#op this is an amazing essay

[sanjiaftersex]

Sanji during Water 7 and Enies Lobby :

"Who the hell are you?"

GET HIM, CUNTJI

I firmly stand by the point that the strawhats would fall apart and Robin would be taken if sanji (and zoro) were not present during water 7 and Enies lobby. These are some of the things i loved the most about sanji during Water7 and Enies Lobby arcs :

(1) Protecting the captain AND the crew : When Luffy and usopp were fighting over merry, at one point sanji instantly kicks Luffy to shut him up.

His empathy, protectiveness and foresight really shines here. He knew that Luffy wouldnt be able to forgive himself if he kicked Usopp out, but at the heat of the moment he was about to do just that. So he protected Luffy and became the voice of reason in Luffy's incredibly vulnerable moment.

At the same time, sanji showed empathy towards Usopp by standing up for him. During this fight, Usopp was physically and mentally weak, and seeing that at least one of his crewmates stopped the captain actually helped usopp feel like less alienated in the crew. This way Sanji became the (violent) rock for both Luffy and usopp in that moment.

(2) Trust : Some people make fun of this panel but all the Strawhats were deeply CONFUSED with Robin's participation in iceburg's assassination (which is normal cz she hadnt been with them for long and she was an enemy before joining the crew). But sanji could tell that she was lying and he trusted his crewmate (NOT BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN). Sanji never doubted Robin's intentions for even a moment and he was fully prepared to go save her (not question or clarify with her like the others wanted to) from the very first moment.

(3) Bravery :

Robin was scared out of her skull during this arc even though she was putting up a tough front at first. But sanji understood her desperation and the urgency of the situation. And like a dumbass, he got on the train ON HIS OWN after leaving a message to nami. Franky and usopp being there was his dumb luck but he would've been dead with the choice he made in water 7.

(4) Chivalry : It can't be a sanji admiration post without mentioning his endless chivalry. People may call him a pervert (which he is). But he actually respects women and he stood firm on his morals even in the face of death. This is a real Prince like man he didn't counter-attack kalifa even though she broke his teeth, turned him into a block of soap and pushed him from a high floor.

(4) in a crisis situation sanji showed Usopp that he believed in his capabilities, not with sympathy but with logic. Even in the face of danger he was sharp in the mind and empathetic towards his friend. This eventually led to Usopp actually succeeding to snipe the keys to robin and franky on the bridge of hesitation and that move is what saved Robin from being dragged to the gates of justice.

We can see how Sanji's words encouraged Usopp and propelled him into action.

(5) Intelligence :

While on the train, sanji devised a plan to rescue Robin before reaching Enies Lobby.

At enies lobby when they were up against the the Government's elite assassinators, Sanji came up with the plan to collect the keys and save Robin.

The strawhats would be deadmeats if sanji didnt sneak out mid fight to close the gates of justice. The whirlpool is what let the strawhats escape. So, Sanji's foresight and intelligence is what finally saved his crew from a national level buster call.

(6) Emotional Intelligence :

Sanji quietly kept tabs on Usopp from time to time the entire period he was out of the crew. Let's all acknowledge Usopp would've probably died in that Aqua Laguna if sanji (and chopper) didn't go warn him about it. And he was very considerate in the way he didn't do it directly to not hurt usopp's pride.

Moreover in the water 7 filler arc we can see how sanji was still keeping an eye on Usopp and that he was planning to return to the crew. He didn't cut off his friend just because the crew was going through a rough phase.

(Someone joked how Usopp probably had to be put on suicide watch during water 7 and i was like THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SANJI HAD BEEN DOING THE ENTIRE TIME THANKS FOR NOTICING )

[thychesters]

dude wait i thought we were getting a showdown and now we’re getting robin backstory (which is great!!) and it immediately shows everyone bullying her. there are kids hitting with her tomatoes and some mom yelling at her and “we’re going out for dinner as a family. not u tho lmfao have some fuckin stale bread and clean my house” leave her alone!!

BUT THEN LOOK AT HER PASSING HER EXAM AND BECOMING AN ARCHAEOLOGIST I’M SO PROUD OF HER I HOPE SHE GETS TO LEARN AND READ SO MANY BOOKS AND HIT OTHER PEOPLE WITH TOMATOES

[mostlysignssomeportents]

“Carbon neutral” Bitcoin operation founded by coal plant operator wasn’t actually carbon neutral

I'm at DEFCON! TODAY (Aug 9), I'm emceeing the EFF POKER TOURNAMENT (noon at the Horseshoe Poker Room), and appearing on the BRICKED AND ABANDONED panel (5PM, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01). TOMORROW (Aug 10), I'm giving a keynote called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE! How hackers can seize the means of computation and build a new, good internet that is hardened against our asshole bosses' insatiable horniness for enshittification" (noon, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01).

Water is wet, and a Bitcoin thing turned out to be a scam. Why am I writing about a Bitcoin scam? Two reasons:

I. It's also a climate scam; and

II. The journalists who uncovered it have a unique business-model.

Here's the scam. Terawulf is a publicly traded company that purports to do "green" Bitcoin mining. Now, cryptocurrency mining is one of the most gratuitously climate-wrecking activities we have. Mining Bitcoin is an environmental crime on par with opening a brunch place that only serves Spotted Owl omelets.

Despite Terawulf's claim to be carbon-neutral, it is not. It plugs into the NY power grid and sucks up farcical quantities of energy produced from fossil fuel sources. The company doesn't buy even buy carbon credits (carbon credits are a scam, but buying carbon credits would at least make its crimes nonfraudulent):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/31/carbon-upsets/#big-tradeoff

Terawulf is a scam from top to bottom. Its NY state permit application promises not to pursue cryptocurrency mining, a thing it was actively trumpeting its plan to do even as it filed that application.

The company has its roots in the very dirtiest kinds of Bitcoin mining. Its top execs (including CEO Paul Prager) were involved with Beowulf Energy LLC, a company that convinced struggling coal plant operators to keep operating in order to fuel Bitcoin mining rigs. There's evidence that top execs at Terawulf, the "carbon neutral" Bitcoin mining op, are also running Beowulf, the coal Bitcoin mining op.

This is a very profitable scam. Prager owns a "small village" in Maryland, with more that 20 structures, including a private gas station for his Ferrari collection (he also has a five bedroom place on Fifth Ave). More than a third of Terawulf's earnings were funneled to Beowulf. Terawulf also leases its facilities from a company that Prager owns 99.9% of, and Terawulf has *showered * that company in its stock.

So here we are, a typical Bitcoin story: scammers lying like hell, wrecking the planet, and getting indecently rich. The guy's even spending his money like an asshole. So far, so normal.

But what's interesting about this story is where it came from: Hunterbrook Media, an investigative news outlet that's funded by a short seller – an investment firm that makes bets that companies' share prices are likely to decline. They stand to make a ton of money if the journalists they hire find fraud in the companies they investigate:

https://hntrbrk.com/terawulf/

It's an amazing source of class disunity among the investment class:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/08/money-talks/#bullshit-walks

As the icing on the cake, Prager and Terawulf are pivoting to AI training. Because of course they are.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/09/terawulf/#hunterbrook

[cinemaocd]

@idlesuperstar: #this is the hardest ep to gif I think#(and not just cos there's no guillam in it)#it's an amazing combo of lots of talking saying a lot (like jim talking about his interrogation#and smiley recalling VERBATIM the letter bill wrote about jim#(which is even better and more detailed in the book)#and absolutely no talking but speaking volumes#control's unbelieveable subtle reaction about the news of jim#BILL'S reaction about the news of jim#god there is a whole essay to write about bill's reaction

The My-Eyeballs-Are-So-Happy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Bluray Watch

Episode 5: Tinker Tailor

- You don't break exactly, you just run out of stories to tell.

