#subsetting: ri

[garlicboyart]

a couple days after a border skirmish, some thoughts that have been stewing are discussed

short context explanation down vv there..

all of the lore in one paragraph is too complicated but summarized:

mirko (tall guy, straight hair) and haidan (tail and furry face) are fighting together in a years-old war and stuck behind a blockade. it's a couple months or so after meeting cecil (guy theyre talking about), whos an assassin sent to kill mirko on account of his position as a infamous guerrilla fighter in the war effort. mirko's got some standoutish magic and a reputation.. but cecil got overpowered and haidan Really wanted to be his friend and it worked. huart emoji

[rjzimmerman]

It’s incredibly weird how many people around Trump seem to get an unhealthy pleasure from other people’s pain, distress, and humiliation. It seems abnormal. It’s weird and twisted how fixated they are on a brutal Salvadoran prison, and taking photos with people behind bars, and bent-over shaved men. (Even caging children at the border, back in Trump One.) It’s weird how they derive joy from firing perfectly harmless people and walking them out of their offices on short notice between security personnel. … It’s weird how they cheer plainclothes, masked fed agents snatching college kids off the street and imprisoning them for exercising their freedom of speech. It’s weird how tyrants throughout history seem to attract people who have a taste for torture and cruelty. Is there some weird way people with those tastes recognize each other, that normal people can’t see? It’s just weird that any subset of humanity gets its kicks this way.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

[jayceispathetic]

THE DIMENSIONS AND THEIR RULING SPECIES

Get ready for an unnecessarily long lore dump about my Minecraft AU: CAELORIA, THE LAST ISLANDERS.

Before we begin however, I'd like to give credit to the person who inspired this tweet + the layout of this post in general! @oldmagerambles! Go check out their stuff for some more cool Minecraft world building stuff! :]

Now, let us begin...

THE FIRST REALM: OLYTHOS (The Overworld)

(Pronounced "Oh-LITH-ohs")

A vibrant, earth-like realm of large grasslands, scattered islands, and hidden gemstone veins buried underneath the surface. Olythos is the world of creation, full of life and endless possibility, a monument to creation and creativity themselves. It was once a paradise, but its people’s greed led to war and destruction, and by modern day (Classic MC) the world is no longer the lush paradise it once was, now divided into scattered biomes and islands.

By the time of Minecraft Legends: three main species had overtaken Olythos.

SPECIES ONE: THE AEDARI (The Builders)

(Pronounced "Ah-DA-ri")

These were the pioneering artisans who shaped the very world into what it is today. The Aedari were once the dominant race of the world, their mastery over magic and creation making them unrivaled. Their downfall came from their own hubris, overharvesting the land of its resources and angering the primordial forces. Banished to the Isles of Nysithea, they now exist as the mutated Abysswalkers.

Before their unwilling exile to The Isles of Nysithea, they had split into three great nations:

The Xilathari also known as the Vinebound.

A jungle-dwelling people who built hidden temples and hunted massive beasts such as The Great Sniffer. Inspired by the vine-entwined jungles and the militant, temple-building cultures of ancient Mesoamerica and Africa.

The Khetraim, also known as the Sunforged.

Desert dwellers who sought the secrets of life and death itself, worshipping the celestial Hosts of Foresight, Action and Knowledge. Their massive pyramids still stand as evidence of their grand rituals. This subset is based on the cultures of ancient Egypt and the Middle East.

The Pelagonites, also known as the Deepwardens.

A once-great maritime people, their monuments and war fleets were drowned in the Maelstrom. Heavily inspired by Mediterranean culture.

SPECIES TWO: THE KHARI (The Villagers)

(Pronounced "KAH-ree")

A second subset of humanoid beings that seemingly sprouted after the builders did. They're a peaceful, agrarian people who learned to coexist with nature rather than dominate it. They are a settled society, unlike the Aedari, which were nomadic.

They're a tribe made up of a religious, vegetarian series of craftsmen, scholars, and hard workers who work together to keep the village stable. As mentioned previously, they learned to live alongside the land and not against it, and that's the reason why they're the largest surviving race as of modern day. Also, something happened genetically which led to all villagers (and subsequentially, Illagers), having distinct larger noses and unibrows, a trait not shared by builders.

These traits might have become adaptive, helping villagers detect hidden dangers or even suspicious activity in their environment. The builders, being nomadic and exposed to a wider genetic diversity, simply didn’t experience this same bottleneck, keeping their features more varied compared to Villagers.

SPECIES THREE: THE VOL'KAR (The Illagers)

(Pronounced "VOLL-kar")

The first and only evolutionary(?) subset of the Khari. They started off as weaker villagers, whose immune systems hadn't exactly adapted as well as other villagers, which meant that when builders arrived, all their viruses came with, which led to illagers gaining slightly greyer skin.

Eventually, when the war against the Nehen’Vur's Boargrims rose up, they had learned how to be violent, fighting alongside the Aedari to protect their home realm from this invasive species. They now saw themselves as the priests of The Hosts, divine cleansers who were brought on this realm to purge the Olythos of all those unworthy and weak. This caused a sort of blood lust, and so, they begin tampering with violence, even following the path of the Aedari and experimenting with magic capable of controlling life and death, and they succeed, creating totems of undying! Their magical discoveries led to allyships between the Aedari and the Vol'kar in the construction of things like the Trial Chambers and Ancient Cities.

Eventually, this subset was kicked out of villages due to unspeakable activities featuring the use of Lapis Lazuli and the construction of Ravagers. These outcasts turned to war and dark magics, fully developing a taste for conquest.

Now that we've covered the three ruling species of Olythos, let's move on to our second dimension.

THE SECOND REALM: NEHEN'VUR (The Nether)

(Pronounced “Neh-HEN-vur”)

The polar opposite to the realm of Olythos. While Olythos is a land of vibrance and life, Nehen'vur is a dimension with no love, no joy, no creativity at all! The land is segmented into multiple floating islands and mountainous, desert-like landscapes separated by seas of boiling lava. However, the existence of Basalt Deltas implies that this place used to be hospitable, even frozen over! However, any remnant of that ice age is long gone by now. Only one civilization stands high and proud, ruling the Nether with an iron— or more fittingly— a golden fist.

SPECIES ONE: THE BOARGRIMS (The Piglins)

The Boargrims are a militaristic civilization that has not only survived but thrived within the blazing hellscape of Nehen’vur. Despite the brutal terrain, the choking heat, and the endless threats lurking within the infernal realm, the Boargrims created a semi-successful structured society. They are not mere brutes, they have warriors, miners, chiefs, butchers, and even musicians, having created the only known music in the Nehen’vur: Pigstep. However, this isn't how it always was.

The Ice Age of Nehen’vur predates its current infernal state by many years. This environment is where the Boargrims first came to be. Life was difficult, sure, but it was survivable. It was the Boargrims, in their relentless drive to dominate Nehen’vur, who changed everything. As their civilization advanced, they turned from mere warriors into an industrial powerhouse, forging machines of war, great bastions, and smelteries that churned out Netherite weapons and armor in unprecedented numbers. Their rise to power was accompanied by rapid expansion, massive blackstone factories, soul-fueled engines, and vast industrial zones scarred the landscape. But with progress came consequence. The very machines that propelled the Boargrims to dominance also choked the sky with smoke and fumes, flooding Nehen’vur with greenhouse gases. The glaciers that had once defined the realm began to crack and melt, and the permafrost that coated the ancient terrain turned to slush. Rivers of ice became floods of molten lava, entire ecosystems collapsed, and in mere generations, Nehen’vur was transformed into the blazing hellscape it is today.

