#“Which means that if we —humans— can create things with our hands and passion too; we could be considered gods in some capacity as well!”

[yourubersawcrit]

God complex? I find him quite simple!

[heartfullofleeches]

Kreme Filled

Yan Candy Person + G.N Candy Witch Reader

Summary: Blurb in which Witch Reader teaches a friend a bit about their anatomy and said friend teaches them about theirs. Said friend almost happens to be made of fried douth

(Tags: Light/Candy body horror, slightly suggestive, fingering but not in the way that you think, no use of y/n - reader is referred to as Sweets)

-

"Whoa!- I didn't know you had a hole here too. I learn something new about you everyday, Sweets!-"

Living with folks made out of pastries and sweets for so long, it's surprising how easy it was to forget their various attributes and lack there of every now and then. Showered by so much love and acceptance in the community, it almost came as a shock the first few time to remember those caring hearts were made of sugar and syrup instead of the same blood and tissue as your own. Often times you recalled only these features by the spillage of their syrupy fluids, but frequent instances across that further separated your human skin from their sweet, doughy flesh.

Kreme was one of the sweetest souls you've met by far both in personality and taste. A local pastry with a hair that reminded you of freshly made donuts and coincidentally made of the same dough. Piped with passion for design and clinging to your side, Kreme visited your bakery daily for different pigments of frosting to decorate their clothing and self with whenever creativity struck which was hourly for them. On the plus side you had a few bracelets and rings too delicate for you to wear, but made them happy when displayed around your kitchen and home.

While piping the frosting need for a new batch of sprinkles on a tray, Kreme had grown bored by lax amount of attention on them and so they decided to pull a little prank to lighten the mood. They slathered their hands in powered sugar, snuck up behind you as concentration lowered your guard, raised your shirt under the guise of a friendly hug, and brought their powder covered hand down on your sides. Rubbing the powder into your skin, Kreme noticed something as their palms ran over your stomach. A hole almost like the one in their torso only much smaller and refused to open no matter how their fingers pried. They tried again, but stopped upon hearing you cry out in discomfort.

"Ow! Kreme, that hurts - cut it out."

Kreme immediately drops their hands, staring at you like a deer in headlights as you face them. "Oh! I'm really sorry, Sweets - it's just that your hole is so tiny I was trying to make it bigger for you." The fiend slaps their hands over their mouth. "I'm sorry - are they supposed to be that small for your kind? Please don't tell me I seriously hurt you."

You gently pull their hands from their face, wiping yours of its confusion in attempts to soothe their rising fears. "I'm okay, Kreme, really. But, what do you mean by... hole?"

Kreme lifts your shirt and points at your stomach. "This one! Never seen anything like it before."

You follow their finger, gears clicking as you look just above your waist. "Oh.... ohhhh that hole. Well, when people like me are... created, we're attached by a cord to our makes that gives us nutrients till we come out and that "hole" is where we were attached at."

Kreme touches your skin, eyes growing wider with every word. "That's so cool! I love learning more about you, Sweets. Human stuff was so boring when the others told me about them, but when it's about you I wanna listen all day... Wanna see mine?"

"Your what?"

Kreme laughs. "My hole, silly. It goes all the way through and I can put so many things in it. Frosting, jam, sprinkles. I love sprinkles - especially the ones you make me. Anyway, wanna see it?"

"Um...."

Not waiting for a reply, Kreme rolls up their tee and proudly presents the centimeters wide hole in the center of their chest. Crouching on your knees, you could see straight through it, and in at the softer wall of dough that made up their inners. By guessing, you estimated you could fit around three fingers in the hole with no problem. You try to shake the thought, but it keeps crawling back to mind.

"It really is a hole..." You reach out to examine the crater - having enough restrain to before your hand meets their skin.

"Yea!.. Stick your fingers in it."

You stumble on your feet and words - caught off guard by their sudden shift in tone. "What?"

Kreme smiles, directing one of your hands towards the entrace of their hole. "I want you - to put your fingers inside me. I can tell that you're thinking about it~"

Urged by their guiding hand and pleading eyes, you extend your index finger and slowly begin to insert it into their hole. The texture is akin to mashed cake as you imagined, but it's slightly more moist than pictured. Tearing an earlier theory you add another finger and push them both deeper, the walls of pastry around them contracting as Kreme whimpers - squirming, and even whining out as you pull back.

"Am I hurting you?"

Kreme shakes their head, grip alarming firm for someone of their kind. "No... no, no - it's just that whenever anyone else tries to touch my hole it's always a bit uncomfortable, but if it's Sweets.... If it's you, I'm okay with anything. Please keep going."

You didn't want to hurt them, but your curiosity had been peaked.

"Lemme know if any part of this bothers you and we'll stop, okay?"

Kreme nods as if they understand, but is too transfixed on your fingers as you add yet another and shove them all inside of them to utter more than desperate cries. Cold air kisses your fingertips as they fall out the back entry of their hole before being sucked back in. There's a little wiggling room, but not enough where you can't attempt to put in another digit. Kreme, noting your hesitant and dying to feel more of you looking around.

"Oh, oh - check out this fun trick I can do." Reaching over to the table, Kreme nabs the - tilting their head back as they swallow the frosting. Your fingers rooted in the tightness of their midsection run slick with cream as it slides down their throat, pouring out over your hand and onto the floor - spilling onto your apron and legs. Working as a lubricant, you successfully fit all fingers of your dominant hand in side of the pastry and out through the other side as their legs buckle, nearly giving out as they hover over you. You stand to help them upright and due to the building ache in your legs from your position. Kreme throws their arms over your shoulder, pushing with every pull and shaking as your hand stretches their hole wider. It'd close back to normal later on, but for now they revelled at the thought of having a permanent marker of your affliction on them. Tearing them up from the inside and leaving them starving for your attention whenever you close your doors for the evening. It too much. If only they could have one thing to be left with until the next day. One little thing to keep them going until the sun rose tomorrow.

"Sweets... Ah... deeper... I wanna feel you... always..."

As with all good things, their pleasure comes to an end to soon. You slide your hand out of their torso, allowing them to fall slack in your arms as they collect themselves. You subconsciously lick at the frosting coating your hand still in autopilot from closing shifts at your bakery, which in turn adds to their lightheadedness. You play coy to the kiss they sneak to your cheek as they stand on their own, gazing bashfully at the floor.

"Sweets?...."

"Yeah?.."

"I sorta lied when I said I never paid attention to things about humans... I know about various parts of their bodies and some of the urges... your kind gets... We really aren't so different if we really think about it."

You pause mid wipping your hands on your apron. "What are you getting at?"

"I'm saying the next time we do this I want your cream inside me instead. I don't want anything else than to feel you inside me - forever. It's the only thing that can make me truly happy. I never want to leave you so please don't leave me.

Kreme kisses your cheek again as they grab at the strings of your apron. "Just give it some thought. For now, I'll be taking this since I got it all dirty. Love you bunches, Sweets - bye!"

Loosening the tight knot, Kreme tears off your apron and waves it as their flag of triumph as they flee out the back door of the kitchen - leaving you alone to clean everything up.

[fandoms-rants]

Andrew Minyard, Neil Josten & Andriel Quotes Part 3:

(Quotes that remind me of (and/or I think they would say in canon or fanfics which I hope someone will write) Andrew, Neil or both of them and/or therir relationship)

"Do you not understand? I will not settle for anything less than a soul-deep, electrifying connection." (Andriel to Everyone who doubts them)

“Hearts are wild creatures, that’s why are ribs are cages.” (Andrew)

“I have a very intelligent mind but a goddamn stupid heart.” (Andrew **gay panicking** before he kissed Neil the first time)

“Light is easy to love. Show me your darkness.” (Andrew to Neil)

“She’s a combination of sensitive and savage.” (Neil about Andrew)

“Underestimate me. That'll be fun.” (Andrew)

“She will rise. With a spine of steel, and a roar like thunder, she will rise.” (Andrew post-canon)

"According to Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves." (Andriel)

“The initmacy of being understood.” (Andriel)

“If you don't want a sarcastic answer, don't ask a stupid question.” (Andrew)

“Why aren't you scared of me? Whyy do you care for me?” (Andrew to Neil and Neil to Andrew)

“The silent ones are the most observant ones.” (Andrew)

“He pretty cute for a Monster.” (Neil about Andrew)

“"I am coming for all the monsters that ever touched him, I am coming for all the ones who twisted his stars into shadows, They turned him into a nightmare, So I'm going to be theirs." (**Neil about Andrew**)

“"When a devil falls in love, it's the most hauntingly beautiful thing ever. And you should be terrified, for he will go to the depths of hell for her." (Andriel)(You choose who the devil is ;)

"Hold him gently in your hands. He has been cracked enough as it is, and his heart is more shattered than he lets on." (Neil about Andrew)

"I defy the stars; I defy Heaven and Hell. The laws of the universe say that the man I love is lost to me. I say: Watch me save him." (Andrew during Baltimore)

"Golden child, Lion boy; Tell me what it's like to conquer.” (Neil to Andrew) Fearless child, Broken boy; Tell me what it's like to burn." (Andrew to Neil)

“I will not have you without the darkness that hides within you. I will not let you have me without the madness that makes me. If our demons cannot dance, neither can we." (Andrew to Neil and Neil to Andrew)

“"Survivors have scars. Victims have graves.” (Andriel)

“I became good at pretending. I became so good that after a while the lines blurred between my truth and fiction. And sometimes, when I did a really good job of pretending, I even fooled myself." (Neil)

“I am eternally, devastatingly romantic, and I thought people would see it because 'romantic' doesn't mean 'sugary? It's dark and tormented — the furor of passion, the despair of an idealism that you can't attain.” (Andriel)

“I am almost never serious, and I'm always too serious. Too deep, too shallow. Too sensitive, too cold hearted. I'm like a collection of paradoxes." (Andrew)

“If only my heart were as cold as I pretend it is, maybe I could get over this." (Andrew)

“I became bitter and untouchable. I craved affection but even the mere thought of someone caring made my stomach turn." (Andrew)

“I like the scars because I like the stories. Bravery, stupidity, pain-none of them come free." (Andrew to Neil)

“You can tell how dangerous a person is by the way they hold their anger inside themselves quietly." (Neil about Andrew)

“I will love you as misfortune loves orphans, as fire loves innocence and as justice loves to sit and watch everything go wrong.” (Andriel)

“You and Atlas are one and the same my dear, cursed to hold a weight you can't bare and still standing not because you can but because you have to.” (Neil to Andrew)

“Lift with your knees, Atlas, the heavens are a burden but in the starlit ink of constellations you have written: Endure." (Andrew)

“"I'm someone who's mostly dead inside but still has a little hope for something extraordinary, which, as I said, is the worst breed of human, because it means I know everything is bullshit, but that I secretly hope for the day when it might not be." (Andrew)

“My abuse isn't poetic. it was not justice or necessary. The earth left me to die and there is no such thing as karma. The gods watched idly by as i was killed in that house and not a damn person tried to help me.” (Andrew)

“You are allowed to grieve over the child you could've been.” (Neil to Andrew)

“"I spent my childhood learning how to fear, and now I spend my adulthood learning how not to." (Andriel)

**Im imagining this in a butcher!Neil or mafia!Neil AU. As a courting gift Neil brings Andrew the heads of all the men who abused him.**

*WARNING: About copyright, Quotes come from various places(ie. FanFiction, Tv, Movies, Music, Pinterest) so use in your own fanfic stories at your own.. I can’t think of the word but you know what I mean.*

[letsberealgenz]

productivity is fake

“Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re being productive honey.”

