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fortunatelychaoticphantom · 1 year ago

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Why is the fact that Jesus and Jews were from Israel considered controversial? It’s what we’re taught at school (and for Christians - church) in the US.

I’m genuinely asking, this isn’t sarcastic. No one I know has ever disputed that fact before.

Hello!

You're referring to this post.

It's controversial because denying the connection of Jewish people (especially Ashkenazim but not only) to the land of Israel is a fundamental aspect of post-modern antisemitism.

Classical and modern antisemitism, particularly in Europe, relied on the Jewish people's foreignness to dehumanize them. It was obvious they were Not From Here, despite living there for centuries and longer, and many demanded that they Go Back To Where They Came From. And then they did.

But antisemitism didn't go away just because Israel was founded, it simply morphed, just like it had between its classical phase (centered on religious otherness, religious "crimes" and blood libels) and its modern phase (centered on race theory and economics).

Of course, right-wingers are still classically and modernly antisemitic. They usually don't bother to hide their hatred, it's pretty fundamental to their ideology and identity (though there are aspects of hiding, especially with holocaust denial). But the left has always been just as antisemitic as the right. But it has also grown in the post-modern age, after world war 2, with specific ideologies, centered around notions of humanism and the importance of human and minority rights. And antisemitism doesn't sit well with these notions, especially not after the holocaust... So something had to change. Unfortunately, it wasn't the antisemitism.

This is a classic cognitive dissonance; I feel something (hatred for Jews) that is inconsistent with my ideology (hating people based on their ethnicity is bad). In such instances you can either 1) work to change your actions (it doesn't matter what I feel, as long as I don't harm Jews, and eventually I might change my feelings for them); or 2) change your believes (Jews aren't a category worth protecting).

Now, "hating Jews" is still a big no-no in western left circles. Even now you can't actually directly say it (obviously this was true before October 7th. It seems like even these rules are changing as we speak). So westerners needed to do two things: 1) white-ify the Jewish people (especially the Ashkenazim) and 2) shift the focus on Israel.

The white-ification of the Jewish people is a major theme is western leftist circles in the past 70 years, especially in the US because of its complicated history with race and ethnicity, but it's prevalent in many other countries as well (it should be noted that Jewish people themselves have contributes to this phenomena for many reasons, but this is not the place for this discussion).

In the post-modern age, "whiteness" means "evil" and it is connected to European and western imperialism and colonization. So, essentially, they change what being a Jew is - a white person, as opposed to a Levantine person. This is where some of these people will do mental gymnastics to deny where Jews are originally from, whether denying modern Jews have anything to do with the historical ones (and many choose this route) or somehow both admitting they are from Israel but saying it doesn't matter because it happened a long time ago and then with the same breath talk about how Palestinians are the indigenous ancient people of the land (they are both indigenous, the world is just that stupid). Now, since white people are evil, they are open for criticism, especially if they are colonizers. And since Jews are white now, it makes no sense for them to live in the Middle East.

Which brings us to refocusing their criticism on Israel. Here, people have to walk a fine line between a legitimize political criticism of the Israeli government and the society itself throughout the years (and there are MANY justified criticisms...) and just being antisemitic. Unfortunately, western leftist circles tend to lean more heavily into the latter. And, again, as has been particularly evident for the last three weeks, their focus is on identifying Israel as colonizing enterprise, not just beyond the 67' Green Line, but by it's very nature of existence, since Jews are white now and don't belong there.

And now, once again, they call us to Go Back To Where We Came From (just to be very clear - Palestinians and the rest of the world are doing it as well), despite that part of the world literally saying "don't bring them here, they are not from here", like they always did, just like the post OP was sharing. Only those Europeans aren't saying "Jews are from the Land of Israel and they deserve to live there", they are just saying what the entire world has been saying for the past two thousand years - we don't want Jews anywhere, period.

They don't give a shit about where Jews are from. Some of them say we're from Europe for the sole purpose of destroying Israel. And they would gladly displace millions of Jews and send them to live again with the people who tried and nearly succeeded to annihilate us. Everyone else just don't care, as long as they can hurt us, but also refuse to accept us as their own. And trust me - if and god forbid when millions of Jews will once again become refugees, not a single nation around the world from which We Came From would take us in. Not one.

I know that people know where Jews are from, but the fact remains that huge sections of the world right now, especially on the left side of the political map, will actively deny it.

Because the truth is - the world doesn't give a shit what Jews are or are not. The world doesn't give a shit where Jews are from or aren't from. The world doesn't want Jews in Israel, and it doesn't want Jews anywhere else.

The only place the world deems the Jews to belong to is their graves.

#jewish things #antisemitism

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wisteria-blooms · 1 year ago

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sunburns & dragons (charlie weasley & reader) 2/??

CHAPTER DIRECTORY

TAGLIST: @badgerqueen07 @superduckmilkshake (Let me know if you want to be tagged!)

CHAPTER 2: If you thought last night's dinner was terrible, you are proven wrong the very next morning. What could be worse than the return of Charlie Weasley, who lands right back in England, in the middle of a conversation about dating his older brother? (3.9k words)

CHAPTER 2: FASTER WE'RE FALLING

Leaves crunched under your feet as you walked across Diagon Alley. The town was still draped in silence at just a half hour past dawn, and there was a distinct fall chill in the morning air. The chill wasn’t the only thing lingering; you were replaying the scene you’d caused at dinner yesterday. You and your father were at obvious odds this morning when you passed each other in the hallway. When he’d curtly announced he had important business and therefore wouldn’t be at breakfast, you were elated.

But that was all the reminder that there were only thirteen days to find a lover. A true one or not.

Not much else was open at this hour except your favourite café, Cauco, which was also known as Cauldron Concoctions. It was most renowned for its brunch but was a beautiful restaurant at all hours of the day.

So, you walked like a woman on a mission, holding a tray of drinks, trying your very best not to spill it on the cream sweater that you’d layered over an oversized white dress shirt. The faint sun would undoubtedly swelter in a couple of hours, so you had an option to peel off layers.

“Good morning!” you called as you pushed the door open with your back to Weasley Wizard Wheezes.

“Good morning!” George called back.

“We’re not open yet,” Fred said, standing by the entrance. “Make like a tree and leave.”

“Ignore him, (Y/N),” George instructed, throwing his towel onto the table. “Seeing your beautiful face always brightens my mornings.”

You couldn’t hide a smile at both the banter and the relief being here brought you. Fred and George had been your best friends since your first year at Hogwarts. In a way, you supposed forgotten misfits always found each other. They taught you how to be yourself and to stop caring about other people’s opinions. Your friendship carried strongly over the years and beyond graduation. They’d seen you through your best and worst, and was your stronghold when you were having trouble with your family.

“What’s this?” Fred asked, eyes falling on the tray you were carrying.

“Fuel,” you responded.

“Aren’t you a sweetheart?” Fred complimented, snatching a latte for himself and George. He wafted the sweet scent of pumpkin and made a pleased expression. “But I have a peculiar feeling that drinks mean…. you require something.”

“Not always,” you said.

Fred rolled his eyes. “Out with it. What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?”

“I said some things I shouldn’t have.”

“Okay?” Fred quirked an eyebrow. “What else is new?”

“Ever since my cousin’s wedding in France in August, marriage is all my mother will talk about,” you confessed. “She’s pressuring me to get married, despite there being multiple steps missing in between. My father is pissed off that I’ve embarrassed him by ditching the sons of his friends at the country club, so he’s strong-armed me into entertaining Goyle for dinner.”

“And you agreed?” Fred asked.

“Of course not,” you said, irritation creeping in at the thought of rolling over to Lucius’s demands so quickly. “I told him I already had a boyfriend.”

“Which isn’t true,” George said. “Unless something’s changed since last week?”

“I mean, it can be true,” you said. “I just haven’t been able to find anyone to make my statement true.”

“I thought Malfoys had a whole web of connections,” George remarked.

“Malfoys never burn bridges, Malfoys never lose,” you recited. “But I’ve broken so many of these sayings that I may as well renege my last name.”

“Is this a proposal for me to fill in the gap?” Fred asked excitedly, holding a hand over his chest. “I’d be delighted to go out with you. High time you asked.”

You laughed. “You couldn’t keep a straight face if your life depended on it.” In truth, you would’ve loved to take Fred with you. Just his last name would absolutely piss off your parents, namely your father and so much so that Lucius might actually crush the wine glass in his hands. And you had so much built-up anger for his favouritism of Draco over you that it would be fulfilling to see it—the idea of you and Fred Weasley—unravel.

“Do you want to rent someone else instead of taking this clown?” George asked. “We can offer some old friends, maybe some siblings, but be careful with who you choose.”

Siblings.

You had to laugh at the idea. “You’d offer me a sibling?”

George nodded. “Slim pickings, but yeah, I can pull some strings.”

You sifted through some faces for your own amusement. You knew Ron was happily taken, Percy was never going to say yes, and Charlie was never in England. So, you naturally landed on Bill. Bill was the eldest. The age gap between you and him, a whole eight years, would be enough to make Lucius’s head implode. What could a 31-year old want with his sweet daughter? That would be corruption beyond even his understanding. You hadn’t seen Bill in years, and you were never in school with him. But from quick glimpses of when he’d come home during vacations, you could remember long hair, piercings, and a fang earring that Molly was always trying to tug off at the table.

Wait—

Why was this actually a good idea?

The prospect of the chaos he could cause at the dinner table made your heart ache happily.

And like the last pair of heels in your size at Madame Malkin’s, you just had to have Bill Weasley.

“Well, anyone in mind?” George asked.

“Bill!” you said confidently.

A moment of silence.

“(Y/N),” George managed to get out. He was breathing through clenched teeth, trying not to implode with laughter.

“What?” you demanded.

“You’re a fucking homewrecker.”

“What?” you spat.

“Bill is married,” George lectured.

“What?” you trilled.

“Yeah,” Fred added matter-of-factly. “It’s taken mum a while, but she finally came around on their wedding day a year ago.”

“Charlie was blasé about the marriage, he was just happy to be best man,” George said, providing background. “Percy figured that since Fleur was the global liaison for the same company Bill worked at, it was considered a workplace romance and so he professionally advised against it. Almost reported Bill, his own fucking brother, to human resources, but we reckon he was just jealous. Of course, Ronnie was mad because he’s wanted Fleur for himself since his fourth year. And Ginny, well, maybe it was a cultural shock for her, but she hated the idea of Bill and Fleur.”

“And now you want to tear them apart? This only gets better!” Fred rubbed his hands together. Then, a serious look crossed his face. Then, he wagged his finger. “Actually, you should do it. You can get back at her for stealing Davies from you during the Yule Ball.”

