#Armistice 100

[warderfromtheborder]

Destiny: the year of Very Well Structured Things In Sets of 2

Defiance+Wish: The Sovs Mara and Crow, the Eliksni Misraaks and Eramis, and the Regular Ass Humans Devrim and Petra(PV counts as a regular-ass human she isn't a figure of prophecy or royalty in the reef she's a cop who's been promoted too much out of necessity)

Deep+Witch: The Truncated Heros Sloane and Eris, the Osmium OGs Xivu and Savathun, the Concerned Boss-Parents Zavala and Ikora, and the Wriggly Enablers Ahsa and Drifter (okay you got me) I mean the Nonhuman Guides Ahsa and Immaru

Lightfall: Osiris with no Sagira and Nimbus with no Rohan and Caiatl with no Recognizable Dad and the Witness with no Disciples and Chioma with no Maya and the Vex with no Chill the Living People of Neomuna with no Meatspace to live in. (The dreaming city curse will never end and the people on Neptune will never get to leave the matrix Im sorry but that's the way it is)

The story and themes for this year of Destiny are SO GOOD the writers have done SUCH A GOOD JOB. If making a tighter relationship between the expansion narrative and the seasonal narratives was one of the goals this year they fucking knocked it out of the park, I can't put any of these arcs into its own box because they have been knit together so sturdily. It's all one great narrative, one Very Big narrative, they haven't done it like this before!

(And Im so mad people couldnt stop shitting on Lightfall they are stoping themselves from seeing how good the WHOLE NARRATIVE IS they are probably gonna say come march/near TFS launch "uhh yeah the seasons were good i guees but maybe they shoulda worked harder on Lightfall I mean who even likes Nimbus" and for their Ignorance and Haterism I am sentencing them to reading part two of The Two Towers while they get attacked by Paper-Tube Ninjas and a broadcast system shouts at them 'YOU CANNOT HAVE THE VICTORIES IN RETURN OF THE KING IF FRODO AND SAM DIDNT KEEP WALKING ALL THE WAY TO MORDOR' for 100 hundred years.) (The link there is I didn't get the Point of that part of Two Towers when I first read it and assumed the whole would have been better without it. Obviously...I was wrong, and so are these clowns who think Lightfall has a bad story)

The name of the game this year is Resolution, Catharsis, Armistice, Acceptance. The structuring is so simple and so elegant and so well executed, the 2s, the 3s, the mirroring and the inverting and the unfathomable gloriousness of the victories personal and community and galaxy wide. There is no way to overstate the bitterness of Amanda's death, the relief of exhalation when Sloane retreats, the VINDICATION of Eris's vengeance.

You remember when Zavala 'discovered' Crow's former identity? How that was the crowning on-screen narrative jewel in destiny up to that point? What I am saying is EVERY ARC THIS YEAR IS AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN THAT BEAT AND DESERVES AS MUCH RECOGNITION FOR THE ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SO MANY COMPLEMENTARY COMBOS PACKED INTO ONE EXPANSION STORY.

If Shadowkeep was the first sign of symptoms, if Beyond Light was trying to irradiate the disease, if Witch Queen was a tug of war with scar tissue, then Lightfall is the world after recovery and making peace with what will Never Be The Same, and the home and family that has been changed forever but is still Your Home and Your Family. We don't stop fighting but we also don't stop loving and growing and caring.

One last thing for my fellow Sjur copium addicts out there: Sloane's retreat was mirrored and inverted by Eris's victory, so for the complementary-ness of the story to continue, Amanda's death and Crow's subsequent emotional anguish over losing the person he fought with but who also saw him for who he really is will need to be mirrored and inverted by SOMEONE who Mara fought with but who also saw her for who she really is and I expect you will agree this is SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE reasoning that Sjur's comin back home.

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in November 2023

01/11 Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester attended the Senior Serving and Retired Officers’ Briefing at the Army and Navy Club on Pall Mall in London. 🪖💼

As Chancellor of Harper Adams University, attended the launch of the University’s Strategic Plan at London Bridge Arches. 🎓

With Sir Tim As Royal Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, attended the Grand Day Choral Evensong Service at Temple Church in London. 🎶

With Sir Tim As Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, attended a Dinner to mark their 40th Anniversary at Mansion House in London. ⚙️

02/11 Held two investiture ceremonies at Buckingham Palace. 🎖️

03/11 As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, visited Citizens Advice Malvern Hills in Malvern, Worcestershire. 👩‍⚖️

Opened the Specialist Operations Centre at the Gloucestershire Constabulary and Office of Police and Crime Commissioner in Cheltenham. 👮‍♀️

07/11 Alongside King Charles & Queen Camilla, Princess Anne in her role as Gold Stick in Waiting, was present at the State Opening of Parliament. 👩‍⚖️🪶

Opened the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage and the McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station in Edinburgh. 👨‍🚒

The Princess Royal, As Patron of the Eric Liddell 100, attended the inaugural Lecture and Reception on board Fingal, Alexandra Dock, in Edinburgh. 🏃🏽🥂

Unofficial Sir Tim attended the memorial service for former university friend and newsreader George Alagiah at St-Martin-in-the-Fields church in London 🎓🕊️

08/11 As Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, presented Royal Medals and attended a Reception at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 🏅

As Patron of Catch22, attended the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum in Birmingham ✍️

As Patron of the Wooden Spoon Society, attended a Reception at the House of Lords in London. 🥄🏉🥂

As Court Member of the Fishmongers’ Company, attended a Livery Dinner at Fishmongers’ Hall in London. 🐟🍽️

09/11 As President of World Horse Welfare, attended the Annual Conference at the Royal Geographical Society. 🐴

As Patron of the Butler Trust, visited HM Prison Wandsworth in London. 🚓👮‍♂️

As Patron of the Whitley Fund for Nature, held a 30th Anniversary Dinner at St James's Palace. 🦋🍃

10/11 The Princess Royal, As President of Royal Yachting Association, chaired the Annual General Meeting and presented Awards before attending a Luncheon in London SW1. 🛥️

Unofficial Announcement that Princess Anne will take over Presidency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, taking over from the Duke of Kent who Presided over the Commission since 1970 🌹🪦

~ Remembrance weekend ~

11/11 With Sir Tim Attended the Armistice Day Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum. 🌳 🫡

With Sir Tim Attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall with members of the royal family. 🌹

12/11 With Sir Tim Attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London. Princess Anne laid a wreath whilst Sir Tim stood on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office balcony. 🌹

With Sir Tim Took the salute at the March Past of Ex-Servicemen and Civilian Organisations on Horse Guards Parade, London SWI. 🫡

~ End ~

14/11 As Patron of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), attended the 10th Anniversary Transport and Logistics Safety Forum Conference at the National Memorial Arboretum. 🚚

Visited the new Institute of Shipbuilding course at City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus in Glasgow. ⚓️

As Patron of the Royal Celtic Society, attended a Reception at Glasgow City Chambers. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Attended Interfaith Glasgow’s Scottish Interfaith Week Forum at Glasgow City Chambers. ☪️✡️✝️🕉️🪯

Unofficial Sir Tim attended a Kent Cricket celebration dinner at Lords Cricket Ground 🏏

15/11 Visited BAE Systems Submarines' Submarine Academy and the University of Cumbria. 🤿 👨‍🎓

Visited the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in Barrow-in-Furness. ☢️

As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, visited the Barrow-in-Furness branch to mark its reopening. 🤝

As Patron of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, attended a Dinner at St George's Hall, to mark its 125th anniversary. 🦜💊

16/11 As Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, attended a Coaching Career Insight Day.

As Patron of the Butler Trust, visited HM Prison Drake Hall.

As Patron of Transaid, attended a Reception at London Transport Museum.

