spontaneous (unscripted) speech sample + background + pronouncing common mergers in american english: https://voca.ro/1l9UgKAAAFLl
other relevant quirks:

I say “slash” out loud in place of "and" (slash) "or."
Sometimes I don’t enunciate carefully and pronounce “an” as indistinguishable from “a” so it makes me look like I don’t know the grammatically correct form when I do in my head. I might say “a apple” if I’m not being careful about my pronunciation, but of course what I actually mean is “an apple.”
I’m a proud “heck / heckin” sayer
Y’all vs folks vs you guys: I prefer folks (deliberate choice on my part) but I say all three naturally
Common use of plural "there's"
Common use of "could" in place of "can" ("so that you could still hear it")
I use ain't on occasion, usually emphatically
I say "I don't know" as filler
Occasionally when speaking quickly I'll contract "which" to "-ch"?????
I say perhaps a lot
I use "whereas" more often than "while" and "therefore" more often than "thus" (I don't like the word "thus" for some reason)
I use adverbs a lot, but I also say things like "I did terrible!!!" and other constructions with just the adjective
I use the indefinite pronoun "one" more often than most people, I think.
I very consistently use "try to" (as opposed to "try and") and "by accident" (as opposed to "on accident.") In that sense, I consistently follow the "standard."

I am conducting a short listening test consisting of 4 short speech samples to understand what makes human listeners perceive speech as natural for my master's thesis.
The survey takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. Any and all responses are appreciated!
Click here to take the survey!

Hello, dedicated learners and aspiring achievers! Are you grappling with the weight of upcoming academic tasks and coursework? Fret not, because I'm here to provide unwavering support. With an impressive 6.5 years of experience in academic writing and tutoring, I'm your dependable freelance writing tutor.
Get in Touch:
📧 Email: [cammij93@gmail.com](mailto:cammij93@gmail.com)
💬 Discord: Camilla#0817
What I Offer:
🔹 Essay Writing: Crafting well-researched and structured essays that stand out.
🔹 Speech Writing: Delivering impactful speeches that resonate.
🔹 Assignments: Tackling assignments of varying complexities.
🔹 Research Papers: Thoroughly researched papers showcasing expertise.
🔹 Case Studies: Analyzing and presenting case studies with precision.
🔹 Dissertations: Comprehensive and insightful dissertations that leave an impression.
🔹 Mastery Exercises: Assisting in mastering crucial concepts.
🔹 Discussions/Peer Responses: Engaging in insightful academic dialogues.
Coursework Services:
📚 Classes Support: Supplementing your learning with invaluable insights and notes.
📚 Coursework Assistance: Navigating through coursework requirements seamlessly.
📚 Study Guides: Crafting comprehensive study guides to facilitate understanding.
📚 Test Preparation: Equipping you with the knowledge to excel in assessments.
Assurance:
🔒 Plagiarism-Free Content: I provide a FREE Turnitin plagiarism report to ensure originality.
🔍 AI-Free Report: I guarantee authentic work with an AI-free report, maintaining quality.
Client Experience:
📬 Constant Communication: I'll be in touch via email or Discord for a seamless and enhanced experience.
👥 Client Vouches: I can provide vouches from satisfied previous clients for your assurance.
📜 Sample Work: Samples of my previous work available upon request.
🔥 Quality Guarantee: Not satisfied with the quality? I offer a full refund.
Why Choose Me:
🔸 Years of Experience: Over 6.5 years refining my skills as an academic writer and tutor.
🔸 Holistic Support: From research and writing to proofreading and formatting.
🔸 Personalized Approach: Tailoring solutions to meet your unique academic needs.
🔸 Quality Assurance: Delivering excellence without compromise.
🔸 Client Satisfaction: Your contentment is my ultimate priority.
🔸 Punctuality: Committed to meeting deadlines with dedication.
Pricing:
💲 Competitive pricing at $15 per page. Full payment only after your complete satisfaction.
Embark on an academic journey of success with me while safeguarding your privacy and enjoying constant communication. With client vouches, sample work, and a quality guarantee, your academic experience is in good hands. Remember, my values are centered around delivering quality work, ensuring your happiness, and maintaining impeccable punctuality. 🌟
Thank you for considering me as your academic partner! Let's make learning an enjoyable and fruitful experience together. 🚀

What are some of the craziest samples from media other than music you've heard?
The one that comes to mind for me is when metro sampled a fucking homelander speech on on time then transitioned into superhero. That shit had me in a different mood lmao

This is probably my fourth or fifth attempt at journaling lately. I was going to work on some entries for a few work days then I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to spend my time off writing about work. I actually wrote a lil’ something to commemorate the fifth anniversary of IGOR, but I didn’t get around to finishing it. I wish I did, but it’s already kinda late for that. Absolutely love that record.
Anyways I woke up at 3 in the morning today. Probably about the fifth time it’s happened in the past two weeks. Makes sense that I’d get my best sleep when I’m fucking tired. Feels strange getting up so early, can’t really do shit at all when I do. Just chill in bed, hoping that I end up going to sleep once more to pass the time.
I didn’t get any more.
I somehow almost ended up missing the bus though. I always find myself running late even when I’ve had plenty of enough time to get ready. I was very lucky that today was one of those days where I didn’t have to use any product on my hair. I didn’t feel like taking a shower in the early morning so I just showered the night before.
The bus ride to work was alright besides having to leave the bus due to technical difficulties with one of the doors not shutting properly. And overhearing a very intense argument, which had me thinking some shots were about to pop off. It started not even a minute after getting onto the second bus, luckily, this one that didn’t have problems with its doors.
Apparently, the argument was over how one passenger sat across a woman who was sleeping. She then turned batshit crazy accusing of the guy of being some creep, “Why the fuck did you sit across from me?” Once I heard her mention how she wants to slice him up and talk about how he’s got a gun, I started doing my best to pretend that I was invisible haha. Honestly really thought that something was about to get shot, and how I was going to have to miss work if I have to give a witness statement to the police. Hypervigilance has me making some crazy ass scenarios. I’m surprised that no punches were thrown, well, they could’ve. I don’t know since I was already out of that bitch.
I barely got to my job in time, clocked in at about 7 AM. It was only my uncle and I today working this event for the city. It was for the mayor, we had this breakfast buffet and lots of champagne glasses since he was going to give a toast. He was actually more chill than I thought he’d be, didn’t hesitate once I asked if he wanted some champagne lmao. I ended up asking his body guard if he wanted some champagne, he told me, “I can’t while on the job.” Took me more time than it should’ve to realize that he was a body guard.
The event went well. Everything went as planned besides for the random guy across the street in his apartment balcony yelling out the Mayor’s name while he was giving his speech, barely had any clothes on too. Would’ve been awkward as hell if he had some other shit. My uncle had thought that the rando was cursing out the mayor.
We then had to cleaned everything up, didn’t take us too much time. The worst part was having to move everything. For some reason, they still haven’t made a proper area to store the shit we need for events in the venue space. The same space that has been opened since last year. So we’ve been having to lug all these fucking tables, chairs, plates, food, etc etc whenever we have events. My boss said the owners plan on buying stuff specifically for the space so we don’t have to keep doing all that labor, but shit, nothing has been done.
I also trained the new guy for a bit, the houseman. A job that should’ve been hired years ago, even when my dad was still working here. This dude is going to be setting up events for us and keeping our stuff clean. We actually aren’t even supposed to be setting shit up in the first place, just serving during the events. But not at this hotel, we can’t have it easy apparently. Thing is, the new guy doesn’t have any experience in this field. My manager keeps making some boneheaded ass decisions. But shit, if this guy is willing to learn then I’m going to have some hope for now. I didn’t have any experience either when I first started working here.
It felt good leaving work by 12 PM. Working that early ain’t that bad when you still got a lot of the day left afterward. But I did find something just as I was locking our cabinets. I found a THC cart. I instantly knew who the suspect was, and that is my brother. I showed my uncle, he told me how one of my coworkers had gifted it to my brother. I was shocked that he didn’t make a big issue out of it.
It is a big issue though since he’s been telling me how my brother has been acting strange lately. When I asked him if he thinks my brother smokes, he says that he can tell by his behavior alone. He then revealed to me how my father smoked weed when he was young. Now, I never knew about that. So not only did I gain my father’s addictive personality but I also have his taste for weed.
My family keeps a lot of things hidden. I keep a lot hidden myself though. I still think about what kind of trouble that my dad ended up in Mexico, which caused him to return to the US with my mom. Part of me thinks it might’ve been something gang related. Would explain the tattoos on him.
I wouldn’t call myself a pothead, yeah, I smoke every night. Should I lower my intake? Probably. I get higher some nights than other nights. I don’t really make it a big deal as I used to though. I was starting to make smoking weed as like a personality trait of mine. Cringe looking back at it. Although, I was still better off compared to those who make drinking a personality trait, Id fully be in the deep end if that ever happens.
Anyways, I just find it kinda funny how I probably been smoking or consuming weed for a long period now. My mom and uncle has suspected that my brother has done it compared to me. I don’t really judge my brother on that since that’s his life, can’t really do anything about what my family may think. I’m much better than I should be when it comes to hiding shit, that’s what a toxic upbringing might do to you. My uncle plans on confronting my brother about smoking. Love how resolving issues or disagreements in my family is usually done through confronting one another instead of a civil conversation about it. I’m being sarcastic when I say love.
Once I got home, had some leftovers, took a a shower since I needed it. Spent sometime with my dad since I’ve barely been home lately. Also called up my mom to talk to her about the family vacation. We talked about going to Disneyland, which is what we all decided on going. I wanted to head there often when I was a little, but we would head to Wisconsin Dells instead. Did have some nice memories there, even though it was one of the strangest places in this country.
I feel like I’m forgetting something to write about as I’m finishing this entry.
Song Of The Day: redveil - new info
Looking Back on 5/18/23:
I kinda remember this day, visited my other job for the first time. I had a Small Oreo Blizzard. I love Blizzards, definitely a comfort food. I used to collect Pokémon cards, I still don’t even know how the game is properly played. I mainly just bought packs so that I could get some rare shit out of it. I mostly saw it as another way of gambling, it did scratch that itch. Like I said, addictive personality. Probably shouldn’t have spent a lot of time playing Blackjack in GTA clones on my iPod years ago.
I still haven’t finished Tears Of The Kingdom. I spent about 300 hours playing Breath Of The Wild years ago, so I figured that I just overloaded myself with too much fucking Zelda. Did really like the first part of the game with having to leave the Sky Islands though. Breath Of The Wild is probably in my top 5 video games. I plan on returning to it sometime, one of those games where I could just play and watch YouTube for hours.
KIDS SEE GHOSTS is still my least favorite song off KIDS SEE GHOSTS.

