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bows4crows.bsky.social
Alan 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈
@bows4crows.bsky.social
280 followers 420 following 900 posts
☠️ Future skeleton 🌘 Neurodivergent 🧘‍♂️ Yoga teacher 🧪 Neuroscientist 🌱 Vegetarian 🦤 He/him/they/them 🕹️ FGC 💃 Fashion

Meditation channel
https://youtube.com/@yogawithalan

Gaming channel
https://youtube.com/@votes4cows
Posts Replies Media Videos
bows4crows.bsky.social
This video essay from Frank Cifaldi at the Video Game History Foundation is superb. Covers the launch and legacy of the NES in the US, 40 years ago. Really fascinating, compelling stuff.

#Nintendo @frankcifaldi.bsky.social @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social

youtu.be/uJvpRGibFhg?...
The Untold Story of the Nintendo Entertainment System
YouTube video by The Video Game History Foundation
youtu.be
December 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Got a lovely present from my family - the new Sunmi album. If you're not familiar with #kpop albums, they're really extravagant. Collectible cards, posters, photography books, etc. This one is great, and Sunmi's music is awesome (sort of Sophie Ellis Bextor vibe).

#Christmas #heartmaid #sunmi
1/2
Photo of the contents of an album (heart maid, by Sunmi). There is a large hardcover book, with a photo of the singer in a maid outfit holding a dagger on the cover. There are separate mid and small sized photocards of Sunmi).
December 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Merry Christmas to those celebrating! 🎄☃️

I recorded a short guided meditation for anyone who might need a bit of quiet time to themselves today. Enjoy 🙂

#yoga #relaxation #witchsky

youtu.be/SFqzoAhVNW8?...
Christmas meditation - Centring and healing - 9 minutes
YouTube video by Yoga with Alan
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Evening dress, Liberty and Co, Britain, 1880s

Breath-taking example of a neoclassically draped dress. The designers were interested in reviving classical Greek forms, and it really shows! Amazing colour too.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Image 1. Museum photo of a gold coloured full-length evening dress. The dress gives the impression of a length of fabric draped around the whole of the body, with many folds. It has an V-neckline, ties of the same fabric at each shoulder, no sleeves, and a narrow waist. The bodice itself has light boning, not visible. The skirt is very full, with many folds, and a large dust ruffle behind. Image 2. A view from the right of the same dress as Image 1. Shows more clearly the draping of fabric in the bodice, with the right side of the bodice draped over the left.
December 24, 2025 at 11:14 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Child's dress, USA, 1879

Worn by Mina, aged 6 and a half, for a party. It was once pink (visible on the rear image), but has faded with time. There's a photo of Mina on The Met website:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

#dresshistory #fashionhistory #fashionsky #TheMet
Image 1 A museum photo of a child's dress. It is now a somewhat dull beige, but was once pink. It has lacy capped sleeves, a square cut neckline (trimmed with lace) and scalloped detailing down the left and right of the bodice. The skirt is mid-length, with further scalloping and lace trim. Image 2 Rear view of the dress from image 1. It shows the buttons up the back that fasten the dress, and some large tassels hanging over the centre of the hips. Two of these are raised, revealing the original pink colour.
December 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Did a Tarot version of the Grand Tableau for midwinter last night. I'm still learning so it was quite hard to analyse, but a really interesting exercise.

#witchsky #tarotsky #solstice
Photo of part of a living room. A coffee table in the foreground holds 36 tarot cards in a 4x9 pattern. In the background is a fireplace with a Christmas stocking, and a Christmas tree.
December 22, 2025 at 8:31 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
My group asked me to record a Yoga Nidra meditation, so here we are. Enjoy!

If you're not familiar, Nidra is a deep relaxation, best practiced tucked up in the dark under lots of blankets. So an ideal #solstice practice 🌌😴

#witchsky #yoga #visualisation #meditation

youtu.be/hMgH3XS7BzM?...
Yoga Nidra - 45 minute guided relaxation - Sleep and insight
YouTube video by Yoga with Alan
youtu.be
December 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
This song by i-dle always makes me think of the solstice. It has a lot of language about the return of fire and light, and a really enchanting, witchy sound, especially the chorus. Really lovely song.

