#conflict resolution for a modern era

[vesselsart]

I wanted to get your advice on something, it might be kinda weird but you seems to have good friends and I have nobody else to really ask.

So a few years I used to have a friend who I was really close with and I cared about them a lot and I thought that they felt the same way.

But after a few years of hanging out most days, we drifted apart slowly until they completely out of the blue stopped talking to me and started talking about me on social media, really negatively and talking about me like I was a terrible person when I don’t understand what I did that made them hate me so much. (I’m autistic so maybe I missed something but I was never rude or mean or anything).

Do you have any advice?

Hi!! I will give my thoughts on this situation, but I do want to preface it by saying that it is entirely my opinion and that my knowledge on the circumstances are very limited and subjective!

First things first, I presumably don't know you, or the person that you are discussing, so I'm not well positioned to speak on the nature of your friendship. That being said, I would advise caution against making any assumptions that they didn't feel the same way as you during your friendship. If you guys were talking regularly and what have you, I'm sure that they cared for you in a similar vein to how you cared for them! Just becuase the nature of a relationship changes over time, that doesn't diminish the strength of it as it was in the past!

Another thing that I think it's important to remember is that relationships do change over time, and this is normal and okay. People grow and change, people's lives change, and people drift - everything is an ebb and flow, and that's healthy and okay. It doesn't mean that it's not difficult when relationships change, and it doesn't diminish any upset (or other feelings) that might accompany its changing. Things are just a tide.

As for the talking negatively about you and being unkind about you online, that's difficult and I'm sorry that that's something you've been experiencing. Without knowing the nuances and specifics of the situation, I will do my best to try to give some helpful advice. The first option is ultimately to make good use of blocking their accounts, if the things that they are saying are actively harming you, or are something you are seeking out as a means of harming yourself. You are not responsible for someone else's behaviour, but you are responsible for how you engage with their behaviour. It might be good to just limit your access to their words if they are hurting you. Another option, depending on your mindset and comfort level, is to potentially open up a conversation with this person and ask for some clarity on the situation. If you're not sure what lead to their behaving this way, it might be helpful to ask them and try to understand. I would say that if that's something you are open to, try to be empathetic, gentle, and understanding, rather than having it be more of a fight or something bitter, and if it does turn in that direction, potentially disengage at that point. (If engaging with this person would be dangerous and/or detrimental to your health and well being, I absolutely do not suggest taking this option)

What the majority of my advice on things would boil down to is this - you are (presumably) an adult, with the capacity to navigate situations in a responsible and mature way. Have empathy for yourself and for them, and don't intentionally harm either party in any capacity, and you should be okay. I hope that things work out in a way that serves you well <3

[planet-gay-comic]

Make Love not War

Historical Peace Movements and the Ongoing Relevance of War and Peace Since antiquity, philosophers and state leaders have grappled with the concepts of war and peace. Early on, thinkers like Plato and Aristotle recognized the destruction that wars can bring and advocated for peace as the ideal state for humanity. In the Middle Ages, the Church played a significant role in promoting ideas of peace, including through the 'Peace of God movement', which aimed to minimize wars among Christians.

The modern era saw the emergence of organized peace movements, particularly in the 19th century, when societies such as the American Peace Society and the British Peace Society were founded. These organizations advocated for the peaceful resolution of international disputes and laid the groundwork for later international cooperation to prevent conflicts.

The 1960s: A Turning Point The 1960s marked a high point of peace movements, driven by the shadow of the Cold War and the fear of nuclear annihilation. In the UK, this led to the founding of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in 1958, whose peace symbol became a global sign of resistance against war. In the USA, the Vietnam War mobilized wide sections of the population, especially young people and students, who through organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and others, initiated massive protests and demonstrations against the war.

The Carnation Revolution: A Peaceful Overturn A prominent example of a successful and predominantly peaceful revolution is the Portuguese Carnation Revolution of 1974. This revolution not only ended nearly five decades of dictatorship in Portugal but also inspired movements worldwide that saw changes could be achieved through nonviolent means. The soldiers who carried carnations in their gun barrels became a lasting symbol of peaceful change and demonstrated that the military can play a constructive role in promoting democracy and human rights.

Current Situation: War and Peace in the 21st Century Today, at a time when conflicts are increasing in many parts of the world, the issue of war and peace remains of crucial importance. Regional conflicts, the risk of escalation of violence, and the humanitarian crises caused by wars call on us to learn from history and strengthen active peace efforts. The lessons from movements like the Carnation Revolution and the protests of the 1960s show that societal and international pressure can be crucial in bringing about political changes and securing peace in the long term.

Base image generated with DALL-E, overworked with SD-1.5/SDXL inpainting, manual editing and composing.

[samasmith23]

G. Willow Wilson's reinvention of Ares for the modern era in Wonder Woman: The Just War

I've gotta say, I found G. Willow Wilson's unique interpretation of Ares in "The Just War" arc of her Wonder Woman run to be really intriguing from both a characterization & thematic standpoint!

Throughout the opening arc of her Wonder Woman run, Wilson portrays the Ancient Greek God of War as struggling to adapt to warfare of the modern era, fearing that he is destined to become a forgotten relic of history like several other conquerors and tyrants have become. While this leads to Ares' deciding to reform by now aligning himself with the victims rather than perpetuators of warfare, Wonder Woman (aka Diana Prince) immediately recognizes that Ares is still beholden to his antiquated perceptions of war.

This inherent contraction in Ares' alleged change of heart is expertly communicated sudden intervention in a civil war between the U.S. backed fictional Eastern European nation of Durovnia and its oppressed Indigenous ethnic population. While Ares claims to be "standing up for what is right even when the world would rather look away," the God of War engages in multiple war crimes including the deliberate targeting of civilians on the opposing side of the conflict, as well as the attempted assassination of the corrupt Durovnian prime minister. Conversely, Diana recognizes that Ares' acts of retributive justice will only serve to endanger the lives of Durovnia's ethnic minorities by "creating a blood feud that will last a generation," and instead actively seeks to diplomatically resolve the conflict by advocating for a ceasefire & peace negotiations.

Diana's efforts to find a peaceful resolution effectively serve to help expose the underlying hypocrisy behind the supposed "justness of [Ares'] deeds." Despite his newfound proclamations of wanting to oppose tyranny, the "reformed" Ares repeatedly demonstrates communicates through his actions that he cares not for the justice of the victims of warfare, but rather for his own personal glory & immortality. Essentially, Ares is ultimately no different than the interventionist U.S. military whom Diana rightfully criticized earlier in the storyline for its blind support the oppressive Durovnian government simply to protect America's international interests. Furthermroe, Ares' self-centered intervention in the Durovnian Civil War feels distressingly relevant due to its parallels with modern real-life wars that America has negatively influenced such as both the Israel-Palestine conflict & the Syrian Civil War (the latter of which directly coincided with the release of "The Just War" arc back in 2018).

In large measure, the portrayal Ares in G. Willow Wilson's Wonder Woman run provides as a uniquely fresh interpretation of one of Diana's long-time enemies. By throwing the literal Ancient Greek God of War into a setting eeriley reminescent of various contemporary real-life conflicts, Wilson effectively utilizes "The Just War" arc to explore complex themes about modern warfare, anti-interventionalism, and the meaning of true justice.

From Wonder Woman (2016) #58-62 by G. Willow Wilson, Cary Nord & Xermancio.

[reyaint]

history of HAIQIN | part X: modern era

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date: october 12, 2024. I have a dialectical journal due on the 15 when fall break ends. actually gonna lose it.

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The Modern Era (1980s-Present)

Modern Government & Diplomacy:

Global Influence

Neutrality as a Diplomatic Tool:

Haiqin has perfected the art of neutrality, using it not only to avoid military entanglements but to position itself as a diplomatic hub. The country plays a key role in mediating between powers in global conflicts, regional South Asian tensions, European and American issues, and East Asian territorial disagreements. Additionally, Haiqin has hosted negotiations between superpowers, ensuring peaceful resolutions in situations involving complex geopolitical rivalries. Haiqin’s neutral position allows it to act as a safe intermediary for humanitarian ceasefire agreements and non-governmental organizations.

