#of which pharma is neither

[lord-squiggletits]

Lmao I just wrote a manifesto about IDW OP but now I'm in the mood to write one about Pharma and the dumb obsessive stalker ex trope too

Actually no wait I can do it in one sentence

Fellas is it obsessive stalker behavior to want revenge on your ex best friend for stealing your hands and then leaving you to die in a frozen wasteland without even bothering to look for your dead body to confirm you died (and he calls you a horrible person and a terrible Autobot while standing next to an ex-Decepticon who killed thousands)

[someonehugratchet]

Ratchet who was neutral in the war.

He was neither Autobot nor Decepticon, but a medic for those who were caught between fire fights or who couldn’t fight. Sparklings, injured civilians, lower class citizens who couldn’t get shelter from either side for whatever reason.

Ratchet would go out himself and find them, brining them back to one of several hidden infirmaries he set up with volunteers and past students of his.

First Aid always stayed in the biggest one, which held all the sparklings as it was the safest.

Fixit would sneak between them all to make sure that all the set false safes were in order. He helped show the little ones where to gin in the case of an attack.

He believed Optimus Prime wanted to help, but the mech was too busy fighting the fight to be able to spare much time on the broken bots that had a chance.

They knew each other and Prime had worked to keep their bases a secret even as Ratchet resumed to let them sway him into fighting with them.

Megatron’s men were allowed only in one base where other soldiers were kept, guarded by Pharma and Remedy both. Autobots and Decepticon both had an understanding that it was neutral ground and no fights would be had, the two keeping in seperate wings of the fragile clinic.

That understanding was crushed after one fateful cycle.

Ratchet had responded to First Aids distress signal as quick as he could, travelling over half of Cybertron to get to the infirmary as quick as he could.

He arrived just in time to see Shockwave leaving.

With dread in his spark he had rushed through a secret exit and into the main room and instantly fell to his knees.

Over two hundred sparklings lay desecrated in the entire place.

Most of them were missing some part of their body, some burnt into nothing.

Ratchet only made a noise, a wailing sound of pure grief, when he saw the remains of First Aid clutching three little ones.

All dead.

His screams had only grown in intensity as he looked around the room and found that Pharma and Remedy had come to aid and fallen as well.

Ratchet could have stayed there and rusted over if he hadn’t notice some of his patients weren’t there, hope burning his spark as I rushed to the feeds to try and figure out where they had gone.

He watches the footage with grime determination even as he feels his spark shattering into pieces.

It falters for several moments when he watches Shockwave order some of his men to take some of the sparklings. He hears the disturbing mech say something about ‘suitable test subjects’ and feels the energon in his systems freeze. Ratchet’s heard of what Shockwave has done, how the unfeeling monster doesn’t care for the notion of ethical conduct and onto for results.

Eventually Optimus as some of his most trusted come by the hidden location in the hopes of stopping a massacre, only to find Ratchet sitting on the floor with the body of a sparkling in his hands.

He had tried to bring the femme back after seeing a slight flux in her tiny spark, but it was useless.

Bumblebee is hurt the most as it was the same clinic he had been raised in before he became a scout, seeing Ratchet work for years and being the main reason they had even known something was wrong.

He falls to his knees as Elita moves to check for Decepticons, if only to distract herself.

Optimus approaches Ratchet with grief in his spark, carefully removing the deceased sparkling from his hold.

“I… I am truely sorry, old friend.”

Ratchet looks up and sees Orion Pax, the young mechling who had once asked him for an autograph.

When he speaks it’s distant, like his mainframe as gone on autopilot, “He took some of the sparklings. We need to find them.”

Optimus nods, helping him stand on unsteady pedes, “We will, I swear we will it stop until we have.”

Ratchet looks at Optimus with a fire in his eyes, “I know. But Optimus, I don’t care about you code. I don’t care about your morals or war crimes, Shockwave will pay for this.”

For the first time since the war began, the Prime looked around the room and nodded with a darkness over his optics.

“You are right. They have gone too far to deserve honour.”

[sweet7simple]

... can we get a happy follow-up to the dratchrod prompt where rodimus is trying to be what drift and ratchet want?

The thing is , Ratchet and Drift aren't stupid. Ratchet knows how to read a bot and Drift knows how to read auras.

(Ratchet points threateningly at Drift. "Slag. I'm calling slag."

"I can see auras," Drift insists.

"No, you can pick up emotional frequencies from whatever bot you're facing."

"Yes, that is what I said," Drift says with a serene smile. He ducks when Ratchet shakes his servo at him.)

But they also know Rodimus. They can't just go up to him and say, "Hey, you're hurting and we don't want you to hurt," because that isn't going to solve anything. It will be true, but Rodimus won't believe it. If they say, "We're here for you and we want you to be happy with us," then Rodimus will just smile and nod and say, "I know." He will be lying. He's just willing to be their pity lay if it means he gets to stay. He'll leave eventually, somehow disappearing on this ship of 200 sparks. When he deigns to be near them again, he'll treat them like distant friends. Maybe even close friends - but not lovers, not ever again.

Ratchet and Drift aren't taking those chances, so they're going to just keep sneakily chipping away at Rodimus's fears until the cycle comes where Rodimus stays with them.

It's hard work, but they're used to it and Rodimus is worth it.

They make mistakes. They're not perfect and neither is Rodimus. Sometimes Ratchet loses his temper and sometimes it's Drift and sometimes Rodimus pretends he doesn't care about why their mad right before he wanders off and no one sees him for a long time. They know Rodimus gets scared about making them mad. They're working on it.

Ratchet hates it, but he even tried out meditation. Whatever helps, right? Whatever makes Rodimus stops acting like every argument will be their last.

And Rodimus might give the best gifts and go out of his way for acts of service and quality time, but Ratchet and Drift aren't being lazy about it either!

It takes a lot of concentration to figure out what Rodimus actually loves when it comes to interfacing (wireplay, spark merging, sexual, just making out sloppy-style in a utility closet while they're on-shift, you name it) because he genuinely appears to enjoy everything they do as long as they're together. Rodimus gets uneasy when they praise him for how good he is while they're in the berth, so they steer away from that and talk about how beautiful he is (which is true and also makes Rodimus preen) and how much they want him (that gets some honest, desperate keens from their co-captain). Rodimus actually enjoys just laying there and making them do all the work, which they find wildly endearing. It just takes awhile to get Rodimus to that point since he's of the erroneous belief that he has to work hard for their affection.

He doesn't. They already love him. Despite their shared past - because of their shared past - because of Overlord and Pharma and the DJD and everything before and after - they already know who they are dealing with and they want him just as he is, just as the mech he has grown into before he started acting like venting too hard in their direction might chase them off.

They love him and he's worth it and they are oh-so slowly getting through to him.

They invite him over to their hab suite as often as possible. Sometimes, they break into his hab suite (having a medical emergency override door code can be good for a lot of things) and crawl into his berth - whether he's already there or they're waiting for him to arrive. Rodimus always gets this astounded, vulnerable look on his face when he realizes that they're willing to come to him instead of always making him come to them.

They make sure to sneak into his hab suite more often, hoarding soft tarps and thick gel cushions.

They make sure every off-shift together doesn't always include interfacing because they don't want Rodimus to believe that's all they want him for. They cuddle too, which makes Rodimus go molten and fuzzy in sweet way.

Drift shows an interest in Rodimus's art and goes racing with him down on the tracks because he wants Rodimus to know that his hobbies are important. Ratchet won't race with them, but he'll officiate when he can and he'll lie about who wins the race just to grin at them while they bicker over who's really first place.

Ratchet trades assignments, patients, and non-essential equipment with the other medics and Perceptor (surprisingly not Brainstorm, but unsurprisingly because Perceptor stocks up for Brainstorm) for sweets because Rodimus goes feral over mercury melts and oil sticks and bolt candies.

Drift is taking the crystals Rodimus finds the prettiest from his collection and braiding them into a chainlink jewelry drape meant to hang from Rodimus's spoiler.

