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maybe-boys-do-love · 8 months ago

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It's wild that the whole global trend of gay-focused happy ending romance shows and movies has only been going on for *looks at calendar* a measly ten years!

Just ten years ago. 2014. That's when you get the discovery of a market for queer romance series and films with happy endings. That year the OG Love Sick in Thailand came out. Brazil puts out The Way He Looks, which deserves so much more credit than it receives for influencing the aeshtetics of the genre. Looking premieres on HBO, and although it had low ratings, it's an important touchstone. And, despite Nickelodeon’s censorship and shifting the program from tv to its website, the Legend of Korra confirms Korrasami in its season finale.

The next year, in 2015, we get Love Sick season 2, and China, pre-censorship laws has a few options: Happy Together (not the Wong Kar Wai one lol), Mr. X and I, and Falling In Love with a Rival. Canada, premieres Schitt's Creek. In the US, Steven Universe reveals Garnet as a romantic fusion between two female characters, and will proceed to just be so sapphic. Norwegian web series Skam premieres and sets up a gay protagonist for its third season, which will drop in 2016 and entirely change the global media landscape.

Then, 2016! This is the MOMENT. That aforementioned Skam season happens. Japan puts out the film version of Ossan's Love and anime series Yuri!!! on Ice. China has the impactful Addicted Heroine, which directly leads to increased censorship. The US has Moonlight come out and take home the Oscar. In Thailand, GMMTV enters the BL game and Thai BL explodes: Puppy Honey, SOTUS, Water Boyy, Make It Right, plus, the Thai Gay OK Bangkok, which, like its influence, Looking, is more in the queer tradition but introduces two dramatically important directors to the Thai BL industry, Aof and Jojo.

By 2017, Taiwan enters the game with its History series. Korea’s BL industry actually kicks off with Method and Long Time No See. Thailand’s got too many BLs to mention. Call Me By Your Name, though not a happy ending, makes a big splash that will send ripples through the whole genre, and God's Own Country offers a gruff counter-argument to problematic age differences and twink obsessions. This is also the year of Netflix reboot of One Day At a Time bringing some wlw to the screen, and the Disney Channel has a main character come out as ‘gay’ on Andi Mack ( I’m am ready to throw fists with anyone who thinks the Disney Channel aesthetic isn’t a part of current queer culture). And I'd be remiss not to mention the influential cult-following of chaotic web-series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo: "Sometimes things that are expensive...are worse."

All this happened, and we hadn’t even gotten to Love, Simon, Elite, or ITSAY, yet.

Prior to all this there are some major precursors some of which signaled and primed a receptive market, others influenced the people who'd go on to create the QLs. Japan has a sputtering start in the 2010s with a few BL films (Takumi-Kun, Boys Love, and Jujoun Pure Heart). Most significantly in the American context, you have Glee, and its ending really makes way for the new era that can center gay young people in a world where queerness, due to easy access to digital information, is less novel to the characters. And the QL book and graphic novel landscape was way ahead of the television and film industries, directly creating many of the stories that the latter industries used.

There's plenty of the traditional queer media content (tragic melodramas and independent camp comedies) going on prior to and alongside QL, and there are some outlying queer romance films with happy endings that precede the era but feel very much akin to QL genre tropes and goals, many with a focus on postcolonial and multicultural perspectives (Saving Face, The Wedding Banquet, Big Eden, Maurice, My Beautiful Launderette, and Weekend). I don't mean to suggest that everything I’ve listed ought to be categorized as QL.

Rather, I want to point out how all of these new-era queer romance works are in a big queer global conversation together, in the creation of a new contemporary genre, a genre that has more capacity and thematic interest to include digital technology and normalize cross-cultural relationships than other genres (there's a reason fansubs and web platforms are so easily accepted and integrated to the proliferation of these series).

You're not too late to be part of the conversation. Imagine being alive in the 1960s and 70s and participating in the blossoming of the sci-fi genre. That flowering is where gay romance sits now. Join the party.

#just constantly gob-smacked to be alive right now #i know there's plenty of reason to be horrifically distressed about the condition of the world #queer history #thai bl #japanese bl #korean bl #chinese bl #skam

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lilacxquartz · 1 year ago

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JJK x READER DRABBLES I Asking them if they would still love you if you were a worm

a collection of reader insert scenarios in which the jjk characters are faced with a strange question.

w.c: each piece is under 600 words

themes: fem!reader, mostly fluff, some nsfw mentions but light, slight plot, silly scenarios, crack

included: satoru gojo, suguru geto, toji fushiguro, naoya zenin, choso kamo & also sukuna

mdni • semi nsfw • ao3 link

Satoru Gojo:

“Satoru?” you whined in a questioning tone, suddenly seeming genuinely upset about something out of the blue.

It was bizarre, really. One moment you were both watching reruns of your favourite show, perfectly entangled in each other’s arms and the next, you were using that tone with him.

Was he in trouble?

“Huh?” Satoru warily replied, propping himself up so he could get a better look at you. “What’s wrong, baby?”

He stared at you as your expression seemed deep in thought with a topic he could only pray made sense. He couldn’t tell if it was going to be another strange trending question from the internet or if you were truly upset with something serious this time.

It was always a fifty-fifty chance with you but he loved every bit of it, if he had to be honest.

With a furrowed brow, you mustered up the courage to ask a question, “Would you still love me if I was a worm?”

For a while, Satoru had no idea what to tell you as his eyes involuntarily drifted up to the ceiling in disbelief as he held onto stifled laughter. He seemed to recognise his fatal flaw the longer he didn’t reply to you though, so he finally broke the silence with an escaped snort.

“For real…?” he asked, squeezing your shoulders as he held onto you, checking to see if you were pulling his leg or not.

You folded your arms as you signalled to him that this was in fact a serious question to you, tilting your head back to watch those icy blue eyes gradually widen into a burning panic the longer he put off giving you a real answer.

“Uh, hey, look, listen I’d uh…” Satoru immediately scrambled, knowing that he had to answer you sooner than later, choosing to offer you the best answer he could possibly think of, “I’d buy you the highest quality tank, alright? It’ll have the best soil and rocks and I’ll buy you premium-grade gourmet worm food, yeah?”

You slowly thawed as he continued to spout distressed nonsense into your ears, soon finding yourself slowly relaxing as you melted back into his arms.

Confused but strangely relieved, Satoru let out a deep sigh knowing he passed yet another one of your insane tests, deciding to pull you in as close as possible so you wouldn’t doubt him for even a second longer ever again.

Suguru Geto:

Phasing in and out of sleep, you watched how Suguru cleaned your shared home with nothing but fascination in your stare. Your eyes narrowed as you caught glimpses of him meticulously sweeping dust out of existence, ensuring his home would remain perfectly well manicured for his family to enjoy.

You continued to tune into the waking world as the whirring hum of the vacuum cleaner coursed nearby; your eyes slowly widening as your sights focused onto your phone.

Returning as nothing short of a sweaty mess but ultimately fulfilled, Suguru sat at the foot of the bed while you studied him with a specific question in your mind.

Noticing the focus painted on your face, Suguru knew that this had to be good, “What’s up?”

“Hey, Suguru,” you yawned, “you’d still love me if I was a worm, right?”

He narrowed his eyes as you asked him such a strange thing. Furrowing his brows into something that could resemble annoyance, Suguru pinched the bridge of his nose in mock disbelief before finally humouring you.