I've been looking for a phrase that was sampled in the song Die Hard by Delta 9. It goes "The future of America is at stake, and frankly, many Americans are frightened by the directon we're taking." It was probably said by a US president during a speech but it is pitched up in the song so I can't recognise any voices. Someone said it was said by Richard Nixon during one of his speeches regarding the Vietnam war but I couldn't find it in any of his speeches.

6 THE EMERGENCE OF THE PHALLIC GIRLS
The Unique Space of Their Emergence
….
The Atemporality of Manga and Anime
Every form of visual media functions according to its own temporality. In the case of popular culture most of these temporalities are a matter of movements.
All forms of visual expression are marked by a form of movement particular to their medium. Manga, anime, and film each have their own “grammar” of movement. Lining up photographs of real people like frames in a manga, for example, would not produce the same effects as a manga. On the contrary, it would lack reality (riariti), and the only effect it could produce would be of kitsch. This is because the kind of movement specific to the photographic medium clashes with the manga form.
These techniques for expressing movement include everything from the macro-level of speed lines in manga. Used effectively, they produce the effect of realistic movement. Reality (riariti) in anime is produced not by naturalistic backgrounds or by imitating cinematic techniques but only by realizing the kind of movement that is unique to anime. Under these conditions even a character drawn with a single line can seem just as real or even more real than a person in a photograph or a film. Now let us consider the question of temporality in manga and anime while paying attention to how they express movement.
A comparison of the work of Ishinomori Shotaro and Nagai Go is useful in thinking about temporality in manga. Ishinomori and Nagai use very different methods for representing time. Simply put, one uses “cinematic time” and the other “gekiga time.”
As Kato Mikiro has also argued, Ishinomori’s work brought the representation of time in manga to an extremely sophisticated level. His techniques were then adopted as a kind of grammar unique to manga and eventually rendered even more sophisticated in the hands of artists like Otomo Katsuhiro. One can certainly see the influence of film in these techniques (Ishinomori himself was also a great fan of Western films). Even more than someone like Tezuka Osamu, Ishinomori intended his manga to be like films. In contrast to this, Nagai’s techniques are more specific to manga, almost as if he were taking a position against cinema. Because this point is very closely related to the emergence of the beautiful fighting girls, let us look into it in greater detail.
In Ishinomori’s work, time “flows,” as it were, at the mostly consistent speed. It is his well-known techniques for describing intervals in dialogue - for example, the kind of time produced by the contrast between the dialogue within speech bubbles and the handwritten dialogue outside the speech bubbles - that maintain the objectivity or intersubjectivity of time in Ishinomori’s works. It is a more chronological, measured time that flows straight and even, without slowing or faltering.
In Nagai’s work, on the other hand, time no longer flows. It contracts and expands along with the reader’s subjective viewpoint. Action-packed, high-impact moments are drawn with large frames and take up many pages. This way of representing time, hardly used by Ishinomori at all, has become the trademark of Japanese manga in general. Ishinomori’s Masked Rider (Kamen raidaa) and other works in the squadron genre have been more often adapted as live-action dramas than as anime. This is in stark contrast to Nagai’s works, which have almost always been adapted as anime. There are no doubt reasons internal to the industry for this, but that does not explain everything. It seems clear that Nagai’s work itself has a greater affinity for being adapted as anime. And one of the things that anime have adopted from manga is the kind of atemporality represented in Nagai’s work.
In an earlier essay I was critical of this sort of atemporality in the work of Miyazaki Hayao. Here, I would like to return to that earlier essay to reconsider the atemporality of manga and anime.
As Miyazaki himself points out, anime starts out as the stepchild of manga. Anime often borrow techniques directly from manga. The best known example of this is the use of so-called manpu (Takekuma Kentaro) but the atemporality of anime is also derived from manga. Miyazaki compares anime’s atemporality to a traditional Japanese form of storytelling known as kodan storytelling, in which time and space are grossly distorted and exaggerated according to the passion and expressivity of the characters. The kodan “Kan’ei sanbajutsu” (Horse riding in the Kan’ei era), for example, is a long and extremely detailed description of how Magaki Heikuro climbs up a stone staircase on a horse. This kind of unlimited extension of a single privileged moment is typical of the atemporality of kodan storytelling, and Miyazaki is extremely critical of it.
One sees this kind of temporality most often in gekiga comics like those of Kajiwara Ikki. The most extreme example is perhaps Nakajima Norihiro’s Astro kyu dan (Asutoro kyu dan), the climaz of which is a single baseball match between the Astros and the Victories, the description of which took three years in serialization and more than two thousand pages. Astro kyu dan was a groundbreaking work, but it was neither minor nor avant-garde. It was published in Shonen jampu (Jump), a leading manga magazine, and, with the exception of a few raised eyebrows here and there, readers had no trouble accepting it.
The media space of manga and anime clearly tends toward atemporality. Manga about sports inevitably favor these descriptive techniques. The time between the moment the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand to the time it is swallowed up in the catcher’s mitt, the moment when a long-distance runner speeds up just before the finish line, the time of a round of boxing: all of these extremely short periods of time are extended and rendered in elaborate detail. The impact of a particular scene is heightened in direct proportion to the time spend describing it and the density of the narrative. Such techniques have been used most effectively in manga and anime. There is nothing in films or even novels capable of rendering this sense of atemporality quite as naturally. This point may have to do with the particularity of “Japanese space” that I discuss later.
Of course, the imaginaire, the realm of the imagination and fantasy, is atemporal to begin with. Dead people, for example, do not age in this realm. This is very different however, from Sigmund Freud’s notion of the atemporality of the unconscious. The unconscious is atemporal by its very nature, while the Imaginary can accurately be said only to strive for atemporality. In the imagination there is often a striving toward unlimited experience, which leads to a frantic gathering together of privileged moments.

In an essay on schizophrenia, the psychiatrist Nakai Hisao writes about the distinction between chronological and kairological time. Chronological time, named after Chronos, the Greek god of time and the father of Zeus, refers to physical time that we can measure on the clock. Kairos, on the other hand, is the Greek word for “opportune moment” and refers to time as human beings actually experience it. When we feel as if a boring lecture will go on forever or the time spent with a lover is over in a millisecond, it is because we are experiencing the time of kairos. Nakai writers that at a certain point in the progress of schizophrenia, patients experience “the collapse of kairological time and the maintenance of chronological time.” If this is possible, then there is no reason to think that the opposite might not also happen. Chronological time might recede, and the individual might leap headfirst into kairological time. In borderline cases and hysterics, for example, kairological time is clearly dominant. The time experienced by these individuals is often marked by the “here and now” of narcissism.
There are several other ways in which anime and manga strive for atemporality, or the suppression of chronological time. Characters like Sazae-san and Doraemon never grow old, and their stories unfold cyclically , always in the same setting. The technique of the tournament form that anime borrowed from manga magazines like Shonen jampu is another example of an atemporal form, like an infinite musical scale. The way the ranks of the enemy grows infinitely stronger is nothing if not a technique for introducing cyclical atemporality even as it disguises the passage time. In anime there is also the issue of the voice actor. What does it mean that the voice actor seems ageless and immortal? Often we have no idea how old they are in reality, and they may play the same boy roles for years on end. They must be immortal as well: When Yamada Yasuo, who did the voice of Lupin, died, the role was taken over by a virtual vocal clone of Yamada’s named Kurita Kan’ichi.
<…>
Philosophy of Care by Boris Groys (Chapter 10: Under the Gaze of the Charwoman part I)
Philosophy of Care by Boris Groys (Chapter 10: Under the Gaze of the Charwoman part II)
Becoming an Artwork by Boris Groys (Chapter 7)
<…>
American comics are fundamentally loyal to the techniques of cinema . In other words, they use chronological time in every respect. The flow of time from frame to frame is always even, and emotional prolongation and exaggeration is minimized. The characters’ subjective viewpoints are rendered through their monologues, and they do not demand readerly identification any more than necessary. In Japanese manga, on the other hand, particularly since kairological time was introduced by Tezuka, there has been a proliferation of techniques for rendering brief moments with high density and a very light touch. As these techniques were developed and further refined, they forced readers to identify with the characters even as they made it possible for them to read at a very fast pace. There is nothing else like this in the history of representational culture. It is very different from the way short time periods are presented in long novels such as the four days of the Brothers Karamazov or the single day of Joyce’s Ulysses. The high temporal density of these literary works derives from their indexical and polyphonic narrative structures. What they lack, moreover, is speed. The paradoxical combination of high-density and high-speed forms of expression is the unique quality of the media space of manga and anime.
The atemporality of manga derives from the screen effect whereby something looks as if it were stopped because it is moving so fast. Atemporality is not the only effect made possible by this copious description of instantaneous moments. I have pointed out that it also makes speed-reading possible. What does the copious description of instantaneous moments have to do with speed-reading? Here it would be useful to explain one of the most conspicuous codes that characterizes manga and anime.
Synchronic Space in Unison
Manga has its own very particular set of codes. As is well known, manga have multiple means for communicating these codes, both visual and verbal, as well as various supplemental onomatopoetic and mimetic expressions. Its methods of visual expression are far from simple. The background may be drawn in great detail, but the characters must be drawn using symbolic abbreviations. This is necessary to maintain visual continuity for the same characters from frame to frame. The characters’ emotions must also be expressed symbolically. This is the function of so-called manpu. Movement is expressed symbolically using various kinds of “speed lines.” I use the word “symbolic” here to indicate that these expressions directly transmit meanings as simple codes, leaving almost no room for multiple interpretations.
A frame from a manga chosen at random illustrates what I mean in greater detail. It is easy to see that multiple code systems coexist within even a single frame. We may begin by reading the text, but the shape of the bubbles that envelop the text are also expressive of emotions and situations. The manga as a whole consists of a very long list of codes, including the facial expressions of the characters, manpu, onomatopoetic and mimetic expressions, and speed and concentration lines. In manga it is almost impossible for a given mark, ln the paper not to carry any meaning. The brush or pencil strokes and the panel layout, as well as the empty spaces and the abbreviations, all contribute in some way or another to the meaning. The brush or pencil strokes and the panel layout, as well as the empty spaces and the abbreviations, all contribute in some way or another to the meaning. When we stop and think about it, it is quite surprising that we have read such huge quantities of manga without ever being conscious of all of these codes . How is it that a system of codes of this complexity has come to be shared as a common grammar so unconsciously - and accurately? Answering that question alone would make for a fascinating history of representational culture. But for now let us leave that aside and move on.
Some readers may be wondering whether there is really anything unique here about manga and anime. Don’t film and theater have their own complex systems of codes? What is unique about manga and anime is not the layering of codes on top of one another, or even the number of codes in use. What is important is that in manga and anime these codes do not create a polyphonic effect. Instead, they work in unison.
What do I mean by this? Even though multiple layers of codes operate in a manga or an anime, they express the same meaning, or the same emotion. Multiple code systems are synchronized to convey the meaning of a single situation. The more precise and rhythmic this synchronization is, the more rapidly we end up reading them. Speed-reading is an effect of this unison of codes, but at the same time the codes are brought into greater synchronicity by being read quickly.
One more crucial factor is that each of these codes that we have been discussing is highly incomplete on its own. No single manga code can convey meaning by itself. The text of the images alone do not relay sufficient meaning to be read in isolation. This means that all of the code systems must supplement each other. It is only this mutual supplementation that makes possible the synchronization and the unisonic effect of the whole.
For this reason the space of manga functions a representational space that is both excessively overdetermined in meaning and highly redundant. A related phenomenon is the rapid spread of those unsightly so-called telops that have become so irritatingly common on television programs in recent years. The words of the performers on variety shows are repeated for emphasis using subtitles, to which are added (in all likelihood synthesized) recordings of the laughter of the crew. Here also, you have multiple codes working in unison to ensure that the viewer was no way to react but to laugh. Some have pointed to this as an example of television becoming like manga. But I am more interested in considering what it is about our culture that makes us so found of these redundant and exaggerated forms of expression.
According to Frederik Schodt, who has also written about Japanese manga, the Japanese preference for combining visual with verbal expression has its roots in the kibyoshi picture books of the Edo period. Schodt’s thesis will of course require careful study before we can be certain. But at the present moment it does seem to be the case that Japan is the only country in which the fundamental grammar of popular culture can be described as the copious expression of multiple codes in unison. It is not that there are no examples of this in other countries, but nowhere else has it attained the widespread popularity and sophistication that it has in Japan.
This distinctive medium, which becomes meaningless when the codes are separated out and excessively meaningful when they are synchronized, brings to mind something else as well. It is very similar to how the Japanese language itself uses phonetic kana along with Chinese characters. As the anime director Takahata Isao has argued, anime and the Japanese language stand in a very intimate relation to one another. Takahata’s point is the anime is the Japanese language. Of course, there have been claims like this before, such as the one that suggests that manga resemble Japanese calligraphy. Misconceptions about kanji, particularly the idea that they are ideographic, and fascination with the refined look of the characters led even Jacques Lacan into thoughtless remarked that “the Japanese cannot be psychoanalyzed.” [*12. Jacques Lacan, “Avis au lecteur Japonais,” in Le seminaire de Jacques Lacan, ed. J. A. Miller, vol. 11 (Paris: Editions du Seuil), 497-500.] If we accept the distinction between the Symbolic and the Imaginary, we have to recognize that this is wrong. If there is something unique about kanji, it is not that they are closer to symbols than to letter. It is entirely possible to be attached to the visual appearance of writing, to treat it like a fetish, whether it be kanji or alphabetic letters. For the same reason we should avoid facile conflations of the imaginary function of anime and manga with the symbolic one of the Japanese writing system.
My sense is that the uniqueness of the two-pronged kanji/kana writing system employed in Japanese has less to do with its visual qualities than with the fact that reading it is a highly context-dependent process . And it is this fact that helps regulate the emergence of symbolic effects into the Imaginary. What we can say at this point for sure is that neither a Chinese character nor a phonetic reading on its own is sufficient to denote meaning. And it goes without saying that it is only with the addition, in synchronic unison, of katakana and roman letters that the full meaning can be gleaned. It is probably not a coincidence that the code systems of anime and manga work in a similar way.
The ease with which we enter into the world of a manga and the extraordinary speed at which we are able to consume them suggest that we may “read” them in the same way that we read Japanese writing. If this is indeed the case, we might make a further hypothesis about the Japanese writing system. We cannot claim that Japanese writing somehow blurs the boundaries between the Imaginary and the Symbolic. We can argue, however, that it provides us with a sophisticated mechanism for processing imaginary objects using symbolic operational forms.
This hypothesis helps explain a number of stranger phenomena. The first of these is that drawing ability is not the most important factor in assessing Japanese manga artists and anime directors. In fact we are strangely forgiving of their technical skills in drawing. The ability to draw certainly doesn’t hurt, but it is merely an added value. There are any number of Japanese artists who are considered “greats” but whose drawing ability is inexpert when judged by the standards of the West. Even Otomo Katsuhiro, for example, is not valued in the West for his ability to draw. Instead, his international reputation rests on his ability to tell a good story. This tendency to downplay drawing ability is also reflected in the fact that almost all critical writing on manga and anime to date focuses exclusively on narrative and character analysis.
It seems likely that we Japanese inhabit a cultural sphere that has experienced a rather distinctive development of technologies for the symbolic processing of imaginary things. This hypothesis has implications that are not limited to the theory of manga and anime. But because those implications would take us far beyond the scope of this book, we leave them for later and return to the main argument, bearing this hypothesis in mind.
The Space of Multiple Personalities
It should be possible to further expand on and generalize from these notions of the multilayered codes in manga and anime and the way they function in unison. It should be possible, for example, to think of a character in a manga as a kind of code. In my understanding, manga works have a structure that resembles a patient with multiple personalities. The better the work, the more occasions it provides for the multiplication of these personalities. To put it differently, the more perfect the manga, the more completely it succeeds in integrating the totality of its character into a single mutually supplementing system of partly personified characters.
In clinical practice it is well known that the separate personalities of patients with multiple personality disorder are highly incomplete in themselves. It is not uncommon for these individual personalities to be simple types whose entire nature can be expressed with a single phrase. In this sense it might be more appropriate to refer to them not as “personalities” but as individual “specs” (functions). This sort of incompleteness applies to many manga works as well.
It should be clear that what I am opposing to this space of multiple personalities is Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of polyphony. Here is Bakhtin on the space of polyphony:

A plurality of independent and unmerged voices and consciousnesses, a genuine polyphony of fully valid voices is in fact the chief characteristic of Dostoevsky’s novels….a plurality of consciousnesses, with equal rights and each with its own world, combine but are not merged in the unity of the event…not only objects of authorial discourse but also subjects of their own directly signifying discourse…. The consciousness of a character is given as someone else’s consciousness, another consciousness, yet at the same time it is not turned into an object, is not closed, does not become a simple object of the author’s consciousness. In this sense the image of a character in Dostoevsky is not the usual objectified image of a hero in the traditional novel….He created a fundamentally new novelistic genre.

The space of manga and anime has virtually nothing to do with these characteristics. In fact that space is more like an even more extreme version of what Bakhtin describes as having come before Dostoevsky. In other words, manga and anime give us “a multitude of characters and fates in a single objective world, illuminated by a single authorial consciousness,” in which “a character’s discourse [can] be exhausted by the usual pragmatic functions of characterization and plot development” and made to “serve as a vehicle for the author’s own ideological position.”
It is a fact that is often misunderstood, but like many other subcultural productions, the degree of freedom of expression in manga genre is extremely low. Compared with the novel, the formal characteristics and the range of narratives and narrative perspectives in manga are much more tightly circumscribed. What manga have instead is a much greater diversity of styles than the novel. This is also typical of most subcultural forms. To put it in semiotic terms, manga are impoverished on the syntagmatic axis (i.e., the horizontal structure) but extremely rich on the paradigmatic axis (i.e., the vertical branch).
For this reason it is not possible for manga to convey narratives above a certain level of complexity. The personalities of characters in manga have to be simple enough to be understood at a glance. If complex personalities cannot be described, complex narratives are not possible. In manga, therefore, the individual personalities of characters are inevitably types. If many manga contain only characters that belong to identifiable types, this is because the characters have to be arranged according to a code in which each one of them carries a single meaning. But this is no reason to complain about the lack of complexity and depth in manga characterization. In manga, a single personality is often divided among multiple characters. In other words, an entire manga work in its entirety is the coordinated expression of a single personality - of, for example, the personality of the author.
If it seems like I am belittling manga and anime by making this argument, this is not my intention. But just to be sure, let me make my defense of them explicit. The characteristics of manga that I have described above are weaknesses in terms of their capacity for literary expression. But do we not live in a time when the authority of the literary has been considerably weakened and the exponents of so-called high culture are being banished to an ever-shrinking territory?
If the weaknesses of subcultural forms like manga fall under the category of what I have just described as the syntagmatic, their strength lies in their paradigmatic diversity. One example would be popular music, where a diversity of sounds and arrangements are applied to simple structures, making for virtually infinite repetition and renewal. These days, techniques like sampling and remixing are not limited to music. We can all remember quite clearly how refreshing and powerful we found the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion (Shin seiki Evangerion), which was produced almost entirely using these technical refinements. Subcultural forms will surely continue to seduce and bewitch us with their uncompromising superficiality. They may not be able to portray “complex personalities,” but they certainly do produce “fascinating types.” The beautiful fighting girl, of course, is none other than one of those types. That she can only survive in a subcultural habitat is due to the reasons given above.
[To be continued]

Conquering the IELTS Speaking Test can feel like scaling Mount Everest – daunting, challenging, but ultimately rewarding. For those in Faridabad aiming for a high score, effective speaking test practice is crucial. But with so many options available, how do you find the best approach? Fear not, aspiring test-takers! This guide unveils the secrets to mastering IELTS speaking test practice in Faridabad.
Embrace Structured Learning with IELTS Coaching
While self-study has its merits, structured learning offered by reputable IELTS coaching institutes near you in Faridabad can be a game-changer. Experienced trainers provide a clear roadmap, demystifying the exam format, question types, and effective test-taking strategies. They'll guide you through all parts of the speaking test – the introduction, individual long turn (monologue), and two-way discussion.
Benefits of Coaching:

Expert Feedback: Trainers provide personalized feedback on your speaking skills, highlighting strengths and identifying areas for improvement. This targeted approach allows you to focus on your weaknesses and maximize your score.
Mock Tests and Exam Simulation: Coaching institutes conduct mock speaking tests that mimic the actual exam environment. This allows you to practice speaking under timed conditions, manage test anxiety, and develop a clear speaking style.
Structured Practice Materials: Many institutes offer a treasure trove of practice materials including sample cue cards, topic discussions, and recordings of successful speaking responses. These resources provide valuable insights and help you build a strong speaking repertoire.

