#uman rights

[thebookewyrme]

This is incredibly important. More parents need to work on this. But parents: you’re not going to be perfect at it. Give up the idea of being a perfect enlightened parent. Nobody is. You’re human. You’re going to get tired and stressed and busy and not have the energy for a conversation every time they don’t want to do the dishes. Resist the urge to yell or scream. Take yourself out of the situation until you can calm down. If they’re young, come back and say “this is really important and I need you to do this right now and I promise I’ll explain later” (and then be sure to follow through). If they’re older and more capable of empathy say “please I really. Need you to help me by doing this thing. I promise to explain later” (and then DO). You are the adult and it’s your job to regulate emotions. But you’re not a saint or a robot and you’re allowed to have needs. By and large, kids WANT to be helpful for their parents. Appeal to them as a person capable of thought and they will respond, especially if you give them the respect of follow through.

Secondly, it’s never to late to start employing these principles. Just because you didn’t do this for them from birth doesn’t mean you can’t start now. It may be harder. The older they get, the more they’re going to mistrust you at first, but it’s never too late. Even if your kid is already an adult, there’s still time to start listening with empathy and treating your kid like a person. Forgive yourself for past mistakes, and do better going forward. While you’re alive, it is still possible to do better than before. Don’t give up before you even try.

a friend of mine is a science educator. not a classroom teacher - he does the kind of programs you see in museums, fun experiments with lasers and dry ice and shit.

yesterday, a young girl asked him why he was allowed to pour liquid nitrogen all over his own arm but he didn’t want her doing it. I braced myself for some dumb “well I’m an adult so I’m allowed” non-answer, but instead he surprised me by giving some of the best science (and life) advice I think you can give a young person:

“well, it’s one of those rules designed to keep you safe. and following the rules really can help you stay safe, but they’re not perfect. sometimes, usually because they’re too simple, the rules let you do things that aren’t safe, or don’t let you do things that are safe if you know how to do them. one of the reasons I’m good at what I do as a scientist is I try to understand how things work so I can figure out my own rules for keeping myself safe. and sometimes my rules are little more complicated than what I might hear from other people, but they work better for me. like, I let myself play with liquid nitrogen, but only in really specific ways that I’ve spent time practicing. you should follow the rules you’re given at first, but if you take the time to understand how things work, maybe you can make your own, better rules.”

I loved this response. it’s a great encapsulation of two really important things I think people need to learn and re-learn all the time: on the one hand, listen to genuine authority figures; when someone knows more than you about a subject, don’t treat their expertise as “just another opinion” and act like your ignorance is just as good as their knowledge. but on the other hand, don’t obey anything or anyone blindly. recognize that rules and systems and established ideas are never perfect. question things, educate yourself, question things more.

and then, of course, a parent had to butt in and spoil this wonderful lesson by saying:

“but not the rules mom comes up with!”

everyone in the room laughed. except me. I gave her a death glare I’m pretty sure she didn’t notice.

because no. no. your rules are not above reproach if you’re a parent. the thing about the dictates of genuine authority figures - people who deserve to have power, and to have their positions respected - is that they are open to question. genuine authority figures are accountable. governments can be petitioned and protested and recalled. doctors must respect patients’ right to a second opinion. journalists have jobs terminated and credentials revoked if they fail to meet standards of integrity and diligence. scientists, to bring us back full circle, spend their entire careers trying to disprove their own hypotheses! you know who insists on being treated as infallible? megalomaniacal dictators, that’s who. oh, and parents.

I’m beyond sick and tired of this “my house my rules, this family is not a democracy, I want my child to think critically and stand up for themselves except to me ha ha” bullshit. my friend gave this kid the kind of advice that doesn’t just help people become good scientists - if enough people adopt the mentality he put forth to that girl, that’s the kind of advice that helps societies value knowledge and resist totalitarianism. and her mother shut it down because, what, she didn’t want to deal with the inconvenience of having someone question her edicts about whose job it is to wash the dishes on Mondays?

we already know you’re more likely to be a Trump supporter if you’re an authoritarian parent - and that this is a stronger predictor of your views on the current president than age, religiosity, gender, or race. I’ll say this another way in case you didn’t catch the full meaning: people who believe in the absolute, unquestionable authority of parents are more than two and a half times as likely to support Trump as people who don’t, and that’s just among Republicans. we can’t afford to treat the oppressive treatment of children or the injustice of ageist power structures in our society as a sideshow issue any longer. the mentality that parents should be treated by their children as beyond reproach and above dispute is a social cancer that has metastasized into the man currently trying to destroy the foundations of democracy in this country.

in short: parents, get the hell over yourselves before you get us all killed. and kids, learn as much as you can, and then make your own rules.

[seahdalune]

now that i think about it i could probably make a plush Uman too. but we'll see

[mnictasbcl]

I am one (1) printer error away from biting a chunk out of my laptop

[suratan-zir]

April 28, 2023

At 4 in the morning, when everyone were at home sleeping, the russians launched a missile attack on Ukraine using their strategic aviation. They hit residential buildings in two cities - Uman' and Dnipro.

