#sina productions

[dangermousie]

Most of stuff released at youku conference didn’t grab me but this trailer for Long for Fish (don’t worry, before it airs I am sure they will change it to Fish Blossom Journey or something) based on Offering Salted Fish to Master novel (a delight I utterly recommend) is a rare exception:

I recognize stuff from the novel and Chen Feiyu is made for this type of role.

This is a narrative that combines shizunfucking (tm) and “force of nature soft for only one (1) person” with a side of “he can sleep well for the first time because of her” tropes aka my faves.

Under its jaunty tone, the novel has some horrifyingly dark stuff which I think they will remove (incest, cannibalism, breeding humans etc - ML is a product of all of that) but I do hope they keep some of the unhinged vibe.

Just like I think they will remove he doesn’t care about collateral damage because would a hurricane (let alone a hurricane brought up to be consumed by its keepers) care aspect but that’s fine.

Anyway, I will always love the OG set up of ML being a barely captive entity the sect (who are true monsters) keep in hopes of taking his powers (and because they can’t kill him) and FL comes in as one of many “offerings” they dump in hopes one can kill him or seduce him and then they can use the baby as they can’t use him but he can read minds so none of it works and then he meets FL and all she wants is to nap and eat - she died from overwork back in OG world so she’s treating it as a bizarre afterlife vacation - and he goes you don’t want to kill me? You don’t want my baby? You don’t want power? You want to…nap?!?!? And his whole world explodes 😂

Anyway the novel was super fun and I hope they keep the vibe even if not the gore and copious sex.

[neotrances]

that poll was a ref to sinas post anyways where a bunch of tumblr anarchist are acting snarky and avoiding the question of what would we do regarding medicine if anarchy ever “won” and they either call u an idiot for asking that or say they can thingamabob their way thru production as if the current infrastructure we have to produce drugs (not the capitalism aspects that make it hard to pay for or get but the actual factory strict mandated way we produce these drugs) isn’t the best and safest way so far

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Frank Sinatra's self-inflicted tough-guy-party-animal-Rat-Packer image was not only childish and tiresome, it belied the fact that he was well-read, thoughtful, and a committed free thinker. In this 1963 interview with Playboy magazine, Sinatra speaks frankly (sorry) about the hypocrisy and dangers of "the witch doctor in the middle"--his term for organized religion.

Playboy: All right, let's start with the most basic question there is: Are you a religious man? Do you believe in God?

Sinatra: Well, that'll do for openers. I think I can sum up my religious feelings in a couple of paragraphs. First: I believe in you and me. I'm like Albert Schweitzer and Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein in that I have a respect for life — in any form. I believe in nature, in the birds, the sea, the sky, in everything I can see or that there is real evidence for. If these things are what you mean by God, then I believe in God. But I don't believe in a personal God to whom I look for comfort or for a natural on the next roll of the dice. I'm not unmindful of man's seeming need for faith; I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniel's. But to me religion is a deeply personal thing in which man and God go it alone together, without the witch doctor in the middle. The witch doctor tries to convince us that we have to ask God for help, to spell out to him what we need, even to bribe him with prayer or cash on the line. Well, I believe that God knows what each of us wants and needs. It's not necessary for us to make it to church on Sunday to reach Him. You can find Him anyplace. And if that sounds heretical, my source is pretty good: Matthew, Five to Seven, The Sermon on the Mount.

Playboy: You haven't found any answers for yourself in organized religion?

Sinatra: There are things about organized religion which I resent. Christ is revered as the Prince of Peace, but more blood has been shed in His name than any other figure in history. You show me one step forward in the name of religion and I'll show you a hundred retrogressions. Remember, they were men of God who destroyed the educational treasures at Alexandria, who perpetrated the Inquisition in Spain, who burned the witches at Salem. Over 25,000 organized religions flourish on this planet, but the followers of each think all the others are miserably misguided and probably evil as well. In India they worship white cows, monkeys and a dip in the Ganges. The Moslems accept slavery and prepare for Allah, who promises wine and revirginated women. And witch doctors aren't just in Africa. If you look in the L.A. papers of a Sunday morning, you'll see the local variety advertising their wares like suits with two pairs of pants.

Playboy: Hasn't religious faith just as often served as a civilizing influence?

Sinatra: Remember that leering, cursing lynch mob in Little Rock reviling a meek, innocent little 12-year-old Negro girl as she tried to enroll in public school? Weren't they — or most of them — devout churchgoers? I detest the two-faced who pretend liberality but are practiced bigots in their own mean little spheres. I didn't tell my daughter whom to marry, but I'd have broken her back if she had had big eyes for a bigot. As I see it, man is a product of his conditioning, and the social forces which mold his morality and conduct — including racial prejudice — are influenced more by material things like food and economic necessities than by the fear and awe and bigotry generated by the high priests of commercialized superstition. Now don't get me wrong. I'm for decency — period. I'm for anything and everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow man. But when lip service to some mysterious deity permits bestiality on Wednesday and absolution on Sunday — cash me out.

Playboy: But aren't such spiritual hypocrites in a minority? Aren't most Americans fairly consistent in their conduct within the precepts of religious doctrine?

Sinatra: I've got no quarrel with men of decency at any level. But I can't believe that decency stems only from religion. And I can't help wondering how many public figures make avowals of religious faith to maintain an aura of respectability. Our civilization, such as it is, was shaped by religion, and the men who aspire to public office anyplace in the free world must make obeisance to God or risk immediate opprobrium. Our press accurately reflects the religious nature of our society, but you'll notice that it also carries the articles and advertisements of astrology and hokey Elmer Gantry revivalists. We in America pride ourselves on freedom of the press, but every day I see, and so do you, this kind of dishonesty and distortion not only in this area but in reporting — about guys like me, for instance, which is of minor importance except to me; but also in reporting world news. How can a free people make decisions without facts? If the press reports world news as they report about me, we're in trouble.

Playboy: Are you saying that . . .

Sinatra: No, wait, let me finish. Have you thought of the chance I'm taking by speaking out this way? Can you imagine the deluge of crank letters, curses, threats and obscenities I'll receive after these remarks gain general circulation? Worse, the boycott of my records, my films, maybe a picket line at my opening at the Sands. Why? Because I've dared to say that love and decency are not necessarily concomitants of religious fervor.

Playboy: If you think you're stepping over the line, offending your public or perhaps risking economic suicide, shall we cut this off now, erase the tape and start over along more antiseptic lines?

Sinatra: No, let's let it run. I've thought this way for years, ached to say these things. Whom have I harmed by what I've said? What moral defection have I suggested? No, I don't want to chicken out now. Come on, pal, the clock's running

[bruchfest]

dossier   —   Lothar Hofner.

