ShamedSalmon's recent activity
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
ShamedSalmon (edited )Link ParentI think the show's been rather thoroughly analyzed, and pretty much everything I've shared has been typed up by people before me, if not on the English internet, then certainly in the Japanese...I think the show's been rather thoroughly analyzed, and pretty much everything I've shared has been typed up by people before me, if not on the English internet, then certainly in the Japanese spheres.
More Spoilers (Akira and some yadda-yadda-yadda):
Well, I can't find any direct statements from the producers on what animes they referenced, but there's a few different forum posts over the last two decades that point it out. But at a most basic level, Lain's trope of a shadowy agency experimenting on kids, and its themes of post/extra-human identity, maturity and agency in young adulthood, and the body-horror of change are all shared with Akira.
Some of the standout references come in episode 11, when Lain emulates the Navi within her mind. We're given a depiction of the fiery black core of digital enlightenment that's eerily familiar to Akira's physical awakening. After Alice's confrontation with the alien Lain, time skips to the next day. As Alice contemplates what is and isn't real about her situation, we hear the slow beat and long reverb of a taiko drum, which also reminds of Akira. In reality, Akira's soundtrack in meant to remind the cultural viewer of a Noh play (Ghost in the Shell is doing the same thing with Bunraku). (Also, Noh is an important aspect of understanding a similar psychological individuation piece, Perfect Blue. Alongside Utena, the pair of anime pieces manages to cover a lot of what Lain did a year before it came out. ) (Also-also, the flute track in Akira: the lyrics are Buddhist chants. There's a whole rabbit hole to go down with Akira's nationalist and Buddhist ideas, especially with its visual exploration of the conceptual city as a collection of organs that form a macro-organism. Back to Lain, though!)
The writer mentions an another blog post that in episode 12, Eiri's reincarnate form was, at least on paper, supposed to be reminiscent of Cronenberg, but once animated, people inevitably drew allusions to Akira, even though, as he points out, the meanings of the respective scenes are opposite (Tetsuo losing control, Eiri exerting it).
I have not seen Blade of the Immortal, but I can tell you right off the bat that the life-giving "bloodworms" are probably a mirror-flip of the Sānchóng. Also, in Japanese folklore, Yao Bikuni (八百 比丘尼, lit. "Eight-hundred [year old] bǐqiūní/bhikṣuṇī/'Buddhist nun'") was a woman who ate
ningyo, sorry, ningyo flesh and gained earthly immortality. Anyway, it sounds really interesting! I'll put this on my need-to-watch list!
EDIT: It's also worth mentioning that Lain's story writer, Chiaki Konaka, also co-wrote Armitage III, an OVA that came out in the same year as GitS the film. It leaned heavily on cyberpunk tropes, but its iconic scene of androids being burned alive in a mass pile has been referenced by later works such as The Animatrix and GitS 2: Innocence. A III is also a major influence on the 2023 French animated film Mars Express.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
ShamedSalmon Link ParentOoooookay, I'm convinced! City just moved to the top of my list. This looks so heartwarming, I'm gonna explode!Ooooookay, I'm convinced! City just moved to the top of my list. This looks so heartwarming, I'm gonna explode!
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
ShamedSalmon Link ParentGahhh!! Realmedia?! That takes me back! That's how my sister and I watched the last season of Sailor Moon, way back when. Oh gosh, hahaha. Yeah, feel free to discuss when you get around to it!...Gahhh!! Realmedia?! That takes me back! That's how my sister and I watched the last season of Sailor Moon, way back when. Oh gosh, hahaha.
Yeah, feel free to discuss when you get around to it! It's a bit dark and rather grim at some points, but it ends on a happy and hopeful note and it has such a positive theme of compassion.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
ShamedSalmon (edited )Link ParentIt's a tricky show, but that's what makes it so delightfully interesting. If you'd rather the process of self-discovery on your rewatch, don't read the spoilers below. But if you want some further...It's a tricky show, but that's what makes it so delightfully interesting.
If you'd rather the process of self-discovery on your rewatch, don't read the spoilers below. But if you want some further takes (with massive plot spoilers), then feel free to read on.
More Spoilers:
Beyond the Alice in Wonderland theme which is brought together at the end, we have a story of the timelessly difficult transition from girlhood into young-adulthood. On the one hand, Lain is Alice grappling with her own maturation. On the other, Lain is wonderland-Chisa's spirit (or rather, a construct of everyone's memories of her), after her suicide in the first episode. In that sense, Lain's family represents Chisa's family, slowly crumbling after their loss.
Back to the transition from girlhood, we are presented with events that many young girls face in both Japanese society and abroad, such as the pressure to participate in more adult activities like the Cyberia club, to the drugs that are quietly sold there, to judgements over the kinds of clothes they wear, to even the dicey interactions of invasive internet social circles. It's 1998 and these girls are already texting in class, and the rumor mill is already spearheaded online.
