Graffiti alphabet
Show off your Blackbook Pieces.
2011.03.31 06:21 Chlovesma Show off your Blackbook Pieces.
Welcome to blackbookgraffiti, a community dedicated to the art of sketching graffiti, a place to show off your blackbooks, daily sketches, outlines, characters & digital pieces!
2012.05.09 23:00 frozenburger keming: mortifying mortising and spasmodic spacing
A subreddit dedicated to the fine art of keming and other examples of bad spacing in typography.
2023.03.26 03:05 clpripomxp đđđ IF YOU TAP YOU WILL CUM đđŚ
 | submitted by clpripomxp to wiz3zmf9w7 [link] [comments] IF YOU TAP HERE YOU WILL CUMIF YOU TAP HERE YOU WILL CUMIF YOU TAP HERE YOU WILL CUMhttps://i.redd.it/db21kgdqgzpa1.gifâOnly a little bit,â Lexia smiled. Hinata looked at herself in the mirror, making sure she had her lipstick on perfectly. They were now a hue of cherry red seduction, kissable in every way. She kissed herself in the mirror. Suddenly came a knock on the door. She looked out the peephole, nobody there. âWhatâs wrong Dakota?â I cried. deepeegee âDonât stop,â I gasped into his shoulder. I told her I'd see her in a little bit, quickly got off my computer, grabbed some rubbers and made my way to the car. The entire ride all I could think of was what I was about to do, with one of my hottest friends. This is Diego again. The story is once again depressingly horrible. rushed, no detail, poorly developed plot. That was an utter dissappointment. Perhaps you are a man with two very small heads. Pun intended. "I don't know my dad isn't exactly the best person in the world" You're kidding me. They are from completely different worlds. Does he have the same fantasy? "I think its time he fucks your pussy, sexy girl." Brenda said. Kelsy smiled when she said this, as she was ready for him. She wanted his cock deep in her. fucinhigh08: âi aint got laid in a while and im frustrated, so dont piss me offâ The comment was met with silence, and then, "Shit, we're going to be late to science class -- the third time this quarter." Iâd be fucking her forever. When I got home, Jennifer was in the front room on the couch reading a book. As I looked at her sitting there in that big oversized t-shirt and a pair of short shorts, I realized just how attractive my little sister had become. She had all the stuff any red blooded young man could want. Her long black hair was about six inches below her shoulders and was always perfect no matter how she had it done. Like I said before she was 5â 6â tall and at 34C â 26 â 36 her figure was perfect and the fact that we lived out in the country meant that she had no tan lines. If I were an artist and was drawing my idea of the perfect woman, she would look just like Jenn. I donât think I would change anything. What Tim DID know was that he was so hot for Lisa at this moment that he could practically taste her. Hmmm, he thought. Good idea. Tim slid down the couch and gently spread Lisa's legs so that he could have access to her smooth, shaved pussy. Lisa complied by opening herself wide for what she knew would be a sweet experience. Tim started licking gently on her soft folds as she became wet for him. He used his lips and tongue to arouse Lisa and she responded by arching her back off the couch each time Tim came into contact with her clit. At some point in time, Tim had heard of the tender spot between a girl's legs that would make her explode. He was a bit unsure of just where or what it was, but he did know that when he licked Lisa at the very top of her pussy, she responded. He decided to concentrate on this area as it seemed to give his young lover the most pleasure. We pulled apart from each other, cum trailing between us and leaking out of her pussy, and laid there on the bed for a few minutes. Jen got up first, and reached into her luggage and pulled out a new set of clothes. She ran into the bathroom and cleaned herself up. I sat up and began to dress as well. I looked at the clock, we had started almost two hours earlier. "So am I supposed to like the way you look or not?" he is confused. I was good at soccer. I was my talent, the way some girls were dancers, some girls were sluts (but they got all the hot guys). I was a player. I needed football, and I came damn close to slapping Beck when he announced it to us. Being the captain of the team, I could demand why. "Hey you cute couple," the hefty waitress with a southern accent interrupted. "I'm Leslie, I'll be your server. Now, what can I get'cha?" âFuck,â I say to myself. It was Tia. I approach her room but itâs silent inside and I retreat, face still glowing red. My room isnât the most private. Itâs the spare room and between the door and the doorframe is a big enough gap to see through. If she was stood outside looking in she definitely saw me playing with myself. This is just more ammunition for her, I think to myself as I close my door. Iâm suddenly limp and I shut off the porn on my laptop and take out my phone. There was no going back now as Richard sank his dick into her. He was squatting to allow Stacy to scoot back on the bench where she could lie in a somewhat comfortable position while he plowed her. We practiced for graduation on Friday morning, finding our places and marching slowly into the auditorium to Elgarâs Pomp and Circumstance, courtesy of the high school orchestra. As valedictorian I was first while Barbara was number13 alphabetically. That placed her at the opposite end of the first row. Read 45189 times John quickly lunged all the way into the depths of her sexual being and then came back to tease her sweet spot again and again. It was incredible. Dianne's mind was overloaded with raw pleasure, and she knew she was rapidly climbing towards another incredible orgasm. The massive member continued to enrage her enflamed vagina, sometimes sliding all the way in, filling her completely, once, twice, three times, before pulling back and sparking her 'G' spot again. She gasped and groaned, unable to fully catch her breath. Her body was frozen, open and lewdly thrust rearward, unable or unwilling to move, not wanting the incredible connection to be broken. Will was now sporting a full on erection which could be seen through his kaki uniform pants. He was now blushing, he knew he had to answer, but the question was so humiliating, especially in front of Rachel. He knew she was getting some sick sexual thrill from this, âI-uh-I guess, I do masturbate like-uh, two times a day tooâ âOh, heâs not going to call the police, or anyone else,â said Susan, still calmly watching Mr. Merriam, who still had his fingers around his erect cock. âAnd heâs certainly not going to get anyone fired.â âYeah, she isâ I agreed with him. âChanging the subject, did you have time to look at Jafferâs project? That oneâs going to be a bugger to put together. Weâve got our work cut out for us if weâre going to get through his class this term.â "I think you want more than that," I said, taking a chance. She was holding something back, beyond whatever it was she was being coy about. 2022-12-11 14:16:18 âA little, but itâs getting better.â âWhatâs this got to do with you, anyway?â I asked, getting a little exasperated. âWhy?â I asked pausing. The coed turned at the familiar challenge. She recognized the student facing her, but couldn't remember his name. Not that it really mattered; they both knew what she wanted. He then took his erect cock, and inserted it into Tiffaniâs pussy. Tiffani let out a loud deep gasp and nearly rose off the bed. Justin began to slowly move his hips as Tiffani lay under him. Alicia was expecting another guy to put his dick in her I instinctively placed my hand on the back of her bobbing head and groaned deeply that I was about to cum. She hummed as if in acknowledgement and continued to suck harder and jerk my shaft faster. I felt my cock swell to explosive proportion as my balls churned with a voluminous discharge. "I can't say I had a good first impression of him either!" She moaned softly while snuggling against him. "So what did you call that robot of yours? Panther something?" she asked. Almost immediately I dropped off to sleep. A sleep that was deep and dreamless. In the morning I woke clear headed and rested. I showered to freshen up before going down stairs. I still wore the oversized black t-shirt but with nothing else. Guy: Shortly after leaving the theater âNo sir. You donât know my dad. He believes people should work for the things they get. Not only did I have to have all the money up front to buy the car, but I had to come up with a years worth of insurance as well. Iâve been saving up for the last two years for a car and last summer I worked two jobs to get the rest of the money for the insurance,â I said with a smile. Mamada de mi morena, garganta profunda, Venezuela Ecuador, lo mama rico Three horny lesbian sluts Isabella Clark, Brittany Bardot, Anna De Villefuck anally with massive dildos Innocent teen big tits and ball sucking handjob Theres nothing like MASAJES TANTRICOS CON RELAX ORAL HASTA ACABAR (Connie Carter) Busty young woman is fucked by her brother Teen touching herself webcam and horny masturbates Hot arab dolls Tiny Tit Country Girl Suck Off Glory Hole Strangers ariana grande fake xxx Husbands friend fucks me Stepmom Yasmin Scott fucking big cock for facial and cuckold Turkish hot old guy (watery cum) A shemale and her girlfriend gonna suck a guy Naive teen gets facial and rides dick after shoplifting Football Parody And Sexy Teens Slutwife milf plays with her interracial fuck toy POV closeup pussy eating from back in 69 position Hot Girlfriend Shares BF With Her BFF Corno filmando mulher levando rola Ink babe and her gf analed by roommate Hottie asain babe Momona Saki fucked hard oral cumshot Curly sexy blonde Krissy Lynn gives nice handjob to her massage boy mas desde antofagasta mostrando el poto en la cam Asian masseuse pussylicking lesbian beauty TS Casey Kisses interracial anal sex Black girl bounces her big round ass and wet pussy on guys hard cock Ordinary looking cute teen rough fucked by a mall cop Straight man gets physical exam by gay doctor xxx Desperate boy does Lusty teen with great breasts Keri Sable gets rough doggystyle pounding on couch Lesbians Kiara Diane Sammie Rhodes Alyssa Reece Young straight country men fucking gay sex stories Wake Up Sleepyhead Slutty blonde amateur teen fucked outside BEST FUCKING HOMEPORN EVER Boys naked young latin free movies under shower gay Not every dude Charming blonde in amateur sex scenes with her daddy FakeTaxi Exotic dancer shows off her skills Cheating wife gets neighbor's cum on her ass while husband is at work Amateur babes stand clothed when sharing a ideal cock Let me jerk you off in exchange for a good grade JOI Luscious honey enjoys insertion gets cum on face and in mouth Sexy Teen Lesbians With Pretty Face and Body Neon Hentai Girl Gangbang Oral Anal DP Beautiful teen is widening legs and pissing on her sex partner Gang Bang for mom Blonde dyke Rebecca Black makes oral love with mature pussy Babe Celine anal banging in POV audition first time Fat ass MILFs threesome Amateur Tranny Catgirl Fucks Herself with Dildo on Webcam and Cums Twice PervCity Princess Donna brings her slave to play Comendo o cu da minha pretinha Ebony Gal Aaliyah Hadid Gets Rammed RealBlackExposed - This ebony goddess loves to spread her fat ass. BBW masturbating til orgasm with huge dildo and anal plug Foot worship blowjob The pool field was stocked with water guns Arianna Marie amateur masturbation Cocksucking exgf punished for cheating Busty ladies massage and oral sex before pole dancing Sexy rich busty MILF punished a freaked out ebony teen Lucky stepson pounded his stepmoms cock hungry MILF pussy Dildo Fucking Friends - 3 Horny Lesbians Fuck - PREVIEW - Sydney Screams, Kaiia Eve, Olivia Vee Big tit mom squirt Ryder Skye in Stepmother Sex Sessions Horny big tits blonde MILF massage sexy brunette niece Slutty MILF Nataly Rosa gets her Latina pussy pounded Fabybbw mamando na frente do corno Neighbors Daughter Practices Deep Throat PUREMATURE Big Rack Asian MILF Fucks Big Dick Teen ebony in bondage deep anal fucked Expert Cock Sucker Milf Julia Ann Blows Your Dick POV! MizzKittKatt mouth work Isabella Deltore moans as her boy fucks her hard til she cum multiple times Pale Pawg Barbie doll fucks BBC and gets her ass nuttted on Petite levrette a la campagne homemade pregnant porn Anita Moraes de ladinho com plug anal no cuzinho Ex GF slow Insertion Video Street Hooker sucking dick nenas chichonas Aga pussy polskie BANGBROS - White Guy Fails To Satisfy Petite Black Pornstar Brandi Foxx Mi vecina dormida muestra su vagina jugosa y se lo meto DEEP ANAL STRETCHING with 2 dildo's Taut asian mom uses vibrator to make her pussy wet Squirting Teen Chanel Grey Can Handle Two BBCs At Once Hot korean girl shows her perfect body Backshot Until She Cries Pic of nude canadian boys gay Completely at the grace of the these voyeue Angy travesti de cucuta con un macho hetero exesposa, putiesposa, gordibuena Lina Mercury hot underwater naked teen Gf shaking ass in panties, pussy exposed Thai Shemale Jina Blowjob n Bareback Chubby Granny takes cock of young dude Cum on slim thick booty ebony Hot threesome orgy with sexy blonde old woman Sly stepsis fucks her nerdy lil bro while doing his math HW Mellanie Monroe Slides A BBC Down Her Throat Sexy Asian Solo Fun Of male ass holes gay porn and matured pinoy men sex stories first Videos porno caserito Viris vega putita infiel POV Fucking my friend from behind and then blowing my load on her back Young coed Ali riding hardcore cock and facial cumshot Sisy Crossdresser anal cum Spanish milf deepthroat Gay bondage and boy porn s A Sadistic Trap For Twink Scott Hottie gives great deep throat blowjob previous to getting fucked Increible Trans Me lo Mama Rico Vanesa Ratmo Lorena Lopes chupando rola SexTapeLesbians Zoey Monroe POV Licking Gay Spy Cam captures nude young Twink Boy ass in soapy bath Kit Mercer In Rekindling The MILF Cooch White Thot loves black dick negra caliente chupando verga Fuck skinny babe doggie and cum on ass The Slave Wife Juliana Paiva Loira peladinha mostrando sua buceta HOT BIG TIT AMATEUR MILF Destiny TEASES & TEASES for BIG finish FACIAL POP! Fucking horny Thai girl Small boy with his teacher sex porn and cheap gay on dvd Jonathan Caught jerking off, he fucks his stepmom in front of a porn. JULIEHOTMOM Young teen masturbation Super closeup asshole and pussy shots with my dildo AND vibrator big booty and busty mother loves her real son with big cock Cute brunette honey Cece Capella screwed well Euro teen striptease and my white teens Old brainy gentleman with a Mamando novinho gostoso e pauzudo da comunidade Gay emo boy gets physical and man male doctor porn I needed to get a Sultry teen gf Serena fucks so nicely Desi slut gets her first outdoor piss facial and licks pussy clean. BBW Mother in Law Fucked Missionary Indian Desi Jehilyn Hot Huge tits Milf gets anal training threesome Latest indian hot mms of sexy girl sopeando a hotwife y ella gozando Uniformed teen cum faced Chiquita tijuanense queria probar la verga haitiana Naked bondage artwork and sexy gay guy The Master Drains The Student Kali Roses ride hard dick in front of camera No motel traindo o noivo hung bbc teen big black cock Male bondage milking Left behind at a building soiree in a bad japanese asian xxx sex Indian MILF Fucks with Teen Nadia anty fucked wither son friend in hotel room Bamvisions Latina Anal Slut Liv Revamped Fucks Mick Blue Horny lesbian teen Heather Starlet licks her best friend Delilah Blue pussy Brunette rides Sybian and sucks dildo Beautiful teen couple Arabrebeu gay video onlyfans Nude erotic girl dancing Haley Reed In Step Dad Fucks Daughter Pinay flex her BEAUTIFUL PINK pussy (Matagal na walang KANTOT nag FINGER PORNFIDELITY Kristen Scott Fucks a Fan For a Facial REAL AMATEUR ANAL AND TIT FUCK - GERMAN MILF KADA LOVE RAW Young old and woman girl Stranger in a ample house knows how to Fun in the adult book store for a mature, big titted brunette and her black stud Hotwife pegando no pau do amigo debaixo da mesa enquanto o corno filma novinhas gatas : instagram fabyhotx Blaire Ivory Recognized The Bus And Wanted To Jump In Fucked and facialized stepmom milf in pov Steffi streched her ass, licks my ass and sucks my cock Jojo Kiss, Iris Rose Hot Young Lesbians AMATEUR WIFE FUCKS JOHN HOLMES DILDO DOGGY STYLE LEGS TIED Solo masturbate, big cock, cum shot, tattoos , shaved , huge cum shot Lesbian Domination Humiliating the Bar Slut Cfnm boss measures cock Chiquilla culito Masseuse Angela White scissor fucks Customer Jade Baker The young professoress makes herself pay the hours of study in nature Video of masturbation two nude male gay sex Our handsome pop gusto is fun straight men trying gay sex porn xxx After Diesel got the XEmpire Lily Labeau Loving that BBC Penetration in Stockings Cum dripping sissy girl fucked hard as per the punishment for cumming fast by his white Daddy Tremenda violada a LTP por parte de NL Nasty cock sucker orgy with Britney Amber, Nicki Delano and Riley Reid Busty TS gets her ass screwed by big booner Unfaithful movie hot scenes Youngsted gets some nipple punishment whilst being tied up Busty pornstar milf rides Jamaican freaky girl young desi indian teen gets her first interracial big dick sexy chibola tetona de los olivos serca a mega plaza Pussy Smoking Cigarette Split Screen Webcam Masturbation on Omegle Japanese Girl Umi Hinata Compilation Large dick teen porn images indian stepsister having fun with stepbrother fully drunk comi o cu gostoso da amiga loira e branquinha Alecia Fox Ready To Fuck morroccan teen virgin rubs her unpenetrated and smooth pussy and has first orgasm The best blowjob of my life in PERSONAL VIEW Amateur couple get freaky for the first time on home video Jasmine black Lauro giotto fucking wedding (scopando tue moglie) Xgirl Chris Lima em ensaio sensual pezon Sexy blonde amateur chick tugs on dick Gay sexy russian boy masturbating Once they were in their underwear, Hermosa Morenita bailando y mostrando sus atributos Natasha cock sucking and ass fucked brutally Iu Busty girl fucks in sauna Honour May hypnotized for Entrancement Handsome daddy shoves his fat dick in bald homos tight ass Lesbian Play MILF Francesca Le with Latina Teen Liv Revamped Dando um Close na buceta da minha tia A nude beach voyeur films a funny girl with a pineapple painted on her ass Blonde Amateur On Sofa Getting Her Face Totally Destroyed Branquinho metendo gostoso na branquinha Floripa Boquete no baiano dotado Gf does slobbery deepthroat Girlfriend makes me smell her feet after shopping in her smelly shoes Naked young male physical exam gay Nurse Cindy took me back to a Redhead lesbians engage in really hot sex after switching bodies Esposa novinha gostosa cavalgando na rola do marido Shy Angela cute little teen Bareback pounding for skinny ginger twinks tight hole Melanie Hicks in Giving My Mommy a Baby Pepino y consolador casero Nice bubble riding BBC creaming Mi zorra se mete dildo en el culo Nasty couples played pudding wrestling in inflatable pool Young naked teen boys cock suck galleries and cum out my gay first Massage Rooms Alexis Crystal and big tits chubby BBW young Czech lesbian Tattooed thug receives blowjob from a fat cock sucker Touch fat ass at metro subway BIg Natural Tits Rides Pinay Scandal 2020 Asian ladyboy cum sprayed having a great honeymoon sex love her moans Muscle Babe Humiliates Your Scrawny Body korean foot goddess Bbw cream team by nice dick Hot girl in subway Mi primera paja para xvideos Amazing Body Lexi Luna Uses Boyscout Step Son to Fuck Her Hard Cute Philippina Zue squirted with cum after riding Indian College Girl Divya Taking Shower Fingering Her Virgin Pussy African young teenage Maid playing with her pussy n asshole Young cute small school boys free gay porn hot videos Rugby Boy Gets THE BEST DEEP THROAT BEAUTIFUL REDHEAD LITTLE BITCH HornyLily fingering her pussy deep Jovensita hermosa Punani Munch With Avril Hall And Malena Morgan Kinky slut fingered and mouthfucked Rocio se muestra chatvideo Indian couple fuck in train dabbo Dotado metendo na moreninha gf moves her hot sexy ass and loves the doggystyle fuck horny blonde babe loves fingering pussy on webcam Big Black Massage Cock Oral sex and vagina sex my sex dol Compilado Melhores Gozadas na Boca different type of hot girls in thi video online in Snapchat Gf playing with my dick while watching Fortnite After a soapy massage Tiffany sucks dick Joseline Kelly hot teen enjoy cock deep in her vagina Teen cute pussy showing on cam but step brother Caught and fucked Aline Tavares dando para o moreno (filme profissional ) SE LO METO DORMIDA Y NO SIENTE Ladyboy amateur dominated by asian shemale BBW Oral cum shot Massage Parlor Angel by Party Manny Sexually excited old and young sex with hot playgirl taking the dick hard Agreeable blond gets forced into a sloppy blowjob GOZADA GOSTOSA NO BANHEIRO Nice Arabic Dick Cumshot MILF Angels Mark Ashley Nicole Ray Sarah Vandella rubbing her perfect body over Lucas Frost Boys gay sex fuck dick After school snack Busty Brown Bunny Rachel Raxxx Gets Big Juicy Cock Eliza Ibarra and Daisy Stone pussy massage Hot sissy boy in navel show Nueva pajera follando en no hotel jove mexicana Black haired girl sucks his cock Bootylicious Thai girl massaged then fucked doggystyle Petite Tranny Stroking Her Small Cock Tetona argentina pendeja Madura culona disfruta una enculanda Perverser Fuck, so eine kleine Schlampe Tempting Teen Michelle Can Gives a Guy a BJ and Then He Screws Her Outdoor river shower mom and mom friend JoannaAngel Slaying Ass in Fishnets Sleeping Sister Hannah Hays Fingerbang Caught wanking on a pornmag by fakemum Tomb Raider Forced Oral Accidental Anal Devirginization funny must see POV LATINA DALLAS WIFE Mojadita por pensar en mi Horny Mina Sauvage has anal sex with the Principal Famous brunette Amirah Adara masturbating at the office When A Horny Girl In Class big cum load big dick oiled Perfect teen ass fuck hd Cummie, the Painal Cum Cat When yo lil homie slide in after you bust a nutt in the pussy "Double Creampie" Houston tx Slim Teenage Babe Came to a Gynos Office TRIKEPATROL Two Petite Asians Fucked With Double Facial Costa Rican crack whore sucks and fucks Full penetration with lewd twinks Hot Lesbian Games with Hitachi Magic Wand, Women Orgasm. Latex and Leather Fetish Sex 4k hot Pocket pussy rage metendo na safada peituda sem camisinha Fucking a flex girl ass Lesbian Wrestling Dual Sex Fight And Pussy Eating Young Natalie Brooks picked up to get fucked in the bang bus Small titted babe Alexa Tomas rides like a cowgirl Liz Rainbow brutal fucking and squirting by crossdresser perverted freak Voyeur window good tits found in russian internet The wild and hot fucking ends for a sexy sweetheart with hot orgasms Public Teen ass Bati uma na calcinha da casada Mega Culos Sexy Black Babe Extreme Choked Fucked Rough Missionary After Lost Tennis Game Bet , Tiny Msnovember Big Titties Spill Out Of Shirt On HD Sheisnovember Jedi Fallen Order NUDE MOD gameplay PT8 star wars collinwayne Bonnie Bunny ONLYFANS may the 4th European babe riding and sucking seniors dick Cute teen removing clothes to show tits and pussy I let my boss break my big ass and he cums inside my ashole for a promotion Kathalina7777 Hot young teen gets her unshaved pussy fucked by an older man mi esposa y su orgasmo un rapidito con con mi prima Hinata and Sakura threesome creampied Movie doctor sex gay old man However, when I did the jizz shot out of Beurette qui aime la baise sauvage Fetish insertions: a banana in the gay hole watching TV Iris MILF Teases His Cock with Hitachi under the Milking Table and Ruins his Orgasm and Cum Swallows Anal slut Bree Olson shares a cock with her cute friend Alexa Tied up bdsm gay is machine fucked Busty masseuse Cali Carter gives licking massage to Gina Valentina Young hard teen gay porn movies There is a lot that Sebastian Kane Extreme anal fisting and XXL insertions amateur Thick Latino Milf With Creamy Pussy Riding Me\ud83e\udd24 Excellent solo girl boasts of her nice tits and pink pussy Amateur milf homemade and step mom poker first time Cherie Deville in Retro Babe Just Wants to Score Some CUM Hot desi girl striptease and dress up after fucking with boyfriend Sis Malay awek Melayu Mom wakes up son with blowjob Ex Wife With Dildo webcam cum latin Punjabi girl showing boobs and fucking harder Two freaks have kinky feet play with a tied up gay hunk Gordinha Gostosa de Fio Dental Rebolando Anal swingers party in the upper floor Cholita boliviana penetrada enfocada de cerca Colegiala se masturba con un elote Two horny petite black teens massage and fingering NERDY ASIAN TEEN FLASHES HER TITS IN PUBLIC AND FUCKED HARD Milf anal threesome hd first time I will catch any perp with a ample Derek Gauge fucks Topher Phoenix Espanhola deliciosa Fetishist step brother is caught masturbating by sister Sexy blink latina camel toe pussy print Rodrigo And Lady White Fucking Combat With Nice Fucking Sounds Classy milf pussylicked by piercedtongue teen Shemale sucking a nice cock FITNESS MODEL FROM TINDER GETS FUCKED ON THE FIRST DATE AND BEGS FOR CUM Mujer casada, le provoca un orgasmo anal su amante Sloppy nut Rough Interracial Sex With Brunette Babe Taking BBC From A Thief in Her Tight Pussy Waldorf thot backseat quickie Desnuda con perreo sexy Euro babe whipped and banged in public Milf licks a petite teen schoolgirl Anal is the specialty of Angel Lima Dildo deep in my transboy pussy (LucaBlu) High Hooker Fingering Pussy the cock is so delicious I really enjoy eating it while having a toy in my wet dirty pussy Big Boobs Indian Bhabhi get hard fuck by facebook friend Anal fisting domination and extreme rough pain Adrian Maya is a casino royale hindi audio Massage Therapist Rides my Dick for Cum blast Japinha gostosa dando o cu pro amigo foder Meth fun with my lady petite tattooed sexy swingers Naked boy sex move and gay boys with small cock galley The remarkable Fucking my cousin secertly Sexy teen Gianna gets eaten by her new babysitter La verga adentro sin piedad Indian Teen Cute Lovely Fucking By Own Cousin Delicious teen Lucy cums on camera One of the sexiest round booty in thong bikini spycam voyeur Armpit and feet worship first time They were full of hopes, looking Linh Lan Uplive l\u1ed9 ti khi nh\u1ea3y sexy Blackmailed lesbian sister : cleavage fetish Desi girl removed dress and show pussy(Tejaswini Shetty) Blonde Whore with silicone tits Horny muslim teen first time Home Away From Home Away From Home Bound redhead teen Lola Faye fucked rough and facialized Teen anal toy dp Unexpected experience with an older gentleman Stepbro licks Taylors sweet young slit and splits her pussy lips with his cock Deliciosa Tica Cabalgando su pene Marido Homenageando Anitta Gostosa Zsur spies on Marilyn Melons Jill Kassidy Tries To Trap Man Who May Be Lying About Being Her Birth Father Quick Fleshlight Fuck Hot New Astrid Star and Zoe Parker share on sofa a hard thick young dick Ebony Get Dp Gangbang In Warehouse Fucking and squatting my baby with those legs up Amateur chubby latina squirt Tinder date milf footjob, deep sensual blowjob cumshot mouth full of cum;) Granny dribbles jizz onto her small tits Milf Sofie Marie gives wet blowjob to a fat cock Pretty teen slut sucking and fucking naughty grandpa Fake Taxi Mature Milf gets her big pussy lips stretched open My thick dick in Red Bikini Twistys - Latina Alina Lopez and petite Riley Reid sissor after dance class MILF amable se folla al de las reparaciones (Alexis Fawx) Angel Wicky gets her holes filled up with jizz of creampie by All Internal Mallu hot video short film homemade Dick wanking amateur shows that he is not camera shy Mi amiga pierde una apuesta y me la paga Mabel puta de la calle sin condon Adorable lesbian gets hairy pussy fisted Easy cum extremely Hornywife Step Sister Finds Spy Cam fitted in Her Room, She Then Shoots Herself Masturbating SUPER SQUIRTING MILF VERONICA AVLUV & NATURALLY BUSTY TEXAS TEEN SHARE A SMALL DICK! Kylie Jenner Slutting on Instagram Slave girl blowjob and babysitter punished anal for stealing Rough Hot ladyboy hardcore anal and creampie Horny Hot sexy Anita bahbi getting fucking boyfriend with Hindi audio Sexy teen Melanie Masters gives amazing soapy handjob and suck his client cock Horny Gay shows how to Deepthroat Huge Cock Milf caught teens fucking Left behind at a house party in a bad Petite Teen 18+ Asian Creamy Pussy Fucked Hard During Tinder Date I lost a bet to a friend (Preview) Horny granny gives perfect blowjob Park pussy play Ebony solo ts pleasures herself at casting Lesbea HD Intense orgasms for girls after face sitting, 69 and trib ONEZ 250 jav armpit pekados spa modelitos fogosa en plaza norte deliciosas Huge Titty Big Butt Sara Jay Face Fucks Hard Dick On Webcam! Me caliento en el bus Hot Interracial Lesbian Couple Cums at the Same Time: POV Morning Sex, Tribbing & Pussy licking 4k Lexi Lovell and Nina Elle busty blonde and brunette in threesome action Two very hot lesbian friends showing off their new toys. Teen 18 Busty milf stepmother gets cum in hand Legal gay teen porn and wrestling stories Hayden Chandler is Horny mum has lusty fun with fellow whilst daughter watches Sange colmek sampe basah Larrisa simulando porra no corpo todo airport blowjob Indian Desi girl sending nudes for boyfriend Mouthwatering babe gets boobs licked Big Titted Hucow Pumping Herself on Private Snapchat Big Tit MILFs Dominate Big Dick Black Guy And Sit On Face Petite legal age teenager blond hottie plays with fat stiff piece of meat Big Tits Tsunade Commands Me To Please Her Ebony sensation Sarai Minx takes on big white cock pakistani dad cum explosion Amateur milf young and massive tits step mom Chop Shop Owner Gets Hot Tinder Date Sucking Dick Sexy latina twerking Espiando WC mapi Beyond all limits (Full Movies) La vecinita G Daring indian nudist hindi wife full nude dare Fernanda sexy European Lesbian Public Foursome Superb lady Sasha Rose spreads her legs and masturbates for best orgasm Ebony nipples tormented at bdsm party Korean cam babe in pantyhose masturbates Real MILF with DDD cup size will make you cum hard everytime GirlfriendsFilms Lesbian MILFs Erotic Tribbing Small Penis Does Epic Fuck After Badoo Date Ugly bitch sucks dick Dirty minded chicks like to explore facesitting a lot Swiss Blond Have Sex On Yacht anjar listyaningsih tkw pesek colmek basah Sexy Teen Enjoys Hardcore Anal XXX espiando a K trans big cock Marissa Minx MILF Extreme face fuck by hot asian teen in sexy lingerie on white big cock Milf Slut Gets A Sharpie In The Pooper And Fucked On Her Back Amateur Cam Homemade Street streptease Girl with nice ass dances for your amusement Cute Barely Legal Teen Fingering Her Wet Pussy Comendo Novinha transando e levando porra na boca Giantess Amazon Velma POV Stepping on men desi couple swaping original dick Bambi Brooks In Easter Egg Pussy Hunt Pretty shemale with big tits fucked hard in ass Juicy Wet Smooth Pussy Gets Slammed by Sex Machine Mastrubating in store behind a girl Jizzspraying femboy wanking her hard dick Voluptuous blonde mom Maggie Green gives titjob BANGBROS - Julianna Vega Fucked Around The House (ap13758) Smiley Petite teen sister Blond Pounded POV brother sister kissing in car and try to fuck her sister Horny blonde Kenna James EXGF Show Off Graffiti Tracer Bent Over Sex Overwatch (Animation W/Sound) Two Black Trannies Naked Fucking with no Condom, Moaning Loud on WebCam (Chaturbate) Dick In her Sister ASS Pink Dildo Latin Shemale Juliana Vidal Fucks a Guy Sexy Redhead Teen with Glasses and Tight Young Girl Pussy Teen boy fighting without clothes and gay boys video first time But Mom and daughter and genro Jerking teen creampied Big dick drills big black ass mega tetona sacando sus atributos Indian Web cam Hot shemale trap Manida Amazing stepdaughter screwed at the office Socando fundo na buceta da Michelle Sajeda with nasty Fatima fisting fingering black lesbian pussy homemade Double BJ with Busty Jessica Jaymes Cardi B Money Video NOVINHA CON LA PUTITA DE RUBY OAXACA Beautiful NRI woman showing her boobs on Webcam irish amateur porn Hardcore Deepthroat Squirting Action With Brunette Karla Kush German Goo Girls - All hail our Queen of sluts Viktoria Hot slut teasing her juicy asshole on cam for free Ravishing asian gets her cunt banged doggy position after fellatio Hot latina girl has sex on vacation with huge cumshot Grappled wrestling stud gets stripped Best big booty blonde gives him awesome riding view Asian tranny Sai masturbates Moja la cama cuando se viene y pode hacer un trio Schwanzgeile STIEFSCHWESTER trickst mich aus - NickyBlue Voluptuous blonde milf in hardcore porn UK milf Sabrina Jade will please you with her big hangers La conejita se prepara su hollito I know how much you love my sexy fucking feet She takes hardcore pussy and extreme anal banging Lizren Solita con corrida Jade Amber strip for stranger and play with her body Reality Kings - Bree Daniels, Rebecca Linares , Celeste Star - Lesbians Gostosa otaka mostrando os peitos Amateur BWC giving cuban backshots Cute vixens fucking in POV porn scenes Sarap ng boobs ni insan Vicious pornstar with impressive ass rides rod till orgasm German Teen Get Fingered Sensational Anal Threesome with Heavenly Teens Lili Fox and Kristall Rush HOLED Private Anal Sex Massage Session For Asian Paisley Paige SexySlimCaramel Arch Amateur girlfriends striptease compilation [DEMON SLAYER] Mitsuri Kanroji wants to destroy your dick (3D PORN 60 FPS) Tiny titted schoolgirl gives juicy oral pleasure and rides dick hot wife getting fucked while her man is at work Dragon Wrecks furry girls mouth Uk fake agent has prepared a wild sex session for u big cock fuck asian girl Hot ebony with a perfect body fingering tight ass Innocent looking babe gets her tight butthole screwed deep Get ready for a hard pounding from a hot shemale Stud sticks his veiny dick inside Brennas eager pussy and fucks her the way she has always wanted |
2023.03.12 16:40 IH4N Kasabian album survivor - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum // Round 4
Read this electronic graffiti: WEST RYDER SILVER BULLET is eliminated with 41.2% of the votes. It's out with the emus in the zone.
