#But hey that is all considering they don't know their counterparts from their respective universes‚ right?

[kyouka-supremacy]

Beast akutagawa x bsd Atsushi is nice and all but beast Atsushi x bsd akutagawa is where it’s at

Beast Akutagawa x canon Atsushi is your average shonen rivalry between allies that """hate""" each other and in reality constantly push each other to be the better version of themselves / are each other's only drive and reason to move forward but Beast Atsushi x canon Akutagawa is the dark slice of life adult manga that tackles into existentialism and the search of a meaning in the midst of a nihilist perception of the world and potentially even finding that meaning in each other but not before any less than 600 chapters of pining

[house-of-mirrors]

Also hey unrelated but. My autistic ass can only read so much wiki or trawl the Internet for Forbidden Story Information before my eyes start to glaze over. I know the *name* Dawn Machine but I never got around to doing its Sunless Sea quest (something something The Sun drives people mad??? Space is made of gods or something right? I know the giant undersea Mouth is like. A fallen god or something) anyway what I'm saying is please consider this an open offer to infodump potentially in DMs about whatever Fallen London lore is particularly itching your brain because i *will* eat that shit up like a hungry baby bird

Sorry this took a bit to get to, my grad school semester started and I was a bit all over the place. You can ask me about the forbidden story information: But Watch Out. (major spoilers under the cut for FL and sskies) Anyway without further ado, *deep breath*

The Dawn Machine is an artificial judgement built a few decades ago and is now under the jurisdiction of the admiralty. They use it as an excuse to be horrible imperialists but I don't think they actually care about the machine's consciousness beyond using it as a tool of oppression. It hates everyone and itself. It knows it shouldn't exist and that makes it angry. It wTHE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE S- and I digress. It has a counterpart in skies called the Clockwork Sun which is in a similar situation but slowly dying and on its way to taking the whole region with it. They turn stuff to crystal or glass respectively which I'm really curious as to why, considering the White (who is like a cosmic spymaster and the main villain of the judgements, you can fight me on this it's true) is described as having "a hall of poisoned crystal." All my homies HATE the white. YOU can't oppose the white but I'm built differently. I read a single line of text in skies that teased "the war on the white" and I'm like hey get back here! You can't just drop that and leave! I hope the recent lore declassification means we'll get a story in Fallen London exploring more of it (and violence against it)

Which leads into the second point, "space is made of gods." The Judgements, the stars, whatever you call them are godlike beings at the top of the order called the great chain, which is an allegory to victorian era social hierarchy. The chain dictates how powerful you are and what your role is and you're not supposed to be allowed to change your place. Understandably this made many people very angry and is widely considered to be a bad move, etc. Anyway the judgements are more or less what it says on the label, space's judges and courts who make the laws of the universe. Light is Law. From skies, there are lines that suggest the judgements didn't choose their role either. "The chain binds us all. It is our privilege to enforce it." I want to know what happened, like did they put themselves in power a long time ago and current generations remain stuck? Interesting for how an oppressive system harms those on top too. Also, we know that they weren't always in charge. There are characters in skies (Mr Menagerie) who remember a time before they ruled. There is no divine right of kings. This system didn't always exist and it can be overthrown. They aren't gods. They're fallible as mortals with petty wars and affairs and they don't want anyone to know how many problems their society has. "As below, so above." The liberation of the night seeks to overthrow all tyrants, up to and including the stars.

In sunless skies you can interact with the sapphir'd king, the lord of the dead, whom I affectionately like to call the Sapphire'd bitch. I wrote a fic about meeting him and from that point kept talking about how I wanted to plot his demise. Then the truth ambition said "congrats. You get to plot the demise of the sapphird king" and I said "oh. Neat. Back to being a merchant while I process that for 3-5." Sure is a game! Shortly tho, once I work up the nerve, I'll be finishing the "truth" ambition in skies and so will be posting a whole thing when I do, likely incoherent. Look forward to it.

Something specific that interests me in skies is how you can interact with a character who used to be a judgement but seemingly willingly chose to descend the chain to human. She remembers being a cruel leader and is glad she is no longer, and specifically a masculine figure so like yay trans rights. But we already know I have strong feelings towards beings that used to be stars 🙈

Now as for the third thing I haven't played much sea but I know there's speculation the Neath was formed from the skull of a dead god. Storm, one of the zee gods, is a dead god whose consciousness lingers and is angry because it knows it's dead. We see this in skies as well, the "bones of a star" which are large enough to encompass London, whose mind lingers in a ghost, angry to be dead.

I could go into some of the other stellar characters we learn about in skies but I'll save that for another post and more organized thoughts.

