#can we be competitive with each other and ourselves and the world. can we be ever improving (and in more ways than just healing)

[particleseparationroom]

4 months on working antidepressants will have you wanting to be the second half of a couple that terrorizes the world with our early mornings and go-getter-ism

[writingwithfolklore]

5 Tips for Creating Intimidating Antagonists

Antagonists, whether people, the world, an object, or something else are integral to giving your story stakes and enough conflict to challenge your character enough to change them. Today I’m just going to focus on people antagonists because they are the easiest to do this with!

1. Your antagonist is still a character

While sure, antagonists exist in the story to combat your MC and make their lives and quest difficult, they are still characters in the story—they are still people in the world.

Antagonists lacking in this humanity may land flat or uninteresting, and it’s more likely they’ll fall into trope territory.

You should treat your antagonists like any other character. They should have goals, objectives, flaws, backstories, etc. (check out my character creation stuff here). They may even go through their own character arc, even if that doesn’t necessarily lead them to the ‘good’ side.

Really effective antagonists are human enough for us to see ourselves in them—in another universe, we could even be them.

2. They’re… antagonistic

There’s two types of antagonist. Type A and Type B. Type A antagonist’s have a goal that is opposite the MC’s. Type B’s goal is the same as the MC’s, but their objectives contradict each other.

For example, in Type A, your MC wants to win the contest, your antagonist wants them to lose.

In Type B, your MC wants to win the contest, and your antagonist wants to win the same contest. They can’t both win, so the way they get to their goal goes against each other.

A is where you get your Draco Malfoy’s, other school bullies, or President Snow’s (they don’t necessarily want what the MC does, they just don’t want them to have it.)

B is where you get the other Hunger Games contestants, or any adventure movie where the villain wants the secret treasure that the MCs are also hunting down. They want the same thing.

3. They have well-formed motivations

While we as the writers know that your antagonist was conceptualized to get in the way of the MC, they don’t know that. To them, they exist separate from the MC, and have their own reasons for doing what they do.

In Type A antagonists, whatever the MC wants would be bad for them in some way—so they can’t let them have it. For example, your MC wants to destroy Amazon, Jeff Bezos wants them not to do that. Why not? He wants to continue making money. To him, the MC getting what they want would take away something he has.

Other motivations could be: MC’s success would take away an opportunity they want, lose them power or fame or money or love, it could reveal something harmful about them—harming their reputation. It could even, in some cases, cause them physical harm.

This doesn’t necessarily have to be true, but the antagonist has to believe it’s true. Such as, if MC wins the competition, my wife will leave me for them. Maybe she absolutely wouldn’t, but your antagonist isn’t going to take that chance anyway.

In Type B antagonists, they want the same thing as the MC. In this case, their motivations could be literally anything. They want to win the competition to have enough money to save their family farm, or to prove to their family that they can succeed at something, or to bring them fame so that they won’t die a ‘nobody’.

They have a motivation separate from the MC, but that pesky protagonist keeps getting in their way.

4. They have power over the MC

Antagonists that aren’t able to combat the MC very well aren’t very interesting. Their job is to set the MC back, so they should be able to impact their journey and lives. They need some sort of advantage, privilege, or power over the MC.

President Snow has armies and the force of his system to squash Katniss. She’s able to survive through political tension and her own army of rebels, but he looms an incredibly formidable foe.

Your antagonist may be more wealthy, powerful, influential, intelligent, or skilled. They may have more people on their side. They are superior in some way to the protagonist.

5. And sometimes they win

Leading from the last point, your antagonists need wins. They need to get their way sometimes, which means your protagonist has to lose. You can do a bit of a trade off that allows your protagonist to lose enough to make a formidable foe out of their antagonist, but still allows them some progress using Fortunately, Unfortunately.

It goes like… Fortunately, MC gets accepted into the competition. Unfortunately, the antagonist convinces the rest of the competitors to hate them. Fortunately, they make one friend. Unfortunately, their first entry into the competition gets sabotaged. Fortunately, they make it through the first round anyway, etc. etc.

An antagonist that doesn’t do any antagonizing isn’t very interesting, and is completely pointless in their purpose to heighten stakes and create conflict for your protagonist to overcome. We’ll probably be talking about antagonists more soon!

Anything I missed?

[pucksandpower]

Charles Leclerc x Wolff!Reader x Max Verstappen - Social Media AU

Little (Ferrari) Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad She Wolff

Love is in the air for these two stars of the paddock! Brace yourselves as we spill the scorching hot tea on the newest potential pairing that has set tongues wagging. The grapevine is buzzing with the latest snapshots capturing none other than Ferrari’s golden boy, Charles Leclerc, and the stunning princess of the paddock, Y/N Wolff, in what can only be described as a romantic rendezvous. Oh la la! In these sizzling photos the duo can be seen cozied up in the VIP section, captivated by each other’s company and stuck in their own world, ignorant of the busy club around them. The obvious sparks between the young heartthrobs leave fans and gossip hounds wondering if there is more than just friendship brewing between them … (Read More)

A Wolff on the Prowl: Y/N Wolff spotted getting cozy with Max Verstappen

Hold onto your racing helmets because our newest racing romance just took an unexpected twist! We had barely caught our breath from the sizzling chemistry between Charles Leclerc and Y/N Wolff when another speedster entered the picture. Some lucky fans caught Y/N locking lips with the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, leaving us all in a state of utter shock and awe. It’s a tale as old as time, with Y/N and Max gazing into each other’s eyes like they have discovered the key to the podium of love. The intensity between these two is palpable and their beaming smiles suggest that this could be more than just a passing fling. Will this newfound affair send shockwaves through F1, leaving Charles Leclerc heartbroken and fans breathless? Buckle up, dear readers, as we brace ourselves to see how this unfolds … (Read More)

y/nwolff posted a story

Just an inchident? Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen seem closer than ever despite their apparent battle for the heart of Y/N Wolff

Rev your engines because the race for Y/N Wolff’s heart is reaching exhilarating speeds! While the rivalry between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen is as fierce as ever on the track, it seems that outside of the race itself a surprising bond has formed between these two young stars. Interestingly, during the Austrian Grand Prix cameras caught Leclerc and Verstappen sharing an incredibly close friendship. Despite their fierce competition for Y/N’s affection earlier this week, the two drivers were spotted laughing, hugging, and inseparable whenever they had a chance, proving that friendship can indeed thrive in the midst of romantic tension. Are they genuinely defying expectations and putting their hearts on hold for the sake of camaraderie or is this just a cleverly orchestrated PR move? Only time will reveal the true nature of this intriguing friendship and love triangle they are part of … (Read More)

y/nwolff

Liked by charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1, and 1,285,493 others

y/nwolff Happy Pride Month 😉

View all 4,762 comments

charles_leclerc mes amours ❤️

maxverstappen1 mijn liefdes ❤️

y/nwolff my boy toys 🥵

charles_leclerc i see how it is

maxverstappen1 she only wants us for our bodies

y/nwolff kidding, kidding. i love you both more than anything ❤️

y/nwolff and of course i don’t only want you for your bodies … i want you for your cars too

mercedesamgf1 Oh

redbullracing My

scuderiaferrari God

feralferrari this is not what i was expecting

givesyouwings i don’t think anyone predicted this but they are adorable together

silverarrows y/n has the power to build one of the most insane driver lineups ever for mercedes

y/nwolff they have to survive meeting my dad after he learns that we’re together before we can even think about that 😅

lestappenbeliever this is the best day of my life

formulanone we got married a week ago?

lestappenbeliever i said what i said but our wedding was a close second

[theemporium]

“You’re shitting me, right?”

