Adventure
Midnight Sun. Runner-up in Summer Solstice Challenge.
My dog trots happily behind my boyfriend, occasionally looking back to make sure I haven’t been separated from the pack. Midnight is only minutes away, and as usual, we’re running late. For the first time in over fifty years, the entire town is gathering by the river to honor and celebrate the summer solstice. That may sound impressive, but the reality is that there are barely 2,000 residents in the small town of Girdwood, which makes for a close-knit (granted, sometimes too close) community. People are bound to gossip if we are late, but I don’t care. The sky is too beautiful. People wonder how Alaskans can tolerate such long, harsh winters— for them, not even a summer of endless daylight can justify nine months of darkness. But these people have never witnessed snow-capped mountains kissing white clouds in a cool blue sky in the middle of the night. I breathe in deeply. The air smells like the rainforest—crisp, green, and invigorating. And the sounds: river rushing, birds chirping, twigs snapping beneath my feet. Everything is alive. My dog stops in the middle of the path again, looking back impatiently. I catch up with her and my boyfriend, who is used to my trailing behind; understanding my need for walking in the woods to be a moving meditation.
By Marti Maley2 years ago in Fiction
An Uprising Begins
Elden's favorite part of the Desivion rite of passage ritual was when they tossed the shell into the Well with their prayers for the return of the Gods of the Desivian Sea's love for each other and then the participants all formed a circle and held hands and sang their prayers. The families of those receiving their Desivion Ceremony also formed a circle, behind theirs, and joined in the songs – teaching them, really, as they had not been taught outside of the home since before he could remember.
By Gabrielle R. Lamontagne2 years ago in Fiction
Did The Future Already Happen?
Do your past, present and future all exist right now? Are you reading this article, being born and lying on your deathbed at this very moment? Surprisingly, the answer could be yes. But how can that be? What does that even mean? How does time work? Imagine the universe like a child painting pictures on paper. Each picture shows everything that's happening in the universe in a single moment. With each new moment, all kinds of things occur everywhere – people are born and die, galactic civilizations expand, you miss the bus – and our universe-kid makes a new picture that replaces the old one. In this way you get something like a movie – only the moment we're in right now is real. The past is what happened before, now it’s gone. The future is still to come and hasn't been drawn yet. This is kind of how time feels, right? Each moment being replaced by the next one. The past is far behind us, the future doesn’t exist. But what if time is something else? What if the universe-kid has already finished all its drawings and stacks them on top of each other? This way we get a block – a block of time that contains the whole history of the universe. All moments that have ever existed or will ever exist. But in this block, in this stack of moments, the past, the present and the future are equally real and exist at the same time. This feels wrong – the only things that we perceive as real are those things happening now. How can the past and future be real right now? The problem is that according to the theory of relativity, they kind of have to be. Heavily simplified, relativity says that time and space are not separated, but one connected spacetime. When you move through space, you are also moving through the block. This means time passes differently for different people, depending on how they move through space relative to each other. And this also means that what someone perceives as “now” is a certain cut along the block – a cut that will depend on how fast they are moving. So what you think is “now” is really only your now – there are many different “nows” in the universe and all of them are equally real. This also means there is no universal past or future. Ok. This is a lot – how does this work? Imagine three alien spaceships a million light years away. The first one just hovers in space, not moving relative to you. You both experience the same “now”, the same present. If you had a magical instantaneous internet connection, you could do a video call right now and chat about alien things. The second spaceship is flying away from us at 30 km/s, about 3 times faster than a human rocket. It is moving differently through the block of time than you are, which means its “now” is different from yours. With the magical internet, the aliens can talk to your ancestors in 1924, when humanity was discovering the first galaxies outside the Milky Way. The third spaceship wants to visit Earth and is flying towards you at 30 km/s, moving at the opposite angle of the second ship through the block of time. It experiences yet another “now” – with the magical