#Building a positive safety culture

[constructionsafetynetwork]

Building a Positive Safety Culture in Construction: Essential Strategies for Success

In the construction industry, where risks and hazards are inherent to the job, building a positive safety culture is paramount. It’s not just about complying with regulations; it’s about cultivating an environment where safety is deeply ingrained in every aspect of work. This article explores the strategies and practices essential for building a positive safety culture in…

[agooduniverse]

this post is wild to me bc it perfectly illustrates the issues inherent to corporate pride/rainbow capitalism and yet somehow its contributors draw the complete opposite conclusion

[ot3]

top 10 pokemon that are girls

'gender'.... much like 'animals' this is a concept from our world that has made itself present in the pokemon franchise. all pokemon began having genders (except for the ones that don't) in the second generation of games, in order to facilitate the pokemon breeding mechanic which has become a staple of the main series

you may think this means the issue of which pokemon are girls and which ones aren't is already settled. but do we really trust game freak to be the deciding voices on this one? i certainly don't. so here's a nonexhaustive look at some pokemon that are doing their best to be role models for young women everywhere who have been picking up and enjoying these games for decades.

#10 - NIDORAN♀

Not only is Nidoran♀ canonically a girl, she is the first pokemon to be canonically a girl as the gender distinction between Nidoran types predates the introduction of gen 2's breeding system that gendered all pokemon. she broke the glass ceiling, and for this we salute her.

#9 - KANGASKHAN

Both culturally and in media single mothers are subject to a lot of scrutiny and scorn, but kangaskhan breaks the mold. powerful, responsible, yet loving and joy-filled. the look on her baby's face tells us all we need to know; she holds on tight to the pouch, clinging to the safety she knows her mother can give her, but gazes awestruck and wide-eyed at the world around her, knowing its wonders will be there waiting for her as soon as she feels ready for it.

#8 - CELESTEELA

Technically, celesteela's gender is 'unknown', but it's obvious that celesteela represents what life can look like for a woman who truly has it all. As one of the largest and heaviest pokemon ever discovered, she's not afraid to take up space. she doesn't feel the need to soften herself to be more accepted by the world around her, but she's also comfortable enough with her feminine side to let it shine through where and when she wants. nobody tells her how to live her life but her and also she has big lazers

#7 - MISMAGIUS

Well she's not called MISTER magius now, is she?

#6 - LYCANROC

Perfect embodiment of the wolfgirl you knew (or, perhaps were?) in middleschool. There are many doglike/canine pokemon in the dex, but something about lycanroc's exaggerated unkempt mane and lanky, awkward posture evokes the physicality of a teenager who exists as a beast beyond the boundaries of her own body.

#5 - CHIKORITA

This saultry little binch...

#4 - RAYQUAZA

It's an uncomfortable truth in life that many women find themselves in the position of needing to play the mediator in order to stop the people around them from acting in destructive or harmful ways. But just because mediating conflict can be a difficult and unfair position to be put into, that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Rayquaza just goes to show us all everywhere how a real woman can still thrive under these circumstances, doing her best to build a more peaceful world while not letting that push her into the shadows or make her take a back seat in her own life. she is a community leader and an innovator.

#3 - SALAZZLE

She's the archetypal femme fatale. A dominatrix. A baddie. Does she make me uncomfortable? Yes, absolutely. But I'm not a furry so I'm not really the target audience of what's happening here.

#2 - SLAKING

I know so many butches who look exactly like her. you love to see it.

#1 - MEWTWO

as one feminist philosopher has said: "I see now that the circumstances of one's birth is irrelevant, it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are."

I think any woman living in a patriarchal society can sympathize with mewtwo's story. enraged at being treated like the property of the people who created her rather than her own fully realized person, she goes on a rampage where it quickly becomes obvious that she is even more powerful than that what she was originally created in the image of. Although this takes her down a dark path, she eventually learns to self-actualize by working on herself rather than pointlessly lashing out at people who had nothing to do with hurting her. it's empowering stuff. doubly empowering because she killed all those clowns who DID hurt her

now, of course, there are plenty more pokemon that are girls than just what i've listed here today. but i hope youve learned a little something from this.

[m2ysafety]

10 Ways to Build a Positive Safety Culture in Your Workplace

Building a positive safety culture in your workplace is critical for protecting your employees and preventing accidents and injuries. A safety culture is an organizational culture that prioritizes safety as a core value and provides a supportive environment for safe behavior. Here are 10 specific actions that employers can take to build a positive safety culture in their workplace:

Provide Regular Training and Education

Regularly learning from safety training institute and education is essential for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. All employees should receive regular training on safe work practices and procedures and any specific hazards associated with their job tasks.

Involve Employees in Safety Decision-Making

Involving employees in safety decision-making is critical for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. NEBOSH qualification doesn't require any Prior knowledge of Health & safety and employees should be encouraged to identify and report safety hazards, and to provide input on safety policies and procedures.

Foster Open Communication

Fostering open communication is essential for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. Employees should feel comfortable reporting safety concerns and hazards, and management should respond to these reports in a timely and effective manner. Regular safety meetings and forums can also provide opportunities from NEBOSH IGC Course in India for employees to share safety concerns and suggestions.

Lead by Example

Leading by example is critical for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. Supervisors and managers should model safe behaviour and promote safety as a core value. This includes following safety rules and procedures and encouraging employees to do the same.

Provide Adequate Resources

Providing adequate resources is essential for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. This includes providing appropriate personal protective equipment, ensuring that equipment and machinery are properly maintained, and providing access to training and education programs.

Reward Safe Behavior

Rewarding safe behavior is critical for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. Employees who consistently follow safety rules and procedures should be recognized and rewarded for their efforts.

Conduct Regular Safety Audits and Inspections

Regular safety audits and inspections are essential for identifying potential safety hazards and areas for improvement. Employers should conduct these audits and inspections on a regular basis and take action to address any identified hazards.

Establish a Safety Committee

Establishing a safety committee can help build a positive safety culture in the workplace. This committee should include representatives from different areas of the organization and should be responsible for developing and implementing safety policies and procedures.

Implement a Near-Miss Reporting Program

Implementing a near-miss reporting program can help identify potential safety hazards before they result in accidents or injuries. Employees should be encouraged to report near-miss incidents, and management should take action to address any identified hazards.

Continuously Improve Safety Programs

Continuous improvement is essential for building a positive safety culture in the workplace. NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in technology, regulations, and best practices.

In conclusion, building a positive safety culture in the workplace requires a commitment to regular training and education, employee engagement, open communication, and continuous improvement. By prioritizing safety as a core value and providing a supportive environment for safe behavior, employers can protect their employees and prevent accidents. Make the next step in your OHS career with the M2Y Global Academy in India.

[peppermintquartz]

I'm feeling bitchily critical today so. Let's get critical.

Reasons why Season 8 of 911 (so far) sucks:

Bobby and Athena are aimless

They have no house. The logical development is for them to look for one, one for their future. That is theirs. Where are the house hunting woes? The disageeements and compromises? Are they ever going to have a chance to find a place they both love? Or build one, even?

Athena's job description is all over the place

She's giving school talks. She's conducting traffic stops. She's escorting a prisoner across state lines. She is mentoring new officers. She's a goddamn Sergeant but what is her job scope? Every single thing requiring the presence of police, apparently!

Hen and Karen have little direction for growth

The Mara adoption issue could have brought out more of their relationship, developed them in terms of relying on each other through a difficult time. The storyline with Ortiz could have really delved into the struggles of the foster care system, and how Hen and Karen broke rules designed to protect the kids. (Seriously, if a child is removed from a foster family, it's logical not allowing the foster parents to meet the child that was removed for the safety of the child). Where was the appeal to Ortiz as a mother? Where was the struggle? Where is the tension between the Wilsons and the Hans? Instead there was a Deux Ex Gerrard. And I am not even gonna start on the whole "why didn't you take leave for Halloween" shit, that stuff should have been settled when Denny was a baby. What are their next steps? Same old same old?

Gerrard is a joke

An established bigot and racist returns. He could have been a great way to show how the 118 has grown beyond him and his bullying. Instead they're cowed by him, and lets him yell at Buck? Whatever happened to the "who cares" courage in Season 7? And he gets the reward of his dream job?