FULL  NAME.     Lothar Maximilian Hofner  MEANING.     Lothar (from Old High German: hlud + heri ‘famous warrior’) Maximilian (from Latin: Maximus ‘the greatest’) Hofner (from German: Huber/Höffner ‘free farmer’)  NICKNAME.     Lo GENDER.     cis male ETHNICITY.     eldian HEIGHT.     180 cm AGE.     23 (854) / 26 (857) ZODIAC.     virgo (hardworking, practical, sensible, loyal) SPOKEN  LANGUAGES.     eldian

physical  characteristics !

HAIR  COLOR.     dark blonde/brown EYE  COLOR.     brown SKIN  TONE.     pale, sun tanned BODY  TYPE.      lean, broad shoulders ACCENT.     upper class VOICE.     gruff but not deep, has an edge to it DOMINANT  HAND.     right hand POSTURE.     likes to lean, often appears closed off or defensive SCARS.   several from childhood scrapes, a healed broken nose TATTOOS.   none MOST  NOTICEABLE  FEATURE(S).  his sullen, piercing stare

childhood !

PLACE  OF  BIRTH.     Mitras, Wall Sina HOMETOWN.     a small farming settlement in northern Wall Sina MANNER  OF  BIRTH.     natural FIRST  WORDS.     “dada” SIBLINGS.     two older brothers PARENTS.     mother : Marion Hofner,  a woman of good social and ecological standing, she decided to make her own match at her debut in Lothar's father. she is kind but of a frail mental disposition after the birth of her second child, and much effort is undertaken to "not upset mother". she spends most of her time gardening and managing the household staff. she willfully remains ignorant of the goings-on outside the family estate. father : Maximilian Hofner, a wealthy land owner 12 years Marion's senior. Mr. Hofner was born into a family of renown, responsible for the production of luxury goods. Many farms and factories in Wall Sina belong to him and will eventually be passed on to his sons. PARENT  INVOLVEMENT.  Lothar was raised largely by nannies and members of the staff as his mother often felt too feeble to deal with him and his father was absent working. this left him with a lot of free time on his hands which he used to terrorize the neighborhood with his friends. he was a particularly unruly child. he maintains that he lacked positive attention and though his parents loved him, he prefers to keep his distance nowadays. especially because of the rift that opened up between them when Lothar married his first wife, Tabitha Forster.

adult  life !

OCCUPATION.    official of the state, formerly working as a farmhand on the Reiss farm/orphanage. before that he was on the path to take over a factory for his father. CURRENT RESIDENCE.  the new royal Reiss estate CLOSE  FRIENDS.   none RELATIONSHIP  STATUS.  married to Historia Reiss FINANCIAL  STATUS.  wealthy, dependent on family funds DRIVER’S  LICENSE.     yes CRIMINAL  RECORD.   none VICES.   bitterness, vindictiveness

sex  &  romance !

SEXUAL  ORIENTATION.  bisexual ROMANTIC  ORIENTATION.  heteroromantic PREFERRED  EMOTIONAL  ROLE.  dominant, nurturing PREFERRED  SEXUAL  ROLE. dominant, serviced LIBIDO.   average to low RELATIONSHIP  TENDENCIES.   he has always looked to settle down.

miscellaneous !

THEME  SONG.     No Surprises - Radiohead HOBBIES  TO  PASS  TIME.     whittling, dog rearing MENTAL  ILLNESSES.   there is something wrong with him for sure PHYSICAL  ILLNESSES.     none LEFT  OR  RIGHT  BRAINED.     right PHOBIAS.  none SELF  CONFIDENCE  LEVEL.  moderate, puts up a front to appear more steadfast than he is VULNERABILITIES.  anything to do with his marriage and his daughter, anything to do with his first wife

[rainbowsky]

This will be my first weibo night as a turtle, and I'm just curious why there's so much distaste for the event and the site in general? I know there was the infamous one in 2020 and that it doesn't seem like ggdd will attend (or in some cases it seems like turtles don't want them to attend??? Not sure about that) but I'm curious as to why so much hostility exists for it?

Hi Anon,

Fake, fan fiction, CPN.

It's true that some fans hate Weibo and talk scathingly about it, just as people often talk scathingly about Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Think about all the reasons those sites are so hated, and you'll start to get an idea of why Weibo is hated. Then imagine if Facebook, Twitter or YouTube had a yearly awards gala where they flexed their influence and 'awarded' all the people that suffered from policies on their platforms, and think of all the reasons why people would scoff at it, and you'll get part of the way toward understanding why Weibo Night is often scoffed at.

These sites are extremely predatory. They monopolize all core human social interaction for profit. They capture all of our closest and most important personal and business relationships and then sell them back to us as a product. They gather all of our personal data and use it to further monitor and manipulate us, and they sell the data - and the information gleaned from its analysis - for further profit (otherwise known as 'surveillance capitalism').

All social media platforms profit from engagement (clicks, likes, comments, etc.). Studies have shown that by far the most intense, dedicated, enduring engagement occurs around negative topics. This is a huge part of why social media platforms are so 'conveniently' shitty at shutting down bad behavior and hateful discourse. It makes them a ton of money.

Weibo was one of the core reasons why 2/27 became such a big thing, and why GG was attacked mercilessly for months on end (and still is to this day). It's a big part of why both GG and DD suffer so much from online hate, slanderous rumors and anti behavior. Weibo enables this behavior just as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube do on their platforms.

Weibo is also closely monitored and regulated by the government, so censorship and public opinion manipulation have also been significant on the platform.

I think a lot of turtles hate Weibo Night, too, because of the whole 'divorce night' thing. It left a lot of turtles feeling bitter about Weibo and about Weibo night.

Like it or hate it, Weibo and Weibo night are necessary to GG and DD. As much as Weibo might contribute to cyberbullying problems and other negative situations, Weibo also facilitates every aspect of GG and DD's careers. It's a hub for fan engagement, it's a major platform for their endorsement activities, it's where GG and DD can keep their fans updated and informed, etc. etc.

My feelings toward Weibo are much more neutral than those of a lot of other fans. I see good and bad there, and Weibo is such a powerful force in GG and DD's careers that we have to learn to live with it anyway, so might as well try to get what we can out of it.

Weibo night is the only time of the year when we are all but guaranteed to see GG and DD on the same stage, so we can't pretend not to look forward to it, regardless of our feelings about the platform as a whole.

I think it's highly likely both will attend this one. Those kinds of events are really key to promoting a celebrity, and with projects coming out - especially from DD with his film releases coming up - of course they'll be there. I can't think of a single good reason why they wouldn't show up, and plenty of reasons why they would. They've always attended in the past, so it would be unprecedented for them to decline.

Their teams will want them there, the people promoting their projects will want them there. As two of the most popular stars in China, Sina/Weibo will DEFINITELY want them there.

