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alertfacts · 5 months ago

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Maine Shooting: A Tragedy Unveiled and the Road to Recovery

On a seemingly ordinary evening in Lewiston, Maine, an unimaginable tragedy unfolded, leaving a community shattered and a nation in shock. The Maine shooting spree at a bowling alley and a restaurant claimed the lives of 18 individuals and injured 13 others, shaking the small town to its core. The incident sparked a massive manhunt for Robert Card, an alleged US Army reservist, deemed "armed and dangerous." This article aims to dissect the events of that fateful night, the aftermath, and the broader implications of such tragedies.

The Night of Terror

The Scene: A Bowling Alley and a Restaurant

It was just another night at Spare Time Recreation, a popular bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine. Families and friends gathered to enjoy a relaxing evening, oblivious to the looming danger. Nearby, at the Schemengees Bar and Grille, patrons were similarly engaged in their routines. Little did they know, these locations would soon become the epicenter of the Maine shooting.

The Shooter: Robert Card

Described as an Army reservist, Robert Card's background left many bewildered. How could someone trained to protect and serve turn into a perpetrator of such violence? Eyewitnesses recalled a man moving with chilling precision, his demeanor cold and detached. His motives remain unclear, but the devastation he left behind speaks volumes about the Maine shooting.

The Immediate Aftermath

Panic ensued as the sound of gunfire echoed through the night. People scrambled for cover, desperately trying to make sense of the chaos. First responders arrived swiftly, their efforts heroic amidst the pandemonium. The injured were rushed to hospitals, while law enforcement cordoned off the crime scenes, beginning the arduous task of piecing together the night's events in the wake of the Maine shooting.

The Community in Shock

Personal Accounts: Witnesses Speak Out

The firsthand accounts of survivors paint a harrowing picture. One witness, clutching her child's hand, recounted the terror of hiding under a table, praying the shooter wouldn't find them. Another spoke of the heart-wrenching moment they realized a loved one had been caught in the crossfire. These stories, filled with fear and grief, underscore the human toll of the Maine shooting.

Lockdown and Fear

In the wake of the Maine shooting, Lewiston was placed under lockdown. Schools, businesses, and public spaces shut down as the hunt for Robert Card intensified. The usually bustling town became eerily silent, the air thick with anxiety. Parents kept their children close, and neighbors checked in on one another, seeking solace in shared vulnerability.

The Manhunt

The Search for Robert Card

The search for Robert Card was relentless. Authorities from local, state, and federal agencies combed through the town and surrounding areas, leaving no stone unturned. Roadblocks were set up, and residents were urged to stay indoors. Tips from the public poured in, each one meticulously followed up by law enforcement, all in hopes of capturing the suspect responsible for the Maine shooting.

Social Media and Public Involvement

Social media played a crucial role in the manhunt. Updates from authorities were shared widely, and community members used platforms to spread awareness and share information. The digital age has transformed how we respond to crises, and this incident was no exception. The hashtag #MaineShooting trended, uniting people in their quest for justice and bringing together a community in the face of adversity.

The Broader Implications

Gun Violence in America

The Maine shooting is a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in America. Each incident reignites debates about gun control, mental health, and public safety. While the specifics of each case differ, the underlying questions remain the same: How do we prevent such tragedies? What measures can be taken to protect communities without infringing on individual rights? The Maine shooting, like many others, highlights the urgent need for solutions.

Community Resilience

Despite the horror, the Lewiston community demonstrated remarkable resilience. Vigils were held to honor the victims, and support networks sprang up almost overnight. Local businesses offered free meals to first responders, and counselors provided services to those grappling with trauma. In the face of adversity, the community's spirit shone through, showing the strength that emerged from the aftermath of the Maine shooting.

The Role of Media

Reporting with Sensitivity

The media's role in covering such tragedies is a delicate balancing act. There's a need to inform the public while respecting the victims and their families. Sensationalism can exacerbate the pain, but responsible reporting can foster understanding and solidarity. Coverage of the Maine shooting varied, but the best reports focused on the human stories behind the headlines, highlighting the real people affected by the event.

The Power of Narratives

Narratives shape our perception of events. The way we talk about the Maine shooting influences how we process it as a society. By highlighting acts of heroism, the resilience of the community, and the ongoing efforts to prevent future tragedies, we can frame the incident in a way that honors the victims and inspires positive change. The Maine shooting should be a catalyst for conversations about safety and unity.

Moving Forward

Healing and Recovery

Healing from such a traumatic event is a long and arduous process. For the victims' families, life will never be the same. However, communities have shown time and again that they can rebuild, finding strength in unity. Counseling services, support groups, and community initiatives play a vital role in this recovery journey. The Maine shooting, while devastating, has brought out the best in human solidarity.

Preventative Measures

To prevent future incidents, a multifaceted approach is needed. Stricter gun control measures, better mental health support, and enhanced community policing are all part of the solution. Engaging with lawmakers and advocating for change can lead to meaningful progress. It's about creating an environment where safety is prioritized, and potential threats are mitigated. The lessons learned from the Maine shooting can guide these efforts.

Conclusion

The Maine shooting in Lewiston was a tragic event that highlighted the fragility of life and the resilience of communities. As we reflect on the lives lost and the impact on those left behind, we must also consider the broader implications and the steps needed to prevent such tragedies in the future. By coming together, advocating for change, and supporting one another, we can hope to build a safer, more compassionate society. The Maine shooting is a somber reminder of the work that lies ahead.

#MaineShooting #LewistonStrong #JusticeForVictims

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morgan-lee-business-talk · 7 months ago

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Exploring the Fediverse: A Deep Dive into Activism's Decentralized Frontier and its Impact on Social Change

Activism has always been a driving force for societal transformation, pushing boundaries and advocating for justice on various fronts. In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the emergence of decentralized platforms has revolutionized the way activists engage with communities and mobilize support for their causes. This essay delves into the intricacies of the fediverse, a network of interconnected decentralized platforms, and its profound implications for activism and social justice movements.

At the core of the fediverse's appeal for activists is its decentralized architecture, which stands in stark contrast to the centralized control prevalent in mainstream social media platforms. By operating on a distributed network of servers, the fediverse offers a level of autonomy and freedom of expression that is unparalleled. This decentralized structure not only safeguards user privacy and security but also mitigates the risks of censorship and manipulation commonly associated with centralized platforms.

Within the fediverse ecosystem, activists have a plethora of platforms at their disposal, each catering to different preferences and priorities. Mastodon, known for its user-friendly interface and robust community features, has emerged as a hub for activists seeking to amplify their voices and connect with like-minded individuals. Pleroma, with its emphasis on customization and flexibility, provides activists with the tools to tailor their online experience and engage in targeted advocacy efforts. Diaspora, known for its focus on privacy and data ownership, appeals to activists concerned about digital rights and surveillance issues.

One of the key strategies employed by activists on the fediverse is the strategic use of hashtags. These digital markers play a pivotal role in organizing discussions, raising awareness, and mobilizing support around specific causes and campaigns. By leveraging hashtags effectively, activists can ensure their content reaches a wider audience and sparks meaningful conversations within the community.

Moreover, the fediverse's emphasis on inclusivity and diversity has fostered a culture of empowerment for marginalized voices and grassroots movements. Unlike centralized platforms where algorithmic biases and popularity metrics often dictate content visibility, the fediverse provides a level playing field where every voice has the opportunity to be heard. This democratization of discourse not only amplifies underrepresented narratives but also encourages intersectional collaboration and solidarity among diverse communities.

The innovative features and tools available on the fediverse further enhance its efficacy as a platform for activism. Content warnings enable activists to share sensitive or triggering content responsibly, respecting the diverse experiences of their audience. Moderation tools empower community members to self-regulate and maintain safe spaces for constructive dialogue and engagement. Community guidelines and codes of conduct ensure that the fediverse remains a welcoming environment that upholds principles of respect, inclusivity, and mutual support.

Additionally, the fediverse's open-source ethos fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation within the activist community. Developers and activists collaborate to create and customize tools that address specific needs and challenges faced by activists on decentralized platforms. From encrypted messaging protocols to decentralized organizing platforms, these innovations empower activists to navigate complex digital landscapes and maximize their impact on social change efforts.

Embark on a Journey into Digital Empowerment with 'Unraveling the Fediverse: A Journey into Decentralized Social Networking.'

Explore the revolutionary landscape of decentralized online communities in this captivating book. Dive into the heart of Web 3.0, where the Fediverse empowers users and redefines social media. Discover federated networks, inclusive design principles, and transparent content discovery algorithms. Witness the rise of decentralized funding models and envision a future where connectivity thrives and user sovereignty reigns. Join the digital revolution and shape the future of online communities.

In conclusion, the fediverse represents a dynamic frontier for activism, offering a decentralized infrastructure, community-driven engagement, and innovative tools for advocacy and social change. As activists continue to explore and harness the potential of decentralized platforms, the fediverse remains a catalyst for meaningful dialogue, collective action, and positive transformation in the digital age.

#fediverse #social media

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tylerprovencher · 2 years ago

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Week 11 Blog Post

Part 1:

After reading chapters 4 and 5 in the Social Organization, I learned about some effective principles of building an online community with social media. A community collaboration strategy is an organizational approach that identifies and supports communities, specifying desired behaviors and expected benefits. The strategy involves selecting appropriate collaborations and determining where and when to invest in them, based on a clear purpose that drives all other strategy considerations.

A portfolio approach to community collaboration allows organizations to manage investments and control the rate of change, balancing emergence and investment. Portfolio management is a core competence of social organizations, and the No, Go, Grow decision model helps organizations grow their portfolio intelligently, distinguishing grassroots communities from strategic top-down initiatives that require more focused efforts to proceed.

Part 2:

After completing the Hootsuite/Podium module 4, I learned that building an online community requires consistent engagement with your audience across different social media platforms. It is important to understand the platform-specific features and the reasons why your audience uses each platform to tailor your approach and join relevant conversations. By doing this, you can build relationships, trust, and attract new followers.

I have also learned about the different types of influencers and how they can help you create an online community. Brands can work with four main types of influencers: mega, macro, micro, and nano influencers. Each type of influencer has its own strengths and weaknesses. Partnering with influencers can be extremely efficient for building an online community but brands must consider their goals and target audience when choosing which type of influencer to work with.

