#solve switch to english problem

[magicalmanhattanproject]

Okay, so with Quackity Studios tweeting about adding new people and the need for tolerance and patience with people who don't speak English, let's just take a second and have a chat about what that's gonna look like.

First: you will hear things or read things on the translator that hurt or offend you.

This is inevitable. Do not immediately post about it. What you need tolerance for is hearing things that hurt or offend you and what you need patience for is figuring out of malicious intent was present or if this is a hill worth dying on right now.

As an example, we're pretty sure at this point that Korean is gonna be the next language added. The second person pronoun in Korean sounds a lot like the n-word in English. The n-word in English, if you're not aware, is like the single most offensive slur we have. It's not something that you want to hear unexpectedly. But also, if we get Koreans, they're gonna be using the word for "you" and English speakers are gonna have to be able to tolerate that.

On the other side of things, Korean has a complex system of honorifics and addressing someone without an honorific would be considered very forward and intimate at least if not very rude. None of the QSMP languages have honorifics though and only French really retains formality* so no one else is going to address them with honorifics unless they specifically explain it to people and walk them through it. That will probably be weird and uncomfortable for them and they're going to have to be able to tolerate that.

*Spanish and Portuguese do technically have formal vs informal but it's disappearing quickly in both of them.

These natural cultural clashes and pain points are going to be harder to overcome since we also know that at least some of these creators won't speak English at all so they can't just switch to English to helpfully explain things to us easily in a way we understand. We're going to have to deal.

So here's the thing: just because there can be cultural miscommunications and mistranslations, that doesn't mean that people can't also be assholes. How do you distinguish between the two?

Step One: Assume good faith. Assume that everyone in a given encounter is trying to communicate respectfully and compassionately and that a failure to do so can be overcome

Step Two: Don't get involved. Especially not in Twitch Chat. Two or more people trying to communicate through a language barrier does not get easier when they're also trying to wrangle hostile viewers.

Step Three: Are you sure you heard what you thought you heard or saw what you thought you saw? Did the translator fuck up? Is it a word that just coincidentally happens to sound like another word? If this is the case, the streamers can ask for clarification or use another tool and get it cleared up. Keep watching and see if they do.

Step Four: If they did say what you thought they said, are the streamers handling it? We had a thing a while back where Bad called some friends, including Bagi and Etoiles, uncultured because they didn't get a reference he was making and Etoiles was like "bro I'm French" and Bad apologized. That should have been the end of it, but I had to see people arguing about it for weeks. The problem was solved in 10 seconds.

Step Five: If the person is doubling down, are you sure this is something you can fix by yelling about it on Twitter or Tumblr? Would it be better to let people who actually know them talk to them behind the scenes? Pierre made a few missteps in the beginning of the server, Quackity said they had a chat, Pierre hasn't misstepped since. It's just easier to sort things out in private, one on one conversation than yelling at someone in public.

In short: it's fine to take note of behavior in case patterns start to emerge in it, but yelling on social media about how so and so is the worst person possible is not constructive.

[rogueddie]

There are a lot of rumors about Eddie Munson. From his sexuality, to his religion, to him being some sort of supernatural creature.

Steve doesn’t put a lot of merit in most of them. They’re usually just bullshit people make up to entertain themselves with whilst beating down on the weird kid. Steve thinks it’s boring… usually.

He’s seen enough weird things happen around Munson to know that something isn’t right. Something about him is unnatural. And Steve is staying clear out of the way of whatever the hell he is, or whatever the hell he’s messing with.

Unfortunately, his friends haven’t gotten the message.

“Do it at your own house!” Steve complains, though he makes no move to stop them. He’s sure it’s nothing, that it’ll only lead to an annoying clean-up job, but there’s a nagging sense of dread writhing in his gut. “This shit is bull anyway.”

“If it’s bull then what’s the problem?” Tommy counters.

“Because none of you dickheads are going to help clean this shit up!”

“I promise to help you clean up,” Carol says. “There. Problem solved. Right?”

"It's still stupid," Steve mutters, glaring at the janky make-shift pentagram they've made. "And a bad idea."

It's drawn on nine pieces of paper- they wanted to draw it big on the floor, but Steve had but his foot down. He lets them use some of his moms candles as a compromise.

With the lights off, sitting with the two of them in a circle, it suddenly feels too real. Even Carol looks suddenly nervous.

Tommy is the only one still smirking, though Steve is sure that it's forced. His voice shakes a little as he begins reading off the paper he'd torn out a library book. His Latin is clunky.

At first, nothing happens.

Long enough that Carol says, "did you even say it right?"

"Yes, it even has-" Tommy starts.

The candles all blow out, suddenly. The light Steve had left on in the kitchen flicks off too, plunging them into complete darkness.

After a horrible moment, where they're still and silent, Carol yelps.

"Don't grab me, Tommy, that's not funny!"

"I didn't grab you."

"Wh- Steve?"

"No," is all Steve can get out.

"I'm turning the lights on," Tommy says. "This is ridiculous."

Steve listens to his footsteps and, when he sounds like he's almost at the light switch, he yelps.

"Fuck this," he says.

"What the fuck, Tommy!" Carol yells when they both hear him running past them. She's up on her feet immediately, chasing after him.

He wants to scream after them, plead with them to come back, that they shouldn't be abandoning the circle.

But, the same gut instinct that insists he stay where he is, keeps his mouth shut. Everything in his being is telling him that if he leaves, if he speaks first, horrible things will happen to him.

Something tuts, like a parent admonishing a child.

The living room light flicks on, so bright that Steve has to blink a few times to clear away the white spots.

Eddie Munson sits in the space they left empty.

"Someone didn't read the terms and conditions," he snickers.

"What..." Steve pauses, clearing his throat. "What are the, uh... terms and conditions?"

"Oh, they're simple, really. Look," he holds up the page Tommy had read the incantations from, pointing to the little paragraph at the end. "They even translated it to English! But all you need to know, big boy, is that you are A-OK."

"And... Tommy and Carol?"

"Eh, they're fine. Lucky, really. I'm trying to relax up here. I'm only gonna pay them back with a minor curse or two. Nothing lethal."

"Fuck."

"We haven't even got to you yet!" He spins around so hes laying on his belly, resting his chin on his palm. "You didn't technically summon me so you can just tell me to leave... or."

"Or?"

"Deal with no consequence, baby. One wish, whatever you want, free of charge. Well... I'd want your silence about the whole... summoning thing. Let's consider that payment."

He doesn't need his gut or book to warn him that it's a bad idea. Munson could be lying, easily. There could be fine print. It's a bad, very bad idea.

"There's... definitely no consequences? I won't, like, go to hell for this?" Steve finally asks.

