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bopinion · 2 years ago

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2023 / 04

Aperçu of the Week:

“The person who says it cannot be done, should not interrupt the person doing it.”

(Chinese proverb)

Bad News of the Week:

Two of the most serious terrorist attacks in Europe in recent times happened in France. On November 13, 2015, 130 people died in Paris, and on July 14, 2016, 86 died in Nice. In the first case, the perpetrators were about a dozen terrorists heavily armed with automatic rifles and well prepared. In the second case, a single man with a truck. What I'm getting at is that it's not just the U.S. stereotype of easy access to firearms that is dangerous to the population. With the appropriate criminal or extremist energy, even a vehicle can become a deadly weapon. Or a knife, as everyone has in their kitchen.

That's exactly what happened in Europe this week. Twice. In northern Germany near Hamburg, two young people were killed Wednesday on a regional train, and five others were injured. In southern Spain on Thursday, one was killed and three injured in front of a church. What makes the whole thing more horrific than the comparatively low number of victims are two backgrounds that are virtually identical for both perpetrators - of course they were men.

Both have a migration background, originating from Palestine and Morocco respectively. Neither of them succeeded in integrating into society, and a variety of difficulties are on record. And both were under police surveillance. The terrorist in Germany had been released from prison only six days earlier; his record in this country includes numerous violent crimes; nothing is known about him before that. The offender in Spain is said to be increasingly radicalized; his deportation proceedings have been underway for six months. This is grist to the mill of all those who take to the streets and shout cheap slogans against migration. After all, both acts seem to prove their pseudo-arguments right.

Hardly anyone in this world should have as much experience with "collective guilt" as we Germans. And this is exactly what people from the Middle East know here as well as those from the Maghreb in Spain. If in any public bus in Europe there is a seat free next to a visibly "not from here" passenger and one next to a compatriot, statistically 95% will sit next to the latter, even if the seat is further away. And most of them would describe themselves as tolerant and open-minded and reject prejudice with honest indignation. The nasty term "latent racism" is unpopular but widely spread.

And that is precisely the point about migration. This can only be successful if both sides work at it. Integration is a debt to be discharged by those who, for whatever reason, are looking for a new home. And likewise for the environment that takes him in. It has to accept them, because without migration nothing would work anymore. Anyone who doubts this should take a look at those who work, for example, in garbage collection, cleaning crews or nursing services. These are precisely the jobs that are never on the list when children are asked what they want to exercise as profession as adults.

Successful integration is therefore a win-win situation. And it is especially important for the survival of an aging society. I wish so much for more curiosity than reservations. Tea and coffee, apples and cherries, jazz and tango, pepper and parsley, cotton and silk, potatoes and rice, pizza and kebab would all be unknown to us if we were not open to new and foreign things.

Good News of the Week:

60 years of the Élysée Treaty. Even if the Franco-German engine sometimes sputters a little, it still runs quite well. Or as Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire says: "It's running very well. Contrary to what I hear here and there, the engine is working!" Or to stay with the metaphor, Renault and Volkswagen's platform strategy is a functional basis for the European mobility project.

At the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Germany to become "pioneers of the refoundation of our Europe" together with France. This role belongs to the two neighboring states, he said, because they walked the path of reconciliation together after World War II. Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, François Mitterand and Helmut Kohl, Jacques Chirac and Angela Merkel - without the hand of the two largest countries on the European continent, there would be neither the European Union nor the Euro.

This must never be forgotten in the minutiae of everyday political life: Europe can only do well if the Franco-German partnership does well. Especially when the British have decided - once again - to take their island status literally. This is an appeal that I would particularly like to make to Olaf Scholz. Because Emmanuel Macron has long since understood what his German counterpart is still struggling with: positioning himself between U.S. expectations and Russian detachment as the only thing that objectively makes sense. Namely, to lead Europe together.

It fits into the picture that Henri will be joining us next week. A French exchange student from near Paris. This reminds me of the background of my own youthful experience abroad. It even lasted a year, took me to French Canada three and a half decades ago, and still shapes me today. The organization was and is called the American Field Service. A charity that cared for the wounded on the battlefield in both world wars - whether friend or foe. Then they had the idea, as simple as it was brilliant, that it would be easier for everyone involved if there were no wars at all.

How to do that? By promoting intercultural understanding. Those who know and understand other peoples will probably think twice before they want to fight them. Works. Really. "It's not better or worse. It's just different." was our motto back then. Or just in French, "Ce n'est pas mieux ou pire. C'est juste different." If you look benevolently at the other, you will always find more things that unite you than divide you. If the former hereditary enemies France and Germany can manage that, nothing is impossible.

Personal happy moment of the week:

Okay, I'll try: I figured out why our clothes dryer stopped working properly. My daughter narrowly avoided a more serious accident with her bike on the slick road the day before yesterday. Defrosting the freezer succeeded without flooding. My son's last five grades at school are A's four times and a B once. At work, I finally finished a pesky major project... I suspect that I need to eat more chocolate, that one of these aspects will manage to make me truly happy.

I couldn't care less...

...that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is facing opposition to her idea of a tribunal under Ukrainian law with international judges. After all, she is the highest-ranking politician who is thinking aloud about how Vladimir Putin could also be held criminally accountable for his war of aggression, which violates international law. What else would remain? There is the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, but that court, by statute, can only hear cases in which the plaintiff and defendant are members of the court or a case is referred by the United Nations Security Council. Russia is not part of the Court and, as a permanent member with veto power in the UN Security Council, can and will block a referral to the Court. Alternatively, we can only hope for biology: Putin is 70 years old. The life expectancy of Russian men is currently 68.

As I write this...

...I already have a suggestion for the misname of the year: "Panzerwende". Meaning "tank turnaround". Meaning the western allies, who after long hesitation now want to deliver so-called battle tanks to Ukraine. I don't see a turnaround. Just another step on the way to give an innocent country the equipment it needs to defend itself more effectively against the aggressor.

Post Scriptum

This year, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves the "Doomsday Clock" forward. The Clock now stands at 90 seconds to midnight - the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been. Mainly though not exclusively because of the rising dangers of the war over Ukraine. Since the scientists base their assessment not only on the nuclear issue, but also on other negative factors mankind is confronted with. So the omnipresent polycrisis. The clock is ticking.

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orbital-obvious · 4 months ago

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Some more personal opinions about HOTD season 2

So this blockade. How does it work. It's not a siege, the Blacks only control Blackwater bay. I'd assume that food arrives to Kings Landing via land - Stromlands and the Reach are both close and are also Green supporters. Yes, a sea blockade can screw up the economy (cutting off communications with Essos) but. Like. it wouldn't starve the city. SO. how.

On the topic of the blocade, I can 100% belive the smallfolk would cheer for Rhaenyra because she brought them food even though SHE is the reason to the starvation in the first place (though, again, I have no idea how). Also I hate how the show doesn't adress the fact that Rhaenyra is fully willing to starve the people and only give them food as a PR tactic.

Hey, Mysaria, quick question, what is it exactly that makes Rhaenyra so great? Why do YOU, specifically, believe she is the rightful and good queen? In the show Mysaria is the voice of the smallfolk, but Rhaenyra is uncaring for the smallfolk (not in any way that matters) and a mediocre leader besides.

Corlys being mad at Rhaenyra was such a good moment for me.

I understand they are pushing the angle of "Rhaenyra's council wouldn't respect her cause she's a woman" which, yeah, 100%, but I think a more interesting aspect I see int he show is how Rhaenyra is NOT GOOD at running her council. Slapping a person in plain sight would not make them respect you, it's the abuse of power you have towards them. Saying crap like "I want prince Aemond's head" and then LEAVING, giving the council the option of either ignoring what you said (which sets a problematic precedent), or have an excuse to do whatever they want (which led to Blood and Cheese and in general encouraged Daemon's unruliness) is BAD. Fucking off to an udnercover mission without telling anybody is BAD.

Rhaenyra, people keep bringing up Daemon not because he's a man that needs to save you, but because he's a warrior and a battle seasoned commander whom you should use. The fact that you can't utlize your men properly is a you issue, but saying "well we have Daemon" when talking about getting Dragonriders is actually a very reasonable point. I just wish the show would have her confront her flaws instead of saying "she's a great leader they just don't like to see a girlboss winning!!!". Jace is coming close, though.

Like, don't get me wrong, the Greens aren't some awesome megabrained function, but the show makes their flaws very clear (As it should) and I just... want to see the same treatment for Rhaenyra.

You know what? At this point, Let Rhaenyra ride the dragon to battle. If she can't heed what JUST happened to Aegon in Rook Nest that is a her issue.

So.. why are they trying to tame Seasmoke? Rhaenyra knows that Laenor might yet live; therefore, Seasmoke cannot be claimed by a person and any attempt to do so is a suicide mission.

Alicent being actively kicked out from the small council was such a good scene, actually. Yes, the side that uses misogyny as a tool and justification cannot have a woman lead them. But, I think Aemond didn't kick Alicent out of the council ONLY because she was a woman. I think part of it is because he knew she would still champion to Aegon, and he can't have that. The scene where she tenderly touching his cheek... His mother still have power over him and Aemond is clearly fighting it ohhhh the acting in this show is soooo gooodddd.

Lady Arryn my love, the show might have forgotten that you are a female ruler who never married and was a lesbian but I NEVER will. At least they gave you a kickass dress, you look amazing. You are everything show!Rhaenyra tries to be and they would not let you shine

I don't like the way they write the Smallfolk view of the dragons and try to pass dragons in general as "gods". If the smallfolk are in dissarray over killing 10 ratcatchers when one of them is guilty of killing the crown prince (which was horrible), they should be furious at Melyes stomping and killing tens if not hundreds (which was also horrible). "It's an ill omen" no, actually, it's the best thing to ever happen to non-royalty in years.

I never thought I'll be so happy to see the freaking TWINS. The scene with the Freys was amazing. I found it interesting that the Lady was the one to take charge in the negotiations.

I really like Jace. I think he's my fav Team Black member, even if he brings into the table this vibe of "actually fucking doing something" that Rheanyra doesn't like.

Aemond in his Kingslayer, Kinslayer, outfit slayer era, going out there being a blockhead and taking the worse decisions. Love her. Aemond really screwed the Greens over by almost killing the king and gettting rid of one of three (four?) dragons they had. It's so fun to see everything implode.

Also, in my favorite interactions list, Larys-Aegon was not one I expected to see but one I welcome. It's just really good - you can tell there is emotion in there, but also that Larys is using him (he tried moving from Alicent to Aemond, and Aemond rejected him, so Aegon is his grasp for power). Might be one of the most layered relationships in the show.

lol at the Lannisters summoning Aemond, and having lions for some reason. They are just doing the most.

My friend said: "Rhaenyra should've sent Jace to Harrenhall" and oh, my god. yeah. This would be a safe place for him (at least for a while) and Jace does have better diplomatic skills than Daemon. but then we wouldn't get the Daemon getting tortured in Harrenhall plot. And that one's my fave.

Daemon fucking up and getting chewed up by the Riverlords... yeah, my skin is cleared.

Alys killed lord Grover, right? That's what they were getting at?

Daemon blaming SIMON for his dream sequence side quests is just.... Chef's kiss. I get the idea he doesn't suspect Alys because she's a woman, which might be my favorite way the show explored misogyny.

Alyn and Addam, my loves. I don't know why I just like every scene they are in. And having a discussion while Addam is shaving his blond hair while Alyn had a head full of black hair... The way one has given up any connection to Corlys and the other one is striving to get the acknowledgement of his father and the privileges that come with it... The drama, the tension.

