#Revit Structure Course

[cadinstitute]

The CAD Training Institute trains students in AutoCAD to develop qualities that need to be successful in the field such as architecture, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. Students in our Delhi’s AutoCAD Mechanical Course get to analyze and design skills. They learn electric design basic ideas at our Institute for Electrical AutoCAD in Delhi. This prepare them for job in electric engineering

[weirdmageddon]

the new zeltik video finally pushed me over the edge and made the connections between the bunch of details i noticed throughout totk seem more significant than i already thought they were. by myself i was hovering around these connections i came upon like “is this anything?” for a while, but after the video i was like “ok this is something”

alongside the theme of hands, i also noticed a secondary and more minor theme of blood and siphoning/circulation

most importantly

rauru rips into ganon’s chest with his bare hand like a badass to bind ganondorf’s heart, suck away and purify his dark magic. (btw and Not importantly ganondorf still has rauru’s finger holes in him and it’s pretty funny)

gloom seeps out from organically branching root-like structurs in the depths. if you watch closely you can see gloom slowly move inside them. they all seem to lead back to gloom’s lair where ganondorf is absorbing them. this is very evident in the cutscene where you finally make it to ganondorf himself and they show a close-up of this through thicker branches of these “gloom vessels”

gloom sucks away vitality from a person. fittingly, whenever a heart container is damaged due to gloom, you hear a heartbeat. gloom hands visibly siphon this vitality in more of a physical way. if you watch them they will sort of grotesquely pulsate when sucking the Juices out of link

is gloom ganondorf’s dark-magic infused blood? when the edge of the master sword cut mummydorf’s face, instead of blood it oozed gloom which boiled after making contact with a chip of the sword. rather than being magenta gelatin like malice, gloom is red and flat, staining surfaces like a liquid

phantom ganon is made entirely out of gloom. the compendium says it’s made from “the demon king’s own flesh and blood”. the dark clumps left behind from the gloom spawn/phantom ganon (with the depths talisman on them i guess to turn it into gloom antibodies lol??) also pulsate like monster guts

my idea is that this all goes back to those roots that pump this back to ganondorf to revitalize him. he was siphoned by rauru, now he siphons others to revitalize himself. there’s a lot of details put into this no way it isn’t connected

btw i didnt notice it at first but the landing pad for gloom’s lair is shaped like a heart like actually. it shouldve been stupid obvious

the gloom system is like a reverse circulatory system. instead of nurturing the periphery from a central location, it drains the periphery and delivers the nutrients to a central location. so like, oops! all veins. apparently after writing this i found an identical point from a forum post made ONLY YESTERDAY

“real world cardiovascular systems deliver vitality to the rest of the body from a centric location, while Gloom drains vitality from its surroundings and delivers it to a centric location”

and this “nurturance” line of thought made me remember how I thought at one point that the lightroots look a bit like hearts and the big roots are like the vessels. it wasn’t really a significant thought at the time until I made these newer connections. if we put them into my analogy, they would be the opposite to the gloom vessel system since they deliver light from the surface and emit it to the periphery (the surrounding area). i associate light with rauru, and he healed/nurtured link, so there’s just parallels and another reason that made me think of the lightroots. also the lightroots heal gloom-damaged heart containers

there are more minor but supplementary details such as

the sound of a heartbeat is featured very prominently in the E3 2019 teaser, and is literally the first noise in the game itself as the opening screens play. so it’s literally the first experiences we have with the game, both the game itself and in the meta about the game.

gaining an essence from a goddess statue, the heartbeat was not in botw (and of course neither was the miasma emitting from link’s entire body every time)

the gloom in link’s body reacts to every shrine of light blessing he absorbs into his arm and the joycons themselves pulse using the haptics

probably more shit i missed lol

the whole thing doesn’t really mean anything significant to the lore at all but neither does the hands theme. but it’s just definitely a pattern, potentially a minor theme, and deliberate choice in setting tone. i think it’s Something. im not a heavy zelda theorist tuber or anything but i’m very observant of patterns and i like to share them for deeper appreciation and contemplation/discussion

[akaessi]

Duolingo's annoying and outlandish marketing scheme is supposed to distract you from the fact that they are routinely utilizing AI to structure/moderate/and otherwise create language lessons.

For years, language experts and learners have been requesting that the app include languages such as Icelandic and other languages with relatively low populations of native speakers. additionally, while Duolingo has been credited with "playing a key role in preserving indigenous languages," they have yet to fulfill their promises of adding additional at-risk languages. Specifically,  Yucatec and K’iche, which the app faced "setbacks for." Even worse, in my opinion, is the fact that they are utilizing AI to create language courses in Navajo and Hawaiian.

The ethics of using AI to model and create indigenous languages cannot be ignored. What are their systems siphoning from? Language revitalization without a community being involved and credited is language theft and colonization. (I can't even get into the environmental impact of AI).

Instead of working with more language experts, hiring linguists, and spending more on their language programs, more and more money is being poured into their marketing. While they have a heavy team of computational and theoretical linguists, there seem to be fewer and fewer language experts and social linguists involved.

Their research section has not had a publication listed since 2021. Another research site Duolingo hosts on the efficacy of Duolingo has publications as recently as 2024, but only a total of 5 publications (2021-2024) listed were peer-reviewed and only 2 additional publications were independent research reports (2022 & 2023). The remaining 9 publications were Duolingo internal research reports. So, while a major marketing feature of the app is the "science backed, researched based, approach" there is much to be desired from their research setting. Additionally, the manner on how they personally determine efficacy in their own reports, as written in this blog post, has an insufficient dataset.

And while they openly share their datasets derived from Duolingo users, there are no clear bibliographies for individual language courses. What datasets are their curriculum creators using? And what curriculum creators do they even have left considering their massive layoffs of their translations team (10%) and the remaining translators being tasked with editing AI content?

Duo can be run over by a goddamn cybertruck but god forbid the app actually spend any money on the language programs you're playing with.

[splatsvilles-fashionista]

Been thinking about the possibility of a Splatoon 3 Switch 2 Edition again. I wrote it off initially because it wasn't in the Switch 2 Direct, but fool that I am I completely forgot that this year is going to be Splatoon's tenth anniversary, so they might be saving any announcements until then.

Though this had me thinking about what a Switch 2 upgrade pack for Splatoon 3 would even be. Performance boosts and changes to utilize the new technology they're building into the console of course, but would that be it? I can't imagine they'd lock actual new multiplayer content behind a paywall like that. It's not impossible of course, but Nintendo's clearly figured out long ago that that's not how they want to structure their paid content for their premiere multiplayer series. Splitting your players like that just isn't a good idea.

If the Switch 2 version of the game gets any exclusive content at all I think some kind of singleplayer DLC is more likely. Maybe we finally get a story focused on Deep Cut, or maybe those minor cuttlefish teases the game has here and there will finally pay off?

And of course, more multiplayer stuff is still a possibility, just unlikely to be just for the Switch 2 version. New weapons and stages would be the perfect way for Nintendo to breathe new life into the game in time for the new console and revitalize the fandom, and that's good for nintendo no matter which console people are playing on.

The one thing that makes me hesitate to call it a sure thing is that Grand Festival felt so confidently final that it'd almost be weird to keep adding stuff to the game after making that kind of statement, even if the devs didn't explicitly say it was the end. Extending Splatoon 3 is an option, but it's just as likely that the devs would rather start the new console with a clean slate.

We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose. I'm sure they'll do something for the tenth anniversary, so we've just gotta sit tight for now.

[sr71blackbirdd]

The fastest way to take your writing to the next level

Hello, writers of tumblr!

I know many of us had vastly different experiences with high school English/Literature classes. I had one of the best English curriculums in the United States as a result of going to an IB, former business prep school (it got converted to a public school). That being said, most of my advice here comes straight from the English classroom, which may make many of you recoil or wince as you brace yourselves for “read the classics”.