17/11 Not Counted Departed Heathrow Airport for Gibraltar but was diverted to Madrid, Spain and arrived in Gibraltar later than intended. ✈️🇪🇸🇬🇮

With Sir Tim As Royal Patron of the Gibraltar International Literary Festival, attended the Literary Festival Opening Dinner at the Sunborn Hotel. 📚🍽️

18/11 In Gibraltar Princess Anne;

As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, visited Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau to mark its 20th anniversary. 👩‍⚖️

Opened the renovated premises of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Association. 🫡

Met representatives of the Emergency Services and members of the Armed Forces at the Convent. 🚑🪖

With Sir Tim visited specialist vehicles provider Bassadone Automotive Group. 🚗

Unofficial Sir Tim visited the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, 🇬🇮⚓️

21/11 As Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, presented Merchant Navy medals for Meritorious Service at Trinity House, London. 🏅

With Sir Tim Attended the State Banquet in honour of the President and First Lady of South Korea. 🇬🇧🇰🇷🍽️

22/11 Visited Retrotec Limited near Northiam, East Sussex. ✈️

Visited Focus SB Limited in St Leonards-on-Sea. ⚙️

As Commandant-in-Chief of St John Ambulance (Youth), attended a Reception for Young Achievers at the Priory Church of the Order of St John in London. 🚑

As Chancellor of the University of London, attended Foundation Day at Senate House in London 🎓

23/11 As Commodore-in-Chief of Portsmouth Naval Base, opened Alford Schools of Military Music. 🎶

Attended a Luncheon at Spithead House, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, for The Princess Royal's Patronages based in Hampshire. ⚓️

As President of the City and Guilds of London Institute, presented The Princess Royal Training Awards at St James's Palace. 🏆

With Sir Tim As President of the British Olympic Association, attended the Team GB Ball at the Savoy Hotel. 🏋️‍♀️

24/11 As Royal Patron of the London Scottish Football Club, attended the 10th Anniversary of the St Andrew's Day Luncheon at the Sheraton Grand London on Park Lane. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏉

28/11 Presented The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Awards at Fishmongers’ Hall in London. 🏆

As Chancellor of the University College of Osteopathy, attended a Graduation Ceremony. 🎓

As Royal Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, attended a New Fellows’ Dinner. ⚙️🍽️

29/11 The Princess Royal, As Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, visited Canvey Island Station and attended a Reception at the Island Yacht Club. 🔎🏝️

Opened Huntingdon Fire Station and Service Training Centre. 🚒

Opened North Cambridgeshire Training Centre. 💼

As Honorary Member of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, attended the Annual General Meeting and Discussion Dinner. 👷🍴

30/11 As Patron of the Not Forgotten Association, held the Christmas Reception at St James’s Palace. 🎄🎅🏻🎁

Total official engagements for Anne in October: 58

2023 total so far: 458

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in October: 11

2023 total so far: 92

[annerbhp]

Hi Anne, hope you’re having a nice day. I am a huge fan of the Changeling and the Armistice series and I was wondering if you would reveal what you had planned for future installments, such as if Rowle acted alone or if there was a conspiracy, or if instead you hope to one day return to writing in that world.

The thing is. I can do this. I can just list all the plot points. I don't have a problem with that. But once I do, that is saying 100% that I will never write it. So I am hesitant to do that. Yet.

[howtofightwrite]

Why do some armies, militias, or rebel groups commit war crimes at much higher rates than others? If you're trying to go beyond designating good guys and bad guys by authorial fiat, what are some of the fail-safes you'd want a fictional armed faction to have to minimize their My Lais as much as possible?

So, an important warning on this, I'm mostly writing this off-the-cuff, and I'm not doing a lit review at all. So, if you're looking at this as a scholarly work, please consider this a rough draft at best. Also, somewhat obviously, the subject matter here will get pretty dark.

Unsurprisingly, TW for war crimes, and terrorism. Though, I'll try to keep this clinical.

The short answer is multiple factors with no individual one ever being universally true. I'm going to break down war crimes and atrocities into two general categories: Planned and Unplanned. This is because these spring from distinct factors.

There is another possible dichotomy, distinguishing between war crimes of action, and technically illegal behavior, such as the use of munitions or weapons that are legally prohibited, but are not directly associated with any atrocities. Examples of the latter could include deployment of chemical weapons against valid military targets, or even military buildups in violation of previous armistice treaties. For example: the Bismarckand Tirpitz were floating war crimes, simply by existing, and violating existing treaties (I'm not 100% sure which treaties off hand, and the legal status of these battleships is a little more complicated than I'm suggesting.) In general, I don't think this is what you're looking at, but it's worth remembering that war crimes cover a much wider range of topics that just atrocities committed against civilians.

Planned atrocities are intentionally executed by the faction, these are often deliberate strategies employed by those organizations. This can include things like terrorist attacks, or deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure to demoralize enemy forces or the civilian population itself, these can also be employed to erode public support for ongoing military actions. Of course, in some cases, the deaths are the primary goal, and any effect on morale is incidental.

Unplanned war crimes and atrocities occur incidentally, often as a result of failures in the chain of command.

This isn't a strict dichotomy, a group may have policies or strategies that can lead to war crimes through insufficient discrimination (in this context, discrimination refers to the concept as it exists in Just War theory/doctrine, which is to say, discriminating between civilian and military targets.) For example, a faction who intentionally bombards military targets in a civilian population center (read, a town or city) would probably fall more on the unplanned side of the spectrum, in contrast to a faction who simply firebombs the entire city.

When it comes to planned atrocities, ideology is probably the biggest factor to consider. Particularly how their ideology regards the people they're killing. This can take a few really horrific turns, but if you have a group with no regard for human life, and no concern for international law, then you're likely to start seeing war crimes coming fast and heavy.

It's easy to simply designate these groups as, “the bad guys,” but that really undersells how subversive some of these thought processes can be. Unfortunately, the line between terrorist and freedom fighter is a question of perspective, and even groups you'd normally be sympathetic to may be responsible for some horrifying acts, which they justify to themselves by othering their victims. (Usually this othering is based on religious, ethnic, or political affiliation. Though, it can be any combination of the three.) A group of rebels may not have any qualms about “collaborators” getting caught in their attack, even if those people are considered guilty by simple proximity.

A classic examination of this is Battle of Algiers (1966), it's an excellent film, and absolutely worth the watch if you've never seen it.

Unplanned atrocities and war crimes can often lead back to two compounding factors: discipline and morale.

Discipline comes with a massive, “citation needed,” sticker, because it's not completely predictive. Nominally, well disciplined armies can engage in unplanned war crimes. Some of this ties into the second factor, morale, but some of it is independent of that.

Some of the difficulty with discipline is opportunistic crimes (such as looting), which can then spiral out into worse atrocities. In these cases, you're looking at the individual discipline and morale of each soldier combined with a lot of contextual factors, but that doesn't translate smoothly into a generalized model.

The simple model would be that low discipline forces are more likely to engage in opportunistic crimes. They're more likely to evaluate their current situation in relation to how it can potentially benefit them, and when you combine that with the chaos of war, it is a recipe for unplanned atrocities.

Morale is a little more complicated than discipline. In theory, troops who are suffering from low morale  are more likely to engage in unplanned atrocities. (While it's a gross oversimplification of the background factors, this is an apt description for the Mỹ Lai Massacre. Nominally disciplined soldiers, suffering from flagging morale, who incorrectly identified the villages' civilian population as collaborators, and started murdering people.)

However, in practice, morale can be a double edged sword, low morale creates a real risk of soldiers ignoring orders for personal gain, or engaging in illegal behavior out of desperation, however, a sharp increase in morale can also result in lapses leading to criminal activities. The primary example of this would be victory looting (which is a war crime, in case that was unclear.)

In theory, morale and discipline should slot together fairly cleanly to create a single spectrum, but the reality is a lot messier.

In the case of many irregular groups (such as militias, resistance groups, and rebels), the actual forces will be a coalition of different groups that may not see eye to eye on things. In this environment, it's basically impossible to effectively police the different factions within the group. And, unfortunately, history shown that these kinds of coalitions tend to purge their less radical members as they consolidate their power. (The only case I can think of where the radical and terrorist elements were shed by the more mainstream factions would be the IRA. In almost every other case, victory filters for the most ruthless.)

Importantly, coalitions like this tend to be regarded as a single entity by non-members, with the actions of each individual group reflecting on the coalition as a whole. The major exception here is with advanced analysis, where someone who is very well versed in the political or strategic details may be able to explain the different groups and how they fit together. But, for general public opinion, the coalition may as well be a single faction.