VOTE HERE for your least favourite song on Kasabian's third LP. You have 48 hours.
SERGE SEZ:
"This was going to start the album but we realised it'd work better in the middle. I think a lot of psychedelic music is funny and it began as a laugh, sea shanty pirate riff that I used to play on the guitar when I was pissed. It stuck in my head so I did some work on it, and suddenly it went a bit Japanese but also Ennio Morricone. The I wrote the second melody and thought it sounded like a Serge Gainsbourg duet. So we got Rosario Dawson in." â Serge (Q Magazine, December 2009 from Kasabian wiki)
Neither Rosario Dawson or Serge/Kasabian follow each other on social media. This either means nothing or everything.
Previous Eliminations:
West Ryder Silver Bullet - 7 votes
Ladies and Gentlemen (Roll the Dice) - 4 votes
Secret Alphabets - 4 votes
Thick as Thieves - 2 votes
submitted by IH4N to kasabian [link] [comments]
VOTE HERE for your least favourite song on Kasabian's third LP. You have 48 hours.
SERGE SEZ:
"This was going to start the album but we realised it'd work better in the middle. I think a lot of psychedelic music is funny and it began as a laugh, sea shanty pirate riff that I used to play on the guitar when I was pissed. It stuck in my head so I did some work on it, and suddenly it went a bit Japanese but also Ennio Morricone. The I wrote the second melody and thought it sounded like a Serge Gainsbourg duet. So we got Rosario Dawson in." â Serge (Q Magazine, December 2009 from Kasabian wiki)
Neither Rosario Dawson or Serge/Kasabian follow each other on social media. This either means nothing or everything.
Previous Eliminations:
- Swarfiga
- Happiness
- West Ryder Silver Bullet
West Ryder Silver Bullet - 7 votes
Ladies and Gentlemen (Roll the Dice) - 4 votes
Secret Alphabets - 4 votes
Thick as Thieves - 2 votes
2023.03.10 08:52 christophertracy81 My top two favorite songs from each Prince album (1978-1995)
For You (1978) - I'm Yours/Just as Long as We're Together
Prince (1979) - I Wanna Be Your LoveBambi
Dirty Mind (1980) - Uptown/Head
Controversy (1981) - Do Me Baby/Let's Work
1999 (1982) - Automatic/International Lover
Purple Rain (1984) - The Beautiful Ones/I Would Die 4 U
Around The World In A Day (1985) - The LaddePop Life
Parade (1986) - Kiss/Sometimes It Snows in April
Sign O' The Times (1987) - If I Was Your Girlfriend/Adore
Lovesexy (1988) - When 2 R In Love/Alphabet St.
Batman (1989) - Scandalous/The Arms of Orion
Graffiti Bridge (1990) - We Can Funk/Round and Round
Diamonds and Pearls (1991) - Insatiable/Cream
[Love Symbol] (1992) - Love 2 the 9's/Damn U
Come (1994) - Pheremone/Come
The Gold Experience (1995) - Dolphin/The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
*This is 98% accurate. As a superb Prince fan, it is hard to pick favorites.
submitted by christophertracy81 to PRINCE [link] [comments]
Prince (1979) - I Wanna Be Your LoveBambi
Dirty Mind (1980) - Uptown/Head
Controversy (1981) - Do Me Baby/Let's Work
1999 (1982) - Automatic/International Lover
Purple Rain (1984) - The Beautiful Ones/I Would Die 4 U
Around The World In A Day (1985) - The LaddePop Life
Parade (1986) - Kiss/Sometimes It Snows in April
Sign O' The Times (1987) - If I Was Your Girlfriend/Adore
Lovesexy (1988) - When 2 R In Love/Alphabet St.
Batman (1989) - Scandalous/The Arms of Orion
Graffiti Bridge (1990) - We Can Funk/Round and Round
Diamonds and Pearls (1991) - Insatiable/Cream
[Love Symbol] (1992) - Love 2 the 9's/Damn U
Come (1994) - Pheremone/Come
The Gold Experience (1995) - Dolphin/The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
*This is 98% accurate. As a superb Prince fan, it is hard to pick favorites.
2023.03.04 23:27 BoomBrain Every Blank Check-covered film ranked by number of Sight and Sound votes
Critics' and directors' votes are summed together. Films to have made at least one of the two lists are bolded. Films only covered on the Patreon are italicized. I made this relatively quickly, so sorry if there are any mistakes. I also threw in feature films by Buster Keaton for no particular reason at all.
Movies receiving the same number of votes are ordered alphabetically.
* Note: âStar Warsâ received more critics votes than the non-bolded films above, and so made the Critics 250
submitted by BoomBrain to blankies [link] [comments]
Movies receiving the same number of votes are ordered alphabetically.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey [192 votes]
- Barry Lyndon [78 votes]
- The Piano [58 votes]
- Sherlock, Jr. [49 votes]
- Spirited Away [43 votes]
- My Neighbor Totoro [42 votes]
- The Shining [41 votes]
- The General [35 votes]
- The Matrix [30 votes]
- Alien [28 votes]
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
- The Thing
- Heat [21 votes]
- A Clockwork Orange [20 votes]
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- All That Jazz [16 votes]
- An Angel at My Table [15 votes]
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Princess Mononoke
- Star Wars [14 votes*]
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence [12 votes]
- A New Leaf
- Cabaret [11 votes]
- Koyaanisqatsi
- Back to the Future [10 votes]
- Miami Vice
- Mikey and Nicky [9 votes]
- Our Hospitality
- The Power of the Dog
- Broadcast News [8 votes]
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- The Dark Knight
- The Heartbreak Kid
- The Silence of the Lambs
- Aliens [7 votes]
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Point Break
- Showgirls
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- Titanic
- Paths of Glory [6 votes]
- Seven Chances
- Speed Racer
- The Terminator
- Toy Story
- When Harry Met Sally...
- Black Panther [5 votes]
- In the Cut
- Stop Making Sense
- American Graffiti [4 votes]
- Brokeback Mountain
- Halloween
- Inception
- Interstellar
- Memento
- Robocop
- Starship Troopers
- Almost Famous [3 votes]
- Assault on Precinct 13
- Basic Instinct
- Full Metal Jacket
- Howlâs Moving Castle
- The Hurt Locker
- The Ice Storm
- Lust, Caution
- Mad Max 2
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Ratatouille
- Steamboat Bill, Jr.
- They Live
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- Amistad [2 votes]
- Batman Returns
- Bound
- Boyz n the Hood
- Castle in the Sky
- Edward Scissorhands
- Elle
- Escape from New York
- Ishtar
- Lolita
- Love & Basketball
- Manhunter
- Near Dark
- The Portrait of a Lady
- The Prestige
- Saving Private Ryan
- Sleepless in Seattle
- Strange Days
- Sweetie
- Toy Story 2
- Toy Story 3
- Trainspotting
- 28 Days Later, The Abyss, Aladdin, Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Back to the Future Part II, Battling Butler, Beetlejuice, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Bright Star, Cloud Atlas, Dark Star
- The Devil Wears Prada, Dunkirk, Ed Wood, Evil Dead II, Forrest Gump, The Holiday, In the Mouth of Madness, The Iron Giant, Joker, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Killing, The Last of the Mohicans
- The Loveless, Mad Max, Minority Report, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Navigator, Porco Rosso, Sense and Sensibility, Signs, Sleepy Hollow, Slumdog Millionaire, Something Wild, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Swimming to Cambodia, Swing Shift (director's cut), Terms of Endearment, Thief, Top of the Lake, Unbreakable, The Village, War of the Worlds, Whisper of the Heart, The Wind Rises, The Woman King, Wonder Woman
* Note: âStar Warsâ received more critics votes than the non-bolded films above, and so made the Critics 250
2023.03.04 06:45 Odd_directions I thought booking an escape room would be fun, but what happened inside 'The Clown Room' was a nightmare!
It was all meant as a birthday gift to Jake, my boyfriend. He had always been a big fan of escape rooms, and when I found The Clown Room on the internet, I knew it was the perfect gift for him. The website was a blast from the past, with neon fonts and pixelated gifs all over the place. It looked like it was designed by someone who hadnât updated their website since the 90s, which only added to the allure. In the middle, there was a poem:
Welcome to The Clown Room,
Where laughter turns to doom.
Can you escape the jesterâs grin,
Or will you meet your end within?
Beneath it, there was a form that allowed you to book the room. I thought it was a no-brainer and filled in all the required fieldsâmy email, my full name, and my phone numberâand pressed send. After that, nothing happened. No thank you message and no confirmation email. I thought it was a bit strange, but I assumed that maybe the website was just old and outdated and that the venue wasnât around anymore. I put it out of my mind and didnât think about it anymore, trying to find another gift for my boyfriend.
A few days later, I received a strange call from an unknown number. When I answered, all I could hear was static on the other end. I was about to hang up when I heard a faint whisper.
âThe Clown Room awaits you,â the voice said, before hanging up.
The voice unsettled me, but I couldnât deny that I was also impressed. It was as if the people behind The Clown Room were taking their immersive experience to the next level. I couldnât wait to see what they had in store for us. Only a week later, perfect timing for Jakeâs birthday, I received a brown envelope. It was addressed to me, and there was no return address or postage stamp. Curious, I opened it up and found a key inside that looked like an ordinary apartment key. Attached to it was a note with an address printed in all the colors of the rainbow. It looked like someone had drawn the letters in MS Paint. The note smelled awful, like a mixture of decay and something else I couldnât quite put my finger on.
A smile appeared on my face. This was it, I thought, the key to The Clown Room. I put the key and the note in my purse determined to surprise Jake by bringing him to the room without telling him what it was.
***
It wasnât difficult to convince him to go with me to the mysterious address on the note. He was always up for a good adventure, and the fact that I was being secretive about it only made him more excited. As we made our way to the address, however, I couldnât help but feel a sense of unease. The area was run-down and filled with dilapidated buildings. We walked for what felt like miles until we finally came across a large, run-down residential building. By now the sun had already set. We walked up to the entrance of the building. I double-checked to see if this was the right place, and sure enough, the address on the note matched the one on the building. I hesitated for a moment before using the key to open the door. It smelled terrible inside, like a mixture of mold and mildew.
I didnât know where to go from here, but I noticed a building directory on the wall. It was an old, yellowed piece of paper with names written in faded ink.
âCome on, Liz,â Jake said. âWhat are we doing here?â
He was growing a bit uneasy, whichâif we could just find that roomâwas a good thing. I turned around with a sly smile and told to him wait.
Inspecting the directory on the wall, I noticed an old, faded clown sticker next to one of the namesâZeke Crenshaw. I immediately realized I had found the room, and according to the list, it was located on the sixth floor.
I walked up to the elevator, only to discover that it was out of service.
âWeâll have to take the stairs,â I said, my heart pounding as I led the way. The stairs were dimly lit, and the murals on the walls were peeling and covered in graffiti. I could hear dogs barking on one floor, and on another, a couple was arguing loudly. My unease grew with every step. By now, I had started having second thoughts. None of this seemed right, but I could see that Jake was getting excited and decided to ignore my gut feelings.
Finally, we reached the sixth floor, and there it was: Zeke Crenshawâs apartment, with a large clown sticker on the door. I took a deep breath before using the key to open the lock.
âSeriously,â Jake said, âwhat is this?â
âY-you will see,â I said.
âWe arenât buying drugs, are we?â He laughed.
My hand trembled as I inserted the key into the lock. The door creaked open, and we stepped into what turned out to be a small, cramped studio apartment. As soon as we entered, the door slammed shut behind us, and I heard a mechanical lock engage. I spun around, trying the handle, but it wouldnât budge.
âWeâre locked in,â I said, my voice shaky.
âO-okay?â said Jake and tried the door himself. âWhatââ
âRelax,â I said. âItâs an escape room!â
âOh,â Jake said. âThatâs what this is about?â He smiled.
âItâs called The Clown Room,â I said. âI found it online.â
âI donât know,â he said, âit doesnât look likeââ
âHappy birthday!â I said, but it didnât come out as enthusiastic as I wanted.
He smiled and kissed me. âThanks, babe⌠This isâ I donât know what to say, itâs either genius or some kind of cheap scam. I mean, look at this place!â
He was right. This was nothing like I had imagined it. Aside from the lack of someone greeting us and explaining the rules, the room was decorated in a way that was more creepy than fun. The walls were dirty and painted white, and on one of the walls there were some black graffiti that read: âTo escape this room, a price must be paid, a sacrifice made, a life to be slayed.â
The furniture was all colorful miniatures as if the room was designed for a child, and the floor was covered in broken, stained, and old toys. I noticed a toy phone with a clown face on top of the miniature desk and a small, worn teddy bear in the corner with its eyes ripped out. Worst of all, though, was the upside-down clown in the ceiling, sitting in a lotus position looking straight at usâthat, and the fact that there were no windows.
As we continued to search for clues, a feeling of dread washed over us. The creepy atmosphere of the room was becoming more and more unsettling. I picked up the toy phone and tried to make a call, but all I heard was hysterical laughter coming from the receiver. It sent shivers down my spine.
Jake checked his phone, but it had mysteriously died. The same thing had happened to mine. We were completely cut off from the outside world, and at the realization of that panic began setting in.
âThis is just a bunch of junk, Lizâ Jake said. âI donât see howââ
âWait!â I said and pointed at the wall. âThereâs something here.â
I had spotted a plastic, blue lock on the wall, hidden behind a pile of old toys. I approached it and examined it carefully. It seemed to require a plastic key.
âI think we need to find the key to this lock!â I said. âYou see, thereâs definitely going to be a way out of here. We just need to focus.â
We began searching for the key, turning over every toy, searching through every nook and cranny, and inspecting every piece of furniture. But our search was fruitless. The only thing we found was a strange handheld game console that looked to have come straight out of the Soviet Union, with a childish and colorful game installed on it called The Snorbees. The purpose of the game was to find keys that would unlock different doors.
As Jake was trying to figure out how to beat the game, hoping that it could possibly spit out the key we needed, I found something in the bathroom adjoining the small hallway. The clown-themed decorations in it were unsettling enough, but when I looked in the bathtub, I gasped in horror. It contained two mummified people, embracing each other.
âJake!â I yelled out.
He ran up to me. âWhat? Holy shit! They arenât real, are they?â
âI donât know!â I said. âThis isnât fun anymore.â I went to the room and looked up at the clown in the ceiling. âLet us out of here! Do you hear me? Itâs not fun anymore!â
Nothing happened.
âI think theyâre real!â Jake shouted from the bathroom. He then ran to the front door and banged on it, begging for us to be released. I joined him, pounding on the door and screaming for help. But our efforts were in vain. The door remained firmly shut, as if mocking us.
Feeling helpless, we collapsed onto the colorful miniature sofa. I put my head in my hands and cried. Jake tried to comfort me but didnât know what to say other than that we would find a way out. He then returned to the game and continued to play it, sweating profusely as he jumped between the platforms and tried to avoid the pitfalls and cute little enemies.
I went up to the phone again and picked up the receiver. âLet us the fuck out of here you piece of shit!â
The laughter on the other end grew louder as if it was more than a recording and someone actually sitting on the other end laughing.
âItâs not funny!â
It felt like I was losing my mind. I sat down on a small chair, my mind racing with thoughts of how we could escape. The game console in Jakeâs hands was our only hope, and he played it with a feverish intensity, determined to find a way to beat it. As the hours went by, I lost track of time. My stomach grumbled with hunger, and my throat felt dry and parched. I tried the tap in the small, empty kitchen, but the water was turned off. It was the same in the bathroom.
There was nothing in this apartment except for the toys and the strange decorations. I tried the phone again, but it was still useless, the laughter on the other end a constant reminder of our captivity.
I wondered if anyone was searching for us, if anyone knew we were missing. But the more time that passed, the more hopeless I felt. It was as if we were completely forgotten, left to rot in this clown-themed prison.
As night fell, the room grew darker and colder. Jake and I huddled together for warmth, our spirits sinking with every passing moment. We whispered to each other, sharing our fears and doubts, but deep down we both knew that we might never make it out of here alive.
âWill we end up like those two people in the bathtub?â I asked. âThey mustâve gone through the same thing, right? Iâm so sorry I brought you here.â
âWe donât know that, those people couldâve been placed here,â Jake said. âAnd I think thereâs a way out⌠I just have to finish that damn game. I just need to rest a little, and thenââ
He was interrupted by a noise above us. We both looked up. Slowly, the clown sitting on the ceiling turned its neck toward us and began crawling in our direction. I let out a scream, and we both rushed up to our feet. Jake grabbed the nearest object he could find, a small plastic stool, and hurled it at the clown. I followed suit, throwing alphabet blocks at it.
The clown dodged the objects with ease, its movements quick and fluid. It seemed to be enjoying our fear, relishing in the power it had over us. As it got closer, we could see its face more clearly. It was painted white, with black lines around its eyes and mouth. Its grin was wide and twisted, its teeth sharp and jagged. And even though it moved just like a human being, there were no signs of humanity in its empty eyes.
We ran into the bathroom, only to realize that the door didnât close properly and couldnât be locked.
âWhat do we do?â I cried. âJake, what do we do? I donât want to die here!â
âKeep it distracted,â Jake said. âIâll finish the game, and you just keep it from stopping me. Do whatever you can!â
I screamed at the clown, making it follow me instead, and ran around in circles. Jake sat down on the floor and continued to play. Chaos ensued. Jake screamed at the game in frustration, and the clown chased me around the room, its twisted grin never leaving its face.
Maybe after half an hour, Jake finally reached the end of the game.
âFucking yes!â he yelled out. âI fucking did it, Liz, I beat the game!â
The clown stopped in its tracks, and to our surprise, it puked a green sludge down on the floor. And in its vomit, I could see a blue plastic key.
âThe key!â I said and picked it up. âFinally!â
I ran to the lock in the wall and turned the key. At first, nothing happened, but then a small white hatch in the wall that we hadnât spotted earlier slid open, revealing a hole the size of a soccer ball.
âWhatâs that?â Jake said.
We walked up to the hole. All we could see inside it was darkness. I reached down and picked up a colorful, plastic ball, and threw it down the hole. We could hear it fall down a shaft, but we never heard it reach the ground. The clown, now looking at us, let out a strange sigh of disappointment.
âWhat are we supposed to do?â I said. âThere must be somethingââ
The toy phone rang. I felt a shiver crawling up my spine and slowly walked over to it, picked up the receiver, and held it against my ear. At first, I only heard static, but then a voice began whispering.
âOne of you must stick your head inside, for the door to finally unlock and slide. Who will it be, who will it be, to take the risk and set you free?â
I froze, unsure of what to do. âIt says one of us must put our head inside the hole for the door to unlock,â I said.
âWhat happens to the one with the head in the hole?â he asked.
âIt didnât say but look at the text on the wall. According to that, one of us will have to sacrificeââ
âRight,â Jake said. âWell, thereâs no way in hell weâre doing that then.â
âOf course not,â I said. âWeâll find another way.â
We searched for hours, but with no luck. I could see the frustration and despair building up in Jakeâs eyes. He looked defeated, broken, and lost. We both sat down on the cold floor, our backs against the wall. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly.
âItâs not fair,â Jake whispered, his voice breaking. âWe had so many plans. We were supposed to travel the world, get married, have kids. I always wanted to be a father, you know?â
Tears streamed down his face, and I could feel his pain as if it was my own. We talked about our relationship, our hopes and dreams, our fears and regrets. It was a heartfelt conversation, filled with raw emotions and honesty.
âI love you,â I said, wiping away his tears. âWeâll get through this together.â
âI love you too,â he replied, his voice no more than a whisper.
We stayed there for what felt like hours, holding each other, talking, and crying. But eventually, we had to face reality. We had to make a decision, one that would determine our fate. I could see the fear in Jakeâs eyes, but I also saw the determination.
âIâll do it,â he said, his voice shaking. âIâll stick my head inside.â
âNo, Jake,â I protested. âWeâll find another way. Weâll figure something out.â
âThereâs no other way,â he said, his voice now firm. âWe canât stay here forever. We have to take a chance. I think this was how the other two died.â
I knew he was right, but it didnât make it any easier. I held him tightly, kissing him gently on the lips, and then I watched as he walked up to the hole. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then he stuck his head inside.
As soon as his head disappeared inside the hole, he screamed uninterrupted, guttural screams of terror. His body convulsed violently, and I could see the muscles in his neck bulging as he tried to pull his head back out. But it was too late. Something had a hold of him.
I tried to pull him back, but it was like he was glued to the hole. The clown danced behind us, singing Happy Birthday To You with a foul, diabolic voice. And then, while Jake was still screaming his lungs out, the front door whirled and opened up. The clown stopped singing and began counting down from ten.
Fear washed over me as I realized that I had to leave before the clown reached zero. I tried to pull Jake away one last time, but his head was completely stuck, and I knew there was no hope for him.
I cried violently as I ran out of the apartment, the door closing behind me with a loud bang. I stumbled down the staircase, my heart racing in my chest, and began banging on the neighborsâ doors, desperate for help. But no matter how hard I tried, not a single one of them opened their doors.
I eventually made it home and called the police, telling them everything that had happened. They were skeptical, but I pleaded with them to check it out. When we returned to the apartment, it was as if it had never existed. The door was gone, and the wall in its place was smooth as if it had been there for years. The police officers looked at me like I was crazy and refused to believe my story. They told me to stop wasting their time and left me standing there in disbelief.
I came back a few times by myself and tried to break the wall down, but no matter how much I banged on it with a sledgehammer or how deep I drilled into it, I could never reach the door.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. I couldnât shake the feeling that Jake was still trapped somewhere behind that wall, even though it seemed impossible. Eventually, I tried to move on, but I couldnât. And then, a year later on Jakeâs birthday, a video was sent to my phone.
It was from an unknown number, and when I clicked play, my heart sank. It was a video of Jake, still stuck in the hole. He was naked, dirty, and fat. The clown was standing behind him, tickling him and laughing hysterically. Again, more devastated than Iâd ever been before in my life, I went back to where the apartment had been. But the result was the same as before. The Clown Room is gone, but somehow, itâs still there at the same time. And I donât know what to do.
X
submitted by Odd_directions to nosleep [link] [comments]
Welcome to The Clown Room,
Where laughter turns to doom.
Can you escape the jesterâs grin,
Or will you meet your end within?
Beneath it, there was a form that allowed you to book the room. I thought it was a no-brainer and filled in all the required fieldsâmy email, my full name, and my phone numberâand pressed send. After that, nothing happened. No thank you message and no confirmation email. I thought it was a bit strange, but I assumed that maybe the website was just old and outdated and that the venue wasnât around anymore. I put it out of my mind and didnât think about it anymore, trying to find another gift for my boyfriend.
A few days later, I received a strange call from an unknown number. When I answered, all I could hear was static on the other end. I was about to hang up when I heard a faint whisper.
âThe Clown Room awaits you,â the voice said, before hanging up.
The voice unsettled me, but I couldnât deny that I was also impressed. It was as if the people behind The Clown Room were taking their immersive experience to the next level. I couldnât wait to see what they had in store for us. Only a week later, perfect timing for Jakeâs birthday, I received a brown envelope. It was addressed to me, and there was no return address or postage stamp. Curious, I opened it up and found a key inside that looked like an ordinary apartment key. Attached to it was a note with an address printed in all the colors of the rainbow. It looked like someone had drawn the letters in MS Paint. The note smelled awful, like a mixture of decay and something else I couldnât quite put my finger on.
A smile appeared on my face. This was it, I thought, the key to The Clown Room. I put the key and the note in my purse determined to surprise Jake by bringing him to the room without telling him what it was.
***
It wasnât difficult to convince him to go with me to the mysterious address on the note. He was always up for a good adventure, and the fact that I was being secretive about it only made him more excited. As we made our way to the address, however, I couldnât help but feel a sense of unease. The area was run-down and filled with dilapidated buildings. We walked for what felt like miles until we finally came across a large, run-down residential building. By now the sun had already set. We walked up to the entrance of the building. I double-checked to see if this was the right place, and sure enough, the address on the note matched the one on the building. I hesitated for a moment before using the key to open the door. It smelled terrible inside, like a mixture of mold and mildew.
I didnât know where to go from here, but I noticed a building directory on the wall. It was an old, yellowed piece of paper with names written in faded ink.
âCome on, Liz,â Jake said. âWhat are we doing here?â
He was growing a bit uneasy, whichâif we could just find that roomâwas a good thing. I turned around with a sly smile and told to him wait.
Inspecting the directory on the wall, I noticed an old, faded clown sticker next to one of the namesâZeke Crenshaw. I immediately realized I had found the room, and according to the list, it was located on the sixth floor.
I walked up to the elevator, only to discover that it was out of service.
âWeâll have to take the stairs,â I said, my heart pounding as I led the way. The stairs were dimly lit, and the murals on the walls were peeling and covered in graffiti. I could hear dogs barking on one floor, and on another, a couple was arguing loudly. My unease grew with every step. By now, I had started having second thoughts. None of this seemed right, but I could see that Jake was getting excited and decided to ignore my gut feelings.
Finally, we reached the sixth floor, and there it was: Zeke Crenshawâs apartment, with a large clown sticker on the door. I took a deep breath before using the key to open the lock.
âSeriously,â Jake said, âwhat is this?â
âY-you will see,â I said.
âWe arenât buying drugs, are we?â He laughed.
My hand trembled as I inserted the key into the lock. The door creaked open, and we stepped into what turned out to be a small, cramped studio apartment. As soon as we entered, the door slammed shut behind us, and I heard a mechanical lock engage. I spun around, trying the handle, but it wouldnât budge.
âWeâre locked in,â I said, my voice shaky.
âO-okay?â said Jake and tried the door himself. âWhatââ
âRelax,â I said. âItâs an escape room!â
âOh,â Jake said. âThatâs what this is about?â He smiled.
âItâs called The Clown Room,â I said. âI found it online.â
âI donât know,â he said, âit doesnât look likeââ
âHappy birthday!â I said, but it didnât come out as enthusiastic as I wanted.
He smiled and kissed me. âThanks, babe⌠This isâ I donât know what to say, itâs either genius or some kind of cheap scam. I mean, look at this place!â
He was right. This was nothing like I had imagined it. Aside from the lack of someone greeting us and explaining the rules, the room was decorated in a way that was more creepy than fun. The walls were dirty and painted white, and on one of the walls there were some black graffiti that read: âTo escape this room, a price must be paid, a sacrifice made, a life to be slayed.â
The furniture was all colorful miniatures as if the room was designed for a child, and the floor was covered in broken, stained, and old toys. I noticed a toy phone with a clown face on top of the miniature desk and a small, worn teddy bear in the corner with its eyes ripped out. Worst of all, though, was the upside-down clown in the ceiling, sitting in a lotus position looking straight at usâthat, and the fact that there were no windows.
As we continued to search for clues, a feeling of dread washed over us. The creepy atmosphere of the room was becoming more and more unsettling. I picked up the toy phone and tried to make a call, but all I heard was hysterical laughter coming from the receiver. It sent shivers down my spine.
Jake checked his phone, but it had mysteriously died. The same thing had happened to mine. We were completely cut off from the outside world, and at the realization of that panic began setting in.
âThis is just a bunch of junk, Lizâ Jake said. âI donât see howââ
âWait!â I said and pointed at the wall. âThereâs something here.â
I had spotted a plastic, blue lock on the wall, hidden behind a pile of old toys. I approached it and examined it carefully. It seemed to require a plastic key.
âI think we need to find the key to this lock!â I said. âYou see, thereâs definitely going to be a way out of here. We just need to focus.â
We began searching for the key, turning over every toy, searching through every nook and cranny, and inspecting every piece of furniture. But our search was fruitless. The only thing we found was a strange handheld game console that looked to have come straight out of the Soviet Union, with a childish and colorful game installed on it called The Snorbees. The purpose of the game was to find keys that would unlock different doors.
As Jake was trying to figure out how to beat the game, hoping that it could possibly spit out the key we needed, I found something in the bathroom adjoining the small hallway. The clown-themed decorations in it were unsettling enough, but when I looked in the bathtub, I gasped in horror. It contained two mummified people, embracing each other.
âJake!â I yelled out.
He ran up to me. âWhat? Holy shit! They arenât real, are they?â
âI donât know!â I said. âThis isnât fun anymore.â I went to the room and looked up at the clown in the ceiling. âLet us out of here! Do you hear me? Itâs not fun anymore!â
Nothing happened.
âI think theyâre real!â Jake shouted from the bathroom. He then ran to the front door and banged on it, begging for us to be released. I joined him, pounding on the door and screaming for help. But our efforts were in vain. The door remained firmly shut, as if mocking us.
Feeling helpless, we collapsed onto the colorful miniature sofa. I put my head in my hands and cried. Jake tried to comfort me but didnât know what to say other than that we would find a way out. He then returned to the game and continued to play it, sweating profusely as he jumped between the platforms and tried to avoid the pitfalls and cute little enemies.
I went up to the phone again and picked up the receiver. âLet us the fuck out of here you piece of shit!â
The laughter on the other end grew louder as if it was more than a recording and someone actually sitting on the other end laughing.
âItâs not funny!â
It felt like I was losing my mind. I sat down on a small chair, my mind racing with thoughts of how we could escape. The game console in Jakeâs hands was our only hope, and he played it with a feverish intensity, determined to find a way to beat it. As the hours went by, I lost track of time. My stomach grumbled with hunger, and my throat felt dry and parched. I tried the tap in the small, empty kitchen, but the water was turned off. It was the same in the bathroom.
There was nothing in this apartment except for the toys and the strange decorations. I tried the phone again, but it was still useless, the laughter on the other end a constant reminder of our captivity.
I wondered if anyone was searching for us, if anyone knew we were missing. But the more time that passed, the more hopeless I felt. It was as if we were completely forgotten, left to rot in this clown-themed prison.
As night fell, the room grew darker and colder. Jake and I huddled together for warmth, our spirits sinking with every passing moment. We whispered to each other, sharing our fears and doubts, but deep down we both knew that we might never make it out of here alive.
âWill we end up like those two people in the bathtub?â I asked. âThey mustâve gone through the same thing, right? Iâm so sorry I brought you here.â
âWe donât know that, those people couldâve been placed here,â Jake said. âAnd I think thereâs a way out⌠I just have to finish that damn game. I just need to rest a little, and thenââ
He was interrupted by a noise above us. We both looked up. Slowly, the clown sitting on the ceiling turned its neck toward us and began crawling in our direction. I let out a scream, and we both rushed up to our feet. Jake grabbed the nearest object he could find, a small plastic stool, and hurled it at the clown. I followed suit, throwing alphabet blocks at it.
