#█▒ ❝ interesting events unfold ( meme ).

[letoscrawls]

Probably unpopular opinion but I think Leto II becoming a worm was stupid; I don't care how many philosophical excuses Frank Herbert has for writing that; I think he was snorting crack out of his ass at the time and his editors should have rejected that idea. Kinda made me lose interest in the series (and was already kinda losing interest after Chani died). I might pick up Heretics again though because Sheeana sounds cool and Heretics Duncan sounds like the only Duncan I would like (Duncan from God Emperor sucks ass).

I mean it IS weird but it made sense on the long run! In order to guarantee a future for humanity someone had to control the unfold of events for thousands of years, and the only way to do it was to merge with spice and the creatures who produce it that also have a long lifespan.

Leto II was able to live a very long life, manipulate everyone and everything to make sure his plan moved forward and also shield himself from possible assassination attempts (it is stated in the book there were plenty over the years by Duncans only lmao imagine all those other organizations) thanks to an impenetrable armor. He also harvested the genetic line of the atreides so that Siona could be one of many people completely free from the prescient vision.

Basically someone had to stay there for all these things lol Paul didn't have the courage (and altruism i'd say?? Even though leto ii did terrible things and was a dictator, he prevented humanity from going cuckoo bananas -the scattering lol- before its due time) to do it.

It was weird definitely and funny and meme worthy though

[thatswhatsushesaid]

k i'm gonna just put a pin in the whole "was jgy actually massacring multiple sects of 40+ people just for demonic cultivation date nights with xue yang" ('meat cute' anyone? ..I'll see myself out) or the "is wwx's capacity for gruesome violence inherently morally[1] inferior/superior to jgy's" disc horse for another time and move on

no one criticizing willfully bad faith takes about jin guangyao is trying to turn wei wuxian into the novel's villain when they bring up his actions in relation to what jin guangyao has done. no one is actually saying that jgy is not the principle antagonist in the novel. we can read. that is his role in the story, his goals and priorities end up in opposition to wwx's, and wwx is the protagonist. and, to my knowledge, there are no legit wen chao simps chomping at the bit to justify his eradication of the jiang sect at lotus pier. unless there are! in which case apologies to any wen chao simps who may read this post, your simping is valid. (also: bold choice. weird, but bold.)

what we are saying: the text intentionally sets up jgy and wwx as narrative parallels to each other. the text intentionally provides us with unreliable narrators as our lens through which we must view 95% of jgy's actions, first in the form of wwx (please don't @ me about his reliability, this man's spotty memory is meme-worthy, contentious legislation pass through parliament with more alacrity than his self-awareness wrt his relationship with lan wangji), then through wwx's interpretation of nmj's resentment-fuelled recollection of the past as a literal fierce corpse, then through sect leader yao formulating his extemporaneous[2] magnum opus of a condemnation narrative about jin rusong's death, after the witness testimony about jgy's marriage to qin su and super fucked up murder of his father. like, I hope it is understood why no one should be using testimony from sect leader yao as the foundation of their understanding for any character in this novel, period. /rattles the bars of my enclosure, do not trust sect leader yao!! he is the weathervane conservative mp, any time you end up in agreement with him should make you p a u s e and re-evaluate.

my point: mdzs is a fucked up little world filled with fucked up cultivation world politics and crimes and atrocities, and our most reliable window into this world is, unfortunately, wei "oh yeah I forgot about that plot detail" wuxian. more than that, his priority in the narrative is understandably not focused on solving the mystery (read: not a mystery) of why all of jgy's motivations, actions, and decisions are measured against a standard set so much higher than the one the rest of the cultivation world has to contend with (spoilers, it's classism). it's up to the reader to spot the context clues, often in the form of bits of overheard commentary provided by the common people in the background of some other major plot event that is unfolding, or in an aside by wwx himself where he reflects, "huh, maybe it's my own bias impacting my ability to read this situation clearly." I'm paraphrasing here but you get what I'm saying.

tl;dr the least interesting discussion we could possibly have about jgy and wwx is whether either of them are Good or Bad Guys Deep Down, particularly when evidence for either of these positions are provided by the novel's unreliable narrators and witnesses, but for some reason that's the discussion the jgy antis seem hellbent on having, and it's boring.

--

[1] I cannot stress to you how microscopic my interest is in some bible study-adjacent debate on morality in a danmei novel about necromancy, revenge killing, and the willful desecration of human remains. the extent to which I just do not give a fuck about this particular brand of disc horse is vast and limitless.

[2] inserts the padme amidala and anakin skywalker square meme here like we all understand that sect leader yao's statement about jin rusong's murder is based on speculation and not even circumstantial evidence, right? ...we understand that, right?

[davekat-sucks]

This is was supposed to be a simple ask but it ended up getting long because of there being too many question and discussions but barely any answers so sorry about that.

On the topic of WhatPumpkin sometimes we all have to wonder what the fuck is going on behind the scenes, the latest news we got werent that much and it felt more of a like "Hey guys we are still alive dont forget about us" situation and it doesnt help that we cant really get any info because of how the only guy that Im atleast aware that works on it and is online is James and although I have no source because it was months ago, when beyond canon came back I remember him getting asked about Hiveswap and i dont remember if he answered it on the blog or on a reddit qna but he had said he cant really do much about it because hes just the music guy on that department and not an director or writer and he probably cannot say whats going on if hes aware of even the minimum because of NDAs and you know the situation is weird when not even the new director for post canon can do nothing about it or doesnt know what the fuck is going on over there either (i believe its more of the former).

On the same topic Hussie jumping the ship in my opinion feels like such an awful move in a moral and community sense, he hires fucked up people and ends up going through development hell and instead of trying to fix it he just runs away and gives someone else the work. He becasically invited destruction to that place by not doing background checks and shit and now everyone else but him has to suffer for it. I wonder if WhatPumpkin will close business after they finish Hiveswap (if they even manage to finish it) or if their writting quality wont be bad if they try to do Hauntswitch now.

