#lawless and without regulations

[thatmoththoth]

I kinda hate how people keep accusing actual artists of AI art without analysing every tiny bit of evidence.

‘that hand looks weird so it must be ai.’

Ok? Hands are hard to draw. Don’t use weird looking hands as your thesus on why someone’s art is ai.

‘Looks like ai”

Ok but do you see any evidence of that? The ai had to copy someone, of course there will be artists with art styles that look like AI.

In our efforts to spread awareness a lot of people are hurting real artists in the process. Is the amount of actual ai we expose worth the amount of artists we invalidate and shun? I don’t know, but this is definitely a problem. Maybe this isn’t the path forward?

I personally feel like it would be better if we choose different ways to prevent people from claiming AI art as their own moving forwards.

[blessed-curse]

The Sins Of Desire - Profiles

1. Lust - Seraphina ("Sera") Vale

• Former Hero Name:Eros • Age: 34 • Personality: Seductive, intelligent, calculating, but emotionally distant. She hides her pain behind a flirtatious and confident exterior. • Rank: SSS • Type: Descendant • Category: Deviant, Attribute • Former Allegiance: Ex-Hero (Member of G.R.O.W.) • Ability: Aphrodite’s Kiss • Seraphina emits a potent, supernatural allure that allows her to dominate the emotions and desires of others. Her pheromones, voice, and gaze can induce obsession, love, or utter submission, making her a master manipulator. • In combat, she can control an opponent’s nervous system, causing paralysis or pleasure-induced delirium. • If she kisses someone directly, she can temporarily absorb their abilities or drain their life force. • Mini-Sum: Once a beloved hero known as Eros, she defected after a traumatic betrayal by the G.R.O.W., who manipulated her into seducing and eliminating targets under the guise of peacekeeping. Seeing herself as a weapon rather than a person, she abandoned heroism, finding solace in The Sins of Desire. • Background: • Seraphina was born with an otherworldly beauty and an unnatural influence over people. Raised in an ultra-conservative household, her powers were seen as a curse, with her own family fearing and isolating her. She learned early that affection was something to be earned—or taken. • Recruited into the G.R.O.W (Global Regulation of the Overpowered and Warborn) at 18, she was placed in situations where her abilities were weaponized. She became an infiltrator, seducing and eliminating high-profile threats. • Over time, she realized the G.R.O.W. was using her as a pawn, forcing her into morally gray operations that eroded her soul. When she refused an order to assassinate a fellow hero who knew too much, she was branded a traitor and left for dead. • Gluttony found her years later, offering a home where she wouldn’t have to fake love or loyalty. Now, she embraces her Sin fully—no longer a tool, but a queen in her own right.

2. Wrath - Darius Kaine "The Red Reaper"

• Former Allegiance: Underground Fighting Pits • Age: 39 • Personality: Hot-blooded, fearless, and fiercely protective of his chosen family. He has a warrior's code but revels in destruction. • Rank: SSS • Type: Descendant • Category: Deviant • Ability: Unchained Rage • Every injury he suffers fuels his power, granting him enhanced speed, strength, and durability. The angrier he gets, the stronger he becomes, making him nearly unstoppable in prolonged battles. • Can trigger Berserker Mode, a state where pain becomes fuel, his body regenerates, and he moves with primal fury. • If enraged enough, he enters Doom Frenzy, an uncontrollable bloodlust where he ignores morality and consequences. • Weapon:Infernal Gauntlets—massive, hell-forged knuckles that amplify his strength and absorb kinetic force. • Mini-Sum: A former underground gladiator, Darius was once a caged beast, forced to fight for survival. After killing his captors, he sought out Gluttony and The Sins of Desire, craving a life where he could unleash his wrath without restraint. He’s fiercely loyal to the group, especially Claire. • Background: • Darius was born a warrior in a lawless part of the world, where life was ruled by strength. His father was a brutal enforcer, training him from childhood to fight or die trying. • Sold into an underground fighting ring at 16, he spent over a decade surviving in the pits, where Empowered and Descendants were forced to battle in blood-soaked arenas for entertainment. • He became infamous as The Red Reaper, a fighter who could never be broken. But as his rage grew, so did his power—until, one night, he slaughtered every last person in the arena, freeing every prisoner inside. • He wandered as a mercenary before meeting Gluttony, who saw him for what he was: a force of nature waiting to be unleashed. Now, he fights for The Sins of Desire, not as a slave, but as a warrior with purpose.

3. Envy - Cassian ("Cass") Locke

• Former Allegiance: None • Age: 29 • Personality: Cynical, cunning, and deeply insecure. He despises those born with power yet craves their abilities. • Rank: S • Type: Empowered • Category: Deviant • Ability: Covetous Consumption • Can copy and use the abilities of others temporarily. Unlike traditional mimicry, he steals a portion of the victim’s potential, weakening them while empowering himself. • The more he steals, the more unstable and dangerous he becomes, risking permanent mutations. • Mini-Sum: Once a powerless man in a world of superhumans, Cassian was driven by jealousy until he was granted Deviant powers through an illegal experiment. Now, he takes from others what he was once denied. Envy makes him a wildcard—both a threat and an asset to The Sins of Desire. • Background: • Cassian grew up powerless in a world ruled by the strong. His childhood was a constant struggle, watching others receive gifts he could never have. • At 21, he underwent illegal Deviant experimentation, awakening his Covetous Consumption ability. But the process left him unstable—his DNA constantly shifts, making him physically weak when not feeding on others. • He despises those born gifted, believing they never had to earn their strength. • He joined The Sins of Desire because they offered him access—access to the strongest individuals, the most unique powers, and the greatest ambitions. • Deep down, he knows his power is never truly his own, and that fear haunts him.