“No one told me they were married!” you protested, heat tickling your cheeks. “And I didn’t know he’d married Fleur of all people.”

You remember the uproar that Fleur caused in your sixth year during the Triwizard Tournament. She was this perfect blonde magnet that literally hypnotized every man that walked by to the extent that even you were jealous of her. In a way, she was everything your parents wanted you to be, and you’d never fit that mold.

“You should stay in town more often, but you were taking your annual Tour de France last year,” Fred said. “Maybe you could’ve crashed the wedding. Mum would’ve probably preferred you as his wife anyway.”

You made a face at Fred, grossed out by what he was inferring. “I’d only want him for a weekend.”

“Sure, o-okay.” He swung around and resumed unpacking some boxes. “Keep thinking about it, (Y/N).”

With a hmph, you sat down on the couch in the middle of the store. This seat was usually a hotbed for parents, sitting for hours waiting for their children to finish perusing. It was weird being here without the usual bustling crowds doing a last haul before rushing off to Platform 9 ¾. All the kids were back in school, and now it was just the occasional local or group of tourists.

As Fred worked in front of you and George mounted a ladder, you sipped on your latte and drummed your fingers on the leather couch. You were running through other possibilities in your mind like a madwoman. Bill’s occupancy left a hole in your heart despite you never even considering it until George brought it up. Worst case, you could head to a bar tonight and propose the idea to a guy drunk out of his mind. You knew you were amenable to mostly anything when you were three drinks in, hence the lingering scars on your legs from when you were drunkenly running around London after midnight with Fred and George last year. And maybe it was better that way, not knowing who was going to play your boyfriend.

As you mused, a loud crack rang out in front of you. You barely flinched. You were more than accustomed to random loud noises having been around Fred and George for so long.

“Charlie!” Fred’s voice rang out.

You slowly looked up and saw a tall figure towering over you. You assumed that, from Fred’s comment, this was Charlie turned away, standing in front of you, inches from your knees. A worn jean jacket covered his noticeably broad torso. You could see the gleam of a silver necklace circling his neck. Long and wild ringlets of ginger hair grazed his shoulders.

“Hey, long time no see,” Charlie greeted.

“Don’t you know it’s bad manners to apparate directly inside?” Fred mocked. “Charles Weasley, how many times have I told you? You should always apparate outside the house and then knock until your host invites you in!”

“You’re open, mum’s not here, so what’s the problem?” Charlie said with a shrug. He took a step back. In a split second, you realized what he was doing.

He was trying to sit. On the couch you were on.

Without recognizing you were right there. Holding a cup of steaming coffee.

“Hey, watch out!” you warned, but it was too late.

A crushing weight was quickly falling on your lap. You bent your free arm to brace for Charlie, hoping your forearm would lighten the impact on your legs. He’d always sported more muscles than any of his siblings, and if even Fred was heavy enough to knock the breath out of you, you couldn’t imagine trying to support Charlie. The issue was that your other arm was the one holding the coffee. And as Charlie landed on you, your latte spilled everywhere, staining your freshly-starched blouse and the softest wool sweater you’d owned.

Just as quickly as Charlie had sat down, he got up.

“Whoa!” Charlie exclaimed after realizing there was someone behind him. “I’m sorry,” he said. He turned around to assess the damage he’d done: a hot splotch of coffee on your now brown sweater, dribbling down your thighs to your knees and down your legs.

“Good thing it wasn’t a white t-shirt,” Fred snickered. “But maybe you would’ve liked that, Charlie.”

Charlie burst out laughing. But when you shot him a look, he quickly bit his tongue. “I’m sorry about spilling it on you, erm—”

“(Y/N),” you finished for him.

“(Y/N) Malfoy!” He slapped his head, a bright smile resulting from the action, like there was happiness shooting from his palm. “How could I forget you?” Charlie extended a hand to you which you took. The first thing you noticed was how callused and rough his hands were, likely sculpted from his work with dragons and other beasts. The second thing you noticed was that you barely had to do any work; his muscled arm lifted you with ease until you were on your feet. “Mum can fix you up,” he said. He pointed to the left breast of his jean jacket where a button should’ve been. Instead, it was a ripped seam. “A Peruvian Vipertooth got cheeky with me and snatched my button off. Mum’ll have to take a look at repairing it so you may as well come with me.”

“Why are you even here in the first place?” Fred asked. “Did all the dragons escape under your care?” He paused for a second, letting his imagination run wild. “Have you been debarred?”

“I was forced to take my accrued vacation time,” Charlie said. “Amongst other things, but we can talk about it later at home.”

“You should make it up to (Y/N),” George called from the second floor, after leisurely watching the debacle.

“Oh yeah, of course,” Charlie responded. He eyed the now empty cup of coffee on the side table. “Do you want to get another cup of coffee?”

“Smooth,” George sang. “Not even a minute back in England, and already trying to woo a lovely lady to go out with you?”

“You know me,” Charlie admitted, his hands in his pockets. “I don’t like wasted time.” He cocked his head at you. “What do you say, (Y/N)?”

“It doesn’t matter to me,” you said. You had more worrisome things to attend to than a lost coffee.

“I don’t mean just coffee, Charlie,” George corrected, descending the ladder. “Did you hear the rest of the conversation before you sat on (Y/N), or have you stopped eavesdropping?”

“I’ve only kept the bad habit of apparating in where I shouldn’t,” Charlie said with a wink. You blinked at him, confused.

“Let me fill you in,” Fred offered, stalking over to Charlie’s side. “(Y/N) was asking us about the best way to break up Bill and Fleur’s marriage.”

“What?” Charlie guffawed. “You’re not serious about that, are you?”

“Talk about a loose interpretation of events,” you murmured. You didn’t want to add fuel to Fred’s fire so you kept silent.

George shook his head and explained in your defense. “(Y/N) shot herself in the foot last night and is on a mission to find a boyfriend to take to dinner before she’s forced to marry Goyle.”

“Gross.” Charlie contorted his face. “I only knew his older brother, (Y/N), but if the younger Goyle is anything like him…”

“I’m not marrying him regardless of what happens!” you protested. “We also don’t have to talk about it here.” You looked over at Charlie. You were embarrassed. You hadn’t seen the second eldest brother in years and now all of this drama was unraveling as his welcome home present.

“Whoa,” Charlie said. “Let me take you out for a date first before we meet your parents, (Y/N).”

“That’s not—”

George just hummed.

“Here, take this,” Charlie said. He quickly shed his jean jacket and handed it over, the chain around his neck dangling as the material swept it. He wore nothing but a white t-shirt underneath.“Cover up the stain before we go to,”—he grabbed the empty white cup and inspected the lettering,—“Cauco? You’ll bankrupt me before our second date, (Y/N).”

“Charlie is more of a Coffee Pot kind of guy,” George said with a snicker. He was referring to a cafe near Knockturn Alley where the price was more palatable than the coffee.

“Hey, don’t share my finances in front of (Y/N),” Charlie protested. “Come on, (Y/N). Let’s get going.”

“You really don’t have to,” you said, giving Charlie a last chance to escape.

“I insist,” he tutted.

You sighed in surrender.

As you accepted the jacket, you couldn’t help but notice the faint scars running up his forearms. Some were evidently deep scratches from what you assumed were caused by dragon talons. The rest had to be burn scars. A shudder ran up your spine and you willed yourself to stop thinking about it.

You looped your arms through Charlie’s jacket. You were immediately enveloped in the scent of cinder and ash, like you were transported into a deep grassy forest in the middle of autumn. The frayed hems of the jacket reached midway down your thigh and were sufficient to cover the ugly mess on your sweater. You popped the collar of your dress out, rolled up the sleeves, and followed Charlie’s lead out the door.

Cauco was brimming with business when you arrived for the second time today. It was situated in a particularly attractive part of town where the higher-end stores stood. The open air terrace spilled onto the cobbled streets. Lavender and wisteria hung from the roof providing beauty and shade. It was full of patrons enjoying a morning coffee, much more of them now than when you’d walked in earlier. As you strode past the glass door that Charlie held open, you realized the inside was no better. Every seat underneath the high ceilings was occupied. Beautiful and fresh pastries, a collection of breads, tarts, and cakes, lined the glass displays. The espresso machine was pristinely polished. You and Charlie passed by a line of people in queue to be seated.

“I reckon we should just get this to go, yeah?” Charlie said. He tilted his head to the right, trying to see the menu printed behind the counter.

“You were thinking of sitting down?”

“I haven’t been able to properly relax in hours. Sleeper trains are terrible.” He extended his arms over his head in a stretch. “And I don’t fit too well in the berths.”

‘I can imagine,’ you thought, looking at the taut muscles he was working. As you looked up at Charlie, you realized there was so much you hadn’t noticed about him before. Maybe it was because you’d only known him before your body was flush with hormones. After all, you’d barely spent two grades at Hogwarts with him before he went off to Romania. And he was much too cool and preoccupied with Quidditch to pay attention to you.

Charlie wasn’t the tallest Weasley child but his broad shoulders and frame more than made up for it. You’d put him right next to Fred and George in terms of height, but he just looked physically more intimidating. As if, if he had to brawl with Fred, you’d place all your bets on Charlie. You’d place the estate on him in any sort of fight. Charlie’s jaw was chiseled, the angles cutting like glass and meeting to form a square chin. A faint dimple unveiled itself when he laughed, which was often. His brow was cocked, eyes angled, and he wore a permanent smirk, as if he was always calculating his next move. When the sun caught him just right, his eyes were the colour of the sea: bright blue blending with a ring of aquamarine in the centre.

Charlie exhaled as he eased the tension in his body. “So, what are you going to do?” His voice was deeper and huskier by nature. You hadn’t heard it in ages and had almost forgotten its distinct quality.

“What about?”

He bit back a laugh. “The Goyle thing.”

“I don’t know,” you admitted. “It feels nice to get it out in the open, at least. I might have to chat up a random bloke at the bar.”

“Hey, don’t do that,” Charlie warned, his brows furrowing. “That can be dangerous.” Then he leaned in a little closer, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes. “You know, you can always ask me.”

“No way,” you deflected with a laugh. You weren’t sure if he was serious.

“But you were considering Bill?” He placed a hand over his chest. “I’m offended. I’m more fun than him.”

“That was a joke,” you mumbled. “I didn’t know he was married, otherwise I wouldn't have said anything.”

“I didn’t know he was married either,” Charlie admitted.

“What? I thought you were the best man.”

“I was,” Charlie said. “But it all happened so fast. One day, he’s saying he’s met this girl. Next week, he’s in love. Then, he wants to propose, and before I know it, I’m standing at the altar.” Charlie chuckled. “Bill just knows what he wants. There’s no such thing as wasted time with him.”

“But there’s wasted time with you?” you teased.

“Likely, yeah. But let’s rewind, you said there’s dinner involved?”” Charlie wound the topic back to your predicament. “I’m famished, even more so thinking about what dinner is like at the Malfoy manor. How many courses would it be?”

“Seven,” you responded.

His eyes lit up. “I might even pay to go with you.”

Before you could respond, a young woman called you up to the counter. For a fraction of a second, you caught her eyes looking at your oversized jean jacket. And for a fraction of a second, you felt entirely out of place dressed like this in such an upscale establishment.

Charlie leaned in slightly. “Morning.”

“Good morning,” the young woman responded, red dotting her cheeks. Now, her eyes were locked on Charlie. And you were starting to understand why.

“May I have two lattes, a jambon beurre,” he leaned back and to observe the pastries in the display. “And a pain au chocolat.” Then he turned to you and asked: “Do you want one, too, (Y/N)?”

“I’m alright,” you said.

After Charlie paid for the order, you were instructed to wait off to the side so as to not disrupt the dining patrons. You were near the kitchens, so the noise of clattering dishes, clanking cutlery, and chatter was all-consuming.

Charlie leaned down and whispered, “I reckon my body will eat itself if I don’t feed it enough.”

As if he needed to justify his order. Still, you laughed. “I wouldn’t want that to happen. The dragons need you.”

A natural silence landed over you and Charlie, small talk running low, and you began to glance around the restaurant. The host at the front was a man in his fifties. His name was Jacques, a familiar face. He’d been working here for ages, for as long as you could remember. His suit was perfectly pressed, his grey hair perfectly slicked back, and he was standing ready for the next patron. When two men walked in, Jacques recognized them immediately.

‘As any good host should,’ you thought.

“Good morning, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Lemieux,” Jacques greeted pleasantly. “Your table is ready for six. Please follow me this way.”

“Hey,” Charlie said. He’d obviously been following where your eyes trailed off to. “Isn’t that your dad?”

As if silenced by a hex, no words came out. Especially not when Lucius slowly turned to his left, his steely eyes immediately recognizing his own daughter. Irritation immediately crossed his face when he processed the ridiculous outfit you were wearing—the oversized and frayed jean jacket which was clearly not yours. His face only got redder when he appraised the man standing beside you. The man who your jacket clearly belonged to.

A Weasley.

And you could imagine what putting two-and-two together resulted in: breakfast after a morning romp in the sheets with Charlie Weasley, wrapped in his jacket after he’d shed all your clothes.

“Excuse me for a second,” Lucius said to his business partner, swallowing his anger for appearances. Mr. Lemieux nodded and followed Jacques to the table instead.

Without a word and with just a quick jut of the head in the opposite direction, you knew exactly what your father was commanding. With a gulp, you followed him.

NEXT CHAPTER >>

<< CHAPTER DIRECTORY

#charlie weasley x you #charlie weasley fic #charlie weasley x reader

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preet-01 · 8 months ago

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Maxiel Political AU

Word Count: 1026

Summary: Max Verstappen only had one goal - to be President. It's all he's wanted since he was just seven years old and all that he's worked towards. But bachelors don't get elected as Presidents, for the most part. Enter Daniel Ricciardo. Daniel's the ideal candidate for the country's most prominent and stressful unpaid job: the President's loving partner, a pretty bauble for the country to fall in love with and look towards. In secret meetings, contracts are signed and a marriage is arranged. Max and Daniel must convince the American people that they are a loving couple and perfect for the White House.

||| Next >>

Chapter One

When you’re about seven years old, the American schooling system likes to ask one question. One question that’s asked to every kid in the country regardless of where they live.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

There are the sensible answers, of course. Then there are the impractical ones. And finally the impossible answers.

Daniel Ricciardo at the young age of seven had answered by saying that he wanted to be just like his daddy. With a powerful name and an even more powerful family to back him, no one had thought his answer to be impractical or impossible. Daniel Ricciardo had the money and privilege to be anything he wanted, and most importantly he had a family that’d move heaven and earth for him.

Across the country and a few years later, Max Verstappen had answered that he wanted to be President and it was far from the sensible answer. Little boys from poor families and no political connections don’t make it to the White House, he’d been told. Those hadn’t been the exact words, but as Max got older he understood that was the gist of what his teacher had said back then.

When they ask you that question at seven, it’s not very serious. It’s just a question that you can change the answer to a hundred times if you want to. But just 10 years later when it’s asked again in a slightly different form, the question dictates everything else about your future.

What do you want to major in?

Daniel had been 16 when he answered that question — the woes of a birthday in what he liked to call no-man’s land. His July birthday was late enough that he was always the youngest in his class, but early enough that his school enrollment hadn’t been deferred by a year.

At 16 years old, Daniel Ricciardo chose political science while deciding to do a pre-law program. He still wanted to be just like his father and go into government. And just like his father, his eyes were set on the White House. So he majors in political science and picks Yale University — not that the university was much of a choice when generations of Ricciardos went to Yale.

Two years later, his dreams of being like his father and the White House are shattered in the white, clinical walls of the doctor’s office.

A few nights later, they get trampled on.

“You’ll just have to marry the President,” his grandfather says when they tell the family, “or pray that your cousin has the makings of a strong President.” And at that dinner, Daniel understands why Michelle kept minimal contact with their grandfather.

Daniel doesn’t say anything, just nods his head and clenches his fists. No one contradicts what his grandfather says, not Daniel, not Michelle, not his mother, not his father.

It simply is not done. So Daniel pivots despite his father’s desire to change the whole damn system so Daniel can be anything he wants. Daniel pivots and finds new things he enjoys now that holding office is a far-fetched dream. He pivots and applies to Georgetown’s Law School on a whim instead of the law schools at Yale or Harvard that everyone else expected him to apply to.

The life he begins to build isn’t one he’d envisioned all those years ago when he sat in a counselor’s office and chose political science as his major. But at 30 years old and a respected lawyer who gets to argue for a living, Daniel is… content.

Max is 17 when they ask him what he wants to major in and expect him to decide what his life will be like for the next 40+ years.

He doesn’t have to think too hard about the answer because it really isn’t a question at all. Max had known since he was seven years old how he wanted his life to play out. His father knew. His mother knew. And by this point, even his little sister was well aware of what Max wanted to become one day.

At 17 years old, Max picks his major to be public policy and administration with a minor in political communication and campaigning. While his classmates apply to schools like NYU, Columbia, Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard, MIT, and other major schools, Max applies to CUNY – Baruch College specifically.

Max doesn’t have the luxury of not working while going through college. On weekdays, he works at his local representative’s office answering constituent phone calls and filing papers. On weekends, he works at the old, somewhat rundown arcade. And in between all of that, Max does his schoolwork.

Piece by piece things fall into place for Max’s goals. While working with one of the New York Senators in DC, Max finishes his graduate program and he returns to New York for his own campaign for state office. He spends a few years there, making his name known in the community that will eventually elect him for higher offices.

Then he runs for the US House of Representatives – already a well known figure in his local community and known for having people’s best interest in mind, he wins in a landslide. The House of Representatives is dramatic and chaotic and not where Max wants to spend the rest of his career.

So he runs for a Senate position when the previous Senator decides to retire. It’s the next rung in the career ladder, or at least it is in his opinion as many of his colleagues in the House are quite happy with their positions there.

His position in the House had been great for introducing him to the national stage of politics, but it is in the Senate where Max makes him name known and puts himself in contention for the highest office in the US political system.

Max’s sight is set on a position higher than a US Senator. No, Max Verstappen wants to be President of the United States. He wants to be the leader of the free world. He wants and wants until he’s standing at the top of the US political hierarchy.

________

Posting the first chapter felt very needed after quali last night

The title is from a quote that is attributed to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

#maxiel #political au #daniel ricciardo x max verstappen #max verstappen #daniel ricciardo

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murfpersonalblog · 6 months ago

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IWTV S2 Ep1 Musings - Looking for Home: Louis, Claudia & Daciana

They flip between siblings and parent so much even I was getting whiplash--no wonder Lou's confused. U_U

This was EEEEEEEEVIIIIIIL, AMC! 😭 Louis carrying Grace's wedding portrait, and using it to FAKE his identity in Europe, after Grace couldn't even go to Europe for her own honeymoon cuz Paul died--STOP IT! 😭😭

And you can hear just a few quick seconds of the DPDL lietmotif that always plays for Grace, Paul, and sibling!Claudia, before it takes this SUPER dark and ominous tone--the song has been tainted, just like Lou's relationship with Grace and Claudia was tainted.

Go AWF, Claudia!

And then she finds ONE, and it was so heartbreakingly touching.

I was hoping she was Alessandra, but nope, she's an AMC!OC, Daciana. I'm assuming they were nodding to one rando revenant:

And she is obviously the same "Anna" the kids were singing about--(very Gaunter O'Dimm of them, I love it 💀)--living like frikkin Baba Yaga in a grimy castle in the woods.

Daciana killed her own fledgling after Claudia blinded him--after the revanant AND Daciana attacked them first, but whatever. Cuz she said he wouldn't be able to hunt/feed with no eyes--so it can't heal; her fledglings are too effed up. She's officially the last one in the area.

And I get it now--the bear(?) head Claudia breaks off of the dead vampire's sarcophagus was a heraldric figurehead. Claudia showed it to Daciana, as a way of asking her who that dead vamp was.

She didn't want to tell them her story or hear theirs--but she wanted them to know about Cezare Romulo (RIP). (It's crazy how in 5 minutes The Vampire Daciana was way more effective than a whole hour of Dierdre Mayfair. 🙄😒) She complimented Claudia's blood, saying it tasted like the cream of the crop. Daciana only told them her name, and that she was waiting for her children--fledglings or real ones, who knows (I bet both).

Only for Daciana to kill herself right in front of them (RIP). 😔🔥

This is so sad, but it was obvious she was gonna do that.

Stop teasing the Children of Darkness after this Alessandra fake-out. She's got the same darkness in her that Nicki (AND Louis) had. And we know where that means. 🔥💀🔥

These vampires are STARVING--hungry for family, love, home: LIFE.

So is Claudia! 😭😭😭 She wants a blood spouse! She wants a companion!

So I LOVE that Morgan clocked Louis on Grace's photo--that ain't yo wife! The gaydar was beeping the second your pretty arse walked in!