“Nope.”

“Max—”

“What?” 

“You have your own jet. How the fuck are you not a part of the mile high club?”

Max frowned a little before shrugging. “It isn’t exactly my priority when I’m on a plane, schat.”

There were many perks you learnt that existed as a Formula One driver after you found yourself in a relationship with two of the best drivers in the world. From invitations to countless exclusive events to brand deals with high-end designers, from travelling the world for their job to having a comfy paycheck to be the best of the best. It was a whole new world your boyfriends introduced you to, and it never failed to make you head spin no matter how long you had been dating them.

But the materialistic perks were some of the easiest to spot—the prime example being the fact Max had his own jet that he travelled in when he flew around the world for the different races.

It had been another one of those races that you were currently flying out to. It had just been the three of you for the long haul flight and the boys had been trying everything in their power to stay awake for a few more hours so they wouldn’t fall victim to horrendous jet lag by the time they landed.

You had decided to try passing some time with games. But UNO was quickly abandoned when Lando kept trying to wind Max up with ‘+4’ cards. And ‘truth or dare’ was a bit pointless when you were stuck in the sky. You didn’t really want to start a full ass game of Monopoly (or question why in loving fuck one of the boys brought it in the first place), otherwise you���d be fast asleep before either of them. And every round of ‘two truths and a lie’ lasted less than a few seconds because you knew each other well.

You were left with a game of ‘never have I ever’ but it slowly stopped being a game, and somehow became some weird competition between the boys to try to outdo one another. Which, to be fair, was very amusing for you to watch. 

Until Max had dropped the bomb on you and Lando that he had never had sex on a plane. Ever.

“But,” you paused before gesturing to the plane around you. “You have the perfect setting!”

“The setting is always a plane,” Max stated bluntly. 

“Yeah but usually you’re both locked in a little bathroom, trying to be quiet and not break anything because you’re literally fucking in a box,” Lando jumped in.

Max shot him a look.

“Hey, just talking from experience,” Lando said as he lifted his hands. 

“But you have the whole fucking jet to yourself,” you continued. “You could fuck as much as you please! In any position you want!” 

He raised his brows in amusement. “Thought about it a lot?”

“Yes,” you replied without a moment of hesitation. “You don’t think about fucking us on a plane?”

“It isn’t the first place my mind goes to,” Max confessed with a shrug.

Lando’s eyes narrowed slightly, as though he was lost in thought. “Do you wanna fuck us on a plane?”

Max paused. “Like right now?”

“We need to preoccupy ourselves,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders, trying to bite back the grin that was growing on his lips. “I can think of a few things we could do.”

Your grin matched his, a glint of mischief in your eyes. “What do you say, baby? Wanna join the club?”

“We’ll teach you the ropes,” Lando added teasingly. 

Ten minutes. The teasing and the taunting and the goading lasted all of ten minutes before Max had you both wrapped around his finger. Because despite your big mouths and all your talk, it took one glance and a hand tugging your hair back before you were putty in Max’s hands, ready to comply and obey with whatever he wanted because he always seemed to be in control.

“Is this what you wanted, schat?” Max groaned as he gripped your hips, bouncing you back on his dick at the speed he desired. His cock was deep inside you, pressing against the spot that made you squirm and moan—though your mouth was otherwise preoccupied. “Wanted me to fuck you on my private jet? Wanted to show my staff what a fucking slut the two of you are?”

“Shit,” Lando whined, his hands tugging on his curls as his cock hit the back of your throat. “Max—”

“Hold it,” Max gritted out, his hands tightening on your waist as his chest heaved with soft pants. “Did I say you could come?”

“But—” Lando started, only to be cut off by his own moans.

“I said no,” Max huffed out with a shake of his head, his chin tucked into his chest as he watched the way your greedy pussy took his cock with such ease. The debauched noises echoing through the cabin only seemed to egg him on further. “Don’t be a fucking brat.”

“Please,” Lando cried, his hips bucking up into your mouth as you gagged and choked.

“Both of you are so fucking impatient,” Max grumbled as he squeezed the fat of your ass. “So quick to brag and cry. And now look at you. Two fucking whores.”

“Just for you,” Lando muttered out breathlessly. 

“Of course you are. All mine. All fucking mine.” Max groaned, his voice low and rough as he felt a rush of pleasure run down his spine. “And mine to fucking control. You come when I say you come, and I don’t think either of you deserve it yet.”

You whined, the sound muffled and pathetic with Lando’s cock down your throat, but it was enough to warrant a slap to your ass. 

“Careful, schat. Or I won’t let you come until the plane lands.”

.

[myillicitaffair]

Somethin’ Stupid | Charles Leclerc

Summary: while being interviewed by his former lover, bottled up feelings find their way out.

Warnings: english not being my mother tongue, lots of angst, some swearing, arguments.

Notes: this is the first time i’m ever posting anything on here, i hope you enjoy it xx

1.5k words.

Letting myself fall into his abrasive webs was surprisingly easy. His green orbs, pervasive and curious, piercing my soul.

We had our ups and downs, unbridled passion slowly dying with each tear shed, magnetic attraction burning my lungs.

We found ourselves in a hiatus, which found a way of prolonging itself further than I would have liked to. Perhaps he managed to keep himself occupied with his busy schedule; trainings, special dietary requirements, public relations… as for me, I rather hold my silence.

My routine was overflowed with his voice, with how much I missed his touch on my lower back, guiding me through the crowds, our hands intertwined in a tacit promise.

However, life demanded to continue with apparent normality. Dinner parties surrounded by friends, rounds of drinks avoiding alcohol… The last thing I needed was to degrade myself into a melancholic drunkenness.

Was he also having a hard time with the abysmal coldness on the other side of the bed or the loneliness of not having anyone to dilute your sorrow over morning coffee with?

My days had fallen into a sort of routine; waking up while missing him, showering while missing him, having breakfast while missing him… I think you get how thing are.

This particular morning, Silverstone was extraordinarily cloudy, the mist engulfing my view from the hotel room. How fitting!

Running away from my surreptitious misfortunes, I head downstairs, soaking up the competitive environment prior to every race. Emboldened as an agitated swarm, my colleges and me descended on the designated circuit.

Tedious security controls accompanied the anticipated fun, a hammer already pounding into my head at the thought of seeing him face to face once more.

Walking towards the space where the press was condensed, I check the days schedule for the last time. I am lucky enough to maintain friendly interactions with most drivers, so as to achieve fluid interviews, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

The only reason I can find as to why that fateful name is written on my list of drivers to interview was that God and I clearly have some unresolved business… funny timing to make me pay the price though!

A lump gets stuck in my throat just by thinking about it, preventing regular air flow.

The countdown only stuns me, even though my duty doesn’t start until the last lap. The smell of burnt rubber, product of speeding wheels, fills my lungs while intoxicating my nostrils.

The continuous lights turn red with overwhelming precision as seconds go by, lightning up the faces hidden with baklavas and iconic helmets.

Unconsciously (or maybe not so much), my eyes crawl back to the speeding number “16” that, red and furious, slides around the circuit while attempting to memorize every bump and curve along the way.

Chasing the sequence with collective looks of astonishment, a collision comes rushing down, disabling Piastri and Norris by the arrogance that only clear disagreements gives you.

Without further issues, the race concludes with a podium conformed by both Red Bull Racing drivers, trailed by seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

As possessed by group madness, the journalists rush into the victors. Microphone in hand, cameras shadowing us, content hunger gushing from our pores.

