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[kaoharu]

my favorite pc theme is my rf blog one... i put so much fun kiel dialogue Everywhere. my special guy of all time

[phoenixiancrystallist]

It is WIP Wednesday you say? How fortunate, as I have a WIPpet I desire to share :D

...under the cut because it's, um, long >.> 511 words long, to be exact.

"She looks more Athian than you do," Cuff said, a hint of smug satisfaction in his voice. He'd had some input on the cloak's design, and dubbed it Echt. Frey didn't mind that name, so she let him have it.  "That's because she's wearing more Athian clothes than I do," Frey pointed out. Bobbi gave her a quizzical look, fiddling with the cloak's clasp. Frey shrugged and relayed what Cuff said; Bobbi's confusion melted into a grin. "Thanks, Cuff, that's sweet," she said, then frowned. "I think." Cuff sighed. "Please tell her it was meant as a compliment." At least he'd given up on trying to get Bobbi to call him Vambrace. Frey was not gonna let him have that one.  "Cuff said he meant it as a compliment and totally not a dig at me," she said, adding some extra truth on the end purely to fuck with him. "It was both," Cuff grumbled. "You could stand to embrace the fashion of your own people, you know." "Not happening. They haven't invented jeans yet." "Why do I bother." "I do miss my pockets," Bobbi said with a sigh. "This is nice, though." "It's got pockets," Frey pointed out. Bobbi lifted an edge and studied the inner lining, stuck her hand in the pocket, and grinned. "Aw, hell yes! Muthafukkin' pockets! Frey, you're the best." The purple heart emoji at the end of her sentence was audible. She found the three other pockets Frey had sewn in, and in the third one found one of the other presents Frey'd left her. "What's this?" "Healing draught. Wish I'd had one on me when you first walked in. That shit would've fixed you up no problem." "Is it magic?" Bobbi asked, holding the bottle up to the sun. Knell rippled, and Bobbi's eyebrows raised. "No shit. Yeah, really wish I'd had one of these puppies. Gearing me up for what, Frey?" She didn't let shit go, did she? "I want to take a trip out of Cipal. Figured I could use your help." "With what?" "Ever heard of the Cognoscents?" "Cognizants?" Bobbi asked with another of those puzzled frowns. Frey grinned, and Cuff heaved a long-suffering, exasperated sigh. "Cognoscents," Frey corrected, and tried not to laugh. "They studied pretty much everything. There's a guild a couple days away, figured we could hit it up and see if any of the research made it. Bring a few books back if they did. Bet that'd make Jo happy." "Have I met Jo?" Bobbi asked with another frown, this one thoughtful as she searched her memory—and her new pockets. There weren't any more gifts in them, though. Bobbi'd admitted awhile ago that she struggled with names and faces. Frey shook her head and Knell rippled with light again. "She's the Archivist," Frey explained. "We haven't been there yet. Figured if you showed up with a present she might like you, so I've been saving it until we had something." "I highly doubt Johedy responds to bribery," Cuff grumbled.  "It's not bribery, it's a present," Frey snipped. 

[burnnouts]

A lump settled in Robb's throat. He wanted to laugh nearly as much as he wanted to cry. It was all he wanted, all he had hoped for so long: to end this war and do right by his people, by his family. He had not asked to be a king, but if he must be one, then he wanted to be a good one. Yet, for so long, this war had seemed endless and impossible. He had won every battle he'd fought, and he had tried to uphold all the honor and expectations of the North--to be a leader that would make his father proud--but he had found himself up against a wall at every turn, struck with betrayal in his own camp--from his best friend, his Lords, from his mother. "Let us hope I make a good husband as well," he said with a small, tired laugh. He was letting down one girl--a girl he did not know, of course, yet someone he'd vowed to marry all the same--and now he could only hope he did not disappoint another.

He nodded. "You're right, of course." What was done was done; he had made a decision, and now he would have to live with it. Men would talk, yes, and the Freys would abandon him--and when they marched home, crossing that bridge again would be a new challenge--but it would be worth it in the end; he knew it would be. "The Winter Rose," he repeated and then smiled. "I like the sound of that. It suits you."

She was cunning as well as beautiful. He had heard as much, but it was still exciting--and reassuring--to see this side of her for himself. Robb relished all strategic input, and a wise queen would benefit them all. "Yes," he agreed. "In the gods wood." Robb spent as many meetings with his bannermen by the heart tree as he did in his own war tent. His bannermen would see this gesture, as she'd said, as a sign of faith and good will toward the North. "And what of your gods?" he asked her curiously. His father had built a sept in the North where there had been none before, simply for his mother to worship; Margaery, too, would have it if she wished. But it occurred to him now that he did not know Lady Margaery's faith--though he could suspect that she would not be eager to be back in a sept any time soon.

Robb looked down at the place where she'd touched his hand, momentarily surprised, but he smiled at the gesture and gave her hand a small squeeze back. "I do not doubt it," he said. He looked at her carefully, grateful for what she said, the lump back in his throat as he thought of how long it had been since he'd last seen Sansa and how much she must have suffered before he could reach her. "I know vengeance cannot bring back your brother," he said slowly. "But I will bring you Cersei's head. And I will do everything in my power to make certain you never have to suffer such losses again. That you are safe and cared for. I will do all I can to make you happy."

"You   are   a   good   king,   Robb   Stark.   And   a   good   man.   It   is   a   rare   combination."   One   that   could   get   him   killed   perhaps,   but   she   hopes   she   can   infuse   some   of   her   own   guidance   from   her   grandmother   onto   him.   He   thinks   of   his   people,   and   he   wishes   for   home   for   all   of   them.   For   others,   war   is   just   an   endless   circle   that   never ends.   "You   will   go   home   too."   And   hopefully,   soon.   If   this   all   goes   well,   the   war   will   be   over   and   they   can   all   finally   have   some   peace.   "I   know   your   family   believes   in   honor   but   sometimes,   one   must   put   something   else   before   it.   It's   easier   to   judge   when   the   crown   is   not   on   your   head."   And   in   the   end,   the   decisions   are   his   own.   Would   she   go   somewhere   else   if   he   had   not   taken   her?   Perhaps.

  Maybe   Dorne,   as   Willas   had   been   friends   with   Oberyn   Martell   but   she   much   prefers   the   northern   weather   than   the   heat.   It   dwells   on   her   that   his   home   will   be   hers   then.   Winterfell   and   the   North.   "The   Winter   Rose.   I   like   that   name   for   myself   personally."   Her   jest   is   simple   but   she   is   flattered   by   his   compliments.   Many   see   her   as   cunning.   Her   marriages are all   too   political,   that   she   is   just   a   pawn   or   too   smart   and   only   makes   herself   look   dumb.   "Show   your   people   that   this   commitment   is   true   to   the   North   then.   Do   not   marry   under   a   Sept   but   your   Gods."   The   Old   Gods.  

She   knows   little   of   northern   weddings,   but   she   knows   gestures   are   important   for   people.   He   is   breaking   an   oath   to   make   another,   so   he   has   to   prove   it's   one   to   be   done   in   front   of   the   right   gods   of   his   people.   "Traditions   are   important   and   your   men   need   to   see   you   are   a   Northern   King.   Despite   taking   a   Southern   wife."   Margaery   gives   pause,   a   small   step   closer   to   the   King,   taking   his   hand   on   her   own,   bold,   perhaps,   but   it   is   to   make   herself   clear.   "I   promise   I   will   be   a   good   queen,   and   wife.   Even   more,   I   wish   for   you   to   be   reunited   with   your   family.   Sansa   spoke   so   kindly   of   you."

[horizon-verizon]

Did book!Viserys force Rhaenyra to marry Laenor or did Viserys allow Rhaenyra to choose a husband of her liking like he did it on the show?

*EDITED POST* (4/13/24)

In the book/canon lore, Viserys *forces* her to marry Laenor even though she is reported to have said she loved her uncle/his brother Daemon.

In the following, I will show how he does and why some might think he doesn't.

1.

He does not allow her to pick a husband at all, never once, in the entire account ("A Question of Succession"):

*[there was an edit here with an idea I do not agree with anymore]*

These lines seal it:

Long before any man had reason to doubt her innocence, the question of selecting a suitable consort for Rhaenyra had been of concern to King Viserys and his council. Viserys even talked of wedding Rhaenyra to the Prince of Dorne, as a way of bringing the Dornish into the realm. The best choice, king and small council finally agreed, would be Rhaenyra’s cousin Laenor Velaryon. King and council had neglected to consult the princess

Both Rhaenyra's tour & Viserys choosing Laenor happened after whatever happened b/t Rhaenyra & Daemon happened AND before the final interaction b/t her & Criston Cole. All those lines emphasize that Viserys is the final authority on who Rhaenyra will marry, not her AND he was actively considering people without her input. Even if she went around looking for a candidate, again, he was considering options himself while/before she was AND he threatened her ascension when she argued against Laenor, which directly contradicts her choice. Even if she picked a man, he'd also be the one to say "yes" or "no."

And in the book, do we ever hear of anything like the show marriage tour, where the lords--old and young--all line up, present their entire portfolio of assets-lineage-family history, & Rhaenyra rejects them? No. People were throwing themselves at her, but they weren't presenting straight-up suits for marriage.

2. Court Politics, Chilvaric Romances & Courtly Love

You may ask about this section in particular:

Great lords and dashing knights fluttered around her like moths around a flame, vying for her favor. When Rhaenyra visited the Trident in 112, the sons of Lord Bracken and Lord Blackwood fought a duel over her, and a younger son of House Frey made so bold as to ask openly for her hand (Fool Frey, he was called thereafter). In the west, Ser Jason Lannister and his twin, Ser Tyland, vied for her during a feast at Casterly Rock. The sons of Lord Tully of Riverrun, Lord Tyrell of Highgarden, Lord Oakheart of Old Oak, and Lord Tarly of Horn Hill paid court to the princess, as did the Hand’s eldest son, Ser Harwin Strong. Breakbones, as he was called, was heir to Harrenhal, and said to be the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms.

and think that this is book!Rhaenyra going through candidates for marriage the same as show!Rhaenyra because so many men run towards her and some make their sexual interest in her obvious. All these men are trying to get the attention of the highest ranked and acclaimed prettiest girl/woman of the realm (ego) and/or impress themselves onto her memory to gain later political benefits. But, they are not formally presenting themselves as actual suitors. this isn't like the Maiden's Ball that Unwin Peake arranged for Aegon III.

