michalsstoryadventures

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miscellaneous buckys

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CHRIS EVANS as HARVARD HOTTIE THE NANNY DIARIES (2007) dir. Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini

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Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER 1.05 — "Truth"

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Sebastian Stan for L'Officiel Malaysia photographed by Mathieu Rainaud

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Steve Rogers

Hellhunters (2024) #3

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Things to consider: Steve in a black stealth suit

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I saw Sinners today (5/26/25).

I thought it was good, a little spooky (mainly as someone who doesn’t typically choose anything even scary adjacent). My thoughts and connections/analysis are below (with spoilers!). As a history nerd and teacher, I ramble a bit and perhaps talk a bit too much (and without a lot of detail) about history. Feel free to add your thoughts or questions in the replies!

First, I want to mention the Choctaw reference. The white folks state that there are no “Indians” in the area (and rightly so, given the Indian Removal Act under President Jackson). I find it interesting that the Native Americans are the ones who seem to be the ones initially hunting the vampire, know its strength and power, know what they’re up against (and quickly return home as the sun begins setting). They try to warn the white lady, but she brushes them off and keeps pointing a gun at them like they’re the threat.

Second, I find it interesting that the main/first vampire is Irish. Later on, towards the end of the film, we discover someone else turned him. Sammie starts to say the Lord’s Prayer, and the vampire begins to say it with him then comments that it was taught to him too. I feel like this is connected to the history of Irish Americans and the discrimination they faced, viewed as non-white. With the nativist movement, Irish-Americans were the primary target of their hate and bigotry, desiring to not allow immigrants into the US. Not to forget the mistreatment by Great Britain (I’m not as knowledgeable about this but there’s clear tension, even today).

It’s all the more interesting by extension that this vampire is Irish because he looks white, acts convincing enough to fool the white folks into trusting him. All the more spooky that Mary sees through it.

Through the film, we find the white folks are connected to the Klan/KKK, and so is the man who sold the twins the building. (Ironic how he claims there’s no Klan anymore… though also not surprising at all.) I find it weird that the vampire decides to mention that, if they have time that night, that he wants to go to the Klansman who sold the twins the building and turn him too.

The shared memory thing is standing out, too. As I’m thinking back on it, it kinda reminds me of the Borg from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Like they all become one once they’re changed (either to be a Borg or to be a vampire). This could, perhaps, represent collective trauma in the face of bigotry and hate.

I can’t not talk about Mary tbh. I wasn’t sure what to expect from her but it sure wasn’t her being white-passing. I figured she’d cause trouble, but not nearly as much as she actually did. I think it was sweet that Stack wanted to protect her and married her off to a rich white man to do so, regardless of how he felt about her. And it’s even sadder, in a way, that she gets turned trying to help the twins then Stack gets turned. Although, it is kind of bittersweet because they do end up staying together and escaping together.

The ending. Before jumping to the 90s. I think it’s incredible that Smoke takes on the Klan solo. He’s a soldier, and it’s hilarious to me that these men clearly did no research or looking into who these people were who were buying their property. I mean, they could’ve probably found out very easily that they ran with the mobs while in Chicago. But again, I’m not really surprised. Given the history of bigotry in the US (especially the South), their ignorance was bigotry; they likely couldn’t believe that either of them were soldiers, were any good in relation to shooting or anything related to the military, or that their threats meant anything at all. And they were proven completely wrong but Smoke, as he took all of them down by himself, even laid a nice little trap for them. In addition to that, as he’s clearly dying from being shot, he sees his lover(?) and their child. It’s a full circle moment for me, and I love that he gets to see them again, especially given the promise he made to her (and the subsequent struggle he has) for if she got turned by the vampires.

If you stayed for the credits, you got to see Sammies band, Pearline. I’m inferring he was likely sweet on her his whole life, never getting closure or the chance to pursue anything due to her being turned to a vampire (and then dying/being destroyed when the sun rises).

The vampire thing was absolutely intentional. He’s a literal leech. He takes culture, language, story, song and uses it to amass more of a following. As one of the Tik Toks I saw rightly put it, it’s all about power. He’s the one with the most power. When he’s hurt, all the other vampires he turned feel it and react in the same manner as him. By extension, it’s really spooky that he was looking for Sammie. He wanted his music to be able to use it for his advantage, to gain more people into his coven. I love that those who stayed inside essentially rallied around each other to protect Sammie, and in the end, it was Smoke who saved him.

The message is enticing, that the vampires use to try to convince the others to let them into the building. It’s one of “fellowship and love.” As one of the Tik Toks linked below also mentions, this is a power play. He has their memories, language, story, music, etc. and is using that to HIS advantage to amass more of a following. It’s not really about fellowship or love. It’s about extending his power. Sammie’s song would’ve allowed him to more easily convince other Black folks in the area to allow them to enter their property and thus change them to vampires. It ignores their history, their story, and twists it to match the message.

If you’re interested, below are some links to Tik Toks and reels I saved or found related to Sinners:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MYDbbP/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MYHg1T/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MYkqbq/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MYbPEv/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MY5LgV/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MYUayA/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MYfHPV/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MY44Y4/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIuUXl_yOW_/?igsh=MXYzcDRiaDQ1NzQ5Zw==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJAdcxGJ31m/?igsh=MWR6c3BuYThxdWFoNA==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIodx5lsHvE/?igsh=MXF6aTI1ajJwaDc4OA==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIrrOMGz0ql/?igsh=NGF5amtpMWF5ZDB5

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIpxkTxJf6Y/?igsh=azkzM3d5NmJjMGtl

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MjL1ub/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MjyHNn/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MhV16f/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MhX6Pk/

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seeing all the 14-17 y/o queer kids who don’t know what v for vendetta is…. u mean the blockbuster film written by two trans women about a masked vigilante who decides to singlehandedly take down a fascist alternate version of england set in the distant year of 2020… and his driving force was getting justice for a lesbian who he never met but whose diary he found, who was separated from her wife before being killed by said fascist gov…. and it stars natalie portman…. okay

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💙 You know that scene where Liz nearly gets herself killed, and Raahosh kills the thing and then stalks all angry toward her, and she attempts to crawl away. Yeah. From book 2 of the Iceplanet Barbarians series.

Commissioned by Author Ruby Dixon 💙💙

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Here’s my take on the whole audio books vs. reading:

Oral tradition of storytelling predates written ones by millennias, and honestly, which one you like is just a personal preference.

The actual difference is

when listening, you have no idea how to write characters’ names

when reading, you have no idea how to pronounce characters’ names

hope this helps!

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I think Ishmael Mobydick would really flip out if he learned how sperm whales sleep

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These guys from the hawkeye freefall comics

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Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:

"It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.

"There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.

"If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the 'medicine closet' and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That's why you should always have a nutrition choice!

"Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."

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I literally love being at home! In my own space! Comfortable! Not surrounded by people!

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Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix Series) -- Season 1

Began watching: April 5, 2024

Finished watching: April 6, 2024

My rating: 5 stars

I'm gonna be honest. I was skeptical of watching this at first. I wasn't an avid fan of ATLA the animated series growing up. I'd watch and enjoy it, but it wasn't my go-to show.

However, I was hooked from the beginning in this series, and it has left me wanting even more. I'm seriously impatiently waiting for the next season (so you know I'm gonna be watching the OG ATLA series now!).

I loved the costuming and sets. It reminds me of what I saw in the show and was just aesthetically pleasing as well. The casting fit the idea of the show and the original series.

You couldn't push me into picking a favorite episode. I really enjoyed the beginning and seeing the relationships Aang had with his fellow airbenders, especially Gyatso. Katara's growth as a water bender was fun to watch, especially when she confronted Master Pakku about the Northern Water Tribe's traditions. Omashu was an interesting place for the group to visit; Bumi in particular was an interesting character here. In every episode, I really enjoy seeing Sokka, Aang, and Katara develop as characters individually and collectively. They have already come to really rely on each other and work together well, while also developing their own "fighting style" more and more.

Iroh has to be my favorite character so far. Compared to Ozai, he's emotional and very clearly attached to his nephew, sticking up for Zuko to others. It's so evident how much he cares about Zuko and tries to get him to see that there's a better way of doing things. I'm hopeful that Zuko realizes that Iroh is more of a father/dad to him than his own father is and has been; I want to just reach through the screen and shake some sense into him because from everything Iroh does, I can see him more of a father-figure to Zuko than Ozai.

I really enjoyed the storyline, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it compares to the original animated series. I'll likely do a comparison once I've finished the series! Be on the look out for upcoming posts about the animated ATLA series!

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I liked the idea of Bumi beng exhausted because of all of the decisions he's had to made as king, especially because of the war. Like the whole "who gets the food, the orphans or the soldiers" thing. I think it was a really interesting struggle to give him.

But that doesn't take away the fact that he's taking all of this resentment out on a fucking child that spent the last 100 years on a block of ice and that just found out his entire people have been murdered and that he needs to save the world.

Dude, you're literally beefing with a 12 year old who has done nothing.