internet, the aliens can talk to your descendants in the year 2124, when humanity has already built cities on Mars and Venus. Ok, so we have three different “nows” – so which one is correct? Well, that’s the problem. Relativity is based on one powerful principle – cosmic democracy: the fact that the point of view of all observers in the universe is equally valid. All those “nows” have to be equally real. But if this is the case, your past, present and your future all have to exist at the same time, right now! Because for the different aliens, they all happen in their present. This means that the distinction between the past, the present and the future is an illusion. The universe is not a bunch of things evolving through time, like in a movie – but a static block in which the past, the present and the future all coexist and are real. How can that be? Well, think about a galaxy outside the observable universe, too far away to ever visit or see. But even if you can’t get there and don’t see it, it is still real. The future might be the same! But if the past is not far behind us and the future actually exists, then… there is no “movie”. Things don’t happen in the universe. The universe just “is” – like a frozen block of dead, cosmic ice, with everything that will ever happen already written and decided. Is the Future Already Written? If all times coexist and are equally real, then the future has to be already written. But that’s not how you experience things. It feels like you can mold your future with your decisions. It really feels like you're free to choose to stop watching YouTube to not miss the bus. But if the future is set in stone, you can’t “decide” anything. So are your choices an illusion? Well… maybe. Maybe your free will is a mirage. And maybe you missing the bus was already predetermined at the Big Bang, so feel free to continue watching. Except...quantum stuff is ruining everything again. Quantum processes can’t be predicted, not even in principle. Not because we are silly and don’t know how to do it – according to quantum physics, quantum particles are intrinsically random. For example, if you have a radioactive atom, it could decay at any moment, in the next second or in the next million years. We can calculate the probability that it will decay tomorrow, but no oracle in the universe will ever be able to tell you with absolute certainty if it will do so or not. But quantum particles can change the world. Imagine a radioactive element randomly decays and causes a genetic mutation in a nearby mammal. And then many generations later that mutation has led to a weird mix of duck and mammal that makes no sense. Or the atom decays a day later and the weird creature will never exist. If quantum stuff is really uncertain, the future can’t be set in stone. But if the future is an untold story, it can’t be real in the same way as the past is. So what happens when uncertain things, like the decay of our atom, become real? Is that moment the present? Is this “now”? But before we saw that cosmic democracy makes it impossible to define an absolute “now”. What’s going on here? It turns out that for every individual object – you, an alien, an atom – the past, the present and the future are always well defined. Your death will always happen after your birth – never before, and never at the same time. Now you are clearly between your birth and your death. So for you at least, "now" makes perfect sense. If we don’t play tricks like going to the other side of the universe and using aliens in funny ways to find out what “now” means, things again start to look ordered and nice, and individual “nows” seem to exist. Can we do something with them? Let’s return to our block universe. Maybe the block does not contain the future – and maybe we just imagined it wrong. Maybe the block is just the past, and a thin layer on the surface is the present. That surface is not smooth, but bumpy and uneven. It’s been made by joining countless individual “nows” – each experienced by someone or something in the universe, each equally real and valid. And all observers do their bit, so cosmic democracy is still true. As new things happen and uncertain things become certain –radioactive atoms decay, new species of mammals arise, people miss the bus– the border moves upward, creating new time in the universe. Instead of a frozen block of time with a future that has already been written, the block is growing and things happen. You can again decide your future! Maybe leave earlier so you won’t miss the bus! Let’s recap. We started with time as a movie – one “now” after another, where only the current “now” was real. Then we found out that because of relativity there are multiple “nows”, all of them real somehow – which could mean that we are living in a frozen block universe where things don’t happen and you don’t really have free will. And we ended up with a kind of growing block universe, where time passes and the future is open. So which is correct? What is real? The present? The past? Are the dinosaurs