#until i was like 4 years old and would just speak an 'alien language' described by my parents

[saspitite]

i'm pretty curious about this, since it seems like i hear a lot of similar experiences despite it being oddly specific:

(this is just based on the most common hyper-specific situations ive heard from other autistic people)

ALSO. if you're autistic and you never did any of these things, THAT'S OKAY. please do not become insecure over your own experiences if they don't perfectly match everyone else's- every autistic person is different

#sas says #polls #my polls #autism #actually autistic #autism community #autism culture #for me personally: i never learned to swim whistle OR tie my shoes and i still suck at all three to this day #i also used to walk on my toes all the time and earned the nickname twinkletoes #and finally i learned the alphabet and LOTS of spelling unbelievably fast. i think by the age of two. meanwhile i also refused to speak #until i was like 4 years old and would just speak an 'alien language' described by my parents

[sophfic27]

Questions (Have You Ever Wanted to be a Fly on the Wall?)

Summary: By now, you probably know the drill (his name is Bill), on their tenth birthday, the first words a person’s soulmate will say to them appears somewhere on their body. The word "hello" is one of the most common phrases in the world, so when Roman ends up with it on his wrist he decides to get creative. Everyone he meets who greets him with a "hello" he asks them a question. And he'll keep doing this until it's on someone's arm. This is literally my first ever fanfiction that I've finished and posted, so here's hoping you like it.

Pairings: Prinxiety, Logicality (background-ish), Dukeceit (background)

Word Count: 2870

Warnings: One instance of an F bomb, I think that’s it, let me know if it’s not

Notes:  I got the idea to write this after scrolling through soulmate POVs on TikTok with my sister for fun. We discussed how one could solve the problem of having a really common phrase, and she said "I'd just ask weird questions, because I'm really good at that." So I decided to write this. Most of the questions Roman asks in this I stole from my sister, because, yes, she really does randomly ask these wackadoo questions unprompted. She's great. Enjoy.

Read on AO3

If anyone was going to describe Roman as anything, it was fanciful. Of course most kids were excited by the prospect of getting their soulmark and meeting their soulmate, but Roman had very big plans for how he was going to meet his soulmate. He grew up with Disney movies telling stories of soulmates and star-crossed lovers and found himself mesmerized by the power of soulmates. The lovely tale of the Little Mermaid, and Ariel trying to somehow convey to the prince that he was her soulmate when she had no voice. The story of Aladdin doing all he could to survive and be worthy of his princess soulmate. When he was eight, he saw Anastasia, a story of soulmates who met before their words appeared. When she lost her memory, she couldn’t have known the boy who saved her was her soulmate, and he knew but thought that she must have died until fate brought them together again. Roman was amazed. With only two years until his words appeared, he fantasized about all the ways he would meet and woo his soulmate, what unique phrase would change his life forever. Maybe he already knew his soulmate and just didn’t know it was them! Roman counted the days until he got his words with impatient anticipation.

Roman was younger than his twin, Remus by seventeen minutes exactly. So there they were, huddling on the bottom bunk with flashlights at 3:11 am only two minutes left until Remus is exactly 10 years old and he receives his soulmark. “It’s going to be something really lame, like ‘you’re annoying’ or something,” Roman insisted. Having grown up with Remus, he found it hard to think he could even have a soulmate, but they both knew he was just giving him a hard time. “Nuh-uh,” Remus squawked in a mocking tone. “Yuh-huh,” came Roman’s equally childish reply. “NUH-UH!” “Shut up, or Mom and Dad will yell at us again!” Roman socked his twin with a pillow. He tapped the screen of the tablet they had snuck into their room from the living room. 3:12:31. They’d been checking the time obsessively, but now there was only half a minute left. They exchanged a sort of giddy look as the clock ticked closer and closer. “10, 9, 8” Remus started to count as the time came upon them. Roman joined quickly, “7, 6, 5, 4.” “3.” “2.” “1.”

They watched as two words drew themselves onto Remus’s wrist: “Um, wow.” The twins blinked at the words for a minute, until Roman broke the silence, “nice going, doofus, you’re going to weird out your soulmate immediately.” “You don’t know that! Maybe it's a good ‘um, wow,’” Remus protested. “How would that be good? ‘Um, wow, you’re so handsome, ooooh,’” Roman made a mocking kissy-face and was promptly knocked over by another projectile pillow. He laughed, “face it, you’re a weirdo, ‘um, wow’ is not a good thing.” The door swung open with a whoosh and their mother stood there, staring at them. Roman covered the tablet with a pillow to hide the stolen device, and Remus scrambled off of the bunk. “I told you boys NOT to stay up like this,” Carla snapped. Her hair was up in curlers and she had hastily pulled a bathrobe over her pajamas. “But, Mama, our soulmates!” Roman whined. “Yeah, I got my words,” Remus waved his arm around even though the light was too dim for their mother to read the words and she was too tired to humor them. “That’s nice, Remus, but I told you, Papa and I have to work tomorrow, you can’t be keeping us up like this, I told you we’d look at your words in the morning,” she rubbed her eyes, still bleary from the sleep she wanted desperately to return to. “But it is morning!” Roman cried indignantly. Carla fixed her son with a pointed glare and he looked down and climbed under his sheets. Carla sighed, “thank you. Now, you can tell me what your words are in the morning when Papa is awake, but right now I need you, boys, to go to sleep, okay?” “Okay, Mama,” the twins replied in unison. Remus climbed back up to his bunk and got under his covers. Carla nodded and departed the room for her own, her slippers making light scuff sounds down the hall. As soon as the door clicked closed at the end of the hall, Remus poked his head over the edge of his bunk and looked down at his twin, “how much time is left?” he whispered. Roman uncovered the tablet and woke the screen, “ten minutes,” he whispered back. The next ten minutes crawled by painfully slow. Roman lost track of whatever his brother was saying as his thoughts turned to what his words would be. He was pulled out of his trance when Remus broke his silence to ask “how long?” again. This time, when Roman woke the tablet, he saw that it was 3:29:22, and he became overwhelmed by the fact that there was less than a minute left. He reported to his twin and went back to staring intently at the digital clock. Each second felt like an eternity, but they dragged him eagerly forward until- The grandfather clock down the hall chimed the half-hour, and Roman tugged his pajama sleeve down excitedly and turned the flashlight onto his wrist. There a beat of silence until, “so? What does it say?” Remus asked eagerly. Roman sighed, “it says ‘hello.’” Remus stayed quiet for a second, “that’s going to be hard to find,” he offered. Roman collapsed back into his pillow. “Well, I’m going to sleep. Night, bro,” Remus mumbled from above. “Night,” Roman murmured. He looked at the singular word again and switched off the flashlight. “Hello” was one of, if not the most common soulmark in the world, because it was the most common greeting, regardless of language. At least there was that, Roman considered, his soulmate probably spoke English. But that wasn’t helpful. Remus was right, it was going to be hard to find his soulmate. Roman sighed and turned over onto his side. Okay, thought Roman, then I’ll just have to get creative.

It was common practice to try to use unique and specific greetings when meeting someone for the first time to cheat destiny and ensure an easier time finding their soulmate, but with as common a phrase as “hello”, Roman had to scrap all of his fantasies of grand romantic gestures and fairy tale meetings in favor of a way to guarantee his soulmate would recognize him. The plan was simple, if he was talking first to someone new, he stated his name first and foremost. Anyone he approached first, he greeted with “my name is Roman, nice to meet you.” The part where he got creative was with anyone who approached him first by saying “hello.” “Hello!” chirped his friendly new classmate in sixth grade. “If you were an insect, how long would it take you to die?” Roman asked immediately. The girl stared at him before replying shyly, “I don’t… know?” “Darn.” He always made sure to explain his tactic after using it to avoid further alienating new acquaintances. And thus he continued this way with every new person he met, always with a new and random question.

“Hello.” “If you could time travel, who would you meet?” “…Abraham Lincoln.” “Okay.”

“Hello.” “If you could make a new type of snowman that wasn’t made of snow, what would it be made of?” “Uh. Oranges?” “Cool.”

“Hello.” “If a bat flew into your house speaking with the voice of a cartoon, but claiming to be your best friend, what would you do?” “…What?”

Sophomore year, Roman and Remus were fifteen years old. Remus had already met his soulmate, Janus, and naturally, “um, wow” had been a response to Remus weirding him out, in addition to the realization that Remus was his soulmate. Roman, on the other hand was still trying to find his soulmate with random questions, but to no avail. The second semester had begun and Roman’s physics class was changing seats. Roman collapsed into his new spot next to a boy he knew to be Patton, but with whom he had not actually talked yet. Patton was wearing a blue t-shirt with a repeating cat pattern across it. His honey-brown hair was lightly curled, and a pair of round glasses were balanced on his freckle-covered nose. He smiled warmly at Roman. The teacher finished giving his instructions and let the class go to meet their new partners and get to work on their assignments. And thus the cycle began anew. Patton turned to Roman with a grin, “hello!” Roman huffed slightly as he quickly summoned a new question, “what’s your favorite musical?” he asked in lieu of a real greeting. Patton stared at Roman for a beat before raising a hand to his chin thoughtfully, and Roman knew that the boy probably didn’t have his question on his wrist. “Mamma Mia,” he answered finally. “ABBA. Good choice,” Roman chuckled. Patton giggled back, “Why do you ask anyway?” Roman showed Patton his wrist, and he nodded wonderingly, “I get it, you’re trying to have a unique greeting, because yours is so common.” “Bingo,” Roman said, slightly relieved that he didn’t have to explain it all again. “I’m guessing you don’t have my phrase, right?” Patton’s hair bounced as he shook his head. He presented his own wrist, marked with the word “Salutations” in unusually crisp font. “Ooh, you have a fancy soulmate,” Roman said, “that, or they’re a nerd. I’ve never seen such a professional-looking font.” “Me neither,” Patton giggled again. “At least ‘salutations’ isn’t a very frequently used greeting.” Roman nodded, “yes, a nerd like that will be easy to spot,” Roman joked. “I’m Roman by the way,” he said, suddenly unsure if Patton knew who he was or not. “Patton!” he replied with a quirk of his head and a broad smile. “Nice to meet you,” he was aware of the teacher surveying the class to see who was working and quickly added, “maybe we should get started.” Patton nodded and they set to work reading instructions and becoming friends.

Half-way through the first semester of senior year, Patton introduced Roman to his recently discovered soulmate, Logan. Upon meeting him, Roman remarked that he was exactly the kind of nerd he had expected when he had seen Patton’s “salutations” soulmark. He then lamented that he was once again left surrounded with people who had soulmates when he didn’t, at which point Logan informed his that “statistically speaking, most people meet their soulmates in their twenties or thirties.” “Thanks, pocket-protector, but that’s barely comforting. I have the most common phrase in the English language,” Roman complained. “Actually, according to most studies performed in the last 20 years, the most common phrase currently is ‘hi,’” Logan corrected him with a push of his glasses. Roman stared at him in disbelief and Patton giggled at his side.

“I’m telling you Roman, he’s actually really nice,” Patton assured him as they walked down the path towards Roman’s house. Both boys were bundled up in coats, their hands stuffed firmly in pockets to protect against the biting winter wind. Roman had a Christmas party coming up in a few days, and Patton was trying to convince him to invite the fairly anti-social kid who never got of his emo phase, Virgil. In all honesty, Roman didn’t care if Virgil came or not, plenty of Remus’s friends, who he didn’t know, were going, but Patton was determined to make Roman and Virgil friends, and as it was, Roman didn’t think he had anything in common with the emo. “I’m sure he is, Pat, but…” he hesitated, searching for some way to appease his friend without giving in. “But what?” Patton pressed, meanwhile physically pressing against his shoulder. “But you get along with everyone, and everyone loves you. You can find something in common with anyone no matter what,” Roman stalled. Patton’s eyes bore into him. “I on the other hand, don’t think I have anything in common with Virgil. I mean, he’s all surly and dark, and I’m a theater kid straight out of High School Musical,” he gestured grandly before his hand quickly retreated to the warmth of his pocket again. “Have you ever even talked to the guy?” “Well, no, but-” “Then how do you know you have nothing in common?” Patton’s voice lilted. He always gave off the vibe of a dad trying to get his child to try a new food or something. Roman shot him a side-eyed look, and Patton continued, “you like Disney, right? Well, it just so happens Virgil is into Disney, too! See? There is something you have in common?” “Yeah, sure, but… I mean, who doesn’t like Disney?” Patton just shrugged. Roman was being stubborn, but Patton knew he’d practically won. “All I ask is you let me introduce you to him at the party, okay? Just let him say hello. You can even ask him one of your weird questions.” Patton waved a gloved hand vaguely. Roman was suddenly aware that he seemed to know something Roman didn’t, but he ignored the feeling in favor of a childish groan. “Fine, you can bring him to party and introduce him to me,” defeat dripped from his voice, and Patton clapped in delight and cheered as they arrived on the doorstep of the house.

Some pop rendition of Jingle Bells played through the house as Roman made his way to the snack table. The table was draped with a festive table cloth covered in reindeer and sleighs, and it featured an impressive array of cookies and cupcakes and other holiday-themed treats. Most claimed that Roman and Remus overdid the party thing, but in truth it was mostly Roman. Classmates and friends milled around dancing, eating, and chatting happily. Roman picked out a tree-shaped cookie that he had made and started to make his way into the living room when he heard someone call his name. Roman turned to see Patton dragging a boy toward him, a broad grin decorated his face and, as usual, outshone the blinking Christmas light necklace he was wearing. They met just to the side of the entryway into the living room. “I know you said you hadn’t met yet, so Roman, this is Virgil,” he gestured to the boy standing next to him. His dyed purple bangs draped just down to his eyes, and he was wearing a dark purple sweater in place of his usual patchwork hoodie. Virgil watched Patton carefully, only looking at Roman when introduced by name. Virgil gave a wave so slight, Roman would have missed it if it was any smaller. His low voice was soft, and yet carried easily over the din of the party, “hello.” “Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall?” Roman said. His response was automatic. Replying to “hello” with a question had become an unconscious habit after doing it for so many years. Virgil stared. That was a standard reaction to Roman, he had hardly registered the question that had come out of his mouth. Patton’s further widening smile, however, was not a standard reaction. Roman then realized that Virgil’s stare was different from others as well. His gray eyes shone with shock instead of the confusion Roman was accustomed to. Suddenly becoming uncomfortable with the silence, he said “… What?” “… I’ve always wanted to ask, and I mean this sincerely, what the fuck kind of greeting is that” Virgil said finally as he started to tug down his sleeve, revealing the words on his wrist. Roman’s face lit up with astonishment and excitement. “No, I’ve never wanted to be a fly on the wall, but thanks to you, I’ve thought about it bordering on obsessively for almost eight years.” Roman finally broke out of his trance. “Oh my god, I can’t believe it worked,” he exclaimed as Virgil stared quizzically at him. Roman showed him his own wrist and explained the logic behind his seemingly random question. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he whirled on Patton. “You knew about this, didn’t you?” He shrugged innocently. “I knew that Virgil had a weird question on his wrist and that you have a tendency to ask such questions,” He grinned slyly, “I couldn’t be certain, but it was a pretty fair bet.” “You’re a mad genius,” Virgil cocked his head at Patton. Patton smiled brightly again, “I don’t know what you mean, kiddo, I’m just helping out where I can.” Roman shook his head and laughed, “alright, Pat, I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” “That’s fine, Roman,” Patton clapped him on the shoulder, “I’ve got to go find Logan, so you guys get to know each other,” Patton waved as he stepped away. Roman and Virgil turned to face one another and stared at each other in silence for a few moments. Roman wracked his brain for what to do next, and all he could come up with was, “So… Disney?”

#prinxiety fanfiction #prinxiety #sanders sides #fanfic #fanfiction #my writing #logicality #dukeceit #roman sanders #remus sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #janus sanders #ts remus #ts roman #ts virgil #ts patton #ts logan #ts janus #roman x virgil #patton x logan #remus x deceit #remus x janus #creativitwins

[sweetestrequiems]

Alright I got tagged by at least FIVE people, so... I’ll do EVERY set of questions, and the person who asked them is getting tagged so y’all have references as to who I’m referring to. (By the way, this is a SUPER LONG post.)

Let's get this goin’. Questions are all under the picture of Kelsey Colbert, and nicely divided by pictures of Kelsey Colbert:

@six-fragile-dreams​:

1) How are you today? -Pretty chill. Pro’ly caught a cold, but I can get through it.

2) Favourite animals, colours and artist? -Owls -Monochrome Schemes/Galaxy Schemes/Pastel Pink/Charcoal Black -Kelsey Colbert, ‘nuff said.

3) What's your favourite conspiracy theory? -Aliens and call me lame for it but I will only believe either side with scientific evidence presented to me.

4) Do you like chocolate? -Yes, yes I do.

5) Coffee or Tea? -Coffee, all day, every day. 

6) Favourite scent and flavour? -I love vanilla scented things. Also, cherry blossoms. -Coffee flavored things are nice, but really... anything overtly sweet like candied pecans is nice too.

7) What's your favourite genre? -Of literature? Poetry. -Of music? “Classical” (Baroque/Classical/Romantic) and Jazz

8) Biggest inspirations? -I’ll leave this one blank because... it is such a long list...

