#switzerland doesn’t exist in-universe

[yuwuta]

I HAD TO HAVE THIS TALK WITH YOU, CAUSE I’D HATE TO HAVE TO ACT A FOOL — MEGUMI FUHSIGURO

cw this exists in the same rich kids/boarding school au as this piece, which are slowly forming their own universe, implied (past) drug use/underage drinking, more of megumi being your guard dog everybody cheer

Megumi scowls as yet another phone call goes to voicemail. He’s been standing outside the racetrack for fifteen minutes, watching Yuuji absolutely pummel Aoi in polo, and waiting for you. He huffs, just as Yuuji loudly celebrates another point, thumbing a text to Yuuta, asking if he’s seen you all morning. Yuuji claimed you’d left him all by himself after your shared morning class, Nobara was still in Switzerland, and Tsumiki also seemed to be ignoring his messages. 

He needed answers, and quickly, because this is the free period that Muta and his goons also have free, and he would hate to go back on his promise to stop egging him so soon after you’d asked him so sweetly to knock it off. 

Yuuta (received 12:57pm) — She’s fine, Tsumiki and I are with her. Picnic tables outside of the building 703. — Warning, your least favorite upperclassmen are here too, but don’t make a scene. They’re annoying, but not trouble yet. 

Megumi squints, turning on his heels towards the large building opposite the racetracks. As he rounds the side that opens into a field, formally known as one the many lawns dedicated in the Gojo family’s name, and informally revered as your favorite lunchtime spot, he hears the familiar sound of Tsumiki’s laughter, and the unpleasant squawking of his least favorite upperclassmen. 

Seeing you, Yuuta, and Tsumiki sitting at the picnic bench under the blooming wisteria was business as usual; seeing Hakari and another senior infiltrating the seating arrangement was not. Megumi frowns, strolling up to the table to halt the conversation when he’s noticed by you, and sized up by the upperclassman. 

“Oh, uh—hey, I—good afternoon, Fushiguro!” the other senior has the decency to greet him, stumbling with their overly-chipper tone. Megumi eyes them and blinks. Their face is a familiar shadow to Hakari’s, but he never could recall their name, no matter how many times he had the displeasure of running into the duo.  

“It was,” Megumi drawls. He turns his head to face you again, “You’re late.” 

From this angle, you have to tilt your head up to make eye contact with him. There’s an innocence behind your eyes, genuine warning, weary concern; and still, so beautiful it makes Megumi’s thoughts venture elsewhere—only for a moment; he supposes he should be grateful for Hakari’s presence, just this once, because the interjection of his grating voice pulls Megumi back to reality. 

“Relax, Fushiguro, we were all just talking, having a good time,” Hakari whistles, a dirty grin on his lips, “Ain’t that right, Kirara?” 

Ah, Kirara. That’s their name. Megumi doesn’t have time to mull it over, or pretend to commit it to memory; the majority of his energy is focused on preventing himself from throwing a punch. Briefly, he makes eye-contact with Tsumiki, a silent warning in her eyes to not be violent; so Megumi looks to the other side of the table at Yuuta, whose hollow eyes are apologetic, but cautious. Megumi can tell they’ve both been doing their best to neutralize the conversation before he arrived, without setting off your own alarm bells. 

They’ve been patient, but he won’t be: “Get lost, Hakari.” 

“Whoah, no need to rush things. Come on, I didn’t even get a chance to invite you to our party yet,” Hakari’s grin widens, “I just figured I’d get your owner on board before I pet the puppy, yeah?” 

Tsumiki and Yuuta share a look. Megumi bares teeth to growl, rests his palms on the picnic table and leans over to deliver his message again, “Get lost.” 

“Kin, don’t be so rude!” Megumi can hear Kirara’s teeth chattering beside him, a chittering voice attempting to cut through the tension, “What—what he means is that you’re all invited, really!” 

Megumi turns his head, not to acknowledge Kirara or to back down to Hakari, but to look at you. He knows that you know that there are three options to how this ends, and given that he’s already got a strike in your book for bullying Kokichi, and that Yuuta’s route would cause significantly more drama than his, he’s hoping you’ll settle this yourself. 

He tilts his head just enough, raised eyebrows in warning and wait; and then, you give a conceding blink, a small sigh, part your lips to speak, still looking at Megumi when you say: “Hakari, Kirara, you two should grab lunch. They’re going to stop serving the hot food soon.” 

A command hidden as a suggestion. It makes the upperclassmen scowl, but still Hakari motions across the table to Kirara, and they both gather their belongings. “Whatever,” he scoffs, “You know where to find us when you want to have some real fun.” 

Hakari flashes you a wink over his shoulder before he and Kirara make their way around the building and towards the main dining hall. When they’re out of earshot, you smile, look away from Megumi, and back down to your lunch, grabbing the single, wrapped daifuku and tearing open the packaging, before looking back up to him with a smile, “Well, have a seat, Megumi. Join us.” 

Megumi scoffs, standing up straight again, “You’re supposed to be in a meeting with Gojo right now.” 

“I already had Yuuta do my bidding this morning, because he was so sweet to wake up before noon,” you reply, taking the desert out of the plastic, flashing Yuuta a brief smile before looking up to him again, “So I told him lunch was on me, and we ran into Tsumiki on our way. It’s so nice out, isn’t it? Come on, sit with us, enjoy the weather. Yuuta was telling us about the new coup he bought.”

Tsumiki chimes in about her lunch, looking over at Yuuta’s half-eaten tray and wishing she’d got beef instead of chicken. He offers her what’s left of his plate, and she politely declines, before Yuuta insists, pushing his food across the table to her, and you pitch in, putting the remainder of your sauce next to her. The three of you seem to easily pick up where your conversation was presumably before Hakari and Kirara crashed your lunch. 

Megumi’s scowl deepens. He knows that you know that he wants to know why Hakari and Kirara were here in the first place, he knows that you know that their party invitation was just a scheme to get you into trouble and get a rise out of him, he knows that you know he’s going to kick their asses six ways to Sunday unless you tell him not you. 

“Megumi,” you cut through his thoughts, words noticeably heavier, “Sit.” 

He rolls his tongue in his cheek, and you squint a bit, tilting your head to motion to the empty space beside you on the bench. You only spare him a sharp glance, before giving your attention back to Tsumiki, clapping happily as she shows you something she bought on her phone. 

With a huff, Megumi rounds the table, sets his bag down on the soft grass and swings his legs over the bench and next to you. Tsumiki turns her phone to Yuuta, and your attention is back to Megumi, breaking your daifuku in half and offering a piece to him. He puts an elbow on the table, leans his cheek into his palm, a defiant expression on his face you pay no mind to—you scrunch your nose with a deceptive smile, bringing the mochi to his lips, and opening your mouth mockingly for him to follow. He blinks at you, slowly; once, twice, a third time before his head dips every so slightly, mouth a jar, letting you place the dessert between his teeth. Only after he has it in his mouth do you begin to eat your half, sparing a hand to raise your arm and pat the top of his head, “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” 

Megumi tilts his head further into his palm. “You didn’t answer my calls.” 

“When you called, I was eating lunch. It’s rude to take calls when you have company,” you defend yourself. 

“Yuuta answered my texts.”

“Yuuta is scared of you,” you chirp, “And unlike you, he cares to not have write-ups on his transcript. He keeps his physical encounters off-campus.” 

“I am not scared of Megumi,” Yuuta scoffs, leaning over to poke at your forehead, “I’m scared of Tsumiki. And I did not want to be scolded for getting blood on her new Chanel skirt.” 

Between the two of them, Yuuta was certainly the more reformed one; it only took one incident of Tsumiki pulling at his ear and scolding him about using his words instead of his fists for him to actually listen to her. Megumi couldn’t blame him, Tsumiki was hellish when she was truly angry, and he feared Tsumiki as much as the next person, but he also knew how she had a soft spot for her younger brother; a mercy that Yuuta, Yuuji, and Nobara were not privy to when their violent streaks got the best of them. 

Besides, when Tsumiki couldn’t get to him, you were there to tug on his leash and reign him in. 

“Wimp,” Tsumiki coughs, “And simp,” she taunts her brother, “We ought to pick new bodyguards in our next life.”

You laugh softly at her teasing, but still, you rest your elbow on the table to mirror Megumi’s position, “You’re right. I call dibs on Yuuji.” 

Your joke makes the others laugh, and Megumi rolls his eyes as you all chuckle. Still, he shifts to lean his head against your shoulder, sly as he knocks his head against your neck and reminds you of a simple fact: “That’s too bad. You’re stuck with me, in this life and the next.”

[oddygaul]

the REDLINE manifesto

In honor of my second DIY screening of Redline, here is, at long last, a prettied-up version of my most popular reddit post, an unabashed love letter to my favorite movie. Most of this is probably less groundbreaking than it was when I first posted it a decade(!) ago, but whatever, the internet needs more Redline content anyway.

REDLINE Trivia

–JP stands for Joshua Punkhead, and in the very first draft he had 26 children and raced to pay off his child support. Also, the catchy moniker ‘Sweet JP’? English-only… the original Japanese gets the mouthful ‘very sweet weaponless prince’.

–You'd be hard-pressed to tell without looking into the lore a bit, but Miki & Todoroki are damn near the only actual humans in the movie; everyone else is some species of alien. Some are obvious, like Shinkai (Oceanic/Chikulun hybrid) and Trava (Anista tribe), but even the most human-like characters are some other race. Sonoshee, for example, is listed as being half human, half Oceanic tribe (海洋族). 

The most curious case, though, is JP. While it'd be easy to assume he's human, there's a lot of details that don't add up: his unique elf ears, his super-lanky-even-for-a-Koike-character-design physique, the fact that his race is conspicuously redacted on his bail sheet… and his seeming immunity to death. Seriously, bro crashes every single thing he drives in the whole movie, then emerges unscathed with just a fiery flash of the eyes – that ain’t normal. If I had to wildly speculate, and I do, I’d put money that he’s somehow linked to Mikuru and the Giant species, as seen in Trava: Fist Planet. The physique matches, the Giants have displayed some preternatural healing abilities, and Trava lays the groundwork for a few other threads in Redline (namely, the existence of bioweapons and Shinkai & Trava’s past military experience), so there’s precedence. Maybe one day we’ll find out for sure…

–We all know and love Funky Boy thanks to the Roboworld president’s endless tirades. But the giant data-motivated crocodile monster Volton fuses with to engage Funky Boy in thrilling combat? She is a lady, and her name is Wire Girl.

–All of Redline’s vehicle and mechanical designs are nuts – they’re insanely complicated and filled with organic curves and details. Despite the immense difficulty of keeping such complex designs consistent, every mechanical shot is hand-drawn, without the aid of any CG. To help the animators stay on-target while drawing, the team made some sweet-ass production models for them to reference. What I wouldn’t give to own one of these…

–Before deciding on Redline being a film, writer Katsuhito Ishii and director Takeshi Koike considered making a TV series. Initial writers’ meetings saw the team fleshing out a comprehensive story bible about the setting: it included not only a wide-scope view of the universe and its history, but also detailed backstories for each racer. Even after deciding to make a feature film, Redline’s initial script gave each racer as much time and focus as the final cut gives to JP & Sonoshee; all of this was, unfortunately, cut for time. According to Ishii, though, much of this ancillary information made it into the novelization…

one day my Japanese will be good enough to read you ;_;

–Confused about why the movie ends with that sparkly, PowerPoint-ass ~LOVE~? Well, you shouldn’t be – Redline is ‘unabashedly dumb’, after all, per Ishii – but there is a little context. Over the course of the movie’s 7-year production, Koike and Yukiko (a producer on the film) fell in love, tying the knot in Switzerland just before Redline’s world premiere. If that doesn’t justify the ending for you, I don’t know what could.

–This isn't trivia but idk where else to put this stupid-ass Lynchman meme I made

Subtext you may have missed on first watch

–Machine Head is Sonoshee's estranged father?!

Crazy, I know, but hear me out. 

First of all, Redline unambiguously shows the viewer that Sonoshee and Machine Head have some sort of pre-existing relationship, the nature of which isn’t explicitly clarified. 

At the Oasis restaurant, Sonoshee tells JP she's waiting for someone; it may sound like she's simply brushing him off, but the moment Machine Head enters the scene, Sonoshee perks up and waves to him. When the Crab Sonoshee is flipped by missile fire during the Redline race, we get exactly two (2) Dramatic Anime Freezeframes: JP and Machine Head, implying those two, out of everyone, care the most about Sonoshee. During the final stretch of the race, as Machine Head prepares to pop his steamlight, he is not only aware that Sonoshee also has one, he taunts her about it:

“I see you still have your steamlight – got the guts to use it this time?”