Not showing up would give fuel for antis and for rumors, which would be a bad idea.

At least from a PR perspective - and GG and DD are both businesses in their own right - it makes sense for them to attend.

I guess we'll find out soon enough. 😊

[trendfilmsetter]

The casting for the live action MOANA film has been revealed by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson with production starting in August!

Catherine Laga’aia - Moana

Dwayne Johnson - Maui

John Tui - Chief Tui

Frankie Adams - Sina

Rena Owen - Gramma Tala

[melishade]

I wonder that OP will make Gabi his next kid in Dark Timeline. Hell, her trait is similiar to Eren. Well, it wont same trait be no more cause Marley Loyalty is overall bullshit.

Anyway, thnx. Will be waiting for the main story next chapter :)

Part 17: The Trade

Guess we can take a break from the angst for a bit and go into something more wholesome for the Dark Timeline.

So yeah, Gabi, after being captured by Shockwave, being tortured, seeing Optimus' memories, and having Optimus save her life, doesn't believe in the Marleyan propaganda anymore. It's been undone. Plain and simple. However, being on the island as she's slowly recovering is a weird experience, since she's spent her whole life demonizing these people and they turn out to be normal people.

She's still stubborn and actively trying to help out when she can, resulting in everyone benching her. The desire to help used to come from a way to prove her worth and be respected. Now, she just doesn't want to feel helpless. Which is ironic, since the trauma induced by Shockwave has only made her feel helpless. Maybe because of what she's seen she just doesn't want to go through that ever again.

But after Optimus visits them, specifically Gabi to make sure that she's alright, there's definitely been a change in the dynamic of the Marleyans. Annie, Pieck, and Reiner tell the Warrior Cadets to stay away from Magath, and explain why. And it devastates Gabi even further, because Shockwave was right. The Eldians were doomed either way. Reiner had also informed them that Optimus would provide them immunity once this was over. Some of the cadets, like Colt and Falco, don't believe Optimus out of caution, but Gabi automatically does. She owes Optimus her life and her loyalty.

After this, Gabi decides to seek out Optimus herself, with the other Warrior Cadets following her to make sure she's okay and doesn't get herself into trouble. It takes a while, but they do find him...in holoform being scolded by Hanji about exerting himself while Megatron is rolling his optics in titan form. It's a weird sight to see, and Optimus is actively trying to provide a retort but Hanji is not having it. By the end of the confrontation, and Hanji practically ordering Megatron to help her out with some stuff (not before a quip of her character) before leaving Optimus. But not before she shouts at him to rest. No more training.

Optimus doesn't think that's productive. But before he could say anything, someone tug on his sleeve. His right sleeve, his blind spot. Optimus immediately pulled back and was prepared to attack, but was stunned to see Gabi raising her hands in surrender, followed by the Warrior Cadets desperately trying to pull her back. Optimus apologizes and explain that he can't see out of his right optic anymore, which is why he reacted so negatively. And Gabi just feels guilty because she feels responsible for causing it. But Optimus tells her that he wouldn't have hesitated to do it again in order to ensure her safety.

The Warrior Cadets then grab her and try to leave the titan alone, but since Optimus isn't going to be allowed to do anything strenuous, he offers to take him to his library. Which they are all confused by. With some convincing, Optimus does take him to his library in Wall Sina, and the Prime is a little bit saddened to see that it was closed off. No one visited and dust had accumulated on the books and shelves, so Optimus dedicates his time to cleaning it up. Gabi immediately offers to help, cause of repayment, and Optimus lets her. This prompts the other Warriors to follow suite, because he offered them to stay and read once they were done. It was just a nice gesture. The titan didn't even know them and he was being kind to them.

After they're done, Optimus takes out a few books as promised and offers to read to them. The Warrior Cadets are curious so they decide to stick around. And as Optimus is reading to them they get so entranced by it. Udo, unintentionally, asks a question, but quickly covers his mouth and everyone is instinctually scared. Because Eldians aren't allowed to ask questions. They have to accept things as they are. But Optimus welcomes the question, even asks Udo what he thinks. The Warrior Cadets are stunned at this. Why was he doing this?

"Knowledge is power," Optimus explained, "To keep that knowledge from you, would be unethical as an archivist, and as someone who values freedom."

This causes Gabi to ask more questions, which Optimus is more than willing to answer. This pattern continues for a while: Optimus reads and they ask questions. And they just really grow to admire and respect Optimus.

Reiner's in a panic later cause he has no idea where they are, so he asks Eren to help him look. (The two are in a better place and get along better now compared to what they were a few months ago, and they find Optimus with the kids at his library.)

At the end of it, Optimus does still train to get stronger and be prepared, but whatever free time he has, he dedicates to the Warrior Cadets and shows them a world beyond their internment zone walls. Gabi ends up sticking to Optimus' side like glue whenever she gets the chance because she trusts him completely. Optimus lets her because she's been through a lot as Shockwave's and she's a kid. Hanji thinks it's hilarious and cute.

[lingshanhermit]

Lingshan Hermit: The Conditions Needed to Cultivate the Mind in Daily Life

Before I turned 30 years old, people would often come to me and ask how they can cultivate themselves in their daily lives. In fact, they should be asking what kind of person can cultivate themselves in daily life. Because even if I tell them, they would not be able to do it. For many cultivators, if they can cultivate when they are cultivating, that is already good enough. They should not always think about cultivating in their daily lives. As someone like myself who was born to exist for the Dharma and has nothing in my life other than the Dharma, it still took me many years to gradually be able to cultivate in my daily life and slowly transform my daily life into cultivation.

To cultivate in daily life requires an extremely strong awareness, insight, self-reflection, error-correction, and willpower. Only with these can you have penetrating discernment into everything that happens to you. First, you need to have a comprehensive understanding of the cultivation process in Buddhism - know what you will encounter during cultivation and know how to resolve issues when you encounter them. What I'm referring to is not just theoretical and practical understanding, but many things that are the product of experience, lessons you've learned the hard way that you cannot gain just by reading sutras and treatises. You must also truly attain the Buddhadharma viewpoints; this actually takes many years to establish. Hearing and approving of a viewpoint versus having truly attained that viewpoint - there's a gap of probably ten billion light years between them. Then you also need to be extremely familiar with the various tricks of the "self," to avoid being led astray by it. But this also requires a lot of time and experience. You need to stumble and bang your head against walls and fall into pits and suffer bitterness before you can attain this. You also need very strong mindfulness to constantly examine your body, speech, and mind - able to see every thought that arises, not just during sitting meditation when things are very calm and quiet. Also when you're not sitting - in those busy, noisy environments - you can still see every thought that arises, with penetrating discernment into everything happening internally. For example, when you’re in an argument with someone, when you fail to adequately communicate with others, when you’re eating while rushing to work, when you suddenly receive upsetting news,  in any situation you should be able to see your thoughts arising, discern which desires stem from greed, anger, pride; which pits have been dug for you by Mara; without being led astray by greed, anger and delusion; able to turn things around in the moment; not fall into Mara’s traps; or even if you do fall in, quickly climb back out. You also need to be 100% frank and honest with yourself. How many people can accomplish what I described above? Only when you fulfill these conditions can you cultivate in your daily life and transform your everyday life into the path. For those cultivators of higher attainments, what they need to watch out for is whether they have fallen back into worldly manifestations or fallen into subject-object duality again or are perceiving themselves and everything around them as truly existent. As for the various abilities I mentioned earlier, I’m afraid many cultivators do not possess even one. Just mindfulness alone requires many years of meditation practice. If you are an extraordinary person, in today’s environment filled with distractions everywhere, in this day and age, if you can still find a genuine teacher who can truly teach you, if you can obey, truly cultivate, and stumble along forward bit by bit, then after cultivating for 20-30 years you may attain this.

