#year ender 2021

[tundraechos]

[Image Description: Art showing select things added to Minecraft each year from 2009 to 2024. Above all the art is the text "Minecraft 15th Anniversary" in the style of the official update titles. The years are as follows: 2009: Diamonds, Steve, creepers, oak trees, and grass blocks. 2010: Crafting tables, redstone dust, redstone torches, fishing, Nether portals, and jack-o'-lanterns. 2011: Birch and spruce trees, wolves, beds, endermen, enchanting tables, and villagers. 2012: Cats, jungle trees, cocoa beans, iron golems, ender chests, emeralds, and beacons. 2013: Hoppers, horses, name tags, dark oak and acacia trees, alliums, poppies, sunflowers. 2014: Rabbits, banners, Alex, guardians, and armor stands. 2015 is just text that says "(No significant updates were released this year)". 2016: Elytra, shields, polar bears, llamas, shulker boxes. 2017: Glazed terracotta, recipe book, different colored beds, parrots, and concrete. 2018: Phantoms, tridents, turtle eggs, turtles, coral, and fish mobs. 2019: Foxes, sweet berries, new cat variants, lanterns, pillagers, crossbows, and bees. 2020: Respawn anchors, piglins, crimson and warped fungus, netherite, and lodestones. 2021: Copper, deepslate, moss, axolotls, glow squid, amethyst, and goats. 2022: Wardens, echo shards, goat horns, frogs, allays, and mangrove trees. 2023: Cherry trees, new default player skins, decorated pots, armor trims, sniffers, torchflowers, and pitcher plants. 2024: Armadillos, New wolf variants, wolf armor, maces, wind charges, breezes, and crafters. End Image Description.]

This is a spiritual successor to my 10th anniversary art, which I have always been very proud of. It's amazing to see how far we've come!

[mellorphic]

TommyInnit’s Dream SMP Finale Summary

It was Hannah and Bad’s idea

This was Tommy’s splash text

This was someone’s first dsmp stream in Tommy’s chat

He started farming as soon as he logged on, like always

Tubbo got in a boat and span around again. Tommy used autotune to sing ‘you spin me right round’

Tubbo nearly shot Shroud

This is what How To Sex says

Tommy and Tubbo blew up the Hotel which also resulted in McPuffy’s getting blown up and Puffy was shook

Tommy set shroud free

I skipped over most to the stuff with Dream but Tommy was given op and he spawned ghasts on tubbo and Sam

He went to Techno’s house and found a Cat disc in one of his chests. This broke me.

Tommy spoke about how logsted felt really grungey and different to the rest of the server because of how there was nothing there

George nearly slept through it

In True dsmp Fashion getting the end portal to work was scuffed

Callahan kept spawning withers in The End

Tubbo got the final hit on the ender dragon

Tommy and Tubbo met in vc2 at the bench and listened to music

Tommy has an irl ‘your tubbo’ compass

Exile was one of his favourite arcs

His favourite quote is ‘I have The Blade’

His only question for us is if we have ever sat and chatted to our friends about it

This server has been my hyperfixation since the beginning of 2021. Unfortunately I joined ag the end of the ‘golden age’ as it were. But I’ve made hopefully lifelong friends through this stupid block roleplay, and the characters and story mean the world for me and will forever. I know this fandom is going to get smaller now. I know people will move on. But I think I’ll be here for a few more years.

Dream SMP, thank you for helping me fall in love with stories again. Thank you for helping me grow in my own writing and in my artwork. Thank you for being here when I needed you, thank you for getting me through these last few years. Thank you for giving me characters I could love and relate to, who feel more real than anything else. And thank you for introducing me to creators I will forever love.

I’m so glad I was here.

o7, everyone.

[rock-and-salt]

a bunch of My Naga Rythian AU art in 1 post! I refer to Lalna in this au as "Adventurer Lalna" He's a pilot who like frogs

im pretty sure the oldest art of him here is from 2019! art is mine from over the years, plus a comm i got from JAYY in like 2021

I have more sketch-art from time past that im gonna add in a reblog

Other Bonus Stuff and Lore/Info rambling on au below

Tw - minor gore descriptions below + also snake eating habits (eating things whole, rythian doesnt eat anything whole outside of rats/rabbits sometimes.)

Rythian has super corrosive venom, it burns flesh and is very deadly when it gets into bloodstream. He mostly spits it from his mouth when using it, rather than biting. it works like saliva (on how he draws it, rather than it coming out from his fangs)

He is immune to his own venom/ wouldnt revive burns or injury for the venom if it came into contact with him.

Background is that he was a guy just chilling like 1000 years ago.  "Volunteered" to be cursed to protect one of the World-Ending Eye of Enders.

Always wears the eye on him, as placed inside a metal collar that can't be removed from his neck as it's magically welded.

It's mildly adjustable but is not coming off unless his head is gone.

--

He is an omnivore/able to eat basically anything. Food in the region is plentiful, as he doesn't need to eat meals daily, and non-aggressive large prey tend to linger in the area he lives as large predator animals avoid him. And he grows crops that animals tend to graze on.

