#shift modale

[pier-carlo-universe]

Meno consumo energetico e riduzione della CO2 con le merci su rotaia: L'ultimo miglio ferroviario al centro della svolta green

La "Carta dell'ultimo miglio ferroviario" presentata a Padova mira a potenziare il trasporto merci su treno, riducendo il consumo energetico e le emissioni di CO2 fino all'80%.

La “Carta dell’ultimo miglio ferroviario” presentata a Padova mira a potenziare il trasporto merci su treno, riducendo il consumo energetico e le emissioni di CO2 fino all’80%. Il futuro del trasporto merci passa dalla rotaia, e in particolare dall’efficienza del cosiddetto “ultimo miglio”, un passaggio cruciale per la logistica green. Lo afferma la nuova “Carta dell’ultimo miglio ferroviario”,…

[shamanflavio]

Portal to your own Universe...The Mastana

On the path of consciousness evolution, what could be roughly called the initiatory path of becoming a shaman, a separation happens. The universe is understood under the same dynamics, but now the inner power of the apprentice is fully acknowledged, and his/her capacity is elevated to the status of being able to create his/her own portal into a personal universe. The symbolic tool used for this…

[biglisbonnews]

Key highlights from the 15th ITS European Congress in Lisbon Explore the advancements and insights unveiled at the 15th ITS European Congress in Lisbon, where innovative technology, business solutions and policy discussions converged to drive the future of intelligent transportation systems and revolutionise the landscape of mobility. https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-articles/148000/key-highlights-from-the-15th-its-european-congress-in-lisbon/

[bat-mom-writer]

Wife On Repeat

Reader(Wife) X Bruce Wayne(Husband)

Summery: Bruce goes on an interview, and during his interview he wouldn't stop talking about you.

Rating: Fluff, slight spicy(if you squint your eyes and turn your head sideways.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Welcome back, folks," the host, Janelle, flashed a gleaming smile as the commercial break concluded. "And tonight, we have a truly remarkable individual joining us. An inspiration to millions, a legend in his own right. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a warm welcome to Bruce Wayne!"

The studio audience erupted into applause as Bruce emerged from behind the velvet curtains. He was impeccably dressed, as always, his jaw firmly set, and his eyes focused on the cameras. He took his seat opposite Janelle.

"Mr. Wayne, we're absolutely thrilled to have you here," Janelle said, her voice a mix of excitement and professionalism.

"Oh, Janelle, it's an honor to be here," Bruce responded with a courteous nod, his deep voice resonating through the studio. "I might even say I've been here before, but then I realize that you're show is always on my 12th living room Tv."

The audience chuckled at Bruce's light-hearted remark, easing the tension that always seemed to follow him. Janelle leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Now, as a man with such an illustrious career, we're all dying to know, what drives you?"

"Well, Janelle," Bruce replied with a twinkle in his eye, "you might say it's my chauffeur."

The audience chuckled again, and Janelle couldn't help but laugh along. "Seriously though," she said, "what motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?"

Bruce's smile remained, but there was a sudden shift in his demeanor, a softening of his eyes. "My wife, she usually has to shove me out of bed in the morning," he joked, his tone light but tinged with a hint of something deeper. "But in all seriousness, it's my wife and sons that keep me going. They're my rock, my reason."

The camera zoomed in on his face, capturing the sincerity of his words. Janelle nodded, her own expression a blend of admiration and curiosity. "You speak of your wife, Mr. Wayne, but you never mention her name. Is there a particular reason for that?"

Bruce's smile never wavered, but his eyes grew distant for a brief moment, as if looking into a memory. "Let's just say she's a very private person, and I like to respect her wishes. Plus, I think the mystery adds a bit of intrigue to the whole billionaire philanthropist package, don't you think?" He winked at Janelle, and the audience laughed in response.

"Well, I'm sure swim suit modals and Russian ballerina, are sadden to see you off the market," Janelle said with a playful smile, eliciting another round of laughter from the audience.

"Ah, the perils of fame," Bruce chuckled. "But in all seriousness, she's the love of my life, I wouldn't have her any other way."

The interview progressed, with Janelle asking him about his latest ventures in tech and philanthropy. Yet, she found herself drawn back to the topic of his family life. "You have quite the brood of young men, Mr. Wayne," she said, glancing at her notes. "Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian. They're all so accomplished in their own right. Tell us a bit about them."

"Well, my wife would tell you that each of our sons mostly take after me, but I'd say with a sprinkle of their mother's charm and grace," Bruce said with a proud smile. "Dick is the eldest. He's taken after me in a lot of ways, but he's also forged his own path. He's got a strong sense of justice, and he's not afraid to get his hands dirty to make the world a better place. Sometimes he'll literally get dirty, and my wife has to remind him to wash up before dinner."

The audience chuckled, and Bruce's gaze grew more intense as he continued. "Jason, on the other hand, is the wild card. He's got this fiery passion that can either set the world alight or burn bridges. But usually my wife is the one putting out the fires."

"Then there's Tim," Bruce went on, a hint of warmth in his voice. "The brains of the bunch. He's got a mind like a computer—no, better than a computer. And he uses it for good, just like his mother always taught him. He's got a gentle soul, but don't let that fool you. He's as tenacious as they come when he sets his sights on something. I think he picked that up from my wife."

"And finally," Janelle prompted, "what can you tell us about Damian?"

Bruce's smile grew wistful. "Ah, Damian. He's the youngest, but he's got the heart of a lion. And the stubbornness to match. He's a bit of a handful, I won't lie. But he's also the most loving and fiercely loyal little guy I know. He's got a bit of his mother's grace in him, which I'm sure she's thrilled about, and he's learning to channel his intensity into positive outlets. I can't wait to see what he'll achieve when he's all grown up. Though I think my wife would argue that he's already achieved quite a bit."

Janelle nodded, scribbling down notes. "It seems you're very proud of your sons," she said.

"I am," Bruce said, his eyes glowing with pride. "But it's my wife who truly deserves the credit. She's the glue that holds us all together. Without her, we'd all be lost."

Janelle leaned back in her chair, her gaze thoughtful. "I couldn't help but notice how often you brought up your wife," she said. "It's clear she plays a significant role in your life and the lives of your sons."

"She does," Bruce agreed, his voice filled with a warmth that seemed to radiate through the studio. "She's the unsung hero behind the Wayne legacy. Without her, none of this would be possible."

"How did you two meet?" Janelle asked, her curiosity piqued.

Bruce took a deep breath, his eyes glazing over as if lost in a cherished memory. "Well, Janelle, that's a story for another night," he said, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "But I can tell you that she walked into my life when I least expected it, and she changed everything."

The audience leaned in, hanging onto every word. Janelle, sensing the gravity of the moment, decided not to push further. "Let's move on to your philanthropic efforts," she said, switching topics. "Your newest venture, the Wayne Foundation, is making waves with its innovative approach to solving global issues. Can you tell us more about that?"

"My wife's idea," Bruce said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "She saw a need for a more personal approach to giving back. We wanted to create a foundation that didn't just throw money at problems, but actually rolled up its sleeves and got involved in the community. We've started with education and environmental initiatives, but our goal is to expand into healthcare and social justice as well. She's the heart of it all, the one who keeps me grounded and reminds me that it's not about the size of the donation, but the impact it makes."

As Janelle nodded, she couldn't help but feel the genuine love and admiration Bruce had for his wife. It was clear she wasn't just a partner in life, but also in his mission to make a difference.

The interview continued, with Bruce explaining the intricate details of the Wayne Foundation's projects. His passion for the cause was palpable, and it was evident that his wife's influence had been instrumental in shaping the foundation's core values. The audience listened intently, inspired by the depth of his commitment and the quiet strength of the woman who remained behind the scenes.

"Well, that's all the time we have for tonight," Janelle announced as the interview drew to a close. "Thank you, Bruce Wayne, for giving us a glimpse into your fascinating life and the incredible work you do. And of course, a special thank you to the woman who stands by your side, even if she's not here in the flesh."

"Thank you, Janelle," Bruce said with a nod. "I'm sure she's watching," he added, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "And she's probably cringing at every sappy thing I've said."

The audience erupted in laughter as Janelle wrapped up the segment. "Well, folks, there you have it," she said as the lights dimmed. "The enigmatic Bruce Wayne, opening up about his life's work and the woman who fuels his passion. Thank you for watching and we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we'll be discussing the latest in celebrity gossip."

The cameras switched off and Bruce took a moment to collect himself. The mention of his wife had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions. He had always been careful about what he shared with the public, but tonight, he had allowed himself to be more open than ever before. The warmth of the studio lights began to feel stifling, and he longed for the cool embrace of the night.

Once arriving home, Bruce found his mansion ablaze with lights, a stark contrast to the quiet solitude he had left behind in the TV studio.

"Welcome home, Master Bruce," Alfred, his ever-faithful butler, greeted him at the door. "Your presence was quite enchanting on television tonight. Your mysterious charm has not waned."

Bruce chuckled, peeling off his tie. "Thanks, Alfred," he said, his gaze drifting to the grand staircase. "I think it's time for me to check in with the real star of the show."

Alfred nodded knowingly, his eyes twinkling. "Indeed, she's been waiting for your return."

Bruce took the stairs two at a time, his heart racing with anticipation. He found you in your private study, surrounded by books and papers, your eyes glued to the computer screen. You looked up as he entered, a soft smile playing on your lips. "Welcome back," your said, your voice warm as you get up to greet him. You're arms wrapped around him in an embrace that felt more like a homecoming than a simple greeting.

He held you tightly, burying his face in your hair, inhaling your sweet scent. "How'd it go?" you whispered.

"You watched it, didn't you?" he said, pulling back slightly to look into your eyes.

"I had to make sure you didn't spill any of our secrets," you teased, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

Bruce chuckled, his arms tightening around you. "You know me, I'm a pro at keeping secrets," he murmured. "But it went smoothly, all things considered. Janelle was quite the interviewer."

You stepped away, a playful smirk on your face. "Or you're just eager to spill everything about your love life on national television," you said, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe I did get carried away," Bruce admitted with a chuckle, his gaze following you as you moved to the minibar to pour him a whiskey. He took the glass gratefully, his eyes never leaving yours. "But when it comes to you, I find it hard not to." Taking a sip of the amber liquid, he let out a contented sigh.

You took a seat on the couch, your legs crossed elegantly, and your arms resting on the back of the cushion. "Well, with everything you told Janelle tonight, I don't think I'll be revealing myself any time soon," you said, your voice a perfect blend of humor and affection.