It’s sickening to think about how the young generation is shaping their life based on these unrealistic definition of productivity that is constantly being manipulated from time to time just to fit a certain regime of individuals fighting over statistics which reminds me of this.

“We are living in a world today where social media is the new stock market which everybody’s trying to get their hands onto and make the most out of it.”

I wouldn’t deny this. Yes, there’s a number of accounts out there spreading valuable productivity hacks but I’ve also realized there’s a missing puzzle in this equation that needs to be advocated more often than ever today.

Doing little is being productive too.

Sometimes doing nothing is being productive too.

Let that sink in for a bit. As someone whom has been through this personally, I can confidently affirm to the above statements. From the very young, I believe there’s this one seed that has been planted in all of our minds which is none other than:

“Keep going. Keep moving. Just do what you’re doing. Don’t stop. Do something rather than nothing.”

Honestly in certain situations this can really be helpful but the key here is sometimes being productive is literally doing nothing or doing very little. The fact that we make this sound like a crime is worrying. We teach the young's to keep moving but when are we going to let them know this (the truth)?

Stillness is what aims the archer’s arrow. It inspires new ideas. It sharpens perspective and illuminates connections. It slows the ball down so that we might hit it. It generates a vision, helps us resist the passions of the mob, makes space for gratitude and wonder. Stillness allows us to persevere. To succeed. It is the key that unlocks the insights of genius, and allows us regular folks to understand them. — 

So the next time you catch yourself doing nothing or doing very little for the day, please don’t beat yourself up. Just know it is normal. In fact, it is supposed to be like this at times. That’s how you’re going to get closer towards achieving your goals.

By stopping or slowing down, it provides you a new perspective that guides you into reflecting the journey that you’ve been sailing on for quite some time. That’s how you’re going to realize what’s working for you. What’s not working for you. What needs to be eliminated. What needs to be improved. What action of yours need to be doubled.

It’s these little things that we don’t tend to notice when we are keeping ourselves busy all day along. It’s these little things that could be the missing puzzle to your success. It’s these little things that could be the breakthrough that you’ve been waiting for all this while. It’s these little things that makes the most difference at the end of the day only when you realized that the mainstream concept of productivity is fake. Do you know what’s real?

Create your own definition of productivity. Tailor it according to your goals. Shift it according to your schedule. Do you know why? Because what works for the other highly “successful” individual might not work well for you. We are all different and unique in our own way and that’s the beauty of being a human. You just have to find what works best for you. You just have to find your definition of being productive. You just have to discover the productivity hacks that works best for you. That’s it!

Don’t try to fit yourself into someone else’s definition of being productive. Because you never know that might leave you stranded in the desert longer than you expect it to be.

[constantvariations]

I remember someone saying "there's no such thing as a good racism allegory" and it's been bouncing around in my head for a while. I'm someone who typically thinks anything can work if given the right circumstances, but then I really started thinking about it and I believe they're right

Because if you want to talk about racism, you should just talk about racism

(This is unpolished and ramble-y, so strap yourselves in)

Racism is deeply ingrained into our society, no matter where you live. Imperialism and colonialism has ensured that no corner of Earth has been left untouched. Choices from hundreds of years ago are still being felt today. There's practically no end to the discussion of its effects on the world and its people

So, why should anyone feel the need to dress it up in cat ears?

I've consumed a lot of media where writers have consciously echoed in part some aspect of racism in their fantasy story: Bright 2017, Dragon Age, RWBY, the MCU, Harry Potter, Detroit: Become Human, etc. The biggest thing they have in common is that the narrative is told to side with the victims, but it somehow always ends up against them

It always sides with the status quo

It's confusing, maddening even, because the narrative oft goes out of its way to show how horrible the system is and how these folk don't deserve their treatment, so why are we going back to normal as if it's a good thing? Why are the people actively working to improve the system decried as annoying at best and monstrous at worst?

Then you look at the people who write these storylines. The beliefs they hold, the people they vote for, which charities and organizations they give to, and it all makes sense. Centrists (at best) trying to look progressive are the ones who need to dress racism up in cat ears and rainbow freckles. They set aside the long, brutal histories and crushing systemic realities to play pretend that racism is Not That Bad and is only done by Those Bad Individuals

That's why Velvet's ears are tugged instead of culled. That's why the Mantle drunkards say mean things to Blake instead of attempting to assault her. That's why everything surrounding the SDC's labor practices is so vague as to be useless while the biggest evidence of their malice is hand-waved away by a writer who says the victim "had it coming" as if someone can deserve being branded by being too much of a brat

These stories aren't meant to make the audience question why our society works off the bloodied backs of the exploited or demands we take good, hard looks at ourselves and how we've been duped into believing so much garbage about entire swathes of people. They're meant to satisfy the people who only feel bad that these things are happening because they (white folk) look like the bad guys. It's a self-congratulatory wank about how "I'm not like THOSE guys, therefore I'm a good person!"

And then there's the characters meant to convey this story in the first place: always inoffensive, mostly aimless, "not like the other girl" types that pander to that delicate palate. Blake - a conventionally attractive, pale skinned girl in fashionable clothes - used to be passionate about equality but only in the right way, and demonizes anyone who does not conform to this mindset despite having no reasoning to back it up while never once demanding better of the privileged people around her even when they do racially insensitive things

The biggest downfall of these racial allegories, be they about cat girls or orcs or elves or robots, is that they do something that marginalized folk have been forced to endure since the dawn of time: literal dehumanization. There are tangible differences between humans and whatever the allegory is, which undermines the very fundamental fact that black/asian/queer/neurodivergent/disabled/whatever folk are unapologetically, undeniably, exceedingly human. By dressing up their plights in cat ears or spottled blue skin, you're creating theater not for the people who actually live through these struggles as a means of connecting with them and providing them a safe outlet for their feelings, but giving the people who benefit from passively allowing the system to enforce said struggles a pat on the head for not being the grand wizard

I don't really know where I'm going or how to end this, so I'll just sign off with if you're going to talk about racism, just talk about racism

[mollyringle]

In which I have had it with disingenuous advice lauding rugged individualism

We often hear that if you truly and deeply want to create something—writing, music, visual arts, a company, an invention, etc.—you will find a way to do it. You’ll squeeze out the time between your other obligations; the muse and the passion will help you along, and you will succeed! I have said things like this myself in the past, meaning to be inspirational and encouraging, as people generally intend to be when they say such things. But as I’ve gotten older and met more kinds of people and looked honestly at society, particularly here in the US, it has become painfully clear that the above is an incomplete story.

The whole truth has to include this part too:

There are many people whose wonderful creations we haven’t yet seen, and might never see, because these people are not getting enough support in terms of basic needs: health, finances, family, safety, access. For reasons beyond their control—expensive chronic health problems, disabilities, neurodiversity, families who cannot or will not help them, unstable housing situations, and more—they cannot merely grab the muse’s hand and be pulled along a prolifically creative path to success. Their vision may be exactly as wondrous and world-changing as anyone else’s, but we might never know, because circumstances block them from bringing it to fruition.

We don’t hear enough about these people. Given the way social media and news are designed, we hear frequently and voluminously from successful people with vast platforms, and next to nothing from those who fell through the cracks.

I don’t know of any easy solution. All the solutions need to be huge and systemic, and they go against the stubbornly individualistic American mindset that we cannot seem to shake (a problem shared by many other countries too).

But those of us who have at least enough daily stability, peace, health, and support to have struggled through our own issues and created something should pause and realize that, although our own struggles were indeed hard, other people’s are truly insurmountable, the way things stand. It’s disingenuous to claim, “Well, I managed it despite all these hardships, so anyone should be able to,” because in truth, we didn’t do it alone. It’s almost a certainty that we had someone willing to give us employment. Friends or relatives willing to help us now and then. People providing medical care for us. People keeping our utilities running smoothly. People interested enough in our idea that they contributed helpful feedback and even money. People who told others about us and boosted us up.

No one accomplishes feats of creation entirely by themselves from start to finish. It is one hundred percent a myth. Yet the “you can do anything,” “follow your dreams,” “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality continues to thrive and is still viewed as a fully workable plan. It is, I have come to believe, one of the most damaging and pernicious myths in our culture.

Dreams and creativity are vital, and yes, they are also personal and individual, and everyone deserves to be free to pursue them. For that to happen, however, our societies need to support everyone at a basic health and safety level. Everyone.

Vote accordingly. It’s all anyone can currently do. But in the meantime, look around at everything that has gone well in your life, all the tools and resources that have helped you get where you are, and recognize the often-invisible fellow humans behind each of those steps and each of those items. Send those folks a bit of gratitude, and try to turn your habitual thinking toward the realization that you are not alone—not a rugged pioneer, no matter what the American Dream has told you—and that no one else ought to feel alone either.

And I will keep saying it in short form and long till the end of my days: talk up the small creators you run across, those who actually need word-of-mouth hype. The big names are doing just fine without you posting about them. Give some bandwidth to those for whom a praise post would make their day and possibly even boost their finances.

[plotsjotsandespressoshot]

Things I have learned to do and Not Do to live a happier life

I acknowledge that Life has challenges and ups and downs no matter what: Being positive doesn’t mean you think that bad things will happen in your life.  It means that you know that they will, you take steps to avoid them, when you do have them you know that they will pass and let yourself feel the feelings without wallowing for long periods of time.  Bad things happen.  You will be fired from a job, someone you love will die, you will over draft your bank account.  It happens. 

I don’t take on peoples struggles as my own: This is a hard one because a lot of times people see this as not caring. I do care. I care alot. Sometimes I have cared too much and got dragged into bad situations. I am there to support and help my friends but if they are having mental health problems, have suicidal thoughts or other dark thoughts, I am doing us both a disservice by not getting them the professional support that they need.  I am not a therapist and I am not qualified to help the people that I love in that way.  But I will help them find the resources that they need.  That is the kindest thing I can do for both of us. 

I Have physical Hobbies: Making things with your own two hands is so underrated.  I make physical things.  I write on physical paper.  There is a special part of your brain that triggers the effort-driven rewards center in humans.  This means we get chemical satisfaction from making. 

I am not close friends with people I work with: This is something that I meant the hard way.  It can create a lot of cliques at work which always seem to turn out wrong and create animosity when people move on.  I’m civil and kind and once in a while we will hang out but I do set boundaries with the people that I work with. 

I use my interests to build community: Community can be hard! I use my hobbies and craft fairs to meet other people and build a supportive community of people who have simpler passions- not even always the same.  The maker community is great for this because it tends to be people with not exactly the same exact interests but with an abundance of passion for what they do.  Even if it's not the same exact thing, we always find common ground and feel each other's enthusiastic energy. 

I don’t make myself “not have’ Social media- Instead, I curate it: Look, we can unring the bell.  Social media is out there and it is our job to make it work for us.  Even if you can personally if you have a business you need to know how to use social media. I follow things that make me happy and invigorate me- dogs, pottery, fashion, goofy ocean videos, books.  My social media ALWAYS makes me happy because I have designed it that way.   

I journal every day:  At the beginning of the day I make a list of five things, experiences, or feelings I’m grateful for.  This means even when shit it’s the fan or gets hard, I already have those five good things in the back of my mind so I’m not in an overwhelming state of ‘this sucks’. 

