#he builds tools not people

[witchofthesouls]

Isn't Banzaitron Yokotron's twin brother. I think he's a decepticon? Because if he is that somehow that makes things funnier.

(Searches on TFWiki)

WHEEZES

Apparently, he isn't in TFA, but I'm digging the character.

I raise you that Banzai-tron is actually part of the Decepticon's attempts at cloning Yoketron to steal his teachings and skillset.

Instead, they got Banzai-tron, who has a very warped distortion of Yoketron's ideals. ("The strong will eat, the weak are meat.")

The true beast is actually Brother.

Yoketron was Brother's leash, and the mech isn't there...

[mrmeepsmadmind]

idw bumblebee and prowl shouldve broke up bcs he wouldnt stop 𝚊sking prowl to pause his report for just one lil astrosec so he can change his various pastel colored pens while making his cute little aesthetically pretty for no reason & very time - consuming notes with big colorful fonts & cute designs real quick

also another thought abt annoying ass bb trying to make running a literal planet cotteque so he doesn't go crazy bcs hes now a politician when all he ever wanted was to deliver mail & smile & wave at bots who call him cute ---

bee: 𝚠heeljack, im so sorry about this but do you mind repeating the time-stakingly long introduction, instruments, research references, modules, hypothesis, counter thesis, procedures, analysis, second - retrial, results, & explanation that you just spent 700000 earth hours saying because i was busy drawing a cute little bee in the corner of my notes please :] ?

wheeljack:

idw bee trying to run a planet that fucking hates him is just rlly funny to me, especially since everyone views bee as the goody character who everyone loves & he views himself as that & then they finally win this consuming war & he can reap his rewards of being loved without holding a gun & no one fucking likes him. hes even getting on his own old team's nerves & not in the loveable scamp way but the get the fuck out of my face way

[mochasucculent]

SOLID video, highly recommend

[invinciblerodent]

Now I kinda want to toy around with a story where a Rook that proves unsuitable to be the leader (because they lack the soft skills, the compassion, the conflict-management skills the story implies they have from the prologue on and requires of them as the crux of its central conflict) does actually get booted by the team, and play with how that would work out for the story, if they were to choose a leader among themselves.

I don't believe I've ever posted about this, but my partner and I have had great and lengthy discussions about how we think that, if Rook, within the story, had the capacity to openly be the kind of amoral asshole certain folks seem to want for a protagonist, there is no way this team would tolerate that.

I mean... just going by the most obvious things alone, Harding and Bellara are immediately, within one of the first missions, very much open about not shying away from taking affirmative action against a self-serving failure of a leader, with both of them approving of leaving a man to die as "atonement" for an (objectively horrible and selfish) crime that resulted in the townspeople's and Veil Jumpers' deaths.

Neve, and the entirety of the Shadow Dragons express frustration with the Magisterium's passive hand-wringing, and have taken matters into their own hands from the start, as the foundation of their faction.

The Grey Wardens we meet before Weisshaupt, including Davrin, are all defying explicit orders just by associating with Rook, showing that their convictions are more important to them than any chain of command.

Hell, Davrin, Taash, Harding, Neve, and Lucanis all greatly approve of the player resolving conflict with a leader who proved incompetent and a hindrance to the cause via violent means- and it's Davrin's boss we're talking about, so his approval of it is especially poignant.

Over and over, these companions can (and depending on the influences in their lives, do) act with great compassion, kindness, understanding, and love towards others, while individually being one of the best in their respective fields, and firm in their convictions independently from Rook. (Davrin will always stand for the griffons. Neve will always clash with Aelia. Bellara will always resist Anaris. These are not mutable parts of them, they do it because it's who they are, and over and over, this repeats with pretty much all arcs.)

If Rook were to go around slinging slurs and telling little orphan kids that life ain't fair and they should suck it up, do you think this group of people, who make this story (about compassion, grief, acceptance, and how no man is an island) possible, would stand by and just let it happen, continue following them like it's nobody's business and their hands are tied?

Blackwall said it best a decade ago: You are who you choose to follow.

I feel like it bears repeating- the team needs Rook, but they need them because of Rook's skills, not just because they are the protagonist. Rook is Rook because of who they are, and the team needs them because they are, in their unique way, who they need their leader to be. They do not need a Rook, they need the Rook that Varric, only after a short while of knowing them, decided was fit to be the leader of this mission in case anything happens to him.

The story sets you parameters within which you can play with your Rook's responses. These are quite broad parameters (and Rook can also lie, the game doesn't need to specify whether a line you choose to have them say is said earnestly), but the kind of specificity we have in the plot, and the kind of reactivity that we have, by its nature, requires the sacrifice of some flexibility.

Utterly boundless freedom to create a kind of protagonist who openly kicks puppies and murders little old ladies for fun, a tight-knit group of compassionate professionals united in service of an important cause, and a tightly structured plot that makes sense and has real stakes, are situated on three separate vertices of a triangle. You can only choose two, and still have a story that works.

[zolo-san]

Why is Dressrosa just Doflamingo and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?

[general-sleepy]

Finally watching Overlord with AD. Already noticed an interesting choice of wording, with the narrator using "Nazis" and "Nazi soldiers" instead of "German soldiers." You could argue it's less technically accurate, but serves a purpose, and it's a reasonable decision in the context of the story. Audio description is cool.

Edit: They use a combination of "Nazis," "Nazi soldiers," "Germans," and "German soldiers." The choice is still significant.

[harukakitous]

Ohsama Sentai Kingohger | #7: 

“[The Wrath of the Gods] wasn’t a natural disaster... I witnessed [my parents’ deaths]. Someone was responsible for that incident. There were traces of an unknown toxin in their bodies, but we couldn’t tell much, other than it resembled a scorpion’s venom.”

“And that’s why you’re hung up on God Scorpion?” 

[slocumjoe]

You ever think about Shaun and Danse interacting and cry a lil bit

[rickybaby]

For me anyway it shows that rb have a plan and a long term one at that for Daniel. I don’t get why people are shocked over Daniel staying, if any of them were reading what was put out about and from at shows that. And anyone who says Daniel has not helped with that car they have rn is in delulu land especially when the team and Yuki has said how important Daniel was.

And this whole thing about drivers ‘deserving’ a seat etc be so real. This is f1. It’s not a fair sport it’s ruthless and it shows in the case with the at lineup.

RE-fucking-TWEET!!!

Just saw this tweet from @.Meredith that puts it well

[ceramicbeetle]

brennan trend of characters who view their bodies not necessarily as themselves but as a Tool they can use to earn favor from / a place with other people (often as an Apology for who they are) has me thinking about Zelda's Ending of All Things vision again

[tobestik]

love just sobbing on a saturday listening as genuine healing and teaching happens in the other room

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Imagine doing so much hard work and persevering through law school to have your failed tests advertised on the internet news. The bar is really hard; he’s not “cringe fail.” I am jealous of his ability to even attend college without committing suicide. He did a good job. Leave my dude the fuck alone.

I don’t care if they’re elites. If they’re elites; then make fun of them solely for being rich nepotism babies. There are non-elites who have failed the bar (or any important test) once or twice as well who will see this and feel bad about themselves.

[theabstruseone]

I slept in and just woke up, so here's what I've been able to figure out while sipping coffee:

Twitter has officially rebranded to X just a day or two after the move was announced.

The official branding is that a tweet is now called "an X", for which there are too many jokes to make.

The official account is still @twitter because someone else owns @X and they didn't reclaim the username first.

The logo is 𝕏 which is the Unicode character Unicode U+1D54F so the logo cannot be copyrighted and it is highly likely that it cannot be protected as a trademark.

Outside the visual logo, the trademark for the use of the name "X" in social media is held by Meta/Facebook, while the trademark for "X" in finance/commerce is owned by Microsoft.

The rebranding has been stopped in Japan as the term "X Japan" is trademarked by the band X JAPAN.

Elon had workers taking down the "Twitter" name from the side of the building. He did not have any permits to do this. The building owner called the cops who stopped the crew midway through so the sign just says "er".

He still plans to call his streaming and media hosting branch of the company as "Xvideo". Nobody tell him.

This man wants you to give him control over all of your financial information.

Edit to add further developments:

Yes, this is all real. Check the notes and people have pictures. I understand the skepticism because it feels like a joke, but to the best of my knowledge, everything in the above is accurate.

Microsoft also owns the trademark on X for chatting and gaming because, y'know, X-box.

The logo came from a random podcaster who tweeted it at Musk.

The act of sending a tweet is now known as "Xeet". They even added a guide for how to Xeet.

The branding change is inconsistent. Some icons have changed, some have not, and the words "tweet" and "Twitter" are still all over the place on the site.

TweetDeck is currently unaffected and I hope it's because they forgot that it exists again. The complete negligence toward that tool and just leaving it the hell alone is the only thing that makes the site usable (and some of us are stuck on there for work).

This is likely because Musk was forced out of PayPal due to a failed credit line project and because he wanted to rename the site to "X-Paypal" and eventually just to "X".

This became a big deal behind the scenes as Musk paid over $1 million for the domain X.com and wanted to rebrand the company that already had the brand awareness people were using it as a verb to "pay online" (as in "I'll paypal you the money")

X.com is not currently owned by Musk. It is held by a domain registrar (I believe GoDaddy but I'm not entirely sure). Meaning as long as he's hung onto this idea of making X Corp a thing, he couldn't be arsed to pay the $15/year domain renewal.

Bloomberg estimates the rebranding wiped between $4 to $20 billion from the valuation of Twitter due to the loss of brand awareness.

The company was already worth less than half of the $44 billion Musk paid for it in the first place, meaning this may end up a worse deal than when Yahoo bought Tumblr.

One estimation (though this is with a grain of salt) said that Twitter is three months from defaulting on its loans taken out to buy the site. Those loans were secured with Tesla stock. Meaning the bank will seize that stock and, since it won't be enough to pay the debt (since it's worth around 50-75% of what it was at the time of the loan), they can start seizing personal assets of Elon Musk including the Twitter company itself and his interest in SpaceX.

Sesame Street's official accounts mocked the rebranding.

[imastoryteller]

Writing Angry Scenes: Tips to Avoid Melodrama and Make It Real

Anger can be one of the most intense, relatable emotions to read—and one of the trickiest to write. When handled well, an angry scene can pull readers deep into the emotional world of a character, building tension and driving the story forward. But when handled poorly, anger can easily slip into melodrama, making the character’s feelings seem overblown, forced, or even cringe-worthy.

So how can you avoid these pitfalls and write anger that feels real and compelling? Here are some tips to make angry scenes powerful without overdoing it.

1. Understand What Fuels Your Character’s Anger

To write anger authentically, you need to understand its roots. People get angry for complex reasons—fear, frustration, betrayal, grief, and even love. Ask yourself what’s truly driving your character’s anger. Are they afraid of losing control? Do they feel abandoned or misunderstood? Are they hurt by someone they trusted? Anger rarely exists in isolation, so dig into the deeper emotions fueling it.

When you understand the core reasons behind a character’s anger, you can weave those nuances into the scene, making the anger more relatable and layered. Readers will feel the depth of the character's rage, not just the surface heat of it.

2. Show, Don’t Tell—But Don’t Overdo It

“Show, don’t tell” is classic writing advice, but it’s especially crucial in angry scenes. Don’t rely on generic phrases like “She was furious” or “He clenched his fists in anger.” Instead, look for unique ways to convey how this specific character experiences anger. Maybe their voice drops to a deadly calm, or their eyes narrow in a way that makes everyone around them uncomfortable.

That said, showing too much can backfire, especially with exaggerated descriptions. Over-the-top body language, excessive shouting, or too many “flaring nostrils” can tip the scene into melodrama. Use body language and physical cues sparingly and mix them with subtler reactions for a more realistic portrayal.

3. Use Dialogue to Reveal Hidden Layers

People rarely say exactly what they feel, especially when they’re angry. Angry dialogue isn’t just about yelling or throwing out insults; it’s an opportunity to show the character’s deeper thoughts and vulnerabilities.

Consider using controlled, icy responses or unexpected silences. Maybe your character says something hurtful in a low voice rather than screaming. They might express sarcasm, avoidance, or even laugh at the wrong moment. Anger often carries hidden layers, and using these nuances can help your character’s dialogue feel genuine, even haunting, without falling into dramatic clichés.

4. Control the Pacing of the Scene

The pacing of an angry scene can be the difference between a powerful moment and a melodramatic one. In real life, anger doesn’t always erupt instantly; it can simmer, spike, or deflate depending on the situation and the character’s personality. Experiment with different pacing techniques to create tension.

You might build the anger slowly, with small signs that something’s brewing. Or maybe the character explodes suddenly, only to calm down just as quickly, leaving a chill in the air. Controlling the pace helps you control the reader’s emotional engagement, drawing them in without overwhelming them.

5. Avoid Clichéd Expressions and Overused Reactions

When writing anger, avoid falling back on clichés like “seeing red,” “boiling with rage,” or “blood boiling.” These phrases have been overused to the point that they lose their impact. Instead, get creative and think about how your character’s anger might feel specifically to them.

Maybe their skin feels prickly, or their jaw aches from clenching it. Think about details that are unique to the character and to the moment. By focusing on small, unique sensory details, you’ll help readers feel the anger rather than just reading about it.

6. Let the Setting Reflect the Emotion

The setting can be an effective tool to amplify a character’s anger without overstating it. Small details in the environment—such as the hum of a refrigerator, the slow ticking of a clock, or the distant sounds of laughter—can create a sense of contrast or isolation that heightens the character’s rage.

For example, imagine a character seething in a peaceful park or a quiet library. The calm of the surroundings can make their anger feel more potent. Or maybe they’re in a crowded, noisy room where they feel unseen and unheard, which fuels their frustration further. This use of setting can add depth to the scene without the need for dramatic gestures.

7. Let Consequences Speak for Themselves

An effective way to avoid melodrama is to let the consequences of the anger show its intensity. Characters don’t always have to yell or physically react; sometimes, a single choice can convey more than any outburst.

Perhaps your character cuts off a close friend or says something they can’t take back. Maybe they throw away a meaningful object or walk out in silence. By focusing on the consequences of their anger, you can reveal the impact without over-explaining it.

8. Let the Emotion Simmer After the Scene Ends

Anger is rarely resolved in a single moment, and its effects often linger. When writing an angry scene, think about how it will affect your character moving forward. Are they holding onto grudges? Do they feel guilty or exhausted afterward? Does their anger transform into something else, like sadness or regret?

Allowing the anger to simmer in your character’s mind even after the scene ends creates a more authentic and layered portrayal. It shows that anger is complex and doesn’t just disappear the moment the scene is over, adding emotional weight to both the character and the story.

[ketchuppee]

During the 2008 recession, my aunt lost her job. Her, her partner, and my three cousins moved across the country to stay with us while they got back on their feet. My house turned from a family of four to a family of nine overnight, complete with three dogs and five cats between us.

It took a few years for them to get a place of their own, but after a few rentals and apartments, they now own a split level ranch in a town nearby. I’ve lost track of how many coworkers and friends have stayed with them when they were in a tight spot. A mother and son getting out of an abusive relationship, a divorcee trying to stay local for his kids while they work out a custody agreement, you name it. My aunt and uncle knew first hand what that kindness meant, and always find space for someone who needed it, the way my parents had for them.

That same aunt and uncle visited me in [redacted] city last year. They are prolific drinkers, so we spent most of the day bar hopping. As we wandered the city, any time we passed a homeless person, my uncle would pull out a fresh cigarette and ask them if they had a light. Regardless of if they had a lighter on hand or not, he offered them a few bucks in exchange, which he explained to me after was because he felt it would be easier for them to accept in exchange for a service, no matter how small.

I work for a company that produces a lot of fabric waste. Every few weeks, I bring two big black trash bags full of discarded material over to a woman who works down the hall. She distributes them to local churches, quilting clubs, and teachers who can use them for crafts. She’s currently in the process of working with our building to set up a recycling program for the smaller pieces of fabric that are harder to find use for.

One of my best friends gives monthly donations to four or five local organizations. She’s fortunate enough to have a tech job that gives her a good salary, and she knows that a recurring donation is more valuable to a non-profit because they can rely on that money month after month, and can plan ways to stretch that dollar for maximum impact. One of those organizations is a native plant trust, and once she’s out of her apartment complex and in a home with a yard, she has plans to convert it into a haven of local flora.

My partner works for a company that is working to help regulate crypto and hold the current bad actors in the space accountable for their actions. We unfortunately live in a time where technology develops far too fast for bureaucracy to keep up with, but just because people use a technology for ill gain doesn’t mean the technology itself is bad. The blockchain is something that she finds fascinating and powerful, and she is using her degree and her expertise to turn it into a tool for good.

I knew someone who always had a bag of treats in their purse, on the odd chance they came across a stray cat or dog, they had something to offer them.

I follow artists who post about every local election they know of, because they know their platform gives them more reach than the average person, and that they can leverage that platform to encourage people to vote in elections that get less attention, but in many ways have more impact on the direction our country is going to go.

All of this to say, there’s more than one way to do good in the world. Social media leads us to believe that the loudest, the most vocal, the most prolific poster is the most virtuous, but they are only a piece of the puzzle. (And if virtue for virtues sake is your end goal, you’ve already lost, but that’s a different post). Community is built of people leveraging their privileges to help those without them. We need people doing all of those things and more, because no individual can or should do all of it. You would be stretched too thin, your efforts valiant, but less effective in your ambition.

None of this is to encourage inaction. Identify your unique strengths, skills, and privileges, and put them to use. Determine what causes are important to you, and commit to doing what you can to help them. Collective action is how change is made, but don’t forget that we need diversity in actions taken.

[covington-shenanigans]

I am also a hand tool woodworker (albeit an inexperienced amateur one) and I second everything @transgalactic-woodworker said above!

there's a saying in woodworking: "it's cheaper to buy than to build." mass industrial production of furniture is always going to produce a less inexpensive end product than me in my garage wood shop, even when I'm using bullshit construction lumber from the big box store, (which I do for most of my projects because I am not made of money). I'm glad the cheap sheet goods exist -- I made a cabinet with a plywood back, which saved me some bucks -- although seeing an entire piece of furniture made of MDF makes my soul want to leave my body, especially when it's super expensive like OP pointed out.

but yes, modern furniture sucks, and in strictly construction terms it is absolutely the joinery. proper furniture joinery is beautiful and sturdy and lasts centuries, but even with power tools it is not fast, especially compared to slamming shit together with cheap metal parts.

I started doing woodworking because I was tired of cheap shitty furniture that was going to break in a few years. I am now learning to make my own, slightly more expensive shitty furniture that will (and this is the crucial difference) last my lifetime because it's made out of solid wood with proper joinery.

(I have the financial stability and space to invest in some tools and supplies, and I very much recognize that not everyone has that, but there are ways to build basic furniture that doesn't require thousands of bucks of tools or an entire room dedicated to it. I'd start with Rex Krueger on youtube if you want to get an idea of what you can do with basic tools. if there's a tool library in your area you might be able to borrow those tools rather than buy them, especially if you just want to build one or two things and not have to buy a bunch of stuff.)

These things are made of garbage and glue and they want to charge this much for them??? Seriously considering just buying some real wood and making it myself. We tolerate this chipboard crap BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE.