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servin-up-surveys · 2 years

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survey #057

Are you anything like your siblings? I mean in some ways, sure, but I really am mostly dissimilar to most of them. According to Mom though I AM very much like my oldest half-sister Katie. I wish she lived around here. Do you have any good friends of the opposite sex? I do; my boyfriend is my best friend, and I am also close to my WoW "big brother" Sam. I need to reach out and say hi again, it's been a while since we've chatted. Back in the day we used to play the game together while talking on Skype like all day. What can you smell? Lysol. Mom tested positive for Covid today so is tryna keep the house sterilized. Do you want to see somebody right now? Yeah; it's Girt's and my anniversary and he was gonna spend the day with me but Mom being sick threw a wrench in that plan. He himself just got over Covid and I obviously don't want him getting it again. Him staying healthy is way more important. Are you a forgiving person? I'm too fucking forgiving.

Who did you last fall asleep with? Besides my cat, Girt. Would you hug the last person you hugged again? Ha ha yeah, that would be my mom. Maybe TMI but she was measuring me for bra sizing and she ended up squeezing me into a real tight hug when she put her arms around me. She's adorable. Can you be your complete self around the person you like? Yes, and I am extremely grateful for that. Have you had “the best night of your life”? I thought so. If you were offered to smoke some weed right now, would you accept? Probably no but idk. Do you prefer to take showers at night or in the morning? In the morning, primarily because that's when I have more strength, but also because I feel like I started off my day productively. Who’s the most controlling person you know? Probably my sister's fucking husband. To name just one bullshit thing, he refuses to let Ash go to the gym because that MUST mean she's going to see other guys. I hate his guts. Does anyone keep a photo of you in their purse/wallet, and if so, who? I doubt that. How many instruments do you own/have you owned? Three: recorder, flute, electric guitar. Do you own a microphone? No. Do you enjoy trailers at the cinema? I do. Have you ever been burgled? No, thankfully. Do males look good in skinny jeans? Yep, I was into that in high school especially. For or against guyliner? I LIVE for guyliner asldkfjalkwsejr;awe What’s the name of one of your friend’s dog? Uh I mention Charlie enough so how about Mazzy and The Love of My Life named Beemo. :') I like all of their dogs' names but Beemo is just special to me ok Name a pet you definitely wouldn’t want. A giant centipede, like African ones and stuff. They are mega cool animals but are also terrifying at the same time; they are SO fast and their bites are notoriously horrendous. What’s the last thing you bought from eBay? Uh, good question. I think MAYBE back when Mom was trying to get the game Ico for me, she used it. We got the game twice from there and each time the game didn't work, boo. It's an old PS2 game so is no longer produced and is hard to find anywhere at a reasonable price. Do you have a picture of you throwing up the peace sign? Yeah, I actually - shocking - quite like that picture of me. Does your father have any facial hair? Yes. Did your grandparents teach you anything? How to not be an old-fashioned, bigoted witch, yes. Have you ever been to Arizona? Did you like it? No, but Arizona is actually a place I would like to visit to herp primarily just to see a Sonoran coachwhip snake (they're mostly pink!) as well as tarantulas. Maybe even a Gila monster and/or rock rattlesnake! When was the last time it rained where you live? Last night. Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity? Did you like it? Yeah, and it's gotten some laughs outta me for sure. You just caught your bf/gf kissing someone of the same sex. Reaction? Well he's straight so I'd be very confused and also very angry because we're together. Reach your right arm out. What do you touch? Girt's pillow. You have to write a story for English, due tomorrow. What do you write? Realistically it would probably be like a random spin-off of an RP story or something relating to meerkats in general. Any concerts you’re attending coming up soon? Not that I know of, but Rammstein will be announcing more US tour dates next month and I am PRAAAAAYINNNNNNNNG they pick somewhere near here. ;_; What part of the body did you last get pierced? Uhhhh I wanna say tongue? But it may have been my tragus, idr. Any of your friends getting married? My friends Rachel and Tommy have their wedding soon! They sent out a Facebook RSVP and honestly I'm thinking of going. I'd love to get closer with them. Who was the last person you took a picture with? My niece and nephew, I think? Are you currently talking to/texting/instant messaging anyone? Not at the moment. What’s one thing you’d like to accomplish in your lifetime? Publish one relatively successful piece of artwork. What’s your biggest concern right now? My mom being okay. She feels really, really sick and is immunocompromised so reaslitically, just frankly, she could die. She hasn't had her booster shots, so... that makes things worse. How many different people of the opposite sex have you cried over? One romantically, another in the platonic/familial way. Ever been to a friend's house and starved the whole time? Aha, yeah honestly. Who’s the last person you had a sleepover with? Girt. What’s the biggest bruise you’ve ever had? I'm actually not sure. Who is the youngest person in your immediate family? My two-year-old niece. I actually don't know if nieces/nephews are considered "immediate" family, but I consider them such. Do you remember the last song you slow danced to? lol kindly fuck off Do you plan on having alcohol at your wedding? I've never thought about this, but probably not. I wouldn't want even the risk of guests driving home intoxicated being present. Are you one of those people that are always cold? No, I'm absolutely always hot. Have you ever gone spotting deer? Oh my god, this brought back SUCH a treasured memory. When I was a little kid, sometimes at sunset my dad would take my sisters and me across the street between our neighbors' houses where there was some woods and a field, and deer frequented the spot. God, it was always so beautiful. The memory is really faint, but it's there for sure. We'd get so excited if they were out. Do you think your ex still wants to be with you? Most likely not. Has a boyfriend/girlfriend ever put alcohol/drugs before you? No, I would never tolerate that. Are you listening to music right now? No, I'm watching Game Grumps play I'm On Observation Duty 5. What are your initials? BMD. What was the last thing you ate? I had a chicken sandwich for dinner. When was the last time you ran? It's literally been years. How did you get one of your scars? Fainting straight onto my chin in the bathroom. Who do you text the most? I pretty much only text my mom. I talk to my boyfriend and friends via Discord nowadays. Do you wish you had a pool table? Not especially. We used to have one when I was younger, though. Ash's kids have it now. Ever been to Olive Garden? Many times, it's my favorite "fancy" restaurant. What is something of which you need more in your life? Adventure and fun, really. Money. Do you tend to view your existence as more pleasant or unpleasant? Unpleasant, quite honestly. When was the last time you ate a great deal of food in one sitting? Not sure. Do you enjoy talking about music with others? YES. Is acting something you enjoy? No, I feel VERY awkward. Who was the last person to do something kind for you? Uhhh Mom brought home dinner yesterday. What was going on the last time you were in a bed with someone else? ... stuff lol What color of hair do you find the sexiest on the opposite gender? Of natural hair colors, usually black, but in like, ANY individual I am generally more attracted to colored hair. Has someone of the opposite sex ever told you that you were sexy? Yeah. Who is the last person you sent a message to on Facebook? Just checked, it was my sister Misty. We briefly chatted recently, just checking in on each other. What was the last thing you said? I told Mom as she was laying down for bed that if she needed anything during the night to wake me up. Do you ever get flu shots? The only flu shot I've ever gotten was the initial Covid vaccine. I really do need to get my boosters as well as the regular influenza shots in the future, though... I just don't like getting shots because they burn and I never feel like going out of my way to get them, either. Plus I'm like, always home so feel less at risk. I should get them regardless, though. Do you turn your computer off completely at night, or just standby? I never turn it off, honestly. Is there one show you just can’t stand? I might get hell for this, but the show Teen Mom upsets me extremely. Teenagers ARE NOT meant to be parents and I will always believe the show glorifies it, even if it's not intended. Some topics are not meant to be the focus of a television show. Do you watch Disney Channel and Nickelodeon still? No. Do you like white Christmases? Absolutely!! Can you shoot a basketball? Yeah, at least I used to be pretty good at it. I know the basic idea of how to correctly; I actually used to quite like playing it when I was a kid. Have you ever gotten stuck in an elevator? omfg no, thank GOD Have you ever had to go to the police department? No. Have you ever had a home grown tomato? Yes, they're actually not bad for a sandwich, and I generally hate tomatoes. When we were still friends, Colleen would sometimes give me some of her in-law's from their garden since I helped a lot out there (even though I hated every second of it lmao) and they tasted like, NOTHING like those from the store. Have you ever lived through a hurricane? Many; hurricanes are common where I live. Do you like to draw? I love to draw, I just wish I was better. Do you have soft hands? Do you like holding hands? I have EXTREMELY soft hands, so soft that I frequently can't even open bottle caps because it hurts too much. I only like holding hands with my partner or if you're my niece Emerson and she wants to drag me somewhere, ha ha.