The Boargrims had succeeded in reshaping their world, but at a terrible cost. The cooling balance that had once allowed them to expand vanished forever, leaving behind a land of eternal fire and suffocating heat. The industrial empire they built could no longer sustain them, and their ambition to rule pushed them toward their next goal: Olythos, the realm beyond.

But they were met with bitter resistance. The Aedari and Khari tribes united against them, casting them back into the fiery hellscape of Nehen’vur. With their attempt at spreading their empire failed, the Boargrims were forced to retreat to the ruins of their former empire, struggling to reclaim even a fraction of what they once held.

Their once-thriving empire now lies in ruin. The Boargrims were not always in this post-apocalyptic state. They were once the undisputed rulers of Nehen’vur, constructing blackstone fortresses, towering obsidian citadels, and weapons of pure Titanite, the strongest material known to boarkind. Unlike the Aedari and Khari, who relied on magic, the Boargrims mastered machines, steam-driven war engines, great smelteries, and monstrous siege weapons. But, now all of that is gone. The Titanite they once used is now scattered deep below ground, and in small Titanite scraps. Now, they only have the next best thing: Gold. Gold holds an almost sacred value among them, not just as a resource but as a symbol of status, wealth, and survival. Their entire trade economy revolves around it, and they adorn themselves with golden armor and ornaments, marking their hierarchy and distinguishing themselves from the mindless Goretusks (Hoglins), feral beasts that share their brutish ancestry but none of their intellect, behaving like wild animals.

Their society has definitely fallen from its glory days, even if they're still surviving and thriving within Nehen'vur. However, they're not the only society to fall from grace...

THE THIRD REALM: NYSITHEA (The End)

(Pronounced "Nih-SITH-ee-uh")

Once proud architects of Olythos, the Aedari fell to their own hubris, unleashing an ancient horror that shattered their world apart: The Wither. As punishment, they were exiled into Nysithea, an abyssal void painted with floating desaturated islands, the end of the line, where they were stripped of their humanity and reshaped by the realm’s natural magical telepathic and telportation properties.

The Aedari's obsession with escape led them to slaughter all but the final of the great dragons, harvesting their wings in a futile attempt to break free from Nysithea. This act of desecration sealed their fate, binding them eternally to the abyss and mutating them into the creatures that now haunt the void: The Abyssdwellers, also known as The Voidwalkers.

SPECIES ONE: THE ABYSSWALKERS (The Endermen)

The Abysswalkers are the only living remnants of the Aedari, their bodies elongated and warped by centuries of abyssal exposure. Silent and watchful, they retain some manner of their old intelligence, though it is now buried beneath eons of mutation, only able to communicate through warbled and distorted speech. They are obsessed with structure, instinctively rearranging blocks in a futile attempt to reconstruct the homes they lost. They have the ability to warp across landscapes and dimensions, constantly teleporting in a final near futile attempt to return home. Some manage to teleport back to Olythos successfully, but unfortunately, most are left to wander the vast desaturated isles of Nysithea until the day they die.

SPECIES TWO: THE UMBRITHALLS (The Enderlings)

The broken, malformed children of the Abysswalkers, mutated further into monstrous shapes. Their minds have fully succumbed to the abyss of Nysithea, driven by nothing but hunger and rage. Unlike the Voiddwellers, the Umbrithralls are purely predatory, their forms grotesque and unstable. They have multiple variants, such as: The Veylkin, The Thrynnkin, and The Nyzokin (The Watchlings, The Blastlings, and The Snarelings from Dungeons). These beings infest the ruins of the Shattered Bastion.

SPECIES THREE: THE DREADSENTINELS (The Endersents)

Carved from the bones of The Isles of Nysithea itself, the Dreadsentinels are eternal guardians, each charged with protecting a Severed Eye (Eye of Ender), a relic that could potentially re-open the gateways to Olythos. Unlike its lesser variants, the Dreadsentinels retain individuality, each bearing a name and a function within the abyss.

- Vorr’kaal : The Savage Eye

- Kyrox : The Ravenous Eye

- Xyrrith : The Blight Eye

- Tza’laar : The Reaping Eye

- Velmuth : The Binding Eye

- Druun : The Spiked Eye

Each Dreadsentinel is bound to their Severed Eye, and should all six be gathered, they hold the power to reopen the Rift of Olythos.

SPECIES FOUR: THE VOIDSPAWN (The Endermites)

The Voidspawn are more than mere pests, they are larval forms of Voiddwellers, a part of themselves released from shattered Void..pearl? (I still haven't come up with a satisfying name for them.) Each Voidspawn is an embryonic Abysswalker, a piece of an Enderman’s soul splintered into an insectile form. Over time, should they consume enough of the void’s essence, they undergo a metamorphosis, shedding their hard purple shells and growing into a full-fledged Voiddweller. This process is slow, but it is the key to the Abyssdwellers' asexual reproduction.

SPECIES FIVE... Kinda... : THE RESTLESS HEART (Heart of Ender)

The Orb of Dominance itself. Some say it is the abyss itself, an unfathomable intelligence that lurks beneath the fabric of reality. Others claim it is the very entity the Aedari sought to destroy in Olythos. Some call it god. Some call it power. And should the Severed Eyes ever be reunited, the Restless Heart will stir once more, its waking heralding the return of something far worse than exile... annihilation.

SPECIES FIVE (ACTUALLY THIS TIME:) THE FINAL ASCENDANT (The Ender Dragon, aka Jean)

Before the Aedari's exile, Nysithea was ruled by a pantheon of Ascendants, primordial dragons that flew in the dark night sky. The Aedari, in their arrogance, hunted them down, believing they could harvest their power to return home. With her kin slaughtered, the Last Ascendant sealed herself within the Abyssal Crucible (that weird bedrock portal in the End), a chamber deep within Nysithea where it lay in waiting, guarding the last gateway between realms. The Voiddwellers now seek to finish what they started (hence the achievement if you slaughter the dragon being "Free The End"), but the Last Ascendant will not fall so easily. Will the Last Islanders slaughter the last of these fabled dragons, or will they too succumb to the abyss? Only time will tell.

[nidhimishra5394]

Surgical Information System Market Growth Trends and Future Opportunities in Global Healthcare Industry

The global healthcare industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by advances in technology, patient-centered care models, and increased demands for efficiency and quality. Among the many technological innovations reshaping the sector, the surgical information system market has emerged as a key component in improving the safety, coordination, and outcomes of surgical procedures. These systems are becoming indispensable in modern operating rooms by streamlining workflow, enhancing data accuracy, and enabling real-time communication among care teams.

What Is a Surgical Information System?

A surgical information system is a specialized subset of healthcare information technology that focuses on managing, documenting, and coordinating activities related to surgical care. These systems typically support preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages of surgery. They are used in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and specialty clinics to assist in scheduling, patient documentation, anesthesia records, surgical planning, inventory management, and compliance with regulatory standards.