[accio-victuuri]

THE Life of Us/Drifting MUSIC VIDEO IS AMAZING 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I think one can make an entire essay long post trying to explain what the scenes could mean. I’m glad that XZ was able to meet and work with a director like LIN who was able to execute this. I can only imagine the creative ideas XZ had for this and to have someone understand his vision and bring it to life is special. It’s so obvious the time, effort and money spent on this and we got it for free. The entire album is free to listen to. I just. Everything about this drop is such a slap to the antis who said it will be 9 covers and 1 original song but XZ goes bitch hold my beer lemme give all original songs and high quality music videos. oh wait, let me write some of the songs too. let me put in some details in my life there just to make it fun. how about that?!

which leads me to those said details/references that someone has compiled. i’m gonna share it here. 📝

P1: the person climbing a ladder in the clouds is something he drew before. I’m proud of him cause this idea of his has been realized. this reminds me of jack and the beanstalk!

P2: the books are design related. i’d like to think it’s his favorite go-to books!

P4: Knitting yarn! XZ knits!

P5: this is pretty obvious and recurring theme when it comes him - the little prince 🌹

P6: more of a comparison from when he was designer xz to now. he was wearing something similar.

P7: Life of Us = Life of Pi. Which is explained more in P8. OP mention that the main character Pi said when writing in his diary: "Everything has become chaotic and broken, I can no longer distinguish between daydreams, sleep, and reality.” The movie/book is a story about a young man who survived a shipwreck and drifted on the sea.but the deeper level seems to be a discussion about human nature, animal nature, and divinity. It’s about the struggle between ego, id, and superego.That tiger may be Pi's heart. What is drifting on the sea, for Pi, is me and "I"; and Pi, It seems to be the epitome of every "us". Finally, Pi told more than one version of the story, and he asked: "Which version do you prefer?" In fact, the choice of the story has always been "me".

"Life of Us/Drifting" sings "What is a dream, what is my greatest fear" "What is a dream, what is what I want most" It’s a question about your own heart, and only you can give the answer.

P9: that scene in the movie ET

additional ones, his favorite paper plane making an appearance and a similar shot from the animated film castle in the sky.

and i noticed that one take where you can see some vintage things like the telephone, but i realized that xz is almost the same age as me so these are things we grew up using!

i’m sure there are more details here and not to mention the hidden meanings too. but that is what makes this video so fun to watch multiple times! you can discover something new each time! I hope they release some behind the scenes on how this was created and all that. i think there should be a documentary of sorts connected to this album if i remember correctly. so yeah! so much more in store for is when it comes to this album 😊

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

okay so I have a friend and she got the inheritance games and finished it yesterday so OBVIOUSLY I asked her what she thought…

please read more at your own risk this might anger you :)

*sigh*

here we go…

she said she felt detached from the characters… I personally have never felt more attached to a set of characters and I don’t understand how she couldn’t be attached but I rolled with it because yk it might not be everyone’s cup of tea

intense deep breaths in an out

she said book was okay (HUH? OKAY? YOU’RE CALLING A MASTERPIECE OKAY?! THATS LIKE GOING TO A MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANT AND BEING LIKE… HMMMM IT WAS OKAY) and she said it was not obsession worthy (I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I DISAGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT, LIKE THIS BOOK IS PART OF MY PERSONALITY)

I’m not mad I’m not mad I’m not mad

and she then said didn’t like any of the Hawthorne brothers, she couldn’t find at least one of them to be her new book boyfriend. HOW? ARE WE READING THE SAME BOOK? ARE WE ACTUALLY READING THE SAME WORDS OR WHAT!?? LIKE COME ON THESE ARE THE FREAKING HAWTHORNE BROTHERS. YOYVE GOT A SEXY COWBOY WITH A SOFT SPOT FOR CUPCAKES, A BLONDE MAN SO MORALLY GREY HE’S PRACTICALLY A VICTORIAN PHOTOGRAPH, AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE WHO IS A SUCKER FOR A GOOD MYSTERY AND A FUNNY, TALL, SMART, ROBOT-MAKING, SCONE-LOVING LITTLE CINNAMON ROLL… AND ALL OF THEM HAVE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LOVE?! IS SHE OKAY!?

ahem… anyways…

she said Avery was OKAY. OKAY. HOW? WHAT? WHEN? LIKE JUST OKAY. BREAD IS JUST OKAY. A ROCK IS JUST OKAY. BUT AVERY KYLIE GRAMBS IS MUCH MORE THE JUST OKAY. SHE IS INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT NOT JUST CONVENTIONALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY, SHE HAS MADE IT THROUGH TRAUMA AND DEALS WITH IS SO WELL, SHE CARES SO MUCH ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE, SHE’S A GENUINE GOOD PERSON, SHES SO FREAKING AMAZING I CANT PUT IT INTO WORDS, CALLING HER OKAY IS A FAT INSULT.

but I love my friend 😔😔 so I didn’t tell her that

she thinks Avery and Grayson will eventually get together… I’m praying she doesn’t become one of those toxic Grayson and Avery shippers (but she didn’t say she shipped them she just thinks they’ll end up together)… luckily she is wrong 🤭🤭 like most of her other points about this book

but the thing she kept complaining about was apparently there was no description… like atp I was kind of convinced we were reading different books because I can envisage all the tiny details of this book. I think she said it lacked physical description for the brothers but there’s only so many times you can describe hair and eye colour in my personal ops…

she said the Hawthorne brothers are ‘too damaged’… telling myslef to take a deep breath ITS NOT THEIR FAULT THEIR GRANDFATHER WAS A LITERAL PSYCHOPATH AND TWO OF THEM LIKED A REALLY DODGY REDHEAD LIKE GOSHHH

but she hated Em*ly so we love her for that, that was a good move, good decision, very good judgment that I do agree with and she says wants to live in hawthorne house which again, I agree…

BUT THEN I LITERALLY WANTED TO CRY WHEN…

she explained how Grayson (MY HUSABND, LOML, ABSOLUTE BB) is a wannabe Aaron Warner. Honey, respectfully no… just no. that is all I have to say (bc I could go on an essay rant but I don’t want to bore people)

IT IS NOT OKAY. I AM NOT OKAY.

I do love my friend to pieces and of course everyone is entitled to an opinion but I have to severely disagree with here

[chaifootsteps]

chai, I got into an argument on tiktok about helluva boss

so it starts off seeing a video take of OP explaining haters creating standards what not to see in certain fandoms and this would backfire on said haters when their own standards don't meet a newer rules of your own fandoms. basically don't hate or bully too much. then I saw a comment from a hh fan stating this is the same for helluva boss anytime people criticised its story and the harmful topics it presented. they're the so called haters. personally I thought that's not entirely true. so I just replied the basic criteria hh quips like how stolas is problematic and stuff and it's also the diehard fans that's ruining the fandom.

and they replied I can personally dislike things without hating it (which is impossible) and I shouldn't bother the fans with my criticism or not watching helluva boss properly to know how great it is. and also shouldn't indulge in the cringe culture cus that's one of the so call reason people hate helluva. so I said I was actually an ex helluva fan but then I matured to finally realise stolitz is garbage and I threw in that the whole show is cringe.

then the fan retorts back that I'm a hypocrite and a hater that the video OP stated. and then they sarcastically congratulate me for maturing to notice the hh bad writing. (I checked their bio and their age is 33. I'm a decade younger than them wtf)

I was like... damn I really don't learn my lesson to engage these type of hh discourse on social media. the same thing happened when I wrote a simple stolas criticism under a yt hh video called "how hell society ruins imps" (if you remember I was the same anon who vent you about this) and the youtuber pulled out a 4 paragraph essay that I was wrong and stolas is a likable character.

but at the same time, was the fan right about me being a hypocritical hater? like I all said was helluva boss has bad writing and they immediately blow off on me. like I'm sorry I'm not riding hard on viv's dick and licking her shoes for her amazing animations and storytelling. honestly tiktok discourse is becoming worse as twitter.

