The Unseen Voices of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

There are faces we remember in games, and then there are voices we live with.

In a world as sprawling and snow swept as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, players recall dragons, Daedric princes, and jarls with grand speeches. But what lingers longer, strangely, are the ordinary lines. The guards warning you about arrows in knees. The soldiers arguing over ale. The weary watchman pacing the gates at 3 a.m. while snow drifts sideways across torchlight.

These are the voices that make a province feel inhabited.

And many of them belong to actors whose names most players never notice.

---

The Backbone of a Province

In Skyrim, a single voice actor often performs dozens of roles. Budget and design require it, but artistry makes it invisible. The same vocal instrument becomes a Falkreath guard, a Stormcloak foot soldier, a Solitude watchman, or a Markarth city guard hardened by Dwemer stone and Reachman tension.

Scott von Berg
Falkreath Guard / Imperial Soldier / Markarth City Guard / Solitude Guard / Stormcloak Soldier / Windhelm Guard (voice)

On paper, that looks repetitive. In practice, it is world-building.

Each hold in Skyrim carries a different temperament:

• Falkreath feels damp, grave-bound, half swallowed by pine and shadow.
• Markarth echoes with stone and suspicion.
• Solitude projects imperial polish and guarded superiority.
• Windhelm simmers with cold pride and resentment.

A voice actor inhabiting those spaces must shift cadence, weight, and tone without ever announcing the shift. The player cannot think, “Oh, that is the same guy.” The illusion must hold.

When it works, the province breathes.

---

The Art of the Repeated Line

Critics sometimes joke about recycled guard dialogue. But repetition is not laziness. It is texture.

When a Stormcloak soldier growls a warning at the city gate, it needs to carry regional allegiance. When an Imperial soldier does the same, it must feel disciplined, standardized, perhaps faintly bureaucratic.

The difference lives in subtle choices:

• How sharp the consonants land
• Whether the line leans into threat or procedure
• The pacing between phrases

Unnamed voice actors are asked to give personality to lines that may be heard thousands of times. That is not small work. That is endurance work.

---

Beyond Skyrim: From Province to Wasteland

The same phenomenon appears across Bethesda titles, including the Fallout series.

In the wastelands of Fallout, guards become settlers. Raiders become Brotherhood patrols. Caravan traders echo with the same performer who once barked orders in Windhelm. A single actor can voice a Vault security officer in one title and a faction grunt in another, shifting tone from medieval steel to retro-futuristic grit.

The connective tissue is not coincidence. It is casting trust.

Actors who can anchor background roles are indispensable in open-world design. They create consistency without drawing attention to themselves. They make the Commonwealth feel populated. They make the Mojave feel dangerous. They make Skyrim feel patrolled.

Scott von Berg’s guard and soldier roles in Skyrim fit squarely into that tradition. The lines may be brief. The characters may be unnamed. But their presence is constant.

And constancy is what makes a world believable.

---

Why Unnamed Does Not Mean Unimportant

Players tend to celebrate marquee performances. The villain monologues. The companion arcs. The dragon shouts.

But the emotional scaffolding of a game often rests on background performances:

• The guard who reacts when you draw steel
• The soldier who comments after a battle
• The watchman who mutters about the weather

Without them, cities feel hollow.

When you walk through Solitude and hear boots on stone followed by a curt warning, your brain registers life. Authority. Routine. Stability. That sensation is not rendered by polygons alone. It is carried on breath and microphone technique.

Unnamed voice actors give texture to silence.

---

The Invisible Craft

Voice acting for multiple guard roles demands:

1. Vocal durability across long sessions
2. Differentiation without caricature
3. Emotional neutrality that still feels human
4. The ability to sound reactive in isolated recording booths

Unlike film actors, game voice actors often record alone, reacting to lines that will be stitched together months later. Their performances must survive technical implementation, looping, and unpredictable player behavior.

The guard who warns you today might also be the soldier you fight tomorrow. The actor must make both believable.

---

A Quiet Legacy

When players reminisce about Skyrim, they quote the guards. They remember the tone. They smile at the familiarity.

Very few remember the names behind those voices.

Yet performers like Scott von Berg, credited as Falkreath Guard, Imperial Soldier, Markarth City Guard, Solitude Guard, Stormcloak Soldier, and Windhelm Guard, contribute to the sonic architecture of the province. Their work extends into other franchises, including the Fallout series and additional video game titles where similar background roles anchor expansive worlds.

Open-world games rely on spectacle. But they endure because of repetition done well.

The unnamed voice actor is not a footnote. He is the hum of the world. The steady rhythm behind the sword clash. The authority at the gate. The human presence in a digital tundra.

And without that voice, Skyrim would be very, very quiet.

This morning marked a quiet return.

Back to the YMCA after a long holiday hiatus. Long enough that the habit had started to feel theoretical. Long enough that the bathing suit and sweats had been sitting in the corner of my closet like a polite but persistent reminder.

Walking through the doors again felt familiar and slightly humbling. The smell of chlorine drifting out from the pool. The low mechanical rhythm of treadmills in motion. The soft clank of weight stacks settling back into place. None of it had changed. Which, in a strange way, was reassuring.

The holidays have a way of bending routines. Meals get heavier. Evenings get longer. Motivation negotiates for more couch time. And while there is nothing wrong with rest, there is something steadying about returning to motion.

The first few movements felt honest. Muscles remembering what they are supposed to do. Lungs negotiating terms. No personal records were threatened today. That was not the point. The point was simply showing up again.

There is a particular kind of victory in resuming something good after letting it drift. Not dramatic. Not loud. Just a quiet re-alignment. A small promise renewed.

By the time I walked back out into the daylight, there was that familiar post-workout clarity. Not euphoria. Just a sense that the gears had been re-engaged.

Routines wait for us. Sometimes patiently. And today, I went back to meet one of mine.

Today turns a page.

The Year of the Fire Horse arrives with a kind of restless energy. Horse years are said to carry motion, independence, forward momentum. Add fire to that, and it feels less like a quiet candle and more like a forge. Heat that shapes. Heat that transforms.

There is something fitting about that thought. A horse does not idle for long. It moves. It tests fences. It runs because running is what it was built to do. Fire does not apologize for being bright. It simply burns.

I like the symbolism of beginning again under that banner. Not a timid start. Not a cautious shuffle into the months ahead. But a year that invites courage. Initiative. Maybe even a little boldness.

The lunar new year always feels different from January 1. Less about resolutions and more about rhythm. Cycles. A reminder that time does not just march forward in straight lines. It circles back, renews itself, offers another chance to step differently into familiar terrain.

So here is to the Fire Horse. To motion after stillness. To warmth in cold places. To the quiet decision to run toward what matters.

May this year carry strength without recklessness, passion without burnout, and forward motion without losing sight of where we started.

#doodle #lunarnewyear2026 #yearofthefirehorse

Nice palindrome,  if nothing else.

Day 20,834, seed 570014142729

Today moved quietly.

Not in a sleepy way. Just steady. Like it knew exactly how much it needed to be and refused to be any more than that.

Somewhere along the way, the calendar and the clock quietly noted a small personal milestone: passing the 500,005th hour. No fanfare, no fireworks, just another tick forward in the long, ongoing accumulation of days, which somehow made it feel even more meaningful.

The morning light came in soft and undecided, the kind that does not commit to drama. No grand sunrise performance. Just a gradual brightening of corners. Coffee tasted like coffee. Floors creaked in familiar places. The small rituals held their shape.

Later on, the grill came to life and the in-laws stopped by, the backyard filling with that familiar mixture of conversation, laughter, and the steady sound of food cooking over open heat. Veggie burgers made their way onto plates, simple and good, the kind of meal that works best when nobody is in a hurry and everyone stays just a little longer than planned.

Outside, the air had that in-between feeling. Not quite winter, not quite spring. The trees stood patient. The birds seemed to be negotiating something among themselves. Even the wind felt measured, as if it had agreed not to make a scene.

Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden revelations. No plot twists.

And that was the gift of it.

Some days arrive like a thunderclap. Others just sit down beside you and keep you company. Today was the second kind. The kind that asks nothing more than attention. Sometimes that is enough.

Web drawing now has wind and a few color mods

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/webs2.html

---

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang=”en”>
<head>
    <meta charset=”UTF-8″>
    <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″>
    <title>Zen Spiderweb Generator</title>
    <script src=”https://cdn.tailwindcss.com”></script>
    <style>
        body, html {
            margin: 0;
            padding: 0;
            width: 100%;
            height: 100%;
            overflow: hidden;
            background-color: #111827;
            font-family: ‘Segoe UI’, Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
            transition: background 1s ease;
        }

        #canvas-container {
            position: absolute;
            top: 0;
            left: 0;
            width: 100%;
            height: 100%;
            z-index: 0;
        }

        canvas {
            display: block;
        }

        /* Custom Scrollbar */
        .custom-scroll::-webkit-scrollbar {
            width: 6px;
        }
        .custom-scroll::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
            background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
        }
        .custom-scroll::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
            background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
            border-radius: 3px;
        }
        .custom-scroll::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
            background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4);
        }