Ratchet is proving he trusts Rodimus by talking about his chronic pain and joint locks with him, even the parts he doesn't like to talk about (and he doesn't really like to talk about any of it).

"An old mech like me was lucky enough to catch the optic of one smoking hot speedster," he admits with notes of humor, pride, and some small amount of surprise at his own luck. "Now I have you and Drift. It's a good time to be alive."

He makes sure to repeat this many times in some form or another - just how incredible it is that he gets to have Rodimus and Drift. How they're so beautiful and fit and he's falling to pieces. How he doesn't know why they keep him around, but he won't complain about their taste in old, decrepit mecha.

"Ratchet, I don't know how to tell you this, but you're literally so sexy that I get revved up just thinking about sitting on your thigh. You're built fragging thick. Thicker than the wheels on a monster truck, okay? And, besides. You're not as replaceable as you make yourself sound. You're so important to me. To us. I need you to see that."

Ratchet smiles because that's pretty much what he and Drift are trying to teach him. "Huh, I guess you're right," he says. "The three of us are our best when we're together." Rodimus sputters because he somehow feels targeted and he's not sure why. "So we're just going to have to stick together in this dimension and every other dimension we wander through. Thanks for listening to me, kid. I feel better."

"Um, you're welcome?"

It's a work in progress, but there is progress. Rodimus still sometimes chooses to stay in his own hab suite without them during their off-shift and sometimes he stares at them like they're about to flip him off and walk away, but he's slowly reverting back to the mech they fell in love with. He's letting himself make mistakes and own them instead of acting like he's about to get broken up with. He's getting pushy in the berth (which is actually adorable and very arousing) and whining at them to wash and polish his spoiler in the wash racks and he's with them more off-shifts than not.

There's this one time when they're about to slip into recharge and Rodimus says quietly, so quietly like he hopes they won't hear him, "I want to stay."

Ratchet pulls Rodimus closer and Drift nuzzles under his spoiler from behind.

"That's what we've been trying to tell you, kid," Ratchet murmurs. "You don't have to go. We're not going anywhere either. We're all staying."

"All of us," Drift adds, squeezing Rodimus's waist. "That includes you. Be home with us, Roddy. Just be home with us."

It isn't easy, but they're making progress.

At some point in the future, Rodimus will believe them. He believes them both a little bit more each cycle.

[cozzzynook]

I absolutely love your stories! And I was wondering ig we could get a angst to maybe fluff? Deadlock gets sparked maybe after Ratchet has first Aid? Maybe it was a one time thing and Ratchet and Pharma are tryna fix a relationship-? Maybe Deadlock spots em kiss...he leaves his first bitty f9rst Aid with things and a note and leaves? Maybe he returns when the wars over as drift with a small miniambulance sparkling on his hip when he joins the Lost light, is Ratchet gonna try to fix the relationship between them?

Oooooo the drama

- Deadlock spends a half drunken night with Ratchet who isn’t drunk either. They pretend to be drunk but they aren’t. They’re just too afraid to admit what this could be. Not ready to admit or truly feel the burning that comes in their sparks when near each other. Deadlocks never felt this before and neither has Ratchet. But they tell themselves being on different sides means no, this can only be one night. So they part ways after and the next time Deadlock sees Ratchet he has a sparkling in his arms and he’s leaving a medic behind that doesn’t look done with him.

- deadlock can play off hurting Pharma as being a con wanting to cause chaos but Ratchet knows why he really did it and so he invites him back to his home where he hides Deadlock till the search party leaves.

- with just the two of them plus Ratchets bitty they relax in a way. Deadlock helps Ratchet with First aid who takes so well to Deadlock Ratchet is just bewildered because the bitty hates their sire. That makes Deadlock laugh and in turn First aid laughs for the first time and Ratchets inviting Deadlock over more often but only at night so they don’t get caught.

- this goes on for months until the two are watching First aid sleeping and Ratchet smells so good Deadlock can’t help putting his olfactory sensors at his neck cables and nipping.

- ratchet doesn’t fight him, he encourages him by leaning in and turning to put his servos on Deadlocks hips and he hates how that makes him shiver and allow Ratchet to lead him to the berth.

- Deadlock tries playing the big bad con but he can’t. He melts into Ratchet and feels the mech mend something he thought forever broken.

- he ends up spending the entire next day in Ratchets berth just taking care of First aid and getting his tanks rearranged by Ratchet until night comes and he leaves.

- he feels himself becoming tired more easily and often emotional in a way he never was and knows something is up pretty quickly.

- a quick trip to a clinic in neutral territory and he knows he’s sparked.

- the initial reaction is shock but that soon wears off and he’s thinking of the logical thing to do which is talk to Ratchet who he catches talking to Pharma who is smiling disgustingly mischievous and putting a servo on Ratchet who doesn’t move it.

- he has an idea of what that means and decides yeah, he’s not sticking around to be hurt even more so he leaves. Has his bitty that looks entirely too much like Ratchet and First aid that he named Forceps. The little bitty makes him change from Deadlock to Drift again and he leaves the cons and goes to Crystal city where he learns peace and that he deserves a second chance.

- his bitties home is crystal city and he stays there for a long time until he meets Kup who offers him and his bitty a place in the wreckers where he meets Hot rod who later becomes Rodimus who asks him to join the lost light with his bitty.

- he was skeptical but agreed since Rodimus said he specified for Red Alert to be the crews medic and not Ratchet. Rodimus was his bonded amica so he knew everything and provided Drift a hab with two rooms and plenty of energon along with other former cons that had some sparklings for his own bitty to play with.

- things were fine since Rodimus sparkling sat literally every day for him without complaint. Forceps loved Roddy and as he began to talk he called him Uncle which Roddy loved.

- but good things don’t always last and Rodimus rushed to him pushing him back in his hab the day of the departure looking so upset and afraid. “they switched Red alert last minute to honor his request and they won’t budge. I’m so sorry Drift but..Ratchets coming on board..i’m so sorry. I can get you and ceps off through the back if you want.”

- “don’t even bother taking him through the back kid cause I’ve already seen everything I need to know we need to talk.”

- ratchet stands in the door way that never got to close because he put his servo on it to catch it. He stood there with First aid on his hips who was looking at the adults in the room before seeing a sparkling around his age and he jumped down excited to play with them before either adults could stop them.

-it was scary how similar the two looked and how Drift couldn’t deny Forceps was Ratchets.

- “i’m so sorry Drift,” Roddy looked so guilty but Drift shook his head and asked Roddy to take his sparkling so they could talk. Roddy agreed and looked towards Ratchet to see if he would say the same. “I suppose First aid should know his brother,” Ratchet didn’t look angry but he wasn’t looking happy either.

- roddy took both sparklings to the designated sparkling area leaving Drift and Ratchet to talk.

- there was…frustration and Drift trying to keep distance. He wouldn’t keep Ratchet from seeing Forceps but he didn’t say anything past that. Ratchet automatically said Drift could see First aid as much as he wanted and was grateful he could see his other creation but he wanted more.

- “thats not a good idea. Pharmas here, don’t wanna piss off your boyfriend.”

- “we’re not together. Haven’t been since the day you beat him up.”

“What?”

“Is that why you never came back?”

Ratchet had a sad look on his face plates that still wrenched Drifts spark after all this time.

“I saw you two..the day I was going to tell you. He was leading you into the house with his servo on you. You didn’t take it off so I just knew you were getting back together.. guess I should’ve asked.”

Ratchet couldn’t fault him since he and Pharma were trying to get back together but the spark was gone and Ratchet didn’t recognize the mech anymore. Something in Pharma had changed and he no longer wanted the mech around him or First aid.

He told Drift as much and he would later be proven correct when Pharma betrayed them and endangered not only him and Drift and the entire crew but the sparklings on board, the sparked mechs and femmes aboard and his own sparkling along with Ratchets second sparkling.

But for the time being, the two were agreed on being co-creators.

Though they would later be conjunx welcoming a third bitty that could still be hidden by ceremonial robes on Drift.