Ten people were killed in Uman', including a child. Eleven 14 15 people killed in Uman', including two 10-year-olds. upd: 23 people died, including four children In Dnipro, a 2-year-old girl and a 31-year-old woman were killed by a russian misssile.

After another terrorist attack on Ukraine, the ruzzian ministry of defense posts this in its official Telegram channel:

"Точно в цель" means "right on target", hashtag says "HeroesZ"

For all of you who still somehow doubt that they are doing this on purpose, they explicitly say that Ukrainian children are a target for them.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 7 A-Running Late

Day 7 A-Clock

Other Stories

Other Days

Gordon thundered down the lines, the coaches swaying with his speed.

“I will not be late, I will not be late. I will not be late.” He chanted, steam billowing from his funnel as he strained forward. 

‘Blast it all.’ He swore in his mind, ‘I should have known better than to doze at the front of the express.’

He had forgotten to ask Jinty how far behind he was when she woke him, urgently telling him he was late starting. He had simply raced off as the Guard whistled and waved his flag.

In his cab he could feel Rain working as hard as she could to keep his fire fed as he raced west. Amanda managed his steam precisely to give him every chance to catch the train up. He had never been late without either a mechanical failure or someone else causing his delay. Today would not be the first!

He normally slowed for the descent down the incline, instead he plunged down at full steam, using the five mile grade to gain back every second he could.

He thundered through Wellsworth, whistling furiously, barely hearing Edward’s surprised return whistle.

He soared along the rails, the coaches behind him singing happily at their speed. He rocketed past Knapford, Duck whistling for him to slow.

As much as he hated to admit it, the pannier was right. He braked, bringing the train under control.

‘Please don't be late. Please don't be late. Please don't be late.’

He only managed to slow the train to the yard speed limit without jostling his passengers through his years of experience.

He came to a stop, his steam obscuring the Station clock. Sir Charles Hatt was on the platform and frowned as he looked at the express, glancing towards the clock as he clicked his stopwatch.

No…they couldn't be.

The Fat Controller walked up to Gordon, “Afternoon Gordon, how was the express?”

“Afternoon Sir.” Gordon said, his heart sinking, “How late are we?”

The Fat Controller frowned, “late? Gordon you're early.”

Early?!?

The smoke and steam finally cleared, revealing the clock…and the fact they were a full twenty minutes ahead of his normal arrival. “How!?” Gordon shook his head, “I fell asleep at the head of the express, Jinty had to wake me up and we were still late leaving!?”

Amanda walked up, staring at the clock, “we left thirty minutes late!” She said, “the Barrow clocks said so!”

Sir Charles Hatt frowned, “You left on time, albeit in a hurry according to the station master.”

Gordon realized what had happened first, “that miserable Fowler!” He wheeshed, “she tricked us!”

Amanda and Rain swore as they realized the station pilot’s prank.

“Language,” Charles chuckled with a smile.

He checked his stopwatch and snorted, patting the pacific's running board.

“49 minutes, 53 seconds. Congratulations Gordon, you broke your own record.”

He continued chuckling as he walked away, leaving the express engine and crew to plot their revenge.

A/N: Hello Loves! Uman and Din fans may recall having heard of this event before. Hope you all enjoyed Day 7! Love Y'all!

[david-goldrock]

הודו דרום אמריקה זה הכי ישראלי

Why is it always the ones that take the most time? XD

India South America is the most Israeli The Out Kids (reference to the out kids band) in the kibbutz is the most Israeli Pugs (an old israeli game), tokens, Shluks (an Israeli sweet), an economic night [I speak but] (in english) not enough is the most Israeli Sing!

Bamba Bamba, Alma gum, from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion (airport) Shekel Schenkel (nickname to a 2 shekel coin), oh kapara (an endearment), the great Aric Einstein Haida Haida, Haida Hi-Tech - for the police - 1-0-0 (100 is the Israeli 911) Checkers, checkers, Matka, Matka We love you Shimon Peres

A new evening, a cold watermelon It is this and nothing else (referencing the show "This is it"'s theme song) Paratroopers course, Araq Ayalim No, no, we don't have another country Red Sea, Dead Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of ​​Galilee Tiredness of start of week from Sunday on Saturday that comes and returns Traffic jam on the holiday with a collection of Kaveret Another World Cup but without the (national) team

Bamba Bamba, Alma gum, from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion (airport) Shekel Schenkel (nickname to a 2 shekel coin), oh kapara (an endearment), the great Aric Einstein Haida Haida, Haida Hi-Tech - for the police - 1-0-0 (100 is the Israeli 911) Checkers, checkers, Matka, Matka We love you Shimon Peres

From Givat Halfon to Eskimo Lemon (Old Israeli Movies) Who's messing around, it's Miko? (A quote from another old israeli movie- Charlie Vachetzi) Give me hummus, chips, salad and radish But with Diet (coke) or Coke Zero And don't forget applause upon (a plane's) landing And if the line is long, please perform a bypassing Right, they promised that we would grow up and there would be no more army Everyone is on their feet for the singing of Hatikva (the national anthem, also a part of the band's name)