        /* Range Slider Styling */
        input[type=range] {
            -webkit-appearance: none;
            width: 100%;
            background: transparent;
        }
        input[type=range]::-webkit-slider-thumb {
            -webkit-appearance: none;
            height: 16px;
            width: 16px;
            border-radius: 50%;
            background: #e5e7eb;
            cursor: pointer;
            margin-top: -6px;
            box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
            transition: transform 0.1s;
        }
        input[type=range]::-webkit-slider-thumb:hover {
            transform: scale(1.1);
        }
        input[type=range]::-webkit-slider-runnable-track {
            width: 100%;
            height: 4px;
            cursor: pointer;
            background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
            border-radius: 2px;
        }
       
        /* Section dividers */
        .control-group {
            border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
            padding-top: 1rem;
            margin-top: 1rem;
        }

        /* Zen Button Specifics */
        #open-btn {
            z-index: 50; /* Ensure it is above everything */
            transition: all 0.3s ease;
            box-shadow: 0 0 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
        }
        #open-btn:hover {
            transform: scale(1.1) rotate(90deg);
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>

    <!– Canvas Layer –>
    <div id=”canvas-container”>
        <canvas id=”webCanvas”></canvas>
    </div>

    <!– UI Overlay –>
    <div id=”ui-layer” class=”absolute top-0 right-0 p-4 md:p-6 z-10 w-full md:w-[400px] h-full pointer-events-none transition-transform duration-500 ease-in-out transform translate-x-0″>
       
        <!– Main Controls Panel –>
        <div id=”controls-panel” class=”bg-gray-900/90 backdrop-blur-md border border-gray-700/50 rounded-2xl p-5 shadow-2xl text-gray-200 custom-scroll h-full max-h-full overflow-y-auto pointer-events-auto flex flex-col”>
           
            <div class=”flex justify-between items-center mb-4 flex-shrink-0″>
                <div>
                    <h1 class=”text-xl font-light tracking-wider text-white”>Silk Weaver</h1>
                    <p class=”text-xs text-gray-400″>Procedural Generator v2.1</p>
                </div>
                <button id=”close-btn” class=”p-2 text-gray-300 hover:text-white transition-colors bg-white/10 hover:bg-white/20 rounded-lg flex items-center gap-2″ title=”Enter Zen Mode”>
                    <span class=”text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wider”>Zen Mode</span>
                    <svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” width=”18″ height=”18″ viewBox=”0 0 24 24″ fill=”none” stroke=”currentColor” stroke-width=”2″ stroke-linecap=”round” stroke-linejoin=”round”><path d=”M15 3h6v6M14 10l6.1-6.1M9 21H3v-6M10 14l-6.1 6.1″/></svg>
                </button>
            </div>

            <div class=”space-y-4 flex-grow”>
               
                <!– THEME SELECTOR –>
                <div>
                    <label class=”text-xs uppercase tracking-widest text-indigo-400 font-semibold mb-2 block”>Atmosphere</label>
                    <div class=”grid grid-cols-4 gap-2″>
                        <button class=”theme-btn bg-gray-800 border-2 border-indigo-500 rounded h-8 w-full hover:brightness-110 transition-all” data-theme=”midnight” title=”Midnight”></button>
                        <button class=”theme-btn bg-green-900 border-2 border-transparent hover:border-gray-400 rounded h-8 w-full transition-all” data-theme=”forest” title=”Forest”></button>
                        <button class=”theme-btn bg-purple-900 border-2 border-transparent hover:border-gray-400 rounded h-8 w-full transition-all” data-theme=”sunset” title=”Sunset”></button>
                        <button class=”theme-btn bg-black border-2 border-transparent hover:border-gray-400 rounded h-8 w-full transition-all” data-theme=”cyber” title=”Cyber”></button>
                    </div>
                </div>

                <!– CORE SHAPE –>
                <div class=”control-group”>
                    <label class=”text-xs uppercase tracking-widest text-indigo-400 font-semibold mb-3 block”>Structure</label>
                   
                    <div class=”space-y-4″>
                        <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Radial Spokes</span>
                                <span id=”val-density”>12</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”density” min=”5″ max=”30″ value=”12″ step=”1″>
                        </div>

                        <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Spiral Spacing</span>
                                <span id=”val-spacing”>20</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”spacing” min=”10″ max=”60″ value=”20″ step=”5″>
                        </div>
                       
                        <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Center Size</span>
                                <span id=”val-centerSize”>50</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”centerSize” min=”0″ max=”200″ value=”50″ step=”10″>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>

                <!– PHYSICS & CHAOS –>
                <div class=”control-group”>
                    <label class=”text-xs uppercase tracking-widest text-indigo-400 font-semibold mb-3 block”>Physics & Chaos</label>
                   
