on hand.

If you know that a storm is approaching, take your container and place it in a spot where it will collect water. Some people always leave a container outside just in case, and others only place one out when they are almost certain storm is near.

After the storm and your water has been collected, you should invoke a "hand blessing." Place both hands above the container with your palms facing down and say, "Bless this water. May it empower my intentions."

Now, transfer your element water into a practical container for later use if you are not going to use it immediately. A glass or plastic jug or bottle with a lid is a good choice.

The water is not limited to use only during rituals. It can also be used to bless something. Feel free to separate your water into smaller bottles for traveling or even to give a small bottle to a friend. It is a perfect gift for someone who is like-minded because it comes from nature and you have put your personal energy into it with good thoughts and well-wishes.

Around the holidays, I take element water and put it in tiny plastic containers with little labels that read, “Element Water.” I then tie ribbons around the necks of the containers and give them to special friends in case they want to bless something. I use element water to bless my car, computer, office, home, and the cat next door!

Special Notes

Element water will only be powerful when rain, lightning, and thunder are all present. An average rain will not do.

Do not use water that flows from a gutter! It may seem to be a very easy solution, especially if you want a large amount quickly. However, the fact is the rainwater being channeled through the gutter is not as pure as water coming directly from the sky because it has picked up debris.

Do not be concerned about pollution in the air when gathering water. Your blessing over the water purifies it.

Do not drink the water, as it is not meant for your inner body.

If you are not in an area where you are able to collect water, ask a friend to do it for you. However, you must conduct the “hand blessing” once it is in your possession.

Be cautious in thunderstorms and do not go out when lightning is about. For safety reasons, wait till the storm is over to bring your collected water inside.

⚪14⚪

Additional Magickal Tools

Other magickal tools mentioned in spells will include the following. Feel free to substitute what is available or what works for you.

Wand or knife: Sword, athame, letter opener, or any type of wand or long crystal. Any pointed object that extends as a pointer will work. One can purchase decorative wands displaying gemstones and crystals in New Age gift stores, fantasy stores, or through Internet Web sites. A double-edged knife is also available through the same sources. Fire burning container: Iron pot, mini-chiminera ( small Mexican fireplace ), ashtray, metal trash can, cauldron. Anything that can contain a piece of paper being burned within a safe vessel. Special drinking glass: Any container that can hold wine or grape juice: wine glass, cup, bowl, chalice, or favorite goblet. Optional tools:

Flowers and fruit

Religious statues or holy cards

Tarot cards or Runes ( or other methods for telling future events; psychic forms divination )

Pendulum ( Click here for information on making decisions using a pendulum )

Pentacle or pentagram symbol ( The pentacle is a five pointed star with lines connecting with a circle encompassing it. A pentagram is the same five point star but has no circle. This symbol represents the elements earth, air, fire, water, and what is sometimes known as the fifth element, spirit. A pentacle or pentagram can also represent the human body with legs and arms outstretched. This symbol is often used in rituals as a form of protection while the ritual is underway. The star should always be in an upright position. The reverse is considered to be negative.)

[[ Image Source ]]

Cross ----- any kind ( The universal symbol of a cross represents the bringing together of multiple dualities into a single whole. It can represent human form with extended arms, as well as crossroads in your life. Crosses have numerous religious and spiritual meanings.)

Bells ( A bell can be rung to invoke universal powers and note the beginning of a ritual. Some people use bells as a form of protection to keep evil away. )

Who knows what contains magic and love for each individual? But I do know if you have such items, you should hold them dear and use them to assist you.

⚪15⚪

Personal Altars

To have a personal altar is by no means a requirements for doing spell work, but it is an excellent place in which to keep your magical tools and to worship whomever you choose. Use it not only as a storage for these special items but also has a place to pray, meditate, and to receive answers from your higher self.

An altar can be any area that is flat. It can be a separate small table or any action on your dresser. The top of a large sound speaker could be used; a bookshelf or two cement block with a piece of wood laid across them would do. Once again, you get to be creative.

You may not want to have a permanent altar but prefer to set up a temporary one just for your spell use. Your altar can typically would display items such as candles, incense, wands, knives, gemstones, statues, chalices, element or holy water, and anything else you would use as a special component that had spiritual and enchanting properties. I do not feel there is any special way to set up an altar. Moving things around until it looks and feels right to you.

An outside altar is also a lovely thing to create if possible. It can be built near a favorite tree using stones and bricks. You may construct a special table outside made of wood. To make it easier, use a tree stump or a rock that is fairly level.

When fashioning an altar, try to stay away from the use of too much metal. Natural materials are always the best. However, if your only choice is an altar containing a lot of metal, tried to cover it. Use a natural fabric or put a piece of wood over it. Try to keep things natural.

As for the direction to face your altar, there are many schools of thought. Some suggest facing north because it is the most grounded direction. Others will recommend facing the altar east because it is the direction the Sun and Moon rise. Each direction has a special meaning and place. Therefore, I feel you should put it anywhere in which it is practical.

I have seen rolling altars, where people have made altars on the top of units that have wheels so they can roll through a room to face the direction they feel it needs to face for a particular spell or meditation. A rolling altar can also be kept out of the way in a closet if you are pressed for space.

Altars are extremely personal, as well as very interesting, and there is no right or wrong way in which to set up this area of sacred items.

7 notes · View notes

darrowsrising · 5 years

Note

"he fights for his family" - because this is often taken as an argument that Darrow does the right thing. whether Orion is the main culprit or not, Darrow has been in charge of the whole operation, so he's also to blame. and to say, "but Atalantia does that to," is no excuse. By the way, why do you always say "goo off"? you asked for unpopular opinions so....

Ermm... I use the 'he fights for his family' as proof for those who say he doesn't do that and that he is a child of war and other bullshit. Not to excuse Darrow's actions.