"Do some charity work for a week, you'll be fine," he says, waving his hand around. "What do you want, King Steve?"

"Could- could you make someone love me?"

"Oh, ho ho ho! Who's the unlucky lady who said no to you?"

"No, it... it's not like that. I mean, um... my mom."

Munsons smile drops. The temperature drops with it, making a chill run up Steves spine.

"Your mom," he repeats.

"They're busy like, all the time," Steve automatically defends. "And they're barely here so, uh... of course they wouldn't- I mean, it's normal, right? You can't love a stranger or... whatever. It's fine. It's just... I don't know."

"Steve..." Munson pauses.

He groans, throwing his head into his hands, dramatically. He almost immediately flings his head back up, hair flying everywhere, giving Steve wide and pleading eyes.

"I can't make people fall in love or any shit like that. I can make illusions, that's it. Love is, like... way out of my jurisdiction."

"I- I'm ok with an illusion. Like, just one day or something."

"Steve, baby, you're breaking my heart."

"Please?"

"Jesus- ok!" Grumbling, Munson shifts so he's kneeling. "And in return, you won't say shit about any of this. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Great. Ugh. This next part is... weird."

"What do you mean, weird?"

"It's weird, I don't know. Deals about, like, love are sealed with a kiss."

"You're joking."

"Nope, and that's not even the weird part. Now, come on and pucker up, let's get this over with." He gestures for Steve to shuffle closer, waiting until they're sat close enough that their knees almost bump together. "You can still change your mind. Anything at all, Steve. Anything."

"I thought you wanted to get this over with?"

"On your head..."

Munson leans forward, kissing him. It's just a peck, simple and easy. No big deal, right?

Steve feels possessed. It's like someone lit a match in his stomach, leaving him lightheaded and confused. He's not sure how he ends up in Eddie's lap, clutching onto his shoulders, desperately trying to lick into his mouth. He feels so-

He wakes up in his bed, the morning light blinding him.

"What the fuck..." he mutters to himself, grabbing at his throbbing head.

At first, he thinks he's hungover. That he'd just had a weird dream... but he's wearing the same clothes. And, sat on his stomach, is a guitar pic. It's got 'corroded coffin' written on it too- Eddie's band.

"Steve!" He hears his mom call. "Time to get up!"

He scrambles out of bed, dashing down the stairs.

She smiles when she spots him, so bright and warm. She even raises an arm, laughing when he practically throws himself into her side and hugging her tight.

"Morning, sweetheart. Good dreams?"

"Yeah. Yeah, great. But, uh... I feel sick."

"Oh no," she frowns. She puts her hand to his forehead, cooing when she brushes his hair out his face. "Is it your stomach?"

"Yeah. Just... might be better to stay home today. If that's ok?"

"Of course it is. I'm sure we can find something fun to do together, yeah? How about we get a vhs movie, hm?"

"I'd love that."

"Great. Well, if you're feeling up to it, I've made breakfast." She steps away, plating the food she's cooked up. "Oh, did I ever tell you about Paris? It was beautiful, you would have loved it. We should bring you, next time we go."

Steve can't stop smiling. He's sure that his cheeks will be aching by the end of the day.

He'll have to thank Eddie- as soon as he can even think about him without blushing. He'll need to ask if it's normal to still feel... affected, even after the deal is done.

Part of him knows it isn't the deal. Part of him is too curious about how Eddie will react.

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁

you have a choice. you can stay in the room where you are the best, where people rely on you, turn to you to learn, to improve. you can satisfy your ego and bask in the awareness that no one is above you.

or you can step into the room where you are not the best — where, in fact, you might be the worst at what you do. you can finally realize that there will always be someone better than you, humble yourself, cry, and wallow in self-pity.

you can remain in the room where you are praised and admired, or you can surround yourself with people who are better and more experienced than you. you can accept that there’s still a long way to go, that your talent and effort are nowhere near enough, and struggle to keep up with those who are truly better than you. then — and only then — you can unlock your true potential.

it is only by believing you’re far behind others that you’ll improve more than you ever thought possible.

why discomfort breeds growth

studies show that we grow most when we step outside of our comfort zones. according to a study published in the « journal of experimental psychology », being exposed to challenging and unfamiliar tasks increases brain plasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and develop new neural pathways. when you’re the “worst” in the room, your brain is forced to engage, learn, and adapt — activating areas responsible for problem-solving and critical thinking.

the “zone of proximal development”

lev vygotsky, a developmental psychologist, introduced the concept of the "zone of proximal development" (zpd) — the sweet spot where tasks are just beyond your current abilities. learning happens most effectively within this zone, but only if you're willing to confront challenges head-on. surrounding yourself with people who are more skilled or experienced than you puts you directly into this zone.

embracing failure as a learning tool

a 2011 study by ayelet fishbach and lauren eskreis-winkler, published in the journal of experimental social psychology, highlighted that experiencing failure can actually improve motivation and learning. the researchers found that when individuals interpret failure as an opportunity to learn rather than a threat to their ego, they develop greater resilience and determination in achieving their goals. this approach transforms the initial discomfort of not being the best into a powerful driver for personal growth.

how to start stepping into the “hard” rooms

adopt a growth mindset: psychologist carol dweck's research highlights the power of a growth mindset — believing that skills and intelligence can improve with effort. view every setback as an opportunity to learn.

reframe comparisons: instead of feeling inadequate when others outperform you, see them as resources. ask questions, learn from their methods, and let their expertise challenge you.

set stretch goals: aim for targets that feel slightly out of reach. they should scare you just enough to make you uncomfortable — but also excited to try.

stepping into the room where you’re not the best is scary. it might hurt your pride. but science is clear: true growth comes from struggle, humility, and persistence. the next time you feel like you're the worst in the room, remember — you're in the perfect place to unlock your potential.

guys i really hope this makes sense because my english is broken this days. also it's exam season, so i'm taking my exams in spanish. my brain seems settled on my third language and i can't easily switch back to english. this days i can't even speak italian properly ush.

[maiochiruhanabiraaa]

Learning Together (Lamine Yamal.)

Summary: Lamine struggles with math homework until Y/N steps in to help. Together, they tackle problems and switch to English grammar exercises, making learning enjoyable. Y/N's support strengthens their bond, leaving Lamine grateful for her presence and assistance.

Lamine sat at his desk in the cozy corner of their living room, surrounded by scattered papers and open textbooks.

He had been struggling with his math homework for hours, feeling increasingly frustrated as the clock ticked closer to midnight.

Y/N, his girlfriend, noticed his struggle as she passed by, heading to the kitchen.

"Lamine, are you still working on that math?" Y/N asked, concern lacing her voice.

