#the evidence of my brain development is astounding | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

corvidiss · 3 years

Text

Her Father’s Joy.

(Or some other fancy title because I honestly don’t know what to call my brain-ramble Frankenstein AU that I have no intentions of doing anything with except cry over it.)

TL;DR at the bottom.

Who’s this, you ask? What does she have to do with Frankenstein? Why does she look so gaunt and corpse-like?

Well, my friend, I have the answers for you.

(Long answers though, so below the cut.)

This is a Frankenstein AU where Henry follows Victor up into the mountains to Mont Blanc. Perhaps, when he was nursing Victor back to health at Ingolstadt, he heard something, found something, that spurred this decision. Whatever it was, it meant he caught up with his friend just as the Creature was arriving too.

That doesn’t go down well with Victor. It’s a wonder he doesn’t have a full on breakdown in that moment, but somehow bears it out and despite his strong attempts to get Henry to turn around and walk away, there is no stopping the horrified yet determined wonder that appears on Clerval’s face.

They listen to the Creature’s tale together, and Henry finds sympathy for the abandoned child. He witnesses and contributes to Victor’s decision to agree to the Creature’s terms and create him a bride.

They set off for Britain soon after that. Victor is dreading repeating the process of creating life and is troubled by guilt and doubt; but Henry encourages him, compelled by the image of mournful desperation in the Creature’s eyes, which stays with him long after their meeting.

Henry helps to gather supplies as they travel through England and into Scotland. Victor tries to keep as much as he can a secret – but although Henry is disturbed by what he learns, he is determined to be aware this time. He is determined to understand and be there to help.

So they arrive at a secluded cottage on a remote Scottish island, and as Victor unpacks and arranges his materials, Henry sets about making sure their living space is at least a little comfortable.

During their travels, Henry met with the Creature a few times, to assure him that they were on track and that Victor was remaining true to his word. Over the first months on the island, Henry meets with the Creature again a few times, but Victor refuses to see him. Victor only wants to get this task done and finished, so he can return to his remaining family and forget he ever created life.

But as the months pass, Henry brings the Creature ever closer to their home, and eventually Victor allows him into the house. From then on, Henry takes care of not just Victor (who needs constant nagging to rest, drink and eat) but also Victor’s first creation (who needs a regular good meal, a bath, and most importantly a friend).

And Henry and the Creature begin to talk on matters less relevant to the bride’s creation and progress. They begin to speak about ethics, and philosophy, and self-worth and humanity and identity. All the things that someone should have spoken about with him when he was younger, before the world turned him sour. Conversations entail whether the Creature is justified in his anger (yes) and his violent acts (no) and whether he is unworthy of love because of them (no); whether Victor was right to abandon him (no) and whether people should get second chances; how a child should be raised and cherished and how families function and interact.

And after the Creature witnesses Henry giving Victor a small kiss and whirls away exclaiming disgust, they talk about romantic relationships, and when one would be ready for them.

Henry was aware from the outset that the Creature was at least in some respects a child; but the more he talks with him, the more wide and evident this fact becomes. Even Victor, who gradually begins to contribute a word here and there to these conversations, agrees that his creation is, though large in form and eloquently spoken, still young in mind.

So when the bride is near to reanimation, 21 months after the work began, Henry asks the Creature, “What will you call her?” – and the Creature responds, “I shall call her Sister.”

Victor gives life to the sister, and as she lies, blinking, astounded by the cacophony of senses that surround her in her first hours of existence, the Creature sits by her side and silently holds her hand.

When she becomes accustomed to the sounds and sights and smells and sensations, she sits up, and the Creature helps her to stand and leads her carefully to the door and out onto thin grass, as the sun rises on a land calm after a storm and a glistening sea.

She spends her first days numbly watching the world, blinking large, inquisitive eyes at all that passes, never once letting go of the hand she woke up holding. And yet while her wonder of the world enchants Henry, and even manages to move Victor, the Creature suffers a turmoil. All through her creation, he had eagerly awaited her first breath, rejoiced at the thought of receiving one like him – one like him! – to stem his loneliness and save him from despair. But now, watching her guileless face shine in the sunlight, he begins to wonder if he has only condemned another poor soul to the blights of his own sorry existence; if asking for another of his kind was a purely selfish act that had doomed another innocent being to the vilest of lives one can endure.

But as time passes, as she begins to imitate speech and take an interest in Henry’s attempts to teach her to talk and read, as she gradually realises that she can move separately from the Creature and lets go of his hand the first time, as she begins to wander on her own through the grass and across the sand... the Creature sees that her life can be so much better than his own. That he has a chance to give her something he never had, something Henry wants to give her too: a family. Even Victor begins to reconsider his plans to leave them the moment they become self-sufficient, and to take a role in supporting her development (though he hides this at first in excuses of how “scientific records must be kept”).

After her first couple of weeks of life, Henry insists that they give her a name. (He had asked the Creature if he wanted a name back in the earlier stages of their interactions, but the suggestion had been refused; at that time, the Creature hadn’t seen himself worthy of a name, and didn’t readdress the possibility until the question of his sister’s came up.) After some debate and a general hot-potato of the responsibility, Henry names her Abigail, until she or someone else decide on something better. Even when the family later settles on Adelaide, he continues to use Abigail for her out of habit and affection.

And, several months on, the Creature chooses a name for himself; Ambrose. It signifies not only the development of self-worth but an acceptance of his own being. Ambrose means “immortal.”

And Abigail means “my father’s joy.”

TL;DR:

In this AU, Henry follows Victor to Mont Blanc, and as a result meets the Creature with him. Victor and Henry travel to Scotland together and Victor begins to build the bride while Henry makes sure he’s fed, rested and watered, and begins to talk to the Creature and get to know him. They talk about many things including morality, ethics and relationships, and Henry comes to realise that the Creature is more of a child than he initially thought.

When Victor’s new creation is reanimated, the Creature has come to think of her as a sister, not a bride. He holds her hand as she lies, coming to her senses, and helps her to walk outside and see the sun rise. Her first days are spent watching the world with a wide-eyed wonder, and the Creature begins to feel guilt at having demanded another of his cursed kind to be brought into existence, to suffer a life as abhorred and cruel as his. But as time passes, he sees that here, she has a chance to live a life so much better than his own; with a family. Even Victor begins to reconsider his original plan to leave them on their own once they become self-sufficient, and to take a parental role.

When the topic of name comes up, Henry decides to call her Abigail until someone has a better idea – but even when the family settles on Adelaide, he continues to call her Abigail out of habit and affection.

And the Creature eventually chooses Ambrose, which signifies an acceptance of himself. It means “immortal.”

And Abigail means “my father’s joy.”

29 notes · View notes

bookishofalder · 3 years

Text

Just Breathe

Pairing: Adam Driver X Reader (GN!Reader)

A/N-In this fic, AD is single. Inspired by my own love for makeup and the alternate life I’d have enjoyed as a film makeup artist. I also think this ended up with the reader being gender neutral!

Warnings: Mutual pinning. Kissing. Caffeine addiction.

——————

You took a long, deep breath, focusing on clearing your mind and settling yourself into professional mode. This was a routine, which used to simply be automatic for you, until you started working this new movie trilogy and your world flipped.

Just breathe.

You had been ecstatic when you got the call-key makeup artist for the new Star Wars movies! It was an absolute dream come true, after years working hard as a makeup artist for smaller films and television shows, building your experience. Now you were the lead, which meant you were going to be working with main character actors, a chance to really prove yourself, under the direction of the production designer. You would get to design concepts for their appearances and execute the approved designs.

And not to mention, you were a huge Star Wars geek, having grown up watching the films with your dad, who was an original geek. You would watch them every year on his birthday together, a tradition that you carried out regardless of where in the world you were working from on set, you would stay up all night and video call him while watching, if you had to. You never missed a single year.

But now, it was years later and you were working on set of the final instalment, which was bittersweet in so many ways. You just needed to breath.

Because since day one of production on these movies, you’ve been in love with the lead actor, and it’s been chipping away at your soul. Because it’s one thing to imagine being with someone unattainable for fun, but when you spend a lot of time in that persons presence and over time realize how perfect they are to you, it can drive you up the wall.

Adam Driver was kind, funny and serious. He and you hit it off really well when you met, he was always keen to hear your thoughts on his characters appearance, and he’d even asked you recently to join him on the next press tour as his stylist and makeup artist. That in itself was an amazing opportunity, one that would continue to launch your career into orbit. You adored working with him, and spent a lot of your down time missing him, his corny jokes and soft looks and overall presence. Because that man took up a lot of space, which seemed to affect you in many ways, all good.

You felt like that character in Love Actually, played by Laura Linney, who was in love with Carl. Except, you were sure you hid it well, and you were always the most professional colleague. However, pining over a celebrity felt too ridiculous, too common, and you were hard on yourself constantly for it. You convinced yourself every morning that it was simply a crush, one that would fade if you kept yourself focused and reminded yourself daily of the type of person he could date, if he wanted to.

Yet, here you were, needing to breath, because he was on his way to the makeup trailer for end of day cleanup and you needed to get your head in the game, figuratively shoving your feelings down. Daisy had finished and left already, while your makeup assistant Bailey was hurrying about tidying the trailer, avoiding your station, and moving some of the equipment into the storage area. Soft classical music was playing on the Bluetooth speakers, and the smell of peppermint tea you had brewed was calming you somewhat.

Glancing in the mirror, you adjusted your hair, smoothed down your apron and internally chastised yourself for bothering to check. Setting down your tea, you looked over your set up, ensuring you had everything needed, though end of day was always the easier part on this set for you. You didn’t exactly envy the hard work that the SFX make up team had on both sides of the day, but you were always beyond impressed with their beautiful work.

The door to the trailer opened and immediately, you felt his presence. Adam stepped inside, wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, his hair and face still fully set to Kylo Ren’s appearance, which always made you smile, as the contrast was hilarious.

“Evening, y/n, Bailey.” He said, nodding to you both before sitting down heavily into his chair. He smiled at you warmly, looking tired. You quickly set a headband on his head, pushing all the hair from his face carefully.

“How are you, Adam?” You briefly met his soft eyes, which were fixed on your own. If you didn’t spend so much timing beating yourself up for liking him, you might have noticed his eyes often following you, or his soft smiles, or the way he sometimes stiffened when your hands ran through his hair or down his face as you worked on him.

But you never did seem to notice. “I’m good, tired today, this week’s caught up with me.” He rumbled. You hoped he couldn’t hear your heart rate pick up every time he spoke. Although, it had been like this for years and he hadn’t complained yet. Or he’d grown used to it. ‘Shut up, brain’, you thought.

“I’m not surprised, after the fiftieth take of this scene I got tired watching you!” It was true too, having to be on set at all times during filming meant a lot of time spent watching the actors at work, and since Adam insisted on doing his own stunts, a lot of the scenes he was in were physically gruelling. You didn’t know how he did it, and despite his words you knew if he was called back to set for any retakes, he’d spring from the chair full of energy and ready to work.

His dedication was an astounding trait that impressed you from the start, never wavering. His serious, hardworking personality only had you falling harder.

He chuckled at your words, his eyes closing automatically as you spritzed his face with a gentle solution you liked for removing the prosthetic scar. He kept them closed as you worked, peeling off the wound with delicate fingers. You didn’t know that he kept them closed because when you were really focused on something, you bit your lip in a way that made his blood warm, in a way that gave him trouble with tearing his gaze away.

“I saw Bailey sneak you a latte, though, which I’m pretty sure means I’ve won our bet.” Your hands stilled at his words, and he peaked up at you, a devilish grin quickly spreading across his face freckled, handsome face.

You faked offence, scoffing “I don’t know what you mean, it was decaf.” Adam gave a bark of a laugh at your lie, shaking his head.

“Just admit it, you’re a caffeine addict.” He’d been teasing you for years for constantly having caffeinated beverages within reach, and you’d recently, stupidly, agreed to a bet where you would stick to one a day for a month. If you won, he had to forever leave you alone about it, and if he won he could continue to tease you for infinity.

“I believe the terms of our bet allowed for one slip up, actually.” You pouted, jutting your chin out slightly. You continued working, getting his skin cleaned and recovered from the makeup, pretending to be unbothered by the fact that he had noticed Bailey sneak you the latte on set. And you tried not to overthink why he would have been looking at you in the first place.

Adam considered your words for a moment, “Yes,” he said slowly, “But today is only day two of this bet, and you’ve already slipped up.” You were smiling now, the joy evident in his tone was contagious. Still, you rolled your eyes.

“I’m only human, you know, but I am competitive.” You hoped you sounded convincing. You weren’t sure you cared about winning the bet, really.

He continued to grin at you, but made no response. You settled into a comfortable silence together as you made your way through the end of day skin care routine you developed for Adam during the first movie. You had one for each of the main actors, and they’d all impressed you with their dedication in following them. You weren’t good at giving yourself credit, though. Everyone knew a skin care routine curated by you was priceless.

“You need me to stick around, y/n?” Bailey asked, popping out from the back of the trailer where the storage area was. She gave you a pointed look, which you promptly ignored.

“No, go on ahead and start your weekend, Bailey, I’m almost done here, thank you.”

“Night, Bailey!” Adam waved. Bailey bid them both goodnight and left, leaving you alone with Adam. You cursed yourself, feeling foolish. You meant to be genuinely nice to Bailey, who worked hard and deserved the break, but usually you kept her around at times like this to ensure you weren’t left alone with the object of your daydreams. When no one else was around, you had no witnesses to any comments that Adam made that you might consider flirtatious. And while you assumed handsome celebrities like him would probably inherently flirt with others as second nature, you never understood why he would flirt with you. It confused you entirely.

You felt your nerves suddenly rear up, and your hands shook very slightly as you removed the calming sheet mask you had placed on Adam. His eyes followed your hands, but he said nothing. You’d been alone plenty of times before, but every time you would turn into a nervous, silly mess, overanalyzing every comment he made and every word you managed to sputter.

You didn’t know it, but Adam always wished for more time alone with you. He knew you well, and could recognize your nerves and always wondered why being alone with him made you nervous. He hoped it was because you liked him, but he was helpless at flirting, and didn’t know how let you know how he felt. He didn’t want to overstep, or make you uncomfortable. You were both technically working, and he felt you probably had much more appealing options for partners outside of work.

Tonight, though, for the first time, you were both exhausted, under caffeinated and, though neither of you would openly admit it, lonely. Years of longing the other, feeling hopeful, was going to catch up to you both tonight.

“Okay, head froward for me please,” He complied, and you expertly ran your hands into his hair, pulling smoothing serum through the thick locks with gentle care. As you focused, applying liberal amounts, you noticed Adam’s hands clench the chairs arms. “Is that okay?” You worried you’d hurt him.

He tilted his head back and met your eyes. He was so tall that even sitting in his makeup chair, his eyes were level with yours. It was nice not needing to adjust his seat, as you needed to do constantly for most of the actors, but it also meant a lot of time face to face, learning to read one another. Your hands were still in his hair. Somewhere in the back of your mind, a voice of reason was telling you to calmly remove your hands and step back. But the look he was giving you had you frozen to the spot. You’d never read that expression on his face before, his eyes were dark, serious.

His eyes searched yours for a moment longer, “Yeah, y/n.” His voice came out quiet, soft. You think maybe your heart would stop working, because he wasn’t looking away. You couldn’t understand his expression, he seemed to be searching for something in your own.

Finally, you managed to pull your gaze away. Quickly removing your hands, you stepped back, smoothing down your apron nervously, “I-I mean, you’re all set, Adam, unless you need anything else from me?” Why was your voice so quiet? And your face, it felt hot.

You needed to get out of this trailer, away from this man-he was having such a strong affect on you. You rationalized that it was simply because you were tired, you really had cut down significantly on caffeine and this was the result, your sleepiness was lowering your defences and he was noticing you were acting strange. That was all it was.

Adam stood, frowning slightly, but didn’t move away from you. Now, he was right in front of you and you had to tilt your head back just to see beyond his chest. You glanced up at him, and his eyes seemed to soften.

“You’ve really been cutting back on coffee, haven’t you?”

You nodded, “Told you, I’m competitive.” Your voice was breathy, like you’d been running. What the hell was wrong with you, you wondered.

Adam smiled, “I know, I love that about you.” You thought maybe you were now hearing things, and simply stared up at him in surprise, his words genuine, warm.

“Thank-um, thank you, Adam, that means a lot, coming from you.” Now, you were basically whispering. Yet your voice sounded much too loud.

He tilted his head, took a careful step closer, the gap between you nearly gone now. His overall hugeness as he stood over you made you feel safe, and a jolt ran through to your core. “I love a lot of things about you, y/n. Like, how you’re face gives what you’re thinking away, if the person knows you well enough, and you know that about yourself so you try to hide it. You look away, before someone reads you-but I’ve gotten pretty good at catching your expressions,” The low timbre of his voice was doing things to you, and you couldn’t look away from Adam now, “And right now, I think I do know what you’re thinking. Can I test my theory?”

He was asking permission, for what you didn’t know, but at this point you’d have given it no matter what. So you nodded, “S-sure.” You saw the look in his eyes shift, his gaze moving to your lips.

Despite noticing this, it still caught you entirely off guard when Adam leaned down, his hands moving to your face, gently, and caught your lips with his own. So off guard, that you immediately moaned in surprise. You felt Adam freeze, and wondered if you’d messed up, but before you could open your eyes to check, he pressed you against the wall behind you and resumed kissing you with renewed fervour. You felt yourself returning the kiss, mirroring his movements, entirely caught up in him. His tongue ran across your lips and you parted them, allowing him to taste you as he deepened the kiss.

And you tasted him, his breath minty and overwhelmingly him, you felt drunk, dizzy. You moaned again, and he pulled away, still holding your face, “Sweetheart, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” He breathed, his pupils blown, face flushed. His gaze was intensely affectionate.

You had to catch your breath, “I didn’t think...I’m just a makeup artist, Adam, I-“

But he cut you off, shaking his head, “Don’t do that, how do you not realize how amazing you are, y/n? You take my breath away every time I see you, and it’s not just because you’re beautiful,” He punctuated his words with a peppering of kiss along your cheeks, “It’s how funny you are, how hardworking, your talent and vision, the way you take care of me and the others, how kind and sweet and goofy you are-I’ve been in love with you for a long time, for a million different reasons.”

Tears threatened at his words, and you had to work to blink them back, “I think I’m dreaming.” You breathed, feeling silly, but he grinned, and shook his head. You returned the smile, gazing up at Adam in wonder, before reaching up with both hands to caress his face, the gesture so much more intimate than it had been when you worked on his skin. His eyes closed briefly, but opened again when you spoke, “I love you too, you know, always have.”

In an instant, his lips were on yours again, this time the intensity was burning, smouldering. Entirely too much and yet no where near enough. You pushed your hands into his hair and he groaned against you, his hands gripping your face and it felt like you couldn’t get close enough to him. He dropped one hand to your waist, pulling your body flush to his, then slid his other into your hair. You weren’t sure how long you stayed like this, fully ablaze in each others arms, but you never wanted it to stop.

When you did break apart, breathless and flushed, Adam was the first to speak, his deep voice sending shivers down your spine, “Would you like to come over to my hotel?”

You nodded, still standing close against him, “I’d really love that.” And you leaned up, on your tip toes, to plant a chaste kiss on his nose, unable to stop smiling.

Adam hugged you close again, planting a few affectionate kisses to your cheeks and hair, before stepping back, watching you as you gathered your things quickly. He took your bag from you as you pulled off your apron and threw on your coat, and you followed him out, feeling giddy.

“We might have to end our bet, by the way.” Adam held open the passenger door for you, when you reached his car, and watched your confusion at his words.

“Why’s that?”

He leaned down, his eyes dark in a way that had you mesmerized, “You’re going to need a lot of caffeine when I’m done with you, sweetheart.” He murmured softly, his voice laced with cheek, and yet you shivered.

You met his gaze, grinning, while internally you had to remind yourself to breath.

Just breath.

#adam driver x reader #adam driver #reader insert #oneshot #first post #romance #star wars #constructive critism welcome #new to the community

135 notes · View notes

itsclydebitches · 3 years

Text

YYH Recaps: Episode 4 “Requirements for Lovers”

Hello, everyone! It's been quite a while, huh? Ah, the endless cycle of wanting to write and yet, astoundingly, not writing. I know it well.

Good ol' writer's block has skedaddled for a time though, so let's make good use of that and dive into Episode Four: "Requirements for Lovers."

Ohhh, YYH getting spicy with its titles 😏

Actually wait, I shouldn't be making dumb jokes just yet. First I want to acknowledge a slight change to future recaps: YYH, RWBY, and anything else I might try my hand at. Namely, a lack of pictures moving forward. A few weeks ago — months? I honestly can't keep track — tumblr implemented a new limitation where no post can have more than ten images in it. It's a move that, while I'm sure has its justifications, makes sharing analyses of visually-based media all the more difficult. I'll be doing my best moving forward to describe scenes as needed, as well as combining connected images together to stretch out my limit, but I'm not going to pretend that it'll be the same as getting the visual play-by-play we’re used to.

Tumblr certainly is a website, huh?

Anyway, we open on Yusuke once again lamenting the difficulty of hatching a spirit beast that doesn't immediately devour him from the head down. On the one hand this is an admittedly easy way to reset the story over the course of this arc — the storytelling equivalent of waking your character up each morning — yet I cannot deny that if I were undergoing a resurrection test, it would consume my every thought too. Can't really blame Yusuke for endlessly bringing the conflict up when the conflict is this deadly.

Well, deadly for a ghost, anyway.

Specifically, he's worried about how embarrassing it would be to get eaten by something that came out of an egg this tiny. I'm torn between reminding a fictional character that things grow — a pissed off chicken could kick my ass and it started out in an egg too — and just shaking my head over the absurdity of worrying about embarrassment when, you know, you would cease to exist. It's not even a matter of, "What if I die and then I'm embarrassed about it in the afterlife :( " Yusuke is already IN the afterlife. He's got nowhere to go but oblivion!

Luckily, Botan takes a more practical approach to these worries, pointing out that he'll be just fine provided he does some good deeds. Yusuke starts a rant about how do-gooders are only ever out for themselves.

Yusuke, you dumb-dumb, you're a do-gooder now. What was all that help for Kuwabara, hmm? As said, these early episodes exist in a semi-reset loop, where Yusuke needs to stew in his main character flaws for a while before any real growth starts to stick. Those flaws being, primarily, "I'm a pessimist" and "also I hate myself."

Case in point, Botan accuses him of always seeing the glass as half empty. Which, while true enough (outside of his confidence in fighting, anyway), by now we've got a pretty good sense of where Yusuke developed this attitude. He affirms this by talking about how Koenma's got him by the balls, "just another idiot abusing his power!" With an alcoholic mother and those teachers from last episode, it's no wonder Yusuke thinks this way. Mr. Takenaka's interest and Keiko's care aren't enough to combat the rest of Yusuke's experience, not when Takenaka is an outlier and Keiko is Yusuke's peer. Her desire to keep him on the right track reads only as an inevitability at best (the downside of having a perfect childhood friend), or a legitimate annoyance at worst. Or, as we'll continue to see in this episode, a way for them to flirt.

Is it any wonder Yusuke would sneer at Koenma's offer then, expecting the worst? The fact that Yusuke is still undergoing the challenge at all, no matter what he says, speaks volumes to me.

However, Botan is less than comfortable with his criticisms. She panics a bit at Yusuke insulting the (junior) ruler of the underworld so blithely. That, and the fact that he's carelessly tossing his egg around.

(Yes we’re using precious picture space for memes are you SURPRISED?)

Anyway, Botan isn't just concerned for the sake of concern. She cautions Yusuke against speaking too freely because there may be investigators checking in on his progress. No sooner does he ask what those investigators look like than one appears.

Thunder! Lighting! An energy so intense that Yusuke is briefly blinded! It is, as he says, quite the entrance. What kind of being could possibly be at the heart of such an astounding show?

Why, this teeny-tiny cutie, of course.

Remember, few appearances in YYH coincide with the character's true self. Would you ever assume this is the all-powerful investigator who holds Yusuke's future in her hands? Of course not. That's the point.

The investigator introduces herself as Sayaka and immediately demonstrates that she has no more patience for Yusuke's attitude than Botan does. "These damn kids," he mutters and my brain briefly blue screens because Yusuke. You're fourteen.

Plus, Sayaka and Botan clearly have some sort of eternal youth situation going on, so there's that too.

Sayaka is, in a word, fantastic. She pulls no punches with Yusuke, teleporting away from him with what can only be described as a shit-eating smile, all while refusing to tell him what exactly she's investigating. “I’m sorry, but that’s a secret!” However, Keiko is clearly at the forefront of her interest. She refers to her as Yusuke's "girlfriend."

Botan is more than happy to point Keiko out — because of course they're still following her around! — and pulls a Et tu, Brute? on Yususke, leading Sayaka right to her. Like most of the Underworld, Sayaka is rather shocked that the pretty, popular, scholarly girl is supposedly into the delinquent. It's the power of childhood friendship, you fools! Specifically, Sayaka references the "positive markings" that Keiko has accumulated, but the audience already knows by now that such markings are suspect at best. Yusuke himself is proof of that. So if his terrible marks don't preclude him from being a young kid's savior, should we really view Keiko's as proof of superiority?

I mean, Keiko is fantastic, but that's not really the point here.

Starting her own investigation into Yusuke's life, Sayaka begins with one hell of a bombshell: "There's no point in doing [the resurrection] if the people closest to you don't care." WOW. Not only is that a harsh assessment, it's one I don't think I can personally get behind. The offer to restore Yusuke to life is built on the acknowledgment that their system is flawed (even if there's no work to change or dismantle that system): they thought he was worthless, his sacrificial death seems to have proven them wrong, and now they want further evidence, in the form of this trial, that Yusuke is a good person at heart. The whole point of this challenge is to give him a second chance, with testimonies like Mr. Takenaka's emphasizing that Yusuke has always been capable of more, so long as he applies himself. This, as we'll see throughout the series, applies to relationships too. The Yusuke with one friend he play-fights with, a distant mother, and a school worth of kids who are terrified of his very name is not the future Yusuke they expect him to become, so... why base his resurrection on what he's already (not) accomplished? Granted, the show is very unclear about what, if anything, Sayaka will do if she decides that Yusuke doesn't have a life worth going back to (even if I have my own theory discussed at the end), but the fact that this is suddenly a factor at all seems grossly unfair, not entirely unlike Kuwabara's rigged promise. We as the audience know that people love Yusuke. Yusuke himself is beginning to acknowledge that. But if this fourteen year old delinquent truly had no one that wanted him back from the dead... isn't that all the more reason to allow a resurrection and give him the chance to build a life where he would be missed?

This stupid shonen got me thinking too much istg.

Yusuke, ever the self-deprecating pessimist, bypasses all of the above thoughts and jumps straight to, "It's clear if [Keiko] had any sense she'd want me gone." I'd find that attitude incredibly sad if I wasn't distracted by how cute Botan and Sayaka are, sitting on the oar together. The spirit girls who fly together, thrive together!

Botan starts teasing Yusuke about having a crush, which just feeds his temper and Sayaka's confusion. Deciding that she needs to gather more info, they follow along for an average day of school because these earlier episodes are, apparently, ghost-stalk Keiko hours.

We see her reading aloud in class from Heart of Darkness (not the easiest book for some middle schoolers), scoring a point during volleyball practice, refusing to let one girl cheat off her homework, but happily helping another who runs up with a question. So she's pretty, athletic, and academically successful, the trifecta for any good love interest. Sayaka is impressed not just with her "nearly perfect" scores, but also the maturity that Keiko demonstrates, such as maintaining her morals about cheating while remaining compassionate.

Actually, I really love the contrast this provides for us, the viewer. Meaning, Keiko is shown to be at her least mature when in Yusuke's presence. Not that her responses aren't justified, but watching her dramatically snatch gum from his mouth, slap him across the face, or pull crazed expressions as she yells at him is a far cry from this calm, poised, soft-spoken Keiko. It's a way to visually show us that she's comfortable in his presence, despite the suspect humor attached. Not that the Keiko we see at school is faking or anything — she is legitimately that kind and articulate — but we see that being with Yusuke allows her to relax in a way she doesn't with others. School!Keiko is, as Sayaka says, pretty much perfect, 24/7. Yusuke's Keiko is a little rougher around the edges, in a way that implies a multifaceted personality shining through.

However, the only conclusion our trio draws is that, given Keiko's accomplishments, any attraction must be one-sided.

Poor Yusuke lol.

In a plot move that is so ridiculously contrived, just as Yusuke is grappling with the accusation that Keiko couldn't possibly like him back, a "handsome boy" arrives to ask Keiko out. He says that he couldn't bear it when she stopped reading Heart of Darkness because he's fallen in love with her voice. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Please excuse me while I lose my shit over how ridiculous this is. I legitimately straight up cackled when I watched this scene.

Luckily for Mr. Absurd, Keiko takes him seriously — and lets him down easy. She says she can't be his girlfriend and when he presses the "Why?", asking if she already likes someone else, Keiko confirms that she does. This is done through a shot of her feet. Not a POV shot given the angle, but close enough that it feels like we're stepping into Keiko's shoes (haha), shyly staring down at the floor in embarrassment and regret.

Rejection complete? The guy screams.

I mean he screams.

I mean this nobody we're never gonna see again unhinges his jaw and lets out an unholy shriek the likes of which makes me shriek in utter GLEE.

It's insane. It's wonderful. I'm going to use one of my coveted image spots to show you his face:

Look at that and tell me this show isn't amazing.

Okay, I'm focusing again. As Keiko runs off Botan and Sayaka start dragging Yusuke, teasing him about how Keiko chose him over that "charming handsome boy."

...Please scroll up and look at that image again. I find YYH's definition of "charming" and "handsome" to be hilariously wrong.

Yusuke, as per usual, throws himself into damage control, claiming that Keiko didn't say who she liked, so really it could be anyone. They're not buying it. “'I like Keiko' is written all over your face!” Botan crows. Meanwhile, Sayaka is scribbling in her little investigator's journal that feelings on both side are severely misunderstood. "Suggest serious counseling."

Fantastic idea, Sayaka. I'd personally suggest counseling for the whole dying/best friend getting resurrected thing... but relationship woes work too!

We cut to later when school is out and Keiko has gone over to Yusuke's. To say that Atsuko has done a poor job of keeping the house clean lately would be a serious understatement.

Keiko points out the old food and broken glass specifically, cluing us in that this isn't just a messy environment, but a dangerous one as well. This is proven when she accidentally knocks a stack of books over and a used bowl falls onto Yusuke's face. What's interesting is that Keiko says that things are "back to normal" now, though I'm not sure if that's in reference to the state of the house, or just the note Atsuko left behind, asking Keiko to take care of Yusuke while she's out. I'm inclined towards thinking it's just the note, partly because of Keiko's shock when she first arrives, because the house wasn't shown to be in this state prior to Yusuke's death (first image above), and because the note is accompanied by a great voiceover that makes Atsuko sound quite sloshed when she left. That's what's normal, the drinking and carefree attitude, not the state of her home. If we buy that reading, it allows for another fantastic look into Atsuko's mental state. If she's already an alcoholic, the trauma of her son's death and the following revelation that he's coming back might make her struggle in other ways. Like finding cleaning to be an impossible task.

She's depressed. It doesn't excuse the state she's left Yusuke in and, as previously acknowledged, YYH is definitely not a show interested in this nuance, but I still find it fun to take what little we've gotten and run with it.

However, Keiko is firmly on team "WTF Atsuko." She hurries to make sure Yusuke wasn't hurt by the falling bowl, bemoans him being "covered in garbage," and says that leaving him in this state should be considered a felony. Knowing it's far beyond her power to fix Atsuko's failings, Keiko swears to come here after school every day until Yusuke regains his body. It's as she's cleaning him of the dust that's gathered that Keiko becomes entranced with Yusuke’s features. Particularly his lips. The soft lighting returns, their theme song swells, and Keiko gets thiiiis close to kissing Yusuke for the first time.

Which is a little weird, right? I mean, we know why Yusuke is freaking out. Beyond the embarrassment of a middle schooler receiving his first kiss while two ghost girls eagerly watch on, he's made a hobby of denouncing his interest in Keiko to anyone who will listen. But for the average viewer — for Keiko herself — don't we care the he's, you know, dead? Or if not technically dead, very unconscious? Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the appeal of this situation in a generalized, cultural sense (with the side disclaimer that I'm reading a Japanese product through an American lens). Sleeping Beauty exists for a reason and there's definitely an element of that here: a gender-reversed setup where Keiko’s kills may break the "curse" of Yusuke's untimely death. Even his in-between state of being mirrors the "death like sleep" of the fairy tale. But when you strip away those Disney-esque thoughts, we're left with a girl about to kiss an unresponsive body, not as a common gesture of care (the parent who kisses their child while they sleep), but as a first time, romantic milestone.

It's a little weird lol.

But embrace the romance! As well as its inevitable interruption. Just as Keiko is about to land a peck, the neighborhood watch committee announces a heat and fire warning, startling Keiko out of her thoughts about Yusuke's "beautiful face." (There's another gender reversal for ya.) She gasps at her almost-action, conveniently remembers that her mom wanted her to do some shopping, and hightails it out of there before embarrassment can really kill them both.

So she runs off for food... in a sweater? The outfit is cute and all, but I wonder what the animators were thinking, putting Keiko in a puffy pullover during an episode all about a heat wave.

It's about at this point that the plot goes from cute romance to absolutely buck wild. The fires the neighborhood watch committee mentioned are not, in fact, due to the overwhelming heat, but an arsonist that's going around tossing molotov cocktails through open windows. Why is he doing such a thing? I don't know. Arsonists be doing arson, I guess. The important bit is that Yusuke's place is his next target, considering that Atsuko forgot to lock the windows when she went out. Within seconds all that garbage is set ablaze, quite obviously putting Yusuke's resurrection chances at an all time low.

"Wake up, stupid!" he shouts at his unconscious body. Mood, Yusuke. That's me every morning.

So this is a full scale emergency now and everyone is scrambling trying to think of something to do. Yusuke comes up with the idea to possess himself like he did Kuwabara — nice attempt at a loophole there — but since it would technically count as his resurrection, no dice. Botan decides to go get Kuwabara himself, even though he's too far away to do anything. It's still worth a shot. Sayaka, meanwhile, watches all this unfold with a somewhat clinical detachment. She's not quite indifferent and she's definitely not cruel... she’s just not as emotionally invested in this as the other two. Which not only re-emphasizes her purpose here, as an observer judging Yusuke, but also highlights the bond Botan is forming with him. As mentioned before in regards to her hanging out with Yusuke rather than ferrying souls, Botan is well past someone assisting Yusuke simply because it's a part of her job. He's her friend.

We get some shots of the growing fire which includes a hazy texture to the animation I quite like and then we cut to Keiko several blocks away, shopping bag in hand. Word of the new fire spreads, with one bystander mentioning that it's the twelfth today.

"This is eerie.”

“Yeah, I can’t help feeling we’re under attack.”

That's because you are! Someone stop that man!

Sadly, I don't think the arsonist is mentioned again, let alone captured. We'll just have to relegate that to my incredibly niche fic wishlist.

Keiko also overhears that the latest fire is on fourth avenue, which of course is where Yusuke lives. Recognizing that he might be in trouble, she takes off at a run.

Meanwhile, Botan finds Kuwabara practicing his kicks against a Yusuke dummy. Amazing resemblance, right?

Watching for the purpose of recapping, I'm picking up on a lot of details in the animation I quite enjoy. I don't think anyone would claim that YYH, at this point in time, has the most impressive or flashy animation (the fight scenes later are another matter entirely), but there's a clear love for the product that shines through. The scared expression on Kuwabara's dummy. His unexpectedly dainty kick, complete with pointed toes. Botan's more translucent coloring to emphasize her supernatural status compared to Kuwabara. There are a lot of nice touches despite the overall simplicity.

Plus, you can't forget the lovely irony of Kuwabara fighting a defenseless "Yusuke" while the real guy actually lies defenseless amidst a fire. We already know that despite his tough talk, Kuwabara would be horrified to learn that his friend rival had died (again) in such a manner.

Capitalizing on that transparency, Botan runs a hand through Kuwabara's back to catch his attention. He gets his "tickle feeling" and instinctively looks around towards Yusuke's house, seeing the smoke. "Something tells me I should go that way." Gotta love a guy who drops everything to chase a vague, supernaturally induced hunch.

As Kuwabara leaves we cut back to Keiko arriving at the house, staring in horror at the blaze. We get an audio flashback to her talk with Yusuke where she promised to take care of his body until he got back. So she tries to run in, only for a couple of the onlookers to snag her, quite correctly keeping her from undergoing a suicide mission. We learn later that Keiko absolutely would have died without Yusuke's sacrifice, so her "You cowards!" is born more of emotion than justified accusations. It's not cowardly to look at the raging inferno in a small apartment and realize that recklessly running in will only result in two dead teens, not one.

