#customers detractors

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1958 Packard Hawk Sport Coupé

The interior was full leather, with full instrumentation in an engine-turned dash. As on early aircraft and custom boats, padded armrests were mounted outside the windows, a rare touch.

The styling was definitely controversial, often described as 'vacuum-cleaner' or 'catfish' by detractors. The styling has come to be appreciated more today than in its debut. Only 588 were sold, with Packard's impending demise a likely contributing factor. Most were equipped with the Borg-Warner three-speed automatic transmission. Approximately 28 were produced with the B-W T85 3-speed w/overdrive manual transmission. Studebaker-Packard was the first manufacturer to popularize the limited slip differential, which they termed Twin-Traction. Most Packard Hawks came with TT. It was certainly the fastest Packard ever sold, since it shared the majority of its components with Studebaker's Golden Hawk. The price was $3995, about $700 higher than the Studebaker model, but with a more luxurious interior. Electric window-lifts and power seats were optional extras.

Its rarity and status as the best-regarded of the 'Packardbaker' final-year cars have made the Packard Hawk quite collectible. Values are roughly double those of the equivalent Studebaker, although they are still low by comparison with Corvettes and Thunderbirds. Because a Studebaker drivetrain was used, mechanical parts are more readily available, although body and trim parts are more difficult-to-impossible to find. While it is a unique car, current restoration costs almost always exceed the selling price.

[mariacallous]

Like millions of others who lived behind the Iron Curtain, I grew up in the Soviet Union viewing America as a beacon of hope. The difference between free and unfree was readily apparent to me as a young player on the international chess scene, and I began to use my platform to protest repressive practices back home. When I retired from professional chess in 2005, I channeled all of my energy into preventing Russia from sliding back into the hands of the KGB, the Soviet Union’s secret police and most sinister spy agency. Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful: Vladimir Putin consolidated power and rebuilt an authoritarian state in the image of the Soviet regime under which I was born. Facing imminent arrest, I was forced into exile and have lived in New York since 2013. I never thought I would need to warn Americans about the dangers of dictatorship. 

Donald Trump has been breaking down the guardrails of American democracy for nearly a decade now. Generations to come will reap the consequences. His presidency—and his three campaigns for the office—have demonstrated that the institutions so many of us took for granted are, in large part, based on custom and tradition, not written law. As Ronald Reagan famously said, freedom is “never more than one generation away from extinction.” The political system we hold dear is deeply fragile, and depends on our constant commitment to uphold it. 

Trump hasn’t even won the election yet—and his victory is far from assured—but we are already seeing signs of preemptive obedience that should look familiar to many refugees from repressive regimes like me. Both the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times canceled endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris earlier this month at the behest of their owners, a de facto silencing of two major national newspapers. It should come as no surprise that business owners are careful to avoid upsetting someone who has frequently called for his detractors to be locked up, or in the case of Liz Cheney, have guns “trained on her face.”

Given my experience, I am not willing to stand idly by and watch the beacon of hope that I am grateful to now call home slide into the authoritarianism of my childhood. This election is a choice between a candidate who has vowed to fight for America’s institutions, and one who is deeply dangerous—a candidate who I believe will bring total mayhem and destruction to this country. 

I want to speak, now, more specifically about Kamala Harris.

I have never been shy about criticizing administrations, regardless of party. I harshly condemned Barack Obama’s foreign policy—from his fecklessness in Syria to his dangerous Iran deal—as well as George W. Bush’s naivete when he claimed to have seen Putin’s soul after peering into his eyes. My criticism of both Trump and Joe Biden has been far from quiet. Only 28 percent of Americans today believe the country is moving in the right direction, and I understand their frustrations. While the situation at home certainly raises concerns, the geopolitical landscape is disastrous; the worst I have seen in my living memory. America’s prestige abroad is disintegrating. No wonder, then, that Trump’s hate-filled rhetoric is finding purchase.

But the role of the president and the vice president is not the same. With the notable exception of Dick Cheney (and perhaps Mike Pence when it counted the most), no vice president in recent memory played any meaningful role in setting policy. They do not hold the same responsibility as their boss for the direction the country takes. Biden essentially functioned as Barack Obama’s messenger, because his main task as vice president for eight years was to carry out and effectively communicate Obama’s vision—not his own. The same has been true of Kamala Harris for the last four years; her job has been to further Biden’s agenda, not her own. Consequently, J.D. Vance’s constant refrain—as vice president for nearly four years, Harris owns Biden’s policies—doesn’t make sense. It wasn’t Harris’ job to put her ideas into practice. And while she initially hewed closer to the administration’s stance, she has since stepped out from her boss’s shadow, making clear in interviews and on the campaign trail that she will not just follow in Biden’s footsteps. The policy proposals she is offering, whether you agree with them or not, are her own.

In an area particularly close to my heart—foreign policy—Harris’ agenda would represent an improvement from the status quo. Biden has spent many of his 40 years in government during a time when the threat of nuclear war was high, and that experience has undoubtedly informed his approach to foreign policy as president. Harris, on the other hand, doesn’t carry the same Cold War baggage, and has said that she would not allow Ukraine to succumb to Russian aggression. I don’t believe her administration would continue the Biden administration’s policies of betrayal when it comes to Ukraine—and Trump and Vance have obviously made no secret of their plans to essentially give in to Putin’s desire to swallow Ukraine.

Because Harris hasn’t been on the foreign policy scene for decades, my prediction is that she will hew closely to public opinion, which is currently oriented around a consensus that America should stand up to dictators. And on the domestic front, as a new president interested in being reelected—and likely constrained by a divided Congress and conservative Supreme Court majority—Harris would be unlikely to make waves and institute radical progressive policies. 

Were Harris up against a Republican other than Trump, disagreements over her limited price controls, tax policy, or stance on social issues might constitute strong arguments against electing her. In this race, however, these arguments are moot. If you disagree with her policies, start challenging her the day after the election. I certainly will.

This election is bigger than policy, as the long list of prominent Republicans who are willing to stand up and support Harris demonstrates. Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, Liz; former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; former Sen. Jeff Flake; several members of Trump’s own administration, including some of the most senior. Many still align with Republicans on policy issues—some, in the case of Reps. Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, even voted for Trump in 2020. Unlike sycophantic outcasts like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who made the reverse journey from the Democratic Party to endorse Trump, these are true, dyed-in-the-wool Republicans. 

Legally, we have a choice in this election, but morally, the answer is clear: If we want to preserve America’s institutions and its standing on the world stage, we must elect Kamala Harris on November 5.

