Tv show summerland pictures
30 ROCK
2010.01.26 19:23 blisstonia 30 ROCK
Guess which subreddit thinks gesturing with one's thumbs is for poor people, is immortal, has TWO BAD KNEES, is beautiful but doesn't know it, and hasn't cried once today? THIS ONE. A sub-reddit for the fans and critics of the show 30 Rock. Discussion of the show, pictures from the show and anything else 30 Rock related.
2018.05.01 14:45 unknown_human Conan O'Brien Being Awesome
A subreddit for posts of Conan O'Brien.
2011.01.08 06:16 People Person's Paper People
Why watch many show when one show do trick?
2024.05.19 08:43 Severe_Rent_7241 How long can shipping take?
 | I ordered a backpack yesterday may 17 and it got shipped out today may 18 I need it by the 28 will I get it in time? I contacted the seller and said the usual is 10 days I live in Las Vegas. He showed me this picture which it typically delivers to California in only 4 days. What do you guys think? submitted by Severe_Rent_7241 to Aliexpress [link] [comments] |
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2024.05.19 08:35 Heroman3003 Taking Care of Broken Birds [Part 3]
More misery bird? More misery bird. Really miserymaxxing with these fics I have going, but hey, this one is not that miserable actually! Krekos is back and ready to be dense and downcast, but maybe not quite miserable? Read and see!
Big thank you to NoP community for being great and supportive of my endeavors!
Also, obviously, big thanks to SpacePaladin15 for creating this universe and allowing fanfiction well to flow free!
[First] - [Prev] - [Next]
Memory transcription subject: Krekos, Krakotl Refugee
Date [standardized human time]: May 6th, 2137
I stare at the foul creature before me. Normally staring at something directly head on like that would be too predatory for me to do, but after nearly dying of bread yesterday, I didnât feel patient enough to be gentle. The creature stared right back, though in a much more natural, prey-like way, tilting its head slightly as it looked back at me with one eye and let out a long bwok.
âAre you doing this now? Really?â, I ask, knowing full well it cannot respond.
Well, it can, if another bwok it made is any indication. Of course, translators arenât yet advanced enough to translate non-sapient speech, but the intention behind sound is intuitively clear. Itâs telling me to back off. Well, I tried the diplomatic approach at least.
Raising my wing I begin sliding the bird out of its nest, careful to keep any delicate joints out of its reach. It started clucking in upset indignation, struggling back and even trying to peck at me, but after realizing that I will not relent, it hopped out of the box and rushed out of the cattle house, revealing a single dead egg in the nesting box.
With relief, I finally pick up the last egg and head back to leave them at the house. Turns out that while Reginald didnât forget to both lock them up yesterday and let them out today, he did neglect feeding them both times, as well as collecting the harvest. So when I was driven back here in early morning, the first thing I did was making sure they were taken care of. I canât say the horrid birds looked in any way hungry, but the moment I poured the feeding grain for them, they attacked it with more viciousness than Iâd expect of an actual predator. And yet only thirteen were present at the feeding, as the one thatâs usually the target of flockâs ire remained in the cattle house yet again, Reginald leaving it to it, being unaware of its undesirable habit of trying to hatch dead eggs.
With eggs delivered, I flew my way to my usual spot atop the cattle house and could finally relax. The loner beast first made its way to feast on the scraps of the grain that other birds already all have had their fill of, so I wasnât too concerned. Instead I tried to reflect on the morning I had so far.
Waking up at the hospital did make me momentarily panic before I remembered the precluding events. Not that I could properly panic, feeling the most starved Iâve been my whole life, and too weak to try flying out of the window. Thankfully, the breakfast they provided was actually well made with krakotl needs in mind, algae soup alongside a few slices of bread, this time without any horrid human ideas like putting eggs in there. Eggs! Turns out they put eggs in some kinds of bread! Thatâs how I got sick! Eggs! The thought of what I consumed even now made me queasy, and it definitely made breakfast a much less appetizing affair than it would have been without that knowledge, but back then the hunger won over the disgust.
Lena did keep her promise and came to pick me up extra early. Her being a staff member at the hospital gave her some extra privilege, I assume, hence why I was released without any forms needing to be filled out personally. She did have important business today too, which probably explained the earlyness and urgency of her driving me back to her house.
That did not mean I escaped her ire, however. While I couldnât pinpoint anything to identify the man, as Bob was apparently a common name, that offered me bread, we did come to understanding that he was likely either unaware of the nutritional contents of it, or of extent to which the Cure-induced allergy would be affecting a krakotl. Yet, Lena seemed much angrier at me for failing to take any precautions. Turns out that was the purpose of medicinal injectors, epipens as humans call them, that were provided to me. I was supposed to have them on me in case I accidentally ingested contaminated food. Nobody told me that, I was just handed them back when I first received the necessities at the refugee camp and I had no clue what they were for. Then she also berated me for eating random food from strangers and ignoring bad flavors. Turns out that brioche bread isnât actually bitter at all, and that was my body reacting to an allergen in it. Reaction that I unwisely elected to ignore, to further ire of my host. By the end, several new rules of my stay here were made, including not eating things I donât know and always having at least one epipen on me. Thankfully, these rules would be ones Iâd start following even without them being established, so I wonât have to concern myself with being kicked out over accidentally breaking them.
As if following the rules will be enough to make them like you.
Trying to distract myself from thoughts of yesterdayâs incident, I focused my attention on the flock. All birds accounted for, so at least I knew that my absence did not result in the predator coming to snatch one of them. I do not wish to insult my hosts, but Reginald is far from most attentive people in matters unrelated to his job, and I am not sure the birds were watched at all while I was out. Speaking of, my scannings of surrounding treelines revealed no sign of the predator today. Perhaps it departed to hunt elsewhere, or maybe it ventured too close to a more populated area and exterminators dealt with it.
Actually, did human exterminators work similar to Federation ones? I knew for a fact they had them, although they seemed like a market of private organizations if advertisements are anything to judge by. Still, what methods do they use? I know humans oppose fire, and do not believe in predatory taint, but surely they have measures to protect themselves? They are, by self-admission, far from the best natural predator, and I doubt Earthâs non-sapient predators would just leave humans be. Maybe I should call one of those human exterminator agencies and call them in to deal with that predator? I havenât told Lena or Reginald about it, as I didnât want to bother them, but it could pose a serious threat to the cattle, but maybe thatâs the way I could resolve it without involving them?
I have not done nearly as much research into human culture and lifestyle as I should have, considering that Iâve lived on Earth for over half a year now, but the sheer width of the topic always overwhelmed me the moment I opened internet search app to the point where I just closed it right away.
And you expect to start studying again with that attitude? Youâll flunk out even from this primitive predator education course.
Extra loud call from the flock made me refocus my attention on them, but it was nothing. Just the loner getting pecked extra hard and lashing out against assailants, causing a small aimless stampede as all the birds ran around in circles, puffing up at one another. The assailants now looked a lot more like victims. I could understand those birds more than I could humans at least. The loner bird is clearly an odd one out. Itâs the only one repeatedly trying to hatch unfertilized eggs it lays, and it seems to always avoid the rest of the flock. Humans may deny the existence of Predator Disease, but they canât deny that prey and predator both can and will sometimes behave in unnatural ways that may threaten the herd's safety. Or packâs, in case of humans. Birds must know on instinctual level that the lonerâs behavior is unnatural and are attempting to combat the Predator Disease on instinctual level. And since that is natural, I still will not interfere in this, unless the loner bird actually becomes a threat to others or will start getting too injured. The first time I attempted to pick one of the birds up was the only time for a good reason, as I have learned their viciousness all too well.
DING-DING
The sudden loud ring startled me enough that I nearly tumbled off the roof. Who would be coming over now? Lena and Reginald have left together and shouldnât be back until afternoon, and theyâd never use the bell. That means someone must be here for them. But wouldnât they warn anyone to not come over? Especially with their plans for today.
With nobody to answer these questions, I had no choice but to go and discover the answer myself, flying up and over the house, towards the entrance gate. The moment I passed the house roof, I already saw a familiar silhouette. It was the human child from a few days ago.
Thankfully, Lenaâs insistence on me carrying an epipen at all times meant I also carried my satchel at all times too, so I didnât have to go grabbing my holopad, and took it out. But before I could even launch the translator TTS app to type out a greeting, the child was already hopping in place with excitement.
âMr. Krekos! Hi! I came over to visit!â, she exclaimed, showing off her teeth in an unnerving expression of human joy. I simply tried to avoid that and focused on the pad, typing out my response.
âHello, Rosie. Why are you here?â
The question was genuine, as the child was not carrying any more of that honey substance from last time.
âI just came over to visit you! Is that okay? Are Mr. and Ms. Vince okay with it?â
Visit... me? Why? While I was confused, I did instinctively type out a reply.
âThey did tell me visitors are allowed as long as thereâs no trouble when I first moved in.â
And before I could type a followup message asking her why sheâs here, she already let out a joyous roar and ran past me.
âCan I see the chickens?â, she asked, and not waiting for an answer, rushed past the house and towards the cattle yard.
âWait! Youâll scare them!â, I yell after her, but of course without a translator she canât understand me as she runs like she already knows where to go.
And indeed she has, quickly rushing up to the open field where the birds were grazing. Thankfully she didnât start chasing them, instead just approaching the flock from a distance and swaying in place, watching them with what I assume was some sort of predatory excitement at the sight of prey. Maybe thatâs where the contained hunting instinct of human children showed themselves? In chasing small birds? I was still more subdued, considering she stopped shy of causing a small stampede, but still.
âGrandpa used to take me with him! He helped watch this farm until Mr. and Ms. Vince moved in. I like chickens! I think theyâre cute.â, the child told me innocently as she kept swaying and watching as the beasts grazed upon insects of the pasture.
That revelation was... interesting. I suppose it makes sense that between the original owner of this land dying in the bombings and Lena and Reginald moving in, it would be unattended. With nobody to feed and watch over those things, they would be long dead for sure. And it was Rosieâs grandfather... Speaking of. I typed out my words.
âDoes your grandfather know youâre here?â
She seemed to get a weird look as she stopped her excited swaying, fiddling with her hands instead. Looks like I asked the correct question.
â...he knows I am out visiting neighbors.â
That did not answer my question. I squinted at the human child, and she dipped her head as she continued.
â...he doesnât know Iâm here specifically. Or that an alien even lives here...â, she explained, her tone suddenly more sullen.
I couldnât help but squint at that, and it appears that my expression was readable enough that even a human could see the suspicion, as she continued.
âIâm sorry... But if I told grandpa, heâd tell me Iâm forbidden from talking to you, like he forbade me from talking to hedgehog people in town... But I want to talk to you! Youâre nice and youâre a space bird!â
The child was actually working around the rules established by her guardian to come see me. I donât know if I should be glad or concerned. Clearly, the man is anti-alien in his opinions, and Iâd rather that kind of man not know about how close he lives to one. At the same time, Iâd rather not encourage a child for lying to their guardian in order to meet a stranger they know they arenât allowed to interact with... So I just took the middle path with my next message.
âI see. What did you want to talk to me about then?â, TTS speaks for me.
Her stiffened body language disappears, replaced again with earlier excitement.
âI wanna know more about space! And aliens! Itâs all so cool but grandpa says itâs all dangerous because mom and dad died. But itâs not! The hedgehog people were nice, and youâre nice too!â
I wasnât sure about that logic, but my self-preservation told me I shouldnât try convincing her to go confessing. Instead I focused more on her chosen topic.
âI am not sure I am the best person to ask about space. I am not a scientist or traveler.â
âBut youâre from there! You know way more than me. I donât even know what you are called. And thereâs gotta be cool things out in space!â
I let out a sigh. I suppose itâs childlike curiosity at its finest. So unfamiliar with mundane that it is a wonder. I remember being like that about becoming a doctor.
And then you let your teacher die.
I quickly tapped on the pad.
âOkay, I can answer questions, but I may not know everything.â
The noise that came out of the girl was like a squeal of a panicked dossur as she started hopping and spinning in place.
âYes! Yes! Thank you, Mr. Krekos!â Sudden movement did cause me to recoil a bit, which in turn caused her to cease her happy flailing and adjust her little dress. âI dunno where to start though... Hm... What are you?â
...for all my trepidation about not knowing answers, I should have anticipated that the questions she asks will be rather age-appropriate and on the same level as we learn in our first school classes. At least I wonât disappoint her then.
âI am from a species called âkrakotlâ. Weâre avians, as is obvious. Our home is...âdead, gone, reduced to glass and ash by our own hubris â...was Nishtal. A beautiful planet...â
Thankfully she did not question my hesitant pause. Instead she just nodded along.
âWhat about the hedgehog people? I already know venlil, but theyâre the only ones I know name of.â
Hedgehog people in town she mentioned earlier. The only species I could think of that could be seen there would be the gojid. I have no clue what hedgehogs are, but probably some creature with visible similarity to them.
âThey are called âgojidâ, and theyâre from gojid Cradle. Both of our species are... well, used to be known for our might and protecting other species of Federation.â
I am not sure if thatâs something to brag about, considering... everything. But I didnât want this child to get brought down with depressing regrets of our species. Let her know something nicer instead. She clearly lost a lot, but thereâs still joy left in her. I wouldnât want to be the one to ruin that.
âCool! What about other people? I wanna know more!â
And so I went on, telling her about various species, although I mostly focused on ones in this new human-led union, only mentioning kolshians and farsul beyond that. Itâs weird explaining to a child what a tilfish or a harchen looks like, but thankfully my holopad isnât just a method of communicating with implant-less children. With access to interstellar web, I could easily pull up pictures of various alien species to show to her, even if she struggled to believe that some of them were even sapient purely based off of looks. With how varied species in Federation are, and how some of us admittedly arenât too far physiologically from our more primal ancestors.
Among other topics, she asked me to tell her interesting things, which I didnât know much of. I told her about Venlil Primeâs tidally locked status, a rarity among habitable planets, much less homeworlds for species. I told her about the unique architecture of Mileau, designed to accommodate both species of regular size and dossur themselves. I told her about Colia medical academies, some of the most beautiful medical facilities in the galaxy.
I wish I was more well-travelled, but I just wasnât. My whole life, I never left Nishtal until the extermination fleet took me despite my protests. That may have been what saved my life...
Not that I, of all people, deserved it...
âHey! Stop that!â
I flinched as I heard the child yell, but quickly realized that it wasnât directed at me. Instead, Rosie was rushing down towards the chicken flock, breaking up the fight in which the loner was being pecked by a few larger chickens. As the human child approached, the birds stopped their infighting and scattered in different directions, crowing in loud panic and discontent. On instinct, I found myself rushing towards the child, forgetting about translation entirely.
âWhat are you doing?! Donât touch them!â
I didnât want her to hurt the cattle accidentally, and I didnât want her to get hurt by the angry birds in return. But, it seems like the moment the birds scattered, she was satisfied with her actions and turned back to me, wearing another one of her happy smiles.
âSorry, Mr. Krekos, I just saw chickens being mean. Bad chickens.â She explained.
I was baffled. Why would she interfere like that? When I tried that back when I was just starting, that got me pecked! But with her, the birds just scattered. What if they pecked her?
I took the pad out again and started typing quickly.
âThat was dangerous. Why did you do that? What if they attacked you? Why are you even interfering in their natural dynamics?â, questions flowed out of my pad with an artificial human voice.
The girl simply giggled.
âTheyâre chickens! They arenât dangerous. They donât peck that painful and Iâve been scratched worse before. And I have to stop it because bullying is wrong.â
Then she actually noticed that the one that was being attacked wandered close. She casually approached it from behind, the blind spot and just reached down and grabbed it, picking the bird up. I was ready to rush to help the bird when...
âMwah! There, all better.â
She did a human âkissâ on the back of the cattle birdâs neck before releasing it, the surprise of it causing it to rush off. I knew what kisses were, Iâve seen enough of them between Lena and Reginald, but I believed they were gestures of intimate affection, not... what was even that?
It seems Rosie noticed my confusion as she explained.
âYou gotta kiss it so it heals better! Thatâs what mom taught me.â The child displayed that smile of hers shamelessly. With how much I was being exposed to it, it almost wasnât unnerving anymore. Still, it was interesting to learn that kisses are seen as something that helps wounds. I guess some species do have saliva with mild antiseptic properties, wouldnât be too out there to assume humans are the same. And if thatâs the case, maybe thatâs how the kissing tradition started? Exchange of protective fluid between lovers?
âI see. I did not know that.â I responded before letting my puffed feathers relax. Okay, this whole âwatching a human childâ thing is turning out to somehow be even more stressful than I expected at first.
âWait, Mr. Krekos, what time is it?â She suddenly asked, looking up at the sky.
âItâs nearly twelve.â I respond, holopad having a convenient clock for local time.
âOh no! I need to be home soon! Was nice seeing you Mr. Krekos gotta go bye!â
Before I had even a chance at typing out an answer or my own goodbye, the child sprinted away and back towards the entrance. I had to take flight just to keep up, and even then she just turned around, waved her arm at me and then kept sprinting down the road after leaving the gate. I simply offered a small wave of a wing back before locking the gate again. I suppose it is hard to keep track of time without a device or clock nearby...
Well, at least I had the usual peace and quiet now. And learned a bit more about the creatures I was in charge of. I should really try to deal with my aversion to looking things up on the human internet...
Just as I was about to head back out towards the yard, I heard a loud car horn, a familiar one, getting my attention. Lenaâs car. There they were, signaling me, probably having spotted me at the gate from afar. Deciding to make use of my presence here, and hoping to avoid needing to explain that I had a surprise visitor earlier, I went ahead and opened the large gate, allowing the car to enter.
Once it was parked in the usual space, the doors opened and three people came out. Lena and Reginald were both looking a bit disheveled, but their faces carried these smiles that seemed wider than ever before. And third person... Was a stranger. A human I knew of, but never actually met. As he exited the car, a large bag in one hand, he just stared at me, standing in the front yard...
â...okay, I expected many things when I was told you guys housed a refugee, but not this.â
Oh no. Oh no, he was not one of the ones that was willing to overlook an invader that partook in bombing of his planet being allowed to walk free, of course, Lena and Reginald were the weird ones like that, doesnât mean their son wonât be... I felt the panic rising as I realized Iâd need to return to the camp. Why was I upset about that? This was supposed to just have been a way to make money, but now I have a free education program. Do I need to stay? No, but... Why?! Why do I not want to leave?
âKen, you said itâs going to be alright no matter what it is, right? Wanted us to keep it a surprise to meet a new friend?â Lenaâs voice. She should have told him, thatâd give me time to prepare why didnât they give me time why.
âNo, no problems, just, really surprised, thatâs all... uh... hey, buddy, you okay? Youâre really... trembly.â
He was approaching me, and instinct took over as I recoiled, before stuttering out my answer.
âI-Iâm fine...â
...thankfully translators donât translate voice cracks. I hope, at least...
âHey, relax... I have no problem with you being a krakotl, I just didnât think...â He looks over at Lena and Reginald. âCalm down... I can wear my visor if you want?â
Right. Those things humans use to hide their scary faces from us.
âI... Iâm good...â
Why would it last? It almost felt good after all.
There was some emotion I struggled to read on the young humanâs face, as he sighed and shook his head.
âI screwed this up, Iâm sorry. Let... Let me try again.â He straightened out, and adjusted his clothing, before slowly approaching me and giving me a small smile, no teeth showing. âHello. My name is Kenneth Vince and I'm son of Lena and Reginald Vince. I was told youâre a refugee they took in to help out. Itâs nice to meet you. Whatâs your name?â
That... snapped me out of it. Right... He was... not upset at my existence. He was just very surprised that Lena and Reginald werenât. Thatâs a reasonable thing to be surprised about, considering I was surprised about it to this day. I tried to compose myself as I responded.
âMy name is Krekos. I live here as... hired help with the cattle. Itâs... nice to meet you?â
The smile on Kennethâs face widens, though he still refrains from showing his teeth. Instead, he extends a hand towards me. A handshake is a human gesture that I found far from comfortable, but I didnât want to give him a reason to change his mind on acceptability of my existence, so I took it with a wingclaw. He gently took it and held for a few seconds before letting go and sighing again, turning to his parents.
âYou know, I always thought you guys would be empty nesters, but I never thought itâd be that literal.â
That got all three of them laughing, as I just tilted my head in confusion. I was fairly sure there were no empty nests in the house until after I adjusted the attic room for my own accommodations. Still, I took the laughter as a sign that the tense moment had fully passed and let my ruffled feathers slowly rest.
âLetâs head inside. Krekos, weâre having dinner, youâre welcome to join us.â Reginald said, picking up Kennethâs bag. I tilted my head a little and he followed up with elaboration. âWe will be having meat... But thereâs still going to be stuff you can eat too. Itâs a celebration, so I prepared a bit of everything.â
âDad, you shouldnât have!â Kenneth responded with embarrassment.
âNone of that! Our son returned from the war, alive and a hero, and we can have a celebration. Krekos, I know youâre still... uncertain about meat so you donâtââ
âIâll join.â
Wait, who said that? And why did they say that in my voice?
Wait, that was me. Why did I say that?
âThatâs great to hear! Iâve got some nice steamed broccoli and some vegetarian fried rice as sides that youâll enjoy!â Reginald smiled at me and I felt myself shrinking into my feathers. That the humans didnât notice at least, proceeding into the house instead.
Well, looks like I signed my warrant. At least my bag and my epipen were on me in case something at the table triggers the allergy again. Would be rather unfortunate to have it happen two days in a row.
And thatâs how, in just ten or so minutes, I found myself sitting at the dining perch, while humans took seats in chairs, all consuming chunks of roasted flesh and somehow managing to also stuff pieces of equally roasted plants in, and converse with one another. You wouldnât be able to tell on first look, but despite their mouths being relatively small, especially for a predator, it seems they compensate for it by having those be near bottomless in both hunger and small talk.
I am not sure how I managed to shift my focus away from them consuming animal matter in front of me, however vat grown it might have been, and onto their conversation instead, but I succeeded. I suppose that was just part of me going native around predators. Soon, Iâll be the one feasting along with them before I know it, and snacking on those epipens to not die of it.
Like you could ever be on the same level as humans.
âSo, Fahl? Thatâs where you were sent after the Battle of Earth?â Lena asked.
âYeah. From what I heard, we got a light posting compared to guys at Sillis or Mileau. The most I had to deal with was some exterminator insurgents.â
Thatâs right. Since harchen participated in the Extermination Fleet, they were one of those who were occupied by humans during the war. It makes sense that there was at least some ground resistance.
âHonestly, the worst thing out there was the heat. Not the flamethrower kind, the climate. The place was so damn dry and hot. At least exterminators you could subdue or evade. Not so much with the scorching sun!â
I couldnât resist a small chuckle at the idea of a predator being more afraid of hot weather than flamethrowers as I slowly pecked at the vegetables on my plate. Thankfully it was set far enough aside from any meat dishes that no contamination should occur, but I was still examining pieces before putting them in my mouth just in case.
Seems like reacting was a mistake though, as that brought Kennethâs attention onto me. He finished chewing latest piece of flesh and pointed a fork at me.
âSo, Krekos... Where are you from? Cradle was my guess, but I do know there were refugees from other places like Sillis too.â
Thatâs a weird question. Isnât it kind of to be expected for a krakotl to be from our actual homeworld?â
âIâm from Nishtal.â
âNo, no, thatâs not what I meant,â Kenneth chuckled, tossing a piece of broccoli into his mouth and swallowing before continuing, âI meant, where did you live? I kind of assumed you were born there, but itâs not like Nishtal had a chance to send refugees out, and if they did, this is the last place theyâd be.â
Oh... I caught concerned looks of Lena and Reginald, looking between me and Kenneth from both sides. Not only did they not make him aware that I was a krakotl, they also neglected to mention just how I came by my refugee status... Which was just a legal workaround to grant me asylum without unnecessary complications or establishing undesirable precedent. Legally, I may be a refugee, but practically... I am a defector. Lena and Reginald know that, I told them my story before. And while they were weirdly accepting, Kenneth... Fought extermination fleet here on Earth. Personally.
Still, I wasnât about to lie. It took a few moments and gathering mental strength to steel myself, and averting my eyes, focusing on the plate of warm vegetables in front of me rather than the humanâs anticipating stare before I answered.
âI did live on Nishtal. I... I came with the extermination fleet.â I responded, doing my best to avoid looking at him. I did not want to witness his reaction, for some reason the thought of seeing it weighed heavy on my mind.
âOh.â
The response was simple, and had no followup. There was no more clinking of cutlery against plates, or chewing. The only thing hanging in the air of the kitchen was silence, weighing down on me. It dragged on and on... until it just got so unbearable I couldnât take it.
âI-Iâm full... Thank you for the meal.â I quickly said, hopping off the perch and stepping out of the kitchen, quickly making my way to the yard and taking flight.
Fresh air of the outside and rush of it as I flew up and gained speed... I missed that. I knew itâs not safe to just fly over other peopleâs territory, so I corrected my course into doing large sweeping circles over the cattle yard and simply let my wings carry me.
Flying away from any danger is the only thing Iâm good for anyway. The only thing I ever do.
I closed my eyes. With them closed and not focusing on my angle it feels like Iâm actually flying away from all the troubles. Away from humans who barely tolerate my existence, away from gojid who see me as worse than a predator, away from Earth and all its incorrigible customs, away from horrid cattle, away from constant memories...
Flying feels nice. It may be a bit harder than it was home, but itâs still possible. I heard that on Venlil Prime or Mileau itâs much harder. But here? Just an extra flap of wings for every few paces and youâre just fine, free to soar the skies...
Alone. With no one to ever share it with me again.
Slowly I let my eyes open back to the bleak reality. Greenery of surrounding pastures and woods, bright blue skies and farmhouses dotted about here and there greeted me. I lowered my gaze down, focusing on whatâs below. There they were, fourteen brown and black dots spread around the enclosed portion of the farm territory. I am not sure how much time Iâve spent flying in circles and trying to forget things but my wings were feeling a tad sore. Then as I just began slow descent, in same circular motion, I noticed that one of the birds, a familiar one, was being chased by several others. Recounting the morning, I tried putting the knowledge to action, and shifted direction of descent, swooping down. To my surprise, that actually worked, as the moment I got close to the ground, the cattle birds all got much louder and scattered in all directions, including the loner. Who, at least this time, got off unharmed. I suppose such pathetic flightless creatures would fear a flying one much more than they would when I just run up to them...
Swooping at them from the sky like a predator to intimidate them into behaving... Like an arxur warden.