His Diet consists of:

Root vegetables

Fruit and Berries

Herbs/Tea

Small Game- Mostly pests around his cave/herb garden to keep their numbers in check and not just leave their bodies to rot, it's better to set traps and then process them.

He can eat small game in one swallow (rabbits mostly. He is adverse to eating Rats as if they are diseased they taste foul. Despite Rythians venom making him immune to basically any virus or disease. They are still gross as they dont always have as good of self grooming as rabbits.) He also has to unhinge his jaw for this which is not comfortable and takes some time to reset/is sore.

[tangents-within-tangents]

I can't believe people still say The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch are "just kids shows" when whatever this show is literally exists:

analysis of target audiences below (there's a TL;DR don't worry)

Okay so the whole "it's just for kids" fallacy/excuse/conversation stopper is such an issue as it is. Here's a good video about it, I'll probably do a whole rant at some point, but in short: the level of storytelling merit, emotional depth, and thematic exploration a work can and should achieve has never been limited by it's target audience/age group, nor it's storytelling medium. (And if you don't think that's true, try to tell me Pixar has never made you cry, go on)

So it doesn't matter if it was made for kids or not. There's nothing wrong with that and anyone can enjoy it anyway. But what I actually wanna talk about here is not the merits of "kids shows" but the misconception on what "kid show" even means.

For one thing, I think when some people say "it's a kids show" they are lumping anything from like Winnie the Pooh to Avatar: the Last Airbender into the same category, and that's just not how it works. The above example demonstrates that not all kids shows/stories are the same anyway (partially bc level of development/education changes drastically between the ages of like 3 and 12, and these are things that are really taken into account in the publishing industry).

I found Disney's ratings guide and I think this should clear some things up:

For reference:

Young Jedi Adventures is listed as TV-Y

Clone Wars (2003), Rebels, and Resistance are TV-Y7-FV

Clone Wars, Bad Batch, and the Tales of the Jedi/Empire are TV-PG

Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Kenobi, Book of Boba Fett, Andor, and Acolyte are all TV-14

And if we put that in context with the films:

The Clone Wars (2008) film and the Original and Prequel trilogy are PG except for Revenge of the Sith which is PG-13 along with the Sequel trilogy, Rogue One and Solo.

So basically TCW and TBB are considered by Disney's own system to be about the same level as most of the films. They are 4 degrees away from 'Young Jedi Adventures' and only 1 degree lower than the live-action shows. Which frankly feels like we got some animation bias going on since all the live-action shows are automatically in one category (which is silly as is and undue here anyway (here have another video) esp since the Clone Wars animation style is clearly meant to be older/more realistic). But regardless, it's literally right there:

And again there is nothing wrong with TCW/TBB being kids shows, but some internet-ers dismiss it as "made for 7 year olds" and that's just objectively not true. Strictly from this system (which idk how it compares to whatever system Cartoon Network used when it aired) you could say the TV-PG might mean 8-13 years old (which is a wide range tbh, there's a big difference between being 8 and being 13), but since TV-G says "suitable for ALL ages" it's also not limited to that.

Also if TCW was aimed for ~8-13 year old's back in 2008 then those same people, who TBB was clearly meant for based on the marketing, were ~21-26 when it premiered in 2021 (and I think that is definitely reflected in writing).

Age of the protagonist is another a good indicator, though it's not a strict rule (i.e. Ender's Game and To Kill a Mockingbird have younger pov characters but are clearly meant for older audiences) and we have a wide range in these shows (Ahsoka 14, Anakin 20, Obi-wan 35, Clones early 20s, Omega ??? 10ish?? idk it's unclear) and time passes. (And while a lot of TBB is filtered through Omega's perspective, there's also plenty of scenes/subplots/episodes where she isn't even there. Also I doubt anyone would call TLOU a kids show just bc Ellie is 14)

But also target audience is a lot more than just content ratings. Note how the first few ratings above say "this program is designed for" the age group, while after TV-G it's about if it contains anything that could be unsuitable for age groups. And ratings can be pretty vague and arbitrary, especially since they change over time (like I get RotS but I could not tell you what makes the Sequels PG-13 compared to the PG films. And why is 13 the age we draw the line at? And why is it 14 for TV instead?)

I think TCW confuses a lot of people because it jumps around a lot; some episodes are about Jar Jar or the droids, and then some are, you know, Umbara. But on a rewatch, even some of the more serious episodes like the Citadel or Kadavo arc still tend to have a more juvenile or simplistic tone/writing style, like repeating information a lot or joking in the middle of the mission (like right after Echo died, hello?!). This actually feels like a writing issue to me, like maybe the writers weren't very clear on what they were going for. (Reminds me also of the only episode I watched of the live-action Atla, where compared to the original it increased the violence/death, but also dumbed down the exposition and didn't seem to trust the audience) Though there is also a clear difference between the seasons, again because the audience and characters are growing up as time goes on. I don't think TBB really had that issue though. It never talked down and it was much more tonally consistent, even in the lower stakes episodes.

