#inhibited fables

[allelitelewds]

"Ooh, is this the fabled 18+ blog? Does that mean we can stop holding back and let loose all inhibitions?"

#muse: deadpool

[karimthewriter]

Stories

Everything starts with a story; an amalgam of pictures, sounds, and faces that come together to make a coherent whole. The story of humanity; the story of your country, the story of your religion or creed, the story of yourself. The human mind is not partial to the random chaotic nature of reality, the chaos and coincidence that gave birth to yourself and everything you know, the birth of time and matter itself. We are reflective creatures, but our reflection is that of a self-conscious animal prone to all the slings and arrows of life, the randomness that shapes our edges. Amidst this natural chaos, we seek purpose above all, and that is precisely what a story is. I have one, and you have one. If anything, a human being is more a homo fabula than a homo economicus. It has been so since our very beginning, sitting around a fire, aware of all the dangers that surround us, and the stars above us. It all had to make sense somehow. This drive is apparent even in the most ardent atheist and purpose-averse nihilist. If anything, nihilism is itself strong sense of purposeless purpose, an outlook on life that does not grow naturally from the very things we observe, for purpose is not a one-way street, it is hard-earned, shared among generations, thought over, changed, rearranged, and above all, it is not subject to whatever current thought deems as rational. Purpose itself is purposeful. It drives us to be better, to understand, to reflect, and it often attempts to escape all the narrow edges placed upon it. In the end, you have to ask yourself, as every man and woman does: What is my purpose? What is my story? We all have one, shaped by the culture and symbols that etch themselves into our very flesh. I, like many others, have a deep, resounding love story with the very concept of stories, the way our reality can be shaped and reshaped to represent meaning, the soft edges of what we perceive to be real and how they can be rearranged into something which is beyond our bounds of observable reality, yet remains true, even truer than that which supposedly only adheres to fact.

It is this very act of creation, the ability to imagine things as they are not, but could be, that is perhaps the greatest gift bestowed upon humanity. Growing up as a child of a German mother and a Middle Eastern father, perhaps some of the gift of storytelling came naturally to those who walk between worlds, the observers of borders and invisible lines we are forced to walk. Since I was a child, lying sick in a hospital bed, being read to by my mother, I have inhabited these different characters that stalk our imagination. What is possible, I asked myself? What if? Why not? Is life not a fable told to a sick child, full of dreams? Living in many Middle Eastern countries, among them Saudi Arabia and Egypt, I was keenly observant of the many borders that are placed to inhibit those who think in myriad ways, yet my mind ran, ran far away. When I was a skinny child, bullied by those who knew no better, it was those stories that shaped my mind, shaped my thoughts, gave me reprieve from divorce, domestic violence, and the unquestioned burdens that all adults place on children. It was a gift, a secret door in a closet, a ring that granted unchallenged powers, unlimited in its possibilities. In the real world, I was weak and small; in those stories, I did not need to be that way. I erred, and so did the characters. Like them I found myself again. All things possible were there, waiting for me to hold on to them, to understand, to appreciate. It is perhaps this reason why, above all genres of storytelling, I appreciate fantasy, appreciate how deftly it manages to subvert our world, to show us hidden layers, to lay bare the very act of creation. Fantasy, in itself, is never a lie. It holds within it the very truth that nothing is obvious to itself. Everything exists because it does. We observe because we must. If reality were different, if there existed gnomes, giants, and dragons, then they too would be a very part of the reality discarded by the nihilist and thought out, rearranged, reimagined, and reshaped by those who seek purpose. Good fantasy is, above all, honest. Though it may show a world which differs from that we are acquainted with, good fantasy always reminds us that no matter where, no matter what, the similarities of the conscious mind, the burden of love, the hardship of self, and the very reality of evil, cannot be escaped. They must be fought with and challenged, sought out and reengaged into the new self we become after the dragon or the dark lord has been defeated. Reality does not allow for a vacuum of self and those who would be placid amidst encroaching darkness will lose themselves to its every nagging eternal hunger. It is honesty that lies at the core of the best stories, an admission that things, no matter how dark, are purposeful in a myriad of ways. It is love that is the greatest uniting factor of countless worlds, countless minds, and countless beings, a love that is as variable, as very changing, and as expanding as our universe. Good fantasy is, above all, an examination of this very love. It transcends time and place, to show us who we really are, to what we might become, even if things were different. It is true and it is purposeful. That is why I write, to seek out the depth of love in places so dark that I must step carefully, holding only a small candle that flickers. No fantasy can be written without this darkness, without this candle, without this truth. I have been holding this candle since I was a child and it has guided me through many dark rooms, yet I still walk, passing by shadows and dark corridors, stumbling and falling. Writing for me is a passing not of a torch, but of this very small candle, an act of love to my readers, an invitation to reflect on our common humanity and to seek out purpose amid the noise and chaos of our world.

[rohitpalan]

P2P Lending Market Trends: What Lies Ahead

Low operational expenses and reduced market risk for lenders and borrowers are to blame for the market’s expansion. During the projected period, increased digitization in the banking industry is anticipated to present the market with sizable business prospects. By the end of 2032, the worldwide peer-to-peer lending market is predicted to have grown from US$ 407.2 billion in 2022 to US$ 1.3 trillion. From 2022 to 2032, the market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 12.7%.

P2P lending is also being effectively utilised by a variety of end users, including the real estate industry, as its popularity has grown. Additionally, it is anticipated that increased player initiatives to work together will eventually help the market.

