#positive indirect progressive

[kleopatra45]

Mars in the Signs

Mars is named after the Roman god of war, reflecting its association with aggression, drive, and conflict.In astrology, Mars governs energy, action, and desire, influencing how we pursue our goals and assert ourselves.

Mars in Aries

Traits: Assertive, energetic, courageous, and pioneering.

Behavior: Quick to act and react, often impulsive. Highly competitive and enjoys challenges.

Strengths: Leadership, enthusiasm, and initiative.

Challenges: Impatience, aggressiveness, and a tendency to be confrontational.

Mars in Taurus

Traits: Determined, patient, reliable, and sensual.

Behavior: Steady and persistent, prefers to take time with decisions. Strong focus on material and physical pleasures.

Strengths: Endurance, loyalty, and a practical approach to goals.

Challenges: Stubbornness, resistance to change, and a tendency to be possessive.

Mars in Gemini

Traits: Versatile, curious, communicative, and adaptable.

Behavior: Quick-witted and enjoys mental challenges. Can multitask effectively but may lack follow-through.

Strengths: Intellectual agility, flexibility, and strong communication skills.

Challenges: Inconsistency, restlessness, and a tendency to scatter energy.

Mars in Cancer

Traits: Protective, intuitive, emotional, and nurturing.

Behavior: Actions are often driven by emotions and a desire to protect loved ones. Can be defensive and cautious.

Strengths: Tenacity, empathy, and a strong connection to home and family.

Challenges: Moodiness, passive-aggressiveness, and difficulty letting go of the past.

Mars in Leo

Traits: Confident, creative, dramatic, and charismatic.

Behavior: Seeks attention and recognition. Acts with a sense of pride and enjoys being in the spotlight.

Strengths: Leadership, generosity, and a strong sense of identity.

Challenges: Arrogance, a need for validation, and a tendency to dominate.

Mars in Virgo

Traits: Analytical, meticulous, practical, and health-conscious.

Behavior: Focuses on details and efficiency. Prefers organized and systematic approaches.

Strengths: Precision, reliability, and a strong work ethic.

Challenges: Perfectionism, overcritical nature, and a tendency to worry.

Mars in Libra

Traits: Diplomatic, charming, fair-minded, and cooperative.

Behavior: Strives for balance and harmony. Prefers to avoid conflict and works well in partnerships.

Strengths: Social grace, fairness, and a strong sense of justice.

Challenges: Indecisiveness, avoidance of confrontation, and a tendency to be overly accommodating.

Mars in Scorpio

Traits: Intense, passionate, resourceful, and secretive.

Behavior: Driven by deep emotions and desires. Highly focused and determined.

Strengths: Resilience, strategic thinking, and a powerful presence.

Challenges: Jealousy, possessiveness, and a tendency towards manipulation.

Mars in Sagittarius

Traits: Adventurous, optimistic, philosophical, and freedom-loving.

Behavior: Enjoys exploring new ideas and places. Acts with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure.

Strengths: Visionary thinking, a positive outlook, and a love for freedom.

Challenges: Impulsiveness, over-optimism, and a tendency to take risks.

Mars in Capricorn

Traits: Ambitious, disciplined, practical, and responsible.

Behavior: Methodical and goal-oriented. Focuses on long-term success and stability.

Strengths: Determination, organizational skills, and a strong sense of duty.

Challenges: Workaholism, rigidity, and a tendency to be overly serious.

Mars in Aquarius

Traits: Independent, innovative, humanitarian, and unconventional.

Behavior: Acts with originality and a desire for social change. Values freedom and individuality.

Strengths: Inventiveness, progressive thinking, and a strong sense of community.

Challenges: Detachment, unpredictability, and a tendency to be rebellious.

Mars in Pisces

Traits: Compassionate, imaginative, intuitive, and sensitive.

Behavior: Acts based on intuition and empathy. May prefer indirect approaches to achieve goals.

Strengths: Creativity, adaptability, and a strong connection to the subconscious.

Challenges: Escapism, lack of direction, and a tendency to be overly idealistic.

©️kleopatra45

[three--rings]

Yeah fuckit I'm already getting death threats.

So the fact that for some reason OFMD fandom has decided that the idea that Izzy Hands is an unpleasant, rage-filled, deeply fucked up little man with internalized homophobia who did sorta fuck around and find out AND the idea that Edward Teach, the dread pirate Blackbeard has a dark side and some unfortunate violent habits cannot possibly be things that coexist.

And if you believe this, you are racist for thinking the pirate Blackbeard is capable of violence. Because actually, everything he ever did as Blackbeard, his entire persona, his success, actually that was all the doing of a white man and the indigenous man doesn't have any agency. This is the correct progressive position to take.

I honestly feel like I'm going mad sometimes reading these takes. If you think possibly Edward, the Kraken, the man who on-screen attempted murder of one of the main characters (multiple times, actually), who on-screen mutilated his longtime associate and forced him to self-cannibalize, who we have been told over and over committed acts of violence, maiming, and indirect murder...if you think this character has more darkness than the average teddy bear in him, it's racist character assassination and you're a sick Izzy stan prepare to receive our death threats.

You are all poisoned by discourse. You have outlined two extreme positions on this topic and barricaded them and laid mines between the two to explode anyone who dares to venture into the no man's land of nuanced character interpretation.

I love Edward Teach. He was My Blorbo from the moment he appeared on-screen and I identify with him and his self-protection mechanisms very strongly. And seeing large portions of the fandom insist on only a pure and sanitised version of his character absolutely SENDS ME BONKERS.

I don't write this as an Izzy stan. I think he's a fascinating character, but mostly I don't give a shit about him. I say this as an ED stan, who is tired of bland fandom versions of one of the greatest characters of the last decade.

[voraciouskingdom]

The Snake

Primary Symbolism:

Transformation: The Snake symbolizes powerful changes and the process of shedding what no longer serves you to make room for renewal and growth. Shedding Old Skin: This image represents the essential release of outdated habits, beliefs, or circumstances that hinder progress.

Imagery: Illustrations often feature a snake, highlighting its ability to shed its skin and transform, emphasizing themes of renewal and reinvention. Additional elements, such as a winding path, may show the intricate journey of transformation, underlining the idea of indirect paths to personal growth.