This article was first published on Lingshan Hermit’s Sina Weibo on October 17, 2021, as well as on Google Blogger and other social media platforms. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Copyright Notice：All copyrights of Ling Shan Hermit's articles in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, English, and other languages belong to the natural person who owns "Ling Shan Hermit". Please respect copyright. Publishers, media, or individuals (including but not limited to internet media, websites, personal spaces, Weibo, WeChat public accounts, print media) must obtain authorization from Ling Shan Hermit before use. No modifications to the articles are allowed (including: author's name, title, main text content, and punctuation marks). We reserve all legal rights.

灵山居士：在生活里修心需要的条件（修订版）

在我三十岁之前，经常会有人跑来问我怎么在��常生活里修行？其实他更应该问的是什么样的人才能在日常生活里修行。因为即便我告诉他他也做不到。对于很多修行者来说，如果他们能在修行的时候修行就已经很不错了，就不要老是想着在生活里修行了。像我这样的人，生来就是为了佛法而存在的，我的生命里除了佛法没有别的东西，但是即便我这样的人也是花了很多年时间才慢慢做到能够在生活里修行，才慢慢能够把日常的生活转化为修行。

在生活里修行，这需要极其强大的觉知力、洞察力、反省力、纠错力、和意志力，只有具备这些，你才能对发生在自己身上的一切洞若观火。首先，你需要对佛教的修证过程有通盘的了解，知道修行的过程中会遇到什么，也知道遇到了要怎么解决，我说的不光是对理论和实修方法的了解，有很多东西是经验的产物，那是吃了很多亏才会知道的，不是读读经论就能知道的。还有你必须真正具备佛教的见地，这一点其实要很多年才能建立，听闻过一个见地认可一个见地和你真正具备这个见地之间大概隔着一万亿光年。然后你还要对“自我”的种种伎俩非常熟悉，才能不被他所转。但是这一点同样需要很多时间和经验，你需要摔很多的跟头碰很多壁掉进很多坑吃很多苦头才可能具备。你还要有很强的觉照力，能时刻审视自己的身语意，能看到自己的每一个起心动念，不止是在座上那些很安静的时光。在座下，在那些纷乱嘈杂的环境里也能看到自己的每一个起心动念，对自己内在发生的一切洞若观火。譬如在和人吵架的时候，在和别人沟通说不清道理词穷的时候，在上班的路上边走边吃的时候，在突然接到一个难以接受的消息的时候，在任何时候��都要能看到自己的起心动念，能分辨出哪些想法的背后是贪，哪些是嗔，哪些是我慢，哪些是魔罗给你挖的坑，能够不被贪嗔痴带着走，能够当下扭转，能够不掉进魔罗设计的陷阱，或者即便掉进去也能很快爬出来。你还要对自己百分之百坦诚不自欺。你觉得有多少人能做到上述这些？当你具足这些条件的时候，你才能够在生活里修行，才能够把你的日常生活转为道用。如果是那些修到很高境界的修行者，他们需要关注的是自己是否又落入世俗的显现了，是否又落入了能所二取，是否又把自己和周围的一切当做真实存在了。刚才说到的那几种力，很多修行者恐怕一个也不具备。仅仅觉照力你就需要很多年的禅定功夫。如果你是一个非常厉害的人，在今天这种环境下，在这个到处都充斥着分心事物的时代，如果你还能够遇到真正的老师，如果他能真正的教你，如果你能听话，能真正的修行，能一直晃晃悠悠的往前走，那么你大概修二三十年可以具备。

本文于2021年10月17日首发于灵山居士新浪微博，谷歌Blogger及其他自媒体。版权所有，侵权必究。

[upismediacenter]

FEATURE: Atin Siyang Salubungin: “Prinsipe Bahaghari” ng Teatrong Mulat

“May mga umaawit na gumamela? Mga nagsasalitang ahas at pusa? Lumilipad na papet? Niloloko mo ba ako kaibigan?” Aba’y hindi! Natunghayan namin mismo ang mahiwagang pagtatanghal ng ating mga kaibigan mula sa Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas.

Anong pagtatanghal? Syempre, ano pa ba kundi ang Prinsipe Bahaghari! Nais mo ba silang makilala?

SAAN TAYO PATUNGO?

Hango sa klasikal na kwentong pambata na “The Little Prince” ni Antoine de Sainte-Exupery, ang kwento ng ating munting prinsipe ay muling binigyang-buhay ng Teatro Mulat. Sa halip na sa disyerto ng Sahara, dadalhin tayo ni Prinsipe Bahaghari sa Pilipinas upang pagmasdan ang mga hardin ng gumamela. Sino bang hindi masasabik na umawit kasama ang bagong kaibigang si Kwentista, ang mga tala, hari, at nilalang na namamalagi sa ating bayan?

Itinampok sa “Prinsipe Bahaghari” ang pagmamahal ng prinsipe sa kaniyang gumamela matapos maglakbay sa iba’t ibang mundo, at kilalanin ang iba’t ibang mga hari. May kabagalan man ang ilang bahagi ng dula, gaya ng pakikisalamuha sa mga hari, sila nama’y bumalik kasama ang mga tagpong nakakapagpabagabag! Paano nga ba umusbong ang produksyon ng gayong istorya at pagtatanghal?

ANG ATING MGA GABAY

Taong 2019 nang unang tinahak ng Teatrong Mulat ang unang mga hakbang sa pagbuo ng dula na isinulat ni Vladimeir Gonzales, sa ilalim ng direksyon ni Aina Ramolete at ng producer at assistant director na si Prop. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete. Kalaunan, ito ay nakalipad sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa online dulaan noong pandemya. At ngayong taon, muling sumabak sa paglalakbay si Prinsipe Bahaghari, at natunghayan na natin siya sa pisikal na entablado. Tunay na nga ito, kaibigan!