International Organizations:

Haiqin’s representatives have held leadership positions in various international organizations, including serving on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member multiple times. The nation is also part of organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, where it promotes policies on equitable economic growth and sustainable development. Haiqin spearheads climate change discussions, advocating for stronger emissions regulations and funding for green technology development in developing nations.

Membership in International Organizations:

Beyond the UN and WTO, Haiqin has also taken leadership roles in climate action groups such as the Paris Agreement coalition and environmental sustainability pacts. Its position in the OECD has allowed it to participate in policy-making around economic growth, sustainability, and international tax reform, using its influence to promote eco-friendly practices and digital innovations across borders.

Strategic Alliances:

Despite its neutrality, Haiqin has formed strategic alliances with nations such as Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada. These alliances are based on shared values of environmental sustainability, human rights, and technological innovation. These relationships have bolstered Haiqin’s influence in international environmental summits like COP, where it frequently serves as a mediator between major world powers. Even while neutral, they have one of the strongest militaries.

In recent years, Haiqin has strengthened ties with countries in Northern Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, focusing on creating a global "Green Alliance" promoting renewable energy and sustainable industrial practices. Its strategic partnerships focus on technological innovation, intellectual property agreements, and knowledge exchange in science and education. These partnerships extend to cooperative space research initiatives, placing Haiqin at the forefront of cutting-edge satellite technology and space exploration.

The Military:

While Haiqin advocates for peace, it maintains one of the world’s most advanced and well-equipped military forces, particularly in the fields of cyber defense and intelligence. Haiqin’s military is recognized for its rigorous training in both conventional combat and modern cyber-warfare techniques. Specialized units focus on counter-terrorism, environmental protection, and strategic disaster responses. Military service remains voluntary but highly prestigious, with many youth aspiring to join due to the opportunities it offers in education, training, and post-service careers. Also many snipers are woman, so yeah.

Diplomacy & Neutrality

Mediation Efforts:

Haiqin's diplomats are often called upon to mediate some of the world's most complex conflicts. A notable instance was the 1998 Haiqin-brokered peace agreement between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which brought about a temporary ceasefire and facilitated humanitarian aid in the region. Haiqin has also mediated North Korean and South Korean negotiations in partnership with international powers, reinforcing its role as a stabilizing force.

Bridge Between Cultures:

Cultural exchange remains a key strategy in Haiqin's diplomatic toolkit. The government sponsors international art exhibitions, theater tours, and music festivals to foster goodwill with other nations. Haiqin's rich blend of Greek and Native influences, along with its modern artistic contributions, gives it unique cultural appeal. Educational exchange programs have also blossomed, sending young Haiqin students to study abroad while welcoming international students into Haiqin universities.

Crisis Response:

Haiqin was among the first countries to offer medical and logistical aid to struggling nations. It shipped millions of units of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and vaccines to over 30 countries. This led to a boost in its global reputation as a humanitarian leader and reaffirmed its commitment to global health.

The government has established a rapid response team trained to deal with various crises, including natural disasters, refugee situations, and health emergencies, reflecting its commitment to global humanitarian efforts.

Cultural Diplomacy:

With Haiqin’s unique blend of Native and Greek heritage, the nation actively promotes its art, cuisine, and traditions across the globe. Through international festivals, Haiqin exports its cultural products while supporting collaborations in theater, dance, and film with major cultural centers in Paris, Tokyo, and New York.

Societal Changes:

Technology and Innovation

Renewable Energy Leadership:

In the 1990s, Haiqin underwent a massive transformation in its energy sector. Inspired by its cultural reverence for nature, the government launched the "Green Future Initiative," which sought to transform Haiqin into one of the most energy-efficient nations in the world. By 2010, Haiqin had achieved near-total reliance on renewable energy, with solar and wind farms scattered across the country’s landscapes. Hydroelectric dams tap into the nation’s many rivers, and cutting-edge geothermal plants have been established in the mountainous regions. Haiqin has also become a global exporter of green technologies, particularly in the development of low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels.

Haiqin’s innovation in renewable energy is unmatched. By 2030, it aims to power 90% of its domestic energy consumption through renewable sources. It has developed state-of-the-art solar farms and off-shore wind turbines, some of which are the largest in the world. The country exports its renewable energy technologies, helping nations transition to cleaner energy systems.

Environmental Protection Initiatives:

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Haiqin has established numerous protected areas, wildlife reserves, and national parks. These spaces not only conserve biodiversity but also reflect the nation’s ongoing effort to preserve the natural beauty that plays a central role in its identity. Government programs offer incentives for green businesses, and the country has enacted strict environmental laws aimed at minimizing pollution and encouraging ecological responsibility.

Education and Healthcare Investment:

The Haiqin government invests heavily in education and healthcare, aiming for a balanced society where citizens can thrive. Schools emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and emotional well-being, ensuring that students receive a holistic education that prepares them for the future.

Advancements in Bioengineering:

Haiqin’s universities are world-renowned for their research programs, especially in bioengineering, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. Government incentives encourage collaboration between academic institutions and private companies, fostering an ecosystem where breakthrough technologies in medical science, especially regenerative medicine and bioprinting, are regularly produced.

Digital Media:

In the 2000s, Haiqin became a hub for digital innovation, particularly in the realms of film, music, and video game production. The country's tech scene flourished, with startups leading advances in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and bioengineering. Many tech conglomerates now have headquarters in Haiqin, making it a focal point for digital media production globally.

In the 21st century, Haiqin emerged as a leading force in the digital media space. Homegrown tech firms have developed some of the most popular social media platforms, while the country's gaming industry has achieved global renown. Government-supported programs encourage innovation in tech and arts, leading to groundbreaking developments in virtual reality and digital art. Haiqin's startups frequently collaborate with international firms, cementing its reputation as a technological and creative powerhouse.

Technological Hub:

Haiqin’s cities, particularly Nirin and Pylos, have become vibrant hubs of technological innovation, earning the nickname "Silicon Valley." The government’s significant investment in education and technology in the 1980s paid off by the early 2000s, as startups and major tech companies began to flourish. Key sectors include bioengineering, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digital media. Collaboration between Haiqin’s universities and international institutions led to groundbreaking advances in biotechnology, with Haiqin becoming a leader in medical research and the development of genetically engineered crops that are now widely used across the globe.

Cultural Fusion

Architectural Harmony:

The modern cities of Haiqin reflect a seamless fusion of old and new. In the capital city of Stellis, ancient temples stand in harmony beside sleek, futuristic skyscrapers. Architects have paid homage to traditional styles, incorporating elements such as stone carvings, intricate mosaics, and decorative columns into modern buildings. In many urban developments, public spaces include green areas, drawing from both Native and Greek traditions that emphasize a deep connection to nature. This fusion is also seen in residential housing, with new eco-friendly technologies built into homes inspired by traditional Haiqin designs, featuring wide courtyards and terraced gardens.

Haiqin's cities reflect a fascinating combination of ultra-modern architecture and ancient influences. Towering glass skyscrapers are integrated with centuries-old buildings, blending Greek-inspired columns with traditional Native designs, creating an aesthetic harmony of old and new.

Cultural Integration:

Despite modernization, Haiqin remains deeply connected to its cultural roots. Festivals celebrating historical events and cultural milestones are widespread, with both rural and urban areas participating. Traditional music, dances, and rituals are commonly performed, keeping ancient customs alive. However, these celebrations have also embraced modern artistic forms, such as digital art and contemporary music. Art installations and interactive performances blending tradition and technology are a highlight of these festivals, illustrating the nation's ability to preserve its past while embracing the future.

Art and Music Scene:

Haiqin is home to a thriving creative arts scene. The government actively supports artists, musicians, filmmakers, and playwrights, making Haiqin a cultural hub that attracts global attention. Haiqin's film industry has produced several award-winning movies, often telling stories that draw from the nation’s mythology, history, and unique blending of cultural influences. Similarly, musicians from Haiqin are known for blending traditional instruments with modern sounds, creating a genre often referred to as "Neo-Classical Fusion." International music festivals held in Primos and Naidya attract thousands of artists and spectators each year, placing Haiqin on the world map for both traditional and contemporary artistic expression.