The king's, princess's, and a lady's "favor" are not just proposals or suits of marriage, they are requests for attention, approval, allowance, or recognition of acts/rank/resources/etc., i.e, non-marriage ties. A way to show others they were recognized by their supreme authority as being worthy of their knightliness or warrior-dom or military skill, or those related to/associated with them. OR EVEN publicly show that you either want to or already have a political alliance with the woman's family. The former coming with its own enhancement of reputation.

Knights and lords ask ladies for their "favor" before they go into the lists to joust as a sort of "blessing" from a high-ranked lady. Doesn't mean they are married or even in love. Though it is also a way that a lord/knight might express their chivalric-courtly devotion to their lady love in the "courtly" manner/exercise (people didn't actually do these things as a practice, this was a literary collective invention).

In medieval Europe, the courts became a place where women held power and men treated them with respect, in terms of regarding as someone with power, even if it was something like that of the pure Virgin Mary. The woman in this relationship held the power as the man doted on her. For the most part, these relationships were not sexual, as people of nobility were also extremely religious and would not commit the sin of adultery (the Church's tenets had far more influence over European people's public habits than later during the Renaissance and Tudors). The Westerosi Red Keep court, like in medieval Europe around the 1100s-1300s, was a social hub of gossip and entertainment. We know that Viserys's reign was the most prosperous one aside from Jaehaerys, and Viserys had many feasts and balls and stuff. Lords traveled to KL and the Keep to be a part of the court and accrue influence, attending the royal family.

In chivalric tales with courtly love storylines, the knight and his lady love are always NOT married--in fact, in chivalric romances and romance tales, the idea is that the two lovers shouldn't be married to each other: usually, the knight is not married, and his lady love/beloved is the one married since marriage was not for love but politics and the idea was to have a knight devoted to country, king, and the high lady who at first rebuffs him and then acquiesces. The performance itself is supposed to express the participants' noble/aristocratic capability of love and intelligence. and since Andals passed down the chivalry and court culture to imbed itself into Westerosi (not North) culture, Frey's response to Rhaenyra has that layer that would enhance & inspire his feelings of admiration, but which GRRM is subverting since Frey absolutely had no chance and showing the real politics behind why he had no chance, thus the reaction to the Frey's actions and subsequent "the Fool" moniker.

That Viserys was not allowing Rhaenyra to look for or choose AND that Rhaenyra was not visiting several places for the singular purpose of finding a husband in formal arrangements is even more obvious with that Frey kid who asked for her hand so "openly" was called "Fool Frey". That is not what she went to the Riverlands to do NOR how that would go if she/Viserys were looking for a King/Prince Consort candidate.

Viserys likely sent her on this tour because he wanted to gather more good PR for her and strengthen the "Realm's Delight" reputation. Show off her beauty and expected grace, remind people to whom they pledged their loyalties. Get them familiar with her noble subjects. And it was pretty effective...since many esp in the riverlands (almost all the houses) where she visited rose up to fight for her.

3.

I mean, a woman/princess get to choose her husband? SHE sits as men FORMALLY PRESENT themselves to her like that Maiden's Ball in the last chapter of F&B?

That event, the various and most entertaining moments would have been recorded and recorded well (or better). Only Rhaena Targaryen--the Queen Dowager & Black Bride--had a similar opportunity. (A royal progress with an impromptu proposal is NOT the same thing as an organized suitor-presentation event). Similar and not the same, bc Rhaena nor Rhaenyra never had a formal lineup of men physically presenting themselves like in the show while having had no authority actually using something against her to make her choose a specific somebody(ies).

And even at the Maiden's Ball, Aegon was being pushed towards Myrielle Peake through the long, hot, insufferable hours enclosed in the hall PLUS the "mysterious" attacks or other stuff whittling down his options. At the time, Unwin Peake had a lot of power over the preteen king and had for a long time. It's only through Baela, Rhaena and Alyn Velaryon's intervention and plot with Daenaera that Aegon's saved form more of Unwin. Can we say that even though Aegon was given options of who to marry, that he had free will to choose who to marry? Once again, Viserys wanted Laenor and had him in mind for ever and refused Rhaenrya Daemon.

4.

This is what marriage and consent looks like in Westeros:

It's very clear that the reality is that the betrothed persons' consent wasn't all that important to their parents/hosts/guardians when said authority figures had a pressing desire for the marriage to exist.

5.

Just to clarify for the show:

In HotD, he still forces Rhaenyra to marry Laenor. She never wanted it, Laenor never wanted it. We understand that from episode 4, that she doesn't want Laenor, which makes Viserys tell her to marry him forcing her.

Just because he allowed her to pick at first, doesn't mean his actions later are not forcing her. If it was against her will, then he was forcing her.

Viserys at first allows Rhaenyra to choose her own husband/decide on who the King Consort would be because of that argument they had back in episode 3 about Viserys "wanting her to be happy", that she was "very angry and alone", and the already-present desire to solidify her ascension/claim. Thus him pressing for marriage after she said she didn't want to be married. In that argument, she also pointed out how he didn't go with the candidate that his council or Corlys wanted (Laena Velaryon), that he got to choose and had much more room to choose. And because he didn't choose Laena, his relations with Corlys and the Targ House's relation with house Velaryon also took a dip: personal and political problems he created.

So Viserys' intentions and motives for getting Rhaenyra married AT ALL (like most political marriages the authorities over the marrying persons have) aren't pure or totally considerate of what their kids/wards want. There is the inescapable element of Rhaenyra being a fix-it piece for the Targ-Velaryon relations Viserys caused himself OTHER THAN:

shoring up her claims through the shared Valyrian heritages the 2 houses have

Laenor being her 1st cousin once removed (close ties)

Laenor being a dragon rider

the Velaryons having their fleet

their reputation and ranks

"make up" after Rhaenys being passed over for him in the GC by "combining" families and ensuring Velaryon blood would become royal through Rhaenyra and Laenor's kids

So in both the canon and in the show, he always preferred her to marry Laenor, especially with how quickly he chose him for her after the Flea bottom incident. His need to retie w/Corlys, placate, and make up for his choosing Alicent is the same for F&B, as he also presented Laena as an option and refused her for Alicent there. In the book, he had no intention at all of letting her choose in any capacity. But even in the show, he's obviously using the fear of Rhaenyra's reputation against her choosing, as once again he doesn't even contemplate Daemon as a choice.

[fedonciadale]

I have read one Ary@ stan saying that Cat negotiation skills suck because how could she allow Ary@ to bethroted to Elmar Frey. When Ned promised Ary@ that he would have king or high lords to marry her while Cat wanted her to marry the youngest child of Frey who unlikely to inherit. I don't think the stan realise that Cat made alliance with Freys because at that time it was important for Robb victory. When Ned told Ary@ about marriage she declined it.

Hi there!

Cat was actually gave very good counsel and Ned and Robb valued her input, as I have argued here.

And Robb and Cat needed Lord Frey and the crossing. Remember that this was before Ned's death, so they were desperate to get an alliance. Walder Frey had the upper hand and he made the most of it.

Ary@ is the second daughter, her marriage is supposed to make an alliance and Robb himself had to agree as well. Of course the Freys were not of the same social standing as Starks and Tullys as great houses. But that was after all the whole point for Walder Frey. To be finally admitted to the highest class. Sometimes marriages were done like that.

Cat and Robb are not completely happy with the outcome but they don't have other options. Not if they want to cross.

The thing is: I think that Ary@ stans completely misinterpret her dialogue with Ned in this passage.

Ary@ cocked her head to one side. "Can I be a king's councillor and build castles and become the High Septon?"

"You," Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, "will marry a king and rule his castle, and your sons will be knights and princes and lords and, yes, perhaps even a High Septon."

Ary@ screwed up her face. "No," she said, "that's Sansa." She folded up her right leg and resumed her balancing. Ned sighed and left her there. (AGOT, Eddard V)

How comes Ned is promising Ary@ a marriage to someone? It's a consolation price so to say. They talk about Bran and how he can never be a knight, and Ned says, that he might still become a councillor or a High Septon - which is telling in itself, because it becomes clear that this is less than becoming a King's Guard. Ary@ who learns how to fight (become a knight?) asks if she herself can have this at least. And Ned denies her.

He denies her and tells her that her fulfillment will be in her children. So, it's not even a nice promise. It's like saying. "You can never have this cake, but your children might get that cake." Ughhh, Ned....

And what is Ary@'s reaction?

"That's Sansa!"

No, that's not inverse foreshadowing, that's foreshadowing. Ary@ doesn't want this. She resumes her balancing i.e. the training for her exceptional way. I think it's balancing mercy and revenge, something that will take her time to learn.

And later, when she meets Elmar Frey she is not impressed and thinks he is stupid for wanting to marry a princess. She rejects her father's and her mother's plans for her.

I think it's rather straight forward and easy to interpret, but leave it to Ary@ stans to wish for an ending for their fav that she herself does not want (repeatedly) and something she is even quite sure about not wanting.

Many of her other duties had remained the same, but as she went about them she stumbled over furnishings, walked into walls, dropped trays, got hopelessly helplessly lost inside the temple. Once she almost fell headlong down the steps, but Syrio Forel had taught her balance in another lifetime, when she was the girl called Ary@ , and somehow she recovered and caught herself in time. (ADWD, The Blind Girl)

Did I mention that Justicia, the personification of justice is usually is depicted as blind with scales?

That's Ary@ !

Thanks for the ask!

[encirclet]

addressed   to          :         aiyla  frey  /   @qcyqoyi​  .

location          :          the  frey  apartments  .

rickard  was  adjusting  to  his  new  reality  by  taking  it  one  second  at  a  time  .  being  without  his  father  left  a  hole  wider  than  he  could  have  ever  imagined  it  would  have  .  loren  was  old  ,  yes  —  but  that  did  not  make  his  death  any  less  sudden  ,  or  cause  rickard  to  wish  for  his  input  any  less  often  .  and  he  had  wished  for  it  many  times  in  the  last  few  hours  .  with  his  wife  poisoned  by  the  same  substance  that  had  killed  his  father  ,  he  found  it  difficult  to  leave  serena’s  side  .  but  if  he  had  learned  anything  from  the  events  of  the  night  prior  ,  it  was  that  time  was  not  guaranteed  ,  and  he  needed  to  speak  to  aiyla  immediately  .  “  lady  frey  ,  ”  he  dips  his  head  slightly  ,  standing  a  few  feet  inside  the  entrance  ,  posture  immaculate  .  “  i  was  sorry  to  hear  that  you’d  been  ill  .  ”  it  is  a  meager  start  ,  but  it’s  all  his  mind  can  muster  to  forge  himself  forwards  into  conversation  .

