#Clash Resolution Services

[bimpro123]

Clash Detection Services - BIMPRO LLC

Our BIM clash detection services identify multidisciplinary clashes in MEP, and structural and provide clash reports to resolve the clashes.

[sgiandubh]

The Only Exception

I am back home, with a very dark, strong coffee under my nose.

None of your reactions disappointed. Some were enthusiastic. Others, less so: egos clashed, agendas were unsettled. This is not my problem and I am not going to comment further. Those persons are free to think whatever they want, of course. The Anon I was not sent apparently made the rounds in the shipper community: others got it and have their own take on what they saw - again, that is their point of view, not mine. I was simply sent a link to a YouTube clip and told to look for a possible hug at around the 01:00 mark. Suffice to say I had no particular expectations: in fact, I found that DM on my #silly way to the bathroom, at about 03:30 AM, local time. And then tried to make sense of it. That took me four hours.

This is the link I have been sent :https://youtu.be/h6lcHzBCFkM?feature=shared. And this is the clip. It is aerial footage (drone? I am not a specialist), taken live from the Paramore segment of Taylor Swift's Edinburgh concert:

First of all, I would like to walk you through my own steps, trying to make sense of it. Before anything else, I downloaded it from YouTube, using a basic free downloader, in 1080 p resolution, mp4 format, Full HD:

Then, as I told you, I simply used the VLC media player (https://www.videolan.org/) and its very easy, intuitive options:

Red arrow is the 'take a snapshot' button. Blue arrow is the 'frame by frame' button. I have patiently clicked frame by frame, and took tens of snapshots. Seeing all these in order gives you a very clear idea of what happened and one more time: I know what I saw. And then I opened the snapshots, zoomed on the tent where the cast was and snipped the S&C relevant portion of the image.

I have not brightened the images. I have not sharpened any contrasts. I did not want to adulterate anything. Zoom was an issue, because what you gain in focus, you sometimes lose in clarity. I have no idea of compression, resolution and such things.

Certainly not the best method and perhaps crude tools. I am NOT an expert videographer. I have NO formal training in that field. I just wanted to be of service. If you think you know better and can do better, by all means: be my guest. But do better and show arguments. Also, try to be civilized and do not insult me or come in DMs to tell me that somebody else saw something else, parroting that person's POV: I simply do not care. This is what I did, in all good faith and I take full responsibility for it.

The Screeching Banshees have asked for specific footage, thinking (like some Shippers) that I only had pics. That is not true, as I just explained. It is their constitutional right. All I could do was to crop the part where the band is looking at the tent zone:

You are free to do whatever you want with it. As far as I am concerned, I have seen a loving couple who could not help themselves. I have seen joy. I have seen an open secret and the John Bell/Joey pretorian guard protecting that open secret.

I have given you all the information I could, to the best of my abilities. Again: do better, be better than me. If you have better knowledge and/or better tools, USE THEM. If that could help ALL OF US, Shippers, have more clarity and less doubts, so be it. I have no ego when I am very serious about something and I take NO credit (and use NO watermarks) for anything, only my responsibility.

I am not fishing for any compliments and I expect more insults and more doubts to seep in, for various reasons. I thank all of you who reacted positively from the bottom of my heart. But I will stand by what I have seen with my own eyes and for me, it is enough. This, nobody could take from me.

[moutheyes]

Us, Perfect 10 Liners, and other scattered QL thoughts

Although I've been pretty good about tracking and keeping my MDL notes organized this year, I haven't done one of these posts in a while, but the finale episodes of Us and Perfect 10 Liners have converged in a single weekend so now's a good opportunity to sort out some thoughts about recently watched QL and do a first quarter-ish summary:

The year so far:

Total series completed: 18 (11 current year, 7 backlist)

Country breakdown: Thailand (14), Japan (4) oops lol dw I'm starting a Korean show this week

Highest rated of 2025: Gelboys, and it won't be surpassed

Lowest rated of 2025: Petrichor

Highest rated backlist: Be My Favorite

Lowest rated backlist: My Personal Weatherman

Original script counter: 5

OK onto the meat. Spoilers for recently ended shows under the cut!

Us

This series was not just a love story, but a love letter to the pain of grief, the torment of abandonment, the grace of healing, the transcendence of mutual love, the warmth of a true community, and the fulfillment of finding or forging one's own family. While some of the saccharine parts in the middle episodes did feel a little overwrought to me, I loved the buildup to the final act, the resolution made sense, and any growth in these characters was hard-earned. In a story with less conviction behind it, dokrak's independence might have been muted due to external conflicts, or the romantic overtones might have clashed with the family drama, but here it was well-balanced; everything naturally dovetailed with each other in service of the larger themes of the show.

I could spend paragraphs alone on how solid the surrounding cast was. Grandma Bua's even-keeled outlook on life and death was one of the most poignant parts of the show, and Kawi was just absolutely marinated in eldest-sibling melancholy (Sing did the role so much justice). Under the sure-handed direction of p'Fon, this show tackled difficult themes in a wonderfully measured way, not shying away from trauma and dysfunction and suffering but never plunging the audience into true despair either. Loneliness was always countered by companionship, doubt soothed by affirmations, and the central romance between Pam and Dokrak underpinned all of that. I really think EmiBonnie is my favorite GL pairing to date—they delivered magnetic natural chemistry and some of the best sapphic intimacy we've seen in Thai QL, even when they weren't touching. (Also some really nice OST tracks!) I'm so excited to see what they do next.

Initial rating: 9.25

Perfect 10 Liners

This is one of those shows that I find myself having to evaluate based purely on the story and characters alone, because p'New's many, ah, idiosyncrasies as a director are a feature rather than a bug at this point, and I find it tiresome to rehash. But unlike the frictionlessness of We Are (his last project for GMMTV—I've only experienced Fourever You through fmvs and gifsets which I gather is for the best), the omnibus structure of Perfect 10 Liners had built-in vibe shifts, which worked to its favor. I must admit that the ArmArc story left absolutely no impression on me, but YothaGun and FaifaWine got progressively stronger and more compelling, thanks to the ability to develop these sets of characters across longer periods of time as well as more entangled familial relationships.

What the last two sections of the show did so well was balance its farcical + comedic elements with heavier storytelling, in the form of Yotha and Faifa's family hangups. This gave their characters more depth, reinforced by tremendous acting from Perth and Junior in those roles, which in turn enhanced the romantic dynamics and complementary healing for these two pairs in particular. The last half of FaifaWine's arc was especially satisfying, as the larger group dynamics came into play, and the final episode was honestly a riot. Completely corny and unserious, but still managed to tie a tidy bow around everyone's stories. (Except you, Pipo. GMMTV I am begging—nay, demanding—that the twins get their own comedy series in 2026. I don't care if it's QL or the most heterosexual thing ever, I think it could fix me.)

Initial rating: 7.25

And to close out, a few thoughts about some recent backlist watches (ratings in parentheses):

I finished Reverse 4 You yesterday; it was one of my list of series to catch up on (two down!), and luckily the sequel just finished airing so I can move immediately to that one. So I think I'll do a bigger write-up after finishing Reverse with Me aha sorry for the fakeout.