JP even draws attention to the fact that Sonoshee’s looks identical to Tetsujin’s. Finally, though this is certainly ancillary, it is interesting to note that the exact moment Godwing loses its structural stability is right after JP declares he’s going to win because he, not Machine Head, has Sonoshee at his side.

So let’s line this up with what backstory we definitively know. As stated above, Sonoshee is a human / Oceanic hybrid; Machine Head, though his body has been modified beyond recognition, is referred to the same way. While talking to JP about the steamlight, Sonoshee says her father is the one that gave it to her, then describes him as a skilled racer who ran a junk joint. In that same conversation, when JP suggests she’s too focused on racing at the expense of personal relationships, she bristles and tries to end the conversation. During the flashback of young Sonoshee racing, her reaction to crashing is intense: she’s clearly holding herself to a higher standard, and is already dead set on racing in the Redline someday.

Now, there’s other plausible explanations for all this; maybe there’s just a romantic entanglement between Sonoshee and Machine Head, with JP barging in as the third vertex of a love triangle. But is that the most likely scenario for two people constantly characterized as putting racing before any personal matters?

No, I think Machine Head is Sonoshee’s father. 

Picture it: Machine Head raised Sonoshee at his junk joint, so she grew up around racing and car modification. After seeing success on the circuits, Machine Head stopped being content with mere victory, and started spending all his time and energy modifying his body, pushing himself farther and farther. Sonoshee, feeling neglected and cast aside, turned to racing, seeing it as the only way to get her father’s attention. This lead to her perfectionism complex; if she’s not the very best, why would the King of Kings ever look her way?

Anyway, while it’s not confirmed in the text, I think there’s so many hints it might as well be. It makes JP and Sonoshee’s romance a lot more interesting, too. Their arc isn’t just two people falling in love, it’s about Sonoshee moving past the trauma of her father’s emotional abandonment and opening up to someone new. After JP explains his match fixing history in the climax, Sonoshee isn’t placated because he told the truth, she’s fired up seeing the strength of JP and Frisbee’s friendship: she sees the folly of chasing approval from her absent father, and that she could instead be forming bonds with friends who support her unconditionally. She can race for herself.

Koike and Ishii said Redline is about adult friendships, after all!

pictured: the most romantic kiss in cinema history

–The Redline race is, in fact, underhanded political maneuvering

Now, this one is sorta just The Plot Of The Movie, but I feel like there’s so much going on in Redline people often don’t connect these dots. 

We all laugh at the Roboworld president’s hammy word salad:

“I wonder if this might be some kind of ploy by our enemies to infiltrate our borders. If that’s true, do you realize Roboworld’s military secrets could be at risk here? We’d be exposed!!”

…but he’s… kinda right, though?

At the time of the movie, the M3 Nebula has just emerged from two devastating interplanetary wars. The galaxy’s superpowers are under a tenuous peace agreement – one of the most important stipulations of which is a ban on the use and development of “bioweapons”, which in the Redline universe are less ‘weaponized bacterial strains’ and more ‘gargantuan synthetic monsters that can be deployed to wreak unthinkable destruction’. Despite this ban, the government of Roboworld has been continuing with bioweapon development unabated… and not only does Planet Supergrass seem to be aware of these violations, it really seems like they’re leveraging all their soft power to expose them.

Now, we know Supergrass is generally involved with the Redline final. As a member of the Redline Committee, they have a reason to be involved; they’re helping out with nuts & bolts logistical stuff, like transporting the racers to the course and prepping the finish line. But when you consider the significant, tangible political blows dealt to Roboworld by the race – Funky Boy and Wire Girl’s presumed destruction, Roboworld’s violation of the bioweapon treaty being broadly exposed to the public, the decimation of Roboworld’s military – the long string of coincidences that got us to that point start to seem a little suspicious.

Who pushed for the Redline final to be held on such a hostile planet? Who knew about Roboworld’s experimental orbital laser cannon – a project so tightly under wraps even their president only learns about it during the race – and hired contractors to sabotage it? Who organized a group of malcontents to attack both Roboworld’s power relay station and Funky Boy’s containment creche, right when such disruptions would be the most impactful? And who decided the race’s crucial middle stretch should go right over the restricted military zone housing said creche?

Supergrass has the motive and the means – plus, the race is already illegal, so what can Roboworld do, sue them about it? No sir, that Princess is on some subterfuge shit, and Secretary Titan, that shady fuck, is her inside man. And you can take that to the bank.

Craving more REDLINE?

Unfortunately, due to the movie’s commercial failure, there’s not much else in the franchise. The Redline production pilot is fucking sick, though, and there’s Trava: Fist Planet, an OVA by Koike & Ishii that predates Redline and focuses on Trava and Shinkai’s misadventures. While Trava never got the continuation it deserved, they did make a trailer for season 2... ahh, what could have been.

If you’re just after more of Takeshi Koike’s mind-blowing animation, there’s only a scant few projects in his trademark black-filled style. His most well-known work is probably the Samurai Champloo OP, or maybe World Record from The Animatrix (can’t find a link for that one, but y’know, do your thing). Koike also contributed animation to two other Ishii films: an extended intro for Party 7, and this aggressively horny dance sequence for Funky Forest. Back at Madhouse, it seems the studio liked to use Koike as a bait-and-switch, letting him direct lavish production pilots to secure adaptation rights then switching the staff up for the full production. Feels kind of scummy, but we got the immense Afro Samurai Pilot and Iron Man Pilot out of it. Finally, he made the series of Love shorts for SMAPxSMAP, the SMAP variety show, which are as dope as they are low-res.

I really wanna know if Koike was the one ballin out to CYNE and Gang Starr for this

—

And finally, as I threatened in my last post about Redline: let’s talk thematic depth.

~Thematic Depth~

In conversations online, Redline is often given this caveat of just being ‘eye candy’, or hit with the classic ‘style over substance’ cliche. Now, the phrase ‘style over substance’ has always bothered me, generally – it feels like it comes from folks who have never tried to make art before, who make light of the painstaking work and dedication that goes into creating anything – but it particularly frustrates me in animation. The process of animation is such an absurd, masochistic timesink that it’s a wonder anything ever gets finished at all; something this ambitious being finished, with this level of consistency and polish, is nothing short of a miracle, and to simply call that ‘style’ massively undervalues the whole endeavor. 

Because, make no mistake, Redline is ambitious as hell from a visual standpoint. The consistent focus on kinetic motion and speed, buoyed by Koike’s masterful use of exaggerated perspective, spatial distortion, and dynamic camera work; lots of moving, hand-drawn backgrounds instead of matte pans; lively crowd animation in most scenes; remarkably expressive, constant character animation that imbues personality to every character and never settles for industry standard lip flap dialogue… and all of this using incredibly complex character & mechanical designs, many of which feature distinct alien physiology, and a rendering style with bold, detailed shadows that would be more at home in illustration than animation. It is truly a singular work.

And the thing is, that wild ambition and unfailing dedication to the craft is the message.

The very first moments of Redline, before we see a single car or alien, are a brief series of title cards. I think most first-time viewers, and even many repeat viewers, immediately forget these words seconds after reading them due to the famously high-octane opening act. They read:

“In the far distant future, when cars are giving up their wheels in the changeover to air-cars, there still exist stubborn fools who carry on a vanishing spirit of racing…”

It’s easy to pass over this narration because, well, Redline simply isn’t about this conflict. We don’t see a single air-car racer, and there is no on-screen depiction of this purported old-school / new-school racing divide. So why is it here?

Because it’s the thesis of the whole damn project. Redline is about a group of old-school animation industry vets coming to terms with a changed industry that doesn’t support the type of art they want to create anymore, and their determination to pour their hearts into one last, stupid, beautiful swan song.

Madhouse was founded in 1972 by a group of ex-Mushi Pro staff, including Masao Maruyama and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. A response to Mushi Pro’s shoestring budgets and spartan timelines, the goal of studio Madhouse was to create production schedules where animators could flourish, rather than choosing the cheaper route; as Maruyama puts it, their mission statement was to ‘create animation other people aren’t interested in creating’. And, well, for decades, that’s what they did – Madhouse consistently gave a platform to idiosyncratic creators and produced incredible results. Their film canon includes pivotal productions like Kawajiri’s Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, Rintaro’s Metropolis, every single Satoshi Kon production from Perfect Blue to Paprika, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, the film that launched Mamoru Hosoda into stardom. While their TV output might be seen as more workmanlike, they were still dedicated to creating original stories. For example, despite his proven track record, Masaaki Yuasa was unable to secure funding and creative freedom anywhere else but Madhouse, with whom he produced Kemonozume, Kaiba, and The Tatami Galaxy prior to the establishment of Science Saru.

Takeshi Koike’s formative years as an animator were during this golden era of Madhouse. Poached directly out of high school by Yoshiaki Kawajiri himself, Koike was taken under his wing – his first job as a professional animator was inbetweening for Wicked City, and he’d moved up to key animation roles just one year later. I think Kawajiri’s intent was for Koike to be his protege; in this boom era of animation, with high-budget feature films and OVAs as the de facto standard, creative vision and a unique style is what you’d look for in an up-and-coming director, and Koike had both of these in spades. For a time, this pathway seemed almost assured; Koike’s big-league directing debut on The Animatrix produced one of its most well-received shorts, even amidst an anthology stacked with superstar creative talent.

Unfortunately, the turn of the millennium brought a lot of change for Madhouse and the industry at large. Budgets shrank, and production schedules started trending towards today’s unsustainable nightmare grind. CGI became ubiquitous not for the unique shots and compositions it allows for, but as a corner-cutting method for complicated actors like vehicles or mechas. A certain homogeneity and tendency toward ‘safe’, appealing designs and premises took hold; what good is your off-the-wall, creative worldbuilding idea when the anime industry revolves around merch sales, and generic moe waifus are outselling your original IP ten-to-one? All these industry vets could see the writing on the wall: animation would survive, but things were changing, and the ideals they’d founded their studio around were becoming untenable.

So I genuinely believe Redline is a parting shot from the old guard, a celebration of the era of the industry they cut their teeth on, one last lush, extravagant farewell before they passed the torch to the next generation. Maybe not from the start, sure, but after years of troubled development, progressing slowly due to the team’s meticulous vision, I think they rallied around the cause, dead set on making a masterwork, no matter what. Just look at the talent they attracted, the staff list reads like a best-of: Shinya Ohira, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Sushio, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Sayo Yamamoto, Katsuya Yamada, Takafumi Hori. 

And that’s where we come back to that opening message, about those stubborn fools. Suddenly, that movie chock-full of characters putting everything on the line for their passions feels a lot more personal. Koike is JP, the traditional [animation / racing ] purist who’s become an anachronism and just wants to be able to do things his way; Kawajiri as the God of Racing, who JP’s looked up to since he was younger, giving him one last thumbs as he achieves his goals; and Maruyama as Frisbee, putting his livelihood in danger to buy his team the time and money they need for one last gig, who wants to see his friend finish the damn thing on his own terms, just this once. 

In a way, it makes it heartbreaking that Redline performed financially as poorly as it did; Japan’s frosty reception to the movie is at such odds with the fervor of its creators. But you know what? Redline exists, and it exists without compromises. They did what they set out to do. They made it across that finish line.

—

[merthosus]

Bully

Summary: Rick had a long day and, everybody knew, if his day was bad, he will do everything, that yours will be too. But making fun of your body was just too much.

I am back again on track guys!So send me things I can write, COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN AGAIN!!!

"Walk faster fatty, I don't want to look at you that long"

Rick paid you as much as a senior doctor in Switzerland, but despite the high salary, it wasn't enough to compensate for his constant insults. You put up with them, day after day, but today you were more sensitive than usual.

You didn't know why yourself, maybe it was the weather. Every time something wasn't right, you blamed it on the weather, Rick didn't like that at all, he would explain to you for hours how the weather couldn't affect people's emotions.

“Rick?” you ask, looking at him. He's sitting on the sofa, both his arms wide open and his upper body pressed into the couch. “Yessss…” he groans when he hears your voice.

He lets his head fall back. “I'm done with the brain cell decelerator, can you take a look at it?” you ask him. His head bobs up. Sometimes you ask me why you took the job in the first place. But the five-digit number that appeared on your bank account at the end of each month told me why.

“You can see I'm busy right now, can't you?” he asks me. You look at him and then at the TV, which is enjoying his full attention. “Please Rick, I've been watching it all day…” I try to explain. “Get away from the tv, now. You're getting on my nerves!” says Rick, annoyed.

I look out of the window and see nothing but darkness, I try to distract myself with something so I don't shout at him. “It would be really nice if you could just find two minutes for me to finish my…”; before I can finish my sentence, he interrupts me.

“Walk faster fatty, I don't want to look at you that long,” he says.