I also sometimes wonder if Hauntswitch was made first maybe things could have been better. Think about it:

It happens on the Human World and you play as a cool kid looking troll and that could open the doors for a lot of potential to explore more about the Earth on the Homestuck universe and its conspiracy theories and also give us more video game parody mechanics.

The whole conspiracy theory Jude had that iirc had even the USA presidents connect to may be right considering the easter egg that shows some sort of cultists standing outside the mansion we see on the background and watching the events unfold.

We would get more answers for whatever the fuck those creatures that attacked the manor where.

another good dog best friend to fill the bec shaped hole in our soul <:

Exploration of what SkaiaLabs exactly does.

Overall sounding like an awesome story itself, a alien coming to earth and fighting a cult related to the presidents with a human companion. Especially considering how Dammek sounds like hes an asshole and also because of how trolls are usually violent could lead to interesting interactions.

I might be wrong and biased though but I feel like that concept could attract more outsiders than Hiveswap could ever wish to do. And hopefully thats it and that I wont waste almost an hour of my life rambling about this stuff (for my own sake because i feel like i could have spent my time better but i also need to post this somewhere and i dont use social media most of the time and when i do its usually to see fanart, memes and overall discussion of my fav franchises) but I probably will in the future.

It's cool with this ask. You brought up many good points here.

Yes, the question about Hiveswap was asked in a Q&A back in October 30th, 2023 from James Roach here (Archive ver for backup). The news about development should be something more like how Toby does with the Deltarune newsletter. Monthly, maybe do a special event ARG thing that gives insight of what's coming up, or anything like that. Though even with that, it might be probably too little too late since we are at 11 years since the Kickstarter had funded. Probably doesn't help since 2 million dollars was wasted, it's a mystery how the game is still being worked on if the original Kickstarter money that was given to them, had been used up. What is WhatPumpkin's new source of income then? Do they have a second job they aren't telling us about? Are they using part of that Patreon money from Beyond Canon since technically there are some that work within Hiveswap too like James? Then there's the fact Hussie not only wasted the money, but basically left the Kickstarter project he started in the first place. He may own it and be credited as the creator, but he won't be involved in the future Acts and Hauntswitch. I'm surprised nobody is pissed at him for scamming them out of 2 million dollars. Do people not care if the original person who hosted it left? Especially with the truth come to light thanks to Gio's research on this. I wouldn't be surprised if WhatPumpkin does shut down because they couldn't gain the sales needed after releasing Hiveswap Act 3. People will probably wonder if even buying stuff from Topatoco would help or not with HS merch like the prints slowly resurfacing. Drawing in the crowds from old and new to play the game will be tough. I wouldn't be surprised if Hauntswitch was first made in mind before Hiveswap. Dammek even had a 3D model ready too.

Likely back when it was still a 3D game, we would control briefly but then after the cutscene of them being transported to the other planet, we would then have to take control of Dammek, have him meet Jude to possibly have him find a way to help him back home, and the pair would adventure on Earth itself for the rest of the game to find out about the monsters and the cult. Dammek's paranoid nature would play off Jude's conspiracy theory pretty well as it has the two involved looking deep into the mystery. I wouldn't be surprised if something about the cult would eventually tie in to his home planet and the rebellion as a final grand twist. An idea like that sounds more interesting than some girl getting lost on an alien planet and was roped into some rebellion that she has no reason to be part of besides being concerned for a friend.

[southeastasianists]

Singapore, known for its political stability, has been rocked by a string of rare political scandals.Last week, a senior minister was arrested in a corruption probe, the first in four decades to be implicated in such an investigation. And on Monday, two lawmakers - one of them once tipped as a potential prime minister - resigned after it was revealed they were in an extramarital affair.It has shocked residents of the city-state, which prides itself on its reputation for clean governance and has the highest paid leaders in the world.Analysts say the unfolding scandals could dent support for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), which has been in power since 1959 and holds a large majority in parliament.They also say it casts doubt over when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong can hand over the reins of leadership.

On Monday, Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-jin, 54, and fellow lawmaker Cheng Li Hui, 47, resigned from the party and the legislature over their "inappropriate relationship". Mr Tan is married, while Ms Cheng is single.

More questions on transparency arose last week, when Singapore's anti-corruption watchdog arrested Transport Minister S Iswaran and billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng. The two men played key roles in bringing the Grand Prix to Singapore in 2008.

Singaporeans were told last Wednesday that Mr Iswaran had been asked to take leave from his ministerial duties amid a probe.

Deputy prime minister Lawrence Wong has told local media the corruption probe would be "full, thorough and independent", and that nothing will be swept under the carpet.

But authorities only announced the arrests three days after they actually took place. Both men have not been charged and are currently out on bail.

The arrests came on the heels of allegations that two other senior ministers had rented colonial-era bungalows in a high-end neighbourhood at below-market rates.

While an anti-graft review cleared the two men, K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan, of wrongdoing, the matter sparked a heated debate on inequality in Singapore and political optics.

The unusual series of events has bought out the inevitable memes. "The writers of this season of Singapore have really outdone themselves," wrote the creators behind Instagram page yeolo.sg on Monday.

A separate post, featuring actresses on the set of the Barbie movie crowding around a laptop, read: "When me and the girlies are suddenly interested in sg politics."

Another Instagram user wryly compared the current political situation to spilling tea, or sharing gossip.

But beyond the jokes lie serious questions about the future of the PAP and how long it can hold on to Singaporeans' trust.

It has weathered similar scandals in the recent past - in the last decade a previous parliamentary Speaker and a backbencher stepped down because of extramarital affairs. But the close timing of the scandals and corruption probe has heightened voters' scrutiny.

The PAP has long prided itself on demanding high moral standards of its lawmakers, and its ability to keep its house in order. One of its founding members once compared joining the PAP to joining the priesthood.

Mr Lee this week defended his party's handling of the recent scandals, saying it demonstrated "how the system has to function".