I wasn't excusing Darrow, first of all, I was saying it's not fair to say that he is like Atlas or Atalantia. Orion made the call herself and she killed her own as well as civilians and enemies.

I didn't say 'Atalantia does it too', I said that she and Atlas do it deliberately, intentionally. They order mass murder, they do mass murder. Darrow explicitly said not to drown the fucking planet. He wanted no casualties and Orion didn't listen. He stopped her as soon as he realised that.

The damage was done, but making Darrow seem like a monster with no regard for human lives, is wrong.

And I say go off, because yes, I asked for opinions and you can go off on what you have to say. As in keep doing what you're doing.

I'm not here to change your mind or argue with you. But to put Darrow in the same pot with Atlas or Atalantia is wrong and that's that.

Because the situations are not the same. And Darrow does take responsability for Orion's actions. But that doesn't mean he is 100% to blame or even comparable with his enemies.

Things aren't as black and white as you make them seem. It's true that when this happens, the leader takes the blame and he truly bears that. But I just don't think he is the monster Lysander makes him be...he is no Atlas au Raa or Atalantia au Grimmus. Not only does he take responsability, but he also blames himself. At no point does he tell anyone or even himself that only Orion is to blame for everything. He blames himself for trusting her.

And it's not fair that you chose to ignore the fact that Darrow didn't want casualties and deliberately tried to have none. From his first battle on Mercury, when he sacrificed his army in an Iron Rain to take Tyche without casualties, to giving the population radiation meds, to going to defend Heliopolis and letting the Arcos Knights save the civilians of Tyche, instead of going for Atalantia, although he could have at a very high price.

And the most important distiction that cements that is chapter 17 of Dark Age: Darrow - Heliopolis. After they try to rape him. That makes all the difference: he is not a monster who wants to sacrifice civilians, he is not his enemies. Just because he didn't sit on his arse crying for the victims, doean't mean that the bloodshed doesn't get to him, on the contrary, he shuts himself off, because otherwise he is too useless to function. He is among the most empathetic and merciful people in the series. He feels even for his enemies. He forgave Roque, for hell's sake. And he treated Atlas with decency, despite everything...

The entire Storm Gods plot was designed to dismantle Reaper as the hero and build Lysander as such - in the eyes of the people in universe. The reader has more insights and the author used those to to show the nuances of grey. Because in war, no one can truly be a hero.

But, if these things aren't important or significant enough for you, that's ok. As I said, I'm not here to change opinions but I would like mine to be respected as well. I'm not bashing or hating. I am not excusing some flat white boy™️ character with no substance 'because he did nothing wrong uwu'. I am simply saying that the arc was more complex than the usual black and white approach to interpretation.

That doesn't make Darrow in right or not to blame at all, but it doesn't make him a heartless monster like his enemies. That's what I'm trying to say.

Before someone comes at my throat for this, though, this is fiction. I am not endorsing Storm Gods wiping out entire planets, humans included. I don't think the usual standards for real life can be applied completely to the Red Rising series. Or any book for that matter...

Taking them into orbit was wrong, period. But there is more to it than just 'oh, look, another tyrant, Reaper is a tyrant, a monter' etc.

Howl on!

#darrow au andromedus #reaper #darrow of lykos #dark age #dark age spoilers #iron gold trilogy

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blissingbjork · 5 years

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burningtask001 — survey.

hello ! this is a mess but here ya go !!

YOUR ALIAS — izaiah/izzy

AGE — 21

TIMEZONE — EST.

PREFERRED PRONOUNS — he/him

MBTI — ENFPHP HOUSE — hufflepuff.

ARE YOU A STUDENT? WHAT DO YOU STUDY? — nope !

WHO DID YOU APPLY FOR? TALK ABOUT THEM A BIT IF YOU WISH! — I applied for ray ! he’s a partially trans nonbinary artist who is tryna get by after having been homeschooled his entire life. he just wants friends !

LINKS TO OTHER ACCOUNTS & SOCIAL MEDIA — here’s my pinterest !

DISCORD — izaiah#8068

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FICTION GENRE? — i love horrors and thrillers ‘based on true stories’

TOP FIVE FAVOURITE FILMS — damn uh, the goonies, the mighty ducks, martyrs ( the original ) and i can’t think of any other movies i really really love

A BOOK YOU FEEL “CHANGED” YOU? — howl - allen ginsberg

WHAT IS YOUR SIGN? — 100% pure aries

ARE YOU INTO ASTROLOGY? — i believe it to an extent

WHAT PLATFORMS HAVE YOU ROLEPLAYED ON? — i started.. on instagram but i now only rp on tumblr or discord

WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU HAVE? — i’m actually an artist. i have been since i was a kid. i mostly draw people/gore so if you ever wanna see some cool shit hmu lmao

HAVE ANY PETS? IF SO, TALK ABOUT THEM! — i have two kitties i love very much ! my old lady april who is 12 ( ive had her since i was in elementary school ) and my demon child zyngara who is a fat bitch but i love her so much

IS THERE A TV SHOW YOU RECOMMEND A LOT? — Heroes definitely.

ANY SHOWS YOU LIKE SOME MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT YOU DO? — i love one tree hill, its so cringey sometimes and very soap opera-y but i love it.

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT? — the last thing i read was an anthology of edgar allen poe poems and i do recommend his work !

LAST FILM? REC IT? — i just watched malevolent on netflix, it was pretty good. the plot was different but definitely not like a super scary movie so if u like paranormal kinda shit but dont like being super scared, i def rec !

WHAT MOVIE DO YOU THINK YOU’VE SEEN THE MOST TIMES? — the goonies, definitely !

WHAT ALWAYS PUTS YOU IN A GOOD MOOD? — doing skincare stuff, like face masks and shit, also the new euphoria album heyo

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICIAN / BAND? LIST IF THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE. — BJORK. she is my mother and i love her music. its just so calming to me and unqiue.

