#authentication is required

[rblxmaxxing]

📂 BM DUMP havent done one in a While

stuff that was Done around the first week of may or so C: (this made me realize how awfully inconsistent i am with drawing him good Lord)

[elitemaomaosequanimity]

You know, What makes the JinMao ship stand out than other anime couples? Because it’s genuine, quite,no performance. You are just witnessing the person silently you care abt— you find intriguing and then all at once.

If Maomao had a rival it wont work out, where most female characters are just stereotypical feminine (kind,soft,gentle) Maomao is a different piece. No sane human would be willing to win a man when they hear he fall for such a poison taster freaky cat

I love their authenticity and a love without any performance

[teamsasukes]

Was Itachi's forehead poke to Sasuke a sign of distancing himself and not wanting Sasuke to get involved, rather than just a mere sign of affection? I saw a few people talk about that and how it's weird that Sasuke does that to his family considering the original meaning.

yes, you've got an accurate handle on the original meaning of the Forehead Poke. fundamentally it is an expression of distance that itachi wields at times when he cannot be with sasuke. and it seems to be a throughline of his childhood: sasuke asks itachi to do something as mundane as train together but itachi continually refuses on account of his duties as a shinobi.

it is not a gesture devoid of love -- it's not as though itachi ever delights in dismissing sasuke (on the contrary, he is always regretful). but there's a cruelty in the uncertainty of it all: the most direct translation is "maybe next time", so itachi fails to provide even an assurance that they can, like, hang out next week or something. this chasm between them is then widened by itachi promising, on the night of the massacre, that he might allow a final battle between them if sasuke ever proves competent enough to bother fighting, leaving sasuke in protracted pursuit of the looming specter of his older brother.

this distance is really only bridged (barely) in their final scene when itachi lays bare the truth of his motives, his regrets (which are lacking, to put it mildly, but for sasuke this is nonetheless momentous), and his unconditional pride in and love for his little brother. the Forehead Poke is notably absent here because textually, the enforced distance wrt sasuke is framed as itachi's greatest wrong. (seriously, itachi says something to the effect of: i shouldn't have done All That because maybe you, my 7-year-old brother, could have brought change to our clan... thereby reducing inconvenience for konoha, of course. the paucity of virtue in massacring the uchiha doesn't really register for him even during this reconciliation, and it's deliberate... because the author doesn't see it as much of an issue either!)

anyway, it might seem odd for sasuke to repeat this gesture with sakura in chapter 699, then, particularly because it seems to be invoked in a manner identical to itachi in his neglect. kind of an odd way to signify a happy ending for these characters, right...?

well, it works for me solely because it is not identical! and naruto's english dub is my worst enemy. i would grab a couple of manga panel screenshots in the original japanese to prove it, but it's easier for me to just plug these scenes from the anime. here is an itachi Forehead Poke (0:51) and here is sakura seeing sasuke off at the konoha gate (0:33). there's a subtle but meaningful distinction in the phrasing: "mata kondo da" vs. "mata kondo na". which, in effect, alter the meaning from "maybe next time" to:

(there's an excellent tumblr post from years ago which performs a substantive analysis of the japanese in both contexts, but eludes me now. pls send if any of you have a link to it!)

so personally i adore its inclusion in chapter 699 specifically. it obviously carries a great deal of weight for sasuke and it's meaningful he chooses to express it to sakura specifically despite leaving the entire team behind -- in lots of ways, and more than any other character, i think for sasuke, sakura is the anti-itachi. (that would require another post to elucidate.) so not only is it an expression of regret at unintended distance, but, more crucially, it's a promise of return. i think it's incredibly sweet that sasuke can repurpose the gesture from something soul-rending to something hopeful.

(also deserving of another post lol but this scene also achieves a neat and, crucially, subversive callback to sakura's foundational insecurities... it's like poetry it rhymes)

all that said, i understand why it reads as something different once we are then given the context of chapter 700 and gaiden... i dislike both of these installments, primarily for the implication that distance becomes a love language, so to speak, between sasuke and sakura/sarada. these relationships are ruled by distance and sasuke accepts it. it's disappointing! his journey to learn about more of the world in chapter 699 jibed with the character's arc until that point. this does not.

my unpopular take is i think this has just about nothing to do with sakura or the sasusaku relationship and everything to do with authorial outlook on sasuke's actions in part 2. and for the record, i maintain that these crimes ultimately amount to very little -- violence and death are occupational hazards if one is a shinobi. konoha is also foregrounded by a cold calculus on the worth of human lives; i'm sure sasuke's indispensable role in saving the world outweighs the killing of a few samurai. i just think kishimoto needs sasuke to atone, somehow, forever, via endless service to the village. and he also cannot sensibly write a kakashi- or naruto-headed government that would impose any meaningful punishment, so sasuke is relegated to a state of permanent rootlessness in some dumbass quest. it's a sacrifice on his part, but contrived for a number of reasons, chief among them being that the sasuke we came to know in the original series would literally never internalize konoha's ideals in this manner. so even though the Forehead Poke in gaiden and boruto retains the elements of promise and anticipation of eventual reconciliation, it feels kind of... lame and weightless. there is a superficial signal at growth but materially, for the parties on the receiving end of the Forehead Poke, very little seems to change.