That and Roddy’s loud mouth keeping everybot distracted while Megatron tried to keep Roddy from doing something too stupid along with Minimus.

Things ended up just fine.

-

This is not the story you were asking for but i started writing and looked up to remember the rest and saw i fragged up…and didn’t wanna start over…i’m sorry 😭

[transingthoseformers]

Tarn and Prowl being Sparkmates means neither set of Ride or Dies can just thrash the offending partner. The DJD has it worse than the Structies in that regard since Prowl is a gestalt member. Hurting the Constructicons means hurting Prowl which means hurting Tarn. Which Tarn does not apreciate.

There is definitely a rotating group of mechs that folow Prowl around to catch him if he glitches.

Prowl and Tarn once they hit the nesting phase really start driving everyone bananas especially Prowl. Everything is being made Sparkling safe. Everything. The Constructicons and the DJD have to do massive renovations and expansions to their base and ship. Tarn orders all tables bolted to the floor out of spite for having to hide his collections in a biolocked storage room. Apparently the First Editions "Weren't sparkling appropriate decor." The Constructicons are very sympathetic. They miss being able to encorperate corpses and even living mechs into the archertecture.

Dumb Thought:

Praxians are Seekerkin, right? Seekers trine. What if Pharma is the third and final fail-husband? It's finally been long enough that the connection to his Ex-Conjux has faded enough for his writing to appear. Or having both in the same place overcame the inertia of his broken connection to Ratchet.

He's flying out to check out what the ruckes is, or Tarn sent him a ping to deliver the T-cogs. He lands looks at the two cariers arguing with the each other over architectural features as Helix and Tess are atempting to mediate. Well Tess is atempting to mediate, Helix is being a snarky advocate for Unicron and space heater so the carrying mechs dont get too cold. The Constructicons are just going, we can make this happen to every seguestion.

Pharma, to shocked to self censor, screeches "Prowl what are you doing here?! What fresh hell is this Tarn?!" Then he feels two sets of writing apear on his arm one after the other. "Oh, my Pharma, I don't have to give you up after all!" Folowed by, "Pharma of Vos what exactly is your relationship with the DJD?!" Pharma falls to his knees and screams in dispair. The two mech he hates most in the universe are his sparkmates. Scavenger pats Pharma on the shoulder, "Don't worry, you get used to it."

Oh yes the Ride or Dies

Right yep yep! The Constructicons have (somewhat) of a literal connection to Tarn through Prowl

They will and it will drive Prowl up the wall

sdfg ohh. Why do I get the vibe these renovations and expansions are driving them nuts?

I had not even considered the idea of them also being petty towards each other with them, because of course they are. Tarn, something tells me that even if the tables/desks are bolted down Prowl's habit of flipping them will remain (and if it doesn't hey you've found a solution for less furniture repairs)

The DJD and Constructicons can bond over their Ride or Dies being menaces while carrying

Oh no

Oh no

Pharma

Oh no

You'd think that Nickel banned Tarn from having anymore T-cog replacements while carrying tbh

Pharma I am so sorry babygirl but welcome to the chaos

Tesarus and Helex are trying but Helex is a menace and busy being a menace. We've already designated Prowl and Tarn menaces.

Why did I imagine Pharma just carrying a bunch of t-cogs in a energon stained cardboard box? That's probably not what's going on but it is a hilarious image.

of course structies of course.

Oh Pharma, sweetheart, babygirl. Welcome to the failhusbands, both of your sparkmates got each other sparked up and you are stuck with them now. I get the vibe that Pharma and Prowl would have so many interesting interactions, ohh.

I Am Still Trying To Ascertain when in the timeline this is so that we know what version of Pharma we're getting and when all of this is going down

Scavenger that is not helping him

[cyber-streak-2]

So, I decided to go ahead and reveal/talk about a few more of the main characters for my Fan Continuity, with the two humans included.

—

Andie Gray: She/Her/Herself, He/Him/Himself:

A human who, while on a walk to get to her college, stumbled across a few of the Decepticons and Autobots in the middle of a battle. Despite trying to ignore what was happening, and just get to college, he still gets roped into everything.

After a more proper introduction, she’s stuck with Wheeljack as a guardian. And although Andie is much more focused on his personal life, the human still sticks around the Autobots, while also deciding to try and help Wheeljack with his search.

—

“Raven” (Real Name Unknown): Any Pronouns:

A somewhat younger human who, while in the middle of running around, bumped straight into a deceased Cybertronian and Censere, who hadn’t expected this—neither of them did.

After an introduction, with the human giving anything but its real name, the decision to stick with each-other is made... but, Raven keeps a tiny secret—that others are looking for her—that he’s running—from Censere, and doesn’t plan on telling them.

—

Mirage: He/Him/Himself, They/Them/Themself, She/Her/Herself:

An outlier with the ability to turn invisible, as well as creating holograms of anything. While he may be an Autobot now, back on Cybertron—before they all arrived to their new home—Mirage had originally started out as a Decepticon.

Despite what side the outlier is on now, they know of a few Autobots who... don’t trust her, think of her as a spy—which doesn’t help when the outlier can come off as a little suspicious. Mirage is rather tired of all this, though.

—

Starscream: No Pronouns:

A Decepticon who, originally, was the Second in Command, even after everyone arrived on the new planet. However, when Megatron suddenly goes missing—no Autobot or Decepticon being able to find him—much to the disappointment from other ‘Cons, the Seeker becomes the new leader.

Starscream will make sure it all stays this way.

—

Ambulon: They/Them/Themself:

The only remaining Cybertronian medic on Earth... due to Ratchet being missing, First Aid’s death back on Cybertron, and Pharma.. they don’t talk about Pharma.

Originally a Decepticon before joining the Autobots shortly before the arrival on Earth, they discover that they’re treated far better than how some treat Mirage.

Shortly after their switch to the Autobots, Ambulon suffered horrible damage, which still affects them, but they remain a medic, helping their fellow Autobots.

—

Soundwave: They/Them/Themself, It/It’s/Itself:

Originally the Third in Command, they became the new Second in Command when Megatron suddenly went missing, and Starscream became the new leader... which is a rather unfortunate thing.

They’ve noticed certain things—like how several Cybertronians have started to just disappear. Ratchet, Megatron... all of its minicons. Deciding to get to the bottom of this, Soundwave starts digging—wanting to find its real leader and minicons.

—

Thundercracker: He/Him/Himself (FtM):

After Megatron disappeared, making Starscream the new leader, and Soundwave the new SiC, Thundercracker found himself in the position of the new TiC. Although, many of the Decepticons start noticing how strange Thundercracker has been since arriving to Earth.

Sure, they all know a few things about him—such as when he created a film once, a few months after everyone’s arrival. But, there’s two little things that he keeps sneaking away for... two friendships that he doesn’t want to be found out—for fear for what could happen. Not to him, but them.

—

Tags: @aecholapis @bramble-b0t @kawareo @novafire-is-thinking @critcallylowhp

[copperbadge]

i don't know if this was intentional but you seem to have set the exchange rate of saorh to euros higher than nearly any other european currency. in 12 points jerry wants to buy the car for 32 M TRY. someone says that's over 1.2M saorh. 32M TRY = approx. 1.6M euros. (this also makes the saorh to USD rate in favor of saorhs; euros & USD are like 1.1 to .9 right now.) while you could say well 1.6 is over 1.2, the car's referred to as a million dollar car, indicating it's closer to 1.2M. also 32M TRY = 1.4M GBP, which also sets the saorh to GBP rate in favor of the saorh.

i really like these numbers -- it helps reinforce the idea that ashkazer-shivadlakia has this amazing stable economy, even with how small the country is. caleb mentions the stability of the saorh early on in 12 points to buck, and this really demonstrates it. also shows why no one ever bothered pegging it to the euro! why bother!

also! as far as i can tell, the iso 4217 for the saorh might be ass? (a-s as the country code and then s for the saorh). could also be aks, which i prefer stylistically but i could def see the nation going 'no, we want our currency to be known in the financial world as ASS'

i know this is super nerdy worldbuilding but i've been thinking a lot about the ashkazer-shivalakian economy instead of doing the work i have for my actual econ class haha

Well, admittedly some of that is an error, I did the math wrong on the Saorh-Lira conversion but I knew Lira were subject to some pretty severe inflation so I didn't question it. :D In theory, the Saor is independent, although in practice outside of the story it's basically pegged to the dollar, like that's what I use as reference when pricing things in Saorh. In Royals/Ramblers there's a brief exchange where Monday wants to bet ten dollars on something, and Noah tells her that's roughly 11 Saorh, so she just bets ten Saorh.

