#<- i have used a clever tool named sarcasm which you can learn all about through media literacy.

[bossbabyofficial]

[themurphyzone]

PatB: Snowball Ep Talk

You know, I really do love the episode Snowball (my personal favorite AKOM episode) but I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it here much, and if I did it’s probably really only because of the flashback sequence. 

Okay so all looks good so far. Chain letter scheme and superstition, a standard introduction to Brain’s latest plot of world domination. All looks good. Plus I just like this shot of Pinky. Don’t mind me, just starting off light here with a smushed Pinky. 

I just like Pinky’s pose here. He’s so cute. 

You will bow before Troz.

“I met a Snowball today! Right here in the lab!” -Pinky

You know, I just find the implications of this line hysterical. This means that Snowball was in the lab that day, waiting for the moment to strike, and he definitely pushed his stolen chain letter through the mail slot. 

And then he lets Pinky see him, and no it’s not just a passing glance either cause Pinky specifically describes a tattoo with an A and a circle and points to his leg. Which means Snowball deliberately lifted the fur on his leg and showed his tattoo to Pinky. 

Like, wow. 

“It means, Pinky, that evil lurks among us. By the name of Snowball! SNOWBALLLLLLLL!” -Brain 

Talk about a bad breakup. *Alexa play Bad Blood*

Personally I think one of the interesting visual cues is that Snowball purposely plants himself into the mice’s space. There’s a lot of that in this episode. He knows how to rile up Brain and hit him where it hurts, namely through Pinky. 

Brain values his personal space, and he values a sense of control. When Snowball invades that space, Brain loses control, and his anger can lead him to make some very ill-informed decisions. Which is exactly what Snowball aims for. 

“You think Pinky is an asset?” 

“Anything I can take from you is an asset.”

Ah yes, Snowball’s mission statement. Crush everything Brain has into dust. 

The flashback sequence. Dear God this flashback sequence. They were both so cute! 

You know, it’s really sad that a younger Brain acted more like Pinky. Making silly faces and trying to get someone to laugh are such Pinky things to do. I know canon is loose but if you consider this flashback taking place shortly after Brain was captured from the wild, then young Brain didn’t gain a grasp on what happened to him until after the gene splicer.  

Ok but Brain was literally right there when the gene splicer exploded. Imagine having your cranium size dramatically increase, you’re injured, you’ve suddenly gained sentience, and as if all that wasn’t enough, you see the gene splicer explode with your only friend inside. 

Oh, and said friend’s mind was probably damaged in the explosion and now he hates your guts. And though you’re angry with him for his betrayal, some part of you will never stop caring about him. 

Once again, Snowball needs to learn to keep his hands to himself. 

This conversation here establishes Snowball as the perfect third character. He appears only in a handful of eps, but he’s fun to watch and love to hate. Snowball challenges the mice’s relationship. Snowball sees the weak points; the insults, the reliance on each other, and twists them to his advantage. And Pinky even admits he’s hurt by Brain’s insults occasionally, though he still loves being around him. 

“Pinky, the Brain doesn’t care about you. He’s just using you.” 

“No, he’s not.”

It’s really interesting to me how Pinky denies Snowball’s statement, yet his ears go down to show that he’s affected by the idea of being used. Pinky and the Brain may be night and day, but one thing they do have in common is their tendency to deny certain things. Brain with emotions and affection and Pinky with concepts he’d rather not admit the possibility of. 

Coming back to this later. 

Non plot related but Brain is teeny tiny and I love how he just trusts Pinky to catch him

Side note: I apologize if any of these screenshots look weird. It’s an AKOM ep. 

WHY ARE YOU TWO SO BAD AT SNEAKING AROUND. 

I just find it hilarious how they clearly run around where Snowball can see and hear them. Like they just shout Snowball’s name in the middle of the room. You’re terrible at being sneaky little mice. Please. 

Those dang boomers and their old timey 90s computers. Technology is ruining boomers. Can’t even hold a conversation anymore cause they keep looking at their screens. 

No touchy! 

Well, it’s awful nice of Snowball to engage in nepotism and offer Brain a position in his administration...and then tempt Pinky with an amusement park when he refuses. 

You really gotta appreciate the complexity of Snowball’s plans. Stealing the chain letter fails->plant seeds of doubt in Pinky’s mind, even if this doesn’t work right off the bat, the idea will still be there-> take over a corporation->impersonate Bill Gates->When the mice show up, offer to co-rule the world on expectations that Brain will refuse->make co-ruler offer to Pinky->wait for Brain to open his big mouth and drive Pinky away. 

All to take everything Brain has. His dignity, Pinky, his meager resources. Like holy Snowball, Batman.  

And then Snowball reveals the amusement park he had specifically built for Pinky. 

And here we have the most heartbreaking line of the ep. If I had the ability video edit I would’ve put the entire line on audio because Brain’s tone is very important here. It’s about 12:38 to 12:57 in the ep if you want to see for yourself. 

“Oh, go ahead, Pinky. I don’t need you. What did you think, I just have you around so I can steal your brilliant ideas and claim them as my own? That I’m just using you, Pinky? Oh yes, I’m using you for your brilliance!” 

First of all, very poor word choice, especially to someone who has trouble understanding sarcasm. I just want to dissect this statement here. 

The Literal Meaning: You’re an idiot to think you were ever more than an assistant. 

This is what Pinky hears. 

But if you listen to Brain’s tone rather than just reading the line, he sounds genuinely hurt that Pinky would ever be tempted by something as frivolous as an amusement park. It’s Pinky, so he just sees ‘ooh fun rides, cotton candy, and carnival games’! 

But Brain is perfectly aware that this is Snowball’s well-crafted method of taking away the only thing he truly has, and he knows it’s working. And he’s hurt. 

The Actual Meaning: Snowball’s trying to separate us and you’re falling for it, Pinky. You may be an idiot, but many of my plans never would’ve come to fruition without you. You’re much more than an assistant. You’re my friend and my world.  

Unfortunately, all Pinky hears is that Brain was only using him. That Brain values him for manual labor and an extra hand only, rather than a treasured companion. The fact that Brain often falls short of making Pinky feel appreciated just adds to this. 

And now that he no longer has Pinky, Brain’s spirit is crushed. Brain is persistent, but without Pinky, he has no reason to be. 

As far as he knows, his only two friends have turned their backs on him and couldn’t care less if he has nowhere else to go. 