Eddie is still not healed

He emotionally cheated on his girlfriend with his dead wife's doppelganger. Has he even processed what that actually means? No! His son moved to Texas. Has he coped with the loneliness in his house? Who knows? Certainly not the audience, since we don't see him go to therapy or, hell, have a full breakdown! He confides in people who aren't his friends, let alone his so-called best friend! Bobby gave him a prayer book but we don't even hear Eddie rage at a God who keeps putting devastation and challenges in his way. What wa the point of the prayer book then? He just danced in his underwear and somehow that made him smile and now he's moving across the country and, what, giving up on his home and his job? Is that really healing, Edmundo Díaz? Or are you just running from the problem again?

Chimney has no internal or external motivation

He was providing for Mara for a few months. Was he stressed about it? Did he think about seeking a promotion for a higher salary? Also, he is an immigrant. Does that influence how he teaches Jee? Has he and Maddie, white suburban raised Maddie, ever discussed the potential problems Jee might face? Or whether they wanna include some Korean culture in Jee's education, since they gave her a Korean name? Does he ever think about any of these issues? Is he at all conflicted? What does Chimney want?

Maddie

She was the one who wanted to meet Tommy. Has she done so outside of the wedding? What was her opinion of him? Is Maddie content to stay in Dispatch in the exact same position? Has she any career ambition? And about Jee: does she never think about the Korean part of Jee? Connecting to her own culture? Learning Korean, maybe? That would have been interesting because perhaps she wants her daughter to connect to that part of her roots but Chimney doesn't, for his own reasons. Also, if she wants to have a second kid, why didn't she discuss it with Chimney outright before the pregnancy? Was she not taking the pill? Were they careless again? What would she do if Chimney didn't want a second child? Abort? Given how the first pregnancy was traumatic for the whole family, including her brother, this development is showing her to be pretty self-centered, frankly. I don't know this Maddie. She's not the same one that gave Buck her Jeep to escape, knowing that she'll be hurt by an abusive husband.

Brad

Why is airtime devoted to a character that is barely connected to the 118? What is the reason behind giving him so much focus? Is he supposed to quit acting and become a firefighter or something? What is the rationale for his existence?

.

.

And I haven't even touched on Buck or Tommy.

[typewritingyip]

The Arcturus Missions

Part Eleven - Culture Shock

Part Ten

———

The government of Cybertron is democratic in nature, every person has the same rights and ability to select their representatives. There are only two non-elected officials, who are more symbolic in nature than anything else in most situations, they are able to supply advice and bills to the floor but they have to follow the laws imposed on them the same as everyone else. Thankfully most of Cybertron is fairly happy with the selection of Prime and Lord High Protector. 

Positions such as Prime and Lord High Protector are primarily symbolic during times of peace, where they can live together and ensure the safety of their people with words over weapons. When Cybertron was at war though, they looked to them for more than protection. Their Prime and Protector had been more than symbolic figures for a while, but neither would force themselves into places they were unwelcome, more often than not avoiding conflict in politics. Unlike some mechs.

Both were good mecha, they understood their position and refused to take advantage of it, even so much as getting a nicer hab or moving up a place in line. The citizens of Cybertron were thankful.

—

This transport was different from the first one, less comfortable and more typical of military transportation. There were several familiar and unfamiliar mechs abroad, so Hound was sticking with those who were familiar even if some were pitying him. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were gawking out the window, visored faces pressed as close to the glass as they could manage for their video feeds. Breakdown was talking quietly with Ironhide, clearly trying to make something make sense. And for the moment, Hound was standing facing the direction they were heading, his frown hidden by suit and visor. Mirage leaned against the wall nearest him, watching him, “I think you’ll like Iacon.” Hound nodded slowly, arms still crossed and staring out the window towards their destination, with a sigh Mirage leaned forward, “Jazz found purpose here, his mission is only delayed too. I swear, once we’ve kicked the Quintessons from Cybertron you’ll be able to go to your death all you like.” It was a beat, but Hound smiled and shook his head, chuckling.

Mirage returned the smile in kind, offering a hand, “We’ve been around each other for a whole cycle, but haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Mirage of Iacon High Towers.” Hound took and shook the hand firmly, “I’m Hound, of, uh, Earth I guess.” Mirage chuckled, “The region you're from, not the planet.” Nodding slowly, Hound sighed a bit, “Then of Merced.” Leaning a shoulder lightly against the wall, Hound smiled, “Where is Merced on Earth?” Even though Mirage couldn’t see it, Hound still smiled and nodded a bit, “Uh, I guess that’s complicated.” There were some things he could talk about, and some things he could really talk about. Talking about home wouldn’t be too difficult, not even to an alien. 

Sunstreaker was staring out the window, ignoring his brothers’ pestering and watching as cities flew by. The planet was so large, the building massive, and everything so different yet so familiar. Glancing over, he shifted on the seat to look at Jazz, “What’s Iacon like?” Jazz, had been in the middle of a conversation with Prowl but pauses and looks to the younger pilot, “What do you mean?” Sunstreaker sighed, “Is it at all like any of the cities back home or not, oh great fearless astronaut.” It took everything in Jazz to not chuckle, or burst out laughing at the poor translation, “It’s like if you took New York and Tokyo, stuck them together and made it colder than Maine.” Sideswipe looked over, “We’re going somewhere cold?” “Unfortunately.” Both twins sank down in their seats. Jazz bent over with laughter. The kids from Florida would both love and hate Iacon, heated suits would need to be pulled from the Odyssey for the tropical twins.

Breakdown stood behind Jazz, talking quietly with Ironhide, “So, what is it with the bigger mechs? Is there a reason for that?” Ironhide shrugged a bit, glancing towards Optimus briefly, “We’re just kind of made that way.” He nodded slowly, looking at Optimus too, “Yes, I know someone like that too.” Ironhide chuckled a bit, “We all do in the end.” Breakdown hummed and turned towards the chaos behind him, pausing. 

Jazz was on the floor, laughing like he’d never laughed before. The twins were arguing about who would get a heated suit first and Hound was now trying to get them off the floor. Prowl cracks a small smile, shaking his head a bit, “Humans.” It was said so quietly that no one really heard what he said. 

—

Iacon Central was huge, bigger than New York or Tokyo. Even with the adjustments for their suits’ size, it was still bigger. Hound stepped off the transport last, staring up and around as did everyone else but Jazz. To be on another planet was one thing, to be in a major city on another planet when only a handful of years ago no one back home even knew of aliens, was another. Breakdown swore quietly, his translator turned off for the moment, “Yeah, yeah I was thinking the same thing Old Man.” Sideswipe pats his arm, almost jumping back as several mechs in front of them transform into something else before speeding off, “Uh, we don’t do that.” Hound almost sounded sheepish.

One of the other mechs, Hound, wasn't sure if it was Smokescreen or Bluestreak, waved it off, “Yeah, we didn’t think you would. Jazz doesn’t. We’re not far from housing so we can walk.” Hound and the twins shared a quick look, “Housing?” “Yeah, come on. The Prime has a bunch of meetings to attend anyways.” And when Hound turned around to check; Mirage, Ironhide, and Optimus Prime had already disappeared, with another sigh he turned and followed the strangers. It felt like he should be walking with his hands in his pockets, or at least have some place to hide them without folding them behind his back, but everyone around was just open. 

Sideswipe was gawking at everything, watching people come and go from the sidewalk and into the transformation lanes. It felt like a major city before the war, “How many people live here?” Prowl glanced back, holding Jazz’s hand to his arm in a light hold, “Right around fifteen million. Our planet at its biggest population had four billion mechs on it.” Nodding, he huffs a bit, “Bigger than New York then.” “Ha!” Sunstreaker lightly shoved his brother's shoulder, “Told you it seemed too big to be the same size as New York.” Prowl paused, his step hitching slightly, “New York?” Hound stepped forward, “It is, technically, one of the biggest cities in the United States. Least, it was.” He bit the inside of his cheek lightly, “We’ve got three pilots that cover the major cities up that way so they’ll work together sometimes. Usually when they are, it is when another city in the area is hit.” Prowl nodded with understanding, “It’s part of the Quintessons tactical plans, they try to draw away defenses to attack the larger targets.” Hound swore, “We’ve told them that, we’ve told them that for years.” His hands rake through his hair, knocking his visor slightly askew.