SIS platforms integrate with other hospital information systems, including electronic health records (EHR), radiology information systems (RIS), and laboratory information systems (LIS). This interoperability allows for more comprehensive and efficient patient care. In addition, surgical information systems can provide analytics that help improve clinical decision-making, reduce errors, and optimize resource utilization.

Market Drivers

The growth of the surgical information system market is fueled by several key factors. One of the most significant is the rising volume of surgical procedures worldwide. As populations age and chronic diseases like cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and diabetes become more prevalent, the demand for surgeries continues to increase. This rising demand necessitates improved surgical coordination and workflow efficiency, which SIS platforms are designed to deliver.

Another major driver is the growing adoption of healthcare IT solutions to reduce medical errors and ensure better patient outcomes. Governments and regulatory bodies across the globe have implemented initiatives aimed at digitizing healthcare systems, which in turn has accelerated the implementation of surgical information systems in healthcare facilities.

Market Challenges

Despite its promising outlook, the surgical information system market faces several challenges. One of the primary barriers to adoption is the high initial cost of implementation and the ongoing expenses related to software maintenance, staff training, and system upgrades. Smaller hospitals and rural healthcare providers may find it difficult to justify these costs without sufficient government support or a clear return on investment.

Another significant hurdle is data security and privacy. With the increasing use of cloud-based platforms and the growing volume of sensitive patient data being stored and transmitted electronically, concerns about cybersecurity breaches are becoming more pronounced. Ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the U.S. and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe is critical for vendors and healthcare organizations alike.

Regional Insights

North America currently leads the global surgical information system market, thanks to its well-established healthcare infrastructure, high adoption rate of advanced IT systems, and supportive government policies. The United States, in particular, has been a front-runner in embracing healthcare IT innovations, driven by initiatives such as the HITECH Act and Meaningful Use program.

Europe is another prominent region in the market, with countries like Germany, the UK, and France investing heavily in digitizing their healthcare systems. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Increasing healthcare expenditure, a growing middle-class population, and rising awareness about the benefits of surgical IT solutions are contributing to the market’s expansion in countries like China, India, and Japan.

Competitive Landscape

The surgical information system market is moderately fragmented, with several global and regional players competing for market share. Major companies in the sector include Cerner Corporation, Meditech, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, McKesson Corporation, and GE Healthcare. These companies are investing in R&D and strategic partnerships to expand their product offerings and enhance system capabilities.

In addition to large players, there is also a growing number of specialized vendors that offer tailored SIS solutions for specific surgical specialties or smaller healthcare settings. This trend is increasing market diversity and encouraging innovation.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the surgical information system market is poised for sustained growth. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into SIS platforms could revolutionize surgical planning and risk assessment by enabling predictive analytics and personalized treatment protocols. Similarly, the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in surgical training and simulation is likely to become more prominent, offering a new dimension to surgical education and preparation.

As healthcare systems around the world continue to prioritize quality, efficiency, and patient safety, the demand for comprehensive, interoperable, and intelligent surgical information systems will only grow. Stakeholders that invest in scalable and secure SIS solutions today will be better positioned to meet the surgical care demands of tomorrow.

[anyasportfolio]

Language and the Law as Evidence - Essay I

Anya Altieri

Communities of Practice and the Internet

            Eight people dead in a mall near Dallas, the shooter wearing a patch with the phrase “RWDS” - right wing death squad. Three people gunned-down in a Florida convenience store, swastikas adorning the shooter’s rifle. What do these acts of violence have in common? They were both carried-out by Neo-Nazis. Though many would describe these attackers as “lone wolves,” according to Michael Fürstenberg, these people are often embedded in digital “wolf packs,” otherwise known as communities of practice. Understanding and identifying communities of practice who threaten other communities through analysis of internet language is essential to law   enforcement agencies seeking to protect marginalized communities and the public at large. Defining what constitutes a community of practice is essential to understanding this dynamic.

            Stanford University defines a community of practice as, “An aggregate of people who come together around mutual engagement in some common endeavor. Ways of doing things, ways of talking, beliefs, values, power relations - in short, practices - emerge in the course of their joint activity around that endeavor.” Some examples given by Eckert and McConnell-Ginet include; “people working in a factory, a neighborhood play-group, a family,” (Eckert, McConnell-Ginet, 8) or essentially any group that shares an interest or common goal and learn how to better pursue said interest or goal as they interact with each other regularly. Communities of practice differ from other theoretical groupings such as sex, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity by virtue of them sharing a common goal. Neo-nazi groups can also be considered a community of practice because they share common goals such as elevating the white race. They attack varying marginalized groups due to race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. For example, the Aryan Brotherhood or groups found on websites like 8chan communicate use specific language to perpetuate their cause.

            Communities of practice are the backbone of the internet. Online communities of practice, or virtual communities of practice are defined as groups “where members mainly use information and communication technologies (ICT) to share stories, knowledge, and communications” (Hanisch, 2). Examples of virtual communities of practice include contributors to a website like KiwiFarms, a site dedicated to the stalking, harassment, and publishing of personal information - also known as doxxing, or a section of a website dedicated to a certain topic like /pol/ on 4chan which is a subset of 4chan dedicated to spreading right-wing extremist talking points. Viewers of YouTube channels such as Sargon of Akkad, or groups of YouTube channels like the “anti-SJW” side of YouTube - a collection of channels also dedicated to spreading alt-right talking points - can also be considered online communities of practice. Familiarity with these communities is essential for law enforcement to track and therefore prevent acts of violence like those mentioned earlier.

            Stochastic terrorism has become a prominent talking point in recent years following the presidency of Donald Trump. The term “stochastic” is used to describe the random probabilistic nature of its effect; whether or not an attack actually takes place. The stochastic terrorist in this context does not direct the actions of any individual or group, but rather gives voice to a specific ideology via mass media with the aim of optimizing its dissemination. Essentially, the stochastic terrorist randomly incites individuals predisposed to acts of violence; and since law enforcement usually labels these acts of violence “lone wolf” attacks, the inciter goes without facing any scrutiny. Stochastic terrorism can be observed in many places, but is especially prominent on the internet, any bigot with an internet connection can rise to a position of authority in a surrounding community of practice. The obvious example would be former president Donald Trump and his incitement of the January 6 insurrection. His use of mass media agitated a group of already unstable individuals to the point where they stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. A less obvious example would be the likes of Tim Pool - a political commentator on YouTube - and Steven Crowder - host of the “Louder with Crowder” show also found on YouTube. These two individuals are some of the most popular right-wing commentators with over 7.14 million (Socialblade.com) followers combined. They are also considered “entry points” to the alt-right pipeline, a radicalizing network of content creators meant to pull people towards alt-right ideologies. Tim Pool in particular has been documented as a frequent watch of Mauricio Garcia, the man who would don his RWDS patch and ultimately take the lives of eight people in a mall near Dallas, TX on May 6, 2023. This “lone wolf” had a “wolf pack,” a few, actually, and many of the members flaunt their membership all across the internet. One simply must know what to look for, that’s where understanding dog whistles is critical.

