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komohine · 4 months ago

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tell me about the android james au in excruciating detail please

Ok so i really want to but also i do plan on making this an actual fanfic in the future so i wont spoil very much

SETTING: futuristic, and very dystopian. Currently there is war everywhere. The US is fighting against an enemy, but the way the enemy is broadcasted is extremely vague. There are no specific countries named, instead they’re given arbitrary titles such as “the loons”, “jesters”, etc. they are also fighting against multiple groups. Also much of the country is wasteland. Lawless, ruled by mercenary groups and the larger enemy groups. Where the military base James and Keith are at (arizona), the surrounding desert is dominated by a group known as “The Red”. There’s always intense battles to keep them away from the city the military base is attached to.

The only centres of human activity is within larger cities and around military bases. But just because a city is large doesn’t mean it still remains. New York City is just ruins, for example.

Anyways, androids were created to help the US in the war. The media and propaganda that surrounds them dehumanize them to an extreme extent. They are viewed as no more than tools, and are treated as such.

“As cold and calculating as a computer, but as flexible and adaptive as a human. The androids will take the place of your beloved father, brother, or son, on the front lines so Christmas can be celebrated by your whole family.”

They do have individual names but it is much more common practice to refer to them by their serial number. But all in all they are not treated well, even more so that the majority of the US populace believes that the androids are powered entirely by artificial intelligence. This lie was perpetuated purposefully by the media, because it’s much easier to dehumanize them when you think of everything they do as “not real” and as “just programming”.

That’s where the androids in this au differ slightly from your typical android that’s powered by ai but gains sentience (no hate to this trope though, i love it). These androids are powered by the brains of dead soldiers. Soldiers would volunteer to have their brains scanned and artificially replicated, and these brains would be connected into the android and give that soldier new life. In some cases, soldiers who died and didn’t volunteer would get their brains scanned and replicated anyways. This happens for various reasons, the main ones being that the soldier has some expertise that’s invaluable or that they have information that’s key to the war. So it’s not really artificial intelligence. It’s just human consciousness trapped in a robot body.

Being an android sucks too, because a lot of “non essential functions” were removed. Such as highly sensitive touch, the ability to taste and to smell, and the ability to cry. Androids do have some pressure sensors, but these are mostly concentrated in the hands. Theres some at the bottom of their feet (more if the android specializes in stealth missions) and also some in their face, but it’s nowhere near the level of a human’s. They can smell, but only certain hazardous chemicals. And instead of actual smelling all it does is trigger a warning popup on their optical lens. So imagine dying fully human and then waking up in an extremely limited body. No smell, no taste, hardly any sense of touch, but the memory of it lingers and taunts you. It’s extremely traumatic and most androids have lasting issues because of it. Also learning to operate the body is difficult, especially with more dexterous movements.

Androids can feel pain, but it’s more in the form of feeling malfunctions and error messages. If an android, for example, broke their arm and then tried moving it, the flurry of malfunctions and error messages sent to their brain would cause enough of a neural overload that, according to James, is a “close enough simulation of pain”. But of course, media doesn’t tell anyone this. It’s always “androids can’t feel pain, and they cant die, so whats the harm in killing them?”

On androids dying, they can be revived. But they can only be revived a certain amount of times before their brain fries and they’re forced out of commission. If this happens, and the android was particularly important, the military will make a second brain out of the original scan. This brings back the android, but without any of the memories from their prior life. All in all most of the practices surrounding androids are disturbingly inhumane.

James was a highly specialized soldier when he died at 23. He also had a lot of important information, so even though he didn’t consent to it, the military brought him back as an android. He was assigned to be the leader of the MFEs, the military’s first all android team that specialized in particularly difficult and dangerous missions. But an incident down the line (involving Shiro) really called the loyalty and reliability of androids into question, and Keith was assigned to the MFEs to be their handler, basically. Why Keith? Well he was good at what he did, skilled, and most importantly the military had stuff to hold over him.

Keith, like your average American citizen, was not a fan of androids. And despite James being a few ranks higher than him he’d constantly disregard and disrespect him on the basis that he was an android. But it’s okay! Because he gets better! And I cant say any more for spoiler reasons! But they kiss kiss fall in love and then fall apart!!

#voltron #voltron legendary defender #jaith #james griffin #james voltron #keith kogane #keith voltron #shipping #headcanon #voltron au #android au #au #android #robot #answered #alternate universe

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freedompanda · 2 months ago

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For my American Friends

I feel now is a good time to spread this news. Much like how the internet came together to help share information with the Ukrainians for resisting Russia, I’m here delivering help of a similar nature to those that could be impacted by this latest election in the US. There are ways to communicate relatively securely, outside of Big Brother's social media. I bring this up so that we can minimize the amount of gatherable information that could be used to hurt you, or others you know, in the coming years as changes are made. I'm not going to tell you how or why to use them, I'm just going to provide you with the information.

WhatsApp – While not my personal favorite, since Facebook/Meta is the parent company, WhatsApp is free, globally popular, and widely-used, featuring the ability to lock chats with passwords, disappearing messages, photos and videos that are deleted after being opened, profile photo privacy, the ability to lock the app itself so that only your biometrics can unlock it, encrypted backups, the ability to set custom permissions for who can see you online or when you last used the app, and of course End-to-End Encryption for all conversations EXCEPT those with business accounts. WhatsApp is a good option for those who are not really technically savvy, but still value privacy – if one trusts Facebook/Meta to adequately protect their privacy. It does require a phone number to sign up, however.

Signal - Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messaging software. meaning that the contents of your conversation is secure. The protocol they use (which they created) is seen as the best known protocol for asynchronous messaging by cybersecurity researchers. It's so good that it has been implemented in WhatsApp and in Messenger's secret chats. This app has even been mentioned in the Right-wing author Jack Carr's Political Thriller about a Navy SEAL named James Reece, as being a preferred method of secure communication on the civilian side for operators. (Jack Carr is a former US Navy SEAL.) It's run by a Non-Profit organization called Signal Foundation, and it's mission is to "protect free expression and enable secure global communication through open source privacy technology." It allows secure messaging, voice calls, and video calls. The only downside is that app links to your phone number, so while your conversations and content are secure, who you are talking to is not. Signal is available on Windows, Mac, Andriod, Linus, and iOS.

Session - Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that minimises sensitive metadata, designed and built for people who want absolute privacy and freedom from any form of surveillance. Session is an open-source, public-key-based secure messaging application which uses a set of decentralized storage servers and an onion routing protocol to send end-to-end encrypted messages with minimal exposure of user metadata. This means no phone numbers, no metadata for digital footprints, and censorship resistance. It features group chats, the ability to send documents, files, and images securely, and has added voice messages, though these can be spotty. It’s slow, but effective, and be downloaded on Android, F-Droid, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Briar - If you have an Android phone, Briar is another option you have. It features a decentralized network (it’s peer-to-peer encrypted, rather than relying on a central server), meaning messages are synced directly between user devices. It also means that even if the internet is down, it can sync via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or even memory cards, meaning information can continue to flow even during a crisis. In the event the internet is functioning, it can sync via the Tor network, protecting users and their relationships from surveillance. Other features: - Screenshots and screen recording are disabled by default - Each user’s contact list is encrypted and stored on her own device. - Briar’s end-to-end encryption prevents keyword filtering, and because of its decentralized design there are no servers to block. - Every user who subscribes to a forum keeps a copy of its content, so there’s no single point where a post can be deleted. - Briar’s forums have no central server to attack, and every subscriber has access to the content even if they’re offline. - Doesn’t require any user data like name and phone number. The downside is that it is text-only and limited to Android Devices, but they do offer Briar Mailbox to deliver messages securely to those who are online at different times. Briar’s goal is “to enable people in any country to create safe spaces where they can debate any topic, plan events, and organize social movements”

Protonmail - A free end-to-end encrypted AND zero-access encryption email service based out of Switzerland, you can safely email with peace of mind that your content is secure. Unlike Google, Outlook, Yahoo, and others, Proton's zero-access encryption means they can't even view the contents of your emails or attachments. As a Swiss-owned company they are not allowed to share information with foreign law enforcement under criminal penalty and they are politically neutral, meaning they won't be pressured by foreign governments. Furthermore, Switzerland has a constitutional right to privacy and strict data protection laws. Unlike companies in other countries, Proton cannot be compelled by foreign or Swiss authorities to engage in bulk surveillance.