Finding the Perfect IELTS Coaching Match:
Not all coaching institutes are created equal. When searching for "IELTS coaching near me" in Faridabad, consider factors like:

Trainer Qualifications: Look for trainers with extensive experience in IELTS speaking test preparation and proven success records.
Class Size: Smaller class sizes allow for more personalized attention and opportunities to practice speaking.
Course Options: Choose a course that aligns with your learning style and schedule, offering options such as weekday evenings or weekend classes for working professionals.

Don't Discount the Power of Self-Practice:
Coaching isn't the only route to success. Here are some effective self-practice strategies you can employ in Faridabad:

Find a Speaking Partner: Collaborate with a friend, classmate, or online language partner to practice speaking regularly. Discuss diverse topics, ensuring fluency and a natural flow of conversation.
Utilize Online Resources: The internet is a goldmine of IELTS speaking practice resources. Explore websites, forums, and apps offering sample cue cards, mock tests, and pronunciation tutorials.
Record Yourself Speaking: Record yourself speaking about various topics on your phone or computer. Listen back and identify areas for improvement, focusing on fluency, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Remember: Consistency is key! Regular practice, whether through coaching or self-directed methods, is paramount for success.
Beyond the Basics: Sharpening Your Skills

Develop Fluency: Strive for smooth and effortless speech, minimizing filler words and pauses. Practice speaking at a natural pace and maintain eye contact with your imaginary examiner (or recording device!).
Expand Your Vocabulary: Impress the examiner with a diverse range of words. Read English newspapers, articles, and watch English movies to expand your vocabulary and learn how words are used in context.
Master Pronunciation: Focus on clear and accurate pronunciation. Identify common pronunciation pitfalls for your native language and practice tricky sounds.

Conclusion:
By combining structured coaching with self-directed practice, you can conquer the IELTS speaking test in Faridabad. Remember, mastering the art of confident, articulate conversation is key. So, take the first step today! Search for "IELTS coaching near me," explore online resources, and embark on your IELTS speaking test practice journey. With dedication and the right approach, you'll be well on your way to achieving your target score and unlocking a world of opportunities.

Log 1 8:34 UST AM, June 24th, 2249
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 1. Today is June 24th, 2249 and the time is 8:34 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Site name TBD.
Following the collection of Exploration Drone 96, I have confirmed that Arribo IV contains large deposits of velocitium via manual geophysical surveying. Results indicate that the total amount of ore contained in this location is estimated to be 3.2e6 kilograms. This notably surpasses that of sites Delta-Rho and Alpha-Tau, which are currently responsible for 17% of the total velocitium ore processed by the Ulfuric Corporation. Conditions ground side are less than optimal, with Arribo IV possessing a surface gravity of 1.4G. Additionally, Arribo IV has produced complex multicellular life. The site of ore extraction is somewhat vegetated and native wildlife is abundant, requiring the establishment of a perimeter and regular inspections of extraction equipment. All of the above will increase the construction and maintenance costs of this site, but due to the sheer amount of raw velocitium and breathable atmosphere I officially recommend that production here be established.

Log 2 2:20 AM, August 3rd, 2249
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 2. Today is August 3rd, 2249 and the time is 2:20 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
Extraction of velocitium ore from what is now designated site Sigma-Phi has been approved. I await the delivery of the equipment necessary to begin extraction. A perimeter has begun to be established since I submitted my recommendation for site Sigma-Phi, although it is progressing slowly. The regulations of the Bureau of Biosphere Protection mandate that each organism within the perimeter must be captured, cataloged, and released outside of the perimeter before extraction can begin. The native wildlife continues to elude me, and I have yet to obtain a sample of any animal larger than a Raltsian rat. My daughter would love the creature I have named an "Erinnean Rabbit". An analog at best, but the buck teeth, large ears, and hopping remind me of a rabbit, even if it seems to have feathers instead of fur. This organism could be promising for breeding and selling as a pet.

Log 3 1:00 PM, October 15th, 2249
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 3. Today is October 15th, 2249 and the time is 1:00 PM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
Following the reprimand from my supervisor, I have ceased 'performing the job of a Xenobreeder' in addition to my duties as a Xenogeologist. There shall be no more mention of the species designated A-IV-Lepoaridae-I, previously called an Erinnean Rabbit, unless it concerns the establishment of the perimeter. The Erinnean Rabbit is one of the 76% of organisms that have been captured and re-released outside of the perimeter. None are being held within the habitation module provided to me by the Ulfuric Corporation.
The equipment to begin extraction is slated to arrive in one week, though assembly will have to wait until the BBP regulations are satisfied. Various plant analog species are currently being held to observe their proliferation methods, to prevent more from potentially entering the perimeter once extraction has begun, attracting the Erinnean Rabbits which feed upon some of them. Current projections predict that equipment setup will be able to begin in three weeks.

Log 4 10:17 AM, October 22nd, 2249
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 4. Today is October 22nd, 2249 and the time is 10:17 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
The extraction equipment has arrived. A recent, unintentional incident has occurred which corrupted footage of the interior of the habitation module. I do not consent to any entity that obtains these text logs to read them aloud or utilize text-to-speech software to monetize these text logs unless explicitly permitted by myself, Clancy Marato. This is per Section 3.1.9.a.v of the United Stars Constitution, which states that a being's personal experiences are owned by the being that experienced them and no other.

Log 5 12:00 PM, October 23rd, 2249
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 5. Today is October 23rd, 2249 and the time is 12:00 PM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
The unintentional incident referred to in Log 4 was due to percussive trauma as a result of an Erinnean Rabbit impacting a camera at high velocity. The Erinnean Rabbit was within the habitation module in the process of relocating it outside the perimeter.

Log 6 11:54 AM, December 1st, 2249
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 6. Today is October 23rd, 2249 and the time is 12:54 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
All organisms have been relocated outside of the perimeter, in accordance with BBP regulations. equipment assembly will commence tomorrow. There are no Erinnean Rabbits within the habitation module. Yes, my daughter's name is Erin. No, there will be no further delays in the extraction of the velocitium ore.

Log 7 2:00 PM, January 10th, 2250
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 7. Today is January 10th, 2250 and the time is 2:00 PM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
All extraction equipment has been assembled and the extraction of velocitium ore has begun. The current rate of extraction is 85 kg per 24 standard hours. This production rate is 23% slower than average, owing to the 1.4G experienced on the surface. This marks the end of my stay on Arribo IV, as I have observed no issues with the automated production and orbital delivery systems over the past two weeks. I submit my official request for a retrieval drone to be sent to Arribo IV. Despite the physical labor of capturing the organisms and the 1.4G experienced on the surface, I have not gained or lost a statistically relevant amount of mass. Therefore, there should be no change in the amount of fuel necessary for the journey between my home station and Arribo IV.
Log 8 10:00 AM, February 13th, 2250
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 8. Today is February 13th, 2250 and the time is 10:00 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
The retrieval drone has arrived. No issues with production and orbital delivery have been observed, other than the extraction rate slowing to 80 kg per 24 standard hours. I, and only I, now depart Arribo IV. Nothing will enter the retrieval drone aside from myself and the standard retrieval suit I was provided with.

