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#and not in the corporate success way in the personal happiness way
oceanfossil · 1 year
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hey. dont cry. 1 million autisms on earth ok?
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agusandikusumah · 1 year
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xerith-42 · 2 months
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I know it seems like striking on social media might not do enough, but as someone who has been outright obsessively using the internet since I was a child to the point that it is literally woven in my soul, been active and involved in online activism for about five years, and been using social media as marketing for about the same amount of time, I can confidently say that
THIS FUCKING WORKS!!
People base their entire businesses on their success on social media. They look at trending topics on twitter and don't see bite sized chunks of culture distilled to its finest and worst moments, they see market data! They don't see you as a single human being, they see you as a data point among thousands run through a probably AI assisted system that's prone to fucking up, that determines everything they're going to do.
How they're going to advertise, who they target it with it, what the general public wants. Every single major corporation uses data from social media websites to do this. Every. Single. One. Social media is a lot of things, and one of those things is a tool for business and politics. We know for a fact that social media politics bleeds out into the real world very fucking quickly.
Even if you can't strike financially, even if you have to go to work or school to survive, striking on social media is one of the best things you can do. Even if it's quiet. People are going to notice when thousands upon thousands of users across various sites go completely dark, and even more when some of them start getting real fucking loud about this. The US Capitalist Infused Government loves sweeping war crimes under the rug once they think the general public has forgotten about their atrocities and fallen into complacency. This system has been doing this for literal centuries.
Social media is just the newest and most expansive form we as a species have developed in the ongoing invention of ways to express our thoughts about things. It's the weirdest one, that's for sure, but executives pay attention to it. They don't often seek to understand it beyond a very basic level, because as I said, they view us as numbers on a screen, not as multifaceted incredibly and deeply fucked human beings. They do not seek to understand us on a personal level unless they think the cost of it won't outweigh the potential profit.
Pattern recognition is the tool of the moment. Machine Learning. Gathering endless amounts of data so we can replicate human existence through machines. You may think that social media strikes are ineffective because social media is just on the internet and it's "not real", but it is real! You are really doing stuff! You are contributing! Even if you're just lurking! Basic amounts of engagement can make a huge impact in a busted algorithm. Maybe you're not someone who would ever be drafted into an actual war-zone due to physical or mental health conditions, but you are probably a part of a key demographic of people that businesses are absolutely hungry for.
The budding adult has always been the target of greedy capitalists basically since this system was established and continued to get worse over time. The stage of your life when you are in the age range of 18-25 is an incredibly important transitional period, followed by a transitional period every six months until you lose sense of what six months even is because you haven't been happy in eight, and if you're in the 18-25 range currently, you got extra fucked by the pandemic. The world is in a turbulent stage and we are at the center of all of it and have been since 2001. Every single social media marketing expert will tell you the 18-25 demographic of social media users is a target demographic, because they are the most prone to extremes due to a life chock full of them.
We have to remember to be human, but we have to also know how to speak their language. They just see us as numbers? Let's show them some fucking numbers. Make posts about Gaza trend on every platform you have your hands on. Even if it's just liking posts, that gives them a slight boost in the algorithm. Commenting on posts is especially important on sites like Twitter and Instagram. But across every site the most important thing to do is reblog/retweet/share/send/copy link, whatever it is for that site, it is the biggest thing that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE looks at.
From a humble artist to a head of marketing at a billion dollar corporation about to have a meeting with a barely over 21 intern about how they need to run the twitter account, to said intern bumbling their way through adulthood with a job they only feel they're good at because they've been using social media since Skype was invented. We need to be loud, we need to make sure this can't be ignored, we can't sweep this under the rug. Mass media, especially coming out of the West, has been trying to censor, de-sanitize, and keep this issue quiet.
DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE SILENCED
There are tens of thousands of DEAD CHILDREN who have been BOMBED while in CIVILIAN AREAS and that is a FUCKING WAR CRIME.
THIS IS A GENOCIDE
Say that as many times as you can. Do not let it be ignored. A silent populous is a complacent one. Use your voice, even as small as it may seem. Make noise. Be loud. Be annoying. Don't let this be ignored. Talk about it everywhere you go. Do not let this be ignored.
Sometimes even we get disconnected from the real people around us. We base our sense of worth as a person based on the numbers going up or down but instead of developing a gambling addiction we just got angry about it but still fall into it because of cultural conditioning. But even if you only have let's say, completely random example, 70 followers. And only a small percent of them will see your post. Let's say maybe 20 on average, 30 on a good day, and even higher based on the machinations of fate. That's still 20 people who took time out of their day to read something you wrote, process something you created, share a part of your experience of living.