Coalitions like this are almost certain to have members who have no qualms about civilian casualties, either due to indifference to collateral deaths, or by identifying civilians as acceptable targets. This can cause problems for these groups as they alienate less radical members of the population. In extreme cases this can even result in recruiting difficulties, and the terroristic elements can cause problems for any peaceful negotiations with outside powers.

These terroristic elements, and atrocities in general, can bolster support against a faction. In some cases, these radical elements can become more of a detriment to the coalition as a whole than its real foe.

If you're hoping for a way to prevent this, there really isn't one. These kinds of coalitions are, “opt-in.” Worse, some radical elements are likely to spin up from existing members. In theory, these internal radicals can be a discipline issue, but in some kind of rebel group, they really won't have the resources to fight a war on multiple fights, especially not against themselves while their, “real,” foe is hunting them.

Radicalized organizations (whether they're part of a coalition or not) are also dangerous to their, “allies.” This is because they can provoke an escalated response from their foes. In many cases, if a group has proven that they're willing to deliberately target civilians, it will provoke a more severe response from their foes. That can come in the form of simple retaliation strikes, or could result in enhanced security and greater scrutiny. Finally, these organizations can provoke the emergence of radicalized organizations among their foes. For example, an renegade rebel cell with no qualms about civilian casualties could become the justification for an authoritarian regime's military to create death squads and deploy them in territory that the rebels operate in, taking a scorched earth approach.

While it's not frequently discussed in fiction, cultural differences can also result in, unintentional hostilities, which can also provoke escalation. At the very least, this can provoke resentment against foreign forces, which ensures that any rebel group would have a continual supply or recruits.

So, the original question you asked was, “how do I avoid this?” And, unfortunately, the answer is, “you don't.” Wars are horrific and messy, and unfortunately, the only way to avoid these kinds of horrors is if everyone agrees to, “play by the same rules.” In an asymmetrical war (such as with a rebellion or resistance), that's not possible. The, “legitimate,” government wouldn't view the rebels as a legitimate military force, and if the rebels operated openly they'd be arrested and executed. From there, the fuse is set.

-Starke

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[cagedchoices]

It's been a while since I've done bullet points for verse info, but I've been thinking about my Westworld season 1 AU so naturally the brain rot is setting in and I wanna hyperfixate on it.

The What If Caleb Was In Westworld S1? AU

Caleb winds up in possession of an obscene amount of wealth by saving Mr. Whitman's life and in an effort to find something to do with even just a fraction of the money he'll never use, he learns about Westworld.

Aa per canon lore, black hats and white hats are by far the most popular choice among the human guests, typically categorizing them into one of two roles.

Color theory and symbolism in the western hemisphere often dictates that the color white represents purity, innocence, light, and/or heroism as traditionally "good" traits whereas black is often chosen to represent power, darkness, death, mourning, and/or villainy as traditionally "bad" traits.

These are of course not the ONLY color hat a guest is permitted to wear. There are hosts and some background guests seen wearing brown hats or gray hats.

Brown hats and gray hats are naturally more "neutral" options than black hat or white hat. They represent a tendency to make impulsive decisions that happen in the moment. In color theory, brown often symbolizes a neutral but more earthy connection to the world around you. Gray is often chosen to represent an option directly in-between black and white, sometimes thought to be "boring"

Caleb would likely wear a brown or gray hat. I almost wanna say he'd go hatless because that is what he does in the 20s-themed knockoff park but. Cmon, playing cowboy without a hat is like. blasphemous?? So he really should have a hat. So I’m giving him one.

Caleb's outfits resemble Marty McFly's from Back to the Future Part III. Marty's clothes in turn vaguely resembled Clint Eastwood from the Man With No Name Trilogy.

I'm not 100% committed to this idea but. Young William takes on a bounty hunt for Slim Grant during the Past Timeline. Caleb could *maybe* take on the bounty for Hector Escaton in the Present Timeline. Ultimately, he'd probably forego collecting the bounty and let Hector and Armistice go. Tenderloin and the one other bandit whose name I don't remember are still gonna die tho.

[ahaura]

(Nov. 12)

@AydinDikerdem: Peace activists from XR laid out the names of the 4100 Palestinian children killed in Gaza & the 26 Israeli children killed. They placed 100s of children’s shoes on the steps & held a silence for armistice & children. Then the thugs arrived. My Mum is one of those attacked.

[thefirstknife]

In all honesty I want some sorta armistice with some amount of Lucent Hive for really 3 major reasons:

Absolute banger aesthetic and designs. Super cool I honestly wish I could play as one (My Necro.Grip+Osteo build & GotD armor set is the closest I'll get)

They're such an interesting concept and I need to actually see how theyre dealing with being Lightblessed. Culturally, personality I want a Hive that isn't a god to talk to us

Haha what if we were both immortal beings from opposite factions, given powers that are our ontological opposites going through a philosophical metamorphosis bc if it... ,and we kissed 👉👈🥺

Yeah, same! I would love some section of the Hive to ally with us OR to at least have a temporary truce. It would be super cool to see how that develops and if those Hive maybe look at our way of doing things and consider joining us permanently instead of following those that they were essentially born to follow.

Some Lucent Hive making a choice to stand with us would offer some super interesting implications for the Hive as a whole and also for how we would deal with that. I'm soooo interested in how Lucent Hive are developing and we've not really had any substantial exploration of that yet. It's actually one of my biggest problems with WQ and that whole year. It was such a fundamental change to the setting but didn't actually meaningfully change anything. They're still all our enemies, Lucent Hive follow the same type of philosophy, none of them have shown any sort of doubt or change of heart outside of that one from Lucent Tales who didn't want to perma-kill a Guardian.

I really hope that at some point (soon) we'll see how they're developing and how they'd act if they were given a friendly hand from us. I can see this happening either if we extend that hand on our own or if we're forced to work together and some Lucent Hive end up liking our way of things.

100% agreed on the last point. Lucent Hive are sooo kissable.

[omniblades-and-stars]

For the ship + fic title: Shakarian + Oblivion Calling?

This is 100% a post first contact war AU and also a horror story where the monster is isolation and PTSD and also probably a monster.

Shepard is a grizzled special forces agent who got stuck behind enemy lines before the armistice. He lost contact with the fleet and doesn't know the war is over.

Garrus is sent with a team to find missing scouts only for his team to meet the same unfortunate fate by mythological monster, he gets away only to run into Shepard.

Will they be able to get over their distrust/hatred to survive? Is the monster real? Will the nightmares both real and dreamt ever end?

Tune in sometime in the next 3 years when I decide that actually maybe I should make this real.

[rabbitcruiser]

Cessation of hostilities was achieved in the Korean War when the United States, China, and North Korea sign an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. Syngman Rhee, President of South Korea, refused to sign but pledged to observe the armistice. 

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

Each year both America and South Korea observe National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27. This day was started as a way to commemorate and recognize the peace treaty that triggered a cease-fire in a long-standing war. The Korean War is a significant chapter in American history in which approximately 50,000 American troops died in the conflict, over 100,000 were wounded, and thousands of others were held captive as prisoners of war. On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day we are encouraged to take some moments for reflection on the service and sacrifices of American troops during this conflict.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY

The Korean War lasted for three years — from June June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. The service members of the war had to overcome unique risks and experiences that set them apart from previous generations of veterans. The National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day presents us with the opportunity to remember and honor the service of these men. After being colonized by Japan, the southern part of the Korean peninsula was liberated soon after World War II. With the support of the Soviet Union, communist North Korea invaded democratic South Korea in 1950. In the wake of these events, America deployed troops to support South Korea to keep the land that was truly theirs and protect the nation’s democratic interests. After three years, an armistice was signed and the two Koreas have since then remained divided. 