And that is my advice.

But hear me out, I’m going to take this to a next level as well. Firstly, why do you think we get better at writing as we age? Practice, yes? I would argue that a 20 year old beginner writer is starting at a different place than a 12 year old beginner writer, however. As someone who started writing more seriously at around 9 or 10, stopped for years as I realized it wasn’t a viable career, and got back into it at 15, you could argue this was just muscle memory, the same way you can remember how to ride a bike after years out of practice even if you’re wobbly at first. I would argue something different, I wasn’t wobbly at 15. My writing was the best it had ever been. Why? Because I had just finished The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I found myself imitating his technique, copying his voice, making something with far more complex symbolism, metaphor, etc. notes of Shelley, Achebe, Shakespeare, Cervantes, could be caught as those were the authors I had been forced to read for school.

But it is important to note this all happened because I made myself think about literature. I wrote essays, some of the best in the class, and wrote even more about these books when class was done. I did research into these history, social dynamics, problems, struggles, author background, etc. in order to place these works in the context of their time. I relentlessly analyzed why these were the stories that stood the test of time. Most importantly, I researched literary movements.

The thing that has guided my entire current work in progress and allowed me to stay so steadfast and dedicated, the thing that developed my voice, was understanding the literary movements. I can go over a brief breakdown of the biggest modern ones:

Classicism - Using values and concepts from Ancient Greek and Roman literature. When the movement sprung up, it was largely a revitalization, The Odyssey, the Iliad, and stories inspired by those. Circe would be a more modern example I believe. This movement was characterized by simplicity, proportion, clear structure, restrained emotion, and explicit appeals to intellect. Classicism was also a fairly classist movement but set up the foundations for

Romanticism - basically the tradwife of literary movements, RETVRN, all about an embrace of nature, emotion, humanity, all the stuff that came before that science and industrialism junk. Romanticism has two major subcategories: Dark Romanticism (Example: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley) which highlights a sinful or evil nature in humanity and examines our capacity for evil; Romantic Nationalism (Example: The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales) which was HUGE in France and future Germany around the Napoleonic Wars and emphasized the beauty of the nation state and the need to protect it.

Realism - By far one of the most significant for historical analysis. Realism was not just an art movement, it was a social movement. The goal was to show the wealthy, literate folk who could afford to go see art the plight of the lower rungs of society. Of course some realists tackled different issues. Tolstoy reportedly hated writing about poor people, but War and Peace is a masterpiece of Realism because of its focus on the perils of war. Dostoevsky, any of his books, but most famously Crime and Punishment, stand out as the most significant realist books in the literary canon. The style is often marked by a very plain manner of diction.

Aestheticism - the most SIGNIFICANT aestheticist novel of all time has to be The Picture of Dorian Gray. Featuring intense commentary on what art is and how meaningless it is (in a way that ironically makes it deeply meaningful), Wilde captures the very tenets of the Aestheticist movement. Don’t think, just make something pretty. Aestheticism was a criticism of both Realism and Romanticism, the dominating movements of the time. It argued art is just pretty and the technique should speak for itself. Wilde himself claims that Realism doesn’t work to convince people of the plight of the poor and romanticism is evil and corrupting in his most famous novel.

Modernism - The Trial by Franz Kafka, To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Stranger by Albert Camus, what do all of these novels share in common? A defiance of literary norms and the time period they were written in. They wanted to make something new and challenge what was normal and expected of writing at the time. They aimed to encompass societal themes in a way that was new and different. The Trial for example was the most painfully accurate depiction of Antisemitism I’ve ever read, despite the absurdity of it all.

Contemporary/Post-Modern - Contemporary does not encompass every work published after the 90s despite what the name may imply. Contemporary art/literature, much like its forefather modernism, aims to push boundaries. What is art? What is a story? Contemporary art pushes a meta-narrative and the most compelling example I can think of is The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, which explicitly asks the reader what makes a story true: material reality, or the feelings it gets at? Another story I can think of that I would consider contemporary art isn’t a book at all, but rather the online animated series ENA, ENA doesn’t have a clear metanarrative but its presentation is exactly what contemporary art aims for.

Of course, there are more movements than just these, but these are the ones that many classics fall into. If you need a reading list for rapid development of your writing, just look at the works I compiled in this list.

Happy writing!

[finalbossanalysis]

WARNING: Spoilers for the Final Boss of Another Crab's Treasure. Go play it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Final Boss Analysis #4 Firth, The Crab Who Stole The Whorl Another Crab's Treasure

"That's the cool part about being a GOD, I don't need you to let me do anything! It's just gonna happen!"

What seems like the weirdest decision for a final boss from a story standpoint actually fits perfectly within the games themes. Let’s dissect what makes Firth such a great final boss.

Firth is an asshole (Foreshadowing, also)

Among the sea critters Kril meets on his journey to get his shell back, Firth might be the worst and most despicable type of person: A cryptobro.

It's not surprising if you picked up on the themes of Another Crab's Treasure, being mostly a critique of capitalism and those who perpetuate it. Being an aspiring adventure crabitalist, Firth is seen multiple times throughout your journey, and by god is he never stopping that grindset. Every time you see him, he gets progressively shinier and cooler shells, which foreshadows something very important later.

Let’s kill god (Then do it again)

Shortly after telling Kril to KILL HIMSELF (Yes, he says this)

Kril fights basically a metaphor for the oceans pain and pollution. Somehow, he wins.

So we killed God, basically. That was the final boss. The macguffin, The Perfect Whorl, is afoot, which will turn whoever wears it into basically a god, which Kril will use to solve all of the oceans problems. Freaking sweet.

However, while Kril is distracted by his dying friend (Anti Grindset Behavior) Firth, ever the entrepreneur, takes this opportunity to yoink it for himself, unaware of it's power.

The Crab Who Stole The Whorl

Empowered by the Whorl, Firth basically becomes a God.

While he is now capable of fixing everything in the ocean, he instead plans to dump literally all the trash in the ocean directly onto the city in an attempt to revive and revitalize the economy there. Of course, this would just cause everyone to get polluted faster (And Kril needs the shell to save his friend (Anti Grindset Behavior)) so now we need to fight him.

Moveset

Firth's first phase is a mirror of Kril's fighting style and abilities he's gained throughout the game, since they're both hermit crabs. The difference being that he fights with a spoon, the inferior cutlery. It's a test of knowledge, not of your enemies abilities, but your own. He can hide in the Whorl and parry you as well.

His second phase has him pulling out all the stops, summoning tendrils and tornadoes while throwing projectiles at you. One thing I love about this phase is the sound the tendrils make as they swing, the reversed piano chord really puts into perspective the godliness aspect of him.

Soundtrack

His 1st phase theme, The Crab Who Stole The Whorl, is a fast paced mostly electronic theme. It's a stark contrast from the laid back vibe of the previous songs, while also sounding (And I cant find a better way to put this) Amateur in nature with its use of simplistic soundfonts, which show the gap in skill between Kril and Firth. (Kril actually working for his strength, while Firth just Stole The Whorl. (Took Another Crab's Treasure. (If you will.)))

His 2nd phase, Avatar Of Waste, showcases the finality and intensity of the battle. Long, drawn out notes backed by an intense drum section.

His Purpose and Symbolism

Firth symbolizes two things.

The literal embodiment of the phrase "Don't attribute malice to which is adequately explained by stupidity." While the economic boom seems well meaning, he's too self justified to consider the long term consequences of doing so. In general, he doesn't really seem to care about actually helping people, just that he's the one doing it.