Lamine sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, these problems are really getting to me. I just can't seem to figure them out."

Y/N walked over and leaned against the edge of his desk, peering at the textbook.

"Mind if I take a look?" she offered.

Lamine shrugged, handing her the open page. "Sure, maybe you'll see something I missed."

Y/N scanned the problems quickly, her brow furrowing in concentration.

"Alright, let's tackle this one step at a time," she said, pulling up a chair beside him.

Together, they dove into the math problems. Y/N guided Lamine through each problem methodically, explaining the concepts and demonstrating the steps clearly.

She encouraged him to think critically and apply the formulas they had reviewed earlier. Whenever Lamine felt stuck, Y/N provided gentle prompts and hints, nudging him in the right direction without giving away the answers.

As they worked through the problems, Lamine began to feel more confident. Y/N's patient approach and clear explanations helped him grasp the concepts he had been struggling with.

With each problem they solved together, Lamine's frustration gradually melted away, replaced by a sense of accomplishment.

Once they finished the math problems, Y/N noticed a grammar workbook on the shelf nearby.

"How about we switch gears and work on some English?" she suggested with a smile.

Lamine chuckled softly.

"Sure, why not? I could use a break from numbers."

They flipped through the grammar exercises, focusing on topics like sentence structure, verb tenses, and punctuation.

Y/N's enthusiasm for language was infectious, and she made learning grammar feel engaging and fun.

She quizzed Lamine on various rules and offered explanations whenever he had questions, making sure he understood each concept thoroughly.

Throughout their study session, Y/N's support never wavered. She celebrated Lamine's progress and encouraged him to keep going, even when the material seemed challenging.

Their shared laughter and occasional playful banter lightened the mood, turning what could have been a daunting study session into a rewarding learning experience.

By the end of the evening, Lamine felt grateful for Y/N's unwavering patience and dedication.

She had not only helped him tackle math problems and improve his English skills but had also strengthened their bond through shared learning experiences.

As they tidied up the desk together, Lamine wrapped his arms around Y/N, feeling incredibly lucky to have such a supportive partner by his side.

"Thank you for helping me tonight," Lamine said sincerely, pressing a kiss to Y/N's cheek.

Y/N smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting pride and affection.

"You're welcome, Lamine. I'm always here to support you, no matter what."

And as they stood together in their cozy living room, Lamine knew that with Y/N by his side, there was no problem-mathematical or grammatical-that they couldn't solve together.

[calmcoldevening]

Hiii I love your writing could I maybe request some slashers with a s/o who has insomnia

(Add rz Michael and Bubba please

You can add other slashers to)

Oh kitten, thank you for your request ♡︎ I hope it could make you feel better and help to sleep. These boys are all for you

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Slashers with s/o who has insomnia

Characters: Michael Myers (RZ), Bubba Sawyer, Hannibal Lecter, Mark Hoffman

Warnings: mention of cannibalism (just a little, because it's Bubba), insomnia, just problems with sleep, but I tried to make it hurt/comfort

Ps: English is not my native language, so sorry for misspells

Michael Myers

• Expressing emotions towards another person is clearly not Michael's strong point. But when it comes to you... It's something else.

• At first, he didn't pay much attention to your condition, or rather, he just didn't know yet that such apathy and nervousness is something bad. Michael just thought he wasn't used to you yet.

• But still something made him think about it.

• As soon as Michael got used to physical contact, he literally began to feel a hunger for touch. He wanted to touch you, hug you and just feel your tender skin on his rough one. A man slept with you. When he was sure that you were deep asleep and would not notice it, he pressed his huge body against yours like a frightened kitten. He was desperately clutching the fabric of your pajamas, sinking into a restless sleep.

• But that has changed now. You went to bed late, if you went to bed at all, and sometimes you woke up in the middle of the night. Now Michael was falling asleep without your little figure next to him. It was like this.. alien and unpleasant.

• It seemed eerily wrong. You spent less time with him and seemed to be flying in your thoughts all the time, although in fact your body was just trying not to switch off due to lack of sleep. Michael became more aggressive and killed his victims with greater brutality.

• But as soon as the usual veil of anger fell away, and his pitch-black eyes turned soft blue again, Michael noticed in your gaze.. sadness? despair? His heart squeezed a little. Then he really thought about your condition. It probably happened a month after your days became more frequent with insomnia. And he really didn't know what to do.

• But Michael is a smart boy, he found a way out. How easy it was to watch old Loomis for a few days, who, probably because of his work, often experienced insomnia. How to solve this problem? Michael watched the man through the window. Pills? Michael hates pills, and he doesn't want you to become addicted to them in any way. Doctor's visit? Michael wouldn't really want you to have contact with another person, especially if it's a man. Just thinking about it made Michael's heart ache.

• But how does he cope with stress himself? Now he takes out all his accumulated anger and emotions in murders. A knife in his hand and someone else's blood on it cause a man a pleasant wave of trembling. But you can't kill. No, he will never allow you, his fragile flower, to get your soft, tender hands in someone else's vile blood and flesh.

• Although as a child, when he was sad or bad, Michael ate candy... Indeed, sweets. Perhaps it is sweets that will help you cope with stress. It seems that chocolate causes the production of serotonin?

• You were sitting in the bedroom and reading a book, or rather, trying to. Everything was in a fog in my head, and the letters occasionally floated before my eyes, but as soon as your head touched the pillow, drowsiness immediately disappeared, as if it had never existed. Flipping through the next page, you look up and notice the giant figure of your boyfriend in the doorway. Surprisingly, he is wearing his still clean overalls and an orange papier-mache mask. Dirty blonde hair falls gracefully over his broad shoulders. You can't read his stoic expression, but you can see him hiding something behind his back. When you finally pay attention to him, Michael starts walking slowly in your direction. He climbs onto the bed, the mattress will crumple under his weight. Next to your side, he puts a bag with a lot of sweets, and he grabs your legs and climbs between them. The man gently squeezes your hips and puts his head on your lower abdomen, gently rubbing his nose against your skin through your clothes. Like a kitten. Michael was not a fan of soulful conversations, so he preferred actions and touches. You glance briefly at the package and notice inside, in addition to sweets, a small note. Clumsy and a little sloppy, as if written in a child's handwriting: "Hug me if you can't sleep. I'm near."You smile, and your heartbeat quickens. You gently touch Michael's tangled hair with your fingers, starting to slowly stroke them. It's relaxing. I could swear that a long purr is coming from the chest of this giant.

Bubba Sawyer

• Bubba started to worry a lot when he found out about your insomnia. He begins to take care of you and shield you from stress in every possible way.