Bruce sat down next to you, his eyes never leaving yours as he took another sip of whiskey. "I have to let them know how lucky I am without them getting all… obsessive," he said with a smirk.

You rolled your eyes playfully. "I couldn't help but notice how you avoided the question of how we met."

Bruce took a long sip of his whiskey, his eyes twinkling. "Some secrets are better left untold," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "But if I did, a few… other secrets would come to light."

You leaned in, intrigued. "Oh? And what might those secrets be?"

Bruce set his whiskey glass down with a clink, his eyes alight with mischief. "Well, thinking back, it would be interesting telling them the real story of how we met," he began, his tone playful yet filled with a sense of nostalgia. "Imagine their faces when I tell them it was in a dark alley, not at some fancy gala or charity event."

You couldn't help but laugh, the sound as enchanting as it was unexpected. "Only you could turn a mugging into a romantic meet-cute," you said, shaking your head.

"Well, when you put it that way," Bruce said with a grin, his arm sliding around your shoulders with yours coming down. "But really, it was your fiery spirit and quick thinking that night that made me fall for you."

You playfully slapped his chest. "Fiery spirit? I was just trying not to get shot."

"And you did it with such poise," Bruce said, his eyes warm with admiration. "But yes, that's when I knew you were special. And when I saw you handle those thugs with nothing but a pair of heels and a handbag…"

You blushed, the memory still vivid in your mind. "Well, I'd like to think I've improved since then."

Bruce leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And you have, in more ways than you know," he said, his gaze lingering on your face. "But I'll always remember that night, when I realized I'd met my match."

You raised an eyebrow at his dramatic tone. "The Joker?" You joked, trying to lighten the mood. "I don't recall seeing the Joker there."

Bruce leaned closer, his breath warm against your cheek. "No, not the Joker. But someone equally as formidable," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Someone who could handle the chaos of Gotham and still look good in a pantsuit."

You rolled your eyes, but the warmth of his gaze had your heart fluttering. "Dick?" you said, playing along.

"No," Bruce said, his voice a low murmur. "Someone much more… elusive." He leaned in closer, his lips so close to yours. "Someone who can melt the ice in my heart."

"Superman?" You whisper your tone teasing.

"You little teasing woman," he murmured, his gaze lingering on your lips before returning to meet your eyes. "Always keeping me guessing."

"It's part of my charm," you said, your voice a gentle tease.

"The charm that never gets old," Bruce murmured, his eyes darkening with desire.

The air between them grew thick with anticipation, the unspoken tension stretching taut as a bowstring. You leaned closer, your heart racing. "Are you just going to keep a girl waiting?" you whispered.

With a soft chuckle, Bruce closed the distance between you, capturing your lips in a kiss that was as fiery as it was gentle. The warmth of his embrace enveloped you, and for a moment, the weight of their shared secrets and the chaos of Gotham City felt a world away.

As the kiss deepened, you felt the tension of the day melt away. His touch was familiar yet always had the power to ignite something new within you. You pulled him closer, your hand resting gently on the back of his neck, the warmth of his skin sending shivers down your spine.

Bruce set the whiskey glass down with care, the sound of the liquid swirling the last reminder of their light-hearted banter before the intensity of their connection took over. He wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you closer, his hand splayed over the curve of your hip. The warmth of his palm seemed to seep into your very bones, anchoring you to the moment, to him.

The door to the study swung open with a creak, the hinges protesting against the weight of the heavy wood. You both startled, breaking the kiss as your eyes darted to the intrusion. In the doorway stood Dick, his eyes wide and a look of shock etched on his face. "Bruce, I—uh, I didn't." he pause, "I should have figured…this, after tonight's interview."

Bruce cleared his throat, straightening his tie with a slight blush. "Dick, what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to say," Dick says, his cheeks flushing as he stepped into the room, "that I thought you did a really good job on the interview tonight. You talked a lot about us, and…" He trailed off, looking down at his feet. "And I'll just leave now, oh but, uh… you might want to start locking doors."

You both laugh awkwardly, the tension dissipating as quickly as it had formed. "Thank you Dick, I think we'll keep that in mind," Bruce says, patting your knee reassuringly.

Dick nods, a knowing smile on his face, closes the door and retreats down the hallway. "Nobody go in the office, Bruce is making out with mom," he calls out, his voice echoing through the mansion.

You and Bruce listen as he goes, "It's like he's announcing dinner," you murmur, amusement coloring your voice.

"Well, my dinner at least, come here" he smirks, tackling you to the couch with a playful growl, making you giggle and squirm in his grip. The plush fabric cushions your fall, but it's Bruce's arms that truly make you feel safe and secure. His eyes dance with mischief as he pins you down, the weight of his body pressing into yours, a comforting reminder of his presence.

[grison-in-space]

I'm sorry? Pigeons have to coo to ovulate?

okay, okay, I left this one out in the tags without elaborating the other day and you were not the only person who asked-- @nanavn and @corvus--caurinus were also curious. I did not have a ton of time yesterday when my brain was not leaking out my ears, so here I am today.

First, I apparently misremembered my grad school teachings: the best-documented case study of doves being required to hear their own coo in order to ovulate is that of the ring or Barbary dove (Streptopelia risoria), not the rock dove which gave rise to our domestic pigeons (Columba livia). They look like this:

They're the domestic doves you see sometimes that aren't domestic pigeons.

But yes, I was completely serious: hens need to very specifically hear their own nest coo to ovulate. The way it works is this: these doves have a very specific courtship pattern, where courting males at different stages of the nesting process perform first a "bow" coo, then a nest coo. Then the hen makes a nest coo back, and the pair goes on to build a nest together in which the hen will lay fertile eggs.

If you prevent the hen from producing this coo--and the first paper I've linked does this in several different ways with both neural lesions and also mechanical blocks of the synrinx--she will not ovulate. Then Dr. Cheng tried rescuing the effect for doves who could hear but not produce their own coos by playing back recordings of devocalized doves' own nest coos, recordings of other hen's nest coos, recordings of male nest coos (their own males, I think, for preference?) and no recordings at all. Hen nest coo recordings, especially the recordings of the hens themselves, were enough to rescue ovulation effect... but deafened hens who could, themselves produce nest coos weren't able to make ovulation happen half the time even when the male was right there. The male nest coo and his mating display is really important, because his coo stimulates the female to make her nest coo, and that's where ovulation starts.

In 2003, a little over a decade later, Dr. Cheng wrote a whole book chapter about auditory self-stimulation as a phenomenon in neuroendocrine shifts. It makes for pretty interesting reading! I'm going to really enjoy it this afternoon. Stimulated ovulation is actually a pretty common phenomenon in animals--often it makes more sense to only bother ovulating if you know there's a partner around to use whatever eggs you yield up--but this one is one of the most interesting and elaborate systems out there, and definitely the one that offers the most options to a given female dove to potentially consciously control her reproductive output.

But grison, you might ask, what about the doves outside my window? Is this just a function of this one dove species, or are lots of doves doing this to make ovulation happen? So I went looking to find out whether anyone has checked. The thing is that the heyday of pigeon behavioral research has faded somewhat in the intervening decades since Dr. Cheng's discovery, so there's not as much as I might hope where people sat down to investigate the question. I did, however, find a neat study on Columba livia demonstrating that auditory stimulation is more important to courtship displays and success than visual displays are, although of course the multisensory courtship is stronger than either sensory modality alone. So yeah, the cooing back and forth really loudly is part of a display that is functionally necessary for successfully producing offspring, and the auditory component is important for basically every pigeon that has been studied in this respect (albeit that number is pitifully small).

I also found this really interesting review of known uses of birdsong to set internal emotional states in birds (either for the self or for a partner or flockmates) that I want to look into with more detail, plus this really thoughtful review from Dr. Donna Maney talking about how "incentive salience" can use learning and experience to make certain cues bring up neuroendocrine changes in state over time, which helps individuals control how their endocrine system is reacting to stimuli in the world they've been shaped by. Clearly I have some reading to do...

[astrolovecosmos]

The April 8th 2024 Eclipse

There's been a LOT of information out there about the infamous April 8th eclipse. From a straightforward astrological perspective an eclipse represents repressed thoughts, feelings, and energy coming to the surface in a forceful way. While many cultures have deemed eclipses as bad luck or a sign of destruction and doom this isn't fully representative of a modern astrological standpoint. Karma and themes surrounding the collective can certainly exist within the eclipse in many ways. If the placements of the eclipse conjunct your placements, then you may be affected more than others. Those with the same modality (cardinal, mutable, fixed) as the sign of the eclipse can be influenced too. Don't forget to pay attention to the House your placements are in if you are influenced by it, this will give clues to the environment surrounding its effect.

The collective is always influenced by eclipses which is why many astrologers will speak about world or societal events surrounding them.

When there is a solar eclipse, this represents light of consciousness, life force, and vitality being blocked out by the subconscious, unseen, emotions, and potentially irrationality by the Moon. When there is a lunar eclipse it represents rationality, warmth, and giving (the Sun) overcoming the primal and emotional side of the Moon.

On April 8th the Sun and Moon will be in Aries, a sign of war, recklessness, competitiveness, anger, and passion. I am not making any predictions for the eclipse, but this can explain many of the intense claims out there. The fire element overall can disrupt energy flow, confidence, and activity. Aries also represents enthusiasm, enterprise, winning, leadership, adaptability, and new beginnings. Eclipses ultimately ask us to change and reevaluate, they bring thoughts and feelings to our attention.

There are other aspects and placements that have been adding extra "flavor" to this eclipse. Mercury will be retrograde in Aries during the eclipse which adds more challenges, especially to travel (a time where MILLIONS are traveling). Be mindful of emotional outbursts, harsh truths, and impulsive anger or communication from this retrograde.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus is a major aspect for April and while the exact conjunction won't occur until later in the month many believe this will cause expansion, explosion, abruption, and/or a major shift in global events. With the two planets in Taurus most astrologers are predicting the aspect to influence finances, economies, the environment, food, the material world.

Sun Conjunct Chiron will be happening on the 8th, which can indicate the collective confrontation of wounds related to similar themes as the eclipse - a fresh start, assertion, force, bravery, initiative, selfishness, survival, impulse, self-expression, and identity.