With the fight preemptively broken up, I flutter up to the roof of the cattle house, to my usual position and rested my wings. I didnât see any movement from the direction of the house, so I suppose the family is still busy unpacking. Since Kenneth joined the military just before the Battle of Earth, and Lena and Reginald only moved here after their actual house in city of New York got destroyed, itâd be the first time the human is seeing what is basically his new home. There was a room set aside for him since before I even moved in, and while there is also a guest room... That one did not have a large enough window to fit through, which did not feel comfortable. So when I asked for a space with a bigger window they only had an attic to offer. They seemed uncomfortable letting me live in a tiny room with slanted roof, but I found such space more comforting than I would have a large room with a window not large enough to fit even one fully spread wing through.
I wonder if Kenneth will need as much renovation as I did? The house is built for humans, but he never lived there before. Will he need to buy a more comfortable bed? Getting a proper nesting setup in place of a bed took a bit of effort, but I figured something out. Human sheets were comfortable enough for such, and sitting perches were thankfully not that hard to get thanks to help from the refugee administration. Maybe thatâs the things that Lena went to buy yesterday? Kennethâs preferred room decor?
I looked up to the sky to see the sun beginning to dim. I am not sure if it was me flying that long, or me losing track of time in my thoughts again, but the sun was beginning to set. I began my usual chores, putting out an evening meal and water for the beasts, and while they feasted, ate some myself. I was a bit hungry, having not properly finished lunch and about to skip dinner, but after the earlier conversation, Iâd really rather avoid giving them the opportunity to talk to me.
After the birds had their fill, and by that I mean they emptied the tray as they always do, I let out the call, and they started funneling into the cattle house. The lonely straggler being first to go and hop into its nesting box. I bet tomorrow I will have trouble with getting her out of there again...
I took the moment to gather some eggs the birds left over course of the day, and once that was over and all of them were accounted for, I closed it up. When I flew down over to the house, there wasnât anyone by the back door thankfully, so I just left eggs there, returned the basket, and returned to my room through the window.
Well, at least I didnât get nearly killed today... Thatâs nice I guess?
I was about to check my holopad when there was a knock on the door. I approached and opened it to see... Kenneth. Standing in the doorway.
âUh, hi, Krekos. I just, uh... Wanted to apologize again. I really wish mom and dad told me everything ahead of time... I just want you to know, I have no problems with you whatsoever, yeah? Itâs just. Surprising, I guess, to hear all that. I didnât think there were any defectors from the fleet at all... Just. Uh, please donât worry about me?â He offered me a small smile, showing his canines before quickly correcting himself and doing a closed-lip one. âI didnât mean to bring up bad memories or make you feel unwelcome.â
I had to take a moment to contemplate his words. Was Lena and Reginaldâs weirdness hereditary? He almost reminded me of how Reginald talked to me early on, with constant stumbling over the words, as well as constant reassurances that he is fine with me being here. Couple that with failing to avoid predatory mannerisms like eye contact and smiles like Lena tends to and you get this human. But most importantly and least understandably, there was the general fact of him and them just... welcoming me. I couldnât understand why. I should be one sorry to them.
âN-No, itâs fine... Iâm sorry for... intruding on you and your family.â
âNo, no, dude, youâre fine! I mean, hell, I was considering entering one of those exchange programs before the bombings happened, and even after, well, I did my best at Fahl to be the perfect friendly soldier just there to make sure no more bombs drop on my home and not kill or conquer anyone. And then mom told me your story, and I canât believe it... Just... If you have any issues, feel free to tell me. Iâm not one of those racist pricks that are too pussy to even call themselves HF anymore because they know theyâll get their teeth knocked. I get that there aren't good or bad species, just people. And you seem like a decent guy if mom and dadâs judgment is to be trusted.â His smile widened, though it was clear from tension on his face that he had to take conscious effort to keep teeth hidden. âSo, what I said earlier stands. Friends, right?â
He extends hand forward, for a second time today. I wasnât sure if I knew this human long enough to call him a friend... Any human really. But it also seems like human definition of âfriendsâ is anyone theyâre cordial and peaceful with. Which is weird. Youâd think translators would properly use âacquaintanceâ for that.
Still... We will be living in the same house now. I canât just say no, and... I canât come up with a reason to say no. Even him being a predator and a human is not something I could really say I object to, considering how... mundane that became to me over my time here.
So, with naught on my mind but acceptance of the situation, I extended my wing and grasped his hand with my claw. This time he actually gripped it tightly and moved it up and down, as I saw other humans do occasionally.
âYeah... I guess thatâd be for the best.â I responded, shrugging off the hesitation. Fresh start for a third time, I guess?
The human grinned, forgetting to hide his teeth entirely, but I was ready for it somehow and avoided outwardly reacting.
âCool! Anyway, Iâll try to get some shuteye early, I couldnât sleep on the overnight flight home. See ya!â
And with that he left. Well... That meeting went well I suppose?
I returned to my nest and picked up my holopad, returning to what I was doing. And there it was, something I awaited every day. A notification that I was messaged on mailing app. Opening the letter revealed the schedule for the study program. Which... only had one day marked on it. And a note that the rest of it will be figured out âas we go from thereâ. So itâs not a schedule, itâs just a mark for the day of the first meeting.
While a bit underwhelming, it was still exciting. It would be an all-alien class so I wouldnât have to deal with humansâ incomprehensibility nearly as much, and it would allow me to finally return to pursuing what I actually dreamt of. Even if I wasnât entirely sure that was precisely what I wanted after everything that happened, it was at least something for me to move towards.
...just two days until start. I wonder if thereâs some required reading to prepare?
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submitted by Heroman3003 to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
Big thank you to NoP community for being great and supportive of my endeavors!
Also, obviously, big thanks to SpacePaladin15 for creating this universe and allowing fanfiction well to flow free!
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Date [standardized human time]: May 6th, 2137
I stare at the foul creature before me. Normally staring at something directly head on like that would be too predatory for me to do, but after nearly dying of bread yesterday, I didnât feel patient enough to be gentle. The creature stared right back, though in a much more natural, prey-like way, tilting its head slightly as it looked back at me with one eye and let out a long bwok.
âAre you doing this now? Really?â, I ask, knowing full well it cannot respond.
Well, it can, if another bwok it made is any indication. Of course, translators arenât yet advanced enough to translate non-sapient speech, but the intention behind sound is intuitively clear. Itâs telling me to back off. Well, I tried the diplomatic approach at least.
Raising my wing I begin sliding the bird out of its nest, careful to keep any delicate joints out of its reach. It started clucking in upset indignation, struggling back and even trying to peck at me, but after realizing that I will not relent, it hopped out of the box and rushed out of the cattle house, revealing a single dead egg in the nesting box.
With relief, I finally pick up the last egg and head back to leave them at the house. Turns out that while Reginald didnât forget to both lock them up yesterday and let them out today, he did neglect feeding them both times, as well as collecting the harvest. So when I was driven back here in early morning, the first thing I did was making sure they were taken care of. I canât say the horrid birds looked in any way hungry, but the moment I poured the feeding grain for them, they attacked it with more viciousness than Iâd expect of an actual predator. And yet only thirteen were present at the feeding, as the one thatâs usually the target of flockâs ire remained in the cattle house yet again, Reginald leaving it to it, being unaware of its undesirable habit of trying to hatch dead eggs.
With eggs delivered, I flew my way to my usual spot atop the cattle house and could finally relax. The loner beast first made its way to feast on the scraps of the grain that other birds already all have had their fill of, so I wasnât too concerned. Instead I tried to reflect on the morning I had so far.
Waking up at the hospital did make me momentarily panic before I remembered the precluding events. Not that I could properly panic, feeling the most starved Iâve been my whole life, and too weak to try flying out of the window. Thankfully, the breakfast they provided was actually well made with krakotl needs in mind, algae soup alongside a few slices of bread, this time without any horrid human ideas like putting eggs in there. Eggs! Turns out they put eggs in some kinds of bread! Thatâs how I got sick! Eggs! The thought of what I consumed even now made me queasy, and it definitely made breakfast a much less appetizing affair than it would have been without that knowledge, but back then the hunger won over the disgust.
Lena did keep her promise and came to pick me up extra early. Her being a staff member at the hospital gave her some extra privilege, I assume, hence why I was released without any forms needing to be filled out personally. She did have important business today too, which probably explained the earlyness and urgency of her driving me back to her house.
That did not mean I escaped her ire, however. While I couldnât pinpoint anything to identify the man, as Bob was apparently a common name, that offered me bread, we did come to understanding that he was likely either unaware of the nutritional contents of it, or of extent to which the Cure-induced allergy would be affecting a krakotl. Yet, Lena seemed much angrier at me for failing to take any precautions. Turns out that was the purpose of medicinal injectors, epipens as humans call them, that were provided to me. I was supposed to have them on me in case I accidentally ingested contaminated food. Nobody told me that, I was just handed them back when I first received the necessities at the refugee camp and I had no clue what they were for. Then she also berated me for eating random food from strangers and ignoring bad flavors. Turns out that brioche bread isnât actually bitter at all, and that was my body reacting to an allergen in it. Reaction that I unwisely elected to ignore, to further ire of my host. By the end, several new rules of my stay here were made, including not eating things I donât know and always having at least one epipen on me. Thankfully, these rules would be ones Iâd start following even without them being established, so I wonât have to concern myself with being kicked out over accidentally breaking them.
Trying to distract myself from thoughts of yesterdayâs incident, I focused my attention on the flock. All birds accounted for, so at least I knew that my absence did not result in the predator coming to snatch one of them. I do not wish to insult my hosts, but Reginald is far from most attentive people in matters unrelated to his job, and I am not sure the birds were watched at all while I was out. Speaking of, my scannings of surrounding treelines revealed no sign of the predator today. Perhaps it departed to hunt elsewhere, or maybe it ventured too close to a more populated area and exterminators dealt with it.
Actually, did human exterminators work similar to Federation ones? I knew for a fact they had them, although they seemed like a market of private organizations if advertisements are anything to judge by. Still, what methods do they use? I know humans oppose fire, and do not believe in predatory taint, but surely they have measures to protect themselves? They are, by self-admission, far from the best natural predator, and I doubt Earthâs non-sapient predators would just leave humans be. Maybe I should call one of those human exterminator agencies and call them in to deal with that predator? I havenât told Lena or Reginald about it, as I didnât want to bother them, but it could pose a serious threat to the cattle, but maybe thatâs the way I could resolve it without involving them?
I have not done nearly as much research into human culture and lifestyle as I should have, considering that Iâve lived on Earth for over half a year now, but the sheer width of the topic always overwhelmed me the moment I opened internet search app to the point where I just closed it right away.
Extra loud call from the flock made me refocus my attention on them, but it was nothing. Just the loner getting pecked extra hard and lashing out against assailants, causing a small aimless stampede as all the birds ran around in circles, puffing up at one another. The assailants now looked a lot more like victims. I could understand those birds more than I could humans at least. The loner bird is clearly an odd one out. Itâs the only one repeatedly trying to hatch unfertilized eggs it lays, and it seems to always avoid the rest of the flock. Humans may deny the existence of Predator Disease, but they canât deny that prey and predator both can and will sometimes behave in unnatural ways that may threaten the herd's safety. Or packâs, in case of humans. Birds must know on instinctual level that the lonerâs behavior is unnatural and are attempting to combat the Predator Disease on instinctual level. And since that is natural, I still will not interfere in this, unless the loner bird actually becomes a threat to others or will start getting too injured. The first time I attempted to pick one of the birds up was the only time for a good reason, as I have learned their viciousness all too well.
DING-DING
The sudden loud ring startled me enough that I nearly tumbled off the roof. Who would be coming over now? Lena and Reginald have left together and shouldnât be back until afternoon, and theyâd never use the bell. That means someone must be here for them. But wouldnât they warn anyone to not come over? Especially with their plans for today.
With nobody to answer these questions, I had no choice but to go and discover the answer myself, flying up and over the house, towards the entrance gate. The moment I passed the house roof, I already saw a familiar silhouette. It was the human child from a few days ago.
Thankfully, Lenaâs insistence on me carrying an epipen at all times meant I also carried my satchel at all times too, so I didnât have to go grabbing my holopad, and took it out. But before I could even launch the translator TTS app to type out a greeting, the child was already hopping in place with excitement.
âMr. Krekos! Hi! I came over to visit!â, she exclaimed, showing off her teeth in an unnerving expression of human joy. I simply tried to avoid that and focused on the pad, typing out my response.
âHello, Rosie. Why are you here?â
The question was genuine, as the child was not carrying any more of that honey substance from last time.
âI just came over to visit you! Is that okay? Are Mr. and Ms. Vince okay with it?â
Visit... me? Why? While I was confused, I did instinctively type out a reply.
âThey did tell me visitors are allowed as long as thereâs no trouble when I first moved in.â
And before I could type a followup message asking her why sheâs here, she already let out a joyous roar and ran past me.
âCan I see the chickens?â, she asked, and not waiting for an answer, rushed past the house and towards the cattle yard.
âWait! Youâll scare them!â, I yell after her, but of course without a translator she canât understand me as she runs like she already knows where to go.
And indeed she has, quickly rushing up to the open field where the birds were grazing. Thankfully she didnât start chasing them, instead just approaching the flock from a distance and swaying in place, watching them with what I assume was some sort of predatory excitement at the sight of prey. Maybe thatâs where the contained hunting instinct of human children showed themselves? In chasing small birds? I was still more subdued, considering she stopped shy of causing a small stampede, but still.