Also Seasmoke and Alyn's meeting was the first time since Sunfyre headboop that I actually felt something for dragons.

Ser Gwane Hightower >>>>>>>. That is all.

#house of the dragon #hotd #hotd rant #hotd thoughts

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simianchaos · 8 months ago

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While I also don't like his apparent support you do understand how, because of the way the system functions both within and outside our government, there's not all that much he can do about the situation without extreme repercussions.

He can cut finding. No he can't he doesn't control the budget. If he tried they would just get SCOTUS to override it like they did with the school debt relief. (Which he has made great strides on with what he CAN do).

He can withhold aid. No he can't, that would violate a treaty we have. He could use his power to make things move in that direction, however thesupport for that doesn't exist within the government and they would fight him tooth and nail on it. Secondly, it's an election year and any possible candidate that Republicans put up WILL MAKE THINGS WORSE. Because, you know, that's thier MO. Secondly, if the US violates one of its treaties then every single one of our many allies will look sideways at us and start rethinking those treaties. And, you know, a lot of things will go to shit after that. We're kinda dependent on those treaties for our economy to function.

He can make a public statement denouncing Netanyahu's and Israel's actions. He could, yes. However him making such a statement counts as the COUNTRY making said statement because he is THE representative of the entire fucking country. And doing that gets into the above shit about treaties and diplomacy and all the other countries having faith that you'll behave according to the rules. Secondly, despite all that, it would be political suicide. Not only would he not win the upcoming election the democrats in general would very likely loose most of the election. And possibly a few afterward. The Fox News media machine, not to mention all the other major networks, which are owned by right wing folk even if the network doesn't have that slant, wouldn't ever stop calling him, and democrats, antisemitic. Because, you know, the general public has thier head firmly up thier own ass about how if you say anything even remotely agianst one aspect of LITERALLY ANYTHING it means you absolutely despise said thing and everything associated with it and that you would happily murder children and puppies in order to rid the world of it.

I'm so very tired too. I wish I could push a magic button and just make it so that every single method of hostile intent would just vanish from the world. Or at least make Netanyahu sit down, shut the fuck up, and go be a hateful old man on his private property where he can't hurt anyone.

Trying to not despair over how many USAmericans of all ages seriously do not understand how the branches of government work and how a large percentage of what they point to Biden alone doing is actually stuff pushed through by the House and also by majority the GOP members of the House. (Of course, they're also blaming Biden for the way colleges are calling the cops and the cops' behavior which is even wilder.)

And also ofc the legal fuckery of the Supreme Court which unless Biden can expand how many judges are on it, (which I don't think he can do all by himself,) is also all due to judges nominated by the GOP.

Can everyone who's despairing or saying both are just as bad please do some research on how the government even works and who passes what sort of budget or legislation? And then look at who is voting for and against the stuff thy dislike and see what side is doing more of each?

Biden's not an angel, nor are any other democrats in office but they also are blocked and barricaded every chance the GOP gets while trying to promote even a little change to the left, and then people get mad that they I guess 'let' themselves be outvoted.

I am just so tired.

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thecarnivorousmuffinmeta · 2 years ago

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How do you think the wizarding economy works ? From what we've seen, most wizards work for the government or own a shop, so do you think they work as a collective ? How is Malfoy so rich ? Do they buy their food/alcohol/ from muggles ? Do they pay taxes to the MoM or to the state ?

Finally, who do you think is more corrupt ? The wizarding world or the USSR ?

Nobody even knows, man, but I'm sure it's wild.

Well, we do know a few things.

What Do We Know About Wizards and Money?

One is that they're on the gold standard by using literal gold as well as copper and silver for the minting of their coins. Based on Bill's entire job (curse breaking ancient tombs) they cannot create these metals from nothing nor transfigure them permanently from a different substance (probably why these are used to prevent counterfeiting). It also allows goblins to control the currency, which is a very very very good thing for them and one of the few means of leverage they have.

However, given that, I have a distinct feeling that inflation/monetary controls are poorly understood. The goblins search for gold, in part, by grave robbing and introduce it into the economy. Whenever this happens, there's going to be inflation and your wizards will be very confused on why a galleon suddenly seems to buy them less than it did not so long ago. Though, goblins controlling distribution, they may have controls in place for inflation/deflation like any central bank.

We also know they don't use credit. We have no hint of credit being used throughout the books. Harry has to carry a sack which carries his money. People always have to visit the bank before shopping.

We know there are some substances that a wizard cannot point blank create from nothing. They can summon water out of thin air: they cannot create nor reproduce food. Food is always going to be an issue even for a competent wizards.

And also, wizards are humans and specialize in fields. Everyone gets their basic Hogwarts education (some... uh... better at it than others) but just as in real life people specialize into certain fields based on their ability. Most wizards are not self-sufficient or else could find someone better at a task than themselves.

I mean that, fundamentally, wizards and witches trade goods and services, the underpinning of any economic system.

Which is why, tellingly, Arthur Weasley seems to take home a paycheck and we see people with jobs where they are presumably paid some amount of money. Fred and George also needing money to purchase the building, materials, etc. for their shop in Diagon Alley.

So, What is It?

I think we can safely say that Gringotts acts as the central bank. Now, we don't know if they give out loans or not, but what they do is hold the money hostage, mint the coins, and presumably control distribution of gold into the market.

They perform the vast majority of the functions of a central bank and control much of the wizard economy (without the wizards realizing it).

It's also unclear if wizards actually accrue any interest on the gold in Gringotts or if it just... sits there... and devalues over time as more gold enters the market... guarded by dragons so they can't access it directly when they wish. (If another goblin war breaks out--guess who has all the money? Literally guarded by dragons?)

There seems to be a clear lack of a centralized economy, so we can rule that out, and socialism doesn't seem to be the name of the game in that we see no orphanages, no financial aid to those like Ron whose family can't afford a wand, no economic systems of any kind. You're kind of on your own as a wizard.

Beyond that though, it's hard to say.

How is Malfoy so Rich?

His ancestors probably beat up other wizard families/muggles ages ago, stole all their money, and have been sitting on it passing it down to a single child for generations. They then marry into other wealth to keep the fortune alive.

The Potters, through Pottermore at least, made their fortune by Harry's grandfather making miracle hair gel. Some families seem to specialize in fields and publish the standardized textbooks used in Hogwarts. You can get rich with people paying for a good or service from you.

Do They Buy from Muggles?

All signs point to the house elves working in farming collectives. We even canonically have "elf wine". Gee. I wonder how that got made. Basic farming materials may be bought from Muggles but based on the food we hear about they're produced in wizard kitchens/factories. Wizards love magic in their food... perhaps to prove it's not muggle.

Do They Pay Taxes?

Actually unclear. One would think so, especially as the Ministry has employees who have to get paid somehow. However, I don't remember mention of taxation in the books. Could be I've totally forgotten.

I imagine it'd be to the ministry, though, which effectively is the state for wizarding britain as it doesn't seem divided up into regions or any other kind of government.

Which is More Corrupt?

What is this, the Corruption Olympics. I mean... I can't say I'd put any government necessarily as more corrupt than the USSR. There are contenders, certainly. But more?

I will say that the Wizarding World is really really really bad though to the point where the 'good' characters are shocked and appalled when other characters refuse to spy on the ministry for them.

#harry potter #harry potter meta #harry potter headcanon #the wizarding world #the goblins #gringotts #meta #headcanon #opinion #silverdragonfrost

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superbrieflightstudentlove · 3 years ago

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My problems with Elias as a character

This might be a highly unpopular opinion but I hate Elias. Not because he has flaws (every good character needs those) but because those flaws are never acknowledged or worked on, so he could become a better and more self-aware person. They are either simply ignored/brushed off as if they never existed in the first place or there is a protagonist centered morality with him at full display, when during the rare instances that someone dares to actually criticize him even a little bit (e.g. Helene for being too naive and idealistic), they get villanized by the narrative. What I hate most about him though except for his womanizing and sexist views and actions towards women, is that he is a selfish, self-centered, self-righteous and amoral hypocrite. I´m sure that the author herself didn´t actually mean to write him that way, but unfortunately to her best intentions, he still came off like this regardless (at least to me).

Now it has been some time since I read the book, so I might not remember everything fully, but this is at least my view on the whole thing:

At first I sympathized with his plight and his desire to escape his situation by defecting from the empire, since he was only a one man, who despite his best intentions and revulsion to the brutal barbaric ways in which the empire functions, couldn´t change things only by himself as that would be nothing but a foolish suicide that would ultimately help no one anyway. But the moment he was offered the option to possibly be placed in a position of power and influence, from which he could legitimately try to change and improve things for the better, not only for himself, but for others as well, to stay and reform the corrupt system from within, for the sake of those with whom he so empathized and pitied, yet when in the end he refused and couldn´t put his actions where his mouth was, I lost any good will I previously had towards him. Instead of trying to help those who needed it the most, he devised a plan for Helene to become empress instead of him, despite knowing that this position is for life and there is no escape from it once you become a ruler (that´s part of the reason why he himself didn´t want it, because he didn´t want to be "chained" to a scheming, backstabbing court full of vipers, but apparently his best friend can with no problems, despite neither of them actually being trained in how to successfully govern a nation or run a country - no education on politics, diplomacy or economy and trade, only how to kill and destroy) or that she might not be the best person for the job at that time (she was raised and fully believed in the racist, elitist, colonizing worldviews of her ancestors), just so he could escape from any duties, obligations and responsibility to fuck off gods no where, to enjoy a simple peaceful life at the cost of not only never seeing his family and friends ever again, but also deciding to chain his supossed "best friend" to a life she wouldn´t want and would make her miserable without any input from her being allowed (and she already told him to his face that she wouldn´t want it, yet he already decided this for her for his own sake and comfort, so she better just shut up and bear it, who cares for her own wishes, needs and desires to live her life how she sees fit anyway, only what he wants and makes him happy is apparently important) and finally at the cost of him turning his back on the continuous suffering of the very people he was so vehement to lecture others about. It seems that Elias´ empathy is very selective and not as unconditional as people think it is. As long as he doesn´t have to watch them suffer right under his nose, he is fine with turning a blind eye or two. Him running away like that would also mean that he will bring shame and dishonor on his family´s house, namely his grandfather, who personally picked him as his future successor, despite his illegitimate status. What´s more, Elias voluntarily removing himself from the picture like this would also allow Keris Veturia (aka "The Commandant") to become the “new" heir and future head of the Veturius noble family. And we all know what this psychopathic monster does when given too much power.

His selfishness is further demonstrated during the fourth trial when he prioritizes the life of one girl he barely even knows over the well being of millions of people that live in the empire (other scholars and tribesmen included, many of whom have it just as bad as Laia if not worse) who would be completely screwed over if a tyrant like Marcus was ever allowed to rise into absolute power, just because he is lusting over her and wants to get into her pants. He is the sole reason why Marcus even became an emperor in the first place at the end of the book and why Helene ultimately became his "pet slave" and lost almost all of her family. Not to mention the lost lives of all of those other people whom Marcus slaughtered like pigs during his reign. And he dares to be all sarcastic and smartass to Helene´s face and blame her for joining and swearing fealty to Marcus after he literally gave her no choice? After he was the one who put her in that impossible situation to begin with? After she literally begged him to let her do what needs to be done, no matter how unpleasant and wrong it might be, for the sake of the greater good, and he still refused her because for him trying to uphold his own version of "moral purity" and "honor" was more important than a bloodthirsty tyrant rulling supreme completely unchecked over hundreds of thousands if not millions of people? What was she supposed to do, refuse to serve Marcus and be executed as well? Leaving her entire surviving family even more vulnerable to him than they already were by committing a high treason? Served well for Elias I guess.

