mrmadeleinefly

[mrmadeleinefly]

Ross Tran

[mrmadeleinefly]

HARRIET TUBMAN ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY AND THEN WENT BACK TO GET OTHERS. LIKE, I KNOW YOU KNOW WHO HARRIET TUBMAN IS AND THAT SHE DID THAT, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT IN FOR A SECOND. 

HARRIET TUBMAN WAS HELD CAPTIVE AND BOUND TO UNPAID, BACK-BREAKING LABOR SINCE BIRTH UNDER PENALTY OF TORTURE OR DEATH. SHE MANAGED TO ESCAPE THAT LIFE, AND SHE TURNED THE FUCK AROUND AND WENT THE FUCK BACK TO GET EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS STILL TRAPPED IN IT. AND THEN SHE DID IT AGAIN EIGHTEEN MORE TIMES.

WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS PREPARED TO MAKE A STAND AGAINST SLAVERY, HARRIET TUBMAN BASICALLY SAID HE SHOULD STOP BEING SUCH A DIAPER BABY AND THAT GUYS WHO ARE TOO SCARED TO END SLAVERY DON’T DESERVE TO WIN WARS.

NOT ONLY DID SHE SECRET OVER 300 SLAVES TO FREEDOM ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, BUT SHE ACTED AS A SPY FOR THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD AN ARMED ASSAULT IN THE CIVIL WAR. THAT RAID BROUGHT FREEDOM TO OVER 700 SLAVES IN ONE GO.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO STEW ON THAT FOR LIKE A MINUTE. ACTING IN THE SHADOWS, SHE WALKED INTO HELL ON EARTH 19 TIMES TO SAVE HER FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS FROM THE TORMENT SHE ENDURED, AND THE SECOND SHE WAS GIVEN EVEN A MODICUM OF POWER, SHE MANAGED TO FREE SEVEN HUNDRED SLAVES IN ONE DAY. 

I GUARANTEE, HOWEVER IMPRESSED YOU ALREADY ARE WITH HARRIET TUBMAN, YOU ARE FALLING LIKE AT LEAST 40% SHORT OF HOW IMPRESSED YOU SHOULD BE WITH HARRIET TUBMAN. SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF BADASSERY IN THE ENTIRETY OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

[mrmadeleinefly]

writing adult emails is awful

[mrmadeleinefly]

The whole “you have to earn a living” rhetoric is really toxic. Have we considered that maybe, in 2015, basic needs like housing, food, and medicine don’t really need to be “earned” but should, in any reasonably industrialized country, be guaranteed?

[mrmadeleinefly]

In spite of your caution, you manage to make deductions interesting for me - believe it or not, it hadn’t occurred to me at all that Demeter orbited Delta Pavonis … I am still convinced Demeter is unusually left out in spite of its historical importance. Hell, Amaterasu gets more mentions in-game and it’s a minor colony. After reading your headcanon and looking up DP’s distance (19,92 ly), knowing it’s in the Local Cluster therefore that it’s reached through conventional FTL from the Charon Relay, I am even more convinced. 

We know that by the time of the ME Trilogy, Citadel starships are capable of traveling about a dozen light-years within a day’s period ; which means that it would take over 24 hours of FTL travel non-stop to reach Demeter. By comparison, anything in star system with a mass relay would be virtually closer. The distance would seem a major obstacle to investment and development - and yet Demeter is home to a school of art that is renowned at least within the Alliance. Now, I may be extrapolating, but it appears that, when it comes to humanity alone, the prestigious institutions of higher education are still all on Earth (with the notable exception of Grissom Academy) - but again the canon only gives us so much. Demeter would then be a strange mix of remote and isolated with … well-to-do ?

Now if we consider the canon beyond the games, things become even more nonsensical. By 2165, some thirteen years after Demeter’s foundation, it appears human starships were capable of traveling at least fifty times the speed of light, which is a completely different order of magnitude. Even ten light years in one day is an average of several thousand times the speed of light. How was it considered a good idea to settle Demeter in 2152 when it must have been perhaps a week away ? Even more so when we know from Cerberus Daily News that there is a supposedly unsettled garden world orbiting the Alpha Centauri system, the closest star to Sol.

What do you make of this ?

On a sidenote, it has always been my personal headcanon that in-game the Codex was named after the Athame Codex, some sort of holy book of the Athame Doctrine. In my mind, the original asari word humans translate as “Codex” was or became the name for a written repository of knowledge, and when the first Encyclopaedia Galactica was compiled it was thus named “Galactic Codex” for the asari. Humans, who probably assign Greco-Roman connotations to the asari, would choose the word “Codex” as a proper translation.

By "offensive", I actually was subscribing to your astute observation on how Americanocentric was the flag ; sadly, asks have to be kept brief and I couldn't make myself clearer. And I suck at brevity. By the way, as we are currently bonding and exchanging ideas, and since you mentioned Demeter, what do you think of it ? Why isn't it as prominent as Terra Nova and Eden Prime, even though it is as ancient as them ? Does it have to do with its private founding ? I can't wrap my head it.

I suck at communicating on time. Aye, even if I’m not convinced the devs thought much about it, a lot of eyebrows would be raised simply by making the flag so focused on the the western hemisphere, especially since it’s implied that they aren’t even top dogs any more - I vaguely recall India being named the richest nation on Earth, with Brazil following close behind. I’m guessing given the history of UNAS, its prestige would be noticeably diminished compared to today.

I wish we knew more about Demeter too, but the teeny-weeny wiki entry gives a lot more information then it initially appears to. Take a look

Demeter is a garden world colonized by humans in 2152, and their first extrasolar colony. This planet is in a system within reach of conventional FTL drives from the Sol system and was colonized before any system beyond the Charon Relay. The investment money for this colony is raised by the Delta Pavonis Foundation. By 2185, Demeter is home to the Ross School of Art.

My take is that Demeter is a private - or, given the prestige of being the first extrasolar colony - more likely a private-public partnership, or a intergovernment-funded non-profit private entity (blargh, that was irritating to type). Given the name of the colony, it was probably chiefly a European project, though it’s not impossible that the colony may have multiple names, and a Hellenic name was chosen for Occidental encyclopedias.

Incidentally, I looked up on Wikipedia, Delta Pavonis is an actual star, fairly close to the Sun (all things considered), and similar too, despite its age, so I think we have a location too! We already have a catalogue entry for the star, and since the foundation is named for the system, this adds further credence to the idea that it is an intergovernmental project, or at least one with international stakeholders. You don’t want to mess up a project as important as this over something this petty.

It’s also home to an art school, so we can also assume that the colony is big enough and developed enough to warrant investment in non-colonial ventures. This may also give some indication as to what kind of garden world it is - I don’t think the ME universe gave a concrete, legal definition to a garden world, though since the term ‘habitable’ exists, there must be some understanding - my guess is that a majority of humans could survive without any aid in the atmosphere. In Demeter’s case, it’s probably on the same level as Terra Nova. I bet it’d be more important if it had the same conditions as Horizon, or Eden Prime.

We don’t know that of course - Eden Prime is only important to humans, because the games set it up to be. Garden worlds may well be fairly common colonial targets because of their inherent value rather than scarcity.

Of course, naming it Demeter can’t have been picked out of nothing I suppose.

[mrmadeleinefly]

I admire the Monty Python creation and I think they were men of genius, but they were shits. Cleese, Idle, Graham Chapman. They were horrible [as was Bill Oddie of The Goodies]. In those days, women were not meant to be funny. They were meant to be decorative and I was never decorative so they didn’t like me. And I didn’t like them. My confidence and show-off-ness were very reprehensible, according to the people in the [Cambridge] Footlights. I only like Eric Idle and Tim Brooke-Taylor [of The Goodies] - I recently connected with him and he did apologise. He was sort of shocked and embarrassed because he hadn’t quite realised what had happened. I don’t know how he missed it. They went into light entertainment and I went into drama so, thankfully, our paths would seldom cross. I was a pert little madam. I thought I was as good as they were - and they didn’t. And they thought I was just jumped-up. They were minor public schoolboys, where a lot of that attitude springs from, and weren’t used to dealing with women. This was before feminism. They found me unbearable and the way they showed that was by refusing to speak to me, sending me to Coventry. It meant during the running of the Footlights review - and I was the only girl in 1962 - they did not speak to me at all. They made it very clear. I’ve never met cruelty like that. It was a horrible, memorable experience.

Miriam Margolyes — voiceover artist; comedian; actress; BAFTA winner; Professor Sprout; lesbian; sole woman in the 1962 Cambridge Footlights satirical revue alongside John Cleese, Bill Oddie, and Graham Chapman.

(via jamesleerwc)

I love her for saying this. There are still so many pockets of this behavior all over, let alone in less wealthy countries.

(via phrynefisherismyrolemodel)

[mrmadeleinefly]

Charlie Hebdo : this is an opinion

After collecting as many opinions as possible, here is the summary of the situation :

As always, there isn't any critical thinking. Opinions, but with no sense of scope ; the only opinion one accepts to consider are the one that corresponds to those already held (preemptive avoidance of cognitive dissonance). Gregarious instincts.

Upon inquiry within several groups, Charlie Hebdo is (was ?) indeed a purposely offensive journal, but it seems that one group particularly targeted was the Catholic Church, and certainly less tactfully than Islam. The case that can be made against Charlie Hebdo is whether intentionally offensive humor should exist at all, and if it qualifies as humor.

(Interestingly, dead noted as pacifists. Yet choice of offense ?)

Nevertheless, all agree that the murder of twelve persons over drawings is criminal and evil.

Terrorist action stupid and inefficient, as aforementioned persons will become martyrs.

As usual, imam had to insist that the muslim community condemns terrorism and has nothing to do with those who claim they work for the divine. Outliers of the population : people with the creed "You reap what you sow", either from the lower class, some Muslims, others many advocates about political correctness (political correctness does not seem apparently to equate liberalism, in fact it appears that it is only opinions maintained through one's faith in one's own moral superiority ; crucial error, lack of critical thinking).

Extreme islamophobia for now limited to outliers (attacks on mosques), but rising. General atmosphere of shock, anger and fear, described by some as eve of civil war. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen being president of France in 2017 does not appear fatuous anymore.

(Failings of the French school ; lack of education.)

(General effusion from the Western World indicates relief that France will finally ideologically rally to the American-centred entity. American media uses Charlie Hebdo shooting to not talk about bombing of NAACP building)

France in flux ; new dynamics being put in place, unknown to all for now. Political agenda for now on a day to day basis. New situation. An event.

Attack has given popularity to President Hollande (mechanical ; population huddles against symbol of union ; identity reinforced by an action from an alterity, note risk of evicting the Muslims from the identity). Still highly improbable for him to become President again in 2017.

For now, daily protests to show support. Involve all political parties, at behest of President. Sort of "union sacrée". Creates anew a French identity, after the dislocation of the past years. Marine Le Pen refuses to participate. For better ? (protests might have become islamophobic) For worse ? (diabolizing Front National and FN voters one cause of political dissatisfaction and rise of far-right)

Millenials appear to have begun to act ; self-characterized as knowing there are problems, but appalled by their own powerlessness (or convinced of it) and psychologically unable to act. Content to point and denounce. Most likely to feel an estrangement from the political parties ; one cause being the lack of renewal of the political ruling class (urgh). Popular politicians include old that predate the Sarkozy paradigm (Jupé) or young (Lemaire, Belkassem).

France in flux. Unknown outcome.

On a personal note :  After spending the last year acquiring data, it is now time to elaborate something. And to act. Main problem is no action. I should be back in a few years. Must elaborate without parasitic opinions. Hypotheses are test-prooved once completed.

On a side-note : Tumblr is one of the most frustrating and amazing outlets of the Internet, which has taught me so much. I came here among other things to escape from my chronic depression. It has helped. It will help again.

[mrmadeleinefly]

Is it possible to have a nuanced discussion on ‘freedom of speech’ and the inevitable reality that the majority will use this right to further marginalize the demonized minority. The killings at Charlie Hebdo are deplorable but if you look at the ‘satire’ the daily published...

[mrmadeleinefly]

To the French Muslim community: you guys stay safe

[mrmadeleinefly]

I love how a middle aged white man was seen placing the bomb that exploded next to the NAACP Chapter and no one is even talking about it.

All this just happens to come about right after the NAACP called to investigate the Darren Wilson grand jurors and not a single news station wants to report it? please. 

#StayWoke

[mrmadeleinefly]

Georges David Wolinski (28 June 1934 – 7 January 2015) was a French cartoonist and comics writer. Wolinski was killed in a terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo along with other staff. 

Wolinski was born in Tunis, French Tunisia, the son of Lola Bembaron and Siegfried Wolinski. His father was a Polish Jew and his mother was a Tunisian Jew.

After discontinuing his architecture studies in Paris, Georges Wolinski began cartooning in 1960, contributing political and erotic cartoons and comic strips to the satirical monthly Hara-Kiri.

During the student revolts of May 1968, Wolinski co-founded the satirical magazine L’Enragé with Siné.

In the early 1970s, Wolinski collaborated with the comics artist Georges Pichard to create Paulette which appeared in Charlie Mensuel and provoked reactions in France during its publication.

Wolinski’s work has appeared in the daily newspaper Libération, the weekly Paris-Match, L’Écho des savanes and Charlie Hebdo.

Wolinski died along with his colleagues Cabu, Charb and Tignous in the gun attack at Charlie Hebdo's offices in Paris in 2015.