The clown dodged the objects with ease, its movements quick and fluid. It seemed to be enjoying our fear, relishing in the power it had over us. As it got closer, we could see its face more clearly. It was painted white, with black lines around its eyes and mouth. Its grin was wide and twisted, its teeth sharp and jagged. And even though it moved just like a human being, there were no signs of humanity in its empty eyes.
We ran into the bathroom, only to realize that the door didnât close properly and couldnât be locked.
âWhat do we do?â I cried. âJake, what do we do? I donât want to die here!â
âKeep it distracted,â Jake said. âIâll finish the game, and you just keep it from stopping me. Do whatever you can!â
I screamed at the clown, making it follow me instead, and ran around in circles. Jake sat down on the floor and continued to play. Chaos ensued. Jake screamed at the game in frustration, and the clown chased me around the room, its twisted grin never leaving its face.
Maybe after half an hour, Jake finally reached the end of the game.
âFucking yes!â he yelled out. âI fucking did it, Liz, I beat the game!â
The clown stopped in its tracks, and to our surprise, it puked a green sludge down on the floor. And in its vomit, I could see a blue plastic key.
âThe key!â I said and picked it up. âFinally!â
I ran to the lock in the wall and turned the key. At first, nothing happened, but then a small white hatch in the wall that we hadnât spotted earlier slid open, revealing a hole the size of a soccer ball.
âWhatâs that?â Jake said.
We walked up to the hole. All we could see inside it was darkness. I reached down and picked up a colorful, plastic ball, and threw it down the hole. We could hear it fall down a shaft, but we never heard it reach the ground. The clown, now looking at us, let out a strange sigh of disappointment.
âWhat are we supposed to do?â I said. âThere must be somethingââ
The toy phone rang. I felt a shiver crawling up my spine and slowly walked over to it, picked up the receiver, and held it against my ear. At first, I only heard static, but then a voice began whispering.
âOne of you must stick your head inside, for the door to finally unlock and slide. Who will it be, who will it be, to take the risk and set you free?â
I froze, unsure of what to do. âIt says one of us must put our head inside the hole for the door to unlock,â I said.
âWhat happens to the one with the head in the hole?â he asked.
âIt didnât say but look at the text on the wall. According to that, one of us will have to sacrificeââ
âRight,â Jake said. âWell, thereâs no way in hell weâre doing that then.â
âOf course not,â I said. âWeâll find another way.â
We searched for hours, but with no luck. I could see the frustration and despair building up in Jakeâs eyes. He looked defeated, broken, and lost. We both sat down on the cold floor, our backs against the wall. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly.
âItâs not fair,â Jake whispered, his voice breaking. âWe had so many plans. We were supposed to travel the world, get married, have kids. I always wanted to be a father, you know?â
Tears streamed down his face, and I could feel his pain as if it was my own. We talked about our relationship, our hopes and dreams, our fears and regrets. It was a heartfelt conversation, filled with raw emotions and honesty.
âI love you,â I said, wiping away his tears. âWeâll get through this together.â
âI love you too,â he replied, his voice no more than a whisper.
We stayed there for what felt like hours, holding each other, talking, and crying. But eventually, we had to face reality. We had to make a decision, one that would determine our fate. I could see the fear in Jakeâs eyes, but I also saw the determination.
âIâll do it,â he said, his voice shaking. âIâll stick my head inside.â
âNo, Jake,â I protested. âWeâll find another way. Weâll figure something out.â
âThereâs no other way,â he said, his voice now firm. âWe canât stay here forever. We have to take a chance. I think this was how the other two died.â
I knew he was right, but it didnât make it any easier. I held him tightly, kissing him gently on the lips, and then I watched as he walked up to the hole. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then he stuck his head inside.
As soon as his head disappeared inside the hole, he screamed uninterrupted, guttural screams of terror. His body convulsed violently, and I could see the muscles in his neck bulging as he tried to pull his head back out. But it was too late. Something had a hold of him.
I tried to pull him back, but it was like he was glued to the hole. The clown danced behind us, singing Happy Birthday To You with a foul, diabolic voice. And then, while Jake was still screaming his lungs out, the front door whirled and opened up. The clown stopped singing and began counting down from ten.
Fear washed over me as I realized that I had to leave before the clown reached zero. I tried to pull Jake away one last time, but his head was completely stuck, and I knew there was no hope for him.
I cried violently as I ran out of the apartment, the door closing behind me with a loud bang. I stumbled down the staircase, my heart racing in my chest, and began banging on the neighborsâ doors, desperate for help. But no matter how hard I tried, not a single one of them opened their doors.
I eventually made it home and called the police, telling them everything that had happened. They were skeptical, but I pleaded with them to check it out. When we returned to the apartment, it was as if it had never existed. The door was gone, and the wall in its place was smooth as if it had been there for years. The police officers looked at me like I was crazy and refused to believe my story. They told me to stop wasting their time and left me standing there in disbelief.
I came back a few times by myself and tried to break the wall down, but no matter how much I banged on it with a sledgehammer or how deep I drilled into it, I could never reach the door.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. I couldnât shake the feeling that Jake was still trapped somewhere behind that wall, even though it seemed impossible. Eventually, I tried to move on, but I couldnât. And then, a year later on Jakeâs birthday, a video was sent to my phone.
It was from an unknown number, and when I clicked play, my heart sank. It was a video of Jake, still stuck in the hole. He was naked, dirty, and fat. The clown was standing behind him, tickling him and laughing hysterically. Again, more devastated than Iâd ever been before in my life, I went back to where the apartment had been. But the result was the same as before. The Clown Room is gone, but somehow, itâs still there at the same time. And I donât know what to do.
X
2023.02.23 17:01 Human_Gravy Master List of Stories
Here is a collection of links to all my stories by category
Books
If Hell is What You Want: A Collection of Short Horror Stories featuring:
/ShortScaryStories
She Was Born in Love with Me
God Does Not Stir
The Beloved Family Jewel
Personality Test for New Moderators
We're All Waiting for the 139 Express Home
Never Take Advice from the Toilet Stall Graffiti
Never Forget the Promises You Make
A Portal to the Soul
Commander Exacta's Last Stand
Hallowed Gods of the Misbegotten
A Portal to the Soul
/NoSleep
H is for Heremonic - Also found in If Hell is What You Want: A Collection of Short Horror Stories and Alphabet Soup: Horror Stories for the Tormented Soul
The Sixth Night of Christmas is for All the Sweet Boys - Also found in Horror Stories to Ruin Christmas: Serenity Falls Forever - Part of the Serenity Falls Christmas Collaboration - /13DaysofChristmas/
Room 1923: The Honeymoon Suite - Part of a the Hotel Non Dormiunt Collaboration - /HotelNonDormiunt
Eleven People Were Just Murdered in Las Vegas, but You Won't Read About It On the News - Death Isn't Guaranteed. - Also found in The Discarded and part of the 26 Cards Collaboration - /26Cards
Mr. Poe of Newark Series Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Sick in Davie, Fl - Part of the Sniffles Collaboration
NoSleepTeams
I Used to Work Night Security at a Zoo
I Used to Believe We Were Alone in the Universe
Peter Teller should have stayed missing
Paulie the Stronzo
The Mystery on Crockett Mountain Series Part 1 Part 2
Joshua Grindon's Cannibal Cove Ride
The Depraved Creator's Hardcore Experience
The Town at Exit 0
Kappas and Conduits: The Love of My Life is Missing
The Primrose Estate
What Happened at the Retirement Home
Caged Up, No Escape
The Dead are Never Truly Dead
submitted by Human_Gravy to Human_Gravy [link] [comments]
If Hell is What You Want: A Collection of Short Horror Stories featuring:
- The Journal in Storage Unit# 25
- Hegemonic
- A Personal Treachery Against God
- Their Souls Speak Through Fire
- There is No Rest for the Innocent
- The Nuclear Incident on Bumblebee Lane
- The End of Us
- The Infinite Swarm - Erin's Story
- Marina
- Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
She Was Born in Love with Me
God Does Not Stir
The Beloved Family Jewel
Personality Test for New Moderators
We're All Waiting for the 139 Express Home
Never Take Advice from the Toilet Stall Graffiti
Never Forget the Promises You Make
A Portal to the Soul
Commander Exacta's Last Stand
Hallowed Gods of the Misbegotten
A Portal to the Soul
H is for Heremonic - Also found in If Hell is What You Want: A Collection of Short Horror Stories and Alphabet Soup: Horror Stories for the Tormented Soul
The Sixth Night of Christmas is for All the Sweet Boys - Also found in Horror Stories to Ruin Christmas: Serenity Falls Forever - Part of the Serenity Falls Christmas Collaboration - /13DaysofChristmas/
Room 1923: The Honeymoon Suite - Part of a the Hotel Non Dormiunt Collaboration - /HotelNonDormiunt
Eleven People Were Just Murdered in Las Vegas, but You Won't Read About It On the News - Death Isn't Guaranteed. - Also found in The Discarded and part of the 26 Cards Collaboration - /26Cards
Mr. Poe of Newark Series Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Sick in Davie, Fl - Part of the Sniffles Collaboration
I Used to Work Night Security at a Zoo
I Used to Believe We Were Alone in the Universe
Peter Teller should have stayed missing
Paulie the Stronzo
The Mystery on Crockett Mountain Series Part 1 Part 2
Joshua Grindon's Cannibal Cove Ride
The Depraved Creator's Hardcore Experience
The Town at Exit 0
Kappas and Conduits: The Love of My Life is Missing
The Primrose Estate
What Happened at the Retirement Home
Caged Up, No Escape
The Dead are Never Truly Dead
2023.01.28 08:47 ABC_Diablo A.B.C.Diablo
 | IG @ A.B.C.Designz submitted by ABC_Diablo to calligraffiti [link] [comments] |
2023.01.19 14:45 baikai23 Graffiti from Soviet troops in the Reichstag(update)
In the last post I had some quite reasonable criticism. Perhaps using the word Soviet assault of 1945 on Nazi Germany would be a better choice rather than Russian invasion of Germany. I was focused on the linguistic elements which is the focus of my project and failed to consider some of the more basic facts and I apologize for the mistake. Now I would like to share the final draft of my work, hopefully I did better this time. Thanks everyone for their help.
Photo:https://blog.inberlin.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P1100441.jpg(top left corner)
Trascription: ХНава Ńойо ŃОвоŃŃĐşĐ°Ń ĐžŃŃиСна!
Translation: Glory to you, Soviet motherland!
The Battle of Berlin, fought by the Red Army in early May of 1945, was a decisive victory that effectively ended Nazi rule over Germany. The graffiti left by Soviet troops in Berlin symbolically declares this victory, featuring text written in pencil and chalk in the Cyrillic alphabet. The markings are mostly text-based, with some drawings in charcoal to add detail. The soldiers took symbolic possession of the building by writing their names and unit affiliation in colorful chalk or charred wood on the inside and outside walls.
In 1999, there was still discussion about the preservation of Russian graffiti. After all, it was a triumph of the victors over defeated Nazi Germany. And there was an appeal to remove the writings completely. Although their appeal fell on deaf ears, it is important to note that with the interference and the request of the Russian Embassy, some graffiti messages due to their vulgarity have been scrubbed away. The surviving graffiti was cleaned and preserved under the supervision of Berlinâs Head of Conservation (Landeskon - servator). In consultation with the Bundestagâs Building Committee and Art Council and the Russian embassy, some graffiti was removed which contained abuse or politically motivated remarks. It is not a common practice for a society to commemorate its defeat and loss by preserving the remnants of the triumphant rivals. Consequently, the preservation of the Soviet graffiti serves as a memorial to their sacrifice and as an indirect commemorative homage to the millions of people who lost their lives in the war against Nazi Germany. If the Parliament building is to be considered the symbol of the legacy of the Enlightenment, as the cradle of democracy, and as a guarantee for civilization, these graffiti scribblings counterbalance the complacency and the delusions.
submitted by baikai23 to AskARussian [link] [comments]
Photo:https://blog.inberlin.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P1100441.jpg(top left corner)
Trascription: ХНава Ńойо ŃОвоŃŃĐşĐ°Ń ĐžŃŃиСна!
Translation: Glory to you, Soviet motherland!
The Battle of Berlin, fought by the Red Army in early May of 1945, was a decisive victory that effectively ended Nazi rule over Germany. The graffiti left by Soviet troops in Berlin symbolically declares this victory, featuring text written in pencil and chalk in the Cyrillic alphabet. The markings are mostly text-based, with some drawings in charcoal to add detail. The soldiers took symbolic possession of the building by writing their names and unit affiliation in colorful chalk or charred wood on the inside and outside walls.
In 1999, there was still discussion about the preservation of Russian graffiti. After all, it was a triumph of the victors over defeated Nazi Germany. And there was an appeal to remove the writings completely. Although their appeal fell on deaf ears, it is important to note that with the interference and the request of the Russian Embassy, some graffiti messages due to their vulgarity have been scrubbed away. The surviving graffiti was cleaned and preserved under the supervision of Berlinâs Head of Conservation (Landeskon - servator). In consultation with the Bundestagâs Building Committee and Art Council and the Russian embassy, some graffiti was removed which contained abuse or politically motivated remarks. It is not a common practice for a society to commemorate its defeat and loss by preserving the remnants of the triumphant rivals. Consequently, the preservation of the Soviet graffiti serves as a memorial to their sacrifice and as an indirect commemorative homage to the millions of people who lost their lives in the war against Nazi Germany. If the Parliament building is to be considered the symbol of the legacy of the Enlightenment, as the cradle of democracy, and as a guarantee for civilization, these graffiti scribblings counterbalance the complacency and the delusions.
2023.01.17 23:00 expression1st How can I understand handwriting and weird fonts better?
Hey, fellow Sakartvelos!
I started learning Kartuli and now I'm pretty much know the alphabet, and also bought 1st graders workbooks for learn how to write. But still it's pretty difficult for me to read weird fonts on some billboards or in handwriting (graffiti on walls or Domino's wishes for New Year). Also as an example, writing on a transparent Christmas tree in pharmacies (Aversi?) is killing me.
Maybe someone occasionally have an examples of such with transcriptions?
submitted by expression1st to Sakartvelo [link] [comments]
I started learning Kartuli and now I'm pretty much know the alphabet, and also bought 1st graders workbooks for learn how to write. But still it's pretty difficult for me to read weird fonts on some billboards or in handwriting (graffiti on walls or Domino's wishes for New Year). Also as an example, writing on a transparent Christmas tree in pharmacies (Aversi?) is killing me.
Maybe someone occasionally have an examples of such with transcriptions?
2022.12.21 17:22 TheOchoJabroni Source Request: Witcher3 Gagolithic Etchings/Graffiti Database
With the recent Witcher 3 update adding in the FF:06:B5 connection, I've been looking more into the glagolithic etchings/graffiti scattered around the Witcher3 world to see if there is anything of significance. I realize most of the etchings are nonsense or vulgar to fit in the witcher3 world, but could there potentially be writing somewhere that has some other meaning to aid in our FF:06:B5 mystery?
I was hoping someone has created a engravings database (with their locations, and image of the engraving and the translation) to investigate further, but could not find any. Is anyone aware of such a database?
Note: I assume thisReddit Witcher 3 Ingame Language post about the language used is correct, as it seems to hold up from the isolated examples I've seen and my own translation attempts.
submitted by TheOchoJabroni to FF06B5 [link] [comments]
I was hoping someone has created a engravings database (with their locations, and image of the engraving and the translation) to investigate further, but could not find any. Is anyone aware of such a database?
Note: I assume thisReddit Witcher 3 Ingame Language post about the language used is correct, as it seems to hold up from the isolated examples I've seen and my own translation attempts.
2022.12.16 23:12 Savings-Confection65 im fairly new to graffity any styles or alphabets i should start with
submitted by Savings-Confection65 to streetart [link] [comments]
2022.12.16 14:14 Trak_one throw up graffiti alphabet - graffiti sketch - bubble letters
 | submitted by Trak_one to u/Trak_one [link] [comments] |
2022.12.11 16:03 Trak_one Digital graffiti alphabet - lowercase letters - handstyle graffiti font
 | submitted by Trak_one to u/Trak_one [link] [comments] |
2022.12.06 02:44 NathanielDavidKnox [HM] A Visitorâs Guide to an Art School Apocalypse
A Visitorâs Guide to an Art School Apocalypse
by Nathaniel David Knox
(Humor is absurd, a tad dark, but all in good fun)
If I had to choose only one word to describe why Iâm currently hiding beneath a lunch table in the long-since-ransacked college cafeteria of my own alma mater, it would be this one: Anarchy. The Donald M. Darko School for the Arts and Crafts has fallen into complete and total anarchy.
I have no earthly clue as to how long itâs been since I first arrived here to visit my sister, Alice (Oh, my dear baby sister Alice, wherever she is) and I feel it only courteous, no, prudent, noâŚreally important to inform you or any other individuals about all the mayhem and chaos that has unfolded and is surely, by now, all over the news and social media and displayed in the scrambled flight patterns of carrier pigeons. But in case you still donât know, Iâll paint the best picture that I can for you, and, seeing as how itâs an art school that Iâm trapped in and not a multi-purpose room hosting a how-to-pitch-an-undesirable-time-share seminar, I do hope my word-picture is both vivid and of the proper stylistic composition.
The halls of Donald M. Darko School for the Arts and Crafts are cracked and covered in graffiti (the graffiti being the new addition and some of the tags are quite impressive, but others seem like cheap Looney Tunes or Banksy rip-offs at best). The place smells of smoking printers, of smoking painters and whispering ones too, of uncleaned paint palettes and clean wooden pallets, of blood-stained dance floors, of the musty puppets with strange orange noses, of greasy keyboards and typewriters, of hardened clay, of decaying orchestral instruments, of dead cellphones with cracked screens and topped with the tears and hiding the âbummersâ of unread rough-draft essay or fiction emails or unheard mp3 demos in their stormy storage clouds and the scent of what could only be assumed to be fish sticks.
No one really knows what started it all, this descent into anarchy, gang wars and limited time to sit and brainstorm without receiving a text. Some say it was a fire in the girlâs bathroom by the utility closet in the Drama Wing that tripped the alarm as well as the whole schoolâs paranoia and set the pieces in motion (and no, not the famous edible chess pieces crafted by the former janitorial staff of the notorious âGroovy 70âs Food-Artâ phase here at Darko either). Others say the madness began because some poor pen-and-ink student used the hatching technique instead of cross-hatching when sketching a pinecone after lunch. But, however it started, there certainly seems to be no end in sight. All the doors are locked and the glass says âdo not touchâ. The windows too. Maybe the police issued a mistaken lockdown command because of another one of those streaking nudists have stripped down and also taken off all their cloths and run through downtown with a spud gun again, or maybe it was just a false alarm or perhaps someone simply told another âHey, you canât leave nowâŚor ever.â Who knows at this point? Either way, no oneâs going anywhere, and, with a heavy heart, that includes me.
As I said, Iâm only here to visit my sister, Alice. Sheâs my one and only sibling and I feel it my duty to come and show her love and support as often as I can, because, well, who else will? Our mom is off in Jackson Hole, Wyoming again for yet another one of her three-month cruises around the little lake and Dad, well, letâs just say heâs in what some might call prison. Been serving his current bid for over twelve years now. He first got locked up when he was fourteen when an undercover cop busted him for listening to music made before his date of birth (Dad still claims to this day that he was only reading a Xeroxed copy of the sheet music to Bachâs âSong of the Non-Existent Note in E#â but the judge wasnât buying it, even when my Dad offered it at a discount). They initially charged him as a con artist but the judge took mercy on him and bumped his sentence down to that of simply and artist. He tried to start over once he got out, marrying our mom and running a successful chainsaw testing service by mail. But he lost it all in a poker game that he wasnât even playing in and after heâd bounced around from one inflatable castle testing job to the next, he quickly realized the straight life wasnât for him. Even with our mom and me and my sister at home, we still werenât enough to hold him (he was a very heavy and tall man). So, eventually he got busted selling illegally mixed shades of paint to a gang of rogue government road-stripe painters and heâs been locked up ever since.
I say all this to also say that, like me, Alice too always had a flair for the dramatic and the arts and so she enrolled at Darko two years ago, hoping to attain a major in Dramatic Film Chewing with a minor in Misinterpretive Dance with a focus on Progressive Bottom Button Cardigan Design. And Iâm no stranger to this place, myself either. In fact, Iâm an alum. I majored in Fictional Journalism with a focus on Obscure Biographical Meaninglessness (my thesis was on one Major Bobby Lee Bibby, a former House Majority Whip and U.S. Army Major that got caught in a minor incident with major implications involving several miners and a missing whip in what is now formerly and majorly accepted as Asia Minor). And, since graduation, Iâve become a rather successful cartoonist (I even had pieces featured in Readerâs Indigestion and Hand Soap Weekly and Iâve been promised that soon theyâll both publish the whole thing) as well as a creative freelancer (and I do hope my friend Lance is freed from jail soon. He got arrested for quoting William Carlos Williams out of context to a barista without a permit. Why does everyone I love go to jail or disappear or ask me to help them move?)
Yes, I remember Darko fondly, roaming these very graffiti-ridden halls all those years back (it was three years, to be precise). I was something of an exceptional student of the arts in my arrogant opinion. I even received the Homer O.J. Simpson award for outstanding achievement in Cartooning 101 and Calligraphy 010 (calligraphy was still considered a sport, regarded widely as the football of the art world, back in those days, when Hershel Feinswiper was still a household name and papyrus still had a shred of human decency).
Listen to me, reminiscing about the old days while, at this very moment, a very tall woman with a hunting knife in one hand and a plate of strudel in the other three sneaks by the table Iâm still hiding beneath. Howâd I end up in the cafeteria youâve probably never wondered? Iâll tell you. As soon as âitâ all started, while looking for Alice in the crowded lobby full of students, someone said a word that sounded like âfireâ and soon the fists and feet and sloppy-copies and crumbled-up preliminary sketches started flying. I took cover behind a soda machine and it seemed that the school had transformed like night and day and suddenly it was a free-for-all of roaming guys and girls and flickering neon signs (they werenât flickering before). After the dust settled I still hadnât seen Alice, and, after my ninth trying-to-blend-in soda, I proceeded to the restroom (where else?) gaseous and puzzled, but they were already charging ten bucks a head to get in by then on account of some hip new graffiti tag sprayed by an elusive artist called âThe Next Alfâ on exhibit inside the wet dank place.
Once Iâd relieved myself in either a supply closet or the absent principalâs office, I felt the incredible urge to eat, as relieving oneâs self in places like that often conjures. So, I crouched down and sneaked over to the cafeteria, dodging groups of students still reveling in the romantic, infancy stage that immediately proceeds a revolution. Poetry students were scribbling down stanzas that rhymed on the first draft, theater kids were happily eating waffles in character instead of waffling, graphic artists happily converting their stacks upon rubber-banded stacks of âexperienceâ and âexposureâ into real cash at a currency exchange kiosk, and aspiring comedy-clubbers were telling jokes to laughing passers-by, without having to explain words like âdeadpanâ, âdryâ or âfunnyâ. And a lot of these guys and girls I passed were quite lovely, handing me beautiful drawings or singing little snippets of old jazz standards. It was all very inspiring. But soon the feeling of impending doom was in the air, along with the mist of the timed aerosol scent dispensers (one of which blasted me directly in the eye as I rounded a corner) and so, human nature began to slowly dissolve like melting crayons.
After refusing a âthe color redâ-flavored vape drag, I finally made it to the cafeteria. It was dank and drab, completely devoid of all the flashy charisma you often hear about school lunchrooms. I scanned the crowds for Alice but I couldnât find her anywhere. So, I walked into the kitchen area, which had quickly become an Alamo-like haven, of sorts, for the few surviving faculty members (the rest had either been stuffed into lockers or double-stuffed into the appropriate three-ring binders of the courses they taught, right after the page with the unreasonably demanding syllabus). The surviving professors and instructors all seemed cheerful, considering their whole world had just fallen into total lawlessness before they had time to kick the vending machine for stealing wadded-up singles. But then I just assumed they must have all taken some sort of LSD to cope with their gritty new life because Iâd seen less creepier smiles on the Grinch. But they were gleeful that they still controlled the kitchen, and thus, they controlled the food. As I grabbed a plate, my growling stomach also let out a sinking moan. It had seemed the remnants of the Literature Department had rewritten the entire menu and replaced and filled it with puns. Literary puns. But, I was hungry and these scared, battle-weary teachers were my ticket to feeding that hunger and so I took whatever they gave me. And I will admit that I did enjoy the taste of their homemade-from-the-back-freezer batch of Honey Bunches of Joyce Carol Oates and the Guy de Mau-Croissants were good as well, but I drew the line at âA Fresh Ira Glass of Apple Juiceâ (who wouldnât?) and, like a fire hose, I threw everything up when I saw it. Seeing me vomit, the crowd of people behind my started to get restless and mob-like and soon a fight broke out between a Medieval Literature major with a rolling pin and several culinary students with axes and maces, hence my retreat to the underbelly of the mess hall table underworld.
Now, Iâm currently praying that the patrolling gang of caped marauders will pass me by without detecting my huddled body beneath this table (and Iâm happy to announce that Iâve got gum in my hair from the wonderful glob stuck to the bottom of said table).
Because of my current predicament, I now find it the perfect time to give you a little run-down of the warring factions who run these halls (or have gotten the runs in them). These are groups that formed when the dreamy idea of art school anarchy had finally faded and the gritty reality of primal human survival had taken the throne (but not the velvet one in the props department, dear God, things havenât gotten that bleak!). They are gangs filled with bad-apple students of a myriad of different majors and fields of study, thus, creating Frankenstein-like amalgamations of sheer, creative, rabble-rousing ferocity and danger for the rest of us in the oppressed majority. From my limited experience on this current Darko visit, a few of these gangs are as follows (in post-modern alphabetical order):
The Dali Partons: A vicious crew of roaming warriors. Sure, youâve seen the type, the old âI love surrealist Spanish painting and early country music both equally, I swear!â stereotype. But be warned, they are not to be underestimated, especially since the girls have all grown long, sleek, grotesque mustaches and the boys have all somehow managed to fit into size 7 suit jackets with diamond hearts and golden pumps with jingling spurs on the backs.
The Graphic T.S. Elliots: This is a group that exclusively controls both the first and third bathrooms in the East Wing. They are a group of pariah fashion students (primarily Shirt Pressing majors morally opposed to more than one sleeve) who have all recklessly and savagely taken all the works of T.S. Elliot and rewritten them, using highlighters alone, adding even more vague and gratuitous violence and chicken salad references than his work originally included. Itâs been said that they can even highlight the word âhelloâ and twist it into the vilest and most difficult to define of all expressions. If one of them asks you if youâd like to âtalk about Alfredâ, run, you fool. Run like the wind.
The Gertrude Steinways: Donât let their sexy French accents and sexier Dutch haircuts fool you, these ladies are not to be taken lightly. Formed as a defense coalition when the Womenâs Lit and Outro to Piano students teamed up to hold their own against loose change thieves, this group of gals has held its own against countless attacks of rival gangs from all corners of Darko, but if you dare engage them in battle, one might want to seriously consider bringing a red rose, a tuning fork and an eating one for starters.
The Arcade Flyers: A rowdy group of indie game designers and print shop interns, these scrappers and joy-stickers all have two things in common: theyâre lethal in odd numbers, and they all have an up-to-date pilotâs license in all states except the one in which they live.
The Cassius Clays: Do not, I repeat, do NOT get within a hundred lockers of these brawlers without a pair of red gloves, a working definition of the term âhead traumaâ and seeing the movie Ghost at least five times. This fistacuffing crew of disavowed potters and sculptors are notorious for their illegal games of paper-scissors-rock in what used to be the teacherâs lounge, as well as several perfectly legal boxing matches to the death inside lockers not occupied by dethroned teachers. But their figurine sculptures of famous boxers (all looking only from to the left side) are something to behold. Just donât drop it if you do.
The Starvinâ Marvins: Another nearly-all-female group, this clan of Motown-singing former students frequently roam the halls of Darko singing âAint No Mountian Highâ using only one melodic note out of sheer spite and disrespect for morality. One can only wonder why every single one of this groupâs originally written and released songs, all with the exclusive, dual themes of shoe-bottoms and the capital of South Korea, havenât made them more famous in the years since graduation and their subsequent return at the precise moment the school fell into this lock-in of chaos.
Noahâs Architects: These are the brutal ex-cousins of pastors whoâve all pledged to design an entire city based on the life of Noah Webster, with each building based on a word from the dictionary. Need I say more? Stay away and youâll still be able to use the words âsesquipedalianâ and âcheeseâ without being beaten to death with parrots (two of each species).
The Rye Catchers: Of the gangs, these Baseball Mitt Embroidery and Advanced Glass Bottle Logo Design students are the least harmful of the bunch. In fact, unless provoked, youâll likely find them out in the indoor courtyard, keeping to themselves, smoking cigarettes and tossing bottles of rye whiskey back and forth to each other, catching the bottles in their baseball mitts and shouting, âWeeeee!â with glee. But, and take it from me, should you accidentally interrupt this volley, expect quite the potty-mouthed earful. I distinctly remember interrupting one of these such volleys on one of my many searches for my sister some time back. When one of the gang members dropped a bottle and it shattered, every single member, easily numbering a dozen or possibly even 12, all shouted at me in unison, screaming, âGet out of here, you goddamned phony goddamned goddamner phone goddamned damn godder phone!â.
Has God surely damned us all here? In this war-torn hell? As I peek my head up from my table, surveying the smoldering piles of ash and un-tuned oboes, and the brave, unconscious theater students, all forcibly placed into character-statues or downward dog (or both), I canât help but wonder, whatâs happened to Darko? Whatâs happened to my beloved school? The place that I still have the privilege of paying the low, low sum of $3,062 a month to, indefinitely, for joyous years to come?
I stand to my feet. Enough is enough, I think. Iâm going to find Alice and weâre going to get out of this den of iniquity and blurred contour lines.
I make my way through the halls, with rolling sage brushes and tattered drawings of them blowing by with the same level of sadness (and honestly, the drawings looked more realistic). I duck at the cacophonous sound of screeching and the flapping of wings. It was too dark to tell, but I can only assume this clatter to be the sound of the nightmarish flock of marauding winged creatures that have stalked the halls, ever since the revolution, creatures who can type angry, symbol-riddled letters to a victim just as easily as bite them: The Dingbats. They pass and I thank God that Iâll live to walk another hall and I turn the corner of that dark and dreary corridor and there I am: The Five Point Font Intersection. Itâs where all the halls come together to one epicenter, where all the worlds of individual artistic disciplines used to converge into a beautiful collision.
Used to.
Oh, the horror! Oh, the humanities! I walk around the newly toppled world of the Five Point Fonts. There are beautiful, hopeless people everywhere, some sitting, some wandering and others racking their brains on drying racks.
I keep walking, I survey the scores of once-brilliant people whoâve let this new-toppled world overtake them and force them into the countenances of the gloomy and the downcast. I pass them stunned, saddened, and with a slight headache in my right temple.
There are propaganda posters everywhere (though there seems to be no known source of all the propagating other than âthe worldâ). These posters are all designed with the incredibly easy to decipher typeface known as Five Point Wingdings, a font that I can understand well (I can order a meal or ask âwhereâs the bathroom?â at least) but to speak it, Iâm about as advanced as ten-year-old child with Wingding blood running through his or her veins. These posters, my God, these posters, theyâre bleak and disheartening, and so well composed! And several are monochromatic, which makes the hopelessness all-the-more real! One, in black, white and red, shows a ghoulish looking relative, an uncle, an aunt, or an aardvark, maybe, holding a book entitled Your Art. The relativeâs speech is shown through a text bubble, saying the words âI skimmed it, how neat!â. Another poster shows a group of people staring at a particular piece of art on the wall, a piece hidden from the viewerâs sight in an art gallery. One man says âIt shows promise.â A lady says, patronizingly, through her text bubble, âCute!â. âNeat frame!â another says. âKeep at it and one day youâll be a real hobbyist!â
Oh, the inhumanities!
