Children Are Wild

I heard that a large reason why Yuri on Ice is so popular in Japan is because of how realistic it is.

I gave it some thought, and I think that’s not restricted to Japan at all - it’s a genuine reason regardless of the nation.

I think that stems from the lack of typical anime tropes. It’s what makes the anime accessible to newcomers or to people who haven’t previously enjoyed anime. I know for a fact that many fans of YOI have never seen anime before or never enjoyed the concept of it but easily got into Yuri on Ice.

I think this is precisely the lack of anime tropes that adds to its realism and makes it easy to pick up for anyone. Of course, it’s not trope-free, not at all, but let’s list a few of the ways in which it managed to defy the popular tropes: it’s not set in high school, the characters are adults (but the life of those who aren’t isn’t centered around school), there are no annoying female characters, no female body related fanservice, doesn’t rely on the same gags repeated ad nasueam, the main character is considered “weak” because of an actual mental illness and not just being wishy washy and bland, the protagonist doesn’t always win gold (in fact, he never does, but sometimes he doesn’t even place on the podium), there are no villains and no heroes, all the characters are likeable in some way, most of the stunts they perform are imaginable in real life (even if not always 100% doable), the gay relationship isn’t passed off as a joke and doesn’t involve typical BL dynamics, the characters actively use social media (like most people these days) and change their outfits every day.

There’s even more that you could add to the list, but I think this shows enough already.

Of course, that’s not to say that Yuri on Ice features no anime tropes because it does, but they’re usually not as invasive or off-putting as in many other anime.

I think realism really is an important part of Yuri on Ice and why the anime was able to gain so many fans, especially among people who were nver particularly interested in anime as a whole. Through not pandering to otaku culture, it was able to show a natural, organic story, one that most people could relate to or at the very least imagine in real life.

I think it is really is the realism in it that struck a chord with so many people - it felt grounded in real life, presenting situations and conversations that could actually happen, as well as people (and their cultures) from all over the world, all with their strengths, weaknesses and motivations that were believable and often relatable. I personally think it was the anime that you should show to someone who thinks that anime is just flashy fights and pink-haired girls with huge breasts and tons of screaming.

Yuri on Ice was a story in anime form, but it wasn’t what you could call a ‘typical anime’ and I think that’s partly what made such success possible. Through not following usual paths set up by many popular anime and manga series, it was able to go beyond the otaku community and grab the hearts of people who would never otherwise watch anime.

yum

As a Canadian, watching episode 8 was a treat.

The truly alarming thing that made itself clear tonight: Donald Trump thinks that women lie about being sexually assaulted because he thinks they get positive attention from doing so. 

In reality, women are torn apart for saying anything about it. 

true friendship is skyping but not talking to each other the entire time

What are the most important skills an astronaut should have m?

First of all, the basic requirement is a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, and 3 years of experience (which can also be substituted for by an advanced degree). Other than that, operational experience (things with a technical/active/hands on nature like flying airplanes, SCUBA diving, taking things apart and putting them back together, basic fix-it skills, etc. etc.) is very important, as this is an integral aspect of every day of a space mission.  What we call “expeditionary skills” are also essential, basically the types of things you try to instill in your children, like how to play nicely with others, self care, team care, etc.  I like to think about this on the lines of a camping trip and who you would like to have along with you …someone that is competent and can take good care of themselves and their equipment, someone that contributes to the team and helps with group tasks, someone that is good natured and pleasant to be around, etc., someone fun!  These things are increasingly important now that we are regularly doing long duration missions (typical International Space Station mission is 6 months).  Experience living in extreme/remote/isolated environments with small teams is also useful, as it is similar to what we experience as astronauts.     

IM SCREAMING

Mags talks Tarot: Turning of the Year spread

I created this spread to provide insight into what the outgoing year brought to my life, where I stand now, and what the coming year will bring.

I do mine on 31st October each year but it works equally as well as a New Year’s Eve spread, or a birthday spread, or at a personally significant point of the year. A proviso of mine is that I will not do this reading twice for one person within the same twelve months and personally feel that it would lose something if it was used more often, however YMMV.

This is a large spread and it usually takes me at least an hour to complete a reading, so you’ll want to make sure you’ll not be interrupted for a while if you choose to do it.

1. Where I am now in respect of my professional life. 2. Where I am now in respect of my personal life. 3. Where I am now in respect of my inner life. 4. What the past year can teach me about my professional life. 5. What the past year can teach me about my personal life. 6. What the past year can teach me about my inner life. 7. What the coming year will bring me in respect of my professional life. 8. What the coming year will bring me in respect of my personal life. 9. What the coming year will bring me in respect of my inner life. 10. Month 1 (starting with the month following the day of the reading – so for a New Year’s reading, this would be January) 11. Month 2 12. Month 3 13. Month 4 14. Month 5 15. Month 6 16. Month 7 17. Month 8 18. Month 9 19. Month 10 20. Month 11 21. Month 12

The first nine cards need no explanation as to what they are there to do, however I would say that you are at perfect liberty to change the focus of this spread if the professional/personal/inner life is not the best fit for you.  I’ve also read this spread using emotionally/physically/spiritually, financially/physically/intellectually, and body/mind/spirit – it’s all about what’s important to you. Use it to look into the three things that what you want to focus on in the coming year.

The final twelve cards are intended to elucidate on the themes provided by cards 7, 8 & 9 and to give a flavour of what each month may hold. They benefit from being looked at as a group rather than taking each card in isolation. Read them as a story about your journey through the coming year!

I also recommend taking into account the balance of the spread as you read:

Major vs Minor arcana; which are there more of?

If it’s major, then the coming year is going to be a very significant one. If they are clustered in one part of the year, then it’s giving you a much more specific timeline pointer, if they are spread evenly then it may be that the whole year will be important.

In relation to the minor arcana alone …

Which suit appears the most? Which suit appears the least? Is there a suit that doesn’t appear at all?

This will give you an indication of the theme of your year and indicate which areas of your life might be neglected unless you make an effort to focus on them.

Number wise, are you getting mostly low numbers, mostly high numbers or a mix?

These can give an indication of the stage you’re at with whatever element of your life is being highlighted by the cards and give you pointers as to where you need to grow.

Are there more court cards than number cards?

If so, it may be that your life is being strongly influenced by specific people, or it might be that these represent elements of yourself that will come into play at that time, or elements that you need to focus on.

If you have a card you use as a significator* ….

Did it appear? If so where?

One interpretation is that this is the point in the year (or element of the year past/ present/ to come if it turns up in cards 1 to 9) that is going to be particularly pertinent to you. When my significator turns up in this spread I usually draw an additional clarifier card (after I’ve finished drawing the rest of the spread) for that position to identify what it is about that point in the reading that is so personal.

On that note, please don’t be afraid to pull a clarifier card if there is an area of the spread that doesn’t make sense. However do make sure that you’ve thoroughly thought about the cards you’ve drawn before you start doing so. If you look at the spread and your gut reaction is to pull a host of clarifiers please be honest with yourself as to why you’re doing it. If it isn’t that you don’t understand what the cards mean but instead that you don’t like what they’re saying, it’s better to face up to that element of the reading (and possibly set aside some time to do a separate, focused reading specifically to work through that issue) than to draw another card in the hope that it will make the problem go away.

And finally … please also remember that this reading a snapshot of the year ahead at the moment you pull the cards – not a set in stone prediction that cannot be changed. This is going to give you an idea of what may happen so that you can get ready to meet it, allowing you to seize opportunities the year may bring and prepare/guard against the not-so-good things (forewarned is forearmed, after all!). It’s a spread to help you make the best of whatever comes your way and is not supposed to create anxiety or become something to beat yourself up about.

If you use the spread, please do let me know if it helped and if you tweak it (which you’re obviously more than welcome to do) please share that too!

*A significator is a card chosen from the deck that represents either you (if you’re reading for yourself) or the questioner (if you’re reading for someone else). Some people, myself included, have a card they identify with most and thus the appearance of it can be used as an additional element in readings. If you don’t have a significator, please don’t feel that you need to choose one!

self care is drinking directly from a puddle in the taco bell drive thru

this user loves happiness (*´♡`*)