#its not even an idealogical group?????

[moonviewcrew]

This sucks so much lol. As a system AND otherkin, kintypes are not "treated like alters" and are not making light of any disorder. This is so misinformed it hurts.

Like... My kintypes are what I indentify as. They are not seperate from me, they ARE me. And if it's the stupid argument about "kin 'shifts' are stolen from system 'switches'" again, I'll bite something. Shift terminology originated from weres, like SHAPESHIFTING, it's not related to switching or stolen from systems.

And if someone's otherkinity overlaps with their plurality, there's nothing wrong with that either. It's a deeply personal identity. But discriminating against an entire group, and saying their identity makes light of your disorder is so fucking twisted. I know that's the anti endo's whole thing, but the fact they're targeting people who DONT EVEN IDENTIFY AS PLURAL OR SYSTEMS is mind-blowing to me. What the fuck.

Today in Syscourse: An Anti-Endo Attacking Otherkins For Treating Kintypes Like Alters 🙄

There's a lot that's wrong with this. Especially them essentially saying that otherkin are only valid if they just "feel close" to a character.

Personally though, I just want to remind any otherkin and alterhumans who support anti-endos that these are the types of people they're siding with. That exclusionists and bigots will hate you for bearing even the slightest similarity to other groups they hate.

I've seen exclusionists trying to infiltrate alterhuman spaces before. Just last Summer, I discussed the Alterhuman Things server being bullied into banning endogenic systems by anti-endos infiltrating these spaces.

There are a great many shared interests between the alterhuman and plural communities, and both are often the victims of the same type of hate and bigotry from the general public, and from exclusionists like these. It's integral, if we seek to make real progress for our communities, that we work together to achieve it and stand against exclusionism.

[alicearmageddon]

USEFUL ANARCHIST AND LEFTIST SITES ON THE WEB

1: The Anarchist Faq: this attempts to answer any questions one might have about anarchism. (the anarchist library, which this faq is on, is also an absolutley excellent rescource and maybe the biggest collection of anarchist theory on the web)

2: the tv tropes page for anarchism (yes, im serious). this manages to be a suprisingly well done and easy to read explanation of what anarchism is, what its about, and the different types of anarchists idealogies.

3: Anarchopedia. like wikipedia, but specifically for anarchism

more resources below the cut! and feel free to add more in reblogs.

4: the iww. the iww isnt anarchist, but im putting it here as its a member-led, grassroots union for all workers of the world.

iww.org

5: Zoe Baker has a PHD in anarchist history and is one of the few well researched and well read left politcs channels on youtube

youtube.com/@anarchopac

6: Organize magazine is a good source of anarchist news in the UK

organisemagazine.org.uk

7: Freedom News is another great source of anarchist news in the UK

freedomnews.org.uk

8: Mutual Aid Hub (afaik this is US only)

mutualaidhub.org

9:Black Rose Federation (also US only)

blackrosefed.org

10: symbiosis revolution (US only)

symbiosis-revolution.org

11: Marxists Internet Archive. while this site isnt really anarchist, it is leftist and has some anarchist texts. i also think marxism is worth learning about even as an anarchist whos views do not align with Marx.

Marxists.org

12: Neighborhood Anarchists. Neighborhood Anarchists is a direct action anarchist group based in Springfield and Eugene Oregon.

neighborhoodanarchists.org

13: Anarchist News. This is a site that provides news that is relevant to or about anarchism

Anarchistnews.org

14: A-Infos. This is a multi-lingual news service by, for, and about anarchists.

https://www.ainfos.ca/en/

15: CrimeThInk. This is an international network of aspiring revolutionaries all over the world.

crimethinc.com

16: It's Going Down. This is a digital community center for anarchist, anti-fascist, autonomous anti-capitalist and anti-colonial movements across so-called North America.

itsgoingdown.org

17: Libcom. This is is a resource for everyone fighting to improve their lives, communities and working conditions.

libcom.org

18: Unicorn Riot. This is a decentralized, educational non-profit media organization.

unicornriot.ninja

19: Submedia. Submedia is an anarchist digital media collective that produces videos and podcasts

sub.media

20: Zine Library. This is a compilation of anarchist zines and booklets, imposed for easy printing, as well as a few posters. (zines can be downloaded by pressing code > download zip)

github.com/rechelon/zine_library

[cutekittenlady]

I do wish people would have more fun speculating on how Alucards relationship to the rest of the group will play out in season 2.

Like, yes, Maria and Alucard were a thang in the games, but I'm not sure that's going to necessarily follow into the Netflix adaptation. Not because of the pearl clutchy discourse but more because the creative team behind the first series made it clear they weren't doing a beat for beat adaptation and had every intention of doing their own thing with the characters. Plus, thematically speaking, it wouldn't shock me if Alucard and her wind up developing a father-daughter relationship given how Alucard was left off in the first series.

I mean, it is kind of interesting how Alucard comes swinging into the story immediately after Maria has more or less lost both her parents in ways that are way worse than death. (I mean her mom loses her humanity and her dad flagrantly rejected her offer to become a real family in favor of his cause; which is actually way worse than if they were both just dead) And at the end of the first series, Greta makes a point of saying that many of the villages orphaned children were freely calling Alucard 'father' so he's clearly established as a guy who has filled a father figure role in the past.

Plus, Alucard is kind of a fun contrast to the Abbot. I mean, the Abbot is an extremely religious conservative whose conversations with Maria in regards to their idealogical differences are heavily tinged with moralizing and tend to patronize her as a confused little girl. Meanwhile, assuming we keep certain aspects of his character from the first series, Alucard is a half-vampire who leans pretty heavily into science and may prescribe more to a lot of the ideas of the enlightenment movement that helped inspire the French Revolution in the first place. Thing is, I don't see him really agreeing with Maria either, but unlike the Abbot, he'd likely approach the discussion way differently and treat her conviction as something with a real moral core to it. However, I can see Alucard still challenging Maria to think more deeply about her own ideas and what it is she actually wants to achieve.

Like, imagine Maria challenging Alucard to take a hand in something like the revolution. Maybe even asking in a sorta accusatory way as though his refusal to take part is a mark against his character/trustworthiness. Alucard, in turn, asking her if she really wants yet another vampire screwing around in human affairs and potentially manipulating people to their own ends. She might try to argue its for a more righteous cause, but Alucard would be pretty quick to point out that both her father and the vampire think their cause is righteous too. And so on.

I just think, thematically, there is a lot of potential there for Alucard to act as a more sincere father figure to Maria with the added benefit that the two living together afterwards would still feel organic and natural as a result. Thereby getting the same net benefit of Maria encouraging Alucard to interact more with the world, just through a different relationship.

Of course, I mention the father-daughter aspect just because there's a pretty clear theming running through season 1 in regards to parentage and how that can influence/define ones outlook and ideals. (And also a ton of parent related trauma. LIke tooooons of it). The same themeing could be continued given Alucards history with his own dad even if he doesnt play a paternal or romantic role with maria.

Alucard could just as easily be a kindred spirit that Maria just comes to really be fond of. Her bitchy bisexual bishounen bestie, if you will.