Alice, where are you? I ponder as I keep perusing the crowded scene. Iâm now in the thick of it, amidst all the noble students who hadnât chosen to let their baser instincts divide them into warring subsets of âcreativesâ. NPR is playing over the loudspeakers, something Iâd normally take much solace in, but I was just told by an aspiring stuntman for voice-over actors that the âPâ in NPR actually stands for âprivateâ, and, thus, this is why the only thing we can hear is the slight stutter of cellphone interference and silence.
Still, I walk the Five Point Fonts. Hopeful little small-groups of steadfast artists greet me and some even ask if Iâd like to join in their games of charades or twenty questions or Olympic swimming (minus the pool, a feature not necessary for all forms of the game), I thank them but insist that Iâve got to find my sister.
Soon the air becomes foul, as if to embody the very dread of all stuck in Darko. There are weeping people everywhere, some slamming their heads into lockers and some (and forgive my crassness) are singing âSuch Great Heightsâ in only sign languageâand in the wrong key! I push my way through the crowds, getting charcoal stains on my shirt and tripping over microphone and XLR cables that lead to nowhere. The place is a den of crime and debauchery. Thereâs watercolor kids being robbed at exacto-knife-point, thereâs shouts and screams of âDiscount pastels, get your discount pastels, three new colors never before seen!â. Student-loan sharks roam the halls with their sharp suits and cans of metallic gold spray-paint, promising a ten percent discount on the going long-long-term first-semester-loan interest rate of 63% (plus tax).
Maybe Alice is in the library, I ponder. She always loved to read. I proceed to where the William Hung Student Library used to be, but there was nothing. Just one guy with a pink bandanna, guarding a bare patch of white wall behind him.
âHey, Iâm Tom,â I say to him. âWhereâs the library? Isnât this where the William Hung Library isâŚor used to be? I know it used to be here.â
âBeen a while since itâs been called that,â he says coldly. âThey renamed it the Salinger-Hughes-Hoffa-Earhart Private Place of Books that Arenât Yours. Nobodyâs been able to find it since.â
âButâ
âYou hear what I said? Take a hike or Iâll take whatever project youâre working on and âget back to youâ!â
I run with a shriek. I donât need to be told twice.
Iâm now walking down a long stretch of down-and-outs, the saddest of the sad in Darko. As I walk, a hand grabs me.
âSir, could you read my essay on the continuing relevance of switchboard operation in the age of the iPhone? Itâs only 600 pages and Iâd love to know your thoughts.â
Ashamedly, I keep walking. Iâm so, so sorry! I cry in my head.
âHey man,â a sweet, lovely woman says, âcan I play you a song I just wrote? Itâs just a rough cut but I thinkâ
No cut is rougher than that in my own chest as I blaze past the guitar woman! Iâm so sorry!
I know your pain, I mutter to myself. I know it, I feel it, but Alice! Iâve got to find her.
âExcuse me, Mr.â
âNo!â
âWonât you take a look at myâ
âNo!â
âShort story?â
âNo!â
âOriginal album art?â
âNo!â
âSpec script?â
âI canât!â
âA cappella concerto mime in French?â
âNo, but how I wish!â
âMacaroni art?â
âMacaroni what?â
I stop. I look down at the girl who is still holding on to my arm. Sheâs dirty and red-eyed, holding a wrinkly piece of paper with glued macaroni on it. Itâs a picture of an elephant holding an umbrella on a vast landscape of brick houses and meticulously-detailed trees in a blizzard with a sky of Aurora Borealis.
âAlice?â I say. âMy God, Alice, is that you?â
âYea, Tom. Itâs me. Look at your little sister now, hanging out at the lockers in the Five Point Fonts. Arenât you proud?â
âOh, AliceâŚâ
âI thought youâd forgotten about me, after everything went bad and all the craziness and destruction.â
âHow could I forget my baby sister? Huh?â
âDo you remember this?â she says, pointing at the macaroni elephant.
âOf course I do. Your first commissioned piece. Two bucks from Mom and three from Dad.â
âI was so happy to finally make a living as an artist when they bought this. For a while I thought Iâd never make it, but there are worst things than selling your first work at seven years old. God, how I danced around the kitchen when I found out. Oh, Tom, donât you remember?â
âOf course! How could I forget? That was one of the last times we were all together, the four of us.â
âTom?â
âYea?â
âWhen you texted me, way before all this craziness, you said you were coming to visit me here at Darko, even if it killed you. Why?â
âWhy?â
âYea, Tom, why?â says one of the weeping student-loan sharks to me from behind. I shoo him away and answer my baby sister.
âWhy, Alice? Because youâre my sister and I love you. An I know, better than most, how lonely it can get creating on your own. I know it gets hard when people donât appreciate you or take the time of day to look at what youâve made or what youâre working on, but if thereâs one other thing I know itâs that Iâve got a splitting headache, so whatâs say me and you bust out of here and grab some good-bad-questionable Chinese food like we used to, huh? What do you say?â
âI say that sounds great, Tom. But I have a confession to make.â
âWhat is it?â
âYouâre right. Everything you just said. Iâve been lonely here. Iâve got a few friends but we donât share any of the same classes really. Actually, they donât even go here. Actually, itâs mainly just a few girls my age I play scrabble against on my phone, At least, I think theyâre girls my age. Anyway, what was that thing Dad always says about me?â
âThat you severely need braces?â
âNo, the other thing.â
âOh, that youâve always had a flair for the dramatic.â
âYea, well, I guess you could say I took that flair and lit it and threw it into a trash can inside the girlâs bathroom in the Drama Wing. It was a signal flare I stole from a prop kid while he was sleeping off an energy drink.â
âYou lit a fireâŚin the bathroom by the utility closet?â
âYea.â
âBut, why, Alice?â
âDonât really know. Maybe I was bored or maybe I wanted someone to notice me, or maybe Iâve just got an affinity for burning waste receptacles.â
âI canât say that I blame you,â I say.
I help her up to her feet and she wipes her face and we hug. Then she says, âLetâs get out of here. I think I can shimmy one of the back doors open with this little thing I fashioned in my spare time.â
Sheâs holding a set of keys marked âMASTER SET: property of Buddy Dick Muncieâ on the tag attached to the ring. We wink to each other. Then a voice booms from the loudspeakers.
âAttention, students, attention! This is Donald M. Darko Dean Martin. Order has been restored. I repeat, order has been restored, thanks to the heroic efforts of the costume and stage production students as well as the surviving faculty. Without their strongly worded run sheets, imploring the gangs to âcut it outâ at precisely 7 p.m. in full makeup and wardrobe, I fear we may all still be at each otherâs throats arguing over silly things like life and existence and meaning.â The speaker sighs. âThis marks the end of the darkest and bloodiest twenty-five minutes in the history of Darko. Now, everyone, if you will all please report to Annie Hall 2b for instructions regarding the rest of todayâs schedule.â There are several groans around us in the Five Point Fonts. âAnd quickly! Because the first twenty students through the doors will receive a whopping ten dollars off their yearly tuition and a free audio download of the already-purchased textbook of their choiceâŚANDâŚA PIZZA PARTY, courtesy of the boys at Sketchy Sketchbooks and Business Practices LLC! COME NOW, STUDENTS OF DARKO!!!â
The place erupts with shouts and nearly everyone bolts out of the Five Point Fonts. Except for Alice and I. Instead, we walk to the back door and Alice unlocks it. And we get in my car and we drive to the only place that will suffice, with food far tastier and soothing to the soul than any pizza or party.
âLove you, Alice.â
âLove you, Tom.â
And we pull in to the dinky little parking lot and park in front of the building and we wave to our favorite golden cat that is already waving back through the front window.
(The End)
submitted by NathanielDavidKnox to shortstories [link] [comments]
by Nathaniel David Knox
(Humor is absurd, a tad dark, but all in good fun)
If I had to choose only one word to describe why Iâm currently hiding beneath a lunch table in the long-since-ransacked college cafeteria of my own alma mater, it would be this one: Anarchy. The Donald M. Darko School for the Arts and Crafts has fallen into complete and total anarchy.
I have no earthly clue as to how long itâs been since I first arrived here to visit my sister, Alice (Oh, my dear baby sister Alice, wherever she is) and I feel it only courteous, no, prudent, noâŚreally important to inform you or any other individuals about all the mayhem and chaos that has unfolded and is surely, by now, all over the news and social media and displayed in the scrambled flight patterns of carrier pigeons. But in case you still donât know, Iâll paint the best picture that I can for you, and, seeing as how itâs an art school that Iâm trapped in and not a multi-purpose room hosting a how-to-pitch-an-undesirable-time-share seminar, I do hope my word-picture is both vivid and of the proper stylistic composition.
The halls of Donald M. Darko School for the Arts and Crafts are cracked and covered in graffiti (the graffiti being the new addition and some of the tags are quite impressive, but others seem like cheap Looney Tunes or Banksy rip-offs at best). The place smells of smoking printers, of smoking painters and whispering ones too, of uncleaned paint palettes and clean wooden pallets, of blood-stained dance floors, of the musty puppets with strange orange noses, of greasy keyboards and typewriters, of hardened clay, of decaying orchestral instruments, of dead cellphones with cracked screens and topped with the tears and hiding the âbummersâ of unread rough-draft essay or fiction emails or unheard mp3 demos in their stormy storage clouds and the scent of what could only be assumed to be fish sticks.
No one really knows what started it all, this descent into anarchy, gang wars and limited time to sit and brainstorm without receiving a text. Some say it was a fire in the girlâs bathroom by the utility closet in the Drama Wing that tripped the alarm as well as the whole schoolâs paranoia and set the pieces in motion (and no, not the famous edible chess pieces crafted by the former janitorial staff of the notorious âGroovy 70âs Food-Artâ phase here at Darko either). Others say the madness began because some poor pen-and-ink student used the hatching technique instead of cross-hatching when sketching a pinecone after lunch. But, however it started, there certainly seems to be no end in sight. All the doors are locked and the glass says âdo not touchâ. The windows too. Maybe the police issued a mistaken lockdown command because of another one of those streaking nudists have stripped down and also taken off all their cloths and run through downtown with a spud gun again, or maybe it was just a false alarm or perhaps someone simply told another âHey, you canât leave nowâŚor ever.â Who knows at this point? Either way, no oneâs going anywhere, and, with a heavy heart, that includes me.
As I said, Iâm only here to visit my sister, Alice. Sheâs my one and only sibling and I feel it my duty to come and show her love and support as often as I can, because, well, who else will? Our mom is off in Jackson Hole, Wyoming again for yet another one of her three-month cruises around the little lake and Dad, well, letâs just say heâs in what some might call prison. Been serving his current bid for over twelve years now. He first got locked up when he was fourteen when an undercover cop busted him for listening to music made before his date of birth (Dad still claims to this day that he was only reading a Xeroxed copy of the sheet music to Bachâs âSong of the Non-Existent Note in E#â but the judge wasnât buying it, even when my Dad offered it at a discount). They initially charged him as a con artist but the judge took mercy on him and bumped his sentence down to that of simply and artist. He tried to start over once he got out, marrying our mom and running a successful chainsaw testing service by mail. But he lost it all in a poker game that he wasnât even playing in and after heâd bounced around from one inflatable castle testing job to the next, he quickly realized the straight life wasnât for him. Even with our mom and me and my sister at home, we still werenât enough to hold him (he was a very heavy and tall man). So, eventually he got busted selling illegally mixed shades of paint to a gang of rogue government road-stripe painters and heâs been locked up ever since.
I say all this to also say that, like me, Alice too always had a flair for the dramatic and the arts and so she enrolled at Darko two years ago, hoping to attain a major in Dramatic Film Chewing with a minor in Misinterpretive Dance with a focus on Progressive Bottom Button Cardigan Design. And Iâm no stranger to this place, myself either. In fact, Iâm an alum. I majored in Fictional Journalism with a focus on Obscure Biographical Meaninglessness (my thesis was on one Major Bobby Lee Bibby, a former House Majority Whip and U.S. Army Major that got caught in a minor incident with major implications involving several miners and a missing whip in what is now formerly and majorly accepted as Asia Minor). And, since graduation, Iâve become a rather successful cartoonist (I even had pieces featured in Readerâs Indigestion and Hand Soap Weekly and Iâve been promised that soon theyâll both publish the whole thing) as well as a creative freelancer (and I do hope my friend Lance is freed from jail soon. He got arrested for quoting William Carlos Williams out of context to a barista without a permit. Why does everyone I love go to jail or disappear or ask me to help them move?)
Yes, I remember Darko fondly, roaming these very graffiti-ridden halls all those years back (it was three years, to be precise). I was something of an exceptional student of the arts in my arrogant opinion. I even received the Homer O.J. Simpson award for outstanding achievement in Cartooning 101 and Calligraphy 010 (calligraphy was still considered a sport, regarded widely as the football of the art world, back in those days, when Hershel Feinswiper was still a household name and papyrus still had a shred of human decency).
Listen to me, reminiscing about the old days while, at this very moment, a very tall woman with a hunting knife in one hand and a plate of strudel in the other three sneaks by the table Iâm still hiding beneath. Howâd I end up in the cafeteria youâve probably never wondered? Iâll tell you. As soon as âitâ all started, while looking for Alice in the crowded lobby full of students, someone said a word that sounded like âfireâ and soon the fists and feet and sloppy-copies and crumbled-up preliminary sketches started flying. I took cover behind a soda machine and it seemed that the school had transformed like night and day and suddenly it was a free-for-all of roaming guys and girls and flickering neon signs (they werenât flickering before). After the dust settled I still hadnât seen Alice, and, after my ninth trying-to-blend-in soda, I proceeded to the restroom (where else?) gaseous and puzzled, but they were already charging ten bucks a head to get in by then on account of some hip new graffiti tag sprayed by an elusive artist called âThe Next Alfâ on exhibit inside the wet dank place.
Once Iâd relieved myself in either a supply closet or the absent principalâs office, I felt the incredible urge to eat, as relieving oneâs self in places like that often conjures. So, I crouched down and sneaked over to the cafeteria, dodging groups of students still reveling in the romantic, infancy stage that immediately proceeds a revolution. Poetry students were scribbling down stanzas that rhymed on the first draft, theater kids were happily eating waffles in character instead of waffling, graphic artists happily converting their stacks upon rubber-banded stacks of âexperienceâ and âexposureâ into real cash at a currency exchange kiosk, and aspiring comedy-clubbers were telling jokes to laughing passers-by, without having to explain words like âdeadpanâ, âdryâ or âfunnyâ. And a lot of these guys and girls I passed were quite lovely, handing me beautiful drawings or singing little snippets of old jazz standards. It was all very inspiring. But soon the feeling of impending doom was in the air, along with the mist of the timed aerosol scent dispensers (one of which blasted me directly in the eye as I rounded a corner) and so, human nature began to slowly dissolve like melting crayons.
After refusing a âthe color redâ-flavored vape drag, I finally made it to the cafeteria. It was dank and drab, completely devoid of all the flashy charisma you often hear about school lunchrooms. I scanned the crowds for Alice but I couldnât find her anywhere. So, I walked into the kitchen area, which had quickly become an Alamo-like haven, of sorts, for the few surviving faculty members (the rest had either been stuffed into lockers or double-stuffed into the appropriate three-ring binders of the courses they taught, right after the page with the unreasonably demanding syllabus). The surviving professors and instructors all seemed cheerful, considering their whole world had just fallen into total lawlessness before they had time to kick the vending machine for stealing wadded-up singles. But then I just assumed they must have all taken some sort of LSD to cope with their gritty new life because Iâd seen less creepier smiles on the Grinch. But they were gleeful that they still controlled the kitchen, and thus, they controlled the food. As I grabbed a plate, my growling stomach also let out a sinking moan. It had seemed the remnants of the Literature Department had rewritten the entire menu and replaced and filled it with puns. Literary puns. But, I was hungry and these scared, battle-weary teachers were my ticket to feeding that hunger and so I took whatever they gave me. And I will admit that I did enjoy the taste of their homemade-from-the-back-freezer batch of Honey Bunches of Joyce Carol Oates and the Guy de Mau-Croissants were good as well, but I drew the line at âA Fresh Ira Glass of Apple Juiceâ (who wouldnât?) and, like a fire hose, I threw everything up when I saw it. Seeing me vomit, the crowd of people behind my started to get restless and mob-like and soon a fight broke out between a Medieval Literature major with a rolling pin and several culinary students with axes and maces, hence my retreat to the underbelly of the mess hall table underworld.
Now, Iâm currently praying that the patrolling gang of caped marauders will pass me by without detecting my huddled body beneath this table (and Iâm happy to announce that Iâve got gum in my hair from the wonderful glob stuck to the bottom of said table).
Because of my current predicament, I now find it the perfect time to give you a little run-down of the warring factions who run these halls (or have gotten the runs in them). These are groups that formed when the dreamy idea of art school anarchy had finally faded and the gritty reality of primal human survival had taken the throne (but not the velvet one in the props department, dear God, things havenât gotten that bleak!). They are gangs filled with bad-apple students of a myriad of different majors and fields of study, thus, creating Frankenstein-like amalgamations of sheer, creative, rabble-rousing ferocity and danger for the rest of us in the oppressed majority. From my limited experience on this current Darko visit, a few of these gangs are as follows (in post-modern alphabetical order):
The Dali Partons: A vicious crew of roaming warriors. Sure, youâve seen the type, the old âI love surrealist Spanish painting and early country music both equally, I swear!â stereotype. But be warned, they are not to be underestimated, especially since the girls have all grown long, sleek, grotesque mustaches and the boys have all somehow managed to fit into size 7 suit jackets with diamond hearts and golden pumps with jingling spurs on the backs.
The Graphic T.S. Elliots: This is a group that exclusively controls both the first and third bathrooms in the East Wing. They are a group of pariah fashion students (primarily Shirt Pressing majors morally opposed to more than one sleeve) who have all recklessly and savagely taken all the works of T.S. Elliot and rewritten them, using highlighters alone, adding even more vague and gratuitous violence and chicken salad references than his work originally included. Itâs been said that they can even highlight the word âhelloâ and twist it into the vilest and most difficult to define of all expressions. If one of them asks you if youâd like to âtalk about Alfredâ, run, you fool. Run like the wind.
The Gertrude Steinways: Donât let their sexy French accents and sexier Dutch haircuts fool you, these ladies are not to be taken lightly. Formed as a defense coalition when the Womenâs Lit and Outro to Piano students teamed up to hold their own against loose change thieves, this group of gals has held its own against countless attacks of rival gangs from all corners of Darko, but if you dare engage them in battle, one might want to seriously consider bringing a red rose, a tuning fork and an eating one for starters.
The Arcade Flyers: A rowdy group of indie game designers and print shop interns, these scrappers and joy-stickers all have two things in common: theyâre lethal in odd numbers, and they all have an up-to-date pilotâs license in all states except the one in which they live.
The Cassius Clays: Do not, I repeat, do NOT get within a hundred lockers of these brawlers without a pair of red gloves, a working definition of the term âhead traumaâ and seeing the movie Ghost at least five times. This fistacuffing crew of disavowed potters and sculptors are notorious for their illegal games of paper-scissors-rock in what used to be the teacherâs lounge, as well as several perfectly legal boxing matches to the death inside lockers not occupied by dethroned teachers. But their figurine sculptures of famous boxers (all looking only from to the left side) are something to behold. Just donât drop it if you do.
The Starvinâ Marvins: Another nearly-all-female group, this clan of Motown-singing former students frequently roam the halls of Darko singing âAint No Mountian Highâ using only one melodic note out of sheer spite and disrespect for morality. One can only wonder why every single one of this groupâs originally written and released songs, all with the exclusive, dual themes of shoe-bottoms and the capital of South Korea, havenât made them more famous in the years since graduation and their subsequent return at the precise moment the school fell into this lock-in of chaos.
Noahâs Architects: These are the brutal ex-cousins of pastors whoâve all pledged to design an entire city based on the life of Noah Webster, with each building based on a word from the dictionary. Need I say more? Stay away and youâll still be able to use the words âsesquipedalianâ and âcheeseâ without being beaten to death with parrots (two of each species).
The Rye Catchers: Of the gangs, these Baseball Mitt Embroidery and Advanced Glass Bottle Logo Design students are the least harmful of the bunch. In fact, unless provoked, youâll likely find them out in the indoor courtyard, keeping to themselves, smoking cigarettes and tossing bottles of rye whiskey back and forth to each other, catching the bottles in their baseball mitts and shouting, âWeeeee!â with glee. But, and take it from me, should you accidentally interrupt this volley, expect quite the potty-mouthed earful. I distinctly remember interrupting one of these such volleys on one of my many searches for my sister some time back. When one of the gang members dropped a bottle and it shattered, every single member, easily numbering a dozen or possibly even 12, all shouted at me in unison, screaming, âGet out of here, you goddamned phony goddamned goddamner phone goddamned damn godder phone!â.
Has God surely damned us all here? In this war-torn hell? As I peek my head up from my table, surveying the smoldering piles of ash and un-tuned oboes, and the brave, unconscious theater students, all forcibly placed into character-statues or downward dog (or both), I canât help but wonder, whatâs happened to Darko? Whatâs happened to my beloved school? The place that I still have the privilege of paying the low, low sum of $3,062 a month to, indefinitely, for joyous years to come?
I stand to my feet. Enough is enough, I think. Iâm going to find Alice and weâre going to get out of this den of iniquity and blurred contour lines.
I make my way through the halls, with rolling sage brushes and tattered drawings of them blowing by with the same level of sadness (and honestly, the drawings looked more realistic). I duck at the cacophonous sound of screeching and the flapping of wings. It was too dark to tell, but I can only assume this clatter to be the sound of the nightmarish flock of marauding winged creatures that have stalked the halls, ever since the revolution, creatures who can type angry, symbol-riddled letters to a victim just as easily as bite them: The Dingbats. They pass and I thank God that Iâll live to walk another hall and I turn the corner of that dark and dreary corridor and there I am: The Five Point Font Intersection. Itâs where all the halls come together to one epicenter, where all the worlds of individual artistic disciplines used to converge into a beautiful collision.
Used to.
Oh, the horror! Oh, the humanities! I walk around the newly toppled world of the Five Point Fonts. There are beautiful, hopeless people everywhere, some sitting, some wandering and others racking their brains on drying racks.
I keep walking, I survey the scores of once-brilliant people whoâve let this new-toppled world overtake them and force them into the countenances of the gloomy and the downcast. I pass them stunned, saddened, and with a slight headache in my right temple.
There are propaganda posters everywhere (though there seems to be no known source of all the propagating other than âthe worldâ). These posters are all designed with the incredibly easy to decipher typeface known as Five Point Wingdings, a font that I can understand well (I can order a meal or ask âwhereâs the bathroom?â at least) but to speak it, Iâm about as advanced as ten-year-old child with Wingding blood running through his or her veins. These posters, my God, these posters, theyâre bleak and disheartening, and so well composed! And several are monochromatic, which makes the hopelessness all-the-more real! One, in black, white and red, shows a ghoulish looking relative, an uncle, an aunt, or an aardvark, maybe, holding a book entitled Your Art. The relativeâs speech is shown through a text bubble, saying the words âI skimmed it, how neat!â. Another poster shows a group of people staring at a particular piece of art on the wall, a piece hidden from the viewerâs sight in an art gallery. One man says âIt shows promise.â A lady says, patronizingly, through her text bubble, âCute!â. âNeat frame!â another says. âKeep at it and one day youâll be a real hobbyist!â
Oh, the inhumanities!
Alice, where are you? I ponder as I keep perusing the crowded scene. Iâm now in the thick of it, amidst all the noble students who hadnât chosen to let their baser instincts divide them into warring subsets of âcreativesâ. NPR is playing over the loudspeakers, something Iâd normally take much solace in, but I was just told by an aspiring stuntman for voice-over actors that the âPâ in NPR actually stands for âprivateâ, and, thus, this is why the only thing we can hear is the slight stutter of cellphone interference and silence.
Still, I walk the Five Point Fonts. Hopeful little small-groups of steadfast artists greet me and some even ask if Iâd like to join in their games of charades or twenty questions or Olympic swimming (minus the pool, a feature not necessary for all forms of the game), I thank them but insist that Iâve got to find my sister.
Soon the air becomes foul, as if to embody the very dread of all stuck in Darko. There are weeping people everywhere, some slamming their heads into lockers and some (and forgive my crassness) are singing âSuch Great Heightsâ in only sign languageâand in the wrong key! I push my way through the crowds, getting charcoal stains on my shirt and tripping over microphone and XLR cables that lead to nowhere. The place is a den of crime and debauchery. Thereâs watercolor kids being robbed at exacto-knife-point, thereâs shouts and screams of âDiscount pastels, get your discount pastels, three new colors never before seen!â. Student-loan sharks roam the halls with their sharp suits and cans of metallic gold spray-paint, promising a ten percent discount on the going long-long-term first-semester-loan interest rate of 63% (plus tax).
Maybe Alice is in the library, I ponder. She always loved to read. I proceed to where the William Hung Student Library used to be, but there was nothing. Just one guy with a pink bandanna, guarding a bare patch of white wall behind him.
âHey, Iâm Tom,â I say to him. âWhereâs the library? Isnât this where the William Hung Library isâŚor used to be? I know it used to be here.â
âBeen a while since itâs been called that,â he says coldly. âThey renamed it the Salinger-Hughes-Hoffa-Earhart Private Place of Books that Arenât Yours. Nobodyâs been able to find it since.â
âButâ
âYou hear what I said? Take a hike or Iâll take whatever project youâre working on and âget back to youâ!â
I run with a shriek. I donât need to be told twice.
Iâm now walking down a long stretch of down-and-outs, the saddest of the sad in Darko. As I walk, a hand grabs me.
âSir, could you read my essay on the continuing relevance of switchboard operation in the age of the iPhone? Itâs only 600 pages and Iâd love to know your thoughts.â
Ashamedly, I keep walking. Iâm so, so sorry! I cry in my head.
âHey man,â a sweet, lovely woman says, âcan I play you a song I just wrote? Itâs just a rough cut but I thinkâ
No cut is rougher than that in my own chest as I blaze past the guitar woman! Iâm so sorry!
I know your pain, I mutter to myself. I know it, I feel it, but Alice! Iâve got to find her.
âExcuse me, Mr.â
âNo!â
âWonât you take a look at myâ
âNo!â
âShort story?â
âNo!â
âOriginal album art?â
âNo!â
âSpec script?â
âI canât!â
âA cappella concerto mime in French?â
âNo, but how I wish!â
âMacaroni art?â
âMacaroni what?â
I stop. I look down at the girl who is still holding on to my arm. Sheâs dirty and red-eyed, holding a wrinkly piece of paper with glued macaroni on it. Itâs a picture of an elephant holding an umbrella on a vast landscape of brick houses and meticulously-detailed trees in a blizzard with a sky of Aurora Borealis.
âAlice?â I say. âMy God, Alice, is that you?â
âYea, Tom. Itâs me. Look at your little sister now, hanging out at the lockers in the Five Point Fonts. Arenât you proud?â
âOh, AliceâŚâ
âI thought youâd forgotten about me, after everything went bad and all the craziness and destruction.â
âHow could I forget my baby sister? Huh?â
âDo you remember this?â she says, pointing at the macaroni elephant.
âOf course I do. Your first commissioned piece. Two bucks from Mom and three from Dad.â
âI was so happy to finally make a living as an artist when they bought this. For a while I thought Iâd never make it, but there are worst things than selling your first work at seven years old. God, how I danced around the kitchen when I found out. Oh, Tom, donât you remember?â
âOf course! How could I forget? That was one of the last times we were all together, the four of us.â
âTom?â
âYea?â
âWhen you texted me, way before all this craziness, you said you were coming to visit me here at Darko, even if it killed you. Why?â
âWhy?â
âYea, Tom, why?â says one of the weeping student-loan sharks to me from behind. I shoo him away and answer my baby sister.
âWhy, Alice? Because youâre my sister and I love you. An I know, better than most, how lonely it can get creating on your own. I know it gets hard when people donât appreciate you or take the time of day to look at what youâve made or what youâre working on, but if thereâs one other thing I know itâs that Iâve got a splitting headache, so whatâs say me and you bust out of here and grab some good-bad-questionable Chinese food like we used to, huh? What do you say?â
âI say that sounds great, Tom. But I have a confession to make.â
âWhat is it?â
âYouâre right. Everything you just said. Iâve been lonely here. Iâve got a few friends but we donât share any of the same classes really. Actually, they donât even go here. Actually, itâs mainly just a few girls my age I play scrabble against on my phone, At least, I think theyâre girls my age. Anyway, what was that thing Dad always says about me?â
âThat you severely need braces?â
âNo, the other thing.â
âOh, that youâve always had a flair for the dramatic.â
âYea, well, I guess you could say I took that flair and lit it and threw it into a trash can inside the girlâs bathroom in the Drama Wing. It was a signal flare I stole from a prop kid while he was sleeping off an energy drink.â
âYou lit a fireâŚin the bathroom by the utility closet?â
âYea.â
âBut, why, Alice?â
âDonât really know. Maybe I was bored or maybe I wanted someone to notice me, or maybe Iâve just got an affinity for burning waste receptacles.â
âI canât say that I blame you,â I say.
I help her up to her feet and she wipes her face and we hug. Then she says, âLetâs get out of here. I think I can shimmy one of the back doors open with this little thing I fashioned in my spare time.â
Sheâs holding a set of keys marked âMASTER SET: property of Buddy Dick Muncieâ on the tag attached to the ring. We wink to each other. Then a voice booms from the loudspeakers.
âAttention, students, attention! This is Donald M. Darko Dean Martin. Order has been restored. I repeat, order has been restored, thanks to the heroic efforts of the costume and stage production students as well as the surviving faculty. Without their strongly worded run sheets, imploring the gangs to âcut it outâ at precisely 7 p.m. in full makeup and wardrobe, I fear we may all still be at each otherâs throats arguing over silly things like life and existence and meaning.â The speaker sighs. âThis marks the end of the darkest and bloodiest twenty-five minutes in the history of Darko. Now, everyone, if you will all please report to Annie Hall 2b for instructions regarding the rest of todayâs schedule.â There are several groans around us in the Five Point Fonts. âAnd quickly! Because the first twenty students through the doors will receive a whopping ten dollars off their yearly tuition and a free audio download of the already-purchased textbook of their choiceâŚANDâŚA PIZZA PARTY, courtesy of the boys at Sketchy Sketchbooks and Business Practices LLC! COME NOW, STUDENTS OF DARKO!!!â
The place erupts with shouts and nearly everyone bolts out of the Five Point Fonts. Except for Alice and I. Instead, we walk to the back door and Alice unlocks it. And we get in my car and we drive to the only place that will suffice, with food far tastier and soothing to the soul than any pizza or party.
âLove you, Alice.â
âLove you, Tom.â
And we pull in to the dinky little parking lot and park in front of the building and we wave to our favorite golden cat that is already waving back through the front window.
(The End)
2022.12.06 01:45 Trak_one Handstyle letter "A" - digital graffiti alphabet - handstyle graffiti font âđź
 | submitted by Trak_one to u/Trak_one [link] [comments] |
2022.11.26 17:00 matatatias Please help me translate the graffiti in this wall
Kalispera! I was watching this video and tried to decipher this graffiti. https://youtu.be/uL_QOUfRI3Y?t=482 at 8:02. The word "RYLREÎŁ" intrigues me, it has a sigma but also uses the R, which is not on the greek alphabet?
My main goal is to see how ironic is it next to that family and under the 17 Century motto written in the door.
Thanks!
submitted by matatatias to greece [link] [comments]
My main goal is to see how ironic is it next to that family and under the 17 Century motto written in the door.
Thanks!
2022.11.20 18:34 BeaverFur Phantom of the Revolution (9)
First Prev Next
She knew each word must have been calibrated, chosen for maximum impact. The sentences prepared and studied, delivered as the perfect pitch to tug at her human heartstrings. She even recognized those last words âkill the Empire, save the Manifoldâ as opposition rhetoric, straight out of some of the pamphlets sheâd found when raiding their safe houses in the past âand maybe that rhetoric had been Oosmonâs work all along.
She knew all of that, and yet, it still worked on her. Because that idea, the idea of a human Oracle, a human on the Throne... it was such a heresy, such a revolutionary, unashamedly defiant concept, that she couldnât help but to fall in love with it.
It was a love that was doomed from the start, she knew that. A love that promised only pain, disappointment and heartache, when stubborn reality inevitably failed to live up to the dream. She shouldâve learned that lesson by now, spelled as clearly as it had been in Opalineâs bleeding body.
And yet...
âA human Oracle?â she half asked, half whispered. As if afraid the Archon would laugh at her, tell her not to be silly, that she had surely misheard.