The fighting resulted in more than 36,000 casualties for America and more than 103,000 service members were wounded in action. The US Department of Veterans Affairs says that the extremely cold climates during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in the winter of 1950 posed serious risks to those serving and accounted for more than 5000 American deaths. The temperatures dipped to 50 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -100 degrees Fahrenheit! This meant that the Korean War veterans are more likely to face health issues such as trauma to the nervous system, skin, and muscles, vascular conditions, foot-related injuries such as trench foot, frostbite scars, and skin cancer as compared to veterans of other wars. These veterans may have also been exposed to hazardous substances such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl, and ionizing radiation during this long war. These substances are responsible for certain illnesses and cancers long after exposure. In fact, the nature of this exposure can be so serious that may be passed down to the next generations.

NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY TIMELINE

1894–1895

First Sino-Japanese War

Imperial Japan destroys the influence of China over Korea to usher in the short-lived Korean Empire

1948

First Socialist Uprising

Guerrillas profess support for the North Korean government in April 1948.

1945

National Liberation Day of Korea

South and North Korea commemorate the end of 35-year Japanese colonial rule.

1950

North Korea Invades South Korea

North Korea’s Korean People's Army forces cross the border and drive into South Korea on 25 June.

NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY FAQS

How many Korean War veterans are still alive in 2019?

As many as two million Korean War veterans are still alive as of 2019.

Is there a Korean Veterans Day?

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day or Korean Veterans Day is observed each year on July 27. The day honors the sacrifices of Korean War veterans and their families. 

Do Korean War veterans get a pension?

Korean War Veterans may be eligible for a wide variety of benefits available to all American military veterans. These benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY

Donate to organizations: Many organizations help in the treatment and rehabilitation of army veterans. You can either volunteer your time or donate funds to these organizations.

Brush up on your history: Today is a great day to brush up on American history. You can read books, newspaper clippings, or digital archives of the Korean War. Reading is a great way to learn more about the war and the events leading up to it.

Visit a veteran: Do you know a veteran who served in the Korean War? You can take some time off your day to go visit them. Surprise them with a meal or take them out for a movie.

5 FACTS ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

It’s one of the biggest recruiters: The U.S. Army employs over a million people.

Dogs are an important part of it: Presently, around 500 dogs are serving in the U.S. Army.

It has many military bases: It has 800 military bases and these bases are spread over 74 countries.

The presidents have served, too: As many as 16 U.S. presidents have served in the U.S. Army

The army is older than the country: George Washington created the Continental Army in 1775.

WHY NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY IS IMPORTANT

It celebrates American history: The Korean War is an important part of American history. This is a great day to learn more about the country’s rich past and how it continues to affect the present.

A way to say thanks: This is also a day to say thanks to all the brave servicemen who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America. The day recognizes the achievements of veterans and those who continue to serve in the army.

Celebrates international unity: The Korean War celebrates the triumph of democracy. It shows how great nations can come together to protect the rights of their people. National Korean War Armistice Day is ultimately the celebration of a global kinship.

Source

[grandmaster-anne]

11 November 2018 The Duchess of Gloucester attends the Armistice 100 event at the National Memorial Arboretum.

[bgallen]

"For months we have slept under the guns … We cannot comprehend the stillness.”

On the personal train carriage of General Ferdinand Foch, deep in the Forest of Compiègne, four representatives from the German Empire and four leaders of the Allied Powers met to discuss the terms of an armistice. After three days, on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the Armistice went into effect. Thus ending four years of unprecedented death and destruction, the Great War was finally over. Today, 105 years after this moment in history, that so drastically effected the lives of millions upon millions, we observe it as Veteran’s Day in America. Veteran’s Day is a day that we remember all of the veterans, in all of their capacities, who have served our nation. Veterans Day is a day to remember those veterans who have passed, yet even more importantly, to remember those who are living.

 I listened to a great podcast this week from History That Doesn’t Suck. Professor Greg Jackson does an incredible job telling the story of the Armistice in such an interesting way, yet still including all of the names and facts that are important. Episode 146 is titled, The Armistice of November 11, 1918. It’s a little over an hour long but so worth your time.

Armistice Day 1918: 100 Years of Heroes - YouTube, video of various American troops celebrating the armistice around the world in 1918.

They Shall Not Grow Old – New Trailer – Now Playing In Theaters - YouTube, this documentary is incredible.

1918 Peerless Quartet - Goodbye France - YouTube, this song came out in 1918.

1919 Nicholas Orlando - Till We Meet Again (Charles Hart & Harry MacDonough, vocal) - YouTube, this is a favorite of mine – I didn’t realize that it was written during The Great War!

Armistice Day 1918 (1918) - YouTube, oh my the confetti being thrown at 0:18!

“This Veterans Day, may we honor the incredible faith that our veterans hold, not just in our country but in all of us.  They are the solid-steel backbone of our Nation, and we must endeavor to continue being worthy of their sacrifices by working toward a more perfect Union and protecting the freedoms that they have fought to defend. In respect and recognition of the contributions our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2023, as Veterans Day.  I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice of these patriots through appropriate ceremonies and private prayers and by observing two minutes of silence for our Nation’s veterans.  I also call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States of America and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities.”

 I hope that your weekend is enjoyable, fun, restful, active – whatever you need it to be. And remember our veterans.  

[baraquiojoashbentley]

It's all about Israel vs Palestine war.

Before we proceed to our topic, let's first define how it all started. how the war started from israel and palestine.

"The Conflict of Religion"

Several religious factors pertinent to Islam and Judaism dictate the role of religion as the main factor in the conflict, notably including the sanctity of holy sites and the apocalyptic narratives of both religions, which are detrimental to any potential for lasting peace between the two sides. Extreme religious Zionists in Israel increasingly see themselves as guardians and definers of the how the Jewish state should be, and are very stringent when it comes to any concessions to the Arabs. On the other hand, Islamist groups in Palestine and elsewhere in the Islamic world advocate the necessity of liberating the “holy” territories and sites for religious reasons, and preach violence and hatred against Israel and the Jewish people.

Religion-based rumors propagated by extremists in the media and social media about the hidden religious agendas of the other side exacerbate these tensions. Examples include rumors about a “Jewish Plan” to destroy al Aqsa mosque and build the Jewish third temple on its remnants, and, on the other side rumors that Muslims hold the annihilation of Jews at the core of their belief.

In addition, worsening socio-economic conditions in the Arab and Islamic world contribute to the growth of religious radicalism, pushing a larger percentage of youth towards fanaticism, and religion-inspired politics.

The advent of the Arab spring, ironically, also posed a threat to Arab-Israeli peace, as previously stable regimes were often challenged by extreme political views. A prominent example was the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, who after succeeding to the presidency in 2012, threatened to compromise the peace agreement with Israel based on their religious ideology – even if they did not immediately tear up the treaty.

The next one is the "Border" of Israel and Palestine.

The 1949 armistice lines served as Israel’s effective borders until 1967 — which is why they are known as the 1967 lines or Green Line. From 1949 – 1967, Jordan controlled the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip, but Israel gained control of those areas in the 1967 war. Palestinians and much of the international community consider these areas to be under Israeli military occupation. In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) began to shift from its demand for 100 percent of the land to a state based on the 1967 lines — 22 percent of historic Palestine. Palestinians view this shift as their ‘historic compromise.’ Today, Palestinians see their 22 percent shrinking, as Israeli settlements expand across the West Bank.

Many Israelis do not consider the 1967 lines as a basis for drawing borders, seeing them as arbitrary armistice lines that separated the Israeli and Arab troops in 1949. Additionally, many Israelis reject the characterization of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “occupied” by Israel. Others argue that borders based on the 1967 lines are not defensible and ask, why should Israel return territory that it won in defensive wars?

Primarily, the driving considerations for Israel on borders are security and demographic realities on the ground — specifically, Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank, that were built since Israel took control in 1967. In total, there are approximately (630,000+) Israelis who live beyond the 1967 lines–the vast majority in communities adjacent to the 1967 lines.

Often, Israelis do not distinguish between Israeli communities within the 1967 lines and those beyond them that are close by.

The next issue is all about the "Territory".

Populations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory endure recurring war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the crime of apartheid.