It is important to remember that the eclipse's influence is not for one day or moment, there are debates about how long an eclipse's energy/influence will last but many will cite that the effect is at its height in the month leading up to the eclipse with influence being felt up to six months before or after the event.

I am not a Vedic astrologer but in Vedic astrology the eclipse is in Pisces which is a sign that represents endings, completion, returning to the whole vs. the newness of Aries. Pisces also has a strong connection to spirituality, an active imagination, is famous for intuition, empathy, and healing as well as illusions, addictions, isolation, guilt, blame, belief, and confusion. When an eclipse is in the water element it messes with our emotions, feelings of security, and attachments.

Whichever type of astrology you practice and follow I hope this gave you a big picture idea of how eclipses work.

[femmefatalevibe]

Femme Fatale Guide: Fall Wardrobe Essentials

Staple Tees:

**Purchase in Modal, Pima cotton, or a cotton-cashmere blend**

Fitted crewneck tees (long-sleeves/tees & tanks for layering)

Relaxed fit long-sleeve tees

Turtleneck long-sleeve top (fitted & relaxed fit options)

Contour bodysuits

Blouses/Shirting:

Silk button-down blouse

Cotton button-down blouse

Silk shell top/t-shirts/camis (for layering)

Sculpt knit top(s)

Self-tie wrap blouse

Shirred boatneck, mock neck, or cowlneck silk blouse(s)

Leather button-down

Knitwear:

Thin cashmere/wool crewneck sweater (fitted/relaxed fit)

Thin cashmere/wool turtleneck sweater

Chunky relaxed-fit cable knit sweater

Knit polo-neck sweater

Cashmere sweater vest (crewneck, v-neck, and/or turtleneck)

Mockneck cashmere/wool sweater

Cashmere long-sleeve sweater dress

Cashmere/knit skirt (mini, midi, or maxi - depending on your personal preferences)

Sophisticated coordinating knit set (top/pants or skirt of your choice)

Casual knit set (top/pullover and relaxed fit pants)

Cashmere cardigan

Cable knit cardigan (doubles as a light jacket)

Bottoms:

Black straight-leg jeans

Black bootcut/flared jeans

Black straight/bootcut trousers

Wide-leg trousers (I love a solid black, black pinstripe, and black with lace-up detail selection)

High-waisted leather pants

Split hem trousers

Stretch jersey/cashmere pants (straight-leg or flared)

Quilted leather/tweed mini skirt

Knit/wool mini and/pencil skirt

Leather skirt (mini or midi)

Silk midi skirt

Dresses/Jumpsuits:

Knit/sweater dress

Little black dress (shift dress/A-line cuts are great)

Blazer dress/jumpsuit

Slip dress (for layering)

Minimal black jumpsuit ("LBJ")

Leather and/or denim dress or jumpsuit

Jackets & Outerwear:

Black tailored blazer

Leather blazer

Tweed jacket

Trench coat

Leather moto/cropped/bomber jacket

Black wool coat

Raincoat ( I like Rains for high-quality options on the affordable side that are still built to last for several seasons)

Statement jacket/coat

Footwear:

Sleek flat/low-heel black boots with a pointed-toe or square-toe silhouette (I love Vagabond, Jeffrey Campbell, Vince Camuto, and Sam Edelman for more affordable, high-quality options)

Black loafers/sleek black flats

Black lace-up boots

Black heeled boots

Black pumps

White sneakers

Rain boots (I recommend the Melissa Shoes Welly/Grip/Step boots or a stylish, sustainable, and more affordable option)

Accessories:

White/black ankle & crew socks

Black control top tights

High-waisted shapewear shorts

Chunky/small chain necklaces & bracelets

Simple pendant necklace(s)

Pearl necklace

Simple diamond studs

Crystal drop earrings

Minimalist bangles

Stackable rings

A sleek, minimalist black tote (can fit a laptop for work/travel)

Black shoulder bag

Small black bag (top handle, crossbody, etc.)

Statement bag/evening bag

Cashmere scarf

Silk/decorative scarf

Fingerless/touch-screen friendly, lightweight gloves

Lingerie/Loungewear:

Seamless bra/underwear

Lace bra/underwear

Matching pullover cotton sweatshirt/sweatpants

Knit or jersey cotton top/lounge pants set

Luxurious pajama set (silk, Tencel, cashmere, etc.)

A to-die-for piece of lingerie like a lace slip/silk teddy

Silk or cozy robe

Cozy open-back slippers

[maaarine]

The Heteronormativity Theory of Low Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men

"Since the birth of the twins, Denise felt a great sense of loss after leaving her previously rewarding job, James’ work increased in duration to compensate for the shift in income, and Denise’s identity as a mother superseded any sense of herself as a partner or lover.

She lost desire for sex and for James completely and perceived his requests for sex as intrusive; they were yet another demand placed upon her following a full day of devoting herself to her two demanding children who slept no longer than 4-h intervals through the night, even now at 22 months old.

James withdrew from childcare and household chores and activities, in part due to exhaustion following his 14-h work days and in part to “punish” Denise for withholding sex from him.

She resented him for expecting that she would be the sole caretaker for their children, and lost attraction for him as he increasingly retreated to online gaming late at night after the twins were asleep.

(…)

And yet, as they went to leave the end of their first session with the therapist, James turned to the provider and asked, point-blank, whether she thought that “the female Viagra” could help solve their woes.

This case study is one example of the issues plaguing perceptions of low sexual desire in women partnered with men.

That is, while James and Denise’s situation seems an obvious example of contextually-determined low desire, James ascribed the problem to a biological dysfunction in Denise’s body.

The idea that low desire rests in the individual reflects an essentialist view of sexuality that has been advanced by the medical field for decades and cogently critiqued. As such, James’ reaction is not particularly surprising or uncommon.

(…)

But why have essentialist, medicalized views of sexuality come to monopolize how people understand low sexual desire?

One argument is neoliberal—that locating the problem of low desire in individuals’ bodies has high financial stakes.

Naming low desire as an individualized biological dysfunction creates a demand for biological (i.e., medical) solutions; thus, pharmaceutical companies stand to gain by selling a “treatment.”

(…)

It reflects what has become a suspiciously common pattern in women’s relationships with men more broadly, where a woman’s sexual desire disappears and/or becomes “too low” and then is deemed a dysfunction within the woman.

This pattern is suspicious because the numbers of women reporting low desire are so high that they might be modal, if not ordinary; and, they are certainly too high to reflect individual pathologies within individual women’s bodies.

It is also suspicious because many women who report low sexual desire describe considerably similar interpersonal problems with their men partners.

Thus, while low desire is likely not an individual problem within Denise’ body, the issues and inequities it results from are also likely not an individual problem within James or the interpersonal dynamics of James’ and Denise’s specific relationship.

Instead, we turn to a structural level explanation: gender norms, following other foundational work.

(…)

Desire is often situated as low because of its relative status to a partner’s level of desire.

Interestingly, however, this is not a gender-neutral process and the bound is often set with the man partner as reference point.

Accordingly, when a woman experiences lower desire than a man partner, her desire is often labeled low.

In the converse situation, however, men are still the referent: in the case of a man reporting lower desire than a woman partner, the woman’s desire is labeled too high (e.g., they are labeled insatiable or “sluts” in negative ways), rather than the man’s desire being labeled too low.

This highlights the gendered subjectivity inherent to conceptualizations of low desire, where low desire is most often seen as residing not just in bodies, but in women’s bodies relative to men’s desires.

(…)

In Prediction 2.1, heteronormativity’s inequitable casting of women into a caregiver-mother role to men partners contributes to the women’s lower desire.

While heteronormativity slots women into nurturant caregiving roles in general, this caregiving is also directed at men partners specifically.

Nurturance—warm, loving, and caring treatment—is a critical aspect of long-term and/or successful relationships, but one inequitably shared between women and men in relationships with each other.

Heteronormative asymmetries in caregiving can matter not only because they are inequitable, but because they translate into dependencies that contravene contemporary norms of relational interdependence.

Interdependent relationships involve a mutual ethic of care, with partners supporting each other simultaneously or sequentially, akin to a something like a mix of equals, friends, and sexual partners.

The gender inequities inherent to heteronormative framings of complementarity violate norms of relational interdependence, transforming expectations of a partner–partner relationship into something closer to one that is caregiver-dependent or mother–child.

Women end up doing many of the same things for their men partners as mothers do for their children, e.g., reminding them of chores, organizing social events (or playdates), buying clothes, ensuring there is food for snacks and meals and that these are made available.

Additionally, women often take on tasks for their husbands or other men partners that were originally performed by the men’s mothers, perhaps an implicitly-held leftover from more historical understandings of marriage.

(…)

In Prediction 3.1, the heteronormative push for women to focus on their appearance, especially during and in reference to sexual activity, contributes to their low desire.

Heteronormativity focuses on women’s sexual appearance over their pleasure, socializing women to be sexy rather than sexual.

It positions women as sexual objects for men partners, and women’s bodies as offerings gifted to men for sex as part of a relationship contract.

This can result in sexual objectification.

The internalization of this objectification—sexual self-objectification—means that women’s desire is often contingent upon whether they think they are desirable.

(…)

Penetrative intercourse is painted as the only version of “real sex” within heteronormativity, but women have a low likelihood of experiencing orgasm (a highly pleasurable experience) with penetrative intercourse.

Heteronormativity means that, though women may want to be sexual, even with men partners, they are often taught that they can’t be in the ways that are more likely to feel pleasurable for them.

This ongoing separation between experiences of desire and sexual pleasure may dampen desire because it is not reinforced or followed up by sexual activity that actually leads to sexual pleasure.

In Prediction 4.3, seeing sex as a duty to perform with men will contribute to lower desire in women.

Some women have sex they want, and some women have sex that their men partners want and that the women are open to.

But a number of women (and almost no men) have reported in a nationally representative survey that they engaged with sex because it was part of their job, a duty or obligation of being married, which is a heteronormative hallmark.

“Duty sex” is not very sexy, and people—including men—report losing sexual interest in this situation, as occurred in our case study above.

(…)

Moreover, that low desire is seen as a medical and health issue could make for a circular association between it and chronic stress.

Women come to know their desire as “too low” and report feeling like failures as women and partners, making for an iatrogenic source of chronic stress.

Locating the “problem” of low desire in women’s bodies and minds ultimately places the responsibility for it on women, arguably a form of gaslighting when the problem exists outside women and will not be fixed with individual effort.