The final nail in the coffin is during the scene in the cells just moments before Elias´ own execution, when Marcus visits Elias to mock and humilate him one last time, when Elias is finally given the opportunity to kill Marcus right then and there, before he could manage to do any real damage, and he doesn´t take it and I´m paraphrasing "because if he (Elias) has to die, he doesn´t want to die for an actual crime, he won´t give them such satisfaction". So he basically sacrificed a perfectly presented opportunity to rid the world of this maniac by bringing him down with him, because he wants to play a martyr. Because he wants to be perceived by others as the innocent persecuted victim. Once again it´s only about him and his precious reputation, not about the well-being and lives of other innocent people.

Elias might view himself as a "good man" but all it takes for an evil to win is if good men do nothing, which is exactly what Elias did and contributed to. He is also a horny idiot who cannot think with his head instead of his penis. With his terrible decisions he caused much more suffering than he ever did any good. That´s not a "hero" I want to root for.

Edit: I know that Helene also wanted to make Elias into an emperor, but before someone accuses me of having double standarts, I gave Helene a little bit more slack on this because unlike with what Elias intended, she actually planned to stay with him and help him rule to the best of her ability, she wouldn´t just ditch him in a highly hostile unknown political environment full of dangers with no protection. She wouldn´t abandon him which is more than can be said of Elias who wouldn´t have any problems to feed Helene to the wolves as long as it benefits him. She genuinely thought that he would make a great ruler and only wanted the best for the man she loved. Her intentions were very selfless in a way, no matter how misguided, while Elias was just using Helene as a tool to escape and be free. That being said, neither of them is a saint but the difference between them is that Helene is meant to be problematic (at least in the beginning) while Elias is meant to be seen as unquestionable hero and a role model to follow. Helene is the only main character out of the trio that is acknowledged as gray and treated as such by both the narrative as well as other characters around her.

Thanks for reading if you got this far and sorry for the rant.:)

#aeita #an ember in the ashes #Elias Veturius #Helene Aquilla #Laia of Serra

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celepeace · 4 years ago

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A monster-taming game recommendation list for fans of Pokemon

Whether you're a pokemon fanatic obsessed with all things pokemon past and present, or a veteran fan disillusioned with GameFreak's recent adoption of monetary philosophies and strategies reminiscent of other major game publishers, or looking for a monster-taming fix as you await new Pokemon content...

I'm compiling here a post of little-known games in the genre that Pokemon fans are likely to enjoy!

Under readmore cause long, but some of these games really don’t get the attention they deserve, so if you have the time, please read!

(I am also likely to keep updating and editing this post)

First up is Temtem!

Temtem is a game made by and for Pokemon fans, from the spanish indie developer Crema. Temtem is currently in early access on Steam and PS5, and is likely to remain in early access until sometime late next year. Full launch will include a Nintendo Switch release, too. Despite this, it has plenty of content to explore before full release. The developers are active, release new content on a semi-regular basis, and are responsive to the community as a whole and individuals if you happen to come across a bug you want to report.

Temtem boasts a wide variety of monsters to collect and train. It takes place in the Airborne Archipelago, a system of floating islands that orbit their star, the Pansun. The monsters inhabiting the archipelago are called Temtem, or tem(s), for short.

As far as game mechanics go, it has many similarities to Pokemon, but also many important distinctions. The biggest one, in my opinion, is that the element of chance has been removed from battle entirely. Moves cannot miss, have the same power constantly, and status afflictions have an obviously displayed countdown to when they will wear off (for instance, sleep lasts as long as it says it will last. Not 2-4 turns). PP does not exist, either. Your tems can battle for as long as their HP holds out. In place of PP, a new system called Stamina exists. Stamina is an individual stat, like HP and Attack. Each move costs a certain amount of stamina. If you go over the amount of stamina your tem has, the deficit is detracted from your health instead, and that tem cannot move next turn. Stamina passively regenerates a certain amount each turn, and items and moves exist that can heal stamina. All battles are also double-battles, you and your opponent will typically have two tems on the field at a time. This is just a few of the differences Temtem has from Pokemon, but they're some of the biggest ones.

Temtem is also a massively multiplayer game. You complete the storyline independently (or with a friend through co-op!), but in the overworld you can see other, real players moving around and interacting with the world. There is also public and area-specific chat you can talk to other players through. Despite this, all multiplayer functions are (currently) completely optional. You do not need to interact with others to complete the game.

Overall, Temtem is suitable for the Pokemon fan who is looking for a more challenging experience. Temtem is not a walk in the park you can blaze through with a single super-strong monster. For one, individual tem strength is more well-balanced than it is in Pokemon. There are very few (if any!) completely useless tems. Even some unevolved tems have their niche in the competitive scene! Aside from that, enemy tamers are scaled quite high, and you typically cannot beat them just from the exp you get from other enemy tamers. You have to do some wild-encounter grinding if you want to progress.

Temtem is a very fun game and I've already gotten over 100 hours out of it, despite only 3/5-ish of the planned content being released!

However, I do feel obligated to warn any prospective players of one thing: the current endgame is quite inaccessible. After you complete what is currently implemented of the main storyline, there is still quite a lot left to explore and do, but much of it is locked behind putting a lot of hours into the game. You kind of have to get perfect temtem to do the current PVE (and this is also somewhat true for the PVP too). By perfect I mean you have to breed a good tem and then train it to get the preferable EVs (called TVs in temtem). This takes... well, for a whole team... tens of hours. Of boring grinding. Some people enjoy it! But I don't. Regardless, the game was still worth buying because the non-endgame content is expansive and fun.

So overall, pros & cons:

Pros

Battle system is more friendly towards a competitive scene

Cute monsters

Lots of gay characters, also you can choose pronouns (including they/them) independently from body type and voice

Less difference between the objectively bad tems and good tems than there is in Pokemon

Lots of stuff to do even in early access

Most conversations with dialog choices have the option to be a complete ass for no reason other than it’s fun

Having less type variety in your team is less punishing than in Pokemon due to the synergy system and types overall having less weaknesses and resistances

At least one major character is nonbinary

Cons

Falls prey to the issue of MMOs having in-game economies that are only accessible to diehard no-life players

Related to the above point, cosmetics are prohibitively expensive

Endgame CURRENTLY is inaccessible to most players unless you buy good monsters from other players or spend tens of hours making your own. However I must add that the grind is great if you like that kind of thing and is quite easy and painless to do while watching a show or something.

Here is their Steam page and here is their official website.

Next is Monster Hunter: Stories!

This is a spinoff game of the Monster Hunter franchise released for the 3DS in 2018. If you're anything like me, and you've played the core Monster Hunter games, you've often thought "Man, I wish I could befriend and ride these cool dragon creatures instead of killing or maiming them!"

Well now you can! In Stories, as I will be calling it, you play as a rider rather than a hunter. Riders steal monster eggs from wild nests to raise them among humans as companions and guardians. And yes, egg stealing is a whole mechanic in of itself in this game.

This game works pretty differently from most monster-collecting games. You do battle (usually) against one or two wild monsters using your own, except you fight alongside your monsters too. With swords and stuff. There's armor and weapons you can smelt to make yourself stronger. Type match-ups also kind of don't exist in this game? Except they do? But not in a way you'd expect?

The vast majority of attacking moves you and your monster use fall into categories reminiscent of rock-paper-scissors. Moves can be categorized as power, speed, or technical. Speed beats power, technical beats speed, and power beats technical. The matchup of your move vs your opponent's determines how a turn will go down. If one move beats the other in matchup, then the winner's move will get to go and the loser doesn't get to do anything. If you tie, you both get hit, but for reduced damage. There's also abilities and basic attacks, with abilities basically being the same as pokemon moves, and basic attacks just being "I hit you for normal damage within this category". Also, you don't control what your monster does all the time in battle. You can tell it to use abilities, but what kind basic attacks it carries out is determined by its species' preference. Velicidrome, for instance, prefers speed attacks, but Yian Garuga prefers technical. Stamina also exists in this game in a very similar manner to Temtem.

Overall this game carries over a lot of mechanics Monster Hunter fans will find familiar (how items and statuses work for instance). You don't have to have played a core Monster Hunter game to enjoy Stories though! It's fine and is easy to understand as a stand-alone.

The story has some likable characters and is rather long (it was actually adapted into an anime!), for those of you who enjoy a good story.

I'd really recommend this one especially. If it sounds fun to you and you can drop $30, just do it. I bought it on a whim and I got a few weeks' worth of playing almost nonstop out of it, and I didn't even get to do everything! (I got distracted by Hades, oops)

Stories is also getting a sequel later next year on the nintendo switch! How exciting!

And yes, you do ride the monsters.

Pros & cons:

Pros

Large variety of cool monsters to befriend and raise

Pretty lengthy story

Every tamable monster is also rideable

Deceptively simple combat mechanics, easy to be okay at, hard to master

Incorporates some mechanics from early turn-based party rpgs like Final Fantasy for a nice twist on the monster collecting genre

Cons

Many monsters are objectively outclassed by other ones, making what can be in an actually good team more limited than you’d expect

3DS graphics inherently means the game looks like it was made 7 years before its time

Here is the Monster Hunter Stories official 3DS product page.

And here is Monster Sanctuary!

Monster sanctuary is a game that just had its 1.0 launch- meaning it was in early access and no longer is! Although the devs say they still plan to implement a few more things into the game in future updates. It is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4.

Monster sanctuary is a metroidvania twist on the typical monster collecting game, meaning it is also a sidescrolling platformer in which you use abilities you gain throughout the game to explore the world around you. The abilities in this case are the monsters you get! Every monster has an ability that helps you traverse the sanctuary.

Speaking of the sanctuary, the game is set in one. The monster sanctuary is a magically shielded area, cut off from the rest of the world, created by an order of monster keepers, people who befriend and protect the mystical monsters inhabiting the world. Humankind encroached too far on the natural habitat of monsters and were hostile to the native wildlife, so the keepers created an area of varied environments to safely protect and preserve the remaining monsters of the world.

Unlike many other monster collecting games, this game only has 5 types: fire, water, earth, air, and neutral. However, the types themselves do not possess resistances and weaknesses. Instead, each monster has its own assigned weaknesses and resistances. And yes, this can include things like debuffs, physical vs special attacks, and the typical elemental types.

All battles are also 3 vs 3! And unlike in pokemon, where you can only hit the enemies nearest, all monsters have the ability to hit any opponent they want. Turns also work a little differently in that speed doesn't exist, you just use 1 move per monster in your turn and then it goes to your opponent's turn. Your monsters hit in whatever order you want them to.

There is also a quite important combo system in this game, where every hit builds a damage multiplier for the next. Moves often hit multiple times per turn. Healing and buffing actions also build this combo counter. So what monsters you have move in what order really counts!

But the main mechanical difference between this and other games in the genre is how it handles levels and skills. Instead of learning a set move at a certain level, this game incorporates a skill tree, and you get to allocate points into different skills as you grow stronger. And jeez, these skill trees are really extensive. Monster sanctuary is a theorycrafter's dream. Each monster has a unique, specially tailored skill tree, making every monster truly able to have its own niche. You can make use of whatever monster you want if you just put thought into it!

And like Temtem, this game is not made to be beatable by children. I'm sure a child could beat it, but it's not made to be inherently child-friendly like pokemon. It's honestly quite difficult.