as real as you are right now? What do the aliens on the other corner of the universe think about all this? To be honest, no one knows. What we’ve learned are two possibilities to describe time, but they're not the only ones. Some scientists think that the idea of “now” only makes sense near you, but not in the universe as a whole. Others think that time itself doesn’t even exist – that the whole concept is an illusion of our human mind. And others think that time does exist, but that it's not a fundamental feature of the universe – rather, time may be something that emerges from a deeper level of reality, just like heat emerges from the motion of individual molecules or life emerges from the interactions of lifeless proteins. We could go on, but… aren’t you about to miss the bus? The concept of time is abstract and elusive, possibly beyond complete human comprehension. Fortunately, there’s a vast world of things we do understand about the universe that you can explore right now —
By Abednego Thaddaeus2 years ago in Fiction
Believe in Magic
"Believe in Magic: Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe" In the whispering winds of wonder, where dreams and reality entwine, magic beckons us to believe. Like a siren's call, it echoes through the chambers of our hearts, summoning us to embrace the extraordinary. For in the realm of magic, the impossible becomes possible, and the boundaries of reality are but a distant memory. With eyes wide open to the wonders of the world, we begin to see the magic that surrounds us. In the golden light of sunrise, we find the promise of a new beginning. In the gentle touch of a summer breeze, we feel the caress of nature's embrace. And in the starry expanse of the night sky, we behold the celestial tapestry of infinite possibility. Belief in magic is not merely a childish fancy but a powerful catalyst for transformation. It awakens our imagination, stirs our creativity, and nudges us to challenge the status quo. By embracing the magic within and around us, we tap into a deep wellspring of potential, unlocking the secrets of the universe and unleashing a torrent of wonder. In this realm of enchantment, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. A smile from a stranger becomes a gift of joy, a rainbow after the storm becomes a symbol of hope, and a good deed becomes a testament to the human spirit. Magic infuses our lives with meaning, purpose, and beauty, reminding us that we are part of a larger narrative that transcends the mundane. As we believe in magic, we begin to see the world with fresh eyes. We notice the intricate patterns on a butterfly's wings, the sweet melody of birdsong, and the majestic beauty of a sunrise. We start to appreciate the little things, the hidden wonders that surround us, and the magic that lies within ourselves. Magic inspires us to dream big, to aim high, and to never give up on our aspirations. It reminds us that anything is possible, that our imagination is the only limit to our potential. By believing in magic, we become the architects of our own destiny, crafting a life that is filled with purpose, joy, and wonder. As we journey through life, magic becomes our constant companion, our guiding star, and our beacon of hope. It reminds us that every moment is precious, every experience is valuable, and every person we meet is a treasure. Magic teaches us to cherish every second, to appreciate every beauty, and to love every soul. In the realm of magic, we find the courage to face our fears, the strength to overcome our doubts, and the resilience to rise above our challenges. We discover that we are capable of more than we ever thought possible, that our potential is limitless, and that our spirit is unbreakable. So let us believe in magic with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. Let us embrace its transformative power, its boundless potential, and its unwavering belief in the impossible. For in the words of the great magician, Walt Disney, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." Let us spread magic wherever we go, like wildflowers blooming in the desert. Let us be the spark that ignites the flame of wonder in others. And let us never forget that magic is not just a belief but a way of life, a way of living that is filled with joy, laughter, and endless possibility. As we believe in magic, we become the creators of our own reality, the masters of our own destiny, and the architects of our own happiness. We become the dreamers, the thinkers, and the innovators who shape the world with their imagination, creativity, and vision. In the end, belief in magic is not just a fantasy but a powerful tool for transformation, a catalyst for change, and a source of inspiration. It reminds us that life is precious, that every moment is valuable, and that every experience is a gift. So let us cherish every second, appreciate every beauty, and love every soul. For in the world of magic, every day is a wonder, every moment is a miracle, and every life is a masterpiece...