âYeah,â said Solver, suddenly excited that she could explain their plan to her, âlike, you have read the Sacramental Theorems, right? Yeah, of course you have. And how the pattern of Oracles is tied to the Fundamental Equation, the Fractal Lattice and all that, right? Right. Oracles are meant to grow the lattice, connect new worlds to it, and thereâs only one Oracle at any given time. So when they die, a new one is born, somewhere in the Manifold.â
âUntil they stopped being born at all, three centuries ago,â said Yarine.
âNo! Remember: Earth is also in the Manifold, right? And the pattern is self-balancing! So, whenever a new sapient homeworld is first bridged, you have all this brand new population joining the Manifold all of a sudden, that never had any Oracles belonging to their species. Thatâs an imbalance right there, and the pattern corrects for the differential. So the next Oracle that is born, it statistically has to belong to the new species. And maybe the next one too, until the balance is restored. But if the Divineers never recognize any of them, the process gets stuck, it remains unbalanced.â
It sounded nice, of course. The Oracles never disappeared, they were still being born. There was a living Oracle right now, just... on Earth. Ignored and unrecognized. Yarine had trouble believing in it, however, maybe because it sounded too simple to be true.
âThereâs never been a Servile Oracle either,â she objected. âAnd humans are bad at numbers, everyone knows that. How can there be an Oracle that canât even run the calculations to open a new Void-Bridge?â
âThe Serviles are a particular exception to the rule,â the Archon replied, âone that the Divineers were always aware of. As for humans, letâs say your lack of innate mathematical capabilities was compensated through... other means.â
âOther means?â
âShow it to her,â they ordered, their eye stalks looking straight at Fender.
The Chatzal seemed reluctant, but eventually he stood up and walked up to a cabinet by the edge of the room. He produced a small object out of a drawer, then returned and placed it on Yarineâs hands.
It was a brass device, disk-shaped and small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. The metal had some decorative engravings on it in the shape of flowers, but no link-patterns at all that Yarine could see. The top side of the object was a clear piece of glass, covering a white surface. Twelve markings of some sort âmaybe numbers in some unknown alphabet, she deducedâ were evenly distributed along the outer border of the white circle. Three miniature needles of different lengths were anchored to the center of the circle, pointing in different directions across its surface. One of them, the longest, moved in fast and snappy increments, turning around and around.
âWhatâs this?â she asked, narrowing her eyes. She turned the object in her hands, but still she couldnât find any link-patterns on its surface. âHow is that needle moving, are any of you doing it?â
âThe humans on Earth call it a pocket watch,â said Fender.
âItâs a time keeping device,â added Solver. âIt doesnât have link-patterns, doesnât run on calculations. Oh well... maybe you could say it actually runs on calculations? Except that it does its calculations by purely physical means! You see, it has a series of interconnected geared wheels, and the ratios between their radius act as multiplications and-â
Yarine only heard the first half of the explanation, the rest being covered by the sound of her own heartbeats in her ears. Her eyes were glued to the device and prickling, a shiver crossing her whole body. Because her tutor had always reprimanded her for being late, back during her instruction when she was younger. And she hadnât known how to fix it, always felt inadequate, lesser than the other species just because humans couldnât run a simple time-tracking theorem in their heads, like everyone else could.
And sure, the humans at Sutsack had their bells to mark the hours, but they probably just hired the services of some Levorian or Salakorian or someone like that who could tell them what time it was. There was always, always that sense of dependence, that lack of self-reliance. Humans arenât fit to take care of themselves, the Empire seemed to say. They canât even tell what time it is.
And here it was. An answer to all of that, in the palm of her hand. One that simply eschewed tradition, the way things were supposed to be done, and did it anyways. A little rebellion of sorts. Another way of telling time, of doing things.
A better way, perhaps, at least for humans. Because she thought, no... she knew that with this device in her hand, she wouldâve never been late to any of those training sessions, any of those sacraments. Not once.
And yet theyâd denied it to her. They had preferred her to be inferior, wanted her to be incapable, reliant on their help. And how many other devices like it existed? Did the humans on Earth have machines to clean their water, raise their heavy loads, warm and dry their houses? How much had she, how much had the people scraping by in Sutsack been denied?
Did they have devices to fly?
It hurt her, looking at the pocket watch; it made her wound bleed and filled her heart with pain and fury. She realized she was crying of rage when the first teardrop hit the glass surface. She noticed she was trembling and wrapped her hand around the device, feeling the subtle buzzing of its not-calculations. She held to it despairingly, as if it were a handhold, a lifeline thrown from a different reality.
There must have been something savage in her expression, something broken and full of hate in her eyes when she raised them to look back at the hovering Olean, because she saw how their body jerked in surprise and how their shell-shields shone in renewed strength for a second, as if expecting a sudden attack.
She had to work at relaxing her jaw, unlocking its death grip in order to talk: âWhat else? What else did they find on Earth that scared them so much?â
âAn entire civilization,â replied Oosmon, its voice never wavering like hers, never losing its elegant harmonics, ânumbering in the hundreds of millions. Simply that number would have been dangerous enough, when trying to integrate such a large population into the Manifold. But their civilization, it was erected on top of devices such as the one you now hold. Theirs is a civilization of machine-builders, Phantom Yarine. Makers of tool of such intricate complexity, that they represent a viable alternative to theorematic calculation when manipulating reality.â
Yarine wiped her tears with her tunicâs dirty sleeve and looked back at the pocket watch, furrowing her brow and trying to see it through the eyes of an Archon, of someone like Suzvir. Trying to see the threat of it, its menace rather than its promise. âAnd thatâs why they were afraid? Did they think, what, that we would take over? Conquer them?â
âItâs because of the Algorithmic Indexes,â replied Solver, the fuzzy woman looking at Yarine with some sort of mixed worry and sympathy.
Yarine played with the device in her hands, but her thoughts took her back to Sutsack, back to the misery she had seen there, and how easy it wouldâve been to solve with the proper tools. âIt breaks their fucking monopoly,â she muttered in understanding. âNo need to pay the noble houses to use their link-patterns when you have something like this instead. Thatâs what you meant all along, all this time: an alternative. A divergent path.â
âYes,â said the Archon, swimming slowly through the air. âIndividuals doing calculations in their own minds can only do so much, and modern applications require a host of simultaneous theorems to be calculated at once. Our industrial society relies on link-patterns, and noble houses like mine that control their Indexes hold the power that derives from that fact. They are our most valuable trade secrets, the source of all our wealth.â
âAnd we humans are the threat to that,â Yarine said. âThatâs why they kept us on Sutsack, why they put all those restrictions on us.â
âThe Archonage knew conflict with humanity would be inevitable if they allowed them full entry into the Manifold. The Oracle back then still wanted humanity to be invited to join, to grow the lattice as Oracles always want. A compromise with the Archonage was made: an experiment at integration.â
An experiment. Sheâd seen the terrible results of it.
âYouâre also part of a noble house,â she reminded the Archon. âAnd you are... what? Fine with a plan that will destroy the source of your own wealth?â
âA transition is necessary. I must admit it entails risks, but those of us who react to the changing tide the fastest have the better chance at coming out ahead. There exist different ways to gain wealth and power, Phantom Yarine. Anticipating the future is one; but designing, shaping that future into being is the one I prefer.â
She paced back to the window, mulling on that, and on something that had been bothering even since she fled to the swamp world, all that time ago.
âSo if the noble houses and the Archonage control the Indexes,â she asked, âhow it is they didnât shut me off, then? My link-patterns, I mean.â
âThey canât,â said Solver. âThe Index is shared. Theyâd have to shut off not only every other Phantom, but also all other applications that use the vectorial field, that share the same link-patterns with you: manufacture, transportation... At this point the Archonage still thinks you an... oddity? Like, a statistical anomaly. So as long as most Phantoms remain loyal to them, theyâll rather keep things as they are rather than causing an upheaval of that magnitude. The War of Recession was triggered by the failure of an Index, you know.â
Which meant they could still shut down her link-patterns at any moment they wished. Yarine found the thought unbearably perverse. The idea that all that training, all that familiarity could be simply... taken away from her. That her shadeswimming wasnât really hers, that it was at the fingertips, the non-existent mercy of the Archonage. She had to think of something else, or she would go insane. The emotional whiplash of this conversation, this whole day growing ever more taxing.
She placed the watch into her own pocket, a narrow look in her eyes as she gauged the reactions of the others to that, anticipating any of them âFender, probablyâ would rebuke her, would tell her the little machine wasnât hers to keep. She would have welcomed it, if any of them had the gall to try and snatch the thing off her hands, as if she âa humanâ wasnât the one that had the better claim for it out of everyone in the room. She wanted that reason, that excuse she could use to explode at them, to unleash that raw pain in her chest.
But if they disapproved of her action, none of them said a word, and so she simply sighed and after a minute said: âSo where is it, then? That secret Bridge to Earth?â
Oosmon writhed, their body twisting into a spiral. âYou have been educated in the Sacramental Theorems. You already know where it must be.â
Yarine thought for a few seconds, then released a humorless chuckle. âThey didnât move it, did they? The Oracle performed the Bridging Ceremony, just like with any other new world, but when the Archonage panicked after what they found on the other side, they just left the Bridge there afterwards; still in the First Chapel behind the Isomorphic Room.â
Which meant, right behind the Throne, right at the very heart of the Palace of the Five Skies. And if the Archonage had wanted to keep it under wraps, to control who and what crossed through, there was no location more secure than that.
âYou arenât making it easy, are you?â she said. âThe Isomorphic Room is completely sealed when not in use by the Archonage. I canât simply shadeswim my way into it. I know, Iâve tried before. Weâd need a Divineer to unlock the embedding fields first.â
She realized a second too late that she had said âweâ, not âyouâ, and that part of her had already committed to it, to carrying out this reckless, stupid mission.
Solver perked up at that, speaking with confidence. âRight, thatâs my role in this. I am a Graduate of the Kobelian Institute for Advanced Mathematics. I can unlock that room. I also have been learning the Divineerâs tracking theorems; weâll need to use those when we get to Earth, to find the new Oracle.â
âYou coming along all the way to Earth, then?â
âOf course!â
âWe both are,â said Fender, his voice steady.
Maybe he had expected her to explode at that, but Yarine just gave him a half shrug. âFine with me, just remember that Iâm not your subordinate. I never signed into the Phalanx.â
âWe didnât want you just because you were human,â said the Archon, floating back towards the roomâs entrance. âThere are many other humans working with us, but the unique skills of a Phantom will be essential when infiltrating the Palace. Weâll have time to go over the details of the operation over the coming days. In the meantime, let me welcome you as a guest to this house too: there is a room prepared for you at the end of the corridor, the leftmost door. There you will find clean clothes, and a private bathroom you can use at your leisure.â
Perhaps it was a subtle way of letting her know she stank, and that she was leaving faint tracks of mud all over the spotless floors, but she was so exhausted that she took the dismissal the Archon was offering without remorse.
When she entered the room she discovered a stately suite, the entire far wall a window overlooking the turquoise seas of Oleania, its central bedroom a circular nest in the Levorian style and padded with so many pillows that it resembled a fallen cloud. The new clothes turned out to be a set of gray Salakorian Phalanx fatigues, which grated on her even if they fit her build good enough. But in the bathroom she found a sunken bathtub accessible via a walk-in spiral ramp, and when she finally was in there and floating in the water she could almost forgive the manor for all its decadent excesses.
Over the following days, they prepared for their mission. They went over the internal maps of the Palace and Yarine noted those points where they deviated from her own recollection, marked the vents that connected rooms and corridors, and some of those narrow passageways only Serviles âand sometimes Phantomsâ ever used. She met the rest of Waterhome Cell âa couple of Salakorians and three other Menkialiâ but it was always Fender and Solver that she always practiced with. They learned how to move as one and communicate with each other, and she and Fender did combat training exercises and practice fights. And maybe those first days they really went at it, and left each other bloody and bruised, but it only took a couple of scoldings from Solver to put an end to that.
She didnât see the Archon again until the morning of the seventh day, and when she did Oosmon gifted her a new Phantom tunic, dark and sturdy, and a hooded cloak. The cloak was almost identical to that iconic one sheâd seen in the graffiti back on Dresenes, and when Oosmon told her what they wanted her to do with it, she almost threw it back to their face âor where she assumed their face would be, had they have oneâ but Solver was there to mollify her.
That was how Yarine found herself dressed as the Phantom of the Revolution, wearing a costume of that idealized, vengeful, impossibly sublime version of herself. They had prepared a small room for her to do this, bare and dramatically lit and with the branching arrow painted on the wall, and she stepped out of its dark shadows dagger in hand, her mouth a severe line and with the brim of the hood almost âbut not quiteâ covering her eyes.
She stood in front of the Salakorian whose recording calculation was broadcasting this to the entire Manifold of Worlds âto thousands of hijacked far-screens all over hundreds of districtsâ and started speaking, trying to keep her voice level. She told those watching that she had joined the Divergence, and that there was another way. She didnât tell them which one, though, never mentioning the tool-makers or their pocket watches, but she did tell them that the time for it was now. Most of what she said was opposition rhetoric: she told them of oppression and dominance, of equality and ideals, and she used verses of the poem too, reminding them of wars that were proclaimed, and rages that were unchained, of common aims and burning flames.
It was a performance, giving them what they needed to see, pretending to be that iconic creature, the real Yarine Clover tucked away into a pocket of her cloak and all but forgotten in the Phantomâs shadow. But a couple of times she found ways to deviate from the prepared script. And when she told them that the Archonage had killed her family, and so she would have to kill the Archonage in return, she wasnât acting when her voice turned freezing and her eyes glimmered in fury.
And as if they had only been waiting for that spark all along, the worlds of the Fractal Empire went up in flames.
Everyday after that she watched the daily reports in the enormous far-screen embedded in her roomâs wall. The official newscasts were censoring most of what happened, but Oosmon had access to the recordings made by the Phalanx directly on the field and meant only for the Archonageâs eyes. So she saw the riots in Lohin and Innarvis, Dresenes and Yeclite, and the fires devouring the avenues of Phazel, the majestic trees going up in flames under the unending barrages of the Phalanxâs hornets as they rained fire upon the massed people. She saw the students go into strike in the Prime Academy of Conitz, the campus blockaded by their barricades, and how the troopers entered into classrooms and put an end to them with thought-ceasing calculations, the bodies falling suddenly inert as if they were ragdolls. She saw the marches in Xodrihi and the repression that followed them. She saw mangled bodies of humans, but also of Levorians and Menkiali and most of the other species in the Manifold too.
And whenever the images switched to the devastation in Sutsack, to its collapsed slum buildings and its sunk streets, she felt her mouth go very, very dry as she looked standing still as a statue for any faces she could recognize among the refugees and victims. She looked for Opaline and her children, for her mother and husband.
She never found those faces, but there were dozens, hundreds of Opalines. People lying in pools of their own blood, missing limbs and with horrifying scars mutilating their bodies.
And she knew it was all her fault. All because of her message. Because she had agreed to weaponize her own little betrayal, turn it into a tool with which to spark a wider revolt. And it worked.
All that pain, all that suffering, she also knew it was good for their purposes, for the goals of the Divergence. That they would weaponize that too, turn it into more fuel for further anger. Each injury a new reason to go one step further, each death a new dozen converts to the cause.
It was a self-sustaining engine of rebellion, voracious and implacable. Everything it touched, it turned into a tool.
At night, on those times when she felt so sick to her stomach that she couldnât sleep, she would pace around her room, which despite its size still felt as cramped as a prison cell. And she would hold the pocket watch in her hand and stare at its turning needles for minutes on end, as if they had the answer to her unspoken question: âIs it worth it?â
But the pocket watch always remained silent.
First Prev Next
submitted by BeaverFur to HFY [link] [comments]
She knew each word must have been calibrated, chosen for maximum impact. The sentences prepared and studied, delivered as the perfect pitch to tug at her human heartstrings. She even recognized those last words âkill the Empire, save the Manifoldâ as opposition rhetoric, straight out of some of the pamphlets sheâd found when raiding their safe houses in the past âand maybe that rhetoric had been Oosmonâs work all along.
She knew all of that, and yet, it still worked on her. Because that idea, the idea of a human Oracle, a human on the Throne... it was such a heresy, such a revolutionary, unashamedly defiant concept, that she couldnât help but to fall in love with it.
It was a love that was doomed from the start, she knew that. A love that promised only pain, disappointment and heartache, when stubborn reality inevitably failed to live up to the dream. She shouldâve learned that lesson by now, spelled as clearly as it had been in Opalineâs bleeding body.
And yet...
âA human Oracle?â she half asked, half whispered. As if afraid the Archon would laugh at her, tell her not to be silly, that she had surely misheard.
âYeah,â said Solver, suddenly excited that she could explain their plan to her, âlike, you have read the Sacramental Theorems, right? Yeah, of course you have. And how the pattern of Oracles is tied to the Fundamental Equation, the Fractal Lattice and all that, right? Right. Oracles are meant to grow the lattice, connect new worlds to it, and thereâs only one Oracle at any given time. So when they die, a new one is born, somewhere in the Manifold.â
âUntil they stopped being born at all, three centuries ago,â said Yarine.
âNo! Remember: Earth is also in the Manifold, right? And the pattern is self-balancing! So, whenever a new sapient homeworld is first bridged, you have all this brand new population joining the Manifold all of a sudden, that never had any Oracles belonging to their species. Thatâs an imbalance right there, and the pattern corrects for the differential. So the next Oracle that is born, it statistically has to belong to the new species. And maybe the next one too, until the balance is restored. But if the Divineers never recognize any of them, the process gets stuck, it remains unbalanced.â
It sounded nice, of course. The Oracles never disappeared, they were still being born. There was a living Oracle right now, just... on Earth. Ignored and unrecognized. Yarine had trouble believing in it, however, maybe because it sounded too simple to be true.
âThereâs never been a Servile Oracle either,â she objected. âAnd humans are bad at numbers, everyone knows that. How can there be an Oracle that canât even run the calculations to open a new Void-Bridge?â
âThe Serviles are a particular exception to the rule,â the Archon replied, âone that the Divineers were always aware of. As for humans, letâs say your lack of innate mathematical capabilities was compensated through... other means.â
âOther means?â
âShow it to her,â they ordered, their eye stalks looking straight at Fender.
The Chatzal seemed reluctant, but eventually he stood up and walked up to a cabinet by the edge of the room. He produced a small object out of a drawer, then returned and placed it on Yarineâs hands.
It was a brass device, disk-shaped and small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. The metal had some decorative engravings on it in the shape of flowers, but no link-patterns at all that Yarine could see. The top side of the object was a clear piece of glass, covering a white surface. Twelve markings of some sort âmaybe numbers in some unknown alphabet, she deducedâ were evenly distributed along the outer border of the white circle. Three miniature needles of different lengths were anchored to the center of the circle, pointing in different directions across its surface. One of them, the longest, moved in fast and snappy increments, turning around and around.
âWhatâs this?â she asked, narrowing her eyes. She turned the object in her hands, but still she couldnât find any link-patterns on its surface. âHow is that needle moving, are any of you doing it?â
âThe humans on Earth call it a pocket watch,â said Fender.
âItâs a time keeping device,â added Solver. âIt doesnât have link-patterns, doesnât run on calculations. Oh well... maybe you could say it actually runs on calculations? Except that it does its calculations by purely physical means! You see, it has a series of interconnected geared wheels, and the ratios between their radius act as multiplications and-â
Yarine only heard the first half of the explanation, the rest being covered by the sound of her own heartbeats in her ears. Her eyes were glued to the device and prickling, a shiver crossing her whole body. Because her tutor had always reprimanded her for being late, back during her instruction when she was younger. And she hadnât known how to fix it, always felt inadequate, lesser than the other species just because humans couldnât run a simple time-tracking theorem in their heads, like everyone else could.
And sure, the humans at Sutsack had their bells to mark the hours, but they probably just hired the services of some Levorian or Salakorian or someone like that who could tell them what time it was. There was always, always that sense of dependence, that lack of self-reliance. Humans arenât fit to take care of themselves, the Empire seemed to say. They canât even tell what time it is.
And here it was. An answer to all of that, in the palm of her hand. One that simply eschewed tradition, the way things were supposed to be done, and did it anyways. A little rebellion of sorts. Another way of telling time, of doing things.
A better way, perhaps, at least for humans. Because she thought, no... she knew that with this device in her hand, she wouldâve never been late to any of those training sessions, any of those sacraments. Not once.
And yet theyâd denied it to her. They had preferred her to be inferior, wanted her to be incapable, reliant on their help. And how many other devices like it existed? Did the humans on Earth have machines to clean their water, raise their heavy loads, warm and dry their houses? How much had she, how much had the people scraping by in Sutsack been denied?
Did they have devices to fly?
It hurt her, looking at the pocket watch; it made her wound bleed and filled her heart with pain and fury. She realized she was crying of rage when the first teardrop hit the glass surface. She noticed she was trembling and wrapped her hand around the device, feeling the subtle buzzing of its not-calculations. She held to it despairingly, as if it were a handhold, a lifeline thrown from a different reality.
There must have been something savage in her expression, something broken and full of hate in her eyes when she raised them to look back at the hovering Olean, because she saw how their body jerked in surprise and how their shell-shields shone in renewed strength for a second, as if expecting a sudden attack.
She had to work at relaxing her jaw, unlocking its death grip in order to talk: âWhat else? What else did they find on Earth that scared them so much?â
âAn entire civilization,â replied Oosmon, its voice never wavering like hers, never losing its elegant harmonics, ânumbering in the hundreds of millions. Simply that number would have been dangerous enough, when trying to integrate such a large population into the Manifold. But their civilization, it was erected on top of devices such as the one you now hold. Theirs is a civilization of machine-builders, Phantom Yarine. Makers of tool of such intricate complexity, that they represent a viable alternative to theorematic calculation when manipulating reality.â
Yarine wiped her tears with her tunicâs dirty sleeve and looked back at the pocket watch, furrowing her brow and trying to see it through the eyes of an Archon, of someone like Suzvir. Trying to see the threat of it, its menace rather than its promise. âAnd thatâs why they were afraid? Did they think, what, that we would take over? Conquer them?â
âItâs because of the Algorithmic Indexes,â replied Solver, the fuzzy woman looking at Yarine with some sort of mixed worry and sympathy.
Yarine played with the device in her hands, but her thoughts took her back to Sutsack, back to the misery she had seen there, and how easy it wouldâve been to solve with the proper tools. âIt breaks their fucking monopoly,â she muttered in understanding. âNo need to pay the noble houses to use their link-patterns when you have something like this instead. Thatâs what you meant all along, all this time: an alternative. A divergent path.â
âYes,â said the Archon, swimming slowly through the air. âIndividuals doing calculations in their own minds can only do so much, and modern applications require a host of simultaneous theorems to be calculated at once. Our industrial society relies on link-patterns, and noble houses like mine that control their Indexes hold the power that derives from that fact. They are our most valuable trade secrets, the source of all our wealth.â
âAnd we humans are the threat to that,â Yarine said. âThatâs why they kept us on Sutsack, why they put all those restrictions on us.â
âThe Archonage knew conflict with humanity would be inevitable if they allowed them full entry into the Manifold. The Oracle back then still wanted humanity to be invited to join, to grow the lattice as Oracles always want. A compromise with the Archonage was made: an experiment at integration.â
An experiment. Sheâd seen the terrible results of it.
âYouâre also part of a noble house,â she reminded the Archon. âAnd you are... what? Fine with a plan that will destroy the source of your own wealth?â
âA transition is necessary. I must admit it entails risks, but those of us who react to the changing tide the fastest have the better chance at coming out ahead. There exist different ways to gain wealth and power, Phantom Yarine. Anticipating the future is one; but designing, shaping that future into being is the one I prefer.â
She paced back to the window, mulling on that, and on something that had been bothering even since she fled to the swamp world, all that time ago.
âSo if the noble houses and the Archonage control the Indexes,â she asked, âhow it is they didnât shut me off, then? My link-patterns, I mean.â
âThey canât,â said Solver. âThe Index is shared. Theyâd have to shut off not only every other Phantom, but also all other applications that use the vectorial field, that share the same link-patterns with you: manufacture, transportation... At this point the Archonage still thinks you an... oddity? Like, a statistical anomaly. So as long as most Phantoms remain loyal to them, theyâll rather keep things as they are rather than causing an upheaval of that magnitude. The War of Recession was triggered by the failure of an Index, you know.â
Which meant they could still shut down her link-patterns at any moment they wished. Yarine found the thought unbearably perverse. The idea that all that training, all that familiarity could be simply... taken away from her. That her shadeswimming wasnât really hers, that it was at the fingertips, the non-existent mercy of the Archonage. She had to think of something else, or she would go insane. The emotional whiplash of this conversation, this whole day growing ever more taxing.
She placed the watch into her own pocket, a narrow look in her eyes as she gauged the reactions of the others to that, anticipating any of them âFender, probablyâ would rebuke her, would tell her the little machine wasnât hers to keep. She would have welcomed it, if any of them had the gall to try and snatch the thing off her hands, as if she âa humanâ wasnât the one that had the better claim for it out of everyone in the room. She wanted that reason, that excuse she could use to explode at them, to unleash that raw pain in her chest.
But if they disapproved of her action, none of them said a word, and so she simply sighed and after a minute said: âSo where is it, then? That secret Bridge to Earth?â
Oosmon writhed, their body twisting into a spiral. âYou have been educated in the Sacramental Theorems. You already know where it must be.â
Yarine thought for a few seconds, then released a humorless chuckle. âThey didnât move it, did they? The Oracle performed the Bridging Ceremony, just like with any other new world, but when the Archonage panicked after what they found on the other side, they just left the Bridge there afterwards; still in the First Chapel behind the Isomorphic Room.â
Which meant, right behind the Throne, right at the very heart of the Palace of the Five Skies. And if the Archonage had wanted to keep it under wraps, to control who and what crossed through, there was no location more secure than that.
âYou arenât making it easy, are you?â she said. âThe Isomorphic Room is completely sealed when not in use by the Archonage. I canât simply shadeswim my way into it. I know, Iâve tried before. Weâd need a Divineer to unlock the embedding fields first.â
She realized a second too late that she had said âweâ, not âyouâ, and that part of her had already committed to it, to carrying out this reckless, stupid mission.
Solver perked up at that, speaking with confidence. âRight, thatâs my role in this. I am a Graduate of the Kobelian Institute for Advanced Mathematics. I can unlock that room. I also have been learning the Divineerâs tracking theorems; weâll need to use those when we get to Earth, to find the new Oracle.â
âYou coming along all the way to Earth, then?â
âOf course!â
âWe both are,â said Fender, his voice steady.
Maybe he had expected her to explode at that, but Yarine just gave him a half shrug. âFine with me, just remember that Iâm not your subordinate. I never signed into the Phalanx.â
âWe didnât want you just because you were human,â said the Archon, floating back towards the roomâs entrance. âThere are many other humans working with us, but the unique skills of a Phantom will be essential when infiltrating the Palace. Weâll have time to go over the details of the operation over the coming days. In the meantime, let me welcome you as a guest to this house too: there is a room prepared for you at the end of the corridor, the leftmost door. There you will find clean clothes, and a private bathroom you can use at your leisure.â
Perhaps it was a subtle way of letting her know she stank, and that she was leaving faint tracks of mud all over the spotless floors, but she was so exhausted that she took the dismissal the Archon was offering without remorse.
When she entered the room she discovered a stately suite, the entire far wall a window overlooking the turquoise seas of Oleania, its central bedroom a circular nest in the Levorian style and padded with so many pillows that it resembled a fallen cloud. The new clothes turned out to be a set of gray Salakorian Phalanx fatigues, which grated on her even if they fit her build good enough. But in the bathroom she found a sunken bathtub accessible via a walk-in spiral ramp, and when she finally was in there and floating in the water she could almost forgive the manor for all its decadent excesses.
Over the following days, they prepared for their mission. They went over the internal maps of the Palace and Yarine noted those points where they deviated from her own recollection, marked the vents that connected rooms and corridors, and some of those narrow passageways only Serviles âand sometimes Phantomsâ ever used. She met the rest of Waterhome Cell âa couple of Salakorians and three other Menkialiâ but it was always Fender and Solver that she always practiced with. They learned how to move as one and communicate with each other, and she and Fender did combat training exercises and practice fights. And maybe those first days they really went at it, and left each other bloody and bruised, but it only took a couple of scoldings from Solver to put an end to that.
She didnât see the Archon again until the morning of the seventh day, and when she did Oosmon gifted her a new Phantom tunic, dark and sturdy, and a hooded cloak. The cloak was almost identical to that iconic one sheâd seen in the graffiti back on Dresenes, and when Oosmon told her what they wanted her to do with it, she almost threw it back to their face âor where she assumed their face would be, had they have oneâ but Solver was there to mollify her.
That was how Yarine found herself dressed as the Phantom of the Revolution, wearing a costume of that idealized, vengeful, impossibly sublime version of herself. They had prepared a small room for her to do this, bare and dramatically lit and with the branching arrow painted on the wall, and she stepped out of its dark shadows dagger in hand, her mouth a severe line and with the brim of the hood almost âbut not quiteâ covering her eyes.
She stood in front of the Salakorian whose recording calculation was broadcasting this to the entire Manifold of Worlds âto thousands of hijacked far-screens all over hundreds of districtsâ and started speaking, trying to keep her voice level. She told those watching that she had joined the Divergence, and that there was another way. She didnât tell them which one, though, never mentioning the tool-makers or their pocket watches, but she did tell them that the time for it was now. Most of what she said was opposition rhetoric: she told them of oppression and dominance, of equality and ideals, and she used verses of the poem too, reminding them of wars that were proclaimed, and rages that were unchained, of common aims and burning flames.
It was a performance, giving them what they needed to see, pretending to be that iconic creature, the real Yarine Clover tucked away into a pocket of her cloak and all but forgotten in the Phantomâs shadow. But a couple of times she found ways to deviate from the prepared script. And when she told them that the Archonage had killed her family, and so she would have to kill the Archonage in return, she wasnât acting when her voice turned freezing and her eyes glimmered in fury.
And as if they had only been waiting for that spark all along, the worlds of the Fractal Empire went up in flames.
Everyday after that she watched the daily reports in the enormous far-screen embedded in her roomâs wall. The official newscasts were censoring most of what happened, but Oosmon had access to the recordings made by the Phalanx directly on the field and meant only for the Archonageâs eyes. So she saw the riots in Lohin and Innarvis, Dresenes and Yeclite, and the fires devouring the avenues of Phazel, the majestic trees going up in flames under the unending barrages of the Phalanxâs hornets as they rained fire upon the massed people. She saw the students go into strike in the Prime Academy of Conitz, the campus blockaded by their barricades, and how the troopers entered into classrooms and put an end to them with thought-ceasing calculations, the bodies falling suddenly inert as if they were ragdolls. She saw the marches in Xodrihi and the repression that followed them. She saw mangled bodies of humans, but also of Levorians and Menkiali and most of the other species in the Manifold too.
And whenever the images switched to the devastation in Sutsack, to its collapsed slum buildings and its sunk streets, she felt her mouth go very, very dry as she looked standing still as a statue for any faces she could recognize among the refugees and victims. She looked for Opaline and her children, for her mother and husband.
She never found those faces, but there were dozens, hundreds of Opalines. People lying in pools of their own blood, missing limbs and with horrifying scars mutilating their bodies.
And she knew it was all her fault. All because of her message. Because she had agreed to weaponize her own little betrayal, turn it into a tool with which to spark a wider revolt. And it worked.
All that pain, all that suffering, she also knew it was good for their purposes, for the goals of the Divergence. That they would weaponize that too, turn it into more fuel for further anger. Each injury a new reason to go one step further, each death a new dozen converts to the cause.
It was a self-sustaining engine of rebellion, voracious and implacable. Everything it touched, it turned into a tool.
At night, on those times when she felt so sick to her stomach that she couldnât sleep, she would pace around her room, which despite its size still felt as cramped as a prison cell. And she would hold the pocket watch in her hand and stare at its turning needles for minutes on end, as if they had the answer to her unspoken question: âIs it worth it?â
But the pocket watch always remained silent.
First Prev Next
2022.11.18 00:51 Trak_one throwup graffiti alphabet âđźâŞ
 | submitted by Trak_one to blackbookgraffiti [link] [comments] |
2022.11.17 16:52 adventurelounger Weird âRunicâ Graffiti on Billboards Outside Queens Midtown Tunnel?