On top of that, you are actively encouraged to not just be scraping by each battle. Your performance in battle is rated by an automated system that scores your usage of various mechanics like buffs and debuffs applied, type matchups, and effective usage of combos. The rating system directly influences the rewards you get from each battle, including your likelihood of obtaining an egg from one of the wild monsters you battled (no, you don't catch wild monsters in this game, you get eggs and hatch them). If you're not paying attention to how the game works and making good, effective use of your monsters, you'll have a hard time expanding your team!

The music is also really good, it's made by nature to be able to play over and over and not get old as you explore each area, and the composer(s) really did a good job with this. Some area songs, namely the beach one, I especially enjoy, so much so I've actually played it in the background while I do work.

This is a game I would really recommend. If I made it sound intimidating, it is by no means unbeatable, you're just gonna have to put some thought into how you play. At no point did I actually feel frustrated or like something was impossible. When I hit a wall, I was able to recognize what I did wrong and how I could improve, or I could at least realize something wasn't working and experiment until I found a solution. It's challenging in a genuinely fun, rewarding way.

Pros & cons:

Pros

Extremely in-depth combat system

I genuinely don’t know if there’s an objectively bad monster in this game

Evolution exists but is completely optional, as even un-evolved monsters can be great

Entire soundtrack is full of bangers

Large and diverse variety of monsters to tame

Cons

Story is a little lackluster, but passable

That’s the only con I can think of

Here’s a link to their Steam page and the game’s website.

A kind of unorthodox recommendation is the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series!

Likelihood is that everyone reading this has heard of this series already, but just in case anyone hasn't, I thought I'd include it! I would categorize this as a hybrid between the mystery dungeon genre and the monster collecting genre, because you recruit pokemon as you play and can use those pokemon on your team!

If you're unaware, the mystery dungeon genre is a small subset of dungeon crawler games where you progress through randomly generated levels called mystery dungeons. Throughout the dungeons, there will be enemies to fight and items to collect. The challenge of these games is mostly due to the stamina aspect of them, in that you have to manage your resources as you progress through the level. If you go all out in each fight, you will inevitably lose quite quickly. You have to learn to win against enemies while balancing your use of items and PP, so you have enough for the next fight, and the fight after that.

Pokemon mystery dungeon in particular is famous for its stories, the likes of which isn't seen often in Pokemon games. They are hugely story-driven games and are notable for the emotional depth they possess. It's pretty normal for the average player to cry at least once in the span of the game. There's lots of memes about that specifically.

This entry in my list is also unique for being a series. So, which one should you play first? It actually doesn't matter! Each storyline is entirely self-contained and requires no knowledge of prior entries. The quality of each entry varies and is a point of contention among fans. I say you should play all of them, because they all have their merits (though some more than others.... coughgatestoinfinitycough). They're mostly distinct for the generation of Pokemon they take place in. Rescue team is gen 3, Explorers is gen 4, Gates to Infinity is gen 5, Super Mystery Dungeon is gen 6, and Rescue Team DX is a remake of a gen 3 game but has the mechanics and moves of a gen 8 game.

My only real caution is that you play Explorers of Sky, not Darkness or Time. Sky is basically a combination of the two games with added items and content. It's an objective upgrade over its predecessors, and I honestly wouldn't waste money on the other two.

I’m not going to include a pros and cons list for the PMD series because I’m incredibly biased and it wouldn’t be an honest review.

Next is Monster Crown!

Monster Crown is a monster collecting game that seems to take heavy inspiration from early-gen Pokemon games in particular. It is currently in early access on Steam and is not expensive. I learned about it through the developers of Monster Sanctuary, when they recommended it on their official Discord.

The game has lots of charm and interesting creature designs, and an entirely new take on monster typings as well. Instead of monster types being based off of natural elements like fire, water, electricity, etc. Monster Crown uses typings that seem to be influenced by the personalities of the monsters. For instance, Brutal, Relentless, and Will are all monster types!

It also captures a lot of the charm many of us look fondly upon in early GameBoy-era games. The music is mostly chiptune, with some more modern backing instruments at times, and the visuals are very reminiscent of games like Pokemon Crystal in particular. Monster Crown is definitely the monster collecting game for fans of the 8-bit era!

The thing that stands out the most to me about this game is the breeding system. Instead of one parent monster passing down its species to its offspring, you can create true hybrids in this game.

However, it is very early access. I would consider the current build as an alpha, not even a beta yet! So temper your expectations here. I have not encountered any major bugs, but visual glitches here and there are quite common. The game also could definitely use some polish and streamlining, and is quite limited in content currently. But the dev(s) seem quite active, so I fully expect these kinks to be worked out in time!

The reviews are rather positive, especially for being in early access. I'm all for expanding the monster collecting genre, so if you're looking to expand your horizons in that sense, I would recommend you at least give this one a look! I personally had quite a bit of fun playing Monster Crown and am going to keep an eye out for updates.

Pros & cons:

Pros

Charming artstyle, appealing monster designs

Faithful callback to a bygone era of gaming

Controls are fairly simple and easy to get the hang of (and are completely customizable!)

Cool breeding and hybridization mechanics

There's a starter for each monster type!

You can choose your pronouns, including they/them!

Cons

Inherent nature of being very early access means can be clunky and unpolished at times

Also not much content as of right now, see above

User interface could use some redesign in places

Here’s their Steam page and the official website!

Here’s an oldie but a goodie, Azure Dreams!

This is one I actually haven’t played, mostly because it’s really old and therefore only practically accessible if you play it on an emulator, unless you're one of those old game collectors. Azure Dreams was developed by Konami and released for the PS1 in 1997. My impression of it was that it either didn’t sell well or only took off in Japan, because it’s actually really hard to find any comprehensive information about it on the internet.

Azure Dreams is a monster collecting - dating sim hybrid. You can build relationships with various characters and can pursue some of them romantically, although that isn’t the main draw of the game. There is also a stripped-down version that exists for the GameBoy Color, which forgoes the dating portion of the game entirely.

Azure Dreams is kind of like a mystery dungeon game in that you progress through a randomly generated, ever-changing tower using the help of the familiars you have accrued throughout your adventure. Similarly to Monster Hunter: Stories, you yourself also take part in the fighting alongside your monsters. Each time you enter the tower, your character’s level is lowered to 1, but your familiars keep their experience. Thus, progression is made through strengthening your monsters. To obtain monsters, you collect their eggs, just like in Monster Sanctuary (which, turns out, was at least partially inspired by this game!)

Due to this game being very old and on the PS1, the visuals leave a lot to be desired... but if you can get past that, Azure Dreams has lots of replayability and customization to how you play the game. To this day, it appears it has a somewhat active speedrunning community!

If you don’t mind the effort of using an emulator, and like old games, Azure Dreams just might be that timesink you were looking for in quarantine.

Honorable mentions:

Pokemon Insurgence (or any Pokemon fangame/ROMhack, really!) is a Pokemon fangame that introduces Delta Pokemon, which are really cool type-swapped versions of existing Pokemon. It’s sufficiently challenging and has a lot of variety in what you can catch in the wild, so you can pretty much add whatever you want to your team! The story is quite good, and the main campaign is multiple times longer than a typical Pokemon game’s campaign. Download it here!

ARK: Survival Evolved is NOT a monster collecting game BUT you do get to tame and fight alongside a lot of really cool extinct species, including but not limited to the dinosaurs we all know and love. This game is genuinely fun as hell, especially with friends, but I must warn you: never play on official servers. I highly recommend singleplayer, playing on a casual private server, or making your own server. Here’s the Steam page.

#pokemon #temtem #monster sanctuary #monster hunter stories #monster crown #azure dreams #pokemon mystery dungeon #pokemon alternatives

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zigdirty · 9 months ago

Text

SO MANY PROBLEMS with this original post. Let’s start from the top:

Liberal voting psychosis is bizarre phrasing, and ALSO offensive to people with actual psychoses.

Painting liberals as though they are the ONLY political party that is overly enthusiastic about voting, especially voting a particular way, is not only misleading but axiomatically wrong. Conservatives are even more fervently cultish and adamant about voting in droves and only for SPECIFIC candidates. (They will turn against Republican candidates for the stupidest reasons, but rarely ever because they’re immoral or criminals.)

Also, since when was being enthusiastic about voting a BAD THING?! If I were a betting man, I’d wager the OP would prefer NOT living in a democracy, as they don’t seem interested in participating in the democracy themselves. (Although based on their complaining and bellyaching alone, I’d hardly doubt they’d actually prefer somewhere like China, Russia, or North Korea.)

Rabid anger: what hyperbolic terminology. I personally do believe that righteous fury is appropriate when democracy as an institution, as a concept, is fundamentally threatened. That seems like an appropriate hill to die on. Anger is accurate, but there isn’t rabies. But there’s also fear, loathing, disgust, and the obvious superiority. All of which are not only understandable but actually logical.

The popular vote not guaranteeing the presidential victor is actually correct, so kudos on at least one detail being accurate. However, how it is presented here is that BECAUSE the Electoral College exists and determines the victor in an election year (which is NOT always who has the popular vote), there’s no reason to vote at all. This is absurd in its face: even if the Electoral College isn’t a true democratic process, it is closer than no democracy at all, and the liberal party is the one incentivized to finally abolish the Electoral College. Not voting doesn’t solve the problem, remove the Electoral College, or fix the broken democracy, it simply abdicates any responsibility for this individual.

Then there’s the predictable “if I DID vote it wouldn’t MATTER because America isn’t a democracy” pity-party bitching. Why doesn’t anything work when people refuse to put any effort into it and expect perfection?! This part is painful and also unsurprising.

Again, it is true: the US isn’t a functional democracy. It has been downgraded to a dysfunctional democracy, and numerous institutions (the Electoral College, the Senate, and the Supreme Court) and practices (Israel alliance, treatment of territories like D.C. and Puerto Rico and Guam, the treatment of asylum-seekers, and the treatment of indigenous peoples) are clearly not democratic. But these things cannot ever be fixed, or even changed, without competent and incentivized leaders. Only through elections can legitimate pioneers be placed in key positions in government, and only with the threat of losing their positions can they be discouraged from acting against the wishes of their constituency. Not voting actually accomplishes all the things mentioned above.

Losing your job is incredibly unlikely to have anything to do with the president, or even the state positions in government. Especially when an economy has added the most jobs in recent history, losing a job is entirely due to the company, and in this particular case I’m betting the individual themselves. (I certainly wouldn’t want such shortsighted, self-involved, lazy employees at any company I managed, or even in a department I supervised.)

While the US alliance with Israel, and the continual carnage in Gaza, are both against popular opinion and clearly war crimes and undermine globalism and true democracy for all of humanity, not to mention separation of church and state in government, would having a conservative administration solve any of this? Hell no. It would be exceedingly worse, and in fact the 45th administration is likely directly (and indirectly) responsible for what is happening in Gaza right now, similar to their culpability in the removal of the troops from the Middle East. Why would putting those same people, the people who CAUSED these tragedies, back in the same positions of power SOLVE any of these problems?! The short answer is they wouldn’t solve the problems at all, they’d simply exacerbate them.

Comments on Tumblr like this make me extra suspicious of those blogs. We’ve already had obvious Russian plants, and although not every account peddling anti-vote drivel is a fake person, you should treat them all with the same level of scrutiny and concern.