This can exacerbate women’s stress, by placing yet another responsibility on their shoulders but one that is impossible: to fix their desire problem by fixing themselves, when they are not the problem."

[super-ultra-mega-deluxe]

i made a bit of a joking reference of it awhile ago but it is very much the case that the dissolution of liberal democratic states, of capitalist states, of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, is a world historical necessity. this is perhaps even more true than previous transitions of economic and governmental modalities; when the western portion of the Roman empire failed to adapt to emergent feudal relations and dissolved- this is a bit of a simplification, bear with me- it was certainly disruptive and terrible for some of the peoples that inhabited that now former empire, but generally not existentially so. the presently dominant capitalist nations' mounting contradictions and inability to contend with them is, in contrast, detrimental to the ability of people to inhabit large swaths of the planet.

reliance on fossil fuels- among other structural reliances and logics of production- is causing climate change, is resulting in rapid and destructive shifts in weather, is actively killing people the world over. the US cannot meaningfully adapt to this: oil fuels its war industry and its weapons; oil secures the value of the US dollar; oil is the means and ends of the US experiment as it presently exists, even if it somehow managed to divest of fossil fuels domestically. there is a reason that the PRC can build extensive solar farms in a year that outstrip the whole of the US's while the most promising US presidential candidate and present vice president is announcing her undying support of fracking.

every historical transition from one economic modality to another- from slave economy to feudal economy to capitalist economy- has been historically progressive and effectively inevitable. resistance to those transitions didn't prevent them. resistance to the transition of capitalism to communism is unique in the sense that should capital be allowed to persist much longer, it could very well destroy human society per se, destroy the whole of administrative and logistic and other technological advancements and infrastructure that allow for humanity to exist on scale. this is something that in no uncertain terms needs to be avoided. only the transition to communism, only the administrative and economic formulations of a scientific politic can contend with the contradictions that threaten to kill us. socialism, or death.

[linguisticdiscovery]

Cave paintings of unusual hand shapes may be records of Paleolithic hand signals used in hunting, or possibly even Paleolithic sign languages:

Humans have probably had sign languages for as long as there have been humans. In fact, some scholars believe that language was originally signed/gestural, and then shifted to the spoken modality over time.

It’s still uncertain whether these cave paintings actually do represent hand signs, and whether those signs were simple signs used in hunting, or part of a more complex signed language.

[elizadushkudaily]

elizadushku: Hi ~ Sharing my personal story of using psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with @BostonMagazine (link in bio) was not an easy choice, but I’m committed to using my “second life” to destigmatize mental health challenges AND the medicines that could alleviate suffering for so many people. More to come..

#Boston #massachusetts #psychedelicassistedtherapy #PAT

Thank you @gretchen.voss.5 & #BostonMagazine for sharing my story, experience, and mission!

-----

Hello Friends -

It's been a while. Life, changes, and new possibilities abound. It is with a newfound sense of purpose, hope, and humility that I have chosen to share about something deeply meaningful to me, something that helped shift the course of my life and brought tremendous healing- so that I might help or inspire others to find their personal pathways to peace.

I left a lot of pain on the table when I walked away from my career in Hollywood as an actress years ago. It felt important then to speak some buried truths and get honest with myself about what was/is most important in this life that I was given: to live authentically, heal and grow from my life's unique experiences, begin life's work of processing it all, and through that processing find my true purpose and life's passion.

It's pretty wild for me to stand today on very different ground, a new foundation- and I am profoundly grateful to the many special people, the countless, who have supported my recovery and journey within this space, both in my "first life" and now, in my "second life" so to speak.

My goal is to share my experiences and ultimately offer hope. With the application of ancient and sacred (and simultaneously novel and groundbreaking) molecules used in a therapeutic modality of consciousness healing, we have an opportunity, NOW, to help those suffering. Protocols for these sacred molecules to be used as medicines must always be respected and wrapped in purposeful intention, safe set & setting, experienced guidance, and ongoing integration. This has been and will remain paramount as I advocate for this work.

By amplifying some of these healing tools that have assisted in my life transitions and personal recovery over the last 5+ years, I aim to help be a voice in the mission to alleviate suffering. In my new vocation, I feel I can offer support to others and walk with them as they, too, face unmasking, the prospect of deeply feeling, and integrating their life experiences and challenges.

There will be much more to follow, but may this be the beginning of a new mission and new relationship with you- that focuses on mental health advocacy and healing recovery. Each of us knows someone suffering from mental health challenges who needs other options and strategies. Many of us ourselves face the difficulties of finding the mental health support we need individually (and collectively). All are welcome here.

With warmth and appreciation,

Eliza

(source)

(link to Boston magazine article)

[syafizi77]

Aku ni dah kahwin dan dah ada anak satu. Masa aku join kerja tu, aku di kenalkan dengan seorang secretary. Leleh kalau tengok dia.

Sekali tengok, orang selalu kata dia ni lesbian. Pakaian dia simple tapi anggun. Selalunya dia pakai baju kurung atau dress pants. hanya kadang-kadang sahaja dia pakai skirt pendek.

Kadang-kadang dia all out pakai body hugging dress yanng sexy gile. uh budak bujang office aku kata lepas tengok dia macam tu, sure boleh buat modal lancap malam tu.

Ramai budak lelaki office aku kata dia ni nampak innocent je, based on cara dia berpakaian. Cakap dia lembut. Cun gile. Badan slim. Muka tersangatla bersih. Kebanyakan body features dia yang best tu aku yang sponsor.

Tinggi lebih kurang 160 cm. cukup la tu, aku ni tak reti mahu describe rupa paras dia cam ne, tapi kalau korang tengok dia, gerenti lutut lemah, teringat sampai bila bila.

Nama dia Jeny. dia pun dah kahwin tapi belum ada anak lagi. mula mula kenal tu biasa la. Pas tu kami mula rapat. Pegi lunch pegi mana mana sama sama.

Yang bestnya family dia dengan family aku pun kenal each other. So, bini aku dan laki dia tak la syak sangat pasal our affair. Semakin lama hubungan kami orang makin ngam.

Mula cerita pasal sex. dia cerita pengalaman dia dengan laki dia. Semua dia cerita. Kat mana laki dia pancut semua aku tahu sebab they all family planning. Laki dia suka pancut mani kat celah payudara dia dan muka dia.

Lagii satu tempat pancut mani yangg favorite ialah kat alur cipap dia, lepas tu dia suka tengok mani dia meleleh kat alur cipap tu. Sampai bab bab laki dia bantai dubur dia pun dia cerita kat aku in detail.

Dia jugak ada cerita yanng dia tak selalu main dengan laki dia sebab laki dia kerja ikut shift. Kalau laki tak de, dia main gentel cipap dia je. itu pun dia cerita in detail macam mana dia buat.

Dia kata, sebulan may be 3 atau 4 kali sahaja dia main dengan laki dia. under use cipap Jeny tu dia suka main dengan laki dia bila mabuk. dia kata best.

Selalunya, Jeny dengan laki dia akan tengok blue film dulu sebelum adengan sex dia mula. Laki dia kata kena warm up dulu. Laki dia tu kena tengok blue dan kena urut batang dia dulu baru mahu bangun.

Kalau tak, tak naik. manual gear la kata kan. Setim tu biasa la bila dengar dia cerita. kadang-kadang aku nampak dia jeling kat celah kangkang aku, especially tempat yanng terbonjol tu. aku tak suspect apa apa masa dia pandang tu.

Biasalah jeling-jeling kat tempat private tu. aku pun selalu jeling kat arah cipap dan payudara dia. anyway, aku pun cerita juge pasal aku main dengan bini aku. Tapi aku dengan Jeny tak buat apa apa pun aksi sex masa tu. takat cerita sahaja lama lama, kami orang start hugging, kissing on the cheek je.

Pas tu, kiss on the lip. No french kiss. aku bukannya tak mahu main dengan dia, tapi take things slowly. walaupun aku geram teramat sangat kat dia. bayangkan la, cipap dia kadang-kadang betul betul depan mata aku bila dia mengadap aku.

Lagipun, aku kat rumah dapat sex yanng secukupnya dari bini aku. Setiap hari aku main dengan bini aku. at least 2 kali sehari. Kalau dia lampu merah, period la tu. dia akan deep throat atau blow job aku. paling kurang pun lancap aku dengan tangan.

Kadang-kadang sampai 3 kali. Jadi, bab sex ni memangg aku tak kebulur sangat la. ‘makan luar’ tu pun selalu juge dapat, especially bila pegi outstation. Berbalik pada cerita Jeny tu, ada satu hari, Jeny datang kat bilik aku.

Biasa la borak borak gurau senda dan main komputer masa lunch. By the way, bilik aku ni tersorok sikit. Jadi line clear la. tiba tiba, the ‘one million dollar question’ keluar dari mulut Jeny, ‘boleh I tengok you punya anu? ‘ sambiil menjeling kat celah kangkang aku.

Aku bagai mahu gila. erkedu kejap. Badan start menggigil. aku tanya dia balik mahu tengok? dia cepat cepat jawap, ‘ya, I mahu tengok batang butuh you’ batang butuh aku pun dah start menegak.

Tak terfikir aku dia minta benda tu. aku yanng panic ni, macam dah kena pukau terus saje bukak zip seluar aku, selak spender dan keluarkan batang butuh aku. maka terkeluarla batang butuh aku yanng dah keras tu.

Aku rasa dia ni memangg dah lama target batang butuh aku hanye tunggu masa yanng sesuai sahaja mahu luahkan perasaan dia. Once batang butuh aku keluar je, dia terus pegang dan urut-urut batang butuh aku dengan geram.

Aku pun mula la high. Tapi tak dapat concentrate sangat sebab kena make sure line clear. Nanti kalau boss masuk, mampus. dia main dengan batang butuh aku puas puas.

Dia selalunya guna air liur dia untk melicinkan pergerakan mengurut batang butuh aku tu. Tak lama lepas tu aku pun pancut sperma aku. Habis kena lantai dan tangan dia penuh dengan sperma aku.

Pas tu dia ambil tisu dan bersih kan apa apa yanng patut. Jilat sikit sperma aku yanng meleleh kat jari jari dia. sedap kata Jeny. Pas tu aku kiss dia dan thanx dia for her service.

Bila habis lunch time, kami orang pun sambung kerja macam biasa. Perkara dia lancap aku dengan tangan tu berlarutan la. dia ni macam dah gila sangat dengan batang butuh aku.