I typed up this stream of consciousness rant while in a swimming pool. Hope it's what you were looking for! I have Head full Many thoughts about the judgements all the time all the time

[maharghaideovate]

Working Professionals' Guide to Distance learning MBA in India

Let's be honest, the daily grind can feel real. You've aced your way into a good job, but that nagging ambition keeps whispering – the itch to climb higher, to become a leader in your field. An MBA gleams like a golden ticket, promising prestige and career advancement. But how, as a busy young professional do you even consider fitting it all in? A distance learning MBA program is best suited for you.

This guide isn't a dry list of steps; it's your battle plan. We'll navigate the world of Distance MBAs, equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions, and most importantly, show you how to balance work and studies like a pro.

Why Distance Learning is Your Best Friend

Remember those all-nighters in college cramming for exams? Don’t worry you don’t have to go through that anymore. Distance Learning is all about flexibility – the ultimate perk for busy young professionals like us. Imagine devouring lectures during your morning commute it’s a bonus for avoiding rush hour traffic , tackling assignments on a lazy Sunday afternoon after brunch with friends, or even participating in online discussions late into the night because hey, some nights you just can't put down that fascinating marketing case study! Gone are the rigid schedules and the "oh no, I missed a class!" panic attacks. You control the pace, catering your studies to your existing commitments.

Here's another secret most people don't know: Distance MBA colleges are typically easier on the wallet compared to their full-time counterparts. Since universities don't have to deal with the same overhead costs, the financial burden for students is significantly reduced. This is a major win, especially when you're managing real-world budgets and those weekend getaways you deserve.

Choosing Your Perfect Program: Don't Settle!

There is an ocean of Distance MBA programs available in India, choosing the right one is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:

Accreditation is King: This ensures the program meets the highest academic standards. Look for universities with UGC-DEB (University Grants Commission - Distance Education Bureau) approval. This is your quality check! Find Your Niche: Distance MBAs often offer specializations in areas like Finance, Marketing, or Human Resource Management. Choose a specialization that aligns with your career goals and helps you stand out from the crowd. Research is Your Weapon: Don't take a university's brochure at face value. Dive deeper – research the university's reputation, faculty expertise, and student reviews. Look for programs with experienced professors who can provide valuable industry insights. Remember, you're investing in your future, so choose wisely! Industry Recognition Matters: Make sure the program you choose is respected by potential employers in your field. Check if companies you aspire to work for value graduates from this particular program. After all, the ultimate goal is career advancement! Think about the companies you dream of working for and see if their websites mention specific MBA programs they favor.

Conquering the Application Process:

The application process at some of the best accredited online MBA programs is typically straightforward. Most programs require a Bachelor's degree with a minimum percentage (usually around 50%) and may have work experience requirements. Some universities might require entrance exams like MAH-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) or NMAT (Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test). Don't sweat these exams! Prepare accordingly – the internet is filled with resources for test prep and skill development. Utilize online practice tests, brush up on your business fundamentals, and remember, a positive attitude goes a long way.

Scholarships: Your Financial Ally

Let's face it – education can be expensive. However, numerous scholarships are available specifically for working professionals pursuing Distance learning MBA courses. These are offered by universities, government agencies, and even private institutions. Explore all available options to minimize the financial burden. Think of scholarships as your secret weapon to conquer those tuition fees!

Bonus Tip: The Power of Networking

Don't underestimate the power of networking! Once you've enrolled in your program, connect with your classmates online or even try to form a local study group. Not only will you gain valuable insights and support from peers, but you might also build lasting professional connections. Remember, your classmates could be your future colleagues or even business partners!

Remember, You've Got This!

Earning a Distance MBA takes dedication, but the rewards are worth it. You'll not only gain valuable knowledge and skills but also the confidence and leadership qualities to take your career to the next level. Network with your classmates and professors, utilize the resources available, and most importantly, believe in yourself. With hard work and a dash of perseverance, you'll be well on your way to conquering that Distance MBA and achieving your dreams.

