#cronos drive

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

End of month update - April

Hello, all! This is the end-of-month update, where I post Tumblr’s current top four films that have received the highest percentage of “yes,” “no,” and “haven’t even heard of this movie” votes.

As of today, the top four films with the highest percentage of “yes” votes are:

Finding Nemo (2003) | Shrek (2001) | Monsters, Inc. (2001) | The Lion King (1994)

Next, the top four films with the highest percentage of “no” votes are:

Sausage Party (2016) | Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014) | All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) | Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Finally, the top four films with the highest percentage of “haven’t even heard of this movie” votes are:

Monica and Friends: Bonds (2019) | Monsturd (2003) | Heroic Losers (2019) | Death Trance (2005)

There were no changes in the top fours between this month and last month’s updates.

Currently, The Incredibles (2004) is the still the only film to receive absolutely zero “haven’t heard of this” votes.

That’s it for April’s end-of-month update! Remember that you can view last month’s update by clicking here. Additionally, you can view the full ranked Letterboxd lists of movies that have come up on this blog by clicking the following links:

This list is ranked from highest-to-lowest percentage of “yes” votes.

This list is ranked from highest-to-lowest percentage of “no” votes.

This list is ranked from highest-to-lowest percentage of “haven’t even heard of this movie” votes.

Remember to vote on the polls that are currently running: Seven Beauties (1975) | Starfish (2018) | The Changeling (1980) | Cronos (1992) | Notting Hill (1999) | Mulholland Drive (2001) | The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) | Bionicle: Mask of Light (2003) | Don’t Look Now… We’re Being Shot At! (1966) | The Adventures of Buratino (1959) | The Rescuers (1977) | Memories of Matsuko (2006) | Hellraiser (1987) | Spaceballs (1987) | A Fish Called Wanda (1988) | Summer Days with Coo (2007) | Her (2013) | Barton Fink (1991) | Hot Rod (2007) | The King of Comedy (1982) | Maurice (1987) | Planet of the Apes (1968) | The Beach (2000) | Frankenstein (1910) | Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) | George of the Jungle (1997) | Bride of Frankenstein (1935) | Dracula (1931) | The Mummy (1932) | Paris, Texas (1984) | Ghost World (2001) | The Long Goodbye (1973) | Casablanca (1942) | Ponyo (2008)

[katerinaaqu]

So spake he, and to him did Odysseus, famed for his spear, draw nigh, and take his stand before him, and Diomedes sat down behind him, and drew forth the sharp arrow from his foot, and a sore pang shot through his flesh. Then leapt he upon his chariot and bade his charioteer [400] drive to the hollow ships, for he was sore pained at heart. Now Odysseus famed for his spear, was left alone, nor did anyone of the Argives abide by him, for that fear had laid hold of them all. Then mightily moved he spake unto his own great-hearted spirit: “Woe is me; what is to befall me? Great evil were it if I flee, [405] seized with fear of the throng;, yet this were a worse thing, if I be taken all alone, for the rest of the Danaans hath the son of Cronos scattered in flight. But why doth my heart thus hold converse with me? For I know that they are cowards that depart from battle, whereas whoso is pre-eminent in fight, him verily it behoveth [410] to hold his ground boldly, whether he be smitten, or smite another.”

Oh gosh that moment from Iliad gotta be one of my favorites as Odysseus rushes to the rescue of Diomedes and then he is left alone to fight the Trojans and basically goes

"Shit...now what?!"

Hahahaha the dude is basically the creator of the meme

"The risk I took was calculated but man am I bad at math!"

What a Muppet! I love him! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[yanderes-galore]

HI I HAVE A CRINGEFAIL REQUEST FOR A CONCEPT OF MY CRINGEFAIL MAN CRONOS

i feel like he’d be totally delusional, that man has not had a single clever thought in his LIFE

Orderly Anon [💉]

Oh you have no idea... I'd love to try out a proper concept for him! Hope this was long enough?

Yandere! Cronus Ampora Concept

Pairing: Matesprit ❤️

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Overly flirtatious behavior, Delusional behavior, Stalking, Manipulation, Brief threats of self harm mention (Cronus being Cronus), Kidnapping, Isolation, Clingy, Forced relationship.

Cronus has been rejected so many times by others I'm not surprised he'd lose it after awhile.

By the time Cronus meets you he could care less if you're a human or a troll.

He just wants someone in a quadrant to love him already.

However, while most trolls are used to a fellow troll partner, Cronus may feel better with a human darling.

That's due to the whole seeing himself as a human aspect he has.

Cronus is a very demanding yandere.

He's needy and does just about anything and everything to get the attention of you.

Cronus would even resort to emotional manipulation to either win you over or make you stay with him. (Threats of self-harm or anything like that-)

Cronus is desperate and demanding.

He'd stalk you and hound you just to have your attention.

He's a hopeless flirt, constantly complimenting and flirting with you to win you over.

He lays the flattery on thick.

He even tries to compose songs for you in hopes of impressing you.

He can be rude and overall a bad person yet tries to play it cool and be caring with you.

He is such a suck up if it means you'll love him.

He's more likely to go for Matespritship yet will honestly take anything.

I imagine Cronus is used to feeling envious so he primarily gets really childish when jealous.

Honestly if you ever did give him a chance he'd probably be easy to control.

Just dangle the fact you'll leave him and he behaves.

Honestly, since he messes with your emotions, do it back and he's humbled.

While he's easy to control in a mutual relationship, I can't say the same if you drive him over the edge.

For the most part Cronus will follow you around like a pathetic puppy.

He's... sad to look at sometimes.

He's used to rejections and envy so he's a bit more patient than you think.

Although the moment that patience falters he can be a bit volatile.

He'll throw a bit of a fit, complaining and yelling about how hard he has it.

He so bad just wants you to love him.

At this point he feels he actually needs it.

He'd be a yandere to eventually just kidnap you if he feels he could lose his chance.

In his eyes you are his last chance of being loved.

No one else likes him so he is really desperate to have you.