Your breath catches, and for a moment, you think you must have misheard him. But there he is, sprawled out on the couch, that arrogant smirk on his face, not even sparing you a glance as his eyes stay glued to the damned TV. His words echo in your head, heavy as lead, and you feel the familiar wave of insecurity crashing over you.

You’ve always felt uncomfortable in your body. You’d learned to fake the smiles, to use humor as armor, to brush off the small stings of insensitive remarks like they didn’t bother you. But this… this wasn’t small. This was Rick, the man you spent countless hours working for, tolerating his abuse, trying to impress despite knowing it was probably futile. And now, he’d said the one thing he knew would cut the deepest.

You swallow hard, the lump in your throat burning. Your hands curl into fists at your sides, but your voice comes out quiet, trembling. “You didn’t need to say that.”

Rick finally looks at you, tilting his head as if you’re some fascinating, irritating puzzle he can’t quite figure out. “Oh, what? Did I hurt your feelings? Geez, I thought you science types were supposed to have thick skin.” He chuckles at his own awful pun, his lack of self-awareness somehow making it worse.

The ache in your chest twists into something sharper—anger. “You knew exactly what you were doing, Rick,” you say, louder this time, your voice firm despite the sting in your eyes. “You know how I feel about my body, and you said it anyway. Why? Just get me off your view?”

He scoffs, waving his hand dismissively. “Oh, come on, don’t be so dramatic. I’m not your therapist, alright? I’m your boss. You think I have time to tiptoe around your feelings when we’re dealing with the universe here? Get over it.”

You stare at him, your heart sinking further with every word. His dismissive tone, his refusal to acknowledge how much his comment hurt—it’s like a punch to the gut. Without another word, you turn on your heel and head out of the living room. Rick doesn’t stop you, doesn’t call after you. It’s like you don’t even exist to him unless you’re useful.

The garage is cold, cluttered, and familiar. It’s where you’ve spent countless hours working on Rick’s insane inventions, deciphering his erratic notes, and trying to prove your worth to someone who never seems to care. You sit at the workbench and stare at the brain cell decelerator, your vision blurring with tears you refuse to let fall.

Why do you stay? You know the answer. The money, sure—but it’s not just that. There’s something about Rick, some spark of brilliance buried beneath the insults and the chaos, that makes you want to stick around. Maybe you’re a fool for thinking he sees anything in you beyond a tool to get his work done. Maybe that’s all you’ll ever be.

As you tighten a loose wire on the device, you hear the creak of the garage door opening behind you. You don’t look up. The last thing you want is to see his smug face.

“Hey,” Rick says, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

You don’t answer. Instead, you focus on the decelerator, twisting a screw into place with more force than necessary.

He sighs, a long, exaggerated sound like this is somehow hard for him. “Look, I didn’t mean to—ugh, shit—hurt your feelings or whatever.”

You pause, your hand stilling over the screwdriver. That’s the closest thing to an apology you’ve ever gotten from him. Slowly, you turn to face him. “You think that’s enough, Rick? After what you said?”

He winces, scratching the back of his neck. “No, it’s not enough. But, uh... I’m not great at this whole ‘feelings’ thing, alright? I say dumb crap sometimes. Most of the time.” His gaze darts to the floor, then back to you, and for once, there’s no smugness, no condescension. Just... Rick.

“You’re not just some—you know—assistant or whatever to me,” he continues, his words halting and awkward. “You’re... important. To me. And not just ‘cause you’re good at fixing my shit. I mean, you are, but that’s not the point.”

Your heart twists painfully at his stumbling attempt to make things right. “Then why did you say it? You know how I feel about... me.”

He steps closer, his hands shoved deep into his lab coat pockets. “Because I’m an asshole, alright? That’s my default setting. But I didn’t mean it. I don’t see you like that. Hell, if anything, you’re—you’re better than me. Smarter, kinder, less of a jackass. I don’t deserve you hanging around me all the time.”

You blink at him, stunned. Rick Sanchez, the self-proclaimed smartest man in the universe, admitting he’s wrong? Saying he doesn’t deserve you?

Rick shifts uncomfortably, his gaze flickering from the floor to your eyes. There's an edge of vulnerability in his voice, something that doesn't quite fit with the persona he usually wears so proudly. “And, uh... I guess I don’t always know how to say the right thing, but, you know... your body—” He hesitates, as if the words are foreign to him, like they don’t quite belong in his vocabulary.

You raise an eyebrow, unsure of where this is going, but curious nonetheless. “What about it?” you ask, trying to mask the uncertainty in your voice.

He bites his lip, running a hand through his hair in frustration before continuing. “I’ve—look, I’ve noticed, alright? You’ve got this... this perfect, goddamn body. Every time I look at you, it’s like... I don’t know, it’s like I can’t even concentrate. But I mess it up, I know. I always do. I just... don’t always know how to... handle it.”

You can’t help the surprise that flashes across your face, his words so unlike the insults he’s always thrown your way. The way he speaks now, almost like he's struggling with some unfamiliar emotion, it catches you off guard.

"Rick, you're... you're not serious," you murmur, still processing what he’s said. "You’ve always... always put me down."

Rick looks at you, frustration mixed with something deeper flickering in his eyes. “Yeah, well, I’m trying to fix that, alright? It’s just... I can’t keep pretending like you’re not... perfect. I don’t know why I keep doing it, but I guess it’s because I don’t know what to do with someone like you.” His words are laced with an honesty that makes your heart race, something raw that you’ve never heard from him before.

You take a step closer, suddenly feeling the air between you crackle with tension. It’s so strange, this shift in him, this softness you never expected from someone like Rick Sanchez.

He exhales sharply, his voice growing quieter. “You’re everything I could ever want, you know? But you’re also the last person I’d expect to be interested in someone like me. So, I get defensive... I act like an idiot. I try to keep you at arm's length.”

Before you can respond, Rick moves toward you, closing the distance in a few short steps. His hands, trembling slightly, reach out to gently cup your face, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down your spine. “I don’t want to hurt you. But I think you deserve to know that... you’re perfect. Your body... the way you move, the way you look at me... it drives me crazy. But in a good way. It always has.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and vulnerable, and for the first time, you see him—really see him—as someone who’s just as imperfect, just as flawed, as you are.

Without thinking, you lean into him, your lips brushing against his in a soft, tentative kiss. The world fades around you, and in that moment, it’s just the two of you—finally connecting in a way that feels honest, without the layers of sarcasm, without the walls he’s always built around himself.

Rick pulls back slightly, his breathing ragged, as he looks into your eyes with something almost tender in his gaze. His lips curl into something resembling a smile, but it's filled with an emotion you’ve never seen before. “Yeah... that’s what I wanted to say,” he mutters, his voice low and husky.

Hope you liked it!

[veritas-scribblings]

welcome - @jegulus-microfic - words: 843

[Exists within the same universe as ‘safe’ and ‘more’]

It’s raining, night-time, when Regulus shows up at the Potter home. A full school term ago, Sirius had been the one standing in his place and since then, their relationship has been broken. Not that they had ever really seen eye-to-eye to begin with, but as far as James knows, Sirius and Regulus have barely spoken. James has been the not-quite-mediator. The neutral middle space. Switzerland. Not passing messages like an owl, but rather, checking in with both boys to ensure their conflict and hadn’t mutated into something worse.

But James has always been Switzerland.

So when Regulus shows up on the Potter’s doorstep, everyone is caught off guard. He has a small bag thrown over his shoulder and the hood of his cape ominously pulled up, giving the impression of a midnight vigilante. It’s James who answers the door and finds Regulus. Wet. Blank-faced. His black curls water-logged and plastered to his forehead like he’s forgotten that Umbrella Charms exist. Sirius stands on the staircase to the left of the entrance hall some distance behind James just staring, speechless. 

‘Regulus,’ James breathes. 

Regulus’s nose is pink from the cold. His cheeks are pink. He has his scarf coiled around his neck, thick and yellow and fluffy. Regulus places his bag by the open front door and simply invites himself inside, barely acknowledging Sirius’s presence.

‘It’s cold,’ he informs them. ‘I’d like a cup of tea.’ He says this firmly, pulling his gloves off and lowering the hood of his robe. Like he is a guest in their home, one who has been invited over, and they are the ones who have dropped the quaffle on basic tenets of hospitality.

Sirius charges down the stairs and stops in front of Regulus. ‘Do mother and father know you’re here?’ he demands. ‘Did they send you after me or something?’

Sirius doesn’t mean it the way it sounds, James knows. He’s wanted Regulus here, was conflicted for months about leaving without telling Regulus, had feared the reaction of their parents. It had kept Sirius up many nights trapped in a tug-of-war between knowing he had to leave and feeling some sort of retrospective responsibility for Regulus now that he was out of Grimmauld Place. 

Regulus shrugs. ‘Possibly, I wouldn’t know,’ he says in a low voice. He tucks the gloves under his arm. ‘So, tea?’

James grins. ‘Tea,’ he repeats, delighted. ‘Come on, mum’s in the kitchen, there’s some chai. She makes it when it’s raining.’ He leads Regulus down the hall and into the kitchen, which smells like roast (it was his father’s turn to cook). 

James knows Regulus loves Yorkshire pudding, knows that Regulus loves crispy roast potatoes slathered in gravy. He knows Regulus hates peas, that Regulus hates cheese sauce, loves crispy Brussel sprouts fried with bacon and parsnip mash.

Euphemia and Fleamont Potter greet Regulus warmly when Regulus sits down at the bench in the kitchen. They’re used this now—boys taking up residence in the Potter Home for Runaways—and have long stopped questioning it since Marlene ‘ran away’ when she was seven. 

James potters around, heats the chai on the stove, grabs a plate to fetch Regulus dinner because the Potters feed people as a form of love language. Sirius floats by the door. He’s trying to determine whether Regulus is staying or whether Regulus has an ulterior motive. Because Sirius is wary of being hurt; it’s a trait that both brothers possess. 

‘You can have the bedroom down the hall from me and Sirius,’ James says. He looks over to his mother for confirmation and she nods. Unlike when Marlene had ‘run away’, she won’t be contacting home. She understands. 

‘Great!’ James chirps. ‘Mum’ll put linens in the room. And sweets on the pillows or something.’ He places the plate and mug of chai in front of Regulus and grins. ‘You know, Dad keeps a potions lab. It’s a small one, but it’s got almost everything. He could show you. Dad, Regulus is a genius at potions, you know.’ At Regulus’s look of scepticism, he adds, ‘Crouch says you could brew an explosive to blow up the school if you wanted to.’

Regulus scoffs, but doesn’t say anything. He looks around and seems to note that Sirius is gone. Pushing the food around his plate, he says, ‘I’m sorry for putting you out,’ because he was evidently raised to have manners. 

‘Nonsense,’ Euphemia says. She crosses the room and places a reassuring hand on Regulus’s shoulder, and then immediately notes how tense Regulus becomes at this and withdraws her hand. ‘We’re glad you’re here. And Sirius is too. Just…give him time.’

‘I’m glad you’re here,’ James says, and he means this from the bottom of his heart. He does. He really does. 

Regulus nods. It’s a placating nod. He still isn’t sure. But that’s okay, James decides, because he’ll do everything he can to make sure Regulus believes it.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Possible tectonic activity on Venus

Using archival data from the mission, launched in 1989, researchers have uncovered new evidence that tectonic activity may be deforming the planet’s surface

ast, quasi-circular features on Venus’ surface may reveal that the planet has ongoing tectonics, according to new research based on data gathered more than 30 years ago by NASA’s Magellan mission. On Earth, the planet’s surface is continually renewed by the constant shifting and recycling of massive sections of crust, called tectonic plates, that float atop a viscous interior. Venus doesn’t have tectonic plates, but its surface is still being deformed by molten material from below.

Seeking to better understand the underlying processes driving these deformations, the researchers studied a type of feature called a corona. Ranging in size from dozens to hundreds of miles across, a corona is most often thought to be the location where a plume of hot, buoyant material from the planet’s mantle rises, pushing against the lithosphere above. (The lithosphere includes the planet’s crust and the uppermost part of its mantle.) These structures are usually oval, with a concentric fracture system surrounding them. Hundreds of coronae are known to exist on Venus.

Published in the journal Science Advances, the new study details newly discovered signs of activity at or beneath the surface shaping many of Venus’ coronae, features that may also provide a unique window into Earth’s past. The researchers found the evidence of this tectonic activity within data from NASA’s Magellan mission, which orbited Venus in the 1990s and gathered the most detailed gravity and topography data on the planet currently available.

“Coronae are not found on Earth today; however, they may have existed when our planet was young and before plate tectonics had been established,” said the study’s lead author, Gael Cascioli, assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “By combining gravity and topography data, this research has provided a new and important insight into the possible subsurface processes currently shaping the surface of Venus.”