And likely they felt compelled to share it too, therefore increasing the spread of people who feel your influence. 20 people may not seem like a lot, but that has a major impact. Now imagine posts into the hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands and even millions. Those aren't just numbers. Each and every single one of those is just another person who might have reblogged a post because someone they like shared it, or because they wanted to spread its message, and that simple act causes a single post to have massive waves of effects from simple ripples.
Don't let yourself be discouraged. Don't think your voice or your impact "isn't enough to matter." Everything counts.
Don't let this be ignored. Don't become complacent. Know that every little thing counts, and to do every little thing you can.
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vampwritesstuff · 2 months
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🤍 𝐒𝐊𝐙 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 (hyung line)
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overprotective!little brother!ot8(separate) x older sister!reader
Request: Hello, I was excited to see you’re opening requests. I've had this idea brewing in my head but I cannot write to save my life. Am thinking of a version for each SKZ member - overprotective younger brother SKZ who's proud of your success in the corporate world (you're all he talks about and hes got them intrigued), but refuses to introduce his noona to the member because he's wary of their flirtatious ways or even crush on you. And then you turn up at an event to surprise your brother and then... I'll leave the rest to your talented imagination because I don't know what kinda ending I'd want for each SKZ member.
cw: none really, just me trying to be funny, the short scenarios are lowkey bad but it was so difficult to come up with different situations and not reuse the same one over and over 😭
Ngl, I giggled and squealed when I saw this request, thank you for being my first request for Stray Kids and I’d be happy to make this for you! Buckle up buttercup, this one’s a long one! This was taking so long to post, and I feel so terrible about that, so I’m going to make two parts for this, the next part being the Maknae line and hopefully that will be done soon! If you guys do enjoy my writing, please consider checking out my masterlist !
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Bang Chan
You’re not much older than Chan, but you’re so successful at your corporate job back in Australia that Chan often talks about you to his members and sometimes his fans.
He has for sure mentioned you on his lives, and everyone can see that he really cares about his older sister.
Definitely doesn’t take kindly to fans asking if you’re single or attractive, he’s never given out your name or shown what you look like just because of that.
With the members, it’s not that he thinks they’ll purposely flirt with you, but his protective brother side just gets the better of him and he’d rather not take the chance. The boys are very interested in meeting you but even they don’t know your name or what you look like, and they love their lives enough that they don’t push Chan.
The boys are so confused when you first show up at the concert in Sydney, confused as to who you are until Chan calls you Noona, then they’re all over you once Chan (reluctantly) introduces you to them.
Personally, I don’t think they would be able to flirt with you knowing you’re their hyung’s older sister, which makes you older than them obviously.
I.N and Felix absolutely would ask if they could call you their Noona too 🥹 Seungmin would totally have to hold back on his ‘Chan is so old’ jokes just cause he doesn’t want to make you feel old.
You were waiting backstage for Chan with Hannah, your little sister had practically begged you to come with her to the Stray Kids concert. You hadn’t been to any of your little brother’s concerts before as your job always kept you busy, and you felt a little guilty that you hadn’t been able to attend before now. So when the concert date coincided with your vacation days, you knew you had to jump on the opportunity.
The cheers from the stadium arena were so loud that you wondered how Chris and his members were able to handle it. You kept yourself occupied with Hannah by talking about Chris and his friends, Hannah claimed that they were a rowdy bunch and from what you had seen online while trying to be a little involved in Chan’s idol career, you didn’t think for a second that she was wrong.
You heard him before you saw him, his voice unmistakable to you. He was laughing and joking with his members, whom you regrettably couldn’t name off the top of your head. What can you say? Chan never talks about them with you, and you don’t see much about them often enough in order to memorize them.
“Christopher Bang Chan, what do you think you’re doing to that poor boy. Put him down.” You chided your brother as you saw him walking backstage with one of the boys thrown over his shoulder. The sound of your voice made Chan stop dead in his tracks, making a few of the members behind him bump into him. “Y/n? Noona, what are you doing here?” He asked in surprise, ignoring the looks from his members, as he set down the fox looking boy and walked over to you to engulf you in one of his infamous hugs, he also pulled Hannah in for a hug too despite her protests.
“Decided to surprise you, my vacation days lined up with the concert and Hannah begged me to bring her so.. surprise?” You hummed once he let go, “Chan hyung, are you going to introduce us or are we gonna be left in the dark over here?” Seungmin pipes up. Chan definitely tenses, realizing he needed to introduce you to his friends but you beat him to it, already walking over to them. “Hi, I’m Y/n, Chris’s older sister.”
That’s all it takes for the younger ones to start asking you more questions, and your heart swells when Felix and Jeongin ask to call you Noona as well. “Yes, of course you can!”