Like, it's been established that Louis is a terrible liar-you don't need an investigative journalist to figure that much out. Louis is TOO honest--he was dumb AF for telling Morgan his real name! I get why he did it in the book--again: desperate to make a connection.

But on the show it comes across way different--Louis almost immediately tells Morgan his name (he doesn't do that for Emilia, even though SHE called him pretty! Istg I was picking up some flirtatiousness with Lou & Morgan; put those pheromones AWAY 😂). But you come across MIGHTY SUS if your Black arse is going around switching identities on all these twitchy Europeans, Louis!

Like baaaaaasicallllllyyyyyyy!!! 🤦 You see them shooting up corpses just to make sure--you think they won't shoot YOU!?!

Anyways, it's so cool that they made Morgan a photographer--so is THIS why Louis starts taking photos!? 🤩📸

Cuz I've been wondering how Louis makes money in Paris so they don't have to pickpocket anymore?

I love that they included this.

No matter where they go, they have to pose as Black servants and maids and VALETS and SLAVES, white folk are the same regardless of the country.

Which was an interesting parallel with Daciana, and how much they were hyping up America.

She was clearly nuts, but smart & sane enough to realize that 2 (two!) Black vampires had fled their oh-so-great "land of the free" to come to HER busted AF blown up war-torn country, so why should she expect to have any happiness over there?

I don't know a lick of Romanian, but I wonder if the "another one" she was referring to was the soldier, or the country. As Daciana realized that no matter who she made her new fledgling, and no matter which country she ran to, she'd be alone & unhappy without the people she loved--her HOME.

Home is where the HEART is! Claudia's been homeless this whole time! Daciana's got that huge castle, but lives all alone--she can't make proper fledglings. Meanwhile Louis still thinks NOLA is home, even after they killed everyone who knew them--"including" Lestat!

*sigh* I hate this effing show, it's so dang good. 😭

#interview with the vampire #louis de pointe du lac #louis de pointe du black #justice for claudia #iwtv tvc metas #must see tv #the hype is real #iwtv season 2 spoilers #the vampire daciana

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vickytaa · 1 month ago

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Those Blue Eyes"

Final part

(Part 1, Part 2)

☆

Weeks pass by, and the triplets and I have been hanging out everywhere, anytime.

Nick is awesome, we have been helping each other with everything, at school, in our love life, friends, family, and others.

Chris always makes me laugh with any joke he does. He is so silly.

And Matt it's just Matt. But every time I am with him, the tension between us is bigger.

At school, I have the 2nd best grades from my class. So every time someone has a doubt, asks me. That's not a problem for me, I mean, it's more like a recognition of my efforts.

Trying to solve a math equation, I hear a familiar voice."Hey," Matt said. I turn around just to make sure he is speaking to me. "Yeah you, Y/n". "Oh, hi, what's up?" I said, thinking he must just wanted my math answer, while I stare at his big blue eyes, so beautiful and mesmerizing that he can see through your soul, your thoughts and emotions.

"I know we don't talk that much, but I wanted to see if maybe, I don't know, like.. you, mmm... you may want to.. you know.." Matt started to get nervous. "Yes..?" Urging him to keep talking. " I wanted to ask you if you wanted to anywhere, like the beach, maybe to the park or anywhere you want," Matt said, I was shocked that Matthew Sturniolo has just asked me to go on a date with him. I was so lost and surprised that I couldn't form any sentence. Then, I calmed down and asked, "Just the two of us?". " Yes, but, if you don't want to, I understand.. I- I mean you don't have to, so.." "Sure" I interrupted him. His eyes were wide open, and a big smile began to cover his entire face. "I'll be at your house at 7 pm," I said.

The teacher decided to keep talking, but I just couldn't take him out of my mind. I couldn't believe it, the same guy who called me idiot the first day he met me was asking me on a date, and I accepted. I started thinking of what I should wear, I mean, it's my first date so I have to be as much hot, cute and pretty as I could.

☆

Matt's POV

I've been thinking how to ask her to go on a date. She was the most beautiful girl I know, she is smart, fun, her hair, green eyes and her smile. Oh my god, how she smiles with her eyes, the way she laughs, and the way she makes me feel alive every time she is near by, although that when I look at her, she takes my breath away. 'She is just perfect'.

In math class I took courage and approached her. "Hey," I said, as her beautiful green eyes landed on me. "Yeah, you, Y/n". "Oh, hii, what's up?" She says. I could barely breath. I try to connect the words on my mind to make a sentence. "I know we don't talk that much, but I wanted to see if maybe, I don't know, like.. you, mmm... you may want to.. you know.." Fuck. My neurons disappeared as our eyes exchanged glances, it was as if they were speaking, without words.

"Yes..?" She said with a confused face. I knew I had to do it. I took a deep breath and said " I wanted to ask you if you wanted to anywhere, like the beach, maybe to the park or anywhere you want,". I closed my eyes as trying to make sure that it was real.

"Just the two of us?" She asked." Yes, but, if you don't want to, I understand.. I- I mean you don't have to, so.." "Sure" She said. I was so shocked. I couldn't respond. I didn't say anything but I knew she realized how happy I was.

☆

Y/n Pov

7:00 pm

I was standing in front of the door, still. I was wearing a cute short white dress, a very special one because my mom bought it for me.

As soon as I knocked on the door, there he was, his unique smile and Those Blue Eyes.

"Ready?" I nodded.

We started walking towards the beach, in silence, but a comfortable one. The silence that makes you feel like home.

When we finally made it to the beach, he decided to talk. "So, tell me about you, why did you decide to move here?". It hit the weakest point of all.

"My country is not so safe to live in, so my family and I decided to find a better future for me. And then I moved here. It's been hard not to see my mom and dad every day, to leave my friends behind, but when I'm with you and your brothers, everything it's way more easy to fight with. I mean, my aunt, Jess, your brothers and you are the most important things I have here." I sobbed.

"And it has been very difficult to continue dealing with my anxiety, and without my parents by my side" My heart opened. "I'm sorry" He said. "Don't worry, I like being with you because it helps, a lot." I smiled at him.

"I really enjoy being with you too." He stopped walking.

"Y/n, it's been a long time since I wanted to tell you this but, I love you" He said. " I love the way you smile with your beautiful eyes, the way you make me feel, the way you care about everyone's feelings, the way you make me feel alive, the way you are, the way your smile illuminates my day to day, the way you make me feel like home, the way your eyes talk with mines, and everything that makes you who you are."

He looked at me. His eyes conveying the truth as he hugs me. "Y/n, I love you."

He approaches me. I could feel the tension growing between us. Suddenly he grabs my cheeks with his hands and he kissed me. The kiss was sweet and slow but full of excitement.

I thought that I was dreaming. Matt and I, only us. The time stopped. His kiss was like a promise and a secret between us. Our hearts betting faster and faster.

I walked away just to see those blue eyes of his and be able to tell him "I love you too."

_______________________________________

Omgg, guys, it's finished, my first storyyy. Thanks for all your support, love yaa:))

#chris x reader #the sturniolos #matt sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo #sturniolo #chris sturniolo #sturniolo triplets #matthew sturniolo #matthew bernard sturniolo #nick sturniolo #christopher owen sturniolo #christopher sturniolo

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mizutenshii · 1 year ago

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DAISIES.

— pairing ; kaneki ken x human!gn!reader

— summary ; he looks so cute with a flower crown atop his head, how can he be a monster?

— cw ; fluff fluff, pre-relationship, comfort

the breeze that traversed the streets of the city was getting kinder with every day that went by, now that spring had fallen over the country. spending your time outside was starting to become more pleasant and more and more people decided to do so. as a result, the park you decided to visit was quite lively.

you enjoyed it, but kaneki didn't seem too pleased by the presence of that many people. you could understand why, and you appreciated the fact that he still agreed on going to the park with you.

to compromise a little, you took a spot in the sun a little distance away from the other occupants. you hoped that the scent of humans wasn't too intense this way, and on top of that you could talk more freely – let's be honest, the topics you talked about weren't for everyone to hear; they required a fair level of secrecy in order to protect the ghoul.

so there you sat, amidst the daisies that grew scattered in the spring green grass. the male paid them no mind, keeping his gaze on the people in the distance. you wondered, what was he thinking?

actually, you didn't want to know.

when a ghoul laid their eyes upon their natural prey, the images and urges inside their minds surely were not pretty.

you made a face and plucked one of the tiny daisies that sprouted at her feet. yeah, it definitely took some time to get used to hanging out with a ghoul. you really had to keep yourself from thinking too much into things because it sometimes brought along very disturbing realizations and images. you shivered.

"at some point in my life i really enjoyed spending my leisure time in parks like this," kaneki suddenly spoke, tearing his eyes off the other people and turning to look at you instead. "now it just feels weird, like i don't belong here anymore."

there was a sadness in his eyes that also laced his voice, and you could read the longing he felt. a painful longing back to his human life – one that he would never get back. the young ghoul was always hurting on the inside, but in moments like these it surfaced, presenting itself to those who cared.

"why wouldn't you belong here?" you asked, picking another daisy, and another one. "i mean, there's a sign that asks you not to feed the birds but i don't see a humans only sign."

it was an attempt to add a mild and light-hearted joke to the heavy atmosphere that came along with the ghoul's remark, maybe even a small gesture to lift his spirit.

the boy with hair as pale as the moon snorted, but it was only a brief moment of amusement before his expression fell glum again.

"would a zookeeper let a lion between their zebras?" he questioned, sighing bitterly. "they don't, and it's for a reason."

"lions and zebras live together in the wild," you shrugged. "look, i really don't see a problem with you being here. you're just enjoying your time in the sun and you have all the right to do so, if you'd ask me."

you picked another tiny white flower, connecting the stems absentmindedly as you talked to the boy next to you.

"i know," kaneki sighed, finally noticing the daisies around him and lightly touching them with his fingertips. he watched them bounce back gently when he lifted his hand again, and that was as far as his attention for the flowers went. "it just doesn't feel right anymore," he added.

"do you want to leave?" you offered, about to drop the connected flowers in order to get up and save the boy from his internal struggles.

but a hand that – surprisingly – landed on yours stopped you from actually doing so, and you froze.

"no no, we can stay," the ghoul rushed. "i guess that for as long as you are here, i'm comfortable enough to stay. at least you kinda make me feel like i'm not completely out of place."