EVER BEEN TO A CONCERT? WHO HAVE YOU SEEN? — I get super overstimulated at concerts so i no longer partake but ive been to avril lavigne, got7, dietcig and a couple outdoor concerts.

WILD NIGHT OUT OR QUIET NIGHT IN? — mostly quiet nights in or wild nights in lmao

ANY PHOBIAS? — i have an irrational fear of water i cant see the bottom of

DO YOU LIKE BUGS? — hell no

BIRDS? — depends ! big birds are scary af

ARE YOU A CAT OR DOG PERSON? — Both !! i love all animals tbh

BIGGEST PET PEEVE? — people who dwell on topics that bring people down, people who like to slam all their shit down.

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE RPC? — definitely the people behind the muses !

TOP TEN FAVE FCS TO USE? — jack mulhern, chella man, park jinyoung, alexandra daddario, lucas lynngaard, nicole maines, ross lynch, tarjei sandvik moe, luka sabbat.

FIVE YOU LIKE WRITING AGAINST? — aron piper, natasha liu bordizzo, bex taylor klaus, alexandra daddario, alberto rosende

FAVOURITE TYPE OF FOOD? — this is gonna sound gross but i love tuna

WORST FOOD? — cherries are the devils fruit !!!!!!

DO YOU PLAY VIDEOGAMES? IF SO, WHAT ONES AND ON WHAT PLATFORM DO YOU PREFER? — i am literally the worst to play videogames with lmao

!ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE TAG? — i didnt mention this anywhere else so i thought id add im a huge marvel nerd so if anyone wants to geek out, hmu !

LASTLY, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT BURNINGHQ? being able to develop my boy and plotting with the rest of the group !!

#burningtalk

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magicalgirldiary · 7 years

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21/100 days of productivity | 21 jan 2018

man I really like this 100 days thing. anyway the main thing I did today was READ. as a writer I consider all reading of actual books (or articles, or stories in literary magazines, or whatever) productive, so even though this didn’t apply to much else it went towards one of my resolutions and also was just a nice relaxing thing to do. as you may be able to tell from the picture, I finally have my own copy of Howl’s Moving Castle and I am really enjoying rereading it. :)

#100 Days Challenge #100 Days of Productivity #magicalgirldiary #mine #books #reading #bookblr #gradblr #grad school #PhD life #cozy #relaxation

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d00dt00nz · 4 years

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youtube

Obligatory promo stuff at the top because it sucks and I hate it and let’s get it out of the way! follow me on twitter where I’m active, check me out on spotify for music, or like my facebook for sparse updates on music stuff. Thank you. The Cover art is by Ellie Tison

This one’s a lil bit long so I’ll put it behind a break

A while ago I posted about a song that was called The Howl that Lay the Canyon Bare. I mentioned that there were a few false starts on that song. One of those songs was a ripoff of Jackson Browne's The Pretender. Basically, while I didn't like the song, it became some kind of freakish mushroom creature. It budded its spores and they grew into their own creations. There was another song that came from it but it's not very good and I didn't use it. This song, however, did.

Basically it came from me wanting to write like, a fast paced and kind of old fashioned rock song. Not necessarily a standard blues rock structured song, but maybe something that was had the same force and power. My old song had some lyrics that I liked “I'm gonna get a good job in the city, I'm gonna buy a big screen tv/I'm gonna make a lot of friends and forget their names, 'cause they don't mean much to me”. Sometimes I think it's a shame for lyrics to go to waste because I always have a pretty tough time of writing them. A lot of times I'll just pluck lyrics from unused stuff, which is a little annoying because then I can never use that unused thing.

That lyric was written while I was still working at the RESP place and I was feeling pretty miserable and gross. I felt evil. I wanted to write something gross. More recently when I actually wrote this song proper, I was feeling a little less evil, but still very aware of those same evils. This was back in Febuary when my boss had recently laid off everyone except me. The amount of work hadn't reduced. He'd essentially used Coronavirus as an excuse to save a few bucks on his business. To this day, we don't have any masks, sanitizer, or gloves. The car the company gives me is literally falling apart. I have no right rearview mirror, the transmission is broken so that sometimes the engine just revs but the car doesn't move, the AC is broken, the winter tires are still on, the entire car shakes all the time, and up until recently it'd stall if you took a turn too sharply. If you can recall that time in Febuary, it was also when there was a whole asinine debate in the media about how many deaths were “acceptable” to keep the economy going.

Obviously I know that capitalism is “evil”. We all know that somewhere in the back of our minds, and saying it in that way (especially online) is pretty trite. At some point I started reading books about socialism in my spare time. I don't claim to be an expert, I couldn't make it through Kapital (that fucking thing is like a thousand pages and he spends the first 200 talking about a coat). I just want you to understand that it is something that I don't just invoke for cheap jokes. I think it'd be a good thing. Anyway, the evils that capitalism is based on really started to show their faces around that time. We had to let people die because we couldn't let the system slow down. A lot of liberal leaning people like to begin and end the conversation with “greed”, as if so many problems could be solved if we fixed the individual, personal problem of greediness. Maybe that'd go a long way if we could somehow magically shame people into good behaviour, but the way things are set up means you'd have to convince the people who make the rules to act against their own interests. The whole idea is silly.

The entire idea behind a neoliberal model of capitalism is a lack of true accountability. Kurt Vagnathghet (note to me, fix this spelling later when you have internet. Or don't and leave it in as a dumb hilarious joke) has a little part in Cat's Cradle where a brilliant engineer relinquishes his position as president because he is uncomfortable with authority – he'd rather be told what to do. The narrator wonders why until he begins delegating tasks to the engineer and realizes that the engineer has now managed to detach himself from his own humanity. He simply has become a cog in a system that sustains him. He is free of any real accountability because nothing is his own decision. He simply carries out orders because he must in order to maintain his own place in the world. That's kind of like the model we have today. Everyone is beholden to someone. Even CEO's are beholden to shareholders. Even shareholders are beholden to other shareholders. They cannot act against their own interests because there will always be somebody to replace them waiting in the wings. Yes, they make the rules, but they don't make the rules collectively, which means that if they stop “playing the game” then they'll lose what they have to somebody who is. I'm not saying I have sympathy for these people, I'm just describing the mental gymnastics that this system demands. I don't believe that people are inherently evil or selfish, but I do believe that we have a system that benefits those who are selfish and punishes those who are selfless. It's a self sustaining system where nobody is really in charge of their own life and the only real way to feel any control over your situation is to become vile – and the more vile you become, the more control you feel. It's not a question of staying true to your values, it's a question of how evil will you allow yourself to be.