According to Merriam-Webster, a dog whistle is defined as “a coded message communicated through words or phrases commonly understood by a particular group of people but not others.” Historically, the purpose of dog whistles is “(1) to signal hate for outgroups without employing visibly incendiary language, and (2) as identity markers, signaling belonging to the white supremacist community” (Bhat, Klein, 9). Some commonly used dog whistles include; “state’s rights,” - a way of arguing for segregation as employed by the Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual Liberties in 1955 - “banks,” - a way of referring to Jewish people, as it’s a common belief amongst anti-Semites that Jewish people are in control of the world’s banks - and “13%,” or “13/50”- a way of referring to Black Americans  as it’s often falsely stated by racist individualsthat Black Americans make up 13% of the population and commit 50% of the crime. This language can be used in stochastic terrorism to signal hatred towards or paint a target on other communities, making them vulnerable to acts of violence. Dog whistles can also signal membership of a certain group or community of practice. It is imperative that law enforcement understand how to recognize these membership signals so as to better identify potential perpetrators, and take steps to monitor them.

To conclude, communities of practice- groups of people that share an interest or common goal- learn how to better pursue said interest or goal when they interact with each other regularly. The internet supplies the means of communication and supports stochastic terrorism among potential attackers.The sites  range from viewers of a YouTube channel like Sargon of Akkad, to subsets of various websites like /pol/ on 4chan, to general users of a website as seen with kiwifarms. These communities, no matter the size, often employ the use of highly-specific language known as dog whistles to not only signal membership, but to paint a target on other groups, potentially marking them for acts of violence. It is critical that law enforcement knows what makes a community of practice, what makes one dangerous, and how they employ language to perpetuate their causes.

Bibliography

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Associated Press. “White Shooter Kills 3 Black People in Florida Hate Crime as Washington Celebrates King's Dream.” VOA News, 27 August 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/white-shooter-kills-3-black-people-in-florida-hate-crime-as-washington-celebrates-king-s-dream/7242987.html. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Barr, Luke. “Suspect arrested after FBI uncovers alleged mass shooting plot.” ABC News, 17 June 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-arrested-after-fbi-uncovers-alleged-mass-shooting/story?id=100155442. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Bhat, Prashanth, and Ofra Klein. Covert Hate Speech: White Nationalists and Dog Whistle Communication on Twitter. G. Bouvier, J.E. Rosenbaum (eds.), 2020.

“Category:Neo-Nazi websites.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Neo-Nazi_websites. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Eckert, Penelope, and Sally McConnell-Ginet. “Communities of practice: Where language, gender, and power all live1.” Stanford University, Stanford University, 1992, https://web.stanford.edu/~eckert/PDF/Communitiesof.pdf. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Fazio, Lisa. “Identifying threatening language – Psychonomic Society Featured Content.” Psychonomic Society Featured Content, 10 February 2022, https://featuredcontent.psychonomic.org/identifying-threatening-language/. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Fürstenberg, Michael. “COMMUNITIES OF HATEFUL PRACTICE: THE COLLECTIVE LEARNING OF ACCELERATIONIST RIGHT-WING ExTREMISTS, WITH A CASE STUDY OF THE HALL.” Max Planck Institut für ethnologische Forschung, 7 December 2022, https://www.eth.mpg.de/pubs/wps/pdf/mpi-eth-working-paper-0210. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Gais, Hannah, et al. “Allen, Texas, Killer Posted Neo-Nazi, Incel Content Online.” Southern Poverty Law Center, 8 May 2023, https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2023/05/08/allen-texas-killer-posted-neo-nazi-incel-content-online. Accessed 29 October 2023.

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Hanisch, Jo. “(PDF) Virtual communities of practice: A study of communication, community and organisational learning.” ResearchGate, January 2006, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237294837_Virtual_communities_of_practice_A_study_of_communication_community_and_organisational_learning. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Harrison, Sara, and Michele J. Gelfand. “Threatening Language Can Be Contagious. This New Tool Tracks Its Spread.” Stanford Graduate School of Business, 24 March 2022, https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/threatening-language-can-be-contagious-new-tool-tracks-its-spread. Accessed 29 October 2023.

Kleinberg, Bennett, and Paul Gill. “Linguistic Threat Assessment: Challenges and Opportunities.” CREST Research, 2 March 2022, https://crestresearch.ac.uk/comment/linguistic-threat-assessment-challenges-and-opportunities/. Accessed 29 October 2023.

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[sleepyowlwrites]

Weird Questions for Writers: 7 & 17?

7. What is your deepest joy about writing?

it's a combination of my innate desire to create things that have little to no consequence except to produce further trains of thought and delight and my need to have somewhere to put my thoughts besides just in my head or out loud - I talk my thoughts out loud to myself all the time to keep them somewhat organized or to help me remember things - and writing is the best way to do that. it's why I write poetry, because my thoughts naturally form up that way sometimes, and I write stories because I'm always inventing them for things. the real is not enough for me, I have to talk about the peppers in the garden in another world or siblings that do get along or somebody having anxiety and getting through it.

life is a story we tell ourselves, right? I'm telling it! I'm telling it so many times in so many options! I'm a writer!

17. Talk to me about the minutiae of your current WIP. Tell me about the lore, the history, the detail, the things that won't make it in the text.

here's the thing. most of my wips don't have this stuff figured out yet. because as recently discussed in another ask, I can't think about the worldbuilding too much before I start writing or I can't find a plot. so here's a bunch of lore from ANY of my wips to compensate.

Guild Story: the immortal sorceress was never supposed to be immortal. way long ago before the story, back when magic was more studied and blood magic was still a thing, there were families that participated in rituals to give them extra lives so they could maintain their power and magic for longer. the immortal sorceress was part of one of these rituals by her family's decision. but it went wrong. as you might expect, human sacrifice is required, but on the day of this particular ritual, there was a flood and a rockslide, and way more people died while the ritual was taking place. everybody else in the ritual died too. the immortal sorceress was the only left alive, and all the magic and lives had to flow somewhere, so it went to her. she's got a few hundred lifetimes to get through before she can die.

Magick Story: the year you turn eighteen, your magick will start being very noisy. it’ll be like electrical currents in the air and change the colors of things and just kind of be haywire. it doesn’t suddenly stop and settle on your birthday, especially if you were born earlier in the year, but further on, in like October, it’ll gravitate more toward you specialty. the branches of magic are persuasion, transmutation, infusion and translation, and there are subsets, of course, but one of those four branches will start showing itself more. by December, you will definitely have gravitated toward one of the four branches and from there you start training and learning about the different subsets to find your specialty. there’s never one day that your magick shifts, but October through December is the period when most people’s magick settles down.

Summon Story: I dunno how much information on the spirits I'm going to include, but here's some anyway:

Begar - begar are informants, spirits that were human at one point and were killed in a betrayal. This leads to them desiring to get revenge on whoever killed them even though they forget over time. Their memories are extremely precise, but only for recent events, making them fantastic spies because once they finish a term of employment, they’ll forget they ever worked for the one who summoned them. Begar are not technically inherently malevolent spirits, but their tendency toward anger and revenge place them on that end of the scale. They can only be summoned by human sacrifice to satiate their anger enough to make a contract, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. If more than one Begar are summoned at a time, there must be a sacrifice for each spirit and the summoning circles must not overlap or they will fight each other. Begar are immortal but can be killed in a summoning ring when they’re in a semi-corporeal form or in a fully corporeal form when the summoner’s blood is also on the weapon used.

thanks for asking!

