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mariacallous · 11 months ago

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On Boxing Day pro-Palestine demonstrators met customers at the Zara sale in the Westfield shopping centre, in Stratford, east London. They were not there to wish them the compliments of the season.

‘Bombs are dropping while you’re shopping,’ they chanted, as police stood by to make sure the protests did not turn violent. ‘Zara is enabling genocide,’ their placards read.

Quite what they wanted bargain hunters to do about the Israeli forces bombing the Gaza Strip, they never said. Lobby their MPs? Politicians are on their Christmas holidays. Join the Palestinian armed struggle? It was unclear whether the shopping centre had a Hamas recruitment office.

But on one point the demonstrators were certain: no one should be buying from Zara. Even though the fashion chain has not encouraged Israel’s war against Hamas, earned income from it, or supported Israel in any material way, it was nevertheless “exploiting a genocide and commodifying Palestine's pain for profit”.

Zara, in short, has become the object of a paranoid fantasy: a QAnon conspiracy theory for the postcolonial left.

The Zara conspiracy is an entirely modern phenomenon. It has no original author. Antisemitic Russians sat down and wrote the Protocols of the Elders of Zion in the early 20th century. There was an actual “Q” behind the QAnon conspiracy: a far-right activist who first appeared on 4chan message boards in 2017 to claim that a cabal of child abusers was conspiring against Donald Trump.

The Zara conspiracy was mass produced by social media users: an example of the madness of crowds rather than their supposed wisdom. The cause of the descent into hysteria was bizarre.

In early December Zara launched an advertising campaign featuring the model Kristen McMenamy wearing its latest collection in a sculptor’s studio. It clearly was a studio, by the way, and not a war zone in southern Israel or Gaza. McMenamy carried a mannequin wrapped in white fabric. The cry went up that the Spanish company was exploiting the suffering of Palestinians and that the mannequin was meant to represent a victim of Israeli aggression wrapped in a shroud.

The accusation was insane. No one in the photo shoot resembled a soldier or a casualty of war. Anyone who thought for 30 seconds before resorting to social media would have known that global brands plan their advertising campaigns months in advance.

Zara said the campaign presented “a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craft-made garments in an artistic context”. The idea for the studio setting was conceived in July. The photo shoot was in September, weeks before the Hamas assault on Israel on 7 October.

No one cared. Melanie Elturk, the CEO of fashion brand Haute Hijab, said of the campaign, ‘this is sick. What kind of sick, twisted, and sadistic images am I looking at?’ #BoycottZara trended on Twitter, as users said that Zara was ‘utterly shameful and disgraceful”’.

To justify their condemnations, activists developed ever-weirder theories. A piece of cardboard in the photoshoot was meant to be a map of Israel/Palestine turned upside down. Because a Zara executive had once invited an extreme right-wing Israeli politician to a meeting, the whole company was damned.

Astonishingly, or maybe not so astonishingly to anyone who follows online manias, the fake accusations worked. Zara stores in Glasgow, Toronto. Hanover, Melbourne and Amsterdam were targeted.

What on earth could Zara do? PR specialists normally say that the worst type of apology is the non-apology apology, when a public figure or institution shows no remorse, but instead says that they are sorry that people are offended. Yet Zara had not sought to trivialize or profit from the war so what else could it do but offer a non-apology apology? The company duly said it was sorry that people were upset.

“Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created,” it said on 13 December, and pulled the advertising campaign

That was two-weeks ago and yet still the protests in Zara stores continue. On 23 December activists targeted Zara on Oxford Street chanting , 'Zara, Zara, you can't hide, stop supporting genocide', even though Zara was not, in fact, supporting genocide. On Boxing Day, they were at the Stratford shopping centre.

Zara has apologised for an offence it did not commit. There is no way that any serious person can believe the charges against it. And yet believe them the protestors do. Or at the very least they pretend to believe for the sake of keeping in with their allies.

Maybe nothing will come of the protests. One could have argued in 2017, after all, that QAnon was essentially simple-minded people living out their fantasies online. Certainly, every sane American knew that there was no clique of paedophiles running the Democrat party, but where was the harm in the conspiracy theory?

Then QAnon supporters stormed the US capitol in January 2021. Will the same story play out from the Gaza protests? As far as I can tell, no one on the left is challenging the paranoia. I have yet to see the fact-checkers of the BBC and Channel 4 warning about the fake news on the left with anything like the gusto with which they treat its counterparts on the right.

To be fair, the scale of disinformation around the Gaza war is off the charts, and it is impossible to chase down every lie. But when fake news goes from online fantasies to real world protests, from 4chan to the Capitol, from Twitter to the Westfield shopping centre, it’s worth taking notice.

Sensible supporters of a Palestinian state ought to be the most concerned. No one apart from fascists, Islamists and far leftists believes that Israel should not defend itself. And yet the scale of its military action in Gaza is outraging world opinion. Mainstream politicians, who might one day put pressure on Israel, remain very wary about reflecting the anger on the streets.

They look at the insane conspiracy theories on the western left and see them as no different from the insane conspiracy theories that motivate Hamas, and they back away.

The Palestinians need many things: an end to the Netanyahu government, and an end to Hamas. But they could also use allies in the West who do not discredit their cause with dark, gibbering fantasies.