Of course this only applies to people with that ability in the first place, as in people who are white, from a wealthy family, live in the western world, that kind of stuff. In my more unhinged moments I consider this about myself. I don't know if I could ever be in a position to take advantage of people, but what if I could? How much would I be willing to screw people? How immoral and wrong would I act if it meant a life of comfort? What if I just started scamming and hurting people? What if I “played the game”? How amoral would I allow myself to become before it wasn't worth it? These are questions I don't know if anyone can really answer. It's disturbingly easy to take an opportunity when presented with one. I'd like to say that I would stay true to myself, but would I? Would anyone?

Over the course of history, our ruling class effectively managed to replace the task of governing with a series of complex and often injust or imperfect systems. Over time, even the highest powers in the land have become beholden to something – something that is no longer even human. Something incapable of moral judgments because it does not think. It turns out we were living in the matrix a long time before computers were invented (That's really corny but let me have this one. I want to feel cool okay?). They created this system to absolve them of responsibility, and in doing so have rendered themselves powerless.

I wanted to outline this grotesque reality and my own personal worries in the most grotesque way possible. I didn't want to create nu metal, so I went to the second most grotesque form of music: 70s rock and roll. I wanted to have this angry frantic energy. It was really fun to record because I rarely get to just have straight aggressive 8th notes like I'm some sort of punk. It's also nice to just crank up the volume and the compressor and have a good time with distortion and different guitar tones. I love the dry sound that I was able to get. I do have to say, it's tough to keep that tempo and energy up for an entire song.

Vocally it's not the most difficult song, but a bunch of fun to sing. You get to be really aggressive with your delivery, and there's a bit of a showiness to the melody. For better or for worse, it's got that musical theatre kid energy to it with some old fashioned sounding musical phrases. I kinda like it for that. The lyrics are really unpleasant, so it adds to the fun where I can just say all this ugly shit and have this frantic energy behind it. At one point the compressor I was using did something weird on the vocal take, and it really jacked up a particularly deep breath I was taking. I decided to leave it in because it added to the vibe. I thought it'd be a weird quirk. Like the sound of somebody doing a big fat line of coke. Just getting fucked up.... Real twisted shit.

On the chorus I decided I wanted to add a little bit of variety and put in some sax backing. It was supposed to mingle with some vocals, which would have been a cool effect but the effect never really came through. I'm still not 100% on how to get a good sax sound out of a recording. At any rate, it does give this big echoy chaotic sound which I was pretty satisfied with so I left it in.

The solo section, I'm not so much a fan of. I think the guitar solo I did was pretty bad and amateurish sounding. There's this big buildup and then it's like this stupid meandering guitar solo that sounds like a 14 year old did it. I got my brother to record a guitar solo, which is technically a much better guitar solo, but honestly I wasn't a huge fan of the feel he went with in the context of the song. It felt a little bit too surf-y, and he didn't use any distortion. I kept it in and combined the two, which helped make things feel a little bit better, but I'm still not big on the part. There's also a harmonica bit. I kinda broke down and went back to my old standby of “well let's just make this part really noisy” which is a little bit of a crux, I admit.

In general I like the song. It's fun. It's fast, it's mean, and it breaks up some of the more introspective stuff. As well, I've just been feeling really uncomfortable with releasing an album of introspective naval gazy music. Like, I get it, I don't really have a platform. It's not like many people listen to me. Still though, there's so much awful shit going on in this world right now that I'm fortunate enough to be mostly sheltered by. I haven't participated in any protests either. I feel like I have to talk about it. In the end though I'm just busy with this self absorbed bullshit. I'm glad, then, that there's something political on this album that captures that feeling. I hope to be a little bit more worldly with my songwriting. I've done at least two very personal albums, and two high concept albums, I hope to maybe turn my focus outward into the world next time.

#music #album #rock #music production #songwriting

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aaenbell96-blog · 6 years

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Bear on Printing process Gains and disadvantages