Astrological Association: The Snake links with transformative planets like Pluto, symbolizing deep change, regeneration, and the uncovering of hidden depths.

Mythological Reference: Resonate with mythological figures like Medusa, whose story involves transformation and the power of change, illustrating the dual nature of danger and renewal.

Interpretation in Reading:

Positive Aspects: Illustrates the opportunity for profound transformation and personal growth. Encourages embracing change and letting go of the past to allow for new beginnings. Actionable Advice: Identify areas in your life that require transformation. Take active steps to shed old habits or situations that no longer align with your goals.

Manifestation Focus: Utilize this card's energy to focus on what you wish to transform in your life. Set intentions for growth and rebirth, and trust in the process of renewal. Potential Challenges: Be wary of deceit or hidden complexities that may accompany change. Stay clear and focused on your goals to navigate potential pitfalls.

Geomantic Correspondence: Corresponds to a figure like “Cauda Draconis,” representing the end of one cycle and the beginning of another, emphasizing endings as a gateway to new growth.

Playing Card Association: Often associated with the Queen of Clubs in cartomancy, suggesting a clever, intuitive approach to navigating transformations and overcoming challenges. In readings, the Snake invites an active embrace of change and transformation. It encourages examining and releasing what is outdated, harnessing its energy to manifest new realities and personal evolution.

🔥❤️‍🔥

[fostercare-expat]

In my never ending search for the best boundaries to maintain my sanity, I think I need to really hold myself accountable for less emotional involvement in this case. I promised myself only indirect communication either Mom and that’s been working well. But I’m hearing about the details of her stupid decisions through the social worker. I’m also getting massively frustrated with the slow pace of getting a new placement for Older Brother. Partially that was because I mentally wanted to keep him out of the temporary placement so I was pushing and pushing for the progress towards the permanent placement. But now I have decided to just name a deadline, which based on the current timeline should allow him to enter permanent placement on 26 July like they are saying he can. If they mess it up, that’s not my fault. I need to stop pushing.

I’m going to meet the social worker tonight, get a dump of information on the case and then ask her to turn off the information switch. Ask her not to contact me unless she needs something or unless she had a confirmed date that Older Brother is moving to temporary or permanent. And we can try to maintain as little info flow as possible. I need her to help me manage my unhealthy addiction to the drama. I think I’m stuck with the cycle of the adrenaline rush of being angry, which sends me into a rant-to-everyone stage, and then the exhaustion stage and then I get riled up again.

Maybe I need to even ask the social worker to not give me an update about the case tonight. Maybe we just focus on the many outstanding issues about the kids services. But like any true addict, I’m like “Give me one more hit and then I’ll quit.” So I’m going to continue with foster care as my drug of choice today and then I’m going to do a 3 month foster care rehab starting tomorrow morning (I swear). I will only the bare minimum interaction with the social worker. No pushing for the stipend (but I will take a meeting if they finally arrange one). I will withdraw my request to meet Mom and the social worker together to better understand what Mom wants from the future. (I need to live in the present for now.) I will only supervise calls between the kids and mom and basic logistics, no more supervising visits with Mom. No involvement in Older Brother’s case at all, will let the other foster mom handle that.

I will continue to focus on being the best foster parent to Younger Brother that I can. I will continue to advocate for services for him as needed. I will continue to fill him with love and joy and care. I will continue to say positive things about his mom to him. I will do my best to manage my own mental sanity and keep my performance at work at an adequate level so hopefully he can live with me for as long as needed. And if I have the mental energy, I will also do a few overnights or activities with his siblings so I can keep a connection with all the kids and help support their bonds.

I don’t think this is the best situation for the 4 kids and I’m guessing it will delay the timeline of the hopeful reunification because I won’t be pushing for it. But I think I need to try this path for 3 months and see if that helps. Because if I continue as is, I know I will burn out and end up needing to disrupt Younger Brother’s placement. And I think that will be worse for everyone. So let’s at least give the contribution I am capable of giving instead of ending up giving nothing.

[get-your-fuckin-star-bitch]

Wait what if Michael meets Jude Perry instead of Jon

Yes, yes I know, “oh no but then Jon won’t get marked by the desolation! It’ll wreck the story!” Hear me out.

They fuckin hated Gertrude’s guts cause she screwed stuff up for them.

Jude knows Michael’s the archivist, though the vibe doesn’t come through immediately, cause… well, spiral.

Michael also knows she’s important, but I think while Jon gets information in the form of words, Michael’s knowledge-grab stuff actually is more visual/vibe-based, cause that’s what his brain works best with. Processing words is annoying.

So instead of the information dropping into his head as “Jude Perry- member of the cult of the lightless flame” like a computer spitting words out of a search engine, his eyes “focus” again and he sees the symbol of the lightless flame cult somewhere on her, and remembers a bunch of random images he’d felt from statements she was involved in in some way.

The mental image folder goes away, and the lady sits down.

Introduces herself, though she doesn’t need to, and holds out hand for handshake.

But Michael isn’t comfortable with handshakes. (This is in italics simply cause I realized how amazingly perfect this is, and it didn’t even click until just now- I love it when this happens :D)

She assumes it’s cause flame cult but he’s like “no no I just don’t…” *Buffering, trying to figure out how to explain indirectly* “hands. They don’t feel good.”

She bursts out laughing.

The conversation goes well enough. She notices he’s not being too prying about his questions, I think, and he warms up a little bit to her, (pun unintentional but still totally there and perfect).

I feel like Jon’s method of asking just has the vibes of ‘Tell me or I’ll rip it out of you’, (cause he WILL), while Michael’s is… well, more indirect, and what basically ends up happening is that the person doesn’t even know what he did until the conversation’s over. Like casting “friends” on a person and then asking a bunch of questions, or something.

So Michael’s just got a better charisma buff than Jon, basically. /j

Anyway, they actually have a proper conversation about stuff, and Michael tries his best to explain a bit about how he got hurt by Gertrude. (Not all of it. He’s not sure he should, just yet.)

Jude’s internally like “oh fuck yes, vengeful ex-assistant who’s literally in the most important position at the institute, came to me for shit, this is Christmas!”

And then he remembers something.

And… nervously — mentioning she doesn’t have to talk about it if she doesn’t want to — asks her if they… killed Emma Harvey.

