#distribution deals

[indiebirds]

Unmasking the Dark Side: Corruption in the Indian Film Industry

Unmasking the Dark Side: Corruption in the Indian Film Industry

Introduction: The Indian film industry, often referred to as Bollywood and Tollywood, has garnered international recognition for its vibrant storytelling, charismatic actors, and mesmerising song and dance sequences. However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a murky reality. Corruption, like an unwelcome guest, has found its way into the very heart of the Indian film industry, tarnishing its…

[shortkingvi]

????

[gomzdrawfr]

here's what I got from day 1 hehe

I got the Ghost charm and prints from beloved rinny!! so happy to meet up with fellow Malaysian artists :D The stickers are printed from an artist I recognized which is bue_june (warning, very nsfw account) - cat!Ghost, sense of sight, I'm not sure who did the Konigs tho :3

[serpentface]

I'd say the 'aware of loss of faculties until they aren't' description is apt, but with less of the horror that most humans experience with this knowledge. Units have a sense of personhood, but archin do not tend to philosophically imagine a 'self'. Their consciousness being an emergent property of many interacting bodies kind of precludes the illusion of some core, unchanging individual essence.

The basic experience of being divided is something every unit would have been through, an entire unit is not in literal constant communication and will temporarily divide itself even down to the individual to perform simple tasks (though always with the comfort of scent trails leading back to the collective).

It would still be unsettling and a source of deep melancholy. The pain would be more knowing that there is no going back, the scent trails lead nowhere, there are no more eggs being laid that will replace the parts of you that die or are separated. You would increasingly struggle with abstract concepts and complex ideas, the edges of your personality would slowly be smoothed out, you are increasingly running on raw instinct. You remember everything, but without any way to organize these memories into anything more than flashes. Most of the pain would be a profound sense of loneliness.

How a merger would feel would depend on how much of the unit remains. If its personality is more or less intact, it will probably survive as the same 'person' (mergers are usually accomplished with recently pupated ants, or by taking a few individuals from many units so as not to disrupt other consciences). If it's down to just a few ants, any remnant of the original personality will be lost upon the merger and they will settle into the new personality (perhaps subtly changing it, as all units do over time, but not in a distinct, easily identifiable way). The only thing that remains of the former unit is their raw memory. Even individual archin have very good memories and their learned experiences will supplement the new consciousness with everything it has experienced. So the new merger might learn and 'remember' the pain of loss, though not in a complex way (complex memories, like being able to tell a story, are stored in the collective and not the individual).

Mergers between roughly equal numbers of ants are rare and only done in desperation due to being incredibly disruptive to the personality of each, and a very literal danger that individual archin will become panicked and attack the 'foreign' bodies. A large ratio is ideal so one side has enough of an intact group consciousness to tamp down these impulses, and ability to physically restrain the other side until they have calmed and accommodated to the new scent. All mergers have risks of aggression, but introducing similar numbers is especially risky and sometimes fails entirely due to too many being killed in the process.

[quicksilversquared]

I am fully convinced that if some of my students didn't have their heads attached to their shoulders and it was instead sitting next to them, they would have an entire meltdown and not be able it (or even try).

Went over expectations for a homework assignment very. clearly. in class. Emphasized that they must insert a photo into the Excel spreadsheet that we provided (and set up) for them and not into any other spreadsheet, and definitely not by itself. Got multiple photo-only submissions. Also multiple random-Excel-sheet submissions. Two people sending me messages, wanting to know what the instructions were again (....they're literally in the same place that you submit the document; also, I uploaded the parts of the PowerPoint presentation that explained this step-by-step). They've also sent messages to the course coordinator instead of me, uploaded the wrong Excel file altogether, and most managed to skip a very clear instruction that I gave and spent a good three minutes talking about.

....I am fully looking forward to not ever teaching again once I finish grad school, because this is insane.