Thought #witchsky folks might be interested 🔥🔥🔥
1/2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=miU4...
(여자)아이들((G)I-DLE) - 'HWAA (English Ver.)' Official Lyric Video
YouTube video by i-dle (아이들)
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:32 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
This is so depressing. To hell with Microsoft.
December 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Ball gown, British, Madame Elise, 1875

I posted another Madame Elise a few days ago, but this one is even better. The red is so rich and luxurious!

Its such a gorgeous dress I would 100% nick it if I saw it in the museum.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a sleeveless red ball gown in silk and cotton. It has a narrow-waisted bodice in a dark red, and a long skirt in a lighter red. The neckline is broad, sweeping shoulder to shoulder in a shallow curve fringed with cream lace trim. There is a large, 3D floral detail at the shoulder (resembling a rose) and the centre of the chest. Darker embroidery (maybe?) forms a band at the top of the hips, and sweeps in a spiral from the navel, wrapping around the skirt twice before reaching the hem.
December 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
I'm 28 years late to the party, but this game is so much fun
#Darkstalkers #vampiresavior #BBHood
Screenshot from a video game. A small blonde girl in a red hood and cloak is lying on her tummy smiling at a flower which is also smiling. Beneath the image, text reads "mess with me again, I'll riddle you with bullets".
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Day dress, France, 1872

This beautiful thing was likely worn to afternoon receptions. The cotton is quite textured, almost rough to my eyes. And yet the dress speaks of real luxury: delicate pattern, lace edging, porcelain buttons. Really lovely.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Day dress in white cotton, with a red flower print throughout. A layer of sheer white cotton overlays the skirts, sides of the bodice, and sleeves. All edges are trimmed with white cotton lace. The sleeve ends are extremely large - almost a foot long, and likely covered the hands in part. The neckline is almost square cut, with a very shallow V cutting across the chest. White porcelain buttons are fastened on the front of the bodice, and the skirts (which are very broad) have three separate layers with lace edging, at the mid-thigh, mid-calf, and hem.
December 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Another meditation - posting these once a week.
Today is a little more directive, asking you to actively work with your breath and attend to the body, before settling into awareness. I welcome any thoughts on this or other videos!

#meditation #yoga #breath #dhyana

youtu.be/NYrpHhN0Z3Y?...
Meditation, Dec 15th: Breath and Body
YouTube video by Yoga with Alan
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
I'm slowly improving. The initial MR drop was so overwhelming that I just gave up on the idea that I could play Dhalsim at all. But I picked him up again recently and am gradually getting it together.

#streetfighter #masterrank #dhalsim #fgc

youtu.be/s3tC4fhc4dE
Street Fighter 6 - Dhalsim v Ed - back up to 1400 MR
YouTube video by Votes4cows
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Evening dress, American, 1872

This is cool. The owner, Amelia Beard, wore it as a bridesmaid dress in 1862, then altered it into its current form at short notice to wear to a party. I love this story. She had some skills!!

#fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet
Museum photo of an evening dress. It is made in cream-coloured cotton organdy and mull. It has full length sleeves with very wide cuffs, that probably extended pas the wrists. The fabric overall is quite sheer, and must have been worn over something else. The top is almost open at the front - a sharp v extending from the neck to the mid-waist. The skirt is full length, but higher at the front (about knee height). Throughout, the dress is embellished with fringing and lots of little details.
December 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Parasol, American, 1870

This is gorgeous, and apparently useless for sun protection (tiny too - its <60cm wide). But it looks lovely. Unusually, its heavily beaded, and has a collapsible handle so it could be used as a large fan.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #TheMet #notsurethiscountsasfashion
Museum photo of a parasol. It has a wooden handle with a small L-shaped ivory end-piece. The parasol itself is in linen, silk and glass beading. It is a pale cream colour, with concentric patterned rings around the centre. Green and red flowers at the top, smaller patterns of blue, green and red, then a very large green and yellow leaf pattern near the brim. The brim itself is tasselled.
December 10, 2025 at 9:49 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Somehow, Skyrim returned

Just like Palpatine, this thing just keeps coming back and I find myself playing it again.