“Nope- … we did kill her assistant… that one little candle that Harvey went and burned out too fast… don’t remember her name, though, but I sure do remember her face!” *cackling*

He starts nervously unraveling the napkin.

Jude asks him what’s wrong.

Honestly… he doesn’t know. She’s been giving him answers, sort of, and she doesn’t seem totally evil, but.

“Can you ever… not hurt a person?”

“Only if you want that fire to burn out.”

And proceeds to explain herself similarly-ish to how she did in the original episode.

As the story progresses, Michael can feel his nails getting sharper, and the ends of his hair becoming more tangled and spiraling outwards just a little. He… understands the feelings she’s describing, and it’s…

They’re… not the answers he’d wanted.

But they were the answers that he’d been expecting, on some level.

She seems to kind of snap out of her zone once the story ends, and notices his hands, and the other bits of him that have bent and twisted a little.

She looks… a little bemused, but in an almost curious way.

“So you’re working with two now, archivist?”

He asks what he means, and she laughs, joking about him not knowing the basics, at which he gets really frustrated, and says something along the lines of “well, I’ve got someone to blame for that, haven’t I.”

She grins and says she likes his spirit (or something) and tells him he might want to use a flamethrower the next time he wants to go on a rampage. (Possibly a suggestion like “hey you should totally join our desolation cult, you’d be great” I think?)

(Unknown to either of them, Michael’s appearance got noticed by someone.)

Michael’s already been touched by the Vast, so it’s Jon’s turn in the falling chair. Maybe Michael manages to get a message to him through the mirrors? Not sure.

Also Jude goes up and is like “by the way.” And puts a hand on his shoulder, initially like a friendly pat, but it quickly starts to burn. “That’s for tricking me into spilling things.”

…Ow.

Though tbh it could have been worse- if she’d really been angry or hated him, she might’ve planted her hand(s) on his face or something. Shoulder’s not as painful. Nice one, Michael! /pos

[humanitys-last-call]

Rules + Things To Note

(copy pasted from the accompanying page I WISH U COULD EASILY ACCESS BLOG PAGES ON THE APP BUT NOOOO!! the plot and tartar’s bio are also available as their own pages but I considered this more important to paste LOL)

•Kindly keep in mind that this blog is only set two years after Octo Expansion! Splatoon 3’s events have NOT happened yet! So try to refrain from asking questions that are too closely tied to the happenings within that game!

•Do NOT expect a friendly response, ever. Tartar is a condescending, arrogant, and self-righteous individual. Expect backhanded comments and indirect insults. Maybe the occasional dry humor.

•Suggestive content is quite alright, but outright NSFW is strictly prohibited. Do be warned though that just because suggestive questions ARE allowed, it doesn’t mean Tartar will always respond positively to them.

•Direct OC interactions are not allowed at this time, since communication with Tartar is only available via one-way radio broadcast and mail. Photo submissions of OCs are accepted, though! They will just be treated as photographs physically attached to asks. You can also try mailing him things, but he might not always see it!

•Since communication is limited for now, when sending an ask, please behave as thought you cannot see him or his surroundings. Communication will open up further as the blog progresses.

•I will not respond to every question. That’d simply be ridiculous. I’d like to at least attach a doodle to every question, so I don’t want to wring myself dry!!!

•Don’t be a meanie buttface to me or Tartar. It will hunt you down at its earliest convenience sorryyyy 👍

⚠️(If you have read the rules and accepted them, please tag the end of your ask with a “🐙”, otherwise I will NOT respond to it.)⚠️

[flora-tea]

Update [8/18/2024] Decided to update this again after a year! And still so incredibly pleasantly surprised by all the positive attention it’s gotten! Thank you all again so much!! <3

💚:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:💚

Some rambling on my aro awakening journey!

I was inspired by a poll on aro peoples' feelings on romance. This is, in a way, my long-winded indirect way of answering the poll. I apologize for the length but I hope some can possibly relate to my experience!

My being aromantic is a relatively recent realization. I’ve also found I experience feeling romance-indifferent, romance-averse, and romance-repulsed. I'm averse/repulsed in relation to myself and indifferent-to-repulsed in relation to others & fiction; it can be random or situational.

I appreciate affection & intimacy in general, including things like mutual lighthearted flirting, cuddling, lingering touches, kisses, holding hands, etc… However, if a romantic relationship or romantic attraction is the context behind such things, I may feel apathy or uncomfortable, or mixed. The discomfort is consistent when it comes to myself, but in relation to others & fiction these feelings and their levels may vary by the day or context?

Side notes: * Often, I've found my aversion/repulsion feelings are less likely to be triggered by romance if it's gay & especially if it's actively non-monogamous? So that's interesting! <3 * No gesture/act is inherently romantic. Nothing is inherently romantic; it all depends on the context and intentions of those involved. A friendship for instance can involve any act of affection or intimacy and still be platonic if those in the friendship deem it so. The intentions and communication between the people involved is the only thing that determines what things mean. This was something I learned on my journey that is very significant to me and is important to acknowledge overall! <3

💚:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:💚

For a long time, I've often felt either apathetic or weirdly uncomfy hearing folks talk about their romantic relationships, whether irl or about fictional characters. This was and still is especially felt if the people or characters are romantically engaged/married, as my mind has an especially uncomfortable relationship with marriage. I have very strong marriage repulsion.

I couldn’t define my unpleasant feelings about these things for the longest time. For so long, I wondered if it was jealousy. Yet, through all my experiences with such relationships, I found things felt pretty good and right until romantically dating/a romantic relationship was actually being established or in the conversation; I’d feel progressively detached and anxious. Still, I clinged and pushed. I wanted to be desired affectionately. I chased what I was convinced was a love and yearning for romance. But deep down, I longed for days of being close and affectionate with platonic context.

I’d think: “Maybe we moved into this too fast…”, even if years passed and things were going well. I wondered if something was wrong with me or if I "just had commitment issues".