Additional Information, from Proton’s Website: Switzerland has strong legal protections for individual rights, and in fact the Swiss Federal Constitution(new window) explicitly establishes a constitutional right to privacy. (In the US, this right is merely implied.) Specifically, Article 13 safeguards privacy in personal or family life and within one’s home, and the Swiss Civil Code(new window) translates this right into statutory law in Article 28.

In the US and EU, authorities can issue gag orders to prevent an individual from knowing they are being investigated or under surveillance. While this type of order also exists in Switzerland, the prosecutors have an obligation to notify the target of surveillance, and the target has an opportunity to appeal in court. In Switzerland, there are no such things as national security letters(new window), and all surveillance requests must go through the courts. Warrantless surveillance, like that practiced in the US where the FBI conducts 3.4 million searches per year(new window) with little oversight, is illegal and not permitted in Switzerland.

Switzerland also benefits from a unique legal provision with Article 271 of the Swiss Criminal Code(new window), which forbids any Swiss company from assisting foreign law enforcement, under threat of criminal penalty. While Switzerland is party to certain international legal assistance agreements, all requests under such agreements must hold up under Swiss law, which has much stricter privacy provisions. All foreign requests are assessed by the Swiss government, which generally does not assist requests from countries with poor rule of law or lack an independent judiciary.

Swiss law has several more unique points. First, it preserves end-to-end encryption, and unlike in the US, UK, or EU, there is no legislation that has been introduced or considered to limit the right to encryption. Second, Swiss law protects no-logs VPN(new window) meaning that Proton VPN does not have logging obligations. While numerous VPNs claim no-logs, these claims generally do not stand up legally because in most jurisdictions, governments can request that the VPN in question starts logging. So the VPN is only no-logs until the government asks. However, in Switzerland, the law does not allow the government to compel Proton VPN to start logging.

We’ve also fought to ensure that Switzerland remains a legal jurisdiction that respects and protects privacy.

Nearly every country in the world has laws governing lawful interception of electronic communications for law enforcement purposes. In Switzerland, these regulations are set out in the Swiss Federal Act on the Surveillance of Post and Telecommunications (SPTA), which was last revised on March 18, 2018. In May 2020, we challenged a decision of the Swiss government over what we believed was an improper attempt to use telecommunications laws to undermine privacy.

In October 2021, The Swiss Federal Administrative Court ultimately agreed with us and ruled that email companies cannot be considered telecommunication providers. This means Proton isn’t required to follow any of the SPTA’s mandatory data retention rules, nor are we bound by a full obligation to identify Proton Mail users. Moreover, as a Swiss company, Proton Mail cannot be compelled to engage in bulk surveillance on behalf of US or Swiss intelligence agencies. (Links can be found at: proton.me/blog/switzerland)

#american politics #kamala harris #transgender #lgbtqia #lgbtq community #antifascist #anti trump #freedom #information #resistance

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intcthatgoodnight · 2 years ago

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MUSES WITH STAR WARS VERSES:

Tony Stark, Friday, Lucy Quinzel, Connor rk800, Will Graham, James Holden, Nell Crain, and Elizabeth Swann

summaries for each below the cut

TONY STARK

Tony Stark was born and raised on Coruscant, son of a powerful weapons mogul. He had only just taken the role of CEO of Stark Industries when the Republic fell and he began building weapons for the Empire. He didn’t question it, he just did what he was best at - building and creating, and reaping the benefits. Years later he is kidnapped by a gang of pirates seeking his tech. This experience, and the horror he went through during it, showed him the truth of the Empire. He closes down weapons manufacturing, but that wasn’t enough, he wanted to do more. He begins to help the rebellion in secret, using his power and wealth to get them what they need. (this verse can also be adjusted to fit prequel or sequel eras as needed.)

FRIDAY

She is an android personally built by Tony Stark. No one knows that she is a droid. She helps him aid the rebellion in ways that he can’t be seen doing.

LUCY QUINZEL

Lucy was born and raised on Nar Shaddaa, nicknamed the “Smuggler’s Moon,”. Lucy never met her parents, who were leaders of one of the planets many ruthless gangs. Instead, she was raised by her aunt, who tried to give her a good life and protected her as much as she could but was killed when Lucy was young. Lucy turned to stealing to survive. Years later she joined a group of pirates, she travels off world with them hoping to one day steal enough to get her own ship.

CONNOR

The most advanced android built by cyberlife, Connor was made to serve and aid The Empire/First Order. He followed orders for a while, slowly developing emotions and empathy. He eventually deviated and escaped to aid the rebels.

WILL GRAHAM

(still a WIP) A Jedi, Will is constantly on the edge between the Light and Dark. He experiences extreme Force Empathy / Telepathy / and visions. This has made him somewhat of an outlier even amongst other Jedi.

JAMES HOLDEN

Holden was a First Lieutenant in the Imperial/First Order Navy, after a disagreement with a superior officer he was given a general court-martial, convicted and discharged from service. He didn’t return home, instead he spent a few years traveling around the outer rim, picking up random jobs. Eventually he joins the rebellion (details of how will be figured out later). He is now captain of the Rocinante, part of the rebel fleet. (how he and the crew come into possession of the Roci is also something that will be figured out later)

NELL CRAIN

(tw for suicide) Force sensitivity ran in Olivia's family - her mother, her, and then all her kids to some degree. Olivia was not trained and she didn’t want her kids to be taken in by the Jedi. But untrained force sensitives can be dangerous, and of course things go wrong when the children are young. The family moves into a place, not knowing that it rests on a nexus of the dark side. Immediately this starts messing with their heads. Like in the series, Olivia goes a bit crazy and tries to kill the twins, Hugh gets the kids out, and Olivia kills herself before he comes back to get her.

Being exposed to the dark side so young left it’s mark on Nell and she suffers from the consequences of this throughout her life - nightmares, seeing things, and outbursts of the force. As an adult Nell tries to live a normal life but ends up mostly isolated. Nell and her twin brother Luke are the most ‘unstable’ of the kids, even as adults; they have the most problems controlling their force ability which causes a lot of problems for them.

ELIZABETH SWANN

Governor’s daughter, twin, handmaiden, pirate. For eight years Elizabeth, along with her twin sister Tsabin (renamed Sabe), served as handmaidens for Queen Padme Amidala. After her service was done Elizabeth decided to travel, giving in to the wanderlust she always felt. She traveled the mid and outer rim, until she was captured by pirates. Originally, they planned to hold her for ransom, however she struck an accord with her would-be captors. She joined their crew, becoming a pirate. Eventually ((through some plot stuff that I still need to figure out whoops)) she becomes Captain of her own crew, and then is elected leader of the Brethren Court.

#;; human disaster ( ooc )#( verses )#i needed to make a new post for the new blog

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f1 · 2 years ago

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F1 drivers concerned by FIA ban on political statements says Albon

Alex Albon said Formula One drivers are “concerned” about the FIA’s move to ban political statements. F1’s governing body has updated its rules to prevent “political, religious or personal” comments being made without prior approval. The FIA’s controversial clampdown comes after drivers – including the seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and the recently-retired Sebastian Vettel – have spoken out on issues such as racism, diversity and the environment in recent seasons. In 2020, F1 launched the We Race as One campaign to combat inequality and increase sustainability. But speaking at Williams’ season launch, Albon said: “We are all concerned. We know politics and stances are sensitive areas but we need clarity from the FIA on what they are trying to tell us. “On a personal side, it is confusing. We are very much for the We Race as One (]initiative], and it seems as though the FIA are moving away from that. It is clear that we need an open dialogue on what they [the FIA] are trying to do but we need to be able to speak freely to some extent. “A lot of people look to us as spokespeople for issues around the world, and I do feel it is a responsibility for drivers to make people aware of these kind of situations.” Williams launched their 2023 car on Monday. Photograph: Williams Racing F1 Handout/PA Albon, 26, is gearing up for his fourth season in F1 and second with Williams. The former Red Bull driver scored points on just three occasions last year as Williams propped up the constructors’ table following a disappointing campaign for the British team. Williams will have a new team principal for the upcoming season – which starts in Bahrain on 5 March – following James Vowles’s transfer from Mercedes to replace Jost Capito. Vowles was a key fixture in the Silver Arrows’ remarkable run of success – propelling Hamilton to six of his seven world titles – and Albon hopes some of that Mercedes magic will rub off at Williams. Quick Guide How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts? Show Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'. If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version. In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications. Turn on sport notifications. “Everyone I know speaks very highly of James, Jost included,” added Albon, who will team up with rookie American Logan Sargeant this season. “I am sure he can bring a lot to the table. We have caught up on the phone, and had dinner, and it is nice to see what he thinks, and to have that different point of view coming from a team that has had so much success. “He is very keen and motivated to get the team to where he knows it can be. He has had a lot of experience in all areas with Mercedes so hopefully we can put that to good use.” via Formula One | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone

#F1 #F1 drivers ‘concerned’ by FIA ban on political statements #says Albon #Formula 1

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intcthatgoodnight-a2 · 4 years ago

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MUSES WITH STAR WARS VERSES:

Tony Stark, Friday, Lucy Quinzel, Connor rk800, Will Graham, James Holden, Nell Crain, and Elizabeth Swann

summaries for each below the cut

TONY STARK

Tony Stark was born and raised on Coruscant, son of a powerful weapons mogul. He was young when the Empire rose to power, but old enough to still remember a time before. By twently-one he was CEO of the family business, building weapons for the Empire. He didn’t question it, he just did what he was best at - building and creating, and reaping the benefits. Years later he is kidnapped by a gang of pirates seeking his tech. This experience, and the horror he went through during it, showed him the truth of the Empire. He closes down weapons manufacturing, but that wasn’t enough, he wanted to do more. He begins to help the rebellion in secret, using his power and wealth to get them what they need. (this verse can also be adjusted to fit the new trilogy if needed.)

FRIDAY

She is an android personally built by Tony Stark. No one knows that she is a droid. She helps him aid the rebellion in ways that he can’t be seen doing.

LUCY QUINZEL

Lucy was born and raised on Nar Shaddaa, nicknamed the "Smuggler's Moon,". Lucy never met her parents, who were leaders of one of the planets many ruthless gangs, instead she was raised by her aunt. The woman tried to give her a good life and protected her as much as she could, but was killed when Lucy was young. She turned to stealing to survive for the next few years. Years later she joined a group of pirates, she travels off world with them hoping to one day steal enough to get her own ship.

CONNOR

WILL GRAHAM

JAMES HOLDEN

NELL CRAIN

Force sensitivity runs in Olivias family - her mother, her, and then all her kids to some degree. Olivia was not trained because of whatever reason, and so she didn’t want her kids to be taken in by the Jedi. But untrained force sensitives can be dangerous, and of course things go wrong when the children are young. The family moves into a place not knowing that it rests on a nexus of the dark side (like the cave on dagobah ). Immediately this starts messing with their heads. Like in the series, Olivia goes a bit crazy and tries to kill the twins, Hugh gets the kids out, and Olivia kills herself before he comes back to get her.

ELIZABETH SWANN

Governor's daughter, twin, handmaiden, pirate. For eight years Elizabeth, along with her twin sister Tsabin (renamed Sabe), served as handmaidens for Queen Padme Amidala. After her service was done Elizabeth decided to travel, giving in to the wanderlust she always felt. She traveled the mid and outer rim, until she was captured by pirates. Originally, they planned to hold her for ransom, however she struck an accord with her would-be captors. She joined their crew, becoming a pirate. Eventually ((through some plot stuff that I still need to figure out whoops)) she become Captain of her own crew, and then is elected leader of the Brethren Court.

#new post since new verses were added #;; human disaster (OOC)#( verses )

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thecrazyworldbuilder · 4 years ago

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Raclis Bravo

17: Batkin Batkin come from the realm of Gnava, the world of fields, mounts and forests. Batkin are short, anthropomorphic bats. Being night predators, they wander in the dark and sleep from the morning til the evening. Batkin have high pitched, cute voices which are impossible to be taken seriously. Fast Facts: - There is a myth that Batkin are very fast builders. In fact, they just build in the night and progress is seen only the very next morning, so it’s an illusion. - Batkin live in large castles casted upon high mountains, above deep caverns. They are miners and have big amounts of different metals and materials. - Batkin are good singers and love to travel: using echolocation they oftenly sing road songs to orientate around. Onomasticon: Use English names and Polish surnames, or other slavic surnames. (James Kaminski, Helen Wozniak, Rupert Wojcik, Christine Gribovski, Tomas Smiertin)

18: Bestial Synths Basically post-human cyber furries, they are a race from Binarica. Bestial Synths are anthropomorphic animal/reptile/other androids with different origins (generated AI, raised AI, consciousness duplicate, consciousness transfer, hybrid AI). Vary in colors and sizes. Fast facts: - Bestial Synths have half of the needs that a biological creature needs. Bestials need fuel, water (for cooling), waste disposal needs, and relaxation. Psychological needs are the same as any person. - Bestials can easily upgrade themselves with many techs, in fact, all possible tech. - Bestial Synths have a pretty active sexual life. Onomasticon: Bestial Synths pick their names themselves, and take nicknames given by others. They generally are based on “cool” things, such as computer slang, science, mythology, puns and other. Names are ususaly unisex. (Sif, Awomanda, Adamantis, Vivi, Lycan-Zee)

19: Binarica’s Humans Humans from the realm of Binarica, they are pretty different from us. Bigger eyes, lack of nails and toes, slightly shorter, more intelligent. They often end up cyborgs, or just keep themselves immortal with biological engineering. Fast facts: - Their cities are vertical. They go both ways: they build skyscrapers and dig what they call pitts: something like an anti-skyscraper, a hole with rooms in its walls. - Have so much tech they almost got nothing to explore. - Live in a dystopia where everything is good, almost free but boring and monotonously colorful. Onomasticon: Usually Humans of Binarica use mononymes, but it’s not exceptional to see normal names around, with a name, surname and maybe a patronim/andronim. Use modern names and their combinations, gender reversed names, and sci-fi stylised names. Puns. (Estron Guest, Jasonis, Blade, Natasia, Secree Tagent)

20: Black Orbs Black Orbs are a species of parasitic semi-mineral creatures that can take any host. They have psionic powers and are able to enslave to their will the creatures with weak willpower. They make the future host stay close and then engage mutations on them, making them suitable to hold th Black Orb. The Orbs have holographic white eyes, which they use for expressing emotions, and are able to make almost any sound. They grow their whole life before dying and leaving a hatch of small, pea sized pack of new Black Orbs. Fast facts: - Black Orbs are very sensitive, both emotionally and sensorily. - That’s it. Nothing to say ‘bout them. Onomasticon: Black Orbs usually take nicknames given to them by others, which can be different and bizarre. Black Orbs themselves have no gender. (Foxthroat, Big Mantis, Dum-Dum, Sonuvabitch, The Something)

21: Blanklings A fae kind of little, chibi creatures with no face but a lipless mouth and pure white skin. Blanklings can mimic anything they like, any body part, ability, power, even name, gender or character trait. They are nearly one meter tall, and have big heads. Though they look creepy at first, they are just sweet cutie pies. Fast facts: - To mimic any trait, they need to touch the object/subject they like to mimic that trait from to. - Mostly talk in gibberish infant-like tongue, but are way more intelligent than it seems. - Have powerful magic abilities they rarely use for useful purposes. - The ways they reproduce are unknown. There are theories that they can mimic the ways of reproducing and thus aren’t instinct yet. - They can’t mimic something they do not like. And their like/not like standards are… Impossible to precognite. - Do not care about anything. At all. They just vibe. - Eat much. - Are indestructible, in fact. Only to mock your weakness. Blanklings are capable of destroying the very multiverse of multiverses, the very concepts of concepts, but no, they want ice cream. - Their lexicon heavily uses the words “Badda”, “Wubba”, “Razza-dazza”, “Bu”, “Gooseetana”, and “Wowo”. Onomasticon: Use gibberish names, or in fact use any name which the blankling could’ve mimicked. (Bebe, Brandonurie, Leglegololasas, Hulk, Essentipugnator the Destroyer of Worlds)

