#especially from a country as close as Argentina

[sweet-allien]

I'm going to take a break from my sadness over Logan and say that I REALLY wish Franco Colapinto the best of luck, I don't know if he has any experience driving an F1 car but he's going to need it because (sadly) he has to drive that toaster on wheels that is basically powered by James' love for Carlos, Excel spreadsheets, and probably tears from employees (Alex) trying to pass it off as a car.

Voy a tomarme un descanso de mi tristeza por Logan y decir que REALMENTE le deseo a Franco Colapinto la mejor de las suertes, no sé si tiene alguna experiencia conduciendo un auto de F1, pero la va a necesitar porque (tristemente) tiene que conducir esa tostadora sobre ruedas que básicamente funciona con el amor de James por Carlos, hojas de cálculo de Excel y probablemente lágrimas de los empleados (Alex) tratando de hacerlo pasar por un automóvil.

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

Today's fish of the day is the flower hat jelly!

The flower hat jelly, scientific name Olindias formosus, is a small and rare jelly known for the multicolored tentacles and luminescent display. Belonging to the hydrozoa family, the flower hat jelly is not actually a true jellyfish. The main difference between them being that true jellyfish belong to the Scyphozoa class, and have a life cycle defined by a longer period as a medusa (their adult form) whereas hydrozoans have a lifecycle primarily defined by their polyp or juvenile stages, sometimes even lacking medusa forms, a pattern that can once again be found in the flower hat jelly's life cycle. Their distribution is off the coastline of Japan, Korea, and countries within Oceania. Although some believe that these jelly's can also be found outside of Argentina, and Brazil, it is thought this may be a close relative, Olindias sambaquiensis. With a depth range from sea level down to 55m of depth, these jellyfish tend to live near the ocean floor where they can hide among kelps, sea grasses, and loose rocky bottoms.

Living a nocturnal life, the flower hat jelly spends its days hiding on the ocean floor. But, once dusk arrives this jelly rises from its hiding places to capture small fishes within its tentacles, paralyzing and or killing the fish, before drawing the corpse up into the bell to be consumed. The stings from this jelly are painful, and at least one fatality has been recorded from them in Japan.  These tentacles hold most of the intrigue of the flower hat jelly.  The length of the tentacles may appear to be random, but has been found to be arranged mathematically in an optimization hashing algorithm known as fibonacci hashing. Length aside however, these jelly's, and especially their tentacles contain fluorescent proteins, which are used to attract prey when hunting, and are particularly bright under blacklight. This protein is uniquely interesting due to its use in helping treat some COVID cases, as it can be used as an inhibitor, stopping the replication of the disease, and slowing or halting its spread.

The reproduction and younger stages of the flower hat jellyfish were a mystery for many years, but in 2012 the Monterey Bay Aquarium managed to be the first to breed them in captivity, capturing a full lifecycle from larvae to polyp to medusa. Beginning as polyps attached to a hard surface along the seabed, where they are completely stationary, surviving off of a single active tentacle, which is waved back and forth to gather nutrients, forming a medusae and releasing them only once a size of 1mm was achieved. Then they will mature into juvenile medusa, which are identical to adult medusa in appearance and behavior, only being identifiable by their smaller size and less tentacles. Juvenile medusa only being around 2-20mm, and adults getting only as large as 6inches total throughout their lifespan. Adult flower hat jellies are only observed in the months of December-July with peaks in the months of May and April. However, we understand very little about how these jelly's sexually breed in the wild, but fertilization occurs externally, as gametes are released into the water to create small, non-cooperative colonies along similar areas. These animals live only 4-6 months as adults, and only around a year total before slowly losing their fluorescence and passing away.

That's the flower hat jelly, everybody, have a wonderful Tuesday!

[jackiequick]

The sounds of somebody take me home~ X-Men 🎵

Full Name: Evangeline Villanueva—Armas

Nicknames:

- Vani: A playful and affectionate nickname, adding a touch of spunk and personality to her character.

- Eva: Classic and elegant, providing a sense of familiarity and warmth.

- Other nicknames include Lina, Angel, Sol and Genie

Other Identity: Vani Armas

~~

Age: 23–28

Birthday: May 21st

Height: 5'3" (or 5'5" in heels)

~~~

Appearance:

— Evangeline possesses a fine beauty with delicate features and a graceful presence. She has dark, flowing hair that cascades around her shoulders, framing her soft complexion and piercing eyes. Her gentle beauty captivates with an air of intrigue, drawing others in with her enigmatic presence and hinting at the unique qualities she possesses.

Personality:

— Often quiet but has a kind smile. Gentle, yet outspoken and sometimes sarcastic, with a sharp wit. Alongside her sarcasm, she has a bit of a playful sense of humor, enjoying lighthearted banter. Fiercely independent and unafraid to speak her mind. Compassionate and loyal to those she cares about. Not only compassionate but also an attentive listener, offering support to others. She demonstrates resilience, willing to eventually bounce back from setbacks with determination and grace.

Languages:

Fluent in Spanish and English.

Occasionally struggles with language barriers and forgets certain words or phrases. This can lead to moments of frustration or embarrassment, especially when she is unable to effectively communicate her thoughts or needs. However, she compensates for this by using creative methods to convey her meaning, such as describing objects or looking up translations on her phone.

~~~~

Background:

Born and raised in Mar Azul, (later on become Genosha), a coastal town known for its pristine beaches and azure waters, situated on the southern coast of a fictional country.

Her mixed heritage includes roots from Argentina and the Dominican Republic and Cuba, contributing to her vibrant cultural background.

Immersed in the vibrant sights and sounds of her Latin American culture, surrounded by myths and legends of sirenas (mermaids) and sea creatures.

Powers and Abilities:

Canary Cry (Siren's Call): Evangeline's primary ability remains her powerful sonic scream, known as the Canary Cry, which functions as her Siren's call. This ability allows her to emit powerful sonic waves capable of disorienting opponents, shattering objects, and creating a mesmerizing effect on those who hear it, potentially influencing their thoughts or actions.

Aquatic Affinity: Evangeline possesses an innate affinity for water, granting her enhanced abilities when submerged or surrounded by aquatic environments. She can hold her breath for extended periods, allowing her to stay submerged for longer durations than a normal human. However, she still requires air to breathe, so prolonged periods underwater can leave her gasping for breath when she resurfaces.

Hydrokinesis: Evangeline can manipulate water to some extent, particularly when submerged or in close proximity to bodies of water. She can telekinetically control water molecules, shaping them into various forms or manipulating currents to her advantage. This ability allows her to create whirlpools, tidal waves, or even manipulate water pressure to repel or immobilize adversaries.

Challenges and Struggles:

Navigates language barriers and occasional forgetfulness with creative methods of communication.