Driven by a exacerbated sadness, I shift my focus from the winners to him, returning my gaze with clouded tear ducts, bottled up frustration visible in his features.

With a touch on my shoulder, I’m brought back to reality by a co-worker, who, with a subtle shift of her head signals my awaiting obligations.

I head towards my press conference, where I take a seat with my name on it, psyching myself up for what I’m sure will be the most awkward interview of my whole career.

Dressed in Ferrari clothing and constantly stalked by flashes, both pilots near the platform where I await. They settle into their designated spots, holding still until the cameraman says otherwise.

I steal one last glance at my premeditated questions and hide my true feelings behind a focused frown.

“Welcome dear viewers! We find ourselves in the eleventh race of the year, accompanied once more by our friends from Ferrari, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.”

I desperately try stabilizing the noticeable shake in my voice.

“Friend”- the Monegasque interrupts my monologue with a mocking remark.

The puzzled look his teammate throws in his direction doesn’t go unnoticed by the former, who insists on jointing his glistening irises with mine.

I decide to ignore the brief impasse in the speech, running away from his calculated sarcasm as I force the corners of my mouth into an attempted smile.

“so, Carlos… do you think driving behind two cars that crushed ruined your performance?”- I question, tripping over my words under Charles´s scrutiny.

“It´s safe to say it wasn’t an unexpected accident”- the Spaniard pronounces, doing his best at minimalizing the awkwardness- “for at least a couple of laps, Oscar and Lando were teasing each other, clearly trying to gain advantage over the other. They were lucky enough neither of them got hurt.”

I nod absent minded, vibrating due to the pounding against my ribcage.

“Charles, what can you tell us about your engineers’ strategy for this race?”- I swallow loudly, praying he can´t notice the mesmerizing effect he has on me.

“I guess you could say I’m not entirely satisfied with my team´s execution this season”- he confesses, minimizing the tingles of frustration running down his spine- “It would also be quite unfair dumping the blame on my team when my failure has more to do with me letting my emotions get the best of me.”

The tension is intercepted by a longing sigh I didn’t know I was withholding. The world seems to stop in its euphoria simply to hang in his every sentence.

“A broken heart is no joke… even less when you have to patiently wait for the piece they decide to donate you”- he reproaches without saying my name but making it perfectly clear that I was indeed the recipient of his raw address.

My anxious movements become motionless, forgetting the when and where, just to focus on the displeasure bubbling in my stomach.

“Guys, I really don´t think it’s appropriate to discuss this now”- intercepts the Madrilenian, proposing a ceasefire.

Mi hand goes up in the air before I can help it, shutting him up mercilessly.

“I wonder where I must´ve learned it…”- I reply, drowning in the unexpected harshness of my tone- “don´t forget who was the one to suggest this ´no strings attached´ bullshit between us.”

The drivers face shines with a scandalous blush in response to my bravado. Right here and there, I comprehend the dept of his anger, making its way through his collarbones, until it climbs up his cheeks.

“Just because I thought that’s what you wanted”- he spits out his resentful response.

From the corner of my vision, I perceive Carlos´s discomfort by reading his body language; the friction of wiping away the sweat stagnant on his hands, his shoulders pouring forward in a clumsy attempt of hiding from the cameras, his chair weakly shaking under the constant bouncing of his extremities.

Madness atrophies my reasoning, blinding me enough as to not have merci on his apprehension. I took this way too far, it would be useless to swallow my feelings.

“how in the world could you think our agreement benefitted me? Really, Charles, you couldn’t be any more stupid!”- I scream back, jumping up from my seat.

The swing of my feet gets ahead of my thoughts, allowing me to run away from the premature conflict before it blows up in the air.

Mi face heats up from the warmth of my own tears, that start rolling down my cheeks. With each involuntary spasm of my jaw, sobs escape my gasps for air. I don’t dare to slow down.

“Can you please just listen to me?”- a voice behind me shouts, trying to stand by my side.

I turn around to face his scrunched up brows.

“you have nothing else left to make up. You may convince somebody with the whole ´heartbreak boy´ façade you’ve got going on, but you have genuinely driven me mad”

“You and I both now that isn’t true! Have you ever wondered why I always seem to take a step back after every show of affection?”- he manages to freeze me to the core- “How come you never noticed my excessive efforts to stay away from you? I can’t even behave like a functional human being if I’m not feeling you, touching you, having you with me.”

In the middle of the paddock, with every pair of eyes set on us, events unfold the way I’ve been dreaming of, however I can´t even react.

“I know I´m not in a position to ask you anything, but please, strip me from the torment that uncertainty means… even if that means to completely destroy me”- he whispers with renewed fragility.

My smirk slowly becomes uncontrollable laughter, reducing me to unbridled chuckles. I shelter the vestiges of my giggling in between his arm, until It ceases in its intensity.

Without noticing, I search for his lips with my own, craving the heat they irradiate.

“I think you know perfectly well how my soul aches for you”- I manage to sneak in between kisses, stumbling across his smile, displayed in all its glory.

[luimagines]

Modern Dance (1800 Follower Raffle)

Our second place winner was @mickleloaf!!

They asked for a somewhat continuation of The Chain Hanging out in Modern! Reader's House, in which they find the music/Just Dance. Which you can read the "first part" right here.

You don't have to read it to get this one though.

Masterlist

Content under the cut!

“Alright boys.” You called their attention when the sun had already set and the movies had run their courses. After the Lion King, you had put on Pirates of the Caribbean and Kung Fu Panda- which probably wasn’t the best idea because now the boys were taking turns punching and kicking each other in an effort to replicate the movie. “We’re going to change the pace a bit.”

“By doing what?” Wind held a pillow threateningly over Sky’s head. The poor boy had fallen asleep a while ago and was dead to the world for all anyone knew. You had no idea how he managed to sleep through the chaos but everybody has a skill.

“We’re going to dance.” You grinned and turned on the video game console. “I’ve been meaning to introduce you to all our music, but there’s too many genres to choose from and you all have way too much energy for this time of night. We’re going to burn it all off.”

Many of the boys had settled down, watching in fascination as you turned on the systems and switched the controls. They all sat up a little straighter when the colors of the game turned on. It took a controlled effort to get them to step away form the screen instead of shoving their faces up to the characters.

You scrolled through aimlessly and picked an easy level to begin with.

“Rancher, Captain?” You asked sweetly. “Can you help move some of the furniture out of the way? I’m going to put multiplayer mode. We can have up to four at a time.”

“Meaning?” Wild chipped in, helping the other boys push the couch and the tables out of the way.

“Whoever dances the best or most like the person on the screen, wins.” You say gleefully. And maybe just a tad hint of evil.

These boys were competitive. You were to see them at each other's throats… metaphorically. …Mostly.

After giving a few more orders to clear the space, you stepped aside and  selected the song. With a gleam in your eyes, you pointed at Wind, Wild and Hyrule. “You three versus me. Come on.”

Wind jumped front and center without hesitation, Hyrule walking forward with a curious tilt to his head. Wild was the only one who was hesitant to step up to the “platform”, so to speak. It made you calm down a little bit and smile softly. “Relax. It’s not magic. Everything you see will stay there. Just like the stories I put on earlier.”

“Do we even get an example?” Hyrule tilts his head.

“What do you think you are?” You giggle and start the song.

At once the lights flashed and the music started. Having already played this song a number of times, you knew the beats by heart and continued the routine without missing a strike or a pause. The other boys… were less coordinated. …But that’s you being generous.