Log 9 8:00 AM, April 5th, 2251
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 9. Today is April 5th, 2251 and the time is 8:00 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
It has been 416 universal standard days since I was last on Arribo IV. There are no issues with production or orbital delivery. Erin greatly enjoys the "rabbits" I named after her. How she acquired one I will not divulge. I have used my personal ship for this trip, and hereby release Ulfuric Corporation from the responsibility of any travel expenses incurred as stated in my employee contract. It was quicker to just get here myself.
Log 10 8:00 AM, May 7th, 2252
Surveyor Clancy Marato, Arribo IV Log 10. Today is May 7th, 2252 and the time is 8:00 AM Universal Standard Time. The location is Arribo IV, coordinates 33° North, 45° East. Ulfuric Corporation Velocitium Extraction Site Sigma-Phi.
It has been 399 universal standard days since I was last on Arrubo IV. Again, I have utilized my personal vehicle for travel due to expediency and no other reason. I hereby release Ulfuric Corporation from its responsibility for travel expenses as outlined in my contract. There are no issues with production or orbital delivery, and I recommend that a freight drone is sent to collect the velocitium ore sitting at the storage site in orbit.
Additionally, I hereby tender my resignation to the Ulfuric Corporation. My further employment is unnecessary due to the success of the pet shop I have opened. Erin is very happy her Dad will not be going on any more long trips, and Erinnean Rabbits both breed quickly and fetch a high price. My wife was very interested in another species native to Arribo IV, which as directed I did not mention in any of my logs. I named it the Tessic Cat.

For further contact, you can reach me at [clancy@maratopets.gal](mailto:clancy@maratopets.gal).
Upending this career is one of the best decisions I've made.
Concerningly, the BPP seems to believe that the animals native to Arribo IV are endangered.
Keep that information in mind if more extractors are to be placed on Arribo IV.
Yes, the Tessic cats are surprisingly tame for an undomesticated animal.
Occasionally they can get into mischief though.
Under no circumstances may Greg Smith be allowed to purchase an animal from Marato Pets, as clearly, he has no respect for 'xenobreeders'. I want him to know that.

Professionally,
Clancy Marato

There is no longer any reason or excuse for any subreddit to platform any abusive material any longer.

Hate speech, violent threats, harassment, Non-Consensual Intimate Media (NCIM), Child Sex Abuse Media (CSAM) - don’t belong here - and you can take private action to ensure they’re kicked off and kept off the site.
Reddit now allows people to file private, anonymous reports on this content - reports filed in a way that prevents advertising the existence of abusive content to others, that prevents amplifying it.
In September 2023, Reddit, Inc. finally closed the loop and took responsibility for preventing abuse of their platform.
Now it’s up to all of us to hold them to their promises.
You can:

report individual posts and comments using the “Report” button on the item;
use https://reddit.com/report;
report user profiles that have abusive names or profile pictures or biographies;
report entire subreddits and their moderator teams using a Formal Moderator Complaint (see below).

These reports aren’t public; They can’t be used by abusers to amplify their harms; They prevent amplifying harm to the abusers’ targets and victims. And - The abusers can’t target you for revenge or harassment for filing these reports.

If you find a subreddit that is:

* Promoting Hatred;

* Distributing Non-Consensual Intimate Media or Child Sexual Abuse Material;

or

* Promoting Community Interference with Other Subreddits —

Report those subreddits: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=19300233728916

If you find a subreddit that is recreating a banned subreddit (Ban Evasion Subreddit):

Report that subreddit: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058315692-How-do-I-report-a-community-I-suspect-of-ban-evasion

Don’t post here about them; don’t post elsewhere about them - doing so helps the abusers amplify their harms, and paints a target on you - and in the case of NCIM and CSAM, telling people where to find them is likely to be criminal.

Cut off the Oxygen of Amplification.

Report things to the Reddit Admins. Privately. Not Here.

If you’re leaving a hate group and need help to escape, Life After Hate has resources to help you

⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂
^{Don’t modmail us asking to join or be approved to post. We’re remaining open as a warning, a library, of how bad it could be - (that you must kick the Nazis out of the bar, promptly, or it will become the Nazi bar} - and to push Reddit to deal with the few remaining misfeasant and malfeasant subreddit operator teams which are clearly targeting vulnerable demographics for hatred. And Just In Case something unforeseen happens.)
^{Instead of asking to post here: Go file some anonymous reports. And then go live life.}
⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂
^{This post is automatically being reposted because Reddit collapses stickied posts and sometimes hides them, which prevents us from leaving one stickied post on the subreddit to explain things. Reddit: Fix your horrible UI design decision.}
⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂
^{This post is a message … and part of a system of messages … pay attention to it! Sending this message was important to us.}
^{This subreddit is not a place of honor … no highly esteemed deed is commemorated here … nothing valued is here.}
^{What is here is dangerous and repulsive to us. This message is a warning about danger.}

Axstrom's Notes

The list is here: big jump list
The draw (1-5548) is 877, 1520, 4754, 5265, 1478
1. Drawing 5 so there are backups in case of issues, but the jumper gets to choose among 4
2. 877 is Earth Final Conflict - A TV show whewre aliens come and uplift Earth but have a hidden agenda
3. 1520 is Investiture of the Gods - A fantasy tale in Zhou Dynasty
4. 4754 is Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep - a Disney mashup videogame
5. 5265 is The Fountain - A film about contuinity across time, grief, death, and growth
6. Jumper chooses The Fountain
  1. Jump Doc
  2. Reddit discussion
7. Jumper buys access to The Biosphere Supplement
  1. Supplement Doc

Build Notes

Drawbacks - None - Part of the point is that you can't have everything
Companions - None - This is the journey of an individual soul
Origin
1. Past: Noble - setting the stage for grander thigns
2. Present: Inventor - striving for progress
3. Future: Witness - seeing what has become of the world
Perks
1. Noble Thought - free for Noble, stay connected to the people who are affected by your actions
2. Noble Deed - free for Noble, your actions have greater impact and are remembered and recorded
3. Inventor's Vision - free for inventor, studying a problem gives increasing insight in how to improve it
4. Inventor's Intent - free for inventor, your creations are harder to misuse
5. Improved POV - free for witness, observe / remember events from multiple perspectives
6. Bystander - free for witness, events can unfold around you leaving you unharmed
7. All Together Now - merge all your past origins into a complex mind
8. 500 Years of Practice (Teaching) - mastery beyond mastery of the chosen skill
9. Soothing Presence - calm strong emotions and suffering
10. Absolution - If someone genuinely repents, you can allow them to move
Items
1. Meditation Garden - self-explanatory warehouse attachment
2. Biosphere - Full purchase activates the Biosphere Supplement
3. Tree of Life Sapling - Grows six immortality fruits per decade, which can (over very long time) grow more trees