For instance, in May 2022, Fable Fintech, an eminent banking infrastructure enterprise, announced its strategic partnership with XeOPAR. XeOPAR is ready to make the most of the Fable Growth Suite (Retail) by establishing its first P2P remittances corridor from the United Kingdom to India, among others in SE Asia, East Africa, West Africa, the USA, Singapore, and the Middle East.

Request a Sample of this Report @  https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-14675

Owing to such initiatives, the market is anticipated to expand significantly in the forecast period. On the contrary, risks associated with peer-to-peer lending are expected to limit the market growth in the forecast period. Also, with less awareness about P2P lending, the market is expected to suffer.

However, with rising development in APAC along with the increasing number of small business entities, the market will counter the inhibiting factors, thus, supporting the industry expansion.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study:

Market in the U.S to value US$ 568.2 Billion by 2032

Chinese market to expand at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2022- to 2032

By end-user, the small business segment is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.3% during the assessment period

The marketplace lending model segment to exhibit a CAGR of 12.9% in the assessment period

Market in France to garner US% 39.7 Billion by 2032

S to exhibit a CAGR of 14% from 2022 to 2032

Competitive Landscape

With the help of alternative distribution channels such as online sales, Players in the global peer-to-peer lending market are focusing to enhance their market presence across the globe. Major players in the market include Prosper Marketplace, Inc., LendingClub Corporation, CommonBond Inc., Funding Circle Limited, and Upstart Network Inc. among others.

In August 2021, CRED, an eminent player in the peer-to-peer lending market rolled out a new peer-to-peer lending platform called CRED Mint. It can be used as a cred-card repayment platform, and it allows members to earn interest on money by lending to other high-earning consumers.

In January 2021, LendingClub, an eminent peer-to-peer lending market player, announced the acquisition of Radius Bancorp, Inc, and its digital bank subsidiary to expand the revenue of the company.

Ask An Analyst @  https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-14675

More Valuable Insights

Future Market Insights, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global peer-to-peer lending market, presenting a historical analysis from 2015 to 2021 and forecast statistics for the period of 2022-2032.

Key Segments Profiled in the Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Analysis

Peer-to-Peer Lending by End User:

Peer-to-Peer Lending for Consumer Credit

Peer-to-Peer Lending for Small Business

Peer-to-Peer Lending for Student Loans

Peer-to-Peer Lending for Real Estate

Peer-to-Peer Lending by Business Model:

Traditional Peer-to-Peer Lending Model

Marketplace Peer-to-Peer Lending Model

Peer-to-Peer Lending by Region:

North America Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

Europe Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

Asia Pacific Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

Middle East & Africa Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

Latin America Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

Request for Customization @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-14675

About Us

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award – recipient market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10-years.

Contact Us:

Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware – 19713, USA T: [phone] For Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Browse Other Reports: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs

#Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

[wrongpublishing]

Book Review: A New (and Extremely Funny) Grammar of Ontology–Melancholic Parables: Being for the Antiselving Reader

by Kimberlee Frederick, Staff Writer.

Dale Stromberg tells us on the cover of his November 2022 story collection that he’s presenting us with a set of parables for our digestion. But something else belies Melancholic Parables: Being for the Antiselving Reader; it’s as much a new grammar of ontology as it is a wry imperative to rethink the idea that any concept can be wrapped up with a brief and tidy parabolic bow. Stromberg wants to instruct us, yes, but his mission isn’t really to explain the world in ninety-one little fables.

Instead, Stromberg implores us to co-create an epistemological framework with him. His note to the reader preceding the collection of stories throws new verbs at us (to antiselve); it teaches us the ways in which language allows itself to be transformed and negated; it wonders what happens to a person when the certitude of their existence is questioned by the grammar they inhabit. 

And if that sounds erudite and a bit lofty, let me also drive home that this collection is fucking funny.

Part of the absolute joy of Stromberg’s collection is the whiplash between heady concepts and frank, observational humor. Between insightful tales that almost serve as thought experiments about the contradictory nature of individual experiences (“Read ‘Em, Wept) and the grim, #relatable humor of hell presented as the place you’re forced to overthink every interaction you’ve ever felt good about (“Et sic per gradus ad ima tenditur”). It’s a balance that cannot have been easy to achieve, even in (or because of?) the structure of collection as thirteen sections containing seven stories each. 

That’s a hefty number of pieces, but at 188 pages, the book relies on a sleek economy of language to accomplish its goals. It’s a wonder that Stromberg was able to create for us what feels like a new, alternative world within the crispy structure and his incisive writing. 

Fans of Italo Calvino might enjoy the whisper of similarity between Melancholic Parables and the Italian author’s Cosmicomics. Narrated by the recurring character Qfwfq, Calvino’s collection of twelve short stories investigates the universe through laws of science that become complicated by the endless meaning-making that characters engage in. Stromberg’s recurring Bellatrix is extant in a similar way as Qfwfq, and she guides us through each thirteenth of the collection, usually as lost as we are.

Melancholic Parables is admittedly concerned with reading what can’t be read, but Stromberg manages to take that concept from an abstract directive on the back of the book to “read what is not there, what is also there, what is parabolic” and turn this collection into a workbook for untangling the untranslatable. “Dree Your Weird,” the first piece in the first thirteenth of the collection, plunges us into the assignment from the jump. If you don’t happen to have a working knowledge of Scottish idioms, you’re left with a choice at the title: Make sense of it first, or push onward and read the piece. 

Should you choose the second course of action, you’re met with another task: to read the half of a conversation that isn’t documented so that we can inhibit the emotional space of the bull at the center of the action. And there’s so much to discover about yourself as a reader as you do so: what words are you pulling from to fill in the blank space of the conversation? Who’s saying them? And what, then, are we to make of this title? 

If we want, there’s similar work to be done with enigmatic epigraphs, other story titles in Slovenian and Latin, and blurred lines between dadaist dreams and reality. But to reiterate, it’s tension Stromberg is interested in here, so it’s not all lofty and Lynchian. He wants us to find out what’s created when we juxtapose the meaningful/meaningless, literal/symbolic, present/absent. So, like, what if you met the devil and he was just like a Twitter Reply Guy™? 

Melancholic Parables: Being for the Antiselving Reader is available now. Purchase it as an ebook from Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Smashwords, or Amazon. Paperback copies can be purchased from Amazon.

Stromberg has a fantastic backlog of writing to read through–be sure to check it out on his website, dalestromberg.jimdofree.com. 

#review #short story collection #book review #fiction review

[psychicberry]

The height of my yearning

Sunday, November 20, 2022

As of recent, my feeble mind has latched onto historical romances. When presented with lists and series, my brain could not resist the affliction. All of the stories are a bit of the same; Happy endings, mutual affection, sex scenes. One by one, books are crossed off lists in my notebook and a new review is added to the ton. (see what I did there) Living through the characters is so fun. I love romance. Unconditional, bountiful, everlasting love. The likelihood that I experience the love portrayed in the books is low, so I take what I can get. Even if it means inserting myself into the fables. Beggars can't be choosers. But I do adore the books, the company, joy, and entertainment they give me are paramount. Reading is the perfect alternative for soulless social media scrolling and nauseating videos.

However, the constant exposure to romantic feelings has muddled my brain. One day, I cannot bear to think of a romantic relationship, and the next day I am metaphorically begging on my knees to a god that doesn't exist. When will it be my turn, I cry into the void. Even worse, at night, my mind is free of its typical inhibitions and I am assaulted by thoughts of those that I once knew intimately. Why am I still thinking, hoping there might be something more. Something still left to say, left to feel. That I might be reminded that I am desired, that I occupy space in anothers mind. Plagued by want. Plagued by desire and yearning. Plagued by the reality that I am not able to satisfy the urges.

Which leads me to aspire for change. Change will bring attention to me. Words, interactions, praise, the things I crave. Perhaps a haircut. A scandalous photo. Entertaining a stranger on the internet. Anything, anything to feel. Feel desired, wanted. That I am worth something to someone; no matter how temporary. Obviously, I am lacking. What, I am not so sure. But I wish for the inadequacy to be reduced.

Hopefully, this feeling blows over, or I am able to feel more confident in myself. In any case, I am more equipped to handle these feelings in a way that will reduce the chances of exposing my wanton desires to those around me. We'll see how it turns out.

Thank you for reading,

EN

#pretentious writing

[antnich]

RIO DE JANEIRO...

Rio. Just say it. What images it conjures up...

The sun kissed, samba fuelled colossus of South America is one sultry, swaggering sweep of a city. From the dramatic, looming majesty of Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain to the legendary beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, Rio is as heady and intoxicating as any of the local caipirinhas.

The outstretched arms of Christ the Redeemder loom above the opaque, bustling waters of Guanabara Bay. Around it, the fabled waterfront of Rio resembles some kind of beautiful, casually discarded charm bracelet.

The Malecon by moonlight is a magnet for lovers, people watchers and strollers alike. In Rio, inhibitions are as rare as raincoats. The entire city is a hedonist's heaven; a kind of Disneyland for adults.

Rio. Brash, frenetic, and fun. She's not a cheap date. But she is an unforgettable one. Be aware; Rio will dance and flirt with you, then drop you like a stone. Even as you stop to gather your breath, she is already doing a quick step with the next slack jawed, wide eyed newcomer...

#riodejaneiro #gotorio #southamerica #samba #malecon #corcovado #ipanema #thegirlfromipanema #leblon #beachlife #endlesssummer #riocarnival #mikenesmith #travelphotography📷 #bossanova #artoftravel #TWA #travelswithanthony #timetravel #flyingdowntorio #guanabara #ciudadomarvelohsa #Brazil #sergiomendes #caipirinha #favela #carioca #riverofjanuary #churrasco #christtheredeemer

#Instagram

[holckrivers]

Play the Game Play the Game, Help Save the Planet Conservationists Vying for Video Gamers

By Hereward Holland

NAIROBI (Reuters, June 5, 2015) (Reuters, June 5, 2015) Chilli is an endangered Borneo gibbon is set to soon leap from tree to tree in parks in New York and Nairobi as an avatar for a brand new augmented reality game that aims to save endangered species.

Internet of Elephants, a software company based in Kenya, has developed a computer-generated representation of Chilli which is a real primate, as well as three additional animals from the jungles of Asia and Africa.

Their game, Wildeverse, is one of a number of games developed by companies around the world who are seeking to harness the increasing popularity of video games on mobile phones to encourage people to lead more environmentally-conscious lifestyles.

Wildeverse users are young scientists who study the habits and behaviors of animals in the rain forests of Borneo, Congo Republic. They use their smartphone camera to observe virtual trees and primates such as Chilli superimposed on the natural world.

The increasing popularity of smartphones means that gaming is accessible to nearly three-quarters of the population worldwide. It has the potential to be a powerful instrument for behavior change, similar to a public broadcaster in the digital age. Just another wordpress site Sam Barratt, from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), said that the game industry is a powerful tool for changing behavior.

"Its reach is amazing," Barratt told Reuters. "We would like to assist people to think differently about nature and how they can live a in a (environmentally) more peaceful life."

Gaming is the most popular form of entertainment. The industry earns more than Hollywood, Bollywood and worldwide music sales combined, according to a 2019 report from UNEP titled "Playing for the Planet".

The revenues generated by mobile phone games outstripped console games in 2015 and as data speeds increase, are estimated to reach $91.2 billion by 2021, according to the gaming consultancy Newzoo estimates.

Internet of Elephants aims to release Wildeverse in the third quarter of this year as a no-cost download application for Apple and Android smartphones with the option of in-app purchases for additional features.

The game has been developed specifically to stay clear of preaching which can inhibit behaviour changes, according to Jake Manion, head of production at the company.

He said, "It's easy to fall into the trap of fables about burning forests, animal stranded in a stray and the like."

Not just for kids!

The video game user-base is growing, and the population is growing beyond gender, age and even geography.

Globally, only 22 percent of gamers are younger than 21 years old, while 46 percent are females and five of the 15 countries with the most gamers per capita reside in lower middle income countries like Nigeria and Indonesia as the UNEP report showed.

"When we talk about games people think that they're made for kids," said Gautam Shah, founder of Internet of Elephants.

The conservation industry is slowly becoming aware of gaming as a method to get people to participate in the same way that it took time for them realize the potential of social media, he said.

As conservationists such as Shah hope to exploit opportunities in the gaming industry Some of the largest gaming studios are beginning to push green messages.

Minecraft, the blockbuster game of building has released new versions that allow users to create national parks as well as sustainable cities.

In 2016 then UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon appointed an Rovio character from the wildly popular Angry Birds franchise an honorary ambassador to encourage youngsters to be "green" and tackle climate change.

Rovio also collaborated with the World Wide Fund for Nature to raise awareness of International Tiger Day.

Minna Eloranta is Rovio's senior communication manager. She said that Rovio has partnered with businesses to combat climate change in the past, and has advised players to consider it in their games.

Niantic, the company that developed Pokemon Go with Nintendo Co Ltd, organizes Earth Day clean-up events in every corner of South Africa and Singapore every year.

"Games that tie sustainability to the heart of the gameplay mechanics are a great way to not only increase their success across their playerbase, but could make significant impact on climate change," said Yennie Solheim Fuller, senior manager of social impact at Niantic. (Reporting by Hereward Holland Editing by Maggie Fick and Toby Chopra)

#Cobra planet #Just another wordpress site

[alexisfergusonportfolio]

An essay preview comparing Skyrim gods to Greek gods

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, multiple gods are worshipped, representing different qualities to life. These are generally sectioned off into two different categories; The Nine Divines, which are all around seen as positive figures, and the Daedric Princes, mostly seen in a negative light. Although this can vary, the amount of deviation is slim (I can only think of one 'good' daedric prince in Skryim), and for the purpose of it, the two should be regarded differently. Much like Greek and Roman religions, it is polytheism and the primary worship of specific gods is quite commonplace, depending on the local/region and original habitat of the NPC (non-playable character). 

As most of the lore in Skyrim revolves primarily around books and quests, most of the information gathered regarding the daedric prince Sanguine can be gathered from ‘a Night to Remember’. In this quest, the player character has a random chance of encountering a man named Sam Guevenne in a tavern during their journey. He’ll challenge the player character to a drinking game, and the resulting questline is filled with drunken raunch and immoral acts. In it, the character steals a goat, pawns it off, and marries a Haggrid (a type of human turned monster). After finally unraveling what happened that drunken evening (and fixing everything that went wrong) the player finds a portal that leads to a mystical grove. Upon entering, they come face to face with the daedric prince himself, Sanguine- who admits that he was in disguise as the mortal named Sam Guevenne all along. Sanguine, as a god, is a lord of the ‘darker natures’ of man. Namely, “lust, sin, sloth, gluttony, and greed.” After locating and identifying him, he congratulates the player, admits he had a wonderful time, and rewards them with a mystical staff. 

It’s important to note that in Greek and Roman mythology, it’s not uncommon for a god to disguise themselves as a mortal by any means- in fact, one could argue that it was quite commonplace indeed. Though the purposes of such are often not to have fun, but rather to be conniving and trick the mortal into some immoral act or another. In this case, Sanguine does both. There is one deity in particular that Sanguine seems to be modeled after. 

Son of Zeus and Semele (daughter of the king of Thebes) Dionysis (also known as Liber in Roman mythology) is the deity of not only fruitfulness and vegetation, but wine and ecstasy as well. He’s often used in conjecture of the hopelessness of life and the madness of men who lose control of their darker natures. Perhaps most notably referenced not only in Hymn to Dionysis, but also by Friedrich Nietzsche, who states In other words, the lack of inhibition comes from a lack of control. In which case, there’s simply no point to attempt to control oneself if it’s all for naught. It is most commonly reflected upon using a modern phrase- ‘live life by its fullest’. One must live in the moment, for the future is simply out of one's control. It's a very carefree way of living one's life, and is oftentimes reflected upon by youths with a personal fable complex. 

Sanguine vs Dionysis

As we can see, the two deities are incredibly similar in nature, in terms of what they represent, how they carry themselves, and how other individuals view the deities themselves. Perhaps one can start with the act of disguising oneself- as we see Sanguine disguise himself as a commoner in order to enjoy a ‘night to remember’, we also see Dionysis disguise himself as a handsome nobleman in Hymn to Dionysis quite possibly for the sole purpose of tricking a group of pirates (who end up kidnapping him off of a beach to ransom him). He’s the god of pleasures and lost inhibitions, much like Sanguine- lust, wine, fertility, theatre, and festivals. As displayed in the poem Hymn to Dionysis, he seems to gather satisfaction and enjoyment from his recognition and even goes as far to reward/forgive the helmsman for recognizing him, the man declaring 

Again, this is much like Sanguine’s honorific regarding the player character with a kindness and respect- both due to the enjoyment the player character shows towards him, and the discovery of his true identity (and apparently, where he lives). The two gods are, in a way, representations of the same core character traits. The minor discrepancies come into play as we consider Dionysus a much more serious religious figurehead than we do Sanguine, who's apparent sole purpose in the entire game is to ruin the player character's life for a quick laugh. 