"Sometimes things cluster up, but we make sure we put them right," he said, adding that "high standards of propriety and personal conduct… are the fundamental reasons Singaporeans trust and respect the PAP".

But other observers contend these controversies call into question Singapore's - and in particular, the PAP's - claims to exceptional governance.

"I think the biggest questions surround restraints on authority, oversight, transparency, the impartiality of parliamentary process as well as the PAP's claim that it is a sufficient check on itself," said Singapore-based political scientist Ian Chong.

He noted that the PAP has rejected political practices common in other developed jurisdictions, such as public disclosure of income and assets by political office holders, senior civil servants and their immediate family members.

There are no robust mechanisms for holding powerful people to account, added Michael Barr, an Australia-based international relations professor who has written several books on Singapore politics.

"You just have to trust them. That is why this is such a dangerous and novel set of developments for the government. They are trashing their repositories of public trust," he said.

Singapore is ranked the fifth-least corrupt country in Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index. Over the years, the government has justified seven-figure ministerial pay checks as a way to repress corrupt activity.

But Dr Barr pointed out: "Without extraordinary levels of public trust, the government must rely on one of two things to win elections: either repression and other measures that subvert democracy, or a high level of performance-based legitimacy. Their record in recent years is such that we can forget about performance legitimacy."

The recent events also cast doubt on when Mr Lee would step down.

The 71-year old, who has been prime minister since 2004, has often spoken of his wish to retire. A successor has already been designated: Lawrence Wong, who is also finance minister.

But on Monday, Mr Lee said he has no plans to call for an immediate general election. The next polls are due by November 2025.

The fact that Mr Wong has not been more active and visible in addressing the recent scandals also raises questions about him and his peers' readiness to take over as the city-state's leaders, noted Dr Chong.

[0nelittlebirdtoldme]

Hi Birdie! How about 1 and 11 for the fic writing meme?

What’s something new that you tried in a fic this year? How did it turn out and would you do it again?

I think I tried for the first time a story with several alternating POVs with TGN instead of usually just having one narrator (Johnny boy). It's soooo interesting changing between the different perspectives and narrations, playing with what the different characters know and think about the events unfolding! But I also find myself needing far longer per chapter to find the right tone, and trying to figure out from who's perspective I want to tell something happening within a story. Not sure if i am going to try this for a different fic, but still a fun experience!

11. What fic was the most satisfying to finish writing?

That's a tough one. I have written 93 works this year, but like, 95% of those were just drabbles or oneshots. Of the few multichaps i did, some finishied, some i haven't (yet). Honestly, if i had to chose, probably Kisses for the Drowning Men - i had a lot of fun putting this 10 drabble sequence together and think it turned out quite well!

Thank you so much for the ask, Argyle!

Ask game here

[utilitycaster]

17 (oh if only) and 33?

17 is easy; I never really got into C1 fic, and while I've got opinions on C3 events the story is still unfolding and so my own opinions are constantly in flux and as such I'm open to a pretty wide variety of feelings about the plot in what little fic I read. So: basically, if someone is unhappy with the C2 ending beyond small details - ie, if they're mad that the Nein parted ways, or that Caleb didn't go on some life-ruining revenge tour, or are bitter about the ships - then I'm not interested in what they have to say.

33. I am sure I had something in mind when I wrote this question and then I had the super brain genius idea to do this meme, which is to be fair by design a thing I post as I do the 7-8 hour drive back from my hometown, and then also have a 1 hour meeting and a 2 hour d&d session. so. Brain is soup. Probably would ask Matt something about the Founding but again, expect me in a week to be like OH SHIT THAT WAS IT.

[heylinhenchman]

Selective Low Activity Jack Spicer RP + Ask Blog

First and Forepost-- Rules and Introduction.

Rule 1. Asks are welcome! If I don’t like it, I won’t answer it! Personal blogs can sends asks, and even interact in a limited manner with Jack if they would like, but I won’t making any threads with non-character entities. Rule 2. Jack is canon divergent, which means part of the Xiaolin Showdown and Chronicles series have been reimagined or re-contextualized. Respect that Jack is not ‘cowardly, (physically) weak or ineffectual’. Jack is a wildcard, easily swayed by whims and increasingly disturbed by unfolding events in his life (and like, is a teenager, for a large part of XS). Just approach him like any other character, unless you are from his series, then we can chat character dynamics. Rule 3. I love shipping. But from every dynamic (platonic; romantic; mentorship--). Jack isn’t used to people liking him further than they can use him. He’s quick to excite but slow to embrace the responsibilities of commitment of any kind (scared of rejection from friends and significant others; scared of failure from mentors and friends; etc). Rule 4. I’m an adult, and sure Jack is an adult in all post-canon content... But there’s little interest for explicit threads. Asks, art, interactions can be steamy, but fade to black will be the default for amorous threads. Rule 5. Though on the note of threads at all... this blog is taking it easy. I would appreciate many asks and I will do my best to send plenty myself. But my main intention with this blog is reaching back out to friends blogs and generally having Fun with Jack. Fun including but not limited to: Oh Ships?; Henchperson Dynamics (him serving or leading); Jack Making Friends Trials n Tribulations; Exploring Jacks vast inventory of inventions & canon divergent settings. Maybe talk about AUs. Infodumping, the good stuff. Rule 6. I have ADHD and Autism, if you want to plot instead of sending a meme (you can send any meme, whenever you want, no introduction!), you need to come into my IMs with some substance, or you will not catch nor retain my attention. We are not business partners this is not a transaction, please come into my IMs with the brunt of your personality (whether you are chipper or blunt, just be yourself). No 'hi, hello, want to rp?'. I need: INTENTION ('I like this character / this show / how you write / I saw you rp with a friend and was interested / CAN I GETA GOTH GF?') Then hopefully you can follow it up with some CONTEXT INVESTMENT (can you tell me a lil about how your character and Jack would be able to connect? do you need information from me? are you interested in shipping, adventures, casual encounters, specific genres, just wanna send memes and go with the flow?). And of course, we both need to understand the potential of me not being interested (I prioritize fandoms I recognize (not necessarily invested in) and significantly fleshed out OCs). I know it's formulaic and you don't gotta send me a paragraph off the bat. Jump in to talk bout your rp style or how you feel bout this rule first, whatever works. 

