#also everyone should just integrate all the sports

[melissamelody]

What's funny is that I have a story from my high school. Lacrosse was the one sport we had separate teams for boys and girls that was still, ostensibly, the same sport.

The boys team had better gear, more knowledge of their games in student populace, got to use better fields.

It was the girl's team that actually won the championship every year.

The coaches once let a home exhibition game of girls vs boys go. Because the girls played no-contact lacrosse (because women are inherently more fragile or something) but nobody believed the boys could hold themselves back they did the game by boy's rules.

You know what happened?

The girls, who spent half their strength NOT running into each other to avoid penalties, won the game handily. To say again, the girls WON and it wasn't even a question.

Guess who got the funding tho.

crazy that in the 1970s they were like, "fine, women can play sports. but because they're innately less athletic than men, only in a special ghettoized League For The Frail And Delicate where they get paid less 😊". And not only is that still the system in 2023, but viciously lashing out at the smallest challenges to that system gets framed as Feminist Praxis

[moonlight-records]

PSA:

i don’t normally talk about this but this is a serious thing i wanna touch on so TW: racism mentioned.

the fact people are calling the conversation about RACISM that is so rampant in the sport that's happening on f1 twt "white privilege discourse" is all i needed to know about you as a person + contributing to the problem.

it's so important for us to know the history, good AND bad, about this sport that's SO integrated so we can continue to talk and fight and break this generational stigma in the sport.

the fact people are so scared and allergic to calling their faves out and holding them accountable is baffling. calling your faves out and holding them accountable should be the NORM. it does NOT make you any less of a fan.

the fact that fans have turned "fake fan" into a weapon when issues like this arise and uncomfortable conversations are to be had just to silence those who are speaking out is disgusting. please step out of the bubble that's been created and look inward and ask WHY does this make you uncomfortable or upset that your fave is being rightfully called out and criticized.

these are GROWN ASS MEN. lewis nor any minority community shouldn't have to hold their hand let alone fans hands and make it our responsibility to educate YOU. we’re TIRED.

also, the "white privilege" excuse is not cutting it anymore. throughout this CONVERSATION, a lot of fans (esp with bigger platforms) have made it so noticeable that they will go to war with drivers for their right to curse but when it comes to fighting racism and basic human rights & decency it's suddenly "political" and go back to their bubble and ignore the topic at hand. the only ones i see speaking on the issue of racism in the sport are the black f1 fans while everyone else is turning it into a fan war, "white privilege discourse", “context matters”, or turning a blind eye. are we fucking fr here??

and don't get it twisted, i am not allergic to calling my favorite out which includes lewis and charles. they're not saints and im not saying they are but they need to be held accountable and criticized.

if you think that the conversation is simply "white privilege discourse" or doubling down to defend your driver instead of criticizing them and holding them accountable please follow me or just block me because i will NOT be doing that on my blog.

stop putting drivers on pedestals and start holding them accountable.

ps: don’t bother sending me hate or anything on this topic. i’m gonna ignore & delete. it’s the holiday season & im tired of having mine along with other POC voices silenced or spoken over.

~ sincerely, a black f1 fan

[daceofs]