#essay

[skepticbeliever-bookclub]

Here we are again! This week we had the pleasure of reading a moody, atmospheric little fic with a ton of unsaid world building and the whisper of tension which is the fanfic world’s bread and butter. 

The fic in question, two rabbits runnin’ (in the ditch) by justcourbeau is a quick read, full of beautifully spare description that conveys just the right amount of information while leaving us breathlessly wanting more. 

Rating: T

Summary:  It stares.

Ryan still doesn’t know what to do, so he stares back.

It’s got a long snout and astute eyes. Pointed ears. Paws that are almost comically large considering the slender build of its body.

It’s massive, and if it wanted to kill him, he would have been dead on sight.

Ryan stares.

It stares.

Book Club Thoughts:

I enjoy so much when authors superimpose the setting as the main character and I really felt like I could see the farmhouse on its hill

it's halfway between a character study and just a...really well established setting?? pacing-wise, at times it truly read like a fable or a fairytale.

I enjoyed the scene-setting that had nothing to do with the action itself, like the background about Sara getting married and Ryan rationalizing this might be why Shane is so cagey

[the author] did a beautiful job setting the scene. the woods. the farmhouse. I really appreciated how much a role setting had in this story

I love when people touch on Ryan's relationship with fear and how organically unique it is

I love the dichotomy of inhibition represented in wolf

what i love most of all is how visual this fic feels! it's a really nice use of a split-POV: it's inevitable that ryan is gonna find out about shane, and i love that unlike many professional TV writers (ahem) [the author] has the balls to cut back and forth and build the inevitability of it from both sides. it's a really nice example of how an author can still build tension even when it's clear what's going to happen

one of the things i like most about this is that it's got a lot of unsaid bits both about their relationship and the source of shane's lycanthropy and a bunch of other things beside, but it doesn't feel like anything's missing either

Love the way this fic handles the dual POVs so well—more like a well-managed split screen than a constant flipping of channels. I often find fic can get muddied with poorly-timed POV switches and just generally lose its momentum and atmosphere, but not this one! The switches felt like they were at exactly the right time to keep the action going/give me the perspective I wanted most in that moment.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE FAQ, AND SEND US AN ASK! IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR FIC RECS, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR READS, NOMINEES AND BOOK CLUB REC LISTS!

#read of the week #shyan #skeptic believer #shyan fic #otp: we took an oath #werewolf au #sbbookclub

[brasskier]

Okay, so I 100% think we should get a musical episode in the Witcher, and not, like, okay Jaskier sings a song for two minutes. I mean a whole damn episode, and almost entirely in song (like Rent). I'm here to bless you all with my impeccable vision. (And yes I know this is totally not book canon, I don't give a shit, let me have this.)

So, the episode opens pretty simply with Geralt and Jaskier coming into a town (it doesn't matter which, but it's a podunk little town). Geralt does some supply shopping in the market or whatever, and Jaskier goes to perform at the tavern. Somehow (it really doesn't matter how, tbh), Jaskier manages to piss off a mage, bc of course he does. Geralt returns in time to witness the end of the fight and try to intervene, but is too late. The mage unleashes a curse, saying something to allude to its effect, then fade to black.

Jaskier awakes in an inn bed to find Geralt asleep in the bed on the other side of the room. Jaskier scrambles out of bed, groggy and confused, and wakes Geralt. The witcher rouses, and Jaskier starts blabbering, asking questions, etc. Finally, Geralt interrupts him, says, "shut up, Jaskier." But he doesn't just say it; he fucking sings it. This stuns both of them, but Geralt tries again; once again, he can only sing. Nervous and suspicious, Jaskier attempts to repeat Geralt's tune, only to find his voice catches in his throat whenever he tries to sing. Welcome to act II.

Geralt needs to find a way to fix this now, but first they go down to the tavern to have breakfast; Jaskier does all the talking for obvious reasons. But then-- the hostess only speaks in song, and the innkeeper, and the other patrons. This is not good. Yennefer, of course, makes her entrance (thanks convenient magical bond!) with all the glorious, extravagant grandiosity of a Disney villain introduction. (She also gets a power ballad at some point; it's what she deserves.)

So the rest of the episode is spent with Yennefer trying to find a way to undo the curse, Geralt trying to track down the mage, and Jaskier being mopey over not being able to sing and awkwardly inserting himself bc he has nothing better to do and definitely annoyingly correcting the others' technique. Do we get Jaskier having a crisis over what his life would look like without song, complete with some powerful spoken word poetry? Fuck yeah. Do we get Geralt learning how to loosen up and lower his inhibitions a bit? Yes to that too. Do we get a beautiful duet between Geralt and Yennefer reconciling some of their differences, intermittently interrupted by Jaskier butting in? Yes, yes, yes. And of course Yen has her power ballad.

They find the mage. We get some great fight choreo, Yen being the baddest bitch as always, maybe (?) some bamf!Jaskier. Defeated, the mage lifts the curse. His life is spared because Geralt is like that, and he holds Yen back. Once again, fade to black.