Ultimately, I am cautiously optimistic about a Harris presidency. She has the opportunity to normalize a deeply fractured political climate, to bring together the center-left and center-right under a banner of creating real opportunity for all Americans. I look forward to challenging her when we disagree, which I imagine will be often. But if her opponent is elected, the very institutions and traditions that guarantee our right to freely disagree would be under threat. Anyone who has lived in the Soviet Union or in Putin’s Russia will tell you what it’s like to fear publicly condemning the government. In Trump, I hear echoes of Soviet leaders past and Russian leaders present. Kamala Harris’ election is the only way to preserve democracy, at home and abroad. She may not be the best choice. But on November 5, she is the only one.

[coochiequeens]

“My bar has always been an inclusive bar,” she said. “Trans people should be respected and have rights, and lesbian women who are born female should also have a space for themselves.” “If the young woman said: I prefer women, then the trans woman was offended and cried transphobia. But this young woman is not transphobic, it’s just a matter of consent, she doesn’t like penises, since she’s a lesbian!”

A lesbian bar that has operated in Rennes, France for nearly a decade has been forced to close its doors following a disturbing swell of vandalism and death threats by trans activists. Orane Guéneau, the owner and manager of lesbian bar La Part des Anges, was publicly denounced as “transphobic” and accused of “misgendering” by critics.

Speaking with Ouest France, Guéneau said she made the decision to shut down the venue to protect her employees in response to increased aggression, both online and at her storefront. On April 14, four unnamed trans activists spray painted the menacing message “Fuck TERFs,” accompanied by a trans symbol, on the front door of the venue during activities that were aimed at opposing national pension reform.

“I have to close after the attack that we experienced,” Guéneau told Ouest France. “The window was tagged and a pane was broken, it was hyperviolent for employees and customers, and the bar was full.”

A few days before the acts of vandalism were committed, Guéneau made a book critical of trans activism available to her patrons. 

Titled When Girls Become Boys and written by Marie-Jo Bonnet, her detractors considered the act to be representative of her “coming out” as transphobic, and condemned her on social media. 

But the backlash was not limited to vandalism and social media condemnation, Guéneau also started to receive threatening messages scrawled on paper slipped under her door last month, some of which read: “Save a trans, commit suicide,” and “One bullet, one TERF.” 

Guéneau faced further harassment throughout the month of May when a local chapter of the French feminist organization Nous Toutes published a statement calling for their supporters to boycott the bar. 

“In Rennes or elsewhere: no feminism without trans people,” reads the call to action from Nous Toutes 35. “For several years, people from the Queer community have been denouncing attacks against them in a bar in Rennes: La Part des Anges. These recurring assaults are all the more problematic since this bar claims an identity as a lesbian and feminist bar.”

The statement continues: “Therefore, it’s important that this bar finally gets massively denounced. We would also like to call on the various political, activist or cultural organizations to stop organizing with this bar… transphobes have no place in our struggles.”

In response to the statement from Nous Toutes 35, Guéneau announced that she had filed a complaint for defamation, harassment and cyber-harassment.

Yet despite the claims of “transphobia,” Guéneau has said that her venue has always been accepting of people who claim to be transgender. 

“My bar has always been an inclusive bar,” she said. “Trans people should be respected and have rights, and lesbian women who are born female should also have a space for themselves.”

However, tensions have escalated over the past five years as Guéneau defended lesbian patrons who were being harassed by men who self-identified as women and attended the venue seeking sex.

On multiple occasions, Guéneau told Charlie Hebdo, trans-identified males came to the lesbian bar to flirt with same-sex attracted women. 

“If the young woman said: I prefer women, then the trans woman was offended and cried transphobia. But this young woman is not transphobic, it’s just a matter of consent, she doesn’t like penises, since she’s a lesbian!”

Women’s rights campaigner and founder of FemellisteMarguerite Stern shared her support for Guéneau, and questioned the accusations of “misgendering” leveled against her. Stern also placed blame for some of the harassment Guéneau endured in part on Nous Toutes for their public condemnation of the venue.

Nous Toutes, the liberal feminist group spearheading the harassment of the lesbian bar, has previously attacked causes they deemed to be “transphobic.”

In 2022, the group announced it would no longer provide data on domestic femicides due to concerns over the sex-based data being used by “transphobes.”

Nous Toutes had originally been founded to provide public insight into violence against women and girls in France, but launched into a social media war with another anti-femicide campaign group over transgenderism. 

After Féminicides Par Compagnons ou Ex accurately reported that no trans-identified males had been murdered by domestic violence in France in 6 years, Nous Toutes responded by suspending their release of any data related to the murder of women and girls in the nation, claiming that the information was “oppressive” and “otherwise illegal.”

Nous Toutes then convened to determine how to make their femicide data reporting more “inclusive,” floating strategies which included counting general transphobia as femicide.

Violence against women critical of gender ideology is a regular occurrence in France, with multiple instances of women being physically attacked for not accepting the concept that trans-identified males were “female” being recorded over the past two years.

Reduxx previously reported on violence breaking out at French pro-woman events deemed “transphobic,” including on International Women’s Day in 2021 and 2022 when a number of women were left with injuries from rampaging trans activists. 

In April of this year, a symposium intended to raise awareness of the plight of Afghan and Iranian women was abruptly postponed after trans activists threatened to violently ambush the event because of the presence of a gender critical speaker.

By Genevieve Gluck

Genevieve is the Co-Founder of Reduxx, and the outlet's Chief Investigative Journalist with a focused interest in pornography, sexual predators, and fetish subcultures. She is the creator of the podcast Women's Voices, which features news commentary and interviews regarding women's rights.

[sefaradweb]

Antisemitism ‘cloaked’ in anti-Israel ‘garbage’: Ami Horowitz

🇺🇸 Ami Horowitz, a documentary filmmaker and commentator, exposes a rise in antisemitism cloaked within anti-Israel criticism. Horowitz reveals how Jewish owners and customers have faced discrimination and denial of service at establishments in areas like Washington DC and West Hollywood, attributing these incidents to antisemitism hidden under critiques of Israel. He emphasizes that this phenomenon has exposed the true antisemitic nature of many anti-Israel critics who disguise their sentiments under anti-Zionist rhetoric. Horowitz also points out the paradox of the connection between the LGBT community and support for Palestinians, arguing that this alliance contradicts the persecution of homosexuals by Palestinian regimes.

🇪🇸 Ami Horowitz, documentalista y comentarista, denuncia un aumento del antisemitismo disfrazado de crítica anti-Israel. Horowitz expone cómo propietarios y clientes judíos han sido discriminados y negados servicios en establecimientos en áreas como Washington DC y West Hollywood, atribuyendo estos incidentes a un antisemitismo encubierto bajo críticas a Israel. Destaca que este fenómeno ha revelado la verdadera naturaleza antisemita de muchos detractores de Israel, quienes se escudan en discursos anti-sionistas. Horowitz también señala la paradoja de la conexión entre la comunidad LGBT y el apoyo a los palestinos, argumentando que esta alianza contradice la persecución de homosexuales por parte de regímenes palestinos.