âGrandpa used to take me with him! He helped watch this farm until Mr. and Ms. Vince moved in. I like chickens! I think theyâre cute.â, the child told me innocently as she kept swaying and watching as the beasts grazed upon insects of the pasture.
That revelation was... interesting. I suppose it makes sense that between the original owner of this land dying in the bombings and Lena and Reginald moving in, it would be unattended. With nobody to feed and watch over those things, they would be long dead for sure. And it was Rosieâs grandfather... Speaking of. I typed out my words.
âDoes your grandfather know youâre here?â
She seemed to get a weird look as she stopped her excited swaying, fiddling with her hands instead. Looks like I asked the correct question.
â...he knows I am out visiting neighbors.â
That did not answer my question. I squinted at the human child, and she dipped her head as she continued.
â...he doesnât know Iâm here specifically. Or that an alien even lives here...â, she explained, her tone suddenly more sullen.
I couldnât help but squint at that, and it appears that my expression was readable enough that even a human could see the suspicion, as she continued.
âIâm sorry... But if I told grandpa, heâd tell me Iâm forbidden from talking to you, like he forbade me from talking to hedgehog people in town... But I want to talk to you! Youâre nice and youâre a space bird!â
The child was actually working around the rules established by her guardian to come see me. I donât know if I should be glad or concerned. Clearly, the man is anti-alien in his opinions, and Iâd rather that kind of man not know about how close he lives to one. At the same time, Iâd rather not encourage a child for lying to their guardian in order to meet a stranger they know they arenât allowed to interact with... So I just took the middle path with my next message.
âI see. What did you want to talk to me about then?â, TTS speaks for me.
Her stiffened body language disappears, replaced again with earlier excitement.
âI wanna know more about space! And aliens! Itâs all so cool but grandpa says itâs all dangerous because mom and dad died. But itâs not! The hedgehog people were nice, and youâre nice too!â
I wasnât sure about that logic, but my self-preservation told me I shouldnât try convincing her to go confessing. Instead I focused more on her chosen topic.
âI am not sure I am the best person to ask about space. I am not a scientist or traveler.â
âBut youâre from there! You know way more than me. I donât even know what you are called. And thereâs gotta be cool things out in space!â
I let out a sigh. I suppose itâs childlike curiosity at its finest. So unfamiliar with mundane that it is a wonder. I remember being like that about becoming a doctor.
I quickly tapped on the pad.
âOkay, I can answer questions, but I may not know everything.â
The noise that came out of the girl was like a squeal of a panicked dossur as she started hopping and spinning in place.
âYes! Yes! Thank you, Mr. Krekos!â Sudden movement did cause me to recoil a bit, which in turn caused her to cease her happy flailing and adjust her little dress. âI dunno where to start though... Hm... What are you?â
...for all my trepidation about not knowing answers, I should have anticipated that the questions she asks will be rather age-appropriate and on the same level as we learn in our first school classes. At least I wonât disappoint her then.
âI am from a species called âkrakotlâ. Weâre avians, as is obvious. Our home is...â
Thankfully she did not question my hesitant pause. Instead she just nodded along.
âWhat about the hedgehog people? I already know venlil, but theyâre the only ones I know name of.â
Hedgehog people in town she mentioned earlier. The only species I could think of that could be seen there would be the gojid. I have no clue what hedgehogs are, but probably some creature with visible similarity to them.
âThey are called âgojidâ, and theyâre from gojid Cradle. Both of our species are... well, used to be known for our might and protecting other species of Federation.â
I am not sure if thatâs something to brag about, considering... everything. But I didnât want this child to get brought down with depressing regrets of our species. Let her know something nicer instead. She clearly lost a lot, but thereâs still joy left in her. I wouldnât want to be the one to ruin that.
âCool! What about other people? I wanna know more!â
And so I went on, telling her about various species, although I mostly focused on ones in this new human-led union, only mentioning kolshians and farsul beyond that. Itâs weird explaining to a child what a tilfish or a harchen looks like, but thankfully my holopad isnât just a method of communicating with implant-less children. With access to interstellar web, I could easily pull up pictures of various alien species to show to her, even if she struggled to believe that some of them were even sapient purely based off of looks. With how varied species in Federation are, and how some of us admittedly arenât too far physiologically from our more primal ancestors.
Among other topics, she asked me to tell her interesting things, which I didnât know much of. I told her about Venlil Primeâs tidally locked status, a rarity among habitable planets, much less homeworlds for species. I told her about the unique architecture of Mileau, designed to accommodate both species of regular size and dossur themselves. I told her about Colia medical academies, some of the most beautiful medical facilities in the galaxy.
I wish I was more well-travelled, but I just wasnât. My whole life, I never left Nishtal until the extermination fleet took me despite my protests. That may have been what saved my life...
âHey! Stop that!â
I flinched as I heard the child yell, but quickly realized that it wasnât directed at me. Instead, Rosie was rushing down towards the chicken flock, breaking up the fight in which the loner was being pecked by a few larger chickens. As the human child approached, the birds stopped their infighting and scattered in different directions, crowing in loud panic and discontent. On instinct, I found myself rushing towards the child, forgetting about translation entirely.
âWhat are you doing?! Donât touch them!â
I didnât want her to hurt the cattle accidentally, and I didnât want her to get hurt by the angry birds in return. But, it seems like the moment the birds scattered, she was satisfied with her actions and turned back to me, wearing another one of her happy smiles.
âSorry, Mr. Krekos, I just saw chickens being mean. Bad chickens.â She explained.
I was baffled. Why would she interfere like that? When I tried that back when I was just starting, that got me pecked! But with her, the birds just scattered. What if they pecked her?
I took the pad out again and started typing quickly.
âThat was dangerous. Why did you do that? What if they attacked you? Why are you even interfering in their natural dynamics?â, questions flowed out of my pad with an artificial human voice.
The girl simply giggled.
âTheyâre chickens! They arenât dangerous. They donât peck that painful and Iâve been scratched worse before. And I have to stop it because bullying is wrong.â
Then she actually noticed that the one that was being attacked wandered close. She casually approached it from behind, the blind spot and just reached down and grabbed it, picking the bird up. I was ready to rush to help the bird when...
âMwah! There, all better.â
She did a human âkissâ on the back of the cattle birdâs neck before releasing it, the surprise of it causing it to rush off. I knew what kisses were, Iâve seen enough of them between Lena and Reginald, but I believed they were gestures of intimate affection, not... what was even that?
It seems Rosie noticed my confusion as she explained.
âYou gotta kiss it so it heals better! Thatâs what mom taught me.â The child displayed that smile of hers shamelessly. With how much I was being exposed to it, it almost wasnât unnerving anymore. Still, it was interesting to learn that kisses are seen as something that helps wounds. I guess some species do have saliva with mild antiseptic properties, wouldnât be too out there to assume humans are the same. And if thatâs the case, maybe thatâs how the kissing tradition started? Exchange of protective fluid between lovers?
âI see. I did not know that.â I responded before letting my puffed feathers relax. Okay, this whole âwatching a human childâ thing is turning out to somehow be even more stressful than I expected at first.
âWait, Mr. Krekos, what time is it?â She suddenly asked, looking up at the sky.
âItâs nearly twelve.â I respond, holopad having a convenient clock for local time.
âOh no! I need to be home soon! Was nice seeing you Mr. Krekos gotta go bye!â
Before I had even a chance at typing out an answer or my own goodbye, the child sprinted away and back towards the entrance. I had to take flight just to keep up, and even then she just turned around, waved her arm at me and then kept sprinting down the road after leaving the gate. I simply offered a small wave of a wing back before locking the gate again. I suppose it is hard to keep track of time without a device or clock nearby...
Well, at least I had the usual peace and quiet now. And learned a bit more about the creatures I was in charge of. I should really try to deal with my aversion to looking things up on the human internet...
Just as I was about to head back out towards the yard, I heard a loud car horn, a familiar one, getting my attention. Lenaâs car. There they were, signaling me, probably having spotted me at the gate from afar. Deciding to make use of my presence here, and hoping to avoid needing to explain that I had a surprise visitor earlier, I went ahead and opened the large gate, allowing the car to enter.
Once it was parked in the usual space, the doors opened and three people came out. Lena and Reginald were both looking a bit disheveled, but their faces carried these smiles that seemed wider than ever before. And third person... Was a stranger. A human I knew of, but never actually met. As he exited the car, a large bag in one hand, he just stared at me, standing in the front yard...
â...okay, I expected many things when I was told you guys housed a refugee, but not this.â
Oh no. Oh no, he was not one of the ones that was willing to overlook an invader that partook in bombing of his planet being allowed to walk free, of course, Lena and Reginald were the weird ones like that, doesnât mean their son wonât be... I felt the panic rising as I realized Iâd need to return to the camp. Why was I upset about that? This was supposed to just have been a way to make money, but now I have a free education program. Do I need to stay? No, but... Why?! Why do I not want to leave?
âKen, you said itâs going to be alright no matter what it is, right? Wanted us to keep it a surprise to meet a new friend?â Lenaâs voice. She should have told him, thatâd give me time to prepare why didnât they give me time why.
âNo, no problems, just, really surprised, thatâs all... uh... hey, buddy, you okay? Youâre really... trembly.â
He was approaching me, and instinct took over as I recoiled, before stuttering out my answer.
âI-Iâm fine...â
...thankfully translators donât translate voice cracks. I hope, at least...
âHey, relax... I have no problem with you being a krakotl, I just didnât think...â He looks over at Lena and Reginald. âCalm down... I can wear my visor if you want?â
Right. Those things humans use to hide their scary faces from us.
âI... Iâm good...â
There was some emotion I struggled to read on the young humanâs face, as he sighed and shook his head.
âI screwed this up, Iâm sorry. Let... Let me try again.â He straightened out, and adjusted his clothing, before slowly approaching me and giving me a small smile, no teeth showing. âHello. My name is Kenneth Vince and I'm son of Lena and Reginald Vince. I was told youâre a refugee they took in to help out. Itâs nice to meet you. Whatâs your name?â
That... snapped me out of it. Right... He was... not upset at my existence. He was just very surprised that Lena and Reginald werenât. Thatâs a reasonable thing to be surprised about, considering I was surprised about it to this day. I tried to compose myself as I responded.
âMy name is Krekos. I live here as... hired help with the cattle. Itâs... nice to meet you?â
The smile on Kennethâs face widens, though he still refrains from showing his teeth. Instead, he extends a hand towards me. A handshake is a human gesture that I found far from comfortable, but I didnât want to give him a reason to change his mind on acceptability of my existence, so I took it with a wingclaw. He gently took it and held for a few seconds before letting go and sighing again, turning to his parents.
âYou know, I always thought you guys would be empty nesters, but I never thought itâd be that literal.â
That got all three of them laughing, as I just tilted my head in confusion. I was fairly sure there were no empty nests in the house until after I adjusted the attic room for my own accommodations. Still, I took the laughter as a sign that the tense moment had fully passed and let my ruffled feathers slowly rest.
âLetâs head inside. Krekos, weâre having dinner, youâre welcome to join us.â Reginald said, picking up Kennethâs bag. I tilted my head a little and he followed up with elaboration. âWe will be having meat... But thereâs still going to be stuff you can eat too. Itâs a celebration, so I prepared a bit of everything.â
âDad, you shouldnât have!â Kenneth responded with embarrassment.
âNone of that! Our son returned from the war, alive and a hero, and we can have a celebration. Krekos, I know youâre still... uncertain about meat so you donâtââ
âIâll join.â
Wait, who said that? And why did they say that in my voice?
Wait, that was me. Why did I say that?
âThatâs great to hear! Iâve got some nice steamed broccoli and some vegetarian fried rice as sides that youâll enjoy!â Reginald smiled at me and I felt myself shrinking into my feathers. That the humans didnât notice at least, proceeding into the house instead.
Well, looks like I signed my warrant. At least my bag and my epipen were on me in case something at the table triggers the allergy again. Would be rather unfortunate to have it happen two days in a row.
And thatâs how, in just ten or so minutes, I found myself sitting at the dining perch, while humans took seats in chairs, all consuming chunks of roasted flesh and somehow managing to also stuff pieces of equally roasted plants in, and converse with one another. You wouldnât be able to tell on first look, but despite their mouths being relatively small, especially for a predator, it seems they compensate for it by having those be near bottomless in both hunger and small talk.
I am not sure how I managed to shift my focus away from them consuming animal matter in front of me, however vat grown it might have been, and onto their conversation instead, but I succeeded. I suppose that was just part of me going native around predators. Soon, Iâll be the one feasting along with them before I know it, and snacking on those epipens to not die of it.
âSo, Fahl? Thatâs where you were sent after the Battle of Earth?â Lena asked.
âYeah. From what I heard, we got a light posting compared to guys at Sillis or Mileau. The most I had to deal with was some exterminator insurgents.â
Thatâs right. Since harchen participated in the Extermination Fleet, they were one of those who were occupied by humans during the war. It makes sense that there was at least some ground resistance.
âHonestly, the worst thing out there was the heat. Not the flamethrower kind, the climate. The place was so damn dry and hot. At least exterminators you could subdue or evade. Not so much with the scorching sun!â
I couldnât resist a small chuckle at the idea of a predator being more afraid of hot weather than flamethrowers as I slowly pecked at the vegetables on my plate. Thankfully it was set far enough aside from any meat dishes that no contamination should occur, but I was still examining pieces before putting them in my mouth just in case.