Rule x. Uh Oh Ah I’ll Follow from Heylinfanclub if we gucci to RP.

Introductions

Mun

Murmur; They/He; 20+ y/o Pisces; 15 years o’ roleplay experience; Neurodivergent Nightmare.  Original blog: @jxckspxcer​  & the main blog @heylinfanclub​ Reason for Current Blog: Too tired to switch between blogs  Blog Locked Me Out; too busy to commit as much time to Jack as I used to. BUT I MISS HIM. SO I’M HERE.

Muse

Jack Spicer; He/Him; 15-18 (XS) & 21-22 (Post Canon) Aries; Evil Genius. Main Verse: Post-XS (19) FC: Dylan Wang / Wang He Di Current Reason for Villainy: Spite

TAGS [TBA]

Jack Spicer - file. heylin genius Good Jack - file. sweet smarts Shadow Young - file. slim shady Chase Young - file. cold blooded Monks - file. Xiaolin Losers Tech - Projects. Aesthetics - Aes. Headcanons - hc.

XS verse  - v. prodigious villainy Post XS verse (main) - v. addicted to the wicked ( ^ includes immediately after XS up to XC-ish older years) Emperor Verse (post-TAT Dark Verse) - v. in the valley of the shadow of death Xiaolin Jack - v. ivory and steel Opts Out AU - v. capitalism is its own reward I WILL DEFAULT TO MAIN VERSE UNLESS SPECIFIED | REQUESTED. (main verse adjacent) Timeline / Universe Hopping . v. what year is it

This is my All-In-One Information Page. Cause this blog is supposed to be easy on me.

[cypanache]

13, 21, 27 for the author ask meme 👋💙😊

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

I do a fair bit. Though a lot of it gets carried around in my head, and then dumped on whoever is currently unfortunate enough to have made the mistake of answering a Tumblr or discord message from me. I'm very much an external processor so I tend to crystallize a story as I tell it to someone else.

But really when I write I start putting stakes in the ground, throughout the line of the story. I tend to think of my story in arcs. Lead in, build, rubicon, crescendo, climax, denouement. (I don't talk about it this way, but my larger pieces generally they follow this trajectory). And once I've sort of told myself where the events that are the stakes to take us through those arcs, I drop particular exchanges of dialogue or a scene or even just a line into the different arcs, and then try to figure out how to get them there. Things sort of start to unfold from there. And sometimes as I talk things through, pieces adjust, chapters expand or collapse. Like originally there wasn't a break in their communication in Trap, and chapter 4 of Countdown wasn't nearly as brutal. (Even Unintended has already moved on me). But usually the general arcs and trajectory stay, and I continue to write to certain specific lines even as everything in between moves around.

tl;dr: yes I know what's going to happen next

21. Have you ever deleted an entire scene after spending hours laboring over it? If so, why?

Absolutely. Many many times. There's a whole sequence that I wrote for Trap where Obi-Wan accompanies Padme and Anakin around Theed as she surveys the damage. I reworked whole sections of the scene in the quarters. I actually have scenes set during OWK when the whole thing had a different structure. I've done scenes for Countdown and then taken them back to the studs and reworked the entire thing taking it in a different direction, and did the same for Unintended

Usually when I cut a scene its for one of two reasons 1) it's pulling the story, it's interesting I like it, but it's not moving the core line of the story forward in a way that feels right; or 2) it's missed something in the emotional beats.

27. Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

I answered this one previously. I was super nervous to post Trap.

[intericsdigital]

Riding the Wave: Mastering Moment Marketing for Brand Brilliance

In the ever-changing digital ocean, moment marketing is your surfboard – it's all about catching the perfect wave to connect with your audience right when they’re most engaged. This article will help you navigate the thrilling surf of moment marketing, showing you how to harness real-time trends and make a splash with your brand. From understanding the essence of moment marketing to whipping up compelling content on the fly, we’re diving deep into strategies and tactics that will keep your brand riding high above the competition. Let’s ride this wave to new heights of visibility and engagement!

Understanding Moment Marketing: A Brief Overview

Moment marketing is like catching a wave of trends – it’s about spotting the right moment to ride the current and connect with your audience in real-time. It’s all about leveraging current events, trending topics, or cultural phenomena to craft content that resonates and rides the trends.

Importance of Real-Time Engagement

In the fast-paced digital tide, real-time engagement is your anchor. By joining conversations as they unfold and staying nimble with your marketing moves, you can boost brand awareness, build customer loyalty, and drive conversions. It’s all about making waves when it matters most.

2.    Aligning Brand Values with Current Trends

To make a memorable splash, ensure your brand’s values align with the trends you’re riding. Stay true to your brand while creatively engaging with real-time trends to create a standout presence that’s both impactful and authentic.

3.    Crafting Compelling Content in the Moment

In moment marketing, speed is your surfboard. Whether it's a clever tweet, a witty meme, or a timely video, being quick on your feet to create compelling content is essential for catching the perfect wave. Also to make waves in this sea of content, personalization and authenticity are your guiding stars. Craft content that speaks directly to your audience’s interests and values, creating genuine connections that resonate and drive engagement.

4.    Strategies for Effective Moment Marketing Campaigns

Consistency is the anchor for brand recognition and loyalty. By maintaining a cohesive brand voice and messaging strategy across all your moment marketing campaigns, you reinforce your brand identity and connect deeply with your audience, no matter the trend.

Data can be that surf guide for you during moment marketing. By analyzing trends, consumer behavior, and social insights, you can tailor your campaigns to be hyper-targeted and relevant, boosting their impact and ROI.

5.    The Role of Social Media in Moment Marketing

Social media is your stage for moment marketing. Use it to join conversations, react to trends swiftly, and connect with consumers on a personal level. It’s essential for turning fleeting moments into meaningful connections.