frankly, i think we are meant to view sasuke's love as noble (and sasuke himself as penitent, suggested by the ascetic quality of his life). sasuke is still doing things differently than itachi, insufficient though it may be: he is honest about the reason for his travels, he does not rush to dismiss sarada when she needs emotional support, his motives are selfless rather than selfish (sasuke guards against the threat of the otsutsuki; itachi... wanted sasuke to kill him, in no small part as a desperate ploy to end his own suffering, notwithstanding the subsequent damage that would be inflicted on his thoroughly traumatized little brother). gaiden is surprisingly candid about the distance as a source of distress for sarada, sakura, and even sasuke, but by the end everyone understands why it must be as it is. the state above all! (you'll notice even itachi's apology to sasuke held this precept intact... there is a reason the series closes with sasuke accepting his old hitai-ate.) it is admittedly vexing, considering the totality of evidence here, to see sasuke's nomadic status in boruto pinned on how much he hates his dumb bitch wife and not, you know. the shockingly bad politics underpinning the narrative.

i appreciate the attempts of sasuke enjoyers to explain his distance as natural aversion to konoha, but this isn't canonically backed by any interiority (which seems to be absent in boruto-era team 7 at large) and moreover it requires miscommunication between sasuke and sakura (or even naruto) so great as to be unbelievable. i've accepted that post-pt2 sasuke is an unfortunate victim of kishomoto's nationalist views. his weird takes on how a man like sasuke would behave in a loving relationship and likely desire for a continued revenue stream don't help either. yes i will weep forever...

TLDR: i think the Forehead Poke fits in chapter 699 precisely because it diverges from itachi's. i resent its recurrence suggesting distance from loved ones is an inevitable condition of sasuke's life to which he's stoically acquiescent.

[bloodofgrapes]

tbh when I was first into AA, back in 2006, I was far more into fradrian than edgewright

it still kind of boggles my mind how dramatically different the fandom is now compared to then

[jonathanstims]

Me after resisting the urge to fucking go wild on all the internet strangers about the inaccuracies in their cowboy ✨aesthetic✨ art/roleplay/fic/etc

[morninkim]

Gozyuger OCs!

GozyuLong's wish is to be left alone, while KibaRanger's is for other people to like her. Of course, this leads to tension and reluctant teamups and eventually they kiss about it.

also they're butch/femme

[lucithornz]

I need to know more about Alpha Lando. I always bucket him as an omega with internalized omegaphobia who wishes he were an alpha so he postures hard that way but it's not natural so that's why he comes off as insecure, awkward and too snappy sometimes. But I would like to maybe have my mind changed!!!

Okay this is going to be long. Here's the alpha Lando thesis.

Lando is an alpha. But he has this "not like the other alphas" complex. He's sometimes seen as more prissy, a little too soft to be an alpha. He's never been aggressive enough, so he feels inferior even though he's done nothing wrong. When he has to turn up the aggression on track etc it feels like a performance because that isn't really who he is.

So he gets a lot of shit for not reacting the way people expect alphas to react. He often gets compared to Max who of course is what people expect an alpha to be in F1. This of course taps into some insecurities regarding actual performance on track compared to Max etc.

All that posturing comes from a place of society telling him he's doing a bad job at being an alpha compared to his peers, and he's constantly torn between wanting to give them what they want, and being more true to himself.

However he also does think he's better than a lot of the other alphas on the grid. He has a soft side that he's not afraid to show, and that makes him stand out to omegas. Is he a bit annoying about that fact? Yes. Does it also annoy the other alphas? Yes. Is it working with omegas? Also yes.

And he does have a temper, and it does come out on track, sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't. We've seen it before. The media like prodding at him to try to get a reaction, they want him to explode and give them a more aggressive alpha side so they can have this whole alpha posturing battle between his rivals. He's refused to give them that for the most part. That's where a lot of the tension in the media pen came from in 2024.

Exhibit A

the alpha paws. Sorry these are the hands of an alpha made for grabbing omega waists. He completely swallows Oscar's little omega paws.

Exhibit B

We have broad alpha shoulders. This is especially obvious when you compare him to his omega teammate.

The other thing to know about alpha Lando is that he does have that party bro side. That's his temperament, he's here to have a good time and go to clubs and dance. This is often comforting to certain shyer omegas he may be going out with (cough Oscar cough)

Sometimes he is a little scattered and forgetful, but ultimately he is a good alpha who is very concerned with getting the approval of his omega partners.

Now I would not characterize him as a soft alpha. He's a little more complicated than that. He has a more sensitive side but he can be pretty brash and come across quite harsh when he wants to be. He's got an edge to him that he hasn't let anyone smooth over.

This is where we get the "not like the other alphas" mentality. Like no he's not aggressive and snappy like most alphas or like what the media wants him to be, but he's also not one of those cringe soft alphas that get shit on for basically being betas(that would make him way too insecure) so he's kind of doing his own thing out there and bless but sometimes it makes him a whole mess.

