#community shield 23

[smithrowed]

[daminouspurity]

Arsenal F.C. vs. Manchester City | 2023 FA Community Shield | Predictions FIFA 23

[historyandmemes]

Sunday, Dec. 25, 2023 — Another day, another horrific massacre of innocent Palestinians by Israel. The US and the international community must force Israel to STOP the carnage, STOP the war crimes, STOP the depravity.

The world continues to watch as the rogue state of Israel inflicts unthinkable crimes against humanity. The complicity is sickening, the inaction despicable. Palestinians deserve better, we've failed them.

At least 70 killed in Israeli strike on refugee camp in central Gaza, health ministry says — (Source: The Guardian) Guardian staff and agencies | Sun 24 Dec 2023 18.04 EST

An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in central Gaza has killed at least 70 people, Palestinian health officials have said as they warned the toll was likely to rise and the strikes that began hours before midnight continued into Christmas Day. The Palestinian health ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qidra, said the death toll was likely to climb. “What is happening at the Maghazi camp is a massacre that is being committed on a crowded residential square,” he told Reuters.

Israel strikes 2 homes, killing more than 90 Palestinians. Biden says he didn’t request a cease-fire — (Source: Associated Press) BY NAJIB JOBAIN AND SAMY MAGDY | Updated 4:12 PM EST, December 23, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, calling it a long and private conversation a day after the Biden administration again shielded Israel in the diplomatic arena. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a watered-down resolution that calls for immediately speeding up aid deliveries to desperate civilians in Gaza, but not for a cease-fire. “I did not ask for a cease-fire,” Biden said of the call. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister “made clear that Israel would continue the war until achieving all its goals.”

Netanyahu vows to fight on in Gaza; Islamic Jihad joins Cairo talks — (Source: Reuters) By Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams | December 24, 2023 2:58 PM EST

CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to fight deeper into Gaza after his troops endured one of the worst days of losses of their ground war, while militant group Islamic Jihad joined talks in Cairo, a sign diplomacy was still alive. ... The militant groups have so far said they will not discuss any release of hostages unless Israel ends its war in Gaza, while the Israelis say they are willing to discuss only a temporary pause in fighting.

DON'T LOOK AWAY. KEEP UP PUBLIC PRESSURE. PUSH FOR PEACE.

[black-lake]

astro observations 12

heyy here are some of the things i found out lately while i was wasting time

——

🎠 An aries moon and capricorn sun man, I always find this mix intriguing. Can give off the vibes of a character straight out of a webtoon, or a fuck boy that’s just visibly toxic. Either way I find them so incredibly magnetic. They possess strong fiery auras and usually have a rebellious streak to them. If they act out of their shadows they can be arrogant, insensitive, disloyal and only chase after the physical. 

🎠 Initially I wondered why eminem doesn’t give me libra sun vibes at all, then I looked a bit deeper into his chart and realized that he’s just textbook uranian, he even looks like an alien and acts like one at times. He got sun conjunct uranus, aquarius moon, mars conjunct uranus, and uranus square nn. He was born to be a rebel. 

🎠 He’s one of greatest rappers to exist and it’s worthy to mention some of the aspects that indicate his unique talent for rapping. First of all mars conj uranus is known to give unique talents, so that’s that. In this case sun and mars conj uranus granting him a natural rhythm, quick thinking, and unique expression. But the supersonic speed doesn’t come just from that. What’s interesting is that his ability to be a fast rapper and master lyricist is amplified by pluto also being in libra, conjunct his mars and pallas, fueling him with anger, intensifying his capabilities with determination, and heightened mental control and intelligence. Saturn is also in an air sign (gemini), indicating speed and intelligence. This gives rise to a grand air trine, linking his powerful stellium of sun, mars, uranus, pluto, and pallas in libra, his moon in aquarius, and saturn in gemini. The stars really aligned there making him the rap god huh.

🎠 If you know eminem's story you'd know that he had a tough upbringing. From a difficult mother and absent father to being an outcast bouncing between schools and sketchy neighbourhoods, the only white kid in a black community, being bullied by gangs, and even beaten up till he drifted out of consciousness, then dropped out of school. Makes me think it's why he keeps his bodyguards with him all the time! He was left with nothing and a daughter to provide for, encountered racial prejudice in rap contests for being white, despite these obstacles, he rose to become the best-selling hip-hop artist and earned recognition from rappers as one of the greatest of all time. Leads me to the next obs.

🎠 Heavy uranus/aquarius or 11°, 23° can easily become misfits without trying to. They’re constantly put in new environments, places where they’re the only ones of their kind, like a white kid in a black community, a foreign in a mostly local area, the new kid in school. There’s always ‘something different about them’ that people pick up on even if it was as early as elementary school. Which may get them outcasted or bullied. Their experiences at times lead them to hate school and drop out. 

🎠 People with these placements have something special to offer the world. It may seem like obstacles are constantly put in their way without them doing anything, but it’s their path unfolding. So they can wake up from their conditioned states and break from the status quo. The more that happens the more they realize who they are. 

🎠 Here’s why I think those that got capricorn north node can be the best fathers or the child’s favorite parent. It’s part of their destiny to be a caregiver and a good example for their children and they have the biggest hearts when it comes to caring for them and protecting them. They desire to give their child what they themselves may have lacked in their youth and shield them from the pain they experienced. Their child is their inspiration and reason to keep going in a way.

🎠 The biggest two examples I can give, Eminem singing mockingbird (one of my favs) for his daughter Hailie. He often mentions her in award shows, and did a whole diss track (killshot), in 13 minutes btw lmao, just because MGK made a tweet about his daughter. The other example is Travis Scott singing goosebumps for his daughter Stormi on stage and bringing her to his concerts. She has always said that her fav parent is her dad. Anyway, don’t mess with these ppl’s kids they’ll go after you to the end of the world. 

🎠 Men with mercury conjunct saturn have deeper voices, speak slowly and eloquently like they’re a 50 year old even if they’re 25. They are very grounded, have a methodical way of thinking and are wise beyond their years. Also masters at dodging questions.

🎠 I’ve seen it a lot and experienced it myself having an aries stellium. Women with a lot of aries or mars placements can often feel like they’re more cute, youthful and sexy in a cool way rather than the typical feminine way. They often have toned bodies, smaller chests and a lot of masculine qualities that trying to appear too feminine can feel fake to them. 

🎠 People with north node in capricorn can feel like they've been robbed of the success they deserve. It's giving the vibe of a musician that has worked so damn hard on their album and received public success but no official awards, then released another album and did it again and again and still haven’t gotten a grammy. I mean grammys are scams but ykwim. Along the lessons of success and accomplishment, there's also a profound lesson in patience and self-validation, a focus on recognizing one's worth from within rather than seeking external validation.

🎠 I noticed that aries, gemini, aquarius and capricorn placements or heavy mars, mercury, uranus and saturn can prefer skirts over dresses or just wear pants all the time.