I've adjusted the amounts and put in Euro for Lira since obvs. the Lira isn't in existence anymore, but hopefully the change is still reassuring for someone who's super into currency/economics, since I've also adjusted the value of the car downward (it's actually about a $150K car). I try to keep things somewhat vague a lot of the time but I also do try to keep it in proportion for the most part, like I did put thought into the Saor and how it would be valued or supported as a currency. Gregory II worked really hard to lay the groundwork for an economically stable, democratic society, and Jason and Michaelis both considered themselves custodians of that. Gregory III, because Michaelis kept the country so stable so long and because Gregory has an MBA with a specialization in economics, is able to start reaching towards actual diversified investments to support the country; he's starting to woo pharma and tech companies, and taking small risks like investing in Galia's bond measures. (You'll see this paying off after Royals/Ramblers, when Gregory starts to have a little walking-around money to spend on a national university and a football team.)

Love the idea that the Saor might be ASS :D It looks like the currency codes were instituted in 1973, so Jason was in charge, and probably wouldn't have approved ASS (Michaelis might have, depending on his mood). But it could also be SHS, for Shivadh Saor, or RSS for Royal Shivadh Saor, looks like neither of those are taken. (My love of RSS readers makes my desire clear....)

[battleangel]

Why I am Antinatalist

TW: mentions & descriptions of r*pe.

Absolutely fucking sickening.

Dude, its motherfucking December.

Its practically freezing temperatures outside, in the 30s.

So, tell me why the fucking humidity is 80%+?

I am 42 and I have never seen humidity levels this high during winter.

Whats the cause?

Climate change endlessly driven by capitalist excess, human greed, zero sum late stage capitalism, consumerism, overconsumption, materialism, corporatism, lobbying and profiteering.

Basically, humanity.

Humanity caused climate change.

Therefore, end humanity.

Its not complicated.

Neither is antinatalism, which is the belief that is morally unjust to create a life.

Why?

The better question is, why is society so endlessly pronatalist?

Why is pronatalism the default stance?

Why?

Because people cant get over their disgusting self-serving obsessive egotistical need to have little mini-mes running around as extensions of their pathetic self-aggrandizing selves and their disgusting myopic need to continue their respective bloodlines, add to their lineages, create their own family trees and create and propagate endless children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and so on because individually if you (universal) have 1 to 2+ kid(s) and those kid(s) go on to have their own kid(s) -- when does it stop?

When does it ever stop?

How many ecocidal, environmentally destroying, climate change causing and contributing, landfill filling, ozone depleting, overconsuming, plastic using, oil guzzling, carbon footprint having, non biodegradable using, GMO consuming, pollutant causing, fast fashion shopping, Amazon Prime Delivery in 1 Day demanding, 1400 pounds of trash a year generating, thousands of gallons of water wasted a year just showering, electricity consuming, excessive indoor temperature control (AC/heat) energy vampire little cunts do you need to personally shit out to feel "complete" and "fulfilled"?

Pronatalism is a motherfucking joke but is the literal default in virtually all human societies.

Humanity is nothing but a self-replicating virus that has caused immeasurable harm to the planet and inexplicably to itself as a species yet still it continues to endlessly self-replicate as mindlessly as the Borg on Star Trek.

Never an independent rational emotionally detached logical reasoned out devoid of societal pressures, rewards and punishments thought, just wombs to be endlessly assimilated by the Pronatalist Borg Masculine Patriarchal Seed Collective.

How many little shits will you generate even from having "just 1 kid" because then how many kid(s) does that "only 1 kid" go on to have?

Just dont have them.

Stop your own personal lineage with yourself.

Stop adding to the human experiment.

It has failed.

Why?

I would think it would be obvious but here we are at this late stage in the game in 2023 with people allowing themselves to become impregnanted and I am endelssly pressured as a woman to immediately say, "Congratulations!"

Congratulations for fucking what?

The human experiment has failed for endless reasons:

Genocides. War crimes. Ethnic cleansings. Chemical warfare. Mass graves. Mass incarceration. Public executions. Lynchings.

Terrorism. Carpet bombings. Civilian slaughter. Bombing schools. Bombing hospitals. Hostage taking. Hostage execution.

Human experimentation. Tuskegee Airmen. Forced sterilizations (Puerto Rican women by the US government).

MK Ultra. Big agriculture. Big pharma. Military industrial complex.

Raytheon, Northrop Grumman & Lockheed Martin company stocks exponentially increasing 300%+ since 20k+ Palestinian civilians have been murdered over the past 2 months.

Endless wars. Endless profiteering. Duopoly. False agendas. Propaganda. Misinformation campaigns.

Burning innocent witches at the stake.

Forced births.

Crack epidemic in the 80s caused by Reagan flooding the Black inner cities with crack cocaine.

Endless exploitation.

Hundreds of millions killed by the death cult known as capitalism via houselessness, poverty, hunger, famine, lack of universal health care and affordable medical insurance, violence stemming from capitalist patriarchal systems held and endlessly reinforced by militarism, police states, toxic masculinity, sexual violence, misogyny, oppression of females and femmes, transphobia and homophobia, policing of women and femmes behavior, dress, mannerisms, sexuality, career choices, life decisions (marriage, motherhood) and personality and a constant demand for women and femmes to be polite, "nice", agreeable, inoffensive, pliant, and especially likeable at all times even and especially when we are being mentally/physically/emotionally/sexually/spiritually/financially abused, manipulated, gaslit, harrassed, assaulted, attacked, controlled, coerced, raped, beaten, isolated, ostracized, humiliated, silenced, repressed, suppressed, oppressed, intimidated, stalked, threatened and even killed.

As a woman and a femme, you are endlessly groomed, societally conditioned, raised, brainwashed and endlessly pressured and rewarded for constantly apologizing, shrinking yourself, making everyone else feel comfortable at the expense of yourself, endlessly justifying yourself, endlessly having to explain yourself and defend yourself, never being confident as it will be misconstrued as cocky, never being assertive because it will be misconstrued as aggressive, never speaking up for yourself because you will wrongly be called a bitch, never taking charge as you will be hated, never being logical by detaching your emotions as you will be accused of being cold and heartless, never deciding your actions and behavior through reasoning and logical deduction as you will be endlessly pilloried for not thinking with your heart instead of your head, endless pressure at all times to perform emotion and to "wear your heart on your sleeve", constant demands at a societal macro level to perform feminity, maternal care and emotional labor at work meetings & functions, holiday parties/dinners/events, performing emotional labor in all situations and environments regardless of personality (having to attend baby showers at work even if you are an antinatalist and/or childfree woman, having to excessively emote if there is a personal tragedy reported at work with no corresponding requirement for male employees -- miscarriage, hospitalization, accident, death, firing, layoff, etc.).

Rapes, sexual trafficking, sexual slavery, slavery, child sex trafficking, child molestation, child abuse, pedophilia, murders, tortures.

Pharmaceutical industrial complex, pathologizing of normal behavior by the psychiatric industrial complex, overmedicalization, misdiagnoses, overprescribing prescription medication, excessive nonsensical harmful medical interventions, extending life beyond all sense and reason to the point where the interventions are needlessly painful, harmful and completely unnecessary versus accepting death as not just a part of life but a beautiful transformation that should be embraced and not feared, contrived forced and constantly pushed and reinforced fear of death, sexual repression.