“Is this one of those trends you’ve seen on tiktok again?”

“Maybe,” you replied as you confirmed his fears, “answer the question?”

“As much as it pains me,” he began as he clenched this jaw, realising that there was no plausible scenario in which this strange idea could ever manifest into reality to begin with, “yes, I would still love you if you were a worm.”

Your face lit up, “Really?”

Suguru ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to further calm himself down and gave you a tight nod instead.

He couldn’t help but exhale a loud sigh as you genuinely seemed thrilled at his answer to your insane question; feeling himself grow tired from both cleaning all morning as well as what it meant to truly be with you.

He loved it secretly even if he was stoic at times.

It was your silly side that drew him in, after all.

Toji Fushiguro:

You walked side by side with Toji on the way to the locks park. In one hand you carried a red fleece blanket while he carried a wicker basket.

He reluctantly agreed to go on a picnic with you during his time off because he knew it would make you happy even if he didn’t quite look forward to sitting on some grass out in the exposed open field.

Upon arriving to the destination and setting up shop though, Toji lasted maybe just under ten minutes before he grew restless and started ripping out chunks of grass in a huff.

“Babe,” he sulked as he tried to get your attention, swatting a fly away from his face, “I’m bored. How long do we have to be here for?”

“You promised you’d tolerate it for at least fifteen minutes,” you sighed, supposing you should have been thankful that he entertained the idea of it at all.

“You keeping track?” he quizzed you, his eyes training onto the basket. “How about we eat then we go? I’ll take you on a nice walk instead.”

You nodded in a resigned manner despite not quite opposing his idea and as you tucked into the packed sandwiches, your gaze settled on a worm writhing between the blades of grass.

Staring at it, you decided to torment him.

“Toji?” you asked.

He hummed in response with his mouth full of bread, making him sound muffled as he replied, “Whath ith ith?”

“You’d still love me if I was a worm, right?” you asked, pointing at the earthworm.

“I already have one of those,” he said as he swallowed his bite, “don’t need another, especially since you wouldn’t be able to do much.”

“I’d be useful,” you defensively replied.

“Yeah?” he asked, staring at you with a strangely fond look in his eyes.

“I’d be your personal little compost worm for your garden,” you proudly announced.

“Garden? You think I can afford a place with a garden?” Toji laughed, tugging your wrist to pull you closer to him.

“…Hypothetically,” you reminded him.

“You are such… a menace sometimes,” he sighed to himself as he reeled you in even closer, “if I tell you what you wanna hear, can we get out of here sooner?”

You nodded, “Yes.”

“Then by all means,” Toji beamed, “hell, I’d even make sure your compost bin looks like a little worm mansion.”

“Good,” you smiled, “it’s what I deserve.”

“God, you and your weird questions,” he sighed as he held you closer, not caring that you were in public, “just keep them to a limit though, I don’t want to go grey before forty. Got it?”

“Got it,” you smiled.

Naoya Zenin:

Sitting from across the dining table sat your stoic and distant husband, Naoya Zenin. Your marriage to him had always been questionable at best, but you didn’t complain too much as long as he kept his promise to provide for you.

On some days, you weren’t too sure how you felt being paraded around as his arranged trophy wife, but surprisingly you both somehow complimented each other quite well.

Initially, he didn’t care for what you had to say at all, finding your words to be pointless. However somewhere down the line, he would allow for you to talk if you truly had to do so, provided that you ceased talking when he told you to.

He wouldn’t admit it to you directly, but he was actually growing quite fond of you as the time passed you both by.

“Naoya?” you asked, swirling a crystal goblet of wine in your hands, raising it to meet with the light.

He set his fork down and leaned his chin over his palms with feigned interest. Just by that tone alone, he could tell it was time for your daily torment of asking useless questions. That was the type of relationship you developed with him; you liked pissing him off with conjured up bullshit while he liked putting you into place in bed later.

“What is it, woman?” he asked, as dehumanising as usual. Maybe one day he’ll call you by your actual name.

“Would you still keep me around if I turned into a worm?” you asked.

“I would not,” Naoya scoffed, his smile widening on accident before falling flat, “you’d be lucky if I didn’t step on you right then and there.”

“Bit mean, don’t you think?” you asked as your head titled off to the side.

Snapping just a little at the ridiculous question, he narrowed his gaze, “What use could I possibly have for a worm?”

“None, I suppose… but it’d still be me,” you gestured dramatically, pulling the wine glass to meet with your lips and taking a sip.

“No, it wouldn’t be you,” he corrected you with a huff, “it would be a worm and I don’t have a use for a worm. I’d step on you and find someone else.”

“So heartless,” you commented, “not even hypothetically?”

Naoya’s expression darkened at your persistence, feeling his patience finally run out. He was already annoyed that you dared to ask such a stupid thing of him. The only reason he even tolerated you to begin with was because you were easy on the eyes and compliant enough—he’d say you were light on the ears but not with this drivel you were subjecting him to.

“And? My point stands,” he replied.

“But-“

“—cease,” he hissed, momentarily losing his composure, “you’re… not turning into a worm. Not even hypothetically, so be quiet.”

You faltered for now as you resigned into hushed submission, thinking about what question to bother with him for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Naoya sighed at last as this conversation was finally over. He was absolutely going to punish you for making him listen to such garbage; maybe putting that pretty mouth of yours to use in a way that didn’t result in pointless rambling for a change.

It wasn’t like you were using that thing to do anything useful with that thing, anyway.

Choso Kamo:

As you both basked away on a beach during the peak of summer, Choso wasn’t taking the heat too well at all. Not only was he tucked away, clinging onto the shade cast by the parasol but he was also quite literally congealed in what could have been an entire bottle of sunscreen.

He reluctantly tagged along with you for a beach trip because you informed that, to his horror, you'd be lounging around in a public place with just a bikini on. Choso wasn’t possessive by any means he thought (he was wrong), but he didn’t feel quite right for you to do so alone without his protective watch.

As a result, he felt just a little agitated even if he didn’t let it show. Both from the rowdy company that occupied the coast as well as the relentless sun prickling away at his skin.

So when you spotted a worm wriggling around in the sand and he had to witness you fling it back ono the grass with a stick, it seemed that he finally reached his tipping point of what he could handle on such a hot day.

Not quite realising that he was on a descent into madness, you spoke up with a playful tone, “Choso?”

Slowly, he turned his neck around, shuddering at how stiff it sounded. It was as if he was made from stone as his joints swivelled; his eyes settling on you with a questioning hum.

“…Yes?”

“Do you think you’d still love me if I was a worm?” you asked, staring at the sky through your shades.

“A-a worm…?” he asked back, not quite sure if he was hearing you correctly. Maybe he wasn’t and this was his sign that he finally slipped away into madness.

But then you spoke up again, confirming that the question was real, “Yeah, you know, like those long slimy wiggly things.”

“I-I know what a worm is,” he stammered, slowly grounding himself as he listened to you talk. As nonsensical as you were being, he found himself growing calm with the help of your voice.

“That’s good to know,” you snorted, “so… would you?”

Choso sighed softly to himself, a small smile tugging at his lips. He couldn’t help but stare at you with a strange mix of wonder, love and frustration all at the same time. Was this what being in love was like for everyone else?

In an instant, he forgot about the rest of his worries, choosing to take your question very seriously as your reliable boyfriend.