🎠 Those with uranus-neptune in pisces really brought back the love for anime, manga, webtoons, cosplay, colourful cute aesthetics, dreamcore, surrealist aesthetics and art. They just got a dreamland vibe to them and it’s quite fascinating to see.

🎠 I have north node in leo and I'm starting to look like my 5 year old self, no joke, connecting to your inner child can do that. Looking at my childhood photos stirs up emotions within me. I often find myself reminiscing and yearning for that carefree time when I was simply myself, devoid of societal pressures. Plus, I can't help but notice after fixing my fucked up teeth I got my child smile back. I feel like I'm in a journey of rediscovery as I start to recognize that childlike spirit within me once again.

🎠 Those with sagittarius, libra, taurus, gemini, leo and aries placements have the most beautiful smiles omg, like it does something to your heart. Please keep smiling it really brightens up this world. I mean I can fit all the signs here I just love when others smile. 🥺

🎠 Mercury opposite pluto, these native can say exactly what would get them mocked or bullied. They keep starting the wrong fights for the wrong reasons. They could get triggered of people who communicate better than them. Their lesson lies in improving their communication skills, cultivating tactfulness and diplomacy, and learning to reclaim their power in a psychological manner rather than resorting to mindless verbal confrontations.

🎠 Mars conj/opp pluto can at times experience violence early on, in school or their neighborhood. They experience a lot of obstacles constantly, inner and outer pressures that they may feel like giving up. These challenges ultimately instill within them greater resilience and determination to pursue their goals. Many martial artists and athletes have this aspect, seeking an outlet to channel the intense anger they experience.

🎠 People with aries north node really go from one battle to another without a break. Leaving behind their need to compromise and avoid confrontations can be challenging but is the very thing that brings those battles. Eventually they will find themselves needing to defend themselves alone with no support, fighting back relentlessly no matter what and stop compromising to keep the peace. They will gain this sense of self assurance and bravery to face anything in life.

🎠 I know someone with a lot of saturn oppositions, aquarius sun and stellium opposite saturn, capricorn moon and aries nn. This person has always been underestimated by their parents and always felt like an outsider. They had controlling parents that imposed so many restrictions on them. They also were targeted in school for having a funny and likable personality. Being their aquarius mc and aries mercury bestie I saw their potential and encouraged them to fight back even if it meant making a scene. They eventually built up the courage to stand up for themselves no matter how alone they are. But they also have this wisdom to know when to pick their battles and when to ignore things and let them go, which I look up to.

🎠 People with a lot of chiron conjunctions or oppositions have a heart of gold. Real angels on earth that have been through it. They have so much compassion and understanding for others because they’ve been hurt in many ways. They know what it feels like to be wounded by life and have tremendous amounts of empathy for that. They have sensitive souls and their presence alone can make others feel seen and heard. I appreciate these people a lot, like thank u for existing. 

[chaoticace2005]

I, Sir Pentious’s, List of Things to Build:

1. Matching PJs for the Eggies

2. Warmachine that will DESTROY the Radio Demon and get the attention of the Vees!

3. New warmachine after RADIO DEMON!!! broke the last one (Include updated death ray??)

4. Parachute built into hat

5. Advanced technology to spy on the hotel to impress Vox An “I’m sorry cake.”

6. Nest for me and eggs

7. New coat for the radio demon?

8. Cannon to protect me from a flying cat, tall slutty spider, and a tiny… bug? Cannon to PROTECT the flying cat, tall slutty spider, tiny bug, and close female friends that share a room together.

9. Portable elevator. Stairs suck.

10. Device to prevent me from being thrown off a roof again.

11. Armor against dismembered arms. Also Niffty?

12. Gaydar? Whatever that is, I’m currently unsure.

13. Thing to kill a roomba with knives.

14. Device to open bottles for Husk

15. Quiet door opener/unlocker

16. Shield so Vagatha doesn’t stab me when I go into her room in the middle of the night.

17. Way to remove pornographic images from my brain.

18. SAFE bug killer for Niffty? So less knives

19. Way to remove Valentino from this plane of existence.

20. A safe, loving family for Charlotte.

21. Cookies for the king!!

22. Mechanical duck to get in the king’s favor!

23. Way to fix Father-Daughter relationship? (They did this themselves nevermind)

24. Protection from Radio Demon??

25. Device to get the cat and spider to talk about their feelings so I can stop third wheeling.

26. New wall? Make it indestructible.

27. Flowers Chocolates A bomb for Cherri??

28. Way to break demonic contracts for Angel (and also Husk??)

29. Hangover cure.

30. Prosthetic wings for Vagatha (nevermind she has her own sometimes? Would she want ones for when she doesn’t??)

31. Reinforcements for the building

32. Battle armor for the Eggies

33. Angel killing bullets, bombs, knives, teeth?? And cards??

34. General uniform

35. A moat

36. Poem for Cherri?

37. Angel suggested I added “the courage to actually ask Cherri out,” which I must say is sadly accurate.

38. New egg bois? Or way to resurrect the old ones??

39. Evil but still angelic clothing??

40. Way to communicate with Hell

41. Gift to show affection for Cherri and let her know I’m alive.

42. Way to show memories from Hell for Emily and Molly to see (a device may already exist??)

43. Family reunion for Angel (Anthony??) and Molly.

44. A way to get back home.

[delsolsasha]

♡ The Westwoods ♡

Genevieve Westwood, 23

In the bustling heart of New York City, Genevieve Westwood's dreams of modeling sparkled like the lights of Times Square. One night, fate led her to a dimly lit bar where she found herself drawn to a charismatic celebrity. Their chance encounter bloomed into a whirlwind affair, resulting in an unexpected pregnancy. However, the harsh reality of addiction and fame soon clouded their happiness, leaving Genevieve to raise their daughter, Lucy, alone.

Determined to shield Lucy from her father's tumultuous world, Genevieve bravely chose to leave behind the glittering city life for the tranquil embrace of a costal town in Northern Maine. Settling into their quaint New England-style home, she faced the daunting task of nurturing Lucy's talents while also fearing the allure of fame's shadows.