Turkish coffee and Belgian waffles are the most Israeli Also, French kiss and Greek dancing Swedish key Scotch whiskey Spanish burger Nachman From Uman (an important rabbi) is the most Israeli - Goveina

Bamba Bamba, Alma gum, from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion (airport) Shekel Schenkel (nickname to a 2 shekel coin), oh kapara (an endearment), the great Aric Einstein Haida Haida, Haida Hi-Tech - for the police - 1-0-0 (100 is the Israeli 911) Checkers, checkers, Matka, Matka We love you Shimon Peres

[end segment] It will be fine - I am unloading goods It will be fine - Waze if there is no choice It will be fine - Obama will help It will be fine - and God will protect It will be fine - we will try It will be fine - there is an iron dome It will be fine - the whole song is original It will be fine - only that the tune is a folk tune It will be fine

[cuterozhok]

"Right on target!"

This was posted by the russian ministry of defense today, after russian missiles struck residential areas in Ukraine, killing and injuring civilians.

11 civilians dead in Uman' by 12:00 PM, including two 10 years old children.

RUSSIA IS A TERRORIST STATE

[darkwingphoenix]

Queen Iriana Ascendance: Kingdom of Ascendance

This is the Great Kingdom to be added to my @loominggaia AU, and since she herself SPAMS spoilers (Hey, least ya warn us), I'll just put info down here

LORE UNDER CUT

High Queen Iriana Ascendance, born Iriana Liatt of Woodborne, was born to a family of elves. When she turned 16, though, she transformed into a demon. She quickly left her family after that, despite her mother basically begging her to stay back.

She spent her days since then travelling around as a bard/escort, staying in Tabiya for a time with a roshava called Talul Sarfeesha. After he died, she made of with a significant amount of wealth.

Eventually, she was staying in Viersen in 6020 right as Project Starblast occurred and bombed Viersen with ejecta. She managed to survive as two divines, Saraia Hammonspielcrichton (Yes, that's Saraia's last name) and Skylie Evangeline, rescued her as they fled the city dodging ejecta.

After the incident, however, Iriana felt something extremely off about herself when practicing her lute: Unknowing to her, she and all other demons, as well as drau, adhene, kobolds, pixies, hilichurls, and some other monsters had gained a soul as a direct result of Project Starblast. She started to travel with Skylie and Saraia, using Saraia as a way to feed, until they arrived where Damijana had been destroyed, as Iriana had been feeling a massive pull to the location. There, thousands of other monsters had arrived, all slowly realizing they had souls.

Iriana decided to, and convinced the other monsters, that they should create a nation for themselves, as many didn't like monsters all that much, and it'd be a sanctuary for all monsters.

Eventually, with Skylie as a close ally and advisor, the Kingdom of Ascendance was quickly rising, using the ejecta, magic of various monsters and various refugees who heard of Iriana's promise, and sheer determination and spite, with Iriana as the High Queen. However, the kingdom was not yet recognized.

Kingdom of Ascendance: The Monster Kingdom

Ascendance was almost totally ignored by almost every High Ruler due to its seeming insignificance, as it was simply seen as monsters swarming to an abandoned region of the world, soon joined by the remaining Damijani from Slegelse Island, travelling there with no one remaining on Slegelse to investigate, and were soon integrated in.

The only Great Kingdom to recognize Ascendance was the Unseelie Court, as its ruler, Morgause, is a monster herself and as such gained a soul. She happily aided the new nation while struggling with her new emotions.

Eventually, the other Great Kingdoms were forced to recognize Ascendance when Ascendance's military assaulted Oaken Island of Evangeline soil and deftly took over the ruined island after Saraia and Skylie's attack on the island's only economically valuable item: Its siege dragons. Once it was in Ascendance control, the military quickly attacked Evangeline proper, taking Kelvingyard, Greenhearst, and even Woodborne from Folkvar. The army departed, leaving a vanguard behind to defend while the army went to invade Zareen Empire and take the cities of Uman, Elleg, Driza, and Viersen from the Zareen Empire.

After this war, Iriana simply asked for Ascendance to be recognized as a Great Kingdom, which was quickly granted.

After the Dawn War of Ascendance, the kingdom quickly settled down to repair the cities that were invaded and bolster its own economy, barely interacting with other Great Kingdoms until 6048, 10 years after the dawn War began.

Iriana's Policies

"All of those affected by the Ascendance upon which our nation was forged by were made by powerful beings known as divines. Without them, we could not exist. Therefore, all divines are legally allowed to live - and operate - within our borders without fear of attack."

"The monsters of our nation were once essentially refugees adrift in a world that rejected them. From now on, all peoples who face discrimination anywhere shall be welcomed with open hands, should they be willing to help us grow."

"Magic is a part of life for many people on this world, monstrous or not. There shouldn't be restrictions over which magics someone may practice, so long as they use it responsibly."

"While the Nymph Pact is certainly an easy way to stave off nymph attacks, there's simply no reason we should sign it, so long as we carefully regulate our industrial quarters to not overpollute and send our dirty work to places willing to do so."

Will magic is key for many peoples, commoners and meru cannot use it, and gaians don't always have access to its power. As such, iron tools shall be allowed in Ascendance."