As members of NASA’s forthcoming VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) mission, Cascioli and his team are particularly interested in the high-resolution gravity data the spacecraft will provide. Study coauthor Erwan Mazarico, also at Goddard, will co-lead the VERITAS gravity experiment when the mission launches no earlier than 2031.

Mystery Coronae

Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Magellan used its radar system to see through Venus’ thick atmosphere and map the topography of its mountains and plains. Of the geological features the spacecraft mapped, coronae were perhaps the most enigmatic: It wasn’t clear how they formed. In the years since, scientists have found many coronae in locations where the planet’s lithosphere is thin and heat flow is high.

“Coronae are abundant on Venus. They are very large features, and people have proposed different theories over the years as to how they formed,” said coauthor Anna Gülcher, Earth and planetary scientist at the University of Bern in Switzerland. “The most exciting thing for our study is that we can now say there are most likely various and ongoing active processes driving their formation. We believe these same processes may have occurred early in Earth’s history.”

The researchers developed sophisticated 3D geodynamic models that demonstrate various formation scenarios for plume-induced coronae and compared them with the combined gravity and topography data from Magellan. The gravity data proved crucial in helping the researchers detect less dense, hot, and buoyant plumes under the surface — information that couldn’t be discerned from topography data alone. Of the 75 coronae studied, 52 appear to have buoyant mantle material beneath them that is likely driving tectonic processes.

One key process is subduction: On Earth, it happens when the edge of one tectonic plate is driven beneath the adjacent plate. Friction between the plates can generate earthquakes, and as the old rocky material dives into the hot mantle, the rock melts and is recycled back to the surface via volcanic vents.

On Venus, a different kind of subduction is thought to occur around the perimeter of some coronae. In this scenario, as a buoyant plume of hot rock in the mantle pushes upward into the lithosphere, surface material rises and spreads outward, colliding with surrounding surface material and pushing that material downward into the mantle.

Another tectonic process known as lithospheric dripping could also be present, where dense accumulations of comparatively cool material sink from the lithosphere into the hot mantle. The researchers also identify several places where a third process may be taking place: A plume of molten rock beneath a thicker part of the lithosphere potentially drives volcanism above it.

Deciphering Venus

This work marks the most recent instance of scientists returning to Magellan data to find that Venus exhibits geologic processes that are more Earth-like than originally thought. Recently, researchers were able to spot erupting volcanoes, including vast lava flows that vented from Maat Mons, Sif Mons, and Eistla Regio in radar images from the orbiter.

While those images provided direct evidence of volcanic action, the authors of the new study will need sharper resolution to draw a complete picture about the tectonic processes driving corona formation. “The VERITAS gravity maps of Venus will boost the resolution by at least a factor of two to four, depending on location — a level of detail that could revolutionize our understanding of Venus’ geology and implications for early Earth,” said study coauthor Suzanne Smrekar, a planetary scientist at JPL and principal investigator for VERITAS.

Managed by JPL, VERITAS will use a synthetic aperture radar to create 3D global maps and a near-infrared spectrometer to figure out what the surface of Venus is made of.  Using its radio tracking system, VERITAS will also measure the planet’s gravitational field to determine the structure of Venus’ interior. All of these instruments will help pinpoint areas of activity on the surface.

[clevermird]

Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Nineteenth in my quest to read the “great classics” of Western literary canon, Frankenstein is one of the ones I read before, an impulsive pick from my 15-year-old self that I recall not caring for much. And while my feelings about it have improved on a reread, ultimately I still wasn’t all that into it. 

Often credited as the world’s first science fiction story, Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss aristocrat who leaves his family to attend university. While there, his interest in chemistry and outdated scientific theories combine in his brilliant young mind to produce an insane idea: he can create an artificial human. Months of frenzied work later, the creature emerges and Frankenstein, overwhelmed by the horror of what he has done, rejects him, setting off a chain of tragic and horrific events. 

To some extent, Frankenstein is kind of above personal thoughts about it. It’s inspired so many adaptations and derivative works and imitations and homages that it’s become a cultural touchstone and like many cultural touchstones, it’s hard to judge independently. Does Frankenstein feel underwhelming because it doesn’t explore its basic premise of artificial humanity much? Or is it simply that with the kind of ground Shelley was breaking here in science fiction’s early days, the existence of the premise alone was creative and avant garde enough already? Is the plot predictable to the point of making the protagonist seem annoyingly naive because it truly is, or because I’ve seen a lot of horror movies, many of which were inspired by Frankenstein or by things that were inspired by it?

Regardless of where you fall on those questions, though, there’s still quite a bit to enjoy in this book. For a 200-year-old book, it reads quite smoothly and although the middle lags a bit with a long opening and an unnecessary story within a story within a story within a story (yes, you read that right) that ultimately goes nowhere, the book is short and goes by pretty quickly. I enjoyed the philosophical questions that are raised and ultimately left unanswered for the reader to ponder themself. Those, I think, will still with me far longer than the actual plot or characters will.

As a side note, although this book is technically science fiction, those looking for a traditional scifi narrative will be pretty severely disappointed. As alluded to above, there’s only one science fiction element in the story, the creation of the artificial human, and while this is the inciting incident, the science of it all is completely glossed over, to the point that the story would have changed little if the monster had been created magically or if there was some kind of mundane explanation for how a man with no previous contact with humankind appeared in the middle of eighteenth century Switzerland. While this isn’t a point against the book (it’s not trying to be classic scifi, it’s trying to be philosophical horror), it is something that potential readers should be aware of. 

To sum up a rambling review, I didn’t really love Frankenstein, but I did enjoy elements of it and I respect its contributions to genres that I love. It’s not something I’d ever call a personal favorite, but it’s near-essential reading for anyone who enjoys science fiction, fantasy, or horror literature. 

Warnings: Although Frankenstein isn’t particularly graphic, it is still a horror novel and as such includes some death (including child death and unjust execution). Also worth noting is that although it’s not a major element of the story, the book’s depiction of the Middle East and of Islam is an exotified and stereotypically negative one, which some readers might find off-putting.

Rating: 7/10

[studynxiety]

17 July, 2024

Random life update ig. My family moved countries and am currently in Switzerland until my uni starts.

The change is pretty big, in all honesty. I am used to having school at 8 am, hanging out with friends at 4 pm, doing everything under the sun that counts as productive between 8 pm and 3 am. Now, time doesn’t really feel real because it looks different - quite literally. The sky would be a glitter of oranges and pinks by 6 pm in my country, but here, there is broad daylight until 9:30 pm. I enjoy that, but it makes it difficult to perceive time.

Another thing about Switzerland is that it is distractingly beautiful. I want to get things done, but I constantly want to spend time by the lake and nature. The air smells nice, and the architecture is so pretty. The arched roofs, colorful buildings with large windows, old castles with towers, and pretty churches. There is so much beauty just ... existing. It's hard not to be consumed by it.

The language barrier also makes it difficult to fit in. I want to talk to people, but I don’t know how to say half the things I want to say with my intermediate french. It also makes getting a summer job a daunting task.

However, all things considered, I really want to get back into the groove and chase my goals. Here are some things I want to achieve by the time uni starts:

Learn programming

Finish writing an original novel

Find an apartment /student housing near my university

Start reading up on my major

Here's to hoping for more productive and meaningful days going forward!

[mariacallous]

Climate law experts are already calling it one of the most impactful rulings on human rights and climate change ever made. Today’s judgment, from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), was read out in front of an eclectic gathering of concerned plaintiffs from around the continent.

A group of older women from Switzerland, young people from Portugal, and a former French mayor—all had brought cases to the court alleging that their governments were not doing enough to battle the climate crisis now regularly ravaging Europe with heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather.

While the ECHR, based in Strasbourg, France, chose not to admit two of the cases in question, it ruled that the Swiss women were right—their government had failed to do enough to meet the country’s responsibilities over climate change. What’s more, the women plaintiffs had also been denied their right to a fair trial in their country, the court found.

“It’s really a landmark judgement that was issued today, and it’s going to shape how all future climate change judgements are decided,” says human rights law researcher Corina Heri from the University of Zurich, who was present to hear the court’s decision for herself. “I was really relieved and very happy,” she adds, describing the moment when she heard the results of the judges’ deliberations.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, who also attended the ruling, told reporters afterward that the world could expect more climate-change-related litigation.

The ECHR judges ruled 16 to 1 that the Swiss women—known as the KlimaSeniorinnen, or Senior Women for Climate Protection—had been subject to a violation of their human rights under the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights. The women had argued, for instance, that they were particularly vulnerable to the effects of heat waves.

Essentially, the ECHR has said it deems the Swiss government’s efforts on climate change mitigation to be insufficient. In the immediate aftermath of the ruling, Swiss president Viola Amherd told reporters that she would have to read the court’s judgement before commenting in detail.

“What Switzerland failed to do in the eyes of the court is, firstly, they don’t have a sufficient regulatory framework [for tackling climate change],” says Catherine Higham at the London School of Economics, who coordinates the Climate Change Laws of the World project. “They also felt there was evidence that Switzerland had inadequate 2020 targets and it failed to comply with those.” By 2020, the country had aimed to cut emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels—however, emissions fell by only 14 percent.

The case brought by a former French mayor who said his town was at risk from rising sea levels was not admitted by the court because the man no longer lives in France. And the case by six Portuguese young people, penned in response to devastating wildfires in 2017, was also not admitted—partly because the plaintiffs did not bring their case in their own country before approaching the ECHR.

Despite this, the positive ruling for the KlimaSeniorinnen is being touted as hugely significant by legal experts. In this case, the court did not accept complaints from individuals within the group, but it did accept complaints made by the group itself as an organization—a distinction that could influence how people collectivize and approach European courts with similar cases in the future, says Heri.

She adds that there was a possibility the court could have ruled that the European Convention on Human Rights doesn’t actually require climate action. Had that happened, it could have undermined existing rulings made in European domestic courts that have demanded tougher climate policies from governments. For example, the Brussels Court of Appeal ruled last year that Belgium must cut its emissions by 55 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.

Today’s judgement comes following years of climate-change-related litigation gathering pace in courts around the world. In the US in 2023, for example, a judge ruled that the state of Montana was violating the right of 16 young people to a “clean and healthful environment.”

Higham says the ECHR’s ruling is “likely to have ramifications around the world.” She notes that, globally, there are around 100 similar cases in progress at various courts, also challenging governments over their climate change mitigation efforts. Heri agrees, noting that the ECHR is viewed globally as a highly influential international court.

Jorge Viñuales at the University of Cambridge, who specializes in law and environmental policy, says it is notable that Switzerland has been found to have fallen foul of human rights legislation, despite the fact that the country has relatively good climate policies. He criticizes the ECHR’s decision not to admit the case brought by the Portuguese young people, however. Part of the court’s reasoning was that their case was targeted not just at Portugal but every EU member state and five other countries. “The court seems to misunderstand that the climate system is everywhere and that effective control over the source of harm is what should count,” says Viñuales.

A big question around climate-change-related legal cases is over their impact—do they actually have enough clout to steer countries and large corporations toward reducing emissions faster than planned? Higham says there is evidence that this is already happening. In the Netherlands, the country’s Supreme Court ordered the government to slash emissions by 15 megatonnes in 2020, and a sharp drop in emissions followed. “We do see policy changes in the Netherlands that seem to be influenced by that judgement,” says Higham.

The ECHR ruling could also reignite cases that have struggled in some nations under the ECHR’s jurisdiction, such as the UK. This is “immensely significant,” says Tim Crosland, director of Plan B, a legal group that challenged the UK government over its climate policies but ultimately lost the case in 2021. “The High Court said, ‘Your fundamental problem is there is no precedent from Strasbourg to support your position that fundamental rights have been violated,’” says Crosland. “Well, now there is.”

Defendants in future cases may feel that their country’s own emissions are only a fraction of those responsible for climate change, and that therefore it is unfair to single one state out over many others. However, the ECHR ruling does not exaggerate nations’ individual duties, says Crosland. Each state has a share of the world’s carbon budget for keeping global warming to, for example, less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“Obviously, Switzerland isn’t responsible for emissions from the US or from China, but it’s responsible for its own emissions—and that’s what the judgement says,” he explains.

[rockinlibrarian]

Fic Self-Recs!

Anyway, I took the self-indulgent dare of an “I tag anyone who wants to do this!” on a post reblogged by not-even-a-personal-Tumblr so I’m sure the “I” wasn’t thinking of ME at all, but I was curious if I could do it. The tag dare is “What are your five favorite fics that you have written?” Anyway also, I failed the dare, because I had terrible trouble narrowing my 37 posted fics (3 are anonymous) (no I did NOT enter the current Masked Author event three times,* calm down) down past ten? And I’m still not sure. How can you ask someone to choose among their babies? Well, fics aren’t babies, and there are definitely some I wouldn’t pick, so there.