Genevieve plans to challenge herself & transform their home into a small yet bustling restaurant to get them by for now. While the aroma of her cooking wafts through their cozy home, Genevieve holds onto hope that one day she would be able to share her culinary creations with the tight-knit community of her new town. Each dish she prepared was a labor of love, a testament to her dream of opening a restaurant where she could welcome locals and visitors alike. But for now, she found solace in the simple act of preparing meals for herself and Lucy, each dish a symbol of their journey toward a brighter future. ~DelSolSasha

(PS: can you tell I've been rewatching Gilmore girls?? lol)

[ghelgheli]

From Domestic Heteropessimism, Sarah Brouillette, 13/07/23:

Some number of the performative disaffiliations that characterize domestic heteropessimism, which critique patriarchal norms shaping the household, fail to look beyond the couple-based household of "equal partners" toward any fuller social reorganization, just as they ignore the material determinants of patriarchy and couple-based romantic and domestic forms. In this light, domestic heteropessimism is perhaps one of the contemporary cultural forms that, in trying conditions, help reconcile people to the idea that the relationships and family situations that they are in simply cannot be reordered in any deeper way. This is the heterofatalism, as Seresin calls it, underlying everything else, combined often enough with what Hannah Wang elsewhere in this cluster terms "anesthetic feminism," a shielding of oneself from seemingly inescapable "quotidian indignities of misogyny." Heterofatalism would have us accept that teaching men how to live up to your heterosexual desire for them is enough, the only real goal, itself sufficiently utopian, because scarcely imaginable. Meanwhile, the destructive force of the industrious, resource intensive, isolating, often lonely, exhausting, harrying, single-family household — the very institution through which heterosexual misery is perpetuated — remains obscured.

Of course, the couple-based heterosexual household, built upon a gendered division of tasks, not least via the naturalization of particularly intensive mothering, may very well be improved by teaching men to be more attentive partners and more active participants in the organization of the home. But equality in orchestrating what is an increasingly untenable way of living hardly seems sufficient, as it will leave in place a serious constraint on any kind of contended coupledom, heterosexual or otherwise: the simple reality of being overburdened with work and worry about financial security and children's unfolding lives in isolated homes that are incompatible with planetary futurity.

Far from imagining the possibilities for human connection and intimacy that might unfold in totally new conditions, domestic heteropessimism seems designed to help people want what there is, it would seem, no choice but to have: a heterosexual partner and children in a family home. It evinces a form of longing for equitable couple-based interpersonal relationships that eschews the promise and necessity of communizing care via overcoming capitalist social relations.

My simple point again, then, is that heteropessimism is limited to the extent that it stops at "reinforcing the privatizing function" of the couple, to return to Seresin's language, by treating the puzzle of women's desire for men as the main issue, by failing to identify the role that the couple-based family household itself plays in personal and planetary misery, and then by fathoming transformation within the tiny unit of the couple as the only grounds for any progressive activity. One can identify with aspects of heteropessimism and still be engaged in looking toward the revolutionary horizon, of course. Yet so many of its expressions do the opposite, rooting people even more in the social worlds that they already inhabit, offering the consolation of complaint about what is hardly, actually, unmovable.

From Domestic Heteropessimism, Sarah Brouillette, 13/07/23. In the Heteropessimism essay cluster.

[leahbasavraham]

Mizrah by Israel Dov Rosenbaum 1877

Despite the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and the dispersion of most Jews, the Land of Israel has remained a primary focus of Jewish identity. A commonly felt, deeply rooted bond to the Land of Israel and the hope of all Jews to return eventually to it have been important unifying factors. One expression of this intense bond is found in the practice of facing toward Jerusalem during prayer. For Jews in the West, this direction is east, and the custom developed of placing a decorative plaque on the eastern walls of homes and synagogues to indicate the direction of worship. Such a sign came to be known as a mizrah, Hebrew for "east." Mizrah is also an acronym composed of the initial letters for the Hebrew phrase "from this side the spirit of life." This inscription appears in the four corners of the central panel of this papercut, indicating that it functions as a mizrah.

In Eastern Europe, mizrah plaques were often made out of cut paper, resembling the carved wood Torah arks of Polish synagogues in the intricacy of their design. As is common in many other extant examples, the composition in this papercut is symmetrical, designed on one half of a sheet of paper, folded vertically, and cut out through both halves, thus creating a mirror image revealed upon unfolding the sheet. Papercuts were usually mounted on a plain or colored paper background to provide a contrasting effect, as seen here. Although architectural features such as columns and arcades often balance the composition of papercuts, the use of an imposing building as the central element, as seen in this example, is rare. Whether the building was based on an existing or imaginary one, Israel Dov Rosenbaum, the creator of this extraordinary papercut, made sure to include a clock at its dome, possibly a hint at his profession as clockmaker to the local count in the small town of Podkamen, Ukraine. A Jewish community existed in Podkamen at least since the seventeenth century, and by the late nineteenth century, the town was home to more than a thousand Jews.

The elaborate design and the repeated use of thin connecting lines make this mizrah an exquisite example of its kind. The creatures, both mythical and real, as well as the vegetal motifs and horror vacuii of this composition, are typical of Eastern European art. Included here are lions, deer, eagles, and what appears to be a pair of small leopards atop the dome of the central building. These four animals usually appear in Jewish papercuts to illustrate the saying "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to do the will of your Father who is in Heaven" (Ethics of the Fathers 5:23). The doubled-headed eagle is often interpreted as a political symbol associated with the Russian Empire. Several Eastern European artifacts in The Jewish Museum collection feature the double-headed eagle, including Torah shields and Hanukkah lamp; as well as a mold for pastries baked for the holiday of Purim.

Among the mythical beasts featured in this papercut are the leviathan (portrayed as a curled fish) and the wild ox-the legendary food of the righteous in the world to come (Leviticus Rabbah 13:3, 22:10)-depicted in the lower register, and the unicorn, seen in the outer frame. The interiors of wooden synagogues were often filled with elaborate animal and plant designs, many having symbolic meaning. Animals are also found in carved Jewish tombstones in Eastern Europe. Likely more portable or readily available sources were printed books such as Hebrew primers featuring a depiction of an animal for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet or illustrated copies of the Meshal ha-Kadmoni, a collection of animal fables written in 1281 by the Spanish Hebrew author Isaac ibn Sahula. First printed in Brescia, about 1491, the work soon gained popularity and was reprinted many times, including nine known Yiddish editions. Many of the extant copies are embellished with illustrations, mostly portraying the disputing animals, who "converse" in biblical Hebrew and are all well versed in Jewish learning: the rooster is a Bible scholar, and the deer an expert in the Talmud. Two pairs of roosters appear on the upper margin of the mizrah, flanked by a pair of birds. In one of the illustrations for the Meshal ha-Kadmoni, the rooster and a similar quail-like bird (though referred to as a hawk) are paired in "conversation."

[citrineandrosmarin]

🦉Athena Masterpost: Offerings🦉

🐍 Masterpost Link 🐍

Last updated: 23 Feb added bee stuff to items / 23 March, added to food UPG

A mix of UPG, SPG and Historical associations, please share your own in the comments or let me know if you share a UPG!