Conclusion

In conclusion, moment marketing offers a unique chance to connect with your audience in a timely and impactful way. By staying agile, creative, and in tune with trends, you can cement your brand’s presence in the minds of consumers. Embrace authenticity, seize the right moments, and measure your success to refine your strategies continually. With a firm grasp of moment marketing principles, your brand can shine brightly in the digital arena and leave a lasting impression.

[ritik2]

Best Sellers political hummore book

Political humor offers a unique lens through which to view the often complex and contentious world of politics. From witty one-liners to in-depth satirical essays, political humor can provide both entertainment and insight. In this article, we will explore Popular Political Humor Books, discuss some New Political Trending News, and highlight The Best Political Satire Books that will keep you laughing and thinking.

Popular Political Humor Books

Political humor has a long tradition, with countless authors and comedians tackling the absurdities and contradictions of political life. Here are some of the most Popular Political Humor Books that have captured the public's imagination:

"The Daily Show (The Book): An Oral History" by Chris Smith This book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "The Daily Show," one of the most influential political humor programs of the 21st century. Featuring insights from Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, and many of the show's key writers and correspondents, this book is a must-read for fans of political satire.

"I Am America (And So Can You!)" by Stephen Colbert Stephen Colbert, former host of "The Colbert Report," brings his signature satirical style to this humorous exploration of American politics and culture. The book is structured as a mock textbook, filled with absurd anecdotes, footnotes, and commentary that poke fun at political ideologies on both sides of the aisle.

"Thank You for Smoking" by Christopher Buckley This novel tells the story of Nick Naylor, a spin doctor for the tobacco industry, who finds himself embroiled in a darkly comedic battle against government regulators, anti-smoking advocates, and media pundits. Buckley’s sharp wit and biting satire make this one of the best Best Political Humor books of recent years.

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole Though not a traditional political humor book, "A Confederacy of Dunces" is a classic satirical novel that skewers American society and politics through the misadventures of its antihero, Ignatius J. Reilly. The book’s blend of absurdity, humor, and social commentary has made it a perennial favourite among readers.

"Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government" by P.J. O'Rourke P.J. O'Rourke's satirical take on the workings of the U.S. government provides readers with an irreverent, yet insightful look at the often convoluted world of American politics. His humorous approach to serious issues makes this one of the Best Sellers political humor books.

New Political Trending News

Keeping up with New Political Trending News is essential for anyone interested in political humor. Current events provide endless fodder for comedians, writers, and satirists who aim to highlight the absurdities and contradictions in the political landscape. Here are some of the most recent political trends that have inspired a wave of satire and humor:

The Rise of Political Memes With the increasing influence of social media, political memes have become a powerful tool for humor and satire. These memes often capture the essence of a political moment with a single image or phrase, offering a humorous commentary on events as they unfold. Recent examples include memes mocking political debates, policy missteps, and public gaffes by prominent politicians.

Satirical Responses to Global Politics Political humor is not limited to domestic affairs; global events also provide fertile ground for satire. Recent international events, such as the ongoing Brexit negotiations, the actions of populist leaders, and diplomatic blunders, have all been subjects of biting satire. Comedians and writers from around the world continue to use humor as a way to comment on the global political landscape.

The Revival of Late-Night Political Satire Late-night talk shows have long been a staple of political humor, and their popularity continues to grow. Shows like "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" regularly dissect political events with a sharp wit, offering a humorous perspective on the news of the day. These programs often tackle serious topics with a blend of humor and critique, making them essential viewing for fans of political satire.

Political Cartoons and Satirical Journalism Political cartoons and satirical journalism have experienced a resurgence in recent years, with many newspapers and online platforms featuring humorous takes on current events. Cartoons by artists like Tom Toles, Ann Tellanes, and Mike Luckovich provide a visual commentary on political news, while satirical websites like The Onion and The Borowitz Report continue to entertain and inform readers with their unique brand of humor.

Conclusion

Political humor offers a valuable way to engage with the often-overwhelming world of politics. Whether you are a fan of Popular Political Humor Books, enjoy following New Political Trending News, or are looking for The Best Political Satire Books to add to your reading list, there is no shortage of material to keep you entertained and informed. From best-selling books to the latest satirical takes on current events, political humor continues to provide a unique blend of laughter and insight for readers everywhere.

[market-news-24]

Welcome to the latest update on the ever-dynamic world of cryptocurrency. This week, we're seeing some interesting movements that are sure to catch the attention of both seasoned investors and newcomers alike. Bitcoin, the stalwart of the crypto Market, has experienced a slight stumble, shedding some of its value. However, it's not all gloomy news in the cryptosphere, as meme coins, those digital currencies that began as internet jokes, are making a surprising comeback, outperforming many expectations. Stay tuned for an insightful dive into what's been happening with Bitcoin and why meme coins are once again stealing the spotlight. [ad_1] In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, meme coins have taken the spotlight, showcasing significant gains in the Market this week. While Bitcoin remains relatively stable post its much-anticipated halving event, meme coins like Bonk and Pepe are on the rise, capturing the attention of investors and crypto enthusiasts alike. Among the standout performers, Bonk, a token based on the Solana network, has seen a remarkable increase of 58%. This surge came shortly after the Bonk DAO decided to burn more than 278 billion Bonk tokens, a move that has been interpreted as highly optimistic by Market watchers due to the reduced supply potentially boosting the token's value. Pepe, another meme coin that operates on the Ethereum platform, has also witnessed impressive growth, with a 36% price hike this week. The momentum around Pepe gained further traction after Coinbase International announced the introduction of Pepe perpetual contracts, fuelling more interest and speculation in the token. Additionally, Floki, yet another meme-themed cryptocurrency, recorded a 20% jump in price, indicating a rising trend for these types of digital assets. Beyond the world of meme coins, the cryptocurrency space also saw Hedera, an alternative to blockchain technology, surge by 32%. This rise was spurred by news of Archax, a digital asset exchange, opting to use Hedera's network for offering a money Market fund by BlackRock. Despite the buzz around meme coins and certain altcoins, Bitcoin remains steady, with only minor fluctuations in its price. This steady state comes amid news of reduced investment in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds following a report suggesting slower economic growth in the US, likely causing investors to retreat from more volatile assets like Bitcoin. Other noteworthy developments in the crypto space include Ethereum's slight increase in value following controversy around its classification as a security by regulatory bodies. Ethereum's persistent growth amidst these legal challenges underscores the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. As we watch these trends unfold, it's clear that the cryptocurrency Market remains a vibrant and diverse landscape, with meme coins emerging as a surprising force of influence this week. Whether these gains signify a long-term shift in investor interest or merely a temporary surge remains to be seen, but for now, meme coins are having a moment in the crypto spotlight. [ad_2] 1. What happened to Bitcoin recently? Bitcoin's value took a slight tumble this week. 2. Were there any winners in the cryptocurrency space this week? Yes, meme coins, like Dogecoin, managed to gain traction and come out as winners. 3. Why did meme coins perform well? Meme coins tend to thrive on social media hype and community support, which might have played a role in their success this week. 4. Is it common for Bitcoin and meme coins to have opposite performance trends? It's not uncommon. The crypto Market can be unpredictable, with different types of coins reacting differently to Market sentiments and news. 5. Should I invest in meme coins now? Investment decisions should be based on thorough research and personal risk tolerance. Meme coins can be very volatile, so consider your own financial situation and investment goals carefully.

