#like might be better that than lse right.

[thursdayg1rl]

wait but Lancaster is kind of ugly 😐

[cutestkilla]

Happy time-has-lost-all-meaning-because-my-kids-are-somehow-still-on-summer-vacation Sunday, and thanks for the tags today @blackberrysummerblog @rimeswithpurple @roomwithanopenfire @shrekgogurt @bookish-bogwitch and

@ivelovedhimthroughworse, I'm excited to read your shares! And also to everyone who keeps tagging me in week after week even though I haven't shared in months.

I've been working on Ch 6 of Hiding Out in the Open for a not insignificant chunk of time, but I've either been too busy doing that or just feeling like it's too rough to share. Until today. (So convenient that I feel like it’s ready to share since I’m posting it tomorrow for my dearest @artsyunderstudy's birthday ❤️😂.)

Please join me for our irregularly scheduled Baz spiral which I think might(?) technically be six sentences:

Snow’s kissing my neck now, working his way along my throat in a way that turns my insides to jelly. So naturally, it’s the perfect time for Father’s voice to join the cursed chorus of doubts in my head. Even though he seemed resigned when I called last week to break the news that actually I would be abandoning the hallowed halls of Oxford for the unwashed masses of the LSE in the autumn—thank you for that Daphne—he still managed to forward one brand new objection I can’t seem to completely set aside. “Your aunt tells me you’ve been…seeing someone” —(faithless hag)—“and while I certainly hope you have better judgement than to do this because of a”—he’d pointedly cleared his throat at this point—“romantic entanglement, it remains my duty as your father to warn you. You cannot pin your hopes and dreams on the fickle affections of a twenty-year-old boy”—(yes, ambiguously referring to a twenty-year-old boy who could also be me is the closest my father has ever come to acknowledging my sexuality)—“because while it may feel like it’s forever right now, believe me when I tell you that young love very rarely lasts. Basil—please don’t throw it all away over some silly summer fling that’ll be over before Samhain.”

Tags and hellos for all under the cut, and since Sunday is basically over please consider this a tag in for Wednesday when I may also miraculously share something (or not because I'm taking my kids to a fair).

@hushed-chorus @whatevertheweather @emeryhall @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @aristocratic-otter

@bookish-bogwitch @facewithoutheart @skeedelvee @thewholelemon @monbons

@fatalfangirl @whogaveyoupermission @captain-aralias @j-nipper-95 @iamamythologicalcreature

@raenestee @ileadacharmedlife @onepintobean @martsonmars @brilla-brilla-estrellita

@angelsfalling16 @best--dress @run-for-chamo-miles @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @ic3-que3n

@larkral @letraspal @messofthejess @moodandmist @mooncello

@nightimedreamersworld @orange-peony @palimpsessed @prettygoododds @noblecorgi

@stitchyqueer @technetiumai @that-disabled-princess @theearlgreymage @urban-sith

@valeffelees @youarenevertooold @cosmicalart @wellbelesbian @alexalexinii

@forabeatofadrum @supercutedinosaurs @theimpossibledemon

[magic-foraging-tooltips]

Forag magjic plseae helkp me idnetify reason t olive

(Srory if htis istoo dark no.one lse is onielne also sorty for hte tyopos iam.tierd an dzzy)

Hey man. This is Forage's mod here, just the guy behind him, no character. There are so many reasons to keep living--and I know firsthand that it's probably really, really hard to see that right now. I've been in that same place for almost a year now, so please know that you're not alone, no matter how much it feels like you are. I'm gonna put a read-more here because this is a triggering topic.

Everyone's reasons to keep going are going to be different. Take some time to think about them--that might have to wait until you're feeling a little bit more stable, if you're having a hard time not spiraling right now. For me... those reasons are the people I love--Magic, my little siblings, my parents, my friends, even the people who just know me in passing. I know it'd hurt a lot for me to be gone. And I stay for the things I make, too. I write a lot outside of this blog and I make jewelry--and I can't do either of those things if I'm not here anymore. I don't want to leave all the projects I care about just cast aside. I wanna play all the video games I've bought and all the games I've been looking forward to--I gotta at least make it to the next Elder Scrolls game, you know? Maybe in my lifetime some more mysteries I care about will be solved. If I didn't make it to summer, I wouldn't have known that several that meant a lot to me were finally put to rest. No reason to keep living is too small. All the small ones I have bring me joy, and I think the more of them you have, the better! Collect them like pokemon cards! Think about all the things that you love, and what makes you happy despite everything. Those are all good reasons to live. You don't have to think of all of them right now--collect and treasure them while you keep going.

I also keep going because the way things are right now isn't how they're always going to be. I know it feels like it when you're in crisis mode. God knows Magic spent enough time trying to convince me of it himself. But that's what's important to remember--the circumstances you're in right now, though they may last longer than you'd like, are not permanent. You and I--we both have a future, as much as we don't believe it. I want to see my future, and I want you to see yours too.

Get yourself a snack and lie down a bit if you're able, and keep seeking help. I'm proud of you for coming to me, and there are other places you can go with better-trained people who can help you more. If you're in the US, these are a couple options available to you--if you aren't, go to google and look up the numbers for your country.

The Trevor Project: (for LGBTQ youth 13-25) Call - 1-866-488-7386 Text - text "START" to 678-678 And they have a chatting option on their website.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline: Call or text 988 Chat via desktop via this page

If you need a reason to keep going and take care of yourself right now: I care about you. I think you are worthy of living, and I know for an absolute fact that other people do too. You're doing amazing and I'm so proud of you for being here right now.

[windudemon]

aristocratic/democratic dichotomy in socionics

basically, aristocratic types are anti debate. if SLE (estp) is in power, he/she just gonna ban you from the chat server or forum. especially if he/she is in the process of losing a debate. they solve things with se physical / direct / ethics-ignoring ways which is basically your typical tyranny. chances are much more higher to hear the phrase “because i said so” from an SLE compared to any other type. an ILE (entp) will give you a reason and explain why. an LIE (entj) also will do this but much more ni concisely.

LSE (estj) are the same as SLE but they have some more class because LSE has fe role. they understand acting like SLE will make them look “too” bad. so they will give you a soft ultimatum or something first (which is also si creative) and then if you keep debating around you will get banned. a two-phased “because i said so”.

LSI (istp) as fe inferior and ne blindspot basically the worst combo you can get when it comes to being a debater. there's a reason why we almost never see istp political commentators.

SLI (istj) gonna be better than LSI but there will be certain obsessive-compulsive te facts for them and they will nitpick you on those things and try to shut you down in an anti-democratic way too.

as you can see, that’s all the STs. STs are all about doing + directly. neither their NE nor any ethics functions they have can be considered actually good. they are the MOST undemocratic.

alright! how does this same logic apply to NFs then even though at a lesser degree since they got better ethics? delta is easier: EII (infp) is easily the most anti-debate type. they are trying to get along with you and they will usually find a way to do that but if there’s no way, then EII just leaves the room or just tell you something like “i disagree but (softener:) interesting thoughts.” they won’t try to change your mind. they deeply dislike death-match type of debates. your ideas vs mine! attttttaaaack! nope, thanks, bye.

IEE (enfp) will go a few steps further than EII in the debate and entertain some thoughts. no, they will even start some debates BUT with an intention like exchanging ideas and without “critical” thinking. so they are like “how can i be right and how can you be right too”. is it really okay to call this undemocratic? well, the term definitely apply the least to enfp out of all so called aristocratic types, i’m not gonna lie. but still, democracy is not just accepting everything but debating and proving what's need to be proven wrong.

EIE (enfj) and IEI (infj) then, will have obsessive-compulsive fe facts where they can not budge. then as SE users, they will try to enforce those rules on you. (now, they “usually” make sense with their rules but that’s not the point. besides, as a ti and fe user myself, i might be biased with this opinion).

now you can ask what about SFs then? are they very democratic? obviously they are not going to be as democratic as NTs. SFJs (sei and ese) are easier: sure, they will also suffer from “fe ocd” but at least they won’t “se enforce” rules impactfully. they will use si instead.

SFPs then gonna mirror SFJs. se impactful yes, but they won't be upholding and "guardianing" the holy rules of fe. for example who can say lady gaga or billy eilish or katy perry is too aristocratic? nope. they are the opposite. they are freaky and so they won’t be bothered by other freaks.

true democracy comes from NTs of alpha and gamma quadras. they are the best debaters and they are the intuitives who can think out of the box. they will ask what's the box? they wiill change the box by thinking alternatively, conceptually, abstractly, essentialy etc. NTPs of alpha quadra will produce ideas with ne and NTJs of gamma will eliminate the unnecessary ones and refine the good bits.

delta quadra is chill / utopic aristocracy. example: erdogan. beta quadra is more forcefully aristocratic. example: hitler or putin. alpha quadra is chill / utopic democracy. example: obama or boris johnson. gamma quadra is more forceful / realistic / pragmatic democratic. example: ayn rand.

check out my main blog @ demonwindu.wordpress.com

[ohhophelie]

ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Name: Ophélie Evangeline Redgrave

Nickname: O, Fee

Birthday: 31 July 1992

Age: 28

Gender: Female.

Place of Birth: London, United Kingdom

Places Lived Since: London, United Kingdom; Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France

Current Residence: Kensington, London, United Kingdom

Nationality: British & French

Parents: Lambert & Sérephine Redgrave, née Callac

Grandparents: Harold Redgrave (grandfather, paternal, deceased)  Hélène de Broglie (grandmother, paternal, deceased) Aurélien Callac (grandfather, maternal) Ophélie Hervé (grandmother, maternal)

Aunts & Uncles: Charlotte, Georgina Redgrave (aunts, paternal) Anita Acton (aunt, paternal)

Number of Siblings: Three brothers; Sébastian Redgrave (38), Arnaud Redgrave (36), Gaël Redgrave (32)

Relationship With Family: Ophélie is closest to Gaël, her other two brothers see her mostly as the family fuck up although they all feel somewhat protective of her as the youngest. This was particularly meaningful during the wild years of her teens when an attention starved Ophélie might find herself in places or situations she was likely too young for, they were mostly all still at home and willing to come collect her from wherever and keep her secrets from their parents. Her father has always been distant, she sometimes fears he’d rather forget she existed. Her mother is overbearing and critical - after three boys she thought Ophélie was at long last the daughter who’d belong only to her, a little doll to shape as she wished. She was very wrong.

Happiest Memory: The freedom and acceptance she finally found in university, the Christmas and New Years she spent with Gaël in New York when spent a year at NYU.  

Childhood Trauma: oh boy - see this answer HERE

PHYSICAL:

Height: 5'4”

Weight: 110lbs.

Build: Slim - some might say too skinny

Hair Color: Blonde.

Usual Hair Style: loose curls, a careless, practiced ease. Sometimes she wears it up if she's bored enough, high ponytail when she runs

Eye Color: Blue.

Glasses? Contacts?: Neither.

Style of Dress/Typical Outfit(s): Expensive as fuck - if she had to choose a ‘style’ it would be classic. She isn’t conservative in the least bit, but she also isn’t one to go into more out there fashions - that is Gaël lane. She tends to favor dresses and skirts and more feminine looks. Ophélie caught in jeans is a very rare Ophélie. When she is home alone she is usually wearing a thin robe or some form of lingerie/pjs  

Typical Style of Shoes: Ophélie does not like to wear shoes. However, given that going barefoot is usually frowned upon in society, she can usually be found in heels that match whatever she may be wearing. If she is very close with someone she will take her shoes off the moment she enters their home, and at her own flat can always be found barefoot.

Jewellery? Tattoos? Piercings?: She has both of her earlobes pierced, as expected. At one point she had a cartilage piercing, but she long ago forgot to keep it open. Unbeknownst to her mother and most of her family, she has both of her nipples pierced. Ophélie will say to anyone who knows that these are her favorite piercings. She has a tattoo of a scorpion on the nape of her neck. Everyday jewellery includes a heavy men’s watch that belonged to her grandfather, whatever earrings she fancies on any given day, as well as rings. The one ring she wears at all times is made up of three interlocking circles - when she is anxious or focusing on something Ophélie spins this around her finger.

Scars: She has a scar on her shin from falling off a horse as a child. The most recent additions include a thin line across her chest/sternum and a nearly perfect large C in the center of her back - she plans on adjusting that soon.

Unique Mannerisms/Physical Habits: When she is focusing, Ophélie will twist her ring around her finger. She has the tendency to curl her hands into fists and dig her nails into her palms. She also chews on her bottom lip, which has caused a significant investment in longwear lipstick.

Athleticism: Ophélie grew up playing tennis with her brother Gaël and got into running in her teens. She never does any actual races mostly because she couldn’t be bothered and also way too many people near her. It’s mostly a way for her to focus her own mind/punish her body.

Health Problems/Illnesses: She absolutely has an eating disorder from the unrealistic expectations of her mother when she was growing up. It is something she has struggled with most of her life that her friends are likely unaware of. Ophélie also has undiagnosed ADHD, PTSD, addiction issues that are yet to be explored.

INTELLECT:

Level of Education: BSc in Politics and Philosophy from LSE - it wasn’t exactly what she wanted to study but a compromise that got her parents off her back. If possible she’d want to go back to school for linguistics or art history.

Languages Spoken: English & French natively, Spanish fluently. Functionally fluent in Italian, a lingering understanding of Latin from prep school. She has a very good ear for languages and dialects and can pick them up quickly.

Level of Self-Esteem: Fluctuates between “I hate myself I’m such a bitch” and “I love myself I’m such a bitch.” No in between.

Gifts/Talents: Very good at languages and remembering things she’s heard if she cares enough to focus, weirdly good at crossword puzzles if she has the patience, has the ability to come off as unthreatening and use it to manipulate people.

Mathematical?: Hell no, she absolutely cheated her way through math and she is not at all sorry about it.

Makes Decisions Based Mostly On Emotions, or On Logic?: Emotions, particularly whims. She does have a vindictive streak and while that is based on emotions she can adapt logic to her purposes is.

Life Philosophy: live fast die young bad girls do it well. No joking, she doesn’t really have one or doesn’t like to consider it, but if we had to define it, somewhere along the lines of ‘never let them see you cry’ IDK TBD

Religious Stance: Was raised Anglican, not really about it. Enjoys the art and melodrama of the catholic church.

Cautious or Daring?: Daring, boarding on reckless, she has the arrogant privilege of the very wealthy, that they are untouchable and almost immortal.

Most Sensitive About/Vulnerable To: Her mother, people trying to lessen her or force her to be something she is not, her eating disorder/body image

Optimist or Pessimist?: says she's an optimist, mostly because she doesn’t let herself project any other way; deep down is def a pessimist mostly out of self preservation and years of building up armor

Extrovert or Introvert?: Extrovert.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Current Relationship Status: fucking her way through the french bros/leadership

Sexual Orientation: bisexual in that she is attracted to all beautiful women and men who are older, dangerous, and low key damaged.

Past Relationships: Only real/serious relationship was with Charles Jameson (alexa play champagne problems by taylor swift)

Primary Reason For Being Broken Up With: being caught cheating whoops

Primary Reasons For Breaking Up With People: boredom, afraid of getting to close

Ever Cheated?: yep, and if not for the way he reacted she might actually feel guilty about it.

Been Cheated On: not that she knows of

Level of Sexual Experience: very high and no she will not be slutshamed thank you very much

Story of First Kiss: A boy she met while staying with her grandmother in France. She was 11 and kissed him on a dare.

Story of Loss of Virginity: She’d just turned 14 but told him she was older, it was mediocre at best but she loved the rush of power she felt when she turned him down the next time.

A Social Person?: Very - she literally wouldn’t be able to do her job so well if she wasn’t. Plus shes a slut for attention and once you cross the threshold between casual friends and very close friends - she’s loyal as fuck.

Most Comfortable Around: Paul for sure, although she feels safe and comfortable with most of the frenchies she knows well - Noa, Laurent, Guillaume, Delphine, Sofie - its Paul she goes to first, her ride or die bitch. Outside of the French she feels comfortable around Spencer, shockingly, and within the family it's only Gaël who she feels she can even be remotely herself around.

Oldest Friend: Camilla Berkeley, her brother Gaël. Most of the people she knew through grade school and her teens she grew bored of or dropped for Paul and the French.

How Does She Think Others Perceive Her?: Dancing right on the knife’s edge between hot and hot mess; a fuck up; shallow and vain. For those who know her well she often fears they think she might be stupid or reckless, not as devoted as she actually is.

How Do Others Actually Perceive Her?: Literally dancing right on the knife’s edge between hot and hot mess. Those closest to her often think she’s smarter than she herself does, hopefully they also value and recognize her deep loyalty. All should think she's a great time.

SECRETS:

Life Goals: To be happy and find something and someone that makes her happy.

Dreams: That she will stop letting the negligence and cruelty of her parents - mostly mother, hurt her. That she will matter to someone, be loved and wanted for exactly who she is and not who they think she should be or who she pretends to be.

Greatest Fears: Being abandoned by those she loves,  being hurt by those who should care for her, never being seen for who she is. Horses - she had a bad fall as a child and doesn’t trust them.

Most Ashamed Of: The walls she builds out of self preservation, lying to her brother when he only wants to help her.

Secret Hobbies: Puzzles - the more pieces and complex the better. It isn’t really that much of a secret because there is usually one in progress on the unused dining room table. Collecting first editions of her favorite books - it's a secret because she is usually too impatient to find a better deal or negotiate and will literally pay whatever the seller asks for it, usually above what it is worth.

Crimes Committed (Was she caught? Charged?): She has never been caught or charged, but possession with intent to distribute multiple illegal drugs, selling said drugs for organized crime. There was also that one time that she may or may not have led a man to his death, which although she has done her best to block this memory, would likely make her an accessory to murder.

DETAILS/QUIRKS:

Night Owl or Early Bird?: Both really,  but that's the insomnia and stimulant usage.

Light or Heavy Sleeper?: light sleeper when she’s alone, heavy if she’s sleeping with someone she trusts

Favorite Animal: penguins

Favorite Foods: strawberries, champagne,

Least Favorite Food: anything mint

Favorite Book: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Least Favorite Book: any of the myriad of self help books well meaning psychiatrists have suggested

Favorite Movie: Heathers, Jurassic Park  

Least Favorite Movie: emotional porn - aka any movie specifically designed to make you cry without any profound or complicated themes other than ‘life is short’

Favorite Song: Kyoto by Phoebe Bridgers

Favorite Sport: she’s a tennis bitch for sure

Coffee or Tea?: coffee although she does like tea

Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter?: Ophélie is allergic to peanuts rip  

Type of Car She Drives: lol no one let this bitch drive

Lefty or Righty?: Left

Favorite Color: the champagne sheer of the sun pushing through the curtains in an early morning, baby pink of her favorite peonies, rich red velvet of box seats at the opera, the soft golden grey of art museum marble floors.

Cusser?: Yep - but controls it around her family because she doesn't have the patience or stamina for the lecture/scandal it would cause her mother.

Smoker? Drinker? Drug User?: Never smokes, drinks pretty often, regular cocaine use since her teens, a more recent venture into pills.

Biggest Regret: Letting it go on so long with Charles, the fact that she still lets her mother’s cruelty hurt her, not going to school for what she actually was interested in.

Pets: two italian greyhounds named Pogo & Banana

[krisrix]

Sequel to Love Season and Action Potential 🖤

Limit Break Chapter 1

BAZ

I know I’m overly dramatic. I know I have a self-destructive streak, particularly in my penchant for inflicting emotional harm on myself and others. I find a perverse enjoyment in metaphorical self-flagellating and picking at the scabs. I’ll even admit I’ve a dash of masochism. It’s understandable—when so much of what you crave is designed to cause pain, the wires are going to get crossed here and there.

All of that being said ... I am not the least bit fucking pleased by the specific breed of agony I’ve been languishing in for the past four weeks.

I have possessed increasingly minuscule amounts of free time to spend with Snow. The school term is pulling me down kicking and screaming, and there is nothing exhilarating about it. (Snow could push me down kicking and screaming—I would love that. I always have done.) My days are smothered in tutorials and papers and assignments and revisions and studying, studying, studying—

I usually enjoy my educational pursuits. I know this is just an extremely uncomfortable blip. Merely temporary.

But, merciful Morgana, it’s fucking torture right now in the worst of ways.

I’ve barely even had the time to snog him lately. The Bunce-Snow flat is in the opposite direction from LSE as mine. As the term’s requirements become more demanding, I’m unable to justify the time spent heading to their flat instead of my own. I can only ask to stay so many nights per week.

(There’s a half-drawer for me there. It was his decision to carve out the space. I fold my things crisp and tight: two outfits, one set of pyjamas, a few pairs of socks and pants. Plus, a travel grooming kit and a spare laptop charger.) (I could stay more than I do. But I’m a coward. I don’t want him to feel smothered.) (And I fear Bunce is going to start charging me rent soon.)

Regardless of if I had the bravery to ask (which I don’t), there’s simply no time to spare. Instead, I spend nearly all of my evenings in my flat. Alone. Wanting. Despite how sufficiently overwhelmed with my courses I am—despite all my years’ worth of practise—I can’t get thoughts of Snow out of my mind.

Sometimes, I swear I can still taste him on the back of my tongue....

Sometimes ... well, there’s nothing for it; I have to set aside my books, hang my head back, and relive the memory of him until I’m spent. His heat, and weight, and scent, and flavour—I can’t relive it enough. It’s like I’m fifteen all over again.

I’m considering losing myself to the fantasy right now. It’s two in the morning, and I want nothing more than to crawl into bed with Simon. Which isn’t an option, but I can at least pretend.

I shouldn’t. I’m finalizing my last paper to turn in tomorrow. I need to focus.

After that, I’ll only have two exams to sit through. The end of the term is a mere four days away.

Then ... he’s mine.

Aside from all the obvious physical yearning, most of all I just miss him. His presence. His voice. Those smiles that are becoming more and more frequent. I even miss his messy room—the clothes on the floor, the crumbs in his bed, his rumpled sheets, the toothpaste stains in the bathroom sink...

It was the right decision for us to no longer be roommates after Watford. It might be a while longer before we’re ready for that again. Still ... life isn’t the same without Simon around me all the time, mucking things up.

I can’t wait to share a room with him again this weekend. Just the two of us.

Though there is the nagging concern that my desperation for a repeat performance—by either one of us, really—will lead to nothing but trouble.

All I can do is stay restrained when the time comes ... and do my best to exhaust myself with indulgence up until that point.

I know better—I’ve never been able to wank him away. Certainly not for lack of trying. Though I suppose another attempt couldn’t hurt—

There’s no time to take it slow. I lean back in my desk chair and close my eyes, immediately pushing one hand into my pants. I run my tongue along the inside of my cheek, pretending the taste of him is to be found there. I search out the ghost of his weight pushing against the back of my throat.

I’m itching so terribly for any sort of touch that when my mobile vibrates in my pocket, a shudder runs through me, stealing my breath.

“Crowley,” I hiss at my own pathetic state. I fumble for my mobile with my free hand and blush when I see it’s a text from Simon:

—hey u up?

—Is this a booty call or a genuine question?

Read the rest on AO3

[early-sxnsets]

It's All For Him

Archive Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18215168/chapters/43256687

Chapter 7/10 of It’s A Handheld Disaster

Word Count: 1168

Chapter Summary: Desperate times call for dramatically impulsive measures. As in, Baz makes a quick decision and a long drive.

BAZ

It starts flowing from him. Every word I know he’s kept up--every little thought, every small nick on his mind flowing out onto a continuous thought, broken relatively regularly by a stutter. Must be something he has, or at least something that reappears when he’s overworked.

“Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck,” he lets stream. “First of all, you’re bloody real. I-I-I-I can’t believe you’re real. You’re real. Are you real?”

I exhale slowly, cheeks pulling into a guilty, sad smile. “I’m real, Snow,” I mutter into the speaker, heart aching.

“Fuck,” he cries, then he’s cut by the sound of muffled words, the speaker crackling a bit. Must be covering his mouth. He continues, after a moment. “Fuck, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I’m s-so sorry. I’m--this is ridiculous. I’m ridiculous. I-I-I sh-should stop talking, it’s just… Penny. And Davy. And Aggie. And bloody you…” He pauses briefly, catching his breath. I can hear his exhale. It’s shaky and terrifying. “It’s everything. I’m--Davy. He’s too much. I-I know I told you h-he isn’t, but he is. Too strict. Too strict too strict too…”

“Breathe,” I interject, eyes squeezed shut as I listen intently. Counting the seconds, I pay attention to the shaking inhale and exhale from his side. We're only a couple seconds in and he's starting to scare me. Brilliant. I'm in far too deep.

“I’m sorry,” he starts off with. “He’s just… loud. Angry. So close. Won’t get far… I need to get away. I’m scared--I have no reason to be, but I’m so scared. All the time. I u-used to be okay, but he’s scaring me, but I have nowhere to go. And I’m scared, Baz.” Hearing my name makes it exponentially worse. I take another quiet drag to calm my nerves, eyes squeezing tighter as I hear him continue. “I’m just scared of everything.

“I’m scared of Penny hating me, o-o-o-o-or just being friends with me out of convenience. I-I-I know she says she c-c-cares, but what if she’ll just d-ditch me after school? I put her through t-t-t-too much. I put everyone through too much.” He gets quiet for a moment before dropping his voice to a near whisper. “I’m sc-scared of you drinking and smoking. I’m scared you do it to hurt yourself.”

My eyes flutter open, dropping to my cigarette as the taste lingers in my mouth. Guiltily, I stub it out onto the stone, eyes falling back shut as I'm dead silent. I can’t deny it. It’d be a lie.

“A-and I know, I have n-no place to say anything, but I’m scared. I get worried. I want you s-safe. I don’t talk about it, b-b-b-but I care so much. All the time.

“B-But I’m not really good enough to deserve that care back. That’s the th-th-th-th-thing. I’ll never be good enough, n-not even for love! Aggie br-broke it off because I’m unlovable, a-and I don’t know what to do. I’m--”

“Where are you right now?” I break in, at last. The anxieties clenching at my body make my throat constrict even as I speak, but I push past it. I need to say this. It’s too much just hearing him speak feels--it's like a knife digging into my side. Hearing him say he’s unlovable is too much. If it’s time to be irrational, then it’s time to make dramatic choices.

“Wh-what?”

“I asked where you are right now,” I ease out, sighing quietly at the end.

“U-um,” he starts, and pauses. Not a good sign, to start with. “P-park. Public park. ‘M by the swings.”

“Where is that, Simon?”

“I--no.”

“Why?”

“You’ll call the cops, or something,” he mumbles fearfully, voice growing softer as his voice crackles in the microphone. “I can’t…”

“I won’t,” I promise quickly. “I’m not going to call the cops, just… tell me. Where are you?”

He says a place up in Newcastle, which doesn’t settle well in the slightest. That’s…at least six hours, if I drive. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. “Shit,” I whisper, rubbing my thumbs over my temples.

“What?” He sounds nervous. Even better.

“No. Nonono,” I begin, trying to think. Six hours and it’ll be nearly midnight. Then what? No, fuck it. No. Doesn’t matter. We’ll figure out there. “Hold tight, please. Do you trust me?”

He pauses audibly, the line going silent for all but for the whistle of the wind. “I…”

“Do you trust me?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then hold tight. Get comfortable, it’s going to be a few hours.”

Another pause, then a final breath of relief. “Okay.”

Once I click off (reluctantly) from the call, I clear the evidence of my cigarettes and head off to the house, fiddling with the mobile in my hands. Inside, through the maze, I find my father in his study looking over paperwork with a pen in hand. I bother knocking, despite the door hanging open. He pops his head up, narrowing his eyes at me. Before he has a moment to question, I interject quickly.

“I’m heading off for the weekend.”

“Where?”

“Aunt Fi’s,” I lie, throat feeling even tighter than usual. Maybe not a lie. We'll find out. “I need to get out into the city. It’s a deathly bore around here.”

“Are you bringing Devon and Niall with you?”

“No, they’ve got class. I’ll be safe, I promise.”

He scans over me, going from head-to-toe, then back up again. It’s a sad routine of ours; his hesitation in any attempts of me living, then my attempts to seem as innocent as possible.

“I’ll see if I can visit campus while I’m there,” I add as an incentive, knowing quite well how much he wants me to go to LSE. “Might have to stay ‘til Monday…”

“That’s quite enough, Basilton,” he says, waving his hand dismissively. I shut up immediately, standing bolt upright as he sighs. “Do you need petrol for the drive?”

“Yes,” I say quickly, fiddling with my phone case. “I mean, yes, please. Thank you, father.”

His eyes drop back to his paper, lips twitching into his classic apathetic frown. “Right, well, I’ll add enough to your account, and money for food. God knows your Aunt doesn’t have any non perishables in that awful studio flat.”

Internally, I grin like a madman. I’m jumping and crying thankful sobs, but externally, I simply nod politely. “Thank you,” I say again, giving the smallest of smiles before running off to throw together a long weekend bag. Once I hit the car, I check to see my bank account.

While starting it up, I scroll my notifs. No word from Snow, but that should be fine. Everything should be fine.

The route seems painstakingly long, and I barely have enough energy to make it to London most weeks, so this will be… an experience.

Nonetheless, this isn’t just for anybody, of course. It’s for Simon, and that, frankly, is all that fucking matters.

Simon, his comfort, and his safety. And I’m going to assure that I’ve got control of all three of those.

[lsesu]

How to meet people and make friends at LSE

Everyone is nervous about meeting people and making friends when they first start university. Finding your friends can happen out of the blue in some cases, or it can take more time in others. Here are a few ways you can be in the right place at the right time for meeting new people at LSE!

Start with your housemates/flatmates

If you live in halls for your first year, this is the perfect environment to start socialising. Everyone is in a new place, finding their bearings and most importantly, all of you are trying to make friends.

If you are invited to something, whether it be into the kitchen for a whole flat dinner, out for a walk exploring the area or even if its somewhere out for the evening – always try and say yes. We know there may be some situations or activities that you may not want to partake in, but even if you only pop along for a short while, it’s good to get out and get mingling with people.

If you are comfortable leaving your room door open, it’s a good idea to invest in a doorstop – people will be more likely to pop in and strike up a conversation if you come across as open and sociable (just remember to close it when you’re not in!). You can also decorate your room so it is warm and inviting, there is no better conversation starter than a mutual love for fairy lights…

Oh, and don’t forget about everyone else! You will have neighbours everywhere in halls, there will be multiple floors with multiple flats, which means more potential friends to go and meet. Pluck up a little bit of courage and knock on their doors! Remember that they don’t bite, and are probably just as keen as you to make some new buddies. If this seems a little too daunting, keep an eye on your respective halls Facebook groups for any posts about group socials or meet ups in the common rooms.

Remember not to worry or panic if you haven’t clicked with the people living in your halls, it really is down to luck as to who you get put with, and there are plenty of other opportunities to meet people elsewhere.

If you’re a commuter or not living in the halls environment, don’t worry – we’re about to go through all the other ways that you guys can find new people.

Course buddies

Soon enough you will meet people on the same course as you in classes, lectures and seminars. This is a great place to start talking, as you already share a common interest.

So, strike up a conversation! Get chatting about why you like the subject, how you’re finding the course, or ask the dreaded question, “did you read up on...?”

Maybe think about moving the conversation into other areas of their student life. Ask them what their living situation is, did they go to the RAG Band, are they part of any clubs or societies and what do they do on the weekends? This way, you’ll have something non-course related to reference back to next time you chat to them.

Got a break in between classes? Why not suggest going to grab some lunch with some of your course mates who have the same schedule? Lunch or dinner breaks are great for really getting to know your course mates. And the best thing is, if you have a regular break in timetable like this every week, soon you’ll have a regular reoccurring lunch dates with your course buddies.

Whatsapp or Facebook groups are a good way to keep tabs with your course mates, catch a bit of banter and to also keep up with anything you may have missed in lectures or classes. If you feel comfortable, set one up!  

Join the club

We know we’ve said this over and over, but it really is true, joining societies and clubs is an excellent way to meet like-minded people.

LSESU has over 200 societies, over 50 sports clubs and 4 student media groups. These groups cover a range of special interest, faith & cultural, careers, arts & performance, charity, campaigning & political and academic interests. We are pretty sure you will be able to find something that takes your fancy!

Being a part of a student group for some students is like having a 2nd home. You’ll be surrounded by people who share similar interests to you, so the chances of you meeting people you get on well with is high and you could quite likely form a tight-knit close community.

Student groups aren’t just about serving their titles. The Beekeeping society don’t just tend to their bees, and the debate society don’t just hold debates. Every society, club or media group comes with its own social life that you can be a part of. Regular socials, get togethers, trips and meet ups are commonplace across all of our student groups. After all, if you work hard, you need to play hard!

Whether it’s talking about something you’re passionate about, or bonding over trying a new sport, you’re guaranteed to find something that suits you in the extensive list of LSESU student groups. And if not, we’ll give you the support to start your own!

Did somebody say, brunch?

Here at LSESU, we love you guys so much, that we even put on events specially to help you guys find like-minded students and make friends.

We hold a number of student brunches every term that brings certain student communities together. Last year we put on a number of Postgraduate Student Brunches, International Student Brunches, Mature & Part Time student brunches, Disabled Student Brunches and Black & Minority Ethnic Student Brunches.

Students have said that they have found new friends and met people they wouldn’t have encountered through attending our community brunches…and that they liked the free food. Our brunches sell out fairly quickly so keep an eye on the What’s On Calendar for these.

In Welcome Week (which is only a few weeks away!), every day will be jam packed full of events that you can go to. Remember that everyone will be in the same boat and will be trying to meet people, so these are great places to make friends.

The Welcome events calendar is still being whipped up, but here’s a few sneak peaks at the kind of events you can expect: Comedy Nights, Live music, healthy morning silent disco, campus treasure hunt, club nights, LSE sports weekender, campaigns showcase and those lovely student brunches we mentioned earlier!

We will have a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic events as part of the Welcome Week schedule. Please bear in mind that these events fill up very quickly, so make sure you keep an eye on the Welcome page to be the first to hear about them.

Our events calendar changes and evolves throughout the year, but if there’s one thing you can definitely expect, it’s to have ample opportunities to meet some new pals…all you have to do is come along!

Facebook is your best friend

If you tend to be a bit shy in person, or want to arrive at LSE with a few contacts, getting in touch with people online can be much easier than face to face.

We manage a number of Facebook Community Groups where you can connect with students before you arrive at LSE. You will have to confirm your LSE course and year of study to be accepted, this is so that we can keep these groups as being just for you guys to communicate with each other, and to keep out those dodgy promoters and housing companies that we all hate.  

Below are the links to our Facebook Community Groups:

The Official LSE Undergraduate Community The Official LSE Postgraduate Community The Official LSE International Student Community The Official LSE BME* Student Community The Official LSE PHD & MPhil Community The Official LSE Freshers Community 19-20

Many courses have their own Facebook groups and so do most of the halls of residence – get chatting to your future course mates and neighbours, or even suggest meeting for a coffee in the first week.

Our last pieces of advice would be this…

Say the magic word

Don’t be afraid to say hi first. Sometimes, you have to put yourself out there first to start a conversation, even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone. People are probably just as friendly and eager to make friends as you are, you just have to break the ice – everyone is in the same boat.

Even if you do come across someone who isn’t particularly welcoming, don’t let it cloud or dampen your experience, it could be that they are just having a hard time. Smile, say hi and see where it takes you!

Stay open minded

You might already have an idea of what ‘type’ of friend you look for, but don’t let that limit who you have a conversation with! LSE is a highly international university, with over 160 nationalities represented within its student body (that’s more than in the United Nations!)

Get ready to meet all kinds of different people; it’s amazing how much you can find in common with someone who’s lived on the other side of the world to you! Stay open minded, listen, be welcoming and you could find yourself some life-long friendships during your time here.

[ryqoshay]

How to Handle a Nico: Tantei Sukautingu

Primary Pairing: NicoMaki Words: ~1.7k Rating: K Time Frame: Early in Maki’s 2nd year of high school and Nico’s 1st year of college. Story Arc: Stand Alone

List of all HtHaN scenes

Author’s Note: A scene inspired by this lovely work by @myonmukyuu. Despite the handful of speed bumps I hit, I had a lot of fun writing this.

Maki sighed. “Are the costumes really necessary, Nico-chan?”

“Of course!” The older girl proclaimed. “If we are to do detective work, then we need the proper attire!”

Detectives? Had Nico just gone from claiming her twin-tails were some sort of radar or whatever to the two of them being detectives?

“I…” Maki started.

“Don’t get it?” Nico finished for her with a grin. “<It’s elementary, my dear Maki-chan!>” The former Sherlock cosplayer repeated her phrase from a few months ago. “Together we shall seek clues of cuteness that will lead us to good candidates for school idols!” She posed dramatically to emphasize her words. “And we shall use our deductive reasoning to determine the best of the best to join your new group!”

Maki’s shoulders slumped as she relented and started changing. She hadn’t asked where Nico had found the costumes from last year, but she assumed Kotori had been involved. The more formal version of the set had been kept by the photography company, but the more stylized, or idolized as Nico liked to call them, had apparently been kept by the group.

In any case, Nico had come back to visit because she wanted to help recruit new members to replace Eli, Nozomi and herself. Maki tried to point out that the club had already gained more members than they had lost by the former third-years graduating, but nobody else seemed to listen. Well, nobody else but the level-headed Umi, but she hadn’t really seen a reason to stop Nico from helping. So of course, the rest of the group had been more than willing to let the former µ’s member assist however she wanted.

And it came as no surprise to Maki that Nico had ended up dragging her into the shenanigans. Not that she minded, of course, but far be it for her admit it openly. She also didn’t let on that she had a strange sense of déjà vu about the whole situation. But maybe that was just because of the familiar costumes?

And on the topic of costumes, Maki remembered liking this set. She stole a glance at the older girl. Though she most commonly wore pink, and there was certainly pink in the costume, Nico looked really good in purple. The soft pastel shades complimented Nico’s natural cuteness. Maki’s outfit had purple as well, though it was darker, and on the inside of the cape. And the shade of red that was the primary color also leaned a bit toward the purple side. Thus, taken together, the outfits were unquestionably a pair. Not only by color scheme, but also by character theme; Holmes and Watson.

“Hrmm…” Maki furrowed her brow as she found it a little difficult to secure the outfit’s top.

“Something wrong?” Nico asked, not appearing to have similar trouble.

“It’s a little tighter than I remember.” The redhead replied, finally getting it to cooperate.

Maki immediately realized her mistake as the raven-haired girl’s face darkened.

“Nico doesn’t even need to be a detective to know what Maki is implying by that.”

“Wha? No!” Maki protested. “That’s not what I meant!

“Hrmph.” Nico turned away.

Well, that wasn’t the best start for things…

Maki noted that Nico did not take her hand when she lead the way out into the hall. She felt herself frown when she realized that the lack of such a simple gesture left her more than a bit disappointed.

Nico crouched as she lead the way down the hall. Cautiously, she peeked around the corner, holding up her prop magnifying glass as though might actually somehow help locate a future school idol.

“…” Maki sighed quietly and mimicked the gesture, though she didn’t bother crouching.

Suddenly, Nico slipped around the corner and down the hall. Maki facepalmed and shook her head as the older girl acted out the stealth moves of a bad Hollywood ninja. The redhead eventually followed at a normal walking pace.

“!?” A second-year student jumped a bit when Nico approached, scrutinizing her through the goggles of her costume.

“Nope.” Nico said after a moment and moved on.

The confused girl looked at Maki who merely shrugged and followed her friend.

“Ah ha!” Nico cried and sped over to a third-year.

“Wha? Hey!” The girl protested as Nico grabbed her hand and dragged her toward Maki.

A strange sensation skittered across Maki’s consciousness, causing her eye to twitch and her lips to form a grimace.

“Just what do you think you are doing?” The girl with the green ribbon yanked her hand free.

“Maki-chan! Look!” Nico called happily. “She’d make a perfect school idol!”

Maki couldn’t deny that the girl’s voice could easily be of idol quality. With some training, of course. Her figure was somewhat close to Maki’s, though she decided her own was better. Either way, it was fine for a school idol. And the girl’s sharp eyes demanded attention… what did Nico like to call them? Tsurime? All in all, she was probably a decent candidate, but something about her set Maki’s teeth on edge.

“School idol?” The girl with the third-year ribbon raised an eyebrow. “While I guess I’m grateful to that one group that helped prevent this school from closing last year, or something like that, I don’t have time for such frivolous activities. And what’s with that strange thing with your hand?” She mimicked Nico’s gesture.

Maki held up the small X sign Nico had given her at the onset of this adventure. Though she had thought the idea silly at first, she now felt it fitting for the current situation.

“Yeah, you’re probably right, Maki-chan.” Nico pursed her lips. “The group really should only have one tsundere-type.”

“I am not a tsundere!” Both Maki and the third-year protested in unison.

“Well not if you’re just going to be tsun.” Nico laughed merrily before grabbing Maki’s hand. “C’mon, let’s keep looking.”

“A-alright.” Maki replied, suddenly feeling a bit better for some reason.

The two girls continued their search for a little while, with the next dozen or so girls not really raising their interest. Then, someone caught Maki’s eye and she headed over. As she neared, she realized the girl was a first-year, which probably explained her height and overall stature. But she was quite cute. Not as cute as Nico… or… at least that’s probably what Nico would say.

However, as soon as Maki turned around to show Nico, the older girl was already holding up her X.

“What? Why?” Maki asked, walking back.

“No twin-tails.” Nico replied, shaking her head.

“Huh?”

“Nico won’t be recruiting any twin-tailed girls into your group.”

“But… Nico-chan wears…”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t get it…”

“Nico-nii~ wouldn’t know what to do~ if Maki-chan fell for someone e~lse.” Nico practically sang.

“Buweehh?” Maki recoiled.

As if Maki would fall for someone other than N… As if she would fall for anyone! Certainly not Nico! She didn’t have time for silly little things like love. Geez…

“A~nyway,” Nico continued. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to find any new recruits today. Perhaps Nico can come tomorrow so we can make another round.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Or later in the week if that works better for you.”

“Hrm…”

“And it’s a good excuse to wear these cute outfits again.”

“Do we have to?”

“Of course!” Nico proclaimed again. “They’re quite appropriate for the work we’re doing. And don’t think Nico didn’t see Maki-chan checking her out earlier. Maki-chan obviously likes how cute Nico is when wearing this.” The twin-tailed girl twirled for effect.

“I… I…” Maki felt heat gathering her cheeks.

Nico laughed at the other girl’s adorable reaction. “Also,” She started after calming down, “all this detective work is making Nicolock thirsty.” She suddenly adopted a more formal air. “Mayhap Maki-chan would join me for a spot of tea? I am thinking Lapsang souchong to be a good choice. And I believe biscuit or two would not be out of place.”

“What was that?”

“Or doest thou prefer scones?”

“…?”

“Teacakes?”

“I don’t get it.”

“Crumpets?”

“I’ve… actually never had a crumpet before.”

“Never had a crumpet?” Nico placed a hand over her chest in feigned shock. “And here Nico thought Maki was all worldly and traveled. Surely she’d’ve had a crumpet on one of her trips to London or wherever.”

“I’ve been to London.” Maki confirmed. “But that doesn’t automatically mean I’ve had a crumpet.” An idea occurred to her and she smirked. “Surely the Great Nicolock should have been able to deduce something like that.”

“Geh…” Nico’s teasing demeanor slipped for a moment. “A-anyway… You’re in luck! There is an English tea party themed shop that opened recently. They have wonderful teas and pastries and sandwiches and stuff. We should go and get some Lapsang souchong tea!”

Maki raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so insistent that we get that kind of tea?”

“Isn’t that Sherlock’s favorite?”

“I thought he drank coffee… and stuff that shouldn’t be consumed as a beverage.”

“Maybe it was mentioned a time or two?”

“Did you actually read the books?”

“Uhm…”

“Wait, did you just Google a bunch of stuff so you could be more like Holmes?”

“I…” Nico paused. “Nicoock deduced all of that!” She finally decided.

Maki couldn’t help chuckling a bit at the older girl’s conviction, even if it was obviously false.

“Anyway, let’s go!” Nico grabbed the younger girl’s hand. “If Maki-chan prefers coffee, they probably have that too, but Nico recommends the tea.”

“W-wait!” Maki resisted.

“Hmm?”

“We’re going to change first, right?” The redhead questioned. “We’re not actually going to go out dressed like this, are we?”

The raven-haired girl looked down at the costume she was still wearing and laughed. “Alright, alright. If Maki-chan insists.” Not letting go of Maki’s hand, she changed direction to head back to the clubroom.

This time, Maki allowed herself to be lead along. She even allowed herself a smile at the familiarity of the situation; Nico dragging her wherever. Even if their endeavor had been unsuccessful, Maki didn’t need a detective’s deductive reasoning to realize she had enjoyed herself. There was little doubt in her mind that she would continue to have fun wherever Nico lead her. And maybe, just maybe, she was looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow, or later in the week. Just a bit… Maybe.

Author’s Note Continued: Guess who had their first crumpet while on vacation recently! Honestly, I may have to find a recipe or something and make my own. They were really good. I may have also purchased a lot of good tea. And that all may have influenced part of this scene. Just a bit... Maybe.

Guess who also Googled random Sherlock stuff! It’s been far to long since I’ve read any of Sir Arthur Conan’s books, so I needed a quick refresher. As much as I love RDJ, Eggs Benedict with Cucumber, and Jonny Lee Miller, I kind of wanted to keep my references to the classic works if possible.

Also, the thing about Nico’s twin tails being a radar is borrowed from the manga.

Finally, thank you myonmukyuu for making another wonderful NicoMaki pic that was able to spark my imagination once again.

Cards Referenced:

[unweavinglies]

Kokichi Ouma's Love Suite Event Analysis: What Does it Mean to Be Kokichi’s “Ideal?”

So a quick disclaimer: Yes, I am very aware that this is most likely not canon, or at least not what the writers intended on being canon, nor am I saying that this is 100% canon and should be considered as such. This is just a fan theory/analysis I came up with for my own enjoyment and wanted to share with others, as I like coming up with theories/analysis posts and reworking canons to make enhanced stories and character development in my perspective. I firmly believe that the idea of making theories isn’t supposed to be a shouting contest to see which opinion is the most loud and correct, but should be something to share with others and find acceptance and understanding in different interpretations, even if you don’t agree with them.

With that out of the way--lets talk about Kokichi’s Love Suite Event, and what it could mean for his character, feelings and views on aspects of love.

Quick note: This one was actually really hard for me to analyze. I’m trying to keep things coherent but I’ve ended up erasing and rewriting certain parts several times. Who knew that such a short scene would cause me so many problems! 

The main issue is, and I’m going to say it now--the Love Suit Events are mostly fanservice, so it makes Kokichi’s all the more so difficult since the fantasies themselves aren’t all that special. So with that in mind, I’m going to discuss more so the mentalities that made Kokichi’s LSE the way it is rather than the actual fantasy itself.

The first thing I want to note is the nature of the Love Suite Events, and how to interpret them within the context of the situation. First, and for most, it is important to remember this:

The Love Suite Events are, always without question, representatives of an ideal fantasy. Meaning that Shuichi plays the role of the other person’s “ideal,” which isn’t necessarily implying a typical romance. This is especially so here--Kokichi’s ideal isn’t a lover or typical romantic partner, but a sort of rival or enemy. Shuichi plays the role of the detective, and Kokichi is the phantom thief. Though, there might be more to their “fantasy” relationship, as I’ll explain later.

For now, let’s keep one thing clear: this is Kokichi’s fantasy, and Shuichi is playing the role of his ideal. This is important to remember for all LSEs, and Kokichi’s is no exception.

The introduction of the fantasy isn’t anything too special. It sets up the setting and characters for the scene and it’s very short and sweet. It tells us, and Shuichi, that Shuichi is still a detective and Kokichi is a thief. 

Though one thing to note, is that Kokichi might be drawing in their roles from “real life,” as Shuichi is the Ultimate Detective, and Kokichi has lock picking skills that may or may not imply that he is, indeed, some kind of thief. 

The fantasy of Kokichi being a phantom thief is a bit more cartoony--as one might expect with Kokichi--but there are some strange things that are pretty unique to Kokichi’s LSE, that at first, might be easily chalked up to “SaiOuma fanservice” but I do think that it relates to Kokichi’s character... and it has everything to do with Shuichi’s role in the fantasy as “himself.”

For those unaware, there are several implications (and let’s be real it’s down right stated as canon) that Shuichi is playing the role of himself in Kokichi’s fantasy, unlike the others where his role is different or ambiguous. The initial implication is, of course, that Shuichi himself is Kokichi’s ideal... but is that really the case, or is there more to this fantasy’s foundation--Kokichi’s mentality--that might suggest something else?

Let’s analyze the clues given to us about Shuichi being himself in this fantasy.

So the first clue to Shuichi being his “true Ideal,” or so we think, and one of the most obvious ones, is Kokichi has Shuichi play the role of a detective. 

In no other Love Suite Event does it make it so explicitly clear that Shuichi is still a detective. Normally his role is either reformed to fit the ideal of the other person (I.E. Kaito seeing Shuichi as a rival pilot, Maki seeing Shuichi as a friend from the Orphanage, Miu seeing him as her childhood best friend...) or otherwise neutral or ambiguous. 

The second implication that Shuichi is Kokichi’s “true ideal” as he is, are the moments where Shuichi bluntly slips “out of character.”

Throughout the scene Shuichi “breaks character” and argues with Kokichi, though despite this, Kokichi remains happy and continues to be having fun. One of Kokichi’s favorite things to do to Shuichi is make him react, make him overwhelmed and overall mess with him. Even though Shuichi is reacting to Kokichi’s outrageous nonsense the same as he would outside the event, Kokichi is reacting the same as well, as if nothing’s gone wrong.

Meaning Kokichi’s “ideal” in this fantasy would react in the same fashion Shuichi had when he broke character.

Another dead give away is that Shuichi himself acknowledges that he and Kokichi are playing as themselves in this fantasy.

This is something that is also unique to Kokichi’s LSE, as not even in Kaede’s LSE does he acknowledge it so blatantly. It’s an interesting choice on the writer’s perspective--as if the fact that Shuichi and Kokichi are acting as themselves is important here. Which is why I wanted to talk about this first.

Why is it made so blunt and irrefutable that Kokichi and Shuichi are acting as themselves in this fantasy, when no other Love Suite Events do the same? Not even in Kaede’s Event, and Kaede is supposedly ship bait.

It’s because the dynamic of Kokichi’s relationship with Shuichi is important to the fantasy’s structure. Shuichi isn’t just playing as an ideal--he’s playing Kokichi’s ideal version of him. What Kokichi sees in him and what he likes about him. 

Though, considering how Shuichi fumbles about in the fantasy, I think it’s safe to say that Kokichi’s “ideal” of Shuichi is for Shuichi to be himself. This sort of ties in with the idea that Kokichi values the idea of people being themselves and not change for others, as implied in my analysis of his HHE. It might also be why Kokichi is a phantom thief here, because his partner (Shuichi) is the most in his element when he’s picking apart mysteries and being a detective.

So there might be a whole other twist to this fantasy--Kokichi isn’t actually so infatuated with Shuichi that Shuichi is his romantic ideal. As I’ve mentioned before in my other analysis, Kokichi appears to value an unchanging self and values people for being true to who they are--and whomever plays the role as his “ideal” must uphold to those values.

His ideal is someone who remains unchanging. Someone who is themselves as he is himself.

Kokichi’s fantasy may be built off of this mentality, and with how the Event plays out, it does support this concept. Shuichi and Kokichi banter just as if they would outside of the fantasy, the only difference being Shuichi’s perspective and their relationship as strangers--but really, were they even that close outside of the fantasy to begin with?

It is very likely that Kokichi and Shuichi playing as the role of strangers represents Kokichi’s own mentality in relation to their relationship--they’re strangers that barely know anything more than each other’s names. Yet, Kokichi is fascinated with this stranger, and wants him to be fascinated with him too. He wants Shuichi to chase after him and figure him out, wants to be on his mind all the time, and wants him to pay attention to him and become excited when playing games with him. 

So in conclusion: The structure of the Love Suite Event relies on Kokichi’s ideals and his values of an unchanging self, and builds his fantasy around his partner’s sense of self rather than force that person to become someone they’re not. While they remain themselves, however, he wants them to be as interested in him as he is in them. He wants them to play games with him, be excited over him, react to his teasing and messing with them. The relationship has to be somewhat mutual, or Kokichi will be disappointed that it isn’t--if he’s going to have any kind of attachment or feelings for someone, they better be mutual.

If I’m to be honest, this is an analysis I might come back to on a later date, since I’m having such a difficult time with it at this given moment, but I promised this analysis for you guys so here it is. I hope that it’s not as haphazard as I feel, and that you at least enjoyed this interpretation even if you don’t agree with it.

[cassandra-acton]

ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Name: Cassandra Alice Acton.

Nickname: Cassie, Cass.

Birthday: November 8th.

Age: 33.

Gender: Female.

Place of Birth: Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Places Lived Since: London, United Kingdom.

Current Residence: Tower Hamlets, London, United Kingdom.

Nationality: British.

Parents: Michael and Anita Acton (née Redgrave)

Grandparents: Edward Acton (grandfather, paternal, deceased) Renske van Ardenne (grandmother, paternal) Harold Redgrave (grandfather, maternal, deceased)  Hélène de Broglie (grandmother, maternal, deceased)

Aunts & Uncles: Kathleen Acton-Fortescue (aunt, paternal) Charlotte, Georgina Redgrave (aunts, maternal) Lambert Redgrave (uncle, maternal)

Number of Siblings: One older sister, Elizabeth Acton.

Relationship With Family: Poor is an understatement. It's gotten to the point where she no longer communicates with her parents at all. Cassie’s mother is—and always has been—an emotionally abusive bully, and even though her father never treated her badly, he also never intervened. It’s hard to see past. Cassie spent much of her childhood thinking she was the problem; that she’d done something to warrant her mother being so obvious about not wanting her. That’s changed now, but the hurt hasn’t gone. Cassie still carries a lot of emotional baggage from her uprettpbringing. Has a lot of self-hate, self-doubt, and averseness to trusting people/letting them close to her. It’s easier to keep people at a distance than to feel the hurt of not being good enough for them too. Elizabeth was never treated in the way she was. She’s the golden child. When Cassie was very young, that wasn’t a problem; she looked up to Elizabeth like she was a hero, and worshipped the ground she walked on, much in the same way she did her mother. But then, as she got older, Anita made sure Cassie knew it. Got enjoyment from pitting them against each other. It absolutely decimated the relationship. Not only did it leave her bitter, but absolutely stripped her of the protective big sister she loved and needed. They still talk, but they aren’t close at all. Elizabeth understands why Cassie feels about their mother. Elizabeth can see everything she’s done. Cassie, on the other hand, still feels like she has to prove she’s better than Elizabeth because her mother always told her she would never come close. That’s enough to make her look like more of an enemy than family.

Happiest Memory: When Harrison proposed to her, without a doubt. That was easily the best day of her life. I’ll write about it someday. Getting her internship at Goldman is definitely second, though.

Childhood Trauma: I mean the parents definitely fucked her up for life, so there’s that.

PHYSICAL:

Height: 5'4”

Weight: 120lbs.

Build: Slim but very fit.

Hair Color: Blonde.

Usual Hair Style: Whilst working she almost always wears her hair up in a ponytail, but she’s not really a fan, and would much rather it down and free-flowing. Keeps it just a little longer than shoulder length because of her dislike of short hair. Is too lazy to style it beyond neatness unless she’s going somewhere.

Eye Color: Blue.

Glasses? Contacts?: Neither.

Style of Dress/Typical Outfit(s): For work: neat, formal, and inexpensive. Lots of form-fitting skirts, blazers and blouses in blacks, whites and nudes. Out of work: a fuck load of jeans. Baggy jumpers, chunky-knit cardigans and quirky shirts. Picks up a lot of her stuff from charity shops because who has time for fucking shopping. I don’t think she’s really the designer type despite having more than enough money to live that kind of lifestyle.

Typical Style of Shoes: Cassie is never without heels in her day-to-day, even at the weekend. Prefers bright colours and eye-catching designs to contrast with her typically monochrome outfits during work. Will happily wear killer heels even when dressed down because they look just as good with jeans. Shoes are about the only part of her outfits she ever spends a decent amount of money on.

Jewellery? Tattoos? Piercings?: The only piece of jewellery she constantly wears is her engagement ring, which she has on a chain around her neck. That being said, she is a big lover of rings in general, and is always sporting a solid combination of regular and midi. She has four tattoos. ‘Hip to be Square’ in tiny font on the inside of her right wrist, Gaff’s unicorn on her left hip, Harrison’s birthday on her left shoulder blade, and a matching tattoo she got with her friend, Jessica, back in school, on her right forearm. Each got a hand from The Creation of Adam. As for piercings, she has her left ear pierced twice, her right five times (one daith), as well as her navel.

Scars: A thin scar that cuts through her right eyebrow; a result of a drunken night out in university during which one of her friends fell down the stairs, and dragged Cassie with her. She actually rather likes it. Also has several scars on her torso from being shot in her apartment by Russian nationalists. You can read the self para here. 

Unique Mannerisms/Physical Habits: When she’s stressed, she has to play with her hair; pulling it, twisting it, whatever. It’s about the only good indicator she’s about to rip your face off because she will do that shit with a smile. She’s also a bugger for biting at her nails, so she purposely gets gel extensions to stop herself doing it.

Athleticism: Very high. Cassandra naturally has a lot of energy, and so expends a lot of it keeping fit. Rowed competitively for LSE, and still competes regularly with many of the girls from her old crews, as well as having joined a new rowing club. She also plays a lot of rugby, though never competitively. Loves running and endurance, and almost always competes in the Tough Mudder when it’s nearby, as well as taking part in the London marathon annually (something she and Harrison made a tradition of doing together.) Also gets involved with a lot of charity races.

Health Problems/Illnesses: I think she’s battled serious depression for a long time, though she’s far too proud to ever get it officially diagnosed. Cassie also has both polycystic ovaries and endometriosis, which is a miserable combination. They come with their own sets of issues that she has to battle with, the worst of which is the mental hurdle of her possible infertility.

INTELLECT:

Level of Education: MSc in Economics and Management from LSE. Cassie finds studying relaxing, however, and often self-teaches about subjects of interest in her free time. Currently, she is working on a course in Arab Finance.

Languages Spoken: English natively, Dutch fluently, thanks to her grandmother. French and Mandarin intermediate. It determined to take up learning Arabic at a later date.

Level of Self-Esteem: Very low. Her mother drummed the idea that she’s worthless into her so convcingly, moving past it is very difficult. It’s why she aggressively overcompensates with an arrogant attitude. Partly to convince herself that she’s making progress, but mostly to convince others that nothing’s wrong at all.

Gifts/Talents: Surprisingly, she’s actually a good violinist. It’s about the only thing she has to thank her mother for. Cassie also has a solid talent for being able to manipulate others. Wrapping people around her finger has got her far in life.

Mathematical?: Absolutely. Cassie loves numbers. Math was always her favourite subject at school, and easily the one she was best at.

Makes Decisions Based Mostly On Emotions, or On Logic?: Usually, emotions, though she tends to berate herself afterward, because she knows—especially given the career she has now chosen to pursue—that she needs to learn to be more logical.

Life Philosophy: Someone else is happy with less than what you have.

Religious Stance: Was raised Anglican, but isn’t particularly religious. I think she likes the idea of God more than she actually believes it.

Cautious or Daring?: Daring. Naturally, she’s a spontaneous person, and I don’t think being cautious really lends to that.

Most Sensitive About/Vulnerable To: Being told she’s not good enough. Being criticised when it comes to her work. Being compared to her sister. People bringing up what happened to Harrison. Terrorism in general.

Optimist or Pessimist?: In between, leaning slightly toward the pessimistic side.

Extrovert or Introvert?: Extrovert.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Current Relationship Status: In a very secret relationship with Silas Agreste.

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual.

Past Relationships: Before Adam, the only person she’d ever been in a real relationship with was Harrison. They on-off dated their whole young lives. They briefly broke up when he joined the army and she went to university because they were worried about ‘distance’ but wound up missing each other too much for it to be a permanent thing. Dated one guy briefly, Matt, a few years after his death, but it scared her so much it took her a long time to try again. The break up with Adam was complicated because neither of them wanted it. His party made him pick between leadership and her, and whilst he was content to choose Cassie, she was terrified he’d end up resenting her for it down the line. It was her that finally convinced him to go for it, and it might be one of the most difficult decisions she’s ever made.

Primary Reason For Being Broken Up With: None.

Primary Reasons For Breaking Up With People: Not having moved on.

Ever Cheated?: Physically? No. Emotionally? During her relationship with Adam, it’s safe to say that’s dubious ground. 

Been Cheated On: Not to her knowledge. Adam was still sleeping with Spencer’s ex-wife, Evelyn, when they first started dating, but it doesn’t really count given that they weren’t officially together at that point. 

Level of Sexual Experience: Cassie’s slept with four people in her life, so limited-ish. Harrison, Matt, Silas, and Adam.

Story of First Kiss: They were ten. His name was Richard and she honestly only kissed him because all of the other girls wanted to. Bragging rights.

Story of Loss of Virginity: The first time she and Harrison tried, they’d attempted to make it a ‘romantic evening’ that wound up being so awkward, they couldn’t stop laughing. Eventually, it happened spontaneously at a school social after party he’d come home from Oxford to meet her at.

A Social Person?: Absolutely. Even though she needs some time to herself every now and again to process all the shit that’s going on in her life, she couldn’t go any extended time without her friends. Being lonely terrifies her, so Cassie has to be in a pretty bad place to cut herself of from people.

Most Comfortable Around: Cassie feels truly comfortable around few people, but Jessica, Nora and Spencer top the list. Jasper, too. They are the people she couldn’t be without. Her old friends at Goldman are still like family to her, too, so they get an honourable mention. Cassie is comfortable around others like Alexis, but would probably still be hesitant to share some things with them. 

Oldest Friend: Jessica Mirzoyan: a friend she grew up with in Oxford, who followed the exact same path in life as Cassie. They both moved to London and studied at LSE. The only difference is Jessica works for J.P. Morgan. She can’t remember a time in her life when Jessica wasn’t in it, they’ve known each other for so long. Jess is the sister Elizabeth could’ve been.

How Does She Think Others Perceive Her?: Cassie has an incredibly skewed view of what people think of her. She automatically assumes people think the worst. Look at her like she’s not good enough, just like her mother always did. I think that’s why she keeps most people at arm’s length, because she’s so scared of letting someone in only for them to wind up criticizing her.

How Do Others Actually Perceive Her?: Depends who you ask. Amongst the public, she’s very popular for her honesty. Amongst her colleagues back at Goldman, she’s respected as a professional cutthroat. As for her critics, they probably just see her as a stuck up bitch riding on the back of her sister’s success.

SECRETS:

Life Goals: To help as many people through her political and charitable work as possible. That’s really all she cares about. Personal goals seem fairly irrelevant to her right now, given everything that’s happened.

Dreams: To be happy again would be rather nice. Having children is also incredibly important to her, but not something she thinks about often because of her circumstances. Losing the man she wanted to have a family with was bad enough, but so was the fact they tried for so long with no results. I think she wonders whether it just isn’t meant to be for her, which is sad. That’s definitely one she buries.

Greatest Fears: Polystyrene and spiders. Why do either of those things exist?

Most Ashamed Of: How bitter losing Harrison has made her. How she still hasn’t been able to get over the anger and the hurt it left her with. How she knows she should be ashamed about how her relationship with Silas started (an affair with a married man) but isn’t. 

Secret Hobbies: Cassie kind of loves to knit. It’s a good stress reliever when she’s too tired to go running. Not that she’d admit to it, mind you. She’s also not very good. All she can make are the really simple scarves.

Crimes Committed (Was she caught? Charged?): None.

DETAILS/QUIRKS:

Night Owl or Early Bird?: Night owl. Begrudges being alive in the mornings and has to go for a run to wake herself up, or will possibly murder people.

Light or Heavy Sleeper?: Heavy sleeper.

Favorite Animal: Hedgehog.

Favorite Foods: Steak. Cheese and crackers. Orange jelly.

Least Favorite Food: Avocado.

Favorite Book: American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis.

Least Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Favorite Movie: Gladiator. Blade Runner. 

Least Favorite Movie: Shitty horrors in general.

Favorite Song: Mr. Roboto – Styx. If you play that to her, she doesn’t just sing along, she fucking performs it, okay. (Honourable mentions for The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy, and What Is Love – Haddaway.)

Favorite Sport: Rugby Union. Cassie can get shouty about rugby and is a very dedicated Saracens fan. Also a loyal supporter of the English team, and Danny Care’s ultimate fangirl. 

Coffee or Tea?: Tea.

Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter?: Neither, thank you. That stuff is nasty.

Type of Car She Drives: A dark green Mini Cooper.

Lefty or Righty?: Lefty.

Favorite Color: Pink. 

Cusser?: Pretty badly, although she does well to hold her tongue in public most of the time. Cassie has had a few slip-ups that made the headlines, though. Luckily the general opinion was that it made her seem more normal/relatable, and it went down well with voters, if not her critics.

Smoker? Drinker? Drug User?: Never used drugs. Occasionally smokes if she’s incredibly stressed and has been drinking, but otherwise, she finds it kind of gross. Drinks fairly regularly. More so lately.

Biggest Regret: Letting her parents fuck her up so badly. Cassie wishes that she hadn’t taken it so much to heart, now that she knows better.

Pets: The love of her life, Brody the Corgi. More recently, she got him a little sister, Sarah. Also her hedgehog Éclair.

[mobscene-london]

BASIC INFORMATION:

NAME: Spencer Berkeley. AGE: 38. PLACE OF BIRTH: Guildford, United Kingdom. AFFILIATION: The Hathaway Family. OCCUPATION: MP for Epsom and Ewell. Chief Whip. FACE CLAIM: Scott Eastwood. AVAILABILITY: TAKEN.

            BIOGRAPHY:

“How did you even get elected?”

“Firstly? You can take your shitty tone and shove it up your arse. You lost your seat, you reprobate. Secondly? I got elected because I’m fucking charming. People don’t want honesty. They want someone to smile big, and make them feel like they matter for ten seconds of their miserable lives.”

And that was exactly what he was good at.

Clearly, it must have been some solid wisdom on his part, because it was exactly what had dragged him from his journalistic career and plunged him into the solid Tory seat of Epsom and Ewell. The people there loved him because they didn’t know him. They just knew his name.

The Berkeley family had been Westminster royalty for generations. Spencer’s grandfather sits as a hereditary peer in the House of Lords, and his father is a dedicated MP and (formerly) one of the longest serving Foreign Secretaries in British history. His mother, a woman comparably gentler to her husband and father-in-law, is a kind-hearted philanthropist who once served several constituencies over a now-ended political career spanning most of her adult life.

Staying in the political sphere was worthwhile because there, Spencer’s familial influence was enough to keep him in the good graces of those who mattered. It was probably a good thing given that his abrasive attitude didn’t always earn him favour with everyone else.

Eton had scolded him constantly for conduct unbecoming, and yet the teachers could never truly hate him because he was so fucking good at winning people back ten seconds after verbally throat-punching them. The professors at the prestigious St. Andrews University were less forgiving, however, and when he was kicked off his International Relations course for a characteristic mixture of cocaine and threatening to head-butt a professor that under-marked his paper, it was only his father’s influence that could save his already questionable reputation by keeping said indiscretions under wraps.

Spencer wasn’t used to hearing no, because he’d never heard it growing up. He got what he wanted, when he wanted it, without having to lift a finger. It made him lazy because he was more interested in learning how to manipulate people into saying yes than working for things himself. So, when his father threatened to cut him off entirely unless he got his shit together, it was a dire wakeup call. Against the odds, the man got him into LSE to study Politics and Communications, and even managed to get him an internship at The Spectator (a political magazine he was once the editor of) to put him on the right track.

Even though Spencer didn’t appreciate the stark fucking reality check, he was intelligent enough to realise that his father wasn’t a man to be crossed. Politics might’ve been a familiar way of life to a man who’d known nothing else, but he grew to love it all on his own. It was a game. Backstabbing and manipulation and point-scoring; all of his favourite things rolled into one. Covering it as a journalist was an entirely new perspective, and he had such a talent with words that the BBC, The Telegraph and The Spectator constantly battled to keep his attention. He was not kind. He didn’t refuse to print for the sake of someone’s career, he didn’t shy away from bullying a story out of someone, and he definitely didn’t go easy on the moronic Labour opposition. Eventually, however, writing about the dirty world of politics no longer sustained him—he wanted to be a part of it.

Putting his degree to good use, he started out life in Westminster as the Communications Director for one of London’s up-and-coming Conservative MPs. It was a fast-paced job that he absolutely excelled at. Spencer knew how to deal with the press because he had been it for the last ten years of his life. The connections he’d made in the journalistic world were invaluable, because he could control the coverage about his candidate whilst simultaneously leaking stories about opponents, no questions asked. The man might’ve been an asshole—one that had made plenty of enemies during his time as a journalist—but even those that despised him respected him for his talent and sheer willingness to do whatever it took to get the job done.

Though he’d never planned to run for a seat himself, when the Conservative Party approached him as a potential candidate for Epsom and Ewell, he jumped at the chance.

Spencer is relatively new to the job—only having been elected in the 2017 General Election—but he is already causing waves within his party. Some question whether his immediate appointment as a Parliamentary Whip has more to do with his familial influence, but he’s not insecure enough to believe it as a sign of anything more than his skill…or that he’s like a rabid fucking bulldog that people are scared to say no to. He is loyal to the party to a fault, and they love him for it. Spencer still has a little black book from his time a journalist that he adds to constantly, full of every little secret he never exposed about those in power. Better saved for a rainy day; especially now he might have to wrangle a few rebellious, London backbenchers into adopting a party line they mightn’t necessarily agree with.    

            SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single. Evelyn Whitmore (ex-wife, unplayable) FAMILY: Charlene, Cecelia, Edward, Ethan Hathaway (cousins), Elliot, Everett Hathaway (cousins, unplayable), Colette Hathaway (cousin, deceased), Vivienne Hathaway (paternal aunt, unplayable) CONNECTIONS:

Charlene Hathaway: Cousin.  Whilst he has a good relationship with all of the Hathaway children, his friendship with the twins—Charlene, particularly—has always been the strongest. Spencer appreciates that they share the same cutthroat and savage approach to competition, and sitting back and judging the peasants with her is one of his favorite pastimes. He’s immensely glad she’s in London permanently.

Margaret Huang: Old Friend. They met whilst working at The Telegraph relatively early on in their careers, and despite his move into politics, they remained friends after. Their arrangement now is mutually beneficial. Spencer often uses Maggie to leak information that he probably shouldn’t and knows that he can trust her not to reveal him as her source inside Westminster if she gets a good story out of it.

[coinprojects]

New Post has been published on https://coinprojects.net/hive-blockchain-eyes-double-hash-rate-with-intel-mining-chips/

Hive Blockchain eyes double hash rate with Intel mining chips

Block reward mining agency Hive Blockchain Applied sciences (TSXV:HIVE | OTCQX:HVBTF | FSE:HBF) has signed a cope with tech big Intel to accumulate models of its new high-performing block reward mining chips. Hive will incorporate Intel’s chips in its new custom mining gadgets, estimating that they might double its hash fee.

Hive announced the provision settlement on March 7, revealing that Intel’s chips will likely be included into its state-of-the-art mining gear, which is being custom-built for the corporate.

The corporate entered into an settlement with an unique design producer with experience in electronics manufacturing. This producer will combine the Intel chips into an air-cooled mining system. Hive expects the miners to be delivered inside a 12 months, beginning within the second half of 2022. 

As soon as the gadgets are fired up, Hive expects its manufacturing to nearly double stating: “…if they’re all put in, could be an anticipated enhance of as much as 95% in our combination Bitcoin mining hashrate from 1.9 Exahash per second.”

The chips, often known as Bonanza Mine, have been unveiled by Intel in February in an try to interrupt right into a market that has been dominated by a couple of corporations, led by Bitmain and MicroBT. Although extremely anticipated, they did not dwell as much as expectations, with their efficiency being billed as manner beneath the dominant ASIC chips presently available in the market.

Shortly after, Intel introduced that it was engaged on the second technology of its chip, which might carry out significantly better than its predecessor. Hive will likely be getting this second technology Bonanza Mine chip, as will different miners, together with Griid and London listed Argo Blockchain (LSE: ARB).

“Intel’s energy-efficient and excessive efficiency blockchain accelerator is predicted to cut back our energy consumption over present ASIC miners in the marketplace,” Hive President and COO Aydin Kilic acknowledged, commenting on the deal.

“Previously 12 months HIVE has been strategically evaluating its path ahead for development available in the market and we’re very happy to broaden our Bitcoin mining program with Intel options. Intel’s dedication to difficult the established order and dedication to power environment friendly merchandise aligns very effectively with our ESG and clear power dedication,” govt chairman Frank Holmes added.

Hive additionally introduced that it had entered right into a Letter of Intent with Compute North to deploy 100 megawatts of miners in Texas powered by renewable power.

A 12 months in the past, the corporate purchased 6,400 Canaan AvalonMiner 1246 next-generation miners, revealing it had already exceeded its capability aim of 1000 PH/s.

Watch: CoinGeek New York panel, The way to Obtain Inexperienced Bitcoin: Vitality Consumption & Environmental Sustainability

New to Bitcoin? Take a look at CoinGeek’s Bitcoin for Beginners part, the final word useful resource information to be taught extra about Bitcoin—as initially envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto—and blockchain.

Source link By admin

#Altcoin #Bitcoin #BlockChain #BlockchainNews #Crypto

[warninggraphiccontent]

30 April 2021

Open season

Do you think the UK government should be more transparent, accountable and participatory?

Are you interested in health, the environment, justice, data ethics and algorithmic accountability, open contracting, misinformation, freedom of information, democracy building and standards in public life?

Would you like to help shape policy pledges on those issues (and maybe others) that government will commit to?

Then sign up to take part in the development of the latest Open Government National Action Plan - the process kicks off next week. With perfect timing, really. (Full disclosure: I'm on the civil society steering group. Some more info on the whole thing here.)

Please do express your interest, and share as widely as possible - it would be great to have as much of UK civil society and the public involved as possible.

Other bits and pieces:

One of those thematic groups will be on freedom of information. Plenty of links on that this week below, including mySociety's (excellent) new report on the topic. (And something something government making an exhibition of itself.)

Remember we have another great Data Bites for you next week - sign up here, catch up on the previous events here.

And IfG have an event today with the new senior digital figures in the UK government - hopefully we'll hear more than we have so far about the new Central Digital and Data Office, and its relationship with the Government Digital Service.

Trying to find basic information is more complicated than you might think, part whatever we're on now.

My list of data series - newsletters, podcasts, events - is so very nearly at 100 entries, so do add any that we've missed. And thanks to all who've contributed so far. One of those listed is Politico's Digital Bridge, which has a good run down of the G7 digital and technology track this week.

The Alan Turing Institute and the Royal Statistical Society have been working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre on various statistics and machine learning projects during the pandemic. You can hear about some of them at an event this afternoon.

RIP astronaut Michael Collins. This extract from his autobiography is quite a piece of writing.

Have a great weekend

Gavin

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Today's links:

Graphic content

Viral content

India’s catastrophic second covid wave shows no sign of slowing* (The Economist)

COVID-19: The crisis in one of India's worst-hit cities, where someone dies every five minutes (Sky News)

NHS app will be used as Covid ‘vaccine passport’ for foreign travel (The Guardian)

Vax populi

See How the Vaccine Rollout Is Going in Your County and State* (New York Times)

Vaccine diplomacy boosts Russia’s and China’s global standing* (The Economist)

40m Pfizer jabs bought as Covid booster shots* (The Sunday Times)

After a blistering start, Biden’s vaccine rollout faces new hurdles* (FT)

Vaccine uptake rises among England’s ethnic minorities* (FT)

What the ONS can tell you about the COVID-19 Vaccine programme (ONS)

Side effects

How has lockdown changed our relationship with nature? (ONS)

In need of support? Lessons from the Covid-19 crisis for our social security system (Resolution Foundation)

After shocks: Financial resilience before and during the Covid-19 crisis (Resolution Foundation)

‘We are drowning in insecurity’: young people and life after the pandemic* (FT)

More Americans Are Leaving Cities, But Don’t Call It an Urban Exodus* (Bloomberg)

Joe 90 (+10)

Joe Biden’s first 100 days: by the numbers* (FT)

What America thinks* (The Economist)

After 100 days, Joe Biden is polling better than Donald Trump did* (The Economist)

At the 100-day mark, has Biden kept his campaign promises?* (Washington Post)

Prolific yet quiet: Joe Biden’s first 100 days in numbers* (New Statesman)

17 Metrics to Watch in the Biden Era* (Bloomberg)

Taking leave of their...

2020 Census shows U.S. population grew at slowest pace since the 1930s* (Washington Post)

Which States Will Gain or Lose Seats in the Next Congress* (New York Times)

Once-A-Decade Census Numbers to Redraw U.S. Political Landscape* (Bloomberg)

Which States Won — And Lost — Seats In The 2020 Census? (FiveThirtyEight)

US politics

Biden’s $4 Trillion Economic Plan, in One Chart* (The Upshot)

By the numbers: States weighing voting changes (Axios)

Advantage, GOP (FiveThirtyEight)

Americans From Both Parties Want Weed To Be Legal. Why Doesn’t The Federal Government Agree? (FiveThirtyEight)

Derek Chauvin was found guilty – how typical is that of US police who kill? (The Guardian)

Science and nature

Visualised: glaciers then and now (The Guardian)

Siberian fires not an isolated event, EU earth observatory shows* (FT)

The U.S. Will Need a Lot of Land for a Zero-Carbon Economy* (Bloomberg)

The Hidden Science Making Batteries Better, Cheaper and Everywhere* (Bloomberg)

Our Earth in context with other worlds (Axios)

The intricate life of the International Space Station (via Chris Hadfield)

UK politics and government

Will Greensill be a Barnard Castle-sized issue for the Tories? (UK in a Changing Europe)

Boris Johnson’s £200k refurbishment of 11 Downing Street could buy you a whole house in much of the UK* (New Statesman)

Labour’s lost heartlands. Can it win them back?* (FT)

Green gains in red-brick England* (New Statesman - though I'd have put Labour at the base of the bars)

Procuring inequality: Understanding the gender pay gap in government contracting (Spend Network - and summary)

Devolved public services: The NHS, schools, and social care in the four nations (IfG)

Let's get fiscal, fiscal

The fiscal position of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (IfG)

The national balance sheet and capital stocks, preliminary estimates, UK: 2021 (ONS)

Putting a value on the UK – faster than ever before (ONS)

Nominal spending figures understate China’s military might* (The Economist)

Everything else

Inheritances and inequality over the life cycle: what will they mean for younger generations? (IFS)

Exploring the State Papers with Word Embeddings (Networking Archives)

Nomadland, Disney and the drive for Oscars dominance in 2021* (FT)

Survival curves (Max Roser)

Meta data

Open for the best

Registration: Open Government Thematic Groups (UK Open Government Network)

Civil society urged to join groups on government transparency. (UK Open Government Network)

Statement on the UK’s New Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions (UK Anti-Corruption Coalition)

Relight my FOIA

New policy paper: Reforming Freedom of Information (mySociety)

Reforming Freedom of Information: mySociety policy paper launch event (mySociety)

Public information request monitor (mySociety)

Freedom of Information in danger of ‘sliding into obsolescence’, new report finds (openDemocracy)

We are going to court to force the government to release full details about its controversial FOI ‘Clearing House’ – a secretive unit inside the Cabinet Office (openDemocracy)

Press freedom: how governments are using COVID as an excuse to crack down on the public’s right to know (Media@LSE)

A transparent FOI system is vital for good government* (The Times)

Thread (George Greenwood)

Government obfuscation has become 'art form' - MPs and journalists say Freedom of Information not working (Press Gazette)

Viral content

NHS app set to feature vaccine passport (Public Technology)

COVID-19 Update (UK Government)

AI got 'rithm

Ensuring trustworthy algorithmic decision-making (CDEI for OECD.AI)

Error-riddled data sets are warping our sense of how good AI really is* (MIT Technology Review)

Artificial Intelligence in Local Government (Oxford Commission on AI & Good Governance)

Now is the time for a transatlantic dialog on the risk of AI (VentureBeat)

AI at work isn’t always intelligent* (FT)

Artificial Intelligence Is Misreading Human Emotion* (Kate Crawford, The Atlantic)

The Challenges of Animal Translation* (The New Yorker)

We need more bias in artificial intelligence (Bruegel)

Stop talking about AI ethics. It’s time to talk about power.* (MIT Technology Review)

Working for an Algorithm: Shadow Bans, Dopamine Hits, and Viral Videos, All in the Life of TikTok Creators (The Markup)

Home Office algorithm to detect sham marriages may contain built-in discrimination (TBIJ)

Missing data

What's missing? Evaluating social sector data gaps (Commission on Civil Society)

ONS to publish suicide data by ethnicity from June as charities say ‘no excuse’ for gaps in data (The Independent)

///so.very.predictable

App used by emergency services under scrutiny (BBC News)

Why What3Words is not suitable for safety critical applications (Cybergibbons)

*All* English ambulance services use #What3Words, according to health minister (Owen Boswarva)

Government

Proud to be the Government Analysis Function (Government Analysis Function)

ADR UK three years in: Harnessing the power of administrative data three years in (ADR UK)

Supercomputing leap in weather and climate forecasting (Met Office)

Transforming Government: Six key recommendations (Foundry4)

Help us set a new data standard for vulnerable people services (Data in government)

Government gives Verify a stay of execution (UKAuthority)

Texting times

Boris Johnson’s tax texts show perils of government by WhatsApp (Politico)

Lobbying row: Why ministers have two mobile phones (BBC News)

Big tech, trade and competition

UK digital competition - it’s about your data, stupid (diginomica)

UK lobbying questions raised by Big Tech cash for MP interest groups (Politico)

Facebook v Apple: The ad tracking row heats up (BBC News)

The Counterbalance – The European System of Monopoly (Brave New Europe)

Twitter censored tweets critical of India’s handling of the pandemic at its government’s request (The Verge)

Technology wars are becoming the new trade wars* (FT)

Data

techUK on the Future of Data Governance for the UK (techUK)

Ireland stress-tests Europe’s data protection law* (FT)

Data Brokers Are a Threat to Democracy* (Wired)

An airline glitch reveals the dangers of discriminatory data (Tech Monitor)

For public review: The GDB research handbook (Global Data Barometer)

Fact and fiction

The Anti-Vaccine Influencers Who Are Merely Asking Questions* (The Atlantic)

Facts are Pieces of a Puzzle, not the Puzzle Itself (Zeynep)

Everything else

Justice Lost In The Post: How the Post Office wrecked the lives of its own workers (Private Eye)

Unified UK measures of rurality and deprivation (mySociety)

What is going on here? (Hilary Cottam)

Shaping the future of digital technology in health and social care (King's Fund)

Should Tech Make Us Optimistic About Climate Change? (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change)

Scottish Elections 2021: WE’RE TRACKING WHERE THE PARTIES STAND (Open Rights Group Scotland)

Opportunities

EVENT: Turing-RSS Lab webinar #3: using algorithms and AI in the response to COVID-19 (The Alan Turing Institute, Royal Statistical Society)

EVENT: What is the Future of Free Speech on the Internet? Jillian C York (Bristol Festival of Ideas)

EVENT: Rethinking how we regulate Big Tech (Bennett Institute)

JOB: Editor in Chief (openDemocracy - more)

JOBS (Full Fact)

JOB: Data Investigations Advisor (Global Witness)

JOB: Director, Technology and Human Rights (Human Rights Watch)

JOB: Data Scientist - NHS Test & Trace (Grade-G7) (DHSC)

JOB: Head of Digital ID (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, via Jukesie)

JOB: Lead Data Scientist - Datalab (BBC, via Jukesie)

JOB: Service Manager, WhatDoTheyKnow (mySociety)

JOB: We're hiring - could you be our new Data Analyst? (Data Orchard)

JOBS (Information Commissioner's Office)

TENDER: Evaluating the data assurance market (ODI)

And finally...

When you label a plot the wrong way and suddenly discover a new graph type (João Martins)

How High Airplanes have been Able to Go from INTERNATIONAL PICTURE LANGUAGE by Otto Neurath, 1936 (RJ Andrews)

For the last six years I’ve kept a spreadsheet listing every parking spot I’ve used at the local supermarket in a bid to park in them all (Gareth Wild, via Alice)

[airdropsandcryptonews]

OTC Cryptocurrency Trading Guide

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OTC Cryptocurrency Trading Guide

The crypto asset market is growing stronger over the course of each year. Why is it growing in such a manner? The answer is that established companies and corporations across the world from countries such as Japan, China, Estonia, the United States, and even the United Kingdom have stepped into the digital asset sector to help it grow.

Cryptocurrency markets will evolve as more sophisticated entities step in from the traditional finance sector and pave the way for new jobs and forms of transaction. One way that these traditional market players are bringing about more access and trading of assets is through a mechanism known as over the counter trading. But what is this mechanism and why does it matter?

The simple answer is that it is present because it allows a wide variety of people to interchange copious amounts of digital tokens without identification. It is these two components that give it substantial value to parties who wish transact without trace. They may be wealthy individuals, entities such as large financial institutions, or other third parties that have a vested interest in opaque speculation.

Indeed, cryptocurrency markets are transforming and more people are gravitating to it. They seek to find different ways to get involved with their own criteria and make a significant impact on their lives.

The goal of this post is to provide you with a general understanding of the cryptocurrency markets and its relationship with Over the Counter trading. By the end of this post, you will comprehend what this emerging sector in digital assets is, why people prefer OTC, the advantages and disadvantages, the volume of transactions in the present and in the future, as well a keen understanding of those who transact therein.

Over The Counter In Traditional Markets

First, remember that the concept of OTC is not a new invention. But what is the idea of OTC? It is a method of how financial assets are interchanged for businesses that are not present on the regular places like the Nasdaq or the LSE. What makes over the counter markets interesting?

One point is that these transactions occur through broker dealer groups instead of a central location for speculation. What is more is that companies do not have to be in line with specific criteria to be traded in this manner. They would have to meet more stringent criteria to be present in a traditional centralized facilitation area.

In a traditional market, these non traditional transactions occur over the OTCBB also denominated as Pink Sheets.

But what is this OTCBB? It is an information entity and asset interchange platform where one can have a large volume of liquidity in addition to better distribution of facts and information. One can place their trades over the web or over a telecommunications device.

How does this translate to cryptocurrency markets?

OTC and Cryptocurrency

The same concept applies but in the digital asset world one will see that non traditional brokers will mediate between the acquirers and the divestor. The facilitator should search for and match two people who seek to make a similar transaction. As noted earlier, OTC allows for opacity and abstraction in identity.

Therefore, the OTC broker makes the trade as opposed to the parties involved. It helps to keep things simple and not unduly influence the markets. These transactions may not be visible like it is on traditional digital asset facilitator spaces. Lack of market disruption is crucial in maintaining stability.

The OTC Motive

The fact is that liquidity matters in the speculation environment. Guess what? It matters even more when one wants to move substantial sums of assets within one go. But it is a problem when one can not do this on traditional digital asset facilitation spaces.

These larger orders will take time to finalize on regular places and sometimes they might not get filled. What is a whale trader to do? Wait around and hope it happens in a timely and profitable manner? Hope it goes smoothly where there are no price leaks? That is not a sound strategy in the least bit.

They need another solution and these counter operators offer that ability to move substantial sums of assets without any issues. They offer a unique service and provide value to those who want to discreetly conduct market activity without drawing attention to themselves.

That is where OTC providers come in and state that they will meet demands and offer what is sought by the large speculator. All parties walk away happy with the deal. Moving the markets is the next concern. Say that someone wanted to move 2,000 BTC on Binance. That is something that would make others pay attention and cause a potential rally or a decline. Wise whales will opt for OTC providers to conduct these transactions to minimize market manipulation.

Further, centralized speculation locations will create more friction in execution because of limitations inherent to their platforms such as lack of government currency infusion. The broker dealer groups do not have these limitations because they match parties directly. They offer a seamless and frictionless experience that makes a difference for each party. That is why they exist and will continue to do so over the next few decades.

Who are Parties Involved in these Transactions?

The answer to this is fairly straightforward, it is people who have large pools of wealth or people who will manage money and assets for those who legally own that wealth. That is a significant value add for people who are transacting on behalf of themselves or on behalf of people who are wealthy. They can participate in emerging markets without letting other people know about their trades. This is valuable to people who are entering into markets that might be frowned upon like bitcoin was in 2011 or 2013.

Of course, there are those entities such as financial firms, hedge funds, and others who also participate in these markets. These individuals always move large amounts to gain the right profits. People may move more than $30,000 to $80,000 at a time. One might also notice that people like miners will come to these locations to place btc on to the public markets. Many groups that conduct these transactions are in Eur-Asia.

Which Brokers Are Involved in the Process?

There are many OTC institutions at the current moment within the digital asset industry. A few of these prominent ones include ones that are based in New York started by people such as Barry Silbert. Then there are platforms that are present and owned by people like the DRW Group, and others in Asia. Prominent institutions that people respect are a part of the process.

More trusted parties look like they will continue to expand into this area because it is lucrative and there will be more demand. They understand that more institutions and wealthy clients are looking for more gains and yield and will look to alternative assets such as bitcoin to quench their thirst for capital growth. As demand grows so will supply.

How Large Is This Segment of Cryptocurrency Trading?

It is hard to state just how large this sector is because of the fact that it is a very opaque market. We do know that many people with large portions of funds participate in the market and will do so regularly due to anonymity and security.

Are There Issues with Being A Speculator in the OTC Market?

The brokers in this equation have more work to do in the OTC environment. That means that people must pay attention to the competence and execution of the dealer network. There is more reliance on this third party to conduct settlement.

For instance, if you were to use Binance or another typical facilitator to conduct a transaction, you just make the trade and everything works out (depending on the size of the trade). The entity will make sure to conduct the calculations and send the funds to the appropriate parties.

But if you were going into the OTC environment, the broker dealers must conduct the transfers in a timely manner. You must wait on the facilitators to finalize the transaction. The right facilitators will make certain to verify the worthiness and legitimacy of the parties involved in the transactions.

Further, remember that these intermediaries want to uphold their reputation and may turn to more secure forms of fund transfer by using escrow features. The idea here is to minimize business risk and provide splendid experiences to consumers. People might also see some initial friction with the notion of international transfers and the legal aspects that relate to it.

How Do You Execute and OTC Transaction?

The process is quite simple. You will reach out to the broker or they communicate with you and ask if you are interested in processing transactions. You would state that you are interested in being an acquirer or a divestor of assets. A typical entity will make sure to conduct the necessary checks into identity and verify the person is who they say they are before proceeding.

The intermediary will seek out someone who is interested in being on the other side of the transaction. For instance, if you are a buyer, the third party must go in search of a seller of the same amount. The next component is where the two parties hash out details and terms of the deal. What are these details? They include size, price, and timing.

How do they take place? Intermediaries will facilitate online methods such as web messages or even through conference calls. The idea here is to beat the exchange costs and still have a large transaction go through and execute. What is even more interesting here is that these third party intermediaries will strive to charge less.

Now, the negotiation is over and each party must stick to their word. The purchaser will fund the transaction, the seller will move the asset into a secure account. There might be other guardians involved in the process to seamless conduct the deal. The parties walk away with their respective gains after the third party dealer gives them what they wanted. Settlements occur within a day to a month.

Conclusion

Should you take part in the OTC market? That depends on if you are a whale or not. Minnows, those that have less than $100,000 to play with in the markets should stick with pro trader or basic accounts. They do not have any real purpose in these above counter markets. They can just as easily speculate from the comfort of their accounts on Square or other brokers within the traditional speculation sector.

Of course, individuals do have the option of going through Localbitcoins or another service that helps people transact without an exchange. But this might be more of a hassle in some cases than using centralized exchanges. For instance, one might have to pay much more than the going rate on Asian and US speculation hubs. It may not make sense in many cases for a regular individual to use their version of over the counter.

Why take extra steps to open up an account with these broker dealer networks when you don’t have the right capital? Remember that many of these brokers expect you to have at least $100,000 or more to transact with in regular transactions and might make exceptions.

For those who do meet requirements or are a large member of the crypto realm, these vehicles may be the way to go because it helps them to conduct the right transactions. Most people who do take part in this realm enjoy their experience and are apt to come back.

Middlemen are present in the process and are useful if the situation calls for it. Remember that this option is there for you when you need it and you can improve your quality of transaction movement if you have a large portion of funds to allocate to the digital asset industry.

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[theoptimisticpatriot]

Brexit and culture wars: is this a new normal?

We are not divided into two tribes, but poorly represented by our politics. I recently spoke at an LSE seminar on Brexit, culture wars and the new normal. These are my speaking notes.

Imagine a political scientist coming from Mars to study English values and attitudes. Asking about where we were on a left-right economic scale, a liberal-authoritarian scale (both are regularly provided by the British Election Study) on a national identity/democracy/sovereignty scale (we don’t have such good data although it is just as important), and some other issues

The only thing is, no one tells the Martian about Brexit, so they don’t ask any questions about that.  

Would they find a nation divided into two tribes?

Not on economic issues, where there is a spread of views but with the peak and average to the left of centre.

Not on social issues, where there is a spread of views but with the peak and average to authoritarian side of the centre.

On national identity (English identity/European identity), we find the largest national identity group amongst the equally English and British, with the others leaning more to the English end of the spectrum than to the British. On European identity there is a steady increase from the English not British to the British not English that correlates with voting patterns in the referendum. But again there is no sense of a sharp polarisation into two tribes.

Even on immigration, often taken as the touchstone culture war issue, we are not so much polarised as spread either side of the centre ground which is held by those who accept immigration but want it properly controlled. do we think we are divided? Why do we identify more strongly as Leavers or Remainers than with political parties? Why would 37 % of Remainers say they wouldn’t want a family member to marry a Leaver? (Leavers are a bit more tolerant)

Brexit was a binary issue. You had to be on one side or the the other. Even though the middle ground was held by Remainers who didn’t like the EU very much, and Leavers who were worried about the consequences.

On a binary choice, people will come, on average, from different parts of the values scales. If you  take those same voters and ask them about other issues, they will often take different views. It is easy to  reate the illusion of two tribes, but it is just that – a statistical illusion.

The depth of the polarisation we feel is not in the way we see the world, but in the failed response of the political system to the referendum. After the vote we saw a sharp polarisation amongst political leaderships. The hard line Brexiteers and the hard line People Voters both calculated that maximising polarisation gave them the best chance of winning – a strategy that could only have one winner. My experience as one of those who advocated the ‘middle ground’ Norway option was of as much hostility towards any compromise position from the Peoples Vote campaign as the European Research Group.

In this polarisation Leave voters felt the referendum might be stolen from them by MPs. Remainers thought the referendum had been stolen Russia/CambridgeAnalytica/Facebook or, not too subtly, because the stupid people had been allowed to vote alongside the clever people.

My contention is that the polarisation around Brexit is a product of the actions of political leaderships, not of any fundamental polarisation of the electorate into two tribes.

Our Martian would say, you are not divided into two tribes. You are fragmented. And segmentation studies like the one by Paula Surridge of Bristol  can group people into ten ‘values clans’. These are groups of people with broadly shared clusters of values. These different clans also reflect different economic experiences, age, class, race and education and we find them in different parts of the nation.

The crucial thing to understand is that these values clans are not equally well represented in the political system. Around about two-thirds of voters say that no political party represents them well, or that the political system doesn’t work for people like them.

A recent pamphlet from UK In a Changing Europe showed a huge mismatch between the two major political parties (MPs and activists) and their voters. The Conservative Party is much more socially liberal than its voters and more right-wing economically than its voters. Labour is better aligned on economics but even more out of touch on social issues.

In our current political system, the parties do not compromise to meet reflect the views of voters. They expect voters to compromise their own views if they want to vote for a party.

This creates an inbuilt instability and unpredictability into politics. When a society is fragmented and political parties do not reflect their own electorates on many issues, elections are less likely to be decided across a range of issues and more by any single issue that appear to be clear cut and well-defined.

That’s how to understand the past few years.  ‘Take Back Control’ and ‘Get Brexit Done’ emerged as clearly defined choices for a section of the electorate who broadly shared a sense of patriotic national democratic sovereignty, against oppositions (Remain and Labour) who actually did not address questions of patriotism, nation, sovereignty or democracy at all.

We can understand that while immigration was seen as a touchstone cultural issue, voters appear to have been motivated as much by the idea that democratic control of migration should take place at national level as by levels of immigration themselves.  Concern about immigration has fallen amongst Leave voters since the referendum even though immigration numbers have not.

As someone who is interested in English identity and politics I would point out that those people who are ‘more English than British’ were the decisive Leave voters in 2016 and entirely responsible for the Conservative victory in 2019. But, as people who are left of centre on economic issues, on the socially conservative side on social issues, and have a strongly nation view of democracy and sovereignty issues, they stand out as particularly poorly represented in the political system. They ended up where they did largely on one issue.

The extent to which we will have cultural wars (or other political wars) in the future will depend on the interaction between political parties and leaderships and this fragmented and disenfranchised electorate. If, as in the years after Brexit, political parties chose to polarise issues for their own advantage we could certainly have culture wars. Not because the people are deeply polarised, but because politics chooses to make cultural issues a dividing line.

If, on the other hand, one or more parties move to align their views more closely with the largest possible group of voters, then culture wars are less likely.

John Denham

13.10.20.