Poor thing. He needs hugs. 

“I didn’t think it was possible. Humanity has actually gotten dumber.” -Brain

OK I think this one shot establishes what the world would be like under Snowball. His name is everywhere, and he tells the population to do stupid things just to bask in his own superiority. 

However, I can’t see Brain putting his name on every building so frivolously like this if he ruled the world. Sure, he’d name a bunch of things after himself and Pinky, but it would be more meaningful to them. 

Brain wants humanity to advance, not regress. 

Poor Pinky. Despite all this new extravagance and luxury, he’s also lonely. The room and bed are large, but it lacks personality. He’s sleeping with an ACME Labs snow globe, and other than a reference to Citizen Kane, it also shows that he’s not happy with this. 

The worst thing in the world for these mice is separation from each other. 

Suicide by cat. 

Poor little guy can’t make it on his own. Luckily, he snaps out of it. 

“My world. I must save MY world!” 

Said while looking at a picture of Pinky. Real subtle there Brain. 

“Look, you fool. You have no brilliant ideas. I’m only using you to get at him! So just stay quiet!” -Snowball

“You’re...using me?” -Pinky

He was just a bargaining chip. Never a friend. 

“What do you want?” 

“My friend. And MY world!”

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

He makes martial arts noises like a dork. I love him. 

I love how their characters are reflected in the mecha designs (also I had no idea Snowball was Iron Man!) 

Snowball’s is overall the more efficient design. It’s also much more combat ready and violent. In comparison, Brain’s suit is simply operated with a bunch of levers. It’s alright for peaceful situations like getting around faster or simply blending with a human population, but in a straight up fight the levers take too much time to operate. 

Snowball is more efficient than Brain, and while he’s got the ego, he lacks the insecurities that hold Brain back. His confidence makes him such an effective foe. And more importantly, Snowball doesn’t value Pinky’s companionship. He’s a tool and nothing more. Compare that to Brain. While Brain struggles at showing it, he ultimately wants Pinky’s input and values his jumbo-sized heart. 

Somewhat off topic, but I feel like the reboot missed this aspect of Brain and made him too overly edgy and violent (reboot!Brain would probably prefer Snowball’s mecha design over his counterpart’s). The only time Brain should become violent, if not for comedy, is when he’s protecting Pinky. His plans should have a level of restraint to them, and Pinky is the moral compass.  

I just like this shit-eating grin right here (I mean, he did eat shit in Welcome to the Jungle so...lol)

This is such an insanely clever move for Pinky. I feel like Brain would be like ‘oh my god Pinky!’ and then ‘wow, that’s actually brilliant what the heck is this tingling feeling’. 

ACME LABS IS IN NEW YORK CITY??????

I know this is a case of Where the Hell is Springfield but gdi aren’t they supposed to be in southern California. 

Ok fine I realize the ending to this ep is a reference to North by Northwest cause they somehow got to Mt. Rushmore but still 

Weird tangent but North by Northwest’s ending bothers me (not gonna fault this ep as it’s just a parody)? I’m sorry the girl is barely hanging onto Mt. Rushmore, the dude pulls her up, and then they have sex in a car. The sudden transition always seemed weird to me. 

I am ending this analysis post with a weird shot of Snowball cause i can and it’s his episode. 

[elesianne]

A Silmarillion fanfic, chapter two of seven

Story summary: Life is made up of small moments and ordinary, wonderful days for the first few years of Caranthir and Tuilindien’s marriage. Most of those days are full of love and happiness, and the worse ones are at least eased by love. A continuation of Caranthir and Tuilindien’s story in the form of a collection of ficlets.

Chapter length: ~1,700 words; Story rating: Teenage audiences

Some keywords for the whole fic: romance, marriage, family, some fluff, some angst, implied sex, years of the trees

A/N: Disclaimer: I don’t see Fëanor as an asshole all the time. But he is one in certain situations.

AO3 link

*

Chapter II //  Family dinner

Since the first days of their marriage they make a tradition of dining often at Carnistir's parents' house. Nerdanel invites them even more often: they do not always accept, because they like dining quietly at home, too. But they accept more often than Carnistir feels really comfortable with, and he grumbles about it sometimes.

'My family is best in very small doses per week', he says.

'I have no family here', Tuilindien reminds him. 'Your family is mine and I want to be a part of it, even when there is a risk of your father saying something rude.'

'There is always a risk of him saying something cruel', Carnistir grumbles, and by the look he sees in her eyes, Tuilindien agrees with him.

But she says, 'Do not be so protective of me, Carnistir, that you insulate me from things I need.'

So they ride through the city to Carnistir's old home at least twice a week. Carnistir remains ever vigilant, and is comforted – as is Tuilindien – by the knowledge that they have more allies in his family than there are people who would rather that Tuilindien weren't there.

Nerdanel has taken Tuilindien under her maternal wing; Maitimo is as reliably kind to her as he is to everyone who deserves it; Makalaurë and Tinweriel are, when they are there, very welcoming; and Ambarussar have yet to tire of vying for Tuilindien's attention.

And if Findekáno is visiting, as he often is, he appears to be happy to talk of Vanyarin things with Tuilindien every time, earning less-than-approving looks from Fëanáro and pretending to not notice them at all.

Tuilindien has been teaching some lessons to two groups of royal's and noble's children at the palace, including Nolofinwë's youngest child. One night only a few weeks after Carnistir and Tuilindien's wedding, Nerdanel asks her how she likes it.

'I like it very much.' Tuilindien smiles. 'There are some, but not many, differences between children of the Noldor and Vanyar. Two years ago I taught a group on Taniquetil who were only a little younger than my younger students here.'

'It does not take as much education and scholarship as you've achieved to teach children that young', Fëanáro says. He looks at his food rather than Tuilindien when he speaks, and his brows speak of a storm brewing.

Carnistir puts down his cutlery and steels himself.

Fëanáro somehow notices it for he says, irritated, 'Don't glower at me, Carnistir, I meant it as a compliment to your learned wife.'

'I'm sure', Carnistir replies, his voice as irritatingly sarcastic as he can make it.

Tuilindien slips her hand on his knee under the table and squeezes it. 'I enjoy teaching children', she says mildly. It is not the first time she has had to defend teaching.

'And do you intend to continue teaching young children for the foreseeable future, or do you have other plans?'

'For the foreseeable future, yes.'