Mystic Falls High

Part 1

I honestly do not know what I am doing

~~~~~

"Paddd...muh...nee"

"Padhumanidhi Sundarrajan" I blurted stopping the counselor from making my ears bleed, "I am the new transfer student."

"Yeah that's what I said" she muttered, "You are signed up for...?"

I take a deep breath, "AP biology, Integrated Math, Racket Sports, Theatre, Drawing and Painting, AP World history, French and AP Literature."

I knew it by heart because each subject was hand picked. Ivy league here I come.

She flippantly gives me a form, "fill out your club applications."

I smiled. Tightly,

I look through it,  I need to pick a minimum of two and I know exactly what they are, I eagerly fill the applications for Photography and chess. I wanted to pick films, but previous experiences have thought me that film clubs in US are not fun at all.

Chess has Asians and Indians, whichever little population of them this back water town has.

I submit my forms and take my schedule with a smile. Inside I'm shaking.

I'm wearing a short red kurta and jeans, I have simple bracelet, two gold earrings, a small miniscule bottu and my hair is plaited into a single messy braid. I wore two until last year, but I'm 17 now, so I'll wear  a single braid. But that still gets me a few weird looks.

Thankfully, I have my earphones and my ipod, A birthday gift. Yeno Yeno from Aadhavan soothes my nerves as I scramble to my history class.

The teacher is late.

Apparently he's new too so he begins to introduce himself.

"ALARIC SALTZMAN"

The name on the board reads, then he begins to explain how to pronounce his name and honestly I wish I could do that.

But it would be of no use.

I sigh and gear up for a busy day.

~

A week later

I am at school, everyone is dressed up, I am wearing a hoodies and my hair is a bun. Everyone is going to the dance, I am going to the chess club. Because today is the last day to 'officiate' my membership by showing up. I didn't even have time until now and now it bit me in the ass.

It's not that I was missing the dance. My mum would have barely allowed, I would have been so out of place. It's just that.. I feel like a creepy stalker.

I navigate around the halls and rooms, trying my best to not be seen.

I just need to dump these books in my locker. Take my Ipod and go to the club. Someone had stayed behind today for me... because there was a dance, it was officially school hours. It was a rare chance and I should make use of it.

Determined I walk into the empty hallway.

And.. immediately regret it.

Two, decidedly hot but also kind of creepy guys are right at the end of hall standing at the entrance to the small eatery with the vending machine.

The guy who is good at history, Stefan... I remind myself and another guy. He's older and creepier.

And they....

are both looking at me.

Vary.

It lights up my nerves on fire.

"Padmuh" Stefan asks. Oh god he knows my name, that's how he butchered it so well. I'm going to die. This is so awkward.

"Yeah?" I answer fidgeting.

"This is like shady parts of a city right now, what are you doing here?" the man asking is smiling but I know that it's not an innocent question at all. I can sense it. I just don't know why.

"Uhhh" I mutter, my lip curling in confusion, "this is my locker." I point at it. What is happening?

"Padmuh" Stefan starts again, ugh, that is not my name, "Why didn't you go to the decade dance?"

Am I being interrogated?

"It's just everyone is there.." he elaborates.

"Oh I couldn't go... I have work" I explain.

He nods.

I walk to my locker. The other one is staring at me, Stefan smacks him and he stops and turns to look at him. I shove my books in the locker. I take my ipod and walk away from there like I'm running away from an animal.

The entire time I could feel someone's eyes on me.

The experience grates on me and I drag my tired body to the club. I just want some peace and quiet until I finish this.

I step in and there is music... blaring...

"Devudaaa..

(Oh god)

Naa mathi chedipoyenu poorthiga,

(My mind has completely gone to ruin)

Ayanaa..."

(Yet)

(Noppi noppi song from Pokiri 2006)

Well at least it's not some rock garbage, it's a good song. I step in to the club room. With a strained smile that says 'touch me and I'll kill you.'

There is a single boy in the classroom and... he is Indian.

"Baagundhi haay-"

(It feels good-)

He pauses the song listening to my steps and goes rigid. The strain leaves a little from my smile.  He looks up and relaxes. He stands up and awkwardly extends his hand, my smile is not strained anymore.

"Hey"

"Hey"

I shake his hand, "Padhumanidhi Sundarrajan! Call me Padhma"

"Venkat Ghattamaneni" he follows.

"A telugu guy huh?" I ask, he gives a 'yeah' with a smile and I follow with, "I'm a tamilian."

"You're the only one here?"  I ask as we both sit down by something that looks like a table. I take out my bottle and start drinking some water.

"There were two other members, one transferred and the other..."

"Left?"

"Died!"

I spit out the water I was drinking and coughed. He laughed dryly despite himself and gently patted on my head.

"I was not expecting that!" I said still sputtering.

He sighed, "It was an animal attack, I wasn't in town... I didn't even know her name."

"Hmm" I hummed in thought, "sorry though."

We had nothing better to do... so we talked.

He told me that he had started living in the town three months prior. But was out of town for a week. His father's friend/colleague's daughter's wedding.

He'd just got back.

I told him I moved here a week ago.

That I missed my country and I missed my elder sister. She'd gotten into Yale.

He told me had an elder sister, she got into IIM and was back home.

He missed her terribly.

We had history, theatre, racket sports, integrated math and French together.

"Wait you were going to stay at the Salvatore boarding house?" He asked surprised.

"Yeah" I said with a chuckle, "We didn't find a house yet, the motels weren't good at all. But it cost an arm and a leg and my mum got really bad vibes."

"I am even surprised that you got to talk to someone in the house" he chuckled, "The guy from history, Stefan, I assume you know him, he's really good. He lives there apparently and they don't get customers. Like at all!"

"Wow" I exclaimed, "Good thing my dad asked around before trying to check in."

"Yeah... Good thing" he agreed.

Soon the session ended, we absolutely did nothing.

Then my dad called, he'd come to pick me up. By this time the school was already empty.

He was waiting at the entrance with an umbrella.

He smiled as soon as he saw me and I smiled back. It was a mild drizzle but I still got under the umbrella.

"How was the session ma?" He asked holding me around my shoulders.

"Semma pa" I grinned, "I made a friend."

(It was great)

Venkat had come out too. He was wearing a rain coat over his jacket.

I showed him to my dad.

My dad waved.

"Vanakkam uncle" he waved back, "I'm Venkat."

(Hello)

I cocked my brows in shock.

"My mum is half Tamilian... So, I'm quarter Tamilian" he explains with a smirk.

I look to my dad and smile, "Avuna sare ayithe..."

(Oh okay then)

This time he is shocked.

"My atha married a Telugu guy when I was 7" I explain.

Then a car pulls up behind ours and he goes, "that's my father."

A man around my dad's age gets out of the car also wearing a rain coat.

My dad and him exchange a hello and something about the roads in the town.

~

Around two weeks later

Venkat's family had come over to ours for dinner. My mum and his mum connected as the only Indian aunties in the entire town.

We lived in the same street, a few houses apart.

So, we were neighbors and to be family friends.

"Ma... can me and Venkat go for a walk while you guys talk?" I plead.. no beg.

She gives me a stern smile, "Walk where?"

"Just out" I say in a small voice, trying to give her puppy eyes.

"Don't go out of town" She says.

I nod dutifully and then walk out with a smile to my dad and Venkat's parents.

Venkat does the same and follows me out.

We lived on the near edge of the town, so it was more like don't go out of the block.

"So, where should we go?" he askes me just as we're out of the house.

"You're the host" I answer, "to this walk.. you should decide"

"Remember that Salvatore boarding house?"

"Hmm hmm"

"It's right around the lane" he reveals, "we could walk until the property, look at what gave your mother bad vibes and come back."

"Sure" I chirp.

We start on the way, "So, how's the town?" he asks.

"It's okay" I answer.

"Okay as in I am getting used to it and it's gonna be great or I hate it but I have to get used to it" he asks with a mischievous smile.

I mirror it and answer, "One of those."

He laughs. I join him.

"It's just that it's so different from India, from home, this town doesn't even have a theatre" I whine, "it might have a prissy theatre but it's not gonna play any Indian movies."

"You like movies?" he asks. "A lot" I answer, "Especially Indian movies. You don't?"

"I looove them" he almost purrs.

"There's this new movie coming out" I say, enthusiasm filling me, "It's a Telugu movie. You probably know it."

"Which one?" he asks, curious and excited.

I think for it's telugu name, then it strikes me, "Magadheera" I announce.

"Ohh" he mirrors my excitement, "I am madly waiting for it."

"But how do we watch it" I dampen the mood, "it's not gonna play around here."

"It will play in Cincinnati" he points out, "it's a few hours  from here."

"My parents will never agree" I say rolling my eyes.

"Well neither will mine" he joins in, "but we could ask nicely. There's a train."

"One can try" I cave into his hope, "how do we do it?"

"Sudden perfect grades, chores.. what else?" He schemes.

"That should do it" I confirm, "We'll see if it works."

We're about to enter the property and we can see the boarding house from here.

"Ta da" he  says pointing at it.

"That" I mutter, "is definitely haunted."

"I know right" he chuckles.

Then we hear it. A strange rustle with a rush of air, it's not human.

Then it happens again, and..

"Jai hanuman gyan guna sagar, jai kapeesha tihun loka ujaagar

Rama dhoota athulitha baladhama, anjani putra pavana sutanamaa"

(Hanuman Chalisa)

(Hail hanuman who is an ocean of knowledge, who is from the kapi clan and who is known in all three worlds…

Rama’s messenger, strong beyond comprehension, the son of anjana and the heir of the god of wind.)

Venkat nearly screams, I look at him ready to laugh, but he is completely serious and gesturing at me to move. So,

"Mahaveera vikrama Bajrangi, Kumati Nivaara Sumati Ke Sangi

Kanchan varsna viraaja Subesaa, Kanan kundal kunchit kesa"

(Greatest of warriors, valiant as thunder, friend to the good and exterminator of the bad)

I sing with him as we kind of, no, definitely ran from there.

We're at  "Raghupati Kinhi Bahut Badaai, Tum Mama Priya Bharata Sama Bhaii" by the time we reach the road and then he stops, so I stop.

(Rama gave you the greatest praise, ‘you are as dear to me as my dear brother bharat’)

Then I start laughing while I am panting and he's just panting.

"Did you seriously just scream Hanuman Chalisa?" I ask him, incredulous and near hysteric.

"I did not scream it" he says, weakly.

I laugh some more.

"It worked didn't it" he points out.

"That it did!"

~

What on God's Green earth was that?

Damon has been alive for lot more than a century and this is the first time, he had seen such a reaction when he preys on someone.

He was so weirded out that he didn't even eat them.

"Only in mystic falls" he muttered as he vamped back to boarding house.

"Found anything" Stefan asked now changed from the shirt Frederick stabbed him in, but still wincing and favoring the side.

"This is exactly why I tell you to drink people blood"  he pointed out again.

Stefan gives him a bitch face. Well your loss baby brother, just don't bleed on my carpet again, just don't bleed again.

"No sign of any tomb vamps" he says, then pauses, considers.

"but?" Stefan asks, "There is a but, I feel that but."

"I saw that girl from the other day" I confess.

"Padmuh?" he asks.

"Yeah she was with an Indian boy" I continue.

"Whenkat?" He asks again.

"You know him?" I ask him back, I could do with information like that.

"How many 17 year old high school going Indian boys are there in this town?" He deadpans.

"Well something is weird about them" I brush him off, "I tried to scare them..."

"Damon" Stefam admonishes.

"They were on the property, right after two vampires tired to attack us unprovoked on a perfectly good evening" I droll the dangers into his dense head.

"They were on the property?" Stefan asks puzzled.

"Just outside" what does it matter duh! "The point is they're suspicious. The boy came into town with you and the girl came into town with Alaric. They might be working with Noah!"

"Damon" Stefan whines, "they both have families. They are perfectly normal. They-"

"How are they in school?" I cut him off.

Stefan rolls his eyes. Rude, "Well they're polite, nice. They're very studious and have strict parents. They mostly keep to themselves though."

"We saw her right after the dance being all sketchy. They weren't at the dance. They weren't at the desirable bachelor thing."

"Because it was for people in mid 20s like you... there were rarely any kids present" he counters again.

"Well then explain this brother... the day I didn't get Katherine out of tomb... every stupid child in the town was at Dull or Duke or whatever's party. Except for them" Damon presents fool proof evidence.

"Strict parents Damon"  Stefan drawls.

"I still think they're fishy... they don't act like regular students" I emphasise.

"They're not regular students" Stefan points out, "both are emigrants and exchange students."

Yeah sure Sherlock

~

Hindsight is such a bitch.

Stefan is now an anti therapeutic punching bag and he needs Van Helsing ripoff and little miss Katniss to get him out.

He manages to goad the hunter/teacher into helping them. He shows them stuff he had specifically brought  to kill Damon and oh goodie how useful.

They each stock themselves and come up with a fool proof contingency plan.

Well it's not fool proof but he doesn't have the time for it.

I exit the room, Alaric and Elena on my heels and there she is.

The suspicious girl from other night.

She doesn't look like a hermit this time but she shouldn't even be here.

When he's making a plan to get his vampnapped brother out.

I give a smile which is actually a sneer and she clutches the books in her hands tight as if they could offer any protection.

Alaric jumps in, unnecessarily, "Padmuh... what are you doing here? It's not a school day.."

"Mr Saltzman" she greets him, then continues, "Ms Jones asked me if to help her with a project for extra credit."

She looks at Elena and fidgets.

I roll my eyes with a sigh. Have we learned nothing?

"Were you eavesdropping on us? Answer truthfully" I compel her.

"Damon" I hear Elena... Gee Elena, it's not like we have the clock ticking to a rescue and cannot risk any failures.

"Chiii" the girl exclaims, uhm, then she continues, "why would I ever do that?"

(Ewww)

"Well then I want you to forget this conversation" I compel again.

"I want that too, I'll try" she replies with barely hidden disdain.

You'll what...

"I'm sorry, we were just doing some founder's business" Elena covers immediately. Ooh clever.

Except she's on Vervain Elena.

"Yeah no problem" she says in a rush and sidesteps me.

Before I can act, "We need to go" Elena drags me ahead.

"She's on Vervain" I hiss.

"We can worry about that later"  she hisses back.

"Paagal Saale" I hear a murmur. Is she hexing us?

(Lunatic bitch)

But I feel nothing and I don't have time for this now. So, I comply.

~

Founders day rolls around and hell breaks loose.

Damon is still greedily gulping his blood bag. He reeks of ash and smoke and hates it with every fibre of being.

He feels Stefan's eyes on him and that grates him even more.

"What were you doing down there?" he manages to ask. He knew Stefan wasn't down there, he'd checked, it was the first thing he did.

"Saving your ass" comes the answer.

"Why?" he wants to know.

"You're my brother... Go Figure" Nonchalance huh brother it doesn't suit you.

He doesn't even say it out loud. Just gives a listless smile.

"That went so well" someone squeals and they both become alert.

'Went well?' what kind of diabolical-

"We should do that again" some else says and they're bloody chuckling and he wants to snap their neck.

"Who was that?" he grates, "Someone from council?"

"Has to be" Stefan says, the tomb vampires are all dead after all.

"We should plan it better though" he can hear it better now and he knows it's a girl and he's heard her before.

"Yeah it got quite late" the other one's a boy and he's heard him too.

"Yeah well..." the rest turns into garble as a taxi stops by them.

"Padmuh" Stefan realises, "and Whenkat!"

They're too weak and slow to follow them now, "We've got to deal with them."

"Damon" Stefan chides.

"You heard them" Damon hisses, "they had a plan, it went well... who knows what they did!"

~

"So... we watched Magadheera" Padhma squeals into her phone, "Akka it was so good."

(Big sister)

"Wow" Maitreyi, her sister replies equally enthusiastic, "You sound like you enjoyed it a lot. How was Cincinnati?"

"It was okay" she answered, "better than this backwater town."

"I wish we could have watched it together" Maitreyi says with a small whine.

"Next time come to Cincinnati" she suggests.

"Or I'll take you all to New York" Maitreyi counters.

"Brilliant" she chirps.

They chat for a few more minutes before hanging up, she comes down to the living hall.

Her parents are talking about something seriously.

"Ma" she asks tentatively, "everything okay? How was the celebration?"

"It was great kanna" her mother answers, "but there was an accident. The mayor died."

(Sweetheart)

"Oh" her eyes widen in shock, "that's so sad."

"Yeah" her father sighs, patting her shoulder, "We're all going to the memorial tomorrow."

"Should we take anything?" her mother ponders.

"Lasagna, apparently" Her father answers.

"That is so weird" her mom says and they all chuckle.

How very morbid!

~

"Hey there's Tyler" Venkat says taking a sip of water, everything else is alcoholic here and their parents would kill us if they as much as drank a glass. They're at the memorial, the entire town is.

Their parents are talking to other adults and after the formalities, here they are, in the garden.

"Oh yeah" Padhma ponders, "should we go say hi?"

"We don't even know the guy" He points out.

"It's a minimum curtesy" She counters.

Their argument comes to moot when he walks inside the house, away from the crowd with a guy who just arrived, must be a relative.

"Well" he smirks. She shakes her head. The she smiles.

"Oh hey there's coffee" she chirps. He perks up, "Now you don't have to worry about feeding only water to your manly body."

"I never said that" he says abashed.

"No?" she teases. She picks up a cup of it, with a straw in the lid and hands it to him. He takes it with a tip of an absent hat.

He sips it and immediately spits it out.

Padhma looks at him startled, then looks around embarrassed. He collects himself and stops sputtering. They both look around before he puts the cup aside.

She clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes, "Wow!"

He raises his finger to point in his defense, "It was hot and there was no milk. Why are they serving espressos at a funeral?"

"Would you prefer they served Iced caramel lattes?" she asks with a huff.

"As a matter of fact" he answers, "yes!"

~

"No" This idiot. We watched it all happen, they're frolicking chatting something we can't catch and he's still in denial.

"Stefan, listen" Damon implores despite himself, "he took a sip of coffee and spit it out. The coffee has vervain in it. That's exhibit 1, Exhibit 2... the other day I couldn't compel her. Exhibit 3, she was being shady in an empty hallway. You were right there, Exhibit 4-"

"Damon" Stefan sighs, "you're spiraling. The other day you were convinced that they were in the council. Now you're convinced he's a vampire and she's a witch. This isn't fanfiction Damon."

"No little brother" Damon drawls, "This is our very real messed up life which is why there are no coincidences. Especially because Katherine is here."

"Fine" Stefan relents, finally, "there's a high school carnival tonight..."

"We'll take care of them there" Damon finishes.

"No" Ugh, Stefan, "We'll investigate."

"Fine" Damon relents, "how do we know they'll show up, given everything they've... skipped?"

"I'll invite them" Stefan answers.

Well...

~

They're, embarrassingly, chuckling like teenagers when Venkat sees Stefan approach them.

"Oh shit" he mutters.

She follows his sight and her eyes widen, she hits him lightly and mumbles, "I told you this wasn't appropriate behavior."

She turns to Stefan who is now standing just a couple feet before them, "We're sorry. We know this is disrespectful."

Surprisingly, he chuckles, "Oh no.. I know funerals can be boring, especially when you know no one."

"Yeah" Venkat nods with a guilty smile, "but we're still sorry."

"Don't worry about it" Stefan says, "I'm not policing you guys."

She gives him a strained smile, he continues, "I was just wondering why you guys didn't show up to the Founder's day celebrations..."

"Oh yeah" she drawls, they skipped it, "We were out of station. Our parents went, initially we were supposed to come too but well our schedules clashed."

"Your schedules clashed?" He asked confused, "What happened?"

"Well" Venkat answered, "We went to Cincinnati to watch a movie."

Stefan looks baffled, "you went to Cincinnati.. to.. watch a movie?"

At the expense of not sounding crazy, Padhma continues, "It's an Indian movie. It doesn't play around here."

"Oh" he almost sighs, "I see. You guys like movies huh?"

Venkat shrugs and Padhma chuckles. "I like them too" he continues.

"Really?" Venkat asks and Padhma follows, "are you in the film club here?"

"No" Stefan says with a dry laugh, "listen there's a school Carnival tonight. I'm sure you know.. are you planning to come?"

"Uhm" she mumbles not knowing what to say.

"You should come" he implores.

"We will come" Venkat answers, "thanks for the invite Stefan."

He nods with a smile, they smile back and he leaves.

"You think they'll agree?" Padhma turns to Venkat.

"Sure they will" Venkat answers, "It's a high school event and we've been on our best behaviour."

~

"Well played Fincher" Damon teases him as soon as he comes back, "smooth."

"We have to find out who the 'they' they were referring to is." Stefan says not playing that game.

"We will" Damon smirks.

~

"This is the worst high school carnival of my life" Damon says phantom dusting his pants.

"This is the only high school carnival of your life" Stefan points out standing beside him.

"Har har Stefan" Damon bites. Stefan smirks.

"So... we've got problems 1,2,3 covered... moving on to problem 4... where are the brown love birds?" Damon quips.

"I did spot them earlier, they were playing some games" Stefan answers, "They should be around."

"Let's go find them" Damon smirks all evil debauchery in glory.

Finding two shifty possibly humans or maybe vampires should be easy for two fine vampires such as the Salvatores.

Except they've combed the entire ground and haven't found a whiff of trace.

"Where are they?" Damon almost shouts, annoyed.

"They'll be here.. they'll be here.." Stefan placates.

"Who are you searching for?" Elena asks them having seen the fuss.

"Have you seen Padmuh and Whenkat?" Stefan asks her, in a 'this is important but don't worry' tone.

"Padmuh and Whenkat?" She asked.

"Yes" Damon hissed, "the Indians."

"They left" she stated.

"They left?" Stefan asked, incredulous.

"Yeah.." she said confused, "something about a curfew."

Stefan looks at Damon, completely exasperated.

"Curfew?!" Damon bites, borderline hysterical, "IT'S 9:30!!"

To be continued

Part 2 https://www.tumblr.com/daceofs/767922715345764352/so-we-start-from-season-2-episode-3-season

[dykeseesgod]

none of the dog sees god characters are popular theyre all weirdo loser freaks no one likes but the majority of them are too self centered to even realize this. my reasoning 👇 (ITS REALLY LONG AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE IMAGES. WARNING)

ok this has kinda like always been how i interpreted things and then i looked literally anywhere else where people are talking about dog sees god and all the summaries are like pigpen and charlie brown and peppermint patty and marcie are COOL and POPULAR and BULLY the UNDERLING that is SCHROEDER. and that just like. doesnt feel right? like narratively that feels incorrect so im going to explain this now.

first ok. so this is also like a completely separate pet peeve of mine but the text literally never says that cb and matt play football like literally every single fucking source everywhere says. like matts page on the villains wiki says one of his hobbies is playing football and like. no???? they never???? say that????? like ok. we know their school HAS a football team (beethoven mentions it in the vipers nest) and we know cb and matt play SOME sport (matt mentions that they "shower together after practice" in the hangover) but the connection is never explicitly drawn between the two. in FACT beethovens line about the football team (below)

kind of like. goes against the idea that cb and matt are on the football team??? like hes talking to cb here i feel like if beethoven were to mention even sarcastically ogling a group that cb is apart of hed make some kind of comment about it. like this is before their whole thing gets resolved theyre still fighting when he says this line it would make complete sense for cb to say something about this. and like ok its peanuts right like just reminding everyone that its peanuts. you know what sport it would make more sense that charlie fucking brown plays like you know what sport it would seem logical for him to play oh i dont know fucking BASEBALL????? im realizing now that this is like a lot less relevant to my original idea than i thought but i still want to keep it here. i think its just kinda like. its not canon that theyre super popular stars of the football team for all we know they could be playing fucking tennis the fact that they play A Sport doesnt make them well liked. also it literally never says at any point that theyre even good even if they are on the football team they could be the worst players we dont fucking know!!! need i remind you of charlie browns only* experience with football