“Yes, I-I’d love you especially if you were a worm,” he replied with a strong hint of determination, not realising that he had already fumbled his answer with a strange choice of words.

“Especially?” you laughed as you turned over to your side, pulling your sunglasses down to get an even better look at his silly state.

“Oh… Oh! N-no I meant…” he scrambled, his brows furrowing in slight panic, “I would love you no matter what form you took on because I’d know it was you and I love you.”

“You’re so sweet,” you laughed. “I would love you no matter what, too.”

Sukuna:

You remained propped up on Sukuna’s lap as he wrapped a secure hold around your form with his lower set of arms. With the top half of his limbs, he held onto a branch of grapes as the other gently petted you, feeding you with a fond look in his eyes.

It was admittedly a little strange the first time he first talked you into these sorts of sessions, but you supposed that they were pretty nice. Quiet and almost intimate moments where he fed you all sorts of fruits all the while he held onto you as though you were some sort of prized possession.

Neither of you ever talked during these interactions, as this was purely an act of not quite affection, but assuring your devotion to him.

However, your mind remained fixated on something from earlier on in the week and it was starting to conflict with the grapes he wanted to feed you.

Just a few days ago, you heard him trash talk humans to Uraume and call them insects, wondering if he felt that way about you too.

Noticing your torn expression, Sukuna sighed as he pulled the grapes away at last and fed you a look of slight disdain.

“Something’s on your mind, isn’t it?” he observed, tweezing your chin to face him as he studied the way you reacted to him, “Speak.”

“I-it’s fine,” you murmured, trying to ignore the issue.

“Don’t take me for a fool,” Sukuna warned, “your secrecy mocks me.”

Figuring that he wasn’t going to drop the subject unless you told him exactly what it was. you decided to work up the courage to ask the question that had been eating you from the inside.

“Do you see me as an insect?”

Sukuna immediately understood what you must have been referring to and rather than berate you for filling your mind with such useless worries, needing to keep you calm for his desired time with you, he shook his head in response instead.

“I do not, my pretty one,” he replied, letting go of your chin at last, “you’re above that. You’re mine.”

“So… if I turned into a literal worm, I still wouldn’t be an insect to you?” you asked, unsure what point you were trying to make exactly.

“You’re pushing your luck here, brat,” Sukuna replied in a serious tone despite surrendering to an amused smile.

“So I wouldn’t be…?” you asked with some hope.

“Ideally, you wouldn’t become such a disgusting thing to begin with,” he replied in a mock shudder, “but I suppose you would have been the only worm I’d have ever liked.”

Seeming satisfied with his response, you finally relaxed once again and that’s right about when he pressed the fruit to your lips to continue from where you both left off.

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almostpleasantrebel · 17 days ago

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Mass and M*A*S*H: The Case for Margaret Houlihan’s Catholicism

Margaret Houlihan from M*A*S*H is best known for her toughness, discipline, and professionalism, but a closer look at her background and cultural cues suggests she likely comes from an Irish Catholic family. The only reason this thought process ever happened is because I know a little too much about Ireland, Catholicism, have seen M*A*S*H (1970), and needed to create a throwaway line for a WIP fic that I've since scrapped.

Let’s start with Margaret’s full name: Margaret Houlihan.

Around the time her character would have been born (likely the late 1910s or early 1920s, I personally headcanon May 17th, 1917 as her birthday), the first name Margaret was a widely popular name for girls in the United States. While not exclusively Catholic, it has strong associations with Catholic tradition, particularly through Saint Margaret of Antioch, the patron saint of childbirth, and Saint Margaret of Scotland. Though this alone isn’t conclusive, it adds some subtle cultural context, and it sets the stage for a deeper look into her surname.

Houlihan is an unmistakably Irish surname. Derived from the Gaelic Ó hUallacháin, it means “descendant of Uallachán,” with “uallach” meaning proud. The name’s Irish roots are reinforced in the series through occasional hints at Margaret’s ethnicity. One of the bigger examples is in season 5 episode 23 “Souvenirs,” when Colonel Potter tells her after fighting both Major Frank Burns and Chief Warrant Officer Willie Stratton, “Well, I know temper is a difficult thing to harness, particularly if you've been drinking, and if your ethnic background has a tradition of settling things physically.” and then “Well, Major Houlihan, you gotta stop getting bombed and beating up our officers.” While playing into old, negative Irish stereotypes, the line implies Margaret’s Irish heritage.

All this supports the idea that Margaret Houlihan is Irish and hints at why she might be Catholic as well. However, her first name, Margaret, by itself, isn’t enough to confirm her religious background.

Now, to understand Margaret’s background a little more, we need a brief look at Irish immigration and naming history. From the 1820s through the 1930s, a significant number of Irish Catholics began arriving, particularly during and after the Great Famine (1845–1852). Between 1820 and 1860 alone, Irish immigrants made up more than one-third of all new arrivals in the United States, according to the Library of Congress. These Irish Catholics faced widespread discrimination and hostility, particularly in Protestant-majority cities, which affected how they presented themselves, including how they used their surnames.

This brings us to Margaret’s last name in the 1970 film: O’Houlihan. The “O’” prefix in Irish surnames, meaning “descendant of,” is a strong indicator of Gaelic and often Catholic heritage. By the 12th century, English political influence had begun spreading across Ireland, and by the 16th century, with the Tudor conquest and plantation system, a large number of English and Scottish Protestants were settled in Ireland. During this time, many Irish Catholics began dropping the “O’” and “Mac” prefixes from their surnames to avoid persecution and increase their chances of employment under British rule. That trend continued for Irish immigrants arriving in America, especially during the famine years, when anti-Irish (think “No Irish need apply”) and anti-Catholic sentiment was widespread. Some also abandoned those prefixes due to "Souperism," a practice where famine relief or food was offered on the condition that individuals convert to Protestantism, often symbolized by changing one's name.

Given this context, Margaret’s surname in the film, retaining the “O’”, is a subtle but telling clue. It likely signals that her character is Irish Catholic. However, in the TV show, she goes simply by “Houlihan,” and assuming either her great-grandparents or her grandparents on her father's side immigrated to America from Ireland it's not far-fetched to believe that her ancestors either dropped the “O” while still in Ireland or around the time they immigrated to the United States which may reflect a more assimilated or Americanized identity, in line with how many real-life Irish Catholics adapted their names to avoid discrimination.

This pattern of name adaptation and cultural assimilation helps us better understand not just Margaret’s background but how it may have shaped her identity on a deeper level. If her family dropped the “O” from their surname during immigration or assimilation, it reflects a broader experience shared by many Irish Catholic Americans who adjusted outward markers of identity to better fit into a society that often viewed them with suspicion. But while the external name may have changed, the internal values often persisted. Cultural traditions, especially those rooted in Catholicism, were passed down quietly but firmly through family dynamics, expectations, and moral frameworks. For someone like Margaret, growing up in a military household shaped by discipline and hierarchy, those Catholic values may have blended seamlessly with the structure of Army life. The result is a character whose sense of order, morality, and emotional restraint feels less like personality quirks and more like the product of a generational legacy.

You can also see hints of Catholic influence in how she handles emotions, relationships, and morality. Early in the show, she can come off as rigid or even harsh, judging others quickly, holding herself to impossible standards, and expecting the same from those around her. That kind of black-and-white thinking about right and wrong mirrors how many Catholics of her generation were raised, especially women, who were expected to be virtuous, obedient, and emotionally restrained.