Palestinian territory encompassing the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967. Since then, the Israeli government has established a two-tiered legal and political system that provides comprehensive rights for Jewish Israeli settlers while imposing military rule and control on Palestinians without any basic protections or rights under international law. The Israeli government has also engaged in a regular practice of inhumane acts, as well as extrajudicial killings, torture, denial of fundamental human rights, arbitrary detention and collective punishment. The UN Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and Israel concluded in June 2022 that continued occupation, as well as discrimination against Palestinians, are the key causes of recurrent instability and protraction of conflict in the region.

According to a March 2022 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the OPT, Israel’s political system of entrenched rule in the OPT satisfies the prevailing evidentiary standard for the crime of apartheid. The Special Rapporteur determined in July 2021 that Israel’s occupation since 1967 has been characterized by settlement expansion that aims to permanently alter the ethnic demographics of East Jerusalem and amounts to a war crime. The UN Security Council (UNSC) previously adopted a resolution in December 2016 reaffirming that Israeli settlements in the OPT violate international law. The CoI reached similar conclusions in September 2022, reporting that the Israeli government’s policies and actions have led to the permanent occupation and de facto annexation of Palestinian territory, likely constituting crimes under international law, including war crimes. Both the CoI and Special Rapporteur have reported that this ongoing coercive environment has prevented Palestinians from fulfilling their right to self-determination and other fundamental human rights. In December 2022 the UN General Assembly requested the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s ongoing occupation.

Palestinians are regularly subjected to violence by Israeli settlers, including physical attacks, shooting with live ammunition, torching of fields and livestock, theft and vandalization of property. Israeli security forces also perpetrate widespread attacks against Palestinians, particularly in occupied territory, which often lead to deadly escalations, including regular aerial bombardments of the Gaza Strip. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians residing in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 2005, with over 150 Palestinians, including 26 children, killed by Israeli security forces.

Meanwhile, Israel’s air, sea and land blockade of Gaza has been in place since 2007 and has inflicted collective punishment on 2 million Palestinians, facilitating a humanitarian crisis. Israeli authorities periodically shut down the crossings into Gaza, preventing the flow of people, medical cases and essential commodities, including food. Hamas’ security forces have also committed grave abuses against civilians in Gaza, including arbitrary arrests, summary executions and torture.

"Resources"

GENEVA (18 March 2019) – Israel’s exploitation of natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for its own use is in direct violation of its legal responsibilities as an occupying power, says UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk.

For nearly five million Palestinians living under occupation, the degradation of their water supply, the exploitation of their natural resources and the defacing of their environment, are symptomatic of the lack of any meaningful control they have over their daily lives,” Lynk said presenting a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Israel’s policy of usurping Palestinian natural resources and disregarding the environment has robbed the Palestinians of vital assets, and means they simply cannot enjoy their right to development.

Its approach to the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory has been to use them as a sovereign country would use its own assets, with vastly discriminatory consequences.”

The report, focusing on the impact of the occupation on the environment and natural resources, said people living under occupation should be able to enjoy the full panoply of human rights enshrined in international law, in order to protect their sovereignty over their natural wealth.

However, Israeli practices in relation to water, extraction of other resources, and environmental protection, raise serious concerns.

With the collapse of natural sources of drinking water in Gaza and the inability of Palestinians to access most of their water sources in the West Bank, water has become a potent symbol of the systematic violation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the Special Rapporteur said.

As of 2017, more than 96% of Gaza’s coastal aquifer – the main source of water for residents of Gaza – has become unfit for human consumption. The reasons include over-extraction because of Gaza’s extremely dense population, contamination with sewage and seawater, Israel’s 12-year old blockade, and asymmetrical wars which has left Gaza’s infrastructure severely crippled and with a near-constant electricity shortage.

The Rapporteur said natural and mineral wealth from the Dead Sea, which is partly within the occupied West Bank, were being extracted by Israel for its own benefit, while the Palestinians were denied any access to those resources.

"The Origin Of The People."

The social geography of modern Palestine, especially the area west of the Jordan River, has been greatly affected by the dramatic political changes and wars that have brought this small region to the attention of the world. In the early 21st century, Israeli Jews constituted roughly half of the population west of the Jordan, while Palestinian Arabs—Muslim, Christian, and Druze—and other smaller minorities accounted for the rest. The Jewish population is increasingly composed of persons born in Israel itself, although millions of immigrants have arrived since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. The Arab population is descended from Arabs who lived in the area during the mandate period and, in most cases, for centuries before that time. The majority of both Jews and Arabs are now urbanized.

According to Jewish nationalists (Zionists), Judaism constitutes a basis for both religious and national (ethnic) identity. Palestinian nationalists usually emphasize that their shared identity as Arabs transcends the religious diversity of their community. Both Muslim Arabs, constituting about 18 percent of the Israeli population, and Christian Arabs, about 2 percent, identify themselves in the first instance as Arabs.

The Arab majority resident in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the still larger number of Arab Palestinians living outside the area (many in nearby countries such as Lebanon) have strongly opposed Israeli control and feared an eventual annexation of the West Bank and Gaza by Israel. Many ideological Jewish Israeli settlers support such an annexation and think those lands properly belong to Israel. In 2005 Arab concerns were partially assuaged when Israel completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and handed over control of the territory to the Palestinians, but the Israeli settlement population in the West Bank nearly doubled between 2005 and 2019.

Both Zionists and Palestinian Arab nationalists have at various times since the 19th century claimed rightful possession of the area west of the Jordan River. The rivalry between the two groups and their claims have been major causes of the numerous Arab-Israeli conflicts and the continuing crises in the region. Some members of each group still make such sweeping and mutually exclusive claims to complete control of the area, whereas others are more willing to seek a peaceful compromise solution.

"The Nova Music Festival"

Several hours after the gates opened for the Israeli music festival Supernova, Amit Bar and her boyfriend Nir Jorno arrived with their friend Ziv Hagbi, excited for the event. The devoted electronic music fans had traveled from Matzliah, some 60 miles away. “We really waited for this event,” the 27-year-old Bar says. “It was supposed to be a really good one – really fun, lots of people.”

The gathering promised to be the highlight of the year, especially for those who loved psychedelic trance, or psytrance, the intense and celestial dance music subgenre. “[The music] is based on a philosophy of life,” says veteran British DJ Martin Freeland, who performs as Man With No Name and was scheduled for late Saturday morning. “It’s Woodstock with electronic music. It’s that kind of mentality: a hippie culture, but the music is different. These are the sweetest people. They would never harm anybody.”

Between 3,000 and 4,000 attendees flocked to an open-air space in Israel’s Negev Desert – about three miles from the Gaza border – where 16 DJs from around the world were set to spin in darkness and light for 15 hours straight. The event was timed to the end of Sukkot, a week-long celebratory Jewish holiday commemorating the harvest and the period after Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Supernova, produced by Israel-based Nova Tribe, also doubled as the Israeli edition of Brazil’s popular Universo Paralello festival, a biannual nine-day event that has hosted electronic, reggae, and hip-hop artists near the country’s southern beaches for 20 years. It was set to take place Oct. 6 and 7, although its producers wouldn’t reveal the exact location to ticketholders — which included many teenagers able to get around the minimum age requirement of 23 — until shortly before it began. All anyone knew was this: “The event will take place in a powerful, natural location full of trees, stunning in its beauty and organized for your convenience, about an hour and a quarter south of Tel Aviv.” Attendees were prohibited from bringing weapons including guns and sharp objects.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/hamas-israel-nova-music-festival-massacre-1234854306/amp/

I'm Pro-Israel

because Pro-Israel supporters argue for a variety of reasons. One common perspective is centered around Israel's right to exist as a Jewish homeland, based on historical and religious ties to the region. They often highlight Israel's democratic values, technological advancements, and contributions to various industries such as medicine, technology, and agriculture.

Additionally, proponents of the pro-Israel stance underline the ongoing security concerns faced by Israel due to conflicts and threats in the region. Supporters believe that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism and military aggression, as it has faced numerous wars and acts of violence throughout its history.

Furthermore, some pro-Israel advocates argue for the recognition of Israel's commitment to human rights, emphasizing the country's protections for religious freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and equality for its citizens – which they perceive as unique within the Middle East.