By Swathika Swathi2 years ago in Fiction
The Future of Reality
"In the realm of the unexplored, a ravishing landscape of tomorrow beckons us forward, like a siren's call to the brave and the bold. The future of reality whispers secrets of a world yet to be unveiled, where the frontiers of dreams and destiny converge like the tender embrace of two lovers. As we stand at the precipice of this uncharted territory, our hearts race with anticipation, our minds aglow with the promise of discovery, like a sunrise bursting forth with radiant splendor. For in this future, reality itself becomes a canvas of boundless potential, a kaleidoscope of color and sound that redefines the very essence of our existence, like a masterpiece of art that transcends the boundaries of time and space. In this realm, the symphony of life resonates, a celestial music that harmonizes the discordant notes of our past, present, and future, like a gentle breeze that soothes the soul. Time and space become fluid, malleable, and we, the navigators of our own destiny, charting the grand odyssey of our lives, like brave explorers venturing into the unknown. The future of reality is a realm of enchantment, where the impossible becomes tangible, and the boundaries of our imagination are stretched like the unfurling petals of a flower, revealing the hidden beauty within. It is a world where technology and wonder converge, where the digital and the mystical entwine like the tender shoots of a vine, nourished by the sunshine of our dreams. Here, the very fabric of reality is transformed, like a caterpillar that emerges as a radiant butterfly, free to soar on the wings of our highest potential. The leaden weights of our fears, doubts, and limitations are transmuted into the golden radiance of our highest potential, as we ascend the spiral staircase of our evolution, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. In this future, we are the architects of our own reality, the masters of our own fate, crafting our lives with the precision of a skilled artisan, weaving the tapestry of our existence with the threads of our choices, our desires, and our dreams. We become the artists of our own existence, painting the masterpiece of our lives with the vibrant colors of our imagination, like a poet who weaves words into a tapestry of beauty. And yet, this future is not without its mysteries, its shadows, its unknowns, like the depths of the ocean that remain unexplored. For as we venture deeper into the uncharted territories of reality, we confront the enigmas of the unknown, the darkness that lies at the edge of our understanding, like a challenge that beckons us to grow. But it is in this darkness that we discover the light of our own inner strength, the resilience of our own hearts, the power of our own imagination, like a beacon that shines bright in the night. For in the future of reality, we are not merely passive observers, but active participants, co-creators of our own destiny, like a conductor who orchestrates the symphony of life. As we embark on this journey into the unknown, we are filled with a sense of awe, of wonder, of reverence for the majesty of the universe, like a pilgrim who approaches a sacred shrine. We are reminded that we are not alone, that we are part of a larger whole, a cosmic web of life that connects us all, like a river that flows into the ocean. And so, we step forward, into the future of reality, with faith, with hope, with courage, like a hero who embarks on a quest for greatness. For we know that in this realm of wonder, anything is possible, that the boundaries of our imagination are the only limits to our potential, like a sky that stretches out to infinity."
By Swathika Swathi2 years ago in Fiction
I have a photoshoot tomorrow. Can you recommend me some colors and outfit options that will look good on camera?
Colors: Solid Colors: Opt for solid colors instead of busy patterns. They help keep the focus on you. Bold, Vibrant Colors: Colors like royal blue, emerald green, and rich reds photograph well.
By ODS ACADEMY2 years ago in Fiction
Love Across the Miles
Haruna Itsuki, tenderly called Itsuki by her loved ones, was an energetic young lady intensely for workmanship. She resided in the clamoring city of Tokyo, where she went through her days drawing in curious bistros and visiting craftsmanship exhibitions. Her life was loaded with variety and innovativeness, yet there was one tone missing from her range — a shade of adoration that she longed for profoundly. Yamada Gojo, or Gojo as everybody called him, was a similarly enthusiastic young fellow living in Osaka. Gojo was a performer, going through his days creating tunes that caught the embodiment of his heart. His life, as well, was lively, loaded up with notes and rhythms, however he felt a waiting vacancy that no one but love could fill. Their ways crossed fortunately throughout a mid year workmanship and live performance in Kyoto. Itsuki had a slow down displaying her craftsmanship, and Gojo was performing in front of an audience. Drawn by his deep music, Itsuki ended up remaining among the group, entranced. After his presentation, she moved toward him to communicate her reverence for his ability. That second denoted the start of their romantic tale. Their association was moment and significant. They spent the remainder of the celebration together, investigating the city, sharing their fantasies, and chuckling like they had known one another for quite a long time. It was a mystical time, and the two of them realize that they had tracked down something uniquely great. Nonetheless, as the celebration reached a conclusion, reality set in. Itsuki needed to get back to Tokyo, and Gojo to Osaka. The