The Haiqin art scene has exploded in the digital age, with a new wave of artists creating interactive digital installations and virtual reality art. Music festivals like "The Resonance Festival" attract international artists and music lovers from around the globe, blending traditional Haiqinese music with modern genres like EDM and indie rock. This blend of traditional and contemporary is also seen in cinema, where Haiqin filmmakers are recognized at international film festivals for their innovative storytelling, merging mythological elements with modern themes.

Modern Society:

Cultural Identity and Pride

Preservation of Heritage:

In response to the rapid changes brought by globalization, Haiqin has doubled down on the preservation of its heritage. The government funds cultural preservation projects aimed at safeguarding the nation’s languages, art forms, and historical sites. Museums and cultural centers are abundant, and children are taught the nation’s history from a young age, fostering a deep sense of identity and pride in their cultural roots.

Pride in Heritage:

Haiqin's citizens take immense pride in their cultural heritage. Educational institutions emphasize the importance of local history, folklore, and traditional arts, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their roots. This cultural pride manifests in community events, where local artisans showcase their crafts and traditions.

Education and Family Values:

Haiqin's education system is widely regarded as one of the most progressive in the world, focusing not only on academic success but also on emotional well-being and creativity. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, global awareness, and environmental stewardship. Families play a vital role in the educational system, with parents heavily involved in their children’s academic lives. Traditional family values are emphasized alongside modern ideas of personal growth and mental health, creating a balanced approach to parenting.

Festivals and Community Celebrations:

Traditional festivals such as the “Harvest Moon Festival” and the “Festival of Winds” bring together Haiqin’s past and present. These events are occasions for the display of martial arts, traditional music, and culinary art. Contemporary cultural celebrations, such as film and music festivals, also play an important role, attracting international tourists and boosting local economies. Art exhibitions featuring both historical artifacts and modern creations are common, and these events foster community bonding while preserving cultural identity.

Military:

Veterans in Haiqin receive some of the most comprehensive benefits globally, ensuring they are well-supported in retirement and honored for their service. Many veterans transition into leadership roles in government, NGOs, and private sectors, particularly in industries related to security, disaster relief, or humanitarian work. The military also collaborates with civilian industries in developing technology for public use, fostering strong ties between the defense sector and national growth.

Artisans and Entertainment

Cultural Powerhouse:

The modern era has seen Haiqin's entertainment industry gain significant international acclaim. Musicians, filmmakers, and digital artists from Haiqin have made a global impact, often collaborating with foreign artists in cross-cultural projects. Festivals such as the Nirin Film Festival and the National Music Expo are renowned platforms for showcasing new talent and encouraging artistic exchange.

Festivals and Celebrations:

Haiqin has emerged as a cultural force in the world of entertainment. Its film industry, often referred to as "Haiqinwood," produces films that mix philosophical storytelling with visual mastery. These films often reflect the nation’s cultural diversity and moral neutrality, offering unique narratives on global issues.

Integration of Arts in Education:

Arts are woven into the very fabric of Haiqin’s education system, where schools offer specialized programs in music, theater, dance, and visual arts. This emphasis on creativity has resulted in a vibrant national arts scene, with young talents being nurtured from an early age and provided with platforms to showcase their work. Many schools encourage artistic collaboration, fostering the next generation of creative thinkers who will shape the cultural landscape of the nation.

The arts are not just a hobby in Haiqin—they are an integral part of the education system. From primary school to university, students are exposed to music, dance, theater, and visual arts, fostering creativity and cultural pride. This has led to the country producing internationally-renowned artists, filmmakers, and writers who continuously push the boundaries of their crafts.

Nonlethal Duels in Nirin

Hanging Crescent Moon Arena:

The Hanging Crescent Moon Arena is more than just a site for nonlethal duels—it has become a cultural icon. Every year, the nation hosts the “Crescent Games,” a series of competitions where participants display their mastery of traditional martial arts in non-lethal combat. These duels emphasize discipline, skill, and respect, celebrating the nation’s warrior roots while promoting nonviolence. The military units in Nirin also train in the arena for certain types of combat.

Cultural Significance:

Nonlethal dueling is more than just a sport; it is a cultural symbol of Haiqin’s values of fairness, discipline, and respect. Fighters wear traditional garb representing their regional and cultural backgrounds, and the duels themselves are often accompanied by ceremonial music and dancing. The competitions are a powerful reminder of Haiqin’s rich martial history, which has evolved into a peaceful and respected modern tradition.

−adding this since I'm probably scripting I'm from Nirin since this is the MOST I've put into any of the 10 provinces (blame my hyper fixation on GHOSTBLADE by WLOP)

[thana-topsy]

I’m infinitely fascinated by the falmer in Halfway to the Sky, I really want to know more about your ideas for their culture etc

Thank you so much anon! I kind of had to sit with this one, since I don't really have a lot of my Falmer headcanons written out or in one place as it stands. Before writing their introduction in Halfway to the Sky, I began by researching modern isolated tribes and what first contact with those tribes looked like and, surprise surprise, humans are pretty universal in a lot of ways. I try to apply the same to the Falmer. In true form, I started writing my thoughts down and it got a little long, so I went ahead and turned it into a scholarly pamphlet written (with the help of a sighted-person) by none other than the budding expert on the subject of Falmeri cultural exchange: Sarel of Winterhold. (No real spoilers for HttS, just hints and nods). Sorry, again, this got LONG.

[PAMPHLET ONE] An Introduction to the Modern Falmer: Social Structure, Family, and Trade By Sarel of Winterhold, transcribed by co-researcher and Dwemer scholar Aicantar

Quite possibly the most misunderstood nation of our modern era is that of the Falmer, living quietly beneath the surface of Skyrim and no doubt beneath the other provinces of Tamriel. The Falmeri diaspora after the disappearance of the Dwemer is still very much a mystery with little written documentation following the dubiously researched and far-too-often quoted ‘War of the Crag’. (My thoughts on that to come). However, through my years of close contact with several of the Skyrim tribes, and with the aid of my research partner (who is currently assisting in my transcription of this document), we have managed to construct a rough timeline of events based on the Falmer’s oral history provided to us, as well as a basic understanding of their culture and practice.   

SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND FAMILY

As it stands, I would classify Skyrim Falmer as a nation of loosely associated tribes. There is no centralized ruling body, but there is a clear social structure found repeated among the independent tribes. The structure is as follows:

There is a Matriarch, usually the eldest member of the tribe, almost always female (with some exceptions), whose duties are similar to that of a Jarl, though she acts as more of a spiritual/religious leader as well. She is a magic user first and foremost, and has received the “Gifts of the Old Masters” (see: Tonal Architecture; pamphlet 3) as part of her necessary requirements for the role. 

Beneath the Matriarch, there are the Time-Keepers. Time-Keepers are strictly biologically female and count the passing of the months based on their menstruation cycles. There is usually one assigned Time-Keeper with several young females under her tutelage, who are prepared to take over her role when she enters menopause. Time-Keepers may take lovers, but they do not bear children, and to bear a child as a Time-Keeper is seen as breaking a very serious vow. Typically, the Time-Keeper and her charges live together and operate as a small familial unit. The Time-Keeper may have duties outside of this role, often falling again into the realm of magic-users (alchemy, healing, enchanting, etc.). 

Beneath the Time-Keeper is the Lead Warrior (Aicantar note: the title of this role is pending, but we really can’t come up with a better description). He is almost always male (with some exceptions) and rules the warrior class. This domain includes tribal protection, boundary claims, territorial acquisition, and conflict resolution.    

The Matriarch, the Time-Keeper, and the Lead Warrior are the typical ruling tribunal of the Falmeri tribe. They often hold council with one another, though the Time-Keeper and Lead Warrior act as advisors to the Matriarch, who will usually have the final say in any decision.

The other tribal roles include those who raise and farm the chaurus; craftsmen who construct the weapons, tools, and armor from the harvested chaurus; those who roam in order to gather resources; those who raise children; and those who attend to the infrastructure of the settlement. The Falmer tend not to designate these roles based on sex or gender, though there is a noticeable skew that tends to occur in terms of female members rearing children with male members preferring to roam or hunt, but there is no discernable taboo if a male member wishes to raise a child or a female prefers the life of a warrior. (Gender and sexuality among the Falmer is a topic for another time).