[coquelicoq]

Totally Valid And Understandable Reasons Shen Wei Could Have For Not Admitting To Zhao Yunlan That He's Hei Pao Shi

because here's the thing, right. if shen wei knows from episode 1 that zhao yunlan is going to travel back in time and see hei pao shi without his mask on, that means he knows that he can't hide his secret identity forever. at some point, zhao yunlan is going to know. so what was the game plan here? why not just be upfront about it? a non-exhaustive list.

when they first meet at the university, they're in public. what if somebody (xiao guo) says "HEI PAO SHI?!??!" really loudly or something? it could be this whole thing. shen wei works here! he likes this cover identity! what if he has to move? what if he has to change his name? what if he has to get a makeover to keep people from recognizing him? what if he has to stop wearing sleeve garters???? the risk is just too great.

he wants zyl to be his friend and he thinks zyl would be more willing to befriend a suspicious yet intriguing university professor than a terrifyingly superpowered foreign government liaison, so he doesn't want to tell him that he's hps until they're already friends. he wants zyl to get to know him as him, not his office. too bad that in order to hide his hps identity, he's gonna have to lie about a whole bunch of stuff, which means zyl can't fully get to know him until he comes clean. also too bad that he sucks at lying.

zyl would probably be less likely to share information about cases with him if he knew shen wei was hps. (i'm basing this on the fact that zyl has been chief for a while and has never gone to hps before now.) and recently shen wei has discovered that having conversations about cases with the chief of the SID is - get this - actually helpful in solving those cases! therefore, for the good of all creatures everywhere, it is his solemn duty to lie to zyl about his alter ego. QED.

being hps is lonely! people are intimidated by you. they don't try to take care of you. i think he likes having zyl treat him like he's delicate, sometimes. nobody fusses over a guy with healing powers getting tetanus or colds, you know what i'm saying? nobody tries to rescue a superhero from muggers. nobody is gonna put a boyfriend jacket on the black-cloaked envoy! that dude is already good to go on outerwear. he might as well be called the No-Need-To-Give-Me-Your-North-Face-Because-I-Am-Already-Very-Warm-And-Stylish Envoy.

he keeps meaning to tell zyl but then forgets. one time he was going to make a note to remind himself to do it in the morning, but then he used up all his ink ghostwriting zyl's report to minister gao. another time he did make a note, but it happened to be the closest scrap of paper to hand when he needed to come up with non-supernatural explanations for a weird mauling, and after he drew a bear on it he forgot that there was something else on the back. hate it when that happens.

he feels like it would be rude not to tell chu shuzhi first, but then they had that weird interrogation when shen wei was caught at the face-stealer crime scene, and now it would just be like. soooooo awkward. chu shuzhi would be all, "i can't believe i tried to creep you out with a puppet and then told you you couldn't compare to one of your own toes, oh god, please let the earth swallow me," etc., etc. kinder not to tell him, really.

as soon as he comes out as zyl's diplomatic counterpart, is that going to color all of their interactions? he likes being able to talk to zyl about stuff without bringing Envoy this and Lord that into everything. he likes them spending time together as shen wei and zhao yunlan, not as the representatives of their respective species. even if zyl suspects his identity, not actually telling him gives them plausible deniability to keep doing that. once shen wei tells him, are they gonna have to officially register their relationship with haixing inspectorate HR? will this be considered a COI? how many NDAs would this necessitate?? the acronymic red tape could be nigh on infinite.

zyl is spending so much time on shen wei right now, devoting all his admirable tenacity and powers of observation to figuring out what his whole deal is, and shen wei likes being the center of his attention! once zyl has proof, is he gonna quit following shen wei around and pretending they just ran into each other? is he gonna stop waltzing into shen wei's office and eating all his cake? WHAT IF SHEN WEI HAS TO EAT HIS OWN CAKE. unacceptable. worst-case scenario. must be avoided at all costs.

actually he is doing zhao yunlan, noted mystery lover, a huge favor. like giving a cat a puzzle box. it's enrichment for detectives! shen wei is just trying to ensure an adequately stimulating environment for the domestic shorthair living across the hall (and also da qing). what would zyl do without this to entertain him? probably wither away to nothing. you are welcome, zhao yunlan.

maybe he's hoping that if he waits long enough and keeps showing off in front of zyl with his sexy sexy glaive, eventually zyl will express some kind of hubba hubba sentiment about hps to shen wei, at which point shen wei can be like "about that" and go right into the magical girl transformation. talk about a perfect beginning to their hornily ever after, plus it's efficient as all hell. unlikely? maybe. but hey, a guy can dream.