The intromission of the printing process pressure has real produced producing a routine of copies of a written document a hatful Thomas More round-eyed and hardheaded. It was an development in diffusing literacy in the lower lessons as books and other printed components are straight off conveniently reproduced. Merely give birth you at whatever time questioned how these publications, books or newspapers are produced? Are these printed products and solutions in fact scripted and dyed by the writers? Nether no circumstances! Barely figure how protracted it volition pick out to write a peerless imitate of a channelize. It would spirit unrealizable to authentically fork up unrivaled double if 1 requires to do it manually. Then how are they in a positioning bring on a expectant identification number of copies in plainly a forgetful musical interval of meter? The answer to that is get-up-and-go printing process. Push impression arse work copies of phrases and photographs by putting ink on newspaper publisher. In the premature, when the impression pressing was not withal made impression a 100 copies of a e-Holy Scripture tush bugger off a calendar year to pitch. Later on the impression contract was proved, it volition assume scarcely a duad of months to publish non sole hundreds only unnumberable numbers pool of copies. The steady function of get-up-and-go impression has a pick of strengths and disadvantages. Lashkar-e-Toiba us commencement away with the strengths. For single, press impression presents effective colourise preciseness. This impression system buttocks create considerably brighter impress outputs. Push impression English hawthorn potentially be the counterbalance selection for you if you are an unequalled WHO is fussy with colour preciseness. You terminate similarly welfare from a potpourri of varieties of colouration with get-up-and-go printing. Irrespective of whether its coloured document or rake Negroid manakin, you consume the impropriety of selecting which is scoop for your printed product. In plus, coloration printing bequeath hunting flawless and sleek as with child air screens are conferred with crusade printing process. Blanket lay out of termination options are likewise made useable these types of as cross mark, embossing, and decease chopping. Applying kyocera toner printing procedures privy help you generate components that for sure place upright KO'd. On the former hand, tug printing toilet be preferably highschool priced. As a final result, mark jobs done with press printing give the sack send two multiplication as that of electronic impression. Yet, your final exam decision to wee-wee practice of fight impression in your mark shape opportunities bet on you. When you tone this impression course of action at law is suitable to your impress calls for, then by all strategies help of this function. Following all, you are flop later on the senior high caliber of the mark endeavour not the style on how it was produced. In the premature, when the printing drive was non just made-up impression a 100 copies of a allow force out select a calendar twelvemonth to generate. Pursual the impression push was made, it ordinarily takes solely a copulate of months to photographic print not merely hundreds but thousands of copies. Also, distort printing volition take care first-class and slick as howling subscriber line screens are presented with push printing process. Therefore, photographic print act opportunities realized with tug impression derriere disbursal deuce periods as that of digital printing process. Your predilection to lay down habit of squeeze printing process in your impress positions depend on you.

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pauldeckerus · 6 years

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How I Got Better at Photography

Two years ago, I splurged some money and bought a camera because I’d always wanted to try to take pictures of the stars. The left photo above was the only decent picture out of 700 taken on my first clueless attempt. The right photo was taken about 2 weeks ago. Don’t let your dreams be dreams.

I can distinctly remember the first time a camera was put into my hands. It was the wedding of one of my oldest cousins, and I was 10 or 11 years old. A family friend was the photographer, and he must have noticed me walking around bored and clueless, because he took one of his SLRs, put it in my hand with a full roll of film, and told me to help him take pictures.

None of the photos turned out. I was a kid and I had no idea what I was doing, but 15 years later, that moment is still crystal clear in my memory. It spurred me into action, asking for digital cameras for my subsequent birthdays (my first was a 3.2MP point-and-shoot), saving up my lawnmowing money all summer to buy a 512MB Compact Flash memory card, and messing around with the old Pentax K1000 that had been collecting dust in my dad’s closet — whenever I could afford film and processing, that is.

Unfortunately, somewhere between working two jobs, trying to succeed in high school, beginning college, and spending 2 years abroad in Eastern Europe, I simply lacked the time, money, and know-how to pursue photography beyond the capabilities of my cell phone, and my interest in photography faded.

There was, however, always a shade of desire. I remember being jealous of friends who owned big, hefty, DSLRs. I was green with envy when my mom decided to buy my dad a Nikon D3200 for his birthday. I stole it often to take pictures and it didn’t take long before I knew more about it than he did. My time to own a DSLR came when I accepted an internship at a local art museum that needed me to act as an event photographer and videographer. I purchased a Nikon D3300 with a kit lens and a $20 tripod and immediately got to photographing everything in sight.

Those first couple of months, I tried to take pictures every day. I didn’t always succeed, but it taught me to be constantly looking for compelling subject matters. Growing up in the heart of Utah, landscape photography was a natural fit: there are canyons every 30 feet (it seems), 5 National Parks, a variety of National Monuments, and more to do than anyone could in a lifetime.

I spent much of my time hiking on the weekends and I had a close friend with whom I’d take road trips every year. Glacier or Banff, the Grand Canyon or California, wherever sounded most exciting. Landscape photography, as I often say, meant simply doing what I already did — but bringing back evidence.

Photo upon completion of a 11 hour, 26 mile overnight trip from the north rim to the south rim of the Grand Canyon

On the summit of Fairview Peak, Banff National Park, Canada

From the get-go, I also had a strong desire to take pictures of the stars. Humans have always had this primordial fascination with the stars, and I’ve always felt that strongly. Many a summer night growing up was spent on my rooftop watching the sky shift from sunset to blue hour to suburban starscape. For that reason, the stars seemed a natural subject as well, and I can vividly remember my first attempt at capturing them.

My friend and I hiked a steep trail to a lake on the night of a full moon. It was nearly dark by the time we arrived at the destination, but the area was beautifully lit. I moseyed over to the far side of the lake, set up my tripod and camera and spent the better part of an hour troubleshooting. Simple photographic concepts — focus, aperture, exposure — became less intuitive at night. I guessed at settings, wrote them down, made slight adjustments, and tried again. 700 terrible photos and a few hours later, we made the long trek back down to our car, trail poorly lit by cell phone flashlight.

One of 700. My first night of astrophotography.

The whole night, the best photo I had managed to produce featured brightly illuminated cliffs and a few faint stars. My expectations for what I would be able to do were extremely high and I’d certainly fallen short, but at the end of the day, I was thrilled I could see stars at all. I went out the next night and the next night and the next night, always to different locations, getting more and more excited with each photograph that got closer to representing the vision I had for what my photography could be.

My first successful image of the milky way over Mount Timpanogos, battling Utah Valley light pollution

Coping with the stars and light pollution from the Salt Lake Valley. Somewhere in Utah’s west desert.

The follow-up to those feelings could only be described as an obsession. I was getting distracted at work because I was googling articles about night photography. I signed up for a dozen newsletters on various websites with tips and tricks. I began researching gear the second I realized that, well, an entry-level camera and a kit lens weren’t going to cut it. I thought I knew cameras because I understood the basic concepts of ISO, aperture, and exposure and (more-or-less) how they worked together in the daytime, but I purchased books that taught me to understand their effects and use them beyond simply to manipulate light.