Seems like reacting was a mistake though, as that brought Kennethâs attention onto me. He finished chewing latest piece of flesh and pointed a fork at me.
âSo, Krekos... Where are you from? Cradle was my guess, but I do know there were refugees from other places like Sillis too.â
Thatâs a weird question. Isnât it kind of to be expected for a krakotl to be from our actual homeworld?â
âIâm from Nishtal.â
âNo, no, thatâs not what I meant,â Kenneth chuckled, tossing a piece of broccoli into his mouth and swallowing before continuing, âI meant, where did you live? I kind of assumed you were born there, but itâs not like Nishtal had a chance to send refugees out, and if they did, this is the last place theyâd be.â
Oh... I caught concerned looks of Lena and Reginald, looking between me and Kenneth from both sides. Not only did they not make him aware that I was a krakotl, they also neglected to mention just how I came by my refugee status... Which was just a legal workaround to grant me asylum without unnecessary complications or establishing undesirable precedent. Legally, I may be a refugee, but practically... I am a defector. Lena and Reginald know that, I told them my story before. And while they were weirdly accepting, Kenneth... Fought extermination fleet here on Earth. Personally.
Still, I wasnât about to lie. It took a few moments and gathering mental strength to steel myself, and averting my eyes, focusing on the plate of warm vegetables in front of me rather than the humanâs anticipating stare before I answered.
âI did live on Nishtal. I... I came with the extermination fleet.â I responded, doing my best to avoid looking at him. I did not want to witness his reaction, for some reason the thought of seeing it weighed heavy on my mind.
âOh.â
The response was simple, and had no followup. There was no more clinking of cutlery against plates, or chewing. The only thing hanging in the air of the kitchen was silence, weighing down on me. It dragged on and on... until it just got so unbearable I couldnât take it.
âI-Iâm full... Thank you for the meal.â I quickly said, hopping off the perch and stepping out of the kitchen, quickly making my way to the yard and taking flight.
Fresh air of the outside and rush of it as I flew up and gained speed... I missed that. I knew itâs not safe to just fly over other peopleâs territory, so I corrected my course into doing large sweeping circles over the cattle yard and simply let my wings carry me.
I closed my eyes. With them closed and not focusing on my angle it feels like Iâm actually flying away from all the troubles. Away from humans who barely tolerate my existence, away from gojid who see me as worse than a predator, away from Earth and all its incorrigible customs, away from horrid cattle, away from constant memories...
Flying feels nice. It may be a bit harder than it was home, but itâs still possible. I heard that on Venlil Prime or Mileau itâs much harder. But here? Just an extra flap of wings for every few paces and youâre just fine, free to soar the skies...
Slowly I let my eyes open back to the bleak reality. Greenery of surrounding pastures and woods, bright blue skies and farmhouses dotted about here and there greeted me. I lowered my gaze down, focusing on whatâs below. There they were, fourteen brown and black dots spread around the enclosed portion of the farm territory. I am not sure how much time Iâve spent flying in circles and trying to forget things but my wings were feeling a tad sore. Then as I just began slow descent, in same circular motion, I noticed that one of the birds, a familiar one, was being chased by several others. Recounting the morning, I tried putting the knowledge to action, and shifted direction of descent, swooping down. To my surprise, that actually worked, as the moment I got close to the ground, the cattle birds all got much louder and scattered in all directions, including the loner. Who, at least this time, got off unharmed. I suppose such pathetic flightless creatures would fear a flying one much more than they would when I just run up to them...
With the fight preemptively broken up, I flutter up to the roof of the cattle house, to my usual position and rested my wings. I didnât see any movement from the direction of the house, so I suppose the family is still busy unpacking. Since Kenneth joined the military just before the Battle of Earth, and Lena and Reginald only moved here after their actual house in city of New York got destroyed, itâd be the first time the human is seeing what is basically his new home. There was a room set aside for him since before I even moved in, and while there is also a guest room... That one did not have a large enough window to fit through, which did not feel comfortable. So when I asked for a space with a bigger window they only had an attic to offer. They seemed uncomfortable letting me live in a tiny room with slanted roof, but I found such space more comforting than I would have a large room with a window not large enough to fit even one fully spread wing through.
I wonder if Kenneth will need as much renovation as I did? The house is built for humans, but he never lived there before. Will he need to buy a more comfortable bed? Getting a proper nesting setup in place of a bed took a bit of effort, but I figured something out. Human sheets were comfortable enough for such, and sitting perches were thankfully not that hard to get thanks to help from the refugee administration. Maybe thatâs the things that Lena went to buy yesterday? Kennethâs preferred room decor?
I looked up to the sky to see the sun beginning to dim. I am not sure if it was me flying that long, or me losing track of time in my thoughts again, but the sun was beginning to set. I began my usual chores, putting out an evening meal and water for the beasts, and while they feasted, ate some myself. I was a bit hungry, having not properly finished lunch and about to skip dinner, but after the earlier conversation, Iâd really rather avoid giving them the opportunity to talk to me.
After the birds had their fill, and by that I mean they emptied the tray as they always do, I let out the call, and they started funneling into the cattle house. The lonely straggler being first to go and hop into its nesting box. I bet tomorrow I will have trouble with getting her out of there again...
I took the moment to gather some eggs the birds left over course of the day, and once that was over and all of them were accounted for, I closed it up. When I flew down over to the house, there wasnât anyone by the back door thankfully, so I just left eggs there, returned the basket, and returned to my room through the window.
Well, at least I didnât get nearly killed today... Thatâs nice I guess?
I was about to check my holopad when there was a knock on the door. I approached and opened it to see... Kenneth. Standing in the doorway.
âUh, hi, Krekos. I just, uh... Wanted to apologize again. I really wish mom and dad told me everything ahead of time... I just want you to know, I have no problems with you whatsoever, yeah? Itâs just. Surprising, I guess, to hear all that. I didnât think there were any defectors from the fleet at all... Just. Uh, please donât worry about me?â He offered me a small smile, showing his canines before quickly correcting himself and doing a closed-lip one. âI didnât mean to bring up bad memories or make you feel unwelcome.â
I had to take a moment to contemplate his words. Was Lena and Reginaldâs weirdness hereditary? He almost reminded me of how Reginald talked to me early on, with constant stumbling over the words, as well as constant reassurances that he is fine with me being here. Couple that with failing to avoid predatory mannerisms like eye contact and smiles like Lena tends to and you get this human. But most importantly and least understandably, there was the general fact of him and them just... welcoming me. I couldnât understand why. I should be one sorry to them.
âN-No, itâs fine... Iâm sorry for... intruding on you and your family.â
âNo, no, dude, youâre fine! I mean, hell, I was considering entering one of those exchange programs before the bombings happened, and even after, well, I did my best at Fahl to be the perfect friendly soldier just there to make sure no more bombs drop on my home and not kill or conquer anyone. And then mom told me your story, and I canât believe it... Just... If you have any issues, feel free to tell me. Iâm not one of those racist pricks that are too pussy to even call themselves HF anymore because they know theyâll get their teeth knocked. I get that there aren't good or bad species, just people. And you seem like a decent guy if mom and dadâs judgment is to be trusted.â His smile widened, though it was clear from tension on his face that he had to take conscious effort to keep teeth hidden. âSo, what I said earlier stands. Friends, right?â
He extends hand forward, for a second time today. I wasnât sure if I knew this human long enough to call him a friend... Any human really. But it also seems like human definition of âfriendsâ is anyone theyâre cordial and peaceful with. Which is weird. Youâd think translators would properly use âacquaintanceâ for that.
Still... We will be living in the same house now. I canât just say no, and... I canât come up with a reason to say no. Even him being a predator and a human is not something I could really say I object to, considering how... mundane that became to me over my time here.
So, with naught on my mind but acceptance of the situation, I extended my wing and grasped his hand with my claw. This time he actually gripped it tightly and moved it up and down, as I saw other humans do occasionally.
âYeah... I guess thatâd be for the best.â I responded, shrugging off the hesitation. Fresh start for a third time, I guess?
The human grinned, forgetting to hide his teeth entirely, but I was ready for it somehow and avoided outwardly reacting.
âCool! Anyway, Iâll try to get some shuteye early, I couldnât sleep on the overnight flight home. See ya!â
And with that he left. Well... That meeting went well I suppose?
I returned to my nest and picked up my holopad, returning to what I was doing. And there it was, something I awaited every day. A notification that I was messaged on mailing app. Opening the letter revealed the schedule for the study program. Which... only had one day marked on it. And a note that the rest of it will be figured out âas we go from thereâ. So itâs not a schedule, itâs just a mark for the day of the first meeting.
While a bit underwhelming, it was still exciting. It would be an all-alien class so I wouldnât have to deal with humansâ incomprehensibility nearly as much, and it would allow me to finally return to pursuing what I actually dreamt of. Even if I wasnât entirely sure that was precisely what I wanted after everything that happened, it was at least something for me to move towards.
...just two days until start. I wonder if thereâs some required reading to prepare?
2024.05.19 08:35 ScienceStyled Fractal Fandango: How Geometry Proves Mother Nature is a Nerd
Ladies and gentlemen, extraterrestrials, and sentient AI overlords! Gather 'round because Zane Zany is about to take you on a wild ride through the mind-bending, reality-twisting, coffee-spilling world of fractal art! Yes, you heard it rightâfractals, those brain-melting, visually addictive patterns that make you question if nature's been watching too much sci-fi. Buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving into the recursive rabbit hole of fractal geometry, where Mother Nature herself is the original nerdy artist.
First, let's talk about fractals. Imagine youâre scrolling through Netflix, and instead of choosing between true crime documentaries and that new reality show where people date while hanging upside down, you stumble upon an endless loop of visually stunning, infinitely complex patterns. These, my friends, are fractalsâthe artistic equivalent of getting lost in the comment section of a viral TikTok.
Fractals are essentially shapes that repeat themselves on different scales. Think of them as the visual manifestation of your favorite TV show that keeps rebooting itself. One of the most famous fractals is the Mandelbrot set, which looks like a trippy explosion of paisleys on LSD. You zoom in on one part, and bam! Thereâs another paisley party going on in there. Itâs like a never-ending series of Russian nesting dolls, but way more psychedelic.
Now, Mother Nature, being the ultimate overachiever, decided to use fractals to design some of her best work. Ever noticed how a cauliflower looks like a tiny, edible brain? Or how lightning bolts resemble the family tree of Zeus's illegitimate children? Thatâs fractal geometry in action, folks! Nature has been using fractals to show off her math skills long before humans decided to scribble them on their trapper keepers.
Letâs take a closer look at the wacky world of fractal art, where the line between art and science blurs more than my vision after too much screen time. Imagine digital landscapes that look like Salvador DalĂ on a coding binge. Artists like Hal Tenny and Kerry Mitchell create these digital masterpieces that make your eyes pop out like a cartoon character seeing a pie on a windowsill. Their works are a mix of math wizardry and artistic flair, transforming complex equations into visual feasts that make you wonder if youâve accidentally ingested something illegal.
But wait, thereâs more! Itâs not just digital; hand-drawn fractal art is a thing too. Picture an artist with the patience of a saint and the determination of someone binge-watching an entire season of "Stranger Things" in one sitting. These artists meticulously draw each tiny, repeating pattern by hand. It's like watching Bob Ross on speed, each "happy little accident" turning into a mesmerizing fractal forest.
One of the coolest things about fractal art is how it mimics the infinite complexity of natural forms. Itâs like natureâs way of saying, âI see your doodles, and I raise you a universe.â For instance, the branching patterns of trees, blood vessels, and even the internetâs favoriteâsnowflakesâare all fractal patterns. These natural fractals are so precise that they make human-made fractal art look like a kindergarten drawing contest.
Now, let's get real for a moment and talk about the science behind these bad boys. Fractals are the product of simple mathematical rules repeated over and over. Itâs like taking your favorite GIF and putting it on an infinite loop until your brain melts. This process, known as iteration, is the secret sauce behind those stunning fractal images. And if you think thatâs nerdy, just wait until you hear this: fractals are used in everything from computer graphics to diagnosing heart disease. Talk about a glow-up from mere doodles to lifesavers!
Alright, my intergalactic audience, let's sprinkle in some contemporary pop culture because why not? Imagine if Marvelâs Doctor Strange teamed up with Picasso after a bender at a hacker convention. Thatâs the level of surreal you get with fractal art. Or think about "Rick and Morty" if they decided to explore the infinite realities within a single broccoli floret. Fractals are the multiverse theory of art and scienceâevery zoom reveals another layer of mind-blowing complexity.
And speaking of complexity, letâs not forget about the applications. Fractals arenât just pretty pictures; they have real-world uses that would make even Tony Stark jealous. For example, in telecommunications, fractal antennas are all the rage. Theyâre tiny, efficient, and look like they belong in a sci-fi movie. These antennas use fractal patterns to pick up a wide range of frequencies, making your smartphone signals stronger than my desire for a pizza right now.
But fractals aren't just solving tech problemsâthey're also helping scientists understand natural phenomena. Take the coastlines of continents, for instance. Theyâre not straight lines but jagged, irregular shapes that resemble, you guessed it, fractals! By studying these patterns, scientists can predict erosion and even help with environmental conservation. Itâs like Mother Nature gave us a cheat code to understand her secret plans.