Also, participating in democracy should be invigorating. It’s a privilege and an honor.

the liberal voting psychosis is insane and it seems like in their rabid anger everyone forgot that the popular vote doesnt actually elect the president. even if i was going to vote my vote would be worthless because america is not a democracy. and furthermore im losing my job and watching a genocide happen with my tax dollars under biden in a blue state with a democrat government anyways :)

#realtalk

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qqueenofhades · 5 years ago

Note

Re: the post you reblogged about Bush. I'm 21 and tbh feel like I can only vote for Bernie, can you explain if/why I shouldn't? Thanks and sorry if this is dumb or anything.

Oh boy. Okay, I’ll do my best here. Note that a) this will get long, and b) I’m old, Tired, and I‘m pretty sure my brain tried to kill me last night. Since by nature I am sure I will say something Controversial ™, if anyone reads this and feels a deep urge to inform me that I am Wrong, just… mark it down as me being Wrong and move on with your life. But also, really, you should read this and hopefully think about it. Because while I’m glad you asked this question, it feels like there’s a lot in your cohort who won’t, and that worries me. A lot.

First, not to sound utterly old-woman-in-a-rocking-chair ancient, people who came of age/are only old enough to have Obama be the first president that they really remember have no idea how good they had it. The world was falling the fuck apart in 2008 (not coincidentally, after 8 years of Bush). We came within a flicker of the permanent collapse of the global economy. The War on Terror was in full roar, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were at their height, we had Dick Cheney as the cartoon supervillain before we had any of Trump’s cohort, and this was before Chelsea Manning or Edward Snowden had exposed the extent of NSA/CIA intelligence-gathering/American excesses or there was any kind of public debate around the fact that we were all surveilled all the time. And the fact that a brown guy named Barack Hussein Obama was elected in this climate seems, and still seems tbh, kind of amazing. And Obama was certainly not a Perfect President ™. He had to scale back a lot of planned initiatives, he is notorious for expanding the drone strike/extrajudicial assassination program, he still subscribed to the overall principles of neoliberalism and American exceptionalism, etc etc. There is valid criticism to be made as to how the hopey-changey optimistic rhetoric stacked up against the hard realities of political office. And yet…. at this point, given what we’re seeing from the White House on a daily basis, the depth of the parallel universe/double standards is absurd.

Because here’s the thing. Obama, his entire family, and his entire administration had to be personally/ethically flawless the whole time (and they managed that – not one scandal or arrest in eight years, against the legions of Trumpistas now being convicted) because of the absolute frothing depths of Republican hatred, racial conspiracy theories, and obstruction against him. (Remember Merrick Garland and how Mitch McConnell got away with that, and now we have Gorsuch and Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court? Because I remember that). If Obama had pulled one-tenth of the shit, one-twentieth of the shit that the Trump administration does every day, he would be gone. It also meant that people who only remember Obama think he was typical for an American president, and he wasn’t. Since about… Jimmy Carter, and definitely since Ronald Reagan, the American people have gone for the Trump model a lot more than the Obama model. Whatever your opinion on his politics or character, Obama was a constitutional law professor, a community activist, a neighborhood organizer and brilliant Ivy League intellectual who used to randomly lie awake at night thinking about income inequality. Americans don’t value intellectualism in their politicians; they just don’t. They don’t like thinking that “the elites” are smarter than them. They like the folksy populist who seems fun to have a beer with, and Reagan/Bush Senior/Clinton/Bush Junior sold this persona as hard as they possibly could. As noted in said post, Bush Junior (or Shrub as the late, great Molly Ivins memorably dubbed him) was Trump Lite but from a long-established political family who could operate like an outwardly civilized human.

The point is: when you think Obama was relatively normal (which, again, he wasn’t, for any number of reasons) and not the outlier in a much larger pattern of catastrophic damage that has been accelerated since, again, the 1980s (oh Ronnie Raygun, how you lastingly fucked us!), you miss the overall context in which this, and which Trump, happened. Like most left-wingers, I don’t agree with Obama’s recent and baffling decision to insert himself into the 2020 race and warn the Democratic candidates against being too progressive or whatever he was on about. I think he was giving into the same fear that appears to be motivating the remaining chunk of Joe Biden’s support: that middle/working-class white America won’t go for anything too wild or that might sniff of Socialism, and that Uncle Joe, recalled fondly as said folksy populist and the internet’s favorite meme grandfather from his time as VP, could pick up the votes that went to Trump last time. And that by nature, no one else can.

The underlying belief is that these white voters just can’t support anything too “un-American,” and that by pushing too hard left, Democratic candidates risk handing Trump a second term. Again: I don’t agree and I think he was mistaken in saying it. But I also can’t say that Obama of all people doesn’t know exactly the strength of the political machine operating against the Democratic Party and the progressive agenda as a whole, because he ran headfirst into it for eight years. The fact that he managed to pass any of his legislative agenda, usually before the Tea Party became a thing in 2010, is because Democrats controlled the House and Senate for the first two years of his first term. He was not perfect, but it was clear that he really did care (just look up the pictures of him with kids). He installed smart, efficient, and scandal-free people to do jobs they were qualified for. He gave us Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor to join RBG on the Supreme Court. All of this seems… like a dream.

That said: here we are in a place where Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren are the front-runners for the Democratic nomination (and apparently Pete Buttigieg is getting some airplay as a dark horse candidate, which… whatever). The appeal of Biden is discussed above, and he sure as hell is not my favored candidate (frankly, I wish he’d just quit). But Sanders and Warren are 85% - 95% similar in their policy platforms. The fact that Michael “50 Billion Dollar Fortune” Bloomberg started rattling his chains about running for president is because either a Sanders or Warren presidency terrifies the outrageously exploitative billionaire capitalist oligarchy that runs this country and has been allowed to proceed essentially however the fuck they like since… you guessed it, the 1980s, the era of voodoo economics, deregulation, and the free market above all. Warren just happens to be ten years younger than Sanders and female, and Sanders’ age is not insignificant. He’s 80 years old and just had a heart attack, and there’s still a year to go to the election. It’s also more than a little eye-rolling to describe him as the only progressive candidate in the race, when he’s an old white man (however much we like and approve of his policy positions). And here’s the thing, which I think is a big part of the reason why this polarized ideological purity internet leftist culture mistrusts Warren:

She may have changed her mind on things in the past.

Scary, right? I sound like I’m being facetious, but I’m not. An argument I had to read with my own two eyes on this godforsaken hellsite was that since Warren became a Democrat around the time Clinton signed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, she sekritly hated gay people and might still be a corporate sellout, so on and etcetera. (And don’t even get me STARTED on the fact that DADT, coming a few years after the height of the AIDS crisis which was considered God’s Judgment of the Icky Gays, was the best Clinton could realistically hope to achieve, but this smacks of White Gay Syndrome anyway and that is a whole other kettle of fish.) Bernie has always demonstrably been a democratic socialist, and: good for him. I’m serious. But because there’s the chance that Warren might not have thought exactly as she does now at any point in her life, the hysterical and paranoid left-wing elements don’t trust that she might not still secretly do so. (Zomgz!) It’s the same element that’s feeding cancel culture and “wokeness.” Nobody can be allowed to have shifted or grown in their opinions or, like a functional, thoughtful, non-insane adult, changed their beliefs when presented with compelling evidence to the contrary. To the ideological hordes, any hint of uncertainty or past failure to completely toe the line is tantamount to heresy. Any evidence of any other belief except The Correct One means that this person is functionally as bad as Trump. And frankly, it’s only the Sanders supporters who, just as in 2016, are threatening to withhold their vote in the general election if their preferred candidate doesn’t win the primary, and indeed seem weirdly proud about it.

OK, boomer Bernie or Buster.

Here’s the thing, the thing, the thing: there is never going to be an American president free of the deeply toxic elements of American ideology. There just won’t be. This country has been built how it has for 250 years, and it’s not gonna change. You are never going to have, at least not in the current system, some dream candidate who gets up there and parrots the left-wing talking points and attacks American imperialism, exceptionalism, ravaging global capitalism, military and oil addiction, etc. They want to be elected as leader of a country that has deeply internalized and taken these things to heart for its entire existence, and most of them believe it to some degree themselves. So this groupthink white liberal mentality where the only acceptable candidate is this Perfect Non-Problematic robot who has only ever had one belief their entire lives and has never ever wavered in their devotion to doctrine has really gotten bad. The Democratic Party would be considered… maybe center/mild left in most other developed countries. It’s not even really left-wing by general standards, and Sanders and Warren are the only two candidates for the nomination who are even willing to go there and explicitly put out policy proposals that challenge the systematic structure of power, oppression, and exploitation of the late-stage capitalist 21st century. Warren has the billionaires fussed, and instead of backing down, she’s doubling down. That’s part of why they’re so scared of her. (And also misogyny, because the world is depressing like that.) She is going head-on after picking a fight with some of the worst people on the planet, who are actively killing the rest of us, and I don’t know about you, but I like that.

Of course: none of this will mean squat if she (or the eventual Democratic winner, who I will vote for regardless of who it is, but as you can probably tell, she’s my ride or die) don’t a) win the White House and then do as they promised on the campaign trail, and b) don’t have a Democratic House and Senate willing to have a backbone and pass the laws. Even Nancy Pelosi, much as she’s otherwise a badass, held off on opening a formal impeachment inquiry into Trump for months out of fear it would benefit him, until the Ukraine thing fell into everyone’s laps. The Democrats are really horrible at sticking together and voting the party line the way Republicans do consistently, because Democrats are big-tent people who like to think of themselves as accepting and tolerant of other views and unwilling to force their members’ hands. The Republicans have no such qualms (and indeed, judging by their enabling of Trump, have no qualms at all).

The modern American Republican party has become a vehicle for no-holds-barred power for rich white men at the expense of absolutely everything and everyone else, and if your rationale is that you can’t vote for the person opposing Donald Goddamn Trump is that you’re just not vibing with them on the language of that one policy proposal… well, I’m glad that you, White Middle Class Liberal, feel relatively safe that the consequences of that decision won’t affect you personally. Even if we’re due to be out of the Paris Climate Accords one day after the 2020 election, and the issue of climate change now has the most visibility it’s ever had after years of big-business, Republican-led efforts to deny and discredit the science, hey, Secret Corporate Shill, am I right? Can’t trust ‘er. Let’s go have a craft beer.

As has been said before: vote as far left as you want in the primary. Vote your ideology, vote whatever candidate you want, because the only way to make actual, real-world change is to do that. The huge, embedded, all-consuming and horrible system in which we operate is not just going to suddenly be run by fairy dust and happy thoughts overnight. Select candidates that reflect your values exactly, be as picky and ideologically militant as you want. That’s the time to do that! Then when it comes to the general election:

America is a two-party system. It sucks, but that’s the case. Third-party votes, or refraining from voting because “it doesn’t matter” are functionally useless at best and actively harmful at worst.

Either the Democratic candidate or Donald Trump will win the 2020 election.

There is absolutely no length that the Republican/GOP machine, and its malevolent allies elsewhere, will not go to in order to secure a Trump victory. None.

Any talk whatsoever about “progressive values” or any kind of liberal activism, coupled with a course of action that increases the possibility of a Trump victory, is hypocritical at best and actively malicious at worst.

This is why I found the Democratic response to Obama’s “don’t go too wild” comments interesting. Bernie doubled down on the fact that his plans have widespread public support, and he’s right. (Frankly, the fact that Sanders and Warren are polling at the top, and the fact that they’re politicians and would not be crafting these campaign messages if they didn’t know that they were being positively received, says plenty on its own). Warren cleverly highlighted and praised Obama’s accomplishments in office (i.e. the Affordable Care Act) and didn’t say squat about whether she agreed or disagreed with him, then went right back to campaigning about why billionaires suck. And some guy named Julian Castro basically blew Obama off and claimed that “any Democrat” could beat Trump in 2020, just by nature of existing and being non-insane.

