#competitive society

[vcod1n]

i see a lot of people talking about how they think neil decided/knew what he'd do in this scene here

but in all honesty i think he knew as early as this scene, and any moments prior to what we're shown in the film

regardless of what media may portray, from personal experience (though i cant speak for everyone), decisions such as neil's circumstances are not thought of lightly, and take an extended era of mentally depleting decision making to even seriously consider

look at him here, the tired look in his eyes as his father praises him only when he's finally compliant with mr. perry's persistent demands

only when his father leaves do we see him alleviate that drained look—however, he does so with this off putting smile, visibly not one with genuine comfortable intent,, its dissociative, uneasy; he's thinking of his dad ('s office)

and then he sits back and really thinks about it, sort of coming back to reality with the overall atmosphere of this scene itself … he's reconsidering (as one does), maybe not taking it as seriously since he's had these thoughts for so long

and so charlie and knox and meeks all step out, confronting him about it, and of course neil talks back about talking back and such, evidently a little jealous that they're comfortable in what their parents have laid out for them—what they're able to accomplish

he's envious because, to him, their free,, free in their choices, their future, and he wants that; yet the only way in his mind to obtain that, is through death

and here, in this part, when charlie mentions the annual, neil still replies in his harsh tone about how he "doesn't give a damn about any of it," which provokes this estranged, slightly confused look amongst the boys, deeming this as something out of character for neil

withdrawal from interests and goals is a very important sign if someone is experiencing ideation, and this is exactly what neil is doing—maybe this could percieved as simply brainwashed under his father's ideals but neil being neil (the neil who specifically went against his father's wishes for his acting passions) most likely would do this,, he himself is disconnecting.

in this final part, we see that smile again, the rest of my theorized context to it shown in the background with the expressions on each of the boys faces—this isnt like neil, and therefore they're worried

lastly, before it clips away, neil switches the subject in the height of its tension, an attempt to drag away his friends' attention from his unusual behavior

he doesn't want them to know—perhaps he himself doesn't want to know, but they all do, even if only on surface level

thank you for coming to my ted talk

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Ssstandoff

While digging for dinosaurs in southern Alberta, Canada, Dr. Funston witnessed this tussle between two prairie rattlesnakes.

 by Dr. Gregory Funston

Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

[distressed-bird]

it is important that Parkour Civilization 2 is about yaoi and trust instead of classism and systematic oppression because Parkour Civilization 1 can not only be an example of the pitfalls of a rigged meritocracy but also an example of a society that has forgone the need for community, and connection and the sequel thus allows for the rediscovery and reintroduction of community and connection that will lead to a restored-to-sustainability meritocracy

[deeskip]

this is how this scene went, right?

[autisticaradiamegido]

day 226

team charge got me feeling emotions

[thirdity]

What proves problematic is not individual competition per se, but rather its self-referentiality, which escalates into absolute competition. That is, the achievement-subject competes with itself; it succumbs to the destructive compulsion to outdo itself over and over, to jump over its own shadow.

Byung-chul Han, The Burnout Society

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Andrew Perez and Adam Rawnsley at Rolling Stone:

THE CONSULTING FIRM led by Leonard Leo, the architect of the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority, has worked for billionaire Charles Koch’s political advocacy network and a dark-money group that is currently arguing a Supreme Court case designed to preempt a wealth tax, according to documents obtained by Rolling Stone. The firm even worked to promote a book by Donald Trump cronies Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie. Leo has played a central role in shifting the high court and its decisions far to the right. As former President Donald Trump’s judicial adviser, Leo helped select three of the Supreme Court’s six conservative justices. He also leads a dark-money network that boosted their confirmations and helps determine what cases the justices hear and shape their rulings. The Supreme Court connection has paid off for Leo — big time. In 2021, he was gifted control of a $1.6 billion political advocacy slush fund. Over the past decade, Leo’s dark money network has plowed more than $100 million into his for-profit consulting firm, CRC Advisors. 

Leo co-chairs the Federalist Society, the conservative lawyers network. He is also the chairman of CRC. Like many consulting firms, CRC does not publicly disclose its clients. However, several of the firm’s clients were named in resumes that applicants submitted to an online jobs bank hosted by the Conservative Partnership Institute, which accidentally left the files exposed online. One CRC employee’s 2024 resume says his clients include the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a dark-money group arguing a case before the Supreme Court this term that is designed to slam the door shut on a federal wealth tax. Experts say the case could upend the nation’s tax code.  “In the last Congress, legislation to establish a wealth tax was introduced in both the House and the Senate,” CEI wrote in its petition to the Supreme Court, adding that justices should act now to “head off a major constitutional clash down the line.” During oral arguments in December, Justice Samuel Alito presented a hypothetical where “somebody graduates from school and starts up a little business in his garage, and 20 years later, 30 years later, the person is a billionaire,” and asked whether the government “can Congress tax all of that.” According to the CRC employee’s 2024 resume, Leo’s firm has also worked for the Koch network’s political advocacy arm, Americans for Prosperity. AFP’s super PAC spent more than $40 million supporting former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s failed Republican primary campaign against Trump this election cycle. AFP’s charitable arm has supported a case at the Supreme Court this term pushing justices to block the government from influencing content moderation by social media platforms.