Gemstones & Metals:

H: Gold, Bronze, Silver, Iron

SPG: Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Iolite

UPG: Rainbow Fluorite, Sodalite, Obsidian, Smoky Quartz, Kyanite, Bronzite, Tiger’s Eye (Any color), Tiger Iron, Blue Aventurine, Blue Calcite, Red Jasper, Flame Jasper, Lepidolite, Moonstones, Zoisite, Amazonite

Plants: 

H: Olive, Ivy, Thyme

SPG: Rosemary, Cypress, Peppermint, Orange

UPG: Oak, Pine, Oregano, Peppers, Basil, Marigold, Dandelion, Yarrow, Geranium, Tiger Lily, Mint, Rose, Hellebore, Bay Laurel

Incense and Fragrances: 

H: Frankincense, Thyme, Bay Laurel, Amber, Myrrh, Dragon’s Blood

SPG: Orange/Orange Blossom/Blood Orange, Citrus, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Cypress, Bergamot & Sage 

UPG: Pine, Musk, Oakmoss & Amber, Clove, Nutmeg, Pomegranate, French Vanilla, Sandalwood, Mint, Patchouli, Mint, The incenses “Pagan Spell,” “Celestial Bliss,” and “Tree of Life”

Food & Drink: 

H: Olives and Olive Oil, Honey, Milk, Cheese, Cereal Grains, Diluted Wine, Bread, Baked Goods, Fish, Meat, Fruit (e.g. pomegranates, grapes, raspberries, pears)

SPG: Water, Fruit juice

UPG: Mint Icecream or tea, Rooibos (Redbush) Tea, Black Tea, Chocolate, Apple Cider, Coffee, Anything Raspberry flavored, Cinnamon Apple Oats,

Items & Miscellaneous (Almost all SPG and UPG): 

Historical: 

Miniature votive shields, helmets, swords, spears, or arrowheads, Pottery, Hymns, Poems, Jewelry, Animal figurines, Glass beads, Libation bowls, Terracotta figurines, Statues, Coins

SPG and UPG: 

Music playlist, Mood boards, Perfumes, Candles, Books, Bookmarks, Acorns, Bay leaves, Snake skin, Animal figurines, Owl feathers, Gull feathers, Horse Hair, Any helmet, spear, shield or sword imagery, Gorgoneions, Depictions of her favorite heroes, anything bee or honey related.

Trophies, Medals, Diplomas, Good grades, Essays or other academic writing you’ve written, Study Tools, Graduation Caps

Any kind of handmade craft, Craft tools, Pottery, Yarn, Knitting or crochet needles, Polymer clay sculptures, Art, Origami, Wool

Devotional Acts (All SPG and UPG): 

Using olive oil, Reading her myths, Donating to charity or doing some volunteering, Learning Ancient Greek, Learning about the history and culture of Ancient Greece

Playing strategy or puzzle games, Playing Escape Rooms, Any exercise that combines logic and creativity, World-building, Using your skills and learning new ones, taking classes to learn a skill.

Developing your intellect, Reading non-fiction, Doing research, Learning to think critically, Studying, Tutoring, Learning to code or any computer skills, Reading up on current science, Watching TEDtalks, Listening to educational podcasts or videos.

Doing any kind of hands-on craft like knitting, crochet, sculpting, etc. or learning a new crafty skill.

Exercise, Learning/Practicing self-defense or a martial art

Donating to charities for military veterans, Donating to those suffering from war, Learning about the Geneva Conventions, Staying educated on current wars and past wars

Being politically aware/active, Activism, Playing colony sims e.g. Civilization series, Getting involved in your community.

[smithrowed]

[cloakedsparrow]

Thomas Lives! Bat-Family AU

Batfamily AU where Thomas Wayne moves to protect his son by shielding him rather than rushing the gunman after Martha is killed. Joe Chill was a mugger who didn’t expect to become a murderer that evening and he flees as soon as Thomas’ back is turned. Now both Thomas and Bruce survive and go home to Alfred.

Does Thomas become Batman and Bruce becomes the first Robin? Is Thomas (and later, Bruce) cool with lethal means when necessary but usually holds back because a) most street level crimes don’t require a lethal solution and b) he doesn’t want to traumatize his child any more than he already is?

Or does Thomas go all in with philanthropy to try to save Gotham and Bruce eventually becomes Batman because he sees there’s a missing piece? He figures between his father’s free clinic and all the money he puts into public transit, shelters, food banks, medical care, and education, Gordon fighting to clean up the dirty CGPD, and his efforts to take down organized crime as Batman, Gotham will be better off. Does he have to wait until he’s an adult to even start training for Batman because Thomas won’t let him go off to study the way of the blade until he’s graduated high school?

Do Thomas and Bruce trade off Batman for years once Bruce grows up and no one knows which one they’re gonna get? Most people don’t even know there are two so any theories on his identity is widely off? Neither one needs much of a cover since they’re both seen when the Batman is active plenty of times. Thomas continues on a surgeon. Bruce gets a business degree and works at Wayne Enterprises. Alfred continues to be the world’s most badass valet. They build the Martha Wayne Foundation together and are all active within it. Instead of Bruce and Leslie starting the Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic, Thomas and Leslie build and run the Martha Wayne Memorial Clinic.

Does Bruce end up being less of a control freak because he never had full control in a world where his father was still around? With Thomas there to take care of things after Martha died, does Bruce even feel the need to control everything around him? Does he end up with more emotional intelligence and better communication skills in a world where he’s raised by both Alfred and Thomas? Is he just little quicker to trust people? Is he less likely to date criminals and tell them his secret? Is he a little quicker to smile?

In the OG timeline, 18/19 year old Dick wanted to adopt newly orphaned Jason Todd and Bruce stopped him and stated that he would adopt the kid while Dick went to school and started his life. Would the same thing happen between 22/23 year old Bruce and Thomas with newly orphaned Dick in this universe? With a healthier father figure and Bruce as a brother rather than father, would Dick and Bruce ever have the falling out they eventually did in canon? If they still fought when Dick outgrew Robin, would Thomas be able to be a better mediator than Alfred, since he doesn’t have any constraints in his relationship with them? If Bruce had been Robin himself, and eventually became Batman after his father stepped away from the role, would Bruce even blink at Dick moving on?

Jason’s adoption would probably go much the same, but afterwards, things would probably change.

Because if Dick and Bruce aren’t butting heads, and they’re both always welcome in their dad’s Manor (possibly even both reside there), does Dick -now the cool, young uncle- end up spending more time with Jason? Bruce can’t teach a lot of what Dick can do (no one but Dick probably can) once he melds his circus training with his fight training, so Jason had to become a brawler/bruiser in order to do the same job in canon. This meant his violence looked like violence, whereas Dick’s violence looked like cute acrobatic tricks pulling the criminals’ attention away from Batman. If Jason gets the chance to learn more from Dick, or if Dick is able to go to bat for him without triggering any bigger fights with Bruce (plus Thomas there for Bruce to turn to with dad questions/rants), does Bruce ever think Jason is crossing a line?

Even if he does, Jason isn’t in quite the same place in this universe. Even if Dick is still incommunicado when he overhears Bruce talking to Alfred and misunderstands, he now has someone else he can turn to: Grandpa Tom. Does Thomas tell Bruce that he’s not too big for a scolding and he needs to go apologize to his son? Does Bruce take that advice and explain everything to his kid so Jason never returns to his old neighborhood to learn that his mom wasn’t his biological mother?