You think Wind might have smacked Warrior by accident at some point in the attempt to do the moves, but you blame the Captain. He shouldn’t have been that close then.

You win the round. Perfect score. 100%, unsurprisingly.

“I want to go again.” Wild growls. “That’s not fair. You didn’t explain what we were supposed to do properly.”

“I’m next.” Legend raised his hand. “I actually did a dance battle before.”

“No. That means you wait.” Four shoved him playfully. “Give the rest of us a chance to make a fool out of ourselves before you dominate.

You laugh and turn to Time. “Do you want to try, Old Man?”

He grins before shaking his head. “These old bones of mine aren’t as spry as they used to be. I’m content to watch.”

“If you say so.” You shrug, already thinking of ways to wear him down just so he could dance to at least one song.

You step out so that other boys can step in and have a turn. Warrior, Four, Wild and Twilight take the next round. You tried to find another easy song that they would be able to follow without much difficulty, but here is where their competitiveness came through.

Wild tried to trip up Warrior. Twilight pulled on Wild’s hair. Warrior ‘nudged’ Twilight straight into the couch and Four won the round by blaming the hits that he dealt straight onto the other boys.

In an effort to save your house from burning down prematurely, you switched them all out and danced the next round with Wind, Legend and Hyrule.

No one wanted to wake up Sky.

You picked a harder song, if only to trip up Legend. But you should have known better. Not only did he already admit to doing a dance battle before, he already had two rounds to watch and observe what not to do and what to do to get points.

He would have almost won if you didn’t know about the bonus points for hitting the striking pose on the right beat.

“WHAT!!” He screamed. “How did you get double the points!?!?”

“You have to hit it with enough passion.” You teased and kept dancing.

It was the needed points for you to win the round, but goodness, did he give you a run for your money.

Switching out again, you began to work and tease and wear down Time to get him to dance.

It didn’t work.

Within the hour the boys started to fall asleep one by one. The others with the energy to do so helped move them to a bed roll and away from the dance floor so they wouldn’t be trampled on once the wrestling started. Because wrestling would start. That was not an if, but a when.

Time actually went down after Twilight did. Between those two and Sky, the other boys were way more hyped and loaded with sugar that they still needed to work off.

You played for three hours.

The only one that lasted the longest was Four and even then, you were willing to bet he could have kept going if you weren’t ready to fall over and pass out yourself. You groaned and turned off your console. “I’m going to pay tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t moved like that in a long time.” You steal the couch and throw your legs over Sky. You’d doubt he’d mind. “I moved muscles that hadn't been moved since I was last home… I can feel them yelling at me.”

Four chuckled and also got down to take the lounge chair. You envied him. He was small enough to sleep comfortably there. “You won most of the matches. I’ve never seen you swing your arms around with such reckless abandon.”

“This is my house.” You grumble. “I had to defend my title and my territory… Besides, you’re all just as, if not, more competitive than I am. There was no way any of you were going to go easy on me.”

“Fair enough.”

“Good night, Link.” You smile, allowing your guard to fall for the first time in months and finally get some needed rest.

“Good night.”

[kateysummers99]

Do you think the WWBM Interacial movement has now got to a critical point where momentum has starting to challenge even the majority of White Women now as far as there choices for relationship ? May we as White Males even lose this group of females to African Men more then we keep ourselves ?

The short answer is definitely yes.

Because of my own personal experiences and also just looking at major social trends, it's pretty obvious that IR relationships (in general, but specifically white girls and black guys) are much more common now than they were 10, 30, and 30 years ago. 

I think there are lots of reasons for this and I’m obviously not an expert (I work in finance, not cultural psychology), but lets just look at the obvious trends:

Girls today are more empowered in general, and especially regarding sexuality and romance. I mention this a lot on this blog, there are less things hold girls back than there used to be. Movies and TV and culture in general are so much more accepting that people can love who they want to love, and that applies especially to society being more accepting of girls expressing their sexuality. I grew up in a time when dating black guys was an obvious but implied no-no, and it's just not the same today. (Note this is NOT true everywhere. Sadly there are racists and homophobes still, but they will probably be holdouts until they die.)

Black men are idolized for their physicality and masculinity by society more and more every day. Sports, music, advertising media, movies, social media and TV shows - you name it, black guys are constantly the icon of masculinity, status and power. This is really true for their masculinity, where we regularly fetishize the sexual prowess of black men in every day culture with phrases like “once you go black you never go back.” 

Porn is free and everywhere. Also something that wasn’t the case when I was growing up, but now you just pick up any cell phone and in a few seconds be privately and anonymously staring at an amazing black man and his huge black cock (or whatever your fantasy is).

Also in the last few years, social justice and institutional racism has become a hot topic, I think a lot of women recognize that the same old white male patriarchy that has been suppressing women since the beginning of time has also been responsible for suppressing Black people. This puts white women and black men on the same side on a pretty deep level, where they see each other in the same existential struggle for happiness against the common enemy that is old white guys.

Another interesting thing that I've read reports about is more and more young white guys who are essentially "staying single" forever, sometimes due to porn addiction. They make a sexual connection with porn that is easy and judgment free, which is the opposite of the real-world dating situation where they deal with complex social dynamics and competition (including trying to compete against more masculine black men who are constantly in movies and music).

So if that's a growing tend... then young women find themselves more free in choosing partners, society idolizing black guys, exposed to IR sex and porn, and more culturally aligned with black guys… and young white guys basically removing themselves from the dating pool.

As for me personally, I have always thought think black guy / white girl couples are the most beautiful -- there's a special passion and primal attraction that goes deep down that you just don't see with other couples.

So yes, I think black guy and white girl couples are definitely more and more popular. I don’t think we’ll ever get to a point where all white men are unwanted forever (sorry white boys who message me, desperate to live in such a world), but I do think increasingly empowered girls and wider acceptance of female sexuality will naturally trend to more black guys and white girls together - which is all beautiful to me :)

[tani-b-art]

What the writers are doing with Janine & Ava is magnificent!

I can’t say if this is also their intended purpose or not (because I’m not in the writer’s room of course but I’m gonna say yeah) but it has been so super rewarding to see these two young, Black women in a corporate setting be so supportive of each other. Emotional support, professional support. Just support. It’s protective even. Instrumental in how they both navigate their careers and personal life. Especially in their respective newfound-ness.

It’s a genuine desire that they want to be supportive of each other. There’s no competition or jealousy. Neither feels threatened or paranoid about getting help from the other or providing help. Because their main goal is what’s best for their students and what is best for their school and whatever means to get to that goal to achieve that, they’ll work together for it.

Because they are approaching a goal that they never attained before, achieving that can come at a point of unfamiliarity — and with that, they can become extremely vulnerable in the unknown and that can cause them to cower or retreat. Normal human reaction/behavior. When you are unfamiliar with something and it’s challenging, it can get frustrating and with frustration comes forgetting the skills you do possess. I enjoy how that is all shown. Because it’s natural. And then, we also get to see how they channel that frustration towards each other in a constructive way to hold one another accountable when they notice they’re dimming just a little bit (from the outside forces). They end up always tapping into each other and reeling each other in to remind one another of their awesomeness (Janine in this episode, Ava visiting Janine at the district for the ASL interpreter last season).