"o-okay," you uttered, your wide-eyed gaze on the cold hand that rested atop your own. you felt your heart skip a beat but that must've been because the sudden coldness on your skin startled you, right?

you sat down comfortably again and kaneki seemed satisfied, also appearing to be more at ease now that he got his discomfort off his chest. after shooting the ghoul one last glance, you decided that he was, indeed, okay, and reverted your attention back to the flowers in your hands.

by now you held a pretty long chain of flowers; connected daisies that together formed a flowery garland. it looked really pretty, and you were almost pleased with the outcome.

the boy with hair as pale as the moon looked up at the blue sky, clearly reminiscing about the past. you decided to let him be for a moment, to let him rearrange his thoughts and feelings. you focused on your task at hand; finishing the string of flowers to a point you deemed long enough. by the time you reached your ghoul, you rested your hand in your lap gently, careful not to damage the crown of flowers.

"i'm having thoughts, y/n," kaneki confessed, his dazed gaze now on a group of people in the distance. "i feel like a monster."

you pursed your lips, knowing very well what kaneki meant by that. but then an idea popped up in your mind, and you brought up your hands. admittedly, you made the flower crown for yourself to wear. however, you came up with a better use as the ghoul's demeanor tensed up.

beaming at him, you gently placed the flower crown atop his white locks. the ghoul simply gazed at you in awe, and you couldn't help but coo at the sight. the delicate tiara of daisies sat on top of his pale fringe daintily, and it looked adorable.

"you're not a monster, kaneki," you told him sincerely. "at least not in my eyes. look at you, you're so cute."

honestly, you had to fight the urge to squish his cheeks. although you got along very well, you still deemed it too early for such levels of affection. so you smiled widely at him instead, not paying the churning of your stomach any mind.

you were betraying humanity.

but you didn't care anymore.

a smile found its way to the ghoul's features, so small but unmistakenly there. the pain in his eyes had vanished and was now replaced with unmasked appreciation. your words held meaning, they didn't come from just someone. kaneki believed you.

he belonged. he was valid. he was no monster.

mizutenshii — 29.O9.2O23 — masterlist

at least in your eyes. and that was what mattered.

#nana writes #ken kaneki #tokyo ghoul #anime #tokyo ghoul kaneki #kaneki x reader #tg kaneki #ken kaneki x reader #kaneki imagine #kaneki imagines #tokyo ghoul fanfiction

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evansbby · 11 months ago

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I miss Gaza. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss my home. I miss the walks on the beach with my cousins. I miss the corner shops where everything was cheap. I miss going to the mosque with my friends and family. I miss going to the park with my brothers. I miss my school. I miss my kitten Kiki. I miss the summers spent at my grandparents. I miss walking to school with my brothers and talking about what we're going to do afterwards. I miss going to the library every day and constantly reading new books. I miss picking out new dresses at the store. I miss riding my bike with my cousins. I miss my neighbor Mohamed who I would always play chess with. I miss Palestine, my home.

My world turned upside down when my parents told me we were moving, seeing them hastily pack up everything. I was eleven years old, not knowing why we had to leave our home. I remember hearing my mom cry in the other room on the phone with my aunt. I remember my dad driving in a hurry. Nobody wanted to tell me what was happening, but deep down I knew. And then we were in Egypt, my parents were scared that we'd get sent back, if it wasn't for my dad's connections I think we'd be dead by now.

Next thing I know we're on a flight to, in my mom's words, "the big tower clock country" (we were going to London in). Seeing my uncle waiting for us at the airport and talking to me about how much fun it is here and how I'd make lots of friends. All I could think about if there was a chance that l'd ever be able to go back home. Eleven years later and I still haven't been able to go back home. I had to learn to live with the racism, the Islamophobia, the zionists, the constant hate against my people. I had to learn to cope with the dead of my family members, my friends, my neighbor. Luckily some of my close family could also leave, but then a lot could not and I'm honestly not sure how many are still alive.

I'm incredibly grateful and lucky that I was able to get to a safe country, yet I still miss everything back home. I'm so incredibly thankful to everyone who attended the march for Palestine in London and overall just in any city over the world. Hurts my heart seeing Noah Schnapp holding stickers that says 'zionism is sexy' while Bella Hadid got death threats because she speaks up about Palestine. My point in sharing my story is to remind people that the Palestinians you hear about in the media getting murdered, ALL had lives, they all had dreams, they all had friends and families, they all had their whole world taken from them. They are innocent human beings.

I still hold out hope that one day, I'll be able to take my kids to see the Gaza that I saw. 🇵🇸🩷

I’m so sorry 💜 I know nothing that I say could even comfort you at all. But thank you for choosing to share this with me, I can feel the pain in your words. The pain of being forced to leave your home and being so young that you don’t even understand why. And being so scared and confused… my heart truly goes out to you and the millions of others in Gaza who have been displaced, or lost their homes, lost the land they grew up on, lost their lives or the lives of their loved ones. It’s an actual modern day horror, what we are witnessing.

This is real, individual people we are talking about. As you said, they all had lives, all had dreams, all had hobbies and interests the same as we do. And it’s crazy the luxury we have, us who have never known the struggle or heartbreak of being displaced. Of experiencing a literal genocide. I am so privileged to be able to sit comfortably in my bedroom knowing that no one could just come and claim it as theirs. That no fuckass rich white bitch from Brooklyn New York could just shack up in my house and call it HER land. (Sorry for my language, it just makes me so angry. The way some people are reacting across the world makes me so angry… and I know it makes you ever angrier and more upset.)

My heart goes out to you and I pray to Allah that you will one day return to a free Palestine. To a free Gaza and your people can rebuild what was so cruelly taken from them. The same people who were so cruelly dehumanised by the Zionists and their religious ethnostate of “Isr*el.” I have no sympathy for the Zionists or their supporters. I have no respect for privileged celebrities like Noah Schnapp and others like that woman from the big bang theory, who can sit so comfortably in their mansions and feel like they know what is going on and try to persuade others to support their Zionistic views. When there are brave Palestinian children, women, men, babies, all innocent, all dying and they think the world has turned their back on them. All they have now is their faith.

I’m speaking to you straight from my heart, I know I don’t know you. But what you’ve said has touched me so much and I wish I could do more. I’m happy that you were able to escape and your immediate family is safe, I’m happy your father had the connections he did. I mourn the loss of your homeland, but I’m praying for you and all your people. And I will not forgive or forget what every single Zionist (celebrity or every day person) has said, how they have acted, what they have chosen to support. Years from now they will say they were brainwashed, misguided, they’ll sweep it under the rug and they’ll be forgiven but I will not forgive them.

There is hope in my heart seeing how many people (1mill+) that showed up every Saturday to protest in London, and all over the world in support of Palestine. The strongest thing in this world is hope… and faith. In my opinion. And it hurts, because reading your vivid memories, and how well you remember your home… But I know it won’t be for nothing. Idc if this sounds sappy but I’ll hope and pray for a free Palestine, and for you to go home one day.

#I’m honestly so emotional #I’m so priveleged #I moved to the uk ten years ago so around the same time as you give or take a year #difference is I had a choice and can go back whenever I want…. which is the biggest privilege in the world #it’s awful how cruel this world is #how the us and uk keep isr*el afloat to ensure their own interests in the Middle East #and in doing so cause a mass genocide #and they’d dehumanised the Arab people to such an extent that the people in the west do not care how many of them are dying #this is abhorrent #inexcusable #and it will never be forgotten what they did #anon

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metamelonisle · 2 years ago

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straw hats ethnicity/birthplace/nationality headcanons

just a foreword. these are just my personal interpretations of these characters. also to define the difference between the three:

ethnicity is basically your heritage. (eg. mixed hispanic/black/white)

birthplace is just what it sounds like. country you are born in. does not necessarily indicate ethnicity. if I have a specific place in mind beyond the country i'll specify but it'll usually just be the country

nationality is the country or culture that you publicly associate with in this case. not always your birthplace.

excellent let's get into it then

Monkey D. Luffy

Canon Origin: Foosha Village, Goa Kingdom (East Blue) Oda's Pick: Brazil

Ethnicity: Latino Birthplace: Brazil Nationality: Brazilian

Other Notes: these headcanons were based on an SBS where Oda assigned nationalities to the straw hats, but very little detail was given beyond a location for each member. Luffy's chosen country of origin was Brazil, which I feel is a great fit for him, and I wouldn't change anything about it.

Roronoa Zoro

Canon Origin: Shimotsuki Village (East Blue) Oda's Pick: Japan

Ethnicity: Mixed (Hispanic/East Asian) Birthplace: Mexico Nationality: Japanese

Other Notes: Zoro was born in Mexico, but ended up in Japan through currently unknown means at a very, very young age. It's there that he ended up finding the Isshin Dojo and began his journey of greatness. It's unknown who his family is or if they're even still alive, much like in canon. He also has little to no memories of his early childhood due to the young age at which he ended up in Japan, nor any particular personal connection to his Mexican heritage due to this lack of memories.

EDIT IN LIGHT OF SBS VOL 105: After the Shimotsuki clan had settled in Japan, Roronoa Arashi, the son of Shimotsuki Furiko and Roronora Pinzoro, set off to Mexico to have adventures there, and instead met a woman there named Terra, and together, the two had the bouncing baby blade-loving moss ball who we all know and love.

That being said, while the circumstances of how exactly Zoro ended up in Shimotsuki Village again is unknown (it's thought that perhaps he crawled onto a departing boat as a toddler, but no one can be sure), perhaps it was fate that drew him back to the land of his father...

Nami

Canon Origin: Oykot Kingdom (East Blue) Oda's Pick: Sweden

Ethnicity: Gaelic Birthplace: Ireland Nationality: Indonesian

Other Notes: A lot (but not all) of the nationality picks are based on the geography of their hometown compared to real-life locations, and apparently Cocoyashi Village is based on the Bali town of Ubud.

I don't really see Nami as Swedish tbh. I think she's more Irish. I think it's mostly because she has red hair instead of blonde.

Usopp

Canon Origin: Syrup Village, Gecko Islands (East Blue) Oda's Pick: Africa (no specific nation given)

Ethnicity: Biracial (Black/White) Birthplace: England Nationality: English-Jamaican

Other Notes: first things first he was done SO dirty by Oda. hopefully this is a better interpretation. as such it's gonna be the longest entry here by far

Syrup Village highly resembles an archetypal rural English village, so it would make sense for it to just be in England's countryside.

Banchina was an Englishwoman who had lived there her entire life, and Yasopp is a Jamaican sailor who briefly settled down there before he left to become part of the Red-Hair Pirates.