I mean, the flames are already right there, licking the door. Even if Keiko somehow managed to avoid burns, the smoke alone would do her in. Still, Keiko tries to mitigate the damage by dumping a bucket of water over her head. As a kid I remember thinking this was the smartest thing ever. Utterly inspired. Keep that in the back of your mind, kid Clyde, for future reference. As an adult... I have no idea whether this would actually help or not lol. Any firefighters doubling as YYH fans?

Recklessness and iffy precautions aside, I can't express how much I appreciate the story giving Keiko things to do. Yusuke recognizes that she's the only one with the maturity and open-mindedness to believe in his resurrection. She's the one picking up Atsuko's slack regarding his day-to-day needs. She never hesitates for a moment, heroically throwing herself into this blaze for Yusuke's benefit. Yeah, a lot of that still falls into the emotional/domestic sphere — what we expect of the love interest in a 90s anime — but too often action stories don't have a clue what to do with their non-action characters, not even when it comes to just supporting the fighters. They're simply... there. Keiko, however, isn't window dressing. Whether it's helping Botan survive an upcoming, supernatural plague, or cheering the team on at the Dark Tournament, Keiko is an important part of the story, despite lacking the fighting prowess of the rest of the cast.

Just as important, this episode establishes a core equality between her and Yusuke. We just watched Keiko reject a (presumably) accomplished guy for him, telling the audience that these surface differences — academics, power levels, popularity, looks — don't matter to them. Yusuke is not Keiko's lesser just because he doesn't have the same scores in Sayaka's book and Keiko won't become Yusuke's lesser just because she doesn't have spiritual power like he does. The only important thing here is that they love each other and they're both willing to sacrifice everything for the other. In the span of about ten minutes, Keiko nearly gives up her life for Yusuke and, in turn, Yusuke gives up his resurrection for her. The level of care they show towards one another is balanced, despite those differences.

They’re a good ship, y'all. Even if this recapping's got me noticing Yusuke/Kuwabara potential lol.

To get back to the plot, a drenched Keiko charges into the fire, yelling Yusuke's name for the drama of it because we all know he can't respond. Despite the audience (hopefully) recognizing Keiko and Yusuke's equality, that memo hasn't reached Yusuke yet. "You're a lot more important to this world than I am!" he yells, hammering home that despite everything — knowing he instinctively saved a child, watching his loved ones grieve for him, helping Kuwabara just because he can — Yusuke still, deep down, believes that he doesn't deserve to come back; that he doesn't measure up to those around him. The self-sacrificial nature this insecurity produces shocks Sayaka. She points out that if Keiko doesn't save his body, he's not coming back. "What's the point of being alive if Keiko has to get killed for it?"

Keiko means more to Yusuke than the rest of his living existence. Jot that down in your notebook, Sayaka!

Kuwabara arrives and runs into one of his friends who informs him that Keiko just went inside. “Yusuke’s girl? The one we saved from those thugs?”

BOY does that tell us a lot about their rivalry! I mean yeah, we've already established several times over that Kuwabara — just like Yusuke himself — is not the cruel street thug he'd like to present himself as. If these characters actually wanted to hurt each other outside of a martial arts challenge, don't you think Kuwabara would capitalize on the "Yusuke's girl" bit? Everyone seems to know that they have feelings for each other, but Kuwabara never once wields that as ammunition against Yusuke. There are no taunts about him not being good enough. Or rather, I should clarify there are no serious taunts — Kuwabara is well known for his teasing. There's also no attempt to steal Keiko out from under him, the common treatment of the love interest as a "prize" that many stories fall into. Indeed, later this episode YYH will deconstruct this a bit. Yusuke sees Kuwabara grab Keiko's hand and yells that he better not be getting "fresh" with her. But it's purely Yusuke's worries shining through. The audience gets a crystal clear picture of the situation and knows, categorically, that Kuwabara has only the most innocent of intentions in holding Keiko's hand.

(Well, running from the police isn't innocent, but...)

I keep getting sidetracked. Plot! Keiko makes it to Yusuke's room and finds that he is already on fire. She then proceeds to try and put it out by patting it with her hands. I take back what I said about Keiko's smarts in this scene. Now we know where that supposed recklessness comes from though. Apparently they're both immune to fire! Nothing to worry about here, folks.

JK she's actually in danger, despite the animation choices. By this point everyone, including Keiko, realizes that there's no way out: the fire has blocked the door. Sayaka then reveals that there is one way to save her. If Yusuke throws his egg into the fire, the energy of the spirit beast will release and guide her to safety. The catch? Hatch the egg early and it won't complete its intended function of guiding him back to his body. This beast is gonna guide one person and that is it.

Cue Yusuke's near immediate decision to sacrifice his life for Keiko's. Granted, it's not precisely one life for another. Yusuke's resurrection was always contingent upon the beast not devouring him whole — something Koenma claims would have happened at the end of the episode — meaning that it's not technically a fair trade. Yusuke might have sacrificed Keiko's life for his own... only to fail to get that life back anyway. (There's a tragedy for ya.) To say nothing of how Yusuke is currently dead and has been for at least a couple of days, whereas Keiko very much is not. There's some sort of philosophical discussion there about potential being pit against current reality.

BUT that's not the point! The emotional point is that he sacrificed his life for hers — the potential of his resurrection, the potential of that life he might have led — all technicalities aside. And I, for one, think that's very neat of him.

A blue light shines as the egg's energy is released, providing a lovely contrast to the fire surrounding them. A path forms to the door and Keiko, recognizing Yusuke's presence, follows it. "We'll make it, Yusuke," Keiko says, which is one hell of a sucker-punch now that we know she's just carrying a corpse. Unbeknownst to Keiko, Yusuke is very much not making it. That's the only reason why she is.

Kuwabara appears to help them the rest of the way which is also a pretty awesome thing considering that, from everyone else's perspective, the fire is still raging and blocking the door. Despite his spiritual awareness, Kuwabara gives no indication that he noticed this strange light, or Yusuke's hand in the rescue. Which basically means he lunged into a bunch of deadly fire for Keiko and doesn't question how in the world he isn't burned.

Keiko's hands are fine, Kuwabara's whole body is fine... fire immunity must run in the friend group!

Yusuke has another rare moment of vulnerability — "They're both okay" — and I cackle happily at the "both" because see. You love Kuwabara too, Yusuke! All this bluster about hating him and finding him annoying. The second he rushed into that fire you were crawling up the walls.

Except then that happiness gives way to something that sounds a little more shocked. Devastated. "Well, I sure am... relieved..." Kudos to Cook's voice acting. You can hear the exact moment Yusuke realizes what he's done. Not that he regrets it, but the consequences are finally sinking in. He's relieved that they're safe, yes, but now he's never going to be able to rejoin them.

As Yusuke has an(other) existential crisis, Kuwabara peels back the blanket Keiko had wrapped Yusuke in, revealing his face. “What are you doing with Yusuke’s body?! Are you some type of sick grave robber?” he shouts. God I love when a story actually keeps track of who knows what. Kuwabara, for all his recent involvement in the plot, doesn't actually know what's going on. From his perspective Yusuke died, he made a scene at the wake, he saved "his girl" from a bunch of thugs, lost a huge chunk of time only to wake up with her randomly hugging him (then slapping him), participated in a bet with his awful teacher and had a couple weird, Yusuke related dreams while studying, and has felt the presence of ghosts perhaps a little more frequently than usual. Now he's trying to help save Keiko from a fire only for her to reveal she risked her own life for Yusuke's body. Of course he's freaking out! What's she doing with that?

What's utterly fantastic though is that Kuwabara takes all of five seconds to process this and then enters immediate Ride or Die mode for Keiko. She's been hoarding Yusuke's body for undetermined reasons? Well, who is he to judge? The important thing here is that people are arrested for keeping bodies, so they've gotta skedaddle before the firefighters show up.

Hence, hand-holding and avoiding arrest.

As Yusuke starts threatening Kuwabara not to get "fresh" with her, Botan sadly reminds him that he no longer has a say in who Keiko does or does not fall in love with. The switch in tone is jarring. Whereas before Botan would have teased him mercilessly for the crush, now she knows that nothing can come of that — and it would be cruel not to remind Yusuke of that too.

"Oh no. I didn't think..." Yusuke whispers, further establishing that he knew the risks of using his egg, but hadn't allowed them to sink in yet. Now they have.

He gives a fake little laugh with, "Just when it was getting good" and I cry at the development in the span of just four episodes. Despite what I said at the beginning about the show resetting each week, there has been a lot of change thus far. Yusuke wants to live now! He wants to be there for Keiko! He looks down on his tiny family and screams at the unfairness of it all! They're talking about how they can't wait for him to come back and now that's never gonna happen!!

It hurts, friends. It hurts a whole lot.

During this conversation between Keiko, Atsuko, and Kuwabara, we see that a couple of hours have passed (it's nighttime now, the fire is out) and Atsuko is apologizing for putting them all in danger like that. And by that I mean yes, she does technically apologize with an "I'm sorry" and everything, but it's also a one sentence apology pit against... well, near death for the three people standing (and sitting) before her. Atsuko seems just as concerned by Keiko losing her hair as she does Keiko nearly burning to death and she kneels by Yusuke's wheelchair, baby-talking to him about how he forgives her, right? I love Atsuko, she's great, but objectively speaking she is not a good mother. Not right now, anyway.

Oh yeah, and just to reiterate that: Keiko's hands are fine after patting down Yusuke's on-fire body, but her hair, which I'm pretty sure never catches, has to be cut short. Ah, anime logic. Funny thing is, YYH isn't the only story to take the love interest and give her a cool, short cut thanks to a traumatic event. Anyone read Ranma 1/2?

During this conversation we also learn that, sometime between the fire and now, Keiko filled Kuwabara in on everything that's happening with Yusuke. Makes sense. He kneels beside the wheelchair, joining the others in telling Yusuke that they'll wait patiently for his return. Yusuke, above them, continues yelling about how they're waiting on a dead man.

“It can’t be helped. He made this decision on his own."

Except it can, in fact, be helped!

Just as all hope is truly lost, Koenma appears and announces that Yusuke will be returned to life. Why? Because sacrificing his egg for Keiko is a better indicator of his worth than the egg itself could have been. Despite feeding on his negative outlook and heading towards biting Yusuke's head off — something the animation backs up by showing us teeth during the fire

— Yusuke's act demonstrates a tendency towards being a "decent human being" that is "so rare." Wow. That's depressing. Still, yay that Yusuke has those qualities! And this, to my mind, helps explain Sayaka's presence. Koenma recognized that judging Yusuke couldn't be left to the egg alone and indeed, Sayaka took note of his worth before he ever threw the egg into the fire. First it was questioning why someone as amazing as Keiko would go for him, then it was solidified through the shock of Yusuke announcing that coming back to life was meaningless if she wasn't in it. Even if Keiko had somehow, miraculously escaped the fire before Yusuke's sacrifice, I bet Sayaka's report would have tipped him in resurrection's favor anyway.

Everyone is, of course, overjoyed and my heart swells at the intense gratitude Yusuke displays. My favorite part though is when Koenma cryptically says that “Your added experience with death could make you very useful" (a nod towards future events that goes right over Yusuke's head) and his response to this is a yelled, "YOU THINK I'M USEFUL?" This poor kid. The God of everything ever is chucking out revelations left and right, about resurrections and spirit beasts, but the only thing that really penetrates is the realization that someone thinks he's useful. Talk about relatable.

You know, I've been thinking about why this moment works so well. I mean, there are a lot of other stories where undermining the consequences our hero faces — either with humor, or by erasing them completely — can feel like the audience was cheated. I think YYH dodged that with a couple of crucial factors. First, Yusuke's consequence isn't something new that he's now avoided, it's just a permanent extension of something he was already dealing with. We did get to watch him inhabit the space between life and death, grappling with whether he'd ever be able to return. The story didn't deny us that growth, it just confirmed something we all instinctively knew: this tale won't end here with Yusuke permanently going to some afterlife. Second, the Deus ex Machina fix doesn't happen too soon. Yeah, it's only a couple of minutes in a single episode, but we (and Yusuke) still get to sit with that outcome for a while, soaking it in before its removal. Finally, there's no doubt that Yusuke earned this reprieve. Koenma's timing might be sudden and (if you're not genre savvy) unexpected, but looking back at the series as a whole thus far, we're able to agree absolutely that Yusuke deserves this. Far from feeling like we were cheated, this solution invites just as much celebration as we're seeing on screen, for the simple reason that we can buy into Koenma's reasoning. We know now that Yusuke is a good person. We saw him selflessly sacrifice his future for Keiko. We agree that he deserves a second chance.

Thus, the episode ends with Yusuke flying up to fill the screen in his joy, a far better, final shot than Harry Potter and The Prison of Azkaban managed 😰

And that's it for Episode 4, folks! See you later for Episode 5 💕

#YYH #Yu Yu Hakusho #YYH Recaps #mymetas

14 notes · View notes

willow-salix · 3 years

Text

The Shirt

This little thing is for @misssquidtracy and @soniabigcheese and was supposed to be a ficlet (tell that to the 2.5k that came out). It came about after a throw away comment to Sonia last night and then John ‘helpfully’ dropped the whole thing in my head fully formed. Enjoy!

Thanks to the awesome @myladykayo for the gorgeous shot of this dude!

"I don't need any new clothes, I told you that."

"And I didn't listen. Come on, John, you haven't bought anything new since college."

"And I'm happy with that, all of my clothes are perfectly serviceable," John continued to argue as Gordon towed him into yet another shop.

As always they drew attention, Gordon because of his loud voice and, according to him, his swimmers body that the women loved. Gordon had always loved to be the center of attention, he'd reveled in it back in his Olympic days, proud of the knowledge that his promotional pictures had graced many a teenagers phone backgrounds and lock screens.

John, on the other hand, had no idea what people saw in him and why they still watched him even when he was with his brothers. He knew his hair always drew looks and over the years he'd heard more than a few people whispering something about checking if he was a natural redhead, although he'd never wanted to stick around to listen too closely and had gotten out of there sharpish. He'd much rather just be left alone to fade into the background where his introverted wallflower tendencies could be appeased.

"Well, I need new clothes and you can't leave a man to shop on his own, it's just not done," Gordon continued.

"I'm pretty sure there's no such rule."

"I'm making it a rule, it's part of the bro code now," Gordon shot back, flicking through yet another rack of eye-wateringly bright shirts that even Hawaii would have disowned.

"I reject your rule."

"You can't, I'm your baby brother, you have to be nice to me, that's in the bro code too."

"I demand to see written proof of this rule book that you seem to keep pulling things from whenever it suits you."

Gordon glanced at his brother, seeing his lips twitch as he fought valiantly to keep any display of amusement firmly at bay. John didn't often get the chance to hang out with his younger brother but he always enjoyed it, not that he'd ever admit that out loud, that would only encourage Gordon to up his annoyance level by at least five points.

"Ha! You smiled, I'm off the hook!"

"I did no such thing."

"You did, I saw it! The robot had a feeling- ow!" Gordon ducked out of the way, avoiding another cuff around the back of the head from his, far too lanky for his own good, brother who apparently had the reach of an orangutan.

"I'm not a robot, you little jerk. Stand still so I can hit you properly." And there went the warm fuzzy feelings. Back to reminding himself just why said hang outs didn't happen more often.

"Yeah, right! Like that's gonna happen." Gordon shimmied backwards through the rack of shirts that made the sun look dull and out the other side to freedom. "Too much time in space has made you slow, bro!"

"What? HOW DARE YOU!" Without thinking John dived around the side of the rack, stretching out to grab at his grinning brother. "I'll show you who's slow!"

"I am lightning, I am the wind!" Gordon dodged aside with perfect ease, avoiding the grasping fingers of his brother.

"Full of wind, more like! Stand still!" How was the squid so fast?

"Come on, old man, keep up!"

John made another grab at the back of Gordon's shirt but the little shit wiggled out of his grasp like an eel.

"Ha! Victory is mine!"

"I wouldn't be too sure about th-" WHUMP! John spluttered, screeching to a stop as he got a face full of fabric, evidently thrown by Gordon who'd decided that weapons were now in play.

He flailed, tripping over the leg of a clothing rack as he stumbled blindly. He made a grab for the first solid feeling thing he could find, although his judgement of solid was woefully inadequate. He landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs, both his own and plastic, as the mannequin he'd inadvertently grabbed fell with him.

"Gordon," he gasped, winded from his tumble, but the sound of his brother's hysterical laughter was all that he received by way of an answer.

He yanked the material off his head, a shirt of some description by the looks of it, and staggered to his feet, dragging his dance partner up with him.

He managed to get her upright and back on her stand after a great deal of huffing and many swear words muttered under his breath as Gordon continued to howl like a hyena, hanging onto a mirror to stop his own downward descent.

Yanking her skirt back up where he'd accidentally yanked it down, John finally got the mannequin back in place and decently covered up.

"Gordon stop laughing!" he ordered as he bent to pick up the shirt that had assaulted him before angrily turning to face his brother.

"What a clumsy idiot," he heard someone whisper a few rows over, stopping him in his tracks. "Keep out of the way, he'll take us down with him next."

John ducked his head, his cheeks as red as his hair, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole. He hated being the center of attention and now, he risked a peek to confirm his suspicions, yep, now the whole store was looking at him. Great, just perfect.

"I'm never coming shopping with you again," he hissed in Gordon's direction.

"Too right. Did you see the shirt he's holding?" the woman's friend whispered back. "Anyone that picks out something like that should be avoided at all costs."

"He's looking, quick, pretend you haven't seen him!" Both women quickly looked away, suddenly extremely interested in a nearby coat.

What were they talking about? John glanced down at the pile of fabric still clutched in his clenched fist. It was definitely a shirt of some description, beigey-brown in colour, but not just one shade, oh no, this monstrosity had at least four other shades of brown thrown in for good measure, all coming together in wavy lines of what-was-this-designer-thinking to form some kind of texan nightmare, complete with gaudy gold piping. It truly was hideous, quite honestly the most disgusting thing he'd ever laid eyes on and he'd trained with astronauts who didn't have control of their digestive systems yet.

He looked around desperately to find somewhere to hide it away from his sight, ignoring Gordon who was taking deep breaths in an effort to calm down.

There! He spotted a convenient looking pile of sweatpants on a shelf and moved over to stuff the offending article back into the depth of hell from whence it had crawled when a single, solitary thought tickled at the back of his brain.

He paused, thinking, his brain hamster now awake and racing at top speed around its wheel. He glanced from the shirt to the women who had spoken before, then back down to the shirt.

"I'm going to try this on," he announced to his stunned brother, marching past him to the changing rooms.