I would like to separate it into two parts, one of fics I can recommend to you all, one of fics I’m being entirely self-indulgent by including, but even that doesn’t work out neatly.

I’m going to start with a self-indulgent one, because my #1 favorite fic I’ve ever written is unfortunately kind of inscrutable to people who haven’t seen all three seasons of cult-favorite show Legion:

“The Magic Man of Oz”! It is my favorite so much that I think you should read it anyway even if you won’t get the references! I added an entire chapter of annotations just so you could look UP the references! It is The Wizard of Oz told through Legion references! It has a delightful intrusive narrator! It has the greatest fight scene I have ever written, maybe because it’s extremely untraditional! I will not stop harping on this, my favorite fic I wrote! So let’s skip to a less self-indulgent alternative #1:

“Exploration of the Astral Plane: An Immersive, Multidimensional Study, by Cary Loudermilk, PhD, and Oliver Anthony Bird.” I’ve been on a rereading this kick lately. While this is also Legion, it’s a prequel that requires next to no preknowledge! And it still has wacky dream imagery and unusual structure and you still get to enjoy Oliver Bird being HIM-like, he’s just not narrating!

Now we’ll do the rest of the Legion fics just to get them out of the way! But these ALSO require next-to-no pre-knowledge (even less, actually! “Exploration” requires you to know that it takes place in the X-Men universe and that Summerland is a retreat for traumatized mutants! These next ones don’t even require THAT!), so they make very good recommendations, too!

2. “A Strictly Scholarly Collaboration: the Original Romance of the Mind” is me writing a romance! My way! It’s all about relationship-building, nothing at all physical! Yet one of my favorite AO3 bookmarks was given to it by someone who usually deals primarily in Explicit fics and THEY said “Exceptional viewpoints, intelligence, accuracy, and romance. Solid 10/10,” so that’s a win for everyone! 2.1/2 bonus so I don’t have to give away another slot “Two (or Three) Mutant Freaks and the Strictly Scholarly Collaboration” –are bonus scenes that would exist if it took place in a world where Oliver was already friends with Cary and Kerry! Which brings us to:

3. “Two (or Three) Mutant Freaks Against the Fourth Grade,” which was my favorite that I felt the need to harp on before I wrote “Magic Man of Oz”! It’s just a cute little story about mutant nerd-boys making friends! I think everyone should read it, even if I don’t love it quite as much as I did at first! Okay, we’ll leave Legion now, I promise. How about a couple from my second most-commonly-written-for fandom?

4. “A Captain With Seven Children…What's So Fearsome About That?” asks What if Maria (not Von Trapp because she’s obviously not married in this scenario) from The Sound of Music got hired to be governess at The Umbrella Academy instead? It also requires next to no pre-knowledge of either source material! So you should read it! It’s not done yet because I haven’t figured out how to run away to Switzerland when we’re in America and the bad guy is the father himself quite yet! But that’s okay because everything else is delightful!

5. “On Soul Mates and Nemeses” is where I attempt to justify my obsession with shipping Fiktor! It has lots of little snippets of flashback scenes that are fun and really isn’t that heavy on the shipping! Which leads us back to the self-indulgent list:

2. “New World Symphony” (which is also Fiktor but also has a lot of interesting non-shipping bits) is one I only have one chapter posted for, but I swear to you, Chapters Four and Five are SO GOOD. Unfortunately Chapter Three just BARELY exists. Chapter Two is very likely to be the next thing I post, but that doesn’t make Chapter Three get any more written. You HAVE to read Chapters 4 and 5 though, I’m serious. Speaking of which:

3. “Tesseract” notoriously hasn’t been updated on AO3 since late 2021, but there’s some really amazing stuff yet to come, I promise! I keep chipping away at it and there is so much I can’t wait to share!

I’m counting this last one among the self-indulgents for the opposite reason though:

4. “The Invitation: an epilogue” DOESN’T need any advertising. It’s my most-kudoed fic! (Although “In Which Jason and Chidi Rob a Bank” is only behind by two now so it may actually lose that status sometime soon). But that doesn’t mean it’s not one of my very favorites regardless, so I have to put it on the list even if everyone already agrees with me!

Now I'm supposed to tag people! I feel like I should tag actual people to make up for the self-indulgence! @stephsageek came up as soon as I hit @ so yeah; @a-freemaniac I'm pretty sure it was your Tumblr I saw this on-- I don't know if you write fic or just read it but I'll put it out there; @littlerit; @uniasus I think you might have done this before but you're the next fic writer on my list here-- oh I think I asked you what your FAVORITE was in an ask game once, this is FIVE favorites so it counts; @destinyandcoins!

*Edit to add, 8/3/2024: This comment was a deliberately misleading half-truth. I entered the (now long-completed) Masked Author event TWICE.

[usapassportapplication]

USA Passport Application Validity: A Country-Specific Guide

International travel can be complicated, particularly when it comes to the USA Passport Application validity requirements. Many travelers are unaware that their passport must often remain valid beyond their intended return date to ensure smooth entry into foreign destinations. This guide clarifies Apply US Passport validity rules, helping you avoid travel disruptions and prepare for your trip with confidence.

We'll handle the entire passport application or renewal process for you; no guides are needed. Submit your documents seamlessly, ensuring a smooth USA Passport Application experience. We've covered you from the USA Passport Renewal Application to the correct Passport Application Form USA. Whether it's your first submission or a renewal, your Application for Passport USA will be errorfree and processed swiftly.

How Long Is an Applied USA Passport Application Valid?

For US citizens, passport validity depends on age:

Can I Be Denied Entry if My Passport Expires Soon?

Apply US Passport: Yes, entry into certain countries depends on your passport’s remaining validity. Many nations require that your passport be valid for a specific period beyond your intended stay. If your passport doesn’t meet these requirements, you could be denied entry.

To prevent travelers from getting stranded due to passport expiration, many countries enforce the six-month passport rule meaning your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.

If you're unsure about your passport’s validity requirements for an upcoming trip, checking with USA Passport can provide clarity.

Understanding the Six-Month Passport Rule

The Six-Month Rule requires that your passport remain valid for at least six months after your entry or departure. If your passport is set to expire sooner, you may not be granted entry.

However, this rule is not universal. Some countries require only three months of validity, while others have different regulations. Always check your destination’s requirements before traveling.

The US Department of State’s travel resources provide up-to-date passport validity rules for every country. USA Passport also offers an easy way to verify the validity requirements for your destination.

Countries Requiring Six Months of Passport Validity

Several countries, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, enforce the six-month rule. These include:

However, exceptions exist. For instance, Hong Kong and Macau require only one month of passport validity. Additionally, some airlines may refuse boarding if your passport is set to expire in under six months.

To avoid complications, check passport requirements via the USA Passport Application’s Visa Quick Check or the US Department of State website before making travel plans.

Countries Requiring Three Months of Passport Validity

Apply US Passport: Many European nations, particularly those in the Schengen Zone, require passports to be valid for at least three months beyond your departure date. These countries include:

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and others.

Countries With Unique Passport Validity Rules

Certain destinations, such as Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Colombia, do not enforce the six-month rule. Instead, they allow entry as long as your passport remains valid throughout your stay.

A USA Passport helps travelers navigate these varying requirements by offering detailed information for each country.

Need to renew my passport or apply for a passport? Our USA Passport Application service makes it easy to apply USA passport and meet all Apply a USA passport requirements. Whether you need passport renewal, a replacement for a lost passport, or a stolen passport, we’ve got you covered. Follow the Travel State passport guidelines and apply for is passport to get started today!

FAQs About Applying for a US Passport Validity

Why Do Some Countries Require Six Months of Validity?

The six-month rule exists to prevent travelers from becoming stranded if their passport expires abroad. If a passport were to expire while in a foreign country, obtaining an emergency passport or visa extension could be difficult.

Can I Renew My Passport Before It Expires?

Apply US Passport: Yes. It’s advisable to renew your passport at least nine months before expiration to avoid restrictions when traveling, especially for lastminute trips. USA Passport Application makes it easy to start your renewal process without delays.

How Long Does Passport Renewal Take?

Processing times vary:

What Do I Need to Renew My Passport?

To renew your passport, you must submit:

For a hassle-free renewal experience, USA Passport Application ensures that all necessary documents are correctly submitted.

What If My Passport Expires While I’m Abroad?

As of June 30, 2022, expired US passports can no longer be used for re-entry into the United States. If your passport expires while abroad, visit the nearest US embassy or consulate to apply for a new one.

Can I Enter the US or Canada with Less Than Six Months of Passport Validity?

Yes. The six-month validity rule does not apply to US citizens returning to the United States or traveling between the US and Canada. You can enter up until your passport’s expiration date.

Are There Exceptions to the Six-month Rule?

Yes. Some countries, such as Chile, allow entry as long as your passport remains valid for the duration of your stay. Always verify individual country policies before traveling.

Keep Your Passport Travel Ready

Understanding passport validity rules ensures a smoother travel experience. Always check your destination’s specific requirements before departure and renew your passport well in advance of its expiration date.

Simplify Your Passport Renewal with a USA Passport Application

Renewing your passport doesn’t have to be complicated. USA Passport Application offers a fast and hassle-free renewal process, ensuring your documents are submitted correctly and on time.

By choosing a USA Passport Application, you can:

Plan and renew your passport today to ensure stress-free travel!

We'll handle the entire USA Passport Application or renewal process for you, no guides are needed. Submit your USA Passport Renewal Application, verify documents, and access the correct Passport Application Form USA seamlessly. Whether it’s your first submission or a renewal, our service ensures your Application for Passport USA is error-free and processed swiftly. Focus on packing; we’ll take care of the paperwork!

[rapmillionaire]

Gun violence, and Gun Control (laws)

Gun violence is a major topic of debate, especially in America.

Lots of guns exist in America. And, in Switzerland. 

Mass shootings in Switzerland are relatively rare, with two in the past 20 years.

The fundamental difference between Switzerland and the US:

In Switzerland, background checks are mandated, which is not always the case in the U.S.

The top 5 states for gun ownership comprise only .8% of the nation’s firearm-related homicides (185 homicides between all 5 states). The bottom 5 states for gun ownership comprise 4% of the nation’s firearm-related homicides (1,038 firearm-related homicides).

Texas has more guns than any other state, with 1,005,555 guns. Texas's Firearm Injury Death Rate 15.3 (per 100,000). [source: www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/states/texas/tx.htm]

Florida trails behind in second place, with 518,725 guns. Florida's Firearm Injury Death Rate 14 (per 100,000) [source: www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/states/texas/tx.htm]

Montana has the highest number of gun owners (66%). Yet, quite low rates of homicide due to guns.

What the data does prove to be true, however, is that where guns exist, suicide rates tend to skyrocket.

◾️So a strong argument toward resolving suicide, is less guns.

▪️Less guns does not evidently prove true for lower rates of crime/assaults, however.

Yet, where gun violence does take place, that is amongst 🔹 BLACK MALES in inner cities specifically, where poverty is rampant, and the victims themselves are statistically skewed toward BLACK ON BLACK violence.

🔸Mass shootings in AMERICA are majorly committed by WHITE MALES (54% of the time),

🔸and by BLACK MALES only 17% of the time.

[source: www.statista.com/statistics/476456/mass-shootings-in-the-us-by-shooter-s-race]

38% of whites own guns (highest percentage in the US).

However, amongst the leading causes of death among white men, gun violence accounts for only 1.5% of their deaths.

🔻24% of blacks own guns.

🔺The leading rate of death for Blacks (between ages 1-44) is homicide.

Thus, data plainly shows that the main cause of gun violence is due to mere gun ownership.

It hints to more nuanced variables of environmental and circumstantial factors being the cause.

For suicide, gun prevalence does kill people.

That's what the data shows, both in America, and in Switzerland, and across the world.*

My personal opinion and conclusion:

▪️I'm all for background checks. Background checks should be required (for anybody to access or own a gun).

But ultimately, guns don't kill people (except if pointed at themselves #suicide).

rather, People kill people. and People kill people due to

environmental and socio-economic factors (poverty, stress, culture; all a side-effect of capitalism, undoubtedly),

interpersonal factors (black on black violence based on personal conflict, not random serial killing),

and additional cultural factors (music, movies, video games, etc which i believe reinforces violence through validation/acceptability).

Sentiment of the normalization of gun violence in American culture, starting at Minute 9 [www.youtube.com/watch?v=u177HGnKoJA; #TonyYayo]:

One may logically rebuttal: If you take guns away, no more gun violence!

To which the question then posed is: And but then, who ends up ruling?

The bigger and stronger man? How do you defeat the bigger and stronger man if you don’t have a weapon? And he doesn’t either. You get a bunch of police to go fist fight him just to put handcuffs on him when he wants to fight back?