22: Brodfolk Brodfolk come from the realm of Fetiis, the world of rye, wheat, fields and carbon dioxide. Brodfolk are made from bread, and have a matriarchal society. They get born as a blob of dough, and then are being taken to the Great Midwives, who help the mother of the child with everything. They give the child gender - if the mother does not want the child, it will be used for creating a “bread golem”, a genderless (in fact, third gender) creature used as dumb, raw working force that listens only to women. The society is built in numbers: 1/6 are women, 2/6 of the population are men and the other half of the population is usually golems. The proportions may vary, thought. Brodfolks have wheat or golden colored hair, bread skin which is lighter on one side, and black eyes. Fast facts: - Brodfolk know animancy (soul magic), floramancy (plant magic), kinetomancy (kinetic force/strength magic). The last one helps them create Power Spears and Slicers, which are enchanted with it to be more effective and dangerous in fight. - They have quass instead of blood, and if damaged will slowly lose their carbonation, dying. - Are great smiths. - Have weakness to moisture, drought, birds and fire. - Live in small villages with secret tunnels beneath them for personal time. Onomasticon: Use latin words and delete every third letter. If there are two many consonants, add an apostrophe. (Pr’mu, Lonu, Teebis, Noth, Gibi Diabtu)

23: Buggers Buggers are humanoid insects, which combine the main features of beetles, mantises and grasshoppers. Green chitin, no eyelids on colorful rainbow colored eyes, two or many antennas that somehow resemble a haircut. Able to jump nearly ten meters in height and fifteen in length, buggers are very agile and have fall damage immunity. Can crawl on walls, but not so efficiently. Have an unique feature: wings attached to the sides of their waist, which then rest against the thighs. Can’t express emotions with their hard face, but can produce a pheromone smell which makes other buggers understand them. Live in a distant realm of jungles, where insects dominate the ecosystem. Fast facts: - Their real species name is unpronounceable, thus “Buggers” is just a nickname. - Buggers have a full metamorphosis aging. - Their wings are not for flying but slowing down their falling and enhancing their jump height. Onomasticon: Use words which use only the first half of the alphabet, and then reverse the order of the syllables. (Alleg, Defa, Illak, Elfe, Dacacic)

24: Buynnyu Buynnyu are a strange race of anthropomorphic animals which could be described as something between a wolf and a bunny, with a slight touch of feline nature. Buynnyu have black whites of the eyes, and mostly red irises. Have tails long to the knees, and ears long nearly half the width of their head. Fast facts: - Being sources of powerful magic, they have three magic schools: Ancient, Astronomical and Elemental. Ancient uses spells, Astronomical has mostly rituals and Elemental is a sort of a martial art bend with magic. - Buynnyu have poor eyesight, but good hearing. - Are pretty athletic but not quite. - Due to their culture, they think everything beyond their realm is dangerous and unholy, and that their and only their way of living is the only one right. Their traditions include: seppuku, decapacitation and chopping hands off for crimes. Onomasticon: Use the buynnyu cryptolang on existing names and suiting words. (Aeleax, Jaosoan, Miekei, Graecea, Mayrya)

So that’s it, the Bravo litera is done.

#raclis #racdes #fantasy Races #fantasy species #alien species #alien races #sci-fi races #sci-fi species #dnd #d&d #dnd homebrew #d&d homebrew #dnd homebrew races #d&d homebrew races

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mk-wizard · 5 years ago

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Personal Critique on Terminator Dark Fate

Note that the following contains spoilers so if you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want to have the surprises ruined, please stop reading now!

The following is also my own opinion. While this latest instalment is not as good as Terminator 2: Judgement Day, it has many good qualities and it definitely earns the spot of being the official sequel of it. I felt it was the Terminator movie we really needed to have for a long time even though it took a lot of radical, but necessary steps or rather, steps of which were sort of done before, but this time, done right.

The first and most important note of this movie is that it was one huge salute and reminder to the audience that the true star of this franchise is Sarah Conner not John. I think that is why the majority of the main leads were women who were a balanced mix of strong and sensitive in all the right ways just like her. They were fighters, they stood on their own two feet and they were independent when the situation called for it, but they were also highly motivated by love namely motherly and/or familial love, their pain and emotional scars were obvious, and they were not ashamed to openly mourn. Yet, they are never broken by it.

The second note this movie did right was the death of John Conner. I know many fans felt cheated with his death because there was all this build up of his great destiny which we were all dying to see, but what fans forget (and even I do at times) is that his great destiny was already cancelled since the second movie. His fate was altered and he was now just an ordinary boy free to have his whole life ahead of him. In my opinion, THIS is what made his death truly tragic. He was no longer a threat. He really was just an innocent normal boy which is why his death hurt Sarah and the audience so much. It was a beautifully done "why" moment. And that is what made it a good decision. It reminds us how cruel and how narrow the view of the machines are.

The third note the movie did right is that gave us Carl who is a Terminator with feelings and a sense of right and wrong done right. He wasn't cheesy, over the top or the comic relief character. His interactions with people felt alien because at the end of the day, he isn't a human and we can't expect Carl to be human, but he definitely achieved person-hood. He even grew to genuinely regret killing John hence wanting to atone by giving Sarah a new purpose. If he was truly just a machine, he wouldn't have stopped to think about what he did. Being a husband and father changed him. Love changed him. And those instances where he smiled or looked sad were real. Yes, you still couldn't call him human, but he was not the equivalent of a heartless PC. After all, the Terminators are androids which are capable of learning and their "boss" doesn't sit there teaching them about things like ethics or communication. If given the chance, they could comprehend them though.

The fourth note was that it finally did something different and right. For too long, the sending someone in the past to protect someone had been done to death. And while the new saviour Dani did need protection in the beginning, she was a fighter to begin with. She was responsible, she would stand up to people and she could think on her feet. In the end, she didn't need protection. She was standing alongside the other fighters. Also, Dani made hard choices which were not for the faint of heart which showed her potential to be a leader from get go. And even though she knew about the future, she was still determined to write her own version of it in which nobody has to die. She was a worthy successor to both John and Sarah combined.

Overall, I rate the movie 8/10 and I really hope that James Cameron will continue to be involved in the production of future Terminator instalments. With that said, I hope there will be other instalments.

#terminator #terminator dark fate #sarah connor #john conner #grace #dani #carl #t-800

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mideastsoccer · 5 years ago

Text

Trump’s Trade Wars: A New World Order?

By James M. Dorsey

US President Donald J. Trump may not like armed conflict, but he sure loves economic warfare, whether it is to impose his political will on countries, protect sectors of the U.S. economy, secure more preferential trade terms, or stop others from gaining technological advantage.

The list of countries subject to sanctions or import tariffs designed to force changes in either economic, military, or geopolitical policies is long and includes both U.S. allies and rivals. Since Trump assumed presidency in January 2017, he has sanctioned China, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, the European Union, Myanmar, Syria and Cuba. In one of his first actions after entering the Oval Office, he pulled the United States out of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). (3). He has also sought to undermine the World Trade Organization (WTO), a US-inspired pillar of global trade. (4)

Mr. Trump’s liberal use of sanctions amounts to more than a penchant for economic warfare in an effort to create trade terms more advantageous to the United States. Economic warfare is the president’s strategy to shape a new world order that is likely to be multi-polar. Almost three years into Trump’s administration, it is proving to be a strategy with unintended consequences. Trump is not the only leader to discover that the employment of trade, commerce, and investment as not only an economic; but also political tool can be a double-edged sword.

So is Chinese president Xi Jinping as he confronts mounting anti-Chinese sentiment in Eurasia and greater competition on China’s border in the Russian Far East. Both leaders are forced to respond to external shocks, like mounting tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the wake of recent brazen drone and missile attacks on the kingdom’s oil installations. These attacks have led to a temporary cut of Saudi oil production by half, and are likely to change trading patterns, particularly in energy, not only of China; but also, of multiple other Asian states, including Japan, South Korea and India.