Fine, a real review: Be My Favorite blew me away. It is so rare to get a genre mashup BL that doesn't skimp on any of its components. BMF is a speculative coming-of-age romcom, and it delivers on all fronts thanks to a truly excellent script. I was surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed the character work; Kawi and Pisaeng's storylines were already incredibly rendered, but the show made me care deeply about Pear, Max, Kwan, all the way down to the parental figures. It took a compassionate approach to the thesis that everyone makes mistakes in life, and everyone is bound to experience disappointment, but kindness and honesty can be a powerful salve. The optimism wasn't cloying, either, because they were lessons learned organically from each character's journey. Finally, the subverted time skip trope made me happy, the title track is one of my favorites across all GMMTV shows, and the acting was top-to-bottom stellar. (9.5)

So, I had friends telling me how good BMF was even while it was airing (thanks @merryfuture ilu), and I think part of me knew that I was keeping it on the shelf for a time when I'd truly be ready to appreciate it. And that time was after finally watching the entirety of SOTUS from start to finish and thus gaining appreciation for Krist's specific niche of BL blorbo—a project that was spurred on by some thoughtful, thorough posts from @maybe-boys-do-love and @thebroccolination (among others? sorry if I've forgotten). I have a ton of notes for these series, but to try and keep this post from spiraling totally out of control, I'll just say that SOTUS should be required viewing for anyone who wants to understand how the uni campus functions as not only a backdrop but a site of possibility in Thai BL; it also had an underrated and excellent slow burn—if a show is going to maintain a low simmer for that long, heat is still required, and between Singto's searing gaze and Krist's clenched jaw, the tension was electric. However, it's SOTUS S—and specifically Arthit's growth in this new phase of his life, that I hold dearest to me. Removing him from the campus setting, where he had seniority and power and—most importantly—a considerable level of comfort, meant he had to start from square one when it came to social interactions and finding his footing, and his relationship with Kongpob intertwined with those conflicts nicely. Character of all time, maybe. (8.0, 8.25)

Thank you for reading!

[foibles-fables]

In your opinion, what makes Brynn fall in love with Casmyn?

I think Brynn does a pretty excellent and concise job of answering that herself during their Act 5 conversation--but I am NOT concise and would LOVE to yap about it in more detail so THANK YOU for giving me the excuse

I personally play Brynn as having been drawn to Casmyn from the start--like the start start, the before-the-game start. But through the opening acts, one thing that changes it from attraction to genuine romantic feelings is how getting to know Casmyn ends up subverting her expectations. Whether it's the fact that she trained to be point, the reason she stopped, her relief work on the shipping lanes, her kinship with Eastern Reef Krakes, her struggles with Ira's Plague, any and all of it, Brynn learns a lot about Casmyn in a short amount of time. Given her natural curiosity and passion for discovery, it makes sense to me that each new aspect of Casmyn she becomes privy to would carve out a new depth of affection. Complexity thrills her, and Casmyn has that in abundance.

Another piece is Casmyn's lived credo of kindness and service to others. My read is that Brynn left home with a somewhat lofty ideal of adventure for its own noble sake, but the way Casmyn frames the importance of a weaverband's point gives important context to her childhood dream. It gives her a why alongside the what. Adventure is for the world, service is for the people in it, and the way they go hand in hand is vital to the way Brynn views and carries herself. And Cas is a shining example.

Third: Casmyn's bravery. Brynn spends her days tussling with all sorts of creatures and constructs--she knows what it means and how it is to fight. And seeing Casmyn start to fight her obsessions and compulsions, start to fight to care for herself alongside everyone else? That's just as hard as, if not harder than, what Brynn does. And she respects Casmyn and is so proud of her for it--and examining why she herself tried to hard to help Casmyn get to that point would absolutely spark a realization or two.

Their personalities work well together, too. While they do clash sometimes, there's a middle state where Brynn keeps Casmyn light and reassured, and Casmyn keeps Brynn grounded and humble. I'm an absolute sucker for a ship wherein one is a constant touchstone for the other, and I do think that for them, it works both ways--Casmyn as Brynn's physical touchstone and place for rest, and Brynn as Casmyn's emotional touchstone and anchor. Part of this is inherent to their dynamic as the band's point and quatermaster (akin to the dynamic between a band's smith and enchanter.....AHEM....), but for them it's grooved even deeper.

......which leads up to the confession scene.

But if that was all a given and you're asking what inspires Brynn to finally actually Say It? Well. Self-indulgently--I like to think that the resolution to Dahm and Sola's issues put some of those final pieces into perspective for Brynn. The weight of having someone and something worth fighting for--the importance of communication and letting someone know how you feel in explicit terms, especially when tomorrow is scary. She's felt it for longer than she's known it, but now that she does, she has to say it.

[oceansarepink]

"constant condescension, demands of service, and emotional abuse."

"constant condescension": do you mean the nicknames Stolas gave to Blitz where it shows the clash of POVs from both sides (Stolas POV he's just being tender and loving, but of course his oblivious ass raised in a classist family won't realize that, meanwhile from Blitz POV, where class weights way more on him, assumes he's being condescending, despite not being his intention and not being a reality either). But psh, screw that right? It's way better to oversimplify and say Stolas does it on purpose and is a big monster, surely that's the most intelligent way to go!

"demands of service": alright, it's another part of POV clash, because the so-called 'demands' are something that Blitz perhaps understands what his affair with Stolas is like, for obvious reason, he's a goetia, he's an imp, yada yada, power imbalance, logical reasons that explains why the foundation of Stolitz in the first place is messy and shouldn't ever be the base of an relationship and the reason ppl root for it is for them to get out of this but no you all just assume everyone wants them to create this narrative that 'Stolas is in the right Blitz in the wrong' when the NOT FUCKING STUPID people don't pick sides and conclude this was a trainwreck bound to happen, fans are just waiting for the resolution (which hasn't come yet)

Anyways back to my point about the so-called demands, as I explained why it's understandable Blitz views this way, this is also not an reality. Paying attention to Stolas language in Murder Family, fucked up context aside, he don't bring up consequences if Blitz didn't accept the trade neither mentioned his power to threat him to accept it either, he offered and even asked if it's fair, someone as powerful as Stolas could control Blitz easily, yet he doesn't and it shows a lot about his character, but of fucking course you all don't care about that, Stolas is a big meanie.

and lastly: emotional abuse.

What. Just what. Everything that's going on with Blitz right now is not Stolas fault, this overwhelming 'torture' for Blitz as shown in these episodes are because of the obvious fact of the MASSIVE self hatred Blitz holds against himself, which, guess what, was actually SOLVED in this episode with Millie's help. This was not a damage by Stolas, sure, it's the most recent wound and Blitz feels guilty not for falling up for him, despite him desiring that, but he just straight up refused consciously to sit and talk with Stolas seriously because he WANTED that pompous rich asshole projection he had of Stolas (that is shown on his Truth Seekers hallucination), and talking about that, YES, EVERYONE KNOWS THE STOLAS PERCEPTION OF BLITZ SHOWN IN THAT EPISODE IS FUCKED UP, is not by any means healthy and is just self degrading, Stolas social class by itself already does that but his words towards him he >unconsciously< fed this preconception;

I could discuss Stolitz for a while and explain the appeal to Stolitz is not their previous dynamic, as fun as it was to watch sometimes, most know those conditions are not the healthy base of an relationship, and no, Stolas arc is by any means resolved, him taking the action to end the transactional deal with Blitz is just an start, the episodes are setting up so much stuff about Stolas realizing more stuff and ACTUALLY CHANGE FR.

What do you think the Striker line towards him about how the royals take everything from 'us', Blitz ranting (which is not a calling Stolas out, it's a rant of feeling unfairly dismissed and how he's having his feelings being played), but regardless, mentioning his attitude towards other imps and Apology Tour description literally calling Stolas not being self aware enough, and it's the episodes where petty Stolas keep talking bs at the start (with an Blitz that refuses to talk seriously fr)

This misconception you all have that Stolitz fans think all this needs to happen is Blitz to confess, and that Stolas has nothing more to improve is just wrong. Just plain wrong. I love both of these characters and I hate seeing an enormous mischaracterization of both.

Let's see if you won't oversimplify all I just said

Not oversimplify, but to summarise how stolas fans excuse him:

(1) Not the nickname. The fact he is asked not to say it, but does anyway. Because it makes him feel good. That is condescending. He is screamed in his face how people feel, and he ignores them not because he is “oblivious” or “tender and loving” but because he wants them to feel something else. This is wilful ignorance.