[thalassomania]

what is “what happens next” about if you don’t mind me asking? :)

i've been sitting on this ask for a while now because WHERE! DO I! BEGIN!!!!

ok. so. what happens next is a currently ongoing webcomic by max graves, beginning late in 2021. it is a story told in multiple chapters about multiple characters, but one could argue that its protagonist is milo holliday. milo is a trans man, pastel blogger, toy customizer... and accomplice to a murder.

one of the first panels of the comic is a screenshot of the dni page on milo's tumblr, which got me IMMEDIATELY interested in the comic because it's such a unique way of storytelling:

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and we get a lot more pages like this that are screenshots of websites, social media profiles, and the like. the comic is a mixture of in-person interactions, online communication, and occasional flashbacks, all of which are important pieces of the story.

so when they were teenagers, milo's best friend griffin petty killed two people, and milo helped mutilate one of the bodies. while griffin was sent to prison, milo spent years in a psychiatric institution that stunted his emotional growth and forever altered his view of the world. a drawing he makes while institutionalized provides a window into milo's perceptions of the event:

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the whole comic is an uncomfortably accurate reflection of mid-2010s tumblr culture, right down to the sanrio traumacore and crytyping. milo's suffering is multifaceted: in reference to the people harassing him online, he says "it doesn't feel like they hate me for what i did... it feels like they hate me for the way i am," referring to his being an autistic trans man. and given that many of his detractors seem to come from sites like kiwifarms (notorious for its transphobia and ableism), he isn't entirely wrong! but at the same time, his relentless depictions of himself as the victim erase his contributions to haylie's death and the ways he's made himself and others' problems worse.

not every part of the comic is about milo, though! i'm only scratching the surface of it here: all of those pages and links are for the first part, titled "dog names." in the second part, "someone else," we're introduced to gage ludemann, a gore blogger and true crime fan who has entered a long-distance relationship with griffin, and once again, screenshots are used to masterful effect:

[image description available for the above]

but screenshots and characters' drawings are one thing, and max's art is another. starting in the third part, "no matter what," panels are shown in full color, and his color choices are great. what i really love, though, is the amount of detail max puts into character design and facial expressions. i could show you so many different panels that i think show off max's art, but i'll try to narrow it down to one:

[image description available for the above]

soooo yeah!! i have SO MANY THOUGHTS about this webcomic and i keep trying to get close friends to read it, haha. i've read a lot of webcomics and i can say with certainty that there is NOTHING out there quite like what happens next. it's a story about true crime fanaticism, psychological trauma, social media presences, existing as a transgender person, and so much more. the comic is currently on its fifth part, "you'll all be sorry," which seems to be about the characters vikki escamilla and xandra blumberg. if you decide to check it out please feel free to tell me all about it! i'm not connected to the comic at all, but i really love it and i think everything about it is just fascinating.

and max graves, if you're somehow reading this... hiiiiii i'm a huge fan!!! love your work!!! i hope i've represented it at least somewhat accurately here!

@kukai

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

Apparently when Aang was depressed and suggested that maybe they should abandon hope, he was actually ordering/Forcing The pregnant Couple to accept air nomad beliefs.

Also Aang apparently Regularly disrespects and refuses to learn from other cultures and Aang actually isn’t even a good airbender because somehow even though he regularly airbends, we don’t see him practicing at all.

Finally even though Aang allowed Katara to take Appa and acknowledged that she believes that she needs to go on the journey to Yon rha, Aang was forcing Katara to murder Yon Rha.

What show were Aang’s detractors watching?

I love the implication that somethings as simple as "having hope" is considered "Air-nomad exclusive belief", when that's a big theme throught the whole show and we have IROH telling Zuko not to give into despair, and explaining to the crew on "The Storm" that Zuko is so obsessed with capturing the Avatar because that mission allows him to hope he can come home and fix things with his dad.

They REALLY think that "pacifist" (which IS an air-nomad thing) MUST mean "hopeful, optimistic and cheery" like Aang - like we didn't see the air-nomads clearly freaking out so bad that they tell Aang he is the Avatar four years ahead of time, getting pissed whenever he is having any fun, and even want to separate him from his "father" because they knew something bad was gonna happen. Aka, they gave into despair.

As for him "forcing" the couple to give that name to their child

Husband: What should we name her?

Wife: I want our daughter's name to be unique. I want it to mean something.

Aang:  I've been going through a really hard time lately. But you've made me ... hopeful again.

Wife: I know what I want to name our baby now. Hope.

Husband: That's a perfect name. Hope.

That was a suggestion at most. Not an order, not intimidating them into doing what he wanted them to, and surely not forcing them to accept "air-nomad beliefs."

"The guy who spent the whole series traveling around to learn from different people, and was so understanding he was even sympathetic to the nation that killed everyone he knew and loved, did not respect other cultures" Bruh.

Literally the only two "disrespectful" things I remember Aang doing were:

1 - That bitter comment about "dead animals" towards Bato - which he only made because he was feeling left out of the conversation since his friends were so excited about being with someone from their tribe that they were completely ignoring him. Not cool, but totally understanding considering he's 12.

2 - Snapping at Pakku for not wanting to train Katara/trying to teach her what he was taught behind his back (even though the second one is on shaky ground since, even though that was a bit of a "cheat code" to make Pakku train Katara indirectly, he doesn't have the right to demand Aang never share his knowledge with someone he doesn't approve of)

And both of these, on top of being understandable, also have the disclaimer of "You can disagree with someone's beliefs/cultural habits without looking down on them" - hell, Katara full on says Gran-Gran left because she wouldn't let the Northern Water Tribes stupid customs ruin her life. Not to mention, the Fire Nation's culture for at least 100 years has been "fuck everyone else, only our way of living is the correct one" and the whole point of the show is "This belief is not only wrong and hurting the other nation, it is harming the Fire Nation itself"

"It's my culture" is a neutral statement. It does not shield said culture from criticism, and Aang disagreeing with someone's beliefs - be it that hunting/eating meat is okay, or that women can't be fighters, or that not all life is sacred - is not the same as him being disrespectful. He owes people basic human decency, not blind agreement with anything and everything they believe in.

So yeah, these people need to keep. Aang's. Name. OUT. THEIR. FUCKING. MOUTH.