[influencermarketingagencys-blog]

What is Meme Marketing and How to Use Memes Perfectly

What is Meme Marketing and How to Use Memes Perfectly

A new movie may be coming out, or a celebrity may make headlines for some actions. Perhaps a huge sporting event is unfolding somewhere, or a politician said something controversial - today, you can hear about them all through memes before you can find them on the news or any generic online content. In fact, even popular news outlets use memes as memes have the power to relate with the audience.

According to a report by a top meme marketing agency, businesses are incorporating memes in their content marketing strategies, and it is not surprising since in a marketplace where consumers - especially the younger demographic - show increased aversion to advertisements, memes have become a medium to promote a business while maintaining the humor that people love. 

What is not to love about memes? 

Memes are everywhere on the Internet, and they keep improving, as creators can easily access diverse content and get creative using audio, pictures, videos, and GIFs. Furthermore, when you consider how easy it is to create memes and the massive communities responsible for meme vitality, there is absolutely no reason why you should not invest in meme marketing today.

What is Meme Marketing? 

In Meme marketing, the humorous context of popular/unique memes is used to entertain and inform your target audience. It is an ongoing process of creating multiple memes with consistent themes, messaging, and voice to meet your marketing objectives - which can include raising awareness, building relatability, and promoting brand stories, products, or services. 

Over the years, Brands of all sizes have created personalized meme strategies for blogs, social media platforms, and emails by working with a top meme marketing agency like Grynow.

Top 3 Ways to Use Memes Perfectly in 2024 

Social media 

Social media platforms are where your audiences encounter different types of memes daily. Hence, In a time when people generally skip or forget generic pictures and videos, memes are your best option to reach and convert your social media audience, especially the younger crowd, since memes are inspired by popular trends they follow. Furthermore, trends change constantly, but by consistently repurposing viral memes - like the recent Bhupendra Jogi meme - to fit your social media image, you can stay relevant in the eyes of your current and potential customers.

Blog Posts 

You would have created several memes for your social media handles, and by uploading them on your blog, you can create consistency in branding, style, and voice.

Imagine your readers clicking on your blog link, and they are compelled to stay after every blog section because you created an engaging interaction with memes. For example, ending the introduction of the "salt bae" meme with the text "Just the intro keep reading ;)" and as the reader progresses, they are greeted with memes that help them understand every blog section - like including Charlie Day's Meme with the caption, "digital marketers trying to keep up with multiples Trends be like" before you start listing the solutions. Using memes helps provide substance to your lengthier articles, which keeps the readers reading for longer, thus helping your search engine optimization efforts.

Emails 

Instead of attaching videos with large file sizes, you can insert memes in your email copies to your email lists. Memes do not affect your primary email message delivery. They can significantly improve your open and click-through rates, as your audience will always have something interesting to look forward to every time their screens light up with your email notification. 

Memes are also a fun addition to emails you send to -

Your staff, for important event notices, birthday wishes, festive greetings, etc.

Your shareholders, to give them moments of quirky humor by highlighting, for instance, your company's quarterly performance in memes.

Tips for Creating the Best Memes 

Picture Selection 

Understand trends: look at the images that are trending online. By listing pictures already engaging your audience in real-time, you can capitalize on their popularity by adding your unique branding mix.

Consider audience preferences: analyze the type of memes your audience likes, comments on, shares, upvotes, retweets, or bookmarks most of the time.

Consider using unique content: you can look for inspiration from successful memes to select new images (never used in any memes). Ensure the pictures you choose align with your brand identity and can help generate relatability with your audience.

Copyright: ensure the images you select are not tied with copyright or trademark claims. Get the necessary license and permission to use the photos.

Text Usage 

Clear Distinctions: the text you add to your memes should enhance the overall appeal of the image instead of competing with it for the audience's attention. The text should align with the Meme's intended humor. 

Business-centric: the text you utilize should subtly talk about your business while keeping the humor element of the Meme alive.

Use simple language: make it easier for the audience to read your text so that they can understand your intended message and context.

Platform Selection 

The selection of your ideal platform should be determined by where your target audience is most active and the types of memes you create that can perfectly encapsulate your brand's ideologies, values, and messages. Select generic platforms when you are piggybacking on the popularity of viral memes, while niche platforms work for memes you create with new ideas, text, and images.