Batman doesn’t take off in the Bat-Jet every time a Gothamite gets into trouble somewhere. It’s reasonable to assume that if Tim isn’t his emotional support child -and therefore standing right next to him when they learn his parents have been taken captive- Bruce wouldn’t leave Gotham to go save the Drakes. Obeah Man always planned to kill Jack and Janet, so they’d both die in that incident.

Does Bruce step in to adopt Tim when he realizes the orphaned boy has no family left and is worth millions of dollars (which will lead to all kinds of trouble in Gotham)? Under what circumstances does the rest of the family learn that Tim knows their secret? Does he just take pity on them when they’re trying to explain away an absence or injury one day and gently tells them that he’s known who they were for years already? Does he step in to help when they’re in trouble at some point, and is like ‘by the way, I’ve known since I was nine but that’s not important right now’ similar to canon? Does he stop Jason from running into trouble without backup one day and in the middle of arguing that he has to go, Jason realizes that the little shit knows? Do they decide to tell him one day and he overdoes his ‘shocked’ reaction? Or does he sell it perfectly and it’s years before they learn he already knew?

How does Jason take to being a big brother? Does he jump into the role with enthusiasm? Is he unsure about it? Is he determined that his little brother will know no further heartache and ends up bullying their dad (Bruce) into better self care as a result? Does he just kind of ignore Tim while he tries to figure out how he feels about all the changes until he sees some kid bullying his little brother at school and hears Kill Bill sirens going off in his head? Do they become an unstoppable team both at home and in the field? Do they geek out about books together even though they have different tastes in them? Do Bruce and Thomas just check the library any time they can’t find the boys?

Or does Jason die anyway? And Tim still steps in to help, but with another person watching with a different perspective from the others?

Everyone else is focused on the fact that Tim is already a skilled detective who knows their secret, has been studying martial arts and acrobatics enough to have a solid foundation and some decent skill already, and can recognize that Bruce needs help and therefore, should totally be the new Robin. Thomas, however, stops to ponder why it is that Tim was able to recognize Bruce and Batman’s heavily hidden depression. Instead of questioning how Tim knew where Dick lived and worked and all that, he questions how the hell a kid that young just fucked off to another state without anyone noticing. Yeah, he’s worried about Bruce getting stabbed and just going back into a fight, but he’s already got Alfred and Dick on his ass about that, so he can take a moment to feel the horror at the fact that a child witnessed that and didn’t respond as though it were the worst thing they’d ever seen. While no one else questions that Tim just had his boarding school start forwarding his mail to Wayne Manor without issue, does Thomas stop to go ‘WTF? Why is no one questioning what the Drake boy is doing here?’

Does Thomas decide that while helping Bruce, they can also help this kid who is clearly in dire need of competent adult supervision?

Who, then, adopts Tim? Thomas or Bruce? Or does Alfred adopt him out from under them, so they each get a little boy wonder? Do most people who encounter the family have a period where they try to figure out which black-haired, blue-eyed kid is which black-haired, blue-eyed man’s child before giving up with a headache? Does Bruce sometimes refer to Alfred as his mom the way Dick has a few times in canon? Are outsiders utterly confused about the whole lot? Do they all just live in the Manor together as one happy and less-dysfunctional-then-they-could-have-been family?

When Cass enters the picture and Bruce is focused on the whole assassin-turned-vigilante bit, is Thomas in the background going ‘Yes, a granddaughter! Have you met your new little brothers, yet? Oh, you don’t know how to speak? You know they have teachers for that, right, Brucie? We can afford one that will keep their mouth shut if she lets anything slip during lessons. You go help Barbie research that while I introduce her to the alphabet. See? Wasn’t that easier than making the poor girl point at everything until we caught on to what she wanted?’

‘This is your Uncle Dick, he’s going to teach you how to use the trapeze! What’s that, you like ballet? I’ll build a studio in the Manor and get you private lessons! You like roses? Alfred, want to help us build Cassie a rose garden!? Of course she broke those men’s arms, Brucie, he was harming her little brothers! I seem to recall you breaking more than a few arms when someone hurt Dickie!’

Instead of coming to Gotham with his quiet, emotionally stunted father to meet an uncertain and grieving adopted brother and very professional Alfred, does Damian end up hearing all about his new family and asked after his interests by his more mature father? Does he exit the Batmobile to be gathered up in a big bear hug by the unit of a man that is Thomas Wayne? Is he then introduced to his uncle, sister, brother, and whatever Tim ended up being in this universe? Does that make the introduction go better? Either because there are just too many variables in play for his planned takeover or because he’s too stunned at everyone being genuinely happy to meet him that he forgets he could be cursing and trowing a tantrum when they talk about helping him unpack and get ready for bed after his long trip?

Does Damian still try to kill Tim (the current Robin) off? Does he try, but this much more cohesive and connected version of the family keeps stopping him? Do they talk him through his issues better? Does he learn what it means to be part of a family much sooner? Does he end up with an art studio and a pair of kittens by the end of the first week? Does Thomas call up Talia to arrange for Goliath to be sneaked into Gotham to live in the Bat Cave once he learns that his grandson is missing his dragon bat over hot chocolate one night?

Or does Batman/Previous-Batman/Sometimes-Batman, Thomas Wayne, just raze the League the first time Ra’s messes with his son? Does Bruce get to stay with Talia to raise Damian from the beginning in his family’s ancestral home with his father, honorary second parent, little brother, daughter, son, and whatever Tim is to him in universe? Does Talia go off to become CEO or COO of another company on her own after her father’s demise? Does she work for Wayne Enterprises? Do she and Bruce get together under different circumstances? Do they not get together at all and Damian is never born? Or are things much the same between them, except she realizes that Bruce can give Damian a real family in this universe and hands him over sooner?

If Jason died and came back, how would Thomas’ presence alter his actions afterwards?

Would Thomas have killed the Joker once the threat of starting an international incident was taken off the table? Would any member of the family give a shit if Jason used guns or killed the occasional murderer/pedophile/human trafficker in this universe? Even when Jason saw there was a new Robin, he wouldn't be able to say who brought Tim into the fold, so that wouldn’t make him feel as replaced. He’d have a moment to step back and question it in a way he never did in canon. Even if he was still hurt and pissed at Bruce, would knowing Thomas, Alfred, and Dick were all there be enough to bring Jason home anyway? Would his grandpa and new little siblings ever let him leave again once he did?

Would Bruce have reacted better to Clark confessing to killing some of his rogues in a world where he was raised by Thomas? Would they never have their falling out and end up even better friends without that interruption in their relationship? Between that and having less overall issues, would Bruce be willing to call his friend sooner when he needs help? Would that extend to more members of the Justice League? Is he laid up with a broken leg and calls in Barry when Mr Freeze breaks out of Arkham because he has experience with ice-themed villains? Does Killer Croc get bitch-slapped back into Arkham by Wonder Woman one day because Bruce and his kids all had the flu and he asked for her help?