He quickly stripped off his T-shirt, the one that declared that he was a communications engineer not a magician, and pulled on the horror shirt. Surprisingly enough it was actually made of quite a soft material, something his overly sensitive, due to time spent in low gravity, skin really appreciated.

He pulled it closed and buttoned it up, rolling his shoulders to allow it to settle into place. It was remarkably comfortable, actually long enough in the body. He stretched out his arms, pleased to see that the cuffs didn't immediately hike up to his elbows. All good so far, but only one thing would assure its purchase…

He pushed open the changing room door and stepped outside. The effect was immediate as two men, three women and a toddler that had been independently milling around near the entrance took one look at him and, as one, turned as quickly as they could in the opposite direction.

Grinning to himself he tugged the tag off the sleeve, grabbed his T-shirt from the changing room and headed to the counter.

"I'll wear it out," he informed the cashier, loving the way he not so subtly averted his eyes, unable to look at him. "And I'll take as many as you have in stock in this size and the next one up too." The cashier rushed to do his bidding, desperate to save what remained of his eyesight.

"See, I told you coming shopping with me was a good idea," Gordon grinned as they made their way back to the parking lot, their arms filled with bags.

"I will admit that it had its advantages," John answered as they strode easily through the crowd that parted like the red sea, unwilling to risk being contaminated by their fashion flu.

John breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like he could relax for the first time since they'd gotten there three hours before.

"That shirt is magical," Gordon declared, watching in astounded awe as eyes all around them shifted to avoid looking in his brother's direction. "It's like a people repellent in clothing form, it's….it's…" he groped around for the right words.

"It's perfect," John declared, lovingly stroking a sleeve like one would a beloved pet. And it truly was. It was like people had a filter, an ugly shirt firewall in their heads that made them avoid it at all costs.

He couldn't remember a time that he hadn't been stared at since the year he'd turned seventeen and hit his second growth spurt. In that year he'd shot up six inches, his lanky frame had filled out a little, his weedy arms turning into tightly packed muscles and he'd developed abs and a voice that had deepened a few octaves. Then, for some reason, his anxious aura with its go away vibes had become nothing but a challenge for most people, acting as a kind of siren call for them to latch on to him and decide that he needed to be included, chatted to and made the center of attention.

Now it was like he was practically invisible and it felt amazing. Even with the neon orange shirt Gordon was wearing, people were mostly ignoring him.

"I'm never taking this thing off again."

***

"Why am I always the one doing the laundry for you lazy arses?" Selene bitched as she dragged a massive basket of assorted Tracy clobber into the lounge where the assorted Tracys owners sat around in various states of lazy.

"Because you love us?" Gordon answered, grinning cheekily.

"Nope, that can't be it," Selene retorted, sitting down on the steps of the seating area to begin the mammoth task that was sorting and folding. She dragged out one of Virgil's plaids and folded it into some semblance of order and dropped it on the floor to start his pile.

"Let me help," John offered, moving to sit beside her and take some of the pile from her lap.

"Thanks, gorgeous."

"Whipped," Scott teased, reaching for his coffee cup. "Hey, Sel, if you're the only one doing the laundry as you claim, how comes you haven't managed to wreck John's ugly shirts?"

"Why would I?" she shrugged, balling up a pair of Scott's socks.

"Because I know you. Any excuse to shop, right?"

The socks made a handy projectile as she threw them at his head.

"Thanks!" Scott grinned, effortlessly plucking them from midair. "Seriously though, look at it."

Selene looked at the shirt that was currently hiding the delightful chest of her even more delightful husband.

"I fail to see the problem with it."

"Really?"

"Hey, leave my shirt alone, it's perfectly serviceable, thank you."

"It's old, it has to be at least seven years since you bought them," Gordon joined in. "They probably don't even make them any more."

"They don't," John said, concentrating on folding one of Alan's T-shirts into a perfect square. "So nothing had better happen to the ones I have left."

"Now's your chance," Alan whispered to Selene. "Kill them with fire and you'll never have to see them again."

"Yeah, you know that he's got much nicer clothes in his wardrobe," Scott added.

"I've actually grown quite fond of them," Selene answered, carefully folding one she'd plucked from the depths of the pile, smoothing it out like it was something precious.

All three Tracys, minus one Virgil who was down in the hangars no doubt creating more washing for her to do by getting covered in grease and muck, stared at her like she'd just announced that she was going back to blonde.

"What? How? You said that he's never looked better than when he's wearing a decent shirt, I had to give you a drool cloth at your wedding."

"All true," she shrugged, folding one of Virgil's vests to the best of her ability.

"Yet you continue to let him walk about in, what was it you called it, his rodeo clown shirt?" Gordon asked, completely bemused. "Are we missing something here?"

"I'm a witch," she started by way of explanation.

"Duh," Alan snorted.

"And I have a healthy respect for glamour magic, and that right there," she continued as if she hadn't just been rudely interrupted, pointing at the shirt that John was wearing, "is the most magical thing I've ever seen in my life."

All three of them burst out laughing, unable to believe what they were hearing. Selene waited patiently for them to finish cackling like they had just cursed Macbeth.

"Allowing the shirts to live is doing the world, and my arrest record, a huge favour. Now, if you'll excuse us…" she got to her feet, relieved John of the socks he was busily matching and dragged him to his feet.

"OK, OK, I'll bite," Scott continued to chuckle, wiping the tears from his eyes. "What makes you think it's so magical?"

"That should be obvious, nothing short of a miracle could hide that amount of sexiness. Why do you think I'm good with him hiding in Five when he's wearing that space suit?" She dumped the half folded pile of washing back into the hamper.

"I've decided that you lot can sort your own laundry, because I've got the sudden and overwhelming urge to see that shirt on our bedroom floor. Later, fashion rejects."

John put up zero resistance.

"I love this shirt," he grinned, waving a cheerful goodbye to his stunned brothers as his wife yanked on his hand, towing him bodily from the lounge and on to far more pleasant things than chores.

#we need more squidboy and spaceman #SquidMan #John Tracy #Gordon Tracy #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirdsarego #thunderbirds #thunderbirds 2015 #thunderbirds fanfiction

33 notes · View notes

forasecondtherewedwon · 3 years

Text

Fourth Coming

Fandom: The Wilds Rating: T Word Count: 2157

Summary: And on the twenty-third day, Nora ate goat and thought about love.

Nora sees the experiment through two lenses, like the red and blue acetate in those cheap 3D glasses. One lens is the scientific, the other is the brutal. When she puts these metaphorical glasses on, she’s just there, in the middle of it, but when she’s feeling particularly tired (understandably often) or just relaxed (inexplicably often—a fact to be concealed from the others), she shifts between the two views. Each is sharper alone than they are combined.

Scientific: counting the days; subtly taking her own inventory of the rations; monitoring Fatin’s dehydration, the commensurate level of distrust the rest of the group have for her.

Brutal: cold fingers in wet, black sand, disinterring Jeanette’s grave; Dot’s tumbling, shivering recount of spearing and battering a snake; ralphing, ralphing, ralphing bad mussels.

It isn’t until the goat that these contrary perspectives finally attain a kind of beautiful balance in Nora’s brain. And it isn’t her thoughts, or rereading one of her journal entries, that has her mental clouds clearing. Actually, it’s what Leah says. About barbecues and normalcy and the Fourth of July. Leah’s remark—possibly offhand, certainly poisonous, even if Nora can’t see how yet—gracelessly and unselfconsciously reveals the barbarism of order. A social gathering on the same day each year, centered around fire (fireworks, sure, but Nora is amazed by how dazzled people are by something not so very far advanced from what had the cavepeople oohing and awwing) and the cooking of meat. Ritual is the summit at which the scientific and the brutal join hands.

The day doesn’t matter. (Every day could have been June 29th and what difference would that have made for them on this island?) The conditions of their environment haven’t changed. (No major shift in the seasons or significant weather patterns, just the single freakish high tide.) The slaughter of the goat and the subsequent cookout should be put down to chance, Nora knows. Toni, Martha, and Shelby decided to look for food. Martha happened to find the goat. She happened to lay her hands on a tool that could do the job. She happened to be successful. And now, miraculous barbecue in honour of… what?

Nora’s sure that most of the girls would say the feast is in honour of themselves, their power, their survival. All of that would really put a spit-shine on Gretchen’s mission statement, but Nora’s not just an agent, a plant, a spy, a wolf in castaway’s clothing. She seeks to understand as much as she always has. She wonders if Shelby thanks god for the goat, or eats it as a form of praise. Nora constantly spots her toying with the cross on her necklace, frequently in a way that holds it far from her throat, almost like she’s thinking about ripping the necklace off and hurling it into the ocean. That would be going a bit far, but then, so is hacking your hair off because a brush got stuck.

Their ritual could be the sacrifice of another creature in the hopes of sparing themselves—a kind of desperate, gasping celebration. Privately, Nora decides they’re celebrating love. Leah’s persistent aura of tragic romance is part of the inspiration for that, but she isn’t part of either of the two developing relationships Nora’s been observing.

Martha’s picking at her goat meat glumly, so Nora rises and goes over to her. Her gait is unsteady on this sand and on these legs, weakened over the past two days of starvation, but it’s enough to carry her until she can slump down next to Martha. Sweet and strong, vulnerable and clearly capable (judging by the sizzle of fat dripping from the roasting goat leg and hitting the fire), Martha smiles when Nora joins her. Nora smiles back and that’s enough between them for a few minutes.

Nora watches the browned meat, nearly allowing herself to be hypnotized by the texture that urges her to sink her teeth in, the crispy spots she knows would taste incredible. But she can’t gorge herself; her stomach needs to be cool about what she’s already eaten or the chewed up goat goes the way of the slurped mussels Rachel found.

Carefully, Nora turns her head to study Martha. She decides that what this girl needs is the same thing Leah needed on Day 12 when she was sitting alone on the beach: some kind of dirty joke. Since she’s fresh out of filthy material of the Christmas variety, Nora tells Martha, “One second,” and heaves herself up again. She comes back dragging Marcus. He’ll be her muse, but it’s also a reunion of lovers.

“You two could get married,” Nora tells Martha. “Shelby said she was an ordained youth minister, remember?”

They laugh and it’s softer than the crackle of the fire. Nora likes that. The steady, rolling sound of their laughs together. How they taper off, unlike the ceaseless noise of breaking waves that drives Nora insane whenever she surfaces from her numbness to the sound. Like becoming conscious of your breathing and working like hell to stop noticing it, because having to purposefully regulate every breath is exhausting and terrifying.

Martha frowns a little in consideration, then half-smiles.

“Nah. I don’t know if I’m ready to commit like that. I think this could just be a fling. All those abs and he didn’t come help me haul that goat.”

“That’s true.” When Martha gazes at the mannequin, Nora assesses Marcus as well. “And it’s not like you’d want to keep him around because he gives great head.”

“He might’ve once,” Martha defends, brushing hair out of her face when a breeze kicks up, “but he gave so much head that there’s none left for me.”

They catch each other staring at the clean line where Marcus’s neck ends and nothing rests above it and trip into laughter again. Though Nora feels like she accomplished her dirty joke, Martha made it even better. People have underestimated her. Nora’s noted it from the start. It’s probably because Martha was injured. Group dynamics were established quickly and have formed and reformed in the days and weeks since, but Day 1 showed them the rawest version of who they are together and, before they knew about Jeanette, Martha was the weak one. Have the others seen her role evolve like Nora has? Are Nora’s observations anything special, really?

“This is totally not a judgement thing or anything,” Nora says, meaning it. “I was just wondering if you were maybe going to wash your clothes. Or change them.”

“Oh.”

Martha looks down at herself and now Nora’s glad she said something; it doesn’t seem like Martha was really aware that she’s been sitting here crusted in drying blood. Nora weighs the acceptability of a period joke and decides against it.

“You don’t have to,” she assures Martha, raising a gentle hand. “It just seemed like maybe the, uh, the slaughtering process? Was kind of a mindfuck?”

“Yeah.” Martha stares straight ahead and lets out a short laugh that Nora doesn’t join her in. “I’m glad Marcus wasn’t there to see. He might not’ve come back the same.”

Nora peers at her a moment, then resolves to just say what she’s thinking.

“Did you?”

Turning her head, Martha looks at Nora and her smile’s the same, but her eyes are different. No, Nora would write in the journal. The answer is plain. Maybe she’ll record it on paper later and maybe she won’t. Looking into Martha’s eyes, Nora knows she won’t need help remembering this.

“I’m just living my best life,” Martha tells her, batting the ends of her hair with her hand.

It sounds like something Fatin would say in this moment, or at least have printed on a t-shirt or something—it’s flip and glib—and for the very reason that it reminds Nora of Fatin, she’s certain that Martha not only means the silly words sincerely but that she feels the kind of truth in the trope, the mindfulness in the meme, that Fatin fights so hard to experience herself. Fatin is deeper than that ocean over there and Martha is a girl scooping out the sand in front of her mannequin boyfriend, digging him a sturdy trench to rest in so she can lean back against his factory-sculpted physique, painted in the blood of her first kill.

For whatever reason, Marcus is the man Martha wants. Nora can’t imagine him becoming anyone else’s property after all this is over.

“Do you want a lychee instead?” she offers. Martha’s flat-out ignoring her leaf-plate of meat now.

“Maybe in a minute.”

She turns her dreamy eyes away from where she’s rubbing a streak of dirt off Marcus’s bicep. Nora follows her gaze to Shelby, who seems to be counting out and partitioning the lychee haul, looking to Dot from time to time. Dot isn’t interfering, just giving encouraging nods when Shelby seeks them out. And of course Toni’s watching too.

“You think they’re telling the truth?” Nora inquires bluntly. “That whole ‘wrong turn in the woods’ story?”

Martha shrugs and says, “Yeah,” but Fatin scootches towards them, evidently drawn by the hum of gossip in the air.

“Are you talking about Toni and Shelby?” she asks, but it’s more of a demand. Her eyes are bright and excited, her mouth grinning, and Nora knows that a lot of that effect is thanks to their first meal in days, but it astounds her how socializing lights Fatin up as much as it used to shut Nora down.

“No,” Martha says quickly, but no faster than Nora’s flat, “Yes.”

“Dope. Yeah, those two are a hundred percent lying.”

“Are you sure?” Nora asks.

She’s not, but the cameras will be. Seeing the footage afterwards isn’t something she negotiated on when Gretchen made her part of the team. Speculation, though less scientific, is much more fun.

Fatin rolls her eyes like Nora’s questioning the laws of gravity. (She blinks and sees the poster of Newton. Sees Newton seeing the apple. Her throat closes up until she softly coughs it clear.)

“Definitely,” Fatin says. “Even if they were just out there all day picking fruit, it’s still the most sapphic thing I’ve ever heard. It’s, like, biblically sapphic.”

Martha laughs.

“Uhhh, sorry, which version of the Bible did you read?”

Nora smiles broadly and looks from Martha’s expression of brimming joy to Fatin’s concentrated delight. Like she’s on to something and whether or not she’s right is beside the point. That kind of approach makes Nora pleasantly dizzy. She remembers being little, standing at a department store perfume counter she couldn’t see over while her mom spritzed scents on her wrists that floated down to Nora’s nose. Fruit and flowers and anything and everything that could make the air beautiful when a woman walked into a room.

“None, but come on, there’s the garden, right? I know some shit. The marketing for this retreat was super Christian-centric anyway. We’re out here representing the fucking Dawn of Eve!” Fatin gestures triumphantly around at their dismal (except for the goat) camp. “If those two bitches weren’t getting their freak on under a fruit tree last night, I’ll eat my gold watch.”

Nora scrutinizes the girls in question.

“Shelby does look especially glowy today.”

“Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s chronic sun damage,” Martha singsongs.

“Maybe it’s what Toni did to those mussels with her tongue,” Fatin acknowledges frankly, “because Shelby sure as hell didn’t borrow my hundred-dollar highlighter. That shit got swept out to sea.”

Fatin trains her eyes on Shelby while Martha watches Toni, and Nora watches both of them watch the others. When they switch subjects in a moment of unvoiced agreement, Toni jerks her head up and spots Fatin staring at her. The tender gazes she’s been throwing Shelby’s way over the low mound of red fruit tighten into suspicion.

“What the fuck are you looking at?” Toni barks, and a laugh sputters from Fatin as she raises her hands to show she means no harm.

“Ok,” Martha says to Fatin and Nora, giggling. “I see it now. Something happened between Shelby and Toni yesterday. Some kind of hunter-gatherer romance.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve taken the ‘hunter’ title away from Shelby,” Nora points out.

“Well, whatever. Gatherer-gatherer then.”

“With an island colony of all women, it was only a matter of time,” is Fatin’s pragmatic take. “Another couple weeks without an orgasm and I would’ve fucked Toni myself.”

“It wasn’t just time,” Martha scoffs, tipping her head to the side. “It’s love.”

“It’s both,” Nora says. She could prove it to them, flourish the statistics she’s been tracking in her journal. How those bald numbers lie there next to the drawings that spill to the edge of the page. She’s made bedfellows of data and emotions. She just sits there and grins at them. “It’s the aphrodisiacal influence of the Fourth of July.”

#my writing #The Wilds #Nora Reid #Martha Blackburn #Fatin Jadmani #Toni x Shelby #The Wilds fanfiction #The Wilds spoilers

13 notes · View notes

earth2bucky · 4 years

Note

36 pretty please

36: helping brush their hair after a shower

your head is buried deep in a book when you notice him hovering beside you. god knows how long he’s been standing there, sweatpants slung low around his hips and wet hair dripping down the expanse of his chest.

catching his eye, you lower the book and offer him a loving smile. “what’s up, gorgeous?”

his breath hitches at the name, despite you having used it a hundred times before. if he didn’t look so mildly terrified, you’d pull him down for a kiss and whisper it a hundred more times against his lips.

“could you - uh.” he manages, pointing a hesitant finger to his head.

you think you know what he’s trying to ask, but there’s a certain vulnerability in the way he’s speaking that stops you from cutting in. this is the first time he’s ever asked you for anything, (except maybe a kiss), and you’re otherwordly proud of him for it. it’d taken months to instill the idea into bucky’s brain that he’s not, and never could be, a inconvienience to you. evidently, your relentless repetition of the fact had taken effect.

so you remain silent, plastering a bewildered look on your face as he continues to choke around his words.

“my hair.” he finally sighs, eyes trained on the pillow beside you. “it’s all fucked up and i can’t -”

“get the knots out?”

still avoiding your gaze, he nods anxiously.

there it is. lacking confidence, perhaps, but a development nonetheless. tossing your book aside, you stretch to delve inside the bedside dresser with a soft hum in search of your comb.