This is very dangerous! Do not be Julian Castro!

As I said in my tags on the Bush post: everyone assumed that sensible people would vote for Kerry in 2004. Guess what happened? Yeah, he got Swift Boated. The race between Obama and McCain in 2008, even after those said nightmare years of Bush, was very close until the global crash broke it open in Obama’s favor, and Sarah Palin was an actual disqualifier for a politician being brazenly incompetent and unprepared. (Then again, she was a woman from a remote backwater state, not a billionaire businessman.) In 2012, we thought Corporate MormonBot Mitt Fuggin’ Romney was somehow the worst and most dangerous candidate the Republicans could offer. In 2016, up until Election Day itself, everyone assumed that HRC was a badly flawed candidate but would win anyway. And… we saw how that worked out. Complacency is literally deadly.

I was born when Reagan was still president. I’m just old enough to remember the efforts to impeach Clinton over forcing an intern to give him a BJ in the Oval Office (This led by the same Republicans making Donald Trump into a darling of the evangelical Christian right wing.) I’m definitely old enough to remember 9/11 and how America lost its mind after that, and I remember the Bush years. And, obviously, the contrast with Obama, the swing back toward Trump, and everything that has happened since. We can’t afford to do this again. We’re hanging by a thread as it is, and not just America, but the entire planet.

So yes. By all means, vote for Sanders in the primary. Then when November 3, 2020 rolls around, if you care about literally any of this at all, hold your nose if necessary and vote straight-ticket Democrat, from the president, to the House and Senate, to the state and local offices. I cannot put it more strongly than that.

#politics for ts #long post #anonymous #ask

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loneberry · 2 years ago

Text

What have I done today? Very little. (Secretly, I like doing very little—if I had my druthers I’d spend my days in bed, reading and writing in my journal.)

If I had to make an inventory of my day’s activities it would look something like this:

Megaformer pilates class

Grocery shopping

Reading by the sea

Cooking

Yet at the end of the day, as I was crying during the conclusion of Woolf’s first novel, The Voyage Out, all the details of my day surged forth with such a powerful force that I felt, how can I describe it, it was something like pure love. I want to be better. I want to tell my beautiful friends how much they mean to me. How full a day is, even when nothing happens. Isn’t that what Bernadette Mayer taught us in her durational poem written on the winter solstice? It began with a dream. So did my day.

Every night for the last week I’ve woken up in agony—it is the recrudescence of my mysterious autoimmune condition, which waylaid me for 6 months this year. I wake up in the middle of the night covered in hives and can’t go back to sleep. During the day I struggle to focus or function. At night I take four different antihistamines and every otc sleep remedy (magnesium, melatonin, valerian, kava, Benadryl, herbal tea, CBD) plus my prescription sleep med. Nothing works.

When my hives woke me up at 3am I was dreaming. Of Laura. I go to check the time on my phone. Uncanny, the only notification is a text from Laura. She sends a picture of Walter Benjamin’s memorial. Half-asleep, I write her back:

Wow I was just dreaming you wrote a brilliant novel called “diaries of a terrorist” (funny my friend wrote a book w that title)… it was somehow about the geometry of revolt, about an elaborate coordinated action in Red Square that took the shape of a pentagram, aimed at revealing an invisible structure… but the action misfired because there was a flaw in the original hidden design of the structure. There were more points than the five of the pentagram…

Red Square… was it Russia? No, it was somehow Germany. But it looked like the Red Square of Moscow… perhaps because earlier in the day I was thinking about my trip to Russia. Was the pentagram of the dream drawing attention to some latent demonic presence in Russian society? Lord. How I wish I could sleep.

What do I do when I can’t sleep… listen to podcasts with my eyes closed while in bed, my usual rotation of news, political economy, politics, and war. So much emotion in the voices of strangers, how it stirs me. Richard Fierro, the man who disarmed the Club Q gunman in Colorado Springs, is talking about the incident, calmly narrating the actions, when suddenly he starts weeping about the people he could not save. It cuts through everything, like the testimonies of Ukrainians I listen to daily. On another podcast, Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina speaks beautifully about her memories of Maidan, of the university of the streets, the transformational eros of revolt, and how useless literary writing feels during times of war, how she switched from writing novels to investigating war crimes.

News. It never stops. Ariana’s mother is dead. Bernadette Mayer is dead. A 2-day old Ukrainian baby, dead. More civilian infrastructure in Ukraine has been destroyed by Russian missiles. A maternity ward. All the cities in candlelight. No water in Kyiv. Germany builds an LNG terminal. Meanwhile in Virginia: another mass shooting. Turkey is attacking the Kurds. Who will help the Kurds?

I rearrange my wilting gillyflowers into smaller vases. There’s the smell of clove as I cut the stems. Gilly…I knew you simply as “stock.” Others call you “hoary”—a word I once used in my journal to describe a vision of my future: “…a hoary woman alone in the stone house, clutching her shimmering memories.”

Meditate on Sophrosyne. When will I ever get a handle on this monkey mind? Cook tilapia and pasta. Think about the dead. Call Ulysses. UC on strike. Call from Lily, mom in the hospital again. “Toss a penny to the sky. Heads or tails. Who knows, not I…” Conversations on the pier, while the crows, seagulls, and pigeons loitered for scraps. How the pelicans flew overhead in their enormous formations, then dipped and glided just above the water. The face of the young man with the fishing rod as he looks up when I bike past him.

All the words I read. Free associating in the marginalia, that tender compassion I felt for Virginia Woolf, the exposed nerve that was her mind, too sensitive for the world. I think of the death of her brother Thoby, of the sexual abuse she endured in childhood, all the things she never got over. The sea, the water closing over the head. So much in a day. There are people I can’t protect. You can’t protect the dead. I think of the dead. She died without dignity. Does anyone die with dignity? Yes, some do. “Poetry doesn’t tell you how to bury the dead,” though I often think, as I’m looking at a patch of light while tidying my house, that poetry is the last defense of the sacred.

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tangleweave · 1 year ago

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It never seems like there's enough time.

Peter's life, pretty much ever since high school, has been a whirlwind adventure, from one crisis to the next with really no breaks in between to even catch his breath, never mind take stock. A spider bite is supposed to welt up, maybe make you feel ill for a little bit -- at worst it introduces necrotic venom and then it's a hospital visit and a painful ulcerating sore that eventually heals. It isn't supposed to endow you with the strength of a hydraulic press… or grant you the ability to stick to walls… or bless you with danger-based precognition.

That last one is especially tricky for him. Even after nearly ten years of possessing the ability, he still doesn't always have a full grasp on how it's supposed to function, or how it can sometimes take control of his movements, and sometimes can allow him to perceive and react to things in bullet time. And there are times he wishes it would let him slow down time all around him for longer than he's directly endangered, because then he might be able to get so much more done. On the other hand, he has to concede, the cortisol expense would likely be catastrophic for him.

And so he has to settle for making the most of whatever time he's got… and this evening, it all seems to be melting away. He's spent nearly the entire day with Beth. Their shift at F.E.A.S.T. hadn't felt nearly like a full lunchtime, first serving food and then helping people with employment applications and referrals. They'd played off one another's strengths and expertise as naturally as if they'd known each other for years. Peter could almost swear they'd attended school and taken classes together for how quickly they glance to each other for answers and advice, like they'd been in a whole host of group projects.

The experience at the matinee had been something else again. They'd actually gotten through the movie this time -- no emergency calls from Yuri, thank God, and when he'd mentioned to Otto that he and Beth would be grabbing some quick dinner before he came in, the good doctor had urged him to take his time with a sly smile and a "Gather ye rosebuds, Parker" -- but he couldn't help but wonder if maybe Beth found it off-putting for how she'd curled up in her seat. Whether it was a matter of her seeking comfort, as her grasp on his hand and snuggling into his side seemed to be, or if there was something traumatic involved, and she'd actually been shriveling and hiding.

But coming out of it, the pleased smile on her face had indicated to him that whichever it might have been, she was glad he hadn't had to leave this time around… and that he could stay for food. (And really, in this economy, he would have been crazy not to.)

Trading notes over the movie is an unexpected delight, whether for praise or criticism -- and his sense that there was at least as much to frown at about it as there was to enjoy is borne out by her remarks. But when she brings up the protagonist's increasing isolation, it plucks a string near his heart that plays a sour note… and he's reminded, once again, how little of a life he really has. How little time he really takes out for Peter Parker, as opposed to how much he devotes to Dr. Octavius, Aunt May -- or Spider-Man.

"I don't know if it's commitment, really," he says, as he rubs the back of his neck. "From what we got given, it seemed to me like it was supposed to be more… more like she was pining for whatever it was she was seeing in him, like she'd made up an ideal for him? And maybe he was supposed to be experiencing the same thing, sort of building up this pedestal for her, too. So much time apart can do funky things to the way you think about someone. I'll bet they originally wanted to do a little more with it. But the movie was… what? Like 105 minutes running time? So yeah, when she just went in like that to kiss him, that was just… abrupt. I didn't really get the feeling of sparks between them. Maybe there was a lot of good stuff that wound up on the cutting room floor."

That awkward, shy smile rises to the surface for him as he looks for a suitable tangent. A side-road presents itself when he looks at Beth's curious expression and catches the glint of the overhead light against the glossiness of her lower lip. "So -- okay. In the movie, she made her move without really a whole lot of buildup, like we didn't really see it coming. But there was clearly supposed to be something there, like she was meant to be feeling something big and she just dove right in. What about you? What would it take for you to just… go for it?"

He waits patiently, follows her on her train of thought as she shares it, word for word. In spite of his feelings about the notion of the friend-zone (a term made up by guys who see no value in women if there's no chance of being lustfully entangled) he grins at the joke, half because he appreciates the irony, and half because her smile inspires his own without even really needing to try.

He nearly gets caught up in her description of what the perfect kiss would be like. And more than a touch of shame rises between his brain and his heart, because what she describes is exactly what she's already shared with his alter ego. Setting aside that she'd blinded herself for his benefit, so there'd been no eye contact, and she's already told Peter that she was certain she'd flubbed it by not seeking consent… but isn't that pretty much what she's talking about here? That there's a connection between her and her romantic interest strong enough to imply consent?

If Beth is in your arms and giving you moon eyes, why in the world would you not want to kiss her?

The look on her face is so very close, just for a moment, to the look she'd worn when she'd leaned up to kiss him.

Spider-Man. She kissed Spider-Man.

Peter has to acknowledge, at least to himself, that this is a weird way of drawing out her reasoning for having made a move. Hearing the thought process behind the impulse -- which seems an oxymoron, but Beth is a walking paradox. Everything she should have an impulse reponse to, she measures meticulously and repeatedly. Everything she should consider thoughtfully, she bullrushes.

She feels like kin to him. Especially when it comes to the part about being worth the wait. And he doesn't quite lend his voice to the movement of his lips, though it's possible they move of their own accord and without his permission at all when they mouth his subconscious response.

Of course you are.

Her inquiry makes his head tilt that much further to one side as he thinks about his reply. He doesn't need more than a moment or two as he munches on pizza crust, but the first response he gives is to her second question, and it's augmented with a faintly wry smile. "Why do I wanna stay? 'Cause she's a girl and she's interested in Peter Parker. In my experience, those two features are typically mutually exclusive."