[mrmadeleinefly]

Bernard Velhac (1957 – 7 January 2015), known by the pseudonym Tignous, was a French cartoonist. He was one of the collaborators of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. On 7 January 2015, he was killed in the Charlie Hebdo shooting.

[mrmadeleinefly]

Jean Cabut (13 January 1938 – 7 January 2015), known by the pen-name Cabu, was a French comic strip artist and caricaturist. He was killed in the terrorist attack that targeted his office at Charlie Hebdo.

Cabu started out studying art at the École Estienne in Paris and his drawings were first published by 1954 in a local newspaper. The Algerian Warforced him to be conscripted in Army for over two years, where his talent was used in the army magazine Bled and in Paris-Match. His time in the army caused him to become a strident anti-militarist and adopt a slightly anarchistic view of society.[citation needed]

In 1960, after he left the Army, he became one of the founders of Hara-Kiri magazine. In the 1970s and ’80s, he became a very popular artist, collaborating for a time with the children’s TV programme, Récré A2. He continued working in political caricature for Charlie Hebdo and Le Canard enchaîné.

His popular characters include Le Grand Duduche and adjudant Kronenbourg, and especially Mon Beauf. So spot-on was this caricature of an average, racist, sexist, vulgar, ordinary Frenchman that the word ‘beauf' (short for “beau-frère” i.e. brother-in-law) has slipped into ordinary use.

In February 2006, a Cabu cartoon which appeared on the cover of Charlie Hebdo in response to the Danish cartoons affair caused more controversy and a lawsuit. It depicted the Muslim prophet Muhammad, under the caption “Muhammad overwhelmed by fundamentalists”, crying : “C’est dur d’être aimé par des cons !” (“So hard to be loved by jerks!”).

From September 2006 to January 2007, an exhibition entitled Cabu and Paris was organised by Hôtel de Ville, Paris.

[mrmadeleinefly]

Stéphane Charbonnier (21 August 1967 – 7 January 2015), known as Charb, was a French caricaturist and journalist; most known for his work with Charlie Hebdo where he became editor in 2009. He was known for his controversial and thought-provoking illustrations and caricatures.

_______________

Charb worked for many newspapers, Charlie Hebdo – which he edited from 2009 until his death in 2015 – L’Écho des savanes, Télérama, Fluide glacial and L’Humanité. His cartoons, which often feature Maurice et Patapon the anti-capitalist cat and dog, are caustic and irreverent. He also used to draw the character of Marcel Keuf, le flic in Fluide Glacial.

His rubric in the weekly Charlie Hebdo was titled Charb n’aime pas les gens (Charb does not like people).

He used to deliver a monthly chronic titled La fatwa de l’Ayatollah Charb (The Fatwa of the Ayatollah Charb) in the Fluide Glacial magazine. In 2007 and 2008, he also took part in the talk show T’empêches tout le monde de dormir hosted by Marc-Olivier Fogiel on M6 as a set cartoonist.

He was a long time supporter of the French Communist Party and the Left Front.

On 2 November 2011, Charlie Hebdo was firebombed right before its 3 November issue was due; the issue was called Sharia Hebdo and satirically featured the Prophet of Islam Muhammad as guest-editor. Charb and two co-workers at Charlie Hebdo subsequently received police protection.

In September 2012, a man was arrested in La Rochelle for allegedly having called for beheading of Charb at a Jihadist website.

In 2012, he gave an interview in which is quoted as saying, “I am not afraid of reprisals, I have no children, no wife, no car, no debt. It might sound a bit pompous, but I’d prefer to die on my feet rather than living on my knees.”

Charb was placed on Al-Qaeda’s most-wanted list in 2013 after editing an edition of Charlie Hebdo that satirised the prophet Muhammad.

The week of the Charlie Hebdo attack, an eerily prescient Charb illustration in that week’s issue comprised the observation that there hadn’t been any terrorist attacks in France, followed by a caricatured armed jihadist fighter turning a customary French phrase to malicious use: “Wait!… one has until the end of January to present one’s season’s greetings.

[mrmadeleinefly]

It has been confirmed that nine members of Charlie Hebdo’s staff were killed in the attack, as well as two police officers.

Here’s more information on the attackers, who have not been apprehended. Jon Henley reports:

The attackers are still at large, French media is quoting police sources...

[mrmadeleinefly]

Charlie Hebdo attack: 12 dead at Paris offices of satirical magazine

• Police say 12 dead and five seriously injured in attack at magazine offices • Attackers on the run after firing on staff and police • ‘France in state of shock,’ says President Hollande from scene of attack • Petrol bomb attack destroyed magazine’s offices in November 2011