“you, mr barnes, are in luck. i happen to be an expert at this particular activity, having caught a shocking amount of bubblegum in my hair as a kid.”

you’re endeared to no end by the bashful smile that crosses his face, shoulders visibly relaxing with your response.

a few notably ungraceful shuffles later and you’re propped at the foot of the bed with what you hope is an inviting smile. “come sit.” you motion to the empty space on the floor between your legs, comb in hand.

the blush that spreads across his cheeks sends your smile from ear to ear. “thank you.” he rasps, obliging the command and crossing the room to take a seat between your thighs. settling his warm body against your own, you notice with the arrival of tearful eyes that his shoulders sit subconciously tight.

it might not happen fast, but you’re determined to rewire his brain’s attitude towards affection.

with the first touch to his head, you feel him slouch comfortably against you. a soft kiss to the length of his scalp and you’re on the job, carding through chestnut locks as gently as possible.

a blissful sigh escapes his mouth, sending a vibration through his entire body that you feel against your legs. it’s constrained to an extent, as if he’s worried to make noise and embarrass himself. if only he knew it was having exactly the opposite effect.

you lean to his ear, tucking a strand of his locks behind it as you speak. “you’re allowed to enjoy it, y’know. that’s kinda the whole point.”

he doesn’t reply, but the next five minutes aren’t shy of the odd equally satisfied sigh or whisper of gratitude. you’ve nearly worked through every knot on his head when the sleep inducing effect of the gesture sets in.

it takes you by surprise when his neck slumps sideways, head falling slack against your thigh. you can’t help but laugh, heart swelling with affection. “need to lift your head if you want me to finish, honey.”

“can’t hear you, ‘m asleep.”

momentarily, you’re astounded that anybody could ever be afraid of the man sleeping between your legs. even more than that, you’re grateful to see this version of him; the gentle, coconut scented version of him who’s slow breath is warm against your skin.

it pains you to break his faux slumber, but your leg is falling asleep and you’re eager to finish the task so you can get in a kiss before he’s dead to the world.

you shake your leg about and he’s back in his original position in a second, not without a curse or two. it’s only another minute or so and you’re done, setting the comb aside and tapping his shoulder. “all done.” you murmur.

he’s silent for a moment, and you consider the idea that he’s actually fallen asleep with his head upright.

“nobody’s ever done that for me before.”

a lump forms in your throat at his confession. you’re not surprised, but it’s heartbreaking nonetheless. over 50 confirmed kills and in spite of it all, he’s nothing more than a big touch starved baby. suddenly, you’re overtaken by the need to ensure him that you’d brush his hair every day if it helped him realize just how loved he was. but the opportunity to pay him out is too easy to pass up.

“no surprise, with the amount of knots you managed to accumulate.”

“mean.” he grumbles.

once again, you press a chaste kiss to the crown of his head and snake your arms around his shoulders. his hand, flesh and blood, instinctively covers your own. “only teasing. i’ll do it anytime you need. like having you close to me.” you whisper.

“careful,” he grunts, rising to his feet. “i’ll make a habit of sticking my head in a fan if you’re offering to do that every day.”

#thank u so much i hope u like it!#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky fluff #bucky drabble #bucky drabbles

286 notes · View notes

unimpressedperson · 3 years

Text

Diary Entry: Synesthesia

Once I heard someone saying that there's nothing left to discover about yourself after teenagerhood. The person eventually explained that every new development on yourself and epiphany towards your personality, hardly can be considered something new, it's a realisation of traits you felt the existence before but could never put into words.

I disagree. Living is a constant developmental phase. Unlike butterflies, which the early years are larvae phase, then cocoon and fully formed butterfly. Humans work very differently, since our growth is most definitely unclear, ambiguous and very confusing, it's unfair to say there is nothing new to be found within your own mind, soul and body.

There are characteristics we ensue later in existence. Regardless of environment or if it comes to life after transitioning from a different phase, it's eschatological to assume we will never find anything else amusing to understand about ourselves.

However, realisations are indeed a coming of age situation.

I've always experienced sensations, colours and the world as a whole with a different magnifying glass. It probably got more evident whilst growing up distant of other kids, cloistered to my own backyard and imagination, but sentiments always felt confusing, making believe always seemed more vivid than reality, tasting food and listening to music always reminded me of colours, and spending time alone always recharged me.

Later on I found out most of my quirks were result of an untreated Social Anxiety Disorder, but some of those were simply synesthesia.

Every single human being experiences a different type of synesthesia. Sometimes it's stronger for the smell or the touch, possibly the taste. Synesthesia is related to the mixture of sensations. So if you can taste something just by smelling it, it's synesthesia. If you can perfectly picture a dish by the taste, it's synesthesia.

Synesthesia is universal. It's a form of feeling and enduring the flaws and the beauties of this world we live in.

During quarantine, I spent a long period of time uncommunicating. It allowed me to acquire perspective and think about the struggles and problems that have been tearing me down for longer than I can remember. This moment also made me realise that I wasn't hallucinating when closing my eyes with earphones on, music blasting into my eardrums and colours popping around, dancing in different patterns.

It's amazing and I always assumed it was result of extreme exhaustion.

The synesthesia has always been a huge part of my personality and perception of the World. I always felt an special connection with art and music, because it fulfills me and embraces this little detail I never paid enough attention, although it never abandoned me.

The brain of someone acknowledging synesthesia is constantly tuned to the "Fantasia station", where sounds dance with colours.

Watermelon tastes red. Kebab tastes green. Taco tastes yellow. Lemon juice tastes blue. Mint chocolate ice cream tastes green. Matcha tastes brown. And that's how I always classified food.

At some point, when I was way too deep into an eating disorder, everything edible used to remind me of yellow, but not the same shade of yellow as tacos, something more dangerous. Toxic yellow.

The point is... it's never too late to develop a new characteristic or ability, to find a new peculiarity about your own personality.

Don't stop yourself from knowing yourself a little better everyday, just because you feel too old to be astounded.

The growth is ongoing, just like music and synesthesia.

#Synesthesia #Diary Entry #Fantasia #Music #Colors #Taste #Growth #Development #Existence

3 notes · View notes

unohanadaydreams · 4 years

Note

Hello again! I'm probably gonna chuck a few different asks at ya but first I wanted to invite that ramble on Mayuri and the dynamic he has with Jizo or about him in general if you'd like~ I'd love to read more character analysis about our fave clown scientist.

I am reserving my spot to over analyze Mayuri. It’s very rambly sorry.

Okay, so Jizo is a protector of people/deceased souls of children.

This tells us a few things.

1. Mayuri is protected by Jizo.

2. Mayuri craves protection.

3. Mayuri either died as a child or went through something traumatic enough as a child that it immediately ended with the event aka. the metaphorical death of childhood. My guess is on the latter.

Mayuri is protected by Jizo through the obvious means of poison. But also by his zanpakuto itself. Jizo’s appearance and abilities are off putting. This heavily reflects Mayuri--his appearance and abilities (extendo arm, ect) are off putting to most people.

I believe Mayuri calls attention to himself through his appearance, while also masking himself in strange, off putting attire so that people do not look TOO close. They see what he wants them too.

And likewise, people see what they want out of Jizo, while ignoring the meaning of the zanpakuto’s name and TRUE nature. Jizo is part of a shield Mayuri has constructed to hide his vulnerabilities as a person with feelings and flaws. (He refuses to alter his brain in the same way he alters his body bc Intellect)

Mayuri craves protection and it’s evident in how he raises Nemu as well as how he attacks others AS WELL as how he treats Jizo. Nemu, from the very start, bodily shields him even when it isn’t explicitly necessary. She was created by him and therefore her feelings of gladness for him continuing to live and her arc of understanding that her true objective was ALWAYS to protect him was pretty fitting.

Mayuri can not even face let alone acknowledge his love for his daugther until she is dead and he does so vaguely, merely calling her a great Experiment. His kindness was relayed only through Akon and even then, he does not refer to her as anything other than an accomplishment to lord over Urahara (which like BIG LMAO).

Literally admitting to Nemu that he even viewed her as his biggest accomplishment, as one would speak about an object, was embarrassing for him.

He straight up can’t admit he is PROUD of making Nemu because that would imply he in any way cares about her. Fucking astounding, the lengths he will go through to deny he knows what affection or love or anything approaching those emotions are.

With his attacks--he often uses methods physically impede his opponents from approaching him. He prefers long range or ‘stealth’ methods. Blowing up his own people, stabbing opponents through Nemu, ect. He does not have any large, impressive displays of sword fighting. He prefer to flex his mind and be creative in proving he is Superior to others.

And with Jizo, he literally punishes his sword for attacking him. While many captains would understand that an enemies abilities were at fault, Mayuri isn’t one of them.

He snaps off Jizo in Szayelaporro’s body and states directly that it’s because the sword attacked him. Obviously there is a large theme of ‘control’ going on here in tandem with his need to be protected. But nevertheless: he purposely breaks his sword like a kid having a tantrum that caretaker didn’t keep them from scraping their knee.

Mayuri’s childhood ended suddenly/early or he simply never had one. It was gone before he realized he should’ve had one, maybe.

This is evident in how he treats Nemu, yes, but also how he treats Akon. From the very start, Akon is not treated with the same kiddy gloves we see Hiyori, Nanao, or even Byakuya given in the pendulum arc. And Mayuri isn’t even fully in control here.

And that’s not even getting into how Urahara releasing Mayuri with no further consequence or stipulation and then leaving him the research & development center was essentially rewarding whatever behavior got him in isolation within the Maggot’s Nest and is the start of his decent into what he be becomes.

Or that Urahara knowing he was down there means he knew what he did and knew that only the promise of Control and Power would sway him out--presumably a promise to restore or trump what he lost when arrested.

It’s further evident in how he acts as a person. He explains things to excess, a sign he did not feel listened to or his opinion valued as a child, and will go off if he feels ignored.

He is quick to throw literal foot stamping fucking fits. Like a toddler. Over small things. He seeks approval from people like Urahara and intellectual opponents alike--he wants it to be acknowledge that he is Smarter.

Trauma wise, he has low empathy for others and the people he does care about are still treated like shit. This is VERY common for abused children. He does not value his physical form. He’ll turn himself into fucking goo--he doesn’t care. That goes beyond ‘scientific improvement’ and straight into ‘i have only been valued and validated for my intellect so that’s all that matters’.

He also hides his physical body behind clothes baggier even than the soul reaper uniform already is, paints over his skin, and generally wears eye catching clothes that distract from HIM. Making one’s body repulsive and offputting is specifically a common response to sexual abuse.

Which would also help to explain his adversity to affection tbh.

It’s very possible that all of this happened while he was a living soul and his arrival to the rukongai was after for a further and more literal interpretation of ‘deceased soul’.

ALSO Look at literally anything the science department designs and tell me it doesn’t fall into the following categories: 1. edgy my chemical romance teen who reads cosmic horror or 2. legitimately cute and child friendly designs that activate your Animal Crossing brain.

IN conclusion:

Mayuri was abused, he craves protection, he finds any form of emotion that pertains to human connection horrible, he portrays only valuing intellect, and Jizo is not ironically named such.

I DEFINITELY went off on some tangents but uuuuuuuh (:

#mayuri kurotsuchi #power and control by marina and the diamonds blasting in the background #Mayuri: idk what you're talking about I've been a nasty bitch from birth

54 notes · View notes

vheyyyy-blog · 4 years

Text

Erik Erikson’s 8 Stages of Development

PRENATAL

Summary

Having a healthy pregnancy is one of the best ways to promote a healthy birth. Getting early and regular prenatal care improves the chances of a healthy pregnancy. This care can begin even before pregnancy with a preconception care visit to a health care provider. Prenatal development is the process of growth and development within the womb, in which a single-cell zygote becomes an embryo, a fetus, and then a baby. The first two weeks of development are concerned with simple cell multiplication. This is the most critical stage of taking care of a child; there are many things to do for us to raise a child. We all know that both men and women have 23 chromosomes and if you combine that it would be 46. A healthy mother Reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. Following a healthy, safe diet; getting regular exercise as advised by a health care provider; and avoiding exposure to potentially harmful substances such as lead and radiation can help reduce the risk for problems during pregnancy and promote fetal health and development. Controlling existing conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, is important to prevent serious complications and their effects.

Reflection

Women can help to promote a healthy pregnancy and birth of a healthy baby by taking the following steps before they become pregnant first the woman should develop a plan for their reproductive life, for example they need to increase their daily intake of folic acid (one of the B vitamins) to at least 400 micrograms. Making sure that their immunizations are up to date. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs. Attain a healthy weight. Learn about their family health history and that of their partner.

Seek help for depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. During this stage parents should be financially stable in order for them to give the exact needs. And also, one more important things for the parents should be financially and emotionally stable for the upcoming needs of the baby.

Infancy

Summary

Newborns typically sleep for about 16–18 hours a day, but the total amount of time spent sleeping gradually decreases to about 9–12 hours a day by age two years. At birth infants display a set of inherited reflexes involving such acts as sucking, blinking, grasping, and limb withdrawal. Infants’ vision improves from 20/800 among two-week-olds to 20/70 vision in five-month-olds to 20/20 at five years. The infant’s understanding and mastery of the physical world begins with the reflex movements of newborns. These movements progress within three months to such actions as sucking, grasping, throwing, kicking, and banging, though these are purposeless and repeated for their own sake. During the 4th to the 8th month, the infant begins to repeat those actions that produce interesting effects, and from the 8th to the 12th month he begins coordinating his actions to attain an external goal knocking down a pillow to obtain a toy hidden behind it. The infant’s physical actions thus begin to show greater intentionality, and he eventually begins to invent new actions in a form of trial-and-error experimentation.

REFLECTION

In the first few years, your child has specific nutritional needs to ensure his/her growth.

Human milk and infant formula have all the nutrients your baby needs for the first 6 months - protein, fats, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. Human milk contains additional components that are not present in infant formula. In this stage the parents should take this action first is The New Baby Talk

There is no “too young” to talk to babies. It doesn’t matter if baby doesn’t understand words as parents give him details about sorting the laundry or explaining why I chop carrots before putting them in the soup. Infant knows hir/her mother’s voice and can sense my tone. And also parents should be sensitive enough to know that his/her child are in the safest place.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Summary

Early childhood is a stage in human development. In this phase there is significant synaptic growth and myelination of neural fibers in the brain, especially within the frontal lobes. For example, between the ages 2 and 6, the brain increases from 70% of its adult weight to 90%. The growth of the brain is followed by a surge in cognitive abilities. Around the age of five, children start speaking properly and master their hand to eye coordination.

It is optimal that an environment is provided that encourages physical development and allows the children to explore and try out new things. The physical development in children follows a pattern. The large muscles develop before the small muscles. The large muscles are used for walking, running and other physical activities. Small muscles are used for fine motor skills such as picking up objects, writing, drawing, throwing and catching. This includes children understanding a sense of 'self', relationships with others and sociability. The emotional development includes expressions, attachment and personality. Children manifest fear of dark and monsters and around the age of three notice whether they are a boy or a girl and start acting that way. Boys are usually more aggressive, whilst girls are more caring. However, aggression is manifested in two different ways: boys are more physically aggressive, while the girls are more socially aggressive. In this stage the individual differences become more prominent.

Reflection

In the earliest years of life, especially from pregnancy to age three, babies need nutrition, protection and stimulation for healthy brain development. Recent advances in neuroscience provide new evidence about a baby’s brain development during this time. As a result, we know that in their earliest years, babies’ brains form new connections at an astounding rate. In the brain-building process, neural connections are shaped by genes and life experiences namely good nutrition, protection and stimulation from talk, play and responsive attention from caregivers. This combination of nature and nurture establishes the foundation of a child’s future. Yet too many children are still missing out on the ‘eat, play, and love’ their brains need to develop. Put simply, we don’t care for children’s brains the way we care for their bodies. Parents should be more hands on in taking care of their child and to give guidance. Because in this stage, the child is in the curiosity stage. The child ask a lot of question regarding to the things that surrounds them, making the presence of the parents very important, to answer those questions.

Middle Childhood

Summary

Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12)

A child’s developmental path in their middle childhood years (between 6 and 12 years of age) contributes substantially to the adolescent, and adult they will become. Middle childhood is a stage where children move into expanding roles and environments. Children begin to spend more time away from their family and spend more time in school and other activities. As they experience more of the world around them, children begin to develop their own identity. Children in this age group are entering the ‘age of reason’ because they begin to: be more flexible in their thinking, develop self-awareness, and

identify and understand others’ feelings or emotions. During middle childhood, children work towards four important milestones, including: adjusting to school; achieving new academic skills such as learning to read, learning to get along with peers; and learning the rules of our culture or society.

Reflection

In this stage, the child spends most of their time to the environment that surrounds them especially in school. They are often far from their families. It is also the stage where they find themselves, they develop their identities as an individual. As this things happen, different characters and lifestyle will be seen and experience by the child. This is where the role of the parents comes in. The parents should guide the child on what is wrong and right, make them understand that some of the behaviours that he/she will encounter is wrong and by knowing so, will also do the right things, act the right things. This is also the stage where puberty strikes in, it is also the stage where personal matters should be taught to the child. Number one of it is proper hygiene. Parents should make sure that in this stage of their child, they know how to handle themselves, top priority of it is hygiene. Because the child will become very active in this stage, they will meet a lot of people and know themselves, cleanliness should also be established.

Adolescence

Summary

Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. Children who are entering adolescence are going through many changes. This article offers advice for adolescents and parents to negotiate these changes. Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. Children who are entering adolescence are going through many changes (physical, intellectual, personality and social developmental). Adolescence begins at puberty, which now occurs earlier, on average, than in the past. The end of adolescence is tied to social and emotional factors and can be somewhat ambiguous. There are three main physical changes that come with adolescence: The growth spurt (an early sign of maturation); Primary sex characteristics (changes in the organs directly related to reproduction); Secondary sex characteristics (bodily signs of sexual maturity that do not directly involve reproductive organs).

Reflection

Adolescent thinking is on a higher level than that of children. Children are only able to think logically about the concrete, the here and now. Adolescents move beyond these limits and can think in terms of what might be true, rather than just what they see is true. They are able to deal with abstractions, test hypotheses and see infinite possibilities. Yet adolescents still often display egocentric behaviours and attitudes. Adolescents are also developing socially and emotionally during this time. The most important task of adolescence is the search for identity. Parents should support healthy adolescent development. While adolescence can be a trying period for both youth and their parents, the home does not have to become a battleground if both parents and young people make special efforts to understand one another.

Early adulthood

Summary

The life stage called early adulthood defines individuals between the ages of 20 and 35, who are typically vibrant, active and healthy, and are focused on friendships, romance, child bearing and careers.

