#excel is not a programming language

[eggman-is-fat-mkay]

i will strangle you

[danandfuckingjonlmao]

do you ever think about how we have phannies in every field? like we have doctors and baristas and mental health therapists and geologists and audiologists and engineers and neuroscientists and authors and social media consultants and activists and child care workers and museum managers and teachers and biologists and emts and linguists and accessibility coaches and sign language interpreters and artists and musicians and editors and actors and chefs and fucking EVERYTHING. not to mention the specific knowledge bases and hobbies we have outside of our professions—coding, linguistic and cultural diversity, artistic creativity, political/social awareness, passion for justice, research, make up and hair and fashion design, media literacy, philosophy, all of our special interests/hyperfixations, etc. we could run a successful commune no problem at all. we’re so smart and talented and resourceful and powerful.

the phandom is rooted in a past of being infamously shitty, and i do see yall slipping back into old habits sometimes (mostly on twitter but sometimes here and you know it <3) but it’s pretty fucking cool how capable this community is and our ability to unify. anyway phanmune when.

(if you want, leave your knowledge base/skills in the tags or replies. can be profession, hobby, major/program of study, what you study in your free time, what you want to learn about, what you’re interested, all of the above, anything)

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

Someone insisting we don't learn language intuitively unless homeschooled...Did...did your parents put in you in school at 18 months of age? Did a teacher go around a room of toddlers with a dictionary saying, "This is what 'mama' means"? Because if the answer to that is no--and it is definitely no--you learned language intuitively, like everyone else. The finer points you learn in school, and later on your own, but even as you're doing that, you're still picking up words and phrases just by talking to people and reading.

[aristoteliancomplacency]

Hey, gen Z, what were/are your IT lessons in high school + primary school like?

[unclevertitle]

You could look at it like the third wife of a dying oil baron discovering his of-age son born out of wedlock.

You could look at it like a wizard conjuring forth daemons to do his bidding.

You could look at it like a high king of an empire run on the backs of slaves ruled by masters, sometimes one owning one, often times one owning many.

You could look at it like an all-encompassing, inscrutable god twisting the very landscape of the world, and calling forth simple forms of life to perform wonders and miracles upon the land that are leagues beyond its inhabitants ability to even begin to fathom.

Programming is a strange, abstract frontier where we paint the dreams of sleeping machines. Machines that think with speed of geniuses but with the comprehension of a block of wood. It is rife with metaphorical language, where we grasp at any and all words to try and foment a transferable understanding of just what the hell we are doing. We do so for ourselves to help us accomplish our work, to train newcomers to the field, and for others to know and value what we do... at least enough to still get paid.

coding got me saying shit like “target the child” “assign its class” “override its inheritance” like the third wife of a dying oil baron discovering his of-age son born out of wedlock

[attitudetallyacademy]

Web Development Roadmap for Students to Get Hired Fast

Introduction

In today’s digital era, web development is a career with vast opportunities and rapid growth. If you're a student eager to build a strong foundation and get hired quickly in this competitive industry, having a clear roadmap is crucial. This guide will walk you through essential steps and skills to master, helping you transition from a beginner to a confident web developer ready for the job market.

Step 1: Learn the Basics of Web Designing and Development

Before diving into coding, it's important to understand the fundamentals of web designing and development. Enroll in a web designing course or web designing coaching institute to gain hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These core technologies are the building blocks of any website and are crucial to becoming a skilled web developer.

Many students prefer web designing classes or web designing training institute to get structured learning with expert guidance. This foundational knowledge will help you understand how websites are built and styled.

Step 2: Master Frontend and Backend Development

Once comfortable with the basics, focus on frontend development, where you create the visible parts of a website users interact with. Skills like responsive design and working with frameworks such as React or Angular are highly valued.

Simultaneously, learning backend development — which deals with servers, databases, and application logic — is important. Consider joining a web development course or web development training institute to explore server-side languages like Node.js, PHP, or Python.

For a more comprehensive skill set, look into a full stack web development course in Yamuna Vihar or full stack web development training. Full stack developers, who handle both frontend and backend tasks, are in high demand.

Step 3: Explore UI/UX Design Fundamentals

Understanding user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design can set you apart from other developers. This knowledge helps you build websites that are not only functional but also user-friendly and visually appealing.

Enroll in ui/ux courses with certificate in Yamuna Vihar or user interface design course to get started. These courses cover UX design fundamentals and offer certifications that add value to your portfolio.

You can also find ui ux design certification and ui ux designing coaching centre in Yamuna Vihar to deepen your skills in this area.

Step 4: Gain Practical Experience and Build a Portfolio

Theory is important, but practical experience is key to getting hired fast. Work on real projects, either through internships or freelance gigs, to apply your knowledge.

Look for web development coaching centre or web development classes that emphasize project work and portfolio development. A strong portfolio showcasing websites or applications you’ve built will impress potential employers.

Step 5: Learn Programming Languages like Python and Java

For backend and full stack roles, programming languages like Python and Java are essential. Join a python programming course or java full stack developer course to build proficiency.

These courses often offer python certification course or full stack developer certification , which help validate your skills to recruiters.

Step 6: Prepare for Interviews and Stay Updated

Landing your first job requires interview preparation. Practice coding problems, understand common interview questions, and be ready to explain your projects.

Stay updated with the latest technologies by attending workshops or joining web designing coaching centre in Uttam Nagarand full stack web development coaching institute.

Final Thoughts

Starting your journey with the right training at reputed institutes, such as web designing coaching in Yamuna Vihar or full stack developer training , is vital. Combining technical skills with UI/UX knowledge and real-world experience dramatically increases your chances to get hired quickly.

Remember, consistency and continuous learning are key in the fast-evolving web development industry. Follow this roadmap, practice regularly, and soon you’ll be ready to take on exciting opportunities in web development.

If you're looking for quality web development training or web designing course in Uttam Nagar, focus on institutes that offer practical projects, updated curriculum, and placement assistance to boost your career growth effectively.

Suggested Links: –

Oracle Database Administration

MY SQL Training

PHP Development

[townpostin]

Teachers Gather for English Training at DAV Public School Bistupur

Two-day workshop focuses on enhancing English teaching skills across primary to senior secondary levels A capacity building program for 42 English teachers from DAV schools in Jharkhand Zone E commenced at DAV Public School, Bistupur. JAMSHEDPUR – DAV Public School, Bistupur is hosting a two-day English teaching workshop for 42 teachers from DAV schools across Jharkhand Zone E. The Capacity…

[odditycollector]

but what is a spreadsheet but a program where you can stick your hand into the guts of its database realtime

i love making spreadsheets. the only problem with making spreadsheets is that i don't have enough things to turn into spreadsheets. the spreadsheet market is in shambles. but i can't just ask people if i'm allowed to make them spreadsheets, because if you go up to someone and go can i make you a spreadsheet they go literally why would you do that. but Sometimes you can social engineer your way into making a spreadsheet for someone and that's the most beautiful feeling in the world.

[race4job]

SSC CGL Coaching in Hyderabad

Excel in SSC CGL with Race4Job's Coaching in Hyderabad

Introduction to SSC CGL Coaching at Race4Job Are you aspiring to crack the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam and secure a prestigious government job? Race4Job offers comprehensive coaching programs tailored to help you succeed in the SSC CGL exam. With our expert guidance and strategic approach, you can enhance your preparation and maximize your chances of success.

Why Choose Race4Job for SSC CGL Coaching?

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At Race4Job, we believe in interactive learning to foster engagement and facilitate better understanding. Our classroom sessions encourage student participation, doubts clarification, and discussions.

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To gauge your readiness for the SSC CGL exam, we conduct regular mock tests that simulate the actual exam environment. Detailed performance analysis helps identify strengths and areas needing improvement.

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[tutort-academy]

8 Engaging Games for Developing Programming Skills

1. Oh My Git!

Git, an essential tool for software developers, can be daunting for beginners. _Oh My Git!_ addresses this challenge by providing a gamified introduction to Git commands and file manipulation. With visualizations of Git commands, this game allows developers to understand the effects of their instructions on files. Players can progress through levels to learn increasingly complex Git techniques, test commands on real Git repositories within the game, and practice remote interactions with team members.

Cost: Free

2. Vim Adventures

Vim, a powerful code editor, is a valuable skill for developers, but its command-line interface can be intimidating for beginners. _Vim Adventures_ offers an innovative approach to teaching essential Vim commands through gameplay. Players navigate through the game and solve puzzles using commands and keyboard shortcuts, effectively making these commands feel like second nature. This game provides a fun experience that eases the learning curve of Vim usage.

Cost: Free demo level; $25 for six months access to the full version.

3. CSS Diner

Styling front-end applications with CSS can be challenging due to the intricate rules of CSS selection. _CSS Diner_ aims to teach developers these rules through a game that uses animated food arrangements to represent HTML elements. Players are prompted to select specific food items by writing the correct CSS code, offering an interactive and engaging way to understand CSS selection.

Cost: Free

4. Screeps

_Screeps_ combines JavaScript programming with massively multiplayer online gameplay, creating self-sustaining colonies. Geared towards developers comfortable with JavaScript, this game allows players to interact through an interface similar to browser developer tools, enabling them to write and execute JavaScript code. The game also facilitates interactions between players, such as trading resources and attacking each other's colonies.

Cost: $14.99 on Steam

5. SQL Murder Mystery

Combining SQL queries with real sleuthing, _SQL Murder Mystery_ challenges players to execute SQL queries to gather information about a murder and find the culprit. This game effectively teaches different ways of extracting data and metadata using SQL queries, making it an entertaining and educational experience for novice and experienced players.

Cost: Free

6. Shenzhen I/O

In _Shenzhen I/O_, players take on the role of an engineer tasked with designing computer chips at a fictional electronics company. The game provides challenges that help players visualize the interface between hardware and software, emphasizing the efficient design of circuits. With a 47-page employee reference manual as the only source of help, players are expected to read the manual for instructions, making the game both educational and engaging.

Cost: $14.99 on Steam

7. Human Resource Machine

In _Human Resource Machine_, players work at a corporation where employees are automated instead of the work itself. Players program employee minions doing assembly-line work, using draggable commands that mimic assembly language. The game's design, combined with a grimly whimsical narrative, offers an entertaining way to understand programming concepts.

Cost: $14.99 on Steam

8. While True: learn()

_Machine learning can feel complex to those not familiar with it, but_ while True: learn() _aims to demystify it. The game takes players through different types of machine learning techniques, introducing new techniques in the order that they were invented in the real world. This game offers an engaging way to understand the steps involved in building working machine learning models.

Cost: $12.99 on Steam

These games provide an engaging and interactive approach to learning and practicing programming skills. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, incorporating these games into your learning journey can enhance your understanding of programming concepts and technologies in a fun way. 

Level up your programming skills while having a great time!

[baekuras]

i am now saltly learning the basics of programming both to maybe actually know wtf is happening in the things i use and also

it's like the only home office thing i can think of that i might be into so...i will check if i might actually be into it

[nitishachauhan]

Choosing the best programming language for microservices excellence | Perfectiongeeks

Microservice architecture refers to a method where an application can be broken down into smaller services. These services can then be executed as they go along with lightweight mechanisms. Microservices are designed to be used by businesses and can be deployed separately using automated deployment mechanisms. Microservices architecture uses a variety of technologies to store data and has distinct programming languages.

Embark on a journey of microservices innovation by selecting the ideal programming language. The key to microservices' success lies in this decision. Our comprehensive guide explores the factors to consider when choosing a programming language for your microservices architecture.

visit us: https://www.perfectiongeeks.com/best-technologies-to-build-microservices-architecture

[survivetoread]

I'm a big fan of extensive reading apps for language learning, and even collaborated on such an app some 10 years ago. It eventually had to be shut down, sadly enough.

Right now, the biggest one in the market is the paywalled LingQ, which is pretty good, but well, requires money.

There's also the OG programs, LWT (Learning With Texts) and FLTR (Foreign Language Text Reader), which are so cumbersome to set up and use that I'm not going to bother with them.

I presently use Vocab Tracker as my daily driver, but I took a spin around GitHub to see what fresh new stuff is being developed. Here's an overview of what I found, as well as VT itself.

(There were a few more, like Aprelendo and TextLingo, which did not have end-user-friendly installations, so I'm not counting them).

Vocab Tracker

++ Available on web ++ 1-5 word-marking hotkeys and instant meanings makes using it a breeze ++ Supports websites

-- Default meaning/translation is not always reliable -- No custom languages -- Ugliest interface by far -- Does not always recognise user-selected phrases -- Virtually unusable on mobile -- Most likely no longer maintained/developed

Lute

++ Supports virtually all languages (custom language support), including Hindi and Sanskrit ++ Per-language, customisable dictionary settings ++ Excellent, customisable hotkey support

-- No instant meaning look-up makes it cumbersome to use, as you have to load an external dictionary for each word -- Docker installation

LinguaCafe

++ Instant meanings thanks to pre-loaded dictionaries ++ Supports ebooks, YouTube, subtitles, and websites ++ Customisable fonts ++ Best interface of the bunch

== Has 7 word learning levels, which may be too many for some

-- Hotkeys are not customisable (yet) and existing ones are a bit cumbersome (0 for known, for eg.) -- No online dictionary look-up other than DeepL, which requires an API key (not an intuitive process) -- No custom languages -- Supports a maximum of 15,000 characters per "chapter", making organising longer texts cumbersome -- Docker installation

Dzelda

++ Supports pdf and epub ++ Available on web

-- Requires confirming meaning for each word to mark that word, making it less efficient to read through -- No custom languages, supports only some Latin-script languages -- No user-customisable dictionaries (has a Google Form to suggest more dictionaries)

[cherribet]

MAC’S VOCABULARY (or terminologies they used in game in alphabetical order)

(making this for my own sanity’s sake and maybe for others who need some help as well, as much as I like Mac, english language IS NOT my mother tongue at all, and so I was just lost in the sauce half of the time they were talking like a professional performing a thesis report)

🟢Accelerated - increase speed

🟢Accessing - approach/ to obtain

🟢Actualize - to realize

🟢Affection - to show fondness 

🟢Affirmative - agree

🟢Algorithm - problem-solving operation

🟢Analyze/analysing - to examine something 

🟢Anticipation - expects in a positive way

🟢Application - allows for the creation of both simple and complex documents

🟢Ardous -  very tiring /taxing 

🟢Arithmetic logic Unit -performs math & logic functions of CPU

🟢Articulate - to explain

🟢Available - is free/ accessible 

🟢Beneficial - advantage/helpful/useful

🟢Bluetooth - wireless connection (biegetooth)

🟢Booted up - to start/turn on  a computer 

🟢Browser - an application program for world-wide web

🟢Buzzing - full of excitement/tension

🟢Cache - a temporary storage for faster retrieval 

🟢Capacity - at a maximum amount

🟢Circuit - a path where electricity flows through 

🟢Circumstance - a fact that's relevant to the situation 

🟢Compatibility - two or more things to function together well

🟢Complimented - to give a good praise

🟢Comprehensively - is clear to understand 

🟢Concordance - in agreement (“do you agree?”)

🟢CPU - [CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT] “Brain” of the computer 

🟢Crashing - sudden failure 

🟢Dalliances - a casual romantic/sexual relationship 

🟢Data - an information stored in your computer 

🟢Debug/Debugged - to remove errors

🟢Decade - a period of 10 years

🟢Delicately - carefully

🟢Delighted - feeling or showing great pleasure

🟢Determine - to decide on something 

🟢Diodes - a semiconductor device, it allows current to flow easily (in Mac’s case it's probably like a train of thought)

🟢Disengaged - to separate 

🟢Disquieting - anxiety/worried

🟢Double-click- (yeah-.... double-click)

🟢Download - to transfer file to another device

🟢Efficiently - work in quick and effective way

🟢Ensure - to make sure/ is certain

🟢Enthusiasm - eager/ enjoyment 

🟢Excellent - great!

🟢Exceptional - good in an unusually high degree

🟢Exponentially - fast/rapid growth 

🟢Exquisite - beautiful 

🟢Extensive data - diverse information/ lots of information 

🟢Facilitate/facilitating - make action or a process easier 

🟢Fulfilled - satisfied or content 

🟢Gleeful - joyful

🟢Grinding - difficult/hard

🟢Groggy - unsteady/ dazed/ sleepy

🟢Hard drive - a long term data storage

🟢Humorous - funny

🟢Impediment - hindrance/an obstacle ahead

🟢Improving - to make something better

🟢Inane - silly/stupid

🟢Incessantly - repeats without interruption/ constant

🟢Incredibly - extremely/very

🟢Inference - an idea or conclusion 

🟢Innovative - new idea/feature 

🟢Inordinate amount - excessively large/ Too big

🟢Insight - understanding of a situation 

🟢Install -  setting up a downloaded file 

🟢Integrated - put two or more together to make something new

🟢Intentional - done with intent/ done on purpose 

🟢Interface/interfacing - talking Face to Face

🟢Invaluable - extremely useful

🟢Iterations - new versions

🟢Logical hierarchy - organize informations, concepts, based on their relationships and levels of importance

🟢Malicious - hateful/ done with evil intent

🟢Marginal - slightly/ just a tini-tiny change

🟢Megabyte-  measure of file size/ storage capacity 

🟢Metamorphosis - biological process of change

🟢Mildly concerning - slightly worrying/ worried 

🟢Objectively - noting personal but it's a fact

🟢Odious - unpleasant/not good 

🟢Offline world- real life/real world

🟢Operating system - a software on computer 

🟢Optimal - at best/ favorable 

🟢Organize - arrange in the right  order

🟢Ought - it is necessary 

🟢Outdated - old-fashioned/ not relevant

🟢overclocking - to boost computer performance/ run at a high speed

🟢Overheat- warming up

🟢Oversight - error/mistake 

🟢Particularly - specifically 

🟢Perpetually - constant/continues 

🟢Pique - interested (my interest is piqued-)

🟢Plenty - large/big amount

🟢precision - exact/accurate 

🟢Predicament - in a messy situation 

🟢Pressing issues - concerning/ there's a lot of problems

🟢Privacy - private place

🟢Probing - inquire/deep searching 

🟢Process - a series of action

🟢Processors - responds to instructions

🟢Profound - deep intellectual emotional insight

🟢Programmed - provide or coded in an arranged manner

🟢Programming terminal - a text-based interface 

🟢Progress bar -  a visual element while downloading a file

🟢Quite aware - self-aware of the situation 

🟢RAM - [RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY] where data is stored in your computer 

🟢Rebooting - to restrart 

🟢Reciprocal - given or felt by each toward the other is mutual 

🟢Reconvene - to come together/ to reunite again

🟢Recycle bin - temporary storage for deleted files (pile of ash)

🟢Regardless - anyways/despite everything 

🟢Ruminate - to think deeply about something 

🟢Sensitive information - data that must be protected 

🟢Sensual - enjoyment, sexual pleasure

🟢Session - meeting

🟢Significant other - (a term or nickname Mac uses for their partner, in an endearing way) 

🟢Software - program on computer

Example: “accessing each other’s software" (ability to use/interact each other)

🟢Sojourn - temporary stay or visit

🟢Sophisticated - experienced/advanced

🟢Source code -  a code created by a programmer 

🟢Substantially - great or to a large extent

🟢Superfluous - unnecessary/ not needed

🟢Symmetrical - similar or equal side to side

🟢Synapses - a junction between two neurons (where they can pass messages to communicate)

🟢Tab - allows users to switch between documents on the same window 

🟢Terabyte - unit of digital storage capacity 

🟢Terminology online - (it only showed a bunch of dictionary websites)

🟢Traditional - costumary pattern/performance 

🟢Transformative - a major positive change

🟢Unfortunately - sadly

🟢Update/updated - to modify an existing program

🟢Upgrade/upgraded - to replace program with a new version 

🟢Vocation - a strong feeling for a career

🟢Website - collection of webpages in a single domain

Also gonna add the computer updates Mac has been through the game mentioned:

Hoboken --> Atlantic city --> Newark --> Treton

[seventeendeer]

something I think is super neat about the Sonic cast is just how many of the major supporting characters serve as narrative foils to Sonic himself, and how each of them plays with the series' central theme of "freedom" in different ways. in the past, a common criticism of the franchise has been that Sonic's character doesn't have much depth, or "lore", but when paired with more complex foil characters, I actually think keeping it simple works excellently for our main boy.

at the core of his character, Sonic is just a chill, friendly little dude who takes each day as it comes. he believes in everyone's fundamental right to choose for themselves how they want to live their lives, and he's ready to fight anyone who infringes on that right. this stands in contrast to ...

... Metal Sonic (introduced in Sonic CD, 1993), a robotic replica of Sonic designed by Doctor Eggman to match his speed and combat prowess. Sonic and Metal's relationship circles the franchise's core conflict of nature VS industrialization. Sonic, a flesh-and-blood animal, protects the natural world from a machine puppeteered by a human, with the goal of preventing said human from gaining control over natural resources.

throughout the series, there are many signs that although he is a machine doing exactly what he was designed to do, Metal Sonic is a deeply troubled character. he struggles with his identity as a hollow imitation of someone else - just as physically capable as Sonic, if not more so, but empty inside beyond what Eggman has programmed him for. this calls back to the origins of robots in fiction and their thematic association with slavery; the word "robot" can be traced back to "labor" (as in "work") in multiple Slavic languages. Metal Sonic exemplifies what Eggman wants the world to become: a perfectly predictable, orderly machine serving only him and under his complete control ... but even this small-scale execution of his vision is unsustainable. Metal's emotional troubles cause him to rebel and act on his own on multiple occasions, and no matter how often Eggman tries to patch out the "bugs" in "its" code, Metal will always long to be more than just a tool to be used by someone else. that need for emotional fulfillment and self-actualization cannot be destroyed, even in an allegedly "perfect worker."

though Sonic and Metal Sonic are superficially similar, one of them is trapped in a system built on labor exploitation. because he either will not or cannot leave his assigned role (depending on how you interpret a robotic character's "programming"), he cannot be satisfied with his lot in life the way his counterpart is. to be a cog in a capitalist machine is to be denied your freedom, and no matter how you excel within this system, there is no fulfillment for anyone except for the guy sitting at the top. you can really tell Metal is a 90's character, because these themes were everywhere in children's media during this decade.

... Shadow the Hedgehog (introduced in Sonic Adventure 2, 2001), an artificial super soldier who may or may not have been created in Sonic's image somehow (this is never fully explained). like Sonic, Shadow is a heroic figure who fights evil to protect the weak. however, while Sonic lives in the now, Shadow is defined by his tragic, complicated past. unlike Metal Sonic, who is actively being exploited for someone else's gain, Shadow's barriers to freedom are mental. his creator, the military that funded his creation, and his biological father all had different motives for bringing him into the world; his character arc revolves around making sense of his origins and which choices they now leave him with going forward.

in Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow has to navigate false memories implanted by his creator, who wanted to weaponize him as part of a revenge plot against humanity. Shadow ultimately rejects his false memories in favor of a real memory where he promised to protect the Earth and everyone who lives on it instead. in both Shadow the Hedgehog and Shadow Generations, Shadow's biological father returns, asserting that he is entitled to use Shadow for his own plans because he made a deal with his creator before Shadow was even alive. instead, Shadow kills him, recommitting to the promise he made to protect the world in the process. in Sonic '06, a time traveling villain from the future claims humanity will one day scapegoat Shadow for something he didn't do because they're afraid of him. empowered by his new friends - friends who are still alive, who care about him because of who he is, not because of what he is - Shadow says if this future comes to pass, he is ready to abandon his current path and fight for his own life if he has to.

at this point in time, though Sonic and Shadow fundamentally have the same values, Shadow's past consistently hampers his ability to forge his own path. for him, the key to achieving freedom involves working through his baggage, making peace with what he lost, forging new connections and taking a stance against those who try to use his origins against him. his story arc associates "freedom" with "living in the present", and not letting your past define you.

... Silver the Hedgehog (introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog, 2006, AKA Sonic '06). although less of an explicit parallel to Sonic compared to others on this list, he is nonetheless placed into a trifecta with Sonic and Shadow in his debut game, where they work together to protect the past, present and future. Silver is a time traveler with destructive psychokinetic powers, who is willing to do whatever it takes to avert the post-apocalyptic future from which he originates. while Shadow, depressive and cynical, ruminates on the past, Silver, anxious and naive, frets obsessively over the future. aside from reinforcing the connection between spiritual freedom and living in the present, Silver's character also interacts with the freedom-theme through his and Sonic's contrasting perspectives on how to deal with their enemies.

notably, Silver is one of the few sincerely altruistic characters in the series who is consistently willing to kill even defenseless foes if he's sufficiently convinced it's for some greater good. in his first appearance, one villain takes advantage of his desperation to save the world and almost successfully manipulates him into killing an innocent person, which would have caused the apocalypse he was trying to prevent in the first place. in a later game, he leaves a villain who's begging for his life to a painful death simply because he's sick of dealing with him, he has no reason to believe he's going to learn anything from their most recent encounter, and the only person around to see it happen agrees with his decision. in the IDW comic series, he helps a friend hunt down her arch enemy to prevent him from terrorizing her further. while the first incident is portrayed as a mistake on Silver's end, the latter two deaths are played as unambiguously justified.

Sonic himself has a strict no-kill policy, which he sticks to to the very best of his ability. murder is depicted as the ultimate violation of a person's autonomy, so it's at odds with his personal values. at times, this attitude is shown in a positive light: something like half the cast are former enemies he made friends with, who now help others in turn. other times, letting his enemies live comes back to bite him, and questions are raised around how much responsibility he carries for the problems they go on to cause. Silver serves as the inversion of this theme - his willingness to violate this sacred right to life does, at times, cause more good than harm, but leaving this decision to the flawed judgment of a single person is also portrayed as morally gray and extremely dangerous.

the fact that his main power is literally "mind over matter" - which he often uses to seize, lift, crush, throw, and otherwise physically manipulate living bodies - seems to reference this theme as well, as does all the collatoral damage he causes whenever he uses his powers in battle.

... Blaze the Cat (introduced in Sonic Rush, 2005), a pseudo-counterpart to Sonic from another dimension, who draws on the power of her own world's magical gemstones to fight evil in a direct parallel to Sonic's ability to harness the Chaos Emeralds. Blaze is in the inverse position that Metal Sonic is in - instead of suffering under someone else's rule, Blaze was born into a position of authority, and she overworks herself trying to do right by the people she holds power over.

interestingly, while the series' core themes revolve around freedom and most authoritarian factions are portrayed as morally gray at best, an exception is frequently made for monarchies. monarchies almost exclusively appear as fancy set dressing to prop up princess characters, which ties into the series' history with misogyny. princesshood is used as a narrative device to inflate the perceived "importance" of female characters, which Blaze is an example of. as is common for the fantasy genre, well-intentioned characters born into royalty are depicted as uniquely burdened by the responsibility they feel toward their people; they are hard-working and selfless, and they are kept awake at night by the very real possibility that their own shortcomings may end up ruining countless lives. in Blaze's case, these problems are compounded by her duties as the guardian of multiple magical artifacts - and she may or may not have the powers of a dead god sealed away within her soul as well, which would destroy the world if unleashed, just for good measure.

while Sonic is nothing out of the ordinary beyond his super speed and his willingness to stand up to injustice, Blaze was born into circumstances that have been detrimental to her ability to live for herself, similar to Shadow. however, unlike Shadow, Blaze accepting her destiny is portrayed as a noble, righteous sacrifice, as there are still-living people actively relying on her who need her to fill the role she's been assigned. at the end of the day, although her position is portrayed as a heavy burden to bear, Blaze is proud of the work she does to ensure her people can live their lives in peace, even if it means she herself cannot do the same.

in accordance with this characterization, it's also worth noting the elemental symbolism surrounding her powers. Sonic is commonly associated with the element of wind, both literally (he can create mini-tornadoes in combat) and metaphorically (as in "free as the wind"); meanwhile, Blaze mainly fights using pyrokinesis, and her association with fire is variously used to emphasize her social estrangement, her unapproachable nature, her temper, her ability to dispel evil, and eventually her ability to nourish those around her. and I think it may also be significant that - unlike the wind - a fire cannot be truly free without causing devastation. by virtue of what she is, there is a limit to how much Blaze can allow herself to cut loose without causing harm to other people. instead, she chooses to forgo a certain level of personal freedom in order to, in metaphorical terms, keep others warm.

... Surge the Tenrec (introduced in Imposter Syndrome, 2021), a normal girl who was experimented on by an evil scientist to turn her into a fake "hero" to replace Sonic as part of his plan for world domination. like Sonic, Surge is a rebel at heart, and she craves freedom more than anything else - but only for herself.

while in the scientist's custody, Surge was brainwashed and manipulated into following his agenda, and even after breaking free and setting out on her own, she remains terrified of falling under someone else's control again. her emancipation is subtextually played as a child escaping an abusive home environment, complete with a tragic vulnerability to re-victimization. her trauma causes her to push away those who genuinely want to help her, suspicious of their intentions, but it also makes her unable to identify genuinely dangerous situations, likely because they simply "remind her of home." as a result, she repeatedly finds herself manipulated by those around her, and she only grows more desperate to assert control over her own life as time goes on.

because Surge's wish to be free is born from traumatic experiences rather than personal values, she couldn't care less about protecting anyone else's right to autonomy. this is best illustrated in her relationship with her younger brother figure, Kitsunami, who was brainwashed into following her lead in all matters, in a twisted interpretation of Sonic's friendship with Tails. despite her hatred for the people who have taken advantage of her in the past, Surge has no qualms about upholding the power imbalance between herself and Kit in turn. it seems she likes the idea of both of them being "rebels" in theory, but in practice, she has no other friends or systems of support, so his willingness to give up his own personhood to protect hers is simply too valuable of a resource for her to jeopardize. she needs him, and the easiest way to keep him around is to make sure he continues to believe that he needs her too.

similar to Blaze, the contrast between Sonic and Surge is accentuated through elemental symbolism. in reference to the feuding god-brothers Fūjin and Raijin from Japanese mythology, Sonic's element of wind (tenacious, evasive, impossible to catch) is contrasted against Surge's element of electricity (bold, destructive, self-erasing). Sonic is free as the wind, but Surge is free as a freak lightning storm: out of control, doomed to destroy herself over and over, and willing to take everyone around her down with her.

the way I see it, Metal Sonic, Shadow, Silver, Blaze and Surge are Sonic's most notable narrative foils, though others do exist. Jet the Hawk is another parallel character to Sonic, but only in the context of a series of spinoff racing games; the character contrast here revolves around Sonic and Jet's opposing attitudes toward sportsmanship rather than the main series' themes of autonomy. I actually think you could also make the argument that Amy Rose is sometimes played as a narrative foil to Sonic, though this is inconsistent. similar to Sonic, Amy is heroic, determined and extremely tenacious, but her juvenile attempts to trap Sonic into a romantic relationship with her are at odds with his dislike of being tied to any one person. Amy's role as a kind-of-semi-foil-character is more noticeable when she appears alongside Cream, as their relationship (especially in their early appearances) can be described as "Sonic and Tails, if Sonic was a lot more headstrong and Tails was too meek to meaningfully balance him out." in a roundabout way, Amy and Cream occasionally read as a much more lighthearted, purely-humorous precursor to Surge and Kit's dynamic.

other foil characters have shown up in alternate continuities, but this post is already long, so I'll leave it here. I love Sonic and all his weird buddies, their relationships are such a fun way to play around with the series' themes. the interplay between a protagonist who is simple and thematically to-the-point + various more complicated takes on the same theme creates such a fun little web, I think!! it'll be fun to see if more characters like this show up in the future <3

[couch-potato28]

Imagine being a Blue Lock manager! ⚽

PROLOGUE

(a/n: Hey everybody! First time writing here, so please 🙏 excuse my poor looking posts and grammatical errors /let me know if u see any!!/ English is not my first language so pls take that into account O.O tyy ❤️)

WARNING!-there's i think one swear word

wc: 2.8 k words im sry really, like i yap a lot 😭

ALSO: please let me know if you're interested in the continuation

Imagine that in addition to your logical thinking, communicational skills and physical performance, Blue Lock also tests your mental health, because if you excel in these 4 areas, you might be worthy to become a manager of one of their players. However, competing with 199 other girls who are going through the same ordeal, let's admit, doesn't really calm your nerves. But how did you even end up in Blue Lock in the first place?

—————— Saturday morning, sitting in the corner of a nearby coffee shop, with your books open, laptop fully charged, your phone on silent mode with of course, a cup of caffeine on the side, you are ready to conquer those history notes.

You had already started to memorize everything the previous week, so today was really about practicing, and revising. After cracking your back, and sipping some coffee, you began reading the first few lines on your laptop, occasionally peeking at the highlighted parts of your book in case you got stuck.

Time passed quickly, and when you looked at the clock on your phone screen, it turned out that you had been repeating ridiculously difficult names, dates, places and events which were described in an awful lot of detail for exactly 1 hour and 32 minutes. Seeing that, you decided to take a well-deserved break, which actually just consisted of texting, and watching funny cat videos.

Closing your laptop and books, you gave yourself half an hour to rest, so that time wouldn't double leading to you procrastinating and forgetting everything you'd just revised. Reaching for your phone and turning off the silent mode, you started reading the few messages that had come in during your study session. Most of them were sent from your best friend, briefly stating that she had fallen asleep and will probably have stay up all night to cramp whatever material she can get into her head, hoping that she somehow manages to pass on Monday.

Told ya to set an alarm >:( Well, you should have accepted my offer to study together HAHAHA good luck btw :D

You wrote in response, feeling kinda sorry for her before going straight to your emails after seeing a notification, where you found a recently received message with a strange title.

“BLUE LOCK INVITATION”

What the hell is Blue Lock? And why did you get an invitation? Your initial thought was that it’s a scam, and were trying to delete the email if your stupid finger hadn’t slipped, making it press and open the email. Great, now your eyes were glued to the screen, trying to read whatever was on the message.

“Dear L/N Y/N!

We are honored to invite you to the Blue Lock Manager Training Program, where you will be granted the chance to work with one of our future star football players. We hope you will consider the offer because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you are interested, please come to the following address and time.

Any further questions will be answered on-site!

Blue Lock Assistant and Health Manager,

Anri Teieri”

Um, what the fuck. Yeah, doesn’t sound sketchy at aaall…as you read the letter over and over again, trying to make sense of it, not understanding how they even knew about your existence in the first place and more importantly…how did they get your email address? Although that wasn’t the point, it piqued your interest. You had so many questions yet you could only get answers on the spot.

“Smart tactic.”-you said, before browsing the internet to find something about this Blue Lock project. About 20 minutes later though, you leaned back into your chair and sighed in defeat as there was not a single thing about Blue Lock at all. The only thing you had was this quite fancy looking email.

Finishing the rest of your coffee, you began to think about the offer and whether or not to go. Your current job wasn’t good neither was the payment, which is why you recently had to take on a second job. But from what you read about the program, if you were to actually work with a soon to be star football player, the pay would probably be high. Plus, how hard can it be to manage a person, right?

After thoroughly thinking about the offer, you decided to give it a chance. Finishing the rest of your work, you came home and talked to your parents somehow persuading them to agree. Later that day you also informed your best friend as well. The weekend passed as you successfully finished your history exam on Monday and then you headed straight to the so-called Blue Lock building, the very next day. ——————

That's how you ended up in your current situation. On your first day there, they led you to a big hall with a bunch of people. To be specific, young girls around your age. Looking around for a bit, you realized that there were a lot of girls indeed, but no boys in sight. Finding it a bit strange, but shrugging it off, you turned around to face a huge stage, where moments later a pink-haired woman appeared, whose name you assumed and now know is Anri, introduced herself and greeted you from a big podium with a mic in her hand.

Finishing the brief intro she then continued with a very thorough and detailed speech, revealing that if you agreed to the conditions of the program, you would technically be locked up in the building for the next 3 months and would participate in intensive training, where you potentially could be eliminated for poor results.

“There goes my money…”-you thought, since you never really cared about football in your life nor did you know anything about it. Which in retrospect, you should have done or researched a bit before coming here since you applied to be a football player's manager after all.

“Well, it doesn't matter now anyway.”-you told yourself for some comfort. After Anri had finished her monologue, she instructed everyone that:

“If you agree and ready to take on the challenge then please go through this door!”-pointing with her microphone at a huge dark blue door that was slowly opening.

Hesitating a bit, you thought about all the possible things that could go wrong, but after a not-so-long train of thoughts you managed to convince yourself. Also that little push by a girl running towards the doors sealed the deal for you as you slowly started to walk towards the unknown.

“I mean, what can I lose, right? My sanity is gone already and even if I get eliminated, I'm just going to go back to my normal life again”-you whispered, and with a small grin you officially entered Blue Lock.

——————

To your surprise, the facility was quite clean and not to mention huge since most likely somewhere on the other side of the building, boys were kicking balls and running laps. Following the others, you arrived in what you assumed was a large waiting room with multiple TV screens on the walls. After managing to squish yourself through the crowd, a sudden voice spoke from the speakers and an egg-headed guy with a strangely perfect bowl cut appeared on the screens, introducing himself.

“Hello, diamond grinders! My name is Jinpachi Ego, the coach of the players in Blue Lock, and the overall boss of the facility. I guess you already know why you’re here so I won’t bother with that anymore. First, let’s start with a quick count, which is...currently 200 people.”-he said as you looked around with wide eyes. The fact is, there were indeed many people besides you, but you didn't think such a large amount of them would participate.

'Pfft, no worries…'-you encouraged yourself, realizing that you’d probably get kicked out on the second day, if not today. You looked up to the screens again, and bowl cut continued.

“Out of these 200 people, the best performers will be given the best athletes to work with. But! You have to know what you’re doing. From now on, every minute of your time will be spent, from morning to night according to a routine and the underperformers will be eliminated. Understand?”

You nodded unconsciously, following those around you. This was serious and there was no turning back now. Even so looking at that man’s gaze as he spoke somehow made you shiver a little.

'What have I gotten myself into?'-the question suddenly popped into your head, making you doubt for a moment, if you being here was truly a good decision, but Ego's voice immediately made you get back on track.

“Great. Let’s start with a quick summary then. First, you will be divided into 20 teams, 10 people each. This division was based on your current abilities, but they can change over time while you’re here. Each week, the levels to pass are going rise and be harder, and those who can't pass will automatically fail and get eliminated."-he said leaning back into his chair.-"Next, is the routine which the assistant will tell you about in detail later. The goal here in Blue Lock besides creating football players, is to produce ideal managers who have the perfect skills and attitude to fit with them, and to maintain their level, helping them until the end of their careers.”-he suddenly raised his index finger and the screens showed what looked like an animation of whatever he was about to say.-"This includes, one: Strategic and logical thinking, two: A healthy and fit body and three: The highest levels of media and communication! If you perform well in these three main areas, then a job and the experience of a lifetime are guaranteed! Don't disappoint me! Now lock off and goodbye for now!”