[cerastes]

Why do you think Doctor is popular amongst AK fans, Drimo? Is it solely because of the typical insert self thing all gacha protags have in common, or is it Being Into War Crimes and Silly Shit? Or a mix of both?

A number of factors, in my opinion.

Arknights is more of a niche game in terms of appeal and presentation when compared (and contrasted) with the rest of the market, and indeed, while it doesn't have the sales of products with potent, established IPs behind them (IE: Fate) or products that have a more mainstream appeal to them (IE: Genshin), it still does pretty well in terms of revenue because it has leaned into its niche and has succeeded in it.

You could consider Doctor a reflection of that design philosophy and output: A good deal of mobile games sort of force the angle of "you are a young person, not an adult yet" to the main character. Or it goes completely unaddressed and people just fill in the blanks however they see fit. With Doctor, the possibility of not being an adult is, well, astronomically low, but never outright impossible. This is not done by assigning an age or age range to the character per se, but rather, because of how the world treats them, and here is where I think Doctor, as a character meant to be our point of view into the world of Arknights, succeeds and ends up more interesting than practically everyone else: Doctor is part of the world's mystique, not a mere visitor to it.

Doctor is not a rando that got pulled into something bigger than them and now has to scramble and make allies to deal with it. Even from second one, when one might get that impression, it's immediately established that Doctor had their hands in the pie since a long time ago, these people aren't just getting to know you now, you are surrounded by a mix of characters that know you closely and others than have heard the stories. Amiya and Ace have already gone through thick and thin with you, Dobermann has only heard you're this absolute monster of a tactician, Scout knows you so well that he can lament what has become of you. Your character, Doctor, is not a visitor, a foreigner, they are, from second one, DEEPLY involved in the overarching story, with ties to several characters from the get go. The way the player is eased into the world from such a character is amnesia, which organically allows you to "relearn" the world, your duties, and what's going on.

The war crimes and silly bits, as you put it, are a big fruit born from the fertile soil detailed above, but it's not the war crimes and silly bits in a vacuum that make Doc universally popular, but rather, the way they are treated as building blocks of an ultimately more important facet of the story: Doctor is in fact part of the world, and not a mere visitor experiencing the world, and they have the characterization, loose as it may be in some regards (the silly bits and the bits open to interpretation) and rigid as it may be in others (the war crimes, the ties to Amiya, Kal'tsit, Flamebringer, W, and other veteran RI personnel, and other such bits that are NOT fully open to interpretation). Few things about Doc are set in stone in a way that you can't do whatever you want with them as a self-insert, while at the same time, there are some things that are inexorably tied to Doctor's role as a character, which are not merely informed, but rather, are built upon and developed constantly, intrinsically and extrinsically. That last bit there might have been confusing, so let me posit an example: If they were merely informed, we'd be told Doctor did some very very bad things in the past, but that's ok! You can be better now! It's the future that matters, we'll change from here on! But it is not merely informed, it is built upon and developed, we're told Doctor did some very bad things, but not to the character directly at first, rather, we hear discussion about Doctor's past, then it's ambiguously suggested to the character proper (usually, it's Kal'tsit that does this) that they were godawful in the past, and no one in earshot really denies it, but they weren't just godawful, they also had some very personable aspects to themselves, such as Scout saying that even after they'd become a beast of logic and warfare that treats the loss of life like a game of chess, Doctor still took time to have a drink with the likes of Scout and Ace, talk with them, hang out, to be supportive to Amiya beyond just the role of a combat commander, and other such things. The war crimes, thus, are not there to just say "Doc was Bad And Cool", it's treated in a tragic, solemn manner that has characters still try to find the good in them, and the effects of which still affect the characters to this day.

Doctor feels much more like a character than the usual self insert without really stripping away the freedom that comes with having a self insert.

To make a comparison, Mr. Sawyer, creator of Fallout: New Vegas, addressed a more self-contained but similar example in a bit of introspection regarding the game, particularly about how people liked Courier Six more in the DLCs rather than the base game. He rationalized that it is because Courier Six in the DLCs has a lot more humanized dialogue that allowed certain things to be set in canon, so long as you said them, about their backstory. Little things, peppered throughout the DLCs, such as having kids or having been to a certain state before coming to the Mojave, as well as far less generic dialogue, such as colorful insults and other such more personable lines of dialogue or expressions of surprise compared to the very bland and direct Courier Six of the main game, whose dialogue they made with the intent of being a blank slate and thus had to be as uncharacterized as possible so people would fill their own blanks. In relation to what we were discussing about Doctor, you could say that Courier Six in the base game feels more like a visitor to the world, while Courier Six in the DLCs feels like they are part of the game mystique and the game world's, like another character in the narrative over whom you have control more than a complete blank slate over which to project into.

The market trend always favors self-inserts, it always has and this likely will never change, especially in anime style games, given the very self-referential nature of media from Japan and its influence in its neighboring countries (such as Arknights in this case, being a game made by a Chinese developer), but one cannot deny the impact and resulting popularity from self-insert characters that are still a part of the world's mystique rather than being mere visitors to it, as this has an audience as well, a specific subset of the self-insert, if you will. I think Doctor belongs in this category, and enjoys the benefits that come with it, thanks to being well written.

[todaysdocument]

On 6/26/2013, the Supreme Court found that the Defense of Marriage Act, which kept same-sex partners from being federally recognized as spouses, was unconstitutional. 

Federal recognition--and rights, privileges, and benefits--soon followed.

Series: Appellate Jurisdiction Case Files, 1792 - 2017

Record Group 267: Records of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1772 - 2007

Transcription:

[Stamped: " FILE COPY "]

(Bench Opinion)                     OCTOBER TERM, 2012                1  [Handwritten and circled " 1"  in upper right-hand corner]

Syllabus

NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is

being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued.

The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been

prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader.

See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U.S. 321, 337.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

Syllabus

UNITED STATES v. WINDSOR, EXECUTOR OF THE

ESTATE OF SPYER, ET AL.

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR

THE SECOND CIRCUIT

No. 12-307.      Argued March 27, 2013---Decided June 26, 2013

The State of New York recognizes the marriage of New York residents

Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, who wed in Ontario, Canada, in

2007. When Spyer died in 2009, she left her entire estate to Windsor.

Windsor sought to claim the federal estate tax exemption for surviv-

ing spouses, but was barred from doing so by §3 of the federal Defense

of Marriage Act (DOMA), which amended the Dictionary Act---a

law providing rules of construction for over 1,000 federal laws and

the whole realm of federal regulations-to define "marriage" and

"spouse" as excluding same-sex partners. Windsor paid $363,053 in

estate taxes and sought a refund, which the Internal Revenue Service

denied. Windsor brought this refund suit, contending that DOMA vi-

olates the principles of equal protection incorporated in the Fifth

Amendment. While the suit was pending, the Attorney General notified

the Speaker of the House of Representatives that the Department

of Justice would no longer defend §3's constitutionality. In re-

sponse, the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) of the House of

Representatives voted to intervene in the litigation to defend §3's

constitutionality. The District Court permitted the intervention. On

the merits, the court ruled against the United States, finding §3 un-

constitutional and ordering the Treasury to refund Windsor's tax

with interest. The Second Circuit affirmed. The United States has

not complied with the judgment.

Held:

1. This Court has jurisdiction to consider the merits of the case.

This case clearly presented a concrete disagreement between oppos-

ing parties that was suitable for judicial resolution in the District

Court, but the Executive's decision not to defend §3's constitutionali-

[page 2]

4               UNITED STATES v. WINDSOR

Syllabus

of the States.

DOMA's history of enactment and its own text demonstrate that

interference with the equal dignity of same-sex marriages, conferred

by the States in the exercise of their sovereign power, was more than

an incidental effect of the federal statute. It was its essence. BLAG's

arguments are just as candid about the congressional purpose.

DOMA's operation in practice confirms this purpose. It frustrates

New York's objective of eliminating inequality by writing inequality

into the entire United States Code.

DOMA's principal effect is to identify and make unequal a subset of

state-sanctioned marriages. It contrives to deprive some couples

married under the laws of their State, but not others, of both rights

and responsibilities, creating two contradictory marriage regimes

within the same State. It also forces same-sex couples to live as mar-

ried for the purpose of state law but unmarried for the purpose of

federal law, thus diminishing the stability and predictability of basic

personal relations the State has found it proper to acknowledge and

protect. Pp. 20-26.

699 F. 3d 169, affirmed.

KENNEDY, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which GINSBURG,

BREYER, SOTOMAYOR, and KAGAN, JJ., joined. ROBERTS, C. J., filed a

dissenting opinion. SCALIA, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which

THOMAS, J., joined, and in which ROBERTS, C. J., joined as to Part I.

ALITO, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which THOMAS, J., joined as to

Parts II and III.

[NEW PAGE]

Cite as: 570 U. S. _ (2013)              1

Opinion of the Court

NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the

preliminary print of the United States Reports. Readers are requested to

notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of the United States, Washington,

D. C. 20543, of any typographical or other formal errors, in order

that corrections may be made before the preliminary print goes to press.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

No. 12-307

UNITED STATES, PETITIONER v. EDITH SCHLAIN

WINDSOR, IN HER CAPACITY AS EXECUTOR OF THE

ESTATE OF THEA CLARA SPYER, ET AL.

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF

APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

[June 26, 2013]

JUSTICE KENNEDY delivered the opinion of the Court.

Two women then resident in New York were married

in a lawful ceremony in Ontario, Canada, in 2007. Edith

Windsor and Thea Spyer returned to their home in New

York City. When Spyer died in 2009, she left her entire

estate to Windsor. Windsor sought to claim the estate tax

exemption for surviving spouses. She was barred from

doing so, however, by a federal law, the Defense of Mar-

riage Act, which excludes a same-sex partner from the

definition of "spouse" as that term is used in federal stat-

utes. Windsor paid the taxes but filed suit to challenge

the constitutionality of this provision. The United States

District Court and the Court of Appeals ruled that this

portion of the statute is unconstitutional and ordered the

United States to pay Windsor a refund. This Court granted

certiorari and now affirms the judgment in Windsor's

favor.

I

In 1996, as some States were beginning to consider the

concept of same-sex marriage, see, e.g., Baehr v. Lewin, 74

[goawaywithjae]

Feminism and Women Athletes in South Korea

At the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, South Korea’s An San became the first ever archer to win three gold medals at one Olympic Games. While most Koreans celebrated her historic achievements, there was a subset of men’s rights activists and misogynists who derided the 20-year-old champion for having short hair, which they conflated with feminism – which they are against.

In All of Us Are Dead, Ha-ri (portrayed by Ha Seung-ri) is an archer whose expectations of entering a national sports university end when she fails to win an elite competition. Instead, she finds herself back at her high school searching for her younger brother, Woo-jin (Son Sang-yeon), and using her archery skills to slay the undead.

Read the rest of my analysis of All of Us Are Dead here.

[whump-town]

I have nothing against Spencer Ried, he’s a nice, sweet guy, but his treatment buy (a subset) of fans drive me crazy. Reid isn’t infallible, he’s has flaws, but his problematic actions are blamed on the team. Other characters are demonized for their “poor treatment” of Reid (the AMOUNT of people who hate on JJ for not worshipping at Reid’s alternate), and Reid is branded as the traumatized one, while everyone else (severe) trauma is conveniently forget.

Reid is just a safe character for a lot of people, I think. He’s the easiest to understand and since he’s babied by the team it’s a lot easier to sympathize and reflect the same treatment onto him as fans. 

Whereas characters like Morgan, Prentiss, and Hotch don’t have “conventional” methods of coping. So, where Reid might blow up (which he does far more often than we care to discuss) and be forgiving because he's’ the “baby” if Morgan does it then he’s aggressive and abrasive. If Hotch does it then he’s an emotionless bastard. If Emily does it she’s an ice queen, stone-cold bitch.

It just has a lot to do with empathy and viewers actually trying to put forth effort into understanding other characters besides their fav. 

[phoenix-downer]

Sorry for bothering you again. I wanted to ask you whether or not Sokai is canon. I was under the impression that it was official after viewing several clips from the third game and Remind. But now I'm seeing a lot of people on tumblr and online forums say it's not canon? I'm a bit confused.

Not a bother at all!

This goes for more than just fandom stuff, but it’s a good rule of thumb for fandom, too:

When anyone makes a claim, ask yourself: why are they saying this, and what do they have to gain from saying this? Are they qualified to speak about this topic? Do they have any ulterior motives? What is your gut telling you? Why do they want you to question yourself?

Okay, let’s apply this to the current situation:

When it comes to people claiming So/Kai isn’t canon, who is saying this?

Well… there’s no other way to say it. A certain subset of toxic So/Ri/ku shippers. 

Why are they saying this?

They (the subset of toxic So/Ri/ku shippers) don’t like So/Kai, and they want So/Ri/ku to be canon. That’s all there is to it. Some of them have crafted their entire online identities around So/Ri/ku being canon, and they have a lot to lose if it isn’t. 

What do they have to gain from saying this?

Gaining clout within the fandom, especially with other toxic So/Ri/ku shippers. The more they can tear down So/Kai and So/Kai shippers, the better they look to their fellow toxic So/Ri/ku shippers, and the more popularity they gain.

While I say this, though, I want to stress that there are plenty of So/Ri/ku shippers who do not do this and find the ship wars horribly toxic. They are not the ones pouring time and energy into tearing a pairing they don’t like down. It’s the toxic So/Ri/ku shippers who are doing that, and they’re the ones whose posts you’re seeing. The live-and-let-live people are not the one harassing So/Kai fans, and it’s not fair to put them into the same box as the people who are being rude and harassing others.  

Are they qualified to speak about this topic?

Fandom is a community activity and it’s meant to be something anyone can join in. I don’t want this to turn into gatekeeping, either, because fandom meta and analysis and discussion is one of my favorite things about fandom and I always want to encourage people to do it.

That being said, not everyone who writes an analysis post has any formal training in literary/character/media analysis. Not everyone who translates something has the cultural knowledge and linguistic skills to create a professional-level translation. And while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because it encourages people to just have fun with it and get experience doing something they love, it also means that there are a lot of people running around who don’t have the skills, knowledge, or expertise to analyze media texts accurately. It’s a hobby for most people in fandom, and that’s okay. But it also means that you shouldn’t just buy anything someone claims without any evidence, or with very shoddy evidence.

Without knowing someone’s age, education, qualifications, etc., you should be very reluctant to take everything someone says about the “real secret HIDDEN TILL NOW WHEN I OH-SO CONVENIENTLY CAME ALONG TO ENLIGHTEN YOU!!!” interpretation of XYZ at face value. 

Do they have any ulterior motives?

Ship wars get nasty and bring out the worst in people. This leads to some people doing whatever they can to “win” a ship war, including tearing other people down. So there are definitely ulterior motives at play here. And keep this in mind: someone who felt secure in their ship would not go to such lengths to tear a rival ship down. They’re lashing out at So/Kai so hard because deep down they know it’s what N/omura is going for, and they’re not happy about it. If they can make So/Kai shippers miserable though, they feel like they get a little something back, a little control back. Don’t give them the satisfaction. 

What is your gut telling you?

That So/Kai is canon, right?. Notice how you didn’t have an issue accepting this until someone else told you you were wrong and that you should question yourself. The question is, why are they telling you to question yourself?

Why do they want you to question yourself?

Because if they can “turn” a So/Kai shipper, they feel like they win. If they can get a So/Kai shipper to stop making So/Kai content, or to start making So/Ri/ku content, it feels like a “victory.” Heck, if they can even just silence you, that’s a win in their book because it means one less happy, “pesky” So/Kai shipper to be annoyed by. 

So… the moral of the story is, don’t doubt yourself without a good reason. Don’t believe someone unless they have good proof and evidence to back it up. And don’t let the toxic ship wars get to you. Block and mute tags and people as need be. Avoid going into areas that you know will have lots of So/Kai bashing. 

And again, this applies to more than just fandom stuff. Always evaluate the credentials of someone making a claim, as well as the validity of the claim itself.

Thanks for the ask!  

[angel-with-a-pipette]

I personally don't believe there was any hint that Ri/ku felt something for So/ra before DDD.

Sure, both care about each other deeply, I could never deny that, but that doesn't mean that one or both of their loves are in any way romantic. Now, when I played DDD I distinctly remember that there were moments both in So/ra's as well as Ri/ku's route that made me go "Mmmmhh? Queerbaiting??" But I also distinctly remember that at least for So/ra, every instance was followed up by some statement that technically "friend zoned" Ri/ku again. I can't say for sure for Ri/ku because I genuinely don't remember - and it wasn't as important to me as So/ra, for obvious reasons.

So, do I think it's true? I don't know. I don't think No/mu/ra planned for it - as far as I am informed, he seemed very surprised to find out what Dearly Beloved stands for after he used it as the song for So/ra's and Ri/ku's heart being in tune. With that in mind, it's interesting to look at K/H3 because while they're obviously still close, No/mu/ra nearly seems to keep them apart from each other as to make it clear that they're not "it". This is also why I see him potentially rushing into Ri/ku/na/mi.

Long story short, I don't know if Ri/ku has feelings for So/ra. I am inclined to believe no because there is definitely more evidence that Ri/ku recovered from having feelings for Kai/ri. That of course doesn't make it impossible for him to develop feelings for So/ra on the way, but I think we would see more it that was truly the case - especially since Ri/ku is 100% a-okay with So/ra and Kai/ri being a couple at the end of K/H3 with zero hard feelings. If he had lingering feelings, he would at least talk to Re/pli/ku, wouldn't he? Would it me bother though? Not until Sora reciprocates because that would retcon even more than Xi/on does.

And with that wrapped up, I ask you to please stop messaging me about rival ships. I'm always trying to give a thought-out reply and stay close to the facts and emphasise what's my opinion and what isn't, but it still creates a negative atmosphere. I don't have have a problem with most ships in the KH fandom and even if I do, I don't go and call out people for them. I only have a problem with a specific subset of people that make shipping and enjoying the game in a community hard because they can't accept that there are other opinions and feel the need to equalize everything. With those I have a problem, not the average Joe who thinks So/ra and Ri/ku look cute together.

[overthinkingkdrama]

Exit Rave: Nokdu Flower

[This is a largely spoiler free review with some allusions to the ending of the drama and trajectory of some character arcs.]

I have a poor track record with traditional sageuks. I wish it weren't so. I've always wanted to watch more of them. But whether because of the often daunting length, the historical learning curve, or some other personal failing, I rarely manage to finish them, much less review them. The small handful of traditional sageuks that I have managed to finish, however, have been exceptionally rewarding experiences. Six Flying Dragons and Tree With Deep Roots specifically come to mind. And 2019 has furnished us with a third drama from the same director, Shin Kyung Soo, which has immediately put itself in contention for one of the best dramas of the year.

Nokdu Flower takes place prior to the Japanese occupation, in the contentious period just a handful of years before the events portrayed in Mr. Sunshine and focuses on a trio of characters who all become involved on one side or another with the Donghak peasant rebellion, a cultural and religious movement aimed at removing corrupt officials and moving toward a world where all people are equal. The plot revolves around a pair of half brothers, Baek Yi Kang (Jo Jung Suk) and Baek Yi Hyun (Yoon Shi Yoon), who end up on opposite sides of the ensuing violence as well as a shrewd merchant named Song Ja In (Han Ye Ri) who always follows money over factions.

From the very first episodes, this drama really moves. My first impressions were all about how good this drama looks, sounds, and feels to watch. I worried that the drama wouldn't be able to maintain the same pace and intensity over the course of the run, and while the pacing does become considerably less break-neck as the show goes on, it never seems to drag or lose direction, always moving with a sense of inevitability toward its conclusion. There is also a surprising number of "battle scenes" employed throughout the story (which is ultimately one of war and rebellion) all of which I thought looked good and were used to thrilling affect, with a clever implementation of fog and darkness to make the scale feel even more epic.

The tone of the drama is remarkably dark, with a lot of lurid details and morally ambiguous characters driving the plot. While this might be off-putting to one subset of viewers, if you're like me it's definitely a selling point. I've watched many dramas that try to strike this kind of tone early, hinting at or outright showing their characters flaws but falling into the trap of trying to simplify and sanitize those characters later on for the sake of a clean narrative. Nokdu Flower gradually develops its characters over the course of the entire drama, in a thoughtful manner that makes each dynamic change feel hard won. Of course you can't talk about Nokdu Flower's characters without talking about the incredible cast.

While I've watched a handful of his movies and dramas, I wouldn't call myself a huge Jo Jung Suk fan, though I respect his considerable acting talent and ability to disappear into his characters. Nokdu Flower was the first drama where I really felt like I couldn't imagine the show without him, between his satoori and mannerisms, his bombastic and his quiet moments, it really felt like he lived in this characters skin for a while. I've seen Han Ye Ri's turn as Song Ja In praised elsewhere on this site, and the praise is all well deserved. I've been following her career since Age of Youth and this is the first character that I've really fallen in love with as much as Yoon Sunbae for all her pretty and ugly sides.