Fëanáro sips his wine and purses his lips. 'You have a fine mind for language but you will never make much of a name for yourself if you keep straying from scholarship to pursuits that you enjoy but which are of little prestige.'

Carnistir stands up, sending his heavy chair crashing back. While everyone's ears ring with the loud sound, and Nerdanel and Maitimo reproach Fëanáro, Carnistir shouts, 'After all the damned conversations we've had about this, and you and mother too, and your promises –'

He closes his eyes, draws a deep breath, and continues, less loud but cold as glittering ice, 'Father. If you speak to Tuilindien with disrespect, we will leave, and we won't' come back for another dinner. We will host dinner at our house and invite everyone but you. I dare say that several members of the family will come.

'Do you want that to happen?' he asks baldly. He is after all better at straightforwardness than sarcasm.

Fëanáro has stood up too. Gaze and voice level, he says, 'I do not', and, 'You had that neat little speech planned, didn't you?'

'I did.'

Fëanáro sits down and picks up his knife and fork, avoiding Nerdanel's disappointed gaze. Carnistir doesn't sit until Fëanáro says to Tuilindien, cool but polite, 'I meant no disrespect. Only an observation of how things are here in Tirion, in case they are otherwise among your people. I am sorry if I caused offence.'

'The Noldor are my people now as much of the Vanyar', Tuilindien says, her eyes on her plate and hands in the folds of her dress. She says nothing of the offence obviously caused.

(Her dress is another Vanyarin confection of many wisp-thin layers of light blue fabric. Carnistir has come to love her floaty dresses; Fëanáro's face twitches every time he sees Tuilindien wearing one of them.)

'Let me speak, Carnistir', she whispers to him when she notices that he would defend her again.

She adds, 'It is the same with fame and prestige among the Vanyar. But I do not seek either, prince Fëanáro.'

(Tuilindien uses formal titles like tools and weapons, as signs of both respect and disapproval.)

'As you once said to me, I am of noble enough birth – and made more so by my marriage, I might add – that I can move between pursuits as pleases me. It pleases me now, as it often does, to spend my days teaching children, and to work with Carnistir on our house and garden that are still far from what they can be, and to learn more about Tirion and its people.'

'Few newlyweds who have just moved to a new place think of gaining renown above anything else', Nerdanel says, smiling at Tuilindien though there is still a pinched look around her eyes.

'We did', Fëanáro replies.

'Few people do', Nerdanel repeats.

'It is simply a difference of priorities', Tuilindien says, finally looking at Fëanáro.

'It must be', Fëanáro says with a tight-lipped smile.

Tuilindien picks up the conversation again after an awkward pause during which Nerdanel and Maitimo seemed to be looking for something to say, too. 'I have actually found that teaching children of the court is a good way of getting to know their parents too', Tuilindien remarks. 'I spoke with Comyarë today, Rúmil's daughter – I believe you know her well, Maitimo. She has been gathering words for comparison from the Falmari…'

And she actually manages to have a pleasant conversation with Fëanáro, Maitimo and Curufinwë about linguistics, though the tension in her body does not ease until they ride home.

'I am sorry for my reprobate of a father –' Carnistir begins as soon as they dismount. He feels exhausted.

'Do not apologise for him, my darling', Tuilindien sighs as she leads Mirwannë into the stable and to her stall. 'It is not your task. You did your utmost to protect me from his sharp tongue, and for that I am grateful. It worked.'

'It always feels that I do too little and too late', he says unhappily, but Tuilindien's eyes that meet his over the low wall between Mirwannë and Varnë's stalls are clear of unhappiness.

'You do enough', she assures him.

'Where do you find your patience and courage to keep trying with him?' Carnistir asks. 'Answering his prodding questions, and then sparking up a conversation about something you know he'll be interested to talk about.'

Tuilindien pats Mirwannë's neck and leaves her to the groom's care since she is dressed nicely for dinner, not horse-grooming.

Carnistir is dressed for somewhere between those two activities but he unsaddles, brushes and feeds Varnë himself anyway because he has yet to find a groom to employ that Varnë tolerates or who is brave enough to go near her hooves and teeth even though she doesn't.

(He'd tried to poach the bravest one his father employs, but the man proved too loyal to his long-time employer to accept any of Carnistir's increasingly generous offers.)

Tuilindien waits outside Varnë's stall and answers his question after a moment of thinking. 'I find my courage and confidence in being yours', she tells him, her liquid-green-blue gaze on his. Carnistir leans against Varnë's warm flank and listens. 'In the knowledge and security that no matter what you father says, he cannot tear us apart.' She puts her hand on the stall door, her right hand bearing the golden ring Carnistir gave her at their wedding feast.

What can Carnistir do at that but go and kiss her over the chest-high stall door? It is one of the most uncomfortable kisses they have shared.

'Things will keep getting better', he promises to her, and kisses her once more for good measure, and then goes to groom Varnë because that simply has to be done before they can go inside and kiss properly. 'Even my father cannot help but warm to you. Or get used to you, at the very least.'

He brushes Varnë down with the swift, long motions that she prefers, and keeps talking himself down from the remnants of rage that still smoulder in his heart. 'My father is learned and clever but he cannot understand people different from himself. My mother told me so once. I couldn't see it before that myself.

'At least Tyelko and Curvo are no longer rude about you. Well, Curvo is still childish sometimes, but he is still a child, just an overgrown one.'

Tuilindien bursts into laughter. As always it makes warmth bloom inside Carnistir's chest. 'Overgrown in height and in years, too, Carnistir! He is several years past being of age.'

'Well, he doesn't behave like it', Carnistir grumbles, but smiles at her as he switches from brush to hoof-pick and begins his daily struggle to clean Varnë's hooves while the mare pretends that it is the worst thing in the world.

'Looking at you doing that, you know, I think that half your strength is built up from fighting Varnë', Tuilindien remarks teasingly.

Carnistir would laugh if his hands shaking would not lose him this particular fight with his horse. 'Perhaps it is', he says, wresting another hoof up to be cleaned. 'I have had her since I was still growing. If it is, well, is she not a worthy opponent, since she weighs several times as much as I do?'

Tuilindien does laugh again, and the night continues like that, and they do not spare Fëanáro one more thought.

*

A/N: In the next chapter, it is the turn for Tuilindien's family to make an appearance. The chapter will be posted on Thursday.