Personally TBB feels generally grittier than TCW, though it doesn't really have any of the dark/gruesome deaths and "this is a kids show?!?!" moments like TCW (i.e. clones getting airlocked, decapitated, cut in half by doors, squished by Grievous, and whatever the ever living eff Colt's death was). Though actually come to think of it, there are a few things (like Crosshair killing civilians, the electro suicide pills, and the clone on Tantiss who got skewered (rip)) but I don't think they stand out as much, maybe because they're given the proper weight so they fit the tone rather than feeling out of place. Well, most of the time at least...

Like the friendly fire incident is probably one of the heaviest moments in TCW but I don't see it in those compilations, maybe because the characters respond appropriately and it fits within the Umbara arc. Verses when stuff happens in the middle of lighter more childish plot lines that feel more shocking because they are somewhat brushed off.

But also here's the thing. I think people get really fixated on the darkness/violence/death thing, but it isn't actually as big a deal as we tend to think. Like you'll find "this is a kid's show?!?" compilations for so many shows like these (with a similar age range, like Gravity Falls) that are just anything remotely creepy or intense or related to death, as if kids can't handle anything at all. Like I'll admit it's surprising sometimes (Infinity Train traumatized me bro lol) but most of the time I think we're underestimating kids. Like do you remember being 12? It's not that young.

There just seems to be this misconceived barrier, like the argument goes: "Clone Wars is just a kid show" "No it's not, look at this death scene!" But like there's death scenes in Disney movies all the time, you know? I think that's also why we get so many of these MA animated shows (i.e. Invincible and Vox Machina) that feel the need to overdo the blood and gore to like prove themselves as adult shows (bc again, animation bias).

As a writer that's just not really where the distinction is. This came up in my 'Writing for Children and Adolescents' class and we were all a little surprised when our professor said that death/violence is actually fine for middle-grade (8-12, the 'golden age of reading' and probably the equivalent to TV-PG). Like think of stories with ~12 year old protagonists like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Gregor the Overlander (tho Suzanne could stand to tone that one down imo lol). Basically, violence is okay actually. And most the TCW and TBB characters are way older than middle-grade.

(Also I think the difference is usually more in the delivery. Like death and violence being more implied (no blood, or cutting away/seen with shadows), and themes/emotions generally being more clear, simple and stated upfront rather than more nuance, subtle and subtextual. (And tbh writing for kids is actually usually a lot harder btw))

The distinction we did learn about that has been most insightful for me has a lot more to with the story itself: what topics and themes does the story deal with? And what age group/phase of life does that speak to?

For example, Love You Forever is a picture book (generally considered 3-6 yr old range) but it deals with topics that are clearly aimed for an adult. It follows the parental character until they are on their death bed being taken care by their kid, that's not something a 6 year old would care about or relate to. That's why age of protagonist typically aligns too, bc they will be dealing with/worried about things that the reader is dealing with in their life too (like high school struggles vs career and family struggles etc).

Aaaand this post has (once again) gotten away from me lol so I don't feel the need to analyze all of the topics and themes in TCW and TBB, but basically look at what is being explored and how it is being talked about (since a lot of things, esp with war, aren't necessarily age exclusionary) and that can give you a good idea. I think it's clear TBB generally deals with things in a more nuanced and complex way than TCW (most of it at least, honestly the difference between seasons is stark). And there is a main emphasis on family and parenthood, especially with the very end speaking to both young adults growing up and moving out, and the parents letting them go.

TL;DR:

-Animation doesn't automatically equal for kids

-For kids doesn't equal lesser

-Not all kids media is the same bc not all age groups are the same

-Violence doesn't necessarily equal NOT for kids

-Age of protagonist and themes/topics are a better indicator

-The Clone Wars is def middle grade, and The Bad Batch is probably more YA to adult

-But nothing is exclusionary regardless

[deadlifts-and-deadlines]

My husband and I had a big fight on NYE about travel - or our lack thereof - and now we are going to Ireland in September with a bunch of our friends. I am very nervous about getting sick in another country and being away from Ender - I haven’t been away from him for more than a night in five years - but also kind of excited and happy to have something to look forward to.

Last time I tried to go anywhere it was 2021 and I got really sick in Florida on a family trip and then I crashed hard for a couple weeks after our East Coast trip that summer. It was just a lot. So I am mostly worried I won’t be able to keep up with everyone. But the plan is to rent a villa in the mountains/countryside and then do day trips each day - so if I really can’t do something or need a break I can just chill at the house that day. I already know for sure I’ll have one day to myself because the group does want to do one big bar hopping day and I cannot have alcohol / don’t want to babysit all day and that is just fine with me! I need regular downtime!

[downthetubes]

This original painting by John Harris for the dust jacket of the first edition of "Ender’s Game" by Orson Scott Card surfaced after many years was sold at auction in the Christie’s SF auction, ending on 12th December 2024, for staggering £504,000.

People with smaller pockets who would still like to see this image on their wall could buy a signed archival print here here - although at £460 that's a bit pricey for some, I'm sure!

Ender’s Game, published in 1985, is a seminal work of modern science fiction. The novel follows the story of Ender Wiggin, a young boy recruited into a military training program to prepare for an impending alien invasion. Through intense training and simulated battles, Ender demonstrates exceptional strategic prowess, ultimately leading humanity’s forces in a decisive conflict. The book’s exploration of complex moral questions and its portrayal of a young protagonist in a high-stakes environment have resonated with readers and viewers alike, cementing its place as a classic in science fiction literature and leading to a series of sequels, spin-offs and adaptations.

