Making Huizhou inksticks (徽墨), famous for its high quality.
Notes:
The characters OP pressed into the inksticks are 山白, OP’s username
The “internal heat” referred to in the video is a term in Traditional Chinese medicine referring to a cause of inflammation, swelling, twitching, etc.
[eng by me]
Seeing the process of products like this, made using traditional methods, is so fascinating to me. How many iterations must there have been to develop the technique that’s most effective for the best quality? How many mistakes were made through the centuries trying to determine the best tools, the best methods, the ideal drying times and ratios of ingredients? Obviously this is a very high quality version of an ink stick being demonstrated, but that says that there was has been enough cultural value in a very fine product to make the time, effort, and materials required worthwhile. I love this type of work, where the practical and artistic intersect. It says a lot about being a person.
God i love when there’s processes to watch
Me: ah, what a peaceful and elegant process, how lovely, how soothing–
This guy: Beats the ever-loving shit out of the giant slab of black goop. With an axe. Until the head falls off.
when i was a homeless 20-year-old i was rejected from multiple housing opportunities because i had 5k in medical debt from going to the ER after getting roofied and sexually assaulted (i was unconscious so calling 911 was not my decision) and UHC denied my insurance claim. so yeah, i’m actually deriving an enormous amount of pleasure from watching health insurance CEOs snivel and hide like the heartless cowards they are. may those who profit from our suffering live in fear of those they seek to deny.
nimble, a border collie-papillon mix, wins the 12” class in the 2024 masters agility championship. the first time a mixed breed has won at westminster ever.
Had to give a presentation for a work seminar the other day.
Didnt have much planned and I usually wing it so I got up there and opened with, “Hello, my name is [redacted]. I’m the security specialist assigned to [redacted]- I talk a lot when I’m nervous, so you’re gonna hear me talk a lot in the next five minutes”
This got a few laughs as expected, but then one of my superiors cut in like “I had no idea you had a fear of public speaking, you’re always so calm and confident”
so I got to say out loud in front of like 20 people twice my age that “Oh, yeah, no, I’m faking it super hard. Like, all the time.” (Gestures at face) “This is fake. I’m always freaking out, all of the time.”
Anyhow it went well and I’m getting a raise so like. Be yourself and lean into it I guess is what I’m getting to
I’ve been avoiding stores for a while now, because they’re all playing the same tired, horrible Christmas carols all the time — I was trying to buy almond milk and eggs the other day and had to flee because Mariah Carey started singing. I’m wishing I could turn that about and carry around a boombox playing this mash up of the carol of the bells and the imperial march when I enter a business.
It goes on for an hour! The one drawback to my plan for revenge is that I’d get sick of this carol 5 minutes after I started.
The game becomes open-world when you master the skills: Talk To People and Ask For Things
I promise this is especially true for museum folks, library folks, and academics. We are always looking for an opportunity to talk about our silly little special interests and we will love you for providing one. Send the email.
The one thing I’m hoping will come out of the UHC assaasin thing is that Luigi will personally say some pithy hornet’s nest kicking thing like: No, I am not a Leftist. If I was, I wouldn’t have gotten anything done.