[cruelfeline]

Yes! Remember how Frey remarks about Praenost being really different from the area around Cipal? And Cuff says something about people's madness being unique to them. Suggesting a warping of the landscape caused by Sila.

And further suggesting that the realms are the way they are because their respective Tantas willed it so. Each Tanta controls the environment she has dominion over.

Hence why the Break warps the land and the plants and the beasts: the Tantas have some level of input on their own land. So when their magic gets corrupted, so does the realm.

listening to banter and suddenly noticed Frey bitching about the weather in Praenost and Cuff saying, “Dear old Sila. She really didn’t want anyone having any fun,” implying that she controlled the weather in her region o_o

[germanpostwarmodern]

The 1980s in Berlin must have been rather tumultuous, both politically and architecturally: with the IBA exhibition of 1987 in West-Berlin, the Bauaustellung of the same year in East-Berlin and ultimately the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the decade was full of fundamental change. Currently the Berlinische Galerie with „Anything goes? Berliner Architekturen der 1980er Jahre“ for the first time offers a comprehensive look back at the 1980s architecture of both Berlins and with it opens up very interesting perspectives that go well beyond the two building exhibitions as the accompanying catalogue, recently published by Kerber Verlag, reveals: yes, both building exhibitions staged in conjunction with the 750th anniversary of Berlin had a liberating impact on both cities in terms of visibility, building culture and architectural discourse but at the same time a counter culture gathered forces. Houses were squatted as a result of completely failed housebuilding politics and Hardt-Waltherr Hämer with his cautious urban renewals organized all kinds of people including migrants (who were basically excluded from and discriminated in the city’s politics). At the same time numerous architects in East-Berlin sought to overcome the constraints of the ever refined Plattenbau for a more artistic and ultimately more ornamental postmodern architecture. They at least partly succeeded, designed and built a number of interesting buildings, e.g. the Department Store at Marzahner Tor. Both exhibition and catalogue shed light on the protagonists on both sides of the wall, including John Hejduk, Frei Otto, James Stirling and the Baudirektion Hauptstadt Berlin (Ost) or the office around Wolf-Rüdiger Eisentraut. In parallel also a migrant view is shed on the goings-on in the 1980s that brings to light the same problems and discriminatory aspects today’s building politics show. If you’re in Berlin you really shouldn’t miss this exhibition that in its multifocal approach provides endless input for discussion of both the past and the present. If you, like me, will not make it I highly recommend at least getting the catalogue to not miss out on the findings regarding this exciting decade.

[blacksunscorpio]

Scorp you're a genius! So relatable and I love how you don't judge others or anyone who comes to you for help. Keep it up! I just had to ask since I see that you make pop culture references to make analogies with astrology. You've mentioned GoT a few times and im a huge fan! Can you do a quick post on Game of Thrones characters and their potential zodiac signs? I'd love to hear your input! Thank you so much!!

Game of Thrones Characters & Their Zodiac Signs

Aries

Khal Drogo- Impulsive. Warlike. Bloodthirsty. Alpha. Conqueror. Hardcore athlete [did you see him on that horse?] Extremely sexual. Forceful. When he first meets Daenerys, he forces himself on her. Afterward, however, he is the first to go to war if he feels the people around him have been disrespected.

Aerys Targaryen- Impulsive, sadistic. Boastful. imperial. He would be the Emperor [reversed] in Tarot, lol. Not as good with being a tactician as he ought to have been. Cruel. Rage problems. The need to be the first and the best. Fire and blood, anyone?

Taurus

Maergery Tyrell - Classy, wealthy, sexy, laid-back, frank but with an air of elegance. Highgardeners have a love for the finer things in life. A love of fine wines and foods. Beautiful clothing and aesthetics. RICH RICH. Get on their bad side and they will take their time finding a way to subvert your authority.

Robert Baratheon- Love of luxury, bullheaded, strong, takes no shit. Fixed in his opinions of others, highkey jealous. In his youth, he enjoyed the gifts of Venus: Charm, wealth coming from the noble house of Baratheon, widely considered handsome by almost all in the 7 kingdoms. 

Gemini

Tyrion Lannister- Silver-tongued. HIGHKEY intelligent. Social. Charming. Great sense of humor. A freak [in the sheets]. Chatty. Always finds his way out of a sticky situation. Finds a way to use his intel to bolster diplomacy between his family and the families who hate them.

Little Finger- Cunning, quick-witted, works behind the scenes, manipulative, a  snake, jack of all trades. Top dog in the social circles of the 7 Kingdoms. There wasn’t a person who didn’t know of him and his... reputation. He singlehandedly, through his Machiavellian tactics, caused the events of Game of Thrones to unfold. 

Cancer  

Cersei Lannister- Protective, moody, caring [to her kids], motherly, cantankerous, jealous. A savage. People don’t give Cancer’s the credit they deserve in terms of what they’re capable of. Cersei is a prime example of the type of person who can show unrivaled levels of devotion to the one’s they love. “No one matters but us.” She can be cruel because she lets her emotions rule her actions. When her safety is threatened, she makes sure no one else feels safe either. She loves with a ferocity only rivaled by...

Catelyn Stark- Another mother who would die [quite literally] for her children. Fierce, Protective. Doting. JEALOUS. Let’s not forget how she treated Jon all because she believed Ned’s lie about him being a bastard. Followed her son into battle. Damn near lost her hands fighting off Bran’s would-be assassin. 

Leo

Jaime Lannister- Proud. Handsome. Princely. Funny. We seem him go from underdeveloped Leo [arrogant, selfish, bully, prideful, snob, loyal to no one but himself] to developed [Kind, helpful, warm, honest]. Fought bears for his friends. Skilled and proud fighter even without the use of both his hands. Unfortunately, his loyalty caused him to stay loyal to his twin towards the end, but such is the nature of a Leo. They’re hard-pressed to abandon those they truly care for.

Brienne of Tarth- LOYAL. Proud. Devoted. A bit of a flare for drama especially brandishing her sword. Brienne is the definition of Leonine traits. Hard to miss. Devoted to those who show her kindness, i.e Renly, Catelyn, Jaime, Sansa, etc. Always at the front lines in war screaming “STAND YOUR GROUND”. Unrivaled levels of bravery and courage. Not to be fucked with. A true Queen.

Virgo

Samwell Tarley- Intelligent. Scholarly. Methodical. Always with his nose in a book. Unproblematic king. Caught the things everyone else missed, especially when he was an apprentice in Old Towne. Figured out how to cure Jorah Mormont’s affliction on his OWN without any formal training. Genius.

Lord Varys- Remember, Virgo is also ruled by Mercury who is the most cunning of the planetary rulers. Varys always had a spy to collect intel on everyone. A tactician. Never lost his temper. Always had the scoop but didn’t partake in gossip for gossip's sake. Not afraid to be critical or tell those “in charge” his opinion. We can see this specifically when he critiques Aerys, Daenerys, and Robert. 

Libra

Davos Seaworth- a skilled diplomat. Davos is always seen seeking balance and fairness in the situations he finds himself in. The minute you see this man in a scene you know he’s going to give a moving speech and get someone out fo a sticky situation. He convinced the Iron Bank to support Stannis. Convinced Daenerys to entertain Jon Snow when they traveled to Dragonstone. Always breaking up a fight. He is in full support of law and order, especially when he called for Melisandre’s head after discovering her part in Shireen’s death [RIP.]

Rhaegar Targaryen- Had a love of music. Harmony. Balance. He brought two families together [Stark and Targaryen]. He was also blessed by Venus in my opinion because he was said to be extremely handsome. A fabulous singer. A fighter yes, but a lover first. Very good with diplomacy but not the best with defending himself against his cousin sign, Taurus [Robert Baratheon].

Scorpio

Daenerys Targaryen- Many see her as an Aries but I have to respectfully disagree. Daenerys is a Scorpio in my opinion. Remember, Scorpio is honorary fire. She was literally “reborn from the ashes”. A Phoenix, Scorpio’s final form. She went from a silent and meek girl to a skilled and commanding Empress. Unlike Arians, she did not jump headfirst into battle. It took many arrows in her dragons, many slights to her ego, copious council from her advisors, dozens of her loved ones lost for her to go nuclear. Like her father, she hungered for power, a very Scorpionic trait. However she, unlike her father, listened to reason [Jorah, Tyrion, and Barristan Selmy]. She had a long fuse until she didn’t, and then that’s when she rained fire and blood on everyone in King’s Landing. She was skilled at retribution and was unapologetic with it *cough* the Tarleys *cough*.. Unlike Arians who pop off at the drop of a hat, she gave her enemies fair warning if/when they crossed her.

Arya Stark- You already know what it is with this one. Arya is pretty much death [Pluto], personified. Stealthy. A tactician. VENGEFUL. I think we all fist-pumped when she served Filch Walder Frey his sons in that pie. Never forgets a slight. Keeps a list of people who’ve wronged her [All Scorpios can probably relate]. You never see her coming. She is “no-one”. She is the assassin that slips through the back. She may seem calm at first but trust that she has been planning your downfall for a while. LOYAL. The definition of a Scorpio.

Melisandre- Dark. Mysterious. Unafraid of the occult. So much of her life is unknown and I’m sure that’s how she preferred it. Even her Lord of light was mysterious. Strong supernatural abilities and highkey psychic. Knew immediately how many “eyes” Arya would “close.” Had ties to the underworld which is demonstrated with her ability to resurrect the dead. Came through at the clutch in the last battle wielding fire [Mars] with her witchcraft. It’s no secret that Scorpios are some of the most skilled in sorcery.

Sagittarius

Missandei- Exotic. From Naath which is an island just above the mysterious continent of Sothoryos. A world traveler. Lucky enough to escape slavery [until the end]. Jupiter's influence is here in my opinion because she is so kind and friendly. Also a polyglot and gifted with the ability to speak 19 languages. Her fire is seen at the end of the series when she tells her best friend “Dracarys”-- meaning “fire” in High Valyrian. She isn’t afraid to call wrath down on others.

Olenna Tyrell- Loud, unapologetically blunt, zero-filter, feisty. Olenna to me is the definition of Sagittarius. Always speaks her mind. Clap back queen. Will call you out. Was also quite promiscuous in her younger years. Very charismatic and extremely likable despite her penchant for saying whatever was on her mind.