This upbringing also aligns with the traditional role Catholic women often played in mid-20th-century America, expected to uphold strong moral values, maintain discipline, and support their families with quiet strength. Margaret’s unwavering loyalty to the military and strict adherence to rules reflect a worldview shaped by these cultural and religious expectations. Her moments of vulnerability, though rare, hint at an internal struggle between personal desires and duty, a tension familiar to many raised in similarly structured environments.

While Margaret’s Catholicism is never explicitly confirmed through dialogue or a mention of a middle or confirmation name, unlike other characters such as Trapper John (Francis Xavier, which could be a middle and confirmation name, simply just his full middle name or his confirmation name) ((Its never actually fully confirmed that Trapper is Catholic either but Francis Xavier was a Catholic Saint sooooooooooo)) or Father Mulcahy (Patrick).

In the end, Margaret Houlihan’s faith isn’t spelled out, but between her name, background, and behavior, the signs point to a strong Irish Catholic influence. It’s not official canon, but it sure fits like a well-pressed uniform.

#m*a*s*h #mash #masholes meta may #margaret houlihan

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demonmarker · 1 year ago

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Beautiful with you Ch.3

So I'm going to have to post this in two parts cause apparently there's a character limit for each post so I'll link the second part under the fic. Thank you everyone for the likes and reblogs I love how much you guys are liking this story. Hope you enjoy

Trigger warnings: Mention of death, scars and lots of smut

Ch.1 Ch.2

You let out an exhausted sigh as you open the door for Nina, Regina and tail-wagging Alexander. Nina walks in, holding gently onto Alexander’s collar; she wasn’t too much taller than him so when she was down or exhausted he would aid her in just getting to her destination. You hold out your arm gesturing for Regina to go first, “Such a gentleman,” smiling that smile that only Regina George can. “With what you date, it’s not hard”….And the smile was gone from her face and now on yours as she glared at you. Your home was just that, a home, it wasn’t fancy or that big but you put pride in making it a safe, loving environment for Nina to grow up in. While most of the students at North Shore had their TikTok feeds show them the latest music and popular trends, yours was full of storage DIY tips and tricks, mum hacks for keeping the little ones happy, and the occasional sketchbook tour from artists with styles you like. “Well this is… cosy” Regina commented standing in the middle of the lounge room which opened up into the kitchen. You hook Nina’s bag up on the back of the front door, looking Regina’s way “Expecting a mansion like your own?” you walk past her to Nina. You could practically feel the mocking face she was making behind your back as you were bending down to Nina, and Nina’s precious giggles while looking behind you confirmed it, you rolled your eyes but kept a closed smile on your face so Nina knew you guys were joking… kind of. “How about you go put on your comfy clothes Princess and I’ll make you a snack?” As an answer Nina takes off running, one arm up in the air like a flying superhero while just announcing “FOOD!” in what you could only call her food goblin voice. “And let Alexander outside for a potty break please,” from down the hall you hear “Urgh fine,” in a tone like you were asking the world of her. You stand back up to your full height and give Regina a dirty look, “She’s known you for barely more than an hour and I’m already getting attitude.” Regina scrunched up her nose with a proud smile, “We have a bond.” Trying to rub it in your face. All you could do was shake your head and start making snacks.

Three episodes of Bluey and a PB&J later and little Nina was sound asleep on Regina’s lap. Regina motioned to the TV with an open palm, while you gathered the small unconscious body into your arms, “This show is just downright amazing! Bingo is so cute she reminds me so much of me” spoken proudly by the blond. You scoff, “Oh please, you are Muffin through-and-through. Spoilt and cranky.” You acted like you didn’t take notice of Regina’s dropped jaw, but inside you were pissing yourself laughing. You tuck a still comatose Nina into her bed and ever so gently brush the hair from her closed eyes, leaning down to lightly kiss her forehead, Alexander splayed out down at the end of the little one’s bed like he does every day and night. You pat his head which he nuzzles into “Come get me when she wakes up, okay Bud?” Turning to leave you see Regina leaning against the doorframe witnessing the whole thing, she didn’t say anything as she moved out of the way as you slowly close Nina’s door, leaving it slightly ajar. You both walk back out into the kitchen in silence, you do as to not wake Nina, Regina however because of the question she wanted to ask. You start tidying up the small mess left from the snack eating when Regina spoke up, “Hey, can I ask you something?”

You knew what it was going to be. Letting out a large sigh you signal Regina to follow you. In for a penny, in for pound they say, and Regina was in for a heavy load. You lead her into your room and close the door behind you, there wasn’t a large chance of Nina waking but you can’t take any risks with this, she’s been through enough. You motion for Regina to take a seat on your Queen-sized bed, which she does and you sit next to her, taking and releasing one last large breath you let Regina in on everything. “We don’t have parents. Well at least not anymore.” You reach under the bed and pull out a large cardboard box and hand it to Regina who slowly opens it. She pulls out a yellowed newspaper dated back over three years ago, the main story, ‘Drunk driver crashes into family of 4 - kills 2 critically injured 1’, Regina’s hand covers her mouth in devastation while looking over the large picture of what was your family’s car turned into a scrap heap, crumpled into half its normal size. “I can’t remember the accident, I can’t remember the year leading up to it either.” Regina turns over the page and whimpers and her eyes land on a picture of a younger you with a purposefully blurred-out large piece of shrapnel sticking out of your right rib, little Nina can be seen screaming with a bloodied up head. Regina’s eyes scrunched as she saw the position you were pinned in, her head turning this way and that, trying to make sense of it, her face going pale, expression dropping as it clicked. “You shielded Nina.” She whispered looking at you, but you couldn’t do the same as the tears started falling silently from your eyes, you stare up at the ceiling trying to blink them away.

“I-.” your voice gets caught in your throat “I get flashes of the lights coming towards my side of the car, I still can hear my Mum’s scream before the impact but that’s it. That’s all I can remember.” You let out a sob you were trying so hard to hold back “I can’t remember being told I had a little sister for the first time, it’s just gone.” Regina sets aside the newspaper and gets down on her knees in front of you “May I?” her eyes go to the affected rib. With a sniffle, you nod silently, not able to meet her eyes. She reaches for the hem of your black long sleeve and slowly pushes it up, you help her by just taking the whole shirt off in the end. Her eyes went wide with shock as she sees the scarred flesh take up half of your toned stomach and stretch all the way round to the other side of your back. Without thinking Regina leans in, kissing all around the old wound, a soft moan leaving your lips as your hand instinctively tangles into her long blond hair, whispering her name. When she hears her name on your lips she lifted her head from your midsection to push hers against yours, her lips so soft against your own you subconsciously hoped that you’d be able to spend the rest of your life kissing these lips. The kissing was heating up and you found yourself reaching to lift Regina on top of your lap straddling you. You both continue to kiss once more, Regina starting to slowly grind herself on your thighs, reaching up to release your long dark hair from the hairband that held it up, twirling your long strands around her fingers, tugging your head back to expose your neck for her to feast on with her lips, licking from your collar bone all the way up to your jaw line, releasing a moan from your throat Regina pulls back “You know the colour system right?”, It took you a little bit to register what she was talking about since you were out of it from the arousal she stirred up inside you, but you eventually nodded “Of course,” “Good” Without warning you were pushed back onto the bed, Regina moving off you to start unbuttoning your jeans “Colour?”