If Cronus snapped he would isolate you in a room away from anyone else.

After all, if he isn't going to have you willingly, then he might as well take what he wants!

He's waited long enough, hasn't he?

Cronus does not seem like a violent yandere.

He's dramatic and emotional, he's more likely just to be an annoyance if he hates someone around you.

Can't see him killing anyone.

Be it you joined him in a quadrant willingly or not, Cronus is physically affectionate.

I like the HC people have that violet and/or fuchsia bloods feel cold to the touch due to being aquatic.

Cronus certainly craves your warmth and feels cold when he gives physical affection.

He has a poor sense of personal space so he is very clingy.

Cronus may slightly be a worship yandere, as I said before he'll do anything to appeal to you.

He is incredibly delusional.

Even if he has you locked away where only he can see you, he still thinks there's a chance you'll love him willingly.

He feels somehow you hold romantic feelings for him and is going to fish them out somehow.

He thinks that he's the only one for you.

He isn't really a giving yandere.

For the most part he takes.

He takes affection, attention, warmth, etc....

However he also intends to try to make you happy as his partner to keep you.

Cronus feels like he'd be an entitled yandere due to his demanding traits.

He feels you're his and is willing to take what he feels is his.

He may say blood color doesn't matter but he's still just as entitled as any violet blood.

Overall the primary traits of Cronus is the fact he's demanding, dramatic, clingy, flirtatious, lacks boundaries, delusional, and is very desperate.

He can possibly be controlled if you agree to being his partner.

He will take time to snap, but when he does, he comes in full force.

Cronus is willing to play nice with his darling if they are willing to go along with it.

The moment he realizes he isn't getting anywhere with you, however...

Well... then he's done playing nice, isn't he? It's about time he gets what he wants.

[deathlessathanasia]

What evidence do we have for the sisters of Zeus fighting in the collective battles of the gods such as the Titanomachy and Gigantomachy?

The Titanomachy is more complicated because we have relatively little information about it - very few literary sources that describe it in any sort of detail and no certain visual representations. If only we had the lost Titanomachia epic!

In Hesiod's Theogony at least it seems that they do fight in the Titan war (though Zeus alone of the Olympians plays a notable role): "Their spirits began to yearn for battle even more than before, and they raised such conflict as none would find fault with, all of them, both females and males, on that day, the Titan gods and those born of Kronos, and those whom Zeus brought to the light from the gloom beneath the earth, fearful and powerful ones with overbearing strength."

However, things are far from consistent and in Book 14 of the Iliad Hera says that she was being raised by Okeanos and Tethys when Zeus fought and imprisoned Kronos: [Okeanos and Tethys] who in their house nurtured me well and raised me after receiving me from Rhea, when far-thundering Zeus set Cronus down beneath the earth and murmuring sea.". Elsewhere in the Iliad Hera is called the eldest daughter of Kronos (Il. 4.59), so if she was too young to participate in the battle then presumably her sisters were as well, unless we assume that Zeus's dispatch of Kronos and the actual Titanomachy were two separate events.

In the Library of Apollodoros 1.2.1. (which is possibly using information from the lost Titanomachia) things are ambiguous and it is possible that the goddesses do fight, but only the males are actually mentioned and only they receive weapons from the Kyklopes: "… and with their [the regurgitated children of Kronos] aid Zeus waged the war against Cronus and the Titans. They fought for ten years, and Earth prophesied victory to Zeus if he should have as allies those who had been hurled down to Tartarus. So he slew their jailoress Campe, and loosed their bonds. And the Cyclopes then gave Zeus thunder and lightning and a thunderbolt, and on Pluto they bestowed a helmet and on Poseidon a trident. Armed with these weapons the gods overcame the Titans, shut them up in Tartarus, and appointed the Hundred-handers their guards; but they themselves cast lots for the sovereignty, and to Zeus was allotted the dominion of the sky, to Poseidon the dominion of the sea, and to Pluto the dominion in Hades."

The Titanomachy related by Pseudo Hyginus (Fabulae 150) is instigated by Hera, but she doesn't seem to actually fight, nor does any other of the elder gods except for Zeus himself: "After Juno saw that Epaphus, born of a concubine, ruled such a great kingdom, she saw to it that he should be killed while hunting, and encouraged the Titans to drive Jove from the kingdom and restore it to Saturn. When they tried to mount to heaven, Jove with the help of Minerva, Apollo, and Diana, cast them headlong into Tartarus."

In the Euhemeristic account related in The Sibylline Oracles (3.176-184) only the males are mentioned in the context of the war, though admittedly Hera is their only sister in this version: "But when the Titans heard that there were sons Kept secretly, whom Cronos and his wife Rhea begat, then Titan sixty youths Together gathered, and held fast in chains Cronos and his wife Rhea, and concealed Them in the earth and guarded them in bonds. And then the sons of powerful Cronos heard, And a great war and uproar they aroused."

And then there is Nonnos at the end of Antiquity who explicitly states (and he is the only one to ever do so as far as I know) that Hera fought in the Titanomachy: "Hera the Titan's daughter took strong part in the war against Kronos her father and helped Zeus in his fight." (Dionysiaca 31.264) Whether Hestia and Demeter did the same I don't recall him ever mentioning, but he does say that several of Zeus's children (Ares and Athena for sure) fought the Titans so do with that timeline what you will.

The Gigantomachy is better attested in literature and especially art, so we can be sure that Hera was at least sometimes thought to participate in it. Pseudo-Apollodoros' Library provides the fullest account of the battle and is the only literary source I know of that makes Hera's presence on the battlefield explicit, although we don't really hear of her doing any fighting or defeating any named Giant, only being attacked and overpowered by one. However, she does fight in several visual representations of the Gigantomachy, both on vases and on friezes. Not all representations include her, of course, and sometimes a particular figure is merely assumed to be Hera in lack of an inscription or any identifying attribute.