"While many monsters are feeling nausea and headaches while witnessing art or music, there's no way for us to get used to it if it's all locked away. We need to deal with these symptoms so that we may get used to feeling art and music."

"Our population is strongly monstrous, and as such all monsters - Within reason - shall find sanctuary in Ascendance. Furthermore, all have a need to have the food they require, and as such prostitution needs to be legal so that demons may be able to feed without having to hunt for sexually frustrated individuals."

Ascendance Royal Family

Iriana Ascendance

Iriana is the High Queen of Ascendance, and is the founder of the kingdom. Like all monsters born before the Ascendance, she still struggles with having a soul, often experiencing sickness while listening to music or having nausea when looking at art.

She still allows art to be put into her palace, as she believes she'll eventually get used to it.

As a ruler, she's very serious about her policies. She's heavily focused on building an economy for her nation, made up of the rubble of a destroyed city and numerous conquered cities.

Unknown to anyone but herself, Iriana has fallen in romantic love with Skylie, as a result of her new soul. She has no idea how Skylie would react to the information and thus keeps it secret.

High General Skylie Ascendance

High General Skylie, formerly Princess Skylie Evangeline, has since become Iriana's most trusted advisor, as well as Ascendance's High General, responsible for maintaining Ascendance's military. After the Dawn War, the human divine has mostly maintained the same military power as during the war, simply maintaining the numbers and using them to maintain Ascendance's violently gained borders. She is also Iriana's personal bodyguard, using her personal weapon, the Divine Annihilator, and her Archons as assistance in helping the Queen.

She is also openly used as Iriana's food source, for as a succubus, Iriana needs sexual intercourse to feed. She is also fairly certain Iriana has gained a romantic attraction to her but doesn't say much so as not to send her into a panic.

Extra Stuff:

Color: Steel Blue/Blue Grey

Banner: Half Starburst with twinned Swirls above it

Exports: Bureaucracy, Monsters (Safe ones), Mercenaries

Continents: Noalen and Evik (And some small territories on coastal Serkel)

Diplomacy: Allied with the Unseelie Court, Folkvar, Matuzu, and Mogdir. Unfriendly with Evangeline, the Seelie Court, and Zareen. Neutral to Lamai and Yerim-Mor. At war with the Aquarian Alliance.

Military: Most common soldiers are equipped with either spears or staves and a shield, or crossfins, which are crossbow-like weapons similar to Skylie's Divine Annihilator and the chu ko nu (Just add a pair of pistol grips on either end and an auto cock action for shooting faster):

Most wear simple clothing made from monsters forged by Skylie known as Mecko, which create massive amounts of extremely strong silk. Essentially, it allows for light clothing to basically ignore ranged projectiles, especially with a shield. Most have suits that look like this:

(Yes, they're looking like 02 from Darling in the Franxx. Shuddup. Also, the uniform is more of a super dark blue, and this is the women's uniform. The men's uniform just looks the same but minus the waisting, and if we're going off of Ascendance military chain of command, she'd be a brigand, or the lowest level of officer, directly above an entry level unit)

Territories

Ascendance

Built on the ashes of Damijana, Ascendance Capital was the beginning of the Monstrous Kingdom. It's a major commercial hub, especially since the Noalen and Serkel colonies have to mostly go through it to get to the Evik territories.

Slegelse

The prison island of Damijana, Slegelse has become the primary naval power of Ascendance, and it is where most of Ascendance's ships are built, military and civilian.

It is governed by King Ventrus, a drau, although he is part of a minority in a territory mostly inhabited by merrow, mermaids, and other Aquarian people who are not part of the Aquarian Alliance.

Oaken Island

The former home of Evangeline's siege dragons, Oaken is now the primary location where new saraians are born. Most wind up in service to the kingdom as beasts of burden, and the waters around the island are flush with leviathan young, as the adults usually abandon the island to go elsewhere. The others are shipped off the island before they're too large. Globeholders are also bred here as well.

Oaken is ruled by King Merrell, a merrow.

Kelvingyard

Kelvingyard had already become defunct due to High King Cobalt abolishing slavery a few years before the Dawn War, although Kelvingyard became a major center for military programs. Many saraians from Oaken arrive here to be trained for the military. It is ruled by Angror, a drau who killed the leader of Kelvingyard.

Greenhearst

Greenhearst was once the primary farming territory of Evangeline, and now it is the breadbasket for Ascendance. Many boulderbacks and world turtles go to Greenhearst for farming purposes. While Greenhearst has the vast majority of world turtles and thus farming. It is ruled by Kiliburl, a hilichurl, and a smart one.

Woodborne

Woodborne is the least significant territory, although it is still vital for its massive lumber industry. Skylie also used to live in this territory. The drau Lilith rules this territory.

Uman

A former Zareen city, Uman is the primary industrial city of Ascendance, although it is less powerful in its industry power against before it was taken by Ascendance. It is ruled by Taura, a succubus.

Driza

Driza, after being captured by Ascendance, was repaired after Project Starblast almost destroyed it. It is still mostly empty, but is ruled by Marius, an incubus.

Viersen

The other city heavily affected by Project Starblast, Viersen managed to survive better against Project Starblast, but it still got heavily damaged. It is the only city ruled by a non-monster, by a human named Emma Viersa.

[ammg-old2]

A new sound wafts through the open windows at night in this town near the front line: children hollering at each other down the block, even long after dark.

The markets are full. Sales are surging at the local bike shop. Red tulips, planted by hand, are bursting open everywhere.

It is remarkable — “Unrecognizable,” one city official said — how different this small town in eastern Ukraine feels from a year ago. Last summer, Pokrovsk was a spooky landscape of boarded up houses and bushy yards. No one was around. Now it’s hard to take a few steps without passing someone on the sidewalk.

Nothing has changed outside Pokrovsk. The front line is still 30 miles away. Ukrainians are still dying in droves. One of the biggest armies in the world, that of the Russian Federation, is still bombing cities while they sleep and trying to take as much territory as it can, at a terrifying cost.

But what has changed — and it reflects something broader happening in small towns across this vast country — are people’s calculations. How much danger are they willing to accept? What is the best for them and their families? How should they accommodate the war on a daily basis? The answers to these questions seem different this year, and without consulting each other, many people have reached the same decision.

It is resilience, yes, but perhaps also something a little less shiny: resignation.

“The war is here. There is no safe place in Ukraine. So you might as well get on with it,” said Dr. Natalia Medvedieva, a family doctor who tried living in a safer place in western Ukraine with her son but came back here a few months later.

And home is home.

“It’s hard to describe what is so special about home,” said Pavel Rudiev, an engineer at Pokrovsk’s small train station. “It’s where everything is familiar, where you know people, where you have friends.”

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, this principle didn’t hold. More than 13 million Ukrainians — a third of the country — fled from their homes. But as time went on, it became harder to stay away.

“I was running out of money,” said Iryna Ilina, a fitness instructor and beautician, sharing a common struggle of the displaced. She recently returned to Kramatorsk, another city not far from the front line where she owns an apartment. She was having trouble covering her rent in Pavlohrad, the safer city where she had been staying.

Many people said that when they were displaced, it was hard finding work. “And I need to work,” Dr. Medvedieva said. “I have my life.”

Since last summer, at a pretty steady rate, Ukrainians have been returning. More than 5.5 million have gone home, according to the International Organization for Migration, and not just to large cities like Kyiv, the capital, or Dnipro, but to small places as well, even those right behind the front line. While the exodus at the beginning of the war was dramatic and widely covered, the homecomings have been more gradual and haven’t generated nearly the same attention.

Of course there’s concern. Dr. Medvedieva keeps a bag packed with her documents, money and some clothes. Viktoriia Perederii, a veterinarian, who returned to Pokrovsk last year after trying to live in central Ukraine, said that many families bring her their pets to get clean health certificates for international travel in case they need to leave in a hurry.

“It’s difficult to evaluate the risks,” she said. “There is no safe place in Ukraine. Look at Uman,” she added, referring to the recent missile strike that killed 25 people in a city that, until that moment, many Ukrainians had considered perfectly safe.

At this time of year, Pokrovsk is basking in spring. White cherry blossom petals delicately flutter through the air and pile up along the curb in handsome drifts. The long side streets, lined by modest one-story homes with peaked roofs, smell of freshly turned earth. In the gardens out front, women in aprons and headscarves plant flowers — not something you do if you’re about to pack up and flee.

“Business is good,” said Larysa Titorenko, a seed vendor at Pokrovsk’s busy central market. Her racks of happily decorated packets were moving fast — marigolds, melons, radishes, carrots and about eight varieties of cucumber.

Then tears flashed in her eyes. Her daughter’s house had recently been destroyed in a frontline town not far away. “I’m OK, really,” she insisted, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

This duality is everywhere. People in war do something that most in the world don’t have to — they keep two big thoughts running in their heads at all times: live life as fully and richly as possible and, at the same time, plan for it to be turned upside down.

Since last summer, the Russians have sliced away at Bakhmut, pushed closer to Avdiivka and leveled Marinka — all towns about an hour’s drive away. The front line is inching closer. You constantly hear dull thuds, almost like doors closing.

But people carry on as if it’s a faraway thunderstorm. At a pond-side park near the town center, teenage girls make halos out of dandelions, as they have for eons, and TikTok dance videos.

Nearby, men pump iron at an immaculate outdoor gym with rows of high-quality weight machines, exercise bars and even padded arm-wrestling tables. With wide stances, they strut around, cheeks red, chests puffed out. If you Photoshopped out the occasional tank getting towed past on a car carrier, it might look like California.

Before the war, the population was about 50,000. It dipped to around 30,000 last spring, when so many people across the country fled west. Now it’s back up — to 57,000, actually, said Serhiy Dobriak, the head of Pokrovsk’s military administration. Beyond the residents who have returned, others from surrounding hot spots, Avdiivka or even Mariupol, have flocked in.

Before the war, Pokrovsk had big plans. A billboard rising from a muddy intersection shows a schematic drawing of new office towers and lots of lights. “But we got to be realistic,” Mr. Dobriak said. “We will most likely be a militarized zone.”