It is important to note that the pro-Israel viewpoint is not universally endorsed, and counterarguments exist. Critics of the pro-Israel stance often highlight the Israeli government's policies towards Palestinians, citing concerns about human rights violations, military occupation, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They advocate for a fair resolution that addresses the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

When forming an opinion, it is crucial to examine multiple perspectives, engage in civil discourse, and consider different narratives presented by individuals with various backgrounds and experiences.

[pj-68]

Mount Cavalletto was the site of an advanced operating station where urgent cases from the front were treated, as the journey from the mountains to the main hospitals on the plain was long and difficult.

Cavalletto British Cemetery, one of five Commonwealth cemeteries on the Asiago Plateau containing burials relating to this period, contains 100 First World War burials. Some of these graves were brough in after the Armistice from Monte di Sunio British Cemetery, Caltrano.

[onceuponaswanqueen]

Reading stats for 2023 & favorite reads of the year - Fanfiction Editon

This is the first year I have tracked my fanfiction reading, which I started in June, which means it’s not one 100% but I think still pretty good due to the fact that I mostly read on ao3 and the history feature is great! This is because I discovered the fanfiction challenge! And I am looking forward to the 2023 challenge and follow it from the start. 

Some stats to start off:

I read 11,931,924 words! 422 different fics, 67 fandoms and 173 unique ships!

Read on for my favorite fics of the year, and more statistics about type of fics, most popular fics and fandom and other fun facts!

By number of fics read my most popular fandom was Harry Potter. I read 41 different Harry Potter fics last year, and my most popular pairing for that fandom was Harry/Ginny. 9 of the fics had Harry & Ginny as the main pairing. 

Second most read by according to number of fics was Glee, with 39 total fics, and Rachel/Quinn being my most popular pairing, with 21 fics where that was the main pairing as well as being a secondary pairing in another 4 fics. 

In third place we have Critical Role, which means that I do atleast have one fandom that is still producing new content that I consume (sorry HP but fantastic beast is not my canon!). I read 35 different Critical Role fics, mainly campaign one and two. My main pairing I read was essek/caleb, with 4 fics, as well as 4 fics without romantic pairings. 

Overall by most fics read, my most popular pairing was a tie between regina/emma (once upon a time) and rachel/quinn with 21 fics each!

If we look at by number of words read, my most popular fandom was Harry Potter with 1 836 237 words read. Second most, accord to words, was Glee, with 1 637 214 words. And in third place, we have The 100, with 1 046 514 words read. 

In terms of ships, quinn/rachel win out by a fairly large margin. Nearly 10 percent of all words read was quinn/rachel, with a total of 1 14 9513 words total read. Jess/Rory (Gilmore Girls) comes in second with 990 554 words read. In third place is Harry/Ginny with 736 903 words.  I also read 799 501 words of fics without a romantic pairing. 

Longest fic read was of queens, kings and pawns by chancecraz which is a star wars time travel fix it fic, which focuses on a post-the force awakens leia being sent back to the day she woke on the death star. 

When it comes to type of fic, i mostly read canon divergence, with 143 fics qualifying under this type. When it comes to number of words, the most popular type of fic was still canon divergence, but followed very closely by time travel fix its and modern aus.

23 percent of all fics were re-reads of old(er) favorites, aka fics that I had read prior to this year.

And now, my top ten fics I read last year, (in no particular order and also some of these are series because this is my list and i make the rules and sometimes its just two unconnected series because i wanted to)!

1.  of queens, kings and pawns by chancecraz

I went to sleep on the worst day of my life and woke to find myself in the past on the second worst day of my life. As experiences go, I don’t recommend it. (leia-centric, han/leia)

This fic is INCREDIBLE. The world building is spot on, the character voices are spot on, leia being a reluctant force user, and the darth vader of it all is so good. It’s a WIP and might never be finished, but still totally worth it. It’s a long one tho.

2. The Changeling + The Armistice Series by  Annerb

Ginny is sorted into Slytherin. It takes her seven years to figure out why. (ginny centric, hints of harry/ginny) 

+  The thing about war is that it never ends. Not really. The battlefields just change locations. Harry and Ginny after the war. (harry/ginny)

The redemption of slytherin, the power of female friendship and also this is just such an incredible character study for ginny. The sequels are also fantastic, and the way the ginny & harry relationship unfolds is worth it alone. 

3. lux et veritas and distilla trust by peterstank

He stops, so she does too, albeit with a bit less grace. Then he grabs the sleeve of her coat and gently tugs her toward a bench with a quiet, “C’mere,” and it’s stupid, it’s ridiculous, but it gives her goosebumps. “Sit down, it’s gonna snow.”

Rory’s breath catches in her throat. Absurdly, ridiculously, she thinks: oh no. Dares to ask, “How can you tell?” and sincerely hopes his answer is something sarcastic and obvious like I checked the forecast this morning, how else?

Instead: “I can smell it. Sit.”

or: the one where jess goes to yale

+

“You brought a book?”

“Like you didn’t.”

She concedes the point and digs a paperback out of her clutch—Austen’s Persuasion, a good choice. Jess displays his own masticated copy of Tobias Wolff’s Old School, which feels like a consistently fitting read when encased within the two-hundred year old hallowed halls of Chilton Preparatory. The book’s cover is hanging on by Scotch tape and a prayer, and half the pages are creased with undone dog ears.

“Man, we’re a couple of anti-social freaks,” Rory declares.

Jess grins. “Just call me Thomas Pynchon.”

or: the one where jess goes to chilton.

First of all, all of peterstanks jess/rory stuff is AMAZING. Like out of this world, maybe some of the best stuff I’ve ever read amazing. But I am super weak for these two AUs and how Jess’s character elvoves in these two very different circumstances. I change my mind about which of these two are my favorite every single time I reread any of them, and like if you ship Literati, these are a MUST. 

4. Quality Ingredients by HurricaneJane

Executive Chef Lexa "The Commander" Woods is working in her latest establishment in her home town of Portland, Maine. She is about to start conceptualizing her next restaurant and only has one rule for herself during the process: No more girls. When an accident at the restaurant lands her in Dr. Clarke Griffin's ER, she second guesses why she ever had that rule in the first place. Lexa's head bartender, Lincoln, is obsessed with a divey restaurant on the other side of town run by Octavia. It doesn't take long for the small town to get even smaller when Lexa starts running into Clarke everywhere. Maybe rules were meant to be broken. (Clarke/Lexa, side Lincoln/Octavia)

This is my all time favorite the 100 fic, and I honestly can’t really put my finger on why. It has pretty much zero angst, so much good food, the characters feels right even in this setting, and just this fic gives me so many happy feelings.

5. Take these broken wings (series) by celaenos

Begins in Season one and follows Quinn through her life should she have chosen to keep Beth, realize she is gay, and fall in love with Rachel Berry.

I read a lot of Faberry, like a lot, and this is one of two fics (the other one reccomended below) that I constantly return to. It has everything I want from my faberry fic, with the added benefit of quinn/sam friendship and an absolutely adorable beth. it’s a very interesting look at quinn and how keeping beth would have changed her experiences and choices in the show. just give it a try, you won’t regret it.

6. the art of boxes by possibilist 

'Quinn thinks of gardenias growing through her eyes, and she thinks thinks of her childhood jewelry box: open it slowly enough, and the ballerina would spin for what seemed like forever.' College!Faberry as promised. Follows canon up through s3

First of all, all of possibilists writing is gorgeous, and if you don’t hate reading seccond person pov stories, i also highly recommend all of her one shots in her series where quinn is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which can be found on ffnet. But art of boxes if just so beautiful, written in third person, and is such a beautiful interpretation of a post-season 3 faberry. like quinn makes so much sense, their relationship develops so naturally, and quinn’s relationship with both her mom and franny in this one makes my heart sing. 