Yet serious conditions, such as violent events, depression and eating disorders, can negatively impact young adults. Theorist Erik Erikson (1902-1994) maintained that individuals develop in psychosocial stages, and that early adulthood marks the time when individuals seek to form intimate relationships. And Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) argued that a healthy adult is one who can "love and work." Simply stated, this developmental stage is characterized by relationships and work. Intimacy can be actualized through close friendships, romantic relationships, starting a family, or all three. Erickson argued that a firm sense of identity, gained in earlier developmental stages, was integral to entering intimate relationships, and research has supported this argument. Studies repeatedly find that those lacking a strong sense of identity have less satisfactory relationships, and they tend to be more emotionally isolated, lonely and depressed.

Reflection

Early adulthood can be a very busy time of life, many tasks are coming to the young adults. These include: Achieving autonomy: trying to establish oneself as an independent person with a life of one’s own. Establishing identity: more firmly establishing likes, dislikes, preferences, and philosophies. Developing emotional stability: becoming more stable emotionally which is considered a sign of maturing. Establishing a career: deciding on and pursuing a career or at least an initial career direction and pursuing an education. Finding intimacy: forming first close, long-term relationships

Becoming part of a group or community: young adults may, for the first time, become involved with. various groups in the community. They may begin voting or volunteering to be part of civic organizations. This is especially true for those who participate in organizations as parents. Establishing a residence and learning how to manage a household: learning how to budget and keep a home maintained. Becoming a parent and rearing children: learning how to manage a household with children. Making marital adjustments and learning to parent.

Middle adulthood

Summary

Middle adulthood refers to the people who are experiencing changes and development in their central lives. it is basically about the midlife transition or the period of life beyond young adulthood but before the commencement of the late adulthood. From the male perspective, is frequently associated with loss of physical and mental functions and vitality. The implied stigma that comes with the secondary aging often prevents men from dealing with important health issues. The change in physical appearance is some of the most notable parts for many people as they experience middle adulthood physical development. Hair begins turning grey or white as teeth fade from yellow. More wrinkles appear, especially on the face, and skin begins to sag. As adults pass their strength begins to diminish as some of their muscle is replaced with fat. Flexibility also decreases, and the reaction time of individuals in middle adulthood decreases as well.

Reflection

Middle adulthood is the time for forgiveness and happiness away from stress and unhealthy doing.

This is the time where an individual should settle every ounce of emotional, personal and psychological matters. Plans should be well organized and should be establish. This is also the stage where an individual should be open minded about the things that are happening around him/her. He/she should also be open for changes of the society to the reason that not all things will remain and should also be open to new knowledge and idea that he/she will encounter along the way of their lives. It is also in this stage that a person should be more mindful of their health as their immune system in this times are starting to get weaker. Stress should be lessen and enjoying the essence of life should be the main purpose of their remaining years.

Late Adulthood

Summary

During late adulthood the skin continues to lose elasticity, reaction time slows further, muscle strength and mobility diminishes, hearing and vision decline, and the immune system weakens. The aging process generally results in changes and lower functioning in the brain, leading to problems like decreased intellectual function and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Many of the changes in the bodies and minds of older adults are due in part to a reduction in the size of the brain as well as loss of brain plasticity. Memory degenerates in old age, so older adults have a harder time remembering and attending to information. In general, an older person’s procedural memory tends to remain stable, while working memory declines.

Reflection

Late adulthood is the stage of life from the 60s onward; it constitutes the last stage of physical change. Average life expectancy in the United States is around 80 years; however, this varies greatly based on factors such as socioeconomic status, region, and access to medical care. In general, women tend to live longer than men by an average of five years. During late adulthood the skin continues to lose elasticity, reaction time slows further, and muscle strength diminishes. Hearing and vision so sharp in our twenties decline significantly; cataracts, or cloudy areas of the eyes that result in vision loss, are frequent. The other senses, such as taste, touch, and smell, are also less sensitive than they were in earlier years. The immune system is weakened, and many older people are more susceptible to illness, cancer, diabetes, and other ailments. Cardiovascular and respiratory problems become more common in old age. Seniors also experience a decrease in physical mobility and a loss of balance, which can result in falls and injuries. In this stage also, happiness and contentment should be present as the remaining years will past until the moment of death, the person will have the guts and proud to say that “I have lived my life the way it should be I am ready.”

1 note · View note

paleorecipecookbook · 5 years

Text

Here’s the Research on Sugar and Health

The United States is the top sugar-consuming nation in the world, with the average American taking in an astounding 57 pounds of added sugars per year. (1) What is our out-of-control sugar consumption doing to our health? Read on to learn about the latest research on sugar and health, including the concept of sugar addiction, the health implications of excessive consumption of added sugars, and the evidence for the safety (or lack thereof) of artificial and other non-nutritive sweeteners.

Don’t have time to read it all? Use these links to navigate to each section of the article.

The truth about sugar addiction

How sugar addiction works

High-fructose corn syrup and sweetened beverages

The latest research on sugar

My take on artificial sweeteners

Healthy sweetener options

Is Sugar Addiction Real?

For decades, the scientific community was hesitant to describe the human fixation on sugar as an “addiction”; it seemed like an exaggeration to equate the desire for sugar with the desire for a controlled substance such as cocaine or heroin. But now, more and more research on the biochemical and neurobehavioral consequences of sugar consumption has changed the opinions of scientists and health professionals alike. In fact, sugar addiction appears to be a genuine phenomenon that afflicts a significant proportion of our population.

Excess refined sugar can be harmful—and even addictive. Check out this article to find out what the latest research says, and get information on four healthy sweeteners you can use as alternatives. #nutrition #wellness #chriskresser

In a survey of 986 Americans recruited to be nationally representative of the U.S. population, 15 percent of the participants met the criteria for food addiction, as reported by the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. (2) The Yale Food Addiction Scale is a measure for identifying those who are most likely to exhibit compulsive overeating and symptoms of substance dependence (i.e., cravings, bingeing) when exposed to high-fat or high-sugar foods. Importantly, those people who met the criteria for food addiction were of all shapes and sizes, ranging from underweight to obese.

This revealing research suggests that sugar addiction, a subcategory of food addiction, is a real problem affecting a diverse population (including children, as it turns out)—not just those who need to lose weight.

How Sugar Addiction Works

Substance use disorder is defined as “a behavior pattern in which people continue to use a substance despite having problems caused by its use.” (3) The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has outlined 11 criteria that characterize substance use disorder, including the following:

Taking in a substance in larger amounts or for longer than you’re meant to

Wanting to cut down or stop using a substance, but being unable to do so

Cravings and urges to use a substance

Using substances again and again, even when the substances are harming your body

Development of withdrawal symptoms upon ceasing use of the substance

While these behaviors are generally used to diagnose alcohol or drug addiction, they are also consistent with animal and human models of sugar intake! In fact, the scientific literature indicates that there is a striking overlap in neurobiological mechanisms and brain activation patterns between those addicted to controlled or illicit substances and those “addicted” to sugar. (4)

Sugar Activates Brain Reward Pathways

Sugar is a potent activator of the dopamine reward circuit, a biochemical pathway in the brain that mediates the response to rewarding stimuli such as food, sex, social interactions, and drugs. The brain’s reward circuitry is designed to increase an organism’s likelihood of engaging in behaviors that increase its chances of survival; this trait persists in creatures ranging from fruit flies to humans.

When the dopamine reward circuit is stimulated, dopamine is released, producing feelings of pleasure and euphoria that drive an individual to seek out rewarding experiences or substances repeatedly. Activation of the dopamine reward circuit by sugar also initiates anticipation and food seeking behaviors; in other words, the body becomes conditioned to desire and seek out sugary foods. Interestingly, glucose consumption may also stimulate a parallel dopamine reward circuit in the gastrointestinal tract, further stacking the cards against us in our fight against sugar cravings. (5)

Sugar Stimulates Opioid Production

Like many illicit drugs, sugar also exerts addictive properties by stimulating the release of your body’s innate pain-relieving opioids through the endogenous opioid system. (6, 7) Over time, continuously stimulating this system may rewire your neurocircuitry—that is, it will essentially rewire your brain—leading to an addiction.

Evidence of Sugar Addiction in Humans

For many years, our understanding of sugar addiction was limited to animal models. But now we have scientific evidence that supports the existence of sugar addiction in humans. Scientists have found that bariatric surgery patients frequently “transfer” their addiction from high-sugar foods to addictive drugs post-surgery since they are no longer able to eat sugar in large amounts without experiencing gastrointestinal consequences. Transfer of addiction from one substance to another is a hallmark of substance use disorders. (8) Also, obese individuals demonstrate marked dopamine reward circuit dysfunction, including a reduced sensitivity of brain regions to dopamine. (9) These people need to consume a higher level of sugar to achieve “feel-good” levels of dopamine in their brains; this phenomenon is a classic example of tolerance, another key feature of addiction.

Interestingly, sugar addiction has evolutionary, ancestral underpinnings. The human experience of natural reward from sugar is an adaptation intended to help us identify foods with a high caloric density. (For example, our ancestors would have had seasonal access to high-sugar fruits.) The consumption of such foods promoted the storage of body fat, which in turn enabled us to survive periods of famine.

However, in the modern world, very few of us experience hunger. Instead, we have constant access to sugary, processed foods. This mismatch between our evolutionary biology and our modern environment has facilitated our sugar problem and played a fundamental role in the current chronic disease epidemic. (10)

High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Don’t Drink Your Sugar!

In recent years, “soda taxes” and other public health efforts have been made to curtail our consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in response to growing evidence of the harmful effects of such drinks. SSB consumption has been linked to childhood obesity and increased risks of adult obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. (11, 12) Research indicates that people fail to reduce their caloric intake to compensate for the extra calories consumed in SSBs, leading to caloric excess and ensuing weight gain and inflammation. (13) The high-fructose corn syrup used in SSBs and countless other processed foods also poses particular metabolic risks:

Excess high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption promotes insulin resistance, high triglycerides, and visceral fat accumulation, critical features of metabolic syndrome. (Visceral fat, unlike easier-to-lose subcutaneous fat that you can “pinch,” is deposited deep in the abdominal cavity and surrounds internal organs.) It also alters hepatic lipid metabolism, increasing the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (14)

Epidemiological research suggests that consuming too much HFCS may promote asthma by dumping large amounts of fructose into the gut lumen, where the sugar is biochemically transformed into inflammatory byproducts that can ultimately induce asthma. (15)

Animal studies indicate that excess HFCS alters female reproductive system function. For women, this means it’s possible that HFCS may aggravate polycystic ovary syndrome. (16)

The science is clear: if you want to prevent chronic disease, avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fructose corn syrup.

But what about plain old table sugar? Are added sugars (sucrose) in foods safer to consume than sugar-sweetened beverages or HFCS? Not necessarily. Research indicates that high intake of added sugars poses numerous problems, including an increased risk of gut dysbiosis, decreased immune function, cancer, and neurodegeneration.

My Roundup of the Research on Sugar and Health

Sugar Promotes Gut Dysbiosis

The bacteria that inhabit our intestines thrive on carbohydrates—both the “good” and the “bad” variety. Complex carbohydrates, such as soluble fiber found in starchy plants like squash or sweet potatoes, feed beneficial gut bacteria, boost anti-inflammatory gut microbiota, and discourage the growth of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria. (17) The consumption of processed carbohydrates and refined sugar found in less nutritious foods, on the other hand, triggers the growth of harmful gut bacteria and promotes an inflammatory gut microbiota. (18, 19)

Sugar Impairs Immune Function

Refined sugar consumption was first linked to impaired immune function decades ago. (20, 21) While that research is old, more recent studies suggest that the earlier investigators were on to something; the alterations in the gut microbiota induced by refined sugar intake may set off an aberrant immune response, which in turn contributes to impaired immune function and chronic inflammation. (22)

Sugar Can Be Detrimental to Heart Health

The red flags about an unhealthy relationship between sugar intake and cardiovascular disease were first raised by scientists in the 1950s—but because key research was funded by the sugar industry, those warning signs were never publicized. Rather, they were conveniently concealed to protect industry interests. Now we know the truth. A few years ago researchers examined sugar industry internal documents from the 1960s and 1970s which documented research linking sugar consumption with cardiovascular disease. But that story was buried deep in the corporate vaults. Instead, fat and cholesterol were singled out as the dietary causes of cardiovascular disease, a momentous (but erroneous) decision that has had a lasting impact on U.S. dietary policy and public health. (23)

Although the sugar industry tried to conceal the link between sugar and heart disease, the latest research increasingly demonstrates a relationship between the two. Diets high in sugar increase cardiovascular disease risk factors, including insulin resistance, leptin resistance, blood glucose, and triglycerides, while also altering platelet function. Accordingly, diets high in added sugars are associated with a threefold increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adults. (24) Added sugars also contribute to cardiovascular disease in children at intake levels far below current consumption levels. (25)

Sugar Can Harm Your Brain Function

The excessive consumption of refined sugar and carbohydrates also has harmful effects on the brain. Added sugars negatively impact the function of the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for memory, and promote neuroinflammation. (26) The sugary Standard American Diet and diabetes are established risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. (27) However, you don’t need to have full-blown type 2 diabetes to compromise your brain health; high-normal blood glucose and frequent blood glucose fluctuations also increase the risk of cognitive impairment, decreased brain volume, and reduced cognitive performance. (28, 29)

One mechanism by which a chronically high intake of sugar may harm the brain is through the promotion of brain insulin resistance. Brain insulin resistance is a condition in which cells of the brain become insensitive to insulin and is an established risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

More Research Points to a Link between Sugar and Cancer

Knowledge of a connection between sugar and cancer is not new; in fact, evidence pointing to this relationship was inadvertently discovered during sugar industry-funded research nearly 50 years ago! We know about the cover-up of the findings linking sugar and cardiovascular disease, discussed above. In this case, however, the study was simply—and quickly—terminated due to the unfavorable results. When internal documents from the ill-fated research were recently resurrected, they spurred vigorous debate in the scientific community about the role of refined sugar in cancer development. (30)

Despite sugar industry attempts to dismiss any link, a growing body of research indicates that there is an important connection between sugar and cancer. In animal research, table sugar (sucrose) intake at levels comparable to those found in the Standard American Diet has been found to increase tumor growth and metastasis. (31) In humans, high-glycemic index and high-glycemic load diets are associated with an increased risk of colorectal, breast, and endometrial cancers. (32) Furthermore, a large prospective study of over 2,000 individuals found that just a 10 percent increase in ultra-processed food intake (ultra-processed foods are frequently high in added sugars) increased overall cancer risk by 10 percent. (33) These alarming findings suggest that limiting refined sugar and carbohydrate intake and optimizing blood sugar regulation may be important strategies for reducing the risk of cancer.

Why exactly does sugar promote cancer growth? It turns out that cancerous cells rewire their metabolism so that they become very efficient at taking up glucose from the bloodstream for use as fuel. The metabolic adaptation by which malignant cells use glucose to promote growth, survival, and proliferation is known as the Warburg effect. (34) Diets high in refined sugar and other processed carbohydrates supply the body with large amounts of glucose, creating an environment conducive to cancer growth.

Conversely, limiting the amount of glucose in circulation may inhibit cancer growth; studies on the ketogenic diet actively support this notion. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, very-low-carbohydrate diet that significantly reduces blood sugar and causes the body to rely on ketones, rather than glucose, for energy. The ketogenic diet has proven useful as an adjunct treatment for cancer in a handful of studies. (35) However, for cancer prevention, a real-food diet (such as an ancestral one) that limits refined sugar and processed carbohydrates may be sufficient.

What the Latest Research Says about Artificial Sweeteners

Concerns about the health effects of added sugars have caused many people to turn to artificial sweeteners to satisfy their sweet tooth. But are artificial sweeteners really a safe alternative? The science, increasingly, suggests otherwise.

In the United States, there are currently six artificial sweeteners approved for consumption:

Acesulfame-K (Sweet One)

Aspartame and neotame (NutraSweet)

Saccharin (Sweet’N Low)

Sucralose (Splenda)

Advantame

Artificial sweeteners are generally several hundred to several thousand times sweeter than sucrose. (36) The artificial sweetener cyclamate was officially removed from the U.S. and Canadian markets years ago due to its carcinogenic activity; however, the others have remained on the market because there isn’t sufficient evidence of carcinogenic effects.

While current evidence may not support a strong association between artificial sweeteners and cancer, abundant research indicates that artificial sweeteners harm the body in other ways.

Artificial Sweeteners Alter the Gut Microbiota

Artificial sweetener consumption is associated with increased Firmicutes and decreased Bacteroidetes, a bacterial pattern associated with obesity in humans. Artificial sweeteners also can inhibit bacteria from reproducing—both the good, such as commensal gut microbes, as well as the bad, including E. coli and periodontal pathogens that can cause conditions like gum disease. Clearly artificial sweeteners can have a major impact on the gut microbiota, and importantly, even after artificial sweetener use has been discontinued, gut microbial differences persist. These findings suggest that the long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners may have significant implications for gut health. (37)

Artificial Sweeteners Impair Glucose Tolerance

Ironically, artificial sweeteners may cause glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. In one study, rats exposed to eight weeks of aspartame had an altered gut microbiota composition and elevated fasting blood glucose. In another study, the ingestion of saccharin for 11 weeks produced compositional changes in the gut microbiota that preceded glucose intolerance. (38)

Glucose intolerance, in turn, increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Interestingly, artificial sweetener consumption is associated with an increased risk of each of these conditions. It’s very possible that people who habitually consume artificial sweeteners are more likely to have chronic health conditions in the first place, but the evidence is still cause for concern and warrants further investigation. (39)

Artificial Sweeteners Alter Hormones

Sucralose and acesulfame-K increase insulin release by activating sweet taste receptors and calcium-sensing receptors. (40) This hormonal response may explain why artificial sweeteners impair glucose tolerance. Artificial sweeteners also fail to reduce ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating hormone that rises during fasting and decreases upon meal ingestion. Lack of ghrelin release promotes increased appetite and food intake, meaning artificial sweetener consumption may initiate a higher, rather than reduced, caloric intake.

Artificial Sweeteners Are Connected with Impaired Neurological Function

The ingestion of artificially sweetened drinks is associated with an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Aspartame is also known to cause neurological symptoms such as headaches, seizures, and migraines. (41, 42) Aspartame induces these effects by causing the production of excess free radicals in the brain and by elevating levels of phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which inhibit the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters. If your goal is to preserve your brain health, you may want to avoid artificial sweeteners.