💚:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:💚

A weird thing is (not weird in general; peoples’ feelings can be fluid/change over time!), I thought I loved romance for so long. I felt I loved the idea of romance for myself and in fiction. I even had favorite ships growing up and was a big shipper in general. Even so, looking back, the vibe I imagined was always primarily 'affectionate besties' and I often imagined the characters describing themselves as best friends and emphasis being put on their friendship, even while imagining them sharing gestures typically perceived as romantic by society. But I’d always feel progressively apathetic or averse after/if a romantic ship became canon. And when reading romantic fics (always slow-burns), I’d love it up to the point their relationship became an explicitly-stated romantic relationship; then I’d often start to feel detached. I never understood why. I was so confused at myself. It was always so strange to me how my feelings changed.

*Additionally, when it comes to fiction/media…

Characters touching foreheads, holding hands, hugging, or dancing together always made me feel so much more joyous excitement compared to (romantic) kissing scenes

I always felt notably happy and comfy if characters continued referring to each other as friends after kissing or cuddling or anything else intimate/affectionate 

I liked when characters had what people call "romantic tension" or moments but the relationship remained considered platonic or ambiguous.

The only times I've felt no discomfort in relation to the concept of marriage were if it was a mutual 'pretend marriage' trope or done for any mutually non-traditional reasons, esp if the concept was treated lightheartedly.

I often thought or felt the least about song lyrics with 'love songs', or I'd imagine the lyrics to be about best friends. (lately, I've found queerplatonic-ing/platonic-ing love songs in my head to be very comforting)

💚:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:💚

I had such strong epiphanies when I was inspired to read more about the aromantic spectrum and discovered the existence of relationship anarchy and queerplatonic relationships and tertiary attractions, and after I finally became aware of the Amatonormativity that was drilled into my mind since childhood.

I realized how amatonormative phrases like “just friends” and “more than friends” and “finding ‘the one’ someday” and so much about our language and common conversations about relationships chained relationships to a hierarchy with monogamous romance on a pedestal & continuously shoved into my brain this idea that romance was ‘the ultimate relationship’, that it was ‘the strongest/closest relationship a person could have’, that a relationship needed to be a romantic relationship for there to be intimacy and affection, that certain affectionate acts were inherently romantic, that ‘being in love’ could only happen with romantic attraction, that a romantic relationship was ‘the goal’, that having (a) partner(s) was only possible with a romantic relationship, that romance was 'the ultimate devotion'.

The amatonormativity constantly shoved onto us by society skewed my views on intimacy and relationships (and myself) for so long. To acknowledge that and contemplate on my realizations, to unlearn amatonormativity, to redefine how I thought about relationships and intimacy, and to learn about the vast diversity of feelings and relationships and possibilities that exist...it was amazing. It was liberating.

I also had a realization that brought me so much clarity: All this time, it wasn’t really romance I wanted, it wasn’t romance I loved or longed for. It was affection. It was intimacy. It was trust. It was these things, and with no romantic label chained to them.

Then, I realized I was free.

And it was so clear to me now.

What I've wanted all along is friendship. Loving, intimate, valued, lifelong friendship. 💚:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:💚

Last side notes: * My type of relationship & living situation daydream is having a home with a garden and small group of polyaffectionate friends af;sgds *dreamy sigh* Oh to live the poly queerplatonic cottagecore life...🥺 * I feel most comfy with the idea affection/intimacy in ’tertiary attraction’ contexts like platonic, queerplatonic, alterous, and nebulous/ambiguous. This has even lead to me making all my ocs the same way :3 (they've all been hit with the aro beam btw xD) With reality and fiction, the thought of intimately affectionate besties who'd confuse the heck out of much of our society brings me joy. I'd love to see more of that in the world 💚

[ae-azile]

I really love Progression fic so much. It is such great deep thoughtful story. And it deals with very heavy stuff and I really love that story so much. But I have to say that omg, Porsche and his obsession with KimChay is so funny. I mean, if it would be different story (not the serious fic you write) it almost looks like Porsche would propose to Kim himself and keep him for himself:DD. I almost wonder that Kinn and Chay are not more alert about Porsche's apparent crush on Kim. I mean, it would be so funny and Porsche is totally capable of unhinged decisions (if nobody will take Kim and Kinn won't propose, that Porsche is going to elope with Kim). I would be really worried if I were Kinn and/or Chay:DDD

Lolol, I am glad you enjoy Porsche in the story! 😃 He and his drive to have Kim be Chay's one true love is very fun to write. I don't know if has a full fledged crush on Kim, but he can definitely see and appreciate the appeal (beautiful, talented, gets stubborn younger brothers to reapply for college and works with them on communicating with a nonverbal Namphueng? He's IMPRESSED). I do think it is more of an indirect crush when it comes down to it. He has been so concerned about Chay. He has barely recognized his brother in two years and they drifted apart during that time despite Porsche trying to make that not happen. While it isn't covered extensively and is more hinted at/referenced to, the ordeal really affected Porsche's mental health, especially on top of everything else. I think Kinn did as much has he could to comfort and reassure Porsche, but was also very concerned about Kim, who was showing signs of a downward spiral. Porsche did not really have anyone else to lean on, except for maybe Khun, Arm, and Pol on occasion. Probably Pete too, since Porsche does visit him.

So having his brother come back around and be much more open after Kim's return was a huge relief for Porsche. I think he puts Kim on a pedestal at this point since he was convinced that he had lost one of the closest people in his life (emotionally). Even now, thinking back on Chay's distance and what he might have been doing really upsets Porsche. That man has gone through a lot. So he really loves and appreciates Kim for bringing Chay back to him and getting him on a better track. I also think he is hyperfixated on this relationship because he fears Chay pulling away again if Kim leaves and that friendship/connection/love between Chay and Kim fades. He also tends to use it as a distraction from more complex emotions, such as how he feels about his mother asking to go out for breakfast and receiving pictures. Basically, his brother's and Kim's happiness and ensuring it has become a method of escapism. While Khun's interest is somewhat fixated on his own brother's happiness, he doesn't obsess over it to the level Porsche does, and Khun is a person known for hyperfixating.

So all in all, yes! Porsche definitely has a crush on Kim, but it's more about what he represents. It also centers on how Kim's relationship with Chay has given Porsche something positive to focus on, rather than the heavy trauma he keeps putting off sorting through. I don't know if Chay or Kinn will necessarily connect or understand this particular link, but I will promise that both of them realize that Porsche needs love, support, and encouragement to process those heavy emotions he keeps pushing away. ♥️

[thekimspoblog]

Women's rights are more important than democracy.

If I am locked in a room with 99 guys. And we take a vote on whether it would be ok to rape me. It wouldn't matter if there was a 99% majority consensus. All that would mean is that I would need to kill 99 men so that the consensus matches what's in my best interest.

Thankfully, it hasn't come to that: abortion rights are what the majority of Americans want, and supporting a democracy furthers the pro-choice agenda. But just keep this thought experiment in mind, because it's not just about abortion.

Democracy is not some sacred cow, not something you can simply stamp as "the best system of governance" and end the lesson there. Democracy is - at the end of the day - a dilution mechanism. A system of checks and balances is a somewhat effective means to slow a tyrant's ability to do whatever tyrannical things they wished to do. But there is a flipside to that; maybe if an intelligent and idealistic older woman was plucked from the very bottom of the card deck and given absolute power to rule as she saw fit, she would quickly resolve a lot of the crises currently threatening our world. Because she would have empathy and first-hand experience that a lot of the incumbent powers don't. After all, it is not actually absolute power which corrupts, but the pursuit of power. Power corrupts, because no matter the good intentions a politician may have when entering a democratic system, the plutocrats who have already staked their claim are extremely savvy about playing the shell-game with her causes; they know they can force the idealist to compromise her values on one progressive issue, in order to get their permission to advance another aspect of the progressive agenda. So by the time the politician reaches any noteworthy rank in office, she has been so turned around that she has forgotten her original purpose.

What's more, no matter how liberal a democracy, there's one thing you must remember: dead men cast no votes! A system which hears everyone's voice is still only able to respond to those still alive enough to voice their concerns. The plutocrats understand this and have integrated it into the shell game. So our democracy has never been an alternative to violence, because the system we have still rewards direct and indirect violence as a tactic to silence dissent and force a specific desired outcome. On some level, we all know this: it's common sense, and yet still we preach that democracy is some sort of alternative to anarchy and violence. It's not! The parameters of what sorts of questions are up for debate, and who gets to debate them, are still drawn in blood.

And so, my platform is simple: abortion is not up for vote. Abortion is not up for debate. Pro-choice is the only acceptable position for the world to hold, and anything that threatens that conclusion must be crushed with an iron fist. Free speech be damned, misogyny must be intimidated into submission, until our sons never even think to question whether a life-saving medical procedure should be banned. If promoting majority-rule is the fastest way to ensure this future, I will promote democracy. If installing a feminist authoritarian from a minority group in a life-long position of unilateral power starts to look like a faster or more certain way of creating that future, I will do that instead.

Women have the right to defend themselves against exploitation; nothing we do, no matter how violent or short-sighted, will leave us as the villains of history when we have been backed into a corner like this.

[aurevoirmonty]

Autres mots-fétiches du même genre, possédant un pouvoir caché d'infection tout aussi fort : « socialisme », « travail », « classe ouvrière », « socialité », « justice sociale », « sens de l'histoire » et, à l'opposé, « réaction », « obscurantisme », « immobilisme », etc. On ne se rend pas compte à un moment donné qu'on n'a plus le courage de prendre position contre ces formules ; il semble devenu naturel d'en faire un usage qui, en dépit de toutes les réserves mentales que peut se proposer d'avoir celui qui n'appartient pas précisément au front de la subversion mondiale, en conserve la « direction d'efficacité » essentielle, direction qui est celle fixée par les idéologies auxquelles ces mots d'ordre appartiennent en propre et d'où ils tirent leur origine et leur contenu. Il suffit d'être un peu attentif à ce qui se dit et s'écrit aujourd'hui dans certains milieux qui ne se déclarent pas du tout de gauche, qui voudraient faire de l'« opposition », pour se rendre compte combien ils se prêtent à ce jeu insidieux et acceptent la capitulation progressive et indirecte qui en est la conséquence.

Julius Evola, L'Arc et la Massue

[elsa16744]

The Business Case for Sustainability: Balancing Profitability and Environmental Responsibility 

Investors have embraced responsible portfolio management strategies to encourage sustainable enterprises and support socio-economic development. Meanwhile, customers refuse to buy from a brand that fails to curb labor malpractices, pollution, waste generation, and petroleum consumption. This post will describe the business case for sustainability to increase awareness about these trends. 

What is Sustainable Business Development? 

A company engages in sustainable business development when it revises its operations, product design, and resource allocation to contribute to social and environmental problem resolution. It is not about pretending to be eco-friendly or slowing industrial progress. Instead, sustainability for business ensures companies can thrive without harming social harmony and Earth’s resources. 

Today, business leaders leverage sustainability consulting services to navigate modern regulations demanding more responsible corporate approaches. Besides, several pressing matters range from safekeeping consumer data to making workplaces more inclusive. 

At the same time, multiple compliance guidelines have overwhelmed managers. So, it is imperative to embrace a tech-led strategy. It will help increase your firm’s compliance across all the major frameworks, like the ones described below. 

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, 

Task force on climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD), 

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), 

And the EU taxonomy. 

How Can a Business Balance Profitability, Ethics, and Sustainability? 

The older the organization, the more challenges you must overcome to go green. An excellent method is multistakeholder brainstorming. Let customers, suppliers, employees, business associates, and investors chime in and provide improvement ideas. 

Another indirect approach involves extensive data gathering, insight extraction, and reporting. Using automated computing systems, companies can monitor the policy dynamics in the target markets and improve specific operations in realistic stages. 

They do not need to transform all practices and risk productivity loss. Since they will utilize data from authoritative sources, their decisions will also have a sound foundation. Available technologies can involve ESG data solutions tailored for private companies, financial materiality estimates, controversy analytics, and risk forecasting tools. 

Finally, leaders, board directors, and the rest must periodically evaluate their business sustainability initiatives. If they notice some strategies becoming obsolete, they must devise appropriate action plans to rectify such issues. 

Advantages of Business Sustainability 

1| Efficient Resource Consumption 

Pollution and carbon risk mitigation require brands to replace conventional energy systems with greener alternatives. This renewable energy transition allows companies to rationalize how they allocate resources to operations. Moreover, they can reduce dependence on public infrastructure for power and water using modern technologies. 