Does Jean Paul Valley ever become Batman? Or does Thomas just step into the suit while Bruce is recovering so Jean Paul gets more training time? With another adult around, does Tim still have to babysit Jean Paul all by himself? Are they able to catch the fact that Jean Paul is losing it sooner?

Does Bane have any idea what hit him when Thomas-Batman comes for him after he hurt his son?

/|^;-;^/| ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ /|^;-;^/| ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ /|^;-;^/|

Just some questions that came to me while I was feeding my goats this morning…

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Robert Pearl, M.D.

In the late 1970s and early ‘80s, a mysterious illness spread through America’s overlooked communities, mainly affecting intravenous drug users and homosexual men.

The disease, which caused a sudden and devastating collapse of the immune system, was unlike anything doctors had seen before. Patients arrived at hospitals with rare infections like Kaposi’s sarcoma and fungal pneumonia.

But despite the rising number of cases, public health officials remained silent for years. Few Americans saw it as a national emergency, especially since the disease seemed confined to society’s fringes, at least initially.

By the time the government and public fully grasped the threat in 1986—following Dr. C. Everett Koop’s “Surgeon General’s Report on AIDS”—tens of thousands of Americans had already died.

Looking back on this and other public health crises, it’s clear that medical science alone isn’t enough to save lives. To prevent similar tragedies, public health leaders and elected officials must first understand the role denial plays in people’s perception of medical threats. They must then develop effective strategies to overcome it.

The Psychological Basis For Denial Denial is a powerful, usually unconscious defense mechanism that shields individuals from uncomfortable or distressing realities. By repressing objective facts or experiences—especially those that provoke fear or anxiety—people can maintain a sense of stability in the face of overwhelming threats.

Historically, denial was vital to daily life. With little protection against illnesses like smallpox, tuberculosis or plague, people would have been immobilized by fear if not for the ability to repress reality. Denial, mixed with superstition, took the place of facts, allowing society to function despite the ever-present risks of death and disability.

Today, even with tremendous advances in medical knowledge and technology, denial continues to influence individual behavior with detrimental consequences.

For example, more than 46 million Americans use tobacco products, despite their links to cancer, heart disease and respiratory illness. Similarly, tens of millions of people refuse vaccinations, disregarding scientific consensus and exposing themselves—and their communities—to preventable diseases. Denial extends to cancer screenings, as well. Surveys show that 50% of women over 40 skip their annual mammograms, and 23% have never had one. Meanwhile, about 30% of adults between 50 and 75 are not up to date on colorectal cancer screenings, and 20% have never been screened.

These examples demonstrate how denial leads individuals to make choices that jeopardize their health, even when life-saving interventions are readily available.

A Pattern of Denial: How Inaction Fuels Public Health Crises When individual denial scales up to the collective level, it fuels widespread inaction and worsens public health crises. Throughout modern medical history, Americans have repeatedly underestimated or dismissed emerging health threats until the consequences became impossible to ignore.

Early warnings of the HIV/AIDS epidemic were largely ignored, as the stigma surrounding affected populations made it easier for the broader public to deny the severity of the crisis. Even within at-risk populations, the lengthy delay between infection and symptoms created a false sense of security, leading to risky behaviors. This collective denial allowed the virus to spread unchecked, resulting in millions of deaths worldwide and a public health challenge that persists in the United States today.

Even now, four decades after the virus was identified, only 36% of the 1.2 million Americans at high risk for HIV take PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a medication that is 99% effective in preventing the disease.

Chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes mirror this pattern of denial. The long gap between early signs and life-threatening complications—such as heart attack, stroke and kidney failure—leads people to underestimate the risks and neglect preventive care. This inaction increases morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.

Whether the issue is an infectious disease or a chronic illness, denial causes harm. It allows medical problems to take root, it delays care and it leads to tens of thousands preventable deaths each year.

The Unseen Parallels: COVID-19 And Mpox Our nation’s responses to COVID-19 and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) similarly illustrate how denial hampers effective management of public health emergencies.

By March 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread, millions of Americans dismissed it as just another winter virus, no worse than the flu. Even as deaths rose exponentially, elected officials and much of the public failed to recognize the growing threat. Critical containment measures—such as travel restrictions, widespread testing and social distancing—were delayed. This collective denial, fueled by misinformation and political ideology, allowed the virus to take root across the country.

By the time the severity of the pandemic was undeniable, hospitals and health systems were overwhelmed. The opportunity to prevent widespread devastation had passed. More than 1 million American lives were lost, and the economic and social consequences continue today.

Mpox presents the most recent example of this troubling pattern. On August 14, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency after identifying rapid spread of the Clade 1b variant across several African nations. This strain is significantly more lethal than previous variants, having already caused over 500 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, primarily among women and children under 15. Unlike earlier outbreaks associated mainly with same-sex transmission, Clade 1b spreads through both heterosexual contact and close family interactions, increasing its reach and putting everyone at risk.

Despite these alarming developments, awareness and concern about mpox remains low in the United States. International aid has been limited, and vaccination efforts have fallen far behind the growing threat. As a result, by the time the WHO issued its emergency declaration, only 65,000 vaccine doses had been distributed across Africa, where more than 10 million people are at risk. Already, cases have appeared in Sweden and Thailand, and the U.S. may soon follow.

Even with the added danger of the new variant and the proven efficacy of the JYNNEOS vaccine, only one in four high-risk individuals in the United States has been vaccinated against mpox. Our slow and delayed response to Covid-19, mpox, HIV/AIDS and nearly-all chronic diseases demonstrate how widespread denial is, the lives it continues to claim and the urgent need to address this hidden defense mechanism. The best way to overcome denial—both individually and collectively—is to bring the risks into clear focus. Simply warning people about the dangers isn’t enough. Strong leadership is crucial in breaking through this subconscious barrier.

Lessons To Learn, Actions To Take Dr. C. Everett Koop’s public health campaign on AIDS in the 1980s demonstrated how clear, consistent messaging can shift public perception and drive action. Similarly, former Surgeon General Luther L. Terry’s landmark 1964 report on smoking educated the public about the dangers of tobacco. His report spurred subsequent efforts, including higher taxes on tobacco products, restrictions on smoking in public places and health campaigns using vivid imagery of blackened lungs—leading to a significant decline in smoking rates.

Unfortunately, government agencies often fall short, hampered by bureaucratic delays and overly cautious communications.

Officials tend to wait until all details are certain, avoid acknowledging uncertainties, and seek consensus among committee members before recommending actions. Instead of being transparent, they focus on delivering the least risky advice for their agencies. People, in turn, distrust and fail to heed the recommendations.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently with mpox, officials hesitated to admit how little they knew about the emerging crises. Their reluctance further eroded public trust in government agencies. In reality, people are more capable of handling the truth than they’re often given credit for. When they have access to all the facts, they usually make the right decisions for themselves and their families. Ironically, if public health officials focused on educating people about the risks and benefits of different options—rather than issuing directives—more people would listen and more lives would be saved.