At a certain point, you need the threat of violence to keep order

The real threat of violence. It’s what makes people respect the rule of law. Not their good hearts. But repercussions (for not following the rule of law).

that’s the universal language that equates to ppl following laws: consequences in the form of “penalty” (fines, jail, etc.)

Some ppl might follow laws because they’re good ppl. That doesn’t mean all will.

And usually you’ll be surprised as to how many ppl, given the chance, time and again, to get ahead in life by doing illegal things— how many will actually eventually succumb to the temptation to do it…. This too is human nature.

Everyone has their price. Even you have a price, my friend. For some it’s money. For others it’s sex. For others it’s status. No one is perfect and above not having a price, whence given the contextual opportunity personal to their inner desires. This is the importance of and why religion is still very much a guiding force for humans. A true religion grants discipline through ritualism which grants a person control over their own base desires (I.e. infamously known as the 7 deadly sins).

In fact that’s exactly what makes world history and our current day what it is — opportunism. Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, etc.

So what you’re stating, naturally goes against the reality of nature, and human nature. At its most basic levels. When the human being is studied and understood.

Your approach, also, when trickled down to its most basic level of functionality,— I foresee it will result in an unrealistic idealism that self-defeats.

Example: Even prison guards have guns and weapons. PRISON GUARDS…. They’re dealing with guys who are in prison with zero weapons and who are locked and chained.

Or is it that prisons spend wasteful amounts of money on weapons all around the world because they just don’t know better…. They just don’t understand that they don’t need any weapons at all to be successful in maintaining the orderly conduct of criminals...

hell, muh man, if that’s the case they all ought to hire you as a warden... You’d transcend prisons and optimize their whole mode of function it sounds like.

Your theory would prove true that even prison guards themselves do not need guns (since the people they are watching over are way more compromised in strength and positioning than the average free citizen of the world). ‎

I understand your approach. But it’s not realistic in the current world.

I think you need to preface it by saying that a government needs to be a certain way (socialist, communist, ?), for no guns by no one (not even the government) to actually benefit, via no threat of violence and crime, subsequently, occurring. ‎

What form of government would work best, under the pretext of “*If you take guns away, no more gun violence.

To which a further rebuttal becomes: I get what you mean … There’s lots of problems in society, and banning guns not gonna sort everything out, but I think would help to reduce amount of violence… and previous examples as Australia (or Serbia) show ways of tackling it. … my basic position is this one: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/10/serbia-acts-two-mass-shootings-us-done-nothing-despite-200-this-year

To which we begin with the example of Serbia.

"A mere day after these senseless shootings, Vucic [President of Serbia] announced several measures that would prevent further tragedy. The measures include a ban on new gun permits, tougher penalties for illegal weapons possession, psychological checks of gun owners and an amnesty for the surrender of illegal weapons."

^ this sounds like the beginning of martial law.

And reminds me very much of the laws that took away freedoms of Americans (in terms of violation of civil liberties) after September 11, 2001, occurred (I.e. The Patriot Act covering a whole gambit of violations in the name of supposed ‘security’).

It especially sounds interesting when I read how fast the laws were implemented — “It only took two days, after two horrific mass shootings, for Serbia to act.” …🤦🏻‍♂️

I’m just surprised at how “effectively” fast the laws changed. It feels to me just a bit too good to be true that good intentions were behind such quick and swift changes in the law.

Side note from Wikipedia that aptly would fit the script: "Observers have described Vucic's rule as an authoritarian, autocratic or illiberal democratic regime, citing curtailed press freedom and a decline in civil liberties" . . 🤦

“A ban on new gun permits” —— this is a danger to the freedom of a citizen-populace… the founding fathers of America strictly warned against citizens losing their rights to bear arms (to keep government in check, and the powers that be, to keep their power non-absolute).

“tougher penalties for illegal weapons possession” —— this is arguably a good measure. 👍

“psychological checks of gun owners” —— I think this shall be mandatory in America.

“an amnesty for the surrender of illegal weapons” —— somewhat threatening for citizens, and dangerous for the well-being of democracy.

“(American) lawmakers will do little to prevent the next mass shooting.” — an unfortunate truth. The NRA and other “patriotic” lobbying groups and organizations buyout politicians behind scenes, to push pro-gun agendas at all costs, unfortunately, even if it continues to cost human lives. A sad reality.

“the US’s inaction boils down to the gun industry’s political influence.” —— 👆🏼exactly

“by creating an extremist view of the second amendment that is antagonistic towards any and all firearm restrictions and safeguards.” —— true too. I’ve heard a paranoid perspective about this out of political mouths myself, I remember.

“They blame mental health.” —— this is an interesting point; gun accessibility for those who commit suicide is strongly linked. I think we can all agree that anybody committing suicide or attempting to, does have a mental illness condition, by default (it's not a normal nor healthy mind that wants to self-destruct).

Albeit, interestingly enough, it appears that a small percentage of mass shooters had 'mental illness', per this source: www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/mass-shootings-and-mental-illness | www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/a-look-into-the-traits-of-a-mass-shooter

To take away arms from 99% of ppl because 1% act on mental perversion, I disagree with. Especially in America. And especially under a Democratic governance (matter of fact, let's have all citizens vote whether guns should be completely banned or not; let the public decide! I guarantee that the majority would state to keep guns accessible, respectively speaking).

“How do we know it’s gun access? Because when governments, particularly state governments, put into place commonsense safeguards, we see fewer killings, less death and less trauma.” ——— I can agree with this too, to a certain extent. But it calls for data presentation. And nuance in implementation. Like I said, if I am wealthy and it shows via the neighborhood I live in and the car I drive or the clothes I wear, and I know there is poverty and high crime neighborhoods less than 1 or 2 miles away… a gun for self-protection at my home to protect myself (+ children, and wife if I have), I should have the ability and right. Period. No discussion.

Because I imagine I won’t be able to hire 24/7 police protection for my home. And I am not waiting 5 minutes after a break in, for the police to show up to save me.

So any law prohibiting me from exercising this right to self-protection, to me, and millions of others, is compromising personal safety and the very basic sense of right I have to mere self-preservation.

Others love to shoot guns, as a hobby.

Or to hunt (especially knowing the American landscape and the edible game provided, albeit bows and arrows are also effective).

These two hobbies should also be enabled to man if man desires to be and feel free to live. 

Hunting is natural to the human species. And even translates into the most natural form of dietary nutrition (no hormones, nitrates, preservatives, additives, coloration, etc. added to the food).

When people keep crashing cars and injuring themselves and others — you don’t prohibit cars. YOU ENSURE FOLKS HAVE LICENSES FOR DRIVING CARS BY PASSING DRIVING TESTS AND INCREASE THE REPERCUSSIONS IF THEY DO NOT ABIDE. AND YOU ALSO LOWER SPEED LIMITS IN AREAS OF INCREASED ACCIDENTS AND DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS.

When people keep owning guns and shooting others, you don’t prohibit guns. YOU INCREASE BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND RESOLVE *CAUSES* OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SOCIETAL ATTRITION.

To eliminate the “rights” of citizens is what governments always attempt, and it is done through new laws. YOU NEVER HEAR OF GOVERNMENTS DELETING OR RETRACTING LAWS. WHY IS THAT? To garner greater control over more people. I say, people should not enable the government to do that so easily. ❌

In fact, small changes added to gun accessibility would enable a better, more nuanced and realistic approach and understanding to gun violence. The moderate and balanced approach of neutral concessions is what’s necessary. Not the extreme position of zero guns allowed to any citizens. That’s nonsensical and goes against, again, the right to bear arms — which was the 2nd amendment and a part of the BILL OF RIGHTS (and CONSTITUTION) for good reason — through thorough foreshadowing of the protection for democracy to maintain itself as the balanced means of governance between citizens and their leaders in power. #genius

“ban assault weapons” ------ I’m not against banning assault weapons ✅ ; that sounds somewhat reasonable, but I would have to see more evidence on the impact assault weapons have on mass shootings and also personal conflict situations. 💡

“Buyback program” ------ Also sounds reasonable for those who wish to get money or whatever their incentive is. ✅

“When states put more stringent safeguards into place, fewer people die by firearms.” ------ I agree with this as well ✅ ; but my demand would be that the safeguards are nuanced. Not extreme and a complete banning of every firearm. ❌.

The US government can in fact stop gun violence like other countries have, but only if our policymakers start answering to the people, not the industry. ✅

Israel also needs to be held to account for their usage of US tax-paying dollars. And the amount of aid given to Israel, and specifically for what, needs to be audited.

AIPAC also needs to be registered as a foreign entity lobbying group. JFK attempted to do this.

These countries that ban arms so swiftly and quickly aren’t at the caliber nor level of influence of efficiency or effectiveness that democracy and capitalism provide to American productivity and efficiency and organization and institutionality.

So to compare their results with America is something to learn from, but by no means something to be implemented so swiftly, revolutionarily, and uninhibitedly in America.

The buckshot dangers of doing it at such a threshold pace outweighs the foresight, purpose, intention, and wisdoms of the founding fathers -- certain data provided countering that guns in general are the cause for violence, and the sensible inalienable right of self-preservation and protection (especially when it is not Law for the police to mandatorily protect citizens).

Make this the law, with proven time-response data, particularly in places where gun violence is rampant (i.e. the hoods of America), and I’ll be closer to accepting the extreme approach of gun prohibition.

Originally published: 09/02/2024.

[awesomeart-83]

@pandaofsecrets maybe they will change the titles and the ones we have aren’t final. The season was delayed to 2025, so they’ll change some of them to fit something more appropriate.

Or maybe they forgot to change the titles, so Switzerland and Spain doesn’t exist in the Miraculous universe.

Given that they seem to acknowledge Spain and maybe Switzerland exist, I'll have to say the new episode titles are fake.

In all seriousness though, something about them just feels off to me.

[blackswaneuroparedux]

There is a theory which states that if ever for any reason anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another that states that this has already happened.

- Douglas Adams

The idea of eternal return or eternal recurrence has existed in various forms since antiquity. Put simply, it's the theory that existence recurs in an infinite cycle as energy and matter transform over time. In ancient Greece, the Stoics believed that the universe went through repeating stages of transformation similar to those found in the "wheel of time" of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Such ideas of cyclical time later fell out of fashion, especially in the West, with the rise of Christianity. One notable exception is found in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), a 19th-century German thinker who was known for his unconventional approach to philosophy. One of Nietzsche's most famous ideas is that of eternal recurrence, which appears in the penultimate section of his book The Gay Science.

The Gay Science is one of Nietzsche's most personal works, collecting not only his philosophical reflections but also a number of poems, aphorisms, and songs. The idea of eternal recurrence—which Nietzsche presents as a sort of thought experiment—appears in Aphorism 341, "The Greatest Weight":

"What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: 'This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession and sequence—even this spider and this moonlight between the trees, and even this moment and I myself. The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust!'

"Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: 'You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine.' If this thought gained possession of you, it would change you as you are or perhaps crush you. The question in each and every thing, 'Do you desire this once more and innumerable times more?' would lie upon your actions as the greatest weight. Or how well disposed would you have to become to yourself and to life?"

Nietzsche reported that this thought came to him suddenly one day in August 1881 while he was taking a walk along a lake in Switzerland. After introducing the idea at the end of The Gay Science, he made it one of the fundamental concepts of his next work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Zarathustra, the prophet-like figure who proclaims Nietzsche’s teachings in this volume, is at first reluctant to articulate the idea, even to himself. Eventually, though, he proclaims that eternal recurrence is a joyful truth, one that should be embraced by anyone who lives life to the fullest.

Oddly enough, eternal recurrence doesn't figure too prominently into any of the works Nietzsche published after Thus Spoke Zarathustra. However, there is a section dedicated to the idea in The Will to Power, a collection of notes published by Nietzsche’s sister Elizabeth in 1901. In the passage, Nietzsche seems to seriously entertain the possibility that the doctrine is literally true. It is significant, however, that the philosopher never insists on the idea's literal truth in any of his other published writings. Rather, he presents eternal recurrence as a sort of thought experiment, a test of one's attitude toward life.

Nietzsche's philosophy is concerned with questions about freedom, action, and will. In presenting the idea of eternal recurrence, he asks us not to take the idea as truth but to ask ourselves what we would do if the idea were true. He assumes that our first reaction would be utter despair: the human condition is tragic; life contains much suffering; the thought that one must relive it all an infinite number of times seems terrible.

But then he imagines a different reaction. Suppose we could welcome the news, embrace it as something that we desire? That, says Nietzsche, would be the ultimate expression of a life-affirming attitude: to want this life, with all its pain and boredom and frustration, again and again. This thought connects with the dominant theme of Book IV of The Gay Science, which is the importance of being a “yea-sayer,” a life-affirmer, and of embracing amor fati (love of one’s fate).