Geralt and Yen are already awake this time when Jask wakes up again. To his horror, Yen greets him in song. But then Geralt nudges her, tells her to knock it off (in his normal speaking voice!) and then instructs Jaskier to try singing. He does, and is relieved to find he can once again sing. Jaskier desperately attempts to convince Yen to sing a duet with him, everything is back to normal, and the day is saved. Le fin.

Scott, I hear none of you asking me, what's the point? Where's the moral? Ha, there is no point. Did you really read this and think I thought hard enough about this to come up with a lesson? This isn't aesop's fables, or a biblical parable. This is the Witcher, and sometimes there's a moral, sometimes it's just bullshit.

So there you have it, the single most perfect episode of the Witcher that could ever possibly exist.

(p.s. I totally forgot but Roach deserves a musical number too.)

#my sincerest apologies to andrzej sapkowski #netflix hire me #lemme write a shitty musical episode #idc if it's divorced from the rest of show canon as a one off little episode #just give it to me #the witcher #the witcher netflix #geralt #geralt of rivia #jaskier #dandelion #julian alfred pankratz #yennefer of vengerberg #yennefer #roach #the witcher shitpost

[wacky-nameless-inventor-24]

I seem to have misplaced my self control when it comes to this so I'm here to scream about Imagine Dragons and the Mad Ducktor. You're welcome. <3

(cutting it 'cause there's a LOT)

So because I don't actually have the energy to go into depth on how much the lyrics fit him Imma just write 'em and y'all figure them out. I just really really really wanted to share these. XD Maybe one day I'll reblog this with a better analysis.

Machine

"All my life I've been sittin' at the table Watching them kids, they're living in a fable Looks, luck, money and never left a'wishin' Now it's 'bout time to stand up and petition"

"'Cause I've been wondering When you gonna see I'm not for sale I've been questioning When you gonna see I'm not a part of your machine Not a part of your machine"

"I'm not scared of what you're gonna tell me And I'm not scared of the beast in the belly Fill my cup with endless ambition And paint this town with my very own vision"

"I am the machine"

(Okay this one's really fun because the verses are said twice so they're repeated, and the second time it's said much louder. So the first part of the verse could be Gyro's parts, and then the louder and almost angrier repeat of that could be Mads'...?)

Cutthroat

"I've been waiting patiently I built this tower quietly And when my well of Wellbutrin Is running dry of serotonin I can say things I don't mean Or maybe it's the truth in me I feel it building, bubbling up My t-t-time is up"

"I'm so misunderstood, but I live for this My money's good and I came to win So step on up, and I promise you Only one of us gon' make it out alive and it's not you"

"I can't lie, I've been played By powerful people who get their way But I, in time, will climb my mountain I, in time, will rise"

"Try me."

(LISTEN TO THIS ONE it's so GOOD like it has PEAK villain energy and i love it)

I'm So Sorry

"About time for anyone telling you off for all your deeds No sign the roaring thunder stopped in cold to read Get mine and make no excuses waste of precious breath The sun shines on everyone, everyone love yourself to death"

"So you gotta fire up, you gotta let go You'll never be loved till you've made your own You gotta face up, you gotta get yours You never know the top till you get too low"

"Life isn't always what you think it'd be Turn your head for one second and the tables turn And I know, I know that I did you wrong But will you trust me when I say that I'll Make it up to you somehow, somehow..."

(And idk, just the way in general that the "I'm so sorry" is put in the chorus, the way it's framed mercilessly in an almost sarcastic way, while still feeling like a genuine apology feels a lot like Mads. And the way he like screams it right before the bridge feels really heartbreaking.)

Believer

"First things first I'ma say all the words inside my head I'm fired up and tired of The way that things have been, oh-ooh"

"Second thing second Don't you tell me what you think that I could be I'm the one at the sail I'm the master of my sea, oh-ooh"

"I was broken from a young age Taking my sulkin' to the masses Writing my poems for the few That look at me, took to me, shook at me, feelin' me Singing from heartache from the pain Taking my message from the veins Speaking my lesson from the brain Seeing the beauty through the..."

"Pain You made me a, you made me a Believer, believer Pain You break me down and build me up Believer, believer Pain Oh, let the bullets fly, oh, let them rain My life, my love, my drive, it came from… Pain You made me a, you made me a Believer, believer"

"I was chokin' in the crowd Building my rain up in the cloud Falling like ashes to the ground Hoping my feelings, they would drown But they never did, ever lived, ebbin' and flowin' Inhibited, limited 'til it broke open and rained down It rained down..."

"Last things last By the grace of the fire and the flames You're the face of the future The blood in my veins, oh-ooh"

Battle Cry

"Just one more time before I go, I'll let you know That all this time I've been afraid, wouldn't let it show Nobody can save me now, no Nobody can save me now"

"Stars are only visible in darkness Fear is ever-changing and evolving And I, I've been poisoned inside But I, I feel so alive..."