[thoughtlessarse]

Florida’s Broward County is poised to erase the criminal convictions of thousands of people who were arrested for purchasing drugs, particularly crack cocaine. Why, you may ask? Did the holiday season lead Broward county’s Supreme Court to suddenly grow a heart, Grinch-style, realizing punitive measures to address drug use and addiction will never help people? No, it’s because it was found that those drugs were produced by the cops themselves in the Sheriff’s office. You sure did read that right. As reported by Democracy Now, “For years, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office produced crack cocaine to be sold by undercover police to the public.” The cops in Florida produced their own crack cocaine, then sold it to the public who they then targeted for arrest. This ridiculous practice was ruled to be a violation of the state’s constitution in 1993 by Florida’s Supreme Court, calling the practice “outrageous.” Yet despite this ruling, these charges were allowed to stay on victims’ criminal records leading to long-term impacts including trouble finding housing and employment, destroying thousands of lives. Now, many years later, victims will have their convictions erased. And this was by no means an isolated incident. Cops themselves have often been implicated in the distribution of drugs in communities throughout the United States. Whether it is fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. to be sold in bulk, assisting drug traffickers in distributing cocaine, or systematic drug money theft, the same cops who claim to be waging a “war on drugs” are often either drug pushers themselves or look to directly benefit from the sale of illicit drugs in communities across the United States.

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[unopenablebox]

Too Much Tea

[izuizzy]

hey Izzy I gotta know,,, can any of the kids connect to the hivemind?? the thing that Black Doom does to keep the black arms in check?

oooo! 🤔 good question. you know I haven’t learned about the hivemind as much yet so this is interesting.

I think personally out of the three, it’d probably be vanitas, however I think they all have the potential to do it but their connection capability goes from strong to flickering.

in the lab they all had a connection to a hivemind of their own created by the researchers as a test, but it wasn’t as perfected as black doom’s though. so the voices and fears of others could bleed into one’s mind. seeing as that only brought pain and anxiety to the subjects they scrapped that idea.

I think vanitas could tap into it and maybe even use it to his advantage to try and manipulate other black arms soldiers. (I just like to imagine him being broken and op LOL)

[indiebirds]

Unmasking the Dark Side: Corruption in the Indian Film Industry

Unmasking the Dark Side: Corruption in the Indian Film Industry

Introduction: The Indian film industry, often referred to as Bollywood and Tollywood, has garnered international recognition for its vibrant storytelling, charismatic actors, and mesmerising song and dance sequences. However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a murky reality. Corruption, like an unwelcome guest, has found its way into the very heart of the Indian film industry, tarnishing its…

[barbietoiles]

If i cant get my zine due to all my shipping addresses not having a street i am going to CRY

[sludgekludge]

seeing the idea that haz/bin and hell/uva should've taken place in an alternate universe instead of being connected canon and honestly i'm not sure i disagree now. i do wonder how much stuff they've locked themselves entirely out of using in both shows because of legal issues. its already kind of noticeable + not super thrilled with the idea that in order to fully understand the lore there's 2 shows you'd have to consume that aren't allowed to directly refer to each other

[beautifulpersonpeach]

BPP can you explain anything about what this UMG partnership might mean? I’m seeing some interesting conversation or some vague comments about it but it’s all going over my head a little bit.

***

Hi Anon,

The deal is simply an extension and expansion of the distribution deal HYBE has had with Universal Music Group (UMG) since 2021, which itself was an extension and expansion of the deal BigHit had with UMG Japan since 2017. The expanded scope in this latest deal includes the allowance for UMG artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish, to access and use the Weverse platform the way k-pop and HYBE-affiliated artists do now.

I've talked about this being the business case for Western artists using the Weverse platform on my blog before, here. So, none of this should be new or unexpected to anybody even marginally cognizant of how HYBE has been doing business since inception.

I saw your ask come in weeks ago, during the height of the hysteria around the UMG deal, and made it a point to not respond back then. Partly because I hope hindsight, now that everything has died down, better clearly shows just how ridiculous all of that fearmongering was.

