#Genesis being wholesome for once

[catboyidia]

silly vaguely easter-y asgzc thoughts:

- genesis has the idea to have him and cloud dress up in those “bunny” costumes (idk what their specifically called but i think everyone knows the ones im talking about) for the others, except genesis has to help cloud out and hype him up because clouds too nervous about letting anyone see him in it. after genesis reassures cloud, they have a mini photoshoot so they can give the pics to their respective boyfriends, and genesis greatly helps cloud’s self esteem the entire time

- they all plan on getting each other little gifts and easter baskets but then they actually all just end up bullying cloud instead and they all get cloud nothing but chocobo themed items

- zack convinces everybody to wear bunny ears, except for poor cloud… he coerces cloud into dressing up as a chocobo chick

- zack makes himself sick off of peeps (the “candy”(?)) meaning he’s also bouncing off the walls hyper all day

- genesis is in charge of hiding eggs for an egg hunt… genesis is an asshole… no one finds a single egg because they are in the most ridiculous places…

- they try to dye eggs… it goes about as (un)well as one would expect:

- zack gets the egg dye absolutely everywhere and on everything

- zack rubs off on cloud so they’re both rainbow colored by the end of the day

- sephiroth keeps accidentally breaking the eggs and ends up needing a lot of help from angeal and genesis

- zack also slips and slides in the aftermath of sephiroth’s broken eggs, causing him to also become covered in eggs… maybe the real dyed eggs were the scrambled ones covering zack’s already dye covered body along the way

- genesis is in a perpetual state of frustration because his eggs aren’t coming out the exact perfect way he wants them too

- angeal makes his eggs very simple and very pretty, but they end up more extravagant than he was going for, so much so that it makes genesis jealous, but its a very “happy accidents” kind of thing

[altocat]

How did Sephiroth’s first crush experience go?

If Sephiroth ever had feelings for anyone, it was Angeal or Genesis. Or even worse--BOTH.

But Sephiroth being Sephiroth, he has no idea what these feelings are or how long he's had them. They've just been sitting with him, manipulating him whenever he's around his friends. A weird side glance. A sudden flush of heat at the slightest touch. A nervous flutter in his chest. Sudden...less than wholesome dreams at night. A tactical threat to his once eloquent tongue.

Sephiroth confronts these feelings by way of doing everything in his power to suppress them, ashamed of his weakness, secretly terrified that if anything becomes open, they'll be taken away from him. He resigns himself to BURY his feelings at all costs. He cannot let them have him. He was not born to feel such things, and especially towards other men. Hojo would not let it happen. Hojo would be FURIOUS.

After several days of being little more than an emotionless robot, Sephiroth is completely exhausted, internalizing all of his negative feelings, convinced that something about himself is wrong. Why couldn't it ever just be easy? Why couldn't he ever just be allowed to be what he is--a man, a human? Even if they knew about his little secret, what would they find there? Shinra's dog. Their machine. He's not a hero. He's a killer. A cyborg. There's nothing really GOOD about him, nothing natural. All he knows how to do is fight. Who could love someone like that? Who could bring themselves to love someone, something like him?

Suffice it to say, Sephiroth is not taking this well at all.

[bird-inacage]

Love in the Air: The Significance of Security to Sky

This moment folks. I need to talk about it. I already gave it an honourable mention, but I want to dissect why Sky's reaction here spoke volumes - and how the significance of security (aka marriage) is so important as a conclusion to the Prapaisky story.

When we first meet Sky, he's still wading through the shadow of his abuse. The prolonged aftereffects which could potentially continue for the foreseeable future, affecting his overall happiness and ability to love again.

Now fast forward to this expression we see on Sky's face during the wedding. Despite all the trials and tribulations, despite thinking he might never overcome those demons - I saw in his expression - an echo of the 'young Sky' again. The innocence in his smile. The giddy wholesomeness which is often found in young 'puppy' love. Eagerness and anticipation for things to come. Hopeful excitement which isn't marred or jaded by the toil of hardship. An expression that contained an immense degree of appreciation and relief, a 'thank god you found me' relief. A 'close-to-tears' relief that comes with finally being seen and/or valued. The point is, that expression is very similar to the way he'd looked at Gun before everything that followed.

That's the expression of a boy who has fully and willingly opened their heart to another. And here it is again. On his wedding day. Sky has somehow managed to restore some of that innocence in love he lost.

Most of Sky's anxieties can be attributed to a lack of safety (such as difficulty with trust, doubt in stability, worry of being taken advantage of, insecurity in his self-worth). This all manifests from a very simple and basic human instinct we all possess - and that is to feel safe. When someone so intimately close to you betrays you in the worst way imaginable, they've effectively stripped any sense of safety away from you by force. This is the state in which Prapai finds Sky in at the start of the series.

I've talked many times before about how Prapai fulfils a 'protector' role incredibly well. But in fact his way of handling Sky goes beyond protection. He's very adept at creating a safe space around Sky, as well as allowing Sky to feel safe when he's with him. And that's not only by loving Sky, but truly caring for Sky's wellbeing and his basic needs. Whether that's ensuring he eats, making sure he rests, or reminding Sky he doesn't need to suffer alone. This is achieved by listening, by not overstepping, by holding back, by being patient, by being gentle. And eventually escalates to Prapai 'removing' Gun as a threat. The very genesis of Sky's suffering and the very person who robbed Sky of his safety, which Prapai had been working so hard to rebuild.

Safety comes first before all else, due to safety being intrinsically linked to survival. It's only once you've established safety, that you can add security - further measures to 'ensure' this safety lasts as long as possible.

This is where Prapai's intentions for marrying Sky (other than the most obvious) are really worth considering. By his very character, our boy Prapai famously never half-asses anything. He's all in, all the time. He wants to provide everything humanly possible to the person he loves, and that involves giving Sky the highest form of security he can offer, which is by marrying him. Binding them in name, on paper, as well as on all remaining principles.

For most people, the fine print and diplomacy of marriage is not particularly romantic. But in this case it's exactly the functionality and formality of marriage that will provide Sky with the security Prapai seeks. Prapai possesses privilege. And that privilege allows him access to means he can extend to Sky. So marrying Sky means: 'I will be responsible for you. What's mine is now yours'. 'If anything happens to me, you have everything I have.' 'I now legally have the permission and the right to fully take care of you.'

This isn't essential to Sky. He already has Prapai by his side, which is plenty as far as he's concerned. He doesn't need or desire anything else. But Prapai wants to. Because Prapai is thinking about the future - their future. He is always anticipating what Sky needs or may need before Sky does for himself. Sky's perspective has always been 'you've done enough, this is enough', whereas Prapai's perspective is 'what else can I do?' At first Prapai was just trying to ensure Sky's basic needs were met and now that he's achieved that, what's next? All of this is an attempt to safeguard the person he loves and their future together. It's the devotion in such an act, the restless pursuit of such a cause that means so very much to Sky. Because he knows (as do we) - that Prapai would do anything for him.

And that - that is what we call marriage material folks.

[cosmicrren]

Scenes that have my heart in GF S2 / p.1

I’ve been rewatching season 2 and for some reason I haven’t given it much thought how cute some scenes are, so here is my list of some wholesome moments.

s2e1

Sonny meeting D’Jok and telling him that he will try to spend more time with him and come to his games. Also implying that he will try to accept his past, move on and be more in the present with him. I love this sm. 

“And I promise, if you need me, I’ll never be far.” 

s2e3

This scene after Rocket left and I came to the conclusion that Tia was around the airport because she thought she would see him around there if he were to leave somewhere. Anyway, very cute (I’m literally obsessed with them) 

s2e5

The Snow Kids surprising Ahito after being treated for his illness on Akilian and him learning he could go back with them on Genesis. 

s2e5

Brb, gonna go take a few napkins *sniffs*.

“I’ll always love you, Maya.”

s2e7

Mei giving D’Jok some food for thought on Rockets suspension

“You’re really great!”

“What are girlfriends for?”

s2e7

Listen, I like them as friends; even more when D’Jok tried to knock some sense into Tia that things will get better and support her after Rocket was suspended. 

“Welcome back, Tia.”

“(…) just focus on the playing right? It’s all about football.”

“Sometimes…” 

s2e7 

 Ugh, the excitement when he sees him. I get all smiley every time. 

“Warren!” 

s2e11

Yuki being scared to play in her first official cup match and Mark encouraging her. 

“It’s okay to be scared, just don’t let it paralyse you.”

s2s11

Rocket seeing Tia for the first time since he left the Snow Kids. 

This dumbass, I can make an analysis on his mentality and his selfishness after he left and how his attitude towards the whole suspension thing ruined him. But I love him so I’ll spare him the rant. For now. 

“Tia…”

s2e14

Aarch convincing Dame Simbaï to take in Artegor for treatment after the Smog is gone. I can respect Aarch for managing to stay good natured towards Artegor and wanting nothing more than to drop all of this rivalry between them. The friendship is still strong to him even if it feels one sided. 

“You saved me once, now I’m asking you to do the same for him. Artegor needs you.” 

s2e16

I’m sorry, Artie trying to convince Tia everything is going to be alright and this robot comes to scold him and Tia lightens up, idk it’s very silly-goofy, I love it.

[salternateunreality2]

How would our beautiful idiots name their children?

Lololol thanks for the ask!

For the sake of the exercise, let us assume that they don't have partners to tame their crazier instincts.

Cloud:

* Sky

* Claudia

* Fenrir (or any Norse god/goddess)

* (before Crazyroth) Sephora/Seraphina/Seifer

Our lovely chocobo is many things, but given his mother's choices...maybe creative names aren't his strongest suit. He names his sword "sword".

Zack:

* Kiddo (haha just kidding!)

* Spike v2.0 (haha just kidding!)

* Pupperoni (haha jus- ZACK STOP JOKING AND NAME THE DANG BABY)

* Jack

* Angeal

* Henry/Henrietta (after his dad who I HC as going by Hank)

* something normal and cute ❤️

He's a smart lad and a good pupper. He'd want to do right by his kids.

Sephiroth:

* (incomprehensible screaming)

* (deathly silence)

Then, once he's come to terms with the fact that he is now a father/mother to real children:

* Jenova

* Jenovo

* Gast

* Glenn, Matt, Lucia

* Sephora/Seraphina/Seifer

The guy named his sword after a guy who made swords. He is about as talented and creative as I think Cloud would be in this particular instance.

Lazard:

* He would name at least one of his kids after his mother.

* Very sensible names for the universe they're in. None of them would have the surname "Shinra".

* Olivia, Noah, Liam, Gabriel, Jade, etc.

(picked from common given names with similar origins to Lazard)

Genesis:

* Send help to his poor children. Please.

* Gabriel, Raphael, Michaelangelo, Castiel, Raziel, Evangeline, Angelica, Seraphina (NOT BECAUSE OF SEPHIROTH, he shall scream, which is a lie)

Basically anything with 3 or more syllables, bonus points for being biblical, angelic, or from Loveless or classical literature.

He is going to be LIVID when Zack points out how many of his favorite names are teenage mutant ninja turtles.

Angeal:

* Very sensible, wholesome given names, with fun and fancy middle names.

* Emma Consuela Hewley

* Johnathan Reynaldo Hewley, but he goes by Jack

He wants them to have an easy time in school and life, but he dearly loves fancy names, partly due to his beloved friends.

Kunsel and the Turks:

* None of your business and you will never know.

Reeve:

* Exclusively Irish/Scottish/Welsh/etc. names, the more difficult to spell, the better.

* Sinead, Saoirse, Pwyll, Gwawl

Roche:

* Same style as Genesis, poor babies.

[memberment]

good morning everyone!

I have ruined my sleep schedule. Someone save me LMAO

(10:00) as I reach the end of what I've written for morning glory, I grow tired. I need to take a nap. Will I finally finish this Fourth of July chapter today?? Perhaps.

But no one and I mean NO ONE is allowed to let me forget I need to incorporate the mostly bit at some point. Like there are so many canon refs in here it's SCARY. I NEED THE MOSTLY BIT IT IS MY FAVORITE CARTMAN BIT. NO ONE LET ME FORGET!

(6:11) this is my third good morning of the day, second on record good morning, first on record crying over my writing.

LIKE WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN THEY'RE GONNA DIE I'M GONNA THROW UP

(I'm literally not okay I need to stop writing tragic creek)

(7:04) Guys I'm almost done with my morning glory reread and when I tell y'all I just nearly died from shock bc Craig casually mentioned he 'Doesn't believe in coincidences.' Like, it's such a benign statement but after WRITING his storyline in Genesis and randomly seeing something like that in the wild that I totally forgot about almost just took me out.

(10:20) Guys after I reread this Genesis chapter and code it I AM OFFICIALLY WORKING ON MORNING GLORY AGAIN LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOO (This Fourth of July chapter will get finished tn I SWEAR TO HECK!!!!)

(And then I get to read my fav once its like 5am bc I can only read my fav fic at like 5/6 when the sun is just coming up and my room is perfectly cold and I'm almost ready to go to bed but not quite the vibe is JUST RIGHT here's to praying to the gods we don't believe in I get blessed with an early chapter(bc I have literally been trying to space them out and save them and sometimes I do get lucky and get to read two at once and it's literally the best istg))

(11:17) I forgot to reread said chapter and quit at some point but tell me how Morning went from 84.6 (?? ish) to 86.1k?? LIKE HELL YA LETS GOOOOO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS!!!!

(11:29) It's not, like, haha funny, but I find it so painfully hilarious that I keep going back and forth between writing like fun wholesome dirty mountain kids figuring out life creek and then like them literally DYING for each other with the most gut wrenching dialogue surrounding it all. My brain needs to be studied, I fear.

(3:28) I just spent like the last 30 minutes being a fucking lunatic BACK TO MORNING GLORY!!! We're at 87.1k ... Which like, honestly, for me on hiatus??? I'm kinda impressed. Kinda proud of myself. (Not to mention the other shit I wrote that is not Morning Glory today, because I did write some of the most gut wrenching shit for Revelations just because I felt like writing angst LMAO)

(5:14) I know I've said this before. And I'll probably say it a million times. Jack stands on business and it's so FUCKING FUNNY. Like 'killing him won't solve anything'

'yeah but it'll feel good!'

LIKE OKAY DAMN LMFAOOOO

(6:27) and tonight I shut down with 89.7k

Which like, holy shit, yippie. 4th of July is done, they're doing powerpoint night, and I am just that much closer to being done with summer.

[askshivanulegacy]

Tagged by @dingoat !!

3 SHIPS

1. Ahuska and Thirteen! I don't even know how we got here honestly, but between the duo getting murder-happy on the Star Fortresses, and a sudden pile of shows which are so them, I CANNOT get enough. They're not even SUPPOSED to be together, 13 is MARRIED NOW jfc, and Ahuska is SUPPOSED to be hopelessly smitten by her fox, but ... oops I guess. :') They're terrible. They're terrible for each other. It's a train wreck in slow motion and they're still running along it holding hands. Ahuska dear, stop being attracted to the stupidly hot enemy agent who played a role in your horrible traumatic imprisonment. He bought you steak dinner ONCE.

2. Thirteen/Five/Crow + Ulfran. There's no toxic power imbalance if that's your kink, is there? 8) Throw in some wholesome and genuine love and kindness, spice it up with the occasional kinky patron Sith, and you have the perfect Imperial agent romance recipe. 13, 5, and Crow are married ... with bonus content. I LOVE how this crazy relationship mess just organically arose as a side plot to the main plot, but OOPS it's 13 unintentionally driving everyone involved to upend their entire lives. He dragged Crow to the Empire, pulled Ulfran to the Dark Side, and forced Five to actually care about something other than himself.

3. Blakk and all his romances! Ofc he's still ... supposedly ... Ahuska's main flame. <_<;;; But anyway, he's also been responsible for years of favorite ships and RPs which I still absolutely LOVE and haven't forgotten.

First Ship

I've been trying to remember if I CARED about shipping as a kid, and whether I appreciated Gambit/Rogue, or whether it was really all just about Gambit. 😂 Either way, in my early fanfiction days, I was a fan of the FF7 Zack Fair/Angeal/Genesis/Sephiroth/Cloud Strife in various combinations. Depending.

First ship I ever actually WROTE was Blakk/Saare, a Sith from my agent's canon timeline.

Last Song

Uhhhh. Does the X-Men theme song count? 😂

Currently Reading

Other than my own RPs? <_< X-Men fanfiction lol.

Last Film

In theatres: THE FALL GUY. SO good. It's super funny that I never would have given this movie the time of day, once upon a time. 8) At home: X-Men Origins Wolverine, for the only movie cameo of Gambit, ofc.

Currently Craving

Banana juice, hehehe. Think I'll get some RIGHT NOW. 8)

Tagging: @kaosstar @empire-at-war @lhunuial @gaithe-guy IF YOU WANT.

[rotibankindias-blog]

Roti Bank Dehradun: Nourishing Lives, One Meal at a Time  

Introduction 

Food insecurity remains a critical issue in many parts of the world, affecting millions of people on a daily basis. In India, despite significant economic progress, a considerable segment of the population still struggles to secure adequate nutrition. The city of Dehradun, nestled in the picturesque state of Uttarakhand, is no exception. Amidst the rapid urbanization and development, pockets of poverty and food insecurity persist, leaving many residents vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.

Roti Bank: Addressing Food Insecurity in Dehradun Communities

The Genesis of Roti Bank Dehradun  

A Simple Idea with a Profound Impact 

The inception of Roti Bank Dehradun was grounded in a simple yet powerful idea: to bridge the gap between food surplus and food scarcity. Every day, restaurants, events, and households generate a significant amount of excess food, much of which goes to waste. Simultaneously, a considerable portion of the population struggles to secure their next meal. Roti Bank was founded to connect these dots and ensure that surplus food reaches those in need. 

Founders and Visionaries 

Roti Bank Dehradun was the brainchild of a group of socially conscious individuals who couldn’t turn a blind eye to the hunger around them. Driven by empathy and a desire to make a tangible difference, they established this initiative to combat food wastage and hunger in Dehradun. Their vision is a city where no one sleeps on an empty stomach, and their mission is to mobilize resources, volunteers, and goodwill to make this vision a reality. 

How Roti Bank Dehradun Operates  

Collection and Distribution 

Roti Bank Dehradun operates through a well-coordinated network of volunteers and partners. The process begins with the collection of surplus food from various sources, including restaurants, hotels, event venues, and households. Volunteers are trained to handle food safely, ensuring that it remains hygienic and fit for consumption. 

Once collected, the food is transported to designated distribution points across the city. These points are strategically chosen to cover areas with the highest need, including slums, orphanages, old age homes, and homeless shelters. The distribution process is carried out with dignity and respect, preserving the self-esteem of the beneficiaries. 

Nutritional Standards and Safety 

Roti Bank Dehradun is committed to providing not just any food, but nutritious and wholesome meals. The organization follows strict guidelines to ensure that the food distributed is balanced, safe, and culturally appropriate. Regular checks and audits are conducted to maintain high standards of hygiene and nutrition. 

The Impact of Roti Bank Dehradun  Reducing Hunger and Malnutrition 

The most immediate impact of Roti Bank Dehradun is the reduction of hunger and malnutrition in the city. By providing regular meals to those in need, the organization helps improve the overall health and well-being of its beneficiaries. Children are able to attend school with full stomachs, the elderly receive the care they deserve, and families facing economic hardships find some relief from their daily struggles. 

Environmental Benefits 

In addition to addressing hunger, Roti Bank Dehradun plays a crucial role in reducing food waste. By redirecting surplus food to those who need it, the organization helps minimize the environmental impact of food waste, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with decomposing food in landfills. This dual impact on society and the environment underscores the holistic benefits of the initiative. 

Community Building and Social Cohesion 

Roti Bank Dehradun fosters a sense of community and social cohesion. It brings together people from different walks of life to work towards a common goal. Volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries all become part of a larger, supportive network. This spirit of collaboration and mutual support strengthens the social fabric of Dehradun and promotes a culture of empathy and giving. 

Stories of Hope and Transformation  From Hunger to Hope 

Meet Sunita, a single mother of three, who struggled to provide enough food for her children. With a meager income from odd jobs, Sunita often skipped meals to ensure her children could eat. Roti Bank Dehradun’s regular meal distributions have been a lifeline for her family. Today, Sunita’s children are healthier, attending school regularly, and the family has hope for a better future. 

Empowering Volunteers 

For many volunteers, working with Roti Bank Dehradun is a transformative experience. Take Rohan, a college student who joined the initiative to fulfill his community service requirement. What started as an obligation quickly became a passion. Through his involvement, Rohan has developed a deeper understanding of social issues and a commitment to making a positive impact. He is now a key coordinator, inspiring others to join the cause. 

How You Can Help  

Volunteer Your Time 

Roti Bank Dehradun relies heavily on the dedication and hard work of its volunteers. Whether you can spare a few hours a week or make a more substantial time commitment, your help is invaluable. Volunteers are needed for food collection, distribution, fundraising, and awareness campaigns. By donating your time, you become a crucial part of the effort to combat hunger in Dehradun. 

Donate Resources 

In addition to food, Roti Bank Dehradun welcomes donations of other resources such as storage containers, transportation facilities, and financial contributions. These resources help ensure the smooth operation and expansion of the initiative, allowing it to reach more people in need. 

Spread the Word 

Raising awareness about Roti Bank Dehradun’s work is another powerful way to contribute. Share their mission and success stories on social media, talk about their work within your community, and encourage others to get involved. The more people know about the initiative, the more support it will garner, leading to greater impact. 

Conclusion 

Roti Bank Dehradun is a beacon of hope in a world where hunger and food wastage coexist. By addressing these twin challenges, the organization not only feeds the hungry but also fosters a more compassionate and sustainable community. As it continues to grow and evolve, Roti Bank Dehradun invites everyone to join hands in this noble cause. Together, we can ensure that no one in Dehradun goes to bed hungry, and build a future where everyone has access to the basic right to food. 

AUTHOR

" Roti Bank Dehradun " by [ Roti bank foundation ] - A heartfelt narrative exploring the grassroots movement of food donation and hunger alleviation in the bustling city, highlighting the compassion and resilience of its volunteers. 

[arcadedentalblog]

Preventing Root Canal Infections: Tips for Good Oral Health

Are you currently grappling with excruciating pain as a result of root canal infections? Explore a treasure trove of expert insights and simple practices designed to safeguard your oral well-being and thwart future infections. Bid adieu to the agony associated with root canals and welcome a healthier, brighter smile through the implementation of our preventive measures.

Root canal infections represent a prevalent dental ailment that afflicts millions of individuals each year. These infections manifest when the pulp, the soft tissue ensconced within a tooth, succumbs to a bacterial invasion. This invasion can unleash intense pain and discomfort, potentially culminating in tooth loss if left unattended.

Understanding Root Canal Infections: A root canal infection denotes a dental affliction wherein the pulp, the tender tissue residing inside a tooth, succumbs to bacterial infiltration. This affliction is notorious for ushering in severe pain and, when ignored, may culminate in tooth loss.

The Genesis of Root Canal Infections: The inception of root canal infections transpires when bacteria infiltrate the innermost recesses of a tooth, known as the pulp, typically via deep cavities, fractures, or traumatic incidents. Once entrenched, these bacteria proliferate and foment inflammation, resulting in pain and the possibility of dental deterioration if not promptly addressed.

The Significance of Optimal Oral Health in Forestalling Root Canal Infections: Vigilant Oral Hygiene Practices: Upholding impeccable oral hygiene constitutes the bedrock of thwarting root canal infections. Consistent brushing and flossing serve as potent bulwarks against pernicious bacteria and the accumulation of plaque, thus mitigating the risk of infection.

Combatting Plaque Accumulation: The negligence of oral hygiene can usher in the buildup of plaque on teeth and gums, creating a conducive environment for bacterial proliferation. These bacteria can infiltrate teeth through cavities or fractures, setting the stage for pulp infections.

The Eradication of Food Particles: Routine brushing and flossing also serve the purpose of dislodging trapped food particles nestled between teeth, thereby preempting bacterial growth and potential root canal infections.

Regular Dental Check-Ups: Punctual visits to the dentist in Pharr, TX, for periodic check-ups and cleanings are of paramount importance. Dentists can obliterate plaque that eludes daily routines and detect issues in their incipient stages, preempting their evolution into full-fledged root canal infections.

The Pursuit of a Wholesome Diet: The maintenance of a well-balanced diet with restricted consumption of sugary and acidic edibles assumes pivotal significance. Elevated sugar and acid content can enfeeble tooth enamel, rendering it more susceptible to decay and infection. Dietary choices exert a substantial influence on overall oral health.

Strategies for Upholding Pristine Oral Hygiene: A Consistent Brushing Regimen: Inculcate the habit of brushing your teeth at least twice daily, wielding a soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste infused with fluoride. This regimen eradicates plaque and bacteria, serving as a formidable defense against tooth decay and gum maladies, thus circumventing root canal infections.

Daily Flossing Rituals: The act of daily flossing assumes cardinal importance in dislodging food particles and plaque from interdental crevices that elude the reach of a toothbrush. This practice substantially curtails the likelihood of cavities, gum maladies, and ultimately, root canal infections.

Incorporating Antimicrobial Mouthwash: Seamlessly integrate an antimicrobial mouthwash into your oral care repertoire to further curtail oral bacteria. Opt for a variant that targets plaque or gingivitis to safeguard the well-being of your gums.

Discerning Dietary Choices: Constrict the consumption of sugary and acidic victuals, as they have the potential to erode tooth enamel, facilitating the infiltration of bacteria into the innermost layers of teeth. Exercise dietary restraint to shield against tooth decay.

Sustaining Hydration with Water: Maintaining optimal hydration by quaffing water throughout the day contributes to the rinsing away of food remnants, neutralizing oral acids, and stimulating saliva production—crucial defenses against bacterial intrusion.

Abstinence from Tobacco Products: Bid adieu to smoking and refrain from the use of tobacco products, as these habits not only stain teeth but also elevate the risk of gum maladies, thereby diminishing the likelihood of necessitating root canal treatments.

Discerning the Early Indications of a Root Canal Infection: Left unattended, root canal infections can precipitate excruciating pain and discomfort. To preempt the need for a root canal procedure, it is imperative to discern the initial harbingers of an infection. Presented below is a step-by-step guide to identifying these pivotal indicators:

Persistent Ache: The nascent stages of a root canal infection often herald the onset of relentless pain in one or more teeth. This pain exhibits a spectrum of intensity, oscillating between pulsating, acute, or dull, and it may intensify when biting into food or exerting pressure on the affected region.

Sensitivity: The sudden onset of sensitivity to hot or cold comestibles and beverages can serve as a harbinger of an impending root canal infection. This heightened sensitivity may extend to neighboring teeth as well.

Alteration in Tooth Hue: Modifications in the coloration of a tooth may constitute an early sign of an infected root canal. The affected tooth might assume a darker hue compared to its counterparts due to decay and internal damage.

Inflammation: The emergence of swelling around the afflicted tooth and/or gums is an unmistakable indicator. Swelling can span the gamut from mild puffiness to a severity that hampers swallowing or breathing.

Halitosis: Despite adhering to stringent oral hygiene, the persistence of foul breath can be indicative of an infected root canal. The aggregation of bacteria in the afflicted area can give rise to malodorous emissions, even following routine brushing and flossing.

Debunking Common Fallacies About Root Canal Treatments: Root canal treatments have become ensnared in a web of myths and misconceptions, often engendering unwarranted apprehension regarding this commonplace dental procedure. In reality, root canals stand as highly efficacious interventions for rescuing a damaged or infected tooth while assuaging pain. Let us embark on a methodical dissection of these fallacies and unveil the veracity beneath them.

Myth #1: Root Canals Elicit Excruciating Pain: A prevalent myth posits that root canal procedures entail excruciating agony. This misapprehension likely stems from archaic methodologies and antiquated equipment

rom yesteryears. However, thanks to technological advancements and the refinement of anesthesia, contemporary root canals are virtually painless. A majority of patients report experiencing minimal discomfort both during and after the procedure.

Myth #2: Root Canal Treatments Provoke Ailments: A widely held belief asserts that root canal treatments can instigate an array of health maladies, ranging from heart disease and arthritis to cancer. This myth has been debunked through extensive research conducted by reputable entities, including the American Association of Endodontists. Their investigations have yielded no evidence linking root canal treatments to any systemic health afflictions.

Myth #3: Tooth Extraction Takes Precedence Over Root Canals: Certain individuals harbor the belief that extracting a diseased or damaged tooth represents a superior alternative to undergoing a root canal treatment. Nevertheless, the preservation of one's natural teeth should invariably stand as the primary choice when circumstances permit. While tooth extraction might seem like a swift solution, it is crucial to contemplate the long-term repercussions on oral health and overall well-being.

These misconceptions have cast a pall over the merits and effectiveness of root canal treatments in Pharr, TX, which serve as a means of salvaging natural teeth and bestowing lasting relief from dental anguish.

[im-totally-not-an-alien]

Final Fantasy 7 prompts #70

1. Time traveler au where everyone remembers, and I mean everyone!

Hojo? Incredibly curious about this new phenomenon and is hunting Cloud like a Zolom slithering up to a Chocobo

Sephiroth: Also hunting Cloud, although for entirely different reasons

Genesis full on tackle-hugged Angeal to the ground and not even a half hour later the scene repeats with the puppy

Random people on the streets scream and cry in delight at seeing thier loved ones for the first time since The Plate/Meteorfall/Geostigma took them from the world of the living.

Its a mess.

2. Cloud was never a selfish man. At least, he never considered himself to be. But standing here, aiming a gun at a sleeping man's head, he couldn't help to feel like he was.

3. Cloud sniffled, staring at his campfire as the wind blows at it. Its as if the wind god himself is trying to snuff out the only comfort he had left. He didn't mean to betray the group, he swears.

Not that it meant much.

(Au where Cloud never got mako poisoned after giving Sephiroth the black materia and swam away from Tifa, losing her in the lifestream)

4. After going through yet another tragic event, his mind shuts down. He fell into a coma (again) this time within the lifestream

Now its up to Zack and Aerith to save him from himself by entering Clouds dreamworld and spending time with him in hopes of convincing him to leave. They didn't count on Cloud not remembering what happened in the real world, nor for Cloud to have been given everything he had ever wanted.

Zack struggles with the morality of taking Cloud from a happy dream world and dumping him back into a bleak reality

5. Yuffie dumped a bucket of water onto Cloud, prompting the blond to grab a bucket of his own and chase the ninja through the jungles of Wutai.

Playtime was cut short however, when Yuffie fell into a hole in the ground. It was covered by large ferns and plant life, completely obscuring it from view. Still, she was a ninja! She should have seen this coming.

Cloud also feels a bit foolish for also falling in while looking for her.

They wake up and climb out of the hole, and head back to Godo, expecting nothing to have changed, only to find they-

A. Had been missing for 20 years

B. Are in an alternate reality

C. Have time traveled to the past

(Take your pick)

Cloud has no time to feel down, not with his precious annoying baby sister around. Someone has to keep the princess safe, and thats not easy when she's her own worst enemy.

(I intended this to be a fun sibling fic)

6. Before Crisis Shinra gets reports of a silver haired woman with reddish purple eyes dragging an unconscious blond man around like a stuffed animal.

Aka Jenova herself has come out to play

7. Sephiroth comes out of the labs much more woozy than normal. He doesn't think much of it at first, and by the time he realized he was in trouble, it was too late.

Genesis came into the Generals office to complain to the silverette about Shinra, only to find Sephiroth spacing out and acting rather...odd.

"Sephiroth," the redhead asked gently, "Are you...high?"

Sephiroth blinked slowly at him, and the commander couldn't help but to feel it was a greeting of some sort.

The silverette smiled before saying. "I am higher than you, yes."

"Thats not what i- Wait. Did you just make a joke?!"

Or

A certain blond trooper walks in holding paperwork for the general, who proceeds to pick up the smaller man and coo at him.

This somehow culminates into Sephiroth saying, "I know. I should adopt you!" Before spinning the young man around in the air like one wood a toddler.

Clouds confused shout was audible a whole two floors down, catching the attention of the honorable commander and his puppy, who went to investigate.

(Inspired by a dream I had of Sephiroth holding a struggling Cadet Cloud and saying "This is my son now." To Angeal)

8. Genesis munching on popcorn while watching Cloud beat up Sephiroth for the umpteenth time.

He even has the audacity to cheer for the blond

9. General Sephiroth encounters a child who is dressed up like him when out on a walk.

He talks to the child and leaves the situation feeling much better about himself.

(I need some wholesome Sephiroth fics)

10. Kadaj as a cat loaf

11. Sephiroth and Cloud have a shared dream about them being happily married and Cloud being pregnant.

The moment Cloud wakes up he barricades the doors and windows.

Sephiroth...well he doesn't know what to think about this situation. He's kinda just staring off in a daze.

He attributes it to trauma and neither ever bring it up.

12. Time traveler Cloud, but with all of Jenova-fied Sephiroths abilities. The problem is that Cloud has seemingly little control of these abilities, leading to Cloud being very tired and the writer being very amused.

13. Sephiroth rescues a blond fae from the rubble he was pinned under.

This was how he gained his silent stalker. The man never spoke. But his calming smile said enough.

14. When Lazard discovered there was two red clad men, who spoke in loveless quotes, he had to fight the urge to bang his head onto his desk and groan like a teenager. When he found out there were three of the man, he actually did just that.

Finding out there was only one Angeal was a bit concerning, especially since these other two worlds were supposed to be further along in the timeline. Thankfully, Zack hasn't seemed to change much in either. Then again, the one carrying the mako poisoned blond seemed wary of everything. Strange.

Strangest of all were the Sephiroths. One refused to come to this meeting, stating that it wouldn't be worth his time, which shocked the entire board of directors. Nothing they did or said seemed to faze the once dutifully obedient man. Luckily, Shinra still had thier own Sephiroth on thier side to protect itself if necessary...and the people too if they were lucky.

The third Sephiroth only commented something about searching for clouds or some such nonsense.

Lazard couldn't help but to feel disaster looming on the horizon.

15. "I'm pretty sure they would trade everyone here for a single corn chip if I got hungry." The blond deadpanned. "They're heartless."

Yes, food good. The voice interjected. Nutrition. Survival.

Cloud wanted to tell it that he didn't even like corn chips, but talking back to the voices in your head is usually considered to be a bad idea. Even if they're real.

Especially if they're real.

Aka the J and S cells mutate and begin communicating with thier host.

Cloud is not pleased.

Bonus: Sephiroth and Cloud reacting to your fanfiction.

[luminous-shifting-vibes]

*sequel* to actual fucking quotes from the shiftblr coffeehouse discord server

once again, it's out of context because x1000 funnier

also x1000 longer than previous post

"ur satan is gnc af"

"Bestie I’m already having gender envy over a fucking demon please"

"O_O ODEPIJHFbavevisdpvfhzdcnjawedsidjksjdkoeirjfmkdsoeirujdksodifjndmksoidfjdksidfj ITS" NOT IN MY FRAFTS IS SPEDNT 1 hour PN THAT SHIT"

"AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

"ohoho sexy"

"I am very proud of myself"

"himbo x edgy fuck"

"YOU COULD SQUISH HES CHEECKS"

"he has teefs"

"SQUASH"

"good for biting 📷"

"he's a himbo basically"

"B͂̒̄iͫ̍̈tͧ̓ͯè̄̇"

"bifth"

"i havent watched blue exorcist in years but mr okumura my beloved </3"

"MY LIFE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED"

"is it important information to mention that the person i put up for my turn is the son of satan" "I know like 1 thing about everyone who isnt ranboo lmfao"

"crimes"

"tumblr sexyman"

"idk why but my first thought was cowboy onceler"

"I vibe with him but he is very long and twisty"

"steampunk e-girl"

"steampunk tumblr sexyman"

"Canonically bi crimelord I agree!!"

"OOO FRIEND SHAPED"

"ARTIST SIGHTED"

"they look like someone i would want to be friends with but is way cooler than me so i'd never actually talk to them"

"babby..... would die for him"

"honestly i probably kin him"

"i'm sure he's lovely but he looks way too much like my ex i'm sorry-"

"i'd be down for another rotation! i have another twink to show y'all"

"Also :00 blonde friend"

"Let us all infodhmo"

"Hsjagdvbs shhh im on phone"

"Nix woukd you like to joon?

"skitters away"

"I have two braincells and they both drink dumb bitch juice"

"oof wait whats the order again i have 0 memory"

"i want to bond with him over cosplay-"

"Awkwardly watches in band kid"

"One day I'm gonna a broadway star"

"which isnt to say they were bad. they were just fortnite dancing during rehersals"

"I threw it so hard my glasses flew off and slid under the stage right divider"

"anyway heres my boi"

"emo"

"haha emo"

"virgil sanders kinnie"

"he looks like he listens to my chemical panic at the fallout boy"

"Bro I bet he'd kick my ass with his deck"

"bird man my beloved"

"fuck i had so much to say and then i forgot it all"

"Birds!!"

"guiguhuh"

"crabrave"

"She sounds like someone I would end up stealing her personality"

"yess name collector gang"

"alias glass aiden haven absinthe fish brick rice"

"But I have Cypress, Remure, Genesis, Lemres, and Comet"

"And she's named after a mars candy bar bc alien"

"Hey, if plato went by plato, you can be king thief"

"im not dissing my gramma like that shfojd"

"My dad has seven legal names" "bitches be like *looks at fictional character* *steals their name* it's us we're bithces"

"coraline lowkey traumatized me but i adore it regardless"

"mmmmmm magic man :]"

"°0° green man"

"criminal (affectionate)"

"he would shoplift a candy bar from walmart and then brag to all of his friends about the sick stealing he did"

"despite the fact he's canonically been capable of overpowering a minor deity"

"i would commit so many crimes for him"

"Very babey"

"Yes please tell green man he is very pog"

"he also keeps a lot of dumb secrets"

"but I will sorely miss the chaos and energy of this here chat until I wake again" (by request XD)

"i just say words and if they're funny then they're funny"

"* or extremly chaotic either works"

"at this point we are just taking turns rambling"

"oH--"

"bc my brain has a schedule"

"Hopefully they have gyoza there or I will lose my mind"

"hehe yes spooky man"

"my ghost glucose guardian"

"the head of the undead group that lives there, and we end up dating. (yes I date a ghost, no I will not be taking constructive criticism /lh)"

"ghosts r just inherently sexy"

"i mean im becoming a squid thing so"

"Raven quirk raven quirk!!"

"ł â m p"

"łæmp"

"mothman: ooh lamp you look very nice today! do you come here often? mothman: wait shit no"

"I'd date a ghost"

"mine is still accurate, i am still sobbing (/j)"

"p e e p e e"

""@nick wilde is a tumblr sexyman" is the best thing i have ever seen"

"im sorry im cackling like a dying hyena"

"you're all 12 year olds"

"PEENIE"

"He once caused global warming on accident so he could get a tan"

"god, what a himbo. i love him"

"that reminds me of my friends kin assigned me jesus"

"Man outside of battle be like: princely crying but then in battle hes like: "CATACLYSM! DISASTER! DEVASTATION!" Chill out man"

"Every time I talk about satan it never fails to shock people it's my favorite thing to do"

"im kin assigning him roman sanders" ""Oh yeah he caused global warming because he wanted to get girls" "he what""

"oh damn i forgot satan was straight"

"twink appreciation club"

"give us the twinks"

"my first thought was bottom-"

"so many people to try and get his dad to love him"

"daddy issued"

"OH MY GOD ITS WILBUR"

"Big boy but"

"anyways janus is swagggg"

"........................."

"gib twink"

"give twink then i will share"

"holds him gentle like hamburger"

"This dumb bitch opened a book that said "do not open" and got possessed by a little bastard"

"he is. fragile creachur"

"klug is beauty klug is grace i would let him step on my face"

"If I'm playing swap and I have to hear one more "Pwanet Powew" Im gonna lose it"

"Who is to blame? Pandora or the box?"

"Bakugo isnt my type but I respect the drip"

"i say like my type isnt long-haired pretty boys and girls that look so gnc that people have a history of confusing them for men"

"hes a gremlin and i can appreciate a pretty gremlin"

"that is to say i am attracted to VFlower vocaloid. This is a confession."

"note i am a lesbian"

"You may like Schezo wegey"

"why does he have one single expression"

"soul soul eater passes the vibe check"

"magic wand"

"I Want To Hold His Hand"

"i would commit a war crime for him any war crime idc which one"

"my favorite one is when he sounded rlly gay because he said "Muscular bodies keep me satisfied""

"p e a n u t"

"Klug is a homophobic homosexual its just facts"

"grug from the croods is peak male performance"

"jaw drops to floor, eyes pop out of sockets accompanied by trumpets, heart beats out of chest, awooga awooga sound effect, pulls chain on train whistle that has appeared next to head as steam blows out, slams fists on table, rattling any plates, bowls or silverware, whistles loudly, fireworks shoot from top of head, pants loudly as tongue hangs out of mouth, wipes comically large bead of sweat from forehead, clears throat, straightens tie, combs hair Ahem, you look very lovely."

"tag yourself im the fireworks shooting from the top of the head"

"i like essays"

"central time gang"

"11:11 pog-" (wait... is that a suprise angel number?? yes it is lovelies just for you <3)

"Then again im also a dumbass bitch who wonders what the souls in soul eater taste like. SERIOUSLY THOUGH. THEY LOOK TASTY AS HELL!!!! LIKE GODDAMN BRO YOU'RE MAKING ME FUCKING HUNGRY. Like. that shit- it's Bone Apple motherfucking Teeth. hell yea my guy. Im hongy now.... shlorp I'm seriously considering this. Like. They seem kinda like a liquid? But a solid? Are they like jello? The fuck they taste like my guy???? I keep imagining they're like sour, like sour candy maybe? Or do they taste salty? Sweet? Maybe some combo of two? Do they even have a taste or is it about the texture? The sensation? God my mouth is watering what the hell. I am starving. I think I need to go get a cookie. I'm gonna go get a cookie. Brb. I'm better. I'm still craving souls though. Which is a weird-ass cringey thing to say but I'm being dead-ass rn. They just.... look tasty???? And I wanna eat one. Thus. I am shifting to Soul Eater for the express purpose of satisfying my fucking cravings. enjoy"

"points were made"

"jello? more like helloooo schloooAHFJDSDAIDWNALDHSJKDAIDANDM"

"WAIT I THINK I HAVE AN ANIME GIRL BITING VIDEO TOO"

"anime girl voice: mmm! mm... ahhhhmp!! mmm, mmm... aaahmp!"

"i think it sounds great i'm going to start eating like that"

"several people are typing"

"do these look edible to you"

"forbidden gummies"

"when I was on lsd I couldn't eat my fruit gummies because I thought they were alive because they had little faces on them"

"oh shit yeah don't do drugs"

"anyways general consensus is puyos are edible, ty for your input everyone"

"everypony is a word so powerful it can bring nations to its knees"

"pls the self control it's taking me not to say "hewwo everypony" in gen chat when someone new joins-"

"hewwo evewrypony uwu deaw cewestia i hopwe it doewsnt wain owo"

"ive cooked up a sowution wiwth the knowwege ive acwued. they say a kitcwen time saves niwne, but im just savwing two. Ive gathewwed the inwedients to make a time sowbet. Thewe's hawdly woom fow seconds when the seconds mewt away."

"I had a ten year old sister... you know what happened to her??? very sad, very tragic... she turned eleven....."

"NIIICE"

"Guts dont say the secks word :( /j"

"watch your fucking language in front of the president"

"im so sorry lumi"

"i think you're like ehhhh 8/10 funny"

"now me???? 10/10. Hilarious"

"sometimes i have to take a step back and remember that this is the same guts i follow on tumblr /lh"

""ok every here's some good shifting advice!!! uwu have a good day" "yeah i did lsd and ate fruit gummies""

"i have one setting and it's whatever this is"

"my bitch ass cat just pushed the door open with his fuzzy face and now my sleeping dad is being lulled into dreams by Cosmo Sheldrake's 'Pliocine'."

"me on discord: nick wilde"

"me on tumblr: shifting water! haha funne! me on here: my hermit crabs are cannibals also i want to eat souls."

"im sorry yOUR VIBESA RE JUST SO DIFFERNT"

"u give off older cousin ive never spoken to but always admire at the family gatherings vibes"

"what the fuck"

"BC I HAVE LIBERTU"

"If you adopt me then yes"

"am I qualified for dad jokes???"

"we're all a lot smarter on tumblr"

"I'm like "awww... sweet... sweet little shiftlings... posting such sweet shiftling content... so pure, so wholesome... does not even know abcs....""

"can't think before you speak if you never think B)"

"I'm not responsible enough to be a mom"

"cat pet"

"show us pictures of the cat or i will do Crime"

"maybe thats me being a coward tho"

"MOTH!!!! MOTH MY BELOVED"

if y'all want I can make this a series bc shiftblr keeps giving me more content

[altocat]

Sephiroth and Genesis go shopping!

If you were expecting an impending disaster, you'd be pleasantly surprised. For all their squabbling, Genesis and Sephiroth actually get along very well when it's just the two of them. Sure there will probably be a petty argument SOMEWHERE in there, maybe a bit of destruction of public property. But they do earnestly enjoy each other's company. At the end of the day, they're still best friends.

So fuck it. No angst. Wholesome Sephgen mall adventure.

Genesis critiques Sephiroth's fashion sense and insists that they MUST update his casual wardrobe right away! He fusses over Sephiroth while they pick out some new outfits. Genesis reminds Sephiroth to stop hiding in those ungodly sweaters all the time and pick something he feels confident in, similar to how he feels while in uniform.

Sephiroth waits patiently while Genesis digs around in the bargain bins--a peace offering for Angeal no doubt--and haggles with the cashier.

Genesis pressures Sephiroth into getting his nails/hair done, though Sephiroth hates being touched and only settles for the most basic treatment. He comes out looking very shiny though. Genesis is pleased.

Indoor laser tag. Genesis is a sore loser. Something blows up. The usual.

Genesis can't get a snack from the vending machine because it's out of order. Sephiroth punches it. Problem solved.

They lounge on a bench while they eat, ignoring the stares around them, probably arguing over something stupid as a distraction.

Sephiroth surprises Genesis by smugly dangling a new copy of Loveless over the shorter soldier's shoulder, Genesis whirling around in excitement and scrambling to snatch it up at once.

They trade empty insults and halfhearted jabs on the escalator, Sephiroth catching Genesis just in time after a particularly clumsy lunge.

Genesis wants pretzels. Sephiroth says it's not part of his Shinra sanctioned diet. Genesis says FUCK THAT and gets them two each. And a lemonade to split.

He drags Sephiroth into a photo booth. Sephiroth is stone faced the entire time while Genesis goes apeshit on pantomiming increasingly crude gestures.

The last photo is of them laughing together ❤️

[abanomath]

DC’s Tone Deafness

So I don’t really like ranting or being negative, but DC Universe recently released an article to celebrate pride month about the Top 5 canon and non-canon LGBTQA+ relationships in Young Justice.

And the tone deafness is just off the charts. Like most of the world, I’m not American so I needed someone to screen-cap the actual article for me. I’m going to organize my thoughts and go down below.

General

For one, its pretty obvious the writer didn’t look at the source material. This article sounds like it was written by someone filled in on the basics and told to write a good PR article for DC.

There are a lot of little details in the story, such as when the writer claims that they “showcased even more LGBTQA+ protagonists in season 3″ implying they had previously, which they hadn’t. One character was implied to be bisexual in the comics, never on screen, but more on that below. Season 3 was the first LGBTQA+ rep for the show.

Also its always a bit tone deaf when in an article celebrating LGBTQA+ and diversity in your show, that you have a list of 5 “ships”, of which only ONE is actually a couple in canon. Not only did they need to resort to non-canon ones, they included people that can’t be called a “ship” or couple.

1. Kaldur/Wyynde

This is the only actual LGBTQA+ couple on the list that is canon in the show, and I liked them. But I can’t deny that Kaldur who was a main cast member for the past two season’s had a vastly reduced role (compared to straight cis white characters like Dick and Conner). He was basically written out of the first half of the season, and then his relationship was really present for 1.5 - 2 episodes max. This in a season that was marked with excessive attention given to heterosexual relationships (like seriously, basically every character was in some form of relationship on-screen). The one healthy LGBTQA relationship got less attention than Black Lightning and Dr. Jace’s romance, something that ultimately went nowhere, Dick/Barbara, even Megan/Conner when Megan was also essentially written out of the season.

2. Marie Logan and Rita Farr

They really dug deep for this “ship”. Ironically, they start this by talking about the scene in Young Justice #25, when Queen B’s powers work on Garfield’s mother. This was the first implication her being bisexual. And of course, she also dies in this scene, so starting off with a “Bury your gays” trope where Marie’s queerness literally got her killed and orphaned her son.

There isn’t much more to say about this ship, because it literally doesn’t exist. The shipping community for this is so small you have to go digging deep into tags to find even hints of it. The article even basically says this, posing the ship as a question. As being interesting. (Does it count as Bury Your Gays when both woman are dead before their relationship is even hinted at?)

In other words this article about celebrating LGBTQA ships literally had to try and CREATE A SHIP to reach 5 ships. Despite the fact there are plenty of LGBTQ fanon ships (Birdflash being the most prominent one left off the list). It really hits at the thing I said above, this is a “write us a good PR article with the barest amount of effort put into it” situation.

3. Harper Row and Halo

Oh boy don’t get me started on this. There are so many problems with how they did Halo this season, she is basically tone deaf personified. (For the purpose of this rant, I’ll be using the “she” pronouns for Halo, because I have no choice but to assume they are her preference, unless the show purposely spent the entire season mis-gendering her, but I don’t think her characterization really supports that she prefers “her/she”).

I’ve had a problem with Halo from the start, because she is basically an attempt for the writers to shallowly include representation without having to actually deal with it. She is Muslim representation, but not actually Muslim (as she confirms on the show). She wears the Hijab because she feels like it. She is genderqueer, but they never once talk about her pronouns. She refers to herself as “not feeling like a boy or a girl” and constantly refers to herself in the third person, but everyone uses “she/her” pronouns without asking her. They even have a scene where she informs them she is genderqueer, and its never brought up again without asking any actual follow up questions or awareness. They also infantalize and treat her as a little girl.

Additionally, she falls into one of my greatest pet peeves - she is genderqueer but for fantasy-scifi reasons. For those that follow genderqueer or transgender characters in media, this is a very common trope. Essentially, the trope is when someones gender identity is caused by/determined from otherworldly experiences.

This trope bugs me because it completely undermines the point of representation. Representation in media is supposed to show the audience that these are natural human experiences and that people like this exist and are normal. But the trope ensures that the experiences are not normal human experiences.

(and don’t even get me started on the fact that this show has made New Genesis tech gendered before, with Sphere. And even gender the bioship in the same season they pull this for Halo).

Lastly, she also falls within the “promiscuous bisexual” trope, with the very kiss this article praises as THE FIRST LGBT KISS ON SCREEN for the show. This is a problematic trope that DC seems to love. Basically, this scene has Halo cheating on her boyfriend with another young classmate, engaging in two kisses with her.

Now I’m not going to say that all LGBTQA+ relationships need to be wholesome one true loves. Problematic behaviour like Halo and Harper’s is a story telling tool. But the fact that the LGBTQA+ was told going into the season there would be LGBT rep so they should watch, and this was the first rep we got 18 episodes into the season? It felt a bit like a slap in the face. They could’ve had her break up with Brion beforehand, or any number of different ways that would even keep the scene in tact.

And the relationship doesn’t really go anywhere anyways. Harper doesn’t really remain part of the season going forward, Halo and her boyfriend continue their relationship after it was revealed until the end of the season.

This is ultimately my problem with Halo. There are a few tropes that basically are summed up as “writers put all their diversity into one character” which is basically what Halo is. Each of these qualities, from faith to gender identity to sexual orientation could’ve been a fleshed out character arc (oh! I forgot to mention she also falls into the “My gender identity isn’t cis, so my sexual orientation is also bi/pan/gay” trope). Instead all the diverse qualities of Halo are addressed shallowly as the show-runners pat themselves on the back.

4. Bluepulse

I’ve ranted a lot so I’m not going to go crazy on this point. You can probably find tons of posts about the drama between Bluepulse Shippers and the show, which again makes their inclusion kind of tone-deaf. Bluepulse shippers have been called disgusting by the fandom for the three year age gap, an age gap that was never confirmed on screen and you had to go digging in Greg’s personal message board to know (resulting in many people shipping them not knowing their ages at all).

In addition, the showrunners made it clear they did not like this ship over the several years the show has been off the air. And in Season 3 they give Jaime a girlfriend….who is a lesbian in the comics. Now Traci and Jaime did date in the comics before she came out, and this is another Earth. But when the sole purpose of their relationship being on screen was to tell the audience that bluepulse wasn’t happening, choosing a lesbian character to play the cis straight girlfriend is a bit of a slap in the face. again.

5. Bart Allen and Eduardo

Queerbaiting, nuff said.

For those not in the know, Ed is a character introduced as a runaway in Season 2, but he doesn’t really interact with Bart until mid-season 3. There is an episode where a group of heroes go to a carnival, and Ed and Bart appear to be on a date. They are in a group with all couples, except for Virgil. Virgil laments being the only person there without a significant other, implying that Bart and Ed are together. Additionally, Bart and Ed do everything that the other couples do together. It was pretty heavy-handed that the couples were there on dates.

And fans liked this! Even if Bluepulse wasn’t happening, Bart may still be bisexual or gay. This was made worse by Greg retweeting and liking Ed/Bart content, and not giving a straight answer on whether they were dating.

Which obviously, creates the expectation among LGBTQA+ fans that they will get together. They don’t. And later at a convention, one of the main writers (not Greg) said something like “its funny how the fans see relationships between characters differently from our intent” when asked a question about them. Essentially confirming that yeah, they didn’t have any actual content for them planned anyway. Though they did have an addendum that they may build on the fan reception/view of the relationship in the future (basically saying, maybe they’ll be canon).

As much as I’d like to be optimistic that they actually will get together and we’ll get a LGBTQ relationship that is in the spotlight for once, I’m not. I’ll be happy to be proved wrong on this point.

And that was my TEDtalk about how tone-deaf DC patting themselves on the back for LGBTQA+ content in Young Justice is. Especially when other animated shows do so much better with fewer episodes and screen time.

[things2mustdo]

I live in America, and I am happily married, with kids. I do not write this because I am more manly, or intelligent, or successful than you; I am not. I write this to share the main key to my success: patriarchal, traditional religion.

I am writing from my own religious convictions, which I believe are true. You are free to disagree, but you may still find value here. I have read the writings of other religions, and consider them “True Myths,” useful for their wisdom, even though I may disagree with their theology. Neomasculinity itself is a philosophy that can be accepted by people of different religions, or no religion.

Modern Religion

Modern religion is a feminized wasteland. God exists to impose obligations on men, and excuses women’s evil acts. Faith is blind, irrational, and collectivist.

Men hate modern religion, which is why most churches in the West are demographically imbalanced toward women. Men are bored to death with touchy-feely sermons, endless committee meetings, female gossip, and the losers sitting in the pews around them. This is not how it should be.

Patriarchal Religion

Patriarchal religion is interesting to men. It teaches that God is a man, creator of rationality, slayer of evil men, protector of the innocent:

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. (Psalm 144:1)

In male-led churches, women are taught to be respectful to their fathers, husbands, and legitimate authority. They understand that their role is to raise and care for children, and support their husband’s mission:

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

In patriarchal religion, female sins, like rebellion, envy, dishonesty, hypergamy, dressing and acting like a whore, and “hamstering” or rationalizing sin are condemned:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. (Genesis 3:6)

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Timothy 2:14)”

This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ (Proverbs 30:20)

Finding A Virtuous Woman

All women are tempted towards sins like envy, but not all women act on their impulses. In spite of what many observe in the West, I have met many virtuous women: few sexual partners before marriage, respectful, submissive to their husbands, physically fit, feminine, good mothers. Most are in the older generations, especially before the Boomers. Most are involved in traditional religion. There are fewer younger women who are virtuous, and every single one that I have met is involved in traditional religion. They tend to be more rural, from small churches.

Traditional religion can be extremely helpful to finding and vetting women. It provides a community with certain values that you want in a woman, and it provides reliable references for a person’s character. A woman who spent her younger years “out in the world” and came back at 29 be a “born-again-virgin” is a red flag, but a woman in her early 20s who teaches Sunday School and helps with the potluck dinners is far more likely to be wife material. The older women in the church will usually let you know if a woman is a whore.

Patriarchal Religion Helps Control Women’s Sinful Tendencies

Traditional religion acts as a curb (but not a cure) for women’s immoral, rebellious, destructive behavior. My wife goes to a women’s bible study group, where she often receives instruction from older religious women. This includes things like telling her to be submissive to me, lose weight and be healthy, not waste money, have cheerful sex on a regular basis, and to learn how to get some control over her emotions:

Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands. (Titus 2:3)

One of my wife’s friends once corrected her attitude toward sex, saying: “you need to view your body as a sheath for your husband’s sword.” She now routinely thanks me after we have sex. I am not a natural alpha, but I have little fear that my wife is going to suddenly cut off sex if I have a minor slip up.

Band Of Brothers

With this great power comes great responsibility. As a patriarch, I am commanded to lead my family, instructing my wife and kids on how to act properly, with genuine love for their well-being. I must be on top of my game, be physically fit, and think rationally when my wife is irrational. I attend a men’s Bible study, where we talk about leading as men. Every man in my group owns a gun, and we often go shooting together.

We encourage, support, teach, and correct each other. I have had sharp, intense, discussions with my pastor and men in my church about my own character and life decisions. Things are handled like men, discussed in the open, with real-talk (not rhetorical bullshit), and masculine love and concern for each other. This has aided me in thinking deeply about my life, and correcting bad decisions I have made.

Awhile back we helped another man who was on the verge of divorce. He was working 100 hours a week because he would not stand up to his employer, and had no energy to lead his family. We told him that the marriage counseling he was getting was bullshit (“talk about your feelings more!”), and that his slavish attitude toward his employer was making his wife lose respect for him. The women in our church also talked to his wife about choosing to be respectful and submissive, in spite of her rebellious emotions.

He cut back hours at work, which enabled him able to be captain of his ship again. This, along with training his wife received, helped her become more respectful. Now, his wife is less of a bitch, and they have sex several times a week. I doubt this would have happened without patriarchal religion.

Children

We see that our culture is toxic, feminized, and immoral. Men need a place to raise children apart from these toxins, and church is a great place to do this. My kids go to Sunday School classes where they are taught to be respectful to me, my wife, and legitimate adult authorities. We have several families with well-disciplined children that we can trust won’t corrupt our kids. My wife often takes the kids for play-dates so she can socialize with wholesome women, which is a great alternative to sitting around on social media all day.

Conclusion

Patriarchal, traditional religion will not change female nature, but it can help restrain it. This is how past generations maintained civilization. I can confidently say that traditional religion is the main reason I can maintain a happy marriage in this cesspool of a culture. Those who are not religious might consider other institutions that may provide similar support for their marriage and child-raising.

Read More: This Accidental Experiment Shows The Superiority Of Patriarchy

[salternateunreality2]

What is the Training room on floor 49 used for, other than training? Do the idiots SOLDIERs use it to watch movies? Do they have dance competitions? "Set the target on fire without igniting the highly flammable materials arranged around the target" competitions? Do they put the "Do not disturb" sign and sleep there? Have they ever had a food fight there?

An excellent question.

Let's start off with the thing young, virile, testosterone-laden, active men would do with access to virtual reality on this scale: duck!

Aka training! Training to duck projectiles to avoid penetration! By projectiles!

Oh, you said other than training. Then fuck, they would definitely fuck. The VR club is a thing. The VR mile high club is a thing. The VR tenta- nevermind. Little do they know that SESSIONS CAN BE RECORDED.

Until someone figures it out and there's a whole new problem with exhibitionists BUT BACK TO BEING WHOLESOME...

Movies: Maybe. I'm on the fence about whether Shinra would let anything other than monopoly propaganda be written for his VR tech, unless the tech is done by someone else. I could see him doing limited releases for the rich and famous (for a price), in which case the goofballs professional fighters would definitely steal the films and put them into their training rooms. I could also see him not having enough imagination to let the arts near his tech for anything other than boring propaganda purposes, in which case no one would voluntarily sit through it more than once after being enrolled in SOLDIER.

Dance competitions: oh. Hell. Yes. In canon, Cloudzack mentions that dancing was part of SOLDIER training, so you bet your sweet butt they're having dance-offs in ridiculous simulated locations.

Target practice: most definitely, since that's what the rooms are actually for.

Sleepovers: spicy and non-spicy both. Sometimes Zack will set it to simulate Gongaga and sit in the jungle sniffling a little bit as he rocks himself to sleep because he is homesick AF. He's also brought his friends there to tour and talk about his home. Several other random SOLDIERs will too, but Zack's the one who does it the most.

Food fight: No, and if they did, they had Kunsel wipe the footage and Zack spent hours hand-scrubbing all the equipment. Not that it happened. Because it didn't. And if it HAD and Angeal wasn't there to cover for them afterwards, there would have been hell to pay, so they would be VERY BLESSED by Angeal finding them and not someone else.

That equipment is extremely expensive and it would be a miracle that cleanup duty and 4am drills were the only consequences. So really, if it HAD happened, which it DIDN'T, everyone would be advised to be VERY GRATEFUL if Angeal caught them.

Genesis fully admits to using it as a private reading room.

Sephiroth really likes going with Angeal, Genesis, or Zack to their hometown sims, even if it tears at his heart a little more every time. He loves seeing them so happy and desperately wants that for himself.

Sephiroth, after several years of getting to know Lazard and a lot of overthinking and help from Angeal and Kunsel, invites him on a picnic in there. To, uh, inspect the VR station. For science. Not romance that he read about in Zack's magazine.

Everyone sneaks their buddies/lovers in at some point, and only those who are good friends with Kunsel get away with it. Kunsel accepts payment in ~favors~ and pizza.

[trainsinanime]

Miraculous Ladybug

I've mentioned this show here a few times over the past few days, but I wanted to write something more general about why I love and recommend it. The thing is that I'm not really sure I have much to say, because the show is conceptually rather simple. But make no mistake: I love it so much that today, I travelled to a foreign country just to buy DVDs of it in the original french.

For the record: The show is officially called "Miraculous - Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir", or in the original french, « Miraculous - Les Aventures de Ladybug et Chat Noir ». Important for finding the show in any sort of electronic library, but to the best of my knowledge, nobody actually uses that enormous title.

That aside, the show focuses on two french teenagers who are classmates, our main hero Marinette and Adrien, who transform into superheroes Ladybug and Chat Noir to fight the monster of the week, who was literally always sent by series big bad « Le Papillion » (or "Hawk Moth" in english).

The show's official unique selling point is probably that the shipping is off the hook: While Ladybug and Chat Noir always work together, neither knows the civilian identity of the other. And Marinette is secretly in love with Adrien, while Adrien is secretly in love with Ladybug. The resulting mess is handled in ways that are generally charming and delightful, and have resulted in almost fandom shipping wars between things like Adrienette, Marichat, Ladychat or Ladrien, all relationships that play out differently (or rather focus on different aspects) even though they're all literally involving the same people.

I generally love how the show handles this, because it's real unique selling point is just that it's straight-up adorable. All the main characters are adorable in different ways, and even the villain gets a few moments in, e.g. in Gigantitan. My personal favorite, by the way: Marinette's best friend Alya. She's awesome, fearless and always 100% committed whether it's necessary or not.

The show is also fundamentally just nice. No matter what happens, nobody dies, and every mess gets magically cleaned up by the end of the episode, which leads to hilarious logic where tricking the bad guy into destroying the Eiffel Tower is a valid problem solving approach. The civilian plot also generally involves something that would be cringe-worthy in other situations, like a ridiculous "Notice me senpai" scheme, but always makes sure to resolve it in a way that feels wholesome and heartwarming. While things may seem embarrassing for a moment, our heroes are (usually) never really humiliated. I cannot stress how much I love that part.

A show that's really always about being nice to its characters may not be everyone's cup of tea; not even mine all of the time. But there's only so much Buffy and Jessica Jones and Neon Genesis Evangelion I can watch before starting to dig a literal pit of despair in my living room, and that only leads to complaints from the people living downstairs. Ladybug leaves me smiling and hopeful about the world, and I love all the characters and the generally fun action. For me that's reason enough to watch it.

Plot and structure wise, it's a bit more old-school than you normally see these days. The plot of every episode is fairly formulaic, and arcs and continuity are more hinted at than a core concept. The show is literally designed so that episodes can be (and in fact are, for no obvious reason) broadcast almost in a random order. That's honestly not a point I love that much. It means character development and development of the central ships is a fairly slow process and generally not the real focus of any given episode. I don't find that super-annoying, but you will find people on here who do, and I can certainly understand where they're coming from.

On the plus side, the predictable nature means that it's great if you're watching it to help get better at french, because you can basically miss any given amount of words or lines and still be able to follow the plot with no major issues. I know this sounds like a super-backhanded compliment, but that's not my intention here. What I do understand (which is way more than I expected even though it's been years since I last used my school french) is great, and it makes me want to look up words and phrases to understand even more. Especially the cat puns that Chat Noir keeps making.

The real problem of the show lies elsewhere: Finding a place to watch it. At least in Germany, Netflix has only season one and half of season two (season three is currently airing). Oh, and the french subtitles on Netflix seem to be a translation of the english subtitles of the english dub, so the best you can hope for is that they're vaguely similar to the french language track, and at times they're not even that. Getting it via iTunes isn't an option either, because both the german iTunes store and the stores of other countries (for which I could easily get gift cards anyway) either have nothing or only season 1 (often split in four parts to confuse you). The best option appears to be to order the french DVDs from somewhere online. Alternatively, you could of course just travel to your nearest french speaking country in the hopes of getting them there. That's why I found myself in Liége, Belgium this morning.

That plan actually didn't work out; neither of the MediaMarkt stores I went to had them, and then I realized that I had no idea where else to look. Still, it was a nice day, once the rain cleared up anyway. The old Aachen-Liége railway line alone is always worth a visit. Anyway, the fact that I even tried this at all might tell you (apart from the fact that I had nothing better to do) that I really liked the one-and-a-half seasons I have seen.