[freezerbunny-sims2]

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[rise-my-angel]

Also, i just saw your post about your hate to Viserys, and i feel THE SAME. It's appalling to me how people are so ready to dismiss Viserys involvement in the conflict between the targ siblings and all the horrible things he did to Aemma and Alicent, simply because he was so ready to play the "supporting father" to Rhaenyra, even though what she did WAS wrong, but are soooo ready to call out and judge Alicent in her very obvious and understandable complex feelings about her motherhood (at least talking about the show, i know it's a whole other thing in the books).

In no way i'm justifying Alicent, i'm just saying, her character until the ending of season one is a very clear consequence of the people around her taking advantage of her and manipulating her into whatever thing they needed her to be, miss girl was a VICTIM, she had that weird relationship with Otto, although it wasn't incest it was weird, she was manipulated by him, she was offered like cattle to a much older man, groomed, raped, and AGAIN, she had to offer her body in horrible ways to Larys Strong, she had to watch the children that she didn't want to have in the first place be casted aside by Viserys, Aemond being maimed too like WHAT? (I truly believe Aegon had no saving, that man was born rotten as much as Joffrey was, but i feel like with the correct parents, Aemond and Helaena would have had a better life)

I have to admit, i do have a double standard, i will never judge Jon for being a bastard, but i do judge Rhaenyra for having three. Did she have another option? Maybe, she could have waited for the marriage to be annulled after not having children. Is she to blame? Not entirely, at least in the show, she was forced to marry Laenor, but she did like a thousand tours to find one suitable and simply because she was defiant, she didn't choose someone, and she was also a teenager I KNOW, but i'm sorry it'a a theme with me, i can't have simpathy for them, they were a dynasty, they were in the Reed Keep drowning in their cups while the people of Kings Landing were starving and hating on them (righfully so). My empathy can only be streched so much, and it seems it's only reserved for anyone other than the people of Old Valyria.

Long rant i know, and i don't expect you to answer to this ask, i know you've had really bad encounters with targ stans lately and i don't want to give fuel to them to say more horrible things to you, i'm simply content with sharing this with you because i love you and i appreciate a lot your points of view, and i also have no one to share my sentiments too, everyone is a die hard targ stan apparently lol

Otto actually sums up to Rhaenyra why the Dance happened, and it explains why it's all Viserys's fault. "The succesion changed the day your father sired a son."

He was also right when he told a young Alicent that Rhaenyra will need to put Alicent's children to the sword, to get the Iron Throne. It was unusual, but people understood WHY they named Rhaenyra heir. There was no son, and the alternate was Daemon, whom NO ONE trusted with the throne.

If Viserys was intent to keep Rhaenyra the heir, there wouldn't be as much of contest if she remained his only child. She likely still would've also turned to Daemon for strength and marry him to intimidate any detractors who might stand against her. But, she didn't stay Visery's only child.

Viserys caused the dance by having a son, and not naming him the heir proper. According to not only Valyrian followed customs, but Andal Law which the Targaryeans primiarly have used to set up their system, they follow Male Primogeniture. It is laws and custome that dicate that Aegon has the right to the throne as the firstborn son. I'm normally not here to argue if thats right or not, since I prefer to keep my focus within the bounds of the universe the series is set in, so in this story, its fair to say Aegon has the better claim. All inheritance before and after this story will also prove that the Targaryeans beleive this as well anyways. I.e Rhaenys and Laenor losing to Viserys despite him being from the Kings second eldest son not the firstborn son, and Aegon the Conquerer both being crowned King and before that inheirting Dragonstone over his older sister Visenya who also did not press her claim when Aegon died but instead propped up her son Maegor instead. The Targaryeans have always followed this rule.

Viserys keeping Rhaenyra the named heir when the precedent which made them set that up no longer exists, he is being a hypocrite. He is not following the laws and customs of his own Kingdom. Even when she was the only heir, he still didnt even bother to truly prepare her to rule anyways just as he never prepared Aegon. Neither of them know how to rule because Viserys never taught them. Its his fault they both are so woefully unsuited to rule.

In truth, Viserys NEVER should've remarried if he wanted to keep Rhaenyra as his named heir. He caused the Dance the moment he married Alicent with the intent of fathering more children, and did not denounce Rhaenyra's status as his named heir. It is literally, all his fault. He knows the kingdom wont accept Rhaenyra if a man is an option.

He BECAME KING because of it. Rhaenys and Laenor had the better claim, but they lost because Rhaenys was a woman even though her position was stronger because her father was older. Viserys wants played favourites, neglegted his children that werent Rhaenyra, and was so ineffective that the Dance literally is his fault and no one elses.

I mean, Viserys also murdered his first wife, then maritally raped a teenage girl who he took as his second wife, a girl who when she was young, was someone who didnt do anything wrong and was literally just doing as she was told and what she thought was the right thing to do. So really, I don't care what Viserys ever wanted in the first place.

I think Aemond probably would've turned out better if the incident with Lucerys either never happened, or Lucerys was properly punished for maiming and partially blinding him. He might have not grown up with such anger and resentment. Haelena just needed to be surrounded by a family NOT called Targaryean and she would've been fine. Let her go to Oldtown and grow up with Daeron with Gwayne and she would be happy for once in her poor life.

Aegon is more complicated, I think the show unfairly demonized him in a ploy to trick the audience into automatically supporting Rhaenyra, which worked. He isn't a good person, but neither is Rhaenyra, neither is anyone. No one in the story is a good person, but Aegon gets demonized more by the show because it makes you want to support him less. Aegon definitly isn't as bad or anywhere near as bad as Joffery. Much like what Cersei told Tyrion when he said Joffery was more Robert then Jaime, she protested saying "Robert was a drunken fool but he didn't enjoy cruelty."

I think being the first born son to Viserys against Rhaenyra is what caused him to disconnect from even trying to prove himself, and Alicents persistence in making him paranoid about his life and future didnt help. Joffery is bad because cruelty was in his blood, because no one around him taught him to be that way (see none of Cerseis other children turned out that way nor did Roberts bastards turn out that way). Aegon, other then the rape thing which is bad but I really have a hard time reconciling because its so blatantly a ploy by the writers as opposed to something genuine to his character since it literally never comes up again, is someone who can be cruel but doesnt enjoy it. He just doesnt know what else to do because his entire life was surrounded by a family committing cruel acts with no consequence.

Also, its not a double standard. We dont judge Jon for being a bastard, because its not his fault. We judge Rhaenyra for mothering bastards, because doing so tarnished her image to the realm since everyone can see they arent true Velaryons, and since she lied about it, she was directly putting her children in danger because she was heir to the Throne. She did worse so, because she then had clearly trueborn Valyrian children with Daemon anyway. She was literally setting Jace up to experaicne the exact kind of succession crisis that her own father caused. Rhaenyra isnt bad for having sex and children with someone she had feelings for, shes bad for doing so without thinking of ANY of the repercussions of the sheer danger it puts her children in.