Rolling Stone exposes radical right-wing SCOTUS puppetmaster Leonard Leo's consulting firm CRC Advisors, whose clients were leaked online.

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Pint-sized skippers blow their sailboats along a 20-ft. course in the wading pool of a Children's Aid Society Center, July 30, 1952. Six-year-old James De Crescenze, second from right, won the annual "Bathtub Regatta" by a blow. He was named "Coxswain of the Year (Peanut Class)." Left to Right : John Giovanetti, aged nine; Carl Cunningham, six ; James De Crescenze, and Paul Rogina, six.

Photo: Dan Grossi for the AP

[rusquared]

nothing summarizes everything quite like "I Don't Know How To Explain To You That You Should Care About Other People"... almost in tears from frustration that everything, everything! boils down to that. do you care about other people or do you only consider a subset of humans to be people.

[kuntya]

This may be a moment of weakness, but I'm starting to have more sympathy with female separatists.

"Women are people and deserve the same rights as you" didn't work. The first generation of men to see first-hand that equal rights means they won't get a wife/mommy/slave went hard right.

50% of marriages end in divorce. 70% of divorces are initiated by women. For every 2 divorced men who want to remarry, there's only 1 divorced woman who wants to remarry. 1/3 of men 18 - 24 haven't had sex in the last year.

Men are better off with you barefoot and pregnant. And they know it.

The incentives and opportunities for men to enslave women are just too strong. I don't know what to do about this.

[sugarpasteltmnt]

I come bearing amenities for our little AU competition. Good luck ;)

- REBOOT: Second Chance AU Donnie

LOOOOL i love him and his purple flannel i trust him 💜

catch TNV Donnie taking interest and Mikey and Raph just might let him do it if it means defeating 'Void'

[notquitesiblingsshowdown]

The Not Quite Siblings Showdown!

Do you have a duo or set of characters that aren't quite siblings, but have a sibling-like dynamic? Whether or not they are actually related in any way, they are canonically just friends, or it's a silly goofy headcanon you just have? So they aren't quite siblings but they are practically are and are close enough to where they are such to you at least? Well then this is the tournament for you!

Some ground rules before nominations!

As much as I love canonical adopted or step-siblings, they do not count for this tourney! Those would fit in the catagory of YES THESE ARE DEFINATELY SIBLINGS. This is for sets that might not be canonically siblings but they have a sibling dynamic and that means the world to you and they are siblings to you!!!

Only nominate a contestant once per person! By that I mean each of you can only nominate one specific person one time, you can nominate multiple contestants in different submissions, No cheating!

That being said odds are I’ll only include up to 64 characters

Those being said I am going to limit it to 2-3 sets from one source

Any harassment or vitriol will be met with a a soft block for 24 hours before a permanent one if it continues and repeated vitriol towards an opponent will be liable to disqualification or being forced onto a team with their opponent.

Also being said. If anyone comes onto this blog and talks about shipping any of these sets, that means in the rbs or in asks and stuff, they will be blocked from this blog.

This is silly little tumblr poll do NOT take this too seriously! It's all for fun!

There will be some Automatically getting ins but I am not going to say who because I would like to see if they end up getting nominations!

Fictional Characters ONLY will be allowed in the tourney!

Nominations will be open till April 15th!

NOMINATE HERE

ib: @mad-scientist-showdown @siblingtournament @siblingshowdown @the-nobody-tournament @titular-twins-tournament @trioswag-competition @redhairswagtournament @redandgreenpoll

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A Malabar giant squirrel devours a jackfruit, breaking past the prickly exterior

By Dr SS Suresh 

British Ecological Society photography competition

[beautiful-boy-bracket]

major bracket, round 3

[73647e]

at the beginning of the movie, neil really is just starting at todd with heart eyes thinking,“i can fix him” when he is much much worse

[gwandas]

If I had a nickel for every time someone wrote an entire essay in response to a two sentence post I wrote I would I have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s very funny every time I get a nickel