Nah, sounds like you were justified. You can't reason with some of these people, because they take any amount of criticism towards their favorite show as "You're a bad person and you don't deserve to have feet."

[pasquey]

To me, those two Angel speeches are pretty easy to reconcile, as him picking and choosing what to tell her that feels most tactful/the most like what she needs to hear in the moment. So the actual Angel arc would be more like: human Angel finds meek, well-mannered women boring, meets Darla (who is conventionally beautiful according to that time but also very *dangerous* in a way that Halloween-costumed-Buffy isn’t), gets intrigued, gets vamped, enjoys Darla’s evil and a lot of other lovers ranging from evil vampires to “bad girl” type humans, gets bored of it, gets souled, falls for Buffy. So “not into that kind of woman while I was human” and “no longer into bad girls” can both be easily true.

The harder part is that I think both instances of categorizing women by type (the “simpering morons,” the “bad girls”) are incredibly sexist in that low empathy way of not bothering to consider the inner lives and individuality of the women involved. The Watsonian response would be either that yeah, Angel’s kinda sexist, or that Buffy’s dealing with a lot of internalized sexism and Angel’s playing along with it as the fastest way to help her feel better. But I suspect that the Doylists win out on this one - I really don’t think the writers were considering the sexism here.

I don't want to bash Angel or Bangel as such -- I've said before that I think Buffy's relationship with Angel is a fundamental part of the show that you cannot really ignore or dismiss without missing the point of lots of the post-Angel seasons -- but it is very funny, I think, that Angel gives Buffy the "you're not like other girls" spiel twice and

it is played as straightforwardly charming and romantic both times; despite

the 'other girls' Angel is disparaging and saying Buffy is unlike being pretty much the exact opposite each time; and

both claims being contradicted by both established canon and later flashbacks.

In Season 2's Halloween, Buffy dresses up like "a princess" because, in part, she's jealous of the relationships she imagines Angel used to have with "the kind of fancy girl [he] liked when [he] was my age". And Angel tells her not to worry, because when he was a lad he was a raging misogynist. Uh, I mean, he says

"I hated the girls back then […] They were just incredibly dull. Simpering morons, the lot of them. I always wished I could meet someone … exciting."

So, to be clear, when Buffy dresses up like this:

She is not reminding Angel of anyone he might have known or been attracted to when he was younger, or followed into a dark alley at night and been murdered by, or had a century-long romance with as a vampire. Not at all.

Then, a year later, in Season 3's Earshot, Buffy is worried that Angel must have enjoyed kissing Faith when pretending to have lost his soul again. Because, well. Who wouldn't? ("To the naked eye it looked like fun", Buffy says. "Not that [Faith] was so bad to have around […] I think she was hurting a lot, and some people -- protective-type people -- might be drawn to that […] the thing about Faith, I'd understand. You know, she has that whole 'bad girl' thing working for her.")

Faith isn't dull, in other words. She's someone exciting. She's very much not the sort of girl that Angel claims to have hated last season.

And yet, when Buffy confronts him, Angel says:

"Kissing [Faith] meant nothing. I don't want a bad girl. I've done that before. I've lived a long time […] I've been with dozens of girls like her. More."

And … okay, but this kind of undermines the Halloween bit, right? "I always wished I could meet someone exciting … and then I did, dozens of times, and got really bored of it" doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Also interesting, I think, that this latter quote only makes sense if Angel identifies with Angelus in a way his own show will later insist he doesn't. Because the souled Angel who "lived a long time" was very obviously not getting with "dozens of girls", bad or otherwise, while he was busy eating rats in alleyways and listening to Barry Manilow. And if he's only talking about the things he did as a human, then why even mention that he's "lived a long time"?

(I would like to believe that the tension here is deliberate, and that the audience is meant to be unimpressed by Angel's big speeches, but I'm not sure I can persaude myself that this is true.)

[shoulderscars]

Why I love Midnight Sun

ok I know this might be a hot take, but I actually love Midnight Sun. It's my favorite Twilight Saga book. And here's why [Spoiler Alert Affective from here!]

The Making of the Cullen Family (and their respective backstory's): I love that we get to know all the little details, like how Alive waited for the perfect moment to join the group and how she literally hugs Edward the moment they meet for the first time, and how they have a mutual understanding before saying a word in conversation.

Carlisle. (Simple, refined, respectable, perfect): It's not like we didnt know the before Midnight Sun, but I think Edwards insight on his brain is just...amazing. We can really see all of Carlisle's selflessness and how he is a simple man who wants the best for his children. Also, we get an insight on Carlisle and Esme's love with is so refined but perfect.

Emmett. (The best Cullen after Carlisle?): The whole book is actually giving Emmett's character depth. In the beginning of the book, Emmett's internal thoughts seem to be the same as he is perceived in the rest of the books from Bella's perspective, but as the book progresses, we see Emmett being amazing, and how much of a loving and simply perfect person (loose definition) he is.

Edward & Rose (good God they could be toddlers but really cute nevertheless): The scene where Edward remembers the day that he and Rose became brother and sister is actually a gorgeous scene. Lives in my head rent free. Also I love how the come to a consensus that Rose won't play nice but she will tolerate, and then they both keep snapping silently at each other. BUT when Alice mentions Charlie and the red head on the phone (while getting Bella to the hospital), Rose is honest to God ready to kill for him. BRO.

Jasper's Powers (wait he's actually OP?): Jasper's general character depth isn't explored much in the book, but his powers that he displays in the field is actually on a whole different level. No explanation needed

Alice's Powers (it's a work of ART.): In the scene where they are transporting Bella from the dance studio to the hospital, we take a dive into how Alice uses her abilities and how she perfects the future. The whole scene is flawless and actually clears up a lot about her "physic" ability based on decision making. The whole section just flowed so well, and I love it so much.

BONUS POINTS: Emmett getting repeatedly annoyed at the silent conversations that Alice and Edward have. IM SORRY I LOVE IT SO MUCH, and I love how EVEN AFTER 70ISH YEARS OF LIVING WITH BOTH OF THEM, IT STILL ANNOYS HIM HAHA

Didn't think I was gonna write an essay tonight but here I am 😭😭

I do genuinely love the Twilight Universe (the book version y'all with only visual inspiration for imagination hehe) and this book....ah I love how it helps build the vampire side of the lore. It makes me so happy lol

[brightgoat]

I watched all of JJBA

My thoughts on it, no major spoilers:

FIRST OF ALL: If I were to recommend it to someone, I would say watch the parts in the order of: 3, 1, 2 (although 2 is largely irrelevant), 4, 5, 6. By all logic, I should hate this anime. It goes almost completely against my taste in fiction.

Continued under cut

Watching this anime is like getting waterboarded, occasionally a genuinely good moment will come where I am allowed to take a breath, but before i even register it some bullshit happens and I am dunked back in.

However, while getting waterboarded, I’m in a desert, i see the fucking stardust crusaders in the back, this is the only water source so while i cant breathe i am glad to have access to it.

Then finally, a particular moment comes, and i start drinking all the water, until theres nothing left and i finally breathe, and that particular moment is when father Pucci appears on screen, an essay on why he’s the best character coming hopefully never.

Watching this is like being forced to bash my head against a wall at gunpoint, and then being happy that my blood made a cool pattern on the wall. None of the characters act like real people. Time and space does not exist. Inconsistencies are everywhere.

Set ups and no pay off. Pay offs withOUT setups?? The characters describe their every action so honestly you could watch this with forks in your eyes and still know whats happening, except you won’t know from the intense mindfuckery that takes place.

But overall I had a great time. Amazing soundtrack, loved the OPs, I love the char designs and I love art that isn’t afraid to be weird and unapologetic in its weirdness, it’s insanely creative and the humour can be great, some moments genuinely had me hyped and my eyes wide

I loved how in a lot of episodes it focuses more on the antags, making you root for them (though thats often cuz the protags are annoying-)

My fav part is absolutely Stone Ocean, it has the best protag and antag, best visuals, side characters that I actually gave a shit about unlike most side chars in the prev seasons. Still rooted for the antag though.

My fav Jojo is Jolyne, second is Giorno (but the version of him in my head anyway cuz he had an amazing set up but shitass payoff in my opinion)

Fav side chars are Rohan, Anasui, F.F., Ermes, Bucciarati was alright I guess, I like Trish’s design, Polnareff was entertaining.

Fav villain is hands down Father Pucci, he’s the reason I watched this entire thing, the character who apPEARS IN THE VERY FINAL FUCKING PAR- Dio close behind. Kira was fun as well.

Gonna read Steel Ball Run maybe, because I’m still in the fucking desert and i need water-

[charismaofobedience]

Joseimuke fandom dashboard simulator

🦚 worldsbestessayist follow

heyy today i bring my analysis on the latest event and their impact on the characters lol

[very bad essay. the worst you've seen, even.]

( 8k2 notes ) ⇄ ♡

✒️ 1n28lsp9 follow

[the most beautiful and intricate piece of art you've ever seen in your life but you'll never be able to find it again due to the accounts name being just some numbers and letters]

rkgk

( 10 notes, 6 of which are you ) ⇄ ♡

🌄 sunnyimagines follow

s/i reader gets f*cked hard by [character] with a 43 cm d!ck hcs 💕

i won't let you escape now, kitten.........

keep reading

[most out of character thing you've ever seen]

( 600 notes ) ⇄ ♡

🐇 charactersirlblorbo follow

waah im so glad i didn't have to whale so hard for mongus newest gacha card... i thought i wouldn't be able to get him after i accidentally broke my leg and twisted one of my wrist while grinding for it on a public street and being fired from my job but after spending just some few money (200 dollars) he's home!!! isn't he such a scrunglo 🥰

[png of the most mid animeman you've ever seen]

🐍 shredoffandomsanity follow

I don't think that's normal.

( 103 notes ) ⇄ ♡

🌺 yourbestieskip

Hello! I'm skip and today I wanted to analyse blingus actions on the latest chapter of the event story since I've seen quite a big amount of people not understanding exactly why they acted that way and mischaracterizing them as this extremely evil and bad character! While they may indeed be someone flawed and who has done bad things, I think we should recognize they're not horrible and have a reason to act the way they do!

keep reading

[long amazing essay on the character and how the fandom can't understand character nuances at all because everyone has 0 media literacy. exactly because the fandom has 0 media literacy, people won't understand this at all.]

#fandom #character #analysis #please i hope i dont get canceled for this...

( 328 notes ) ⇄ ♡

💏 fujoshover follow

TIME TO SETTLE THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL.

👾 yurilover69 follow

Really telling how op is new to the fandom by now knowing that mongblos are basically siblings due to their circumstances and how they grew up while not even acknowledging how on the event with a Ligma reward card they said that they love each other and want to forever be by their side :/

[please leave this post before you get to see all of the insane amounts of discourse and drama on how "they're not actual siblings" that will happen eventually because characters can't have nuance.]

( 946 notes ) ⇄ ♡

💏 fujoshover follow

hii im really sad ill have to do this post :/ but this is a callout on @/yourbestieskip and how they're contributing to gatekeeping and toxicity in the fandom with the way they treat others and people who don't read any of the stories and are only there for how pretty the characters are and the ships!!! proof under cut

keep reading

🐍 shredoffandomsanity

Please get out of your phone and go touch grass.

( 2k4 notes ) ⇄ ♡

🐇 charactersirlblorbo follow

[10 images of a character, be it different images or not]

MONGUS. YOU AGREE. REBLOG

#oajwosbaoebfkdhoahdoshakebflduspskdljs #isnt he so pretty!!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥺

( 6k4 notes ) ⇄ ♡

🕳️ rabbitbarrithole

god it isn't just me that thinks sometimes mongus fans can be a bit annoying right??? like I get it that it's the main poster character of the fandom and all but the others also exist :/

🐍 shredoffandomsanity

No, you're right. I understand enjoying a character and all but I don't think it's healthy to reduce your whole existence to a character? Fandom people really have to let go of things a bit and focus more on their well being...

🐇 charactersirlblorbo follow

SHUT UP you all just don't get mongie like I do 🥰

( 67 notes ) ⇄ ♡

💫 bellbellart follow

look i drew spinglus:) please and reblog to support me!!!!!

[meme drawing done on mspaint in 4 minutes]

( 4k7 notes ) ⇄ ♡

🫀everbeatingheart follow

Hiiii im new to the fandom and im looking for new moots to be friends with!!!! basic info and more under the cut ^-^

- hea, 19

- [extremely personal info that shouldn't be shared online]

- Mongus kinnie, so if you're a slimpoo kinnie interested in kindating...um 👉👈

keep reading

🐇 charactersirlblorbo follow

A REAL LIFE MONGUS KINNIE??? kyaah... as slimpoo irl you don't mean... 🥺👉👈👉👈👉👈

🐍 shredoffandomsanity

No. I can't allow this to happen.

🫀 everbeatingheart follow

Why not!?!?! I've seen you around and you sound annoying as all fuck goddddd just get out our safe space fandom 😡

🐍 shredoffandomsanity

Well the truth is... I, too, am slimpoo irl and... Just like their canon selves who fell in love through fights and issues, might have developed... Feelings, for miss irlblorbo......

🐇 charactersirlblorbo follow

waah...?!

( 536 notes ) ⇄ ♡

😃 fandomfunnyman follow

[10 textposts memes with pngs of the fandom characters above them. one of them is identical to the rabbitbarrithole post.]

yippeeee:) today's memes lol

( 749 notes ) ⇄ ♡

[pinkcrocss]

Limoreau #3: A Sense of Belonging

A/n: Hahaha! Another one-shot... Okay, I solemnly swear, I am not allowed to post anything else until I've posted at least one chapter of one of my two multi-chapter fics.

What can I say? When inspiration hits, it hits.

Heavily inspired by this amazing fan art by @beelze0-0

Jordan is sick of other people pushing their expectations on them...

1,900 words

“I’m super inclusive! So welcome to God U. We’d love to have you.”

“CUT!”

Jordan looked up at the director, from where they were perched on a picnic table out at the student quad. They couldn’t believe they had let themself be roped into this shit. But Brink had said taking part in this video would help keep eyes on them, further bumping up their q-ratings which would in turn help them in the rankings.

 “Hey Jordan! Look, I’m glad you agreed to do this and we’re so happy to have you representing our esteemed establishment, but we were actually kind of hoping you would film this in your female body.”

The stout director must have seen the frown on Jordan’s face because he hastily added, “It’s just that when it comes to inclusivity, a female spokesperson tracks better! It’s no big deal.”

“Easy for you to say.” Jordan thought as they reluctantly switched forms, feeling their clothes get a little looser and their hair suddenly touching their shoulders.

The director looked relieved as he headed back behind the camera.

“And go!”

Jordan started in on their rehearsed line, “I’m super inclusive! So we-“

“Cut!”

Jordan tried not to let any frustration bleed into their expression. 

”What seems to be the issue?” They tried to look cooly at the director.

“Do you think you could smile a bit more when you say the line? We’re trying to go for a more pleasant, feminine energy here.” 

Jordan could feel the plastered on smile on their face pulling tight at their skin.

“Actually, Erica! You think we could have makeup come over, maybe some blush and a touch of lip gloss would help.” The director went on.

Jordan went along with the rest of the shoot. A mantra running through their head for every minute that went by, “It will be worth it when I’m in the seven… it’ll be worth it when I’m in the seven…”

Hours later, Jordan sat at their desk outside of Brink’s office typing diligently on their laptop, as they graded Brink’s last batch of crimefighting essays. Glancing at their phone to check the time, they swore as they realised they only had ten minutes before they were supposed to be meeting with their parents at a restaurant across campus. Already they could see a barrage of unanswered texts from their dad.

Exhaling a long breath, they finished up their latest essay before packing up their things and rushing out of the crimefighting building. By the time they made it to just outside the restaurant, they were already 5 minutes late.

Catching their reflection in the window, they briefly panicked, realising that they were still in their female form. Not at all in the mood for an evening of barbed comments and sour looks from their dearest parents, they hastily transformed into their male form, feeling their body grow heavier as their hair shortened to right above their ears.

Walking in, they could feel the weight of their dad’s disappointed gaze. 

“Jordan?” He said. “You’re late! What do I always tell you? A man must always honour his commitments, right?”

Jordan could only take a deep breath, readying themselves for an evening of similar comments. 

“Yeah, dad. It was my bad. I was busy grading for professor Brink and-“

“Ah! Professor Brink! How is he doing?” Their mother cut them off. 

“I hope he’s been taking care of my little man.” At this point, she had gotten up and rounded the table to pull them into a tight hug.

“Well, not so little anymore. Look how how tall you are!” She grabbed his bicep. “And so strong! I hope you’re not overdoing yourself.”

“I’m fine mom.” they responded, slipping out of her grasp.

Sitting down, they opened up the menu and began scanning the options as their dad flagged the waiter. Having settled on a simple pasta dish, Jordan leaned back and settled themselves more comfortably as they waited for the waiter to approach.

Having gotten a passing waiters attention, their dad turned to them before suddenly donning a frustrated look on his face.

“Jordan.”

Jordan sat up, curious as to their dad’s sudden change of mood.

“Please… just sit like a man. You look ridiculous.”

Jordan followed their dad’s eye-line down to their legs, which they had subconsciously crossed as they had been getting comfortable. Flushing with embarrassment, they slowly uncrossed their legs and sat up, avoiding eye contact with their dad.

Seemingly satisfied, their dad decided to change the topic.

“Speaking of Brink… what’s the plan to get you ranked #1, huh? I noticed your social trending has been flagging a little.”

Jordan tried not to roll their eyes. Sometimes, it was hard not to feel like they were just a trophy to their parents. Something to take off the shelf and dust off in front of company, then put it right back away when there was no more use for it.

“Yeah, um.. I’m actually gonna be in the new campus welcome video for the incoming year. So that should help a bit with social recognition.” Jordan tried not to think about the disappointment on their faces, when they saw which form they appeared in in the video.

“Also, my combat stats are the highest on campus so far.” 

For a moment, their parents actually seemed to perk up at the news, both wearing expressions akin to haughty pride. 

Feeling confident, Jordan continued. “Yeah, and especially when I switch forms I’ve gotten more agile so Brink came up with this manuever wh-“

“Switch forms?”

Jordan immediately realised their mistake as their dad���s face morphed into a sour expression.

“Jordan!” Their dad was aggressively whispering now, as if afraid that other people in the restaurant would find out about what he considered, the more undesirable aspect of Jordan’s abilities.

“We’ve talked about this. You don’t need that part. Your strength, you’re invulnerability, that’s what’s going to get you to the Seven. Now stop embarrassing us and act more like the young man we raised!”

Jordan wanted to argue, but was scared of what might come out of their mouth if they did. Instead, they remained silent, face pinched, once again feeling like their skin was stretched too tight over their muscles and bone.

Finally seeing their waiter approach, their mother looked grateful for the excuse to change the topic of conversation.

“It will all be worth it… It will all be worth it…” Jordan kept reminding themself. They had to.

It was getting dark by the time Jordan was making their way back to the dorms. Shooting that video earlier that morning, grading all of Brink’s essays, a disastrous lunch with their parents, followed by a two hour lecture at their least favourite subject, Hero ethics, and all Jordan wanted to do was crawl under their covers and never wake up again.

Jordan felt stretched thin. Like a rubber band about to snap. But still they reminded themselves to just hold it together until they made it back to their dorm room.

It was days like this that Jordan was grateful that they no longer lived in the freshman dorms, and that their top ten status gave them leverage for a single room. Not having to worry about annoying roommates or being considerate of another person in their space, was a blessing they would never stop being grateful for.

However, as they neared their door, they got the distinct impression that they wouldn’t be alone tonight. Some niggling sense in the back of their mind told them someone would be on the other side of that door, so they weren’t surprised at all when they walked into their room to find Marie lounging on their bed, watching some kind of show on her V-pad[1] that she must have brought with her. 

She looked comfortable, stretched out in a pale blue sports bra and soft, black leggings. Jordan had surprised her with an illegally made copy of their dorm key about a month prior and had offered her use of their room whenever she needed to get away (really it was just an excuse to see her more often without sounding desperate. But hey, Jordan had an image to maintain).

Marie had set aside her V-pad to look up at them, gracing them with a blinding smile. “Hey, baby! How was your day?”

Jordan wasn’t sure how she did it, or what magic potion Marie seemed to possess, but at the moment she might have as well have been an oasis in a scorching desert Jordan had been traversing for weeks now.

Without thinking, they threw their bag to the side, uncaring of where it landed and dove towards her on the bed (careful to keep much of their weight off her, as they were still in their male form).

Obviously, they weren’t completely successful as Marie gave a beleaguered “Hmph” as they landed on her; wrapping their arms around her torso and snuggling their face into her soft belly.

They could hear her giggling above them.

“Hey.” They felt her rest a hand on the back of their neck. “Is everything okay? What do you need?”

“Nothing.” Jordan mumbled, their voice muffled as they pressed further into her. “Just this.”

Jordan basked in the warmth of Marie’s embrace, drowning themself in the vanilla scent of her skin. They needed to figure out what body lotion she used, so they could steal it for themself.

After a while, they finally had the energy top look up, only to find that Marie was already looking at them. What they saw in her eyes was nothing but warmth and adoration reflected back at them. 

Jordan was still in disbelief that they could be the recipient of a look like that, from Marie Moreau of all people! That was something that they would never stop being grateful for.

For a good minute, the two were seemingly locked in an intense staring match, neither willing to break the spell that had been woven in their little embrace.

A sudden curious thought popped into Jordan’s head, and without thinking, they suddenly switched into their female form. Continuing to stare into Marie’s eyes, they were shocked to find that her gaze remained exactly the same. Just warmth, adoration and acceptance. There hadn’t even been a momentary shock at the sudden change.

Jordan was fully overcome with a feeling they couldn’t decipher, and before they could reconsider, they were surging up towards Marie, kissing her with every intense emotion that they could muster. Gratefulness, all-encompassing trust, and love.

Marie of course was delighted, gently laughing into the kiss as she held their face with both hands, while caressing their cheek.

Kissing Marie always felt like a warm, heated blanket on a snowy day. Like solace. Like home.

Only when the need for air became desperate, did Jordan pull away, snuggling back into her torso as they felt Marie start stroking her fingers through their hair.

Jordan was so warm and lulled by the comforting motion, that they almost missed Marie’s question.

“Feeling any better?”

The answer came unbidden. they didn’t even have to look up.

“Yes. much, much better.”

[1] Remember Marie got a bunch of free tech from Vought when she made it to the top ten rankings.

[clintbartonswife]

i achoo you

Pairings: Peter Parker x Wade Wilson Summary: Peter is sick and Wade is smitten. Whumptober prompt #26 : working to exhaustion / 'you look awful' Notes: i love this pairing so much ill cry. (also, peter is mid 20s) masterlist   || whumptober2023

"I'm totally 100% definitely dying."

Peter stretched out on the couch, sniffling woefully. His phone was pressed against his left cheek, sticky with sweat.

"Is it that even possible?"

"Yes. Yes it is. And I've got two college essays due in this wee-ee- ACHOO"

Matt let out a laugh, "You know spiders cant actually sneeze?"

"Lucky for the-em- ACHOO"

"This is pathetic, even for you."

"Wow, thanks Red. This is the last time I ever call you for advice."

"Yet you'll call me next week over a stubbed toe no doubt."

Peter could practically hear the eye roll in his voice, frowning as shivers once again decided to wrack his body.

"I dont have any other semi-responsible friends that I can talk to, and I - I dont want to bother May -"

"Dont make me feel sorry for you, or I'll really regret sending the backup."

Peter groaned, "Oh god, who?"

"Blasphemy - and he should be arriving any time now. Foggy's just arriving at the office so I've got to go. Drink lots of water, okay?"

Matt hung up before he could answer, a knock at the door occurring seconds later.

"It's op-ehh-eehhh-ACHOO"

"Say it, don't spray it baby boy!"

Peter groaned again, louder this time, and threw his arm across his eyes. "Why you?"

"That's not a nice way to greet someone bringing you soup!"

Peter made a pathetic noise, halfway between a sniffle and a cough, moving his arm so he could sneak a peek at the merc as he made himself at home in the kitchen.

"That's a pathetic excuse for an apology, but I'm willing to accept it due to your pretty face." Wade was humming quietly to himself as he rummaged around in the cupboard, taking out a bowl with flair and transferring the soup in to it in one smooth motion.

"That wa-aa-as -" Peter paused a moment, waiting to see if the sneeze was about to escape him, continuing as the urge dissipated, "was the most elegant thing I've ever seen you do."

"I dont fuck around with my food," He replied, walking towards the couch, "Unless it's in a sexy-I'm-going-to-lick-chocolate-off-your-body-way, which I'm totally down for any time."

"Charming." Peter rolled his eyes, fighting against his tired muscles and moving into an uneasy sitting position.

"Always for you, baby b- wow. Petey pie, you look awful."

Peter let out a hoarse laugh, accepting the soup with a sarcastic smile.

"Not holding back, huh?"

Wade collapsed backwards on to the ratty futon opposite the couch, throwing his feet up on the coffee table. After wiggling in to a comfortable position, he lifted his mask to just under his nose and popped a bright pink unicorn lollipop into his mouth. "So, how did the amazing spider-man come down with the common cold? I thought you were immune to shit like that."

Peter shrugged, gulping down the soup.

Wade looked around the room for a few moments, sucking loudly on the lollipop. "How about this for a theory: you worked your pretty little butt off, on your daily patrols, part time job and now... college?"

Peter paused his eating for a moment, "Bio-chem."

"Smart and sexy, the whole package!"

"How you find me sexy right now, I have no idea."

Wade slurped extra loudly on the lollipop, looking Peter up and down. "Those hello kitty pyjama pants look good on you. Plus I can't get sick."

"Is that so?"

"Scientifically proven, baby boy. My skins so fucked up because my cells are dying and reproducing every second. Ergo, can't get sick."

"That... proven how, exactly?"

"Trial and error." At Peter's questioning look, he smirked, "There's only so many times you can regrow the majority of your body and not realise that something's funky."

"Funky is one word fo-oor-ACHOOO."

Wade jumped up from his seat, running to his bag and pulling out a disney themed box of tissues. "I came prepared!"

"Princesses? Really?"

"Yes, and look there you are!" He replied, pointing at Cinderella.

"Okay... I'm going to need an explanation."

"She's broke, you're broke. Twins!"

Peter rolled his eyes, though accepted the tissues. Wade laughed, "I guess you're just lucky that I'm here, your knight in shining armour, offering to be your sugar daddy."

"Oh god - don't phrase it like that. I've been getting by on my own just fine, tha-ahhh-ahhh-"

"Bless you."

Peter glared at him. "You jinxed me."

Wade pouted, "Want me to kiss it better?"

At this, Peter threw the tissue box, successfully hitting him in between the eyes.

"Ow!"

Peter grumbled something under his breath, placing the empty soup bowl on the table and burying himself once more into the couch.

"I take back the Cinderella comparison. You're much more like Grumpy Peg-Leg Pete."

Wade laughed at the offended noise emanating from the sofa, finishing his lollipop with a satisfied sigh and jumping up from his seat. "Well, if my assistance is no longer needed..."

"Wait."

Wade grinned, holding his hand up to his ear mockingly, "Sorry what was that? I didn't quite hear you."

Peter huffed, sticking his head fully out of his blankets, enunciating his words clearly. "Don't leave... please."

Wade's grin widened, throwing himself on to the end of the couch, grabbing Peter's feet and placing them on his lap. "I knew you needed me Petey Pie."

"How did you know," the boy replied, sarcasm strong in his tone, "I want you, I need you, oh baby, baby."

The merc's smile didn't drop, relaxing into the chair as he began massaging one of the spider's feet. "Jokes on you, your sarcasm just turns me on more."

"You're insatiable."

"For you? Yes. I'm all the big words. Unquenchable, titillated, concupiscent." He gave a look off to the side, "Thanks for the tutoring Prodigy."

"You -" Peter tried to see what he was looking at, writing it off as one of Deadpool's quirks, "whatever. You missed a word though: persistent."

"How else am I going to get you to admit your deep and passionate love for me?"

Peter rolled his eyes, though didn't offer a rebuttal, instead allowing himself to melt into the pillows as Wade's fingers methodically worked out all the tension in his feet. He let out a sigh, arm thrown over his eyes once again as he willed for the grogginess to leave.

"What's troubling you, baby boy?"

"College essay is due in three days and I still haven't started it."

"Oh?"

"'S all about chemical bonding agents and I - aaaACHOO -" He paused, using his webs to grab the tissue box from across the room and blowing his nose with a pathetic lack of energy before continuing. "I just think that if I think too long about one thing I might die."

"And you can't get an extension?"

"No."

"What about if Bea and Arthur ask?"

"You're not going to threaten my professor with your katanas."

Wade sighed dramatically, but let the issue drop. Now bored, he began to tap out the tune of Grace Kelly on Peter's legs, humming quietly under his breath.

In that moment, the weird domesticity of the scene hit the student, peaking out from under his arm to watch Wade. It felt comfortable, safe in a way that he hadn't felt since developing his powers. He felt cared for. Loved.

Eyes flaring slightly, he pushed that thought away.

"Thank you, 'Pool."

"Hm?"

"Thank you. For coming to look after me."

"Anything to spend time with you and your tight little ass, Petey!"

He snorted, rolling his eyes fondly at the intentional lewdness, gently kicking his chest with his foot. "I mean it."

Wade pressed both hands to his cheeks, shoulders raising as he let out a squeal. "Oh em gee, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"This is what I get for trying to be serious -"

To Peter's surprise, Wade paused for a moment. When he next spoke, it was with a certain genuineness that he rarely heard from the merc. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. There's nothing to thank."

Breath caught in his chest, Peter allowed himself to sit up, looking at Wade with new eyes. Without even realising it, his hands had moved to lie on the edges of the mask, waiting for an answer.

"Webs -"

He could feel Wade's breath brush along his palms, finally removing the mask as the merc let out a hesitant nod.

Wade's eyes were blue, deep and endlessly curious.

Mask laid to the side, Peter's eyes rushed to drink in every detail of the man's face, fingers moving across the textured surface with barely restrained admiration.

"I think you're my favourite person."

The confession escaped him, surprising even him with the certainty behind the words.

Wade's eyes sparkle when they smile.

"You're going to make me blush, baby boy."

His eyes flickered to his lips.

"Did you mean what you said... about not caring that I'm sick?"

Wade's eyes widened, wordlessly nodding.

"Good."

Their lips clashed together with unbridled passion, Peter pushing away any doubt he held on to and clinging on to Wade's deceptively strong arms for balance.

The merc met him eagerly, gleeful as he buried his hands into the boy's hair, gripping just hard enough to send a shiver down Peter's spine. At his reaction, Wade smiled, nipping at his lower lip in order to pull another delicious response from him.

The spider had to pull away first, cheeks blazing and chest heaving.

Wade moved one hand down from his hair to cup his cheek, thumb caressing the smooth skin as his eyes searched for any sign of regret. "Webs..."

"I think - I think I lo-oo-ACHOO." He quickly turned away, sneezing into his shoulder.

Wade roared with laughter, offering a tissue as Peter's blush deepened.

"I achoo you too."

[nellielsss]

JJK x reader: lack of representation

i don’t post on this acct (i just scroll & read fics) but I’m sick and tired: WHERE are the transfem reader fanfics?? where are the MTF reader x (character) stories??

Its like every time I wanna read a fic with my fictional men (toji fushiguro, gojo, nanami, tengen uzui) I ALWAYS have to read the words “pussy” “cunt” etc. when I know damn well I’m pre-op and FAR from getting any operation done. but I can’t read gender neutral fics bc of how girly I am & how I want my pronouns used, and I obviously can’t read male BC IM TRYING TO BE A GIRL, and it ends up being a wild goose chase that just leads me back to cis female fics.

like I don't squirt due to being biologically unable to, but I also don't have a flat chest bc im a trans woman, so I'm stuck in gender neutral limbo!! and god knows how WONDERFUL that is for my gender dysphoria!!!!

like do transfem readers just not use tumblr?? do they all go on AO3?? I dont wanna force people to write fanfics about MTF readers if they’re not comfortable with it/dont know anything about what MTF people go through, BUT I JUST WANNA CUDDLE W TOJI WHILE NOT PRETENDING IM CISGENDER!!

if any writers wanna write about mtf readers w their big, handsome boyfriends, you would literally be the most amazing people ever!! and if anyone knows any fics like that then please point me in their direction 😘😘 (please DM me any fics please 😭 I cant keep going around & requesting random pages)

I could write essays about how frustrating it is for transfem JJK fanfic lovers. sorry if I came off aggressive--I'm just sick of this, and I need to get the word out there:

TRANSFEM READERS DESERVE REPRESENTATION!!! AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, READERS OF ALL TYPES OF GENDER IDENTITIES & EXPRESSION DESERVE SOME LOVING TOO!! I need all my asexual, genderfluid, genderqueer bitches to stand up!!!!

(I'm literally this close 🤏 to either losing it or becoming a writer myself)

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Resistance affirms our character and conscience

November 12, 2024

Robert B. Hubbell

The best use of your time today is to read the essay by Rebecca Solnit in The Guardian, Authoritarians like Trump love fear, defeatism, surrender. Do not give them what they want. While I urge you to read Solnit’s entire essay, the following excerpts were helpful to me:

[H]ope does not mean saying this is not bad, and it does not mean saying that we can defeat it. It just means saying we will keep showing up. That we will not give up. That we will assess our powers and weaknesses and recognize that the future we face looks grim, but we do not know how it will unfold, and neither do those we oppose. How it will unfold depends in no small part on what we do. People too often think hope is smiles and sunshine, when it’s fury in the face of danger and oppression, and pressing on in the storm. “Fight on” might sound like a lot now, but maybe you can at least not quit, even if you need to take time off, which is not the same thing as checking out.

Hold onto this advice: “Hope means we will keep showing up. At least not quit . . . even if you need to take time off.”

If you want to stop here (or after you read Solnit’s wonderful essay), I don’t blame you. The media coverage of the election outcome is becoming even more insufferable. Many commentators still seem to be taking joy by dancing on what they (wrongly) believe to be the grave of the Democratic Party. Everyone with a political agenda is interpreting the loss in a way that advances their interests and worldview.

The lack of humility and self-awareness of the commentariat is galling. None of them—not one—predicted this outcome. But that fact does not give them pause in declaring with pontifical certainty what the electoral outcome (allegedly) signifies.

Worse, most of the commentariat contributed to this outcome by normalizing Trump before the election. Having done so, they are amazed that Americans voted for an aspiring dictator who—according to them before the election—was a run-of-the-mill Republican who believes in free markets and small government.

So, I urge you not to look for answers from opinion writers in major media. Indeed, the “question” posed by the 2024 election outcome is not “Why did Democrats lose,” but “How will we respond?” That urgent question overrides efforts to slice and dice exit polls and assign blame for the loss.

Many are still recovering from the shock of the election outcome. Even as we do, we will face a flood of announcements about the incoming administration. Those announcements confirm the worst of what we feared about a second Trump administration.

Our warnings and alarm failed to pierce the awareness of the majority of those who voted last Tuesday. We must not relent. We must continue to raise the alarm so that the resistance emerges quickly and with strength.

In the discussion below, I address two of Trump's appointments and a worrisome procedural possibility involving the Senate. If that sounds like too much for you at this time, not to worry! Proceed directly to Concluding Thoughts. Everything I discuss below will be current in a week or month from now.

Trump's nominations for cabinet and senior staff positions confirm his mass deportation intentions

Trump ran on a platform of racism, misogyny, and white supremacy. Two of those platform planks—racism and white supremacy—were manifested through his pledge to engage in the “mass deportation” of ten million immigrants and their families. His first “nominations” confirm that he was deadly serious about that pledge. See NYTimes, Trump Transition Signals Focus on Deportations as Miller Assumes Influence. (Accessible to all.)

In the clearest signal possible, Trump has appointed Stephen Miller as the Deputy Chief of Policy, a position that will control the policy priorities of the incoming administration. Miller was one of the architects and head cheerleaders for Trump’s white supremacy agenda, including the child separation policy. See CNN, Former Breitbart Editor: Stephen Miller is a white supremacist. I know, I was one too.

Trump also announced that Tom Homan would serve as “Border Czar.” See HuffPo, Trump’s New 'Border Czar' Tells Democrats To 'Get The Hell Out Of The Way'.

Per HuffPo,

Homan served as the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during part of Trump’s first administration. He was a key figure in the effort to separate migrant children from their parents at the southern border with Mexico and a contributor to Project 2025. [Homan] told Democratic governors to “get the hell out of the way” as the upcoming administration prepares its mass deportation plans — or face unnamed consequences. “There will be a massive deportation operation because we have a massive, never-seen-before illegal immigration [wave],” Homan said during a Fox News appearance on Friday

Are you seeing a theme here? Dual architects of the “child separation policy” under Trump are again in key positions in his new administration. Trump ran on a policy of racism and white supremacy. He won on that platform. He is moving to implement those planks as the top priority of his administration.

Oh, and Tom Homan is a contributor to Project 2025—the master plan that Trump claims he never heard about.

If you favorite opinion columnist is telling you that the election was about inflation, they failed to listen to what Trump said in every rally and interview.

Trump urges the Senate to abdicate its role of “advice and consent” in confirming cabinet secretaries and senior officers in the administration

Timothy Snyder has counseled that a key aspect of resisting tyranny is “refusing to obey in advance.” Today, Trump demanded that the GOP Senate “obey in advance” by agreeing to go into recess so that Trump can appoint cabinet secretaries without Senate confirmations.

Although the issue of Senate recesses sounds technical, it may have a profound effect on Trump's ability to consolidate power in an extra-constitutional manner. I will give a brief summary here but recommend that you read Jay Kuo’s Substack essay in The Status Kuo, “Congressional Recession.” The details are set forth in Kuo’s article, so I will focus on the major points.

In short, the Constitution charges the Senate with the obligation to provide “advice and consent” regarding presidential nominations to agency heads and other “officers” designated by Congress. US Constitution  Article II, Section 2.

The power and obligation to provide “advice and consent” over nominations is a key aspect of the balance of power in the Constitution. Trump has just demanded that the Senate abdicate that power by going into recess.

Per the Constitution (Art. II Sec 2),

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate . . . .

The power to make recess appointments was included when the Senate was in recess most of the time during the early years after adopting the Constitution in 1789. Now, however, the Senate is effectively in session continuously, so there is no need to circumvent the Senate confirmation process.

Moreover, Trump will have a majority in the Senate, so there is no reason to resort to recess appointments. Unless, of course, Trump wants to diminish the constitutional oversight role of Congress by demanding that the Senate “obey in advance.”

And “obey in advance” is what Senator Rick Scott did when he promised to give Trump the power to make recess appointments. Senator Scott made the promise as part of his groveling to obtain the role of majority leader in the Senate.

Trump's demand for recess appointment power confirms his intention to “be a dictator on day one.” The sane washing of Trump by the media must stop. Abuse of the recess appointment power should be loudly and vigorously condemned by every member of the commentariat currently wasting their time scolding Democrats for supporting an agenda that recognizes the dignity and humanity of all Americans.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[mrsnancywheeler]

OKAY SO-

You said onetime that Finnick and sweet girl have major hadestown vibes and that’s so real!!! (That literature paper I wrote that was around 4,000 was actually about hadestown! I was writing about the contemporary political themes and love)

The sudden way Finnick went to talk to her for the first time reminds me so much of “come home with me” and overall their love story reminds me of “all I’ve ever known” because of just how much they’re like “the world is shit but when I’m with you everything is okay” yk? And Finnick is so Orpheus, willing to risk everything for Eurydice.

ALSO!!! Sweet girl reminds me of “flowers” specifically after the capitol took her after the quarter quell. I mean the whole song takes place when Eurydice can’t remember Orpheus but all she can’t remember is the feeling of safety, the feeling of belonging,

I could talk about hadestown all day (my original draft was 5,000 words) , and I could talk about the lakes all day

-🌾anon

YES YES YES I've be wanting to fully explore this so buckle up guys this is a long ride, ily so much pookie bc I've missed your thoughts while I've been sick 😭

(also that as an essay topic is so real and I bet it was absolutely amazing)

starting off with all I've ever known because it is so absolutely them in every sense of the song

"this is how it's always been, all I've ever known is how to hold my own, but now I want to hold you too." finnick only has people he perceives as fair weather friends or those who use him, but then there's her and suddenly he doesn't have to worry about that. and she's so used to masking, protecting herself but then there's him, all she longs for.

we know sweet girl is always cold and finnick is the warmth to contrast that, her sun to keep her from freezing "you take me in your arms, suddenly there's sunlight all around me, everything bright and warm and shining like it never did before and for a moment I forget just how dark and cold it gets."

"now I wanna hold you, hold you close, I don't wanna ever have to let you go. now I wanna hold you, hold you tight, I don't wanna go back to the lonely life." both of them longing for each other's touch, presence, the release found in being with one another

readers anxiety about not being worthy and deserving suffering is so, "I don't know how or why. who am I, that I should get to hold you?"

and finnick knowing she's the one before they've even really spoken, he just knows it's right is so, "it's like I'd known you all along, I knew you before we met and I don't even know you yet. all I know's you're someone I have always known."

and him and his sweet girl as the back in forth at the end, chef's kiss perfect

"say that you'll hold me forever. say that the wind won't change on us. say that we'll stay with each other and it will always be like this." with her never ending anxieties

"I'm gonna hold you forever, the wind will never change on us. long as we stay with each other, then it will always be like this." as finnick trying to reassure his sweet girl.

side bar to a line in hey, little songbird that always makes me think of her when she's trying to differentiate reality from lies in the Capitol

"suddenly nothing is as it was. where are you now, orpheus? wasn't it gonna be the two of us, weren't we birds of a feather?"

moving onto flowers which is so her

"dreams are sweet until they're not. men are kind, until they aren't. flowers bloom until they rot and fall apart." the dream of being with finnick getting her through the games versus the reality of winning and what that took. the trafficking faced in the capitol AND when conway turned on her, playing into the romantic facade in the end. her when she was young, become a husk of that.

and then the feeling when she's in the Capitol and can't verbalize how she's feeling, she just needs people to know because it's all too much. she doesn't want to be unreadable, she longs to be herself again but isn't quite there yet.

"is anybody listening? I open my mouth and nothing comes out. nothing. nothing gonna wake me now."

then out of all the negative, twisted memories, the positive anecdotes she does have. and the way she's so scared but still longs for finnick regardless.

"flowers, I remember fields of flowers, soft beneath my heels. walking in the sun, I remember someone, someone by my side turned his face to mine."

"you, the one I left behind. if you ever walk this way, come and find me lying in the bed I made."

AND FINNICK IS JUST SO WAIT FOR ME CODED

"wait for me, I'm coming. wait, I'm coming with you. wait for me, I'm coming too." like he so desperately wanted to instantly go back to the capitol and save her or just be with her that he was stuck in a constant state of sedation when they refused to let him.

"that town'll try to suck you dry. they'll suck your brain, they'll suck your breath, they'll pluck your heart right out of your chest." the lengths he's willing to go, the trials he'll endure for her

a small time to flash back to wedding song because on a fluffier note it's so a back and forth between them

sweet girl is so "lover, tell me if you can, who's gonna buy the wedding bands? times being what they are, hard and getting harder all the time."

and the ever reassuring finnick "lover, when I sing my song, all the rivers will sing along. and they're gonna break their banks for us and with their gold be generous. all a-flashing in the pan, all to fashion for your hand, the rivers gonna give us the wedding bands."

okay and the way reader views herself and what Snow manipulation to hijack her, and how they always mention fate is tearing them apart is very akin to when the chips are down.

"help yourself, to hell with the rest, even the one who loves you best."

"what you gonna do when the chips are down? now that the chips are down. " " oh, my aching heart."

"ain't nobody but yourself to trust"

"aim for the heart, shoot to kill. if you don't do it then the other one will."

"cast your eyes to heaven, you get a knife in the back. nobody's righteous, nobody's proud, nobody's innocent, now that the chips are down"

AND PROMISES like finnick trying to work them back though what the Capitol did to her and she's so desperate to be herself again even if she's struggling. and he's trying but he uncertain on how to do it especially since this isn't the future he necessarily envisioned for them.

(in a sweet girl then finnick line set up)

"let's go, let's go right now"

"okay, let's go. how?"

"we'll walk, you know the way. we'll just come back the way you came."

"it's a long road, it's a long walk. back into the cold and dark. are you sure you wanna go?"

"take me home."

"I have no ring for your finger, I have no banquet table to lay, I have no bed of feathers, whatever promises I made. I can't promise you fair sky above, I can't promise you kind road below, but I'll walk beside you love. anyway the wind blows."

"I don't need gold or silver. just bread when I'm hungry, fire when I'm cold. don't need a ring for my finger, just a steady hand to hold...just walk beside me love, anyway the wind blows"

and both of them "do you let me walk with you? I do. I do. and keep on walking come what will? I will. I will. we will."

this is all for now because it's so long but they're literally them and I'm convinced this is just one of the lessons they've learned in a past life when he turned around. so now he's learning to trust in this life.

and as evident so can I lmao 😭 I'm glad we're on the same page though. love you 💋