[aeliii]

Understanding the world at large is not actually understanding much (and I don't mean this in the Socrates way)

Today after a night out with my friends, I ended up with a conversation about life and the beauty of existence with an older man who seemed to have lived a hard life (at least told us his last few years have been difficult). He told us about how he used to have it all, a pretty stable life with monetary gain but kept chasing numbers and how that chase always kept him dissatisfied. Everything was vibing, and we were getting real insight, until my friend mentioned about not being able to handle human contradiction and I started to ask him questions una genuine interest about how a man saw the world, how it was it for a man, specifically how can they live their sexuality so inhibited (“when you go to a bar with the intention to fuck, whether you do fuck or not, regardless of the outcome, do you ever feel shame at all for your action at all?”) he went around in circles and started talking about how we are all animals and we have instincts and mentioned how he does think I am hot and would fuck me. I paid this last comment as no mind m, seeing as I understood he was trying to further the point about how we’re both wired to reproduce, in our most primal level. This I understand fully, and my understanding of this led me to completely let slide the fact he especifícalo kept mentioning us in a hypothetical sexual scenario. Slightly offended, but for the sake of the conversation I understood. Then I asked, going off this point, if we’re both understood to be wired to reproduce, why is it then that men don’t feel shame and are so inhibited about their sexuality and women aren’t? Or if it’s a neutral process of just reproduction, why is it that the hypersexual outward expression of male is tolerated and rarely is questioned/censored whereas for women they’re placed in such extremes, but if they decide to be specifically outward, even in the slightest, this is automatically scrutinized and question by everyone. Since he kept mentioning how yes he would try to fuck and maybe men are mostly bad, and how sometimes he’s not as good and he’s the one to beat himself up and how he was raised as certain morals, which I agree are factors in all of this, he never answered my questions directly, do you or do you not feel shame or the need to self regulate your sexuality ? Then I decided maybe sexuality is just too sensitive of a topic, especially outside of a dive bar at 2 AM so I explain to him, if we all have masculinity and femininity and we understand that this is part of the wholesome of an individual, why is it that a the wholesomeness of a man is respected/acknowledged/taken more seriously/made in a higher manner than the wholesomeness of a woman? Why do women do not get taken as seriously as men, why is it that we don’t regard as women’s band in the same way we regard The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin (all male bands), and as a man, do you ever feel that you can’t accomplish your dreams, goals, that people question your abilities and integrity based on your gender?

Again, he couldn’t just give me that answer with that specific focus. It seemed his scope of perspective was focused on spiritually, money and morality at large, but he didn’t seem to begin to scrape the surface of what I was trying to ask hin. I was super respectful, very very calm and made my question and clear and concise as possible.

At the end our ride got there, and I said to him “I hope you understand I wasn’t trying to attack you because you’re a man or anything like that, but I simply am asking you your perspective as a man because I’ll never be a man and I don’t understand but I’m trying to” he said no worries and good night and that he loved us and it was all good and nice like when we first started the convo. But I felt feeling a combination of weird icky emotions.

For one, I felt like I just made this dude feel bad, when we started off the conversation on a very spiritual, hippie, “freedom come from acceptance of life,” and the general struggle of the highs and the lows, finding the mid point, how money and possessions can consume you, how you just learn to be yourself and appreciate yourself. He had called us beautiful and said he loved us and I believe his sentiment and I think it was genuine as I have felt those feelings and thought those things as well: the amazement at the beauty in each and everyone, in the world at large, how easy it is to love.

But when I tried to get into more specifics of understanding, I feel this is when the connection felt apart and led to us ending in a sour way.

Indeed, perhaps I used stereotypes and he used some women ones, but I feel I have seen this male behavior and I was able to accept the female behavior he described cause I have either done it myself or experienced it in my life, experienced it with people close to me and with people I’ve known. So there, I admit it, I believe, that as a gender, at least to some extent, I can admit to some wrong, I can admit to maybe having contributed to the catiness attributed to female dynamics, attributed to certain stereotypes, so if in wrong and you’re wrong, then we’re do we meet? But also, I felt I went as far as to say hey if I’m wrong, the alright, I admit it, but please let me understand from your male perspective how I am wrong. Meaning, if as a woman I am this and that then tell me with evidence. Or me, trying to relate to man, put my experience as a woman and ask “does it happen to you too?” If we consider we are more similar than different, then tell me so and be very specific as I will try my best to truly understand you?

And idk he said something about how men know they’re more similar to women than they like to admit or even let us know. I thought this was interesting but was not able to dig deeper.

I’m not really sure what I was trying to do, perhaps I shouldn’t have probed so hard a a single man’s view, especially since he could or could not be in a good place mentally, emotionally, physically, etc (he could or could not have been on a drug, idk), but the chance came to me out of nowhere and from the common ground that I have developed with him about the world at large and spiritually, I felt safe to even go there, in a genuine effort to understand, that it’s not about being angryfeminist and attacking and, and perhaps I could truly see where men are coming from and what can I do to better understand?