4. Sloth - Lilith ("Lily") Moreau

• Former Allegiance: Researcher at the Arcane Sleep Institute • Age: 32 (Appears ageless) • Personality: Detached, ethereal, and eerily serene. She speaks slowly, as if always on the edge of a dream. • Rank: S+ • Type: Empowered • Category: Deviant • Ability: Dreamweaver • Can manipulate sleep, inducing hallucinations, lucid dreams, or eternal slumber in her victims. • In her Oneiroi State, she exists between the dream and real world, allowing her to phase through attacks or pull people into her personal dreamscape. • Her Nightmare Mode lets her trap victims in horrifying illusions that feel like eternity. • Mini-Sum: Once a researcher studying sleep-based superhumans, an accident left her permanently bound to the dream realm. She was recruited by Gluttony, who saw potential in her detached, eerie nature. Now, she exists in a constant state of lethargy, speaking in whispers and moving like a living shadow. • Background: • Lilith was once a renowned neurologist studying the sleep-based abilities of Empowered individuals. She believed the mind could be altered through lucid dreaming, unlocking hidden potential. • During an experiment, she accidentally triggered an event known as The Great Slumber, where she and an entire research team were pulled into a shared dreamscape for seven years. • When she awoke, she was changed—her body was no longer entirely physical, existing between reality and dream. The world felt too fast, too loud. She had no desire to live in it anymore. • She disappeared for years until Gluttony found her, offering a place where she didn’t have to pretend to be fully awake.

5. Greed - Viktor Vaschenko "The Hollow King"

• Former Allegiance: Billionaire Crime Syndicate Leader • Age: 48 • Personality: Charismatic but unnerving. He is a man who has had everything, yet it is never enough. • Rank: SS • Type: Empowered • Category: Deviant • Ability: Infinite Hunger • Can consume energy, matter, and even concepts (like luck or knowledge). • Anything he consumes strengthens him, making him a walking black hole of desire. • If unchecked, his power turns him into a mindless devourer. • Weapon:The Devourer’s Claws—gloves forged from an ancient material that allows him to refine his consumption, targeting only what he chooses. • Mini-Sum: Once a billionaire crime lord, Viktor sought power beyond wealth. After being cursed with Infinite Hunger, he abandoned material greed for something greater—power over reality itself. He follows The Sins of Desire because they offer him the closest thing to satisfaction. • Background: • Born into wealth and power, Viktor inherited a multi-billion-dollar empire from his father but soon became bored of the material. • He turned to the underworld, using his vast resources to hunt for artifacts, superhuman DNA, and anything that could grant him more power. • After acquiring a cursed relic, he was infected with Infinite Hunger, a power that allowed him to consume anything—wealth, knowledge, even luck. But the curse was insatiable. • Every time he consumes, he loses a piece of himself. His emotions dulled. His memories faded. Now, he wonders if there’s anything left of the real him. • He joined The Sins of Desire not just for conquest, but in search of something he couldn’t devour.

6. Pride - Isabella ("Isa") Devereaux

• Former Hero Name:Titania (Leader of the Elite Hero Team Olympus) • Age: 37 • Personality: Regal, commanding, and unwavering. She never doubts her own supremacy. • Rank: SSS • Type: Descendant • Category: Deviant • Former Allegiance: Ex-Hero (Leader of an Elite Hero Team with NSO) • Ability: Apex Manifestation • Can forcefully assert dominance over any power, rewriting reality so that she is always superior. • No matter how strong her opponent is, her ability evolves her beyond them, ensuring she always remains on top. • If she declares herself immune to an attack, her power makes it so. If she claims victory, reality aligns with her will. • Mini-Sum: Once a hero worshipped for her unmatched strength, she was betrayed by those who feared her. Framed and exiled, she abandoned the hero world and sought revenge—not through destruction, but by proving she was above it all. With The Sins of Desire, she remains untouchable, her pride unbroken. • Background: • Born with the ability to always be superior, Isabella was destined for greatness. She rose to become one of the strongest heroes alive, leading Olympus, a legendary hero team. • However, her power made her untouchable, and the government feared her. • When a fabricated scandal led to her exile, she learned a cruel truth—people only love a god until they fear them. • Abandoning heroism, she sought out The Sins of Desire, embracing the idea that if the world feared her, then it would kneel before her instead. • Now, she rules in her own way, proving time and time again that she is, and always will be, above all others.

Author Final Notes: • The Sins of Desire are not just a villain group; they are individuals wronged by society, each embodying their respective Sin in their own way. • Some still cling to humanity, like Seraphina and Darius, while others, like Viktor and Isabella, have embraced their monstrous nature. • Gluttony (Claire) is the center of this group, holding them together like a dark family.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alex Samuels at Daily Kos:

The Trump administration fired the inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development, less than one day after his office issued a report warning that nearly $500 million worth of food would go bad due to President Donald Trump’s shutdown of the agency. Paul Martin, who assumed the inspector general role in 2023 under the Biden administration, was let go via email, according to CNN. He was given no reason for his dismissal, which he was told was “effective immediately.” The report warned that Trump’s policies “put more than $489 million of food assistance at ports, in transits, and in warehouses at risk of spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and diversion.”  It also said that the Trump administration’s slashing of USAID personnel and its freeze on foreign assistance made it more difficult to properly track the $8.2 billion in taxpayer-funded humanitarian aid. A lack of oversight at USAID, the report added, could leave the agency “susceptible to inadvertently funding entities or salaries of individuals associated with U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.” Of course, Trump didn’t take well to the news that his cronies are contributing to massive waste—something he wanted to eliminate.  The email sent to Martin, written by a deputy director of the White House, was terse. However, the termination might be subject to some regulation, as the administration is required to provide Congress with 30 days’ notice before firing an inspector general and to include specific reasons for a termination. Then again, why would we expect Trump to follow the rules? Martin isn’t the first inspector general who was fired by the Trump administration without cause. Less than a month after he returned to the White House, Trump sacked 18 inspectors general—eight of whom are now suing and seeking “redress for their unlawful and unjustified purported termination” by Trump and their respective agency heads.

[...] Trump just might be the world’s most vengeful president. In addition to firing anyone who crosses him, he’s also threatened to revoke security clearances for his perceived political enemies. All of this shows how Trump will stop at nothing to make sure he’s surrounded by MAGA loyalists—even if it leads to waste and the failure of critical oversight agencies.

Lawless maniac Donald Trump fires USAID inspector general Paul Martin for issuing a report warning about $500M worth of food waste will occur due to Trump’s attack on USAID.