In 1976, John Harris began to produce paintings which expressed the preoccupations with scale and space that remain with him to the present day. He was subsequently invited by NASA to witness a launch of the space shuttle and record the event in a painting, becoming the first British artist to be honoured in this way. That work now hangs in the Kennedy Space Centre and is part of the Smithsonian Collection. In 2015 he won the Chesley Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Drunkard’s Walk was originally commissioned by Granada in the UK for the cover of a novel by Frederick Pohl. Its iconic status, however, was brought about by its use as the dust-jacket artwork for the first edition of Ender’s Game in 1985, and all 33 subsequent impressions issued by Tor Books including the most recent in 2021 (ISFDB).

[hero-israel]

Years and years of work towards the Abraham Accords and impending normalization with Saudi Arabia--a stepping stone on the way to tangible progress in the region--was just obliterated overnight because certain journalists across the world could not stop themselves from tripping over the corpses of butchered Jews and all the people who actually suffer in this conflict while on their way to receive the Word of God from genocidal terrorists who oppress and murder their own people.

This has nothing to do with the IDF, who are no more flawless or immune from criticism than any other organization, especially one with the responsibility of prosecuting war. This is about the historical double standard from some of the same people in English-speaking countries who would never accept a narrative report from other terror and/or hate groups with question. Apparently it's better to signal as loudly as possible what sports team you're on than engage in any serious wartime journalism, lest you make the mistake of humanizing Jews and Israelis and god forbid treat us equitably.

(I should add-- Iran and its proxies may still have been able to derail the normalization process even in the absence of any Western reporting at all. I don't want to over-ascribe importance to certain political players while ignoring others just because I don't speak their language and can't access their untranslated media. I'm just bitter that journalists at major papers in the West have played directly into their hands once again with zero regard for how it breeds anti-Semitism; consequences they will never have to face.)

Of all the things that have been damaged by this atrocity, at the moment I would worry the least about the normalization trends. The four Abraham Accords countries were still aboard after the big blow-up in May 2021, Jordan has been on through the Second Intifada, Egypt across both of them. Saudi Arabia was willing to come aboard this year after all of the above. Israel's actions in Gaza so far have not been a category different from what we have seen in the past. And if anything, the Saudi government has gotten a clearer view than ever at what an Iran-sponsored proxy death squad is able to do, so they quite likely still want a partnership.

If you look back through my posts of the last year, you'll see I never discussed the talk of Saudi normalization. That's because I wasn't sure I wanted it to happen now. Yes, it's always good to show Palestine dead-enders that the time for wishing is over and they need to just accept and deal with Israel. But the current Israeli government did not deserve to be able to claim Saudi normalization as a reward. They could hardly normalize while Israel was BDSing itself to stop the judicial overhaul. I actually would not have minded if Saudi Arabia had trolled Israel in the end, saying "we were going to do this, but you're too racist, it's postponed until you do better." That is NORMAL DIPLOMACY, carrots and sticks, and no country in the world is too good to get it.

As ever, the various antisemitic fascist militias of the Middle East have not changed any of the underlying facts or dynamics. All they can manage is to kill Jews. This time, they killed more than usual. We can see how proud they are.

[yourreddancer]

MARC ELIAS

DEMOCRACY DOCKET

In Ernest Hemingway's first novel, The Sun Also Rises, one of the characters is asked how he went bankrupt. ��Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” Nearly 100 years later these lines still ring true. Bankruptcy — whether financial, moral or political — tends to happen gradually until it happens suddenly.

The moral bankruptcy of the Republican Party did not happen overnight. It happened gradually — starting with Newt Gingrich’s attack on the government in the early 1990s. It continued with the Tea Party movement, the birther conspiracy and the nomination of Donald Trump in 2016.

It gained momentum when Trump won the 2016 election despite losing the popular vote. Once in office, it grew worse when his attacks on democratic institutions were met with acquiescence by most of his party.

The mistake many of us made was believing that the aftermath of the 2020 election marked an end to the GOP’s descent into moral collapse. We were wrong. Jan. 6 marked a further descent into the moral abyss.

By 2024, the few principled Republicans had already abandoned their party for the “Never Trump” movement. What was left were Trump dead-enders and those without any core principles at all. A party once built on the promise of Lincoln had become the morally bankrupt party of Trump. As we approached the 2024 election, I knew that there was a chance Kamala Harris would fall short. She had been dealt a very difficult hand — a campaign she inherited rather than built and a short time to introduce herself. She was also going to be running against a man without boundaries or decency, who built a movement based on hate.

What I was not prepared for was the rapid descent of so many other people and institutions I thought were, like me, bracing for the worst while hoping for the best. Even before the election, the once-proud Washington Post, had been called to heel by a billionaire owner terrified of what Trump might do if elected. The paper's slow trickle of economic loss became a torrent when its subscribers canceled en masse.

Since the election, other media figures and outlets have followed suit — each in their own way, each moving gradually towards obedience to Trump and then suddenly. As ratings and circulation rates suffer the financial risks do as well.