[aftertheradar]

so i've been rereading Artemis Fowl (series) again and even tho it was one of my favorite kids series I'm noticing some kinda weird or icky stuff that flew over my head before. Like damn if these books ain't just cyberpunk espionage magitek copaganda. Book 2 is literally about an ethnically motivated class uprising being put down by the police(who are framed as the good guys) because said racial minority/underclass is too violent and stupid to deserve better treatment in the prison system. and also too stupid and violent to have masterminded the plan for revolution themselves and needed one of the smart races to do it for them.

and any time there's a civilian presence in the book, they are depicted as either an antagonistic obstructive bureaucrat or a whiny caricature played for laughs. not totally sure if this is because these books were written while uncritically carrying over this kind of depiction that was historically the norm in its genres (police procedural), or if this is the author's own (conscious or subconscious) idealogical biases seeping in. might be both tbh.

anyway anyway the thing i actually wanted to bring up is that a really bizarre detail that stuck out to me during my re-reads is the way the different fairy races/species are characterized. there's 7(really 8) races/species of fairies who are disntint, and they have different traits and powers. So like there are elves who are good with magic, sprites who can fly, goblins (the aforementioned race that is too stupid and violent to be capable of organized protest) who can shoot fire etc.

Butt (foreshadowing lol) the one that was so weird to me is the characterization of gnomes, the last and arguably least of the fairy races in the artemis fowl series. they seem to make up the majority of the fairy population and a significant portion of background characters. bdon't get much screen time in the books because of not having any main characters who are one. They're sole defining characteristic?

Having enormous asses.

That's it. that's their whole thing. basically every time there's a gnome character depicted, the text goes out if it's way mention how dummy thicc the gnomes are and how their dumptruck rear ends take up too much room and keep blocking things and knocking shit over when they walk.

like there's also already a whole race of fairies (the dwarfs)whose whole thing is to be a never ending font of burglary escape techniques and fart jokes whenever the plot or author demand them. you would think having enormous asses would come in that territory, but no. it goes to the last group that we the audience don't really know or care about as much.

and i just don't really know what to make of that. that in coming up with fantasy races for his books, one of the most present but least prominent in tbe books' single defining and noteworthy character trait is having such fat asses that they block public pedestrian walkways (no really). i wish i knew what exactly the thought process behind (lol) that one was.

anyway hope i explained why it's so weird to me well, goodnight

[alittleannihilati0n]

This is the problem with getting your information third hand. Israel being our homeland isn't a religious belief or colonial concept. It is cultural memory and connection to the land we were forcibly removed from against our will and were forbidden to return to by occupying conquerers until we declared our own return and independence. You will never have a productive conversation about Zionism without understanding it is not about religion but about our people and our homeland. Zionism also doesn't mean exclusivity. A full fifth of Israelis have no connection to Jewishness and are various other ethnic groups. They enjoy full rights, privileges, and protections within Israel. You say you have a concrete idea, but your foundation is built on quicksand. Israel exists. We have returned to our homeland. That is not a religious or supremacist idealogy. It is a cultural history and restoration. We are the children of Israel. You can't wish that away. I ask again, do you have a plan for ending the reality of Zionism? Do you even want to? Do you want to force the end of a nation and a people? Do you want to pick up where the Seulicids, Romans, Ottomans, and British left off? Is that the legacy you want to join? And if so, how do you think it could possibly be done without violence and force?

Jewish people have a deep tie to and history in the Levant, especially in Palestine. I do not dispute that. There is no issue nor inherent colonization with Jewish people living in Palestine, nor anywhere else they have ties to. There is no issue with it being their homeland. The issue lies in the establishment of the state of Israel and the provable, clear, and hugely, reliably documented ethnic cleansing, forced expulsion, and legal discrimination against the people already there (who are also native to the land and have ties to it via heritage) that is intrinsic to its existence and necessary for its formation. I do not wish away the ties of anyone to anywhere, I simply to not justify colonization, displacement, racism, or discrimination anywhere. I do not want to force an end to any people, I want to force an end to an ethno-nationalist state that is intrinsically bound to the issues I listed above. Arabs and other Palestinian Israelis are not treated equally, and as I have said before, the evidence is available if you want to look for it. In addition to the research, I know people who have given me their accounts of said discrimination personally. The 'legacies' that you listed are the legacies of colonizers and imperialists who took over lands they had no claim to and subjugate the inhabitants for themselves to advance their land ownership and power; you are proposing a false equivalency, as no one except the state of Israel and its supporters are trying to force people out of Palestine or subjugate anyone there. I do think decolonization can be accomplished without violence, but I also know that colonization cannot be accomplished without it, and that your final question ignores the inherent violence of the existence amd enforcement of the state of Israel. I do not think our conversation is going to be productive any further, as I have acknowledged all your points and responded to them to the full extent of my understanding. If you want to see more knowledgeable people elaborate more in-depth, and you do not feel confident doing your own research, I would suggest reading through this database. However, regardless of your intentions going forward, I do not intend to continue this conversation.

[cccrhirdb1]

week 3 tangata whenua notes in class

first of all in class we reflected on the homework - catherine realised her mistake in telling us not to read the 18 page reading now since I only did a half baked method of the reading I do not have as much understanding as some of my peers who read much more (in terms/context of the article Mere Roberts (Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Hikairo). et al. Whakapapa as a Māori mental construct: Some implications for the debate over genetic modification of organisms.)

reflect/mindmap about what is whakapapa

we had a brown piece of paper that was really hard to read because we used both sides of it to do mindmaps!!!! so I do not have a copy of that photo but we were basically asked

what is whakapapa

and in our group we said well whakapapa is relation to the whenua (land) and mana whenua (people who are from a specific location) and tangata whenua (people of the land).

we also said its about lineage and geanology, being able to locate where you are from (which is where catherine gave us the work papa to mean layers (which links to papatuanuku earth mother and whakapapa))

we talked about how in terms of the kumara whakapapa as an idealogy is violated because the dna is changed which means you can no longer locate where it is/where it should be.

there was this quote from the article "to know something is to locate it within whakapapa"

whakapapa is something that applies to all beings, whether human or not human it matters on some level. because in western society we are so human centred our science is so removed from people.

Discuss: Now go back to the artwork your group discussed. How does this information extend or develop your initial discussion? Is there a key quote from the source that helps you make this connection?

our mind map on the lighthouse by michael parekowhai - it says/notes the things we discussed about the work, especially noting on the statue of james cook with the reflected stars which both he and kupe (and other maori navigators) used to be able to find their place in the sea and get to New Zealand.

talked alot about how the work references displacement to maori from their land because of colonisation and how in turn this takes them away from their whakapapa and then how the government then needs to build houses to help these people they have impoverished (is that the right use of the word)??

I liked hearing how the artist also views the work as taking up space in prime real estate as a way of fighting back through art. taking back his land and coming back into connection with his whakapapa (even though he is not from Tāmaki Makaurau) taking the land back on behalf.

Assignment preparation: Share the examples of design/art you found for your own assignment for independent study.

You can do this as a 'cold reading', that is; see if others can work out what key term/s from the brief they relate to, and what your key points about the example might be.

Or, you can present your ideas so far and give each other feedback on ways you could extend these.

Take notes of ideas, connections, suggestions that might help you extend your initial thinking around the example.

we did not do this.

[authorgirl0131]

The following is the sociological definition of a cult

"A relatively small group that excessively controls its members, whom share set of acts and practices which require unwavering devotion, and are considered deviant (outside the norms of society), and typically led by a charismatic and often self-appointed leader."

Now, let's take a deep dive into this.

Relatively small group

Genderqueer and transgender idealogy has been recorded in all cultures for all of recorded history and it is estimated that 1-2% of the population is some form of transgender

Trans-exclusionary radical feminism is a relatively new movement and, while there are no official numbers, likely has less than one million members.

Excessively controls

While our community certainly has some policing issues, we are working on moving away from policing how others identify. In fact, the general idea of the genderqueer movement is that the only person who should control our bodies and presentation is us. I've yet to hear of a large transgender movement aimed to police every belief of its members, such as forcing Muslims to convert to another religion or forcing certain labels on people.

In my experience with radical feminism, they police every belief you have. You have to believe this exact thing and if you don't, you are wrong and you will be ostracized and sent messages telling you to kill yourself because you're a misogynist. This movement even aims to police the beliefs of those who don't identify with radical feminism, which certainly seems like excessive control.

Share a set of acts and practices

The genderqueer community is incredibly diverse in background, culture, and thought. For better or for worse, the majority of the movement encourages diversity in our community. While we definitely have a long way to go in making our community a better place for trans people of colour or trans people of non-Christian religions, we definitely don't force a harsh set of acts and practices on our entire community. We have a word for trans people who do that and the general consensus is that they're harmful.

Refer to the radical feminism point from the previous thing.

Unwavering devotion

We are moving away from that and, while we still have a long way to go, we're getting better at accepting people in our community with different beliefs so long as those beliefs are not harmful. It could be argued that we're not accepting of people who misgender and deadname and refuse to accept us... let me put it this way. I'm Irish. Telling the trans community that we're horrid for refusing to accept people wanting us dead is like telling the Irish we're horrible for hating the Klan.

Refer to the radical feminism point from two categories ago.

This group is considered deviant

In certain cultures, we are. However, in far more cultures, being transgender is a normal and even sacred thing. The imperialism of Jesus religions is often to blame for the fact that being trans is considered deviant, as well as the rise of the nuclear family and 'family values.' Our identities are considered deviant because they fly in the face of cultures that seek to control others, not because we are. Different, not bad.

For feminists, radical feminism is like the Fundamental Church of Latter Day Saints is to Christians. We don't even want radical feminism associated with actual feminism. Radical feminism is considered a distortion of widely-held feminist beliefs and we consider this group deviant and harmful.

Charismatic and self-appointed leader.

Who is the leader of the transgender movement? We don't have one. We have celebrities who are trans, such as Jazz Jennings, but she is definitely not our leader and we don't follow her every word.

While I know that not all radical feminists follow the likes of JK Rowling, she certainly fits this bill. Most, if not all, radical feminist leaders fit this bill.

Additionally, radical feminism's shady, manipulative, and fear-mongering recruitment tactics, forced social isolation of members, black-and-white thinking that teaches that radical feminism is good and everything else is evil, and the way radical feminism treats opposing or even slightly disagreeing beliefs, members who don't follow every belief, and ex members of this group, all of that is extremely cult-like.

There's one cult-like group in this situation. And it's not the transgender community.

"the trans is a cult!!!" the definition of cult is literally "a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object." 😐

[fandomlovingfreak]

Glacial Passion (6/?)

Regulus Black/Reader

Rating: SFW, T+, NO LEMON

Trigger Warning: Arranged Marriage

Word Count: 1991

MasterList Link I AO3 Link I Wattpad Link

Summary: Glacial, cold, icy… all words that described Regulus Black’s grey eyes. Was there truly no emotion behind those eyes, or did a caring man exist beneath? Could she defrost those glacial eyes?

Disclaimer: Regulus Black (Walburga Black, Orion Black, and Sirius Black) is a character from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Reader or y/n is not owned by Rowling. This work has not been created for profit or financial compensation, and is a transformative fair use work in accordance with Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act.

Notes: No real notes today! I hope you enjoy. This story took a “lighter tone” than I expected (at least I hadn’t expected it to, maybe you did ! aha!) but I actually like writing happier stories so I guess my brain just went “cowabummer bro, you’re writing some happy fiction even if you didn’t want to”

Enjoy

***

"Where are we going?" (y/n) asks. 

Regulus felt a bit relieved that (y/n) agreed to come along on his little surprise trip. After last night, which he now realized was a complete mistake, he wasn't sure that his wife would willingly agree to go out in public with him. Especially if he promised some sort of surprise.

She hadn't asked him any questions until they were walking outside, her arm tucked nicely within his. Like it was meant to be there.

"If I told you, it would ruin the surprise." Regulus glances over at his wife. She's got a deep frown on her face. It doesn't exactly mar her beautiful face, but it reminds him a bit too much of his mother's annoyed expression. "Just trust me."

Her little huff of annoyance he decides is enough of a response.

Regulus tries to think of Sirius's advice. Get to know (y/n), even the small things he personally thought were unnecessary to know about a person-- moot things about her. And in turn, be vulnerable enough to share small things back.

"So-- uh, (y/n)."

"Yes?" she looks at him with confusion in her eyes.

"I thought we ought to try and start fresh."

"Fresh?"

"I don't know how else to move from here if we don't have a clean slate."

"I hardly think that would work."

Merlin-- "(y/n)," he stops, halting her as well, "I said I would try to give you what you want. If you shut me down, there's no chance I can."

She gives him a look, "Regulus--"

"Listen," he inhales, collecting himself, "I'm not good at this. You'll have to be patient with me, but I'm willing to figure this out. And I probably won't--" He pauses, "I probably will mess up, a lot. But, please. Give me a chance."

(y/n) studies his face, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I understand that I'm asking you to step outside of your comfort zone, and I appreciate that you're being open with me."

Regulus smiles, muttering, "Sirius was right." Under his breath.

"What?" (y/n) asks.

"Nothing." Regulus takes her hand in his, "this can be like our first date."

(y/n) smiles, amused, "this is silly--"

"I was serious last night that I will try."

"No pretending. You swear you will not pretend with me?"

"That's why I am asking that we start fresh. Give me a chance. I'm not good at this-- relationships. I need time and patience."

She seems to contemplate his words, "Okay. But--"

"Yes?"

(y/n) looks down at her feet for a moment before looking at him again, "If we're going to-- start over, it needs to be slower."

"Slower?" He frowns. What the devil is she talking about, slower?

"I mean," (y/n) purses her lips, "I mean that it has to feel like we're actually starting a new relationship."

Regulus chuckles, "you want me to court you?"

(y/n) smiles, "if those are the words you think describes what we are trying to do, then yes. I think I would like you to court me."

Now he feels silly making the suggestion because he has no idea what courting entails. He can barely flirt!

"I mean-- I can try."

(y/n) grins. He's at a loss for words. Not once in the time he's known her-- been married to her, has he seen her look this happy. Clearly, Sirius's advice was half-decent. For the first time since (y/n) walked down the aisle towards him, he felt something. Hopefully, the beginning of something great between them.

***

"You brought me to— the Eiffel tower?" (Y/n) looks up towards the cloudy sky.

Regulus flushes, "It's not just the Eiffel Tower."

(Y/n) laughs, "it looks like it's just the Eiffel Tower—"

"Just—"Regulus lets out a frustrated sound, "it's more than that." He pulls her towards one of the legs of the metal tower. He supposes that enough muggles are wandering around that they wouldn't notice the disappearance of the young couple. He pulls his wand out of thin air, tapping where the witch at the hotel told him to. The metal of the tower seems to melt and twist, magically revealing an entrance.

"What—"(y/n) grips his hand tighter, "I had no idea."

"Neither did I. It's called Caché à la Vue," Regulus grins, "c'mon, Mrs. Black."

They walk through the entrance, the metal contorting back into shape behind them.

In front of them, a bustling street moves around them. Wizards and Witches bustle around carrying cauldrons, brooms, and colorful bags holding other wizarding tools. A group of young girls rushes by, giggling in their blue Beauxbaton school uniforms. 

"Oh— it feels like Diagon Alley," (y/n) comments as she steps closer to him, her shoulder bumping his arm as she squeezes his hand.

Regulus nods, keeping her close as they walk further into the crowd.

"I didn't expect it to be like this," he glances at (y/n). She's looking around with interest at the many shops and people. 

"Let's go in here," she's pulling him towards a shop that smells of lavender and sage. The shop is small but comforting with its earthy color scheme and almost luminescent glow. 

"Oh wow," (y/n) detaches herself from him for the first time since crossing into Caché à la Vue. Regulus watches her poke around the shop, always keeping a two-foot distance from her.

(y/n) seems to notice the hovering, "Why are you-- being so weird?" She's got an amused smile on her face. Regulus tries to relax, stepping a foot closer.

"I'm just giving you space."

"Don't you want to look too?" (y/n) beckons him closer, reaching for his hand. He obliges his wife, letting her point out small trinkets and items. 

***

The busy street of Caché à la Vue frames Regulus as I sit across from him. Once we had explored nearly every shop on the busy street, Regulus had tugged me towards one of the little Bistros, mumbling about it being a recommendation or something of that sort. I didn't fight his insistence to stop and eat. I hadn't had much for breakfast or lunch back at the hotel.

The afternoon hadn't been awful. In fact, I was enjoying myself more than I expected. It only partly-- honestly, completely, had to do with the sudden changes in how Regulus and I interacted. He suddenly was more sociable and curious about who I was. Which was sort of confusing, but at this moment, I felt more confident in our marriage. That maybe we did have a chance to fall in love, or even just co-exist happily together. If co-existing was all that could come from this, then I wished it to be at least a peaceful union.

Yet, I want to know him as much as he seems to suddenly want to know me, so I ask questions about his childhood and his life. At first, he seems reserved to answer some of my inquiries, making me more curious about the information he is holding back from me. 

"So--" I set down my teacup, "how was it like growing up in Grimmauld Place?"

This seems to be another question he hesitates over as he stares down at his plate for a full thirty seconds, making me nervous.

"Do you want the truth?"

I stiffen. The tone of his voice has me wondering if it was a good question to ask after all, "I would if you don't mind answering."

Regulus takes another moment to collect his thoughts, "I don't really remember much before going to school. My parents are-- you can probably tell they are not the friendliest of people." The understatement of the century. "They weren't good parents, if I'm being honest."

"What do you mean?" I suddenly feel uncomfortable as I continue down this path.

"(y/n), maybe this isn't a conversation for public." Merlin, that only makes me want to press for more information, but the look on his face tells me all I need to know at this moment. He will tell me the truth, but if he's more comfortable doing so behind closed doors, who am I to push him for an answer right now?

"Is it that bad?" I do feel a bit sick over how he's reacting to this question.

He looks down at his hands before looking back at me. His eyes are back to the icy grey I know so well. "It's not great." I have to look away from his eyes. "Do you know I have an older brother?"

"But--" Regulus is the Heir? How could he have--?

"Sirius was disowned when he was sixteen, effectively passing the burden of the House of Black to me."

"Do you still-- are you still in contact with him--Sirius?"

"I am, but privately. Walburga wouldn't approve. She likes to think that Sirius never existed in the first place."

"That's horrible!" I couldn't imagine pretending one's child never existed-- "what did Sirius do?"

"He ran away after refusing-- well refusing to do what we have done, I suppose." I stare at Regulus, shocked.

"I mean, he didn't-- doesn't believe in the Pureblood idealogy."

I pause, reflecting for a moment on his words. Is he saying Sirius ran away when his parents tried to make a match between himself and some Pureblood girl?

"Are you saying he ran away from an arranged marriage?" Regulus nods.

Merlin's-- He was only sixteen? "Your parents, they really tried to-- he was so young--?"

Regulus nods, "Too young, I know." Not that I felt the ages we were are any more acceptable, but sixteen? He would've been in the middle of school! Just a kid!

"I can't blame him for running away--" I let the words slip without thinking, quickly feeling guilty for saying such a thing to the man I'm married to. The man I married for the same reason his brother left the exclusive circle we exist within. "No offense, of course--" 

Instead of looking offended or getting angry, how I expect, Regulus laughs. A real genuine laugh.

"It's not that funny, Regulus!" The words had just slipped out of my mouth before my brain processed my rudeness.

"You are exactly like Sirius. It's freakish." He grins.

"What does that mean?" I'm hopeful he's complimenting me.

Regulus takes my hand in his over the table, "You just remind me of him. Both of you are unapologetically yourselves. I envy that."

I want to tell him I'm nothing like his brother. Sirius was able to leave the life we grew up in. I clearly didn't have the balls to leave. But, I don't want to say that, not when we're getting along so well right now. 

"You can be unapologetically yourself, Regulus."

His smile is small as he looks down at our intertwined fingers, "I'm afraid I can't be. At least not publically."

"I can't exactly be publically myself either, especially now, but maybe in private, yeah? When it's just us."

He gently lifts my hand up to tenderly press a kiss to my knuckles. My breath hitches at the suddenness of his actions, and I feel suddenly warm. "When it's just us." His agreement, the tone of his voice when he agrees-- it's incredibly intimate.

Dumbly, I nod. Regulus smiles, kindness reaching his eyes and thawing out the ice they held earlier.

After a beat of silence, one I could not find words to fill, Regulus speaks. "Was there anything else you wanted to see?"

I find my voice, at last, saying I did not believe so. 

***

I felt delirious with desire watching her squirm after my lips left her knuckles. 

Something about (y/n) fascinated me and made me want her, all of her. I knew she felt the same way, even after the way our relationship started. I could tell by the way her lips parted and her breath hitched that she felt that spark between us. 

That spark gave me some hope that everything was going to turn out just fine.

[andromedasummer]

getting kinda tired of cis women throwing hissy fits when people point out theyre rbing from radfems/extremists. like i dont know if you know this but when you do that you're sharing that blog and those dangerous idealogies with your followers. its all well and good to say theres crossover with leftist ideas on feminism and radical feminism but that doesnt address the fact that radfems will always have that transphobic (and racist! holy shit their ideas of feminity and masculinity are REALLY FUCKING RACIST) bias influencing their views. in fact a lot of 2017/2018 tumblr based, completely and utter "all men bad" feminism has its source in radical feminism. when these people make posts about the patriarchy theyre not just talking about men and sex discrimination. theyre including transgender women/amab people and will be 100% including their biological essentialist ideas when sharing/making these posts, even if you cant recognise it.

if an eco-fascist makes a post about how recycling isn't as useful for protecting nature from human influence as people think (which is truthful for many kinds of synthetic products) but their blog is based around racist, genocidal ideas on how to cleanse the earth im not gonna reblog that like a moron. you can find another post like that not made by someone whose political views will be implicitly biased towards particular minority groups. you could make your own post about it!

you're giving them notes and the chance to reach more people. trans people have a right to distrust you if you want to prioritize a fucking tumblr post you like over valid worries that youre sharing the opinions of bigots.

[therantfairysblog]

5th rereading

1. Did eren completely honest with mikasa? Armin in the end of the convo did know Eren selfishly want to wipe away the humanity due to his twisted ideal, which is his main motivation to commit genocide. completely opposite of armins definition of freedom. Did this honest convo happened to mikasa as well? Mikasa admitted she overlooked eren's destructive and cruel part (chap 123) and quite regretting that. However did she knew that nothing probably will ever change no matter what bc all of this tragedy happen isn't just because eren didn't have any choice but IT IS ALSO HIS CHOICE. Eren want it. If eren isn't honest, what do u think about mikasa reaction knowing how messed up eren is?

2. Certain facts were hidden even until his death isn't it. Historia never knew the real perpetrator killing her whole family is the one she agreed with. Untill the end. Wonder what her reaction if she know that. Whatever happened in path, only eren, ymir and zeke knew. Probably armin but i doubt eren presenting him the whole plans tbh. He ashamed of himself. Also the dead one.

3. Eren motivation to kill all the titan is brought up in his convo with zeke, when he declared to put stop on titans domination. However did he even know how to put stop to that curse? Is euthanized all eldian guaranteed that? Eren didn't know ymir yet here which basically and logically didn't know yet how to end the curse. He bullshitting zeke. However i believe vanishing titans are always one of his motivation. Eren never back up, it was always in his blood, like what levi said, eren couldn't be hold down. Then, why he keep moving forward to uncertainty whether the curse will lift or not? 1. Simply bc he want to see that flatten earth. 2. He know the end of all this bs is titan is no more. 3. Buying time for Paradis survival, which I'm honestly didn't think it as his main motivation. Its bug me another question. When exactly eren knew about Mikasa's role in ending the curse? In the path? Or the moment he touch historia hand?

3. No matter how hard i think, yes, theres no available options for Paradis to survive forever with a limited time. The only things is to buy time which resulted to liberio incident. The biggest enemy for Paradis is time. However this, isn't an excuse for an indiscriminate genocide against innocent no matter how twisted the reason are. That's why u have a group of ppl against it, the alliance, the veterans, even shadis and magath joined hand for this. This is where the characters morality and hypocrisy was challenged. U see, (ofc time is a bitch), u actually can went for partially rumbling in a military facilities while at the same time take advantage on the world's passive hatred against Marley. This could avoid billions of innocent death. But Ofc it will not ending the curse but at this point (before he touch zeke), eren didn't met ymir yet, euthanasia plan isn't guaranteed the ending of the curse either. He simply reject it due to his own idealogy of birthrights and the most important things, which he didn't completely honest till the end, is his own wants to be free and see that scenery. His important friends being alive in the end, as well give him a sort a justification which he try to do so in his convo with armin, untill he finally confessed.

The more i reread it the more i convinced that his reasoning to buy time, is just his merely excuse to commit the atrocities. If eren did care that much of Paradis , he shouldn't choose this path esp knowing he will be stopped. Hell even if the rumbling succeed, is paradis, the corrupt country could even survive and find peace without destroying itself? Did the curse will be lifted? The things that he despise the most?

That being said however, it make me questioned how would the situation played out if he didn't knew the fate of his friends esp armin and mikasa. Is he still choose this path?

This is only my opinion. Peace out.

[its3oe]

Not, of course, to pick out anyone or attack or demean specific people since this happens on a wide scale and there's a lot of fearmongering out there and I'd like to believe in people's ability to learn and grow, but there's such a sense of… western egocentrism to people who will take in this information and go "This is another reason why I, as an artist, feel threatened by these technologies! Fuck AI tech!" When none of this, as in, the things relevant to this post and the articles mentioned, is relevant to your job security. You aren't keeping your thoughts or discussion relevant to the people this post is talking about! It's not about you! It is about the exploitation of labor in the global south. People who cannot afford to feed themselves are not creating these things and working on them to shatter the toyhou.se adoptable economy. This is not an "us vs. them" march for the defense of Real Art situation before it is a "Remember human rights? You know how everybody has bills to pay? Yeah there's horrible exploitation happening at the root level of these things here because as a whole there's a severe devaluation of everything, and especially in areas and at levels more easily exploitable" situation.

I don't think people's data being scraped without their consent to train models is a good thing. I think that's as bad as everyone else thinks it is. I also think that someone, say, training their own model and running their own resources to generate imagery for a project is going to cause me or you to not be able to pay rent. That's not even a question or option for, again, the people actually maintaining any of the popular and available AI generation tools out there. How can we, as artists, clearly value our own and others labor as we do, and then run to an in-group cliquey idealogy of what makes "Real Art" (which is a slippery slope on its own. I already often am not seen as a "real artist!" and I don't use AI tools!) as a threat to the perception of value of our labor, while completely pushing to the side and dismissing people who have never had their labor valued to any significant degree. Like. You have to get it in your brain that AI as a technology is not like. Elon Musk smacking away at his keyboard by himself making NFTS and Cryptocurrency and all of the other words and things we don't like.

Someone ethically using their own tools on their own time is not in competition with any of us. The Wacom Warriors of the world are hardly the most oppressed working class and acting as if that's a unique issue is selfish and a gravely uninformed mindset. Every time someone puts the words AI art in scare quotes does nothing to improve any situation nor demonstrates anything meaningful outside of a personal view on what one views as art with integrity, whatever that means. You don't have to like AI generation as it is now; it is absolutely rife with problems concerning IP (i'm not a fan of copyright law but you can intuit what i mean by this.) and environmental impact. The threat to our jobs, with us being artists, in the context of individual end-user usage is not one of them. Nobody has ever decided not to commission me for a picture of their fursona because they could type into a prompt and get something similar. That's a non-issue. Skewed priorities and such. The defense of, ultimately, a higher-paying job (that is, and to assume, those feeling threatened by this are those with a significant clientele and income from their art in the first place) is not going to slowly funnel down and improve rights for people in the global south working in tech like golden ichor from above. You have to, plainly, get over yourself and extend your solidarity to make any changes in the way people view ALL labor, and not just our own.

https://www.reuters.com/article/global-tech-workers-idUKL5N2XI2X8/

(last isn't thumbnailing idk why) i don't feel like i can like open a discussion very well about this but it felt silly to keep saying "i think people need to talk about this" without providing anywhere to learn so here's some stuff about labor exploitation that goes hand in hand with AI that never seems to be included in peoples critiques of it. big warning for mentions of sexual assault including CSA, especially in the time article.

[renardtrickster]

Have you ever encountered radfems before? What kind of person do you think is attracted to radfem idealogy? They get mad when others compare them to incels, but they have the same doomer mentality as incels. Hell, I encountered white nationalist trads with more optimism than they do. I'm honestly suprised that they have not advocated for the mass self culling of women Jonestown style as a solution yet.

Have you encountered radfems before?

On tumblr, not in real life.

What kind of person do you think is attracted to radfem idealogy?

The easy answer is that while "feminists are misandrists" is a really common and easy way to discredit the entire movement with the "this push for equality is actually oppression" strat, some people are just unironically misandrist and appropriating the label of "feminist" is a good means of intellectualizing and legitimizing it, the same way white supremacists tried to sound intellectual and legitimate by calling themselves "identitarians".

The more complex answer is that some start out genuinely meaning well, but there's kind of a lot of academic stuff to take in and if you're either bad at understanding things, willfully misunderstanding things, or you have a manipulative teacher/source of information, it's easy to take "society is pretty sexist, to the point where a lot of it is basically ingrained and people don't think about it, and historically a lot of it has been built for the benefit of men at the expense of women, but really we're all victims here and the goal of ending discrimination along a sex/gender line is to liberate men, women, and all those who don't neatly fit in the categories" and twist it into "society is pretty sexist, and it's men's fault, they're complicit and their presence is an existential threat". However I'd argue it still boils down into the "unironically misandrist" guys again because you don't read feminist theory and walk away wanting to kill the penis unless you were already slanting there, or someone already there was aiming you there.

They get mad when others compare them to incels, but they have the same doomer mentality as incels.

I wasn't expecting the doomer comparison, most radfem/incel comparisons run along the lines of "incels and political lesbians desperately want women to fuck and react with scorn when they get with other men". This is a good reminder that the doomer mentality lends itself well to right-wing/reactionary thought, but I don't know how I feel about this because...

Hell, I encountered white nationalist trads with more optimism than they do.

I don't know if this tracks. Like, both groups angle towards genocide, but they treat it very differently. In the radfem genocide of men, it's either a bloodless "a disease made it impossible for men to be born and they died out but luckily we have found a way for women to reproduce", or an unquestionably bloody affair, but a swift one, with both culminating in some women-only Arcadia. Meanwhile white nationalists approach racial war like a testing grounds where the white race gets to prove its worth, where "good men" are expected to die horribly, even pointlessly, but this is a worthy fate because such sacrifice is a virtue (I don't think you'll ever see radfem literature frame a feminist's brutalization and death at the hands of misogynists as "a worthy end" or "heroic"). They also don't gloss over the fact that it will be a long, drawn-out, gory affair. For crying out loud, The Turner Diaries ends with the majority of Earth nuked into a wasteland with only a small section left behind as the territory of the Aryans. Which brings me to the other observation that most "a world without men" stories tend to begin with the age of men already over, while every "the white race fights against the sea of degenerates" stories are about the struggle, and end as soon as a victory is achieved. They don't even have a vision of the future, they just have a violent struggle. So radfems have at least a leg up there??? I don't know.

I'm honestly suprised that they have not advocated for the mass self culling of women Jonestown style as a solution yet.

I also don't get this one because, once again, the usual line is that the radfem solution is purging men. I also don't know if the Jonestown comparison is apt, because IIRC they killed themselves for some religious purpose because they thought it would let them reach Heaven or something. Radical Feminism is a much more temporal cause, and even putting that aside, I don't think radfems are particularly religious. If they are, I imagine it would be some pagan faith, and I don't know how many of those have "the far-off paradise you should ignore reality for" like Christianity. All things considered, they at least want to improve conditions for women and the only thing a self-inflicted gendercide would do is give men free reign for a few years until they die, which isn't even a "lose the battle to win the war" solution.

The alternative is that this is a Low Tier God statement. At which point I feel like I should put up a disclaimer saying that if you go into my inbox to post "this annoying/bad person/group should Roblox themselves" I am going to go begin sending deep web assassins after anons in my inbox.

[thoi2020]

but india is literally the only hindu majority country in the world?? and hindus get persecuted in i think almost every muslim majority nation in the world?? like literally 95% of hindu temples in pakistan were destroyed. so why are hindus always painted out as the bad guys?? (genuinely confused so pls do not take this in the wrong way <3 i'm open to learn and be corrected <3)

yes, it's true that hindus have faced religious persecution all over the world, but this is india i'm talking about. tbh, i don't know how bad it is for hindus outside of india, so i cannot speak about their experiences (even the ones in pakistan). what i do know is what it's like to be hindu in india, and currently, it's one of the biggest positions of privilege you could enjoy. most of the times, hindus are definitely not painted as the bad guys, it's muslims who bear the brunt. as a hindu, you might feel that your community is being targeted, but the criticism is for the bigotry in it, not the religion itself. also note, india is not a hindu nation, it's a hindu majority nation. hindus are always, automatically, seen as indian. they are considered the "children of the soil": their religion is indian. even the name "hindustan" is so indicative of how people see hinduism and india in context of each other. "hindu means indian" quickly becomes "indian means hindu". while for muslims and other religious minorities, their muslim identity comes before everything else, at least in the eyes of most indian people. festivals like diwali and holi are called indian festivals, while eid is a muslim one. white people, born and raised in western countries like the US, who convert to hinduism are seen as more indian than muslims who have been living here for generations.

again, i cannot speak for hindus outside of india. it is noteworthy that persecution of hindus has historically happened in specifically muslim states, aka where the state religion is islam. my point is, while it's bad enough for any nation to persecute on the basis of religion and not grant religious freedom to its people, it's even worse for a country like india whose constitution calls it a secular state. so yeah hindus are the reigning majority in india, and hold so much more power than any other religious group. we are not inherently the bad guys, but the hindu nationalist idealogy of the RSS and BJP, which is conservative, traditionalist and intolerant, is becoming more and more popular among hindus so you could see why the marginalized people of india feel unsafe around our community in general.

again, feel free to add in something i might've missed!!

[chaotichedonist]

Tharunka (Kensington, NSW : 1953 - 2010)

Wednesday 9 June 1976, page 14

   Some funny moments to tease you into reading:

Press: Roger, you're noted for your amazing screams.

Freddie: It's a controlled scream. I'd rather call it art.

/

Freddie: You're joking dear. I'm just a singer, dear.

/

It’s been a struggle, because in the beginning nobody knew what we were doing. We were the only people who believed in ourselves.

  back at the hotel sleazy

  For all those fans who were misled by the media, Queen did not spend a couple of days-relaxing on sunny Perth beaches - it rained the whole bloody time they were there. (In Melbourne the hotel was 'besiged' by fans, who to quote Pete Brown — Queen's personal manager — seemed to be emerging from the wood work). Not to be put off however, by the Australian conditions Freddie Mercury (lead vocals and keyboards) attended the press conference in white pants and a simply sumptuous summer synthetic top with delicate butterfly sleeves curling gently over his shoulders. He was even more beautiful than Sophia Loren.

  They were all quite chatty only Roger (Meadows-Taylor, the drummer) would keep interjecting, usually over John Deacon (bass) who said not an audible word.

Press: Would you describe your music as mock opera? 

Freddie: They call it cock-opera back home. 

Roger: I suppose because the vocals are in the 'grand style'. 

Press: When is your next album coming out? 

Freddie: We'll have a rest and think about it.. 

Roger: We just don't bung'em together. 

Brian: We don't sort of write sitting in hotel rooms you know. 

Freddie: We gather influences. 

Press: Your music has been described as snob rock. What do you think? 

Freddie: I couldn't describe our music as anything. We certainly don't put across that this it intelligent music that is on a completely differenrt level to the people who come to it. 

Roger: It's written for the people. That's what it's all about. 

Press: The theme of death recurs on your albums. Why this preoccupation?

Roger: Freddie's morbid mind.

Press to Freddie: Do you consider yourself a sex-symbol?

Freddie: You're joking dear. I'm just a singer, dear.

Press to Roger: Do you consider yourself a superstar? 

Roger: As meaningless, (blows kisses).

Roger on the media - absurd for a magazine combine rock and politics. 

Press: Roger, you're noted for your amazing screams. 

Freddie: It's a controlled scream. I'd rather call it art. 

Undauted by the fearless Australians they continued talking about their lyrics and the esoteric implication.

Roger: Freddie just loves the word 'Beelzebub'. 

Freddie: Yes, well, Brian's got a taste for unusual words. 

Roger: You talking about dandling on your knee and things? 

All four of them write songs and each has at least one song on 'A Night At The Opera'. 

Brian: It's very difficult to talk about our songs as a group because we all have different ideas of what the songs are about. 

Roger: No we don't. 

Freddie: Roger's the sensitive one. 'I'm in love with my car' is the most sensitive song on the album (Night At The Opera). 

Roger did tend to sit there pouting at the bows on his pink lame gym-boots. One hardly noticed the dark roots in this gold angelic hair. We did ask, but unfortunately Roger didn't have a pic of himself in the gymboots. Roger was later accosted by David Essex fans in the foyer of the hotel, who wished to know if he was a popstar, girls now have Roger's autograph. Back to the lyrics..

Freddie: Every song is written by one of us and means something special to each one of us. Certain songs have a very literal meaning and can be understood straight away. Then there are some songs that can be taken on a lot of different levels.

He describes a lot of his songs as fantasies. 'We want to consciously lose ourselves. There are certain things we want to escape from in our lives or whatever.' He feels that people should create their own private fantasies from the images in his songs and so doesn't like to talk about what they mean to him. 'I'd hate to shatter someone's illusion. If I listen to somebody's songs I conjure up a fantasy of what its about and I like to keep it that way.'

He elaborated further.. 'Lyrically it is helpful to use certain words. You see it depends.. sometimes I want to use words that are phonetically useful. In the beginning they're surface words but you entwine them into the meaning of a song. That's what I mean about different levels.' 

Brian May has a different approach to his songs, 'There's usually something serious behind them, but I feel a big responsibility not to over-indulge in idealogies. In 'White Queen' I was very interested in the significance of Queens and White Ladies in English folk lore. The song started off as a personal experience, the frustration of not being able to communicate, I was thinking about Robert Graves' ' White Goddess' and that became involved in the song.' 

Roger: Romantic slush.

Brian: Our 'Now I'm Here' song is really about our first American tour. A big experience for anybody. It's a conglomeration of all the experiences we had on that tour. We had a great time with Mott the Hoople. I suppose they taught us to be a touring band.

We're very critical about each other and very cynical. We don't get deeply into meanings because you're living with it all the time. You have to be a bit light-hearted about it.

With four individual writers the albums were not done with a specific concept in mind. The 'White Queen' was written four years before the 'Black Queen'.

Brian: I don’t think that Freddie’s 'Black Queen' was a reaction to the 'White Queen'. We just discovered that we had these songs and the rest of the album seemed to fit around it.

Freddie: It probably subconsciously coheres.

Similarly ‘A night At The Opera’ has no overall concept though the name of the album is related to Freddie’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

As Brian puts it ‘We are four very different people with four very different directions, but there is a musical development that does make some kind of sense. Queen is very much an independent thing. We are always bouncing ideas off each other. We are very aware that we need each other.’

The rapport between them onstage bears out this statement. They work off each other in a carefully intergrated show thatt creates an atmosphere of spontaneity for the audience.

At the opening of their set there is a flash of fire and smoke as Queen emerge on stage. While music winds up they launch into ‘Orge Battle’. Like a Greek God or a simister Mephistopheles Freddie's powerful vocals cut through the smoke and flames. 

With the stage show the band is doing something different to stimulating their records. Brian: "You don't get up there and behave like you do in the street. You go up there to entertain people and give them some kind of excitement". They have rearranged some of their songs especially for stage performance, including a medley of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Killer Queen', 'Black Queen' and 'Leyroy Brown', which grinds down into 'March of the Black Queen' and then skips out on a lighter note which features Brian on genuine Japanese ukalele. 

The brilliant solo Brian performs in 'Brighton Rock', with sweet high Paginini frills and harmonies, stimulating two or three guitars on stage, is in a style he has evolved himself. He got the idea the first time he was in a recording studio. Says Brian: "It was my first experience of doing multi-tracking. It happened to be in the cannon-things which repeat themselves. You play one, then you play the same over the top of it after a time interval. Later we started to do those things on stage but there was the problem of how to do it. We started having a single delay and then another one over the top of it. Then afterwards you do another repeat on the second. You can then do three part harmonies with yourself. We started to base it all on ten second solos and it grew and grew. There's a lot of other people doing it now and I'm glad because it’s a thing you can play around with.' 

In the stage arrangement of "Prophet's Song' Freddie uses a similar echo feedback system which multiplies his voice into a celestial choir. His voice floats as a vision - "Listen to the madman' - while Brian plays some beautiful guitar.

encore amore

Brian describes their encore performance as the time when the band really unwinds. "It's nice at the encore to just completely unbend and make a fool of yourself. It gets rid of the tension between the band and the audience. I used to get a kick out of going to concerts to see rock groups like the 'Who' and feeling involved, like the group knew you were there. WE go by the kinds of things we think people would like at an encore. It's at a very basic level really, an energy level, a physical level. Rock and Roll is kind of a body music. I get as much satisfaction out of basic rock'n'roll like Status Quo as the most sophisticated music I know.' 

The audience certainly enjoyed it and really let loose their energy. Roger (who claimed the most female screams) in rainbow mop-wig opened the encore with slow heavy rock-beat as Freddie did a dramatic entrance in a silk kimino. As he eased into 'Big Spender', he peeled off to striped hot pants for an outrageous version of 'Jailhouse Rock' - simple hard-driving rock'n'roll that had everybody out of their sets.

gettin' feelin' thru th' transistors

Brian was rather upset that the Australian Press should braiid them as a manufactured band. If 'Bohmeian ,hapsody' can be seen as incorporating the spectrum of s talent - mood changes, heavy stuff, the soft ballad - it is not because they (men of letters from universities) have developed a magic 'X' formula. Rather the song can be seen as a musical progression, a reworking of motifs off their other albums. 

Brian can only say that, 'They obviously didn't see us in the earlier days. I can understand why they'd say that over here. Big impact. Overnight success. It must have been all calculated. If you’d seen the way it happened in England, you wouldn’t think that. I’ve had years playing pubs in England where people were drinking beer and discussing what other people were doing and not listening to the music. I want to build up this thing where people do want to go to a concert. While it begins to look like the commercial side, it;s what it’s all about. I want knock it because I want people to come and hear what we do. 

It’s been a struggle, because in the beginning nobody knew what we were doing. We were the only people who believed in ourselves. We started playing because we had some kind of vision that we thought was worthwhile. For over a year and a half we were playing to ourselves. Gradually you gather people around who believe and that’s the way it happened.

Nobody is going to tell us to play what is commercial. What we play comes from us. We’re very lucky really in that we have a kind of audience who are attentive to whatever direction we choose to follow. One of us will come up with a song and we'll say, 'Yeah, it needs that kind of treatment and maybe that turns out to be something you call heavy and sometimes something which is light.' 

To get back to the charge that they are a manufactured band, while he doesn't like it, he can only take it as a compliment that they think the band is so good. He doesn't consider himself a technician "technically I've stayed the same for the last six or seven years. Progress is what you feel and what you are putting across. That's what playing is about for us.' 

Freddie: There's a lot of music there too.

Roger: A bit of music, yeah.

low key queen

By Anne Finnegan

Wednesday 9 June 1976

If you save, do not forget to leave a link to this, coz i kinda found it by myself and made and transcipt. Thanks :)

[amateurasstrologer]

THE PLANETS #2 NEPTUNE (IN THE HOUSES)

Another planetary personal for the people of the world. Time to set the record straight about Neptune and how this mysterious mf gets to work.

First: Neptune is not actually that mysterious. For some reason everyone decided just because they couldn’t wrap their minds around this wild planet they’d just play it out as confusing and delusional and inexplicable and leave it at that. Not true. No mind-meld necessary to wrap it around big blue.

You just gotta take Neptune in the context of the other two Far Out celestials (Uranus and Pluto). Together, the Transcendental Crew form a whole process: Uranus introduces and initiates a serious change, Neptune clears out all the old-ass bullshit and kicks your shit up to a new level, and Pluto drags your ass though, wraps that shit up, and organizes your debut.

The best way to think about the Transcendentals’ process is to think about butterflies. When those little caterpillar babies decide they’re ready to get their life together and leave crawling in the past, they chrysalis their little asses up and get to changing (Uranus). Now - as all you Science buffs know - when baby caterpillar is in the hole, it releases some enzymes that liquify its whole mf-ing body into some deliciously nutritious goop, and from there, the butterfly body starts forming (Neptune). Then, that caterpillar isn’t even a damn caterpillar anymore it’s reformed into fucking butterfly, so it’s time to break though, and start living life as a radiant Rhopalocera (Pluto). Gross but also useful and nice. Science.

Neptune is the goop - it’s dissolving basic ass shit and giving you the opportunity to take it to the next level. This is where the tropes of dissolution and frustration and confusion come in. But listen: just because it’s a little weird does not mean this process needs to be a complete mess. The shit only becomes confusing if you allow Neptune’s dank energy to dissolve your entire sense of self, instead of just dissolving your worn-out patterns of behavior and ideas about yourself. Get a fucking grip on yourself - even those little butterflies keep their caterpillar memories, they don’t start acting brand new. If you want to take full advantage of Neptune energy: you have to know where you’re headed. Neptune is the penultimate planet for a reason - no way you should be fucking with this dank energy if you don’t already have a seriously developed understanding of yourself. You do not just throw yourself into a serious change and hope for the best. You go into that shit with a clear goal in mind and a clear grip on yourself so you don’t get lost in the sauce.

Neptune hangs tough with Pisces, and Pisces is the very last baby in the Zodiac cycle. That isn’t some damn coincidence. Neptune helps you loosen your death grip on the past so you can change in a big way - the biggest way. Without Neptune’s influence, we’d never be able to c'est la vie to the old shit and let Aries get going with the next shit.

In short: Neptune cuts the gunk and gets you ready to be part of something bigger - where Neptune lands shows you where you’re looking to reform your identity and give your life a larger purpose.

As always, particulars for the party people:

NEPTUNE IN THE FIRST (1) when they got a hold of themselves these babies can turn into the best representatives to ever live - they pick an ideal or a role or a cause and they live that shit out better than anyone else. When they’re a total fucking mess: writing the book on escapism, total delusional, back away slowly cause they’re not even close to reality.

NEPTUNE IN THE SECOND (2) when they got a hold on themselves these babies own their past and turn into mfing brilliant leaders - they see social and philosophaical issues clearly and push for newer, better shit. When they’re a total fucking mess: misguided idealogies, totally destructive, zero discernment.

NEPTUNE IN THE THIRD (3) when they get a hold on themselves these babies have constructive, clear minds that turn them into perceptive-ass geniuses who understand how broad social issues affect their enviornment and everyone around them. When they’re a total fucking mess: distorted perspective, can’t see through the surface level shit around them, 100% caught up.

NEPTUNE IN THE FOURTH (4) when they got a hold on themselves these babies respect their urge to get rid of all the fake-ass shit in their life and transform into the purest bitches with deep values and serious self-awareness. When they’re a total fucking mess: blows up their entire sense of self, feels purposeless, no fucking clue how to connect to themselves.

NEPTUNE IN THE FIFTH (5) when they get a hold on themselves these babies set some damn goals and turn into the most charming, awe inspiring, next-level experience seeking bitches out here. When they’re a total fucking mess: never satisfied, second guessing every decision they’re ever made, caught up in the fake shit.

NEPTUNE IN THE SIXTH (6) when they get a hold on themselves these babies use their discernment to become masters of transformation - they understand change on the deepest level and find meaning in every experience, good or bad. When they’re a complete fucking mess: doing way too much, not thinking anything through, alienating everyone around them.

NEPTUNE IN THE SEVENTH (7) when they get a hold on themselves these babies can experience serious personal transformation in any and every relationship - they use relationships to redefine themselves and deepen their identity. When they’re a complete fucking mess: the biggest victims to ever live, never taken accountability for a single choice they’ve ever made, actually buff from convincing themselves they need to carry all the burdens of the world.

NEPTUNE IN THE EIGHTH (8) when they get a hold on themselves these babies understand groups better than anyone else - being part of a solid crew turns these babies into social powerhouses, they dedicate themselves 100% to collective success. When they’re a complete fucking mess: can’t work through a single relationship issue, total unstable, drunk on power or a complete doormat.

NEPTUNE IN THE NINTH (9) when they get a hold on themselves these babies are turn into some wise as fuck mfs - they find symbolism and deeper meaning in everything, and they got a mind to create all kinds of poetic, artistic shit. When they’re a complete fucking mess: extreme idealism means they can’t accept reality, complete and total loss of self.

NEPTUNE IN THE TENTH (10) when they get a hold on themselves these babies develop some transcendent values and principles, this turns them into people who are totally down for collective life - groups, relationships, every day living - they set an example of how to live in community better than anyone else. When they’re a complete fucking mess: serious martyrs, railroaded by collective energy, sense of self level 0.

NEPTUNE IN THE ELEVENTH (11) when they get a hold on themselves these babies are destroying social limitations and worn-out traditions - they turn into bad-ass crusaders who push their crew in newer, better directions. When they’re a complete fucking mess: unrealistic expections, hates anything that feels slow, lonely af cause they left everyone behind.

NEPTUNE IN THE TWELFTH (12) when they get a hold on themselves these babies are straight up dissolving all their karma, transforming into a completely different person with a squeaky-clean subconscious and a shit ton of new ideas for society. When they’re a complete fucking mess: totally intoxicated by dreams, can’t function in the real world.

Happy charting, bitches.

XO BULLSHIT FREE ASTROLOGY

[bridgeportbritt]

History of SimDonia

Brief of History

The region was formally Pendula View and Sage Estates and the citizens were known as Pendites. They were ruled by the Goth Dynasty which was a strict dictatorship that held the region back from thriving. The former government cared more for those in power than its citizens. This caused poverty levels to soar and morale in the country to plummet.

A group of citizens revolted and overthrew the dictatorship. Known as the War of Existence, the region was taken back by the people after the event. Now renamed SimDonia, those who live in the region are known as SimDonians. Although some, especially the right-wing, still go by Pendites. A monarchy was established and some of the 4 cities were renamed to highlight the culture of Pendula View while removing the harsh memories of the Goth reign.

Watch the Plight of the Pendites Documentary here.

A Historical Timeline of SimDonia

The War of Existence was coined for forming the Republic of SimDonia over 70 Years ago. Fighting the cruel reign of the Goth Family Dynasty lasted for nearly 4 years. The people of Pendula View united to create an army willing to go against its own government. Thanks to the aid of inside government family members, they were able to overthrow the government and create one for the people. The neighboring Sage Estates country was in conflict with the Goth Family Dynasty, as well, and was close to being conquered. After the war, they agreed to join the Republic of SimDonia as one.

As the lead general of the army who defeated the reigning dictatorship, William Hallow Winston II was named the first king with Bob Pancakes as his Prime Minister. During the William Era, the government was forming and the first elections were held. Conservative Pendites were in high numbers, but many groups were not able to pick up additional momentum. King William is noted for celebrating a new and old culture by preserving some customs, reinventing holidays, overseeing an inclusive government, and even honoring the major cities in his children’s names.  

King William and his wife, Queen Ophelia, had 2 sons: William Hallow Winston III preserving the Hallow Slough connection in name. His second son was Parker William Winston creating a Parkshore Connection in name. William the Third became King in 1978 after his father’s death. 

William the Third found many holes in the new government system that seemed too big to fill. Along with the pressure of growing the kingdom, domestic terrorism from Pendite extremists, and not feeling fully prepared for the role, he eventually abdicated.

His wife, Queen Katherine, gave birth to two sons named Prince William Hallow Winston IIII and Prince Frederico Umbrage Winston.

His namesake, William Hallow Winston llll decided to leave his Royal duties, as well. The shame of being the next presumed heir of an abdicated King was to great. He moved to Brindleton Bay with his husband Phlilip and operated veterinary clinics together in a peaceful existence.

The abdicated King’s second son, Frederico, had different plans. He was determined to restore his good name. If not for himself then for the son he shared with wife, Duchess Juliet Winston, Duke Emmitt Winston. He stayed in SimDonia restrenghtening his connections, fulfilling the Royal duties he had left, and managing Creekbery Palace.

The King’s abdication threw the responsibility to his younger brother, Prince Parker, as his own children were not of age to rule along with the disgrace now thrust upon them. 

King Parker was known for nearly vanquishing Pendite extremist idealogies by addressing domestic terrorism head-on. He also was appointed Cassandra Lothario (Goth) as his Prime Minister who helped her people overthrow her parent’s harsh dynasty during the war. Together, they are also known for growing the economy by investing in crops, textiles, and building the first theatre.

King Parker and his wife, Queen Margaret, had one son and one daughter. Prince Spencer William Winston and Princess Diana Ophelia Winston. When King Parker passed away, his son Spencer took his place as King and is the current King of SimDonia.