                    <div class=”space-y-4″>
                        <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Thread Slack (Gravity)</span>
                                <span id=”val-slack”>0.5</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”slack” min=”0″ max=”1″ value=”0.5″ step=”0.1″>
                        </div>

                        <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Tear Probability</span>
                                <span id=”val-tears”>0%</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”tears” min=”0″ max=”0.4″ value=”0″ step=”0.05″>
                        </div>

                         <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Irregularity</span>
                                <span id=”val-chaos”>0.3</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”chaos” min=”0″ max=”1″ value=”0.3″ step=”0.1″>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>

                <!– VISUALS –>
                <div class=”control-group”>
                    <label class=”text-xs uppercase tracking-widest text-indigo-400 font-semibold mb-3 block”>Visual FX</label>
                   
                    <div class=”space-y-4″>
                         <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Glow Strength</span>
                                <span id=”val-glow”>Low</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”glow” min=”0″ max=”20″ value=”0″ step=”1″>
                        </div>

                        <div>
                            <div class=”flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-400 mb-1″>
                                <span>Wind Speed</span>
                                <span id=”val-wind”>0</span>
                            </div>
                            <input type=”range” id=”wind” min=”0″ max=”5″ value=”0″ step=”0.5″>
                        </div>

                        <div class=”flex items-center justify-between”>
                            <span class=”text-sm text-gray-300″>Morning Dew</span>
                            <label class=”relative inline-flex items-center cursor-pointer”>
                                <input type=”checkbox” id=”dew-toggle” class=”sr-only peer”>
                                <div class=”w-9 h-5 bg-gray-700 peer-focus:outline-none rounded-full peer peer-checked:after:translate-x-full peer-checked:after:border-white after:content-[”] after:absolute after:top-[2px] after:left-[2px] after:bg-white after:border-gray-300 after:border after:rounded-full after:h-4 after:w-4 after:transition-all peer-checked:bg-indigo-500″></div>
                            </label>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>

                <!– SYSTEM –>
                <div class=”control-group”>
                    <div class=”flex items-center justify-between”>
                        <span class=”text-sm text-gray-300″>Instant Draw</span>
                        <label class=”relative inline-flex items-center cursor-pointer”>
                            <input type=”checkbox” id=”instant-toggle” class=”sr-only peer”>
                            <div class=”w-9 h-5 bg-gray-700 peer-focus:outline-none rounded-full peer peer-checked:after:translate-x-full peer-checked:after:border-white after:content-[”] after:absolute after:top-[2px] after:left-[2px] after:bg-white after:border-gray-300 after:border after:rounded-full after:h-4 after:w-4 after:transition-all peer-checked:bg-indigo-500″></div>
                        </label>
                    </div>
                </div>

            </div>

            <!– Actions –>
            <div class=”mt-6 grid grid-cols-2 gap-3 flex-shrink-0″>
                <button id=”generate-btn” class=”col-span-2 bg-indigo-600 hover:bg-indigo-500 text-white font-medium py-3 px-4 rounded-xl transition-all shadow-lg shadow-indigo-500/20 active:scale-95 flex justify-center items-center gap-2″>
                    <svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” width=”16″ height=”16″ viewBox=”0 0 24 24″ fill=”none” stroke=”currentColor” stroke-width=”2″ stroke-linecap=”round” stroke-linejoin=”round”><path d=”M21 12a9 9 0 1 1-6.219-8.56″/></svg>
                    Re-Weave
                </button>
                <button id=”download-btn” class=”bg-gray-800 hover:bg-gray-700 text-gray-300 text-sm py-2 px-3 rounded-lg transition-colors border border-gray-700″>
                    Save Img
                </button>
                 <button id=”clear-btn” class=”bg-gray-800 hover:bg-red-900/30 text-gray-300 hover:text-red-200 text-sm py-2 px-3 rounded-lg transition-colors border border-gray-700″>
                    Clear
                </button>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>

