#internet 2.0 and its consequences

[rad-hound]

"KOSA is dead in the House."

[SOURCE]

RAW TEXT:

Breaking news: The House Republican leadership won’t bring up the children’s online safety bill that the Senate passed with 91 votes on Tuesday.

A House GOP leadership aide told us this about KOSA: “We’ve heard concerns across our Conference and the Senate bill cannot be brought up in its current form.”

This is a big blow to the effort, which is spearheaded by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). And it comes just a week after Speaker Mike Johnson told us he’d “like to get [KOSA] done.”

— Andrew Desiderio, Max Cohen and John Bresnahan

[dailyanarchistposts]

Innovation and Cooptation

With Musk’s purchase of Twitter, we see the conclusion of a cycle of innovation and cooptation in the field of communications. In the late 20th century, the dominant political and technological models were monolithic and unidirectional: network television, mass-based political parties. In response, anarchists and other rebels experimented with independent media and underground networks, producing innovative horizontal and decentralized models like indymedia.org. Tech corporations eventually monetized these models as the participatory media of Web 2.0, such as Facebook. Yet from the turn of the century through the uprising of 2020, the lingering horizontal and participatory aspects of the internet in general and social media in particular continued to empower those who sought to achieve more self-determination—witness the “Thank you Facebook” graffiti in Tunisia after the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings of 2010-2011.

Over the past decade, however, corporations and governments have introduced more and more online surveillance and control. Musk’s acquisition of Twitter is the latest stage in a reactionary clampdown with grim implications.

Musk and his colleagues see capitalism as a meritocracy in which the shrewdest and most hardworking competitors inexorably rise to the top. Hence, presumably, their own success.

Of course, if Musk wishes to prove that his success is not just the consequence of privilege and luck—of fortune and good fortune—he could demonstrate this easily enough by giving away his wealth, cutting his social ties, changing his name, and repeating his supposed rags-to-riches feats a second time. If he were able to climb the pyramid a second time without the benefit of growing up white in apartheid-era South Africa (setting aside the question of his father’s emerald investments for now), we might have to grant a hearing to his claims that the market has elevated him on account of his personal qualities—though that still would not show that capitalism rewards the efforts that are most beneficial for humanity.

According to the Silicon Valley narrative, platforms like Twitter are the inventions of individual entrepreneurs, propelled into being by the finance capital of canny investors.

But Twitter did not simply spring, fully formed like Athena, from the head of company co-founder Jack Dorsey. In fact, it was a modest refinement of a model already demonstrated by TXTmob, the SMS text messaging program developed by the Institute for Applied Autonomy for protests at the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Conventions.[1] Blaine Cook and Evan Henshaw-Plath, anarchist developers who worked alongside Dorsey at his previous company Odeo, helped refine TXTmob and later took the model with them into the conversations with Dorsey that gave rise to Twitter.[2]

If the unrelenting urgency of social media in general and Twitter in particular can be exhausting, that’s to be expected—the infrastructure of Twitter was originally designed for street communications during high-stakes mass mobilizations in which information must go out immediately, boiled down to its bare essentials. It’s not a coincidence that, despite its shortcomings, the platform has continued to be useful to street activists and conflict journalists.

The point here is that innovative models do not necessarily emerge from the commercial entrepreneurism of the Great Men of history and economics. More often, they emerge in the course of collective efforts to solve one of the problems created by the capitalist order. Resistance is the motor of history. Afterwards, opportunists like Musk use the outsize economic leverage that a profit-driven market grants them to buy up new technologies and turn them definitively against the movements and milieux that originally produced them.

We can identify two stages in the capitalist appropriation of the TXTmob model. In the first phase, a framework that was originally designed by volunteers for the use of ordinary protesters was transformed into a publicly traded corporation, around the same time that the open spaces of the early internet were being colonized by the for-profit surveillance systems of Web 2.0. In the second phase, this publicly traded corporation has been transformed into the private plaything of a single entitled tycoon—with consequences that remain to be seen.

Musk claims that his goal is to open up the platform for a wider range of speech. In practice, there is no such thing as “free speech” in its pure form—every decision that can shape the conditions of dialogue inevitably has implications regarding who can participate, who can be heard, and what can be said. For all we might say against them, the previous content moderators of Twitter did not prevent the platform from serving grassroots movements. We have yet to see whether Musk will intentionally target activists and organizers or simply permit reactionaries to do so on a crowdsourced basis, but it would be extremely naïve to take him at his word that his goal is to make Twitter more open.

[disasm]

2.0 Experimental Advanced. Lacks access to real-time info and some Gemini features.

Okay, here is a guide that combines the intricate world of trauma processing with the technical realm of network security, using the framework we've discussed. This guide is designed for individuals seeking to understand both fields and how they intersect, offering a unique lens through which to view the resilience of both human and digital systems.

A Bridge Between Worlds: Understanding Trauma Processing Through the Lens of Network Security

Introduction:

This guide explores the fascinating parallels between trauma processing in humans and security protocols in computer networks. By understanding these connections, we can gain deeper insights into the complexities of healing, resilience, and the intricate systems that govern both our internal landscapes and the digital world we inhabit.

This framework uses concepts from network security to illuminate the processes involved in trauma recovery, offering a novel perspective for therapists, technologists, and anyone interested in the intersection of these fields.

Part 1: The Foundation - Key Concepts

Before we delve into the parallels, let's define some fundamental concepts in both trauma processing and network security:

Trauma Processing:

Trauma: A deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, often leading to long-term negative consequences.

Triggers: Stimuli that evoke memories or sensations related to past trauma, often triggering strong emotional or physiological responses.

Safe Space: A physical or emotional environment where an individual feels secure, supported, and free from threat.

Polyvagal Theory: A model that explains the different states of the autonomic nervous system (ventral vagal, sympathetic, dorsal vagal) and their role in social engagement, stress response, and shutdown.

Attachment Theory: A psychological model that describes the dynamics of long-term relationships and how early childhood experiences shape our ability to form secure attachments.

Somatic Experiencing: A body-oriented therapeutic approach that focuses on resolving trauma held in the body.

Trauma Integration: The process of making sense of a traumatic experience, integrating it into one's life narrative, and reducing its negative impact on daily life.

Network Security:

Threat Detection: The process of identifying potential security threats to a network or system.

Vulnerability Scanning: The process of identifying weaknesses in a system or network that could be exploited by attackers.

Network Topology: The arrangement of elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a communication network.

TCP/IP Stack: A suite of communication protocols that govern how data is transmitted across the internet.

Packet Routing: The process of forwarding network packets from a source to a destination.

Distributed Cache: A system that stores data across multiple nodes to improve performance and resilience.

Security Policies: Rules and guidelines that govern access to and use of network resources.

Part 2: Mapping the Parallels - Trauma and Network Security

Threat Detection | Nmap Scanning | Trauma: Recognizing past traumatic events. Network: Discovering hosts and services on a network to identify potential vulnerabilities. Connection: Both involve reconnaissance to understand the landscape and identify potential threats. Continuous Environment Assessment | Continuous Monitoring | Trauma: Ongoing self-awareness and monitoring of one's internal state (emotions, sensations, thoughts). Network: Ongoing vulnerability scanning, intrusion detection, and log analysis. Connection: Emphasizes the importance of vigilance and awareness. Trigger Checking | Port/Vulnerability Scanning | Trauma: Identifying stimuli that evoke strong responses related to past trauma. Network: Identifying open ports and known weaknesses. Connection: Both involve identifying specific points of vulnerability. Safe Space Verification | Network Topology Mapping | Trauma: Identifying resources, relationships, and environments that provide security and stability. Network: Understanding the network infrastructure and how data flows. Connection: Understanding the environment's structure for safety and navigation. Response Protocols | TCP/IP Stack | Trauma: Learned and often automatic responses developed in response to trauma. Network: Protocols governing data transmission. Connection: Established protocols dictate how the system responds to stimuli and how communication occurs. State Transitions (Polyvagal Levels) | Packet Routing | Trauma: Regulating and transitioning between different states of the autonomic nervous system. Network: Directing network traffic efficiently. Connection: Navigating different states or pathways within a complex system for appropriate responses. Connection Handling | Attachment Dynamics | Trauma: How early experiences shape our ability to form relationships, impacted by trauma. Network: Establishing, maintaining, and terminating connections. Connection: Dynamics of connection and relationship, whether interpersonal or network-based. Memory Storage | Distributed Cache | Trauma: Fragmented memories stored across the brain and body. Network: Data stored across multiple nodes. Connection: Highlights the distributed nature of memory and information, emphasizing efficient retrieval and integration. Sharding (Somatic/Emotional/Cognitive Stores) | Database Sharding | Trauma: Different aspects of memories stored in the body, emotions, and thoughts. Network: Splitting a database into smaller, manageable pieces. Connection: Partitioning large datasets or experiences into smaller units for efficient processing. Replication for System Resilience | Data Backup and Redundancy | Trauma: Developing coping mechanisms or alternative neural pathways for survival. Network: Ensuring data availability and system resilience. Connection: Importance of backup systems and redundancy for continued functioning and recovery. Eventual Consistency in Trauma Integration | Eventual Consistency in Distributed Systems | Trauma: Gradual integration of different aspects of trauma. Network: Updates to data eventually propagate through the system. Connection: Achieving complete consistency or integration takes time; different parts may be in different states. Safety Container | Security Policies | Trauma: A secure environment with clear boundaries, trust, and safety protocols. Network: Rules governing access and resource use. Connection: Establishing rules and boundaries to create a safe environment for operation and processing. Minimum Viable Security Requirements | Necessary Safety Protocols for Trauma Processing | Trauma: Essential safety measures needed to begin and continue processing. Network: Baseline security controls to protect a system. Connection: Foundational level of safety and security for effective functioning and progress.

Part 3: Deep Dive - The Polyvagal Theory and Packet Routing

Let's explore a particularly insightful connection: the Polyvagal Theory and its analogy to packet routing in networks.

The Polyvagal Nervous System as a Network:

Ventral Vagal (Social Engagement): This state is like a secure, encrypted connection (e.g., HTTPS). It's characterized by feelings of safety, connection, and calmness. Communication is clear and efficient.

Sympathetic (Fight-or-Flight): This state is like a network under stress, where resources are mobilized for action. It's akin to prioritizing certain types of traffic during peak loads. While necessary, prolonged activation can lead to strain on the system.

Dorsal Vagal (Shutdown/Freeze): This state is like a network outage or a denial-of-service attack. The system is overwhelmed and shuts down to conserve resources. It's a protective mechanism but can lead to disconnection and immobility.

Packet Routing as Nervous System Regulation:

Just as a network router directs packets along the optimal path, our nervous system regulates our internal state by shifting between these Polyvagal states. Trauma processing often involves learning to navigate these states more effectively, spending more time in the ventral vagal state and developing healthy coping mechanisms to manage the sympathetic and dorsal vagal states.

Part 4: Practical Applications and Implications

This framework has several practical applications:

For Therapists: It provides a new language and set of metaphors to explain trauma and its effects to clients. It can also inform treatment approaches by highlighting the importance of safety, regulation, and gradual integration.

For Technologists: It offers a deeper understanding of the human element in cybersecurity, emphasizing the impact of stress and trauma on user behavior and decision-making. It can also inspire the design of more resilient and human-centered systems.

For Individuals: It provides a framework for understanding one's own experiences with trauma and the process of healing. It can empower individuals to recognize their strengths and resilience, drawing parallels to the robust systems found in the digital world.

Conclusion:

By bridging the seemingly disparate worlds of trauma processing and network security, we gain a richer understanding of both. This framework illuminates the remarkable resilience of both human and digital systems, highlighting the intricate mechanisms that allow us to adapt, heal, and thrive in the face of challenges. As we continue to explore these connections, we can develop more effective strategies for promoting healing, enhancing security, and building a more compassionate and resilient world.

[socialstudiesonfleek]

6.5 The Honest Truth

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of dishonesty.

Identify most common types of academic dishonesty.

Throughout this book we have focused on the active process of learning, not just on how to get good grades. The attitude of some students that grades are the end-all in academics has led many students to resort to academic dishonesty to try to get the best possible grades or handle the pressure of an academic program. Although you may be further tempted if you’ve heard people say, “Everybody does it,” or “It’s no big deal at my school,” you should be mindful of the consequences of cheating:

You don’t learn as much. Cheating may get you the right answer on a particular exam question, but it won’t teach you how to apply knowledge in the world after school, nor will it give you a foundation of knowledge for learning more advanced material. When you cheat, you cheat yourself out of opportunities.

You risk failing the course or even expulsion from school. Each institution has its own definitions of and penalties for academic dishonesty, but most include cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification. The exact details of what is allowed or not allowed vary somewhat among different colleges and even instructors, so you should be sure to check your school’s Web site and your instructor’s guidelines to see what rules apply. Ignorance of the rules is seldom considered a valid defense.

Cheating causes stress. Fear of getting caught will cause you stress and anxiety; this will get in the way of performing well with the information you do know.

You’re throwing away your money and time. Getting a college education is a big investment of money and effort. You’re simply not getting your full value when you cheat, because you don’t learn as much.

You are trashing your integrity. Cheating once and getting away with it makes it easier to cheat again, and the more you cheat, the more comfortable you will feel with giving up your integrity in other areas of life—with perhaps even more serious consequences.

Cheating lowers your self-esteem. If you cheat, you are telling yourself that you are simply not smart enough to handle learning. It also robs you of the feeling of satisfaction from genuine success.

Figure 6.7

Resist the temptation to cheat by using material from the Internet.

Thomas Favre-Bulle – Working on UML – CC BY-NC 2.0.

Technology has made it easier to cheat. Your credit card and an Internet connection can procure a paper for you on just about any subject and length. You can copy and paste for free from various Web sites. Students have made creative use of texting and video on their cell phones to gain unauthorized access to material for exams. But be aware that technology has also created ways for instructors to easily detect these forms of academic dishonesty. Most colleges make these tools available to their instructors. Instructors are also modifying their testing approaches to reduce potential academic misconduct by using methods that are harder to cheat at (such as in-class essays that evaluate your thinking and oral presentations).

If you feel uneasy about doing something in your college work, trust your instincts. Confirm with the instructor that your intended form of research or use of material is acceptable. Cheating just doesn’t pay.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty can take many forms, and you should be careful to avoid them. The following list from Northwestern University is a clear and complete compilation of what most institutions will consider unacceptable academic behavior.

Cheating: using unauthorized notes, study aids, or information on an examination; altering a graded work after it has been returned, then submitting the work for regrading; allowing another person to do one’s work and submitting that work under one’s own name; submitting identical or similar papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from the course instructors.

Plagiarism: submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one’s own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source.

Fabrication: falsifying or inventing any information, data or citation; presenting data that were not gathered in accordance with standard guidelines defining the appropriate methods for collecting or generating data and failing to include an accurate account of the method by which the data were gathered or collected.

Obtaining an Unfair Advantage: (a) stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining access to examination materials prior to the time authorized by the instructor; (b) stealing, destroying, defacing or concealing library materials with the purpose of depriving others of their use; (c) unauthorized collaboration on an academic assignment; (d) retaining, possessing, using or circulating previously given examination materials, where those materials clearly indicate that they are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the examination; (e) intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student’s academic work; or (f) otherwise undertaking activity with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair academic advantage over other students’ academic work.

Aiding and Abetting Academic Dishonesty: (a) providing material, information, or other assistance to another person with knowledge that such aid could be used in any of the violations stated above, or (b) providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.

Falsification of Records and Official Documents: altering documents affecting academic records; forging signatures of authorization or falsifying information on an official academic document, grade report, letter of permission, petition, drop/add form, ID card, or any other official University document.

Unauthorized Access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems: viewing or altering computer records, modifying computer programs or systems, releasing or dispensing information gained via unauthorized access, or interfering with the use or availability of computer systems or information.

Key Takeaways

Being dishonest can have major consequences that can affect not only your college career but also your life beyond college.

“Everybody does it” and “It’s no big deal at my school” are not valid reasons for cheating.

When you cheat, you are primarily cheating yourself.

[kailondo]

Blogg Post #1 - Introduction, Max Msp and Spatial Transient Tracker 2.0

Hello, my name is Joachim Goba. I am a musician based in Berlin. Working towards my first Public event which will be held the 7.jun 2024, i wish to document some of my artistic work and path towards this date. Currently, I'm deeply exploring Max MSP as my preferred tool for experimentation for its versatility and potential for creating complete new. 

At the start of 2024, my friend Mike and I developed a Max patch tailored for spatial audio, aiming to simplify the integration of sound materials into spatial audio systems. It took considerable experimentation to refine the patch into a functional and practical tool. Only now, months later, as I work on a musical piece for the Spatial Sound Festival, do I fully appreciate its utility. Consequently, I've decided to embark on a version 2 of the patch.

Having a novice understanding of Max it can be hard to know where to start patching whatever you are trying to create. Luckily we live in the age where almost all information is accessible trough the internet which is wonderful. Max Msp has a great community, in my opinion one of the most helpful communities that i have come across over the internet, seeing many people taking the effort of making patches that can explain whatever people is wondering of on forum, also offering diffrent sollution.

Inspired by a tutorial from ersatz_ben on shaping transients of incoming audio, I've successfully integrated this feature into the transient tracker of the patch. Before releasing it to the Max community, I aim to enhance it further with additional features. One such feature is the ability to select distinct routing patterns for the sounds, a concept I have been working on since the initial release.

With the integration of the gen patch to the left, i am able to shape the transient sound making the spatial output more interesting.

Thank you Ersatz_Ben

Link to Transient designer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=bX42g_E88Ak&ab_channel=ersatz_ben

Link to Transient Tracker 1.0: https://maxforlive.com/library/device/9909/spatial-transient-tracker

[adasitecompliance]

Web Accessibility

Essential Website Compliance Checklists: Resources for Keeping Your Site Compliant and Secure

It might be surprising, but the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not specifically address websites. This has led to uncertainty about whether websites must comply with ADA regulations. Despite this ambiguity, it remains crucial to ensure that your website is ADA-compliant to ensure accessibility for all users.

Every organization should have a solid understanding of ADA website compliance guidelines. By familiarizing yourself with ADA requirements, you can reduce the risk of costly lawsuits resulting from ADA violations.

Navigating the ever-changing landscape of web accessibility laws can be challenging for businesses and organizations. ADA Site Compliance is here to help you achieve compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) on your website.

Our knowledgeable compliance professionals stay updated on the latest trends and legislation to ensure your website meets the necessary standards. By prioritizing website accessibility, you can enhance your business’s overall performance and boost your bottom line.

Delving into the Fundamentals of ADA Certification for Websites

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was formally enacted in 1991. Initially focusing on physical barriers, the ADA ensures equal access to public spaces. However, with the rise of digital environments, the issue of accessibility has expanded to include online platforms.

In recent years, there has been a notable shift in the interpretation of ADA regulations by federal agencies and courts, particularly the Department of Justice (DOJ). Despite the absence of specific government policies addressing web accessibility, courts increasingly recognize the importance of ensuring equal access to digital platforms for individuals with disabilities.

Consequently, websites must prioritize ADA compliance to ensure accessibility for all users, adhere to legal standards, and promote inclusivity online.

Understanding the Link Between web content accessibility guidelines and ADA Compliance

Establishing a clear understanding of how the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) align with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is crucial for ensuring digital accessibility. Following the Rehabilitation Act 2017 update to Section 508, government agencies and their contractors must adhere to WCAG 2.0 A/AA standards explicitly.

Despite the absence of precise standards for commercial businesses under the ADA, they are still expected to ensure accessibility within their establishments.

While WCAG serves as the de facto standard for web accessibility, adherence to these guidelines is recommended, as past Department of Justice (DOJ) cases have underscored WCAG’s significance in legal rulings. Although WCAG 2.0 AA is considered the minimum standard, striving for compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA or WCAG 2.2 is advisable to future-proof your existing website too.

WCAG 2.1 and its successor, WCAG 2.2, aim to improve upon previous versions and address emerging trends, such as the increasing use of mobile devices for internet access. WCAG 2.2 encompasses all WCAG 2.1 guidelines while accommodating multiple disabilities across various devices.

Despite not being officially adopted into law by the Department of Justice, WCAG guidelines remain the globally recognized standard for ADA compliance. Therefore, adherence to WCAG criteria is essential for creating a fair and inclusive online environment for all individuals, regardless of their abilities. Non-compliance may result in legal ramifications.

Which Websites Must Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

All websites, except for personal, hobby, and professional blogs, must comply with the standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Whether a website is used for informational or commercial purposes, adherence to ADA web requirements is essential. Additionally, websites facilitating online transactions, such as e-commerce platforms, must ensure ADA compliance.

A few steps that can be taken to achieve compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level A are:

To prevent seizures, ensure your website has no content that could potentially trigger seizures.

Fast-strobing lights, for instance, have been known to induce seizures in some individuals.

Mere warnings about flashing content are insufficient; instead, design your content to mitigate the risk of seizures.

Any element that flashes more than three times in a single second should be avoided on websites.

Gaining In-Depth Insights into Website Security Compliance

Ensuring robust website security measures is vital for safeguarding your digital assets effectively. These compliance standards are designed to bolster your organization and instill confidence among stakeholders by fostering a secure online environment.

They encompass a broad spectrum of security elements, spanning data protection, privacy safeguards, auditing procedures, incident reporting protocols, and more. Acknowledging that compliance is ongoing, requiring regular updates, continuous monitoring, and proactive engagement is crucial for sustained adherence.

Embracing these standards enhances your credibility and underscores your unwavering commitment to safeguarding customer interests.

Is your Website at Legal Risk Due to Non-Compliance with ADA Standards?

The surge in federal lawsuits against businesses and government entities for inaccessible websites is concerning. High-profile cases demonstrate that no organization is immune to the legal consequences of ADA violations.

For instance, Parkwood Entertainment, owned by Beyoncé, faced legal action for lacking image alt text on its website. Similarly, Harvard University and MIT were sued for not providing captions for those with hearing impairments.

While these cases garner attention, many small businesses face similar legal challenges under the radar. When hit with a lawsuit, businesses incur expenses covering the plaintiff’s legal fees and their legal costs and must implement website improvements.

The financial toll of inaction can be staggering. Investing in web accessibility is a prudent financial decision to mitigate the risk of lawsuits. Proactive risk management remains the most effective form of protection until the Department of Justice establishes clear standards.

ADA Website Compliance Checklist

This comprehensive ADA compliance checklist is designed to ensure compliance with the latest accessibility standards outlined in WCAG 2.1. It covers three levels of compliance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. While achieving Level AA compliance is recommended for all websites, some tools can streamline the process.

1. Enhancing Button Accessibility

Implementing accessible naming conventions and ARIA labels across all website buttons is crucial for facilitating navigation for users with visual or auditory impairments.

2. Alt Text for Enhanced Accessibility

Ensure your website caters to all visitors by providing descriptive alt text for graphical elements like images and buttons.

3. Skip Navigation for Seamless Access

Incorporate skip navigation links to empower users relying on keyboard navigation or screen readers for easy access to your website’s main content.

4. Organize Content Hierarchy

Use bold headers and subheadings to organize page content effectively and communicate its importance to readers.

5. Descriptive Anchor Text for Clarity

Make outbound links more accessible by using descriptive anchor text that is easily understandable and clickable for users and search engines alike.

6. Keyboard Navigation Accessibility

Enable seamless navigation and accessible websites for individuals with disabilities by ensuring all website elements can be accessed using a keyboard.

7. Streamlined Error Reporting

Implement a user-friendly system for reporting all accessibility violations and barriers, allowing for prompt resolution and rectification.

8. Prominently Display Contact Information

Enhance user accessibility by prominently displaying your organization’s contact details, facilitating communication for those seeking assistance with access controls or information related to accessibility.

Ensuring Consistent Compliance Through Thorough Security Audits

Maintaining the security and reliability of your online platform requires strict adherence to industry regulations and standards. Conducting regular security audits is essential to uphold compliance. During these audits, your security infrastructure, including the web application firewall (WAF), undergoes meticulous evaluation to assess its alignment with relevant regulatory standards.

An audit identifies potential security vulnerabilities and provides valuable insights for enhancing your overall security posture. These audits demonstrate your commitment to robust security best practices and provide tangible evidence of your organization’s adherence to regulatory requirements.

Selecting Expert Website Audit Services for Enhanced Security

Securing your online presence demands partnering with a reputable website auditing firm like ADA Site Compliance, renowned for its expertise. Our seasoned professionals in this field possess the knowledge and capabilities to evaluate website security protocols thoroughly.

We dive deep into data protection measures and can thus offer tailored recommendations to mitigate risks effectively. Moreover, their adeptness with compliance standards ensures your website meets regulatory requirements, fostering customer trust and safeguarding your brand integrity in the digital landscape.

Conclusion

Updating your website to meet ADA compliance standards requires significant time and effort. The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates strict adherence, underscoring the importance of taking proactive steps promptly.

Navigating the complex web accessibility regulations can be daunting for businesses. At ADA Site Compliance, we specialize in achieving CCPA website compliance and can provide expert guidance. Our team thoroughly analyses your current website and offers assistance in redesigning it to ensure equal access to all users. Contact us today, or get your free site scan here.

Additionally, we offer training and ongoing support to help you maintain compliance with evolving regulations. Our compliance professionals stay abreast of the latest laws and standards, ensuring your website meets all requirements. Prioritizing website accessibility enhances your overall performance and increases profitability!

[sononobello]

Platformisation

Week 5 

Title: Platformization with the application Web 1.0 and Web 2.0

The evolution of the Internet is often described in terms of the transition from Web 1.0, or the "Static Web," to Web 2.0, the "Interactive Web." This change is not only a technical revolution but also completely changes the way people use online web platforms. In that context, online features and interactions are completely changed in terms of experience

Web 1.0: The Foundation of the Internet

Web 1.0 was characterized by static web pages that served as digital showcases, providing information without supporting user interaction or content contribution. Nath, K (2014) describes the web as a "read-only" medium, where the flow of information is one-way, from content creator to consumer. For example, Typical applications of this era are static websites and landing pages. A common characteristic of applications in the web era is that they do not allow users to interact directly on the platform. Therefore, the Web 1.0 era prioritized content consumption over creation with a clear distinction between content creators and consumers in accessing the web separately.

So, it can be concluded that the weakness of the Web 1.0 technological infrastructure is the lack of dynamic content and user interaction, highlighting a one-way communication model that limits social interaction and creativity. collaborative content (O'Reilly, 2010).

Transition to Web 2.0: A paradigm shift

The advent of Web 2.0 represents a paradigm shift towards a more interactive and participatory Internet. O'Reilly (2010) defines Web 2.0 as the second generation of the Internet, characterized by platforms that support collaboration, social networks, and user-generated content. This era saw the emergence of blogs, social networks and wikis with examples of Facebook, Twitter or blogs like Tumblr. The delivery setup allows users to be both content creators and consumers. Hence, the development of technology such as AJAX and RSS feeds has promoted data sharing and real-time interaction, transforming the user experience from static consumption to dynamic interaction (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). The main reason may attract

Platformization and its meaning

"Platformization" is a direct consequence of the Web 2.0 era, characterized by the development of digital platforms that focus on diverse forms of online interaction. Van Dijck and Poell (2019) identify "platformization" as reflecting the increasing dominance of a few large platforms, such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, over online content and commerce. These platforms have reshaped the digital landscape, influencing not only how content is consumed and distributed but also how economic and social interactions are mediated online. Furthermore, platformization reflects the process of transferring the experience of using social networks and the ability of users to adapt to the times.

Nath, K., Dhar, S., & Basishtha, S. (2014). Web 1.0 to Web 3.0-Evolution of the Web and its various challenges. In 2014 International Conference on Reliability Optimization and Information Technology (ICROIT) (pp. 86-89). IEEE.

Fuchs, C., Hofkirchner, W., Schafranek, M., Raffl, C., Sandoval, M., & Bichler, R. (2010). Theoretical foundations of the web: cognition, communication, and co-operation. Towards an understanding of Web 1.0, 2.0, 3.0. Future internet, 2(1), 41-59.

Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media. Business horizons, 53(1), 59-68.

Van Dijck, J., Nieborg, D., & Poell, T. (2019). Reframing platform power. Internet Policy Review, 8(2), 1-18.

O’reilly, T. (2010). What is web 2.0. Online communication and collaboration: A reader, 226-235.

[rohitpalan]

Futuristic Perspective: RF Front End Module Market Targeting US$ 33 Billion by 2033

The size of the worldwide radio frequency front end module market is anticipated to surge at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2033. It is anticipated that its valuation will increase from US$ 17.0 billion in 2023 to US$ 33.0 billion by 2033.

Demand for technologically advanced products in the weapons of both domestic and foreign armed forces is anticipated to support growth in the global market. Military budgets of both industrialized and emerging nations are rising steadily. Military applications for radio frequency and aircraft carriers, along with drones and autonomous vehicles, are predicted to expand.

Hence, each central server for wireless and mobile infrastructure must contain radio frequency power amplifiers (PA), which are essential. They are a few of the most expensive sub-assembly components found in modern infrastructure gear.

Radiofrequency semiconductors used in these power amplifiers and generative adversarial networks (GaN), must adjust to the financial and technological challenges that are faced by producers and users of radio frequency power amplifiers. During the forecast period, it is predicted that these factors will increase demand for distinctive radio frequency front end designs.

Get Your Sample Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16740

Modern mobile devices contain radio frequency front-end modules that transform data from baseband signals with near-zero frequencies into radio signals. These can be sent or received wirelessly. Consequently, radio frequency front-end modules are frequently employed in smartphones.

Compared to other components, the radio frequency front-end module aids in faster and more reliable data transfer in 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, and 5G technologies. Radiofrequency front-end modules are widely used in personal computers, tablets, wearable technology, the industrial internet of things, and mobile broadband.

Key Takeaways from Radio Frequency Front End Module Market Study:

The USA radio frequency front end module market is expected to be valued at US$ 5.5 billion by 2033.

China radio frequency front end module market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 8.4 billion by 2033.

Japan radio frequency front end module market is set to create an incremental opportunity of US$ 2.6 billion in the evaluation period.

South Korea radio frequency front end module market is likely to reach US$ 2.0 billion by 2033.

Based on connectivity, the Wi-Fi category is anticipated to register a CAGR of 6.7% in the forecast period.

“Radio frequency front end modules are frequently employed in military applications. For instance, high-power tactical and military communication radios frequently employ GaN-powered radio frequency front end modules. These radios operate at up to 2.6 GHz of frequency. High demand for military equipment worldwide would spur radio frequency front end module sales,” says a lead analyst at Future Market Insights.

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Competitive Landscape: Radio Frequency Front End Module Market

The worldwide market is extremely fragmented as a result of fierce rivalry. Due to growing innovation, partnerships, and mergers, the industry is predicted to experience high competition throughout the expected period.

A few renowned companies in the global radio frequency front end module market included in the report are STMicroelectronics N.V., Infineon Technologies, Texas Instruments Incorporated, NXP Semiconductors N.V., Broadcom Inc., Qualcomm, Qorvo Inc., Taiyo Yuden Co. Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Teradyne Inc., Skyworks Solutions Inc., and TDK Corporation among others.

For instance,

In September 2021, Murata Manufacturing, a Japan-based semiconductor manufacturer, announced that they have acquired Eta Wireless Incorporation. It is a Massachusetts-based semiconductor company. The reason behind this acquisition is to work on a new technology that can reduce power consumption of radio frequency circuits that are used in wireless communication. Digital envelope tracking technology developed by Eta Wireless Incorporation optimizes voltage of the radio frequency circuit.

In October 2019, Murata Manufacturing Company Limited announced that they have partnered with Resonant Incorporation, a California-based radio frequency manufacturer. This partnership is expected to allow Murata to use multiple designs of Resonant Incorporation’s XBAR technology. Also, Murata has done a strategic investment of US$ 7 million in Resonant Inc. The XBAR technology is expected to offer high frequency and superior performance, especially in 5G filters.

Get More Valuable Insights into Radio Frequency Front End Module Market

Future Market Insights, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of the radio frequency front end module market presenting historical demand data (2018 to 2022) and forecast statistics for the period from 2023 to 2033. The study incorporates compelling insights on the radio frequency front end module market based on component (radio frequency switches, low noise amplifiers, power amplifiers, radio frequency filters), mounting style (through-hole, surface mount device/surface-mount technology), connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee), cellular technology (3G, 4G, 5G), frequency (less than 2.5 GHz, 2.5GHz to 3.5GHz, above 3.5GHz to 5GHz), application (smartphones, personal computer, tablets, wearables, industrial internet of things, mobile broadband), end-use industry (consumer electronics, automotive, military & defense, medical), and region.

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Radio Frequency Front End Module Market Outlook by Category

By Application:

Smartphones

Tablets

Wearables

Personal Computer

Industrial Internet of Things

Mobile Broadband

Others

By Components:

Radio Frequency Switches

Low Noise Amplifiers

Power Amplifiers

Radio Frequency Filters

By Mounting Style:

Through Hole

Surface Mount Device/Surface-mount Technology

By Connectivity:

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 5,

Wi-Fi 6/6E

Others

Bluetooth

ZigBee

Others

By Cellular Technology:

3G

4G

5G

Others

By Frequency:

Less than 2.5 GHz

2.5 to 3.5 GHz

Above 3.5 GHz to 5 GHz

Others

By End-use Industry:

Consumer Electronics

Automotive

Military and Defense

Medical

Others

By Region:

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

[rad-hound]

Just realized that a good chunk of my reposts on Bluesky didn't tag properly with the # function, and there isn't an edit button for posts. 🙃

[petitfanboy]

Comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Asuka and Shinji relationship in 3.0+1.0, implications for the ending and why many youtube Eva analysis videos titles I believe are wrong. (Spoilers ahead)

Preface

It seems it was yesterday when I wrote an extended essay regarding the essential and critical relationship of Asuka and Shinji in Evangelion for the last time. However, seven years have passed. 

My idea here is to write, in general lines, about the relationship of Asuka and Shinji in the last movie and the ending and its implications in a more detailed way. I will use different analyses I have read so far besides mine, and you will find the links to all of them in the text. 

I have tried to maintain an analysis that followed the narrative plot and what I believe is closer to what the director wants to express. However, as Anno himself has said multiple times, his work may inspire different feelings in different people, so I understand where the differences might come from and, in no way, this is intended as a confrontation to other opinions and theories. 

Please, let me start with an introduction.

Introduction

While a lot has changed for me in these years, my view of A/S relationship in the whole Eva universe, including their dynamics, meaning, and canonical aspects have not changed. 

Long story short, A/S represent core aspects of the message Evangelion wants to transmit: The Hedgehog's dilemma, the fear of connecting and rejection while having a strong desire to be loved and understood, and finally, the pursuit of happiness. Asuka and Shinji are opposites on their outside and equals on their inside. A perfect match for exploring those issues.

RoE makes clear their similarities

Asuka and Shinji similarities

Evangelion arrives at a fulfilling conclusion at the end, showing us how it is possible to overcome the abovementioned problems. To depict that, it always involves resolving the different issues Asuka and Shinji have between them, becoming closer, opening to one another and, probably and eventually, staying together.

Evangelion portrays that resolution using scenes showing the exact moment of the change in A/S dynamics, the moment when both pursued real connection starts. What happens after that change is unknown, but the intention is clear: once they begin to make an effort, they have the chance to be happy together.

Before the release of 3.0+1.0, different spoilers and youtube video’s titles ruined my life, as I suppose that happened to some of you. It had such a significant impact on me that it is hard to define with words. Not because I was an angry asushin fanboy as some might classify me, but because, had it been confirmed, it would have meant that the message that Evangelion has been constructing since its first airing was shattered to pieces. I could not accept it.

At that specific moment, the Eva Extra Ex manga came and saved me.

Eva Extra Ex Manga Translated

I cannot highlight enough how important this manga was and still, it is. For me, it represented a call from Anno himself, saying: Do not worry, Evangelion is going to keep being Evangelion. I still recall the endless discussions on the internet when 3.0 came out about the effect of the time-skip, in what lousy state the relationship between Shinji and Asuka was (or if it was even inexistent!) and how Evangelion was going to transmit another message in the end. For me, there were always precise moments in 3.0 that pointed against those conclusions. But with Eva Extra, everything changed. It tied aspects of 2.0 and 3.0 very nicely and allowed us to discover more regarding Asuka's feelings and motivations.

With the first interaction in the manga between Asuka and Mari, we see that Asuka still has (deep) feelings for Shinji.  As the story progresses, we see how Asuka reacts to Mari's teasing and how unconvinced Mari is of all the bravado that she displays. A/S relationship, alongside their communication and hedgehog's dilemma related problems, still existed in the present timeline of the events of 3.0 and 3.0+1.0.

God's in his heaven all right with the world.

Chapter 1: The houses of healing

Instead of speaking of every Shinji/Asuka interaction scene, I will try to make this analysis lighter by talking about how it progresses across the film and focusing only on key scenes.

The film's first part explains how Shinji achieves healing after understanding how people around him are friendly, which is a big difference from EoE. In EoE, it was impossible. Shinji was left hurt and without any option to heal. He ultimately achieved healing through his experiences in instrumentality, leading to the ending and the hope/love message we all know in One More Final: I need you.

This process, this healing, happens in a precise location. That is the reason for the chapter's title. I took the liberty of naming this first chapter as the eighth chapter of Tolkien's book The Return of the King. But, what place is it?

Initially, Shinji is taken to Toji's house. While that place suits Rei, who will understand the basic meaning of life and being human, Shinji makes no progress there. Interestingly, Kensuke sees how Shinji is not making any progress and suggests he should go with him to his house. Why? It is driven by his new parental role, reminiscent of Kaji. He thinks why Shinji is in such a state and understand his needs at that moment. Besides, with or without knowing it, he reunites Shinji and Asuka under the same roof and the same parental figure.

I cannot say that he willingly wanted to reunite Shinji with Asuka, although I am sure he thought it was a direct consequence of carrying Shinji with him, so he was happy with that idea. As we know from 2.0 and the original series, their friends are the ones who notice Asuka and Shinji bond, so it would not be strange that Kensuke wanted to reunite both of them.

With or without Kensuke's will, bringing Shinji to Kensuke's house mirrors Misato's apartment, but with a male figure as the leader (i.e. A Kaji instead of Misato). It is a comeback to better times. Kensuke takes the parental figure for both Shinji and Asuka, as Misato did when Asuka moved in 2.0 for both children. This time, Asuka is the one who is already living there (previously it was Shinji), and Shinji is the one who arrives later.  In 3.0+1.0 Misato cannot fulfil her maternal role anymore, as explained later in the film (and redeemed at the end).

Let me linger on this parallel. In 2.0, when Asuka arrives at Misato's house and introduces Asuka to Shinji, we have the romantic comedy scene of the shower a few minutes later. The scene makes us understand that they feel some attraction to each other, albeit in a very early stage (and introduces PenPen to Asuka). Time forward, this first interaction is repeated in Kensuke's house. When Shinji arrives, he finds Asuka naked after having a shower. This time, no reaction is seen from either part explicitly. Neither Shinji nor Asuka blushed or overreacted, but Asuka clearly states her disappointment, which shows us her desire that Shinji reacted, that Shinji expressed attraction towards her. A significant line that adds up to all the previous evidence about Asuka's persistent feelings for Shinji. What about Shinji? There is a minor detail. When he sees Asuka naked, he stares at her with a glare that is just a mix of emotions. Although it is difficult to tell what he is thinking, Asuka is directly opposite him, and he can see both the DSS choker and her body. However, he only notices the choker when she wraps herself with a towel. Draw your conclusions.

From that point onwards, we get a few scenes representing the problem Asuka and Shinji have communicating and how alike they are. When Shinji throws up for the first time, Asuka explains to Kensuke why Shinji behaves like that and shuts himself off. However, she is doing the same, playing with her console. Asuka's video game is Shinji's SDAT.  Asuka hates the behaviour of Shinji because she sees her flaws in him.

Despite all the façade, she tries to communicate and help Shinji repeatedly in the coming scenes, checking on him on several occasions. Whenever she does that, the movie clearly shows us that she has abandoned her Shinji-like behaviour, showing us the console turned off.

Asuka and her videogame

The climax of their conflict is the force-feeding scene. But before analysing that scene, let me tell you a few more details.

I believe that the mirroring of Misato's apartment is portrayed through other details. For example, the name KenKen might have been chosen in honour of the missing companion from Misato's apartment: PenPen.

Furthermore, while some people might find odd the tendency of Asuka to be naked, this is driven by her disgust with her own body, which is shown in the Eva Extra manga. Finally, to enforce the idea that the relationship between Kensuke and Asuka is different from the one that she and Shinji have, it is essential to notice how Kensuke calls them. He calls them by their surnames, Shikiname and Ikari, placing distance between them.

Let's return to the force-feeding scene. In that scene, Asuka wants to help him, which is why she feeds him, and at the same time, she explains her frustration regarding the lack of reaction and understanding on his part. The conflict between them is portrayed similarly to the Eva 03 incident in 2.0

Visual comparison 1

Visual comparison 2

She is trying to understand him, and she tells him rather precisely why she thinks he is in such a state. She only wants him to reciprocate that understanding, and she wants him to think and explain why she punched him after seeing each other after 14 years. I must highlight the punch's importance. It summarises their communication problems, their conflict. Eva clarifies it in 3.0 using the same parallelisms as other communication problems, like Gendo and Shinji.

However, we know how she feels. The Eva extra manga gives us that insight. She has feelings for Shinji but hates his inaction due to his internal struggles. The hedgehog's spikes have been replaced by a punch. If they can talk about the punch, they will start communicating.

From an external view, Shinji reacts to being force-fed in a way that probably is not what Asuka wanted. Shinji leaves the house, followed secretly by Asuka, in another display of how Asuka feels internally.  It is another parallelism with Misato's apartment, again with a reversal of roles between Shinji and Asuka.

Parallelism

However, we will learn in future events that Shinji started to think about what Asuka told him at that moment, so he listened to her.From this point onwards, Shinji will deal with his thoughts and come to an understanding with himself. It is not achieved alone, but with the help of Rei and, although not directly, Asuka. She is the one who directs Rei to the place where Shinji is and continues checking on him to see that everything is going fine. She is there.

Asuka cares

When Shinji grows up and maturates, we have the first bidirectional communication attempt between Asuka and Shinji. While she asks Shinji if he feels better, he responds with only sounds. Yet, this is the first time they have tried to talk about their respective problems and emotions calmly. We will see this pattern repeat itself several times in the movie: Shinji grows a bit, and then Asuka opens herself another bit. It is very interesting to see Asuka's glare. Asuka is drawn with that glare whenever she is looking at Shinji in a positive/concerning him way. We will return to that later. Besides, she speaks to him without looking at her console.

All this healing process ends in a sentence that is easily overlooked. The night Kensuke is discussing with Asuka the plans to return to the Wunder, Shinji comes home and says, "I am home". It is the reflection of Shinji's complete healing. Thanks to his growth, he has found a new place where he belongs once more. It let us understand why he will consider that this place is important for Asuka too. Both have suffered the same parental love deprivation, lacking a place where they truly belong. Finding a place that they can call home is part of their way to happiness and usually happens before both connect.

The film also let us see how Shinji heals, comparing it with the healing of one of the village's dogs

Now, Shinji is ready to go with Asuka to the Wunder and start a transformative journey for himself and those around him. But first, let me post a few more details, some of which I had not noticed until doing some research on the internet:

Visual comparisons that highlight the similar role of Kensuke as Kaji (Parental role)

2. Asuka's scarf to hide her DSS choker.

3. The possible futon share between Asuka and Shinji, showing how she cares about him.

Chapter 2: A trip in the Wunder

The most relevant scene for their relationship in the Wunder is Asuka's confession. However, there are a couple of interesting interactions before that. The first one is the display of Asuka's jealousy of Sakura when she sees her interaction with Shinji, saying, "Are you his wife?"

The second one happens when Asuka meets Mari. While loaded with fanservice, this interaction is not trivial. Mari's teasing is an essential element in the Rebuild series, even more knowing how important the character of Mari will become at the end. She seems to be aware of Asuka's real feelings, and we know from the Eva extra manga that she tries to push Shinji and Asuka together, which I will come back to later. Asuka replies to Mari's teasing that Shinji "does not need a lover, he needs a mother". This sentence is a double edge sword. First, it shows Asuka's interest in Shinji as a romantic partner, given her deception, and actually, Asuka is saying this sentence while she is playing the videogame, so probably she is hiding her feelings, shutting herself oof the world as Shinji used to do. Second, it shows the problems they face: Communication and maturity. Maturity, because Asuka feels that Shinji has not changed as she has had, and communication, because as we will soon know, Asuka also wants that figure in her life. However, it is not true that Shinji has not grown up. It is just that they have not tried to communicate again, and thus, she does not know about Shinji's recent developments

Everything will change when Asuka faces the reality of possible death. Before the "final battle", she decides to reach out for Shinji. After Mari introduces herself to Shinji in an awkward way that will be important in the ending, Asuka repeats her question. In reality, she asks if he has thought about her, how she feels and everything she has gone through. To Asuka's surprise, Shinji answers the question, blaming his inaction. Taking this as a partial sign of maturity and growth, Asuka starts opening herself, although not wholly, a sign that Shinji's answer might not have been entirely correct. Besides, her body language is similar to the previous lift scenes in Evangelion, where we know she hid her real emotions.

She will equal what to tell Shinji to Shinji's growth. Therefore, she explains to him how she liked him 14 years ago, but not how she feels now. Furthermore, she leaves before Shinji can reply to her statement, leaving Shinji staring back at her through the glass. So, it is Mari again who makes us understand that this has been a sign of communication that goes in the right direction. She congratulates Shinji and stimulates him to continue like this. Again, Mari is trying to solve Asuka and Shinji's problems. Mari says goodbye in Chinese to Shinji (perhaps, a way to tell us that the spell of goodbye works, as they meet again later) and goes to do the same with Asuka, asking her if she feels better. Mari is trying to make Asuka see that opening herself to Shinji will bring happiness to her too.

Nevertheless, we must not forget that the short confession happened because Asuka thought this might have been the end. In a sense, it almost was.

Chapter 3: I need you

This chapter starts after Shinji and Gendo have resolved their issues. As I explained before, the need of resolving their parental matters will be critical to both Shinji and Asuka. The same happened in EoE. Asuka gets to know her mother in her battle against the mass-produced Eva, and Shinji learns about his father's plans and mother during instrumentality. After those experiences and their other interactions through instrumentality, they arrive at the I need you scene where they open to each other.

Gendo gets off the train, and the control of instrumentality is handed over to Kaworu. While Gendo was willing to sacrifice everything for his sake, the growth of Shinji reaches its maximum at this point. Shinji decides to take the reversal role of his father. Even if he is heartbroken or it is a hard and not a pleasant experience, he wants to help Asuka and those who were nice to him. This is the transformative journey that Shinji accomplishes in RoE that marks a completely different path from NGE+EoE.

I worded the sentence highlighting Asuka because those are the literal words of Shinji, naming Asuka as an individual and using the Japanese word "minna" for the rest, which could be the rest of his friends or even the rest of humanity. Shinji has learnt that he must give without seeking anything in return. He must stop thinking about himself only. He is going to help their friends without any positive repercussions on himself. As he later will explain, he plans to rewrite the world with the new spear given by Misato to get rid of the Evas and what they represent, stopping the cycle of suffering that comes with them, and let their friends live a happy life.

Symbolism of the spear

Interestingly, he does not explain this to Asuka and only mentions it to Rei, with some hesitation, which is what prompts him to tell her that Mari would come for him eventually. That behaviour is because for getting rid of the Eva and rewriting the world, he needs to impale himself with the spear inside Eva 01. While we do not know for sure the effects on Shinji, the way it is portrayed resembles a willing sacrifice, a person opening himself to that terrible outcome for a better benefit for their friends. Besides, we must not forget that the sync rate of Shinji with his Eva was infinite at that time, so probably the expected outcome would be the death of the pilot and he knew about that.

This situation is what gives us an essential context for understanding Shinji's actions. As Asuka earlier, he also thought that he might not return. But let’s see what happens with Asuka and Shinji.

The first to be saved is Asuka. As some sort of guardian for Asuka (and Shinji, and even Asuka/Shinji relationship), Mari reminds Shinji before he leaves her entry plug in the anti-universe that he has to find her. And he does.

There are many iconic and meaningful landscapes in Evangelion. Still, none of them has the symbolism, meaning, emotional associations and beauty as the beach where Shinji and Asuka laid at the EoE has. Although it is not the same beach and there are different details, the scene's meaning is clear. It was the scenario of One More Final: I need you. Thus, the location evokes that meaning, where Shinji and Asuka connected and expressed their emotions and feelings in EoE. To increase and highlight that intention, the first shot we have of the landscape is a full white moon, a remnant from the N3I. The moon has always been a poetic figure for love, and it brightens the sand creating the white beach. It is the perfect scenario to share an intimate moment.

Then, a saved, Eva curse-free Asuka awakes. The first sentence references the fact that the curse of Eva is lifted, and she can sleep. As some people detail, the plugsuit is a combination of different ones. This phenomenon will repeatedly happen in the anti-universe. Long story short, as I do not want to enter the terrain of the time loops and different universes, I believe that the idea behind that symbolism is that Evangelion is a multiverse. The anti-universe might somehow connect them, and we can see them. However, the characters remain the same from the universe where they come from. Only those annotated in the book of life remember those other universes or RoE time-loops (which seem to affect only the RoE universe and seem not to be confirmed in the other universes), and probably, as Shinji is in charge of the flow of events, the bleeding in his memories is what drives those changes.

The fact that Asuka wears a plugsuit that is a combination of previous ones, does not mean that she is Soryu or several Asukas at the same time. She is Shikinami, and it is the first time that she is on that beach. Her background and memories are from the RoE timeline, as she does not express, as Shinji will do later, any perception of that phenomenon. The same goes for their location. While they are on a similar beach, it is not the same where Soryu and Shinji found themselves in EoE. It is probably the bleeding of details between universes that wraps the metanarrative message that gives importance to the scenery (that beach is where they connected and accepted each other both in EoE and in this movie, and the place will always symbolise that)

Even those aware of other timelines (Kaworu and Shinji at that point) can only remember that they met before or have a déjà vu feeling. They do not have a complete insight into what happened. I think that this bleeding of details gives an important message: All the universes of Evangelion exist. Soryu and Shinji's story from NGE and EOE has happened, albeit in another universe, part of a larger multiverse. In a sense, it is saying that NGE+EoE is as canon as RoE, something essential to maintain coherency. The difference is that they happen in different physical planes of space and time.

Let's return to the fact that a grown Asuka is on the beach. The camera plays, repeating the same shots as in EoE, linking both scenes thematically again. Moreover, the visual links expands to other couples in Eva.

Here, Shinji sits next to Asuka, with his arms around his legs and a completely different gaze, making clear Shinji is happy to see her. The events follow this path:

Asuka sees Shinji next to her and calls him "Baka Shinji" in a not mean way. A way that shows us that despite calling him "Baka Shinji" time and time again, that did not mean that she truly hated him.

Shinji verbalises his happiness to see her again and says thanks to her for letting him know her feelings previously.

Shinji reciprocates the same feelings, using the past tense. Why? Well, at least this time is more straightforward than explaining why he choked her.  Shinji has several reasons for this: First, it directly answers what Asuka told him earlier. And second, he wants to save and return her to the Eva free world, and thus, knowing that he might not return, hides his current feelings.

Asuka is surprised that her feelings are reciprocated. She blushes and turns to her left, hiding her real feelings at that moment to Shinji. In the next shot, we see a happy, blushed Asuka smiling.

The reaction of Asuka and all the previous evidence from the movie and the manga make it evident that she still has feelings for him. With his body language, Shinji is also transmitting to us that he is hiding his true feelings. Besides, a past tense confession for Shinji makes no sense at all. Shinji has been sleeping those 14 years. For him, those moments where "he liked" Asuka are only a few weeks or months ago from this moment on the beach.  We will get the last evidence that Shinji still has feelings for Asuka, thanks to Kaworu. He, who is aware of all the timelines and universes, asks Shinji if he will feel lonely letting Asuka go. Shinji, with the same body language and a sad face, says no. We must link Shinji's behaviour to the fact I explained earlier. Shinji wanted to sacrifice himself for the happiness of Asuka and everybody.

This links with another idea. The scene is fast-paced. Once Shinji confesses his feelings, he says goodbye to Asuka and the Kensuke sentence. While this might be a reminiscence of Asuka's behaviour in the Wunder, allowing him to avoid any reply, that would have made things more difficult. However, his words are carefully chosen. We know from Rei's experiences in the village that "goodbye, is a spell of magic to see each other again. Despite his plans, Shinji's wish is to see her again

The meaning of goodbye

Then we have the Kensuke sentence. I wanted to talk about this in a simple way. Asuka needed the same parental role as Shinji, and through her experiences in instrumentality, she finds that she has that part of herself fulfilled by Kensuke. However, things get complicated if we start to notice some details. The fact that Kensuke calls Asuka "Asuka" instead of Shikinami and that the doll with Kensuke inside of it appears in the Rei scene has raised concerns that the Kensuke who appears in Asuka's instrumentality scenes is in fact Shinji, helping Asuka to find her place in a future world without him. In more detail:

All Asuka's scenes in instrumentality revolve around Shinji, nothing from Kensuke. It seems that Shinji wants to revert that and makes her conscious that she can find a place to belong and the parental role she needs, especially taking into consideration that he was about to die.

Instrumentality scenes comparison

She verbalises that she has no place to belong yet (despite living with Kensuke for some time), so Shinji wants to clarify that point for her.

It answers why Kensuke calls her Asuka and not Shikinami and why the doll appears again in Rei's scenes on the stage. Furthermore, it connects Asuka's memories with the beach scene, as it is after Kensuke says, "Asuka is Asuka" that she wakes up next to Shinji.

The original source of the theory for me was this video

In the end, from Asuka's instrumentality to the end of the beach scene, Shinji wants her to understand that she has a place to belong alongside the parental figure that she needs and that she is also loved by him, although he is going to let her go for her benefit. A true act of selflessness given his feelings. That is heart-warming and an actual act of love on his part.

Then, something happens amid the fast-paced scenes. The camera shows Asuka with an open mouth, sleeping(?) and Mari next to her. Wait. When did Mari come in? Why? I am not sure of the answers to these questions. It shows that Mari is more than we thought and has more knowledge about the anti-universe and what is happening. We do not know if this scene happens just after Shinji’s words or something has happened in the middle, as Asuka's expression seems not to match the last we see from her. Is there a deleted scene in the middle? Mari says her goodbye to Asuka. Mari has been a bridge between Shinji and Asuka and a close friend to her. In some sense, and continuing the parallelisms between Shinji and Asuka, she has been her Kaworu

Interestingly, Mari only appears to say bye to Asuka and not Rei or Kaworu. At the same time, Shinji only says sayonara to Asuka, the only character that does not have a handshake and a shutter closed. While there is no definitive answer to this fact, I believe it is crucial regarding the ending, as it will establish a continuity between the goodbyes and future gatherings, all directed by Mari, and that is why she appears probably (and she might be the one ejecting Asuka’s entry plug)

After Mari's take care, Asuka wakes up in the entry plug and is ejected by Unit 13. It is important to note that Asuka leaves without any kind of voluntary movement. She awakes in different locations and is the Eva 13 who ejects her. We do not know Asuka’s opinion about this at any time, or how she feels about being saved leaving Shinji behind.

Chapter 4: The sacrifice is stopped

After Kaworu and Rei's scenes, which I am not going to talk about, Shinji decides to carry out the Neon Genesis. We get to the moment where he is ready to sacrifice himself, in some sort of redemption of humanity's sins for creating the Evas and all the suffering that accompanied them. But then, Yui appears.

She stops the spear, protecting Shinji, and takes him out of the Eva 01. Yui’s wish is that he can live in that Neon Genesis world where the Evangelions do not exist, where people, and Shinji, can be happy. This moment changes everything. The plot twist will allow Shinji and Evangelion to have a happy and hopeful ending, thanks to Yui's (+/- Mari) plan.

The sacrifice of Shinji's parents for the sake of their child redeems them from the emotional deprivation Shinji has endured all his life. Shinji, mimicking the last instrumentality scene in EoE, returns to the anti-universe, now alone.

Chapter 5: Mari to the rescue

Shinji waits patiently on a blue water beach. Slowly, he starts to fade away in the anti-universe, as there are no others to relate with. This concept was explored both in EoE and at the end of the TV series. Then, Mari comes with her Evangelion to rescue him and take him back to the real world, now the Eva-free world, as promised to Misato. This is very important, as it highlights that Shinji is not going to a parallel universe. He is returning to the same world where his friends are (Asuka for sure, Kaworu will meet him again too, and Rei, honestly, it is not so obvious where she decides to go in her scenes, but probably too)

Mari's last Evangelion is important too. Contrary to Kaworu and Rei, I believe it is how Mari and Shinji returned to the ordinary world (probably with its entry plug, like Asuka). We might never know that. Then, the next scene is the opposite scene from Asuka in the entry plug, but with Shinji. Now we see an adult Shinji in a train station.

There are different questions to answer to understand what is happening in the ending. However, I think that the film's conclusion is the same regardless of the answer to those questions.The questions are:

Is the train scene set in the AU or in the real world?

Are Mari and Shinji the people we see coming out from the station?

Did Asuka arrive at Kensuke’s house or is she present there if that is the real world?

I tried to sum up the different theories in simple pictures.

 My personal opinion just after watching the movie was that the first scenario was the most likely. However, after seeing different analyses, I am not 100% convinced and I cannot give my support to other theoriesyet. 

The sources for the other theories are these

And the fact that the pilots might be illusions come from here 

As you can see, regardless of the answer to the questions from above, they always end up meeting again. While this is not explicitly shown in the movie, I strongly believe it is the reason why Mari appears at the end scene. Mari is the beacon light that will guide him in this new world, and there is a lot of visual comparisons that prove this fact, comparing Mari to Misato, and knowing the role of Mari in Gendo and Yui’s life. Furthermore, a lot of people consider that the fact that Asuka is alone in the platform is a sign that she is there to be reunited with Shinji, as she has no partner and seems to be playing with something like her old videogame. All of this is enough evidence to stop thinking about this ending as “Shinji choosing Mari to live a happier life” or “to let go the past”.

Comparison

The role of Mari in Yui/Gendo life. A hint in her possible role with Asuka/Shinji

Mari and Shinji, Mari and Gendo, the same fate.

I am sure that Mari will reunite Asuka and Shinji. She has been a bridge between them since 3.0, and the Eva Extra manga gives more insight into that respect. Besides, she did the same with Yui and Gendo, and there are a lot of comparisons between Yui/Gendo and Asuka/Shinji in a visual way throughout the series.You will find Asuka glancing at Shinji with the same face and eyes expression as Yui did. 

We have talked about this before. 

While it would be interesting to know exactly how Shinji arrives there, the narrative conclusion that they will meet again, independently of what has happened to the world, will not change. This resonates with the title of the movie "thrice upon a time", as evidenced here. 

There have been multiple Evangelion universes, both with and without Evas (EoE ends with a world without Evas, as the manga does) and in all of them, all of them, Asuka and Shinji meet again. And this is really important, as now they can communicate and have the chance of growing together and be happy.

Conclusion

Asuka and Shinji are two sides of the same coin, with different defence strategies in the context of the hedgehog's dilemma. Despite their mutual attraction, they are incapable of communicating and reaching each other. In EoE, it took almost the end of the world and humanity to understand that it is thanks to not living with the fear of pain and rejection that we can understand and accept others, ultimately overcoming the hedgehog's dilemma. This is expressed by the caress of Asuka to Shinji in EoE. This loving gesture shows us that the characters start understanding each other and have the chance to be happy together. EoE ending is a message of love and hope.

A/S relationship will represent this conflict wherever they are portrayed, in a cycle of desire/attraction, which leads to conflict and a resolution with understanding and love once they learn to accept each other and start communicating. In EoE is quite visual and displays both of them together at the very end. The manga is less explicit and more hinted at, but the scene at the train depicts how they connect in that new world where they will understand each other.

Thrice upon a time is not an exception to this rule. The last scene of EoE and the manga that involves Asuka and Shinji is the moment they connect, communicate, and change the way they treat each other. In 3.0+1.0 their final scene together is the beach scene, where they confess their mutual feelings in what is a never seen before sincerity and openness between them. Then, a world without Eva is created (in EoE this is exemplified by the crucified Eva and in the manga is more similar to the movie) and we know that Mari will guide Shinji to a safe return to that Eva free world and a gathering with Asuka and his friends. Despite not appearing on screen, all the narrative of the movie, and the whole of Evangelion, makes us understand that they will understand each other more and more and will be more honest towards their feelings, giving them the chance of being happy. As a consequence of that, the leitmotif of Evangelion is repeated once more.

The message of 3.0+1.0 is not about letting go of the past because you have grown up or let it go to move forward. The message is that it is thanks to going through those good and bad experiences that life gifts us, accepting the chance of suffering pain, that we can mature and learn. This learning will make us understand ourselves and those who surround us more, making us love ourselves and others, having, ultimately, the chance of being happy, loved and finding a place to belong to.

And it is in the middle of this struggle, that the love story of Asuka and Shinji shines, reminding us that humans can connect and be happy. 

If they can overcome their problems, so will us.

Everybody finds love in the end.

One More Conclusion: Where is Anno's wife?

What a ride! I think I have written about almost all of Shinji and Asuka's interactions, perhaps leaving just a few ones at the beginning of the movie, and without the mention of Anno as Shinji or his wife as Mari in all the essay! While extremely popular, the theory that Mari represents his wife has many flaws and I still do not understand where it is based. From the character being designed without the supervision of Hideaki Anno to the direct denial from his wife, including that the theory does not match the narrative plot. While self-insertions and story developments related to personal experiences are not rare in storytelling, we cannot explain everything in Evangelion by metanalysis. While Anno's struggles with depression have shaped NGE+EoE, the development and growth of the characters in their own arcs are what matter when analysing them. Shinji might be inspired by his awful experience at that time, but as we said earlier, Asuke is shaped like Shinji, albeit with different behaviour. Therefore, we should accept that both of them are depictions of Anno and not only the masculine figure.

In the end, it is Shinji who rejects instrumentality, returns to the real world and is caressed by Asuka in EoE. The characters do that, not Anno. The same happens in this last scene. While the location of the train station and city is totally related to the director, what is going to happen to the characters in the context of the plot is an important thing to consider when analysing them.

From NGE+EoE to this last movie Shinji grows and understands the path to be happy always.  This is not exclusive of the RoE saga because Anno has overcome his problems. Therefore, conclusions such as "now Anno is happier, so he wants Shinji to be happy" are not supported. What changed in RoE is that the growth of Shinji happens prior to the last impact and instrumentality, instead of growing after those experiences. This allows the portrayal of a lighter version of Shinji in those dramatic moments, resembling more a traditional hero who saves his friends, instead of letting them down and then coming to an understanding all together (because everyone shares a slice of the guilt cake) in instrumentality.

I believe that it would be more fruitful if we took into consideration his wife's work in the way that this tweet states, rather than engage ourselves in discussions about meta self-insertions.

I hope my words have helped those who felt like me after the release of the movie.

Thank you very much for all your time reading this.

[hezuart]

That anaversary aizen looks absolutely fabulous, he looks like a figure skater xd.

I heard along time ago the last arc of the anime was being animated finally bc they pulled a 90s sailor moon were the last season was not either animated or dubbed untill decades later.

I recall near the end of the current 366 episodes there was an episode were the creapy demon ppl woke up in hell and we're all bitter, and there was the other guy who was like, iM cOmEiNg FoR u IChIgO, but then is never mentioned again after and I'm like,why? Why is lt there just plopted randomly into a different arc that seams unrelated.

And locking aizen up underground seems ok, but It deff won't hold, and he will. Escape, and he will kill, you either need that one spell from star, dubbed, the darkest spell of moon the undaunted, a powerfull dark spell that killed immortal beings, that came from best character, eclipsa, the queen of darkness.

We need that.

Or stick him I'm crystal like eclipsa was in star. Is there no one who could trap him in ice or crystal for all eternity.

How about throw him into the centre of a volcano trapped and caged , forverr being killed by heat?

I assume there's space travel, send I'm into a black whole, were a black whole don't fuckin care if your immortal or fat, you will die

:3

Yes, I love anniversary Aizen. His original octopus-butterfly hollow design was ugly so I'm glad he's back to being the fashion icon he is.

Locking Aizen up underground once is one thing, doing it twice after saying he got more powerful by just sitting there, and he escaped to battle the Quincy Soul King God... is another. I think he should have escaped at the end of the Quincy arc. That is the only feasibility.

I heard the anime is coming back for the Quincy arc as well, but because of COVID its probably going to be delayed. (I'm not gonna watch it until the Rain section of the arc then I'm dipping out. I'm only here for Zangetsu)

and funny that you mention that hell scene in the manga :)

-> spoilers for the new BLEACH 73 page anniversary chapter / thoughts/critique on it

So hey you had a premonition! Syazel .... returned? And his hole is outside of his body??? for some reason???

(I didn't understand the explanation or why / how that happens and what that means for the hollow)

And my friend and I were laughing because out of ALL the things. Kubo could do in this anniversary. He gave Syazel his dick back after going to hell. That is iconic. (that's where his hole was located, and now that its not on his body ... well...) This is the funniest thing Kubo has EVER pulled. Kudos to you, sir.

The entire internet is freaking out over Ukitake being in hell. Honestly Kubo has done far worse, and we've established that Soul Society is a corrupt system that hasn't changed, so I'm not surprised he would pull something like this.

At the same time, Kubo 1. cheated his audience. 2. continues to prove me right that he cannot bring himself to kill his characters

1. Hollows who have commit murder in their human life are sent to hell. Syazel and Aaorniero are two of these hollows, and yet, when they are killed, there is NO gates of hell scene. We see them there later in the hell chapter (which was more of a promotion for the fourth movie and I didn't believe it would hold any merit)

But the same goes for Ukitake. We never see the gates of hell take him. What, was hell late? Did hell's gates get lost like an uber before picking him up? It's bull. Withholding such vital information from your audience, not showing the gates of hell when they should pick up this soul IMMEDIATELY is ... I mean its a lie. Kubo lied to his audience.

2. Now we are told powerful shinigami are sent to hell when they die. First of all that sounds like a security threat. Wouldn't shinigami want revenge for that? Or attempt to escape? Why would they still hold loyalty after being sent to a prison of eternal suffering?

Also "Yhwach and Aizen" were the only ones keeping Hell's gates closed is way too convenient and doesn't really make any sense. I feel like Aizen should have deliberately gone to hell to retrieve powerful shinigami / hollows for his army instead of keeping it /closed/.

This is definitely a Kubo-doesn't-know-what-he's-doing-and-is -making- stuff-up-as-he-goes, but it might have a pinch of merit because of previous plot lines.... but either way, there's some big plot holes here, but again, its Kubo, so I expected nothing less.

Again, he can't kill off his characters. He introduced zombification, he introduced immortality through the hougyoku, he has Orihime and Hachigen's reversal / rejection abilities. He brought back Luppi, friggen.... a character who's entire upper half of his body was incinerated. Like.... come on. No. He's dead, you can't bring him back like that. That's a cop out and just weird. You're taking away consequences and grief.

(Also Yamamoto and Unohana deserve to be in hell far over Ukitake, they've done some fcked up stuff in their pasts unlike him)

Also Kubo's favorite character is Mayuri, which.... you're allowed to have a favorite problematic character. But Keeping said character alive and bared from the consequences of abusing his daughter, murdering innocents, and experimenting on your own squad members? Nah. Nope. Kill him, Kubo. Kill this dude.

(his weird attachment to Mayuri is probably why he keeps bringing Syazel back, since Syazel is Mayuri 2.0, but Syazel is the bad guy who does face consequences for his actions while Mayuri is not)

~

Also, I'm certain Kazui and Orihime are going to be THRILLED that their precious husband/dad is going to hell when he dies :)

(I just... Rukia teased Ichigo about leaving Orihime at home. She teased him about having a house wife who he leaves all the chores to. Orihime had two panels. She checks on her son who promised he would be at home and sleep. Kazui fcking breaks his promise like it never mattered to him and JUMPS out the window after pretending to sleep in front of his mother. ... An 8 year old... alone... in the middle of the night.)

Orihime is abandoned. She is not invited to SS, she is not informed of what is going on, her son leaves her.... I...

Orihime is a side character. She doesn't matter anymore. She hasn't mattered for a long, long time.

A part of me is glad she had little screen time, since she tends to waste it, but another part of me is embroiled with rage.

I've even see people try to defend this. "Orihime and Ichigo can't be together ALL the time, that's an unhealthy relationship!" and I'm like guys... that's not the point. The point is Orihime is not part of Ichigo's other life. Any shinigami stuff from now on is none of her business. She's going to stay at home while Kazui and Ichigo go off and save the world. Ichigo is going to be fighting by Rukia and Renji while Orihime watches from the sidelines, or worse, doesn't even know what is going on with her husband and son. Orihime is going to be uninformed and abandoned, because she has not proven she is capable of fighting by their sides(go on, @ me. I will fight this. She's a failure.), and also because she prefers a human life over a dead one. Which is ironic, because she married a dead man. Ichigo is a shinigami, and he will be one forever. god forbid she ever meets his Zanpaktou. She would tremble in fear at the monsters her husband harbors in his soul, especially when she realizes they don't care about her and would rather see her dead. (Zangetsu would absolutely kill Orihime. Not sure about Kazui, but Orihime has not accepted Zangetsu, she does not like either of them, and the feeling is assuredly mutual.) frick now I want to make a comic about this

Also still frustrated over Zangetsu's shikai / bankai regression. Kubo once again lied to his audience. Ichigo has no bankai. How ridiculous is that? The main character of BLEACH doesn't have a bankai. Insulting.

(RIP to Chad. He doesn't exist anymore. He's just gone. No mention, no cameo. Gone.)

Kazui is a demon child. That character from the novels? Hikone? They're the same character. Literally same personality, same power level. Its worse because Kazui is a liar. He constantly goes behind his parents' backs. He can summon creepy fish and creepy eyeballs and open portals like is ANYONE aware of this? How has SS not kidnapped Ichigo's son and experimented on him / locked away his powers yet? All substitute shinigami require a reiatsu controlling / spy badge to keep them in line. Where is Kazui's? Or is he just a weird fullbringer?

I was worried Kubo was gonna try and pull a knock off Boruto but luckily he kept the focus on Ichigo and the others. But that being said, Ichika and Kazui are now just... sort of there? Kazui was kinda just.... having his own adventure that doesn't matter to the plot at hand, and Ichika had some nice characterization at first but she just hid behind her dad the whole time.

I have a feeling Kazui is gonna step in at the last minute or do some major behind the scenes thing that indirectly interferes with the main plot so no one will realize how powerful and dangerous he actually is. Its sad because Ichika is the superior character in personality and likability, but she clearly is not going to have a bigger part in this.

Ichigo having a normal life after everything still feels extremely boring and uncomfortable to me. Everyone's like 'I'm still bLEACH!" but.... BLEACH just... doesn't feel like BLEACH anymore. It hasn't for a while now.

~~~

There's two new shinigami characters. Didn't care for the girl, but the Sign Language kid who talks to animals is adorable ... however... he just reminds me of Chad, and I just... it hurts knowing Chad has essentially been deleted. Chad and Orihime are officially benched. They have chosen the human world, and Orihime has given Ichigo his spawn so she has no more use/purpose to him anymore... ////sigh

~~~

Also. This is claimed to be a new "arc". So is the BLEACH manga coming back? What is happening. I thought Kubo was tired and didn't want to do BLEACH anymore. I thought Shounen Jump cut him off. People made so many excuses for Kubo and why the past two arcs have been so badly written the past 6 years and now almost everything they've attempted to defend him with has been revoked.

BLEACH is going to continue to screw up its plot lines and characters, so Its probably best for it to stay dead but I've seen a lot of Kubo stans drooling over this content, they're desperate for BLEACH's return, but its already given out all its possible revelations. There's really nothing else to top here. It's just going to make things up as it goes along ,and I'm not really here for half-assed writing like that, especially since the damage of rushing the previous manga has already been done. Kubo and Shounen Jump are riding off a money nostalgia. None of this was planned.

Honestly though.... overall feeling of this chapter, not as bad as it could have been.

Syazel stole the spotlight, and he's my friend's favorite character, so that's all that really matters.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Podcasting "What Is Peak Indifference?"

This week on my podcast, I read my recent Medium column, “What Is Peak Indifference?” in which I try to unpack my 2016 theory of change about the role that “self-radicalization” plays in addressing thorny problems.

https://craphound.com/news/2022/03/21/what-is-peak-indifference/

Many of our most urgent problems embody a paradox: while these problems are urgent (in the sense that they are matters of life-or-death), they’re also part of causal chains that are so long that they’re hard to trace and understand.

Think of smoking: the link between a lungful of smoke and a lung-tumor is separated by so much time and space that there is plenty of room for denial to take hold (especially when the denial is amplified and reinforced by Big Tobacco’s disinformation campaigns).

The same goes for nuclear disarmament, the climate emergency, corporate monopolization and many other serious — even existential — problems.

But because these are problems, ignoring them allows them to fester and worsen. Eventually, the number of people who recognize their existence and seriousness starts to go up of its own accord, without any need for activist agitation or public education campaigns.

What’s the force that radicalizes people to care about these subjects? The festering problem itself. A stage-four lung cancer diagnosis is more compelling than any talk about smoking cessation with your family doctor. Likewise, the wildfire that wipes out your town is more convincing than even the best Greta Thunberg speech.

That moment — when the consequences of a neglected problem visit trauma upon a rapidly expanding cohort of people, turning them from bystanders into partisans — is the moment of peak indifference. It’s the moment where the number of partisans increases of its own accord.

But we can’t rely on peak indifference to spark action, for two important reasons:

I. Trauma makes it harder to think clearly. Losing your town to a wildfire won’t necessarily make you an anti-fossil-fuel crusader — it might just as easily turn you into an ecofascist, advocating for closed borders, violent depopulation and conquest of high-ground to protect you and yours.

https://thebaffler.com/latest/first-as-tragedy-then-as-fascism-amend

II. The point of peak indifference is often beyond the point of no return, and that can lead to nihilism (“Why bother quitting now that I’ve got cancer?” or “Now that there’s only one rhino left, we might as well find out what he tastes like”).

An activist understanding of peak indifference demands that we work to hasten the moment of peak indifference, by helping people imagine the trauma before they actually experience it. For me, that involves narrative work: spinning utopias (“We can fix this”) and dystopias (“We must fix this…or else”).

But all the other activist tactics fit in this frame, too: education, organizing conversations, etc.

And the point of that activism isn’t just to create partisans. It’s to channel the sense or urgency into positive, anti-nihilistic directions: to counter ecofascism with climate justice, land healing, and remediation.

Here’s the podcast episode:

https://craphound.com/news/2022/03/21/what-is-peak-indifference/

Here’s a direct link to the MP3 (hosting courtesy of the Internet Archive; they’ll host your stuff for free, forever):

https://archive.org/download/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_419/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_419_-_What_Is_Peak_Indifference.mp3

And here’s the RSS feed for my podcast: https://feeds.feedburner.com/doctorow_podcast

Image: Cameron Strandberg(modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fire-Forest.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

[shadowfae]

We’re all pretty aware that the tumblr otherkin community is at a huge decline; I was wondering if you have any theories as to why that is?

American Protestantism, the decline of queer oppression in North America and the AIDS crisis, helicopter parenting, web 3.0, morality politics, and  Tumblr’s porn ban; roughly in that order and rolled up into one bombshell that was a few years in the coming but nobody really saw it and understood it until it was far too late.

That was a mouthful and probably only made sense if you follow current cyberpolitical theory. For some of you reading this, as with every other hot take I have this has a chance of being passed around, that alone is enough. But for others who had no idea what I just said and need the ELI5 version, let me explain that. Buckle up, this’ll be a long one, and will go into fandom history a bit as well because it is actually relevant.

As we know, tumblr is a very American-centric platform. Twitter is also this way, but less so, but tumblr has it bad. Now, I’m ‘lucky’ in the fact that I’m Canadian and a twenty minute drive from the American border, so that puts me in the ‘privileged’ majority. (I say privileged because I’m not really sure what else to call it. Most of the information going around about politics either directly affects me or indirectly affects me approximately one or two links of contact away. Someone who’s only influenced by American politics because it makes their sister’s online friends sad is not going to be privileged in that way.)

This means that American politics and their social climate overwhelmingly affects tumblr’s social climate. This also bleeds through into other fandom spaces, on twitter, instagram, and Pixiv to name a few places; but here’s where I spend the majority of my time so here’s what I’ve witnessed.

America’s main religion, as far as I understand (from the raised agnostic and currently neopagan view I have), is some weirdass capitalistic-Protestantism that is so many miles from what the actual Bible says that if I were a betting man and knew more about cults than I did, I’d say it’s some weird fucking cult and never set foot in the country again for any reason that isn’t gaming free shipping through a PO box. If you have no idea what I just said but are at least vaguely familiar with Christianity, this graphic explains it pretty well. So we can see there’s some glaring issues with that ideal.

The decline of queer oppression and the rise of queer rights in North America, which is to tenderly include my own country but we all know when people say ‘in NA’ they mean ‘America, and Canada where it applies because the right-wing Republicans are really good in the propaganda department to convince everyone that Mexico is a drug-lords-and-anarchy wasteland to the point where even I don’t actually know what’s down there other than bad drivers and heat’; means two things. One, it’s a good thing by a long shot and do not mistake this as me thinking queer oppression being lessened is a bad thing. But two, it means that thanks to the AIDS crisis, queer folks lost a lot of first-person sources as history.

The queer elders in NA who survived are typically either a) bitter anarchists who are often POC, probably still dirt poor and do recreational drugs or b) university-tenured TERFs (trans exclusionary radical feminists). Category A are the people who Republicans have deemed worthless in every way, because racism, queerphobia, ableism, and all the other ways to be wrong and different and Evil that they can’t handle, because Jeezus would never want them to actually learn to love someone who wasn’t just like them, and they don’t have the compassion to do better. Category B are the people who want to be different in just a teensie little bit, typically with TERFs they want to be lesbians, but they don’t want to challenge the status quo. They’re fine with the way things work, they just want to be on top oppressing others over ripping the whole damn thing down and building a more forgiving system.

Now, due to all those ‘isms and the cheerfully malicious aid of the Republicans, pun not intended but drives home the cruelty of it all, we also see the rise of helicopter parenting. The invention of the internet did not really help this. Basically what you’ve got is a whole bunch of parents who saw the civil rights movement, just got access to the internet and things going viral, know the world is changing, and like all parents, they’re scared for their children. Now instead of parents knowing one or two people in their classes who just went missing one day and everyone assumed they ran away, they hear about eight homicides in the city of kids going to parks at night and dying. The Satanic Panic was another event around this time that contributed to that, but I’ll let you research that one.

This means that all of these parents, instead of doing what their parents typically did and let their kids wander off for the day so long as they’re back by sundown, they can’t let their children out of their sight. There might be a freak accident where their child is decapitated on the playground swing! Their baby might get murdered by an evil Satanist walking home from school! Their dearest darling might go online and tell their address to someone who’s got a 100% chance of being a pedophile who will show up and kidnap them in the night!

…You get the idea. 

Combine those three things I just established, what we’ve got is a lot of queer kids who have a lot of internalized shame for being different and wrong, because they’re queer, and they can’t find spaces offline to be themselves, because all of the elders who would do that are dead and/or inaccessible and their parents won’t let them go to any clubs that aren’t school-related, which they’ll never find a GSA or queer club because Republicans, ‘isms, propaganda, and the war on Category A queer adults have all done their best to ensure that those spaces don’t exist.

So you have a generation of kids who I am the youngest of. The first generation on the internet. The late Web 1.0 (usenets and Geocities) and early Web 2.0 (livejournal was the big one, ff.net too, also 4chan but fuck those guys) generation. What we were taught was: trust nobody on the internet with your real info no matter how much you like them, this is a wilderness and any crimes that happen won’t be punished or seen so don’t put yourself in a position where you’re going to be the victim of one, and everything you put online is never getting taken down so don’t put anything up that you’re not willing to have on the front page of your local newspaper.

This worked out pretty well, actually! You had kids who knew that if they got in trouble, there was no backup coming to save them. Because the form that backup might take - parents and police - wasn’t going to help. Best case, they’d be banned from their friends and online support groups for being queer. Worst case, they’d be jailed and put in juvie and conversion therapy and turn to drugs and become evil Satanists just like everyone says they secretly are already. So they learned very quickly to take care of themselves. Nobody was going to save them, so they learned to not need saving.

And then, well, Web 2.0 shifted to Web 3.0. Livejournal died because parents - the Warriors for Innocence was the big name - went “gasp how horrible my children are being exposed to the evil pedos and homosexuals they’re going to do drugs and die of AIDS!”. Which is uh. It’s filled with a lot of bigotry, and I’m not excusing them - absolutely I am not - but you can kind of see where they’re coming from, if you tilt your head and squint.

Either way, LJ died, tumblr took its place, Facebook was fast taking off, and the fandom folks who had seen mailing lists go inactive, web admins take their fanfic sites down due to copyright, entire fandoms burnt to the ground in flame wars, said ‘fuck that we’re making our own place’ and that’s how AO3 got made.

That’s important. A lot of folks move to AO3, because well, the rules let them. The rules say ‘you can throw literally anything up here so long as it’s fan content and is not literally illegal, so we don’t get taken down’. It’s a swing for the first generation internet users, those kids who know this place is a wilderness and are carving out our own sanctuary.

But. The children under us. The children for whom AIDS is a nightmarish fairy tale, for whom the ghost stories are conversion therapy, for whom know they can’t really talk to their parents about being queer but can trust they probably won’t get kicked out over it. The children who haven’t spent ten seconds without supervision except online, and their reaction isn’t ‘oh thank god I’m finally free to express myself’ but ‘if I get in trouble, who will protect me?’.

And there’s nobody there. Because we went in knowing there was no backup. And that was fine. But now, the actual adults have figured out that hey uh, maybe we should make cyber laws? Maybe we should make revenge porn and grooming children over the internet crimes? And they grew up with that. They grew up learning that no, even if your parents are suffocating and controlling, they’re always be there for you! Some adult will always be there to protect you!

That isn’t the case. It’s not. But they expect it, because it’s always been done for them. They don’t really want to change the status quo, because that means doing it themselves. They can’t do that, because they don’t know how, they’ve been controlled for every single part of their lives thanks to helicopter parenting and without that control, they don’t know how to keep their lives together, and they demand someone come and control it for them, without restraining them.

Effectively, they want someone to ensure they never face the consequences of their actions. Helicopter parents will rescue you from whatever you did, because you’re their precious baby and it doesn’t matter if you punched a kid, you can do no wrong and the other kid clearly started it.

But being queer is doing wrong. Being queer is something Jeezus doesn’t approve of. So they want to make it something he could approve of! But if it’s too off what they consider to be okay, if it’s too different and weird and wrong and evil, that can’t do, that’s still bad, and they’re precious angels, and children, and minors, why are we the adults not protecting them and letting them see it? Why aren’t we being just like their parents  but queer-friendly, why aren’t we protecting the children?

The adults who taught us were the children of those who died as a result of AIDS. The eldest of my generation knew some of them personally. My therapist’s younger brother died at 20 of AIDS, and she told me what it was like. But they don’t have that. These kids of web 3.0, they don’t have that. What they have is over-controlling parents, and the expectation that someone will always be there to protect them but hopefully in ways that don’t hurt them this time, no real understanding of why Category A queer elders are the way they are, and so much internalized shame that they have to do some pretty fancy logic-leaping to keep them from collapsing entirely.

They can’t turn into Category A queer youngsters, because they don’t know how to unravel the system around them, because they’ve never had to actually make choices in their lives and live with the consequences, because they don’t have the example of how to do it. They can’t unravel their internalized shame because again, that’s hard and they don’t have their parents to take away the consequences and pain. It doesn’t come easy to them, so it may as well not come at all.

But, you ask, if Category A queer elders aren’t around to teach the kids, then how are they learning anything positive at all? Well, Category B, our university-tenured TERFs, who don’t want to change the status quo but want to just be at the top of it instead.

For a lot of kids who don’t know how to make hard choices but want to be queer, this is an extremely attractive option. But when they go online to queer spaces, a lot of them say fuck terfs, we don’t support your hate, and they go ‘yeah okay that makes sense’. They can say fuck terfs without ever actually questioning why terfs are bad. They’re Bad and Evil, just like drug addicts, just like fairytale nazis, just like the evil homophobes.

And we saw them say ‘yeah fuck terfs’ and we were like, ‘aight you got it’ and we never questioned if they actually understood us. They didn’t. They didn’t, and we didn’t do enough to fix it, because not enough of us realized the problem. So terfs got a little sneaky. They hid behind dogwhistles and easy little comments, hiding their rhetoric in queer theory that you’ll absolutely miss if you just memorize it and never actually question it and understand why that point is being made.

This goes back to America sucking, because their school system is far more focused on rote memorization over actual logic and understanding of the text. They’re engaging with queer theory the way they’ve been taught, which is memorize and don’t think, don’t question. Besides, questioning and understanding is hard. Being shown different points of view and asked what they think is not only hard but requires them to go against all of the conditioning that says to just listen and agree and never question it, which goes back to tearing the system and internalized shame down, and we’ve established they can’t do that so naturally they don’t do that.

This begets, then, the rise of exclusionary politics. They’re turning into Category B queer youngsters, because we told them ‘hey that’s a terf talking point what are you doing’ and they never questioned why. They learned you can do all sorts of things, just don’t say X, Y, or Z, because they never thought deeply about it.

The children who have grown on Web 3.0 do not want to do any heavy lifting to make things easier for themselves long-run. They want to do as little as possible and have things get better for them. There isn’t enough of us left in Category A, because Category B terfs are very good at recruiting young folks and Cat. A is overwhelming poor, dead, and easily dismissed in the system as evil and bad, so we can’t exactly convince the young folks to listen. If all of the young kids could agree to tear down the system, a lot more older folks might listen. Change always starts with the young, and there’s a reason for that.

But Republicans have figured out, if you get people fighting, they never put together a force that can actually stop you. TERFs, who want the exact same thing as Republicans but with themselves on top, are doing this to queer youth, and Cat. A elders can’t fight back because there isn’t enough of them and the odds are against them, and the young folk like me who follow their lead.

People can kinda handle gay people. It’s not so far from the acceptable normal that it’s impassable. But you want them to handle kinky people? Gay people of colour? Kinky gay people of colour? Trans people? Those are bridges too far to step across. The original idea was to get the foot in the door with marriage equality and inch our way through with racial equality, sex positivity, dismantling ableism and perisexism (forgive me if that isn’t the word for anti-intersex ‘ism), and see if we can’t patch up the system instead of inciting a civil war over this and have to tear down the system entirely.

Well, we might’ve managed that if not for AIDS being the perfect ‘Jeezus is killing all the evil gay people for being sinners’ propaganda machine. As it stands now, not a chance in hell. So long as Republicans and terfs keep everyone fighting, nobody has the power to dismantle their empire, and they stay in power.

So then, you ask me, “Lu what the fuck does that have to do with the decline of otherkinity on tumblr???” and now that you’ve got all that background knowledge, here is your answer.

Those children who want their experiences curated for them and the evil icky content they don’t like to be gone because it disgusts them and anything that disgusts them is clearly sinful problematic and should be destroyed, are what we call ‘antishippers’, or anti for short.

They like being progressive. Sort of. They learned what Republicans and terfs have honed to a fine talent: keep people fighting, hold them to a bar they have to constantly make or risk being ostracized, and harass the people who don’t play along into getting out of your sight forever. Sound familiar?

They learned of otherkinity, and particularly fictionkind, because web 3.0 means if something goes viral on one site, it doesn’t just go viral on that site, it makes it to worldwide newspapers and twitter and nobody ever, ever fucking forgets it. They realized the following: “Hey wait, if I’m this character for realsies, not only does it help me deal with the internalized shame I’ve done nothing to actually fix because that takes work, I can also tell these people who draw gross content I don’t like they’re hurting me personally, and that actually sounds credible, and I can shame them into stopping”.

If this is your first time here and that sounds sickening, it damn well should, and I am so, so sorry that any of us had to witness this, and I am more sorry I and everyone else who personally witnessed this didn’t realize what was going on and put a stop to it. I answer asks and browse the tags and clear up misinformation and it isn’t just a genuine desire to help. It’s damage control, and my own way of trying to deal with the guilt of not stopping this. I’m well aware I couldn’t have seen it coming, I was a teenager myself still learning and no one person has that much power. I still feel like I should have done more, and I’ll do what I can to fix what’s within my power to fix.

So back to the story. This all culminates around 2016 or so. Trump wins the election, and every queer person ever knows they’re fucked, and the younger generation’s only ever heard horror stories, never seen actual oppression that this could bring. We’re all scared. We all don’t know what to do. Nobody has any answers or any control over the situation.

So they lash out. They attack others for drawing things they don’t like, for challenging them in literally any way, for asking them to reconsider the vile shit they just said, for so much as defending themselves from the harassment they just got. And when challenged, they yell “But I’m a minor! A literal child! How dare you attack me, clearly you get off on this, you evil pedophile!” and they sling around every insult in the book until one sticks. Pedophile is a pretty good one, so is abuser, and sometimes zoophile works out too. Freak is great, everyone gets right pissed off about it.

The fact that Category A queer elders were called pedophiles and freaks is not a fact they know or care about. The fact that they are quickly making every fandom community super toxic is also not a fact they care about. The fact that the ‘kin community has words and terminology and they actually mean shit, and the fact that they’re spreading misinformation faster than we can keep up with, are not facts they care about.

So they come in, take our terms, make it impossible for us to find new folks. They realize our anger is easily a power trip, because we’re already made fun of, so they get off on the little power they can find and make fun of us too, and then when we get rightfully annoyed and pissed off, they can hide behind being minors.

Then tumblr implements their porn ban, because nobody’s stopping them, because it isn’t profitable to have porn on here. Considering most of the otherkin community, and most fandom communities, are full of adults who do occasionally talk about NSFW things, and the fact that they’re just banning everyone who so much as breathes wrong, this begins the start of a mass exodus, scattering already fragile communities to twitter, pillowfort, dreamwidth, and a few other places. Largely, twitter, where you can’t make a post longer than a snappy comeback and where the algorithm is literally designed to piss you off as much as possible.

So community elders have largely left, because they can’t stand the drama and the pain of what’s happened, and that’s if they didn’t get banned for being kinky furries who do talk about how their kintypes merge with their sexuality. Most community members have also left or stopped talking about being ‘kin, because they get associated with antishippers and toxicity and it’s just not worth it. Those of us who are left get drowned out by misinformation and trolls and wishkin and antishippers who appropriate our terminology because it supports them getting a power trip, and whenever we argue, we get called pedophiles and freaks and worse.

And now there isn’t much left. I hope we get to find a better place. Othercon was a good place to talk about it, I did a whole panel (it’s on Youtube!) about what we want to do about it. But I don’t really have any answers. 

But to sum it all up... America’s political climate ultimately culminated in destroying queer spaces, and we survived, and then people who wanted to destroy smaller communities to get on top showed up and we were all but defenseless against something we had never, ever dealt with before on this scale.

One of my twitter mutuals mentioned how kinning and otherkin are now completely separate communities. It’s really the best I can do to keep hoping that continues, until nobody realizes the words are at all connected to each other. It’s the best anyone can hope for, now. I hate it. I hate every part of this. But maybe we can salvage what’s left.

[ordinaryschmuck]

What I Thought About The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Salutations to you, random people on the internet who most likely won't read this. I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons!

Gonna be honest, I didn't think The Falcon and the Winter Soldier needed to be a full-length TV series. I mean, if Spider-Man can discover that he didn't have to replace Iron Man in a two-hour and nine-minute long movie, then the Falcon can learn he can't replace Steve Rogers in the same amount of time, right? I was excited, don't get me wrong, but I didn't know how they can fit a plot for a movie into a six-hour-long series. Unlike WandaVision, which needed to be a TV show to get those TV homages right for each episode, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier didn’t sound like something that would honestly work better as a film. But, once it started airing, and my excitement increased each week, I can positively say that it would not have worked as successfully if it wasn't a TV series.

Unfortunately, I'll have to get into spoilers to explain why, but trust me when I say that if you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should. Because I'm about to dive in (or fly in) as I explain why The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is easily in the top tier MCU projects.

WHAT I LIKE

Sam Wilson: If WandaVision was about developing Wanda, then The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is about developing Sam. He might share the spotlight with Bucky, but this is so clearly Sam's story. It's his journey of becoming the new Captain America that gets more of a focus, and it is one of the best aspects of the series. And as I said, it's similar to Spider-Man's journey in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Sure, this time, it's more about stepping up to the mantle, but both Sam and Peter have to learn how to be their own hero rather than replace the one left behind. In Sam's case, it's more than just being the new Captain America, but also being the black Captain America. I'll talk more about the implications of that later, but for now, all I'll say is that it was so engaging seeing Sam accept his role. Plus, even though Sam tries to carry Steve's title, that doesn't mean he's Steve Rogers 2.0. He has his own ardor and personality as Captain America, on top of still representing the aspects of what that title entails. Partial credit for that goes to Anthony Mackie, who does a phenomenal job of portraying a man who's inspirational and charming in all forms of hell. I'd salute him as much as I'd want to have a beer with him...except not really because I refuse to touch a single drop of alcohol. But Sam Wilson would make me consider it! Because he's that good of a character.

Bucky Barnes: Much like Vision in WandaVision, Bucky takes the sidelines as Sam acts as the main face of the series. Unlike Vision, however, Bucky's story seems more like its own thing rather than something that's connected with his co-star. In a way, it's better, but it also seems worse. Because without having it be locked with Sam's story, Bucky's is still compelling as it develops him further in his own way. His journey may not be as engaging as Sam's, but it's still entertaining enough to watch his own narrative get continued in small spurts. Although, the fact that Bucky's story has little to do with Sam's does have the unfortunate side-effect that he doesn't need to be there. His inclusion is very much welcomed, but I feel like Bucky dealing with his own guilt and trauma as the Winter Soldier could be something that can fill up its own series rather than half of one. That being said, Bucky absolutely needs to be in this show. The emotional turmoil that Sabastian Stan portrays so well hits hard, and his dry humor works for some comedic highlights. Bucky's half of the story might be unnecessary for plot reasons, but it is unquestionably necessary for enjoyment.

There’s a lot of talking: This seems like a misstep, especially since most superhero shows are bogged down by characters talking to pad out the run time. Although, the dialogue in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is more like the dialogue in the series Daredevil. There are more words than action, but nearly every line is so incredibly engaging that I do not care. Sam and his sister talking to a banker about getting a loan might not sound as entertaining as Sam being in an air chase against terrorists, but I surprisingly held onto every word being said due to how well-acted it was. Plus, these discussions help make these characters more human on top of making the world feel believable. I understand the argument of show don't tell, but to me, as long as the dialogue is written well enough and said convincingly, I can learn to live with it.

The Flag Smashers: The concept of the Flag Smashers intrigues me. The idea that a group of people believes things were actually better when half the world got turned to dust is a perfect concept for the MCU to explore. In fact, this is the third story in a row that dives deep into the consequences of what happened post-Infinity War and Endgame, and I'm all for it! The universe is forever changed by this one big event, and it's not going to be irrelevant anytime soon. For the Flag Smashers, they offer the most striking glimpse of how the world is forever changed. Now, I'll admit, after seeing doom and gloom in Avengers: Endgame, it would be better to see the benefits of the Blip that characters claim to have existed rather than told about them. But seeing how there were dozens of fans who made the audacious claim that Thanos was right, I don't consider it too far of a stretch to believe that the Flag Smashers could exist. Especially since the arguments that characters present do seem persuasive enough. It's only the actions that the group makes that derail any sense of the discussion. But in a good way...for the most part. But I’ll get into that later too.

The Reveal of the new “Captain America”: This was the dirtiest, sickening punch in the gut that the first episode could have ended on...and I love it!

John Walker: I often find the best antagonists are the ones I'm willing to psychologically analyze. That's John Walker in a nutshell. He is an arrogant ass who deserved to get slapped around when taking things too far. Yet, I always find myself coming back to those scenes where he seems conflicted about becoming the new Captain America. I get a sense that he genuinely wants to do the right thing and those moments when he asks if he is all but confirms it. John's problem is the constant support he's given by his friends. I'd argue that building his ego is the very reason why he gets frustrated so quickly by people denying him, as he often reacts like a toddler who throws a tantrum when a parent makes the "mistake" of saying “no.” This is why it's satisfying seeing people more powerful than John kick the s**t out of him because it results in his ego going through a well-needed deflation. Still, the constant frustrations he has for not being respected as the new Captain America makes his further descent into insanity all the more appealing to watch. Because him taking the super-soldier serum proves Dr. Erskine's theory is true: "Good becomes great. Bad becomes worse."

...And this is why the writers dropped the ball when trying to make John Walker redeemable. It's exceptional if that was the intention. After all, I did say there were glimpses of a man who wanted to become great, not worse. However, given what John does in later episodes, we're going to need more than glimpses to believe his switch from bad to good. Especially since his decision to set his anger aside to suddenly help people is a little too unbelievable for my tastes given how fast it happens. It's not an awful decision. It's just one that needed a bit more polish. I still find John Walker an incredible character regardless, but I don't blame people for being a tad more hesitant given how poorly paced his redemption arc came across as.

Readapting “Star-Spangled Man”: I adore this for two reasons.

Reason #1: It's a solid callback to Captain America: The First Avenger, which I will always stand by as my favorite Captain America movie.

Reason #2: It proves how much John Walker doesn't understand what it means to be Captain America. When Steve did this song and dance routine in his movie, he hated it. Better yet, Steve despised it. Because he wasn't helping anybody. He was just being a dancing monkey to appeal to civilians, and you see how much he regrets doing it with each show. For John, he relishes the whole thing, because of course, he would! John loves having his ego appealed to, and this routine is doing nothing but inflates it. It's a solid case of visual storytelling to prove to the audience just how disconnected John is from being Captain America. Steve or Sam wouldn't have done this, because being a hero is more than respect and adoration. It's about actually doing the right thing. A lesson that John desperately needs to learn.

Sam’s and Bucky’s bromance: You remember how I said that Bucky's dry sense of humor can be a comedic highlight? Well, that's only second rate to the times he and Sam bicker like an old married couple. Whether it's because of the writing, directing, or Makie’s and Stan's natural chemistry, seeing Sam and Bucky interact with each other is always a blast to see. And on top of being funny, there are these well-handled moments of drama shared between both characters that make their relationship convincing. It's why you can't have this series without Bucky, despite it so clearly being Sam's story that gets the more focus. Because without either character, we would miss out on some entertaining interactions that I wouldn't trade for anything else for this series.

Isaiah Bradely: Well, this character was a pleasant surprise. Although, "pleasant" might not be the right word because every scene with Isaiah is absolutely gut-wrenching in all the right ways. Carl Lumbly gives a phenomenal performance for a character that has been beaten down, with very little hope he has for any change that matters for his race. Plus, his backstory may not be as unbelievable as you might think. Between 1932-1972, America performed what is known as the Tuskegee Experiment. Scientists tested the effects of syphilis by injecting it into African Americans, telling them that they were receiving free health care when they didn't. So the idea that scientists tested super-soldier serums on African Americans, not knowing the dangerous effects, is not that far of a stretch. Neither is the knowledge that a black man was disrespected despite fighting hard for his country. If you researched African American history, you'll find that this type of horse s**t happens way more times than it should. It is heartbreaking, and Isaiah Bradley represents all of it. Thus making the little Isaiah exhibit in the Captain America museum all the more tear jerking just because of how sweet it is to see him get some semblance of a win. This level of discussion of what it means to be an African American is something I never expected with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but I greatly appreciate it nonetheless. What's even better is that these discussions don't end with Isaiah.

The discussions of racism: Again, this was something I didn't expect, but grateful for it nonetheless. I mean, I should have expected it given that one of the co-stars is black, but given how the story was about Sam being the new Captain America, I didn't think discussion of racism and racial injustice would come into play. Turns out that I was naive to think those things are separate. The burden of being a black Captain America is something that not many white people, including myself, consider a big deal. But looking at America's past and how others react to any African American in power, you realize that, yes, it is a big deal. Isaiah, and several real-life POCs in history, prove that America doesn't respond well to a person of color being better than the average white man. So it is easily reasonable to believe that there would be issues with a black man becoming a symbol of what America should be. Hell, I'm willing to bet that there were issues when this happened in the comics way back when. Not because of some bulls**t about how it doesn't fit with the character or story, but solely because they can't handle a black Captain America. And if you don't believe something like this wouldn't happen to someone like Sam Wilson, look back to that scene with the police who didn't know he was the Falcon. This crap happens every day, and it's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier that shines a light on it. Despite being something I didn't expect, the talks of racism are very much appreciated. And I'm as pale white as an introverted vampire. I can't even begin to comprehend how the African American community must feel about all of this.

Zemo: Who the f**k expected this guy to be one of the best things in the series?!

Seriously, from Captain America: Civil War, I wasn't too into Zemo as a character. I loved the idea that this powerless guy tore apart the world's greatest superheroes through intelligence and coercion. But his needlessly complicated plan and stale personality weren't enough to win me over. So when he returned, I expected to dread every minute of it. Little did I know that Zemo's comeback would skyrocket him into top-tier MCU villain territory!

Zemo is a character that, despite "helping" our heroes, still works on his own agenda. He might put them on the right path and occasionally assist in a fight, but only because he still won't stop at anything to make sure fewer super powered individuals are in the world. Because that's the thing about Zemo: His motivation was fine and understandable to a point, but his personality was flawed in Civil War. Here, I finally see how Zemo can work. Despite having no power, he uses his mind to look for any angle to control the situation, gaining an advantage even if it is for a short time. For instance, while he can't harm Sam or Bucky without risking his own life or jeopardizing his temporary freedom, he can still annoy the hell out of them. Like when he forced Sam into a situation where he had to drink literal snake juice. It's actually a ton of fun to watch, and I'm honestly glad that Zemo gets to live to see tomorrow. It means that he might make another return, and I can't wait to see what's in store for him in the future. Which is something I didn't think I'd say five years ago.

The Dora Milaje: It was actually pretty cool seeing these characters make an appearance, notably when they slapped around John Walker like it was nothing. Although, a part of me wonders that if Chadwick Boseman hadn't died last year, we would get to see T'Challa himself make an appearance. This lines up with the character, as I can see him dropping everything to hunt down the man who killed his father. Which would be just as awesome, if not slightly more so, to see. Still, we work with what life gives us. And what it gave are awesome cameos that make the MCU feel more inclusive about its characters rather than limiting them to their specific sections in the universe.

Walker killing the Flag Smasher: There is something so wrong with seeing that shield stained with blood. 'Cause here's the thing: Captain American can kill. He's a soldier. It's expected for a soldier to take lives for the sake of justice. What John Walker did isn't justice. It was vengeance. Vengeance that is fueled by anger rather than the need to do the right thing. Because when Captain America leads an army to kill the man who whipped out half the universe, that's fighting for a just cause. But when “Captain America” kills a man, the wrong man, for killing his best friend, that is an act of selfishness that no one would see your side on. And it was the final nail in the coffin that proves how John Walker does not deserve that shield.

Sam and Bucky vs. John: This might just be the best fight in the entire series. Not only is it so satisfying to see John Walker get everything that he deserves, but the whole thing was pretty intense to watch. After seeing what John can do with that shield, it makes moments when Sam and Bucky barely dodge his attacks with it all the more blood-rushing to see. Plus, Civil War's motif playing the background is another solid callback that fits well narratively since this is technically two superheroes fighting another superhero. It's an incredible scene that was worth the wait of four hour-long episodes to see.

Setting up Joaquín Torres as the new Falcon: I don't know if Marvel will follow through with this or even if they should. That being said, if they do, I'm all for it. Joaquín already seems like a pretty fun character, and his interactions with Sam show there's enough chemistry there to give Captain America a new wingman. I probably won't lose sleep if he doesn't become the new Falcon, but I'll still be excited regardless.

Madame Hydra: I know that she has an actual name, but I refuse to remember it due to how long and convoluted it is.

Anywho, we get a small glimpse of who Madame Hydra is as a character, but already I'm intrigued. She seems to have a fun personality, added by Julia Louis-Dreyfus' dry energy. Whether this is set up for the next big bad or just introducing a fun character, I'm interested. Madame Hydra was already a blast in the short amount of time she was in the show, and I can't wait to see what future installments have in store for her.

“Louisiana Hero”: Or as I like to call it, "Sam's Hero Theme." Because while this is the track that plays for the intro, it still shows up when Sam is training as the new Captain America. Not only is it insanely catchy, but I love that you hear a hint of the theme of Captain America: The First Avenger, yet "Louisiana Hero" is still very much its own thing. And that's another reason why I consider it Sam's motif because it fits precisely with the character. Sam is a person who has a hint of the good man that Steve was but still does his own thing when wearing the stars and stripes. Not a copy, but still heavily influenced by the original. So kudos to Henry Jackman for creating a musical piece that fits so well with a character far better than any other themes or motifs prevalent in the MCU. Because, let's be honest, there aren't that many.

Sam’s new suit: ...I mean, it looks cool. Kinda corny at times, sure, but points for comic accuracy.

Sam Carrying Karli: I mean, look at it.

This looks like something that should be painted and hung up on a wall due to how beautiful it looks.

Sam’s Speech: Two meaningful things are going on with this speech.

First, it proves once and for all that Sam Wilson is Captain America. He doesn't just fight for his country. He also believes the government that runs it should take accountability for any missteps before dealing with something worse than a person who took the term "rebellious teenager" into an extreme.

Second, it is so satisfying seeing Captain America tell government officials off about unjust treatment. Even if it does diddly-squat about anything in the real world, it's still a big moment that's effective because of the bulls**t that happens every day. It's far from an actual win, but it still feels good (I hope). And that still counts for something, right?

“We’ll need a U.S. Agent”: Credit to Louis-Dreyfus for saying a stupid cornball of a name and making it sound...not that.

WHAT I DISLIKE

Still running that Marvel Studios logo in every episode: It's still a nitpick, but its still annoying. It's alright if you want to use the full fanfare for the first episode, but at least shorten it for the rest of the season. Please? For the love of all that is holy?

The CGI: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has some pretty...not great CGI. It's not as awful as the CG in the DC shows on the CW, but it is way too easy to tell what looks real and what doesn't. Failing to make CGI convincing has been a problem in the MCU for a while, as most of the time, characters barely look like they really exist in the scene. To me, I compare it to when Red vs. Blue switches between actual animation and Machinima. The CG models stick out like a sore thumb to the in-game models, but at least it looks cool. Because while I don't believe that I'm seeing an actual man with bird wings flying through a canyon while chasing helicopters...it still looks cool. Still, not many people would be as forgiving as I am to this type of thing, so it's onto the dislikes it goes.