Now, I'm about to say something technically controversial, but (as usual) it's what I think. I believe what's happening in online spaces right now all over the globe, is the (anti-)Jewish equivalent of the Red Scare. That's why the extension of a distribution deal that already existed, resulted in mass hysteria in a fandom filled with people who by all appearances are old enough to earn a salary and pay taxes. Regardless of how noble the cause, a lot of people are well past the point of no return in terms of the conspiracies they are ingesting as gospel. It's not exclusive to fandom spaces, like I said this is happening in online platforms all over. But fandoms are a pressurized environment and so it happens quicker in fandom spaces, even more so in a k-pop fandom where there already exists the latent expectation that k-pop idols and companies exist to cater to your every whim. It's the flip side of the parasocial contract between k-pop stans and the idols they feel entitled to.

I said this weeks ago, but I've checked out of this particular discourse. It took me some time to hear what the sides have to say, to see how they act, and to decide for myself what makes sense to me. None of it does, and so I've checked out.

Stream Neuron.

[emilija04acer]

Game for your soul (part 3 of Niffty Distribution System)

>I'm trying something new! I'll just put the whole short fic here. Some people like to read it here.

Here is the link for AO3>

https://archiveofourown.org/works/54040492

Alastor learns the reason you shouldn't play games other than cards or chess when trying to get someone's eternal soul. You may get attached...

Or you know lose!

Here are some tags> Alastor & Niffty (Hazbin Hotel)

Characters:

Alastor (Hazbin Hotel)

Niffty (Hazbin Hotel)

Additional Tags:

Game

Soul deal

Niffty is a Gremlin

Alastor Tries to Be a Jerk

Niffty Deserves Love

Manipulative Alastor (Hazbin Hotel)

Alastor Has a Heart (Hazbin Hotel)

Cute Niffty (Hazbin Hotel)

Dialogue Heavy

Fluff and Crack

Fluff

No connect 4 didn't exists in the 50s

It's from the 70s

that's the main reason this is crack

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰ Soul-taking and deal-making were always entertaining for Alastor, the Radio Demon. He loved getting demons' souls by challenging them to something they thought they were good at, only to watch them struggle and inevitably fail. He didn't care what the game was, as long as he had the upper hand. A drinking game, a poker game, a dice game. Luck games were no safer than skill games. He always found a way to win.

Getting overlords' souls was the most enjoyable, their screams filled the dead air of his broadcasts. He relished watching those powerful beings lose their chess matches, their dignity, and their lives. He would sometimes broadcast the game itself, for the amusement of his listeners and the humiliation of his opponents.

But when he met Niffty a week ago in that alley, he didn't know what he was in for. She was a mystery and an enigma. He got to know her somewhat, over the course of a few days. She wasn't the brightest, but she was energetic and engaging. She was amazing at cleaning, cooking, and pest killing. She was incredibly fast and agile.

He had mistaken her for a child when they first met, and he still had to remind himself that she was indeed an adult. He had seen small demons before, of course, he had. But maybe it was her demeanor that seemed childish and somewhat innocent. However, that was far from the truth, and he knew it.

He decided to challenge her to a game for her soul. He weighed his options. He enjoyed her company, she was respectful and insane. Tied in a small energetic package. She would be a great asset to have, a loyal servant to call for small tasks. Even better, she seemed eager to spend time with him. Willing service would be a nice change.

Alastor invited her to join him for dinner at his mansion. This was the second time he had done so. He made jambalaya, her favorite dish. It was the best thing she had ever eaten that a man had made for her. She had asked him to make it again, and he had obliged. He knew it was to her taste.

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

After their dinner, he finally popped the question he had anticipated the whole evening.

"Would you like to play a game, my dear?"

"A game? Sure! I love games!"

"Wait, before you make up your mind. It's a game with high stakes."

"Oh? Wait. You mean for a soul?"

"Indeed. Are you still interested?"

She thought for a single moment. "I accept! But first, what do I get if I win?"

He highly doubted she would win, but he knew a deal was a two-way street. Both parties had to get something. Usually, he made a contract after the game, but he decided to state the terms verbally. Words, when deals were in question, were not cheap. You could spin them, of course, but he didn't feel the need to do that now. She was more than willing to play.

"If you win, you can get anything you want. We'll write the contract after. Are you ready?"