Capricorn

Tywin Lannister- I can’t see the patriarch of the most notorious family in Westeros being anything other than a Capricorn. Methodical. Structured. Business-minded. Karmic [A "Lannister always repays his debts"] Cold. Cruel. Unfeeling. Like Saturn, he is the father figure. Basically ran the 7 Kingdoms for Aerys, [which was probably why the latter was so salty towards him.] Always has a plan. The man you want in charge if we’re strictly talking about law and order. Vindictive [had the mountain kill Elia because Rhaegar rejected Cersei.] He’s the ultimate son-of-a-bitch.

Jon Snow- Brooding hero that he is, Bae Jon Snow is without a doubt a Capricorn in my eyes. Duty-bound. Serious. A leader in his own right. Could also be cold and unfeeling in terms of distributing karmic justice. Lest we forget the “fetch-me-a-block” situation with Janos Slynt. In addition, the moment he was resurrected he took vengeance against the black brothers who betrayed him. Saturn, Like Pluto, is all about karmic justice. The beating he put on Ramsey after The Battle of the Bastards was one thousand percent a karmic beating. A proper lover as well, according to Ygritte, Jon also knew how to handle himself in the bedroom, a trait very akin to Capricorns.

Aquarius

Bran Stark- I thought about making Bran a Pisces, but then I changed my mind. Remember Uranus rules sudden insights and hardcore psychic receptivity. It also rules sudden and unexpected catastrophes or surprises/ sudden breaks. Bran suffered a literal “tower” moment at the beginning of the series which resulted in his psychic powers developing. Once he became the three-eyed raven, he became very detached from the world.

Grey Worm- Aquarius is also androgynous. Grey Worm is a eunuch. He is always down to fight for a cause though, specifically his queen’s. Cares about others, specifically Missandei, and was seen towards the latter season speaking up for the Unsullied against the slavers. Fierce combatant but also very detached. His job is his job.

Pisces

Jaqen H’ghar- Much like Neptune, Pisces’ ruler Jaqen has a mysterious and illusive personality. He wears “many faces”. Skilled at illusion and very very intuitive. Has a soft side though which is clearly seen with how he treats Arya. Hardly ever flies off the handle. Calm. Cool. Collected.

Hodor- Sweet and gentle giant, Hodor is a Pisces to me. Affected by psychic trauma, it’s revealed why “Hodor” is the only thing he can say. Calm. A bit of a baby. Caring. Easily adaptable [think of all the terrain he carried Bran through]

Eddard Stark- I don't care what anyone says, Ned stark to me represents the most developed form of a Pisces. Like the Hanged-Man in Tarot that represents sacrifice and which Neptune Rules, he willingly sacrificed his reputation as honorable for his sister, Lyanna. He later sacrifices himself for his children when he died at Joffrey’s [little bitch] command. He is wise. Though appears cold, he is actually a well of feeling and caring. Unfortunately, he also suffered from the naivety of Neptunian influence which is why he wasn’t very skilled at the Game of Thrones, which calls for more tactical ruthlessness. Pisceans however also have the rage of Poseidon flowing through their veins [which people like to forget]. This was displayed when he pinned Petyr Baelish to the Wall in King’s Landing for daring to dishonor Cat by inviting her into a Brothel. RIP, King Stark.

[macmazatlan]

Venator Star Destroyer 114 call sign “Colossus” Ship Log 354

[The following is a recording taken by commander Mason during a discussion with Era, Kenai, Titus and Pride]

Era began, “We are here to pass judgment on what both of you have done. Both former commanders Pride and Titus have been charged with conspiracy and treason against the legion. How do each of you plead?”

Titus was the first to reply, “I plead guilty.”

Soon after Pride also replied in favor of accepting guilt for their actions. Era continued the herring stating that Kenai was there to observe and pass the judgment whereas Era and Mason were to present evidence. The hearing lasted for five hours, evidence being presented through secret logs and testimonies from the various units within the legion. Evidence was also presented from the sentients of Primus Dawn when Omen and Sovereign presented findings as well. Following this Kenai decided to speak alone to commanders Pride and Titus before passing his judgment.

Kenai began, “The evidence presented against you both is undeniable. You both accept this yet only commander Titus seeks atonement… I only ask for one fact from each of you, why? Considering the situation even myself, a neutral individual would have come to the same conclusion as commander Era.”

Pride responded angrily, “You’re a second generation commander, both you and commander Era were among the first of our people to wage war against the sentients. You BOTH HAVE FOUGHT FOR YEARS AGAINST THEM! YET YOU SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THEM? ALLY WITH THEM? YOU DISGRACE US ALL AND THE WARBORN WHO DIED IN THIS WAR!”

Kenai responded by punching Pride, knocking him down hard since he was still in retrains. Commander Titus stepped back in surprise as Kenai collected himself and replied, “You are too emotional Pride. I suppose that is merely the flaw within your development. It is true that both Era and I are from the first and second generations of developed warborn… I will share some facts with you both regarding the truth of our development. Did you know that has each generation of warborn developed observable flaws?”

Titus shook his head while Pride now kneeling on the ground began to shake in anger staring at Kenai. Kenai continued his lesson staring down Pride, “Those of the first generation such as commander Era tended to be logical, cold, and devoid of emotion or empathy except in rare cases. Era himself being one of the few first generation warborn to develop a sense of empathy for those around him, but unlike yourself he can control his emotions. Those of the second generation like myself tend to balance the trait of logic with empathy. The third generation were excessively warlike but lacked the capability to be flexible and think critically in complex situations. The fourth generation were rebellious and cruel in their methods to each other and the populaces we were meant to protect. The fourth generation was a good reason why so many worlds rebelled against us in the first Sentient counter offensive. You Pride, are a part of the fifth generation and unlike those of the second, your generation is overly tainted by emotion over logic. A flaw that saw the loss of so many legions due to the rashness you show being controlled by your emotions. Yet your generation Pride, similar to the base species template that gave birth to the warborn. Titus, you and Mason were among the few born of the sixth generation, one capable of adapting and overcoming obstacles. Your generation was meant to turn the tides of the war in one way or another but you’re lack of extensive training and adequate experience nullified your contributions as you’re generation was the smallest developed during this war and quite possibly the last.”

Kenai ended his lesson and remained silent, allowing the information to soak in until Titus responded with his answer to Kenai’s question, “I did it because of Apocalypse. He directly threatened our legion and I wasn’t sure of how sentient consensus works. I worked to develop the bomb as a safeguard to protect what is left of my own legion and those of my fellow commanders. If I am seen as an enemy because of my actions then so be it, but I acted with the best intentions for the legion… I don’t deny that I failed to see the potential consequences of my actions. If I need to fall to ensure the safety of our men now then I will not hesitate in accepting any sentence bestowed upon me, as it was a choice of my own making.”

Kenai satisfied with his response then looked back to Pride, who was now standing with tense body language until finally he fell down to his knees. Pride began to shake and sobbing could be heard from under his helmet as he spoke quietly, “I… I just… I did it because I sought right the wrongs done to all of us warborn. These… machines have taken so many of us in this pointless war that it seems that our suffering will never end. When my legion was dispatched from the homeworld, I knew every trooper under my command. I knew their hopes and regrets… some wanted to live lives as civilians, others wished to be things that they were not nor could ever realistically be… What every one of my men seemed to wish for as a whole was the protection of our fellow warborn. A dream tarnished into nightmare as my legion felt the reality of war…” He looked up to Kenai and continued now with certainty, “You asked why? It’s because I feel that if I could end this threat to the last of the warborn on this world, then I can fulfill the remnant wishes of those long gone to protect the warborn who are left within this legion, put together by the legacy of the many. I stand by my actions, but if my punishment requires a severe sentence… then I will not hesitate in facing my fate, as that will be my atonement for my actions.”

Kenai remained silent, then moved near Pride and kneeled down and put a hand on his shoulder, “I know you meant well. What you didn’t realize was that the war is over now, we have peace with the sentients. It may not be in the way that any of us intended, but it is peace never the less. The fallen can rest easy, you can rest easy in knowing that you will continue to fulfill the wishes of those fallen in the present by being here with the legion and your men, not trapped bearing the burdens of the past. Let go Pride, for if you continue to shoulder the regrets of the lost, then ultimately you will become lost as well.”

Pride regaining his composure stood proud. Titus moved to his side and both looked towards Kenai and nodded their heads indicating readiness. Kenai while he inputted a command code into his gauntlet. Once the command code was entered then commanders Era and Mason entered the room. Captains Frey, Reed, Aurelius and Ferrus also entered to bear witness. The guardians Harbinger, Omen and Sovereign also wired into the hearing while Commander Kenai began, “I have made my to pass judgment. I have reviewed the objective and subjective evidence within this case. I’ve heard the testimonies of condemned. My sentence is as follows, both Titus and Pride will be placed under probationary command. Their service will be meant to give back tenfold to those they wronged whether it be through labor or sacrifice, they will atone for their actions. They will be subject to all, regardless of rank, or state of being. Through Continued service to the warborn, the sentient and other allies, they will redeem themselves tenfold for their actions. Death will not be accepted as due atonement as there is not redemption in the void, nor will there be with continued detainment. We were alone, but now we’re linked by something never thought possible between the warborn and the sentients… Peace, a unity that is needed more than ever as to end a conflict that lasted decades. My decision is final given the criteria and evidence placed before me. For disgraced commanders Titus and Pride to overcome their current status, then they will need the unanimous approval of myself, Era, Mason and the four guardians of Primus Dawn.”

With the last statement made, the restraints were taken from both commanders Pride and Titus. They were then dismissed from the room along with the witnesses until only Era, Mason and Kenai remained with the guardians on the line.

Mason stated, “Thank you Kenai. You and Era always had a way with words.”

Kenai and Era remained neutral while Omen responded over the com link, “I approve of this outcome, however there is still one last topic to discuss that wasn’t mentioned in the trial.”

Harbinger finished Omen’s statement, “That would be the Ion bomb. Warborn commander Kenai, what is you verdict for the device?”

Kenai responded, “Your concern is valid Omen and Harbinger. I’ve discussed it with my peers and we’ve come to an agreement to give it over to you.”

The sentients took more time than expected to respond, of which Sovereign replied, “An unexpected outcome… Extensive resources was put into the project yet you each are willing to relinquish the device?”

This time Era stated, “Yes. We gain nothing from cooperating within an aura of distrust, trust must be equal equally between all beings within an alliance such as this. Thus we are giving up the device as to assure the sentients that we do not intend ill upon you.”

More time passed before Harbinger replied, “We’ve reached a consensus, you will keep the device.”

The news shocked the warborn commanders as even Era was unsettled by the news, Mason responded urgently with confusion, “but… why?”

Omen took the time to respond length, “Because, throughout our recent encounters we’ve done much to impose on you warborn. You’ve sacrificed extensively to make this alliance work, obviously putting yourselves at risk by allowing us to shelter within the ship.”

Then Soveriegn added, “It is no secret that our troops set you men at unease at times with some exceptions within the warborn engineering unit.”

Harbingered continued, “Hence, this was an unexpected branch of trust you extended to us that we as a unity never thought would come to pass. We intend to do the same, you will keep the device.”

With that last statement the guardians logged out from the com link, leaving the awed commanders in the CIC. Plans were quickly made to secure the device only where the present commanders would know, in tandem measures were taken to ensure it’s security. Thus passed the judgment and redemption of Pride and Titus, the atoning warborn of the 1st Legacy Legion.

Venator Star Destroyer 114 call sign “Colossus” Ship Log 354

[miqojak]

#1: Crux

(( Ramblings relating to @ketsuchikotetsu, @sola-ffxiv, and very briefly even a @fatelhas ! )) It was like a splinter she couldn't get out of her thumb – pricking herself on it again, and again.

“You won't ever be anything other than a robin.”

She'd told the Wolf she'd listen, now – and had meant it. Not listening...that was what had caused her spin out. Sparked more humiliation than she still knew how to cope with. It had...set her adrift, once more.

And yet, how much was too much to be asked to swallow, here? She certainly hadn't felt like a little bird in that rust-trap of Zekh's – yes, she'd certainly felt above them all...but a tiny little songbird? No, she'd been the only one with even a single functional thought in her brain, apparently. One of them – most certainly the feeblest of them – made the rest of them chase each other, wound one another...stoking tensions rooted in the re-opening of old wounds. Frey, was their name – they'd come by her apartment some days later, and been...shockingly receptive to input.

The exchange had been...some strange mirror of her own discussions with her Wolf – a bit of role reversal, to make her eat her own words. She – of all people – had been told to take things less seriously and have fun with things more often? It hadn't been...what, three weeks since she'd had that exact assessment of Ketsuchi...and most certainly not for the first time. 'Slow down,' she'd tell him. He'd take it out of context, make it seem like she was telling him to go off the deep end; hedonist she might crave to be, but there loomed no worse fate than that of one that was...unsatisfying? Boring? Confining? She'd been trapped for long enough. The point was to make her own rules, ultimately. To stand above the rest...to at least cast a shadow long enough that no one would even think of crossing her...and then enjoy it.

“No matter how strong, big...whatever you get, you will always be a robin. Because even when you have everything you wanted, should you get there, you will still be a tiny Miqo'te who feels the need to stand taller than she is.”

Frey, little mouse that they might be, had likewise made a point about Jak wanting...what was it, to be noticed? Seen?

...So be it - what was there to deny? She expected respect. Fear, perhaps. Acknowledgment - infamy. And no, she wasn't quite there yet – hadn't earned it. The Wolf's own biting words about how she was...'just an artist', in a small clan in the East? Incisive, but truthful – the snap of his jaws hurt more, somehow, when he was gentler about it. Perhaps it was simply that she had more time to recognize what exactly hurt...and why, when it wasn't malms-a-minute fury.

“Small as they are, they use what they can to scrape by, building things like nests from things - birds, or people - take for granted. No matter how strong, big...whatever you get, you will always be a robin.”

And yet, as the words bit anew, she saw something in them that she'd missed, initially – she'd been too focused on the insult in it...after all, she was a Jackal; and Jackals are master scavengers and manipulators - and clever predators when pushed to be. But she'd been...ignoring why it all bothered her so much, ultimately. Yes, in part, it felt like being told she was nothing but prey – but he knew that...knew it would irritate her endlessly. Jak had to keep that in mind – it could all very well be to see how she'd handle such insistence about as much.

But it was also...that she'd, once upon a time, been told she was a beast – and in playing that role, had in fact...fractured? Breaking beneath the skilled hands of a torturous, manipulative captor was nothing to be ashamed of, however. She'd won, in the end, because she had embraced their line of thought...because she'd adapted, and learned that perhaps beasts weren't terrible things to be. What did morals matter, when all those around you had none? Why be anything but a Beast, if that's what it took to survive...to thrive?

So...why not be a 'robin', this time? Why not own it? Why fear becoming the thing - why not take it, and make it what she wanted? Yes, she would take from others the things and people they took for granted, and build her 'nest' - she would take the leftovers, and the forgotten, and build a congregation of the devoted – what was it the starry-eyed Bookeep said? That gods never give their worshipers anything in return? So why not take on that role, herself? The idiot smuggler had seen fit to dub her 'goddess', but never appreciated what he was given...but those in need, those who are hungry and desperate...or simply angry at a system that's rigged against them by virtue of their species, or gender? The sheep were always looking for a 'shepherd'...but what of the very beast known to prey upon them, offering them 'acceptance' and 'protection,' when the rest of the herd left them to be devoured?

Opportunity was hers to seize...to gamble upon – and it just so happened that she knew exactly how to hit the ground running.

[ruffiorocks]

Sansa Stark is misunderstood

Since its come back round to the time GOT last season was on I'm seeing a lot of renewed posts and a lot of revived hate for Sansa Stark. But it's not even justifiable hate!

I just saw a Facebook post where some bloke who fyi stated he "believed in female equality" stated that everything that happened to Sansa (abuse wise) was entirely her own fault and he bet she wished she knew how to fight like Arya while she was with Ramsey! Holy shit!! I can't believe i actually read that and when the bloke was called out for victim shaming he scoffed and insisted he believed in female equality!

People hate on Sansa because she isn't Jon, or Arya or Robb. But here's the thing, Sansa is everything she was supposed to be! She was everything she was raised to be, it's actually Arya who is the odd one for the world this story is set in.

I'm re-reading the first book and it's explained in Arya's first POV chapter what Sansa is like and how Arya is expected to be the same. Arya's first chapter is her thinking about how she is the odd one out. How much of a Lady Sansa is, how the sisters are treated by their mother and Septa Mordane. Even Jon, who gifts her needle, speaks to her about how she should be doing her needle work, and how girls get coats of arms but not swords.

Sansa at the start is exactly what she should be and exactly how she was raised to be. She's still an 11 year old child at the start of the books, and in the show she's about 13. A little Lady who still believes in songs and noble, handsome princes and happy endings. Why is that? Because that is how she was raised. Arya rejects all this as she is the odd one out, but it's not lack of trying on her parents and her Septas part. Eddard is a bit more sympathetic to his children, he knows Bran shouldn't be climbing but knows he can't stop him, so just tells him to not let his mother see. He knows Arya should be acting like a lady , it's the whole reasons he takes her to Kings Landing, he even tells her she will be a Lady and have sons etc and Arya tells him that's not her. After discovering her with needle Ned gives in and gets her a sword master. He doesn't change anything with Sansa, because she is exactly what she is supposed to be, he seems a bit clueless with her because he buys her a doll.

Now, Sansa acts like she is in a song when she is with Joffrey because no one has bothered to tell her that life isn't like a song, she is still a child but being put in adult situations.."Winter is Coming" failed on Sansa, because she wasn't taught that life isn't a song like she should have been. She doesn't understand why her father wants to send her home and destroy her fairy tale with her Prince, so this 11 year old (don't remember her doing it in the show) runs to Cersei who panders to her and complains.

Sansa doesn't get away from the Red Keep because she is watched constantly, she is the Prince's betrothed. Arya only escapes with the help or Syrio, left alone Arya would have been f**ked as well. This doesn't make Arya better than Sansa.

Sansa does everything she can to she Ned's life, she is a child being manipulated by Cersei.

Later Sansa is abused both physically and verbally and humilated for all of the court to see. She's beaten by grown men taking orders from a little psychopath. She can't stand up to them even if she tried. Give her a sword and train her to use it she would still have been f**ked. Put a trained Arya in her place and Arya would be f**ked to, she may kill a few knights but she would still end up being killed.

People forget how Sansa survived! Partly because she knew she had to play a dutiful part and she did. You think Margery was good at controlling Joffrey? Sansa had her own way as well.

People often forget how Sansa saved Ser Dontos life by manipulating Joffrey into making him his fool.

Everyone forgets how she stood up to Joffrey when he said he would give her Robbs head and she said Robb may give her his! No fear of Joffrey at all!

The very same scene she goes to push the little prat off the ledge and is only stopped by Clegane.

Swap her with Arya and Arya would be dead or locked up by then. Joffrey already hated her because of Nymeria. Joff wasn't betrothed to her, Arya may have stood up to him and gone wild as Arya is known to do but she would soon be killed.

Sansa knew that being compliant with the odd defiance here and there was the way to survive. She learned that quickly! A lesson Arya would never have learned if she had remained in the Red Keep.

People cheer Arya for killing people and how she wanted to kill Joffrey, whilst forgetting that Sansa very nearly did!

Sansa also warned Margery and Olenna about what Joffrey was like. Risking a lot if that got out!

She was the one to calm the women during the Battle of the Black Water Bay while Cersei got drunk, all the time knowing exactly why Ser Illyane Payne was there with them.

Sansa was forcibly married to Tyrion, he treated her well whilst the whole time being told by his father to get her pregnant by any means necessary. At least she found common ground with Tyrion, making the most of her situation. Arya would have rebelled and probably killed or locked up eventually for being defiant.

Sansa was nearly raped in the streets of Kings Landing, she was essentially ordered to be raped by Tyrion on Tywins orders. She was stripped in front of the court by Ser Merys whilst being threatened by Joffrey and his cross bow. She was later taken to the Eryie by known creepy pervert Little Finger, used again as a marriage pawn for Robin Arryn, kissed by creepy Little Finger, attacked and nearly thrown through the moon door by her aunt Lysa. She lied to protect Little Finger because she was starting to learn to play the game.

She was betrayed by Little Finger and married to the insane Ramsey. Constantly brutely raped by him and locked up. But she survived! She even had the guts to stand up to him as well, making it clear he was bastard and no royal decree from another bastard was going to change that.

She manages to escape with Theon and make her way to Castle Black to Jon.

Throughout all this time and abuse Sansa has not cracked. She is not the naive little girl she was raised and expected to be. She has learned what the world is really like, something the Starks should have taught her from day one. The books and the show make a point of have the men say that the boys will soon be men and need to learn what the world is like but the girls? Nope!