    <!– Zen Mode Restore Button (Fixed Visibility) –>
    <button id=”open-btn” class=”fixed bottom-6 right-6 bg-white/10 hover:bg-white/20 text-white p-4 rounded-full backdrop-blur-md border border-white/30 hidden transition-all” title=”Exit Zen Mode”>
        <svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” width=”28″ height=”28″ viewBox=”0 0 24 24″ fill=”none” stroke=”currentColor” stroke-width=”2″ stroke-linecap=”round” stroke-linejoin=”round”><circle cx=”12″ cy=”12″ r=”3″></circle><path d=”M19.4 15a1.65 1.65 0 0 0 .33 1.82l.06.06a2 2 0 0 1 0 2.83 2 2 0 0 1-2.83 0l-.06-.06a1.65 1.65 0 0 0-1.82-.33 1.65 1.65 0 0 0-1 1.51V21a2 2 0 0 1-2 2 2 2 0 0 1-2-2v-.09A1.65 1.65 0 0 0 9 19.4a1.65 1.65 0 0 0-1.82.33l-.06.06a2 2 0 0 1-2.83 0 2 2 0 0 1 0-2.83l.06-.06a1.65 1.65 0 0 0 .33-1.82 1.65 1.65 0 0 0-1.51-1H3a2 2 0 0 1-2-2 2 2 0 0 1 2-2h.09A1.65 1.65 0 0 0 4.6 9a1.65 1.65 0 0 0-.33-1.82l-.06-.06a2 2 0 0 1 0-2.83 2 2 0 0 1 2.83 0l.06.06a1.65 1.65 0 0 0 1.82.33H9a1.65 1.65 0 0 0 1-1.51V3a2 2 0 0 1 2-2 2 2 0 0 1 2 2v.09a1.65 1.65 0 0 0 1 1.51 1.65 1.65 0 0 0 1.82-.33l.06-.06a2 2 0 0 1 2.83 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 2.83l-.06.06a1.65 1.65 0 0 0-.33 1.82V9a1.65 1.65 0 0 0 1.51 1H21a2 2 0 0 1 2 2 2 2 0 0 1-2 2h-.09a1.65 1.65 0 0 0-1.51 1z”></path></svg>
    </button>

    <script>
        /**
         * Core Logic for Spiderweb Generator
         */
        const canvas = document.getElementById(‘webCanvas’);
        const ctx = canvas.getContext(‘2d’);
       
        // State
        let width, height;
        let centerX, centerY;
        let animationFrameId;
        let time = 0; // For wind animation
       
        // Web Data
        let spokes = [];
        let spirals = [];
        let currentDrawIndex = 0;
        let isConstructing = false; // Is the initial build animation running?

        // Theme Configuration
        const themes = {
            midnight: { bg: ‘#111827’, web: ‘rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2)’, dew: ‘rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6)’ },
            forest:   { bg: ‘#064e3b’, web: ‘rgba(209, 250, 229, 0.2)’, dew: ‘rgba(167, 243, 208, 0.6)’ },
            sunset:   { bg: ‘linear-gradient(to bottom, #4c1d95, #c2410c)’, web: ‘rgba(254, 215, 170, 0.3)’, dew: ‘rgba(255, 237, 213, 0.7)’ },
            cyber:    { bg: ‘#000000’, web: ‘rgba(50, 255, 100, 0.3)’, dew: ‘rgba(50, 255, 100, 0.8)’ }
        };

        // Settings
        const settings = {
            theme: ‘midnight’,
            spokeCount: 12,
            spacing: 20, // Distance between spiral loops
            centerSize: 50,
            slack: 0.5,
            chaos: 0.3,
            tears: 0.0,
            glow: 0,
            wind: 0.0,
            speed: 15,
            dew: false,
            instant: false
        };

        // UI Elements
        const uiLayer = document.getElementById(‘ui-layer’);
        const openBtn = document.getElementById(‘open-btn’);
        const themeBtns = document.querySelectorAll(‘.theme-btn’);

        // Helper: Random Range
        const random = (min, max) => Math.random() * (max – min) + min;

        // Helper: Apply Wind to a Point
        // Returns a new object so we don’t mutate original geometry permanently
        function applyWind(point) {
            if (settings.wind <= 0.1) return point;
           
            // Simple vertex displacement based on time and Y position
            // Stronger effect further from center?
            const dist = Math.sqrt((point.x – centerX)**2 + (point.y – centerY)**2);
            const distFactor = Math.min(dist / 500, 1);

            const offsetX = Math.sin(time * 0.002 + point.y * 0.01) * (settings.wind * 10) * distFactor;
            const offsetY = Math.cos(time * 0.003 + point.x * 0.01) * (settings.wind * 5) * distFactor;

            return {
                x: point.x + offsetX,
                y: point.y + offsetY
            };
        }

        // Initialization
        function resize() {
            width = window.innerWidth;
            height = window.innerHeight;
            canvas.width = width;
            canvas.height = height;
            centerX = width / 2;
            centerY = height / 2;
            generateWebData();
            startDrawing();
        }

        window.addEventListener(‘resize’, resize);

        // Generate the mathematical model of the web
        function generateWebData() {
            spokes = [];
            spirals = [];
           