9) Favourite perfume or body spray? (or any other thing like that) -Japanese Cherry Blossom and Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath & Body Works. Call me basic.

10) List your 5 favourite artists! -Kelsey Colbert -Taylor Swift -Lauren Daigle -Ariana Grande -Adele

@frogs-in-clogs​:

What instruments can you/ do you wish you could play? -I answered a whole ask about this. Click here for that.

Do you like audiobooks? -Nope. I prefer having the actual book in my hand.

Favourite board game? -I’m more of a card game gal. Magic the Gathering, Cardfight! Vanguard, FutureCard Buddyfight, or die by my blade.

Have you ever broken a bone? -Yep! I broke it playing softball. Broke the middle finger on my left hand. 

Would you rather live in a city or a village? -A mix of both is the best thing for me. A not so populated city, but urbanized enough for me to be happy. But if I HAD to pick, probably a city.

Biggest inspiration? -Once again, list so long it'll take up twenty minutes of your time.

Do you listen to music when revising? -As in... writing stuff? Yeah, I do. I have a whole playlist dedicated to it.

Guilty pleasure music? - *sweats in salsa music*

How would you describe your accent? (Sidenote, how do you imagine my accent? I'm intrigued) -I... don’t know how to describe what a Puerto Rican sounds like?

Do you believe in aliens? -Scroll up, I ain’t answering again.

@boombiotch​:

1. Favorite musical, if you listen to any? -Of all time? Cats. I LOVE Andrew Lloyd Webber scores.

2. Favorite ice cream flavor? -Butter Pecan

3. Favorite OC, if you have one? -The high school student who wants to sometimes slap her best friends with her binder, 17 year old Meghan Isabella Pereira.

4. If you could learn any language, what would you choose? -Irish. 

5. Moon or the sun? -I like warmth, so the sun. But, I am a sucker for the moon too.

6. Do you have a favorite flower? -Hibiscus! 

7. Are you a morning person? -Nope.

8. Do you like to write? - *sweats in Ao3 and this account*

9. Do you believe in ghosts? -Yes.

10. Ayy what do you think of me? *awkward fingerguns* -You’re honestly a total sweetheart, and I am very glad you’re in my life!

@bchcadcd​:

1.) What’s your favorite memory? -A tie between my high school graduation in 2017, and being told I’d be playing Helga in PUFFS the Play.

2.) Do you get attached to people easily? -Yes, yes, yes. 

3.) Favorite mythological deity? -The Mórrígan, Demeter, Persephone, and Shiva.

4.) Favorite superhero? -Comics: Spider-Man (Tom Holland’s Peter Parker), Supergirl (Melissa Benoist’s Kara Danvers) -Anime: Mt. Lady / Rabbit Hero, Mirko / The R Rated Hero, Midnight

5.) Do clouds have feelings? -I believe so.

6.) Favorite childhood book series? -Warriors

7.) What’s your love language? -The little things. Noticing how someone’s eyes light up when they’re happy, or the little scratchiness of their voice when they talk. Call me hopeless, but I value those little things.

8.) Do you put any stock into personality indicators? (MBTI types/Hogwarts houses/Zodiac signs/etc.) -Not too much, but it’s nice to know it. (If anyone is curious ‘bout me: INFJ-T / Hufflepuff / Virgo Sun - Pisces Moon - Gemini Rising )

9.) Favorite genre of show? -If we mean live theatre? Opera. Nothing against musicals, but opera draws more emotion. 

10.) Favorite cast member from six? -Studio: Aimie Atkinson -Broadway: Samantha Pauly (Hon. Mention: Andrea Macasaet) -1st UK Tour/West End: Natalie Paris (Hon. Mention: Maiya Quansah-Breed) -West End: Courtney Bowman (Hon. Mention: Jarnéia Richard-Noel) -2nd UK Tour: Jodie Steele -Bliss 1.0: Alicia Corrales-Connor -Bliss 2.0: Megan Leung -Breakaway: Amy Bridges -Australia/New Zealand: Kala Gare (Hon. Mention: Courtney Monsma)

@one-time-i-jumped-off-a-cliff​:

1.  What’s your phone background? -Aimie Atkinson lockscreen, Millie O’Connel home screen.

2. Do you have any siblings? -Two older brothers. I’m the youngest of three.

3. Go-to party trick? -Don’t have one. I don’t go out much.

4. Voice type? -Mezzosoprano, with emphasis on Alto voicing. (If you speak of music, that is.)

5. Are/were you one of the popular kids in middle school? -Nope. I was the loner. The one everyone was scared would snap and actually do atrocious things. Little did people realize though, I’m actually a sweetheart. They’re all trying to be my friends now, I just keep denying ‘em.

6. If I gave you a puppy right now, what would you name it? -Shadow. 

7. How many languages can you communicate in some way in? -Three, four if you count Morse Code. (Spanish/English/Japanese)

8. Do you play any sports? -Used to play Tennis, used to play Softball. -Also did Marching Band. (Fight me on the definition, I dare you.)

9. Opinion on Dear Evan Hansen? -Brings a good light on mental health issues, but it needed a better approach to it as well.

10. What was your first fandom on tumblr? -In technicality... In the Heights. I didn’t really see myself involved with fandoms until much more recently.

My questions to you! Feel free to say I tagged you!

Summer or Winter?

The beach, or the mountains? 

There’s a red button in front of you. You press it, and you receive a million dollars. But, someone random in the world dies. Do you press it?

Favorite fashion trend/style?

Favorite all-time lyric from a song? 

Favorite sound from nature?

Who’s your favorite YouTuber, who are they, and what do they do?

What’s your Hogwarts house? 

What’s your favorite work by William Shakespeare? (Sonnets and all included, not just limited to stage plays.)

If you got thrown into a fantasy world, what kind of powers would you like to have?

[captainnellbatoast]

SHARKS, SHARKS AND MORE SHARKS

The subject area I'd like to choose for my FMP is shark attacks which is a theme that I'm really interested in and have a pre-existing knowledge of. The subject of shark attacks is full of incorrect preconceptions that’s been majorly informed by the portrayal of attacks in cult films such as Jaws. These have completely moulded the culture of swimming in the sea worldwide, and the overall view of sharks. 

In particular within this subject I’d like to investigate the conflict between human and shark, exploring the villainization of singular sharks which has been heavily influenced by pop culture. I’d like to adopt a process focussed on pacing, suspense, conflict while introducing tone of voice and possibly conversational dialect to the language.

Before 1916 there was skepticism if a shark could even take down a human. In the summer of that year that would be immensely disproved as 5 people were attacked in 11 days on the shore of New Jersey, 4 of which were fatalities. This spree of attacks, which inspired Jaws, birthed the idea that there is a sole shark out there hunting humans, when in fact it is far more likely that a group of sharks moved into that area due to a migrational change, and at the height of summer and beach bathers there happened to be 5 attacks from a collection of sharks. More coincidence than not.

One thing that really fascinates me about this is the vilanization of a single shark which has led to the strange misconception that if you catch a shark around the time of an attack, especially if when gutted it has human remains inside it, your shore will now be safe. The relationship between sharks and humans widely exists as hunt or be hunted even though most people won’t ever encounter a shark in the wild. Does this fear stem from a power complex or is it purely survival instinct induced? Is the fear that we will be hunted or killed? Could this inform a discussion appreciating sharks as hunters and gorgeously engineered killing machines, through an act of respect? 

The chances of you being killed by a falling coconut are higher than both being fatally injured by a shark or surviving the attack. Despite most people having a grasp on this concept, or similar, the fear takes over when swimming in murky or even clear open water to the point that many people are fearful and have doubts whilst swimming on even British coasts.

How has culture informed this fear? Jaws has scarred many many children and adults from young ages due to Spielberg’s masterful avoidance of the 12 rating. It is quite hard to believe that it was, and remains, a PG rated film. When speaking to those who were born in the 70s about their first memory of Jaws they often remark how they left the cinema during the screening or how it took a long time to come to terms with their experience of it as they were shit scared. Some note not even wanting to get in the bath. I remember watching the opening scene at 9 on Youtube and then really struggling to grow a pair and get into the sea that summer which I found profoundly odd as I had always really liked monster movies and tended to be a very fearless child when it came to stuff like that. Films like King Kong, Jurassic Park, Coraline, Monster House, which a lot of kids had issues watching, I couldn’t get enough of, but what was different about Jaws though was it could be real. I was able to establish the impossibleness of the other films, but 9 year old me couldn't get it out of my head that unless I never got into the water again I would never truly be safe. I’m still not sure which bit of being attacked by a shark I was more scared for at that point, or if it was just the concept and visual of Alex’s raft floating back all bloody and solo- that stuck with me more than the gorey death bit because I found that kind of cool. Luckily for me peer pressure took over that summer and I got into the water and kind of eliminated that fear. It wasn’t until I went snorkelling in the Caribbean 2 years ago in deep open water that I had to confront this feeling again. Not being able to have 360 vision constantly in crystal clear water was almost scarier than being in murky waters. I have now decided that I think the scariest part of being attacked by a shark (for me) would be if I was in clear water and seeing it swimming straight at me from a distance because at that point nothing is going to be able to stop it. 

I could find legs in this concept of fear and begin a tonal conversation on disaster in general and how it is responded to, both culturally and socially. It also begins to beg questions of why are we so scared of the shark species specifically and not say jellyfish when the stings kill way more people annually than sharks. Is it all down to the teeth; the engineering of the shark? What is the land equivalent of the shark? - is there one? or is the shark far superior to any other creature to currently exist? And how has the term been reappropriated to describe a type of person - “he’s a lone shark” “you shark”

I really enjoy watching shark attack documentaries. I like how they remind me how powerless humans can be in a world they dominate, especially when they’re taken off land. By entering the ocean you’re on a shark’s turf at the end of the day so if you get got can you really blame the shark? The varying amount of damage each species can do really shows the dominance of sharks and how perilous an encounter can be. The fact that great whites remain as one of the only animals that humans cannot keep in captivity without them dying almost immediately is a credit to the species.

I also like shark attack programmes because of the suspense and gore that’s recounted. Some of the injuries seem so alien that they come across as fictional and like they’re part of films. I’m not squeamish so on the rare occasions they show in detail injuries and footage of the attacks it’s my lucky day.

As well as accounts of attacks, documentaries often cover and explore preventative measures in shark ‘hotspots’ which has increased my fascination in the species itself a lot more recently. For example, surfers are now encouraged to wear blue patterned wetsuits that mimic the surface of the water as black wetsuits make you look like a seal (shark food). The other issue with black wetsuits, and also patterned, often neon ones, is the shark’s inability to see colour due to its single long-wavelength sensitive cone type in the retina, which means any high contrast in the water is easy to identify and track.

Recently I’ve been researching how climate change will impact shark migration and therefore attacks. The warmer a shark is, the more energy it has for hunting and migration, and with ocean temperatures rising sharks are become more active and migrating to new areas now that the sea is warm enough to be inhabited. Sharks currently found off the Spanish coast and in the Mediteraean are predicted to move north for the first time ever, meaning they could be entering British seas by 2050. Sharks predicted to follow this migration pattern include white hammerheards, blacktips and sandtigers. I wonder if British coasts homed sharks what the cultural and societal response would be to this. This could also spark a speculative investigation into the future of the shark.

I still stand by my 10 year old self’s opinion that death by shark is probably the coolest way to go.

[eldritchsurveys]

685.

what was going through your mind during the presidential campaign? were you relieved when it was over? >> This survey is from early 2009 and let me tell you, I don’t even remember the 2008 election anymore. I’ll be fucking relieved when this year’s is over, though (although depending on who wins, the noise might keep going right through the end of the year, so I may get no relief).

what do you think of the Duggar family ( 17+ kids )? could you handle taking care of that many children? >> I have my share of uncharitable thoughts about families with that many children, but I’d rather not give voice to that kind of rudeness. It’s nothing to do with me, anyway. I couldn’t handle taking care of one child, so that’s that on that.

in your opinion, do you think that you act your age? what do other people think? >> I don’t know what it is to act a certain number of years old. I don’t know what other people think regarding this and I really don’t care.

what is the nicest thing you have ever done for a stranger? >> Nothing comes to mind.

so far, what is the number one, best decision you have ever made? how has it effected your life? >> I find it difficult to think of my life in terms of decisions I’ve made, and direct results of those decisions. That’s just not how things work -- I’ve made choices, but the things that happened after those choices are not necessarily direct results of the choices I made. The element of other people and the element of randomness play equal parts, too.

have you reunited with any old friends recently? was it awkward, or just like old times? >> No.

when was the last time you talked to your first ex? >> ---

how different is your online personality from your offline personality? >> It’s the same personality, dude. It might manifest somewhat differently because of the difference in communication style (typed dialogue vs face-to-face dialogue), and that’s all.

have you made any headway on any new year's resolutions? >> I don’t make resolutions.

what are your favorite holiday-themed movies? >> It’s a Wonderful Life, Rise of the Guardians, Klaus, Love Actually.

do you listen to christmas-/winter-themed music when the season comes around? >> I sure do.

if you could create a law, what would it be, and why? what if you could take one away? which, and why? >> I have zero interest in the law.

is there anything that you do that's potentially controversial? >> Well, sure, depending on one’s worldview. I’m sure some special people out there don’t think I should even be alive, in which case my very existence is controversial.

would you ever sign up for a reality television show? if yes: which one, why, and how would you act while on tv? >> No. Absolutely fucking not. NO.

what is your most recent obsession? >> Hmm... Heartman from Death Stranding, maybe. Low-grade obsession, but it counts.

do you say "merry christmas" or "happy holidays"? to you, does it really matter which one is said / you say? do you do your best to remain politically correct? >> I repeat whatever is said to me first, because that’s usually how such interactions go -- I rarely initiate any sort of seasonal greeting like this.

if you could relive one week of your life, which would it be, and why? would you do anything differently, or keep it all the same? >> I would really rather not.

is there a part of your life you wish you could remember, but can't? >> Sometimes I get frustrated with the patchiness and distance, so to speak, of my memory, but I’ve come to expect it. Most of these memories aren’t specifically mine, after all.

what was the last thing / event to trigger a painful memory? >> A lot of my memories are painful because they make me feel alien and disjointed, or like I’ve “lost” something important, or whatever. So, like, I don’t know if anything triggers that, sometimes I just randomly remember shit.

if you had to give up one of your 5 senses, which would it be? >> No thanks.

what do you think of people that choose not to vote? >> I don’t think anything of them. That’s their right. The fuck do I care? Also, I was one of those people until very recently, and I still don’t feel any better or like a better citizen or whatever for having begrudgingly registered.

are you keeping anything from the people you love? >> I mean, not intentionally, I guess.

have you ever written a suicide note, whether joking or not? >> No.

what is the worst physical pain you have endured? >> Cramps.

what is one thing that you want other people to know about you? why is it so important that someone knows this? >> Meh.

what is something you wish people DIDN'T know about you? what would be different if they didn't? >> I have Trauma Brain so I irrationally wish no one knew anything about me because vulnerability bad.

what is the worst question that someone could possibly ask you? what about the worst thing that someone could say to you? >> *shrug*?

would you consider yourself a sensitive person? why, or why not? >> I don’t know. Maybe there is a sensitive person in here somewhere, but it’s buried in all the noise from Trauma Brain. Or maybe Trauma Brain is the sensitive person turned in on itself. I don’t fucking know, next.

you can spend the day with anyone, living or dead; who do you choose? what do you do / where do you go? >> ---

when was the last time you let something 'go to your head'? >> I don’t really know.

when are you most likely to show off? >> I don’t show off. I have nothing to show off, lol.

which would you prefer: spectacular view of the ocean, or of the mountains? >> I like both views. I don’t see why I should have to choose. I live on a landmass where you can easily make trips to see both. (Well, considering travel expenses, “easily” might not be the right word. But.)

do you follow any dating rules / play any dating games? >> No.

when was the last time you felt extremely confident about something? >> Good question.

how do you, personally, know when you are falling in love? >> ---

when was the last time you blew the seeds off of a dandelion? >> Maybe last spring? I don’t know. I do enjoy doing that very much, though.

in your opinion, which holiday is the least important? >> All of the United States-specific ones are just. Trash.

what was the last thing that happened that you couldn't explain? >> I can think of an explanation for anything. Whether the explanation makes any sense to anyone else but me is the question.

what do you do with all of your spare change? >> ---

where did you hear about your all-time favorite band? >> ---

how many cans of soda do you drink in a day? >> Zero.

what is your idea of paradise? >> I never bothered thinking of one. Maybe Inworld is the closest thing.

what do you think goes on in the minds of the opposite sex? >> You know. Thoughts.

what is the oldest thing that you own? and the newest? >> I have no idea what the oldest thing I own is, but I guarantee you it’s not more than 4 years old. The newest thing is an eyeshadow palette and a lipstick that Sparrow got me.

is there anything you wish you had never found out about? >> Probably.

describe your handwriting? >> I don’t know how to describe it. It’d probably be pretty difficult to forge.

have you ever had to choose between friends and family? if yes, what happened? >> No.

in what ways has music affected your life? >> Many ways. It’s a very integral part of my life and has been since childhood. It’s the one constant (aside from Inworld).

what is something that you refuse to believe in? >> I don’t refuse to believe in anything. Some systems just don’t work for me so I don’t use them. They might exist for someone, but they don’t for me.

what is something you wish more people believed in? >> ---

what food is your ultimate comfort food? >> I don’t think I have one.

have you ever put anything inside a time capsule? what? >> When I was pretty young, I tried to make one. But I opened it within like, a year. I couldn’t imagine waiting for like... ten years or whatever because I couldn’t even fathom that kind of time, lmao.

how did you come up with your bzoink screen name? what would you change it to, if you could? >> It’s just one of my standard usernames. I really only registered to avoid seeing that “this is a rated R survey” screen and having to click through it every time.

when was the last time you experienced deja vu? >> I don’t remember. Maybe never.

what do you do when someone snarkily corrects your grammar? >> Ignore them.

what was the last thing that you put quotations around? >> Part of my answer three questions ago.

in the time it took you to fill this out, what else could you have done? >> Well, it’s taken me a half-hour, so I could have done a lot of things in that time. Watched a show episode, eaten, done a dance, idk.

is there too much violence on tv, or are people to sensitive? >> There is a lot of violence on television. People should be sensitive to violence, because desensitisation to violence has led to a lot of bad shit. Personally, I’m mostly desensitised to fictional violence and that probably is becuase I’ve seen a fuckton of it, but fictional violence isn’t the same as real-life violence, and I would probably still react more acutely to violence that’s literally happening in front of me.

what is one "junk food" you enjoy? >> I refuse to label foods like this. It’s reductive and unhelpful.

what is one "health food" you enjoy? >> ^

what is something you used to fear, but no longer do? >> Thunderstorms.

who was your first hero? >> ---

is there anything your friends won't let you forget? >> No?

is there something you have trouble putting into words? >> There are many things I have trouble verbalising.

when was the last time you were at a loss for words? >> I don’t remember.

what bothers you most about getting older? >> The increased likelihood of disease and infirmity.

have you ever flown all by yourself? how was it? >> Many times. It’s lovely.

if you have one hour left to live, how do you spend it? >> ---

do you think it's important to know a 2nd language? >> Sure, but it might not be important to someone else, and that’s fine.

do you know anyone that's just naturally good at almost everything? >> No.

do you know anyone that's just bad at everything? >> No.

what is one emoticon you use often? >> xD

what is one emoticon you almost never use? >> Hmm.... I can’t think of one.

do you use emoticons to express yourself? >> Sure. That’s what they’re there for.