The idea of Lain as an aspect of the Buddha is something that the series writer actually mentions in a blog post. But, it's also completely on display in the end credits of each episode, where we see the fetal-positioned Lain, sleeping at the center of the artificial universe. It's a representation of tathāgatagarbha, the cosmic womb or innate nature of a person. 2001: A Space Odyssey is probably a more well-known depiction of this.
On the subject of Lain as the bodhisattva Guānyīn ("Kannon" in Japanese), I mention the Jade Girl 玉女 as it's actually an epithet in Buddhist and Dàoist esoterism for the originally enlightened self at the center of a woman. What's interesting about Lain's name in Kanji is it's meaning; 玲音 is "the sound of clinking jade," which ties into Guānyīn's role as the one who "perceives the sounds/cries of the world." The Lain seen radiating through the parted clouds is also another cultural depiction of Guānyīn.
But let's set the subject of enlightened womanhood aside for a sec and talk about Eiri Masami. He's not just the Tetsuo to Lain's Akira. In a Buddhist sense, he represents a deva that has fallen for the allure of the heavenly realms, rather than continuing onward to buddahood. When the series brings Jungianism into the mix by introducing concepts such as the Collective Unconscious, they are also opening the door to comparing Eiri Masami's godhood to that of the Gnostic Demiurge, the false god over the lower realm of physical existence who, like a prideful deva, is ignorant of the higher workings above him.
Eiri Masami also provides a good transition to the series' socio-political commentary. Not only do tech companies like Tachibana General Labs represent the troubles of highly accelerating capitalist innovations, they also play a role in representing some of the negative influences of Western culture, a notion that Serial Experiments Lain was meant to portray a sort of resistance to, according to to the series' producers.
Lain's airing came only three years after the Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks that were perpetrated by Buddhist/Christian Fundamentalist eclectic cult Aum Shinrikyo. It's leader, Shōkō Asahara, declared himself to be the Christ and advocated that in order to save others from both the immanent end of the world and from further accumulating their bad karma, members of Aum had to kill and liberate people from their bodies. It's this then-recent cultural backdrop in which we the viewers are introduced to Eiri Masami, a false god of The Wired who is encouraging children to give up their bodies through suicide in order to join him there.
Attributing the statuses of "supreme god" to Masami and "buddha" to Lain is also a way of exploring the idea of (implicitly Christianized) American might being at odds with the (folkic/Buddhist) Japanese culture, especially in the post-reconstruction era. Sidenote: whereas Lain is looking at Western social and market imperialism, the fear of political imperialism from within at the height of post-reconstruction is a theme at the heart of the aforementioned Akira. With Lain's subtle occasional references to Akira, what the show's also doing is building further on ideas of near-future anxieties in the advancing society of Japan.
Hopefully that provides some more food for thought.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
ShamedSalmon (edited )LinkSerial Experiments Lain A Jade Girl is jaded. Summary (spoilers): Hylic Layer: The Outer Lain ("Childish 玲音") In a twilight world where the reckless creations of tech companies are alienating our...Serial Experiments Lain
A Jade Girl is jaded.
Summary (spoilers):
Hylic Layer: The Outer Lain ("Childish 玲音")
In a twilight world where the reckless creations of tech companies are alienating our youth, Lain Iwakura must decide whether she is merely their product or her own person.
Psychic Layer: The Inner Lain ("Advanced レイン")
A young woman, Alice Mizuki, is walking along with her fiancé when she spots a girl who reminds her of a dream she once had, a glimpse through the looking glass that prompted her to connect with and befriend her withdrawn schoolmate, Chisa Yomoda, back in 8th grade.
Pneumatic Layer: The Secret Lain ("Cunning Lain")
When we lose someone, be it a dying friend or even our childhood self, a person-shaped hole is left in the fabric of our reality. Lain is the fear and compassion that comes about when we fill that gap with our memories, our grief, and our coping mechanisms in a life that inevitably continues on. Lain is the pieces of ourselves that we see in others. Lain is the uncertainty and anxiety we experience in reconciling those oft disparate parts. She is no one, she is everyone, and she is only herself.
Lain is Guānyīn.
Lain is Love.
Lain is Lain.Let's all love Lain.
-
Comment on A day in the life of @Akir in ~life
ShamedSalmon LinkWhat I got from it is that you're a thoughtful, self-introspective person. You're a whole universe of thoughts and emotions, hopes and ambitions, just like the rest of us. One of the most...What I got from it is that you're a thoughtful, self-introspective person. You're a whole universe of thoughts and emotions, hopes and ambitions, just like the rest of us. One of the most wonderful things about being human is our ability to share our inner-world with others, even if it's only a glimpse.
Though it's being pitted against self-doubt, your routine and your drive really shines through in your honesty here. Some people adorn themselves with hook-ups, but real sensitivity borne through personal development is the mark of a progressing and maturing person like you.