This is also how the idea is presented in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Zarathustra’s being able to embrace eternal recurrence is the ultimate expression of his love for life and his desire to remain “faithful to the earth.” Perhaps this would be the response of the "Übermnesch" or "Overman" who Zarathustra anticipates as a higher kind of human being. The contrast here is with religions like Christianity, which see this world as inferior, this life as mere preparation for a better life in paradise. Eternal recurrence thus offers a notion of immortality counter to the one proposed by Christianity.

Of all the ideas Nietzsche grappled with and put forward with such acute intelligence and brilliance, most philosophers are apt to give his notion of Eternal Recurrence a short thrift or quitely hush it under the nearest Persian rug in their study room.

Not only is it one of the philosopher’s weakest and most unconvincing theses, it is the one that sits in opposition to nearly everything else he wrote. For Nietzsche, despite his writing appearing wistful and gothic Romantic, was essentially an empiricist. He had no time for the dualism of Plato and only a fleeting but unconvinced interest in Kantian metaphysical idling about what lay beyond the tangible world. Nietzsche wrote that all there was for sure was the here and now.

This is exactly why he was not a militant atheist in the way we understand the expression today. He felt no need to concern himself with the veracity of Christianity’s claims about the afterlife, something we cannot be sure about. He seldom railed against the theological intricacies of Christianity or the truth claims of religion because to him the only thing that mattered was how religion affected us. He objected to Christianity because he saw it as nihilist and life-negating. Or rather he rebelled against the 19th Century practice of what the church had become would be more accurate account. It taught people to be meek, humble and to accept their lot. Nietzsche was an empiricist in that he wanted people to fulfil their life in the here and now, something that Christianity was hostile to.

Yet Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence belongs strangely to the realm of metaphysics and dualism. Its fatalism and determinism contradicts Nietzsche’s exhortation for each of us to become our own masters and to become who we truly are. While he did not believe in free will, he did believe that the Übermensch could harness and master the forces of his inner ‘will to power’. Contrarily, the eternal recurrence condemns us to history and supernatural fate. The notion of ‘eternal recurrence’ reeks too much of his youthful dalliance with Schopenhauerian metaphysics.

Is there anyting redeeming about Nietzsche’s fantastical notions of Eternal Recurrence? I think so.

Christian scholars are not alone with regard to giving weight to our daily life decisions as having significant eternal outcomes. Nietzsche, on the other hand, chooses to suggest our decisions in this life have weight because how we choose to live today will be replayed over and over again unto eternity.

Of course it’s a very unusual perspective in some respects, a variant on reincarnation, which also has us returning indefinitely, but in differing capacities. Scholars have argued whether the idea is meant as a serious conjecture or a concept to make us more thoughtful about our behaviour here and now.

I prefer to charitably believe Nietzsche’s sole intent with this concept of eternal recurrence was to get us plugged in to the significance of our acts. To paraphrase in modern vernacular, to live each day with greater mindfulness.

His was a brilliant mind, but as far as I am aware he does not offer a supporting argument for the notion proposed. It is a certainty that he understood that even if we ourselves were recurring, our circumstances would not be, for times change, culture changes, history is unfolding all around us.

Nietzsche then asks us: What about you? How do you go about living more purposefully and mindfully? What would you do differently if you were knew this day would be an eternally recurring experience?

Dare we have an answer?

[mischiefmanaged71]

Turning Tables (2/8) - Joaquin Torres x Reader

Summary: Nothing riles up Y/N more than stubbornness, especially when those she cares about get hurt. Y/N checks up on Joaquin when he arrives back from a mission gone bad.

Author’s Note: Continuation of my series! Hopefully I’ll be able to complete this series. I’ve planned to write at least five chapters. Like, reblog and comment if you enjoyed it! Should we have a counter by the end of the series how many times Y/N calls Joaquin ‘Flyboy’. IDK I love that she calls him that and it’s a cute nickname 

Warnings: FLUFF, slowburn

Pairing: Joaquin Torres x fem! reader

Word Count: 1.5K

You were relaxing at home when you got the text from Sam. Joaquin got injured on a mission in Switzerland, investigating the Flag Smashers. He had tried to arrest one of their members, or who he thought was the leader of the heist, when he was knocked down and unconscious by the incredibly strong individual.

You thanked Sam for letting you know and grabbed your keys to rush to the Airbase. 

As soon as Joaquin’s plane arrived, you were there, walking up the airstrip to interrogate him.

“What happened to keeping me updated?”, you approached him with furrowed eyebrows.

“I was kinda preoccupied in the moment.”, gripping a bag over his shoulder.

You sighed, clicking your tongue and tilting your head.

“All you had to do was ask and I would have been there.”

He waved his hands, his bruised orbital causing him to squint slightly.

“It's just a broken orbital, Y/N. I’m fine, honestly.”

“You’re lucky all you got was a broken bone. I gave you my number so you could call me in for these types of missions.”, you shook your head. 

“Look, it was just supposed to be recon, it happened to turn sideways.”

You left out a huff as your hands travelled to your hips. Your lips pursed but you made eye contact with Joaquin’s slouched posture and tired eyes. A patch of blue and purple bloomed under his eye along with a scatter of scratches and cuts. 

You stepped closer, gripping his arm delicately,

“The last thing I-,we want is for you to get hurt when we could have stopped it. I’ve faced all sorts of threats in the past so nothing really fazes me anymore.”, you chuckled.

Joaquin let out a breathy laugh, nodding his head as you rubbed his arm.

“Also, Sam can be annoying sometimes so it’s refreshing to hear someone else’s voice.”, earning a slight chuckle from Joaquin as he gripped his injured side.

“What I’m saying is, you don’t have to do it alone.”

Joaquin relaxed his shoulders, feeling the work of the last couple days hit him.

“I know, it’s just - I’m still trying to get used to it, ya know? Having people there for me. It’s been quiet these five years.”

Here is where you had two differing experiences. Almost half the universe had been blipped out of existence. 

For those that remained behind, they had to move on without their friends and loved ones. 

For those that came back, they had to get on with what they lost - time and coming home to a place that was changed.

“I know that must’ve been really hard. I barely recognise half of the places I walk by. Everything is so different now…”, you trailed off.

Once you returned, your family was broken. Natasha and Tony had sacrificed themselves to bring everyone back, Steve had left them to return the stones in the past and Wanda…

Wanda left after Tony’s funeral. Vision was gone and so was Natasha - her grief was different from the rest. 

You had all drifted apart after the Blip, trying to find your way to who you are now. After Steve left the shield with Sam, you’d always wondered what would happen next. Bucky was trying to adjust to the times, still recovering from his trauma. The US Government had mandated therapy for him with a weekly therapist but he didn’t seem to like her much at all. Y/N knew the therapy was good for him, but the therapist’s methods were questionable in her mind. 

They were all changed by what happened, but they were trying to find normalcy. They came back into a world far different than before. They were different people from before it all happened.

“I didn’t call you because I thought it was nothing at the time. I’ve been tracking these guys online for months. They’re dangerous and I didn’t want to drag anyone else into it unless I was sure.”

Joaquin ducked his head down to play with your hand, 

“I wouldn’t be able to deal with myself if something happened to you.”

You paused for a moment at his revelation, gripping his hand tightly in response.

“That’s different-”, you shook your head

“How? How is it different?”

“I’ve got powers to protect myself, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that I do.”, he shook his head.

You both paused, sighing in the silence before you decided to jump back in to break it...gently.

“I’ve had my fair share of broken bones but I gotta say, that looks painful.”, you pointed at his bruised cheek.

Joaquin rolled his eyes and chuckled, nudging your shoulder.

“Well some of us aren’t invulnerable. Also pretty sure the guy who knocked me out was enhanced.”

“No shit...and this is why we always?...listen to Y/N, yes!”

“Oh, c’mon! You’re gonna milk this for ages, aren’t you?”, Joaquin groaned.

“Yup.”

A smirk grew on your face at his grimace.

“Ok ok, how about we grab some food? My treat?”, he opened his arms in defeat.

You scoffed, slapping Joaquin’s bicep, 

“Are you kissing up to me, Flyboy?”

He swatted your hands, a grin playing across his face as he chuckled,

“No… but would it get me back in your good graces?”

You pondered on it for a few seconds, nodding furiously at the proposition to dinner.

“Hmmm, I’ll have to consider it. I’m craving Italian food. Pizza?”

Joaquin nodded his head along as you both walked towards the front entrance where you had parked your car.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

You walked side by side, slowing to meet his pace. He had a slight limp as he favoured his left, being cautious about his sore side.

“You better not say you like pineapple.”, Joaquin jabbed.

You huffed, eyes widening in shock.

“And what is wrong with pineapple on pizza?!”

“Aside from the fact it’s disgusting! Fruit does not belong on a pizza.”, he scrunched his nose in disgust, laughing at your aghast expression.

“Tomatoes are a fruit!”, you pointed out.

“That doesn’t count!”

You nodded your head as you unlocked the car, 

“I think it does.”

Grabbing his bag off his shoulder, you placed it in the backseat, opening the passenger side. Nodding your head to the side, you gently nudged Joaquin to sit, pushing the door closed behind him. Jogging over to the driver’s side, you got in  and plugged in your seatbelt before reversing the car.

“Well since you’re paying, why don’t you decide this time, Flyboy?”, you glanced to the side as he relaxed in his seat.

“Alright but don’t come at me with those glowing hands if you don’t like it.”, he grinned.

You shook your head,

“Yes, because pizza toppings are the peak of my tolerance.”

Your eyes track back to the road in focus, the radio peaking through. Joaquin’s head leaned against the window on his hand as the rumble of the car lulled him to sleep. You got lost in your thoughts as you continued along the road.

“You should take better care of yourself, Flyboy. I don’t wanna come down here again and see you hurt.”

“I’m-I know that we haven’t known each other for that long. Heck, I only met you six months ago.”, you spoke softly.

“It’s been a tough adjustment since I got back. I haven’t really felt like myself at all - but then here you are and everything just…”, your rambling filling the quiet.

“It's better… I-”

You glance over at Joaquin but his eyes are closed shut, his head leaning against the window. He’s sound asleep, looking far more relaxed and peaceful than when you first saw him. 

Your chest tightened as you scanned over the bruising scattered over his smooth, tan skin. 

“Let someone take care of you for once.”

***

Thanks again for reading, lovelies xx 

Hope you enjoyed it and tag me in TFATWS fics!

Comment if you’d like to be tagged. I’ll make a Masterlist...when I figure out how to create one (lol).

TAGS:

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[jazy3]

Thoughts on Grey’s Anatomy: 18X01

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

I was really excited for the Premiere and I have never been so disappointed in my life. It took me a few days to write this review because I’m just so unimpressed. I feel like the only interesting parts of the Season 18 Premiere were the Meredith and Hayes FaceTime call, Levi in that outfit and Jo with that hair, and the interviews. That's it. I mean Teddy and Owen’s two weddings were interesting if you’re a Teddy and Owen shipper, but I never have been so that didn’t really do anything for me.

The pacing of the episode was super slow and it was just altogether boring. There were also just so many inconsistencies. For example, Teddy and Owen originally planned to get married at the park with just Megan, Farouk, Evelyn, Leo, and Allison which doesn’t make sense because prior to their break up they were talking about planning their dream wedding. Now they finally get married and Richard didn’t even know about it? They asked Megan to fly in, but they didn’t tell their friends at the hospital after they just all attended Maggie and Winston’s wedding two weeks earlier?

It’s also not clear if Meredith knows that they got married which is weird because she’s the main character of the show and was an integral part of Owen’s previous two weddings one of which was held at her house. Also, Amelia and Link weren’t there and it’s not clear if they even knew about the wedding which is weird because Meredith, Amelia, and Link were all present when Owen proposed to Teddy at Christmas at Meredith’s house and they are all co-parenting Leo together.

While I appreciated the shift to a lighter tone and that they chose to have this season exist in a post-COVID alternative universe where we can see the actors faces again without the PPE and return to escapism the Premiere didn't pack the punch I was expecting. The premieres are usually super shocking and action packed and this one just wasn't. It was just boring and all of the most interesting stuff happened off camera during the two weeks between the Season 17 Finale and the Season 18 Premiere which is just stupid.

I saw the priest getting hit by one of the cyclists coming a few minutes before it happened based on the promo and the context of the scene and there wasn't a big shocking event like there usually is. The pace of the Premiere really felt off to me. My friend Amy who I watch with every week described it as the pacing you usually associate with a nice stroll through a moonlit garden. Fine for episode two or three or a connecting episode but not the Premiere. I feel like they really misjudged what fans were looking for and I’m hoping that they do the work and course correct now that the Premiere has aired and the completely dismal fan reaction as come out.