Now, letâs wrap this mind-bending journey with a bow, shall we? Fractal art is the glorious intersection where art and science have a wild, late-night party and invite everyone they know. Itâs proof that math isnât just for nerdsâitâs the creative force behind the beauty of the natural world and the digital masterpieces that leave us awestruck. So, next time youâre out in nature or lost in a fractal video loop, remember that youâre witnessing the same principles that make your phone work, keep planes in the air, and help us understand the universe.
So, there you have it, folks! Fractal art: where geometry, nature, and a splash of human creativity come together to blow our minds. It's the ultimate nerdy art form that proves even the most complex mathematical principles can be stunningly beautiful. And remember, whether youâre a digital artist, a nature lover, or just someone who likes trippy patterns, fractals have something to offer. Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for the hidden patterns in life, and donât forget to tip your server. Zane Zany, signing off!
submitted by ScienceStyled to u/ScienceStyled [link] [comments]
First, let's talk about fractals. Imagine youâre scrolling through Netflix, and instead of choosing between true crime documentaries and that new reality show where people date while hanging upside down, you stumble upon an endless loop of visually stunning, infinitely complex patterns. These, my friends, are fractalsâthe artistic equivalent of getting lost in the comment section of a viral TikTok.
Fractals are essentially shapes that repeat themselves on different scales. Think of them as the visual manifestation of your favorite TV show that keeps rebooting itself. One of the most famous fractals is the Mandelbrot set, which looks like a trippy explosion of paisleys on LSD. You zoom in on one part, and bam! Thereâs another paisley party going on in there. Itâs like a never-ending series of Russian nesting dolls, but way more psychedelic.
Now, Mother Nature, being the ultimate overachiever, decided to use fractals to design some of her best work. Ever noticed how a cauliflower looks like a tiny, edible brain? Or how lightning bolts resemble the family tree of Zeus's illegitimate children? Thatâs fractal geometry in action, folks! Nature has been using fractals to show off her math skills long before humans decided to scribble them on their trapper keepers.
Letâs take a closer look at the wacky world of fractal art, where the line between art and science blurs more than my vision after too much screen time. Imagine digital landscapes that look like Salvador DalĂ on a coding binge. Artists like Hal Tenny and Kerry Mitchell create these digital masterpieces that make your eyes pop out like a cartoon character seeing a pie on a windowsill. Their works are a mix of math wizardry and artistic flair, transforming complex equations into visual feasts that make you wonder if youâve accidentally ingested something illegal.
But wait, thereâs more! Itâs not just digital; hand-drawn fractal art is a thing too. Picture an artist with the patience of a saint and the determination of someone binge-watching an entire season of "Stranger Things" in one sitting. These artists meticulously draw each tiny, repeating pattern by hand. It's like watching Bob Ross on speed, each "happy little accident" turning into a mesmerizing fractal forest.
One of the coolest things about fractal art is how it mimics the infinite complexity of natural forms. Itâs like natureâs way of saying, âI see your doodles, and I raise you a universe.â For instance, the branching patterns of trees, blood vessels, and even the internetâs favoriteâsnowflakesâare all fractal patterns. These natural fractals are so precise that they make human-made fractal art look like a kindergarten drawing contest.
Now, let's get real for a moment and talk about the science behind these bad boys. Fractals are the product of simple mathematical rules repeated over and over. Itâs like taking your favorite GIF and putting it on an infinite loop until your brain melts. This process, known as iteration, is the secret sauce behind those stunning fractal images. And if you think thatâs nerdy, just wait until you hear this: fractals are used in everything from computer graphics to diagnosing heart disease. Talk about a glow-up from mere doodles to lifesavers!
Alright, my intergalactic audience, let's sprinkle in some contemporary pop culture because why not? Imagine if Marvelâs Doctor Strange teamed up with Picasso after a bender at a hacker convention. Thatâs the level of surreal you get with fractal art. Or think about "Rick and Morty" if they decided to explore the infinite realities within a single broccoli floret. Fractals are the multiverse theory of art and scienceâevery zoom reveals another layer of mind-blowing complexity.
And speaking of complexity, letâs not forget about the applications. Fractals arenât just pretty pictures; they have real-world uses that would make even Tony Stark jealous. For example, in telecommunications, fractal antennas are all the rage. Theyâre tiny, efficient, and look like they belong in a sci-fi movie. These antennas use fractal patterns to pick up a wide range of frequencies, making your smartphone signals stronger than my desire for a pizza right now.
But fractals aren't just solving tech problemsâthey're also helping scientists understand natural phenomena. Take the coastlines of continents, for instance. Theyâre not straight lines but jagged, irregular shapes that resemble, you guessed it, fractals! By studying these patterns, scientists can predict erosion and even help with environmental conservation. Itâs like Mother Nature gave us a cheat code to understand her secret plans.
Now, letâs wrap this mind-bending journey with a bow, shall we? Fractal art is the glorious intersection where art and science have a wild, late-night party and invite everyone they know. Itâs proof that math isnât just for nerdsâitâs the creative force behind the beauty of the natural world and the digital masterpieces that leave us awestruck. So, next time youâre out in nature or lost in a fractal video loop, remember that youâre witnessing the same principles that make your phone work, keep planes in the air, and help us understand the universe.
So, there you have it, folks! Fractal art: where geometry, nature, and a splash of human creativity come together to blow our minds. It's the ultimate nerdy art form that proves even the most complex mathematical principles can be stunningly beautiful. And remember, whether youâre a digital artist, a nature lover, or just someone who likes trippy patterns, fractals have something to offer. Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for the hidden patterns in life, and donât forget to tip your server. Zane Zany, signing off!
2024.05.19 08:34 annoyedindividual1 The two sides of Palestinian messaging
Lately I've been shocked by the difference between Palestinian messaging and how it is understood in the west. In their original 1988 charter, Hamas clearly lays out their goal of annihilating Israel and Jews through Jihad (Islamic Holy War).
Farfour, the Hamas Mickey Mouse
Gazan Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony
Jews are barbaric apes
This propaganda has real-world effects. Dozens of Palestinian children are used as suicide bombers. I'd encourage people to read through this page if any.
Hamas's actions are in line with their stated aims. On October 7, Hamas and Gazan civilians can be seen celebrating over dead Israeli bodies. One video shows Gazans cheering, dancing, and spitting on dead naked Israeli woman, reflecting the fact that systemic rape on Oct 7 occurred. Over 70% of Palestinians support the actions on Oct 7. Hamas has promised to repeat Oct 7 again and again.
We also see this ideology reflected in the Palestinian Authority's "Pay for Slay", a fund that pays West Bank Palestinians a stipend for committing terrorism against Israel.
The point of sharing these things is not to demonize Palestinians or make any type of justification. The point is that in the west, we mistranslate this conflict into a framework that we comprehend and sympathize with. For most westerners, it's difficult to commiserate with religious fundamentalists and accept that they might want different things than we do (such as using billions of dollars in aid for terrorism instead of infrastructure). SJP would have you believe that Hamas wants to "decolonize" Palestine and Oct 7 was "resistance". Israel is the "white" oppressor, and Palestine is the oppressed--a framework we are all too familiar with. We assume that Hamas wants coexistence, when their words and actions have shown the opposite.
The "From the river to the sea" chant was created in the 60s and has historically been used by Hamas among other groups as a call to destroy Israel. A variation of the phrase in Arabic is "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be Arab". Yet in the west we associate the phrase with Palestinian "liberation", a concept that we can relate to. Consider the absurdity of someone waving a swastika and claiming that it's a Buddhist good fortune symbol. But this is essentially happening at colleges across the US, along with intifada chants. The war itself is a different topic--I just wanted to elucidate how westerners downplay the religious and ideological, despite Hamas themselves displaying their intent to destroy Israel and Jews.
submitted by annoyedindividual1 to IsraelPalestine [link] [comments]
'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.' (Preamble)The magnitude of this anti-Jew and anti-Israel ideology is such that it is a core part of Palestinian youth education and media. There are many examples, but here are just a few. The first two would be comical if they weren't so perverse and diabolical.
'The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.' (Article 7)
'The day the enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In the face of the Jews' usurpation, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised.' (Article 15)
Farfour, the Hamas Mickey Mouse
Gazan Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony
Jews are barbaric apes
This propaganda has real-world effects. Dozens of Palestinian children are used as suicide bombers. I'd encourage people to read through this page if any.
Hamas's actions are in line with their stated aims. On October 7, Hamas and Gazan civilians can be seen celebrating over dead Israeli bodies. One video shows Gazans cheering, dancing, and spitting on dead naked Israeli woman, reflecting the fact that systemic rape on Oct 7 occurred. Over 70% of Palestinians support the actions on Oct 7. Hamas has promised to repeat Oct 7 again and again.
We also see this ideology reflected in the Palestinian Authority's "Pay for Slay", a fund that pays West Bank Palestinians a stipend for committing terrorism against Israel.
The point of sharing these things is not to demonize Palestinians or make any type of justification. The point is that in the west, we mistranslate this conflict into a framework that we comprehend and sympathize with. For most westerners, it's difficult to commiserate with religious fundamentalists and accept that they might want different things than we do (such as using billions of dollars in aid for terrorism instead of infrastructure). SJP would have you believe that Hamas wants to "decolonize" Palestine and Oct 7 was "resistance". Israel is the "white" oppressor, and Palestine is the oppressed--a framework we are all too familiar with. We assume that Hamas wants coexistence, when their words and actions have shown the opposite.
The "From the river to the sea" chant was created in the 60s and has historically been used by Hamas among other groups as a call to destroy Israel. A variation of the phrase in Arabic is "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be Arab". Yet in the west we associate the phrase with Palestinian "liberation", a concept that we can relate to. Consider the absurdity of someone waving a swastika and claiming that it's a Buddhist good fortune symbol. But this is essentially happening at colleges across the US, along with intifada chants. The war itself is a different topic--I just wanted to elucidate how westerners downplay the religious and ideological, despite Hamas themselves displaying their intent to destroy Israel and Jews.
2024.05.19 08:32 Distinct-Plant7074 Eloise throwing shade on othersâ passions
 | Whatâs your take on this? I am new to this whole series and Iâve never read the books, but I watched four episodes of season 3 and the scene at the ball with a group of debutantes where the show throws shade on embroidery and other kinds of passions that it was socially okay for women to explore in that age, with Eloise acting like itâs insufferably boring to talk about âstem stitchâ, just makes me cringe. I get that Eloise loves to read and therefore thinks everyone should be interested in reading, but the way the show glorifies that and assumes everyone else is unintelligent or dull put me off a but. Embroidery was a way for a lot of women to explore their creative passions despite the rigid social rules they lived with. And especially when in comparison, the research interests of the male character who happened to be a naturalist were given a distinguished sort of eccentricity, it struck me as somewhat unreasonably judgmental. submitted by Distinct-Plant7074 to BridgertonNetflix [link] [comments] I may be a bit biased here since I have fond memories of how my own grandmother in her lifetime explored embroidery as one of her creative pursuits (Iâm attaching a picture of one of her works for everyone to enjoy). The feeling I get is that people back then and even now stereotype these âfeminineâ hobbies as dull simply because itâs women that typically do them, disregarding completely the perseverance, creativity, and intelligence that goes into pursuing and excelling at them. |
2024.05.19 08:31 Alaiasia The Mandela Effect in the "Pandemic" (2007)
I and other people have experienced the Mandela Effect with the TV miniseries "Pandemic" (2007). I distinctly remembered that in the scene with the girl coughing blood there was bright white lighting, maybe a slightly bluish as well. And I see that the scene was actually dark. And I also remembered, also very clearly, that the girl was shown in profile. In fact, she was shown frontally.
I remembered so clearly her long, straight hair, which was very clearly visible under the bright lighting. Meanwhile, in reality, her hair doesn't show clearly at all due to how dark the scene is. In my memories - light brown/dark blonde hair in bright lighting, in real life - dark hair, because the scene is generally dark. I remembered that she was shown in profile and I saw that she was wearing blue jeans. In fact, you can't see any jeans, you can't even see what she's wearing apart from the T-shirt, because you can't see the rest of her torso. And I remembered those blue jeans so clearly! I asked other people who had watched this movie how they remembered this scene and it turned out that they also remembered it like I did, not how it really happened. Another very strange difference between what I remembered and what really happened: - In the movie, various people were infected with the virus and died from it, but it wasn't as I remembered that got infected and died someone who was the main character's husband, the father of her daughter who later coughed up blood.
submitted by Alaiasia to MandelaEffect [link] [comments]
I remembered so clearly her long, straight hair, which was very clearly visible under the bright lighting. Meanwhile, in reality, her hair doesn't show clearly at all due to how dark the scene is. In my memories - light brown/dark blonde hair in bright lighting, in real life - dark hair, because the scene is generally dark. I remembered that she was shown in profile and I saw that she was wearing blue jeans. In fact, you can't see any jeans, you can't even see what she's wearing apart from the T-shirt, because you can't see the rest of her torso. And I remembered those blue jeans so clearly! I asked other people who had watched this movie how they remembered this scene and it turned out that they also remembered it like I did, not how it really happened. Another very strange difference between what I remembered and what really happened: - In the movie, various people were infected with the virus and died from it, but it wasn't as I remembered that got infected and died someone who was the main character's husband, the father of her daughter who later coughed up blood.
2024.05.19 08:30 Ok-Plate3064 Did anyoneâs phobia get better after tu*?
A part of comforting myself with emetophobia is usually me telling myself âif it does happen youâll probably realize itâs not that bad and you may no longer be afraid or the fear will get betterâ but I wanna know if anyoneâs fear did get better or if theyâre recovered now. I think I do relatively well with exposure. I used to avoid watching new movies or tv shows because I didnât like watching v* and after I watched some videos of it in therapy I now eventually donât mind seeing it and sometimes donât even have a reaction to it :) but I do wonder if anyoneâs phobia truly got better after tu*
submitted by Ok-Plate3064 to emetophobia [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 08:29 Paehon [Alien franchise] Is there an explanation for why the aliens (mostly) come at night ?
I was watching the fan film Alien No Man's land on YouTube (quite good, can recommend it), and one of the character references the phrase from Aliens 1986 by saying that the Aliens come at night.
Do we have any "official" explanations in any piece of lore ? Movie, games, TV show, novels, comics... ?
Thank you
submitted by Paehon to AskScienceFiction [link] [comments]
Do we have any "official" explanations in any piece of lore ? Movie, games, TV show, novels, comics... ?
Thank you
2024.05.19 08:27 spdustin DALL-E Weather Dashboard
 | I have a small display in a high traffic area of my house, running on an old RPi that I use for an HA kiosk. Every two hours, an automation takes the upcoming weather forecast info along with an input-text entity that provides the "subject" of a photo, then imagines that subject in a comically exaggerated way as they do some weather-relevant activity. Uses OpenAI conversation to first use GPT to generate the actual prompt to pass to DALL-E, then sends that prompt, thereby avoiding DALL-E adding numbers to the image. submitted by spdustin to homeassistant [link] [comments] Enjoy this one, with the subject: "an anthropomorphic axolotl" I personally use the built in moon integration, along with a REST sensor to pull the forecast text from NOAA: yaml - resource: https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/ILZ020/forecast scan_interval: 3600 sensor: - name: "Next Forecast" json_attributes_path: "$.properties.[0]" json_attributes: - "name" - "detailedForecast" value_template: "OK" Add an input_text entity to be able to change the "subject" easily. Then, my template sensor for the current season: jinja {% set seasons = ["early winter", "winter","late winter", "early spring", "spring", "late spring", "early summer", "summer", "late summer", "early autumn", "autumn", "late_autumn"] %} {{ seasons[now().month] }} Here's my automation YAML. Editing it is left to the reader. ```yaml alias: Update Weather Dashboard description: "" trigger: - platform: time_pattern minutes: "15" hours: /2 id: quarter-past-every-two condition: [] action: - service: conversation.process metadata: {} response_variable: preprompt data: agent_id: conversation.openai_conversation text: > You're a silly assistant with a comically active imagination. You will be given a description of a season, time of day, and weather conditions (inside
yaml kiosk_mode: non_admin_settings: hide_header: true hide_sidebar: true views: - title: Home view_layout: position: main cards: - type: custom:clock-weather-card entity: weather.pirateweather sun_entity: sun.sun weather_icon_type: line hide_date: true forecast_rows: 5 card_mod: style: ha-card { background: url('{{state_attr("camera.weather_dashboard_background","entity_picture")}}') no-repeat center; background-size: cover; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0; overflow: hidden; color: white; } ha-card:before { content: "{{state_attr('sensor.next_forecast','name')}}"; top: 1em; left: 1em; font-size: 3rem; text-shadow: 0px 0px 10px black, 0px 0px 20px black, 0px 0px 30px black; position: absolute; color: white; } clock-weather-card-today { vertical-align: top; } clock-weather-card-today-right { text-shadow: 0px 0px 10px black, 0px 0px 20px black, 0px 0px 30px black; font-size: 5rem; justify-content: right !important; margin-right: 1em; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; color: white; } clock-weather-card-today-left { justify-content: left !important; } clock-weather-card-today-left img { } clock-weather-card-forecast:before { text-shadow: 0px 0px 5px black, 0px 0px 10px black, 0px 0px 15px black; color: white; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.25; position: relative; bottom: 1em; content: "{{state_attr('sensor.next_forecast','detailedForecast')}}"; } clock-weather-card-today-right-wrap-bottom { text-shadow: none; color: rgba(255,255,255,0); justify-content: right !important; } clock-weather-card-forecast { position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; zoom: 1.2; line-height: 1; background: rgba(0,0,0,.6); margin: 0; padding: 2em; overflow: hidden; } clock-weather-card-today-right-wrap-center { font-size: 8rem !important; justify-content: right !important; } clock-weather-card-today-right-wrap-top { line-height: 2; justify-content: right !important; # margin-top: -1em; } type: panel |
2024.05.19 08:26 magicmirrorlovestoe Weird screensaver for inactivity how to turn it off
I usually go to sleep watching YouTube or TV and I wake up and itâs a shuffle of all these nature pictures with âPress up to playâ in the bottom left corner. This is seriously annoying because I may have to go and I come back and itâs not there and I can find no way to disable it. Iâve tried messing around to find what itâs called and itâs called ambient mode but no videos on how to fix. Why canât I fix this?
submitted by magicmirrorlovestoe to VIZIO_Official [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 08:26 charliedbecker Eleven days out of surgery itâs a rough recovery with lots of swelling but a huge payoff already!
 | See my first post here! submitted by charliedbecker to jawsurgery [link] [comments] I had double jaw surgery with my upper jaw coming forward 10mm and my lower jaw coming forward 2mm and getting square off slightly. Day 11 Post-Surgery. Today day 11 post-surgery and the first day where I didnât want any painkillers other than ibuprofen all day. A lot of the worst swelling is gone but Iâm still super swollen in the nose and cheekbone area. There is a lot of numbness in my chin and lower lip. I can (more or less) drink from a cup. I went on a couple mile-long walks. It is however still drool city, USA and speaking well is a lost causeâI still sound like I just got out of surgery. All in all, I am doing better than expected and very grateful for the time to sit around and watch TV. Here are pictures before surgery (mustache) and today (stubble). |
2024.05.19 08:23 Pretty-Bridge6076 Recommendation for TV shows in German
Hi, I've been trying to learn German and I want to improve my skills by watching TV shows. As genres, I enjoy SF and historical, but I don't necessarily limit myself to those.
So far I've watched Dark, Tribes of Europa and Barbarians (with the later two being unfortunately cancelled). Can you recommend me similar German TV shows?
submitted by Pretty-Bridge6076 to AskAGerman [link] [comments]
So far I've watched Dark, Tribes of Europa and Barbarians (with the later two being unfortunately cancelled). Can you recommend me similar German TV shows?
2024.05.19 08:22 ShoppingCrafty9043 Did you just download a game with a trojan?đš
I've just noticed how psychology is just a lot of information that people can read to become experts (in theory) but to really have a deep understanding of those concepts you need experience.
Even if you are in contact with some specific profile, you won't be able to get the most of the experience if that profile doesn't show you the core behaviors. It's not the same observing a psychopath from really close than observing it being their main target. Only becoming their victim you will be able to analyze them if you are really conscious and able to manage the situation.
So my perspective of those people I'm using to learn about the dark triad is much more deep and disturbing that those around us, this is why they may see some concerning behaviors but if I express them the gravity of my visions they may even think I'm being exaggerated.
So never question the testimony of a victim, they have definitely seen more things than you, for them is always hard and difficult to express what they are through and by questioning them you only get them to feel desperate and completely abandoned and never talk about it again.
So in example, I have detected really concerning behavior in the narcissist, but if I talk to another person and express things like I wouldn't be impressed if he turn out to be an women abuser they would say that I'm exaggerating, because people tend to think that everybody is the same, that every brain works the same and as far as they are not criminals, everyone else is not a criminal unless they look like real criminals. And they obviously don't look like criminals because they have a cover up behavior where they pretend to be caring people, extra nice.
Abusers look innocent people most of the times, the good guy, the funny and nice person, they do extra efforts to pretend to be nice, they approach people to play their nice guy thing, they are really concerned about making people believe they are genuine people.
Am I behaving like a trojan? Letting them play me to extract as much information as possible to learn how to fight them effectively? It's not something I choose, I was put in this situation, it's not my fault existing. For them is something they really don't expect, they know how empaths always fall for their tricks, so they won't stop because their brains don't assimilate that this concrete empathy is a trap. So I'm pushing them to the limit and I'm observing that they don't learn, they don't improve, there's no fix for them, they always has the tactic of pushing a little harder until the victim surrenders, but not this time, I'm also a harder-pusher kind of person, overall if the thing is about my free will being attacked. So surrender is not an option.
What makes a person eligible to become a trojan? - empathy, they need to be empathetic, they detect empathetic people really quick and use that to abuse them - Points of interest, you need to have any kind of thing interesting for them, money, fame, popularity, appeal, or something that makes them jealous like beauty, intelligence, strength or a happy life in any form. - Deep knowledge of the the profile, being conscious about horrible humans exists and not only on tv. - Strong emotional management, really really strong. - Patience. - And probably some partners in crime for support.
submitted by ShoppingCrafty9043 to mystorytelling [link] [comments]
Even if you are in contact with some specific profile, you won't be able to get the most of the experience if that profile doesn't show you the core behaviors. It's not the same observing a psychopath from really close than observing it being their main target. Only becoming their victim you will be able to analyze them if you are really conscious and able to manage the situation.
So my perspective of those people I'm using to learn about the dark triad is much more deep and disturbing that those around us, this is why they may see some concerning behaviors but if I express them the gravity of my visions they may even think I'm being exaggerated.
So never question the testimony of a victim, they have definitely seen more things than you, for them is always hard and difficult to express what they are through and by questioning them you only get them to feel desperate and completely abandoned and never talk about it again.
So in example, I have detected really concerning behavior in the narcissist, but if I talk to another person and express things like I wouldn't be impressed if he turn out to be an women abuser they would say that I'm exaggerating, because people tend to think that everybody is the same, that every brain works the same and as far as they are not criminals, everyone else is not a criminal unless they look like real criminals. And they obviously don't look like criminals because they have a cover up behavior where they pretend to be caring people, extra nice.
Abusers look innocent people most of the times, the good guy, the funny and nice person, they do extra efforts to pretend to be nice, they approach people to play their nice guy thing, they are really concerned about making people believe they are genuine people.
Am I behaving like a trojan? Letting them play me to extract as much information as possible to learn how to fight them effectively? It's not something I choose, I was put in this situation, it's not my fault existing. For them is something they really don't expect, they know how empaths always fall for their tricks, so they won't stop because their brains don't assimilate that this concrete empathy is a trap. So I'm pushing them to the limit and I'm observing that they don't learn, they don't improve, there's no fix for them, they always has the tactic of pushing a little harder until the victim surrenders, but not this time, I'm also a harder-pusher kind of person, overall if the thing is about my free will being attacked. So surrender is not an option.
What makes a person eligible to become a trojan? - empathy, they need to be empathetic, they detect empathetic people really quick and use that to abuse them - Points of interest, you need to have any kind of thing interesting for them, money, fame, popularity, appeal, or something that makes them jealous like beauty, intelligence, strength or a happy life in any form. - Deep knowledge of the the profile, being conscious about horrible humans exists and not only on tv. - Strong emotional management, really really strong. - Patience. - And probably some partners in crime for support.
2024.05.19 08:21 Y23K I Saw the TV Glow: An Existential Craving for the Fire of Youth
I just watched "I Saw the TV Glow," and it's one of the weirdest and trippiest movie I've seen in a while. It's what you'd get if you took Beau is Afraid and bathed it in LED lights and 90s kid nostalgia. The visuals and atmosphere are hypnotic but I want to focus on the puzzling themes and messages and my personal interpretation. Beware, there will be spoilers.
In the film, Owen and Maddy become obsessed with the fictional TV show "The Pink Opaque." The characters repeatedly indicate that The Pink Opaque feels more real to them than their everyday lives. When asked if he likes boys or girls, teenage Owen says he thinks he actually likes TV shows. The film is touching on the feeling that there is something more invigorating about the heightened reality in scripted dramas than the mundanity of our everyday lives. It is like people substituting p*rn for sex, or watching travel vlogs from the comfort of their beds.
Owen gradually becomes more pathetic and lifeless as the film progresses. After skipping eight years, the film transitions to Maddy revealing to Owen in a spellbinding monologue that The Pink Opaque is the true reality and everything else is an illusion. At this point, Owen is working a dead-end job in a movie theater, barely able to make eye contact with anyone, living in a bleak home with his father. The only source of vibrancy in his life comes from the suffused glow of his childhood TV show. Maddy is offering him a lifeline, with The Pink Opaque representing the opportunity to hold onto his childhood and the radiance of childhood experiences. But Owen rejects the lifeline in favor of returning to his mature adult life. As he abandons Maddy, the words "THERE IS STILL TIME" are etched out on the road, but Owen walks past them, abandoning his youth.
When Owen watches the show later, he finds it cheesy. The magic of life had vanished. As he becomes older, it becomes more difficult for him to breathe. The people around him smile and cheer, but at their core he sees them as lifeless and dead, which we see when Owen freaks out at the birthday celebration and nobody reacts. Owen aches to be in the TV show of youth, even if it means tearing apart his chest and choking to death in a hole in the ground, rather than continuing his mind-numbing adult routine of filling ball pits at an arcade center. But it's too late. The movie ends on a sad whimper, with the character in a final pathetic state of mumbling apologies to people who don't care and are barely even real. It's unsatisfying, but it suits the film's narrative themes.