*besides youre in the super bowl charlie brown but that specials bad so were ignoring it. and its not like he was good at football in that either

and if you buy into the idea that they play baseball (which you should baseball is such an integral part of peanuts it makes the most sense) charlie brown (and pigpen for what its worth. also like everyone else too) is DOGSHIT at baseball like its an entire decades long running joke how fucking awful they are at baseball. "maybe he practiced and got better" hes terrible to his bones practice does nothing. heart

ok onto more substantial points. so if you buy into the interpretation that their childhood was just literally normal peanuts (which you should because its very funny) then you can assume that these guys have all known eachother since elementary school (and even if you dont there are multiple lines that reference them being friends as kids so point still stands). but also by virtue of dsg being a peanuts parody and a lot of the comedy just coming from "haha that s like from the comic strip :)" (I WILL TALK ABOUT THE INHERENT TRAGEDY OF THIS LATER) besides like. one guy. every single character mentioned is an established peanuts character. and like idk about you but my highschool is a LOT bigger than my elementary school. like. there are substantially more people there. what im trying to say that while not impossible it is fucking WEIRD to have a decently sized friendgroup that has not changed the slightest bit in almost a decade. what im getting at is these bitches are INSULAR!!!!!!!! they are extremely hyperfocused on an only think about people from their childhoods. i will get back to this

LETS TALK ABOUT SALISBURY STEAK CAN WE TALK ABOUT SALISBURY STEAK PLEASE GOD MAC IVE BEEN DYING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SALISBURY STEAK ALL DAY ok so this scene. woof. ok. this is where the majority of my reasoning for this comes from. first, i want to draw attention to the fact that frieda, the girl that tricia and marcy make fun of so frequently, is another goddamn peanuts character. and so another elementary school friend. it just doesnt end with these bitches do you think about anything else!!!!!!

if tricia and marcy had any kind of actual social standing, them constantly gossiping and shittalking frieda would matter to her. being so constantly and relentlessly made fun of by popular people would have an impact (hi yes i know youre thinking of beethoven ignore him for now were gonna come back to him). but it doesnt! frieda doesnt care about what tricia and marcy think of her, why would she? theyre just those two girls from elementary school who are angry all the time. friedas on the outside, shes not apart of this. the only student mentioned thats not a peanuts character? thats her boyfriend. she is the only window into the world of normalcy

THIS^^ THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE LINE THAT GAVE ME THIS WHOLE IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE. im fairly certain the purpose of this line is to place doubt in our minds on whether or not what we assumed the entire play is actually true. which its not!!! of course this isnt the cool table, all these people do is argue an gossip an stew in their own misery!!!!

ummmm lighting round of things that support my point. if they really were these ultimate cool all powerful popular kids why the hell are they still friends with van. van is a burnout stoner with a sister in an psych ward. considering the things they pounce on to make fun of, this is MORE than enough to completely open fire. but theyre not gonnaaaaa because theyre in the same boat as him!!!!! van and them are on the same level of popularity!!!!!! ummalso THE PARTY the party. the only other guests mentioned to be at this party are franklin (another peanuts character, another childhood friend) and fucking RERUN ? in the comics rerun is established to be MUCH younger than the main cast, even younger than sally, who is mostly shown to be in kindergarten, meaning hed be in middle school at the MOST. and its not like this is a party at vans house and his brother just happens to be there NO!!! THIS IS MARCYS PARTY HE BROUGHT RERUN WITH HIM LITERALLY WHY IS RERUN THERE. THIS PARTY FUCKING SUCKS I KNOW IT IN MY SOUL.

were coming back to beethoven now the thing is that hes in the exact same boat as everyone else. while we do know that its not just the main cast that are outwardly homophobic ("i only got called a queer 3 times ^_^!") it is consistently shown that the main perpetrators are the main cast, much more so than anyone else. beethoven posits that the only reason cb only got called queer is because everyones scared hell beat them up, but i do think its worth considering that the main cast are the only ones who would ever enact actual violence. beethoven is in the same situation, but moreso by force than by choice. hes forced to relive reminders of traumatic childhood events and forced to cling to the past BECAUSE the people that target him used to be his friends. theres a reason they were the only people in peer counseling.

like i said, there is a certain tragedy that comes with dsg being a peanuts parody. its because of the referential comedy that bert royal created a cast of characters so self centered and so hung up on the past that theyre still extremely fixated on the kinds of people they were and the drama they had and their feelings about eachother from when they were literally fucking 8 years old. and isnt that jsut so much more thematically interesting than "oohh popular kid bully gay unpopular kid ooohhhh" theyre all unreliable narrators!!!!!!!! theyre all sick freaks and everyone knows it!!!!!!!! there is no possible justification for their actions, theyre hypocrites plain and simple.

or maybe im reading into everything too much idk its 1 am im talking about the fucking peanuts yaoi fag play. bye

[itsclydebitches]

Continuing my perhaps delusional argument/hope that Ted permanently returning to Kansas is just a red herring, I was thinking about our references and callbacks this episode. Specifically, how they don't paint Kansas in a positive or unique light.

The Wizard of Oz pinball game is definitely the most on-the-nose nod to his return, yet in the scene itself Ted is literally refusing to play.

When we get a closeup on the machine we're shown Dorothy's house spinning out of control. That is, a moment when she leaves Kansas for the bright world of Oz, not the ruby slippers of her return.

Similarly, Beard loses his game before Ted walks over. The ending of the Wicked Witch is one wherein Dorothy (Ted) does not go back home.

(I'm not entirely sure what to do with this one yet, but having Mae quote "This Be the Verse" is certainly A Choice. Though I think the overall message -- people, specifically parents, will inevitably hurt their kids -- is an uplifting and very relevant argument within Ted Lasso's heartfelt context -- ergo we should acknowledge that we'll never be perfect while still striving to improve -- but that last line? Oof. "Get out early as you can / And don't have kids yourself"? That's not the proposed solution I'd expect for an episode that was sending Ted back to his son for good. Obviously Ted already has Henry, but it may be significant that Mae eschews a generic 'You can do it!' argument for a far more nuanced and harder to swallow conclusion, perhaps one that heralds Ted's controversial decision to stay separated from Henry for at least part of the year.)

(Also let's toss in the fact that Dottie uses a football metaphor -- not American football -- to describe how Ted needs to parent: sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, mostly you just tie, and all you can do it keep playing.)

Finally, we've got references to both BBQ sauce and sunflowers via Ted's WiFi password and the bread Dottie bakes him, Ted's "favorite."

Half a season ago these would have been straightforward references to Kansas, positive ones at that. However, post-S3E6 (literally titled "Sunflowers") Ted has both of these beloved objects tied to the UK instead. He enjoys the beauty of Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the Amsterdam museum and finds a BBQ sauce so good that it inspires him to (hopefully!) win it all in his English sport.

It might just be me reading into things because I'm looking for my preferred ending to the series... but also I don't think I am because it's weird that Kansas is continually framed as a negative this season. Ted is still super awkward with Michelle. Her new boyfriend is kinda awful and likewise makes him incredibly uncomfortable (understandably). The Wizard of Oz references aren't targeting the happy aspects of the story, or even the parts about going home. The symbolic references to Ted's beloved state (sunflowers, BBQ sauce, the little green army men) have all been integrated into his life here. We get a whole episode about how once Ted learns to focus on Henry instead of Michelle, Henry has a fantastic time living in London. Hell, this episode opens with Ted enthusiastically greeting everyone he passes on his walk, a beloved member of the community, a staple of this town... and then his mood turns sour when he hits his Kansas-sprung mom.

Obviously Ted is undergoing some last-minute growth when it comes to being a father to Henry (and healing the rift with Dottie), but I think Ted's in-universe improvement is misleading, implying that because he may think he needs to return to Kansas, that's actually how the story is going to end. If that were the end-goal though, I would expect the subtext to have a more hopeful, optimistic feel to it; something that not just implies Ted's return, but argues why he would want to outside of Henry.

If none of that is relevant... that's going to be even worse for me than Ted just going back to Kansas. A Kansas ending framed as a positive is far from my preference, but it's (arguably) a strong conclusion to Ted's journey. A Kansas ending after all these implied negatives both isn't my preference and feels like more objectively bad writing.

[angy-grrr]

hello!! about your post the other day on how people think bkdk is just another sns, do you happen to have the source for ‘horikoshi dislikes the ending of naruto’? its such an integral part of my bkdk worldview and why im so convinced theyre gonna be canon, but i cant for the life of me figure out where horikoshi mentioned that 😅

This is the link of a transcription of the twitter thread! This was from the middle of 2015, even before Katsuki got kidnapped and wasn't super clear whether he would stay in the hero or villain, so I think we need to keep it in mind when reading about this too.

To give more perspective, a reminder of what happened in that time: Bakugou vs Deku 1 happened in January, and this interview probably happened when the sports festival was starting (as we see it goes until August/September)... A year later we get Katsuki's origin chapter, two years later the second Kacchan vs Deku fight after the kidnapping and rescuing, and six years later we get the apology.

(Interview under the cut, the parts where this is discussed)

The interviewer asks what Horikoshi thought of Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry, and Horikoshi says it was frustrating. Horikoshi says he really liked the "Valley of the End" and thought that would be the end of the series. - Kishimoto notes a lot of readers though Naruto and Sasuke would make up after the Valley of the End and go back to the village together. But he made them fight. - Horikoshi continues that all the misunderstandings during the second part were frustrating to watch and when it all came together in the final fight he almost felt like a parent watching these characters he had grown up with, and he was rooting for them both. - Kishimoto says he's happy to hear that, he wanted people to be able to understand both Naruto and Sasuke's feelings. Horikoshi notes it was really emotional, built up over 15 years. - Kishimoto notes he likes Bakugo as a rival and found it funny how he's an ally almost like a villain, telling the main character "die". He thinks Horikoshi did a good job since you don't know if Bakugo will stay an ally or become an enemy. - Horikoshi notes Bakugo is horrible, but thought it would be more interesting that way. He says he wants him to be like Vegeta from Dragon Ball but doesn't know how it'll play out from here. Kishimoto says he thinks it'll be interesting whichever direction Bakugo goes.

I think this last comment is kind of a reference to what he planned for prototype Katsuki Gougou -he was a really nice guy who would insult ppl accidentally and be loud during fights, but he found it annoying. He probably thought and took inspiration from V*geta in order to craft a rude personality for the beginning, and as we know it wasn't clear whether he would even ever support Izuku in the first place or stay as an obstacle to surpass.

I dont believe we are reading into things when thinking Katsuki has become way more than another V*geta, and that his relationship with Izuku doesn't resemble the one he has with G*ku, as far as I know -cmon he is literally crying over feeling like he lost his chance to be by deku's side forever, while not caring about his own arm or possibility of not being a hero, I dont know about DBZ but I dont think something similar happened lol.