I keep a planner:  People who feel rushed or forget things are going on tend to have a really hard time- just something I’ve noticed.  I keep a planner because I like knowing exactly whats going on so I can fir in other things or plan them for latter.  No one feels good when they have forgotten something or feel rushed or late. 

I go out and do things that have nothing to do with work:  When we’re young, we have a built-in system for the most part, to try new things.  As an adult we have to go an look.  You’re job is not your hobby…you rely on it which means there is pressure.  Find things that don’t make you feel pressure.

I touch trees/ grass whatever:  We are part of nature.  We need to be outside whenever we can (And its safe.).

I set firm hard boundaries and accept when people don’t fit into my life: Not everyone is going to like you or your boundaries and honestly, some people think that you are there to take care of them.  Unless you birthed them…you aren’t.  I set boundaries with people, because I have been built by this behavior before and would constantly be trying.  I have NEVER had this go well.  If people repeatedly cross boundaries and you communicate to them, they typically don’t stop. 

I let friendships flow and ebb:  Not everything is meant to last forever and that doesn’t mean its bad or that its any less important in your life.  This applies to jobs, homes and yes even people.  It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you or them. Some things last forever, some only last for a season and thats perfectly fine.

I don’t fight to feel younger or older:  I have stopped dying my grey hair.  I have stopped trying to fit into being ‘an adult’ and liking only adult things.  I will not let go of my weird obsession with bugs or anything else.  I embrace my aches and the fact that I will never run as fast as I did when I was 27.  That’s fine. 

I Prioritize eating and sleeping right:  I love eating right and getting my full 8 hours of sleep and am useless without it.  I make sure that this is one of my hard and fast boundaries not only because of my autoimmune disorder but my age and what I know I can handle.  I don’t fall into the insomnia camp unless I’ve already had a lovely long nap that day and I know it.  I make sure that I plan around this, go out to breakfast instead of dinner (Totally fun and totally cheaper) and make sure my friends know I want to be home by 9.   

I exercise every day- even if it's just going for a walk or doing 10 minutes of yoga:  I recently started doing yoga every day along with my normal workouts- just a nice ten-minute slow flow to reset.  It's really life-changing and makes me more aware of what my body needs and wants. 

I mind my manners: Even if I don't like a person, even if my boundaries have been repeatedly crossed, even if I'm attacked for no reason, I don't bite back. I am civil and nice and go my own way. It makes me feel so much better about situations that I don't have control over, which in adult life is a lot of them. You can't control how other people behave, but you can control how YOU behave, and in the end, that leaves you free.

[andswarwrites]

It's the weekend!  Which means I am getting my word count the lazy way, by creating a ranked list of items.  So far it's just been movies, but I can go on and rank shows, albums, food, activities: my laziness and desire to categorize things will see me through many a weekend, I am sure.  We're going to see Elemental later today, so how appropriate for this week's list to be my personal ranking of Pixar movies. 

First, however, I have to explain that I have not seen:

Lightyear (2022) Turning Red (2022)

Soul (2020) Onward (2020)

Coco (2017) Cars 3 (2017)

As for the Pixar movies I have seen, I'm going to start with the most recent and move back in time.  I'm also grouping all the sequels together, and treating them as one story.  Here goes.

Luca (2021)

I was delighted with Luca.  On its surface the story seems very simple: a young sea monster meets a friend who introduces him to all these new experiences, and then they escape to a small village where they meet a girl who widens Luca's horizons even more, and the trio band together to win a race.  Pretty straightforward.  The subtle message, however, that always gets to me, every time I watch it, is (1) as parents, we cannot protect our children from everything, they need to live their own life and (2) don't call someone a "monster" when you simply don't know who they are.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

This movie is a Western with dinosaurs.  There's the farm boy, there's the ranchers, there's the "native", there's the wild creature that befriends the hero, and there's the gang leader who has gone insane.  I don't love it, and I don't hate it. 

Inside Out (2015)

This is one of my all-time favorite movies.  It helped me, as a parent, to explain the different emotions to my child, and it helped my child learn how to convey to me what she was feeling.  I bought figurines of all the characters for her, and we would use them in our discussions.  Inside Out is not just an entertaining movie, it is a deep and wonderful lesson for all children (and adults) that their emotions are always valid, and should not be supressed.

Brave (2012)

I'm a mom.  I have a mother.  The mother-daughter relationship in this movie is so precious.  You see the conflict, and maybe at first the mother seems to be too rigid and uptight, but as the story progresses, you learn to respect her and cherish her, as her daughter does so as well.  Merida goes from treating her mom like the enemy, to seeing that her mom truly cares about her.  And Merida herself is such an appealing character.  You root for her, even when she is making mistakes, because she learns from them, and she can grow as a person.  What a perfectly delightful heroine.

Up (2009)

You know what I love best about Up?  It shows that a simple life with a loved one can be rich and fulfilling.  It also shows that after experiencing a devastating loss, you can forge new friendships and experience new things.  

WALL-E (2008)

Again, an all-time favorite movie of mine.  A teeny tiny robot, the last one still cleaning up the mess humanity left on Earth, is the protagonist who is primarily responsible for everything good that happens in the movie.  His simple friendliness breaks down barriers and inspires others.  To me, this story shows that no matter how humble you are, you can do good, just by caring.

Ratatouille (2007)

As someone who worked in a restaurant, the attention to detail in the animation of the kitchen blew my mind.  Right down to the fabric of the uniforms the cooks wear.  Honestly, if I saw a rat in a kitchen, cooking, I would be pretty grossed out.  But Remi is actually very hygiene-conscious: he washes his hands, he puts his fellow rats through the dishwasher.  "Anyone can cook" does not mean "everyone can cook"; it means give anyone who has a passion for cooking a chance to prove themselves.  That applies to other areas in life, too.  The more you think about it, the more profound the lesson is.

Cars (2006)

Cars 2 (2011)

I do not care for Cars 2.  I saw it once, and once is enough.  But the main reason I have affection for Cars is how much my dad loves that movie.  My dad worked in a garage as a vehicle inspector, so he is very familiar with everything from a sedan to a semi.  Whenever I watch this movie, I think about my dad, watching it for the first time, and hearing his delighted laugh at certain scenes.  He even has a toy Mater.  He lets my daughter play with it when she visits.  So I love this movie by proxy.

The Incredibles (2004)

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Until Iron Man (2008) came out, Incredibles was my favorite superhero movie.  And Incredibles 2 improved upon the first movie, balancing suspense with humor.  When I was little, sequels were disappointing most of the time.  Now, I view sequels, most of the time, as a continuation of a story I loved, that enriches and deepens the connection with the characters.  Incredibles 1 and 2 are just…incredible.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Dory (2016)

This is another story where the sequel improved upon the original story, adding depth and color, introducing new characters but also allowing us to enjoy the characters we grew to love in the first movie.  As a parent, myself, I love stories that show parents who will go above and beyond for their kids.  In Finding Nemo, that's Nemo's dad.  In Finding Dory, that's Dory's parents.  Both of the movies are so wonderful, they are precious to me, and I can watch them repeatedly.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Monsters University (2013)

Every child worries about the monsters under their bed.  Monsters Inc. teaches us that those monsters only care about fueling their cities, and they are fighting an energy crisis!  Seeing the monsters' side of the coin helps children to have empathy for these scarers.  Then, Monsters University shows that sometimes we have to give up on our dreams, but that doesn't make us failures.  So yes, the movies are whimsical and quite hilarious, but they have a point.

A Bug's Life (1998)

How many kids are fascinated by underground networks of burrows and chambers and the complex structure inside an ant hill or a rabbit warren?  Me, I'm the kid.  I loved anything that gave me a glimpse of small, hidden worlds.  One of my favorite books is Watership Down.  So I have so much nostalgic affection for A Bug's Life.  And another reason it's so compelling is the underdog tale it tells.

Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Toy Sory 4 (2019)

The Toy Story saga.  I thought Toy Story 3 was such an effective conclusion to the trilogy, I almost skipped Toy Story 4.  A friend told me that instead of being about the toys' relationship with their kid, they go off on their own adventure.  So I watched Toy Story 4 and it is my favorite of all four.  The thing about this series is that each movie adds a new layer.  I can binge them all, happily.

So you see why I cannot "rank" these movies.  I love them all, in different ways.  Pixar must be treasured.  The tales they spin take us to new places, show us new things, treat us to a journey of laughter and whimsy, but they tell us messages, underneath it all, that we need.

[takescrackseriously]

Almost Perfect

You can't blame them, how could you?

Even after years of trying to fit into human society, they still can't seem to perfect it, not truly. Not even the best amongst them could pass for one, just a single glance and the knowledgeable would be aware of their lack of humanity.

It took a while, yes. Mastering how the legs moved, how the elbows should bend, all took time. At first they barely even looked humanoid, especially when they moved. Too quickly, too slow, never quite understanding the way their limbs looked so dreamlike, almost nightmarish. Their hands took the longest, having to learn, from scratch, just how each knuckle bent, how many fingers there were.

But after so, so many years of watching us, they are so close they can almost taste it. If only they had tongues. But despite this, they have voices, broken, inhuman, for now.

I apologize, but earlier, I was being dishonest, but you don't mind. Not as though I'm any more truthful than those who created them. You see, they didn't take the longest with the hands, no, It was the faces. But how could you despise them for it? Noses, moths, eyes

... Not even your most skilled ever captured just the life-likess of humans.

No person, no sane one, would dare look into them let alone allow them selves or their craft to be absorbed by those.... What are they? Robots could be a term, buy they lack the metal. Doppelgangers? No, they contain far too many people to be considered a copy of just one. Whatever you call them, they are still the same. Same snake, different skin as they say.

But as I was saying, they needed more... More of what? Those of whom dedicate their time to... Create something. Those who will spend hours perfecting their mediocre 'art' on a canvas, no not even a canvas, a mere sheet of paper. Those who will spend their minutes slaving away to make that of which others need, want and use everyday yet will never be grateful for. The people who spend every waking second making whatever their heart desires and for what.... For their passion? Certainly not for money, not now atleast.... Perhaps they are of the creative sort.

Yes, creativity, that's what these being desire for, at their core. Every image, every picture, all filled with so much imagination brought to life. And what is the price of that?

Well, a lot, but to be quite frank, it shouldn't be. It's just a few well placed lines, why should any of us have to spend our well earned money on this? If these people who value their originality truly wanted a roof above their head, maybe they should try getting a real job. An occupation that we appreciate.

Now as for the consuming of these.... Artists, every thing the do, it fuels the beings. But sooner or later, we should have suspected this problem. They. Don't. Look. Normal.

Normal, original, ordinary. After a while, the talented's numbers have dwindled. Now, instead of eyes of hope for the future, how our emotion will shape the world around us, in there place it is empty.

A pit, so deformed has it not been placed upon a face you'd sooner guess you were looking at a black hole than what should be eyes. But eyes are the window to the soul.

Their noses could never inhale, exhale. Their eyebrows always seem to inconsistent, their ears neve made sense, hair shouldn't pass through them. Their mouths can't properly utter words.

We were however, able to perfect one. It may not look human enough to pass, but you know that many don't care, not those who value their golden pockets.

But I fear that these beings, and I mean this with respect, are thieves. Not our creations, they are a work of art. I mean the peope who think any should care for what they have worked so hard for. Be it on a page or screen, canvas or still life. They take from people of wealth, and they know that surely will will not tolerate being stolen from.

Please, blame the computer, the complex metal of which we have use to create these beings (out of necessity). Put the guilt on the souless gun.

Never the shooter with it's ebony eyes.