[back-and-totheleft]

A brilliant work about white nationalism and the cult of personality

This past week saw the release of Chasing the Light, the epic memoir of legendary filmmaker Oliver Stone. A word like "controversial" doesn’t even begin to describe the work of Stone, whose films have delved deep into hot button political issues and sparked intense debate for decades. Some have decried Stone as a radical conspiracy theorist who indulges in his own historical fantasies, while others consider him to be a noble patriot who ranks among the great American filmmakers of all time.

Stone had his own take on the Kennedy assassination in JFK. He skewered corporate greed with Wall Street and demystified the Vietnam War with Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July. He explored violence in the media with Natural Born Killers. He’s made films centered on the lives of Richard Nixon, George W. Bush, Edward Snowden, Alexander the Great and Jim Morrison.

Stone’s films that play with real people and events often draw the most attention, but he’s also shown an ability to create work that is ahead of its time. No film personifies this more than Talk Radio, Stone’s 1988 chamber piece that explores the complex relationship between an abrasive radio personality and his audience. In 2020, this story about participation in media, toxic masculinity, performative impertinence, mental health stigma and local news coverage is more prevalent than ever.

It’s no secret that ratings for talk and news radio programs are down across the state, with some experts suggesting that listeners are looking for escapism from news updates and political divisiveness. Talk Radio exemplifies those anxieties by showing how absorbing it is for a host to keep his listeners engaged by any means necessary.

Eric Bogosian stars as Barry Champlain, a Jewish radio host based out of Dallas who berates his callers each night with tirades of hatred and sarcasm. Champlain’s callers look to him for reliable nastiness, and throughout the course of his shows, the lines between performance and sincerity become blurred. It’s unclear if Barry talks the way he does because he needs a reaction, or if the everyday grind of listening to these callers has taken a real toll on him.

“I'm a hypocrite,” he admits at one point. “I ask for sincerity, and I lie. I denounce the system as I embrace it. I want money and power and prestige. I want ratings and success, and I don't give a damn about you, or the world. That's the truth. For that I could say I'm sorry, but I won't.”

What makes Talk Radio so significant for its time is how it deals with the cult of personality that often dominates media viewership. Champlain’s callers aren’t calling because they’re interested in his viewpoints or even his outlandish statements. They’re addicted to him. One caller calls to tell Champlain about her obsession with his show, but when pressed for details, she can’t name anything other than how she “loves everything about (him).”

Although the story is loosely based on the life of the Denver radio host Alan Berg, its relevance about the prevalence of white nationalism feels pertinent to the current moment.

Stone explores how dominating this on-air persona can be. Champlain receives a barrage of vitriolic calls every night from listeners who despise him and often sling anti-Semitic insults his way. Champlain takes each call in stride, aiming to never show a sign of vulnerability, as that would contrast with the person he is presenting himself as.

Any moment of sincerity feels like a loss from Champlain. When he shows genuine concern for a caller who claims to be nearing an overdose, Champlain quickly learns he’s been duped by a particularly vile prankster. The radio host becomes angry, not just because he’s been deceived, but because the concern he showed is at odds with the uncaring facade he has constructed for himself.

A common talking point in today’s political discourse links the rise of radicalization as a result of extremist movements that are passed along through social media channels, often preying upon easily impressionable listeners. Champlain begins to recognize this process for himself throughout the course of Talk Radio, in which he realizes that many of his viewers view his program unironically and treat his most absurd hyperboles as a form of gospel.

Champlain’s boss Dan (played by a young Alec Baldwin) tells him that it’s only a job, but throughout the course of the film the audience learns how all-consuming the work has become. A desperate Champlain calls his ex-wife Ellen (Ellen Greene) at one point asking for help with his depression, but when she calls him on air, he treats her with the same resentment that he does any other caller. Champlain’s staff are horrified at the fact that he would use his prior relationship as material for his show, but for Champlain, they have become the same thing.

The notion of Jewish anxiety looms over the film; Champlain is a Jewish man with leftist views, and he’s often at odds with his conservative viewers. Even if he’s able to lampoon his abusers with a clever one-liner, Stone notes the real danger that Champlain is in, particularly as one caller makes a bomb threat while espousing hate speech. Even if Champlain isn’t afraid to put himself out there, it’s clear that he’s facing an uphill battle every day.

Although the story is loosely based on the life of the Denver radio host Alan Berg, its relevance about the prevalence of white nationalism feels pertinent today. Champlain’s anxieties stem from the fact that his tormentors confront him on open airwaves, thus giving a voice to others who are inspired by hate speech. In a time when platforms like Twitter and Facebook are slow to ban calls to violence, Champlain’s experience feels less like an anomaly and more like a precedent.

Despite the attention he receives, Champlain is very much alone, and Stone’s notion that those with the most recognition are often the most isolated was a novel theme in the pre-internet era. Conversations about the impact of social media on mental health often note how online interactions can lead to a false sense of well-being, and Talk Radio explores the very idea of using superficial relationships as a coping method.

If many of Stone’s films feel like a rallying cry or a call to action, Talk Radio is among his more nuanced and meditative works. The film certainly has pity for Champlain, but it doesn’t condone his actions. If anything, Talk Radio aims to explore how hostile media environments create people like Champlain, and how people are seduced into granting him any power.

A cautionary tale and a useful tool in exploring the ways in which strangers interact, Talk Radio is a forgotten classic that sheds some insight into what discourse has become. As Stone’s entire filmography is reconsidered as his memoir is celebrated, Talk Radio deserves to be appreciated for the brilliant work that it is.

Talk Radio made its streaming debut on Peacock. It can be viewed for free there.

-Liam Gaughan, “Oliver Stone Has a New Film, but Let's Look Back at the Ever-Relevant Talk Radio,” Dallas Observer, Aug 2 2020 [x]

[cogentranting]

Oliver Queen as a Slytherin: A Character Study

When asked what Hogwarts house I believed Oliver Queen to be in I very adamantly declared him to be Slytherin. I was asked to explain my reasoning and (with the editing and co-authorship of @emeraldoliverqueen) I wrote this absurdly long exploration of Oliver and his character as a Slytherin. (These are my own thoughts and interpretations- I’m not trying to fight anyone; you’re free to imagine him/write him in whatever house you prefer)

These are the traits that the Harry Potter wiki listed for Slytherin: Resourcefulness. Cunning. Ambition. Determination. Self-Preservation. Fraternity. Cleverness.  And if those don't describe Oliver I don't know what does.