NGUNIT SINO NGA BA ANG TEATRONG MULAT?

Bilang pinakaunang Teatro Papet Museo sa bansa, ibinibida ng Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas ang mga sining, alamat, at kwentong-bayan mula sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Asya. Kinikilala din ang kanilang galing sa paglahok sa samot-saring paligsahan sa buong mundo. Batid niyo bang ginawaran din bilang National Artist noong 2018 ang founder nito na si Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio? Bukod pa rito, madalas din silang makikita sa mga gawaing pampamayanan kasama ang mga organisasyong tulad ng HELP Learning Center Foundation at UNICEF.

Alam mo ba na bukod sa Prinsipe Bahaghari, marami na ring isinagawang programa ang Teatrong Mulat sa mga nagdaang taon! Ang ilan sa mga ito ay ang “Dalawang Bayani” (1996) at “Ang Pagong at ang Tsonggo” (1977).

MGA BAGONG KAIBIGAN

Pinaliligiran ng sining at musika ang mundo ng Prinsipe Bahaghari. Bilang mga pangunahing tauhan, sa mga papet ibinuhos ng produksyon ang kanilang galing at kakayanang pansining—mula sa pagkulay at pagguhit, paglalaro ng mga ilaw, hanggang sa pagsulat ng mga dayalogo’t awit. Kaya naman, ating kilalanin ang ilan sa mga tao sa likod ng dula!

Tinampok sa dula ang mga tauhang puppeteers. Una na rito si Prinsipe Bahaghari, na siyang pinagalaw nina Arvy Dimaculangan, Jeremy Bravo, at Sig Pecho. Binuhay naman nina Shenn Apilado, Karlo Erfe, at Harvey Rebaya Sallador ang karakter na si Kuwentista. Para sa mga hayop, ang Pusa ay pinagalaw nina Mary Allen Asuncion, Ravelyn Emerald Dar Juan, at Cian Jes Avendaño, at si Mary Allen Asuncion naman sa Ahas. Hindi rin magpapahuli si Ravelyn Emerald Dar Juan sa pagbibigay-buhay sa tauhang si Gumamela.

Para naman sa grupong sining-biswal, pinangunahan ito ni Aina Ramolete, ang direktor at isang alumni ng UPIS. Isa rin siya sa mga mangguguhit at pangkalahatang production designer ng dula. Nilikha naman ni Clariz Caingat ang mga tauhan sa istorya, at binuhay ni Napoleon B. Rivera Jr. ang mga bidang papet. Si Steven Tansiongco naman ang nagsilbing graphics and video designer, habang si Gabo Tolentino ang tumayo bilang lights designer.

Sandali, mayroon pa! Hindi rin malilimutan ang mga sumulat at bumuo ng nakatutuwang awit na sina Arvy Dimaculangan, ang music and sound designer na galing ding UPIS, at si Jessamae Gabon, ang music composer. Naging boses ng batang prinsipe si Kherwind Zane Duron, habang isinatinig naman ni Ron Capinding ang Kuwentista. Ngunit, tandaan: marami pang mahuhusay na kaibigang sa likod nitong tanghalan!

Kung nais niyo pang tangkilikin ang kanilang mga proyekto, may publikasyon inilimbag ang Teatro ukol sa kanilang proseso ng pagbuo ng dula! Naku, hindi niyo ito nanaising palampasin! Ayon sa playwright, inaanyayahan nila tayong basahin ang kanilang librong pinamagatang “Ang Paglalakbay ni Prinsipe Bahaghari,” sa Philippine Writers Series ng UP Press at Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing. Matatagpuan ang kanilang teatro sa Amelia-Lapeña Bonifacio Theatre sa Quezon City at maaari niyo ring bisitahin ang kanilang social media sa Instagram (@mulatpuppets) at Facebook (Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas).

MGA TALANG NAGNININGNING

Naramdaman sa buong dula ang kahalagahan ng mga relasyong ito at ang pagkakabuklod natin sa isa’t isa. Sa katotohanan, unang nagkaroon ng anyo ang istorya mula sa kakilala ni Gonzales na kapwa-manlilikha sa UP, at kamag-anak din pala ng isa sa kaniyang mga unofficial mentor sa sining ng dulaan.

Makikita din ang temang ito sa direksyon ni Direk Aina. Ninais niyang gawing isang pagbibigay-pugay sa ating mga mahal sa buhay ang dula. Halimbawa nito ang kaniyang lola na nagbigay ng inspirasyon para sa tauhang si Kwentista, gayundin ang kaniyang kaibigang si Edel, na isa nang talang kumikislap sa kalangitan. Bukod dito, handog din ng direktor ang kwento sa ating mga hindi malilimutang panahon ng kabataan na nananalaytay pa rin sa ating mga puso at diwa.

HALINA’T SIMULA NA NATIN ANG ATING PAGLAKBAY!

Pagdating sa mismong dula, aba, pakiramdam namin ay bumalik kami sa aming pagkabata! Hindi ito dahil sinasabi naming pambata lang ang mga papet! Kundi dahil tunay na kahanga-hanga ang mga larawan at tagpo ng mismong palabas.

Maliit ang entablado ng Teatrong Mulat, gayunpaman, hindi ito naging hadlang sa mga ipinamalas na sining biswal at set design. Ang mismong tanghalan ay binubuo ng iba’t ibang hugis at istruktura na yari sa mga piraso ng katsa at kahoy. Gamit ang projector, inilapat ang mga larawan, salita, shadow puppets, at iba pang special effects na ipinakita sa teatro. Sa bandang gitna, may makikitang bilugang butas na naging sentro sa mga eksenang itinanghal. Gayundin, hindi nagmistulang maliit ang espasyo at nagawa nilang pagalawin ang mga papet habang sila’y nagbibiruan at nagsasayawan sa entablado. Ang lahat ng mga elementong ito ay nagbunga sa isang nakamamanghang pagtatanghal.

MGA PAPET NA LIKHA, NAKATUTUWA!

Ay, ang mga papet! Ang ating mga bida, hindi lang sa kwento kundi sa buong dula! Gawa sa rattan ang mga papet at kadalasa’y braso, ulo, at binti lamang ang gumagalaw na parte ng kanilang katawan. At isa pa, hindi sila nakapirmi lang sa isang pwesto! Sa isang papet, tatlong papetir ang nagmamando upang maging malaya ang ating mga kaibigan sa paggamit ng buong entablado. Kaya kahit hindi nagbabago ang ekspresyon ng kanilang mukha, punong-puno pa rin ng buhay ang mga papet. Isa sa mga paborito namin ay ang Pusa dahil tunay ngang malapusa kung gumalaw ito mula sa paglalakad hanggang sa pagkamot sa sariling katawan gamit ang mga paa, hindi mo mapipigilan ang sariling mapatili sa tuwa!