(short writing exercise, I'm trying to get better, so feel free to give constructive criticism :D)

so are they just hoping we don't notice the nightmare faces or

[mensusaonlinestore1]

MOISSANITE : THE ALTERNATIVE TO DIAMONDS WHICH CAN ALSO BE SYMBOL OF LOVE , COMMITMENT FOR JOURNEY OF LIFE FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR PARTNER

To express your love and commitment towards your spouse , partner of fiance moissanites engagement ring could be the best choice today. Because diamonds are costly , rare and mostly causes human right violations arround the world.

On the other hand , moissanites (if natural) are rare however with the lab made technology helps us to create lab made moissanites which are physically as well as chemically same and have same qualities like diamonds. They too are almost look like diamonds .

Before you select moissanite engagement rings , you need to select proper moissanite , shape of moissanite , size/color of moissanite  and many other factors discussed following –

THINK ABOUT YOUR PARTNER STYLE – If you are not buying the jewellry for yourself , then you are buying it for someone else. When you are buying it for others make sure you know their choices as well. His/her sense of passion , how he/she trendy is would be the most crucial thing before you take decision as well. At I heart moissanite  , though we sell online , we still suggest to come to our store physically and select the proper design for yourself. This will help you to select the best choice for yourself as well.

BUDGET – Budget is pretty important for everything you want to buy. In case of moissanites , budget is also important. One thing is that budget could be the reason, you choose moissanites. Compared with diamonds , moissanites are pretty much affordable. However , the shape/size/color/ carat / gram matter in case if you want bigger moissanite in your jewellry or more moissanite in your jewellry. If you are going to Buy jewellry , then make sure you know how much moissanite it need to you.

ASSESS MOISSANITE QUALITY - Moissanite is renowned for its brilliance and fire, but not all moissanite stones are created equal. The quality of a moissanite is determined by its color, cut, and clarity. Most moissanites are near colorless or have a slight tint of yellow or green, but these differences are often difficult to detect with the naked eye. When choosing a moissanite, opt for one that is near colorless for the most diamond-like appearance. A well-cut moissanite will maximize its sparkle, so prioritize a good cut. Lastly, check for any visible flaws or inclusions in the stone, as a higher clarity grade means fewer imperfections.

THE JEWELLRY METAL IS ALSO PRETTY IMPORTANT – If you are making jewellry installed with moissanite  , the metal of the jewellry is also important. Either it would be yellow gold or white gold or rose gold or platinum whatever the metal is , make sure it matches. Better you should know the skin tone of your partner  and her choices and preferences so that you can buy the perfect jewellry for her. This will oviously make her happy and committed in love for long life.

PERSONALIZE THE RING – Sometime people want to personalize the ring as per their choice or mostly partner choice and this is pretty important as well. In that case I heart moissanite do very great deal. We give freedom to customize your jewellry as per trends , choice and design. If your customize design is not our collection or not done before then we took time to design it and deliver it to you.

These are the top 5 points why you must buy moissanite jewellary sydney from I heart moissanites .

At I heart moissanite you will get the highest quality of moissanite at very competitive prices.

Selecting a moissanite engagement ring that suits your partner is a thoughtful and meaningful endeavor. By considering their style, size, budget, moissanite quality, metal, setting, ethical considerations, personalization options, and seeking professional guidance, you can make an informed choice that reflects your love and commitment. Ultimately, the perfect moissanite engagement ring will not only capture your partner's heart but also symbolize the beginning of a beautiful journey together.

Let’s select  the best moissanite ring today for your partner. Different kind of styles are available if you search the portal.

If you have any questions regarding our product or services , just let us know you can call us or email us whatever you think is best for you.

Follow our social media to know latgest updates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

This artcle is written by I heart moissanite who sell moissanites for various jewellry for people of Syney made from moissanites.

[astrolovecosmos]

Vertex: What We Can’t Control

Vertex is a point located in the right-hand side of a chart that represents the intersection of the ecliptic and the prime vertical. In astrology, it is considered an auxiliary or extra Descendant. Some astrologers refer to the Vertex as the “third angle” of a chart.  It is associated with wish fulfillment, awakenings or realizations, the idea of destiny or fate, and some use it for moments that are life changing such as meeting your spouse, a death of a loved one, birth of a child, etc. My focus isn’t on predictive astrology and because of this I don’t use Vertex often in my own readings. Vertex can be popular in synastry but I also don’t typically incorporate it into those charts. I analyze it from the perspective of how we approach what we can’t control, realizations, and our view or approach to wishes and “fate”. 

Vertex in Aries: There is a pull or call to be a leader in some fashion. This person may also feel like they are constantly fighting against “fate” or has a focus on making their own destiny. This person can feel like they are always falling into situations where they are forced to lead, fight, or assert. Defining the self may be important to feeling fulfilled. Self-expression and honoring the importance of the individual can help them feel more stable in a chaotic world. 

Vertex in Taurus: Anyone familiar with that scene from Frozen 2 where Olaf goes “we’re calling this controlling what you can when things feel out of control”? That is the first thing I thought of for Vertex in Taurus. The fear and frustration surrounding what they cannot control can be real. In terms of fate many describe this position as being about finding inner security and being more independent. For many Taurus placements there is the reoccurring theme of learning to overcome fear of the unknown, let go of control, to find flexibility, but most importantly to cultivate inner stability. With Vertex this individual may find themselves falling down a rabbit hole of unpredictable fate, but none of that should matter as long as they understand the power they hold in their own actions and decisions. 

Vertex in Gemini: Here we see someone who tries to get a handle on the unknown or their own destiny via learning as much as they can about the world, themselves, the occult, science, etc. Communication is also important to them in easing anxieties or feeding curiosity. They love to theorize or talk hypotheticals. Here we almost see a reflection of their polar opposite Sagittarius - there is a desire to find meaning in the world. Communicating their needs, fears, and wants can be helpful with feeling fulfilled or like they are on the right path. 

Vertex in Cancer: All of the water signs have a powerful relationship with the idea of fate and Vertex. Here we see themes of strong intuition, attachment, or maybe even psychic abilities. There is a close tie to their fate, whether they are making their own destiny, getting hunches about what path to take, or have world swallowing doubt and fears. Their relationship to the unknown, the instability of life, and to ideas of destiny are deep and felt strongly. With Cancer there is a focus on protecting and nurturing the self and others. They need to be careful of focusing too much on taking care of others or taking on their feelings. Reexamining family, making a new family, or dealing with family cycles or trauma may be in the cards for them. Attending to the inner child or wounded self is important in making themselves sane in such a crazy world. 

Vertex in Leo: Individuality, creativity, self-expression, and empowerment are themes surrounding this Vertex. To become the best version of yourself could summarize this placement when talking about destiny. To adapt or cope with a world that is outside of their control they must create their own world or path. To stand out and/or lead the way is what will help them feel most fulfilled in life. Authenticity is a buzzword now-a-days but that trait or way of being is a necessity for Vertex in Leo as they plummet through the universe. Feelings of grandeur, uniqueness, power, or nobility may go through them sometimes. While they need to be careful of not letting this go to their head or tripping them up - these feelings of power are important in shaping their own future and self. 

Vertex in Virgo: Much like Taurus there is a fear of the unknown or not being in control. To find inner stability could be a struggle. The focus for Vertex in Virgo is to find a way to feel purposeful, needed, or useful. This gives them a sense of direction and stability. This Vertex prefers routine, predictability, and structure. They may be overly practical in terms of fate - believing there are no other influences that determine their life other than them. Similar to Vertex in fire they can have a “I make my own destiny” attitude. Vertex in Virgo may have a pull to work on their intuition. The Vertex sits on an axis like all other points in a chart. The opposite sign is the Anti-Vertex which some astrologers believe to be how we shape our fate or what we have to offer in relationships and life. With Virgo Vertex and Pisces as the Anti-Vertex there is an opportunity to hone their intuition. On the subject of helping others or finding meaning - it is listening to their feelings and hunches that might lead them to how they can do this. 

Vertex in Libra: Trying to see their fate in other people or believing other people are their fate is associated. Learning to create their own destiny or standing on their own or standing out can be a lesson surrounding this Vertex. Finding peace by connecting with others and feeling less alone is also associated, especially in terms of dealing with what cannot be controlled or foreseen. Cooperation and adaptability are strengths needed to feel whole. 

Vertex in Scorpio: There is a lot to be said about willpower here. This person likely is a strong believer in making their own destiny. Strong premonitions and hunches can lead them into believing in a higher power or feeling in tune with the spiritual or unknown. Scorpio is pulled to master their turbulent emotions and intensity as well as conquer and understand the mysteries inside themselves. It’s about learning self-control but also when to unleash. To transform and do all of the hard work in the background so that when life throws you curveballs you are ready. They master themselves, master their life, master the universe. 

Vertex in Sagittarius: It is through faith in themselves, the universe, or that everything will turn out okay that this person gets through the unpredictability of life. There can be a desire to find meaning, especially through spirituality, religion, or a unique philosophy. Sagittarius is a sign that chases truth and by chasing it they can make sense of the world. Being in the role of teacher and student helps them feel right in the universe. They must always be searching, learning, and exploring. 

Vertex in Capricorn: In a world they can’t control this person can face a lot of challenges. They can be tempted into acting authoritative or controlling. However respect and self-authority are important for this person to feel more stable, concrete, fulfilled. To lead others with a level-head and patience is the best route for them. Even better is to focus on their own success and lead by example. This placement is prone to a highly realistic and sometimes negative view of the world and possibly the idea of destiny. This placement can bring about big rewards and depth when they listen to their heart and to loved ones and when they focus. 

Vertex in Aquarius: Aquarius is known for not fearing the unknown and embracing the unpredictable. When Vertex is in this sign there are lessons about acceptance, tolerance, cooperation, and communication. It is the craziness of people and the harm people can do that gets them wanting to become a hermit or to leave the narrative. There can be a temptation to hide away from intimacy, passion, and attachment. The Futurama “I don’t want to live on this planet anymore” meme is for them. Being boxed in by the idea of “destiny” might not appeal to them. To feel fulfilled in life is to feel connected and belonging. Embracing all different types of people and relationships can help them feel more sure of the world, of humanity. 

Vertex in Pisces: This person likely is a strong believer in fate and destiny. If you are one who believes in psychic abilities, this could be a strong indicator for some. This person should be careful of getting lost in wild dreams or a big picture that doesn’t include themselves or include others in their lives. Fate may have big plans for them but it is through their loved ones and how they can help others that they feel most fulfilled. They may feel like life is always throwing them into situations where they are forced to help or to empathize. Learning discernment and protection is important. They don’t need to help or heal everyone, in fact it is in their choice who to help that might make them feel the most sure and solid in life. 

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The extremely shady "educational integrity" industry

The pandemic presented an opportunity to reconsider our seemingly immutable assumptions about life — for adults, anyway. We got the Great Resignation and “hybrid” work-from-home. Our kids got remote learning. Ugh.

Don’t get me wrong: remote learning has its advantages, especially for kids coping with physical and mental health issues, kids with passionate out-of-school interests and kids escaping a discriminatory and bullying environment (this isn’t as good as addressing discrimination and bullying, but…).

But the remote learning boom has emboldened the absolute worst in the ed-tech sector. It’s not just that these companies are price-gouging our schools and normalizing surveillance for kids — they’re reinforcing everything terrible about educational assessment, and (incredibly), making it even worse.