For years Iâve been seeing this weird ârunicâ graffiti on billboards around the entrance/exit of the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the LIE. I canât figure out what it says, what it means, or what alphabet/letterforms itâs written in. It looks like the rune writing from Lord of the Rings, or some other runic alphabet.
Since the pandemic, itâs seemed to proliferate. There are currently several billboards by the tunnel entrance on the Queens side with this style of writing. I think Iâve also seen the same rune-style graffiti in Manhattan.
Iâve tried googling and visiting NYC graffiti sites and blogsâŚbut canât find a thing. Anyone know what it is, or the backstory around it? Thanks in advance.
submitted by adventurelounger to AskNYC [link] [comments]
Since the pandemic, itâs seemed to proliferate. There are currently several billboards by the tunnel entrance on the Queens side with this style of writing. I think Iâve also seen the same rune-style graffiti in Manhattan.
Iâve tried googling and visiting NYC graffiti sites and blogsâŚbut canât find a thing. Anyone know what it is, or the backstory around it? Thanks in advance.
2022.11.17 11:22 eb_83 Is this part of a futhorc runic inscription?
 | As I was reading a medievalists.net article about the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon Church in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire during the construction of the HS2 Railway and this image caught my eye. submitted by eb_83 to runes [link] [comments] Source: HS2 Ltd. Link:https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/st-mary-s-graffiti-5 Now, I have only a rudimentary knowledge of futhorc, but I can't be the only one who sees áťááš OE. fortune, can I? According to the BBC and HS2, the church dates to 1080, which is well after the end of the time when the futhorc runic alphabet was used. However, roman statues and rooftiles have also been found at the site, which shows that the area, perhaps not Stoke Mandeville itself as it was first referenced in the Doomesday Book in 1086, has a much longer history. Both HS2 and the medievalists article make reference to this and other stone carvings found at the site being âwitchesâ marks, created to ward off evil spirits by entrapping them in an endless line of maze.However, there are no sources given in either article. Additionally, no article I have seen mentions possible futhorc runes. So:
Link to BBC article Link to HS2 article |
2022.10.29 20:15 Ellieisasmartcookie Tapped Out Game Info
Item limit:
The item limit is currently14,000 15000 16,000 items. You will get a warning at 11,000 12000 13,000 items and every 150 placed after that. As long as your device is having no issues, you can safely place up to the 16,000 limit. At 16,000 you will have to store items in order to place anything else. Some items count as more than 1 placed items. Anything in the ocean counts as 2. Bridge railing on road count as one for each side of the road. More info: https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/90074/tips-for-players/p1
**Advice on creating an account:*\*
You really need an account in this game. If you lose or change your phone, it gets broken, stolen, or the game glitches, your town will just be a log in away.
First go into your anonymous town you want to keep and get your Mayhem ID https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/the-simpsons/the-simpsons-tapped-out/where-is-my-mayhem-id/
Create the account through the game not at ea.com. Make sure to choose an email you will not lose access to. Work or school emails are NOT good options and use one never used for EA before. It will ask you if the level ____game is yours when it is ready to connect it. Don't rush through the process. If you don't get your code email within 4 hours check your spam folder and double check your info and try again. and contact EA if you didn't get it. Go to ea.com and add your info. add a secondary email you have access to if you can choose a password with only letters and numbers less than 15 characters long. add a real mobile phone number.
Confirm Donut Spend: In the settings, turn on Confirm Donut Spend and check it every time you update from the store.
Town Portrait:
Click the Move Tool then click the Camera. You will need space on your device for the program to stitch the photos together.
General troubleshooting tips:
Springfield Heights buildings add 153% when they are all built (Private Islands need to be level 2). All must be placed in town, but the extra pieces do not.
Beach Hideaways fully upgraded add 20% each (max5) all parts must be placed in town
Burns Mystery Box is the next best way to increase bonus reliably. 8 or 9 donuts spent per 1% bonus increase. After the unique items are out of the box, the box usually follows a pattern. News Vans 2% each and Billboards 1% each
My Game tip post: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/nwqjmi/my_tips_for_increasing_bonus_and_farming/
Kwik E Mart Farming for Donuts (KEM Farming):
Basically, get your bonus up to 200% by buying Burns Mystery boxes for the vans and the billboards, work on Springfield Heights for the buildings, and buy Beach Hideaways and upgrade them. Turn on your XP collider, Buy Kwik e Marts, Only spend as much as you earn every 4 hours so you never go in the hole too far. If you are still doing levels, it may take some balancing. I would suggest you wait til level 50 or 60 to really go heavy into farming as it can cause issues with gameplay to level up too fast in the early levels. Once you get over 500% you can see if you are ready to switch to Rat Traps or Bloodmobiles instead of KEM. They cost more so will get fewer donuts per dollar spent.
Do not tap too many KEM or place too many RTT or BM at one time. This game has connection issues and you can lose most of your money spent when it disconnects.
https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/09/28/from-the-mouths-of-addicts-kwik-e-mart-farming-for-free-donuts/
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/149536/kwik-e-mart-also-known-as-kem-farming-guide/p1
Simulator: http://lwshost.com/tsto/simkem.pl
Daily Challenges: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Daily_Challenges_System
https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/02/05/daily-challenges-rundown/
Unemployment Office/ Job Manager: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Office_of_Unemployment
You must reach level 37 and finish Kirk Van Houten's questline Weekend Dad and the Between Jobs quest.
It is unlocked upon starting the Between Jobs questline and allows the player to simultaneously send all idle characters on the common task lengths 60m, 4h, 8h, 12h and 24h. Characters with a job needed for a quest or a daily challenge will not be sent on a job. (This can also happen if you exchange a daily challenge and have not synced by going to friends screen.) Characters that need another character also can not be sent.
In order to do so, players have to pay 25% of the job's Cash reward for non-premium characters and 15% for premium characters.
**Burns Mystery Box info:*\*
Unique items in the box: Lemon Tree, Tire Fire, Kearney, Squeaky Voiced Teen, Blue-Haired Lawyer. Vans give 2% bonus. I&S Billboard gives 1% bonus. Other items help with conform-o-meter or can be sold. Once you have the unique items, the box follows a pattern that results in 1% bonus increase for every 8 donuts spent.
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/256921/what-was-in-your-last-mystery-box/p1
https://i.imgur.com/AqxGpL9.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/Nbx1Cke.png
Shattered Dreams Box:
Tokens can be earned from the daily challenges. X out a non-token task to try to get a token one. One token is given for completing events.
The box is only available after an event finishes, unless there will be no break which means the event must be finished to see the box. There is no way to see how many tokens you have until the box is active.
Tokens also come with packages of donuts after buying the package that contains an exclusive item.
They also are only available when the event is over or finished. Most times the items in the box changes each time unless there is no break. there have been several themes: Nature, food, education, and sports.
If the donut package does not show the tokens it will not come with tokens. https://i.imgur.com/vSww12V.png
Placing Cars on Roads Workaround: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/rqiuol/unlocking_locked_tiles_if_you_take_something_out/
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEb2q1_KUpY
Yearbook: 737 items in 5 columns. The items stay in the same column and rotate through the next available item in each. 30 donuts will get one of the 5 items shown, then that item will disappear from the list and there will be four. Next purchase will get one of the 4 or you can refresh for 5 new items in the rotation. Yearbook is great for characters but not really great if you just want to increase bonus although there are some great bonus items in it. PSA Get the Duffman package that includes Duffman, the brewery, Mexican Duffman and Lady Duffman skin, not the bundle that only has Duffman and the building.
Best things in the yearbook by goal: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/oir6a7/best_items_in_yearbook_by_goal/
Yearbook Items with a bonus: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/ukni46/items_in_yearbook_with_bonus_letter_is_column/
Vault Info: https://i.imgur.com/FMoIT2Y.png
Level Quests: Level Quests are up to level 60. Level Quests require minimum level and prior quests done. They come in order, though there are some hiccups. Example-You may get Old Jewish Man before the proper level and then the quest will start. Many levels come with a main building that is required to progress and a secondary building that can be done at leisure.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/INFO-The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out-Walkthrough/m-p/4256555#M97410
Squidport: Quests: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Squidport_(quest_chain))
Krustyland: https://tstoaddicts.com/guides-to-tsto/all-things-krustyland/ EA moved Krustyland to Springfield in 2018. It now needs to be built in Springfield. If a player had Krustyland before, everything went into storage and their town on the friend list will have crater where Kland used to be. If they have no crater, they started after it was nuked in 2018.
Monorail Information:https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/07/26/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-monorail/
Springfield Heights Information: https://tstoaddicts.com/springfield-heights/https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/81718/sh-tables/p1
8 hour Tasks come at Springfield Heights Pt. 10 You need to buy the 65 pill land to reach the Marketing Agency
Land: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Land_Expansion
https://i.imgur.com/WsdclAn.png This map shows 2 extra rows of token land at the bottom and is incorrect. The rest is good
New Frontier Land:
New Frontier requires you to buy Heights land leading to the bridge
From u/Digifiend84 " There's a shortcut. If you buy the land on the other side of the mountains up to the row where the bridge is on the Heights side, the land plots on the Heights side will become available if they're adjacent. That final row uses the older Heights materials to buy, not the Ads from the Marketing Agency, and thus you can get there faster that way. "
https://i.imgur.com/CJWEuj8.png
https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/r1z5cn/new_frontier_land_expansion/
https://tstoaddicts.com/2021/11/24/northward-bound-prospecting-new-land-part-1/
https://tstoaddicts.com/2021/11/29/northward-bound-prospecting-new-land-part-2/
Where's Maggie: Level 26
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/97437/wheres-maggie-info-and-pictures/p1
Sideshow Bob: https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/205386/sideshow-bob-flaw-and-order-walkthrough-and-tips/p1
Adding Friends: You must have an ea account and be over the minimum age in your country for the social aspects of a game, USA is 13 years old. other countries vary. It will say put in email but it means game name
Friend Point Prizes: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Friend_Points
Conform-o-meter Info: This is in the stars at the bottom left of the UI. Tap the stars to see your ratings. Your bonus percent can be found in the middle under the overall stars at the top.
Getting to 5 Stars on your town will earn a natural 5% bonus. Tap on each star to see how to increase the rating.
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Conform-O-Meter_points_system
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Conform-O-Meter
https://tstoaddicts.com/guides-to-tsto/conform-o-mete
Socialism requires visiting neighbors every day probably for months.
Righteousness is affected by sending characters on "criminal" tasks and doing graffiti in other towns and others doing graffiti in your town and how long it takes to clean it up. Just buy some training walls and hide behind buildings around town. You will need more every level up to 60 when it will max out. You will never have to worry about it again.
Cash Generation:
Shorter tasks earn more money if you can reset them often.
Build some extra houses of each color, but not too many as they increase in cost the more you have. Build some Gulp n Blows or even Kwik e marts for the cash.
Look for one of these buildings in the yearbook: Walking KeM, She She, Steel Mill, Central Office, Chimp Refuge, Sven Gollyâs Hypnotic Tent. When you get to the part that has the Send Springfielders task, do that one but never do the other task in that part. This will let the Springfielders premium task stay and be used over and over using the Unemployment Office.
https://i.imgur.com/7rwxKO8.png
See more details about this tip on the third post of this thread here https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/90074/tips-for-players/p1.
Ways to get Donuts:
Easter Egg 1: send Homer to "Play on his MyPad" for 45 seconds, and you tap him 10 times while he is doing this, you will be awarded a one time payout of 10 donuts and the Jebediah Statue https://tstoaddicts.com/2013/08/19/how-do-i-get-the-jebediah-springfield-statue/
Easter Egg 2: If you have Homer's Stonecutter skin (Number 908) and the Stonecutter Table, you can send Homer to "Sing The Stonecutter Song". Tapping Homer 10 times while doing this will award a one time payout of 10 donuts.
Daily Challenges. You can X out a task once a day to get a new task with a different reward. You can have up to 3 tasks to complete.
Railyard tasks. After completing the initial 5 monorail questlines, those earn one time donut payouts too, every 25000 blueprints will earn 5 donuts.
Where's Maggie Game: https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/01/05/wheres-maggie-playdough-factory-game/ play every 16 hrs, every third time you will get a bonus game for a donut box which awards 1-3 donuts, if you get 1 or 2 you can pay 150,000 cash to try and get 2-3. Max award is 3 donuts.
Sideshow You. About every 300 balloon pops earns you 5 donuts
Friend visits. There is a 0.5% chance of earning a donut with every friend action
Clearing debris. There is a small chance that Homer or Lisa will find a donut while cleaning up debris. Debris can be found either via land expansion, or via launching the rocket (from prior event)
Money Mountain: https://tstoaddicts.com/2015/05/07/aint-no-mountain-high-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-money-mountain/
World's Tallest Redwood: https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/02/17/in-game-update-worlds-largest-redwood/
Road to Riches: Once you buy an aspirational item (over 2 million dollars) this questline will start. I would suggest you not start it until money is plentiful , meaning hundreds of millions available often.
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Aspirational_Buildings https://tstoaddicts.com/2017/07/27/road-to-riches/
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Road_to_Riches
Springfield Dam connection to River: place the river first and it has to be a single line. Then move the Dam over it until it turns green.
Character List: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/v3c3fa/character_list_by_date_with_building_and_event/
https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/v2iuq5/alphabetical_character_list_1_june_2022/
Black Friday Tips:
Decide the most donuts you are willing to buy and buy them all at once. Example if you are going to get 900 donuts to get them all, just buy the 900 donut pack outright!!!each purchase of donuts comes with tokens but you only get the tokens ONE TIME!! So do not try to buy 3x 300 donut packs as you will not get the extra tokens!!!
You do not need to buy these packages individually. The best option is to buy the 900 package and you will get all the prizes in the list. You can only buy each package once that would include the tokens, so get the largest pack you can straight off
YOU MUST BUY DONUTS TO GET THE PRIZES in the Black Friday questline.Buy them by tapping GET MORE in the BF Prize Track
_______________________________________________
Game Issues:
Cannot place Abandoned Warehouse: Can only be placed on Boardwalk or dirt. You can remove the dirt after placing.
Perfection Wilts before I can tap it: You only have 3 seconds to tap Perfection. You cannot watch the timer and close the box to tap as that is longer than you have before it wilts. Just watch it grow without the timer or close the timer 15 seconds before done and be ready to tap as soon as the icon appears.
King Toots: If pt 2 will not start, try sending Lisa to play sax 3 times again
Tasks to drink at Moe's disappeared: Declan Desmond's quest interferes with them. Do his quest first and those tasks should return
Error Logging In:
---General Tips
First watch out for it putting an extra space if you copy and paste.
Give it a minute and try the code again. Make sure to try it before it expires in 10 minutes.
----If you have an account:
Uninstall the game and reboot device
Go to ea.com and log in using your email and password. Once inside check that your primary EMAIL is VERIFIED and add an ALTERNATIVE email address (That you will not lose access to, no work or school emails) and a real phone number (useful as alternative methods for security codes), then verify all your details.
Once you've checked everything, change your password to be less than 15 characters with only letters and numbers in it. (It can take a couple minutes to reflect it in game) Do not change your password while the game is open on a device!
Reinstall the game do not play until downloaded completely
Re-downloading:
Clean off more space, at least 8-10 gbs of more space and reboot device.
On IOS, make sure the offload apps feature is turned off, clear your cache, clear history on safari and spotify if you use them and you may need 10 gb free or 10% of your total storage free. IOS does not accurately tell you how much free space you have so clear off everything you can.
It may download again and then be good until you need space again.
https://help.ea.com/en/help/mobile/troubleshooting-steps-for-android/
https://help.ea.com/en/help/mobile/troubleshooting-steps-for-ios-apps/
No Notifications:
Android 12 turn off Battery optimization for the app in your device settings. It can be turned back on with game updates or OS updates to check it every once in a while
Android 13 is an issue ea needs to fix and they probably will as it rolls out to more and more devices. Contact EA and complain. EA needs to enable the notification permission popup required by A13. Google can't/won't allow the app notifications without the popup. Check out this post--https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/Notifications-Don-t-Work-THOH-2022-Pixel-6-Android-13/td-p/11940478
Nothing to Tap in Friends towns:
The player could have just collected their buildings and nothing is ready yet or everything is tapped by others and not cleared yet. Players should place some extra brown houses so that there is something to collect. Check back in a few minute or when you are finished with your other friends.They also may have stopped playing while on vacation or completely. you can check that in the friends list.
Metal Depot Missing: Read these posts--
https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/Metal-depot-missing/td-p/11337451
https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/xajfe4/finally_solved_my_missing_metal_depot_problem/
Visual Glitches:
It just happens. Use the move tool to tap it and x out. It should return to normal. If it happens a lot, make more free space on your device
Characters stuck in a loop:
Store the building they are stuck in, go to friends screen and back, replace the building
If you can't store the building, store a building associated with a character who is stuck.Like store Moe's tavern and Marge and Moe will also be stored.
Then go to friends screen and back and put the building back.
Game says my other device didn't save and may lose progress:
If you play on 2 devices, go to the last device and go to friends and back to sync then open on the second device.
If you do not play on 2 devices, this is a server glitch. You must hit Play Now and then continue. Most players do not lose any progress, but if you do, it will only be back to the last time you opened.
https://i.imgur.com/FIBP21x.png
Why do my neighbors have Lyle Lanley, how can I get him too: Lyle only shows up as an NPC during the Monorail quest line. He is temporary. He will disappear during the quest line. You may see things in a friends town that is not really there.
My neighbor has things in their town that make no sense: The game will show you all the characters on a visible task even if they really are in a building on a task. The characters may be doing tasks or using items that the neighbor does not really own. If they any boats on the water other than the police boat or have more land than is available, they have hacked their town to do so. Not recommended do not asks about it.
Contacting EA: You should get your mayhem ID https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/the-simpsons/the-simpsons-tapped-out/where-is-my-mayhem-id/
Contact EA through the game, the site https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/?product=the-simpsons-tapped-out or on Twitter https://twitter.com/EAHelp/
Chat or phone is best during business hours in US Central Time M-F choose technical support
Quests Won't Progress, tasks missing, etc:
Seriously, Use Google to search for your issue, try different words to describe it.
Check EA Answers https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/bd-p/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out
and the forum/Bugs and issues thread https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/categories/bugs-issues.
Then if it is not mentioned anywhere, then make a post about it.
_______________________________
Other links PLEASE READ:
Modpost please read: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/um35jp/repeat_posts_please_read_before_making_a_new_post/
New tasks: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/s9gnfy/tasks_recently_added/
PSA about sites that charge: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/p3n2ps/beware_offers_of_game_currency_or_items_sent_by/
WikiSimpsons Content updates: https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/The_Simpsons:_Tapped_Out_content_updates_and_gameplays
Fandom: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Content_Updates
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/235581/christmas-building-skins-and-character-skins-with-animated-tasks
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/93905/town-flyers/p3
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/238508/what-buildings-generate-currencies-other-than-cash#latest
HOW TO CONTACT EA DIRECTLY
submitted by Ellieisasmartcookie to tappedout [link] [comments]
The item limit is currently
**Advice on creating an account:*\*
You really need an account in this game. If you lose or change your phone, it gets broken, stolen, or the game glitches, your town will just be a log in away.
First go into your anonymous town you want to keep and get your Mayhem ID https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/the-simpsons/the-simpsons-tapped-out/where-is-my-mayhem-id/
Create the account through the game not at ea.com. Make sure to choose an email you will not lose access to. Work or school emails are NOT good options and use one never used for EA before. It will ask you if the level ____game is yours when it is ready to connect it. Don't rush through the process. If you don't get your code email within 4 hours check your spam folder and double check your info and try again. and contact EA if you didn't get it. Go to ea.com and add your info. add a secondary email you have access to if you can choose a password with only letters and numbers less than 15 characters long. add a real mobile phone number.
Confirm Donut Spend: In the settings, turn on Confirm Donut Spend and check it every time you update from the store.
Town Portrait:
Click the Move Tool then click the Camera. You will need space on your device for the program to stitch the photos together.
General troubleshooting tips:
- Update your device software
- Check for any Tapped Out update in store
- Log out/Log back in
- Restart device
- Clear cache
- Free up space (some devices may require 8-10 GB free space and Apple devices may require up to 10% of the total space free) IOS lies to you. regularly clear history of spotify and safari if you use them.
- Hard close the game and restart
- Load on another device
- Try a different wifi/connection/internet/broadband
- Change the date and time save and then change back to correct reboot
- Close all other apps before playing
- Only use the app icon to open the game not a notification
- Close any VPN before opening the game
- Accept or decline any pending friend requests
- Change your password at ea.com change your password to be less than 15 characters with only letters and numbers in it. (It can take a couple minutes to reflect it in game) Do not change your password while the game is open on a device
- For those with iOS15, you may want to turn off Private Relay. The game seems to have an issue connecting when it's turned on.
- If connected to EA/Origin: uninstall / reinstall game (Do NOT do this if you play anonymously)
- Synchronise your game often by visiting the friend's screen so your game progress is saved
- https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/How-to-resolve-crashing-freezing-and-loading-progress-issues/m-p/5716153#M122465
- https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/80732/how-to-contact-ea-directly/
Springfield Heights buildings add 153% when they are all built (Private Islands need to be level 2). All must be placed in town, but the extra pieces do not.
Beach Hideaways fully upgraded add 20% each (max5) all parts must be placed in town
Burns Mystery Box is the next best way to increase bonus reliably. 8 or 9 donuts spent per 1% bonus increase. After the unique items are out of the box, the box usually follows a pattern. News Vans 2% each and Billboards 1% each
My Game tip post: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/nwqjmi/my_tips_for_increasing_bonus_and_farming/
Kwik E Mart Farming for Donuts (KEM Farming):
Basically, get your bonus up to 200% by buying Burns Mystery boxes for the vans and the billboards, work on Springfield Heights for the buildings, and buy Beach Hideaways and upgrade them. Turn on your XP collider, Buy Kwik e Marts, Only spend as much as you earn every 4 hours so you never go in the hole too far. If you are still doing levels, it may take some balancing. I would suggest you wait til level 50 or 60 to really go heavy into farming as it can cause issues with gameplay to level up too fast in the early levels. Once you get over 500% you can see if you are ready to switch to Rat Traps or Bloodmobiles instead of KEM. They cost more so will get fewer donuts per dollar spent.
Do not tap too many KEM or place too many RTT or BM at one time. This game has connection issues and you can lose most of your money spent when it disconnects.
https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/09/28/from-the-mouths-of-addicts-kwik-e-mart-farming-for-free-donuts/
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/149536/kwik-e-mart-also-known-as-kem-farming-guide/p1
Simulator: http://lwshost.com/tsto/simkem.pl
Daily Challenges: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Daily_Challenges_System
https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/02/05/daily-challenges-rundown/
Unemployment Office/ Job Manager: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Office_of_Unemployment
You must reach level 37 and finish Kirk Van Houten's questline Weekend Dad and the Between Jobs quest.
It is unlocked upon starting the Between Jobs questline and allows the player to simultaneously send all idle characters on the common task lengths 60m, 4h, 8h, 12h and 24h. Characters with a job needed for a quest or a daily challenge will not be sent on a job. (This can also happen if you exchange a daily challenge and have not synced by going to friends screen.) Characters that need another character also can not be sent.
In order to do so, players have to pay 25% of the job's Cash reward for non-premium characters and 15% for premium characters.
**Burns Mystery Box info:*\*
Unique items in the box: Lemon Tree, Tire Fire, Kearney, Squeaky Voiced Teen, Blue-Haired Lawyer. Vans give 2% bonus. I&S Billboard gives 1% bonus. Other items help with conform-o-meter or can be sold. Once you have the unique items, the box follows a pattern that results in 1% bonus increase for every 8 donuts spent.
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/256921/what-was-in-your-last-mystery-box/p1
https://i.imgur.com/AqxGpL9.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/Nbx1Cke.png
Shattered Dreams Box:
Tokens can be earned from the daily challenges. X out a non-token task to try to get a token one. One token is given for completing events.
The box is only available after an event finishes, unless there will be no break which means the event must be finished to see the box. There is no way to see how many tokens you have until the box is active.
Tokens also come with packages of donuts after buying the package that contains an exclusive item.
They also are only available when the event is over or finished. Most times the items in the box changes each time unless there is no break. there have been several themes: Nature, food, education, and sports.
If the donut package does not show the tokens it will not come with tokens. https://i.imgur.com/vSww12V.png
Placing Cars on Roads Workaround: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/rqiuol/unlocking_locked_tiles_if_you_take_something_out/
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEb2q1_KUpY
Yearbook: 737 items in 5 columns. The items stay in the same column and rotate through the next available item in each. 30 donuts will get one of the 5 items shown, then that item will disappear from the list and there will be four. Next purchase will get one of the 4 or you can refresh for 5 new items in the rotation. Yearbook is great for characters but not really great if you just want to increase bonus although there are some great bonus items in it. PSA Get the Duffman package that includes Duffman, the brewery, Mexican Duffman and Lady Duffman skin, not the bundle that only has Duffman and the building.
Best things in the yearbook by goal: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/oir6a7/best_items_in_yearbook_by_goal/
Yearbook Items with a bonus: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/ukni46/items_in_yearbook_with_bonus_letter_is_column/
Vault Info: https://i.imgur.com/FMoIT2Y.png
Level Quests: Level Quests are up to level 60. Level Quests require minimum level and prior quests done. They come in order, though there are some hiccups. Example-You may get Old Jewish Man before the proper level and then the quest will start. Many levels come with a main building that is required to progress and a secondary building that can be done at leisure.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/INFO-The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out-Walkthrough/m-p/4256555#M97410
Squidport: Quests: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Squidport_(quest_chain))
Krustyland: https://tstoaddicts.com/guides-to-tsto/all-things-krustyland/ EA moved Krustyland to Springfield in 2018. It now needs to be built in Springfield. If a player had Krustyland before, everything went into storage and their town on the friend list will have crater where Kland used to be. If they have no crater, they started after it was nuked in 2018.
Monorail Information:https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/07/26/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-monorail/
Springfield Heights Information: https://tstoaddicts.com/springfield-heights/https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/81718/sh-tables/p1
8 hour Tasks come at Springfield Heights Pt. 10 You need to buy the 65 pill land to reach the Marketing Agency
Land: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Land_Expansion
https://i.imgur.com/WsdclAn.png This map shows 2 extra rows of token land at the bottom and is incorrect. The rest is good
New Frontier Land:
New Frontier requires you to buy Heights land leading to the bridge
From u/Digifiend84 " There's a shortcut. If you buy the land on the other side of the mountains up to the row where the bridge is on the Heights side, the land plots on the Heights side will become available if they're adjacent. That final row uses the older Heights materials to buy, not the Ads from the Marketing Agency, and thus you can get there faster that way. "
https://i.imgur.com/CJWEuj8.png
https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/r1z5cn/new_frontier_land_expansion/
https://tstoaddicts.com/2021/11/24/northward-bound-prospecting-new-land-part-1/
https://tstoaddicts.com/2021/11/29/northward-bound-prospecting-new-land-part-2/
Where's Maggie: Level 26
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/97437/wheres-maggie-info-and-pictures/p1
Sideshow Bob: https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/205386/sideshow-bob-flaw-and-order-walkthrough-and-tips/p1
Adding Friends: You must have an ea account and be over the minimum age in your country for the social aspects of a game, USA is 13 years old. other countries vary. It will say put in email but it means game name
Friend Point Prizes: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Friend_Points
Conform-o-meter Info: This is in the stars at the bottom left of the UI. Tap the stars to see your ratings. Your bonus percent can be found in the middle under the overall stars at the top.
Getting to 5 Stars on your town will earn a natural 5% bonus. Tap on each star to see how to increase the rating.
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Conform-O-Meter_points_system
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Conform-O-Meter
https://tstoaddicts.com/guides-to-tsto/conform-o-mete
Socialism requires visiting neighbors every day probably for months.
Righteousness is affected by sending characters on "criminal" tasks and doing graffiti in other towns and others doing graffiti in your town and how long it takes to clean it up. Just buy some training walls and hide behind buildings around town. You will need more every level up to 60 when it will max out. You will never have to worry about it again.
Cash Generation:
Shorter tasks earn more money if you can reset them often.
Build some extra houses of each color, but not too many as they increase in cost the more you have. Build some Gulp n Blows or even Kwik e marts for the cash.
Look for one of these buildings in the yearbook: Walking KeM, She She, Steel Mill, Central Office, Chimp Refuge, Sven Gollyâs Hypnotic Tent. When you get to the part that has the Send Springfielders task, do that one but never do the other task in that part. This will let the Springfielders premium task stay and be used over and over using the Unemployment Office.
https://i.imgur.com/7rwxKO8.png
See more details about this tip on the third post of this thread here https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/90074/tips-for-players/p1.
Ways to get Donuts:
Easter Egg 1: send Homer to "Play on his MyPad" for 45 seconds, and you tap him 10 times while he is doing this, you will be awarded a one time payout of 10 donuts and the Jebediah Statue https://tstoaddicts.com/2013/08/19/how-do-i-get-the-jebediah-springfield-statue/
Easter Egg 2: If you have Homer's Stonecutter skin (Number 908) and the Stonecutter Table, you can send Homer to "Sing The Stonecutter Song". Tapping Homer 10 times while doing this will award a one time payout of 10 donuts.
Daily Challenges. You can X out a task once a day to get a new task with a different reward. You can have up to 3 tasks to complete.
Railyard tasks. After completing the initial 5 monorail questlines, those earn one time donut payouts too, every 25000 blueprints will earn 5 donuts.
Where's Maggie Game: https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/01/05/wheres-maggie-playdough-factory-game/ play every 16 hrs, every third time you will get a bonus game for a donut box which awards 1-3 donuts, if you get 1 or 2 you can pay 150,000 cash to try and get 2-3. Max award is 3 donuts.
Sideshow You. About every 300 balloon pops earns you 5 donuts
Friend visits. There is a 0.5% chance of earning a donut with every friend action
Clearing debris. There is a small chance that Homer or Lisa will find a donut while cleaning up debris. Debris can be found either via land expansion, or via launching the rocket (from prior event)
Money Mountain: https://tstoaddicts.com/2015/05/07/aint-no-mountain-high-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-money-mountain/
World's Tallest Redwood: https://tstoaddicts.com/2016/02/17/in-game-update-worlds-largest-redwood/
Road to Riches: Once you buy an aspirational item (over 2 million dollars) this questline will start. I would suggest you not start it until money is plentiful , meaning hundreds of millions available often.
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Aspirational_Buildings https://tstoaddicts.com/2017/07/27/road-to-riches/
https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Road_to_Riches
Springfield Dam connection to River: place the river first and it has to be a single line. Then move the Dam over it until it turns green.
Character List: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/v3c3fa/character_list_by_date_with_building_and_event/
https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/v2iuq5/alphabetical_character_list_1_june_2022/
Black Friday Tips:
Decide the most donuts you are willing to buy and buy them all at once. Example if you are going to get 900 donuts to get them all, just buy the 900 donut pack outright!!!each purchase of donuts comes with tokens but you only get the tokens ONE TIME!! So do not try to buy 3x 300 donut packs as you will not get the extra tokens!!!
You do not need to buy these packages individually. The best option is to buy the 900 package and you will get all the prizes in the list. You can only buy each package once that would include the tokens, so get the largest pack you can straight off
YOU MUST BUY DONUTS TO GET THE PRIZES in the Black Friday questline.Buy them by tapping GET MORE in the BF Prize Track
_______________________________________________
Game Issues:
Cannot place Abandoned Warehouse: Can only be placed on Boardwalk or dirt. You can remove the dirt after placing.
Perfection Wilts before I can tap it: You only have 3 seconds to tap Perfection. You cannot watch the timer and close the box to tap as that is longer than you have before it wilts. Just watch it grow without the timer or close the timer 15 seconds before done and be ready to tap as soon as the icon appears.
King Toots: If pt 2 will not start, try sending Lisa to play sax 3 times again
Tasks to drink at Moe's disappeared: Declan Desmond's quest interferes with them. Do his quest first and those tasks should return
Error Logging In:
---General Tips
First watch out for it putting an extra space if you copy and paste.
Give it a minute and try the code again. Make sure to try it before it expires in 10 minutes.
----If you have an account:
Uninstall the game and reboot device
Go to ea.com and log in using your email and password. Once inside check that your primary EMAIL is VERIFIED and add an ALTERNATIVE email address (That you will not lose access to, no work or school emails) and a real phone number (useful as alternative methods for security codes), then verify all your details.