The Falmer do not have traditional family structures, but tend towards communal child-rearing. There is an unfortunately high infant mortality rate due to the hostile environment and the increased chance of infection due to chaurus farming, and because of this fact most Falmer children are not given a name until after their first birthday has passed. Mothers keep their children bound to their chests, and many will often cycle newborns between one another to prevent breastfeeding fatigue. Once children have safely passed the stages of infancy, they are reared in groups, taught basic social and crafting skills, and generally kept safely in the confines of the settlement until they are of age to begin contributing to the function of the tribe. 

TRADE

Most Dwemer scholars know well that nearly all Dwarven settlements are connected via long tunnels, running like arteries to the “heart” of Skyrim: Blackreach. Blackreach is the closest approximation to a cultural hub for the Falmer tribes, acting as a centralized marketplace for trade and commerce. Goods from the overworld make their way down to Blackreach usually through scavenging bandit camps or any scholars brave enough to make their way deeper into the Dwarven ruins. I will not deny that many have met their untimely demise at the hands of the Falmer. They are fiercely protective of their tribes, and scouts will not hesitate to kill intruders without a second thought. I hope to work with some of the tribes to change this deeply ingrained instinct of isolation and mistrust, but the denizens of the overworld must also play their own part in seeking peace over violence. A “two-way street”, as my father used to say.  

The Falmer of Blackreach have been known to deal in the slave trade, both of other Falmer and any poor outsiders who do not manage to properly defend themselves. This has presented a unique circumstance in which overworld culture and language have been adapted into the Falmer’s culture. It is not as unlikely as many might think to find a Falmer with a rudimentary grasp of the Cyrodilic or Norse languages. I’ve even met one who spoke with the most peculiar Daggerfall accent after taking a former slave as his wife.

I understand that it is not my place to interfere with the nature of the Blackreach slave trade, (Aicantar note: I have had to remind Sarel on multiple occasions that I would prefer not to die over the matter), though I do not condone it and feel very uncomfortable with its continued practice. Abolitionist movements exist within individual settlements, and there are certain Matriarchs who disavow the practice altogether. So I’m relegated to the position of scholar and observer, though I do what I can to preach the philosophy of self-governance. But, as with the cultures of the surface, opinions vary and wars rage between tribes over such debates. Thus is the nature of man and mer, I suppose, as much as it pains me.

In the next pamphlet, we will cover the etymology of the modern Falmer language, the various dialects used between tribes, and the “trade language” of Blackreach. Future pamphlets will include religious practices, funerary rites, the re-appropriation of Tonal Architecture, and the unique properties of Falmeri alchemy.

[thornswoggled]

you know what it is. 106 stream of consciousness. lets go

WOW ok just by the thumbnail alone im surprised. i did NOT think we were gonna get to see the rest of hildas scene with lindel so soon. like i had no earthly clue where this chapter was going to start up

chapter title lindel feels very reminiscent of ch1 "future chise" illus

"misery makes strange bedfellows." hmmmm. all small caps too for some reason

yamazaki prepping us to view lindel as a secondary antagonist by drawing his face in shadow like every other frame

ARE THOOOOOOSE FUCKIIIIING DWAAAAARRVES????????? HELLOOOOOOO???????

why did we not meet these thangs the first two times they went to iceland. maybe she decided to add a little spice

oh my god missing subtitles. literal empty bubbles. comicgrowl needs to be dealt with. severely

more talk of eggs and chicks. which could mean nothing

looking at the slider.... this is another slightly longer chapter. huge for a guy like me

OMG we get to see what happened that time rahab summoned them oooooooooo

lindels shirt in this scene is really cunty. sorry. who said that

"this is the 2000s era" ok so we are still playing coy with what year it is. probably a good idea

"my first time meeting the current you." so yamazaki is weaving in the concept that rahab can meet people on different parts of their timeline. which feels a little op and a good deus ex for conflict resolution but thats my own personal beef with timeline fuckery as a plot device

wadda hell. this dragon hatched fully fledged like a damn bulnosaur

ohhhh this dragon is the one flying behind lindel in that one color spread for arc 3. the one i captioned with "whatever. go my dragon"

adolfs protestation about magic is like. yes. i agree. because tamb does not have a robust magic system and its attempts to form a solid action-based plot are largely impotent, which is FINE, we are here for character development anyway. i once made a webcomic with the same problems so i dont mean to throw stones in glass houses but like. yeah the distinction between mages and alchemists and how magic works is not something i have ever been sold on

great callback to chise summoning those wasps in arc 1. i enjoy seeing a scene from the early chapters reimagined in the modern art style. tangent, but in the supplements the note for that scene was something like "chise has never seen this kind of bug in real life so she probably remembered it from a nature documentary"

pokemon-ass messaging here. fucking catch em all

just now noticing the twins got their hair swoop from hilda

"i managed to avoid lying." i was about to ask how exactly he lied but then skipped ahead and read the answer whoops

lindel hurrying hilda out the door but he doesnt even know what she came here for yet. like she didnt get to tell him about the red dragon yet LOL

im also just now realizing that the dragon we saw at the end of 105 was the dragon adolf hatched and not the dragon that cursed chise. ok 🧍‍♂️

"they even forbade me from speaking my language" so i think lindel is implying here that hes part of the sámi people which tracks. i wonder if they were speaking one these languages when he met elias? i still dont know why lindel bothered to ask where elias came from when he could have inferred it from whatever language he spoke

adolf explicitly states that he left germany before ww2 which i think was very funny on yamazakis part (DO NOT GET IT TWISTED, she said, HE IS NOT A NAZI) but at the same time. why was he fleeing british soldiers. maybe they just assumed he was a nazi cuz of his name and accent. idk

ok so its time to go back to school already. silky being convinced that theyll be stuck there for months again is. so funny

"do you think we can ask the college to send letters for us" what do you mean by that. does the college not give you the means to send mail. are you expected to just use the royal mail. why arent you using royal mail anyway. hello

ok so she stomps on the floor and a new door springs up. it looks like an exterior door based on the lock. is this a sort of uhhhh howls moving castle/witch hat atelier windowway sort of situation. is silky going to break into the college so she doesnt have to miss her kid. she looks so stupidly nefarious i know the reason she looks so creepy is going to be funny as fuck

so overall i cant say that lindel and adolf are my fav characters or that i am terribly invested in them so i dont feel i got a TON out of this chapter but i am excited with the last page we got. happy for the lindel enjoyers and the lore dump yall got. i guess im not sure what purpose this new dragon is serving either because its (probably) not related to red vs white dragon conflict. i guess you could say that its a third dragon that emphasizes the importance of choosing your own path rather than being locked in this fated cyclical battle the way the red and white dragons are, which would be in line with tambs greater themes. like a third choice, i guess. adolf is also shaping up to be in a similar position to chise - that is, he has a unique relationship with magic, and his master has to lie for him so he wont be unduly researched lol. i am interested to see how much time we will see chise actually studying or being in class considering all the other things shes now expected to be responsible for. her ass is not studying 💯💯💯

[mariacallous]

The title card that opens 1979’s original Mad Max places the action in a very near future, looming just “a few years from now.” George Miller’s cult action-thriller captured the edginess of a world teetering on the brink. The film depicts a not-quite-postapocalyptic Australia, where gangs of high-octane galoots rove the roadways on motorbikes and souped-up muscle cars, attempting to outrun the last of the lead-footed policemen: Mel Gibson’s Max Rockatanksy. Revisiting the film is exceptionally rewarding—and not just because of the grit, oddball humor, and verve of Miller’s directing. It reflects something of the ambient tensions of a world of potentially perilous fuel shortages, which threatened the whole petrol-and-plastic framework of our modern world.

Miller recalls this era with no particular fondness. He remembers, in the mid-’70s, all of the gas stations in Melbourne shutting down. Save for one. The mood was sour. The tension was thick. “It only took 10 days,” Miller says, “in this very peaceful, benign city for the first gunshot to be fired. Someone got ahead of a long queue, that went on city blocks, to get fuel. If that could happen in just 10 days, what would happen in 100 days?”

Across five films, including the new Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Miller’s franchise tracks this decline. In the original picture, the world is still fairly intact. There are diners and hospitals and happy families. People even dress more or less normally. It can feel a bit like our world: one which is collapsing but hasn’t yet totally buckled. By the time of 1982’s Mad Max 2 (released in the US as The Road Warrior), any vestiges of civilization have been blown away by an accelerated period of resource warring, nuclear conflict, and ecocide. Humanity survives in clans and roving bands, dressed in feathers and dusty leathers.

By 1985’s Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, civilization relies on bartering for commerce, harvesting pig shit for methane, and conflict resolution by way of gladiatorial combat. In the smash hit 2015 long-gap sequel, Mad Max: Fury Road (which recast Rockatanksy, putting Tom Hardy in the lead), things were almost cartoonishly bad: Fertile women were ferried across vast wastelands in tanker trucks, access to fresh water was hoarded by tyrannical dictators in skeleton half-masks, and all of humanity seemed to exist in a state of berserk, whooping madness. If that first film was warning—against the fetish for speed and power, against excessively extracting precious riches from a planet that could scarcely afford to give them up—the newer pictures feel not so much prescient as present: sado-comic visions of our own maddening, resource-starved world.

The Mad Max films are driven by a guiding incoherence. They offer a critique of car culture, resource scarcity, and the very things that may well have our world motoring toward its own demise, no matter how many EVs we buy. Denizens of the desolate wastelands exalt automobiles, motorbikes, engines, and especially gasoline as fetish objects. But at the same time, the films’ pleasures are guilty of this same exaltation. The thrills derive from high-octane racing, dangerous automobile maneuvers, body-mangling crashes, and the whole vroom-vroom of it all. They’re like war movies that ask us to thrill at the violence and daring of combat, while all the while muttering, “This is actually really awful, you know.” There is no effort to reconceive a world doomed by its pathological obsession with machines chugging on crude oil. Rather, the apocalyptic backdrop only furnishes fantasies of further decline.

Perhaps it’s a mistake to take films with characters called “Pig Killer,” “Rictus Erectus,” and “Pissboy” too seriously. But the Mad Max pictures underscore a deeper absurdity that undergirds the genre of postapocalyptic, ostensibly environmentalist (or at least environmentally sympathetic) entertainments that are often referred to as eco-fictions, or cli-fi, for “climate fiction.” “The climate crisis and grotesque climate inequalities are things that we are really struggling to process,” says Hunter Vaughan, an environmental media scholar at Cambridge University. “These films are touching on our collective inability to adapt to this crisis.”

Vaughan is the author of Hollywood’s Dirtiest Secret: The Hidden Environmental Cost of the Movies. His text analyzes the environmental impact of the film industry, from early Hollywood to the present. Understanding the industry as inherently (and devastatingly) resource-reliant, he has come to view the very idea of “environmentalist movies” as a bit of an absurdity. “Films like Mad Max and Avatar,” he explains, “are just doing what Hollywood has always done, which is rely on choreographed violence and the enticement of spectacle. But they get to offset that to some degree by coming across as having some sort of environmentalist message.”

The whole notion of “cli-fi” as a genre suggests something a bit ominous: that the well-meaning parables of early climate fiction have now become subservient to the demands of the genre. Take Denis Villeneuve’s Dune pictures. While perfectly competent as pricey pieces of blockbuster cinema, they barely engage with the novel’s ecological concerns. Author Frank Herbert was originally inspired by the historical ability of certain indigenous civilizations to live in harmony in even the harshest environments—a noble idea that, in the Hollywood version, takes a backseat to woolly ideas around interstellar jihad and the sheer pageantry of the proceedings. Likewise, Mad Max's original warning siren has waned a bit, as the films developed their own generic language. The collapsing world is now just a canvas across which (wildly entertaining) action scenes unfold.

However absurd it may seem to scholars, Miller seems to come by his environmentalist sympathies honestly. Even outside of the Mad Max movies, many of his pictures touch resonant themes about global warming (Happy Feet), vegetarianism (Babe and its sequel), and the essential destructiveness of the modern world (Three Thousand Years of Longing). These realities have directly impacted his films. Fury Road’s production was long delayed, in part, because the Australian desert where Miller planned to film was suddenly swamped—a direct result of unpredictable climate patterns. “I see it myself,” the director says of climate change. “It’s all around us. I’ve seen both the hard statistics, and just in my own experience. So it can’t help but seep into the story.”

Furiosa is unique among the Mad Max films in that it offers an alternative to the arid, violent, boiling wastelands that dominate the franchise’s topography. The origin story of Charlize Theron’s fierce road warrior from Fury Road, the film opens in “the Green Place”: an Edenic garden governed by a tribe of warrior-women, which stands out as a lush oasis in the desert. For Miller, Furiosa offered an opportunity to one-up himself. Fury Road proved he could make a hit Mad Max movie without Mel Gibson. Now, he hopes to show he can make another without Max (though he does appear, very briefly). “If you just do the same thing again and again, there’s hardly any point,” he says. “There’s an inherent cynicism to it.”

Snatched from safety, Furiosa (played by Ayla Browne as a child and Anya Taylor-Joy as an adult) is raised among a motorcycle death cult, led by the madman-prophet Dementus (Chris Hemsworth, sporting an impressive prosthetic schnoz). In time, she’s traded away to Immortan Joe, Fury Road’s big bad, and learns to survive and thrive among his clan of face-painted, aerosol-huffing cultists. Building out the world of Fury Road, Furiosa traces the fragile trade dynamics between three strongman leaders, each hoarding a key resource: fresh water, fuel, and bullets. As Furiosa navigates these violent trade routes, she hatches her own plan to avenge herself on Dementus and burn rubber back to the Green Place.

In actually bothering to imagine what some alternative to the wasteland might look like, Furiosa moves past the typically narrow horizons of most cli-fi. Nicole Seymour, who teaches environmental literature at California State University, Fullerton, notes that most environmentalist narratives stop short of actually conceiving of what a new, better world might look like. “I think that would require you to do more implicating, and more work,” she says, “which no one wants to do.” She notes that most utopian environmentalist literature tends to buck the mainstream, foregrounding more diverse characters. “Do they want to make a movie about a Puerto Rican transgender person who time-travels?” she asks. “I would watch that!”

There’s a shopworn quote attributed to the late critic and theorist Mark Fisher, about how “it's easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” Certainly, in the Mad Max movies, the basic systems that led to our destruction—resource hoarding, the primacy of tribal violence, the fetish for power and speed—remain intact. The sinister logic imparted to the audience is that, well, ecocide is inevitable, and so there’s little left to do than revel, laughing mad, in the explosive spectacle of our own destruction. To which an admirer of these films (like this writer) may sensibly, or cynically, respond: OK, sure … but what a spectacle.

For his part, Miller maintains that there’s a deep humanism at the core of these films, buried beneath the scrap heaps of twisted metal. “I’ve been to places where there is a lot of trauma and poverty,” he says. “I’m always impressed by the ability for survival. This is about our survival.”

[apotheoseity]

okay i have a few questions for eversent : ). does each species faction have its own set of core values, and do they conflict with each other on that front often? or does tension arise between them for other reasons? and for the fandom: what would you consider the general fan base to be like? is there a lot of infighting? if it were a fan base on tumblr can you think of what the like. most unhinged point of discourse would be

(via @salorade )

HI THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTIONS!!

1) YES each group has their own cultural norms and ideals that can cause conflict. For example, Drakes and Unicorns are near diametrically opposed due to the former prioritizing physical attributes and sparring as conflict resolution and the latter being focused more on being intelligent and “proper” to their own standards. The major conflicts in the first couple arcs is about their political conflicts!

