#goal of the day: bankruptcy

[kausijuoppo]

Kaapelitehdas here I come

[chiosavince]

New victoria 3 update hurting meeeee

[breelandwalker]

Wolf Moon - January 13 2025

Shake off the cold and sing to the sky, witches - it’s time for the Wolf Moon!

Wolf Moon

The Wolf Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs in the month of January. The name is said to be derived from the sound of wolves howling with hunger while prey is scarce in the midst of winter. Given that we now know that wolves howl mostly for communication, my personal opinion is that people huddled in their homes during a very dark and dangerous time of year probably noticed these sounds a lot more readily with little else to occupy their time as they waited out the winter, and thus were set to worrying about ravenous beasts invading their villages and farmsteads. (It’s worth noting that wolves preying on livestock was a very real concern for most people outside major cities for many centuries, so this isn’t entirely unfounded.)

The name also calls to mind the howling of the wind during winter storms, or whistling around the eaves during the long cold nights. And for those of us who might not have been careful with our spending over the holidays, I might cite a tongue-in-cheek reference to the wolves being at the door when those credit card bills come due.

[For those not familiar with the English phrase, to have “a wolf at the door” is a saying that refers to some imminent hardship or disaster. In modern parlance, this is usually applied to poor finances or looming bankruptcy.]

This month, the moon peaks at 5:27pm EST on Monday January 13th, so the moon may appear to be full on the nights of the 12th or 13th, depending on where you are in the world.

Some North American indigenous names for the month of January and its’ moon are Cold Moon (Cree), Center Moon (Assiniboine), Severe Moon (Dakota), Ice Moon (Catawba), and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe). Other names include Mantis Moon (South African origins), Quiet Moon (Celtic), and Moon After Yule (Anglo-Saxon).

What Does It Mean For Witches?

As a new year dawns, it’s time for rest and reflection before we set out on the next phase of our journey. While the cold weather lingers, take some time to sit by the fire, literally or metaphorically, and take stock of where you stand, what resources are available, and what you plan to do with them.

Check in with your near-and-dear following the mad rush of the holiday season as well. Make sure that friends, family, and community members around you are doing all right. Offer support and kindness where you can, but don’t overextend yourself. It’s your time to recuperate too, and it is good and healthy to set boundaries which allow time and space for yourself.

While it's a bit early to expect progress on our goals and resolutions, the beginning of a new calendar year is a good time to lay the foundation for what we intend to do with the year to come and to reflect on the year that has just ended. It's also the perfect time for self-assessment in your craft. Take a moment to acknowledge where you are, how you've grown, and what you might like to do next. Perhaps do some journaling on the subject, if you're so inclined. You can outline your craft knowledge and beliefs, mark the lessons you've learned, or record your progress. (This is a great way to measure future milestones and personal growth!)

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Winter is a prime time for storytelling. Back in the days before internet or television or radio, people would often read to each other or tell tales to pass the time. Consider re-reading a favorite book that inspires you or exploring some region of folklore or mythology you’ve been meaning to look into. If you have children who are of an age to enjoy stories, read them some of your favorites or introduce them to something new. Share stories and discussions with your witchy circle too!

While you’re at it, take a moment to examine the role that folklore and stories play in your practice. If you subscribe to a particular mythos, be it through deities or just general belief, consider which parts of it resonate the most with you and why.

Consider also the lessons of the winter season - the necessity of rest between periods of growth and activity, and the role of death, cold, and darkness in the natural cycles of life. What do these things mean to you and your practice? Are they a source of fear or fascination? Do you come alive in the winter or bundle up and wait for spring? How can you best remind yourself to pause for breath as the year goes on?

And of course, the beginning of a new year is an excellent time for goal-setting and divination. You’re making resolutions for your mundane life, so make a few for your craft while you’re at it, and pull out your cards or runes or pendulum for a New Year forecast on how things might go. If you need some ideas or inspiration, you can check out this article on Casting The Bones or try this craft-building exercise to Create Your Own Personal Runes.

Happy Wolf Moon, witches! 🐺🌕

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Wolf Moon: Full Moon in January, The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Why The 2025 January Wolf Moon Is So Insanely Powerful, The Peculiar Brunette.

Casting The Bones: How to Read and Throw Bones, The Peculiar Brunette.

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Your Own Runes, Bree NicGarran. (Masterlist here)

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2025

Calendar-12 - 2025 Moon Phases

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Source: What Is A Wolf Moon?, The Fact Site.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, check out my monthly show Hex Positive, and find my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[prettiestboytoy2]

Fun fact:

In Cyberpunk 2077 universe, United States states entered period of so called "paranoid isolationism" and started to become increasingly hostile to its former partners in Europe and Latin America. USA implemented protectionist tarrifs against Europe because of perceived harm that European produce was inflicting upon US economy. European Union, naturally retaliated with its own tariffs which ended up harming both economies. European and Asian powers put thier differences aside with goal of humbling overreaching America.

Advent of new technologies created increasingly bigger class of impoverished masses and increasingly small class of financially affluent technocrats benefiting from said innovations. USA de-facto ruled by oligarchs and corrupt intelligence officers embarked upon bloody and costly campaign of pacifications throughout Latin America. Unwinnable war supported by antagonized Europe and Asia, has waged on, as world's economy was burning. US cities administrations were declaring bankruptcy one after another, quickly followed by collapse of local government structures. Culmination of such policy was Market Crash that wipped out most of the US economy.

Corporations and various government agencies has lunched thier last desperate effort to keep thier power, implementing nation-wide martial law. During incredibly bloody reign of terror, government and armed forces - strained with permanent war and policing - kept declining, with secessionists, gangs and foreign corporations growing bolder every day. As result, US entered mid 21th century decimated, losing most of its armed forces, economy, land and population. Completly isolated and marginalized, it remains as an rump state under quasi-democratic government sustained by handful of weapon manufacturing corporations.