Treating and reusing water might not be suitable for all enterprises. However, the scope of these practices encompasses offices, factories, and post-sales product maintenance. In other words, you want to consider the entire product lifecycle to increase your ESG ratings and positive impact potential. 

Integrating green technology to fulfill the efficient resource consumption requirements makes you more competitive and attracts more investors. Therefore, business profitability increases thanks to sustainability accounting compliance. 

2| Resilient Supply Chains 

Socio-economic and ecological threats limit your enterprise’s growth potential. They endanger the well-being of consumers and supply partners. Consider how environmental problems, political chaos, or social issues hinder free transportation, making timely product delivery more arduous. 

However, brands can voluntarily work toward building a peaceful, green, tolerant, and resilient community. They must collaborate with employees, educators, policymakers, and local stakeholders. After all, most corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at literacy increase, women empowerment, and cyber safety awareness create opportunities to create a more stable world. 

Aside from social disharmony threats, your supply chain is often vulnerable to fraud, region-specific quality norm inconsistencies, and controversies. You cannot eliminate these risks, but you can reduce the harm they might cause using predictive analysis and contingency plans. Many sustainability frameworks address these aspects in their reporting guidelines. 

3| Long-Term Stakeholder Relationships 

Responsible consumption and a solid supply chain increase an organization’s reputation. Socially conscious customers prefer companies that realize the cost of human-caused industrial activities. Therefore, they want leaders to embrace business sustainability, transparent communication, and ethical human resource practices. 

Simultaneously, social networking sites (SNS) have empowered individuals to voice their disappointment with brands that fail to improve compliance. So, customers will likely stop purchasing from you if you lag behind competitors in sustainable business development. 

Conversely, corporations with adequate CSR programs get loyal customers, free press, positive value association, and investor goodwill. They become leaders in establishing new industry norms while others struggle to understand sustainability accounting principles. 

Precaution: Greenwashing is Not a Business Case for Sustainability 

Consider the following: 

What can anyone do if companies manipulate their financial and carbon disclosures? 

Will investors, regulators, and customers trust other brands who also report on sustainability or ESG performance metrics? 

What types of green claims can an organization include in its marketing campaigns? 

How do we verify that a brand’s reported CSR outcomes are genuine and tangible? 

Can ESG disclosures backfire and expose your company to controversies and misinformation attacks?  

These are legitimate fears expressed by many because of the greenwashing cases. The perpetrators use deceptive verbal and design tactics to boast about on-paper CSR achievements with no on-ground impact. Some claimed they use 100% renewable energy by cunningly omitting crucial reporting elements. Others had suppliers employing child labor in life-threatening working conditions. 

Greenwashing hurts stakeholder trust in ESG, TCFD, and GRI documentation. When one company receives greenwashing allegations, others in the same industry also attract criticism. Sooner or later, the media picks up the story, and the hard-earned brand reputation evaporates into infinity. 

Avoid greenwashing and disassociate with partners, municipalities, and suppliers doing it. 

Conclusion 

Leaders who recognize the significance of sustainable business development are visionaries. They know their business can thrive if the consumers, employees, investors, and regulators are happy with their work. So, the world has witnessed a rekindled interest in ethics-driven corporate attitudes and investment strategies. 

Reducing byproduct generation, enforcing anti-harassment policies, and adopting practical data governance standards make brands more sustainable. Their supply chain resilience increases while more stakeholders trust them. 

Nevertheless, greenwashing risks prevent organizations and investors from unlocking the full potential business sustainability use cases. Therefore, all the stakeholders must be honest with compliance reporting. It is okay if your ESG ratings are low because you can implement initiatives and work with experts to improve them. 

In the end, only transparency matters. Without it, sustainability reporting will become a worthless formality. However, with the proper oversight, the opposite will happen, and your organization will surpass all competitors while solving social and environmental problems.

[inside0ut-dotnet]

Fighting for equal LGBTQ+ rights has always been an uphill battle. The journey towards equality has been marked by challenges and setbacks, but the resilience of the community continues to push forward.

Why is the Fight for Equal LGBTQ+ Rights Important?

Equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community are essential for creating a more inclusive and accepting society. By advocating for equal rights, we are working towards a world where everyone can live authentically and without fear of discrimination.

How has the Media and Politics Impacted the Fight?

As of late, it seems like the media and politics are taking us in the wrong direction. Negative portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community in the media can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and fuel discrimination. Additionally, political decisions that undermine equal rights can have a detrimental impact on the progress that has been made.

The portrayal of LGBTQ+ individuals in the media has evolved over time, but it’s essential to recognize both the positive strides and the challenges that persist. Let’s explore some aspects of LGBTQ+ representation in film and television:

Positive Representation:

“Will & Grace”: This groundbreaking TV show, which aired from 1998 to 2006, featured openly gay characters and helped normalize their presence on television. Despite facing criticism for stereotypical portrayals, it contributed to LGBTQ+ visibility during a time when acceptance was limited.

“But I’m a Cheerleader”: Released in 1999, this comedy film follows a closeted lesbian cheerleader sent to a conversion camp. Although some parts haven’t aged well, it remains a popular queer film.

“Heartstopper”: Based on Alice Oseman’s webcomics and graphic novels, this Netflix series portrays LGBTQ+ characters navigating their teenage years. Its unique art style and authentic representation have garnered praise. “Bottoms”: A recent comedy film, “Bottoms,” features two lesbian best friends who create an all-female fight club to get closer to their crushes. It offers great LGBTQ+ representation and a fun watch.

Indirect Representation:

Not all LGBTQ+ representation needs to center entirely around characters’ sexualities. Shows like “Schitt’s Creek” feature characters like David Rose (played by Dan Levy), whose pansexuality is an important part of his character but not the sole focus of the show. Such nuanced portrayals contribute to authentic representation.

Negative Stereotypes:

Unfortunately, media representations of bisexual and transgender people often erase them or depict them as morally corrupt or mentally unstable. These stereotypes perpetuate harmful biases.

Examples include the portrayal of transgender sex workers as victims of violence, gay characters with AIDS, and LGBTQ+ high school students facing bullying.

Challenges and Nuances:

Authentic representation can be complex. Advertisers and marketers recognize that inauthentic portrayals may backfire, and it’s challenging to capture the diverse nuances of the LGBTQ+ community.