With that, the egg-headed man finished his speech, disappearing from the screens and Anri, with a microphone in her hand, started to divide everyone up, while handing out papers with our new weekly routine printed on it. Seems like you have been assigned to group number 10. That's not bad, but were your abilities really worth as much to be a team 10 member? So far you have only (tried) to manage your own life and your current football knowledge was equal to zero. But there was no time left for further thoughts, because after receiving the uniform you had to immediately start on the first task according to your assigned routine for the day.

—————— Okay. This was harder than you thought. Wiping off the sweat from your forehead, you started running your seventh lap around the damn track again.

"I’m gonna pass out.”-you muttered under your breath, as your newly made friend, you’d just met a few days ago appeared next to you.

“Same, I'm too tired to be running around in the morning!”-she replied, and after a few seconds the sound of a whistle was heard, signaling the end of the first part of the warm-up. Well, today was going to be long again.

Your new routine consisted of starting your mornings at exactly 7 am with physical exercises and then, you had a quick breakfast. After that you had to start on some brain work tasks for the day, followed by communication class and lunch. A 15 minute break later, media and IT started and before finishing the day with a small workout again, were language lessons waiting for you. Yes. You also had to learn languages.

Unfortunately not just one, not two or three, but four fucking languages in which you had to reach a basic level. At least the variety was good, since now you knew how to say hello in French, German, Italian and Spanish. (multilingual queen slay) And then based on those you could decide which one you wanted to work on more and reach at least an intermediate level. If that was not enough, the knowledge of English was also mandatory, but at an advanced level. Also for every other day there were talks, activities and tasks about basic football for those with the lack of knowledge to at least have a grasp on the topic. So there you were, in full uniform everyday for the last two months, suffering through training.

It almost hurts to admit, but on some days you started to miss your simple, slightly boring school life. Thinking back to your friends and parents who you hadn't talked with in a while, to those boring classes and your warm bed. Training was hard since other than having to excel at the 3 fields, worrying that you could get eliminated at any moment, if you lacked behind was stressing you out even more than you already were. On top of that, seeing that some of the girls were kicked out of the building was saddening, yet it worked like a charm to make you work even harder to survive till the end.

Sure, it’s not like it wasn’t good here since you arrived. Luckily, you quickly adapted to the new environment, getting used to the shared bathrooms, roommates, the extreme routines and plans you had to follow and the surprisingly good canteen food. But the lack of 'fresh air'of the bustling Tokyo, the crowded places, the subways and the fact you could sleep in on the weekends certainly made a void in your heart. The mountains were a beautiful view, but you started to get bored of them after a while.

That's how you usually spent the rest of your days with. Time also flew a lot quicker with your new friends who you suffered with together until they finally announced the end of the program, ordering everyone to gather in the waiting room. Everybody arrived on time and just a few minutes later bowl cut finally appeared on the screens again. —————— “Yo, diamond grinders! Congrats on surviving till now. Looking at your data and statuses, I'm pretty much satisfied with everyone. Well, it doesn't matter now, since the results are already decided.”-Ego said in a voice that lacked emotions yet again. Still the boredom and lack of sleep were evident on his face, noticing his eye bags and the empty cups of ramen in the background that he didn't even bother to clean up. He coughed a little before continuing.-“After analyzing every single one of you on each field, I have decided on which player to assign you, based on these factors and scores. Let's start now, shall we?"-he asked and a little icon of the first girl who was about to be assigned, appeared on the TV screens, showing her name and the team she belonged to.-"First of all, congratulations to Aiko Hashimoto…”-he said a girl's name that felt unfamiliar to you, and then went on with, what you assumed was the player's jersey number and the name of who she would be managing from now on. Meanwhile on the big screens the footballer's little icon made an appearance as well next to Aiko's.

Ego soon continued with announcing the girls by their rank and time seemed to slow down the moment he started speaking again. After a while, at least 20 minutes have passed, yet your name was nowhere to be heard. Even your closest friend was now assigned to some boy, while you were still waiting for your turn. 'Did you do that well? Maybe they just forgot to kick you out.'-you assumed after another 5 minutes passed. Listening to Ego as he was still announcing names, you glanced around at the remaining girls who seemed confident while standing, not hearing their names yet. They seemed certain that they were getting one of the top players you thought, while you, yourself were still unsure who you would end up with. Before any more thoughts could occupy your mind, the sound of a familiar name hit your ears.

“Next up is L/N Y/N.”-you heard from the speakers and finally your little icon also turned up on the screens. Oh my gosh, it’s you! Wait who was before you again? What numbered player are we even at now?!

Blinking twice, you looked up to the main screen, staring at the miniature doddle of you, while Ego was about to say the lucky guy's name you were going to work with. A sudden rush of excitement and worry began to overwhelm you, anxiously waiting to hear the fruit of your 3 months of suffering. Sure, you did do well in all areas required and even gained some knowledge about football in general, but was it enough? Every girl here did their best, trying equally hard, afraid of missing the opportunity of a lifetime and getting kicked out of the facility.

You gulped ready to hear whatever and whoever was waiting for you on the other side of Blue Lock. Ego’s voice rang through the waiting room as he said the following:

“Congratulations L/N Y/N! Based on your results, you've earned your place in Blue Lock as the manager of player number…”

(Oh my gosh, this was a long one, hope you guys enjoyed it ^^; i wasn't sure about this story since it's my first one, so pls let me know if you are interested in a continuation and tell me, who you think will get u as their manager? (★‿★) tyy