#surveys #survey #random survey

[smallgirl10101]

My 3Below OC

Hi!

I'm no good at art but at least I'm good at writing or descriptions!

So that's what I'm here to do!

_______________________________________________

So Ania, yes I used my name I am quite aware, is a human that lives in Arcadia Oaks.

Shes 15 years old and works at the coffee shop, the record store, and any other job she can find. She lives with her uncle. She is American on her fathers side and Russian on her mothers side. While she does not speak in a Russian accent she can speak Russian very fluently.

When she was around ten years old her parents and her little sister were killed by a home invader. Her uncle, her fathers older brother, was the only living relative that could take her in. He didnt like that fact that she was living in his house for free so he made her take multiple jobs at a young age.

She is selfless, kind, protective, and fiery. She would be the adult in the group, making sure everyone was taken care of. She would also be the one lecturing someone if they made a mistake. She is home schooled but the main subject she focuses on is English Literature. Shes a fantastic writer and loves to show her work or say her opinion through speech.

She has short brown hair with bangs on the right side of her face, emerald green eyes, and 5,1. Shes extremely short for someone her age and shes sort of on the chubby side. She wears a dark purple blouse, a black pencil skirt, and black high heels. She also wears a silver rose necklace, and black rose ear rings that belonged to her mother, with big round glasses in her face.

One day as she was having her break she saw a boy she had never seen before walk in front of the coffee shop. Her boss/uncle told her to offer him a sample of their new coffee, since there weren't many people in that day. She obeyed and offered it to the boy. He was... weird. Not funny weird just... weird. He acted as if he had no clue what she was talking about. He was a teenager who didnt know what coffee was, which was pretty rare. She took him into the shop where she gave him a cup... that he spit all over the floor. She was kind to him non the less, even though she had to mop up the coffee and got yelled at by her uncle later. She offered him a seat at her table since she was still technically on her break.

The boy introduced himself as Krel Tarron. 'Strange name for a kid. Maybe hes from another country?' Through out the rest of the evening they talked, laughed, smiled, and over all had an amazing conversation for a good 3 hours. That was until she saw something in his eyes... they were... black? And glowing? She asked him about it and all the boy could say was, "Kleb!" Before he rushed out of the shop.

Over the next few weeks the boy had come to the coffee shop to talk to her or just see her. They had become close friends and knew almost everything about each other.

She had to admit he was rude at times, quite full of himself, but she knew he meant well. He was her only friend really. Since she was homeschooled and her uncle didnt exactly let her out of his sight she didnt have time for friends.

She would show him her stories and he would show her his inventions. They were pretty impressive. They looked like something right out of a sci-fi movie.

While Ania was indeed a very intelligent girl she was also extremely clueless. Krel didnt realize his feelings for her until the day her uncle allowed her to attend public school.

They both had language arts together and apparently there was a short story paper due. Even though she was new and just attended school that day she was the first to raise her hand. She always kept her journals in her bookbag and they were filled with different stories. When the teacher called on her she rushed to the front of the room with a smile on her face.

Krel rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself watching her so excited. He leaned back in his chair and listened. His eyes got wider and wider with each sentence she read, with such passion and excitement. He gulped as he felt his core suddenly warm up. "What is this feeling?"

Weeks went by and he acted differently around Ania then he usually would. His face would warm up spontaneously, his hands would shake, and he was ruder then usual. He didnt know what to do. He was so confused and frustrated. He ran straight home after his hang out with Ania hadnt gone as he had hoped. He thought he might be sick. Aja was listening in on her younger brothers conversation with the mothership. She screamed as she ran over and spun her brother around. "AJA! PUT ME DOWN AT ONCE!" "A CRUSH!" "... What?" "YOU HAVE A CRUSH LITTLE BROTHER! YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON ANASTASIA!" "... What? No! That's impossible! Shes a human! I could never find humans attractive! Of course, I do believe Anastasia is quite intelligent and witty and humorous and she is enjoyable to talk to and shes the only human on this mud ball that I see as an equal but that doesnt mean I- ... kleb."

Even though it was extremely obvious that Krel had feelings for Ania, she didnt even notice. It was painful to watch. Especially when Aja and Steve would help Krel get Anias attention, giving her compliments or gifts, and she would usually say, "Awww! Thanks Krel! Stop being such a sweetheart will ya?" Steve once had to hold Aja back from just blurting it out or more or less screaming it out.

The day Ania learned what they were was an eventful day for everyone.

She was locking up the coffee shop, like every night, when someone was thrown above her. They landed in an ally way in a pile of garbage.

Being the curious and worried person that she was she slowly walked toward them.

"H-Hey... um... are you ok?" She could see something glowing from under the trash.

"D-DONT COME ANY CLOSER!"

"Look I'm not gonna- Krel? Oh my God are you ok!?"

"UM Y-YES! PERFECTLY FINE! I DO NOT REQUIRE ASSISTANCE! YOU MAY LEAVE!"

"... Krel you were just thrown across the street. I'm pretty sure you'll need some assistance. Is that your phone or-" She went for his hand- hands? "What in the-"

He tried to cover himself with the trash but the bag had ripped and trash was scattered everywhere.

She looked down at her friend, well who she thought was her friend, he was... she had no idea what he was. Her eyes widened.

Krel slowly stood with his four arms up, "Ok. Do not freak out. I have a perfectly normal and nonbizzare reason as to why I look like this."

She took a step back, "Wha- How- What are-" She fainted. He caught her with his four arms.

He sighs. "Great." He threw down his serrator and it turned into a overboard. He jumped onto it and flew to the mothership.

When she woke up she was greeted by three big blue... things. She screamed and backed up. "WH-WHO ARE YOU!? WHA-WHAT ARE YOU!? AM I DREAMING!? DID I ACCIDENTLY DRINK THE ALCOHOLIC COFFEE!?"

"Sweet Saklos stop screaming! Your fine!"

"... Krel?" She looks at the other two. "... Aja? ... Mr. Vex?"

"THE HUMAN KNOWS TOO MUCH! SHE MUST BE DESTROYED!" Vex turns his serrator into a sword.

Aja stands in front of her. "We are not killing her! She will not tell anyone!"

"Tell anyone what!? Can SOMEONE explain to me what's happening!? What are you guys!?"

The three look at each other. The big one, whom she assumed was Mr. Vex, groaned and put down his weapon. They explained to her what they were, who they were, and how they got here. Her eyes grew wider with every word. By the end of it she was in a state of complete shock.

"Please do not start screaming again." Krel rubbed the back of his neck. "You... do not fear us... do you?"

Ania, surprisingly, threw her arms around Krels neck and pulled him into a hug. She laughed.

"ARE YOU KIDDING!? I JUST FOUND OUT MY BEST FRIENDS ARE ALIENS FROM ANOTHER PLANET! IM THRILLED! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!"

Krels face has never been brighter. His core warmed up quickly and he was stiff as a board. He didn't know what to do at that moment. He chuckled and slowly wrapped his four arms around the small round girl.

She snickered after a few moments. "... Krel? You, heh, you can let go of me now."

His eyes widen and he quickly pulled away. "Y-Yes well. I'm sure you will not see us the same."

"Hmmm... I don't know. Awkward, check! Dorky, check! Intelligent, check! Cocky, check! Kinda full of himself, check!" She let's go and stands on top of the couch. She ruffles his hair. "Poofy hair, check!" She cups his face. "Adorable facial features, double check!" She smiles. "I'm describing Krel Tarron just as I would describe Prince Krel Tarron of Akiridion-4 or 5 or whatever! Your still my best friend!"

Krel smiled widely. He couldnt help but stare.

"Pfff what are YOU staring at? I'm not the one with four arms and glowing blue skin Mr. Tarron."

His eyes widened and he stood back so her hands were no longer on his face. He glared. "I am not STARING! I would never stare at YOU! You were the one that decided to cup my face!" He groaned. "Now I smell of coffee and lavendar! Ugh! Disgusting!" He stomped to his lab.

She raises an eye brow. "What was that all about?"

_______________________________________________

And that's it! I know its not as good as others I'm sure you've seen but hey... at least I tried!

~ Anastasia

#3Below #KrelTarron #AjaTarron #TOA #OC

[jesuschristlivedinamotelroom]

angel; do you have a nickname? yea

awe; how old are you? 20

baby; favorite color? blue

bloop; spirit animal? cat

blossom; favorite book/movie/song?

blush; what was your stuffed animal as a child?

breeze; most precious childhood memory? i think my parents teaching me how to ride a bike.

bright; mermaids or fairies? fairies

bubbles; do you have a best friend? no

buttercup; showers or baths? baths!

butterfly; dream destination? idk what that means

buttons; are you religious or spiritual? no

calm; favorite scent? laundry and also honeysuckle

candlelight; what did you dream about last night? i was in charge of some event and i kept stressing over it? also my roommate kept coming into my room and i kept getting mad kxkddkkd

charming; have you ever been in love? no

cozy; eye/hair color? black black

cuddly; what’s your favorite time period? like. ever? honestly now is fine. although if i lived in like the 1800s would my brain be this smart if i felt less fear ghen like that era

cupcake; favorite flower/plant? jasmine is nice too

cute; what did you get on your last birthday? i bought myself perfume

cutie pie; most precious item you own? my guitar&desk&bed

cutsie; what makes you happy? sleep.

daisies; describe a moment when you felt free. every time i go to a concert? although when they shove cameras in my face i still have to perform.

daydream; how do you want to be remembered? bubbly, funny, but also wise? not vapid.

daylight; favorite album of all time? no idea

dear; zodiac sign? virgo

delightful; concerts or museums? concerts

dimples; have you ever written a letter? yes

dobby; dream job? i don’t know any more

doll; how do you like to dress? i kind of wear whatever i want. lately i have been dressing to match weather and to not have my nips out. although i shouldn’t care i do. also one of my group mates seems to be looking at my chest a lot when we speak so i can’t tell if it’s like That bad or if he is just weird.

dovey; any paranormal/magical experiences? no i mean. psychotic maybe

dreams; do you want or have any tattoos? yes

drizzle; do you believe in aliens? yes

euphoric; talk about someone you love. im sure i love my siblings. i want to provide for them both financially and emotionally but i can only stay detatched. they are the only people who have dealt with all of my years until now and one has told me she didn’t really know who i was when i was in middle school, which is kind of an interesting point of view. i am usually a bit more open to my siblings than i am my parents even though they were usually who just got the butt of my anger and angst lol. huh. interesting. basically i want to die quietly but it is impossible with family and i don’t want them to be affected as heavily as it would but honestly it’s just inevitable

fairy; do you have a pet? no

fluffy; ocean or mountain? mountain

forever; where do you feel time stop? my room

froglet; are you a good plant owner? no...

garden; how many languages do you know? 4?

gem; who are your favorite tumblrs?

giggles; what is your aesthetic of choice? ?

glittery; do you like anons? why/why not? sure

glow; list the top 5 things you like about yourself. i think a lot. i am considerate. i am able to be alone. i am funny. i am amiable.

heart; silk or lace? lace

honey; coffee or tea? how do you take it? both and it depends

hugsy; do you enjoy people watching or bird watching more? why? bird watching. people watching makes me uncomfortable

hunnybunch; what sounds help you sleep? anything really, mostly people speaking in a low voice

jewel; what’s your favorite kind of weather? sunny breezy

jiggly; what do you usually like to do on weekends? sleep and drink

joy; do you laugh loudly or giggle more? i cackle

kinky; do you blush easily? i think so

kisses; what romantic cliché do you wish for most? fwb to lovers

kitty; what’s your favorite time of the day? morning

ladybug; what’s your favorite artist to listen to when you’re sad? the 1975 yeah i know

love; what is your favorite season and why? summer bc its not real

lovey; what is your favorite flavor of macaron and ice cream? ummmm idk

magic; what are five flaws you have? i let my flaws affect my relationships. i let my flaws affect my work .. everything. i think too much. i give up too easily. i don’t know how to express myself.

moonlight; do you prefer soft pastels, warm neutrals, or cool darks? cool dark

munchkin; what do you look for in your significant other? funny and cute

paddywack; how would you describe a perfect date? idk

pebbles; how do you spend free time by yourself? lay around.

precious; what is something valuable that you learned in your life? your appearance, being beautiful, being skinny does not matter. it is impossible to achieve that arbitrary standard and it does not matter.

pretty; do you like to cook or bake more? bake

prince; how would you describe your handwriting? a mix of print and cursive

princess; do you play any instruments? if not, are there any you wish you could play? guitar

prinky; how do you relieve stress? jack off. drink.. sleep

pumpkin; what is your favourite kind of fruit/vegetable? ones that smell nice

rainbow; what was the last line of the last book you read?

roses; what is the most significant event in your life so far? probably entering college or my summers spent abroad

smile; what is one thing that has greatly affected you? rape, feminism, nihilism

shine; art or music? music

shimmer; do animals tend to like you? i think so?

smitten; do you collect anything? bracelets and socks

smoochies; how many pillows do you sleep with? right now 2

snuggle; what is your favourite candy? i don’t like candy

snuggly; do you have a camera? if so, what kind? no

sparkle; do you wear jewelry? no

spooky; sunrise or sunset? sunset

sprinkles; do you like to listen to music with headphones or no headphones? both

starlight; what was your favourite show as a child? idk

soft; describe your favourite spot in your house. my bed

soothe; digital or vinyl? digital

squeezed; who do you miss right now? my friends from last semester

sugary; what traits do you value most in friends? if i am only looking for people to hang out with and i do not care about them much as people, then they need to be able to have a (fun) conversation with me and want to hang out and do whatever i/we want. if it is a real friend then similar political alignment is sadly pretty important to me. we need to be similar in general probably, you need to understand my background.

sunshine; do you prefer for things to be practical or aesthetically pleasing? practical

sweet; do you find it easy to open up? no

sweetie; do you like kids? if so, do you ever want to have any? sure but no

thimble; is there somebody you look up to? who are they? no

toot; what is something you find unique about yourself? my chart . just kidding i think i have a philosophy that will cause a... bad revolution but i am also probably a narcissist

tootsie; what kind of friend are you? go with the flow kinda person, if you want to talk about something serious i can try. i usually match the vibe of the other person

treasure; what was something that made you smile today? videos

velvet; are you an early bird or a night owl? night owl

whiffle; if you could have a magical power, what would it be? i would be able to get any resource necessary Or i would be able to slow down time

whimsical; do you prefer doing stuff at home or going out? both

whiskers; do you usually wear makeup? halfhalf

wiggly; are you a messy or tidy person? mssy

wispy; do you like the place where you grew up? do you think you will live there when you get older?no

wobbly; have you ever wished upon a star? probably

[liongoatsnake]

Things During Our Childhood That Therianthropy Explained In Retrospect

We’ve been working on an essays detailing our childhood experiences related to our therianthropy. This is a few really notable parts : General Obsession With Animals - Early on in our childhood we showed an unusually high interest in animals. At least since age 8 we had an obsession with animal documentaries. We had almost no interest in cartoons aimed at children and instead loved watching documentaries that focused on animals. One of our favorite series was something called "Wild Discovery" which aired on the weekend throughout much of our childhood and preteen years. Because of our interest, we quickly learned how to record them on VHS so we could rewatch them as much as we wanted. Throughout our childhood on through teenage years and on into our adulthood, we have continued to enjoy documentaries that focus on the lives of animals.