[weiyanchoo]

Week 5: Reality TV and Social Media

Reality TV is a type of unscripted television programming that does not employ actors and documents real-life situations where they often use a host to run the show or a narrator to run the show or set up the stage for the event to unfold. Reality TV is unlike scripted shows like sitcoms, dramas and newscasts because it does not require writers or actors (Winifred 2021). However, many realities show has open casting calls to see person in person, but we are still able to apply without getting off your couch. If you are a person who wants to fall in love, show off your skills and travel around the world but on television? Reality TV shows are great opportunity for talented people get discovered.  

Why is reality TV shows widespread? If you think about it, people love to watch the lives of other people especially what celebrities do and discover how they live, their struggles on businesses and relationships like The Kardashians, The Real Housewives etc. Besides watching these people’s drama, we can witness a wide range of personality traits and relationship archetypes where people discover celebrities that they can identify (Gruber, 2022).  Besides, talent shows give rise to some of the reality TV stars where it remains at the top of celebrity food chains for example Perrie Edwards who became famous thanks to X-Factor are of the contestant with highest-earning reality TV contestants.  

Nowadays, social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram are changing the dynamics of the audience-media character relationship. According to Chung and Cho (2014, p.47), SNSs have changed this one-side relationship to more interactive where audiences will talk about their favourite celebrities or even creating memes on social media and getting to more about them by peeking into their personal lives on Instagram. The lists of celebrities who became popular from reality TV is basically endless (Graham, 2022). Taking The Kardashians Jenner family clan as an example again, their reality TV show is what put them on radar at the beginning of their careers. Each of the sisters have over 100 million followers on Instagram and reality TV may no longer be their main line of work.  

In conclusion, reality tv and social media is a good combination because people like to talk about interesting people or people or people who have strong opinions about reality celebrities for conversations. The relationship between reality TV and social media are mutually beneficial because social media networks provide a fandom for audiences to talk about reality TV while reality TV shows encourage audiences to share their opinions with hashtags on social media.  

References

Anna, G 2022, The Rise Of Modern Stars: From Reality TV Shows To Instagram Influencers, Fizzy Mag, viewed 4 May 2023, <https://fizzymag.com/articles/the-rise-of-modern-stars-from-reality-tv-shows-to-instagram-influencers >

Chung, S & Cho, H 2014, ‘Parasocial relationship via reality TV and social media: its implications for celebrity endorsement’, Proceedings of the ACM International Conference on interactive experiences for tv and online video, p.- 47.

Gruber, M 2022, Why do we love reality TV shows so much?, Ready Steady Cut, viewed 4 May 2023, <https://readysteadycut.com/2022/07/19/why-do-we-love-reality-tv-shows-so-much/#:~:text=If%20you%20think%20about%20it,in%20the%20last%20several%20decades.>

Winifred, FM 2021, How Reality TV Works, HowStuffWorks, viewed 4 May 2023, < https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/amazing-race.htm>

[etiennekissborlase]

Shiba Inu Investors Show Strong Hodl Mentality Despite Price Dip

Shiba Inu Investors Show Strong Hodl Mentality Despite Price Dip https://bitcoinist.com/shiba-inu-investors-strong-hodl-mentality/ Shiba Inu (SHIB) has seen a drop in value In a week where the cryptocurrency market has experienced notable price declines. However, in a surprising turn of events, its investors have demonstrated resilience and held onto their dear meme coin, resisting the temptation to sell at the first sign of a dip.  This HODLing strategy serves the dual purpose of generating profits while also promoting stability for the altcoin. But with market volatility always around the corner, can Shiba Inu continue to count on its steadfast investors to weather the storm? Shiba Inu: Breaching Resistance Level At a mere fraction of a cent, Shiba Inu’s price on CoinMarketCap stands at $0.00001043, with a 2.19% rally over the last 24 hours, bringing a glimmer of hope to its investors.  However, this uptick comes after a 10.24% decline over the past seven days, leaving SHIB holders to wonder whether this brief surge is a blip on the radar or a sign of a more significant market reversal. For almost two months now, Shiba Inu’s price has been struggling to break through a critical resistance level at $0.00001169. The significance of this level is that, if SHIB manages to flip it into support, it could trigger a much-awaited recovery to $0.00001200, which is the price point that most investors have been hoping for. The reason for this prolonged wait is that investors who purchased their SHIB between $0.00001100 and $0.00001400 are eagerly anticipating a profitable return on their investment once the aforementioned resistance level is breached.  This represents over 250 trillion SHIB, valued at a whopping $2.59 billion at current prices, with an average purchase price of $0.00001200. As such, breaking through this resistance level is not just a matter of technical analysis but has real implications for a large number of investors. Investors’ Faith In Shiba Inu Remains Strong Despite the prolonged battle to breach the resistance level, and the 10.45% decline the meme coin sustained in the last week, investors have confidence in the Shiba Inu price to chart a recovery soon. Shiba Inu investors appear to be holding strong and maintaining faith in the altcoin’s potential, as shown in the graph below. Many are encouraged by the fact that, even during periods of market downturn, SHIB has demonstrated resilience and managed to hold onto some gains. While there are no guarantees in the volatile world of cryptocurrency, Shiba Inu’s continued efforts to break through the resistance level, combined with its strong community support, suggest that there may be positive days ahead for the meme coin. As such, it will be interesting to see how the coming weeks and months unfold for SHIB and its massive fan base. -Featured image from Sam Lion/Pexels via Bitcoinist.com https://bitcoinist.com April 26, 2023 at 12:21PM

[association-of-freed-people]

Can you tell me more about this concept of Feds impersonating white supremacists? I’ve only heard about it from anti-statist circles here on tumblr. What does the federal government get out of doing this? Seems pretty amoral. I just am super tired of trying to figure out what is real vs what is a grift. Love your content tho, keep it up!

This is gonna be a long one.

The government creates foils that serve its agenda.

Most of my life “white supremacists” or neo-Nazis were an oddity that you’d hear about maybe once every five years or so.

They were always goofy pariahs that no one took seriously. There would be a march somewhere that would get some attention and they were always outnumbered and went away and life carried on.

