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Is This Online Art Gallery Legit? Some Handy Tips on How to Spot the Real Deal

☠️ Skulduggery is everywhere! ☠️

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[deliciousangelfestival]

The Imperfect Couple - 6

Character: politician!Bucky x ex-wife!reader

Summary: A separated couple must pretend to be happily married while the husband runs for Vice President, dealing with old issues and political pressures during his election campaign.

Warning: The couple's arguments could be triggering.

Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 , Chapter 8 , Chapter 9 , Chapter 10 , Chapter 11 , Chapter 12 , Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Leave a comment and Reblog, please. I'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️

“How long have you known him?” Bucky’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp, watching every reaction.

“Five years,” you answered, keeping your tone steady. You didn’t want him to pick up on any hint of tension.

Bucky frowned, a strange sense of familiarity tugging at him. Ian seemed like a typical journalist, but something else about him gnawed at Bucky's instincts.

He rarely interacted with foreign reporters, so why did Ian’s presence feel… off? He was sure he'd figure out why this feeling wouldn't leave him.

Before either of you could say more, Greg appeared, clipboard in hand, and gave you both a pointed look. “Alright, you two, time to get ready. The event’s about to start. Let’s make sure everything runs smoothly.”

You nodded, feeling the butterflies in your stomach begin to stir. You’d been on stages before, but not like this. Not with Bucky, not under the gaze of an entire country.

Bucky noticed your hesitation and moved closer, placing a firm hand on your lower back. “It’s going to be fine,” he whispered, his voice low and reassuring. “I’ve got you.”

You looked up at him, trying to read his eyes. Was he just saying that for the cameras? Or was there something deeper there? It was getting harder to tell. You nodded anyway, more for yourself than for him, and straightened up. You had to play your part, just as you always did.

At the Convention

The large venue buzzed with excitement, lights shining down on the stage like spotlights in an arena. When Steve Rogers walked up to the podium, the room went silent, all eyes on him. He was the golden candidate—charismatic, confident, the embodiment of what the people wanted.

The room buzzed with anticipation as Steve Rogers approached the podium, every eye in the venue locked onto him. He stood tall, his presence commanding, radiating the quiet strength he was known for. After a brief moment, he began speaking, his voice steady but filled with passion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Americans," Steve’s voice echoed with gravitas, "Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era. We face challenges that require not just strong leadership, but leadership rooted in integrity, honor, and the unyielding belief in the power of the people."

The crowd quieted further, hanging on his every word.

"For too long, we’ve watched division grow. But I believe in the strength of unity, the strength of standing together—one nation, bound by a shared responsibility to protect our freedom, our families, and our future. And I pledge to lead with the same unwavering commitment that I’ve given to this country my entire life."

He took a brief pause, allowing his words to sink in, then continued, his tone growing more impassioned.

"I am not just here as a candidate, but as a father, a husband, and a son," he said, gesturing toward his wife, Peggy, and their children standing nearby, his parents behind them. "I want a better world for my family—just as I want a better world for yours. A world where opportunity isn’t reserved for the few but shared by the many. A world where every child grows up in safety, with access to education, health, and the opportunity to pursue their dreams."

The applause began to rise, but Steve held his hand up gently, signaling for quiet once more.

"This is not just my campaign. This is our campaign. Together, we will fight for a future that respects the dignity of every individual. We will build an America where justice is not selective but a right for all. Where leadership is about service��not power."

His voice crescendoed, igniting the room.

"Because I believe in us. I believe in the promise of America, and I believe in the strength of the American people. Together, we will rise to meet the challenges of today, and together, we will create a brighter, fairer, and stronger tomorrow."

The room erupted into thunderous applause as Steve’s words settled over the crowd. He stepped back, waving, as Peggy and their children joined him at the front of the stage, a living testament to the family values he championed.

With that, Steve Rogers sealed the moment—an electrifying speech that echoed far beyond the walls of the convention hall.

The crowd erupted into applause as Steve stepped aside, making way for Bucky.

Now it was his turn.

You watched as Bucky walked to the podium with the practiced ease of a man who was born for this. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, the overhead lights catching the sharp angles of his face. As soon as he began speaking, the room hushed again.

“I want to thank everyone for being here today,” Bucky started, his voice strong, yet warm. “Serving alongside Steve has been the honor of my life, and I am proud to stand here as the candidate for Vice President. My family—my parents Julius and Caroline, my siblings Shawn and Hazel, my nephew Nate, and my brother-in-law Tim—are with me today.” He motioned to the side, where they all stood. Caroline’s expression was as rigid as ever, while Julius offered a rare smile.

Then Bucky’s eyes found you.

“And of course, my wife. She’s been my rock. She’s stood by me through the hardest times, and I can’t imagine being here without her.” His voice softened, but the sincerity in his words cut through the noise in your head.

You smiled on cue, the kind of smile you’d perfected over years of practice. But inside, everything felt muddled. Bucky spoke as though you were his whole world, but you knew the truth. This was a performance. A calculated move to protect his image.

The applause was thunderous, but it sounded far away as you fought the emotions swirling inside you. Bucky looked the part—strong, dependable, built for this kind of role. He was doing everything right.

But you? You were pretending. The smile you wore for the cameras wasn’t for him; it was for the part of you that wanted to see Caroline suffer, to see her envy every look Bucky gave you on that stage. But underneath the spite, you felt something deeper, something far more complicated.

'Can I really keep doing this?' The question lodged itself in your mind as the applause rang out again.

You watched Bucky continue his speech, looking every bit the man of the moment. He thrived in this atmosphere, while you felt like you were drowning in a sea of lies. Every glance from the audience, every flash from the cameras, reminded you that none of this was real.

When he finished, the room erupted in applause again. Bucky turned to you, offering his hand. The warmth of his palm against yours was meant to be reassuring, but it only deepened your confusion.

As you both exited the stage, his grip tightened slightly, just enough for you to notice. He leaned down, voice low in your ear. “You did great,” he whispered. His words were laced with a strange tenderness that made your stomach flip.

You nodded, but deep down, the weight of this act was crushing you.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

As the convention wrapped up and the crowd began to disperse, you and Bucky maneuvered Tim’s wheelchair carefully. The excitement of the day was still buzzing in the air, but you could sense the underlying tension between Bucky and Ian as Ian approached you and Tim.

Ian greeted you with a friendly smile. “Hey, I’m working on a piece about the election from the perspective of the candidates’ families. What’s it like for you and your family during all this?”

Bucky, standing beside you, made a subtle move to place himself between you and Ian, a protective gesture that didn't go unnoticed. “I’m not sure if that’s appropriate,” Bucky began, but Tim cut him off.

“Of course! I’ve never been interviewed before. It’ll be good to share my side,” Tim said eagerly, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.

Bucky looked at Tim, then at you, his frustration evident in the tightness of his jaw. He sighed and stepped aside, unable to argue with Tim’s excitement or your reluctance to refuse a friend’s request.

Ian turned to you, his expression curious. “You never mentioned your brother before. It’s clear you two have a strong bond.”

“She’s a private person,” Tim interjected with a hint of pride.

Ian raised an eyebrow, glancing back at you. “You really seem to know her well.”

“We may not always show it, but we’re very close. She’s been like a second mother to me, especially after I lost my leg,” Tim said, his voice carrying an unusual warmth.

You felt a blush rise to your cheeks at the unexpected praise from your brother. It was rare to hear him speak so openly about his feelings.

Ian smiled as he jotted down notes. “This story is going to resonate with a lot of people.”

After a while, Tim excused himself, leaving you and Ian alone. Ian’s demeanor shifted subtly, becoming more serious.

“Thanks for giving him the chance to speak,” you said with a slight edge. “You know, it feels like you just handed him a chance to embarrass me.”

Ian chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “Isn’t that what siblings do? Cherish these moments of difference before it’s too late.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean,-?”

Before you could ask, Ian pulled you aside, his face set with determination. “I heard there’s a divorce in your marriage.”

You stiffened, your eyes widening in surprise. “How did you find out?”

Ian’s smirk was almost smug. “Don’t underestimate my skills. You vanished, then reappeared, acting like everything’s perfect. I pieced it together from the campaign.”

He leaned closer, his frustration evident. “Not once did you mention him. And now, suddenly, you’re playing the loving wife. It’s irritating.”

You crossed your arms, feeling a wave of anger and discomfort. “Are you planning to use this information?”

Ian’s expression softened, though his eyes were intense. “I don’t know yet. But a few people already know.”

You flinched at his words, a shiver running down your spine.

Ian’s voice dropped to a reassuring whisper. “Don’t worry. They’ve only heard rumors. No one has solid evidence. I could protect you. Because you deserve someone better.”

You gulped, unable to speak. Ian’s concern seemed genuine, but you couldn’t shake off the pain from your marriage with Bucky. Your emotions were still tangled, and you didn’t want to get involved with Ian’s feelings, especially now.

You glanced up and saw Bucky watching you from across the room. His eyes were locked on you, his gaze sharp and intense. It felt like he was assessing every movement, every word. The tension in his stare made your heart race, and you could almost feel his frustration and jealousy from afar.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

As the car sped through the night, the backseat felt increasingly cramped, the air thick with unspoken tension. You stared out the window, trying to avoid Bucky’s piercing gaze. The city lights flickered past, a blur of neon and shadows, as you stewed over the conversation with Ian and the unresolved questions it left.

Bucky's silence was more oppressive than any words. His jaw was set tight, and the muscles in his neck were rigid. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold, laced with an edge of command. “Don’t meet Ian anymore.”

You continued to look out the window, your reflection a ghostly image against the darkened glass. “He knew about the divorce,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

Bucky’s breath hitched, his grip on the seat tightening. He was silent for a moment, the weight of your revelation settling in. Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. “Well, that means I’m on the right track. Every politician has skeletons in their closet.”

You turned your head sharply to face him, eyes narrowing. “You’re not afraid if the rumor leaks out?”

Bucky’s gaze remained steady, but his jaw tightened slightly. “I’m not gonna lie, I am afraid. But I’m more worried about how it’ll affect you.” He paused “But look at the bright side. It narrows down the list of people who knew about our marriage.”

You turned to him, eyes narrowing in frustration. “You’re playing with fire, Bucky.”

He leaned closer, the space between you shrinking rapidly. His expression softened into a smirk, but his eyes held a dangerous glint. “I’ll win this for you. I still remember that moment when you wished me to win, just to spite my mother. I need that brave Y/N.”

You could feel the heat from his body, his breath mingling with yours as he drew nearer. The car’s dim lighting accentuated the intensity in his eyes, a smoldering gaze that made your pulse quicken. “Don’t make this about me,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

Bucky’s smirk deepened, and he moved even closer, his face inches from yours. “But babe, this is all for you,” he murmured, his voice a low, seductive growl.

His proximity was overwhelming, and you could feel the heat radiating from his body. You swallowed hard, the line between anger and something else entirely blurring as his lips almost brushed against yours.

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, you were caught between the anger at his manipulation and the undeniable pull of the unresolved feelings you still harbored for him. The confined space of the car seemed to shrink around you, the air charged with a mix of frustration and unspoken desire.

Bucky’s gaze locked onto yours, his smirk fading into an expression of intense focus. His hand reached out, fingertips grazing your cheek in a feather-light touch that made your skin tingle. “I need you to trust me,” he said softly, his voice carrying an almost desperate edge.

You hated him for the pain he’d caused, but his touch betrayed your emotions, making it hard to stay firm. And he knew it. You wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.only the charged, almost unbearable closeness between you.

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[writers-potion]

𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫

Like many other fields, magic comes from a combianation of natural talent, determination, study and practice. Here are some ways that your character can learn, either to develop throughout the story or as a part of their backstory.

School of Magic

It may ba a school of magic for children, a college of magic, a mage academy, or even a university offering postgraduate degrees in comparative magic and magical anthropology.

Students sign up for full-time study, often on tuition-bed-and-board basis.

Depending on the type of school and level of education, students will be taught subjects that address various aspects of their magic system, sometimes even non-magical subjects.

Apprenticeship

This is where a senior magician takes one or several trainees to lern under them. The terms of the contract would vary, but the basics of it would be that the student is indentured for certain years of service in return for an education.

There may or may not be payment involved, and the appentices may live with the master.

Self-Study

A magician can plausibly teach themselves through research, reading, trial and error.

This is reclusive, organized, studious characters who have self-discipline and intense curiosity.

Part-Time Study

It is also practical to study magic as a hobby, and to devote only a few hours every week to training.

Many organizations offer part-time courses: community colleges, pagan religious groups, New Age societies. There may or may not be an examination/certification requirement.

Informal Learning

Non-professional magicians can pick up some skills that are passed down from mother to daughter, or a few lines of magic that goes viral among teenagers.

Candidate Selection

A magical academy's entrance exam or a master choosing an apprentice may look at the following: ability to concentrate, memory, creativity and imagination, motivation moral integrity, ability to control thoughts, patience, health, sensory awareness, natural affinity for magic, existing skills in related fields, faith and piety, etc.

Initiation

When the student has passed the probationary period, he is initiated into the craft. This ritual often takes place during a solstice or equinox, or an annual event like a festival.

Some systems of magic may have several levels of initiations or degrees.

Some systems may have lethal consequences for candidates who fail to pass the test.

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

[richarlotte]

How to start?

First you must let go and free yourself of the idea that you cannot be soft or beautiful while being yourself.

Begin the process of experimentation and find what works for you. Don't rush; take your time and enjoy every step of the process. Leveling up is all about finding something that works for you and that you love.

Choose a topic you love and learn more about it; focus on getting a degree or a certificate, and work your mind. Focusing on education will help you succeed. 

Make a pact to stop fighting with yourself, stop hating yourself, and start appreciating what you have to work with. You must think of yourself as a work in progress instead of a failure. Life is easier when you’re evolving.

Find a way of moving your body that you love and keep doing it. Working out, eating well (80/20), hydrating, and caring for yourself is an integral part of aging well. 

Document, journal, take notes, and write things down. Journaling gave me the ability to look back and see how I felt about things after they’d passed, it kept me on the path moving forward, and it helped me grow up.

Set a goal to meet one new person or do one new activity every month. Focus on slowly building quality relationships with people and finding new hobbies; don’t speedrun through things and hope for the best.

Be sure to save a little here and there, take your time to build up your funds, and don’t spend on things you don’t need. Careless spending will stop your journey before it can begin, and the truth is that you don’t need to overconsume or buy things without really thinking.

Take your time building yourself into the person you want to be. Can you do it in 6 months? Yes, but you should expect to work on yourself for at least a year. 

Prepare to pour into yourself. You’re going to spend a lot of time pouring into yourself and nourishing your own development, and you should be prepared to analyze yourself, both current and past versions. 

Find something you believe in. Be that a culture, a tradition, a religion, a language, a school of thought, or the works of an author. Find something you love, enjoy, and believe in; take it to heart, and bring it to life. 

[semisolidmind]

How'd dogday & y/n meet in the slasher au? And what'd y/n do to have him so smitten in such a short time?

monsters, particularly monsters that possess claws and sharp teeth, are taught from a young age that humans find these qualities...unsettling. monster kids are taught to never bare their fangs at or around humans, and to never unsheathe their claws, unless it's for a good reason.

there are federal laws against "threatening displays of power" from monsters against humans. many monsters are considerably larger and much, much stronger than humans. these laws were and still are considered necessary by human (and some monster) authorities.

some humans take advantage of the laws against threat displays and knowingly antagonize or intimidate monsters. emboldened by the knowledge that a monster won't be able to retaliate (without serious repercussions if there's no evidence of human influence), some particularly scummy humans will tease, taunt, and physically harass monsters to try and get them to snarl or swipe.

dogday found himself the target of one such group on a trip back from a mixed race grocery store. he couldn't even raise his voice without fear of one of the humans accusing him of "threatening body language," so he could only quietly seethe and try to walk away when they threw insults (and some rocks) at him. even the bit of blood trickling down his arm from a hard throw didn't break his composure...but it got pretty close.

and then, y/n stepped in.

a bystander, with no reason to get involved. dogday had been sure that they, sitting on a bench and seemingly waiting for someone, would do as many humans would and simply watch. he was glad to be wrong.

while they aren't physically capable of standing up to the bullies, y/n did scare them off by threatening to call the cops. it really wouldn't look good if the aggressors were caught; a group of rough-looking humans against one obviously nervous, noncombatant monster? with y/n's testimony, they'd receive some jailtime and/or hefty fines. the group begrudgingly left, but not without a few last curses spit at the large dog monster.

dogday stood in surprised awe at his rescuer. they were mesmerizing; brave and confident, stepping up to help him, a stranger. there was something about the determined expression on their face, the look in their eyes, something about how the early morning sunlight hit them, giving them a gentle glow...

the thought sprung unbidden from the back of his mind.

"angel."

blinking, he was brought out of his stupor by their gentle voice.

y/n apologized on behalf of their fellow humans, lamenting that the gang sometimes hung around this part of town to take cheap shots at any monsters passing through. they introduced themselves then, reaching a hand out to shake (dogday noted how little hesitation there was in the action; most humans seemed reluctant to even speak to monsters, let alone touch them). their hand was so small in his own...he liked how it felt in his palm.

y/n offered to walk with dogday to his destination, or at least give him their number so they can buy him a coffee or lunch. he accepts the number (given the cold items in his grocery bags), and they part ways that day. they meet up at a mixed race-friendly cafe the very next morning.

the two find themselves in an easily flowing conversation. y/n had just transferred to the same college as dogday. they were in the education department as well, in many of the same classes. a junior, just like him. they were there on a scholarship; something about integrating more humans into a primarily monster-centric institution.

the canid monster felt excitement buzz in his core, and his tail wagged a bit behind him. he'd get to see them every day? he could show them around! he could introduce them to his friends, his brother, help them get to know the school and— he'd get to spend lots of time with such a kind, wonderful human! they have to be, to be accepted to his school, to stand up for him...they must be an angel.

he starts to call them as such the very next time he sees them, on campus. he likes the way they blush and stutter in response. his tail wags at the sight every time their face warms. he loves their smile, their laugh, how quickly they become friends with his friends...they even get his aloof feline brother to open up to them.

he soon finds himself in love with this wonderful human, devoted beyond reason.

[floridaboiler]

20 Unspoken Rules for Men:

1. Never shake a hand sitting down.

Standing up shows respect and engagement. It signifies that you value the person you are meeting and are fully present in the interaction.

2. Protect who is behind you, and respect who is beside you.

This emphasizes loyalty and honor. Protecting those behind you means safeguarding your family, friends, and teammates. Respecting those beside you signifies recognizing the equality and value of your peers.

3. Never insult the cooking when you are the guest.

Showing gratitude and respect for hospitality is essential. Criticizing the cooking is disrespectful and ungrateful, especially when someone has gone out of their way to host you.

4. Never eat the last piece of something you didn't buy.

This rule underscores courtesy and consideration for others. It demonstrates awareness and respect for shared resources and the contributions of others.

5. Never make the first offer in a negotiation.

Letting the other party make the first offer can provide strategic advantages. It gives you insight into their expectations and can help you negotiate better terms.

6. Don't take credit for work you didn't do.

Integrity in acknowledging others' efforts is crucial. Taking undue credit undermines trust and damages your credibility.

7. Take the blame, and give credit when due.

Owning up to mistakes and recognizing others' contributions builds respect and trust. It shows maturity and leadership.

8. If you are not invited, don't ask to go.

Respecting boundaries and invitations is key to maintaining good social etiquette. It avoids awkward situations and respects the host’s intentions.

9. Always aim for the head.

This metaphorical rule can apply to many scenarios, implying that you should strive for excellence and precision in your efforts.

10. Don't beg for a relationship.

Self-respect and dignity are important. Desperation can lead to unhealthy dynamics and undervalues your worth.

11. Dress well no matter what the occasion.

Good grooming and dressing appropriately show respect for yourself and others. It also boosts confidence and makes a positive impression.

12. Always carry cash.

Being prepared for various situations, including emergencies, is practical. It reflects foresight and responsibility.

13. Listen, nod, and most of all make eye contact.

Active listening and non-verbal engagement are crucial for effective communication. They show that you value and are attentive to the speaker.

14. Show restraint in expressing anger, no matter what. Being angry is a waste of energy.

Managing anger is vital for maintaining composure and making rational decisions. It prevents regrettable actions and fosters a more positive environment.

15. Whether it's dinner, drinks, or both, avoid placing your phone on the dinner table.

Prioritizing face-to-face interactions over digital distractions shows respect and attentiveness to those present.

16. Never pose with alcohol.

Maintaining a responsible image is important. Posing with alcohol can convey unprofessionalism or recklessness.

17. Proper grammar will get you far in life. Leave the foul language for the less educated.

Good communication skills, including proper grammar, enhance your credibility and professionalism. Avoiding foul language shows respect and maturity.

18. Ask more than you answer.

Showing interest in others by asking questions fosters better relationships and understanding. It also demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn.

19. You can tell a great deal about a person by their handshake, so make yours strong and firm.

A firm handshake conveys confidence and sincerity. It is often the first impression you make, so it’s important to get it right.

20. Speak honestly. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Honesty builds trust and integrity. It involves being truthful and consistent, fostering deeper connections and mutual respect. Speaking honestly also means balancing truth with empathy and tact, ensuring that your words are respectful and considerate.

[sexymemecoin]

The Metaverse: A New Frontier in Digital Interaction

The concept of the metaverse has captivated the imagination of technologists, futurists, and businesses alike. Envisioned as a collective virtual shared space, the metaverse merges physical and digital realities, offering immersive experiences and unprecedented opportunities for interaction, commerce, and creativity. This article delves into the metaverse, its potential impact on various sectors, the technologies driving its development, and notable projects shaping this emerging landscape.

What is the Metaverse?

The metaverse is a digital universe that encompasses virtual and augmented reality, providing a persistent, shared, and interactive online environment. In the metaverse, users can create avatars, interact with others, attend virtual events, own virtual property, and engage in economic activities. Unlike traditional online experiences, the metaverse aims to replicate and enhance the real world, offering seamless integration of the physical and digital realms.

Key Components of the Metaverse

Virtual Worlds: Virtual worlds are digital environments where users can explore, interact, and create. Platforms like Decentraland, Sandbox, and VRChat offer expansive virtual spaces where users can build, socialize, and participate in various activities.

Augmented Reality (AR): AR overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing user experiences through devices like smartphones and AR glasses. Examples include Pokémon GO and AR navigation apps that blend digital content with physical surroundings.

Virtual Reality (VR): VR provides immersive experiences through headsets that transport users to fully digital environments. Companies like Oculus, HTC Vive, and Sony PlayStation VR are leading the way in developing advanced VR hardware and software.

Blockchain Technology: Blockchain plays a crucial role in the metaverse by enabling decentralized ownership, digital scarcity, and secure transactions. NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and cryptocurrencies are integral to the metaverse economy, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade virtual assets.

Digital Economy: The metaverse features a robust digital economy where users can earn, spend, and invest in virtual goods and services. Virtual real estate, digital art, and in-game items are examples of assets that hold real-world value within the metaverse.

Potential Impact of the Metaverse

Social Interaction: The metaverse offers new ways for people to connect and interact, transcending geographical boundaries. Virtual events, social spaces, and collaborative environments provide opportunities for meaningful engagement and community building.

Entertainment and Gaming: The entertainment and gaming industries are poised to benefit significantly from the metaverse. Immersive games, virtual concerts, and interactive storytelling experiences offer new dimensions of engagement and creativity.

Education and Training: The metaverse has the potential to revolutionize education and training by providing immersive, interactive learning environments. Virtual classrooms, simulations, and collaborative projects can enhance educational outcomes and accessibility.

Commerce and Retail: Virtual shopping experiences and digital marketplaces enable businesses to reach global audiences in innovative ways. Brands can create virtual storefronts, offer unique digital products, and engage customers through immersive experiences.

Work and Collaboration: The metaverse can transform the future of work by providing virtual offices, meeting spaces, and collaborative tools. Remote work and global collaboration become more seamless and engaging in a fully digital environment.

Technologies Driving the Metaverse

5G Connectivity: High-speed, low-latency 5G networks are essential for delivering seamless and responsive metaverse experiences. Enhanced connectivity enables real-time interactions and high-quality streaming of immersive content.

Advanced Graphics and Computing: Powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) and cloud computing resources are crucial for rendering detailed virtual environments and supporting large-scale metaverse platforms.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI enhances the metaverse by enabling realistic avatars, intelligent virtual assistants, and dynamic content generation. AI-driven algorithms can personalize experiences and optimize virtual interactions.

Wearable Technology: Wearable devices, such as VR headsets, AR glasses, and haptic feedback suits, provide users with immersive and interactive experiences. Advancements in wearable technology are critical for enhancing the metaverse experience.

Notable Metaverse Projects

Decentraland: Decentraland is a decentralized virtual world where users can buy, sell, and develop virtual real estate as NFTs. The platform offers a wide range of experiences, from gaming and socializing to virtual commerce and education.

Sandbox: Sandbox is a virtual world that allows users to create, own, and monetize their gaming experiences using blockchain technology. The platform's user-generated content and virtual real estate model have attracted a vibrant community of creators and players.

Facebook's Meta: Facebook's rebranding to Meta underscores its commitment to building the metaverse. Meta aims to create interconnected virtual spaces for social interaction, work, and entertainment, leveraging its existing social media infrastructure.

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[bekkathyst]

I'm gonna say this and I'm gonna mean it in all sincerity from a longtime follower: I'm really glad you're so open with how things have been since you moved to Austria. On one hand, I do feel like I'm not only supporting a business I have for ages and feel good about that and I'm also supporting folks I care about online into being able to have a good life. And on the other I'm glad, because if you didn't mention the bad stuff I would probably 100% believe you guys moved into the middle of Europe and immediately escaped all the evils of capitalism and integrated into a gorgeous place with lots of history and folklore and ability to forage (!!!!!!!) and I would be so jealous I would possibly die. So either way I'm happy to keep buying your crystals, and also while I am very jealous but I probably won't die of it. Please give your daughter a hug from me, and your husband a high five. :D

Ah 😭 this is really sweet and I’m going to try not to ramble too long but I feel like this is a good thing to discuss, especially right now.

The first couple months of moving here were an insane contrast of like the happiest I’ve ever been in my life and the most stressed out knowing that one wrong move meant we’d have to give it all up and move somewhere else or lose the ability to be together. The immigration process I’ve had to go through to be with my husband anywhere is difficult but it was harder here than what we dealt with in the US only because this is the place we REALLY wanted to be and it was terrifying thinking the chance to be here could just be ripped away. But of course at the same time I was seeing family I hadn’t seen in a decade or longer, I was getting to really connect with my ancestors, be immersed in the culture, forage in the way I’d been longing to do for my entire life, and all the rest. I feel like because of this I just blinked and now somehow it’s been two years.

The nature here is my favorite, and I honestly wouldn’t trade it for anything. But Austria is far from perfect. There’s racism, xenophobia, the bureaucracy has made me question my sanity, some of the social culture really sucks, my business is deeply struggling and I wonder if we can make it due to how high fees and other taxes are, and I will ALWAYS have criticisms for any government I live under lol. Living somewhere very different from where I spent most of my life is really isolating and I feel lonely a lot. And I’m sure however I feel, it’s even harder for Antonio.

But like I said in my post, in the end, this is worth it for us. It’s so hard BUT we get to watch our daughter grow up somewhere where she can have healthcare and a good education and swim in lakes and hike mountains and make so many friends!! Omg she has so many friends. 🥹 and I now have healthcare too for the first time in my life which is really just in time for me to get diagnosed with a bunch of chronic illnesses that I’d never be able to get any help for in the US. And now my husband also has the chance for the first time in his life to pretty much travel anywhere he wants to which is amazing for him.

It must be quite obvious that these are all feelings I’ve been holding in for some time lol. But I can’t believe what lovely human beings follow me on here and support us especially after so long! It’s been almost 12 years since I started all of this and somehow I’m still doing it. Wow. Incredible.

I love you 😭❤️

And here’s evidence of the passed on high five 😆

[saintsenara]

Hi saintsenara, I’d like to know your thoughts on the Trace etc because you always seem to have a a really lucid and informed perspective of, well, everything

I never liked how the Ministry and Hogwarts are able to automatically and infallibly detect muggleborns. I feel like the ramifications of that aren’t properly dealt with but I also think that it’d be more interesting and plausible if muggleborns had to be looked for.

I also feel like the Trace is dealt with very strangely. When is that integrated? Is it just automatic for muggleborn students or would the school’s representative (ie. Dumbledore for Tom and McGonagall for Hermione ) place it? If they can place these restrictions on children remotely then why couldn’t they for, say, Death Eaters or Sirius Black? It doesn’t make sense to me that there is anything about the Trace that would make it only applicable to underage wizards and witches. If they need to do something to the children to place the Trace then why can’t they do that with all Azkaban inmates as a preventative measure? Is it simply too outrageous to do that to adult wizards? Is the Trace too easily broken? If the Trace is easily breakable then the Order would’ve broken it for Harry in Deathly Hallows, wouldn’t they?

The lack of thought enrages me!

the thing which has to be borne in mind with the trace is that its narrative purpose is primarily as a coming-of-age experience - it's the threshold which wizarding teenagers need to cross to become legal adults.

and not only this, it's primarily an allusion to the real life coming-of-age experience which defines [or, certainly, which defined in the 2000s, gen z are famously more abstemious] british and irish teenage life...

becoming old enough to legally drink.

when i was a teenager, eighteenth birthdays were a big deal precisely because of the opportunities they afforded to get legally boozed. i was in the supermarket at 10am on mine, passport in hand, buying a disgusting bottle of own brand vodka [which i don't think i or any of my friends ever touched] just because i could.

but the word "legally" is important in this context. because, while the legal drinking age in the uk and ireland is eighteen... that doesn't mean that most teenagers wait until then for their first sip. and nobody - adults in positions of authority such as police, teachers, social workers, doctors etc. included - thinks they do.

and that's because the law is actually more ambiguous than it seems. in the uk, it's legal for children as young as five to drink alcohol in a private residence [!]. in england, scotland, and wales [but not northern ireland], sixteen year olds can legally drink some types of alcohol in licensed premises as long as they're eating a meal.

as a result, the legal penalties for underage drinking are basically non-existent [for the drinker, that is; they can be reasonably hefty for anyone caught selling to under 18s]... if there's nothing else in play which might attract the state's attention.

or: i went to a house party at a friend's when i was fifteen, drank a bottle of rose, broke up with my boyfriend, and ended up sobbing in her garden at the top of my lungs about how men are dogs at 2am, and was then sick.

this friend and i were both white, grammar-school-educated, generally-perceived-as-sensible teenage girls, whose families were well-known and well-liked. the neighbours, seeing me having an absolute flop of a night, could say "ah, the folly of youth, we were all young once, the lasses are in high spirits etc. etc."

but without the protection afforded by social acceptability, maybe they'd have interpreted the situation very differently, and called the police or contacted social services about my friend's mam letting us drink there, or so on.

the trace functions in the same way. the actual law on underage magic - that it's totally illegal - is obviously nonsense. we know in canon that children in wizarding households can use magic before they're seventeen, because - as dumbledore says - the ministry is happy to trust their parents to regulate them doing so.

that is, in families which have the standing afforded by conformity to social convention [especially in living separately from muggles], underage magic can be seen as all a bit of a laugh.

but muggleborns are viewed in the eyes of the state as risks, until they reach adulthood and - in all the cases we meet in canon - remove themselves from the world of their birth entirely. the ministry's main aim - the thing it's preoccupied with - is preventing muggles from learning that magic exists. therefore, anyone magical who lives in a muggle household is subject to much more surveillance than those who don't.

[if the weasley twins do magic in the burrow's garden, who cares? if harry does it in the middle of little whinging, countless muggles might see!]

when it comes to how muggleborns are detected, i actually quite like the extra-canonical information jkr has given about the quill of acceptance and the book of admittance [which is on pottermore]. where i don't agree with it is that i don't think all muggleborns are admitted to hogwarts.

i've said a few times - and, for my askbox girlies, i will write the longer meta on this, i promise - that i think hogwarts applies some form of selection process, which explains why the class-status of the intake [including the muggleborn students we meet in canon] is near-uniform.

as a result, i think that muggleborn students are looked for - they're observed and vetted to make sure they'll fit in at hogwarts - and the interview they have with the deputy head is the final stage in that process.

when they're accepted to hogwarts [or when they actually start at the school, to give hermione the summer of trying spells she mentions in philosopher's stone] i think it's fair to imagine that the trace comes into effect, but that it's only ever going to cause alarm at the ministry if it's broken when students - of any background - are in muggle areas.

which means very little for wizard-raised students - who can do magic at home whenever they want - but restricts the freedom of muggleborn ones.

when it comes to restricting adult magic... we know - because sirius mentions it in prisoner of azkaban - that inmates are deprived of their wands. jkr has retconned how possible magic is without a wand in her post-series writing, but the evidence of canon is that all but the most basic, unsophisticated magic is impossible without one.

losing access to a wand - and, therefore, losing access to magic - is how the state restricts adults' use of magic [which is what happens to hagrid when he acquires his criminal record for manslaughter]. and this is actually a more strictly enforceable and much harsher punishment - it's basically the permanent deprivation of the wizarding world's fundamental marker of liberty - than the trace, which, while it is enshrined in law, basically amounts to nothing more than a fairly loosely-enforced social barrier between childhood and adulthood for 90% of the population.

[blackstarlineage]

Why The Honourable Marcus Garvey Was Proven Correct and W.E.B. Du Bois Was Proven Wrong: A Garveyite Perspective

Introduction

The ideological battle between Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Du Bois was one of the most defining conflicts in Black political history. Du Bois, a Harvard-educated intellectual and a leader of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), saw Garvey as a reckless demagogue. In contrast, Garvey saw Du Bois as an elitist gatekeeper who sought to integrate Black people into a system that would never truly accept them.

From a Garveyite perspective, history has vindicated Marcus Garvey’s vision of Black nationalism, economic self-sufficiency, and Pan-Africanism while exposing the limitations of Du Bois’ integrationist strategy.

This analysis explores:

How Garvey’s predictions about Black self-reliance, Pan-Africanism, and economic control came true.

How Du Bois’ integrationist model ultimately failed Black America.

Why Du Bois’ elitism and colourism created division within the Black struggle.

The modern relevance of Garvey’s teachings compared to Du Bois’ outdated ideology.

1. Marcus Garvey’s Vision Was Proven Correct

1.1 The Failure of Integration and the Continued Economic Oppression of Black Americans

Du Bois believed in integration, arguing that Black people should seek acceptance in white society through education, politics, and activism.

Garvey, on the other hand, warned that integration would only result in continued Black economic and political dependency.

Decades after the Civil Rights Movement, Black people in the U.S. still suffer from:

Economic exclusion (higher Black unemployment, wage gaps, and lack of generational wealth).

Mass incarceration (systematic targeting of Black men under policies like the War on Drugs).

Police brutality and voter suppression, proving that legal "equality" has not ended systemic racism.

Garveyite Perspective: Garvey was right—white America was never going to fully accept Black people as equals. The dream of assimilation was always a lie.

1.2 The Global Black Struggle Proves Pan-Africanism Was the Answer

Garvey taught that Black people across the world must unite as one people—economically, politically, and culturally.

Du Bois initially dismissed Pan-Africanism, focusing on Black progress within the U.S. rather than seeing the struggle as global.

Today, Pan-Africanism is seen as the key to Black empowerment, with movements such as:

The African Union, pushing for economic self-sufficiency in Africa.

The CARICOM reparations campaign, demanding justice from former colonizers.

The Buy Black and economic nationalism movements, reinforcing Garvey’s call for Black self-reliance.

Garveyite Perspective: Garvey was right again—Black people can not rise if they continue to depend on white institutions. Global Black unity is the only way forward.

2. W.E.B. Du Bois’ Vision Was Proven Wrong

2.1 The Failure of the "Talented Tenth" and the Betrayal of the Black Masses

Du Bois promoted the "Talented Tenth" theory, believing that an elite group of educated Black leaders should guide the race.

This strategy failed because:

It created a class divide, with elite Black intellectuals looking down on the working-class majority.

Many of these "Talented Tenth" leaders abandoned the Black masses once they gained access to white society.

It depended on white institutions, which ensured that Black people never built their own power structures.

Garveyite Perspective: Garvey understood that the fate of the race depended on the strength of the Black masses—not a small group of privileged intellectuals seeking white approval.

2.2 Du Bois’ Hypocrisy: From Integrationist to Pan-Africanist

Du Bois spent most of his career attacking Garvey, calling him a "fraud" and a "dangerous agitator."

But later in life, Du Bois himself embraced Pan-Africanism and moved to Ghana!

This proves that Du Bois knew Garvey was right all along but wasted years fighting against him instead of working towards the same goal.

Garveyite Perspective: Du Bois realized too late that integration was a dead end. Had he supported Garvey’s movement instead of fighting it, Black people might have been decades ahead in their struggle for sovereignty.

3. Du Bois’ Elitism and Light-Skinned Supremacy

3.1 Du Bois’ Colourism and Disdain for Dark-Skinned Black People

Du Bois came from a privileged, light-skinned background and often expressed disdain for darker-skinned Black people.

He described Garvey as:

"A little, fat, black man, ugly but with intelligent eyes and a big head."

This was a direct attack on Garvey’s dark skin and African features.

Du Bois’ colourism reflected the same white supremacist ideals he claimed to fight against.

Garveyite Perspective: Du Bois’ elitism and colourism weakened the Black movement by creating unnecessary division instead of unity.

3.2 The Psychological Damage of the Integrationist Mentality

By promoting integration over self-reliance, Du Bois conditioned Black people to seek white approval rather than build their own power.

This led to:

Black dependence on white-owned businesses, rather than fostering Black economic self-sufficiency.

The destruction of Black-owned economies like Tulsa (Black Wall Street), as Black elites abandoned their own people in pursuit of white spaces.

A generational mindset of inferiority, where success is measured by how much a Black person assimilates into white culture.

Garveyite Perspective: Du Bois’ philosophy created a cycle where Black people keep chasing white validation instead of building their own independent systems.

4. The Modern Relevance of Garvey’s Teachings vs. Du Bois’ Outdated Ideology

4.1 Why Garvey’s Message is Still the Blueprint for Black Liberation

Today, Black people are rediscovering Garvey’s model of self-determination, seen through:

The resurgence of Buy Black movements.

A push for reparations and land ownership.

The growing movement of African repatriation and investment.

Meanwhile, Du Bois’ integrationist approach has failed to eliminate systemic racism, poverty, or police brutality.

Garveyite Perspective: We are now living in the reality Garvey warned about—Black people must abandon Du Bois’ failed approach and fully embrace self-reliance and Pan-Africanism.

5. Conclusion: Marcus Garvey Was Right, W.E.B. Du Bois Was Wrong

From a Garveyite perspective, the historical record proves that:

Garvey was correct about the failure of integration and the need for economic self-sufficiency.

Du Bois’ reliance on white institutions only led to continued oppression.

Pan-Africanism, not assimilation, remains the key to Black liberation.

Du Bois’ elitism and colourism created division within the Black movement.

Garvey’s Final Insight:

"We must remove from our people the idea that they can be dependent upon others for success. The Negro must be self-reliant. In culture, in commerce, in politics, we must strike out for ourselves!"

Today’s Black activists must fully embrace Garvey’s vision, reject the failed integrationist approach, and focus on building independent Black power.

[ossifer]

wrt baru my hottest take is that i do not personally read her as being low empathy and instead interpret her tendency to model other people + herself as rational actors & pragmatism throughout the traitor as stemming from her scholarship courtesy of falcrest & farrier, and how her earliest motivation is to 'outlaw the deaths of fathers' and rewrite the doctrines. a key part of the traitor is that she abstracts the people of aurdwynn prior to her various encounters with tain hu and treats the province with an only-partially affected level of emotional indifference, and to me this reflects how her focus begins and ends with taranoke initially: the subversion of the masquerade is an incidental detail to her infiltrating them; the horror of the policies she hasn't witnessed, the subjugation of the people she holds no loyalties to, elude her nascent perspective and thus she is unbeholden to them for a while (“I am an accountant. Heredity is not my concern”)

this is all to say that i do not think her obstensive low empathy is a matter of any particular tendencies but rather a byproduct of the fact she has unwittingly adopted the attitudes of an imperial technocrat in a foreign land, albeit with an added detached disdain due to her disquiet with falcrest: she internally characterises herself as seeking to rewrite its doctrines, loosen its hold on taranoke, but not to abolish it & this means that she—in her privileged position within aurdwynn—is content to let the specificities of it fall to her blind side. her gaze remains turned to taranoke and thus she is able to treat aurdwynn as an abstracted dilemma, its people as either unagentive or as following a linear path in pursuit of their goals; baru has fallen prey to thinking herself as an accountant, adopts falcresti modes of thinking so long as they suit her goals, and walks the path of complicity.

this changes over time, of course, and as time goes on we see these patterns of thinking break down as she draws parallels between aurdwynn and taranoke, as she rebels and cannot continue benefitting from the comforts of her imperial office, as she strays from accountant to revolutionary. she fulfills the role of traitor but it comes at a great personal cost that weighs on her: she trades the dukes as currency, buys her ascension, but she accrues an emotional debt that while not in of itself incompatible with her having low empathy does involve a large degree of guilt that i personally think showcases how imperial thought & farrier's process both rely on momentum. baru was conditioned to repress herself and to act with decision & directness because those are the conditions integral to maintaining her detachment: when she loses momentum, collides with tain hu, it comes undone.

what i find fascinating about her perspective is that while she has a vested interest in falcrest's demise, the process of arriving at that as the logical conclusion is one that takes time and requires her to see her illusions of its merits shattered: despite understanding it as an oppressor, she initially conceptualises its power as a neutral thing, something to be coveted and stolen away from it, rather than existing due to its exploitative nature. but that flawed conceptualisation stems from a partial perspective that is informed heavily by the education she received. i do not think that baru's perspective is a 1:1 with that of a citizen within the imperial core by any means but i do think she is a poignant illustration of how one's thought is inevitably informed by the predominant hegemony & the means by which imperialism indoctrinates: falcrest extensively employs various forms of social coercion rather than open force and baru's obstensive low empathy is to me a key illustration of that in practice

i personally think that baru has an excess of empathy, enough that it proves narratively significant at several points, but the reason it comes across as low is because her perspective is one that was engineered to suppress it. the farrier process is a more overt and expedited way to convey what happens when your perspective is informed by the thought of those who live comfortably off the dividends of the very same systems of oppression that leave you subjugated, when the culture you were raised in is primitivised and you are taught imperial sciences that allow you to abstract the fact of your neighbours dying of plagues introduced by the arrival of your coloniser.

“I’m not doing this,” Shir said, with terrible distance. “You are. You set the terms. This is your choice, it is the shape of you, to spend people for power.”

[pintadorartist]

KEEP UP THE PRESSURE: CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE TRUMP-MUSK COUP

I'll start with the Bad news since there's a lot of it here:

*Although all of the Democrats voted no, By a margin of 53-47, Russel Vought, one of the leading Architects behind Project 2025, has been confirmed

*Musk's Coup is still ongoing:

*Despite the mounting privacy lawsuits, His DOGE group has gotten access to the NOAA, Department of Labor, and Department of Education, EPA, and the Department of Health and Human Services

*USAID, the foreign aid agency of the US that provided life-saving funding for education, medicine, healthcare, and other foreign aid has been shuttered; it's been absorbed into the State Department with Marco Rubio acting as head of the agency with entire agency's numbers slashed from their original 10,000 to only 300 employees

*As of writing this post, Democrats from the House have been unable to communicate with the heads of the EPA and DOE(Department of Education)

*Even after asserting their credentials, Democrat legislators were denied access and even had federal authorities called on them

Ok, here's is some Good news to help ease you:

*19 Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald Trump on Friday to stop Elon Musk’s "Agency" from accessing Treasury Department records that contained sensitive personal data such as Social Security and account numbers for millions of Americans.

*Thanks to everyone calling so much, the Democrats actually woke up and held up the Senate floor all night, buying time for lawsuits. This led to a judge issuing an order preventing Elon Musk and any additional DOGE-connected people from accessing sensitive Treasury data while the lawsuit proceeds to a two-week hearing.

*The judge’s order restricts two Musk-connected men already housed at Treasury to “read-only” access — meaning they are not permitted to modify or copy anything.

*In response to the gutting of USAID and the firing of its employees, a legal challenge filed on behalf of the employees, the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia will issue a temporary restraining order regarding various aspects of the Trump-Vance administration’s attempt to shutter the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

*A California Student group is suing the Department of Education over reported DOGE access to financial aid databases

JUST TO REMIND YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE FIGHTING TO STOP THIS COUP AND FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1.Call your Senator/Rep Using 5calls: https://5calls.org/issue/elon-musk-opm-gsa-takeover/

Alongside using the script that 5calls provides, mention these actions. Despite Democrats being the minority, they still have tools and options to resist and oppose

If your senator/rep is a Republican, give them as much shit as possible, they are complicit and are willingly giving up Congress' power and responsibility.

2. Contact your State Attorney General by using 5 Calls: https://5calls.org/issue/musk-doge-data-lawsuit/

Here's an alternative script:

By using 5 calls, you probably already know who your State Attorney General is; another way to reach your AG is by searching their name, going to their website, and filing a Complaint form,

3. Contact the Secretary of the Treasury Department! – 202-622-2000

Minimal script for Secretary Scott Bessent: I’m calling to demand that you remove Musk’s access from all systems under your control, that all his equipment is confiscated, that his team is interrogated as to all actions they took under his direction, and that a computer forensics team is assigned immediately to check the system for integrity of its security systems.

After doing all of these, spread this around, not just on Tumblr, but all over the place. People need to know what's going on

and Remember, Do not obey in advance; yes, these are scary times; it's okay to feel afraid, but do not let it paralyze you; you are not alone.

More info on: https://indivisibleventura.org/2025/02/01/the-guy-nobody-trusts-with-a-full-security-clearance-now-has-access-to-all-your-private-data/

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

🤔🤯How do Gallifreyans cope with stress?

While Gallifreyan culture doesn't exactly include Christmas, they've certainly experienced the stress of it through their companions. So, how can you keep your Gallifreyan stress-free this Christmas season?

🧬 The Symbiotic Nuclei Connection

Let's start with the big one: the Symbiotic Nuclei. These specialised cells form the foundation of a Gallifreyan's powers and are directly linked to their TARDIS. When a Time Lord experiences stress—be it physical or emotional—it can seriously disrupt this connection.

This bond is so strong that stress can cause not just emotional distress but immediate physical effects on the Time Lord's body. Symptoms like heart palpitations, muscle tension, and even pain can manifest. The reverse is also true: if a Time Lord is under enough stress, it can cause malfunctions in their TARDIS, leading to odd glitches or complete dysfunction. This means that a stressed Time Lord and a stressed TARDIS are essentially in a state of mutual breakdown, and good luck with that.

🧊 Cold Environments = Cool Minds

Let's talk about temperature—your Gallifreyan prefers a winter wonderland over a fireplace, because cold environments actually help lower their stress levels.

Why is that? Gallifreyan biology reacts to cooler temperatures by reducing neuropeptide levels. These neuropeptides play a huge role in managing stress, and when the temperature drops, their levels decrease. Lower neuropeptide levels help Gallifreyan bodies cope with stress more efficiently.

In fact, Gallifreyan bodies are much better suited for temperatures as low as 7°C (around 45°F), which is comfortably cool for them. They only start experiencing compensatory mechanisms from the cold around -5.3°C (22°F).

⚡ The Adrenaline Factor

Now, let's talk about adrenaline—something that works pretty similarly in Gallifreyans as it does in humans. When a Gallifreyan is under stress, adrenaline floods their system, helping them power through physical challenges and reducing pain perception. However, it's not just about fighting off danger; this hormone is also involved in their amines and corticals, which are involved in the regulation both their emotional and mental stress responses.

What's fascinating here is the immediacy of the stress response. Gallifreyans experience physical changes within their bodies almost immediately when under stress—think increased heart rate, faster breathing, and, in some cases, even instant greying of the hair. This sudden shift can leave lasting physical effects on their bodies. Stress at its highest levels may be even more physically damaging for a Time Lord than it is for a human, given their deeply integrated biological and psychic systems.

So, if your Gallifreyan is stressing out over your very human Christmas celebrations: keep their TARDIS relaxed, suggest a walk in the snow, and don't freak out if their hair suddenly changes colour.

Gallifreyan Biology for Tuesday by GIL

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[watchyourmouthorgetslapped]

Did anyone notice that Pope wasn’t present during the Ji-error kiss in S4E1? This is the scene where JJ celebrates the fact that he finally has a place to call home (Poguelandia 2.0) and all of the pogues are there except Pope. I find it kind of strange that he wasn’t there for such an integral scene. Pope’s absence also sticks out to me because he was in almost every scene leading up to this one. Now, there are three reasons why I believe he wasn’t present:

1. Pope was at school or somewhere studying, which would make sense because he’s the only one who has plans to continue his higher education.

2. JD couldn’t film that day for whatever reason.

3. It was intentional for the plot.

Focusing on the third reason, it makes no sense for Pope to not be in this scene because he was the one who came up with the idea of Poguelandia 2.0. He suggested that JJ buy a new boat and start a fishing charter. It would have been great to see his reaction to JJ dancing on the dock expressing pure happiness. Also if they wanted to show that Ji-error is endgame and Pope has completely moved on with Cleo, he would have been standing with the others cheering them on (could have deaded JJPope right there).

However, that’s not what happened. Paired with the fact that the pogues are at risk of losing the property in part 2, I think this would be a great opportunity for JJ and Pope to work together as a team.

[moonogre]

Snippet 3

Business | Technology 

KaibaCorp Dreams of Another World

May 28 

“It’s not a question of what’s next. It’s what’s happening right now. Right in front of you.”

These are the words from the seventeen-year old visionary Seto Kaiba, known worldwide as the reigning Duel Monsters champion and CEO of KaibaCorp (TSE:KBA). His advice seems perfect for this moment: he is standing right in front of a gigantic dragon. It is screaming and ready to attack and he is fearless. 

The creature in question is one of three in the world that belong to the young CEO: Blue Eyes White Dragon, a rare Duel Monsters card and the star of KaibaCorp’s impromptu demonstration of its latest project: Scheherazade.

Named after the fabled storyteller of “One Thousand and One Nights,” Scheherazade is as much a technological marvel as it is a philosophical leap forward. The platform creates immersive worlds drawn from both written stories and players’ own memories, merging fiction and reality into a seamless experience. A combination of machine learning, memory recall, and advanced simulation technology allows the system to respond and adapt for real-time, constant immersion. While virtual reality has been evolving steadily over the past decade, Scheherazade’s memory integration takes it to another level, with unprecedented possibilities for storytelling, education, and, of course, gaming. 

Its most immediate application will be for duelists, offering fully interactive Duel Monsters matches in an arena where the creatures seem to step out of the cards and into life. Industry insiders speculate that this move could put KaibaCorp at the forefront of both gaming and virtual reality, potentially outpacing rivals like Industrial Illusions (NYSE:ILL) and Meta (NASDAQ: META).

This is the latest in the bold new direction forged under young Kaiba’s leadership, which transformed KaibaCorp from an arms contractor to a tech powerhouse, pioneering innovations at the intersection of telecommunications, augmented reality and entertainment. KaibaCorp’s origins date back to the post-World War II era when it rose to prominence as a leading arms manufacturer, standing just behind global defence giants like Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE: NOC). The company’s previous success in the defence sector is often credited to the founding family’s deeply personal experience with war: Ryu Kaiba, KaibaCorp’s founder, served in Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour. The war also impacted his son, the late Gozaburo Kaiba, who was one of the 650,000 survivors of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. 

The latter half of the twentieth-century saw KaibaCorp as a bastion of military technology, supplying weapons to governments around the world. Yet the company was perpetually mired in controversy, and a frequent target of political outcry for its contributions to war and conflict. Protests frequently accompanied its business dealings, which placed it at the centre of public debate about the ethics of arms dealership. It is speculated that mounting pressure and dwindling public support factored into the shocking suicide of Gozaburo Kaiba, who jumped to his death from the KaibaCorp headquarters during a meeting with the company’s board of directors. 

This tragedy would make it the third time Seto Kaiba had lost a parent. Gozaburo Kaiba adopted both the current KaibaCorp CEO and his younger brother, KaibaCorp’s Senior Manager of Technology Operations, Mokuba Kaiba, following the deaths of their parents. Their mother died of eclampsia while giving birth to Mokuba, and their father was killed in a car accident in the infamous Izumo Earthquake Disaster.

Seto Kaiba succeeded Gozaburo as CEO of KaibaCorp at fifteen, making him the youngest person to ever lead a billion-dollar company. His youth left him no shortage of ideas, and he set the company on course for a seismic shift in focus. He went on a buying spree, absorbing a staggering number of promising computer technology companies in his first quarter as CEO. He also terminated operations at KaibaCorp’s global weapons testing centres and completely divested the company from projects supporting armed conflict. These actions led KaibaCorp to several high-profile lawsuits for defaulting on its contracts and sales agreements. These disputes were settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.     

Between the payouts, acquisitions and lack of customers, KaibaCorp was teetering on financial ruin. The company was saved with Kaiba’s most notable innovation: SolidVision, the holographic projection technology that brought Duel Monsters to life. This was followed by the Duel Disk, a revolutionary p2p interface that allowed duelists to compete in real-time holographic battles, becoming a staple for competitive players across the world. These commercial successes catapulted KaibaCorp into global fame and made Duel Monsters a cultural phenomenon, while signalling KaibaCorp’s new mission: to create, not destroy.

This pursuit has now brought KaibaCorp to the verge of another groundbreaking moment. Scheherazade, set to roll out this summer, will first be available at stadiums and theme parks before making its way into homes through a specialised hardware release. Duelists and VR enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting the chance to immerse themselves in the fully realised worlds this technology promises to deliver.

In many ways, KaibaCorp’s evolution is as poetic as it is fascinating. What was once a company defined by its contribution to destruction is now positioned to offer the world a new way of seeing itself, through stories, memories, and duels. 

“This is just the beginning. Scheherazade isn’t just a virtual space—it’s a new frontier for human imagination. It’s the bridge between what we can dream and what we can live.”

And in that, perhaps, lies Kaiba’s greatest victory: transforming a company of war into one that makes dreams reality.

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The article featured two captioned pictures. Duel Monster Blue Eyes White Dragon, rendered in Scheherazade: a still of him pulled from the testing zone broadcast, looking up at Blue Eyes White Dragon. He was surprised at the lack of fear on his face– the light from the White Lightning Attack had washed every emotion into brightness. He was just vacant, ready, waiting.  He was more expressive in the second photograph: Father and son. One of the last before Gozaburo’s death. The man had a hand on his shoulder and was sneering down at him. Kaiba, fifteen, slanted his face to return his contempt, the corner of his mouth barely lifted in a matching, cruel smirk.

[liriowrites]

👑 Some Brazilian Black women from 18th century and 19th century 🇧🇷✨

1. Francisca da Silva (Chica da Silva)

→ Was the daughter of a white man and an enslaved black woman, Chica da Silva won her freedom as an adult and became one of the richest women in Brazil after having a relationship with a diamond contractor (João Fernandes) from the city of Diamantina. This relationship allowed Chica to rise socially and integrate into the colonial elite.

Chica da Silva also joined four religious sisterhoods – an important thing for a woman at that time. Her membership in these associations came about through donations.

Chica da Silva was a freed black woman who became one of the most important women in colonial society in Minas Gerais in the 18th century.

2. Joaquina Maria da Conceição (Lapinha)

→ Lapinha was an opera singer and actress from the XVIII century. She was the first Brazilian opera singer to gain international prominence and one of the first women to receive authorization to participate in public shows in Lisbon.

3. Francisca Edviges Neves Gonzaga (Chiquinha Gonzaga)

→ A pioneering musician, Chiquinha was the first choro pianist (a choro musician), author of the best-known carnival march with lyrics ("Ó Abre Alas", 1899) and also the first woman to conduct a popular orchestra in Brazil. At a time when waltzes, polkas and tangos dominated the elite music scene in Brazil, Chiquinha incorporated into her compositions the diversity found in the music of the lower classes. She was also a pioneer in defending the copyright of musicians and playwrights. The granddaughter of slaves, Chiquinha was an abolitionist activist, using the money she earned from music to help abolitionist movements and buy the freedom of slaves. The need to adapt the sound of the piano to popular tastes earned her recognition as the first popular composer in Brazil.

4. Maria Firmina dos Reis

→ Was a Brazilian writer. She is considered the first black novelist in Brazil. In 1859, she published the book Úrsula, considered the first abolitionist novel in Brazil. The novel tells the story of a love triangle in which the characters are black people who contest the slavery system.

In 1859, she published the novel Úrsula, considered the first novel by a female author in Brazil. In 1887, she published the short story "A Escrava" in the Revista Maranhense, which describes an active participant in the abolitionist cause. At the age of 54 and with 34 years of official teaching experience, years before retiring, Maria Firmina founded, in Maçaricó, a few kilometers from Guimarães, a free mixed class for students who could not afford to pay: she taught the classes in a shed on the property of a sugar mill owner, to which she would go every morning by climbing on an ox cart. There, she taught his daughters, the students she took with her and others who joined her. Academic Norma Telles classified Maria Firmina's initiative as "a bold experiment for the time". This innovative action is in line with the struggles of Brazilian feminists at the end of the 19th century who wanted equal education for girls.

Maria Firmina dos Reis participated in the intellectual life of Maranhão: she contributed to the local press, published books, participated in anthologies, and was also a musician and composer.

The author was an abolitionist: when she was admitted to teaching at the age of 22, her mother wanted her to receive the appointment in a palanquin (palanquins were carried by enslaved black people), but the author chose to go on foot, telling her mother: "Black people are not animals to be ridden on." She also wrote a "Hymn to the Abolition of Slavery".