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mochiajclayne · 7 months ago

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naruto blank period silly headcanons that no one asked

somehow internet became a thing and the OG gens spent the remainder of their 20s oversharing on the internet instead of marrying each other and having kids

online shopping and tiktok exists (for shit and giggles)

you can't convince me that lee isn't participating in every tiktok dance trend and dragging the rest of the boys with him

kiba and suigetsu are trolls that have beef in social media but are dating irl don't even ask how they got together I just know they're menaces and a force to be reckoned with

ino would do those get ready with me videos or something...most likely to post a video cutting her bangs

naruto getting multiple parcels because let's be real he'd resort to retail therapy at some point

sakura would do those funny doctor and/or nurse skits except it's her nursing a hangover tsunade with shizune

everyone would ask for neji's hair routine let's be real

naruto and sasuke would do that best friend trend on nart's account and it's them waxing poetics for each other (the rest of konoha populace just want them to DATE ALREADY)

everyone collectively canceling orochimaru and the only one that defends him is kabuto who gets canceled too

sasuke has one post and it's a ten minute video of him going on a tangent about the fascist shinobi system with images of the council with red X on their faces and naruto holds it at the background proudly (still the highest liked video in the platform)

choji would do food reviews and he'd earn a living for it yup yup

kakashi and gai dominates the old men yaoi tag don't even ask how (the second one is kakashi and iruka)

#naruto #naruto shippuden #blank period #headcanons #sasunaru #narusasu #will add more on this probably lmao #mochiajclayne.txt #no the burrito sequel doesn't exist to me #let them spend their 20s please #kakagai #kakairu

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ghoultrifle · 1 year ago

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There's a First Time For Everything

The first chapter of my full-fic version of this drabble is up now.

Read on AO3 or below the cut!

cw for internalised misogyny, internalised transphobia, and gender dysphoria. this chapter is very much hurt/comfort and got more angsty than i was expecting. there is no sex in this chapter, although the use of sex toys and penetration is a theme throughout.

He’s never used a toy before. Never been on the receiving end of penetrative sex. Never been vulnerable enough to acknowledge his anatomy with his partners. Dewdrop’s always been a giver; not out of love but out of hatred for himself. Perhaps hatred is a strong word, more an apprehension so strong he would rather isolate himself forever than even entertain the thought of being penetrated. And while there’s nothing wrong with being a top, Dewdrop desperately knows he isn’t one. He does it out of necessity. Had he been summoned with the correct body, he knows he would bottom the majority of the time. He longs to be filled, to be taken. Longs for his body to be used as it was intended, to have someone or something reach those unattainable spots and make him scream in pleasure.

But he’s scared. Scared he’ll enjoy it too much; that it’ll confirm he’s been faking everything and he really is a woman. It’s nonsense, of course, Dewdrop has spent years being too dysphoric to even think about making self pleasure, or indeed sex, pleasurable. Too dysphoric to make the experience anything more than a quick hand diving between his legs to satiate his body’s needs. Even during sex he prefers to stick strictly to pleasuring his partner in ways that don’t involve stimulating his own body; oral, handjobs, using toys on them. It’s rare that Rain will see Dew throw on a strap and half-heartedly fuck the water ghoul, his mind clearly elsewhere. More often, the fire ghoul will have Rain on his back, legs thrown over Dew’s shoulders as the smaller ghoul sucks him dry, making him cry out for mercy at the heat of his mouth. Rain will offer to return the favour, but Dewdrop just shrugs and says the moment’s passed, sometimes he’ll lie and say he’s already come if he’s feeling particularly guilty.

So Rain’s slightly confused when he receives a text from Dewdrop, two links to an online sex shop with the accompanying message, “Thoughts?” He’s confused because he already has a large collection of toys, including ones similar to the dildo and vibrator he’s been sent to look at. He barely has time to think of a response before another text pings on the top of his phone screen, “For me, I mean?”

Rain immediately rushes to find Dewdrop, running through his mental list of where the ghoul might be, he wasn’t about to do this over text. He goes on a wild goose chase around the ministry, the common room, the kitchen, Dew’s bedroom, his bedroom; the fire ghoul is nowhere to be found.

Dewdrop is holding his phone in front of him, trembling, blue light illuminating his tear-stained face as he hits send on a third text, “Forget I asked, it was stupid” It was stupid for him to think Rain would want to see his boyfriend succumb to his womanly urges, to regress to his biological form, just a lady who needs to be bred. Why else would Rain not have responded? He must be sitting there dumbfounded at the stupidity of Dewdrop’s question, too stunned to respond to his idiot of a girlfriend.

Rain hears the chime in his pocket but he ignores it, surely there aren’t many more places the fire ghoul could be? He’s running out of nooks to check and people to ask. As a last resort he bangs on the door of Copia’s office, his poor Papa deep in the ministry’s taxes, he desperately doesn’t want to interrupt the man but he doesn’t have any other choice.

The door gives way to Rain’s fist, creaking open on its hinges to reveal Dewdrop, tears glistening in the light of Papa’s desktop computer. His nose is raw and red, the floor strewn with the tissues he’s tried to console himself with. Rain moves towards the quivering ghoul, steadily closing the distance between them. Dewdrop sniffles, eyes burning a bloodshot red, “It’s fine, I never loved you that much anyway,” he bites, as much as one can bite between choked back sobs.

“Firefly, what are you on about?” It’s Rain’s turn to tear up now, eyes welling as he fights his body, he needs to be strong for Dew, but it stings to hear him say that, to hear the true love of his life say he was never invested in their relationship, in what they built together. He can see Dewdrop’s phone on the desk, their text thread still on the screen. Rain’s brows furrow and his face drops as he realises there’s another message, shit. He pulls out his own phone in a rage, reading the message, anger directly only towards himself. Why didn’t he just ask Dewdrop where he was? Why didn’t he reply? Why did he let his love get so worked up?

“Droplet, you’re my world, my everything. You’re the reason I get out of bed, the reason I didn’t quit the project all those years ago, you’re the reason I’m here. Nothing you say or do could ever change my opinion of you. Nothing.” Rain cries, tears spilling with abandon, “I need you to believe me, Dewdrop. Can you do that for me?”