7. the leftover you by beatperfume

Isabelle Lightwood is having a rough start to her senior year. Her brothers have moved out, leaving her alone with her parents as their relationship falls apart. She’s questioning her commitment to ballet just as she’s supposed to be preparing her auditions for ballet academies. She doesn’t need beautiful and talented Clary Fray making her life even more complicated. (izzy/clary)

i’ve never read much shadowhunter fanfiction before, but this one just stole my heart completely. i am a sucker for ballet!aus, and this one is just so beautiful. izzy feels so right and her friendship then romance with clary is just everything. also has great izzy/alec feels. (trigger warning for eating disorders/disordered eating, abusive parents and drug abuse)

8. after laughter (series) by palaces_outofparagraphs

the girls in the years after the finale, dealing with the inevitable trauma after being stalked and tortured on and off for ten years. starts off at age 26, 3 years post-finale; will probably skip around. probably aria- and spencer-centric; a lot of spoby; absolutely no ezria.

this fic series is everything that i wanted the post time jump to be even if it’s set after the finale. it’s all about the girls (focusing on spencer) healing from their trauma and what that means for them, and how to exist in the world after all of it. and like it’s so good. my favorites are “half-empty girl” which deals with spencer & alison and is really really good and “aria.” in which aria realizes that stalking isn’t romance, and seducing a sixteen year old can never be a good thing. but the whole series is worth it. 

9. met you at the right time by bookglue

Rory Gilmore—single, unemployed, technically homeless, and pregnant—comes unstuck in time. Bouncing between significant and not-so-significant moments in her life, she tries to determine when and how her careful plans went wrong. With some help from an ex-boyfriend. (jess/rory)

I am a sucker for time travel fix its, but this is one of the more unique ones i have ever read, not as much fix it, but still in the same vein. mostly, it’s just really good and i don’t want to spoil anything because the journey is everything in this fic, so just read it please.

10. done with my graceless heart by prettypony

After seven year old Henry starts asking one too many questions, Regina realizes the only way forward is to find Emma Swan and break the curse over Storybrooke. The town’s clock will start, everyone will wake up, and perhaps they’ll be so grateful for her change of heart that they’ll decide not to execute her right away.

And if not, at least her son will have a mother. Even if it isn’t her.

[or: regina and henry go on a road trip to find henry's birth mom. true love ensues.] Season 1 AU - Canon Divergence (emma/regina)¨

this fic was so surprising and at the same time just made so much sense, because really how did henry make it to ten without realizing none of his friends aged? it’s really beautiful, it’s wonderful redemption story for regina, and the romance between emma and regina happens really naturally. just a wonderful fic. 

[mystudydiary-blog]

07-11-2022 27/100 DOP *went to research methods class *attended corporate tax

08-11-2022 28/100 DOP *had a guest lecture by KPMG for tax strategy *studied tax strategy

09-11-2022 29/100 DOP *submitted a peer evaluation *worked on our research paper

10-11-2022 30/100 DOP *attended international tax class

The 11th was a public holiday because of armistice day and I did nothing for university but went for a long walk with my mom and afterwards we went to the farmers' market.

12-11-2022 31/100 DOP *got my 4th covid vaccine (rip my lymph nodes) *worked on our research paper

13-11-2022 32/100 DOP *did some stuff in SPSS *read in my VAT textbook

[guardianreadersofthegalaxy]

My 2022 film ranking:

1.       Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’ – The Musical (AKA ‘Booksmart’) – [Musical] A highly intelligent child starts primary school and confronts the evil headmistress. I’ll get this out of the way, the sight of precocious children jigging about like they’re in a TikTok makes me nauseous. Otherwise, M:TM is perfect, thanks mostly to Dahl’s charming story and Tim Minchin’s wonderful songs. Director Matthew Warchus leans into stylisation, bringing colour and magic that puts more ‘grounded’ musical directors like Tom Hooper to shame. Emma Thompson chews the scenery as the child-phobic Trunchbull, and Alisha Weir holds it all together as the cute and capable heroine. For fans of Paddington.

2.       The Lost Daughter (AKA ‘Mamma Mia! But Sad’) – [Drama] While on a solo holiday to Greece, Leda meets a young mother who reminds her of her own struggles as a parent. This could have been a slow burn, but an early reckless choice by the protagonist infuses the film with simmering tension. It’s a great character study, and director Maggie Gyllenhaal gets brilliant performances from Buckley and Colman as the quietly abrasive Leda, who’s unpredictable without seeming inconsistent. I like Gyllenhaal’s use of quick edits and closeups to deliberately disorient the viewer, as well as Dickon Hinchliffe’s score which swings from melancholy to upbeat, ensuring things never get dull. For fans of Fleabag.

3.       The Quiet Girl (AKA ‘All Quiet On The Girl Front’) – [Drama] A young girl is sent away from her neglectful family to stay with kindly relatives for the summer. I wasn’t initially sure where the story was going to go, given this starts where most adoption stories end. But I realised very soon that it was about the journey, not the destination. The direction’s subjective, showing you the world from a child’s perspective while still providing insight to the adult characters. The ending’s wonderfully bittersweet and, most impressively, it’s a tight 90 minutes. For fans of Goodnight Mr. Tom.

4.       Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (AKA ‘Janelle Monáe, Janelle Problems’) – [Murder mystery] Eccentric detective Benoit Blanc is summoned to a Greek island to solve the ‘murder’ of a tech billionaire. It’s only a prolonged an uneventful first act that keeps this from reaching the perfection of ‘Knives Out’. After the mid-point gamechanger, Rian Johnson provides wall-to-wall payoffs that satisfyingly recontextualise previous clues and red herrings. As for Benoit Blanc, I thought he worked better as a co-lead with Ana De Armas than in his more central role here, but he’s still extremely charming. For fans of the end of Prisoner Of Azkaban.

5.       All Quiet On The Western Front (AKA ‘Insert Hilarious WW1 Gag’) – [War] In the final months of World War I, a naïve German recruit enters the meat-grinder of the Western front. It's the sort of thing you only want to watch once, like '12 Years A Slave'. With hand-held direction that puts you at the heart of the action and nightmarish gore worthy of a horror film, AQOTWF is experiential filmmaking at its best. You could have lost the Armistice subplot and cut things down to a lean 100 minutes, but the prospect of a ceasefire lends extra pathos to the lives taken in the final hours of the war. For fans of 1917.

6.       Ali & Ava (AKA ‘Disc-eo & Folk-iet) – [Drama] An EDM-loving landlord and a folk-loving teaching assistant find common ground. Director Clio Barnard finds magic in the drizzle and concrete of Bradford. There’s some great use of symbolism: a glance at a rocking chair or a pair of boots can tell you everything you need to know about a character. Her script deals with a lot of different issues (a few too many), and maybe should have zeroed in on the themes of mental health and the power of music. For fans of Ken Loach

7.       Nope (AKA ‘Cowboys Vs Aliens’) – [Sci-fi/horror] Two siblings attempt to save their family business by capturing footage of the UFO terrorising their farm. It’s been a long time since I last said “Oh my god” out loud in a cinema (I’m British). ‘Nope’ takes a bit of time to get started, but once things kick off in earnest it’s a real thrill. The second act in particular is terrifying, thanks to a genuinely hard to watch scene of Lovecraftian horror. There are a few odd choices, like the distractingly gravelly director character who’s introduced too late to be properly characterised, but otherwise I’d say that Jordan Peele’s done it again. EDIT: Oh yeah, what was the deal with the floating shoe? For fans of Steven Spielberg.

8.       Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (AKA ‘The Power Of The Doc’) – [Superhero] A sorcerer has his ex-girlfriend’s wedding interrupted by a multiversal war. This was really entertaining! The action was occasionally hard to follow and the plot, while coherent, was little more than a vehicle for increasingly bizarre set pieces. But what set pieces! I know MCU directors often feel handicapped by studio interfering but, in this case, it seemed like Sam Raimi was able to make the film his own by leaning into the goofy soft-horror he’s best known for. And the, now obligatory, fan-service cameos were wisely confined to one scene. For fans of Sam Raimi.

9.       Everything Everywhere All At Once (AKA ‘Racocoonie’) – [Sci-fi/action] A laundry owner has her tax audit appointment interrupted by a multiversal war. Co-directors ‘Daniels’ should be applauded for their boundless creativity, though I do have notes. There’s an incredible 100 minute film in there somewhere, but many moments dragged out for way too long. EEAAO rises above other Matrix knockoffs by remembering to have fun, with plenty of ‘Rick & Morty’-style comedy to complement the competently handled emotional story. By turns surreal, hilarious, tedious, and genuinely moving. And too long. For fans of Rick & Morty.