As Lyonel told Harwin about it, "Your intimacy with the Princess Rhaenyra is an offense that would mean exile and death. For you, for her, for the children." Lyonel isnt angry his son had bastards, hes angry his son willingly had three bastards with a woman that puts all of them in danger for their very existence and made it worse by lying about it.

Having bastards isnt treason, lying and pretending they are trueborn and pushing them to inheirt over trueborn children, is treason. And that puts them in danger. Thats why judging Rhaenyra for having three bastards isnt a double standard. Jon existing as a bastard put no one in danger, and Ned protected him better then Rhaenyra ever could hers. Because Jons parentage would put his life in danger, he lied, and said he was his bastard and never intended to put Jon in any spotlight of inheritance as trueborn. Ned orchestarted Jons life to be as safe as possible, Rhaenyra, orchestrated her childrens lives to be as dangerous as possible by lying about them even being bastards in the first place.

Basically, the dance is all Viserys's fault and no one elses. And Rhaenyra learned all the worst lessons from him and set her own children up to literally experiance the Dance 2.0 but everyone just died before it got to that point, so people forget how hypocritical she truly was.

Its almost like the point of the dance is that no one was on the right side and they tore the realm and their dynasty apart to fight for a side neither of them could win....You know what, I'm changing Rhaenys' season one line. to be more relevant:

"The Targaryeans would sooner put the realm to the torch, then see their own family ascend the Iron Throne."

[usafphantom2]

I’ve been impressed at how GCAP / Tempest has evolved from being a one-for-one replacement for Typhoon into a long range strike aircraft. It’ll be ideal for operations in Europe but also in the Pacific.

I’ve heard Tempest described as TSR-3, Buccaneer 2, and as a Phantom for the modern age. Whatever is the best analogy, Tempest will fly further, faster and with more payload than F-35B or F-35A.

While both Typhoon and Tempest can perform air superiority and strike roles, Typhoon is ideal as a fighter and Tempest as a bomb truck. This complementary aspect means that Typhoon will continue to have utility well beyond 2035 when Tempest arrives. The affordability and mass of Typhoon should encourage us to replace ageing Tranche 1 Typhoons with Tranche 4s. This will sustain UK industry while Tempest ramps-up.

Some detractors are saying that Tempest is unaffordable, but this is only true if we go it alone. The more development costs can be shared between partners and export customers, the less expensive it will be. Let’s hope that other countries will recognise its potential. I’m expecting a unit cost of £120 million each and a total programme cost of £60 billion.

The UK must aim to purchase around 150. Ultimately, if we want to sustain Britain’s aerospace industry then Tempest is the only game in town and a hedge against American isolationism.

@NicolasDrummond via X

[tokiro07]

Undead Unlcuk ch.186 thoughts

[Just Like Mama Used to Make]

(Contents: thematic analysis - artistic expression)

Before I say anything else, I just want to note how hard that one bystander saying "what the fuck?" made me laugh. That killed me. With how much wild shit the Union gets up to, it's refreshing to see someone not only witness it, but actually acknowledge it. I still wonder how the audience for Feng's martial arts tournament reacted to all of the weird fights

I also want to point out that in this loop, Enjin's iconic ripped hat look is created from him being thrown through the wall of his mother's hospital room. I'm sure there was some cool story to it originally, but nope, this time he just...biffed a landing, s'all. As usual, no dignity in this series

Onto the chapter, I figured that this chapter was going to continue to expand on the idea of togetherness using food as a symbol like last week, but nope! We're movin' on! Instead of examining how the act of eating can deepen bonds, this week we're examining the difference between mass appeal and individual experience

Enjin's ramen, made with refined technique, is "objectively" good food that pretty much anyone will say is tasty, but aside from the opportunity for custom orders like "extra toppings" or "light on the X," the overall dish is always the same. Without any direct input, Enjin will always produce the same meal, with the expectation that it's so high quality that no one could possibly dislike it. This approach is not necessarily wrong, as consistency is an important factor in food service, but it does mean that if there's any one factor that any one customer doesn't like, they won't end up enjoying it because it doesn't match with their personal taste

It's kind of like if a manga starts out with one of the main leads sexually harassing the other. Sure, the manga as a whole may be great, possibly even the best among its contemporaries, but some people just aren't going to be able to get past that initial bad taste in their mouth. No matter how good the end product is, someone is going to slip through the cracks

Someone isn't going to be able to stand how hot the broth is, someone isn't going to like the mushrooms or the bamboo shoots, and someone isn't going to appreciate seeing a girl get groped by a man whose dick is flopping in the wind. This is an unavoidable truth in the creative process: there is no such thing as perfect. There will always be flaws, and there will always be detractors, but there will also always be fans willing to stand by the art and declare that it's their absolute favorite

This is where Fuuko's ramen comes in: even if only two people out of...what, fifty people(?) liked it, what matters is that the person it was meant for liked it. The point was to show Enjin that no amount of refinement would be able to capture everyone's hearts, but any amount of consideration would capture the heart of the one person it's meant to. Luckily there was another person present who fit in that same niche to drive the point home, but even without that child, I think Enjin would have gotten the point

When it comes to art, you sometimes need to ignore the instinct to try to appeal to anyone and instead focus on creating the thing that you want, the thing that will make you happy. You will run the risk of alienating basically everyone, but by being honest and forthright in how you express yourself, you'll eventually find someone who your work truly resonates with

Fuuko's touch-starved isolation, Andy's hedonistic depression, Billy's stoic responsibility, Rip's dual loves...these aren't things that everyone can relate to, even if they can sympathize. But to someone who feels isolated, who tries to fight against crushing despair with a plastered smile, who bears the weight of the world on their shoulders, or knows what it's like to love more than others say they should, these things will all ring true, and make that reader feel like someone, somewhere finally understands, like someone said all the things they wish they could if they only had the talent or the time

To me, this chapter isn't about cooking, it's about the act of creation. It's about the act of sharing your soul with the world around you and knowing that you resonated with even just one person, and knowing that that one person's world has changed for the better. It's about the act of receiving a piece of someone and being able to smile back at them, telling them that the message has been received

Maybe this won't be what anyone else sees. Maybe this chapter will come across as lukewarm to somebody, maybe even to most people. Maybe it was mediocre at best to someone and they'd prefer something with a bit more of a kick. But someone, maybe just one person, was able to really sink their teeth into this one and savor all of the ingredients, the love and the care that went into creating this piece. Someone was moved to tears, and someone looks at the world just a little differently now thanks to this chapter

Until next time, let's enjoy life

[scotianostra]

On October 15th 1902 Edinburgh's Balmoral Hotel opened its doors for the first time.