No one here expects the war to end soon. “Years” is the reigning prediction. Some worry that the acceptance of it, this notion that life should go on regardless of it, means there will be less pressure to end it.

A military convoy chugged past an intersection, leaving behind a wake of diesel haze. Not far behind, a boy pedaled furiously on his bike, determined to catch up to his friends.

It was evening, warm, and the air was crisp, feeling wonderful on exposed skin. It is such a magnificent time of year that no one wanted to go inside, even with curfew approaching.

[me-soltanto-me]

"E sapersi avvinti, stretti, allacciati,

senza esserne mai paghi,

senza chiedersene il motivo,

senza pensare se sia giusto o meno,

abbandonandosi, vivendo quel richiamo

come la più naturale delle condizioni umane.

Non è forse questo l’amore?"

"And knowing how to be entwined, tight, fastened,

without ever being satisfied,

without asking why,

without thinking whether it's right or not,

abandoning yourself, living that call

as the most natural of human conditions.

Isn't this love?"

- Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky -

[fefnepz]

your human centipede drawing makes me think.

I CAN FINALLY SEW A MOUTH TO A BU-TT!!!!!

Now, my rendition of human centipede:

:33 < the date started off so well :33 < begin my night not expecting the furright of my life :33 < she was purrfect from what I could tell :33 < how could I not see the dangfur right in furront of me

My favorite food is fis)( (:33 < baby, thats my favorite too) I love cartoon cats (:33 < baby, i love firestar) :33 < hey girl, whats your favorite furr-ilm? :33 < she said the best movie of all, a masterpiece of art called

)(uman Centipede, )(uman Centipede! :33 < i think that I'm gonna get purrdered tonight! )(uman C-ENTIP-ED-E! Not ironically! :33 < she said, t)(e costume design was a )(ighlight

I like it for t)(e plot (:33 < tell me what the plot's about) German doctor sews t)(ree people ass to mout)( (:33 < cool) )(uman Centipede! :33 < please signless save me! :33 < i think thats a red flag, i dont want to get stabbed!

:33 < she said, ")(uman Centipede is a tour de force" :33 < i think, "holy shit, im gonna be the main course" :33 < she said, "I admire t)(e narrative of c)(aracter growt)(" :33 < i try to get the waiters attention by blinking in morse code!

W)(y are you blinking so muc)(? (:33 < ive got something in my eye) )(ere, let me get it out (:33 < no thank you, i dont wanna die) HEY THERE, NEP WAS BLINKING AT ME, IS THIS BECAUSE YOUR DATE IS A FREAK? (:33 < no) VERY GOOD THEN, BON APETITE

Stop )(iding be)(ind your silly made up red flags To not take a c)(ance on t)(e best relations)(ip youve never )(ad :33 < maybe youre right and im looking fur excuses :33 < my hearts got bruises but im ready to choose this love!

You could be my world, t)(e love of my life! One day we'll get flus)(ed and become matesprites!! :33 < within a tasteful quadrant and the wedding of our dreams! Only if t)(e wedding is t)(-EM-ED! :33 < tell me what the themes gonna be!

)(uman Centipede, )(uman C-ENTIP-ED-E! :33 < that way we could save on the catering bill )(uman C-ENTIP-ED-E! Only one mouth to feed! :33 < if you are the best troll, you know the deal, pucker up!

:33 < i can finally open myself up to love I can finally sew a mout)( to a BUTT! :33 < human centipede, )(uman Centipede

Broadway accounts get on this!! /j

[the-worst-drawn-feferi]

TG: hey TG: uh TG: dont know if you guys even celebrate christmas but i mean why the hell would you have signed up for this shit if you didnt right TG: i mean hey maybe it was just for the free shit. couldnt blame you really TG: and if you did only sign up for the free shit then youre not gonna complain about being given the free shit right like that would be so goddamn stupid TG: and hell even if you didnt sign up and i just somehow accidentally got you through some sheer dumbass bad luck then who the fuck cares right whos gonna complain about free shit TG: hopefully not you TG: i dont know you look cool i feel like you wouldnt give a shit about free shit TG: or you would but you wouldnt say anything to my face about it and like fuck man that works for me bitch all you want the moment my back is turned like who gives a fuck really TG: not me TG: im cool TG: im just chilling TG: anyway uh TG: you seem to have a whole uh. fish thing going on TG: no goddamn clue if its like racist of me to give you fish themed shit? so if it is then sorry about that one i guess thats my bad for not knowing alien fish people customs TG: but uh hey TG: i should really shut up i think TG: merry christmas or whatever the weird alien fish person equivalent is TG: hope it aint too much of a hate crime

[You got: 1x manta ray blanket!]

@shitty-davesprite-daily

CC: Oh! Yes we )(ave an equivalent!

CC: It's 12t)( Perigee for Alternia, t)(oug)( )(ere in the dream bubbles we celebrate bot)( since t)(eres )(umans AND trolls )(ere! )(e)(e 38D

CC: T)(ank you so muc)( for t)(e gift! glub!