Hestia and Demeter on the other hand aren't mentioned among the gods who fight the Giants in the Library or in any other literary source that I am aware of and I don't know of any artistic representations of the Gigantomachy that involves them for sure either. Now obviously there are hundreds of representations of this myth (I couldn't check them all even if the visual arts were accessible to me) and there are several figures who could be interpreted as Demeter, but Mary B. Moore (Lydos and the Gigantomachy') confirms my impression that "[Demeter] is not identified for certain in any representation of this battle, nor is she mentioned in any literary reference to it." It is curious that not even in the Gigantomachy on the Pergamon frieze is Demeter's presence certain (much less Hestia's) though this has to be the most expansive version of the battle and everyone and their mother is there, literally! Alongside the usual players there are also Leto, Asterie, Phoibe, Dione, Doris and Nereus to name but a few.

Just as Demeter and Hestia don't seem to participate in the Gigantomachy, so too are they absent from another conflict that most of the Olympian gods get involved in: the Trojan War. I guess these two really don't care for war and are important enough that no one's going to complain about them not getting their hands dirty.

[thenoisethatkeepsmeawake]

Hi there! It seems like you watch a wide variety of horror movies. Could you recommend some interesting or unique vampire films that have caught your attention?

Hi there anon,

I'd sure like to help. Since you say "interesting or unique" I'll skip over the widely praised usual things. Vampire basics like Bram Stoker's Dracula (looks gorgeous, great cast, perfect soundtrack), The Lost Boys (peak 80s style) or Blade (great vampire action).

Only Lovers Left Alive - vampires are somewhat immortal and living long enough brings its own bag of emotions. Dread, depression, nihilism. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston play longtime married vampires living mostly apart and drifting back into each other's life for a bit. Also blood sucking isn't all that fun with todays diseases. (IMDB)

Near Dark - this is a classic, but sometimes it gets overlooked. Director/writer Kathryn Bigelow tells a sorta western story, but there are vampires in it, except we don't even call them that. It starts with young dude means a beautiful woman, and oops she bites him and then he falls in with the crowd she hangs out with. Lots of violence in this one. (IMDB)

Stake Land - I really enjoy the film "Daybreakers" about a world with vampires being the dominant species and the problems it causes, that is a wider known film of that variety. "Stake Land" is like the discarded sibling, focusing on a post-apocalyptic atmosphere. A vampire hunter finds a survivor who just saw his family being slaughtered and they drive cross-country to hopefully find a safe place. If you like typical zombie-apocalypse genre conventions, then this is a nice vampire version. (IMDB)

Shadow of the Vampire - really not a hidden gem, but I have to mention it. This film tells the story of the filming of Murnau's 1922 "Nosferatu", but in this the lead actor Max Schreck is actually a vampire. Willem Dafoe gives a wonderful performance and it's just film history wrapped into vampire drama. (IMDB)

What We Do in the Shadows - this was definitely unique when it came out and hey, it spawned a whole tv show. A mockumentary about vampires just living in the real world. Just fun to watch. (IMDB)

Cronos - this is Guillermo del Toro's first feature film and tbh it's been forever since I've seen it. There is a device that grants immortality, but the side effects are pretty much turning into a vampire (the hunger for blood, not going out in the sun). An old man finds the device and a not so noble businessman desperately wants it. Fun to see early del Toro and his use of monsters vs human evil. (IMDB)

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night - an Iranian black-and-white film, about a female vampire who is drawn into some family drama about addiction. Not an easy watch, very stylistic (influenced highly by spaghetti western), but also really interesting with the themes of desire and danger. Unique for sure. (IMDB)

We Are the Night - if I'm really honest, I'm not sure I would even call this a good film. There is so much I'd like to change. BUT I also absolutely adore it for being unapologetic about a group of women doing what the fuck they want - as vampires. And there is a reason they don't turn men. This is something that can be build on. (IMDB)

Byzantium - full disclosure, I saw this once and didn't enjoy it much, but I want to give it another shot, because I think I was in the wrong mood back then. Director Neil Jordan is good with visuals and being weird like in "Interview with the Vampire", "The Butcher Boy" ot"Breakfast on Pluto". And here he tells a long interwoven life story of a mother and daughter vampire duo. In a world where vampires have a strict code and used to be mostly noble men. So there is class and gender in the mix, lots of sexuality (there is rape and prostitution) etc etc. Maybe this could be for you, idk. (IMDB)

Let the Right on in - always to be found on a list like this. There is the Swedish film (based on the book) and an US remake that made a few choice changes, but is overall still worth watching. Kinda a bummer to put it out as a vampire film right away. When I read the book I thought it was just a serial killer story and the twists and turns of who is who was a wild ride. There is a young boy who gets bullied at school, but befriends the new kid in the neighborhood who seems to live a weird life. Heavy themes about grooming and the true horror only sets in at the end. (IMDB)

As for simple vampire action, I do love the "Underworld" series. This year's "Abigail" shouldn't have revealed it was a vampire film at all, but it's very bloody and funny, so a quick watch. Also a bloody good time is "30 Days of Night", and I stand by my belief that red blood looks fantastic on white snow. If you like animated films, the anime "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is a great gothic vampire love story. There's lots to find.