Pt2

@dark-hunter16 @natashamaximoff-69

#mean girls #masc lesbian #regina george x reader #lesbian #lesfic #renee rapp #renee rapp x reader

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putschki1969 · 7 months ago

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Hi Putschki, how are you doing? I was glad to read your post about the concert you attended, it looked fun and the photos you took were so pretty! I have a question for you today that is a little nosy, so don't mind not answering if you don't want to. Have Kalafina ever mentioned the lgbt community/rights? Different Japanese artists have begun to talk about certain issues in the last years, a lot more compared to the past, and I was wondering if they've ever said anything about it 🌈

Hello there!!

I am good, thank you😊

As for your question, don't worry, it's fine. It's just a little complicated to write a comprehensive answer since there's some ambiguity involved.

Generally speaking, I would say, no, they have not really mentioned anything specific regarding the LGBT community/rights. During the Kalafina days, their public image was very well-curated so everything was rather restrained and maybe even a little conservative. Not in a particularly strict manner but there was certainly never any mention of political or social issues or really anything that could be misconstrued in a negative or problematic manner.

Occasionally, they have mentioned things in passing on a superficial level regarding overarching concepts such as same-sex attraction but I don't recall them ever explicitly talking or posting about LGBT issues. While they have a lot more freedom as solo artists (at least Keiko and Hikaru), I also don't remember them ever addressing such topics in recent years. Please keep in mind though that I regularly miss Hikaru's Wednesday broadcasts and I've only recently become a member of Keiko's Yodel app service so it's impossible for me to provide a definitive answer to your question.

I would also be curious to know what those other Japanese artists supposedly talk about... I am not really familiar with Japanese artists aside from Kalafina so I don't know in which capacity they talk about the LGBT community/rights. Is this something they do because of personal interest or is it more along the lines of performative virtue signalling to follow trends? I feel like with celebrities and other people in the public eye it's probably the latter so it's not something I would necessarily want our girls to do. Other people might feel differently about this but I am not a fan of all this performative stuff which has sadly become a common occurrence in today's social media world. If you ask me, it comes across as super disingenuous. I don't need anyone to talk about any issue just because it is a hot topic at the moment.

If it is indeed a matter of personal interest, then yeah, I am all for it and I wouldn't mind if the girls did that. I believe the Japanese Netflix show "The Boyfriend" was a solid step in the right direction of a more authentic representation and examination of selected issues but it still remained quite easy to digest/surface-level (so there's room for improvement).

On that note, I would like to come back to something I mentioned earlier. This is where the "complicated/ambiguous" comes in. Not sure if you are aware of this but since the beginning of time, there have been many rumours of Keiko being a more or less closeted lesbian. Obviously, nothing has ever been confirmed and as a general rule, I do not encourage speculations but there's no denying that there have been countless situations throughout the years where one could easily put two and two together in order to draw some conclusions. I have actually written a long essay on Keiko's rumoured homosexuality so feel free to check it out! While I personally don't feel comfortable labeling anyone as anything, I am not at all surprised that so many people are indulging in this sort of speculation. So yeah, there has not really been any specific talk about the LGBT community but I would say all the hints Keiko has been dropping certainly qualify as something....?

#kalafina #reply #lgbt #keiko #gay keiko #speculation

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jjkbambi · 6 months ago

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hey! i hope you don’t mind me asking, but what’s your most controversial luigi take?

i have a lot of complicated opinions on luigi mangione’s case

i do think he could be capable of carrying this out. from the bits and pieces:

luigi’s tweet about japan, while clumsy, reflects an underlying interest in societal improvement, even if his execution often misses the mark. engaging with societal dynamics. only a month after traveling to japan and befriending locals, he put out a lengthy tweet calling for a cultural change: this pattern reveals a tendency to act impulsively but with good intentions, reflecting someone who wants to contribute to meaningful conversations but hasn’t quite mastered the delivery.

286 theory his twitter profile now sits at exactly 286 tweets, coincidentally aligning with breloom’s pokédex number (#286). google trends data for “breloom.” whether intentional or not, it adds an intriguing layer to his online presence.

fun note: rise in “breloom” google trends + word associations

the recurring number 286 ties to proverbs 28:6: “better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich.” he did confirm he’s an atheist but i think an argument could be made that he’s presenting this in a deliberately sadistic way, mocking religious people who would point to moral absolutes like “murder is wrong.”

last on 286 - it can be linked to a healthcare code used when appeals are denied for exceeding the time limit. the bullet casings meticulously carved out supports the idea this was an attack on the healthcare industry. could also be a signal that he’s reached his breaking point. could reflect frustration, or could even serve as a declaration that he’s done waiting for change or resolution. (as if he’s saying he’s had enough of delays, whether external or self-imposed, and is ready to act or confront whatever has been holding him back.)

everyone who met mangione spoke highly of him as a friend. he was cared for them very openly, and was deeply interested in conversations about mental health and even worked as a head counselor at stanford.

to say the least: cutting everyone on his life off before the murder seems a bit suspicious

and most of all, his sudden outburst outside the courtroom just doesn’t make sense if he is innocent.

my less supported opinion is that this is all a bit too meticulously planned out. idk. i just don’t think he worked alone.

…. i do think someone this smart and pretentious would come up with an insane plan to take down the “root of the problem” — realistically, i don’t think it would be as straightforward as described in his alleged manifesto. his reddit history suggests he has been struggling with brain fog since college, which would make carrying out this mission alone even more challenging.

last and least important, i don’t think the monopoly money was planted by him at the park, either. seems like a waste of time. Definitely feels like funny thing a New Yorker would do to piss off the NYPD

#free luigi mangione #luigi mangione theories #uhc shooter #anon asks

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conhivemindcent · 2 years ago

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Sorry to bring back up the Titan submersible, but I find it fascinating in a very morbid way. Mostly in terms of the news. This will be the media student in me talking but to me, it’s a perfect example of so many of Galtung and Ruge’s news values. I’ll also be looking at the migrant boat that sunk off the coast of Greece for similar comparison and why an American centric website would probably see more news relating to the submersible.

Put simply, one of Galtung and Ruge’s news values is proximity, aka how close to home it was and how meaningful it is to the people there. Since the submersible launched from Newfoundland, Canada would’ve gotten more news stories about the submersible. Meanwhile, the boat with the immigrants was found off the coast of Greece, with more stories about it there. Since the USA is closer to Canada than Greece, they got more stories about the sub than the boat.

Another value is currency. This is why me, a Brit, got more news coverage on the boat for the first few days. The UK has a known immigration problem and some really dodgy laws about it (basically in most circumstances you can only apply for a permit once you’re in the country but entering the country without a permit is illegal, so it’s a catch 22), so something about immigration would always be more relevant. However, the antithesis recency would affect how in the last few hours of the sub being missing when the air was thought to be running out (so morning and afternoon of 22nd June) there were more stories on the sub.

A fourth value is uniqueness. Sadly, a migrant ship sinking with people dying and going missing is not an uncommon thing nowadays. A maritime disaster involving billionaires touring the Titanic? Never happened before, I hope it will never happen again (and it most likely will not). Of course the news will focus on something that hasn’t happened before - when will they get the chance to do it?

