#greed averice

[eaglesnick]

“Infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth. It improves access to basic services such as clean water and electricity, creates jobs and boosts business.” Alok Sharma

Today we heard the privatised, mainly foreigner owned, “English" water companies announce they want to invest £96 billion in water and sewage restructuring between now and 2030. New reservoirs, the first for over 30 years, will be built, leaks will be reduced and less sewage will be pumped into our waterways and seas.

Not before time!

But before we rejoice lets remember this. Since 1991 nearly £60 billion pounds of our money has been paid in dividends to mainly foreign shareholders.

“English water firms have handed £57 billion to shareholders in the 30 years after privatisation.”  (The London Economic: 28/10/21)

Put another way, we the English consumer have paid mainly foreign investors more than £2 billion per year to totally neglect our waterways. I stress the words “English consumer" because in Scotland things are very different.

“The Scottish system has remained under public ownership and Scottish Water has invested nearly 35% more per household in the system since 2002 than counterparts south of the border, while it charges 14% less for water. It is reported that the highest paid director of Scottish Water took home less than £400 000 in pay and benefits in 2021—a fraction of what his English counterparts receive."  (bmj.com: England’s privatised water: profits over people; 2022)

In England, the water company bosses gave themselves a 20% pay rise for the year 2021-22, pocketing £24.8 million, while raw sewage continued to be discharged into our waterways in ever increasing amounts. 

Given the greed of the "English" water company CEO’s, the avarice of foreign shareholders, and the Conservative Party’s mantra – pubic sector bad – private sector good, then the fact that the new investment will be paid for by us the consumer, and not the companies themselves, should come as no surprise.

“Water companies want bills to increase by £156 a year by 2030 to pay for upgrades and reduce sewage discharges.”   (BBC News: 02/10/23)

So when Rishi Sunak tells us later this week  that he is the man for change and delivering long-term planning ask the question “What have all the other Conserservative  (and Labour) governments been doing for the last 40 years?

Do we really believe in fairy tales?

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #678

Top Ten Moments in A Garfield Christmas

Hey kids, it’s Christmas! Or as Binky the Clown would say, “HEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYY KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDSSSSSS!”

And that’s appropriate, because this week I’m festively celebrating my favourite special – the one Christmas story I returned to over and over as a child, and which I’m delighted to say still holds up. Specifically, A Garfield Christmas.

Originally broadcast in 1987, it was the seventh TV special based on – of course – the Garfield comic strip. By now the specials – most of which are legitimately excellent – had established a pattern, and the cast (principally Lorenzo Music as Garfield, Gregg Berger as Odie, and Thom Huge as Jon) had settled into these characters well. And if you’re already making a series of semi-annual TV specials, it makes perfect sense to get round to Christmas, right? Garfield also clocked up Halloween and Thanksgiving eps.

This was a VHS I had as a child, and I think I wore that sucker out. Watching it now on YouTube (where it’s available on the official Garfield channel), I almost get a sense memory of the experience of viewing it 35 years ago. It’s not just the dialogue, it’s the whole rhythm of the thing; each pause, each sound effect, each musical note. It’s like poems in the oral tradition, passed down from one generation to the next; I could almost act out the entirety of this thing.

Watching it again in the present day, I’m struck by how mature some of the themes are. Sure, it’s basically about a lazy, greedy cat who can’t be arsed trudging to the countryside at Christmas, and his dog best mate who builds a scratching post out of some junk in a barn. But we’re introduced to a character who’s grieving, and the spectre of loss hangs over the whole thing. It kinda goes places.

Anyway, that’s enough yuletide preamble. Now let’s stoke up the fire to keep our tootsies warm, eat for two, and hope that we can find an elf if we need one, because it’s time to unwrap A Garfield Christmas.

Grandma’s Story: sure, it’s an old lady talking to a cat about the past. But the nuance of both the writing (which alludes cleverly to the generational difference of Jon’s grandparents, and the sort of man his grandfather would have been) and especially the tender, quietly emotive performance from Pat Carroll, really sells it. This is the most serious and heartfelt one of these specials has got (and, if I remember right, would ever get). It’s sort of hilarious and sort of unsurprising that two years later she was playing Ursula in The Little Mermaid.

Odie’s Present: the relationship between Garfield and Odie is one of – to coin a Rik Mayall phrase – love and violence. But to see this supposedly-idiotic character gather the resources then sneak into a barn to build a gift for his friend is not only funny and tender, but also just another badass Odie moment. The dude rocks.

Garfield’s Dream: the film opens with Garfield having a dream about a mind-reading machine that creates any gift you can think of. The subtle ways the dream-state is suggested – such as more simplistic backgrounds – is clever, but Garfield’s whole vibe throughout – “Gadgets! Stuff! Toys! Greed! Averice!” – is hilarious.

Doc Boy’s Logic: two grown men up in the middle of the night, trying to get their elderly parents to wake up so they can all go down to open presents: it’s a funny bit. But since I was a nipper I’ve loved the logic of Doc Boy and Jon’s argument: “Any time after midnight is technically Christmas morning.” The way the spurned brothers bitch about their parents – “I know that and you know that” – is also delightful.

Grandma’s Dinner: I had to have this gag explained to me as a child, but throughout dinner Grandma is secretly feeding Garfield under the table. After Dad notices how much food she’s ben taking, she covers by saying she’s “eating for two”. It’s funny coz she means her and Garfield. But it’s also funny coz it’s what you say if you’re pregnant.

Garfield’s Letters: paying off from the first tender exchange with Grandma is the moment when Garfield discovers old love letters from Jon’s grandfather and gives them to the old lady. It’s, again, very tender and real, and Carroll once more knocks it out the park. It’s another lovely, very real scene of nuanced emotion. In a Garfield cartoon.

Dad’s Story: Jon’s Dad reading the “Binky the Clown Saves Christmas” book is really funny because of how he reads it – the “Hey kids!” bit from the beginning of this list – but also the sarky way Jon and Doc Boy treat the occasion; a childhood tradition that’s now an object of fun, two sons lovingly ripping the piss out of their father.

Mom’s Gravy: I love the way this special lovingly but sarkily pokes fun at inter-family dynamics, everyone being in a house together at Christmas. Grandma adding chilli powder to the recipe of Mom’s gravy is a great example – because her gravy “won a blue ribbon in the county fair and your gravy didn’t even place”. This joke then pays off when Garfield tries it later and it’s really spicy. Who doesn’t love a cartoon character breathing for?

Garfield’s Star: after a struggle putting a star on the tree, Garfield is given a mission to climb the tree himself and do it. It’s presented like a combat assignment – complete with military drums – and what’s funny is that Garfield is into it. It’s a rare example of Garfield doing what he’s told and enthusiastically being part of the group, and prefigures his soppy speech at the end of the film. He also says “If I’m not back in an hour send a banana cream pie after me,” which is funny.

Jon’s Flashback: the song Jon sings about Christmas past is funny in and of itself (especially with Garfield’s moody interjections) but as a long-time fan of these characters, it’s really amusing to see the flashbacks. Jon as a toddler and Doc Boy as a baby, with their parents as young people, is really fun to see, and quite tender too.

An honorary mention goes to the songs. All the Garfield specials have great music, and this is no exception - I'm not sure there are any all-out bops here, but praise to the composers and Lou Rawls who's the go-to guy for Garfield songs.

So there you go! I guess if you’re not familiar with the special then none of this will matter to you. But to me, this is a terrific short film, one of the best of the Garfield specials, a lovely thing to watch at Christmas, and an indelible part of my childhood. What can I say? It’s not the giving, it’s not the getting, it’s the loving.

Now get outta here.

[fashioninpaper]

Erte’s Seven Deadly Sins

[inkygemuwu]

“You’re being so much like me.” Greed stated.

Pride looked at them in preplexion, “What do you mean?”

“I mean.. look at you.” they said, pointing up and down at Pride’s princely and elegant yet expensive clothing, woven with intricate golden patterns and shining gems for decorations. “Your clothes look so expensive. I am the one who is supposed to own expensive things. I am the one who is supposed to be rich. I’m Greed, the avaricious. Wealth must be my top property.”

“Oh, darling.” Pride pulled their lips in a haughty smirk, “Are we being jealous?”

“I’m not.”

“And here you are, being so much like Envy. You don’t want to be such an envious and miserable wretch like them, do you?” Pride mocked.

“You little–”

“It’s not my fault anyway. I know your top desire is to possess the wealth of the whole world, to swallow up all of the gold and precious jewellery that were made by those mortal lower-life forms.” Pride explained, expression placid, “But I am Pride. I am supposed to be the brilliant one. The best. Being quite wealthy is one step to achieve it. So what’s your point?” they rudely turned around to face Greed with their back, cape fluttering gracefully. They giggled.

“Damn you!”

“I am already damned, sweetheart.”

Not a prompt.

[the-fae-folk]

The Spell of Forgetting

A land of dust. Grey skies, grey earth, and dust. The Stone Crow hopped through this place, searching for that thing he could feel, that glimmer of light.

He was not alone, there were others here. Strange hunched figures whose bodies were twisted and grotesque with neglect. They sat upon stones and mumbled to themselves, counting... something.

The Crow approached one. “What is this place?” He asked.

With aching slowness the figure turned to gaze at him, though it’s eyes were distant and unseeing. “This is our city. Be welcome here, but do not take that which belongs to me.”

The Stone Crow looked all around, there was no sign of a city, or anything else. Just dust and emptiness, and these figures. The one who had spoke turned back to itself and resumed mumbling, though now the Crow was close enough to hear.

“Nine thousand four hundred and seventy two emeralds. Four hundred million twenty seven thousand blades of grass. Three hundred and forty loaves of fresh bread.” He was counting, counting all the things which he believed belonged to him.

The Crow continued onward. There among the dust, in the shadow of another figure, was the lantern. As he made his way to it the figure turned and leered at him.

“Don’t touch that! It’s mine!”

“May I have it if I trade something for it?” Asked the Stone Crow. The figure paused to think for a long time.

“It depends on what you have to trade,” it answered after a long time. Somehow it seemed slightly less grotesque than before, but not by much.

The Crow tried to think of all the things it could trade, but he could think of nothing.

However, the strange figure had taken a close look at him and grown excited. “I see upon you a spell, a spell of forgetting. Give it to me and I will give you this lantern.”

Confused, for he had not known of any such spell, the stone Crow agreed and the bargain was struck.

Instantly the little latch on the lantern flew open and the light inside flew free, and the Crow cried out in anguish as all the things he had forgotten can rushing back. His brother, his mother, and so much more.

The figure stood above him, tall and beautiful with silver hair and concerned eyes. He had forgotten all the things he had once owned, forgotten his own greed.

Grey skies, a world of dust, and silence punctuated by the sobs of the Stone Crow as he began to remember.

[aseriesofhyperfixation]

Where The Names Of The Seven Deadly Spats Come From

Lilith: So if y'all don't know Lilith was like, the actual first woman, before Eve. She and Adam were both made out of ?dust?right? and then she ended up getting cast out of the Garden of Eden bc (sorry this'll be a little crude) she refused to let Adam top. Like she wouldn't be subservient to him so she was like "Yeah if we have sex I'm either be on top or we're gonna be side by side" and anyway yeah so that's why she's Lust (obvi)

Full Name: Lilith Michelle Spats

Richie: It's literally just a pun about getting rich. Y'know, making money? Bc he's Greed? Ha

Full Name: Richard Finn Spats

Veruca: Named after Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Because Veruca was very entitled, always let everyone do things for her, so she works out as Sloth pretty well. Also I just think it's funny to have a character who's scared of squirrels and Roald Dahl

Full Name: Veruca Julia Spats

Carmelita: I mean, y'all, she's just Carmelita? What are y'all expecting? Makes sense as Pride bc she's Carmelita???? Also bc she's the direct middle baby

Full Name: Carmelita Kitana Spats (She loves it and she wants a katana with her name engraved on it)

Dathan: So the name Dathan is used in the Bible bc he and his brother and their families were part of a rebellion against Moses I think? And then it gets brought up a couple other times to show how dire his (and his brother's) sins are. Idk man that just seemed like it could fit Wrath pretty well to me

Full Name: Dathan Aaron Spats

Avery: Comes from a word that's? Romanian? I think? That can be used to mean wealth or greed. Averice. Pretty dope, yeah? Yeah. Makes sense for Envy. Good stuff

Full Name: Avery Julius Spats

Angelica: Y'know Rugrats? A true classic? She's like Angelica from that. A classic example of Gluttony, always manipulating and tricking people into doing things for her, usually ending up using it to get sweets

Full Name: Angelica Cheryl Spats

[blowup1sun]

Is No Face supposed to represent Greed and Averice?

Or am I applying Western Imagery to a piece of Non-Western media?

[chriswhodrawsstuff]

It's a sin! Part 1 Greed.

It’s a sin! Part 1 Greed.

I do like the classics. Some themes are a bit like jazz standards, you have your basic theme but the rest is open to your own idiosyncratic interpretation. The seven deadly sins are a doozy, they have been around for centuries and they have mutated and adapted as humanity have evolved but, essentially, human beings haven’t that much, neither in what makes us tick, nor what brings us crashing…

[mariangienoble]

Caine stared at Colin when he called out the next name on the list. “Johnson, the Earl of Wentzhill.” He hadn’t gotten the man’s full title out of his mouth before Colin started shaking his head. And so it continued. Colin found something wrong with every man mentioned. By the time Caine had gotten to the last name on the list, the Duke of Williamshire was slumped in the corner of the settee, his hand to his forehead, looking thoroughly defeated. Caine could barely contain his amusement. His brother was having difficulty coming up with a suitable vice after Caine had read the last name, Morgan Atkins, the Earl of Oakmount, and Caine was dying to hear what he had to say about him. “I’ve met Morgan,” Alesandra announced. “He came to Colin’s house to discuss a business matter. He seemed very nice.” Alesandra’s voice lacked conviction. She was having trouble hiding her unhappiness now. She hated what was happening. She felt out of control of her future and her destiny. Just as horrible to her, she was beginning to feel like a charity case. “I can’t give you an opinion of Morgan,” Caine remarked. “I’ve never met him.” “I’ve met him,” his father said. “I liked him well enough. Perhaps we could invite him over for… Why in God’s name are you shaking your head now, Colin?” “Yes, brother,” Caine interjected. “What’s wrong with Morgan?” , Colin let out a sigh. He was having difficulty finding anything wrong with the man. Caine wasn’t helping him concentrate. He started laughing. “This isn’t amusing,” Colin snapped. “Yes, it is,” Caine contradicted. “Let’s see now,” he drawled out. “So far we’ve discarded nine possible candidates because of drunkenness, averice, gluttony, jealousy, perversion, greed, lust, and so on, and I’d really love to hear your reason for finding Morgan unsuitable. I believe you’ve used up all the seven deadly sins, Colin.” “What are you suggesting, Caine?” Colin demanded. “You don’t like any of them.” “Damned right I don’t. I’m thinking of Alesandra’s happiness. She’s a princess. She deserves better.” That last remark told Caine everything he needed to know. He now understood why Colin was in such a foul mood. It was obvious to Caine that his brother wanted Alesandra, but in his mind he had decided he wasn’t worthy enough. Oh, yes, that was it, Caine decided. Colin was the second son and therefore hadn’t inherited land or title. His obsession with building an empire was all part of his quest to achieve recognition on his own. Caine was proud that his brother was an independent man, but, damn it all, that pride would force him to let Alesandra slip away. Unless he was forced into marriage, of course. “But what about Morgan?” his father asked again. “What’s wrong with him?” “Nothing,” Colin snapped. His father was beginning to smile when Colin added, “If Alesandra doesn’t mind bowlegged children.” “For the love of…” His father slumped back against the cushions in defeat. “Is Morgan bowlegged?” Caine asked Alesandra. He was feeling quite proud of himself. He’d been able to ask that question without even cracking a smile. “I must confess I didn’t notice his legs, but if Colin says he’s bowlegged, then he must be. Will I have to have children?” “Yes,” Colin told her. “He won’t do then. I don’t wish to have bowlegged children.” She turned to look up at Colin. “Is it a painful condition?” she asked him in a whisper. “Yes,” Colin lied.

Julie Garwood - Crown’s spies #4 Castles

[mnr-silver-halos]

Thank you to start I’ll be sharing my thoughts in 3 different reblogs from heroes to villain's to miscellaneous of the ones that I have gathered my thoughts about currently and to start we will go over the current miraculous superheroes and see which lantern corps these characters belong to 

For those who are unaware of what we are talking about Lantern corps are basically a set of societies who wear power rings that give them superpowers that are powered by emotions and depending on the corps have a other abilities other than energy projection and flight.

Each of the different corps has a different color and each color has a different emotion. Of these corps they are based on ROYGBIV and the emotions are as followed;

Red Lanterns of Rage

Orange Lantern of Averice(Greed)

Sinestro Corp/Yellow Lanterns of Fear

Green Lanterns of Will power

Blue Lanterns of Hope

The Indigo Tripe/Indigo Lanterns of Compassion

The Star sapphires/ Violet Lanterns of Love

Together these form the emotional spectrum in the DC universe think of them as the force from star wars if it where a rainbow of feelings

There are also two other lantern corps that are technically separate from the others. The include;

The Black Lantern Corp of Death

&

The White Lantern Corps of Life

Also in recent DC comics they introduced a new Lantern corps known as; 

The Ultraviolet Lantern corps

What exactly this corps is powered by is unknown but it is believed to be Shame

In total there are 10 potential Lantern corps for each Character to be placed in but we will be seeing which corps works best for each character and where they belong in as well as potential other lanterns corps they could fit in based on their known personality

This will mostly be my opinion but I would like to know your thoughts on these and after i’m done I would like to hear your suggestions on which corps you think are better suited for these characters instead.

Entire Idea was inspired by videos from NeedleMouse Productions on Youtube based on their lantern corps videos please check them out to get a clear idea of what I’m trying to do here.

Is it ok if I can share some thoughts on potential lantern corps for miraculous characters and ask what your thoughts are on them?

(for reference DC Green lantern)

Sure of course! I will love to see and talk about those! I mean, come on! Look at that! 😉😉😉

[thedemonkingganon]

"I am trying to save my people." Motioning to the gerudo.. and indeed that was how it always started. His road to hell paved in the beginning with that which he sought to give to his people. He was unaware for now what his greed and averice would wrought.

“Your reincarnations.” Julian assumed he knew. “How ALL of this, you having the Triforce of Power, the Hero with the Triforce of Courage, Zelda with the Triforce of Wisdom…. Fighting over the fate of Hyrule, OVER and OVER, is because of the curse some demon god put on Hylia eons ago.”

“It never ends well. Even if you DO win, you lose.”