Lee Minho
I actually don’t think Minho would talk about you much to anyone but the other members, like yeah, the fans know he has an older sister but any more information they have runs dry after that.
The boys are definitely curious though, cause Minho actually talks about you a lot with them, saying how you’re the co-CEO of a company that raises and donates money for charitable causes.
Even though he shares a lot about you to his friends, he gets weirdly protective over his calls with you cause he doesn’t get to speak with you often.
Literally locked the boys out of the dorm once cause they would not shut up while attempting to say hi to you during one of your rare phone calls.
“I am going to stuff your mouths with tissues and air fry all of you.”
Minho and the rest of Stray Kids were at a fansign event, they were all exhausted. They loved getting to interact with Stay and everything, but it always took a lot of energy from them to keep up with their fans’ excitement. Minho was the last seat, the line of fans seemingly unending to him.
You were at the fansign, unbeknownst to your poor little brother, who had tried so hard to keep you from meeting his rowdy group mates. You had introduced yourself to each member by just your name, and conversation was smooth. Weirdly enough, each boy had felt like they had heard your name and voice before, but they passed it off on being tired. You were the last in line anyway.
Minho hadn’t noticed you until you were literally standing right in front of him, had to hold himself back from leaping over the table towards you. The boys have never seen him talk so animatedly with a fan before. Then they heard him call you noona and they immediately realized who you were.
Chan may or may not have asked staff to keep you afterwards, or it might’ve been Lee Know. You won’t be finding out any time soon.
When the fansign event was over, all of the boys found themselves rushing to properly greet you. But Minho had picked you up and kept you away from them.
“Hyung! Let the pretty lady down!” Changbin whined, but that just spurred Minho to keep you to himself. “Nuh uh! My noona, you guys can’t have her!”
Seo Changbin
You’re his older sister by 5 minutes, yes you’re his twin.
You could’ve easily followed him into the idol industry, Changbin tells you all the time that your visuals would kill. But you just didn’t want that life for yourself, and he respected that.
He’s actually very proud to call you his noona, and doesn’t let anyone forget that he has a successful sister.
“My twin sister is an ambassador for a corporation, and is one of the most reputable women in her position.”
Has told the members how you were his biggest supporter during his predebut days. They secretly admire you very much for that.
Very thankful for you cause they otherwise wouldn’t have Binnie as a member and friend if not for you.
Fans know he has a twin, and you’re actually very active on his socials so fans actually know who you are, they love you. I think the boys at one point looked up your socials and got shy because of how pretty you look, definitely felt a little guilty for thinking like that, but they couldn’t help but agree with Changbin about your visuals.
Tbh, I really don’t think he would try to keep you from meeting them on purpose, they’ve definitely asked but Changbin just never had the chance to set anything up with you since both of you have extremely busy schedules.
“Binnie!” A familiar feminine pitched voice shouted from the front row, Changbin turned around quickly on stage, surprised to have even been able to hear you apart from the crowd.
Changbin excitedly moved over to the other side of the stage where you were standing in the front row, a huge smile on his face as he waved at you. The cameras caught this moment, showing you on the large projection screens in the stadium. The crowd cheered loudly at seeing the Seo siblings in the same place. Obviously, this caused the other members to noticed as well.
For the rest of the concert, each of the boys had, at some point, come around to you and interacted with you a little bit. Changbin made sure to put on a show of shooing them away from you. The rest of the concert was fun, you occasionally appearing on the screen when Changbin would start rapping as you hyped him up, cheering the loudest from your section of seats.
After the concert, some staff had corralled you backstage and a loud, excited Changbin came running up to you and picked you up in a bear hug that made you laugh loudly. Once he set you down on your feet, all the other boys had gathered around to meet you officially. You bowed respectfully as you introduced yourself and the boys couldn’t help but think you were the cutest person to bless their eyes.
Hwang Hyunjin
You’re a famous model that also owns your own clothing line, it’s also very well known that you’re Hyunjin’s older sister.
Hyunjin is always wearing something from your brand, and Stay has made a game out of finding what piece of his outfit is from your brand, it’s even got its own hashtag on social media.
Hyunjin will even model for you when he has the chance to do so, but let’s be fair, he does it everyday anyway.
He’s so proud of you, and always talks about you with anyone who will listen.
Felix is the only member who has met you because you had been at a Louis Vuitton fashion event that Felix had been invited to attend.
Hyunjin definitely wasn’t happy about not being there to introduce you himself. (And maybe worried that Felix had charmed you)
You were sat at a table, enjoying a flute of champagne and eating fancy food that you couldn’t pronounce the name of. These kinds of fashion events had always bored you, sitting at an assigned table with designers and models that you knew nothing about and having to listen to the event host drone on and on about what a privilege it is to have so many guests attending.