With viral threats increasing and chronic diseases on the rise, now is the time for public health leaders and elected officials to change tactics. Americans want and deserve the facts: what scientists know, what remains unclear and the best estimates of actual risk.

[talonabraxas]

Urna, Buddha’s Third Eye Talon Abraxas

Third Eye Chakra Affirmations

The third eye is the energy center of intuition and divine wisdom. I will show you how can quickly start energizing this chakra using my favorite 35 third eye chakra affirmations.

Third eye chakra affirmations encourage you to become more connected with your Third Eye or Ajna Chakra.

Affirmations empower and restore your chakra and as a result, you acquire greater self-awareness and razor-sharp intuition.

The Third Eye Chakra seats the eyes of your soul. You will be able to discern the world with greater perspectives when you activate your third eye using affirmations. You will be able to see, hear, and feel the energy around you. You may even be able to perceive psychically and with very strong intuition.

Awakening your Third Eye enables you to comprehend complex concepts and situations you may not have understood in the past.

You will see other angles of your circumstances with sharper vision. You will also be able to communicate thoughts and feelings easily.

Your Third Eye Chakra

The word chakra originates from the Sanskrit word for circle or a spinning wheel.

At times, chakras are referred to as the wheels of life. Chakras are aligned in ascending order from the spine’s base to the top of your head.

Chakras have perpetually been referred to as a classical element, an aspect of consciousness and related to bodily functions.

The Third Eye Chakra emanates from between the eyebrows on your forehead.

Essentially, chakras are multiple subtle body focal points used in various ancient practices of meditation.

Denominated collectively as esoteric, inner traditions of Hinduism, also known as Tantra.

The area between the eyebrows is where we direct our attention when doing third eye affirmations.

Early traditions of Hinduism reveal the concept of chakras. Between religions of India, beliefs vary.

Buddhism texts mention five chakras consistently while sources of Hinduism offer six to seven chakras.

Regardless of belief, early Sanskrit text revels meditation visualizations combine mantras and flowers as the physical body’s physical entities.

35 Third Eye Chakra Affirmations

1. I listen to my deepest intuition

2. I am in touch with internal guidance

3. My intuition always works to serve my highest purpose.

4. I and my intuition are made with perfection

5. I am blessed with an inner voice.

6. I always know exactly what to do, all the time.

7. I am full of wisdom and knowledge.

8. I always look within when making decisions

9. My intuition always tells me what to do.

10. My intuition is never wrong.

11. I am complete with inner knowing.

12. We are all growing and learning. I am growing and learning

13. I was born to fulfill my God-given purpose.

14. I love discovering new things every day.

15. I see life everywhere I look.

16. I am here for a reason.

17. I accept that I have weaknesses. I accept that I have strengths.

18. I completely accept myself.

19. I accept everything my third eye tells me.

20. I accept the things I cannot change.

21. I can only control my reactions to things.

22. I can always see clearly

23. I am sensitive to the world around me.

24. I am shielded from harm by my intuition

25. I can see clearly.

26. I attract everything I have in my reality.

27. I am enough as I am

28. I always know the right thing to do

29. I live to serve my highest purpose

30. I was born to serve a greater purpose

31. I am born with everything I need to survive.

32. Everything I need to know, I already know

33. My inner-knowing never fails

34. I always know exactly what to do in every situation.

35. I trust my inner guidance

[deviantartdramahub]

(Last one for real)

All I know and this is all based from my POV is that it was all bcs I defended how Deviantart wants to handle the site. I get the AI art hate and I hate it just as much as you. At this point, it fully convinced me that it's the only thing I have in common with you. As for the screenshots, they should've just blocked and moved on. That's it.

I will also leave this bcs it's the only reason I genuinely don't take the whole "copyright infringement" crud seriously. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/steam-workshops-nintendo-add-ons-takedown

This is the journal that got me to defend deviantart at all times. And these "sin of greed" comparisons this user made finally made me realize religion is nothing but a joke. I'm bound for Hell anyway so... there's no point.

All I know is that in the end, the backslash, even in spite of being right, got them to privatize sales. The last one would want is outright encourage any and all deviantart users to have any adblocker disabled which nowadays are very infamous for two reasons: 1. They are way too intrusive and 2. Too much malware. As for that whole "staff doesn't need to be defending", it's just an excuse so the entire userbase keeps harassing them. "Criticism is not harassment"... Well tell that to every single online person I've met that thought it was a good idea to outright slander so many people over things they like that they don't while calling it... "criticism". Since then , I view every single "criticism" with nothing but bad faith. "Ignore it"... yeah that only lasts for so damn long. I tried one too many times to even ignore what people say about Deviantart's staff. "I shouldn't care what others think"... not my style. In the end, if the staff ends up hating the entire Deviantart userbase, I would never blame them for it. As for the "deviantart is dying/dead" parts, if it does happen for real, I will not believe it. It happened with Tiktok after so many saying that it was gonna get banned and when it did, I basically used the whole "the boy who cried wolf" situation so I plan to do the same with Deviantart if (BIG IF) it shuts down. On February 23, 2027, it'll be the 10th anniversary of Wix buying Deviantart and this was before pretty much everything... assuming the staff doesn't finally snap and ban everyone who doesn't like them first.

TLDR I am so sick and tired of Deviantart getting hate since February 23, 2027, I don't take copyright infringement seriously, I no longer take religion seriously and view it as a joke and I'm bound for Hell anyway, I have bad faith towards the concept of criticism itself due to to loud ones using it as a shield to deflect anyone that bounces back, I will apply the while "the boy who cried wolf" as soon as Deviantart truly dies and here's hoping the Deviantart staff doesn't ban the majority of their users who keep targeting prior to February 23, 2027, the day Wix bought deviantart.

To wrap it up, here's a picture of an actual lunar eclipse which is how I view Deviantart eclipse.

I'm guessing you're like me and don't use the Gregorian calendar. Ah well, we're here for you if you ever need anything, supposing you keep things civil. There are two communities I'd recommend which are rising faster than the one you love (also, that's amazing art you got there).

[v-ividus]

23. Fragile Bonds: Trust in an Age of Psychopathy, Narcissism and Disordered Parasocial Attachment

“People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trust is the cornerstone upon which societies flourish; it is both invisible and palpable, a thread woven through the fabric of our interactions. Yet, the very essence of this social currency is fraying. With the proliferation of social media, we observe a disconcerting rise in narcissism, psychopathy, and parasocial relationships, urging us to reconsider what it means to trust. This upheaval generates a paradoxical landscape: while technology connects us, it simultaneously dismantles the relational networks upon which we depend. As Emerson astutely proposed, true hope emerges only when we confront our discomfort.