It was quiet for a moment, while they kept walking, “So, what’s earth like then?” The grey one of the two mechs glanced over his shoulder, “Jazz doesn’t like to talk about it much.” “Well, maybe if you asked when we weren’t getting killed it would be easier to answer.” The smile was clear in Jazz’s voice, “Earth is different, um. More organic maybe?” Sunstreaker offers, at which Jazz winces and then Sunstreaker does too, covering one ear, clearly getting hit with some kind of painful sound, “Alright, alright! Forget I said anything.” Awkward was certainly one word for how this was going. Breakdown kept looking around, lagging behind the group, “You mentioned housing, how does that work here if we cannot pay for it?” “Pay for it? What do you mean?” Sideswipe wraps an arm around one of their shoulders, being mindful of the extra sensors sticking out their backs, “You know, rent or whatever.” Jazz lowers his head, hiding his laughter.

Bluestreak looked back at them, looking at Jazz, before back to the group, “You’re joking, right? You’ve got to be joking.” “Uh, no.” Sunstreaker cleared his throat a bit, “Is the translator working right?” He lowered his voice and glanced back to Hound, with a bit of a shrug and a shake of his head, Hound moved up a bit, “Rent, or are we going to be staying in barracks?” Bluestreak and Smokescreen shared a look, Hound huffed, “What?” Prowl chuckles slightly, “You’ll be working for the prime, having a job entitles you to housing.” “Shut the fuck up.” Sideswipe’s arm falls from around the one mech, Jazz snorts, “Yeah, you’ll get used to it eventually.” Breakdown had stopped where he stood, Hound glanced back and slowed till he could catch up, even as Jazz and the twins bickered about it. 

—

The city was beautiful, maybe more than beautiful. Shining and sparkling in the sunlight, same as most of the mechs that were going about their normal days. It was captivating and Hound was finally starting to feel homesick. None of the places he’d ever lived looked like this, very few of the people he’d spent time with acted like those around him other than the other pilots. Maybe it was the slight delay in the translator or the fact that he was in fact on an entirely different planet, but he’d never longed so much for his old bunks than he did right now. Sideswipe kept ogling every mech that would speed past in their so-called ‘alt-mode’ as Jazz had called it, briefly explaining how Cybertronian’s were able to change shape. Sunstreaker had become enraptured with the thought of new paint and polish for his suit, asking a million questions to Smokescreen who probably had around half the answers. Then Breakdown was just following along, seeming in shock at just their society as a whole.

Whether you worked or not, you had a place to live and food to eat, basic needs were met because the planet was one absurdly large country that was efficiently able to export commodity goods. If you worked, that meant getting paid for upgrades of essential needs or non-essential needs were sold. Running a shop didn’t mean losing much and the extra money you made didn’t have to go towards bills or groceries, then again they didn’t eat millions of types of foods like humans did. Greed was locked out as much as possible but of course there were still those from ‘before the war’ as Prowl had said, glancing towards some of the tallest buildings in the area. It was insane, it was unthinkable, mainly because when they had attempted it on Earth it hadn’t worked. Hound’s mouth was dry by the time they came up on a sizable building, it was certainly larger and taller than most he’d ever been to. 

“You’ll love the view.” Jazz was rambling now, gesturing about as Sideswipe was hanging on his every word. Sunstreaker had hung back with Hound now, Breakdown still looking around as if he was seeing a city for the first time and not just this one. Prowl stepped to the side with Smokescreen and Bluestreak, talking quietly with them as Jazz went inside, glancing back Hound watched the pair transform and drive off. Noticing their external sensors on their back shifting to their sides instead of covering their make. Making a mental note, he glanced up at Jazz’s shout before following him inside. Prowl helped Breakdown along in his shock. 

Once to the elevator, Jazz sighed and sunk against the wall, “It was so much easier to pretend when there weren’t so many of us, this is going to be so hard to cover up.” “Cover up?” Sideswipe looked over even as Hound shook his head, “I don’t know how you’ve done it over the last five years, especially with only one person knowing.” Jazz hummed and glanced at Prowl, “Prowler figured it out after one of the times I got hurt, he swore to keep my secret but I think there are some who are onto me.” Prowl’s nod was not helpful, “I believe so too, but we’ll have to wait and see now that there are so many of your kind here.” The elevator dinged and the doors slid open, where Jazz shoved off the wall and practically skipped to one of the doors, humming as he went. 

It was like whiplash, Hound was sure it was something like that. Following along, he glanced about, if he wasn’t in his suit he’d swear he was just in a normal apartment building yet here he was, walking in his suit indoors. Hound’s throat drew dry again.

—

Culture shock, they were well and truly experiencing culture shock. Once the door was locked, Jazz sighed and stepped around to one of the chairs before sitting down, “Alright guys, you’re safe in here. The atmosphere isn’t nearly as toxic as our readings say and once you're inside it’s fine.” Then his cockpit opened, much to everyone’s relief. Though when he stepped out, stretching, Hound froze, “What happened?” Jazz looked up, confused for a moment before touching the scar across his face, “Ah, that. It’s a long story. Prowler though, he remembers more of it than I do.” Prowl walked over and offered his hand, at which Jazz climbed into it very content. Yeah, culture shock was certainly one way to describe what they were all feeling. 

———

A/N

I definitely feel like part eleven is much shorter than what I wanted, so as a fair warning there might be a bit of a time skip in the next part, purely for the fact I’m struggling a bit with a lot of the intro-y stuff. 

I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I have been.

Tags!

@lunarlei68 @whirlywhirlygig @loop-hole-319 @pixillandjester @alek-the-witch @not-a-moose-in-disguise @goddessofwind8water @neurologicalglitch @dersereblogger @pixel-transformers @mrcrayonofdoom @wireplaces @twilightfreefaller @original-blog-name-2 @devilangel657 @robbin-u @childofprimus @miniartistme @starwold @tea-enthusiasm @valeexpris606 @celticdoggo @bird599 @agentsquirrelsgotrobots @aquaioart @dimencreasatlas @garbageenthusiast

And once again thank you to @keferon for this amazing AU

[ofbreathandflame-archive]

i haven't read the acotar series but yeah there are...SO many issues with it. I was about to say I'm not surprised that people wanted the racism to be more violent so they could acknowledge but actually, y'know what? No, I am surprised. I'm concerned that people want characters of colour to be dragged through the dirt and be the victims of horrific acts before they can acknowledge the racism of the author. I cannot emphasise how crestfallen, how upset I felt when I searched up what Illyrians were for the first time. Like...oh. They are brown, like me. But they are also a whitewashed version of what white people want them to be: a violent, primitive nation that treat their women awfully, just so that white people can come in and save them, as if they weren't the ones ramping up that kind of misogyny in the first place.

I look across the YA sphere and I see white authors constantly say, through their writing, that poc are violent, that we are backwards, that the women should not exist and do not have lives unless they are attached to white people. I feel that the only time this has kind of been challenged in a mainstream YA fandom has been the grishaverse, and even then, the rep for brown peoples is muddled and vague at best, and the rep for Black people feels like there was no exploration of culture at all.

What I'm trying to say is: it's not great in the YA market, but SJM is by far one of the most racist authors out there. White fans shouldn't be begging for the violence against characters of colour to be ramped up so they can decide when they can step in and say enough is enough.

ugh! this was so beautifully put!

thiis will be a long discussion!

i really want to preface this by saying i would really implore everyone in their free time to read toni morrison's playing in the dark! it's a deep dive into the ways blackness (and in this case minority status) is defined by white superiority; how the very presence of the non-white is always used to reiterated the inherent superiority of their white peers! poc are used as conduits to uphold beliefs of white supremacy - the very existence of the nonwhite existing to boasts the intelligence of their white peers.

sjm's work moves in such racist territory that it so easy so see these mentalities etched into her work. every single poc that is included in the story is relegated to this ideology; their very existence speaks to the power of the main character. the primary function of the interactions deal in shame, humiliation, and cowardice (see: tarquin, nehemia, thesan, helion, tarquin, cressida, nesryn, lucien, the unnamed enslaved @ endovier, baxian, unnamed illyrian population etc).

morrison opens up her novel by asserting that we should be conscious of the way the author's imagination expresses itself:

��Both [reading and writing] require being mindful of the places where imagination sabotages itself, locks its own gates, pollutes its vision. Writing and reading mean being aware of the writer’s notions of risk and safety, the serene achievement of, or sweaty fight for, meaning and response-ability.”

morrison also posits that author's intenionality and/or bias are unfortunately apart of the creative process of imagination, reiterating:

“The imagination that produces work which bears and invites rereadings, which motions to future readings as well as contemporary ones, implies a shareable world and an endlessly flexible language. Readers and writers both struggle to interpret and perform within a common language shareable imaginative worlds. And although upon that struggle the positioning of the reader has justifiable claims, the author’s presence—her or his intentions, blindness, and sight—is part of the imaginative activity.”

this initial opening builds an understanding of the creative process, in a wholesome way. what i mean is - morrison is establishes that the creative process is informed by our own perceptions and understanding. the way our the narrative voice reconciles normalcy vs. unknown says something about the author. or what the author has put to page. the reason i am even discussing this is to make a similar point: sjm's writing oftentimes subconsciously asserts the dominance of the 'main, white character,' in conjunction with a ethnic, poor, nonwhite individuals of the story. when we meet celaena, we are immediately aware of aelin's 'superiority' over the slaves in endovier. the function of her slavery is to relate her power, while the story views the enslaved as dump, hopeless, individuals whose only goal is to die for their liberation in an endless cycle. aelin even complains that she 'finally' can talk to compotent people with assumption that the enslaved at endovier were somehow too dumb to adequtely communcate with her.

a court of thorns and roses invents an entire culture whose only cultural practices seemed be filled with violence, misogyny, and brutality. then the story argues that only three (3) out of thousands of brown men actually have common sense. that they're so dumb and brutish that they'd absolutely choose to have barely any resources out of spite of their benevolent high lord. cassian, rhys, and az are the strongest in history. and to relate their power, we get these dumb brutes who just seem okay for fighting for a country that would not even be allowed to enter....that's actually some crazy racist writing lmaooo. or the fact that nuala and cerridwen are trained spies, who up to this point, make so much money they'd probably be able to retire...and they just choose to be also the handmaidens...for five-hundred year old fae. like...immediately after acotar, there back working. rhys and feyre can still be reeling from that experience but nuala and cerridwen can just serve because that's just what they like to do.

the next notable quote states:

“These speculations have led me to wonder whether the major and championed characteristics of our national literature—individualism, masculinity, social engagement versus historical isolation; acute and ambiguous moral problematics; the thematics of innocence coupled with an obsession with figurations of death and hell—are not in fact responses to a dark, abiding, signing Africanist presence”

“The fabrication of an Africanist persona is reflexive; an extraordinary meditation on the self; a powerful exploration of the fears and desires that reside in the writerly conscious. It is an astonishing revelation of longing, of terror, of perplexity, of shame, of magnanimity. It requires hard work not to see this.”

in this way, the nonwhite becomes the site of a descent into darkness, hypersexality and power for white people. think of the way in which feyre's darkness is often times heavily associated with the nonwhite (see: court of nightmares). this sexy, liberated, dark woman using south asian culture to establish superiority while eschewing the people who are the originators of said culture.

but - really want to move this away from a discussion on individual characters and really focus the subject on sjm's role as the write. ultimately, feyre, aelin, nehemia, rhys...aren't real. they are reflections of the author's own internal dialogue. i actually really resonated with this observation/ assumption morrison's makes and that is:

“I assumed that since the author was not black, the appearance of Africanist characters or narrative or idiom in a work could never be about anything other than the “normal,” unracialized, illusory white world that provided the fictional backdrop.”

ultimately, i believe the racism comes from the fact that, although these are fictional worlds born from sjm's imagination, a lot of the racism comes from the fact that sjm is writing what she believes to be normal. and so - that's why the problem ultimately persists. violence against woc and poc are justified already. it doesn't matter that rhys slaughters hordes of illyrians because the assumption is that they're probably horrible, brutish people who ultimately deserve to die; nevermind, they could have had complex reasons, just like rhys. it's okay that the illyrian women are oppressed because...that's just the way things have always been. the only queen who helped rhys and feyre is humilated, murdered, and has her head shaven. we get one sentence about her and the story moves on. nehemia planned her own brutal murder, awoke dorian's power, and as a reward....her entire country is burned to the ground and the liberation of ellywe is delegated toward one sentence about maybe going to visit. , sorcha gets her head cut off (and its treated as a joke by the fandom) and dorian blames her for essentially being 'too fragile' or something like that. poc are already being brutalized in these stories, we're just positioned not to care.

and im not saying that ya isn't extremely racist - but i think sjm is by far one of the worst racist authors i have come across. not even ms. bardugo or aveyard or her other peers have this many racial problems by comparison and boy are there still problems even in those stories. like damn even george rr martin has like...semi-better writing (but he's actually another author that really exemplifies what morrison was talking about and id love to one day talk about that. but it woul take me quite awhile. i do like like asoiaf obvi, but it just has a lot of problems that i cant ignore). lmaooo even armentrout made some attempt to rectify her representation issue and thats saying a lot.

[fairycosmos]

Hello

Long time follower. Big fan.

Umm i dont have any "real" friends and i feel like i have to vent about what happened to me with someone so plz bare with me.

Yesterday I was sexually assaulted. Outside my own apartment building by a man that is an "aquaintance" at most. I managed to get away by stepping on his foot and elbowing him in the stomach before it went any further. What sucks even more is that I live in a super conservative middle eastern country that has a society that loves to victim blame. I cant even go to the police cuz i have no proof and the sad thing is this the THIRD time in my life of 30 years where i get sexually assaulted. The first time was my cousin when I was 13 and the second time was someone who was a close friend when i was in my 20s. I feel pathetic and cowardly for not speaking up every time it happened. I know I cant tell my family cuz they are religious and all they care about is my "chastity" whatever the fuck that is and i honestly dont know what to do anymore.

Thank you for listening

🪽

hey angel,

i’m so sorry it took me a minute to see this, and honestly, i'm just fkn enraged that you're even in this position to begin with. none of this should’ve ever happened to you, and it’s so beyond messed up that you’ve had to go through it, and more than once, on top of everything else. first, i just want to say that i’m so, so grateful to you for opening up about it, especially when you’re feeling so isolated. it takes so much courage to even put this into words, and i’m honored that you trust me with it at all tbh. as much of an eye roll it is to hear, you’re truly not alone in this. and you’re definitely not “pathetic” or “cowardly” for how things played out or for not feeling like you could speak up before. the way you’re feeling is real, valid, and so understandable—especially when support and safety feel so distant.

it’s beyond unfair to be in a place where victim-blaming is such a huge part of the culture. to have to carry that, while being made to feel like you have to hide this, is an awful weight. but please know, this is not on you—none of it. the guilt and shame that the world tries to put on you is not yours, even if sometimes that feels impossible to believe. grounding yourself in the truth—that you haven’t done anything wrong, no matter how often you have to remind yourself—can be a solid step. and if you believe that for other people who've been in your shoes, then you must believe it for yourself too. ultimately, the shame belongs to the people who assaulted you and a world that hasn’t supported you the way you deserve. please don’t let their actions shape how you see yourself. your survival, your resilience, your courage etc that’s who you are.

there are a few places that might be able to give you some support, even if it’s from a distance. rainn.org offers confidential chat options and resources, and while it’s u.s.-based, it could still be useful if you need a safe space to talk. another is pandora’s project, a support and forum site specifically for survivors. they have spaces where people from all backgrounds, including those with similar cultural challenges, can connect. <3

if you’re open to it, a counselor or therapist who specializes in trauma and works online might be a good option, too. there are so many who understand the importance of privacy and safety in environments where speaking out can be challenging. the International Association for Trauma Professionals has a directory that could help you find someone who’d really get where you’re coming from and respect those unique challenges.

just remember, it’s okay to take this one step at a time. if all you can do today is share this with someone who cares, or offer yourself some compassion and grace to cry and breathe and be pissed and hurt and numb and upset, then that’s more than enough. i believe in your right to feel safe, supported, and heard, and there are people who genuinely want to help you get there, however and whenever you need.

sending you so much love and strength <3 if you need to vent or if you just need someone to talk to, please msg me any time. i understand what it's like to have your boundaries violated too and i know how lonely and painful it is to contend with it in your own head. x

[chaotic-beautiful]

Build up where ??? HOTD

Those who are defending HOTD writing , fighting tooth and nail like obsessed fangirls , are they even watching the same show ??? This show is literally garbage writing , zero characterisation and full of illogical plot holes looking like pot holes on a muddy village road .

Where to even begin ? Atp, a whole 200 page book can be written on the lack of writing and cringe fanfiction OC inserts of showmakers that are not even subtle anymore.