Nakuha naman ang loob ng mga manonood mula sa pagsasatinig sa mga tauhan pati na ng mga orihinal na kantang pinatugtog sa dula. Ubod ng husay! Talagang bibilib ka sa mga madamdaming boses sa kanilang pagpapahayag ng mga linya ng mga karakter! Kahit na medyo makaluma ang estilo ng kanilang dayalogo, hahalakhak ka pa rin sa binibitawan nilang mga biro—lalo na sa mga biro ng Kuwentista! Masigasig ang kaniyang paglalahad ng mga kwento at punong-puno ito ng karakter. Ganoon din ang ating munting prinsipe! Tiyak na ika’y maaaliw sa usapan at kalokohang namagitan sa kanilang dalawa. Mula umpisa hanggang dulo, mapupukaw ang iyong atensyon sa magandang interaksyon ng dalawang pangunahing tauhan.

At kung ito’y kulang pa, tiyak na mapapasabay ka naman sa mga awit at alindog ng mga haring nakilala ni Prinsipe Bahaghari!

ANG KANILANG MGA KWENTO

Syempre, hindi magpapahuli ang mismong kwento ni Prinsipe Bahaghari. Ang kwento ng buong dula ay punong-puno ng emosyon, tulad ng pagmamahal at pangungulila, at mas pinaangat ito ng huling tagpo nang pinaalala nila sa atin na kailangan natin magparaya at huwag ibaon ang sarili sa dalamhati. Makikita sa mga papet ang kalinga ng bawat tao sa likod ng produksyon dahil nais nilang iparamdam, ika nga ng prinsipe, na binabago tayo ayon sa pagmamahal na ibinibigay sa atin. Sa huli, ang inyong samahan at oras na ginugugol para sa isa’t isa ang nagpapabukod-tangi sa inyo mula sa iba.

Pinalalim pa ito ng paggunita at dedikasyon sa wakas ng pagtatanghal—“Para Kay Edel.” Ramdam mo na ibinuhos ng Teatrong Mulat ang kanilang pagmamahal at taos-pusong pagsisikap para lamang ihandog ang dula sa isang kaibigang wala na sa ating piling. Naging malamlam man ang pagpapatuloy, hinangad nilang maipakilala sa mga tao ang mahal na kaibigan, na tulad ni Prinsipe Bahaghari, maraming naituro at binago sa kanila. Gaya nga sa dula, sila’y tumitingala sa mga bituwin sa kalangitan, hinihiling na sana’y nakauwi at nakakapagpahinga na ang kanilang kaibigan.

SA MULING PAGKIKITA, KAIBIGAN!

Masasabi naming binago kami ng Teatro sa ipinamalas nilang talento at sa paghandog sa amin ng aliw at pagmamahal. Talagang nanaisin mong balikan ang mga tinahak na mga planeta at kamustahin ang mga kaibigang nabuo sa kwento ng batang prinsipe! Kaya, mga kaibigan, kayo’y aming iniimbitahan na kamustahin ang mga makata at manlilikha ng Teatrong Mulat! Hindi-hinding niyo ito pagsisisihan. Hanggang sa susunod na paglipad, paalam! // nina Zaeda Wadi at Eda White

[aclytes]

@southernfires gets a starter.

❛ You've been busy. ❜ A smirk tugs at Alexi's features as he holds the bulletin between calloused digits. He gives it a wave in the air as Sage approaches. The two had worked out a productive system: she writes the stories, hands them off to one of many in his network – and he has them anonymously published and distributed. The stories pass through many hands, and it isn't always a guarantee Alexi will see Sage before the final product is sent out. This is one of those times. In fact, it feels like ages since they'd last seen each other; so as soon as Alexi had gotten wind that Sage was back in the Underground, he dropped everything to be the first to greet her. He watches as she bounds towards him, yet gold-flecked hues quickly flit towards the paper in his hand. ❛ Unrest within Wall Sina, huh? If only we knew who was stirring the pot. ❜ His smirk grows wider. Another job well done, it seems.

[glaive-guisarme]

Y'all know me and my general reluctance to Do A Capitalism, but like. It's the time and I'm trying to buy my wife a new computer so here I am, Doing A Capitalism. Everything is half off, plus a completely ridiculous "buy it allllll" which amounts to about 75% off.

Highlights include:

​By the Author of Lady Windermere's Fan,​ which is the best RPG ever made about Oscar Wilde plays. This one, in addition to being a hilarious and exhausting game that will resonate with the theater kids in the audience, is just a very funny read.

​Penis 2.0.77​, which is not a "game" so much as it is a zine full of jokes about genitals. Finish off the elaborate character creation for a game that doesn't exist, entirely focused on your underwear zone. 

​Let's Rob RJ McElhenny and Steal Her Golden Quill​, which... hold up, let's check and see if Rowling has said anything this week which makes me want to cry and puke... checking... checking... and yes, of course she did, which means this game is a fucking evergreen catharsis fantasy of wizards robbing a terrible billionaire. 

​You're all lost, starving, in the snowy wilds. You need food. You must sacrifice somebody. But who? Discuss. Vote. Live., ​​​​​ which is a game whose entire text consists of that title, which maxes out the "title field" length when uploading to itch. That was made for a jam and damn if I'm not proud. 

​​o tawa​, which is to the best of my knowledge the first and only RPG written from the ground up in Toki Pona. sona mi la, musi ni li musi wan taso lon toki pona taso. musi la, sina ken tawa lon telo suli, li ken lukin e ma telo nasa, li ken pana e pona tawa jan ale. kin la, sina jo e wawa nasa kepeken nimi pi toki pona. It's a cool way to practice the language if you're learning it! 

​Wooden Sword Thespians​, which is just me going "Thirsty Sword Lesbians is pretty fun but what if instead of powerful adventurers defending your community from toxic threats, you were trying to put on a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream?" 

​And more! There's a Disco Elysium game, a Locked Tomb game, a Next Generation game, and weirder little games besides. 

Check it out. Get some games at some discounts. Laugh at my little japes and jests. Get my wife an Acer Aspire TC so she can play Binding of Isaac while she's supposed to be working. Engage in Capital with me.

[usafphantom2]

Iranian army demonstrates new kamikazes drones with 1 kg warhead

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 10/30/2023 - 14:00 in Military

The Iranian Army presented two new stray ammunition, Sina and Fateh, armed with warheads weighing between 300 and 1,000 grams, during the Eqtedar 1402 military exercises that began on October 27 in the general area of Nasrabad, in Isfahan, in central Iran.