But your interest was suddenly piqued when the host announced that they had a few special guest models, all the way from South Korea. Your eyes widened greatly and you nearly spat out your champagne when you watched Hyunjin and seven other males step onto the the runway, modeling random designs. Your brother and his bandmates had come to this event as well and you hadn’t even known.
When the event was over, the guests were left to mingle. You immediately stood from your seat and made your way towards the table you had seen your brother sit down at. When you got there, Hyunjin had his back facing you as he spoke with Felix, who smiled when he noticed you. “This is treason, Hwang Hyunjin.”
Your sudden voice behind him made the poor boy jump in surprise and nearly spill his drink on Felix who just laughed. Hyunjin quickly turned and met your eyes with surprise. “Noona? I didn’t know you’d be here? And what’s this about treason?” He asked, still recovering from the shock.
“Modeling for someone else, I see how it is, your noona’s designs aren’t good enough anymore.” You feigned your sadness dramatically, which had Felix pitching in, “Ah, no worries, I can always replace him as your model!” Which had Hyunjin raising his hands in defense and attempting to sputter out an argument. “I may have to take you up on that offer, Jinnie doesn’t seem to love his noona anymore.” You jokingly pout, jutting out your bottom lip and looking away from your little brother with exaggerated movements.
“I see where Hyunjin gets his dramatic personality from,” Felix says, finally able to see the resemblance now that you and your little brother were standing side by side. Laughs erupted from around the three of you as the other members watched the exchange and saw both you and Hyunjin give Felix the same side eye.
“Oh yeah, I can see a resemblance, right down to their attractive looks too.” Han commented, immediately gaining a scowl from Hyunjin who very much disliked that his friends may think you were attractive, it was already apparent that Felix thought so.
Consequently, this cause Hyunjin to spend the rest of the evening corralling you away from his friends at every chance he got.
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pinkandpurple360 · 5 months
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ITS ME, MAMMON 💚🃏
This man reeks of insecure corporate shame
A psychology theory…
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“And I’ll be like a stepdad, who will love you, when it’s convenient!!”
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It all really started for him in LooLoo Land, the-legally distinct-knockoff of Lucifers more successful Lulu World that reeks of insecure corporate shame.
When he said
“I raised you like the son I didn’t want!”
He was fucking lying his clowny ass off because he wanted a son even more than Fizz wanted a father of his own and Mam has not shut up about his father-son delusion for almost twenty goddamn years
The second image above, and all of the symbolism around it is the foundation of Mammons character and psychology. No really. This was not the introduction of Fizzarolli, it was the introduction of Mammon wearing Fizzi as his face. Vibe checked by a jaded 17 year old owl goth girl who can see through her own pathetic dads fake bullshit. This scene was the foreshadowing of the Musical Special. Everything from the green spotlight on Fizzi, the nasty personality of the robot which was closer to Mammons than Fizzarolli’s. Lots of symbolism. Especially the ripped off reference to Hazbin Hotels “I have a dream” song lyric. Has possible symbolism. I’m actually deeply disappointed the ep didn’t make a single call back to LooLoo Land at all. And Blitz was right there and wasted potential :(
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Shown is a Fizzbot ‘Fizzi’ compared to his ‘dad’ mammon ahh like father like son as they say. Blech. Everybody loves Fizz, does anybody love you, Mammon? (Me, I do❤️)
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So I’m going to get it out of the way and say it, Mammon is giving Leviathan a run for his money (haha money, get it?) because his envy and idolisation of his BFF Lucifer is so great that he’s trying to find his “very own pride and joy”, his own theme park, his own grand circus and adoring fans, and his own wholesome musical child knock-off of Lucifers more popular Charlie Morningstar.
He saw this
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And he thought….
Aw, he so sad here :c Just do this one thing, for him x he’s just a giant evil baby man with four arms and eight eyes
He doesn’t really want a daughter though, he feels like he’d relate better to a (marketable) son. And I think that’s the real reason he made the comment about women not being considered the same way adults werent considered, only implings who want to grow up to be like him. (creepy..! I think that’s what tipped Blitzo off also poor Wally (another orphan like Fizz?) Wally didn’t make the cut 😢 YEET.
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Anyway-His whole dream is being a father and son taking on the world to grow his empire. As long as he steals all the fortune. He must be insecure and full of shame if he wants someone to be his “new face” every year, if you really think about it. If the kid same is the gender as him and therefore a bit more like his own face in that sense, he’s not copying Lucifers daughter cause he has a son. It’s different and not the same at all.