To further speak on this real quick—This happens with everyone at our places of employment but as a Black woman, I’m speaking from my own perspective. With job security and job scarcity (which really isn’t), people always feel the need to defend their territory/defend their position [thanks to capitalism] so it’s not a unique phenomenon only with us, however, it’s unique to us in how society has created narratives like we’re the only sect of society that experiences this; along with wanting to pit the only few Black women in (on account of the lack of diversity) against each other. So you’ll have your co-workers feel the need to be performative in ways that they don’t help you, they don’t look out for you because they feel threatened. But in the world of Abbott, they’re showing the opposite of that. It’s a dynamic that we are seeing more because it’s actually happening in real-life. Black women do look out for their fellow work peers. I’ve experienced it, I’ve witnessed it and I’ve done it and have had it done for me. I’m glad they are showcasing this!

Janine & Ava have no problem at all with being each other’s hype-girl! They always find a way to be encouraging. The praise they fiercely fire off for each other….that’s pure passion to see your girl win!!

In Ava’s case, she needed Janine’s guidance and realness. One, Janine knew how important this was. It being very important for their school standings and two, how accomplished Ava will feel on a personal and professional level. It’s not the first time Janine has volunteered to help Ava too (long ago when her job was on the line). I’m liking how the series has had multiple episodes of this happening. It’s not a one-time occurrence.

Janine stands on Ava business. Ava stands on Janine business.

And I love that!

Black women in corporate settings have to always be on. Meaning always have to be in active mode. Always be on point. Flawless and never having a misstep. And with that, there’s a no-nonsense stance we have to unwaveringly present ourselves as and show and keep on because people consistently test us. Consistently undermine us. Discredit us. Consistently have an issue with respecting our positions of authority and have a perverse pleasure to want to humble us. Or they want your expertise for excelling and being great but then want you to dial it down and alter your own methods of success to be more “palatable” to the masses. I’m glad Ava outright just declined after that.

And here’s where Janine “Big Teagues” comes in!

She understood that Ava truly wanted to do this speaking engagement and how perfect she’d be for it because she is. She also understood with her experience at the district, what they were looking for from Ava and she helped on both ends to facilitate it. She knew what to pull out of her. She understood how to blend Ava being Ava while also polishing Ava’s approach. Which isn’t changing how she is but just mentoring her to get to the destination by traveling to it in another vehicle—by a different means while still being herself.

How well do they read one another!

I would love to know what was said when she made the phone call. Whatever Janine said worked (I low-key feel she demurely told Manny off! Not really but she probably did let him know in her Janine-esque way that Ava is good for this talk and she deserves it). She absolutely championed for her girl to get the gig back. Her energy was just, “Don’t play with my girl like this!” Janine risked contacting the district, bad reputation and all (too funny), just to be able to recommend and advocate on her behalf and to express that Ava, indeed, was the best for the job and yes, you will stand on your word. No backsies.

Back to being able to just switch off:

Janine has a way of being soft & gentle w/ Ava that she feels so comfortable to allow her tenderness to peek out at times. And it’s like a release for her to be able to get a chance to do that in the work-setting. To just shut off sometimes. Also, knowing that her vulnerability won’t get thrown back at her in some ill way (thinking back to how Janine knows about her grandmother and kept that between them) because that space is safe with Janine. Gosh, the levels of mutual respect between them!

Ava almost never gets a chance to show her soft side for fear of appearing too weak (when some people detect that weakness, they use it against you). So, the softness that Janine is able to always pull out of Ava is some of the most touching parts of their connection.

{The last time I’ve seen this character relationship-dynamic b/w two Black women like this was Mercedes & Farrah from P-Valley (and everyone knows how much I luh them!!)}

All the ways Avanine defends one another! Promote each other! Will go above and beyond to make things happen for one another! Going the extra mile to make sure the goal is reached. “I’ll be there for you”, “You can count on me.”

What probably is more than anything for Ava is Ava being acknowledged by Janine. When Janine revealed that although Ava roasted her to step her fashion up, she came to realize that the advice was with genuine intent and that Ava was right. Ava’s realization that Janine actually did take it to heart and applied what she gave, because it was from a good place, made her so proud. Ava truly wanted Janine to unearth that she does need to start seeing the value within herself—that she does deserve it. A lot of things Ava says in jest (her way of not letting her guard down—especially with Janine because she has to maintain that “I don’t like you but I really, really do”; those are such thinly veiled counters that we all just know now) was/is because she really cares for Janine and wants her to want the best for herself.

They complement & compliment one another, feed off each other, they’re proud of each other. They’re symbiotic.

Deep down they both strive to be praised and acknowledged by the other. To have “You did such a good job” said to them, to hear it. To know “I actually am doing a good job, huh”…Janine said I am/Ava said I am! It’s too cute!

There are so many times, and not just in this episode, where Ava looks inwardly at Janine needing her to say, “Yes, you can do it”, “Yes, how you do it is just fine.” Just to hear (or feel the energy of) her say, “I’ve got your back”, because yes, the setback(s) can get so frustrating, discouraging and depleting. We do have those “Just one of those days when you say the right things, to keep me moving on, to keep me growing strong” and when our person comes around and is that voice of reason and support, then it’s all good!

If some of y’all caught it, I’ve been listening to Brandy’s “Best Friend” a lot recently, on repeat — long before this episode but how apropos it is now! Hence the quotes & the music (instrumental version) in the comp. Corny to insert song lyrics lol as quotables but it has meaning and purpose and applies. Her song resurfaced for me at a good time. And no, Janine & Ava ain’t best friends but they are friends and the song is their soundtrack because of the meaning! (to my Avanite heart it is).

Ava reciting Janine’s words of encouragement, during their break-room talk, to the audience at the talk. All that Janine said to her was like a déjà-vu moment of what Ava told her at the district. The parallels. Full-circle moments. This show’s writers!

Also, are we tracking how much Principal Coleman has improved and grown?! The whole district asked her to give a presentation for their Ed Talk because of how successful she is!

Aside from all my Avanite delusions/fantasies and me wanting them to become what they likely never will for series purposes, their relationship as friends is such a fulfilling journey! They’re blossoming each season!

Ladies, if you find a work peer like this, you are truly blessed! Value her!

Get you a Janine. Get you an Ava.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

two monumental parts:

[this one I already spoke on but will repeat]

“And you somehow understand your teachers and what they need”…the sound of Janine’s voice, her tone, how much she emphasized the personal aspect of that while Ava peered at her w/ the head tilt and her entire body shift; she also appeared to be so totally emotional—almost like she wanted to cry (and then had a big cheesy smile after…

when Janine said, “…but the results speak for themselves” and she gestured to herself that she is an example & proof of Ava’s motivational method of deserving better and then Ava beheld her…

((was it just me who thought she was about to kiss her?))

(bites into imaginary edible paper from joy)

+bonus

Janine’s little mannerisms here. Her heart fluttered speaking about Ava like this! Can we say smitten?!