Grapples with the complexities of her identity as a mutant with mixed heritage, confronting issues of prejudice and discrimination. Struggles with mastering her powers and coming to terms with her name given to her by a friend as "La Sirena de la Canción." Which means “The Siren of Song” in English.

~~~

—Expanding on Evangeline's immediate family dynamics

Parents:

— Diana Villanueva (née Ramirez): Evangeline's mother, originally from the Dominican Republic, is a warm and nurturing presence in her life. Diana is known for her kindness, patience, and unwavering love for her children. Despite her initial reluctance to enter a relationship, she fell deeply in love with German and embraced their life together in Mar Azul. Diana instilled in Evangeline a strong sense of compassion and empathy, encouraging her to always lend a helping hand to those in need.

— German Villanueva: Evangeline's father, hailing from a mixed heritage of Argentinean and Cuban descent, is a charismatic and passionate individual. German's romantic nature and adventurous spirit endeared him to Diana, and their chance encounter at a beach party in Mar Azul sparked a lifelong love story. While German can be strict at times, especially when it comes to matters of responsibility and discipline, he is also playful, silly, and deeply devoted to his family. He encourages Evangeline to pursue her dreams and aspirations, instilling in her a sense of determination and resilience.

~~

Siblings:

— Mateo “Matt” Villanueva: Evangeline's older brother, Mateo, is her steadfast protector and confidant. He inherited their father's adventurous spirit and their mother's compassionate nature, making him a source of support and guidance for Evangeline throughout her life. However he somehow managed to inherit a competitive spirt, as he tends to challenge himself and his siblings for daily tasks around the house. Other than that, Mateo shares a close bond with his sister, often teasing her affectionately but always standing by her side when she needs him most.

— Isabella "Isa" Villanueva: Evangeline's younger sister, Isa, is a lively and spirited presence in the family. She inherited their father's charisma and their mother's charm, making her a natural social butterfly with a knack for making friends wherever she goes. Isa looks up to Evangeline as a role model and often seeks her advice and guidance, strengthening their sisterly bond. Despite her repeated efforts to wanting to be alone and independent in her own life.

Extended Family:

— Evangeline's extended family includes a colorful cast of characters from both her Argentinean-Cuban and Dominican heritage. From doting grandparents to fun-loving aunts, uncles, and cousins, her family gatherings are always filled with laughter, love, and lively conversation. Despite the cultural differences between her parents' backgrounds, Evangeline cherishes the unique blend of traditions and customs that make up her diverse family tree.

———

—Evangeline's likes and dislikes

Likes:

1. Disney Movies: Films such as “Moana” and “The Little Mermaid” bring a level of vibrant visuals, storytelling and memorable soundtracks (she enjoys different types of movies & series as well)

2. Dogs: She enjoys the loyalty and joy animals can bring into someones life

3. Family & Friendships: She cherishes the close bonds she shares with her parents, siblings, and extended relatives. She also values the friendships she has cultivated over the years, finding strength, support, and laughter in others.

4. Music: Evangeline has a diverse taste in music, but she has a special fondness for Latin music artists like Natti Natasha and others who celebrate the rhythms and melodies of her cultural heritage.

5. Photography: Evangeline has a keen eye for capturing moments of beauty and wonder through photography. Whether she's exploring new landscapes, documenting cultural events, or simply capturing everyday moments with her loved ones

6. Creative Expression: Whether it's through dance, art, music, or photography, Evangeline finds joy and fulfillment in creative expression.

Dislikes:

1. Horror Movies: While Evangeline appreciates a good story, she prefers to avoid horror movies altogether. The suspense, jump scares, and graphic content unsettle her, leaving her feeling anxious and on edge rather than entertained.

2. Messy Environments: Evangeline thrives in clean and organized spaces, so she dislikes clutter, chaos, and disarray. A messy apartment or workspace can make her feel stressed and overwhelmed, prompting her to tidy up and restore order as soon as possible.

3. Big Crowds: Despite her personality, Evangeline feels uncomfortable in large crowds or crowded spaces. The noise, congestion, and lack of personal space can be overwhelming for her, making her prefer smaller gatherings or more intimate settings.

4. Heavy Snow: Growing up in a coastal town with temperate weather, Evangeline is not a fan of heavy snowfall or extremely cold winters. She finds the cold temperatures and slippery conditions inconvenient and uncomfortable, longing for warmer climates and sunny skies instead.

5. Cold Coffee: As a coffee lover, Evangeline enjoys her daily dose of caffeine, but she can't stand the taste of cold or lukewarm coffee. She prefers her coffee piping hot and freshly brewed, savoring the rich aroma and bold flavor with each sip.

6. Loud Chewers: Evangeline is sensitive to sounds, especially loud or repetitive noises like chewing. She finds the sound of loud chewers distracting and irritating, preferring a quiet and peaceful environment when enjoying meals or snacks.

7. Injustice: Evangeline has a strong sense of justice and fairness, so she dislikes witnessing or experiencing injustice in any form. Whether it's discrimination, inequality, or acts of cruelty, she feels compelled to speak out and advocate for positive change.

8. Wasting Food: Having grown up in a close-knit community where resources were valued and shared, Evangeline dislikes wasting food. She believes in mindful consumption, minimizing food waste, and appreciating the abundance of nourishing food available to her.

———

—Her small story

At 15 years old, Evangeline Villanueva experienced a life-altering event that set her on a path of curiosity and self awareness.

Living in the United States at the time, she found herself amidst a heated argument at a friend's house just a week after her birthday. As tempers flared and voices rose, the chaos peaked with an overwhelming surge of emotion from Evangeline.

Unleashing a primal scream, she shattered the silence and a nearby window, sending glass shards flying and leaving everyone in shock, including herself.

Her parents, Diana and German, rushed to the scene, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of their daughter's newfound abilities. They were deeply loving and supportive but chose to handle the situation on their own, without seeking outside help. Her brother on the other hand decided to take a step towards trying to help his young sister however never found a true answer, despite all of the love he had for her.

It just wasn’t in his favor, in none of there favors it seemed.

Their efforts to normalize Evangeline's life worked for a while, but as months passed, their confidence waned, and Evangeline felt increasingly isolated.

Seeking refuge from her turbulent emotions, Evangeline often visited the beach, where the rhythmic waves provided a soothing backdrop. It was in this tranquil setting that she began to explore the extent of her abilities, start testing her control and finding moments of peace.

However, fear and confusion about her powers eventually led her to stop experimenting and focus instead on simply enjoying the calming presence of the ocean.

At 19, overwhelmed by uncertainty and the burden of her powers, Evangeline made the difficult decision to leave home. Adopting the alias Vani Armas, her great grandmother’s surname, she embarked on a journey across the world, seeking a sense of normalcy and belonging.

Despite her parents' wishes, she traveled through various towns and cities, ultimately finding a semblance of peace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the age of 23.

In Rio, Evangeline found a job at a small shop that sold trinkets and also served as a café and restaurant. She enjoyed the vibrant culture, the beaches, and the music, which reminded her of home.

Here, she rarely used her powers, preferring to keep them hidden.

Occasionally, she would use a small whistle to catch a dog’s attention or subtly manipulate water in a glass, but she avoided drawing attention to herself.

One evening, Evangeline was invited to a house party by a co-worker, Lorena, near the De Costa side of the city. The party was lively until a gang of thieves broke in, seeking to steal valuables and take hostages.

As chaos erupted and Lorena was about to be assaulted, Evangeline’s fear and anxiety culminated in a piercing scream that shattered glasses and forced the thieves to retreat in pain.

Her scream, mixed with fear and a desperate plea for help, temporarily incapacitated the thieves. Some fled, while others attempted to gather what they could. The police arrived soon after, arresting the thieves and questioning Lorena’s younger brother, Hector, who seemed to be the cause of the intrusion.

The incident left Evangeline physically and emotionally drained, her throat sore from the powerful scream. She stayed home for a few days, drinking warm beverages to soothe her voice and avoiding work.