But seriously it really shocked me when he started talking about being like a stepdad, and he was genuinely excited about it too? But this man doesn’t even know he wants to be a father and he’s probably never felt love before in his life. I guarantee this was a first sight “wow this kid kinda looks like me and he has the same innocent look in his eyes as Charlie, he’s mine now”
“I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING”
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This for me. Made as big an impact as Oz saying he loves Fizz. It was very shocking. The opposite of greed is giving, and giving something to somebody is probably a massive fucking deal to Mam and I’d bet he doesn’t even know himself why he gave fizz so much attention
He also doesn’t kill Fizz? He SCREAMS at him, uses big intimidation tactics, sure, but didn’t actually lay a hand on him if you really look? He was fine with being uncomfortably physical and even violent before to him but isn’t now? (Fizz is forever so badass for this moment btw) How strange is that. This whole thing reeks of ‘scorned father’
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Like he’s happy to keep exploiting Fizz but also just as fine in replacing him, even happy to see him possibly fail. So he really has no reason to be this possessive and attached. But he is. Oz says the song is about him and Fizz literally calls his name out and Mammon still ALLOWS him to finish his song he genuinely really enjoyed the song, he allowed him to make his speech, but only intervenes when he quits.
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Why, because he wants the crowd to “love” him it’s very important to him - the money they give him is what he thinks love is. There is so many dads out there who respond to abuse allegations with “but I put a roof over their head and provide security” This is abusive father 101. I guess it could be just because Fizz is beloved by the masses, profitable, sure. But what if it’s because he feels the same way the crowd does about fizz, and doesn’t comprehend why? He clearly loves watching his performances. Even the diss track against him. Priorities.
It is just an extremely interesting concept to me if Mam is trying to copy Lucifers family, but the best thing he can come up with is a Brand Figure to be his “legacy” Capitalists man. He doesn’t understand what love is. But wants it. Wants to buy it. But it’s never enough.
“You are practically in my image”
Is literally another dad thing and to be more dramatic about this it’s the same thing we hear that ‘God made you in his image’ could this be setting up the theme of the show? Honestly my one criticism is that there’s enough sexual relationships in this show there didn’t need to be implications of him sexually interested in the guy he literally sees as his kid. A twisted boss/father story about a deeply lonely orphan clown child and a deeply lonely capitalistic clown spider over-idolising each other and entering an abusive family/work dynamic due to both of their tragic nativité and ignorance about love, is already a very mature story. It’s a 9/10 story but if Fizz and Blitz (an excellent way to incorporate him in the story) talked a bit about Fizz’s orphan status at the circus making him feel like there was always something missing, something Blitz had but he never did, it would have been 10/10.
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adams-bf · 1 month
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can i have a headcanon for lucifer morningstar with elder sister! reader? I am just in desperate need for family stuff. Like elder sister! reader is nto weak and as powerful as lucifer (maybe a tiny bit stronger since th eboth of them are archangel).
Like elder sister!reader decided to follow her younger brother lucifer to hell by becoming a fallen angel too because she is very worried for him. (even knowing the punishment are brutal and harsh but she does not care) I would love if you make the dynamic between the two where reader is the more sterner, fiercer and scary one (like maybe she used to be a commander of an angel army before) and then lucifer is just a little guy who loves ducks (he can beat ass too lol) thanks for reading and i will appreciate a lot if you start writing my ideas! take care!
Of course!! I like sm that type of dynamic despite not have worked a lot with it
I'm not very used to writing family headcanons, so I'm sorry if this does not correspond to what you would like (I'm also finishing this sick, so maybe I messed some things up), feel free to order again if you wish! <3
Lucifer with an elder sister !reader before the fall
Ps:: female pronouns used and platonic reading
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You both are created almost the same time, only a few years of difference, since they wanted to keep a visual representation of a man and a woman in the heaven, like an example of family and brotherhood.
Despite the same creation, you both are extremely different. Lucifer was a lively dreamer, wanting to expand his ideas and dreams in the creation. You, by other side, have seen yourself in other dynamic of power, joining in the heaven's army, being the leader of army in no much time.
As being the commander, you've to base your personality in a more cold and recluse on, thinking about the success and progress of the angelic army corporation, taking the stance of a leader.
However, this doesn't make Lucifer have bad impressions about you. On the contrary, he actually were so happy for you and was ever talking of how much well you was going with your job. He had ever supported your dreams and desires, since was something that he ever appreciated. And, of course, from time to time he came to you with some ideas to you implement in the army, since were about the training or the cloths.
One day, Lucifer looked more happy than usual, what was particularly strange due to frequent oppression by elders.
He told you that he had meet the first human woman, Lilith, in the Garden of Eden after that she leaves Adam.
You saw he was talking about she in a lovely way every day, praising she every time; he was clearly and totally in love with she and, by what he said, looks like that's mutual.