The principles I learned in this module can be applied to my client: Hansen's Heating and Cooling. As a small HVAC company, we can use social media to engage with our local community and potential customers. We can start by conducting a social media audit to determine which platforms our audience is using and why. Based on this information, we can create a strategy to engage with our audience on those platforms.

For example, we can create content that addresses common HVAC issues and solutions, and use relevant hashtags and geotags to reach our local audience on Instagram. We can join local groups on Facebook and LinkedIn to share their expertise and provide helpful advice. We can also use Twitter to share industry news and trends.

It is important for Hansen's Heating and Cooling to keep their tone friendly, helpful, and relevant to their audience. We should avoid pushing sales too hard and focus on building relationships and trust with our community. By consistently engaging with our audience and joining relevant conversations, we can grow our online community and attract new customers.

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dungeon-meister · 3 years ago

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Motivation

Any character creation guide will suggest you give your characters a motivation. This is good advice, I don't need to repeat it. However, what kind of motivation you give them can have a very big impact on how you play and how the story carries out.

I struggle a lot with being a reactive player, making reactive characters, and those two things feeding into each other. This is also something I've noticed with other players and the dreaded silence at the table; the DM has just established a scene and wants to give the players a bit of time before laying down a hook, the players have entered a narrative down point and the DM is waiting for something to trigger the next phase, or everyone said they just wanted to rp for a bit, but no one's talking, no one's instigating, no one's moving anything forward. Is there more than one issue at play in these scenarios? yes. Are there more scenarios than presented that are applicable? yes. but lets say that you, as a player, want to make sure these don't happen. my advice is to give your character 3 distinct motivations:

Long-Term Motivation this is generally what most people think of when discussing character motivation, it's connotation if you will. A long-term motivation is what your character wants to accomplish with their life. This is important, especially to more conceptual characters you flesh out as you play, but unless you're chasing that hashtag trillionaire grindset it can feel awkward or flat to have this be your character's only driving force, while without it a character will feel aimless or not grounded in the story

Mid-Term Motivation a mid-term motivation can be difficult write, especially when writing both a long-term and a daily motivation. This motivation should have some crossover with each, and depending on how complex your character is will often be the bridge between them. While a character will rarely be noticably worse for not having an explicit mid-term motivation, having a mid term motivation will make a character feel very real with established wants and desires. As I will elaborate later, it's okay to go light on this one because of the structure of D&D, and roleplaying games in general

Daily motivation the daily motivation is what we deal with most in our lives, what will push the game forward, and what most players tend to not consider when writing their character because they don't think of it as a 'motivation'. Generally, a character's most obvious personality traits will affect their daily motivation and it will change frequently, while sometimes a daily motivation is pursuing a mid-term or long-term motivation and other times it will be that your character woke up wanting an omelette but life has kept interrupting them and now their just powering through a basement of rats controlled by an awakening demon king so that they can get the money and buy the eggs. It's a good idea to write a recurring daily motivation for your character that you can fall back on or hold in tandem with a rotating one, because if you find yourself without one your character can feel bland and struggle to interact with the world in front of them

As I am a very big proponent of picking up what the DM is putting down for the sake of the game, even if it doesn't perfectly fit your character, these motivations will often become secondary to story plots. The core narrative will usually replace these motivations to an extent; making it to Phandalin is a daily motivation while plundering the depths of the Tomb of Horrors is a mid-term motivation. it's rare for a campaign to have a premise that is a long-term motivation and if it does, it will require a skilled DM to pull off well because of the scope of the narrative. I find that most campaigns are built on a mid-term motivation that once succeeded can be swapped for another one or built on for a longer story.

And of course, don't think you need only one of each or that each needs the same amount of care or depth. In real life long-term motivations are usually vague, unrealistic (or very realistic, but believed to be too lofty to actually pursue), or not explicitly known. Daily-term motivations sometimes don't happen or gradually morph into mid-term ones as life piles up. Having more desires, ones that are both grounded and ridiculous, complimentary and contradictory, convoluted and simple, realistic and ridiculous, all add to your character and give you more room to work with when playing them

#dnd #d&d #d&d philosophy #player philosophy #dungeons and dragons #yes I need to take my own advice #and yes there are two today

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lavieestbellebelle · 5 years ago

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Defining Digital Citizenship (week 6)

Digital citizenship can be used to describe the complex and intricate ways in which people participate in society through digital technologies, such as social media platforms. According to the Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant (2020), a model example of a digital citizen is someone with “the skills and knowledge to effectively use digital technologies in a positive way to participate in society, communicate with others, and create and consume digital content”. Therefore, digital citizenship can be described as the process through which digital communities are formed, which is discussed in further detail in the previous blog post. Platform studies is the study of how platforms dictate user’s online presence and activity, through constraining and enabling particular kinds of behaviours and interactions on their platforms. For instance, some social media platforms afford users the opportunity to remain anonymous, whilst others require formal identification when joining.

This leads onto the concept of platformisation, and the deconstruction of the term ‘platform’ itself, which Principle Research at Microsoft Research, Tarleton Gillespie defines as something “computational” (Gillespie 2010, p. 349). Gillespie contends that platforms are “something to build upon and innovate from”, in both a political and architectural sense (Gillespie 2010, p. 352). This means that platforms are a place where people can freely voice their opinions and be heard, and in a design sense, these social media platforms are ultimately, an “open-armed, egalitarian facilitation of expression” (Gillespie 2010, p. 352). At its core, platformisation is the connectivity between platforms, which is facilitated through their shared language, including coding and other technical features. Furthermore, Professor of New Media and Digital Culture, Anne Helmond defines platformisation as the “transformation of social network sites into social media publics” (Helmond 2015, p. 1).

The idea of social media platforms operating as digital spaces for public discussion and debate, is highlighted through the strategic ways Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump controlled their messages during the 2016 US Presidential Election, carefully constructing digital personal brands to emphasise their character and personality, with the intent of creating “trustworthiness as political leaders” (Enli 2017, p. 59). Both candidates placed significant emphasis on their social media presence and image during the election period, because they were aware that social media platforms are “increasingly used as direct sources of news, bypassing the editorial media” (Enli 2017, p. 50). Another prime example of social media platforms facilitating political discourse is #auspol, short for Australian politics, one of Australia’s most popular Twitter hashtags. Anyone with a Twitter account can use this hashtag to initiate political discussion, although the hashtag is primarily used for “commentary and rumour spreading about the machinations of the federal government” (Bogle 2016).

Another key component of digital citizenship and online communities is hashtag publics, which enable further connectivity through a range of stylistic features, including themes, keyword markers and trending online movements. Hashtag publics are enabled through the search bar function on the explore page on social media platforms, where users can narrow their search for particular online movements, specific topics, celebrities, politics and everything in between, through hashtags. Some famous examples include #AusPol, #MeToo, #athomeworkouts and #COVID_19. Therefore, hashtag publics provide a virtual space for people with similar (or opposing) opinions and interests to congregate and partake in discussion and debate. This can lead to hashtag activism, briefly outlined above, and cancel culture, the complete opposite, also known as shaming culture.

Cancel culture, also commonly referred to as online shaming, and call-out culture, is a form of online public shaming, typically involving ‘leaked’ or private information on the Internet. The ethics and regulation surrounding this virtual form of public humiliation are blurred and are a constant source of debate amongst media scholars. Cultural commentator, writer and fashion stylist, Ayishat Akanbi, has also raised some interesting points about the issues with cancel culture, particularly the speed at which people can change their ideas and opinions (Double Down News 2020). Therefore, Akanbi encourages people to consider this perspective when controversial tweets and comments resurface from famous celebrities and actors that they posted many years ago. This is reflection of their past self, and perhaps they have a more nuanced understanding and standpoint of these topics now. Furthermore, former President of the United States, Barack Obama made an interesting point about cancel culture, stating that many young people have adopted the mindset that we way they can “make change, is to be as judgmental as possible as other people”, which he believes is accelerated by social media platforms (Guardian News 2019). Therefore, it is clear that you can’t bring about change by simply casting stones.

References

Bogle, A 2016, ‘#auspol: the Twitter hashtag Australia can’t live without’, Mashable Australia, 21 March, viewed 25 April 2020, <https://mashable.com/ 2016/03/21/twitter-australia-auspol/>.

Double Down News 2020, The problem with cancel culture, 21 January, viewed 25 April 2020, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ZjTg1OpIE>.

Enli, G 2017, ‘Twitter as an arena for the authentic outsider: Exploring the social media campaigns of Trump and Clinton in the 2016 presidential election’, European Journal of Communication, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 50-61.

eSaftey Commissioner 2020, eSaftey Commissioner, Australian Government, viewed 25 April 2020, <https://www.esafety.gov.au/>.

Gillespie, T 2010, ‘The politics of ‘platforms’’, New Media & Society, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 347-364.

Guardian News 2019, Barack Obama takes on ‘woke’ call-out culture: ‘That’s not activism’, 30 October, viewed 25 April 2020, <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qaHLd8de6nM>.

Helmond, A 2015, ‘The platformization of the web: Making web data platform ready’, Social Media + Society, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1-11.

#mda20009 #digitalcommunities #digitalcitizenship #2016election #cancelculture #platformization #platforms #mediascholars #Ayishat Akanbi

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brownskinsugarplum76 · 5 years ago

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One Shot: A Very Tropical Christmas

OK… I hope you agree with me that better late than never is a good thing. ☺️ This is the Christmas Maggie/Robert story that I mentioned last week. This takes place after the events I'm writing up in Eye of the Storm, soon after Maggie and Robert have gotten back from their separate tours. Robert has a special Christmas surprise that he thinks is well deserved for Maggie, after her success on the road. There's a good mix of fluff and NSFW smut. Happy belated holidays! ❤️❤️❤️

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"We’re almost there!” Robert was excited. Too excited. The suspension bridge jostled a little harder as he sped up his gait from his usual regal stroll.

Maggie was glad the walk was coming to an end, although the beauty of the lush jungle environment was a good distraction.

Brightly colored birds darted in and out of the variety of trees that closed tightly to either side of the bridge, all the while singing songs of joy to live in an undisturbed paradise. She breathed in the strong scent of tropical flowers and rich soil which, when coupled with the humidity that hung thickly in the air, gave the experience a dream-like quality.

She told herself she'd have to come back later with her camera so she could remember it all well into the future. Without exactly knowing what Robert had in mind, it was already a dream come true.

A few days before, Robert, grinning from ear to ear, confessed to Maggie that he had booked a special getaway for them. Robert succeeded in not blurting out the details, and Maggie was unable to get him to divulge any information after plying him with her repertoire of romantic tricks. Robert was committed to giving Maggie a big Christmas surprise.

After stepping off the bridge and emerging from the tree-lined gravel path, they stood before a multi-level treehouse. Maggie gasped. Robert had caught her admiring photos of this exact place in an issue of Look magazine right before she left on her tour.

He sat their bags down while he fished the key out of his shorts pocket. “Surprise and Merry Christmas! Welcome to our jungle hideaway.”

“Robert! My goodness, you remembered!”

“I’m always paying attention, love, even when you think I’m just ogling your--”

Maggie’s lips were on his before he could finish his sentence.

***

Once inside, the lovers explored the home, examining the wicker furniture in the living room, the large, mosquito net-covered four-poster bed in the bedroom, and the oversized claw-foot tub in the bathroom. For the next week they would indulge their senses and their fantasies in natural luxury.

“There’s also an outdoor shower, you know…” Robert hinted as they took the last of their things out of their suitcases. He stepped closer to Maggie and kissed her while his embrace changed to hands on a mission to remove her clothes.

“We could check it out now. There’s nothing else to do, I suppose…” She murmured and raised Robert’s t-shirt over his head.

“Well, there is one thing I’d like to do first…” He scooped Maggie into his arms and walked her to the bed.

***

The shower was a welcome experience after their indoor tryst. The open-air stall was surrounded by a dense array of trees and flowering shrubs for privacy. Two waterfall shower heads gently rained down from above, and smooth tiles in shades of blue and green made up the floor.

Maggie and Robert alternated bathing and arousing each other with lusty caresses. Being outdoors in the verdant rainforest of Costa Rica gave their togetherness a more primal edge.

“Wait here a tick,” Robert said, ending his embrace of Maggie and smoothing her hair out of her face. “There’s a present I want you to open now.”

"OK. I'll be here."

She remained under the shower head while she waited for Robert to return. She closed her eyes. By their songs, she could distinguish at least four different kinds of birds flying around. Her attention melted into the sounds of the tropical forest and she relaxed even more.

She smiled to herself. Robert knew exactly what she needed after her time away on the road. She loved the outdoors just as much as he did, and the resort was sure to make the tour a distant memory. Not that she didn’t enjoy learning several of the band’s shows were sold out, or having to spend extra time signing autographs before retreating in the van, or hearing the hearty cheers that greeted them at the clubs for after-parties. All of that went better than she imagined. But she missed Robert.

She had grown accustomed to being his live-in partner, and she needed more than the couple of nights that he was able to come to her shows. Both of their bands were finished touring and had no plans to start recording just yet, so he was looking forward to returning to Malibu and their quiet life.

"Your sexy Santa has arrived, darlin'."

Maggie opened her eyes as Robert's cheerful return interrupted her thoughts. She stepped out of the shower spray toward him.

He presented a small box, about the size of an 8-track.

"This isn't a copy of Presence, is it?"

His face screwed up in mock consternation. "I assure you it’s something new that you’ll like. Though it is a bit of a selfish present."

"Classic Robert… OK, sexy Santa, let's get this over with."

"Yes, let's. I can't wait to use it!" The side of his mouth curled into a devilish smirk.

Maggie ripped the wrapping paper off of the box.

After removing the lid, she stared at the sprig of plant that was spruced up with a red velvet bow.

“You horny devil…” Maggie was not surprised to see mistletoe lying in wait in the box.

Robert grasped it and discarded the box, held it over her, and leaned in for a kiss.

"Merry Christmas, my love."

Robert’s lips felt warm against Maggie’s, which had been cooled by the stream of water on her face. He rested his hands on her shoulders while he slowly tongued inside her mouth.

Maggie felt like she was melting as the kiss went on. Her need for Robert was heightened, along with her senses, by knowing she was outside on a balmy day with the sun rays and occasional breeze coursing over her naked skin. They had enjoyed a similar scenario at Robert’s house many times, but being at the unfamiliar vacation destination made her feel much more alive.

“Let’s head back here,” Robert said, leading her under the shower.

Robert backed Maggie against the smooth stones of the shower facade, and they kissed some more. Then his lips traveled down her chin and neck. The sensation of Robert’s hot tongue made Maggie weak.

He licked down to her breasts and held one while he licked and sucked its nipple to life. She arched against the wall and let her hands glide up and down Robert’s back, thanks to the slickness of the streaming water. “Robert, that feels so good…” Her murmur segued into a yelp when Robert tugged at her nipple with his mouth while his fingers made inflammatory contact with her throbbing clit.

After a few moments of Maggie’s bucking and wailing against his fingering, Robert gave her breasts a squeeze and then cradled her back. He moved her hair from her ear and whispered. “Turn around for me, love? I want to feel that gorgeous ass while I’m inside of you.”

Maggie could barely make contact with Robert’s lust-glazed eyes because hers were equally heavy in the heat of the moment. She kissed him one more time before turning around and arching for Robert’s entry.

Robert groaned as he connected intimately with Maggie. She moaned as his hardness teased her with a promise of powerful release.

She met his thrusting with the hungry motions of her body, milking him slowly. The water felt a little warmer, and she realized that Robert had adjusted the shower while her back was to him.

His large hands gripped her waist, and the water splashed in time with their movement. Her moans deepened as the sensations of Robert’s love continued to wear away her control.

Over time, her cries blended in perfect harmony with the birds’ songs and Robert added his groans to the environmental sounds. He gripped Maggie’s ass tighter as the tunnel vision of climax slowly descended upon him.

“Fuck, Maggie. So wet… So soft… You always take such good care of me…”

She wailed and arched more. “Your dick… So big… I love how you take me…” “Shit…” Robert was overwhelmed by the tightness of Maggie’s core. His cock was beyond sensitive.

The sensation of their beating hearts was overpowered by the primal throb of their bodies. Each caress or stroke of Robert’s sex was intoxicating, addicting. They knew it couldn’t last forever, but they desperately wished it would.

A shiver snaked its way through Maggie’s body and she tensed against the wall, eyes closed, until the full climax exploded into a long stream of exquisite pulsation. She gasped and her rapid breath flooded her body with much-needed air.

“Fuck. Fuck! I’m right behind you!” Robert announced his orgasm as his noises became wordless with the insistent coursing of his seed.

Maggie turned around and kissed him. “Robert… I’ve never been happier on Christmas. This place is amazing. You... You were amazing.”

“We were amazing,” Robert corrected. “Every time, I’m convinced more and more that our bodies were made for each other. You’re the best, love.”

Robert kissed Maggie and walked her to a blanket on the lawn near the house. They lay next to each other in cuddling bliss, warmed by the tropical sun.

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The rest of my stories are here, or search for the hashtag #brownskinsugarplumlibrary.

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ladyhistorypod · 4 years ago

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Episode 3: Legendary Ladies

Sources:

Agnodice/Agnodike

Oxford Classical Dictionary

Brooklyn Museum

Classical Wisdom

Mistaking Histories

Artemisia

Ancient History Encyclopedia

PBS

The British Museum

Heroditus

Hua Mulan

Southeastern Louisiana University

Further Reading: Transformations of The Woman Warrior Hua Mulan: From Defender of The Family To Servant of The State & Hua Mulan: the Evolution and Dissemination of a Chinese Cultural Sign—From the Mulan Drama to the Mulan Film

Ambient flute sound

Click below for the transcript!

Lexi: This week on Lady History: is she real, or is she fantasy?

Alana: When we were planning this podcast and Lexi and I were like “what should we do for our podcast” I asked my family group chat hashtag Stoli Squad and my sister was like “you could do my idea for my old roommate we were gonna start a podcast where we got drunk and talked about world issues” so now I'm like… should we be drunk right now?

Lexi: No.

Alana: No. I– Right?

Lexi: We definitely shouldn't be drunk right now.

Alana: This isn't Drunk History, which broke my heart, that Drunk History’s canceled.

Haley: Alana, you can’t hold your liquor.

Alana: I think it's what I've been drinking, because I've been drinking those hard seltzers from Supreme Core– shout out Supreme Core, they're not sponsoring us but I don't need them to.

Lexi: No, that's just a pure recommendation. If you live–

Alana: That’s just a pure recommendation. If you live in the DC metro area…

Lexi: Yeah.

Alana: Supreme Core.

Lexi: Supreme Core is great.

Alana: I would like to pour one out for our fallen comrade, Drunk History.

(sound of liquid pouring)

Alana: I know, Haley, you don’t really like Drunk History, but…

Lexi: You know what? We will continue on their legacy by soberl-ly telling– sober-soberly (laughing).

(Alana laughing)

Haley: She’s sober

Lexi: We will continue on their legacy.

Alana: Patreon episodes where we’re drunk.

Lexi: We could do that, you know… Listen, like this episode, give us a good review. Once we have some good reviews, then we can start charging you money for bonus content, and then we can be drunk and continue on the legacy of Drunk History.

Alana: We are all 21 by the way.

Lexi: Oh, just to preface.

Alana: Like, I’m the youngest and I’m 22.

Lex: Just in case you thought this was a questionable thing (Haley laughing) we’re adults.

Haley: We may not act like it, but legally… for legal purposes.

Lexi: Also if you have ideas for funny Zoom background please DM them to (Alana laughing) at LadyHistoryPod on Instagram. So…

Alana: Don't DM LadyHistoryPod on Twitter because that one’s me.

Lexi: Yeah. The Instagram is me, the Twitter is Alana, just so you know who you're contacting in the DMs.

(Alana laughing)

Haley: If you want me, go to…

Lexi: You can go to any of them. Do whatever you want.

Alana: You can do whatever you want. But if you want–

Lexi: Alana is a Twitter being.

Alana: I am a Twitter being.

Lexi: I am an Instagram being, so that’s why.

Haley: And I’m none of the above. I really–

Alana: Don’t follow me on Twitter though. If you see me on Twitter, no you don’t.

Lexi: You don’t exist on Twitter.

Alana: I don’t exist on Twitter.

Lexi: Your “at” is at LadyHistoryPod

Alana: My “at” is at LadyHistoryPod, that’s true.

[INTRO MUSIC]

Alana: Hello and welcome to Lady History: the good, the bad, and the ugly ladies you missed in history class. I am virtually here with Lexi. Lexi, are you hydrated?

Lexi: No. I don't think I've been hydrated in maybe eighteen years.

Alana (laughing): Oh my god. Hydrate or die-drate.

Lexi: That's true. That’s what VSCO girls would say.

Alana: Yeah it's a basic, kind of– it's a basic bitch thing to say but it's true. Hydration is important.

Lexi: It's good for your mental health.

Alana: It is. Also, of course, I am here with Haley. Haley, do you have any allergies to medications?

Haley: Yeah I do, actually.

Alana: That's not funny but the way you said it was funny. And I'm Alana and I'm actively trying to remove the word guys from my lexicon.

Lexi: Interesting.

Alana: It's not working.

Lexi: Yeah.

Alana: I'm trying and I'm real bad at it. I slip up constantly.

Lexi: It's very, like, ingrained in the vernacular.

Alana: I am also trying to get ladies to catch on as a gender neutral term. Like, the way guys is, kind of, so I want it to be ladies.

Lexi: See, my gender neutral is bois with an i.

Alana: Of course.

Haley: Okay, see, I’ve… I switched to y'all because, that's, I just lived with two roommates from Texas and that's what it was, but growing up in New York it's you guys. So I'm stuck in this like parallel universe where I get hated on for saying you guys and I'm like this is twenty plus years in the making.

Lexi: We should embrace y'all. I feel like–

Alana: We should.

Lexi: Everyone should be able to say–

Haley: Yeah. I like y’all. That one’s tough for me, for some reason. Because I always called– like even my girl friends– being like you guys.

Alana: I call you you guys all the time.

Lexi: Yeah. I speak to large groups of people who use she/her pronouns and I say yous guys. Alana: Yous guys!

Haley: Yous guys…

Lexi: Alright, we rocking and rolling?

Alana: We’re rocking and rolling. I'm going first because I want to dedicate this episode to my group of internet friends who– to my sunshines, especially Em who showed me a Tumblr post describing this woman. And I think as mentioned in the last episode we take Tumblr history lessons with more salt than the Dead Sea. That's our first t-shirt. That’s our first t-shirt! I think we said that in the last one too. But that's our first t-shirt. Take Tumblr history lessons–

Lexi: Although– wait, is that IP?

Alana: Is Tumblr IP? We could change it to like internet history lessons. Take internet history lessons–

Lexi: Yeah. That's good, that's good.

Alana: So Em sent me this Tumblr post, thinking look how cool is this and I was like I don't really believe that so let's look it up. So we're talking about Agnodice or in Greek it would be Agnodike because that's how Greek is. So the story is set in the fourth century BCE ish. Women were not allowed to become doctors or gynecologists or midwives according to the story, but young Agnodike– which is, I'm going to call her Agnodike because that is the Greek name and she was Greek. She was born in Athens and she went to Alexandria for med school and then she returned to– or, for like ancient Greek med school– and then she returned to Athens. But she saw these women dying in childbirth and she wanted to help so she dressed up like a man to go to med school and practice. When she got back after med school, supposedly she heard a woman crying out in pain of labor. And this woman was initially distrustful of a male doctor, so she flashed this woman to show that she was also a woman. This is a recurring theme. And she ended up being so good, and like the best doctor around, that the male doctors were losing patients and losing clients because it was about money. And so they accused Agnodike of sleeping with her patients, and then the women would be just like pretending to be sick so that they could see this young hot doctor. These men take her to trial essentially and she disrobes for them as well to be like actually no or like probably not. Maybe, who knows. And then they're like that's actually even worse because now we're going to sentence you to death for practicing medicine as a woman. And the women stand up for her– these women that she saved their lives– they stand up for her and they say… supposedly, a rough translation of the Latin: quote “You are not husbands but enemies, for you are condemning the woman who brought us health.” And this moves these men of Athens, and they pass a new law that women can practice medicine. The person on Tumblr passed this off as real. It is probably a legend because the best source is literally called the ‘fabulae’. I am in a Zoom meeting with a bunch of classicists– not classists! Classicists. Who knows Latin?! Haley, I know you know Latin. What is ‘fabulae’ mean?

Haley: (laughing) I haven’t taken Latin in forever. Uhhhh…

(keyboard sounds)

Alana: I hear you typing. It means fables; it literally means fables.

Haley: I– my gut instinct is I like, listen to you and I tr– like zone out for a second, then you called on me and you're like ‘what is fabulae’ and I was going to be like ‘fabuloso’ (Alana laughing). I want to do a quick Google and get that out of my head. But I did know that was fables because that came up in like my beginner Latin textbook.

Alana: So it literally means fables. Also, cross dressing and then disrobing to reveal your true identity at the climax of a story is real common in Classical legends. Like this is a running theme through a bunch of other stories.

Haley: Yes ma’am. Yes it is.

Alana: Also, there were definitely female midwives in the Classical world, so there were no laws against it. But here is why or how it might be read as history. Men were distrustful of mid– like– midwifery, midwifery. I actually wrote a paper about ancient birth control and gynecology like two years ago for a class. So the men are distrustful of female midwives because they don't understand what they're doing they're like what what are these women doing with other women that we don't really understand… Are they doing birth control?? Are they doing abortions??? But also women are distrustful of men because like they don't get it either. So everyone's like being like I don't trust you… I don't trust you… skepticism. But there were female midwives so there's no– there's no evidence for a law that says women can't be midwives. There is a– a modern interpretation. By modern I do mean 17th century to 19th century which, relatively, like relative to the time period of this woman, is modern. We’re also archaeologists, so I will say that modern is as early as when common era years have four digits. Like that's modern to me.

Haley: Yeah I took like a medieval history class and we got into like the plague was just like the 1300s and I was like ah, modern medicine. And every– it was like an undergrad class, and like you could see like some of the students were like what? (Alana laughing) The professor was like she has a degree in archaeology. She's gonna say stuff like that.

Alana: It’s modern! Four digits common era years, that's modern.

Haley: I agree.

Alana: That's how I feel. So early advocates for women in medicine during a time when women like for reals, for realsies, weren't allowed to practice medicine, advocates for women being able to practice medicine and repealing that kind of ban used her as an example. But they can't use a legend as an example. Like, she has to be real to be legit. All of the real scholars, the classicists, say this is a legend. The people on Tumblr say this is real. You decide who is right, except it's definitely the scholars and experts. And that's the story of Agnodike. Or Agnodice, depending.

Haley: So I’m gonna hop on that like, Greek train of yours and choo choo on the way to Persia. And we're gonna travel back in time, so like this is a time traveling train, just to let you know, to go back to the fourteen hu– not the 1400s the 400s BC. I'm still thinking about the plague.

Lexi: The plaque is always relevant.

Haley: Yeah.

Alana: Especially right now! The plague!

Haley: Anyhoo. Okay, I'm gonna hop on that Greek time traveling train and go back to the 1400s– oh my fuck god damn it. I’m still thinking about the plague. Alright. (Alana laughing) We're gonna be in Greek– ancient Greek history but for Persia instead. There's like a little… little tangle of where we are and how I'm gonna define that she's in Persian mythology rather than Greek mythology and who am I talking about? I'm talking about Artemisia of Caria, and yes, I'm using my Spanish accent because I can't do anything else about it. Or Artemisia the First. I'm gonna call her Artie because that's just how… in my notes she’s Artie.

Alana: We are on first name basis with all of these women.

Haley: Yes. Absolutely.

Alana: So we will be calling them by their first names and nicknames that we have given them. We have that privilege as history podcasters.

Haley: Yes. I was going to use her for a different one, but I really Persian mythology from being half Persian and I want to sprinkle some spice in here. And this one was tricky for me because I knew about her already from like all the history classes we had to take an undergrad, my general love for Persian mythology and history, and then also I had to like crack out my Herodotus, like the histories and like all the other ancient writers because she's not talked about that much, but the men and the battles back– like around what she's engulfed in are. Like the Battle of Salamis we're talking– we're going to talk about so much stuff about that battle, and just like Greco-Persian Wars, even as trickle down to our history classes in high school. But this gal Artie nothing. Or very little that I am– this is a good source to work off. Anyhoo I got really excited at first because I thought you're like a Google Arts and Culture like nice little museum page or just like a profile and I could go on and on about how arts and cul– Google Arts and Culture is like making a come back for like being decent because now a lot of their pages are run by the museums, or like exhibits straight from museums. But I digress. It really wasn't a cool thing that I could use, it was just a link or like a small pinch from her Wikipedia page who could have been written by anyone. So most of my sources are coming from primary accounts like Herodotus, who is an ancient Greek historian but was born and lived in the Persian Empire. And yes, I’m gonna get it out there; for those who've seen 300: Rise of an Empire, that like that movie, out in 2014, yes she was in here. I want to say that she looks like like me as like a cousin. I’m gonna describe her: she's like smaller, petite woman with olive skin, long dark black hair. And I was just like huh that's cool. And I actually remember watching this in like 2014 just being like yeah I see myself. I could be her. That was my rep– like female representation in movies was looking at ancient Persian characters, so that's just a glimpse into my life. But YouTube didn't even have like documentaries or anything so I'm sad. Okay so her name is Greek, it is coming from Artemis, but she is with the Persian Empire under Xerxes the first– at least I believe it was Xerxes the first, one thing said Xerxes the second, and I was like no this is not with the timeline. And she is most noted as not necessarily a warrior or like a fighter in any of the Greco-Persian Wars or any wars on the Persian side, but as a council member to Xerxes, which you can debate is a higher honor or not. Regardless, she was a badass. She was the daughter of King Lygdamis of Herculaneum and then a Cretan mother whose name is unknown. We just know that she was from Crete. So it's also like in the Greek area but Herculaneum… Herculania… Herculaneum… forgetting that word now is Persian territory at this point. She assumed the throne with– when her husband, who has no name, died. But it wasn't that she assumed the throne, as like sole queen of everything. She was acting regent for her younger son, and there's really no record of him ruling but the record of her ruling with him, in a sense. Overall the primary source for all her achievements and like the Greco-Persian Wars, which is what I'm gonna be focusing on, is from Herodotus. And Herodotus wrote his account of the Battle of Salamis in his book or like his works of the histories. She's mentioned by like a bunch of other guys. Guys as actual guys they were the writers and this history goes like a thousand years in the future so that's why a lot of her stuff can be legend because it’s people writing about this history, but like writing it so far apart that it's more like they're writing down their oral tradition. That's a huge thing when it comes to like, the Bible, and other ancient history sources. Whipped out Herodotus and Plutarch for this, and the Battle of Salamis. In like 480 BC she fought for the Persians and distinguished herself not only again like in battle, but also the fight she gave. And that's really like where she's talked about, not her battle strategy. And there's also a note where we do get into the battle strategy where she saved Xerxes kids from getting like harmed and such. We’re at the point where the Greek mainland was taken. Athens is burned, like, hell’s breaking loose. Persians are basically taking over, Xerxes is trying to figure out what his next move is. Like he– he understands that he has the upper hand, but now needs to figure out how to keep the upper hand. Herodotus gave like a whole account, there are a lot of quotes where he's just talking about army stuff and basically saying that she was particularly remarkable; that really if he only needs to mention one warrior, she's the only one that like he believed did the best work. And it was not only her attitude and behavior that like made her such a great warrior, but made her kind of move up and up up the ranks of roles and like nobility power and such. So yes this praise was mostly about her being a woman and I got like from reading it like the sense that it's more about ‘wow women can do this? Women can fight in battle?” But nonetheless she got some good pats on the back for being a badass. And again, like my other two stories, the legend comes with their death. We have no idea where her body was when she died, what condition, anything like it's really– this is where we get to writers a thousand years in the future, so like going into like 800s CE or AD, whichever one you would like to use, describing what happened to her. And honestly this is the juicy toocy part. So she– she's recorded that after she brought Xerxes’ sons to like a safe area, brought them back, she fell in love with a prince, Dardanus, I kept reading as Darius but it's not Darius. And for some reason, who knows, Dardanus rejected her, and was like ‘nope I don't love you’ or ‘nope I don't I don't want to be with you, cool thanks bye.’ And in her despair she threw herself into the sea. I don't know what sea that is, it just said ‘sea’. That's a lot of bodies of water in the like Persian-scope empire. And she drowned. There aren't other ancient records that's say like ‘yep this happened’ it's like one guy's account of like writing the history. There's like some statues that happened to be found, or like excavated in Sparta that were like ‘oh this is Artemisia’ but there's no record like no engraving in the marble statue that like this is her. People are just saying ‘oh it's in the Persian hall, it's in honor of her’ that's all we have. Like the British Museum had some like images of the statue saying this could be her but if you scroll all the way to the bottom it says like we don't know for sure. So like part of me is like ‘what really did she do’ but other parts are like ‘yeah this could have happened’. Honestly, read Herodotus. He’s a fun time, a good time.

Alana: Lexi’s turn?

Lexi: Me? (singing) Me me me me. Okay so you guys… are you Disney fans? I feel like you are. You like Disney.

Haley: I love Disney. I would die for all the Disney characters collectively in a bunch.

Lexi: So you're probably gonna recognize this quote: “the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all.”

Haley: Absolutely.

Alana: Of course.

Lexi: And that quote is where any reference to Disney, the Disney franchises, Disney studios, Disney parks, and Disney in general shall end. And any relationship to Disney at all will now stop.

(Alana laughing)

Lexi: Now let's talk about the real, not real, maybe real story of Hua Mulan. So again, preface, I don't speak Chinese. I speak Korean which is not Chinese and is not related enough that I understand Chinese. For people who don't understand how Asian languages work they're not very closely related. There are loan words, there are borrowed words, but I do not speak Chinese. So please give me some leeway with these pronunciations of certain things. So the original poem-song, it's a poem that is sung, you know this is really common in ancient times to have a poem that can be set to music. So the original poem-song which described Hua Mulan was written by Tzu-Yeh, a woman who wrote Yueh-Fe style poetry which is a really common style poetry that was a form of oral tradition sharing and folklore sharing. And it was a rhythmic style of poetry set to music. Basically people would travel from town to town performing these songs to tell traditions and folklore and stories. So the translations that we have don't really follow the meter or rhythm, so when they are set to music they don't really sound correct. So the only true way to experience Yueh-Fe is in its native form. So if you don't speak Chinese and there are different versions of Chinese so if you don't speak the specific versions of Chinese that Yueh-Fe is written in you won't fully understand the poetic nature of the story. But we do have translations of the story that help us understand who Hua Mulan was. So I'm gonna tell you based on translations the true story or maybe not so true story of Mulan. The poem opens with Mulan, a young girl, showing disinterest in womanly activities– womanly in quotes– so she doesn't like doing things like household chores or marriage. She's disinterested in you know finding someone to marry, she's disinterested in her parents arranging her marriage, she's just interested in cooking, cleaning, dressing like a woman. She just doesn’t like any of it. And a request from the government comes around to each family–

Alana: I am also disinterested in cleaning.

Lexi: Yes.

Alana: For the record.

Lexi: I think every human is, so I– well maybe my mother loves cleaning. I don't know. She does it a lot, and she really does it with a… Yeah she does it with such a feverish passion I don't know– maybe she doesn’t like it. But yeah. There’s a request from the government, comes around to each family. I assume it is some sort of scroll that is delivered to families that are noble and have people who can read, but it might also come from a person who tells it. I am unsure based on the translations of the poetry. So the request comes from the government to have each family send a son or brother, so like a young unmarried uncle, brother, man, or a son of the family who can serve in the army. But Mulan's family is very small. She's an only child so she doesn't have an older brother for them to send. And Mulan sees this is an opportunity. So she buys the equipment required to enlist in the military, which is a horse, a whip, a saddle, and a bridle. And she shows up at the military encampment dressed as a man. And the poem continues with Mulan journeying far from her home on a trip that takes ten years and covers ten thousand miles. And at the end of her military service, her only request is to return home. She's offered the option to take money or land, but all she wants to do is return her family. So she returns to her family, and when she arrives home, her parents have had another child, a little brother, so Mulan has a little brother. And Mulan returns to her quarters, and she assumes a feminine identity. She puts it back on. She brushes her now white from years of hard work hair, she puts on makeup, she gets into feminine clothes, and then she goes out just to meet up with her buddies from the military, to see them search to rekindle, you know, the military friendship, bros being bros. And they are shocked to see her dressed in feminine attire because they've known her for a decade and the whole decade they assumed that she was a man. And so the poem closes with a simple phrase and it basically translates to two rabbits run side by side but when they run side by side you cannot tell which is a male and which is a female. So this is folklore, tradition, you know… it might be true, it might not be true. So, some other details: Hua Mulan means flower; so Hua flower, Mu wood, lan orchid. And Hua is the surname and Mulan is the given name. So Mulan is her first name, so that's why in some depictions you will just see Mulan, that is her first name. But some sources, the surname Fa is used so sometimes she is Fa Mulan. The most common tradition and most common translation is Hua Mulan.

Haley: That was gonna be like my immediate question was I thought it was Fa Mulan this whole time.

Lexi: That's because Disney used that version.

Haley: Not even from Disney– from just like knowing because I– When I got back on like the Disney Plus kick train, I wanted to like watch all the Disney princess movies but just compare them to like their actual stories and sometimes I saw the Fa Mulan so it’s like oh did Disney do this correct…?.

Lexi: Yeah. It's it's because it's it's not really a person– well it might be– but it's not really a person, so when this story goes from place to place, versions of it change, so evidence as to whether or not Mulan actually existed is basically nonexistent. We don't have any sort of physical archaeological evidence. Like, while folk songs and oral tradition hold her as a symbol of bravery and resilience, no physical evidence exists at all. There are no royal history books or official records that mention her, even though there are military records from that time. Now some people, who are Mulan truthers, may think ‘oh well she probably used a masculine name’ but again it's totally up in the air we're not sure. So, you know, even in the era and area in which she existed and like where she was from… it's completely up for debate whether she was from South China, from the Chinese plains, like no one's really sure. And some people say she's from one time period, and some people say from another time period. You know, is she lost to history? Is it possible there really was this heroic warrior in disguise who fought for her people and her family? and maybe her name and origin and era are just lost to history. So different versions of the story attribute different names, like her surname changing. Different eras, different places of origin because they don't know the truth of the original story. or is it more likely that there were several women who fought in disguise throughout Chinese history as they've done in many societies, in many aspects of history, but that their stories have been molded into a single poem through the passage of time.

Haley: I love that. That was a great closing.

Alana: That’s so cool. I love that.

[Ancient flute noise]

Lexi: You can find this podcast on Twitter and Instagram at LadyHistorPod. Our show notes and a transcript of this episode will be on lady history pod dot tumblr dot com. If you like the show, leave us a review or tell your friends about us, and if you don't like the show keep it to yourself.

Alana: Our logo is by Alexia Ibarra you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at LexiBDraws. Our theme music is by me, GarageBand, and Amelia Earhart. Lexi is doing the editing. You will not see us, and we will not see you, but you will hear us, next time, on Lady History.

[OUTRO MUSIC]

Haley: Next week on Lady History: we're going to dive straight in, misbehave a little bit and talk about the ladies who committed some crimes.

1 note · View note

unsoundedcomic · 5 years ago

Note

How is long hair affiliated with the lower class?

The lower class don’t belong to ghers, and hence lack the extreme social pressure that keeps so many Alds in line. Once you get out of the Aldish ghers system and into the slums the country starts looking a lot less alien. It’s more dog-eat-dog in the slums, there isn’t rigid segregation between much of anyone. Lot more murder in the streets but at least you get to die with fabulous long hair.

Are there nursing homes for senile elderly and mentally disabled people in Alderode? It may not be an issue for the wealthy, but I don't think aldish government would regard anyone's demented, bedridden for years grandma as anything but a huge detriment for productive society. It's an unpleasant thought, but do they sometimes practice mercy euthanasia with softi flowers?

All social services are provided by the ghers. The state does very little outside of policing and the military. If you’re not in a ghers and are in the afforementioned slums A) It’ll be a miracle if you live long enough to need a nursing home and B) If you do, you ain’t getting one.

Cresce, Alderode, and Sharteshane are really a spectrum of State control. Cresce is your keeper from cradle to grave. In Alderode, the ghers system is supposed to catch people who fall between the cracks (though this leaves the exiled with nothing). In Sharteshane there isn’t anything for anyone, and people poop in the streets.

What would Jon think about the odd group Duane finds himself traveling with?

I think Jon would have a hard time getting past the fact that his friend Duane now appears to be an undead abomination. The whole situation would give him terrible anxiety because from an outsider’s perspective it’s so very obvious that someone is treating Duane Adelier very cruelly, and this can’t come to a good end.

So the Etalarche curse makes everyone in the entire country hate you forever? Sounds like Twitter on steroids.

Did you notice all the hashtags strewn about in the Title tags? That wasn’t an arbitrary choice :)

You’ve mentioned that there’s always the phrase to get the Khert’s attention — but what about accidental casting, like when Duane core leeched the kid at school? With how tacit casting works, is it easy to get the Khert’s attention with a stray or subconscious thought?

Even an “accidental” spell just means you “accidentally” used the phrase. You know what would be fascinating is if Duane visited that memory now with his perfect recall. He might find that it wasn’t as accidental as he’s come to convince himself it was.

22 notes · View notes

wolfliving · 5 years ago

Text

AI galore

*Imagine attempting to use all of these at once.

https://www.mygreatlearning.com/blog/list-of-artificial-intelligence-tools-for-personal-use/

(...)

Artificial intelligence is the core of the current technological advancements that are taking place. AI makes machines to learn from human experience, perform tasks, and adjust to the new inputs. This article aims to give a list of artificial intelligence tools that you appropriate for personal use.

AI personal assistants

Siri

Siri is only available to Apple users. It is mainly designed to help users better interact with their Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. This interaction is done in a seamless manner that allows you to converse with her. You can also ask her any questions you may have and also ask her to execute various commands. Siri accesses all the applications on your phone like messages, contacts, safari, mail, maps, etc. Siri is also useful when you want to find a particular place like sports information, entertainment joints, making phone calls, and sending messages. She’s also quickly able to check your emails and let you know what movies or plays are available, text a friend, and let them know you will be late. Additionally, she’s able to shuffle your music on iTunes, reschedule and arrange your meets and tell you in advance about the weather condition in an area you are thinking of visiting.

Cortana

Designed for Microsoft Windows phones, this voice-controlled assistant is highly useful for users. The AI makes various personalised recommendations based on the data stored in the Smartphone of a user. This tool makes use of the Bing search.

Xai

This tool can come in handy for you because it helps in planning meetings. Wondering how Amy works? Well, as soon as you get meeting requests or an email, Amy handles it. It pins down the location and time. Amy also responds to all your emails. It works by scheduling all your emails by the type and buffer. For the AI to work, you will need to update or change the status to either available or busy. Once a user does this, she will plan accordingly.

Work AI tools

There are AI tools that come in handy, especially when you are at work. They include:

Mosaic: Comes in handy when you are writing curriculum vitae. It works by ensuring that you write the best resume.

Carly: Looking for an AI that can help you manage your phone calls? Carly should do this for you quickly.

Lomi: Helps you identify any sales leads that you may have missed.

ETCH: This tool helps in managing all of your networks and puts them in one searchable database.

Woo: Helps you make smart and better decisions that will come in handy for your career.

Newton: Looking for your dream job? This tool will help you find your dream job.

Robby: Always forgetting stuff? One of the best AI tools that work as a smart calendar.

Notion: This tool helps with email organisation, overload, and communication.

Stella: Not only does this tool help you with the scanning of jobs, but it also helps with the entire application process.

In-home AI tools

UnifyID: This AI identifies your identity by the type, way you walk and sit.

Bridge kitchen: This is the perfect kitchen assistant that helps you find your way around the kitchen.

Ems: looking for a beautiful place to live? This AI tool will help you find a convenient and ideal place for you to live in.

Social AI tools

Want to improve your social life and meet new people? Below are some of the AI tools of which you can make use.

Capsule.ai: This is a tool that helps you recall all the good times. It also brings back beautiful memories.

Bright crowd: If you are looking to broaden your circle to be in line with the career that you are in, this is the best AI to use. Within no time, you should make meaningful connections that will have a positive impact on your career.

Hashely: Many people love to post photos of themselves and their lives on social media. If you fall under this category, this is one of the best comments and hashtag generator.

Rey: Introduces you to a new circle of people you have to meet. These meetups are usually for work and fun.

Dating.Ai: Looking for that special someone? This tool is a fantastic dating app that comes with a face search.

Medical/health AI tools

There are AI tools that can come in handy, especially if you or your loved one falls sick. They include:

Amelie: A useful chatbot that’s all about mental health. If you are dealing with psychological issues, this can be an essential tool for you.

Abi: An assistant that takes care of your health.

Kiwi: An AI tool that helps you reduce your smoking and quit altogether. If you are struggling with smoking or quitting, try out this tool and see how useful it can turn out to be.

Bitesnap: A food recognition AI tool that helps you count calories by only taking a photo.

Joy: Not only does it help you keep track of your mental health, but it also comes in handy to improve your overall mental health.

Sleep.ai: A medical AI tool that diagnoses tooth grinding and snoring.

Education AI tools

Woogie: A conversational AI tool that makes the discovery and learning for children an enjoyable experience.

Thirdleap: An excellent tool for children that makes math easy.

Shopping AI tools

Are you a shop fanatic? These AI tools may prove to be a great addition to your shopping spree. They include:

Fify: An ideal tool for cloth shopping.

Entrupy: Helps you detect all high- end products from famous designers. It also helps you ensure that all the products you are about to buy are authentic.

Mode.ai: An excellent tool for finding all the clothes you want online.

GoFind: All someone needs to do is to take a photo, and the tool will find the clothing accordingly online.

Music AI tools

Pandora: Finds you music that might interest you or you may like.

Aiva: Composes all emotional soundtracks for you.

Read also: 3 ML Models Spotify uses to recommend music you’ll like

Finance AI tools

Andy: A tax accountant that you can make use of for all your transactions.

Abe: Gives you fast quick answers about questions you may have concerning your finances.

Wallet: This tool makes it easy for you to make your financial decisions daily.

Mylo: This tool rounds up all your daily purchases, and all the spare change is appropriately invested.

Ara: This is an essential tool that is essential, especially when it comes to budgeting your finances.

Roger: It makes it easy for you to pay all your bills.

Bond: Are you looking for an AI that will help you achieve all your financial goals? This is one tool that will work for you.

Research AI tools

Ferret.ai: Helps your research quickly by making a summary of searchability and articles.

Apollo: Breaks down all your PDFs and articles into quick, readable short dot points.

Iris: Helps with visualising and research various concepts in the research papers you are working on finishing.

Travel AI tools

Are you looking to travel to a new city? Looking to have some fun or have an experience of a lifetime in your area or country? Below are some of the AI tools that can make all these possible.

Emma: This Travel AI tool works by automatically calculating and adding the time needed for your meeting travel.

Ada: This is a tool that helps with navigation and the making of proper decisions.

Spatial: Reveals the social layers of the cities that you are in.

ETA: Comes in handy, especially when it comes to managing your travel meetings and itineraries.

Ready: This is an excellent time predicting tool for your travel and traffic forecasting.

Mezi: Do you want to make things easy for you? Another useful AI tool that helps in booking hotels, flights making restaurant reservations, and so much more.

Nexar: A dashcam tool that helps drivers drive safely.

HelloGbye: Books complex trips for you by doing a simple search...

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phroyd · 6 years ago

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A new conspiracy theory called “The Storm” has taken the grimiest parts of the internet by, well, storm. Like Pizzagate, the Storm conspiracy features secret cabals, a child sex-trafficking ring led (in part) by the satanic Democratic Party, and of course, countless logical leaps and paranoid assumptions that fail to hold up under the slightest fact-based scrutiny. However, unlike Pizzagate, the Storm isn’t focused on a single block of shops in D.C., or John Podesta’s emails. It’s much, much bigger than that.

As most terrible things do, this story begins with a post on /pol/, a sub-board of the more-or-less-anonymous, anything-goes website 4chan. Over the last few years, /pol/ — which technically stands for “politically incorrect” — has slowly but surely become a top contender for the ever-coveted title of the most upsetting community online. It’s the sort of place where neo-Nazis and people who believe women shouldn’t have basic human rights used to meet before we started verifying them on Twitter and electing them to public office. And as of late, it’s expanded its ranks to include fringe members of all shapes and sizes.

On October 28, someone calling themselves Q began posting a series of cryptic messages in a /pol/ thread titled “Calm Before the Storm” (assumedly in reference to that creepy Trump quote from early October). Q claimed to be a high-level government insider with Q clearance (hence the name) tasked with posting intel drops — which he, for some reason, called “crumbs” — straight to 4chan in order to covertly inform the public about POTUS’s master plan to stage a countercoup against members of the deep state. It was, in short, absolutely insane. However, thanks to some rather forced coincidences — like Q kind of, sort of guessing that Trump would tweet the word “small” on Small Business Saturday, and this one time the internet decided that Q was “totally on Air Force One” because he posted a blurry picture of some islands while Trump was on his trip to Asia — and a whole heck of a lot of wishful thinking, people believed he was the real deal.

So he kept talking.

According to Q, Trump was never really involved with Russia, and isn’t actually under investigation by Mueller & Co. On the contrary, Q insists thatit’s actually Clinton and Obama who were corrupted by Putin (and are nowactually under investigation by Mueller) because they’re obviously just evil, money-hungry globalists who’ll do anything for the highest bidder. (Oh, yeah, and they’re also apparently into raping and killing children, though the crowd is split over whether this is because they’re satanists or just part of some weird blackmail scheme involving the CIA.) Q also claims that Trump, the genius that he is, figured all of this out way back when he was just a measly presidential candidate, and has been pretending to love Putin and/or be involved with Russia ever since as a way to force a third party to investigate these horrors — without drawing the attention of those evil Dems-who-must-not-be-named, of course — because he’s just that selfless of a leader.

In this fantasy world, all of the far right’s wildest dreams come true: Q promises that Clinton, Obama, Podesta, Abedin, and even McCain are all either arrested and wearing secret police-issued ankle monitors, or justabout to be indicted; that the Steele dossier is a total fabrication personally paid for by Clinton and Obama; and that the Las Vegas massacre was most definitely an inside job connected to the Saudi-Clinton cabal.

They believe all of this will be coming to a head any day now. That “The Storm” — of arrests, political turmoil, and Republican vindication — is coming. Though there have been some, uh, miscalculations as for exactly when.

For example, take this “crumb” left by Q on November 1:

Q Clearance Patriot

My fellow Americans, over the course of the next several days you will undoubtedly realize that we are taking back our great country (the land of the free) from the evil tyrants that wish to do us harm and destroy the last remaining refuge of shining light. On POTUS’ order, we have initiated certain fail-safes that shall safeguard the public from the primary fallout which is slated to occur 11.3 upon the arrest announcement of Mr. Podesta (actionable 11.4). Confirmation (to the public) of what is occurring will then be revealed and will not be openly accepted. Public riots are being organized in serious numbers in an effort to prevent the arrest and capture of more senior public officials. On POTUS’ order, a state of temporary military control will be actioned and special ops carried out. False leaks have been made to retain several within the confines of the United States to prevent extradition and special operator necessity. Rest assured, the safety and well-being of every man, woman, and child of this country is being exhausted in full. However, the atmosphere within the country will unfortunately be divided as so many have fallen for the corrupt and evil narrative that has long been broadcast. We will be initiating the Emergency Broadcast System (EMS) during this time in an effort to provide a direct message (avoiding the fake news) to all citizens. Organizations and/or people that wish to do us harm during this time will be met with swift fury – certain laws have been pre-lifted to provide our great military the necessary authority to handle and conduct these operations (at home and abroad).

POTUS will be well insulated/protected on AF1 and abroad (specific locations classified) while these operations are conducted due to the nature of the entrenchment. It is time to take back our country and make America great again. Let us salute and pray for the brave men and women in uniform who will undertake this assignment to bring forth peace, unity, and return power to the people.

It is our hope that this message reaches enough people to make a meaningful impact. We cannot yet telegraph this message through normal methods for reasons I’m sure everyone here can understand. Follow the questions from the previous thread(s) and remain calm, the primary targets are within DC and remain at the top (on both sides). The spill over in the streets will be quickly shut down. Look for more false flags — stay alert, be vigilant, and above all, please pray.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Love is patient, love is kind.”

God bless my fellow Americans.

I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but November has come and gone without the slightest hint of a Q-style military-backed Armageddon. Yet, this pretty glaring mistake doesn’t seem to have weakened anyone’s faith in Q. If anything, it’s brought more followers into the fold.

Over the last month and a half, the Storm has spread from the depths of 4chan and 8chan to Reddit, YouTube, and Twitter, where it’s found hundreds of thousands of devout followers. Some of the most popular explainer videos boast nearly 200,000 views, and the QAnon hashtag has gotten so popular, it’s honestly difficult to track. (I signed up for one of those freebie “Track Your Hashtag Now!” services and #QAnon hit the 2,000-post limit within four hours.) Some poor soul even took the time to write a 117-page book charting Q’s rise to power, which I’m guessing has been seen at least as many times as this very aggressive Imgur guide, which was at 137,000 views as of Sunday night.

It’s been a little over a year since Edgar Welch, military-style assault rifle in hand, walked into a D.C. pizza parlor, convinced it was part of a child sex-trafficking ring run by Hillary Clinton, and the internet hasn’t gotten better. If anything, it’s worse.

Sure, in the wake of Pizzagate’s brief encounter with reality, a lot of changes were made: Reddit shut down the conspiracy’s designated sub, Twitter suspended some of the movement’s most vocal supporters, and the whole thing was debunked time and time again by the press. But it’s more evident now than ever that this was merely a Band-Aid, not a cure. And now, here we are a year later with the same thing. Sure, it’s a bit bigger and a whole lot less focused, but at its core, it’s the same. What is there even left to try? We know that stopping the conversation doesn’t work. Neither do the facts. How can we even begin to argue with hundreds of thousands of people who choose to believe that a top government agent is speaking to them through 4chan, that Trump has been playing a game of 4-D mind chess this whole time, and that the Las Vegas massacre was an inside job? Is the next Edgar Welch already out there, scrolling through the Calm Before the Storm thread, and if so, is it even possible to stop him?

Phroyd

#conspiracy theories #pizzagate #the storm #4chan #alt-right #qanon

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antoine-roquentin · 7 years ago

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This week the gloves came off in the Mexican elections. What appears to be hundreds of thousands of phone calls are being made to cell phones throughout the country, Claiming that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador poses a danger to society. At the end of the recording, which consists of incendiary and often false statements against the candidate, there is a loaded question, and the voice asks the person to mark one to determine whether it’s a Lopez Obrador sympathizer or not.

My call came in the other afternoon. A woman’s voice began: “As you know, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is criticizing major businessmen, which threatens private investment, and the jobs it creates. If you agree that Lopez Obrador picking fights with businessmen even though it risks losing national and foreign investment and job creation, mark one on your phone.” It sounds like that. It’s not a bad translation. That’s literally how absurd the call was. Other people got calls on different hot button issues in the campaign. Here’s one that warns that Lopez Obrador would release criminals from prison.

Note how the caller plays on fear, saying that AMLO would withdraw the armed forces from the drug war. Which, incidentally, is exactly what every major international human rights organization and most national human rights organizations have been demanding for years. It’s clear the big data is being employed here. I got the call on foreign investment. Others got calls on education, security, and other issues. Experts have noted that the call can also generate a database by registering whether voters are for or against the candidate. They seemed to be aimed at changing votes. Given the margin AMLO has, the opposition, whoever it is is behind this, would have to flip at least some voters because it can’t even win with undecideds. On Twitter the hashtag #GuerraSucioElectoral is trending: Electoral dirty war. The special prosecutor on electoral crimes has agreed to take complaints and look into the calls.

Calumnious phone calls from anonymous sources are an ominous sign for the days to come, but it gets worse. There have been over 110 political assassinations since the campaign period began on September 8. Most have been candidates, especially on the local level. These elections are already among the bloodiest in Mexican history. On June 2, for example, four women politicians who were assassinated, including Juana Maldonado, a candidate in Puebla, and Pamela Teran, a candidate in Oaxaca who was murdered with the young photographer assigned to cover her campaign, Maria Del Sol Cruz.

The National Electoral Institute decried the violence, but according to CNN declared that it does not have sufficient evidence to prove that the violence is linked to the elections. It’s a coincidence that candidates are being assassinated at a rate of several a day, just weeks before the elections? Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations, stated without control, criminal violence is a serious threat to the democratic institutions, and undoubtedly, to democracy itself. On May 10th the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights declared it observes a situation of special risk to political actors in the country, including PRI candidates and candidates of different movements and political affiliations, and demanded that the authorities carry out investigations and respect due process. The situation is critical. Citizen groups are pressuring the electoral authorities to take a more active role in denouncing and investigating the violence before a cloud of fear settles over the nation on election day, which could threaten lives, keep people home on voting day, and restrict their choices. Low turnout favors the institutional party, which can fall back on its core voter base, forged in large part on vote buying and voter coercion, which is also rampant at this stage of the elections.

Meanwhile, the center-left candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is maintaining his lead, and the assumption that he will take the presidency is growing even among reluctant actors, such as the financial sector. The hard core that rejects this outcome is becoming more aggressive in its tactics and actions. But with every affront, the citizenry invents new ways to call out the dirty tricks on social media, organize for poll watching, and create endless memes and parodies to relieve the tension that surrounds these elections.

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laura-dcim-blog · 6 years ago

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The Media’s Role

Through the different platforms, we get information from multiple competing narratives about the issue of gun control and gun violence. There is a gap between what is actual reality and misinformation. Depending on what media form one is exposed to determines their perception of topic despite the tragedies that occur in reality. The media glorifies shooting in a way that adds to this ongoing issue. At the same time, the media has given a platform to give voice to activism on gun control. With this constant output of misinformation, shared ideologies cannot be obtained across demographics.

There is a significant ongoing debate which has been guided by different platforms of media addressing the issue of gun control in several different perspectives. One of the catastrophic events to draw attention toward, and spark the intense conversation challenging the issue of gun control is the tragic shooting that occurred in the diverse community Parkland, Florida. This is an ongoing upsetting topic that will continue to progress until the real issues causing it are uncovered and resolved. This is an issue that, after the multiple recent cataclysmic events that have occurred in this country, will never be the same again.

The media has single-handedly formatted the way in which we perceive this issue, along with many others. The controversy of gun control is one that has been exposed, but in a way, has digressed due to the way that the media strategically structures the argument, regardless of its various standpoints, to direct you towards one belief. Ultimately, deterring us from the real dispute at hand. Misinformation provided by media, split opinions causing divisions in people and constant opposing arguments, along with the issue of gun control are of the utmost importance when it comes to concerns that need to be illuminated.

#NeverAgain, #EnoughIsEnough, #ParklandShooting, #ParklandStudentsSpeak, #ParklandStrong, and #ParklandStudents just to name a few, are some of the other hashtags created that are relevant to this school shooting. All of these trending hashtags on Twitter are so prevalent to this conversation and analysis of information, for they say so much with such few words. With twitter, all the different topics of the subject matter are brought up, views are vocalized, and interpretations vary.

Each one of which gives perspective and another lens to this matter. The movement #MarchForOurLives is one that is just getting started, displaying how amazing kids are and how, with the tools of modern social media, they have the ability to show so much more authority and initiate versus the adults’ politics.

Overall, this movement is torn between many issues but the movement students are creating is allowing us to get to the core of this problem. Seeing the victims and the people affected by these catastrophic, depressing events is poignant to people and causing them to stand up and make a difference. Media distracts us from the actual problem due to the fabricated, messy conundrums set up around the circumstance to make the policy of gun control complicated when it could feasibly be very simple.

These various forms of news have many opposing views making a unified change a nearly impossible to happen, while this problem continues to get worse. Certain forms of media magnify this problem but it is no secret that social media and the news makes it so that opposing arguments can happen while no set solution is obtained.

Due to shootings being publicized the media makes it look somewhat accepted that these sorts of things happen in our society, which should never be the case. They attention brought towards the shooters instead of the victims can also be an inspiration for the potential threat of the next school shooter. Media focusing on victims instead of the shooters would create a different sense of how the issue was perceived.

Also, social media platforms are another hub for these trouble minds to gather. The shooter made these blatantly obvious statements of his plans, which should have stopped this from occurring, which is familiar re-occurrence in all these instances. The media is all the blame whether it is television, online, or through and smart device for constant misinformation across all platforms, the defiant split between the common people on all important topics, and for this gross neglect of the issue of gun control.

#MarchForOurLives #ParklandFl #EnoughIsEnough #NeverAgain #GunControl #Movement #StudentLed #Media #Platforms #SocialMedia #MassShooting #Misinformation

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kindabraveandlittlestupid · 6 years ago

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Try not to get caught up with the labels: Feminist, Equalist, or Humanist. The tag matters less than the larger goal society should set out to achieve. Equality for all and sometimes Equity to make small tips to the scale where needed. I am not afraid of embracing the concept of being a Male Feminist because my world is saturated by politics and I understand the players. I know the villains who wish to pit Feminist against Equalist or Humanist are doing so not because they believe any of the labels but because they benefit from the distraction between like-minded individuals who seek the same goals. Most men are not in the social position to be “The Patriarchy” but those men of wealth and power through industry, politics, or religion are the Patriarchy. An so long as they can make Men believe Women are a threat to them, that Black Lives Matter is a danger to White Americans or that Immigrants are taking the wealth of the country, these powerful men do very well so long as we keep fighting with the person next to us instead of realizing the real villains are often above us.

This is one reason why I like the idea of the Rise of Matriarchs in American Society. We can rattle these men’s cages and make them aware their power is suspect to change by a greater majority of society. This is not to say women cannot be corrupted by wealth and power as well but societies that have a more representative/diverse governments tend to be LESS corrupt and that is a step towards progress everyone benefits (except the extremely wealthy men who clutch power).

This post (despite the starter above) is not a political breakdown post though I plan to write on these subjects more in the future. Instead, it's more of clarification of my views and where I stand on various topics related to feminism. I realize there are topics that I might not touch base on and if you want me to add one you can shoot me a note. I also might hold opinions that do not take an absolutist view towards a topic and in today's politics that can be dangerous on the left and right because anyone who isn't falling in line 100% can be labeled a traitor to the cause or party.

Access to Birth Control and Planned Parenthood

I am always bewildered how nonsensical conservatives are in regards to these topics. The very best means of avoiding abortions is education, family planning, and birth control which prevent young women from having to make a difficult choice. Despite this, they believe in abstinence and try to remove birth control basically pushing more young women into the realm of motherhood because of a few minutes of passion that will ultimately decide the next 18+ years of their lives!

I believe Planned Parenthood should be available and welcome in each community to ensure that young women and men are protected, educated, and equipped with the proper means of avoiding unwanted pregnancies. I also believe condoms, IUDs, Birth Control Pills and Plan B’s should be available on the cheap and discreet to further protection. Lastly, Birth Control should be covered by insurance, even business insurance regardless of the employers personal/religious views. In other words, I am pretty damn liberal on this.

Abortion Rights (Link)

There are fewer choices a woman might face more difficult then deciding if she should or should not get an Abortion. I wrote in detail about this topic before so I will give you the short version. I believe NO ONE likes the idea of a abortion but those of us who understand the issue also know that forcing any woman regardless of age, race or social position to give birth also not ok. We in society should make this choice informative and safe. We do that by having comprehensive sexual education and birth control to be the ‘front line’ of avoiding this difficult choice. If she decides to take the next step or explore her options it shouldn't be done by bullshit church clinics attempting to use shame, guilt or false information to change her views but institutions that provide her all the options and information she could need to make the choice that's best for her. Everything should be her choice without influence from the community, the church, her parents or even the male involved. Aftercare programs should also be there to help her no matter what choice she chooses.

I think we should aim for the 20 weeks (Recent science article suggests this is possible when the babies consciousness kicks in. Open to changing if the article ends up being false) and under as the optimal time to make the choice. However, I am open to learning more on this topic and discussing if the “when” should be pushed further back. Lastly, if it comes down the choice between saving the mother or unborn fetus, I believe the mother's life is more important unless she deems otherwise. There are few political topics where I think men should shut up and let women decide... this is one of them.

Paid Family Leave

This isn't just a woman's issue but also a men's issue as well. I would actually argue this is a progressive issue as both the father and mother both deserve to take part in raising a child in those early stages. We need to consider this as a long-standing social program to allow career-oriented adults (both male and female) to continue their careers but also to support their family. We also need to ensure employers don't attempt to punish these women (and men) by skipping over them for promotions or refusing raises because they decided to have a child.

There is no argument from me that women deserve a longer leave of absence being the one who gave birth and breastfeeds the baby. I think both parents could benefit from this sort of social net and it's important we build it in such a way that it also covers two mothers or two fathers and even adoption.

Girls Education

With a better education for girls in the United States (and for the matter the world) has proven to improve economies, lower crime and even slow overpopulation because academic opportunity provides new options instead of simply being a wife/mother (nothing wrong with those if you choose that as part of your lifestyle). This is still a major issue as there are still countries that place girls education as secondary to boys education. Even if they are far away it is still our responsibility to ensure girls rights to an education is provided for them. Its pretty clear I believe in this topic wholeheartedly, however if you know me then you know there is more often then not a but around the corner.

The only caveat I can think to note is Female only education programs. An example of this is Girls Who Code that teaches programming to young girls. I love this program and I think its great they are trying to narrow the tech industry gap by pushing for more female coders. However, as someone who worked in a non-profit industry for a few years and created co-ed athletic leagues, there is value in having boys work with girls. These young women won't be working with only females forever, eventually, they will have to work with male coders and gender segregation robs them of that early experience. On a second point (and the real thing the operators of this program are missing out on) it is the fact if they have males in their class/program they can catch/alter/adjust the problematic behavior of male students to make them the new gold standard of how a male coder should act with their female coworkers. I suppose this is all just perception but I always believed its better to have both genders work together so they might view each other as equals rather embrace a gender segregation to achieve some corporate goal of having a bigger female workforce without address the issue of toxic male work environments.

MeToo Movement

I admit I am of mixed feelings about the MeToo Movement. I hesitate to support ANY movement that relies heavily on the court of public opinion. I worry about the history we all have and how sharp this social edge is at cutting down men (and women) who stand accused of any transgression. At the same time, I understand this is the reaction when sexual assault (verbal or physical) is simply swept under the rug for decades.

It scares me a little making me wonder if I ever pushed something too far. I think of jobs were I work with men and we goof off telling stories but having female coworkers nearby. They participated in the tales but I feel a dreadful concern that one or more of them simply played along trying not to make a fuss. Perhaps I made someone feel uncomfortable online at some point in the past.

Lord knows I was a victim myself to a young stalker who drove past my work taking pics and texting the line “LOL. I know where you work”. I was only able to make her stop harassment when she texted things like she was gonna lie to the police and send me to jail and I replied back with the screenshots of the whole conversation making her think how they (the police) might react when I share the text logs (clearly she didn't think her grand plan thru). I also endured a few indecent encounters with drunk women (usually on Saint Patricks Day) when I wear my kilt to the bar and they lift the edge to get a peek. I politely laughed it off and brush their hand away trying to ignore the fact they were we attempting to see if I was wearing the kilt authentically.

When you’re the victim of something like this you know it in your core that people were mistreating you. I know I never groped a woman, physically assaulted anyone or flashed myself but have I made improper jokes and I hope I never made anyone feel uncomfortable.

In the end, the MeTooMovement is a good thing. It needs to evolve into the next stage taking on a political form where it becomes not just a hashtag and social media post but evolve into real-world policy and social change that adjusts how men treat women in society (and the occasional female on male transgression). We can all do a little better and MeToo has the momentum to perhaps create a lasting social change by creating consent and decency program that could be taught both in schools and also in adult careers.

Women in Politics (Link)

I touched base with this topic before and I am pretty comfortable in my position. We don’t need more women in politics, we need more Smart Women in politics (and for that matter, we could do with some smarter men as well). Women make roughly between 20 to 30% of the leadership positions in government. Champions like Lee, Clinton, Warren, and Collins make up some of the smartest women in politics and bring a character with them that makes not only Washington better but the whole country better.

The reason why I make the distinction between “More Smart Women in Politics” and just “More Women in Politics” because of women like DeVos, Palin, Bachmann, and Sanders exist. Really just stupid stupid people who don’t know nor care about the long-term effect of their policies and their divisive rhetoric. We could do better than the likes of them and I hope this 2018 election brings a wave of strong/smart women who will balance out this government to something more representing of the country... 50/50.

NOTE: Preferably a BLUE wave of strong women.

Conclusion

I handpicked these topics because they relate to women's issues. By no means are these topics the only thing women care about but they connect deeply with feminism. As I said above if there is something you care for me to add to the list and hear my personal views/beliefs then shoot me a note. If we do not agree 100% on a topic I ask you to reflect on what I write before writing a hot worded post. If you have an opposing or slightly different view on a subject and think I could benefit from hearing a feminine take on a topic, by all means, share your post (and links to information). I am always evolving in my opinions and alternative views with thoughtful insight commonly shift my views. As always thanks for reading.

Regards Michael California

#Male Feminist #Supporting Women #Progressive #Liberal #Politics #GirlsWhoCode #Women in Politics #MeToo #Me Too Movement #Abortion #Abortion Rights #Pro Choice #Planned Parenthood #Paid Family Leave #Girls Education #Equality #Equity

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