2. Perpetuation of capitalism. Imagine If you could take out all the support structures, somehow demolish the ideology, and wipe it from the map. Kill god, if you would. Nonetheless as long as greedy people still exist in the world unopposed, the risk of capitalism being built again stands. Kril's fought all matter of embodiments of greed, so it makes sense that the final hurdle would be the embodiment of what builds it up and keeps it going.

Conclusion

Well, it wasn't Iwami but I'll get to him. (Sorry for lying.)

Mirror matches are pretty much the coolest trope in history, so the only way you could make that better is if its the final boss. He's also just got such an asshole personality that I can't help but like him. Helps that he's voiced by Micheal Reeves, the perfect voice actor for an asshole.

Another Crab's Treasure is just a great game. I was already a fan of Dark Souls, but the art direction just sucked me right into it. Leave a note if you'd like to see a specific boss covered in the future.

[officiallordvetinari]

Below are 10 featured Wikipedia articles. Links and descriptions are below the cut.

On February 17, 1974, U.S. Army Private First Class Robert Kenneth Preston (1953–2009) took off in a stolen Bell UH-1B Iroquois "Huey" helicopter from Tipton Field, Maryland, and landed it on the South Lawn of the White House in a significant breach of security. Preston had enlisted in the Army to become a helicopter pilot. However, he did not graduate from the helicopter training course and lost his opportunity to attain the rank of warrant officer pilot. His enlistment bound him to serve four years in the Army, and he was sent to Fort Meade as a helicopter mechanic. Preston believed this situation was unfair and later said he stole the helicopter to show his skill as a pilot.

J. R. R. Tolkien, a fantasy author and professional philologist, drew on the Old English poem Beowulf for multiple aspects of his Middle-earth legendarium, alongside other influences. He used elements such as names, monsters, and the structure of society in a heroic age. He emulated its style, creating an impression of depth and adopting an elegiac tone. Tolkien admired the way that Beowulf, written by a Christian looking back at a pagan past, just as he was, embodied a "large symbolism" without ever becoming allegorical. He worked to echo the symbolism of life's road and individual heroism in The Lord of the Rings.

The construction of the first World Trade Center complex in New York City was conceived as an urban renewal project to help revitalize Lower Manhattan spearheaded by David Rockefeller. The project was developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The idea for the World Trade Center arose after World War II as a way to supplement existing avenues of international commerce in the United States.

The Coterel gang (also Cotterill, fl. c. 1328 – 1333) was a 14th-century armed group that flourished in the North Midlands of England. It was led by James Coterel—after whom the gang is named—supported by his brothers Nicholas and John. It was one of several such groups that roamed across the English countryside in the late 1320s and early 1330s, a period of political upheaval with an associated increase in lawlessness in the provinces. Coterel and his immediate supporters were members of the gentry, and according to the tenets of the day were expected to assist the crown in the maintenance of law and order, rather than encourage its collapse.

Eunice Newton Foote (July 17, 1819 – September 30, 1888) was an American scientist, inventor, and women's rights campaigner. She was the first scientist to confirm that certain gases warm when exposed to sunlight, and that therefore rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels could increase atmospheric temperature and affect climate, a phenomenon now referred to as the Greenhouse effect. Born in Connecticut, Foote was raised in New York at the center of social and political movements of her day, such as the abolition of slavery, anti-alcohol activism, and women's rights. She attended the Troy Female Seminary and the Rensselaer School from age 17–19, gaining a broad education in scientific theory and practice.

Simonie Michael (Inuktitut: ᓴᐃᒨᓂ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ;  first name also spelled Simonee, alternative surnames Michel  or E7-551; March 2, 1933 – November 15, 2008) was a Canadian politician from the eastern Northwest Territories (now Nunavut) who was the first Inuk elected to a legislature in Canada. Before becoming involved in politics, Michael worked as a carpenter and business owner, and was one of very few translators between Inuktitut and English. He became a prominent member of the Inuit co-operative housing movement and a community activist in Iqaluit, and was appointed to a series of governing bodies, including the precursor to the Iqaluit City Council.

The St. Johns River (Spanish: Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and it is the most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At 310 miles (500 km) long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in elevation from headwaters to mouth is less than 30 feet (9 m); like most Florida waterways, the St. Johns has a very slow flow speed of 0.3 mph (0.13 m/s), and is often described as "lazy".

Warlugulong is a 1977 acrylic on canvas painting by Indigenous Australian artist Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. Owned for many years by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the work was sold by art dealer Hank Ebes on 24 July 2007, setting a record price for a contemporary Indigenous Australian art work bought at auction when it was purchased by the National Gallery of Australia for A$2.4 million. The painting illustrates the story of an ancestral being called Lungkata, together with eight other dreamings associated with localities about which Clifford Possum had traditional knowledge. It exemplifies a distinctive painting style developed by Papunya Tula artists in the 1970s, and blends representation of landscape with ceremonial iconography. Art critic Benjamin Genocchio describes it as "a work of real national significance [and] one of the most important 20th-century Australian paintings".

William Samuel Sadler (June 24, 1875 – April 26, 1969) was an American surgeon, self-trained psychiatrist, and author who helped publish The Urantia Book. The book is said to have resulted from Sadler's relationship with a man through whom he believed celestial beings spoke at night. It drew a following of people who studied its teachings.

Zebras (US: /ˈziːbrəz/, UK: /ˈzɛbrəz, ˈziː-/) (subgenus Hippotigris) are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three living species: Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), the plains zebra (E. quagga), and the mountain zebra (E. zebra). Zebras share the genus Equus with horses and asses, the three groups being the only living members of the family Equidae. Zebra stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. Several theories have been proposed for the function of these patterns, with most evidence supporting them as a deterrent for biting flies. Zebras inhabit eastern and southern Africa and can be found in a variety of habitats such as savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, shrublands, and mountainous areas.

[aealzx]

“Leonardo.”

A female voice that Leo had heard before in recordings addressed him with a single word greeting. She sounded pleased. Unusual considering the past circumstances. “Augustine,” Leo responded casually, willing the rest of the fog to leave his brain. He had a lot of questions, but none that he wanted to ask her. Other than something to further annoy her. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Augustine’s eye twitched, and she crossed her arms despite her smile never falling. “You speak as though this is your home, and I’m the visitor,” she pointed out.

Leo could only grin slightly, having achieved his goal. “Well, it’s just been so easy for me to come and go as I please.”

Now the smile fell into a frown. But just for a moment before she forced it back. “And yet you’ve never once stopped for a proper chat.”

“You know how it is. I’d hate to pull you away from your work. I’m just it’s been taking up a lot of your time,” Leo jabbed again, his head clear now and mind already examining where he was. Simple restraints, they had taken his weapons, and bags, but nothing else. He could probably get out of this.

“...You’re a daring creature to continue to antagonize me despite your current position…” The smile had faded again, and Leo could tell Augustine was tired of playing the game of banter they had been engaged in. Eventually she shrugged it off, memory of recent revelations lifting her mood. “No matter. Despite your attempts to prevent my work from progressing I relish to inform you that it has all been in vain.” Her phone was slipped from her lab coat pocket, and after a few taps she held the screen up for Leo to see. “I’m not nearly proud enough to conceal the fact it was an accident. I was merely attempting to capture you four by targeting mutant turtle signatures with a mystic influence. And while I caught one, these other two gems decided to… do me the favor of proving my hypothesis true.”

The first video Augustine showed him caused Leo so suck in a hissed breath, a much too small mutant turtle trapped on the floor and crowded by people in surgical coats. Needles and blades in their hands, smaller than what he’d seen in person with Bishop, but no less infuriating. And then she swiped her screen across to switch to a different, even smaller mutant turtle that was blessedly still asleep in his fetters. “Augustine…,” Leo growled, a warning tone saturating his voice and his brows furrowed.