[silent-partner-412]

ok i need to vent about a trope in video games (mostly rpgs and visual novels) that i really don’t like, and want to talk about why a lot of games fail at it and give a few examples of how it succeeds. however to do so im going to spoil a shitton of games. so if you plan on playing any of the social sim persona games, the xenoblade trilogy, sea of stars, 9 hours 9 persons 9 doors, pokemon mystery dungeon explorers of sky, chrono trigger, the great ace attorney, or danganronpa 2 and 3 (the anime not the game), do not read this post. i will be spoiling all of them.

so what’s up with characters dying But Not Actually so much?? it’s gotten to the point where whenever a main character dies, i’m almost certain that there’s going to be some funny business to justify bringing them back. it kind of drives me nuts, and i wanna talk about why this plot point fails in so many games (and also a few where it works in my opinion because it CAN work).

to start, the xenoblade games, specifically 1 and 3. i think fiora’s death in xenoblade 1 was my first exposure to this trope and honestly i think it’s done alright. there’s a LOT of foreshadowing about the nature of the face units in the early game, and having her be turned into one makes complete sense. also she’s not the only character who’s presumed dead that ends up in a face unit, so the concept feels more complete than just an excuse to bring back a main character. the main problem with fiora is more that her character pre-death is so much better than post-death, but that’s less to do with the resurrection and more just me disagreeing with the direction they take her character. overall this game gets a pass from me, not a bad use of the trope.

xenoblade 3 however i will not be so kind to. mio’s fakeout death fucking sucks and it ruined one of my favorite characters up to that point. they build up the fact that mio is dying all game, it’s a huge part of her character. the existentialism of it all was so compelling to me, i was excited to see where it was going to go. but the body swap with m during the prison sequence was so underwhelming it hurts. it is mildly foreshadowed in the fight against m, but it still felt like they sidestepped the conflict entirely because they didn’t have the guts to actually follow through on what they had set up. which, to be fair, this would be fine if they actually explored how she felt about living when she was supposed to die, but they don’t. this is pretty much the last major character moment for mio all game, and it was so disappointing to me. not a good use of the trope at all.

persona 3 (portable) and 4 use this trope too and it’s also pretty rough. shinjiro’s death is a big moment in persona 3, and saving him in portable feels super underdeveloped and feels like it was just used for fanservice at the end of the day. nanako’s death in persona 4 is almost insultingly underdeveloped too, it feels like it only happens because they needed to add extra tension during the climax of the game, when it would’ve worked perfectly fine if she was just severely injured in my opinion. having her die and come back just feels cheap and unearned.

persona 5 does it much better with akechi in my opinion but that’s also because him coming back is pretty much a mirage. the only reason he comes back in the third semester is because maruki thought him being back would be part of joker’s ideal reality, and once maruki is defeated akechi goes away too. it’s all pretty fantastic, and the way they explore akechi’s feelings about the whole situation is great too. of course, there is the moment at the ending where you seem him through the window but that’s left purposefully ambiguous and i choose to believe it’s just joker’s imagination lol.

chrono trigger is probably one of the oldest examples of this trope and it didn’t really bother me, but that’s mostly because i wasn’t super attached to crono in the first place cuz he doesn’t have much going for him in terms of characterization lol. i also think that because there are multiple endings including one where he doesn’t come back (and you really have to go out of your way to bring him back) makes it feel a bit less cheap? i don’t know, i don’t really have a strong opinion one way or the other for this case.

now sea of stars i’ve gone on record saying i adore, but i still don’t love how they handle garl’s resurrection. it feels almost identical to crono’s, and feels a bit too fanservicey for my liking especially since i thought garl’s death was so extremely well done. it’s cute, and i do love garl, but i prefer the regular ending where he doesn’t come back.

so… remember how all the characters in danganronpa 2 didn’t actually die? cuz they were in a simulation the whole time and it wasn’t a “you die in the game you die in real life” situation like they implied in the game? yeah that was weird. i don’t remember this bugging me a ton back in my danganronpa phase but like… the deaths in that game in particular were really well done for the series (let’s forget about chapter 3 for now) and having none of them matter in the end kind of sucks. it also doesn’t feel like that was the original vision since this reveal only happens in the danganronpa 3 anime and not in dr2, so it feels like it was probably done for fanservice more than anything.

these next two are ones i don’t think were too bad and that’s because they both happen and you kinda just know they’re not gone for good. kazuma from great ace attorney and snake from zero escape (999) both die so early and so suddenly after being set up to be seemingly important that you sort of just know they’re not gone for good, and if they were you’d probably be disappointed. also they both slap when they come back and their characters would probably feel incomplete without their reveal that they didn’t actually die. if you’re going to kill characters and bring them back, this is one of the better ways to do it in my opinion.

finally, this isn’t really a death but it still really bothered me. i really don’t like the ending of pokemon mystery dungeon explorers of sky’s final special episode. for years i thought that once grovyle and dusknoir returned to the future and you and your partner save the world, they’re gone. that’s how the game sets it up. i’ve thought that’s how it was for years since i didn’t play sky until last year. learning that no, they save the world and all the pokemon from the future are fine actually was so… it just felt wrong. i feel like they didn’t want a sequence that grim to end the episode in a game made for children, but i was like 9 when i beat explorers of time/darkness the first time and i understood the implications of what happened. learning that wasn’t actually the case now that i’m an adult bothered me and i wish they had stuck to their guns.

so what’s the common thread here? well, the times where it doesn’t work are usually because it feels like fanservice or like the story didn’t justify it well enough. it feels like you’re being coddled almost, like don’t worry your blorbo is fine!! they’re still alive!!! and i hate that so much. stick to your guns!!! if you don’t have a damn good reason to bring back characters after they supposedly die, don’t bring them back. it usually feels wrong and hollow. look, in real life, people die (i know big shocker), and there’s nothing you can do about it. i’ve had people very close to me die, and while i would do anything to bring them back, that’s just not how it works. i know games are supposed to be escapism where you suspend your disbelief, but i don’t usually feel happy when characters i love die and come back. it just feels like mildly condescending wish fulfillment. i just wish authors would be more thoughtful about this kind of thing.

[loemius]

o muse,  i sing of the son of cronos, almighty king zeus, husband of white armed queen hera, bearer of the aegis, gracious host and king of xenia, hear my praise and prayer! jovial king, you grace the earth with your storms, each crack of thunder one of your hearty laughs, each bolt of lightning thrown by your strong arms. you protect the polis and the household from evil, wise and powerful, you drive away hurt and harm. you, friendly king, remind me to be humble and kind, warm and welcome to strangers, be graceful to others, just as you are to mortals and immortals alike. almighty zeus, i ask of you to grant me strength, kindness, and wisdom to help myself and others. i ask of you to watch over me and keep me safe, protect me and keep away pain and misery. king zeus, almighty lord and husband of lovely hera, thank you for hearing my praise and prayer! until i sing of you again another time!