Sansa has survived all her abuse, and she has watched and learned how to play the game. She convinces Jon to take back Winterfell, she brings the Knights of the Vale, remember Jon didn't even want to listen to her input. He didn't want to listen to what she of Ramsey. It may be seen as harsh but Sansa knew that Rickon was dead the moment he was in Ramseys clutches, Jon was very noble wanting to save him but there was no chance.

Sansa shows how much she has learned and who she has been made into, the person she has been hiding just waiting to come out when she sets Ramseys dogs on him and enjoys watching his demise. Sansa is often condemned for this while Arya is praised for being a little psycho that loves to kill and does often.

Sansa sits by and says nothing when her birthright is ripped from her and Jon is declared King in the North, whilst she is left with Lady of Winterfell. She supports him, and she speaks her mind which is her right and he chastises her for questioning him in front of the Lords, her place is to discuss it in private. Even though she knows a lot more than he does when it came to the Northern Lords, or Cersei.

Sansa worries about the things others don't. She spent her time worrying about feeding her people, making sure their armour was warm enough, running Winterfell. This may seem boring to the viewers in comparison to Arya swapping faces and murdering all the Freys but this is why Sansa does! This is what makes Sansa strong!

Sansa understands politics, something that Jon, Arya and even Daenerys don't understand. Sansa knows how the North works, she knows how Cersei operates. She knows what the people of the North need, how the Northern Lords think. She sees the danger that Dany presents. She knows that will need her help but she doesn't trust her and doesn't want the Northern independence surrendered, something Jon did without consulting his people at all.

Sansa appropriately worries about feeding the amount of Dothraki and unsullied Dany brings with her. Boring to the viewers? Yes but a legit concern. She also worries about the Dragons and Dany petulantly tells Sansa dragons eat whatever they want. She couldn't have just answered the question properly? Maybe reassured Sansa they won't eat the Northerners, or their supplies?

Sansa is the only one after the battle for Winterfell that believes the soldiers need a break! Something they actually could have had, Cersei and the South could have waited a few days. They no longer than the dead to worry about, but Dany is impatient, caring only for what he believes is hers and not for the people. Jon even shuts Sansa down, suddenly he's stopped caring for the Northerners as well and wants to follow Dany like a loyal little dog.

Oh poor poor little Dany, no one loves her in the North. Maybe that's because the North don't trust foreign invaders. May be because she came to Winterfell after their king they had JUST elected gave it up to a foreign conqueror. Maybe because she came with three large Dragons and seemed to enjoy the fear they inspired. (Seriously go back and watch her arrive at Winterfell). Dany was so used to being worshipped like a Goddess, but that's not how things are done in the North. The Lords of Winterfell mingle with their men, celebrate together and don't worship their leaders like Gods. You can see her annoyance after the Battle for Winterfell. Oh no she lost people? Well suck it up buttercup so did everyone else. She didn't have anyone to celebrate with? Well maybe that's because Dany never made any friends! She had people that served her, even Jorah was a servant, Grey Worm, Missandi all servants not her friends. You can tell the difference with deference to her, the Northerners don't act like that, Jon and Sansa drink with the men like they are one of them. While Dany sits waiting to be pandered to.

Anyway, even Arya sees the issues with Dany! Sansa unites her family and out wits Little Finger of all people! She was once again biding her time waiting to strike. She knows how the game in played.

People praise Jon, Dany and Arya for fighting in the battle of Winterfell? Jon was a trained warrior, Arya was a trained assassin, Dany is pretty useless if she's Dragon less, e picked up a sword to fight with Jorah but didn't actually do much. Sansa is NOT a warrior, she did the best thing she could have done for everyone and stayed out of the way. She actually did have a knife and was ready to fight with Tyrion but it didn't come to that.

Sansa is one of the characters that changed the most, spoilt little girl wanting her fairy tale, to abused girl learning to survive, to abused woman still surving, to the Lady of Winterfell who understood politics and the game, to the Queen in the North who gained Northern independence.

But to blame her for all the bad stuff that happened to her? Blaming her for being raped because she couldn't hold a sword? People like that make me sick!

Sansa may not have been the most exciting character, but she learned how to play the game, she learned from her experiences, she cared about her people, she underwrite politics and saw the issues with Dany long before Jon did.

[foundcarcosa]

cccxxix.

what is your middle name?: >> Frey. what’s your favorite lyric or quote?: >> *the ‘fear is the mind-killer’ litany floats through my head again* do you support abortion?: >> I support the right to get one if one chooses. last nightmare you had?: >> I really don’t remember. who was your first crush?: >> Well, Matt Damon, probably. Or Yul Brynner. I don’t know, I didn’t realise what crushes actually were until around middle school, and these two are from before then, so my memory is vaguer.

what is an annoying overused phrase?: >> “You are valid.” What does that even mean anymore? What am I going to do with that affirmation? Throw a party? what’s usually your last thought falling asleep?: >> I don’t know. The passage into sleep is such a nebulous and sneaky one that I can’t imagine how I’m supposed to figure out what my last thought was. Thoughts generally flow into preliminary dreams, anyway, so there’s no “last” thought. Just... a changing of thoughts into other things. what’s one thing someone said to you that has always stuck in your memory?: >> Predictably, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. ever agreed with a punishment your parents gave you?: >> Of course not, I hate being punished. Just because the punishment may have been just doesn’t mean I’m gonna like it! do you like to be anti-social sometimes?: >> No. I like to be quiet and undisturbed sometimes, especially for the sake of focusing on an activity, but that is in no way anti-social behaviour. what was your childhood dream job?: >> I didn’t have one. would you ever adopt a kid?: >> Sure. ever did something you swore to yourself you never would?: >> Well, yeah, probably. what color is your toothpaste?: >> White. have you ever faked your identity on the net?: >> Nah. It never occurred to me to do that; I already contain multitudes, so I have a lot of myself to choose from when it comes to image presentation. I don’t need to fake anything. do you like roller coasters?: >> Sure. how do you feel on new years eve?: >> A low-key excitement. I enjoy the ritualistic torch-passing from one year to the next, and I always enjoy the feeling of a fresh start.  which friend is the most understanding of you?: >> I don’t know. what turns you off about a guy?: >> Hm.

what’s the weirdest thing you ever ate?: >> I’m really not sure. From my point of view, nothing I’ve eaten is particularly weird. whats your opinion on the movie napoleon dynamite?: >> I didn’t like it. have you ever chased a pigeon?: >> Nah. ever done something mean to a teacher?: >> So once in high school, I want to say tenth grade? I had this teacher named Mr Stanley. And I don’t remember what it was about Mr Stanley that annoyed me, or what he’d done to make me feel petty, but honestly I stopped getting along with teachers in middle school anyway, once it was realised that I wasn’t going to be teacher’s pet/the Smart child anymore. So maybe I was just being a bitch. But either way, The Sixth Sense was still fresh in my mind at the time, and one day on the back of my homework I wrote “Stuttering Stanley! Stuttering Stanley!” Mr Stanley, mind you, did not stutter. I was just making an annoying reference. Like I said, I don’t fuckin know why. I was a teenager, man, and not a happy or sane one either. So then when Mr Stanley sees it, he gets mad as hell and gets in my face (he was tall, too) and is just bitching me out. I don’t know why he got quite so mad lmao. Maybe he... was a stutterer, once. Wouldn’t that be wild? are you a fan of ipods?: >> No. I used to be, especially when they were a new thing, but meh. whats the biggest thing you considered stealing?: >> I don’t know. Nothing huge, I’d imagine. I’m not that good of a thief. ever been so scared you stayed up with the lights on?: >> Nah. ever ran away from home?: >> I ran away from a place that wasn’t at all home for me. what’s the worst thing your parents have said to you?: >> I don’t recall my father saying anything particularly awful to me. That wasn’t really his style. how many times have you cried yourself to sleep?: >> I have no way of knowing. would you ever sky dive?: >> I’d like to. could you handle eating a bug?: >> I could. Wouldn’t be the easiest thing in the world, but it sure wouldn’t be the hardest. have you ever intentionally been a bitch?: >> Yes. ever felt like you could really be considered crazy?: >> Well, of course. do you think time travel is truly possible?: >> I don’t know enough about the subject of time to form a concrete opinion. think you can dance?: >> Yes, but I’d certainly be able to dance better if I practiced. do you still ride in shopping carts?: >> No. I think I could still fit, but getting in and out is a lot harder at this size. ever seen a Broadway play?: >> No. I’d like to. can you honestly say you’ve felt like not being alive?: >> Sure. if you could choose how to die, how would it happen?: >> I’d be old and happily tired, and it’d happen in my sleep. what is your reaction when you see the person who gives you butterflies?: >> I don’t know what that feels like. I understand it’s probably mostly metaphorical (I say mostly because I think the physical sensation is also a thing that some people must be experiencing?), but I... am not entirely sure what the metaphor is standing for. weirdest dream you can remember is…: >> Hm. Raining with sun out or snowing at night time?: >> Nighttime snow is very calming. I mean, unless you have to drive in the morning. LOL instead of roses, you’d rather receive which type of flower?: >> Sunflowers. Or anything interesting-looking, really. Or nothing. Because cut flowers are a strange gift to me. You cut a plant and doomed it to an unnatural death just to... give it to me. I don’t think I want that. Give me a living plant instead (one that I can realistically take care of, obviously, not something that requires a real garden and full sun or something). romantic ending or realistic ending in a movie?: >> I thought the point of movies was to be transported from reality, honestly. I don’t understand the obsession with realism. at this moment, whose arms would you like wrapped around you?: >> I mean, no one’s, because it’s hot. if you had telepathy, would you tell anyone?: >> I don’t know. I can’t even imagine having telepathy. The power actually doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, because of how brains work, and also because you’d literally be too full of input to... do anything. Telepathy with filtering capability is a little less nonsensical to me. if you could, what color would you paint the sky?: >> That’s not how skies work anyway. what disease would you pick to instantly cure?: >> I don’t want that sort of responsibility. if you could go back in time, what age would you go to?: >> No. is there one major thing you want to accomplish before you die (of old age)?: >> No. who do you want to talk to right this moment?: >> Hm. if you could tell the world one thing about you, what would it be?: >> No. who’s the one person you wish you could apologize to right now, for whatever reason?: >> --- what’s the least favorite part on your body?: >> Hm. who would you honestly give up your own life for?: >> I would give up life for no one. what’s the one thing you don’t like to joke around about?: >> For the most part, I don’t like jokes at the expense of people, particularly about things they can’t control or didn’t choose. Like, friends roasting me for my personality or something, sure. That’s fun. Making fun of white people for not seasoning food? All day every day. Making fun of drug addicts, or poor people, or people from other countries that you don’t understand? I’ll pass. do you think you’re intelligent?: >> Sure. I also think I’m dumb as hell. Both are true. We can’t possibly be smart about everything. do other people’s opinions of your beliefs matter to you?: >> They’re interesting sometimes, and sometimes I might even take them into consideration, but a lot of the times they’re just unsolicited and irrelevant -- not to mention arrogantly or insensitively presented. what quality in someone else just pisses you off?: >> Hm. favorite tv show as a little kid?: >> I didn’t have one. what do you like most about winter?: >> At this point, I’m so tired of winter that I can’t think about it positively. Ask me again in late July. what sound makes you cringe?: >> The sound of the dumpsters being emptied, because they have to bang it a couple of times to get all the stuff out.  do the standards of society matter to you in any way?: >> They matter when I have to interact with them, or when things are being denied me or people are treating me badly because I don’t measure up to social standards. ever tried to overdose?: >> Yes. (Obviously, I failed.) what vegetable do you pick over every other veggie?: >> Baby spinach. why are you self-conscious?: >> Because I am more aware of my self than I have ever been. ever had the conversation of marrying someone and having their kids?: >> Not the latter part. what scent makes you smile?: >> You know, I’ve never thought about it. have you ever just read the dictionary for kicks?: >> Yeah, when I was a child.  if someone stalked you, how would you react?: >> I don’t know. I’ve never been stalked so I don’t even know what it’d feel like. what is one thing that a friend might do that annoys you?: >> Hm. whats the first department you go to in a store?: >> That depends on the store and why I’m there. what kind of grapes do you like?: >> Red. have you ever been physically hurt by someone intentionally and not for fun?: >> Yes. do you often weasel out of doing things just cuz you’re lazy?: >> Maybe. Although I’m not sure I believe in laziness -- I’m sure there are probably exceptions to my theory, because there are exceptions to everything, but I think people just use “lazy” as an insult when they don’t understand why someone else doesn’t work at the same pace or level of enthusiasm or within the same time frame as they do. I think people internalise that and just roll with it. I think that “laziness” is a lazy term that hides a multitude of solveable problems -- executive dysfunction, depression, lack of balance (it’s like the Sims: if you don’t fulfill their need for fun and socialisation, their performance in all sectors suffers), inability to care about whatever-it-is, anxiety, overload/overstimulation, and so on. I say “I’m lazy lmao” because it’s honestly easier to just let myself be judged that way than try to explain these other things to people and be told I’m a liar or making up excuses. ever ignored a phone call because you knew that person was boring?: >> No. items ever thrown around in your room out of anger…: >> That has happened. Not recently. ever gone out commando?: >> No. I find that immensely uncomfortable. are you ever going to consider plastic surgery?: >> No. Couldn’t afford it anyway. do you give in easily?: >> I mean, yes, sometimes. what can’t you stand about your room?: >> It’s too small and Sigma ruined it. do you really believe in magic?: >> Yes. if you ever caught your parents in a lie, what was it?: >> A lie of omission. My father didn’t tell me that the dog we got when we moved to South Jersey had ran away, until I asked him why I haven’t seen the dog in a few days. He... thought I’d like, forget???? I don’t know what kind of logic he was working with there. :| if you were born a guy, what would you hope your name would be?: >> Hm.