Where's the smartly written dialogs and interesting scenes between small fry characters and MCs ?? Interestingly composed scenes of diverse cultures , grounding scenes of daily lives that are somehow intricately connected to who they are about one or more characters.

Truly , true art can not be replicated or replaced . I'd watch old clips of GOT where it's just two random characters talking to each other and nothing else happening over this entire dump on fire season . Such memorable quotes n conclusions that kept us all on our toes came out of such conversations.

Let me not even start on our female characters. Whichever gave the showmakers this idea that a person who doesn't even identify with that particular gender will be ideal candidate to play a feminist icon in the show ? They do not understand the power that comes from embracing the fragility, gentleness, allure and softer sides of being a woman . And the show makers ?? They've zero idea about Women , their bodies , their hearts , pregnancy, motherhood , marital bond , importance of husband wife bonding and rearing children . They've zero idea what makes a woman strong . I've seldom seen such poorly written female characters, each weak , pathetic , cut board cut outs ( Rhaena , Baela , Haelena ) and unrelatable. They're denied of agency ( Alicent ) , femininity ( Rhaenyra ) , ambition, ruthless strive. Catherine, Sansa , Dany , Cersei , Arya even small female characters that appeared for a season are of fuller blood and flesh , feel like real life and they each embrace different sides of what being a woman actually means.

Show makers have zero respect or true regard for LGBTQA characters. They literally deleted a bunch of canonically established book characters belonging from that group . They treat Ser Laenor like garbage . No body cared about him when he was in the show , he literally proposed to be there for their children and for a fresh start with his wife but was then kicked out from her life because atp, she felt she needed a new husband to secure her position and safety of her children and decided to seduce and manipulate an emotionally vulnerable Daemon mere days after his wife's death.

And now in the show every one has moved on. Where is Laenor?? Is he alive ? Why is Seasmoke so restless and ready for a new rider ?? Can he sense that his rider is gone? Does your favorite girl boss cares ?? No ! Neither does the show.

But nor does the viewers , because hey we've got a hot toxic lesbian kiss that pretty much ruins the essence of both the characters and deviates them so far away from their book selves that they're no more the same characters. They might as well just change their names and introduce them as OCs . Yay for representation. We won ! Not.

The show stinks so badly of racism that it makes me feel sick. The Valeryons are played by a bunch of Bl actors without that having any effect on the story . AND yet those same characters are treated like disposable and insignificant within the story , existing as props to enhance the story of White characters. How typical. 🤔 They erased Nettles whose story reverberated through the heart of Westeros for eons to come and was truly inspiring , because that could not endanger what they're trying to do with their OC Rhaenyra, not comfortable making her human by showing her jealous and possessive of her OWN husband whom she loved crazily and was prepared to cross all limits of morality for him . No , that'd make her a human being and a wife . Can't have that here. Doesn't fit with our narrative. Can't show her to be dismissive and vindictive as she was of Nettles because of who she was and where she came from. Can't have the simp Daemon of the show look outside of his cheater wife, when Nettles was without a doubt the most important person for him near the end of his life.

They ruined another book , ruined great characters and those who have no idea about the book and the essence of these characters are praising and defending this garbage by attacking the books fans . It's indeed an interesting psychological study how like minded people are attracted to like minded stuff.

Mike drop.

[dxxtruction]

Something to just consider is that Armand is a collectivist. Culturally I think this makes sense, considering he would've been raised in his foundational years in that sort of culture that values collectivism over individualism. He's also had to live in several high control environments afterwards, which demanded servitude, where putting himself first would've led to trouble, up to and including death. In the Children of Darkness, for example, the very idea of seeking pleasure at all is against the commandments, and since he is forced to lead this group (under careful surveillance), he can not therefore show if he even wishes to seek pleasure, because this would disrupt the collective thought, and further, place a level of threat upon himself for disobeying the laws he's meant to be upholding. He's at threat that he can be killed for it, because that's how such laws are handled. So he necessarily can not hold an individualistic, self serving, opinion, and hope to live, and lived in that kind of envoirment for centuries. Even the TdV carries on the same sort of traditions to less strict, more secular, degrees. Seeking pleasure in TdV is rewarded, even exhaulted, but the great laws are still imposed to the level of threat which is death, and everyone is always surveilling each other on this matter. He's a collectivist, especially in situations which impose certain, or uncertain threat of violence, for going against the group, or person, as in such a situation being individualistic is perhaps the last thing you may get to ever do. Nothing personally driven, therefore, seems that worth it provided the risk.

Whether he remembers this earliest period of childhood, or not, those sorts of values (likely positive then as things like sharing, community building, reaching mutually beneficial decisions, aid, and consideration of others feelings). Ingrained into his personality, and he doesn't have the kind of amnesia where it appears his personality was fundamentally changed by it. Rather, that since it's more of a dissociative amnesia barrier protecting him from traumas, that his personality would rather be fragmented, as opposed to altered. (Meaning such values are still there, but are now also acting alongside various further alteration to what is means to be in collective. And that if such amnesiac parts ever do surface, it is only reacting as if it is re-experiencing, and in the same context to the trauma. Depending on how complex this part is it could take on further environmental inputs while in this state, developing or simply having, essentially, its own personality... but I digress).

He does things for the group, which can at times only be one person, more-so than he serves himself. Placing what serves situation and context more highly that individual personal traits and feelings. But, by thinking he has no self, he naturally falls to self justifying everything wrongful he personally does, as for the benefit of the group. It's a cognitive distortion which doesn't recognize it's own selfishness because it sees itself as being selfless regardless of actual outcome. Further, this makes it so he takes no responsibility for others actions he may have caused, or to how a situation came about because of himself, if he doesn't then apply having any self to that situation. He'll bend to opinion even if its false, and create or even take on an entire role of falsehood, if he believes it serves a mutual benefit.

He uses this as a kind of shield against the world he must fundamentally view as threatening, and imposing, with very limited spaces of safety. But doesn't impose himself in healthy ways, therefore becomes an enabler of certain toxic behaviors getting out of hand, and creating unsafe environments. Desiring such places being controlled, and predictable, environments, but not fostering what's needed for that, and certainly not in a healthy way. Rather lending to manipulating others, or using threats, or force, to make it so he's secure in this. Again, self justifying that it's for a collectivist benefit. If he does at all recognize his own selfishness it's due to how he's able to come out of his own cognitive distortions, and dissonance, and admit faults and failings. Seeing that hiding his own faults and failings from others is something selfish, and therefore that he does indeed have a self there. In doing so, developing an understanding that he acts as a self in all things, and therefore understanding the effects of his actions are actually his. (Or else falling right back into the distortions). He has to be selfish, in a way, to ever be truly selfless. If that's really his goal.

To want something for itself, as opposed to some other means. To want good, love, and safety, for itself as opposed to what it does. He has to develop a sense of his own idea of these things, in order to form a consistent and more secure identity, not founded or attached to a group or person. And further needs whatever self that is, to be embraced, by himself, and not insecure in how others would react to it. To not be afraid of this self expression and personal desire, thought, opinion, feeling, and so on. By developing his own person he'd be able to better embrace his own bad qualities, even change them. As he then feels he has such agency, and isn't just simply reacting and serving to the world around him. I think there's something in how he changes Daniel which says he is moving in sort of this direction, there's something in how it appears he's roaming around on his own right now that suggests he is on a journey of this sort. I'm not expecting greatness out of it, but I am thinking there will be progress for present day Armand in future seasons. I think he is capable of change, and is not fundamentally as he appears. (And this would align to his narrative arc in the books anyway.)

And just also like I don’t think he knows entirely where the boundaries of anything really are or should be. Between himself and others or like where right begins and wrong ends and so forth. Not a moment in his memorable life, mortal or immortal, hasn't been without the presence of vampires, and therefore conditioned more under vampiric understandings as opposed to human ones. And because he's disconsidering of self, and hasn’t exactly been modeled what these should be, he's not able to function sanely in his environment. He's not sane I think I can say. But I do think he’s someone who learns experientially, and can do that on his own, so where those must lie he’s not in total lack of awareness either.