I couldn't get through the review without mentioning Yoon Shi Yoon's performance. Every time I review one of his dramas I end up feeling like a YSY shill. Maybe that's just his disarming charm, that I end up liking whatever he does in spite of myself. (I swear he's not paying me to say these things.) I don't know if it was working with an experienced director or the fact that this character is a marked departure from type, or if it has something to do with experienced actors like JJS--who YSY mentioned in one interview gave him invaluable advice on how to portray his character-- but the character of Baek Yi Hyun and his portrayal felt like a decided elevation of YSY's craft. Be warned, he is not a cuddly flower boy in this drama. This character goes dark, his trajectory is tragic and poignant and at times his descent is incredibly painful to watch. Despite all this, and despite where he ends up, Yi Hyun was hands down my favorite character in this drama and, in my opinion, this is the single best performance of YSY's career. As much as I like his clownish and romantic roles, I really hope we get to see more like this from him in the future.

The main trio of actors should be enough of an enticement to check this drama out on their own, but the entire extended cast really helped to fill out this world, make if feel lived-in and help cement the story in my mind. Choi Moo Sung as Jeon Bong Jun, aka General Nokdu, left a big impact on me. In all of his scenes you could feel that sense of awe that the full charismatic force of this man could inspire, you could feel what the Donghak followers must have felt that made them willing to lay down their lives for these ideals. He quite literally gave me shivers at multiple points through the drama.

Park Hyun Kwon as well, as Yi Hyun and Yi Kangs's vile father, Baek Ga, left me frequently stunned or seething with rage as I wondered how a human being could get so twisted. You will absolutely despise this character, but the performance is one of the best in the drama and he is a frequent scene-stealer.

I have only a few minor quibbles about the drama, none of which seriously hurt my enjoyment. There are moments when the plot, especially regarding the Donghak army, Yi Kang and the detached force felt slightly repetitive and could have done with a little trimming. The Japanese characters are consistently portrayed as utter monsters, which isn't really a surprise for a drama set in this era, but for a show so committed to showing humanity in all of its ugliness even with regard to history's "heroes" it would have been nice to see a slightly more nuanced portrayal. However, my bias may be showing in this regard. I doubt what would be to my taste would play as well on Korean television (especially recalling the KES/Gu Dong Mae controversy from last year). It did take me a long time to get on board with the romance between Yi Kang and Ja In, which felt somewhat rushed in the first half of the drama, but came admirably into its own in the latter episodes and became one of my favorite elements with one of the most satisfying screen kisses of the year.

Pretty much everything else I would say about this drama would only serve to spoil things, when ultimately I really think you should just watch this drama yourself. If you have an interest in this period of history, or well-told character driven stories, or have been looking for a solid sageuk to sink your teeth into after SFD, or even if you just like the actors and want to watch for them, I don't think this would be a waste of your time. I truly felt like this drama was slept on while it was airing,  and I'm glad that I devoted those 24 hours and these words to watching it. For all of the above, I have to rate Nokdu Flower 9/10.

[telmmas]

Ученые узнали, какие продукты вызывают рак простаты

High-fat diet proven to fuel prostate cancer progression by imitating a key cancer alteration

What molecular event happens for prostate cancer to progress faster and to be deadlier when patients eat a high-fat diet? This is the question Dr. David P. Labbé, a scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), and his colleagues recently elucidated. In a study published in Nature Communications, they showed that saturated fat intake induces a cellular reprogramming that is associated with prostate cancer progression and lethality. These findings could have a clinical utility in identifying patients at higher risk of a more aggressive, lethal disease. In addition, they suggest that dietary intervention involving the reduction of animal fat, and specifically saturated fat consumption in men with early-stage prostate cancer, could possibly diminish or delay the risk of disease progression.

Some genes—called oncogenes—play a role in cancer initiation and progression. MYC is one of those.

«In this paper, we showed that by mimicking a MYC overexpression, saturated fat intake makes prostate cancer worse,» says Dr. Labbé, who started this study at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the United States, under the supervision of Dr. Myles A. Brown, Director of the Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics and Emil Frei III Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

«MYC overexpression profoundly rewires cellular programs and bolsters a distinctive transcriptional signature. MYC is a key factor in tumorigenesis, i.e. it induces malignant properties in normal cells and fuels the growth of cancer cells,» adds Dr. Labbé, who is also assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Urology at McGill University.

Based on answers to validated food frequency questionnaires obtained from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and the Physician Health Study cohorts, researchers were able to stratify prostate cancer patients based on their fat intake—high-fat diet vs. low-fat diet—and the type of fat they were eating—either saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat. By integrating dietary and gene expression data from 319 patients, researchers discovered that animal fat and specifically saturated fat consumption mimicked a MYC overexpression. They validated their findings in vivo using a murine prostate cancer model.

Strikingly, patients who had the highest level of the saturated fat intake (SFI) MYC signature were four times more likely to die from prostate cancer, compared to patients with the lowest level, independently of the patient’s age or year at diagnosis. Even after adjusting the results for cancer Gleason grade—an indicator of the aggressiveness of the disease—this association remained significative.

Since fat consumption could be linked to an increase in body fat and obesity, and since obesity is also a risk factor associated with prostate cancer, Dr. Labbé used the Body Mass Index (BMI) to make sure that it was only saturated fat intake—and not obesity—that promoted the progression to a metastatic and lethal disease.

«Even after removing obesity from the equation, patients with high levels of the SFI-MYC signature are still three times more likely to die of prostate cancer,» says Dr. Labbé. «Epidemiological studies have previously reported that saturated fat intake is associated with prostate cancer progression. Our study provides a mechanistic underpinning to this link and a basis to develop clinical tools aimed at reducing the consumption of saturated fat and increasing the odds of surviving.»

The study also showed that for saturated fat to induce MYC reprogramming, the tissue needs to be transformed.

«In a prostate cancer patient, the prostate contains both tumour and normal tissue,» explains Dr. Labbé. «We showed that saturated fat intake only affects the transcriptional program in the tumour tissue.»

«Altogether, our findings suggest that a substantial subset of prostate cancer patients, including some without MYC amplification, may benefit from epigenetic therapies targeting MYC transcriptional activity or from dietary interventions targeting metabolic addictions regulated by MYC.»

Knowing the dietary pattern of a patient or his level of physical activity, clinicians could eventually suggest some specific intervention to decrease the likelihood of progression to a lethal disease. But in order to do that, more research is needed.

«The impact of diet on cancer development has been first established more than 100 years ago. However, lifestyle-related data is only sparsely collected among patients, thereby limiting our capacity to define the molecular link between lifestyle factors and cancer initiation, progression and lethality,» says Dr. Labbé. «We will start soon here at the RI-MUHC to gather dietary and physical activity and assess body fatness information from patients undergoing screening tests for different cancers. And with that data, combined with research in the laboratory, we hope to be able to build personalized interventions for patients who are more at risk of having their cancer progress rapidly, and to ultimately improve outcomes.» Ученые узнали, какие продукты вызывают рак простаты. Постоянная ссылка на материал http://bt8.ru/prostatecanc/

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The Jackie Warner Diet.

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Chef and Minimum Cost of His Tree 

You are a given a tree of NN vertices. The ii-th vertex has two things assigned to it — a value AiAi and a range [Li,Ri][Li,Ri]. It is guaranteed that Li≤Ai≤RiLi≤Ai≤Ri. You perform the following operation exactly once: Pick a (possibly empty) subset SS of vertices of the tree. SS must satisfy the additional condition that no two vertices in SS are directly connected by an edge, i.e, it is…