The direction of the action: Now I want to clarify that I have no problems with the action itself. Some fight scenes are pretty cool while also added with some exciting set-pieces that kept me engaged the whole way through. It's just the direction of the action that I have issues with. The camera is always shaky with so many cuts that it's hard to follow half the time. It's an understandable technique to hide the stunt double's faces or to make it look like it really is the actual actor who's doing the fighting. The issue is that once you know a show like Daredevil exists, with its plethora of well-directed action, the cracks in the armor become much more noticeable for a series like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Karli Morgenthau: Karli...frustrates me. Because on the one hand, Erin Kellyman does an impeccable job at portraying the heartbreak, frustrations, and determination that Karli has when fighting for her cause. On the other hand, Karli's cause is so layered with hypocrisy that it's hard to understand her position. She wants to prove how the world was better during the Blip, saying that everyone was happier then. So why do things like blow people up and kill “Captain America?” I get the latter. The guy's a d**k. But to prove to people how better things were, is death and destruction really the best choice to get that point across? I get the mentality of how people respond better to a harmful fist rather than a tranquil hand, but really, has that mentality ever worked out either? 

However, you could argue that her hypocrisy is fueled by the super-soldier serum, with the "good becomes great and bad becomes worse" theory that John all but confirms. Although, unlike John, we never got to see Karli pre-serum, so we don't know how much it really had affected her. With John, it's easy as many scenes indicate how close he was to snapping and murdering someone who disrespects him. We don't get that for Karli and are left to assume she was already crazy about thinking how intense violence can show the world how great things were during the Blip.

Then again, that could be the plan. Show how a person with the best intentions is ultimately wrong, given the lengths they go through to accomplish them. It worked for Thanos, so it should work here. And it would have...if not for Sam saying that Karli has a point. Because for the main hero to say that the villain is correct, you have to show them doing more good than bad. I understand the mentality Karli, and the Flag Smashers, have. But by doing nothing but committing crimes and violence, any point they have is discredited. Take note of the fact that nobody but nutcases on the internet says that Thanos has a point. Because he doesn't. He's a maniacal supervillain who does something so intense that nobody should be on his side. It's similar with Karli, but because we're apparently supposed to agree with her, she doesn't work as well.

...DO YOU SEE WHY SHE'S FRUSTRATING?! Because while I can see how she can be an incredible character, there are so many holes in how she works that I fail to appreciate any of it. And seeing how she's the main antagonist, a character who takes up a good chunk of the screen time, it's not a good thing that she tends to flounder more times than she should. I want to like Karli, but given everything that's wrong with her, I just can't.

Rewriting Sharon as the Power Broker: This is an intriguing idea met with a mixed execution. You see, I like the idea of a character who was once an ally becoming a villain, yet the heroes have no clue about it whatsoever. It creates solid dramatic irony, but only if done well. With Sharon, it's not really done well. It genuinely feels like her character was changed radically to give her this personality. A fun personality, I'll add, but one that comes across as really jarring when looking back at her previous appearance. Don't get me wrong, a character's current personality feeling so radically different from their previous one can work a treat, but only when we see them go through point A to point B. We're told about the s**t that went down with Sharon, but unlike understanding the mentality of the Flag Smashers, her personality change would have been more effective if we saw it. So while I like the idea of Sharon becoming another big bad in the future, I would have liked it more if we saw her decline into possible villainy.

------------

By using my usual scoring system for MCU shows and movies, I'd give this season of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier a solid 8/10. There are problems. Quite a lot of problems. Hell, even the stuff I like comes with a fair share of issues. It's just a matter of asking yourself, "Do I like some parts more than I dislike them?" For me, I find myself enjoying much more than I didn't. It's not perfect by any means, but while it definitely falters at times, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a series that soars to great heights. You might not be in love with it, but you’ll have a helluva good time regardless.

Now if you don't excuse me, it's time I swap from one superhero series to another as I share my more in-depth thoughts on--

[primorcoin]

New Post has been published on https://primorcoin.com/how-daos-are-reshaping-investment/

How DAOs Are Reshaping Investment

Within 20 minutes of its crowdfunding round going live on token launchpad MISO earlier this week, BitDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO,) backed by Singapore-based derivatives exchange Bybit, had raised $230 million from 2,497 investors.

By the time the sale ended, the project was richer by $365 million, much of which will be used to invest in decentralized finance (DeFi) and other crypto projects.

Add that to the $230 million raised on BitDAO’s June launch—in a fundraising round led by Peter Thiel, Founders Fund, Pantera Capital and others—and the BitDAO treasury is on course to become one of the largest pools of assets controlled by a DAO.

It’s just the latest example of funds pouring into DAOs, which are quickly becoming the Gen Z investment tool of choice. Over $8 billion is currently held by DAOs according to tracker DeepDAO, and even Moneyweek has declared the 2020s “the decade of the DAO.”

What are investment DAOs?

Traditional funding organizations are often hierarchical, elitist, localized, and not very transparent. DAOs are the antithesis of this, made up of loose grassroots networks with anything from a handful to thousands of participants.

Radical transparency and anonymity are the norm. DAOs have no company HQ, or formal organization at the center—and consequently no one point of failure. Rules are written in open source code, and the decision-making processes are encoded into smart contracts which execute autonomously on a blockchain. Crucially, DAOs are designed to exist as communities that operate globally, which means a much bigger, richer playing field.

“If we want to turn our business from billions to trillions, we cannot exist in a company-form, but a ‘social phenomena form,’” Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, told Decrypt back in June.

But this novel concept had a rocky start. In 2016, the first DAO suffered a major hack, and enthusiasm for the concept dived—until not-for-profit funding platform MolochDAO re-popularized it.

Its model is expressly designed to minimize the possibility of an attack, and has now been forked many times to create for-profit DAOs which distribute and transfer assets between members.

Metacartel Ventures and the LAO are two examples of investment DAOs; the recent non-fungible token (NFT) boom has also seen collector DAOs such as PleasrDAO and FlamingoDAO, which buy up digital artwork on behalf of participants, flourish. But there are many more.

How do investment DAOs work?

DAO participants use the entity’s own governance tokens to vote on which projects to invest in. An investment DAO will also have an address, which holds all of its assets in a multi-sig wallet, used to allocate capital in a very fluid way.

The aim is a laudable one: to encourage a healthy venture capital ecosystem that provides Web3 projects with easy access to funding and help the technology to flourish. It also means that experts working with these cutting-edge technologies have the opportunity to invest in the same advancements.

“Web 3.0 projects need support in the long term. We think a Web 3.0-specific investment model will fit in these spaces,” said Toshi Kamei, cofounder of Fracton Ventures. The Japanese startup is keen to emulate the success of MetaCartel and the LAO.

To simplify and secure the process of establishing a DAO, there are a growing number of DAO-creation platforms including Aragon, Colony, Gnosis Safe, Moloch, and DAOStack.

And owning more tokens doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has a bigger vote in some DAOs. Take Komorebi Collective, a DAO focused on funding female and non-binary crypto founders; the impact of a member’s vote can increase based on the amount they have contributed to the project, and the outcome of a vote can be based on the degree of participation as well as voting preference.

Are investment DAOs legal?

DAO designers have learned many lessons from the first DAO hack, and the turbo-charged fundraising that characterized the ICO era, which alerted regulators and tainted the fledgling crypto ecosystem.

Some DAO projects, such as Metacartel Ventures, are registered as limited liability companies (LLCs) in crypto-friendly Delaware, in a bid to stay compliant with U.S. securities laws. But a bill recently enacted in Wyoming now grants DAOs the legal status currently enjoyed by traditional corporations. Other states could soon follow suit. “It should let a million—if not a billion—DAOs blossom,” said Aaron Wright, founder of the LAO, a DAO that’s attracted $25 million in funding and has baked-in legal protections.

But legal minefields abound, especially in relation to token projects that might be deemed to be securities in the U.S. “If you have a very flat, non-hierarchical organization, where ownership and decision making is very participatory, and all the information related to the organization is available, I, personally, make a strong argument that those interests should not be considered securities,” said Wright.

In order not to run afoul of the law, DAOs have often limited participation to accredited investors, or have limited membership to only 99 participants in total.

However, DAO members and other DeFi community members are marshaling forces to protect the industry from future legal threats. Last week, the DAO behind yield maximizer Yearn Finance launched a legal task force, the LeXpunKArmy, and others are following in its wake.

Into the future

DAOs are still in the first stages of their evolution, and the prospects of new models of community ownership and governance are exciting. They hold the promise of a future Internet that’s more community-oriented and participatory.

New tools make the process of setting up and participating in DAOs ever more user-friendly. Protocols such as Vocdoni and Snapshot offer digital voting solutions which don’t require participants to pay pricey fees to go on-chain to vote. Digital assets startup Messari has launched an “Uber for DAOs” to make it easier for members to contribute human capital. And investing platform Syndicate Protocol is aiming to make it easier for people to create DAOs by lowering the amount of capital needed to get started to as little as $500.

These advances could encourage new types of DAOs, with members providing specialized services and leveraging economies of scales, accelerating the provision of services to the entire ecosystem.

The Defiant contributor and DeFi Rate editor Cooper Turley described DAOs as “Internet communities with a shared cap table and a bank account.” Today there are over 100 DAOs managing millions of dollars in assets. “We’re seeing a lot of DAOs raise capital to a community-owned bank account and use that capital to pay people in the same way you would a company, except it’s all being done on-chain by crypto tooling,” he said on a recent edition of the Alt Asset Allocation Podcast.

The concept introduces some interesting questions, such as how a DAO’s underlying token should be valued. José Nuno Sousa Pinto, chief legal officer for Aragon, one of the first DAO-creation platforms, told Decrypt that, after the tokenization of assets, the next trend will be the tokenization of companies. But this won’t involve regular shares. Instead, there will be tokens, which can be traded on different markets, and which correspond to different types of participation—or stakes—in the company.

Syndicate protocol founder Ian Lee believes that joining a DAO, or community, will be much like staking your allegiance to a digital tribe and enjoying the status that comes with that.

“We believe [the] DAO will play a starring role as the world makes the shift to Web 3.0.”

Jademont Zheng

The vision is a powerful one. By democratizing investment and blending it with social networking, DAOs stand to empower and enrich the ecosystem they emerged from—in an even more dramatic way than Spotify changed music and YouTube disrupted TV.

“We believe [the] DAO will play a starring role as the world makes the shift to Web 3.0, paving the way for fully decentralized companies that can secure the same levels of significance and influence that centralized tech giants currently enjoy in the Web 2.0 world,” Jademont Zheng, a partner at China-based Waterdrip Capital, which backs DAO-creation platform Metis, told Decrypt.

No wonder then, that so many in the Industry say: “Let’s DAO it.

This post was created in partnership with Saidler & Co.

Sponsored post by Saidler & Co.

This sponsored article was created by Decrypt Studio. Learn More about partnering with Decrypt Studio.

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[eyriedescent]

city boy's ramblings on mag188:

> contrast between the horrors of suburbia and the city !!!

> london being a surveillance state under the eye

-> bruh this is so FITTING but also it's going to touch on so many city-living-relevant themes

> carmen barely realising that there has been a change, not distinguishing between her experiences in London from before the eyepocalypse and those from after

-> this is quite horrific in an amazingly sneaky way, the realisation that the modern-day city is such a perfect servant to an omniscient fear-god that it barely has to be altered to become a hellscape

> carmen's bedroom lit by the LED streetlamps and without curtains

-> i bet jonny would be interested to know my bedroom literally faces a wall of bathroom windows, at most two meters away (frosted over, yeah, but still voyeuristic as hell). and my curtains are too thin to effectively block out the lights from outside, even at night

> the feeling of always being rushed at the risk of somebody else's inconvenience

-> it's quite an overused analogy but living in the city is quite accurately captured by the feeling of being some product on a conveyor belt

> the cameras turning out to be literal organic eyes

-> ah good old tma-typical flesh horror. also not gonna lie they are kinda cute

> the endless multiplications in the lift

-> mirrored lifts are something so deeply familiar and i really like how the writing capitalised on the slightly unsettling nature of being surrounded by illusory corridors filled with copies of yourself to compound the feeling of being watched and being infinitely surrounded

> carmen hoping to make her journey alone and in peace

-> the feeling of going off on your own, actions undictated and presence undetected, is honestly one of the most prominent desires of living in the city. ig this is why i don't really think i'd make a good servant of the lonely. being alone is a respite, pure calm removed from horror.

> having an asthma attack while everyone just watches and takes videos

-> again, a deeply familiar criticism of modern society, but fittingly used to add another dimension to the fear associated with the eye. on one level, the eye is terrifying because of the constant and normalised invasion of privacy. on another level, the eye is unsettling in its callous detachment; for its omniscience, it never intervenes. this is a reinforcement of a very prominent thread of horror throughout tma - the archives crew constantly watch the deepest fears and traumas of countless strangers play out in front of their eyes, and yet their follow-up never consists of helping these strangers, but rather gaining further information regarding these experiences of horror.

i guess this can be further split into two types of horror that arises on the part of the voyeur. on one hand, the servants of the eye (including the archives crew), do not have the power to help or make things better, all while invading the privacy of these countless strangers. on the other hand, they (feel that?) are complicit in the harm being done unto these strangers by doing nothing while watching. the bureaucratic way this invasion of privacy/surveillance is carried out compounds its impersonal nature, slowly and insidiously desensitising the voyeurs to (and forcing them to accept) the horror of their situation over time.

> carmen being recognised by, and having awful interactions with, strangers in public

-> i hope this isn't based on personal experience. it highlights a power imbalance that arises in the age of social media and amongst similar public figures. the expectation is that these influential public figures hold power over their audience. but on the front of privacy, the reverse is true - throngs of strangers hiding behind the impenetrable shield of anonymity have access to your most personal information. and easily, at that.

even for regular people who are hardly influential, the internet dramatically greases the rumor mill. i have friends whose hobbies mainly consist of stalking classmates on social media.

this is pretty horrific when you consider how necessary this invasion of privacy is, for you to get anywhere. even as students in school, you feel the pressure to do things in the public eye, get your name out there and recognised, so you can open up further opportunities for yourself. in a modern city, the invasion of your privacy is matter-of-fact and touted as nevessary, even beneficial. this isn't raised explicitly in the episode, but it does contribute to the horror at what are basically depictions of its consequences.

> the therapist

-> really puts a spin on the saying, “i felt like i was seen”, huh?

> “why was that there still that small, panicked buzzing in the back of her mind that told her something could see her?”

-> LOVE how the use of perspective here (Jon’s POV as the narrator) gives rise to this very meta horror that we are carmen’s torturers. that we are the monsters, the watchers. it completely turns the table on the listeners of the podcast who, up til this point, presumably had been sympathising with carmen. really brings out the horror tied to jon’s own experiences over the course of the series.

> carmen's roomate shushing her while she gets eaten by a supernatural eye

-> this is just. such a deeply relatable experience. people care more about not causing a commotion than about what awful things are causing the commotion :d

> "her terror was pointed and crimson"

-> the archivist's CRIMSON FATE, anyone ????

> hot jon appearance 2.0

-> go off king :)

REALLY liked this episode! at moments, the descriptions were almost unremarkably normal. and that was probably one of the creepiest things about it :D