• When the Sawyers need to deal with uninvited guests, you are usually sent for a short walk with one of the brothers so that you don't worry about strong screams. Or you're just out in the backyard enjoying a warm Texas day.

• Bubba gives you a lot of hugs. Very much. At night, he does not let you out of his arms, fearing that something might happen to you. He is very attentive. A man always makes sure that when you go to bed, the room is cool and dark, and the sheets are soft and pleasant to sleep on.

• Before going to bed, you definitely take a walk in the garden. Even if he is tired, Bubba will still sit with you on the grass, admiring the stars and gently squeezing your little neat hand. He values you very much.

• Bubba will also try to give you lighter food. No hard-to-digest human meat and barbecue, just fruits and vegetables.

• By nature a gentle and simple person, Bubba will give you a mug of warm milk before going to bed. They always gave it to him when he was little, and he fell asleep quickly.

• When the two of you go to bed, Bubba cuddles you to her, making soothing sounds and mumbling like a lost puppy. He clings to you and tries to show you all his love and comfort.

• Bubba has big and strong hands. So in the evenings, about two or three times a week, he gives you a relaxing massage. Trust me, he does it like a real professional. These hardened by long years of hard work can do a lot.

• Bubba will try to talk about your problem with Drayton. Bubba really wants to help you. Even if it means you have to leave him. Bubba will try to persuade Drayton to take you to the city to see a doctor. He loves you so much, his sunshine, the man doesn't want you to suffer.

Hannibal Lecter

• You periodically had trouble sleeping, but you didn't want to bother the Lecturer with this. After all, he has enough problems of his own, besides, he is a psychiatrist and deals with the problems of his patients, he does not need to worry about you once again.

• So you thought when another sleepless night came.

• You were quietly sitting on the windowsill in the bedroom and listening to music. Hannibal, as always, lingered in the office, so you were completely immersed in your thoughts. The light melody somehow reduced the unpleasant heaviness of your head. It seems that you wanted to sleep, but at the same time, your brain did not want to turn off in any way. There was a strange emptiness inside.

• Being in your thoughts, you didn't notice how a big but gentle hand touched your shoulder. Lifting your head up, your eyes instantly met his — bottomless and dark, like thick blood. The man's eyebrows moved slightly to the bridge of his nose, and he gave you a quick glance from the bottom up.

• "Why aren't you sleeping?" His gaze slid to his wristwatch, "It's one o'clock in the morning, dear."

• The answer was only your empty, uncertain look. The man instantly connected the dots, sighing heavily. "Insomnia?" A slight nod. Hannibal gently touches your chin with his fingers, stroking the skin and leaning his forehead against yours. "You should have told me earlier, honey. I'm a psychiatrist."

• After a couple of minutes, your tired body was already peacefully resting in Hannibal's arms. He carried you to the bathroom, sitting you on the edge of the tub and slowly starting to draw hot water. The man added a little lavender oil and a nice soft bubble bath. As soon as your body touched the cherished warmth, a blissful sigh escaped from your chest. A smile touched Hannibal's lips.

• "That's it dear. Close those beautiful eyes of yours," he almost sang in his sweet, slightly hoarse voice as he sat down on the side of the tub. He rolled up his sleeves and took some shampoo, starting to wash your hair. His movements are precise, gentle, soothing. Your eyes slowly close, as if filled with lead, and your heart begins to beat in a calmer rhythm. It was so sweet of him. This man knows exactly what he's doing. A little later, he massages your shoulders and neck, relaxing the muscles tense after long sleepless nights. The subtle scent of lavender and his firm hands created a pleasant duet in your mind, starting to slowly put you to sleep. It's as if in one moment all that stress disappeared from your soul, being replaced by a clear lack of sleep.

• "That's it, honey. Let me take care of my love."

• After a while, Hannibal will help you get out of the bath and put on clean pajamas consisting of your favorite shorts and his loose shirt. He knows that his things make you feel comfortable and safe.

• Under his careful guidance, you will slowly return to bed. Cool sheets on your hot skin after a bath now seem like a real paradise. Sleep begins to slowly take over your mind as Hannibal's arms gently wrap around your smaller body.

• "Sweet dreams, darling."

Mark Hoffman

• Mark knew well what it meant to have trouble sleeping. Because of all his work and the Designer, he was often stressed and could not sleep peacefully.

• So when he noticed you had insomnia, it really started to worry him. Not to say that Mark was a very gentle and kind partner, but he tries. Therefore, first of all, Mark will certainly take you to the doctor and use any possible method of treating your insomnia, no matter if it is a special massage or medications.

• In addition, Mark knows that, first of all, insomnia occurs against a background of great stress and excitement. Therefore, he will try to give you maximum support. A man will try to do most of the housework, not allowing you not to overwork. He will do his best to give you support, both physical and emotional.

• Every evening certainly ends with a warm hug. You know, in his big hands you will really feel loved and safe. You can sit in the living room and watch some quiet movie. Or you will just lie together in the bedroom: there is a subdued light around, the moon shines softly through the window, gently tracing his rough features with a milky white light; you lie wrapped in a soft blanket in his arms, Mark's head rests on top of your head. You can talk about the past day or just be silent, enjoying each other's company. After a while, he will begin to gently hum some kind of lullaby, from which you will wearily close your eyes. In his hands, you have nothing to worry about. He will always be with you, no matter what.

• "I promise you that it's going to be okay, we will get through this together."

• Often your evenings can end with a mug of hot herbal tea. Warm drinks are always soothing, so he can try.

• You may notice one more detail. When you try to fall asleep with him, he deliberately presses you closer to him. His shirt smells like lavender. The delicate scent of the flower pleasantly tickles your nose, causing a smile. Surprisingly, your brain calms down, you begin to feel sleepy. Mark specially bought a new lavender laundry conditioner, knowing that it could help you calm down.

• Every day he will constantly remind you how important you are to him. If he leaves for work before you, he leaves different stickers with inscriptions all over the house. On the refrigerator, on the bathroom mirror, on the bedside table. "It's not your fault you have insomnia, baby. You're important to me. I love you very much. You're doing enough. I'm proud of you." While at work, he often sends you cute messages and pictures. And although he himself is not strong in such things as romance, the fact that he sees your smile encourages him to try even harder.

• Mark buys you big stuffed animals so you have someone to cuddle with while he's at work. There are also lots of milkshakes in the fridge now, and there are different teas in the cupboard to help you relax. And although he tries not to give you a lot of sweets, he buys your favorite fruits and nuts to adjust your nutrition.

• He really cares and cares about you. Mark will try to do everything in his power to help you, dear.