Trump’s protectionist penchant for economic warfare, 15 months before next year’s US presidential election, that breaks with 85 years of U.S. trade and economic policy that emphasized free trade and open markets, has yet to produce a foreign policy success. China and Russia, determined to counter U.S. power, particularly in Asia, have forged ever-closer ties. Iran and North Korea have demonstrated the resilience to endure harsh sanctions. Nicholas Maduro retains his grip on Venezuela while Europe is increasingly exasperated with America and discussing ways of improving relations with Russia to counter China. (5)

Trump’s renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMC), weakened protections for investors in Mexico as well as government commitment to allow foreign companies to bid for procurement contracts. While building a review process to the Agreement, this policy has created a sense of instability. President Trump enhanced uncertainty by subsequently threatening to impose new tariffs on Mexico because he did not like the country’s handling of Central Asian asylum seekers. (6)

Former World Bank president, U.S. trade representative and deputy-secretary of state Robert B. Zoellick predicts that Trump is likely to continuously wage economic warfare and keep trade partners off balance. “He will not change. Trade…is a core issue for the president’s political base. He must keep it boiling,” Mr. Zoellick said in a Wall Street Journal Pp-Ed entitled “The Trade War’s Winners Don’t Include Us”. (7)

As a result, damage to U.S. credibility and ability to regulate the international political and economic order may outlast Trump’s sanctions and tariffs-driven policies. Countries like China and Russia are likely to expand trade relations with third countries, and shift supply chains at the expense of preferential U.S. access to markets. They may also defy U.S. secondary sanctions, which target third country companies and entities, which refuse to comply with, for example, sanctions against Iran, and initiate ways of undermining the global reserve function of the U.S. dollar.

U.S. losses are palatable. The TPP has lowered trade barriers for member countries (8) but not for the United States. The EU has gained preferential access to Japan (9) while China has retaliated with tariffs of 21.8 percent on U.S. products (10) and lowered them to 6.7 percent for others. (11) The U.S. Treasury has doled out billions of dollars agricultural exporters (12) who have lost significant market share in China that they will find difficult to recover. U.S. manufacturers are moving operations to third countries (13) to evade the impact of the U.S.-China trade war while foreign direct investment in the United States is dropping. (14) Chinese investment in the United States has plummeted in the last two years. (15) Meanwhile, India and the United States are erecting barriers of their own (16) that will negatively affect bilateral trade while negotiations with the EU are stalled. (17)

President Trump’s trade wars have reduced the United States’ ability to establish rules and standards that govern key sectors like medical services, finance, intellectual-property rights, data access and security; enable the fight against corruption and promote transparency; “This president disdains rules; he acts as if governments control purchases like in old-style mercantilism,” Mr. Zoellick said. “Trump thinks that trade policy at 3 o’clock in the morning,” added Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Saunders. (18)

Mr. Trump’s erratic approach towards policy-making and implementation implies bullying will do the job and vacillation between bluster and moderation has projected him as an unreliable and impossible negotiator. This approach showcases a sharp contrast to his self-styled portrayal of himself as the master of the ‘Art of the Deal’. At the risk of sparking the emergence of parallel economic worlds, one dominated by the United States, the other by China, President Trump assumes his trade war and efforts to block Chinese access to U.S. technology would sabotage President Xi Jinping’s ‘Made in China 2025’ program designed to make China commercially and industrially self-sufficient. Trump further sees his trade war as a way of halting China’s efforts to replace the U.S. as the world’s foremost, cutting-edge economy. Reporting on a recent visit by Mr. Xi to Henan Province, Communist Party newspaper reported the president had “urged the development of the real economy bolstered by manufacturing, with self-reliance as the basis of all endeavours.” (19)

Mr. Trump may be right in his identification of the threat that China poses to U.S. economic and geopolitical dominance. The problem is that his policy solution risks accelerating the process rather than pausing or reversing it. Rather than stimulating research and development needed to ensure an American lead, Trump seems to believe that undermining China’s abilities is the key. The threat of the demise of a global market and the rise of parallel markets appears to have reinforced Chinese determination to become self-reliant to the degree possible.

“A more competitive United States would be a stabilizing force,” said Ely Ratnert the executive vice president of the Center for a New American Security and former deputy national security adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, arguing that U.S. strategy should involve both engagement and containment. (20)

Differences between China’s response to U.S. sanctions on telecommunications equipment and systems maker ZTE Corporation that threatened to bring the company down and Huawei, another major Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer, suggest that President Xi has factored the emergence of parallel worlds into his thinking. Last year, he phoned President Trump to plead with him to lift a crippling seven-year ban on the acquisition of U.S. components by ZTE. (21) The ban, imposed in response to allegation of ZTE’s busting of sanctions against Iran and North Korea, effectively sounded the death knell for ZTE, which has a workforce of 75,000. Trump agreed to lift the ban in exchange for ZTE agreeing to pay a U.S. $1.3 billion fine, undertake sweeping management changes, and hire American compliance executives to monitor internally the company.

No such deal was available to Huawei, neither would President Xi be willing to accept another deal that he would have perceived as reminiscent of China’s historical humiliations at the hands of Western powers. Huawei has responded defiantly to U.S. sanctions, (22) the detention in Canada at the behest of the United States of its Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, (23) daughter of the company’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, on charges of financial fraud, sanctions violations, obstruction of justice; and a global campaign to prevent companies from acquiring Huawei’s 5G technology. The reason was the company’s close ties to the military and security forces. (24) In line with what has been termed the decoupling of the U.S. and Chinese economies, Huawei introduced Harmony, its own operating system to rival Android; and make it less dependent on U.S. technology. (25)

In September 2019, the Trump administration took a further step towards decoupling with the proposed new rules, which would allow the United States to exert greater control over foreign investment, by broadening the government’s authority to block technology and real estate transactions. The rules would give the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, greater power to stop foreign investment in areas the U.S. deems protected, a move that primarily aims to bar China from access to sensitive American technology and other valuable assets. Beyond technology, the rules would red flag investment in infrastructure, such as telecommunications, utilities and energy as well companies that collect sensitive personal data related to finance and health, particularly of individuals and/or federal employees involved in national security. Real estate acquisitions would be vetted on proximity to military installations, airports and ports. (26)

If President Trump has demonstrated his inclination to wage economic wars, his Chinese counterpart, President Xi, sees trade and foreign investment as a way of not only securing economic growth by imposing increasingly controversial commercial terms; but also, achieving China’s geopolitical goals and promoting its concept of an invasive surveillance state. With countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Myanmar and Nepal questioning projects that fail to respond to local needs and fail to contribute to economic growth because they rely on Chinese labor and materials, China has conceded that it may have to make adjustments to a policy that by default rather than design could end up contributing to decoupling.

"It is normal and understandable that development focus can change at different stages in different countries, especially with changes in government. So China can also make some strategic adjustments when cooperating with these countries, but it is definitely not a reconsideration of the B&R (Belt and Road) initiative," Wang Jun, deputy director of the Department of Information at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges told the Global Times newspaper. (27)

Mr. Jun spoke as Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, was confronted on a visit to Islamabad with Pakistani demand that China should refocus its U.S. $45 billion plus investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the single largest country infrastructure investment related to the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative, to emphasize manufacturing and poverty reduction projects. (28) The Pakistani demand amounted to a rejection of China’s approach that appeared to position Pakistan as a raw materials supplier for China, an export market for Chinese products and labour, and an experimental ground for the export of the surveillance state China is rolling out, particularly in its troubled north-western province of Xinjiang. (29)

Elsewhere in Asia, some countries were putting their money where their mouth was. Chinese commercial terms prompted Nepal, like Pakistan to withdraw from a Chinese-funded dam project. (30) Furthermore, protests against the forced resettlement of eight Nepali villages persuaded CWE Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges, to cancel a 750MW hydropower project. (31)

In July, Malaysia restarted the China-linked East Coast Rail Link project after forcing China to agree to downsizing construction costs by a third. The rail project, led by China Communications Construction Co. and Malaysia Rail Link Sdn., was cancelled in 2018 by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after he balked at the U.S. $16 billion cost. (32) The rail scheme was one of several projects, including a natural gas pipeline, suspended or cancelled by Mr. Mahathir after taking office in May 2018. (33) Similarly, Myanmar forced China to scale back its Kyaukphyu deep-sea port project from U.S. $7.5 billion to 1.3 billion. (34)

Even China’s approach towards trade with Russia, its closest ally, has sparked anti-Chinese sentiment and raised questions of whether the current state of affairs is sustainable. Chinese investment in Russia is a fraction of China’s investment in other regions like sub-Saharan Africa or South America and less than China’s expanding stake in countries like Nigeria and Brazil. A Chinese-Russian agreement on economic cooperation in Siberia, Russia’s Far East and China’s Northeast for a period of nine years ending in 2018 has fallen far short of expectations.