            // 1. Generate Spokes (Radials)
            const baseAngle = (Math.PI * 2) / settings.spokeCount;
            const maxRadius = Math.max(width, height) * 0.8;

            for (let i = 0; i < settings.spokeCount; i++) {
                let angleOffset = (Math.random() – 0.5) * settings.chaos;
                let angle = (i * baseAngle) + angleOffset;
                let length = maxRadius * random(0.8, 1.2);

                spokes.push({
                    angle: angle,
                    length: length,
                    endX: centerX + Math.cos(angle) * length,
                    endY: centerY + Math.sin(angle) * length
                });
            }

            // 2. Generate Spiral Segments
            let currentRadius = settings.centerSize;
            let spokeIndex = 0;
           
            // Prevent infinite loops
            let safetyCount = 0;
           
            while (safetyCount < 5000) {
                safetyCount++;
               
                let s1 = spokes[spokeIndex];
                let nextIndex = (spokeIndex + 1) % spokes.length;
                let s2 = spokes[nextIndex];

                // R1 and R2 allow the spiral to spiral outwards
                let r1 = currentRadius + random(-5, 5) * (settings.chaos * 5);
                // Look ahead: The connection point on the next spoke is slightly further out
                let spiralStep = (settings.spacing / settings.spokeCount);
                let r2 = r1 + spiralStep + random(-2, 2) * (settings.chaos * 5);
               
                // Stop if off screen
                if (r1 > s1.length || r2 > s2.length) break;

                // Probability to skip a segment (Tear)
                if (Math.random() > settings.tears) {

                    let p1 = {
                        x: centerX + Math.cos(s1.angle) * r1,
                        y: centerY + Math.sin(s1.angle) * r1
                    };

                    let p2 = {
                        x: centerX + Math.cos(s2.angle) * r2,
                        y: centerY + Math.sin(s2.angle) * r2
                    };

                    // Control Point for Catenary (gravity sag)
                    let midX = (p1.x + p2.x) / 2;
                    let midY = (p1.y + p2.y) / 2;
                   
                    // Pull vector towards center
                    let dirX = midX – centerX;
                    let dirY = midY – centerY;
                    let pullFactor = settings.slack * 0.4;
                   
                    let cpX = midX – (dirX * pullFactor);
                    let cpY = midY – (dirY * pullFactor);

                    spirals.push({
                        p1: p1,
                        p2: p2,
                        cp: {x: cpX, y: cpY},
                        dew: Math.random() > 0.7
                    });
                }

                // Advance
                spokeIndex = nextIndex;
                currentRadius += spiralStep; // Increment radius constantly around the spiral
               
                if (currentRadius > Math.max(width, height) * 0.7) break;
            }
        }

        function getThemeColors() {
            return themes[settings.theme] || themes[‘midnight’];
        }

        function drawDew(p1, p2, count) {
            const theme = getThemeColors();
            ctx.fillStyle = theme.dew;
           
            for(let i=1; i<count; i++) {
                const t = i/count;
                const x = p1.x + (p2.x – p1.x) * t;
                const y = p1.y + (p2.y – p1.y) * t;
               
                ctx.beginPath();
                ctx.arc(x, y, random(0.5, 1.5), 0, Math.PI * 2);
                ctx.fill();
            }
        }

        function drawDewOnCurve(p1, cp, p2) {
             const theme = getThemeColors();
             ctx.fillStyle = theme.dew;

             const drops = Math.floor(random(1, 4));
             for (let i = 0; i < drops; i++) {
                const t = random(0.2, 0.8);
                // Bezier Point
                const x = (1 – t) * (1 – t) * p1.x + 2 * (1 – t) * t * cp.x + t * t * p2.x;
                const y = (1 – t) * (1 – t) * p1.y + 2 * (1 – t) * t * cp.y + t * t * p2.y;

                ctx.beginPath();
                ctx.arc(x, y, random(0.5, 1.8), 0, Math.PI * 2);
                ctx.fill();
             }
        }

        function startDrawing() {
            if (isConstructing) isConstructing = false; // Reset current build
            currentDrawIndex = 0;
           
            // Set Background based on theme
            const theme = getThemeColors();
            if (theme.bg.includes(‘gradient’)) {
                document.body.style.background = theme.bg;
            } else {
                document.body.style.backgroundColor = theme.bg;
                document.body.style.backgroundImage = ‘none’;
            }

            if (settings.instant) {
                currentDrawIndex = spirals.length;
            } else {
                isConstructing = true;
            }
           
            if (!animationFrameId) animate();
        }

        function renderFrame() {
            ctx.clearRect(0, 0, width, height);
            const theme = getThemeColors();
           
            // Setup Glow
            if (settings.glow > 0) {
                ctx.shadowBlur = settings.glow;
                ctx.shadowColor = theme.web;
            } else {
                ctx.shadowBlur = 0;
            }