#survey #surveys #random surveys #random questions

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softichill · 2 years

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It's been depressing lately so let's talk about cool shit. Like praya dubia. Siphonophores are cool and this one is longer than a blue whale! It's second only to the bootlace worm in length with praya dubia being up to 160 feet of skinny-tinsel-hanging-from-a-string of an animal while the bootlace worm is 180 feet at max recorded length. Praya dubia has bioluminescence. That helps in the deep sea where the critter lives. There is pretty much only one picture of the thing available. I wish to pet it's bell as that is probably the only part that isn't filled with stinging cndocytes called nematocysts (Almost called them pneumatocysts oops.) Yes it could probably eat me. No I don't care. It turns to jelly at normal atmospheric pressure. Do not eat. Also if you've never heard The World Revolving on accordion you haven't lived. I have a vivid memory of riding one of the dinky automatic shopping carts to its station blasting that cover from my phone while cackling like a madman past my coworker. I am an unapologetic menace.

YEAAAA PRAYA DUBIA!!!!! I love those dudes SO much. They look like giant water centipedes from a distance they're so cool

I have in fact heard The World Revolving on an accordion before!!! In 2018 and 2019 I listened to so many covers/remixes of that song that I made an entire playlist for them. Hearing it on the accordion is eerily fitting and VERY chaos-inducing

My rec today is Kitty by Snail's House!! Super cute song, I've listened to it on loop recently and I'm still not tired of it

#Ask #song rec #Marine life

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slashesotron · 3 years

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[leans in too close to the mic]

I LOVE... BUG 💞💖💓💘💕

Nick belongs to @nekronomiikon! ❤ Anon version under the cut! :>

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jonnysinsectcatalogue · 2 years

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Royal Ontario Museum - Insect Exhibits 1

Well this is certainly different and there are a lot more insects than usual! Must be a special occasion, and it absolutely is! I’m dedicating this post to Ally, one of my dearest friends and a major inspiration for this blog. We’ve known each other for around 7 years now, having met in U of T’s 3rd year Insect Biology course. We’ve been on many a bug hunt together (and hopefully more in the future)! She loves insects even more than I do, so much so that she continues to study entomology at the University of Guelph, alongside the role the many insects play in the environment! I’m so proud of her! Hop onto Google Scholar to discover her work on the insect world or check out her blog to see her insight: Ecology for Life (@Ecology_forlife). In honoring her today, today’s showcase will briefly cover the ROM’s amazing insect collections* and how museums are useful for insect research and inspiring interest. Thank you for everything, dearest Bug Princess! May fortune continue to smile upon you!

While it may not specialize in insects, the ROM boasts some amazing collections of insects. There are quite a few tropical and exotic species to see including such notable finds like the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas), the Peanut-Head Lanternfly (Fulgora laternaria), the many shimmering, iridescent Butterflies including the Blue Morpho (Morpho spp.) and Green Birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus), giant Stick Insects, Cicadas, tropical Grasshoppers and many Beetles like the ornate and horned Scarabs, the giant Harlequin Beetles (Acrocinus longimanus) or even oddities like the Violin Beetle (Mormolyce phyllodes). While these are fantastical, there are also bug boxes that contain insect species that are more familiar to us, allowing patrons to compare the insects of our region with those on the other side of the world. They might even recognize a few from their neighborhood. That organized Butterfly box has certainly been a useful reference for the identification of a few species. Honestly, picture don’t do it justice; if you’re an insect enthusiast, see these collections in person and notice that there’s also 1 spider and 1 centipede mounted as well.

Alongside the showcase of modern day insects within the ecology and biodiversity sections of the ROM, they are showcased in one other area too. The fossil section of the ROM carries fossilized insects (or fossil preservations) both in stone and within resin (look for the those in the ancient mammal area). These fossils are placed alongside their modern counterparts to highlight the changes time has brought to the world of arthropods. It seems many of them have gotten a little bit smaller. While the morphology appears consistent, many small changes have taken place over the hundreds of millions of years insects have crawled and flown over the Earth. The age of the fossils can also help us better understand the evolutionary timeline of these little creatures. All this while behind the scenes there are dedicated personnel working hard to push science and our understanding of the natural world forward! And of course, if all this insight into the scope and grandeur of the insect world isn’t enough, there are live insects to observe and enjoy at the ROM too including a Honeybee nest, Darkling Beetles, Walking Sticks and Hissing Roaches. And this is just one museum; many other institutions bring their own amazing contributions to the collective knowledge of insects.

*Note: Since these insect collections belong to the ROM, I’ve marked them with the Mantis icon. The poster is mine though. When things are safe/back to normal, I’ll return to the ROM for a follow-up (and I did return with new insect showcases: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |).

ROM Pictures were taken on April 15, 2019 with Samsung Galaxy S4 and the poster picture was taken November 24, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4. Click on this link to view ROM - Insect Exhibits 2.