There’s also the values of Elite People. These people were billionaires. The people on the migrant ship were most likely just normal unnoteworthy people. And also recency - the Messenia boat occurred in the 14th June, and by the time the debris of the boat had been discovered it has already been a week.

I think it is important we take these news values into consideration and also how we as a community on Tumblr can see how we played right into these. An American website with a large American usership would naturally gravitate towards an American story, no matter how global it claims to be. In addition, it’s unusual enough with such strange circumstances that jokes and criticisms were bound to occur. The continuity (another news value) of the story with the search was also intriguing, as we saw it play out first hand with the initial disappearance, the potential signals, the discovery of the wreckage. Add in a level of expectedness (another news value - these people would either be found or not, and let’s be honest they were more likely to be dead than alive) and we have a perfectly newsworthy story to top the trending page for a few days.

It’s something I find fascinating, how despite people saying we should focus on the Messenia migrant boat disaster, we were still echoing the news perfectly on the site. One thing I’ve noted is that I didn’t really see anybody mentioning it before the Titan set out, but once the searching started it started becoming more relevant and trending a little below it. This isn’t a call to do better, this is just something I’ve noticed.

If there’s any saving light, out of the estimated 750 (maximum) of migrants, 104 have been confirmed alive and rescued. And I’m so happy for that.

#con(versation)#greece #migrants #titanic #titan submersible #news values #galtung and ruge #seriously though tumblr look into news values if you want to know what we consume in the news #anyway it’s all old news now there’s a coup in russia

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usagirotten · 3 months ago

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Serial Experiments Lain Universe Expands with Authorized New Spinoff

In a surprise announcement that has electrified anime fans worldwide, a new spinoff of the critically acclaimed cyberpunk series Serial Experiments Lain has been officially authorized by the rights holders, nearly 26 years after the original series first aired in 1998. Team MJM will launch //signal. — an "occultic role-playing game" that is an officially authorized spinoff from the Serial Experiments Lain anime — on the Steam and itch.io services on April 30. The Windows and macOS game will cost 1,000 yen (about US$7) for the digital version, or 1,700 yen (about US$11) for the limited-edition CD-ROM release. The news was confirmed during a press event hosted by NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, which owns the rights to the original series. The project, described as an "authorized continuation and reimagining" of Serial Experiments Lain, is being developed with the full backing of the original production company, Triangle Staff, and several members of the original creative team are reportedly involved in advisory roles. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, insiders suggest the spinoff will explore new characters and themes set within the same universe, focusing on the blurred boundaries between digital consciousness and reality—a core concept that helped Lain achieve its cult status. The original Serial Experiments Lain was a 13-episode anime series that became a landmark in psychological science fiction and cyberpunk storytelling. Its unconventional narrative structure, haunting visuals, and philosophical themes have influenced a generation of creators and remain relevant in today's digital age. "This is not just a sequel—it's a reawakening," said producer Kenji Yamamoto during the announcement. "The world of Lain is more relevant now than ever, and we believe it's time to explore it through a modern lens." The spinoff will reportedly be a limited series, with production set to begin later this year. A tentative release window has been set for late 2026, with international distribution plans being negotiated. No casting decisions or animation studio partnerships have been announced yet, but fans can expect more details in the coming months as production ramps up. Online communities dedicated to Lain have already begun speculating about potential storylines and creative leads. The announcement has also sparked renewed interest in the original series, which is now trending on major streaming platforms in both Japan and the United States. As the world reconnects with Lain and the Wired once more, one thing is clear: the boundary between reality and cyberspace is once again poised to be challenged.

his new game is authorized under guidelines that NBCUniversal Entertainment published for residents of Japan to make derivative works of the anime from 2019 and 2028. The game's staff emphasized this by posting a letter that is essentially a positive blurb from the anime's scriptwriter Chiaki J. Konaka. The game has the player interacting with characters from the anime, assembling emails and event logs from the past, and piecing together broken bonds again. Through this, the player can uncover "a new facet" of the character Lain Iwakura — and by extension, Serial Experiments Lain itself. Read the full article

#anime #cyberpunk #gamer #SerialExperimentsLain

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catboybiologist · 1 year ago

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Transition journal and measurements update for April!

Spreadsheet is update for April:

And uh. Huh. I don't have much to talk about, to be honest.

I feel like I've finally reached the "steady state" of my transition. I've found an injection dose that works, T is suppressed, I don't have levels to confirm it but as far as estrogen levels are concerned, I feel like they're pretty good and a test would confirm that. My measurements are continuing to trend in femme directions, but they don't tell the full story. I think my body shape has changed a lot visually as well- eg, chest measurements are from fuller, more well formed breasts, my upper body is actually becoming smaller (I talked about this last month as well, there's a few cartilaginous areas that I think have actually shrunk) and everything is just... good!

Socially, I've come out to a lot more people, but its still not 100% "public" information, and I still boymode on the daily. That's gonna change really soon- probably by the end of June.

I guess the only big question left is when I want to start progesterone. Its 100% something I want to do, and my provider has said she can prescribe it whenever... but idk. I'm worried about starting too early. As you might be aware, its recommended to wait 6 months on E to start progesterone. This is because progesterone receptors are only expressed (produced) by your cells when they are signaled by E to do so. If there's no receptors, the progesterone will remain unbound, and is more likely to be metabolized into the potent androgen DHT. There's also anecdotes that its best to wait until you've gotten as much breast development from E as possible before starting prog, and idk. I wanna be cautious. I'm being patient with this.

All of this is unfounded, and largely anecdotal, so take it with a grain of salt.

So I still have no idea when I want to start. Probably not for another couple months. I want to see how far I can get on E alone.

So uh. Yeah. Idk. I don't have much to say. Things are going smoothly, and steadily. I'm taking my summer off but have shit to finish up in lab before then. Once that happens I'll probably actually try to get some nice creative works out, including work on the stuff I've written, and that fully-outlined, partially-scripted podcast I've sidelined for... jesus christ, almost a year now.

Anyway. Toodles.

#also im probs gonna use my “coming out at large” pic as my face reveal pic for this online persona as well #I have something super dramatic planned for it bc I'm a self centered bitch #but ssshhh you didnt hear that #trans journal #trans hrt

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 5 months ago

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NASA Solar Observatory sees coronal loops flicker before big flares

Using NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, scientists have identified flickering loops in the solar atmosphere that seem to signal when the Sun is about to unleash a large solar flare.

For decades, scientists have tried in vain to accurately predict solar flares — intense bursts of light on the Sun that can send a flurry of charged particles into the solar system. Now, using NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, one team has identified flickering loops in the solar atmosphere, or corona, that seem to signal when the Sun is about to unleash a large flare.

These warning signs could help NASA and other stakeholders protect astronauts as well as technology both in space and on the ground from hazardous space weather.

Led by heliophysicist Emily Mason of Predictive Sciences Inc. in San Diego, California, the team studied arch-like structures called coronal loops along the edge of the Sun. Coronal loops rise from magnetically driven active regions on the Sun, where solar flares also originate.

The team looked at coronal loops near 50 strong solar flares, analyzing how their brightness in extreme ultraviolet light varied in the hours before a flare compared to loops above non-flaring regions. Like flashing warning lights, the loops above flaring regions varied much more than those above non-flaring regions.

“We found that some of the extreme ultraviolet light above active regions flickers erratically for a few hours before a solar flare,” Mason explained. “The results are really important for understanding flares and may improve our ability to predict dangerous space weather.”