It wasn’t until the 2016 election of trump that this contemporary construct was created.

In my opinion it was to distract from a chunk of trumps platform that was populist and had gained earth shaking traction. This was with respect to the US relationship with China and the transnational corporate entanglements associated with it.

MAGA was poking that relationship with a stick.

If you look at how trump won it was by flipping Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

It was the rust belt, he flipped the labor vote by speaking directly to them.

MAGA was going to at least shine a light on 50 years of policy from the Nixon regime forward that resulted in the gutting of American industry, the destruction of the dollar, stagnant wages and massive trade deficits. That conversation was being drawn too close to the surface for very powerful interests.

I remember distinctly when the “racism” narrative began and the term “alt-right” went from internet slang for anyone not supporting GOP neocons or Democrats to Hitler in America.

It happened practically overnight and was predicated on two things; one was the creation of Richard Spencer as a political tail to wag the dog, with the second being the events that unfolded in Charlottesville during the summer of 2017 which solidified the pejorative.

Richard Spencer was a nobody prior to his creation by corporate media. I had never heard of him previously. One day out of the blue he was the face of Trump’s America.

I liken Spencer’s emergence to going out and finding a black Hebrew Israelite in whatever city, putting that guy on TV, and declaring him the face of Obama’s America. There’s no difference. That’s basically what happened. He was platformed into existence.

Then Charlottesville was organized with Spencer’s involvement in 2017 and a woman was run over and killed in the street fighting.

The primary organizer of Charlottesville was a guy named Jason Kessler. Interestingly Kessler had been an Occupy Wall Street protestor and Bernie bro who had attempted to turn those protests violent according to activists with knowledge.

Another notable event surrounding Spencer was the media giving him Pepe and Pepe subsequently being smeared and destroyed as a symbol of white supremacy.

The meme war had an intangible but very real impact on the 2016 election. It fascinated me that Pepe was assassinated in this manner after playing such a major role in the online political combat. It sounds nonsensical but there should be a book written about it.

The feds began cranking up the rhetoric about the domestic threat of white supremacists parallel to the media / academic push to label everything from math to merit as white supremacist. This drive led to a nonstop wave of fake hate crimes between 2017 & 2020 with Jussie being the most prominent.

The white supremacist narrative allows the security state to turn inward.

The corporate state sensed a bottom up threat when trump was elected. The threat was not from “white supremacists” but from a disaffected working class that had gotten the short end of the stick and been sold out for 50 years.

Calling everyone white supremacists made draconian policy easier to justify.

The problem is there really isn’t a threat from white supremacists (see wave of fake hate crimes) so one needs to be manufactured.

As the intersectional orthodoxy exerts it’s power it will label an increasingly broad swath of people white supremacists by changing the meanings of words and arbitrarily condemning value systems that conflict with it. This is the game. You’re being herded into a box and the state is preparing the auspices under which to persecute you if you resist it’s authoritarian policies or indoctrination practices.

Patriot Front probably serves the purpose of a honey pot in an effort to confirm the political threat, but also as a political amplifier of the supposed threat itself.

[jokerislandgirl32]

what’s some wk fan content that you’d like to see more of?

Ohhhh, this is a good question! And one I enjoy exploring through my Wild Violet AU 😄. But, to answer your question, there are a few things I would definitely like to see more of in terms of Wild Kratts Fan Content.

Read more below…I put the break in because this is lengthy…

At the top of my list is content showing the Kratts Brothers, Aviva, and Zach’s interactions as children. I would love to see more fans explore why Zach and the Kratt brothers did not get along as children, and I am always up for deeper exploration into Zach and Aviva’s summer camp experience.

I would also love to see more fan content about the Finding Your Inner Villain Seminar. This is something I feel like we all talk about, but we have yet to really write about or explore in depth. I know I will personally be exploring this topic in my Wild Violet AU, but I think it would be wonderful to have different view points of how this event unfolded.

Topics we may address include: why did they decide to attend the seminar, what types of things were discussed at the seminar, and how the three villains first interact with each other upon meeting (To be fair we know Zach made a bad impression on Donita because of the clams, but what about Zach and Gourmand? Gourmand did not mention the clams [to my knowledge], so did he not witness this, was he only at the seminar to cook?)

A tie in to this last point would be further exploration into the reasons why the villains decided to turn villain hood in the first place. I think we all agree that Gourmand decided on this path because he lost his gourmet cheif’s license, but what about Donita, Zach, and Paisley? Then, what about Dabio and Rex, even though they are classified as henchmen, more or less, why do they just go along with everything that is asked of them?

It will also be fun to see more ship content. My primary modivation for this, you guessed it, is so we can try to wash out the damage that had affected the fandom from the Krattcest ship. This is just wrong, on so many levels, and it makes no sense because there are so many ship options available. I am a personal fan of Zachmand and Koki/Jimmy, so I would love to see more content about these ships, but at this point I will take content for any ship!

I am also interested in more “adult��� content…I am guilty of writing such content myself 😅. But these characters are in their 20s to 30s in the show. They would most likely do things such as curse, drink, and have/speak of steamy situations. As long as this content is appropriately labeled so only adults are viewing it, I would enjoy seeing more of it.

Then on the opposite end of the spectrum, we could churn out content that is appropriate for all age groups…I think this could really be limitless, but it might just be fan art of the Wild Kratts Crew in new creature power suits, silly little head canons, sweet interactions between the characters, future episode predictions, past episode analyses, memes, AMVs or edits. This is broad I know, but I hope It makes sense 😊.

Finally, I think more exploration may be given into how the Wild Kratts Crew was first formed. I see people on tumblr talking about this, and it fascinates me. I want to know how Koki and Jimmy came into the picture, and this is just something I can’t imagine on my own, so I just love seeing others write on this topic, and I don’t think there is ever an instance in which this could be overwritten.

So…this was super extensive, but I hope this answered your question! Thank you for asking, I enjoyed thinking about all the possibilities this topics afforded 😁.