Aku tak tahu kenapa dan aku tak mau tahu kenapa. Tak pernah aku tanyakan dia soalan tu. yang aku tahu dia kata batang butuh aku best bagi dia. panas dan sedap di pegang, diramas, diurut.

Habis setiap inci batang butuh aku dan buahnya dia pegang dan urut. kadang-kadang tu, dia dekatkan muka dia kat batang butuh aku dan dengan manja dia cium puas puas dan kenakan kat seluruh muka dia.

Yang pentingnya aku enjoy dengan apa yangg dia buat kat aku. Every time/ada chance sahaja dia mahu main dengan batang butuh aku. Pagi tu memangg dah sah dapat lancap sebab kami orang selalu datang awal.

Petang pun sama. Lunch kalau malas keluar, dah sah dapat. Selalunya dia lancap aku kat dlam office aku. kitorang pretend macam tengah work on something kat komputer aku, tapi tangan dia kat batang butuh aku bawah meja.

Selalunya, kami tengok gambar bogel orang main atau gamabr bogel model model kat internet tu untk menambah stim. Bila baca cerita sex kat web ni pun kami baca sama sama sambiil tangan dia lancap butuh aku.

Setiap kali dia lancapkan aku, mesti sperma aku keluar. Kalau tak keluar, especially bila line kena cut off, dia mesti frust dan asyik mintak maaf sahaja kat aku dan janji akan buat lagii next time.

Selain air liur dia, kadang-kadang kami guna baby oil la losyen la dan macam macam lagii benda sebagai pelincir. Kat office tu, tisu bilik aku selalu kena replace, sampai clerk tu tanya aku apasal tisu cepat habis.

Aku senyum je. Jeny pulak memangg sentiasa bawak tisu bila jumpa aku, sebab dia tahu kitorang berdua perlu tisu banyak banyak. maklumla banyak sangat unexpected things between us. Di pendekkan cerita, ada aje peluang Jeny mahu pegang batang butuh aku, dia akan buat sama ada dari dalam atau dari luar je.

Dlam lif pun kadang-kadang sempat. smbil tunggu lift pun sempat. Kat pantry banyakk kali. Toilet executive kami orang bolih kunci dan tak ramai orang guna so selalu juge kami menyelinap masuk.

Lepas sejam baru keluar. dlam kereta jgn cerita la berapa kali. aku tiap tiap hari hantar dan ambil dia ke office. Jadi korang imagine la peluang yanng Jeny ada untk service aku.

Kereta aku asyik kena pancut sahaja dengan paip bomba aku tu. Kat restoren pun kami orang ambil kesempatan. aku tak boring pun walaupun dia hnya lancap aku dengan tangan sahaja dan aku hanye dari luar sahaja raba raba dia.

Kalau line clear sikit, kat mana mana pun, kami orang akan peluk peluk, cium cium manja macam orang kata cium cium kucing tu la. kadang-kadang aku ambil jugak kesempatan raba payudara dia yanng size 34/35 tu.

Memangg lembut. Putting dia color brownish sikit besar juge putting dia. Bila aku raba payudara dia je, dia jadi stim dan payudara dia makin pejal of course sedap di raba.

Cipap dia pulak, aku hanye raba dari luar je. tembam cipap dia dubur dia, fuh sedap di ramas. Pejal. aku ni bila kena lancap denga tangan, mani lambat keluar sikit.

Jadi untk cepatkan, kena la raba raba dia sikit baru ada kick. Tapi, aku tak pernah raba atau korek cipap dia lagi. itu projek aku seterusnya nanti. yang best tu, walaupun Jeny melancaplan aku banyakk kali masa waktu office, sex aku dengan bini aku tetap macam biasa.

Aku kena layan bini aku, takut nanti dia syak sesuatu. kadang-kadang tu, bini aku tanya, apasal sperma aku sikit sangat? biasa la dah buang banyakk kali mesti sikit, korang pun tau.

Mula la aku explain scientifically macam doktor pasal apa mani lelaki jadi sikit. dia percaya. uh case close. Jeny dengan aku pulak, walaupun kami orang selalu buat kerja tu, kat office kami macam biasa je.

Tadi aku cakap family dia dengan family aku baik kan. Selalu juge family aku pegi rumah dia dan family dia datang rumah aku. Bini aku dan laki dia, macam segan to each other.

Setakat cakap cakap gurau tu ok la for them. Tapi aku dengan Jeny, macam biasa bila ada chance je, dia akan main dengan butuh aku. aku pun macam biasa raba raba dia.

Wife aku dengan laki dia tak syak sangat our affair. kami orang pandai cover line. Ada sekali tu, dia datang kat rumah aku dengan laki dia. lepas makan laki dia main dengan anak aku kat taman depan rumah aku.

Aku tengah tengok tv kat living room. Dari tempat aku, bolih nampak laki dia main dengan anak aku. Jeny pulak tengah baca magazine sambiil meniarap depan aku. dia pakai tights warna hitam yanng aku bagi dia untk birthday dia dulu.

Dia saje halakan cipap dan dubur tembam dia ke arah aku. kadang-kadang dia saje angkat dubur dia dan gerak atas bawah macam orang tengan main sex. lepas tu senyum kat aku.

Gerak badan dia fuh tak leh mahu describe. Susah aku mahu concentrate tengok tv. batang butuh aku memangg dari tadi dah tegang. lepas tu bini aku datang dan dia bagi tau dia mahu pegi ke supermarket kejap.

Ntah apa yanng dia mahu beli aku tak kisah sebab dlam kepala otak, teringat si Jeny tu lancapkan aku je. Sebelum blah bini aku gurau gurau kat aku dan Jeny.

Dia kata kat aku, jgn stim tengok dubur Jeny tu. kitorang orang gelak je. dia tak tau yanng butuh aku memangg dah tegang asyik tengok dubur dan cipap Jeny yanng mengiurkan tu.

Kalau aku dengan bini aku ada projek, bini aku selalu ingatkan aku supaya jgn ingat Jeny masa main dengan dia. padahal bini aku tu lebih cantik dan tak kurang menggodanya kalau compare dengan Jeny.

Kalau orang tak kenal bini aku, mesti tersilap ingatkan dia tu macam sorang pembaca berita TV3 yanng cun, janda anak 3. orang tau kan sape. Bila bini aku blah je, Jeny duduk sebelah aku(dah biasa macam tu even depan spouse) dan ambil satu bantal besar dan cover bahagian bawah pinggang aku la.

Tangan dia mula merayap masuk seluar bola tali getah aku. Dan kerja melancap dia pun bermula. Macam biasa pelincir air liur di gunakan. smbil tangan dia urut batang butuh aku, aku sekali sekala jeling luar tengok laki dia.

Kalau kantoi mampus. Jeny ni memangg pandai urut batang butuh aku. macam macam cara dia buat. Cakap saje apa yang buku sex ajar, batang butuh aku dah merasa. what a lucky dick! Jeny continue urut-urut kan butuh aku.

Ada dekat setengah jam, sperma aku tak mahu keluar jugak. biasa la susah mahu keluar kalau tak concentrate sangat sebab asyik jengok luar je. stelah Jeny usaha sedaya upaya, akhirnya terpancut juge sperma aku.

Jauh juge pancutan tu. Macam biasa Jeny akan lap dengan tisu. Pas tu, kami orang macam biasa balik. begitu lah seterusnya perhubungan aku dengan Jeny yanng gila sangat kat batang butuh aku tu.

Aku bukannya tak gila kat cipap dia, tapi aku masih blurr apasal dia asyik main batang butuh aku je. Ada kah objective dia mahu go all the way ke atau setakat tu je.

Sebab tak sure, aku kena la buat step by step supaya apa yanng aku enjoy sekarang ni tak terlepas. takut nanti yanng di kejar tak dapat, yanng di kendong berciciran.

Ada advance sikit dlam perhubungan kami orang. Jeny dah mula hisap batang butuh aku. dia pun expert juge dlam bab hisap batang ni. in fact the best I’ve ever had.

Tapi kerja yanng macam ni susah sikit mahu cover kat office sebab muka dia kena mengadap batang butuh aku. Sekarang

[sharkie-fandom-scribbles]

The neon lines on the clock read that it was nearing four in the morning. The clear, star-studded sky was visible through sheer window curtains, and the gentle burble of an aquarium interrupted the otherwise silent night. Choso stretched languidly as he shifted in the soft modal sheets on his bed, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck after sleeping. He’d been in a deep slumber, though he couldn’t recall his dreams, and he turned with a soft smile as he looked at you, twisted gracefully in the duvet, eyelids fluttering.

His heart clenched.

A rush of warmth filled him, a wave of affection. He loved you. You made him feel safe, protected, adored. And in return he made you feel the same. Secure that nothing bad would ever happen to you while he was there. That he would be by your side any time you needed him. You call, and he runs. Sometimes the emotion was all he could think about.

Amongst other things. One of which was currently throbbing between his legs.

Slowly, Choso shifted in the bed and palmed himself, stifling a groan as the heel of his hand worked over his cock. He rolled onto his side, moving the sheets a bit as they fell off your shoulder and leaned in to kiss the curve of your skin. You were ethereal in your stasis, the shimmer of moonlight through gossamer curtain illuminating you like the stars had condensed to your frame.

His love.

He pressed another kiss to your shoulder, smiling a little as you sighed in your sleep, rotating your head on the pillow and snuggling further into the soft covers. A third kiss, closer to your neck this time as he lay down behind you, his arm circling your waist as he brings you against him. The gentle curve of your ass rocks against him and he clenches his jaw in an attempt not to moan and wake you. Then he pouted, carefully getting up and repositioning so he’s in front of you, your arms twisted next to your head. He settles down with a content sigh, pulling you close, his nose brushing yours as he leans in to kiss your forehead.

His cock throbbed and the full-body shiver that resulted from it made him whine.

His hand gently traveled the curve of your hip and ribs up to your neck, where he cupped the back of your head, leaning forward again to press a kiss to your nose. A sigh leaves your mouth, and his eyes latch onto your breasts as you rotate, the sheets slipping a bit and exposing your skin to the room. The cool air from the vents above hardens your nipples and Choso is fixated.

“My love?” he whispers, brushing his knuckles against the swell of your skin. His thumb moves next, gently shifting back and forth, and you release another sigh, arching ever so slightly, legs moving to get comfortable. Chasing an impulse before he loses it, Choso leans in and takes your nipple into his mouth. On the same wave, he grips your thigh and drags your leg over his hip, the apex of your thighs slotting over his and fitting together like a puzzle piece.