I no longer believe this pattern will be limited to Republican politicians or even the media. All corners of public life are showing gradual signs of accommodating Trump. Some of the voices most critical of him three weeks ago have grown more measured. Others have gone silent.

Corporate titans have gone out of their way to praise a man and a movement that in 2021 they promised never to support. World leaders who know better act as scared children avoiding an abusive parent. Even some progressive groups are acting with more trepidation and care.

I understand it. I feel it. Like others, I fear the threat of government retribution, political vengeance and an angry right-wing mob. But I know that giving into it will only strengthen Trump and undermine the future of our democracy. Trump wants us to be scared. He wants us to give up — gradually and then suddenly.

When I started Democracy Docket in 2020, I envisioned it as a place to share information, analysis and opinion about democracy. My focus was on the courts because there were so few resources for nonlawyers to get information about how judges were affecting voting and elections.

It has evolved along with the challenges democracy has faced. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, it became the primary source for tracking lawsuits seeking to overturn the election. In 2021, it tracked the unprecedented state legislative attacks on voting rights and the litigation that followed.

Along the way it added a daily newsletter and most recently premium content. What it has not added are outside investors. It owes nothing to corporate interests or external financial backers. It is not tax-exempt and thus seeks no favor from the government. Though more expensive, it hosts its own website so that it can never be shut down by a platform like Substack.

Thanks to its supporters, it has the luxury of being fiercely independent and uncompromisingly pro-democracy.

If, at some point in the future, Democracy Docket goes quiet or goes bankrupt, it will be because its subscribers and members have decided that it is no longer worth supporting. Until then, I can promise you, it will not obey and it will not back down

[splashink-games]

Reviews Master List

All of my reviews are linked below under the cut!

Game Lists:

Games I Played in 2021

A Year of Gaming, 2022

A Year of Gaming, 2023

3 Lines on 7 Games

(Florence, Bright Memory, Framed Collection, When the Past was Around, Tametsi, Turnip Boy, AER)

(Another) 3 Games in 3 Lines

(while true: learn(), Pikuniku, Alicemare)

3 More Games in 3 Lines

(Sword of the Necromancer, Nowhere Prophet, Dicey Dungeons)

3 Additional Games in 3 Lines

(Luna's Fishing Garden, SHENZEN I/O, Mini Healer)

5 Games I Haven't Finished

(Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Disco Elysium, Spiritfarer, Rain World, Railroad Corporation)

3 Cute DU&I Puzzle Games

(Cats Organized Neatly, Dogs Organized Neatly, Feed All Monsters)

3 Unique Rhythm Games

(Soundfall, No Straight Roads, Rhythm Sprout)

5 Strategy Games I Think You Should Play

(Battletech, Wasteland 3, The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos, Fae Tactics, Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga)

Game Reviews:

A Little to the Left

As Far As The Eye

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bread & Fred

Carto

Cassette Beasts

Cat Cafe Manager

Death end re;Quest

Dorfromantik

Edge of Eternity

ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights

Evan's Remains

Hexcells

Hollow Knight

Ikenfell

Islanders

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Last Call BBS

Littlewood

Love is Dead

Mary Skelter: Nightmares

Melatonin

Metal Unit

Neon White

Potionomics

SANABI

Tales of Zestiria

UNBEATABLE [white label]

Unsighted

A Note On...:

A Dance of Fire and Ice

A Short Hike

Ageless

Alt-Frequencies

ANNO: Mutationem

Assemble with Care

BALAN WONDERWORLD

Bear and Breakfast

Deep Rock Galactic

Dodgeball Academia

Dragonball Z: Kakarot

Dungeon Drafters

En Garde!

Epistory: Typing Chronicles

Every Letter

Filament

Frog Corral

Garden Story

Haven

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Here Comes Niko!

Hue

Jack Move

Lil Gator Game

Little Hope

Luck Be A Landlord

Minami Lane

Minit

Monster Sanctuary

Murder by Numbers

Muse Dash

Peglin

Rhythm Doctor

Risk of Rain 2

Severed Steel

shapez

Shellshock Live

Smushi Come Home

Sticky Business

Storyteller

Sunblaze

The Looker

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

Timelie

TROUBLERSHOOTER: Abandoned Children

[tachvintlogic]

LU Sexuality Headcanons

For Pride Month, I want to share my sexuality headcanons for the LU boys.

Sky, Time, Twilight, Four, Wind, and Legend are bisexual or biromantic-ish(?), possibly asexual(?), but none of them have put any thought into what their sexuality is, and neither have I.

Wild is asexual bi-romantic. Don't have a really concrete reason behind it.

(Okay, I do. I once read a great fic on AO3 between 2019-2021 where it turned out Sky was the only straight person and everyone else was on the ace spectrum, and he learns there's nothing wrong with being ace. I believe Wild was asexual bi-romantic in that fic. I couldn't find it when I searched, so if you know where it is please tell me!)

Hyrule and Warriors' sexuality are the only ones I feel strongly about, which are aroace and gay respectively. My reasonings behind these choices are the same for both.

I think it fits their personalities.

It's an incredibly inconvenient sexuality for them to have and that's hilarious.

More in-depth ranting below

Let's start with Warriors cause it's easier to explain.