Then he holds up a hand to wave away the snark he's just issued. "Okay, but for real. I like a smart girl. And if she figures out ways to prove me wrong or reasons to disagree with me, that's even better. If she keeps me on my toes, she can keep me honest. Engaged. The kind of girl that surprises me with all the things I hadn't considered. And who's willing to put up with me when I have to go running off, even when it's the last thing I want to do. Because I have every intention of coming back, but that sad look… it just breaks my heart." He shrugs helplessly. "And I've got that kind of life where, you know, things happen at a moment's notice, and suddenly I'm needed, and I don't want to go because I don't want to ruin the moment, but even more I don't want to see how I'm disappointing who I'm with because I let myself get pulled in all these different directions." He realizes he's starting to sound frustrated with himself, and he takes a breath and tries to smile again. "I dunno. Maybe I'm just the worst sort of people-pleaser. Because trust me, I'm never the one who wants to leave. I just wish it didn't have to be painful to who I'm with when those calls come."

He hesitates a moment, then meets her eyes. "I was gonna ask if that makes sense to you, but, I mean, you're a nurse, you've got your non-profit, you've got a ton of things on your plate and then you add more… so I have to believe you get it."

A for Aphrodisiac (from Peter)

Spell It Out || -

Some part of Beth feels bad for Peter being trapped in this booth with her.

They'd worked their shift at the Centre and then decided catch a matinee. Doc doesn't need Peter to come in until tonight. Beth lets that go without comment because she knows how important their work is, how much it means for him to work with Dr Octavius ~if her feelings had ever changed, she would have cringed into oblivion over all the things she had and would have been willing to do during medical school~ and ultimately how vital it was to have something for himself, something that focused on his interests and no because he felt like he owed someone. Beth knows Peter will some day change the world. She only wishes he knew it too. Sometime during the movie they lifted the arm rest/cup holder between them and she'd curled up on the seat, leaning into him. His arm had come down and he'd held her close. There'd been a few tense moments where she ended up clutching his hand or burying her face in his chest. She holds up popcorn for him, he holds up the drink, the straw ~which she doesn't complain about for once~ angled so that she can take sips.

Then they'd opted to have an early supper, and the pizza place is surprisingly quiet. They were mid deconstructing the movie when she brought up the fact that the least credible part was the c-plotline, the romance between the tormented writer and his on-and-off again girlfriend.

"I jus' t'ink dat da demons were more plausible dan her feelings for him. Like none of it made sense. How committed dey could be when dey barely saw each oddah an' he's become increasingly isolated?"

She watches him wrestle with his expressions, as if desperately trying to remain neutral despite whatever discomfort she's provoked. He raises one hand to the nape of his neck and rubs at it as he formulates the sort of right response. And surprises her with a question.

She replies with lowering her chin and ducking her neck, eyes slightly wider than normal after she blinks. "I…uh."

There's something to that tilt of his head and the somewhat lopsided grin he offers that makes Beth take him more seriously. But answering him is a lot harder than he might imagine. Maybe because Beth doesn't really know, either.

"So, told ya, I t'ink dat I don' really feel like oddah people do. My brea'd doesn't catch in my t'roat when I see a handsome guy an' I don't get all giggly when pretty girl talk at me. Didn't even know what it felt like t' even wan someone until I was 'round eighteen or so. It was only dat one person, an' nevah anyone else. Now, ten years laddah, I guess… it al start wi' needin' some kind of closeness. A sense of connection wheddah it is emotional or spiritual. Dat all bein' true, I guess ya bes' chance of datin' me is if I actually friend-zone ya." She giggles, her nose crinkling faintly. "But yeah, someone I feel I know an' jus….get. No kine I can describe in any factual way. Only feelin'. Beyond dat?"

She pauses again. This time she chews on the inner corner of her lower lip in consideration. Beth doesn't seem to realise how she open her expressions are. How much she can say without uttering a single word.

"I guess feelin' comfortable enough to get close. I'm a very touchy person. Uhm feelin' like I can confide in dem wi'out fearin' criticism or bein' made fun of. Mebbe…mebbe proximity. Like fingers trailin' along my spine, or against my arm, an' I look up…an' he's right dere. Face soft, eyes dark an' gleamin'. My heart would feel fluttery den alla stars will seem to align an' I'll lean dat rest of da way…an' it'll be da perfect kiss. Sof' an' sweet an' gentle. Tender and lingerin'."

Her eyes are half closed and her elbows are now set on the table as she seems to be leaning toward him.

A few seconds later, she slumps back down with something of a dreamy sigh.

"Of course, dat all is predicated on…findin' someone t'ink I'm wor'd da wait."

"Put question sorta back on you? Wha' qualities ya look for in a girl make you interested? Wha' about dem make ya wanna stay?"

#brooklynislandgirl #beth riley #muse: peter parker #verse: rooftop silhouettes

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subtheory · 4 years ago

Text

“I have been amazed more than once by a description a woman gave me of a world all her own which she had been secretly haunting since early childhood. A world of searching, the elaboration of a knowledge, on the basis of a systematic experimentation with the bodily functions, a passionate and precise interrogation of her erotogeneity. This practice, extraordinarily rich and inventive, in particular as concerns masturbation, is prolonged or accompanied by a production of forms, a veritable aesthetic activity, each stage of rapture inscribing a resonant vision, a composition, something beautiful. Beauty will no longer be forbidden.

I wished that that woman would write and proclaim this unique empire so that other women, other unacknowledged sovereigns, might exclaim: I, too, overflow; my desires have invented new desires, my body knows unheard-of songs. Time and again I, too, have felt so full of luminous torrents that I could burst—burst with forms much more beautiful than those which are put up in frames and sold for a stinking fortune. And I, too, said nothing, showed nothing; I didn't open my mouth, I didn't repaint my half of the world. I was ashamed. I was afraid, and I swallowed my shame and my fear. I said to myself: You are mad! What's the meaning of these waves, these floods, these outbursts? Where is the ebullient, infinite woman who, immersed as she was in her naiveté, kept in the dark about herself, led into self-disdain by the great arm of parental-conjugal phallocentrism, hasn't been ashamed of her strength? Who, surprised and horrified by the fantastic tumult of her drives (for she was made to believe that a well-adjusted normal woman has a ... divine composure), hasn't accused herself of being a monster? Who, feeling a funny desire stirring inside her (to sing, to write, to dare to speak, in short, to bring out something new), hasn't thought she was sick? Well, her shameful sickness is that she resists death, that she makes trouble.

And why don't you write? Write! Writing is for you, you are for you; your body is yours, take it. I know why you haven't written. (And why I didn't write before the age of twenty-seven.) Because writing is at once too high, too great for you, it's reserved for the great—that is, for "great men"; and it's "silly." Besides, you've written a little, but in secret. And it wasn't good, because it was in secret, and because you punished yourself for writing, because you didn't go all the way; or because you wrote, irresistibly, as when we would masturbate in secret, not to go further, but to attenuate the tension a bit, just enough to take the edge off. And then as soon as we come, we go and make ourselves feel guilty—so as to be forgiven; or to forget, to bury it until the next time.

Write, let no one hold you back, let nothing stop you: not man; not the imbecilic capitalist machinery, in which publishing houses are the crafty, obsequious relayers of imperatives handed down by an economy that works against us and off our backs; and not yourself. Smug-faced readers, managing editors, and big bosses don't like the true texts of women—female-sexed texts. That kind scares them.”

—extract from The Laugh of the Medusa by Hélène Cixous.

#helene cixous #gilles deleuze #equality #intersectional feminism #radical feminism

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edwardashley · 4 years ago

Text

An Essay on the Thematic Parallels Between Harry Goodsir and Billy Gibson

Disclaimer: I am not a literary academic (I’m a historian) and I am not attempting to write this in an academic fashion, but I hope you can still find something of value in my hastily constructed thoughts.

1.5k words, behind the cut. Also you can read / comment / bookmark HERE ON AO3.

At first glance, Harry Goodsir and Billy Gibson may seem to have very little to do with each other. They never interact beyond the inevitable death scene, where Goodsir is narratively required to be at, serving as the doctor/butcher. But let us dig a little deeper and let me explain to you how their arcs are parallels and emphasize the show’s theme of Imperialism’s inherent Violence.

First, let us review Goodsir’s arc.

Goodsir is a classic broken ingenue character. He is over the course of the series exposed to both the horror of the situation, but even more importantly the horror of what comes out of their presence within the Arctic space. He spreads his own goodness, caring for both Silna’s father and Silna herself, but this is directly at odds with the opinions of his superiors and peers. In other meta, people have analyzed the ship as a microcosm of greater British society and I will agree here. So Goodsir functions within the system, but he doesn’t quite fit. Early on he does not act directly against the system, because he believes he can create good from his position within. Other than the Lieutenants, Goodsir is the one who is most shown asking for PERMISSION. He asks to operate on Silna’s father, he asks if he can leave with SIlna to go to Terror, he asks Stanley first if he can present his lead findings, he asks Crozier if they can start hunting parties. However, eventually he loses this predisposition to cow to hierarchies, because the arc of his character is his growing disillusionment and eventual understanding of the inherent violence of the Imperialist presence, EVEN WITH the existence of his own goodness.

I believe we can see hints of this change in his conversation with Silna in Episode 4, as he continues to try and explain/justify their goal of looking for the Northwest Passage, for trade, for economy! Personally, I feel like as he says these words in the acting choices we can tell he is struck by the hollowness of their meaning. He repeats his own name at the end, Goodsir, almost as if he is trying to reassert his position. He is a Good Sir. But is he trying to reaffirm this just to Silna, perhaps also to himself?

His change of mindset is truly cemented after the death of the inuit family. There is a very stark personality change between him begging Silna to stay, that these Englishmen are good, and his hardened, cold tone as he goes to perform the autopsy on the murdered men. He has been witness to a severe act of racially based violence (immediate assumption of the savagery of the natives as well as Hickey’s application of racist tropes ie. scalping to incite this fervor) and while he knows these men are desperate, he also sees it for the needless cruelty it was and that Violence is drawn out of this culture/system that supports Racism of this magnitutde. He is still a good man, he does not want more to die as evidenced when he tries to save Gibson and agrees to butcher him to save Hodgson, but he is not willing to give either of these men forgiveness for their position. He does not provide comfort for either of them.

Now, I will address Goodsir’s endpoint, but as I wish to compare and contrast it directly to Gibson, let us move onto Gibson’s arc so we make better set up the connection between the two.

Gibson also goes through this same transformation, although in a more subtle and personal way. He is less sparkly/overt than Goodsir at the beginning, but he is equally idealistic towards the society he is raised in. His idealism is confidence in the system and that maintaining it will assure him success/protection. (Short addition, this is not canon, but historically it is probable that Hodgson helped pull some strings to get Gibson the steward job after their sting on HMS Wanderer together, which gives a further justification for a loyalty and gratitude to the lieutenants/institution.)

However, Gibson’s faith is broken even earlier than Goodsir’s. This is the lashing. This moment is pivotal for several mutineers, Tozer, Armitage, Manson, and arguably, to the whole crew, undermining their trust in Crozier through the rest of the series. For Gibson this is where the band-aid is ripped off. We are shown that he literally and figuratively has blood on his hands; despite his efforts Hickey is still a victim here, still tried for DIRTINESS, and where Gibson relied on both Irving and Crozier to create a sense of stability they have failed him. It is worth noting, that Gibson is already aware of Crozier’s alcoholism as he mentions in ep 3, and so likely had disillusionment percolating in his head before and this is just the tipping point. “Ignorance is a choice” he says during his mutiny proposition. In the same way Goodsir and the Marines are “betrayed” by those above them that appear to not value human life, Gibson’s voice is to reaffirm that they (and by extension us, the audience) should be looking out for these betrayals. To act ignorant is a choice indeed.