[litrapod]

Damian's accent

So what if… Damian speaks English with a Gotham accent. Now I hear you saying “yeah sure why would that matter?” Because it’s not just a Gotham accent it’s a crime alley accent. He might have had a tutor when he was really young but mostly he learned from Jason. And because Jason was being riled up against Bruce he threw all the eloquence lessons out the window and went back to the slang of his youth.

Now Damian still uses high class vocabulary, he’s practically a prince and he’s not going to let as anyone forget it. But every word has that twist that screams street kid to the natives. People from outside Gotham don’t tend to pick up on it.

This means when Bruce first takes him in all the high society people assume he’s another Jason. And okay Bruce never said Jason was a blood son and Damian is very firm on that point.

Except Jason was shy and bookish and Damian thinks nothing of threatening violence. It doesn’t help that Damian is not white. The rumors explode. He must have connections to some gang or other, possibly organized crime. Which implies that Bruce is in bed with the mob - possibly literally. The conservatives have another reason to hate him and the liberals try to spin it that he’s taking responsibility for a youthful mistake and getting a kid out of a bad situation.

But rumors are rumors and no one can prove anything.

Then when Bruce is lost in the timeline and Damian is having a fight with Dick, he decides to visit Jason.

Damian goes to crime alley wearing clothing that is not flashy but is still expensive enough that everyone from the area can tell. The first pair of goons to recognize him nope out of kidnapping him. Damian walks up to the next set and demands to see Red Hood in a voice that is pure alley. And hood has a thing about kids. He’ll pay them for tips or have them run messages when there’s no risk of danger. And even if this kid doesn’t know Hood, Hood will want to know if someone is ransoming someone in his territory. So…

They end up taking Damian to see red hood.

They tried to zip tie his hands together and he just gives them a look like – try it I dare you. So Damian just calmly sits in the back of the van as they drive him to wherever Jason has set up shop.

I’m picturing some kind of warehouse or chop shop with a back corner where there’s some dusty couches and a microwave and Damian looks about as out of place as it is possible to be. But he’s not doing that squeamish thing where he thinks that everything around him is going to give him cancer or whatever like some rich people.

The goons tell red Hood, what happened and he strolls over like – OK what problem do I have to solve now but he’s also not acting like he’s gonna shoot anybody which the goons appreciate. and he’s super casual about Damian being there.

They’re not going to talk shop in front of the goons so of course they switched to Arabic, which maybe Jason learned from Damian so he has his accent.

The only thing that comes out of the meeting is the fact that the crime Alley goons now have their own set of rumors about how Damian is connected to Hood.

[nintendowife]

I completed Hanaemu Kare to & Bloom (Him, the Smile & Bloom) on Nintendo Switch a couple of weeks ago. "Hanakare" is an otome visual novel with a small twist - there are four female protagonists and they each have their own love interest. Flowers are the central theme of the game and they are incorporated in each of the stories.

The presentation of Hanakare is very nice. Art, music and professional voice acting form a holy trinity of pleasantness. Too bad the four female protagonists aren't voiced and they don't get their own sprite in dialogue boxes. The background art looks detailed and inviting. The CGs are high in quality and there's a good amount of them on each route.

The UI looks good and sophisticated, with soothing earthy tones. I've developed some presbyopia in recent years and it occasionally causes me problems trying to read in games, mostly when playing handheld on Switch. In Hanakare I found the dialogue font easy to read and the text was not too tiny. The only text I had trouble reading was the smaller print in the flower book entries.

The characters are nice, they have good interaction and I like how they're all working adults. Ami is an interior designer, Serina works in a flower shop, Fuuka is an office worker in a trading company and Miku works in a botanical garden. Each of the love interests work in Fill Flower, a popular chain of flower shops. There's a handful of side characters as well who all were a nice addition to the cast. Store manager Kozue Arisawa was my fave.

My favorite protagonist was maybe Ami, I liked her looks, sophisticated style and her confidence in her own abilities. Determined and somewhat selfish Fuuka was a close second. My favorite love interest was the energetic, devoted and sincere part-time worker Wataru, very likeable character. Ginnosuke's cheeky attitude made him another favorite of mine. I'm not sure which would have been my top favorite route.

Hanakare is a truly perfect specimen of slice-of-life. No teleporting into fantasy worlds, solving crimes or getting abducted by aliens - just nice down-to-earth stories about daily life of people and their relationships. There's no common route so don't go expecting some grand storyline. There's some humorous events in the game too but I would have welcomed more of them.

Each route has three different outcomes which represent best, normal and bad end: Glow end, Bloom end and Wither end. The overall vibe is cozy and relaxing but some conflicts arise in the bad ends. One of the bad ends was true red flag material, but at the same time it was also the most interesting ending.

The post-game Special stories don't have their own CGs which is fine, but what bothered me is that they ended very abruptly. Finishing all the routes and special stories unlocked 2 completion CGs to the gallery. There's a Halloween themed DLC story available as well. I didn't play it as I couldn't be bothered to create a Japanese eShop account to purchase it.

The ability to jump into any character's route from title screen without a common route is a welcome feature. Unfortunately the chapter select is limited to viewing just the selected chapter at a time, then returning back to menu, meaning you can't use it for achieving different endings. There's also a baffling choice of making it impossible to rewind and replay scenes from the dialogue log.

I played the Japanese release and the English translation of the game was ok. There were some minor typos and grammar errors (as in most otomes I've played). Worst issues were occasional mixed pronouns (referring to a male but using she/her) which was confusing. That said, the translation was better than I had initially anticipated. It wasn't perfect or even very good but I enjoyed my time with it. Note however that English is not my first language and I probably don't have particularly high standards for translations.

Hanakare is on the shorter side, I completed all content in 25 hours according to Switch. It didn't overstay its welcome and didn't inconvenience player by having to repeat a common route multiple times. I thought it was a refreshing change to the typical otome formula. With some better UI features, better localization and a little more emphasis on humor the game would have improved its standing on my otome ranking list. It still gets my recommendation as a game well worth looking into if you have a hankering for some slice-of-life.

[chuuyaspinkmotorcycle]

Day 16: First Times

They’re been drinking, verging that line between tipsy and wasted as the borders collide and the world starts spinning a little.

It’s a winter night, one of the colder ones for Yokohama, and they’re seventeen and stupid.

Dazai can handle his alcohol better than Chuuya — that’s been proven over and over, time and again — but even he’s starting to reach a limit.

He doesn’t know how the chibi hasn’t passed out yet. Maybe the redhead’s been training for this moment, hoping to one-up Dazai.

Unfortunately, his dreams will be crushed under Dazai’s heel. No one beats Dazai Osamu when it comes to drinking, not even Odasaku.

Dazai’s confident he can get the chibi to give up soon.

“Ne, chibi, who sells seashells by the seashore?” he asks in English, purposefully saying it as fast as his liquor-laced tongue will let him.