[1americanconservative]

@VigilantFox

Subscribe

Longtime Democrat Bill Ackman Fires Off a Dire Warning to America He says the Democratic Party's policies are so destructive that they're indistinguishable from what our worst enemies would do to "destroy America from within." Ackman then dropped the receipts with 33 damning examples:

1. Open borders, unvetted immigrants.

2. Inflationary spending, rising deficit.

3. Chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, loss of life.

4.Excessive regulations stifling business.

5. Release of violent criminals without bail.

6. Decriminalizing shoplifting, promoting lawlessness.

7' Anti-fracking policies, rising energy costs.

8. DEI ideologies dividing society.

9. Gender fluidity education, harm to children’s health.

10. Support for riots, school closures for COVID-19.

11. Anti-American, anti-Israel protests unchecked.

12. Exploding antisemitism, no action.

13. Vaccine mandates, censoring scientific dissent.

14. Censorship of free speech.

15. Legal attacks on political opponents.

16. Defunding police, loss of public safety.

17. Subsidizing inferior tech, hurting innovation.

18. Government overreach in private sector solutions.

19. Banning gas-powered cars and stoves.

20. No response to terrorist attacks on Americans.

21. Withholding arms from key Middle East ally.

22. Lifting sanctions on adversaries, bad hostage deal.

23. Removing terrorists from watchlists.

24. Lying about president’s cognitive health.

25. Ignoring unhealthy food policies.

26. Proliferation of risky vaccines for children.

27. No liability for pharma industry, excessive vaccines.

28. Convincing minority youth they are victims.

29. Inadequate protection for alternative candidates.

30. Blocking alternative candidates from ballots.

31. Backroom selection of Democratic nominee.

32. Choosing inferior candidates over better options.

33. Opposing voter ID and citizenship proof.

[eugenedebs1920]

In their last term, The Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS), mainly the men, but occasionally Barrett showed the American people how little we are worth to them. They made it blatantly obvious that we are nothing more than serfs, subjugated, whose purpose is to pay taxes and STFU.

This was also made apparent with the reversal of Roe. The 2023-24 term had its share of long term dire consequences yet to be felt. The overturning of the Chevron doctrine was a devastating blow to the middle class/working poor. Its reversal will, at one time or another, affect the lives of 98% of Americans (the middle class, upper middle and working poor).

The right wing apparatus will tell you that regulations, protections, and limitations prohibit productivity which leads to less profits and in turn, a cooling of economic prosperity. What they aren’t divulging is the massive amounts of wealth they have amassed over the past 4 decades.

As far back as the Nixon administration, one could go back as far as the New Deal but, it’s a post, not a novel, certain restrictions, limitations, protective measures, and practices have been imposed on major corporations and industries. These regulations range from environmental protection, labor practices, safety standards, hazardous substances, banking practices, equal pay, the list goes on.

These regulatory agencies specialize in the field in which suits their skill set. Some call it the bureaucratic state. These non partisan civil servants work throughout changing administrations in their various fields without being inhibited by the views held by the party in power.

What the overturning of Chevron did is lessen the power that these agencies have. Putting the rules and regulations they enforced in peril. Now regulations created to protect the health and safety of Americans and the environment we live in, as well as the financial institutions and practices in which they can engage in, are put in peril.

The effects of this won’t be immediately noticeable. We are the frog in a warm pot of water, slowly being boiled to death. What does this have to do with Helene and future natural disasters one may ask?

Some of those regulatory agencies impacted by this reversal are, the EPA, FEMA, NOAA, the Department of Labor, OSHA, The FCC, the SEC, and so many more. Pretty much any agency that limits the exploitation these massive conglomerates and giant corporations can impose on Americans and the world they reside in.

We live in a time where the Supreme Court is rogue. With an extreme right wing MAGA majority, dead set on revoking rights as opposed to instilling them. A Supreme Court who, when scandals arose of lavish gifts coming from billionaire benefactors, rather than enforce a code of ethics they simply legalized bribery (Snyder vs the United States). A Supreme Court, so lawless and void of standards, that justices refuse to recuse themselves from constitutional crises cases, where they flew flags in support of the defendant, where the wife of another was in direct contact with the cheif of staff of a man who, while watching from the dining room of the White House, while a mob, led by his incendiary rhetoric ramshacked our capital. All the while chants of “hang Mike Pence, Hang Mike Pence” rang through the the halls of that hallowed ground. When told the mob wanted to hurt the Vice President, the defendant said, “So what”.

I’ve had tacos more supreme than this court! This November 5th, it is not a choice between a vile demented old man and a lifetime protector and prosecutor for the people, it is the direction, the safety, the environment, the lending practices, the food we eat, the wages we make, the lives our children will have that is the choice because. If Trump is elected, Alito as well as Thomas WILL retire, giving the mandarin Mussolini FIVE SCOTUS appointments. This will dictate the next 30 plus years of our lives. So please! Get out and vote! Vote the Harris Walz ticket and blue down ballot. The freedoms of women, LGBTQ rights, labor rights, environmental protections, food and drug safety, fair banking/lending practices, our federal lands, clean water, green energy for the future, so much hangs in the balance and the effects will be felt for a majority of the rest of our lives. We are one nation, indivisible, we stand for liberty and justice for all! ☮️🇺🇸

[rockheadcd]

brain full of ac6 thoughts and bouncing off ideas with my good friend fae into an unorganized list of neat things that occur in the rubicon star system:

the boosts and overboosts on ACs are whack. i assume they're in units of km/h and it's really easy to get a light build to shoot over 400, which is heavy forces on a pilot when quick turn exists. all that to say drag races or something of the sort ( or even flying obstacle courses ) exists in both a legal and illegal sense. ripping out overboosts and winning competitions would be a nonlethal way of picking up some cash in between missions and gaining a reputation. all that heart pumping hype but without getting blasted.

old generation surgeries for augmentation still exist as a cheap but dangerous way to obtain enhancements for piloting. new gen augmentations removed the use of coral as the augment, which adds a degree of safety in making sure little to no undesired side effects occur—however, it's an expensive procedure, and typically recipients are sponsored through the corporations they work for. some few could pay out of pocket. although coral has been all but closed off for commercial use outside of rubicon 3, it still circulates in the black market due to it's incredible efficiency as a fuel source, recreational drug use, and also for the more risky augmentation procedures.

the arena exists in both simulation as coordinated by ALLMIND as well as physically as another type of "sport". while the virtual arena exists separately on rubicon 3 to profile mercenaries there either legally or illegally, participants in neighboring stars have their own separate rankings that can be utilized without having to put their AC at risk. however. it's way more cooler doing the arena in person. big boom booms and potential sponsorships to cover wrecking one's AC.

unlike the frozen wasteland that is rubicon 3, the neighboring planets actually have some level of habitable land above ground. although highly industrialized, trees exist. that's a nice plus.

interplanetary travel is a normalized concept, and frequently in practice, especially for corporations that handle weapons manufacturing and parts production. many of them have hubs on each planet for physical fabrication, and transporting commerce is possible. keeping cargo free of obstacles is a pocket change, but work exists for pilots to escort cargo between planets.

corporate wetwork is also it's own underground system. independents and corporate mercs alike can participate if they feel up to abandoning their morals. it's not uncommon to see some espionage occur to keep hold of market shares. anything can be done at the right price. while rubicon 3 is relatively lawless in regards to protecting assets, even interplanetary regulations can't always protect a fab lab from being blown up if a competitor is willing to pay for such an operation ( a common type of mission, especially in the older games ).

how many planets are there in rubicon? well. at least three. could be more!

[jourdepluie91]

Kowloon: inside Hong Kong's lawless 'walled city' — the most crowded place on Earth for 40 years

Written by Harrison Jacobs for Business Insider

Slightly north of Hong Kong Island there once stood one of the most densely populated places on earth.

From the 1950s until 1994, over 33,000 people lived and worked in Kowloon Walled City, a massive complex of 300 interconnected buildings that took up a city block.

Caught between China and the British-run Hong Kong government, the city was essentially lawless, equally known for its opium dens and organized crime as its dentists' offices. 

Photographer Greg Girard spent years investigating and documenting the strange place before it was demolished. 

The city began as a low-rise squatter village during the early 20th century. After World War II, Hong Kong experienced a massive influx of Chinese immigrants. This led to a lack of housing in the city. In response, entrepreneurs and those with "squatter's rights" in Kowloon built high rise buildings on the space to capitalize on the housing demand.

At its peak, more than 33,000 people lived in the 6.4-acre city. It was considered by many to be the most densely populated place on earth.

While located in Hong Kong, the Walled City was legally a Chinese military fort. This put the settlement in legal purgatory as both China and the British-run Hong Kong government ignored it.

Laws, regulations, and building codes were not enforced.

"There was never any top-down guidance or planning about how the place should be. It grew as an organic response to people's needs," says Girard.

The only regulation enforced at Kowloon was the height of the building. Because the airport was so close, the building was not allowed to be taller than 13 or 14 stories.

The Walled City was controlled by the Chinese mafia, called the Triads, from the 1950s through the 1970s. It gained a reputation as a haven for prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

But by the time Girard explored the city in 1987, it had become considerably safer. "The city normalized, but the reputation stayed until the end. It was a place your parents told you to never go to," says Girard.

The streets and alleyways of the Walled City were narrow. Most were barely wider than six feet and some were so narrow that one had to walk sideways through them. A massive network of passageways in the upper levels also made it possible to travel the distance of the city without walking on a ground level street.

The Walled City was not the kind of place that you wanted to wander around, especially at night. Most residents stuck to the roads or alleys that they knew best on their way to work and home.

Mr. Lui, the city's postman, was assigned to Kowloon in 1976. By the time that Girard met him, he was one of the few people who knew all the ins and outs of the city. He wore a hat to protect him from the constant dripping from the ceiling.

Because regulations and licenses weren't enforced in the city, it was easy to set up a business. Rents, primarily controlled by those with "squatter's rights," were low compared to the rest of the city.

Many businesses took advantage. Ho Chi Kam ran a hairdressing salon with his wife in the city until 1991. After Ho was forced out of the Walled City, he had to go back to working for others because he could not afford the rent elsewhere.

Doctors, dentists, and other accredited professionals who emigrated from China found that their licenses were not valid in Hong Kong. Many took up offices in the Walled City because laws were not enforced there.

The city became known as a place where Hong Kong's working class went to the doctor or dentist. Appointments were cheaper because the doctors and dentists could not practice anywhere else in the city.

The lack of regulations was even more important for the many meat processors in Kowloon.

Food was a big part of the Walled City’s culture. Hong Kongers often visited to eat at one of the city's many dog-meat restaurants. Dog-meat stew, traditionally made from six-month-old Chow puppies, was a popular dish in Hong Kong until it was banned by the British.

Hui Tuy Choy opened his noodle factory in 1965. He chose the Walled City because the rents were low and you didn’t need a license to open a store. In Hong Kong, shop owners had to get licenses from the labor, health, and fire departments.

Kowloon was a major manufacturing center for many businesses in Hong Kong. One of its biggest products was fishballs, which were sold to restaurants around the city.

This rubber factory was run entirely by two men.

Often, commercial spaces like this grocery store would double as a living room or a space for the children to do homework after the working day was over.

According to Girard, the Walled City had a village culture because of the tight living and working quarters. 90-year-old Law Yu Yi lived with her son's wife in a cramped third-floor apartment. It is typical for women to look after her in-laws.

The Walled City had its own micro-climate, according to Girard, due to the massive amounts of tubing, wires, and open gutters snaking through the building. The lower levels were constantly hot, humid, and damp.

Because of the smelly, humid conditions down below, the rooftops of Kowloon would turn into a communal hangout during the afternoons and evenings. People would hang out, do laundry or homework, or practice instruments.

"It was like a strange, urban garden. There was tons of household refuse. It was a bit of an eyesore, but compared to the area below, the air was light and breezy. It was nice to come up there after living and working on the lower floors," says Girard.

After evicting the 33,000 residents over the next five years, demolition began in 1993. Residents were given monetary compensation, but many protested that it was not enough.

Photos by Greg Girard

[geenawrites]

GEEENAWRITES: 2024 IN REVIEW

[bsky link] + [wordpress] - December 30th-31st marks the end of 2024. A long time ago, I would've begged for the next year to make haste and pull me from the misery of the day-to-day. But with age sometimes comes wisdom. 2024 was not a great year, but the idea of a "great year" seems wholly juvenile, if not an illusory concept. As meaningless as ranking any given moment in your life in a Top Five or Best of List. Life is not without its miseries; every year comes with creative ups and downs. This is to say that 2024 was no more a "great year" than the last. It stands to reason that until the issues that brought despair in the here and now are ended, they will continue to persist. So, the point is less about lamenting the terrors and more about figuring out what you, as an individual, can do about it within your pocket of reality. The only way out is through, so keep going. But! In the meantime, listed below are eight articles I wrote (or republished) for GeeenaWrites (dot com) and SuperJump Magazine in 2024. This is not the totality of my work, but it's just some of the work that I'm proud of.

Resident Evil at 20: Reimagining 'Ground Zero' - Published April 2024: A retrospective on the 20th Anniversary of Capcom's Resident Evil REMake for the Nintendo GameCube and Paul W.S. Anderson's Resident Evil adaptation starring Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez.

We Gotta Talk About: Captive State (2019) - Published December 2024, written in 2019. An essay about counter-insurgency against American fascism as depicted in the political sci-fi thriller Captive State, inspired by The Battle of Algiers and Army of Shadows.

The Cat Comes Back: The Comfort of Early Edition's Supernatural Feline - Published September 2024: More review than retrospective or essay, Early Edition is a very 90s fantasy series about a dog-person who gets stuck with an immortal cat that predicts the future with a newspaper. It's corny as hell, but I love it.

I Take My Miasma Lean, My Liberals Black, and My Despair at Three - Published August 2024: This past Election period taught how quickly the working class will turn against its peers to capitulate to the interests of the elites and the political class. To see it happen in real-time is fucking demoralizing, though.

Temporarily Embarrassed by the Grift - Published July 2024: To be a socialist who pursues a future where the concept of money and capitalism is regulated to the dustbin of history is to live in a constant state of rage. Rage at the poverty we're living in and rage, watching humans beg for the right to live.

Spaces in Sharp Relief (I) - Republished Jan 2024: An autopsy of a twenty-some year experience within vitriolic fanspaces whose negatives ultimately outweigh the formative positive experiences. Because nothing has really changed.

Spaces in Sharp Relief (II) - Republished January 2024: “[…]I encourage every community to quit thinking you need to be fair to unfair voices. Get the rot out and you’ll have a healthier community.” (@AmazonChique)

To Live and Thrive in Baltimore - Republished January 2024: "At a certain age, you understand the reputation Baltimore City has as some lawless, violent city full of thugs is one by design."

[viviercalico]

The Walled City

There is a historical event—or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a historical fact—that has deeply captured my attention and occupied much of my thoughts over the past few weeks.

The Walled City of Kowloon, or more properly known as the "City of Darkness" in Cantonese, was an enormous slum established in China, in Hong Kong. What has made this place the focus of so much of my research is simply because it was tiny yet housed an absurdly large number of people.

It all began in the 1800s when it was founded as a refuge where Chinese citizens could relax and unwind. However, as the opium trade began to take over the area, the region underwent massive transformations. Shortly after, in 1839, drug use among its residents became so rampant that the population of dependent users reached 2 million. In an attempt to stop this trade, the First Opium War was waged against the British, but in the end, it resulted in a bloodbath for the Chinese and the transfer of Hong Kong to British rule.

Despite this, China retained a small part of the mainland island, building a wall around it. Later, this small enclave became the target of the Second Opium War, fought against a radical Christian messianic movement, which only brought more bloodshed—about 20 million dead.

In 1842, the island of Hong Kong was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Nanjing, but the Walled City of Kowloon, which at the time housed around 700 people, remained under Chinese control. The Chinese believed they should maintain a presence in the British colony and considered using the site as a checkpoint to oversee the region—an idea that was soon abandoned. China never relinquished its claim, and the struggle for sovereignty remained unresolved.

In any case, due to the British policy of non-intervention, the city was left empty, with no authority taking responsibility for it. The result was that this small city became a lawless enclave and a breeding ground for criminal activity.

The police were politically compromised—some officers were bribed, and because it was so dangerous to enter, many refused. Real power lay in the hands of the triads. However, the situation changed in the 1970s when an anti-corruption campaign removed most of the criminals within the authorities. Without police protection, the triads became much weaker.

By the early 20th century and the outbreak of World War II, the Japanese attacked Hong Kong and destroyed the city's walls to use the stones for their airports. Yet, Kowloon continued to become home to more and more immigrants, illegal groups, communists, and nationalists seeking to escape the occupation of Hong Kong, which began on December 25, 1941.

After Japan's surrender, the now wall-less city continued to grow. Unable to expand horizontally, it began to grow vertically—from 17,000 inhabitants during WWII to 50,000 by the late 1980s, becoming the most densely populated place (within another city) the world had ever seen.

Although the walls had been destroyed after the war, it was still possible to identify exactly where the city stood because there were no building regulations. Wherever there was an available space, a new structure would likely appear later—all without the help of a single architect. The buildings were piled on top of each other, with almost no space between them.

Despite its reputation for rampant crime and heavy drug use, most of the population were working-class people. One shop owner recalled: "There were no robberies—even though criminals used the city as a hideout, everyone knew each other, so no one ever tried to hurt anyone. It was a bit like life in the old Chinese villages." Inside the city, there were around 90 dentists and 30 doctors who had trained in China but, because of that, could not practice in Hong Kong.

The most surprising thing is seeing how fiercely those who lived there defended every inch of the city. When asked what he missed most about the place, a former resident would undoubtedly say the camaraderie, claiming that despite the uncontrolled poverty, everyone inside was very happy.