Thankfully, its only silly sci-fi story that has nothing to do with reality or any recent statements on behalf of American rulling class! Gee, imagine that!

[the-rodent-of-shalott]

#it's 2025 and as far as I'm concerned Tom Sloane still sucks

Best tag award;)

Admittedly, I had quite a journey with "Daria" the series where each step of said journey was attached to a particular phase of my personal evolution and growing up process. From heavily identifying with Daria and sympathizing with her and her views when I was an angsty teenager infested with the "not like other girls" complex and internalized misogyny. To realizing the major writing flaws as an adolescent and admitting the show that inspired me and countless other teenage girls could've had a much better representation of women (especially when comparing it to series like Sailor Moon; which - for all it's massive issues with "a girl needs to sacrifice her personal needs for the sake of the Greater Good TM" 90-s trope - had a remarkably diverse collection of female leads all of whom had different personalities and goals and all of those were considered valid).

Then, as a tired adult who fully outgrew my "not like other girls" syndrome and realized this mindset is not remotely feminist (unfortunately, contemporary Disney and modern popular media still hasn't realized that) I was able to see how problematic "Daria" the series was in terms of, on one hand, celebrating those traits of Daria that needed to be deconstructed and shown as something she had to overcome (hence why she never overcame them and remained of a belief any girl who has different priorities than her is "shallow" and any woman in her 30-s who dares to enjoy her social life and looks is a selfish miserable hag). While on the other hand shaming Daria for actions and decisions she had every right to take, such as saying "no" to uncomfortable situations and protecting her boundaries (it will never be not infuriating how the final episode before the College Special is literally called "Boxing Daria"; where, of all the legitimate issues with Daria's behavior, she was condemned for initially turning down a request to participate in activity she didn't want to engage in).

But the one thing that remained a constant throughout the described process? Tom being a quintessence of everything that was wrong and sexist about the male writer's mindset.

I detailed the issues with his storyline in the posts/replies to you already therefore now I will only add that my first exposure to alcohol in my teens was to take a sip of martini when Daria and Tom finally broke up. Because not even the misogynistic male writer who clearly identified with Tom's emotional bankruptcy and him picking Daria over Jane because Daria was more insecure and wouldn't "demand much" from a man as fit and proper as him (and would cherish the very fact that a "treasure" like him gave her unconventional outcast self time of the day) could make this train-wreck work.

You have summarised all this so expertly that not only do I have nothing to add, I'm publishing this under my ''Daria'' tags and my ''things that give me life'' tag, and I consider you one of the few people who's my actual friend in my many years of being on this site.

[cipheramnesia]

I wonder if there's anywhere to go that makes me feel sane.

Go to work, they make up imaginary profit requirements and call it winning. No one else seems to find this abnormal. Two weeks ago they called it our best year ever. Today we're not making any profit. If you hit a goal you win another, further away goal. Everyone acts like this makes sense. I don't understand.

Sit on the couch, wonder where to start filing bankruptcy. Wish the house was clean but it's not. Wonder if I'll get meds this month.

Go on Tumblr, hoping for I don't know what. It's a flock of ravens tearing each other apart. Weaponized support into attack on each other. Reminds me of being yelled at by my dad - no options to make a good decision, so I shut down. Feels worse than it ever got before, and not a bit necessary. Walking on glass hear just waiting for the next blow out fight, whole tight community's been broken apart, never more eager than now to fight ourselves more. Well, there's bugs I guess.

Out of the bubble of online and it's still worse. Can't keep track for trying of all the wars and genocides new and old, why bother trying to follow queer stuff, it's just bad everywhere. Water's drying all up. Every politician promises this one war will fix it, except the ones that also promise to kill every trans person in their country in addition. Some yawning chasm the blood bird feathers drift uselessly into. The desire of the wealthy and powerful to see this many people die and kill each other, and the people who agree to do so, broke something in me and the parts still grind together.

Can't really do much of anything because I barely have any of my own shit together more than it takes to live through a day. Don't understand how anyone can sustain that much anger when all anger does is hurt when I feel it. It's the most painful emotion I know and it makes me hate myself to feel it. I can feel sad forever, but not angry.

I think about dying every ten minutes, more or less. I'm on so many drugs about it, but those can't make everything around me feel right. I can sit with my partners and feel as if I'm not completely losing my mind. But everything is nothing but a vortex of rage and capitalist double speak. I'm so tired of impossibility of doing anything kind anymore, so I'll just sleep another night and live another day and maybe the next one that comes along will be kinder than the last.

[delinquentluvr]

Knuckle Bine, Hakoware, & The Importance of An Informative Power System.

I think a lot of people would agree with me if I said that Hunter x Hunter is a great manga. I also think a lot of people would agree if I said a large part of that is because of its stellar character writing. Togashi is really intentional with the way his characters speak, the actions they take, and how their personalities/beliefs influence the way they fight. In a manga where so much fighting is happening, it's super necessary. The decisions a character makes leading up to them throwing hands are just as important as who they're throwing hands against, why they're throwing hands, etc. Of course, these things are all portrayed through the way the main cast (Gon, Killua, and Kurapika mostly) develops their nen abilities alongside their continual character development, but my all-time favorite example of this is Knuckle Bine. He's in an arc that is perfectly set-up to portray morality through fighting, and all of his limited screen-time is used to show what he believes and why he believes it. So. Knuckle's entire character is this: He is a heart-of-gold delinquent. He comes off as a brute but is actually very kind behind that (paper thin) mask. He is driven by his emotions, but these emotions are very noble. He leads with his fists, yes, but not with anger.

Knuckle Bine (despite what everything on the surface might tell you... his intimidating looks, his insulting speech, his punch-first-think-latter attitude) is a pacifist and a good guy. He fights because he wants to understand others, and make sure no one gets judged unfairly. He’s explicitly stated his reasoning for being a beast hunter is so he can make sure that creatures that we can’t explain aren’t just destroyd because they’re “dangerous”. He wants a conversation; he wants the most peaceful solution. Hakoware is a really fucking good representation of these beliefs.

A friend of mine said that nen abilities are a manifestation of the restrictions one places on oneself, which is definitely true, but I also want to add that they're also a reflection of what you believe to be true about the world around you. Knuckle believes that everyone deserves a chance to explain themselves. Knuckle believes that fighting with another is a way to understand them. Fighting, to him, is a way to communicate. When he fights and loses to Youpi what saves him, Morel, and Meleoron is the fact that his beliefs were shown to Youpi through his determination.

The fact that Knuckle's goal is communication-- through fighting, yes, but not with the intention to kill (explicitly the exact opposite of that actually)-- is what forms the basis of Hakoware. And it's also what allows Hakoware to be so powerful. Hakoware activates when Knuckle lands a hit on his opponent, initiating his "conversation". It doesn't hurt, because Knuckle is lending his aura to his opponent. Pacifism proven upfront. Now, the opponent will accumulate a 10% "debt" based on the amount of aura Knuckle's lent, adding it every ten seconds. If the debt equals or exceeds the opponent’s total aura capacity (which will naturally go down over the fight as the opponent uses their own nen abilities), they go into "Bankruptcy" and become unable to use Nen for 30 days. Hakoware remains active until the opponent pays off the debt by attacking Knuckle with enough aura. These return punches also won't hurt Knuckle, because they're simply passing back the aura that is owed. Pretty neat, right? I'm sure you can see where I'm going. So, let's go back to the idea of nen abilities being restrictions on the self and reflections of your own worldview. Knuckle's Self-Imposed Restrictions

Hakoware only works if he's confident enough in his own ability to have a conversation. The ability wouldn't be useful if Knuckle couldn't logically think or understand his opponent during his fights.

Knuckle's Worldview

The 30-day nen lockdown is a direct representation of his character. It's an incredibly powerful ability, but it has no limits on who it can be used on in the way Kurapika's nen is. Why? Because Knuckle's conviction, his dedication to peace and understanding, is strong enough that it is baked into his ability.

Knuckle wouldn't use Hakoware on someone if it was not absolutely necessary. He wouldn't strip them of the ability to defend themselves unless the situation absolutely called for it. And even then, if he did win, we know that Knuckle is not the type of man to use that advantage to stamp his enemies down.

It's incredible that the ability can inform so much about his personality. It's incredible that his personality can make you understand the reasoning behind his ability's structure and use-cases. Good fucking manga.

[theculturedmarxist]

War Games

You need to be ready because war between the United States and China is inevitable.

I hate to use the word "inevitable" because it implies that it is preordained, a foregone conclusion irrespective of circumstance or volition. In this instance it is apt because the US has crafted the circumstances and shaped itself internally and externally so that it has no other choice but to engage in conflict.

To fully explain why this is would require a substantially longer post, several posts in fact, at the very least. In summary though, the welfare state created by the New Deal and the activist sentiment cultivated by the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement spurred a reaction by the bourgeoisie, which resulted in the "Reagan Revolution." Proletarian empowerment was to be checked and dismantled at every opportunity and any impediment to corporate power was to be removed. Unions were dismantled. Public Education was attacked. Trusts were to be facilitated in the name of "efficiency."

Over the course of forty years, the players of the US political and economic system have taken steps favorable to themselves which have made reform impossible. Aberration from the desires of the ruling class is treated with extreme intolerance and the heterodox are expelled from "polite society." Alternative conceptions to the current state of things are portrayed as quixotic at best and foreign or evil at worst.

The result is such that any attempt to reform or ameliorate the social, economic, or political status quo of the United States is virtually impossible.

The US's foreign policy goals since the fall of the Soviet Union has been the dissolution of the Russian Federation and the subjugation of the People's Republic of China, as set out in the policy document "Project for a New American Century." 9/11, the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, the destruction of Libya, occupation of Syria, etc, etc, have all been stepping stones on the war towards those ultimate goals. Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden have all facilitated those goals.

The problem is that the "United States," by which I mean the bourgeoisie which represent its interested parties, its political facilitators, and its petite-bourgeois factions which occupy its implementation mechanisms, have crafted the internal and external national circumstances so that novel responses to emerging circumstances are impossible.

To give an example, the war in Ukraine proves that its patently impossible for the US to wage war directly against Russia. In terms of production capacity, the United States simply cannot compete. Case in point, the Russian Federation is producing 4.5 million artillery shells per year. The US meanwhile is producing somewhere in the neighborhood of 450,000. The reason this is is because monopolies have hollowed out the US's production capacity. Increasing production would mean decreasing profit, and that would mean bankruptcy, and then no production. So the US government has to guarantee profit in order to guarantee production. Russia and China don't have this defect currently. Part of the reason Russia has been able to out-produce the US is that its production companies and facilities are state owned. The Russian government says "jump" and their MIC says "how high?" Profit isn't the goal, but rather production.

These circumstances aren't entirely alien to the US. During World War 2, the US government intervened heavily in its domestic economy, dictating wages and benefits, ordering production in support of its war effort. Now though the tail is wagging the dog. In the name of the "economy," monopolies dictate economic and state policy. We saw this recently when the CEO of Delta airlines got the isolation period for covid cut from two weeks to five days.

So we have is a situation where the US can't achieve its goals because of its own inadequacies. If the US wanted to achieve parity with its rivals, it would have to at the very least assume the sort of state-directed production that its rivals have. However, currently that isn't possible because the monopolies which control economic production enjoy control over the state which is ostensibly supposed to regulate it. Put another way, in Russia and China, the state dictates economic activity. In the US, the economy dictates political activity. To use an American saying, "the inmates are running the asylum."