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

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Survey #435

from yesterday, don’t feel like updating the answers. :^)

When you get married what do you think you’ll put most of your focus and money into? Uhhh. I really don't know... I mean maybe doing all I can do avoid debt? That's what my parents mostly argued about, and I know financial strain can really affect a couple. I never want that burden. Who in your life causes you the most stress or negative feelings? My damn self. Have you ever had a teacher that also taught your parents? No; my parents didn't grow up here. Wait! I THINK Mom had one of my college professors? I don't recall for sure, and I definitely don't remember who it was. Are you the type of person who seeks out revenge? Nah. Are there any songs that inspire you? Certainly, such as "Life Won't Wait" by Ozzy Osbourne, "Get Up" by Shinedown, and more. How do you feel about celebrities getting involved in politics? Do you think that the celebrity world and the political world should be kept apart? Not at all; everyone has the right to share their opinion and should not feel like it's necessary to censor it. Let them be people with morals and beliefs, too. I'm totally fine with them CHOOSING to be quiet about controversial subjects, but they're more than welcome to share their thoughts on any topic. What is one pro of living where you do, and what is one con? What is a pro and a con of living where you wished you lived? I guess the only real pro (and this is horrible to be the first thought) is that we're under the radar; like, not really a target for terrorism or anything, lol. I'd get kinda nervous if I lived in, like, Washington D.C. or something. We have A LOT of cons: there is NOTHING to do, we're essentially a hub for crime, the scenery is boring and bland as fuck... I could go on for a long time. I'd love to live in many areas in North America, but I'll go with Alaska, since that would absolute RULE. A strong pro would definitely be the cold climate and the sights, but it would definitely be a con to me when that relentless dark era lasts for months on end. I need the sun (from inside anyway, ha ha) sometimes, because it being dark for what, half a year?, would really damage my happiness. What is your favorite episode of your favorite TV show? Referring to Meerkat Manor, it's actually the one where Mozart dies, I think, even though it destroyed my heart. I just think the writer portrayed it as so beautifully tragic, and the clips shown were so pretty. Does having others watch you do things make you uncomfortable? What sorts of things make you extremely uncomfortable if you are watched while doing them? Are there any things that give you confidence to do if you have an audience? ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY. Do NOT watch me on the computer (especially when writing), I literally will not draw if someone's watching (inevitably besides in Art classes, I think Sara is legit the only person who's watched me draw a bit), I really don't like people watching me edit photography, I'm nooot a fan of others seeing me exercise (though I kinda have to suck that up with having a personal trainer), etc. etc. Just don't watch me do anything, lol. I don't know what actually boosts my confidence if I'm being observed. Does someone in your house speak a different language on a regular basis? No. Do you follow or care about any big sports events? Not at all. Are there any activities people normally do together that you prefer doing alone? Hm. I dunno. If you are going somewhere where you’ll have to wait for a while (i.e. a doctor’s office), do you bring something to occupy yourself? My phone, yeah. How long is your favorite song? I checked, and it's almost six minutes. Do you think you’d ever want to be “internet famous”? I'll admit I've somewhat thought about it, only because my career choices are running so dry, and I'd be able to do it alone. However, I've got noooo idea what I'd actually do, and I also don't think I could handle ridicule or anything like that for any reason. Having a spotlight on me would stress me out. Who was the main cook of your Thanksgiving meal last year? My older sister. What moment in your life have you been most scared? Probably this one occasion where Dad had to pick my sister and me up from school one day and make the 30-minute drive home. Well. He was clearly in a hellish mood because he was flying. He ran stop signs and red lights, passed people illegally... I was in the passenger's seat and absolutely convinced we were going to crash. I can barely believe we didn't. Who was the last person you slow danced with? -_- Do you prefer headphones or earbuds? Earbuds. I like how they block out external sound better, and they don't hurt my ears like headphones do. What person/people do you trust the most? My mom. Who in your life do you care about more than yourself? My parents, sisters, my nieces and nephew, Sara... A lot of people, if I'm being honest. I don't value my life as much as I should. Which wild animal would you most like to have as a pet? I am DESPERATE to rescue an opossum one day. :''''( What teacher did all the high school boys/girls have a crush on? I have no idea. Have you ever felt seriously violated? No. Do you watch American Horror Story? I adore(d) the first season; it was mine and Jason's "show." We watched most of season two as well, but I lost interest in the later half of it. I haven't really watched it since, save for the pilot episode of some season I forgot. Does your hometown have any urban legends/scary stories? Not to my knowledge. What’s the scariest nightmare you remember having? Something involving my dad that I won't speak about. Pancakes or French toast? Oh my god, French toast. That sounds delicious rn. Are there any apps you’re addicted to? Not addicted, nah. Did you have a favorite stuffed animal as a child? Yes; it was a bunny holding a multicolor polka-dotted blanket. Do you still collect stuffed animals? Hell yeah. Have you ever had eggs cooked over a campfire? No. What colors of mascara have you worn on your lashes? Just black. What font do you usually use? I mean, it depends on what I'm doing. Is it supposed to appear professional? Aesthetically pleasing? It varies too much to answer this with one font. What about font colors? Usually just black, but again, it depends on what I'm writing. Are you good at making graphics or designing layouts? Ha, no. Do you put gel or mousse in your hair? No. Sleep with just one pillow? No, I use two. I am VERY uncomfortable with just one. Ever woke up crying? Yeah, from nightmares. Do you like big dogs or small dogs better? It depends on the breed and their energy level. I don't really prefer one over the other as a general judgment. Are you going to graduate high school on time? I did. Been to the zoo lately? No, but I'd love to go. :/ Now that I'd consider myself at least a pretty decent photographer, I'd love to see what shots I could take. I LOVE photographing animals with how unpredictable they are. It's like playing the lottery; you really don't know what you're going to get, but you have the chance for seriously priceless moments. Even if we could afford the trip, though, I know I wouldn't last long whatsoever with my legs being as weak as gelatine. I know especially that there's a notable incline in the path, and I'd never make it up it. I really, really look forward to the day where I can really start feeling a difference in my body thanks to the gym. Have you ever been to Mississippi? No. What did you do for your last birthday? We went to The Cheesecake Factory. Do you like to cook? No. What is the worst thing that has happened to you in your entire life? If I'm looking at the big picture and what truly damaged my pleasure in life the most, it'd be developing depression and such intense anxiety. I've given up so much and changed so negatively because of it. Do you know when your next family reunion will be? We've never had one. My family is too spread out. What is your favorite thing to do with your significant other? I'm single, but even in a relationship, I love playing video games together. I've got multiple memories of just having a great time doing that. Where is “home” for you? Wherever Mom is. Is there an animal that creeps you out? Whale sharks, maggots and other bug larvae, centipedes, many beetles, and some other bugs. What is the name of the last band you discovered? Uhhh.. good question. I admittedly don't listen to new music a lot. I tend to stick to the stuff I know. Do you prefer group projects, or would you prefer to work alone? I would rather kick my ankle against a Razer scooter than do a group project. Have you ever been to Hooters? No. Do you have a brother? What’s his name? Yeah, Robert, but everyone calls him "Bobby." Have you ever thought that your life was so bad you wanted to give up? About a billion times. I still do sometimes. Do you have a ceiling fan located in your bedroom? Yes. Have you ever been in a lighthouse? No, but I was supposed to visit one in the fourth grade. The water was way too aggressive that day, though, so we had a change of plans and went to a closer island. Hell, it might have been the better option, because it had horses. I remember collecting seashells, too, and just watching the power of the ocean hammer at the shores. It was really pretty. Have you ever been bitten by an animal? Only playfully, like by a cat. Well wait, I think my old baby iguana may have bitten me once (he sure tried to, ha ha), but I don't remember for sure. Did it rain today? Yes. It rains pretty much every afternoon here in the late summer. What was the name of the last dog you pet? Zeke, my sister's German shepherd. He's adorable. Has your luggage ever been lost at the airport? Did you get it back? No. Do you have certain friends that you hug every time you see them? I pretty much always hug my friends when I see them. I'm a big hugger. Have you ever witnessed a tornado? No, thank the fucking Lord. Who is your favorite person to talk to when you’re down? Sara. What are you listening to right now? "Blood For Blood" by Powerwolf. Can you get over people easy? Hell no. I do NOT handle loss well AT ALL. And not just romantically. What was the last thing you carried to your room? A drink. Do you drink water that comes from your sink? Only once it's been filtered. Have you ever prank called the police? That is fucking awful. No. What’s your LEAST favorite smiley? XD looks so stupid to me I'm sorry lmao xD reigns supreme. Do you like Italian food? Yeah, more than I used to. Have you ever put red lipstick on just to make lip marks on something? No. Do you watch Shane Dawson on YouTube? Isn't his career pretty much toast now? I DID used to love his videos, though. I still occasionally watch his fiance, though, and he pops up sometimes. Regardless of everything, I still think he's funny as fuck. Would you ever spend a day to see what it’s like to be homeless? NOOOOOOO NO NO NO NO. I am TERRIFIED of living on the streets someday. I want NO idea what it's like. Is the house you’re currently living in over 50 years old? I highly doubt that. Have you ever had a yard sale? Many. What is your favorite color? Baby pink. Did you have a good day or a bad day? Today was extreeeemely dull and felt like it lasted eons. Do you know anyone that has/had cancer? I sadly know maaaaany. Have you ever read somebody else’s diary? No, that is incredibly rude. Do you enjoy going to school? I hated it from start to end. Like I have good memories, but overall, I hated school. Were you a big jump roper back in the day? OHHHH YES. I almost learned how to double-dutch, even. I could jump with two ropes, but not jump in with two. Are you a local celebrity? Definitely not. Do you eat candy daily? No. I'm already fat dude, I don't need candy. I avoid candy as best as I can. Do you get nervous with public speaking? Like you would not believe. How old were you when you got your driver's license (if you have it)? I'm 25 and still don't have it. Has someone of the opposite sex ever told you they loved you? Yes. What memory are you most afraid of losing? Meh, I don't know. A lot of what I consider my "favorite" memories I'd honestly be better off losing, probably. Who accompanied you to your first concert? My mom, younger sister, and Jason. Would you rather have tickets to see your favorite band in concert, or $100 to go shopping? TAKE ME TO THE OZZY CONCERT. What do you usually eat for breakfast? It really varies. I'd say cereal most often, probably? Do you wish you were more outgoing? Yeah. Do you know anyone who wears a hearing aid? I don't think so?