I am going to quote my friend Faye here, that Gibson understands the truth of Hickey’s personality, but “faced with two devils, he is going to choose the one he knows, the one he understands, and the one he loves.” Regardless of if you think Hickey and Gibson are still romantically attracted to each other, the keeping of the ring around his neck is symbolic of him at least holding onto the CONCEPT of love, of being VALUED, even if it may not be a complex centered around Hickey personally. Regardless, Hickey still treats Gibson more fairly than Crozier’s institution does, within the mutiny he is treated as a valuable contributor of both ideas and acts. “Are these our own choices, or are they being made for us?” he says during the walk out. Gibson chooses a place where he can make his own choices and that is not within the system.

So, by Episode 9 he and Goodsir end up in the same place literally and figuratively, but even his disavowal does not free Gibson. The mutineers ALL have been rejected/betrayed, but that ultimately does not absolve them of their position as a poisonous aspect of Imperialism. As the conversation between Silna and the shaman states, the natural environment has been disrupted by the whole crew’s presence. Additionally, the Tuunbaq comes to kill them only when Hickey has proclaimed his desire to create a New Empire. Being marginalized does not absolve them of the inherent disruption/violence of Imperialism and, in the Terror’s thematic universe, does not protect them from its consequences.

“I wouldn’t comfort us either, Doctor,” are Gibson’s last words. By his death Gibson has come to terms with their inhumanity and thus their undeserving of human comfort, of the “goodness” that Goodsir is known for. Comparatively, Goodsir’s position in Episode 10 is also disavowal of society. “There is beauty here,” Goodsir says. He is not blaming the environment for their disaster, because he sees the poison in their position.

“Not you, Dr. Goodsir. You’re pure,” Crozier says. Goodsir refutes this by literally dirtying himself. Goodsir AND Gibson are both characters who explicitly (I say this, because I think Hodgson also skirts this line of realization) acknowledge their complicity in violence, acknowledge their own lack of purity.

And THAT, dear audience, is exactly why they are the only two characters that are confirmed cannibalized, because ultimately, this Epiphany they have is fatal. British society cannot function if its citizens have this self-realization and act upon it and so their peers must destroy them. They are no longer compatible as functioning cogs in the machine and so must be exploited.

It is worth noting, that eating the lead-infused Gibson and as well as the explicitly poisoned Goodsir will be ineffectual in sustaining the Mutineers in the long term. Thus, lastly, we have a statement on the insidious assumption that tamping down nay-sayers/problems will lead to a more stable society, because a society that sits on these foundations of violence will ultimately kill itself and the people in it.

If you stayed this long I thank you very much. Any comments or questions very much appreciated! Again this is my meta/interpretation and I’m interested to know others thoughts on these topics.

#the terror #the terror amc #harry goodsir #billy gibson #meta #willliam gibson

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gabenathreversebang · 4 years ago

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GabeNath Reverse Bang 2020 Masterpost

Lady in Blue

When Gabriel akumatizes Audrey again, it goes awry and backfires on him. When he, Ladybug and Chat Noir are compromised, Nathalie decides it’s time for her to take matters into her own hands.

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Changing Hearts and Changing Tides

The Agreste boys and their plus one, Nathalie, have decided to spend the week in a cabin by the coast. While Gabriel tries to mend his fractured relationship with Adrien, Nathalie is more or less there to keep the peace, but she soon finds herself out of her depth. With emotions shifting as frequently as the tide can the trio band together and take strides towards the future, or will they be swept out to sea and left hanging?

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Your Sword and Shield

The last time the Graham de Vanilys showed up to the Agreste mansion, they proved they are not to be trusted. Nathalie should have known Amelie would go to treacherous lengths to get under her skin. After a tense confrontation and the shocking reveal of a new villain, Nathalie must step into a new role to protect the one she loves.

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A Moment of Reflection

After a particularly upsetting defeat, Gabriel is feeling like it might be time to throw in the butterfly brooch and move on. Nathalie tries to encourage him to continue but even she has some reservations about the idea. The two have a heart to heart over some brandy and learn things about each other.

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well, of course i’ve tried lavender

K O E L N @archekoeln you think, i didn’t know mayura was the type to resort to something like this? but you’re wrong, because now you’re being carried like a sack of potatoes above paris and, 3/11

K O E L N @archekoeln well, the view’s nice and all but you’re also in the arms of a villain??? 4/11

K O E L N @archekoeln you also think, how is she so strong??? because you know you aren’t as light as a feather (haha i’m funny) and her arms are skinny af, but you know, magic i guess 5/11

An online thread about Mayura sparks something in Gabriel. And as her boss (and friend, and villainous partner, and her something), isn’t it his job to… to do what exactly? Well, even he doesn’t know.

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Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Superheroes, in daily life, usually remained hidden. Men and women, bestowed with god-like powers, living among those whose only powers remained in their knowledge and talents. One of these heroes was Mayura, a peacock-themed superheroine with the power to create new life. As more laborers were going on strike, Mayura’s efforts to keep the economy from deflating were more crucial than ever. Because of her, livelihoods were kept intact for the destitute. For the corporate overlords, however, she was the bane of their luxurious existence. But what does this mean to Gabriel Agreste?

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Broken Arrow

Ordinary innkeeper Nathalie is plagued with visions of a captive Gabriel, begging for help. She sets out to recruit his son Adrien, the Demigod of Love, to aid her in freeing Gabriel from Emilie, the goddess of beauty. But Nathalie doesn’t know the secret that Adrien keeps from her that may tear them all apart.

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Gabriel’s Inferno

Nothing seemed to predict how it all would end, and yet it had to have been obvious. It had been weeks since Mayura’s last appearance and he didn’t even let her go out to fight in person, but a broken miraculous doesn’t get carried away by precautions once it’s activated. With Nathalie balancing between life and death, Gabriel will have the opportunity to fix things or lose himself forever in a hellish battle that will overcome all nightmares.

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If I Could Turn Back Time

Gabriel and Nathalie obtain the rabbit miraculous and travel into the paths of time as Velveteen and Mayura, with the goal of preventing the chain of events that would lead to Emilie’s death. But on their way to Tibet, they encounter surprising visions of possible futures that leave them questioning what is possible and what they really want.

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This is Hallowe’en

With All Hallow’s Eve hanging over their heads, the Agreste household gets wrapped into celebrating Samhain. With Gabriel and Adrien following Nathalie’s knowledgeable path, they can not fail, probably. This moderately functional family will honor Emilie Agreste in the best ways they can.

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Malleable Fates

A red thread starts materializing around Gabriel’s finger nearly two decades after he’s already found his soulmate. As he and Nathalie devise a faultless plan to finally win Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculous and bring back his wife, Gabriel fights the onslaught of confusing feelings brought about the mysterious reappearance of his soulmate string - including the sneaking suspicion that his soulmate maybe isn’t who she used to be.

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The Splintered Soul Staring Back At Me

In the aftermath of the battle and a brief hospital stay, Nathalie is safe at home. Her recovery has been a bit stagnant, but she’s been granted leave from work and the miraculous is finally fixed. Things can only go up from here, right?

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With the Flap of a Butterfly’s Wing

It only took one little thing, the barest of moments, for Duusu to feel their love, and decide that they had to do something about it. Which was how Duusu ended up roping Nooroo into trying everything under the sun to match up their two stubborn holders.

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The Orders He Defies

After her husband’s death, Nathalie Sancoeur fell into deep despair. Determined to bring him back, she set her goal on obtaining the Black Cat and Ladybug miraculous, using the power of her own one. All her attempts for the last year, however, were futile. Should she remain careful? Or should she let it all burn, as her assistant Gabriel suggests she should? And is the goal even worth its price?

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Royal Pain

Nathalie liked to think that she would make a pretty good king. If she had been born as the opposite sex, anyways. But as the facts were, Princess Nathalie Sancoeur had a duty thrust upon her that she would rather have not, all things considered: to be married to a foreign prince, in order to bring good fortune to her family and kingdom, and bolster their strength should the rapidly-cooling relations with one of the neighboring countries turn into a full-blown war. It was enough to make her gag every time she thought of it.

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Dancing on Broken Glass

It was Lila that almost reduced Paris to rubble.It was that conflict that caused an irreversible change to two miraculous holders.It was that change that brought them together.

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Anagnorisis

«Define Hubris»

Gabriel never considered how much a Deus Ex Machina would cost.

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Worth

It’s been seventeen years since Nathalie and Gabriel sat in the cramped studio working hard to get the brand off the ground, and now he can’t help but reflect on those long-forgotten years.

Before Emilie. Before Adrien. Before the money and fame.

As he looks at her across his desk… he wonders if it was all worth it.

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A Witch’s Desire

Gabriel Agreste was a peculiar man, who was known around town both as a famous fashion designer and a powerful witch who was able to read and control minds, though he never used that second power unless there was a real emergency. Heck, he barely even used the first. But after losing his wife, Gabriel becomes desperate to do anything he can to bring her back, even that means using his powers for evil, or tracking down a mysterious powerful witch who had disappeared many years ago, with the power to bring the dead back to life.

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Not a Minute of Peace

Even though the akuma wants to shackle them, the Collector and Catalyst have more freedom than Gabriel and Nathalie ever had. They may be criminals turned into prey, but they enjoy the hunt. There is only one thing they are running from.

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Revision

Nathalie made the wish.

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The Woman With The Golden Feathers

The annual Bourgeois masquerade comes at the right time for Gabriel. In a moment of personal uncertainty after his discreet divorce, he will find the possible answer in a mysterious lady with golden feathers.

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Time and Time Again

The stress of being a young designer trying to make it in the fashion industry is taking its toll, and Gabriel’s and Nathalie’s marriage is slowly unraveling.

They’ve stood the tests of life since their first year of university, but when everything comes crashing down, Gabriel finds himself stuck reliving the day it happened. Failing and falling, time and time again with every passing ‘day’. Why is he here? How can he stop it? The answer lies in a choice as to what matters more: his career or the woman who has stood by him through it all.

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Clarity

A year after Hawkmoth’s surrender, Gabriel asks Nathalie to join him to gaze at the stars. While she waits for him, she contemplates the empty space left by the removal of the portrait from the foyer hall. Growth ensues for them both as they learn to just be by each other’s side.

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C’est la Vie; C’est le Ballet

After the death of his wife, upstart choreographer Gabriel Agreste is looking for a new star for his ballet, Miraculous. Hard to please and willing to do whatever it takes for the sake of the show, none of the auditionees fit his artistic vision…

…except Nathalie, a former prima ballerina turned ballet instructor. She’s stoic and very dedicated to her craft, but there’s a reason she stopped performing four years ago and it has dangerous potential.

Through the trials and triumphs and betrayals that run hand in hand with the world of ballet, Gabriel and Nathalie begin to find something more in each other’s company, and perhaps the seeds of new beginnings.

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I’m Praying (There’s Saving)

It was to be Gabriel’s first party on Olympus, but little did he know it would also be the last. Not only for him, but for everyone. In the blink of an eye everything changed, sending the god of nature and his newborn son to take refuge with the Queen of the Dead. They thought they were safe, but even the depths of the underworld couldn’t escape the King’s wrath forever.

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#gabenath reverse bang #gabenath events #gabenath #miraculous ladybug #reverse bang #gabenath reverse bang 2020 #masterpost 2020

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