            // 1. Draw Spokes
            ctx.strokeStyle = theme.web;
            ctx.lineWidth = 1;
            ctx.lineCap = “round”;
           
            // Only draw spokes if we are generating or they are always visible
            spokes.forEach(spoke => {
                const start = applyWind({x: centerX, y: centerY});
                const end = applyWind({x: spoke.endX, y: spoke.endY});

                ctx.beginPath();
                ctx.moveTo(start.x, start.y);
                ctx.lineTo(end.x, end.y);
                ctx.stroke();
            });

            // 2. Draw Spirals
            // If constructing, limit by currentDrawIndex. If done, draw all.
            const limit = isConstructing ? currentDrawIndex : spirals.length;
           
            // Batch drawing for performance? Canvas handles single paths better
            // But we need individual segments for wind
            ctx.strokeStyle = theme.web; // Re-apply incase changed
            ctx.lineWidth = Math.max(0.5, 0.8 – (settings.spokeCount * 0.01)); // Thinner webs for high density

            ctx.beginPath();
            for(let i=0; i < limit; i++) {
                let seg = spirals[i];
               
                // Apply wind to all control points
                let p1 = applyWind(seg.p1);
                let p2 = applyWind(seg.p2);
                let cp = applyWind(seg.cp);

                ctx.moveTo(p1.x, p1.y);
                ctx.quadraticCurveTo(cp.x, cp.y, p2.x, p2.y);
            }
            ctx.stroke();

            // 3. Draw Dew (Separate pass for color change)
            if (settings.dew) {
                ctx.shadowBlur = 0; // No glow on dew for crispness
                for(let i=0; i < limit; i++) {
                    let seg = spirals[i];
                    if (seg.dew) {
                        // Recalculate positions for dew to match wind
                        let p1 = applyWind(seg.p1);
                        let p2 = applyWind(seg.p2);
                        let cp = applyWind(seg.cp);
                        drawDewOnCurve(p1, cp, p2);
                    }
                }
            }

            // Logic for Construction Animation
            if (isConstructing) {
                let speed = Math.floor(settings.speed + (currentDrawIndex / 50));
                currentDrawIndex += speed;
                if (currentDrawIndex >= spirals.length) {
                    currentDrawIndex = spirals.length;
                    isConstructing = false;
                }
            }
        }

        function animate(timestamp) {
            time = timestamp || 0;
            renderFrame();
            animationFrameId = requestAnimationFrame(animate);
        }

        // UI Interactions
        function updateDisplay(id, val) {
            const el = document.getElementById(`val-${id}`);
            if (el) el.innerText = val;
        }

        // Attach listeners to all range inputs
        [‘density’, ‘spacing’, ‘centerSize’, ‘slack’, ‘chaos’, ‘tears’, ‘glow’, ‘wind’].forEach(id => {
            const input = document.getElementById(id);
            input.addEventListener(‘input’, (e) => {
                let val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
               
                // Special formatting
                if (id === ‘tears’) updateDisplay(id, Math.round(val * 100) + ‘%’);
                else if (id === ‘glow’) updateDisplay(id, val === 0 ? ‘Off’ : (val > 15 ? ‘High’ : ‘Low’));
                else updateDisplay(id, val);

                // Map to settings
                if (id === ‘density’) settings.spokeCount = parseInt(val);
                else if (id === ‘spacing’) settings.spacing = parseInt(val);
                else if (id === ‘centerSize’) settings.centerSize = parseInt(val);
                else settings[id] = val;

                // Regen logic
                if ([‘density’, ‘spacing’, ‘centerSize’, ‘chaos’, ‘tears’, ‘slack’].includes(id)) {
                    generateWebData();
                    if (!settings.instant && !isConstructing) startDrawing(); // Restart anim if structural change
                }
            });
        });

        // Theme Buttons
        themeBtns.forEach(btn => {
            btn.addEventListener(‘click’, (e) => {
                themeBtns.forEach(b => b.classList.remove(‘border-indigo-500’));
                themeBtns.forEach(b => b.classList.add(‘border-transparent’));
               
                e.target.classList.remove(‘border-transparent’);
                e.target.classList.add(‘border-indigo-500’);

                settings.theme = e.target.getAttribute(‘data-theme’);
                startDrawing();
            });
        });

        document.getElementById(‘dew-toggle’).addEventListener(‘change’, (e) => {
            settings.dew = e.target.checked;
        });

        document.getElementById(‘instant-toggle’).addEventListener(‘change’, (e) => {
            settings.instant = e.target.checked;
        });

        document.getElementById(‘generate-btn’).addEventListener(‘click’, () => {
            generateWebData();
            startDrawing();
        });
       
        document.getElementById(‘clear-btn’).addEventListener(‘click’, () => {
             isConstructing = false;
             currentDrawIndex = 0;
             spokes = [];
             spirals = [];
             ctx.clearRect(0,0,width,height);
        });

        document.getElementById(‘download-btn’).addEventListener(‘click’, () => {
            const link = document.createElement(‘a’);
            link.download = `spiderweb_${settings.theme}.png`;
            link.href = canvas.toDataURL();
            link.click();
        });