Resourcefulness- the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

He made a bow from materials found entirely within his hotel room. He rigged together a booby trap in the middle of a jungle. He devises weapons on the fly. He may have come back to his city and have billions of dollars at his disposal to help him on his quest, but his origins are on a deserted island where his resourcefulness sustained him.  

Cunning- skill in achieving one's ends by deceit (aka lying)

He came up with a plot to get himself arrested so that he could have someone else pose as him in order to throw the police off his trail. He dug up information and used it to blackmail Amanda Waller. He came up with a ploy to destroy the League of Assassins from the inside. He planned the ruse to get Sara Slade and himself onto the Amazo. Plans and strategies are his strong suit. Here we could also include, Oliver’s impressive skill at lying (he manages to convince virtually everyone that he is something he’s not for years. And he beat a lie detector test.).

Ambition-  a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work; desire and determination to achieve success.

admittedly not one of his more notable traits in that he doesn’t really seek success for it’s own sake. However, he is the mayor, was a CEO, was high-ranking Bratva member, was the head of the League of Assassins and also has a zeal he puts into perfecting different skills. So there is some element of ambition present in those things, because he rises to the top of everything he does. And of course, there is the incredibly ambitious endeavor that is Oliver’s crusade- the sheer size of the tasks he sets for himself speaks of his ambition. The idea that he would hold himself accountable for saving a city, and punish himself for failing (running away after the Undertaking) indicates his ambition.  

Determination- the process of establishing something exactly, typically by calculation or research.; firmness of purpose; resoluteness

His name is Oliver Stubborn Queen. Stephen Amell described stubbornness as Oliver’s superpower. Oliver’s sheer force of will is what propels him through most of his experiences. His determination is part of why he’s so able to resist torture (Oliver NEVER breaks under torture- except with Prometheus, but that was on a special psychological level and didn’t involve endangering anyone else). It’s why he’s able to endure so much. It’s why he is able to achieve such skill and physical fitness. It’s why he butts heads with literally everyone. And it’s why he is able to accomplish so much more than anyone thinks he’s capable of. Also think of his dedication to the list and his evolving crusade.Think of how absolutely impossible it is to dissuade Oliver from this course he has set for himself, either through arguments (Diggle, on multiple occasions but the Claybourne incident in particular) or through harm to him (Oliver going out to chase down the Count while still being affected by Vertigo). Once Oliver has set himself a purpose he does not back down.

Self Preservation- the protection of oneself from harm or death

This one is unusual because it’s very present, but it’s also paired with self-loathing and suicidal tendencies. However, this only makes his sense of self preservation even more evident. Because it’s undeniable that Oliver fights hard to survive- in his ten years there were countless times when he could have given up, or should have died and he kept going and made it out. Oliver’s inclination of self preservation is so strong that for ten years it has managed to overcome those suicidal thoughts even in the face of the number of impossible situations he’s been in. Consider the fact that he survived his five years through sheer force of will. A few specific moments stand out: Oliver breaks his own hand to get free and stop Slade from killing him when they first meet; Tatsu claims that his “will to live” is what saved him on the mountaintop;  digging the bullet out of his own stomach; undergoing a week of torture and then still stabbing Kovar in the hand and trying to fight his way out; his suspicious nature, especially in instances such as when he finds the guy in the cave claiming to be shipwrecked and chooses to leave him, and with Andy.

Fraternity- the state or feeling of friendship and mutual support within a group.

The list of Oliver's "brothers": Tommy, Diggle, Anatoly, Slade, if you want to take Barry on to that even though he's never verbally identified Barry that way. Oliver loves his bromance. In fact, Oliver is all about family. From his mile-high prioritization of Moira and Thea, to the found families he creates everywhere he goes (the island, hong kong, team arrow etc.).  That sense of brotherhood and that form of love is something Oliver can’t go long without, and that’s why he almost always has at least one close friend he refers to as his brother.  

Cleverness- the quality of being clever; ingenuity or shrewdness.

Arrow has a pretty common mystery element and puts a lot of focus on Oliver’s detective skill- piecing together clues, discerning motives, tracking people down. His sense of humor, when he shows it, is sort of clever dry sarcasm. He has an extraordinary skill with languages. Tactics are his specialty. He’s good at figuring out how machines work (fixing the plane radio). He rigged a computer system to help him when he worked solo. Oliver’s extremely intelligent and most of that veers toward the clever and cunning classifications.

Slytherin is also associated with tradition and family names. Oliver is from Old money- an established family name with wealth and power (btw, Thea, Moira and Robert are ALL Slytherin- it’s why Merlyn relates to them more than to Tommy, who is decidedly NOT a Slytherin). His idea of honoring the dead is also a somewhat tradition oriented mindset. His choice of weapons (bows and arrows and swords) could also be considered traditionalist.

The Slytherin wiki page also talks about how they make strong leaders, and that is something I strongly associate with Oliver. (I’ve talked about it before, here)

The biggest thing however is that Oliver (and all the Queens) is defined by a ruthless pursuit of his goals. “whoever I am, I'm someone who will do whatever, whatever it takes to save my sister.” “he had you and he was gonna hurt you. There was no choice to make.” “To live I had to make myself more than what I was, to forge myself into a weapon.” “There's no length that I will not go to to avenge Laurel. To stop Darhk from ever hurting anyone again.” “Do you remember what you told me? It takes a monster to kill a monster.” “To do what I do, Barry, takes conviction. But more often than not is the will to do what's ugly.” “There are people in the world who deal only in extremes. And it would be naive to think that anything less than extreme measures will stop them.” What sets Oliver apart is his moral pragmatism, his willingness to cross lines, the fact that if you stand in his way he WILL destroy you. And that’s ALL Slytherin all the way.

Here’s an additional Slytherin description that seems to sum up Oliver pretty well:

Slytherins are usually ambitious, goal based learners, who can be very perfectionistic. They can be resourceful, subtle, charming, self-reliant, and adaptable. Just because they’re not loyal in the same way Gryffindors are doesn’t mean they’re not loyal people- they’re just extremely selective about who they are loyal to; which is usually a very small amount of people who they know they can trust and confide in, and they are usually extremely passionate and caring towards this small group. They also feel great deals of respect for people they feel are deserving of respect. (http://unicornachos.tumblr.com/post/46241425124/diffusing-some-hogwarts-house-stereotypes)

What about the other houses though? How does Oliver compare to their key characteristics?

Ravenclaw- Intelligence, wit, wisdom, creativity, originality, individuality, acceptance.