She nodded excitedly.

With a clap of his hands, Alastor conjured a table and two chairs. He hoped she would choose a game of strategy, like chess or checkers, or a game of chance, like cards or dice. He was confident he could beat her in any of those.

He let her pick the game. He wanted to give her a fair chance.

She looked at the table and saw a variety of games. She picked one and held it up.

"Let's play this one," she said, her eyes sparkling.

Alastor looked at the game. It was a plastic board with holes and slots. It came with a bunch of red and yellow discs.

"Connect Four?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I like this game. It's fun."

Alastor shrugged. He had never played it before, but it looked simple enough. He agreed to play.

They sat down and set up the board. Alastor let her go first. She dropped a yellow disc into the middle slot.

He followed with a red disc in the same column. She dropped another yellow disc on top of his. He did the same.

They continued like this, alternating turns and filling up the board. Alastor soon realized that the game was not as easy as it looked. He had to pay attention to the patterns and the possibilities. He had to block her moves and plan his own.

He started to sweat. He felt a pang of anxiety. He was not used to losing. He was not used to being challenged.

He looked at the board. It was almost full. He saw that she had three yellow discs in a row, and only one slot left to complete a four-in-a-row. He had to stop her.

He scanned the board for an opening. He saw one. He dropped a red disc into the slot, blocking her.

He smiled. He had done it. He had saved himself.

He looked at her. She was smiling too.

She dropped a yellow disc into another slot.

She said one word.

"Connect."

He looked at the board. He saw that she had made a diagonal four-in-a-row, using the disc he had just placed.

He had lost.

He felt a surge of shock, anger, and disbelief. He had lost his game.

He screamed internally.

Niffty giggled. She knew she could ask anything from him. He had said it just a minute ago.

She could ask for money or power or whatever her little heart desired.

She could ask for his soul. Not that he could give it to her. His soul didn't belong to him.

"What do you want?" he asked, defeated.

"Give me a paper, sir, please!"

He obliged, summoning a paper and a quill. Writing it down was smart, he admitted. He couldn't twist his words, even if he wanted to.

She held the large feather in her tiny hands and carefully wrote. She was focused, more focused than Alastor had ever seen her.

"I'm done! Here, read it!" She handed the parchment to him with a smile.

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

Alastor took the parchment and read it. He expected to see a list of demands, such as money, power, or fame. But what he saw was something else entirely.

It was a contract of friendship.

It said that he had to be her friend, and never get tired of her. He had to invite her to help him with his schemes and let her have fun with him. He had to make jambalaya for her at least once a month and share his stories and jokes with her. He had to protect her from harm and comfort her when she was sad. He had to respect her wishes, and never betray her.

He was baffled by this. He had never seen such a contract before. He had never made such a contract before. He had never agreed to such terms before.

He looked at her. She was smiling, her face beaming with anticipation.

He felt a strange sensation in his chest. He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't unpleasant. It was warm and fuzzy, like a radio static.

He smiled back. He reached for the quill. He signed his name on the bottom.

(This is supposed to be crackfic but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be somewhat true)

Plot twist Niffty is the one that owns his soul.

Anyways! I hope you enjoyed this!

This was just a short fic I joked about with my friends and actually wrote it.

[metastablephysicist]

ok one more thing. i don't think i can handle the stress of being a grad student and the stress of being more visibly/openly trans at the same time. people like to pay a lot of lip service to inclusivity and whatever bs, but no one over the age of 40 (i.e. faculty, staff, etc) takes it seriously or is willing to put any effort into things. a lot of my peers don't even do that! everyone asks you to disclose your pronouns but no one will actually use them. we want (financially) disadvantaged people in our program but we won't support them in a way that matters (financially). that kind of thing. the rest is left as an exercise for the reader.

[dykebeckett]

Are there actual real life people who believe doctor who is going to get cancelled????

when I made that post it was just about one or two posts I’d seen on my dash but now there’s bitches writing dissertations about the state of streaming in my notes so. apparently yes

[slavik1983]

Sneakers on electric power lines.