Preference For Anthro Animal Characters - When we were not watching nature documentaries, we still gravitated towards television shows or movies with nonhuman animals as characters over human ones. We found ourselves more engaged if the visual media we were watching had anthropomorphic characters for reasons we do not yet understand. We just empathized far easier with nonhuman animals compared with humans. Our preference for media with anthropomorphic animals has continued throughout our life.

Made Statements of Being Animals - As young 5 or 6 years old we made statements declaring any one of us was a particular animal in very matter-of-fact and serious tone. For example, Earth Listener would say things like "I am a wolf," Lunatani said things like "I feel like a dog," and Andraya said things along the lines of "I might look like a girl but I'm a seal." These kinds of statements of being a nonhuman animal was constant throughout our childhood. They only stopped in our preteens because saying such things always got us into trouble to some extent of another. However, we never stopped feeling that way.

Drawing Ourselves As Nonhuman - Even as young as 6 or 7 when told by teachers to draw self-portrait we would draw figures other than our body. Nevado would draw a white dragon, Lunatani would draw a red mutt-like domestic dog, Ravi would draw a tiger, to name a few people recalled being drawn. This sort of response to being asked to draw any sort of self-portrait consistently resulted in us drawing a figure other than our body throughout our childhood. Being reprimanded for not doing the assignment right (if for school) merely led to confusion on our part and us being adamant we did it correctly. As we grew older we learned to always just draw our body when asked for a self-portrait. Though as a teenager several of us took any excuse that they could be found at drawing their real self as well or instead in our art classes. Now that we are an adult, we simply draw what we please. 

Pointing Out Photos of Animals As "Me" - Then there was also all the times any number of us pointed out a photograph of a particular animal and said "That is me" or something along those lines. One thing we recall and find interesting is how we always pointed to photographs of animals or very realistic drawings. We wouldn't point at an animated animal character. These sorts of statements began around age 5 or 6 and continued throughout our childhood until we began keeping our feelings and thoughts to ourselves due to fears of being reprimanded or even punished again for making such statements.  Feeling of Being Different Or "Other" - On top of everything we just has a strong and compelling sense of being different than others. We felt like we were trying to live in an alien world trying to be and act in a way counter to what felt natural to us. This sense of being other than everything arose at a fairly young age. We recall certainly feeling it when we were 8 years old. Other children sensed it too, or they certainly acted that way, as other children constantly bullied us for being "weird" or they would simply treat us like we were literally invisible. (To this day we still do not know which treatment was worse.)

Phantom Limbs - Even before our preteen years we would also complain of feeling "invisible tails," "invisible ears," or several other nonhuman characteristics to family and teachers. They, of course, assumed we were playing pretend.  This assumption usually lead to nothing but occasionally we got in trouble for "playing when it was not appropriate." One event we vividly recall occurred in kindergarten where Lunatani cried out when a classmate walked behind us while everyone was seated on the floor and  managed to step on Lunatani's phantom tail. Our teacher got on to Lunatani for disgusting class. We made such statements during our childhood until we learned to keep such strange experiences to ourselves. So by about age 11 we had stopped sharing such things with anyone though such phantom experiences only grew in regularity and detail as the years progressed.  

 Not Speaking / Making Non-word Sounds - We were late talkers compared to most children having not began to really speak until we were 4 years old. Before and even after that point we instead used a lot of non-word sounds to communicate. The sounds we made included snarling, whining, hissing, snorting, grunting, growling, howling, barking, and various other sounds not as easily described. We also made a lot of sounds from within our throat, which while came naturally to us, was often confusing to people around us. Even as our use of speech grew with pressure to use to it from family and teachers, we still often would slip into non-word sounds at times, especially if surprised or in pain. We also had short spells were we would become non-verbal. During these timeframes that could last only a few minutes to several hours, we would just not know how to form words. The causes of these spells is something we still do not really know. This inclination toward making non-word sounds and occasional lapses into being non-verbal continued on throughout our childhood, into our teenage years, and still prevails into our adult years.

Animalistic Body Language - Along with our inclination towards non-word sounds as a means of communication, we also originally implemented a lot of body language. Much of the body language we had a child had a very animalistic quality to it. Some things we recall using for sure when we were children included baring our teeth, crouching in submission, tilting our head to the side, avoiding eye-to-eye contact, and pacing in one place when agitated. Those being just a few things we did. Our use of body language that differed from the norm was driven inward and suppressed by punishment from our family and teachers though our predisposition toward animalistic body language never could be fully stomped out of us. It simply became more subtle when in public.

Making a Den - One habit we had throughout our childhood we would make what we called "dens." Basically, we would find or make a dark small space to add blankets and pillows to make it a comfortable place to be in. Early on in our childhood our "den" was very simple. We would just drop a blanket over the footrest of a reclining chair to make a dark little place be under. When we got too big for that, around 8 or 9 years old, we used an indoor play tent that we put blankets on top of to make it dark inside. By the time we were into our preteen years, our desire to curl up in a small dark place had diminished but when we did have the occasional want that comfort we would use our closet instead. By the time we were in our teens we had almost entirely grown out of the impulse. The only remaining exception during that time was once when we were a sick with a bad case of the flu and again a year or so later with some other kind of upper respiratory infection that left us sick for several days we ended up back inside our closet laying on a bunch of pillows and blankets. Since our late teens we have not had the impulse to be in or make a "den."

 Wearing A "Tail" - Another thing we did as a child was wear things to act as an artificial tail. To do this, we would take a spare purse strap from our mother's closet, attach it to the back loop of our pants, and run around the house with a "tail." We strongly remember doing this when we were 8 and 9 much to our mother's irritation due to it being yet another unusual thing we did. As she often made us take it off when she saw us with it on, we began only wearing it when she was out of the house. She didn't break us to taking the extra purse strap until we were a young teenager. By then, though, the vividness of our phantom limbs had grown to a point we had little desire for an artificial tail  

- Cavern-Risen

#therianthropy #therians #otherkin #therianthropes #theriomythic #awakening #alterhuman #fictionkin #Phytanthropy

[artdjgblog]