These circumstances cannot be reformed as they currently are. We saw in 2016 that attempts to do so were legally thwarted. If the political system cannot be restructured so that the people's will is preeminent before the will of the bourgeoisie, then the will of the bourgeoisie will dominate. That means that economic monopolies will continue their stranglehold over policy, and profit will retain preeminence before any other consideration, including militaristic victory.

The significance of Taiwan currently is that it accounts for at least half of the planet's semiconductor microchip production. This produces a dilemma for the United States. This essential resource is at least de jure in the hands of an ideological enemy and a presumed economic subordinate. Furthermore, it has no way of ameliorating this state of affairs without military intervention. To the first part, this state of affairs would give China de facto control over US economic policy, both foreign and domestic, as it would give Beijing control over how many microprocessors the US has access to to put into its various domestic products as well as the military hardware it requires to enforce its domestic policy. To the second part, in its efforts to crush the working class all those skilled trades necessary to facilitate its own domestic production, along with the educational institutions necessary to impart the knowledge and expertise for their creation, have been systematically gutted by the bourgeoisie.

In short, if the United States started today to try and achieve the productive capacities currently existing in China and Russia, it would be at least ten years before it could accomplish what either of its adversaries are currently capable of. It lacks the skilled personnel. It lacks the machinery necessary. Its institutions lack the candidates or the program to train its citizens at scale. It very simply lacks the capability to produce more than its limited quantities of boutique weaponry, which means it cannot possibly compete with its chosen adversaries.

The rational response to these facts would be to adjust its course in relation to the existing circumstances. The period of American hegemony outlined in the PFANAC is as unrealistic as traveling to the moon on a hot air balloon, so rational course of action would be to adjust policies and expectations accordingly. Unfortunately, these adjustments cannot be made. They would require upsetting the dominance of the monopolies over the American political and economic status quo, and the monopolies are unwilling to let that happen and the US government is incapable of making that happen. For the American economy to continue, the monopolies must continue to exist as monopolies, and also for American politics to continue. It is a reciprocal relationship, where reformers that endanger corporate profits like Sanders are kept out of positions of power, so that those in power can continue to guarantee corporate profits. One hand washes the other, and nothing is allowed to fundamentally change.

The problem, as any Marxist could tell you, is that change is the fundamental state of things. In spite of the war and sanctions, Russia's economy is strengthening while Europe's is weakening. China alone has more than twice the consumers as all of NAFTA combined. The bottom line is that the United States simply cannot compete, and what's more is that it has fashioned itself into such a state so that it can never, ever do so, because the necessary changes are simply impossible to achieve and implement while also keep profits up and proles down. To keep things as they are, change is utterly impermissible, in spite of how devastatingly necessary it might be.

Yet regardless, the status quo is not only viewed by the bourgeoisie as the natural state of things, but totally essential. Unable to escape their own ideology, they are restricted by its prescriptions. The United States must, must, dominate not only Russia, and China, but the entire world. It cannot do so economically, and yet it cannot alter itself so that it may do so. In terms of production the US can never, ever surpass China in its current state, but at the same time it cannot realistically alter itself to do so. The American bourgeoisie has achieved victory over the American working class, but in so doing it has forfeited the struggle to dominate internationally. It has very little to offer in terms of real goods. Its only useful product is its currency and the ascendance of BRICS severely limits that's lifetime. Since 2001 the US has let its diplomatic strength atrophy, and in its hubris reality has increasingly passed it by.

If it has no real goods to offer, no useful currency, and no means of persuasion, then the only thing left that the US has to ensure its necessary, is essential dominance is its military weaponry. While much of it is dated and inherited from the First Cold War, it still has the capacity to wreak fearful destruction, especially its nuclear arsenal.

We see the evidence of this fact even now. The US's puppet Ukraine cannot possibly win against Russia. This was a fact even before the start of the most recent phase of this conflict in 2022. Yet in spite of the unrelenting slaughter of the Ukrainian people the conflict continues because the US as instigator of this war has no other alternative. It cannot allow peace to break out. It cannot pursue an alternative to war. It cannot even fathom a world where it doesn't dictate the state of affairs. So in spite of bleeding itself dry trying to wear down an enemy that surpasses it in virtually every capacity, it insists on continuing, because the alternative cannot possibly be countenanced.

Russia, in spite of its growing strength, is nowhere near the level that China currently enjoys. If the United States cannot even defeat Russia, it would be absurd to court conflict with China, especially considering how much the US relies on Chinese goods for, well, practically everything. The pandemic "shutdown" saw the US practically on the verge of collapse and panic as essential goods grew scarce. Still, the US continues to ratchet up tensions with China, provoking it, while preparing itself for war insofar as its capable. For the United States and its controlling monopolies, there is no other choice. Profit must be assured, which can only come at the expense of its imperial subjects, and without any other alternative those subjects must be maintained at the barrel of a gun—or the tip of a nuclear weapon.

[gloriousmonsters]

Hey y'all, I've hesitated over making this post because I never love asking for things, and I don't like giving details of problems I'm having, but I finally decided it might be worth it. As always, if you're in financial straits yourself, this isn't directed at you, you're golden.

So: If you recall me complaining about having to take extremely stupid financial education courses, that was part of the requirements for filing for bankruptcy. I had to do that a few months ago because of a credit card debt that had gotten away from me during a family medical emergency and then proceeded to STAY fully away because I'm poor lol. The actual process went well but fun fact, filing for bankruptcy on the basis of 'I have literally no money'... costs money. In some cases the fee can be waived, which I thought I was going to be able to do, but that didn't work out and I was only able to take an option to defer and pay in installments.

Long story short, I was going to have juuuuust enough to pay the second installment this month, but then my job cut one of my very few shifts and I've been unable to pick up any more hours. I need to make the payment before the end of the month and I'm short about 25 dollars.

I'm going to reblog this post occasionally for the next few days (or until the possible happy event that I hit the goal, which I'll announce if that happens). If you're able to help me out, no matter how small the amount, I would deeply appreciate it.

ko-fi + I remembered I have a cashapp account I haven't used in ages if that's easier, $sunflowerteethboy

[lunarsilkscreen]

An Alternate Take on Wonka

It was a job interview; and despite the bleak hunger games outlook (especially in the original) every child got both what they needed and deserved.

Augustus Gloop was a tourist. If anything; Wonka gave him an excellent experience in chocolate as a Theme Park. Unlimited free chocolate and a chocolate roller coaster slide.

That it's portrayed as something *inherently dangerous* comes from Wonka's showmanship. As we don't actually see what happens afterwards.

Veruca Salt gets in the way of production and is sent down the management chute. Just another set-up for "Theme Park Day".

She represents cunning business tactics and poaching of skilled employees, and business practices. She doesn't need the factory because her father could simply buy one AND THE staff for her.

There's this constant view that the machinery is dangerous, and it is. Dangerous. But not on theme park day; a day where the entire factory is set-up for small children to walk through. And Wonka still wants his brand to be successful and to network with the people he's selected. Politicians, Competition, Overseas Expansion, even a protege.

Violet Blueberry Beauregard learns as much as she can from Wonka, until she's literally stuffed to the gills with both knowledge and Wonka's experience. She doesn't need the factory, because she wants and has the ability to start her own; or become a successful politician.

And Mike TeeVee represents something else; somebody who's dreams and future are on a completely different profession; Television and Electronics. Very useful to Wonka; but not as his employee.

He questions Wonka's motives about advertising and what exactly his motives are about on air broadcasting. He's a product and literal child expert on television. He successfully criticizes and demonstrates the failings of his approach to television marketing.

And then Charley; either the whole thing was set-up just for him specifically. Which is possible, or its because he's an incredibly smart and resourceful kid. He's just there for the ride, not to become rich and v famous, or a world class chocolatier. Just for the experience.

Unlike everybody else; he has absolutely nothing he can offer Wonka. No political or business dealing, he's just some street urchin with no future to Wonka.

And Wonka treats him as such.

Despite the other kids literally being sucked and thrown into trash chutes and waste receptacles; Charlie is the only child he treats like trash.

Whether it was an act, or something else that changed Wonka's mind (at different timeline points for story reasons) Wonka eventually realizes; this kid is very much like himself. Maybe not a Candied Moosiér like himself; but somebody capable of great that has no way to realize his own goals or dreams.

The chocolate factory give away represents two very different things; perhaps Charlie could become like Wonka, or he could use it up completely and do as he wishes to pursue a goal he otherwise couldn't.

The factory, after-all has been shutdown for years and Wonka himself is looking into automation and expansion while not wanting to or needing to continue working simultaneously.

And Charlie on the other hand; enjoyed the factory tour and got more out of it. He enjoyed the Tour like a Tourist, he observed the inner workings, even the stuff Wonka didn't want to showcase despite making a big show of not showing it. He consumed knowledge and candy alike like the other children and didn't get full of it.

He didn't treat the staff like pets, he observed and learned about the things he didn't know instead of trying to take it apart.

And the biggest part; he understood and liked what Wonka Candy Products stood for; so much so, that despite having the gobstopper; either unlimited candy for life, or a guaranteed payday and ability to revenge Wonka into bankruptcy, he took neither of those.

Because he knew when to stop eating candy, and that simply not supporting the candy anymore would be damaging enough after having been on the tour only 10 people got to go on.

Plus he embodies that "I'd rather work for it myself" ethic that boomers enjoy.

[pedge-page]

Personal thoughts / rant time below cut :

It's been a while since I had a good cry but last night was a big cry. I was thinking about how my fam were all talking about our performance reviews and my mom said she got 5/5 from her boss, and nothing less was expected given she works like 16 hours a day and is generating millions of dollars for her company that was on the verge of bankruptcy. My sister has hers yet to come but she too is extremely quick and has been working exceptionally hard at her job despite so many changes in her team forcing her to take on more responsibilities and learning on the fly.

Meanwhile I joked i got 3.8 or maybe 3.5 on my review out of 5. My manager has 4.2 listed as minimal expectations so pretty clear I'm performing below standard. Didn't really want to think about it so much when I had my performance meeting a month ago but it was the first time I mentioned it to my parents.

They got quiet and asked my sister to get me a new job since clearly I'm not reaching "my full potential". Not really sure why she keeps saying that when it's blatantly obvious I am in fact, not very much good at anything. She asked If I got a raise and I asked why would I get one?

I may have gotten a couple hundred dollars increase (from like 40,500 to now 41,100 salary I think as of this year. Was never discussed to me but I just check my employee portal and I think that it went up but not sure If that was considered a raise, or the company wanting to help all employees with housing).

Either way, my parents are also aware I do don't really do anything most days of work. I wander around the house because I "don't have much work today" and it's true. I get done with my assignments and then can "study" courses that are part of my long term goals (which I spend pretty much all in office days doing because I'm bored) but that gets me exhausted since I haven't the capacity to "study" and genuinely retain information since high school really.

Anyway my parents have been telling me everyday to look for a new job, and also look for a masters degree (in anything but clearly business), and also look at volunteer work, and consider getting a second job on the weekends. She suggested a career coach but I've backed off from that because what use if they ask me what I want to do with my life --because my genuine answer is nothing.

I've barely given any of it thought because I just don't want to. I have no motivation to improve. I dont have dreams or goals in life. No abitions or passions. My "hobbies" dont really bring joy--they just distract me from my responsibilities. I'm clearly not good at anything and it feels like an insult every time my mom lectures me (every day for 2 years now) about my "potential" and "gifts and skills I need to share with the world" so i need to find a new job that challenges me becuase I'm so "smart" and "too advanced".

I have to avoid eye contact with her because it physically hurts to be told such BS especially since none of my family even know why my job or company is / does. Ma'am if I had such potential, it'd be in use. Plz stop.

Anyway. Big cry last night and scribbling in my journal what a useless (and fat--let's not forget fat) fuck I am and have been and always will be.

[odinsblog]

I swear to God, from mass incarceration crime bills, to undermining abortion rights, to healthcare, to Clarence Thomas, to student loan forgiveness, it feels like Joe Biden’s entire presidency has been him tepidly and ineffectually “fighting” against every bad thing that he was instrumental in creating when he was a Senator, but reliably failing to completely repeal or correct as POTUS.

Sorry if this truth upsets some 🙈🙉🙊 neoliberal diehards, but it’s infuriating to see how student loan forgiveness was thrown under the bus in the name of “bipartisan compromise” that Biden values so fucking much. Acquiescing to the GOP’s manufactured “debt default crisis,” no matter how marginally, only guarantees that they will continue using these hostage taking tactics in the future.

And before any braindead Blue MAGA sycophants regurgitate their tired lines about how the act of even remembering these facts is somehow “helping Trump,” or “oh you must be a Russian bot,” I fucking dare you to 1) refute anything in this post as misleading, patently untrue, or false, Or 2) search through my blog and see what I’ve posted regarding Republicans, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Russia. NONE of that changes the fact that Biden, bipartisanly partnering up with Republicans, helped plant the seeds of many of the problems that we face today. The bad guys being bad guys does not magically absolve Biden for helping them achieve so many of their goals in his “younger” days.

[breelandwalker]

Wolf Moon - January 24-25, 2024

Shake off the cold and sing to the sky, witches - it's time for the Wolf Moon!

Wolf Moon

The Wolf Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs in the month of January. The name is said to be derived from the sound of wolves howling with hunger while prey is scarce in the midst of winter. Given that we now know that wolves howl mostly for communication, my personal opinion is that people huddled in their homes during a very dark and dangerous time of year probably noticed these sounds a lot more readily with little else to occupy their time as they waited out the winter, and thus were set to worrying about ravenous beasts invading their villages and farmsteads. (It's worth noting that wolves preying on livestock was a very real concern for most people outside major cities for many centuries, so this isn't entirely unfounded.)

The name also calls to mind the howling of the wind during winter storms, or whistling around the eaves during the long cold nights. And for those of us who might not have been careful with our spending over the holidays, I might cite a tongue-in-cheek reference to the wolves being at the door when those credit card bills come due.

[For those not familiar with the phrase, to have "a wolf at the door" is a saying that refers to some imminent hardship or disaster. In modern parlance, this is usually applied to poor finances or looming bankruptcy.]

This month, the moon peaks at 12:54pm EST on January 25th, so the moon will likely appear to be full on the nights of the 24th and 25th, depending on where you are in the world.

Some North American indigenous names for the month of January and its' moon are Cold Moon (Cree), Center Moon (Assiniboine), Severe Moon (Dakota), Ice Moon (Catawba), and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe). Other names include Mantis Moon (South African origins), Quiet Moon (Celtic), and Moon After Yule (Anglo-Saxon).

What Does It Mean For Witches?

As a new year dawns, it's time for rest and reflection before we set out on the next phase of our journey. While the cold weather lingers, take some time to sit by the fire, literally or metaphorically, and take stock of where you stand, what resources are available, and what you plan to do with them.

Check in with your near-and-dear following the mad rush of the holiday season as well. Make sure that friends, family, and community members around you are doing all right. Offer support and kindness where you can, but don't overextend yourself. It's your time to recuperate too, and it is good and healthy to set boundaries which allow time and space for yourself.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Winter is a prime time for storytelling. Back in the days before internet or television or radio, people would often read to each other or tell tales to pass the time. Consider re-reading a favorite book that inspires you or exploring some region of folklore or mythology you've been meaning to look into. If you have children who are of an age to enjoy stories, read them some of your favorites or introduce them to something new. Share stories and discussions with your witchy circle too!

While you're at it, take a moment to examine the role that folklore and stories play in your practice. If you subscribe to a particular mythos, be it through deities or just general belief, consider which parts of it resonate the most with you and why.

Consider also the lessons of the winter season - the necessity of rest between periods of growth and activity, and the role of death, cold, and darkness in the natural cycles of life. What do these things mean to you and your practice? Are they a source of fear or fascination? Do you come alive in the winter or bundle up and wait for spring? How can you best remind yourself to pause for breath as the year goes on?

And of course, the beginning of a new year is an excellent time for goal-setting and divination. You're making resolutions for your mundane life, so make a few for your craft while you're at it, and pull out your cards or runes or pendulum for a New Year forecast on how things might go.

Happy Wolf Moon, witches! 🐺🌕

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree's Lunar Calendar Series

Bree's Secular Celebrations Series

Wolf Moon: Full Moon in January, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Full Moon January 2024: Discover the Wolf's Thrilling Spiritual Meaning, The Peculiar Brunette.

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2024

Calendar-12 - 2024 Moon Phases

Image Source: What Is A Wolf Moon?, The Fact Site.

[delicatefury]

I’m pissed. I am so pissed right now. (Super long, very personal rant below)

I’m an attorney. A lawyer. My job is to advise my clients to the best of my ability of what legal options they have and which acts may be in their best interest. That’s why one of the other names for my job is counselor.

It is not to get more clients. It is not to file more bankruptcies. My job, my ethical obligation, is to provide my professional expertise to clients in relation to pursuing a bankruptcy.

Which means sometimes my ethical duty is to advise clients that filing a bankruptcy is the worse option for their situation and other steps would serve them better to reach their goals.

So when a client who makes less than the median income (which is fairly low, especially with inflation) comes in owning their house in full (meaning lots of value in the house to pay off debts), it is my job, my ethical obligation, to warn her that filing bankruptcy will mean she has to pay every single cent of her debts back. That she will be handing over almost half of her pay every month to the bankruptcy court to pay back her creditors. Or else the bankruptcy trustee has the right to sell her house.

And after discussing her situation with the senior attorney, turns out that it’s actually a better option for her to take out a small home equity loan and negotiate for lower debt payoffs for her credit cards and personal loans. It’s a lower interest rate, she gets a lot more leeway before her house is at risk, it’s quicker, and it will preserve her credit score. In every conceivable way it’s a better option for her.

So I call her to discuss that there are other options for her before I sink hours into preparing her case.

This woman freaks the fuck out. She’s convinced the loan will lead to her losing her house. She demands to know why I would even suggest it. She implies I have no clue what I’m doing and am just trying to take advantage (which is… no? I’m telling you that you’d be better off not using our services). I try to calm her down and ask for a few days to put together the numbers to show her what her options will look like. She agrees to a phone call in two days.

Two days later, she sends me a basic email saying she no longer wants to go forward with the bankruptcy. Silly me thinks that means she’s given thought and realized that a 3.5-5% small loan and negotiating payoffs is better than 5 years at 8-18% interest plus attorney fees.

Wrong! She also emails one of the partners and writes a nasty message about me and how “incompetent” I am! Because I suggested a home equity loan! Because I did my ethical duty! And I found this out because I went to add a note to her file about giving her a refund and found a note from the partner about her complaints about me.

And I do not trust the partners to take my side. I did the right thing. I took the right actions. I know I did. And the Senior attorney will back me up! We literally just had a discussion that legal ethics requires that at times we have to advise clients not to file bankruptcy, even if that means we lose their business.

But I cannot believe that the partners will stand behind my actions. I can’t. Not after the last year. Too many times have they assured me that they have my back only to throw me under the bus the moment they actually have to prove it.

A client is rude and combative to me and my paralegal? Makes me deeply uncomfortable and keeps on insisting on coming into the office so he can attempt to railroad me by physical intimidation into doing what he wants instead of the actual correct legal actions? Partners says he understands and that he’s okay if we turn this client away. Then he calls the client, tells them I’m also on the line, and immediately rolls over because the asshole isn’t rude to him. And I have another month of near constant harassment and arguments and passive aggressive insults.

A client gives off creepy vibes? Again insists on coming into the office for every little thing? Has a criminal record for domestic issues and an active criminal case open against him for pedophilia? Oh well. He paid a lot up front so guess I have no choice but to keep representing him. For the next 5 years.

Client starts being threatening and aggressive to our paralegal before we even meet with him? Demands to be seen and threatens to come into our office even though we are booked all afternoon? Gives the former criminal prosecutor senior attorney bad vibes before she’s even seen him? Meet with him anyway! Oh he just lost his job because he threatened his HR? Has been arrested for domestic violence? Just attempted to physically intimidate his now former boss and had the cops called him? That’s fine! We have security concerns? Oh well, they’ll think about it during the partners meeting next month.

I’d like to take the time to learn how to do post filing work or how to file bankruptcies in the neighboring district that I actually live in? Tough. More front end work for a court that’s literally on the other side of the state! And if that doesn’t keep me occupied, they’ll send me front end stuff from the other side of the country!

So I really don’t trust that when I tell them I was doing my ethical obligation and making my client aware that there are better options that they will take my word over hers. I can’t. They’ve shown me that’s not how they think. It’s being a business first, with being a law practice a distant second, and mentoring new attorneys a far away third. Caring for our staff is barely a blip on the horizon for them.

But I know I did the right thing. And if that client wants to go to another firm and pay most of her paycheck to the trustee every month, fine by me. And if they try to lecture me about how I “handled it poorly” and should have just filed it without saying anything, I can’t guarantee I won’t just walk out.

I’ve got contract work. I’ve been approached by headhunters. One literally emailed me this morning. I like this work, but for once I’m not scared to walk away.

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

I saw some of your posts about how the Grayson family spends their time and bonds (all very ticklish!). Do you have any thoughts about how Snow Owl (the Mary Grayson Talon) bonds? My understanding is that she is an anti-hero who still takes care of Dick but a Talon. Does this affect how she feels things, both physically and mentally? How often is she able to mother Dick? Do they have hobbies together or just fight crime? Thanks

Well to clarify some things here first so it’s easier to understand and brace yourself, it’s gonna be a bit much.

Those are actually two AUs I have; Talon!Mary Grayson proceeds Snow Owl!Mary in terms of when the posts were made.

Talon!Mary was under the Court’s control after her supposed ‘death’ in the hospital that night of the Fall. So here Dick stays with Bruce as per the canonical timeline and the two don’t reunite until Dick’s a teen, and leader for the Titans. It’s at that point when Mary finally snaps out of the Court’s control over her and begins her anti hero streak against them which would lead to about one or two clashes with the Titans before finally the Court are defeated. Dick and Mary afterwards are able to reconcile and Mary leaves the US to go back to Haly’s Circus under a new identity, being their guardian from any dangers since.

Snow Owl on the other hand; the point of divergence here comes at the night of the Fall; the ropes weakened as they are held on just enough for Mary to safely get on the platform and await John to join her. It’s then the ropes finally gave way, John being the only one to fall to the ground below. Mary and Dick would try rushing to his side and while Mary picked up a small fading heartbeat before the paramedics pulled her and Dick away from him to clear the way for the ambulance, as we know in this situation, by the end of that night Dick would be left fatherless while Mary is now a widow. Because of the impending lawsuits from concerned parents, the massive refunds they give for that and in secret the protection racket Haly pays to Boss Zucco’s men, an act had to be cut in order for their finances to sustain that damage and the circus to survive potential bankruptcy. Mary and Dick both volunteer with heavy hearts to do so, choosing to move into this city of Bludhaven and start a new life.

Thankfully for them, Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne is a generous enough landlord whom gives them a nice apartment to rent out of with everything they need and even their possessions from the circus kept. Including Dick’s Performing suit. Still Mary was suspicious on the nature of the accident given those men who approached John earlier before he told them off. One night as Haly’s prepared to head out of the city, Mary would try saying her goodbyes to Mr Haly but instead she caught him being forced to pay that racket in cash, seeing those suspicious men from before. As they drove off in their car, Mary followed suit from the rooftops. She got lost though midway……that’s when he arrived. A certain bat shaped shadowy blot appears from seemingly out of nowhere….he offers to help Mary as he too might have his suspicions of what really happened at the accident.

It’s easy then to guess from here because you’re correct; Mary gets some little help from the Batman in investigating the accident and the men responsible for it. With this knowledge in hand and now a goal to avenge her husband by bringing Zucco to justice, she begins taking self taught self defense courses which combine karate, judo, hapkido, escrima and May Thai with her acrobatics during days off from her job as a gymnastics teacher. She also takes the team to sew in secret a suit combing the colors of white and black, reflective of owls which sometimes are spotted in Bludhaven during g the snowy winter season, hence her identity of Snow Owl. Of course her son Dick picked up on all this while Mary didn’t notice and secretly followed his mother’s own self taught footsteps so by the time she makes her move in getting Zucco’s attention leading to a dangerous confrontation at a construction site which sees her captured, Dick steps in to help alongside this Batman. Dick himself is clad in his performing suit…said suit being the Red Vest, Green Leotard, Gloves and Pixie Boots and a bright yellow cape but supplemented by a utility belt and a domino mask provided by Batman.

With all three caped crusaders and after Dick catches Zucco from a fall off the Steel beam after Mary spooks him off it, the last great mob boss of the Gotham-Bludhaven corridor was finally taken down. Mary while reluctant at first, comes to understanding her son wanting to join her on this quest but later this call to action against crime and corruption in Bludhaven. They can work together as Mother and Son but importantly moreso as partners, equal and easy to come to each other’s aid. Hence enter Snow Owl and Robin the Boy Wonder

Now with all that established; besides crime fighting, Mary and Dick bond with the former helping the latter with homework from school, doing chores around the apartment side by side, Dick practicing his math skills with paying the bills for the month, Mary taking the both of them out to the beaches when the weather is just right let alone vacations across the country, the both of them revisiting Haly’s whenever it’s back in town, many movie nights, times they just talked out what’s going on with their headspace together, in turn it can lead to family counseling, oh and yes…family tickle fights especially when Mary wants to make sure Dick’s stamina is drained out before bed and going for his weak spot on his feet which he got from her does just that.

That having all been said though, Mary knows that Dick is far more mature minded and emotionally intelligent than most 10 year olds at his age. He gets embarrassed with any attempt by her to dote and coddle him and she respects his request for her to hold back any to all of that if possible despite her motherly instincts insisting otherwise. Thank goodness she’s got a tight good friend in Janet Drake who allows Mary to babysit her little boy Timmy Drake who is far more receptive to said doting and coddling by her. It’s not that Dick and Mary never have moments like that but they are few and far between and that was the reality even before the Fall.

Thanks for the ask, Anon. It’s appreciated ;-)

[ray-vnn]

4, 12, 26, 33, 48, 59, 63, 72, 80, 98 :)

4. Do you think you are going to be rich in 7-8-9 years?

I can hope! Maybe in ten years? Rn I don’t think it’d happen unless I won the lottery😭 which isn’t likely since I’ve never even bought a ticket, and anyway I always lose at these kind of games, putting the loser in loser lesbian.

12. Can you keep a diet?

I’ve been known to, mostly when it’s out of necessity, like when I’m sick and have to stick to certain foods. Or when I have someone monitoring me, like when I went to a nutritionist. Short term/having a goal is easier for me.

26. Describe your crush.

Nobody right now, I’d say. But the last one was a girl from work, slightly shorter than me, dark long hair, brown eyes, smiley, kind, sweet and straight lmao

33. Something you are good at?

Math! Cooking, I can cook a lot of stuff without a recipe (meaning quantities) just by vibes and it’ll come out tasting pretty good. Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve gone into gastronomy instead of what I ended up doing.

48. Something you want to do until the end of this year?

Work? Honestly, last year (middle of 2023) I took my job for granted, and then the factory put out a bankruptcy(?) notice and everyone was out of a job in the blink of an eye. So, I would really like to keep working the whole year!

Other than that, I’d love to keep enjoying what I like, there was a point in my life where I could hardly enjoy anything, and that was hard.

59. Is there something you don't eat? Some food that truly disgust you?

Raw onions😭 cacti is also a big nono, seafood I just can’t stand. I used to tolerate shrimps/prawns but one time i got too confident with ceviche and there were consequences😭

63. What are 3 things that irritate you about the same sex?

It’s not something that’s inherently about their sex, but when they look down their nose at people bc of their economic status; when they treat service workers like shit; or when they yell instead of talk.

72. Ever sent nudes?

Nope, not because I think there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just something that’s never happened.

80. What do you think about vegetarianism/ veganism?

I think it’s a big change, when you’re used to consuming meat or any other animal derivatives. There’s gotta be some creativity when cooking, too! So that’s interesting! I guess that makes one try many different dishes, to take full advantage of all the options available. It’s also something that can be a bit hard, for people that might not be able to afford to widen their options.

98. Have you ever made your mum cry? What happened?

I have, the last time was not a very bad one, I think. At work we had a dynamic to build trust where they asked us what was our reason to get up every day. And my reason was her. So they told us to maybe give that person a call and tell them. And so I told my mom one night, while we were alone. It felt really good, and I wanted to show her I was very grateful for everything she’d done for me and my sister. Both of us ended up crying, and that was also the night i came out to her.