2) I imagine the fandom to be.. not exactly like those of WoF and Warriors but certainly adjacent to them (and not nearly as huge, given that the setting (my friend Muffet @justabunchofpineapples ‘s Woods & Wonders) has more late 90s era technology than modern day). There’s definitely infighting and discourse but anyone not in the fandom would look at it and go “??!?? Guys you’re literally arguing over funny animals rn”

I definitely think there would be discourse about how the female main character (Thorn’Seeker) is treated by fandom (I imagine reminiscent of how people were about Mabel Pines or even Rose Quartz) in that “This girl character is annoying but I looove the boy character that acts exactly the same but is a boy” way.

The shipping drama is probably pretty present, given I accidentally recreated the same dynamic as Moonwatcher/Qibli/Winter that people loved to make a fuss about… Most popular ship is probably the 2 main male (“male”) characters, Rubedo and Jackrabbit — Though, in the actual text Thorn’Seeker and Rubedo are implied to be a couple by the end of their arcs.

Kind of a wild thing but I think people would go ape crazy discourse-wise about the fact that the setting isn’t wholly Earth-adjacent and thus doesn’t have direct parallels to human cultures or races.

[byneddiedingo]

Michiko Kuwano and Shuji Sano in What Did the Lady Forget? (Yasujiro Ozu, 1937)

Cast: Sumiko Kurishima, Tatsuo Saito, Michiko Kuwano, Shuji Sano, Takeshi Sakamoto, Choko Iida, Ken Uehara, Mitsuko Yosshikawa, Masao Hayama, Tomio Aoki, Mitsuko Higashiyama. Screenplay: Akira Fushimi, Yasujiro Ozu. Cinematography: Yuharu Atsuta, Hideo Shigehara. Film editing: Kenkichi Hara. Music: Senji Ito.

The denouement of this early Ozu talkie is rather unfortunate: a man slaps his wife and makes her behave. It's a throwback to the marital dynamics of the era of domestic comedy when gags were milked from the relationship of a henpecked husband and a shrewish wife. Otherwise, What Did the Lady Forget? is an amusing glimpse at the conflict of tradition and modernity in pre-war Japan. A mild-mannered university professor (Tatsuo Saito) is married to a woman (Sumiko Kurishima) conscious of propriety and her station in society. When his modernized, free-thinking niece (Michiko Kuwano) comes to visit, the two women immediately are at odds, and the professor is caught in their conflict. It's a sly, sophisticated movie, influenced, as many have noted, by the films of Ernst Lubitsch, but with Ozu's own distinctive style prevailing, so much so that it's easy to forgive the retrograde element of the plot resolution. So what did the lady forget? It's not an easy question to answer, but some think it's the wife's failure to compromise with her husband's less restrictive view of his niece's behavior. 

[yr-obedt-cicero]

New York State Society of the Cincinnati, on the death of Alexander Hamilton

At a special meeting of the the State Society of the Cincinnati, held at Ross's Hotel in Broad-street, in the City of New-York, on Tuesday, the 17th day of July, 1804: This Society, deeply afflicted by the death of their President-General, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, and earnestly desirous of testifying the high respect they feel for his memory (bowing with submission to the mysterious Will of Heaven) and feeling the deepest affliction at an event which has deprived them of their most illustrious Member—their Country of its most enlightened and useful Statesman—and the world of one of those extraordinary Men, which ages have rarely produced; unanimously agree to the following Resolutions: I. Resolved, That a letter be drafted and addressed to the Vice-President-General of the Society, and Circular Letters to the several State Societies, announcing this sad event, the deep and universal sorrow it has occasioned in this Society, and amongst their fellow-citizens of every description; and that the Rev. Mr. Linn, General Clarkson, Mr. Dunscomb, Mr. Hardie, and Col. Platt, be a Committee to draft such letters. II. Resolved, That the said Committee draft a letter of condolence to Mrs. Hamilton, which letter and letters, when prepared, are to be signed by the President and countersigned by the Secretary of the Society. III. Resolved, That Gen. Clarkson, Mess'rs Watson and Burrel, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Mason, and request him to prepare and deliver an Oration on the 31st instant, in honour of the Talents, the Virtues, and eminent Services of that Great Man whose loss we deplore; and that the said Committee make such arrangements as may be proper on the occasion. IV. Resolved, That a Monument be erected in Trinity Church, by this Society, to the memory of Alexander Hamilton, its late President-General, with a suitable Inscription; and that Mr. Gouverneur Morris, the Rev. Dr. Linn, and Mr. Morton, be a Committee to carry this resolution into effect. V. Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be presented to Mr. Gouverneur Morris, for his prompt compliance with their wishes, in delivering an Eulogium at the Funeral Ceremonies of their deceased President-General, Alexander Hamilton. VI. Resolved, That the several Resolutions passed at this meeting, be transmitted to the Vice-President-General of the Society, and to the respective State Societies, and be also published. W. S. SMITH, President.

W. POPHAM, Secretary.

Source — Library of Congress, Digital Collections, manuscript/mixed material. Image 8 of Alexander Hamilton Papers: Family Papers, 1737-1917; 1804-1805

The New York State Society of Cincinnati - also known as The Society of the Cincinnati - is a fraternal hereditary society founded on June 9, 1783, to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. In order to perpetuate their fellowship, the founders made membership hereditary. [x] The Society has had three goals; “To preserve the rights so dearly won; to promote the continuing union of the states; and to assist members in need, their widows, and their orphans.” To achieve these aims, the Society called on its members to contribute a month's pay. George Washington was the first president general of the Society. The army's chief of artillery, Henry Knox, was the chief author of the Institution.

The organization was named after, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a farmer who left his farm to serve as a Roman Consul and Magister Populi (With temporary powers similar to that of a modern-era dictator). In response to a military emergency, he took over the city of Rome as a legitimate dictator. After the conflict, he gave the Senate back the initiative and resumed cultivating his fields. This philosophy of unselfish service is reflected in the Society's motto; He gave up everything to keep the Republic alive, or Omnia reliquit servare rempublicam.

The Society of the Cincinnati was founded by officers at the Continental Army encampment at Newburgh, like Major General Henry Knox. The first meeting of the Society was held in the May of 1783 at a dinner at the Verplanck House Fishkill, New York, (Which was Baron Von Steuben's headquarters during the Revolution) before the British evacuation from New York City. The meeting was presided over by Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, with Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton serving as the orator. The participants agreed to stay in contact with each other after the war. Mount Gulian is considered the birthplace of the Society of the Cincinnati, where the Institution was formally adopted on May 13, 1783. To this day the members of the organization meet annually at the Verplanck homestead. It is modernly known as The Mount Gulian historic site and looks very much as it did in 1783. There you will find the Cincinnati Gallery, dedicated to the New York State Society, with displays, artifacts, and documents illustrating the founding and activities of the Society during its continuous existence since 1783. Read more here.

While the NYSSOTC did erect the famous white monument on top of the grave of Hamilton, [x] in 1957 they erected another monument in Financial District in Manhattan in New York County engraved with; “To the Memory of Alexander Hamilton 1757 - 1804. Lieutenant Colonel, Aide de Camp to Gen. Washington And Those Other Officers of the Continental Army & Navy Original Members of the Society Whose Remains are Interred in the Churchyards of Trinity Parish” [x]

[timeless-fanfic]

The Outline

Title: Destined Paths

Summary

Setting: The story is set in the period shortly before Jesus begins His ministry, with the reader, a modern physician, having traveled back in time to this era. The reader has long brown hair and gold-green eyes and is initially focused on using her medical knowledge to help people while awaiting Jesus’ arrival.

Plot Overview:

Introduction:

The reader arrives in a small, ancient town with her medical knowledge and equipment from the modern world. She quickly realizes she’s been transported to a time just before Jesus begins his ministry.

She decides to set up a modest practice to help people with her medical expertise while waiting for Jesus. Her interactions with the townspeople showcase her skills and compassion.

The Unexpected Visitor:

One evening, Jesus and His disciples arrive at her door. They are tired and hungry, seeking shelter and food. The reader, startled but recognizing the significance, invites them in.

As the disciples begin to enter her home, the reader’s eyes meet Andrew’s. There is an immediate, unspoken connection between them.

Developing Bond:

The reader and Andrew begin to interact more frequently as he seeks her out for conversations. They discuss their beliefs, their different worlds, and the mysterious nature of her arrival.