So hang in there; you're doing a great job!
(PS: Sorry about the CPAP mask! Hope you get a new one soon.)
-
Comment on What is the most insane, tedious, difficult, and/or noteworthy gaming achievement you have completed or given up on? in ~games
ShamedSalmon Link ParentAhh, the good 'ol days of save resigning. Do you remember what storage software you used to read your memory card? Xplorer360? USB Xtaf GUI? Party Buffalo Drive Explorer? Modio Suite? There were...Ahh, the good 'ol days of save resigning. Do you remember what storage software you used to read your memory card? Xplorer360? USB Xtaf GUI? Party Buffalo Drive Explorer? Modio Suite? There were so many good ones back in those days.
-
Comment on What is the most insane, tedious, difficult, and/or noteworthy gaming achievement you have completed or given up on? in ~games
ShamedSalmon LinkIn The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, there are 164 slaves scattered about the island. I have freed them all without cheats or mods. Okay, so there are actually 166 slaves, but two have bugged...- Exemplary
In The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, there are 164 slaves scattered about the island. I have freed them all without cheats or mods.
Okay, so there are actually 166 slaves, but two have bugged scripting. I have freed all slaves that can possibly be freed by methods that exist within the game world's design.
There are 7 slaves that can be rescued through quest-lines. Outside of that, only 124 of the remaining slaves have keys associated with them. A key is actually not tied to any slave or its equipped bracers, but is instead tied to a cell that a slave is found in.
For example, if you find the
Zebabi Slave Key, any set of slave bracers can now be unlocked within that cell. The key will of course work on the five slaves you find there, but it will also work on any other slaves that are brought in from another cell. This is the method that can be used to rescue the remaining 33 slaves that are in keyless cells.To move them, you will need to raise a slave's disposition towards you and then repeatedly use a
Command Humanoidspell to force them to follow you into a cell for which you have a key.Below are some more notes on my methods, and a markdown table I had put together to keep track of their rescue.
Notes on Rescuing the Keyless Slaves
It's best to fetch the Sadrith Mora slaves one at a time as there are a lot of bodies of water you're going to have to pass which can lead to them being drowned, killed by slaughterfish, or killed accidentally during rescue from said fish by the player (oops). If
Command Humanoidwears off while they are still swimming,Levitateis sometimes necessary to achieve the right angle to successfully recast a spell on them.Another hazard is that reloading saves can break the commanded NPC's AI scripting, causing them to become unresponsive and start walking in a single direction, but this seems to depend on the cell. Especially with Sardith Mora, plan to do one slave at a time and anticipate restarting that run if necessary.
The vampire cattle are a class of respawning NPCs like the Ordinators. They cannot be freed as they don't contain the script element necessary to do so. You can lead one from Galom Daeus east to Zebabi, but it will respawn in it's original cell in three days. The design intent behind their class is to be a food source for the vampire quest-line, should the player pursue that.
As mentioned, a slightly similar problem affects two of the slaves in Suran, namely Yakov & Khinjarsi. An examination of their code would reveal this, but for added measure, I did command them to Saturan. The UESP mentions that attempting to free them may produce error messages, but at least on Xbox, I didn't get any. Nonetheless, after "unlocking" their bracers, they were still on, and leaving the area did not remove them from the world. Because of their scripting bugs, Yakov & Khinjarsi are the only two slaves in the game that cannot be rescued.
Table of Morrowind Slaves to Rescue