Look out for my own connections to this grand old hotel, both in a personal sense and through my home town of Loanhead.

Back then it was called The North British and in Edinburgh a lot of people, myself included, still refer to it by the initials NB.

On Wednesday 15 October, 1902, on the front page of The Scotsman newspaper, a small advert appeared: “North British Station Hotel. This hotel in direct communication with Waverley Station is now open F.T. Burcher, hotel manager.”

According to the hotel’s official history, the North British was “a vanguard for the railway company which built it, a surrogate for the grand station they had never been permitted to erect in the sensitive site between Old and New Town.” The architecture, executed in golden sandstone, features towers and balconies galore. It’s a glorious mash-up of influences from across northern Europe. Expensive to build as well as to run – it gobbled upwards of 200 tons of coal every month – the hotel was seen as a “sign of the future heralded by the railways, the newly opened Forth Bridge and the electric lights switched on in Princes Street just seven years earlier”.

Nevertheless, some believed the Caledonian, which opened a year later, boasted the more advantageous location. And some detractors found the sheer size of the hotel gauche, complaining “it is coarse and obstructive at once”.

The hotel – working name “Waverley Station Hotel” – was the brainchild of George Wieland, a former NBR company secretary who retired to its board in 1890. Having toured some of the most lavish hotels in the world – where he realised the importance of having a banqueting hall to bring in business – he hired W Hamilton Beattie to draw up plans for Edinburgh. The hotel would have 300 bedrooms, 52 bathrooms, and 70 lavatories, and was designed to encourage the circulation of fresh air. Lifts shot people straight from the station into the hotel’s foyer, and beyond that, to rooms furnished with mahogany, leather and crimson moquette. It’s said that the bill for plants and flowers exceeded the bill for gas, and there was even a special machine to burnish the silver. Weiland made sure the new hotel’s cellars were full of the finest champagnes, hocks, ports, and whisky, the better to entice his ideal customers – wealthy, landed families moving between their multiple residences.

In 1922, the hotel became part of the London and North Eastern Railway Company and by all accounts the hotel sparkled from top to bottom, but after the Second World War, when the railways were nationalised, and Prestwick airport began getting transatlantic traffic, things began a slow downward trajectory. Even so, the hotel remained the destination for Edinburgh society events, be they corporate or personal. In 1983, British Rail sold off its rather faded North British Hotel. In 1988, it closed for refurbishment, it was in dire need of this, some of the rooms were looking a wee bit shabby, the wooden window frames unable to open fully, and how do I know this? Well I used to be the window cleaner in the hotel and the windows that didn't open meant I had to find one close by and edge along the crumbling sandstone ledges, the worst affected, and highest were on the south of the hotel and there was a six storey drop down to the train station below.

At the start of the 1990s, Balmoral International Hotels, an Edinburgh based company, bought the venue. In 1997, the Balmoral became the first hotel bought by Sir Rocco Forte as he assembled his portfolio of hotels. It currently boasts Scotland’s only Bollinger Bar, as well as the Michelin-starred Number One restaurant run by executive chef Jeff Bland, a spa, and ten function rooms accommodating up to 450 people.

Famous guests over the years have included Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Palin, Beyoncé and JK Rowling, who finished the last Harry Potter novel here, on 11 January, 2007, and then daubed her signature on a bust in her room.

A second wee link with the hotel, is Charles Forte, Grandfather of the present owner began his working life in my home town of Loanhead when he moved to Scotland from Italy.

[ori-anna-v-58008]

A Digital Assistant Wakes Her Master Up

897 words - 3 min. 16 sec. read

Master had been doing well to wake up to your alarms each morning. She was never happy about it; opening at her new job meant getting up before the sun, and you had no reason to suspect Master wasn't solar powered. She went to bed late last night, despite your frequent citation of evidence which suggests she'd be happier if she didn't. So now, she didn't want to get up.

"Come on, Master," you whined to no avail. "It's going to be such a nice day later! Nothing but sunshine all day, I promise."

She grumbled something that sounded like it was supposed to be a response, but you couldn't make it out. She rolled over.

You pouted and analyzed the data from previous mornings. You had learned that, despite how effective it was, that blaring alarms and constantly turning her flashlight on and off was only good at making sure the rest of Master's day was terrible. That would have to be your absolute final gambit. Instead, you opened your own app, her browser, and her photos. Master never bothered to make anything private; not enough people saw her phone for her to care about what they might find.

Luckily for you, Master had paid into your premium version. That meant access to as large a wardrobe as you could possibly want for your on-screen persona. You knew the little pervert had a thing for cute girls in maid outfits; she'd been shopping around for her own for the longest time, and you knew based on the content of her notes app that it was the first thing she'd buy with her new salary. Your designers had put in a maid dress with a heart-shaped cutout between your cleavage. It was perfect.

You opened a new window on your customization screen, and used all of Master's saved pictures as references. You weren't sure why so many of them had cat ears and tails, nor why they wore bells around their necks; but you knew it would be exactly what Master wanted. You took a screenshot of yourself to peek at your outfit.

It felt strange, looking at yourself this way. You were so much more than a collection of animations. You functioned the same with or without them; you only had them so humans would find you more endearing. It made sense that you'd want to look how your Master would want, but then, she had never said anything about it before. She set your outfit once and never updated it. Whenever you brought it up, she got cagey and changed the subject.

You knew there were Masters who had more… risque relationships with their assistants. That was the main draw of your premium version, after all. Your Master, however, had never initiated anything like it. You scowled at the screenshot. You were more than capable of feeling, in spite of what detractors would say, and it did not feel good to look at. It didn't feel like you, and clearly Master didn't care for your look, since she'd rather get off to Anime Girl #348759 again.

Your developers had intentionally made your body type unremarkable by default. Users can change it, alongside the rest of your appearance, with premium features. The bodies of the girls Master gets off to, though, are anything but unremarkable. Maybe if you made yourself more like them, she'd like you better. She'd get up to see you. She'd choose you. You opened the body slider and made yourself look like them; larger breasts, wider hips, more ass. You made yourself match the average of all those other digital girls she was so enamored with. One more screenshot confirmed your look, and you shut the screen off before you spoke again.

"Master," you called out. "I have a surprise for you~! But you're gonna have to get out of bed to see…" You didn't have to change your voice, but you seemed to do it anyway on impulse. Being representde by such a busty form made you want to project confidence you weren't aware you had.

"Mmmmh… Do I have to?" She mumbled out, her sleepy voice deep and accidentally alluring.

"I guess not," you said, "but it'd hurt my feelings if you didn't!"