You were so much happy for him, of course. See your younger brother happy after all the oppression and limitations that the heaven imposed on him was a good feeling; see his happiness was something that filled your heart with hope and compassion.
Even in a place so unfair with him dreams, he was so happy with someone who seems to like him so much mutually. Deep down, your greatest joy was seeing your brother happy.
This, however, was until a certain point. A few weeks after, Lucifer started to talk a lot about free will and how the humanity could use it. He, actually, ever liked the concept of free will, but in the lasts times that was a subject much more frequently between your conversations.
When you asked him why that suddenly become a current subject, he just said that it was pure curiosity since it was something debated in the angelic council last week. Mostly you felt it wasn't a pure truth, just nodded in acceptance.
A few days later, you saw a commotion in the angels' cabinet. As leader of army of angels, Sera quickly contacted you, asking for your presence at the next meeting.
On the appointed day, you attended the assembly, which was particularly fuller than you had imagined. You, indeed, were not often called to the council of angels, so there wasn't much certainty as to how many members usually showed up, but it definitely felt busier and more commotion than meetings in general.
Passing through the council entrance, you were assigned to one of the high benches, close to the high heavenly echelon, which consisted more of Sera, although the presence of God was also there.
Confused, you asked Sera the reason for being summoned to the council since everything was going well with the army and freedom in heaven in recent times.
It was then that you saw Lucifer enter the council, sitting in the stands of indicted. Before you could question him, a golden document was conjured in front of you, which you quickly picked it up and read it.
Incredulous would be the best word to describe his emotions. The document named Lucifer as a criminal who had induced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and spread free will on Earth, opening evils.
You looked dumbfounded at Sera, who was looking at you with regret and pity. The document proposed the expulsion of both Lilith and Lucifer to a new concept of place - the hell. A place for those who committed sins were doomed to horror, both of them being its first residents.
From above your bleachers, you looked at Lucifer who was showing an expression of indifference towards the advice, despite that you could very well see a spark of concern emerging on his face.
Sera was ready to hit the hammer and announce their definitive expulsion from paradise, collecting the document that floated in front of him and soon dissolved into light.
Light. You thought. Light, that's what Lucifer was. Even though he was prevented from implementing his ideas and dreams, even the most innovative and incredible in all creation, he was still light in your life. Even though he was tried as a criminal before the court, he was still light for you, after all, he was your brother forever, the most important person in your life, the source of light that held you together.
You jumped out of your stand, flying in front of Sera, shouting insults and questioning why Lucifer always had his ideas oppressed, arguing that he would never have encouraged Eve if heaven had given his ideas a chance.
You looked at Lucifer. He looked back at you, dumbfounded and with slightly widened eyes. From lip-reading, you could tell he was trying to whisper a few things like "no" and "why..?", but the growing anger in your head made it a complicated activity.
Sera watched as you slowly descended to your brother, standing still and firm next to him. She conjured the document again, using a feather pen to add some extra paragraph; the advice was taken in quick murmurs, those who angels feared you and your authority, now they had an expression of growing disgust and hatred as they looked at you.
When Sera finished, she made the document disappear into light again, standing up from the grandstand and flying in the center of the assembly. The murmurs quickly stopped, the angels now paying attention to what she had to say.
She began to talk about the accusations of crimes that Lucifer committed in the Garden of Eden and the consequences of his actions that generated evils and triggered diseases on Earth. She ended up with the penalty he and Lilith would receive - expulsion from heaven. However, there was an addendum: you were also sentenced to expulsion, accused of being an accomplice and justifying an unforgivable criminal act.
Lucifer looked at you with a bitter taste for being the reason for your expulsion from paradise to a completely unknown location. You, however, just held his hand and squeezed it lightly, saying you didn't care about any consequences as long as you managed to defend his ideals and be close to him. After all, he was your brother, and you would do anything for him.
You could see his eyes slightly teary when he let go of your hand and pulled you into a hug to which you reciprocated, closing your eyes heavily as you felt the feeling of falling into the void, without knowing what the place you would go would be like, but the feeling of having the person who cares most around you, as safe as possible, it already made the fall more acceptable and tolerable.
You didn't regret defending your brother at all, and would never think of going back on your decision. Things may not be better than before being in hell, but you will adapt like a family, happy to be able to see your brother and Lilith well.
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I'm not very used to writing family headcanons, but I hope it was an enjoyable read! Anyway, thank you very much for reading.
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watchfuldeer · 1 month
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tom is a glutton for corporate punishment and he attributes his success in business to doing things he really doesn’t want to do for people he does genuinely seem to fear, and i think taking his journey as a whole this absolutely includes his pursuance of shiv as a romantic partner, his decision to marry her despite every indication that he shouldn’t, and his behaviour throughout their marriage. his consistent attempts to frame it as a business partnership are to rationalise the way being with shiv causes him a private pain and misery that he can’t share with her; he hopes that being the pain sponge will only benefit him in the end.
it’s not unlike his relationship with logan. i mean, it’s exactly like his relationship with logan, but logan is aware of his own role as the arbiter of his courtier’s mental stability and rewards tom, the poor, devoted servant accordingly. shiv meanwhile is never fully cognisant of the extent of tom’s campaign of appeasement towards her. by holding him at arm’s length she simply doesn’t notice she married a man who is obsequious enough to consistently forgo his own dignity and happiness because of what he thinks she can do for him. that’s not to say there is no love there, only that their understanding of each other’s motivations passes like ships in the night. he doesn’t want to jeopardise his life and position and job with honesty towards her, and she has no interest in trying to observe his inner world either to foster his goodwill or use his pain and disappointment as leverage.
ironically, greg does care enough and does both of those things, but only because tom refuses to allow him to get close enough for them to be on equal footing, which forces greg to manage his emotions. what greg would clearly prefer is to be closer to him as a friend and not as a subordinate employee. he really likes tom - he doesn’t always like working for tom.
the undoing of tom’s sorry mess ends up being the threat of prison. jail time is a step too far even for him, and it’s what gives him the opportunity to gain logan’s loyalty, makes it clear to him that shiv is a dead end for his own future, and it’s the catalyst that makes him choose greg over shiv in a very permanent way. he owes much of his success and eventual ascendance to CEO to being the sin eater, to suffering the various injustices of being subordinate to every roy in a business and personal sense. but it’s that moment in all the bells say where tom sets everything in motion by choosing something he actually wants. after, he makes the same mistakes with shiv and greg again to his own detriment, and presumably will continue to do so once he assumes the CEO position. he’s the perpetual melancholy clown, doomed to a painful fate he repeatedly chooses for himself, and yet he is undoubtedly the romantic hero to fellow clown greg. it’s what makes tom so fascinating.
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When they try to make school harder for LGBTQ+ youth...we make it better.
Over the past 2 years, students across the U.S. have used our 50 States 50 Grants funds to...
Build gender-affirming closets and gender-neutral bathrooms at school
Host their school's first Pride fest or Pride conference
Educate parents and teachers
Fund their GSA club
And so many other rad projects to support their queer students!
Apps are open for Season 3 now through April 1, 2024 - if you have an idea for how you'd use up to $10,000 at your own school (or if you know someone in middle or high school who could), reblog and spread the word!
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jubileemon · 1 month
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The Dark Side of Motherhood: Exploring Odalia Blight's Character
Odalia Blight emerges as a particularly controversial figure within 'The Owl House'. She was portrayed as a toxic parent in the animated series, known for her manipulative and controlling behavior towards her youngest daughter, Amity.
Parenting Style
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Firstly, Odalia consistently places immense pressure on her children to conform to societal expectations and uphold the family's reputation. This pressure is evident in her treatment of Amity, where she not only dictates her daughter's actions but also attempts to control her personal relationships, especially with Luz. Odalia's interference undermines Amity's autonomy and emotional well-being.
Odalia's insistence on Amity dyeing her hair and her overall treatment of her youngest child are indicative of a desire to control and mold her offspring into an ideal that serves her own interests, rather than nurturing their individuality and happiness. It reflects the broader theme of parental expectations and the pressure to conform to societal norms. Amity's initial act of changing her hair to purple in Season 2 becomes an act of rebellion, signaling her desire to break free from her mother's imposed standards.
Odalia's approach to parenting mirrors that of a strict corporate executive, where success is defined by adhering to a predetermined path, achieving specific goals, and maintaining a carefully crafted public image. The children become pawns in the family's pursuit of societal status, akin to employees serving a company's bottom line.
Her Relationship With Edric and Emira
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Odalia's biased treatment towards Emira and Edric, as hinted by Amity, suggests a lack of equal regard for her children. The implication that she is less controlling towards the twins might indicate a perceived favoritism or a different approach in her parenting style.
In return, the twins show a level of distrust and occasional defiance toward Odalia. The revelation that Odalia used them as bargaining chips to ensure their father's compliance sheds light on the transactional nature of their relationship with their mother. The twins' secret opposition to Odalia's actions, such as helping in the rescue mission and supporting Amity's defiance, demonstrates their willingness to challenge their mother when they disagree. Their awareness of Odalia's true nature and recognition of her selfish motives distinguish them from Amity, who initially hoped for a more reasonable resolution.
Toxic Behavior
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Odalia Blight's character indeed embodies a deeply toxic and controlling parental figure in "The Owl House." Her arrogant and mean-spirited behavior, coupled with a misanthropic disdain for relationships outside of her perceived societal norms, creates a hostile environment for her family.
