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[jbake595]

I’m finally getting around to watching the series Avatar: The Last Airbender. It definitely lives up to the hype. Lots of care and thought were put into the show that I did not expect. I particularly enjoy how the show builds on and recontextualizes itself as it goes on.

The Avatar is a role that functions much like the real-life Dalai Lama, in that it is believed that each holder of the title is the reincarnation of the last.

In S3E6, Aang (current avatar) communes with the previous incarnation of himself. This incarnation describes events from his life, including formative experiences and friendships that are important to Aang today.

When Aang was a child, he had a handler named Monk Gyatso. This monk was an extremely caring and positive figure for Aang. Gyatso taught Aang discipline, attention to detail, and other important skills for a warrior, while keeping his childhood fun and engaging.

Avatars are usually informed of their power and responsibilities when they turn 16. In Aang’s case, powerful negative omens pressured the monks to activate him at just 12 years old. Gyatso came to his defense, arguing that Aang had a right to a childhood.

We learn in S3E6 that the previous avatar was close friends with Gyatso when they were both children. Aang is overjoyed to find out that he has been friends with Gyatso before, and his previous incarnation says “some friendships are so strong, they can even transcend lifetimes.”

I was immediately brought back to those early moments of the series. Gyatso knew that Aang was the avatar, he knew this child was a reincarnation of a close friend who passed away. He knew Aang couldn’t remember their friendship, and still he cared for him. He made Aang’s childhood safe, fun, and enriching, and he loved his friend.

While I don’t think we are reincarnated when we die, it’s a beautiful thing to love a lost friend or family member through their legacy. Even though they can never know how we hold them with us, how we continue to care for them when they’re gone, we can still love them. Maybe it’s even more beautiful that they can’t know.

[jbake595]

My special interest lately has been lockpicking. It’s a fun little hobby and not terribly expensive to get started. I’ve always loved that I have and know how to use tools. Being resourceful is a major source of validation for me. This is just for me, though. The rush I get from popping open a lock after hours of fiddling and trying to figure it out is honestly so special. If you’re interested in trying your hand, you can buy a starter pack of lock picks pretty cheaply, 15-30 bucks. I got the genesis set from Covert Instruments for $28 I think. Each lock is like 5-100 bucks depending on quality and brand. I bought 6 for $50 just to try them out. I’ve been posting TikTok’s of the ones I’ve defeated here:

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[jbake595]

Holy shit I love the workers’ rights rhetoric coming out of these actors and writers lately. It really kind of gives me energy when thinking about how to address my own alienation and exploitation. I hope others get something like that out of it too. Keep fighting the fight!

WHY THEY STRIKE: Sean Astin (SAG), Member of the SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee & Actor on Lord of the Rings

"They're paying us late. At Universal. And Warner Brothers. And Disney. And Amazon. And Hulu. And Netflix. Are you kidding me?" Sean Astin makes an impassioned speech on the SAG picket line. Today, August 13, 2023 marks 30 days since the start of their strike (July 14, 2023).

[jbake595]

This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use urbanism is illegal to build in many American cities

[jbake595]

Just once I wish the hot girls with only fans in bio following me weren’t bots 😓

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[jbake595]

how they named the last episode of breaking bad: felina is an anagram of finale, walt listens to the song "el paso" by marty robbins which sings about a girl named feleena, some have speculated that it stands for the elements Fe (iron), Li (lithium) and Na (sodium) which are chemicals that make up blood, meth and tears

how they named the last episode of better call saul: its called Saul Gone cuz it sounds like "it's all gone" and saul is gone

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legitimately what is his problem 😭

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JESSE DON'T ENABLE CREATIVE MODE JESSE IT TURNS OFF ACHIEVEMENTS JESSE

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[jbake595]

When I see Breaking Bad memes and people making jokes like "lol if only they had universal healthcare" I get it, but I always just go:

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[jbake595]

Organizing flyers I’ve seen around Edinburgh, Scotland

[jbake595]

never finishing this ever. bye