10.   The House (AKA ‘There’s A Moose Loose Aboot The Hoose!’) – [Adult animation] Three generations of cats, mice, and humans try their best to settle into ‘the house’. I mean, I just love stop motion so maybe this had an unfair advantage. Design and direction are both on point to make ‘The House’ as beautiful as it is unsettling. Thematically though, it suffers from ‘French Dispatch syndrome’: with neither the variety of an anthology miniseries like ‘Inside Number Nine’, or the coherence of a standard 90-minute film. The first and last parts had decent messages, but I never felt like Jarvis Cocker’s mouse estate agent was getting his just deserts. For fans of Henry Selick.

11.   The Power Of The Dog (AKA ‘Doctor ‘Straight’ In The Closet Of Sadness’) – [Drama] A macho cattle-rancher takes against his brother’s new wife and her aloof teenage son. I thought Jessie Plemons’ understated performance was the highlight. His tearful relief at finding an alternative to his bullying brother really struck a chord, and it’s a shame that he faded into the background later on. The actors convey a lot through physicality, like Dunst’s shaking hands as she sits at the piano, or Cumberbatch and Smit-McPhee’s gait as they respectively strut and mince around the farm. Dialogue schmialogue. For fans of There Will Be Blood.

12.   RRR (AKA ‘Rajamouli’s Ridiculous Romp’) – [Action] Sparks fly in 1920s India when officer A. Rama Raju meets the revolutionary Komaram Bheem. They don’t make films like this in the West any more, and I think that’s a shame. RRR is camp and earnest, always somewhere between ‘so bad it’s good’ and just genuinely good. While there were literally hundreds of moments of unintentional comedy, I couldn’t help but get swept up in the epic drama and spectacle. For fans of Stephen Chow.

13.   See How They Run (AKA ‘Who Has Done This?’) – [Comedy] In the 1950s, a murder is committed on the West End stage of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’. This was more enjoyable on the rewatch, with lowered expectations. Sam Rockwell's still wasted and the premise still isn't as original as it thinks it is. But the jokes (both verbal and physical) all land, the payoffs and reveals are satisfying, and the cast mostly live up to their potential. And Saoirse Ronan carries the whole thing, doing double duty as moral centre and comic relief. For fans of Inside No. 9.

14.   Don’t Look Up (AKA ‘Leostorm’) – [Drama/comedy] Two astronomers desperately attempt to warn the world’s governments about an approaching comet. This was a really tense watch. It felt like a modern update of ‘Dr Strangelove’, where the people with the power to avert Armageddon are too inept to do so. There’s a hefty dose of Black Mirror in there too, with humanity’s stupidity on full display. That said, I didn’t leave feeling like we deserve annihilation, which might have been some consolation. Instead I was angry that we put our lives in the hands of the Musks and de Pfeffel Johnsons of the world, and that’s not as cathartic. For fans of Charlie Brooker.

15.   The Banshees Of Inishirin (AKA ‘The Irishmen’) – [Drama] During the civil war, an Irish farmer is baffled to learn that his friend doesn’t like him any more. You can tell Martin McDonagh’s a playwright – the slow pace, the few locations, the focus on dialogue. And like most plays it gave me a lot to think about, whilst also being a bit boring. The jokes all landed but they were few and far between. It was like feature-length ‘This Country’ episode, but with more fiddles and misery. And Barry Keoghan was fantastic as ever, if typecast, as Dominic the village eejit. For fans of Samuel Beckett.

16.   Turning Red (AKA ‘Meilin, Wailin’ & Big Fluffy Tailin’) – [Family animation] A thirteen-year-old girl turns into a giant red panda. I feel like, as with the MCU, Pixar films have somewhat reached a point of competent homogeneity. I could copy and paste most of this from my last two Pixar reviews: the animation’s beautiful; good insights are made about the human condition; the message is hindered by over-specific lore. And that’s fine, I guess. For fans of Luca.

17.   Pig (AKA ‘Baken’) – [Drama] A former expert chef turned lonely truffle hunter searches for his stolen truffle pig. I felt like there could have been something profound going on in 'Pig'. The juxtaposition of a dirty, bleeding man sat in a fancy restaurant probably signifies… something. But there were just too many off-putting elements, like the random fight club scene, for me to grasp what it was all about. Cage does your standard 'Sadman McDeadwife' performance, but I much preferred Alex Wolff's nervous yuppie. For fans of John Wick… or Ratatouille

18.   Prey (AKA ‘Nevertheless, Coman-she Persisted’) – [Sci fi/ action] A precocious young Comanche woman confronts an extra-terrestrial ‘Predator’. It’s such a shame this never got a theatrical release. The ‘Revenant’-style nature shots were amazing but would have been so much better on the big screen. It’s a lean 100 minutes and a little light on substance, meaning everything hinges on the action, which is… decent. The Predator’s kills are gleefully bloody, but the final fight is hard to follow in the dark, making it a bit of a limp climax. For fans of The Revenant.

19.   The Batman (AKA ‘Twi-knight’) – [Superhero] Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler. Director Matt Reeves draws on the serial killer films of David Fincher, emulating their tone but unfortunately also their three-hour runtimes. I’m afraid I found The Batman to be heavy on plot and light on theme, leaving me with little idea of what it was ‘all about’. Paul Dano’s a brilliant actor but he’s only really given one scene and, sadly, I think he botched it. Still, I enjoyed the action, the cinematography and Michael Giacchino’s already iconic score. For fans of Seven.

20.   Smile (AKA ‘Upside Down Frown Town) – [Horror] A psychiatrist is fatally cursed when she witnesses one of her patients committing suicide. This script really could have used another pass. The scares are effective but the premise is generic and the dialogue laughably bad, particularly the overuse of the f-word worthy of an A Level drama class. Worst of all, thematically it seems to come out against seeking help for mental health problems, an idea I thought it would subvert but then it just… didn’t. That said, there are a few brilliantly nightmarish images and an incredible score from Cristobal Tapia De Veer. For fans of It Follows.

21.   Thor: Love & Thunder (AKA ‘Why, Waititi? Why?!’) – [Superhero] Thor teams up with ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher. I think Marvel Studios might be drunk on their own power. Indeed ‘Love & Thunder’ feels like it was written and directed while drunk. It brings back a lot of the elements that made ‘Ragnarok’ work, but underdelivers on both humour and pathos. Thor’s new multi-coloured costume is a huge downgrade from the streamlined look in his previous solo film, and Guns ‘N’ Roses can’t hold a candle to Led Zeppelin. For fans of Ghostbusters (2016).

22.   Ennio (AKA ‘The Good, The Bad & The Long) – [Documentary] A documentary celebrating the life and work of Italian film composer Ennio Morricone. Honestly, I love Morricone but after two and a half hours I was sick of the old codger. Insights are made into the great man’s process but they’re drops in an ocean of runtime. I wish, instead of trying to cover every film Morricone ever composed, director Giuseppe Tornatore had just picked a few ‘greatest hits’. Or at least devoted more than 60 seconds to the scoring his own ‘Cinema Paradiso’. For fans of BBC 4 music documentaries.

23.   The Worst Person In The World (AKA ‘Nor-way Home’) – [Drama] I’m sorry, so little happens in this film that I’m not sure that I can summarise it. My favourite part was finding out, to my relief, that my wife didn’t like it either. Perhaps I shouldn’t have had a couple of drinks before watching something where I’d have to read both subtitles and actors’ facial expressions. Either way, I mentally checked out after the first hour. TWPITW uses a prologue to establish Julie’s personality before instantly contradicting it, introduces numerous disparate plot elements that didn’t go anywhere (drugs, families, offensive cartoons) and has basically nothing happen for two hours. For fans of things that are shit.

And a dishonourable mention to The Lost King (AKA ‘Knowing M.E., Knowing You’), which Cate said it wouldn’t be fair for me to review because I walked out after 30 minutes. Also No Time To Die, which I couldn’t finish because my plane landed but was also pretty bad.