Name Released Region Location Key Information Baadargo ☑ Bitter Coast Addamasartus Addamasartus Slave Key, on a crate in the cave Banalz ☑ Bitter Coast Addamasartus Addamasartus Slave Key, on a crate in the cave Okaw ☑ Bitter Coast Addamasartus Addamasartus Slave Key, on a crate in the cave Aravi ☑ Bitter Coast Aharunartus Aharunartus Slave Key, on a chest in the cave Bahdahna ☑ Bitter Coast Aharunartus Aharunartus Slave Key, on a chest in the cave Kishni ☑ Bitter Coast Aharunartus Aharunartus Slave Key, on a chest in the cave Wuleen-Shei ☑ Bitter Coast Aharunartus Aharunartus Slave Key, on a chest in the cave Dahnara ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Dome Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome S'Vandra ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Dome Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Dreaded-Water ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Meer ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Nisaba ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Reemukeeus ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Shivani ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Smart-Snake ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome S'Renji ☑ Bitter Coast Hlormaren, Underground Hlormaren Slave Key, on a chest in the Dome Ahnisa ☑ Bitter Coast Zainsipilu Zainsipilu Slave Key, on a table in the cave Anjari ☑ Bitter Coast Zainsipilu Zainsipilu Slave Key, on a table in the cave Bahdrashi ☑ Bitter Coast Zainsipilu Zainsipilu Slave Key, on a table in the cave Haran ☑ Bitter Coast Zainsipilu Zainsipilu Slave Key, on a table in the cave Muz-Ra ☑ Bitter Coast Zainsipilu Zainsipilu Slave Key, on a table in the cave Akish ☑ West Gash Assarnud Assarnud Slave Key, carried by Bazgulub gro-Ulfish Bun-Teemeeta ☑ West Gash Assarnud Assarnud Slave Key, carried by Bazgulub gro-Ulfish Huzei ☑ West Gash Assarnud Assarnud Slave Key, carried by Bazgulub gro-Ulfish Ra'Karim ☑ West Gash Assarnud Assarnud Slave Key, carried by Bazgulub gro-Ulfish Ra'Mhirr ☑ West Gash Assarnud Assarnud Slave Key, carried by Bazgulub gro-Ulfish Ri'Darsha ☑ West Gash Assarnud Assarnud Slave Key, carried by Bazgulub gro-Ulfish Gilm ☑ West Gash Caldera Mine, Mine Caldera Slave Key, on a table in the guard tower Inorra ☑ West Gash Caldera Mine, Mine Caldera Slave Key, on a table in the guard tower Khazura ☑ West Gash Caldera Mine, Mine Caldera Slave Key, on a table in the guard tower Neesha ☑ West Gash Caldera Mine, Mine Caldera Slave Key, on a table in the guard tower Kiseena ☑ West Gash Caldera Mine, Shacks Caldera Slave Key, on a table in the guard tower Dahleena ☑ West Gash Caldera Mine, Shacks Caldera Slave Key, on a table in the guard tower Utadeek ☑ West Gash Gnisis, Madach Tradehouse There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Assarnud Adharanji ☑ West Gash Kudanat Kudanat Slave Key, on a table in the cave Ah-Meesei ☑ West Gash Kudanat Kudanat Slave Key, on a table in the cave Heedul ☑ West Gash Kudanat Kudanat Slave Key, on a table in the cave Oleen-Gei ☑ West Gash Kudanat Kudanat Slave Key, on a table in the cave Ra'Sava ☑ West Gash Kudanat Kudanat Slave Key, on a table in the cave Deesh-Meeus ☑ West Gash Shushishi Slave Key, near a corpse in the cave Ma'Jidarr ☑ West Gash Shushishi Slave Key, near a corpse in the cave Meeh-Mei ☑ West Gash Shushishi Slave Key, near a corpse in the cave Tsajadhi ☑ West Gash Shushishi Slave Key, near a corpse in the cave Gih-Ja ☑ Ashlands Sha-Adnius Sha-Adnius Slave Key, on a bench in the cave Han-Tulm ☑ Ashlands Sha-Adnius Sha-Adnius Slave Key, on a bench in the cave Jeer-Maht ☑ Ashlands Sha-Adnius Sha-Adnius Slave Key, on a bench in the cave Ri'Vassa ☑ Ashlands Sha-Adnius Sha-Adnius Slave Key, on a bench in the cave Sholani ☑ Ashlands Sha-Adnius Sha-Adnius Slave Key, on a bench in the cave Tsani ☑ Ashlands Sha-Adnius Sha-Adnius Slave Key, on a bench in the cave Affri ☑ Ascadian Isles Arvel Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation J'Kara ☑ Ascadian Isles Arvel Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Kal-Ma ☑ Ascadian Isles Arvel Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Kasa ☑ Ascadian Isles Arvel Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Ma'Dara ☑ Ascadian Isles Arvel Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Shatalg ☑ Ascadian Isles Arvel Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Gah Julan ☑ Ascadian Isles Dren Plantation, Docks Dren Plantation Slave Key, on a desk in the shipping house Ahzini ☑ Ascadian Isles Dren Plantation Dren Plantation Slave Key, on a desk in the shipping house Neetinei ☑ Ascadian Isles Dren Plantation, Dove's Shack Dren Plantation Slave Key, on a desk in the shipping house Arabhi ☑ Ascadian Isles Dren Plantation, Dove's Shack Dren Plantation Slave Key, on a desk in the shipping house Grey-Throat ☑ Ascadian Isles Ules Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Morning-Star... ☑ Ascadian Isles Ules Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Ri'Zaadha ☑ Ascadian Isles Ules Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Tsalani ☑ Ascadian Isles Ules Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Twice-Bitten ☑ Ascadian Isles Ules Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Unjara ☑ Ascadian Isles Ules Plantation There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Jo'Ren-Dar ☑ Ascadian Isles Sterdecan's Farmhouse There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Dren Plantation Cheesh-Meeus ☑ Ascadian Isles Hinnabi Hinnabi Slave Key, carried by Tels Girano Heir-Zish ☑ Ascadian Isles Hinnabi Hinnabi Slave Key, carried by Tels Girano J'Ram-Dar ☑ Ascadian Isles Hinnabi Hinnabi Slave Key, carried by Tels Girano Tasha ☑ Ascadian Isles Hinnabi Hinnabi Slave Key, carried by Tels Girano Ekapi ☑ Ascadian Isles Panat Panat Slave Key, on a stool in the cave Tsabhi ☑ Ascadian Isles Panat Panat Slave Key, on a stool in the cave Ula ☑ Ascadian Isles Panat Panat Slave Key, on a stool in the cave Ahdni ☑ Ascadian Isles Sinsibadon Sinsibadon Slave Key, carried by Borug gro-Lazgarn Am-Ra ☑ Ascadian Isles Sinsibadon Sinsibadon Slave Key, carried by Borug gro-Lazgarn J'Jarsha ☑ Ascadian Isles Sinsibadon Sinsibadon Slave Key, carried by Borug gro-Lazgarn Kaasha ☑ Ascadian Isles Sinsibadon Sinsibadon Slave Key, carried by Borug gro-Lazgarn On-Wazei ☑ Ascadian Isles Sinsibadon Sinsibadon Slave Key, carried by Borug gro-Lazgarn Wusha ☑ Ascadian Isles Sinsibadon Sinsibadon Slave Key, carried by Borug gro-Lazgarn Dro'Qanar ☑ Ascadian Isles Vivec, Telvanni Canalworks Telvanni Canalworks Slave Key, carried by Eldrar Fathyron El-Lurasha ☑ Ascadian Isles Vivec, Telvanni Canalworks Telvanni Canalworks Slave Key, carried by Eldrar Fathyron Inerri ☑ Ascadian Isles Vivec, Telvanni Canalworks Telvanni Canalworks Slave Key, carried by Eldrar Fathyron Mim-Jeen ☑ Ascadian Isles Vivec, Telvanni Canalworks Telvanni Canalworks Slave Key, carried by Eldrar Fathyron Wud-Neeus ☑ Ascadian Isles Vivec, Telvanni Canalworks Telvanni Canalworks Slave Key, carried by Eldrar Fathyron Teegla ☑ Ascadian Isles Vivec, The Lizard's Head Telvanni Canalworks Slave Key, carried by Eldrar Fathyron Khinjarsi ☒ Ascadian Isles Suran, House of Earthly Delights A script error prevents freeing this slave Jeelus-Tei ☑ Ascadian Isles Suran, Slave Market There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Saturan Seewul ☑ Ascadian Isles Suran, Slave Market There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Saturan Tim-Jush ☑ Ascadian Isles Suran, Slave Market There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Saturan Yakov ☒ Ascadian Isles Suran, Slave Market A script error prevents freeing this slave Abanji ☑ Molag Amur Molag Mar There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal Breech-Star ☑ Molag Amur Molag Mar There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal High-Heart ☑ Molag Amur Molag Mar There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal Khamuzi ☑ Molag Amur Molag Mar There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal Stream-Murk ☑ Molag Amur Molag Mar There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal Tern-Feather ☑ Molag Amur Molag Mar There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal Eutei ☑ Molag Amur Saturan Saturan Slave Key, carried by Jolgeir J'Zamha ☑ Molag Amur Saturan Saturan Slave Key, carried by Jolgeir Peeradeeh ☑ Molag Amur Saturan Saturan Slave Key, carried by Jolgeir Ubaasi ☑ Molag Amur Saturan Saturan Slave Key, carried by Jolgeir Udarra ☑ Molag Amur Saturan Saturan Slave Key, carried by Jolgeir Ashidasha ☑ Molag Amur Shushan Shushan Slave Key, carried by Evilu Indrano Bhusari ☑ Molag Amur Shushan Shushan Slave Key, carried by Evilu Indrano Bunish ☑ Molag Amur Shushan Shushan Slave Key, carried by Evilu Indrano Olink-Nur ☑ Molag Amur Shushan Shushan Slave Key, carried by Evilu Indrano Chalureel ☑ Molag Amur Zebabi Zebabi Slave Key, carried by Draryn Andrano Gish ☑ Molag Amur Zebabi Zebabi Slave Key, carried by Draryn Andrano Ma'Zahn ☑ Molag Amur Zebabi Zebabi Slave Key, carried by Draryn Andrano Nuralg ☑ Molag Amur Zebabi Zebabi Slave Key, carried by Draryn Andrano Zahraji ☑ Molag Amur Zebabi Zebabi Slave Key, carried by Draryn Andrano Ahnarra ☑ Azura's Coast Abebaal Egg Mine Abebaal Slave Key, on a table in Tel Branora, Lower Tower Dan-Ru ☑ Azura's Coast Abebaal Egg Mine Abebaal Slave Key, on a table in Tel Branora, Lower Tower Dro'Zah ☑ Azura's Coast Abebaal Egg Mine Abebaal Slave Key, on a table in Tel Branora, Lower Tower J'Dato ☑ Azura's Coast Abebaal Egg Mine Abebaal Slave Key, on a table in Tel Branora, Lower Tower Seen-Rei ☑ Azura's Coast Abebaal Egg Mine Abebaal Slave Key, on a table in Tel Branora, Lower Tower Eleedal-Lei ☑ Azura's Coast Abebaal Egg Mine Abebaal Slave Key, on a table in Tel Branora, Lower Tower Ahjara ☑ Azura's Coast Minabi Minabi Slave Key, carried by Chrelm Beekatan ☑ Azura's Coast Minabi Minabi Slave Key, carried by Chrelm Jeed-Ei ☑ Azura's Coast Minabi Minabi Slave Key, carried by Chrelm Meen-Sa ☑ Azura's Coast Minabi