#survey #surveys #random questions

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cecilspeaks · 5 years

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137 - The Mudstone Abyss part 3

Kevin: If this had been an actual emergency, this signal would be followed by screaming and chaos.

Welcome to Desert Bluffs.

Hello, Desert Bluffs! It has been exactly one week since language resumed functioning.

We are all of course relieved to finally be able to greet neighbors once again with a friendly “You should smile more!”

But sometimes with good news comes bad news. It’s also been exactly one week since all construction on the Mudstone Abyss was halted. There are still several creeping shadows roaming about the dig site, causing everyone who goes near there to become so overwhelmed with joy that they run away screaming. It’s unclear why the shadows are still there. We don’t know what they want. Some have said they want us to dig no further, and that these shadows are responsible for our loss of language. I think they came out to see the beautiful craftsmanship on our Mudstone Abyss.

Mayor Lauren Mallard called for a halt to construction despite adamant protests from the media. The media spent the past week constantly texting and calling the mayor, telling her construction must continue, because it has been the media’s dream since childhood to bring a grand physical testament to the Smiling God’s endless happiness and love. But the mayor has been slow to respond. She’s probably busy scheduling contractors to restart work on the monument. Maybe the media should try texting the mayor again.

[typing noises] Why… is construction… still… halted… Lauren? Oh, that sounds a bit aggressive. Let’s brighten that tone a bit with… oh, bleeding gums emoji… spider with human eyes emoji, cry-laughing emoji, there we go.

The mayor and I have been close for a long time. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I think our more difficult times were back when we used to run a company together. We had some typical disagreements over who was in charge. She thought that because she was the president of the company, she should have final say on all decisions. Whereas I knew that I was one of the Smiling God’s chosen prophets, and our all-loving devourer would not choose a prophet who made mistakes. I believe ceasing construction was a mistake. Certainly our mayor thinks digging the Mudstone Abyss is somehow connected to our loss of language, and I appreciate her concern, but there is only anecdotal evidence to support this.

More on this story as it develops.

But first, I wanted to tell you that Charles and I went out again! Originally, Charles and I were going to go to the opening of the Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit at the Desert Bluffs Museum of Art. This exhibit features many of O’Keeff’s famous flower paintings, but reimagined as if O’Keeffe were a joyous worshipper of the Smiling God. Artist at the museum have painted large smiles and centipedes over O’Keeffe’s originals, and the result is apparently quite powerful and moving.

Then Charles and I planned to have another luxurious dinner at Vermillion, but at the last minute, Grandma Josephine and her demons told him they weren’t available to babysit Charles’ five-year-old Donovan, and we couldn’t find a babysitter.

So instead Charles, Donovan and I spent the day at the Desert Bluffs’ Spinning Smiles amusement park. We rode the Spine Compressor, the Esophagus Remover, and a brand new roller coaster called Intentional Sepsis. Donovan was really delighted by all the struggling actors dressed in stuffy unvented animal costumes. Donny got his picture taken with one person dressed as a smiling tortoise. We could hear the man in the costume panting heavily and begging for water. Donny turned to the tortoise and said: “The sun calls for sacrifice because the sun loves all that it sees.” The man inside rasped: “Air! Please! I don’t know where I am! Please!” and passed out. [chuckles] Donny giggled right as Charles took the photo. It was actually really adorable. What a great memory to capture!

We went back to Charles’ house and made sandwiches and watched cartoons, but Donny wasn’t interested in the television, he just played with his toy planes, zigging and zagging them over his head, turning and swirling them in reckless fits. I hope he does not grow up to be a pilot.

I sat next to Charles on the couch, mesmerized by the motion of Donny’s planes until Charles and I fell asleep. Around 2 AM, I woke up. Donovan had put himself into bed and Charles was snoring softly against my shoulder. I carefully stood up and pulled Charles’ legs onto the sofa. The whole day had made me happy, but not in the way I wanted to be happy about it. happiness should be something you have, not something you take. I placed a blanket over him and drove home.

I’m getting an update that Mayor Lauren Mallard is holding a press conference at City Hall. Let’s hear her speech live.

Lauren: People of Desert Bluffs, after discussions with City Council as well as some prominent and very knowledgeable members of the media, I have decided to reopen construction of the Mudstone Abyss. I know many people are frightened by the shadow beings drifting around the dig site, as well as the ones lurking in and around your homes, but there is nothing to fear. These shadows are merely the impure souls of those devoured and then later (disgorged) [0:07:52] by the Smiling God. They’re not worthy of your fear. These shadows don’t even have faces. We cannot discern their intentions or feelings. They move around in quick jerks and starts, flickering in and out of our vision, sometimes standing just behind us while sloowly tilting their heads. And unless you’re looking in a mirror, there’s no way you can even see that.