I learned what a crop-sensor was and immediately ached for a full-frame camera, I began to study the construction of and limitations of lenses and I immediately began researching which lenses I needed to buy in order to increase the quality of my work. I read articles about low-light performance in various cameras, I read about sensor technology, I bought Photoshop and Lightroom and began to watch YouTube tutorials about Milky Way post-processing techniques. Star tracking and median stacking and focal blending were terms of which I had never heard, but with time, I began to understand and apply them.

A lucky alignment over Monument Valley, Utah

Under Owachomo Natural Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

Just as importantly, I learned how to compose an image. I bought a couple books that helped me understand the theory, but trial-and-error was the real teacher. As a trained Art Historian, I studied the likes of Ansel Adams, Eadweard Muybridge, and William Henry Jackson, even handling original prints of theirs, all the while trying to see through their eyes and understanding how to see the way that they saw.

Along those same lines, I studied the work of famous 19th-century romantic landscape painters like Thomas Cole and Albert Bierstadt, attempting to understand (and later replicate) what made their compositions compelling.

Stars creeping out during a backpacking trip in Coyote Gulch

Miraculously, throughout this entire multi-year process, I began to see improvement. And as I saw improvement, my interest waxed instead of waned. That first year I shot upwards of 100 GB worth of photographic data. The next year, it more than tripled.

It’s important to realize in retrospect that improvement is often slow-going and always requires a lot of sacrifice and diligence. Nothing says sacrifice quite like taking an hour-long nap and then having to crawl out of a warm sleeping bag to go wander through the desert all by yourself (machete in hand, in case any wild animals want to tussle).

During the week of the new moon in June 2018, I spent 6 out of 7 days camping, on average driving 4 hours round trip to a camping spot dark enough to photograph the skies. I spent 4 of those nights sleeping in the driver’s seat of my car while the wind howled outside. I returned home with only a few worthwhile images to process (Good ol’ Ansel said it best: “12 significant photographs in one year is a good crop.”) Besides that, each of those mornings, I drove 1-3 hours back home to work an 8-9 hour shift at my day job.

The results of a windy, miserable, lonely night of car-camping in Payson, Utah.

I rarely get paid for my photography, but exhaustion and lack of monetary payoff aside, I am in love with what I do. I never imagined I’d be to the point that people would want me to write about my experiences, that Reddit posts of my photography would hit the front page (41k upvotes and counting), or that strangers and friends would be asking me for advice — I’m just a guy who loves the world I live in and whose eyes shimmer like a little kid’s every time I look up at the night sky.

I still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve upon. I look forward to the future, but those formative moments as an innocent and naive student of photography will always be some of my favorites—when every shutter click was an uneasy step forward and I was always anxious to learn something new. I hope that that early spirit never leaves me.

I think often of the 10- or 11-year-old version of myself snapping wedding photos and wish I could watch him excitedly click away, but I feel lucky to be able to experience that same excitement every time I see the world through my own lens or look up and try to soak up the beauty of the sky.

Milky Way behind the Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Milky Way behind Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah

About the author: Matthew Pockrus is a landscape photographer based in Utah and focusing on the American West. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. You can find more of Pockrus’ work on his website and Instagram.

from Photography News https://petapixel.com/2018/06/26/how-i-improved-as-a-photographer/

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cobaltcaster · 4 years

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⚪9⚪ Magickal Enchantments

Food and Beverage

Clothing

As with food and drink, here, too, three simple words apply: natural, loose, and clean. One hundred percent cotton is a wise choice. A loose white gauze garment is nonrestricting and gives you a sense of cleanliness and purity. Some individuals enjoy taking the time to find certain color garments for special spells. The same colors listed in the candle color chart ( click here ) can be use for clothing as well.

Music

Music has the ability to create a sense of peace ----- providing it's the right music.

[[ Back to Magickal Atmosphere List ! ]]

#Magickal Enchantments #Food and Beverage #Clothing #Music #Wicca #Wiccan #Witchcraft #Moon Spell #Moon Spells #Diane Ahlquist

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brittanyyoungblog · 7 years

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11 Online Dating Profile Tips That Really Work

Creating an online dating profile can seem hard at first but it’s really all about introducing yourself to people in a way that makes them want to learn more. You may feel pressure to write a lot or to be the wittiest person on the site or app you’re on, but the truth is that some of the best online dating profiles are the simplest, and some of the best online dating profile tips aren’t that hard to follow.

I’ve worked at the online dating site and app Zoosk for over five years now and during that time I’ve seen a lot of profiles and learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work. To help you take your dating profile to the next level and to make sure you start chatting with and meeting more people, there are a few simple things you can do right away that can have a big impact.

Here are 11 online dating profile tips to help you turn your normal dating profile into something amazing:

1. Don’t leave anything blank. A big mistake a lot of people make while putting their profile together, is not taking advantage of all the tools they have to show who they are. If the dating site you’re on let’s you create a username, do it. If you can verify your profile using you phone number, Facebook account, or email, do that too. If you can have up to seven photos, then use all seven. Data has shown time and time again, that the more you put into your profile, the more you’ll see back.

When you look at the stats from Zoosk, you can actually see that people get more incoming messages the more they fill out. For example, adding a username can get you up to 20% more incoming messages, writing a description about yourself gets you up to 28% more incoming messages, and verifying your photos can get you up to 100% more incoming messages. All of that can really add up.

2. Be honest. People LOVE it. When asked what they’re looking for in another person, the number one thing people across the board are looking for is someone who’s honest. In fact, honest is the word that people on Zoosk mention the most when describing their perfect match. When you’re online dating you may be tempted to stretch the truth a bit to present yourself in the best light, but the majority of people prefer honesty and openness instead of someone who tries to be something their not.

“Be open and honest about who are and what you want,” explained one Zoosk member. “It’s natural to want to be friendly and accepted, but it’s more important to be who you are and not mold yourself into the person that you think your love interest wants.”