[omasumi-413]

STOP USING ANTI-SELF LANGUAGE IN COMPETITIVE POKEMON!!!!!

instead of: i lost because i made a lot of poor choices. a few misplays and bad predictions.

say: "Unfortunate" doesn't begin to describe my series, this game rewards blind luck and nothing else, I am beyond convinced at this point. After getting completely tooled by scheduling with my opponent changing times on me last minute and refusing to provide confirmation prior to the day of the match as to play times, losing this way somehow felt even worse than I had thought possible. My preparation was superior, my play was superior, and I lost, so I don't see a reason to continue engaging in an activity where what is within my control is overwhelmingly outweighed by what is not. I am done with competitive Pokemon, and you won't get a fond farewell. This community is infected to its roots with a degenerative disease that grows stronger over time but stops short of killing its host. Tournaments used to have a competitive spirit at their heart, this has been transplanted and replaced with an artificial organ that feeds on vitriol and mockery from insecure little boys that heckle by the sidelines and tear each other to shreds over scraps of attention. The environment we fostered has trapped us all like this in a vicious cycle, and escaping it requires acceptance of the harshest reality we all scramble to explain away, that none of the countless straining efforts we put ourselves through here will ever amount to one single shining glimmer of significance. I would make this the end, but World Cup is still ongoing, and I would never leave so many great friends out to dry, so I'll suffer through a few more games for them. One last thing before I leave you all to react with disdain, ridicule, and self-righteous fervor, before you do everything in your power to minimize my words and thoughts, box them up and shove them to some cobwebbed corner of your memory, and hope they disappear forever as a stain on your finite time ground to dust. From this moment on, nothing you say matters to me. The foulest insults you hurl with intent to wound will calmly settle at the earth before my feet, and the venom you spit will bring all the pain of a warm summer breeze. You are less than anything you can conceive, while I carry on, brimming with joy distilled from detachment.

[i9messi]

Rivalry — Max Verstappen

Being a pilot of f1, you are competitive by nature, and Max is competitive as well. Fighting with him seems so easy to do, so why stop?

social media au

(rivals to lovers)

max's masterlist

yourusername

P1 baby 🏆

liked by carlossainz55, charles_leclerc, georgerusell and 423.289 others

view all comments

user1 you stole the podium of max, im screaming

❤️ liked by yourusername

user2 thank you!!! I was tired of the same national anthem every weekend

user3 I feel sad for max but happy for you

pierregasly congrats!!

yourusername pierregasly thank you!

charles_leclerc well deserved👏

user4 max is still crying

user5 is it weird that max still doesn't follow her on insta

user6 user5 i have the feeling that they don't really like each other

yourusername

today wasn't the result we were expecting. I'll come back stronger🤍 thank you for believing in me, I will not disappoint you

liked by charles_leclerc, schecoperez, georgerusell and 423.162 others

view all comments

user1 i hate max

user2 You were leading the race until he gained positions

user3 I like this rivalry between max and you, finally something entertaining to watch

user4 user3 yeah, I was tired of watching Max winning all the races lately. Finally someone who actually challenges him

user5 max and you will end together, mark my words

yourusername

apparently some guys don't know how to drive properly

liked by yourbestfriend, landonorris, arthurleclerc and 781.162 others

view all comments

user1 you forgot to tag max

yourusername oops my bad, maxverstappen1

user2 SAVAGE

user3 she chose violence

user4 I spilled my water, she actually tagged him

schecoperez 🤔

yourusername what

schecoperez nothing, paz ✌️🕊️

user4 I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!! WHAT DID HE TOLD YOU

user5 she really said that a twice world champion can't drive properly? girl

user6 user5 don't take it seriously, she's angry. she lost way too many positions today because of the incident

user6 I love the drama

maxverstappen1

apparently some girls don't know how to drive properly

liked by charles_leclerc, pierregasly, landonorris and 923.162 others

view all comments

yourusername well, your sense of perception is altered

user1 SHE ACTUALLY COMMENTED

user2 it was an inchident

❤️ liked by charles_leclerc

landonorris 🧐

user3 both of them have the blame, they made a lot of mistakes today

user4 they were too focused on competing with each other rather than focusing on the actual race, yes

georgerusell is hard to believe that both of you are adults

NEWS. Heat in F1?

Y/N, driver of Williams, has been involved lately in many scandals with the double champion of formula one, Max Verstappen. According to some fans, since it was announced that Y/L/N was going to start driving in formula one, the news had a good reception from the other drivers, except one. Verstappen does not follow her on any of her social media and avoids answering the questions he was asked about Y/N.

The two drivers are competitive and it has been noticed that in recent races they have been fighting for the podium. However, at the Miami Grand Prix, drivers had a major incident. They both made mistakes that led them to collide and yet, it seems they blame each other. According to some sources nearby, they say that neither of them can face each other without starting to fight. We still don’t understand what the breaking point has been, but we can ask ourselves some questions, will Verstappen and Y/L/N finally have a moment of peace? And more importantly, who will win the upcoming races?

yourusername

You should take it as a compliment that I got drunk and made fun of the way you talk

liked by charles_leclerc, pierregasly, maxverstappen1 and 673.145 others

view all comments

user1 max's accent????

user2 suspicious

user3 my rivals to lovers arc is coming

user4 max where are you boyy

user5 MAX LIKED THE POST

user6 MAXXXXXXXXXXXX

user7 HE DOESN'T EVEN FOLLOW HER BUT HE SOMEHOW LIKED HER POST

yourusername

an idiot sent me flowers, they're cute

liked by maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, carlossainz55 and 623.162 others

view all comments

user1 the 'idiot' is max?

user2 user1 I'm sure he is the idiot indeed

maxverstappen1 can we have peace now?

yourusername maxverstappen1 fine

georgerusell finally you act like two adults

charles_leclerc I prefer when you fought with each other, it was funny

carlossainz55 yes, it was. I'm gonna miss that

yourusername charles_leclerc carlossainz55 now you are the idiots

schecoperez we recover peace, thanks god

user3 MAX SENT HER FLOWERS

user4 I LOVE THEM ALREADY

user5 a lot of steps forward !!!

user6 they're in the friends stage, next step is the lovers stage yess

NEWS: Y/N AND MAX VERSTAPPEN SPOTTED TOGETHER!

Formula One drivers, have been seen together, leaving a restaurant and having a casual conversation. Is this the end of the bad blood between them? Two weeks ago, Y/N uploaded some photos on her social media showing a bouquet of flowers given to her by Max Verstappen, and since then, the tension seems to have died down. Next Sunday is the race at Silverstone, where only one of them will win the podium. Who will it be? Verstappen or Y/L/N? A new scandal is coming?

[swzines]

A reminder...

Zines and fanzines have always been a form of expression. They are about community and a celebration of what fans enjoy, to lift each other up and bond over a shared love of the fandom. This is a gentle reminder that no one controls the fandom zine sphere. If you have an idea and you want to share it with the fandom, you can do just that.

There is no calling "dibs" on a topic. If two people have the same idea then that just means that there are now more zines for people to enjoy & support. There is no competition and nor should there be, as zines are for charity and created with the spirit of giving back.

Yes, some zines will get more support than others. Yes, some zines are more popular in topic. Yes, some zines don't even get enough funding to allow for physical books to be printed. But they are still made.

They were still planned out and put together by a volunteer group of friends and strangers, who worked together with a common goal - to share their passion with the fandom.

There is no such thing as exclusivity in the zine community. No one has the right to say you can't create a zine on a topic because it was already done, or because someone wanted to do it first. There is room for all ideas and many of the same. It can be surprising if someone else announces the creation of a zine centered around a topic you wanted to work on yourself, but that is not a reason to tell them to stop, or to give up your plans either. Communicate. Support each other. There are many ways to work with such situations - timelines and schedules can be changed or join forces to make the zine together. In no instance is bullying an option or solution. Cooperation and coordination are much easier and simpler options, because fan projects thrive on the support and encouragement of the fandom. We are all here to celebrate and expand the worlds we have chosen to devote ourselves to with enthusiasm and passion.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Re-enchanting Humanity

Beyond any shadow of doubt, we direly need an ecological sensibility — one that is marked by a sense of wonder for natural evolution and the splendor of the biosphere in its many varied forms. But nature is not a scenic window that overlooks the Pacific coastal mountains or the New England marshlands. Nature is above all a process — a wondrous process that can admired on its own terms, not by invoking deities that are simply crude anthropomorphic projections of ourselves — male or female — in a mystified, often irrational, and sometimes a highly hierarchical form — a procedure that has served hierarchical interests for many millenia by lulling the oppressed into a paralyzing quietism and sense of resignation.