Rent was extremely cheap, and there were no worries about taxes, visas, or licenses. People acknowledged that they were aware of how dangerous their living conditions were—pollution was rampant, posing fire hazards, and sanitation was extremely poor.

The city was a place where people could prosper and live in harmony until they had to face the reality of the world outside the slum—the bureaucracy of the formal world. As Hui Kwong, treasurer of the local community association Kai Fong, described:

"The city created some wealth and a good number of capitalists. We had few, if any, restrictions on business here—no licenses or registration fees, no rules or regulations, no taxes, and electricity and water were cheap. It was convenient for us, the poorer classes."

Finally, in 1984, the British government decided to demolish the city, but demolition did not begin until 1993. The structures were replaced by the Kowloon Walled City Park—a beautiful garden inspired by the Qing Dynasty, supported by restored ruins.

Today, the area carries unbelievable memories in its roots, memories still cherished by former residents who resisted until the last minute before being forced to leave their homes.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Andy Marlette :: @AndyMarlette

* * * *

We are entering uncharted territory. The Supreme Court will conjure a non-existent presidential immunity to protect the only president to attempt a coup. Even if the Court grants Trump partial immunity only, that is more than he (or any president) deserves. No person is above the law—and there is nothing in the Constitution that says otherwise. But to grant immunity to Trump on the facts alleged in the indictment is lawless and corrupt.

Josh Marshall’s comments in his Friday Editor’s Blog reflect my sentiments. See Peering into the Corrupt Court’s Pretensions and Corruption. (Accessible to all, although normally behind a paywall for members):

The display we saw yesterday was a vivid illustration of how the Court has gone thoroughly rogue, cutting itself off from even the appearances of the processes that give it legitimacy. That is the core of the current Court’s corruption. If we assume that there might be some limited ways that official acts can’t be reinterpreted as crimes, it seems to go without saying that refusing to honor the results of an election can’t be one of them. Trying to overthrow the government can’t be one of those official acts. [¶] It’s a rogue court, a thoroughly corrupt one, one that is so far gone in its corruption that it feels free even from the practical obligation to clothe its corruption for the sake of appearances.

Or, as Professor Laurence Tribe said on MSNBC, the Trump immunity case will “hurt the Supreme Court even more than Bush v. Gore.”

We cannot pretend that this is normal or acceptable. Indeed, the MAGA extremists are depending on Democrats to be temperate, refined, and reserved in the face of corruption. The time for presumptions of goodwill and deference to the Court has passed. It abused our trust and refused to regulate itself. We must do so before it is too late.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[boredtechnologist]

Resident Evil Outbreak for the PlayStation 2 explores the philosophical themes of existential isolation, the human condition in crises, community versus individualism, and the nature of fear and despair. The diverse array of characters, including a waitress, a police officer, and a doctor, each with their unique perspectives and moral dilemmas, offers a canvas to analyze these themes using philosophical perspectives from thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, Søren Kierkegaard, Emmanuel Levinas, and Michel Foucault.

1. Hobbesian State of Nature and Survival: Thomas Hobbes’s notion of the 'state of nature' as a life that is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" aptly describes the chaotic world of "Resident Evil Outbreak." In this game, the breakdown of societal structures due to the zombie apocalypse forces characters into a survival mode reminiscent of Hobbes’s description of human life without societal rules and protections. This setting allows an exploration of Hobbes’s idea that in such a state, individuals have a natural right to do anything in their power to preserve their lives. The decisions made by characters, like the police officer Kevin Ryman, reflect the complex interplay between self-preservation and the maintenance of moral and social order in a lawless environment.

2. Kierkegaardian Existential Despair and Fear: Søren Kierkegaard’s exploration of existential despair and fear provides a profound lens to view the psychological states of the characters in "Resident Evil Outbreak." Kierkegaard believed that confronting despair was essential to achieving a higher state of existence. In the game, characters like the doctor George Hamilton face not only external threats but also internal existential crises. Their fear of the unknown and the inevitability of death challenges them to find meaning or resign themselves to despair, embodying Kierkegaard’s stages of existential development: the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious.

3. Levinasian Ethics and the Other: Emmanuel Levinas’s ethics, centered on the primacy of the Other and the ethical responsibility to another, are crucial in a cooperative multiplayer game like "Resident Evil Outbreak." Each character must decide whether to prioritize personal survival or assist others, such as helping Cindy Lennox, the waitress, who often needs protection. Levinasian philosophy would argue that true ethical behavior in "Resident Evil Outbreak" is manifested when players recognize the vulnerability of other characters and respond to their needs, thereby transcending self-centered concerns.

4. Foucauldian Biopolitics and Surveillance: Michel Foucault’s concepts of biopolitics and panopticism are applicable to the game’s scenario, where a viral outbreak has led to extreme government and corporate measures to control the spread and manage the population. Characters like Yoko Suzuki, a former employee of the Umbrella Corporation, offer insights into the dynamics of power and surveillance. The use of quarantine zones, monitoring of the infection, and control over the city reflect Foucault’s analysis of how societies manage and regulate populations, especially in times of crisis.

5. The Absurdity of Camus and Rebellion: Albert Camus’s notion of the absurd—the conflict between humans’ desire for inherent meaning in life and the silent, indifferent universe—is vividly portrayed in "Resident Evil Outbreak." The relentless threat of zombification and the collapse of social order illustrate this absurdity. Camus argued that the appropriate response to the absurd is rebellion—an embrace of life despite its lack of clear meaning. This is exemplified by characters like Alyssa Ashcroft, a journalist, who continues to investigate and document the crisis, asserting her defiance against the chaos.

In conclusion, "Resident Evil Outbreak" is not just a survival horror game but also a complex exploration of philosophical themes such as the nature of society and morality in a Hobbesian state of nature, existential despair and fear per Kierkegaard, Levinasian ethics of responsibility, Foucauldian biopolitics, and Camusian rebellion against the absurd. These themes challenge players to reflect on deep questions about the human condition, ethical behavior, and the meaning of community and individualism in extreme circumstances.

[nefretemerson]

it's like. ok. my best friend talks Exactly like luigi. everything about this is Relentlessly familiar. Im also fundamentally opposed to it all. sure the government lies. and sure they do terrible things. and sure they're incompetent. but without institutions. without the government. what even are we? lawless libertarians and petty tyrants. goddamn I love the process. I don't want to burn it all down. I'm over here smuggling out the lares and penates while rome burns. conservative in the way that means I love abortion divorce gay sex single payer healthcare regulation unions and anti trust laws. but also that I love the structure. and the precedent. and committees.

[avocadowritesaboutavocados]

Okay I keep seeing this post on Bluesky without any alt text so decided to transcribe it:

Punchbowl's @benbrodydc.bsky.social got a copy of FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson's pitch to be chair under Trump: [image or embed]— Justin Brookman (@justinbrookman.bsky.social) December 6, 2024 at 5:39 PM

FTC Commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson for FTC Chairman

Commissioner Ferguson is the America First, pro-innovation choice for Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Ferguson has impeccable legal credentials, proven loyalty to President Donald Trump, and a track record of standing up to Big Tech Censorship, DEI-wokeism, and the anti-business, anti-innovation agenda of the radical left. President Trump can designate Ferguson as Chairman of the FTC on Day 1 of the Trump Administration - no Senate confirmation is needed for sitting FTC Commissioners to become Chairman, and his term does not expire until 2030.

Major Accomplishments

Sued the Biden Administration to halt its lawless environmental, immigration and gun policies.

Directed Virginia Attorney General's efforts to bring down the Department of Homeland Security's "Disinformation Board."

Represented Virginia and numerous other States in a landmark antitrust suit against Google's ad-tech monopoly.

Successfully fought to end the Biden FTC's anti-business policy of refusing to end merger investigations early and allow firms to close their deals as soon as the FTC finds no competitive harm ("early termination").

Oversaw the effort to confirm President Trump's judicial nominations in the Senate, transforming the Supreme Court as well as the lower courts. Lead staffer for both the Kavanaugh and Barrett nominations.

Senate staff architect of President Trump's two impeachment acquittals.

Agendas for the FTC

Reverse Lina Khan's Anti-Business Agenda

Repeal burdensome regulations and provide businesses with the certainty they need. Businesses deserve to know what they can and can't do.

Support strong American companies that can beat foreign competitors. Foster innovation that improves our quality of life and makes our country greater than ever before.

Stop Lina Khan's war on mergers. Most mergers benefit Americans and promote the movement of the capital that fuels innovation. Focus FTC resources on the mergers that harm competition and hinder innovation, while permitting mergers that keep capital flowing to innovaters.

End the FTC's attempt to become an AI regulator.

No more novel and legally dubious consumer protection cases. Demand honesty and fairness to consumers, but business should not fear that the FTC will punish them for honest conduct that offends the sensibilities of bureaucrats.

Stop abusing FTC enforcement authorities as a substitute for comprehensive federal privacy legislation.

Fight the Bureaucracy to Implement President Trump's Agenda

The Constitution requires that all federal employees, even the heads of so-called independent agencies, answer to the President.

Terminate uncooperative bureaucrats.

Advance the President's agenda by taking on entrenched left-wing idealogues at the FTC who take their agenda from liberal journalists and activists. Only a strong, Trump-aligned Chairman can resist their influence.

Protect Freedom of Speech and Fight Wokeness

Investigate and proceute collusion on DEI, ESG, advertiser boycotts, etc.

End Lina Khan's politically motivated investigations.

Terminate all initiatives investigating so-called "disinformation", "hate speech" or AI "bias."

End the FTC's attacks on online anonymity.

Fight back against the trans agenda. Investigate the doctors, therapists, hospitals, and others who deceptively pushed gender confusion, puberty blockers, hormone replacement, and sex-change surgeries on children and adults while failing to disclose strong evidence that such interventions are not helpful and carry enormous risks.

Stop pursuing cases under lawless disparate impact discrimination theories. Such cases are designed to force companies to adopt de facto quotas and affirmative action policies.

Hold Big Tech Accountable and Stop Censorship

Focus antitrust enforcement against Big Tech monopolies, especially those companies engaged in unlawful censorship.

Pursue structural and behavioral legal remedies under the antitrust laws and the FTC Act to make sure large platforms treat all Americans fairly and to prevent them from using their market power to box out new entrants and stymie innovation.

Biographical Highlights

Solicitor General of Virginia

Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Also clerked on D.C. Circuit, B.A. & J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Chief counsel for nominations to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Chief Counsel to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Ferguson served as a strong voice that supported President Trump's agenda within McConnell's office.

[1americanconservative]

@VigilantFox

Subscribe

Longtime Democrat Bill Ackman Fires Off a Dire Warning to America He says the Democratic Party's policies are so destructive that they're indistinguishable from what our worst enemies would do to "destroy America from within." Ackman then dropped the receipts with 33 damning examples: 1. Open borders, unvetted immigrants. 2. Inflationary spending, rising deficit. 3. Chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, loss of life. 4.Excessive regulations stifling business. 5. Release of violent criminals without bail. 6. Decriminalizing shoplifting, promoting lawlessness. 7. Anti-fracking policies, rising energy costs. 8. DEI ideologies dividing society. 9. Gender fluidity education, harm to children’s health. 10. Support for riots, school closures for COVID-19. 11. Anti-American, anti-Israel protests unchecked. 12. Exploding antisemitism, no action. 13. Vaccine mandates, censoring scientific dissent. 14. Censorship of free speech. 15. Legal attacks on political opponents. 16. Defunding police, loss of public safety. 17. Subsidizing inferior tech, hurting innovation. 18. Government overreach in private sector solutions. 19. Banning gas-powered cars and stoves. 20. No response to terrorist attacks on Americans. 21. Withholding arms from key Middle East ally. 22. Lifting sanctions on adversaries, bad hostage deal. 23. Removing terrorists from watchlists. 24. Lying about president’s cognitive health. 25. Ignoring unhealthy food policies. 26. Proliferation of risky vaccines for children. 27. No liability for pharma industry, excessive vaccines. 28. Convincing minority youth they are victims. 29. Inadequate protection for alternative candidates. 30. Blocking alternative candidates from ballots. 31. Backroom selection of Democratic nominee. 32. Choosing inferior candidates over better options. 33. Opposing voter ID and citizenship proof.

[whitherwanderer]

Is your OC self-destructive? In what ways? (everyone —from @sundered-souls)

Ooh!! In the interest of trying to keep these doable for myself, I won't answer for everyone, but I appreciate the ask!! 🥹 I'll stick to the idiots this is the most interesting to answer for.

[ edgy ask meme ]

It pretty much goes without saying for Sif—her stage name is the Sauced Songstress, after all—self-destructive habits run deep. Granted that she's been trying to rein in the drinking habit in recent times, she's always had a particular difficulty with impulsivity and anger, and those can make a rather flammable pair with the right motivations.

A few times now, she's had a dark whim that has led both herself and Dug down a warpath with completely avoidable consequences and she's nearly gotten them both killed for it. Pissing off local thugs in fights she can't win for the sake of her pride and attempting vigilante justice on powers that be with a bit of arson, to name a couple examples. Call it hot Gyr Abanian blood or a lawless streak, Sif's poor impulse control might be her worst trait.

Sawyer probably wouldn't strike most as having a self-destructive side. She's focused, collected, even places herself in the role of a responsible leader and mentor for new adventurers. And yet...

Cracks in her self-styled "guardian" facade are few but glaring. She tends to throw herself into her work to the point of neglect, often forgetting to eat or sleep, but even that can be dismissed as "hardworking". Then there's the nature of her soul crystal, a souvenir from a low point in her life that she will hesitantly admit is, in fact, a sliver of her very soul torn out and made a weapon. And then there's how readily she will rush into battle, especially with Amesha at her back. Amesha is a talented healer, sure, but Sawyer seems to throw herself into the jaws of death with a fearlessness that would only make sense for someone who had crossed that threshold and came back better.

Ivih is newer so I'm using this as a chance to figure her out a little more. c:

Having been raised inside the safety of Everkeep with a regulator secured to her temple, Ivih has a certain carelessness that, outside of the dome, might be something only a brazen teenager displays. Part of this is because of her levinsickness, a condition she's dealt with since her earliest memories, being wildly more manageable outside of the dome. Where within it her days range from good (able to stroll down to True Vue with friends as long as she takes regular breaks) to awful (body pains, headaches, and paralysis enough to require in-house help), outside she's able to explore, run, fight. At least, until a thunderstorm rolls overhead. Hers is a journey about learning to live with the condition, respect her limits, and learn that they don't define her.

Even before leaving the dome, though, she liked to... take advantage of her good days. Ivih has a penchant for getting ahold of illicit feral souls for kicks and letting herself loose for a while, which without the training of a hunter or a military officer, could cloud her judgement and make her misjudge her still very mortal limitations. After a crash, she has been stranded out in the Yyasulani wastes where beasts and defective sentries roam, without any mobility aids, until she was able to flag down a patrol and be brought back. Don't remind her about it, though, unless you want your insecurities to be needled next.

[thevividgreenmoss]

To crush the various attempts of the Arabs to revolt, savage measures of repression have been, and are being, used. Under emergency legislation, officially promulgated by the Government, it has been made possible to hang a man for the mere possession of fire-arms, after trial by a military court. It is hardly necessary to point out that such a charge is very easily concocted on perjured evidence. Of its application it may be observed that this measure has been rigorously applied to Arabs whilst Jewish offences have been overlooked or leniently dealt with. (Details are given with dates, etc., in Punitive Measures in Palestine, published by the Arab Centre, 72, Victoria Street, S.W.1). Damage to property is punishable by life imprisonment.

The Government holds power to commandeer any premises or articles it requires, and to demolish without compensation any houses where crimes are supposed to have been committed or abetted , “the actual offender being unknown.” In Jaffa alone, 600 Arab homes have been blown up under the regulation. “Collective fines ” are imposed on villages “the inhabitants of which THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE have committed or connived at crimes or acts of lawlessness or violence.” Concentration camps, general searches without warrant, and censorship of posts, telegrams and publications complete the picture.

How this regime — in no respect better than Hitler’s — works out in practice, may be gathered from our newspapers to some small extent. Here we can find stories of Arabs shot at sight and on suspicion by gallant Englishmen. But the worst facts are nor published, though the authority for them is at least as good as that offered for most fascist atrocity stories . A petition from the villagers of Al Tirah tells of what took place there on June 4th, I936:

“The soldiers entered the houses, collected what they could of food, clothes and furniture and set it on fire . . . The owners, who watched helplessly, were beaten and struck down with the butts of rifles.”

In the end no arms were found, in spite of threats, and the soldiers left having destroyed everything but the money of the villagers, which they took with them. In another village (Al Taibah), 150 men were rounded up and forced to march round all day. Those who became tired were beaten and two who attempted to escape were shot down. One was bludgeoned with a rifle butt as he lay wounded, and both died in hospital. Many similar cases are known of brutality and murder.

Those who know anything about British imperialism will not be surprised at such facts. Imperialism is like fascism — a system of slavery, savage and ruthless when it is at bay. But while such measures have been used against the Arabs, in only one case has a Jew been executed up to the present time. With a few exceptions they are either on the side of the Government or “plus royale que le roi.” The chief Jewish criticisms of the Government are to the effect that it has not gone FAR ENOUGH in its repressive measures!

Our sympathy with the Jews in Germany and many other countries must not blind us, therefore, for one moment, to the reactionary character of Zionism. What is appalling from every point of view is that the leaders of the working-class in Britain are whole-heartedly supporting the “mandate” with all that it implies . With characteristic hypocrisy, the Labour Party carried UNANIMOUSLY at its Conference in 1936 a resolution supporting the Palestine Mandate “in the interests of the peace of the world.” Their argument was that since “the situation of Palestine makes it a point of extreme strategic importance and, as such, an object for rival imperialist ambitions” it should remain under British control! But the existence of the Thieves’ Kitchen at Geneva enabled these “internationalists” to cloak the proposal in a suitable phraseology to disguise the crude imperialism of their own policy.