One of the few bright spots for me was the introduction of Peter Gallagher as Dr. David Hamilton. I love him as an actor! He's great! His recent roles in Grace and Frankie and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist were fantastic! I was super excited when I heard he was coming to Grey's. I like Dr. Hamilton so far and I'm interested to see how his relationship with Ellis and Meredith having dreams about her mother following her battle with COVID will play into the story this season. While it would be interesting to see Meredith work in Minnesota temporarily like Cristina did back in Season 9, I don't want her there permanently. Seattle is as much a character in the show as any of the main characters we've come to love, and something would be missing for me if she moved.

To be perfectly honest, it doesn't make much sense to me for Meredith to move to Minnesota permanently when she only knows a few people there. Who would watch her kids? If she's going to move to me, it makes more sense for her to move to Kansas where Alex is or Switzerland where Cristina is. Her kids have already lost their father and so many other caregivers and Meredith has stuck it out in Seattle for so long after everything that's happened that her moving to Minnesota for me would be bonkers.

Also, where were her kids in the Premiere? All of the interviews that came out prior to the Premiere talked about how Meredith’s focus at the beginning of the season would be on her work and her kids, but they were nowhere to be found in the Premiere and it’s not clear whose watching them while Meredith is in Minnesota. The interviews also made it seem like Meredith and Hayes would still be circling each other at the start of the season with quotes about how timing hadn’t been on their side, that they still needed to have an official drink and go out on a date, and that while Meredith wasn’t looking for a relationship one might find her.

That had literally nothing to do with the Premiere we saw whatsoever! The kids were MIA and it turned out that Meredith and Hayes started dating off screen following Maggie and Winston’s wedding and we didn’t get to see ANY of the firsts they talked about so much over the last two seasons. So stupid. The Premiere was a total rip off. I hate that Nick Marsh is back and I’ve never gone from liking a character and an actor to hating them in such a short period of time ever. My God. I’m so pissed off about this. What the hell were they thinking? Why did they think we would want this at all?

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Nick Marsh as a character and Scott Speedman's portrayal of him when he first showed up in Season 14. I was all ready for him to be Meredith's next great love and I was on board. But then he disappeared and was never heard from again and it was reported that Speedman wanted to take a break from TV for a while so I mourned the loss of what could have been and moved on. I sat through the out of character nonsense that was the DeLuca storyline in the belief that eventually that storyline would end, and Meredith would get a real proper love interest that made sense and would be her post-Derek endgame.

So, I was really excited when they introduced Hayes and I have really come to love his character and his budding relationship with Meredith. I feel like I've been waiting forever to finally see them go on a date and I am super pissed off that we didn't get to see it. I would have loved this storyline with Nick if they had introduced it at any previous point in time, but now after they've spent so much time setting up Meredith and Hayes it's just infuriating. I feel immense rage over how they handled Meredith and Hayes and Meredith and Nick’s storylines in the Premiere. I'm so angry. The whole thing just made no sense. That Premiere should never have aired. It never should have gotten past the draft stage. It was that bad. The first date and all of the firsts that come with a new relationship are the most exciting parts of a romantic storyline for me and I love seeing all of that on screen. They hyped Meredith and Hayes’ relationship up so much and even had the two of them talk about 'firsts' and dating after death so for their first date to happen off screen along with Austin's panic attacks and bad reaction to his Dad starting to date again is just such a rip off.

I have stuck with this show through thick and thin and for them to reward that loyalty by having the most interesting parts of that storyline happen off screen while showing a bunch of stuff on screen with other characters that they could have just told us about? So ridiculous. I was so excited for this season and now I'm just angry. I'm hoping that they are building to a big mid-season finale where Meredith is going to return to Seattle and by that time Bailey will have helped Hayes out with Austin and the two of them will finally get together on screen but I'm starting to feel like every time I get invested in one of the Meredith's new love interests, they pull the rug out from under me and I'm getting really fed up.

In other news, I'm not too surprised that Megan and Riggs broke up off screen only because Virgin River, which I love, just got picked up for two more seasons and I imagine Martin Henderson is busy filming that and it looks like Megan is going to be around for a while and they had to explain it somehow. I loved Meredith and Riggs together and I hated how they ended that storyline so I'm not sad about them breaking up off screen.

The Premiere also broke my heart over Amelia and Link’s storyline. It’s just so stupid. It’s drama for drama’s sake that’s all it is and it’s tired. When did marriage become so important to Link? In the span of a few months, he went from being totally fine with not getting married and checking in with Amelia every few weeks on how she felt to convincing himself that Amelia wanted him to propose so he did so at her sister's wedding and used her dead brother's children to do it. Amelia's right the whole thing was super messed up and manipulative and she was right to say no.

Link decided marriage was important to him and that fostering Luna would be totally fine without ever talking to Amelia. Yes, Amelia should have shared her thoughts with him too, but he also should have paid attention. Now their otherwise healthy relationship is over because she doesn't want to participate in an archaic ritual that involves signing a contract and exchanging vows? That's just stupid. I hope they find a way to work it out and get back together because I really like them as a couple.

I like Dr. Michelle Lin the new Head of Plastic of Surgery that Bailey and Richard are looking to hire. I thought for sure after that photo of the other guy made the rounds on social media that he was going to be the new Head of Plastics, but then he said that he doesn't do "free" and I knew he was out. I'm excited for there to be another female surgeon of colour on the show as the gender and racial balance on the show has been more white and male as of late and I think Grey's is at its best when you have a roughly equal number of women and men and as many different races being represented as possible.

I think it makes the storylines more interesting and authentic and personally gives me more characters that I can identify with. This new doctor seems driven, determined, and could have a potentially interesting dynamic with Richard and Bailey. She’s also giving me some Cristina Yang vibes and I’m all for that. I love Cristina. Always have. Always will. That being said, I'm a bit confused as to where they are going with Jo's storyline as I thought for sure the new Head of Plastics would be a guy and her new love interest. But Bailey did say they still needed to hire a new general surgeon and a new neurosurgeon so maybe one of them will be for her?

I can't really say that there was anything I loved about the Premiere which is disappointing. Jo's parenting hair dye mishap was funny, Levi's outfit cracked me up, and I liked that Bailey agreed to help Hayes out, but that's about it. The thing I was most excited for coming into this season was Meredith finally being back on her feet and seeing the romantic storyline between her and Hayes finally come to fruition.

Finding out that she's going to be in Minnesota for the foreseeable future, she and Hayes started dating off screen but had to call it quits because seeing his Dad date someone new caused Austin to have panic attacks, and finding out that Nick Marsh is back? I hated it. I don't understand how the same person who wrote the Season 16 masterpiece “Snowblind” with that amazing snow scene between Meredith and Hayes wrote the Premiere. I just don't understand. I really hope they're not going to do a love triangle with Meredith, Hayes, and Nick because that would just be so stupid.

She's a forty something award-winning surgeon who's a widowed single mother of three. Love triangles made sense when she was young intern, but at this point it's just dumb. I also didn't feel the chemistry this time around between Meredith and Nick like I did the first time. It felt forced and flat. I like Maggie and Winston together, but I didn't find their storyline in the Premiere particularly engaging. I'm glad that Amelia stayed true to herself, but I hate that Link has decided marriage is the only way forward and that they're still fighting.

The only moment that really made me laugh out of the hour was when Jo opened the door and Levi was in that ridiculous outfit. I loved the FaceTime call between Meredith and Hayes, but I hated the context. Honestly, I'm not really excited about any upcoming storyline this season which makes me really sad. I'm usually super positive and hopeful when it comes to this show, but this episode just stomped all over my dreams. All I can hope for now is that they pull a twist and everything I was hoping for happens in the mid-season finale otherwise I don't think I'm going to like this season very much.

Until next time!

[comingfromastatechampionasshole]

TWO TINY ARGUMENTATIVE JEWS OF EASTERN EUROPEAN EXTRACTION ENTER, ONE TINY ARGUMENTATIVE JEW OF EASTERN EUROPEAN EXTRACTION LEAVES. 

Okay, first of all, I don’t take shit from someone whose country got as many points as the US did in Eurovision. AND EARNED EVERY ONE OF THEM*. 

With the full admission that I have watched JUST the final, and JUST the once, some notes. Obviously not every country is on here. 

First of all, I don’t know why decided that we were all going to Party City and buying the same Satine costume to wear to Eurovision but holy hell. 

Let’s start with @papillon82fluttersby : I fucking LOVED France’s song. That doesn’t happen for me overly much! @relevantbunny​ and I were watching the final and she said, “Oh I don’t like this song, but you will LOVE this song,” and we got about halfway through the song before I was like, “Oh yeah, you got me.” It’s very Post-War France, chanteuse in a smoky room while I drink wine and think of my lover, smoke from the tip of my cigarette writing a name on the air that I feel might already be forgotten, her name written only in the cracks of the buildings that bear the scars of war, as I do. Also I’m eating a baguette. 

Anyway, Loved it. 

I hate Russia like, as a country, but man I hope they never stop coming to Eurovision because they always bring something that is the exact brand of campy or bugfuck or whatever that I want, and A WOMAN MOTORING AROUND THE STAGE IN A GIANT DOLL COSTUME was no exception. I was also shocked it was in Russian! It’s been MORE than ten years since they sent a song with Russian in!

I fucking hated Finland’s song, but I appreciate its existence--one thing I REALLY enjoyed about this year, that made me wish I’d been following it all as it had been going on, is that there was a WIDE variety of music. I was so afraid after Arcade won that I’d be listening to sad boy ballads for the rest of my life, and that doesn’t seem to be the case. I also loved that they CLEARLY had a sense of humor about everything, loved the “Play ja ja ding dong!” signs. 

Hey what the fuck happened in Serbia? The low-budget pussycat doll thing they had going on was horrific, so horrific bunny had to tell me before they started that they are all very talented singers and dancers which like, MAN COULD I NOT TELL. They were off each other’s beat for the entire song, oh my god, it was so awkward that it moved all the way back around to hilarious. 

I’d have to go back and listen to it again to be sure, but I’m fairly certain I really liked Switzerland’s entry. At the very least I appreciate his dedication to bringing absolutely nothing heterosexual to the table. He was like the lovechild of Freddy Mercury and Liberace. 

Moldova was entirely for those of us who wanted to relive our college houseparties, because there was a woman who clearly can’t sing, on drugs, with half naked dudes and also there’s an 80s theme for no particular reason anyone can think of. I was LAUGHING through the whole thing, my god Moldova, get it together. 

Speaking of the 80s: Lithuania won the clear 80s theme of Eurovision. “Open up” my ass, the theme was clearly, “Remember the 80s? No, most of you are children, but try it on anyhow” I loved whatever it was they were doing: It sounded like the 80s, it looked like the 80s, it was bizarre and artpiecy while still being accessible, I am going to force Jetty to watch this one later. I don’t know that I LIKED it, but also I loved it? 

Man! I cannot understand why everyone hated Germany so much! Do we only swallow up that “all stories are valid and everyone is a light in the universe, blah blah choose love” when it’s a Balkan Ballad, or what? I loved that for once the “Hands across...Europe, I guess” song was a peppy little twee tune! It’s not winning any awards for depth, but we liked clear Ariana Grande wanna be, entering “Fuego part 4,″ Azerbaijan more?? When the full enjoyment of that song is the way she says, ‘Just like Cleopatra?” Come now. 

So I discovered that there is a genre of music I like, and that genre is “The experience of being high as fuck in the woods at night,” and boy did Ukraine deliver. It reminded me of what Vihm sent to Eesti Laul, which I ALSO really liked, and is absolutely going on my running playlist IMMEDIATELY. This was one of my favorite songs of the whole year. 

Italy won, and I don’t like the song, but I’m not mad about it either. It’s one of those songs that is clearly not FOR me, it’s very much distilled Dad Rock of the 70s., 80s, and 90s, put all into one song. It was fine. Mostly I am excited/terrified of whatever fucking shitshow Italy is going to put on next year, I see shades of Portugal on the horizon. 

FIGHT ME, VERB. 

*Bunny made a very valid point that though the UK doesn’t want to win (A truth universally acknowledged, and fair enough!) they don’t have to be such little bitches about it. They could make like Germany, who ALSO does not want to win, and use it to allow a wide variety of music to go through, most of which is very niche and not broadly appealing. They add to the flavor of Eurovision! Or Spain, who is going to SPAIN AT YOU SO FUCKING HARD. Like, if you’re intentionally going to fuck it up why not just send Steve Harvey and Cockney Rebel, or Herman’s Hermits, and be like, “Oh you think you hate the British NOW? I take that as a CHALLENGE!” and just...go buckwild. Why does the UK insist on being boring about it EVERY FUCKING YEAR???