[m4skedmayhem]

A story!

This is my baaand :] They’re called Vulture Counterculture, and they’re actually pretty popular! This is where Sparro ends up in @hemoswap-au’s world. I’ll probably make another post in the future introducing the band members. Now onto the story.

~~~

Rubeii sat up, clambering out of his recoupracoon. His head hurt. Why did his head hurt so much? His brain slowly started to function, and he remembered how much he drank the last night. Damn. II must be hungover. IIt’s been a whiile siince iit’s been thiis bad though.

He shook his head, trying to orient himself in the light of the sunset. He flicked on his hive’s lights, and fixed his hair in the mirror. Walking out of his bedroom, he pulled on his jacket, buckling the many straps and pulling the mask up over his face.

Walking into the main room, he stretched, taking in the mess that he would have to clean. He surveyed the chaos, absentmindedly flipping over a couch that was on its back. He made his way into the attached kitchen, needing some water or a hot coffee.

He had just turned on the coffee machine when he heard a slight whimper from the corner. He whipped around, reaching for a knife that was sitting on the counter. But instead of an intruder, he saw the boots of a purpleblood that he considered a friend peeking around the corner.

He sighed, walking over to them after he put the knife down. “Come on, Sparro. Let’s get you up and at iit. Let’s go, iit’s a new day, tiime to go back ho-”

He broke off, staring in horror at the scene in front of him. It was definitely Sparro, but there was something wrong. They were holding a dish towel up to their face, the rag stained dark with their blood. “Shiit. Sparro, wha-what happened? Are you okay?”

“Yov happened.”

“II- what?”

they sigh, removing the towel to show a hole where their right eye once sat. “Yov happened. Yov got drvnk or something and started vvaxing poetic abovt the caste system.”

He just stares in horror. This was someone he thought of as a friend, the person who was so excited about possibly starting a band that they had taught him guitar, despite not fully knowing it themself. And here they sat, mutilated by his own hands. “II’m sorry…”

“It’s fine. Yov’re a highblood, this happens all the time to peasants like me.”

“IIt shouldn’t. Look-II know thiis won’t make iit up to you, but II’ve been thiinkiing about that band iidea you had. II thiink iit’d be a good iidea. The only problem iis that we don’t have anyone but a bassiist, drummer, and vocaliist. IIf you could find one or two other members, II could pull a few striings and get you iinto the spotliight. II understand iif you don’t want to talk. Just stay here untiil II can bandage your eye. II don’t want Cronos to see you weak. He’d just use iit to hurt you.”

he turns and walks to the kitchen and makes Sparro a sandwich. He was hungry, but they needed it more than him. Maybe this band idea really would work. God knows Sparro had the drive to keep it afloat.

[mariacallous]

Russian cybercriminals are almost untouchable. For years, hackers based in the country have launched devastating ransomware attacks against hospitals, critical infrastructure, and businesses, causing billions in losses. But they’re out of reach of Western law enforcement and largely ignored by the Russian authorities. When police do take the criminals’ servers and websites offline, they’re often back hacking within weeks.

Now investigators are increasingly adding a new dimension to their disruption playbook: messing with cybercriminals’ minds. To put it bluntly, they’re trolling the hackers.

In recent months, Western law enforcement officials have turned to psychological measures as an added way to slow down Russian hackers and cut to the heart of the sweeping cybercrime ecosystem. These nascent psyops include efforts to erode the limited trust the criminals have in each other, driving subtle wedges between fragile hacker egos, and sending offenders personalized messages showing they’re being watched.

“We’re never going to get to the kernel of these organized criminal gangs, but if we can minimize the impact they have by reducing their ability to scale, then that's a good thing,” says Don Smith, vice president of threat research at security firm Secureworks. “All of these little things, which in themselves may not be a killer blow, they all add friction,” he says. “You can look for cracks, amplify them, and create further discord and mistrust so it slows down what the bad guys are doing.”

Take Operation Cronos. In February, a global law enforcement operation, led by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), infiltrated the LockBit ransomware group, which authorities say has extorted more than $500 million from victims, and took its systems offline. Investigators at the NCA redesigned LockBit’s leak website, where it published its victims’ stolen data, and used the site to publish LockBit’s inner workings.

Demonstrating the control and data they had, law enforcement published images of LockBit’s administration system and internal conversations. Investigators also published the usernames and login details of 194 LockBit “affiliate” members. This was expanded in May to include the members’ surnames.

The policing operation also teased the unveiling of “LockBitSupp,” the mastermind behind the group, and said they had been “engaging” with law enforcement. Russian national Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev was charged with running LockBit in May, following a multiday countdown clock being published on the seized LockBit website and bold graphics naming him as the group’s organizer.

“LockBit prided itself on its brand and anonymity, valuing these things above anything else," says Paul Foster, director of threat leadership at the NCA. “Our operation has shattered that anonymity and completely undermined the brand, driving cybercriminals away from using their services.” The NCA says it carefully considered the operation, with its efforts to rebuild LockBit's site leading to the group being widely mocked online and making its brand “toxic” to cybercriminals who had worked with it.

“We recognized that a technical disruption in isolation wouldn’t necessarily destroy LockBit, therefore our additional infiltration and control, alongside arrests and sanctions in partnership with our international partners, has enhanced our impact on LockBit and created a platform for more law enforcement action in the future,” Foster says.

When LockBit members logged in to the group’s administration systems, they received a personalized message saying authorities had gathered their username, cryptocurrency wallet details, internal chats and chats with victims, and IP addresses. As noted by researchers at cybersecurity firm Analyst1, these “psychological tactics” targeted two areas: “brand reputation and interpersonal relationships among actors.”

The efforts go beyond the LockBit takedown. In April, London’s Metropolitan Police disrupted LabHost, a service that allowed scammers to create phishing websites to trick people into handing over their emails and passwords. Around 800 criminal LabHost users were sent personalized video messages by the police detailing “all the data we have about you.” Countries where they targeted victims were included, as well as IP addresses they had used. “We’ve been watching you every time you visited us,” the voiceover in the video says.