Their bond deepens, not only through shared faith but also through mutual respect and admiration for each other’s strengths and values.

Challenges and Growth:

The reader struggles with the knowledge of future events, particularly those concerning Jesus’ fate. She debates whether to intervene or allow history to take its course.

Andrew faces internal conflicts about his feelings for the reader, torn between his duty as a disciple and his growing affection for her.

Revelation and Decision:

A significant event forces the reader to reveal more about her true origins and the knowledge she holds about the future.

The reader and Andrew must decide how to move forward, knowing that their paths may lead in different directions.

Climax:

Tensions rise as Jesus’ ministry gains momentum. The reader and Andrew are faced with a critical decision that could alter their destinies.

A turning point occurs, testing their faith and commitment to each other.

Resolution:

The story concludes with the reader and Andrew embracing their destinies, accepting that their paths are intertwined, even if they may not always be together.

The reader makes peace with her place in this time, finding a new purpose in her role alongside Andrew and the disciples.

Outline

Chapter 1: Arrival

The reader arrives in the ancient town and sets up her medical practice.

Chapter 2: The Unexpected Guests

Jesus and His disciples arrive at the reader’s door, leading to the first meeting with Andrew.

Chapter 3: Growing Closer

The bond between the reader and Andrew deepens through their interactions and shared experiences.

Chapter 4: Navigating Challenges

The reader grapples with the knowledge of the future, and Andrew struggles with his feelings.

Chapter 5: Understanding and Acceptance

The reader reveals her origins to Andrew, and they both come to terms with their situation.

Chapter 6: A Turning Point

A critical event tests their faith and commitment to each other.

Chapter 7: Embracing the Future

The reader and Andrew accept their intertwined destinies and find peace with their roles.

Character Development

Reader: A modern physician with a strong sense of compassion and duty. She struggles with the weight of her knowledge of the future but ultimately finds her place in this ancient time.

Andrew: One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew is depicted as kind, thoughtful, and deeply committed to his faith. He experiences inner conflict as he navigates his growing feelings for the reader.

Themes

Faith and Destiny: The story explores the concept of destiny and how faith guides the characters’ choices, even when faced with seemingly impossible situations.

Love Across Time: The bond between the reader and Andrew transcends the boundaries of time, showcasing the power of love to connect people from different worlds.

Personal Growth: Both the reader and Andrew undergo significant personal growth as they navigate their unique challenges, ultimately finding strength in their shared journey.

[retrogamingloft]

Mikie, a classic video game from 1984, was brought to life by Konami, initially gracing arcades before making its way to various home systems. Its gameplay and novel concept quickly won hearts.

Players step into the shoes of a high school student, Mikie, embarking on a quest to gather hearts across different classrooms to woo his girlfriend. The journey unfolds across diverse settings, including classrooms, a cafeteria, and a dance studio, each presenting unique challenges and adversaries.

This game is celebrated for its vibrant music and sound effects, along with the vivid graphics characteristic of its time. Mikie must skillfully dodge or incapacitate teachers, cooks, and other characters to secure all the hearts within each level to progress. The gameplay is a blend of action and strategy, requiring players to meticulously plan their movements while evading or confronting foes.

Mikie holds a special place in the realm of retro gaming, cherished for its distinctive charm and the rigor of its gameplay, epitomizing the inventiveness and pioneering spirit of the 1980s arcade era.

However, it's essential to acknowledge the game's more controversial aspects, which, through a modern lens, reveal it as an early instance of politically incorrect content in gaming.

At its launch, Mikie was part of a cultural landscape less critical of video game narratives, where the breadth of themes in entertainment encompassed those now deemed questionable or potentially harmful to impressionable audiences.

The game's core narrative, depicting a student maneuvering through school to amass hearts and ultimately elope with his girlfriend, reflects actions and attitudes now at odds with current values on education and respect for authority.

Moreover, Mikie's portrayal of conflict resolution through evasion and physical aggression—encouraging players to dispatch school staff to achieve goals—showcases a problem-solving method that diverges sharply from the conflict resolution and respect teachings emphasized in educational settings today.

Additionally, the game's focus on pursuing a romantic interest at the cost of educational disruption may appear to belittle the significance of schooling and student responsibilities.

This portrayal of a school environment, where the primary objective is to abscond with a girlfriend rather than engage in the learning process, might be construed as diminishing the value of education and respect for the educational institution.

In the current era, with a heightened focus on producing content that promotes positive values and behaviors, Mikie stands as a testament to the evolving nature of cultural perceptions and sensitivities.

While it remains an iconic piece of video game history, fondly remembered by many for its technical and creative merits, the content-related controversies it sparks continue to fuel discussions on media's influence on societal norms and behavior.

[alicesought]

{{ --OKAY But it's the CONTRAST you knOW--

There's so many parallels and contrasts like Being set in modern day instead of literally victorian london, but the way jervis perceives the gutters of Gotham parallels precisely with the rotten underbelly of London in the era his mind is always pretending to be in anyhow, and he would distort through his eyes just as Liddel does and see Gotham as this colorless, smog filled, ugly and mean reality where everyone is either malicious or apathetic. He can easily go into Wonderland and come to reality accidentally in the company of human traffickers and violent drunks much the same as Liddel in modern Gotham, I have no doubt.

And then the fact that he doesn't resent his lost innocence, he resents whats trying to tarnish what's left of it, and thoroughly believes, probably even subconsciously, that the good and just thing to do is to restore the innocence of his Wonderland-- not grow and mature in the same way Alice does. and I think that part comes from not being a teenager as well-- he's not coming of age, he's nostalgic, and he has much more experience with control over his Wonderland. So his Wonderland likely wouldn't antagonize him in that way naturally, if it does, it might even be guilt for failing to save them, seeing his imaginary friends as victims of... whatever it is that's invading his brain. it would only be oppressive toward him if the story needed him to go against his own delusions. ( Then, it very well could begin tearing his self worth down, I'm sure lol ) But I feel like that wouldn't be his end goal, he wouldn't kill any Wonderland character besides maybe some card guards or a bandersnatch. Jervis loves the characters of Wonderland, Alice Liddel is... apathetic to them often times, sometimes outright hates them. That's one major difference. If Jervis is driven to kill or hurt a Wonderland character something is very wrong. And maybe that's his conflict...

You see, he must be the lesser of two evils, because he's not a good person, and I don't feel like this story would be aiming to make him so. No, if you're going to root for him, he needs to be in the right enough to empathize but still in character. So his growth would involve being resolute, able to act on his own strange moral code in a way that gives him self respect. AND I SAW someone mention Dr. Strange could take the place of Dr. Bumby in the story-- and I am shocked I did not consider that lmao,, That could really be it tbh, a more complicated spin on what Arkham Jervis went through. A fascist scientist, intent on exterminating the mentally ill, twists jervis' perspective in a way that turns him against his fellow mad men in some feigned promise of safety and happiness in his delusions, as if something is keeping him complacent, but he feels this itch of wrongness from it and just can't be happy, and he has to realize that his desire for escapism and avoidant personality has nearly driven him to acting exactly opposite to his own principles as someone who sees madness as a virtue. So he isn't unravelling his Wonderland delusion, he's solving the mystery that all the conflict he's imagining is a distraction-- or worse, maybe some characters of Wonderland represent other rogues and he's accidentally doing Strange's dirty work and harming-- and so he has to find out who he actually needs to fight.

Rambling rambling rambling, throwing out random thoughts, this has been one long run on sentence, only barely coherent, but I'm done-- }}

[starryeyes2000]

The Road Back: Chapter 40

The Dud

Read on AO3 or FFN

Rating: Teen

Pairings: Christopher Pike x OFC (Aalin)

Word Length: 3.2k

Summary: Once the physical injuries from Talos healed, Chris resolutely moved on resuming a casual social life. When he met someone who called to his heart and each time the moment was right to become lovers he pulled back. Unwilling to trust himself. Unsure if the attraction and his feelings were real. Torn between desire and self-protection. For the Talos incident was more than kidnapping, imprisonment, and mind-control. It was a violation of the deepest and most intimate kind. And perhaps there was no way back.