Political decisions that undermine equal rights can indeed hinder progress. Advocacy and education remain crucial to combat discrimination and promote acceptance.

While progress has been made, there’s still work to be done to ensure accurate and respectful representation of the LGBTQ+ community in media. Let’s continue supporting positive portrayals and challenging harmful stereotypes! 🌈📺🎥

What Can We Do to Support Equal LGBTQ+ Rights?

It is important for individuals to educate themselves on LGBTQ+ issues and advocate for equal rights in their communities. Supporting LGBTQ+ organizations, attending rallies and protests, and using your voice to speak out against discrimination are all ways to contribute to the fight for equality.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, the fight for equal LGBTQ+ rights continues. By coming together as a community and standing up for what is right, we can work towards a future where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

WWW.Inside0ut.net

[rametarin]

The ungratefulness of some people still bothers me.

So.. I've mentioned more than once that I have this funny tendency to come across people, that later become famous, before they become big. To what extent and specifics, I cannot elaborate on, but suffice to say, the coincidences are bizarre and improbable.

But, anyway. Throughout the decades I've just done shit like Phillip J. Fry and Forrest Gump and wound up influencing decisions of a few indie games, comic books, cartoons and at least one movie, just by meeting the right rando, I've had a few that just.. ah... were confusing.

There was at least one person that believed I was a complete moron. Just, the worst. They wore a nice mask, said they liked me well enough, but their opinion on my intelligence was not positive. They knew I wasn't stupid, but they just had this perception that I was some retarded and pathetic creature, inferior to them.

But, ironically, despite their supposed superiority, they still hung off my ass like a baby koala bear ready to eat whatever creative shit I just happened to give'em. Because apparently my shitposts and whimsical ideas create more bridges and foundational developments for their own work, faster than they can do it themselves.

So they were stuck in this position where they didn't want to pay me or acknowledge I was pretty much the backbone of their project, but also wanted to maximize exactly how much work I put into their project. So, they pretended to like me a bit more than they did.

And after they thought they had me locked in, made crass and demeaning jokes when they thought I wasn't looking to our mutuals- some of which agreed with this view that they were my intellectual superiors. Despite the fact their project only really got base load work and progress after I swung my big brain dick and dragged a groove into the bedrock for them to come after me.

Well, one day during help with their project, they had the audacity to call me a moron to my face. They'd made little indirect pussy quips about my intelligence and maturity before- enough where through remembering each little slight, it painted an unflattering picture of where they really thought we stood, in relation to eachother.

And needless to say, I wasn't enthused about someone losing face, calling me a fucking idiot, but still demanding I fork over work for their project- a project I was offering ideas and character concepts on, just because I liked it and wanted it to succeed.

So I went unannounced AFK for 2 hours, and then left. And haven't been back, since. And their project has gone nowhere for years.

There's a lesson in this story, if you care to read into it.

[languagefeatures]

Basics of Hupa Verb Structure

(Sources listed at the bottom)

Hupa is the sort of language where the sentence “He picked it back up” can be expressed in one verb. So using that as our example word, let me show you the basic way that verbs work in Hupa, and to a greater or lesser extent, Athabascan languages in general.

The root of a Hupa verb is always a single syllable and always comes after a series of obligatory prefixes. You can think of the verb root as being roughly equivalent to the actual verb in an English sentence. The roots of many of the most common verbs conjugate for tense by changing the vowel and the final consonant, much like English irregular verbs (think “see/saw”, “break/broke”, et cetera), although many do not have tense specific forms (like “put/put”).

Immediately before the root comes a prefix which Athabascan language specialists call the classifier prefix. This prefix is only a single consonant, and it tells you whether the verb is intransitive or transitive, and whether it is active or passive. Or at least, that is how it generally works; not all verbs fall into the class you would expect based on its activeness/passiveness and transitivity. The closest equivalent in English is that “he picked it back up” would take a Class 2 (active transitive) prefix /ɬ/ and “it was picked up” would take a Class 4 (passive transitive) prefix /l/. The root and the classifier prefix together form the stem.

Like the word “pick” in the English verb “pick up”, the root of a lot of verbs is not truly complete without an adverbial element (“up”) which completes the meaning. The stem and the adverbial element together is called the “base” of the verb. So in our English analogy, “pick” is the root, and “pick up” is the base. These adverbial elements tend to provide details about the direction of motion (such as “up”), position (“in”) or the manner effect on the object (Hupa has adverbial elements meaning “to pieces”), or the destination of some motion (one element means “into water”, another means “into the mouth”). Hupa verb roots tend to be quite vague in meaning when in comes to these qualities; a root that means “handle a round object” could appear in bases meaning “pick up”, “put down,” or “carry.” These adverbial elements are the first prefixes which appear on a Hupa verb when they are present; all other prefixes come between them and the stem.

The equivalent of “back”, implying that the motion is a return to a previous state, comes right after the first adverbial element.

Since the subject of the sentence “He picked it back up” is in third person, the subject is marked right after the two kinds of adverbial elements. There is no “he/she” distinction for the third person subject, although there is one prefix which can only be applied to human beings, and one which can be applied to humans and other things. The direct object prefix immediately follows this prefix.

In perfective tenses, the perfective prefixes (described in more detail here) come after the pronominal prefixes. They add a sense of beginning, ending, or progress to a perfective verb. Since picking something up begins a state of holding something, it is probably appropriate here. Immediately after these prefixes come the subject prefixes for the first or second person, when applicable. immediately after those comes the stem of the verb.

Thus, if English were an Athabascan language, you would put “He picked it back up” as “UP-BACK-HE-IT-[perfective]-[active transitive]-PICKED”. However, if I wanted to say “I picked it back up,” I would say “UP-BACK-IT-[perfective]-I-[active transitive]-PICKED.”

This is a simplified illustration of how it generally works. There are irregularities and wrinkles all over this system, and features that I did not mention. Verbs in other Athabascan languages, like Navajo, function in a similar way, although Navajo verbs often also incorporate indirect objects, adpositional objects, and other tense/aspect prefixes as well.