Oliver is certainly intelligent. I have a whole ongoing soapbox about how smart Oliver is and how it never gets acknowledged. Note that: it never gets acknowledged. That’s important. Because there is a reason Oliver isn’t often thought of as being one of the smart characters (and why characters will make comments calling him dumb “you’re very handsome but not especially bright)- Oliver doesn’t have a particular inclination toward the pursuit of knowledge or a value for intelligence/knowledge in and of itself, and those things are defining Ravenclaw qualities. It’s for this reason that Oliver never did well in school- the knowledge itself was not interesting to him. For Oliver, intelligence is a tool to achieve his ends; his intelligence is channeled into a goal- getting off the island by fixing a plane radio, using computers to steal from Adam Hunt, learning a language to survive whatever country he’s trapped in, memorizing ARGUS tactical maneuvers etc. His intelligence craves utility much more so than someone like Felicity, or Nate, or Caitlin. This pushes it away from a Ravenclaw trait more towards the Slytherin sortings of “cunning’ and “resourcefulness”. And really it all falls back under the purview of Oliver’s ‘by whatever means necessary’ mentality- sometimes “whatever it takes” is torture, sometimes it’s learning a new language in under a year. Oliver has wit- his humor is defined by snark and dryness. But the fact that it only makes rare appearances keeps it from being a defining trait of his, and indicates that it’s not of particularly high value to him. Oliver isn’t a character I would define as creative- creativity is defined by imaginativeness, which is never something highlighted in Oliver, and original ideas. Oliver has plenty of original ideas, but creativity has a strong artistic connotation, something Oliver does not demonstrate. Rather his more inventive ideas lean toward tactics and strategy, something related to resourcefulness- again, a Slytherin trait.  Likewise, originality/individuality is not something Oliver actively cultivates- he’s original and unique as a person because everyone is and he’s by no means a conformer. But rather than coming from a desire to be original or exercise his individuality, Oliver’s contrast with others comes from ambition. Acceptance can have many different definitions/connotations but Ravenclaw definitions seem to put an emphasis on accepting eccentricities. Oliver is not un-accepting… but neither is his acceptance clearly shown. While Oliver is very adaptable and will work with all sorts of people, there are a number of people whose eccentricities he meets with clearly expressed annoyance, especially when first meeting them (Cisco in 3x08, Curtis at various points but 4x17 particularly, Ray in 3x18, Kara in Legends 2x07, Barry at various points). As to Oliver’s wisdom, that’s a contentious point. Many would argue that Oliver is not wise at all, he makes terrible decisions and never learns from his mistakes. (I would not be one of those people). Others would say that Oliver has a lot of experience to offer and gives strong advice. I would argue that while Oliver’s experience has lead to him becoming much stronger at giving advice, his practicality and comfort operating in morally gray areas, as well as his extensive trauma, cost him the moral viewpoint that would be needed to truly be considered wise.

Hufflepuff- Dedication, Hard Work/Unafraid of toil, Fair play, Patience, Kindness, Tolerance, Loyalty

Dedication comes very close to Oliver’s “determination” trait so in most instances it is present, however, dedication could also be applied to relationships and there you run into the issues of Oliver’s cheating in his younger years. Oliver is also very hard-working (won’t stop until he drops from exhaustion type of hardworking). But that’s where Oliver’s Hufflepuff traits end. Hufflepuff’s value fair play- fair play doesn’t particularly interest Oliver. He’s a no holds barred fighter, his primary tools for accomplishing things are fear, intimidation and pain. He’ll sever your tendons to end a fight, physically intimidate you in an argument, keep countless secrets, torture an innocent man for the greater good, use any trick he thinks of to win. Fairness is not something Oliver considers. Hufflepuffs are patient. Oliver is patient in accomplishing a task, but not when dealing with other people. Watch the scene in 5x02 where he berates the recruits after Rene messes up. Watch him get frustrated with Barry in Flash 2x08. Even consider the way that he charges off to climb the elevator shaft in 5x20. Kindness. No. Oliver is not kind. He’s good, with a big heart and a lot of love. But that’s not the same thing. He can be kind, to the people he cares about, but in general he is not a kind person. Oliver has a temper, Oliver is very blunt, Oliver is often focused on his goal to the point of neglecting the emotional needs of others. Oliver shot three different mentees with arrows to teach them a lesson, Oliver has yelled at every single member of Team Arrow and most members of Team Flash. Oliver has gotten frustrated and made several different grown men cry. He’s not kind. Tolerance really depends on which definition. Go back and look at what I have to say about “acceptance” and adjust as necessary. And loyalty. Oliver is loyal… until he’s not. He’s loyal until he cheats on you with your sister. Or until he feels he needs to lie about something or do something alone. Or until you do something that makes him feel he can’t trust you- and his trust issues are substantial so there’s a lot that can do that. But mostly just consider that Hufflepuff is most commonly defined as being the friendly, cheerful house. And Oliver Queen is most commonly referred to as brooding, dark, and “doesn’t play well with others”. To the extent that the woman he was dating made a joke about how an alternative version of Oliver might be “agreeable”.

And Gryffindor (the one that more people probably sort him into)- Bravery/nerve/daring/courage, chivalry, recklessness/impulsivity (not listed but very commonly associated with them)

Oliver certainly does share some traits of this house-. However, Oliver isn’t actually what I would call chivalrous. Chivalry is defined by being courteous and gallant- Oliver is more often blunt, cold and pragmatic. He isn’t given to large gestures and when he is charming, it isn’t with the same nobility that chivalry implies. Secondly, though many people deny it, Oliver is not impulsive. Occasionally he acts impulsively, in times of duress or anger or fear. But in general, most of his behavior is very controlled, very calculated. He’s the planner of the Arrowverse. He’s the strategist. He’s the one who spent years planning his crusade. He’s the one who researched his team members before telling them anything. He’s the one who taught Barry to case a situation before rushing in. He’s the one who insists on having a plan before a confrontation, the one who wants all the information before deciding whether or not to trust someone. Nor would I describe Oliver as arrogant. Confident, yes. Arrogant is defined by overestimating one’s abilities. In his younger days Oliver may have been a touch arrogant. But now Oliver’s confidence is simply awareness of his oft-proven skill. Oliver knows what he’s capable of (a lot) and has confidence to match. Gryffindors are also often thought of as self-righteous, which is defined as “characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one is totally correct or morally superior.” And Oliver is quick to praise the morality of others (whether they are deserving or not)- Thea, Laurel, Diggle, Felicity, even someone like Moira. And not just praise what a good person they are, but tell them how much better they are than him. He’ll call himself a monster, talk about being “beyond redemption”, or “broken.” He can be made to believe that he is undeserving of any kind of love, that he is poisonous to the people around him. It took years of working as a superhero before anyone could convince Oliver to see himself as a hero. Oliver is sometimes proud, it’s not unusual for him to think he’s smarter than someone else, or to think they’re naive. But most of the time he does not believe that he is a good person, let alone better than others. He’s not self-righteous.  