The agreement identified 91 joint investment projects of which only 11 materialized. (35) Similarly, energy failed to live up to its billing. CEFC China Energy’s plan to acquire a 14 percent stake in Russia’s largest, and majority state-owned, oil company, Rosneft, never happened. Neither did an agreed U.S. $25 billion investment in Russia’s Power of Siberia gas pipeline. The pipeline’s export of 38 billion cubic metres of natural gas is but one source for China that in 2017 imported more than 90 billion cubic meters from Australia, Qatar, and Turkmenistan.

Russia scholar Leo Aaron charged that the lopsided nature of Chinese-Russian economic relations fits the definition of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin of colonial trade, in which one country becomes a raw material appendage of another. “China is Russia’s second-largest trading partner (after the EU) and Russia’s largest individual partner in both exports and imports, for China the Russian market is at best second-rate. Russia ranks tenth in Chinese exports and does not make it into the top ten in either imports or total trade,” Mr. Aaron said. He noted that three-quarters of Russia’s exports to China were raw materials as opposed to consumer good, electronics and machinery accounted for the bulk of Chinese sales to Russia. (36)

More ominously, China starting in Central Asia, a crucial region that borders on its strategic but troubled north-western province of Xinjiang, is making deployment of its intrusive surveillance systems a pre-condition for investment; and in some cases appears willing to supply the infrastructure at no cost as part of a Smart City project developed by Huawei for initial roll-out in former Soviet states. (37) Huawei says the system, which involves installing thousands of security cameras equipped with artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology in public places, has been exported to 160 cities worldwide.

Liu Jiaxing, head of Huawei’s representative office in Uzbekistan, disclosed China’s insistence on adopting its surveillance approach in an interview with an Uzbek news outlet. “Investors will only go where the situation is stable. In view of this, the implementation of the Safe City project is very important for Uzbekistan as it will help the country develop its investment potential,” Liu said. (38) With no transparent regulation and oversight that ensure Central Asians’ privacy rights, China is likely to have access to data collected by the Smart City technology. Kyrgyzstan’s interior minister said data, one collected, would be handled at no cost to the government by Chinese National Electronics Import and Export Corporation, or CEIEC; a company believed to be tied to the Chinese military whose technology is deployed in Xinjiang, China’s surveillance system laboratory. (39)

The Middle East may not be at the core of the trade wars and policies that appear to be reshaping world trade. However, harsh U.S. sanctions on Iran and opposition to them by China, Russia and Europe have enabled Saudi Arabia and Iran to put their stamp on them. Devastating attacks in September on two Saudi oil facilities, which were claimed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and blamed on Iran by the United States and Saudi Arabia, have prompted the kingdom’s major Asian customers to look at diversifying their supplies, which could force them to upgrade their ability to refine heavier grades of crude. “The key is to gradually get rid of heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil. There is a consistent risk to oil supply from Middle East countries. China has been diversifying its oil suppliers,” said Zhu Guangming, an analyst from the consultancy Sublime China Information. (40)

China’s diversification options are Russia, the United States and Iran. Russia may be China’s safest bet as long as the U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran while the U.S. is tricky given the trade war. Trading patterns in the immediate aftermath of the attacks in Saudi Araba of Unipec, the trading arm of Chinese oil giant Sinopec, highlight China’s dilemma. Unipec was rushing in early September to sell U.S. oil it had acquired as China imposed a five-percent tariff on imports of American oil. Two weeks later, it was chartering ships to import U.S. light crude to compensate for Saudi shortfalls. (41)

A careful reading of Saudi and U.S. responses to the Saudi attacks suggests subtle differences between the two governments. They mask several emerging fundamental issues that could have far-reaching consequences for the Gulf’s security architecture and energy export focus. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Trump explicitly pointed the finger at Iran as being directly responsible, (42) while Saudi Arabia stopped short of blaming the Islamic republic, saying that its preliminary findings showed that Iranian weapons had been used in the attack. (43) Iran has denied any involvement. (44)

Saudi Arabia’s initial reluctance to unambiguously blame Iran may have a lot to do with Trump’s America First-driven response to the attacks, which appeared to contradict the Carter Doctrine proclaimed in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. The doctrine, a cornerstone of the Saudi-U.S. relationship, stated that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to defend its national interests in the Gulf.

Trump’s apparent weakening of the United States’ commitment to the defense of the Kingdom, encapsulates in the doctrine, risks fundamentally altering the relationship, already troubled by Saudi conduct of the more than four-year-long war in Yemen and last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Signalling a break with the Carter doctrine, Trump was quick to point out that the attacks were on Saudi Arabia, not on the United States; and suggested it was for the Saudis to respond. “I haven’t promised Saudis that. We have to sit down with the Saudis and work something out. That was an attack on Saudi Arabia, and that was not an attack on us. But we would certainly help them,” Mr. Trump said without identifying what kind of support the U.S. would be willing to provide. (45)

Despite blustering that the United States was “locked and loaded,” Trump insisted “we have a lot of options but I’m not looking at options right now.” Mr. Trump further called into question the nature of the U.S.-Saudi defense relationship by declaring that “If we decide to do something, they’ll be very much involved, and that includes payment. And they understand that fully.”

At the bottom line, the structure of global trade is by design or default in flux with potentially far-reaching conclusions for international relations as well as political systems in various countries. The escalating trade war between the United States and China risks a breakdown in global trade as the world’s two largest economies contemplate encouraging the emergence of trading environments that they would dominate. Add to that, the impact of Mr. Trump’s penchant for economic sanctions, that in the case of Iran, have sparked escalating tension between Saudi Arabia and the United States that could reshape security perspectives in the Gulf and could lead to alternative flows of energy to Asia’s largest importers. The possible decoupling of the Chinese and U.S. economies would make it easier for China to politically align some beneficiaries of China’s Belt and Road initiative by imposing its concept of a 21st-century Orwellian surveillance state on them.

Dr. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, an adjunct senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg’s Institute of Fan Culture

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ao3feed-safeklance · 6 years ago

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VLD S8 Rewrite

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2TeuvCI

by FaqehaQureshi

Waddup, Paladudes! This is just a rewrite I'm doing of how I think Season 8 could've played out without DreamWorks getting in the way of everything. :^) So yeah, like 30% of this will be direct lines from the actual episodes, but the other 70% is based on original concepts/theories I've thought of or heard about on Tumblr.

***

After saving the Earth, the Paladins embark to prevent Honerva from setting into motion her deadliest plan yet. It’s a race against the clock as the Voltron Coalition gathers from the corners of the galaxy to defend the universe once and for all.