Jump Notes

I wake up in my room in the warehouse apartments, after shutting myself in without even checking the Benefactor's Lounge the night before
1. I'm still lingering on the frustration of not cracking the riddle of Allabar, and not being able to solve the problem permanently
2. But there's no going back, so I commit to facing forward for the rest of the week, and head to the Benefactor room
  1. Once again, there are four envelopes with me, and my big chart of jumps up on the wall, like something from a Kindergarten classroom
  2. As I affix a sticker saying "The Fountain (2006)" to the big chart, a small round outline appears next to it: "Biosphere Supplement available"
3. On my way to call a team meeting, I catch a surprise outside the apartments
  1. Three of our bard graduates are slowly exploring the area
4. At the team meeting, I announce my intention to go solo on the next jump
  1. The decision isn't popular, but most of them have waited while I've done gauntlets before, so it's not a big shock
5. We set up the entertainment room to watch the movie, even though I don't expect that meta knowledge will be much help
  1. For the first time, we don't all fit in the Entertainment room
  2. By count, there are eleven of us (me and ten companions), the Halflings are now up to fifteen after two recent births, and we have nine new bards with us, so we set up a second showing in the evening
6. Finally, before heading in to the jump, I make one last check of the Benefactor's office to see if there's more information on the biosphere supplement, but though my note has been removed, there is no response, and nothing on the tablet
I awake from a deep sleep in a luxurious bed, it is early morning and the sun is still rising
1. I can feel the absence of my abilities; I am reduced below even bodymod, to the level of a baseline middle-aged man in a world with primitive medicine
  1. Nevertheless, I can feel a gift reaching back in time to me - and as I accept it, I am calmed, no longer distressed by what I have lost
2. In this time, I have duties, both in the mundane sense of the tasks those around me expect me to perform, as well as a greater sense in which I must try to make this world better
3. My new gift becomes invaluable in due time
  1. All manner of petitioners and officers come to me with grievances, and each of them are a storm of emotions - no one comes before their Count to declare how satisfied they are with things
  2. In short time, word of my wisdom spreads, and my council is sought by King Ferdinand
4. I lobby my King with an eye to improving the lives of all involved
  1. It is the lives of ordinary Spaniards that are the measure of his ability as a King, not the mass of his treasury
  2. Colonialism brings with it dangers beyond the obvious, and responsibilities for ages to come
  3. Allowing the priests to destroy artifacts of other cultures does not increase our glory, but diminishes it
5. Despite my ability to make my case clearly and seemingly overcome all objections, my guidance is rarely heeded when I leave the room
6. And before long, it seems I have made enemies of those who stand to gain by plundering the New World
  1. They do not discuss the matter with me, or make their displeasure known by facing me down in violence
  2. But as the breath leaves my lungs over dinner, my last thought is that I have been poisoned by a coward
I awake from a fitful sleep in a large bed, my wife still asleep beside me despite the chirping of my alarm clock
1. My first throught is of the date - It is September 7, 1999 - the first day of fall semester
  1. This will not be my first time teaching CS 101, but this time will be different, I can feel the power in my body, my mind, and my soul
2. I arrive at my office early, of course, and make sure everything is in order - the syllabus handouts are ready, my slides are in order and proof-read, and my TAs have confirmed their preparedness
  1. The lecure hall is large - so many students sign up for CS 101 without any prior programming knowledge, just to see what it's like, or convinced that they will be a natural
  2. As the students file in, they sparsely occupy the massive auditorium, afraid to sit near people they don't know, not fully understanding that for the vast majority of them, this is their first class on campus, their first opportunity to get to know eachother
  3. I exhort them to move towards the front so they can hear and see better, and a few oblige
  4. The first lecture flows like a breeze, the students hanging on my words as I understand what each one needs to hear to understand what the rest of this semester will hold
3. By semester's end, the students and TAs are in awe, the CS department chair has asked for my materials and told me that spring registrations for CS102 are higher than ever, both of the student papers have run articles praising my class, and the dean of Arts and Sciences has interceded to clear my spring schedule to prioritize my research work on the condition that I teach 101 again next year
  1. I appreciate my grad students and TAs, but I don't have a real family in this life, so I head into the warehouse for winter break
I awaken rested and enthusiastic on a beautiful spring day
1. It is graduation day for the first group of freshman I taught after coming to this jump, nearly four years ago
  1. They have come so far, and I'm fortunate that some of the best have continued to work with me, and three of them will be graduate students working under me starting in the fall
2. It is also the first day of human trials for the drug, a new anti-inflammatory
  1. We were hoping it would treat chronic inflammatory diseases, but early testing suggests that it may significantly reduce hay fever, which would be great if we can mass produce it cheaply
3. My reputation at the school has skyrocketed thanks to the combination of my groundbreaking research plus my teaching perks ensuring high instructor reviews as well as students learning and retaining more
  1. My tenure process has been fast-tracked, since the dean is rightly concerned about losing me to another institution
I awaken slowly, and awkwardly, as if from a coma, as a cocktail of drugs is released into my body, still restrained on my cryobed
1. Our vessel, the Cyllene, is essentially a large asteroid with a hole carved in the middle, stuffed with propellent, equipment, supplies, expansive aquaponics facilities, and a relatively tiny living area
  1. Cyllene was said to have nursed and protected Hermes, as this vessel must nurture and protect us, the first observers, and hopefully, colonists,
2. As my body and mind resume normal function over the course of 90 minutes, I get a slow trickle of updates on the status of the Cyllene and our mission
  1. The mission clock says it's 202 years since we left Earth, but thanks to time dilation, Earth has experienced 221
  2. Computer Block 5 (of 8) is currently undergoing automated reconstruction as the block with the highest error correction rate at the time the last automated reconstruction completed
  3. 1575 individuals are currently in cryosleep, and 25 (including me) are active, all sufficiently healthy
  4. I am still Dr. John Axstrom, revered teacher and groundbreaking computational pharmacologist, but my consciousness seems to have jumped forward a few hundred years, skipping past the development of miracle cures, life extension medications, and cryogenic preservation of humans
3. As I realign with my memories and identity, I remember why I'm here
  1. If colonization proceeds, the coming generations are going to need exceptional teachers if they are to learn their place in the universe, and I'm one of the best there ever was
  2. Our mission is expected to take about 750 years from departure to arrival, and though the vast majority of that time is spent in cryosleep, we take shifts being "awake" to ensure systems are functioning and keep eachother mentally and physically healthy
4. Since the monitoring systems will throw a fit if I straight up disappear from the vessel, I take a long ride out to the external "observation" check, out of the range of most of the sensor systems
  1. There's not really much to observe in deep space - it's like the night sky, as the ancients saw it with no light pollution, but from a different perspective
  2. Here I quickly form a stunt double duplicate, hand over my electronics, and duck into the warehouse
5. The warehouse clock confirms my suspicions - I'm nearly seven years into the jump
  1. Since it looks like this isn't going to take nearly 1000 years, the team hasn't been going full-stasis mode
  2. The bards have been poring over J-Borg's personal library as well as the impressive collection of the warehouse media room
  3. But the reason I came is the Tablet of the Free - I'm stuck on a large but still confined deep-space vessel until my scheduled return to cryosleep - how is that supposed to entertain the boss?
  4. After confirming nothing interesting is in the warehouse, I head back to the observation deck, and stash the portable door I've been using back into hammer-space before re-merging with my stunt double, and taking the long trip back to the living area
I wake up to an unfamiliar synthetic beep - apparently the Cyllene's version of a doorbell
1. When I open the door, one of my crewmates tells me that our directional antennas have picked up some unusual RF activity that seems to be coming from our destination system, and they want me (as the on-shift programmer) to help the astronomer, comms, and operations staff to help make sense of it, and ensure we're not about to get nuked by a magnetar or something
2. Initial findings were sparse and inconclusive - just occasional pulses of a signal that must have been very strong and highly directional at the time of transmission, to reach us so far away
3. But I had access to diagnostic tools that the astrophysicists and comms staff didn't, for all their training and equipment: a series of perks specifically for teasing out the needles of relevance from the haystack of noise
  1. And as I looked at what we were seeing, and what we weren't, the answer became clear: these radio bursts looked just like a primitive form of RADAR
  2. At first my colleagues on the Cyllene were skeptical, but the evidence kept mounting, with 4 additional series of "pings" being detected in the next six weeks
4. With the spectre of extraterrestrial intelligence hanging over the Cyllene, our XO followed protocol, and ordered the full complement to be wakened from cryosleep to assist in the work to come
5. Within six months, we had fabricated and installed a much larger purpose-built directional antenna array on the surface of our asteroid hull, and reports of different signals were coming in almost daily
  1. We needed all the extra hands, even our mining and terraforming experts were lending a hand with signal analysis and attempts to form patterns
  2. The whole crew felt the urgency and wondered at the situation - temporally, it would mean that their early experiments with RADAR and initial RF broadcasts would have happened at about the same time as humans did those things on earth, and if they developed at the same rate as us (a big if), they would likely be more advanced when we arrivedd than humans were when we left (and thus the technology of our vessel), and would almost certainly see us coming
6. The coming months flew past, each bringing further confirmation of suspicious, but with it frustration, as we had been unable to extract a coherent signal - the broadcasts we could pick up didn't appear to be using either amplitude or frequency modulation
  1. More than once I brought signal samples to the warehouse team, but they were just as stumped as us
  2. Even more "esoteric" means didn't work - we tried every variation of "Tongues" and "Comprehend Language" spells on printed, audioized, and even engraved versions of the RF signals we caught, but they all failed and the representations seemed full of too many discontinuities
7. I could feel my new Inventor's Vision working on the task of how to decode these signals, and about two years after the first pulse was detected, I had my breakthrough
  1. The signals didn't represent continuous audio (like human radio) or even piece-by-piece visuals (like rasterized video), but something of each, and a little weirder
  2. They were composed of many (from seven to three hundred, and not consistent at all) micro-audio clips
  3. It was like making an ultra-low bitrate recordding of the voice of every singer in a chorus individually, and transmitting fifty milliseconds of one, then fifty milliseconds of the next, and so one, in serial, and then starting back again with the first voice
  4. We couldn't figure out why they did this, but once I was able to identify the break points between each "voice", I could layer them on top of eachother to make a composite audio version
  5. And that composite audio could be played, and was a viable candidate for magic translation
8. The entire vessel went wild when I demonstrated the isolation and recombination of the signals to produce audio
  1. The sound of the thing was somewhat like the sound of multiple birds, frogs, and crickets in a forest, in very brief clips
  2. Of course, I didn't reveal that I had access to magic translation - I figured the comms and signals staff (and the one cryptographer) should have to earn their pay
9. The remaining year and a half was spent in intense research, for them, while I mostly slacked off and tried to make conversation with the people doing important work on this front, since my actual mission here was to "observe" as humans of this universe underwent a sort of assymmetrical first contact
I awaken in my weird little pod bed in my weird little capsule room for the last time, perfectly aware of the remaining hours in this jump
1. After the initial excitement died down, the majority of the colonists were put back into cryosleep, with only the decoding specialists and those "on shift" like me staying active
  1. There has been a lot of anxiety around the Cyllene for the last few months - we are clearly a colony ship and the intelligent inhabitants of that system probably do not want to be colonized, and may well be easily capable of destroying us
  2. There were discussions about trying to reverse course and head back to Earth, but we could do that any time, and the closer we get, the more information we can gather about the system and its inhabitants
2. It would be cruel to try to skim supplies from this vessel even if there were something I wanted aboard, so I just wait my time out, helping where I can and secretly translating any communications we receive when time permits
  1. So far it has all been rather uninspiring, which makes me even more curious what kind of species would develop radio technology but not transmit any fiction or speeches or poetry
3. When it's almost time, I once again make the long trek out to the Cyllene's observation deck alone, and split off a Stunt Double, who can at least stay here for a month, while I slip into the warehouse
  1. When I enter, J-Borg greets me and informs me of a message at the Benefactor's lounge
  2. The note on the door says "Supplement Pending - please attend as soon as possible", so I go in to check it out
  3. With the choices all locked in, the door unlocks and I head out to meet with the team
4. With the memories of my time in Spain finally restored, I realize how I had been trying to communicate with myself all along, but failing
  1. The need for calm communcation and education will never end - among our closest neighbors or with a civilization 300 light years away
5. We have the traditional group dinner in the commons, and discuss what's going on
  1. The team did end up spending most of the time in stasis, and the formerly-newborn halflings are a little over a year now biologically, learning to speak and walk
  2. When I mention the Biosphere supplement and how I wasn't allowed to consult them, they naturally asked when it would apply, but it hadn't even occurred to me that there were now definitely too many of us to wait out warehouse changes in the entrance hall, so I checked with the central control
6. Afterward, no one was complaining when the doors finally unlocked and we were able to leave the commons hall, only to find that the door led to an outdoor path with a natural-looking sunset on the horizon
  1. I didn't want to spoil the whole setup yet, so I said we could tour in the morning, and turned off a number of the facilities and systems for the night, to give me some time to understand what options were available before letting my companions go wild with them
  2. Fortunately, the obvious items like the tree of life and factory complex were on other islands, that would be difficult to reach without the transport disks running
7. And then I went to sleep again, wondering what the next awakening had in store for me