Chuuya looks at him like he just asked him to solve all of man’s problems, cup halfway to his lips as his eyebrows pinch together enough to be mistaken as one. 

Dazai forgets that with each glass of wine, Chuuya loses one of the languages he speaks.

Dazai repeats the tongue twister but slower, deliberately highlighting the question with his voice. Chuuya doesn’t usually lose English after drinking, but perhaps that one got swapped out for Korean tonight.

“Has the slug drunk away his language proficiency?” Dazai taunts, switching back to Japanese just to watch Chuuya’s expression morph from confusion to outrage.

“Fuck off, I’m sure you can’t speak a few either, like Korean or some shit.” Chuuya scowls, taking another sip from his wine. Dazai smiles like a cat who caught its prey.

“어, 진짜? (Oh, really?)” Dazai asks, delight overtaking him as Chuuya’s glare worsens. He takes a sip of his own whiskey. See, sometimes Chuuya can’t speak the language, but that doesn’t mean he can’t understand them when he listens. “So, who sells seashells by the seashore?”

“Will you shut up? I’m sick of hearing your voice,” Chuuya says, finishing off his glass. His cheeks are flushed, near matching his hair. It makes his freckles stand out more. Dazai wants to count them.

Wait, what?

Maybe he’s had a few too many, too.

He looks up to catch Chuuya’s eyes on him, his brow raised as if in challenge. Dazai narrows his eyes, the words coming out before he has a chance to tell his brain to hold them back.

“Make me.” He smirks. Anything to make Chuuya angrier, even if his words were idiotic – a perfect match to Chuuya’s stupidity.

All of a sudden those freckles are within counting distance, and Dazai has the chance to count exactly three before there’s something warm pressing against his lips.

Oh.

Chuuya’s kissing him.

Chuuya’s /kissing/ him.

Huh.

His eyes are still wide open when Chuuya cups his face, pressing a little more, insistent on a response of some sort.

It’s when Chuuya releases something like a disappointed whine and starts to back off that Dazai’s brain restarts enough to actually do something, throwing his arms around the redhead to stop him from leaving.

With eagerness he didn’t know he had, Dazai surges into the redhead, pecking him on the lips once, twice, before attempting a longer kiss. The response from Chuuya, a smile that he can feel so clearly against his own lips, is enough for his brain to get one thought across.

Dazai /likes/ kissing Chuuya.

A lot.

It’s been a while since he’s liked something like this.

He doesn’t know how long they stay like that, lips locked and barely breathing – it could have been a minute or ten or an hour, he wouldn’t know – but it’s only when Chuuya slumps fully against him that they break apart.

Tilting his gaze down, he finds the slug looking proud of himself, face still flushed and touching his lips as if they were sacred.

Blue eyes meet his, and the redhead releases a giggle, reaching up to poke Dazai in the cheek.

“Shelly, and you’re blushing,” he hiccups, voice high and eyes hazy, grinning wide. “I win.”

And with that said, he passes out, curled up in Dazai’s arms with a smile still on his lips.

Dazai can’t even argue. Not because Chuuya wouldn’t hear him, but because the chibi’s right.

Chuuya did shut him up and Dazai lost the game.

Staring down at the admittedly adorable redhead in his arms, Dazai can’t help but laugh as he throws himself backwards to get comfortable on the floor for the night, Chuuya positioned on top of him as a good weighted blanket.

If Dazai’s being honest, he’s lost the game since day one.

[ao3feed-skystar]

Electric Love

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/yxpudhg by grassdragon2, Resistercore Jetfire found that Starscream kept getting on his nerves. The stupid Seeker was breathing down his neck cables the moment he became the Seeker Commander, and Primus forbid he ever get a break from hearing that screechy, audial piercing vocalizer that scrutinized him every chance it got. He was getting tired of it, and it's about time he finally showed Starscream who exactly he was dealing with. OR Jetfire is tired of Starscream's bs and decides to deliberately fuck the defiance out of him (spoilers: it doesn't work). Words: 3451, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English Fandoms: Transformers - All Media Types, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (Cartoon), Transformers Generation One, The Transformers (IDW Generation One) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Jetfire | Skyfire (Transformers), Starscream (Transformers), Megatron (Transformers), Decepticons (Transformers) Relationships: Jetfire | Skyfire/Starscream (Transformers) Additional Tags: implied/referenced Megatron/Optimus, I needed these two to get scandalous, Shameless Smut, Smut, Mild Angst, Sticky Sexual Interfacing (Transformers), Seekers, Starscream Being Starscream (Transformers), Hate Sex, Kind Of, they love each other they just don't know it yet, Jetfire can't catch a break, so what does he do?, Goes and fucks Starscream, because obviously that'll solve all of his problems, This is mostly just Transformers; War for Cybertron, With a hint of G1 elements, so anyway, Porn With Plot, This is mostly just for Self-indulgence, Valve Oral (Transformers), Valve Fingering (Transformers), Dom/sub, Light Bondage, a little bit of masochism, But that's just Starscream being a freak, They're all freaks, slight Breeding Kink, but not really, Jetfire doesn't want sparklings, Not in these times, Size Difference, Size Kink, Seeker Culture (Transformers), i wrote this instead of working, Am I sorry though?, NO!!! - Freeform, This is also a slight excuse for me to do a subtle character study, Mildly Dubious Consent, mildly dialogue heavy, I also keep switching subconsciously between povs, like its not intentional I swear it just happens, theres no indication of me switching though dw, just keeps flowing between the two, it takes a minute for them to bang read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/yxpudhg

[rishas-pepero]

Waiting for poe/ranpo headcanons

what you ask, i shall give 😎

This will be a ranpo headcanon, will do poe shortly after.

warnings: rough sex, hair pulling, swearing. Minors dni

author's note: thank you for this request! once again i will be doing poe shortly after i post this. If i made any grammatical errors, please do pardon me as english is not my first language.

genre: smut/headcannon's

Ranpo Edogawa ✦.˚

sfw ミ ♡ ៸៸ : : ·˚

• he is definitely and likely overly-confident guy that would get jealous when you ask someone for help instead of him when he's clearly right beside you. ( he thinks it's stupid, which it is )

• would come and rush to help you when you need it so you wouldn't ask for someone else's help.

• LOVES IT when you praise him after doing an incredible job at whatever mission fukuzawa gave him or after helping you out on something you were struggling for ( man's smart and would fix your problems in less than a minute. HE'S THE RANPO EDOGAWA 🤭 )

• would definitely take you on missions with him even if fukuzawa doesn't allow, man's just don't give a fuck atp.