Usopp considers himself both English and Jamaican, and takes great pride in being both, usually conveyed by his love of the Going Merry and fond memories of Kaya and the Usopp Pirates, and his immense respect for his father and his dreams of being a legendary warrior of the sea, although he has relatively little knowledge about Jamaica beyond his memories of his father due to lacking the proper resources to research it. He normally speaks with a country English accent, but as Sogeking, he speaks in a fake Jamaican accent pieced together from his memories of Yasopp, as his father is a source of both great pride and internal strength for him.

A year into the timeskip, Usopp left the Boin Archipelago after getting strong enough to and learning how to use the Pop Greens, and visited Jamaica for the remainder of it, mostly to finally learn about his heritage and his father's homeland straight from the source. By the time he returns to the Sabaody Archipelago, two years after being separated from everyone by Bartholomew Kuma, he now speaks in a genuine Jamaican accent, following his post-timeskip theme of truly becoming the tales he told, like Sogeking.

Sanji

Canon Origin: Germa Kingdom (North Blue) Oda's Pick: France

Ethnicity: Mixed (White/East Asian) Birthplace: Sealand (United Kingdom) Nationality: French

Other Notes: when you think about it, Germa is basically Sealand if Sealand was much bigger and recognized as a country because the only family there was a military superpower. I do not feel comfortable drawing any other parallels to Germa here for obvious reasons. Additionally, with the exception of Judge, every member of the Vinsmoke family has a Japanese name, including Sora, indicating to me that Sora is likely meant to be a Japanese woman and Judge a Sealander (Englishman).

Anyways, Sanji would then run away and end up on a The Orbit's kitchen before being attacked by the Cook Pirates, a powerful pirate crew from French waters, and then ending up on a barren rock with the crew's captain, Zeff. They survived the horrible ordeal of starvation, and he then took in Sanji as his own son and raised him on the Baratie.

Because Sanji is believed to be dead by the Vinsmokes, he is no longer legally considered a Sealander, and as such, he quite proudly considers himself French, like his mentor and father figure, Zeff.

Tony Tony Chopper

Canon Origin: Sakura Kingdom (Grand Line) Oda's Pick: Canada

Ethnicity: Mi’kmaw Birthplace: Canada Nationality: Canadian

Other Notes: I didn't really change much from Oda's original suggestion bc i think Chopper being from Canada is already pretty fitting. I did specify that he is Indigenous here bc reindeer are native to North America. Also, he reminds me of my best friend who is also Mi’kmaw, so that definitely played a part as well. : >

Nefertari Vivi

Canon Origin: Alburna, Arabasta Kingdom (Grand Line) Oda's Pick: Not Listed

Ethnicity: Arabic Birthplace: Baghdad, Iraq Nationality: Iraqi

Other Notes: Vivi is and will always be part of the Straw Hat Pirates, even if it will likely never be made publicly known for the sake of her country. If she ever desires to sail with them again, they'll all be more than happy to take her aboard once more.

Arabasta is based on a wide variety of places in and around the Arabian peninsula, but Alburna, where Vivi is from, appears to be based specifically on Baghdad.

Nico Robin

Canon Origin: Ohara (West Blue) Oda's Pick: Russia

Ethnicity: Biracial (Black/Hispanic) Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt Nationality: Mexican

Other Notes: While Ohara is indeed based on typical rural English villages, like Foosha and Syrup, it being the famous center of a hub of knowledge and being known for a subsequent horrific destruction mirrors the famous tale of Egypt's Library of Alexandria. As such, I think of Robin as being Egyptian with Mexican heritage.

Robin was born to to Nico Olvia, an Egyptian scholar, and an unnamed scholar from Mexico who met her while they were both working on the same archeological project. After Alexandria's destruction, Robin journeyed to Mexico to get into contact with her father, only to learn he had already been killed by the World Government for his connection to Olvia. She then lived in Mexico for a while, bouncing from place to place, before eventually getting acquainted with pirates and ending up working for Crocodile, and eventually, following the events of Arabasta, becoming part of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Franky

Canon Origin: South Blue Oda's Pick: USA

Ethnicity: Mixed [White/Hispanic/Black] Birthplace: Santa Monica, USA Nationality: Italian

Other Notes: SUUUUUPERRRRR! Much like most of these entries, Oda's choice country is still present here in some way. Many of his most well-known character traits, such as his love of burgers and cola, bombastic personality, fondness of surf culture, and engineering talent link him heavily to the USA, particularly the U.S. state of California, which is famous for its beaches, technological innovation, and legendary film industry.

The Italian nationality is obvious, as Water 7 is heavily based on the Italian city of Venezia, with its gorgeous architecture and signature canals. While he does act like an American, he evidently loves Water 7 and considers it his true home, as it's where he really grew up as part of Tom's Workers.

there's no special reasoning behind making him mixed beyond that i'm also mixed and I think it's fun to add little bits of myself into characters I enjoy and respect. His parents were American pirates operating out of Santa Monica, and during a business trip to Italy, they abandoned him at Water 7. Oh well!

California Boys, No. 1 SUPER guys~! Cola, Steel, our ships are UNREAL~!

Brook

Canon Origin: West Blue Oda's Pick: Austria

Ethnicity: Black Birthplace: Salzburg, Austria-Hungary Nationality: Austrian

Other Notes: i think it would be funny if Brook went "hey let's go visit my home town! i sure do hope nothing weird has happened in the 50 years i've been gone!" and then learned his home country was shattered into a bunch of other countries while he was dead that's the entire reason i chose austria-hungary over just austria btw

also everyone jokes that brook must personally know Mozart because he's so old, unaware that Brook was literally also born in Salzburg, albeit about a decade after Mozart had already died.

Jinbei

Canon Origin: Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Kingom (Grand Line) Oda's Pick: India

Ethnicity: Polynesian Birthplace: Kingdom of Hawai'i Nationality: Hawaiian

Other Notes: Apparently a lot of people also feel that Jinbei is also from the Pacific, which is neat to know. As a whale-shark fishman, it would make sense for him to live there, after all!

(This blog does not recognize American ownership of Hawai'i as legitimate, and as such, I refer to it as a sovereign nation, rather than part of the United States.)

I don't really have any other notes to give since I haven’t gotten a good look at what Fish-Man Island looks like yet, as I’ve only just finished Marineford. When I see more, I’ll add more thoughts.

Thanks for listening!

(as I progress through the story, i might do one for the warlords once i learn more about one piece's worldbuilding! keep your eyes peeled for that)

#paint.txt #long post #one piece #one piece headcanons #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #nami op #usopp op #sogeking #sanji one piece #tony tony chopper #nico robin #franky op #brook op #jinbei op #mugiwara kaizoku #straw hat pirates

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diosnumber1slut · 2 years ago

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𝑨𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔

DIO x y/n songfic

(Wrote it in 1st person)

I highly recommend to listen to the song before reading it

“Oh, imagine a land, it's a faraway place”

It was my first time in Egypt…well first time traveling to the famous and charismatic city of Cairo.

“Where the caravan camels roam”

I’ve always wanted to see the Egyptian country since I was a kid because of the luxurious history, the chaos that the main capital holds, the exotic and hazy vibes that the country radiates but most importantly for the mysterious and mystical nights that this country can give.

“Where you wander among every culture and tongue”

I always travelled since an early age so I’ve came in contact with a lot of cultures and populations across the world but the Egyptian one always intrigued me since I started to study it on my history books.

“It's chaotic, but, hey, it's home”

And it’s rather strange but I feel a certain…connection…

“When the wind's from the East

And the sun's from the West

And the sand in the glass is right”

Maybe it’s because of its welcoming and warm nature.

“Come on down, stop on by

Hop a carpet and fly”

So I booked the first flight and hotel room with destination the luxurious capital of Cairo.

“To another Arabian night”

But I did not expect that this trip would change me…radically…

“As you wind through the streets

At the fabled bazaars

With the cardamom-cluttered stalls”

It was my second evening in the metropolis of Cairo and I was having a look at the marvelous bazaars filled with fabulous and luxurious fabrics, exquisite herbs and spices and the magnificent items but since the first evening I could feel a constant presence always looking at me…persistently.

“You can smell every spice”

All of those spices and herbs mixed with the nightly chaos were making my mind hazy.

“While you haggle the price

Of the silks and the satin shawls”

But then at the end I didn’t buy anything and decided to sit in a bar while watching the other tourist trying to haggle the prices, the beautiful nightly scenery and just simply watching the night pass by. I decided to order a glass of red wine and after a few minutes it had arrived at my table. I savored it while watching the gorgeous scene go down…then all of a sudden I felt a set of eyes staring at me from across the bar…hungrily…

“Oh, the music that plays as you move through a maze

In the haze of your pure delight”

I literally felt my mind go even more hazier thanks to his warm, lust filled and piercing stare and his powerful stance then he started to approach my table that I was sitting at with a taunting walk so filled with charisma and then he spoke “Greetings…” and I replied with “Greetings sir” and he replied to my salutation “My name is DIO and yours…” his voice sounded like a melody then responded with “The name’s y/n pleasure to meet you~”I put my hand out in expect of a handshake but he didn’t do anything in that sense instead he took my hand and gave a kiss on the front of my hand while sitting down “My my what a divine name it truly fits for a elegant person such as yourself…” and I replied with all flushed and with a flustered tone “O-o-oh my t-thank you s-so much…D-DIO was it?” I could feel my heartbeat raise up progressively “yes…” he responded back in a low toned hypnotic voice and then from this point forward we talked with each other for hours.

“You are caught in a dance

You are lost in the trance”

At the end of the conversation DIO said to me “Would you like to come to my manor? So we can talk without all of this chaos…” and I responded with “Sure why not~” and then we walked to his massive manor. As we were walking I suddenly felt his arm slither on my waist and pushing me closer to him then I turned my head to look at him and there I saw his true beauty. Pearlescent white skin, golden hair falling over his shoulders, amber sharp up pointed eyes that glowed with the streetlights, I felt like as if he put a spell on me but then he broke the spell by saying “We’re here~…” and the I started at his manor and it was massive and all in a typical arabesque style and it was all in a terracotta color and then he welcomed me inside “Come in don’t be shy~…” he put his hand out and I took a gentle grasp of it…We were walking in a dark corridor of his massive manor and suddenly I got pinned to the wall and got kissed passionately and then he began to tease my clit from under my lingerie and said “you’ll be my slut for the night and forever~…”.

“Of another Arabian night”

My clit was starting to feel tense, my pussy becoming aroused and my mind feeling blurry, I couldn’t help but to moan his name begging him to fuck me like the slut that I was.