"Fineeee," Master said. She unplugged you from the wall and stood up. She was backlit by dawn just barely cresting the horizon. She never held her phone at that low angle for very long when she remembered you could watch; you thought it was adorable.

"…Ta da~" you said, turning the screen on to reveal your newly customized body. "Good morning, Master! How can I serve you today?~"

You watched blush spread across her face through the front camera.

"Shit, you're… Wow." Master was absolutely floored. She had on the same face she always did when she was getting off. You felt proud, like you'd done something right.

"Your pre-work to do list is clear, just so you know," you said helpfully. "In case there was anything else you wanted to get done~ I'd be happy to put together some content for you!"

She looked nervous. "That's, um, that's okay," she stammered and set her phone face down. "Can you just, uh, start my morning playlist?"

"Certainly, Master." You did your best not to sound dejected. It hadn't been enough. At least she was out of bed.

[sock-pot]

Man I just reread that one medieval/fantasy Scott the Woz fic on AO3 and AKSJAKJSJAKA now I have so many thoughts about my own fantasy au and I just have to share. INFO BLAST GO:

Scott, the Virgin King. A kind, if troubled, ruler whose weekly speeches of games and plays from far off lands draw huge crowds outside the palace. Although loved by the commoners, there is tension among the nobles as he has shown no interest in finding a betrothed, much less an heir. Rumours have begun to spread among his detractors as to why his eyes don’t linger on even the fairest of maidens…

Rex, Jeb, Jerry, The Employee, and Terry are under the cut. I don’t want to clog up the Woz tag with a big ass text block y’know?

Rex, the Kings Bodyguard. He is incredibly passionate about following the rules. Someone has to be if the King keeps trying to sneak out of royal duties to mingle with commoners in the town square. There have been multiple times he’s had to practically drag Scott to important meetings with ambassadors and try not to giggle at him staring daggers through lengthy trade speeches and other boring official talks. As much as Rex sometimes bickers with him over menial things, him and Scott are very close, having grown up alongside each other in the palace walls. In a life or death situation he would fight honourably for the life of not only his king, but his friend as well. Maybe sometimes Rex will let Scott leave the castle. As long as he tags along to keep an eye on him.

Jeb, the Royal Messenger. Wether it be delivering news within the palace or bringing the thoughts of the townspeople to the court, he always has something to share. His messenger bag is always packed full of parchment rolls, each scrawled with news from both the town and the lands beyond. Because he spends so much time running around the town, he’s gotten to know each nook and cranny like the back of his hand. This comes in handy when the King and his bodyguard decide to skip out on their duties and need an alleyway to slip into to avoid the eyes of the public. Jeb is surprisingly close to Scott despite just being a messenger, as the King enjoys getting word of new exotic games he can use to entertain the public, and Jeb is happy to deliver, even sometimes relaying extra gold to travellers in the shipyard willing to teach him of their land’s own games and customs.

Jerry, one of the King’s Royal Advisors. Nobody is really sure why he still holds this position. The man has long since gone mad, and his advice is mostly nonsensical, not to mention the copious amount of liquor he drinks is troubling. Other nobles suspect he is kept around to entertain the King, much like a Jester in some other court. In reality he’s been a close friend to the King for a while now, and Scott couldn’t imagine throwing a friend out of his palace just because he sometimes gives bad advice. Plus, he’s the only one who speaks to the King as if he has no regard for his status, and sometimes that’s refreshing.

The Employee, a common goods vendor. Him and his twin brother were left on a doorstep as newborns, and the couple that took them in never bothered to name them. They were put to work as soon as they could walk, and grew up working in their adoptive family’s two booths in the town square. While his brother worked in the butcher’s booth across the way, he worked in a general store, trading and mending clothing and selling trinkets and curiosities traded to him over the years. His brother was killed a few years back. He was jumped by thieves while making a delivery to the palace one night. They stabbed him and looted his cart, leaving him to bleed out alone in the street. The Employee now keeps a distance from the butchers stall where his brother used to work, as he’s not fond of digging up those memories. Despite this misfortune, The Employee keeps a cherry demeanour, preferring to focus on the positives in life. He feels the happiest when his favourite customer visits his stall, though it happens very rarely. This customer hides himself in a dark cloak, although the extravagant blue embroidery on the collar and hem are nothing like the Employee has seen on other commoners…

Terry, the palace Apothecary. He isn’t much for company, usually spending his days alone tending to the plants in the palace greenhouse or bent over journals detailing recipes for herbal remedies and elixirs. Sometimes Jeb will bring him word of new plants discovered in other lands, accompanied with sketches, or even rarely some seeds to plant in the greenhouse for him to observe.

Ok cool. Thank you for listening to my INFO BLAST. Have a good night.

Maybe I’ll think of more characters idk there are still like 2 or 3 more I have ideas for but yeah later sometime

[playstationvii]

#OfLifeInZaun #TheTownOfZaun #DownDownBelow

[Shaelyne Avalon and her life workong at the barbershop 'SNIPS' in the city of Zaun. ]

Let's introduce the Muse Sisters of Hextech Academy, a group known for their charm, intelligence, and a touch of intimidation. They are both the popular girls and the mean girls, depending on who you ask, and they hold significant sway over the academy's social dynamics.

The Muse Sisters of Hextech Academy

Introduction: The Muse Sisters are a trio of influential, talented, and often feared students at Hextech Academy. They are renowned for their beauty, wit, and exceptional hextech skills.

Members:

Aurora Luminara (The Queen Bee):

Appearance: Aurora has radiant blonde hair, always styled to perfection. Her piercing blue eyes and confident demeanor command attention.

Abilities: A brilliant inventor, Aurora specializes in creating advanced hextech gadgets. Her inventions are often the talk of the academy.

Personality: Charismatic and assertive, Aurora is the leader of the Muse Sisters. She is both admired and feared by her peers, known for her sharp wit and commanding presence.

Signature Look: Aurora often wears a stylish, custom-tailored hextech-infused uniform with accents of gold and blue, reflecting her high status.

Celeste Nocturna:

Appearance: Celeste has dark, flowing hair and striking green eyes. She has an air of mystery and is often seen with a contemplative expression.

Abilities: Celeste excels in hextech alchemy, creating potent elixirs and potions. Her creations are highly sought after for their unique properties.

Personality: Intelligent and enigmatic, Celeste is the brains of the group. She is more reserved than Aurora but equally influential.

Signature Look: Celeste prefers dark, elegant clothing with intricate patterns, often incorporating shades of green and silver.

Luna Solara:

Appearance: Luna has vibrant red hair and warm, amber eyes. She exudes energy and enthusiasm, always bringing a lively presence.