[pearlprincess02]

selena gomez and justin's composite chart

sun

taurus sun: this is one of my personal favorites. your house is either well furnished with great woodwork, a fireplace, a bathtub, and a serene backyard or you could be planning to make a very comfortable place for you'll. love is stable, neither of them giving upon the connection. both want to earn for themselves/family. an aspect of traditionalism is prevalent, either related to family or culture. they find it very comfortable to be around each other. perhaps that's also how they view it, "comfortable" and in love. they love to cook/bake together and shop together. skin ship, slow dancing, wine, sex, and money all. prefer to do things and show than be up all in their head. not much talking in my opinion. both of them or one of them could be incredibly stubborn though lol. would make friendly next-doors. the food is top-notch too.

sun in 8th house: you guys probably view eachother as soulmates. this placement leaves you guys transforming into something completely different, it feels like. this energy may drive you both insane, causing intense attraction to eachother. your love for eachother is extreme.

moon

cancer moon: a nurturing connection that will grow an urge to protect each other from. one person can begin to take on a mothering role over another. others may not see how much it scares one another to care deeply about a connection. this connection becomes an emotional sanctuary for one another and there is a desire to “come home” to one another. very sensitive to each other's emotional changes. be careful to not monitor each other's emotions too much. others may not see how losing or being apart from this person can feel like a house fire. you two begin to bring each other comfort the closer you get. 

moon in 10th house: the two people see the other person can provide what they need to build, in the outside world, safety and security. the moon is naturally opposite to the 10th house on the wheel. the other side of the same coin, moon and Saturn. so while the moon is our basic need for security and safety, the 10th is where those things happen. where we go and do the things that the 4th needs. so in this placement we have two people joining their most subjective personal states and feelings in a context of getting ahead, public image, status, what's external to us. they can be prone to identify outside external circumstances as the problems, difficulties and the supportive things that are working within the relationship. its not a really personal place for the composite moon to be. they relate emotionally in their thoughts about where they want to go, how they want things to go to achieve their goals in order to meet the moon needs. "What we can become together? Where are we going? How our combined lifestyle can provide or be the vehicle for what we want to achieve?"

rising/ 1st house:

libra rising: all the affection and the internal and positive dynamics of the relationship are visible to others, they really like being together, appearing in public, they are romantic, traditional gestures are very usual to them. they are very adaptable, they show a lot of harmony together, but they can suffer from a lack of assertiveness when necessary, such as when they need to better select the people they talk to and the places they go.

jupiter in 1st house: planets in the first house are most easily seen by others. jupiter here expands your relationship in the sense that everyone always seems to see you two around, you’re “loud” (not necessarily in volume but in appearance) and may enjoy traveling together. sometimes you can seem too much for others or surprisingly focus too much on yourselves.

mercury

taurus mercury: their way of communicating with each other is sensual, calm and peaceful. they wouldn’t like to raise the tone with the other and they’ll be very tactful when it comes to speaking the truth. both will think things through before saying them to the other and they’ll love to show their affection through gifts, letters or notes. communication is essential for them and they are very private about their relationship. it may have been a while before they decided to/dared to speak. they would love to go to restaurants, to shops, museums, or stay at home together. 

mercury in 8th house: both can profoundly change their way of seeing things, having met and interacting with this person can mark them. they can deliberately talk about things that may be difficult for others to understand, and even about traumas and not so pleasant experiences, with the other they will not feel judged or frowned upon. both may find the other’s voice and mindset very appealing. they may be in an overly sexually active relationship, and they would like to talk about their sexual preferences and they may be very vocal and expressive in sex. there is no dominant in the relationship, both can be versatile in sex.

venus

gemini venus: gemini venus in the composite is all about excitement. this energy will find pleasure on little day trips and exploring new things. an abundance of communication is shared between individuals. the pair that’s always taking photos of each other and laughing about memes. verbal compliments aren’t unusual and there’s a spark of novel creations ignited with this placement in the composite.

venus in the 8th house: this relationship is infused with intense emotions, passion, and a powerful attraction. the couple's connection is not superficial and may involve a merging of identities on an emotional, spiritual, or financial level. there may be a tendency to keep the relationship private or hidden, as the eighth house is associated with secrecy and hidden agendas. the couple also experiences a strong desire to control or possess each other, which could lead to issues of jealousy or possessiveness. this relationship is emotionally charged.

mars

aries mars: in this relationship you are very attracted to each other, the sexual tension and desire are visible to both you and everyone else. there’s something exciting in their relationship, perhaps it is the teasing that occurs or how you seem to be a challenge to the other. you’re both people with strong temperaments, you know what you want and go after it regardless of the opinions of others. you encourage each other and are proud of each other's achievements. the goal of this couple is to create a space in which the other feels loved and respected in their entirety. sex is hot, passionate, it leaves you tired and very satisfied. it is the moment in which you fully enjoy each other, it’s usually somewhat noisy and can feel like an intense and once-in-a-lifetime experience regardless of whether it is the first time or not. when there are arguments, both are very clear with what they think and feel, they can say things very frankly, which can sometimes hurt.

mars in the 7th house: both of you may feel like you have found the person you want to be with long-term or marry in the case of some, others may feel like you are even jumping at such a statement. in this relationship they feel like one and seek to continue growing and improving as a couple. when problems arise, they quickly propose solutions, they know they can really speak and be heard by their partner. in sexual terms, one may be more active or dominant than the other. even so, both will prioritize the love and pleasure of the other.

celeb's masterlist / 1H - 6H / 7H - 12H

crds:

composite sun + house

composite moon + house

composite rising + house

composite mercury

composite venus + house

composite mars

[indignantlemur]

Larger image (STRONGLY recommended): HERE The resolution on this is painful, so I'm including detail shots below the cut.

This meeting room was furnished many centuries ago by a renowned artisan who could carve stone and shells in stunning detail, and could shape and colour glass in a way that was never seen before and has never been replicated since. He took the secrets of his techniques to the grave, dying at an unexpectedly young age in a duel with a public safety official over the seizure of a rare and extremely toxic pigment imported from a Clan to the far south. His name was Kelenthor, and he was the only Clanless to ever attain such a high level of renown and fortune purely on his artistic talent. He lived during what would eventually be called the Post-Unification Andorian Renaissance. While this artisan was alive, he had a somewhat adversarial relationship with various officials and was known to use his art as a medium to mock and criticize his social betters. He was beloved by the general populace for exclusively taking on students from the lower social classes - almost as much as he was resented by the upper classes for his habit of hiding subversive messages in his commissioned works. Regardless of where one stood with Kelenthor, none could deny his talents. If you wanted the best of the best, Kelenthor was the one to commission. As such, he was eventually commissioned to design and create furnishings for a number of rooms and even entire buildings which are now used exclusively by government officials today or otherwise preserved as precious cultural works.

This particular room is widely regarded as his best work: the walls are conspicuously and almost insultingly plain, barely carved at all. At the centre of the room lies a heavy and imposing table of solid marbled stone - also barely ornamented, save some bevelling along the edges. The surface was treated with a substance which renders the stone almost entirely impervious to damage. No matter how one might rain blows upon it, barely a scratch remains to remember them by - much like many of the politicians who have sat at this table since its creation, which many believe was the subversive message behind the thing in the first place.

The focal points are the throne-like seats arrayed around the blunt instrument of a marble table, intricately carved and inlaid with precious shell and glasswork, iridescent and shining under even the faintest rays of light. Each scatters prisms randomly around the room, illuminating the shadows and often causing quite a few headaches when meetings stretch too long. More importantly, every single one of them was deliberately carved to be as uncomfortable as possible. No one in a position of power, Kelenthor once said, should be comfortable there.

First up, courting and wedding bands! Shral and Dagmar are only courting, so they have simple rings with minimal ornamentation, with Dagmar's being modified to fit as a cuff earring.

Thoris is married, so he has two bands on each antennae. Quite often marriage bands are more decorative and ostentatious than his, but Thoris isn't one for baubles and it's bad enough he has to wear these ridiculous robes. Frankly, if he could get away with just wearing his old Guardsman uniform to these meetings, he'd vastly prefer to. As such, his wedding bands are almost incongruously plain for his rank and status.

Next up, the lady and gentleman in the foreground! These two are Ministers, and high-ranking Andorians besides, so they ornament themselves rather loudly in comparison to our main cast's more sedate preferences. The lady on the left is Minister Zaathi, who we will be meeting in-fic very soon, and she's very fond of gemstones and carved hair beads - and not afraid of losing any, if she sheer number she's wearing are any indications. It's a weighted fashion statement, if nothing else, from a woman whose home province is small and relatively modest otherwise.