So I’m not sure why you’re all freaking out. Plus they are completely intangible. [chuckling]Watch! There’s one right now, passing in front of me. I’m whipping my hand back and forth right through it. it can’t do anything, it’s just a shadow! It can’t eve smile. [chuckles] Construction resume at 7 AM sharp on Monday. We’ve assigned every citizen a daily 8-hour time slot with two 10 minute breaks. We’ve also hired some clowns to come by to keep everyone smiling. As a former corporate president, I know first hand how important laughter is for maintaining a healthy work environment. Skeleton silverfish! What, uh? Silverfish French press carbuncle. I can’t pillowcase slapstick? Uuh, plenty of hibiscus! Yeah.

Kevin: Ah, Mayor Mallard! Such a way with words. Well you heard her, it’s a joyous day. In fact, probably a future holiday. I cannot wait to start digging again next week, Desert Bluffs! Let’s look now at the Community Calendar. These are probably the last non-construction events we’ll have for a couple of weeks.

On Wednesday afternoon at Morning Bird Records, the Society for Painless Living will be holding a protest march against the construction of the Mudstone Abyss. Well, I don’t usually read press releases for such tiny events, but I guess there might be one or two people who want to exercise their right to assembly. So if this sounds like something you’re interested in, I guess you should go to the march, and then think about all the joy the Smiling God has give you and question your motives for refusing to appreciate it.

Thursday morning, the Citizens of Free Will will host a sit-in at the Sunlite All-day Diner to demonstrate their opposition to the Mayor’s order for mandatory labor on the Mudstone Abyss. Huh.

Oh this looks netter! Thursday afternoon, the Natural Smiles theatre company- I love that name! – is opening their new play, “The Pit of Ruin”. Playwright Danika Lopez says her work is an (--) [0:10:36] parable about the arrogance of religion, government and media. Lopez’ play, according to their press material, tells a story of a bloviating radio host.. who overreaches his position, enslaving an entire town in order to feed his hunger for religious power. I like the sound of this theatre company less and less. There has to be some community event that’s actually fun in here.

Friday morning, the People for Clean Sharp Teeth will be burning Kevin the radio host in effigy. I don’t… understand.

[long beat] I’d like to spend more time on this. Explaining to you, dear listeners, that my happiness is not yours to take. I’d like to have all afternoon to teach you about how you must receive your own joy by making joy, rather than destroying others’ joy. But I cannot spend any time on this, because I’m getting word that Mayor Mallard is being forcibly removed from her podium at City Hall! A large crowd of unsmiling people overtook the Mayor and the city council. The crowd used a tattoo gun to draw a permanent frown on the Mayor’s face, which effectively exiles her from this community. The crowd is chanting: “Pete Ma’s handlebars, Pete Ma’s handlebars!” The police have tried using their bullhorns to call for order, but instead of words they’re emitting bird chirps. Language seems to be failing us again.

Desert Bluffs, I need you to remain calm. I need you to take a deep breath and think positive thoughts. Think about the Smiling God, its mammoth wriggling form and thousands of legs emerging from the earth and devouring your body. Envision your whole self nestled in the moist, loving belly of the divine beast. Smile while you do it, Desert Bluffs. Keep smiling. Keep – I’m getting a phone call. Oh, it’s from Charles! Maybe he found a babysitter.

Hey Charles, I was just thinking about you. You know there’s a night club that opened last month? It’s called No Exit. I thought maybe we could drop off Donny with Josephine this evening and then… Uh huh. So you called to see if I wanted to go to the zoo with you and Donny this afternoon instead? Uh.. W-well, I was just looking at the weather and I’m not sure if today’s the day to… It’s not. Charles. I have the weather report right here. Listen.

[“Hymn #101” by Joe Pug]

I figured it out, Desert Bluffs. The mob outside City Hall has dispersed. They returned Lauren Mallard with her tattooed frown to her position as mayor, but city bylaws prohibit anyone incapable of smiling from serving in that position. So for now, we have no mayor. The drifting shadows around the Mudstone Abyss have dissipated, returning whatever other otherworld they came from, and the construction has begun again at the monument dig site, several days ahead of schedule.

I figured it out. During our phone call, Charles was getting flustered. I asked what was wrong and he said Donovan was distracting him by swinging his toy planes around again. I told Charles to focus on us and not worry about what Donovan was doing. “We can’t talk about us, Kevin, without worrying about what Donovan is doing,” he snapped at me. “Donovan is us. That’s the deal, OK?” And I was hurt. I wasn’t smiling. I don’t like criticism, it makes me sad, and then mad, and then – confused.

Listeners, I don’t often use strong language, so if your ears are sensitive to vulgarity, turn the volume down for a few seconds. I hate! Not being happy. I hate it! There, I said it. I’m sorry.

I thought about what Charles said. I thought about his teeth, his chest, his hair, his snoring, his smile. I thought about Donovan. I thought about Donovan swinging those toy planes around above his head, like the birds in that dream every one of us has every single night. You know, where the birds zig and zag across a blood red sky, recklessly turning and swirling in panicked fits. Donovan’s planes were, in fact, moving in the exact same pattern as those birds. I figured it out. Each movement, each turn, each path of each plane was identical to those birds’ paths.

Listeners, it’s not a dream. It’s a message. The shadows do not speak in our mouthy languages, but in shapes and patterns. I interrupted Charles to tell him this. I told him to take Donny to the Mudstone Abyss. I told him to bring Donny’s planes. Charles and Donny approached the shadowy figures. The gathered crowd called to them to stop, to move no closer to the shadows, but all the crowd could yell was “cabbage coat hangers!” Charles then presented Donny to the shadows, and they flickered as he zigged and zagged his planes above his head. And then – a miracle happened. Glowing dotted lines appeared in the paths of the toy planes. A radiant geometry, triangles and stars and hexagons. The shapes began to connect to each other, circles forming spheres, triangles forming pyramids. The shadows raised their arms and disappeared. Donny stopped flying his planes around, but the dotted lines hung in mid air, an unreadable but completely comprehensible message to the now silent crowd.

They figured it out. One by one, the people returned to the dig site and began carving the shapes they had just seen into the mudstone. As people grew tired and stepped away for rest breaks, they found that their words had returned to them. And when they went back to digging more, they fell silent again, but only because they felt more comfort in their new spatial language of shapes and motion. The anger over the construction was no more. Citizens came together, not just out of a common communication, nor for the good of a great monument, but because happiness finally showed itself to them, and they discovered their own paths to peace. Through the pride of choosing the hard work, for the benefit of all.

Charles called to tell me how excited he was for me. “You figured it out,” he said. “Kevin, you figured it out.” I told him: “Donny figured it out. He didn’t spout a solution in words, but in deeds. You should be proud of your son, Charles, I said. I am proud of him.” I didn’t say anything else. I need more time to know what else to say. Soon, we’ll go visit the zoo. Hopefully soon we’ll have a night to ourselves. To drink, to dine, to dance, and late at night in a quiet home, to dream a dream of diving birds, of love and language. And we will wake up the same people in a different place. The earth will have moved, the clocks will have moved, the sun will not have moved. But we will wake and we will smile, and we will do our best to understand ourselves and others.