Innerview: M.C. / California Univ. of Pennsylvania​

April 2007

Photo: Family Farm via Google

Note: ​Interview for a design student’s art history paper​.​

0​1) Where did you grow up? My birth was almost recorded at home in an early 1979 blizzard. The gravel road was so full of snow that my mother was transported by a tractor to the paved road leading to the nearest hospital in the town of Chillicothe, MO. I spent the first half of the ’80s on this farm. My brother and I had the best “Star Wars” collection, the old cow got stuck in the mud, I trapped granddaddy long legs in mayonnaise jars, I cried to the raccoon wallpaper, we had chickens in the basement, I loved to romp around the farm and enjoyed everything from dead animals, to The Beatles to tractor pulls. There was a strange beast known as Leopard Man who roamed the local woods, lept fences in a single bound and liked to sneak into houses in search of peanut butter. One of the most memorable moments in my life, a significant spark that led me to my current path of thinking, came in the middle of a somewhat existential crisis in kindergarten where I blacked-out on top of a large metal slide and cracked my head on the ground. My Father’s dream farm was dry for many seasons until the bank kicked us out for lack of bill paying. Thus, forcing us to move into the house/farm that my Father grew up on. This new tilled earth was on a black-top tar road in the rural farming lands of North Central Missouri (really, not too far from the first farm and closer to my grandparents). The town I went to school in has 360 occupants. The graduating class of 1997 had 24. Many additions and renovations later, my parents are still in that same house today. We have a bridge over a creek and many memories of tree houses, dams, forts, sandbox creations, walking on ice and animals are still imprinted there. There are four of us farm children. We loved the opportunity of being able to pee outside, swim in the creek and cattle tank and getting hosed off at the back door…though, none of us will carry on the legacy of the farm that has had many generations of Gibson children laughing and crying in it’s dirt. Even though a majority of time was spent out-of-doors, going to county fairs, playing with animals, hunting and getting dirty, a large portion of time was spent locked in our bedrooms making things and drawing. As children of the 1980s we consumed every possible pop-culture outlet to the real world. My favorite things of the period are still sitting in my studio. Still to this day I can not understand how people shed the things from their youth. I still have everything my grandmother made me. Though, I do not have my dead animal backpack. It got thrown-out. My biggest influences from the time are my Grandparents, Garbage Pail Kids, Pee-Wee Herman, Dr. Demento, war, animals, comic books, tractor pulls, ball cards, films and anything by Jim Henson. My best friend lived in a funeral home. I spent many nights there. We saw many townsfolk lay there. One time we went to the Kansas City, MO airport to pick-up a dead body in the hearse and then went to eat at Showbiz Pizza for my friend’s birthday. When there was a dry spell we played ping-pong and watched movies in the funeral parlor. This was my new after school sanctuary. Even though I could watch most anything at home, I saw many new titles with my buddy. These include Shaft, The Godfather, Alien, Terminator, Evil Dead and loads of other awesome things of that nature. In high school I still stayed in my room as everyone else was out dating. I didn’t understand it all. I was still trying to understand myself. I also enjoyed shooting baskets by myself on my homemade basketball court in the middle of the sheep lot. I spent all of my spare time drawing and making things and playing with my big sheep dog named Bear. I loved skyscrapers, baseball stadiums and graffiti. I wanted to be a sports stadium architect until I realized I was never going to get the hang of math. I went to a Fine Arts Academy in Missouri in the summer of 1996 and realized that maybe I could be a person who makes things of some sort. It was the only thing I was ok at. 0​2) Where do you live now and how do these setting​s​ influence your work? I am well into my 6th year of living in Kansas City, MO. If I get moody for a break from city life or a desperate want to see the stars at night, a two hour retreat can easily be made back to the farm. I enjoy going back and someday I’d like to live in a more rural setting, but closer to the city. I really don’t know how much longer I’ll live here. I’m itching to experience life in other regions. I don’t wish to live an die in the same state. The first four years of my design odyssey I worked as a janitor and grounds keeper. I love these kinds of jobs because I am my own boss, I am left alone and I feel like I am actually doing something with my time…cleaning and drawing and thinking and reading and writing and eating. Now I am employed within a seven minute walk out my back door. My parents think this new job is more prestigious because i sit in a sterile office cubicle and type things into a computer all day. They think it’s a real job. It is not a real place to me. I kinda envy the bum that drinks a cold one every morning at eleven in the back alley and then goes about his business of freedom. The good thing is that I still draw and think while I’m there and I am fortunate to do a lot of networking on the internet. The only honest reasons for me to be there are walking to work, free bbq and soda and health insurance. It is an ok place, but I know it is not my place. Anymore I tire easily of the idea of working another man’s dream. But, it keeps the basement lights on. I do miss bringing home strange and wonderful items from my janitorial positions and all the extra time I had to read books and comics and being alone. However, with my new job I start later so I can squeeze a few rounds of my real work before. Mornings are my best work time. I love to be alone in my basement, maybe a cat or two…I am developing the bad back/posture of my grandfather’s lineage from crouching in my design clubhouse at a table made out of an old door and windows from the farm chicken house. If I am not making things I love to watch movies. I love to hang-out with my wife and four cats too. ​0​3) Where did you receive your education? All that required me to get into Southwest Missouri State University (now, Missouri State University) was top 50% of my graduating class and a minimum score on the ACT. I was the number 12 student out of 24 in my class and I can’t remember my ACT score, but it was right on the nose. I was familiar with the school and town from the setting of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, so I was good to go. I​t​ doesn’t take much in high school to take top honors as one of the best art talents. However, in college I kind of had to start over as I found there was an abundance to build and grow from and I had a lot to learn and do. On top of that I was extremely naive to what I was getting in to with the graphic arts. I made an outlandish claim to some classmates my first year that I was going to take the route of graphic design that didn’t involve computers. I had no idea the impact of computers on design. Rather, I just wanted to make things with my hands. Turns out things were definitely in my favor as I realized how much of a privilege it was/is to study design there. ​0​4) Describe the curriculum and how effectively do you feel it prepared you for your career? The design professors I studied under are from Eastern Europe and Russia. This was a very unique experience not only in the subject of design but also culture. For a bushy-tailed farm boy this was an immense impact especially. The ways of teaching was more in a tradition sense. Certainly, we learned computers, but more importantly the idea of thinking and drawing. It’s a crucial element to be able to draw. Not only with a pen or pencil but an exacto knife. I don’t believe someone when they say they can’t draw. And it really bothers me when it is a designer. And I don’t understand it when designers fit design/art into a time frame. That’s never been an issue for me. If the switch is off then I must be dead. I know of people who work full-time design jobs that they hate. They come home and don’t do anything but complain about their day. Why not put that frustration towards making something? I know that jobs can drain you physically and emotionally, but why even put yourself through the design motions if you don’t love it…or even be at a place that doesn’t honestly love you back? If I ever had a “real” design job, it better cater to me. It better give me parental rights. Anyway…I am rambling. The importance of design history and culture was also taught in school. Even on my own now I am still cultivating knowledge. Not only from professional design past and present, but from the language of everyday people and things in the world. I don’t consider what I’m doing just for designers or art types. It’s for everyone. This is something that I grabbed from school too. You’ve got to learn how to speak in different languages visually and somehow make it universal. Design is a powerful tool. One of the most powerful things on the planet. 0​5) How did you get your start? Every semester the last couple years of school we would get the itch for the “real” world of design and take tours of professional firms. I always came out of these experiences rather disappointed and depressed. Nothing was heartfelt to me. It was all soulless and everything seemed glossed over and departmentalized. Cookie cutter conveyor belt meat markets. Not every place is like that, but everything that I saw was just dead to me. As a person who is very private and protective of their creative freedom and parental rights and on the path to doing things a bit different, nothing seemed right for me. This isn’t the case for every one. I think we all fit somewhere and you have to find your voice. The big shot studios just weren’t for me. And at that time there weren’t as many smaller firms like there are today. And even then the smaller ones weren’t impressing me much. Anyway….I was doing a lot of work for bands/musicians on the side in school at this time. This was something I loved. It clicked and felt right. I had creative freedom and owned my own work…and I loved music. So, I just befriended many music people and it’s been word of mouth ever since 2000. And if you do something enough it just becomes a part of you. I feel I hit the whole rock poster revival scene just right and started getting recognition and response right away. And here I am…still here, I guess. Though, I’m definitely looking to branch out a bit more. I’m currently interested in making some books and working with clients that can help me quit my day job. I’ll always flirt with the band stuff. Even though there is no money in independent music design and people can sometimes be pretty flakey and unreliable. But, I knew what I was getting into when Art Chantry told me, “Expect to starve. Several times over.” ​0​6) Did you have an internship? Never. Never really wanted one. Never really needed one because I was doing so much freelance my last two years of college. And when I dropped out of school and moved to Kansas City I didn’t want an internship because I was already starting my own little company. I had friends that worked internships. Some with hardships…some eventually helped sail the ships. It just wasn’t my direction. Everybody has a different voice in their design tool belt. What’s funny now is that I have many students contact me every Spring in hopes to intern with this big design firm called DJG Design. It’s funny and sad when I tell them it’s just me and I don’t even make enough money for me to be a full-time employee. Someday I just might take them up on it though. I can pay in hot dogs or something. They can sleep on my floor. I feel bad for most kids that get into an intern relationship. It’s generally a great experience and can lead to possible employment, but I feel that if you are working your rear off and a lot of the time doing the dirt work for people, there should be a reward. Some don’t pay at all, which means you either have to be independently wealthy or work a second job. I wouldn’t want my intern working a second job because that is less time and thought spent on what they really need to be doing. That is ridiculous to me. Oh well, I guess I’m not in a position to authentically voice that from either side. ​0​7) What was your first design job? Was it a positive experience? The only “real” design job I’ve come close to having was making fliers for the department of Campus Recreation at Southwest Missouri State University. It was ridiculous from the top as the ones running the show didn’t trust designers to design for them. The design was off balance from the get go. And of course I was hired for my skills, though they thought they could play art director. Even the guy who was hired to be my art director had no design skills or background, but he was cool. He and I became really close friends and most of the time just cranked out all of our work rather rapidly because we knew what the head honchos would like. The rest of the time we laid on the floor and listened to music. I think we made a lot of people nervous because they didn’t know how to handle us. I gave-up at any real glimpses of trying to use the skills I learned that helped pay the salaries there…and my earning was dirt. It was really ridiculous. Though, on the side of that job I gained some access to valuable resources by way of computers and copy machines and was able to receive a few other design tasks on the side. At the time they were great learning experiences and helped me start to build a name for myself. A name that couldn’t be made working under anybody else. Still, I had people of higher position/status that knew nothing about design try to give me their rusty cents. They tried to tell me how to do things and I took the liberty to put my own personal stamp on things. I made a few things for different student activity groups and brochures and giant poster calendars that every student received. I was the last person to make the giant posters because of how nervous I made the people higher up. It was so great to hold that kind of power at my fingertips. ​0​8) How do you feel about advertising/marketing? I am able to get away with a lot and I pretty much do what I want with my brand of show poster promotion. But, there is a responsibility that comes with that. I’m not only representing myself, but the band, promoter, venue, city…place it’s hanging up. I guess it’s not really advertising, but it is in it’s own abstract way. In terms of conventional advertising/marketing, I can’t really take anything seriously. Maybe because I know how easy it can be for a designer to slap something together to get attention or emotions all wound-up. And it’s normally all about money. Design has really poisoned me but it’s also helped me to see. I dislike most all advertising and marketing. I could never work for them unless it’s on my terms. I realize it’s all a blanket of fabrication to push a product or service, but there are very few things that feel pure and honest to me anymore. And it’s getting worse in the world. Yeah, something can be clever or interesting or well-rendered or smart or completely over-the-top-awesome and get me to laugh, think or kick the air. But, that doesn’t mean it’s gonna change my life. I don’t know any more than the next guy. I can barely read a restaurant menu. And I’m so tired of bandwagon designs and other people telling me what’s hot. I don’t care what’s hot. It’s all so uninspiring and unimportant to me. I see this going on in the majority of the music industry too with every flavor-of-the-month recycled band lacking true heart and spirit. ​0​9) How did you become interested in graphic design? Early on it was anything from the “Star Wars” logo, to logos on seed corn sacks, to sports team logos, to the Apple Records logo, to the “Batman” emblem to the power of historical symbols like the swastika, indian arrowheads and cave paintings. Growing up I didn’t really know what graphic design was in a professional sense. But I knew about it in the manner of how things should be put together in my head and own little world. I just enjoyed drawing logos and comics and all sorts of things, cutting things from magazines and designing type. I was horrible at math but I could draw geometric configurations like mad. The kids that sparkled at math couldn’t draw a straight line. It was so weird to me that they could compute, but not see things like me. In the fifth grade I won a county-wide logo competition. I knew I would win. I was chosen out of several hundred students from many age divisions to represent a skating rink. I received 10 free passes for winning and was supposed to be honored in the grand opening but my school principal forgot to tell me about the celebration. What a joke. Which, I didn’t really care about (Heck, I still don’t like to go to my own art openings). But, I was more upset when my family drove by the logo on the building and it was completely butchered. It wasn’t even mine anymore. I was so sad about that. Maybe that’s why I do things my way now. 10) Are there any designers that you are influenced by? A life-changing design day was when a Lester Beall book fell at my feet in the library while I was shuffling for a book down the shelf. I immediately diverted my search for whatever it was I was looking up and fell in love with Lester Beall. He is one of the great pioneers of modern design. And he seemed like a human being first and a designer second. I could really relate to him. I felt a connection to him when I saw him hugging a lamb. He had a design studio in his sheep barn. It was the coolest and I wanted to get to know him. I checked that book out for the next four months straight. I have many influences. Not only do designers/artists inspire me, but just everyday people and things in the world. I collect worn gloves, handwriting, lists, notes, children’s drawings and many things from the city streets. Ordinary trash becomes my treasure. I am always walking with my head down in hopes of spotting an animal or item in something. And i love thrift stores and pawn shops. My favorite artists are one of the folk art nature. Un-skilled people who one day just start making things. I really love Bill Traylor, Henry Darger, Gregory Blackstock, and Robert E. Smith. There is just so much heart and soul in folk art. I’m not into a lot of painters. I do like some Picasso and most all Robert Rauschenberg, Jean Michel-Basquiat and Peter Blake. Some of my favorite illustrators and designers include Saul Steinberg, Ray Johnson, Stanley Donwood, Henryk Tomaszewski, Alan Fletcher, Edward Gorey, Daniel Johnston, Art Chantry, Chris Ware, Stefan Sagmeister, Seymour Chwast (Push Pin!), Peter Saville, Vaughn Oliver and V23, Aubrey Beardsley, Graphus, James Victore, Saul Bass, Raymond Pettibon, Paul Klee, Ivan Chermayeff, Ralph Steadman, Paul Rand, Tibor Kalman, Cy Twombly…anyway, most anybody that has something to say and in their own way authentically. 11) It seems that your work references a DADA/Futurism/Constructivism style, would you agree with this? What draws you to this style? Rarely do I think about “style” until people bring it up in interviews or in person. Honestly, I don’t strive to attain one. Each day is different for me and my mind and design. I’ve always appreciated what Stefan Sagmeister says, “Style = Fart”. I guess when you approach it as a body of work the design I spill fits in a certain place. But, it’s more about idea and emotion to me. That is what and how it should be. I agree partly with your take on what the look of my body of work references. Maybe a lot of that is due to my particular like of the older school of design thought. Maybe the more collage nature. Though, I don’t really like to say it is that. I feel all design is collage to some extent. Perhaps the more controlled chaos style (I guess that would be a good tag) comes from my association and love with the school of Eastern European design that was channeled through my design instructors in college. I’ve never really been a fan of labels. It is certainly something to ponder though. However, the minute people start saying I am this or that…well, that is when I start to worry and try too hard to wrestle myself to do something else or go in another direction. It can be dangerous. I am my only competition. It’s really all quite silly in the grand salute to life. But, maybe I can learn a thing or two along the way? 12) How would you describe you style? I don’t know. Other than fumbled-mild-mannered-intuition and a bit of whatever is on my mind/heart. It’s Dee Jay Gee all the way and every second of the day. 13) Describe your design process. Boy, these questions are getting harder to answer for me. I love a good happy accident or angelic stumble. But, they can’t be relied upon. I love not thinking, rather just doing. I love intuition. Though, sometimes you do have to think a bit. But, I don’t like to over-kill. Sometimes the idea will become instantly and i will render exactly how it’s in my head. Sometimes I sketch a bit. I love to draw and do oodles and oodles of doodles. Process is a very important thing to me. It’s more important then the final product at times because it’s such a part of me. I have to stick with something once I start it or it’s lost touch with me. It’s hard to come back to something because I’ve already moved on and over it. Well, unless it’s something like a logo or CD design. These happen in several obsessive stages. Sometimes a break is needed to achieve perfection on things with a longer life-span in the world. But, with poster design and illustration it’s typically all on the spot and taken only serious to the point of it being non-serious. I have to have fun. I have to tell a story. And I love humor. Lots of it. I love to tickle myself. I love when others are tickled too. 14) Typically when working on a project, what percentage of time is spent on conceptualization? I brushed this a bit with the last question. It depends on the project I guess. Sometimes I get ideas rather rapidly and quite frequently. For some things it might take a bit to sift through the cliche or whatever mix of feelings or ideas I have that day. Each day is different. Sometimes I sit and wonder what a project I did this morning would look like had I done it in the evening or yesterday or tomorrow. I know it would be different. But, I can’t just sit on my hands. 15) How much time do you typically spend on a project? Some things really come quite rapidly. I’ve made posters in the span of minutes before. It’s more about time management for me. I sometimes have any where from a constant flow of five to ten to fifteen projects going on all at once. And on top of that interviews and book publishers and emails and inquiries and such…and of course the day job. So, I’m constantly thinking all day about the coming and going of things. I love the human mind how it’s always in and out. I love how I can think of something from my childhood and then the next file i pull/cull from my brain juice is about a poster and then i merge the two and B I N G O. Some of my best projects come at the last minute and have been in front of me the entire time. Some of it comes right when I’m told about the project. Sometimes I’m in strange places and put things together in my head or write on scraps of paper. I wish I was a good enough designer to draw you a map. But, I’m still trying to decipher where my hand meets my see. 16) Where do your ideas come from? I hinted at this in previous questions. A person can do something enough that it just becomes a part of them. Like another limb. I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. I just do it. I have to do it. It’s a part of me. It haunts me and busts the phantoms all at once. Design is a funny thing. It’s a scary thing. Ideas come and go. All the time. Influences are all around and in everything. I don’t put things in a time frame. I think all the time. A lot of the time I don’t think. I just do. I just be. I don’t aim to sound new-agey. Design is about life. In the past couple of years I’ve come to the realization that everything I’ve experienced has brought me to this point in this interview. It’s all composed some way and some how. I do a bit of the writing. Some of it is by a bigger hand. Some by just the push and pull of the earth. I’ve also learned to pull and cull from the past. My best and most vivid memories are from my youth. I feel a closer connection to my former self than i do my current. True, formal rules and training come to play with all of this. But, I didn’t really start to click with design until I started to click it with myself. And hopefully there will be more clicking to come…gotta stay busy and hungry. 17) Describe your favorite project that you’ve worked on and what made it special. I always answer a question like this the same. One of the best things I’ll ever make in my life is a handmade CD package for The Elevator Division back in the summer of 2002. The idea came at the the night I started printing. Well, actually it was spray paint. I had an image made for a month or more and then changed it at the last minute. It married the themes for the album “Whatever Makes You Happy” perfectly. With reflections of war and relationships in the songs, I made an image of a hand shooting off it’s index finger like a missile. An idea of shooting off one’s options and making decisions. It was not only fitting for the band/music but also to the the national/world agenda and climate. I went to war that night with many cans of spray paint and the idiot mind to do two-hundred and fifty all in one massive sweep. Each one was hand-cut from cardboard and handmade stencil sprayed and rubber stamped. Inserts were cut and folded and glued. I made the great choice of spray painting in my basement…something I will never do again as it could have killed me. At the last mist of red spray a crack thunder shook the massive turn-of-the-century home and I bolted from the basement and out the front door to a down poor fit for Noah himself. I lept off the front porch and slid head first down the embankment and into the street-turned-river current. I was born again. The drug dealing squatters across the street were on their front steps, looking at the fire in my eyes and the red paint streaming from them and nose and mouth. I was on something higher than chemical substance. 18) How much influence does music have on your design? What kind of music do you listen to? What are your favorite bands? Music has always aided in carrying the background. It’s silly sometimes when we say things like, “This is my soundtrack”. But, it’s true. I’ve always gotten so much out of music. I gave up trying to play music years ago. That’s not my calling. However, it’s constantly played a role in my life significantly. I loved to spin my Mom’s records when I was four or five. It still boggles me how all of that sound is compressed in a circle of vinyl. I grew up on family Beatles sing-a-longs in the car and rockin’ out on my smurf guitar to “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings. That was my favorite song at age five. It has so much energy and I loved the James Bond movie of the same name. At one point when I was going through my awkward phase (when am I not?), I decided not to like The Beatles as much because my parents liked them. It was sad when I think about it now. I was also into all of the more novelty and fun stuff from the ’70s and ’80s when I was young. Things like hit television themes and film/broadway soundtracks and scores. And all of the fun cheese-pop stuff. I loved the storybooks with the narrator on record who told me when to turn the page. My brother and I loved to tape the Dr. Demento show every week. It was a late night DJ show that played a load of the weirdest songs about “Pencil Neck Geeks” and “Fish Heads”. It was the brand of humor we could find relation to. We also taped-off Saturday morning cartoon theme songs. Yes, we were the biggest dorks. Oh, Weird Al is amazing too! No wonder we were called fairies every day at that hick school until graduation. In the late eighties to early-to-mid nineties I went through all of the pop stuff. Whatever the radio got to the rural setting, that’s what we loved…though, by the time the radio waves got that far into the country, there was something new and better developing. I guess this is embarrassing stuff, but my first CD’s were Ace of Base and a best of by Bryan Adams. I redeemed myself with the third purchase of the soundtrack to “Ren & Stimpy”, which I still spin. In my last years of high school I got into Nirvana, Helmet and Tool. A lot more aggressive work, but stuff that had some interesting lyrics and great imagery/art. And Nirvana was basically more angsty Beatles anyway. College brought on more underground stuff and lots of the typical college radio stuff mixed with a bit of the mainstream. Then, the day after Christmas 1997 I bought Radiohead’s “OK Computer” on a whim. It had such a great impact on me and some close friends and led us to discover other music by artists like The Velvet Underground, Elliott Smith, Pavement and Jeff Buckley and then back to The Beatles again. Once my ears had opened completely, I began cultivating a lot of stuff that I missed out on from the shoe gaze movement to noise rock to indie and music spanning the past forty years or so. Of course I’m still at a constant catch-up. In the past five or six years I’ve really absorbed a lot of the singer-songwriters like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson, Neko Case, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, M. Ward, Andrew Bird and Sufjan Stevens. Of late I’m into looking for more and more of the underground folkies like Bert Jansch and some others. I’m also in love with the sound of recordings from the ’50s and especially the ’60s. I love the psychedelic rock stuff from the time too. Records I’m fond of so far this year include: “Death Proof” Soundtrack, Bright Eyes, The National, The Shins, Of Montreal, Deerhunter and Arcade Fire. I’ve never been more anxious to watch the new crop of artists make music. It’s a really exciting time right now as it seems that there is a new-old spirit and heart again with music. The four that I’m really interested to follow are M. Ward, Neko Case, Arcade Fire and Conor Oberst. Of course with all the great stuff comes a TON of sonic dysentery on the opposite spectrum. 19) How much direction do you get from a client as to what they want or are you pretty much given free range? For the most part it’s free range. However, I love it when a client has an idea to pitch or something to build from. It’s always fun…but, it depends on the person too. However, I dislike being an assembler. One time a band had another illustrator and they just wanted me to lay it out and pay me crap for it. They were pretty particular about it. I didn’t take the job. I’d rather get paid crap for my complete involvement. I am easy to get along with, but I don’t want to put somebody else’s work together. If somebody comes to me they normally know ahead of time what I can do. Even still they can tend to get too specific or wish to mimic another design already made. At this point they should go else-where or simply hire the designer they are trying to rip-off. Musicians can be hard to work with sometimes because they think they know a lot about design…because they want their album to look like an old Peter Saville cover for Joy Division. It might fit, and look cool, but why not try to push things a bit more and make it your own…help re-invent or start something new? True, everything has been done and aped before and again. But, it’s so discouraging to see album art that lacks proper thought, soul and heart. Or, even more stuff that looks cool but is a total copy cat. Some people don’t know how to think of me though. Maybe because they don’t really know what they are going to get? Maybe I make them nervous? Some people can crank out the same template of stuff over and over. I’m not wired that way. But, I try to give them what i feel is an honest depiction of the solution and something that best represents them. Something that can grab attention across the room or internet browser. I don’t mind borrowing elements from the past, but I think it’s important to put your own blood into it. Otherwise you’re just picking noses. And after those boogers dry they’re awful hard to scrape from the bottom of the wagon. 20) Who would be your ideal client? This is a good question as I’m looking into doing some other things among the mix of the usual band poster or CD. I’m looking at contacting some book publishers. I’d love to finally get out some of the children book ideas I have in my head and on paper. I’d love to just write in general. I have a love of film, so I plan to look into that avenue. For sure DVD packaging with The Criterion Collection. I’d also like to make more illustrations for magazines and papers. These pay pretty good and I can crank the stuff out rather quickly. For the moment there is not enough hours in the day… Some types of music I’d like to put to package design before I pass away include: Gangster Rap, New Country and Polka. I don’t really like any of that music, but I think it would be fun to come up with something different for them. 21) How do you think you have influenced graphic design? I never really think about this much until people start talking and asking. I don’t think I’m anything too special and I feel that if I am, I’m still too young to be causing a rift in the waters. First thing is that I am a human being. I just happen to be a human that makes things. I won’t be oblivious to the fact that I know that I’ve got something I’m sitting on here. I’m not denying that.. I’m confident in that. But, I don’t feel it’s all quite said yet. I plan to always be doing my best work. If I get to the point where I don’t like my work, then why do it? My only concern is someday ending up in a nursing home, worthless and without use of my hands. Please shoot me before that comes. But, I guess I could just play art director at arts and crafts time. Back to the subject…I have people all the time tell me things and simply do things with my work and it is all really startling. Things like art history professors showing my work in lecture halls and publishers from Turkey, Germany, Spain and other parts of the world placing me next to some of my influences in books and publications. Design show curators are finding me and becoming involved with my work. I get messages on the phone and emails from art directors of every major design magazine. Students and industry peers contact me all the time. It’s all really strange to me. Since my first days here in Kansas City people have told me they look forward to seeing my work out in public and add it to their collection at home. This blows my mind more than anything. Just the fact that it moved them in a way to keep it. I know how it goes as I used to do this with concert posters. One of the most touching things I’ve seen was on the bottom of somebody’s band flier here. It said “DJG Design Just Kidding.com”. I have no idea who did it. But, it is really funny and I feel truly honored by it. And this Friday, as in a couple of days from right now, I am giving a big lecture in front of my former design instructors at Missouri State University. I am excited and scared to death all at once. It is all pretty wild. And I still work a crummy day job. 22) How do you feel about seeing other designers copying your style? Have you seen or experienced this for yourself (just curious)? People tell me all the time that they’ve noticed a change in Kansas City poster design since I came here over five years ago. I don’t see it much because I don’t get out much. I have seen a few people becoming more inventive by printing on paper stocks other than bright pink, yellow and green. I see a lot of graph paper printing and just over-all more inventiveness and creativeness for something so short-lived as a show poster…not only from here but all over. I don’t know if they got this from me or what. I highly doubt I’ve inspired that many people. Right now with technology and with screen printing and letterpress becoming more practical and trendy you can throw a wadded-up poster and hit a poster designer. What’s great is that anybody with initiative, a work ethic and love can do it and get their stuff up and out quickly. Especially in a small town like this. But, at the same time I feel it’s easy for people to just depend upon the content of what others are doing as opposed to really finding their own voice and the right reasons. Some just do it because it earns cool points. I’d love to say I’ve inspired someone…but, only in the sense of a similar inspiration like the one I had when I was twelve and younger to just simply make things with a naive mind and with a heart to shut myself in and find myself through whatever it was I was doing. Not to be an artist but to just enjoy the act of making things and putting your fingerprints on the world…if there is reaction then that’s great. It’s a blessing and most touching to impact somebody’s day with the silly things that I make in solitary in a dark and damp basement. Especially in today’s information age and with people so busy and non-stop. It means a lot when I can affect somebody’s daily life with something that was on my mind. Postscript That is all. I am a bit drained and need to shower. I feel most of this is written quite hastily, but it’s a very honest and immediate sort of haste. I trust it is what you are looking for. Please enjoy. Ask questions if you need to. I am always here. Thank You. -djg

#innerviews

[dailyaudiobible]

09/26/2019 DAB Transcript

Isaiah 48:12-50:11, Eph 4:17-32, Ps 69:1-18, Pr 24:5-6

Today is the 26th day of September. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I'm Brian. It is great to be here with you as we move ourselves into the back half of another week and we’re just…let me look at a calendar here…1, 2, 3, 4, 5…5 more days in this month. So, back half of the month. And wow! I look back over any month and consider the territory that we’ve covered in the Scriptures and realize it does matter what month we’re in, there’s something so profound that God speaks through His word into our lives that hits us right where we are, like just talking about growing up and maturing yesterday from the book of Ephesians. And, so let's take the next step forward on our adventure through the Scriptures this year. We’ve been reading from the Voice this week. Today, Isaiah 48 verse 12 through 50 verse 11.