By comparison, Minister Bhael - on the right - is much more conservative in his ornamentation, but his robes are heavily embroidered and that is quite a lot of Andorian silk to be toting around. A closer look will reveal that his sleeves are embroidered with an ocean wave pattern, which is particularly interesting given the relationship Andorians have with the sea. Is it some kind of political statement, or just an odd choice of attire?

If those two are making statements with their sartorial choices, then Thoris has them all beat for layered meanings.

The silvery outer robes of office are closer to a cloak than a robe, with an inner layer that is belted around the waist and a loose outer layer that is joined to the inner layer at the shoulders and seams along the upper arms. This permits the maximum range of movement for the wearer. Being made of Andorian silk, which is several times stronger than Terran silk, it is an excellent means of protection against slashing and stabbing weapons. Despite their merits, however, Thoris loathes them. They're lightweight, sure, but they're still long and ostentatious and entirely too liable to get caught on something in a real fight. Sadly, they're also mandatory, or he'd have binned them ages ago.

The vibrant blue mid-layer is a heavy material, durable Andorian silk woven through with tiny filaments of something very similar to a carbon fibre composite, providing a measure of protection against many forms of projectiles, though less so against phase weapons. The innermost tunic is more obviously armoured than the other two layers, with panels mimicking an extensive chitin pattern along the length of the torso and forearms. The sleeves in particular draw attention to a very vibrant yellow flash - much like the chitin of the predatory veeg he is known for hunting in the past.

Next we come to Shral, who is obscured partially by shadow at Ambassador Thoris' right hand - and ready to draw his ushaan-tor at a moment's notice.

This is not standard armour for an Andorian, but rather something one might wear while sparring or training in their personal time. The armour takes the form of layered, almost beetle-shell like layers, layered over a long, cowl-necked tunic. The cowl is an unusual choice for sparring attire, as it provides a potential hand-hold for an opponent - only a very arrogant or a very skilled duelist would wear such a thing while sparring.

In contrast, Dagmar stands in the light on Thoris' left. Her working attire is lightly embroidered, and features large, pearly buttons - but otherwise she's almost conspicuously plainly dressed. Hyper aware of how shockingly pink she is in comparison to everyone else in the room, Dagmar wears muted and neutral colours to try to off-set how glaringly alien she is - which, ironically, only serves to highlight her differences even further.

@the-lady-general  @starrynightgardens  @emilie786  @horta-in-charge  @emochook  @velvet-luvie  @creature-of-the-stars @unknownfacelessfanfictions @auroramagpie

[stranger-rants]

You don’t think it’s possible for someone to support Israel because they are Jewish and have a strong ethnic and personal connection to that region (his bar mitzvah was literally in Israel) without actively being full of hatred towards Palestinians? There’s this narrative going around that Noah is somehow this deeply psychotic and racist person who wants Palestinian children to be exterminated, but isn’t it far more likely that he’s just deeply connected to his culture, fearful of the rise in antisemitism, and sad about 10/7? He condemned Hamas, a terrorist org. He never said anything about hating Palestinians.

Btw I personally support Palestine and agree that Israel has gone too far in its actions. I just don’t demonize everyone on the other side which is apparently a controversial position to take

I think that ongoing support of Israel as a settler colonial state hinges on the apartheid and genocide of the Palestinian people. Noah “Zionism is sexy” Schnapp is racist as is anyone who supports Zionism because it is a racist ideology. The establishment of any nation should not require the dispossession of land and resources of an entire group of people, but that’s what Zionism does.

Israel is no different than any other settler colonial state. Noah is not more or less ethnically tied to that land than I am to America. As a person raised within a setter colonial state, I could recognize the power and privilege I have to be able to live here or I could buy into a radical ideology based on the idea that I’m inherently superior to the indigenous people here and thus I deserve this land more.

Noah Schnapp has explicitly sided with Zionism. I don’t give a single flying fuck if he has been to Israel or he had his Bar Mitzvah in Israel. There are indigenous Palestinians who can’t return to their land because of Zionism. I’ve lived here in America my whole life. My immediate family is here. That doesn’t change the violent racist history of this place.

I didn’t call him psychotic. I didn’t demonize him. I am speaking in plain and simple English here - Noah is a Zionist. Zionism is a racist ideology. Israel as a settler colonial state that is younger than my grandparents has been displacing, imprisoning, torturing, and killing the indigenous people of that land for decades on the basis that they have a right to build an ethnostate on said land.

Stop conflating Jews and Judaism with Israel. Stop conflating Jews and Judaism with Zionism. Stop using the fear of antisemitism as a rhetorical device to excuse Zionist propaganda. There are many Jews sacrificing their safety to condemn Israel. There are many Jews who have suffered because of Israel.

Israel does not represent Jews or Judaism. It is a violent settler colonial state supported by other violent settler colonial states. Jewish safety and freedom shouldn’t hinge on apartheid and genocide. That’s not true safety or freedom. The only way forward is to free the Palestinian people. Stop the genocide. End the apartheid. Build a state based on equity for all, not just some.

This isn’t a religious conflict. This is a genocide and you can either support the oppressor or the oppressed. He chose the side of the oppressor. You’re not stating a controversial opinion by arguing in his favor, for him arguing in Israel’s favor. The U.S. government argues in Israel’s favor regularly, providing billions in weapons. We all see the consequences of that.

I will remain angry with him as is my right.

[anticedfiaweek]

The Reality of Pedophilia and Grooming Understanding the Threat to Children

The issue of pedophilia and child sexual abuse is a pervasive and deeply troubling reality in our society. Understanding the tactics used by predators, particularly grooming behaviors, is essential for protecting children from exploitation. This post will explore real-world examples of grooming and abuse, the systemic failures that allow these behaviors to persist, and the importance of raising awareness through media representation.

Defining Grooming

Grooming refers to the manipulative process by which a predator builds a relationship with a child (and often their caregivers) to gain trust and facilitate sexual abuse. This process can occur both online and in real life, employing various tactics designed to desensitize the child and isolate them from protective adults. Common grooming behaviors include:

-Building Trust- Predators often start by establishing a rapport with the child and their family, presenting themselves as friendly figures or authority figures.

-Desensitization- Gradually introducing inappropriate topics or behaviors to normalize sexual discussions or actions.

-Isolation- Creating situations where the child is alone with the groomer, away from protective adults.

- Manipulation- Using gifts, attention, or emotional support to create dependency and loyalty in the child.

Grooming cases

Several high-profile cases illustrate how grooming can lead to devastating outcomes for victims:

- Jimmy Savile- The late BBC presenter was revealed posthumously to have abused over 450 victims, many of whom were children. Savile utilized his celebrity status to gain access to vulnerable individuals, often exploiting his position in hospitals and children's homes. His ability to groom both victims and those around them allowed him to continue his abuse for decades without detection.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein- This notorious duo was involved in a vast sex trafficking ring that exploited underage girls. Maxwell was known to groom young girls by providing them with gifts and attention, creating a false sense of security before introducing them to Epstein. Their case underscores the importance of recognizing grooming behaviors in various contexts.

-Malka Leifer- the former principal of a Jewish school in Melbourne, fled to Israel after being accused of sexually abusing more than 70 students. Leifer's case involved significant grooming tactics; she cultivated relationships with her victims' families while manipulating her students into silence about her abuse. After years of evading justice, she was eventually extradited back to Australia due to investigative efforts that revealed her true activities.

The Systemic Failures

The systemic failures that allow grooming and abuse to persist are alarming. Many institutions have historically failed to protect children due to a combination of denial, negligence, and inadequate reporting mechanisms:

-Cover Ups- In many cases, institutions have prioritized their reputations over the safety of children. For example, the Catholic Church has faced widespread criticism for covering up allegations of abuse by priests rather than reporting them to authorities.

-Lack of Mandatory Reporting - In some regions, there is no legal requirement for individuals working with children to report suspected abuse. This gap allows predators to operate without fear of consequence.

-Failure to Believe Victims- Victims often face disbelief or dismissal when they come forward with allegations. This can discourage others from speaking out and perpetuates a culture of silence surrounding abuse.

The Role of Media in Raising Awareness

Media representation plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions about grooming and abuse. While some shows may inadvertently normalize harmful dynamics through romanticized portrayals of adult-child relationships, others can serve as powerful tools for education:

- Children's media that emphasizes healthy friendships—like that between Sofia and Cedric in *Sofia the First*—can help convey important messages about boundaries and respect. By showcasing platonic relationships built on trust and support, media can provide children with relatable examples of healthy interactions.