And Oliver is without a doubt brave (daring/courageous- Gryffindor’s trait list is a bunch of synonyms) but this trait is rarely emphasized. In its place the narrative focuses on his toughness and determination- his passion and willingness to do whatever it takes. The emphasis on his willingness to sacrifice rather than bravery in and of itself. And Bravery is rarely a trait that Oliver expresses any particular value for. It’s rare that he praises something like that. What’s more, Oliver’s bravery is not a trait unto itself. His bravery comes naturally from all that is Slytherin in him. It comes from his cunning, resourcefulness and skill which he is acutely aware of to the degree that he doesn’t have to fear anything.It comes from a passionate sense of fraternity. A loyalty to his brothers (and any family, biological or otherwise, that he claims) which supersedes everything else. And most of all it comes from his single-minded determination, ambition and ‘whatever it takes’ mindset which will not let anything stand in the way of him accomplishing his goal- not even fear. (And, unfortunately there is also an aspect where some of what might be considered bravery is actually disregard for his own life- what is there to fear when you’ve embraced pain and the possibility of death?). Oliver’s bravery is result, not a cause.

[That being said, there is a decent chance that, were he in the books, Oliver would get sorted into Gryffindor. Because there is a tendency for Harry Potter to treat bravery as a trump-card trait- it doesn’t matter how many of your other traits line up with another house, if you’re brave, you’re Gryffindor. It’s like the golden snitch of character traits- if you have it, everything else is irrelevant. And that’s something that happens in practice but in theory shouldn’t happen. It’s the tendency which turns four equally valid houses and personality types, into the Protagonist House, the Antagonist House, aaaannnnddd everybody else. And it’s a tendency that I think Rowling actively tried to counteract further down the road (hence, Newt Scamander). So I don’t accept Oliver’s bravery as overriding all his prominent Slytherin traits.]

In the end, I think that the qualities that most distinguish him from other characters (characters like Diggle, Barry, Ray, or even Felicity) are very much Slytherin traits. His key characteristics, the ones that really define him and his style of heroics, are his cunning, his determination, and his ruthless pursuit of goals. And those are all Slytherin.

Plus…. Come on guys. Green.

TL;DR-- Oliver is a Slytherin because he is cunning, resourceful, stubborn, ambitious, and always has a plan which he will be ruthless in executing.

[theepitomeofsimplicite]

Dear Cutie,

After recently getting back from what I believe to be one of the most incredible, wild, fun, and memorable road trips I’ve ever taken so far to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona visiting sights like the Vegas’s strips and the impressive Hoover Dam, hiking the Angel’s landing of Zion Park and visiting the breath taking lower & the adventurous upper Antelope Canyons, as well as a stop and climb on rocks at the stunning Horse Shoe Bend, I am delighted to share with you (and my dear readers & friends) my thoughts on dating an american guy (like you), a topic that has been feeding countless debates for lots of conversations I’ve had with my fellow french expats.

Horse Shoe Bend Secret Spot

Thinker Pose at the Horse Shoe Bend

Upper Antelope Canyon- Not a Couple Yet!

Beautiful Antelope Canyons

Road trip in Utah

Firstly, I am honestly still trying to process (recall self-reflection, self-thinking, and why not throw in affirmation in there ahah) how two total strangers suddenly come together and create new beautiful stories to share with the world (because that is what I believe life is all about and I am grateful to have a space like this blog as a conduit to share my stories). I also believe that traveling together is the best recipe to test patience, teamwork, and a person’s ability to be fun to hang out with; you see, when two people get stuck in the same car for more than 12 hours sitting through awful traffic, there is no other choice than… sharing laughter, giggling and singing/dancing all the way to our destinations right?! I enjoyed how you are not scared of trying new things with so much enthusiasm, learning from one another something new every day (aka soporific is in fact an English word), and offering each other different perspectives on life…

From my own experience, there are some unique and interesting cultural differences I wanted to highlight in this post that affect dating from both sides of the Atlantic between the Europeans (particularly the French) and the Americans. Evidently, this is not meant to merely create a generalization as each person and situation is specific, but rather some things to consider from my recount of dating you. Ready to read my thoughts on dating an American like you?!

The Hoover Dam

A Caveman Waking Up!

Seahorse Spotting at the Lower Antelope Canyon

Not a Couple Again at the Lower Antelope Canyon

Gorgeous!

On first impression and personal style: French guys tend to carefully select their clothes for the fit and create outfits with neutral color palette. They are usually well groomed and take great pride in looking attractive on the date. American men (including you) are more casual and show up wearing anything ranging from their favorite graphic band’s tee-shirt (see post here of my take on being effortlessly cool) or a pair of loose jeans (shameless about ill fitted clothes) and a polo. They are more concerned about comfort than looking good! Wouldn’t you agree?

On the concept of dating: this vocab is non existent in France! People meet each other via group settings such as hanging out with friends unlike the Americans, they don’t get into a formalized pre-packaged deal as stereotyped in movies where it’s a candle lit 1-1 rendez-vous mid-week dinner. That’s so much pressure particularly if you don’t know the person well enough. Meeting someone you like in friend’s environment also allows to observe how the person of interest interacts with your friends so French dating accounts for a community dynamic rather than a private affair when it comes to going out with someone.

Speaking of going out settings, where to go on dates: when you would like to see the person you like in private, it is usually a walk by the river or a visit at a museum. It’s very casual and non-chalant and all about being in the moment. On out first travel night out, we walked through the strip of Vegas when everything has already closed down due to the holidays (no clubbing, no adult shows urgh, no comedy, etc…) and yet we did our best in each other’s company to have a fun time together regardless (breakfast for dinner at Denny’s for instance was so much fun especially seeing my friends’ reaction to associating this unlikely place for dinning with me or even Stratography as a noble profession or the Virgin River). Unlike the Europeans, Americans tend to plan out all activities in advance which isn’t always a bad thing but it loses all the spontaneity?!