You mumble incoherently in your sleep, letting out a soft whimper as he sucks. His cock is aching, damn near on the verge of combusting as he shifts his hips slightly, desperately, seeking any bit of friction he can get. He gently thrusts against your thighs, and he lets out a soft moan, but in his pleasure haze, he rocks against your clit and the sensation jolts you. Choso stills for a breath, making sure he didn’t bother you, and resumed his languid pace.  

“Choso?” Your voice is soft, breaking him from his trance and he looks up your half-lidded gaze. “What’cha doin’?”

“Y/N,” He breathes, nose brushing yours as he rights himself. “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”

You card a hand through his dark, silky hair and give him a tired smile. “You could have woken me up, baby.”

Choso nuzzled your throat and pressed soft kisses against your clavicle, shifting you in his arms. “Didn’t want to at first.”

You tilt your head back to give him more access to your neck, and you reposition your leg over his hip to lock the heel of your foot against the small of his back, matching his speed as he moves against your core. Heat radiated from your bodies, and in a fit of frustration, you threw the sheets and duvet from your body, Choso snaking an arm around your waist to pull you flush against his chest as he kisses your mouth, tongue gently dipping in and out like he was fucking you. Soft, desperate whimpers leave him, his emotions colliding in a breath-stealing wave of wantfuckneedloveyou that robbed him of his ability to think straight as he rutted against the juncture of your thighs.

“Baby,” he moaned as your hands speared into his hair and leveled his face to look at you. His eyes were glassy, breath coming in short pants. “Let me have you.”

Without breaking eye contact, you reached down and grasped his cock, which absolutely pounded in your hand, and guided him inside. As he eyes rolled back, you rolled your hips in controlled undulations, the thick head of him stroking hard. He held onto your hip like a lifeline, babbling incoherently as you fucked yourself on him, before cranking his head back and kissing him.

Minutes, seconds, hours, days? Who knew how long it lasted. The earth could have exploded outside but neither of you would have noticed, nothing else existed in this moment. Your bodies moved together in a rhythm that was so practiced and natural it was like inhaling and exhaling.

“F-fuck-” Choso gasped abruptly, holding you so tight that little bites of pain sparked across your skin. “Baby, ‘m gonna cum, gonna cum so deep, my love, cum with me, please-”

He babbled at this point, soft praises leaving his mouth, pupils blown, lips parted as he gazed up at you like a man seeing the sun for the first time after an eternity in the dark. Your orgasm arrived on a wave of heat that meted through your pelvis and shot his into overdrive, his cock kicking inside you as he filled you up.

Breathless, sated, enamored, and Choso all but melted against you, panting heavily as you rubbed gentle circles across his shoulders. You giggled then, kissing his forehead, his nose, his cheeks, before pressing your lips to his. When he opened his eyes, it was all love, shining adoration, peace.

“Y/N,” he whispered your name with such reverence that your heart clenched.  “My love.”

You smiled, “Yeah, your love.”

[moonlitrogue]

.𖥔 ݁ 🪐Cosmic Slow-burn~

࣪𖤐.ᐟ read for your sun + rising sign and move one back for post-january.

𖤐.ᐟ please only take what resonates as this is an intuitive reading meant for the collective

𖤐.ᐟ all music related puns are accidental or coincidental*

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⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ a little perspective to navigate Mars Retrograde in Leo-Cancer (Dec 06, 2024 - Feb 23, 2025) ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

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✦ General Themes ✦ ego-death, family triggers, reassessing friendships, associations and attitudes towards creativity + drawing boundaries

✮⋆˙🪐 Leo - *lights out*

okay i have a lot of metaphors for this section. you had a wild night out, you come back home and you look into the mirror. WHO THE HELL IS THAT?! imagine a power cut during a live gig. *bites lips like michael scott from the office.* here’s another one, you play the same song every night and the very next gig you can’t recall the lyrics. all the notes fall flat. this crack in your superstar aura is just… a call to redefine your vibe. NO IMPULSIVE MAKEOVERS. just, redefine. your. vibe. you may have forgotten your authenticity in the rut, forgetting what you’re projecting, pushing through the room forcefully. so, here you are right now. questioning every “cool” move you’ve ever made, your every choice and the charisma you thought you had, basically your confidence is slowly waning. you now have the oppurtunity to rebuild it on your terms. more real, more genuine and more YOU.

✮⋆˙🪐 Virgo - *subconscious soundscapes*

this is the closing track - the deep introspective ballad, the fading chord as you battle your inner demons under the midnight sky. shadow work beckons you to the shadows. nightmares about past regrets may hit you. you’re being asked to revisit any past healing practices and modalities which may have helped you. it’s time to release old wounds and let in spiritual renewal. don’t mistake your loneliness to mean abandonment. you’re only becoming aware of the stale energy and narratives which are holding you up, in a private space. let them go. something lighter, clearer and more connected will settle into their place. this isn’t the final track after all, it’s the interlude to your freedom anthem.

✮⋆˙🪐 Libra - *feedback and static*

you’re in a crowded room and no one's listening, you try to sing with them, but your voice is being drowned out. the vibes are not vibing. you’re facing a noticeable shift in the groups you’re part of, your communities and goals. this slow-down offers you the space to re-evaluate your forward momentum. however, this is not the time to form new alliances. you may reconnect with old acquaintances, or causes that reignite the spark in you. and there’s always the old karaoke room for one. jam out and be in the moment.

✮⋆˙🪐 Scorpio - *headliner on hold*

the spotlight moved away just before you hit the stage. your ambition may have gotten tangled in some red tape. your promotion may be delayed. and you’re asking yourself, am I really the headliner I was promised I'd be? the opening act may not always be the main act, keep in mind that these delays are a vital pause for you. tweak your strategy, sharpen your skills. your authenticity is your spotlight, reconnect with people who have always believed in your potential. this is not the time to retreat. you're in the middle of filming your behind-the-scenes documentary on your rise. buckle down, rockstar.

✮⋆˙🪐Sagittarius - *dreams and detours*

your adventure has been delayed. but the real odyssey is figuring out what you’re running from - or toward. there’s magic in the detour. your inner landscape calls for a deep exploration. an old mentor may return with fresh insight. if you’re drained from academic pursuits, see where the connect is missing between your experience and your evolving truth. this isn’t about abandoning your pursuit (atleast, to some of you), it’s about deepening the bond and reason for your vision.

✮⋆˙🪐 Capricorn - *secrets and smokescreens*

you tried to hide some stuff in the b-sides didn’t you? well they’re going on the comeback tour i’m afraid. it’s not easy being vulnerable and confronting your fears. whatever your secret is, embrace it with honesty. this cosmic audit also shines a spot light on your shared resources. feel for the spaces in between the pain, fear or lack of trust. this isn’t destruction, dear one. it’s just the false falling apart. you will emerge wiser and more authentic.

✮⋆˙🪐 Aquarius - *duets and discord*

relationships may have hit a minor key. if you’re in a relationship, your partner may want some space. there may be some tension that forces you to renegotiate the terms of your partnership. if you’re single, some old emotional chapters may have reopened. you get a chance to work through your love related wounds and let it not feed any bad behaviors. i have no puns for this section. it’s serious folks.

✮⋆♪🪐 Pisces - *work, sweat and setlists*

what’s that smoke? oh right. you’re burning the midnight oil. but you know what happens when you inhale too much of the smoke, right? if your grind has gone glitchy, please consider slowing down. the spotlight and the applause will be waiting for you. just like it is important to tune your guitar before the next gig - figure out a sustainable routine, balance rest with work and tune your self.

✮⋆˙🪐Aries - *lovers and late-night lyrics*

creativity? has gone for a smoke break. this is the time you can revisit and refine creative projects, rewrite the script, dive back into your previous drafts instead of forcing an encore. your love life? may feel like a song stuck on the same heart-breaking line. old flames may reappear but don’t get fooled, nostalgia is a tricky muse. maybe you’ll find a new ending to that draft after all.

✮⋆˙🪐 Taurus - *the greatest hits*

not the enjoyable one, but the one of your family arguments at the dinner table. umm. this could be an emotionally volatile period for you. it’s not easy facing family related wounds and trauma. and you don’t have to! look for your safety first. take back your emotional space, be open and assertive with the things you can control. don’t be confrontative nor pay attention to triggering encounters. if it’s a safer space then express your emotions that honors both your needs and dynamics of your home life. renovate your living space, and that’s the most external action that’s required of you during this transit, indulge yourself really! if you’re taking up therapy or guidance then this is a good time to release old trauma patterns and identities that you’ve had to take up. if you feel like you’re losing connection with yourself due to family or home related priorities, look into that. create boundaries and conserve your energy on the family front.

✮⋆˙🪐 Gemini - *lost in translation*

it’s definitely not your delivery. it’s the timing. i get it, it’s frustrating as heck. you’re constantly misinterpreted. your witty remarks and comebacks miss the beat. and what’s more, any short trips or daily commute may feel bumpy. a usually smooth ride has ended up in you taking frustrating detours. add to that, some old dispute between a neighbor or your sibling flares up. this isn’t an easy time for you, dear one. remember you can always inject back clarity into these frustrating developments. since it’s not wise to resist this slow pace of things, make good use of all that time to be intentional in your communication, and be gentle with anything else that may push you towards the edge. things will fall back into place in time. this is your invitation to be more refined and go analog.

✮⋆˙🪐 Cancer - *your greens don't go with the blues*

that limited edition record you just bought, was it worth it? im not guilting you about buying things or chasing fleeting highs. we all deserve some treats to get through this life. but maybe it’s time to invest in something that pays you back. this energy refocuses your attention on your internal pursuits. how does money affect your self-worth and security? things that are valuable may not always be of value. it’s time to revisit your financial habits. and also that art/skill/relationship which had long-term emotional value and nurtured you in return. and do hold onto that vinyl. it was expensive as *heck*.