Rain perches on the desk, facing the fire ghoul. He pulls another tissue from the pack wincing at the rough sound of the paper against cardboard. The tears on Dew’s face are coming thick and fast as he convulses at Rain’s confession. Rain does his best to dam the flow with the tissue as he gently holds Dewdrop’s chin, the smaller ghoul finally making eye contact.

“Really? You don’t think I’m a freak?” he asked, eyes wide.

“Do you think Swiss is a freak for owning all of his sex toys?”

“No, why woul-”

“Exactly. Why would you be an outcast for it? And don’t start coming at me with the ‘Swiss has had top surgery and I haven’t’ bullshit, because that’s exactly what it is, okay?”

Dewdrop stutters over his words, this isn’t the reaction he was expecting. He had genuinely convinced himself he was about to be broken up with. It’s all he can manage to apologise, “I’m sorry, Rainy, I do love you, so fucking much. Wanted to share this with you for a while now but kept getting scared. ‘s why I just texted you.”

“I know, baby,” Rain coos, “how about we pick some toys now, if you’re feeling up to it, hmm?”

A silence lingers heavily in the air, interrupted only by the occasional sniff and deep breath. Dewdrop extends his arms, inviting Rain in. He obliges and they sit in each others’ embrace, Rain’s cool skin soothing the fiery red Dew has turned. The fire ghoul almost can’t believe he let himself get so worked up about it all. Perhaps it was because he’d taken so long to be comfortable enough to even consider penetration, that he thought Rain would look at him differently. Swiss has always been comfortable in his body, but it’s been a long road for Dew.

“Yeah,” Dewdrop whispers into Rain’s neck, “Jus’ wanna cuddle first though.”

They sit there for what seems like hours, Rain’s feet going numb from where he’s perched on them, Dewdrop’s thighs equally as affected from the weight of the water ghoul atop him. It’s uncomfortable but neither of them want to be the one to break the hold. Both ghouls thinking they’d sit there forever and a day if it meant an eternity with the other.

“Why are you in here, anyway? Where’s Copia?” Rain asks, breaking free from his spot in the crook of Dewdrop’s neck.

“Papa’s on a conversion trip with Sister. Came here so I could look at the toys on the big screen. I wanna get the right ones, you know?”

“Of course, Droplet. Can’t be having you scared off before you’ve even started!” Rain jokes, although Dewdrop knows that the water ghoul could be holding a vibrator millimetres away from his junk and he’ll stop if Dew asks. In fact he’s sure that if he so much as furrows his brow, Rain will be on him- checking in and peppering him with kisses. It’s just that kind of love.

#trifle writes #the band ghost #the band ghost fanfiction #nameless ghouls #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #hurt/comfort #raindrop #boys in love

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cerisesakurainspring · 6 months ago

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Some headcanons for Haikyuu, starting off with our famed pairings (platonic or romantic, whatever you make of it) @crazyyanderefangirlfan this is for you 🌼

Fukurodani 🦉

Bokuto: This man can cook 3 star Michelin worthy dishes. He'd actually be able to point out the ingredients of a dish he has tasted for the first time. Food is all he'd talk about with Samu having forgotten Tsumu's existence when the Jackals hang out at Onigiri Miya.

Akaashi: we all know he's an intellectual lad, and sometimes the cogs of the brain just get stuck from time to time. To relax, he'd play the piano. A habit he's carried forward from childhood. I'd like to think his family owned a classic Bechstein at home. Just imagine his hands delicately tickle the ivories on a decades old piano.

Karasuno 🐦‍⬛

Kageyama: is a philanthropist. He donates a portion of his earnings as a pro-player and volunteers whenever he can. You'd see his photos feeding the less fortunate and teaching them volleyball circulate online but he'd never post it himself. A fine humble gentleman.

Hinata: he won't be a sunshine baby if his energy isn't as bright as his orange hair. He's as sweet as chocolate and warm as the sun. (He inspired Kags to do volunteer work) He'd collect trinkets like shells, fallen leaves, etc. He's definitely a boarding pass collector (think train passes, planes ferries etc)

Shiratorizawa 🦅

Ushijima: speaking of collecting, Mr. You-shouldve-come-to-shiratorizawa is an avid collector of sailing ship miniatures. The moment you enter his home you'll see his treasured collection right away, his largest ship hanging from the high ceiling of his living room. Even his gym space would have those wooden ships displayed on the wall.

Tendou: Okay, so he would've learned to speak French, and living in a country in Europe would've presented him many opportunities to tour around the continent. Of course, he'd have developed many friendships with the locals. (Hence why his chocolates sell out fast because his shop would be their first visit in France) I also bet you Ushi's ship collection that Tendo learned silly and cursed words in 200 different dialects in cursive Satori way.

Seijoh 🌿

Iwaizumi: The man could sing. He's someone who would write songs about his crush, an absolute romantic. He could play the guitar. He's a can-do-it-all, you'll-never-find-another type of man.

Oikawa: has dimples on both cheeks. One side is deeper, and the side that's shallower only shows when he grins happily. Also, he could dance. Elegantly. Not hip-hop dance but waltz. And I say this again. Bachata.

Nekoma 🐈

Kuroo: you think Oikawa is a flirt? This man is a male version of a clever minx. A smooth talker I say. He'd use his body stature and looks but still in respectful way. A clingy baby for sure

Kenma: I think this is a worldwide headcanon we can all agree on. He'd be a "sugardaddy." Not in an immoral way, but this man will buy you anything. You say in passing that a famed 5 star spa resort in Switzerland is pretty cool. Next thing you know, you're in his private jet flying over the Swiss alps.