What to talk about on dates? American men tend to overemphasize on degrees earned and career related and take great pride in predicting the future with topics such as university studies, internships, promotions, and the workday. But money is taboo for the French and talking about what people do for a living or how they spend their money. It has more to do with creating personal connections. I really enjoyed when you described the casserole dish you make back home in Louisiana or the guinea pig you lost when I was sharing my experience of losing my dog too as we drove by an animal shelter in Utah.

Flirting is a way of being French while Americans are more direct (include the Dutch here too). I recently start to grasp why Americans don’t understand the flirting signs of the french as it is so cryptic and embedded in our cultural. I would often disagree with you cos it’s more fun that way even though I may not necessarily believe in what I argue about. I could be perceived as stubborn and opinionated on many topics so get ready to take a stance! Know your geography for god sake it’s really embarrassing! And when I ask tricky questions, it’s not because it’s to test you (nah actually it’s always a test and it’s so fun). Yet you still must answer this one: Can two people from two different worlds get together well? Yes/no and how?

First Pose Together at the Zion Park, UH

Zion Park

A Beautiful Deer Sighting!

Secret Spot of a Cave in Zion Park called the Passage Way (My Naming)

Off Trail of the Angel’s Landing at Zion Park

Goofing at the Lake Las Vegas

On seduction: while European men are charming with their words and are superior on verbal seduction, American men are sweet yet more reserved with the outpouring of compliments. They may point out something they like about what a woman’s outfit or hair for instance. This may sound anti-modern but European men love the chase by mastering the skills of being persistent and clever and by being persuasive with the art of negotiation. Women who gently resist, make them work harder and sweat more to win over her heart, which creates tension/attraction in this push/pull interaction presented as a playful challenge. On the other hand, American men tend to be more direct, straight talking, and super relaxed (perhaps like you). If they want to court a woman, they will let her know through a series of thoughtful actions and words without much fuss. Let me know if you disagree or have anything to add 😉

Sarcasm is a native language to the French and a great flirting tool: let me describe an anecdote… As I’m staring at the guy’s shirt (yours!) and make a disapproving face, I exclaim: “Please Burn this shirt!” Wait for a couple of second to see how his mind is racing and how heart failure might occur in any moment then add “because it’s giving you an unfair disadvantage!” So please don’t always get offended for everything I say because it’s not meant to be harmful because I am in truth also sensitive and kind hearted.

Americans always want to know what lies ahead (i.e. defining a relationship can be part of it) while us French, we just go through this process called life and enjoy the ride. We don’t overemphasize the final destination. So European men like to live in the moment. Although they mat have work and familial obligations that require advanced organization, they value letting their life’s process unfold day by day. But when it comes to marriage, there exists a lot of external factors regarding economic crisis and strong family pressure that draw the path of marriage sooner rather than later. American men are more future oriented and value the path of efficiency, hard work, and planning to reach both short and long term goals, so I’d imagine that they tend to commit and marry sooner but for the reasons of building a life side by side with her while it’s advantageous financially speaking. Capitalists!

The Hoover Dam and IG Modeling Going On!

Ponte Vecchio at Lake Las Vegas

Outfit Post at Tropicana, Vegas

Deep Thoughts Processing at the Zion Park

Ponte Vecchio at Lake Las Vegas Romance

A Photo of a Photo at the Lower Antelope Canyon

French people enjoy the little frivolity in life (dancing in the living room, giving you my last caramel au beurre salé from my summer trip, or sharing with you a little sweet surprise from my memories of Rome, or how you open my door and pull my chair, or how you planned marvelously our trip and I thank you for your preparedness (Americans!!) something I seem to lack of when it comes to trips, even how you laugh at your own jokes is abominably really cute). I also enjoy someone who is always willing to go along with the fun and crazy ideas I may have. Being spontaneous and having an appreciation of small delicate attentions to me is the ultimate sexy.

Transactional interactions (who pays for the first date?!!) Although American men value a woman’s strength, intelligence, and have the natural inclination to be caring and protective of her, they tend to be more passive if a woman reaches for the check or offers to pay half. With women making equal or even more money, a power struggle or blurred lines can occur anywhere from making plans, initiating communication, and determining the direction of the courtship. From my own experience, the French tend to be more chivalrous and pay for the whole date but then I’ll always offer as it’s a gesture from me to be part of the team playing aspect. However, these guys would be utterly offended if I ever dominate to emasculate them by actually paying half or god forbid me the whole date!  This might explain why the French must be more assertive when it comes to the so called taboo of who pays for the first date and the French women enjoy a man who has this confidence and won’t let her impede such details of the date progress.

Lastly, to be a couple or to not be a couple? I think this is the easiest to answer… by the French meaning of a kiss! There is no need to discuss exclusivity as it’s implied in the kiss. Voilà!

Shot by the Cutie at the Horse Shoe Bend

Outfit Post at Tropicana Vegas

Vegas Strip

The Hoover Dam and My Elise Chalmin Tee

Upper Antelope Canyon- Watch out for spiders!

Night Fall in Zion Park, UH

I wrote these observations with lessons learned from my previous relationship in mind and so I hope to make the best out of ours. (Evidently hope is not a plan so I’ll rephrase to I commit to work to make the best out of ours). Is that an American thing haha

I am so looking forward to more laughter with you and long car rides and more travel stories (hello Europe!). Looking forward to cooking together with our friends and making drinks and also snowboarding. I am just thrilled that you are now part of my story (including Instagram stories hahahah) and that the internet is more than ready to take you in haha but promise me that fame won’t get in your head too soon!

PS: I love how cute you are when you are eager to speak french and know that I think you are really smart. I may fail to express it verbally so then I write it here for you. Keep working at it!!!

Thoughts on Dating An American Like You Dear Cutie, After recently getting back from what I believe to be one of the most incredible, wild, fun, and memorable road trips I've ever taken so far to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona visiting sights like the Vegas's strips and the impressive Hoover Dam, hiking the Angel's landing of Zion Park and visiting the breath taking lower & the adventurous upper Antelope Canyons, as well as a stop and climb on rocks at the stunning Horse Shoe Bend, I am delighted to share with you (and my dear readers & friends) my thoughts on dating an american guy (like you), a topic that has been feeding countless debates for lots of conversations I've had with my fellow french expats.