Commentary:

Alright. So, have you ever heard the sentiment like, “be…like…be all you can be?” Like, “maximize your potential”, right? “Be the best version of yourself”, this kind of sentiment. “Live into your absolute full potential”, right? I have never in my life…ever…I can’t remember a time that those kinds of ideas weren't swirling around, probably because their great marketing, right? “If you buy this thing, then you will be all you can be.” And that gets attached to every kind of product and service you can imagine, right? Because if this product or service will make you the best version of you, like you will become your maximum potential and you will live up to it, then, who wouldn’t want to buy that? And, so, kind of dovetailing with what we were talking about in Ephesians yesterday, Paul kinda goes there in today's reading by first describing what our maximum impact potential is not. He says, “they are blind to true understanding, they are strangers and aliens to the kind of life God has for them because they live in ignorance and immorality and because their hearts are cold, hard stones. And now since they’ve lost all natural feelings, they’ve given themselves over to sensual, greedy and reckless living. They stop at nothing to satisfy their impure appetites”. So basically, according to Paul, the close minded hardhearted person has no real good way forward. And there's a reason. I mean Paul, throughout his entire writings and his entire ministry, the promise was that faith was the activator, faith started with Abraham, faith is the thing, it activates renewal and it's the only path that will lead us to God. So, to truly have faith would mean that we would believe with our whole heart in a certain direction. So, a closed mind and a hard heart isn’t gonna get us there. That’s not who we were created to be. So, yesterday we were talking about growing up and maturing and how do we do that. So, in today's reading, like how do we move toward a person that is living into their maximum potential? Paul actually gives those instructions. “Take off your former way of life, your crumpled old self, that dark blot of a soul corrupted by deceitful desire and lust. Take a fresh breath. Let God renew your attitude and spirit, then you're ready to put on your new self, modeled after the very likeness of God, truthful, righteous and holy.” Okay, pause here for a second and think of what we just read less as a list of things that you gotta get your act together on. Like, let's let what we just read sink in because now we're talking about things that are unbelievably good news, like too good, another vista again. We’re speaking about a fully restored humanity, created in God's image. We’re talking about who we were actually created to be all along. And, so, obviously we can’t give ourselves a new nature but we can receive one from God and that is exactly what being made new through faith is. Right? So, we can’t make it happen. We absolutely have to collaborate, but we have to collaborate. We have to do our part. And Paul told us at length what it looks like. Tell the truth. That's you doing your part. Don't let anger control you. That’s you collaborating. Don't steal. That’s you partnering with God in His work. Work hard, give generously, don't use foul language, be an encouragement, don't be better, be kind. Forgive as God has forgiven you through Jesus. If we’ll live into this then we can, as Paul says, allow the spirit to renew, remake, make new again our thoughts and attitudes. So, basically, the Holy Spirit will remind us of who we are and who we were created to be. So, if we go back to the beginning of our little discussion on like living into our max potential then anger and bitterness isn't going to get us there and unforgiveness isn’t gonna work. This is actually choosing the least impactful version of ourselves. It causes the maximum damage in our lives. So, let’s think about it today. Where are we going? If we don't know where we’re going, we still will end up somewhere. It will just be confusing as to why. Are we intentionally living into becoming all that we were made to be, all that's being outlined in this letter to the Ephesians, where we’re being told we are being fashioned in the image of our Creator, that we are the sons and daughters of the most high God upon this earth, that we are supposed to grow up and be that on the earth and reveal God's kingdom in the process. So, do we want to be who we are or are we just loving being less?

Prayer:

Father, we invite You into that. There’s…there’s just so much in this letter to the Ephesians that lifts our eyes. It's like we’ve been staring at the ground walking one foot in front of the other just in single file line kinda just trying to keep it together and stay in the margins and we haven't lifted our heads to the horizon to realize what we can see now, what there is, what You've actually done for us. And we want to be that. We've deferred what that might be like until after we die. Like we thought all of the benefits of this faith journey, they don't actually kick in until I'm dead. But that's not what we're seeing in Your word. You have actually created us to be impactful, maximized, mature people who are growing forward every day and being transformed and set apart as holy to You. That's what we’re supposed to be like. That's what normal is. And understanding that that's what normal is, that gives us pause as we examine ourselves. Come Holy Spirit and continue the work of pulling us forward we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the website and its way where you find out what's going on around here. So, stay connected in any way that you can, in any way that you want to, or any way that you will.

Visit the Daily Audio Bible shop, where there are a number of resources that their made for this journey. A bunch of new ones we had been talking about over the last couple weeks in the Global Campfire section of the Shop. Check that out.

I you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible in our mission to bring the spoken word of God to whoever will encounter it, whoever will listen to it no matter where on this planet, no matter what time it is, day or night, and to keep building community around this rhythm of life that we share in the word every day. If that is life-giving to you than thank you for being life-giving back so that we can continue. We have only ever been able to do this when we've done it together. And, so, thank you for your partnership. There’s a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you're using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request a comment, we’re a community of prayer and there’s a couple of ways to reach out. You can just press the Hotline button in the app and start talking or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning DAB family this is my first time calling in as I have been recently introduced to the family through a friend of mine. And I have two prayer requests, the first one is for myself. I’m a breast cancer survivor whose had chemotherapy radiation and I’m now I’m having some issues with peripheral neuropathy and it’s so terrible. So, I’m praying for that for that to be healed and I’m also praying for my daughter whose two years into her post masters and has a health…and she’s not able to get a job and show she desperately needs a job. And, so, I pray...I ask you to pray for her that she would get a job, that someone will give her an opportunity because she has no experience. In the healthcare management field, they need experience. So, please pray that she would have a job. Thank you. God bless all of you and I am truly blessed by this. Bye now. Thank you, Brian. Bye.

Hi this is Victoria Soldier just calling to pray for some of the DABbers. I just wanted to remind everybody, and you need this word with everybody that the world has changed but God has not changed. He is still saving, He is still delivering, He is still setting free and the enemy wants to steal that from us so that we cannot have the faith in knowing that God is still able to do exceedingly abundantly above that we’re able, that he is still started a good work in us and is still ready to finish it until the day of redemption. I wanted to play for my little sweetheart Jay who found his Father dead. And let him know that to keep the word in his heart so that the devil will not steal it from him so that he can live this life that his dad has left for him. Oh Lord, You touch him Lord and let them know that God is still alive, that God is still working miracles, God is still saving souls, He is still delivering, and He’s still setting free. I want to tell __ the lady whose boyfriend is in the coma that God is still working miracles. Lord You work a miracle for Janet. For __ . She is still…she is in the right place and her boyfriend is in the right place for a miracle. Oh Lord somebody said they need a miracle. I want to let You know that God said that You’re in line for the miracle. Get in line to the miracle. Begin to think of God’s word and how good He is and let God’s miracle work in You. Lord You have Your way in the life of the DABber’s. Have Your way in those who are losing faith and depression and those that are losing faith and feel like suicide, feel like there’s no other way left, let them know that there’s a light at the end of that rainbow, that God promises the rainbow and the rainbow is the fact that let us know that God is not going to destroy us, that God is faithful. He says anything You ask in my name I will do it. Oh Lord, somebody tonight needs to know You, somebody in the night needs a little…

Family, this is Michaela from Gloucester in the UK. It is Monday the 23rd of September. I was just listening to the community prayer on my journey home from work and as always, I am humbled by…by you guys just how we share our lives together and the encouragement and the prayers and the love. You know, you guys make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me want to sing and dance. You know, it’s yeah, it’s brilliant, thank you. I was struck by something I heard from __ for his wife. And it reminds me of a situation I’ve been through recently. There was something I needed to confess to my mom, some support I needed from her and I just needed her…some emotional support from her. I needed her to be my strength in the situation almost, probably some support I should’ve been getting from God rather than her but that’s a different story. And when I told her she went immediately to defcon one, you know, that the problem-solving. “Okay, if the worst…if the worst happened, we need to be doing this. What about this? What about that?” And internally it’s like, I was screaming. “Like, I don’t need this from you, you’re making this worse.” That’s one of the things I struggle with sometimes is anxiety and depression and it’s all part and parcel of the solution…of that problem. And I had to stop and say, I had to say to her, “I don’t need this from you, not right now. I just need your love and your support and that reassurance.” And sometimes we just need to love someone through their situation and just be there with them. They don’t need it to be solved straightaway. Yes, they probably want your help to do that at some point, but just love someone through a situation and just be there with them, support them through in what they want to do in that time. I hope that’s helpful. Bye.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible this is Lee from New Jersey and today is September 20…what day is it today…it’s September 21st and yes, I just want to call in and say hello and God bless you all. Also, like I said, I want to call back and start that series on envy. First family, I need your prayers to spare us of any demonic spirits that come into our family. My wife and I had a weird argument yesterday because I snapped really bad and I even used curse words. Because there’s money issues in which they’re getting resolved but it’s…we’re going through it it’s really hard. So, tempers flare. Most of the time we have silly arguments over, you know, over dollars and cents. And, you know, now, you know, we have a great weekend planned and all that can basically go down the drain all because, you know, my wife is mad at me and no matter how many times I apologize she’s not having it. So, this is gonna be very rough. It’s early in the morning now. So, you know, my kids are gonna suffer because of this, you know, and I just…I just ask for God’s intervention because I don’t know what else to do. So, thank you family. It may seem petty, I know, but, you know, I’m doing it more for them and for my wife, for my family, you know, and just to get these demonic spirits out that may jump in and how we let them in. How do they come in? You know, I ask God to come in and pray that He gives us the wisdom to find out what is going. Love you family. Be calling back soon.

Hello dear family this is Janice in Good Year Arizona. I’m calling in at the spur of the moment because the doctors are kind of…they don’t know what to do with me anymore. We are at a point where, you know, I have this thing called RSD or CRPS and it’s the nerves are firing off pain signals and sometimes I feel like I’m going crazy because of the pain and I can’t sleep for days. So, I need a physical touch desperately for this pain. I’m not participating in life anymore because of it. So, I could use some help guys. Thank you for your prayers, they mean the world to me. I love you all so much and I’ll keep in touch. Five.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family this is Afio calling from Delaware. Today I just want to come back to this family once again with a praise report. A couple weeks ago I called in thanking you all for your prayers and asked for your prayers for success in my exams in my medical schooling. And I just want to say that I am very grateful that I passed my exams and I am on my last leg of the schooling. So, thank you so much for your continued prayers, for your support, for your encouragement. And thank God for His grace. I am also calling in, I think it was Asia from Chicago who called in, she’s __ about an incident that you had with one of your friends…sexual assault. I just want to say I am so so so so sorry that that incident happened to you. It’s very painful and all I can say is, sister you’re in my prayers and I pray for healing for our Creator who is a good physician to give you peace of heart, to give you peace of mind and to let you know that you will get through this because we are with you together. Couple people that I wanted to mention are also in my prayers, in my thoughts, Blind Tony, Terri the truck driver, Brian and Jill, Slave of Jesus, you are also in my prayers. And I just wanted to continue also praying for Biola from Maryland. And, once again family, thank you so much. Once again, may you have a great weekend. And this Afio calling from Delaware…

[maryanntorreson]

4 Sci-Fi Universal Translators (And 1 Possibly Real One)

Photo: LucasFilm

Science fiction is often applauded for its ability to predict future technologies. These tools might be for the better (the smart watches shown on The Jetsons) or for the worse (the obscene surveillance state shown in Nineteen Eighty-Four). But sci-fi doesn’t just predict the future; it can create it, too. The imaginations of Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin and countless other writers have inspired scientists to create the tech-centric world we live in. It should come as no surprise, then, that the most sought-after linguistic technology was first thought of in First Contact, a 1945 novella by Murray Leinster. In the story, creatures from around the universe are able to communicate using what’s called a universal translator.

The concept of the universal translator is simple enough: it’s a device that can translate between any two languages, ideally as fast as possible. In execution, though, it’s not simple at all. The problem of human language is that it’s so complex that even our best artificial intelligence hasn’t mastered it. But as you can imagine, almost every tech company in the world is attempting to crack it, and each year brings incredible developments.

If you go from the real world to sci-fi, though, there are universal translators everywhere. Why? Well, frankly, it solves a lot of story problems. Sure, the characters could spend decades mastering alien languages, but why not just have a machine that does that all for them? As we wait for a device that will break down all language barriers forever, we rounded up our favorite fictional translation devices. We also threw in one of the most recent attempts at a real universal translator.

Tardis Translation Circuit — Doctor Who

In the long-running British TV show Doctor Who, the Tardis is a machine able to go anywhere throughout time and space. So sure, why not throw a translation device in there? The titular Doctor, being a 2,000-year-old alien, already speaks millions of languages, of course, but he does need translation services to offer his traveling companions. The Tardis employs a telepathic field that automatically translates both text and speech for people. The Tardis Translation Circuit is particularly complicated because it’s connected to the Doctor himself (or, thanks to Jodie Whittaker, herself). This means that the Doctor’s language abilities control who gets access to it, and also apparently allows him to briefly speak in other languages, like with the 10th Doctor’s near-constant yelling of the French Allons-y! (“Let’s go!”). That’s also why in the scene above, the Tardis’ translation doesn’t work until the Doctor comes out of what was essentially a coma.

Confused yet? Doctor Who doesn’t mind being very vague about how its technology works (it describes the space-time continuum as a “big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff”), so asking for a realistic explanation is futile. The show takes the easier route by just ignoring any inconsistencies in the way the translation circuit works.

Additional fun fact: In the Doctor Who book Only Human, it’s revealed that the Tardis has a censorship feature — no swearing in space, apparently — which helps explain why the show can keep its PG rating.

Babel Fish — The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is “a trilogy in five parts,” which might give you a hint that the whole thing is meant to be slightly ridiculous. So it only makes sense that their universal translator is the silliest of them all. It’s called a Babel fish, and it’s a creature that naturally evolved so that when you stick it in your ear, it eats your brain waves and excretes thought, translating any language in the universe for you. To help distract from the extraordinary implausibility of such a fish, the book launches into an explanation as to why the Babel fish disproves God’s existence.

The argument goes something like this: “I refuse to prove that I exist,” says God, “for proof denies faith, and without faith, I am nothing.”

“But,” says Man, “the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn’t it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and, by your own arguments, you don’t. QED.”

“Oh dear,” says God, “I hadn’t thought of that,” and vanishes in a puff of logic.

Universal Translator — Star Trek

Star Trek‘s universal translator, or UT, is the closest to a “real” gadget so far on this list. There’s no telepathy or fish involved. The UT is the sci-fi standard for translation technology, and any article about the concept of a universal translator is bound to reference it. In execution, it’s still more of a plot device than a technological one, but the creators of Star Trek have put at least a little effort into explaining how translation works. It’s essentially a really advanced Google Translate that takes in language information and figures out the best way to translate it. There are some inconsistencies in how it works, but that’s bound to happen with a franchise that’s been rebooted so many times.