Despite Claims, Artificial Sweeteners May Not Help with Weight Loss

The research on artificial sweeteners and weight loss is mixed. Studies have found a positive association between the consumption of artificial sweeteners and higher weight, but reverse causality is likely because overweight people are more likely to consume non-caloric artificial sweeteners in an attempt to lose weight. However, in a 2017 meta-analysis, the authors concluded that artificial sweeteners do not necessarily lead to weight loss and, in some cases, appear to cause weight gain. (43)

Pregnant and Nursing Women: Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

Pregnant and nursing women should be wary of artificial sweeteners. Eating artificial sweeteners during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of having a large-for-gestational-age baby, even when maternal BMI and other risk factors are controlled for. Seven years down the road, the children of women who consumed artificial sweeteners during pregnancy are also at an increased risk of being overweight or obese. Maternal consumption of artificial sweetener may promote weight issues in children by causing metabolic changes during a critical developmental window of gestation. (44)

Based on this evidence, I recommend that pregnant and lactating women, children, insulin-resistant individuals and diabetics, and migraine and epilepsy patients avoid artificial sweeteners. (45) If you fit into one of these categories but are trying to moderate your sugar intake, you may want to consider trying a natural non-nutritive sweetener instead, such as those discussed below.

Four Healthy Options for Sweeteners

If you’re craving something sweet, you do have healthier options. Stevia and monk fruit are two natural, non-nutritive sweeteners that have exploded in popularity in recent years. They are seen as healthier alternatives to artificial sweeteners and may have some unique health benefits. Sugar alcohols are another good option, if you don’t have gastrointestinal issues. And, of course, you can always turn to natural sweeteners found in whole foods to satisfy your craving.

1. Stevia

Stevia comes from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, a perennial herb native to South America. Ounce for ounce, it is 200 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose. Stevia rebaudiana produces compounds called steviol glycosides in its leaves; it is these compounds that have been isolated for use as a non-caloric sweetener.

Stevia may have some health benefits. In animal studies and lab research, it has been found to increase insulin sensitivity and exert antioxidant properties. (46, 47) However, conflicting research suggests there is no difference in glycemic and insulin responses between stevia and glucose. (48) Importantly, stevia has demonstrated antibacterial and endocrine-disrupting effects; it may, therefore, have detrimental effects on the gut microbiota and hormonal balance. (49, 50)

2. Monk Fruit

Monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, comes from the Siraitia grosvenorii plant native to Southeast Asia. Monk fruit contains compounds called mogrosides that are 250 times sweeter than sucrose and have been traditionally used as a natural, non-caloric sweetener.

Compared to stevia, monk fruit has a far more robust body of evidence supporting its beneficial health effects. (51) It is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids. The mogrosides it contains have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer effects; decrease blood sugar, total cholesterol, and triglycerides; and improve glucose and fat metabolism. (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) If you are interested in trying monk fruit sweetener, I recommend Lakanto Pure Monkfruit Extract. It’s free of fillers, additives, and artificial flavorings and has a glycemic index of zero.

3. Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol, and erythritol are another popular alternative for those looking to reduce their sugar intake. Compared to artificial sweeteners, there is very little evidence to suggest that sugar alcohols are harmful. In fact, some sugar alcohols may even have health benefits.

Sugar alcohols cause no detectable changes in blood glucose or insulin. This makes them a safe alternative for those with insulin resistance and diabetes. (58) Xylitol has been found to reduce blood sugar levels and improves dental health by inhibiting the growth of oral inflammatory bacteria and by promoting tooth remineralization. (59, 60) Erythritol and xylitol also disrupt undesirable biofilms, which are microorganisms that have banded together and adhered to a surface, such as the oral or gut mucosa. Finally, sugar alcohols also have prebiotic potential, meaning they may feed and support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

While sugar alcohols have some unique benefits, I recommend steering clear of them if you have digestive issues. Sugar alcohols are also known as polyols, and polyols are part of the FODMAP group of fermentable carbohydrates that frequently cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, and other digestive issues in people with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and IBS. Xylitol and sorbitol are more likely to trigger GI issues than erythritol, so if you have some GI issues but are still interested in experimenting with sugar alcohols, erythritol may be your best bet. (61) If you experience mild GI discomfort in response to sugar alcohols, know that the reaction may be temporary; research indicates that the gut microbiota adapts to sugar alcohols over time, resulting in less of a response.

4. Your Best Option: Natural Sugars in Whole, Real Foods

A substantial body of scientific evidence indicates that we should minimize our consumption of refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners as much as possible. However, this doesn't mean we should be afraid of natural sugars in whole, real foods!

The sugars contained in whole fruit or a sweet potato do not have the same effect on your health as a soda or candy bar. The fiber and water in real-food carbohydrates slow the absorption of sugars and promote satiety, preventing the blood-sugar roller coaster associated with the consumption of refined carbohydrates. Real-food carbohydrates also contain an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that support optimal health. In fact, the phytonutrients in blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries support a healthy glycemic response by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. (62, 63)

If you want a concentrated sweetener other than stevia or monk fruit, I recommend using raw honey. In addition to tasting incredible, raw honey has many health benefits. It has antibacterial effects against enteric pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella, as well as the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. It is a source of prebiotics that promotes the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. (64, 65) It also offers some cardiovascular benefits because it has antioxidant effects and improves the function of the endothelium, a thin membrane lining the heart and blood vessels.

Finally, while the sugars found in real, whole foods can absolutely have a place in an overall healthy diet, you may want to limit your honey intake and stick to lower-sugar fruits, such as berries, if you have metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, or significant gut dysbiosis. Over time, you may be able to tolerate more natural sugars once you address the underlying causes of gut dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction.

Now I’d like to hear from you. What are your thoughts on the research about refined sugar, HFCS, or artificial sweeteners? Are you a fan of stevia, monk fruit, or sugar alcohols? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Here’s the Research on Sugar and Health appeared first on Chris Kresser.

Source: http://chriskresser.com February 08, 2019 at 12:08AM

#paleo #recipe #food #delicious #healthy #yum #diet

41 notes · View notes

sirfrogsworth · 6 years

Text

Christian Trump supporters continue to confuse me. The other day I saw a lady talk about how Trump has really let his Christianity shine ever since becoming president. Another 40 people replied in agreement on the post. I tried not to roll my eyes too hard, in fear they would get stuck staring at my brain.

I personally do not care how Christian a president seems. These days I don’t find religious affiliation to be any kind of barometer for how ethical a person is. Especially in politics. I’m an “actions speak louder than religious beliefs” kind of guy. I mostly get annoyed by the hypocrisy and the constant excusing of what is clearly “anti-Christian” behavior. If a democrat were accused of these actions, these people would be damning them to hell with every vitriolic internet comment. It’s the mass delusion that really concerns me.

It is pretty much confirmed that Trump had an adulterous affair with a porn star shortly after his wife gave birth. He then paid $130,000 to make sure she kept quiet. If I understand the basics of what good Christian behavior entails, this does not seem to qualify. So I was curious as to how the Trump Christians would respond to this news. Would they finally see the light and realize this man has no moral compass to speak of?

Let the mental gymnastics begin.

The most popular response was that nobody is perfect. Apparently no man is a saint and everyone deserves forgiveness (except Hillary and Obama). “He who is without sin” and all that. Basically they believe he was a much different man and he has grown and matured since then. Despite no evidence of that being remotely true. And despite his lies, denials, and no attempts to apologize. (To the Lord or otherwise.) And they speak as if this was a youthful indiscretion. He was a young man of 65. You can’t really blame someone so young for their actions. Their brain hasn’t even fully developed!

The next popular response was “Who cares? He’s doing a great job running the country. The economy! Tax cuts! Unemployment statistics! GDP!” It doesn’t matter that none of those things are actually as good as people claim. As long as these folks believe it’s true, they are fine excusing any bad behavior. For some reason none of them see this as a deal with the devil. Which would be an apt analogy.

Now we move on to changing the subject to something Clinton related. In this case... Bill. “Bill Clinton got a blowie in the Oval Office and you dems never seemed to care. He didn’t face any consequences!” While I admit the democrats were not as concerned about sexual indiscretions as they were about presidential competence, they also did not claim to follow these same strict Christian values. It’s the hypocrisy that astounds us. Christian right wingers will pull out obscure bible quotes to demonize gays. They will assert their values to control the bodies of women. But when one of their own violates one of the Ten Commandments (which they try to place in every courthouse that will let them) their values seem to vanish. Not to mention Bill Clinton did face consequences. He was raked over the coals for years. He didn’t end up in jail or anything, but he was impeached for getting splooge on a dress. I wasn’t too thrilled that he tried to lie his way out of it, but at least he didn’t pay anyone illegal hush money during a campaign. And just because someone did a bad thing in the past, that doesn’t mean we should excuse someone from doing a bad thing in the present. It’s still a bad thing!

And the most perplexing response... “Way to go, Trump! You the man!” Basically men are praising Trump as a stud for his sexual conquest of a porn star. They seem to admire his ability to live a life of fantasy. He did a good sex thing with a professional sex person. Can’t blame a guy for that, right? Apparently if the woman is considered attractive enough and is deemed to be good at sex stuff and things, how can you possibly blame a red-blooded male for “hitting that”? It would be a tragedy to turn down that opportunity. Having a wife and newborn child is inconsequential when it comes to matters of such sexual significance.

But, Trump is a different man now. I’m sure he reads the bible before bed every night. Well, I’m sure a staffer takes a bible passage, summarizes it onto a single page, and adds appropriate Jesus imagery to make sure it holds Trump’s attention. And I’m sure that Trump’s golf course has a chapel or something. He goes there every Sunday, so I’m sure he wouldn’t skip religious services to hit a ball around all day. And I’m sure he asks for forgiveness every time he grabs an unsuspecting pussy. He is truly a man of God, delivering the good news to porn stars... via his penis.

87 notes · View notes

bypeopledigital · 3 years

Text

Your eCommerce business Need an outstanding ecommerce website design

Nowadays, we do pretty much everything on the web and that incorporates shopping. Which is the reason there will never be been a superior chance to be in eCommerce business.

eCommerce business web composition tips and thoughts

These days, in case you're selling anything regardless of whether that is tennis shoes, salad dressing, or something in the middle you need to bounce on board the eCommerce business site train. An eCommerce business webpage offers you the opportunity to construct your image, associate with more clients, and sell more items yet provided that you have the right web composition.

Website composition is basic while making a web based business site. Great eCommerce business website architecture is tied in with utilizing the right tones, textual styles, pictures, words and illustrations to persuade guests to make a buy. Your eCommerce business web composition ought to draw in likely clients, give incredible client experience and present your shop in the best light. Now a days eCommerce website design is one of the best important part for increase your potential customers.

Along these lines, not exclusively does your webpage need to look great and feel on-brand, however it additionally needs to drive your site guests to make a move and, you know. purchase your items. Yet, how, precisely, do you do that? How would you plan the sort of eCommerce business webpage that will have items taking off your virtual racks?

Here are the best 11 eCommerce business website composition tips to assist you with taking your shop to a higher level:

1. Keep it basic

One of the top standards you should remember during the eCommerce business configuration measure is "KISS" keep it straightforward, senseless!

With regards to planning an eCommerce business site, basic is in every case better. The more components you have on the page (Colors! Standard Ads! ALL THE POP-UPS!), the more it detracts from the whole reason behind the site bringing a deal to a close.

You needn't bother with a huge load of extravagant accessories on your web based business site everything they do is go about as interruption. Keep your plan clear, clean, and basic and maintain the attention on the deal.

2. Focus on marking

With regards to shopping on the web, individuals need to purchase from set up brands not unremarkable eCommerce business destinations that resemble a front for attempting to take your Mastercard data.

Assuming you need to assemble the trust you need to drive genuine deals with your eCommerce business, you need to place some genuine idea into your marking. Your marking resembles the DNA of your eCommerce business; it's who you are as an organization, what you're about, and how you're unique in relation to your rivals and it has a gigantic impact in building an association with your crowd and driving deals. eCommerce website need to digital marketing for boost your business.

Assuming you need to take full advantage of your web based business configuration, set aside the effort to characterize your image and afterward imbue that marking into your plan. In case you don't know who you are as a brand, that is alright! You're simply going to need to do a little business soul-looking before you get planning. Ask yourself inquiries like:

On the off chance that my image was an individual, who might it be?

In the event that I needed to portray my image in three words, what might they be?

What makes my image unique in relation to other eCommerce business shops out there?

What show improvement over any other individual available?

When you know what your identity is, you can work it into the marking of your eCommerce business website. Furthermore, that marking? It'll assist work with trusting with your crowd and drive genuine deals simultaneously.

3. Adopt the thought process of a site guest

Assuming you need your web based business web architecture to interface with your crowd, you need to think like your crowd. Eventually, there are only a couple of things your potential clients need in a web based business experience a webpage that is not difficult to explore, all around planned, and makes the most common way of shopping simple, clear, and bother free.

Furthermore, assuming you need your eCommerce business shop to succeed, you would be wise to give them those things.

During the plan interaction, come at the situation from your guest's perspective. What sort of format will be simplest for them to explore? How might you arrange your items such that bodes well for the end client? How might you improve on the checkout interaction?

At the point when you think like your client, you can expect what they need from your eCommerce business store and afterward plan your website to address those issues.

4. Use tone for your potential benefit

Picking the shadings for your web based business webpage is about something other than saying "Indeed, red is my #1 shading, so. we should make every one of the things red!" Color is a very integral asset and on the off chance that you comprehend the brain science behind shading, you can utilize it for your potential benefit (and drive some genuine deals simultaneously).

Various tones can rouse various sentiments, feelings, and activities from individuals in this way, assuming you need your eCommerce business webpage to change over, you need to utilize those shading motivations for your potential benefit. Now a days, eCommerce mobile app develop with the website. so, you can grow your business and attract new customers through mobile app.

In this way, for instance, assuming you need individuals to make a buy, make the buy button stand apart with a brilliant shading like red. As per shading brain research, red rouses sensations of energy and enthusiasm, which are driving components behind spending and studies show that creating a button red can expand changes by an astounding 34%.

Or on the other hand, assuming you need to up your validity, fuse blue into your website architecture. Blue isn't just an all around cherished shading, but on the other hand it's been displayed to build sensations of trust, making it a go-to in the business world (there's an explanation blue shows up in the greater part, everything being equal).

The fact is, shading is one of the most incredible assets in your plan tool stash and in the event that you realize how to utilize it, it can gigantically affect your eCommerce business plan.

5. Utilize top notch pictures

In the realm of website architecture, it's generally expected information that pictures increment changes (for instance, one late contextual analysis showed that fusing more significant pictures into a web composition expanded transformations by more than 40%). What's more, that is much more evident with regards to eCommerce business.

Getting proficient pictures of every one of your items (and having pictures of your item from numerous various points) goes far in building certainty and confidence in your clients. On the off chance that they feel sure that they realize what they're purchasing, they're bound to make a buy. Be that as it may, in case there are no pictures of the item they need to purchase (or simply a solitary, bad quality picture), they will feel more reluctant to make the buy and your transformations will tank accordingly.

Help yourself out and have a lot of excellent pictures of whatever you're selling on your eCommerce business webpage. Your transformations will much obliged.

6. Make your substance searchable

You can go through days creating long portrayals for the items on your eCommerce business website, however we have news for you nobody will understand it.

Exploration shows that most site guests just read about 20% of the text on some random page. Rather than perusing content in exactly the same words, they basically examine the text searching for key data in this way, assuming you need to make yourself clear (and drive deals simultaneously), you need to make your substance readable.

The simpler to filter your substance, the almost certain your crowd will retain your key informing and the more probable you'll have the option to make a deal.

7. Make it look proficient

The premise of an eCommerce business webpage is that you are requesting that your site guests buy something from you. What's more, accordingly, you're requesting that they turn over delicate data, similar to their Visa data. Which they're not going to feel happy with doing if your site doesn't look profesh.

Putting resources into an expert site is an absolute necessity assuming you need to construct entrust with your clients and fostering that trust is an unquestionable requirement assuming you need your web based business store to succeed.

The fact is, assuming you need your clients to treat you in a serious way, you need to show them you view yourself pretentiously and the best way to do that is with an expert website composition.

8. Utilize social evidence

One more approach to construct that very significant trust? Social confirmation.

At the point when you're planning your eCommerce business website, search for approaches to show your potential clients the positive criticism you've gotten from your current clients. Add an evaluations area where individuals can rate your items (and afterward get as numerous 5 star surveys as you can). Add a tributes area where you include client photographs with a statement or two with regards to what an extraordinary encounter they had working with you. Request that clients survey your items and what they like with regards to them and afterward add them to your blog.

The more your site guests see that others have had a positive encounter shopping on your site (regardless of whether that is through surveys or tributes) the more reliable you'll show up and the more your changes will go up therefore.

9. Make classes simple to explore

Nothing and we don't mean anything will kill a deal quicker than inconvenient item pages. On the off chance that your site guests need to click around ten distinct menus before they discover the item they're searching for, they will scram quick and snap their direction right to a contender's site.

Make your item classifications and item pages simple to explore. Make it simple for your clients to look for items and to channel items by things like tone, size, or item type. The simpler you make your classes and pages to explore, the simpler it will be for your clients to discover what they're searching for and the simpler it will be for them to make a buy.

10. Make checkout a breeze

Make your checkout page plan spotless, basic, and simple to explore. Give your clients the alternative to enlist for your site or to look at as a visitor. Make everything about the cycle gem understood: what data you need to handle the buy (and where they need to enter it), the diverse delivery choices accessible (and the amount they cost), and what to do on the off chance that there's an issue with their request or they need to do a return. When the buy is finished, direct your clients to an affirmation page so they know it all.

Source

#Digital Marketing Services #Web Design & Development #Social Media Marketing #E-commerce Development #Enterprise app Solutions #Online Marketing #Mobile App Development #SEO Services

0 notes

igotapps · 3 years

Text

Is Technology a Bringer of Great Promise or Great Peril?

The pace of change continuously astounds and bewilders me. I just about remember horses pulling coal carts as a kid and now we’re developing driverless cars. The Internet of Things will be part of our daily life soon and humankind seems to be losing the ability to stand up straight already. How long will it be before we start resembling bananas more than apes with a pronounced curve of the spine and neck from staring down at mobiles?

Mobile Phone Addiction

We’re in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

According to the World Economic Forum, we’re now in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We’ve already lived through an immense amount of change and who knows what is round the corner. The ever rising march of Artificial Intelligence (AI) shows great promise in many fields for the future but it is also highly controversial and multi-faceted.

Even Elon Musk, the ‘Thomas Edison of the 21st century’ has serious doubts about what we are creating for ourselves. The serial entrepreneur who has had a hand in all types of technology from electric cars, rockets, Paypal, Hyperloop, solar power systems, electric jets to digital technology. The man who is famous for his plans to colonise Mars, further DNA sequencing to identify cures for diseases and viable fusion to create energy for us all for ever.