#haikyuu #haikyū!!#nekoma #fukurodani #karasuno #shiratorizawa #aoba johsai #kuroo #kenma #bokuto #akaashi #kageyama #shoyo #ushijima #tendou #iwaizumi #oikawa

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solarpunkbusiness · 3 months ago

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Japanese family farm goes solarpunk

While Japan continues to drive the high-tech smartification of agriculture, what is the role of digitalisation for a diversified, agroecological family farm in a rural part of Hyogo Prefecture? Matteo Metta writes this report from Hashimoto Farm in Ichijimachō to share his observations on how digitalisation fits into the everyday life of this small-scale, mixed organic farm, as well as digitalisation’s role in the context of the increasing socio-ecological threats faced by the village, from typhoons and landslides, to depopulation and societal ageing.

The Hashimoto family is composed of four members: Hashimoto, Keiko and their two sons who now live outside the farmhouse. Volunteers, woofers, researchers, practitioners and interns from all over the world come here to work in exchange for learning organic farming in a Japanese rural setting. The 1.2 hectare farm is scattered in many disjointed plots. It is certified under the common organic certification (JAS). As an organic farm, they produce and directly sell any sort of local vegetables and rice. They rear chickens too, an important element for closing the organic nutrient cycle between the soil, human consumption and plants. Some of the seeds sown on the farm are locally selected, saved and exchanged with other farmers, while others are bought from the market. When organic seeds are unavailable, Shinji-san resorts to conventional ones. Besides farming and direct selling, the farm hosts and provides training and organic farming educational activities to school children, young people and adult farm workers.

Weekly open farmers’ markets (called “marché” in Japan) are not common in this remote village of rural Japan. Bigger discount shops or supermarkets can provide a variety of goods, including food products. Although some of Hashimoto Farm’s produce is used for self-consumption or donated annually to local charities for children and single mothers in need, the farm income depends on the selling of their organic produce mainly through two direct sale channels:

Shinzenha-ne, a cooperative buying, selling and delivering organic products.

Ashi no Kai, a small-scale network that connects consumers with producers and is specialised in home delivery of organic produce in the Hyogo and Osaka prefectures.

Consumer cooperatives are quite advantageous for farmers because they can reach bigger and more stable food demand from the whole prefecture instead of just the village and spend less time and energy physically attending local markets. Except for placing the exact demand of requested food in the box, the rest of the supply chain activities is in the charge of the consumer cooperative (receiving orders, food collection, assemblage of food boxes for each consumer, box delivering, billing, transferring payments, etc.).

“Digitalisation, as many technological innovations, is inevitable. We need to make it useful for us though. The problem is not the technology per se, but the system in which we live.”

Even if both cooperatives offer online means for consumers to select their products, much of the communication and transactions with consumers and farmers are still based on paper, phone calls and fax. Although this system might mean spending less hours inputting digital data, learning how to use a computer and relying less on external skills to maintain or repair any possible errors or damage, some of the limitations mentioned by Keiko-san about this direct selling system are:

Asynchronisation: the weekly orders made by the consumers through these two consumer cooperatives might not be automatically synchronised with the stock available on the farm.

Material and energy costs: paper is still circulating in these transactions, which often requires also expensive physical deployment of the operators or fax messages.

Overall, this farm-to-consumers’ door delivery system has been running for many years and is proven within the specific social, demographic and geographical conditions of rural Japan. Yet, this system is not error-free, e.g., mismatching order-farm stock, mismatching consumer quality expectation and farmers’ explanations of product defects, etc.

#solarpunk #solarpunk business #solarpunk business models #solar punk #farmers #japan

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greekmythcomix · 1 year ago

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Me vs the bookmark alignment chart:

Lawful Good:

For a start, if books all came with ribbons, we’d be using ribbons. Ribbons create lawful good. They’re a form of free will removal. Thus, I’d argue that ribbons are evil.

If I ever publish a book I am going to lobby for there to be ribbons in the hardback version (because you just can’t get them in paperback). Not because I want everyone to be lawful good, but because ribbons are elegant. And practical. Evil geniuses would have books with ribbons.

But hardbacks themselves are impractical. One day I shall write a treatise about the death of morality being caused by the fall in popularity of the hardback book.

Neutral Good:

I have never met anyone who uses a sentence pointer. I have never even seen a sentence pointer. And I used to be an English teacher. If you seek out one of these I would argue that you are not neutral about it. You are passionately engaged.

Chaotic Good:

This seem accurate. Most people are chaotic these days. Who has time to be so organised you remember to bring your bookmark with you in case you find a book you like? Scraps and ephemera from your life being recycled in this way is certainly good, definitely chaotic. Deeply personal.

I used to be like this but then I stopped going out and started shopping online and now my child steals my receipts, which are always from the library, to draw on. Insert pithy quote about the downfall of society here.

Lawful Neutral:

Having some books as only ebooks is totally fine, though personally it does incur in me a panic that I have not held said book physically in my hands or have it physically manifested on a shelf for me to look at. That said, my E-reader is on a bookshelf, like a proper book.

I’m not neutral about this.

True Neutral:

A proper bookmark. Good grief.

I have tried this. When I was younger, I had a collection of beautiful bookmarks, some practical, some completely impractical, covered in beads and nonsense like they were designed by people who had never seen how a book works.

To own bookmarks is to be a slave to bookmarks.

I occasionally find my old bookmarks when emptying boxes I haven’t opened since a house move, or in a shelved book I can’t remember reading. I would love to be a ‘bookmark person’ but I think you need to actually be a bit of a psychopath to make it work.

Chaotic Neutral:

Listen, this is just the outdoorsy version of Chaotic Good. It’s whatever you have to hand, and if that’s a leaf then I envy you. These people are living the dream.