High-stakes test-taking is widely understood to have little pedagogical value. To the extent that it measures learning, it only does so for one chunk of learners, and all too often, it’s just measuring test-taking ability. In other words, scoring high on a high-stakes test can mean that you’re good at tests, or that you understand the material. Scoring low can mean that you’re bad at tests, or that you don’t understand the material. High-stakes tests advance a cohort of good-at-test kids and good-at-the subject kids, and flunk a cohort of bad-at-test kids (who may be great at the subject) as well as kids who haven’t mastered the material.

It’s not like there aren’t alternatives. Pedagogists have a whole arsenal of continuous assessment and project-based tools for measuring their students’ progress.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3871423

These have several advantages over high-stakes testing. For one thing, they work, even in remote learning contexts. High-stakes testing, on the other hand, is even worse when it’s remote:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/24/proctor-ology/#miseducation

Obviously. High-stakes testing starts from the presumption that students are their teachers’ adversaries, and must be prevented from “cheating.” That’s hard enough to manage when the test is taken under controlled conditions, but it’s absurd when the test is being taken in the student’s own home.

For some adults, the pandemic was a chance to exercise agency: to quit their jobs, or demand better working conditions and more flexibility. Not so for kids. Just as remote learning was creating an opportunity to end the pedagogical nonsense of high-stakes testing, the “remote invigilation” industry deployed an army of grinning, bullshitting salesdroids to convince school systems to double down on remote testing.

Chief among these is Proctorio, a company whose sleaze cannot be overstated. Proctorio leads the “remote invigilation” industry, which forces students to install spyware on their computers to oversee their test-taking. This software uses “facial recognition” (which can’t recognize Black faces unless students aim multiple task lights directly into their eyes) to monitor students. The facial recognition is used to punish students who look away while taking their tests (for example, looking up or to one side while thinking).

A remote invigilation session begins with a student being forced to show all parts of their room to a live human overseer. Students who live in cramped quarters — say, students who share a room with an “essential worker” who works night shifts — are forced to invade the privacy and interrupt the activities of their family members.

Students who live in broadband deserts — like the kids in California who were forced to take their tests in a Taco Bell parking lot where they could get free wifi — are punished for broadband companies’ unwillingness to serve their communities.

The live operator doesn’t always disappear after a kid exposes their room. Sometimes, live operators virtually stare over students’ shoulders as they take their tests. Sometimes, these impatient, invisible overseers reach into test-takers’ computers to jiggle their mouses, as a goad to get them to move on.

What if you have a disability and need to stand up, go to the toilet, or throw up from anxiety? Or (I'm not making this up!) experience labor pains? Tough. Proctorio and its competitors have no way to accommodate you, and so they flag you and flunk you.

A lot of these facts came to light thanks to whistleblowers like Ian Linkletter. When Linkletter was an ed-tech specialist tasked with evaluating Proctorio’s products, he discovered a horrifying set of “features” that were not in the company’s public disclosures. Linkletter tweeted about these, including links to the company’s publicly accessible (but unlisted) Youtube videos. The company responded by suing him for copyright infringement and a host of other flimsy pretexts that were clearly aimed at silencing a critic:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/17/proctorio-v-linkletter/#proctorio

Even thought Linkletter raised more than CAD85,000 and invoked British Columbia’s anti-SLAPP law, he is still in court, a year and a half later:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-against-proctorio?viewupdates=1&rcid=r01-164454097413-a281aacc44d34795&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2B1137-update-supporters-v5b

Proctorio doesn’t confine its bullying to adult educators. The company’s CEO personally doxed a child who complained about his products on a Reddit forum:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/01/bossware/#moral-exemplar

Remember, Proctorio bills itself as being on the vanguard of the “educational integrity” movement. But “integrity” takes on a very different meaning when the goal is to secure the “integrity” of the test and not the integrity of the learning. In the former case, the student is an enemy to be outsmarted. In the latter, the student is a partner to be enlisted.

High-stakes testing profiteers like Proctorio justify deceptive, bullying tactics by painting learners as “cheats” — a species of presumptive criminal who needs to be pre-emptively incarcerated in its digital prisons.

This distortion of the learning process carries over into every sector of the “educational integrity” industry. Take Honorlock, a high-ticket ed-tech profiteer that “is revolutionizing the academic integrity of online assessment.”

Honorlock is an also-ran competitor of Proctorio. In its effort to differentiate itself from the market-leading abuser, they have found new ways to victimize and deceive learners in the name of “integrity.”

A new investigation by The Markup’s Colin Lecher unravels a secret operation by Honorlock to entrap students with “honeypot” web-sites that purport to give the answers to test questions, but actually capture students’ IP addresses and nark them out to their profs:

https://themarkup.org/machine-learning/2022/02/15/a-network-of-fake-test-answer-sites-is-trying-to-incriminate-students

The scam was uncovered by Kurt Wilson, a CS major at the University of Central Florida, who became obsessed with learning more about how his tuition money was being spent. He found at least five deceptive Honorlock-linked websites that pretended to be answers sites.

Lecher quotes experts, like U Calgary’s Sarah Eaton, who call this “entrapment” and point out the irony of a company that monitors “integrity” engaging in deception. Ceceilia Parnther likens it to profs putting the answer key on the corner of a test-taker’s desk and penalizing them if they look at it.

Universities spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for Honorlock services — money that could be spent developing and supporting assessment techniques that treat students as learners, not cheaters, and provide a better picture of each student’s progress with the material.

But that would involve pedagogical integrity — the kind of integrity that puts learning, not ease of assessment, first. It would mean funding teachers, not VC-backed ed-tech profiteers seeking a return on their backers’ investment. It requires that students be treated as partners, not adversaries.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Insight Pest (modified): https://www.insightpest.com

CC BY-SA 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[edenmemes]