A remarkable product of natural evolution are the human beings who people the planet — beings that are no less products of nature than grizzly bears and whales. And like bears and whales, the human species — for it is no less a species when seen from a biological standpoint than it is social from the standpoint of social ecology — has acquired a remarkable capacity called conceptual thought. In this respect, natural evolution has endowed this species with powers that are unmatched by other species: powers to form highly institutionalized communities called societies that, unlike the genetically programmed “social insects,” are capable of an evolutionary development of their own, however rooted they may be in nature.

The crucial question we face today — not only for ourselves as human beings but for the entire biosphere — is how social evolution will proceed and in what direction it will go. To deal with this question primarily as a matter of spiritual renewal, desirable as that may be. is not only evasive but socially disarming. Social evolution took a wrong turn ages ago when it shifted from egalitarian institutions and relations to hierarchical ones. It took an even worse turn a few centuries ago when it shifted from a relatively cooperative society to a highly competitive one. If we are to bring society and nature into accord with each other, we must develop a movement that fulfills the evolutionary potential of humanity and society, that is to say, turn the human world into a self-conscious agent of the natural world and enhance the evolutionary process — natural and social. All the eco-babble of Devall, Sessions, Naess, and their acolytes aside, if we do not intervene to act creatively on nature (indeed, to rescue it from itself at times), we will betray everything of a positive character that natural evolution itself endowed us with — our potentially unprecedented richness of mind, sympathy, and conscious capacity to care for nonhuman species. Given an ecological society, our technology can be placed as much in the service of natural evolution as it can be placed in the service of a rational social evolution.

To call for a “return to the Pleistocene,” as “Earth First!” has done, to degrade humanity as so many misanthropic “antihumanists” and “biocentrists” have done is not only atavistic but crudely reactionary. A degraded humanity will only yield a degraded nature as our capitalistic society and our hierarchical history have amply demonstrated. We are direly in need not only of “re-enchanting the world” and “nature” but also or re-enchanting humanity — of giving itself a sense of wonder over its own capacity as natural beings and a caring product of natural evolution. A Supernature, peopled by “earth-based” deities, must be replaced by a healthy naturalism in which, as a movement, we will re-establish our severed ties with nature by naturalistic means and heal our terribly wounded society by social means. For Greens, in particular, this means that we must formulate a new, independent, revolutionary politics, using this word in its broadest possible sense, not recycle old, shopworn, sedating deities — be they Eastern or Western, pagan or Christian, “earth-bound” or “heaven-bound”. We must learn to look reality directly in the face, not obscure it with irrational thinking and a fog of dense, obscurantist myths.

The Left Network of the Vermont Greens has already taken the all-important step of trying to formulate a truly radical program — “Toward a New Politics” — that sketches out the basic concepts of a Left Green ecological movement. It openly describes itself as an “ecological humanism” (to use this term in its best sense, not the perverted meaning given to the word “humanism” by “deep ecology.’” And it advances the basic principles of social ecology as they apply to American political life. Either ecology movements and the Greens will free themselves of subtly hierarchical “centricities” — “bio” or “anthropo” — and develop a clearly defined and coherent body of social principles based on ecological concepts or they will become a marginalized collection of privileged encounter groups — one that may learn to “think like a mountain,” as Devall recommends but one that will be justly ignored as another fad, a target of derision at worst or healthy ridicule at best.

[twelvemonkeyswere]

I was one of those people who constantly worried if I was inherently bad and desperately trying to cover it up by doing good stuff.

I began getting rid of that worry after I read an article by a scientist (I forget if he was a neuroscientist or a geneticist, something like that) who was studying if particularly violent behavior in human beings might be determined by some kind of biological aspect that predisposes the person to be violent.

This is the guy who figured out the "serial killer" gene. He explained in the essay the studies eventually determined that most of the serial killers that participated in their study had this specific set of genes and that it was linked to violent behavior. He was astonished by this because, he revealed in his essay, he had been particularly interested in the topic because he knew he was a descendant of Lizzie Borden's.

Yes, the Lizzie Borden who everyone thinks killed her parents with an axe but slipped justice.

He was concerned, like any person might, that there was an element of inescapability to being a bad person, to hurting others. Are human beings naturally altruistic and sympathetic, naturally selfish and competitive? Good or bad?

He tested his mom and himself for the serial killer gene. And the biggest emotional part of the essay came from the reveal that indeed they did.

The scientist then proceeded to say one of the things that made me reconsider how I sought answers regarding my own nature. He said that the fact his mom had the gene but was kind and loving and responsible and a scientist herself, made him realize something. His mom was not concerned about the gene. Genes alone did not determine the entirety of who you are.

The man said that he realized that if humans are capable of exhibiting both compassion and violence, then by virtue of them being human behaviors it must mean that both compassion and violence are inherently natural. But this did not mean we did not have other things to take into account. Just as some people have a particular predisposition for singing but never work on it and it never reaches any skillful results, all human beings can be shaped by their environment, those around them, and by themselves.

There are things, he says, that we feed in each other and in ourselves. What we feed is the habit and behavior that will get stronger. So it's not about *being* anything, it's about *doing*. It's just a matter of encouraging in ourselves the practices we want and to encourage what we want to see in others. When he realized this, he stopped worrying about him (and his mom) having the gene.

His perspective as someone who has studied these issues on a biological level gave me a lot of peace. The essay was not expansive on the real science behind the studies, but it was a personal view of how his world changed with the findings he saw. And that frame of mind - what we do determines what we become through practice - has helped me a lot ever since.

[thelindenpapers]

Between capitalism and religion (esp. christianity), we are all weaned on falsehoods that lead to some extremely horrible presumptions and attitudes about our world, ourselves, and others.

Capitalism keeps telling us that meritocracy is real.

It also reassures us that, if something awful happens to someone, it's because they didn't work hard enough to avoid it -- and so, of course, people should not receive the help they need to recover.

( Makes it a lot easier for the rich to justify their hoarding of resources if they've convinced you that other people shouldn't have them for one reason or another.

This pretty much also conditions us towards eugenicist thinking: sharpening already completely unnecessary competition for very much available resources, and helping to frame disabled and chronically-ill folk for society-wide scapegoating ).

Religion tells us that we are evil people from birth.

That, no matter what we do, we cannot be redeemed unless an abuser in the sky says so.

Religion pushes the fascist idea of "Might Makes Right" through the god character, who both encourages and excuses all manner of atrocities throughout the bible, and endlessly subjects others to arbitrary, unforgiving rules and nonsensical tests of loyalty.

In this way, religion reassures us that the moral code that we should follow isn't founded on consent and well-being; but is instead dependent on the arbitrary whims of whoever has the power to force, coerce, and exploit others into obedience and servitude.

Add onto that that marketing continually flattens things that it is good to pursue (like friendship, connection, knowledge, community building, and love); and hypes things that will never create true validation, happiness, or wholeness if we pursue them (such as constant consumerism, brand worship, celebrity worship, and the use of social media to show off coveted experiences instead of pursuing GENUINE experiences that we enjoy because we enjoy them, rather than pretending to enjoy them because it will raise our social status in the eyes of others); and it is no wonder that some find themselves seeking out and enjoying displays of cruel mockery and humiliation leveled towards fellow human beings in order to self-soothe.