possibility of being separated weighed vigorously on them, however they made a guarantee to one another: they would make their far-removed relationship work, regardless of the difficulties. In the months that followed, their affection bloomed through late-night video calls, genuine letters, and shock visits. They tracked down inventive ways of remaining associated notwithstanding the miles between them. Itsuki would send Gojo representations of her most recent craftsmanship, while Gojo would form melodies roused by their adoration and send her accounts. Their bond developed further as time passes. Yet, far-removed relationships are rarely simple. There were times when the distance felt unendurable, and the yearning to together appeared overpower. The bitterness and dejection would sneak in, creating shaded areas over their souls. There were minutes when they addressed if their adoration would endure everyday hardship and distance. One winter night, as the virus wind cried outside, Itsuki sat by her window, destroys streaming her face. She missed Gojo appallingly. The recollections of their time together felt like a fantasy she was unable to clutch. She contemplated whether giving up and save themselves the heartache would be more straightforward. In the mean time, in Osaka, Gojo was feeling a similar depression. He sat at his piano, unfit to track down the motivation to play. The distance was negatively affecting him, and he missed Itsuki's presence beyond what words could communicate. He addressed on the off chance that their affection was sufficiently able to overcome any barrier between them. At that time of shared trouble, a choice was made. Itsuki booked a pass, not set in stone to see Gojo and revive their affection. She gathered her sacks and left the following morning, her heart beating with expectation and trust. At the point when Itsuki showed up in Osaka, she went directly to Gojo's condo. Her heart hustled as she thumped on the entryway. At the point when Gojo opened it and saw her remaining there, his eyes extended in dismay. Without a word, he maneuvered her into his arms, holding her firmly as though he never needed to give up. Bittersweet tears bliss and alleviation streamed uninhibitedly as they held one another. At that time, all the bitterness and uncertainty softened away. They realize that their adoration merited battling for, regardless of the distance. They spent the following couple of days together, gaining new experiences and esteeming each second. As their opportunity together arrived to an end, they made a settlement. They would make progress toward a future where they could be together for all time. Itsuki started searching for open positions in Osaka, and Gojo investigated ways of growing his music vocation to Tokyo. They vowed to visit each other more regularly and to never fail to focus on their adoration. Months transformed into years, and their adoration just developed further. They confronted difficulties and difficulties, however they generally found their direction back to one another. Their romantic tale was a demonstration of the force of steadiness and the excellence of genuine romance. At last, the day came when Itsuki got a proposition for employment in Osaka. With a heart exuberant, she stuffed her effects and moved to the city where Gojo resided. They found a comfortable loft together, and their significant distance romantic tale changed into a delightful life shared one next to the other. Itsuki and Gojo's adoration had endured the hardships of distance and uncertainty, arising more grounded and stronger. Their story was an update that genuine romance knows no limits and that with confidence and assurance, the sky is the limit. As they sat on their overhang one night, watching the dusk paint the sky in shades of pink and orange, Itsuki rested on Gojo's shoulder and murmured, "We made it." Gojo grinned, kissing her brow delicately. "Indeed, we did," he answered. "What's more, this is only the start of our for eternity."
By Dreamscape 2 years ago in Fiction
2026 - The War of the Americas
Author's preface: Parts 1 and 2 of this story can be found here and here. Sylvia was an intellectual and athletic prodigy. She had skipped high school and gone straight to college at age 14, graduating at age 18 with honors. In addition to her academic prowess Sylvia excelled in athletics competing at a high level in track and diving and winning a Georgia state women's championship in archery. After graduation, she went on to law school and medical school although she finished neither, instead opting to pursue her passion for laboratory research and animals, quickly completing a Ph.D. in veterinary science and animal health. Since then she had become a 2nd degree black belt in Krav Maga, the fighting style pioneered by the Israeli secret police, and one of the most dangerous forms of martial arts on the planet. She was just as deadly with weapons as her hands, and, in addition to her archery skills was a near Olympic level marksmen with the rifle, handgun, and the weapon she favored most, the crossbow. Her shooting skills were not all that surprising as she had grown up in the backwoods of Georgia and was shooting and hunting since almost before she could walk. She was also proficient or expert level with a variety of stabbing and stick based weapons. In his mind Dom pictured her as a cross between Linda Hamilton from the Terminator movies and Mad Max. Since they had moved to Mexico the association with Linda Hamilton in T2 had grown. In short, she was exactly the type of woman you wanted around for the post apocalypse, and their current predicament had him thinking along those lines.
By Everyday Junglist2 years ago in Fiction