misc poetry sentence starters

❝  one gets so used to one’s own horrors, one forgets how they must seem to other people.  ❞ ❝  you remind me what love lives in this skin.  ❞ ❝  you are the most phantom-like of all; you are a mere dream.  ❞ ❝  i’m not telling you a story so much as a shipwreck—the places floating, finally legible.  ❞ ❝  the world was made so we can find each other in it.  ❞ ❝  the night isn’t dark; the world is dark. stay with me a little longer.  ❞ ❝  i want you desperately. i want your strength and your softness, your hands, all of you.  ❞ ❝  is that too much to expect? that i would name the stars for you?  ❞ ❝  against your cheek my hand is warm and full of tenderness.  ❞ ❝  the world grows green again when you smile.  ❞ ❝  your share of pains would fill a sea.  ❞ ❝  i’m so stuck on the ‘was’ of people.  ❞ ❝  what i love in you is your power of loving, a bit wild, a bit primitive, but absolute.  ❞ ❝  i like figuring you out. you are so human and puzzling.  ❞ ❝  the unwillingness to try is worse than any failure.  ❞ ❝  you wanted happiness. i can’t blame you for that.  ❞ ❝  i did violence to my own heart.  ❞ ❝  i don’t know how to stay tender with this much blood in my mouth.  ❞ ❝  like a magpie, i am a scavenger of shiny things: fairy tales and dead languages.  ❞ ❝  and here you come with a shield for a heart and a sword for a tongue.  ❞ ❝  you kiss the back of my legs and i want to cry.    only the sun has come this close, only the sun.  ❞ ❝  sometimes being offered tenderness feels like the very proof you’ve been ruined.  ❞ ❝  when will it cease, this monstrous rage of yours?  ❞ ❝  i will plant my hands in the garden. i will grow, i know, i know.  ❞ ❝  i had it all and i want it back again.  ❞ ❝  i don’t care about anyone, and the feeling is quite obviously mutual.  ❞ ❝  we are two reflections that cross swords with each other.  ❞ ❝  as for me, i am a watercolour. i wash off.  ❞ ❝  do you dare send me away as though you were were waiting for something better?  ❞ ❝  my dear, you are in danger of being burned by your own flame.  ❞ ❝  i am three oceans away from my soul.  ❞ ❝  you, occasionally, glimmer with a light i’ve never seen before. it frightens me.  ❞ ❝  i went to sleep last night so i could see you.  ❞ ❝  even the eyes of gods must adjust to light. even gods have gods.  ❞ ❝  how much can you change and get away with it, before you turn into someone else, before it’s some kind of murder?  ❞ ❝  it does me no good to be good to me now.  ❞ ❝  i may look alright, but if you were to look more closely you wouldn’t find a single healthy bit in me.  ❞ ❝  i must clothe myself in other worlds.  ❞ ❝  suffering is the privilege of those who feel.  ❞ ❝  sorry about the blood in your mouth. i wish it was mine.  ❞ ❝  the vigor, the fire, that enables you to love and create. when you lose that, you’ve lost everything.  ❞ ❝  i can be bold, because i have you with me always.  ❞ ❝  you are shaking fists and trembling teeth. i know: you did not mean to be cruel. that does not mean you were kind.  ❞ ❝  not that i want to be a god or a hero, just to change into a tree,  grow for ages, not hurt anyone.  ❞ ❝  i laughed today. for a second i was unhaunted.  ❞ ❝  you are sunlight through a window, which i stand in, warmed.  ❞ ❝  there’s something electric in your blood.  ❞ ❝  you say you are broken,   but broken mirrors like you create the most beautiful patterns of light.  ❞ ❝  time doesn’t obey our commands.  ❞ ❝  i love you quite passionately, and with a touch of tragedy.  ❞ ❝  to feel anything deranges you. to be seen feeling anything strips you naked.  ❞ ❝  i love you --- like a storm bursts overhead --- i must confess it; all the more fiercely because you burn and bite.  ❞ ❝  and i have seen rivers, not unlike you, that failed to find their way back.  ❞ ❝  i am less a god now that you’ve touched me.  ❞ ❝  your words are gentle; but my blood runs cold to think what plots you may be nursing deep within your heart.  ❞ ❝  you said i killed you --- haunt me then.  ❞ ❝  your soul is frail and solemn, loyal and spring-like.  ❞ ❝  you look like you’ve eaten the sun, like you drank so much sunlight you’re drowning in it.  ❞ ❝  strangeness is a necessary ingredient in beauty.  ❞ ❝  you will hear thunder and remember me.  ❞ ❝  ever think it’s possible for us to be happy?  ❞ ❝  and i would wonder across all the deserts of this world, even after death, to search for you.  ❞ ❝  since we’re bound to be something, why not together?  ❞ ❝  i am ashes were once i was fire.  ❞ ❝  this mouth will destroy you the moment you mistake it for something soft, for something that is yours.  ❞ ❝  it’s no easy thing to bear, the weight of sweetness.  ❞ ❝  kill the light! i’d rather wallow in the dark.  ❞ ❝  i have thought of you often since the darkness.  ❞ ❝  with your presence the sun becomes irrelevant.  ❞ ❝  there is no god left in this skin. there’s just the ash. just the ash.  ❞ ❝  open your eyes, look more sharply, see me as i am.  ❞ ❝  what the hell is tragedy? i am.  ❞ ❝  i’ve got a lot of feeling for you. you’re kind.  ❞ ❝  how beautiful it is, how beautiful, that glow before the stars break.  ❞ ❝  so much to do today: kill memory, kill pain, turn heart into a stone, and yet prepare to live again.  ❞ ❝  i am myself. that is not enough.  ❞ ❝  i may be mad, god-seized, but i will stand outside my madness.  ❞ ❝  my power, which to me is still a curse ---  ❞ ❝  ocean sea with its caressing swell; it has so often cooled my heart.  ❞ ❝  do you bathe in perfume, and dry yourself in light?  ❞ ❝  i like you; your eyes are full of language.  ❞ ❝  let me tell you what i do know.    i am more than one thing and not all of those things are good.  ❞ ❝  you are the cause and the cure --- both.  ❞ ❝  i have kisses for the back of your neck.  ❞ ❝  your beautiful glance is unbearably cruel.  ❞ ❝  we might meet again, someday between dreams at dawn.  ❞ ❝  suffering is a terrible fire; it either purifies or destroys.  ❞ ❝  lately it hurts more to imagine you are a stranger rather than a destroyer.  ❞ ❝  and i say to myself: a moon will rise from my darkness.  ❞ ❝  since you walked out on me, i’m getting lovelier by the hour. i glow like a corpse in the dark.  ❞ ❝  i will not whine. i will obey and be forever still.  ❞ ❝  you move like the moon.  ❞ ❝  my eyes ache with the weight of unshed tears.  ❞ ❝  in your eyes, the fires of twilight.  ❞ ❝  do not haunt my soul; i have done well forgetting you.  ❞ ❝  i am no one. i cannot love. it’s in my blood.  ❞ ❝  you’re wearing your armor to protect your heart. who can blame you? it only makes sense in a world like this one.  ❞ ❝  you are not real. you are a dream of a dream.  ❞ ❝  there are so many things i’m not allowed to tell you.  ❞ ❝  i am indeed a shameless, evil-minded and abominable creature.  ❞ ❝  come this evening --- i am eager for stars.  ❞ ❝  i am on fire with that soft sound you make, in uttering my name.  ❞ ❝  i want you mostly in the morning when my soul is weak from dreaming.  ❞ ❝  to me you are the desert and the sea; everything secretive.  ❞ ❝  i thought i was wounded to the core but i was only bruised.  ❞ ❝  it is a dead heart. it is inside of me. it is a stranger.  ❞ ❝  i live --- but i’m mutilated.  ❞ ❝  if there is a light then i am going to swallow it.    if there is a god then i’m going to make him cry.  ❞ ❝  i am condemned to be a saint or a monster: unable to be the one, unwilling to be the other.  ❞ ❝  you will open your wounds and make them a garden.  ❞ ❝  i come home --- and i feel like a ghost returning its haunt.  ❞ ❝  i planted roses, but without you they were thorns.  ❞ ❝  everything inside me is in revolt.  ❞ ❝  how this darkness soaks me through and through.  ❞ ❝  give me my robe, put on my crown; i have immortal longings in me.  ❞ ❝  say something dangerous like i love you.  ❞ ❝  listen, are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?  ❞ ❝  in times of crisis, we must decide again and again whom we love.  ❞ ❝  breathe the scent of little, earthly things. let the twilight touch you.  ❞ ❝  my heart is just like the ocean, has storm and calm and tides.  ❞ ❝  you became for me a sacred being, not to be touched save in adoring thoughts.  ❞ ❝  gods are stubborn. so am i.  ❞ ❝  is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?  ❞ ❝  there’s something soft in me. i killed it and it’s rotting.  ❞ ❝  beware. beware. there is a tenderness.  ❞ ❝  half gods are worshipped in wine and flowers. real gods require blood.  ❞ ❝  i’m alive. like a wound, a flower in the flesh, the path of aching blood is open within me.  ❞ ❝  you dangle on the leash of your own longing; your need grows teeth.  ❞ ❝  i have it in me...to scare myself with my own desert places.  ❞ ❝  my mouth still houses century-old magic.     in my ears i hear a ringing and singing and no god.  ❞ ❝  keep talking. i’ll keep walking toward the sound of your voice.  ❞ ❝  i’m full of poetry now. rot and poetry. rotten poetry.  ❞ ❝  this skin is sick with loneliness.  ❞ ❝  memories are sharp. they bite. i have spent most of my life trying to grow a thicker skin just to make sure i would not bleed out whenever i felt those teeth scrape up against me.  ❞ ❝  i wonder if i will ever find a language to speak of the things that haunt me the most.  ❞ ❝  after fury, what do you do with the remains?  ❞ ❝  come on, dance with me. the earth is spinning. we can’t just stand on it.  ❞ ❝  let’s admit, without apology, what we do together.  ❞ ❝  try to find the right place for yourself. if you can’t find it, at least dream of it.  ❞ ❝  it takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations.  ❞ ❝  i am too full of life to be half-loved.  ❞ ❝  today you want nothing because wanting comes too close to feeling.  ❞ ❝  there’s nothing more terrible, more alluring, more mysterious than love.  ❞ ❝  heavenly wine and roses seem to whisper to me when you smile.  ❞ ❝  my soul is devoutly and wholly under your spell.  ❞ ❝  will you see the human in my being?  ❞ ❝  if i had a flower for every time i thought of you…i could walk through my garden forever.  ❞ ❝  part broken part whole, you begin again.  ❞ ❝  i don’t know if love’s a feeling. sometimes i think it’s a matter of seeing. seeing you.  ❞ ❝  i wonder which will get you killed faster, your loyalty or your stubbornness?  ❞ ❝  whether you come as a lover or an exeutioner, i am ready to receive you.  ❞ ❝  i think i understand your longing. it looks so much like mine.  ❞ ❝  i’ve had so many knives stuck into me. when they hand me a flower, i can’t quite make out what it is.  ❞ ❝  i like the sea: we understand one another. it is always yearning, sighing for something it cannot have; so am i.  ❞ ❝  do i not live? badly, i know, but i live.  ❞ ❝  something of you stuck with me. a splinter.  ❞ ❝  i clung to your hands so that something human might exist in the chaos.  ❞ ❝  sometimes i shut my eyes, and shut my heart towards you, and try hard to forget you because you grieve me so, but you’ll never go away. oh you never will.  ❞ ❝  my golden love, if only you knew, what precious honey you are for me.  ❞ ❝  i had an old wound once, but it is healing.  ❞ ❝  always this in-betweenness, this almost, this it might be that...  ❞ ❝  when i close my eyes, i see you. when i open my eyes i want to see you.  ❞ ❝  dark as it is --- you see, that little flickering, is the light of my soul.  ❞ ❝  am i a monster or is this what it means to be a person?  ❞ ❝  i am talking about evil. it blooms. it eats. it grins.  ❞ ❝  sapphires are those eyes of yours, ravishingly sweet.  ❞

[be-gay-do-heists]

hello yall :) the holy month of elul started last night, which is typically a time for contemplation, so since it is impossible for me to stop thinking about leverage, i decided to write an essay. hope anyone interested in reading it enjoys, and that it makes at least a little sense!! spoilers for leverage redemption

-----

Leverage, Judaism, and “Doing the Work”: An Essay for Elul

When it comes to Elul and the approaching High Holidays, Leverage might seem like an odd topic to meditate on.

The TNT crime drama that ran from 2008-2012, and which released a new season this summer following its renewal, centers on a group of found-family thieves who help the victims of corporations and oligarchs (sometimes based on real-world examples), using wacky heists and cons to bring down the rich and powerful. In one episode, the team’s clients want to reclaim their father’s prized Glimt piece that had been stolen in the Shoah and never returned, but aside from this and the throwaway lines and jokes standard for most mainstream television, there’s not a ton textually Jewish about Leverage. However, despite this, I have found that the show has strong resonance among Jewish fans, and lots of potential for analysis along Jewish themes. This tends to focus on one character in particular: the group’s brilliant, pop culture-savvy, and personable hacker, Alec Hardison, played by the phenomenally talented Aldis Hodge.

I can’t remember when or where I first encountered a reading of Hardison as Jewish, but not only is this a somewhat popular interpretation, it doesn’t feel like that much of a leap. In the show itself, Hardison has a couple of the aforementioned throwaway lines that potentially point to him being Jewish, even if they’re only in service of that moment’s grift. It’s hard to point to what exactly makes reading Hardison as Jewish feel so natural. My first guess is the easy way Hardison fits into the traditional paradigms of Jewish masculinity explored by scholars such as Daniel Boyarin (2). Most of the time, the hacker is not portrayed as athletic or physical; he is usually the foil to the team’s more physically-adept characters like fighter Eliot, or thief Parker. Indeed, Hardison’s strength is mental, expressed not only through his computer wizardry but his passions for science, technology, music, popular media, as well as his studious research into whatever scenario the group might come up against. In spite of his self-identification as a “geek,” Hardison is nevertheless confident, emotionally sensitive, and secure in his masculinity. I would argue he is representative of the traditional Jewish masculine ideal, originating in the rabbinic period and solidified in medieval Europe, of the dedicated and thoughtful scholar (3). Another reason for popular readings of Hardison as Jewish may be the desire for more representation of Jews of color. Although mainstream American Jewish institutions are beginning to recognize the incredible diversity of Jews in the United States (4), and popular figures such as Tiffany Haddish are amplifying the experiences of non-white Jews, it is still difficult to find Jews of color represented in popular media. For those eager to see this kind of representation, then, interpreting Hardison, a black man who places himself tangential to Jewishness, in this way is a tempting avenue.

Regardless, all of the above remains fan interpretation, and there was little in the text of the show that seriously tied Judaism into Hardison’s identity. At least, until we got this beautiful speech from Hardison in the very first episode of the renewed show, directed at the character of Harry Wilson, a former corporate lawyer looking to atone for the injustice he was partner to throughout his career:

“In the Jewish faith, repentance, redemption, is a process. You can’t make restitution and then promise to change. You have to change first. Do the work, Harry. Then and only then can you begin to ask for forgiveness. [...] So this… this isn’t the win. It’s the start, Harry.”

I was floored to hear this speech, and thrilled that it explained the reboot’s title, Leverage: Redemption. Although not mentioned by its Hebrew name, teshuvah forms the whole basis for the new season. Teshuvah is the concept of repentance or atonement for the sins one has committed. Stemming from the root shuv/shuva, it carries the literal sense of “return.” In a spiritual context, this usually means a return to G-d, of finding one’s way back to holiness and by extension good favor in the eyes of the Divine. But equally important is restoring one’s relationships with fellow humans by repairing any hurt one has caused over the past year. This is of special significance in the holy month of Elul, leading into Rosh haShanah, the Yamim Noraim, and Yom Kippur, but one can undertake a journey of redemption at any point in time. That teshuvah is a journey is a vital message for Harry to hear; one job, one reparative act isn’t enough to overturn years of being on the wrong side of justice, to his chagrin. As the season progresses, we get to watch his path of teshuvah unfold, with all its frustrations and consequences. Harry grows into his role as a fixer, not only someone who can find jobs and marks for the team, but fixes what he has broken or harmed.

So why was Hardison the one to make this speech?

I do maintain that it does provide a stronger textual basis for reading Hardison as Jewish by implication (though the brief on-screen explanation for why he knows about teshuvah, that his foster-parent Nana raised a multi-faith household, is important in its own merit, and meshes well with his character traits of empathy and understanding for diverse experiences). However, beyond this, Hardison isn’t exactly an archetypical model for teshuvah. In the original series, he was the youngest character of the main ensemble, a hacking prodigy in the start of his adult career, with few mistakes or slights against others under his belt. In one flashback we see that his possibly first crime was stealing from the Bank of Iceland to pay off his Nana’s medical bills, and that his other early hacking exploits were in the service of fulfilling personal desires, with only those who could afford to pay the bill as targets. Indeed, in the middle of his speech, Hardison points to Eliot, the character with the most violent and gritty past who views his work with the Leverage team as atonement, for a prime example of ongoing teshuvah. So while no one is perfect and everyone has a reason for doing teshuvah, this question of why Hardison is the one to give this series-defining speech inspired me to look at his character choices and behavior, and see how they resonate with a different but interrelated Jewish principle, that of tikkun olam. 