When we say he doesnt like it, its because he clearly states very bold declarations in front of the author -who is basically a sensei, a superior role than his and who he should always respect the most. So being critical about it makes it even more clear how much he truly disliked it -he was tired of the misunderstandings and hoped they would just go back together to the village. So, to say the least, he never really truly enjoyed the idea of a rivalry where the characters are so important to each other, but end up fighting for more unnecessary misunderstandings.

We can see how he took notes from the whole everyone coming together for the fight, and he likes that emotional aspect -also making tribute to DBZ with everyone cheering for the hero just like many ppl did irl. We'll have to see what happens, but I believe we'll see more of Katsuki and the reasons why he was able to survive this long and see vestige All Might

[jamiesfootball]

more leverage/tl thoughts. any time they need someone undercover in sports or labor, they send eliot. which of course makes sense. for eliot. and also probably au roy.

but consider: jamie is NO good at any of that stuff. he can do a lot of sports, especially anything where you have to be fast or agile, and he takes the boxing job - though he has to fight roy on it, but roy is on his last legs and they all know it. but when it comes to labor jamie doesn't know how to do shit, and he's prissy too. doesn't like getting his hands dirty. he's totally comfortable in his own sweat, sure, but he even gets a bit squeamish at blood he was the one to spill especially if it gets on him (this was never a reason roy cited for why he didn't think jamie should be their new hitter, but in hindsight it's Very Obvious lmao).

anyway, so the team is always like yeah you send in the hitter to fill an undercover role in labor, because his asset is his body, right? wrong. there's a gradient when jamie switches from hitting to hacking, a small transitional period of time where he's doing both, but roy always has to step in for any "hitter" job that isn't... well, hitting. he gives jamie all kinds of shit for being a gen z city boy who doesn't know how to change a tire or whatever, but tbf he's glad for the excuse to only be part time retired lol.

& then when they bring isaac(?) on to be roy's replacement since jamie didn't work out (and roy never stops saying he told everyone so about that), he doesn't know how to do a lot of labor stuff too, but he's happy to learn - unlike jamie, who would do the work of course but he'd whine about it and even when he shut up and bore it you could still tell he hated every second - but usually they don't have time for him to get fully trained in stuff so they have roy on comms talking him thru it and jamie always chimes in with totally wrong info just to be obnoxious aksjfks.

My hand didn't slip so much as it went ice skating, stayed out past curfew, and forgot why we were here in the first place:

"How are you so bad at this?” Roy asked over comms, and it took every bit of his restraint for Jamie not to throw the big-scissors right through the mark’s window.

Bad enough that he had to put up with the older man critiquing his fighting style on a daily basis, and the smugness when he pinned Jamie in a headlock, and the eyerolls when he thought Jamie was being purposely ignorant about some complicated maneuver.

(And he wasn't being deliberately obtuse. Roy just knew more obscure fighting techniques than God, and appeared to think that Jamie should have learned capoeira on the back streets of Manchester while reading a dictionary.)

That's what Jamie had to put up with if he wanted to get better. That was the price of having a stable gig, one that paid per diem even when they weren't on the con. Ted basically paid him to hone his craft, on the off-chance it'd be useful to him later. Jamie banked money, his bones didn't break, and the only note on his head these days were the sticky notes Roy left on his forehead when Jamie nodded off in the breakroom.

("I think it says 'Dante's Inferno,'" Keeley said as they shared a stolen sandwich; Roy really was a good cook. She squinted at the tiny, furious handwriting. "Do you think it's a clue?")

He understood the old man was frustrated; his grandad knee had the structural integrity of a broken bottle that'd been glued back together. He'd be stuck in Beard's weird, smelly little van for at least the duration of the job. But it didn't give him the right to be a dick to Jamie about yard work. Where did Roy get off thinking Jamie had ever learned to prune a rose bush?

"You can't cut it down that low or you risk it having to grow up from the graft."

Jamie yanked the big-scissors back from a deadened stalk. “Then you should’ve swapped me with Keeley,” he hissed.

A while ago she'd been gagging over the comms. Her and Ted had a long debate--the kind Jamie could never get away with--about whether she actually had to clean the mark's bathroom as part of her reconnaissance. Yes, the tank was an excellent place to hide stolen jewels; no, she'd never found one there in her life.

Jamie wondered if the housekeepers wore maid outfits. Keeley would look dead fit in a maid outfit. He'd look dead fit in a maid outfit. Anything would look better on him than the gray, stiff-collared maintenance uniform Beard had presented him without comment.

The earbuds made it sound like Roy was right behind him, whispering disapprovingly, "Keeley's on the inside so she can crack the safe when she finds it. And you're supposed to be keeping a lookout on the armed guards. Focus." The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Focus, he said. Like Jamie had the luxury of forgetting that not ten metres away stood a burly man armed with an assault rifle and a blind spot in the cameras. All Jamie had was a pair of big-scissors and a prickly old bastard in his ear.

Honestly? He'd rather scrub the bathroom.

Jamie could scrub the hell out of a bathroom. Hell, he could scrub a carpet so well the landlord would never find the bloodstain. Roy might get high and mighty when Jamie admitted that he'd never used a drill or whatever, but Jamie knew the ins and outs of patching holes in the wall. He couldn’t change a tire, but he could steal a hubcap in under thirty seconds. He couldn’t slice an onion, but he could make twenty pounds at the grocers stretch for two weeks. Crouched eye-level with the rose bush and with a hidden spycam on his top button, him and Roy faced the same barren pot of twigs. Somehow Roy could see the instructions that would guide it to blooming, but Jamie couldn't. To him the rose bush was a dead thing, simple as that.

The big-scissors in his hand curved sharp and short with a thick handle for wielding. He was sure they had real a name for them, but he was also pretty sure his dad used to have something similar around for threatening the debtors who ran late on payments.

He could use a hammer. Roy never asked him if he knew how to use a hammer.

He made another go at the rose bush and got himself pricked for his trouble.

"Shit!" he swore, and over the comms Roy demanded to know, "Are you bleeding?"

"Don't leave DNA," Beard added. Jamie startled; he'd forgotten about the creepy weirdo entirely.

Danger shifted to his left. The guard rounded towards him, boots crunching in the gravel. "Hey! Is there a problem?"

Roy swore. Beard warned him not to engage.

Jamie rose to his feet with his best charming grin slapped on like a plaster over a nasty prick. He held his bleeding hand out like an offering, and with the other he slipped the big-scissors into the sleeve of his shirt.

One of Rebecca's first rules of the con: if you're uncomfortable, use it to make the mark uncomfortable.

He squeezed the big-scissors tight. "Yeah sorry, mate. Got a bit of a nasty cut--don't want it to infect. Could you point me somewhere I could clean up?"

[secretlyblondexo]

TERF

This word leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Why is it that when women want to protect spaces made for them, they’re called a “terf?” This makes no sense to me. Although I support trans women, I do feel like there are certain restrictions that they’ll have to come across in society because they are anomalies. When you are an anomaly to a group, if you want to blend in or be accepted, you should not disturb the order of those who you wish to integrate with. If majority women say that you cannot be in women’s sports because you’re not biologically a woman, accept it. If majority women don’t feel safe with you in their restrooms, accept it and move on with your life. I like to use the example of Tarzan (yes, Tarzan).

Tarzan was socialized with the apes and taught ape behavior, but he knew and the apes knew that he was different (because he was human). He was an anomaly to their society. He was welcomed to do certain things within their community, but when there were issues that only apes could handle, he had to be left out because he could get hurt, or because he wasn’t physically or biologically equipped to handle it. In turn, there were also things that Tarzan could do that the apes could not because they were not biologically or physically equipped for it. There’s more examples, but if you watch Tarzan at full length, then you’ll catch them.

*Anyway*

To me, being a “terf” isn’t an inherently bad thing. Many “terfs” are just trying to protect spaces that women have worked hard to occupy and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Yes, they exclude trans women because trans women are trans women. The way I see it, they don’t have hate for trans women at all. They are frustrated with the backlash and misogyny they face for simply wanting to protect spaces that the women before us fought to have. The backlash they get grows into frustration and that frustration grows into resentment which causes them to say things that are ugly. I don’t agree with the hurtful things they say about trans women but I do understand.

*Back to Bathrooms*

Obviously, if you pass really well, no one is going to go into the stalls demanding to see what you look like down there or asking you if you’re trans. To me, if you’re fully transitioned, I feel like it’s sort of nit picky to say you can’t come into a woman’s restroom because you socially pass as a woman and no one can tell. On the other hand, I also feel like using the family restroom is respectful and considerate to women who still are not comfortable regardless of how well one passes. Keep in mind that young girls occupy these spaces too. There should be more advocacy for trans inclusive or trans exclusive (meaning exclusive to trans people, not excluding them) spaces so then everyone is comfortable and safe.

[chenvs3000f24]

Blog #9 Unit 10

As I develop my personal ethic as a nature interpreter, I am reminded of the urgency and responsibility that comes with this role. The world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, yet our connection to nature is dwindling. As Jacob Rodenburg (2019) mentions, “being an environmental educator in today’s world feels like you are asked to stop a rushing river armed only with a teaspoon”. To further this message, in a climate change discussion presented by the David Suzuki Foundation, it was mentioned that in San Diego, a city surrounded by stunning coastlines, 90% of kids can’t swim, 95% have never been on a boat, and 36% have never even seen the ocean despite living less than 20 minutes away (DavidSuzukiFDN, 2012). Both these points highlight a growing problem that extends beyond just San Diego. It’s a disconnect that, as a nature interpreter, I am committed to solving.

Once I stated this, I realized I might be in over my head by saying “solving” and rather maybe should say alleviate or mitigate. Even with mitigating this gap, I thought where would I start? How can I encourage a generation to care for a world they have rarely even experienced first-hand.

Connecting two worlds: The advantage of my generation:

Being born in the early 2000s, I believe I would have a unique perspective to take this challenge on. I had the advantage of growing up in an environment where outdoor play was common and afternoons were spent exploring the woods, playing sports outside, or simply daydreaming beneath a vast blue sky. I still remember the feeling of endless opportunities while emerging in nature, free of any digital world. During this time, even schooling was different. There was a greater emphasis on hands-on activities, outdoor field trips, and real-world discoveries than on screens and online classes. I have a vivid memory of the evolution of learning boards, which started with plain whiteboards and blackboards, to projectors (figure 1), and then to smartboards and more high-tech equipment.

Figure 1: this is an example of a projector that I still vividly remember my teachers using to give lessons. (Whatever Happened to the Overhead Projector?, 2021)

However, I was still young enough to experience the quick shift to a tech-centric lifestyle. As smartphones, tablets, and social media grew more integrated into our daily lives, I saw firsthand outdoor activities take the backseat. Children today, who have never experienced a world without continual digital connectivity, are missing out on the simple pleasures and deep connections that come from connecting with nature.