- Awareness Campaigns - Documentaries and news reports about real-life cases can educate parents and children about the signs of grooming and abuse. These programs can empower families with knowledge about how predators operate, helping them recognize red flags.

Educating Children About Grooming

It is essential for parents and caregivers to educate children about grooming behaviors so they can recognize potential threats:

1. Identifying Red Flags Teach children how to recognize behaviors that may indicate an unhealthy relationship, such as secrecy or manipulation.

2. Understanding Consent Educate children about consent in all types of relationships—friendships included—so they understand their rights regarding personal boundaries.

3. Encouraging Open Dialogue Create an environment where children feel safe discussing their feelings about friendships and relationships. Encourage questions about what healthy interactions look like.

4. Utilizing Resources Leverage educational resources from organizations like the NSPCC or RAINN that provide information on recognizing grooming signs and preventing abuse. By fostering open communication about these topics, we can help equip children with the tools they need to navigate their relationships safely.

Conclusion

The realities of pedophilia and grooming are stark reminders of the need for vigilance in protecting our children. By understanding these issues through real-world examples and educating young people about healthy relationships, we can work toward creating safer environments where children are empowered to speak out against abuse. Raising awareness through media representation can further enhance this effort by promoting positive narratives around friendship while shedding light on the dangers posed by predators.

[thedevilundercover]

bc of this post by @deadly-halowos I have some thoughts

I'm going to just like brain dump so read it if you wish to hear me rambling abt symbolism and shit

I personally think that there's a lot of space to world build with the LOA.

For one, I think that the LOA should have a city for the families of the LOA agents and the more bureaucratic stuff.

Some of the families of agents must have been in the LOA for generations and also it's just a safety measure for Ra's to have everyone's family under his hand so even if they try to revolt he could quickly catch their family members and threaten them with their family.

I also have a visions of it being like the Walled City of Kowloon. Just huge, towering buildings/maybe some cyberpunk tomfoolery. The higher up you were, the better position you had in the LOA. The lower levels are dark, filthy and dangerous and the higher up you go, the better buildings, the more sunlight. People work hard to rise in rankings so they can get themselves and their families out of the lower levels.

Most of the generational agents start out in the mid levels, it's bad, but not as horrid as the lowest levels. The lowest levels are for the the failed agents who have to fight for scraps and die often because of infections and diseases.

Culturally, the people who have been living in the city basically worship Ra's. It's a dictatorship of the vilest nature. They have to pledge their allegiance to Ra's from a young age and they all have to work somehow.

Children are indoctrinated quickly. They believe in the LOA with the entirety of their hearts and they don't even care if its their own father/mother/sibling/friend that they're ratting out or beating up. (think George Orwell's 1984)

[dailyanarchistposts]

Sadness and subjection

No, the masses were not innocent dupes; at a certain point, under a certain set of conditions, they wanted fascism, and it is this perversion of the desire of the masses that needs to be accounted for.

—Deleuze and Guattari[11]

In order to rule, those in positions of power need to constantly crush and subdue the forces of transformation. They do not merely need obedience; they need their subjects to be separated from their own capacities. As Audre Lorde writes, “Every oppression must corrupt or distort those various sources of power within the culture of the oppressed that can provide energy for change.”[12] Empire’s hold is increasingly affective: it suffuses our emotions, relationships, and desires, propagating feelings of shame, impotence, fear, and dependence. It makes capitalist relations feel inevitable and (to some) even desirable.

An important insight shared by many radical currents is that these forms of violence and control are ultimately toxic for everyone. For men to “enjoy” the benefits of patriarchal masculinity, their capacities for vulnerability and care must be eviscerated, replaced by a violent and disconnected way of being built upon shame and woundedness. For white people to become white, they have to internalize entitlement and a hostility to difference, hiding from the ways their lives depend on institutionalized violence and exploitation. Settlers must build their lives on a living legacy of genocide, indebted to ongoing extraction and dispossession. Being privileged by Empire means being sheltered from its most extreme forms of violence and degradation, and to be enrolled in a stultifying form of life that recreates this violence. Most of what is called privilege has nothing to do with thriving or joy; this is why privileged white men are some of the most emotionally stunted, closed-off people alive today. None of this is to deny that there are pleasures, wealth, and safety associated with whiteness, heteropatriarchal masculinity, and other forms of privilege. Instead, it is to insist that everyone, potentially, has a stake in undoing privileges—and the ongoing violence required to secure them—as a part of transformative struggle. As Jack Halberstam writes in his introduction to Fred Moten’s The Undercommons,

The mission then for the denizens of the undercommons is to recognize that when you seek to make things better, you are not just doing it for the Other, you must also be doing it for yourself. While men may think they are being “sensitive” by turning to feminism, while white people may think they are being right on by opposing racism, no one will really be able to embrace the mission of tearing “this shit down” until they realize that the structures they oppose are not only bad for some of us, they are bad for all of us. Gender hierarchies are bad for men as well as women and they are really bad for the rest of us. Racial hierarchies are not rational and ordered, they are chaotic and nonsensical and must be opposed by precisely all those who benefit in any way from them. Or, as Moten puts it: “The coalition emerges out of your recognition that it’s fucked up for you, in the same way that we’ve already recognized that it’s fucked up for us. I don’t need your help. I just need you to recognize that this shit is killing you, too, however much more softly, you stupid motherfucker, you know?”[13]

Empire is killing all of us, in different ways, and all of us, in different ways, are marked by incredible legacies of movement and revolt. Its forms of control are never total, never guaranteed. The word “sabotage” comes from those who destroyed factory machinery by throwing their wooden shoes (sabots) in the gears of the early European factories. Slaves broke their tools in the field, poisoned their masters, learned to read in secret, and invented subversive forms of song and dance.

Empire reacts to resistance by entrenching and accumulating what Spinoza called sadness: the reduction of our capacity to affect and be affected. We’ve chosen not to use this word very much in this book because we’ve found it can be misleading in many ways, but the concept of sadness is important for Spinoza. In the same way that joy gets conflated with happiness, it’s easy to hear “sad” in terms of its familiar meaning as an emotion, rather than the way Spinoza intended it: as a reduction of capacities. For Spinoza, sadness cannot be avoided or eliminated completely; it is part of life. All things wax, wane, and die eventually, and the process can provoke thought, resistance, and action. Sadness and joy can be intertwined in complex ways. But Empire accumulates and spreads sadness. Drawing on Spinoza, here is how Deleuze put it:

We live in a world which is generally disagreeable, where not only people but the established powers have a stake in transmitting sad affects to us. Sadness, sad affects, are all those which reduce our power to act. The established powers need our sadness to make us slaves. The tyrant, the priest, the captors of souls need to persuade us that life is hard and a burden. The powers that be need to repress us no less than to make us anxious … to administer and organize our intimate little fears.[14]

Empire propagates and transmits sad affects. Sadness sticks to us; we are made to desire its rhythms. Terrible situations are made to feel inevitable. For this reason, we speak of the entrenchment of Spinozan sadness as that which is stultifying, depleting, disempowering, individualizing and isolating. But this entrenchment might not feel agonizing or even unpleasant: it might feel like comfort, boredom, or safety. We have found the notion of “subjection” helpful here, because it goes beyond a top-down notion of power. In an interview, the critical trans scholar and organizer Dean Spade explains why he uses this term instead of the more common activist term “oppression”:

“Subjection” suggests a more complex set of relationships, where we are constituted as subjects by these systems, engage in resistance within these systems, manage and are managed within these systems, and can have moments of seeing and exploiting the cracks and edges of these systems. I chose to introduce this term, despite its unfamiliarity in most activist realms I am part of, because I felt its intervention was a necessary part of my argument about how power works.[15]

Today, especially in the metropolitan centers of so-called “developed” countries, subjects are enmeshed in a dense fabric of control. Some of us are steered into forms of life that are compatible and complicit with ongoing exploitation and violence, while other populations are selected for slow death. New forms of subjection are invented to contain each new rebellion, enrolling subjects to participate in the containment. Prisons and policing come to be felt (especially by white people) as a form of safety and security. Misogyny is eroticized and objectification reaches new heights, taking new forms. Desires for affluence and luxury are entrenched amidst growing inequality. Through cellphones and social media, surveillance and control are increasingly participatory. When they are working, these forms of subjection are felt not as impositions but as desires, like a warm embrace or an insistent tug.