In the above clip, Hoshi Sato explains how the UT operates, and says it was invented in the 22nd century (so the clock is ticking for us). In addition to the UT’s ability to translate any Earth language, Hoshi used the UT to invent the linguacode, which can be used to communicate with any species in existence. The linguacode ventures a bit more into the realm of impossibility, because it’s unlikely it’ll ever be that easy to crack alien languages.

In the Star Trek universe, the invention of the UT broke down all of Earth’s language barriers and created planet-wide world peace and cooperation. It will probably take more than translation to do that in real life.

We would be remiss not to mention Star Trek’s biggest contribution to language: Klingon. The Klingons are skeptical of the UT and prefer speaking in their own language, allowing many opportunities to hear Klingon throughout the various shows and movies. The language itself was developed into a full language, which is pretty much a sci-fi nerd prerequisite at this point. One of the most recent iterations of Star Trek — the TV show Star Trek: Discovery — hired official Klingon translator Robyn Stewart to create dialogue for the alien species, which is then translated on-screen. Even in the future, there’s no escape from subtitles.

C-3PO — Star Wars

In Star Wars, despite the existence of laser swords, spaceships and massive, planet-shaped weapons (OK, fine, moon-shaped), everyone is still forced to use language interpreters. Granted, C-3PO is a super-advanced robot that speaks six million languages. But even so, it seems pretty inconvenient to have to drag him with you every time you need a mediator. C-3PO tends to show a lot of flaws in droid design. For example, why would you build a two-legged robot? Sure, humans pull it off, but when C-3PO is walking around, he looks like a baby taking its first steps. Plus, C-3PO is scared of everything and is in fact kind of irritating (which is why R2-D2 has always been the more popular of the duo). There’s a reason this golden boy is always falling over and getting his limbs pulled off.

My overall point here is that when technology advances, I have to imagine we’ll be able to make more efficient translation devices. Nothing against C-3PO, but there’s just gotta be a better way to talk to Ewoks.

Pixel Buds — Google

Compared to the sci-fi we’ve covered so far, reality is lagging. There isn’t any tool that will immediately and seamlessly translate from one language to another. But the idea of a universal translator is looking more and more possible with every passing year.

While many companies are vying for linguistic supremacy, Google takes the blue ribbon for now (Microsoft isn’t too far behind with its Skype Translator). The release of Google Pixel Buds, which, as seen in the clip above, have the ability to automatically translate speech, got the tech world very excited in October 2017, and it is now a feature in many Google products.

There are two main flaws to the Pixel Buds translations: they’re not quite quick enough to count as “instant” translation, and they only work for a limited number of languages. With each new update, though, they’re improving. They’ve gone from 12 to 40 supported languages in the past three years, and each iteration is faster than the last. Competing earbuds are even working on allowing “interruptions,” meaning two people can talk over each other but the device will still be able to translate both people at the same time.

Google Translate isn’t taking the place of real human multilingualism �� yet. There are a lot of flaws that come up. But instead of just pointing out all of those, we can look at the positives. A few decades ago, instant translation seemed nearly impossible. In 2020, you can communicate in some capacity with almost anyone on the internet. No, it’s not perfect. No, not every language is represented. But still, it’s a technology that for years ago was purely the stuff of sci-fi. Basically, we’re living in the future.

The post 4 Sci-Fi Universal Translators (And 1 Possibly Real One) appeared first on Babbel.

4 Sci-Fi Universal Translators (And 1 Possibly Real One) published first on https://premiumedusite.tumblr.com/rss

[sadboyflores-blog]

I’m sitting in the bathtub. The water is hot-tub hot and neon orange, and the steam floating up smells like citrus. I have given myself permission to use the bath bomb that’s been in my closet for months; I’m trying to cheer myself up. It isn’t working. I’m still crying.

Crying is my constant today — a true inconvenience, since I finally have a job again. I’d been out of work (or “freelancing”) for 10 months, a lifestyle change I’d entered into enthusiastically and by my own will, but which resulted in a depression so bad that, after seven months, I was in a psych ward. I left that ward with new meds, a clearer mind, and one goal: to go back to work. I did, and it was good. It isgood. Except I missed a day of my meds, and it turns out one of the meds I’m on is notorious for a swift and devastating withdrawal.

So here we are. Crying, crying, crying; only the triggers change. 11 a.m. and I’m crying in bed because the weight is back, pushing me down. My tiny voice beats against it like useless arms: Get up, get up, get up. 1:30 p.m. and I’m crying because I know I said the wrong thing in that email, and I know that colleague thinks I’m a moron, or — worse! — rude. 4 p.m. and I’m crying because the boundary between good and not good is so delicate, so thin, I can’t imagine a future in which I don’t pass through it absentmindedly and unintentionally; because failing to leave the apartment is a telltale sign things are not good, and, well, so is crying all day. 6 p.m. and I’m crying because I’m sitting naked in a half-filled bathtub, listening to the third song on my “CRY FOREVER” playlist, and realizing that the lyrics I’ve relied on for 15 years have nothing to give me anymore.

Sometimes in the morning, I am petrified and can’t move

Awake, but cannot open my eyes

When I heard these lyrics for the first time, the first words Jenny Lewis sings in the Rilo Kiley song “A Better Son/Daughter,” they were a revelation. I was 16 and reckoning with a sadness I didn’t understand, and I was missing enough school to both worry my parents and inspire some lighthearted teasing from friends. “Oh, you decided to come in today?” they’d say, eyes rolling, and my gut would churn. Oh, you know, terrible headache. Stomach flu. Bad period. Anything but sad.

Jenny sings about the weight, how it crushes and terrifies her, how her awful phone calls with her mother don’t help, how all she can do is stay in bed and try to remember when things were better. But the 1:40 mark is when it really begins. Here is the crescendo, here enter the drums in a pounding waltz, here Lewis’s voice is clear and soaring:

And sometimes when you’re on

You’re really fucking on

And your friends, they sing along and they love you

But the lows are so extreme

That that the good seems fucking cheap

And it teases you for weeks in its absence

And here is where I used to scream-sing like the lyrics were a conjuring, eyes shut, arms thrashing, heart trusting that all of these words were, or could be, true:

But you’ll fight and you’ll make it through

You’ll fake it if you have to

And then after Jenny and I sing through the list of everything that will change when I get better, when I’m happy, she closes the song, her voice still clear but tender:

And you’ll fight it

You’ll go out fighting all of them.

Here, now, is where I’m stuck. When I sang this song at 15, 18, 21 years old, it felt like what I was doing was fighting. Maybe it was. It doesn’t feel like fighting anymore.

I’m finished with the idea that depression is a battle I can win. I say this understanding that it might be exactly what others need in their journeys through their own depression, and that at some point in my life it was exactly what I needed. But today I’m 31 years old, and it’s just not cutting it.

I think about the words I clung to, on LiveJournal and then Tumblr: Fuck depression. Kick depression’s ass. If you have depression and you got up today, congratulations, you’re a goddamn warrior.Depression is awful, but these messages made me feel that at least it gave me automatic membership in a (very sad) army, and that we were all fighting together. This is true on some level — finding others who live with similar thought and mood patterns has made me feel far less alone. But depression is also inherently solitary; no matter how often I speak or read about it, at its worst it’s just me and my brain.

The battle against depression was compelling when I saw depression as a clean narrative — a low, then lower, then rock bottom, fight, fight, fight, and then, finally, victory. Linguistic nods toward war are everywhere in articles meant as self-help for the depressed: “Eight Ways to Actively Fight Depression.”“Conquer Your Critical Self Attacks.” “Combat... this internal enemy.” Exercise, and maybe you’ll defeat it. Battling to overcome depression is fine once or twice. But I didn’t realize it would be a perennial fixture in my life, ebbing and flowing with the seasons. Now I hear “You’ll fight and you’ll make it through” and I don’t feel energized. I feel something along the lines of “Ugh, not again.”

This isn’t to say I’m against survival.Survival is great. It’s why, when facing the urge to kill myself five months ago, I chose a hospital instead. I’ve just been wondering if the language with which we describe survival isn’t a bit alienating to those who need it. If surviving depression is living in spite of the overwhelming urge to stop, then survival is inherently an absence of action. At its core it is — to be frank — the rejection of suicide. For me, now, this kind of survival resembles more of a shrug than active combat.

I suspect we spin depression into heroism so that we won’t be punished for living with it.

Something in my body resists the insistence that what I’m doing is a daily act of heroism — not only because daily heroism sounds, frankly, exhausting, but also because I know what the truth of my living through a depressive low looks like: dirty hair, blank face, puffy eyes, stained pajamas. It’s mostly waiting, and trusting that the low will pass. It isn’t marketable or twee or inspirational, at least not by conventional standards. It’s hard to meme.

Actually, that’s not true. Depression makes fantastic memes, they’re just the kind that might make others uncomfortable. Which gets to the root of my aversion to the narrative of fighting, my growing cynicism regarding mainstream treatment of mental illness in general: I suspect it’s built to make those not living with it feel better about it. From this point of view, I can hear anger in Jenny Lewis’s list of recovery, so focused not on the depressed person but on everyone around them — she’ll smile, laugh, listen; she’ll be, as the title says, a better son, a better daughter. Now, when I listen to it, I hear resentment. Anything else I can do for you?

I suspect we spin depression into heroism so that we won’t be punished for living with it, let alone discussing it. The triumph comes prematurely, as if to move past the ugly reality of depression as quickly as possible. The single-minded focus on victory elides the overwhelming likelihood that the battle will return, and return, and return.

I don’t blame anyone for preferring the victory, whether they live with depression or love someone who does. When facing a decision to either sit and cry with someone or cheer them on, the latter is usually the more appealing choice. For me, it’s also the hollow one. Depression is scary, and when I’m in it, I want someone to see that fear, believe it, and share it, so that maybe I might feel less of it. Maybe that’s selfish. But for me, now, it feels like the only way to move forward.

After six hours in the waiting room on the day I chose the hospital instead of suicide, the doctor who finally admitted me placed her hand on my knee and said, “It was incredibly brave of you to come in today.”

It was kind, and it helped. Being in that bed was scary, so I suppose getting there was brave, but I was no more scared in the bed than I was at home. I didn’t feel strong for having gotten there. I’d never been weaker than I was that day. Please understand: That’s not me putting myself down. That’s me realizing that I don’t have to spin my weakness to accept it. While waiting for my husband to come home that morning, waiting to get in a cab to go to the hospital, I wrote in my journal, “Maybe I say: I can’t do it. I can’t do anything. Please, someone else, feed me and watch me and protect me, until I can. Is it possible? It’s probably better than killing myself.”

Recognizing my weakness was a lot of things — embarrassing, uncomfortable, freeing, healthy, good. Never a battle. Never a fight. If anything, it was an exhalation. Maybe believing in the fight works for others; it worked for me for a long time. It doesn’t anymore, and that’s fine. My depression is a part of me, and it evolves as such. The way I live with it needs to evolve too.

It’s 7 p.m. and I’m sitting in my robe, on the couch, with my MacBook on my lap and my cats sleeping on either side of me. (They always know.) I open a new tab on my browser and search for a video which has been, in recent years, a more effective salve than my old coping skills.

It’s called “Jessica meets Vanessa, and assures her she’s fine” — the best title I can imagine for it, and I’m in the business of writing headlines. Jessica is a toddler meeting her newborn sister, Vanessa. Vanessa starts crying, and Jessica shifts to hover over her, her little voice repeating, “You okay, you fine,” until her crying stops. It is 47 seconds long and absolutely perfect.

In an essay which contains the fact that I couldn’t care for myself, that I wanted to kill myself, perhaps the most embarrassing admission is this: I’ve watched this strange family’s home video more times than I can say. Walking to work on a morning when fear almost kept me in bed, wrapped up on the couch on a night when I’ve bailed on all the plans I really thought I could keep, standing at a party and paranoid that everyone can see what’s wrong with me, Jessica’s mantra loops in my mind rapidly, continuously.

It isn’t a rebranding or dismissal of my weakness; it asks nothing of me. It makes no promises it can’t keep. It isn’t triumphant. It’s modest and reassuring and kind: You okay, you okay, you okay; you fine, you fine, you fine. 

[bforbookslut]

ARC Review: Zero Repeat Forever by Gabrielle Prendergast

This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review edition is an ARC and may differ from the final edition.

I have given Zero Repeat Forever by Gabrielle Prendergast a ☆☆☆ rating. It is Book 1 of The Nahx Invasions series. It belongs to the Young Adult Fantasy genre with some Romance, Science Fiction and Retelling elements. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers publishes it. It was published August 29th, 2017.

The blurb reads:

The 5th Wave meets Beauty and the Beast in this fast-paced and heart-stopping novel about an invasion of murderous creatures and one girl fighting for her life at the end of the world.

He has no voice or name, only a rank, Eighth. He doesn’t know the details of the mission, only the directives that hum in his mind.

Dart the humans. Leave them where they fall.

His job is to protect his Offside. Let her do the shooting.

Until a human kills her…

Sixteen-year-old Raven is at summer camp when the terrifying armored Nahx invade. Isolated in the wilderness, Raven and her fellow campers can only stay put. Await rescue. Raven doesn’t like feeling helpless, but what choice does she have?

Then a Nahx kills her boyfriend.

Thrown together in a violent, unfamiliar world, Eighth and Raven should feel only hate and fear. But when Raven is injured, and Eighth deserts his unit, their survival comes to depend on trusting each other…

Add to Goodreads

Verdict:

If you want an amazing alien/robot creature falls in love with human, you’re better off with Defy the Stars. Zero Repeat Forever is indeed like a Beauty and the Beast retelling (I’ve never read The 5th Wave so I can’t make a comparison there) complete with kidnapping and some Stockholm Syndrome, insta-love and of course, a science-fiction/dystopian society. The setting of Zero Repeat Forever is unclear: science fiction or dystopian? I’m leaning towards the latter mostly because it seems to be set in a future United States of America. But what’s more confusing is the worldbuilding because there’s no prerequisite to the Nahx, one day they are there and the next, they aren’t. It is also difficult to get through and I almost gave up but Eighth was such a sweetheart and the Nahx are interesting enough. Zero Repeat Forever’s biggest crime however is that one of its lead characters is absolutely unlikeable. Raven is abusive, she’s rude and she’s annoying as fuck. Perhaps, a crime worse than having an unlikeable lead: having cookie cutter characters as background white noise. Shame, honestly. A great shame. The plot twist only occurs right at the end and ends in a cliffhanger, drawing the reader back for more.

To break it down,

[may contain spoilers]

The Good:

1. Eighth is the saving grace of Zero Repeat Forever. Because Eighth and the Nahx are a non-speaking race, communicating through sign language, the story is told from Eighth and Raven’s point of views, allowing the readers directly into Eighth’s head and motivation for his every action. His naivety and curiosity at the human world is adorable and endearing, finding every little thing that humans do fascinating. He’s like a helpless little puppy. And I also really loved that Eighth was almost human in his actions and his thoughts, feeling every emotion on the spectrum and being confused about it but also acting upon it. Like, in one instance, he hides and cowers while his “team mates” seek out and kill humans. And he is able to empathise with Raven and her friends’ actions. But I mostly love Eighth’s ability to love.

2. The diversity is refreshing. Raven isn’t your typical cookie cutter white girl heroine. In fact, she’s a mixed raced girl and a lot of times in Zero Repeat Forever, her struggles with being mixed raced are referenced. Other than that, Eighth is unable to speak but he can hear and understand humans, making him differently abled (which really makes sense when it comes to the plot twist). Amongst Raven’s friends, there is one Asian kid, but I cannot recall if there are any other races amongst her friends.

3. There was a great amount of creativity put into the creature building in Zero Repeat Forever. The Nahx have been described in great detail from their armour to their internal workings. It can come off a little confusing at times as we often learn about the Nahx from Eighth’s point of view and he’s not the most articulate alien-creature out there. But despite how much creativity went into creating the Nahx, there are still multiple gigantic gaps in the worldbuilding.

3.1 I think the Nahx sign language that was created was pretty creative although a little difficult to explain in a review. Zero Repeat Forever, the title, comes from the sign language that Eighth teaches Raven. It’s probably the only parts I did really like.

The Bad:

1. I’m bothered by the lack of worldbuilding. There isn’t a lot that the readers know about the world but judging by the fact that they have some sort of summer camp and a supposedly military bunker and it’s set in the sprawling woods, I’m assuming that it’s set in real time Earth. And not a dystopian society. But we still don’t know how the Nahx invaded the Earth or what the Earth has done to save their citizens or I might have missed that detail because it was probably in a throwaway line that I quickly forgotten about.

1.1 A good amount of the book was set in a) the forest, b) Eighth and Raven’s hideaway. Also, despite them being at a survival summer camp, none of them seemed to really know how to survive which was annoying af.

2. Oh god, not to mention, the pacing was so incredibly slow. I forced myself to push through and judging by the fact that I didn’t give it up, it’s somewhat engaging. If you can put yourself through all the boringness in the beginning. And if you’re expecting Eighth and Raven to come together and get the ball rolling? That doesn’t even happen until more than half the book had passed. The worst part? There wasn’t even any worldbuilding in the boring starting bits: it was just Raven and her friends and Eighth and his partner, Sixth, running about the woods trying to survive and kill people.