After I watched the film, I learned that the director had the trans experience in mind when creating the film. This post is not to detract from that original interpretation, but to offer an alternative perspective that I had while watching the film.
submitted by Y23K to TrueFilm [link] [comments]
In the film, Owen and Maddy become obsessed with the fictional TV show "The Pink Opaque." The characters repeatedly indicate that The Pink Opaque feels more real to them than their everyday lives. When asked if he likes boys or girls, teenage Owen says he thinks he actually likes TV shows. The film is touching on the feeling that there is something more invigorating about the heightened reality in scripted dramas than the mundanity of our everyday lives. It is like people substituting p*rn for sex, or watching travel vlogs from the comfort of their beds.
Owen gradually becomes more pathetic and lifeless as the film progresses. After skipping eight years, the film transitions to Maddy revealing to Owen in a spellbinding monologue that The Pink Opaque is the true reality and everything else is an illusion. At this point, Owen is working a dead-end job in a movie theater, barely able to make eye contact with anyone, living in a bleak home with his father. The only source of vibrancy in his life comes from the suffused glow of his childhood TV show. Maddy is offering him a lifeline, with The Pink Opaque representing the opportunity to hold onto his childhood and the radiance of childhood experiences. But Owen rejects the lifeline in favor of returning to his mature adult life. As he abandons Maddy, the words "THERE IS STILL TIME" are etched out on the road, but Owen walks past them, abandoning his youth.
When Owen watches the show later, he finds it cheesy. The magic of life had vanished. As he becomes older, it becomes more difficult for him to breathe. The people around him smile and cheer, but at their core he sees them as lifeless and dead, which we see when Owen freaks out at the birthday celebration and nobody reacts. Owen aches to be in the TV show of youth, even if it means tearing apart his chest and choking to death in a hole in the ground, rather than continuing his mind-numbing adult routine of filling ball pits at an arcade center. But it's too late. The movie ends on a sad whimper, with the character in a final pathetic state of mumbling apologies to people who don't care and are barely even real. It's unsatisfying, but it suits the film's narrative themes.
After I watched the film, I learned that the director had the trans experience in mind when creating the film. This post is not to detract from that original interpretation, but to offer an alternative perspective that I had while watching the film.
2024.05.19 08:19 despairnselfloath is this a deleted scene?
 | i saw a clip where cam and mitch are concerned that lily hasn't developed a sense of empathy. the following scene is the one in the picture. i've re-watched the show multiple times and know the following scene should be lily saying, "i can't hear myself think!" i tried looking this up, but i can't find anything. is this a deleted scene? submitted by despairnselfloath to Modern_Family [link] [comments] |
2024.05.19 08:19 sillycatdaddy_ 35 [M4R] ohio/Anywhere - twenty four hour relationship experiment! Lets date and have fun?
Hey there folks! Im 35, genderfluid (AMAB), from ohio! I am a psychology major and a gamer! I wanna try something cool! Im looking to speeddate someone for 24 hours, i want to flirt! Spend a ton of time with you. (Movies, gaming, flirt with you, eventually naughty time đ, and most of all i want to cherish you for 24 hours as a whole. )
Sounds crazy right? Well it is but i really wanna see if this is a enjoyable experience, it would be great to connect with someone! Also after 24 hours, if you wanted to continue we can discuss it, but if you wanna stop there we can do so! And we can either part ways forever or be friends!
A little about me:
I am 35, from ohio, i love learning, gaming, tv shows and movies, i am a huge Tolkien fan and middle earth nut. Im super sweet and awfully cuddly, i am poly and yes my partner knows Iâm doing this and can confirm. I am fun to chat with, i love a good laugh! I love to do art! I do digital drawings and more!
My expectations:
Be honest about what you want from this,
Be open to speed dating, the idea of bonding quickly,
Be open minded,
Idc what your relationship status is, who you are with etc. you can always tell me, i wont judge.
Idc about looks, this is a fully online experience and i dont judge. If your personality rocks we can vibe :)
All genders welcome, please be descriptive in your DM. No simple âhiâ or âhelloâ. Put in a little effort :) lets chat!
submitted by sillycatdaddy_ to polyamoryR4R [link] [comments]
Sounds crazy right? Well it is but i really wanna see if this is a enjoyable experience, it would be great to connect with someone! Also after 24 hours, if you wanted to continue we can discuss it, but if you wanna stop there we can do so! And we can either part ways forever or be friends!
A little about me:
I am 35, from ohio, i love learning, gaming, tv shows and movies, i am a huge Tolkien fan and middle earth nut. Im super sweet and awfully cuddly, i am poly and yes my partner knows Iâm doing this and can confirm. I am fun to chat with, i love a good laugh! I love to do art! I do digital drawings and more!
My expectations:
Be honest about what you want from this,
Be open to speed dating, the idea of bonding quickly,
Be open minded,
Idc what your relationship status is, who you are with etc. you can always tell me, i wont judge.
Idc about looks, this is a fully online experience and i dont judge. If your personality rocks we can vibe :)
All genders welcome, please be descriptive in your DM. No simple âhiâ or âhelloâ. Put in a little effort :) lets chat!
2024.05.19 08:16 miderots What shows that you grew up with? (for those without cable tv)
I grew up with PBS kids until I was 8 and some of the shows on there were bangers however they stopped running the shows after 4 or 6pm I donât remember since it was long ago and so I had to go outside and play in the garden. Sorry for the side ramble but I remember growing up on Seaseme street, word girl, curious George and Martha speaks. What shows did you guys up with?
submitted by miderots to GenZ [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 08:16 BigChungus7634 [16 male] looking for friends
Hi everyone! I'm just looking for people to chat with and maybe make friends. I'm honestly not the most interesting person but I could talk for hours about whatever you like. I play a lot of games and stuff too so if you are interested in playing a game sometime that's on the table too! I also watch a lot of movies tv shows and YouTube because I am addicted to my phone đ. Besides that I have a dog and a cat and I like nature a lot so yeah. Super cool right? đ„Č. Anyway, you can dm me or comment if ur interested
submitted by BigChungus7634 to textfriends [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 08:15 DesignerAd3235 My experience 7 days after becoming a victim
Hey there just wanted to share my experience a week later to show people what to expect and how Iâve handled my situation
7 days ago I was messaged from an account with 400 followers and roughly 200 following, account was on Instagram and was supposedly a 19 year old girl from Nevada with bible verses in her bio
She texted me, I was suspicious and somehow she managed to convince me it was really her and even sent photos holding up 4 fingers which I thought for sure would let me know I was being scammed - but after asking a few ways of photo verification I was convinced as my requests were fulfilled
Yada yada yada we exchange pics and I get hit with the ultimatum of send $800 or have my pictures sent to my family and friends (they had screenshots of my following from tiktok, Facebook and instagram).
Iâve never been in this situation before so of course I was frightened but I felt the best thing to do was convince them I genuinely had no money, I managed to convince the scammer I only had $150 in my account (I have 2 bank accounts and this one had $200 in it so I transferred $150 into an empty savings account to show) and I stupidly sent the money. If I knew then what I know now I would not have sent the money. After sending the money my phone died and when I turned it on I came back to multiple threats and more screenshots of the scammer making group chats with many family members and friends. After reading up on what to do and looking through this subreddit I decided to block on both instagram and my phone number (I gave them my phone number as they wanted to talk over messenger instead)
After blocking, I changed my profile picture to black, changed my account name and deleted my bio, I also deleted my tiktok as I donât really have a need for it anyways
It took 4 days for them to reach out again over a different phone number except it was a different person and they had no clue about my situation as they thought I was still in school and they were threatening things to do with the principal of the school (Iâm 22 lol)
I immediately blocked and havenât responded - I went to instagram to check if Iâd been messaged again there and turns out the original account that scammed me had been deleted so that was a plus
I asked some friends who were supposedly in the group chats and they said they never saw a request so I believe somehow they fake the group chats even if itâs on instagram
But yeah itâs now been 7 days since the initial text, it took about 4 days for me to realise they have nothing over me and if I donât comply thereâs a very high chance theyâll do fuck all so even though I canât be 100%, I feel 99% certain they wonât do anything
TL-DR ;
I sent $150, blocked and reported and nothing came from it Was messaged days later from a different scammer with my pictures and immediately blocked The people they made group chats with to threaten me have assured me they havenât even seen a message request As stressful as the situation is, these people think of us as dollar signs and if we block them and give them no feedback - we turn into question marks and question marks are worth fuck all to these people so they move on
My best piece of advice I can give after doing research and experiencing it myself ; Block, report and donât even respond to the messages I sent them money, I also blocked them and will continue to do so with confidence they wonât do anything
Stay safe everyone and trust me when I say no girl just wants to exchange nudes for nothing, itâs either a scammer or itâs a cruel prank xoxo
submitted by DesignerAd3235 to Sextortion [link] [comments]
7 days ago I was messaged from an account with 400 followers and roughly 200 following, account was on Instagram and was supposedly a 19 year old girl from Nevada with bible verses in her bio
She texted me, I was suspicious and somehow she managed to convince me it was really her and even sent photos holding up 4 fingers which I thought for sure would let me know I was being scammed - but after asking a few ways of photo verification I was convinced as my requests were fulfilled
Yada yada yada we exchange pics and I get hit with the ultimatum of send $800 or have my pictures sent to my family and friends (they had screenshots of my following from tiktok, Facebook and instagram).
Iâve never been in this situation before so of course I was frightened but I felt the best thing to do was convince them I genuinely had no money, I managed to convince the scammer I only had $150 in my account (I have 2 bank accounts and this one had $200 in it so I transferred $150 into an empty savings account to show) and I stupidly sent the money. If I knew then what I know now I would not have sent the money. After sending the money my phone died and when I turned it on I came back to multiple threats and more screenshots of the scammer making group chats with many family members and friends. After reading up on what to do and looking through this subreddit I decided to block on both instagram and my phone number (I gave them my phone number as they wanted to talk over messenger instead)
After blocking, I changed my profile picture to black, changed my account name and deleted my bio, I also deleted my tiktok as I donât really have a need for it anyways
It took 4 days for them to reach out again over a different phone number except it was a different person and they had no clue about my situation as they thought I was still in school and they were threatening things to do with the principal of the school (Iâm 22 lol)
I immediately blocked and havenât responded - I went to instagram to check if Iâd been messaged again there and turns out the original account that scammed me had been deleted so that was a plus
I asked some friends who were supposedly in the group chats and they said they never saw a request so I believe somehow they fake the group chats even if itâs on instagram
But yeah itâs now been 7 days since the initial text, it took about 4 days for me to realise they have nothing over me and if I donât comply thereâs a very high chance theyâll do fuck all so even though I canât be 100%, I feel 99% certain they wonât do anything
TL-DR ;
I sent $150, blocked and reported and nothing came from it Was messaged days later from a different scammer with my pictures and immediately blocked The people they made group chats with to threaten me have assured me they havenât even seen a message request As stressful as the situation is, these people think of us as dollar signs and if we block them and give them no feedback - we turn into question marks and question marks are worth fuck all to these people so they move on
My best piece of advice I can give after doing research and experiencing it myself ; Block, report and donât even respond to the messages I sent them money, I also blocked them and will continue to do so with confidence they wonât do anything
Stay safe everyone and trust me when I say no girl just wants to exchange nudes for nothing, itâs either a scammer or itâs a cruel prank xoxo
2024.05.19 08:13 don_gixote [US][Selling] 27 Blu-Ray Movies for $50 Shipped
Title says it all. Comes out to about $1.85 per movie! Looking for $50 shipped via PayPal F&F.
Movie Pictures - 300 (Blu-Ray) - Back to the Future Trilogy (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Birds of Prey (Blu-Ray) - Creed (Blu-Ray & DVD) - Creed II (Blu-Ray & DVD) - Deepwater Horizon (Blu-Ray & DVD with Slip Cover) - Django Unchained (Blu-Ray) - Everything Everywhere All At Once (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Blu-Ray & DVD) - LĂ©on the Professional (Blu-Ray) - Nightmare Before Christmas (Blu-Ray) - Reservoir Dogs (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Rick & Morty Season 3 (Blu-Ray) - Shape of Water (Blu-Ray) - Shawshank Redemption (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Sherlock Holmes (Blu-Ray) - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Blu-Ray) - Spider-Man Trilogy (Blu-Ray) - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Blu-Ray & DVD) - The Amazing Spider-Man 1&2 (Blu-Ray) - Weathering With You (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Whiplash (Blu-Ray)
submitted by don_gixote to MediaSwap [link] [comments]
Movie Pictures - 300 (Blu-Ray) - Back to the Future Trilogy (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Birds of Prey (Blu-Ray) - Creed (Blu-Ray & DVD) - Creed II (Blu-Ray & DVD) - Deepwater Horizon (Blu-Ray & DVD with Slip Cover) - Django Unchained (Blu-Ray) - Everything Everywhere All At Once (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Blu-Ray & DVD) - LĂ©on the Professional (Blu-Ray) - Nightmare Before Christmas (Blu-Ray) - Reservoir Dogs (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Rick & Morty Season 3 (Blu-Ray) - Shape of Water (Blu-Ray) - Shawshank Redemption (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Sherlock Holmes (Blu-Ray) - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Blu-Ray) - Spider-Man Trilogy (Blu-Ray) - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Blu-Ray & DVD) - The Amazing Spider-Man 1&2 (Blu-Ray) - Weathering With You (Blu-Ray with Slip Cover) - Whiplash (Blu-Ray)