CC: Also I LOV--E fis)( t)(emed t)(ings!! Don't worry about it at all

CC: Merry C)(ristmas cool bird-guy!! Glub!! 3XD

[gmll1]

Let’s talk about the movie “Schindler list”

Release date; February 4, 1994

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5

Directed by Steven Spielberg won his first Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director with Schindler's List

Casting (Important Characters in the movie)

Liam Nelson as Oskar Schindler

Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern

Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth

Caroline Goodall as Emilie Schindler

The film's black-and-white cinematography, coupled with its haunting score, creates an atmosphere of solemnity and authenticity. The performances by Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as the sadistic Amon Goeth, and the entire ensemble cast are exceptional, bringing a depth and rawness that makes the characters feel vividly real.

Tackles the darkest chapter in human history with unwavering honesty and sensitivity. It explores themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of a world torn apart by hatred. The film not only depicts the horrors of the Holocaust but also highlights the moments of compassion and humanity that can emerge even in the midst of such darkness.

Spielberg's direction is masterful, capturing both the immense scale of the tragedy and the intimate stories of the individuals affected by it. The film's attention to detail and historical accuracy add to its impact, making it an invaluable historical document.

What does the girl in the red coat mean in the movie?

His image with a red coat in Schindler's List has become over the years a symbol of hope in the midst of a very hard and cruel reality.

But what makes "Schindler's List" so much more than just a well-crafted movie is its powerful message of compassion and umanity in the face-of unimaginable evil. By shining a light on the darkest chapter in uman history, Spielberg forces us to confront our own capacity for cruelty and forces is to question what we are willing to do to stand up for what is right.

In conclusion, "Schindler's List" is an extraordinary cinematic achievement that goes beyond entertainment. It is a visceral, emotional journey that confronts the depths of human depravity while also celebrating acts of selfless heroism. The film's impact extends far beyond its runtime, leaving an indelible mark on the viewer's consciousness and reaffirming the power of cinema to provoke thought and inspire change.

I recommend, a fucking masterpiece.

Pd: written by Martina

[mortuarywriting]

Wip Wednesday! Despite my saying otherwise I did, in fact, work on the self indulgent bit.

Lets start with nothing most anyone here would care about but! Prompts are Dancing (bonus points from partners if I make it slow dancing) and possibly Flow. Not sold yet on if it's a one or two.

In fairness, even he hadn't expected himself to pick up or even take mildly well to Dancing. He'd far more considered himself a bit more on the brutal side, efficient and sure but more focused on getting the job done than fluidity. Nashmeira had apparently seen something in him, though, and he'd taken the soul of the dancer- well. In stride, really. Ranaa was easy to dance with, all eager to prove herself and their mentor's choice in placing her in the troupe. It was easy to balance her, get her to ease up and mellow back out. That? That was different than this, though. Not like he can ask Nashmeira, last he'd heard she was last seen talking with X'rhun and neither Amasar, Arya, nor Nijoh'ir knew where he'd wandered off to.

and now the promised self-indulgence.

You press the heels of your hands to your eyes as you grumble, "fffffine. Fine, fine. You know if you're hungry we've only got breakfast food for tomorrow. I just ran out of snackies-" "Not the snackies. The 'umanity," Simon states dryly, eyes glinting with humor. His quip is answered with a swift bird in retaliation as you otherwise ignore his comment, "and I'll be making english muffin bread after dinner. Will y'all need me to grab anything to drink with dinner? We've got," you trail off, mentally taking a tally, before pointing, "and this is just what's in the fridge- water, milk, coke, sweetea-" "Sweetea," Johnny can't stop himself from mumbling while shooting a look at Kyle. The latter shrugged, "American south thing. Not for everyone." A hum of assent from the doorway, "yeah y'all'll probably hate it. What else uh, lemonade, whatever is in the beer fridge, aaaaand I think we have some irn-bru. Need water refills yet?" The question was met with a chorus of "we can get it ourselves," "No, we're fine please don't worry," and "we're adults we can-" in response. Your eyes crinkle in fondness and you coo, "aww, you're all sweet. None of you were told about the post-mission decompression steps, were you." Ghost grunted, mid-swig of water at the point, "no, dinner discussion happened first." "Ah! Right! That'd do it," you clap your hands together, "there's a routine whenever he gets back here. Compartmentalize whatever needs it, drink at least a cup and a half of water but two is better, shower, dinner, and then the bedtime contingencies are gone through."

Thats what I got.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Something Holy This Way Comes

Ch.12 Home

Other Stories

Other Chapters

It was late as Screech and Cassandra pulled into Uman yard, Abbey immediately pulling alongside Screech, looking both engines over for damage. Miss Morgan climbed down from Screech's cab and went to find the Davies, tiredly patting the Star's runningboard as she passed.

"Are all of you alright?" Abbey asked worriedly.

 "We are unharmed...Mali..."

"Screech was forced to weave Mali's being with her own to save her." Cassandra finished gently. 

The mentioned teen was sat in Screech's tender, leaning against the walls quietly as her new tendrils writhed, shadows and emerald light still spilling from behind her closed eyes. "Hey Miss Abbey," she said softly.

"Hello dear," Abbey looked over to Cassandra with concern, "is there anything we can do to help her?"