“Oh don’t get so worked up. I don’t plan on killing them. I need them alive to track how they adjust to this dimension. How else am I supposed to confirm it’s safe? You and your brothers refuse to answer my questions afterall,” Augustine chided, chuckling in bubbling excitement. She was pleased to see that the first subject seemed to be calming down. Either because he realized the futility of his struggle, or because her employees had sedated him she wasn’t sure. But she’d rather not have another incident like with Evangeline. “And you, of course, are my constant for comparison. I anticipate their biological structure is much more similar to you than to humans. Obviously. So as a native of this dimension I’ll be keeping you for my tests as well. But as for your brothers…”

She was gloating. And Leo knew she was, but he was still curious when she trailed off, her phone vibrating in a silent call distracting her and earning a slight frown before she answered it, turning away from her captive. “Yes?” She sounded irritated, listening to the quick response and narrowing her eyes as she was informed of their intruders. “Tch…. Gas them,” she spoke after a moment to consider her decision. “Yes, I’m sure. Once they fall unconscious we can capture them and revitalize them, to a point. But if they ended up dying then it is no loss. I still have the others. Make sure the frontlines have the portable nullifiers as well.”

Leo had to keep from smiling when it sounded like his brothers were already there to rescue them all. They had acted fast. That was good. And it sounded like they were further in the building than Augustine had expected. But her response was definitely concerning, and only motivated Leo’s resolve to escape on his own. When she ended the call and half turned back to him he decidedly kept his expression neutral.

“Well, it seems your brothers have skittered their way inside sooner than expected. So you’ll have to excuse me while I deal with them elsewhere. Be good and stay silent, or I may have to sedate you,” she ordered, turning to leave the room without waiting for a response.

A raised brow was all Augustine got from Leo as he waited for the door to hiss closed. Then after a count of ten, or actually eight, he started twisting his hands, testing the tightness of the restraints on him. They hadn’t even bothered to take his tactical sleeves off. If he could just slide his hand through and slip one of them off, then getting the other off would be easy. Just squish his thumb in close to his palm, shift his weight as much as he could to let gravity help, nevermind the sharp pain building in his joint.

A series of soft clicks abruptly released all tension in Leo’s limbs, dropping him to the floor where he caught himself on the balls of his feet and fingertips. That was odd. Leo didn’t think he’d triggered anything that would disengage the restraints. And it was increasingly suspicious when the same door Augustine had left hissed open once more. Suspicious, until the protocol announcement coming through the intercom in the hallway was overridden by a familiar code.

“Flight 182, this is ground control, you are clear for landing.”

April. Leo thought, breaking into a wide smile as the redirected airplane chatter fizzled out. So this definitely wasn’t something Augustine was doing to manipulate him, or the others. Running out of the room, Leo gave one of the cameras a wave and a smile, just in case Mom April could see him, and continued his escape down the hallway bathed in red and white lights.

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I wasn't sure what to draw for this one, but inevitably frog Leo won X'D

[themythicsages]

A more properly structured roleplay request, updated to suit current interests.

Doubles as a profile introduction

What's up Tumblr? As you might have been able to tell through my recent reposts, few analysis posts I've written, and the new aesthetic, things have shifted somewhat in terms of where my interests and musings currently lie as opposed to when I first revitalized this account to start being active again. This of course means that my first request blog may be a little outdated, so I'm going to remake it. Quick disclaimer, this request will be Marvel and Kingdom Hearts centric. While you could ask about any fandoms or ships from my old post, I can't guarantee I'll be as interested as I once was. This does not mean that old roleplays with excluded fandoms will suddenly die off, it just means that I likely won't be accepting anything new from those fandoms outside of special cases.

Before we get to the muses and ships, why don't we hear a little about the mun itself? My name is Devin–though some people call me Somnus or Sage–, I'm a gay ace trans male and my pronouns are he/they/it. I'm 21, turning 22 this August, and I've been roleplaying for about ten years. I live in The States(may the gods spare me) with my time zone being EST. Sharing timezones isn't required to roleplay with me, but it does help with scheduling conflicts just a smidge. I'm more of a listener than I am a yapper when it comes to conversation, so while I may not contribute much, don't be afraid to talk if you need it!

With the preface out of the way, the new ad will be right under the cut.

Alright. Before we move onto the fandoms, let's lay out some ground rules. First and foremost, I need potential partners to be 18 or older. Even without explicit moments, I'm just not comfortable talking with minors who I don't already know. I usually write around 3 to 5 paragraphs per response, but I can adapt to anything from one liners all the way to multi message responses depending on what I get from my partners. I only roleplay on discord and tend to use servers for the sake of organization. Dice maiden is preferred but not necessary. My schedule tends to be all over the place, but I'm usually available early mornings(8 am - 10am EST) and late nights(8-pm - 12am EST) because of work and the need to sleep. If you're alright with getting replies around those times, then I'm all ears. And above all else, just be respectful.

Now, onto the muses!

Marvel

Super quick disclaimer: I am mostly an MCU, X-MCU, and Marvel games(Like Insom for Spidey, the Lego games for everyone else, and Rivals) kind of guy, and I'm still getting caught up with the comics and animated shows. My portrayals are therefore heavily spliced between the movies and the games, and at the same time there may be some references that I need refreshing on. I apologize in advance if I get a few things wrong.

Anthony "Tony" Edward Stark

IronShield/Stony (Romantic. Constant hyperfixation)

Pepperony (Romantic. More MCU centric. Add in Morgan for a full domestic family plot and my life is yours.)

Science Bros (Romantic.)

WinterIron (Romantic or Platonic.)

Stuckony (Romantic. Would have to be gc.)

Irondad and Spider-son (Obvs platonic, and more MCU centric.)

Stony Superfamily (A mix of Stony and Irondad/Spider-Son. More MCU Centric. Could be a gc, but I can be both Peter and Tony for one on ones if need be.)

Domestic OG Avengers (Begging on my hands and knees even though I know this would have to be a gc. They all deserve a break, man.)

Feel free to ask about any I may have missed, or that you may be curious about! Chances are, I'll say yes. Keep in mind that I hc Tony as trans in pretty much every universe. If that doesn't sit well with you then I'm not the one for you.

Peter Benjamin Parker

Disclaimer: In pretty much all scenarios, my Peter is assumed to be around college age(early 20s), and depending on continuity is either currently in college or doing internships. Unless specified, assume a mix of insom and mcu for backstory and personality.

Spideytorch (Romantic. Would sell soul for good Johnny to write with. Assume mix of insom and comics. Current hyperfixation.)

Spideypool (Romantic)

Parksborn (Romantic or Platonic)

PeterMJ (Romantic)

Parksbornson (romantic, obvs gc, likely insom)

Irondad and Spider-son (Obvs platonic, more MCU centric)

PeterChelle (Romantic, MCU centric obviously)

Stony Superfamily (see above in Tony's section.)

Spiderbros/Peter + Miles (Strictly platonic.)

Ask about any other pairs you'd like to do that I may have left out! Chances are I'll say yes, unless it's just incredibly strange. Also keep in mind, I hc Peter as trans in most universes. If that doesn't sit well with you then I'm not the one for you babes.

Loki Laufeyson

Lokius (Romantic.)

ScarletFrost/WandaLoki (Romantic.)

WarLoki (Romantic)

Brodinsons (Strictly Platonic.)

Loki + Frigga (Little Mama's child... platonic of course.)

Domestic OG Avengers (Would have to be gc of course, but still.)

Feel free to ask on any others, as the only ships I refuse to do are sylvoki, thorki, and any others that border on selfcest or incest. They're weird, and you'd be weird for suggesting them.

James "Bucky" Buchanan Barnes

Sambucky/WinterFalcon (Romantic. Would sell soul for more Sams. Current hyperfix.)