And like I said perhaps this was just this particular man, and I’m not going to put this universal all men judgement based on this sole encounter, but once again, when I tried to talk about gender differences with a man, especially the topic of sexuality, I simply feel like I am not being listened to, or at least that there is not as as much amount of effort in them to understand me as a woman in the same way I’m trying to understand them as a men? And in no way do I ever perceive them admitting to their wrongs, that perhaps, just perhaps we’re not just all angryfeminists but that we have legitimate arguments and valid views that are actually observable and are things that as individuals MEN NEED to take accountability for and perhaps don’t feel so self-assured in continuing such behaviors and being so fast to point the finger elsewhere and be in complete denial about the whole thing.

I don’t know how I feel, I feel conflicted cause for one I felt it pointed to the limits of my empathy, and felt narcissistic that I felt sad because it showed that I am actually shallow. Second, I just felt so confused as to why isn’t anyone explaining things to me when I’m communicating in a very neutral, objective way, based on your experiences, as in trying to understand very specific angles to this whole confusion in gender politics. I was so confused that blanket statements that kind of related but not entirely, were used to answer me. I was so confused that I was saying HEY I COULD BE WRONG, I just wanna know how it is for you, I was not receiving answers. If I’m asking you how and why, it’s because I don’t understand because my experiences did not give me true opportunity to see through those lenses, but you bet that I will try my damn best to come to that understanding regardless. So please, literally explain this to me as you would to a child. Be fucking specific, give me evidence. Say it all, I want to know.

I feel better now talking about it. I think perhaps I approached it wrong but now I feel like the whole “the world is a beautiful place, all is love” universal hippy feeling is just shallow and as self-congratulatory and useful as its opposite racist, hateful and all-phobic counterpart is. What good is universal understanding if you just overlook the specific context ?

I feel that that universal understating and love is the first step, and probably a feeling that drives you, feeds your soul and overall is amazing and should be respected. It’s necessary and it shows the genuine kind heart of the human soul. Nevertheless, I do not think this is enough. You cannot say you love everyone and accept everyone and tell me you know absolutely nothing about who everyone is. Can you truly love someone you don’t understand, much less someone you don’t even try to know?

I know I know, this is probably exaggerated as it is impossible to know everything, and of course that includes knowing everyone and knowing everything about everyone. I know my gender discussion excluded other individuals and experiences from queer folks, non-binary people, LGBTQ+, and I didn’t even touch upon class or race. With this man I saw someone who was more or less similar to me, middle class, cisgendered, straight, I disregarded race because I was interested to see what this man had to say as a man and what could I do with those views to better my understanding of women and how society views them (and like I said, consider the possibility that perhaps just maybe I was being too sensitive or I’m not being judged as harshly as I feel, or I’m just in one way or another wrong, and holding a faulty view that came as a result of a faulty belief.

But I feel frustrated. And at this point I don’t think I ever saw any worries in this man to self-regulate and take personal responsibility of himself than I do as a woman. And nowhere did I feel my questions were truly being answered even as I stood there with open arms, ready to accept any answer, as long as it was his truth to what I was asking him.

No. So now I don’t know. I just feel like saying a big NO. Not even in anger, not even in a fuck men or fuck the patriarchy type of way, but in a NO I will not tolerate this any further. no.

I’ve tried so hard, crossing so many times beyond the point of naiveness, but I just feel so frustrated that the weight of actions inflicted upon me are placed UPON ME. Meaning it is I as a woman who has to self regulate my primal instincts and emotional, expressive needs and be understanding of the outside world when the outside world does absolutely nothing to understand me and regulate its negative actions it has on me based on my gender.

And sorry if his parallel is wrong, but never did privilege seem to click, and white privilege, and rape culture, and the inability to truly understand another based on the fact that it has never and will. Ever happen to you (tell me, do white people truly understand the extent in the historical pain felt by Native Americans and Blacks? Do men truly understand the extent in the historical pain felt by women? Do the rich a wealthy ever understand the extent of the historical pain felt by disadvantaged countries that came about as a result of capitalism ?)

Idk but this conversations touched upon a lot of subjects and it truly cemented the fact that this society doesn’t make any sense, and that’s not just a nihilistic wushu-washy “but fuck it we all try to live the best way we can’t without ever knowing wtf we are doing” but in a more concise and extremely revelaba point that it makes no fucking sense to marginalized groups people, it makes no fucking sense to place money above life, human life and nature, hell planetary life, that it makes absolutely no fucking sense to continue in such a consumerist hyper-anything never ending gaping hole of an existence with no absolute regard, true regard, to the life and the people that have been long before us and that are directly affected negatively by all these absurd systems and ideas we all hold so dear a mighty as a way of living.

NO.