“These messages aren't just for the existing participants in the criminal ecosystem,” says Secureworks’ Smith. “These are messages for people who maybe are on the edge of deciding to participate.” Within the sprawling cybercrime ecosystem, there’s not much trust between thieves who can con each other out of millions of dollars, but reinforcing and amplifying the divisions has the potential to make it harder to organize efficient criminal enterprises.

Understanding how much of an impact psychological operations have is difficult, but researchers say the criminals are always watching. Of 194 LockBit affiliates, only 69 have returned to the platform since the law enforcement action in February, the NCA says. The hackers read the news and cybersecurity research, discussing it on Russian-language cybercrime forums, researchers say. The XSS forum has one thread called “Juicy arrests” that has more than 1,000 posts since 2017, says Victoria Kivilevich, director of threat research at security firm KELA, which monitors the cybercriminal underground.

Opinions on the LockBit takedown were divided among XSS users, Kivilevich says. In one post in February, Kivilevich says, a cybercriminal questioned why the group’s leader had not been named or sanctioned at that point. “They have that much information, they must have at least something about him,” a translated post reads. “Or maybe he works with them.” Another urged people not to make memes or joke about the situation. “You understand that at some point this may affect you too,” they wrote.

Kivilevich points to other instances where cybercriminals on forums have become disillusioned or disgruntled by law enforcement targeting some members. When members of the Conti and Trickbot ransomware groups were sanctioned in February 2023, LockBitSupp asked where the sanctions were for the Trickbot leader “Stern” and other high-profile actor “Baddie.” As a further 11 members of Conti and Trickbot were sanctioned in September 2023, days after WIRED named one of the members, a cybercriminal complained that some of those sanctioned “never have had high profiles.” They went on to say there is a feeling of “injustice”: “What was the point of adding fucking managers who didn’t decide much in the business.”

Andréanne Bergeron, director of research at security firm GoSecure who specializes in criminal behavior and police intervention, says there may be two outcomes from naming some criminals and not others. Those that are named may “feel it is unjust to be punished while others go free” and may end up cooperating or working with law enforcement as a result.

Bergeron also says malicious hackers often “crave recognition” for their actions. “When their colleagues receive all the ‘credit,’ even if it includes being sanctioned, these unnamed individuals may feel compelled to reveal themselves to gain recognition,” Bergeron says. “This desire for recognition can drive them to engage in risky behaviors, potentially exposing themselves to authorities in their pursuit of validation.”

While law enforcement may be using some psychological tactics alongside more traditional technical takedowns and sanctions, there’s also scientific research looking at the ways in which cyber psychology can disrupt criminal hackers. The US Intelligence Community's research agency, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (Iarpa), has started work on a project to create new cybersecurity defenses by exploiting the human weaknesses of attackers.

Psychology can be used as a way to “understand, anticipate, and influence” the behavior of cyberattackers, says Kimberly Ferguson-Walter, the Iarpa program manager leading the project. The research, which is in its early stages, is looking to build tools and methods to capitalize on the human weaknesses of cybercriminals based on established psychology principles. For instance, if an attacker can be made to feel like they are safe when they are compromising a system, they may engage in riskier behavior and expose themselves.

“If you can deter somebody from attacking your network, that’s about as good as it gets,” Ferguson-Walter says. “I think the more scared or uncertain they are about how the defenses work, the better your odds for doing that are."

[l-una-c]

More schala thoughts ahead CT spoilers (and a little bit of cross spoilers too) Anyways... I think a lot of people shy away from the interpretation of Schala merging with Lavos to form the Dream/Time Devourer as being something that she was at least a partially willing participant in. It's out of character, or she just lacks agency entirely, etc. Sure, that's an interpretation. But think about if it wasn't - as the DD, she talks about a desire to destroy everything, all of existence. What would drive someone portrayed as so kind to do this? Well. Schala's essentially the Omelas kid. She's condemned - either as the Arbiter of the Mammon Machine to essentially be the key to "immortality" for everyone in Zeal, or, afterwards, she's doomed to essentially live in the Darkness Beyond Time, a place where it's reasonable to assume that she's supposed to die, or, barring that, live, forever, unaging, in a void outside of time. That would be bad enough, but she has to do it with Lavos of all things. Her only stimulation is watching entire worlds in front of her live and die, and the constant, hammering voice of the very creature that doomed her to this fate. The party, theoretically, could have saved her from this with the Chrono Trigger, but they didn't, they chose to save Crono. Hard choice, I know, but it could have happened the other way around. The living are more important than the dead, after all. But instead, on Schala's end, she's basically condemned to this existence just to defeat Lavos. And I'm sure it's fine, at least for a while. If you're sacrificed to save the world, well, I'm sure most of us could be okay with that. For a while. But how does time pass there, exactly? She could have been needled for eons, kept in this place of darkness for what feels like an eternity. Enough time for even the Omelas child to go mad. I've been upset enough to wish for an apocalypse. But imagine if you are, and there's no reprieve from it, and you're expected to sit and suffer in the void. Forever. But with a key to power to enact that wish right in front of you, in the form of the thing that ruined your entire life. You could seize it, attempt to take control, at the cost of, well, all of spacetime. Maybe she did control, it maybe she didn't. And she sent everything about herself that she loved, everything that made her mortal, out from there in the form of a child that she doesn't even get to embody. She's still stuck there. So it's a choice. A hard one, a bad one, but it's a choice she gets to make. People shock themselves in a room when left alone with an electric buzzer. Sure, men are more likely to do so, but really, how much longer would it take for a woman to crack? I'm sure it would occur to any of us. We all say we wouldn't have looked back at our lover as we leave the underworld, but when you're in that position, it's a different story. And Schala? She looked back.

[avelarcycle]

Painel do Fiat Cronos Drive 1.3 | EXPLICAÇÃO completa passo a passo

[jamesholden]

1, 5 and 21 from the fifty (last) list pls!