His response to his abusive marriage and family he has no control over, is to control those he knows cannot say no to him, to make himself feel better. The same way he abuses drugs and absinthe. He does it to his own staff, his daughter in the LooLoo land episode causing her breakdown, which he later regretted. In general to all imp kind, hellhounds also. This is the toxic mindset of someone with pain, who has let his victim mentality go too far. He is exploiting his privilege, which he is perfectly aware that he has. “Being part of the Goetia family is rather valuable you know”

Oddly enough, despite his “oblivious” self….he knows not to act this way towards Paimon, Asmodeus, and Andrealphus. He uses respect for all three. Ever wonder why? Him and Stella are in a clear power struggle. How they use power is unstable. An explanation, not excuse, for how he acts. This isn’t a prince problem. This is a stolas problem. His trauma isn’t blitzos fault, but Blitzs trauma is caused by how stolas has behaved to him.

“His oblivious ass and being raised in a classist family won’t realise that” hm. Wont realise….what? But you say everything is all in blitzs head and not the reality at all? So what isn’t stolas realising???

…..Oh and these…which are not even all of them.

(2) Now hang on, you can’t just “yada yada” away a power dynamic that you recognise is the problem. Stolas can control blitz. You do not understand what the sexual abuse is here. You think the fact he could rape him even more, but doesn’t, is worthy of praise. I think what he’s already done to abuse his power, is worthy of disdain. You’re pretending this was consensual, but despite how pro stolas the narrative is, even they have to admit it was not. Stolas said it wasnt right for a reason. And you seem to take his reality and his truth as the only reality, so why make this exception. When someone says they were sexually abused, you don’t get to say “Well you’re wrong. That’s not the reality. Because he loves you, and he didn’t mean it. He’s doesn’t see it this way, he’s one of the good ones.”

That first sentence is a mess. They’re demands because “no” isn’t reasonably on the table. He had to beg him not to take his business away, he said he could fulfill the bargain. You and stolas are squeamishly in denial about it. It’s not that blitz doesn’t feel this way, and that it isn’t what happened, it’s that you wish he didn’t and you wish that it didn’t, you want to pretend it is “society” or blitzs mental illnesses or Blitzs dad. But never stolas and what he did.

Er….you are taking a side. You said everything blitz feels is not reality. The source being, his trauma, and because stolas doesn’t see it that way. This feels like accusing an abuser person of “hysteria”

The emotional abuse part was explained very clearly, stolas does all of these; shifts blame, denial, shames him for his past relationships, switches victim and offender, rewrites past events, dodges questions, uses hefty amounts of guilt tripping, projection, deflection, silent treatment, taunting, and torment. By comparison, Blitz yells at him not to dismiss him, says he behaves in a classist way, makes sex jokes, and says “fuck you” these are all reactions. Something called reactive abuse which is what victims do in frustration and lack of control. Like stolas screaming back at Stella. She almost always starts it. (Not counting one scene where the start of the fight is offscreen so I don’t know who did)

“This was not caused by stolas. Sure it was the most recent wound” bit of a self contradiction. The way stolas behaved was disgusting, and abusive, his combination of control and guilt tripping, caused a massive decline in blitzs confidence triggering a mental break. As stolas’ behaviour has done to him several times.

Did Blitz “not want to talk?” Or did stolas order him to leave three times, and kick him out by force the second time? And turn his back on him every single instance. Causing the angry “im not being listened to” response stolas always causes in people. No. It’s stolas who refuses to. And as you and I both know, he has all of the power.

Third last paragraph, Viv cannot allow blitz to be right about stolas, so she compares him to a more convenient “bad” example, Striker. Ppl want to pretend the problem is “society” and painting royals with the same brush like a meanie head, and pretend it’s not stolas’ fault cause he’s just “loving and tender and oblivious and silly” This is a massive case of denial and creators pet behaviour, that is even irritating the spindlehorse animators and non-Viv writers.

Second last paragraph, don’t tell me what I think lol?. Many of the fans say they actually do feel that way, it’s no misconception. In this message you are dodging stolas having any moments of malice at all, by using “trauma” and “blitz just sees it that way” as reasonings.

[wendichester]

I'm rlly embarrassed to ask this but.. how do your compatibility readings work? 😭

do not be embarrassed! i've already did a pretty basic explanation of it here, but i can into a bit more detail for ya 😙

☉ sun-to-sun: core personality match

this is the vibe check. sun sign compatibility gives insight into how two people's basic identities interact. do they energize each other or rub the wrong way?

for example, a leo sun (bold, proud, playful) might clash with a taurus sun (steady, grounded, doesn’t love chaos), unless there’s a mutual appreciation.

a fire sign sun (like sagittarius or aries) paired with an earth sun (like virgo or capricorn) can either balance each other beautifully... or lead to major ego misunderstandings.

🌟 this is usually the “surface” level of compatibility — it sets the tone, but it’s not everything.

☽ moon-to-moon: emotional compatibility

the moon is so important. this is all about how you process emotions, seek comfort, and respond under stress. moon compatibility shows how you’ll nurture or neglect each other emotionally.

water moons (like cancer or pisces) need deep emotional bonding, while air moons (like gemini or aquarius) process feelings more logically or detachedly.

fire moons crave excitement and passion; earth moons seek stability and reassurance.

🌙 if your moons get along, you’ll likely feel emotionally safe around each other — even if everything else is chaos.

☿ mercury-to-mercury: communication compatibility

this one’s criminally underrated. mercury shows how you think, process, speak, argue, and flirt.

two people can have great sexual chemistry, but if their mercuries clash, it’s “we just don’t understand each other.”

mercury in gemini talks fast, flirty, witty. mercury in capricorn? blunt, structured, serious.

🗣️ you look for aspects like trines (easy flow) and squares (conflict, but potentially sexy tension) between mercuries — or even mercury to sun/moon to see how they interpret each other’s core and emotions.

♀ venus-to-venus: love style compatibility

this is how you give and receive affection, and what turns your heart on. it’s also major for aesthetic preferences, values in romance, and general relationship style.

venus in leo wants to be adored and celebrated. venus in virgo shows love through acts of service, quietly.

venus in sagittarius wants adventure, freedom, and fun. venus in cancer? cuddles and emotional loyalty.

💌 a venus-venus conjunction or trine = smooth romantic chemistry. a square or opposition? hot, but complicated.

♂ mars-to-mars: sexual chemistry and conflict resolution

mars is your libido, your passion, your drive — and also how you argue. spicy stuff.

if your mars signs are compatible, you’ll likely have a fiery bedroom dynamic and enjoy similar physical energy levels.

mars in aries is immediate, dominant, blunt. mars in pisces? subtle, sensual, emotional.

🔥 mars-venus aspects are also major for attraction. mars-mars aspects = how you handle conflict together. sexy and scary. love it.

☊ north node aspects: karmic connection

when someone’s personal planet touches your north node, it often feels like you’re meant to meet — or like they’re pushing you toward your destiny.

🌀 it can feel fated, overwhelming, transformative. amazing for plot twists in fanfics, btw.

✨ overall chart blending

you don’t just compare planets — you also look at elemental balance (fire/water/earth/air), modality (cardinal/fixed/mutable), and whether one person is very outer planet heavy (more dreamy, detached, or rebellious).

[venusrising91]

Prince of Hearts

Pairing: Wonho x Male reader

Genre: Fantasy/Royal bodyguard (light smut & a small bit of yearning+a smidge of thin plot lol)

Summary: The head of your royal garrison works to uncover crimes against the crown. You fall for him in the process. But will he succumb to your advances?

Word count: 3,057 (about 4.5 pgs)

An attempt had been made on your life but you were only vaguely aware of this as the haziness in your head cleared. The aftertaste of the poisoned wine overpowered rational thought. But you didn’t need to use your mind, not with Lieutenant Lee standing watch. He was somewhere near, hovering in the margins of your vision. You couldn’t yet see him but you’d recognize his scent under any circumstance, even semi-conscious you could make out the soft notes of jasmine and hyacinth. 

Among all your royal guards, he prided himself on hygiene and appearance the most. While others of your high garrison wasted their coin on gambling and drink, Lieutenant Lee preferred spending his stipend on finer things: the most luxurious imported silks, perfumed oils, cultural enrichment lessons.

    “My lord, you must take water, and quickly. These foreign poisons are known to cripple if not properly flushed out of one’s system.” Lee had whispered these words to you in hushed tones, spoken in the Knight's Tongue—the formal language of those devoted in service to you. It was wise of him to speak it in the presence of so many foreigners, all of them now potential enemies, assailants. It was wiser still of Lieutenant Lee to have been so wary of this gala. Wary enough to have insisted you take an Immunity Tonic before leaving the palace. He had slipped it into your hands whilst dressing you, despite your protests. You had fussed and whined for you knew it to be bitter and unnecessary but he said nothing, merely stood resolute, brow quirked in that stoic, insufferable way of his. He’d aimed one of his cold glares at you until you’d forced it all down, wincing at the strong medicinal taste. You had cursed him then but gods you were grateful for it now. His paranoia had saved your life. 

He stared down at you, cool and collected despite the chaos in the dining hall. Wide-eyed dignitaries and princes were scrambling in panic but Lieutenant Lee was unfazed as he tended to you, gently pressing the rim of a chalice to your lips, urging you to sip. You drank, and the water went to work at once, clearing your head, bringing you back to yourself. When the cup had been drained, you rose to your feet, somewhat unsteady as you gazed upon the sea of stunned faces.

“The prince is alive! Oh thank the—” you put your hand up to silence the baron, the sound of his voice was high and grating. Your ears couldn’t handle it. Nor could your eyes endure the pompous sight of him—dressed in loud, clashing colors of every print imaginable.You shut them, pinching the bridge of your nose as you leaned against Lieutenant Lee for support.

“Ready the horses,” commanded Lieutenant Lee, taking you by the arm and leading you away from the loud baron, who insisted upon shouting apologies at your back. It had been his gala, and you’d attended only at the bequest of your title. As crown prince and next in line for the throne, you could not dismiss the invitation of courtiers, no matter how lowly you deemed them.

Back at the palace, in your quarters, Lieutenant Lee tended to you, drawing your bath and laying out your night clothes. You had servants for this but he had not trusted you to be alone with anyone but him given your state, and had sent them away. A show of his fealty. 

He peeled off your clothing with gentle hands. You stood naked and trembling before him. Shy, for he was fully dressed and resplendent in the gold and crimson uniform of a high ranking vassal. But he kept his eyes on yours, they did not dip any lower as he led you to the bath.

“I have compiled a list of possible assailants,” he said as he smoothed cleansing oils across your chest.

“Oh? Already?”

“Mmm.” You fought to keep from shuddering at this reply, it was a low rumble in his throat. A grunt really. There was something sinful about it and you felt a searing heat rush to your lower extremities. The water was opaque with suds from the cleansing oils, bless the gods. What rose underneath it could be seen by none, and felt only by you.

    “Is the baron among your suspects?” you asked, shrinking from his soft touches, they were beginning to drive you mad.

    “Of course. I’m calling a formal inquisition at first light. Your royal guard will be battle ready from here until the end of it—until whoever is responsible for this is caught.”

    “Full armor? Really Lieutenant, is that necessary? I’m fine, I’m alright, not even a scratch on me.” You meant this as a joke but he merely glared at you as he lifted your arm, rubbing circles under it—you felt the heat of him even through the washcloth.

    “I am the head of your garrison. I do not take assassination attempts lightly.”

    “What of jokes? Can you take them lightly, or at all?”

    He responded with another of his lewd grunts, licking his lips this time, dark eyes fixed on his task. Gods you were going to lose a load and soil the water. It was a small mercy that he was fully clothed, that you could not see his bare and chiseled form as he saw yours, here and now. Why did he have to be this way? So gods damned alluring and unattainable and—

    No. No, no, no, no,no. You mustn't do this.

    “Are you alright my lord?”

    “What?”

    “You look like you’re in pain.” 

    “Oh, I’m—fine, I’m—”

    “Come, you must rest now. The night has worn on you.”

    You did not protest, and were in fact grateful to have been given an out.

****

The following morning you rose early, before the servants even. You had not slept well and headed for the temple to pray to the goddess for strength. You made a modest offering at her alter and left, nearly colliding with Lieutenant Lee as you stepped over the threshold. Of course he had followed you, why in heavens did you think you could escape his notice? He was something to behold in his armor. All of the skin and carved muscle you couldn’t see the night before was now on full display. Silver plates adorned his ivory skin and his dark hair gleamed like a lake at midnight reflecting the moon. He bowed, sword dangling from his hip—a warrior.

    At the morning meal he had tasters sample your food for poisons before allowing you to eat. The baron’s son had journeyed overnight and joined you for the meal, bearing gifts of honeyed wine and laurels in apology. He was called Evander and had at one time, wanted your hand in marriage. But you had little in common and the union would have benefited him more than you. There was also the case of his dull personality and appearance—he wasn’t at all your type. Despite this, you still gave him your audience. After having eaten, the two of you strolled through the court gardens, the afternoon sun lending its summer warmth.

    “I must once more apologize for what transpired at Father’s gala,” said Evander as the pair of you waded through a winding path of lilies.

    “You needn’t. I’m alright.”

    “That lieutenant of yours,” Evander paused and threw a sidelong glance over his shoulder at Lee as he trailed behind you, “such quick thinking to have saved you like that.”

    “Mm, I’m lucky to have him.”

    “Indeed,” muttered Evander.

    “Luckier still that of all the nobility present that night, mine was the only meal to have been tampered with.” You regretted saying this, but much as you'd tried, you couldn’t help feeling jaded and indignant. Evander stiffened at this speculative slight.

    “You’re angry. And rightfully so. But you don’t know how embarrassing this is for us, our family. Falling out of favor like this, it’s worse honestly than swallowing poison.”

    “Is that so?” you quipped, barely suppressing a scoff.

    “We’ve lost the trust of every nobility in the province.”

    You rolled your eyes. “Some might say that is what you deserve.” Evander made a choked sound and stopped walking. More regret—it seemed a dearest companion of yours this day. “Listen,” you continued, “I’ve no ill will towards you. You’ve requested an audience and I’ve obliged. Surely this will be enough to lend back some of your credibility once word spreads of your being here.”

    “I—I suppose but—”

    “My lord, you are expected in the drawing room for the oversight and signature of imported goods.” This was Lieutenant Lee. He stood beckoning you with that quirked brow of his—an expression he put on when trying to be authoritative. It worked and you went to him at once, offering a half-hearted farewell to Evander.

    “You’re welcome to the east wing, stay as long as you need,” you called to him over your shoulder as you walked off.

    The remainder of the day was filled with the usual tedium of princely duties. You performed dull tasks, one after another until night crept upon you. After a supper surrounded by Evander and his consorts in waiting, you found yourself alone again, undressing before Lieutenant Lee.

“Why do you insist on this? My servants will start a riot. They will think they are being displaced of their duties, turned out of the palace,” you huffed. Lieutenant Lee ignored you, stripping off your undergarment with the indifference of one changing a bedsheet. You wished you could do the same thing to him, and stood imagining yourself freeing him of his armor, running your hands along his stiff and bulging...

    “In nudity you are most vulnerable. I don’t trust you under the watch of anyone but me. They are not as thorough as I am. They cannot protect you in an ambush.”

    “Gods you’re overestimating my enemies. Whoever they may be, they’re cowards. They had to employ wines and posions to do the work of ending me. Couldn't even put steel to flesh like real men.” Lieutenant Lee chuckled at this and your heart quickened. That sound. Fuck, that beautiful sound. It did things to you, and when you were out of your clothes, you rushed to the bath, concealing yourself in the water. 

He cleaned you with the same tenderness he had the night prior, sliding his large hands up and down the length of your torso, across the span of your chest. He did you the courtesy of letting you cleanse your privates on your own, but this did little to ease you—his presence alone was enough to send the blood pumping to your head—the one that didn’t do your thinking.

    When you were clean, he fetched a cloth. You rose, shielding your steadily growing length from him. If he had noticed a change in you, he said nothing, merely covered you and led you back to your quarters. Then left you to stand guard outside your door.

    There was a vial of oil stowed in your bedside table. You seized it and lay on your back. He was all you could think of as you worked to quell the aching throb between your legs.

The following day went much the same as the previous, and the next, and the next, and the one after. As did the nights. Each bath with him drove you a touch madder than the last. Not only for being so near to him, for breathing in the sultry scent of his perfumed sweat, but for the way he was so utterly unmoved by you, as if you were but a fixture on the wall, or a piece of furniture strewn about the palace. Something there and nothing more. You were certain he felt no throbbing, no ache or raging want to press his skin against yours. 

Every one of your guards had a rumor or more about their escapades. They were all of them highly desirable men and women, selected for their skill, their charm, their devotion. Sarafine had seduced every maiden in the court with her sweet tongue and flowing braids. She had even tempted you. Maxim had wooed both men and women, sometimes even stealing away married nobles from their wives or husbands. There was sordid talk of almost all your garrison, save for Lieutenant Lee. It was as if he was made of stone.

****

Nearly a fortnight had passed and Evander had still not left the palace. Lieutenant Lee was deep in the inquisition all the while. He had ruled out many of his suspects and you were growing weary of seeing Evander sulk about the courtyards. You had resolved to confront him in private, and managed to sneak away from Lieutenant Lee’s prying eyes long enough to practice what you’d say to Evander aloud. You sequestered yourself in the great palace library, where no ears could overhear you. It was quiet, and carried the soothing smell of old pages. It was everything you needed. So silent and familiar it was, that you did not even notice the figure that crept behind you until their hands were wrapped around your throat. You felt the blade against your neck and panic overcame you.

    “The baron sends his regards, and his sympathy for not ensuring your demise at the gala, it would have been a cleaner death than this.”

    There was nothing you could do but pray to the goddess for a swift end. Whoever this was, had caught you completely off guard. You clamped your eyes shut, and braced for the pain. 

But it did not come. 

There was a loud shriek and the harsh sounds of fists against flesh, against jaws. You turned and saw Lieutenant Lee, panting over your attacker, sword drawn and already at his neck. You recognized the man as one of Evander’s consorts—a lord in waiting. 

Lieutenant Lee did not relent his assault, even when the man was bloodied and beaten delirious. The rest of your royal garrison came in and carried him off so that you did not have to look upon him. 

A short while later, Evander was jailed and a warrant of arrest was dispatched for his father, the baron. If you had been killed, your sister would be next in line for the throne—next in line to be courted by another of the baron's power hungry sons. The nerve of them, of Evander, after all the courtesy you had shown.

    You could think of nothing but the injustice, and the fact that Lieutenant Lee had not said a word to you for the remainder of the day. He must have been angry with you for trying to shirk him. Even so, he had still sent the servants away, despite the fact that he had vanquished the threat upon your life. He bathed you in his normal, stoic fashion, but you flinched from him as he brought the cloth to your neck. A flashback of the attack had taken over you.

    “You are still shaken,” he said, lowering the cloth.

    “I’m alright. Or I will be, in time.”

    He said nothing more and carried on in his usual way. 

In your chamber he lingered, drying your hair with a cloth and checking the small cut on your neck where the blade had dug in. He spread a healing, herbal balm on it. Your eyes met, and held as the pad of his finger worked it in. 

    “Th-thank you, for saving my—my—”

    “You are my prince. It is my duty, my honor. I need no thanks.”

    Something possessed you in that moment—perhaps it was the memory of him fighting so valiantly to save your life. Or the conviction in his declaration. Whatever it was stirred you to action and you did not think, you did not hesitate. Your lips were on his in an instant, eager hands slipping under the armor that kept him from you. 

He did not stop you from this, he simply stood still, and let you do as you wanted. You took liberty with this allowance, and a grunt escaped him as you palmed his length. It doubled in size with a few hard circles rubbed against it and this is when he stopped you. Swatting your hand away and lifting you—lifting you! 

You nearly gasped as he carried you to the bed, as his hands worked to shed you of your robes. Those hands which had grazed you so many times. Touching you without feeling you. Now they aimed to please you. He reached, and took you in his large palm, stroking until you were hard as stone in his grasp—it took mere seconds.

    “Oil, is there any here?” he whispered, breathing the words into your mouth between kisses. You snatched it from your bedside table and pressed it into his palm. He took his time sliding into your entrance with his rigid length. There was so much of him to take. 

You had never imagined he would be such a gentle lover.

    “You will tell me if it hurts my lord?” he cooed as he eased himself inside you. You nodded, already lying to him. It hurt but you wanted the pain, you wanted it because he was giving it to you.

    “Don’t stop,” you said, breathless. He did not stop. Pleasure danced across his features as he buried himself inside you. He was so handsome under its influence. His strokes were long, deep. He told you of your beauty with each one, of your tightness, of the way you clenched around him, of how he longed to be the only one to feel the depths of you each night. Was this the same man who had guarded you day after day? Cold and unyielding as a marble sculpture. He was nothing like that now, as the heat of him filled you, as he pumped your stiff cock and fed you his length until you met your release. Warm ropes painted your abdomen. More painted your stretched and pulsing entrance as he spilled his warmth inside you. You went on this way for hours, and lost count of how many loads you lost to his oil-slick pulls, his ardent pumps. Until finally he collapsed on top of you, grunting with the vestiges of his high. You kissed him, holding his face with both hands.

    “I did not think you desired me,” you said.

    A chuckle, breathy and spent.

    “Of course I do. I am sworn to you. You are my prince—my heart.”

[rpgchoices]

Sometimes I really want to read a short summary of what to expect from a game… and thankfully people can also submit their summaries of games they played and help me (and others) find games that cater to their interests!

submitted by @lairofsentinel

(click here for other videogames)

what to expect from HARMONY: The Fall of Reverie

Mysterious Visual Novel game, focused on branching options.

This game was developed by Don’t Nod, the same studio who did Life Is Strange, Vampyr, Tell Me Why, or Banishers. All these games are stronger in their stories and characters mostly.

Choices are the strongest aspect of this game that play like a narrative-puzzle.

There is an inner currency related to Power, Chaos, Bliss, Glory, Bond, and Truth. Each choice you pick, it takes or gives you some of these currencies. The amount of each of them unlocks paths and options. This system sometimes clashes with the playability.

No customization of the main character: You play Polly, a woman who returns to her childhood home.

Characters are quite diverse, racially speaking, in age, and in their gender/sexuality.

It has two romance options: a man and a non-binary person [so far I played]. But it doesn’t focus on it. Its resolution is basically at the end.

This game has a strong focus on characters, the choices you pick, and how these alter their relationships.

It's a game that reminds you of Sandman and The Longest Journey.

The writing is good. All dialogues between characters are voiced in an emotional way. However, the narrator is not voiced.

It has accessibility options for dyslexia.

Multiple endings. So, it has high re-playability. It has a demo.

It’s a game that treats heavy topics: anti-fascism, anti-capitalism, anti-corporate states, depression, loss, grief, and violence [in terms of fighting corporations]. It’s a politically strong story without being preachy, with a plot that treats the danger of the corporate-states, the need for revolution, the types of revolutions, and its social consequences. These topics of the main story are knitted with the inner conflicts of the characters and their needs, desires, and relationships.

Unfortunately, the endings are the weakest aspect of this game in my opinion, considering all the beautiful, complex built situations along the story. Despite its limitations with a system that doesn’t work well when the story gets more complex, it’s a game very thought-provoking due to the topics it treats.

Short game of around 10 hours.

——- Plot? ——-

You play Polly, a young adult woman who returns to her home-town in an island to find how much everything has changed. Her mother is missing, and a giant corporation called MK has monopolised every service, entertainment, supply chain, etc in the isle. Polly discovers she has a connection to the Reverie, another plane of existence inhabited by the Aspirations, creatures that are quite similar to the Endless from Sandman, who claim to have a greater connection to the events in the real world. They embody six aspirations: Bliss, Power, Bond, Truth, Chaos, and Glory. You have to investigate what happened with Polly’s mother by jumping between universes and interacting with all the characters.

——- Gameplay? ——- 

Basically, it focused on choices. As the story progresses, you have access to branched choices that you can foresee to some degree [Polly has the power of seeing the future in a short-term]. As you pick options, you obtain crystals related to the six Aspirations that work like an inner currency in the game: they allow you to have a track of what you need to unlock desired options in the future. Choices have requirements [amount of certain type of crystal needed] and rewards [additional crystals or unlocked options]. In case it causes some confusion: there is no grinding in this game. The currency is obtained and subtracted through the choices you pick along the story.

——- Characters? ——- 

A lot. You play Polly, who has a complex, unconventional family with an elderly mother in an open relationship, her step-father who brought his trans granddaughter to the house, and several neighbours that can stay as mere acquaintance or develop deeper into friends or romance interests.

At the same time, you have six more characters in the parallel universe of Reverie: Bliss, Power, Bond, Truth, Chaos, and Glory. These characters are the embodiment of what their name represents, reminding us to the Endless from Sandman.

 ——- LGBT? ——-

Many characters are queer. There are trans [binary and non-binary] characters, a lesbian couple, and an open relationship couple, so far I played.

——- Sadness level? ——- 

Some level, depending on the choices. Some characters can die, and Polly passes through some stages of grief.

——- Happy ending? Deaths? ——-

There are some potential deaths depending on your choices. Endings depend on your choices.

[ultraericthered]

Chicken Soup For The Spirit: Words Of The Pope

"The pillars of the church's missionary activity and the aim of the Holy See's diplomacy: they are peace, justice and truth. Peace is an active and demanding gift that engages and challenges each of us. starting with working on oneself. Peace is built in the heart and from the heart, by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words. For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill. Working for peace requires acting justly, and the Vatican will not fail to make its voice heard in the face of the many imbalances and injustices that lead, not least, to unworthy working conditions and increasingly fragmented and conflict-ridden societies. It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman."

"My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate. All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged. It is the dignity of a creature willed and loved by God. No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike."

"Truly peaceful relationships cannot be built, also within the international community, apart from truth. When ambiguous and ambivalent words and the virtual world, with its altered perception of reality, takes over unchecked, it is difficult to build authentic relationships, since the objective and real premises of communication are lacking. The Catholic Church will always seek to speak the truth and dedicate itself to lovingly serving others and protecting the life and well-being of everyone. The church can never be exempted from speaking the truth about humanity and the world, resorting whenever necessary to blunt language that may initially create misunderstanding, Yet truth can never be separated from charity, which always has at its root a concern for the life and well-being of every man and woman. Because truth is an encounter with the person of Christ who is alive in the midst of the community of believers. Truth then, does not create division, but rather enables us to confront all the more resolutely the challenges of our time, such as migration, the ethical use of artificial intelligence and the protection of our beloved planet Earth. Religions and interreligious dialogue can make a fundamental contribution to fostering a climate of peace. Therefore, full respect for religious freedom in every country is necessary. It is difficult, if not impossible, to bring about the purification of the heart necessary for building peaceful relationships without religious experience."

"Every person is called to begin to eliminate the root causes of all conflicts and every destructive urge for conquest. It demands a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue, inspired by the desire to communicate rather than clash. New life must be given to multilateral diplomacy and international institutions tasked with remedying disputes within the international community. There must also be a move to stop the production of instruments of destruction and death. The Holy See is inspired by a pastoral outreach that leads it not to seek privileges but to strengthen its evangelical mission at the service of humanity. Resisting all forms of indifference, it appeals to consciences, as witnessed by the constant efforts of my venerable predecessor, ever attentive to the cry of the poor, the needy and the marginalized, as well as to contemporary challenges, ranging from the protection of creation to artificial intelligence."

"It is truly a gift to see representatives from so many different nations in attendance today, demonstrating a visible sign of your countries' respect for the Apostolic See. It allows me to renew the church's aspiration -- and my own -- to reach out and embrace all individuals and peoples on the Earth, who need and yearn for truth, justice and peace. I intend to strengthen understanding and dialogue with you and with your countries, many of which I have already had the grace to visit, especially during my time as prior general of the Augustinians. I hope there shall be more occasions to confirm in the faith our many brothers and sisters throughout the world and to build new bridges with all people of goodwill."

"The Jubilee Year dedicated to hope is a time of conversion and renewal and, above all, an opportunity to leave conflicts behind and embark on a new path, confident that, by working together, each person can help build a world in which everyone can lead an authentically human life in truth, justice and peace. It is my hope that this will be the case everywhere, starting with those places that suffer most grievously, like Ukraine and the Holy Land," he said, thanking the diplomats for the work they do "to build bridges between your countries and the Holy See."

--- Pope Leo XIV, 2025

Yeah, the conclave chose right here. I'm really digging this new pope, particularly since we're living in times where his words and guidance are so needed. I'm cool with him being pro-life and pro-nuclear family structure and values, even if I'm more liberal on those matters - if he can be nudged into being as welcoming of LGBTQ+ people and approving the blessings of their relationships as his predecessor, then he'll be as close to perfect as I think it gets. God bless us all!

[girlactionfigure]

ISRAEL REALTIME - "Connecting the World to Israel in Realtime"

🔸HOSTAGES ILL… 8 of the hostages who were traded for and released yesterday are in "complex but stable" medical condition.  Meaning they are seriously ill but not at immediate life risk.

🔸CEASEFIRE VIOLATION… Midnight, gunfire n the Zeyton area in Gaza, IDF forces returned fire and hit 3 terrorists. Gazans reported jets or drones over the skies of Gaza, over Khan Yunis eastern side.

🔸EXTENSION?  Gazans are making noises of fear about the end of the truce, in the midst, Hamas announced that it managed to find a few more hostages to release.

🔸DEMANDS?  Head of Mossad in Qatar: We will not discuss further kidnapping deals before the release of all the women and children.  In Israel they will reject a proposal that will be presented soon - all security prisoners and the end of the war in exchange for all hostages.

◾️MAJOR CYBER ATTACKS… Israeli hacking team produces evidence that emergency number outage at Bezeq night before last was an enemy cyber attack.  The hacking team recommends Bezeq spend more resources for cyber security and less for advertising.  Overnight Ziv Hospital (Safed) suffered a cyber attack with information leaked and damaged software systems.

◾️MAJOR SECURITY ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT JUDEA-SAMARIA OVERNIGHT…. Jenin, (enemy reports) very large forces entered city. City declared a closed military zone.  Multiple wanted terrorists captured.  Buildings surrounded, major firefight, shoulder based rockets fired.  10 terrorists hit.  Hospitals, the traditional terrorist safe space, surrounded and arriving wounded checked.  Due to this, locations of private clinics were distributed among the terrorists.  D9 bulldozers active to check roads for IED’s.  This morning - drone attacked an armed terrorist squad.

Activity and exchanges of fire in Yamon, Askar camp, Burqa, Jilzon camp, Abate Jaber camp and Ain al-Sultan, Hebron, Al-Kum and Morek.

Enemy shooting towards Israeli town of Beit El, Benjamin - no casualties.

◾️HUH? ISRAELI ARABS REFUSE HAMAS… Lawyers of the Israeli Arab detainees informed the State Attorney's Office that the detainees refuse to be included in the release deal with Hamas.  Related, one Gaza detainee REFUSED to leave prison back into Gaza - he was taken forcefully.

◾️EAST JERUSALEM… clashes and riots with police dispersal and tear gas in Issaviya, east Jerusalem.

◾️MDA TO RED CROSS - GO AWAY:  The director general of MDA instructed the heads of the organization to stop cooperating with the Red Cross, after they refused to help (or even visit) the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

◾️UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAYS ‘DISAPPEAR ISRAEL’:  United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution VIA the majority of member states demanding that Israel withdraw completely from the occupied Syrian Golan to the June 4, 1967 line​​​ (that’s the border of the Kineret).​

◾️WHAT’S NEXT… A “source” spoke with the "Washington Post" said that there is a desire on both sides to reach a deal - but the "prices" have not been agreed upon. According to him, the parties have reached an agreement (to create) 5 groups of Israelis who will be released in the following phases: adult men (over reserve age), female soldiers, men in the reserves, soldiers in regular service and bodies of Israelis who died on Oct. 7 or in captivity.

[siliconecuk]

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[warningsine]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/communications-disrupted-bangladesh-amid-student-protests-2024-07-19/

DHAKA, July 19 (Reuters) - The Bangladesh government has decided to impose a curfew across the country and deploy the army, BBC Bangla reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's press secretary, amid widening student-led protests against government job quotas.

An official decision regarding the curfew would be issued soon, the prime minister's press secretary, Nayeemul Islam Khan, told BBC Bangla.

Three people were killed in the country on Friday as police cracked down on unrelenting student-led protests against government job quotas despite a ban on public gatherings, local media said.

Police fired tear gas to scatter protesters in some areas, Reuters journalists said. One said he could see many fires across the capital Dhaka from a rooftop and smoke rising into the sky in several places.

Telecommunications were also disrupted and television news channels went off the air. Authorities had cut some mobile telephone services the previous day to try to quell the unrest.

Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo reported train services had been suspended nationwide as protesters blocked roads and threw bricks at security officials.

Violence on Thursday in 47 of Bangladesh's 64 districts killed 27 and injured 1,500.

The total number of those dead from the protests reached 105 on Friday night, AFP separately reported, citing hospitals. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and police have not issued a casualty toll.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka said that reports indicated more than 40 deaths and "hundreds to possibly thousands" injured across Bangladesh.

In a security alert, it said protests were spreading, with violent clashes being reported across Dhaka. The situation was "extremely volatile", it said.

The protests initially broke out over student anger against quotas that set aside 30% of government jobs for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

The nationwide unrest - the biggest since Hasina was re-elected this year - has also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of a population of 170 million.

Some analysts say the violence is now also being driven by wider economic woes, such as high inflation and shrinking reserves of foreign exchange.

The protests have opened old and sensitive political fault lines between those who fought for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971 and those accused of collaborating with Islamabad.

The former include the Awami League party of Hasina, who branded the protesters "razakar" - making use of a term that described independence-era collaborators.

International rights groups criticised the suspension of services and the action of security forces. The European Union said it is deeply concerned by the violence and loss of life.

"It is vital that further violence is averted and that a peaceful resolution to the situation is found as swiftly as possible, underpinned by the rule of law and democratic freedoms," it said in a statement.

Neighbour India said the unrest was an internal matter of Bangladesh and that all 15,000 Indians in that country were safe. Indians studying in Bangladesh were returning by road.

Violence linked to the protests also broke out in distant London, which is home to a large Bangladeshi population, and police had to quell clashes between large groups of men in the east of the British capital.

TELECOMS DISRUPTED, WEBSITES HACKED

Friday began with the internet and overseas telephone calls being crippled, while the websites of several Bangladesh newspapers did not update and were also inactive on social media.

A few voice calls went through, but there was no mobile data or broadband, a Reuters journalist said. Even text messages were not being transmitted.

News television channels and state broadcaster BTV went off the air, although entertainment channels were normal, he said.

Some news channels displayed a message blaming technical problems, and promising to resume programming soon.

The official websites of the central bank, the prime minister's office and police appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself "THE R3SISTANC3".

"Operation HuntDown, Stop Killing Students," read identical messages splashed on the sites, adding in crimson letters: "It's not a protest anymore, it's a war now."

Another message on the page read, "The government has shut down the internet to silence us and hide their actions."

The government had no comment on the communications issues.

On Thursday, it had said it was willing to hold talks with the protesters but they refused.

Many opposition party leaders, activists, and student protesters had been arrested, said Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Reuters could not confirm the arrests.

[bimservicesblogs]

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[morningdawnknight]

My Duel Academy Life is Wrong as I Expected Chapter 3 - Azaleas Do Not Bloom At Night No Matter How Beautiful the Moonlight 

Fandom: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Yu-Gi-Oh!

Series Summary: Having zero passion for Dueling or even Duel Monsters, Hachiman Hikigaya is the last person you would expect to even attempt to enter the most elite high school for upcoming Pro-Duelists and Card Designers in Japan and yet here he is. Wielding an Ojama Deck, this loser loner is forced to butt into the lives of other students after his dorm Resident Advisor, Professor Hiratsuka Shizuka, forces him to join the Service Club along with Yukino Yukinoshita, the Ice Queen of Obelisk Blue. Together, their clashing personalities and viewpoints must compromise as they attempt to solve problems around Duel Academy Island.

Chapter Summary: Yukino Yukinoshita and Hachiman Hikigaya are meeting alone on a beautiful moonlit night. Of course, romantic comedies don’t exist in reality. They’re simply meeting up to Duel and see whether a Slifer Red really can intrude himself into an Obelisk Blue’s life.

AO3 Link

Excerpt:

“I draw for turn,” I declared. 

“Well, what miracle card have you drawn?” she asked, smirking and crossing her arms.

“Harpie’s Feather Duster,” I told her, activating the card. 

“Response!” Yukinoshita said. “I chain Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon! I target Ojama Blue in your GY.”

“No effect to chain,” I responded.

“Chain resolution will occur,” she declared. “Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon banishes the Ojama Blue in your GY.”  Raye, in her Shizuku outfit, brought her fists together and produced a black, two pronged cannon which blasted a yellow sonic wave towards me.

“Then Duster will resolve.” A large, green feather duster appeared and swept Yukinoshita’s backrow, destroying them.

“Relying on those kinds of cards,” she said. 

“Hm? Is there something wrong with staples?”

“Of course.” She smirked. “Cards not part of an archetype, deliberately designed to be slottable in any Deck. Well, put simply, these cards are only used by weak Decks because the strong have no need for them.”

I clicked my tongue.

“Or perhaps you need to be refreshed of the first lesson you learn as a Duelist: not all Decks are created equal.”

“So every card in your Deck is part of the Sky Striker archetype?”

“Naturally.” She flicked her hair back. “A strong Deck and a good Duelist have no need for such cheap tricks.”

“Then I’ll continue with my turn with cheap tricks.”

“Please do.”

[vanishingmoments]

I was reading through Nas Al Sudan's template email to send to US senators and house representatives and it actually is pretty informative on what is going on and what actually needs to be rallied for more specifically than "stop the violence":

"Dear *recipient's occupation* *recipient's name(s)*, My name is *sender's name* and I am your constituent in *sender's state*. I am writing to you nearly eight months after intense fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15th, 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to what the UN has recognized as a humanitarian nightmare. Over 12,000 people have been killed and an estimated 5.1 million have been forcibly displaced within Sudan since the beginning of the conflict and an additional 1.2 million outside the nation, with Sudan now constituting the world’s largest and fastest growing internal displacement crisis. Due to the targeting of journalists in Sudan and limited access to international networks, however, please take note that these numbers likely fall short of the actual devastating truth.