Cassandra shook her head, "I'm afraid not, all that's left is for her form to adjust to the part of Screech inside her."

Abbey was quiet for a moment as she processed.

 "what happened?" She asked eventually, "We heard Caomhnóir whistle her challenge, then we heard you howl..."

Screech winced, having hoped the other engine hadn't heard that moment.

"For a moment I thought Mali was lost, despite my best efforts. If Cassandra hadn't intervened..."

"If you didn't have our gratitude before Caomhnóir, you would now," Abbey said quietly.

"No engine worth their frames would allow a child to be harmed if they could stop it," Cassandra said as she stretched her motion tiredly. 

"There's a difference between saving a child and going buffer to buffer with something so vile we could feel it here," Abbey observed mildly.

"I'm not a child," Mali protested half heartedly.

"You're hardly an adult," Abbey said firmly, "especially to an engine."

"The old scrapyard was not as abandoned as we thought." Screech said before Mali could protest further. "A creature resided within, and believed it could overpower us. It was mistaken." 

"It was a remnant. The built-up rage and grief of those who have been scraped made manifest," Cassandra explained, "it had formed a body made of scrap for itself...I doubt it would have let us leave unchallenged even if it had understood how greatly it was outmatched. It's not in their nature."

Abbey glanced back towards the flatbed Screech was pulling, "Is that what's left of it."

Gywn snorted, "the two didn't leave so much as ash of the thing when they were through with it."

"Good," Abbey said firmly.

"Cassandra believes this is what the remnant was feeding from."

The tank engine nodded exhaustedly, "For it to have taken a form like that and hold it, it was drawing life force from something. They're very weak at the moment. Once we've slept I might be able to give them a boost with the Lady's light."

She winced as she stretched, "Not tonight though, my control is shot and I don't wanna know what would happen if I gave them too much right after they were exposed to that fight."

"Should we wait until then to uncover them?"

Cassandra hesitated then nodded, "That would probably be for the best. They're not in any way conscious of what's happening, and it's best they remain that way until I can boost them. Removing the tarp might cause them to stir."

Both adult Davies came around the corner following Miss Morgan. Screech pointed with a tendril into her tender where Freda was anxiously checking over Mali again. The parents broke into a run and scrambled up into the tender to check on their daughter. Gywn quietly began explaining what had happened as Miss Morgan climbed up behind them.

"It's best she remain at the sheds tonight." Cassandra called softly once Gywn had finished, "being immersed in our auras will help her body find equilibrium quicker."

Miss Morgan looked over to the Davies, "I'll get cots set up for you." 

She stepped onto one of Screech's tendrils so she could lower her to the ground, then walked towards the workers hut.

"We should take the flatbed with us to the sheds, being around other engines will only help." Cassandra said, "besides, I'll probably be letting off the Lady's light for a few more hours, and it should help heal them without being to much."

The three engines were soon shunted into their spots in the shed, the flatbed left beside Cassandra.

Miss Morgan returned with several workers bringing the cots. "The North Western's been in contact," the controller informed Cassandra. "Your whistles were heard as far as Tidmouth. Apparently they had to stop several of their engines from rushing to your aid."

Cassandra hummed happily, "North Western's stand together." She said simply.

Miss Morgan snorted. "Charles said your No.4 was halfway to Barrow when he managed to flag him down." 

Cassandra just chuckled warmly.

"What are we going to do about the scrapyard?" Gywn asked as he entered with Megan behind him. The girl quicky ran over to where Mali was sitting on Abbey's running board and pulled her into a hug. Mali leaned in tiredly, seemingly unaware of her new tendrils stoking the other girls hair.

Cassandra shrugged, "Screech had the right of it. Once we've checked it over again, it's likely safer to burn what's left so that nothing else can be drawn to it."

"You think others like it will come."

Cassandra nodded, “those who failed to pass are drawn to the North Western, both by my presence and the fact we're a safe haven.”

"And similarly they'll be drawn here by us being another safe haven and Screech." Miss Morgan guessed.

"I wouldn't be surprised." Cassandra stretched her motion, "although most are benign. They just wish to be seen or say goodbye. The others...Screech can handle those."

The whisper cackled at the thought.

"And if I cannot?"

"Then I will come to your aid, the Uman and Din does not stand alone. Whistle and I will hear you, no matter the distance."

"Thank you." Freda said before Screech could respond, "now lets all get some sleep. The two of you need to rest."

"You remember I am incapable of sleep?"

Freda gave her engine an unimpressed look, "You can doze, and even if you didn't need to rest at all, Mali needs to."

"You wouldn't want to keep your kid up would you Screech?" Enid teased.

"Pardon?"

"She is now partly made of your soul right? That makes you her parent." The tank engine said smugly.

Avon tilted her head consideringly, "...shes right."

Mali sighed mock despondently, "great now I've got three moms and a dad, I'm never getting away with anything again."

Abbey blew a ring of steam at her affectionately, "you weren't particularly good at that before hand." She observed amusedly.

[shiverandqueeef]

another poll like this one, inspired by @bemusedlybespectacled's poll right here

if you're comfortable adding in the tags which option you picked and where you're from (general area) that's be awesome!