#ElderScrolls #Skyrim
Still image from Skyrim (a video game). A female orc dressed in light armour is pictured from behind, standing on a hillside looking down into a wooded valley, with a snowy mountain in the distance.
December 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
A short guided meditation today - 12 minutes.

I think this one is suitable even if you've never practiced meditation before, and should hopefully be quite relaxing. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

#meditation #yoga #antarmouna #breathing #EldenRing

youtu.be/jtt45hgvW80?...
Meditation, Dec 9th: Withdrawal of awareness / Antar Mouna
YouTube video by Yoga with Alan
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Alan 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈
goodlawproject.bsky.social
One of the first cases following the Supreme Court’s decision on the definition of sex under the Equality Act has found it didn’t decide which changing room a trans person should use.

Reflections on the Peggie case by a specialist discrimination law KC:
https://goodlaw.social/32xs
goodlaw.social
December 9, 2025 at 11:26 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Glad to see we have officially pulled out of Eurovision. I feel that these past few years have really killed the contest. Whatever values it might have stood for are long gone.
December 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Ball gown, London, 1870s

This is a hell of a dress!
The designer, Madame Elise (Elizabeth Jaeger) did designs for the Princess of Wales, and when she stopped dressmaking she wrote books and articles on fashion/textiles. Her stuff is pure awesome.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #TheMet #dresshistory
Museum photo of a silk ball gown in black and red. It is highly detailed and the overall impression is of a flamenco style (though it is much too big for that). The bodice is high and narrow waisted. A black underlayer, with a broad red strip of silk coming from each shoulder to the centre of the chest. It is accented with a red fabric rose in the centre, and with white lace trim at the neckline (which is a shallow curve from shoulder to shoulder). The top is sleeveless. The skirt contains many ruffles in the mid section, and multiple frill layers at the hem. It is predominantly black, with a broad red strip sweeping in a curve from the base of each hip to the other, and further strips of red below this. It is accented on the right side with more fabric roses.
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Another government review with the conclusion built in from the start? Streeting scares me.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar
Health secretary has asked experts to investigate whether normal feelings have become ‘over-pathologised’
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Fancy dress costume, House of Worth, France, 1870

This is an authentic Turkish woman's outfit, repurposed by the House of Worth for fancy dress. The trousers are original, but the bodice was completely altered into the current form-fitting style.

#fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet #fashionsky
Museum photo of a fancy dress costume. The trousers are extremely wide, loose harem trousers, in a pale blue silk. The bodice is a tight v-shape, typical of the period, tapering to the waist. However, the neckline is fairly low (also v-cut), and it it sleeveless. There is highly detailed gold embroidery over the whole of the cream-coloured bodice.
December 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
A simple guided relaxation here, trying to help the listener be centred in the present moment.

I'd intended it to be shorter (I will do short ones!), but seemed to have more to say when it came to it.

Comments or questions welcome.

#meditation #relaxation #yoga #bodyscan

youtu.be/1b0l5yoC5FU
Meditation, Dec 1st: Centring and releasing
YouTube video by Yoga with Alan
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
A lovely version of Tifa's theme from Final Fantasy 7, arranged and performed by Grazia Pizzuto. This tune makes me feel actual human emotions every time (I'm very bad at labelling emotions, but I'm definitely feeling something).

#finalfantasy #tifa #finalfantasyvii

youtu.be/lvMDci8lyQs?...
Tifa's Theme (from Final Fantasy VII, Piano Version)
YouTube video by Grazia Pizzuto
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM