#lo he reads

[definegodliness]

Style

Contrary to what might be expected, I am not an avid book reader. Regrettably, I have an incredibly hard time finding stories that captivate me, and am far easier annoyed with writing styles and far sooner bored with subject choices than, I'm sure, would better me. Herein, I'd like to add, not to sound too pedantic, it is mostly the weirdness of my own brain that hinders me. In constant world-dissecting contemplation, therein all too prone to jadedness and world weariness. A rather unruly mind that not only is weird, but also craves weirdness: surprises, sparks of curiosity, and above all confusion; logic in chaos, magic in reality.

Magical realism.

Two days ago I learned about this style of writing, and I'm excited. We had guests over, old friends of my mom and dad; a married couple with whose family we used to spend holidays together. Occasionally they drop by, or my mom and I go to theirs. After catching up, I had to go walk the dog, so I missed out on a lot of fun, and often inspiring, conversations, and when I came back we went from series and movie recommendations --- for which I am also rather useless --- to reading tips.

Now, I have reading tips, but I always add the disclaimer that my mind is weird and my tastes are based on vagueness and obscurity, definitely not for everybody. But as I was, I suppose apologetically, enthusing about Süskind's Perfume and Hesse's Steppenwolf, adding them to 'the borrow pile', the husband had been nodding and finally hummed:

"Magical realism."

Immediately intruiged, I asked him what it was, and he explained it was a certain writing style. He couldn't quite reproduce the exact mannerisms of the style, as it was part of his high school material, but when I spoke about my reading preferences one of his Dutch classes had randomly popped into his mind. And(!) there was a book. He grabbed his phone and searched both Google and his memory simultaneously, until his much anticipated: "A-ha!"

Hubert Lampo

The Coming Of Joachim Stiller

I ordered the book immediately. Today, it arrived, and this evening I started reading. 80 feverishly read pages in I can already say this is EXACTLY what my weird, food-for-thought malnourished brain had been literarily craving. Not only subject wise, but the Flemish Lampo, like our southern neighbours tend to do, writes attentive, therein striving for perfection. Then, Lampo himself treats the Dutch language as an artform. I have to reread bits because I get distracted admiring his craft.

There are so many mind sparkling sentences, and he strings them together without fearing any extra comma or conjunction. Some take up over half a page and I love it. I'll gladly admit it took me some pages to get used to reading such writing again, having solely read poetry and (news) articles for a year or two, but it is such a blessing to not be underestimated as a reader in both vocabulary and attention span.

I put down the book to write down this feeling of joy, and share it, but also to be able to relive the feeling when I head to my mom and dad's friends' place, as a guest, to properly express my thanks for the recommendation.

Don't you adore it when a great book just randomly comes into your life like this? When it finds you as if fated, because it is at a time in your life when you, in hindsight, direly seek its contents.

For obvious reasons, I do. It's one of the little magics I still have left. All my favourite books have come to me randomly, as such. However, two, maybe three years of waiting for such a moment is a long time. That's why I'm also glad that two days ago I got to know about the style. Magical Realism. I'll dive into that as soon as I finish reading, or, better said, consuming The Coming Of Joachim Stiller.

[robinmage]

one thing i really appreciate about jinshi's character is how he has NEVER once actually had any intention of succeeding the throne. every time the idea is brought up he immediately detests it. so hes giving maomao as much as he possibly can, even though maomao has many qualms about it due to their difference in social status, but jinshi DOESNT CARE because hes NEVER cared about or wanted the status of crown prince! its been nothing but a burden to him! from his perspective the ONLY thing keeping the two of them apart are outside influences. he has no doubt within himself-- hes horribly down bad, in fact. but unfortunately his stupid JOB is getting in the way of him skipping off into the sunset with his favourite little cat

[spidervman]

QB1 looking mighty fine on this wednesday evening (afternoon ig if you’re in california)

[m00ngbin]

So I know we all know that Toichiro doesn't actually care about Serizawa or any of the Super Five, and he makes that clear several times throughout the World Domination arc, but I wanted to look at the specific wording I noticed here:

Oh ok.

For most people, (me included), the first time they watch this scene, they expect Toichiro to say something like, "I think very highly of You." That's the normal thing to say, that's what you would assume he's going to say.

But he doesn't. He specifically chooses to say "your Potential" instead. He's making it very clear that he doesn't actually view Serizawa as a person on the same level as him. He doesn't value his humanity or his presence, he values his Power. Toichiro is Only interested in what Serizawa's powers can do for him and how to make them stronger, and it's obvious to everyone.

Everyone except Serizawa. Serizawa, who was so deep in denial that he had convinced himself that he was working for a company instead of a terrorist cult organization. Serizawa, who devoted every minute of his time to Toichiro from the moment he left his room, until the very end of the organization. Serizawa who truly and wholeheartedly believed that Toichiro did give a damn about him as a person and not just his powers.

Serizawa who, even though he heard Toichiro say that he could lose all of the Super 5 and not feel a thing, still believed that Toichiro would.

Before the panel below happens, Serizawa begs Toichiro to stop what he's doing and tries to insist that he's not betraying him. Obviously that doesn't matter to Toichiro, because Serizawa has expended his usefulness and is actively going against him.

That's part of the reason I think that Studio Bones should have added this scene into the anime, I think it would have made Toichiro outright telling Serizawa that he didn't really care about him more impactful. Not just for Serizawa's character, but for his intentions for all of the Super 5. It helps show just how little he cares for other people and how he only sees them as tools, a means to an end. (Even if that was already clear before, it just drives the point home).

Also also also I think that would have made the one line from, (I think), Hatori stand out more. After Toichiro attempts to blow Serizawa, Shigeo and Reigen up, Hatori says something to the effect of, "so the president finally cast Serizawa aside, huh?" Everyone knew it was coming, everyone knew what Toichiro was after, except for Serizawa.

Tldr: Toichiro wanted Serizawa to become stronger not just because he would be more useful to him, but because there would be more power for him to take if need be, and the spare batteries panel should've been added to the anime because it would've made everything more impactful imo

[bugwolfsstuff]

Am i wrong?

I have personal beef with Ovid (IF I HAVE TO GET INTO ONE MORE ARGUMENT ABOUT MEDUSA WITH SOMEONE IM SELLING SOMEONE TO ONE DIRECTION), every time I mention him picture me saying it with the exact expression and tone as this:

[elbiotipo]

I have a theory, and this is based more on a hunch and my understanding of history because I would love to see it supported by data and more analysis, that the United States not only acted against Latin America for its natural resources and to keep hegemony, but also to sink future competition.

After World War II, the major industrial centers of the world were completely destroyed... EXCEPT for the United States AND Latin America. Latin America, or at least in the case of Argentina, was always in a conflict between the landowner classes who wanted to keep the agrarian neo-feudal export economy inherited from colonial times and the interests who wanted to industrialize their country and wanted political, social and economic progress. Being untouched by the global conflict, this was the prime moment for Latin American nations to begin industrialization.

Argentina and Chile, with relatively developed educational systems and increasingly especialized industries, could have grown to the equivalents of Italy or even Japan. Mexico could have also developed its industry, it is, in fact, one of the main manufacturers right now. And in particular Brazil, with a huge population, natural resources and emerging industry, would have emerged not only as a peer but as an outright rival to the United States.

This was unacceptable. So the interventions did not only had the intention of keeping US influence, but actually to destroying Latin American development in a key point so that the United States would keep its hegemony. I don't think it was a coordinated thought, I don't think Truman or Einsenhower said "GO SINK LATIN AMERICA", but I do believe this was part of the intention; not only to keep hegemony but also to keep possibly 'unfriendly' economies from developing.

Perón knew this, which was why he insisted in the nationalization and development of industry and the union of Latin America in his thought. I believe many other marxists and peronist and peronarxists (you know how it is with Argentina) here and in the rest of Latin America have written about this. I have to read more when I get the time.

[kurooscoffee]

Joker Out mention in the new Miha interview in 🛑 STOP magazine 🫶

How do you feel when you see your son Kris on stage with the band Joker Out? Does it remind you of your early years with Big Foot Mama?

Miha: Yes, it reminds me of myself, I see myself in him. Sometimes, when they have a great concert, I get a bit emotional when I watch them. It was exactly the same for us, except ours was more like a rock party. With Joker Out, it’s serious. Just like when I, as an 18-year-old, went to Hala Tivoli to see some American or European band and our jaws dropped, that's how I felt in Stožice when I watched Joker Out. It really made me go, "Wow." Now I follow them purely as a fan. Their rapid and powerful success is because they were smart and went to Eurovision. We all underestimated the power of Eurovision.

Do Joker Out ever ask you for advice? Have you ever helped them with writing or creating songs, or do you leave them alone?

Miha: I leave them alone, honestly, they don’t pay attention to me. Even when I share my thoughts, they always do things their own way.

How do you see Kris and Joker Out's future in the music industry? What advice would you give them?

Miha: If I gave them any advice, they’d probably do the opposite. I would just tell them to keep doing what they’re doing because they’re doing it well, and not to rest on their laurels. And they won’t. I wish them success, to reach even higher levels internationally. I hope they get serious airplay in England and across Europe. They have every opportunity. They are talented, intelligent, and good-looking too.

Full article in Slovenian:

[blankerthought]

why is will graham's thing with bugs in forensics so underutilized. it's mentioned like once in the first episode and then it's gone. where's my "will graham is a fuckign nerd about bugs" fic. i need him to be SO knowledgable and passionate and also just a weird little guy. i need it for my health.

[date-prisa-estamos-leyendo]

No importa qué horrores hayamos podido vivir, pues tenemos la certeza de que ya salimos vivos de ellos.

Aún no se lo he dicho a mi jardín, Pia Pera.

[teatitty]

Okay I've had dinner, I finally finished reading Frankenstein, time to binge #2-9 of Avengers: The Children's Crusade! Last time we saw Wanda in the main story was 2005 at the end of House of M and this story was written in 2011! There's a lot of Magnet family stuff you won't be seeing bc Wanda Focus so I absolutely recommend reading the whole comic for yourself [unfortunately we will be getting some WandaSimon stuff in it augh]

[itischeese]

the entire naruto series is angsty self-insert rpf fan fiction obito wrote while he was stuck in the cave with his long suffering grandfather. it’s true. he told me himself.

[demeterdefence]

everyone has already pointed this out and much more intelligently but the whole plot of lore olympus really comes down to rachel telling the audience whom to hate without putting any work into proving why

like we are no strangers to character assassination demeter legion has been going thru it since day one, but rachel is so staggeringly bad at writing genuine villains that she has to pull random ass acts of evil out of nowhere to justify her pinning certain characters as bad guys. and it’s proof of her writing by the seat of her pants yeah, but when in doubt she just throws characters under the bus so long as it props persephone and hades up

the narrative NEVER shows us zeus or demeter doing evil things, but they’ve run afoul of the main couple, so we are told they are villains. zeus has proven he’s a bad husband, sure, but not a bad king - but rachel needs to escape the corner she had written herself into, so suddenly zeus is a wife abusing monster on par with kronos. arguably the only genuine villain we see do something 1000% wrong is apollo, and rachel still can’t decide if he’s some brilliant mastermind or some idiot being played. in fact, the narrative is kinder to apollo than it is to zeus or kronos, and that’s saying something

like yeah it’s lazy writing to have zeus be the Bad Guy when we have fucking kronos and also apparently ouranos but honesty it just feels so disrespectful. rachel simply cannot figure out how to write a bad guy so she just keeps throwing random characters in the woodchipper and hopes it buys her a week. it’s such a waste of potential, such a demonstration of her failings as a writer, and a total disregard and lack of knowledge of the myths she claims to be basing this on

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Still wild to me that the Avatar team saw a guy write a love story between a stick and a monkey and were like "This is the guy who we need to write Rangshi and Yangvik" and then he ended up making two of the best couples in all of the Avatar-verse TT0TT

[acediaedeus]

I know Byakuya was mad as hell when he found out Ichigo loves Shakespeare.

like, yes, they’ve settled their beef a long time ago, Ichigo likes Byakuya, Byakuya grudgingly respects Ichigo (at least after TYBW). BUT! there’s no way in hell Byakuya forgets about the whole “stealing Rukia’s Shinigami powers” turn ‘ryoka boy invasion’ thing. and there’s also no doubt in my mind that he’s one of those ppl who think delinquent = bad student. Byakuya views him as brash and impulsive, thus Ichigo having “refined” tastes in literature would make him combust on the spot.

bonus: he definitely claimed Ichigo can’t read, back in his ultimate hater era.

when he comes to terms with these news he begins supplying Ichigo with Soul Society’s literature. they have a book club together, trust.

proof I’m not making this shit up:

the Avatar AU is coming, trust. it’s just really long and complicated, and not actually finished yet, lol. so yeah, have this for now.

also, it made me think of the other Avatar AU (the one with the blue ppl), so I’ll maybe write that too??? that coke I be snorting at night is potent, lmao.

[yo-soy-la-justicia]

So... she si now a man?? (Or rather: was he always a boy? My question is not intended to question OX's gender, its know how to refer to OldXian)

I mean i'm pretty sure Old Xian was a girl, but recently someone told "she" was a boy... i'm not sure anymore

I'm going give context because saying like that can sound rude:

Cuando yo entré al fandom, 2016 más o menos, creí que era un chico por su avatar, pero entonces se dijo que en realidad era una chica, así que desde ahí muchos la empezamos a llamar como tal y nunca pensé demasiado en si su avatar representaba algo más que Old Xian queriendo mantener su identidad secreta y disfrutando de dibujar chicos, porque yo también uso avatares de chicos que me parecen cool pero no me identifico como uno

Entonces, siempre fue 'él" pero por alguna razón la tratamos como "ella" todo este tiempo? (why??) o sigue siendo "ella" y solo es es "él" cuando se trata de escribir bajo el nombre de Old Xian? o realmente hubo una transición aquí y su avatar masculino reflejaba algo más personal?

Nunca considere esto último así que entiendo que mi pregunta pueda sonar grosera por eso mismo, pero la pregunta era mera curiosidad para saber si en mi cabeza la seguía llamando como una chica o debería empezar a pensar en OX como "él"

Y cuando digo que no puedo verle como un chico me refiero a que llevo tantos años con la seguridad de que es una chica que de pronto se sintió como si no conociera a mi artista favorito , o sea un dato tan básico, pero no me estoy negando a verlo como chico ahora, es solo que necesitaría acostumbrarme

Básicamente es eso, no quería sonar grosera o como si estuviera cuestionando a Old

[arcanewonder]

a soft epilogue