#Internal conflicts

[historyandmemes]

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — More than half a million people in Gaza — a quarter of the population — are starving, according to a report Thursday by the U.N. and other agencies that highlights the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s bombardment and siege on the territory in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The extent of the population’s hunger eclipsed even the near-famines in Afghanistan and Yemen of recent years, according to figures in the report. The report warned that the risk of famine is “increasing each day,” blaming the hunger on insufficient aid entering Gaza. “It doesn’t get any worse,’’ said Arif Husain, chief economist for the U.N.’s World Food Program. “I have never seen something at the scale that is happening in Gaza. And at this speed.” ... At the start of the war, Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, medicine and fuel into the territory. After U.S. pressure, it allowed a trickle of aid in through Egypt. But U.N. agencies say only 10% of Gaza’s food needs has been entering for weeks. (Dec. 21, 2023 | Source)

DON'T LOOK AWAY.

[ultrachoppedpenguinbouquet]

The fall of Egypt

[workersolidarity]

🇵🇸 🚨

STARVATION EATS AT GAZA'S CHILDREN AS ISRAELI OCCUPATION CONTINUES IT'S GENOCIDE

📹 The 9-year-old child, Muhammad Kloub, dies in Al-Aqsa Martyr's Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, as result of the Israeli occupation's ongoing starvation campaign by its closure of the Rafah and Karm Abu Salem border crossings.

The Zionist army has physically burned down the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, rendering the structure and facilities useless to prevent food from entering the Gaza Strip.

#source

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[virlean]

Dear Me

I know you hate conflicts. And I understand why. They make your heart race in the worst way possible. They make your stomach squirm with unease and make your hands tremble uncontrollably. You hate conflicts because they make you feel weak and incapable. They suck out the hope in your heart like a vacuum, leaving your mind and heart in shambles.

I know it's hard because we cannot escape the hurdles in our path. Conflicts are naturally part of life and growth. Without it, we wouldn't have the opportunities and experiences to learn the most important things such as patience, perseverance, emotional control, and self-esteem.

At this moment, I'd say that you should just calm down and breathe. Understand the situation. Think of ways how to solve the problem. I'd like to say it but I know it is easier said than done.

I know you're hurting right now. I know how hard you're trying not to cry and break down, so much so that it feels like your heart is going to burst any second. I know, and I understand.

It's okay to feel lost. It's okay to feel like you're stuck in a dead-end. It's okay. Everything's going to be fine. For now, just breathe. Don't let your mind dwell on the what if's and if only's. You can't take them all back now. It already happened. The only thing you can do now is to let yourself feel. Then you think.

Take it one step at a time. You've already been through a lot. I know you can get through this. I believe in you. You are strong. You are capable. You are the person you have always wanted to be.

Virlean

[wistfulwatcher]

[bored-boring-and-tired]

me currently:

“i want people to have crushes on me so badly because i thrive on external validation and im super insecure so i really really want people to have crushes on me”

also me, being aroace and sex/romance-repulsed (if someone has a crush on me):

“pleasepleasepleaseplease nobody have a crush on me and ESPECIALLY DONT TELL ME because then i have to reject you and i hate rejecting people and then i’ll probably have to come out to avoid hurting anyone because i overthink everything ahahahha”

[bayetea]

son of neptune is also funny because the characters have no significant issue with each other. every other previous mainline book involves some kind of tense dynamic with the questing characters. in tlt it's percy and annabeth. in som annabeth hates tyson and percy is defensive of him whilst trying to swallow the fact that he's embarrassed to have a monster for a brother. in ttc percy and thalia and zoë are all fighting with each other constantly. in botl percy is back to childish quarreling with annabeth over the luke/rachel stuff + grover is scared of tyson + annabeth is intensely antagonistic towards rachel. and in tlo percy and annabeth are bickering again + percy strangles nico for lying to him. even jason and piper (though jason is still immediately jumping off a cliff to save her whilst unaware that he can fly) have instant tension in their dynamic that runs through the veins of tlh and beyond + leo struggles with feeling like a third wheel + piper is worried about betraying them for her father and that impacts the way she interacts with them

and then son of neptune rolls around and percy is immediately just like Wow you two are just awesome. I know we just met but we're besties now. and frank and hazel both already like + know each other and they immediately stick their necks out for percy and like him. like this has never happened in any other book before. they don't clash with each other At All. they have uncomplicated affection for each other in all directions of their trio and that kindness and affection is the soul of son of neptune. they are just so so friendly to one another and the only source of awkwardness among the main characters is frank's crush on hazel since the start of the book, a crush that barely even results in any real tension or conflict because they're still best friends from the jump and hazel likes him too, she's just a lot less willing to do anything about it because she hates herself and thinks gonna die by the end of the week

[crossistent]

[quantummindclassicalheart]

I think Brennan did something interesting with the Porter and Gorgug scene in the last episode. Porter is by all appearances a competent Barbarian teacher. He understands the role of Rage and its mechanical combat benefits, and he even recognizes how Gorgug uses Rage to protect those he cares about. But he doesn't understand how multiclassing into a caster fits into that framework.

And it's true! In 5e you can't cast or concentrate on spells in a Rage. But-- Artificers work a little different than other casters! Alchemist Elixirs and Arcane Cannons aren't technically spells. Arcane Armor just works. And so does the Steel Defender.

Of any caster I think the Artificer is probably the best-suited to multiclass Barbarian because their key subclass features are largely not spells. But it also runs into the problem of requiring multiple high stats. Barbarians already want high STR and CON, and Artificers need INT for their spells and spell saves.

And so there's this narrative tension here. Brennan the DM obviously wants to let his player have fun with the character build-- embracing the creative artificer side of himself is a great character moment for Gorgug, bearer of the tin flower. Someone who has always channeled Rage to protect those he cares about but who has also been called to create and preserve beauty.

And yet mechanically, it's a difficult build. We didn't see Gorgug cast anything in the Night Yorb battle, as far as I recall? And in-universe, classes are a formally recognized thing that require approval. But Gorgug can't be the kind of Barbarian that Porter wants him to be. So he has to show that he can be a different kind of Barbarian-- one whose magic integrates and synergizes with his Rage rather than opposing it.

We see Gorgug still insecure about his homunculus and about the solar lasso, even though these are objectively impressive feats. So it's not a skill issue but an internal conflict-- it's only once Gorgug reconciles and synthesizes his magic with his Barbarian side that the in-world powers that be will recognize him for all of who he is.

[alwaysbewoke]

[historyandmemes]

(Note: See updated post) The new DRAFT U.N. Resolution, set to be voted on today, calls for:

• ... “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses” in the fighting throughout Gaza and the opening of corridors inside the enclave “for a sufficient number of days to enable full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.” • U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to appoint a senior coordinator “with responsibility for facilitating, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying in Gaza, as appropriate, the humanitarian nature” of all assistance, and demands that “the parties to the conflict cooperate with the coordinator to fulfill their mandate without delay or obstruction.” • ... “immediate and unconditional” release of the hostages. It also demands that “all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law ... including with regard to the conduct of hostilities and the protection of civilians and civilian objects.” • It reiterates the council’s “unwavering commitment” to a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians and “stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.” (12/22/23 | Source: WaPo)

Although the resolution's language was toned down, this is a sign of progress. While such measures are long overdue and should have been honored from the start, we must do everything possible to meet the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and relieve unfathomable suffering.

DON'T STOP POSTING. KEEP UP THE PUBLIC PRESSURE. DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS.

Stay tuned for today's vote.

[workersolidarity]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚀🏘️💥☠️ 🚨

"WHAT WAS THE CHILD'S FAULT": 9 DEAD IN ISRAELI MASSACRE

📹 "What was the child's fault?"

A Palestinian woman asks while holding the dead body of a young child killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Bureij Refugee Camp, in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, June 16th.

In another gruesome massacre in Gaza; according to local reporting, 9 civilians were killed, including 6 children, after Israeli warplanes bombed two residential homes in the Bureij Camp, in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Local sources said the Israeli occupation forces bombed a residential home belonging to the Al-Khatib family, and another belonging to the Al-Najjar family, in the Bureij Refugee Camp, killing 7 and 2 civilians, respectively, and wounding several others.

#source1

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[wistfulwatcher]

[wherearedagrapes]

I love this because it feels like such a typical parent-child exchange, but it hits different knowing Sonic’s backstory and unique circumstances. Tom’s dialogue clearly parallels Longclaw and her insistence that Sonic has to stay hidden from everyone to be safe.

And just like with Longclaw, Sonic disobeys and risks being noticed to do what he wants.

Both adults are not happy about this. But where Longclaw seems pretty (understandably) set in her belief of what’s best, Tom is a little more open-minded and receptive to Sonic’s feelings. Tom compromises with Sonic. He comes up with a lie that allows Sonic to hang out in the biker bar for a bit. And when he realizes that Sonic is sad about leaving Earth, he helps Sonic complete a bucket list of things the kid’s always wanted to do — things he can only do out in the open like this.

Tom does something that, arguably, no one else in this movie does: He recognizes Sonic’s feelings, and he sympathizes with him. Sonic’s not disobeying him for no reason. The kid’s miserable and lonely. He’s been in hiding the whole time he’s been on Earth. And he is, well, a child. Curious, impulsive, naive — not much different than any other kid in the world. Tom doesn’t know Sonic’s full story, but he feels for Sonic, and he tries to make him feel better. They have fun together.

Is it risky for the boys to goof off in a bar while they’re being chased by the government? Definitely lol But everything turns out fine. By which I mean, Sonic’s not persecuted or captured as an alien, and Tom and Sonic both leave in one piece. It’s pretty much the opposite of what happened when Sonic disobeyed Longclaw 10 years ago. And as Sonic muses in the motel later, it’s proof that Longclaw (and his own fears over putting people in danger) might be wrong.

The night’s a glimpse of what could be. Maybe Sonic can stay on Earth. And with Tom willing to help him, to accept him (to dare Sonic even say, be his first real friend?), maybe Sonic doesn’t have to be alone. Maybe he can have what everyone else does: people to rely on, a place to call home… It’s still a long shot, but for the first time, it’s not impossible. After years of sustaining himself on desperate, wishful thinking, this is the first glimmer of real hope.

But that hope relies heavily on Tom. And the way Sonic seems to look right at Tom when he asks, with some desperation, "But what if Longclaw was wrong?" It’s like he wants Tom to tell him that she is. She's wrong, and they can figure something out. Sonic doesn't have to leave, he doesn't have to be alone, because he has a place here. Sonic needs to hear that from Tom… Unfortunately, Tom's not ready to give him that yet.

[frobby]

Yukio doesn't realize rin was lonely because he was key contributor to said loneliness

[butterfly-95]

I think people need to realize that it was sheer luck that they have been born in developed countries with decent living conditions, away from the threat of war or civil conflicts. It is by pure coincidence at times that you end up being a citizen of a developed country, rather than one with an impoverished population experiencing man-made (because it is man-made in this day and age) famine, diseases that have been long eradicated or war (be it a civil conflict or due to selfish interests of developed nations who profit from these, at the cost of civilian lives). You could have been born into these conditions.

The point is: NO ONE should ever be made to witness the horrors of war, famine, poverty, disease or any other trauma inducing situation in which they have no free will or say about its outcome.