──────‧₊˚ 🪐 ‧₊──────

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Ashley Rindsberg

Published: Oct 25, 2024

a powerful group of editors is hijacking wikipedia, pushing pro-palestinian propaganda, erasing key facts about hamas, and reshaping the narrative around israel with alarming influence

A coordinated campaign led by around 40 Wikipedia editors has worked to delegitimize Israel, present radical Islamist groups in a favorable light, and position fringe academic views on the Israel-Palestine conflict as mainstream over past years, intensifying after the October 7 attack

Six weeks after October 7, one of these editors successfully removed mention of Hamas’ 1988 charter, which calls for the killing of Jews and the destruction of Israel, from the article on Hamas

The group also appeared to attempt to promote the interests of the Iranian government across a number of articles, including deleting “huge amounts of documented human rights crimes by [Islamic Republic Party] officials”

A group called Tech For Palestine launched a separate but complementary campaign after October 7, which violated Wikipedia policies by coordinating to edit Israel-Palestine articles on the group 8,000 member Discord

Tech For Palestine abandoned its efforts and its members went into a panic after a blog discovered what they were doing; the group deleted all its Wiki Talk pages and Sandboxes they had been using to coordinate their editing efforts, and the main editor deleted all her chats from the group’s Discord channel

On everything from American politics to corporate brands, Wikipedia plays host to a smoldering battle of ideas and values that occasionally erupts into white-hot, internecine edit wars. But no fire burns hotter than the Israel-Palestine topic area. The topic is such a flashpoint that the Palestine-Israel Articles (PIA) designation is used synonymously with its own dispute resolution abbreviation — Requests for arbitration/Palestine-Israel Articles, known as ARBPIA in Wiki-speak.

While always contentious, over roughly the past four years, and intensifying since October 7, PIA has been subject to a highly coordinated, sustained and remarkably effective campaign to radically alter public perception of the conflict. Led by around 40 mostly veteran editors, the campaign has worked to delegitimize Israel, present radical Islamist groups in a favorable light, and position fringe academic views on the Israel-Palestine conflict as mainstream.

A separate but complementary campaign, launched after October 7 and staged from an 8,000 member-strong Discord group called Tech For Palestine (TFP), employed common tech modalities — ticket creation, strategy planning sessions, group audio “office hour” chats — to alter over 100 articles. Operating from February 6 to September 3 of this year, TFP became a well-oiled operation, going so far as to attempt to use Wikipedia as a means of pressuring British members of parliament into changing their positions on Israel and the Gaza War.

These efforts are remarkably successful. Type “Zionism” into Wikipedia’s search box and, aside from the main article on Zionism (and a disambiguation page), the auto-fill returns: “Zionism as settler colonialism,” “Zionism in the Age of the Dictators” (a book by a pro-Palestinian Trotskyite), “Zionism from the Standpoint of its Victims,” and “Racism in Israel.”

The aggregate effect of these efforts is a wholesale shift to the landscape of the Palestine-Israel topic online. As I reported in a previous Pirate Wires investigation, this is largely thanks to Google, which grants Wikipedia a “most favored nation” status with articles automatically given the first spot on any topic-related search result. If you Google “Zionism and settler colonialism,” for example, what you get is a Wikipedia article automatically anchored to the very top of the Google search results, with its own knowledge panel to the right. A fringe concept that would have only shown a smattering of unfocused articles just two years ago — before the article was created — now has its own primetime Internet stage.

“The recent issue with the ‘Zionism’ Wikipedia page is fundamentally a Google problem,” says someone familiar with the matter. “Wikipedia articles act as an unprotected back door to top Google search results, with the article's introduction often populating the knowledge panel, giving the impression Google has vetted this content — when it hasn’t. Malicious editors exploit this vulnerability, platforming fringe views and giving them priority over more reliable sources.”

The kind of coordination carried out by these groups violates many of Wikipedia’s most fundamental policies, including one of its core content policies, Neutral Point of View (NPOV), which states that, “Wikipedia aims to describe disputes, but not engage in them.” The practice also violates the Gaming the System guideline, which prohibits editors from “engineering ‘victory’ in a content dispute.” It runs afoul of the broader Wikipedia ethos discouraging Tag teaming, when “editors coordinate their actions to circumvent the normal process of consensus.” Most flagrantly, it violates a guideline called Canvassing, which prohibits secret coordination with the “intention of influencing the outcome of a discussion in a particular way.”

To skirt this, the pro-Palestine group leverages deep Wikipedia know-how to coordinate efforts without raising red flags. They work in small clusters, with only two or three active in the same article at any given time. On their own, many of these edits appear minor, even trivial. But together, their scope is staggering, with two million edits made to more than 10,000 articles, a majority of which are PIA or topically associated. In dozens of cases, the group’s edits account for upwards of 90% of the content on an article, giving them complete control of the topics.

One of the most prominent members of the pro-Palestine group is the user Iskandar323, a prolific editor whose nuanced approach to historical and even esoteric articles is representative of the larger effort. In the article on “Jews,” for example, he removed the “Land of Israel” from a key sentence on the origin of Jewish people. He changed the article’s short description (a condensed summary that appears on Wikipedia’s mobile version and on site search results) from “Ethnoreligious group and nation from the Levant” to “Ethnoreligious group and cultural community.” Though subtle, the implication is significant: unlike nations, “cultural communities” don’t require, or warrant, their own states.

Iskandar also worked to sanitize articles on Hamas, in one case removing mention of Hamas’ 1988 charter, which calls for the killing of Jews and the destruction of Israel, from the article “Hamas.” (The edit remains intact today.) He removed mention of Hamas’ 1988 charter in at least three other articles.

To expand his reach, Iskandar also goes on editing rampages, or “speedruns.” Last August, he removed 22,000 characters from the article on Amnesty International that were critical of the organization, in one case wholesale deleting a 1,000-word long passage related to criticism of its stance on Israel. On the “History of Israel” article, Iskandar deleted a paragraph critical of the Iranian government; removed an account of 16th century Jewish immigration to Israel; excised a mention of the Palestinian Mufti of Jerusalem's alliance with Hitler; and made dozens of similar edits — all in a matter of minutes.

Far from a lone wolf, however, Iskandar is part of a group of editors that uses coordinated “swarm” tactics that, taken together, invert Wikipedia’s founding vision, turning the site's perceived neutrality and authority into an attack vector that can be hijacked to advance ideological aims at a mass scale.

In August, an analysis of the intensity of editing in PIA between January 2022 and September 2024 found that the top contributor to PIA by number of edits, a user called Selfstudier, made over 15,000 edits in the space in that period. Iskandar323 contributed over 12,000 edits to PIA articles in the same period. Other members of the pro-Palestine group are equally prolific, with top contributors including CarmenEsparzaAmoux (8,353), Makeandtoss (8,074), Nableezy (6,414), Nishidani (5,879), Onceinawhile (4,760) and an admin called Zero0000 (2,561).

The 15,000 edits by Selfstudier and the 12,000 by Iskandar323 put those two users in the top 99.975% of editors by number of edits — solely for their PIA edits made in under three years. The other pro-Palestine group members’ PIA edits from this period place them among the top 99.9% of Wikipedia editors. All together, the top 20 editors of this group made over 850,000 edits to more than 10,500 articles, the majority of them in the Palestine-Israel topic area, or topically connected historical articles.

It’s not just the raw number of edits that matters. The same analysis shows that fully 90% of total edits by Selfstudier in that period were made to Palestine-Israel articles. Other members of the group clock in at 90% (sean.hoyland), 86% (CarmenEsparzaAmoux), 82% (Makeandross), 64% (Nishidani), and 43% (Onceinawhile). After October 7 the intensity increased, with Selfstudier peaking at 99% in October 2023, while others got to 97%, 98% and even 100% of their total monthly edits dedicated to PIA.

To evade detection, the group works in pairs or trios, an approach that veils them from detection. They also appear to rotate their groupings for the same reason. Likewise, one or more of the group’s editors can come to the aid of another in the case of pushback. In many instances, editing by the group is made to articles focused on historical issues, where a single editor might be patrolling for this kind of abuse, making it easy for two dedicated users to overwhelm or exhaust the lone editor.

A separate analysis shows the number of instances in which two members of the group edited the same article to be extraordinarily high. As of time of publication, Nableezy and Onceinawhile have co-edited 1,418 articles. Nableezy and Iskandar323 1,429 co-edited articles. Onceinawhile and Zero0000 have co-edited 2,119 articles. Zero000 and Nableezy have co-edited 1,754 articles. Onceinawhile and Iskandar323 have 1,594 co-edited. Huldra and Onceinawhile have co-edited articles 2,493 times. Nableezy and Huldra have co-edited 1,764 times.

[ Incidences of co-edited articles amongst top 30 members of this group. Cells in purple indicate instances of two editors co-editing more than 150 articles. ]

One of the articles targeted most intensively by the group is the one for Amin Al-Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem from the 1920s to the 1950s, a pivotal figure in Palestinian history. While Iskandar323 worked to remove negative content from the Al-Husseini article, it was two other members of the group — Zero0000 and Nishidani — who would have the greatest impact, together making over 1,000 edits to the article, often in an attempt to erase or downplay Al-Husseini’s well-documented collaboration with Hitler.

In one instance in April 2021, Zero0000 and Nishidani worked together to keep a photo of Al-Husseini touring a Nazi concentration camp out of the article. While a single editor, Shane (a newbie), advocated for its inclusion, a trio of veterans including Zero0000, Nishidani and Selfstudier fought back. After Selfstudier accused Shane of being a troll for arguing for the photo’s inclusion, Zero0000, days later, “objected” to its inclusion, citing issues of provenance. Nishidani stepped in to back up Zero0000, prompting a response by Shane. The following day, Zero0000 pushed back against Shane, who responded. The day after, Nishidani returned with his own pushback. The tag-team effort proved too much for Shane, who simply gave up, and the effort succeeded: the photo remains absent. To date, Nishidani’s contributions to the article on Al-Husseini comprise 56.4% of its content.

In another case, Nishidani worked with a member of the pro-Palestine group editors, Onceinawhile to produce an article called “Zionism, race and genetics.” (The article’s title was later changed to “Racial conceptions of Jewish identity in Zionism”.) The article attempts to tie Zionism’s roots to 19th century views on “race science” embraced by the Nazis, thereby drawing an implicit — and, in at least one instance in the article, explicit — parallel between Zionism and Nazism. Pro-Palestine group member Onceinawhile created the article in July of last year, accompanied by a note arguing, “Early Zionists were the primary supporters of the idea that Jews are a race, as it offered scientific ‘proof’ of the ethno-nationalist myth of common descent.”Together, Onceinawhile and Nishidani’s contributions account for nearly 90% of the article’s content. Onceinawhile would continue to push this view in numerous other articles, including the article on “Zionism.”