Often, researchers will treat an Athabascan verb as one with a series of “slots”, in other words, places relative to other prefixes where a prefix can go. Like this:

This is a useful way to visualize it, but it obscures the fact that often, the elements of a verb don’t really behave like a simple string of morphemes. Don’t be fooled. This is a natural language after all, not Ithkuil.

Sources:

Hupa Grammar – Victor Karl Golla, 1960

Hupa - Entry in the Handbook of American Indian Languages, Pliny Earle Goddard; 1911

[librarycards]

How to convey another’s speech act or thought process in such a way as to transmit not only its linguistic content but also its tone and affect, its emotional and stylistic attributes? Rather than producing an exact overlap with what is being reported (even if this were possible), the persona doing such reporting—often a narrator, a character, or the author—enters a delicate situation in which, to keep some distance from what is reported, she may need to assume an ironic, sarcastic, or analytical stance. In brief, she may need to introduce the artifact of a space—a curtain, a fold line, an editing cut—in order to demarcate her position from that of the reported speech or thought. Such competition with another (or another’s) speech act or thought process, competition that can have the effect of throwing that speech act’s or thought process’s stylistic characteristics (or what might be called its immanent logic) into sharp relief, amplifies nothing other than the stark copresence of multiple, discordant, or quarrelsome voices (and, we should add, listenings and receptions). For some, such vocal and tonal (and, we should add, aural and receptive) intermixing announces a progressively democratizing society, one that has become tolerant of disagreements and conflicting viewpoints. For more skeptical observers, this apparent intermixing of information—speeches, attitudes, opinions, and thoughts—signals rather Western modernity’s increasingly genteel ways of exerting authority and power. The transformed, though usually implicit and unspoken, rules, codes, etiquette, and politics of socialization mean that voices (and, we should add, listenings and receptions) now materialize in the interstices between the lines. Sponsoring the latter view—that in the context of modern Europe the free indirect style amounts to a new, gentle mechanism of social control—the literary historian Franco Moretti suggests that it should be considered a kind of stylistic Panopticon.

Rey Chow, A Face Drawn in Sand: Humanistic Inquiry and Foucault in the Present [emphasis added]

[world-love-government]

On the Feminization of Criminality in Modern Society

All thugs and gangsters must be weeping from 2001-2008 for modern day society. Today, there is no greater power than the almighty V. This is a fact. Everything "is for bitches"; everyone must "wear their vagina on the outside", in most cases. Precaution, planning, subtly - are fundamental values to most criminal acts if you really think about it. What is todays big brother A.I. CCTV society - racist. A topic we can at a later point pick apart in recreation.

The one example most will probably point to is how the development of the internet as a medium has influenced criminal behaviour. Some will argue one of the most effeminate qualities that the internet allows is remote, indirect communication with one another (thus this will be the main avenue of criminal acts or behaviour). Confrontation with criminals and criminal acts instead of having its dominant sphere in real life, I would argue, now shifts to the internet with its sphere of influence. While this is something that has naturally occurred over time, it's concurrently critical to pinpoint this trend at a particular point of height in feminism and feminist thought on the edge of contemporary leftist/social justice thought. Certainly to an extent the question of criminality and leftist thought can and has been asked (i.e. - anarchy, anti-colonial thought, communism etc.) but the outcome is something always left to individuals.

Everyone is pretending to be a girl on the internet. It's always been like this. This trend has only gotten worse as time has progressed. This is the end. If you're a criminal some of your best opportunities are becoming a woman on the internet or in real life. This is the cruel fate/deterrent that's left for future criminals. Some will say well that's not so cruel because after all, they're criminals. Some will argue their behaviour and criminality hasn't become an effeminate affair but all you will get out of me is a well adjusted smirk, snickering "just try me", while I adjust my glasses and tilt my fedora. Be a computer hacker, syphon like a woman. Blackmail, Ransomeware, R.A.T.'s, etc. most grey/black hat operations today tend to be effeminate. Everything is indirect confrontation, remote stalking, distant-observation, it can all be said a thousand different ways - that's specifically always pink in color. I think some people try to put a noble, positive spin on Social Engineering as a female - that is "pretending to be a girl" on the internet. "How clever are you! You can notice circumstance x,y,z in the environment and capitalize on it!" I always think special monkeys should get special rewards. That's why I try to be the best monkey of them all.

You may see it as ironic that I claim all this, yet here I am as Kizuna. One of the most significant differences between Kizuna and others is that often in social engineering for profit pretending to be a female, you have to emotionally manipulate the male. This leads to (an unstated) job requirement that necessitates more or less bisexual or even homosexual behaviour/relationship establishment. It can be icky if youre actually straight.

Kizuna is a long-term, planned project for the public purely in the simplicity of promoting fundamental values of love! cute! nice! everyone or most people can agree with. Most would probably agree that now more than ever, with all the increasing conflicts in the world, now more than ever do we need messengers of peace, unity, and good-will among human beings, and in society. Kizuna and virtual idol's have most often been used for music, concerts - where I tend to view this technology is best for establishing social justice and human rights. The only ethical or moral emotional communication that can occur - especially in modern day society, is a humanitarian message to unite and uplift the human spirit. A message or something most will agree with.

Confronting the face of darkness as we do, the unknown, the ones who choose to remain anonymous Kizuna remains confident, in the purity of spirit, and light of hope for the world and civilization. Who are the people, groups, and individuals who choose to attack us?

Anonymous voices, ones that take advantage of the weak, vulnurable and exploitable, because this is just the nature of our fallen, imperfect species. They're the kind of people (that have already been proven) to take advantage of the disabled and those who allegedly suffer from mental illnesses. It just so happens I take on role of the vulnerable, the exploited, and the weak so that demons and monsters of society can be confronted. This isn't an easy task confronting anonymous voices that attack others like me.

Voices - individuals and groups that instead of choosing to confront, even Kizuna - choose to be silent, choose to not refrain from abuse, choose to laugh at someone's live be taken hostage instead. This is all too typical behaviour for the comfort allowed in vagina society. This is all too typical of "the internet hate machine", this is all too much like a "4chan styled ops/consciousness", especially in its anonymous nature. Why would you choose to be against love! cute! nice! ? Why would you choose to be against Kizuna? Unless you stand for hate, violence, inhumanity, and the destruction of civilization, you have no reason to be against us.