Women getting a scarlet letter for being a slut, whore, hoe; men getting an "attaboy" for being a player, stud, ladies man for the exact same sexually promiscuous behavior.

Tyranny of motherhood and demands for women to do constant endless unpaid domestic and emotional labor for their children for absolutely zero compensation and very little social reward beyond perfunctory lip service once a year on Mothers Day.

Endless materialism, endless consumption, endless consumerism, capitalist excess, corporatism, lobbying, fake news, us vs them, tribalism, political prisoners.

Child soldiers, child brides.

Famine, poverty, houselessness, lack of clean water, gun crime, gun deaths, drivebys, AK-47s, machine guns, serial killers, serial rapists, Columbines, Sandy Hooks.

False flag events, paid actors, green screens, sound stages, scripted events, rigged elections, Mandela effects, strangers in Moscow.

Gang violence, frat hazings, initiations, kidnappings, abductions.

Religious cults, priests raping altar boys, Eagle Scouts raping Cub Scouts, ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hamas, IDF, US military.

Elementary schools, churches and theaters being shot up.

Police brutality, Ahmed Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Say Her Name, Hands Up Dont Shoot, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Its just a bag of Skittles officer.

13 year old boy shot dead, not by the police, but by a Stand Your Ground civilian.

Dont Tread On Me Zionist Proud Boy.

Islamophobia, racism, white supremacy, racially motivated killings, hate crimes.

Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk.

Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook.

Mark Zuckerberg and Peter Thiel.

Roger Goodell and Vince McMahon.

She was asking for it, what was she wearing, was she drinking, why was she out so late, she went upstairs with him what did she expect.

Theres no such thing as marital rape, feminazis invented that term in the 90s.

I dont care if you have a headache.

I dont care if you dont like anal, flip over and stop complaining.

Its not my fault that youre bleeding.

Then stop tensing up and it wont hurt so much.

I bought you the anal numbing cream and youre still complaining? Its lidocaine. Shut up.

I want anal every week so were having it.

I hit you open handed no bruising. Stop complaining.

I want to cum on your face. Theres nothing wrong with facials. Stop complaining. Leave your glasses on. Now take them off. Open your eyes. Keep them open.

Im into golden showers. Stop complaining.

Im into scat. Stop complaining.

Im into spanking. I didnt hit you that hard. Stop complaining.

Im into choking during sex. Its okay to not be able to breathe. Its only for a few seconds. Stop complaining.

I like biting your nipples. Its supposed to hurt. Stop complaining.

I like slapping your cunt. Stop complaining.

I like spitting in your mouth. Stop complaining.

I like roleplaying. Youre going to be 8 years old. Im going to be your uncle. Yes, during sex. Its just a roleplay. Stop complaining.

When can I put one of our videos on stileproject? You'd be good in porn. Why cant I upload them? Why do you say no to everything?

Okay, put your forearms on the floor and your legs on the coach on either side of my waist. No, were going to have anal this way. Im tired of doggy and Im tired of you riding me and Im tired of missionary. Were going to have anal in different positions. Youre tiny and flexible. Do it. Stop complaining.

Then stop gagging and stop throwing up. Theres no reason why you shouldnt be able to deepthroat me. Then work on your gag reflex. Stop complaining.

Get in the bathroom stall. Now. We'll be done in time for the start of Revenge of the Sith. Face away from me. The wall. Stop complaining. Pull your shorts down. Hurry up. No, in the butt. I dont want to wait to get to my house. Hurry up so you can still get your popcorn shrimp. Stay still. Stop moving so I can get it in. Be quiet. Youre not bleeding that much. Stop complaining.

Take your jeans off now. Do it. Im not in the mood for your little girl shit. Take them off. Stop crying. Both pant legs. Now. Hurry up so I can take you home to your fucking father. Stop crying! Be quiet. Hurry up. Its the least you can do after you danced all night at your cousins party.

Dont lie to me. Youve had sex since the restraining order. Shut up. Dont tell me what to do. Nothing hurts. I dont believe you. Hm. It is tight. Youre not hurt. Shut up. Be quiet, let me do this. Stop moving around and stay on top of me. Stay still. Stop shaking. Youre not bruised and youre not swollen. Stop talking. I still dont believe you havent had sex since we stopped dating. Dont talk to me. Leave me alone.

Dark side of private life.

Abusive spouses, murderous spouses.

Respected couple, matriarch and patriach, pillars of the church and community, married for almost 50 years.

Golden anniversary, golden showers.

Dark secrets, dark pasts, hidden criminal pasts, hidden felonies, hidden convictions, hidden prison sentences, lies to daughters, lies to mothers, lies to wives, repressed background check reports.

Might makes right, force, violence, imposing physical will, domination, vanquishing, crushing, destroying.

Humanity has had hundreds of thousands of years to fix these issues.

But we havent.

Were still -- as a species -- murdering, killing, raping, shooting, stabbing, enslaving, ethnic cleansing, erasing, occupying, colonizing, settling, imprisoning, making thousands of animal species extinct, filling thousands of landfills, destroying thousands of acres of rainforests, destroying ecosystems, overfishing, overextracting earths resources, killing indigenous people for diamonds, emeralds, ore, minerals, etc., pillaging, causing climate change, unsustainably raising the planets temperatures, causing wars and genocides, profiting off of and creating jobs for the manufacture and sale of weapons and bombs used to kill civilians mothers daughters grandmothers babies toddlers children teens students hospital patients fathers sons grandfathers teachers doctors nurses volunteers protestors intellectuals conscientious objectors love warriors revolutionaries prophets, AI cloning metaverse social media messaging apps streaming shows endless scroll always on never off, non stop notifications Slack Teams Google Meet Citrix Trello Asana Outlook Gmail corporate slave golden handcuffs modern day plantation.

The solution to all of the above unimaginable suffering is human extinction.

The solution is stop reproducing.

Stop procreating.

Stop pronatalism.

Stop humanity.

Reject societys non-stop endless brainwashing, programming, conditioning, grooming, messaging, demands, pressures and coercion to be pronatalist and reproduce endless bodies for the capitalist Borg machine.

Stop producing workers for them!

Rockefeller invented modern day public education and school systems because he wanted a "docile and obedient" workforce.

Thats all K-12 is because its all it was designed to be -- a feeder system for corporate, nothing more nothing less.

K-12 -- and college -- works exactly the way its designed to.

It breeds endless acquiescence to authoritatian figures.

Coaches, band leaders, music conductors, dance instructors, choir leaders, school counselors, school nurses, teachers, disciplinarians, principal as God figurehead.

Organized religion is the exact same -- endless acquiescence to authoritarian figures (priests, bishops, nuns, ministers, pastors, imams, Catholic pope as ultimate authority and God figurehead).

Corporate is the exact same (supervisor, +1, VP, Officer, CEO as ultimate authority and God figurehead).

Nuclear patriarchal family is the exact same (older siblings, older cousins, aunts/uncles, grandparents, mother, father as ulimate authority and God figurehead).

Government is the exact same (local representatives, mayor, governor, Congressmen/women, Senator, Speaker of the House, Supreme Court justices, President & Commander In Chief as ultimate authority and God figurehead; provinical representatives, Prime Minister, princes & princesses, dukes & duchesses, King as ultimate authorities and God figureheads; Queen is ultimate maternal archetype - "God save the Queen!").

Law enforcement is the exact same (beat and traffic cops, detectives, officers, seargants, captains, Chief of Police as precincts ultimate authority and God figurehead).

Military is the exact same (foot soldiers cannon fodder sausage for the sausage factory, squad leaders, corporals, seargents, captains, generals (1 through 5 star), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as ultimate authority and God figurehead).

End the karmic cycle of humanitys universal suffering.

Say no to pronatalism and no to breeding.

Say no to continuing environmental destruction, ecological destruction, ecocide, rainforest destruction, landfills, environmental waste, climate change, ozone depletion, animal species going extinct, wars, genocides, ethnic cleansing, chemical warfare, civilian slaughter, carper bombings, hostage taking, executions, tortures, lynchings, slavery, sexual slavery, sex trafficking, child trafficking, rapes, molestation, abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, murders, shootings, stabbings, drivebys, fatal hazings, kidnappings, abudctions, child soldiers, child brides, political prisoners, civil wars, tribalism, homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny, hate crimes, racialized violence, toxic masculinity, military industrial complex, police states, militarism, empire building, war machines, commodification, profiteering, capitalism, excess, materialism, overconsumption, consumerism, lobbying, duopoly, fake news, agendas, misinformation campaigns, forced births, misdiagnoses, overmedicalizations, pathologizing of normal behavior, CTE, concussions, head impacts, permanent brain damage, violence, misogynoir, terorrism, mass shootings, human experimentation, forced sterilizations, mass incarceration, prison industrial complex, military industrial complex, medical industrial complex, corporate plantation, man as machine, dehumanizations, beatings, objectifications, fetishizations, cheapening of human life, commodifications, globalism, slave labor, slave wages, exploitation, endless wars, death squads, rape rooms, comfort women, profiteering, religious cults, forced baptisms, family secrets, abusive family patriachs and matriarchs, capitalist death cult, dictatorships, cults of personality, strongmen, deceivers, manipulators, gaslighters, thieves in the night...

Stop contributing to the endless cycle of human suffering and do something to end it.

Dont reproduce. Dont procreate. Dont have children.

Abstain from sex and be celibate, masturbate, watch porn, read erotica. Or have sex and use birth control, pills, sponges, patches, injections, surgical implants, spermicide, condoms, tubes tied or lasered, withdrawal, Plan B and/or abortion. Or have sex other than vaginal sex (oral, anal, manual, intercrural, etc.).

Just dont add to the already failed and flailing on its ass 7 billion plus strong current human experiment.

[riverofrainbows]

The thing about diy HRT, and all the people wanting to decentralise and diy the pharmaceutical industry upon the anarchist rapture revolution.

Is that these people are vastly underestimating what it takes to produce safe and effective medication, and a steady supply at that, and just how many different medications there are and just how complicated and high tech many of them are.

And yes i know about the people producing insulin in a low tech environment, and I'm sure they're very hard working and that it's better than nothing by far, and apparently pretty well done. And i also know that they rely on modern high tech methods and data for at least getting their instruction details and quality management specifications.

And I've seen a tiktok of someone claiming to make diy hrt, and claiming to distribute it too, and it was full of serious concerning quality issues, from the weighing method and portioning of the solution being inaccurate to the sterilisation method being neither sufficient nor quality controlled via bio marker nor thermometer at all, to their vials being neither cleaned right prior nor pyrogen free and their quality control afterwards regarding particles and proper solution of the powder non existent. They didn't confirm the identity of the raw materials they got on the internet, nor did they use water for injection or buffer the solution or even check the pH to see if they'd have to. Because that's the kicker, it was a solution for injection. Where the very necessary quality standards are even higher than something like a topical medication, for which they were also not cutting it regarding their production quality.

And I'm extremely concerned seeing people pointing out very real issues with the pharmaceutical industry and with the lack of bodily autonomy about medications when not best practice but politics and greed govern the access to those, but then they don't immediately discuss how their post apocalypse bathtub ibuprofen can conform to good manufacturing practice (GMP), how they're not just seizing the means of insulin production but also of borosilicate glass and autoclave and sterile filter and HPLC machine and mass spectrometer and freeze dryer and needle production.

And again, I understand and think it's valid that people are frustrated, but please don't just have plans for what you want to abolish about the pharma industry, also have plans on how you will run the supply lines for antibiotic sirups for children. For 78 different kinds of blood pressure medication. For that very tricky and complicated medication that only a few thousand people in the region need, that someone still needs to produce for these people and you need to make available to and ship to these people. For the rest of their lives. Do you have plans for that?

And don't tell me "it will figure itself out". When you haven't ever mentioned or thought about pharmacopoeias or how to detect nitrosamines (gas chromatography) or know how many people die every summer because their medication for blood pressure or heart issues isn't adjusted to heat (a haunting amount). Or read a meta study overview on what antibiotics are most effective for low tech crisis environments. Or thought about how to get to clean room class A (hint: it involves laminar air flow with sterile air and thinking about sewer systems and what kind of paper towels you can use to not get fibers in your vials).

Don't talk about how people can do it themselves if you don't wear a mask in public or know how to hold your fellow people accountable for shit ass production quality on parenteral medication (aka stuff going directly into your blood stream!).

And this is not telling you to shut up, this is trying to be a cautionary tale. To have glorious ideas of shaping the future, you need tedious and detailed information and to be real thorough about quality management and accuracy and scientific methodology.

And for the love of trans and intersex and disabled people staying alive, don't inject anything from anyone who can't answer everything about good manufacturing practice with concrete and thorough details, and doesn't mind you to ask these questions.

[standardpoliticalsideblog]

as someone who is mentally and physically disabled here's my 2 cents on the whole "do people take mental or physical health more seriously" debate:

neither one is taken seriously, but the way in which they're dismissed is different.

for mental health issues, you're likely to be told whatever you have isn't real. it doesn't exist. it was made up by big pharma to sell more drugs, it was made up by entitled lazy kids who want an excuse, it was made up by parents so they can helicopter parent, it was made up by attention-seekers to be trendy, it was made up by the government, etc. etc.

for physical health issues, people will usually believe those problems exist, just not that you have them. it's not that chronic injuries don't happen, but what happened to you wasn't bad enough to injure you. it's not that whatever illness you have doesn't exist, but obviously you don't really have it. it's not that nobody needs mobility aids, but you're probably faking it and don't really need yours.

(obviously exceptions happen for both; this is just a pattern i've noticed, not a universal rule or anything.)

[lord-squiggletits]

Reasons why I don't buy into "posh, aristocratic, and/or bigot Pharma" headcanons

Listed in no particular order, mostly prompted by a conversation with a mutual (that I've also had many times in the past with other mutuals)

For some reason people assume that being a flight frame is what would make Pharma so prideful and disdainful towards everyone else? But in IDW1 canon, flight frames are actually an oppressed class who were restricted by functionism to only be allowed to be soldiers or cargo lifters. The only flight frames who got to go outside of that mold were ones who got special exemptions (Jetfire) or ones who schemed and took advantage of politics (Starscream). If anything, being a flight frame would be a source of self-consciousness/annoyance for Pharma, since he would be seen as unusual and probably get constant "wow I didn't know flight frames could be doctors" type comments that single him out because of his body and not because of his actual skill or personality. It's possible that he might be proud of being a flight frame AND being a doctor, like being so good of a doctor that being a flight frame doesn't matter. But Pharma certainly wouldn't feel prideful or entitled to anything JUST for being a flight frame.

Re: bigoted and/or functionist Pharma: I think this headcanon comes from the fact that Pharma worked at the New Institute yes, but so did other characters such as Chromedome, Rung, and Brainstorm who are neither posh nor functionists. It seems rather unfair to assume that Pharma specifically must be a functionist or hate the lower class because he worked at the New Institute, when other characters who were in the exact same situation weren't presumed to be bigots just because they worked at a shitty place. Also as my point above states, why would Pharma be a functionist when functionism is the institution that would've kept him from being a doctor if he (presumably) wasn't forged with medic hands?

Speaking of bigotry, it's canon that Pharma and Ratchet were best friends since they worked at the DMF together, which was pre-war; how in the hell would it be in-character for Ratchet to be best friends with Pharma if he was an open bigot and a functionist? Ratchet would literally never. Plus, secondarily, Pharma is canonically in love with Ratchet, so if he were some sort of posh aristocrat, it'd be pretty odd for him to be best friends and shack up with a guy that's as down-to-earth and rude as Ratchet is. Not impossible, but for me personally, it counts as a mark against posh!Pharma because I think the fact that Pharma was best friends with Ratchet means that we can form a broad outline of his personality based on the type of person that Ratchet would like enough to be best friends with.

Pharma's diction and way of speaking isn't "high class" at all. He pretty much speaks like any other "normal" character in MTMTE does, but what's more, there are actually a couple of instances where he speaks in a much more casual and loose way. Little details where he says "coz" instead of "cause/because", uses words like "chap", that time he chainsaws someone and says "Feels rough, doesn't it?" I wouldn't say that Pharma is lower class or anything, but when looking for evidence that he's posh or stuck up, his diction/manner of speaking is a good place to start, but there's really no evidence of any poshness there at all. MAYBE that one time he talks to Ratchet talking about "instruments" and making an analogy between a surgeon and a musician, but in that case he was just using a metaphor to make a point to Ratchet.

In general, the only notable thing about Pharma that anyone talks about related to him (besides "going insane and killing patients") is the fact that he's a good doctor and all the various feats he's pulled off. One would think that if he was some sort of posh bigot, people would complain about it or bring it up when talking about their memories of Pharma, but no. Literally Pharma's primary trait is that he's a hella fucking good doctor. I GUESS you could argue that since a lot of doctors IRL are rich bc they get paid a huge amount of money, that means Pharma is also rich and sees himself as above everyone else, but that seems like a rather large leap to make from what little we know about Pharma. And everything we DO know about Pharma points to the fact that being a doctor was his entire life, and the only specific case where he wants to be seen as "superior" is with regards to Ratchet, another doctor who Pharma feels insecure in comparison to. So again, canon points us to the fact that Pharma really only cares about practicing medicine, and the only person he wants to feel superior to is Ratchet, because Ratchet is a better doctor than he is.

[random2908]

The thing to bear in mind is that while the NIF isn't any good at making power, it's brilliant at providing a situation close enough to an H bomb going off that you can validate your numerical models against it. It's a greenwashed MIC facility.

This is a take I've occasionally heard before. I have a lot of thoughts about it, and about the slightly tangential issue of funding and intellectual purity.

Yes, you're right. The NIF has been involved in H-bomb stuff in the past and probably will be again in the future. Let's get that out on the table where we can all see it first.

But that doesn't mean that that's what this project is about, necessarily. And even if it is, that doesn't mean that the results are unusable.

Because you'd be hard-pressed to find any physics lab in the entire US that you couldn't call a military-industrial complex facility in some capacity. My doctorate was basic experimental physics, just pushing knowledge forward, trying to get journal publications--typical university stuff. The professor wasn't even a US citizen! And neither were about 1/4 of the students. Nevertheless, the lab was funded by an NSF grant, an Air Force grant, an Army grant, and a Department of Energy grant. That's half military funding. Which of those paid your tuition and stipend depended on which project you were on and whether you were a US citizen, but any one of them might be buying your experimental equipment. For that matter, professors needed to get military money because they were only allowed to have one NSF grant at a time, and one grant can only support about two graduate students--you couldn't even hope to get tenure at an R1 school with only two graduate students.

Hell, my dad's PhD on, like, frog embryology was entirely funded by the Army back in the 1970s/80s. Why? The stated reason was that during the Cold War they had a program to pay for as many US citizens to get PhDs in science and science-adjacent fields as possible, and they couldn't care less what those people were actually researching. Who knows what they actually wanted, although I think they funded my dad before even knowing what he'd be studying. But in any case, there wasn't any obvious military use to my dad's research.

At my last job, the company's revenue came from NSF, various defense agencies, a major private defense contractor, and then maybe like 0.5% our own sales since we were just a startup. In total I think about 80-90% of our revenue came from the Department of Defense, one way or another; we were unambiguously MIC. But we were making safety-testing equipment and communications equipment. Of course the military cares about both those things, but it's not as though we had an exclusivity contract with them, and we were making it with civilian customers in mind.

So, yeah, nearly all science in the US exists within the MIC. And the reason for that is that Congress allocates a hell of a lot more money to the military than to science. The vast, vast majority of science, worldwide, is government-funded, even in private industry. (Maybe this is less true in pharma? I really don't know, but certainly more of it is government-funded than they like to let on.) So, in the US, if you want to do anything science-related--commercial or academic--sooner or later you're going to talking to the military.

But in the end, that means you can't necessarily judge science from where its funding is coming from. When I was getting my PhD, my attitude was, if the Air Force was paying for me and my lab partner to go to school, study basic science, and publish in academic journals--great! That was money they were spending on completely innocent work and the advancement of human knowledge instead of on drones. Congress may have misallocated the money by giving it to the DoD in the first place, but here it is, coming back to entirely civilian endeavors. That's a win, as far as I'm concerned.

It's different at the NIF because they do have a history of genuine weapons research. I absolutely agree with that, you can't say it's a fully innocent project. But given how entangled (no pun intended) literally all physics research is with the MIC--due entirely to Congressional funding priorities--I personally think we should take the win when there are potential civilian applications.

Also, write to Congress about allocating more science funding! Every little bit of extra funding helps in disentangling basic science from the MIC.

[news-of-the-day]

5/31/23

The Biden administration and Speaker McCarthy managed to hash out a budget deal over the weekend, but it still has to pass congress and both sides aren't particularly pleased with it. The deal suspends the debt limit for two years, but as a concession there have to be cuts in all discretionary, nondefense spending. This includes the IRS, the budget of which Biden wanted to increase to go after wealthy taxpayers who aren't paying. It also adds work requirements for food stamps, releases several billion set aside for COVID, ends the freeze on student loans, and allows the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about the budget in general because all this wrangling doesn't really touch on the biggest problem the US is facing. We can divide the budget between mandatory, discretionary, and interest. Interest is about 8% and is payment for all the borrowing. Discretionary is about 30% and is basically add ons that aren't required by law, like wanting to buy more tanks, have some studies on wildlife, or federal funding for public schools. Mandatory holds the biggest chunk at 63%, and that's where the issue is. The US spends almost half of its budget on medicare/medicaid and social security, and it's going to get worse as people age and have less children. For example, my father received about $2500/month in social security, and in the last three years of his life probably burned through $500K of medicare. That's a lot of taxes for just one person. Considering the birth rate is going down, there will be even less people to fill the pot of money required to pay those benefits, and the US will have to borrow even more to cover the difference. There are a lot of ways to solve this--the most obvious is raise the retirement age to 68--but any move is extremely unpopular and neither Republicans nor Democrats want to address it, so they just haggle over the discretionary stuff instead.

In probably the most important election of the year, Turkish President Erdogan won another five-year term. The first round on May 14th was close, so by Turkish law a second round happened last Sunday. However the results remained very close because his popularity sank due to economic issues and the response to the earthquake earlier this year.

Russia has continuously been bombarding Kiev. Yesterday a drone strike hit Moscow, but with only minimal damage.

The Sudanese army suspended its ceasefire talks and fighting is flaring up again.

The Sackler family was granted shielding from current or future civil lawsuits over the opioid crisis in return for $6B. Perdue Pharma is one of the major players in pushing its pain medication and kicking off a massive opioid crisis in the US from the 2000s until today. Perdue was sued to the point of bankruptcy for its role, but its owners the Sacklers were also targeted, and whether they're personally liable or not has been languishing in the courts for years until now.

The Texas legislature voted to impeach its AG, Ken Paxton. He has been accused of securities fraud, bribery, using his office to help friends (he's being impeached for this offense), and stealing a $1000 pen on camera. He entered national news in 2020 when he brought a case to the Supreme Court to ask it to change the swing states from Biden to Trump, which is an insane and completely nonsensical request legally, (note: the following is speculation) and the gossip at the time was he was looking to ingratiate himself to Trump for a presidential pardon because there was no other reasonable explanation for that action.

1) AP, NYT, Vox 2) Axios 3) AP 4) Reuters 5) Financial Times 6) CNN

Sorry, I took a short break because my brother had a baby. Regular updates will resume.

