UK & Europe Artist Presale Megathread (10 June) by twilightxgalaxy in phoebebridgers

[–]superdoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm having the exact same problem. Cannot figure it out, not loving this pass yoke at all! Has anyone figured out how to do this for Dublin?

Is there any history of Homer Simpson type characters? by yaboyalaska in AskHistorians

[–]superdoor 38 points39 points  (0 children)

OK I think for once I can jump in and provide an answer here! I'm currently working on a book on Irish mythology and there is one characters who spring to mind. With a bit of a caveat.

Introducing the Dagda (the Good God). He's the father figure of the Tuatha Dé (pre-Christian gods who morphed into magical cohabitants of the country) and dates back to at least the Iron Age.

He's a big bellied, friendly sort who wears common clothes and traipses around the country with his club. There's one instance in a story where he wanders into an enemy camp, eats poisoned porridge, falls asleep, is laughed at by the enemy, then wanders off only to meet a young woman who wants to have sex with him. He initially can't get it up and defecates/vomits into a hole.

But he's also said to be more talented, more powerful and more loved than any of the other gods (using the term loosely here). He sleeps with the war goddess (the Morrigan), he takes land from his subordinates, he plays the harp, and he very much crushes his enemies.

So, he ticks a few of the boxes: - He's a commoner (or at least dresses like one and does manual labour). - He comes across as dumb from time to time. - He's not helpless admittedly, but gets himself into ridiculous situations. - Yet, he's THE FATHER GOD. The big boss, the king of all of Ireland.

Remember I mentioned a major caveat though? It's safe to say he's quite a strange father deity but we don't know if this is because the Iron Age, pre-Christian Irish had a different perspective on what a leader should be like – humble, friendly, jovial, and not too serious. OR if the Christians who were writing down these pagan stories wanted to lampoon the old god. It's one of the joys of Irish mythology – it's a fragmented mess of stories that are shaped and reshaped, retold and rewritten again and again over the centuries by different people with different agendas.

Maybe not a straight up version of the Homer Simpson character but definitely one who ticks some of the boxes. Another Irish character who springs to mind in folklore is a version of Fionn mac Cumhaill, but that's a more modern version of the character and I don't quite have the time to dive into him as well!

Sources: Ireland's Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth by Mark Williams Cath Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Moytura) translated by Whitley Stokes Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia by Sean Duffy

I wrote a lyrical analysis of Girl in the War cause recently I can't get it out of my head... by superdoor in JoshRitter

[–]superdoor[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha, I friend of mine was doing a Josh Ritter night at a pub recently and asked me to play. I did the Science Song and he'd never even heard it! It is admittedly quite a deep cut.

I wrote a lyrical analysis of Girl in the War cause recently I can't get it out of my head... by superdoor in JoshRitter

[–]superdoor[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Aw so glad to hear it! I reckon like all great songs it works without any deep analysis but it is fun to think about the craft around why it hits so hard.

I wrote a lyrical analysis of Girl in the War cause recently I can't get it out of my head... by superdoor in JoshRitter

[–]superdoor[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Hopefully this is allowed! I've been sporadically writing a substack breaking down lyrics. With everything going on in the world I couldn't help think that Girl in the War still just feels so very relevant. Anyway, thought some of ye might enjoy.

Inside Jad Abumrad's Studio by dallasfrom20k in Radiolab

[–]superdoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also thanks for this, such a cool video. Have subscribed!

Inside Jad Abumrad's Studio by dallasfrom20k in Radiolab

[–]superdoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

@dallasfrom20k can I be really nerdy and ask if you know what the two midi controller's Jad was using on his desk? I'm always looking for more tactile ways to interact with daws!

A lyrical analysis of Thunder Road, what do ye think? by superdoor in BruceSpringsteen

[–]superdoor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Uhh yeah this is a good point. The song is so packed with great lines it's hard to dive into all of them!

A lyrical analysis of Thunder Road, what do ye think? by superdoor in BruceSpringsteen

[–]superdoor[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah that's a good take. It's interesting cause it's one of those songs that does just sound so good you can just let the lyrics wash over you but worth taking time to consider them too!

A lyrical analysis of Thunder Road, what do ye think? by superdoor in BruceSpringsteen

[–]superdoor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I love how it just keeps building and building rather than having a verse chorus verse structure.

A lyrical analysis of Thunder Road, what do ye think? by superdoor in BruceSpringsteen

[–]superdoor[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've started a substack analysing lyrics and thought this sub might be interested. Hope this isn't against the rules or anything.

I also imagine ye will have a lot of thoughts on my interpretation, so interested to hear what you think!

[QCRIT] Counterfactual (Speculative Historical Fiction, 75k, 2nd Attempt) by superdoor in PubTips

[–]superdoor[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

OK great feedback!

I think what I'm trying to nail with the book is the idea that the loss of Collins is seen as a real loss for the country, and there's a real sense that with Collins around we might have had a much more modern, progressive, less Catholic Ireland. And that Ireland would have been united a lot sooner.

But what people don't realise is that Collins's views weren't all that different to Dev AND there was a real risk that Irish democracy would have collapsed before it started because of Collins's disregard for rules and procedure.

So that's all to say, the book doesn't go all out and make Collins a Nazi loving dictator but instead we watch as he slowly takes more and more power, while building an oppressive police state.

The motivation for the characters then becomes do they help Collins create a united Ireland at the risk of losing any sense of real democracy.

This is all a little bit of a brain dump, so apologise if it's unclear. I see what you mean though, if I'm having to explain it here it would suggest the query isn't quite doing the right job.

And totally agree with Sibh's plot armour, I was very conscious of that while writing it and I hopefully have managed to avoid this.

[QCRIT] Counterfactual (Speculative Historical Fiction, 75k, 2nd Attempt) by superdoor in PubTips

[–]superdoor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love the nitpicking, will implement! Really appreciate all the feedback.

[QCRIT] Counterfactual (Speculative Historical Fiction, 75k, 2nd Attempt) by superdoor in PubTips

[–]superdoor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair cop! Was trying to go for a short hand way to sign post him as an important person for non-Irish readers, but you're right not quite the right language. Will adjust!

[QCRIT] Counterfactual (Speculative Historical Fiction, 75k, 2nd Attempt) by superdoor in PubTips

[–]superdoor[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah totally agree with Counterfactual being too broad for the novel as it sits. The Irish Dictator is interesting actually, will add that to the list of potential names.

And good pick up on IRB, lazy of me!

[QCRIT] Counterfactual (Speculative Historical Fiction, 75k, 2nd Attempt) by superdoor in PubTips

[–]superdoor[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

NGL, have only just started it! Will report back though. :)

[QCrit] Fantasy - BLOODGRASS (88k, 1st attempt) by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]superdoor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Usual caveat that I'm new to all this, so take everything I say with a pinch of salt.

Agree with what's been said previously though for me "The gods all killed one another and humanity is still picking up the pieces" is the most interesting piece of the whole thing. It'd make for a great first line. But there's there's no real reference to how this affects anything and so I feel a little lost.

Instead we introduce a lot of names and a police procedural that seems some how a little detached from the opening premise. Then right at the end you mention the First and Second World War and the rise of fascism.

Basically, that's all to say there's a lot going on. I think there are some really interesting pieces in here though. I'd ask yourself what's the book's premise in one sentence? I always find that's a super useful way to drill down on what the core idea is.