Thank you! If you don't mind, I'll answer for Sionainn AND Ronan! my boy's gotta get fleshed out too! If his answers seem less specific it's BECAUSE i am still working on him so he's not very specific.

When was the last time Shepard cried?

Sionainn: Boy, it's hard to say the last time she DIDN'T. Sionainn has a nasty tendency to feel emotions so hard and so fast that tears come before she can catch them. She can calm down quickly if given a moment, but if she feels an emotion strong enough she's more likely to cry than not. It's something she's ashamed of, and tries to hide. People already doubt her enough based on her appearance, she doesn't need them to know she cries if pushed too hard. But the kindness of her crew often offsets the fear and shame, and she ends up with more "awww"s and hugs than most people get in a month when someone makes her so happy she can't help but cry.

So her last REAL cries, ones that were meant to be, were during the war. Seeing Kaidan in the hospital, losing Mordin and Thane, after Thessia, Sanctuary, Cronos. And especially after their party to end all parties.

Ronan: He's a tougher one. He doesn't cry at any opportunity. But when he does it comes hard. He doesn't try and hide it when he does, but he still tries to wait until he's alone so he doesn't trouble anyone. Doesn't shatter the Commander Shepard illusion. Everyone has so much to worry about, they shouldn't have to worry about him, too.

Thessia and Sanctuary hit him hard for two different reasons. After Sanctuary, he felt like he failed humanity. That he didn't do enough that he didn't stop Cerberus to keep The Illusive Man from tricking all those people. The only bright spot was saving Oriana and Miranda. As soon as he could get to his cabin he was a wreck. And after Thessia, he was so guilty and angry that after nearly punching a hole in his fishtank, he cried until he was calm enough to head back down and get to work.

5. What skills come naturally to them?

Sionainn: She's a quick study, and a fast problem solver. Give her an hour alone with a project or a problem and she'll come out with several versions or solutions. She has to be, as an engineer and field medic with aspirations to be a doctor. Hesitancy is the difference between life and death and she has to think on her feet. That translates into her hacking and decryption. She can also make everyone's coffee exactly how they like it and no one is sure how she remembers it all.

Ronan: Ronan is great with people, and knows it. He's charming and can win over almost anyone which REALLY annoys his enemies. He's fashionable, which surprises everyone around him but does delight his crew when any of them need help picking out things to wear on shore leave. He's an excellent shot, and a confident strategist. Honestly he's very good at playing confident. He's good at wearing a mask and has been since Akuze. Anderson would say he's been good at it since Mindoir.

21. Why did Nihlus choose to nominate Shepard as a Spectre candidate?

Sionainn: Sionainn often asked herself this question. She was so far from a normal Spectre candidate, and didn't feel like she belonged. But Nihlus saw what she didn't. That her drive, her determination, her strong desire to help others, her ability to surprise her enemies because she wasn't what was expected. Word of her quick thinking also made it's way around. She could and would get the job done. She would fight for galactic stability. And she would look out for all the races in Council space, not just humanity.

Ronan: Ronan made an excellent spy. He was cool and calm in an alarming amount of situations, on top of being charming as hell. Nihlus thought he'd do well at more clandestine missions. He could be as calculated as he could be impulsive. His biotic ability was strong and discipined. But Ronan had more to him than that. He had survived despite insurmountable odds on Akuze. He's a soldier, a warrior. And humanity needs strength if it wants to be respected. It needs a Spectre that reflects that strength and resolve. A survivor is perfect for that role. Humanity loves a comeback.

ask me about my shep sheps

[health-views-updates]

The Evolving Legal Marijuana Market: What to Expect in the Coming Years

Legal Marijuana Market Outlook, Scope & Overview:

Industry reports indicate that the global legal marijuana market was valued at USD 21.08 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 130.55 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 25.6% over the forecast period 2024-2031.

Regulatory Changes and Increasing Acceptance to Drive Growth of Global Legal Marijuana Market

The adoption of legal marijuana for medical and recreational purposes will continue to influence global market revenues. Regulatory changes, increasing acceptance of cannabis use, and rising investments in cannabis cultivation and product development are key factors driving market growth.

As a product segment, medical marijuana currently holds a significant share of the global legal marijuana market. This segment is anticipated to grow at a year-over-year rate of 25.6% in 2024 over 2023 and reach USD 130.55 billion in revenues by 2031. The increasing recognition of marijuana's therapeutic benefits and the growing number of countries legalizing its medical use are expected to drive market growth.

Legal Marijuana Market – Market Dynamics

Drivers:

The legal marijuana market is witnessing significant growth in the global market due to the increasing legalization and decriminalization of cannabis across various regions. The rising acceptance of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, coupled with growing investments in cannabis research and development, are key factors driving the adoption of legal marijuana worldwide. Additionally, the expanding consumer base and the increasing availability of cannabis products through legal channels are further propelling market growth.

Restraints:

Despite the growth potential, challenges such as stringent regulatory requirements, social stigma, and the complexity of cannabis legalization across different regions are hindering the widespread adoption of legal marijuana. Moreover, concerns about potential misuse, the need for standardized dosing and quality control, and the risk of legal and financial uncertainties pose additional challenges to market expansion.

Legal Marijuana Market – Market Outlook

The proven benefits of legal marijuana in treating various medical conditions, improving quality of life, and offering recreational enjoyment have contributed to the market's growth. Legal marijuana is expected to witness increased adoption across major markets, including North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, driven by favorable regulatory changes and the growing acceptance of cannabis use.

Global Legal Marijuana Market

The rise in demand for legal marijuana in developed and emerging markets is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. North America currently holds a significant market share in the global legal marijuana market, with the US and Canada being key contributors to market revenues. Europe and Asia Pacific regions are also experiencing rapid adoption of legal marijuana, supported by evolving regulatory frameworks and increasing consumer demand.

Key Players in the Legal Marijuana Market

Leading companies in the legal marijuana market include Canopy Growth Corporation, Aurora Cannabis Inc., Tilray, Inc., and Cronos Group. These companies are at the forefront of developing and commercializing a wide range of cannabis products for medical and recreational use, including flowers, edibles, oils, and concentrates.