3. Don’t hide your face in your profile photo. When it comes to choosing your profile photo, people want to see you and get a sense of who you are. Your photos are a part of that, and anything that makes it harder to see your face or tell who you are can be confusing. If you hide behind sunglasses and a hat, use a group photo so people can’t tell which person you are, or use a blurry photo that makes it hard to see you, people may just pass you by.

What people do like are things like adding a full body photo (adding one can get you up to 203% more incoming messages than the average) and seeing your smile (46% of women say a smile is the number one physical feature that draws them to someone). So don’t forget to show off a little!

4. Make it easy for people to talk to you. One of the main functions of an online dating profile, is helping people come up with ways to start a conversation with you. Often after you’ve matched with someone, they’ll check out your profile to try and come up with something to say. If you have very little information, or don’t have anything someone could form a question about, they might just be at a loss for words. So here’s a good cheat—give them a question to ask. Do you love books? Add “Ask me what I’m reading” to the end of your profile. Do you love good BBQ? Add something like “Bet you can’t guess my favorite BBQ in town.”

5. Have a mix of photos. I know it’s tempting to just choose the five photos you look best in, but if those five photos are all selfies, or are all pictures of you hiking, or are all pictures that look pretty much the same then you aren’t doing yourself justice. Your photos shouldn’t only show how you look, they should show who you are. It’s always good to have one main head-shot, but also use a full body photo followed up by photos of you doing things you enjoy and photos of you in different settings.

After looking into online dating data, here are some types of photos that can actually can help you get more incoming messages: – People with a full-body photos get 203% more incoming messages – People with a sports outfit (like a jersey) get 32% more message – People with an outdoors photo get 19% more messages – People who have a vacation/travel photo get 6% more messages

6. Don’t write a novel. Back in the day, online dating profiles read almost like a resume, and you would say everything about yourself as if you were writing a cover letter. But now the dynamics of online dating have changed and writing a short paragraph is enough. Your profile should give an idea of who you are, but not give everything away at once. Give people a reason to message you to learn more.

7. Feel free to talk about your kids. A lot of the old dating taboos, like not bringing up your kids too soon, don’t apply when it comes to online dating. On Zoosk, people who mention that they have kids in their profile actually get 13% more messages than those without.

8. Add details. If you want to help someone get a sense of who you are, details are where your profile can really come alive. Instead of saying you love hiking, tell people your favorite hike. Instead of saying you like movies, tell them your favorite movie, or better yet, add one of your favorite movie quotes and see if they can guess where it’s from.

9. Don’t talk about dating. One thing I’ve noticed a lot of people doing more recently, is talking about dating itself or online dating in their profile—and usually they do it in a negative way. Saying something like, “None of the other dating apps have worked so now I’m here,” or “I hate dating but want to meet someone,” or even, “Not interested in talking back and forth forever before meeting up,” may sound lighthearted when you’re chatting it up with your friends in person, but often comes across as negative when you’re reading a profile.

Instead, focus on what you are looking for or the type of person you’d like to meet. Saying things like “Looking for someone to pick movies out with on Friday nights,” or “I have a dark sense of humor. If you do too, that’d be great,” or even, “I love chatting but am interesting in meeting up too,” can be a lot more inviting.

10. Get a little romantic. A dating profile is one of places you can really lay on the charm if you want, so if you’re the type of person who’s into romance don’t be afraid to talk about it. It might seem a bit cheesy to say you’re looking for someone you can watch rainstorms with, but the truth is, a lot of people eat it up.

After looking into online dating data, here are some romantic phrases you can add to your profile to get more incoming messages: – Mentioning romance or romantic can get you up to 41% more incoming messages. – Mentioning hopeless romantic can get you up to 38% more incoming messages. – Mentioning that you’re old-fashioned can get you up to 16% more incoming messages.

11. Be your wonderful, weird self. Some of the dating profiles that stand out the most are the ones where someone’s personality and what really makes them different shines through… and sometimes, well sometimes it can get a little weird. Whether you love grandma sweaters, tell corny dad jokes, or have read ever Harry Potter book over ten times, let people know. The oddball things about you, are what makes you who you are.

When it comes to online dating, it’s all about putting your most authentic self out there and finding the person who’s interested and into you. You never know what’s going to spark someone’s interest and make them say yes to matching up… It could be that photo of you reading “Howl” by a campfire, how you admitted you love Bill Murray movies, the obscure Calvin and Hobbes quote you added, or a photo of you on vacation in Disneyland with your kids. The same types of little, silly things that can catch your eye when you meet someone in person, can get someone’s attention online too. You just have to be yourself and be open to what comes your way.

The post 11 Online Dating Profile Tips That Really Work appeared first on The Date Mix.

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thattheressuchathingastoobig · 7 years

Text

Evan Cohen, Intern Writer

1. What’re you currently studying?

I’m currently double majoring in Psychology and English at the University of Florida.

2. What articles have you written in the past? Provide a link or portfolio to previous work.

Dangerous Truth to Admit on an Application #1: aside from a short trip with my high school’s Journalism Club in 10th grade, I have no past experience in writing articles. This is the first time I’m applying to do something like this.

I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times before and have plenty of applicants with past experience, but I’m going to say it anyway—yes, I’m inexperienced. And, to be honest, I’m totally scared and intimidated by all the details I have to learn. But that fear comes with the reality of my situation and of being human, as psych writers like you surely understand. Which means you guys also understand that success, whatever form it takes, isn’t in the details—it’s in the driving force behind them. I have to have faith that everything else will fall into place afterwards. If, by the time you finish reading the rest of my application, you can have that faith too, I promise my drive won’t let you down.

3. What motivates you to sign up?

4. What do you hope to get out from this role with us?

I decided to do these two together cause when I tried to answer #3, I ended up answering #4 in the process. The two are very closely tied together. By the time you’re done reading the following, I think you’ll have both my answers.