Desert Bluffs, I didn’t figure out the language of the abyss, Donny did. I didn’t figure out what the language intended, you did. What I figured out was that I sometimes push too hard. I will do my best to not do that. We are building this monument because you want to. I want to too, but I’m glad you found your own way here. Lauren, tattooed frown scrawled crooked on her face, is standing over the pit and staring at the shapes the dream has shown us, as though reading messages only she could understand. She is muttering strange syllables to herself and staring at obvious malice at the workers in the pit. So even she has found a hobby in this – post-mayoral life.

Thank you, Desert Bluffs. I love this town. I’m happy you do too.

Stay tuned next for the sound a child makes upon seeing a giraffe in real life.

And as always, Until next time, Desert Bluffs, Until next time.

Today’s proverb: Kangaroos are deer abbreviated.

#welcome to night vale #wtnv #welcome to night vale transcripts #desert bluffs #episode 137 #the mudstone abyss #the mudstone abyss part 3

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tcstu · 6 years

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July Contest Winner/Examples and Honorable Mentions

For some reason, I did not receive any entries for this month’s contest. What happened? Are all of you on vacation? Did you get thrown off by the fact that it was a photograph? Do you only like to write about anime style art?

I’ll admit that at first I had no idea what to do since this is the first time that I’ve received no entries for the contest. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that if I receive no submissions I will do two things:

1) I’ll write some examples of Ekphrastic Fiction using the featured piece of art work. I chose this month’s photograph because I personally saw quite a few stories in it. If no one else wants to write them, then I’m going to go ahead and do it.

2) I’ll feature an Honorable Mention from a previous contest. There have been some months where the contest was close and it was difficult to determine a winner. Any time there is no winner, I’ll to go back and post a “runner up” from a previous month.

In addition to this, if there is anything preventing you from entering the contest, please send me a message and let me know. I’m always happy to make improvements if they are needed. :)

So, let’s begin…

The artistic piece for this month’s contest is a photograph titled, “Everything has a beginning". It was taken by @erasenrew1nd . I love this photographer’s work, so please take a minute to visit this page to see more incredible photographs by this artist.

Here are some Ekphrastic Fiction pieces I wrote based on this picture:

1) Dark Fantasy

Sylvia’s hands shook as she approached the bridge. After three long years she finally found Jake’s lair. Terror surged through her stomach as she realized this entire time he had been entering their town through a tunnel beneath the bridge at the edge of her property. The bushes concealed it well.

Her little sister had been the vamp’s first victim. Now Sylvia resolved to either destroy him or die avenging her sister. She watched the spot for an hour formulating the best way to trap him when he emerged. In the end she settled on a noose. A noose around the narrow entrance would slide over his neck before he realized it was there and give her the chance she needed to drive a stake through his heart.

She crossed the bridge and waited.

2) Goofy Teens

“This is the perfect spot!” Mike shouted as he put on the Headless Horseman costume.

“No one would ever fall for this,” Brett said, dragging a plastic horse behind him.

“Matt will though! You know he will! He won’t even go in the Halloween store because he jumps every time that zombie baby moves.”

“Then why the hell would he come into the forest?” Brett sat down and cracked open his Mountain Dew.

“I told him there was a rare kind of centipede that breeds under the bridge. He’s such a nerd, he’s all into that stuff.”

“Aren’t you the one that brought your beetle collection to school last year?”

“Shut up!”

3) Jaded Love

This was it. This was the bridge where Cindy and Amy had their nauseatingly romantic elopement. None of their family or friends even cared that it was unannounced. They were just so excited that Cindy finally found the right person.

It made Jenn want to vomit. Actually, she had vomited when she found out about the wedding, but no one needed to know that. Just like no one needed to know that she was the one about to burn this bridge down.

For ten years Jenn had built a friendship with Cindy, hoping that one day she would realize they were in love all along. Then in two months, she was swept out of her life by Amy in some god-awful sickening romance.

She might not be able to destroy their relationship, but she could destroy the bridge. It would have to do.

As you can see, Ekphrastic Fiction pieces do not need to be long, nor do they need to tell an entire story. Though there are different ways to approach this genre, I personally like to look at the piece of art as a snapshot, and I write my story to capture the few seconds that take place in that specific image.

Now I will move onto the second part of this post:

Honorable Mentions

Originally I was going to choose one Honorable Mention from a previous month. I immediately went to my folder from May because that was a particularly difficult month to judge. It was so difficult that even today I can’t decide which of the remaining two entries to post as a runner up. So, I’m going to post both of them. Here are the two stories from the May contest that made this month so incredibly difficult to judge. They are posted in chronological order, based on when the entry was received.

The artistic piece for May’s contest was a digital animation titled, “Getaway". It was created by Miena (@mienar). If you’re into digital animation, you should definitely take a minute to check out this page. I’m always impressed by the creations of this artist!

A Note

Written By: @dramaticvoiceover

I waited for you, but you never came.

There were reminders stuffed in every long-term corner of my life: a sticky note nestled next to my social security card, a crumpled scrap of paper in my favorite locket, an alert set in my smartphone’s calendar. I did everything short of tattooing the date on my body. But in the end, I didn’t need any of them. I never even came close to forgetting.

I don’t really know what I expected. It wasn’t really like we were going to run away together or anything. All of that was just a silly story, like all the rest of the stories we used to tell each other up here. We were pirates in the crow’s nest of our fearsome and formidable ship, watching for land and buried treasure. We were tiny faeries, scavenging for acorns and berries and things, children of the tree that held us. We were wizards in our tower and birds in our nest. And we were going to run away together someday.

I don’t even know if I really expected you to be here. I thought it might be nice to come back here anyway.

I didn’t expect anything. It’s just that I had hoped.

Maybe the ink smudged when I wrote the date on your hand that last day. Maybe you put it into your calendar wrong. Maybe your flight was delayed, or you missed your bus, or you overslept.

Maybe you forgot about me. Maybe you didn’t want to come.

Maybe you couldn’t get the day off work. You probably have a very important job, where lots of people rely on you. It wouldn’t be very fair to expect you to be here just for me, would it. Maybe you found someone else, and you woke up this morning with their head on your chest, all peaceful and perfect in sleep, and you thought how could I ever leave this? Maybe today you’re holding your newborn baby, or you’re at the top of the eiffel tower, or discovering the cure to a deadly disease. You have so many better places to be than here. There were so many things you wanted to do, after all.

I haven’t ever been up here alone before. It’s very quiet. A good place to be alone.

I’m not angry at you. There were so many things I did wrong. I was such a coward, leaving you with just a number on your hand instead of the words I really should have said to you. For some reason I thought it would be easier to say in ten years.

I thought everything would be easier in ten years. Nothing’s easier, really, but maybe I can be a little bit braver. I don’t know if I can say it, but here I am, writing it down. I don’t know if it scares me more that you might never read this, or that you might.

I love you.

Void

Written By: The Writer @stories-sunsets-and-ink

The girl sat alone in a treehouse getaway she made for herself, and her legs dangled as the rain fell. Her brown hair hung in damp tangles framing her face as she stared blankly into the nothingness beyond. The soft glow of the fairy lights was captured in each raindrop tracing its way down the roof of her plastic tent and in her galaxy eyes. Each reflection seemed a constellation to the dragon beside her, who watched as the lights glowed then faded around him. The girl was the first to break the silence.

“But why?”

The dragon turned his contemplative gaze toward her and waited.

“Why can’t I...feel?”

The dragon seemed to sigh and curl more tightly around her cup of tea “Long answer or short one?” The girl shrugged. “You’re lonely. That is why you don’t care and don’t feel and are here, hiding away in your mind while the world churns on around you. You just stare into this blank, drizzling mindscape you created and let it all pass.”

Silence again. Then- “Short answer?”

“You don’t feel because...you don’t want to.”

She considered this. “But I do want to feel.”

“You don’t like feeling lonely so you push everything out.”

A raindrop hit the girl’s nose and she blinked. “How do I feel again?”

“You can’t control others if they don’t want to be with you, but you don’t have to hide away.”

“I like it here, though.” The girl swung her feet idly.

“You like that it’s safe. You won’t get hurt here.”

“Yeah...remember-?”

“That was one time in the string of your lifeline. A moment: it elapses and passes. Your life ebbs and flows like the tide, like these lights, and sometimes you just have to wait it out.”

“What’s the point, though?” The dragon closed his eyes and she continued to stare out into the faded gloom.

“You make the best of it.”

#ekphrastic fiction contest #writing contest #honorable mention #ekphrastic fiction examples

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myth-lord · 7 years

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MY PERSONAL TOP 10 PREHISTORIC CREATURES

Dinosaurs have always inspired me, they were among my first love and hobby and as a 5 year old child I discovered many of them in one of my father’s old Dinosaurs books.

While most of the children of my age only talked about the same boring dinosaurs (looking at you Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus) over and over again, I always tried to sneak in more obscure dinosaurs during the conversation, and every time they mentioned Triceratops I would drop in Pachyrhinosaurus or Styracosaurus, and every time they mentioned Rex I threw in some Dilophosaurus, Daspletosaurus and Carnotaurus, Stegosaurus would be countered with Kentrosaurus and Wuerhosaurus.

While my love for Prehistoric creatures has faded over time, I still take much inspiration from them in my more recent and newer hobbies such as Mythology creatures and many cryptids are taken straight from my dinosaurs books.

But now for my 10 favorite Prehistoric Creatures of all time:

10) Phororhacos = Probably my favorite birds of all times, so nasty and dangerous looking, must have been a hell back then for the horses that weren’t bigger than dogs back in the days!

09) Helicoprion = While most people get a boner when they hear the name Megalodon, I find that oversized shark to be somewhat dull, as it just looks like a big White Shark, Helicoprion was a bizarre, almost alien shark that live many million years before the biggest shark of all time, Megalodon, and it looks a million times as cool with the strange saw-like lower jaw.

08) Pachycephalosaurus / Stygimoloch = Head-Charging dinosaurs (the entire family-line) have always inspired me since I was a child, they look very fierce and nasty for a herbivore dinosaur, pretty much like Therizinosaurus. Stygimoloch looks even cooler with those sharp horns around it’s skull.

07) Andrewsarchus = The biggest predatory land mammal of all time is the awesome looking Andrewsarchus, related to modern whales these bizarre carnivores have the most fearsome maws of the entire animal kindom!

06) Tanystropheus = Since the moment I saw a picture of a group of Tanystropheus fishing from the cliffs in some old Dinosaur-based book I was hooked on them! These bizarre creatures have such insane long necks that the creature may break records with it.

05) Gorgonopsid = Like I said in my earlier post today, Gorgonopsid are cool Mammalian-reptilians from the Permian age. I also love other Mammalian-reptilians such as Dimetrodon. While Smilodon and other Sabretooth Cats also share those fangs, I’m still more a fan of the Gorgonopsid.

04) Baryonyx = My all time favorite carnivorous dinosaur, that look has always intrigued me, having the crocodilian maw and the big claws with which it probably fished for prey. I also LOVE that name for some reason. ARK: Survival Evolved made me fall in love with these dinosaurs even more. I’d also like to give a shoutout to Spinosaurus and Suchomimus, which are related to the Baryonyx, and also very awesome.

03) Thylacoleo = My favorite Mammal of all time, while they look like strange big prehistoric cats they are actually carnivorous marsupials. They lived in trees and could probably climb like champions, dropping on giant kangaroo’s and wombats that also lived in that same age in Australia. There is a chance that these bizarre creatures have the most powerful bite of all creatures ever existed, especially for their size.

02) Dunkleosteus = How can you not like this prehistoric monster fish? Their armored maws and heads, their sheer size, their awesome appearance coming straight out of some demonic nightmare. Everything about these Carbonian Fish I love! While I’m kinda glad these nightmarish fish are extinct, it would have been cool to see what they would have looked like in the wild.

01) Therizinosaurus = My all time favorite Dinosaur is a bizarre herbivore with claws which put Freddy Kruger to shame. One of the last dinosaurs left alive, they would probably have little to fear from predators of that time such as Tyrannosaurus and Tarbosaurus. I wished they would use them in Jurassic Park already!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Dilophosaurus – Loved it FAR before Jurassic Park turned it into a small spitting creature.

Carnotaurus – That name, that look, so much scarier than Overusedosaurus Rex.

Shantungosaurus – Far bigger than Tyrannosaurus Rex, this duckbilled dinosaur must have been a force to be reckoned with.

Dimorphodon – Small but probably deadly! I could see these small pterosaurs work like some small flying piranha’s.

Quetzalcoatlus – The world’s biggest flying creature ever to roam the skies, and a cool name taken from an Aztec God.

Titanoboa – Worlds biggest found snake, and I used to like snakes!

Xiphactinus – That is one ugly motherf*cker fish! But very cool and big!

Rhizodus – An ancient monstrous fish that could also walk/crawl on land, the most terrifying fresh-water fish ever to have lived probably.

Arthropleura – Giant centipedes? Yes please!

Eurypterid – These giant Sea Scorpions from ancient times have always impressed me with their looks and sizes!

Megatherium – Hard to realize that modern Sloths are descendants of these awesome titans! No offense modern sloths, I love you too!

Doedicurus – Armadillo’s the size of small cars.

Megaloceros – The coolest and largest of stags, with magnificent, mystifying, titanic antlers.

Indricotherium – Earth biggest land-mammal ever! Named after a Mythological creature, the giant Russian Unicorn Indrik. When young I always thought these were giant relatives of horses, but they are actually giant Rhinocerosses.

Daeodon – Called the pigs from hell for good reason, these ugly, evil-looking horrors probably have haunted many other prehistoric beasts nightmares.

Basilosaurus – The most badass of whales, and also the most evil looking one!

Procoptodon – Kangaroo’s more than 3 meters high, I kinda wished they would still have been alive today!

Kaprosuchus - Awesome high-legged land-based crocodilians!

And I also really love the entire Ankylosaurus-Family-Line, from Nodosaurus, to polacanthus and from Saichania to Ankylosaurus itself.

P.S: The pictures of both Basilosaurus and Phororhacos are from the first Dinosaurs book I’ve ever read.