Tikkun olam is literally translated as “repairing the world,” and can take many different forms, such as protecting the rights of vulnerable people in society, or giving tzedakah (5). In modern times, tikkun olam is often the rallying cry for Jewish social activists, particularly among environmentalists for whom literally restoring the health of the natural world is the key goal. Teshuvah and tikkun olam are intertwined (the former is the latter performed at an interpersonal level) and both hold a sense of fixing or repairing, but tikkun olam really revolves around a person feeling called to address an injustice that they may have not had a personal hand in creating. Hardison’s sense of a universal scale of justice which he has the power to help right on a global level and his newfound drive to do humanitarian work, picked up sometime after the end of the original series, make tikkun olam a central value for his character. This is why we get this nice bit of dialogue from Eliot to Hardison in the second episode of the reboot, when the latter’s outside efforts to organize international aid start distracting him from his work with the team: “Is [humanitarian work] a side gig? In our line of work, you’re one of the best. But in that line of work… you’re the only one, man.” The character who most exemplifies teshuvah reminds Hardison of his amazing ability to effect change for the better on a huge stage, to do some effective tikkun olam. It’s this acknowledgement of where Hardison can do the most good that prompts the character’s absence for the remainder of the episodes released thus far, turning his side gig into his main gig.

With this in mind, it will be interesting to see where Hardison’s arc for this season goes. Separated from the rest of the team, the hacker still has remarkable power to change the world, because it is, after all, the “age of the geek.” However, he is still one person. For all that both teshuvah and tikkun olam are individual responsibilities and require individual decision-making and effort, the latter especially relies on collective work to actually make things happen. Hardison leaving is better than trying to do humanitarian work and Leverage at the same time, but there’s only so long he can be the “only one” in the field before burning out. I’m reminded of one of the most famous (for good reason) maxims in Judaism:

It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to neglect it. (6)

Elul is traditionally a time for introspection and heeding the calls to repentance. After a year where it’s never been easier to feel powerless and drained by everything going on around us, I think it’s worth taking the time to examine what kind of work we are capable of in our own lives. Maybe it’s fixing the very recent and tangible hurts we’ve left behind, like Harry. Maybe it’s the little changes for the better that we make every day, motivated by our sense of responsibility, like Eliot. And maybe it’s the grueling challenge of major social change, like Hardison. And if any of this work gets too much, who can we fall back on for support and healing? Determining what needs repair, working on our own scale and where our efforts are most helpful, and thereby contributing to justice in realistic ways means that we can start the new year fresh, having contemplated in holiday fashion how we can be better agents in the world.

Shana tovah u’metukah and ketivah tovah to all (7), and may the work we do in the coming year be for good!

------

(1) Disclaimer: everybody’s fandom experiences are different, and this is just what I’ve picked up on in my short time watching and enjoying this show with others.

(2) See, for example, the introduction and first chapter of Boyarin’s book Unheroic Conduct: The Rise of Heterosexuality and the Invention of the Jewish Man (I especially recommend at least this portion if you are interested in queer theory and Judaic studies). There he explores the development of Jewish masculinity in direct opposition to Christian masculine standards.

(3) I might even go so far as to place Hardison well within the Jewish masculine ideal of Edelkayt, gentle and studious nobility (although I would hesitate to call him timid, another trait associated with Edelkayt). Boyarin explains that this scholarly, non-athletic model of man did not carry negative associations in the historical Jewish mindset, but was rather the height of attractiveness (Boyarin, 2, 51).

(4) Jews of color make up 20% of American Jews, according to statistics from Be’chol Lashon, and this number is projected to increase as American demographics continue to change: https://globaljews.org/about/mission/. 

(5) Tzedakah is commonly known as righteous charity. According to traditional authority Maimonides, it should be given anonymously and without embarrassment to the person in need, generous, and designed to help the recipient become self-sufficient.

(6) Rabbi Tarfon, Pirkei Avot, 2:16

(7) “A good and sweet year” and “a good inscription [in the Book of Life]”

[hamliet]

Ahhh well, I have written much on Romeo and Juliet before, because it's one of my favorite works of Shakespeare and of literature itself. It is criminally underrated and scorned because of sexist anti-romance sentiment. So uh, yeah, I'm more of your opinion.

To start with, I wrote this here, and highly recommend this old post by someone else as well. It's quite comprehensive.

But, because I love Romeo and Juliet and the more I learn about it, the more impressed I am with the absolute art of the story Shakespeare told, I have more to say. Essentially:

Juliet is one of the most astounding female characters in all of literature, and most of her brilliance has been lost with the loss of Shakespearean context. You see, Juliet was a deliberate deconstruction of the idealized, virginal, holy creature of Woman. Yes, that's how the medieval poets like Petrarch (the inventor of the sonnet, which Shakespeare adapted and wrote his own versions of in Romeo and Juliet and hundreds more on their own) and even Dante Alighieri (yes, that Dante, the Inferno guy) wrote their women. For Petrarch, Laura (whom he like, never talked to) was the object of all his love poetry. For Dante, Beatrice was written as his spiritual guide into Paradise in Paradiso.

Not to simplify their love for these women, but Shakespeare was essentially like "RIP but I'm different." He wrote Juliet as a human character with flaws (hardly a spiritual guide) who was not this virginal, holy creature. She starts off the play extremely obedient to her family and polite, almost like that ideal, but as the play goes on she begins to let her fire grow.

Romeo's poems for Rosaline are deliberately trite and parody Petrarch's sonnets, as well as other sonnets from the day (for example, Rosaline is literally sworn to chastity forever, which wasn’t even the case for Laura or Beatrice). While the fact that Romeo can switch loves from Rosaline to Juliet so quickly does indeed emphasize his flaw (impulsivity and deep passion), it also thereby emphasizes his humanity, because the unique imagery Romeo uses with Juliet show that he is really in love with her as she is--not as an idea like with Rosaline, but as a human being. As with many of Shakespeare's other renowned plays' characters, Romeo's flaws are also his strengths. He's complex--human.

So what am I going on about? Why did Shakespeare write Romeo and Juliet this way?

To emphasize their humanity. Which is interesting, because Romeo and Juliet's first meeting, the one where they both create a sonnet together, is all about idolatry:

Romeo If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this. My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Juliet Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. Romeo Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? Juliet Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. Romeo O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou lest faith turn to despair. Juliet Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. Romeo Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. [He kisses her]

He describes her as a holy shrine and a saint, but the more their romance goes on, the more human she becomes. He kisses her right away. When they meet in the balcony scene, Juliet herself tells Romeo that the only thing she wants him to swear by--no gods or moons--is himself. In other words, Romeo and Juliet can be seen as a deeply humanistic play. 

Also, the more their romance continues, the more human they become and yet the deeper their love becomes. As one of the posts I linked above states, Romeo loves Juliet more after they’ve had sex, not less. Juliet loves Romeo more despite the fact that she knows he killed her cousin--and she is not happy with him for that, either. The more they learn of each other, the more they love each other. 

Oh, and about the extra gross modern take that "it's actually a story about a 13 year old and a much older man"--that is complete bogus, as the above post says. Romeo is almost certainly 15 or 16. While people can be squicked out by it (as it was designed to do with some Italian stereotypes), to say it shows anything creepy is basically literary blasphemy and betrays an utter lack of reading comprehension. 

Juliet sets the parameters in their relationship: she tells him if he really loves her, he has to marry her before she will sleep with him, and Romeo does. She muses herself how much she wants to sleep with him in a way that clearly expresses Juliet’s very human desires. Juliet is going to assert who she is and go after what she wants. 

So to go back to your question, it’s not just about their families, but about society as well, as Prince Escalus says in the final scene:

Capulet! Montague! See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. And I for winking at your discords too Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punish’d.

Everyone is punished for participating in the feud, which, keep in mind, we were introduced to via an intro fight scene between the servants of the respective families joking about raping the women in the opposing family. Yes, really. It’s almost like toxic masculinity was being called out before its time. 

Society is extremely sexist, as we see when Juliet’s father essentially sells her to Paris for the sake of having political clout to win the feud (literally, as Paris is the Prince’s kinsman) and threatens to send her on the streets to prostitute herself if she wants to survive for asking him not to make her marry Paris. But the cat’s out of that bag: Juliet is not going back to being the docile, obedient idol. She’s decisive. She wants to write her own story, and if that makes her a sinner, well then, she’ll go to hell. In the end, when the Friar suggests that Juliet come with him so that he can hide her away in some convent (after Romeo’s death), Juliet refuses and kills herself. She is not going back to being a figure shrouded in some kind of ethereal, unknown glow. She is a person, and people die. But she shouldn’t have had to die for people to see her as a person. 

There’s also another layer here: the imagery Romeo uses for Juliet (the sun) and that Juliet uses for Romeo (the moon) is the inverse of how imagery was typically presented in those days. The moon was feminine; the sun, masculine. Even if we look at Romeo and Juliet’s respective character traits, Romeo is the flighty, impulsive, love-struck one who cries all the time, while Juliet is the decisive, bold, and loyal one. That’s the first thing Juliet declares to Romeo in the balcony scene: that she will always be loyal, and she shows this in every choice she makes in the story.

In other words, Shakespeare was deliberately playing with gender and its stereotypes in the play, which gains an even more interesting layer to it when you consider that Shakespeare was himself almost certainly bisexual (his sonnets are preeeetty explicit). It’s not a patriarchal narrative; it can well be seen as a queer narrative in a patriarchal society. And it shouldn’t take two kids having to kill themselves to get society to realize how effed up it is. It isn’t an out-of-touch play, but instead one extremely relevant to our society 500+ years later. 

But, Romeo and Juliet’s story is also one of hope. Because instead of no one listening, finally, Montague and Capulet realize how wrong they’ve been. They grieve together, and Capulet vows to let Romeo remain in his family’s tomb, by Juliet’s side (also different, you know, that the husband stays in the wife’s tomb). Montague vows to build a statue for Juliet:

For I will raise her statue in pure gold, That whiles Verona by that name is known, There shall no figure at such rate be set As that of true and faithful Juliet.

Gold is associated with the masculine as well; silver with the feminine. She is remembered as someone “true and faithful,” aka for her loyalty and bravery. 

But no statue can bring Juliet back. She was not an idol, and it’s tremendously unfair that that is all she can become now. Same for Romeo. Even so, the fact that their deaths have finally brought peace to the city means that there is life growing from their deaths. They will never be able to birth a family of their own, but the city will grow and live, because of them. 

[ballorawan740]

SCP Scenarios: SCP x Reader - McDonald's Sprite (REQUESTED)

Main Masterlist | SCP Scenarios Masterlist | My Works Masterlist | Rules | Request | Socials | My Original Post

Requested by: @katnotmore123

Bro y'all be simping for Sprite and I'm here simping for 7Up...