"Nobody can save me now The only sound is the battle cry"

Whatever it Takes

"Falling too fast to prepare for this Tripping in the world could be dangerous Everybody circling, it's vulturous Negative, nepotist"

"Whip, whip Run me like a racehorse Pull me like a ripcord Break me down and build me up I wanna be the slip, slip Word upon your lip, lip Letter that you rip, rip Break me down and build me up"

"Whatever it takes 'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins I do whatever it takes 'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains Whatever it takes Yeah, take me to the top I'm ready for Whatever it takes 'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins I do what it takes"

"Always had a fear of being typical Looking at my body feeling miserable Always hanging on to the visual"

"Looking at my years like a martyrdom Everybody needs to be a part of 'em"

"Hypocritical, egotistical Don't wanna be the parenthetical, hypothetical Working onto something that I'm proud of, out of the box An epoxy to the world and the vision we've lost I'm an apostrophe I'm just a symbol to remind you that there's more to see I'm just a product of the system, a catastrophe And yet a masterpiece, and yet I'm half-diseased"

(Those last two lines really stand out to me for some reason ssldkfj)

Bones

(a.k.a. they're latest one that I only discovered TODAY and is the reason I'm making this post sldkfjsdf)

"Gimme, gimme, gimme some time to think I'm in the bathroom, looking at me Face in the mirror is all I need (ooh) Wait until the reaper takes my life Never gonna get me out alive I will live a thousand million lives (ooh)"

"My patience is waning Is this entertaining? Our patience is waning Is this entertaining?"

"I-I-I got this feeling, yeah, you know Where I'm losing all control 'Cause there's magic in my bones I-I-I got this feeling in my soul Go ahead and throw your stones 'Cause there's magic in my bones"

"Playing with a stick of dynamite There was never gray in black and white There was never wrong 'til there was right (ooh, oh) Feeling like a boulder hurtling Seeing all the vultures circling Burning in the flames I'm working in Turning in a bed that's darkening"

"Look in the mirror of my mind Turning the pages of my life Walking the path so many paced a million times Drown out the voices in the air Leaving the ones that never cared Picking the pieces up and building to the sky"

"There goes my mind (I-I-I) Don't mind There goes my mind (there it goes, there it goes) There goes my mind (I-I-I) Don't mind (there it goes) There goes my mind 'Cause there's magic in my bones"

(Bro. This one. BRUH. "There was never grey in black and white" SSLDFKJSDLFKSJDLFSKD OH MY GOD Also the lines "my patience is waning" vs. the "our patience is waning" like what if at first it's about Mads, but the second line is about him and Gyro, like with or without Mads Gyro is fed up with his situation too?)

Anywayyyy I hope you like it I want to draw all of these because like SSLDFKJS IT'S HIM AND I LOVE IT but I can't. So I just wanted to get these lines out there so maybe someone else wants to? 👀 And also if anyone wants to scream more about this I'm always happy to. XD There's more songs of theirs related more to the ego machine situation, but I like these ones 'cause they better fit Mads and not Gyro's experience of the ego machine. XD

#Mad Ducktor #Imagine Dragons #I need an actual talking tag #Wacky Rants #Wacky Monoluges #Wacky's soliloquies #Ohhh I like that one #It's that one now #slkfsdj I just have to actually learn how to spell that #DuckTales #DuckTales 2017 #DT17 #Topolino #Duckverse

[apenitentialprayer]

The Enlightenment, Knowledge, and Teachability

The legacy of the Enlightenment left us with what we might call a crisis of docility. Unless we have the courage to work out things for ourselves, to take as true only that which we have personally ascertained or, perhaps, invented, then meanings and values, descriptions and instructions, imposed by other people, feeding other people’s power, will inhibit and enslave us, bind us into fables and falsehoods from the past. Even God’s truth, perhaps especially God’s truth, is no exception to this rule. Only slaves and children should be teachable, or docile. The Enlightenment, in other words, tended to treat teaching and discovery as antithetical activities. Teaching is what we take from other people and is, therefore, at best unreliable and, at worst, degrading; truth is what we find out for ourselves. But this antithesis is most unreal. Admittedly, we only know as true what we have ascertained, established, worked out to be so. But that is how we learn - ‘doctor’ and ‘disciple’ do, after all, have a common root. Good teachers understand this: they know that truth imposed, and not elicited, is most ill-learned. Good teaching is respectful of those taught. [...] Good learning calls, no less than teaching does, for courtesy, respect, a kind of reverence: for facts and people, evidence and argument, for climates of speech and patterns of behavior different from our own. Watchfulness is, indeed, in order, but endless suspicion and mistrust are not. There are affinities between the courtesy, the delicacy of attentiveness, required for friendship; the single-minded passionate disinterestedness without which no good scholarly or scientific work is done; and the contemplativity which strains, without credulity, to listen for the voice of God - who does not shout.

- Nicholas Lash (Believing Three Ways in One God: A Reading of the Apostles’ Creed, pages 10, 10-11)

#Nicholas Lash #Enlightenment #epistemology #authority #knowledge

[whatudottu]

Okay here’s part 2 of my colour scheme/altmode ramblings, now featuring the Decepticons. Since I am generally vehicle illiterate (ESPECIALLY jet illiterate) I consulted my jet nerd friends to identify what aircraft each of the Decepticons are (and I suppose what armoured truck Breaky is) to help find some colours.

The Autobots

The Decepticons Part 1 (you are here)

The Decepticons Part 2

Once again in order of notes, we start off with Starscream. I’m not entirely sure what to do with this boy, in canon and most of what I’ve seen he’s a very contradictory character (not to say it’s a bad thing, it’s actually quite nice) so I don’t know which parts to shatter and to keep the same. Perhaps in the same vein that SG!Ratchet is now super ‘happy’ but really spiteful, Starscream could be normally scared or nervous, but under pressure he toughens up and regains his confidence. Crouching moron, hidden badass kind of vibe but... well... more like balled-up coward in this case.

I like to think that Starscream defaults to using titles and formalities, in rather stark contrast to canon (i.e. Doctor Knock Out, Lieutenant Dreadwing yada yada). He may have accidentally slipped up and called Megatron ‘lord’ or ‘master’ or any close relative of those and he immediately stopped at the reaction, definitely realising that something was wrong.