These advanced kamikaze drones successfully demonstrated their skills by reaching designated targets, the Iranian state media reported.

The mobile assault units of the ground forces effectively employed the Sina and Fateh drones to attack stationary and mobile targets within a 10-kilometer radius. These suicide drones are designed for use in ground combat against various types of targets and have an operational autonomy of 10 to 15 minutes.

What sets Sina and Fateh drones apart is their intelligent guidance system, which allows them to track their targets from launch to impact. During the Eqtedar 1402 exercises, these drones were put to the test for the first time and effectively destroyed the intended targets.

In addition, during the second day of the Eqtedar exercises, the Ababil-4 drones demonstrated their capabilities by dropping Qaem-5 bombs at ground targets. These drones dropped vertical bombs on enemy positions, accurately reaching designated locations within a range of 7 kilometers. Flying a distance of 60 kilometers and traveling more than 50 kilometers to reach the exercise site, the Ababil-4 drones demonstrated accuracy.

Another highlight of the military exercises was the Mohajer 6 drone, which conducted an offensive operation in Nasrabad, Isfahan. This drone, equipped with a dual-beam laser-guided missile launcher, identified target areas and effectively attacked fixed ground targets with vertical bombs.

In terms of missile capabilities, Iranian military experts have extended the range of the ground and air versions of the Dehlaviyeh missile from 5.5 kilometers to 8 kilometers. Notably, the Dehlaviyeh missile launcher was recently integrated into the Army Ground Force's M113 armored personnel transport vehicles.

The Eqtedar 1402 exercises also witnessed the launch of the aerial version of the Shafaq missile, which is supposed to be carrying a 50-kg warhead at a maximum speed of Mach 2.2, with a destruction range of up to 20 kilometers.

In addition, the Almas missile, developed in-house, paired with an automatic fire control system, was presented for its ability to hit several targets in a range of 8 kilometers. The aerial version of the Almas missile was demonstrated in Bell Cobra 209 helicopters and combat drones.

Tags: Military AviationDronesmilitary exercisesIran

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[mariacallous]

When headlines scream of war, economic collapse, and rising authoritarianism, stories about women and how they drive change are often silenced. Yet women are on the front lines of every crisis and conflict. In 2022, they have pushed against entrenched interests to chip away at social norms and rules that often keep them from reaching their full potential. They have won office, changed laws, enlisted allies, and made real progress in the struggle for equality.

Since 2018, The Fuller Project has partnered with Foreign Policy to examine critical issues pertaining to women’s rights around the world. This reporting features in our shared “The Full Story” column and beyond. Here is a collection of the most profound ways women have made an impact this year, as chronicled by The Fuller Project and FP.

As we look to 2023, there is reason for hope.

1. Iran’s protest movement

Since the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s so-called morality police—which enforced strict religious rules, including an Islamic dress code—Iranian women and their allies have poured into the streets of Tehran as well as localities large and small to protest their government’s decadeslong oppression of women. Protesters are risking arrest and death: At least 481 demonstrators have so far been killed by Iranian authorities, according to reports from the Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran.

Iranian women’s bid to reclaim their rights has earned widespread international support and prompted solidarity protests in cities from Seoul to Toronto. Many Iran fans at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar even held signs emblazoned with the movement’s slogan: “Women, Life, Freedom.” Iran’s players faced swift reprisals from their government when, in support of the protesters, they refused to sing the national anthem at their opening match against England.

This month, Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Javad Montazeri, announced that the government had abolished the morality police in an apparent concession to protesters. The announcement did little to quell the unrest. As Sina Toossi argued in Foreign Policy, “it would be a mistake to assume the government’s move represents anything other than an incremental shift.”

2. Climate change advocacy

Women are disproportionately affected by climate change. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that women account for 80 percent of those displaced by climate change. Yet because women often work in the informal economy, the toll that environmental catastrophe takes on their livelihoods may be undocumented or unrecognized. The Fuller Project’s Disha Shetty reported from Pune, India, in July and found that an unbearably hot summer in South Asia led to a precipitous drop in productivity and income for women who work in or near their homes.

It should come as no surprise, then, that women are at the forefront of the global climate movement. From the Fridays for Future movement led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg—which counts 14 million members in 7,500 cities—to the Green Generation Initiative led by Kenyan activist Elizabeth Wathuti—which has planted more than 30,000 trees in that country—to the Rise Up Movement led by Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate—which works to save the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s rainforest—women have demanded and received a seat at the negotiating table. Participating countries at the U.N. climate change conference in November, known as COP27, agreed to create a “loss and damage” fund to support developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. An idea previously considered fringe, these activists helped bring loss and damage into the mainstream.

3. Latin America’s green wave

This year, a grassroots movement of women demanding reproductive autonomy continued its march across Latin America. The so-called green wave began in Rosario, Argentina, in 2003 with a gathering of 10,000 women in green bandanas who demanded the decriminalization of abortion and right to contraception in their country. It soon spread across the nation and culminated in a massive protest outside Argentina’s National Congress in 2019. In 2020, Argentina legalized abortion until 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Argentina’s green wave sparked protests in Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. In Mexico, the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that criminal prosecution for abortion is unconstitutional. This year, Colombia decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks, Ecuador legalized abortion in rape cases, and Mexico’s Quintana Roo became the last state in the country to decriminalize abortion following the 2021 court ruling.

All these steps toward reproductive rights in Latin America have appeared starker when compared to the trajectory of the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned the landmark precedent Roe v. Wade case, which had guaranteed a woman’s right to an abortion. Ten U.S. states have already enacted total bans on the procedure. Foreign Policy mapped how the U.S. downward spiral on abortion rights goes against the global current of liberalization, and The Fuller Project’s Erica Hensley chronicled how American women are fighting back.

FP’s Catherine Osborn argued that the green wave has been more successful than U.S. abortion rights activism because it is fundamentally focused on the intersection between issues. “Claims that legalizing abortion would not only promote privacy and individual choice (Roe’s linchpin) but also improve access to health care and decrease social inequalities have been key in victorious lawsuits in Latin America,” she wrote.

4. Ukraine’s women farmers

Even as Russian soldiers occupied her apricot orchard—and even as the bombs fell close enough that she could see the smoke plumes from her wheat fields—Nadiia Ivanova kept farming.

“I have 45 fields, large and small, and I found a Russian missile in each one of them,” Ivanova told Amie Ferris-Rotman, who was reporting for The Fuller Project near Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, a Ukrainian-controlled territory near the Black Sea.

She is one of some 10,000 women who run farming enterprises in Ukraine and are fighting to keep up production. Ukraine is often referred to as the breadbasket of Europe and is a large supplier of wheat to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated a global food shortage and a hunger crisis in the Middle East and Africa that disproportionately impacts women and girls. It grew so severe that the U.N. intervened over the summer to broker a deal with Turkey to ship grain safely out of Ukraine via the Black Sea.