I mean I like them both but I just prefer 7up over Sprite... It's like comparing Pepsi and Coke ngl but with a more subtle difference

SCP 073 (Cain)

You came back to the foundation one day with a cup of iced drink and Cain had asked what you were drinking and you showed him

He was mildly confused but soon understood the beverage since he had seen them somewhere on the web (no, not the hub, an advert from McDonald's)

You asked if he wanted to try some and he did, so you gave him a sip

You were slightly annoyed and surprised since you drove over an hour and hadn't had anything to drink and the last thing you wanted was someone taking your drink

But since it was 073, you made it an exception since you hadn't expected him to have any food or beverages outside of site 17

You figured that he had enjoyed it as he reminisced his past about being able to eat plant-based food but no longer could

You felt bad and agreed to get more when you next go back

The researchers had wondered if the drink had ever rotted in his mouth but realise moments later that it's mainly made out of artificial ingredients aside from the natural flavourings

SCP 076-2 (Abel)

I have high doubts that you would be able to persuade Abel to drink such a plain beverage, so you had devised a plan to get him to try

You made a bet with Abel in which the loser has to finish off the drink, not that you'd complain (you unhealthy mf), but you really wanted him to give it a try

Abel accepted and had very much lost the bet

He had taken a sip and you noticed that he's enjoying the drink and teased him

He spat it out and flat out denied it (like the tsundere he is) but continued drinking it anyways

Some of the researchers monitoring Abel's cell found it rather amusing that he enjoyed such a "plain beverage" and did try to tease him about it

Let's just say it didn't end very well as it resulted in somebody's head being chopped off

You both had agreed that if Abel stops trying to breach his containment and be more cooperative, you or somebody else in your team would buy him more Sprite from McDonald's (and by 'buy', I mean kidnapping the whole chain's Sprite dispenser)

SCP 999 (Tickle Monster)

999 would most definitely take the drink out of your hand since his little tingles tell him that whatever you were drinking was sweet

And he was very much right

You were slightly shocked but wasn't surprised since he does have quite a sweet tooth

Every now and again, SCP 999 would ask if you had any more of those drinks and would even ask what they were

You had explained to him that it's a lemon and line flavoured soft drink created by the Coca-Cola company (the more you know right?)

He was intrigued and sweetly requested if you could buy him more and you obliged

You would use your time off to buy a dozen of Sprites from McDonald's and would sometimes buy other soft drinks like Coke and Fanta for 999

Needless to say, you had an orange blob as your personal pet who would give you unlimited hugs since you spoiled him with so many drinks

SCP 682 (Hard to Destroy Reptile)

This mf of a lizard right here is just as stubborn, if not even more than Abel, and would reject trying that beverage at all for the whole entire week

You had to bribe him and the researchers were laughing their socks off from this interaction you both got going

He did give in but was rather hesitant at first

Once you poured some into his mouth, he seemed slightly disgusted from the taste

He would just sit still for a moment as to contemplate then stuck his tongue out as a sign of disgust

But bring the cheeky person you were, you spilt more into his mouth which led to him farting for the next few hours to which everyone laughed

Dr Bright heard the commotion and came to see what was happening

Let's just say he encouraged you to carry on if you want your head cut off but found it amusing regardless

In short, don't ever give him Sprite unless you want to torture him

SCP 049 (Plague Doctor)

Does this bird doctor even drink?!

You mention multiple times about human food and how delicious they are

Mainly McDonald's Sprite and their food since its rather popular

ESPECIALLY THEIR CHEESE BITES/STICKS!!! HAVE YALL EVEN TRIED THEM!? THEY'RE DELICIOUS AF!!!

OMG they've released the garlic ones but I preferred the normal Mozzarella sticks and cheesy bites though

Anyways, back to Sprite, our side chick

049 would be intrigued about this 'Sprite' since you spoke so passionately about it like your life depended on it and requested you to get him one for a try and so you did

When he drank it he was surprised at the foreign taste

He asked if there were more beverages like it and you answered honestly, carrying on with your love for McDonald's and offered to buy him some for a try

Basically, 049 would give it a try since you spoke so passionately for them

He wouldn't necessarily hate it, but he wouldn't love the drink as much

I'd say he would be intrigued to try something new outside of his role in curing the pestilence

SCP 035 (Possessive Mask)

I am so sorry guys, I'll have to make 035 hella short since I can't think of anything interesting for him

DO YALL THINK THIS BOI CAN EVEN TRY?! JUST LOOK AT HIM!!! HE'S A BLOODY MASK!!!

The closest thing for him to try the drink is if you gave his now possessed body some beforehand so 035 could telepathically understand the taste

Like if you just straight up gave him the drink I don't think he would be able to drink it even if he wanted to

If the now dead body never had Sprite, then you ould just describe the tase to him in form of arts (I like to imagine 035 would be into arts, especially performing arts since he's basically a theatre mask)

SCP 105 (Iris)

Our girl here has a high chance that she might have tried McDonald's Sprite

But she just prefers healthier foods (this healthy mf knows that y'all can't keep healthy, that's why she's here to start your New Year's Resolution which is to stay healthy)

You both would recommend food which is healthy or unhealthy and would try them

Iris is more than capable of controlling her diet, but you, on the other hand, have a hard time doing so (don't lie, we all know y'all like junk food)

So, you both compromised in which you can have junk food as a reward, namely your favourite beverage, Sprite

You just love the citrus flavoured, colourless beverage so much that Iris would have to hide the drink from you (ah yes great promotion from me XD)

What would you do without our girl, Iris, eh? (Die from overeating unhealthy food which causes heart attacks and strokes, of course, fun!)

Anyways, sometimes when you're the one going out, you would be the one to buy a few dozen bottles of Sprite from McDonald's (bro do they even sell bottled drinks? Ik they do in KFC from where I live OwO)

Iris would drop dead from the sight of you bringing in so many Sprites into the foundation

She would most likely drink some with you, not because she likes them, god no

It's because there's no more room to store them and she's just a little bit thirsty

SCP 106 (Old Man)

This old man would be so confused by all this food and drinks from the outside world

His first impression of McDonald's was that of a circus since you've shown him the older advertisement for McDonald's since it fits his age (love you 106!!! Not)

And then you gave him a menu, and god did he not have any glasses (boi he do be needing to go to Specsavers fr)

He read Mozzarella Sticks as mosasaurs pricks, the Spicy Veggie One as spicy vag- and what's worse is that he read Double Quater Pounder as double quantum pounding (he even read Coke wrong!)

You and the foundation staff burst out of laughter at his 20/20 eyesight

So one day, you returned to the foundation with some Sprite in your hands in hopes that 106 would give it a go and so he did

He found the flavour somewhat new and strange but still enjoyed it nevertheless (this boi here do be a man of culture, am I right?)

Anyways, 106 loved it so much to the point that during one of the breaches, he disappeared from the foundation and reappeared with 10 boxes of Sprite

The researchers then realised afterwards that 106 had used his pocket dimension to teleport to the nearest McDonald's and stole the boxes of Sprite without even paying

They were even more surprised to find that the workers there were ordinary humans and weren't even fazed about 106 teleporting to their business (Sames here bro! If anyone stole my food/drinks I'd be pissed too regardless of who it is!!! Food is food!!!)

You basically made him addicted to Sprite

SCP 096 (Shy Guy)

(Imma be honest here, idk if this guy eats since he's facing the wall and covering his face like 99% of the time unless some guy saw his face)

You were sat in 096's cell and was debating on what food to get from McDonald's

096 was curious about what you're talking about since he heard you mumbling bout food from this so-called "McDonald's"

So you explained to him the concept of food and that generally speaking, unhealthy foods are tastier and typically served quicker in at places like McDonald's

Imma be real here, I like Burger King's chilli cheese bites a tiny bit more since the McDonald's at my place is stuck with garlic cheese bites atm

It's not like I hate them, but I just prefer the old ones, but it's nice that McDonald's changes up their food every now and then

Anyways, back onto our side chick

You bought your favourite Sprite along with the double quantum pou- quarter pounder

096 was upon curious and so you let him have a bite of your quarter pounder and your Sprite

Let's just say that 096 found it weird and didn't ask about human food again

Dr Jack bright

Jack Bright is very much aware of McDonald's and other fast-food chains since he does have a fair share of memories of eating them with his family and because the bodies he possesses do be unhealthy af (just like you)

You were talking about food with one of your co-workers and Bright just so happened to be nearby and butted his head into the conversation

Your co-worker also just happened to leave for a meeting so you're both stuck together talking about McDonald's

Sometime later, you bought to the foundation some food, including Jack's favourites as he had mentioned not long ago

You both tried each other's food and he was mesmerised by the Sprite since it's been a while since he had it

So whenever you went back, you would buy a larger bottle of Sprite for Jack since he wouldn't have much free time and needed to drink more anyways

Sometimes, when you're both talking about food, you'd make up puns for them or just laugh at your misinterpretations since you're just as blind as a bat (btw I've read somewhere that bats have good vision, they just use echolocation a lot)

Some of the things you both would say would be "Did you hear that McDonald's gave all their employees large laptops for Christmas? They were Big Macs" and "Hey, Ronald McDonald - been watching any good clown movies? Ronald: I'm loving it"

One time, he smacked your bum and casually said to you "Girl, this quarter-pounder will take you to a whole different level of experience" and then left

Dr Simon Glass

Another doctor who has knowledge of fast foods

He's similar to Bright in a way as he doesn't leave the facility as often as he likes since he's constantly busy

Also, he would make terrible jokes and puns using wordplay

When you told him about your favourite drink, Sprite, Glass immediately said "I went to the store to get eight cans of Sprite. When I got home, I realized I’d only picked seven up"

You just looked dumbfounded at his puns and laughed as he continued

He did manage to take a sip and drank the whole can of Sprite instead

You even bought some wrap with extra mayo and told Simon about your friendly chat with the waitress/cashier and mentioned her former co-workers

And you died on the inside because his only reply was "She should go back sometime to ketchup with her old co-workers or she mayo not want to"

To shut him up, you have decided that buying him Sprite would work and it kinda did

Only for a short while though

Dr Alto Clef

Clef is well aware of the fast-food chain called McDonald's

It was hard to ignore it as a lot of people younger than him had kept talking about it, even you

Even worse if it was you talking about McDonald's since you have an obsession with their Sprite

Poor Clef was confused as he assumed that all lemon/lime flavoured drinks were the same

Oh boy was he wrong

You came back with your lunch from you know where and 2 bottles of Sprite

One was from McDonald's and the other from Lidl along with some of your favourite pastries, like croissants and toffee yum yums

You had him try all the foods and both Sprites and he finally gave in to the fact that McDonald's Sprite tastes more superior than the other

Not only that, he made dirty jokes and puns about the food in McDonald's

Like "Baby, you got more legs than a bucket of McDonald's", "Come over to my house and I’ll give ya a happy meal", "Do you work here? Because I’d like to order some fries with that shake" and "Girl when I am done with you, you won't be looking for no toys in this happy meal"

Dr Benjamin Kondraki

Benjamin Kondraki would be the type of person who would be reluctant to try but would anyways since you asked so kindly and gave them those eyes

And by that, I mean a death glare

NGL he doesn't seem like the type of fella to be eating a ton of unhealthy food

I mean he doesn't necessarily eat salad or anything overly healthy, but he does have a balanced diet for the most part and does treat himself sometimes, but not too often

You magically crept up behind Kondraki and scared him unintentionally but you still laughed anyway because you're evil

He looked down and realised that the packaging was from McDonald's and you were holding a familiar clear bottle in your other hand

You were kind enough to share your food with him and he thoroughly enjoyed it

Then after that, you forced him to drink some Sprite since he has PTSD from your unhealthy obsession with it

And yes, he did end up drinking it

And no, he didn't like it nor did he hate it

You were upset that you thought he shot you down about Sprite but quickly regained your happiness since he did tell you about the drink being just above average