Once you've checked everything, change your password to be less than 15 characters with only letters and numbers in it. (It can take a couple minutes to reflect it in game) Do not change your password while the game is open on a device!
Reinstall the game do not play until downloaded completely
Re-downloading:
Clean off more space, at least 8-10 gbs of more space and reboot device.
On IOS, make sure the offload apps feature is turned off, clear your cache, clear history on safari and spotify if you use them and you may need 10 gb free or 10% of your total storage free. IOS does not accurately tell you how much free space you have so clear off everything you can.
It may download again and then be good until you need space again.
https://help.ea.com/en/help/mobile/troubleshooting-steps-for-android/
https://help.ea.com/en/help/mobile/troubleshooting-steps-for-ios-apps/
No Notifications:
Android 12 turn off Battery optimization for the app in your device settings. It can be turned back on with game updates or OS updates to check it every once in a while
Android 13 is an issue ea needs to fix and they probably will as it rolls out to more and more devices. Contact EA and complain. EA needs to enable the notification permission popup required by A13. Google can't/won't allow the app notifications without the popup. Check out this post--https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/Notifications-Don-t-Work-THOH-2022-Pixel-6-Android-13/td-p/11940478
Nothing to Tap in Friends towns:
The player could have just collected their buildings and nothing is ready yet or everything is tapped by others and not cleared yet. Players should place some extra brown houses so that there is something to collect. Check back in a few minute or when you are finished with your other friends.They also may have stopped playing while on vacation or completely. you can check that in the friends list.
Metal Depot Missing: Read these posts--
https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/Metal-depot-missing/td-p/11337451
https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/xajfe4/finally_solved_my_missing_metal_depot_problem/
Visual Glitches:
It just happens. Use the move tool to tap it and x out. It should return to normal. If it happens a lot, make more free space on your device
Characters stuck in a loop:
Store the building they are stuck in, go to friends screen and back, replace the building
If you can't store the building, store a building associated with a character who is stuck.Like store Moe's tavern and Marge and Moe will also be stored.
Then go to friends screen and back and put the building back.
Game says my other device didn't save and may lose progress:
If you play on 2 devices, go to the last device and go to friends and back to sync then open on the second device.
If you do not play on 2 devices, this is a server glitch. You must hit Play Now and then continue. Most players do not lose any progress, but if you do, it will only be back to the last time you opened.
https://i.imgur.com/FIBP21x.png
Why do my neighbors have Lyle Lanley, how can I get him too: Lyle only shows up as an NPC during the Monorail quest line. He is temporary. He will disappear during the quest line. You may see things in a friends town that is not really there.
My neighbor has things in their town that make no sense: The game will show you all the characters on a visible task even if they really are in a building on a task. The characters may be doing tasks or using items that the neighbor does not really own. If they any boats on the water other than the police boat or have more land than is available, they have hacked their town to do so. Not recommended do not asks about it.
Contacting EA: You should get your mayhem ID https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/the-simpsons/the-simpsons-tapped-out/where-is-my-mayhem-id/
Contact EA through the game, the site https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/?product=the-simpsons-tapped-out or on Twitter https://twitter.com/EAHelp/
Chat or phone is best during business hours in US Central Time M-F choose technical support
Quests Won't Progress, tasks missing, etc:
Seriously, Use Google to search for your issue, try different words to describe it.
Check EA Answers https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out/bd-p/The-Simpsons-Tapped-Out
and the forum/Bugs and issues thread https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/categories/bugs-issues.
Then if it is not mentioned anywhere, then make a post about it.
_______________________________
Other links PLEASE READ:
Modpost please read: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/um35jp/repeat_posts_please_read_before_making_a_new_post/
New tasks: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/s9gnfy/tasks_recently_added/
PSA about sites that charge: https://www.reddit.com/tappedout/comments/p3n2ps/beware_offers_of_game_currency_or_items_sent_by/
WikiSimpsons Content updates: https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/The_Simpsons:_Tapped_Out_content_updates_and_gameplays
Fandom: https://simpsonstappedout.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Content_Updates
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/235581/christmas-building-skins-and-character-skins-with-animated-tasks
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/93905/town-flyers/p3
https://forums.ea.com/en/the-simpsons-tapped-out/discussion/238508/what-buildings-generate-currencies-other-than-cash#latest
HOW TO CONTACT EA DIRECTLY
2022.10.29 03:38 Gallionella ALLS11E
but for the moment we can only consider this an idea not yet proven.
The signals sent by tumor cells not only impede the attack of the immune system, also induce the modification of the tissue that accompanies them. Specifically, this work shows that, when tumor cells are glucose deprived they initiate a signal cascade to promote angiogenesis in vitro, that is, the creation of new blood vessels that return the blood flow and the nutrients.
Antimetabolic drugs
There is a type of drug that attacks tumors called antimetabolic drugs. They act impairing nutrient processing of tumor cells, and thus, through starvation, promote the death of tumor cells. These drugs, despite having good results in animal models, often fail in clinical trials with patients.
The results of this study could explain the lack of efficacy of this type of drugs https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ibri-ndi042120.php
The paper reports the first discovery of a natural, cooperative strategy used by an organism to survive high temperatures. Laman Trip and Youk developed experiments and a mathematical model revealing that yeasts help each other and their future generations to replicate, survive and avoid becoming extinct at temperatures previously considered too high for survivalâabove 40 degrees C. https://phys.org/news/2020-04-microorganisms-survive-high-temperatures.html
Nearly half of US breathing unhealthy air; record-breaking air pollution in nine cities https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ala-nho041720.php
Blood analysis reveals signs of Parkinson's 10 years before diagnosis https://newatlas.com/medical/blood-analysis-signs-parkinsons-10-years/
Doubt is essential for science â but for politicians, it's a sign of weakness https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/ap21/doubt-essential-science-politicians-coronavirus
EPA Particulate Matter Decision Puts Science, Health Aside to Protect Polluters
Statement by Gretchen Goldman, Union of Concerned Scientists https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/epa-particulate-matter-decision-puts-science-health-aside-protect-polluters
Autistic People Make Great Social Partners if You Actually Give Them a Chance
Style, not substance, drives negative impressions of the social life of people on the autism spectrum https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/autistic-people-make-great-social-partners-if-you-actually-give-them-a-chance/
Activism in Hard Times https://blog.ucsusa.org/fernando-tormos-aponte/activism-in-hard-times
Syphilis eludes immune attack by altering a single gene
By shuffling DNA in and out of one gene, syphilis stays a step ahead of the immune system to resist eradication https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uowh-sei042420.php
Why has an ozone hole formed in the Arctic?
This year the polar vortex has been extremely powerful and temperatures inside it have been very cold.
This generates stratospheric clouds that destroy the ozone layer by reacting with CFC gases, banned by the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
In recent days, the polar vortex has broken up and weakened. Copernicus ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) predicts it will form again, but without affecting the ozone layer as much. https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/24/largest-ever-hole-in-the-ozone-layer-above-arctic-finally-closes?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+euronews%2Fen%2Fnews+%28euronews+-+news+-+en%29
What the EPA's mercury decision means for public health https://phys.org/news/2020-04-epa-mercury-decision-health.html
How to benefit from food waste in the age of climate change https://phys.org/news/2020-04-benefit-food-age-climate.html
Parts produced with these printers historically have had poor strength and toughness, which prevented affordable printers from being used to resupply military parts on demand, especially at deployed locations, until now. The Army's new material overcomes those deficiencies, potentially allowing Soldiers to use low-cost printers to create parts that, once subjected to a few hours of heat, can achieve mechanical properties robust enough to withstand the rigors of field operations. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200422132907.htm
Big data analyses must be closely linked to environmental policy and management," Dr. Runting said. "For example, many large companies already possess the methodological, technical, and computational capacity to develop solutions, so it is paramount that new developments and resources are shared timely with government, and in the spirit of 'open data.'" https://phys.org/news/2020-04-big-reveals-environment.html
Vietnam May Have the Most Effective Response to Covid-19Theyâve done it through mass mobilization of the health care system, public employees, and the security forces, combined with an energetic and creative public education campaign. https://www.thenation.com/article/world/coronavirus-vietnam-quarantine-mobilization/
This is partially because of the filtering process, which removes most of the harmful substances in coffee that cause cholesterol levels to rise. https://www.studyfinds.org/best-brew-scientists-determine-the-healthiest-way-to-make-coffee/
What Percentage Of Workers Can Realistically Work From Home? New Data From Norway Offer Clues https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2020/04/24/what-percentage-of-workers-can-realistically-work-from-home-new-data-from-norway-offer-clues/
The best material for homemade face masks may be a combination of two fabrics https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424081648.htm
While the above may seem like isolated threats, they are parts of a larger puzzle of which the pieces are all interconnected. A report titled Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century, published today by the Commission for the Human Future, has isolated ten potentially catastrophic threats to human survival.
Not prioritised over one another, these risks are:
decline of natural resources, particularly water https://www.sciencealert.com/10-catastrophic-threats-are-facing-humans-right-now-and-coronavirus-is-only-one-of-them
At times of suffering, the greatest gift is accompaniment https://theweek.com/articles/910124/times-suffering-greatest-gift-accompaniment
The Forgotten Frontierâ also shows (reenacted) scenes of some of the resistance the nurses encountered among people who were suspicious of modern medical techniques, such as inoculation, and âforeignâ concepts of sanitation and hygiene.
The nurses usually worked alone, and their saddlebags contained everything needed to deliver a baby and care for a patient. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/horseback-riding-nurses-and-their-courage-and-grit-in-appalachia-of-the-1930s/2020/04/24/436a8334-84d4-11ea-878a-86477a724bdb_story.html
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- While most people will say they are extremely concerned with their online privacy, previous experiments have shown that, in practice, users readily divulge privacy information online. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ps-wop042420.php
Sundar said that security-conscious users are particularly prone to this tendency. "We found that the tendency to avoid using Facebook ID for affair apps was significantly higher for individuals who have less faith in the security of online systems in general," he added.
He added that designers and developers must address the skepticism about using these apps.
"There's a perception problem that many mobile and social media applications, in general, have, that many people do not perceive them as secure and trustworthy," said Sundar. "So, this means designers and developers need to do more work to convince users https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ps-pwp042420.php
Trust in Amazon Alexa went up for regular users who were given the option to adjust their privacy and content settings, the researchers found in a recent study. However, for power users - individuals whose skills and expertise are more advanced than others - trust went down when they were given the opportunity to make privacy setting adjustments.
"That's kind of counterintuitive," https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ps-dpc042420.php
In total, clean energy workers outnumbered fossil fuel workers three to one last year.
âItâs a huge and important part of our economy,â E2 executive director Bob Keefe told Grist. âAnything that Congress does to get our economy back on its feet and to get America working again should absolutely include a focus on an industry of that size.â https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-is-pulling-the-plug-on-clean-energy-jobs/
Study Suggests Tooth Shapes Can Track Genetic Relationships http://prehistoricarch.blogspot.com/2020/04/study-suggests-tooth-shapes-can-track.html?m=1
When the researchers compared this DNA with other Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes, they found that the Neanderthal DNA in modern Icelanders is more similar to Neanderthal DNA found in Croatians than to Neanderthal DNA found in Russians. http://prehistoricarch.blogspot.com/2020/04/neanderthal-dna-tracked-in-icelanders.html?m=1
The EPAâs Dirty Water: New Rule Discards Science, Ignores Importance of Wetlands and Tributaries https://blog.ucsusa.org/derrick-jackson/the-epas-dirty-water-new-rule-discards-science-ignores-importance-of-wetlands-and-tributaries?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheEquation+%28The+Equation+-+UCS+Blog%29
we need to fundamentally change the way we think of ourselves and our personal worth.
We have been conditioned to identify as customers and users â of Facebook, Amazon, Google, and every tech giant out there. But we are not the customers, we are the commodity, and we are not the users, we are what they use to make their profit. With that in mind, we can remind ourselves that we are not powerless in this game. https://www.varsity.co.uk/science/18504
This change in Northeast Atlantic circulation caused a replacement of cool, subpolar waters with warmer subtropical waters near Iceland, and has impacted the distribution of marine organisms, particularly plankton. The most striking aspect of our work is the exceptional nature of the shift in the 20th century, in contrast to thousands of years of relative stability, with implications for understanding future change."
The research builds on earlier work which examined how the North Atlantic conveyor circulation has been changing over the industrial era, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423130434.htm
Eye contact activates the autonomic nervous system even during video calls https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423130442.htm
Cells infected with HIV make two forms of the virus's RNA. A new article finds a single nucleotide controls which version of viral RNA an infected cell makes; both forms are necessary for HIV to replicate. The critical nucleotide happens to be in a region of the HIV genome with low mutation rates. That placement makes it a promising target for new therapies, because the virus is less likely to develop resistance. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423143131.htm
Immunotherapy combo that encourages immune cells to consume tumors could lead to long-term remission for glioblastoma https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423174040.htm
material scientists, and physicists demonstrated how a new material -- a lead-free chalcogenide perovskite -- that hadn't previously been considered for use in solar cells could provide a safer and more effective option than others that are commonly considered. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424132600.htm
Some years ago, researchers reached a new quantum state of magnetic particles at room temperature -- a Bose-Einstein condensate. In a new study they show that the particles in the condensate behave repulsively, which leads to its stabilization. In this way, they resolve a long-standing contradiction between the theory and the experiment. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424132541.htm
New research provides evidence that people who are more mindful are more prone to forgiveness and that mindfulness exercises can facilitate a forgiving attitude. https://www.psypost.org/2020/04/mindfulness-linked-to-heightened-interpersonal-forgiveness-56617?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindfulness-linked-to-heightened-interpersonal-forgiveness
A team of researchers at Pompeii recently discovered evidence that Romans were avid recyclers, according to a weekend Guardian report. It figures that the same society that brought us urban planning, indoor heating, and concrete was also ahead of its time with going green too. https://earther.gizmodo.com/if-the-ancient-romans-could-recycle-then-so-can-you-1843094093
Combination of Foods We Eat May Affect Dementia Risk https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/04/26/combination-of-foods-we-eat-may-affect-dementia-risk/156000.html
The major takeaway is what we do in the short term has a big impact on what happens in the long term," Perkins said. "If we keep social distancing measures in place through the short term, and reduce transmission, we'll have greater flexibility and more options for relaxing them later. If we get into a situation where things are twice as bad as they are now, it'll require a full-scale effort of lockdowns and tighter social distancing measures to get transmission levels down and prevent a catastrophe." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-home-summer-covid-.html
Eco firm launches new initiative to prevent food waste with home fermentation kit https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/eco-firm-launches-new-initiative-to-prevent-food-waste-with-home-fermentation-kit-12307
Our food supply is remarkably resilient precisely because our sources of food are geographically dispersed. We haven't been reliant on food from only one place," Masters said. "Our food system is not like a chainâit's like a mesh. We can have failings at one place, but the rest of the network fills it in. The risk is when a whole category of activity fails, such as simultaneous outbreaks at meatpacking plants in different states, or border closures and outbreaks that stop migrant workers from harvesting fruits and vegetables at many locations." https://phys.org/news/2020-04-covid-affects-farmers-food-chain.html
Most men stop reading a book by page 50 but women are more likely to persevere past page 100, study finds https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8264219/Men-stop-reading-book-page-50-women-likely-persevere-past-page-100.html
away from 'anxiety-inducing' social media and embracing more traditional forms of communication to stay connected with older generations during the coronavirus lockdown, study shows https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8254051/Brits-considering-swapping-social-media-letters-cards-study-suggests.html
A new study has shown that salt-tolerant bacteria can be used to enhance salt tolerance in various types of plants. The new approach could increase crop yield in areas dealing with increasing soil salinity. https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-bacteria-salty-soil.html
Dramatic loss of food plants for insects https://phys.org/news/2020-04-loss-food-insects.html
Highly concentrated aqueous electrolytes, known as water-in-salt electrolytes, could be an alternative to the organic solvents used in car batteries and other electrochemical devices. They have the advantages of abundance, low cost and nontoxicity https://phys.org/news/2020-04-highly-aqueous-electrolytes-solvents-batteries.html
How to manage the COVID-19 pandemic without destroying the economy https://phys.org/news/2020-04-covid-pandemic-economy.html
Donât use the findings of this study to start popping aspirin, however. It can cause internal bleeding, especially in the stomach and also in the brain. You are advised to not take aspirin, at any dosage or frequency, unless it has been prescribed by your doctor who can evaluate your risk https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/aspirin-may-lower-the-risks-of-digestive-tract-cancers-by-22-to-38-percent-a-meta-analysis-suggests/2020/04/24/6ffca2e4-8581-11ea-a3eb-e9fc93160703_story.html
Study: Significant Differences in Juulâs Chemical Make-up (and Health Risks) in U.S. and Europe https://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/study-significant-differences-juul-s-chemical-make-and-health-risks-us-and-europe
Based on earlier research, the scientists theorize that the whole strawberry inhibits colon inflammation by alleviating an imbalance in the composition and function of gut microflora, which in turn restores a homeostatis in the colon.
Xiao hopes this research will ultimately lead to clinical trials in humans and help develop whole-food-based strategies to improve colon health. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200430/UMass-Amherst-food-scientist-to-study-anti-inflammatory-benefits-of-whole-strawberries.aspx
For the first time, labs around the world can 3D print their own precision microscopes to analyse samples and detect diseases , thanks to an open-source design created at the University of Bath.
The OpenFlexure Microscope, described in Biomedical Optics Express, is a fully automated, laboratory-grade instrument with motorised sample positioning and focus control. It is unique among 3D-printed microscope in its ability to yield high-quality images. It has been designed to be easy to use, with an intuitive software interface and simplified alignment procedures. It is also highly customisable, meaning it can be adapted for laboratory, school and home use. https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/print-your-own-laboratory-grade-microscope-for-15/
A drug already licensed for treating some breast and ovarian cancers has been found to be effective for some men with advanced prostate cancer.
The targeted cancer drug olaparib is designed to take advantage of a weakness in some prostate cancersâ ability to repair damaged DNA.
The treatment was found to block prostate cancer growth more effectively than hormone treatments in some men with faults in genes linked to DNA repair, including BRCA. The latest results are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/news-report/2020-05-01-breast-and-ovarian-cancer-drug-effective-in-advanced-prostate-cancer
Abnormal blood clotting is a major cause of death in COVID-19 patien https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200430/Abnormal-blood-clotting-is-a-major-cause-of-death-in-COVID-19-patients.aspx
VCU study finds that many published psychology experiments lack evidence of validity https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/vcu-vsf043020.php
explore links between genetics, gut microbiome and memory
A molecule commonly produced by gut microbes appears to improve memory in mice https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/dnnl-sel042820.php
Low vitamin D may reduce survival for some with multiple myeloma https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-vitamin-d-survival-multiple-myeloma.html
Can't go outside? Even seeing nature on a screen can improve your mood https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-nature-screen-mood.html
Governments around the world are also either deploying or developing digital versions of contact tracing, using smartphones and Bluetooth to keep track of who an infected person has encountered. South Korea was one of the first, and its BlueTrace scheme is seen asone key reason why its infection rates have stayed under control. https://theconversation.com/if-contact-tracing-is-to-succeed-on-smartphones-it-should-learn-a-trick-from-fitness-apps-137429
The disease is caused by the chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), and infected bees die within a week, leading to piles of dead honey bees outside hives.
Data recorded from more than 24,000 bee keepers confirmed CBPV is present in 45 counties in England and Wales, after only being recorded in one county in 2007 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8277431/Honeybees-wiped-disease-causes-chronic-paralysis.html
Mowing your lawn just once a month could attract 10 times as many bees by boosting flowers like daisies and white clover https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8274491/Mowing-lawn-just-month-attract-10-times-bees.html
We have always had misinformation,such as phrenology â the theory that the shape of your head could predict your intelligence. But within the last decade, misinformation and pseudoscience seem to be appearing with a new intensity. It seems almost like a disease that is spreading, sort of like an intellectual coronavirus. https://www.chemistryworld.com/culture/rita-colwell-pseudoscience-is-almost-like-a-disease/4011478.article
Arising international force of rebel botanists armed with chalk has taken up street graffiti to highlight the names and importance of the diverse but downtrodden flora growing in the cracks of paths and walls in towns and cities across Europe. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/01/not-just-weeds-how-rebel-botanists-are-using-graffiti-to-name-forgotten-flora-aoe
In each case, the researchers demonstrated that a simple mathematical ratio shows that the likelihood of errors is controlled by kinetics rather than thermodynamics.
"It could be a protein folding into the correct versus the incorrect conformation, an enzyme incorporating the right versus the wrong amino acid into the polypeptide chain, or a motor protein mistakenly stepping backward instead of going forward," said Igoshin, a CTBP investigator and professor of bioengineering at Rice. "All of those properties can be expressed as a ratio of two steady-state fluxes, and we found that biological properties expressed in these terms are under kinetic control." https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/ru-hsf043020.php
Plant extract combo may relieve hangover symptomsBut popular beliefs around dehydration and mineral depletion linked to too much alcohol may be misguided https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200430191302.htm
Why offering businesses immunity from coronavirus liability is a bad idea https://phys.org/news/2020-05-businesses-immunity-coronavirus-liability-bad.html
How narcissistic leaders destroy from within https://phys.org/news/2020-05-narcissistic-leaders.html
Common ways to cook chicken at home may not ensure safety from pathogens https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200429144916.htm
NASA space laser mapped ice loss over the last 16 years https://www.slashgear.com/nasa-space-laser-mapped-ice-loss-over-the-last-16-years-01618943/
Conclusions
Exposure to increasing levels of fluoride in tap water was associated with diminished non-verbal intellectual abilities; the effect was more pronounced among formula-fed children. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019326145
Itâs hard to study a plantâs roots without killing it, but a plastic CD case could change that https://massivesci.com/notes/plant-roots-rhizotron-plastic-cd-case/
Use appropriate amounts of laundry detergent. Otherwise, you are simply wetting and spinning you clothes, sort of like putting them on a merry-go-round in the rain. Laundry detergent should be able to disrupt the virusâs structure, so it should be fine to wash other clothes with the potentially contaminated ones. Once the washing is done, dry your clothes completely, which can serve as an additional way of disrupting the virus. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/05/01/how-long-does-covid-19-coronavirus-survive-on-clothes-how-to-wash-them/
circuit that drives physical responses to emotional stress
This circuit could be a key target for treating stress-related disorders such as panic disorder and PTSD. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/nu-fnc050120.php
Fecal Transplantation, Promising in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance https://www.gilmorehealth.com/fecal-transplantation-promising-in-the-fight-against-antibiotic-resistance/
The unprecedented collapse of prices is linked to the pandemic, which has caused people to stop doing oil-guzzling things like flying and driving. Thereâs now so much extra petroleum on the market that the world is running out of places to put it. If youâre an oil producer, it seems like the sensible thing to do in this situation would be to ⌠stop producing so much oil. https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/05/heres-why-the-world-is-still-producing-more-oil-than-it-needs/
We already know what a tough and hardy little creature the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is, but it turns out these critters do have a weakness after all â they rely on high levels of carbon dioxide in their immediate environment, otherwise they have seizures. https://www.sciencealert.com/when-naked-mole-rats-don-t-have-enough-carbon-dioxide-they-get-seizures
âWhen people behave in ways that fall short of their personal standards, one way they maintain their moral self-image is by misremembering their ethical lapses,â said Yaleâs Dr. Molly Crockett, an assistant professor of psychology and senior author of the study. https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/05/02/selfish-people-revise-memories-to-maintain-their-self-image/156197.html
Scientists Waited Two and a Half Years to See Whether Bacteria Can Eat Rock https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/artful-amoeba/scientists-waited-two-and-a-half-years-to-see-whether-bacteria-can-eat-rock/
If you lose your exercise mojo, how quickly will fitness disappear? And how long will it take to regain it? https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/exercise-can-be-hard-to-get-right-now-heres-what-that-means-to-your-body/2020/05/01/80f32fa4-7d8f-11ea-9040-68981f488eed_story.html
No matter how tough we think life is, it continually outdoes expectations. Now a new study from MIT has found that E. coliand yeast can survive in an atmosphere made up of 100 percent hydrogen. And that could have fascinating implications for life on other planets. https://newatlas.com/biology/microbes-survive-all-hydrogen-atmosphere/
Telomere TimeâWhy We Should Treat Biological Age Cautiously https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2765370
Not All Hypertension Is a Lifelong DiseaseA Teachable Moment https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2762879
Concerns Remain Regarding Long-term Ozone Exposure and Respiratory OutcomesâReply https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2763412
Conclusions and Relevance High-dose vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy improved offspring bone mineralization through age 6 years compared with the standard dose, suggesting an increased recommended gestational intake, which may influence peak bone mass, fracture risk, and risk of osteoporosis later in life. We found no supplementation effect on anthropometric outcomes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2761808
The study looked into the dynamics of the microbiome of infected roots and concluded that the infection process involves many more participants: although the disease is controlled by the verticillium fungus initially, it is not carried out by one sole species, but rather by a community of microorganisms that attack the tree https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/uoc-vwf050420.php
The Coronavirus Is Exposing the Real Villains of Climate ChangeIf stopping most travel and transport isnât enough to slow down emissions, what will be? https://slate.com/technology/2020/05/coronavirus-emissions-drop-transportation-electricity-not-enough.html
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will force Facebook Inc (FB.O) and Alphabet Incâs (GOOGL.O) Google to share advertising revenue with local media firms, the countryâs treasurer said on Monday, becoming one of the first countries to require digital platforms to pay for content they use. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-media-regulatoaustralia-to-force-google-facebook-to-pay-domestic-media-to-use-content-idUSKBN222066
Such processes in nature could be a key factor that leads to the flies populating new habitats and, provided that the larvae also survive there, the formation of niches and, ultimately, the evolution of new species (OIKOS, doi: 10.1111/oik.07180). https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200505/Study-reveals-surprising-findings-on-Drosophila-flies.aspx
finds branded dietary matrix of hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid reduced the formation of wrinkles and helped maintain skin elasticity https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/m-ssb050120.php
Gas stoves may routinely generate unsafe levels of indoor air pollution
An accumulating body of research suggests gas stoves are a health risk. https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/5/7/21247602/gas-stove-cooking-indoor-air-pollution-health-risks
Certain foods common in diets of US adults with inflammatory bowel disease https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200506162150.htm
The new research suggests yoga may help people with migraines have headaches that happen less often, don't last as long and are less painful. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200506162154.htm
ARE LAZY PEOPLE MORE EFFICIENT AND INNOVATIVE THAN WE THINK? https://particle.scitech.org.au/people/are-lazy-people-more-innovative-than-we-think/
Five workplace trends will shape life after lockdown https://theconversation.com/five-workplace-trends-will-shape-life-after-lockdown-138077
The effect of weather on COVID-19 infection rate https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200506/The-effect-of-weather-on-COVID-19-infection-rate.aspx
The quiet black hole sits just 1,000 light-years from Earth. But the two stars that dance around it can be seen with the naked eye. https://astronomy.com/news/2020/05/astronomers-find-the-closest-known-black-hole-to-earth
Confirmed: SARS-CoV-2 has not mutated http://www.labnews.co.uk/article/2030569/confirmed-sars-cov-2-has-not-mutated
The research team determined that low intake of three flavonoid types was linked to higher risk of dementia when compared to the highest intake. Specifically:
low intake of flavonols (apples, pears and tea) was associated with twice the risk of developing ADRD;low intake of anthocyanins (blueberries, strawberries, and red wine) was associated with a four-fold risk of developing ADRD;low intake of flavonoid polymers (apples, pears, and tea) was associated with twice the risk of developing ADRD.
The results were similar for Alzheimerâs. https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/05/06/more-green-tea-berries-and-apples-may-halve-risk-of-alzheimers/156293.html
Research shows evidence that bilingualism delays the brain's aging process https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-evidence-bilingualism-brain-aging.html
What every new baker should know about the yeast all around us https://phys.org/news/2020-05-baker-yeast.html
A century of misunderstanding of a key tool in the economics of natural resources https://phys.org/news/2020-05-century-key-tool-economics-natural.html
The direction in which people look and how dilated their pupils get can reveal the decision they're about to make, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-pupil-dilation-reveal-decision.html
Remote work worsens inequality by mostly helping high-income earners https://phys.org/news/2020-05-remote-worsens-inequality-high-income-earners.html
âBeing Funâ Is An Important Marker Of Social Status Among Children https://digest.bps.org.uk/2020/05/11/being-fun-is-an-important-marker-of-social-status-among-children/
These high exposure doses highlight the importance of raising public awareness on the risk related to excess UVR exposure at tourist sites, especially those at high altitude. Our findings suggest a need for strong public awareness campaigns among visitors to sites like these to prevent skin diseases and cancers that could result from overexposure to UV radiation. https://theconversation.com/we-found-high-uv-doses-at-high-altitude-hiking-trails-in-reunion-and-cape-town-136890
Gemini visualised Jupiter at resolutions reaching 500 kilometres (300 miles), on a planet measuring 139,820 kilometres (86,880 miles) wide and an average distance of 778 million kilometres from Earth (484 million miles). At this resolution, âthe telescope could resolve the two headlights of a car in Miami, seen from New York Cityâ, said Andrew Stephens, a Gemini astronomer and a co-author of the study, in the press release. https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/05/jupiter-looks-like-a-fireball-in-this-lucky-infrared-image/
Peopleâs brain patterns synchronise when they hug, new research demonstrates.
Scans of couples lying close together inside a brain scanner showed their brain activity falling into similar patterns.
Brains naturally tune in to each other in this kind of simple human interaction, the study shows https://www.spring.org.uk/2020/05/cuddling-brain.php
The Best Material For A Homemade COVID-19 Mask https://www.spring.org.uk/2020/05/material-covid-19-mask.php
With attention on virus, Amazon deforestation surges https://phys.org/news/2020-05-attention-virus-amazon-deforestation-surges.html
âThe preponderance of evidence, in both laboratory and clinical settings, indicates that mask wearing reduces the transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected droplets,â the letter notes. âThe decreased transmissibility could substantially reduce the death toll.â https://www.zmescience.com/science/open-letter-scientists-call-for-masks-2521342/
Droplets from Speech Can Float in Air for Eight Minutes: StudyThe experiments did not involve SARS-CoV-2, but researchers say the results support precautions to avoid possibly spreading COVID-19 by talking. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/droplets-from-speech-can-float-in-air-for-eight-minutes-study-67538
Because the purification plants are better at removing phosphorus than nitrogen, the balance between these two elements is shifting on a global scale. This results in a comparatively high level of nitrogen in the purified water, which causes abundant growth of of algae with a preference for nitrogen. https://phys.org/news/2020-05-purification-wastewater-imbalance-nitrogen-phosphorus.html
The next phase of America's coronavirus problem is a massive housing crisis democrat republican https://theweek.com/articles/914438/next-phase-americas-coronavirus-problem-massive-housing-crisis
Many people don't realize that date labels on food products (with the exception of infant formula) are entirely at the manufacturer's discretion and are not supported by robust scientific evidence. To address this concern and combat global food waste, researchers at the University of Maryland have come together across departments in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources with the goal of clarifying the science or lack thereof behind food date labels, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/uom-urs051420.php
Millions of Older Americans Can't Get Enough Food
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Older Americans were going hungry even before the coronavirus pandemic https://consumer.healthday.com/senior-citizen-information-31/misc-aging-news-10/millions-of-older-americans-can-t-get-enough-food-757492.html
But just as importantly, once they've flowered and made seeds, the seeds need to forget this 'memory' of the cold so that they do not flower too soon once winter comes around again. Since H3K27me3 is faithfully copied from cell to cell, how do plants go about forgetting this memory in seeds? https://phys.org/news/2020-05-uncovers-epigenetic-specifically-reset-sperm.html
E.P.A. Opts Against Limits on Water Contaminant Tied to Fetal Damage https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/climate/trump-drinking-water-perchlorate.html
The evidence behind putting money directly in the pockets of the poor http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/science-blog/evidence-behind-putting-money-directly-pockets-poor
Scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism by which abnormalities in mitochondrial fission in endothelial cells contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in the cardiovascular system. They further show how the fission-fusion balance can be stabilized to lower inflammation using salicylate, the main active ingredient in everyday pain-relieving drugs like aspirin. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200511092931.htm
âMilestoneâ Evidence for Anyons, a Third Kingdom of Particles
Physicists have long known that the universe is made from two kinds of particles: fermions and bosons. Now there's a third that behaves totally differently. https://www.wired.com/story/milestone-evidence-for-anyons-a-third-kingdom-of-particles/
A new study suggests that dogs go through a similar phase of stubbornness and disobedience when they hit puberty at about eight months old. https://www.sciencealert.com/study-shows-dogs-can-make-for-problematic-teens-just-like-humans
The authors say in their scientific paper, "Persistent and mobile scPFCAs can circulate in the water cycle and cause irreversible contamination. They accumulate in edible plants and are not removed by current drinking water treatment technologies, allowing for multiple pathways of human exposure."