“Arabian nights

Like Arabian days

More often than not are hotter than hot

In a lot of good ways”

“My my aren’t we needy~ but enough with the teasing I want to see your arousal in full display heh…” he said in a sinful manner so he took my lingerie off of my body only to reveal that my pussy was soaking wet and then he replied with a low toned grunt and a amused face then he approached my naked sex and proceeded to savor all of my fluids and digging his tongue so deep inside like if he was digging for gold. I whimpered, I whined and I cried for how good it was.

“Arabian nights

Like Arabian dreams

This mystical land of magic and sand

Is more than it seems”

But after a few minutes of him draining all of my fluids out of my pussy he said “Fuck…I can’t take it anymore…” he let out a husky groan “…my potent cock is going to explode…” then he took his 11 inch cock and slammed inside my ass then bit me down on the jugular and wrote his name on my breast with my own blood. and as I felt my walls stretch and accommodate to his size, I moaned out loud

“AHHH D-DIOOOOO!!!~” as I felt my whole body shudder.

“There's a road that may lead you

To good or to greed through

The power your wishing commands

Let the darkness unfold or find fortunes untold

Well, your destiny lies in your hands”

Feeling my insides surrender to his infinite stream of cum felt so good…a pleasure that I cannot explain it in words…with all of the pain that he was administrating to me felt heavenly. I think that all of the words on all of the vocabularies and dictionaries of the world would be insufficient to explain how good he was making me feel.

“Only one may enter here

One whose worth lies far within

A diamond in the rough”

Feeling my throat expand to his dimensions felt overwhelmingly good that he moaned.

“F-fuckkkkk…” he let out an another low husky groan “M-my adorable slut you serve me s-so well a-ahh~” my whole body felt weak when he called me a slut. He didn’t actually cum in my throat but he was close to.

“Arabian nights

Like Arabian days

They seem to excite, take off and take flight

To shock and amaze”

His powerful grasp that he had on my waist while I was bouncing on his cock was sending shockwaves of electricity to my core but the spanks were like tsunamis of pleasure that washed over my restless mind. I continued moaning like the little nasty slut that I was “you naughty little slut you’re addicted over my cock huh!…” he said in an angry tone “now…show me how bad you want my delicious cum inside of your tight wet little pussy…” he chuckled menacingly and spoke evilly and after those words fell out of his mouth I started begging him to release his load inside me “PLEASEEEE CUMMMM INSIDE ME PLEASEEEEEI WANT IT SOOO BADDDDDDLYYYY!!!~” and as I said these words I felt a stream of cum flooded my insides and then I heard a loud low toned moan coming from him “aaahhh y-you’re s-so good my naughty little slut aahh!…” I felt that he was struggling to speak ”wryyyy…” I felt that sound rumbling in my core.

“Arabian nights

'Neath Arabian moons”

…Well now it’s been a lot of years that I’ve been his favorite slut…sometimes I like to think about on how I met him…was it destiny? maybe that’s why I always felt a connection with Egypt…it’s because he was there just waiting patiently for my arrival…

“A fool off his guard could fall and fall hard

Out there on the dunes…”

But now that I’m with him forever I couldn’t be more satisfied…

#songfic #dio smut #dio brando fanfic #dio brando x reader #dio x you #dio x y/n #dio x reader #Spotify

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quoteablebooks · 10 months ago

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Genre: Non-Fiction, Adult, True Crime

Rating: 4 out of 5

Content Warning: Murder, Racism, Death, Gun violence

Summary:

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lost City of Z, a twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.

As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.

*Opinions*

Has this book been on my TBR for years? Yes. Am I only reading it because I saw the trailer for the adaptation coming out? Also yes. I will say that the trailer “spoiled” some of the mystery of this book, but as it is a non-fiction book about crimes that happened almost 100 years ago, I can’t really be mad about that. Still, there were parts of this book that I was actually anxious that these deaths would never be solved due to corruption and racism that was rampant during this time period. While the Osage Nation will never get the justice and peace they deserve for what was done to them, at least more people are now aware of the injustice that they suffered at the hands of greedy white settlers.

The first and most pressing thing I have to say is that this novel is absolutely rage-inducing to read. I am not getting into a whole rant about the sanitization of teaching history and the way that white Americans have always been the type to kill everything and anything that stood in their way, but the way that the government just let it happen is truly unreal. The way that the Osage people were treated as unintelligent and unable to have any sort of self-determination, even though they had been smart enough to make the government give them the mineral rights to the land they were forced onto is so obviously idiotic that it is hard to fathom. Grann multiple times indicates that many people in the country did not see the Osage people as people, but a subrace of people, and didn’t see their deaths as murders. I am not perfect by any means, I am a product of a racist society after all, but if you read this story and are not enraged I would seriously consider looking into yourself and your morals very closely. The white supremacy that allowed the Reign of Terror and all the other deaths connected to white greed can still be seen today, just as insidious and just as accepted by those in power.

The last non-fiction I read had a style much closer to a textbook than a narrative so I was surprised about how fast-paced and closer to the setup of a novel this book was. There are a number of pictures interspersed with the text, that not only break up the text, but also make the individuals that are being discussed real and not just names on a page. I will say that at times the narrative jumped around a little too much, feeling as if I was being dropped into different areas of the story and hoping it would all make more sense as I read. I think the third part of the novel, where Grann was talking about his research and all the murders that were never investigated, felt the most cohesive. I think that is my biggest complaint about this novel, the choppy nature of the narrative in the middle section.

While the sections about the FBI were interesting, especially the complex picture that was provided of J Edgar Hoover, what really kept me reading was the hope that the Osage people would eventually get justice. While the end to this story is not considered justice, in my opinion, it was nice to see that at a time when tribes were treated as an obstacle to the desires of white settlers, at least a conviction was reached. The scar that these events left on the Osage people is also well captured at the end of the story. I suggest that anyone with a vague interest in the forgotten history of the United States, including all the horrors, should give this book a try, even if you aren’t interested in true crime. 4 star read.

#killers of the flower moon #book review #booklr #David Grann #nonfiction #4 out of 5 stars

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theharpermovieblog · 1 year ago

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#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2023

MOVIES I HATE

I watched Rambo: Last Blood (2019)

As far as Rambo movies go, I like the first one and that's it, so I'm not overly excited to sit through this.

John Rambo seeks revenge against a Mexican human trafficking ring.

The original First Blood film, which is the first John Rambo movie, is an action film about a broken veteran being pushed beyond his limit and waging a war against the cops who pushed him. It's a good movie and it gave us a character with depth and purpose. Every Rambo film from there on out was about nothing but a well trained guy murdering a bunch of people with lots of bullets and big knives. Low brow stuff.

This time around it seems some producer had the grand idea, "What if Instead of Liam Nelson in Taken, it was Rambo?!" And off we go to the land of mediocre old man action movies.

Director Adrian Grunberg seems to view Mexico as a corrupt trash heap, full of dirty evil men. Another film I've seen by him, Get The Gringo, starring Mel Gibson imagines Mexico as a place full of gang members and evil general-esque crime lords. This movie is really no different. The only "good" people in mexico are some of the women of course. Especially the pretty ones. Lucky for those women, there is a badass white guy with a heart of gold to save them from all the evil of their home country. It'd be possibly even forgivable had this been a part of one of Grunberg's films, but the fact that the evils and dangers of Mexico are the full plots of two of his films is incredibly suspect. Especially in an era where people who come from Latin America are demonized on the political stage.

Mexico and many foreign countries are easy to sell as lawless wastelands in films like this, because their audience of Fox News Americans buys into this shit. But, I'll get off my soapbox and talk about the film itself.

I was surprised when this film opened up and I saw some very pretty shots of wide open country and a nice ranch. I thought for a second this movie was going to look good throughout. I got the sense that maybe this movie would examine Rambo in his later years, dealing with a life of hardship and facing new limitations when danger comes to meet him. Sadly, those shots and that imagined story arc were me lying to myself. The camera work and style quickly turns to the typical mid-budget action look. There's a driving scene with such bad green screen that I was actually shocked by it. The writing cares nothing for the character. If you told me this was an already written script that they just plugged Rambo into to sell more tickets, I'd believe you without hesitation. It's very by the numbers and it can be so generic that it can become rather tedious. The dullness of this script is so miserable to sit through. The attempts at emotional connection are as dead as Rambo's niece. Yes, she dies. Do we care? No. Are you upset that I told you? I don't give a shit.

Let's just move on to what I suppose this movie was made for, the violence and action.

The action in this film is fine, I guess. It's definitely violent, but we don't really feel the glory of revenge these movies usually pay off with. By the time the real war broke out, I didn't care enough, I just wanted it to be over.

We find ourselves in these winding underground tunnels that Rambo has built over the years. Guys get caught in traps, Rambo is always in the right place at the right time to finish them off.

This has the feeling of the diminishing returns of other cheap sequels. Like watching the worst of the Death Wish series.

Solidly a movie I hate because of its mediocrity, awful use of a character, cheap use of Mexico as a land of bad guys and just the sheer waste of time and resources that went into making it.

#rambo #rambo: last blood #sylvester stallone

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tinylittlecubby · 8 days ago

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Since I either have the curse of cassandra or am a Moko Jumbie here are some further not fun predictions:

1) Elon Musk is making the moves he is making because he wants to be the next celebrity president. I dont know when, maybe when he is in his mid 60's or 70's but he wants it. I can see Mark Zuckerberg trying to do something similar, but maybe going down the Bill Gates route of political influence instead.

2) The resource wars, which are being positioned as wars for essential resources like water, are only being called such to distract from the fact that we have had many major resource wars in the past already. Wars over oil? Resource war. War over gold? Resource war. Every single god damn war over fucking land? Resource war (and maybe the most enduring version) Invasion/international interference in order to eradicate communism? Layered resource war (hard to do trade with a country that has a fundamentally different economic system/ideology then you) This narrative shift will be used the same way that the modern 'gender division' is being used. There has always been a gender divide. Gender divides have been an issue longer than capitalism has been an issue. Mysogyny was an issue before the 700 year long plague. So the current one is just a seperate chapter, not a new series. "We never had wars where people were going into other countries for a specific resource" is the same as "we never had so many men express so much vitriol for women" like where the hell have you been?

But I digress, this is a problem because it makes us treat the issue likes its new which calls for new solutions, instead of seeing the issue as old with already proven solutions. This leads to wasted time (both in terms of wasted time while living and destroyed time in terms of peoples lives being lost)

3) Online communities are gonna get messed up so much that over the next 2 decades everyone is going to migrate to tor based platforms. Although not tor based, this is already being seen with the fediverse. As tech literacy becomes better and people become more comfortable with teaching themselves things ( a cultural hallmark of the internet already) tor services are going to become accessible itself and user friendly and we are going to have a repeat of the early 00's and 2010's in terms of the internet but on different servers. I have many theories on how it could play out in different stages but I would literally need to make a video for it to make sense. Factors at play that are informing my call is: identify theft via A.I, lack of data privacy, the historical trend of dynamics flipping throughout history in general (in this case the white web becomes the deep/dark web and vice versa) advertising becoming so invasive and inescapable that people would rather lose out on money instead of deal with it (for example I could see the shift starting with cyber security oriented content creators making the shift over after they have made enough money, then other comp sci creators making the shift and not having made enough money from traditional social media so they are actually the ones to begin to learn how to monetize tor social media on mass and set up things like live streaming -which is extremely!!!! difficult currently to do on tor but they would be incentivized to make it happen due to money) also in terms of connecting with creators but creators protecting their identity, there is already vtuber culture and I could see people making avatars that pretty much look exactly like themselves irl but its still a vtuber model so its still personable but still distanced from a security perspective. Visual A.I might be accepted culturally to allow for this one circumstance so you can make a hyper realistic A.I vtuber model of yourself (JUST for aesthetics, it doesn't function independently from the live streamer they are still actively streaming) by using your own images and ONLY your own images.

#thoughts #im gonna need either a job at a socialist countries intelligence agency if im correct #or i will take 100 million dollars #i hope i am incorrect about the first 2 #and the last one is more nuanced as its a large group of civilians so there will be some good and some bad depending on where you hang out

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digitmarketingexpert · 4 months ago

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The Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in Thailand: Best Destinations for a One or Two-Month Trip

Southeast Asia is an incredibly diverse region with numerous destinations that are perfect for a solo traveler looking for an extended trip. One of the best destinations for a solo trip lasting one or two months is Thailand. Here’s why:

Thailand: The Ultimate Solo Travel Destination

1. Ease of Travel

Accessibility: Thailand is well-connected by air, with international flights landing in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. The country also has an extensive and affordable domestic travel network including buses, trains, and flights.

Tourist-Friendly: Thailand has a long history of tourism, and its infrastructure is well-developed. English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, making navigation easier.

2. Variety of Experiences

Vibrant Cities:Bangkok: The bustling capital offers a mix of modern attractions and historic sites, including the Grand Palace and Wat Arun. Enjoy the vibrant nightlife, street food, and shopping.Chiang Mai: Located in the north, Chiang Mai is known for its temples, night markets, and access to nature. It’s also a hub for digital nomads and offers numerous cultural experiences.

Island Escapes:Phuket and Krabi: These areas provide stunning beaches, water activities, and nightlife.Koh Samui and Koh Phangan: Famous for their beautiful beaches and the Full Moon Party.Koh Tao: Ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

3. Cultural Richness

Temples and Historical Sites: Explore ancient temples and historical parks like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.

Festivals: Participate in local festivals such as Songkran (Thai New Year) and Loi Krathong (Festival of Lights).

Cooking Classes: Learn Thai cooking and take home new culinary skills.

4. Affordability

Cost of Living: Thailand offers a wide range of accommodation options from budget hostels to luxury resorts. Food is also inexpensive, especially street food.

Activities: Many attractions and activities are affordable, making it easy to stick to a budget while still experiencing a lot.

5. Safety and Community

Safety: Thailand is generally safe for solo travelers. It’s important to take standard precautions, but overall, the country is welcoming and accommodating to tourists.

Solo Travel Community: Thailand is a popular destination for solo travelers, meaning you’re likely to meet other like-minded individuals. Many hostels and guesthouses have communal areas where you can socialize.

Suggested Itinerary for One or Two Months

Week 1-2: Bangkok and Surroundings

Explore Bangkok’s temples, markets, and nightlife.

Take a day trip to Ayutthaya.

Visit the floating markets.

Week 3-4: Northern Thailand

Travel to Chiang Mai: Visit temples, enjoy the night markets, and participate in a cooking class.

Take a trip to Pai for a laid-back experience with hot springs and waterfalls.

Visit Chiang Rai to see the White Temple and Blue Temple.

Week 5-6: Southern Thailand

Spend time in the islands: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.

Engage in water activities like snorkeling, diving, and kayaking.

Relax on the beaches and enjoy the island nightlife.

Week 7-8: West Coast Islands

Explore Phuket: Visit beaches, enjoy nightlife, and explore nearby islands.

Travel to Krabi: Discover Railay Beach, the Phi Phi Islands, and Ao Nang.

Tips for Solo Travel in Thailand

Stay Connected: Get a local SIM card or use a portable Wi-Fi device to stay connected.

Health Precautions: Make sure to have travel insurance. Stay hydrated and be cautious with street food if you have a sensitive stomach.

Local Etiquette: Dress modestly when visiting temples. Always remove your shoes before entering homes or temples.

Transportation: Use ride-hailing apps like Grab for convenience. Public transportation and tuk-tuks are also widely available.

Conclusion

Thailand is a fantastic destination for a solo trip lasting one or two months. Its blend of rich cultural experiences, natural beauty, vibrant cities, and welcoming atmosphere makes it ideal for solo travelers. With its affordability, ease of travel, and extensive range of activities, you’ll have plenty to explore and enjoy in the Land of Smiles.

Notes (Important): If you wish to pre-book flight tickets and hotels online, please visit this website: Trip.com Official Site‎‎ | Travel Deals and Promotions

#thailand #travelling #travel #solo travel #beauty

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talenlee · 4 months ago

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Vox Maxima Gallery 6: The Rudel Verge

A long, dreadful line of collapsed and failed cities stands at one edge of the empire. A whole country’s worth of territory, with towers and roads and warehouses, pulled down and left to rot. The trees and stands have grown where once there were carts and carriages, magical colleges left for the beasts and animals of the land to tend to. It’s the kind of dilapidation that the Empire points to as a collapse, but which the astute eye will look to and say no: No, this was intentional.

The Verge are the people who stood in civilisation, stood in the light of the Necrocalypse, and whether to save themselves from it or to live their best life until it happened, dismantled their cities, returned to nature, and made themselves a new life in a new way, connected to the land and following the heartbeat of the great, rolling river that they call the Tambow. It is their border, it is their heart, and it is their home.

Vox Maxima is a custom magic set created by Talen Lee. It’s composed of 187 cards, with 71 commons, 60 uncommons, 41 rares, and 15 mythic rares. Vox Decima is a custom Magic: The Gathering set, with at least one card spoiled a day, on Cohost, Kind.Social, and the r/custommagic subreddit.

WOTC Employees: This post in full presents unsolicited custom Magic: The Gathering card designs, which I understand current employee practices forbid you from looking at unsolicited. You shouldn’t be here!

Behold the Rudel Verge! Named after the philosopher who penned their promise to the world, the Verge is a place that has deliberately taken their great civilisation and degrowthed it. They refused to build more, and started to build less, to break down what was present, to render the world they had into something new, a better way to be. The people of the Tambow use their magic to solve small problems and figure big problems are the ones you grow around. They are interdependent and they are connected and most strangely to people from the empire, they barely even remember or care about Rudel’s name at all.

I wanted to present a vision of red-green-white that played into the interdependency of the combination. Normally when we see RGW factions in Magic: The Gathering it’s presented as Nature, Red In Tooth and Claw – the Naya, for example, are just treated as pure barbarism, the white only representing the ways that nature follows these rules. The Cabaretti present the colour combination in terms of parties and acceptance and indulgence. In the Verge, what I want to present are people who are given the means to make a conscious choice to embrace nature – it’s not just ‘we do things this way because it’s how we’ve always done them,’ the traditionalism and naturalism of mono-green, but rather people who built a city and a civilisation and then decided to undo it.

Hey, though, have you noticed how when red-green-white needs some kind of mechanical identity, Wizards just kinda punts it? Alliance and Naya-size are both just things that barely hold together, and just come along with whatever you were going to do anyway. They used to have support, which I was never happy with, but which I was using because I thought it was a mechanic my RGW consultant (Fox, a stack of small goblins in a human suit) favoured. As of current information, the consultant likes Backup and like the Backup cards I’ve made.

Now, on for some card-by-cards:

The Territorial Gristleback, to my surprise, is a card whose name is a repeat! Not a repeat with Wizards, but a repeat with myself. A few years ago, I called a card Territorial Gristleback that stopped you playing more lands. Weird!

This presents a card for Primrose! Primrose is the soppy, emotionally soft sister to Cazas (and kinda Ksen), who continues our ‘odd planeswalkers’ trend. She can’t gain loyalty and she has something that makes her very attackable, what with all the card advantage she can hypothetically get you.

Torun is our learner, someone who discovers the history of degrowth – and unlike most of the other learners, when she learns that the Verge made the Verge the way it is on purpose, she’d not respond with horror but excitement. Hell yeah! Let’s live in cool nature and learn to fight and hunt and enjoy ourselves! She also has my favourite two lines of rules text in the set with the one-two punch of cowards can’t block warriors and goaded creatures are cowards.

The Jaws of Ras’Ze represents my opinion on triple strike. Sure it’s a novel idea, but can you make two cards with it? If it’s just one card for one card’s sake, you gotta admit and then see what you can do to make that card interesting. I think the design as it is is interesting because it can obliterate a player in commander in one hit, but you need to be able to make it happen, the card’s not going to help you in any other ways.

We have some more ‘No Terfs on Gruul Turf’ card references here, with a bunch of red-green cards that care about or refer to lands, and also flavour text on Boundary Bolt and Bad Moon Pathfinder.

Tambow Trader is just another alchemy card, down to the body and the ability. I kinda wish Seek as a keyword was defined this way – it’d tidy up a lot of things.

I wanted to make the Tambow Lifeken a 2/2 so bad, a recurring watchwolf would make me so happy. But obviously, that’s probably a bad idea, makes things more stagnant even if in commander, you don’t need to worry about overpowered early drops for pressure.

Stylish Heretic is my attempt to recapture one of my favourite Wilds of Eldraine cards, Witch's Mark. It’s not nearly the same, it’s not nearly as good, but that’s what the space and rarity can afford.

The Verge is also the place the story of the Vox Decima ends.

This almost is the end of the set. This is all the cards in Vox Maxima. There are 187 cards, and all 186 of them have been presented on the blog. And that’s because starting this month, we’re now launching into the second set of the year, Decima Vex, as you may have seen if you noticed the last sneaky card on the first of this month. Tune in tomorrow for more details about that!

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Custommtg #Vox Maxima #Games #Magic: The Gathering #Making

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