On the third night, a knock on her door brought an unexpected visitor: a tall woman with long grey-white curly hair, rich dark skin, and warm brown eyes, dressed in a fine yet casual outfit.

The woman introduced herself as Ororo, known to many as Storm.

————

———

—-

That’s all folks (for now)! Please let me know what you think about her and any thoughts you have

Remember to like, comment and share with your friends!

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @topgun-imagines @gcthvile @letsgotothefantasyworlds-blog @t-nd-rfoot @djs8891 @missstrawbs2001 @hardballoonlove @hangmanbrainrot @theloveoftoms @cherrysft @starkleila @buckysteveloki-me @ximehs @parisparker269 @yetanotherwells @daughter-of-melpomene @bluboirick and etc

[yanxidarlings]

Just wanted to say i love ur characterisations for latin america!! On that note, since mexico was colonised forcibly adopted by spain, do you think he would share any behaviour traits with him?

you have no idea how much this ask excited me someone shares my interest in latin america yAY

absolutely.

my earliest thought of how spanish "little brothers" might adopt and trace their yandere traits back to him came from these headcanons, specifically the line "any sons probably would be". man, you just KNOW the latin american countries probably saw how antonio treated his darling, romano, maybe a shared obsession (a concept i've been dipping my feet in) and would have grown up assuming spain's behaviour was totally normal.

this would definately be at different degree's and depend on how deep spain got his claws into each latin american nation; for example, former colonies like the philippines and mexico, who i headcanon grew up around spain, would probably behave most similarly to spain, without even realising it really.

then there are nations like peru and argentina who i don't believe were raised as closely to spain as mexico might have been (i feel like colonial spain was all over the place, played favourites and favourites meant the most resource rich, obediant, catholic colonies), who would unconsciously develop more of his violent traits / scare tactics (especially argentina in this regard), or use their history with spain as a way to gain sympathy from their darling whilst also emulating the same manipulation tactics spain used on them as colonies (case in point; peru).

mexico is definately the most similar to spain as a yandere, at face value, he uses many of spain's favourite tactics, like manipulating his darling by crafting a them vs us dynamic, and fully buying into it himself as well; that's what makes spain so dangerous, he cannot see any fault in his actions.

i've been binge watching the handmaid's tale and as icky as the comparison might be, yandere spain is alot like fred waterford in this regard. but spain is much smarter than that sad sack of shit, and kind of knows what he's doing is manipulative, he just doesn't care or think it's wrong.

mexico on the other hand doesn't believe his actions are at all manipulative, he buys into what he says as much as he wants his darling to.

i haven't touched much on spain's 'darker' side as a yandere, but it is very much there, and unlike england or even germany, antonio is more than happy to harm his darling if they don't comply. the other two are serious and strict when 'forced' to punish their darling, but antonio is lighthearted, joking around as he causes them 'righteous' pain, which is what can make him such an unnerving yandere.

josé definately retains a more calm, lighthearted demeanor when upset with his darling, definately inherited from spain, but is less jolly and more 'matter-of-fact' about it; he definately wants to avoid harming his darling, and is more willing to let things slide that antonio wouldn't.

i've actually been thinking of starting a headcanon 'series' kind of based around yandere latin america/spain/portugal/romano for a while now, it's mostly centered around a specific character so i would probably write it on a themed sideblog, but i would probably also alter whatever i write there to be more 'reader insert' friendly and post it here!.

anyways hello again hetalia fandom, i live, until the next sporadic burst of inspiration *tips fedora*

[selenemoonlite]

┈➤ Make me Sway ✧.* || Sae Itoshi Drabble

an idea I had from this post where the reader learns tango from Sae. He learned a lot of things and the culture remains in his heart. Encouraging you with some footsteps and twirling.

✧.* tag: fluff, drabble, fem!reader × canon, dance troupe ✧.*

Note: dedicating this to @saenora ♡

Would you believe aside from Sae coming to Spain, he wants to learn about other Latin countries that connect to his destination in Spain? Tango is one of them, originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has a team player back in Spain where he has a talent of it. Aside from Flamenco, tango is one of the most known ballroom Latin dances. The sways, and strut footwork that compliments the dancers in great coordination fascinates him.

It was a picturesque nostalgia way back then. Sae could still remember some steps he learned from his soccer colleague. And when you knew about it, he didn't give second thoughts to teach you. From the basic and formal posture to the strutting footwork. You have to be quick to pace the swaying movements that coordinate the music. Its sultry music on the background makes it even more endearing of a challenge. Sae can be strict about it at first, as he puts respect onto this form of dance.

"Wrong foot... (Y/n)." He hitched as he jolted at your foot being stepped on his.

"You mustn't be so passive to move like this... I'm following the lead—"

"S-sorry, Sae!"

He shrugged as he continued to guide you along the rhythm. He is focused, yet it mesmerizes you. Never you seen Sae dazzled in this kind of dance before? Which makes you wander around your thoughts.

"(Y/n), focus... I'm about to turn you to the left."

You snapped, the moment Sae twirled you to the side and transitioned to the front. His arms were supporting you as your hand didn't leave his grasp. With a click of your heels together posing behind him, closely.

Utterly breaths behind your ear that made you shiver. The feeling is something you can not describe.

"D-did we finish it?"

"That's only the basic formation we did. You'll see the most difficult part where I can toss you and pull you aggressively." Sae explained as he wipes his sweat using his forearm.

You gulped a bit since this was your first time dancing it with him. Well, relieving to be him of all people to teach you tango. Bids of your sweat pattered down to your face. A good achievement that encouraged you to learn something new with Sae has always been a journey, especially the love he gives to support you in teaching this dance.

Sae turned to look at you deeply, you blinked as you noticed him smiling at you.

"You were great..."

┈➤ @selenemoonlite 2023 || do not steal or copy my works ✧.*

[kawaikylian]

PABLO GAVI

Meeting him as pilots daughter PURE FLUFF!

Fluff

Gavi

Pilot

My father being one of the most famous pilots in his company meant I would have to spend my childhood flying with him, sometimes it was a choice but mostly not, my mother had been absent most of my life and my father was my only guardian.

Im 18 now, despite being old enough I had tooken the opportunity, my father had to fly to spain and I was behind excited, I wasn’t always excited to fly with my dad unless we were granted permission to stay for some time and especially if it was a whole other country.

Im seated right behind the pilots area, im seated business class as always.

My father was flying a football team Barcelona FC, some of the boys had winked at me and flirted but I simply smiled and went on back to my seat, behind me two seats away I hear a pair of boys speaking in Spanish, I understood because I was half Argentinian just not Spanish, some slang was odd.

I was speaking to my father in Spanish right before the plane would fly, he patted my head and I smiled as he left. “Hablas espanol?” I hear behind me scaring me.

Just pretend the rest of this is in Spanish for my English viewers😀

“Yes?” I say confused with an odd expression, he admires my face for a few seconds “you have a different accent, where are you from?” He says. “Well I was born in Canada but my father is from Argentina so I was practically born speaking Spanish” I say back with a huge smile, nobody had ever really asked about my ethnicity or anything about me.

“What about your mom?” He says and my smile disappears, “I don’t know my mom” my voice gets caught in my throat and he apologizes “it’s okay, what’s your name?”.

“Pablo, Pablo gavi,” he says with a slight smirk making me blush, “that’s a nice name, my name is y/n” behind Pablo I hear a few shouts “Pablo has a girlfriend!” “Awww!” And them mimicking our conversation,my face turns red “im sorry I should go back to my seat” he says waving and walking behind.

I can only think about him the entire flight.

Last time I had seen him we were outside, we had just walked out of the plane and I saw him from a Distance, he was close to walking up to me but was stopped, my father behind me notifying me to get inside of the car, he notices dropping his smile.

I shrug jokingly with a sweet smile to gavi and he waves turning back to where his teammates were, I could tell his teammates were teasing him by pushing him around.

A few days later