#Dinosaurs #Jurassic Park #Prehistoric #cretaceous #jurassic #Permian #Triassic

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arimayusa · 7 years

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thoughts on the tokyo ghoul movie

so I saw it yesterday and woAH the movie was amazing, but I ended up knocking out before I finished typing up all my thoughts, but now that i'm done with all my work for today, it’s time to post my opinions about the live action tg movie!! :D

(this is really long and includes a bunch of spoilers about the movie so it will be under the cut)

Masataka Kubota is an awkward adorable dork, case closed & Hide was really well casted too!

his cheerfulness and loud attitude really emphasized how opposite and introverted Kaneki is in comparison

I was happy to see that Kaneki’s desk was littered with books (like a crap ton of books), basically mplying he was a literature major without actually stating so + showing his love for books

SEN TAKATSUKI!!!! (sadly she wasn’t there but at least her name was mentioned)

omg Kaneki had such a stupid grin after looking at his calendar marked with "date with Rize"

only noticed it cause I saw it at the TG cafe, but Kaneki had a picture of him and Hide in elementary school taped on the top of his desk

the whole date with Rize was super awkward (especially the pasta part lol) but I think it created a strange (in a good way) tone leading up to the surprise of Rize’s reveal

omg the actress who played Rize was so good too :0 like the the shift in the pitch of her voice from shy and cute to the deeper, sensual one like in the anime when she revealed that she was a ghoul was so gooood

pretty sure the two people I went with were weirded out by how much I was giggling as Kaneki got flung around like a ragdoll by Rize

I thought the funeral scene was a nice touch, showing how Kaneki's been alone for so long (except for Hide of course)

Hide's drawing of a ghoul from the manga was still included even though it didn’t happen in Anteiku in the beginning (instead it was by on Kaneki's Campus notebook which was also on display at the TG cafe)

when Kaneki hallucinates Rize in his room, her shadow was a centipede on the ceiling!!!

that was a neat reference thrown in for the fans since we don't make it to Aogiri arc in the movie

that was one of the many things that only manga readers would've understood (which made the movie even more fun for me since that means if was made with that intention and care)

askdflkef when Touka threw cake at Kaneki after getting pissed off I was just like "lmao he's gonna get you a cake for your wedding later you know"

once again, of course Nishiki was perfect casting

I laughed a little too hard when Kimi was embarrassed & Nishiki kept staring at her chest with a blank stare while Hide and Kaneki just kinda stood at the door to his room

the Kaneki licking Hide's face scene™ was so funny (there’s all the Hidekane we gonna get y’all)

one thing that was real cute (cause it happened several times throughout the movie) was Touka telling Kaneki that he was an idiot and to stop crying and after the 1st time (when he learned he could drink coffee), Touka started saying it in a teasing tone rather than an angry one

the scene where Mado and Amon were introduced was actually pretty intimidating, it was right after they killed Hinami’s dad and Mado had Amon smash the ghouls hands with a rock that got bloodier as he continued (luckily the hand was off screen) in order to open

Amon's actor whoo boy (even my mom thought he was hot lmao)

oh my the scene where Mado held up the donut and asked "can you fall in love with this,” Amon was just staring at the donut (but we all know he was nodding inside guys)

(ok now this is me writing the day after aka today and I'm already forgetting the order of certain scenes so this may be slightly out of order rip)

Yoriko was so cute!!!! her actress was really pretty I wish we saw more of her...

I thought the food scene was kinda awkward though since it's wasn't at their school, but it was funny when Kaneki asked to have some too and Touka wouldn't let him have any

I was trying to look for Touka's bunny charm but I didn't notice it!! I did see something on Yoriko's bag though???

the “shuu” kanji scene was done a little differently but I liked it more

lol Hinami first asked Touka how to read the kanji but she didn’t know (because Touka-chan is bad at Japanese) so Kaneki explained

then Touka was just like "haha yeah that's it" pretending that she had just forgotten and Hinami straight savage calls her out, saying that Touka didn't know in the first place

Kaneki and Hinami both giggled at Touka and ahhh it was so cute, they felt like a family

the process in which Amon, Mado, and Kusaba determined who Ryouko and Hinami were made A LOT more sense in the movie than the animeit showed almost the entire process of them finding evidence starting from simply a string of fabric left behind on Hinami’s father’s clothes

*winks aggressively at Ishida and the director for the graffiti of a scythe and XIII in the background*

Hajime made his cameo the same way he did in the manga (and BOY DID I WANNA SLAP HIM RIGHT THERE that kid has a shady look on his face already I stg)

oh yeah the kagune! I thought they looked pretty decent actually

I liked how the scales shimmered and stuff, but of course some scenes kinda looked too CGI-y (especially the fight with Nishiki)

#blessed that they included the "I would be sad if you died Touka-chan scene"

the training montage with Kaneki and Touka / Amon was so cooooool (ok stfu Alyssa you just loved it cause you got to see strong Touka & shirtless Amon)

omg Kaneki apologizing after landing a hit on Touka for the first time was adorable ok

Touka's overalls when they went to HySy were really cute. I want to draw it when the movie comes out online later

idk why but I kept laughing at the little wrist watch radios that Amon and Mado had on their arms to contact each other???? it was just really weird and funny to see for some odd reason

ohh ok probably one of my favorite scenes was when Kaneki just started fucking speeding towards Amon's car which caused him to jam the brakes (bc some random hooded dude is just sprinting towards you in the middle of the street what else would you do)

then Kaneki just freakin jumps on it all slow mo and flips it over because he's dramatic like that

idk if this was in the manga but Doujima rotated and grinded Kaneki's kagune during the fight (which made more sense then a lollipop that Amon just swings around)???

besides some of the awkward shots in the movie, my only other criticism was that some of the fight scenes were drawn out way too long

Amon and Kaneki's was ok for the most part, but Touka and Mado's fight felt REALLY drawn out. they kept just standing and talking a lot

I tried it on when I was at the cafe but seeing Kaneki wearing the mask during his fight was way cooler and the shot of him unzipping it was noice

when Kaneki started losing his sanity during the fight with Amon, Kubota had this really psychotic laugh that made me giggle a lot ahhh

yo guys there was a bloody tear from Kaneki's ghoul eye that dripped onto Amon's right eye (his future ghoul eye)... like much wow such foreshadowing director/ishida

near the end, Amon brings flowers to Mado’s grave, but sadly Akira doesn’t show up cryy

all in all I thought it was a very enjoyable, pretty accurate adaptation (definitely one of the best anime live actions & *cough* better than the anime)

I went with two people who knew very little about TG, except for it’s premise, and they thought the movie was really good themselves (although a little too much blood in one of their opinions). Throughout the movie there was a bunch of hidden stuff for fans & probably a bunch more symbolism that I missed so I can't wait to rewatch it in the future (I wish I could go see it again this week tbh) and find even more stuff!!

oh one more thing! the credits were really pretty with BANKA playing in the background and there was some cool art during the scroll

I got pictures of three of them: the Owl/Dog/Ape, Touka's kagune, and Hinami's kagune!

#tokyo ghoul #tg #tg movie #kaneki ken #kirishima touka #amon koutarou #i really recommend going to watch it if you have the chance!!!#it was sooooo good

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