Because you see alpha Lando is very complex, he has flaws, but those make him more interesting to study.

[vishnutech]

Preserving Indian Culinary Traditions in Germany: A Taste That Travels Across Borders

When you’re living thousands of kilometers away from home, it’s the little things that make you miss India the most—the familiar sounds of a pressure cooker, the spicy aroma of tadka, or the first bite of a hot paratha dipped in pickle. For Indians in Germany, food isn’t just about sustenance; it’s a bridge to identity, memory, and comfort.

As immigrants and expats work to build new lives, they also find ways to preserve the essence of where they came from. Cooking traditional Indian meals is one of the most meaningful ways to do that. And to do it right, access to authentic Indian groceries becomes not a luxury—but a necessity.

Why Indian Kitchens Abroad Still Matter

In the Indian household, the kitchen is more than just a space to cook—it’s a place where families bond, traditions are passed down, and memories are made. When you move to a new country, especially one like Germany where local supermarkets are stocked with unfamiliar products, recreating those meals can be difficult.

But it’s also empowering. Cooking Indian food abroad is an act of continuity. It keeps your culture alive—not just for you, but for your children, your friends, and even your German neighbors who are curious about your cuisine.

The Foundation of Indian Food Starts with Rice

If there's one ingredient that unites India’s diverse culinary landscape, it's Rice.

Rice is at the heart of daily meals in Indian homes. From the fluffy basmati that accompanies North Indian gravies to the short-grain rice used in South Indian curd rice or lemon rice, it’s an essential staple that transcends regions. It’s served during weddings, offered in temples, and eaten in the simplest home-cooked meals.

Outside India, not all rice is created equal. European supermarkets may offer jasmine or sushi rice, but these cannot replicate the taste or texture required in Indian cooking. That’s why Indian grocery stores in Germany play such a vital role. They offer a wide selection of rice varieties—basmati, sona masoori, idli rice, matta rice—making it possible to cook every dish exactly the way it was meant to be.

Whether you're preparing biryani, pongal, khichdi, or puliyogare, the right rice makes all the difference in authenticity and taste.

Embracing Culture Through Ingredients

For many Indian families abroad, food becomes the strongest cultural expression. Children growing up in Germany might speak German at school and watch Western TV shows, but when they sit down to a plate of dal-chawal or sambar-rice, they’re participating in a tradition that goes back generations.

Indian grocery stores abroad help sustain that connection. From essential spices and flours to traditional sweets, frozen snacks, and regional products, these stores offer everything needed to bring the Indian kitchen to life—wherever you are.

Celebrating Festivals Away from Home

Food is central to every Indian festival, whether it’s preparing sweets for Diwali, fasting meals for Navratri, or a rich feast for Onam. Even when you're celebrating away from extended family, the right ingredients can make it feel just as special.

Indian stores in Germany stock everything from pooja items and ghee lamps to festive snacks and seasonal sweets—making it easy to celebrate every occasion with full authenticity.

Online Shopping for Convenience and Choice

As life gets busier, more people are turning to online platforms to do their grocery shopping. Indian online grocery services in Germany offer a wide range of products with:

Region-specific categories (e.g., South Indian, North Indian, Jain food)

Delivery across cities and towns

Fresh stock updates and discounts

Easy browsing in English

Safe and secure checkout

This helps students, working professionals, and families save time while staying connected to the flavors they love.

Final Thought

Cooking Indian food in Germany is more than a habit—it’s a celebration of identity. With the right ingredients, every meal becomes an emotional experience, a moment of connection, and a way to preserve your roots. Thanks to the availability of a trusted Indian grocery store in Germany, you no longer have to miss out on tradition, no matter how far from home you are.

[pochapal]

the premise is Evil and Fake but there is some incredibly fascinating Romantic theorywork going on here

[chilope]

why is microsoft authenticator the worst app ever made

[tsfennec]

.

[yeonban]

Also this spree has reminded me of some of Tobias' threads........... in which he's very "in your face" with a facade (usually towards a 3rd person but sometimes directly to his conversation partner as well) to the point the other muse calls him out for it, and then around that muse he "takes off the mask" and "speaks honestly" (He Does Not Though. This is another facade meant to make that person feel trusted and at ease around him, but it's every bit as fake as the first one they called him out for)

[stick-by-me]

One loaf!

From this shop here!

New follower sticker for: @skelosaurus!

[punxsutawneyfilth]

I cannot tell you how many times someone is like "Why is this thing the way it is?" and I say "Because that's how it is" and they're like "Can you show us a document to prove that" and I submit a document that says "Hello. This is the way it is because that's how it is." and they say "Perfect thanks"

[icewindandboringhorror]

If you became super rich and could design your own house, but could only add THREE unnecessary/random/expensive home additions (like how people will have bowling alleys, movie theatres, closets with museums of shoes, car display rooms, spa rooms, wine cellars, etc. in their mansions) - what three would you choose?

[ikilledamanforthisurl]

my friend threw up on me today but its okay cause he took me out side and gave me enrichment. picture unrelated