Stucky (Romantic.)

WinterHawk (Romantic.)

WinterIron (Romantic or Platonic)

Stuckony (Romantic. Would have to be a gc.)

Domestic OG Avengers (Would have to be gc of course, but still.)

Domestic New Avengers (obvious other gc)

Feel free to ask about any ships I may have missed, but be warned I'm more likely to accept queer ships with him since I personally hc Bucky as gay cupio. Also under no circumstances will I roleplay winteragent unless it's platonic and tied under Domestic NA. I just don't see it at all guys.

Robert "Bob" Reynolds

Domestic New Avengers (obvs gc but cmon)

SentryAgent (Either romantic or platonic tbh. Current fix)

GoldenWings (Either romantic or platonic. Crackship who?)

Boblena (Likely queerplatonic.)

ShadowTorch (Other crackship who?)

Feel free to toss your pairs my way. Chances are I won't necessarily say no. Also keep in mind, I kind of hc this man as trans. If you don't like that then I'm not the one for you babes.

Kingdom Hearts

Riku

Soriku (Romantic. I miss them so much guys...)

Riku + Kairi (Purely platonic. Just let them chill together, y'know?)

Riku + Terra (Purely Platonic. Family vibes.)

Riku + Sephiroth (The unofficial father/son duo ever)

Destiny Trio (Likely platonic, unless we go the 'Sora is dating both Kairi and Riku, but Riku and Kairi aren't dating each other' route. Would have to be a gc.)

Offer up your ships if you've got them, just know that I hc this boy as gay and deeply closeted, so any het ships would have to be platonic.

Roxas

Roxner (Romantic or Platonic)

AkuRoku (Romantic or Platonic)

VanRoku (Romantic or Platonic)

VanVen (Romantic or Platonic)

RokuNami (Romantic or Platonic)

Sora + Roxas (Purely platonic, simply because I see them having more of a sibling dynamic)

Xion + Roxas (Purely platonic because I see them having more of a sibling dynamic)

Twilight Squad (Likely platonic, though I can see potential for a polycule. Would have to be a gc regardless.)

Sea Salt Trio (Likely platonic, would have to be a GC however)

Cloud Strife

Clerith (Romantic)

Strifehart (Romantic. Add in Sora for a found family au and my life would be yours.)

Sefikura (Romantic. Yes I know they're basically like toxic exes at this point, shut up. Conversely, add in Riku for a completely different family vibe and my life would also be yours.)

Cloud + Yuffie (Purely platonic because I've always seen them having more of a sibling dynamic.)

Now if any of these sound good to you, feel free to either comment on this post or send me a direct message so that we can figure out plots and share discord tags. I look forward to writing with you all!

Domestic Restoration Committee (Would have to be a gc obviously. Could come packaged with either Strifehart or Clerith.)

Sage, out!

[the1entirecircus]

Jurassic Park Pokemon Teams

The events of the Pokemon World Jurassic Park are much like the events of the original but with small tweaks.

Unlike the original, this film is more sort of a look into the development of the first Fossil Restoration machine. In lore, fossil pokemon are able to be revived thanks to technology from the Devon Corporation and a research lab on Cinnabar Island. For this story, we are setting aside those two and introducing InGen into the mix. InGen is still a Genetics company that is experimenting in genetic engineering.

Fossil pokemon DNA is impure during revitalization, but through the usage of Ditto's adaptable genetic structure, the DNA of the fossil pokemon are completed. This is of course the stand-in for the frog dna that allows the dinosaurs to change their sex/gender as Ditto is quite literally gender-fluid.

The Pokemon version of Jurassic Park is still an attraction somewhat akin to the wildlife zones in Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. Of course, to capture pokemon, you have to pay a fee and use the specialized Jurassic Balls made by InGen, spared no expense. The few fossil pokemon not made for capture is of course the carnivorous pokemon. Other than them, the various herbivorous fossil pokemon of Jurassic Park are able to be captured with the Jurassic Balls.

The pokemon that originally inhabited Isla Nublar are pokemon native to the Alolan Pokedex of Pokemon Sun & Moon and some from Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Some alolan forms such as Exeggutor and Rattata exist, but others like Alolan Meowth do not.

Dr. Alan Grant Alan's team is primarily taken out of the Unova Pokedex of B2W2. This is because of how Archen and Archeops (as well as the Deinonychus Fakemon I will be making later) are based in Unova. Alan's first scene takes place in Montana, which is of course in America.

Sandshrew- Alan Grant is a paleontologist, and paleontologists due their work by digging. The reason why Alan's Sandshrew isn't a Sandslash is because he isn't a pokemon trainer, and more of a caretaker for them.

Drilbur- Another digging pokemon, and unevolved for the same reasons as Sandshrew.

Dr. Ellie Sattler Like Alan, Ellie's team is taken from the Unova Pokedex of B2W2. She

Leafeon- Leafeon's modern way of evolution is through a leaf stone. As a paleobotanist, I'm certain that Ellie encounters those fossils quite frequently

John Hammond A wealthy Scottsman and head of a genetics company, John Hammond's pokemon team mostly comes from the Crown Tundra Pokedex. Although in this version of the story, he comes from Galar as the Crown Tundra is mostly wilderness.

Copperajah- A reference to the novel, Hammond's Copperajah is genetically engineered to be the smallest of its kind much like the elephant in the novel. This Copperajah is unfortunately very weak and very ill.

Mega Aerodactyl- John Hammond's cane has a a piece of fossilized amber with a mosquito inside. To get an aerodactyl in most games, a piece of fossilized amber is needed to restore the pokemon. However, my version of John Hammond does not have this amber in his cane, but in fact a keystone. His Aerodactyl, genetically modified to have the strongest stats and the most beneficial nature, has its own mega-stone attached to it. John's relationship with Aerodactyl however isn't strong, which is required with Mega Evolution. So, during the climax where the raptors are attacking the guests, Hammond tries to be the hero and mega-evolves his aerodactyl. Of course, this goes terribly wrong and the mega aerodactyl, stressed out from mega-evolving, attacks John Hammond.

Dr. Ian Malcolm As Dr. Ian Malcolm is a chaostician/mathmatician, his pokemon represent chaos and other concepts. As for why Dr. Malcolm's pokemon are fully evolved, I'm unsure. I guess I would say its because they're fully evolved because Dr. Malcolm likes the unpredicatable nature of Pokemon battles. His team isn't meant to be that strong however as he still loses to the T. Rex.

Absol- Always predicting the future chaos to come forth and hated for it, Absol feels like the perfect match for the Chaostician.

Gothitelle- another pokemon with foresight, this pokemon was specifically chosen for how it predicts the future: movement of the stars. Dr. Ian Malcolm predicted that everything would go wrong in Jurassic Park through mathematics. Gothitelle is meant to relfect that.

Haxorus- This is a partial reference to the "Dragon's Curve," a fractal that appears in the book to signify the beginning of a chapter. Its meant to signify the chaotic nature of complex systems. Now while Zygarde is a better pokemon to signify this, I decided not to include it as I didn't want Dr. Ian Malcolm to have a legendary pokemon. His Haxorus' ability is Rivalry which is meant to also reflect him kind of butting-heads with Dr. Grant and Hammond, but being flirtatious and kind with Dr. Sattler.

Dr. Henry Wu Jurassic Park's main geneticist, Dr. Wu is responsible for the creation of this Jurassic Park's fossil pokemon.

Ditto- Wu's Ditto is the donor for the fossil pokemon's hybrid DNA. A theory suggests that Ditto is created out of failed Mewtwo clones. I'm not entirely going with this theory, but its with that theory in mind that I'm giving Wu a Ditto.

Ray Arnold Ray was the chief engineer of Jurassic Park. His team is meant to reflect that.