• you would also probably be the star of the show when he brings you to the ADA, his co-workers would probably give you a maid dress or just very random fits. ( Ranpo just plays along )

• his dates are probably just the two of you solving a case or probably a picnic date.

• he would pick up some flowers for you at a sunflower field if you guys ever went to one, and place it on your hair since he thinks it makes you even more pretty.

nsfw ミ ♡ ៸៸ : : ·˚

• this guy is a sub, no switch or anything just a bottom.

• i feel like he would also be very vocal in bed but would get embarrassed easily if he gets to loud. ( don't want the neighbors to hear now can we ? )

• has a love-hate relationship with your rough sex, sometimes he likes it when you go rough but if you go overboard with the roughness, it'll tear him up.

so don't go too rough on him, he's trying his best to be a good boy for you.

• HE LOVESSS SOFT SEX ‼️

mans sensitive so being a bit to rough can pain him so he prefers soft sex more than the rough one, in this way, he would feel so pleased and yet loved with your gentleness.

• also has a love-hate for your hair pulling, you would sometimes forget that he hates rough pulls because your mind can't think properly, you are fucking the EDOGAWA, so..

but he also loves it when you gently pull his hair and then kiss his neck and the corner of his lips while fucking him with your big ass cock.

• would occasionally complain with how big and fat your cock is but you honestly got used to it sincs you know he can take all of it anyways.

• OMG HE LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVESS THE AFTERCARE.

man i feel like he prefers it more than the sex part, because you make him feel so cared for and shit with how gentle you take care of him, especially after rough sex.

make sure to give him a nice warm bubble bath, kiss him while you wash off the bodily fluids off of him, and whisper in his ear whilst his head lays on the crook of your neck, telling him how good he did and how good he fucking felt, praise him good.

Then after change him into a more comfortable clothes and lay on bed with him, pepper his face with your kisses too, he loves it, very. Cuddle with him at night, he needs a blanket at this cold night y'know? 🤭🤭

[cantsayidont]

"Of course — Astros hat equals two-state solution!"

MO (2022–2025): Charming if contrivance-heavy Netflix sitcom about a Palestinian refugee (comedian Mo Amer) who's spent most of his life in Houston, Texas, working under-the-table jobs and side hustles while waiting out his family's endlessly delayed asylum claim and dismaying his mother (Farah Bsieso) by dating a Catholic Chicana mechanic (Teresa Ruiz). (One of the show's minor pleasures is watching the main character code-switch fluidly between English, Arabic, and Spanish.)

Amer is a likeable lead, and it's great to see Palestinian characters treated with such warmth and sympathy, as well as a bluntness about the occupation that's rare in any U.S. media. (How often does one hear the word "Nakba" on American TV?) However, while the story is partly autobiographical, the level of over-the-top incidental plot contrivance is high, and even a mostly comedic treatment of the horrors of the American immigration machine can be a lot for this format. The show also leans too hard on some standard-issue sitcom tropes about over-aged adolescents who just need to grow up (which feels a tad forced given that most of Mo's problems can't be solved that way), and I found the treatment of Mo's autistic older brother Sameer (Omar Elba) cliched and condescending; I wanted to see more of their older sister Nadia (Cherien Dabis), who has solved her residency problem by marrying a well-meaning Canadian goober.

The moving finale has Mo, Sameer, and their mother finally returning to Palestine shortly before October 7.

CONTAINS LESBIANS? I wasn't sure if Maria's Mexican aunts were supposed to be sisters or partners, but that's as close as it gets. VERDICT: Funny and touching, although the friction between the sitcom format and the show's dramatic aspirations can be distracting.

[neetozma]

The Third Month of NEET Ozma

NEET Ozma, unabated by the cosmic pressures of the universe, continues into its third month.

NEET Ozma is a media criticism / analysis site where the contributors are exclusively transfeminine people, created to try and solve a problem of transfem people being underrepresented in the media crit landscape.

Month 1 Month 2

NEET Ozma: January 2025 - Jan 1st The monthly update post announcing what articles are upcoming; kind of inessential if you're reading this.

Extreme Ghostbusters is Extremely Good - Jan 2nd SabrinaTVBand talks about Extreme Ghostbusters. You know, the Ghostbusters cartoon with the goth girl.

13 Characters Who Should Be Force Feminized - Jan 3rd Oblivion Aesthetic and SabrinaTVBand have crunched the numbers, and discovered which thirteen characters would benefit our culture the most if they were feminized.

Canceled Open World Games - Jan 6th SabrinaTVBand has created a listicle of open world videogames that were canceled for a variety of reasons.

What WORLD OF HORROR Is Doing Right - Jan 8th Oblivion Aesthetic talks about how WORLD OF HORROR's elements have a cohesiveness that some other games unfortunately lack.

Immortals Fenyx Rising: Better Than AC Odyssey - Jan 9th Remember that Breath of the Wild clone Ubisoft made? SabrinaTVBand decided to review it.

The Queerotica 2025 Bundle is Live - Jan 11th Did you hear that the Queerotica 2025 Bundle is live?

The Tale of The Darksiders Trilogy - Jan 13th Sabrina TVBand reviews the numbered Darksiders games, and talks about the shitty executives that fought its creators every step of the way.

Maid RPG and Her Sisters - Jan 16th SabrinaTVBand talks about the history of Maid RPG, the first Japanese TTRPG to be translated into English.

I Don't Care About Nintendo Anymore - Jan 17th SabrinaTVBand doesn't care about Nintendo anymore, and it's not because the new Switch is basically going to be a stronger version of the old Switch, and it's not because Nintendo is excessively litigious.

Arkham Asylum reflects the ambitions of a different era - Jan 20th SabrinaTVBand thinks Batman: Arkham Asylum focuses too much on heavily scripted sequences.

The Pop Rock / Power Pop Playlist - Jan 23rd SabrinaTVBand talks about old people music you don't give a shit about.

Gamepads for the PC User - Jan 27th SabrinaTVBand has created a consumer guide for people who are looking for new gamepads.

Spider-Man 2: Treyarch's Seminal Open World Classic - Jan 30th SabrinaTVBand's series of articles about open world games continues with a retrospective on Spider-Man 2, possibly the second most influentual game in the genre after GTA III.

[satoshi-mochida]

PROJECT TACHYON launches February 14 - Gematsu

Side-scrolling run-and-gun shooting action game PROJECT TACHYON will launch for PC via Steam on February 14 for 2,400 yen, publisher HIKE and developer STUDIO N9 announced. It will support English, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese language options.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

An exhilarating run-and-gun action shooting game based on a roguelite system! Travel through time with Sigma to thwart the uprising of artificial intelligence and fight for the future!

Story

When the Tamageria Republic faces a crisis with the rebellion of Mainframe OMEGA, an artificial intelligence, they turn to their last resort: a nuclear attack to stop Mainframe OMEGA. Countless casualties occur in the aftermath, and Commander Elina secretly activates “Project Tachyon” to avoid the danger of a nuclear winter. Sigma, an agent of Project Tachyon, studies the future and travels back in time to solve problems based on their observations. However, they discover a shocking truth during their mission…

Key Features

-Engaging Narration Through a Roguelite System – Every character, including the protagonist, has a hidden past, trauma, and unique personality traits. Only Sigma, who has the ability to retain memories, can continuously travel through time to understand and forge deeper relationships with these characters and successfully complete the project.

-Dynamic Combat Action Using Melee and Ranged Weapons – Engage in combat filled with extravagant action scenes as you wield an array of weapons in diverse situations. Use melee weapons to block the enemy’s barrage and use ranged weapons to subdue them from a distance.

Choose from over 130 powerful genes in nine different categories and upgrade according to your preferences.

Unlock powerful synergistic effects by gathering various types of enhancement genes.

Watch out for malicious genes, a key element in this roguelite system that thrives on the blend of luck and skill. As you equip more enhancement genes, your chances of manifesting a malicious gene will increase. Be wary as you’ll sustain harsh penalties if you fail to meet the requirements.

Switch up your combat style with an array of weapons that can be randomly obtained at certain stages.

Deal with your enemies strategically by adapting to each situation—use an electric saw that slices incoming bullets or an acid sprayer to weaken the enemy’s defense.

Find an efficient route to navigate the map that varies every time you play.

You can save your stamina to challenge the boss, or take on more risks for a greater payout. It is your choice.

-Experience Unique Battles by Upgrading Weapons – Unlock and upgrade various weapons through quests. More weapons will appear by unlocking them before each stage begins. Modify your weapons and enhance by battle experience.

-Giant Boss Raids – Giant mutants, the followers of the artificial intelligence Mainframe OMEGA, lie in wait to interrupt Sigma’s advance. Unlike normal enemies, the Giant Boss uses a variety of gimmick patterns to threaten you. Upgrade your enhancement genes and collect various weapons to effectively combat the boss in any situation!

-An Intriguing Story Through Time-Traveling – Travel through time and gather clues from the future, then return to the past to unravel the truth. Seemingly insignificant details overlooked in the past will deeply impact the future. Collect the clues amidst an ever-changing landscape to successfully complete your mission!

Watch the trailer below.

Trailer #2

Japanese

[horseprison]

nope, nevermind. false alarm.

been researching my dashboard problems further. things are displaying correctly on mobile, and on my old account on desktop. i believe the issue is the "following" tab on desktop ಠ_ಠ

[darkmaga-returns]

That’s the title of the Glenn Diesen video that features Alastair Crooke and Alexander Mercouris. In this post I’ll present a partial transcript that starts from about the 45:12 mark and continues to the end. Having switched from the US - Russia negotiations, the discussion turns to a very big picture view of Israel and Europe and their shared nihilism:

Europe and Israel Decline & Fragment - Alastair Crooke, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen AC: Secular Conflict Management--the Trumpian sort of reductive transactional politics--doesn't work if you tell the people you're dealing with, 'You know, hell will break loose if you don't do what I tell you,' or, 'If you don't release these hostages it will break loose,' but what if they say: 'Great! Let's bring it on! Go ahead! That's what we want! We want Armageddon!' AM: Especially if, at a certain level, they also see Armageddon as the mechanism to solve what look like insoluble problems. If there are enormous tensions growing within your society and you say that you can't coexist with the Palestinians, you have to find some way to resolve this problem of the Palestinians. So you have the biblical injunction to seek Armageddon, and at the same time Armageddon is the way out of the insoluble problem. So you can see the potential power of this kind of thinking and why ... AC: Can I interrupt just for a second to say that, you know, the Ben Gurion Dilemma was resolved by having a smaller professional Army and reservists and deterrence. And the breaches of the Iron Wall would be expected and would take place, but with the new paradigm--which is to treat the rest of the region as Amalek. How does Israel survive in this wider context? Does it just go on? They're now doing this in Syria and Lebanon and Yemen. Does this constitute a real future for a state? I think this is why this breakdown is so bitterly felt and so argued. I just want to say--because I'm sure you'll get lots of people coming back to you, saying, 'But we don't see that in Haaretz!' It's not in English, particularly in the English mainstream media. This is an internal discussion that is conducted almost entirely in Hebrew. It is not for Outsiders--not even for American Reform Jews living in New York. It's not something that's widely seen. But once I explain the sort of mechanics of this it becomes obvious why there is such a big division and why it could explode. If Netanyahu goes--they're planning to remove him by coup d'etat--if that happens, you know what happen in Israel? What will be the consequence? I don't answer that question. I don't know.

[contentsmith]

What’s the Big Deal About Python?

If you’ve been around the tech world even for a minute, you’ve probably heard people raving about Python. No, not the snake, we’re talking about the programming language. But what’s so special about it? Why is everyone from beginner coders to AI researchers using Python like it’s their best friend? Let’s break it down in simple words.

Easy to Learn, Easy to Use

First things first, Python is super easy to learn. The code looks almost like regular English, which means you don’t have to memorize weird symbols or endless rules. If you’re just starting your programming journey, Python won’t scare you away.

For example, printing a sentence in Python is as simple as:

That’s it. No extra setup, no confusing syntax. It just works.

Used Everywhere

Python isn’t just for small scripts or learning projects. It’s everywhere, web development, data science, automation, artificial intelligence, game development, even robotics.

Big companies like Google, Netflix, and Instagram use Python behind the scenes to make their products work better.

Huge Library Support

One of the best things about Python is its rich library ecosystem. Libraries are like pre-written tools that help you do complex stuff without writing all the code yourself. Want to analyze data? Use Pandas. Want to build a web app? Try Django or Flask. Want to build a chatbot or train a machine learning model? There’s TensorFlow and PyTorch for that.

Great Community

Python has a massive community. That means if you ever get stuck, there’s a good chance someone has already solved your problem and posted about it online. You’ll find tons of tutorials, forums, and helpful folks willing to guide you.

Not the Fastest, But Fast Enough

Python isn’t the fastest language out there — it’s not meant for super high-speed system-level programming. But for most tasks, it’s more than fast enough. And if you really need to speed things up, there are ways to connect Python with faster languages like C or C++.

So, Should You Learn Python?

Absolutely. Whether you’re a student, a hobbyist, or someone switching careers, Python is a great place to start. It’s beginner friendly, powerful, and widely used. You’ll be surprised how much you can build with just a few lines of Python code.