Published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in December 2024 and presented on Jan. 15, 2025, at a press conference during the 245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, the results also hint that the flickering reaches a peak earlier for stronger flares. However, the team says more observations are needed to confirm this link.

Other researchers have tried to predict solar flares by examining magnetic fields on the Sun, or by looking for consistent trends in other coronal loop features. However, Mason and her colleagues believe that measuring the brightness variations in coronal loops could provide more precise warnings than those methods — signaling oncoming flares 2 to 6 hours ahead of time with 60 to 80 percent accuracy.

“A lot of the predictive schemes that have been developed are still predicting the likelihood of flares in a given time period and not necessarily exact timing,” said team member Seth Garland of the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

“The Sun’s corona is a dynamic environment, and each solar flare is like a snowflake — every single flare is unique,” said team member Kara Kniezewski, a graduate student at the Air Force Institute of Technology and lead author of the paper. “We find that searching for periods of ‘chaotic’ behavior in the coronal loop emission, rather than specific trends, provide a much more consistent metric and may also correlate with how strong a flare will be.”

The scientists hope their findings about coronal loops can eventually be used to help keep astronauts, spacecraft, electrical grids, and other assets safe from the harmful radiation that accompanies solar flares. For example, an automated system could look for brightness changes in coronal loops in real-time images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and issue alerts.

“Previous work by other researchers reports some interesting prediction metrics,” said co-author Vadim Uritsky of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the Catholic University of Washington in D.C. “We could build on this and come up with a well-tested and, ideally, simpler indicator ready for the leap from research to operations.”

IMAGE: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of coronal loops above an active region on the Sun in mid-January 2012. The image was taken in the 171 angstrom wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #astrophysics

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shieldmaidencreative · 4 months ago

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Some updates on current American events. VERY POLITICAL, so dodge if you must.

A Preamble: The following content will be very political. However, I am a citizen of the United States, and as a student of history, someone who read dystopian novels obsessively as a youth, and as someone with over 15 years experience (coming up on 20) as an analyst and other roles in our Defense and Intelligence Communities, I just cannot keep quiet about what I see right now. I can’t stay on that side of history. I’ve been posting on my own personal social media about current events and what I see, but I think it’s reached the point that I need to share it a bit wider. It might help differentiate signal to noise for someone. And since disrupting signal to noise is literally the whole plan for this administration right now, I’m getting out of my comfort zone. These are largely reposts from the last few days. I hope they help. There will be more political posts while we are in this era.

Trump made large cuts to the VA yesterday, which doesn’t surprise me in the least. He has stated multiple times his contempt for veterans. So far, the deep cuts in the budget are actually starting to affect his base, and he doesn’t seem to be holding back. Farmers in red states are some of the biggest recipients of government handouts (I wonder if any of them find a classic rightwing adage helpful here, when people complain that the poverty level minimum wage isn’t enough: “If your job doesn’t pay well, get another one”, or does that seem as pat and unfeeling coming back, as it does when originally stated?), Alabama’s utilities received federal funding to subsidize utilities for low income earners, and now they have received $100 additions to their bills. Again, most of those people voted for this.

The National Parks received large firings of staff yesterday, including forest fire prevention staff. Kennedy got confirmed as secretary of Health and Human Services, with his expertise as a guy “who does his research”. Bird flu is going to be a thing, even more than it is already. And we are on our own. What’s good is, the American Medical Association is doing updates on their youtube channels about it to keep people informed. There are also now “Alt CDC” accounts on social media that you can follow that make updates that the real CDC would do if it wasn’t getting crushed and taken over by people whose expertise is being Joe Rogan fans and googling anything except medical papers.

There’s a trend now for government departments that are getting tanked to set up a “shadow” account to keep the work and information going for those who want to be informed. I think the Democrats should totally embrace that and formalize it more, to remind people of what we could officially have if they were back in power. They have a huge messaging problem right now; they got away from trying to make life better for most Americans, or at least communicating that they were, and focused on problems with narrower scope, and it hurt them. But more about that later.

More tariffs coming online for allies are potentially going to cause more disruption. We are pulling out of supporting Ukraine, and already gave away several things at the table to Russia before talks started.

Again, overall goals are ones that I support. I believe that we should cut government spending (though the new proposed Republican budget earmarks MORE money for defense, which I don’t think is needed. There is so much pork in that department), though I think we should be careful to not throw the baby out with the bathwater and wreck good programs. For one thing, collateral human damage sucks, and second, it costs MORE waste to stand things back up after we’ve shut them down by mistake. I think actual auditors should be involved, not just rich drug addicts and scrapers. I DO think Europe needs to contribute more to its own defense, and they’ve gotten comfortable with taking advantage of our deep defense budget to defend themselves, while not reciprocating. But I don’t think leaving Ukraine in the balance is a good idea. Russia has been fully occupied, or nearly fully occupied, with that fight for 3 years. I think if its off the table, they will once again interfere elsewhere, and be emboldened to do it. That’s part of why I think it’s been a masterful stroke the way we’ve supported Ukraine over the last few years, and we will notice the difference immediately when we don’t. I also believe on principle it was a very American thing to do. We are abandoning our position of being a leader, but still seem to expect respect as though we are. I don’t think the repercussions from that are going to be as pleasant as the administration thinks.

Several states filed a huge lawsuit against Doge yesterday, so we will see how that goes. So far the “audits” have seemed to largely be stealing sensitive data still, with no disclosure of what is done with it, and no oversight. Also, the doge website itself got hacked last night. If you can’t secure a simple webfront, I really question your coding abilities, hitlerjugend. We spent 7.4 million dollars this WEEK on ~100 DOGE staff, and 7 million last week. I personally see some pretty deep inefficiences and conflicts there, how about you? Oh the “audits” also seem to be naming existing programs that Elon doesn’t like and calling them corrupt, but not actually showing corruption. So far those are approved programs; if they need to be cut, do it the right way, don’t claim corruption when it’s not.

I don’t see how any of this is making prices of groceries go down, which was supposed to be a day one thing. Inflation is still ticking up, and tariffs are just another tax on Americans dressed up in a "look over there!" bow. And I’d like to know, from all this “saving” of government tax dollars, where that money is supposed to go now. I don't see anything going to correct the enormous wealth gaps, which I think is at the root of what many people are unhappy with, though it may be obfuscated.

Anyway, it’s all exhausting, but I’ve had some people contact me who say they voted for this and regret it, and that gives me hope. And you give me hope. There are 330 million of us, and we have a lot of power. And it’s a lot harder to keep dark in the darkness these days.

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dragonflycap · 2 months ago

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What to expect from the stock market this week

Last week, the review of the macro market indicators saw with the release of the first round of tariffs since 1930, equity markets reacted with their worst week (2 days) since March of 2020. Elsewhere looked for Gold ($GLD) to continue to hold over $3000/oz while Crude Oil ($USO) collapsed into a downtrend. The US Dollar Index ($DXY) continued to drift to the downside in consolidation while US Treasuries ($TLT) continued in consolidation. The Shanghai Composite ($ASHR) looked to continue to consolidate the short term move higher while Emerging Markets ($EEM) were on the verge of entering a new downtrend.