Words: 74, Chapters: 1/15, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

Characters: Lance (Voltron), Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Hunk (Voltron), Matt Holt, Sam Holt, Colleen Holt, Acxa (Voltron), Veronica (Voltron), Zethrid (Voltron), Ryan Kinkade, Nadia Rizavi, Ina Leifsdottir, James Griffin (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Kolivan (Voltron), Haggar (Voltron), Zarkon (Voltron), Alfor (Voltron), Blaytz (Voltron), Gyrgan (Voltron), Trigel (Voltron), Slav (Voltron), Curtis (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Nyma (Voltron), Beezer (Voltron), Ryner (Voltron), Bae Bae (Voltron), Keith's Wolf (Voltron), Romelle (Voltron), Allura's Mother (Voltron), Beta Traz Warden, Ezor (Voltron), Laika (Voltron), Ozar (Voltron), Lahn (Voltron), Narti (Voltron), White Lion (Voltron), Klaizap (Voltron), Kaltenecker (Voltron), Keith's Father (Voltron), Lance's Family (Voltron), Shay (Voltron), Tavo (Voltron), Sven (Voltron), Hira (Voltron), Space Mice (Voltron), Dayak (Voltron), Iverson (Voltron), Olia (Voltron), Bi Boh Bi (Voltron), Bandor (Voltron), Moxilous (Voltron), Luka (Voltron), Merla (Voltron), Android Chip (Voltron), Rolo (Voltron), Kuron (Voltron), Sylvio (Voltron), Nadia (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith & Shiro (Voltron), Allura/Lotor (Voltron), Hunk & Keith (Voltron), Lance & Shiro (Voltron), Acxa/Veronica (Voltron), Keith & Krolia (Voltron), Matt Holt & Lance, Lance & Lotor (Voltron), Acxa & Keith (Voltron), Keith/Lance (Voltron), Dayak & Lotor (Voltron), Past Voltron Paladins & Voltron Paladins, Lance & Red Lion (Voltron), Allura & White Lion (Voltron), Shiro & White Lion (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Fix-It, Episode Fix-it, Season 8 Rewrite, S8 rewrite, Bisexual Lance (Voltron), Gay Keith (Voltron), Gay Shiro (Voltron), Quantum Abyss (Voltron), Time Travel, Alternate Reality, Keith's Quintessence Sensitivity (Voltron), Lotor Redemption Arc (Voltron), Added 2 Episodes, Voltron Lion to Paladin Psychic Bond, Foreshadowing, Kuron (Voltron) Lives, Corruption, Oriande Isn't Destroyed, Klance Fight, Astral Plane, Pining Lance (Voltron), Allura vs Haggar (Voltron), Shiro vs Haggar (Voltron), Keith (Voltron) Plays With Children, Keith (Voltron) Sorta Dies But Comes Back, purple paladin, Narti (Voltron) is the Superweapon, Matt (Voltron) Dies, Krolia (Voltron) Dies, Kolivan (Voltron) Dies, Team-Games Filler for Day 47, Rolo (Voltron) is Dead, Adam (Voltron) is Dead, Ezor (Voltron) is Dead, Shiro and Keith (Voltron) Talk About Their Fight, Shiro and Lance (Voltron) Bonding, Honerva (Voltron) Doesn't Kill the White Lion, Bae Bae and Cosmo (Voltron) Are Best Buds, Acxa (Voltron) Is Used As a Trap, Slav (Voltron) Says Some Quantum-Physics Bullshit, Kaltenecker (Voltron) Gets the Love She Deserves, Allura (Voltron) Doesn't Die, Sincline Returns, Dayak and Coran (Voltron) Bonding, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff and Humor

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2TeuvCI

#ao3feed #fanfic #voltron #klance

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ao3feed-klance · 6 years ago

Text

VLD S8 Rewrite

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2TeuvCI

by FaqehaQureshi

***

Words: 74, Chapters: 1/15, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2TeuvCI

#ao3feed #ao3feed klance

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ao3feed-lotura · 6 years ago

Text

VLD S8 Rewrite

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2TeuvCI

by FaqehaQureshi

***

Words: 74, Chapters: 1/15, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2TeuvCI

#Lotura #Lotor x Allura #Allura #Lotor #ao3feed #fanfic

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ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender · 6 years ago

Text

VLD S8 Rewrite

read it on the AO3 at VLD S8 Rewrite

by FaqehaQureshi

***

Words: 74, Chapters: 1/15, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

read it on the AO3 at VLD S8 Rewrite

#ao3feed #fanfic #voltron #voltron: legendary defender #ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender

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chartlomo · 2 years ago

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Audio spy microphone

#Audio spy microphone how to

#Audio spy microphone install

#Audio spy microphone android

#Audio spy microphone tv

Sweep your room, car, or office for RF signals, magnetic fields, or cameras.Ī low-tech solution is to take everything apart, but that is tedious and may lead to property damage without finding the devices. It scans for RF signals, magnetic fields, and camera lasers. Bug Detector Anti Spy RF Signal Detector Bug Sweeper Spy Scanner Anti Tracking Strong Magnetic Detector for GPS Tracker Hidden Camera Finder Eavesdropping Device is the perfect example this device will find hidden cameras and audio recorders. The easiest way to find out if there is a listening device in the house is to purchase a bug detector.

#Audio spy microphone install

The person you are dating, a former spouse, or a stalker may install bugs in your home or office. Purchase an audio jammer or anti-spy bug detector. To block listening devices that are outside your home, you should. If the person does not have access to the home, the attack will likely be mobile. The same is true if someone has access to the home or office. If you have a suspicion that someone is listening to you, put yourself in the person’s shoes and ask, what is the easiest way to gain access to your devices? If it is the government or intelligence agencies, there could be bugs or microphones hidden in your electronics. How can I find listening devices in my home? Step 1: identify the threat How to block listening devices in your home They may also use Bluetooth.Īnother option is to connect to your devices via your WIFI. To gain access to the TV, the hacker may use a modified infrared transceiver connected to a computer to send commands to the TV.

#Audio spy microphone tv

For example, to listen to your conversations, all that person must do is find a way into a device that has a camera or microphone.įor example, to you, a Smart Tv is just a TV, but to a hacker, that TV is a node on a network. Since these devices are connected or on the same network, if someone accesses one, then that person may have a bridge into all your devices. For example, if you own a doorbell made by Apple, your cameras, sensors, thermostats, and sprinklers will probably be made by apple or affiliate companies. One key feature of smart homes is that all the connected smart devices are usually from the same manufacturer. How many listening devices in your home are listening to you? If an attacker has access to your fridge’s camera or microphone, then that person has access to your home and conversations. The problem with such devices is that they offer little or no protection from attackers. Making your home “dumb” means getting rid of all appliances that may connect to the internet.ĭo you need a smart fridge, thermometer, or coffee maker? If yes, position these items in rooms or sections where you do not have sensitive conversations. How to block listening devices: make your home, car, or office dumb The point is, anything that has a microphone or camera in it – has the potential to turn into a listening or recording device, So, it is not paranoia people and bots are trying to get you. In 2015, James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, admitted that intelligence agencies might use appliances in your home, including cameras, thermostats, and other smart devices that can connect to the internet to listen to you.įurthermore, hackers, spies, or even your partner may have listening devices in your home. However, your phone is not the only smart device in your home or office that might be listening to you. In 2019, news came to light that Apple used SIRI to listen to user conversations for “training.” This allows manufacturers or contractors to listen to user conversations. If you think not, you should know that smartphones feature a voice app that accesses your microphone. How? Do you have a digital voice assistant?

#Audio spy microphone android

However, if reports by the Guardian and other news outlets, including Vice, are believed, contractors and AI developed by android and IOS listen to user conversations. Officially android and IOS devices do not listen to your conversation because eavesdropping violates the user’s right to privacy. At the core of it is the question, “is my phone listening to my conversations and using keywords to target ads?” How to block listening devices explained.Īds-coinciding-with-conversations is a phenomenon that has happened to one too many smartphone users.

Common sense in your greatest defense against spies.

Use frequency scanners or infrared smartphone apps to find hidden cameras.

Use noise blocker or white noise generators to block long distance recording or hidden devices in your home.

#Audio spy microphone how to

Quick take: How to block listening devices: The question is, how do you block listening devices? Is my phone listening to me? Yes, and there could be other devices in your home.

#Audio spy microphone

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genderonthescreen-blog · 6 years ago

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The Problematic Love Interest: No Means Yes?

What do TV and film teach us about love? Well, they teach us that romantic love is very important, that the grand gestures are everything, that true love’s kiss will always break the spell, and, oh yeah, when someone says “no” they really mean “yes.” The lack of consent in movies and TV shows, in scenes that are supposed to be romantic, is shocking. Time and time again I will come across a show or film that looks promising, it usually is, and I am enjoying the film or show. That is before I am shown a scene that is so obviously sexual assault, yet, it is shown as seductive, or romantic, or even funny.

Last summer I watched the movie Blade Runner (1982) for the first time. As an avid fan of Star Wars, I spent most of my pre-teen years drooling over Han Solo (Harrison Ford)—as well as the swashbuckling archaeologist, Dr. Indiana Jones (also Ford). So after re-watching the Star Wars films I was suffering from a Harrison Ford withdrawal, so I decided it was time to check out, supposedly, the next best “Ford Sci-fi Flick”: Blade Runner. Now, in my own personal and unimportant opinion, I don’t think Blade Runner is a very good movie. However, I think it would’ve been much better in my eyes if it weren’t for the rape scene that happens about halfway through the film. In the scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjO8wsjPqbg), the lead character, Rick Deckard, just told his “love interest”, Rachael (Sean Young), that she is an android (the beings the Deckard is supposed to be hunting and killing) and that her human memories are fake. In her moment of distress Deckard makes a move on her. However, she doesn’t respond. She moves away when he tries to kiss her again and quickly gets up to leave his apartment. Deckard becomes angry. He storms in front of her, blocking the path between her and the door, before he grabbing her by the shoulders and shoving her up against the window on the opposite end of the room. He proceeds to force a kiss on her and then tells her to to say to him “Kiss me” and then, after she complies, he tells her to say “I want you” to him. In doing this, Deckard forces her to give him “consent”, thus making the whole assault her fault. Its a disgusting scene that made me wonder: “Why I am supposed to be rooting for this main character?” But honestly the worst part about it is that it’s filmed as a seduction. The music swells as Deckard kisses Rachael, telling the audience that this is a romantic and sensual moment. What it really does, however, is perpetuate the falsehood that when a woman says “no” (either with her words or her body language) she really means “yes.”