Fighting between the SAF and the RSF has impacted all 18 provinces, crippling infrastructure, placing between 70% and 80% of hospitals out of service, and resulting in grave violations of human rights as violence, abuse, and exploitation of women and children reach unprecedented levels by way of killing, maiming, child recruitment, sexual violence, and arbitrary detention. Furthermore, the RSF is complicit in all of these crimes, including the accusation of genocide in West Darfur, which the ICC has opened an investigation into, and the entry and occupation of homes along with looting, raping, and killing of residents - the result of which are horrific stories, videos, and images shared by witnesses and survivors who are unable to address the anxiety, depression, and PTSD of their experiences - as they remain forgotten in an environment of daily conflict. Beyond this, the humanitarian toll of this conflict is horrifying, with the United Nations terming the current situation in Sudan a “humanitarian catastrophe.” Today, millions of Sudanese people, particularly in Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan lack access to basic services, such as food, water, shelter, health, and education. 7.4 million children lack access to safe drinking water and are at risk of waterborne disease and 3.4 million children under the age of five are at high risk of diarrheal diseases and cholera. Furthermore, the WHO and UNICEF have announced that disruptions of health and nutrition services in Sudan could cost over 10,000 young lives by the end of 2023. In addition, an estimated 19 million children are currently out of school in Sudan, and as this crisis continues, these numbers will only worsen.

Thus far, international mediation efforts have utterly failed at achieving any sort of understanding between the two warring forces, with the SAF and the RSF blatantly disregarding commitments to de-escalate fighting, minimize civilian harm, and refrain from disproportionate attacks. Clashes between the two groups have continued and expanded throughout the nation, with the war now approaching its eighth month with no end in sight to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The second round of Jeddah talks conducted in late October clearly failed to produce any sort of negotiations on bringing an end to the conflict, and the UN’s decision to end its political mission established after the 2019 revolution to aid with the transition, UNITAMS, sends quite a clear message that the international community has abandoned hope for Sudan’s future.

The Sudanese people have played no part in this conflict; two forces currently fight to rule a country, neither of which were chosen by its people. It was the international community, including the United States, that waysided the civilians and legitimized the rule of the military, accepting the coup on October 25th, 2021 that laid the groundwork for this war with the belief that it would lead to personal gain. Now, the international community, and more specifically, the United States, bears a responsibility to the Sudanese people and its large Sudanese diaspora to provide humanitarian relief to civilians and to apply pressure to help mediate an end to the conflict. Today, the revised 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), updated in May of 2023, just a month into the conflict and devastation, requires $2.6 billion to provide life-saving multi-sectoral and protection assistance to 18.1 million people in desperate need through the end of this year. As of December 6th, $989.3 million has been donated, with the US contributing roughly $546.5 million. This total constitutes a mere 39% of the level of need estimated nearly 7 months ago, and means that the global community has quite simply failed to meet even a fraction of the level of humanitarian assistance required in Sudan, with the UN estimating 24.7 million people need humanitarian assistance in Sudan, 6.6 million more Sudanese individuals in need than the 18.1 million target the Sudan HRP accounts for in its $2.6 billion goal.

In short, Sudan needs more humanitarian aid funding, at a much more rapid pace, to close in on the gap of the increasing humanitarian assistance needed among Sudanese people. In comparison, though Sudan’s humanitarian toll has surpassed that of Ukraine, the United States has provided over $3.9 billion exclusively in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, which is over 7 times that provided to Sudan, not to mention the amount provided in military, security and financial aid, which altogether has topped $76.8 billion. Similarly, last month the House of Representatives authorized an emergency $14.5 billion military aid package to the Israeli occupation, a number aside from the $3.8 billion contributed annually, thereby signalling support for and contribution to the active genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, over 15000 of whom have been killed by the occupation force’s assault since October 7th. Thus, given the fact that the United States clearly bears ample funding for foreign aid and its complicity in the perpetuation of the crisis in Sudan, the United States has a moral obligation to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

I call on you, *recipient's name(s)*, for tangible support of the Sudanese people - ensuring they receive equitable and just support rather than falling victim to selective empathy or inadequate differentiating systems. Below are our demands:

1. Appoint a Special Envoy. The U.S. Government, either through a Presidential Appointment process or through Congressional legislative actions, should appoint a Special Envoy for Sudan to ensure the prioritization of direct negotiations for humanitarian assistance, peace negotiations, and engagement with neighboring countries. The Envoy will advocate for accountability of all parties responsible for committing crimes against humanity and war crimes against Sudanese civilians.

2. Call for an immediate ceasefire. The U.S. should utilize effective pressure to support a broad international coalition to achieve an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, a monitoring mechanism, safe corridors for humanitarian aid, and resumption of suspended aid operations.

3. Increase development and humanitarian aid to NGOs operating internally in Sudan focused on food and medical aid distribution. The United States government should ensure the safety of food and medical aid to the Sudanese people through NGOs such as the World Food Programme and the Red Crescent. Sudan is on the brink of famine with 43% of the population suffering from acute food insecurity - 6.3 million of which is a direct result of the conflict - and diseases are spreading. The United States government should work to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid convoys.

4. Apply the Arms Export Control Act and Enforce International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations on Sudan. The U.S. Government should strictly enforce current legislative tools, like the Arms Export Control Act, and enforce governmental mechanisms to prevent the export and proliferation of military-relevant items directly and indirectly to Sudan, including preventing the illicit flow of arms to non-state actors and private military companies.

5. Work on the international level to expand the UN Arms Embargo on Sudan and Consider Additional Mechanisms. The U.S. should utilize its role as a permanent member of the UNSC to reaffirm, renew, and expand the existing UN arms embargo and other sanctions on Darfur, Sudan to include the entirety of Sudan, key individuals in SAF and RSF, and human rights violators. The Sudanese people believe in freedom, peace, and justice. They gave their lives to bring about democracy in the nation, and the international community, and more specifically, the United States betrayed them through the legitimization of military forces. Will you act now, *recipient's name(s)*, to ensure that the United States government is supporting the Sudanese diaspora in the US by meeting the requirements stated above before the crisis further worsens?

"

[fine-nephrit]

1x01 Pilot

Just rewatched the Pilot ... oh man A first episode that does a fine job introducing all the core stuff and setting that tone and mood I love so much. It has an unhinged rawness that's charming.

All the signature elements are already here:

dark, wet forest in the Pacific Northwest small town, motel, diner, flight, rental car ride on the highway autopsy, clash with local law enforcement, coverups, old white dudes in suits and chairs, believer vs skeptic arguments & banter flashlights, gratuitous "action" sequence with running and gun draw, calling each other's names plot that barely makes any sense and has no resolution trust, the center of the partnership, is underscored in their conversation in the motel room and will come back again and again

Some early-installment weirdness stands out since I am too used to the classic era of the show: "The following story is inspired by actual documented accounts" Uh huh no iconic theme tune and title sequence yet Scully with straight long hair and then pony tail Mulder in denims Scully is very much Agent Clarice Starling. Mulder is like Sherlock, brilliant but a kook. The acting is somewhat jarring for both leads. Scully is high-pitched, bright-eyed and slightly smug. Mulder is over the top, bordering on cartoonish at times. He makes jokes at every opportunity and has violent outbursts. He throws his arms up towards the sky like a mad scientist. He comes off as snarky and a bit of a maniac and weirdo. These aspects of him will get toned down later on. It's fun to see how our leads settle into their characters and how the show finds its footing as Season One progresses. That Scully disrobing scene, while I like it giving fanfic writer ideas, is both OOC for Scully and the show itself. I never quite think of it as canon. It's a new show trying to grab audience's interest by blatant, old-fashioned fan service. Little did the audience know that they would not see any more bombshell Scully in underwear, but rather hunky Mulder fan service from this point on. Little did the audience know that they'd wait for a long, long time for these two to strip and embrace each other again.

All the pilot weirdness and goofiness aside, I love the "missing nine minutes" and "universal invariant", some of the coolest ideas and phrases the show ever came up with. I also love the alien abduction scene, where the boy offers up the girl under an eerie, harsh white light in a clearing in the middle of a dark forest. The visual and vibe are so compelling and memorable that the scene holds up even after all these years.

Rating: B