Congratulations Cia! You got one of the few incarnations of the hero that isn't even attracted to women! Even if Zelda wasn't there, even if you were the last woman on Earth, you would have no chance! (Telling her he's gay wasn't the war-ender Warriors hoped it would be.)

Imagine, there she is in her sluttiest outfit, and Warriors is drooling over Volga and fucking Ganondorf because Nintendo finally let the G-man wear his hair down and he's the hottest he's ever been! (until TotK)

Lana is... better. The room becomes instantly awkward whenever his sexuality is mentioned in her presence, but that's bearable.

What's not bearable is that he's still a ladies magnet. He's Mr. Helen of Troy, and all the ladies want a piece of the booty that launched 1000 ships. Warriors, meanwhile, grits his teeth and tries to be as polite while turning them down. He can't tell them off because, of course, his actions and reputation have a huge impact on the war effort. He hates it. Being Mr. Helen of Troy doesn't attract many cute guys.

Every time someone calls him a ladies' man he wants to scream.

Meanwhile, Hyrule is the Link with 2 Zeldas and was kissed by one of them. He's also aroace.

In Zelda 2, Hyrule is kinda sorta prophesied to be the next great king of Hyrule. Even though not everyone knows about that, he still holds the Triforce and defeated Ganon, so he has some political sway whether he likes it or not. There are 2 problems with this:

He's not related to the Royal Family, so he'll have to marry into it.

There are technically 2 possible heirs to the throne: the Zelda from the first game and Zelda the First, who Hyrule saved from her eternal sleep in the second game.

Zelda the First's claim over the other Zelda is a little shaky, since royal succession doesn't usually consider what happens if an ancestor from 100s of years ago comes back to life. While the first game's Zelda has a strong claim, who gets to be queen is a little ambiguous.

However, given that Hyrule is expected to be king, whichever one he marries will automatically have a better claim to the throne. But there's a 3rd problem:

3. Hyrule is aroace and isn't interested in marrying either of them or in having a romantic relationship in general.

While yes, living in the castle would be safer for Hyrule considering the cursed blood thing, he isn't really interested in settling down with someone. While the Zeldas are "understanding" of Hyrule's feelings, they would really, really like their political standings to be resolved before the nobles and the court do something stupid.

It's a love triangle but the romance is replaced with politics and love doesn't factor into it. It's terrible and I love it.

[azzie]

Halsey

Ashley Nicolette Frangipane. or simply Halsey, was born and raised in New Jersey on September 29, 1994. She was in the limelight ever since she released music in social media, then signed in AstralWorks on 2014, debuting on the same year with her EP, Room 94. Then making her album "Badlands, then being featured on the hit Closer" by The Chainsmokers. From then on, she became a well- known artist that is relatable to among teens, young adults and adults alike.

Despite her mainstream success, Halsey has been vocal about her struggles with mental health and being open with her fans about her experiences With her second album "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom", it features songs about heartbreak and mental health. Her music has such diverse genres from Hip-hop to alternative rock to Pop. She has collaborated with multiple artists such as BTS, Juice WRLD, Bring Me To Horizon and her former lover G- Eazy, whom she made a hit song about called "Without Me"

Being diagnosed with BPD (Bipolar Personality Disorder), she was very vocal with how her manic and depressive states have translated to her music, even making the album "Manic" which features her suffering and vulnerability as someone who loved, hurt, and being human.

She has also been an advocate for various social issues, including racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights.

Now, she is a mother of Ender Ridley, with her lover Alev Aydin on July 14, 2021. Making her latest album. "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power talking about Feminism, love and being a mother, and the balance between career and family.

She has been a very influential. It is undeniable that she had a lot of impact to her fans and younger generations, inspiring them to be authentic and to always stand to what they believe in.

Though she has faced criticism and controversy, Halsey remains steadfast in her beliefs and unapologetically true to herself. She is a force to be reckoned with, and undoubtedly has many more groundbreaking achievements ahead.

[emilylovesbooks]

Lost and Found by Orson Scott Card

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Targeted Age Group: high school age

Summary: Ezekiel Blast has a special micro power for finding things and returning them to their owners, which unfortunately leads people to believe he actually stole the things that were lost. His new friend Beth helps him learn to use his power for good, and possibly even to save lives.

Why I chose this book: I chose this book because Orson Scott Card is a well known author for young adults and science fiction. I read Ender's Game (his most popular book) several years ago and enjoyed it, so I thought I would enjoy another book by him.

Evaluation:

The pacing of this book is interesting. As I was reading it, the beginning was somewhat slow, as the characters become acquainted and the stage was set for the more intense part of the plot. That is not to say that the beginning was interesting, but for the first several chapters I only read one or two at a time before going to bed. But after Ezekiel started finding people, the pace seemed to pick up a lot more and the story intensified dramatically - resulting in me staying up into the wee hours of the night to finish the book.

I would describe the mood of this book as somewhat mysterious, and that being a defining feature of the story. There are a lot of exciting questions that come up throughout the story, such as "how does Beth survive on her own?", and "will Ezekiel find the little girl?" that keep the reader engaged with all the things that are happening in the story.