“Who’s that gavi kid?” My father randomly says during dinner surprising me, “Pablo gavi?” I say and he nods as he shoves a piece of food inside of his mouth “I don’t know much about him, just a really sweet boy I really wish I could see him again” I say putting my fork down remembering about him.

“Thanks for the dinner dad” I say smiling, I stand up and put my plate away walking up to my room, I walk in to see a basket of flowers, candy, and a stuffed animal, “what is this?” I think, until I come up closer opening the letter on it, letters in bold Pablo gavi for y/n.

“No podía dejar te pensar en ti princesa te mando esta carta, ya le dije a tu pa que soy un caballero, te dejo mi numero pa llamar me” corazón.

This one of from one of my first requests @snow-strawberry, it didn’t allow me to tag, but they will know who they are<3

[statementlou]

I have a feeling he’ll be downsizing or canceling some other shows too. I’ve seen people saying that the shows in latam aren’t even close to being sold out. He always does well there, but they booked huge venues and most people can’t afford even the cheapest tickets, especially with the political changes happening in certain countries. I’m not going to pretend to know the logistics of touring, but I have to wonder how much research they did if any, because surely they should’ve been able to see this coming?

I don't think he'll cancel anything if there's the slightest way around it, but I suppose that could be. However much research the teams working on all this did, they are music industry professionals not political economists and there's only so much they can predict or plan for! Like should LTHQ really have been like "hm it looks like fascism is on the rise in Argentina should we consider the election that could maybe have x result six months from now when negotiating with local promoters over ticket pricing" like there's only so much they can DO for each of dozens of countries they're looking at and trying to arrange at the same time! That said, it's a long way off yet and people said the same things about the last tour at this stage and as we know, things looked very different by the time it happened. I truly don't think anything about Asia dates should be used as an indicator of what might happen anywhere else, we've seen that it's MUCH more challenging for them there. And TBH I think they more or less did see this coming with Asia and Louis insisted they keep trying even in the face of it simply not working very well

[vonlipvig]

top 5 places in argentina? like, places you'd recommend to foreigners visiting your country? especially if they're not particularly famous

(hope that's not too intrusive for you, it's alright if you're not comfortable answering!)

what a great question, thank you! (it probably will end up being popular places, but let's be honest, they're popular for a reason and i want everyone to know about them!)

bariloche - i think the south of argentina is possibly the most beautiful spot on earth, and i absolutely adore bariloche. yes, there are other towns that are probably prettier (san martín de los andes, villa la angostura, all worthy of a visit), but i've been lucky enough to go to bariloche many times thanks to a friend with family there, so it's very special to me. some of the most spectacular vistas everywhere, lots of trekking to do, sailing excursions, and even action adventures las rafting and the like, it's such a perfect place for me (bonus for my most favorite place there, the tea house bellevue, obligatory stop there!). i've only really visited during summer (except for that one time with the school graduation trip, of course), but i'd love to see it in winter, it must be gorgeous!

(here are some pics of mine, this last one is the view from bellevue, it's so dreamy!)

glaciar perito moreno - ok, while we're still in patagonia, i might as well mention the perito moreno glacier, cause it's honestly jawdropping. to be there, in silence, looking at that massive wall of ice, it's humbling and awe-inspiring, i don't know how else to put it. and if you're lucky enough to see the ice breaking and falling, i can't imagine how that would feel like. of course, global warming is definitely troubling when it comes to natural wonders like this, but man, it's simply incredible. i've heard there are excursions to walk on the ice as well, that's a bit scary to me, but it must be one hell of an experience.

valle de la luna and talampaya - two national parks (the first one literally called "valley of the moon", but its real name is national park ischigualasto) they are...something else. the valle de la luna is possibly the most otherwordly place i've ever seen. it's this vastness of rock carved by the wind, the sun, the water for millions of years, truly looking like an alien landscape. you can literally see the evolution of the earth in its geological formations, and it's also really important for paleontological research. talampaya is right next door and it's breathtaking as well, reddish and strange and wonderful (first pics are the valley of the moon, the other two talampaya).

cataratas del iguazú - probably the most famous one (natural wonder of the world!) but like, for a goddamned reason! absolutely insane experience that i'd love to relive someday because i was very young when i went there. but yeah, standing there and seeing the intense, beautiful, dangerous force of nature that is those immense waterfalls, it's crazy. i mean, one of the sections of the waterfall is called garganta del diablo, devil's throat, so yeah, this shit is POWERFUL. i'd loveee to do one of those crazy boat trips that get close to the waterfalls, that seems insane lmao. also i think they did night trips to the garganta del diablo? that must be a religious experience!

ciudad de buenos aires - i mean of courseeee i'm gonna say buenos airessss that is my PLACE. and sure, you know how a lot of the times natives end up knowing a lot less about their city than the tourists that come visit? yeah, i'm probably not the best guide, but i could show you the places that TRULY matter, like the botanical gardes that i love to chill in, and the street i love to walk on especially when the jacarandá trees are in bloom, or the cemetery that we all love, or that vegan place with kinda mid food but a really cool, funky atmosphere, or that escape room i've been meaning to go to. what i'm trying to say is that buenos aires is my place in the world, and i could never, ever leave here. i carry it in my bones and in my blood (and for the argentines reading this, Y SI, puta...y porteña <3). no professional, touristy pics here, just some random shit from my camera roll.

[maria-ruta]

how's it been going in argentina?! i'm an immigrant here too (but from brazil). i've noticed a lot of russians are in buenos aires. do you know why there's so many of you guys here specifically? i lived in a big city in brazil but there def weren't this many russian immigrants :0

Hola, amigo/a inminente!!! Como estás? Y mucho gusto ! 🤝🤝🤝

Estoy muy bien! Me gusta Argentina mucho 💗

I hope you like it here too!!! 🤗

As for your other question - with dictatorship going on in Russia, its no surprise russian people are trying to run away from there, ESPECIALLY they do much more, after the war has started

I promise you, there are much more russian immigrants in countries close to Russia (its not as expensive to travel there, as it is to Argentina. Argentina is less expensive to live in, comparing to Russia, but it's very expensive to get here, across the globe)

But why are there many of us in Argentina specifically? The answer is simple - nobody wants to shelter russian immigrants, as Russia is fascistic terrorist agressor country (and they don't care for what those immigrants have to say about it)

But Argentina is very tolerant to all the immigrants. There are many immigrants from many different countries, mostly from other South America places

in the end, me and other Russians are here right now simply bc Argentina lets us stay and not kicking us out

[etirabys]

argentina

Here is my story of Argentina. My credentials are that I have I spent the first three hours of my flight to Argentina reading its Wikipedia page plus followup google search results.

Argentina was rich. Then it became poor for no clear reason. It could become very rich again.

Let’s start with the last one.

Argentina is a major agricultural exporter that’s not even tapping its full biocapacity. Without making any prescriptive statements about whether they should, it’s descriptively true that they could be leaning on their natural resources much harder than they currently are.

The wind potential of the Patagonia region (southern third of Argentina) could in theory provide enough electricity to sustain a country five times more populous. But the infrastructure isn’t there to pipe it where it needs to go. Argentina is very urbanized, with 92% of its population in cities. (This is actually weird – if you look at countries ordered by urbanization, you get a bunch of tiny or fake countries like Bermuda or Macau, and then central category member countries like Uruguay, Israel, Argentina, and Japan.)

Argentina had a pretty good nuclear program. Decent record as a locus of scientific progress despite all the political problems and crumbling infrastructure. It’s got a high literacy rate.

It kind of reminds me of... (person who's only been to 7 cities voice) Berkeley?

Okay. Now let’s skip back to 1861. Argentina has won independence from the Spanish Empire. It’s about to get very Italian in here.