        // Zen Mode Logic
        const closeBtn = document.getElementById(‘close-btn’);
        let uiVisible = true;

        function toggleUI() {
            uiVisible = !uiVisible;
            if (uiVisible) {
                uiLayer.classList.remove(‘translate-x-full’);
                openBtn.classList.add(‘hidden’);
            } else {
                uiLayer.classList.add(‘translate-x-full’);
                // Remove hidden immediately, CSS transitions handle the rest if you want opacity,
                // but for now simple display toggling ensures it’s clickable.
                openBtn.classList.remove(‘hidden’);
            }
        }

        closeBtn.addEventListener(‘click’, toggleUI);
        openBtn.addEventListener(‘click’, toggleUI);
       
        document.addEventListener(‘click’, (e) => {
            // If Zen mode is active (UI hidden) and we aren’t clicking the restore button
            if (!uiVisible && !openBtn.contains(e.target)) {
                // Gentle regen in Zen mode
                generateWebData();
                startDrawing();
            }
        });

        // Start
        resize();
        animate();

    </script>
</body>
</html>

I messaged myself someone else’s Epstein story and IG put me on restriction. I can still post and even share stories, but I’m not allowed to message! Yeah, *I’M* the problem! So if you messaged me, I can’t respond for 3 days. Thanks IG for protecting PDFs!

Guess what’s coming?

#doodle #fridaythe13th #thursdaythe12thisthenewfridaythe13th #thursdaythe12th

Kitty is new to me, not sure which of the venison brood came by

“The Hangman” from 1964 based on the poem by Maurice Ogden. Film made by Les Goldman and Paul Julian. “The 1964 animated short film Hangman, directed by Paul Julian and Les Goldman, is a 16.4K cautionary tale about apathy and complicity, based on Maurice Ogden’s 1951 poem. It depicts a mysterious figure erecting a gallows in a town square, systematically executing citizens while the fearful populace: remains silent, only for the narrator to realize he is next.”

The ending of "The Hangman" from 1964 based on the poem by Maurice Ogden. Film made by Les Goldman and Paul Julian.

— Scottobear (@scottobear.bsky.social) 2026-02-12T09:48:05.228Z

There’s a specific kind of internal hum that starts the moment you hit “Checkout” on a piece of niche tech. It’s been a minute since I’ve been this genuinely keyed up for a mail call, but the wait for the x4 has me checking tracking tabs like it’s a competitive sport.

To keep my sanity, I did what any self-respecting nerd does: I opened a spreadsheet.

Putting the wait into perspective helps dampen the “where is it?” anxiety. My device left Shenzhen nine days ago. Since then, it’s been navigating a gauntlet of weather patterns, logistics hubs, and handoff hops.

Here is the breakdown of its 7,842-mile trek:

* Distance Covered: 7,105 miles (roughly 90% of the trip).
* Average Speed: A steady 36 mph.
* Touchpoints: 8 distinct scans across the globe.

It’s currently cleared the customs hurdle, and with the bulk of the journey in the rearview mirror, I’m optimistic for a delivery before the 14th.

Some people have that “buy it and forget it” zen mindset. I am not those people. I can’t just let it arrive “whenever.” To bridge the gap, I’ve been curate-stacking my digital environment:

* Customizing the Vibe: Designing a fresh set of wallpapers.
* Community Building: Getting the account settled over at readme.club.
* The Library: Hoarding choice EPUB files like a digital dragon.

I’m also diving back into Calibre. I haven’t touched the software in nearly a decade, but seeing that it’s still the gold standard for library management is a testament to its staying power. Getting a Calibre server spun up is next on the weekend warrior list.

The SD card is “ready-ish,” and the Android apps are already staged on my phone and tablet. Software-wise, I’m leaning toward Crosspoint. If I can swing a multi-boot setup to test the waters of every OS flavor available, that’s the dream.

An afternoon hike along the Appalachian Trail, running roughly parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Botetourt, was timed just before the snowfall so the snow showers could be seen as they arrived. A brief stop at Purgatory Overlook offered this captured view, one that never loses its appeal no matter the season.

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/hero6eSupersV40.html