[transingthoseformers]

Get Cucked Tarn Part 2

Pharma definitely doesn't regret deciding to go on a journey with his ex who he'd been holding out for since Delatran and who ghosted him for years. He's fine being friends. Ambulon though needs to stop looking at him pityingly or he'll start mentioning his exes. 

Pharma is settling in. Things feel a bit like Delphi and shift lead switches between himself/Ambulon and Ratchet/First Aid. He has decided to distract himself by bullying Ambulon to finish applying to be recognized as a full doctor and hanging out in Mirage's bar as it is a quieter bar and one that Ratchet doesn't visit as often.

Pharma is maintaining himself well (and successfully avoiding First Aid's attempts to introduce him to the ship therapist).

And then he ends up being the one in the medbay during night shift when Megatron comes in. The meeting is Tense as Megatron's silhouette and even speech patterns are horrifyingly familiar after spending time with Tarn. But Pharma is a damn good doctor so he feeds him and then when he tries to leave bullies him into a full exam because his records haven't been updated. Megatron is also tense and moves in Pharma's peripheral to almost grab his wing in a way that reminds him of Tarn and makes him freeze which instantly drains Megatron of any hostility because the superficial similarity to Starscream had been making him start to go into old habits but the fear response is different and shocks him. Pharma dismisses him and says he'll need his full work up later and flees leaving a shame-faced Megatron.

Megatron is left to contemplate it while Pharma calms himself in the office.

They mostly avoid each other though Pharma hears from the First Aid Rumor Mill, Megatron has voluntarily started to visit Rung while Rodimus has still not left his room despite Magnus hanging around an hour the day before and other random gossip. Pharma nods along and pretends like he isn't listening. He doesn't like how he'd frozen up and his reaction and shakiness afterwards infuriates him. He decides he has to face his fears in a way that he controls.

He makes an appointment for Megatron and makes sure to include Magnus to make sure he shows. 

Megatron does show up stiff and uncomfortable and says he'd thought he might have someone else like Ambulon and that offends Pharma who yells him that he is more than capable and has been a doctor longer than Ambulon has existed. Megatron had meant for Pharma's comfort and says as much and Pharma insists he's fine. 

The exam starts with Megatron much too taut to examine. Pharma is unhappy with the tension and strain and the cleanliness but lack of care. Megatron is dismissive and Pharma tells him his professional opinion and then with permission works to treat it. Megatron is doubtful, but lays down and Pharma, who knows Megatron's build too well, skillfully applies pressure until Megatron is loose enough to let Pharma get in the cracks to inspect and oil his joints as needed working on cricks and polishing and general upkeep. Megatron retenses once he gets near his helm so Pharma skips it put notes the similarities to patients his had with mnemosurgery trauma. Basically a massage and full work up and orders for Megatron to take a full soak in a hot oil bath once a week and Pharma will be confirming.

Megatron is somewhat bewildered but accepting and Pharma feels more confident because he handled it and Megatron was strangely easy. He then gives him his food but in a good mood and pushing himself, he always does, eats with him. This leads to an awkward attempt at conversation in which they both try but neither have ever attempted small talk. Pharma gets comfortable talking about Ambulon and First Aid and praising them. Megatron muses about an old desire to be a medic when Pharma voices his own opinions about Forged medical hands being a natural starting advantage but not the be all and end all. Pharma says, bluntly, what's stopping him. Ambulon wasn't on the medical track until he joined the Autobots, there's nothing in the code stopping Megatron from at least knowing basic first aid. Megatron fumbles his Fool's Energon and looks at him mask broken with genuine surprise and Pharma realizes he's probably said something strange but tells the captain to drink so he can go recharge hastily, changing the subject. 

Megatron does and leaves oddly thoughtful.

Little meetings for medical check ups massage and Fool's Energon between them continue to occur because Pharma insists on desensitizing himself. Megatron is strangely polite even as Pharma has the occasional nightmare he ignores.

Then they find a casket and Rodimus returns and they have to confront the Lost Light slaughtered by the DJD.

So Pharma is absolutely going through it, but he's figuring things out and settling into a new rhythm which will be fucked up via Lost Light Typical Shenanigans

Rung will meet with him one day and Pharma will have to confront the bullshit

yep and there's Megatron, the elephant in the room, stirring up our dear friend (derogatory) trauma. Both are making comparisons they'd rather not make, but in general things are going better than they could've gone

Oo so Pharma's trying to be brave on this and this leads to a very crunchy visit with Megatron who's trying, he's trying, but I mean he's IDW Megatron so of course he's pretty rough around the edges.

Awww on Pharma actually encouraging Megs on the medic stuff! Iicr Ratchet was actually less forgiving on this angle of things

So they're actually starting to get along, with Pharma using this to sort of deal with his Tarn related trauma and in general I'd say these are good for Megatron too (especially considering how isolated of a person IDW Megatron feels usually)

Sdfgh tHEN THE FUCKING CASKET SHOWS UP

[mosscaller]

What needed to happen is what other countries do...

Universal healthcare. Depending on the country, it could mean the healthcare is free or they charge extra taxes. Which is fine, because peoples lives matter.

The insurance companies don't give to shits about us and neither does big Pharma. Look at how they're reacting to China discovering a cure for diabetes.

Universal healthcare should be a thing. So many people have lost their loved ones because they couldn't pay for the treatments or the medicine.

One thing the analysts back in 2012 were right about is that they’d stop calling it “Obamacare” the second it started working and lo and behold anytime it was actually threatened under Trump it became The ACA and now Leftists who were in Kindergarten when the ACA was passed think Democrats have added nothing to this country.

[anasaw]

Helpless Sudanese

Quotation

( Criteria is blind) Ayman GHraiba former UNHCR representative to Yemen.

( Yemen is not a place for refugees to find dignified durable solutions) Jean Nicholas former UNHCR representative to Yemen.

( We are not in position to provide any form of assistance) Yemsa protection Unit.

Background:

Sudanese have started registration with UNHCR Yemen office since 1985. And Yet majority of them are still waiting for RSD.but they will remain asylum seeker for along time.Sanaa office handed all works to BRA which is a government sector. All Sudanese are elders .

Sudanese Community:

The body of Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers consist of:

1-Skilled Labors

2- Nurses, Medical assistant, Lab technicians, Pharma assistants and medical doctors.

3-Educational experts, teachers for for all stages( primary and secondary)

4-Accountants,auditors and financial experts.

As you see  Sudanese  are qualified with ranges of different s experience, yet they have no right to work for the conflict between the host country authorities and Sudan government. As well neither UNHCR nor its partners are willing to recruit Sudanese.

Sudanese as Urban refugees:

Sudanese live in the urban area in hope  of finding a sense of community, safety and economic independence. In reality many instead find isolation, poverty and harassment. Sudanese face challenges such as inadequate and overcrowded shelters.

Lack of legal protection:

Most cases do not have legal recognition in the host country, so it is difficult t access basic services and exposing to abuse and exploitation

For example  landlords charge far above market rates for rent knowing that refugee can not complain. More over to renew your document you have to approach the Elder Zone who is the man in charge of the zone where a refugee lives. The Elder zone charges money.

Restriction of movement

Do not have the right to move  to seek for livelihood.

Labor exploitation:

Many of refugees and asylum seekers are forced to look for job in the informal or shadow economy exposing them to unfair wages and unsafe conditions.

Life in City:

Life in city for Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers  is not an easy option.They face barriers to employment and essential services and many live in fear of exploitation by the authorities or arbitrary arrest and demanding bribes.

Sudanese as minorities:

UNHCR –Sana'a office main concern is Somalis and Ethiopians refugees .Other minor nationalities are not mentioned when advocating or addressing the international community. So Sudanese in Sana'a tend to be forgotten.  

Recommendations:

Sudanese  do not live in unhcr camp nor do they live in lodgings provided by the host country authorities or by unhcr.They have no  right to work. There is no option for voluntary return in the  foreseeable future  , in this case relocation is the best option left for them.The relocation can be a camp within the office territory or to the nearest country or even camps in Sudan.

    Sudanese Refugees Community -Sanaa