This dual perspective gives me an advantage when interpreting nature. I understand what today’s children are drawn to in the digital age, but I also recognize the irreplaceable significant of both hands-on and physical experiences. My goal is to use this insight to develop programs that combine the best of both worlds, utilizing technology to enhance, rather than replace, our relationship with nature.  

One of my firm views is that everyone, particularly children, has an innate urge to interact with the natural world. Jacob Rodenburg (2019), highlights this through his experiences that younger children are always eager to appreciate nature, all they need is a chance. He describes taking children to wetlands and seeing their faces light up as they discover salamanders and frogs. These experiences have taught me that the first step in encouraging environmental care is to instill a sense of wonder and curiosity.

Since this is a longer post I want to stop here at halfway and give everyone a break from reading and do this activity:

Think of a place in nature that holds a special memory for you- maybe a childhood park, a hidden trail, or even your backyard. Now think about if that is something children growing up now would experience. What did it teach you? How can you use this place to inspire someone else to love the environment?

As a nature interpreter, my job is not only to inform, but to inspire. Interpretation should aim to create memorable, meaningful experiences that inspire action (Beck et al., 2018). This includes acknowledging that both children and adults need to reconnect with nature on their own terms (Beck et al., 2018). It is not enough to discuss climate change or species extinction. Instead, I want to give hands-on, engaging experiences that will make people care profoundly about the environment around them. I can even do this by incorporating technologies, such as microscopes, magnifying glasses, and telescopes to look at nature. For example, when I was young my dad showed me how you can hold a magnifying glass up to a leaf in the sun, and the leaf will get a hole burnt in it. I still remember this experience to this day.

Here you can see a video of this in action:

https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-5804798-scout-burning-leaves-by-loupe-tries-holding

Futher, the identification of global warming as a severe hazard is not a new development. At the 1988 global conference, Steve Lewis and other renowned scientists raised the alarm about the dangers of climate change, urging the world to act. Despite decades of growing scientific data, development has halted and, in some cases, reversed (DavidSuzukiFDN, 2012). This lack of momentum is that the method was frequently based on just providing data and using fear to elicit change, rather than developing compelling, meaningful experiences that could inspire a deeper, long-term connection to the subject.

An interpreting technique that appeals to me is one that mixes storytelling and discovery. Rodenburg's significance on micro-environments serves as an inspiration for me when writing for younger readers (Jacob Rodenburg, 2019). Instead of bombarding children with information about vanishing glaciers or plastic-filled oceans, I can focus on the simple wonders right in their own backyard. For example, how he brought up the idea to take them to a local park and ask, "I wonder who lives under this rock?" so when they lift it and discover a wiggling earthworm or a little salamander, they feel as if that was their own discovery (Jacob Rodenburg, 2019). It's a time of pure exhilaration, where the thrill of discovery creates a deeper, more personal relationship to nature, instilling an actual care for the environment.

I also believe in the power of storytelling. By crafting narratives about the plants, animals, and landscapes around us, I can turn facts into intriguing stories that pique the imagination. This strategy not only makes knowledge more memorable, but it also helps people create a stronger emotional bond with their surroundings by transforming abstract concepts into relatable, lived experiences (Beck et al., 2018).

Quick interactive moment: What's one tiny thing you can do today to reconnect with nature? It may be as simple as planting a flower, clearing up trash. or taking a few minutes tonight to observe the stars.

References

Beck, L., Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a Better World.

DavidSuzukiFDN. (2012, July 20). David Suzuki and Richard Louv @AGO [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DI1Ffdl6Y

Jacob Rodenburg. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope | CLEARING: PNW Journal of Environmental Education in the Pacific Northwest. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Whatever happened to the overhead projector? (2021, November 15). Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom  Practice. https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2021/11/15/whatever-happened-to-the-overhead-projector/

[briarthorns]

Spitballing a Head Canon with no in-depth research after the recent events of Chapter 7 because AAAAA—

Spoilers for Chapter 7 (naturally) and unreleased events for the EN servers:

From a meta standpoint, we know that the Limited Events/Cards are ‘characters’ you can pull for Twisted Wonderland. They cast different spells/have different stats.

But I wonder if some (if not all) of these events within universe are things that would happen within a Sleeping World Malleus created due to his Unique Magic. A way to pass the time/distract the residents of the Dream. As noted, after Malleus finishes singing Once Upon a Dream (holy shit dude, why he gotta do this to me), we cut to the title card that is shown when the Game Boots up.

Repeating Birthdays/New Years/annual events are the biggest evidence of this. We started getting Birthday Events back in 2020, with each year adding a new “variation” on the theme (the white dress coat and sash, the varsity jacket, the Broom Bloom get up and probably a new one come August for Riddle). Most, if not all the main student cast should have graduated if we went by a time scale of “this world”.

Cutting back to meta, this is just us being fed pieces of lore to make us fall in love with the characters. But Riddle Rosehearts on his way to celebrate his 4th ‘birthday’ on the NRC campus? Plus, his personality isn’t like that of the Crimson Tyrant we say in Chapter 1. For that matter, none of the OB Gang are like this. They’re no where as severe as they were when their Chapters were rolling,

There is also the matter of ‘offsite’ events happening. Some are in line with the school curriculum (e.g. Beans Day, the Camping Event and debatably, the Masquerade Event), but others like the Arabian Sands event, Harveston and the Sunset Savana…that would eat away at school time. Crowley may be bird-brained, but Professor Trein takes no BS. Plus, we have to consider everything that is happening in the main game (the Sports Event, the VDC event, holidays, potentially even exams). It would be a lot that happens within the space of one year, and it just seems like too much to fit in.

Malleus is considered one of the most powerful mages in the world of Twisted Wonderland, so the idea of him creating a functioning dreamscape is possible. He did say that he would make them sleep for a millennia so there’s plenty of time to happen in a dreamworld (and dreamworld logic is known to be funky at the best of times).

As for NPCs we’ve only seen (e.g Rollo, Epel’s Grandma), it could be that Malleus’s spell allowed for students and staff to have.. ‘input’ so to say. The Dream is able to draw on previous memories/experiences, creating scenarios for NRC to experience. For example, a school exchange may have happened with Noble Bell College in a previous year, with Trein as chaperone and Rollo in attendance. This would mean that the Spell to create the NPCs we interact with. I

There has been an element of danger involved with the story events. But honestly, I think it could be that Malleus’s Overblot has an effect on the spell or could just be how the dream works. Everything got resolved in the end and no one died/got seriously hurt.

The Time Loop Theory could also be integrated into this, as the dream will repeat the one year that everyone is together. And when Lilian’s retirement rolls around, boom it’s Rewind Time. Thus, a Groundhog Day but the length of a school year. Sometimes certain events happen, some don’t. But there are key events no one can avoid. The events of the Main Story line.

Granted, this is mainly conjecture and my own observations of the game. I could be well off the mark but it would be interesting to confirm this to be the case; everything happened but didn’t actually happen. Saying that I had suspicions about the events in correlation to the actual story line after the fact may be a bit cowardly, but hey it is what it is

[tunabesimpin]

Tsukiko and Marc will be attending the party!

Tsukiko’s favorite summer activity is swimming or playing volleyball! So they plan to those at the party. Their favorite color is purple. They’ll be wearing a dark purple bikini with a moon and star pattern. They’ll also be bringing along Jack as their plus one! Jack was convinced to go after Tsukiko talked about what good exercise he’ll get by swimming and playing sports on the beach. After hearing about that, he just had to go!

Marc’s favorite summer activity is simply just playing in the sand and eating ice cream (He can’t swim). He’ll try to get Azul to join him in his version of summer fun. He has to make sure Azul is relaxing too! (This is TOTALLY NOT because he wants to spend time with Azul ahahaha) His favorite color is blue. He’s gonna be wearing a light blue button-up and black swimming trunks

--- Since spotting Azul, Marc has been working hard to convince the businessman to build sandcastles. It would be a nice time to relax and have some fun outside of swimming. Marc was sure this would be a good point to drag Azul into hanging out, but Azul was ever persistent.

Azul quipped "I just don't see how this can benefit me. I should be running the buffet right now Marc." Despite this, he was already seated in the sand holding a plastic rake. Marc chuckled as he placed another bucket of sand down "Think of it more as inspiration and fine motor practice there's more to just pushing sand around to making a sandcastle! It has to have structural integrity and design!"

Azul rolled his eyes and scoffed "My fine motor skills are perfectly fine thank you. You make a valid point though, I suppose I will humor you." Now determined to show Marc he could make the best looking sandcastle.

However after getting the base built, the yells of the volleyball tournaments were growing more intense. Tsukiko and Jack were playing duos against Leona and Ruggie. With all the jocks on the field it was no wonder things were heating up so fast!

Glancing to see the commotion Azul's eyes nearly popped out his head as a stray volleyball flew towards him and Marc. "Heads up!!!" Tsukiko warned as the ball hurled over. Marc barely dodged the ball, but unfortunately the sandcastle between him and Azul was crashed. Tsukiko and Jack were apologetic as Azul scolded them about being more careful! Marc sighed, but was quick to suggest a solution "Why don't you just help us build an even better castle then?" With mutual agreement, the four decided to work together! Not without some good batter and squabbling as well though. ---

AAAA PEBBLE THANK YOU COMING!!!! I'm so glad i got the chance to draw Marc!!! I really wanted everyone to be in the image so i thought what if a lil silliness happened lolol! RIP sandcastle Thank you so much and i hope you enjoy!!!! <3

[churchofnix]

The Church Of Nix

Nix Despair and Build a Better Tomorrow

Draft 2024.07

We, the people, united in our commitment to a just and equitable society, rise to proclaim a new vision for our shared future. We envision a nonviolent, secular, and pluralistic democracy that fosters happiness, joy, and human flourishing through evidence-based policies and the unwavering protection of human rights.

Our Core Principles

1. Nonviolence:

We reject violence in all its forms, both as a means and as an end. We believe that peaceful dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect are the foundations upon which a truly democratic society is built.

2. Secularism:

We champion the absolute separation of church and state, advocating for policies based solely on reason, evidence, and the scientific method. We recognize the diversity of beliefs within our society and believe that a secular government is the only way to ensure that all citizens are treated equally, regardless of their faith or lack thereof.

3. Pluralism:

We celebrate the diversity of our society, recognizing that our strength lies in our differences. We embrace the richness of perspectives, experiences, and cultures that make up our communities, and we strive to create a society where everyone feels valued and respected.

4. Participatory Democracy:

We believe that democracy is not a spectator sport, but an active and ongoing process. We demand the full and meaningful participation of all citizens in the decisions that affect their lives. We reject the notion that money is speech and affirm that the only true form of political expression is the human voice.

5. Accountability:

We hold our elected representatives accountable for their actions and decisions. We demand transparency, integrity, and a commitment to the public good from those who hold positions of power. We refuse to be silenced or marginalized, and we will not tolerate corruption or abuse of authority.

6. Transparency:

We believe that open and honest communication is essential for a healthy democracy. We demand that our government operates in a transparent manner, with all decisions and deliberations subject to public scrutiny. We reject secret deals, backroom negotiations, and hidden agendas.

7. Personal Beliefs and Liberties:

We recognize the importance of personal beliefs and values in shaping individual lives, and we uphold the right to individual liberty as long as it does not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others. We firmly oppose any attempts to weaponize personal liberties to discriminate, marginalize, or harm others.

8. Science and Evidence-Based Policy:

We believe that public policy should be informed by the best available scientific evidence and guided by the principles of reason and rationality. We reject policies based on superstition, prejudice, or unfounded beliefs. Such an approach not only leads to more effective and equitable solutions, but also fosters an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive, as individuals are free to explore and experiment without fear of persecution or censorship.

9. Happiness and Well-being:

We believe that the pursuit of happiness and well-being is a fundamental human right. We advocate for policies that promote social, economic, and environmental conditions that enable all individuals to flourish.

Safeguarding Against Exploitation

To ensure that our movement remains true to its principles and does not devolve into a cult or any form of exploitative organization, we establish the following safeguards:

No Financial Exploitation

No Coercion or Manipulation

No Hierarchical Leadership

Transparency and Openness

Emphasis on Individual Autonomy

The Evolution of Our Movement

We recognize that our movement is not static, but a living entity that must adapt and evolve to meet the challenges of our time. We embrace change and encourage the formation of sects or subgroups within our movement that may wish to explore new ideas or approaches, as long as they adhere to our core principles.

Our Demands

An end to all forms of violence and discrimination.

A truly secular government.

Full and meaningful participation for all citizens.

Accountability for our elected representatives.

A transparent and open government.

Our Commitment

We, the people, pledge to work tirelessly to achieve these goals. We will not be deterred by setbacks or opposition. We will continue to raise our voices, organize our communities, and demand a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.

Join Us!

This is not just a manifesto; it is a call to action. We invite all who share our vision to join us in this struggle for a more just, equitable, and democratic society. Together, we can build a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

[thommi-tomate]

Interview with Lee PT.1

By: GQ Deutschland

You seemed to really like the fashion we picked out for the shoot. How did you experience the afternoon?

I had a lot of fun. The fashion was loud, but not too much, which I liked. I like it when it's special but discreet at the same time, without big brand names. Fashion should be timeless. I want to be able to leave it for a few years and then pull it out of the wardrobe again.

How do you integrate fashion into your life? Do you differentiate between normal everyday outfits and those for special occasions?

Of course there are special occasions when I try to be a bit better dressed than usual. But when I go to training, I don't really care what I wear. Otherwise, it's usually pretty quick and I don't give it much thought.

Has that changed over time?

I've always been interested in fashion, but for a while I was looking for my personal taste. Of course, in the beginning I wanted to look good above all else, but now it's mainly a matter of feeling and mood. That's why I like simple clothes that are easy to combine. With particularly eye-catching pieces, everything really has to match so that it actually looks good in the end.

(Leroy experienced first-hand just how much the spotlight can suddenly shine on you when you wear a graffiti-style Balenciaga jacket to national team training in 2019. The tabloids reported extensively, with one newspaper even putting price tags on his entire outfit. The - false - impression was created that Leroy cared more about his appearance than the sport - as if a jacket had any influence on how well someone plays football. In retrospect, however, Leroy certainly doesn't want to hang the moment too high.)

Do you consciously try to avoid such discussions today?

At that moment, I didn't really notice it at all. I even turned the jacket inside out and wore the lining inside out because I thought it was cooler (laughs). But I don't go to my closet now thinking about how people might react. I want to dress how I like it and how I feel comfortable. Some people like it and others don't, but that doesn't influence my decision. To be honest, the jacket was also a gift at the time

Does "feeling good" mean to you how comfortable an outfit is or how natural it feels?

Both, but someone can wear the coolest outfit - if you realize that the person in question doesn't represent this kind of fashion, then it quickly comes across as false and artificial. I think that the jacket thing was also made bigger than it was because these topics were already much more prominent on social media than before. Fashion is playing an increasingly important role and people are looking more at who is wearing which brands. I definitely don't aim to polarize.

In terms of fashion, the Germans are considered conservative. The best proof of this is the men's national team's pink away jersey, which has attracted a lot of - quite calculated - attention. How do you like it?

The colors are not restrained, but I am just as colorful with my football shoes. That's why I really like it

You're one of those players whose every gesture and failed action is interpreted negatively by the press. How do you deal with that?

I was warned early on by colleagues that little things could be blown up. That was very unusual for me as a younger player, especially at the beginning, and something that I only gradually became aware of.

Is that why you often hold back these days?

I don't feel like pretending to be something I'm not in order to avoid offending anyone. I wouldn't feel comfortable with that. That's why at some point I decided to put it all into perspective. I'm not someone who falls into a hole because of this kind of criticism or thinks: why is it always me? I've learned that I only perform at my best when I can play without any worries. It's impossible to please everyone and be liked by everyone

Do you read news about yourself or do you receive it?

Nowadays you get more than you want from social media (laughs). But I also get sent something from time to time or am asked about reports. I can't completely shut myself off from it, but I'm now good at assessing what is just an insignificant little thing. It's often the other way around: something is mercilessly hyped up. There, too, I know that it's just a snapshot in time. When things are going badly, everything is catastrophic. When things are going well, I can't do anything wrong. The right way is somewhere in the middle.

[jellogram]

Maybe it's because this is the Hates Sports website but I feel like discussions on here about transgender athletes miss two very vital points:

Height is a crucial factor in almost every sport. AMAB are usually taller than AFAB on average and that's a huge reason they're usually better at sports. If you grouped people together by height i.e. played everyone who is 5'6" together regardless of gender, you'd likely still see some gender variance, but significantly less. How much variance depends on the sport and the individuals. So AFAB are at a disadvantage, yes, but it's not because women are overall inferior. A lot of it is just because we're shorter.

The sports that are typically nationally or globally popular are almost invariably things that play into male body strengths. In addition to being shorter, females also typically have less upper body strength in exchange for things like flexibility. Activities that require this, like gymnastics, figure skating, and dance, are generally not valued in this country to the same degree as stuff like football and basketball which are tailor-made for people with AMAB bodies. So there are sports where being tall isn't a requirement, the public just doesn't tend to care about them as much.

So like, yes integrate sports, but there's structural misogyny at play here that I don't think should be ignored. Of course all of this is sweeping generalizations, there's a millions exceptions, not everyone is male or female, etc, but in general I think these two points get left out of the conversation too often.

[crimsonblackrose]

11, 35, 37, 43, 86

Hello thank you for the asks! 11. what you have for breakfast on an average day? Usually I'm very boring and go for a bowl of cereal and some coffee. Just because it's fast and I generally don't leave myself time for a leisurely breakfast. Which is why if I can fit a nice breakfast or brunch into plans I will. I love brunch and breakfast foods so much. I'm going to put the rest under a read more because it's long.

35. average time you fall asleep? 🤣🤣🤣🤣oh no. So to be a responsible human being who functions I should go to bed at 10pm. And I do say goodnight to my aunt and uncle and put a stop to any movie watching generally at 9ish if I've got work in the morning. However...sometimes I don't go to bed until like 2am. 10pm becomes 2 am in the blink of an eye. And sometimes I'll stare at a word document until i can't keep my eyes open any more and then I'll be like oh I've got plenty of time to write only to realize it's 2am. And there are some nights where sleep is an elusive beast, and I try not to check the time on those nights. But if I'm stressed and worrying or panicking about something I'll put on a podcast until my brain calms down and I assume it's much later on those nights.

It's because I don't get much time to myself throughout the day and I realize I do kinda of the revenge bed time thing. Where I want to stay up and get stuff done and it just doesn't happen, but other times I'm good and get back from being out and go straight to bed. Like a responsible adult. (But it's rare. 🤣) 37. suitcase or duffel bag? Oooh I feel like a lot of these I'm like meh, both are good, but no this one I've got opinions on. Suitcase all the way. Specifically a hard shell suitcase with 360 wheels. Generally when I'm traveling I want to have space for like souvenirs or possibly gifts or heck stuff I don't want to get crushed and I just trust it better in a hardcase suitcase and the 360 wheels are just so lovely, like oh gotta go this way instead of that, my suitcase won't be unruly and will just dutifully follow along. Duffel bags I feel like are best if you're just traveling with clothes. Like sports or something like that. Throw all your soft things in a soft bag and toss it around and no problem. And I just don't travel like that. 43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket? All? 🤣 I love jackets. I will say though I don't have a leather jacket. I nearly kept one of my dad's and then I think decided against it last minute because it just bummed me out and I also was swamped in it because he was a giant. But I do love the way they look. And I think I've had a bomber jacket as a winter jacket before, but honestly I prefer longer jackets. Spent most of high school wearing a jean jacket, my dad found it somewhere cheap and it was nice quality so I wore it all the time in the fall and spring or when it was a bit chilly out. But probably I wear hoodies and cardigans the most. Hoodies are generally things I wear around the house and cardigans I wear everywhere. 86. cookies or cupcakes?

oooh difficult question. Cookies are probably the easiest to share. You bake a bunch of cookies and you can throw them in anything. A take out container, a box, a plastic baggie. Easy peasy. Cupcakes however cannot be thrown in anything. The icing will get everywhere, the cake will crumble, it becomes a mess. I was visiting family and made these cupcakes for everyone and my cousin helped me put them in containers to take to my aunts and my aunt decided she wanted my cousin to take her containers back immediately so she shoved all the cupcakes into a big plastic bag, essentially destroying the integrity which meant by the time my other cousin got to try them she ended up giving like the majority of it to her chickens. Which I'm a smidge bitter about. 😅 But cupcakes can also be so absolutely fun. But oddly I think I just talked myself into cookies. 🤣 I mean it's much easier to make an assorted box of cookies instead of a box of cupcakes to give people. Thank you for the asks from this ask game here.

