#Global Outcry

[beautifuldreamcycle]

From Conscience to Consciousness

The ability to expand one's awareness is vital in order to create a unified world family.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “There is a higher court than courts of justice, and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts.” There is a worldwide call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to the war in Ukraine. It is as if the conscience of the youth in the world has woken up. They can no longer calmly accept the continuation of the unmitigated violence being propagated…

[ad15124]

no because if there were these extreme weather alerts in America, people would not do this

[robertreich]

Friends, Since I offered you 10 reasons for modest optimism last week, discontent with the Trump-Musk regime has surged even further. America appears to be waking up. Here’s the latest evidence — 10 more reasons for modest optimism. 1. Trump’s approval ratings continue to plummet. The chief reason Trump was elected was to reduce the high costs of living — especially food, housing, health care, and gas. A new Pew poll shows these costs remain uppermost in Americans’ minds. Sixty-three percent identify inflation as an overriding problem, and 67 percent say the same about the affordability of health care. That same poll shows the public turning on Trump. The percent of those disapproving of Trump’s handling of the economy has risen to 53 percent (versus 45 percent who approve). Disapproval of his actions as president has risen to the same 53 percent versus 45 percent approval, which shows how essential economic performance is to the public’s assessment of presidents these days. The Pew poll also shows 57 percent of the public believes that Trump “has exceeded his presidential authority.” By making the world’s richest person his hatchet man, Trump has made more vivid the role of money in politics. Hence, a record-high 72 percent now say a major problem is “the role of money in politics.” Other polls show similar results. In the Post-Ipsos poll, significantly more Americans strongly disapprove of Trump (39 percent) than strongly approve of him (27 percent). Reuters, Quinnipiac University, CNN, and Gallup polls show Trump’s approval ratings plummeting (ranging from 44 percent to 47 percent). In all of these polls, more Americans now disapprove of Trump than approve of him. 2. DOGE is running amusk. DOGE looks more and more like a giant hoax. This week, reporters found that nearly 40 percent of the contracts DOGE claims to have canceled aren’t expected to save the government any money, according to the administration’s own data. As a result, on Tuesday DOGE deleted all of the five biggest “savings” on its so-called “wall of receipts.” The scale of its errors — and the misunderstandings and poor quality control that appear to underlie them — has raised questions about the effort’s broader work, which has led to mass firings and cutbacks across the federal government. DOGE has also had to reverse its firings. On Tuesday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas A. Collins celebrated cuts to 875 contracts that he claimed would save nearly $2 billion. But when veterans learned that those contracts covered medical services, recruited doctors, and funded cancer programs as well as burial services for veterans, the outcry was so loud that on Wednesday the VA rescinded the ordered cuts. After hundreds of nuclear weapons workers were abruptly fired, the Trump administration is scrambling to rehire them. After hundreds of scientists at the Food and Drug Administration were fired, they’re being asked to return. On Wednesday, Musk acknowledged that DOGE “accidentally canceled” efforts by the U.S. Agency for International Development to prevent the spread of Ebola. But Musk insisted the initiative was quickly restored. Wrong. Current and former USAID officials say Ebola prevention efforts have been largely halted since Musk and his DOGE allies moved last month to gut the global-assistance agency and freeze its outgoing payments. The teams and contractors that would be deployed to fight an Ebola outbreak have been dismantled, they added. DOGE staff are resigning. On Tuesday, 21 federal civil service tech workers resigned from DOGE, writing in a joint resignation letter that they were quitting rather than help Musk “dismantle critical public services.” The staffers all worked for what was known as the U.S. Digital Service before it was absorbed by DOGE. Their ranks include data scientists, product managers, and engineers. According to the Associated Press, “all previously held senior roles at such tech companies as Google and Amazon and wrote in their resignation letter that they joined the government out of a sense of duty to…

Read the full list here: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/more-reasons-for-moderate-optimism

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - February 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Solar farms managed for nature boost bird abundance and diversity, new study finds

“There were more than twice as many farmland birds in the well-managed solar farms compared with the intensively farmed land, and nearly 16 times as many woodland birds. […] Overall, diversity was 2.5 times higher, while woodland birds were nine times more diverse.”

2. Washington judge blocks Trump’s gender-affirming care ban, says it's unconstitutional in multiple ways

“This marks the second time in a week that a judge has stood in the way of Trump’s attacks on trans kids. [… The ruling grants] a temporary restraining order that halts enforcement of provisions in Trump’s directive that would cut off federal funding to medical institutions that provide gender-affirming care to minors.”

3. Fog harvesting could provide water for arid cities

“17,000 sq m of mesh could produce enough water to meet the weekly water demand of [… the] urban slums. 110 sq m could meet the annual demand for the irrigation of the city's green spaces. Fog water could be used for soil-free (hydroponic) agriculture, with yields of 33 to 44lb (15 to 20kg) of green vegetables in a month.”

4. Audubon Applauds Bipartisan Federal Effort to Protect Delaware River Basin with Critical Reauthorization Bill

“The bill would […] ensure long-term conservation and restoration efforts, expand the official definition of the basin to include Maryland, and prioritize projects that serve small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. […] The watershed provides important year-round habitats and critical migratory stopovers for approximately 400 bird species[….]”

5. mRNA vaccines show promise in pancreatic cancer in early trial

“Half of the people in the study — eight of the participants — responded to the vaccine, producing T cells that targeted their tumors. […] Just two of the patients who had a response to the vaccine had their cancer return during the three-year follow- up, compared to seven of the eight who did not respond to the vaccine treatments.”

6. Minn. Lt. Gov. Flanagan Makes It Official; She's running for U.S. Senate

“[Flanagan has] “championed kitchen-table issues like raising the minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, and free school meals.” If elected, Flanagan, a tribal citizen of the White Earth Nation, would become the first Native American female U.S. senator in history.”

7. Federal Funding Restored for Low-Income Alabama Utility Assistance After Outcry

“A program meant to help low-income Alabamians pay their utility bills has resumed two weeks after it was canceled due to an executive order from President Donald Trump. […] “We can confirm the funds are reaching those affected by the previous pause[….]””

8. Modeling study suggests Amazon rainforest is more resilient than assumed

“[Previous] studies were either conducted with global climate models that used a simplified representation of convection [or were on a regional scale….] According to the computations, mean annual precipitation in the Amazon does not change significantly even after complete deforestation.“

9. States are moving forward with Buy Clean policies despite Trump reversal

““Buy Clean is a great example of how states and other nonfederal actors can continue to press forward on climate action, regardless of what the federal government does,” said Casey Katims, executive director of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of two dozen governors.”

10. The rewilded golf courses teeming with life

“A wildflower meadow, ponds, scrub habitat, coastline and even an area of peat bog can be found on this little 60-acre (24-hectare) plot, which boasts roe deer, otters, lizards, eels and a huge array of insects and birds.”

February 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[reasonsforhope]

"Amid record-high temperatures, devastating disasters, and the resulting climate anxiety that comes with them, it can be easy to give in to despair. 

The resounding question of “does this even matter?” likely echoes on a loop, every time you toss an item in the recycling bin, or call your elected officials for the umpteenth time.

But according to research from the University of California San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, public outcry can indeed lead to significant environmental action — even when public officials are openly hostile to climate-forward policies.

Their paper, titled “Going Viral: Public Attention and Environmental Action in the Amazon,” will soon be published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. It focuses on the “unprecedented” public scrutiny following forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon in August of 2019.

These fires occurred soon after Jair Bolsonaro became Brazil’s president, after a staunchly anti-environmental campaign.

But after analyzing both media coverage and international pressure towards Brazil’s federal government, the researchers found that the increased public attention resulted in a 22% decrease in fires in the country’s Amazon Rainforest. 

This, in turn, translated into the avoidance of an estimated 24.8 million tons of CO2 emissions.

“Our research underscores the significant role that public attention and media coverage can play in influencing local environmental policies and actions,” the study’s coauthor Teevrat Garg, said in a statement...

“The 2019 surge in attention led to immediate governmental responses, which contributed to the notable decrease in fires,” he added.

To come to these conclusions, the researchers compared fire activity in Brazil with that in Peru and Bolivia, countries that did not receive the same amount of public pressure, though typically still have the same level of fire activity per square kilometer."

-via GoodGoodGood, October 4, 2024

[sunbeamedskies]

"Why are some people so mad at Kneecap?? Criticism of Israel isn't antisemitic"

Criticism of Israel isn't inherently antisemitic- that's correct. But Kneecap has waved Hezbollah flags in the past, and coupled with the ambiguity of their statement plus the context of this happening at a music festival, it has sparked concern among a lot of Jews

Hezbollah is a terror group which is explicitly antisemitic. They view Israeli and Jewish civilians as legitimate targets and supported the October 7th attacks. They are also funded by the Islamic Republic of Iran- a fascist group which movements like the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement have begged people to stand against. They are not freedom fighters for Palestine, and the fact Kneecap believed they are is concerning

Anytime anyone says Fuck (insert country name here) there is always ambiguity. When a country's civilians have repeatedly been dehumanized to the point their deaths and assaults are justified, and many have argued that they are just as guilty as their government leaders no matter what they believe, there are reasons Fuck (country name) statements are going to cause concern and have their true intents and meanings questioned

Could Kneecap's statement be simply targeting the Israeli government? Possibly. If they had specifically said "Fuck Netanyahu" I would see no problem with it. I also have no issue with any artist shouting “Free Palestine” or waving a Palestinian flag. Though I wish more in the music community would also acknowledge Israeli and Jewish pain and not act like they have to “choose” between supporting either people, Palestinian pain deserves a multitude of empathy and global attention. But due to Kneecap’s past support of Hezbollah and that statement sometimes being used by others to mean Israelis as a whole, its meaning and intent are unclear 

If someone projected a screen that put “Fuck” before Palestine, had a history of supporting Kahanism (a violent right wing ideology which promotes murdering and enslaving Palestinians and other Arabs) and other people dismissed it as merely being a statement against Hamas, how would you feel? Would you trust it to not be talking about Palestinians as a whole?

The lack of outcry from the global festival community after the October 7th massacre has left Jews feeling alone. It has made us feel as though Jewish festival goers are not valued, our deaths and suffering shrugged at by others we trusted would care for us in our time of need. The inability to see nuance as to why many are hurt by Kneecap’s actions just compounds our pain

[thatordinaryoddity]

I MEAN IT - DO NOT CLICK BELOW THE CUT IF YOU HAVEN‘T SEEN 3x08 YET!

(Please be aware that this also contains spoilers for the entire book series!)

I want to step back from my raw shock and anger for a moment and look at the bigger picture. Because what happened to Siuan Sanche in The Wheel of Time TV adaptation is not just a pointless, premature, and unnecessarily gruesome character death done for shock value - it’s a case study in how harmful patterns in queer representation persist across television in 2025 to weaponize queer women’s stories under the guise of “stakes”, “emotion” or “drama.” It’s also about how even creators who should know better continue to replicate those patterns.

Let’s be clear: Siuan’s death wasn’t just tragic, it was narratively regressive. In a show that prides itself on representation and complexity, she was stripped not only of her characterization and future arcs (and with that, the arcs of other characters like Egwene), but was also publicly humiliated, stilled, and - just to top it all off - beheaded. Her death wasn’t heroic, glorified, or thoughtfully written. It wasn’t even romanticized or poetic. It was humiliating and off-putting, and it existed solely to shock the audience in wannabe Game of Thrones fashion and to provoke emotional development in another character: Moiraine.

This is fridging! A trope in which a (usually marginalized) character - often a woman - is killed off to provide emotional stakes or motivation for the protagonist. And to be clear: it’s not that characters (regardless of their background) can’t die, it’s how and why they die that matters. And in this case, Siuan’s death is not about her. It’s about what she can provoke in someone else, and about feeding a true shocker to the audience.

This would be frustrating on its own. But it becomes outright infuriating when you factor in another layer. I’ll leave you to do the research yourself, but let’s just say there’s an overlap between the Siuaraine writing team and the writing staff of The 100. And if you’re not familiar, let me break it down for you: The 100 had one of the most infamous storylines and public outcries in the history of queer television representation. In episode “Thirteen”, Lexa - a beloved queer character - was killed by a stray bullet immediately after consummating her relationship with her partner Clarke. Lexa’s death became a flashpoint in media history, and the episode triggered global fan backlash. It’s now shorthand for the “Bury Your Gays” trope in the streaming age. But it wasn’t just the loss of a character, it was a betrayal by the showrunner and the writers’ room. Fans had been promised meaningful, lasting queer representation, only to see it snatched away in an unnecessary and trope-laden way. The outcry led to global fan campaigns, interviews, fundraising, and the creation of The Lexa Pledge, where writers and showrunners promised to do better by their LGBTQIA+ characters.

So how is it that - nearly a decade later - the same creative figure is involved in a storyline that plays out almost identically? Just like Lexa, Siuan reconnects with her partner after a break only to be almost immediately taken away. Just like Lexa, she is a powerful woman in her own right (even though in Siuan’s case, the show repeatedly undermined her and painted her as incompetent or a failure), and just like Lexa, her death is staged not for her own arc but solely to spark transformation in another character.

This isn’t just painful - it’s a clear repetition of an already well-documented mistake. It suggests not a lack of awareness, but a lack of care. To make matters worse, Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins has repeatedly spoken in interviews about how meaningful Moiraine and Siuan’s relationship is to him. He described it as “one of the central pillars of the show”, called their love story “unlike anything else in fantasy”, and emphasized how rare it is to see older queer women portrayed with such depth and power. That makes this decision all the more cynical. You do not get to publicly celebrate your queer characters as groundbreaking representation and then destroy one of them in the most violent way possible for the sake of another’s growth or fast-tracked future plotlines. That’s not brave. That’s not representation. That’s betrayal.

MAJOR BOOK SPOILER! And before anyone brings up “book accuracy” - yes, Siuan dies in the novels. But her death is vastly different, and she dies much later, after a fully fledged post–White Tower arc. At the very least, she dies in battle and is not beheaded in a public coup (sorry, but they really crossed a line here!). The TV version took liberties to make her death more brutal, more sensationalized, and more emotionally manipulative. This isn’t about source material, it’s about adaptation choices and what those choices reveal about whose stories are allowed dignity….. SPOILER END!

And the message it sends for me - whether intentional or not - is this: queer women can be powerful, but they will be punished or even killed for it. They can find love, but not keep it. They can drive the narrative, but only until it’s convenient to kill them for drama or beelining the plot.

It didn’t have to be this way. The Wheel of Time is a fantasy series - literally a genre built on rebirth, healing, time loops, and metaphysical bonds. If you must, there are countless ways to remove a character from the narrative while still honoring their legacy. Stilling and beheading one of the only queer women of color who is also a major character was not necessary. Making her go like that was not necessary. They had every narrative tool available to give her meaning, agency, and dignity. They chose not to.

And in making that choice, the showrunners have aligned themselves not with progress, but with a long line of creators who pay lip service to queer representation while continuing to exploit it for emotional weight and use the queer community as promotion. This was a devastating misstep, made worse by the fact that those responsible should have known better!

We are beyond isolated mistakes. We are in an era where queer trauma has been commodified for dramatic weight over and over again, and yet, the responsible creatives continue to repackage it as prestige television.

We’ve seen this story before.

We begged you not to tell it again.

You said you wouldn’t… and told it anyway.

And this isn’t just about Siuan. It’s about every story like hers and every showrunner or writer who promises, “This time, it’ll be different,” while making sure it’s exactly the same.

No matter what comes next, even if we get an explanation or apology: no. What’s done is done, and I won’t accept your excuses. If the backlash gets bad enough and we suddenly get a “surprise, surprise” fakeout - that it was all a dream, or she gets balefired back to life or whatever deus ex machina solution you can muster - no. That’s cheap and even more insulting. If she turns out to be a Dreamer in Tel’aran’rhiod or a Hero of the Horn - again, no. That’s still robbing her of her plotline and flatlining her arc. So no matter what the show does or offers us, my trust has been broken irreparably. You don’t get to play us like that.

That being said, things are about to change around here. I’m deeply grateful for the love this community has shown me over the past five years. You made me a fan, a friend, a writer, an artist, an enthusiast. But those times are painfully coming to an end - at least in their current form.

I’ll try to stick to art and writing, not for the sake of the show, but for the sake of the fandom and the community I’ve found here. I can’t say how much time I’ll need to breathe more freely again, but I do believe we need to stick together. If you need someone to talk to, my DMs are always open. However, if you just want to argue with me or mess around - you’ll be blocked! This post is not an open invitation to debate why my opinion is “wrong” and why the show was right to kill off Siuan like that.

#SiuanDeservesBetter

[minxipinxi]

#LADsMultiBoycott: Enough Is Enough – It’s Time to Stand Together

“We don’t hate the game—we love it enough to want better.”

Over the past few weeks, the community has been buzzing over translated leaks and rumors surfacing on Xiaohongshu (小红书) and Twitter that point to a disturbing trend in Love and Deepspace (LADs). The upcoming multi-banner—whether it turns out to be the anticipated Spring or Wedding multi—will once again feature long hairstyles separated from their outfits. Yes, again. After all the outcry. After all the feedback. We're here once more.

Let me be blunt: we can’t keep going like this. We can’t keep hoping CN girlies will save us every time. We can’t keep spending in good faith when Infold continues to exploit our loyalty and silence our voices. We can’t keep pretending that fan art and cute trailers make up for broken promises and paywalled aesthetics.

It’s time for us to join together, across servers, communities, and fandoms. It's not about Sylus mains vs Caleb mains vs the OG3. We're all getting burned by the same fire.

💥 What We Know From the Leaks

According to reliable sources:

The upcoming banner after Sylus’s Birthday Event might be another multi-banner format, either Spring or Wedding.

Long hairstyles will be separated from the outfits and placed in a separate crate—again.

This structure mirrors gacha mechanics where full outfits demand 140+ pulls, stretching across 5-star parts like socks, pants, accessories, and hair.

These decisions appear to be influenced by monetization models similar to Infinity Nikki, prioritizing profit over playability or fairness.

📢 So What Are We Doing About It?

We are organizing under #LADsMultiBoycott to push back against these predatory changes. This isn’t just a tantrum. It’s a coordinated protest.

🔥 Our Demands:

Six-month roadmaps to ensure transparency and accountability.

Higher resource drops from the highest-tier Bounty/Core Hunt.

Stop separating hairstyles from outfits in banners.

New sources of diamond income (no more stagnant gem economy).

No spending for the first 3 days of the banner. Use only your saved-up diamonds.

File official complaints to show Infold that this matters. Email:

loveanddeepspace-en@infoldgames.com

support-EN@infoldgames.com

🧠 Strategy: What You Can Do

Here’s what our global LADs family is doing:

1. No Spending for Entire Banner Period

Even if you have funds set aside, hold them. Don’t top up. Don’t feed the system that’s disrespecting your playtime and wallet.

2. Delay Your Pulls

Do not pull in the first 3 days. Choose your LI in the pool, then log out. Let the data show decreased first-week participation.

3. Minimal Screen Time

Yes, log in for dailies, but keep your session short, especially for iOS users. Play Store and App Store algorithms track usage data. Reduced screen time:

Hurts engagement metrics.

Lowers game ranking.

Cuts ad revenue.

4. No Banner Fanart for First Few Days

As painful as it is to hide our beautiful boys, let’s not unintentionally trigger FOMO. Fanart drives hype—hold off until after the peak revenue period.

5. Only Use Android if Possible

App Store rankings are disproportionately influenced by iOS user engagement. Reducing iOS traffic matters more than you think.

🌎 A Global Movement: We’re Not Alone

Our fellow players in China have already shaken Infold’s confidence.

CN revenue dropped by 42.2% from Nov 2024 to March 2025 (from $100M to $57.8M).

Global rankings dropped, while games like Genshin and Wuthering Waves soared.

Their success in the "stop-spending-money" campaign proved one thing: boycotts work.

If they can do it, so can we.

✊ This Is About More Than Just One Banner

Infold believes that as long as they release a sexy card, we’ll cave. They believe we don’t talk to each other. That we’re divided by LI bias and language barriers. But what they don’t see is how deeply connected we’ve become as a fandom.

We aren’t asking for perfection. We’re asking for respect.

If we let this multi go unchallenged, it sets a dangerous precedent:

Separated hairstyles in multi-banners like this become normalized.

Resources remain stagnant.

Paywalls keep climbing.

F2P and low-spenders are permanently excluded.

💡 Why Minimal Playtime Matters

Some of you might be thinking, “But this won’t work?” And here’s why it will:

“Why Cutting Screen Time Works” – The Breakdown

Engagement metrics tank. App Store/Play Store ranks games by DAU, session length, etc.

Revenue drops. Less screen time = fewer ad views = less money.

Rankings slide. Visibility goes down, leading to even fewer players.

It sends a message. A sharp drop in playtime can’t be ignored by business analysts.

💬 “But What If Infold Cancels the Game?”

They won’t. That’s just fear-mongering.

If a company is willing to kill its own cash cow just because fans want better—then it was never worth our support to begin with. But more importantly: they won’t kill it. They’ve seen that the game can pull millions. They’ll just need to earn it now.

🧱 We’re Building Something Bigger

This isn’t just about LADs. It’s about every gacha game that’s begun preying on its fans. If we roll over here, what message are we sending to WuWa, HSR, ZZZ, GI, and the rest?

We all have that one game we ride or die for. But loving a game doesn’t mean blind loyalty. Criticism is love in action.

🧩 TL;DR: How You Can Help

❌ Don’t spend money on the next multi-banner

🕒 Log in for dailies only, pick your LI, then log off

🎨 Hold off on banner fanart for a few days

📉 Reduce iOS activity as much as possible

💌 Email: loveanddeepspace-en@infoldgames.com support-EN@infoldgames.com

🗣️ Spread awareness under #LADsMultiBoycott

Even if you’re the only one on your server, know that you’re not alone. We’re tired, we’re frustrated—but we’re not powerless.

Let’s stop funding our own oppression.

No fair treatment = no money. Let them earn it.

Resources:

Revenue Trends: Ennead Data

Reddit Info Post: Sylus Girlies PSA

XHS Links: Source 1, Source 2

[kolawnk]

revenge, perhaps ?

⊯sypnosis: y/n, a beloved singer, fell deeply in love with the famous model Park Sunghoon, whose charm quickly turned their relationship into a global sensation. She was blind to his flaws, believing love could change his troubled past. But two months ago, she discovered the heartbreaking truth—he cheated. The betrayal shattered her. Yet, despite the pain, y/n still finds herself haunted by thoughts of him. Now, with her upcoming single, she's channeling that heartbreak into art, pouring all the unresolved emotions into her music. It’s not just a song—it’s her revenge, her way of reclaiming herself. Little did she know, someone was watching her more closely than anyone.

genre: exes to lovers, enemies to lovers, player sunghoon, f!singer y/n x m!model sunghoon, drama, thriller

characters: sunghoon (enhypen), ningning (aespa), bibi (soloist), sunoo (enhypen), soobin (txt), riki (enhypen), jay (enhypen)

001 》 just the beginning

002 》 lipstick and chaos

003 》 get him back!

004 》 the outcry

005 》 yes or yes?

006 》 breaking point

007 》 the shadows linger

008 》 the stalker revealed

009 》 fractured promises

010 》 the last person i should call

011 》 if they wont protect me

012 》

013 》

dont steal yall😔✋️🚨

[we-are-not-a-number]

Tdlr; Rates of violence and homocides against older women (notable grandmothers) rising, a dual issue of children of and partners being domestically abusive, most notably sons. Mothers are less likely to call authorities on their own children for domestic violence or threats, which impacts this grizzly development. Warned "matricide of older women" and lack of awareness. Article from Australia but this issue is stated to be global.

Fourteen women over the age of 55 were allegedly killed in domestic violence-related homicides last year, according to a tally kept by the online feminist group Destroy the Joint. When the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases its data for the year, this number could well increase.

In 2023, according to ABS data, there were 28 women over the age of 55 allegedly killed in domestic violence related homicides, roughly a third of all such alleged homicides. Experts have called it a “silent crisis”: older women who are killed by family violence but whose deaths rarely get as much attention as those of younger women, and whose experiences do not figure sufficiently in government responses to violence against women. “There’s a matricide of older women [and] people aren’t even noticing, there’s no outcry. There’s silence,” says Catherine Barrett, director of Celebrate Ageing. “It’s just being missed.”

A Guardian analysis of government data has found that in the 10 years to 2023, nearly 200 women over the age of 55 were allegedly killed in family violence related homicides, suggesting older women could be at dual risk – from partners and from their children, especially their sons.

The rate of alleged domestic homicides in Australia has more than halved in the past 30 years, from 0.71 deaths per 100,000 in 1992-93, to 0.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2022-23. However, the rate at which older women are allegedly killed in domestic homicides has not fallen consistently. In the past 10 years, the rate of women aged over 55 killed in family violence homicides has reached 0.7 deaths per 100,000 (the same rate for all women 30 years ago) three times – in 2017, 2018 and 2023.

The problem is a global one. In England and Wales, the number of women killed by sons has risen since 2016, after remaining stable for decades. There was also a rise in the number of grandmothers killed by their grandsons, according to the Femicide Census, co-founded by Clarrie O’Callaghan and Karen Ingala Smith.

Lee says that while every family violence homicide is a tragedy, some deaths are given more attention than others, with the media and general public often focusing on the deaths of younger, attractive white women, while the deaths of “women who are marginalised … don’t get highlighted”. “The invisibility and the marginalisation of First Nations women [and] older women means that they remain invisible even when they’re killed.”

One of the main factors, Lee says, is that domestic violence is often considered primarily a problem for younger women so services are often geared towards them. That means older women may not see a family violence service as one that can help them.

“When we talk about violence against women, it’s always a younger woman fleeing with two little kids hanging around her knees. You rarely see any commentary about all the women who grow old with violence, who live with, maybe, sons who are violent. They are really invisible.”

Barrett says sometimes, after a violent relationship breaks down between a man and his partner, the man will move back in with his parents – particularly if he has mental health or addiction problems – and continue to perpetrate violence there. The problem has only increased, she says, in light of the cost-of-living crisis.

“The mothers are not reporting their sons … because this is their son, and it’s shame on the family, and they’re worried about his mental health. “We’ve got this perfect storm, which is: a cost-of-living crisis, a mental health crisis, sons moving in with their mothers, and no one’s talking to mum, or she doesn’t see a service that could actually help.” What’s needed, say both Lee and Barrett, is a life stages approach that addresses the different ways family violence can affect older women.

[klukbook]

In a bold and controversial move, Saudia Arabia's National Museum has made history by acquiring live bodybuilders as part of its permanent collection, displayed alongside classical sculptures in a provocative fusion of art and the perfected male form. Marketed as a tribute to bodybuilding as humanity’s greatest physical achievement, the exhibit has sparked global fascination and debate—not only for its artistic ambition but for the unsettling reality that these men are now legally bound as museum property. Towering, muscle-bound, and sculpted to godlike perfection, these living statues flex and pose under the gaze of enraptured visitors, their every sinew and striation admired as the ultimate embodiment of human potential. Despite outcry over what many call a modern form of enslavement, the museum’s success has been meteoric, with record-breaking attendance and an elite clientele paying astronomical sums for exclusive, private access to the ‘living sculptures.’ As the lines between art, ownership, and desire blur, the world watches in both awe and unease, captivated by the raw power and impossible beauty on display.

[voidsgalaxy]

Hello, i'm hoping by making this post i might be able to help quell the fears of others like it helped quell mine.

The ACLU, aka American Civil Liberties Union, are a nonprofit human rights organization that is against KOSA. I will admit i don't know much about them myself but according to my mom, they are very powerful people and the chance they'll let a bill like this pass is incredibly slim.

They've already spoken out against it, as have many, many others who likely have similar if not equal power, not to mention the global outcry against this bill.

Please hold out hope. I'm still scared, but things aren't all bleak.

[dcdreamblog]

What are your opinions on the Justice League International? They were a controversial time for the League for sure, a lot of news outlets around here, red state, you understand, called them a 'joke' and 'an embarrassment on the good name of the League,' but they were heroes, if you ask me.

Any red state dipshit who wanted to say that about the JLI would have to then meet me in the parking lot after I smacked my work gloves across his face.

(The most iconic image of the JLI, the day they received their official charter from the United Nations. TIME Magazine.)

The "Justice League Detroit" (A name I put in quotes because it IS meant to be pejorative in its original context, though the surviving members of that team wear it with pride ) had disbanded after a violent clash with Anthony Ivo left several of its members dead around the same time that G Gordon Godfrey was first able to whip up a popular discontent around superheroes.

This, of course, lead to the famous "Battle of the Lincoln Memorial" where a group of heroes defeated Godfrey and stymied the plans of his ultimate master, Darkseid. Bringing together a new team with the realization the world always needed a Justice League.

The team would handle various crises until the came into the interest of billionaire philanthropist Maxwell Lord who approached them with an idea: Seek official UN sanction, granting greater resources in exchange for government oversight. This period is when the most iconic lineup joined the team more or less, including the American mandated Captain Atom, his Russian counterpart Rocket Red with personable duo Blue Beetle and Booster Gold.

The First thing that caused an international backlash was the WAY the UN sanction was secured, namely that it was a TRANSFER of the Global Guardians' sanction to the League which was WIDELY unpopular in the majority of the world, especially among the Nonaligned Nations. The Global Guardians were and are deeply respected in the areas where they are active and cutting them out in order to replace them with a line up of the Justice League was seen by many smaller nations as America muscling in on the international stage.

This international outcry was somewhat quieted by the addition of popular Brazilian and Norwegian heroines Fire and Ice to the group and the mandated acceptance of Russia's Rocket Red. Though concerns remained that its claim to an international organization was hollow due to its majority American membership in contrast to the truly global commitment of the Global Guardians, worries I sympathize and agree with to a degree.

The OTHER "problem" many had with the team was with its general bearing and membership. The League was at that time, and still often is, thought of in terms of "The Seven", its most famous and prominent members with other heroes playing a peripheral role in the eyes of the public. With Batman very swiftly bowing out once media attention glued itself to the team, the only member of that chosen few that remained was the Martian Manhunter who is often disregarded by a certain...kind of observer. This lead to a perception that the JLI wasn't the "real" Justice League despite the total confidence placed in the JLI by personages like Superman or Wonder Woman.

It also got itself involved in rather less serious matters and conducted itself in a sometimes less than proud manner, mostly due to the public debacles that Blue Beetle and Booster Gold became wrapped up in. But I've already made a post about my thoughts on both men and why I think both are deserving of respect.

My evidence is as it shall ever be.

If you are slightly older than me you probably clearly remember when an alien alliance lead by a race calling themselves THE DOMINATORS tried to conquer the Earth via military force of arms. Which team was at the forefront of the counter attack that saved all our lives? The JLI.

Who stopped the illegal Bialyan junta under "Queen Bee" from gaining a superweapon? The JLI.

Who pushed back the intergalactic despot Despero to such a degree that he STILL thinks that these are Earth's greatest champions? The JLI. I would dare ANYONE who would like to question their legacy to stand in their shoes and still see if their big mouth avails them.

[ladybugmania]

Trump's Promises vs. Performance:

Evaluating Donald Trump’s 2024 Campaign Agenda in 2025

When Donald Trump launched his 2024 campaign under the banner of Agenda 47, he reignited the fiery populist rhetoric that defined his first term, this time with even more urgency and sweeping declarations. Pledging to “save America,” Trump’s platform was centered on hard-hitting immigration reform, economic protectionism, aggressive federal purges, and bold foreign policy goals. Now, as the calendar turns to 2025, the realities of his presidency reveal a mixed bag of rapid execution, political resistance, and unsettling unfulfilled ambition.

Immigration: Rapid Action Meets Legal Resistance

Trump wasted no time in pushing for significant immigration changes. Within his first 100 days, he ramped up deportation efforts and sought to bypass judicial review for undocumented immigrants, an initiative that was quickly challenged by civil rights organizations and the Supreme Court. While his crackdown has energized his base, it has also reignited heated constitutional debates and sparked widespread humanitarian outcry. Despite swift action, the legal resistance suggests his policies may be more contentious than initially promised.

Many legal experts now argue that Trump's rapid immigration policies are both unconstitutional and counterproductive. The legal battles unfolding in the courts not only delay his plans but also demonstrate the pushback against what many see as an authoritarian overreach. The public discourse around his hardline approach has only deepened the polarization, as opponents argue that this rhetoric plays to the fears of the American public rather than offering long-term solutions.

Economic Policy: Tariffs, But at What Cost?

True to his campaign pledge, Trump enacted a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, with higher penalties for Chinese goods. The policy aimed to reshore manufacturing and protect American industries, but economists have warned of inflationary effects and retaliatory trade barriers. Some U.S. factories have reported slight gains, but the broader economic picture is less clear. Trump’s attempts to shield American industries have raised the risk of sparking a deeper economic downturn, with some analysts suggesting that his protectionist approach may be pushing the country closer to recession.

The mounting tension between Trump’s protectionism and global trade has resulted in stagnation in key industries, with consumers bearing the brunt of higher prices. In some sectors, American businesses are caught in the crossfire of trade wars, with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports leading to further job losses and a decline in international competitiveness. Despite his promises of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., the long-term outlook remains uncertain.

Additionally, his focus on isolationist policies has left America with fewer global partnerships, forcing the nation to contend with more limited economic avenues. As the recession looms, critics argue that Trump's economic policies have not only failed to meet his promises but may be deepening America's financial woes.

'Drain the Swamp' 2.0: Loyalty Over Legacy

Trump's infamous “drain the swamp” mantra resurfaced with vengeance as he removed career officials he deemed disloyal and filled federal agencies with his political allies. This sweeping restructuring has raised concerns over the erosion of institutional independence and the growing weaponization of government. Critics argue that his appointments of loyalists are undermining democratic norms, further consolidating power and diminishing the checks and balances that are fundamental to the system.

This “loyalty over competence” approach has drawn ire from both political sides, as it threatens the foundation of a balanced, functioning government. Trump's supporters see these moves as necessary to dismantle what they view as a bureaucratic deep state, while his detractors argue that this focus on loyalty has led to incompetence and a lack of accountability within critical institutions.

Many believe that this restructuring of federal agencies and courts reflects an alarming shift toward autocracy. As Trump continues to consolidate power in the executive branch, there are increasing fears that checks on presidential authority are being removed, potentially paving the way for future abuses.

Foreign Policy: Unfulfilled Peace Promises

Among the most dramatic promises from Trump’s 2024 campaign was his vow to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours.” As 2025 unfolds, the conflict continues unabated, with Trump admitting that peace negotiations are more complex than anticipated. Similarly, his promises to broker peace in Gaza and strike a new nuclear deal with Iran have made little headway, hindered by entrenched regional tensions and international skepticism.

His foreign policy, which was once driven by bold promises of reshaping global dynamics, has foundered on the harsh realities of diplomacy. Trump's attempts to bypass international protocols and negotiate from a position of strength have alienated traditional allies, and his desire to prioritize unilateral action has left the U.S. isolated on the global stage. Whether his “America First” foreign policy will prove effective in the long run remains to be seen, but so far, many of his promises have failed to come to fruition.

Energy & Environment: Turning Back the Clock

Trump’s administration has moved aggressively to reverse environmental policies, consistent with his “America First” energy vision. Major offshore wind projects, like Empire Wind off the coast of New York, were halted in the name of protecting the environment. However, critics argue that this is less about conservation and more about rolling back clean energy initiatives to favor fossil fuel industries. These moves have led to growing concerns about the future of renewable energy in the U.S.

His decision to prioritize fossil fuel industries over renewable energy comes at a time when climate change remains a pressing global issue. Trump’s rollback of environmental protections not only contradicts global sustainability goals but also threatens the country’s future energy security. Many are left wondering if his short-term focus on reviving coal and oil industries is worth the long-term damage to the planet.

Domestic Economy: Uneven Gains, Growing Pains

While Trump promised to bring back jobs and revitalize American manufacturing, states like Michigan—once central to his base—are experiencing significant economic challenges. Rising unemployment and sluggish industrial recovery have prompted many to question the effectiveness of his economic policies. The strategy of placing tariffs and pushing for protectionism has contributed to a growing sense that the U.S. may be on the verge of a recession, despite Trump’s frequent claims of economic success.

The discrepancy between Trump's promises and economic realities has raised serious concerns. While his administration has touted job growth in certain sectors, the broader impact on the average American worker has been uneven at best. In many rust belt states, industries continue to struggle, and Trump’s economic vision has left some working-class communities feeling abandoned.

Moreover, Trump's economic policies have increased the national debt significantly, and critics argue that his reckless fiscal decisions will have lasting negative effects on future generations.

Big Promises, Bigger Questions

Several of Trump’s most ambitious campaign goals, like revitalizing infrastructure, balancing the federal budget, and protecting entitlement programs, remain largely untouched. With the national debt continuing to climb and infrastructure bills stalled in Congress, voters are left wondering whether these promises were ever truly prioritized, or if they were simply a means of rallying support.

Trump’s failure to address long-term fiscal issues, such as the deficit and public debt, signals a troubling disregard for America’s financial future. The promises made during his 2024 campaign have begun to feel more like empty rhetoric than actionable goals, and many are now questioning his commitment to tackling the pressing issues that continue to affect everyday Americans.

Rhetoric vs. Reality: A Dangerous Shift?

Trump’s rhetoric has become increasingly erratic in 2025, fueling concerns that he is steering the country toward authoritarianism. His aggressive political purges, inflammatory language, and attacks on the media and judiciary have drawn comparisons to the rise of dictatorial regimes. As his administration moves forward, it is becoming clear that Trump’s promises may not only be falling short, they are pushing the country toward a deeper, more dangerous divide.

Many are questioning whether his actions reflect an attempt to consolidate power at the expense of democratic institutions, with some arguing that his base of loyalists is following him blindly, like “muts” under his command. As America grapples with rising inflation, unemployment, and political instability, it’s evident that Trump’s “America First” vision might be steering the country into a dangerous ideological direction. His unhinged rhetoric, while appealing to his supporters, has alienated moderates and centrist voters, increasing the likelihood of deepened societal fractures.

Conclusion: Bold Moves, Broken Dreams

Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has been marked by bold rhetoric and sweeping actions that have deeply polarized the nation. While some promises have been swiftly acted upon, like the crackdown on immigration and the purging of federal agencies, many of his larger goals, such as peace deals abroad and a revitalized domestic economy, remain unrealized. As the country moves forward into 2025, the growing gap between Trump’s promises and the reality of his administration raises significant concerns about the future direction of the United States. With his increasingly authoritarian tone and failure to steer the economy away from recession, the question remains: will Trump’s campaign agenda truly save America, or push it into a dangerous new era of division and unrest?

[radlymona]

One of the final things I want to say about the Khelif situation is that TRAs have obviously made up a bullshit lie that gender crits/radfems are calling Khelif a trans woman to fuel outrage. Ffs even the conservatives reporting on this are doing so with the perspective that Khelif has a DSD. As this article has pointed out, trans rights activists have just centred themselves into an issue that doesnt have anything to do with them. And they're doing so to cause further outrage/hope it provides a natural pathway to trans women competing at the Olympic level.

The second thing is that the vitriol by TRAS against Angela Carni is rooted in deep misogyny. Carni having an emotional response to losing at the Olympics is not "white woman tears". She was upset and in pain, and probably felt like shit that had to bow out so early. TRAs painting her out to be a sore loser/anti Trans crusader is just another instance of how they lack empathy for women who are faintly thought of as the "opposition". And I find it particularly agrieving, in light of media reporting around Harry Garside's emotional response to losing his boxing match. There was an outcry of sympathy and the need to talk about the mental health of athletes post-Games. But this conversation around mental health only ever benefits men. Women are not allowed to be emotional in the heat of the moment. Otherwise, they'll become a global scapegoat in the blink of an eye.

[dostoyevsky-official]

Musk's Treasury Incursion Puts Entire Financial System at Risk

Elon Musk’s unprecedented access to the US Treasury’s payment system deserves the public outcry that it has received. As former Treasury officials, we fear the situation is even more dire than it might appear. Musk’s recent actions, days after the Office of Management and Budget’s government funding pause that a federal judge quickly blocked, suggest a big and broad vision for a dramatically consolidated and politicized Treasury. This could have widespread effects on our nation’s financial stability, jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of Americans, and undermine the public’s confidence in our entire financial system. [...] That most people don’t have to spend time worrying if their money is safe is a testament to how well this system has served us and how often things run according to plan. When people lose that sense of trust, panic, bank runs, and financial crises can happen. That trust has been undermined in recent days with the news that Elon Musk and his allies have accessed the Treasury’s payment system. It’s important to understand that the US Treasury stands behind our entire banking and financial system. It manages and provides financing for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s program that backstops most customers’ deposits and intervenes in times of crisis to stabilize the banking system. The deposit insurance program stepped up in 2023 when Silicon Valley Bank and others precipitously collapsed. This administration reportedly is considering eliminating the FDIC, a New Deal-era agency, and consolidating it within Treasury. [...] If we had another Silicon Valley Bank-style collapse today, there would be deep uncertainty about the Treasury’s role in that process and if people would have access to their money. [...] The government’s failing to make payments doesn’t amount to cutting spending; it’s a default on our obligations. It would have ripple effects for our nation’s credit rating, borrowing costs, and the Treasury markets. Ultimately, it would destabilize the global financial system. [...] The takeover of the public payment system by private business interests also raises conflicts of interest that will reduce competition for financial services and undermine confidence in our public payment system. Musk has been blunt about his plans to facilitate his customers’ “entire financial life” on the X platform, recently reaching a deal with Visa to incorporate payments capabilities into the X app. [...] With no CFPB and no public payments competitor, Musk could create a nationally or globally dominant private money and payments system and captive marketplace—a so-called walled garden controlled by Big Tech and built on top of his own social-media platform.