It is no wonder that some are constantly of the opinion that humanity is "just evil"; and that, not only does humanity not deserve to continue, not only is the extinction of humanity a foregone conclusion; but that the extinction of humanity would be a guaranteed active good in any and all timelines.

It is no wonder that so many people will decry the ill-treatment of animals and pets, and then turn and shrug in apathy at the horrors that beset even human beings, even the innocent, even the young.

It is no wonder that so many become buried by internalized 'isms' and insecurities that they find it nearly impossible to believe that they deserve consideration and care from their "society".

It is no wonder that people can come to see the work of defending each other, protecting each other, and abolishing this system so that humanity can finally become its best self; as being pointless, or even somehow harmful.

[scuderiafemboy]

f1 lestappen database nini edition

notes: number 1) this can get outdated super easily… number 2) i also dont know how to link content as i dont use tumblr alot but upon request im remaking my twitter thread here number 3) im not putting the races in chronological order as im quite lazy

at the 2019 japanese gp, max and charles hit eachother into turn two.

max after the race on the crash:

“i just dont get it. there was no need to risk so much in turn two. cause at the end of the day, both of us had to pit.”

2019 austrian gp, 3 laps left into the race max overtook charles and won the grandprix.

charles at the postrace pressconference:

“as i said, ive done exactly the same thing from the first and the second lap so i didnt expect any contact on the second lap. as max said, i think he braked a little bit deeper. i dont know if he lost it or not but then there was the contact. i felt like i was quite strong in traction. on the first attempt i managed to have better traction and have my position. on the second one i couldnt do that cause i was off track.”

2019 silverstone gp, the race right after austria. max and charles closely battled for 10 laps straight

charles during the postrace press conference:

“the best move was probably the one on max, on the outside in copse, i think he just passed me and i passed him back around the outside of copse. i think that was definitely was one of the most exciting (moves) of the race… of my race!”

2020 sakhir gp, charles crashed into checo, forcing max to go wide and then also crash

max post race:

“i respect charles alot, hes a great driver but i think today was a bit too much. he asked me “what happened?” and i say “what do you mean “what happened” you crashed into sergio and i have to go around”. i think he will look back at the footage and i hope he will understand that that was maybe a bit too aggressive. which is a shame.”

charles on the beyond the grid podcast 2021, talking about his rivalry with max:

“its the same (their rivalry) at the moment its obviously a little bit deminished because i can not fight against him, unfortunately. but if you look at the fight in silverstone 2019, i think you can understand theres quite a bit of competition and its always been the case. i mean its nice; we have grown up together in karting weve been always fighting eachother and now we find ourselves again in formula 1. so its great and i cant wait to put the team back were it deserves to be and fight against max for the title.”

monaco gp 2021, during Q3 charles crashes which means max cant set a laptime

max postrace interview:

“he just clipped the wall initially and ended up where ive ended up twice [laughs] so its just unfortunate. ofcourse i am disappointed not to have a shot at pole but thats life, you know. sometimes you cant do it. i mean its fine, i dont think his lap should be deleted in the future if they want to make rule changes. i dont that would be fair.”

charles instagram post after the 2021 silverstone gp yes i am counting it too:

max saying he prefers his rivalry with charles over the one he has with lewis, 2022

max to sky italy:

"i prefer what we have now because, first of all, charles i know very well, hes a nice guy, we are a similar age… on saturday night, we even had a laugh in paul ricard... we are hard competitors on the track and we will always try to beat each other, which i think is very normal, but outside of it you can have a good time as well, and thats what i really enjoy about this year."

max debunking that charles never forgave him for austria 2019 and racing together with him, 2022

max in a video interview:

"i never speak about these things with other drivers, i mean, it happens. ive lost wins as well, and its not the end of the world, you move on. i think charles is one of the most talented drivers in formula 1, and he will win many more races… i would say back in the day it was a little bit more difficult, but also we were very young and growing up and you are fighting for the same goal, right? now that youre in formula 1, i think it is really different. you are representing really big brands. so we get on very well now. we can have a good chat and enjoy our battles, and i think thats very nice. knowing each other for such a long time helps. weve spent so much time together, in a way."

2022 hungarian gp, max told the hungarian press he understands charles his frustration after the 2022 french gp

max to the hungarian press:

“everyone handles that (their disappointment) in a different way. some people need to reflect on it like that. at the time youre still a bit emotional from what just happened and maybe become a bit too emotional, but thats fine, people should be emotional, they should show their emotions."

charles on fighting with italian site corriere della sera, 2022 this is not an official translation sorry but i can link the source

charles:

“i like to deal with max, we have a similar level of aggression. we have fun, with respect. im not saying that last year there was no respect between max and lewis, but it seemed like a different duel than ours. but if we were to get to the end of the championship very close in points, the situation would be much more tense than it is now.”

max, also for corriere della sera in 2022

max:

“i have known charles since we were five years old, we are of the same generation and we grew up challenging ourselves on the track.”

max to viaplay, 2023 after charles crashed during Q3 of the miami gp, meaning he couldnt set a time and had to start from P8 (this is a livetranslation of mine post qualifying, so the quote isnt 100% spot on but you get the gist)

max:

“the red flag was annoying, but it happens on streetcircuits. it just sucks, i will have to cope and move on.”

monaco gp, charles had an interview with canal+ for its 10 year anniversary with formula 1. he got asked to name 10 drivers hes the closest with

charles:

“pierre without a doubt, carlos, lando, george, alex albon, yuki, lewis, max aswell eventhough most people dont think its the case but it is! esteban, and lance.”

this is it for now, i am a bit tired but thank the tumblr lords you can change posts later on so i can update it with ease later on. enjoys besties 🫡

[ecrivainsolitaire]

Avengers star Mark Ruffalo says actors should “jump into indies” to create more competition in Hollywood.

According to Deadline, SAG-AFTRA will offer waivers in the form of an ‘Interim Agreement’ to “truly independent” productions during the ongoing actors’ strike, and Ruffalo believe this offers actors a unique opportunity.

“How about we all jump into indies now?” he said on Twitter. “Content creators create a film and TV-making system alongside the studio and streaming networks? So, there is actual competition.”

The ‘Interim Agreement’ lets independent productions continue despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which stops all guild members from undertaking any kind of production activity. According to the SAG-AFTRA website: “For independently produced content that comes within the scope of a strike order (the above-mentioned contracts), the producer may qualify for an ‘Interim Agreement’ that would allow such productions to continue working during a strike.”

However, Ruffalo sees this as a further opportunity to stick it to the studio system. “We just do what we always do — create great content and they can buy it, or we take it out ourselves and WE share in those sales,” he said. “They’ve created an empire of billionaires and believe that we are no longer of value. While they hang out in the billionaire boy summer camps laughing like fat cats, we organize a new world for workers.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently came under fire for saying the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA writers’ strikes have an expectation that is ‘not realistic’. However, Ruffalo seems to see this as a pivotal moment.

“One sure way to strengthen our hand right now is to become very supportive and friendly to all independent projects immediately,” he said. “Push every SAG-AFTRA member to join the ones that get SAG-AFTRA (WGA) WAIVERS immediately. The studios have no competition — this will change that.

“Share profits. If the project does well, everyone does well. This will also help our fellow filmmakers, ‘The Crew,’ who we love, to keep working. This is also part of Solidarity. We have to take care of each other.”