At time of independence, Argentina had the familiar-looking South American mix of white+native+black. But soon after independence the state started (0) genociding/expanding into the south (1) enacting liberal economic policies, and (2) encouraging European immigration. Italians liked this idea for some reason, so today, 60% of Argentinians are full or part Italian.

This wave of immigration changed Argentinian society enormously. In this period, Argentina became very wealthy and productive. In 1910 it was the seventh richest country in the world.

Twenty years later, dissatisfaction over the Great Depression fueled a coup and kicked off 50-70 years of political instability.

I like this graph. Look at the Y axis values – this is a log graph.

I have no clean explanation for what happened, but I can at least describe what happened after 1930.

In between coups, Argentina stays neutral in both world wars up until the US pressured it into declaring war on the Axis Powers in 1945. But then the Europe part of WWII ended a month later, so they probably didn't have to do too much. In 1946, Peron takes power.

(Sidenote: why did so many Nazis famously flee to Argentina? Argentina had lots of German immigrants & close ties to Germany. Peron, who'd found Hitler's ideology appealing since he was a military attaché in Italy during WWII, straight out ordered diplomats and intelligence officers to establish escape routes for Nazis, especially those with military/technical expertise.)

I still don’t know much about Peron. There's the socialist stuff: nationalized a lot of industries and improved working conditions. There's the dictator stuff: beating up and firing people to bring them into line, including university teachers (of course) and union leaders that Peron didn't like. He was really liked for a while, and then very disliked, and got exiled to Spain after a decade of rule.

Then there's a phase where no one manages to rule successfully, in part because getting approved by both Peronists and anti-Peronists is hard. This 1955-2003 phase reminds me a lot of Korean history around the same time – lots of military coups and assassinations and journalists getting tortured. Whenever I hit this phase in a country's Wikipedia page it just reads like TV static, interchangeable variable names swinging in and out of scope... even though there's got to be more than that.

When I first started reading about US Republicans and Democrats I got really confused because either they had 0 major differences or 70. Now that I've been in the States for a decade I have a sense for what major visions and underlying values differences they have, but it'd be hard to explain succinctly or in a way that other people will agree with. So something like that has to have been going on with various flavors of anti, sub, and classic Peronism that’s inscrutable to an outsider who’s spending 3 hours on learning about this.

At some point, comically, Peron comes back, wins an election with his wife as vie president, and dies of a heart attack. His wife takes power and does things like empowering the secret police to destroy her enemies, but girlbosses too close to the sun and is ousted after a year.

All this turmoil flattens out somewhat in 2003. I have no idea what went right. They tried Peronism! They tried anti-Peronism! They tried leftist terrorism and rightist terrorism! They tried OG Peron again! They tried Peron's third wife! They tried nationalization and privatization! They tried protectionism and not-protectionism!

Nestor Kirchner, whose rule coincided with the improvement, had "neo-Keynesian" policies, but who knows if that was it. He didn't run for reelection but said "try my wife, she'll do fine", and so she won the next cycle. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner did well enough that she was reelected. People didn’t like her successor and brought her back as a vice president, but there were what sound like normal-for-South-America levels of corruption scandals during much of her time in office, and last month she was sentenced to six years in prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office.

I have a number of hypotheses as to why Argentina crashed so hard when it had and has so many prerequisites for success, and they all sound stupid when I write them out, so I won’t. But I will gesture at my confusion and amazement.

[multiversemusings]

Coming Home

Originally a fic request by @harlekin6 Pairing: James "Bucky" Barnes x FReader Rating: PG Warnings: Mentions of violence and blood. Words: 1,568 Genre: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort Plot: Bucky ends a mission in Argentina with an exhaustion he hasn't felt in a very long time: Emotional. He thinks to go back to Wakanda, but he knows that he needs comfort after what happened. So instead, he goes to the one person he knows he can trust besides Sam: You Song inspiration: Blinding Lights by The Weeknd.

A/N: I worked on this one for quite a while, since I know very little about Bucky passed Winter Soldier. But I love you, Sunshine. You ask, you receive. I hope I did your white wolf justice.

All writings belong to @multiversemusings. Do not steal, repost as your own or take credit for my work. If you have a request, please put it in my inbox!

The mission had been a hard one this time. Usually when him and Sam took on these kinds of tasks there was no real threat; it was usually surveillance, infiltration and arresting the one who they were looking for. This time though, the arms dealers they were supposed to be tracking down had been tipped off by someone and they had heavier patrols up then they had been informed of. On the way in, he had been clipped by a bullet across his temple and it stung to the point that it was noticeable, so he reached up to touch the spot. As he pulled away his hand, the red staining his fingers sent him into a frenzy of actions. While he had managed to keep from losing control of himself as he would have in the past, he still hadn't been as easy on the dealers as he would have liked to be. However, when the PTSD triggered of losing his arm and everything that followed, he could barely hold himself back. No one had died, but he had hurt a couple of them to the point that they would have to be hospitalized before being questioned. After turning over the case to the branch they were working with in Argentina, Bucky headed back to the jet where Sam was waiting for him.

"Ready to go back to the pride that raised you, wolf?" Sam teased, seeing his partner was extremely stressed, in hopes of lightening the mood. "You gotta be easier on yourself, man, you didn't kill anyone. T'Challa will give you pointers for that."

Bucky smirked slightly as he sat down in the co-pilot seat and strapped in as his partner closed the hangar doors. He thought about his hut waiting for him back in the beautiful country that had taken him in as one of their own, the place that he now lived, but deep down he knew that he didn't call home. Because home was where he needed to go right now, especially because he knew Sam was right.

"Actually, can you drop me off at the compound?" the mak asked, getting a bit of a surprised look from the black male. "I think tonight I would rather be with someone rather than on my own. Silence is dangerous when I'm this deep in my own head."

"Silence? With goats around? Yeah alright man." The man snorted as Bucky shook his head, making a noise of amusement.

The man looked out the window as the jet took off, thinking about where he was planning to go now that the mission was over. His home was where she was, the woman with the hair as beautiful as her spirit and eyes as deep as endless oceans. He had met her at one of Stark's Christmas parties one year, when he had been so uncomfortable that every bone in his body said, 'screw the serum, this discomfort is painful' and reminded him of just how old he was. Just as he decided that he was going to leave for the night, she had approached him quietly, but with the confidence of someone who knew what they wanted. She had asked him if he was done being shy and hiding in the corner like a dog with its tail between its legs, given him a smile of invitation that made him remember who he used to be. That night had left them exchanging numbers and names, but only nicknames and aliases. Over time, he came to find out that she was a friend of Clint Barton's, a protege of Natasha Romanoff's and an agent in the field for a group that called themselves The Shadows. After corresponding for nearly a year after he got his new arm and was safe from being corrupted by the Winter Soldier programming thanks to Shuri and Tony, he had decided to try and become a little more serious with her and they began to see each other when they had time. It had been a bit difficult at first, with his fear of what he had been keeping him wary of how just how close he got and her past trauma with someone she loved and lost. On the second anniversary of their meeting however, when they had both been battle worn and she - with the softest voice he'd ever heard - asked him to stay as she held his metal hand in her own. That was the beginning of everything that they now had together. There were many nights of confiding in each other about their pasts, more frequent dates with the final exchange of their real names and a few physical encounters that left both of them anxious for more. And to him, she was the one he loved: She was his home. The two arrived back at the Avengers Compound sometime later, Sam landed the aircraft with the same precision that he flew his own wings. As the engines shut down, he took off his safety belts and the man did the same.