The Volatility Index ($VXX) looked to remain very high making the path easier for equity markets to the downside. Their charts looked weak on both timeframes. On the shorter timeframe the gaps the last 2 days of the week might signal short term exhaustion. On the longer timeframe the $SPY, the $IWM and the $QQQ were all in short term downtrends.

The week played out with Gold dipping below $3000/oz before a reversal took it to new all-time highs to end of the week while Crude Oil fell to 4 year lows before a weak bounce. The US Dollar dropped to the bottom of support and the lowest level since July 2023 while Treasuries fell back to the January lows. The Shanghai Composite fell back to fill the gap from the September stimulus package while Emerging Markets dropped to 17 month lows before a bounce to last week’s gap.

Volatility exploded to near the intraday top from August and closing level not seen since March 2020. This continued to roil equities and they had violent moves in large ranges early in the week that settled by Friday. Along the way they had some off both their biggest daily losses and gains. This resulted in the SPY and QQQ up on the week after retesting near the 2021 highs and the IWM finding a 17 month low. What does this mean for the coming week? Let’s look at some charts.

The SPY came into the week having fully retraced the move up from the August 2024 low. It gapped down Monday to nearly test the 2021 highs and then moved higher to close nearly unchanged. Tuesday saw the opposite with a gap up sold off all day to end lower. Wednesday then saw one of the best days ever, rising 10.50% after opening down on the day. Thursday it settled into a narrower range and moved higher Friday. This left it up on the week after massive daily swings and back inside the Bollinger Bands®. The RSI is stalling at the midline with the MACD rising but negative.

The weekly chart shows the touch at the 2021 high and rebound. A Piercing candle on huge volume bodes for more upside. The RSI is rising off an oversold condition with the MACD negative and falling. There is resistance at 537 and 540 then 542.50 and 545.50 before 556.50 and 565.50 then 569. Support lower is at 534 and 530 then 524.50 and 520.50 before 517.50 and 510. Short Term Downtrend.

Heading into the holiday shorted pre-Easter week, equity markets showed resilience with a sizeable move higher in a very volatile week. Elsewhere look for Gold to continue its move higher while Crude Oil continues the downtrend. The US Dollar Index continues to trend to the downside while US Treasuries trend lower. The Shanghai Composite consolidation looks at risk to a move lower while Emerging Markets consolidate.

The Volatility Index looks to remain at extreme levels making the path easier for equity markets to the downside. Their charts continue to look at risk for more downside, especially on the shorter timeframe. On the longer timeframe both the QQQ and SPY printed reversal patterns if confirmed next week. The IWM has a bit more work to do in the longer timeframe to join them. Use this information as you prepare for the coming week and trad’em well.

Join the Premium Users and you can view the Full Version with 20 detailed charts and analysis: Macro Week in Review/Preview April 11, 2025

#$spy #$gld #$tlt #$qqq #$iwm #$uup #$eem #$uso #$ashr #$fxi #$DXY #$VIX #$VXX

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strategyapex · 7 months ago

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Technical Analysis

Hull Moving Average: The Revolutionary Trend Following Indicator

Introduction

The Hull Moving Average (HMA) has revolutionized how traders identify and follow market trends. Developed by Alan Hull to address the lag inherent in traditional moving averages, the HMA provides a uniquely responsive yet smooth representation of price action. This comprehensive guide explores how traders can leverage this powerful indicator for enhanced trading performance.

Who Created the Hull Moving Average?

Alan Hull, an Australian mathematician and trader, developed the Hull Moving Average in 2005. Frustrated with the significant lag in traditional moving averages, Hull applied his mathematical expertise to create an indicator that could maintain smoothness while dramatically reducing delay in trend identification.

What Makes the Hull Moving Average Special?

Core Features:

Minimal lag compared to traditional MAs

Smooth price action representation

Strong trend identification capabilities

Responsive to price changes

Built-in noise reduction

Key Advantages:

Earlier trend identification

Clearer entry and exit signals

Reduced whipsaws

Superior price tracking

Versatile application across markets

Why Use the Hull Moving Average?

Primary Benefits:

Faster Signal Generation

Reduces lag by up to 60%

Earlier trend identification

Quicker response to reversals

Improved Accuracy

Reduces false signals

Smoother price tracking

Better noise filtration

Enhanced Trend Following

Clear trend direction

Strong support/resistance levels

Trend strength indication

Versatility

Multiple timeframe analysis

Various market applications

Combines well with other indicators

Where to Apply the Hull Moving Average?

Market Applications:

Futures Markets

E-mini S&P 500

Crude Oil

Gold Futures

Treasury Futures

Forex Trading

Major currency pairs

Cross rates

Exotic pairs

Stock Trading

Individual stocks

ETFs

Stock indices

When to Use the Hull Moving Average?

Optimal Market Conditions:

Trending Markets

Strong directional moves

Clear price momentum

Extended market cycles

Breakout Scenarios

Pattern completions

Support/resistance breaks

Range expansions

Volatility Transitions

Market regime changes

Volatility breakouts

Trend initiations

How to Trade with the Hull Moving Average

Basic Trading Strategies:

Trend Following Strategy

Long when price crosses above HMA

Short when price crosses below HMA

Use HMA slope for trend strength

Exit on opposite crossover

Support/Resistance Strategy

Use HMA as dynamic support/resistance

Buy bounces off HMA in uptrends

Sell rejections from HMA in downtrends

Tighter stops for counter-trend trades

Multiple HMA Strategy

Combine different period HMAs

Look for crossovers between HMAs

Use divergences between HMAs

Trade strongest signals only

Advanced Applications:

Multiple Timeframe Analysis

Higher timeframe for trend direction

Lower timeframe for entry timing

Middle timeframe for confirmation

Volatility Integration

Adjust periods based on volatility

Use ATR for stop placement

Scale positions with trend strength

Hybrid Systems

Combine with momentum indicators

Use with price patterns

Integrate with volume analysis

Risk Management Essentials

Position Sizing:

Scale with trend strength

Larger in confirmed trends

Smaller in transitions

Stop Loss Placement:

Beyond HMA level

Based on ATR multiple

At key price levels

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Over-Optimization

Problem: Curve fitting periods

Solution: Use standard settings

Prevention: Test across markets

2. False Signals

Problem: Minor crossovers

Solution: Use confirmation filters

Prevention: Wait for clear signals

3. Late Exits

Problem: Giving back profits

Solution: Use trailing stops

Prevention: Honor exit rules

Real-World Performance Metrics

Typical Results:

Win Rate: 45-55% in trending markets

Risk/Reward Ratio: Best at 1:2 or higher

Average Trade Duration: 5-10 days

Maximum Drawdown: 15-20% with proper risk management

Optimizing Hull Moving Average

Parameter Settings:

Standard Period: 20-30

Aggressive: 14-18

Conservative: 35-50

Market-Specific Adjustments:

Fast Markets: Shorter periods

Slow Markets: Longer periods

Volatile Markets: Multiple confirmations

Conclusion

The Hull Moving Average represents a significant advancement in trend-following indicators. Its ability to reduce lag while maintaining smooth price action makes it an invaluable tool for both discretionary and systematic traders. When properly implemented with sound risk management principles, the HMA can provide a significant edge in futures trading.

#HullMovingAverage #TrendFollowing #FuturesTrading #TechnicalAnalysis #TradingStrategy #MarketIndicators #FinancialMarkets #TradingEducation #AlanHull #MovingAverages

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