More work is needed to determine whether there are significant health impacts from these chemicals, but it's clear that they're going to be with us for a very long time. And this suggests that even the best efforts to prevent environmental damage can have unintended side-effects in the long-term. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/persistent-pollutants-and-the-unintended-side-effects-of-the-montreal-protocol-1.5571928?cmp=rss
reported that vitamin B3, niacin, has therapeutic effect in progressive muscle disease. Niacin delayed disease progression in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, a progressive disease with no previous curative treatments. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200514115802.htm
If your state permits social gatherings and you decide to meet up, keep it to a small group and make it safe as possible by staying outside, Raymond said. Agree on some ground rules, such as: "We don't shake hands, we bring our own food, we space the chair out at least 6 feet away." https://abcnews.go.com/Health/risks-coronavirus/story?id=70624608
Our research provides the first evidence of the sodium-rich (and alkaline) fluids in which the magnetite framboids formed.â
Credit: White et al, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2003276117
Providing a peek into the evolution of prebiotic life in the Solar System, the meteorite https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/canadas-tagish-lake-meteorite-found-to-contain-cosmic-compounds
Although weâre a long way from floating down the street, physicists have developed ways to mitigate the effect of gravity, from carefully aligning sound waves to mimicking free fall in reduced-gravity aircraft. But Kosuke Shibata and his colleagues at the Gakushuin University say theyâve developed a new tool for levitation: beams of light. http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2020/05/international-day-of-light-edition-beam.html?m=1
How a mint became catnip https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200513143758.htm
Scientists discover why some birds live fast and die young https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200514092555.htm
submitted by Gallionella to zmarter [link] [comments]
The signals sent by tumor cells not only impede the attack of the immune system, also induce the modification of the tissue that accompanies them. Specifically, this work shows that, when tumor cells are glucose deprived they initiate a signal cascade to promote angiogenesis in vitro, that is, the creation of new blood vessels that return the blood flow and the nutrients.
Antimetabolic drugs
There is a type of drug that attacks tumors called antimetabolic drugs. They act impairing nutrient processing of tumor cells, and thus, through starvation, promote the death of tumor cells. These drugs, despite having good results in animal models, often fail in clinical trials with patients.
The results of this study could explain the lack of efficacy of this type of drugs https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ibri-ndi042120.php
The paper reports the first discovery of a natural, cooperative strategy used by an organism to survive high temperatures. Laman Trip and Youk developed experiments and a mathematical model revealing that yeasts help each other and their future generations to replicate, survive and avoid becoming extinct at temperatures previously considered too high for survivalâabove 40 degrees C. https://phys.org/news/2020-04-microorganisms-survive-high-temperatures.html
Nearly half of US breathing unhealthy air; record-breaking air pollution in nine cities https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ala-nho041720.php
Blood analysis reveals signs of Parkinson's 10 years before diagnosis https://newatlas.com/medical/blood-analysis-signs-parkinsons-10-years/
Doubt is essential for science â but for politicians, it's a sign of weakness https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/ap21/doubt-essential-science-politicians-coronavirus
EPA Particulate Matter Decision Puts Science, Health Aside to Protect Polluters
Statement by Gretchen Goldman, Union of Concerned Scientists https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/epa-particulate-matter-decision-puts-science-health-aside-protect-polluters
Autistic People Make Great Social Partners if You Actually Give Them a Chance
Style, not substance, drives negative impressions of the social life of people on the autism spectrum https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/autistic-people-make-great-social-partners-if-you-actually-give-them-a-chance/
Activism in Hard Times https://blog.ucsusa.org/fernando-tormos-aponte/activism-in-hard-times
Syphilis eludes immune attack by altering a single gene
By shuffling DNA in and out of one gene, syphilis stays a step ahead of the immune system to resist eradication https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uowh-sei042420.php
Why has an ozone hole formed in the Arctic?
This year the polar vortex has been extremely powerful and temperatures inside it have been very cold.
This generates stratospheric clouds that destroy the ozone layer by reacting with CFC gases, banned by the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
In recent days, the polar vortex has broken up and weakened. Copernicus ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) predicts it will form again, but without affecting the ozone layer as much. https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/24/largest-ever-hole-in-the-ozone-layer-above-arctic-finally-closes?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+euronews%2Fen%2Fnews+%28euronews+-+news+-+en%29
What the EPA's mercury decision means for public health https://phys.org/news/2020-04-epa-mercury-decision-health.html
How to benefit from food waste in the age of climate change https://phys.org/news/2020-04-benefit-food-age-climate.html
Parts produced with these printers historically have had poor strength and toughness, which prevented affordable printers from being used to resupply military parts on demand, especially at deployed locations, until now. The Army's new material overcomes those deficiencies, potentially allowing Soldiers to use low-cost printers to create parts that, once subjected to a few hours of heat, can achieve mechanical properties robust enough to withstand the rigors of field operations. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200422132907.htm
Big data analyses must be closely linked to environmental policy and management," Dr. Runting said. "For example, many large companies already possess the methodological, technical, and computational capacity to develop solutions, so it is paramount that new developments and resources are shared timely with government, and in the spirit of 'open data.'" https://phys.org/news/2020-04-big-reveals-environment.html
Vietnam May Have the Most Effective Response to Covid-19Theyâve done it through mass mobilization of the health care system, public employees, and the security forces, combined with an energetic and creative public education campaign. https://www.thenation.com/article/world/coronavirus-vietnam-quarantine-mobilization/
This is partially because of the filtering process, which removes most of the harmful substances in coffee that cause cholesterol levels to rise. https://www.studyfinds.org/best-brew-scientists-determine-the-healthiest-way-to-make-coffee/
What Percentage Of Workers Can Realistically Work From Home? New Data From Norway Offer Clues https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2020/04/24/what-percentage-of-workers-can-realistically-work-from-home-new-data-from-norway-offer-clues/
The best material for homemade face masks may be a combination of two fabrics https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424081648.htm
While the above may seem like isolated threats, they are parts of a larger puzzle of which the pieces are all interconnected. A report titled Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century, published today by the Commission for the Human Future, has isolated ten potentially catastrophic threats to human survival.
Not prioritised over one another, these risks are:
decline of natural resources, particularly water https://www.sciencealert.com/10-catastrophic-threats-are-facing-humans-right-now-and-coronavirus-is-only-one-of-them
At times of suffering, the greatest gift is accompaniment https://theweek.com/articles/910124/times-suffering-greatest-gift-accompaniment
The Forgotten Frontierâ also shows (reenacted) scenes of some of the resistance the nurses encountered among people who were suspicious of modern medical techniques, such as inoculation, and âforeignâ concepts of sanitation and hygiene.
The nurses usually worked alone, and their saddlebags contained everything needed to deliver a baby and care for a patient. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/horseback-riding-nurses-and-their-courage-and-grit-in-appalachia-of-the-1930s/2020/04/24/436a8334-84d4-11ea-878a-86477a724bdb_story.html
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- While most people will say they are extremely concerned with their online privacy, previous experiments have shown that, in practice, users readily divulge privacy information online. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ps-wop042420.php
Sundar said that security-conscious users are particularly prone to this tendency. "We found that the tendency to avoid using Facebook ID for affair apps was significantly higher for individuals who have less faith in the security of online systems in general," he added.
He added that designers and developers must address the skepticism about using these apps.
"There's a perception problem that many mobile and social media applications, in general, have, that many people do not perceive them as secure and trustworthy," said Sundar. "So, this means designers and developers need to do more work to convince users https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ps-pwp042420.php
Trust in Amazon Alexa went up for regular users who were given the option to adjust their privacy and content settings, the researchers found in a recent study. However, for power users - individuals whose skills and expertise are more advanced than others - trust went down when they were given the opportunity to make privacy setting adjustments.
"That's kind of counterintuitive," https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/ps-dpc042420.php
In total, clean energy workers outnumbered fossil fuel workers three to one last year.
âItâs a huge and important part of our economy,â E2 executive director Bob Keefe told Grist. âAnything that Congress does to get our economy back on its feet and to get America working again should absolutely include a focus on an industry of that size.â https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-is-pulling-the-plug-on-clean-energy-jobs/
Study Suggests Tooth Shapes Can Track Genetic Relationships http://prehistoricarch.blogspot.com/2020/04/study-suggests-tooth-shapes-can-track.html?m=1
When the researchers compared this DNA with other Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes, they found that the Neanderthal DNA in modern Icelanders is more similar to Neanderthal DNA found in Croatians than to Neanderthal DNA found in Russians. http://prehistoricarch.blogspot.com/2020/04/neanderthal-dna-tracked-in-icelanders.html?m=1
The EPAâs Dirty Water: New Rule Discards Science, Ignores Importance of Wetlands and Tributaries https://blog.ucsusa.org/derrick-jackson/the-epas-dirty-water-new-rule-discards-science-ignores-importance-of-wetlands-and-tributaries?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheEquation+%28The+Equation+-+UCS+Blog%29
we need to fundamentally change the way we think of ourselves and our personal worth.
We have been conditioned to identify as customers and users â of Facebook, Amazon, Google, and every tech giant out there. But we are not the customers, we are the commodity, and we are not the users, we are what they use to make their profit. With that in mind, we can remind ourselves that we are not powerless in this game. https://www.varsity.co.uk/science/18504
This change in Northeast Atlantic circulation caused a replacement of cool, subpolar waters with warmer subtropical waters near Iceland, and has impacted the distribution of marine organisms, particularly plankton. The most striking aspect of our work is the exceptional nature of the shift in the 20th century, in contrast to thousands of years of relative stability, with implications for understanding future change."
The research builds on earlier work which examined how the North Atlantic conveyor circulation has been changing over the industrial era, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423130434.htm
Eye contact activates the autonomic nervous system even during video calls https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423130442.htm
Cells infected with HIV make two forms of the virus's RNA. A new article finds a single nucleotide controls which version of viral RNA an infected cell makes; both forms are necessary for HIV to replicate. The critical nucleotide happens to be in a region of the HIV genome with low mutation rates. That placement makes it a promising target for new therapies, because the virus is less likely to develop resistance. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423143131.htm
Immunotherapy combo that encourages immune cells to consume tumors could lead to long-term remission for glioblastoma https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423174040.htm
material scientists, and physicists demonstrated how a new material -- a lead-free chalcogenide perovskite -- that hadn't previously been considered for use in solar cells could provide a safer and more effective option than others that are commonly considered. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424132600.htm
Some years ago, researchers reached a new quantum state of magnetic particles at room temperature -- a Bose-Einstein condensate. In a new study they show that the particles in the condensate behave repulsively, which leads to its stabilization. In this way, they resolve a long-standing contradiction between the theory and the experiment. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424132541.htm
New research provides evidence that people who are more mindful are more prone to forgiveness and that mindfulness exercises can facilitate a forgiving attitude. https://www.psypost.org/2020/04/mindfulness-linked-to-heightened-interpersonal-forgiveness-56617?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindfulness-linked-to-heightened-interpersonal-forgiveness
A team of researchers at Pompeii recently discovered evidence that Romans were avid recyclers, according to a weekend Guardian report. It figures that the same society that brought us urban planning, indoor heating, and concrete was also ahead of its time with going green too. https://earther.gizmodo.com/if-the-ancient-romans-could-recycle-then-so-can-you-1843094093
Combination of Foods We Eat May Affect Dementia Risk https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/04/26/combination-of-foods-we-eat-may-affect-dementia-risk/156000.html
The major takeaway is what we do in the short term has a big impact on what happens in the long term," Perkins said. "If we keep social distancing measures in place through the short term, and reduce transmission, we'll have greater flexibility and more options for relaxing them later. If we get into a situation where things are twice as bad as they are now, it'll require a full-scale effort of lockdowns and tighter social distancing measures to get transmission levels down and prevent a catastrophe." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-home-summer-covid-.html
Eco firm launches new initiative to prevent food waste with home fermentation kit https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/eco-firm-launches-new-initiative-to-prevent-food-waste-with-home-fermentation-kit-12307
Our food supply is remarkably resilient precisely because our sources of food are geographically dispersed. We haven't been reliant on food from only one place," Masters said. "Our food system is not like a chainâit's like a mesh. We can have failings at one place, but the rest of the network fills it in. The risk is when a whole category of activity fails, such as simultaneous outbreaks at meatpacking plants in different states, or border closures and outbreaks that stop migrant workers from harvesting fruits and vegetables at many locations." https://phys.org/news/2020-04-covid-affects-farmers-food-chain.html
Most men stop reading a book by page 50 but women are more likely to persevere past page 100, study finds https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8264219/Men-stop-reading-book-page-50-women-likely-persevere-past-page-100.html
away from 'anxiety-inducing' social media and embracing more traditional forms of communication to stay connected with older generations during the coronavirus lockdown, study shows https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8254051/Brits-considering-swapping-social-media-letters-cards-study-suggests.html
A new study has shown that salt-tolerant bacteria can be used to enhance salt tolerance in various types of plants. The new approach could increase crop yield in areas dealing with increasing soil salinity. https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-bacteria-salty-soil.html
Dramatic loss of food plants for insects https://phys.org/news/2020-04-loss-food-insects.html
Highly concentrated aqueous electrolytes, known as water-in-salt electrolytes, could be an alternative to the organic solvents used in car batteries and other electrochemical devices. They have the advantages of abundance, low cost and nontoxicity https://phys.org/news/2020-04-highly-aqueous-electrolytes-solvents-batteries.html
How to manage the COVID-19 pandemic without destroying the economy https://phys.org/news/2020-04-covid-pandemic-economy.html
Donât use the findings of this study to start popping aspirin, however. It can cause internal bleeding, especially in the stomach and also in the brain. You are advised to not take aspirin, at any dosage or frequency, unless it has been prescribed by your doctor who can evaluate your risk https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/aspirin-may-lower-the-risks-of-digestive-tract-cancers-by-22-to-38-percent-a-meta-analysis-suggests/2020/04/24/6ffca2e4-8581-11ea-a3eb-e9fc93160703_story.html
Study: Significant Differences in Juulâs Chemical Make-up (and Health Risks) in U.S. and Europe https://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/study-significant-differences-juul-s-chemical-make-and-health-risks-us-and-europe
Based on earlier research, the scientists theorize that the whole strawberry inhibits colon inflammation by alleviating an imbalance in the composition and function of gut microflora, which in turn restores a homeostatis in the colon.
Xiao hopes this research will ultimately lead to clinical trials in humans and help develop whole-food-based strategies to improve colon health. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200430/UMass-Amherst-food-scientist-to-study-anti-inflammatory-benefits-of-whole-strawberries.aspx
For the first time, labs around the world can 3D print their own precision microscopes to analyse samples and detect diseases , thanks to an open-source design created at the University of Bath.
The OpenFlexure Microscope, described in Biomedical Optics Express, is a fully automated, laboratory-grade instrument with motorised sample positioning and focus control. It is unique among 3D-printed microscope in its ability to yield high-quality images. It has been designed to be easy to use, with an intuitive software interface and simplified alignment procedures. It is also highly customisable, meaning it can be adapted for laboratory, school and home use. https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/print-your-own-laboratory-grade-microscope-for-15/
A drug already licensed for treating some breast and ovarian cancers has been found to be effective for some men with advanced prostate cancer.
The targeted cancer drug olaparib is designed to take advantage of a weakness in some prostate cancersâ ability to repair damaged DNA.
The treatment was found to block prostate cancer growth more effectively than hormone treatments in some men with faults in genes linked to DNA repair, including BRCA. The latest results are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/news-report/2020-05-01-breast-and-ovarian-cancer-drug-effective-in-advanced-prostate-cancer
Abnormal blood clotting is a major cause of death in COVID-19 patien https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200430/Abnormal-blood-clotting-is-a-major-cause-of-death-in-COVID-19-patients.aspx
VCU study finds that many published psychology experiments lack evidence of validity https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/vcu-vsf043020.php
explore links between genetics, gut microbiome and memory
A molecule commonly produced by gut microbes appears to improve memory in mice https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/dnnl-sel042820.php
Low vitamin D may reduce survival for some with multiple myeloma https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-vitamin-d-survival-multiple-myeloma.html
Can't go outside? Even seeing nature on a screen can improve your mood https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-nature-screen-mood.html
Governments around the world are also either deploying or developing digital versions of contact tracing, using smartphones and Bluetooth to keep track of who an infected person has encountered. South Korea was one of the first, and its BlueTrace scheme is seen asone key reason why its infection rates have stayed under control. https://theconversation.com/if-contact-tracing-is-to-succeed-on-smartphones-it-should-learn-a-trick-from-fitness-apps-137429
The disease is caused by the chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), and infected bees die within a week, leading to piles of dead honey bees outside hives.
Data recorded from more than 24,000 bee keepers confirmed CBPV is present in 45 counties in England and Wales, after only being recorded in one county in 2007 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8277431/Honeybees-wiped-disease-causes-chronic-paralysis.html
Mowing your lawn just once a month could attract 10 times as many bees by boosting flowers like daisies and white clover https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8274491/Mowing-lawn-just-month-attract-10-times-bees.html
We have always had misinformation,such as phrenology â the theory that the shape of your head could predict your intelligence. But within the last decade, misinformation and pseudoscience seem to be appearing with a new intensity. It seems almost like a disease that is spreading, sort of like an intellectual coronavirus. https://www.chemistryworld.com/culture/rita-colwell-pseudoscience-is-almost-like-a-disease/4011478.article
Arising international force of rebel botanists armed with chalk has taken up street graffiti to highlight the names and importance of the diverse but downtrodden flora growing in the cracks of paths and walls in towns and cities across Europe. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/01/not-just-weeds-how-rebel-botanists-are-using-graffiti-to-name-forgotten-flora-aoe
In each case, the researchers demonstrated that a simple mathematical ratio shows that the likelihood of errors is controlled by kinetics rather than thermodynamics.
"It could be a protein folding into the correct versus the incorrect conformation, an enzyme incorporating the right versus the wrong amino acid into the polypeptide chain, or a motor protein mistakenly stepping backward instead of going forward," said Igoshin, a CTBP investigator and professor of bioengineering at Rice. "All of those properties can be expressed as a ratio of two steady-state fluxes, and we found that biological properties expressed in these terms are under kinetic control." https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/ru-hsf043020.php
Plant extract combo may relieve hangover symptomsBut popular beliefs around dehydration and mineral depletion linked to too much alcohol may be misguided https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200430191302.htm
Why offering businesses immunity from coronavirus liability is a bad idea https://phys.org/news/2020-05-businesses-immunity-coronavirus-liability-bad.html
How narcissistic leaders destroy from within https://phys.org/news/2020-05-narcissistic-leaders.html
Common ways to cook chicken at home may not ensure safety from pathogens https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200429144916.htm
NASA space laser mapped ice loss over the last 16 years https://www.slashgear.com/nasa-space-laser-mapped-ice-loss-over-the-last-16-years-01618943/
Conclusions
Exposure to increasing levels of fluoride in tap water was associated with diminished non-verbal intellectual abilities; the effect was more pronounced among formula-fed children. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019326145
Itâs hard to study a plantâs roots without killing it, but a plastic CD case could change that https://massivesci.com/notes/plant-roots-rhizotron-plastic-cd-case/
Use appropriate amounts of laundry detergent. Otherwise, you are simply wetting and spinning you clothes, sort of like putting them on a merry-go-round in the rain. Laundry detergent should be able to disrupt the virusâs structure, so it should be fine to wash other clothes with the potentially contaminated ones. Once the washing is done, dry your clothes completely, which can serve as an additional way of disrupting the virus. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/05/01/how-long-does-covid-19-coronavirus-survive-on-clothes-how-to-wash-them/
circuit that drives physical responses to emotional stress
This circuit could be a key target for treating stress-related disorders such as panic disorder and PTSD. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/nu-fnc050120.php
Fecal Transplantation, Promising in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance https://www.gilmorehealth.com/fecal-transplantation-promising-in-the-fight-against-antibiotic-resistance/
The unprecedented collapse of prices is linked to the pandemic, which has caused people to stop doing oil-guzzling things like flying and driving. Thereâs now so much extra petroleum on the market that the world is running out of places to put it. If youâre an oil producer, it seems like the sensible thing to do in this situation would be to ⌠stop producing so much oil. https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/05/heres-why-the-world-is-still-producing-more-oil-than-it-needs/
We already know what a tough and hardy little creature the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is, but it turns out these critters do have a weakness after all â they rely on high levels of carbon dioxide in their immediate environment, otherwise they have seizures. https://www.sciencealert.com/when-naked-mole-rats-don-t-have-enough-carbon-dioxide-they-get-seizures
âWhen people behave in ways that fall short of their personal standards, one way they maintain their moral self-image is by misremembering their ethical lapses,â said Yaleâs Dr. Molly Crockett, an assistant professor of psychology and senior author of the study. https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/05/02/selfish-people-revise-memories-to-maintain-their-self-image/156197.html
Scientists Waited Two and a Half Years to See Whether Bacteria Can Eat Rock https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/artful-amoeba/scientists-waited-two-and-a-half-years-to-see-whether-bacteria-can-eat-rock/
If you lose your exercise mojo, how quickly will fitness disappear? And how long will it take to regain it? https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/exercise-can-be-hard-to-get-right-now-heres-what-that-means-to-your-body/2020/05/01/80f32fa4-7d8f-11ea-9040-68981f488eed_story.html
No matter how tough we think life is, it continually outdoes expectations. Now a new study from MIT has found that E. coliand yeast can survive in an atmosphere made up of 100 percent hydrogen. And that could have fascinating implications for life on other planets. https://newatlas.com/biology/microbes-survive-all-hydrogen-atmosphere/
Telomere TimeâWhy We Should Treat Biological Age Cautiously https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2765370
Not All Hypertension Is a Lifelong DiseaseA Teachable Moment https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2762879
Concerns Remain Regarding Long-term Ozone Exposure and Respiratory OutcomesâReply https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2763412
Conclusions and Relevance High-dose vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy improved offspring bone mineralization through age 6 years compared with the standard dose, suggesting an increased recommended gestational intake, which may influence peak bone mass, fracture risk, and risk of osteoporosis later in life. We found no supplementation effect on anthropometric outcomes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2761808
The study looked into the dynamics of the microbiome of infected roots and concluded that the infection process involves many more participants: although the disease is controlled by the verticillium fungus initially, it is not carried out by one sole species, but rather by a community of microorganisms that attack the tree https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/uoc-vwf050420.php
The Coronavirus Is Exposing the Real Villains of Climate ChangeIf stopping most travel and transport isnât enough to slow down emissions, what will be? https://slate.com/technology/2020/05/coronavirus-emissions-drop-transportation-electricity-not-enough.html
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will force Facebook Inc (FB.O) and Alphabet Incâs (GOOGL.O) Google to share advertising revenue with local media firms, the countryâs treasurer said on Monday, becoming one of the first countries to require digital platforms to pay for content they use. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-media-regulatoaustralia-to-force-google-facebook-to-pay-domestic-media-to-use-content-idUSKBN222066
Such processes in nature could be a key factor that leads to the flies populating new habitats and, provided that the larvae also survive there, the formation of niches and, ultimately, the evolution of new species (OIKOS, doi: 10.1111/oik.07180). https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200505/Study-reveals-surprising-findings-on-Drosophila-flies.aspx
finds branded dietary matrix of hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid reduced the formation of wrinkles and helped maintain skin elasticity https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/m-ssb050120.php
Gas stoves may routinely generate unsafe levels of indoor air pollution
An accumulating body of research suggests gas stoves are a health risk. https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/5/7/21247602/gas-stove-cooking-indoor-air-pollution-health-risks
Certain foods common in diets of US adults with inflammatory bowel disease https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200506162150.htm
The new research suggests yoga may help people with migraines have headaches that happen less often, don't last as long and are less painful. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200506162154.htm
ARE LAZY PEOPLE MORE EFFICIENT AND INNOVATIVE THAN WE THINK? https://particle.scitech.org.au/people/are-lazy-people-more-innovative-than-we-think/
Five workplace trends will shape life after lockdown https://theconversation.com/five-workplace-trends-will-shape-life-after-lockdown-138077
The effect of weather on COVID-19 infection rate https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200506/The-effect-of-weather-on-COVID-19-infection-rate.aspx
The quiet black hole sits just 1,000 light-years from Earth. But the two stars that dance around it can be seen with the naked eye. https://astronomy.com/news/2020/05/astronomers-find-the-closest-known-black-hole-to-earth
Confirmed: SARS-CoV-2 has not mutated http://www.labnews.co.uk/article/2030569/confirmed-sars-cov-2-has-not-mutated
The research team determined that low intake of three flavonoid types was linked to higher risk of dementia when compared to the highest intake. Specifically:
low intake of flavonols (apples, pears and tea) was associated with twice the risk of developing ADRD;low intake of anthocyanins (blueberries, strawberries, and red wine) was associated with a four-fold risk of developing ADRD;low intake of flavonoid polymers (apples, pears, and tea) was associated with twice the risk of developing ADRD.
The results were similar for Alzheimerâs. https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/05/06/more-green-tea-berries-and-apples-may-halve-risk-of-alzheimers/156293.html
Research shows evidence that bilingualism delays the brain's aging process https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-evidence-bilingualism-brain-aging.html
What every new baker should know about the yeast all around us https://phys.org/news/2020-05-baker-yeast.html
A century of misunderstanding of a key tool in the economics of natural resources https://phys.org/news/2020-05-century-key-tool-economics-natural.html
The direction in which people look and how dilated their pupils get can reveal the decision they're about to make, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-pupil-dilation-reveal-decision.html
Remote work worsens inequality by mostly helping high-income earners https://phys.org/news/2020-05-remote-worsens-inequality-high-income-earners.html
âBeing Funâ Is An Important Marker Of Social Status Among Children https://digest.bps.org.uk/2020/05/11/being-fun-is-an-important-marker-of-social-status-among-children/
These high exposure doses highlight the importance of raising public awareness on the risk related to excess UVR exposure at tourist sites, especially those at high altitude. Our findings suggest a need for strong public awareness campaigns among visitors to sites like these to prevent skin diseases and cancers that could result from overexposure to UV radiation. https://theconversation.com/we-found-high-uv-doses-at-high-altitude-hiking-trails-in-reunion-and-cape-town-136890
Gemini visualised Jupiter at resolutions reaching 500 kilometres (300 miles), on a planet measuring 139,820 kilometres (86,880 miles) wide and an average distance of 778 million kilometres from Earth (484 million miles). At this resolution, âthe telescope could resolve the two headlights of a car in Miami, seen from New York Cityâ, said Andrew Stephens, a Gemini astronomer and a co-author of the study, in the press release. https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/05/jupiter-looks-like-a-fireball-in-this-lucky-infrared-image/
Peopleâs brain patterns synchronise when they hug, new research demonstrates.
Scans of couples lying close together inside a brain scanner showed their brain activity falling into similar patterns.
Brains naturally tune in to each other in this kind of simple human interaction, the study shows https://www.spring.org.uk/2020/05/cuddling-brain.php
The Best Material For A Homemade COVID-19 Mask https://www.spring.org.uk/2020/05/material-covid-19-mask.php
With attention on virus, Amazon deforestation surges https://phys.org/news/2020-05-attention-virus-amazon-deforestation-surges.html
âThe preponderance of evidence, in both laboratory and clinical settings, indicates that mask wearing reduces the transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected droplets,â the letter notes. âThe decreased transmissibility could substantially reduce the death toll.â https://www.zmescience.com/science/open-letter-scientists-call-for-masks-2521342/
Droplets from Speech Can Float in Air for Eight Minutes: StudyThe experiments did not involve SARS-CoV-2, but researchers say the results support precautions to avoid possibly spreading COVID-19 by talking. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/droplets-from-speech-can-float-in-air-for-eight-minutes-study-67538
Because the purification plants are better at removing phosphorus than nitrogen, the balance between these two elements is shifting on a global scale. This results in a comparatively high level of nitrogen in the purified water, which causes abundant growth of of algae with a preference for nitrogen. https://phys.org/news/2020-05-purification-wastewater-imbalance-nitrogen-phosphorus.html
The next phase of America's coronavirus problem is a massive housing crisis democrat republican https://theweek.com/articles/914438/next-phase-americas-coronavirus-problem-massive-housing-crisis
Many people don't realize that date labels on food products (with the exception of infant formula) are entirely at the manufacturer's discretion and are not supported by robust scientific evidence. To address this concern and combat global food waste, researchers at the University of Maryland have come together across departments in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources with the goal of clarifying the science or lack thereof behind food date labels, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/uom-urs051420.php
Millions of Older Americans Can't Get Enough Food
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Older Americans were going hungry even before the coronavirus pandemic https://consumer.healthday.com/senior-citizen-information-31/misc-aging-news-10/millions-of-older-americans-can-t-get-enough-food-757492.html
But just as importantly, once they've flowered and made seeds, the seeds need to forget this 'memory' of the cold so that they do not flower too soon once winter comes around again. Since H3K27me3 is faithfully copied from cell to cell, how do plants go about forgetting this memory in seeds? https://phys.org/news/2020-05-uncovers-epigenetic-specifically-reset-sperm.html
E.P.A. Opts Against Limits on Water Contaminant Tied to Fetal Damage https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/climate/trump-drinking-water-perchlorate.html
The evidence behind putting money directly in the pockets of the poor http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/science-blog/evidence-behind-putting-money-directly-pockets-poor
Scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism by which abnormalities in mitochondrial fission in endothelial cells contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in the cardiovascular system. They further show how the fission-fusion balance can be stabilized to lower inflammation using salicylate, the main active ingredient in everyday pain-relieving drugs like aspirin. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200511092931.htm
âMilestoneâ Evidence for Anyons, a Third Kingdom of Particles
Physicists have long known that the universe is made from two kinds of particles: fermions and bosons. Now there's a third that behaves totally differently. https://www.wired.com/story/milestone-evidence-for-anyons-a-third-kingdom-of-particles/
A new study suggests that dogs go through a similar phase of stubbornness and disobedience when they hit puberty at about eight months old. https://www.sciencealert.com/study-shows-dogs-can-make-for-problematic-teens-just-like-humans
The authors say in their scientific paper, "Persistent and mobile scPFCAs can circulate in the water cycle and cause irreversible contamination. They accumulate in edible plants and are not removed by current drinking water treatment technologies, allowing for multiple pathways of human exposure."
More work is needed to determine whether there are significant health impacts from these chemicals, but it's clear that they're going to be with us for a very long time. And this suggests that even the best efforts to prevent environmental damage can have unintended side-effects in the long-term. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/persistent-pollutants-and-the-unintended-side-effects-of-the-montreal-protocol-1.5571928?cmp=rss
reported that vitamin B3, niacin, has therapeutic effect in progressive muscle disease. Niacin delayed disease progression in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, a progressive disease with no previous curative treatments. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200514115802.htm
If your state permits social gatherings and you decide to meet up, keep it to a small group and make it safe as possible by staying outside, Raymond said. Agree on some ground rules, such as: "We don't shake hands, we bring our own food, we space the chair out at least 6 feet away." https://abcnews.go.com/Health/risks-coronavirus/story?id=70624608
Our research provides the first evidence of the sodium-rich (and alkaline) fluids in which the magnetite framboids formed.â
Credit: White et al, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2003276117
Providing a peek into the evolution of prebiotic life in the Solar System, the meteorite https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/canadas-tagish-lake-meteorite-found-to-contain-cosmic-compounds
Although weâre a long way from floating down the street, physicists have developed ways to mitigate the effect of gravity, from carefully aligning sound waves to mimicking free fall in reduced-gravity aircraft. But Kosuke Shibata and his colleagues at the Gakushuin University say theyâve developed a new tool for levitation: beams of light. http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2020/05/international-day-of-light-edition-beam.html?m=1
How a mint became catnip https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200513143758.htm
Scientists discover why some birds live fast and die young https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200514092555.htm