Excerpt:

Years Ago

The decades following the end of the Earth-Romulan conflict proved an era of prosperity for the alpha and beta quadrants as well as the Orion arm of the galaxy. After the armistice, war allies, Earth, Vulcan, Andor, and Tellar, formalized their coalition by establishing the United Federation of Planets, creating a shared executive, legislature, judiciary, and currency. The sovereign states of this union also acted in common. For its constituents, governing would be local and central, all bound by commitments to share knowledge and resources, to conduct fair trade, to guarantee and further the universal rights of all sentient life while respecting the beliefs, social forms, and material traits of every group.

A constitution was written codifying these rights. Starfleet was chartered for mutual defense and exploration. Other species petitioned for inclusion and at a rapid pace this confederation expanded in membership and territory.

Not all within the Federation’s protection experienced this prosperity. Or safety. There were biases for the founding members and those species possessing abundant quantities of natural resources underpinning modern life, such as dilithum crystals, which could not be done without and nor created in a lab. Growth came too fast, taxing the fledgling union’s capabilities and cohesion. When a species proved its readiness to join, all of its home planets’ colonies were grandfathered into the Federation without verification that these adjunct and often splinter groups’ mores met the minimum threshold required for entry. A few parent governments did not police their far-flung dependencies; Starfleet did not possess the personnel, ships nor warp capability for regular visits to these holdings. In some colonies, monies granted for providing food, shelter, health care, public services, and basic constitutionally protected amenities were extorted by local officials, business executives, and other criminals.

William Matthews was born into one of these settlements, one too far from prominent members of the Federation, belligerent or aggressive aliens, or busy shipping corridors to merit notice. His parents, Terrans who emigrated to this distant world after earthquakes and floods destroyed their birth colony, enticed by false promises of high wages and land of their own, accepted indenture in exchange for the cost of passage. They worked in a cramped and crumbling factory, locked in a building manning an assembly line from sunup to sunset, with three days off each lunar cycle. On this planet, the moon waxed and waned every sixty Earth days. His parents died in a fire, orphaning him at nine years old.

Continue reading on AO3 or FFN

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Taglist: @arrthurpendragon @ocappreciation @ocappreciationtag @bardic-tales @themaradwrites @chickensarentcheap

[roobylavender]

i mean most abusers do love the people they abuse. abuse isn’t something done with intention or malice half the time, it’s done by people thinking they’re doing the right thing. bruce’s love and need for control are constantly in conflict with each other and that’s why the robins are stuck waging a war against him. i feel like a big part of a dysfunctional parent-child dynamic is feeling trapped by your parent’s love. Even if you hate it, it’s still canon that Bruce has been historically bad with dealing with his kids. Half of them don’t even feel comfortable calling him dad cuz the relationship seems so undefined or shaky. In Dick’s case i feel like he has no grounds to oppose robin and his vigilantism because Bruce (deep down) loved having someone like dick around to fight crime with. They both refer that time as “the good old days” so it’s not like Bruce was truly opposed. It’s only when the actual reality of that negligent and naive behaviour materialises that he realises he fucked up (robin year one eg). Then he treats Dick in such a cold manner that Dick believes if he’s not robin, he’s not wanted. This has been a pattern since the golden days so no it’s not ooc for Bruce. Yes the natural conclusion to all the modern day tension should be for both parties to meet and resolve their issues but Bruce is still the abuser at the end of the day, and even though Dick’s self sacrificing nature might easily forgive him, on a textual level it should be clear that a true resolution between the two would need Dick to dig deeper, and for Bruce to be ready for rejection from his son.

i don’t disagree with that assessment of abuse like it’s absolutely true, but my problem is i don’t think the cold or controlling behavior is really a consistent enough pattern until we move into post-crisis canon. for several decades dick and bruce have a great rapport with each other bc that’s what everyone knows they’re supposed to have. like i don’t think most writers from the golden or silver age if asked that they intended to write bruce as an abuser would agree and say yes, and that distinction to me is impt, bc sure, we can take what we’re reading on a surface level and project our own experience or modern understanding of relationships onto it, but i don’t think that should happen to the extent authorial intent is superseded bc then you start to enter territory where you’re divorcing narrative from genre conventions. if we go by the assumption that bruce is an enabler and abuser for allowing dick to be a hero for so long without purported attention paid to his safety then that establishes practically every hero within the universe possessive of a sidekick as an abuser. and i do get that some people are interested in following that thread like esp in post-crisis we see that exploration a lot but ig for me personally it’s kinda like the thing that breaks the camel’s back and withholds the entire genre from actually allowing itself to explore more pertinent issues. not to say abuse isn’t a pertinent issue, it absolutely is and i do think there’s ways it can still be explored, but the primary reason the genre was established in the first place was in response to fascism. obv the engagement with that wasn’t necessarily complex early on but it’s incredibly impt to the development of the genre and as we can see in a modern context how that response to fascism or lack thereof is conveyed can be incredibly influential in terms of facilitating support or not for fascist government. so my issue is like, yes, it’s impt for bruce’s faults in these relationships to be addressed to a constructive and worthwhile extent, but i also think writers have gone so drastically far in curating those faults in the post crisis era that it’s effectively restricted the scope of the stories they’re allowed to tell, bc they’re more focused on individual instances and relationships within this world than they are on any form of commentary that reflects the operations of the world at large in relation to regulation of crime

[coachtransformation]

Why is Leadership Team Coaching Essential for Modern Businesses?

As per a report by ICF, 28 percent of survey respondents believe that leadership is the main area of coaching. Strong leadership’s significance must be maintained in this ever-evolving and complex business world. Leadership team coaching is a game-changer for modern organizations as it allows top-level executives to navigate through challenges, enhance their skills, and gain fresh perspectives.  

In this blog, you will explore the necessity of leadership team coaching for modern organizations. Let’s dive in!

What is Leadership Team Coaching?

Leadership team coaching involves guiding and supporting leaders in setting and achieving strategic goals, enhancing their decision-making skills, and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within their teams through coaching. It aims to empower leaders to communicate their vision effectively, motivate their teams, and navigate complex organizational challenges. Additionally, leadership coaching emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability in leaders, enabling them to inspire and influence others while maintaining their own well-being.

Challenges of Modern Businesses

In this highly competitive era, businesses face several challenges that can hinder growth and success. The most prominent challenges include the emergence of disruptive technologies, the growing complexity of global markets, and changing consumer demands. To remain at the top, modern businesses need to find appropriate strategies and overcome the challenges. That is where leadership team coaching comes into the big picture. This coaching program can help leaders enhance their skills, improve decision-making, and efficiently lead the team toward organizational goals. 

Signs Your Business Needs Leadership Team Coaching

Leadership team coaching is essential to achieving sustainable results. But does your business need it? Here are the key signs to look for!

Low Productivity

A lack of motivation and unrealistic workloads can lower the productivity levels of your team members. If your organization constantly fails to achieve the set objectives, opting for leadership team coaching is the need of the hour.

Team Conflicts

No doubt, every team member is unique and brings diverse knowledge and skills to the table. However, they need to work together to ensure optimum success. If team conflict is becoming a big problem in your organization, leveraging leadership coaching is vital.

Benefits of Leadership Team Coaching

Leadership team coaching is indeed valuable for modern businesses of all sizes. Read on to explore its key benefits!

Conflict Resolution

Differing opinions can often lead to conflict among teams. Leadership team coaching can enable leaders to recognize, address, and resolve conflicts effectively and efficiently.

Adaptability to Change

The business world keeps changing over time. Leadership coaching can equip leaders with the essential skills and enable them to be more adaptable and responsive to changes.

Greater Team Performance

Leadership coaching can help identify and leverage individual skills, thereby enhancing overall team performance. Teams can capitalize on diverse skills, work more cohesively, and become more productive.

Conclusion

The demand for leadership team coaching will continue to increase in the coming years. Are you looking for the right platform to get started? Coach Transformation Academy can be the perfect destination. Contact us and get more information about our programs!

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Source: https://coachtransformation.com/why-is-leadership-team-coaching-essential-for-modern-businesses/