In our collective pursuit of empathy and understanding, we often overlook the destructive undercurrents defining our modern age. The rise of narcissistic tendencies fuels a distorted demand for validation, a hunger that cannot be quenched by genuine interpersonal connections. Digital platforms facilitate this relentless quest, enabling individuals to curate facades that mask emotional vacuity. Consequently, genuine trust has transformed into an elusive specter, often replaced by a transactional dependency that serves self-interest above relational integrity.

Furthermore, the omnipresent nature of social media amplifies the voices of those lacking moral grounding. Psychopaths thrive in environments where anonymity and detachment reign supreme, preying on the vulnerable with a predatory precision. The collective psyche becomes susceptible to manipulation, as trust morphs into a tool of exploitation. This societal contagion is insidious, eroding our foundational belief in the goodwill of others, and reconstructing a world where genuine connection is viewed with skepticism.

In acknowledging the sacred nature of trust, we must also confront its inherent vulnerability. The normalization of broken trust nurtures a climate of cynicism: a reality where the persistent hum of betrayal overshadows the comforting embrace of authentic relationships. Unless we challenge this pervasive narrative, we harbor no hope for the renewal of communal bonds. Fear and distrust overshadow love and connection, leaving us adrift in an ocean of alienation, urging a reshaping of our social interactions' moral architectures.

The Psychological Landscape of Humankind

Human nature, with its intricate complexity, embodies both a yearning for connection and the simultaneous drive to self-preserve. Our evolutionary lineage has equipped us with the tools to form social bonds; these bonds are not merely advantageous but essential to our survival. Yet, as individualism has gained prominence, so too has the cultivation of self-interest, often at the expense of communal welfare. Within this paradigm, narcissism emerges not just as a personality trait, but a pervasive social currency that disrupts relational dynamics.

Those steeped in narcissistic tendencies exhibit a profound lack of empathy, a characteristic that inhibits authentic engagement. The digital realm exacerbates this disconnect, providing fertile ground for manipulation and superficiality. Individuals wield their digital presence as an extension of self, often prioritizing self-promotion over genuine interaction. It stands as a testament to how our mechanisms of self-protection often shield us from vulnerability while simultaneously eroding trust. The paradox lies in our desire for connection juxtaposed against the fear of being exploited, cultivating an environment ripe for parasocial relationships.

Psychopathy emerges as a further complication in this tangled web of human relations. The psychopathic individual operates beneath a veneer of charm, exploiting weaknesses while exuding confidence. In the digital space, this blend of charisma and deceit thrives unchecked, as the disconnection from physical presence diminishes accountability. With social trust diminished, interactions become fraught with suspicion; we witness the warping of social interactions into transactions devoid of sincerity.

Ultimately, our collective psychological landscape paints a portrait of isolation rather than solidarity. As individuals retreat into their curated realities, the possibility of forging meaningful connections dwindles. Each fragmented relationship is a reminder of our vulnerability, yet paradoxically, it is in this discomfort that genuine hope flourishes—a hope that invites us to unravel the ingrained patterns that perpetuate trust's decline.

The Social Currencies of Trust and Safety

In this brave new world, trust serves as a currency, wielded or withheld depending on personal gain. With every digital interaction, a transaction unfolds; social currency exchanges hands, redefining our relational values. The stakes have never been higher, for within this shift lies the potential for profound ethical decay, driven by self-serving motives that erode the very pillars of connection.

A society that values safety must also recognize its dependence on trust, an intricate dance often undermined by social antagonism. As individuals navigate a labyrinth of relationships, the lure of self-interest becomes an oppressive force, overshadowing altruism and communal strength. The result? Individuals find themselves ensnared in a cycle of mistrust, spiraling downwards into isolation. To escape this cycle, we must confront the uncomfortable truths about our moral compasses, challenging the embellishments of our self-image against the harsh reality of our interconnectedness.

While societal discourses often echo calls for community building, the bitter reality is that trust remains a fragile concept, easily manipulated and dismantled. The undercurrent of distrust, fed by narcissistic motivations, has established an environment where personal gain reigns supreme. The sucrose allure of social media fosters a culture of parasitism, where relationships are formed and dissolved in a heartbeat, leading to an insatiable appetite for superficial connection.

For trust to flourish once more, we must commit to transparency, vulnerability, and the moral discipline required to navigate these turbulent waters. Each relationship must become a testament to our collective will to embrace the immanent discomfort of connection, urging us to linger in the tension that arises from our divided selves.

The Deterioration of Social Bonds

The historical narrative of society illustrates that bonds, once considered immutable, are now susceptible to disintegration. This deterioration is not merely a consequence of changing communication methods but rather an indictment of our moral evolution—or devolution, as the case may be. As we stand on the precipice of a new era, the absence of foundational trust threatens to rip apart the fragile seams that hold our social fabric intact.

The rise of social media platforms has opened doors to an expansive realm of connections yet has simultaneously ushered in a wave of deceitful interactions. This juxtaposition cultivates a culture in which trust is routinely betrayed, leading to a skeptical populace, incredulous toward the motives of others. These dynamics usher us further down a treacherous path, where authenticity is sacrificed at the altar of self-promotion and validation.

The pervasive nature of parasocial interactions further complicates the task of rebuilding social bonds. In these one-sided relationships, individuals invest emotionally without reciprocation, fostering a sense of attachment that distances them from genuine connections. As they cling to these illusions, they become trapped in a cycle of disappointment, burgeoned by unmet expectations of trust. The societal fabric, already frayed, bears the weight of these imbalances, accumulating layers of cynicism with each passing presence.

Ultimately, our communal experience is defined by these repurposed interactions; without conscious effort to reset these dynamics, we lose sight of the ethical lens through which we once viewed our connections. It calls for a reevaluation and commitment—not just an acknowledgment of the need for trust but an intentional practices to rebuild what has been lost. The burden rests upon all of us, urging us to challenge the status quo and reclaim the narratives that define our social existence.

Conclusion: Rediscovering Hope

As we confront the stark truths regarding trust and connectivity, we must recognize that change often rises from unsettling discontent. It is through these introspective journeys—when we allow ourselves to be genuinely unsettled—that the possibility for renewal is born. Discomfort breeds awareness, ultimately granting us the clarity to examine the morals underpinning our social institutions. To revive trust, we must first illuminate the shadows that threaten its existence, exposing the cancerous growth of narcissism and deceit.

Emerson’s resonance reverberates through time: "People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them." This profound wisdom underscores the necessity of embracing the unsettling nature of our current reality. As we navigate through uncertainty, we must not forsake our capacity for empathy; instead, we should cultivate an ardent desire for reform, instilling our interactions with the principles of honesty and ethical behavior.

As we foster these ideals, we instigate the rebirth of social trust, rekindling faith in our shared humanity. The task is arduous, but history has shown that humanity possesses an innate resilience; through the cracks of disillusionment, hope emerges not as an ephemeral notion but as a solid anchor for our collective journey ahead. Only then may we weave anew the tapestry of understanding, compassion, and trust to transcend the social malaise of our times.