In conclusion, the global legal marijuana market is poised for substantial growth over the forecast period, driven by regulatory changes, increasing acceptance of cannabis use, and the expanding adoption of legal marijuana across diverse regions and applications.

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[divyabodhwani23]

Accelerating Advancement: Navigating the Landscape of the Legal Marijuana Market from 2022 to 2030

The Legal Marijuana Market has experienced exponential growth in recent years, driven by changing attitudes towards cannabis, evolving regulatory landscapes, and increasing acceptance of its medicinal and recreational use. As more countries and states legalize or decriminalize cannabis for medical and/or recreational purposes, the market for legal marijuana continues to expand, presenting lucrative opportunities for businesses, investors, and consumers alike.

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: https://www.marketdigits.com/legal-marijuana-market

The Legal Marijuana Market is valued at USD 26.65 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 157 billion by 2030, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 28.8% during the forecast period spanning 2024-2032.

One of the key drivers behind the growth of the Legal Marijuana Market is the increasing recognition of the medicinal properties of cannabis. Research into the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, the active compounds found in cannabis, has led to the development of medical marijuana products for various health conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer-related symptoms. Patients seeking alternative treatments are turning to medical cannabis as a viable option, driving demand and fueling market growth.

Moreover, the legalization of recreational marijuana in several jurisdictions has opened up new avenues for market expansion. Adult-use cannabis markets attract a broader consumer base, including recreational users seeking relaxation, social enjoyment, and mood enhancement. The normalization of cannabis consumption in society has led to increased demand for a wide range of recreational cannabis products, such as dried flower, edibles, concentrates, and infused beverages.

Major vendors in the global Legal Marijuana market are Canopy Growth Corporation, Aphria, Inc., Aurora marijuana Inc., Maricann Group, Inc., Tilray, Inc., Cronos Group Inc., OrganiGram Holding Inc., VIVO marijuana Inc., Tikun Olam Ltd., The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., Terra Tech Corp., Medical Cannabis, Inc., Stenocare A/S, Cannabis Science, Inc., and HEXO Corp. and others.

In addition to shifting attitudes towards cannabis, regulatory changes have played a significant role in shaping the Legal Marijuana Market. Governments around the world are reevaluating their cannabis policies, with many opting to legalize or regulate cannabis for medical and/or recreational use. These regulatory shifts create a conducive environment for legal marijuana businesses to operate, fostering investment, innovation, and market growth.

Furthermore, the emergence of a legal marijuana industry has led to the professionalization and commercialization of cannabis cultivation, processing, distribution, and retailing. Licensed producers, dispensaries, and retailers are subject to stringent regulations, quality standards, and compliance requirements, ensuring consumer safety and product consistency. As the legal cannabis market matures, industry players are investing in state-of-the-art facilities, technologies, and best practices to meet growing demand and maintain competitiveness.

Despite its rapid growth and potential, the Legal Marijuana Market faces various challenges and uncertainties. One of the primary concerns is the lack of federal legalization in key markets such as the United States. While many states have legalized cannabis for medical and/or recreational use, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, creating legal and regulatory complexities for businesses operating in the industry. Federal prohibition also limits access to banking services, capital markets, and interstate commerce, hindering market growth and investment.

Moreover, stigma, misconceptions, and public health concerns surrounding cannabis continue to pose challenges for the legal marijuana industry. Critics argue that cannabis legalization may lead to increased youth consumption, impaired driving, and public safety risks. Addressing these concerns requires robust education, public awareness campaigns, and evidence-based policies to promote responsible cannabis use and harm reduction.

In conclusion, the Legal Marijuana Market represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry with significant growth potential. Changing attitudes, regulatory reforms, and market forces are driving expansion and investment in the legal cannabis sector. As legalization spreads globally and public acceptance grows, the legal marijuana market is poised for continued growth, innovation, and market diversification. However, navigating regulatory hurdles, addressing public health concerns, and overcoming stigma are essential for unlocking the full potential of the legal marijuana industry and ensuring its long-term success.

[kingsoftheblock]

Exploring the Cronos Ecosystem: Crypto.com's Vision for Decentralized Innovation

In the fast-paced world of blockchain technology, the emergence of robust ecosystems is key to driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and unlocking new opportunities for users and developers alike. At the forefront of this movement stands Crypto.com’s Cronos ecosystem, a vibrant and dynamic platform designed to catalyze the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs),…

[drewssam]

Crypto.com’s Cronos Announces Cohort 2, WEB3-Focused Accelerator Program

Crypto.com's Cronos, a layer-1 blockchain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), has initiated its second 10-week accelerator program to bolster projects on the Cronos Chain. Building upon the success of Cohort 1, which garnered over 400 applications and selected nine key projects, Cohort 2 is now open for submissions until November 28, 2022, with a substantial $100 million funding pool.

CEO Kris Marszalek encouraged aspiring participants, emphasizing the transformative potential of taking the first step towards application. The program will support 8-10 projects quarterly, spanning DeFi, Web 3.0 gaming & Metaverse, and Infrastructure & Tooling sectors. Participants will receive workshops, funding opportunities, marketing support, and mentorship from industry experts.

Selection criteria prioritize projects aligned with the program's focus areas, in pre-seed or seed stages without institutional backing, and operated by full-time teams. Optional but recommended criteria include projects with a minimum viable product (MVP).

Cronos Managing Director Ken Timsit underscores the program's aim to diversify the ecosystem, strengthen the community, and expand user adoption. Cohort 2 will spotlight projects advancing DeFi innovations, Web 3.0 gaming, SocialFi, NFT infrastructure, and tooling development to enrich Cronos's ecosystem and drive mainstream Web3 adoption.