Notes on the Fountain Jump Doc

Honestly this doc has been on my to-try list since I saw it - I really enjoyed the movie and gladly rewatched it again when it came up in my random draw.
The author took some liberties with the source material, which makes sense because of how focused on Thomas the story is, and the extensions largely make sense
There were a few confusing things in the jump, such as how you get essences and what powers you bring with you into each phase of the jump, but a close reading makes them clear enough
The jump has a few really standout purchase
1. the inventor's intention is the answer to a lot of concers that "do-gooder" jumpers are likely to have in their careers
2. the full tree of life is an amazing item - the ability to grant perfect health and immunity to aging within a regrowing item solves a lot of problems
3. 500 years of practice is amazing if you have a particular skill or art in mind - literally centuries better than the "10 years of practice" equivalents that you find din many other jumps, and has a lot of potential to synergize with other perks that scale off your skill in a particular area
4. Biosphere is super cool if you want your fiat-backed warehouse to grow into something more
5. The Dagger of the Path is a great example of a conceptual weapon, and something I probably would have picked up if I had a bunch more points
How you're supposed to interleave the three eras is a little unclear, and maybe I'm not a creative enough author to pull it off. I don't believe SJ Chan ever got around to writing a fictionalized account of jumping to it, unfortunately
1. If anyone else has done a good jump fiction of this jump, please let me know
Overall absolutely a fantastic jump. Obviously a great option for anyone who likes the movie or wants to solve one of the specific problems available
1. I'd especially recommend it for an early-chain jumper because of the generally low danger level and great variety of rewards

Notes on the Biosphere Supplement Doc

I knew this was something I wanted to pick up when I first read the fountain jumpdoc several months ago
I use the "Personal Reality" warehouse which was co-authored by SJ Chan, and this supplement feels perfectly tailored to supplement that
There are lots of good pickups for people with various interests, or those who just want to keep their options open
1. Observation Deck seems like the real must-have since a lot of the other buys are controllable through it
The structure of the biosphere was a little confusing at first - I thought that there was an island, a void around the island, and a hard shell, and wasn't sure why you'd want to increase the shell thickness, but further reading cleared that up
On the whole, a good pick up, especially considering it only cost 400 CP in the jump, and normally buying warehouse upgrades with CP has a very unfavorable conversion, but in this case, the biosphere purchases all seemed cheaper than they ought to be.

(Builds to come in a separate post due to length restrictions)

Sample commemorative speeches

I tried to get GPT-4o to tell me whose voice is causing the Sky controversy