Another interesting feature of this book is the setting. Even though it is science fiction, the setting is normal planet Earth. The only thing that makes it science fiction is the existence of people like Ezekiel with "micropowers". Most science fiction I have read has a much higher degree of science fiction elements (i.e. set far in the future, or on a spaceship, or another planet). But reading a science fiction in a normal Earth setting was interesting. In some ways it makes the story seem more plausible or relatable, since the setting is relatable to the reader.

Citation: Card, O. S. (2021). Lost and Found. Blackstone Publishing.

[herpiscesrising]

“I think of astrology more as a romance art than as a science. It’s actually a mytho-poetic tradition in which we recognize—just like the greatest experiences of life, like love and ecstasy—that it cannot be quantified but is truly profound.”

— Jennifer Freed, Use your planets wisely

It took me so long to get my hand on astrology. It’s not something I grew up believing, nor not something I’d wanted to use as a precaution against other people. It looks so tedious, learning everything at once; and getting past the overwhelming knowledge of people who’s well versed in this topic. Hands-down to people who studies this one because it’s hard, like really.

Part one of this book has a section made for skeptics like me who have little to no knowledge of astrology. I admire the writer for words of comfort that says a simple curiosity plays a big part already. Well, unlike people who shove God’s word on other people’s throat. I’m not generalizing Christians because I am one myself, but I have never read any book that approaches the same way.

It’s gentle and comforting. Seems like there is no pressure if you’ll dwell on it or not. Maybe that’s the reason why some people are invested on this because it’s freeing more than it’s a revelation. There isn’t so much to do, but there is so much to learn. I like the idea of studying astrology for the sake of socio-emotional learning. Since this year, I gear towards using my energy wisely. I plan to continue doing that in 2021. It’s really nice to understand that finding peace instead of revenge makes you unstoppable and unshakeable. I’m living over ender’s game quote says, “You cannot hate someone you understand.” And I believe that learning this, and other sort of emotional understanding, would help me become empath than I already am.

[allinonecc]

Moronism: The Fastest Growing Religion in America

In recent years, a seemingly unlikely religious movement has captured the attention and support of a significant portion of the American population. Moronism, also known as MAGA, has emerged as the fastest-growing religion in America. With its roots in the political slogan "Make America Great Again," Moronism has transformed into a full-fledged belief system that encompasses both spiritual and secular aspects of life. This rise of Moronism can be seen as a reflection of the global phenomenon of a resurgence in public religion and spirituality. 

While the term "Moronism" may raise some eyebrows due to its similarity to the word "Mormonism," it is important to note that Moronism and Mormonism are two distinct and unrelated belief systems. Moronism, or MAGA, as a religion represents a unique blend of political ideology and spiritual beliefs. At its core, Moronism, or MAGA, centers around the idea of American exceptionalism and the restoration of a perceived golden age. This concept resonates with a substantial number of individuals who view themselves as marginalized or disenfranchised within the existing societal framework. 

One of the key factors contributing to the rise of Moronism is the appeal of embracing an alternative narrative or worldview. This alternative narrative goes beyond traditional political ideologies or policies and instead offers a formulation of freedom for the individual. In this narrative, common rules of civility do not apply, and reality can be changed at will. This allows individuals to shape their own realities and interpretations of events, even if they may seem unreasonable to those with a more traditional perspective. According to David Brooks, this deviation from the traditional American narrative is what makes the rise of Moronism so compelling to its followers. Brooks argues that Moronism's appeal lies in its ability to cater to the desire for individual freedom and the ability to choose and promulgate any version of reality that suits one's beliefs. 

Furthermore, the rise of Moronism can also be attributed to the role of elite partisan communication in shaping public opinion (Enders et al., 2022). This is evident in the study conducted by researchers, who found that certain beliefs and behaviors associated with Moronism were influenced by the rhetoric of Donald Trump during his presidency. Additionally, the rise of Moronism can also be attributed to the role of social media and online platforms. These platforms have provided a space for the dissemination and amplification of Moronist ideologies, allowing like-minded individuals to connect, organize, and further spread their beliefs. The rise of Moronism, or MAGA, as the fastest-growing religion in America has sparked discussions and debates about the intersection of politics and spirituality. The phenomenon of Moronism, or MAGA, as the fastest-growing religion in America reflects a broader global resurgence in public religion and spirituality.

The Republican Party has seen a rise in influential figures who adhere to Moronism, a belief system characterized by delusion and incoherence. These individuals, often referred to as Morons or MAGA-Morons, have become influential within the party and shaped its narrative and policies (Ware, 2016). Their adherence to Moronism is evident in their actions, statements, and support for former President Donald Trump. One of the key characteristics of Moronism is the rejection of traditional American narratives and the embrace of a different worldview centered around individual freedom. This worldview allows Morons to promulgate and believe in versions of reality that may seem unreasonable to others. 

It is important to understand that not all Republicans subscribe to Moronism, but the influence of Morons within the party cannot be ignored (Froehlich, 2021). These Morons, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Speaker Mike Johnson, Jim Jordan, and Byron Donalds, have garnered significant attention and support within the Republican Party. Their influence is manifest in their ability to rally support for Trump and his agenda, often targeting Republican members who fail to align with Trump's views. These Morons have created a disinformation ecosystem, where alternative facts and conspiracy theories thrive. 