The best way to explain my motivation would be to first explain my past lack thereof. Which brings me to Dangerous Truth to Admit on an Application #2: the English major is a recent add-on. As in, I don’t just have little experience with articles, but with any writing in an official capacity. A lot of the reason why comes from how I was raised all my life. I was taught to believe there’s this path I’m supposed to follow in order to be successful and live a full life. That, to get there, you just have to stick to the path’s formula once you’ve made a decision on which to walk on. It wasn’t just my parents that taught me that, although they played a big role—most of the world subscribes to that mindset. And I was completely caught in it. And so, at some point in high school, I became obsessed with the idea of being an engineer. That was the path I chose for whatever reason. However, I very quickly discovered my first semester of college that I absolutely hate calculus, and calc hated me right back. It was disappointing, yeah, but I’m thankful I found that out so fast. Just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay. After that, I switched to psychology, which was a lot closer. I’ve always been good at and thoroughly enjoy getting on a deep, dark, intense level with people. It’s in my nature, and it always seemed to help the people who’d get there with me, so I was set on therapy for a while.

Here is where I’ll make a side note and comment on this feeling I’ve had my whole life living by this “strict path” mindset I was raised to follow: I’ve always felt like I don’t do enough. Even though I thought these paths I’d chosen were super cool, I had no real fire in me for them. It was like I didn’t really care about the things I say I do deep down. That feeling has always been there. It’s always bothered me, but I ignored it for a long, long time. Chalked it up to laziness and felt pretty bad about myself for a while. This summer I finally gained the strength to challenge my past assumptions and allow myself figure out the real reason. I’ve been slowly realizing that I’m not and never have been happy with most things I thought I should be doing with my time, with any path I’d chosen to follow. That my fire was missing in the things I thought I cared for because I didn’t actually care for them in the strict way I was trying to. That’s why I wasn’t doing them, cause I didn’t want to live for them. I started asking myself, “What is it that I’m living for then?” And I realized that all I want out of this life (all I think anybody truly wants deep down) is to be able to look in the mirror at the end of the day, to look into my eyes and feel like I’m alive. That, whatever it is I’m living for, I’m LIVING. Good or bad, ugly or beautiful, no matter what kind of choices I’ll make following that feeling, where those choices take me, what kind of person they make me become—to feel alive is all I really want. You can’t follow any pre-set path if that’s the goal, or pick one based off some stolen ideal. You have just go with what you feel, put your all into that feeling, and define the path as you go… And, even though I’d convinced myself that’s what I’d been doing, the truth is I’d never really done that before.

It took me a while to figure that out. I had to first acknowledge how I’d been living my life, then stop denying how it needed to be lived. Then I had to accomplish the even more difficult task of believing I’m capable of it. I don’t think I’d been ready to do any of that yet. I knew taking that first step would be the hardest thing I’d ever do in my life. And I was scared and intimidated, like I mentioned earlier. Living like that… it takes an unfathomable amount of work to do, and twice as much courage. I knew that after I made that first step I’d never be able to go back. I wouldn’t have a choice. But the moment I allowed myself to be okay with that, to stop letting my fear of failure hold me back, it just kind of clicked for me—both that feeling living like that would give me is worth all the failure in the world, and what it is that gives me that feeling. The one engineering gave me was close, but ultimately I suck at math and don’t connect all that deeply with the people who’re naturally good at it. Different brain I guess. With therapy, the connection is there, but I’m simply not the kind of person who can sit down in a room all day and spend my life helping other people live their lives. I need to spend it standing up and living mine.

What I want to stand for, what truly gives me that feeling I’m after, I’ve realized I’ve only ever found in art and in the people who make it. Music, movies, books, TV, paintings, anime, sketches—I never feel more alive than when I’m connecting with art. It’s just the kind of person I am. I’m that kind of guy who cries over every movie. Who throws his head back and his hands up at concerts, howling along in exaltation. Who can’t fall sleep cause his heart is racing too fast from the last passage of the book he just put down on his nightstand. Who feels everything, feels it intensely, and loves every second of it. The entire purpose of art is to accomplish just that—to take all the things we feel, shape them with plot or symbolism or color, and move people. Quake their souls, validate their feelings, spark up new ones to connect to. I want to do that! I want to be around the kinds of people who do that! And the only kind of art I’ve always been naturally good at is writing. So that’s what I’m going to do.

I’m not 100% sure where that will take me yet (although I’m thinking screenwriting—it’s the most all-emcompassing form of expression I’ve found that has just about every kind of art, and thus every kind of artist, involved), but that’s what motivates me. My desire to live in such a way where, every single day, I feel like I’m truly alive. For me, that means to feel everything there is to feel, turn it into something I can express and share with the world, and surround myself with people who spend their lives doing the same thing. In regards what I hope to gain out of my role with you guys, I think it can help me get there. As someone with a decent knowledge base of psychology and who’s naturally good at and passionate for it, I know working with you guys would be an incredible experience for me. Whether it’s just to gain some skills, or as a stepping stone as I transition from the mindset of wanting to do therapy to wanting to be a writer, or if it’s my ultimate destination as a happy balance of the two—the prospect of being a part of your guys’ team excites me to no end. I hope reading this small part of my story has made that prospect exciting for you guys too.

5. How much time can you put into writing for Psych2Go?

As you know, I’m currently a full time student at UF. I also have a part time job at 2nd & Charles Bookstore. I don’t have any extracurriculars I’m spending a lot of time on right now, as I’ve pulled back a bit from the ones I was involved with (member of the UF Psychology Club, phone volunteer at the Alachua County Crisis Center, etc.) to start finding things—well, things like this. I hope everything I’ve said shows you that, even with the fact that I’m a working student, I’m ready to and capable of pushing myself as far as necessary to do something as awesome as writing for you guys. I want this, and I’m fully willing and able to put as much time into this as you guys need me to.

Thanks for reading and considering my application. Looking forward to hearing from you guys.

-Evan Cohen

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