These kinds of scenes are very prevalent in older films. The John Hughes classic Sixteen Candles (1984) is chalk full of dubious consent. In one scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmf_sT_IcMc&t=125s), the love interest, Jake (Michael Schoeffling), of the main character, Samantha (Molly Ringwald)—who’s supposed to be a sensitive jock; he just wants a nice girl to love him—hands his current girlfriend, a very drunk Caroline (Haviland Morris), off to Farmer Ted (Anthony Michael Hall) in exchange for a pair of Sam’s underwear. In the kitchen when the two boys are talking about this plan, Jake delivers the infamous line: “I can get a piece of ass anytime I want. Shit, I’ve got Caroline in my bedroom now passed out cold. I could violate her ten different ways if I wanted to.” This line is the precursor to Jake saying how he wants a nice girl who doesn’t party. Honestly, how is he the romantic male lead in this movie and not the predatory creep! Later in the film it is implied that Caroline and Farmer Ted have sex, to which Caroline is very okay with, despite the fact she was totally drunk throughout the whole ordeal (thus, unable to consent), and was also tricked by her boyfriend into thinking that Farmer Ted was her boyfriend, Jake. This perpetuates that same stereotype seen in Blade Runner: “no” means “yes.”

An argument can be made that “These movies are from the eighties! They’re just a product of the times!” And, while Sixteen Candles especially is a product of it’s time, that doesn’t mean this kind of portrayal of “romance” is gone from TV and cinema today. In fact, it’s unfortunately alive and well.

Take the relationship between Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) from the HBO show Game of Thrones. Daenerys is basically sold into marriage to Drogo by her brother, and proceeds to get raped by her husband multiple times during the beginning of their relationship. However, by the time Khal Drogo makes his exit from the show (SPOILER ALERT! He dies) the two are in love. All is forgiven, and Daenerys is heartbroken by the loss of her husband. This kind of forgiveness of sexual predators in a TV show is quite common. The character Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), from the classic 2000s show Gossip Girl, forces himself on two different characters during the first season, but all is forgotten barely a few episodes later, and he just becomes an annoying antagonist—and by the end of the series, he’s a dashing love interest!

I hate to say it, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer (one of my favorite TV shows of all time) is another example of this kind of forgetfulness when it comes to sexual assault in TV shows. In the episode “Seeing Red” from season six, there is a scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGWhEgjdLeM ) where the vampire, Spike (James Marsters), attempts to rape Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). These are two characters have been in an “on again, off again” sexual relationship for most of the season. However, Spike has fallen in love with Buffy, and she has not fallen for him. In an attempt to get her to love him back, Spike decides to force himself on her. After a bit of a struggle—where Spike tries to pull off her robe and tackles her to the ground—Buffy kicks him off of her before anything happens, but the damage is done. The problem is Spike still stays a fan favorite on the show and he is very easily redeemed (he gets a soul so all is well!). He is also not only redeemed in the eyes of the viewer, but also in the eyes of Buffy, the victim of his abuse—who, in the next season, actually falls in love with him. These are all classic examples of the actions of a male character, who is a sexual abuser/assaulter, getting forgotten or easily forgiven as the show progresses.

Modern movies still have problems with consent, too. A recent Netflix release titled Sierra Burgess is a Loser (2018) is an example of dubious consent passed off as a sweet romance. The basic plot of this teen romance movie is: a teenage girl, named Sierra (Shannon Purser), cat-fishes this teenage boy, Jamey (Noah Centineo), because she is too insecure to tell him who she really is. Sierra does this with the help of the popular girl from her high school, Veronica (Kristine Froseth), who is the person Jamey thinks he is texting/talking on the phone with. This movie has a LOT of problems, but what I thought the most disturbing part was a scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdjN-sIxw4) where Veronica goes on a date with Jamey as Sierra. Sierra follows the two around on their “date” and texts Veronica instructions on how to act so Jamey doesn’t think something’s up. Towards the end of the evening, Jamey and Veronica are leaning on the hood of his car—Sierra is hiding underneath the car, spying on the two of them—and Jamey leans in for a kiss. Veronica stops him and tells him to close his eyes first before she gestures for Sierra to come out and kiss Jamey herself, and she does. It’s super weird and uncomfortable to watch because this teenage boy is being kissed by someone he’s never met, and without his consent. But, all the while, the music swells, telling the audience that this is a romantic moment. A lot of people were complaining about this movie—like I said, it had many issues (making fun of deaf people, and some off comments about the LGBT community)—but I wish more people were talking about this scene. If the roles were reversed and Jamey was a girl being kissed by this boy who was cat-fishing her, people would be up in arms (because that literally sounds like it was taken out of Sixteen Candles!). But, because Jamey is a boy, people aren’t as upset about this scene.

The movie Wedding Crashers (2005) is a comedy about two guys who have a hobby of (you guessed it) crashing weddings. It’s a very funny movie that I have thoroughly enjoyed. However, this movie makes many jokes about men who have been sexually assaulted—thus, perpetuating the stereotype that men can’t be sexually assaulted because they always want to have sex. There are several scenes that depict sexual coercion and even a scene that could be considered rape! In this scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_r1zDwdmSg&has_verified=1), Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) wakes up tied to his bed with a naked Gloria (Isla Fisher), the woman that he’s been sleeping with, sitting on top of him. He begins to ask her what is going on, and she tells him she thinks what’s wrong with their relationship is that they aren’t being adventurous enough. Jeremy tries to protest, but Gloria quickly “shushes” him before shoving a sock into his mouth and covering it with duct tape before the camera cuts away. This scene is depicted as funny, as are all of the other sexual assault scenes in this movie. In the next scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6fLskrvsRA also depicted as funny), Jeremy tells his friend, John (Owen Wilson), about what happened to him. Unfortunately, Jeremy is semi-ignored by his friend, who brushes off his complaints and proceeds to go on about the woman he has feelings for. When Jeremy says he wants to leave the house they are staying at and go home, John guilt-trips him into staying (no bro left behind). Later in the film Gloria and Jeremy actually end up getting married! Throughout the film, these scenes are played off as funny, because it’s a man getting sexually assaulted and not a woman. Once again I ask you to switch the roles and pretend that Jeremy is a woman and Gloria is a man. Would people still be laughing if that was the case?

Sexual assault and consent is a serious issue. With the “Time’s Up” and #Metoo movement taking the internet by storm, and so many actresses and actors (and people in general!) coming forward about the sexual assault and mistreatment they experienced in their industry, there is a lot to consider. But the fact that films and TV are still allowing sexual coercion, assault, harassment, and rape to be shot as funny, romantic, sensual, or easily forgiven is sending people the message that sexual assault isn’t a big deal—thus, adding to the problem. This notion is not only wrong, but also dangerous. It is teaching people (especially young people) that consent isn’t important. Future writers, directors, producers, and anyone else involved in making films and TV need to step up to the plate and use their platform to enforce the importance of consent, instead of disregarding it.

Check out these cool sources!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWoP8VpbpYI

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/when-pop-culture-sells-dangerous-myths-about-romance/549749/

http://shrcc.org/get-the-facts/what-is-consent/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4062022/

How about this cooler bibliography!

https://vimeo.com/194215274

https://books.google.com/books?id=Kq4-DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=consent+in+films&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNvOrYl5nfAhVws1kKHaiCDBUQuwUIOzAD#v=onepage&q=consent%20in%20films&f=false

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/12/05/why-the-last-tango-in-paris-rape-scene-is-generating-such-an-outcry-now/?utm_term=.5b8a35fad57e

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-469646/I-felt-raped-Brando.html

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