Ukraine’s women farmers have persisted, however—housing and feeding Ukrainian soldiers as well as fighting to ensure their crops get to market. The women see food as their opportunity to do their part in the war effort.

“These are our weapons,” said farmworker Valentyna Fedorenko, holding up a bucket of fresh green cucumbers. “By feeding the people, we are equipping them to fight.

5. Afghan women resisting the Taliban

In the year since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, two decades of gains in women’s employment and education have all but disappeared. Fuller Project reporters have collaborated with Rukhshana Media, a woman-led Afghan newsroom, to document the new realities for women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan; in “The Full Story,” we have highlighted the plight of queer Afghans. The picture is grim.

The Taliban have ordered women to remain in their homes, barred women from most jobs, and reimposed mandatory face coverings for women in public. Women also may not travel without a male guardian. The new restrictions have limited women’s access to health care, education, and work. The U.N. said the lost income from barring women from the workforce could cost Afghanistan as much as 5 percent of its GDP, plunging the country into deeper poverty and exacerbating food insecurity.

Despite these setbacks, some Afghan women are rising up in rare protests—at great personal risk, reported FP’s Lynne O’Donnell. “Many activists want the world, and especially the United States, where successive administrations greased the path to the Taliban’s return to power, to do more to hold the regime to account,” she wrote.

These are stories of women fighting for rights, for themselves, and for others. Thousands more remain to be told.

[dertaglichedan]

Mark Margolis, ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ Star, Dies at 83

Mark Margolis, who portrayed the menacing, bell-ringing Hector Salamanca in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” died Thursday at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. He was 83.

His son, Morgan Margolis, announced the news.

As the former drug kingpin who continues to hover over the Albuquerque meth trade from his nursing home, Margolis left an unforgettable mark on the Vince Gilligan television universe with barely any dialogue. In 2012, he was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in “Breaking Bad.”

He returned as Hector “Tío” Salamanca for five seasons in the Bob Odenkirk-led prequel series “Better Call Saul,” where he infused a rich backstory into the character.

Born in 1939 in Philadelphia, Margolis moved to New York at a young age to pursue acting. With an early interest in theater, he landed roles in productions such as “Infidel Caesar” on Broadway. He would go on to appear in more than 50 Off-Broadway plays, including “Uncle Sam” and “The Golem.”

His breakout film role was in Brian De Palma’s mob classic “Scarface,” in which Margolis played the villain and bodyguard Alberto, aka The Shadow. A longtime collaborator of Darren Aronofsky, Margolis also appeared in “Noah,” “Black Swan,” “The Wrestler” and “Pi.” He boasts over 70 film credits across five decades.

Outside of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” Margolis had recurring roles in television series including “The Equalizer,” “Oz,” “Kings” and “American Horror Story: Asylum,” and guest starred on “Californication,” “Gotham,” “Crossing Jordan” and “The Affair.”

Bryan Cranston said on Instagram, “Mark Margolis was a really good actor and a lovely human being. Fun and engaging off the set, and (in the case of Breaking Bad and Your Honor) intimidating and frightening on set. His quiet energy belied his mischievous nature and curious mind… And he loved sharing a good joke.”

[nomadshotph]

BTS from the movie Hintayan Ng Langit set.

Year: 2018

Location: Manila Central Post Office

Nakakalungkot makita sa balita ang sinapit ng makasasayang gusali ng Manila Central Post Office.

Una kong nasilayan ang ganda at tikas ng gusaling ito nung ako ay college sa Adamson University. Sa labas ng MCPO ang hintayan ng mga pasaherong byaheng Sucat. Dito ang terminal ng mga Tamaraw FX (wala na atang umaandar na Tamaraw FX ngayon 😅). Minsan sa MCPO din nagaganap ang mga meeting kasama ang mga org mates mula sa mga kalapit na universities. Marami akong masasayang alaala sa MCPO. 😊

Year 2018. Nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na maging parte ng production ng pelikulang Hintayan Ng Langit sa direksyon ni direk Dan Villegas kasama si direk Antoinette Jadaone at pinagbibidahan ng mga batikang aktor na sina Gina Pareño at Eddie Garcia. Ilan sa mga eksena ay kinunan sa loob ng MCPO. Nakasama ko din sa proyektong ito ang aking mga fellow film campers na sina Geo Lomuntad, Dayann Joie at si Winstone Arradaza. 😂

Nuong linggo (May 21, 2023), bumisita ako sa katapat nitong gusali na The Metropolitan Theater (isa ring makasasayang gusali). Dun ko na lang ulit na sulyapan ang MCPO. Hindi ko akalain na yun na pala ang huling pagkakataon na makikita ko ang ganda nito. 😢

Nostalgic. 🥹 Ngunit sa kabila ng mga pangyayari, naniniwala ako na muling magbabalik ang MCPO gaya ng matagumpay na pagbuhay sa The Metropolitan Theatre. Sana! #taposnakwento #ayunlang

#manilacentralpostoffice #hintayannglangit

[rainbowsky]

Happy Monday Rainbow,

What do you think about GG’s Sina Weibo interview where he said he wanted to watch The Whale movie which explores a bit about homosexuality?

Hi Anon!

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand I am happy that he's yet again connecting himself with queer media, but on the other hand I feel sad because the movie isn't representation, it's exploitation.

I find the entire idea of the film, what it's about and how it was made totally offensive. Yet more queer misery porn, yet more fatphobia in the media. That we are in 2023 and still seeing films that employ fatsuits is utterly disgusting. That we are in 2023 and still seeing portrayals of queerness that heteronormative people can congratulate themselves for crying over is infuriating to say the least.

The Whale can join a long line of queer torture porn that we've seen through the course of decades.

Nothing about the film or its production respects the lived experience of people like Charlie. People like Charlie don't get a voice or a place of respect in our world or on our screens.

The backlash against ‘The Whale’ is telling us all something important

Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale is an act of hate disguised as tough love

From One Whale to Another: Watching ‘The Whale’ as a Fat Queer Man

‘Looking’ Actor Daniel Franzese on Why He’s “Conflicted” Over Brendan Fraser’s Casting in ‘The Whale’

“The biggest problem we have right now in our industry is that people like me and my colleagues can’t really sell movies overseas if we are actually queer because the world is homophobic,” he said. “Even if America is ready for a gay person in the lead like that, they have a hard time selling the movie overseas, so they get scared.”

These kind of depictions only further dehumanize, distort and patholigize the cultural understanding of some of the world's most marginalized, maligned and targeted people. There are real consequences for this kind of media. It causes real harm to real people, yet it continues to be produced and celebrated. 😔