were you named after anyone?: >> Originally. what’s one characteristic your ideal boyfriend would have?: >> Hm. do you need reassurance a lot?: >> Not a lot. Not often at all, really. your least favorite Disney villain is…: >> I don’t know enough Disney villains to have a least favourite. what flavor of skittles do you dislike the most?: >> I thought they all taste the same. 

[thetranscript]

Taxes are an input in the income statement, like any other expense, and so it flows through the models. Dan Frey Yes, so that would be one of the many things that gets factored into our pricing. Obviously it wouldn’t just impact us, it would impact the economy more broadly, and as Alan said a bunch of times, I think if we feel like we’ve got a level playing field with our experience and our risk section expertise, we’ll do just fine. But for sure, it will be an input into what the pricing environment needs to be going forward.

The Travelers Companies (TRV) CEO, Alan Schnitzer on Q3 2020 Results - Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha

Taxes going to get factored into pricing #macro

[radically-kind]

Abolish?? The Police???

I know it sounds extreme to some. But 99% of abolitionists do not mean the destruction of police or prisons tomorrow morning. They mean something very different, and very reasonable. If you are willing to listen, there is a lot to learn from this movement. This is the kind approach. This is the radical approach.

Listen to the people actively instituting this change. Democracy Now! did a couple of wonderful interviews on June 8th, 2020 with those very folk. Transcript of the conversation with Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis City Councilor, is below. 

Video can be found here: 

https://www.democracynow.org/2020/6/8/minneapolis_police_abolition

Transcript

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: The City Council of Minneapolis announced Saturday it would disband and abolish the police department responsible for the killing of African American man George Floyd, following nearly two weeks of mass protest and growing calls to defund the police.

In a statement, nine of the city’s 12 councilmembers said, quote, “Decades of police reform efforts have proved that the Minneapolis Police Department cannot be reformed, and will never be accountable for its action. … We recognize that we don’t have all the answers about what a police-free future looks like, but our community does,” they said.

The historic announcement comes after years of organizing on the ground by groups like Reclaim the Block, Black Visions Collective and MPD150.

This is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender speaking Sunday.

LISA BENDER: Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth, that the Minneapolis police are not doing that. Our commitment is to end our city’s toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department, to end policing as we know it and to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.

AMY GOODMAN: A supermajority of Minneapolis city councilmembers support disbanding the police department, meaning Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who opposes abolishing the police, can’t override their efforts. Organizers with Black Visions Collective and other activists convinced the mayor to step outside his home Saturday to speak with them. This is organizer Kandace Montgomery.

KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Jacob Frey, we have a yes-or-no question for you: Yes or no, will you commit to defunding Minneapolis Police Department?

MAYOR JACOB FREY: Abolition of it?

KANDACE MONTGOMERY: What did I say?

PROTESTERS: Defunding.

KANDACE MONTGOMERY: We don’t want no more police.

PROTESTER: No more!

KANDACE MONTGOMERY: It’s that clear. We don’t want people with guns toting around in our community, shooting us down. Do you have an answer? It is a yes or a no. It is a yes or a no.

PROTESTER: Yes or no!

KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Will you defund the Minneapolis Police Department?

MAYOR JACOB FREY: I do not support the full abolition of the police department.

KANDACE MONTGOMERY: All right, fine! You’re wasting our time! Get the [bleep] out of here! Get the [bleep] out!

PROTESTERS: Go home, Jacob! Go home! Go home, Jacob! Go home! Go home, Jacob! Go home!

AMY GOODMAN: This rally was in downtown Minneapolis. Kandace Montgomery reminded demonstrators that Mayor Frey is up for reelection next year.

Well, we go now to Minneapolis, where we’re joined by City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison.

Councilmember Ellison, welcome back to Democracy Now! This is a historic announcement that the majority of you on the City Council made at a big community rally last night, that you’re going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. Explain what that means.

JEREMIAH ELLISON: For me, it means that we’ve got to create a system of public safety that works for everybody. You know, I think the Minneapolis Police Department, even before the murder of George Floyd, has had a whole host of issues, a handful I can just rattle off the top of my head. You know, we dealt with an issue of the Minneapolis Police Department being involved in the illegal injection of ketamine of people who did not need it. We’ve had a history of not taking sexual assault cases seriously, investigations seriously, and actually recently lied about how many untested rape kits we had. And the list goes on and on.

And so, I think that there has been an acknowledgment that, you know, we have done everything we can on the reform side. We have a chief who is probably one of the most pro-reform chiefs and has instituted every reform we legally can. And so, where do we go from here?

AMY GOODMAN: In fact, he himself had sued the Minneapolis Police Department for racism, isn’t that true, years ago?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: Yeah, that is true. That is true. And so, I think that when we’re looking at having an amazing chief and we’re looking at having a council who has pushed for reform — and it’s not just that the relationship is bad; the relationship is untenable — where do we go from here? I think that that means we have to ask ourselves: What is the best way to keep people safe, if not the Minneapolis Police Department?

AMY GOODMAN: So, explain exactly what this would mean. You made the announcement. You haven’t had a vote in the City Council. So what happens today?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: Right. So, per the commitment that we made yesterday, we’re going to take the next year to engage the people of Minneapolis. You know, obviously, councilmembers have ideas, but I think that if the nine of us sat in a room for a couple days and cooked up a plan without any public engagement, I think that the community would reject that. And so, I think we’re going to commit to a year’s worth of conversations. I think in some ways it’s going to require every single resident in Minneapolis to give their input. But the groundwork is there. Some of the groundwork has been laid for what we can do to keep communities safe, other than have a police force.

AMY GOODMAN: Well, what exactly do you mean, though, you’re going to wait a year? So there will not be a vote taken in the City Council?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: No, we’re not going to wait a — sorry — we’re not going to wait a year. We’re going to engage the community for a year to develop a new system of public safety. You’ve got to understand, the police department has been around for 150 years. At least the Minneapolis — sorry — the Minneapolis Police Department has been around for over 150 years. And police departments all around the country have been around a lot longer than that. I think that we owe it to the city of Minneapolis, to our residents, to develop a plan that moves forward intelligently, that moves forward in a way that works. You know, we’re not going to hit the eject button on the police department today, for instance, because we do not have that new system in place. But we have to start the conversation somewhere. Yesterday was the start of that conversation.

AMY GOODMAN: So, will there be a vote? And what will that vote be on in the City Council now?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: At some point there will have to be a vote about what our new system of public safety looks like. You know, just to give you an example, one of the most effective programs that we’ve been able to fund, really on a shoestring budget, is our group violence prevention program. It’s a program that helps young men get out of gang activity and remove themselves from gang life. It’s a program that’s been more successful in getting gang members to choose a different path forward for themselves than sending them to jail or anything else that we’ve tried in the past. That’s just one program, for example, that I think that we need to actually put our investment in to get fully operational so that we can keep our city safe.