For his colours, ironically it comes from this remote controlled F-16 (maybe he got caught on camera randomly and that was just some quick excuse haha) and I think it’s pretty nice.

Second to Starscream, as he seems to always be rank wise, is Soundwave. Of course I’m going to go the radio route for this mech a la movieverse Bumblebee, and despite this, he is quite the chatter. Even when he’s not talking, he ‘mumbles’ with incomprehensible beeps and blips (not actual binary, con nor bot) and frequently places human radio, just so long as it doesn’t inhibit productivity.

As for his stance on Megatron? Though they both had to crawl to where they are today, Soundwave constantly challenges his leader’s commands... in a good way I promise. It’s no longer blind loyalty this mech holds on to, and he isn’t afraid to go against Megatron’s wishes to get his desired information (sending Makeshift to hide within the Autotroopers was one such plan, and oh how it backfired BAD). Speaking of, Soundwave is the only mech to have ‘physical’ records of Makeshift as a reassurance to both that he wouldn’t be at risk of discovery via attack on the Decepticon records.

Because MQ-9 Reapers don’t come in fancy transformers colours, I cheesed the search a little by using the lighting effects as colours. This is clearly approaching dusk but, these colours look really sweet. Also, not that you could see, but his optics would probably be yellow.

Next on my secret list (that I am slowly revealing) is... Shockwave? Sure, why not. Once this thought entered my head it never could leave me and I lived in constant fear and pain. What if Shockwave is gremlin?

Hear me out! What I’m thinking is, though he still preaches the word of logic as if it were a fabled legend, he snarls, he growls and he’s overall more feral than logically dictates this blank canvas. This Peridot from Steven Universe if you will, because I’m insane and have something wrong with me (okay maybe I’m taking this too far). So anyway, I just love the idea that Shockwave acts more like an animal than ANY of the predacons (I’ll get to them, don’t worry).

As for alt, I’m thinking he undergoes a reformat because his arm gets torn off (he still makes the dinobots because, idk unethical senator/blackmailing counsel wanting powerful tools kinda stuff) and he’s probably not interested in getting a gun arm as a less... outright violent kind of mech? So instead of a Cybertronian tank, he can have an alt that’s similar, if not directly, a Tucker Sno-Cat (often used by researchers in Antarctica see how that fits hahaha).

And finally, after 3 Decpticons, it’s Megatron’s time to shine. Let’s see, he’s a passionate leader and listens to the vehicons... it’s a little easier presently now that many of the numbers have dwindled, but he still attempts to put a face... or perhaps a paint job to the mech.

Though he can loudly broadcast a speech barely practiced and hardly written to a sea of strangers, he’s a little awkward in day to day conversation. You know what, it’s sorta like TFA Optimus if you think long and hard about it, but I suppose his speeches can get rather grave if he’s not in the right mindset. Remember when I said that Megatron had a bad reaction to being called ‘lord’ or ‘master’? Well, he doesn’t beat Starscream over it, just feels really icky when those titles are directed to him. If you MUST call him something, Commander or General is fine, but please, call him Megatron.

Not say he’s taken up a human altmode (I’d think it’d be a cool contrast to canon megan) but I found this image of a SU-47 Berkut that would help this Megatron uh... put real meaning in ‘robots in disguise’.

Though I’ll be moving onto the twins, I’ll start off with Skyquake because, while they do have the same altmode, I thought it’d be fun to have different origins.

We all know canon Dreadwing to be the stoic and maybe elegant type, if Wheeljack complimenting his bomb-work as artisan says anything. Skyquake, being his brother, has fanonically been quite the opposite, which I absolutely love. So, with that being said, I’m just going to go all out and make Skyke a child at spark and generally a rather positive mech in this shattered reality. Sure, there’s a time and a place for everything, that’s what carries over from the original (I mean I think, it’s not like he lived past his first episode) but he’s always got the crew’s morale in mind. Also he definitely hangs out (messes) with the Vehicons a lot.

In order to reflect this characterisation, I wanted to go with a Thunderbirds aesthetic with his F-35 alt, with the black wing designs included. I’d think it’d be fitting to have this brother based off of an airshow jet so, there.

In contrast to his loud and sometimes (often) immature brother, Dreadwing is still rather quiet, but less of the strict kind. Sure, he’s hardened after spending so much time of his recent time in the war without his brother, Drwing has that tiny bit of shyness.

Of course, when it comes to fighting he’s not afraid. Maybe cautious about the situation around him, but he’s not going to go into a panic unless something REALLY goes wrong. But he doesn’t particularly find it all to easy to speak to his fellow mechs, probably because he really only really relied on his brother for so long. Don’t worry, he’s gotten better at speaking, but aside from the off-comment remark that he’s relieved that Skyquake is okay (Dreadwing ever the protective older twin) he’s not one for opening up. Too bad that leaves him vulnerable to Skyke’s teasing but whatever, he missed that too.

With that, I think it’d be interesting if I gave him a more militaristic paint job, and this image I found works both because it’s, colour scheme wise, quite the opposite to Skyquake and isn’t just plain old black so we got a little bit of an accent colour going on.

Oh joy an image limit. It seems I might need to reconsider how to balance the two teams out...

#shattered glass #tfp shattered glass #starscream #tfp starscream #soundwave #tfp soundwave #shockwave #tfp shockwave #megatron #tfp megatron #skyquake #tfp skyquake #dreadwing #tfp dreadwing #i cant believe it #more parts #ive prewritten this #so that i dont miss anything #and now ive got too many images #transformers #tfp #maccadam #headcanon #ramblings