Klang- Mechanics

Magnemite- Electrical mechanics

Robert Muldoon Being experienced with dealing with predators as Jurassic Park's Game Warden, Muldoon is the only person in jurassic park that is capable of handling the fossil pokemon by having a full team. Meaning, like in the novel, Muldoon survives along with most of his pokemon.

Mega Sceptile- In the novel, Muldoon utilizes a rocket launcher on the t. rex. Mega Sceptile's tail can fire off like a rocket launcher.

Gallade- Its foresight ability is capable of helping it fight in battle, and in an environment like Jurassic Park, it becomes even more useful. In some forms of media, Robert Muldoon is shown to carry a machete, and this sharp weapon is also why Gallade was chosen.

Revavroom- A reference to the "Must go faster!" scene from the movie, Revavroom is modeled after gas powered vehicles.

Sandaconda- Another refence to the movie, this is more sort of a reference to the type of gun Muldoon carried in that film.

Bisharp- Bisharp is a pokemon that gives commands.

Zangoose- while seemingly an odd choice, Robert's rivalry with the raptors is meant to be reflected in Zangoose's rivalry with Seviper. However, in the "shoot her scene," Robert's Zangoose takes the place of Joffrey aka the guy who dies from the velociraptor at the beginning of the film.

Lex Murphy Being older than Tim, Lex is suitable for becoming a pokemon trainer. However, a scene in the movie that sets up her role in the final act mentions her being good with computers. This means she wouldn't exactly have a good pokemon team

Scorbunny- In Tim & Lex's first scene, Hammond asks the siblings if they received the gifts he had sent. In this universe, Scorbunny was the gift Lex receives. Lex is shown to like the sport of baseball, especially in the novel. While Scorbunny is based on soccer/football players, it was a close enough answer to fit.

Dedenne- A reference to Lex being a "hacker" in the movie. I didn't want to give her a rotom, so I instead gave her a pokemon with a connection to wire and currents.

Tim Murphy Being around 10 during the events of the movie, Tim is suitable enough to become a pokemon trainer. So, he would of course have a starter pokemon

Sobble- As mentioned in Lex's reasoning for getting a Scorbunny, Tim also gets a pokemon. His of course being Sobble as he does get severely shocked in the movie, and also goes through traumatic situations that would give a Sobble a headache from crying. Also, its a reptile, dinosaur kids love reptiles.

Dennis Nedry The reason why mostly everything goes wrong in Jurassic Park is because of Nedry screwing up the systems. His death reflects that of what happens in the Novel but with more horrifying implications as Dilodelic is not venomous.

Rotom- A mischievious pokemon that messes with technology, it is the perfect match for Dennis Nedry. In the pokemon version of Jurassic Park, Dennis' Rotom causes the system to shut down along with a few additions from Dennis himself.

Munchlax- This one is obvious, but Dennis is a glutton. Of course he's going to have a Munchlax on his team. And yes, unfortunately Munchlax bites the dust in this version of Jurassic Park thanks to the Dilodelic.

Donald Gennaro The "Blood-Sucking" lawyer Donald Gennaro's team is meant to be fitting of that of a lawyer who's only interest is the money of Jurassic Park.

Sableye- Sableye's diet consists of gems and minerals, all things that can make a man rich. Donald Gennaro is similar to this. When he doesn't find money to be made, he disregards it.

[fallenhunnyapple]

Since I talked about Human Priest AU, I think I should talk about the Runner up too! Yet another AU with @fallenguitarhero

Amnesia AU

The basic premise is after Adam's death, when he gets revived in Hell, its as a Naked Idiot, thinking he'd just woken up from when he was put to sleep when they took his Rib for Eve. He doesn't know what this place is, why its Red and Hot, or why he's no longer in Eden. He awoke outside the Hotel so his first instinct is to look inside the strange structure and figure out what's going on.

(the rest under a Readmore cuz it got a little long and I don't wanna clog your dashes-)

Charlie thinks there's a new Sinner outside the Hotel and goes to greet him and instead met with a Very Naked Adam who doesn't seem to recognise her. Not wanting to let a confused and naked Adam wander Hell alone, she brings him inside and dresses him (poorly in a sheet) and tries to get to the bottom of it. Adam thinks she's an Angel since she looks so much like Lucifer, she must be one of his Angelic siblings, it's the only thing that makes sense.

He talks to her about his life in Eden, about how Lucifer is his best friend and he doesn't like Lilith because she doesn't listen to him so he gets in trouble with the Angels. About how they have started leaving him alone. About how the Angels say there's something wrong with him but once they do this thing that he was put to sleep for everything will get better! Lucifer said he would be there when he woke up, but Lucifer wasn't anywhere, why did he lie to him? But Charlie is nice, she listens to him. Usually the Angels dismiss him or ignore him, they don't care about his problems, but Charlie actually listens. The only other one to do that was Lucifer, that's why it hurts that he's been avoiding him-

Charlie of course calls her dad to come and help take care of this, she's Really out of her depth, she is Not equipt to deal with all this and she doesn't want to introduce Adam to the whole idea of Hell because, well, that's not her place. This has to be handled in a way she can't and by someone she's not. And when Lucifer does arrive, it takes Charlie only moments to see that Adam is completely In Love with her Dad. Who, for his part, is entirely oblivious. She feels almost Bad for Adam.

Lucifer ends up staying at the Hotel to keep an eye on Adam and it honestly doesn't take long for a relationship to start. Adam finds out from Charlie and Angel that being Gay is Okay, and that Lucifer is Bi. He doesn't understand much of what's going on, but he knows he's not in the Garden and he doesn't have the Angels' expectations placed on him anymore, he doesn't need to procreate and he can pursue what he wants. And what he wants is Lucifer. Lucifer for his part Isn't in Love, but there is something about how Adam is so innocent and earnest, how he makes Lucifer feel old but also feel like there's a way to start over, how he makes Lucifer feel wanted for the first time in many years. He may not be in Love, but he wants to make Adam Happy, he wants to take a chance on this Do Over.

Lucifer, despite not being in love, becomes a bit emotionally dependent and obsessed with Adam. He likes feeling needed, and he loves feeling wanted. It's helping heal some part of him that's been broken since his and Lilith's relationship started falling apart many years ago. Adam's mischievous, curious, and bright nature helps revitalize him in a way he didn't expect. And Adam is worried for him when he hits lows, he tries to cheer him up in whatever way he can think of. And having someone around during those times that shows how much they care does a Lot of good. Adam is his ESA.

There are a few things going on with Adam, though. First and Foremost, in a bid to keep him innocent, to avoid overwhelming him and to avoid making things Confusing and Terrible, they're trying to keep him oblivious to what this place Actually Is. They don't call it Hell, he shouldn't Know what that is. He doesn't know about Sin in that way and they don't want to introduce it to him like that. He's not allowed to go out unless it's with someone Trusted (Mainly Lucifer or Charlie, but that does eventually extend to Angel and Vaggie.) It would be hard to explain what happened to Humanity, why things are the way they are. It's not an easy thing to keep covered up. But it's not something they can hide forever, especially because of the next point.

He is slowly getting his memories back, reliving his personal traumas, the feelings of betrayal, the emptiness, the loneliness, the bitter hatred. He'd have memories of Feelings, hating the color red, feeling some level of bitterness and resentment towards the man he Knows he loves, etc but he never had any context for them. But he slowly gets them back. But everything is getting recontextualized, he has support from Lucifer and Charlie and other people at the Hotel. It's still difficult to deal with the memories and feelings, but he's not dealing with them alone and he feels genuinely cared about, it makes all the difference. Lucifer asks him if he believes he loves him, because by the time enough of these memories resurface, Lucifer does love him and Adam had never questioned it. So its hard when he genuinely answers he doesn't know. But it's okay, they can work through it together.

But aside from his memories coming back, Adam is also dealing with the much more physical problem of transformation. His blood is still gold, he's a Fallen Angel, even if he doesn't have the context of it. And gradually his body changes. His Fallen form doesn't quite reflect his Angelic form as he started as an almost blank slate. He's becoming a Catboy, or Lion Boy specifically, a kemonomimi type with more cat mannerisms. It's chalked up to the eventual corruption of anything residing in Hell, but it's part of his fate as a Fallen Angel. Lucifer isn't complaining and Adam is getting scritches and pets so he really has no complaints either.

There are a few other points and thoughts, but this is the general overview of it-

[mariacallous]

In 2003, India, Brazil, and South Africa established what they called the IBSA Dialogue Forum. The trilateral initiative aimed to promote south-south cooperation, reform global governance structures, and amplify the three democracies’ voices on the international stage. In the years that followed, the leaders of IBSA countries organized regular summits to facilitate collaboration across various sectors.

However, as the BRICS bloc—which initially included Brazil, Russia, India, and China—gained prominence and added South Africa as a member in 2010, IBSA’s activities waned. Though IBSA foreign ministers still organize a yearly meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where they regularly call for U.N. Security Council reform, the group’s relevance has plummeted.

Today, there is a compelling case for revitalizing IBSA after more than a decade of dormancy. There are three reasons why a relaunch would benefit member countries and add a crucial new element to the global order.

First, BRICS has changed fundamentally over the last three years. There are tensions within the group over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. BRICS also expanded its membership last year. Taken together, these factors risk reducing the group’s agility and ability to address global challenges. They might even strengthen member states that aim to transform BRICS into a Chinese-led bloc that antagonizes the West. IBSA countries, by contrast, have always favored multialignment and are seeing their space within BRICS shrink.

Second, amid the geopolitical uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House—not all of which is bad news for IBSA countries—it is crucial that India, Brazil, and South Africa deepen their ties beyond the major poles of power.

And third, IBSA countries offer a uniquely valuable perspective in the debate about how to address the major challenges faced by developing democracies around the world. Though India, Brazil, and South Africa are all highly visible on the global stage, their capacity to set the global agenda would increase markedly if they spoke with one voice on specific issues.

From the start, IBSA’s goal was to strengthen emerging powers in the global south. The forum was established following negotiations between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and South African President Thabo Mbeki during the 2003 G-8 summit in Évian, France. The three leaders were invited to the summit as observers, yet they felt that the invitation was largely symbolic.

“What is the use of being invited for dessert at the banquet of the powerful?” Lula later quipped. “We do not want to participate only to eat the dessert; we want to eat the main course, dessert and then coffee.”

The forum established trilateral working groups focused on areas such as agriculture, environment, defense, and energy, while regular ministerial meetings and presidential summits reinforced the countries’ collaboration. As global power dynamics shifted from a U.S.-led order toward multipolarity, IBSA highlighted the growing influence of emerging powers and the limitations of international institutions in reflecting those countries’ rise.

For example, in its first declaration in 2003, the group called for reorganization of the Security Council to include new permanent members from developing countries. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who took office in 2004, described the grouping as a “strong moral force in today’s unsettled world.”

Even before IBSA’s creation, India, Brazil, and South Africa had collaborated to address the restrictive aspects of the World Trade Organization’s TRIPS agreement on intellectual property rights. Their efforts led to the 2003 TRIPS waiver, which allowed developing nations to export generic medicines during public health emergencies.

Their efforts, including leadership in the G-21 coalition, a bloc of developing countries, significantly improved access to affordable drugs for HIV and AIDS around the world—particularly in Africa—by enabling local production without the consent of patent holders. The debate around the TRIPS waiver became important again during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on a sense that international economic and financial architecture did not serve the interests of developing nations, IBSA countries found success in deepening their limited bilateral relations and establishing a jointly financed—though very small—IBSA fund, in addition to joint naval exercises in a format called IBSAMAR.

Furthermore, the three middle powers created coordinated strategies to enhance their influence within multilateral institutions such as the U.N., World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. They made efforts to align their strategies within the U.N. Human Rights Council, reaffirmed their commitment to universal human rights, and made joint statements on international conflicts, including recently on Gaza and Ukraine.

Yet the initial excitement and flurry largely fizzled out around 2013, when a leaders summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi to commemorate IBSA’s 10th anniversary was canceled. That decision was in large part due to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s focus on domestic politics, aggravated by a wave of large-scale protests in Brazil in June of that year. Lula, her predecessor, had a more activist international posture.

But the more important factor in making IBSA irrelevant was likely South Africa’s accession to BRICS in 2010—an effort that was led by China. It was probably in Beijing’s interest to sideline a global south platform that it was not part of. So while IBSA preceded BRICS and while Singh famously expressed his preference for IBSA over BRICS—��IBSA has a personality of its own. It is three separate continents, three democracies,” he said—it ended up being BRICS that turned into the most relevant geopolitical platform in the global south.

Today’s profoundly changed geopolitical landscape has created an opportunity for IBSA to resurrect itself.

Though BRICS remains relevant for the foreign-policy strategies of Brazil, India, and South Africa, the grouping has become unwieldy—and its utility is now more limited than it used to be. The war in Ukraine and Russia’s deteriorating ties to the West have created growing tensions between the anti-Western faction in BRICS, led by Russia and China, and a more moderate group committed to preserving ties to the West, led by India and Brazil.

The bloc’s membership expansion in 2024 changed its power distribution. Russia and China pushed for expansion, eventually adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and later Indonesia, as full members. A host of so-called partner countries can now also participate in numerous BRICS activities. Reaching consensus among this expanded group is significantly more difficult—as evidenced by the bloc’s failure, for the first time, to develop a joint statement at a foreign ministers meeting in April. Egypt and Ethiopia reportedly objected to including language in favor of Security Council reform, which Brazil, India, and South Africa have long sought.

In some areas, IBSA’s interests diverge significantly from the other established BRICS members. Though Russia, for example, is keen to advance alternatives to the U.S. dollar to circumvent Western sanctions, policymakers in IBSA countries are less interested in moving ahead with the issue, a reluctance potentially aggravated by Trump’s recent threats of punitive tariffs against any country that joins such an initiative.

What’s more, when BRICS was created, China was an emerging power—yet it is now largely seen as a great power. That complicates the bloc’s capacity to speak on behalf of the global south.

Reviving IBSA would provide a forum to push for countries’ shared goals without getting bogged down in increasingly complicated BRICS negotiations. In a world where crafting agreements in large multilateral settings has become difficult, adding a minilateral group such as IBSA to the mix could lead to meaningful cooperation in many areas, such as conflict resolution, the climate crisis, and maritime security.

As China and Russia try to push BRICS into a more anti-Western position, IBSA would allow member countries to articulate a multialigned strategy and preserve strong ties to the West. India has recently moved closer to the United States and is heavily invested in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue; that is more than New Delhi has done operationally with BRICS. Brazil hopes to see the European Union ratify a historic trade deal with Mercosur—a South American trade bloc—has deepened cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and was designated by Washington in 2019 as a “major non-NATO ally.”

A separate space would also let IBSA governments reinforce their quest for specific reform proposals—including at the Security Council—that other BRICS members are either indifferent about or actively opposed to. At the same time, reviving IBSA does not imply that Brazil, India, and South Africa would move away from BRICS. IBSA would simply be an additional tool.

When IBSA leaders got together for their last official summit in October 2011, being friends with all major global players was easier to achieve than it is today. Russia had not yet annexed Crimea and U.S.-China ties were far rosier than they are now. In the years since, the world has become more unstable, making strategic diversification paramount. Trump’s return to the White House adds a layer of unpredictability. But India and Brazil could, for example, play a supportive role for South Africa as its ties to the United States deteriorate under Trump.

The growing divergence between China and the West offers a unique opportunity for IBSA countries to jointly develop strategies to amplify their ties to Europe and the United States in ways that the BRICS bloc cannot.

Finally, while IBSA’s three democracies represented a majority of BRICS members prior to expansion, democracies are now a minority in the bloc. Establishing a separate space for IBSA would allow India, Brazil, and South Africa to identify common denominators and advance issues that are difficult to discuss in the context of BRICS—including political polarization, disinformation, and internet governance.

One example of shrinking space for democracies within BRICS is the decreasing relevance of the BRICS Academic Forum, which used to be intellectually vibrant but now provides very limited space to discuss sensitive issues or openly disagree with member states’ policies. In short, it has largely ceased to be a platform of genuine debate. A comparable structure for scholars from IBSA countries would provide a far freer environment for genuine deliberation.

[visiblenostalgia]

🥱The POST-Aries Eclipse…😑✨

月曜日。8日4月2024年

19° Aries: (Libra Degree) from [Sabian Symbologist],

“Only Your Soul Knows For Sure”

“…a symbol of periodic expansion of man’s freedom of spirit and soul through his widely winging interest far removed from his normal promise,” What comes from this understanding yourself before understanding others. Being YOURSELF in the CROWD. A standout.

However, they even state that detaching too much (dissociation) may lead to “scorn” from responsibilities. Healthy detachment is okay. Just be careful to dissociate yourself from everything. Feeling too much of nothing can STILL be feeling something.

(More of my experiences under the cut)

It’s like ever since this eclipse on Monday the 8th, the energy around me has been much more light and open to my energy. Like I can move on and get stuff done. I no longer feel hunkered down as I feel like I can let grudges, bygones, fucked interactions with people (mind the Aries Mercury retrograde) and forgetfulness go.

Not to mention that when I just look forward and keep on keeping on, do I “breathe in” revitalizing energy. I feel like I can take in something new as my friends and career shift to both of what’s needed of me and what are my desires.

Another thing to note was the Eclipse occurred right on my 11th house cusp. If I could call it my Secondhand Midhaven I would. My SM. Cause that’s made my work and creative life so much more passionate and enjoyable. All because of letting things, emotions, and people that did not suit me at all….go.

It feels like that first rainy day after a long brutal heatwave. I can finally feel at ease and hop onto my work.

Extra little notes of what my latest experiences were like:

I started roleplays that go episode by episode in a show and we’ve been doing our own spins on it (creative juices a’flowing babyyyyy)

Spiritual downloads of ideologies that currently don’t exist but may come these next few decades. Something aligned with (again,) Creativity, Chaos, Common Knowledge, Sensibility, Laughter, Understanding divine timing…. TRUE Healing too (not running away or asking too much from therapy. Cause if you’re not growing yourself day by day (of course with a little advice but not too much to over rely) there’s no way).

Just being around friends who understand me. Being around people who are just here for a good time. Fighting only takes so much out of the human spirit. Gotta remember that night will hit and the hay needs someone to rest against it.

Some music I found that matched what it feels like coming out of that eclipse.

This one mainly being the sole reason why I love my state (and how lucky we are to get totality even if it was cloudy as fuck. PEOPLE STILL GOT TOGETHER TO HANG OUT)

I salute to you Texas. May the lone star state shine forever in our proud favor.

I’ve also dabbled in more Nu Metal because of the crazy war vibes from Aries alone.

Another song from Cowboy Carter that just makes me feel so ready to jump out there and smile:

😵‍💫Pre-Solar: in between…🤬

金曜日。5日4月2024年

Now that I think more on some stuff:

This is a side track where it was IN-BETWEEN the two eclipses from Libra Lunar and Aries Solar.

I saw The First Omen and good god did it make me feel the uncomfortableness of it all within that eclipse cycle. It scared me five times not gonna lie. And I haven’t cringed harder than I have since then.

What surprised me was that the Astrology for WHEN EXACTLY I went also lined up with something.

Moon (Emotions/Feelings) conjunct with Mars (Intensity/Drive) and Saturn (Structure/Discipline + Nihilism/Realism). Saturn tends to put pressure on systems it seems unfit or not suitable for the others around. A “YOU BEST GIT YOUR ACT TOGETHER” energy. ESPECIALLY WITH MARS. Not to mention Pisces rules religious beliefs and ideologies that are overwhelmingly large and complex. Combining all four……also added onto the fact that said movie watched was The First Omen…

It made me understand something….

That movie was about Religious Dogmatism and you couldn’t tell me otherwise! (Do tell me otherwise LMAO)

🐟🔥🪐

Much love to the astrology community guys. Hope you guys have been eating well and doing your best to protect your energy cause the world wants to bring yours down every day no matter what form.

🫶

[bbdulucknow]

How Civil Engineering Courses Are Evolving with New Technology

Civil engineering is no longer just about bricks, cement, and bridges. It has become one of the most future-focused fields today. If you are planning to study civil engineering, you must understand how the course has evolved. The best civil engineering colleges are now offering much more than classroom learning.

You now study with technology, not just about it. And this shift is shaping your career in ways that were never possible before.

Technology is Changing the Civil Engineering Classroom

In the past, civil engineering courses relied on heavy theory and basic field training. Today, you learn through software, simulations, and smart labs. At universities like BBDU in Lucknow, classrooms are powered by tools like AutoCAD, Revit, STAAD Pro, and BIM.

These tools help you visualize structures, test designs, and even simulate natural forces.

You work on 3D modeling tools

You test designs virtually before real-world execution

You understand smart city layouts and green construction methods

This means your learning is hands-on, job-ready, and tech-driven.

You Learn What the Industry Actually Uses

Most construction and infrastructure companies now depend on digital tools to plan, design, and execute projects. This is why modern B.Tech Civil Engineering courses include:

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Remote Sensing Technology

Drones for land surveying

IoT sensors in smart infrastructure

Courses in colleges like BBDU include these topics in the curriculum. You do not just learn civil engineering. You learn the tools that companies expect you to know from day one.

The future of Civil Engineering is Data-Driven

You might not think of civil engineering as a data-heavy field. But now, big data is used to monitor structural health, traffic flow, and resource planning. Many universities have added data analysis and AI basics to help you understand how smart infrastructure works.

By learning how to handle real-time data from buildings or roads, you become more skilled and more employable.

Real-world exposure is Now Part of the Course

Good civil engineering colleges in Uttar Pradesh understand that you need industry exposure. Colleges like BBDU offer:

Internships with construction firms and government bodies

Industry guest lectures and site visits

Capstone projects linked to real problems

You are not just attending lectures. You are solving real-world construction challenges while still in college.

Why Choose BBDU for Civil Engineering?

In Lucknow, BBDU is one of the few private universities offering a modern civil engineering course with world-class infrastructure. You learn in smart labs, access tools used by top firms, and receive career counseling throughout the program.

Here’s what makes BBDU a smart choice:

Advanced labs and smart classrooms

Training in AutoCAD, STAAD Pro, BIM

Live projects and on-site construction learning

Career cell and placement support

Affordable fees and scholarships for deserving students

Civil Engineering is Still One of the Most Stable Careers

Reports show that India will spend over ₹100 lakh crores on infrastructure in the next few years. Roads, smart cities, renewable power plants, metros – all need civil engineers. And companies prefer students trained in construction technology, digital tools, and real-world planning.

So, if you're thinking about joining a course, look at how it prepares you for tomorrow.

The future of civil engineering is digital, and your education should be too. Choose a program that keeps up with the times. Choose a university that helps you build more than just buildings – it helps you build your future.

Apply now at BBDU – one of the most future-focused civil engineering colleges in Uttar Pradesh.