"Going to see your lady friend, old dog?" the man asked, smirking as the two got up and headed for the opened hangar door.

"You've been sitting on that since we left, haven't you?" he asked the man, finding himself smiling when Sam just grinned. "Well, I guess even a feather brain like you would know when they need to go back to their roost."

"I thought you called it a den."

"Bye, Sam." He said as he walked off, waving over his shoulder with his organic hand, making the man laugh.

Before anyone could stop him to ask about the mission, the man got onto his motorcycle and headed off away from the headquarters. It had been at least three months now since they last saw each other, and he hoped she was home. When he called her to inform her, he was going on a mission, she said that she would be home for a time. He hoped that The Shadows hadn't called her out because he didn't know where he would go if they had. The lights danced across the front of his bike as he rode down the long New York roads, heading to the edge of the city, reminding him of how a wolf would feel seeing the moon pouring down on the ground between the tree branches on the night of a full moon as it headed back to its den. Knowing there was someone there waiting for them, no matter how long they had been gone nor how far they went. He pulled down the country road, passing two long dirt driveways that lead to other houses that were hidden well behind the thicket of trees that lined the road, only indicated by mailboxes and recycling bins. He turned down the third driveway, going slow to not jar himself on the rough road and made his way to the cozy brick house situated not far from a pond. Not unlike him, she kept to herself when she wasn't in the field, not just because of her occupation but also because she didn't want to put anyone she cared about in danger. It had taken her a long time to trust that he would be okay if she let him come over to her place. The wars they had fought had hardened both of them, but it was a sharpness that also allowed them to finally show their softness to one another. They both understood loneliness. As he parked outside of the cabin, he put the kickstand down and turned off the bike, getting off of its seat. He unzipped his jacket as he headed to the front porch and up the steps to the front door which opened just as he got to it. The sight of her standing there in a white housecoat with her hair pulled up in a messy bun on the back of the back of her head made every ounce of tension that had been nestling in his bones melt away and he let out a breath of relief. He smiled warmly at her, which she returned with loving eyes and a warmth she reserved just for him, holding her arms out to him. He closed the distance between them without any of the hesitation that he had so many years ago and wrapped his arms around her waist as she hugged his shoulders, burying their faces in each other's necks. She smelt of juniper berries, lavender and sandalwood as he dared to hold her a little tighter to his body than he usually did.

"Welcome home, Wolf," she whispered to him warmly, gripping his shirt in her elegant fingers as she turned her head to kiss his cheek. "I had a feeling you may be here together, and I've been waiting for you."

"Thank you, Songbird," he whispered, almost breathlessly as he pulled back and looked at her beautiful eyes. He reached up, taking her face in his hands to pet her cheeks with his thumbs. When she rest her hands over his and gave him that same loving smile, he let a tear run down his face. "Thank you for everything."

He leaned in as she stood on her toes, still holding his wrists to meet him halfway and press their lips to a loving kiss. He was finally, truly home.

[shirleyxian]

//One-shot//Call Of Duty//Selfshipp.

Selfshipp:Max bunny Soto x Simon ghost riley.

Riley Family.

Max and Simon always thought about how they became good parents, even though they had conflicts in childhood and adolescence with their family. Especially if someone grows up in a toxic environment and more if it is with your family, it is likely to follow the same steps and damages as they did in their childhood, such as Simon, who suffered for his father from abusing to forcing him to kiss a snake. While Max, growing up in Argentina, was different from the United Kingdom, where the treatment of children is very normalized, more so if a country is from Latin America, not nice and healthy deals, but those that a child would not like to be told. Max used to be the "black sheep" of the family, but his dad was very angry and treated him like a mental patient, even if he got something Max used to be the "black sheep" of the family, but his dad was very angry and treated him like a mental patient, even if he got it wrong in the slightest thing Max used to be the "black sheep" of the family, but his dad was very angry and treated him like a mental patient, even if he got it wrong in the slightest things, one of the punishments was the blows with the belt, sometimes he was still standing for several hours without sitting down, he did not feel sorry for his son.

Max and Simon met at the same task force base, at first they treated each other like any co-worker, but as time went by they had some close friendship that they were able to talk about private things or problems they had. Both became boyfriends on January 29 since that day at the beach they decided to confess their feelings, where all that story begins love.

Both boys, when they were ready to get married, had to go to therapy, because both had traumas from childhood and adolescence, and did not want their future children to suffer what happened to them (Max is a trans boy, so he can have children). That delayed the wedding, the couple felt anxiety and made mistakes from the past that only the two of them know, but in different experiences.

- Maximiliano, although I love you and want a family, my mind betrays me by remembering my father... It's hard not to be calm. - Simon says as he throws himself on his knees on the floor and trying to hold back his tears. -

- I understand you, my dad was the same, sometimes if I'm afraid to be like my dad... - He hugs his boyfriend while tears fall. - I just want to be the best parent like you and we can raise our children with love, no bad treatment and balanced discipline.

- It's true... We should get married in November, but if we're going to have kids... Let's make this promise. Alright? - says Simon looking hopefully at max. -

- Alright.

- If we are going to have children, there will be discipline but there will be limits, we are not going to hit them for small problems, we will teach them without violence to educate them and about respect, without threats or abuse.

- I'm willing to do it amor, I want our future children to be happy.

Already today...

Max and Ghost are at home preparing breakfast for their children, who are 2, a boy named Valentino, and a girl named Mary. Mary is 7 years old, while Valentino is 3 years old, forget to clarify, they have two pets, a German shepherd dog named "Riley" and a black cat named "Yumi", both pets of the family, equally considered as children.

- Dads we are awake, we are hungry!! - both children scream when they have just woken up. -

- Don't worry, papá is preparing his food, I'll help Valentino brush his teeth - Ghost says, taking Valentino and taking him to the bathroom. -

Ghost was called "dad" in English, while Max is called "papá" in Spanish to give him a difference.

Max prepares pancakes with a chocolate for the children and coffee for his husband.

Simon would be helping Valentino, because he is 3 years old enough to reach the dishwasher compared to Mary who used to have the same thing.

En la mesa la familia desayunando mientras las mascotas estaban jugando, en la mesa se notaba la buena comunicación que había.

- Chicuelos, I will tell you that this vacation we will go on a trip to my native country, Argentina. Of course we'll take yumi and riley.

- There are beautiful beaches there, especially in Buenos Aires, how good, there are also water parks, but we are going to decide whether to go or not depends on you babies. Papá always wanted you to go visit his country.

- Argentina are there boys like me? - says Valentino curious. -

- Sure, there are boys like you, and girls like Mary. - says Max while giving tenderness to his son's question. -

- But if there are girls like me, I won't be the only princess. - Mary says angrily. -

- Mary, you are already our princess. - Simon calms her down, but in itself, she is the princess of the house, as Valentino is the prince of the house. -

After breakfast, the children went straight to their pets to pet them and play with them.

- Max... We were able to make the promise.

- I know Simon, I'm proud that we were both able to do this.

"We're the kind of parents we didn't have..."

I had to, is let's say I'd like to have a family, well, I wouldn't want to have kids, because I'd actually like to have kittens.

And that was an inspiration for my desire to be a good dad, of course if ghost existed. But it doesn't matter.

I hope you liked it.

~Bye~

[blueflyingturtleontheway]

Not a native spanish speaker but more or less familiar with ustedeo so here goes:

In Spain the rules are very similar to Polish (you use it very sparingly, mainly with elderly or very self-important people). And it's used even less in the Caribbean. In Argentina you'll also rarely come across it, it's all voseo.

In México, I've heard you generally use it for any stranger who's visibly older than you (or past their late 20s), anyone in a service staff position, and such. Very close to Czech/Slovak "vy". This is the least clear one to me though, so I take corrections.

From Colombia to CR it's more or less all you use (even the Metástasis version of Jesse Pinkman only used ustedeo), actual formal speech is made by addressing someone as Señor*a or Don*ña

Central America basically forms a continuum from CR rules to MX rules, except some areas also use voseo

It's a lot of regional variation, especially in LATAM, but you'll get the hang of it

Thank you for reaching out! And yeah, I know it varies greatly from country to country, thanks for writing them all out.

The thing is, I'm not sure what your experience with Polish is, but the pan/i form is used very often, in places like the higher education, most workplaces, most public spaces/posts and once you're like, above 30 or something it becomes the default way to talk to strangers, and that's just the examples from the top of my head.

I'm also not sure when to use the Señor/a / Don/ña forms and if I'd just use it at the beginning and then continue to use usted? Or use it instead of usted but combined with the third person? Is it possible to combine them with tu/vosotros?

So yeah, I suppose I'm asking both about the cultural situations you'd use it in and how that would work in a sentence.

But still, thank you! And if you'd want to tell me more, or anyone else I'll gladly listen :]

[sobredunia]

hi bbg i have a question for you, how different is european spanish from latin american spanish? also do you know of any spanish speaking youtubers/streamers u would reccomend to me :)

There are a lot of differences, also considering how latin american Spanish is so different within its countries

Fun fact, there is a commonly used abbreviation of latin america, latam

In Argentina they use the word "vos" to refer to "tú" ("you"). This is generally pretty unused in other latam countries and especially in Spain, it's a pretty old way to refer to someone in a higher position you're not friends with with respect. Also generally in latam they tend to use more formal words, like "usted" or "ustedes" ("you" in singular and "you" in plural. They're formal words just trust me bro)

There are also differences in how we name things. A particular phenomenon I've noticed is how they tend to use words that are more English sounding, which is understandable considering how closely connected these countries -especially mexico- are to the US

Imma put English words, then the word in latam, then the word in Spain

Refrigerator: refrigerador, nevera

Computer: computadora, ordenador

Cellphone: celular, teléfono/móvil

For Spanish speaking YouTubers I recommend, there are a few which are very funny and very poggers

Rangugamer: he plays videogames on YouTube. His videos are most of the time an hour long so unless the adhd stars align on you it's better that you watch compilations of funny moments. He makes a lot of adult/dark jokes but they're incredibly funny, he is really good giving varied voices to the characters in the games he's playing, he's actually gained a little bit of fame for being able to predict shit in the stuff he's in the middle of playing, and he's managed to make a lot of popular memes that get referenced by other spanish youtubers

Eme: this man hasn't uploaded an animation in two years but his videos from like six years ago are still extremely funny. He makes a lot of puns and jokes you can only get if you can understand and decompose the language but if you don't get them it just looks like silly stuff that comes out of nowhere which is entertaining nonetheless. There are also a bunch of other visual gags and random bs that are funny even if you don't understand jack shit, like a dictionary he has that moans when it gets opened. Pretty nice ngl

Invokah: he mostly makes Deltarune theories but he's also talked about other stuff like Inazuma 11, rain code, and yo-kai watch. His videos actually get subtitled to a shit ton of languages, so you can watch it with English subtitles and learn a word or two that way. He's pretty entertaining and his character is nicely designed and drawn

Leyendas y videojuegos: he makes theory videos and dissects lore and talks about game development and whatnot and he's talked about a shitton of games, including FEZ which is why I love him forever and ever and he is so cool. He's actually making a videogame of his own and putting the development logs as videos in his channel. Also he's friends with Rangu, the guy I talked about earlier, and they're fucking hilarious together he thought squids were made of legit rubber

Joseju: this guy is an absolute god of comedy. He talks about videogames but in every video he always brings something new to the table. He reviewed a racing game where all the characters are in zooming toilets in fucking prose like it was a poem. He roleplayed as Walter White on skate 3. He made an hour long video where he dubbed over metal gear solid with a few other people like it was a shitty movie. He was actually the reason why I got into GRIS not because the video was really funny, but because he chose not to make the video funny because the game was just too delicate and sensible and beautiful to do that to it. He's made legendary skits dubbing over the flex tape commercial and over fish documentaries. He became a waiter at this random burger joint just because. He played fucking amongus VR and ran over his dryer. He made a review of tears of the kingdom where the thumbnail was a picture of him with the text "I don't believe in human rights" with flames in the background. You gotta watch at least one video of this guy please I beg you

As for latam YouTubers the ones I can undoubtedly recommend are

Sr.Pelo: you know why he's here

Holasoygerman: this guy hasn't uploaded a video to his channel in like 6 years but people still regularly rewatch all of his videos because he's just that funny and nostalgic (it's me I'm people). He makes short videos that are around 10 minutes long where he talks about random things in a funny way, like the first time something happened in the history of humanity, food, typical things, the friendzone, and the English language. I'm pretty sure most of his videos have English subtitles so u could try watching them n learn cool stuff. His stuff is so ancient it was actually a rather running gag across multiple videos how he's so excited for GTA V to come out and he can't wait. GTA V. The old ass game where it is a universal gag that instead of making GTA VI they just remake it over and over for years and years. Yeah he's pretty cool u should watch him

[mariacallous]

After the first round of Argentina’s presidential election on Oct. 22, a rally in support of upstart far-right candidate Javier Milei shut down a major thoroughfare in downtown Buenos Aires. Attendees draped themselves with the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and waved banners depicting a roaring lion, which has become a logo of sorts for Milei—evoking both his unruly mane and his vow to impose himself over what he calls Argentina’s “political caste.”

Milei, a self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” who has been compared to former U.S. President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, had just punched his ticket to a Nov. 19 runoff against Argentina’s center-left economy minister, Sergio Massa. Milei’s feat upended what Argentines call la grieta, or “the chasm”—the traditional cycle of polarized political competition whereby the country’s center-left and center-right vie for control of governing institutions.

Milei’s ascent from libertarian economist to one-term congressman and now viable presidential candidate was rapid. Recent polling shows him with a narrow 4-point lead over Massa ahead of the runoff. Milei owes his success largely to social media—and the young voters who use it.

Instead of crisscrossing Argentina to meet with voters or blanketing urban centers with signage, Milei’s version of hitting the campaign trail entailed producing a steady churn of videos and social media content with a message that was confrontational and “appealed to certain negative emotions like anger, but also fear about what would happen if the next government weren’t led by him,” said Ana Slimovich, a sociologist at the University of Buenos Aires.

That strategy proved especially effective among younger voters. Voters under the age of 29 are credited with making Milei a contender for the presidency: Polls show that nearly 50 percent of that cohort support the far-right candidate. “This movement was born with you,” Milei said in a tweet addressed to young people published shortly before the Oct. 22 first-round vote.

Having come of age in an era of chronic economic turmoil, young voters say Milei offers a new approach to governing that could turn around Argentina’s fortunes. Change is desperately needed: The country’s currency, the peso, is depreciating fast against the dollar, and year-over-year inflation stands at over 100 percent. The International Monetary Fund has forecast a recession for 2023, the seventh economic contraction Argentina will have experienced since 2012. More than 1 in 4 Argentine households now live below the poverty line.

By tapping into voters’ frustrations with economic instability, Milei has ushered a set of previously fringe policy proposals into the mainstream. His signature economic platform includes abolishing Argentina’s Central Bank, ditching the beleaguered peso, and dollarizing the economy—a move most experts warn is infeasible given the country’s low reserves of hard currency. A group of more than 100 economists recently warned that Milei’s economic proposals would spell “devastation” for the country.

Outside economics, Milei has also voiced support for liberalizing gun laws and greenlighting the sale of organs. Years ago, he floated a “free market” for the sale of babies, an idea he has since distanced himself from. In line with his anarcho-capitalist beliefs, Milei has pledged to cut 10 federal ministries, privatize state industries, and dismantle the public health care system in favor of private alternatives. Foreign policy wouldn’t be spared from major changes, either: Milei has suggested he would distance Argentina from Brazil and China, the country’s two biggest trading partners, and align closely with the United States and Israel.

Feelings of exasperation are particularly potent among young Argentines, who are more likely to be informally employed and earn lower salaries than middle-aged and older populations. TikTok, Latin America’s fastest-growing social media site, has been critical to Milei’s courtship of these young people. Milei has 1.5 million followers on the platform, compared to Massa’s 254,000. Milei’s advisor, Fernando Cerimedo, is an important player in the Latin American far right’s digital strategy; his previous clients include Bolsonaro, who adopted a communications plan that prioritized digital media and built an audience of 5.5 million TikTok followers.

In most of his TikTok videos, Milei looks to the camera and answers questions about his policies from a 22-year-old staffer who addresses him by the diminutive “Javi.” Milei concludes these short addresses with a trademark shout of “Long live freedom, damn it!” On Instagram, where Milei has 3.6 million followers (a little over 3 million more than Massa), he shares memes and hosts popular monthly livestreams, raffling off his congressional salary to “give back to the people the money that was taken from them by force.” In the most recent livestream, he led his staff in a chant of “the [political] caste is afraid.”

Slimovich said that young voters see authenticity in Milei’s bombast and bluster. In her view, right-wing figures such as Milei have found fertile ground online because their simple, grievance-filled language is eminently shareable—and because these politicians spend more time broadcasting on social platforms than appearing in traditional news media, which has become widely discredited in right-wing spaces.

Milei is also benefiting from a growing ecosystem of young right-wing Argentine influencers dedicated to amplifying his message. That includes full-time influencers with large accounts such as Tomás Jurado, in his early 20s—whose “Peluca Milei” (Milei’s Wig) YouTube channel recently passed the million-subscriber mark—and digital foot soldiers like 19-year-old Adriel Segura.

When he’s not in class or studying, Segura, who lives in Buenos Aires, dedicates his time to “waging the culture war” on TikTok, where he makes videos explaining or defending Milei and the ideology he represents. In just over five months, Segura has built up an audience of 69,000 followers and amassed millions of views. “Social media is Milei’s territory … and it’s an organic movement because it’s his own followers who make him go viral and promote him,” he said. “I feel like I’m part of that.”

Segura thinks the people who watch his videos—many of whom have written to say he convinced them to support Milei—are just like him. “It’s people who don’t trust traditional politicians, or traditional media,” he said. “And those people tend to identify electorally with Milei.” In Segura’s view, Milei’s supporters understand that a win on Nov. 19 will not magically reverse Argentina’s fortunes—and might even make life in Argentina more difficult. But the country’s chronic economic issues justify trying a new approach to governing the country, Segura said. “Instead of voting for the two parties that created or perpetuated this crisis, I’m going to vote for the guy who is different.”

Experts say that feeling is widespread among young Argentines. “There’s an environment of rage and frustration over the economic and social results that the country has had for many years. That’s led to this thinking that we need something new. Even if it ends in disaster, at least it will be a new disaster,” said Valeria Brusco, a member of the Red de Politólogas, a group of women political scientists. Young Milei supporters “tell you that they prefer for everything to blow up, and let’s see what happens afterward. They’ve got nothing to lose anyway.”

Milei’s youth supporters are mostly male. That’s not surprising, given how Milei has undermined the feminist movement that helped put Argentina at the progressive vanguard of Latin America. (Among other proposals, he backs a referendum to invalidate a 2020 law that legalized abortion in the country.) What experts say does appear contradictory about Milei’s youth support base, however, is how many are economically disadvantaged, including those who work in the informal sector. That includes a significant chunk of delivery drivers who find work through a bevy of popular apps such as Rappi or PedidosYa—and don’t seem swayed by Massa’s party’s proposal to include gig workers in the formal economy and expand labor rights.

According to political analyst Carlos De Angelis, informal workers are wary of state involvement in the economy, which they associate more with pandemic-era restrictions on work than potential policies that could enhance their well-being. “There’s this concept of a benevolent state, right? Well, for them, it’s more like a malevolent state,” he said.

Back at the Oct. 22 Milei rally, Joaquin Ignacio Piaggio met two of his friends, all first-time voters. The 21-year-old philosophy student works part-time as a receptionist. He said he sometimes skips meals because he earns so little, and he must wait months to purchase everyday items like clothes. The idea of moving out of his parents’ home and renting an apartment of his own one day feels inconceivable.

Piaggio doesn’t see a future for himself in Argentina if Massa’s ruling party wins the Nov. 19 runoff. He said he is proud of young people like himself and his friends for elevating Milei as an alternative. “We are the generation that created a change.”

[leftistfeminista]

In the Southern Cone countries, female militants were doubly punished during state terror campaigns for becoming politicized and stepping out of the private domain where they were supposed to belong by God's design. In this way, gender introduced a differential, as sociologists together with feminists and law scholars have pointed out. They argue that the extent and repertoire of gendered human rights violations reveal that women activists were chastised from the very start of the dictatorships. They were punished not only to inflict damage over the regime's political male opponents but also, and more importantly for my argument, to erase any sense of agency and freedom—in particular, the belief that they were sexually free and emancipated. Women's access to higher education and labor and their participation in left-wing parties in the previous decade came to an abrupt and violent halt. Many of the militants on the more radical left were college students or members of Catholic base groups close to Liberation Theology that made social justice their goal. They were deeply aware of the social and economic disparities in their countries and wanted to end them to build a more just society. Examining past atrocities committed by agents of the state and civil servants who worked for the dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay shows how modern authoritarianism conceived the nation as a war place where political enemies needed to be brutally crushed. Women who were political and social activists in left-wing organizations faired especially badly in what was a warfare state. As militants they were targeted, humiliated, and sexually degraded while being illegally detained, tortured.

The violence they endured was part of a gendered policy that cut through political repression and was specifically designed for females involved in progressive politics and social organizing—militants, high-ranking leaders in student organizations, unions, and political parties. The dictatorial agenda was meant to strip women of their rights as citizens and human beings. Another notable goal was to deter females in the larger society from ever participating in the political life of the country for years to come. The military used terror tactics, corporal and sexual punishment of political prisoners. The link between gender and violence in this authoritarian context shows that sexual torture was especially directed toward women and used as a system to reeducate them politically while imposing unconditional obedience through fear and pain.

Women's Survival and Memory Narratives in the Southern Cone. Resilience and Gender Justice

Bernardita Llanos

2020, Coexistence in the Aftermath of Mass Violence Imagination, Empathy, and Resilience Edited by Eve Zucker and Laura McGrew