Minabi Slave Key, carried by Chrelm Shaba ☑ Azura's Coast Minabi Minabi Slave Key, carried by Chrelm S'Raverr ☑ Azura's Coast Minabi Minabi Slave Key, carried by Chrelm Ahaht ☑ Azura's Coast Yakanalit Yakanalit Slave Key, on a table in the cave Ahdri ☑ Azura's Coast Yakanalit Yakanalit Slave Key, on a table in the cave Ahndahra ☑ Azura's Coast Yakanalit Yakanalit Slave Key, on a table in the cave Harassa ☑ Azura's Coast Yakanalit Yakanalit Slave Key, on a table in the cave Milah ☑ Azura's Coast Yakanalit Yakanalit Slave Key, on a table in the cave Weer ☑ Azura's Coast Yakanalit Yakanalit Slave Key, on a table in the cave Ra'Zahr ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Branora, Therana's Chamber There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Abebaal Ereel-Lei ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi Milos ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi Qa'Dar ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi Ahdahni ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora, Gateway Inn There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi Inee ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora, Gateway Inn There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi J'Jazha ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora, Gateway Inn There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi Reesa ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora, Gateway Inn There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi S'Rava ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora, Gateway Inn There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi Wanan-Dum ☑ Azura's Coast Sadrith Mora, Gateway Inn There is no key. The closest unlock cell is Zebabi S'Bakha ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn This slave must be purchased from the Tel Aruhn Slave Market Ciralinde ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn This slave must be purchased from the Tel Aruhn Slave Market Davina ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn This slave must be purchased from the Tel Aruhn Slave Market Jadier Mannick ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn This slave must be purchased from the Tel Aruhn Slave Market Manilian Scerius ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn This slave must be purchased from the Tel Aruhn Slave Market Menelras ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn This slave must be purchased from the Tel Aruhn Slave Market Aina ☑ Sheogorad Habinbaes Habinbaes Slave Key, carried by Matuk gro-Magrish Kisimba ☑ Sheogorad Habinbaes Habinbaes Slave Key, carried by Matuk gro-Magrish Olank-Neeus ☑ Sheogorad Habinbaes Habinbaes Slave Key, carried by Matuk gro-Magrish Ri'Dumiwa ☑ Sheogorad Habinbaes Habinbaes Slave Key, carried by Matuk gro-Magrish Asum ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Chiwish ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Idhassi ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran J'Raksa ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Kisisa ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Ma'Khar ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran M'Shan ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Nakuma ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Nam-La ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Tanan ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Wih-Eius ☑ Sheogorad Rotheran, Arena Rotheran Slave Key, carried by Irvsie Othran Rabinna ☑ Bitter Coast Hla Oad, Fatleg's Drop Off Quest: Rabinna's Inner Beauty, take her to the Argonian Mission instead J'Saddha ☑ West Gash Ashalmawia Quest: The Twin Lamps, kill the slave hunters or convince them to leave Hides-His-Foot ☑ Ascadian Isles Dren Plantation Quest: Free Hides-His-Foot, sneak Hides-His-Foot to Sterdecan's Farm Haj-Ei ☑ Ascadian Isles Suran Quest: The Drunken Bounty Hunter, keep Haj-Ei's identity a secret On-Wan ☑ Ascadian Isles Ebonheart, Argonian Mission Quest: Alms from the Argonian Mission, blackmail Im-Kilaya Reeh-Jah ☑ Molag Amur Molag Amur Region (11,-1) Quest: The Runaway Slave, take him to the Argonian Mission instead Falura Llervu ☑ Azura's Coast Tel Aruhn Quest: Zainab Nerevarine, purchase a bride from the slave market -
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentUgh, the dryness is the worst! Thankfully it doesn't happen to me all that often, but when it does, it's very unpleasant and my whole throat dries up to the point of coughing. That's so...Ugh, the dryness is the worst! Thankfully it doesn't happen to me all that often, but when it does, it's very unpleasant and my whole throat dries up to the point of coughing.