Mars colonisation

A man who is a bringer of great promise. However Musk also predicts that ‘robots will be able to do everything better than us’ and they will ‘take your jobs, and government will have to pay your wage’. He also believes that we should be very concerned and proactively regulate Artificial Intelligence as it is a ‘risk to the existence of human civilization’ in a way that risks we commonly deal with now are only harmful to a set of individuals in society.

In contrast Mark Zuckerberg, the equally famous entrepreneur of Facebook is more optimistic saying that artificial intelligence will improve life in the future and that naysayers are irresponsible.

Is technology the bringer of great promise?

The positives of AI are certainly immense

“For people with a disability, the Fourth Industrial Revolution will give us super powers”

Birgit Skarstein, Double paralympic athlete and World Rowing Champion, Norway

“Imagine a robot capable of treating Ebola patients or cleaning up nuclear waste.”

Dileep George, artificial intelligence and neuroscience researcher

“Any skilled engineer can take control remotely of any connected ‘thing’. Society has not yet realized the incredible scenarios this capability creates.”

André Kudelski, Chairman and CEO of Kudelski Group

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already playing a massive role in health care and some believe that there is an AI Healthcare ‘tsunami coming’ that will benefit all. Data currently has the biggest part to play in healthcare providing the chance to revolutionise current healthcare systems.

AI Nurse

Google’s Deepmind Health project mines medical records to provide faster and more detailed records.

IBM Watson is working with oncologists to create treatment plans using data from clinical notes and combining that with research, data and clinical expertise. IBM’s Medical Sieve algorithm analyses radiology images to detect issues faster and more reliably.

The new Babylon app hopes to decrease doctors waiting times by giving medical AI consultations combining a person’s medical history, medical knowledge and a database of diseases using speech recognition. It can also remind patients to take their medication.

Molly is a new virtual nurse which supports patients with chronic diseases in between doctor’s visits.

AiCure checks if patients are taking their medicine and helps them manage their conditions.

Deep Genomics looks for mutations and linkages to disease using genetic and medical data and hopes to predict what will happen when DNA is altered.

Human Longevity offers genome sequencing alongside body scans and checkups to spot diseases in their very early stages.

Atomwise use AI to find existing drugs that could be used for other conditions, therefore, speeding up and reducing costs and potentially avoiding future pandemics.

Berg Health mines data to analyse why some people are insusceptible to certain diseases to help current treatments and discover new drugs.

The future certainly looks bright – but have you started to notice the changes in everyday life that are already impacting our lives?

Is technology the bringer of great peril?

“You cannot wait until a house burns down to buy fire insurance on it. We cannot wait until there are massive dislocations in our society to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Robert J. Shiller, 2013 Nobel laureate in economics, Yale University

Throughout the globe transportation, communication and education have all improved through high tech. With every improvement, however, there are negative consequences such as resource depletion, increased population and pollution.

In our more mundane everyday activities digital technology is already changing our lives. Many of us are already suffering from distraction, narcissism, expectation of instant gratification, depression, depleted vision and hearing, neck strain and lack of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation found 95% of people when surveyed used electronic devices before sleep and this can cause issues for our overall wellbeing.

We are becoming less dependent now on our memory and more on Google but often feeling that we’re suffering from information overload. If we don’t ‘use our brains’ will we lose our capability to think effectively? Or will we adapt in a different way?

When examining brain scans of frequent internet and mobile users vs occasional users there was twice as much activity in the short term memory and quick decision making area. We are learning to skim where there is too much information. Does that mean that we are becoming shallow thinkers or does it mean our ability to decipher information is actually becoming more efficient?

Technology will affect our jobs

I attended a LinkedIn conference recently on the use of insight and data in recruitment and the potential for AI.

The recruitment landscape is changing rapidly and the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 46% of the activities in Europe’s top five economies are already susceptible to automation – not in the near future, but right now.

This will affect all of us in some way and we need to be prepared for the shift towards even more hi tech based skills. There aren’t enough key digital workers or software developers already in many countries and this situation will only be exacerbated as the years go by. We may need a future full of coders or at the very least software that professionals can use that removes the need to code.

It wasn’t the AI potential or recruitment issues that grabbed my attention at the conference, however. It was a speech by Baroness Sarah Greenfield, a leading neurologist.

How neuroscientists see our future

Sarah used her neuroscience background to look at what could be happening to many of us in the modern digital age. She thinks that with so many of us obsessed with social media, search engines, mobile apps and gaming that we are actually losing our identity as human beings. We are lacking the enriched environment that creates increased neural connections in the brain and that the average person in the future may behave more like a 3 year old. That alarmist sentence certainly grabbed my attention.

She likened the lack of an interesting life full of different experiences to that of someone with Dementia where someone loses brain connections and doesn’t have a frame of reference (rather like a small child). In other words, their identity is missing, they have short attention spans and demand that needs be satisfied instantly.

Social Networking issues

With conversations taking place more online and less so face-to-face with no opportunity for eye contact or emotions, the true sense of someone’s identity could be slowly eroded. Words are normally only 10% of the total impact of a face-to-face conversation. Are we lacking 90% of normal interaction on Social Media? Do we rely on emojis to perceive emotion now?

Gambling

Gaming rather than reading

Sarah stated that the move away from reading to video game playing was concerning. Reading allows you to have a deep ‘relationship’ with the characters where you become the character in a way that isn’t really possible in video games.

Are gamers similar to gamblers?

Sarah showed us brain scans of gamers vs gamblers and how the Dopamine pathways were very similar and that damaged dopamine can lead to taking greater risks. The thrill of the moment when playing a game or gambling can override the consequences with the senses overtaking cognitive thought. Is our use of social media, the internet and apps reducing us to a society who is constantly craving stimulation, trying to achieve a Dopamine high, only living in the here and now and being driven by our feelings rather than serious thought?

I considered the level of gaming, social media and relentless Google searching via mobile throughout my family and pondered the consequences.

I can already see my children and all of their friends being taken over by gaming. They don’t talk about much else and seem to be totally ruled by it. Then my own usage is much higher than I would like. I work with Social Media and it is hard to avoid but I am certainly far too dependent on it.

I started delving into whether Sarah Greenfield’s comments are absolutely on the button. The scientific community have issues with some of her statements which need more proof rather than just hypothesis So I looked for further evidence as I’m sure that much of this is true to a certain extent as I see it every day with people stumbling through life joined to their mobiles and children not going out to play in the way they used to.

Facebook likes

So many of us use Facebook. The ‘Like’ button is acknowledged to be the same as receiving a little reward. Users gamble when they do something on Facebook – will we get a Like or be ignored? We’re all subconsciously looking for positive feedback and confirmation, and yes it is addictive. Social Media has become a digital drug that has taken over our culture.

And does heavy Social Media usage actually make you feel good? A study in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that Facebook and depressive symptoms go hand in hand. “Social comparison” is what links Facebook time and depressive symptoms together. Thinking that your friends are having a better time than you. It suggests that users need to post a balance of good and bad. I’ve been sucked in by this but on reflection if I’m having a great time I’m not thinking of Facebook. I see people at gigs filming the whole night but feel that they’re actually missing the chance to immerse themselves in the atmosphere (whilst I’m dancing like a woman possessed)

It’s not just Social Media, however – there’s the apps. I hang my head in shame at using Candy Crush as a Mum gamer years ago. But it didn’t stop there – I became a master of Sim City and then Fallout Shelter and realised I had better stop when my kids started asking me for mobile app tips #parentingfail. I watch Netflix on my mobile in the bath, I’m always checking Social Media for work and communicating with people in sports/community groups that I need to be on top of. It’s a mixture of positive and negative – I am reminded of what I need to do, could be doing, should be doing – but its constant. I even get mobile app reminders telling me to meditate! Oh the irony.

Tired mobile

Scott Levin, a Director of the US Family Medicine Residency Program, thinks that parents are so focused on their children’s screen time that they forget about their own usage. “If we’re not aware, as parents, of what we’re modeling for our kids, then there are high prices to pay”.

69% of parents and 78% of teens check their mobiles at least hourly.

(Common Sense Media)

So why do we get so drawn into games and mobile apps? Even Mums? I even know a Grandmother who played Candy Crush throughout the night.

Game designers call it ‘juice’ – the feedback or reward that you get from playing a game. Candy Crush plays sounds, flashes brightly and praises you in a strangely deep voice and apparently we like that – a bit much.

Juice is intended to join the gaming and real worlds together. The opportunities for Juice in virtual reality (VR) technology are even greater where the user is in an immersive environment and the juice might even be multisensory soon to include touch, hearing and smell.

Is the future of some of us going to be one of a VR life rather than a real one? If the VR life appears better than your own will users start removing themselves from normal society and living in this VR world?

Can gaming really be addictive?

Researchers have studied the psychological rewards of video games vs gambling vs drug use for over 20 years. They’ve compared the brain’s dopamine pathway (the pleasure part) but we still don’t know whether uncontrollable video game playing is an addiction on its own terms or just a symptom of deeper problems such as depression or anxiety.

New technologies are often blamed for compulsive behaviour when depression and social anxiety are the true culprits. “When you don’t know how to fix that and create opportunities for yourself, you feel helpless. Why not play video games?” (Video Game Researcher, Nick Yee)

What can we do to prevent digital technology impacting our lives negatively?

Sarah Greenfield recommends that we apply a little risk management to our lives and ensure that we are living real lives and not just digital ones. Her advice probably resonates with most as it is standard advice given by mothers throughout recent times. But it is probably more important now than ever.

Go and exercise

– make new brain cells, give yourself time to free your mind

Interact with nature

Sit down and share a meal with someone

– talk to them – share stories and experiences

Do something creative

– be an individual!

Cycling

Harness your individuality and don’t miss out on real life

The UK is known for its creative industries and if we allow our creativity to slide and become an unthinking population of 3 year olds what do we have left?

Is this absolutely true for everyone? How do you become a brilliantly creative games designer without being fairly gaming obsessed? Are our software developers all devoid of cognitive thought? Of course not.

Our world is changing, and our brains are adapting to that new world. Good analysis and research looking at the co-evolution of mind and society can only be a good thing.

Is technology a bringer of great promise or great peril?

It seems to be both but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can reduce the potential peril by researching the effect digital technology is having and taking steps to counteract it. We can put heavy checks and balances into what is being developed and how. The overarching concern may be whether that will happen if the real power behind society lies with the huge technology companies.

Source by Bil Ouazzani

The post Is Technology a Bringer of Great Promise or Great Peril? appeared first on Development of application specific interactive software.

from Igot Apps https://igotapps.com/is-technology-a-bringer-of-great-promise-or-great-peril/

0 notes

tommyzoe · 3 years

Text

Theory of Child Cognitive Development

To find out zero basic hypothesis with mental advancement, this Europe psychiatrist Jean Piaget will be paid together with creating a number of the seminal tips concerning how we mature with a mental level. Intellectual hypothesis problems on its own with the technique youngsters and also youth course of action information. The method by which most people study is truly procedural in the wild, and it is formed through the bodily express of your brain.

Learning and also child cognitive development get their beginnings as a standard emergency tool. So as to blossom, animals should have a very good realizing of these environments and also get used to innovative troubles accordingly. On the other hand, an infant certainly not given birth to having its brain's prospective thoroughly realized. It requires the vast majority of years as a child to formulate the idea and also Piaget conjectured which mental advancement happens in stages. Because they phases progress, the child's considered procedures turn into increasingly more sophisticated.

We need to 1st take a step back and also know the way details are processed. Based on Piaget's style, adapting to it takes place when people today come across any formerly unknown stimulus. This can be accomplished into two means: by way of assimilating the content in pre-existing schema, or even helpful the content in to a innovative schema.

For instance, we will visualize that children will be advised which a dog who has a number of feet and also barks is often a dog. About a camping holiday, your son or daughter considers any bad guy plus it will start barking. This specific youngster (correctly) wraps up that the bad guy is a dog. This is an example of assimilation.

On the flip side, visualize your son or daughter will be viewing television and also draws this (incorrect) bottom line which any kind of animal together with a number of feet and also pelt is often a dog. At the relative's property, he or she considers a cat and also exclaims "Mommy, think about the canine!" The mom describes for the youngster that not just about all wooly, four-legged animals are generally dogs-this is often a cat. Your son or daughter fits this innovative data and also finds out which pets are generally different types of animals.

Along with knowledge of methods details are packaged, most people are now able to discover this mental phases with Piaget's model. The sensorimotor point occurs from delivery right up until time not one but two (Papaj, 2006). In addition to owning a novice and also not developed neural, toddlers don't have the language skills important for self-reflection. Astounding in order to interact with this surface entire world and also appraise the idea is proscribed in order to going through the idea through the five big senses. That is why children tend to be witnessed inserting points of their mouths.

Following sensorimotor point will be the preoperational point that comes about right up until with regards to the 7th calendar year with childhood. This specific point markings the starting of intelligent thought. Not will be the youngster restricted to experiencing the entire world with the senses. Even though the youngster are now able to generate decision concerning their ecosystem, this can take a good egocentric view. To paraphrase, a kid in this particular point can not judge an item from another's view; the truth is, a kid will not likely also bear in mind that others might have different types of opinions. On the flip side, your son or daughter has become appreciably greater during considering objects. Given several grouped merchandise, your son or daughter are now able to set them up by way of condition, dimension, and also color.

Through concerning age groups more effective in order to 10, children are inside the tangible detailed stage. By way of most of these age groups, youngsters have grown used to presenting representations in order to signify things; expressions and also numerical skills get progressed significantly. Furthermore, considered offers decrease egocentric. A child in this particular point is pretty comfy finding points from another's viewpoint. Kids in this particular point might also appraise things using more than one qualifying measure during once. Such as, a kid can approximation how old an individual is understanding numerous cues including overall tone with skin color, peak, and also hair. In sooner phases, your son or daughter would certainly employ a single, unreliable stick including peak in order to approximation (Papaj, 2006).

The prior phases culminate together with one more point, formal operational. This specific point develops from concerning time 10 onwards. Starting point at this point, youngsters can assume with tangible, perceptible terms and conditions, but inside the fuzy and also hypothetical. Deductive reasons is currently achievable, and youngsters can make use of pre-existing know-how to produce hypotheses concerning innovative experiences.

It's value observing, on the other hand, that this point may not be simple to reach. Epstein (2006) thinks which two-thirds with grownups don't have the essential pondering skills illustrative of your formal detailed stage. In other words, not one but two out of every about three grownups inside the Usa Expresses will not create after dark tangible detailed stage. I'd posit which this is usually a significant overuse injury in any contemporary society wherever most people count on grownups to comprehend the major political, environmental, and also cost-effective troubles most people face. A greater hard work must be made to show most of these skills throughout schools.

Along with knowledge with Piaget's style, most people are now able to check out any hypothesis by way of one of her contemporaries. Lev Vygotsky became a Russian language psychiatrist which produced this social advancement hypothesis with learning. This specific hypothesis says which advancement will be processed by way of a child's social communications; composition on it's own are unable to be the cause of mental development. This concept was often called this Zone with Proximal Development. In contrast to Piaget believed that mental advancement happened largely when they are young, Vygotsky believed that advancement will be a continual process. This individual assumed the idea long in an individual's maturity and also carried on right up until passing away, and it is as well complex to become compartmentalized in phases (Driscoll, 1994; Hausfather, 1996).

The Zone with Proximal Improvement will probably be worth examining further. This concept is done noticeable any time a kid will be educated by way of an individual by using a greater talent level. Any opening is out there relating to the children's talent and also the teacher's skill. Because youngster finds out, this opening narrows and therefore it usually is fought which understanding is often a social process. Vygotsky reasoned which the relevant skills, including expressions, which developed in this preoperational point only served in order to fill the gap relating to the sensorimotor point and intelligent thought. Looked at another way, Vygotsky believed that intelligent considered can require location without having language.

It is achievable the two Piaget's style and also Vygotsky's style get merit. In truth, I do not also find the versions to become incompatible; perhaps Vygotsky basically confusing Piaget's purposes of developing a good age-based model. Various phases with Piaget's mental advancement hypothesis purely served while pointers in understanding exactly how youngsters develop. Furthermore, the concept understanding is often a social course of action will be self-evident-otherwise we might secure a kid within a home regarding ten years and have absolutely her appear realizing multiplication and also the appropriate usage of analogies. Of course understanding is often a social course of action; in order to would suggest or else will be absurd-at the very least in the example of children. Last but not least, My spouse and i don't even think Piaget thought advancement closes throughout adolescence. The simply fact educational facilities are available would suggest otherwise. Somewhat, Piaget believed that an effectively socialized youngster can have just about all the tools vital to utilize higher-level pondering by way of adolescence. From there, the idea is up to around your son or daughter to consider regardless of whether focusing their skills will be a rewarding endeavor.

Right now we will temporarily discover this method by which middle schoolteachers can use Piaget's theory. School and also 1st rank teachers get down to presenting youngsters in order to volumes and also letters. In this particular preoperational point, youngsters discover how to read through and also perform standard arithmetic. Probably moreover, youngsters get started this social course of action throughout serious, from the mom and dad and also loved ones members. The wanted consequence of this social course of action will be for kids to lose his or her egocentric view around the world and commence featuring empathy.

In 2nd to around 6th rank, children are inside the tangible detailed stage. Educators of such youngsters ought to provide college students with plenty suggestions and also demonstrations any time presenting innovative material. Concepts that entail explanation would be best announced with this stage-a great case in point is taxonomy, which involves telling you this different qualities with different types of animals.

In junior high school and also secondary school, college students are generally inside the formal detailed point and also now are ready for a lot more fuzy thought. Scientific research gets a much more important part of the course load at this point, and also college students are anticipated in order to read and also investigate significantly more complicated ideas.

Applications of Vygotsky's tips are generally more unclear, just like her style itself. Educators of most grades should make an effort to enhance their college students'language skills, while just about all understanding might be based upon a child's capacity to communicate. Activities really should be difficult and also social throughout nature. In the later years with years as a child, collection do the job really should be stressed to permit strengthening with tips within colleagues; this more compact opening throughout skills may lead to a lot more incremental learning.This may be a lot easier for some college students who obtain the material difficult.

To be able to assume significantly will be the wanted consequence of strolling youngsters through these phases with learning. Essential considered will be perhaps the most powerful point an excellent is capable of doing for its college students in order to prepare them forever as an adult. This would advise that actual details are with additional importance-the authentic obligation is in educating college students to convey and also investigate data effectively.

#child cognitive development

0 notes