2.1 And once Raven and Eighth meet, it just consists of Eighth trying to nurse Raven back to good health and Raven being a complete bitch about being kept prisoner/kidnapped.

3. Raven is abusive. Okay, fine, I suppose she couldn’t just succumb to Stockholm Syndrome but Eighth is as naïve as they come and he was only trying to help her but she kept hurling verbal and physical abuse, hurting Eighth’s feelings even though she was aware that he HAD FEELINGS. She even mentions that it felt good but she also felt bad for yelling and insulting him. It was so difficult to get through that I mostly skimmed her parts so I could get to Eighth’s parts and have some semblance of rationality in the book.

4. Another thing I really didn’t like with Zero Repeat Forever is that Raven’s friends were cookie cutter cardboard characters there to decorate the background. They barely had any personalities of their own except that one was a gay pair, one girl slept with her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s brother and some other guys I can’t really recall. The gay pairing was merely just gay although one of them had some military background of some sorts and the girl who slept with her boyfriend was just a really good hunter. I would say that Topher, the boyfriend’s brother was the most developed mostly because she spent the most time with him. And if you’re wondering about the boyfriend? He gets killed within the first few chapters. Like hello I didn’t even get to know him yet.

4.1 And I cannot for the life of me understand why everyone seems to be attracted to Raven. Firstly, she’s a hot mess and honestly very whiny. I don’t quite understand the relationships she has formed either. Is Xander her friend or is there some lust thing going on there? Is Topher her friend or was he also in love with her? It added absolutely no value to the story.

5. Which brings me to my next point. I just cannot see the relationship or the chemistry between Eighth and Raven. It happened out of the blue. Eighth looked at her and fell in love. Even the whole kidnapped and nursed back to health part of the book where I suppose they were supposed to bond, could not save it. There was no bonding because Raven kept abusing Eighth. But, but, Raven managed to develop some feelings for Eighth in some strange Stockholm Syndrome situation.

Conclusion:

It took me a lot longer than I usually would to read Zero Repeat Forever which is testament to how much this story needs to improve. It clearly is the prelude to a second, possibly more action-driven and engaging story. However, Raven’s tone, attitude and behaviour in this one really has put me off from finding out more. I refuse to read about her whining and crying and throwing a huge hissy fuss instead of trying to save herself, be more independent and accept help where she can get it. I’m a little torn about whether the second instalment would be worth it. However, if the story can be focused on well, the actual alien invasion plot at hand instead of forcing Raven and Eighth’s romance, it will be salvageable.

#book review #zero repeat forever #gabrielle prendergast #young adult #booklr #young adult fantasy #romance #retelling #science fiction #threestars

[nothingman]

When President Trump and his staff talk about groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda, they always come back to one argument: The need to call the Islamist threat by its name.

“These are radical Islamic terrorists,” Trump said in October. “To solve a problem, you have to be able to state what the problem is, or at least say the name.”

Yet after the alt-right rally in Charlottesville on Friday, and even after a neo-Nazi plowed a car into counterprotesters on Saturday morning, the president merely blamed “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides.” It took him until Monday afternoon, after days of intense criticism from the press and even many Republicans, to condemn “the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups.”

Experts on extremism see this as part of a disturbing pattern: The president seems to love calling out Islamist violence but is curiously hesitant to call white supremacist violence by its name.

“It’s night and day,” says Heidi Beirich, the director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project. “He pulls his Twitter finger in a second when there’s an [Islamist] attack like Manchester or Nice ... but he doesn’t apply the same standard to white supremacy.”

This is not a minor point. Trump’s insistence on using the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” was always seen by terrorism experts as a mistake, as the phrase inaccurately implies that groups like ISIS speak for the entirety of the Muslim religion. They argued that using the phrase alienates Muslim allies in the fight against extremism.

By contrast, Trump’s unwillingness to label white supremacists as such encourages those groups and their followers. They see President Trump as a tacit ally; alt-right leader Richard Spencer once said the president has a “psychic connection” with his movement. Trump’s “all lives matter” approach to white nationalist violence sends a signal that he’s at least sympathetic to their views.

“The administration's fixation on saying ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ was always a popular talking point among white nationalists,” J.M. Berger, a fellow at the International Center for Counterterrorism who studies domestic American extremism, says.

“When combined with the president's obvious reluctance to criticize white nationalists, it's pretty obvious what's happening here.”

The Trump double standard

For as long has Trump has been in national politics, his reaction to Islamist terrorism has been swift and extreme.

His December 2015 proposal for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” was in direct response to the San Bernardino terrorist attack that had happened days earlier. After the shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub in June 2016, Trump tweeted that he appreciated “the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism,” and called for the federal government to begin surveilling “the mosques” inside the United States.

This pattern continued after he took the presidency — even extending to foreign terrorist attacks. After an Islamist extremist attacked Britain’s London Bridge and nearby Borough Market in June 2017, Trump commented immediately and aggressively:

We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017

We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don't get smart it will only get worse

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017

Trump has even condemned Islamist attacks that never happened, inventing a fake Islamist attack in Sweden and blaming a shooting at a hotel in Manila on terrorism despite police saying there was no link.

Through it all, the president continued to link this violence to a larger ideology, repeatedly using phrases like “radical Islamic extremism” or “radical Islamic terrorism” to describe the threat unifying this violence. This language appeared in his inaugural address, a speech to a joint session of Congress in February, an interview on the French election in April, and an address in Poland in July.

By contrast, here are a few events the president didn’t immediately condemn, link to a broader ideological challenge, or use as a pretext to propose new policies limiting civil liberties:

In March 2017, a man named James Jackson traveled from Baltimore to New York City with the explicit aim of killing black men. He stabbed 66-year-old Timothy Caughman to death, and was charged with terrorism by New York state authorities.

In late May, a man named Jeremy Joseph Christian started harassing a Muslim teenagers on a train in Portland, Oregon, telling them “we need Americans here!” Two men interceded; Christian then stabbed and killed them both.

Nine days ago, unknown assailant(s) threw a firebomb at a mosque in Minnesota. The president still has not issued his comment; one of his top counterterrorism advisers, Sebastian Gorka, said the president was waiting to see if it was a “fake hate crime.”

The president has never given a high-profile address outlining a policy approach for countering white supremacist or far-right militancy. Instead, his administration has actually proposed cuts to the Department of Homeland Security’s program aimed at countering white supremacist movements.

To experts who study extremist groups, the pattern is clear: Trump treats the two violent extremist movements in radically different ways.

“When he sees people with swastikas and whatever other symbols of racism, he doesn’t get triggered,” says Cas Mudde, a professor at the University of Georgia who studies the far right. “That doesn’t mean that he agrees. But given how easily he’s triggered by almost everything else, I think it’s very telling.”

It matters much more for the president to call white supremacy by its name than “Islamic extremism”

A Charlottesville rally-goer threatening counterprotesters. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The argument that you hear from Trump’s team, over and over again, is that to solve Islamist extremism, you need to be able to identify the root cause of the problem. By the same logic, failing to identify white supremacy as the root cause of the violence in Charlottesville would make it impossible for the administration to stop it. There is no reason the “call it by its name” logic would hold for the former and not the latter.

If anything, expert suggest, the president is doing things exactly backward. Labeling white nationalist violence as “white supremacy” would actually be effective in weakening these movements, whereas using the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” actually detracts from the fight against jihadism.

Mainstream terrorism analysts are basically united in believing that the phrase “radical Islamic extremism” is both inaccurate and counterproductive. This kind of rhetoric misidentifies the cause of the problem as one of Islamic theology rather than the series of complex political and social factors that actually produce it, while insulting mainstream Muslims to boot.

“To Muslims, or for anyone familiar with the many strands of Islam, the phrase connotes a direct link between the mainstream of the Muslim faith and the violent acts of a few,” Emile Nakhleh, director of the CIA’s Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program under George W. Bush, wrote in a 2016 piece for Vox. “The term doesn’t enhance anyone’s knowledge of the perpetrators of terrorism or of the societies that spawn them, and it might hurt us in the global war of ideas.”

By contrast, it’s entirely accurate to blame “white supremacy” or “racism” for the terrorist attack in Charlottesville. The 20-year-old Ohio man arrested for ramming the crowd — killing 32 year-old Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others — wrote a report for a high school class that his teacher described as “very much along the party lines of the neo-Nazi movement.”

Trump’s silence in clear-cut cases like this, even if it’s eventually followed up with a stronger statement after days of political pressure, is actively dangerous.

White nationalists have taken Trump’s refusal to condemn them, alongside his outlandish statements about Muslims and Mexican “rapists,” as a sign that America is trending in their direction. Beirich, who tracks hate group membership for the SPLC, says she’s seen concrete growth in several hate organizations in the last year, like the neo-Nazi and Trump-friendly website the Daily Stormer. She believes this is attributable, in part, to Trump’s emergence on the political scene.

“The groups that most attached themselves to Trump saw great growth in their ranks,” she says. “The Daily Stormer, in 2015, had one chapter in Ohio. Over the course of their campaign basically, they now have 30 chapters ... they made the leap from the keyboard from the real world.”

You saw this reaction play out in real time after the president’s statement on Saturday. Andrew Anglin, the Daily Stormer’s founder, told his readers that Trump’s failure to condemn white supremacists by name betrayed his true feelings.

“Trump’s comments were good. He didn’t attack us. He just said the nation should come together,” Anglin wrote. “When asked to condemn, he just walked out of the room. Really, really good. God bless him.”

White nationalist groups take Trump’s refusal to condemn them with the same ferocity he uses for jihadists as evidence that the most powerful man in the world is on their side.

“President Trump is not solely to blame for the growth of this movement,” says Berger, “but he has certainly played a huge role in expanding its reach.”

via Vox - All

#IFTTT #Feedly #Nothingman uses feedly

[wcharaf]

Sleeping on the upper bed, I woke up Thursday morning while Walid is playing the creepy man prank on me, staring at me real closely.  I missed his creepy man jokes.  He used to stand behind the door of my office when we worked in 2004 in a cellphone shop, and watch me in a creepy way, and pretend that he is hiding when I see him.  Sometimes it made me wonder if a psychological issue was really being manifested.  Thankfully, it was  just a prank all along.

Walid is 10 years older than me, but he has the wisdom of a 100 years old philosopher. He grew up in Beirut Golden time, in an ocean of intellectual waves, when Beirut was the Paris of the East.  Then the intellectual waves became intellectual wars, and they in turn converted to real wars, and he lived the civil war in lebanon that started in 1975 day by day, the Israeli occupation that swept up to Beirut in 1982, till he left in the 90’s, and the civil war outlasted him till the year 1989, when it kind of ended with the Taif Accord, while the war with Israel continued till today.  He studied music in California, and a bunch of other things.  He is a professional guitarist, a well learned pianist, a great composer, and an accomplished poet in Arabic.  He is a reference and an expert in the Arabic Language with all its branches, Arabic Music, Arabic poetry, and fluent in English and French.  He also speaks Spanish, and some Russian and German.  He is also an Islamic scholar, and few of his friends declared him as Mujtahid.  Although it might have been a joke at certain times, but it really reflected his intellectual capability to infer the jurisprudence he needed for his daily life.

Walid is also an radio producer, video producer, a TV host, a columnist, a chinese cuisine chef, a donut baker, an educator, and school administrator. I have been in London since Sunday, and I have not yet gotten to the real icons, like Big Ben, The Parliament House, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, nor have I seen the Thames yet.  By this point, I knew that it was not possible to catch up to the possibilities of each area, and it will be a matter of glancing over, and selecting few destinations of each neighborhood among the few ones I had planned originally.

It is time now to go to the heart of London, Westminster, where Big Ben, Parliamentary palace, and surrounding government buildings. I wanted to start the tour in the National Gallery.  The bus took us to Telefogar station, but stopped few stops before due to traffic, and after grabbing a croissant au fromage from Paul cafe, a little stony entrance called my name to it.

#wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 5:24am PDT

In a city like this, almost everything is beautiful, and every shop or cafe, every alley and corner, is worth a stop and a visit. It is like walking in a large museum. Nevertheless, some places call your name, so sometimes you answer to the call, and sometimes you apologize sadly and promise to have a second chance in the future.

Paul called me into it, just like this arch. Upon entering it, and moving from one chamber to another, I found myself passing through some Roman sites.  It was the Roman Baths.

This is London for you. Layers and layers of history, all preserved, all appreciated, all relevant, all breathtaking.  If an alien species attack us, and give us the choice to preserve only one city from utter destruction, I would choose London, because objectively with it, you would preserve the largest amount of human civilization possible.

Exiting from the Roman Baths, I find myself at Somerset house.

  Carrying on, I got to the Trafalgar Square.

#wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #vangogh

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:10am PDT

Wikipedia:

Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar, Spain.  The name comes from Arabic طرف الغرب … meaning cape of the West.

The site of Trafalgar Square had been a significant landmark since the 13th century and originally contained the King’s Mews. After George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, the area was redeveloped by John Nash, but progress was slow after his death, and the square did not open until 1844. The 169-foot (52 m) Nelson’s Column at its centre is guarded by four lion statues. A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999.

The square has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday, the first Aldermaston March, anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a centre of annual celebrations on New Year’s Eve. It was well known for its feral pigeons until their removal in the early 21st century.

That area is busy. I can’t start to tell you what is in that area, but  I headed to the National Gallery.

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.[a] The Gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[4] Its collection belongs to the public of the United Kingdom and entry to the main collection is free of charge. It is among the most visited art museums in the world, after the Musée du Louvre, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[3]

Chambers and chambers, rooms after rooms, filled with the masters of the masters, the founders of Art!  Like nothing I have scene before.

There is a room in the Detroit Institute of Arts that I considered the most valuable room in North America.  It contained three paintings for Van Gogh, two for Renoir, Two for Degas, and a couple paintings for Cezanne.

To walk into a building that contained all the pieces I was already in love with, and have watched with awe in Art History Books, and fantasized about all my life, was a big event in my life.

I have no words to describe the National Gallery, but I will leave you with these samples:

1628 … follower of Rembrandt #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #rembrandt

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:24am PDT

Eugene Delacroix 1859 #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #delacroix

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:26am PDT

Jacques-Louis David 1816. #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #jaquesdavidlouis

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:28am PDT

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres 'Madame Moitessier' 1856. It took him 12 years to complete. #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:30am PDT

Lady Queen Jane Grey: "Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed, against the Queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day.1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar."

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:37am PDT

Samson and Delilah by Rubens 1609. #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #rubens

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:44am PDT

Two rooms full of Rembrandt !!! #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #rembrandt

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:49am PDT

"He that is without sin along you, let first cast a stone at her" John 8:7. Rembrandt 1644 #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #rembrandt

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:52am PDT

#wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #stfrancis

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 7:32am PDT

Caravaggio 1609. Salome receives the head of John the Baptist. #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #caravaggio

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 7:43am PDT

Joseph William Turner … one of my favorite masters. #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #josephwilliamturner

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 7:57am PDT

No identification needed. #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #monet

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 8:04am PDT

Vincent Van Gogh #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #vangogh

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 8:20am PDT

#wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017 #vangogh

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

There was a special exhibition for Michelangelo that I didn’t have a chance to see.  I left the National Gallery, and found Walid napping after prayer on its lawn, right behind a sign that said: “Keep Off the Lawn”.

#fish&chips #fishandchips #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 9:36am PDT

It was time for lunch, and I could not put off the Fish and Chips anymore, so the closest restaurant was called the Admiral, an 1860 restaurant, that offered the authentic British Fish and Chips.  We enjoyed our dinner, and headed to Westminster to enjoy the sunset at Big Ben and the Thames.  It was a lovely night.  The only disappointment is the attempt of American corporations, like Mcdonald’s, World Disney, Universal, and Coca Cola, to penetrate this historical city.

On our way, we stopped by 10 downing street, at the Prime Minister’s residence.

  This Whitehall street that took us down to the Westminster Abbey,  was lined with governmental departments and monuments.  We saw the guards changing at the Guards House, which houses by itself about few museums and monuments.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

#bigben #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

The Westminister Bridge had witnessed a terrorist attack few days before, so the columns will filled with flowers, candles, and notes such as this:

#wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 10:59am PDT

RIP . #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 11:01am PDT

RIP . #wissamlondontrip2017 #london #visitlondon #lovelondon #ilovelondon #london4all #london🇬🇧 #londoner #londonstyle #londonlife #london2017

A post shared by Wissam Charafeddine (@wcharaf) on Apr 6, 2017 at 11:04am PDT

We spend sunset at this walking the Westminster Bridge and South Bank, chatting, and finally taking a bus back to the hostel, getting lost, ending somewhere with lots of nightlife, eating a Turkish Large Spicy Chicken Shawarma, and walking home in an epic day in which we walked about 12 miles and over 25,000 steps.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

London Trip: Day 5: Trafalgar Square – National Gallery – Big Ben Sleeping on the upper bed, I woke up Thursday morning while Walid is playing the creepy man prank on me, staring at me real closely.  

#10 downing street #big ben #London #London Trip #national gallery #national gallery london #thames river #trafalgar #trafalgar square #travel memoir #walid #walid marmar #westminster #westminster abbey #westminster bridge #wissam #wissam charafeddine