That's so interesting about your eyes not closing all the way! I had a friend in school whose eye-lids did that. It never seemed to affect his sleep, and as I recall, that's just how the muscles around his eyes relaxed.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
ShamedSalmon Link ParentBig UC Gundam fan here. Overall, I agree with your takes on Zeta. I feel like it's important with the cheekier ZZ in establishing the political landscape and climactic anticipation for Char's...Big UC Gundam fan here. Overall, I agree with your takes on Zeta. I feel like it's important with the cheekier ZZ in establishing the political landscape and climactic anticipation for Char's Counterattack, but otherwise, they can be quite a slog. Zeta especially goes hand-in-hand with Tomino's more grim works like Space Runaway Ideon (the eschatological inspiration for Evangelion). Tomino battled depression for some time before hitting his low point in the early '90s, during Victory Gundam. After finishing Turn A and coming out of his depression, Tomino said that even he didn't like Zeta very much, lol!
But Char is such a fun character! The Origin OVA was great -- like if Star Trek did a mini-series about Khan during the Gene Wars. I still need to sit down and watch GQuuuuuuX, but its definitely moving up my list!
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentSometimes I sleep with my mouth open, but no I can't sleep with any eyes open. Have you ever done that, that you know of?Sometimes I sleep with my mouth open, but no I can't sleep with any eyes open. Have you ever done that, that you know of?
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentI mean, I still get the most out of something by focusing my sole attention on it, but yeah ADHD is such a tough thing to have to deal with either way and I hope it doesn't keep you down too much!...I mean, I still get the most out of something by focusing my sole attention on it, but yeah ADHD is such a tough thing to have to deal with either way and I hope it doesn't keep you down too much!
Is that the one with the gorilla? Hahaha, yeah by having one eye stationary, it just walks right into view for me while I'm using my other eye to track the ball. Totally got it the first time without even realizing I wasn't necessarily supposed to notice.
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link Parent200 * 0.05 = ... 10 🤦♂️ Yeah, no problem, lol! Honestly, the calculator is a lifesaver for simpler math. Yeah, the cost of living is really unfortunate! But yes, I'm a decent enough planner, and...200 * 0.05 =
...
10
🤦♂️Yeah, no problem, lol! Honestly, the calculator is a lifesaver for simpler math.
Yeah, the cost of living is really unfortunate! But yes, I'm a decent enough planner, and life is really very good otherwise. Whether or not I work until I die, any needless treasures that I don't spend in my lifetime will go to my nieces and nephews, so I gain either way.
Hahahaha, yesss! My eye doctor talked about that hand trick. She is so fun and I'm like her only patient with independent vision. With the hand thing, everybody's a little different, but the more cross-eyed one can go, the more detail they can glean, and some people have to switch to do so, while others like me just don't.
Sometimes I wonder what it's like to have both eyes looking in the same direction and seeing the same thing without my focus getting all weird. With reading, I tend to have my fixed eye one line ahead while the other follows along to construct the information. It's almost like double-reading, where I gloss over a sentence first, and then pass it again a second or two later to actually grasp the information. It's a comfy way to read.
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentOh, I see, I see! With the hand thing, my fixed eye is completely fixed, so I can't actually cross it to look towards my hand, but it's close enough to see detail. My free eye can cross to look in...Oh, I see, I see! With the hand thing, my fixed eye is completely fixed, so I can't actually cross it to look towards my hand, but it's close enough to see detail. My free eye can cross to look in or away, however.
To an extent, the farther apart two things are, the easier it is for me to track them simultaneously. I think you put it well in calling that a sort of reverse-cross-eye approach, but I don't have any problem tracking movement or gleaning detail for the most part. I retain a majority of the visual information, but the more disparate the intellectual tasks are, the harder it is to retain that intellectual information. Like, I can read and watch TV, but I either follow one story or the other, not both. I liken it to listening to a podcast while playing a game; when you relisten to that podcast, you can recall what you saw in the game, but you were focused on the information of the podcast rather than the game's story. Oh, but this does make watching things with subtitles a breeze since I can gobble up every corner of the visuals without taking an eye away from the words. Not really a super power, per se, there's just no switch of focus or strain in doing it for me.
Honestly, I think it's cool that your eyes can sync up! Brains are weird, right?!
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentYeah, that stereoscopic gif nails it! You are so right! Okay, so if you flatten your hand like a karate-chop, then place your thumb up to your nose and try to focus on the detail of your palm on...Yeah, that stereoscopic gif nails it! You are so right!
Okay, so if you flatten your hand like a karate-chop, then place your thumb up to your nose and try to focus on the detail of your palm on one side, and the metacarpals on the other, you have to switch to focus the detail of either, correct? For me, it's a little bit different; I can focus on the details of my metacarpals with my fixed eye, while running my free eye up and down my palm. It's only when I try to account in the periphery fuzz in the middle that I start to break into switching. But if I don't try to "fill in" that boundary, I can freely process the two sides without issue. Right now, I'm sitting here like an idiot with my hand in my face, swirling my eye around, lol!
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentThese are all very good questions! A. No. I mean, I'm organized and use a spreadsheet template to keep track of rent and utilities, but beyond entering billing numbers, things get complicated. I...These are all very good questions!
A. No. I mean, I'm organized and use a spreadsheet template to keep track of rent and utilities, but beyond entering billing numbers, things get complicated. I split my paycheck into what to me are arbitrary amounts that go into checking and savings, but I avoid spending where I can so as not to impact those arbitrary amounts too much.
B. I can derive logical conclusions from spotting visual patterns in graphs, but beyond the impression of a trend, that translation into numeric data is largely meaningless to me. If a bank statement comes with a graph, it tells me that something is happening in an upward or downward direction, but it doesn't help me quantify my spending or saving beyond the obvious, "yep, I bought a few things this month." If I bought four books, each of which were $18.99, even right here I'm struggling to figure out how much that would be, but probably $80.00 given 18.99's proximity to 19 and 19's proximity to 20. 20 x 4 is 80, so 80 it is.
C. I did have a heck of a time at school! I was constantly behind in math and Algebra was as far as I made it and I had to take it twice. I am from the States, so I was placed in what is called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. I was diagnosed around age 5, when my teacher and parents noticed how tough learning was for me. This was decades ago.
D. I'm not sure what apps would help. Generally, I rely a lot on my family to help me stabilize my saving and spending. My sisters are very thrifty and my parents have taught me good tips for keeping physical track of bills, setting up spreadsheets, and writing calendar reminders, so I still manage. But retirement and investment are just those things that are sort of out of my grasp. I don't work somewhere that puts money into a retirement account, so I put a little into one here and there when I can, and I probably have like two or three others that I don't even know about from various employers over the last 20 years, but I doubt its very much. At my income bracket, it's not likely that I will be able to retire in this lifetime anyway, which I've made my peace with.
E. The written representation of a number is not a problem; it's whether they have a symbolic attachment to a piece of information that I can process or not. So, remembering a phone number is not hard because it's a piece of information related to a person or place, e.g. "Clair's phone number is 555-213-8774." It's similar with years. Saying, "The Great Schism occurred in in 1054," is an easy fact to remember. However, saying "The Great Schism occurred in the 11th Century, 187 years after the Photian Schism ended in 867," I'm going to struggle to derive what approximate year that would be because of the math involved. With numbers that big, I'm rounding up to the nearest hundredth and then working backwards to ease the mental load, but it's still tough. Anything that involves a trend or translation is difficult, like I could not tell you what "5% of 200" is. I can grasp the logic of a good explanation of what it is, but I just can't seem to put it into practice, which is frustrating. I'm good with abstract ideas, but not discreet calculations.
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentOh sleep is the best! Cats seem to have it all figured out in that regard, hahaha. But my mom definitely wishes she could nap on a plane the way you can. Ooh, thinking about the anxiety-loop, I...Oh sleep is the best! Cats seem to have it all figured out in that regard, hahaha. But my mom definitely wishes she could nap on a plane the way you can.
Ooh, thinking about the anxiety-loop, I just thought of a senryu that would have been really good for that haiku thread the other day:
Tossing and turning,
Wide awake with my eyes closed;
What of tomorrow? -
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentVision buddies! Yay! That's really cool. Yeah, sometimes it's almost the inverse for me; if I hyper-focus on a single object, I wind up trying to flip back and forth. The vast majority of people...Vision buddies! Yay! That's really cool. Yeah, sometimes it's almost the inverse for me; if I hyper-focus on a single object, I wind up trying to flip back and forth. The vast majority of people I've met don't really understand what it's like beyond trying to close one eye and then the other, but that's more jarring and doesn't capture the subtlety of switching.
I was born with my fixed eye permanently facing down, and it took several surgeries to bring it back up, so that may help explain some of the differences between your and my developments, but who knows? Because the muscles actually pull my fixed eye back in the socket, the bone grew in a bit around it. On x-rays you can see that the opening of that socket is actually a tiny bit smaller than the other, which is also weird and interesting. I learned to smirk with the opposite cheek to compensate for the illusion of difference in the size of my eyes (i.e. they're the same size, but different depths so it doesn't look it in photos unless I place my cheeks the right way).
-
Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ShamedSalmon Link ParentIt's wild how much of a spectrum sleep can be! My older sister had terrible trouble falling asleep, but when she did, she slept hard and was almost impossible to wake. With regards to even anxiety...It's wild how much of a spectrum sleep can be! My older sister had terrible trouble falling asleep, but when she did, she slept hard and was almost impossible to wake.
With regards to even anxiety getting in the way of sleep, it's always those pesky little things that ruin a good super power.
Thanks for the warning about the violence! I'll definitely check it out in the near future, though!
Ooh, you know, I have not heard of Nine Sols. I'm pretty behind on the current world of video games as well, hahaha! Looks like quite the romp from the Heavens to the Yellow Springs. I'll be sure to give it a good look!!