[redwineconversation]

Wendie Renard RMC Sport Interview (February 26, 2023)

Serious sidenote before I start: I genuinely don't think that people understand the depth of the loyalty Lyon players have for each other. I said once that you shouldn't like a team because of representation or accessibility but because of the moral values they hold. "Is this a team you'd want your friend to be around," I argued.

You can argue a lot of things about Lyon players. But I think their sense of moral integrity in the purest sense of the term is what allowed them to be so dominant for all these years. Representation and accessibility shouldn't determine a team's moral character. In my eyes, at least. I guess everyone has their own definition of what morality should mean to them.

Anyway, blah blah standards disclaimers apply. @OL Comms Dept please pay me, my car insurance went up because I had one seizure back in August and everyone and their mother Geico is holding that over my head; Apollo's board went up; and I like soy milk. Pls just love me. Also not affiliated with RMC Sport in any way, blah blah y'all know the speech.

WENDIE RENARD RMC SPORT INTERVIEW

"IT'S BECAUSE I LOVE THIS JERSEY THAT I MADE THIS DECISION": WENDIE RENARD EXPLAINS STEPPING BACK FROM THE FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM

The event - 48 hours after her announcement that she is stepping back from the French National team, captain Wendie Renard explains exclusively to RMC Sport the reasons for her decision. An interview which lasted more than half an hour where no subject was off limits, and during the defender with 142 caps was strongly animated over one particular conviction: advance women's football in France.

Wendie Renard, what pushed to make this decision to step back from the French National Team?

It was a decision I had been contemplating for a while, even after the Euros. Taking into consideration the games, the situation, the meeting I had with the coach, I took this decision to step back. I always told in life if something bothers you then walk away, this situation was bothering me. I tried to change certain things so we could perform better individually and collectively, and that wasn't taken well. I don't need to have a big ego, I have enough experience at my age. So I decide to write that message with all my heart. I received a significant number of supportive messages, where people were telling me how brave it was. But for me it wasn't even brave, it was just an accumulation of things up to today. Continuing under those conditions, it's just not possible.

When say you "tried to change things", what are you referring to?

We had some talks with the coach during the last camp. Now I've always said it, she's the boss, not me. I'm not looking to be the coach, I'm just looking to perform well, to elevate this blue jersey to the level it deserves to be at, which is the highest level with the players and talent that we have. I think we should be capable to do much better, that's my opinion. If others agree with it or not, that's a different story. When you're on the French National Team, you have to be at the highest level. The highest level, it's when you're playing against world class players. You have to be demanding in everything that you do, you have to perform well in everything you do. I'm not perfect, I've made mistake, both on the field and off of it. When you're wearing this jersey, you have rights and you have a lot of responsibility individually, there's a lot of things which need to be changed if you ask me, you have to understand that. I'm not against it but rather for it, so that there is change.

In your statement, you allege that you couldn't "continue in a system far below the required expectations for the highest level": what is the system in place for the French National Team?  When we talk about the high level, those who play professional sports know what I am talking about. For the general public, it's perhaps a bit harder to understand. The coach and staff have been there for several years, and we tried to advance with certain things. The system should simply be professional. But there's such an indifference, compared to Division 1, where we've been asking for things for years. We need to advance. In our clubs when we talk with the foreign players, yeah they sometimes have problems with their national team or with their federation, but I feel that for us [the French] women or professional athletes, it's just complicated. We always, always have to fight, or else we get into difficult situations on an individual level. Today it's personal. I can't take it anymore. I can't fake it.

I love this jersey, and because I love it, I made this decision even it hurts me personally. But I hope that it will help those now and in the future to make the right decisions, to honor this jersey the way it deserves. If I return to the National Team or not, I don't give a shit. The problem is that with this French National Team jersey, the moment I wear it, I have to respect, I've always respected it, always defended it. But we owe it to ourselves, individually and collective, the Federation as well, to give it the respect it deserves. For there were certain decisions which were made ... We dropped the ball after the 2019 World Cup, a gap was formed. Afterwards, at Angers, it's was super during the Tournament, I'm very thankful to the public. But in a general manner for clubs, we have a lot of difficulty. When you see that Barcelona is selling out their stadium with 90,000 people, England is following as well... We had a step up over those countries. I eat, sleep, breathe football. I ask myself: how is it that we were ahead and today we're behind, it's because we dropped the ball! In a general manner, we have to shift into a higher gear if we want to win a title with the French National Team.

When did you make this decision? To be honest ... 2023, I didn't want to play for the French National Team. It was something I had been contemplating for a while. I asked for a meeting with the coach so we could discuss and exchange ideas. But it took some time. Before the draw for the World Cup, she called me, we discussed seeing each other outside of a national team camp so we could move things forward. Unfortunately it took a while to fall into place. Finally this meeting ended up taking place during the last camp. I had already made up my mind about 80% when it came to this decision. There's always going to be a part of you that hesitates, and you hope things will change. I will give everything for this jersey until I die. You lose lots and lots of energy over futile things, which for me are clear to me, but maybe not for everybody because we don't all think the same, thankfully.

Was this last meeting the tipping point?

Before this camp, I knew it was going to be the last one, that I needed to savor wearing this jersey, the teammates. I think I did things right. I first talked about it to my [club] president Jean-Michel Aulas, and he told me to discuss it with the FFF [French Federation] president. I met with [Phillippe] Diallo [Vice President at the French Federation]. Before meeting with him, I called the [FFF] president Le Graët to tell him I was going to meet with Diallo, and that I was going to step back from the French National Team. After I met with the coach, who I was supposed to meet with before Diallo, but that meeting was canceled. So we saw each other during the camp, we talked about the changes, but I didn't want to inform her I was stepping away simply because I just wanted to finish the camp well.

In a general manner, the Federation doesn't put things in place for the French National Team? We're lacking in that area. I'm speaking purely in sporting terms and the quality necessary to evolve. High level athletes will understand what I am talking about, I can't give more details than that today. Some elements will speak for themselves and others not. Our daily routine it's on the field: the performance, competence, work to better yourself, build something together. I've put the collective above all else in my career because I play a team sport, otherwise I would be play an individual sport. That doesn't necessarily mean that we will win, but you have to put everything together to give yourself a chance. Even with clubs it can be complicated. My message is clear. There are things to do at the elite level, and I think we are dropping the ball on certain things. We have to step up a gear, I can't keep doing that by myself.

The staff is below par? It's not up to me to say those sort of things, that's not my style. it's up to the Federation to take responsibility. I took responsibility today as a player. We're a group, maybe not all the players will share my views, but for me personally, when you want to reach the top level, you have to meet the expectations required, and work towards achieving those expectations. I'm just saying that everyone has to take responsibility [for their actions]. Me, I couldn't take it. If they want to listen to what I said, all the better. I'm just saying I couldn't take it anymore, I think that's something to be respected. You talked about meetings with Jean-Michel Aulas, Noël Le Graët, Philippe Diallo: did you have their support?

I'm not going to go into detail about our meetings. My goal was to give them a heads up on my personal decision was to stop [playing for France], and why that happened. Even if they didn't understand, especially for Philip Diallo, they supported me. On the field at Angers, he came up to me and said "I hope this isn't the last time [you play for France]", "I warned you this would be my last game." I felt there was a lot of confusion and incomprehension as to why I was stepping back.

How would you respond to the people saying it's just a coup?

People can say what they want, but they're not experiencing this situation. I've also heard "you play football, you're on the French National Team...". Yeah okay. But when you have that emblem on your chest and as of the moment where you're involved in a relationship [with the team], there's going to be hurt when you're disappointed. It's true for all aspects in life: work, human relations. I'm not trying to convince anyone, I'm convinced enough for myself that I couldn't take it anymore. I'm not 20 years old anymore, I'm at an age where I need to feel good [mentally] to continue to perform like I want to. You can try to hide what you want but your body will sell you out. And if you start accumulating injures, then they're going to say "she's 32 years old, she's old, she's off to retirement" but no that's not the problem.

Is the management with the French National Team still a problem?  Management is a simple word but it encompasses a lot of things. On that note, I recognize that the coach made some efforts on certain things. But today, we owe it to ourselves as athletes, I'm putting an emphasis on that, we need to come on to something else, move the needle for expectations, for everything, so that we can perform better and win a title. When you watch the American National Team train, how do you think they train? And yet there are problems within the team. When they won the World Cup in 2019, some players weren't speaking to each other. Some players couldn't stand each other, got into it with the coach and yet they still won. In a meeting, it's not yes to everything and no to everything. I try to understand. Afterwards I can make mistakes, and it could come out that I'm the problem and I said enough.

Did you take a risk that you might never wear the French National Team jersey again?

I'm aware of that and it's not a big deal. But maybe my stance will help things advance, or not. I wore that jersey 142 times, I'm proud of it, I met some wonderful people at camp, be it staff members or teammates. That's life, it's like that sometimes. Only God knows what tomorrow will bring, and even that isn't set in stone. Today I'm at peace with myself, even if it hurts. But I'm at peace.

What would make you reverse your decision? We'll see but for the moment, it's not even a question, it's a bit too soon. My statement was clear. Today, I'm stepping back, it's very clear, I'm stepping back because I need to mentally, in order to continue to perform and achieve the objectives with my club.

Tuesday, the executive committee of the French will discuss the topic of the French National Team and your decision to step away, as well as the decisions of Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. What message would you like to ask the Board? They have the power, it's not me that has it. We are all responsible [for this situation]: the French National Team, the staff, the players, the Federation. We are all responsible for this situation. We're players, we're implicated every time we wear the jersey, just like the staff is implicated as well. But the question I want to ask them [the Board] is this: "what is the level of your expectations?" From thereon, we can put things in place or not. It's not up to me to say it. It's up to them to make those decisions and to be held accountable to them.