You know, we’re going to have to figure out how to address things like active shooter situations. And we’re aware of the fact that some situations are extremely difficult to deescalate. But most of what police do — you know, we did a study last year of 911 calls, and we realized that one of the top calls that police make are for what we call emotionally disturbed persons or mental health calls. Do we need use of force — someone with a use-of-force background to answer that call? Do we need a gun present at a call like that? Do we need a gun present at a call for a forged $20 bill? I think that the answer to that is no. And we’ve got to — but we’ve never, as a country, leaned into figuring out how do we address issues like this without force. And I think that my colleagues and I are committed to figuring that out.

AMY GOODMAN: I want to ask you about the Minneapolis police union president Bob Kroll. Activists are demanding he resign, after he called George Floyd a “violent criminal,” described protesters as terrorists and called on police to expand their use of force. In April, Kroll told a radio podcaster he “wasn’t bothered” by shootings he’s been involved in.

LT. BOB KROLL: I’ve been involved in three shootings myself, and not a one of them has bothered me. You know, maybe I’m different.

AMY GOODMAN: Minnesota’s AFL-CIO coalition of labor unions has joined calls demanding that Minneapolis police union president Bob Kroll resign. Jeremiah Ellison, if you can talk about the role of the police union? And are you also calling for Kroll to be out?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: I would love for Kroll to be out, but I don’t think this is the first time people have called for Kroll to resign. Kroll has a long history in the department of incompetence and of rage. And, you know, I think that he, very much so, follows in this traditional model of policing. When you look at sort of the groundwork that’s been laid for modern-day policing, it’s to enforce vagrancy laws. It’s to bust the heads of union organizers. And Kroll, very much so, is proud of that tradition and, I think, leans into that tradition.

I think that Kroll, knowing that he is protected by the base, our department, that democratically elected him to represent them, he knows that there’s really no grounds for him to have to resign. There’s no pressure for him to have to resign, even if people are calling for it. I’m sure he finds the whole endeavor amusing, quite frankly. And Kroll doesn’t just represent himself. Kroll represents — he’s democratically elected by our department to represent them.

And so, I think that for a long time we’ve underestimated what it means to have a department that elects somebody continually who advocates for extreme use of force, who recently advocated for the use of lethal rounds on demonstrators here in Minneapolis, who is the member of a biker gang with ties to white supremacist organizations. I think that we’ve often regarded him as an annoyance. And I think that the truth is that for a long time he’s been a lot more dangerous than that.

AMY GOODMAN: Jeremiah Ellison, your father, Keith Ellison, of course, is the attorney general of Minnesota, the first African American attorney general of Minnesota. He is in charge of the prosecution of the four officers, just increased the charges against Chauvin and charged the other three officers. Have you discussed with him this whole issue of dismantling the police department?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: You know, I think he’s aware of the concept of dismantling the police department. I can’t speak for him, obviously, but I think that this is a concept that has to be explored.

You know, as I said, I think someone asked the question, of me, “Well, what are we going to do about sexual assault cases?” And I had to remind them that our current department does not solve sexual assault cases and has a track record of not taking them seriously, lied about the number of rape kits that we had untested.

I think that — I also had a constituent call yesterday, upset, saying, you know, “Jeremiah, the police don’t answer when we call now. What will we expect now?” And I said, “Well, look, what I’m hearing from you is that the police don’t come when you call. And so, we’ve got to figure out a system that keeps you safe, that keeps our neighbors safe.” This current one is not it.

AMY GOODMAN: Finally, the role of community groups, of which you were a part before you were elected — the famous photograph of a Minneapolis police officer with a gun to your head when you were protesting the police killing of Jamar Clark a few years ago. The significance of the community groups that have been pushing for this?

JEREMIAH ELLISON: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. I mean, I think that the community is the most important part of this. You know, other cities have, call it what you want, disbanded, fired their entire police departments, only to slowly glue them back together again over time. And I think that with community support, with community vision and leadership, this is the only way that we’re going to get to a point where we’re learning how to keep communities safe without using the police as our singular tool.

I think that, you know, we’ve heard from police over the years, when we’ve asked them to use less force in certain situations, “Well, look, I’m not a social worker.” And that’s made a lot of community members say, “OK, well, maybe we need social workers, maybe we need mental health professionals, maybe we need people who specialize in childhood development, to be addressing these issues.” And so, I think that the City Council’s position in Minneapolis is 100% owed to the fight, the creativity and the vision of the broader community.

AMY GOODMAN: Well, Jeremiah Ellison, we want to thank you so much for being with us, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, which just announced this historic decision to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department.

[t-baba]

How to Use a Free Responsive Portfolio WordPress Gallery Plugin

There are a lot of free and paid gallery plugins out there which you can use of your website to showcase images to visitors. Some of them simply allow you to display images in a neat manner on the website while others try to provide an all-in-one package with features like lightbox and social sharing etc.

WordPress

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In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Portfolio Gallery WordPress plugin on a website to filter and organize a large number of images to show on any webpage. This image gallery plugin allows you to assign different images to different categories and then click on buttons at the top to only show images from a specific category.

How Can We Use It?

A plugin like this could be useful in a lot of situations. For example, a real estate business which shows houses to potential buyers could use it to filter images of different rooms, kitchen, interior and exterior etc. Let's say there are a total of 50 images of a house on the webpage. Any user who wants to only see the images of living room first, could do so by simply clicking the "Living Room" button at the top. In this tutorial, we will learn how to do exactly that and a few other things.

The plugin could be useful for photographers as well. Wedding photographers showcasing their work could use it to filter images of different weddings or the bride, the groom and the decorations etc. The same principles can be used to filter images of all kinds on a website.

In this particular tutorial, we will use the the plugin to filter images of different animals, However, the same steps and techniques could be used for all other purposes as well. Lets start creating our gallery now.

Defining the Filters

Once you have installed the plugin, the first step is creation of different filters. Ideally, this has to be done before uploading any images. The filters you specify here will be used to categorize images when you upload them.

In the dashboard menu, go to Portfolio Gallery and then click on Filters to see all existing categories or add new categories. Initially, there will be only one category—called All. You cannot delete it even after you add more categories to the list. However, you can rename All to something else. The purpose of All is to show every image in the gallery on the webpage.

You can click on the Add New Category button on the Filters page to add new categories. In our case, we will add three categories called Lions, Penguins and Cats.

Adding Images to the Gallery

Once you have added all the desired categories, you can start creating your own gallery. Simply go to Portfolio Gallery > Add New Gallery in order to add a new gallery.

You can specify the title of the gallery at the top. The title is basically meant to help you identify the gallery. We will set the title to Animal Photography for our gallery.

Now click on the Add Images section and select all the images that you want to display in the gallery. All the images that you select will four input fields associated with them. These are used to provide additional information about the images.

The first field is simply a dropdown menu which identifies the uploaded media as either an image or a video. The second field is the title of the image, this is auto-generated based on the name of image file that you uploaded. You can also change the title to whatever value you want.

The third field is optional and it contains the link to a webpage or video that you want to open once users click on the image thumbnail. We leave it bank for most images. However, the cat thumbnails will take users to a Wikipedia entry about cats. The fourth field is used to specify the category of each image. A single image can be put in multiple categories by pressing Ctrl key on Windows while you select additional categories.

Configuration Options

You can now change a few configuration options to change the behavior and appearance of the gallery. You simply have to go to the Config tab to do so.

The first setting, you see here would be the thumbnail size. You can st it to Small, Medium, Large or Full Size. It can be a bit confusing when you change the value of Gallery Thumbnail Size from Small to Medium but the thumbnails still have the same size as before. This setting actually controls the physical size of the image which is shown as a thumbnail on the webpage. This does not change the area taken up by the thumbnail on the webpage.

The right value for Gallery Thumbnail Size depends on the number of columns that you want to display on different devices. If you want to show 12 thumbnail columns, the area taken up by the thumbnails would be relatively small. This means that a small image will still look good in these thumbnails. However, if you create only three columns for the thumbnails, it makes more sense to choose a larger gallery thumbnail size because the thumbnails will occupy a larger area. In our case, we will set the thumbnail size to Medium.

As I mentioned earlier, you can easily specify the number of columns into which you want to divide your thumbnails. In our case, we will display them in three columns on desktops, two columns on tablets and a single column on mobile devices.

The next setting called Image Hover Effects is used to apply some special effects on images when users hover over them. We will set it to Grow Shadow in our case. This will add a subtle zoom-in effect when users hover over the thumbnail.

The configuration options also allow you to show or hide the title and numbering on image thumbnails. Set the value of Hide Thumbnail Spacing to Yes because we will be using our own custom CSS to fine tune the spacing and other aspects.

If you go to the Filters tab, you will notice that it only contains two settings called Filter Background Color and Filter Title Color. They are used to control the background and text color of the "buttons" that appear at the top of each gallery to filter the images. Set the background color to black and title color to white.

The Lightbox tab only contains a single option to show the images when users click on a thumbnail. This is done with the Bootstrap Lightbox that comes with the plugin.

You can now click on the Publish button to save the gallery.

The plugin generates a shortcode for every gallery you create. You can copy and paste it on any post or page where you want to display the gallery.

After following all the steps in the tutorial, you gallery should look like the image below.

Writing Custom CSS

There are a couple of things that we will change in the gallery. This will help you understand how to make your own changes in the future.

The image title is taking a lot of area on the thumbnail. We will make it smaller and display it in bottom-left corner instead of the entire width of the thumbnail.

Right now, the thumbnails are packed closely together. We will add a little space around them so that the gallery does not seem congested.

We can do both these things easily by overriding the original style ruels and adding some of our own.

Go to the Custom CSS tab and add the following CSS.

body .item-desc { background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Roboto Slab; font-size: 1.5rem; padding: 0 6px; } body .item_desc_2421 { left: 0.5rem !important; right: auto !important; } body #filter_gallery_2421 .thumbnail_2421 { padding: 0.5rem !important; } body .simplefilter li { font-weight: 600; font-family: Passion One; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 2rem; letter-spacing: 1px; }

This will make all the necessary changes to our gallery. The final result should look like the image below.

Final Thoughts

In this tutorial, we learned how to use the free Portfolio Gallery WordPress plugin to add a gallery with filterable images on our website. As you saw, creating such a gallery becomes very easy with this plugin. You just begin by defining the categories and then assign one or more categories to each image. This will be enough to display a fully functional gallery on any page. However, you can change different configuration options or even add your own custom CSS in order to further customize the gallery.

If you are looking for more feature rich WordPress gallery plugins, take a look at over 200 gallery plugins available on CodeCanyon. They are all highly customizable and offer a lot of layouts. You will also get free lifetime updates and 6 months of support.

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