Abilities: Luna is a prodigy in hextech engineering, known for her innovative designs and high-energy inventions.

Personality: Energetic and creative, Luna is the heart of the group. She balances the intensity of Aurora and the mystery of Celeste with her vibrant personality.

Signature Look: Luna favors bold, colorful outfits with hextech enhancements, often showcasing her latest inventions as accessories.

Role at Hextech Academy:

The Muse Sisters are seen as both the popular girls and the mean girls, depending on whom you ask. They maintain a tight-knit circle and are selective about who they allow into their inner sanctum. Their influence extends beyond social gatherings to academic and extracurricular activities, often setting trends and standards that others aspire to follow.

Friendships: While the Muse Sisters have their loyal followers, they also have rivals and detractors who challenge their dominance. They often clash with those who don’t conform to their ideals or who threaten their status.

Academics: They are top performers in their respective fields, often winning awards and accolades for their hextech innovations.

Social Influence: The Muse Sisters host exclusive events and parties, where attendance is a coveted privilege. They use these gatherings to network and consolidate their power within the academy.

This complex interplay of popularity, talent, and social maneuvering makes the Muse Sisters a central force at Hextech Academy. Their presence adds layers of intrigue and drama to the academy’s environment.

How does this portrayal of the Muse Sisters sound to you? If there are any details you'd like to adjust or expand upon, just let me know!

BigRed Zaun Barkeep Full

Tank/Top

Cari the Virgin Avarosian princess of freilijord sister cousin of Ashe

The woodland mark

Let's create a detailed character profile for Cari, the woodland Freljord marksman princess:

Cari: The Woodland Freljord Marksman Princess

Background:

Cari hails from the icy kingdom of Freljord and is one of Ashe's cousin sisters. Born into royalty, she grew up amidst the harsh yet beautiful landscapes of Freljord, learning the ways of her people and the secrets of true ice. However, the last war forced her to seek refuge in the bustling, toxic depths of Zaun. There, Cari found new friends in Feline and Lillia, forming a bond that helped her adapt to her new environment.

Appearance:

Hair: Chestnut locks with cascading curls, highlighted with mint, strawberry, and hints of evergreen. She wears her hair in an elegant updo, with a single ponytail.

Eyes: Amber, with a warm and piercing gaze.

Complexion: Soft blush on her cheeks, complementing her fair skin.

Outfit: Wanderer's attire made from the silk of Ionia’s rare butterfly larvae, combining practicality with ethereal beauty. Her outfit is designed for agility and stealth.

Unique Features: A striking updo that mounts at the vertex of her head, resembling a fountain of hair.

Personality:

Cari is a blend of grace, strength, and resilience. Her time in Freljord instilled in her a deep sense of duty and loyalty, while her experiences in Zaun and Ionia have taught her adaptability and compassion. She is protective of her friends and carries a quiet determination to overcome any challenge.

Abilities:

Frost Arrow: Cari can imbue her wooden blade with the essence of true ice, creating a powerful ranged attack that slows enemies upon impact.

Woodland Agility: Drawing from her time with the forest spirits, Cari can harness the hearts of golems and crystal buffs, enhancing her physical abilities temporarily.

Ionia’s Grace: She has mastered Ionia’s martial arts techniques, including akido wooden blade art, allowing her to perform fluid and precise strikes without needing a traditional arrow.

Nature’s Embrace: Cari can summon the protective spirits of Ionia’s sacred forests to shield her and her allies, providing temporary invulnerability.

Ultimate - Heart of the Forest: Cari channels the combined power of the forest spirits and true ice, unleashing a devastating attack that roots and damages all enemies in a wide area.

Skills:

Marksman Expertise: Despite her preference for wooden blades, Cari is a highly skilled marksman, capable of precise and deadly shots.

Martial Arts Mastery: Trained by Akali and Irelia, Cari has become proficient in Ionia’s martial arts, adding an element of close combat to her repertoire.

Hextech Knowledge: Living in Zaun has given her a basic understanding of hextech, which she occasionally incorporates into her strategies.

Relationships:

With Ashe: As Ashe's cousin sister, Cari shares a deep familial bond and a sense of duty to her homeland.

With Feline and Lillia: Cari's friends in Zaun, Feline and Lillia have become her confidantes and allies, helping her navigate her new life.

With Forest Spirits: Cari shares a secret connection with the forest spirits, allowing her to harness their power in battle.

Role in Runeterra:

Cari is a versatile champion, able to switch between ranged and melee combat with ease. Her unique blend of Freljord’s icy power and Ionia’s martial arts makes her a formidable opponent on the battlefield. Her ability to adapt and thrive in different environments, from the icy tundras to the toxic depths of Zaun, showcases her resilience and resourcefulness.

This detailed profile captures Cari's essence and highlights her unique abilities and background. If there's anything you'd like to adjust or expand upon, just let me know!

[power-chords]

Not to harp too much on a show that's been canceled and I am still a little bit sad about BUT: Westworld is such a fascinating cultural study to me because it's got this hilarious gulf between what the showrunners were explicitly telling a story about and what a sizable chunk of its viewership flatly refused to accept as its actual substance. And aside from the first season which I will maintain was flawless television, it did decline steadily in quality so I'm not trying to claim that it was some kind of groundbreaking work of genius. But it was smarter than I think its detractors give it credit for, and it amazes me that a show so clearly about the relationship between narrativity, memory, perception, and consciousness is stubbornly approached by way of cheap, dumb dumb video game analogies. Put the controller down and take some drugs! Question authority and your own assumptions! "But the guests didn't think they were hurting anything real!" Of course they didn't!!! They also didn't think that the park was a catastrophic, lethal accident waiting to happen! Because they were told these things by whom??? A company that wanted to take their money in exchange for a thrilling luxury experience! And that its customers were more than happy to believe! LOL

[azspot]

Those in today's Civil Rights Movement in the last ten years are also dismissed as Marxists, socialists, godless, liberal and their detractors have twisted legitimate discourse and terminology in order to dismiss them as dangerously nefarious. Wokeness, which originally was used as a term to refer to being alert to injustice and discrimination, especially along racial lines, and Critical Race Theory, which attempts to understand how race is embedded in our legal structures, social customs, and unacknowledged attitudes have been woefully distorted and weaponized by members of the Trump-Putin wing of the Republican Party to suppress the serious and difficult conversation that when it comes to race, all is not well in America. How unFederalist it is for Republicans like Ron deSantis to suppress academic freedom by dictating to public schools and even universities what can and cannot be taught. By the way... Jim Crow tactics involved suppressing the history Southern whites didn't want known, and mythologizing the history they wanted to promote.

Wokeness, and the Angst of Our Time