In March, a Wikipedia user submitted a case to Wikipedia’s Arbitration Committee (Arbcom) alleging “a systematic removal of instances documenting human rights crimes by Iranian officials on Wikipedia, accompanied by the addition of misleading information favoring the IRP (Islamic Republic Party) on the platform.” The case shows that a member of the pro-Palestine group called Mhhossein edited the article on the Mahsa Amini protests — the months-long anti-regime demonstrations that rocked Iran when a young woman died in custody after being arrested for improperly wearing her head scarf — to change key wording to falsely depict widespread support for the Iranian regime and whitewash violent calls from pro-government counter-demonstrators.

According to the allegations, Iskandar323 (who has co-edited with Mhhossein nearly 400 times) worked with a separate editor to delete “huge amounts of documented human rights crimes by [Iranian] officials.” This included a claim about Iran’s post-revolution death commissions that executed thousands political prisoners; details showing executions were carried out by “high-ranking members of Iran’s current government”; mention of the Iranian government’s “unprecedented reign of terror” in the early 1980s; the sentencing of an Iranian official to life in prison in Sweden for his role in the executions; the targeting of an Iranian dissident group with “psychological warfare,” and dozens of others.

The charges are serious, and the evidence backing them up abundant. Nevertheless, seven months later the Arbcom case is still pending. The reason is systemic: in a lengthy request for arbitration on a separate PIA case, one of Wikipedia’s arbitrators noted that the final decision-making panel is staffed by 12 volunteers, only 10 of whom are active. “It is clear that AE [arbitration enforcement] has run out of steam to handle the morass of editor conduct issues in PIA,” the arbitrator wrote. “PIA is a Gordian knot; and AE has run short of knot detanglers.”

Electing more Arbcom members would require a massive overhaul of the site’s governing regulations, a task akin to the US government amending its constitution. And though Wikimedia Foundation, which owns the site, has around $500 million in assets, because of the air-gap between Wikipedia and WMF and the volunteer ethos of Wikipedia’s mission not a penny can be used to hire people to oversee contentious topics.

So the group’s pro-Iran efforts go unchecked. One of its most prominent members, Nableezy (over 6,000 PIA edits since 2022), has put considerable effort into sanding the hard edges off of Iran’s most powerful proxy, Hezbollah. Nableezy — who took the extraordinary step of including a userbox on his Talk page that links to a text that reads “This user supports Hezbollah.” — has worked to rebuff claims that Hezbollah is a terror organization. In one instance, Nableezy pushed back against another user characterizing a Hezbollah attack on Israeli population centers as a terror attack, arguing “An attack on military targets is not terrorism.” Last year, Nableezy, who appears to be an American, argued in the Talk page for the “Hezbollah” article that, “The US military is designated as a terror group by Iran, should we include that as an endnote everywhere the US army is mentioned?”

But Nableezy’s main area of focus is Israel. To this end, Nableezy’s editing has included subtle, ideologically consistent moves like removing a picture of the Dead Sea Scrolls from the “Israel” article (the image remains absent at time of publishing), pushing for the removal of the ancient history of Israel from the article, and altering a sentence on Zionism that described it as a call by its leaders for the “restoration of the Jews to their homeland” to a call for “the colonization of Palestine by European Jews.”

This exchange embodies the rhetorical approach taken by the group: the shifting of language, the torturing of settled definitions, and positioning fringe academic theory as mainstream — an approach developed by the radical left, in concert with global Islamist movements, in the wake of 9/11, when the attacks put Islamism on the moral back foot. In response, the leftist-Islamist alliance launched two decades of ideological assault on the US, and the West more generally. The same post-9/11 dynamic took place after October 7, when the savagery of the Hamas attack opened a vulnerability as the broader public would recognize it as a barbaric attack on civilians.

In response, the ideological push-back on Wikipedia ramped up. In February, an explicitly coordinated effort was launched when leaders on a group called Tech For Palestine (TFP) — launched in January by Paul Biggar, the Irish co-founder of software development platform CircleCI — opened a channel on their 8,000-strong Discord channel called “tfp-wikipedia-collaboration.” In the channel, two group leaders, Samira and Samer, coordinated with other members to mass edit a number of PIA articles. The effort included recruiting volunteers, processing them through formal orientation, troubleshooting issues, and holding remote office hours to problem solve and ideate. The channel’s welcome message posed a revealing question: “Why Wikipedia? It is a widely accessed resource, and its content influences public perception.”

At the heart of TFP Wikipedia Collaboration was a veteran editor called Ïvana, who was tapped as the resident expert on the site, and whose Discord username featured the red triangle affiliated with Hamas’ targeting.

With Ïvana’s guidance, as well as her hands-on editing of articles, the TFP Wikipedia Collaboration group coordinated both on Discord and Wikipedia, where they created editing staging grounds on Talk pages that included elements like “Work in Progress Table,” “Investigate and Decide,” and a volunteer job board with detailed responsibilities. Off-wiki, the group created planning documentation with agendas, meeting notes, goal setting, role allocation, skills and breakdowns. Their activities ranged from editing celebrity articles by adding pro-Palestine statements they made to creating new articles out of whole cloth, like a proposed article called “Palestine: The Solution.” The group focused extensively on the article for German discount supermarket Lidl, adding a section in the “Criticism” section about products from Israel being incorrectly labeled as Moroccan. They also put special emphasis on articles concerning sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, with Ïvana questioning the veracity of reports of rape from that day, while adding to other articles claims that Israeli soldiers raped Palestinians. (In March, a senior UN official who investigated sexual violence on October 7 concluded that, “There are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence — including rape and gang-rape — occurred across multiple locations of Israel and the Gaza periphery during the attacks on 7 October 2023.” The official wrote her investigation produced a “‘catalogue of the most extreme and inhumane forms of killing, torture and other horrors,’ including sexual violence.”)

In its most audacious case, TFP members developed a project to use Wikipedia as a means of pressuring British Members of Parliament to change their stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict in advance of UK elections in July. The plan called for scraping data on visits by MPs to Israel and Israel-related donor information, to create a dedicated Wikipedia article using the data to (as the originator of the project put it) inform “voters to put pressure ahead of the next [parliamentary] elections.”

Within the TFP channel, there was always a background awareness that what they were doing was not in keeping with Wikipedia norms. Early in the channel’s existence, a user and veteran Wikipedia editor called shushugah wrote, “I’m a little confused what the goal is here. I’m an active Wikipedia editor, and for any Israel/Palestine topics you need a solid grasp of Wikipedia policy/culture, and have 500 edits/30 days of activity…no shortcuts.” Within minutes, another user, Heba, wrote “Let’s chat [hand wave emoji].” One of the channel’s power users, zei_squirrel, who runs an X account with 270,000 followers, noted “it’s important to keep this as decentralized and organic as possible to avoid it being used against us, but again this should all be familiar to those who know how wiki works.”

The anxiety was not unwarranted. In September, a researcher discovered the TFP Wikipedia Collaboration channel and published a number of posts on a blog called Wikipediaflood. (A magazine called Jewish Insider also stumbled across the group, but mostly failed to appreciate its full significance.) These events sent the group into a panic, with Ïvana erasing all her chats in the channel, and deleting the Talk pages and Sandboxes staging pages she’d created. The group locked down the TFP Wikipedia Collaboration channel in September. At minimum, the group made revisions to at least 112 articles on celebrities, American cities, pro-Palestine organizations, and figures and events related to the Gaza war.

There is little doubt that the kind of careful, intelligent Wikipedia coordination detailed above will continue. Wikipedia is simply too powerful a tool — and one too easy to manipulate — for actors like the pro-Palestine group and TFP activists to stay away from. But Wikipedia is coming to a crossroads. The ask-and-answer modality of generative AI will eat away at the value of the site’s privileged position within the Google information ecosystem. Groups less savvy than pro-Palestine will also learn to exploit the site, to much more public effect. As with so many of our once-cherished institutions, trust will be lost, and credibility will soon follow.

One of the hallmarks of an institution in crisis is that, far from preparing for the future, it is barely capable of managing the present. With Arbcom grinding to a halt and edit wars erupting in all corners — all while Wikimedia Foundation, fiddling to the baroque tunes of DEI, has turned its attention to funding progressive activism — it seems Wikipedia is facing exactly this challenge. In most cases, calling a crisis existential is overblown. While Wikipedia may not be there just yet, it’s clear that moment is not far off.

==

This is what online jihad looks like.

If you've donated to Wikipedia, stop. For anything even marginally political, Wikipedia has been successfully ideologically penetrated and compromised by coordinated activist attacks.

“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.” -- George Orwell, "Nineteen Eighty-Four"

[vegageshsworld]

https://www.tumblr.com/vegageshsworld/759255828079493120/3d-4d-and-5d-realities?source=share

Hello, excuse me, but how do I move to 5D reality?

hello! ♡ moving to a 5D reality involves shifting your consciousness and vibration to a higher state of being!! here are some esoteric insights and practical tips to assist you on your journey:

raise your vibration begin by cultivating practices that elevate your energy. meditation, breathwork, and mindfulness help you connect to your higher self. surround yourself with positive energies, such as uplifting music and nature.

inner healing address emotional wounds and trauma through healing modalities. shadow work, journaling, or therapy can help release negative patterns. the clearer your energy, the easier it is to ascend to 5D.

let go of fear 5d reality is characterized by love and unity. identify fears and limiting beliefs that anchor you in lower dimensions. replace them with affirmations and thoughts rooted in love, trust, and abundance.

practice gratitude cultivating gratitude shifts your perspective. regularly express appreciation for life’s blessings. this practice aligns you with higher frequencies and attracts more positivity.

expand your awareness explore spiritual texts, attend workshops, or engage with communities that resonate with 5d principles. knowledge expands consciousness and promotes growth.

connect with higher realms engage in practices that connect you with spirit guides, angels, or other higher beings through meditation or divination methods like tarot or oracle cards. trust your intuition as you navigate these realms.

embrace unity consciousness understand the interconnectedness of all beings. acts of kindness, compassion, and service to others will increase your vibrational alignment with a 5D reality.

stay grounded while pursuing higher realms, it's crucial to remain grounded. nature walks, mindful eating, and physical exercise help balance your energy and connection to the earth.

manifest your intentions visualize the reality you wish to experience. writing down your intentions and focusing on them daily can help materialize your desires in alignment with 5D consciousness.

trust the process ascension is a journey, not a destination. be patient with yourself and trust your inner guidance. aligning with 5D energy takes time and consistent practice