Their interpersonal connections, media outlets, political and social organizations, and associations are what fuel this disinformation ecosystem (Enders et al., 2022). It allows them to construct a narrative that reinforces their beliefs and undermines objective facts. One source explains that Trump's ability to rally his base against Republican politicians who do not support him makes these politicians vulnerable to primary challenges from the right. This source highlights how Trump's support base incentivizes politicians to align with him, leading to the rise of Morons within the Republican Party. 

Another source points out the role of disinformation and epistemological failures in reinforcing Moronism within Trump's support base. According to this source, human beings often fail to monitor and evaluate incoming information correctly, which contributes to the spread and acceptance of Moronism within the Republican Party. While it is essential to acknowledge the influence of Morons within the Republican Party, it is important not to generalize and categorize all Republicans as such. In summary, Moronism refers to a subset of individuals within the Republican Party who embrace a different worldview centered around individual freedom and reject traditional American narratives. 

References:

Ware, A. (2016, July 1). Donald Trump's Hijacking of the Republican Party in Historical Perspective. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923x.12275

Froehlich, T J. (2021, September 8). A Disinformation-Misinformation Ecology: The Case of Trump. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95000

Enders, A M., Klofstad, C A., Stoler, J., & Uscinski, J E. (2022, November 10). How Anti-Social Personality Traits and Anti-Establishment Views Promote Beliefs in Election Fraud, QAnon, and COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation. https://doi.org/10.1177/1532673x221139434

[jcmarchi]

Ender Lilies Sequel Ender Magnolia: Bloom of the Mist Enters Early Access Next Month

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ender-lilies-sequel-ender-magnolia-bloom-of-the-mist-enters-early-access-next-month/

Ender Lilies Sequel Ender Magnolia: Bloom of the Mist Enters Early Access Next Month

During last week’s Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, it was revealed that the 2021 action Metroidvania Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight is getting a sequel in the form of Ender Magnolia: Bloom of the Mist. The initial trailer provided a vague 2024 launch window, but we now know it’s hitting Steam Early Access first on March 26. 

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is set within the same universe as Ender Lilies but takes place in the magically saturated Land of Fumes. A mind-warping toxin has been unleashed from the magic-infused soil and dangerous Homunguli ravages the land. It’s up to protagonist Lilac, an “Attunder” capable of cleansing Homunguli, to save the day. You can check out the game’s new trailer below.

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Like Ender Lilies, Ender Magnolia is a dark fantasy Metroidvania in which Lilac is paired with another entity who actually handles the killing: a Spirit Reaper capable of killing Homunguli, which, in turn, adds their abilities to your arsenal. The sprawling 2D adventure tasks players with discovering hidden collectibles, gear, and items to bolster their ability to tackle a variety of bosses.

While it’s unknown exactly how long Ender Magnolia will be in Early Access, Ender Lilies also went through an Early Access phase that wound up working to the game’s benefit. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is slated to launch for PlayStation and Xbox platforms as well as Switch later this year. In the meantime, you can read our positive review of the Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight here.

[elecman108]

Y'all remember this drawing I made almost 3 years ago? I decided to redraw it! I honestly prefer this one more, but... hey, it's still stupid.

Some changes:

Panel 1 - The Newscast is no longer on an obvious holoscreen, but is just a box in a void. Two of the figures in the background are different - Marina is replaced with Zori (Zoroark OC) and Cecillia is replaced with Alrani (Genshin Oni OC). Kress is now standing in front of Zori. Kau's coat is now covering most of his shell. The Newscaster Microphone says "BALLZ FML" instead of ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). It now says "Live" and "Breaking News" at the top. A Canada Flag has been added to some white space. The text was adjusted from "Currently, there is a moron attempting to climb the pole."

Panel 2 - Vic's top is now her workout shirt instead of a non-specific crop top. Seven is wearing his work clothes, including a lab coat and armband with the symbol used for the Chosen/Elders in XCOM2. Theo's hair is messier, and his glasses are the right colour. Alpha's hair is messier. Mona's hair has more volume, and her magic eye is side-eyeing the TV. Theo's text is now above, while the TV's text is below. Theo's text was changed from "Man, there are reckless morons out this early?" and the TV's from "They've managed to climb about five or six storeys up already."

Panel 3 - The "Live" and "Breaking News" text carries over, now replaced with "Fuck" and "Breaking Wind". Ender's text has changed from "Hey!"

Panel 4 - Vic still has her mouth full and has just stopped in place, instead of inexplicably no longer eating cereal. Seven has proper eyes, and his spit take is slightly more dramatic. Theo looks more shocked, and his hair is still a mess. Alpha's face looks less pissed off and more surprised, and his sweater is easier to make out - hair's still a mess. Mona's expression has been adjusted to be more confused, and her magic eye looks confused/shocked with her. Theo's words have been slightly changed from "Shit, that's our moron."

The original had very out-of-character text for all involved, and redoing it was just for fun, also to compare the art from 3 years ago to now!

Original (March 2021) ------ Redraw (February 2024)