Lawful Evil:

I’ve started doing this. I can tell you right now that, as a person with Dyscalculia, this is the most actively Chaotic thing I’ve ever chosen to do. If Evil is choosing to do something that hurts another, then I am being evil, to myself.

Neutral Evil:

This is my default. My desk is awash with books open, pages down, spines cracked, piled on top of eachother like they’re trying to keep warm.

Chaotic Evil:

Behold. This is where I occasionally end up, if I don’t have a desk to lay my book face-down on, or the page number is even (because I won’t remember it), or I have to put the book in a bag for some reason (the reason being I always have to put a book in my bag.)

Like writing in a book in pen, I understand that this is only as a last resort. Chaos indeed. But, I’ll always do it lightly and unbend it again later, so it’s as if it never happened. Isn’t that Good?

I’ve gone from True Neutral to Chaotic Good to Chaotic Evil. Or, Bookseller, English Teacher, Classics Teacher. An origin story, in Bookmarks.

Finally, there needs to be a new addition, because I need to know where this one goes:

#bookmark #bookmark alignment #bookworm #bookseller #nonsense #ramblings #chaotic evil #reading #silly #tumblr memes

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n1ghtm4r3-p01s0n · 2 years ago

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What Video Games I think Jigsaw and the Apprentices would play

Adam - Grand Theft Auto series. He regularly plays GTA Online with Amanda (he is better skilled at driving and Amanda is more skilled at shooting). Sometimes he convinces Lawrence to join. Adam switches between Michael and Franklin when in story mode the most. Adam likes using mods, ReShade and taking far too many screenshots.

Lawrence - Animal Crossing: New Horizons. After a tough day at work and knowing what John does, I doubt Lawrence is big into violent video games. Even then, video games aren't his thing. He only picked up AC:NH cause he likes the cozy vibes. Sometimes, when Diana misses him, he visits her island and they hang out together.

Amanda - DOOM Eternal and the Hitman series. This is the reason she's a sharp shooter in GTA. She loves DOOM and Hitman cause you get to shoot up bad guys to awesome music while bettering the world. Also, she loves doing wacky challenges with the Hitman games (kill everyone while wearing a clown suit also her only weapon is a giant tuna fish).

Lynn - Nintendogs and Cats for the 3DS. She got it originally for Corbette but became infatuated with it herself. It's part of the reason she really wants to get a pet. She got Amanda a 3DS and forced her to make a Mii so that when Lynn takes her virtual pet for a walk she sometimes stumbles into Amanda.

Peter - Hitman series, Metal Gear series and Detective Grimoire series. Peter has always loved media about detectives and stealth and shit. Where Amanda is silly with Hitman, Peter is dead serious. Metal Gear was the series he played as a kid, and Detective Grimoire was just a random flash game he found one day and became shocked to learn it had its own series of video games.

Mark - Party Hard, Dead by Daylight, GTA 5 and Outlast. Mark likes games where he plays as a killer, much to everyone else's concern. He plays mainly as Trevor in GTA 5. He mains Leatherface in Dead by Daylight. He mains them both cause they are both "berserk psychos with crazy weapons".

John - Pokemon, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Sims. John doesn't like violent video games. Period. In Pokemon, he usually sticks to Pokemon that look like cats and dogs. His favourite AC villager is Sprinkles, and he cries whenever one of his Sims dies.

Jill - Like Lawrence, she's not a big video game person. However, Corbette and Diana have both convinced her to play games with them. As their adoptive grandma, she obliges. She prefers stuff like Wii Sports, Wii Fit and Wii Sports Resort. Just cause it's nice, chill and casual.

BONUS: THE KIDS

Diana - Love Nikki, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Untitled Goose Game. She likes being creative and causing chaos. Her favourite AC villager is Sable. She loves dressing Nikki up into fantasy princesses (but has also done like rockstar criminals). She likes Untitled Goose Game cause "look at the silly goose".

Corbette - Star Stable, Littlest Pet Shop (DS), Zoo Tycoon, Planet Zoo, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Pokemon etc. She really loves animals. Ever since her brother's death, she collects plushies and it was what spawned her love of animals and creatures. She has also played Nintendogs and Cats (3DS) and Breath of the Wild.

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jariten · 8 months ago

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January-March 2024 Roundup!

Trying a new thing this year where instead of just "one off" "single volume" "limited run" "compilation" works I read "long form" "serializations". I must say it's already doing my soul good to prioritize and work through the way too many unread series that have piled up in my room while I was prioritizing short form works.

First I want to highlight is Chiisana Ochakai by Nekojuujisha! I already posted a very short description of the work but would like to share my own encounter and quick impressions. I first learned about the series from Futabasha's mook Natsukashii! 70-nendai Shoujo Manga Mook (type of mook I love to collect but can't spend too long looking at lest my demons make me go online shopping). This mook highlights both true classics as well as works and authors who have fallen a bit by the wayside in the manga landscape (but to no fault of the quality of their work). Chiisana Ochakai got a VIP treatment in this mook and I immediately knew this was something I wanted to read. I finally got around to reading this past month and was so blown away by this work and the atmosphere it created. Part of me wasn't expecting anything more than a charming fantasy slice of life set in a world of cats, but I many times found myself very moved by Purin and Moppu's view of life and their philosophical musings. The fairy tale world was truly that. I loved the little encounters like when Moppu met The Sun itself at the bakery. This is also by far the closest thing I've come to reading a manga that embodies a lot of the wistful qualities of the original Moomin novels by Tove Jansson. Can't recommend or praise it enough.

Also noticed how so many libraries have Osamu Tezuka's Buddha? I've encountered plenty that has but I finally found one that actually had the whole series and decide to do my obligatory one Tezuka title per year right then and there. And wooooow by far the best of his works that I've read, I was especially struck by the paneling and multiple viewpoints that were carefully balanced. A true epic and despite it being the retelling of the foundations of a world religion, Tezuka enjoyers who enjoy him being self referential or goofy will still find plenty of that.

Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? by Hirochi Maki was a manga that years ago got propagandized on Tumblr and I was just soooooo sure it would get licensed. Which it did, but digital only. I finally resorted to the Japanese edition. The propaganda post absolutely sold how charming and fun the protagnist sister pair is, but neglected to mention the varied clientele and what an amazing tour of the less known neighborhoods in and around Tokyo it is, with real life locations and spots to check! Worried most of these spots don't exist anymore post-COVID? check the post COVID sequel series!

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is a manga adaption of Kotaro Isaka's novel by the same name by Ikuemi Ryou. I'm not familiar at all with Isaka's bibliography but I could tell this was a great combo (Isaka even admitting to being influenced by Ikuemi's work). I love one shot collections that focuses on characters that are connected to each other or the same incident seen from multiple points of view. Isaka's cast is varied and all at different points in life with different wants and needs.

I have a more detailed summary of A-ko san no Koibito by Akino Kondoh in the queue but oooooooh my god. This was my dedicated commute read for a bit and talk about a series that only got better with each volume. Eventually I didn't even want to arrive at my location I wanted to keep reading. Its one of my favorite explorations of relationships, facing your past ones, and figuring out what it is you actually want that I've read so far in great deal due to the blend + repetitions of past and present. These smooth transitions are done so well and drew me further into the characters and their conflicts. Truly nothing like any other manga I've read but fits perfect into my own slowly expanding mini canon of manga about late twentysomething and up characters trying to figure out what romantic relationships mean to them.

Also eeeeeek I'm beyond late just wanted to highlight Hunter X Hunter volume 37. I will always think that when one can deliver at a quality this high you have the right to take all the time you want. So intrigued by how everything is developing would love to reread what we have of this arc some time soon.

#recommendation corner #long post #my scans #buddha taken from the publisher page #roundup #will be posting from vol 37 soon too

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rudie-wr1tes · 8 months ago

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Endless Passion- A Sandman Fan Fiction

IX. Berceuse

Synopsis: Lord Morpheus gifts Sabine everything she has ever dreamt of without asking for a thing in return. Sabine cannot fathom how much the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares seems to care for her, but similar sentiments become more common with other Dreaming residents. Sabine, in her solitude, wonders what else he knows...

There was a time in Sabine’s life where she had everything a girl could dream for. She was a spoiled child, and her upbringing was spent wanting for nothing. Two homes- one in California, the other in Lahaina, her great grandmother’s property. A prestigious school, music lessons, American Girl Dolls, her own horse and stable on her family property. She remembered traveling across oceans to resorts for the summer, Disney World in the winter. But in the unfortunate turns of her adolescence, she began to accept nice things came with a cost- to herself, to the ones she loved. Income became less expendable when her parents passed, and only so much with other family members. As Lahina burned, the fire’s stretched hand took everything she ever remembered- including her precious Casper, a white horse she loved dearly. She accepted that a life spent as a sleep psychologist would eventually sustain her. The Dremastone copy, however, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. A majority of her heirlooms were pawned to pay the crooked con who withheld the stone. All this, she accepted, she did not deserve, nor would ever come close to accumulating for herself in life.

At least, within her life in the Waking World.

What she found here was more than she could have ever hoped.

In the center of the room, backed against the wall of where she slept prior was that exact bed she described in the foyer- with long, sweeping, sky blue curtains that billowed in an invisible breeze, held up by silver columns. Silken sheets and a quilted comforter with the appearance of clouds spread across it.

She trembled, reaching forward to see the quilt patterns resembling breadfruit and passion flower stitching, just as her mother’s quilt did back in her apartment. Above her were vaulted ceilings, and a night sky welcomed her with shooting stars and dimming lights. She had every piece of furniture from her lost heirloom collection, delicately painted with silver and icicle blue etchings- a vanity, the chaise lounge with a surface that shimmered with diamonds, and her grandfather’s wardrobe standing guard, towering over her. Her favorite Monet print- Dancers in Blue, hung delicately on one wall, with arched windows and a terrace overlooking the Dreaming to her right. Fresh cut plumerias danced across the surface of water in floating glass viles alongside tea light candles, welcoming her with their delicate scent. It was equally elegant and comfortable. Every corner was a perfect balance of home and her desires for pretty things- a handful, she recognized from her apartment, one being the bookshelf of journals, with another leaflet open and empty. Beside it, a writing desk for more journaling and writing whatever she pleased. She had time now for all of it. Her eyes caught a leather-bound makeup kit with multiple tears, with silver-handled brushes itching to be used. Fragrance oils and colognes glimmered in the light coming in from the windows. All the pretty things she had ever saved in unemptied online shopping carts back home. Sabine wiped the corner of her eyes to conceal the tear that shed. She was rendered speechless, turning back to the giving Endless, whose smile grew, slowly.

“I don’t know what to say.” Sabine uttered in a near whisper.

“You neednt say a word.” Dream affirmed, matching her tone, “Upon visiting your sister, I came to learn of your beautiful world, both dreaming and awake. And I decided to bring home to you.”

Sabine’s feet shifted. She did not know whether to run away from him or to embrace him. Or to yell, or to weep, or to do all those things at once.

“How did you know?” She asked, “And… Why?”

“The brevity of your promise to protect Kalea has touched something within me.” Lord Morpheus approached the floating vases of water and made an adjustment, his fingertip sounding a loud ping into the room, “Your selflessness will not be forgotten.”

Sabine slowly sank to the edge of her bed, resting a hand on her healing injury, too stunned to speak. Her hand ran over the quilt. Yes- it was HER bed. Everything belong to her. Lord Morpheus took this as his cue to give her space.

“I shall leave you to rest for the evening.” Lord Morpheus said, “So you can become accustomed to your living space. There is an attached bathroom as well, in the next door over.”

She was terrified to even look in the bathroom, but that would mean a test against the figure himself over one specific item within. A majority of these things she had written in journals- that he either knew because she was a dreamer, or he had read it.

“The interior of the wardrobe, however, may take some time to populate,” Lord Morpheus added, “You will find some clothes there for now, but that may change soon.”

“I’ll keep my eyes peeled then.” She said, “And the bookshelf… that’s for Lucienne’s delivery, right?”

He nodded.

“There will be times I will be out to aid dreamers in my realm, or collaborate in other realms beyond this one.” Morpheus said, “You are free to roam the grounds of this palace, and Fiddler’s Green is always open to you. However, the rest of the Dreaming is vast and plenty- I only ask you wait for me, should you choose to explore another day.”

“So I can wander a little?” She asked, “Well. I figured in situations like this there was something forbidden. No limits, anything to steer clear of?”

“That is inevitable.” Lord Morpheus’s tone grew a little more serious, “There are two locations that I ask you to avoid- the House of Mysteries and the House of Secrets, and the easternmost edge, where the night sky touches a mirrored surface of murky waters. You shall not enter there.”

“I understand.” Sabine said, “.... I’m curious. But I understand. With names like that, I’d be hesitant to enter anyways. And technically, wouldn’t that be three places?”

“You are weary.” Morpheus quipped, “We shall speak of this more another day.”

“Wait, when can I see you again?” Sabine stood, her arm wrapping around the bedpost, “I mean… I know you’re busy. I’ll always find ways to occupy myself but…”

She pulled back in shame at her own desperation to be close to him again, “So we can make time for those answers….”

“Tomorrow afternoon, when the sun is at its highest.” He answered, “I will see you then. And I will show you what I mean.”

“Okay…” Sabine concealed her smile, “Thank you, Lord Morpheus.”

He looked back at her in the doorway, “For what?”

“For being so kind to me.” Sabine replied, “For giving me such beautiful things even when… When I nearly ruined everything.”

The Lord’s ocean eyes glimmered on the surface.

“Sabine.” Her name on his lips sounded like poetry, “As you remain here in the Dreaming, there is no necessity for formally addressing me. I have gone by many names before. You may call me by my name beyond a title. My other creations address me as Dream. You are more than welcome to call me as either, Morpheus, or as Dream the Endless. Whichever you decide, will not offend me.”

His words seemed to unfurrow the stitch in her neck and shoulders, relaxing them. A soft sigh of relief left her lips. She smiled, looking down at the ground a moment before returning to look up at him again.

“Good evening, Morpheus.” Sabine said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He was pleased seeing her at ease, “Good evening to you, Sabine.”

As he shut the door behind him, a hand fell over her mouth to shut out the muffled scream that clattered beneath.

“Sweet dreams!” She stupidly uttered, soon covering her mouth as the door shut, “Sweet dreams my ass! Stand up!!!! Stand! Up!”

Sabine couldn’t decide if she was talking to herself or just processing the gift she had been given.

“I’m beating his ass into next week.” Sabine stammered, “He better not spoil me. I’m insufferable enough.”

She shook it off, checking her new room one more time. Her head was spinning as if she had something to drink.

“This is all mine.” She whispered, “All of it. Oh my god, Kalea. Kalea is… No. I can’t.” She shook her head, “But…The bathroom was fine before. He couldn’t have… I swear to-”

She ran across the carpeted flooring to reach the doorhandle. The door opened into a large turkish bath, with circular ceilings light by golden fire. At the center, a pearl hued chamber filled with lily pads and simmering crystal waters. Above her, in marble ceiling frescos of a sunset sky were stained glass windows of sirens at play, that seemed to shimmer with movement. She let out a small cry of joy, stomping her feet.

“I’m going to kill him!” She exclaimed, “He didn’t- and the sinks!” She cried, admiring the polished amenities before circular mirrors. But one thing in particular was what she was desperate to look for- and there, in its own protected corner surrounded by curtains was what she was looking for.

Meanwhile, Dream was waiting patiently within earshot of Sabine’s chambers. He leaned against the palace wall, listening intently. He was grinning like a fool already at her ranting and raging.

Soon, he delighted at the sound of Sabine’s squealing laughter from within her room, leaning against the wall outside. The joyous, bubbling, infectious sound brought a smile to his face.

“Shut UP!” her voice buzzed from inside the walls, “He fucking didn’t! He got me a golden fucking toilet!”

Her hands clapped aloud, as the thud of her jumping footsteps shook the wall. Her voice broke into brusts of wheezing and silence, as she hollered with glee at such a cheeky gift.

“I’ll feel guilty later.” Sabine exclaimed, “Shiiiiyet, I’m taking a bath in this now. And is there- If there’s champagne and strawberries I might actually-”

“Look on the counter again, Sabine.” Dream murmured, pointing his finger upwards. On cue, another shrill giggle of glee rattled the wall, followed by a champagne cork popping.

“Call me materialistic, But this is mine now!” She wondered aloud.

He walked away quickly, on fast feet, trying to conceal his laughter. Lucienne approached him coming from the opposite direction with the cart of her book haul. Her brow arched high, she exchanged a knowing glance with her creator as he passed. Here was an immortal figure acting like a youth in love for the first time, pretending to be shocked he was caught with a spring in his step.

“Not a word.” Morpheus chided.

Lucienne put her hands up while guiding the cart, “I had no means to say anything aloud, sire.”

He kept walking, forcing himself not to look back. Matthew was right about one thing.

He was most certainly in for it now.

And so was Sabine, that night after an everything bath, an entire bottle of champagne, and more sensible pajamas, curling within the quilt he so kindly provided her. It did not smell like her childhood home, but that was okay. Gardenia and night jasmine bloomed, their soft perfume coming from the mini moon garden on her balcony. Her wet hair formed into soft curls with more volume than she could ever try at home, but a chill had settled. The guilt washed over her in silent tears to sleep again, as her back faced moonlight pouring through from the windows he carefully made. There was no shortage of tenderness in every inch of the place, not even in the photo Dream left on her bedside table of her and Kalea only four years prior. Her thumb brushed over her sister’s photo, as she curled deeper within herself.

As Sabine dragged herself to bed, finally, in the inky hour of Dream’s skies, she couldn’t help but to ponder- if Kalea was finally freed from night terrors- would it ve possible to find her too, in the Dreaming? Would she know where to find her? And if so… Would Kalea forgive her?

Her bereavement was interrupted, if for a moment, by the comforting bed that was made for her. She ran her hand across the satin sheets, in awe of them not making her slide off. A shadow loomed over her- a partial curtain moving on its own to block her eyes from the blinding moonlight. She rolled on her side, burrowing herself deeper into the covers. Tomorrow she would try to find more answers about Morpheus. But for now, she forced herself to sleep- her mind not wandering far from the way his silhouette towered over her. The sound of his gentle voice swarmed her thoughts enough already. And how she, deep down, craved the comfort of his protective arms when she ached, wondering what the velvet inside his coat felt like if she had rested against it for a moment. And she should’ve been angry to think such things. It was selfish. And maybe she had a right to be a little selfish after spending years pretending not to be.

After all…. If he could make dreams possible, what else did he know about her deepest fantasies?

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Author's note- True story, having a golden toilet is an extremely unserious dream I've always wanted for years. And I do not know why. When I was a kid, I genuinely thought that was a flex. Is it still? Yes. Is it impractical? Who the hell cares?!

Anyways... Tune in next week. I'm not sure if I'll post on Easter, It might be moved to the Friday before. You'll see!

#dream of the endless #fan fiction #writeblr #my fanfiction #the sandman netflix #the sandman #fic writing #lord morpheus #death the endless #living vicariously

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lavishy · 6 months ago

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From Viaggio (Italian for travel) collection designed by vegan brand LAVISHY established since 2001, this cool printed unisex key ring coin purse features vintage style illustration of elephant on the background of old map. It's fun, functional & fabulous. Made with Eco-friendly vegan materials that are toxic-free, recyclable and biodegradable. This unisex key ring coin purse is great for everyday use, travel as well as an unique gift for your friends and family. Exterior: Vegan/faux leather Interior: Nylon - with key ring to carry keys - 1 ID pocket at the back for driver's license or metro pass - can hold credit cards Measurement: 5 x 3.9 inch / 13 x 10 cm Wholesale available at www.lavishy.com to wide ranges of retailers including independent brick-and-mortar gift shops, clothing & fashion accessories boutiques, book stores, hotel/resort & airport/ferries gift stores, museum & botanical garden gift shops, flower shops & garden centers, online boutiques, & specialty retailers in Canada, USA & the rest of the world since 2001. Reasons for whey this unisex key ring coin purse is a wonderful lucky / good luck gift idea for your loved ones: The elephant with its trunk raised is indeed considered a symbol of luck and good fortune in various cultures, especially in Eastern societies such as India and Thailand. Here's why:

Strength and Power: Elephants are known for their immense strength and power. In many cultures, they symbolize strength, stability, and resilience. When depicted with their trunks raised, they are seen as asserting their strength and overcoming obstacles, which is considered fortunate.

Wisdom and Intelligence: Elephants are highly intelligent creatures, known for their problem-solving skills and strong social bonds. Their association with wisdom and intelligence adds to the symbolism of luck. It's believed that having the trunk up signifies wisdom and foresight.

Good Luck: In some cultures, the elephant's trunk is seen as a conduit for good luck and positive energy. When the trunk is raised, it is believed to be gathering positive energy and spreading it around, bringing good fortune to those nearby.

Fertility and Prosperity: The elephant is also associated with fertility and prosperity. In Hinduism, the elephant-headed god Ganesha is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the provider of prosperity. The raised trunk symbolizes fertility and abundance, making it a popular motif in Indian households and businesses.

Overall, the elephant with its trunk raised is considered a powerful symbol of luck, prosperity, wisdom, and protection in many cultures, making it a popular choice for decorative and symbolic purposes.

#vegan #wholesale #gift #fashion #lavishy #boutique #shop #shopping #elephant #animal #unisex #man's gift

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moonlight-dreaming · 6 months ago

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It is not hard to find the right kind of mattress for you if you will consider your own needs, wants, and preference. A suitable mattress is the one that provides the right amount of comfort and durability for you. The next time you shop for a mattress, whether you are buying from a brick and mortar store or you resort to mattress online shopping, make sure that you are buying the right type of mattress for your needs.

#youtube

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llamasandfists · 6 months ago

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Find Suitable Mattresses on Sale

You can whittle down your choices by keeping in mind the size of your bed frame. There are important things that you need to consider if you really want to find the right mattress:

The space and the size of the bedroom where you are going to place the mattress is an important consideration that you need to keep in mind. It is important to know how many people will sleep on the bed so you will know the size of the mattress that will comfortably hold the occupants. If you want a new bed, then you can also consider replacing your bed frame in order to fit the mattress that you want.

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