By isolating Amity from her friends and criticizing them as less skilled, Odalia attempts to shape Amity's social circle in accordance with her own standards. This tactic not only undermines Amity's autonomy but also perpetuates a toxic environment. Odalia's willingness to consider sparing Amity's friends from expulsion but only if Luz becomes the guinea pig for her abomination product presentation underscores her manipulative nature. This condition puts Luz in a difficult position, using her as leverage.
The implication that Odalia's abominations were designed in a way that poses a threat to Luz's life suggests a level of callousness and disregard for the well-being of those who stand in the way of her ambitions. This goes beyond mere manipulation, entering into a realm of endangering others for personal gain.
While Odalia Blight's acceptance of Amity's lesbian sexuality is a positive aspect in terms of representation, her continued disapproval of Amity's relationship with Luz Noceda reflects a persistent bias. The comment about finding Amity "a new girlfriend that doesn't have wanted posters everywhere" suggests that Odalia prioritizes societal expectations and status over her daughter's happiness.
The detailed account of Odalia Blight's actions paints a compelling picture of her as a deeply manipulative and morally compromised character in "The Owl House." Her abusive tactics towards Amity, utilizing an oracle necklace to control her, and threatening Willow's expulsion to sever their friendship underscore her unscrupulous methods of maintaining control over her daughter's life.
Odalia's influence on Amity's attitudes and beliefs, making her act arrogantly and look down upon those she perceives as less skilled, including Willow, further exacerbates the conflict. This attitude shift puts strain on their friendship, as Amity starts to distance herself from Willow due to the societal expectations imposed by her mother.
Business and Ambitions
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As the CEO of Blight Industries, her involvement in abomination production aligns with her ambition for power and influence. The episode "Clouds in the Horizon" further exposes the depth of Odalia Blight's manipulative and self-serving nature. Her decision to unfairly ground her children for merely attempting to understand her secretive preparations for the "Day of Unity" showcases her disregard for their well-being and autonomy.
The revelation that Odalia was aware of Emperor Belos' sinister intentions but chose to prioritize her family's ascent to royalty in the human realm over the lives of countless witches is a chilling confirmation of her ruthlessness. Her confession underlines her lack of empathy and moral compass, emphasizing her willingness to sacrifice the greater good for personal gain.
This twist not only deepens her antagonistic role within the series but also underscores the extent of her moral compromise. Her willingness to sacrifice countless lives for personal gain emphasizes her ruthlessness and lack of empathy, painting her as a character willing to betray even her own kind for the allure of a perceived elevated status.
Odalia's lack of genuine loyalty, using Belos for her own selfish motives, and subsequent attempts to align herself with the Collector showcase her opportunistic nature. The karma she faces, particularly in her humiliation by the Collector, is depicted as a fitting consequence for her past actions.
Odalia's Downfall
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The events in "For the Future" and "Watching and Dreaming" showcase a dramatic turn for Odalia Blight's character in "The Owl House." The Collector's ability to manipulate her into servitude adds a layer of poetic justice, highlighting the consequences of her previous actions. Being reduced to performing menial tasks and catering to the whims of the Collector underscores Odalia's fall from her perceived position of power. This plot development serves as a symbolic reflection of the repercussions that often accompany a character's moral shortcomings.
In the series finale, the visual representation of Odalia being left out while Amity and Alador reunite implies a significant shift in family dynamics. The confirmation from series creator Dana Terrace that Alador rightfully divorced Odalia and claimed full custody of their children further underscores the consequences of Odalia's actions.
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Total $hit$how: Good Cop
in which Jericho cracks a wall
cw: aftermath of violence, adult language
previous // masterlist //
×~×~×
When Harbor's hour was almost up, Jericho made his way back to the briefing room, a hopeful plan at the ready and a nervous feeling in his gut, every step closer to the door jiggling at his nerves like jello.
The word interrogation didn't exactly fill his head with pleasant images. In movies, it was usually portrayed as torture, ineffective on the protagonist but shockingly useful against any minions the heroes snatched for intel. In real life, he'd experienced something like it once or twice. Corporate cronies trying to grill a confession out of him; entrapping questions intended to get him to admit to anything they could twist into something worthy of an arrest. Those were some of the scariest moments of his life, and even though he'd insisted on his own ignorance, in the end he was only saved by a lack of evidence of his hacking activities (hacktivities?).
Jericho's own encounters had been pretty mild, but he still wasn't eager to put anyone else through it. 
Then again, this was just a challenge, wasn't it? Succeeding didn't mean they'd suddenly be required to hurt Finley, it only meant Sahota wouldn't kill her. If they managed to win, maybe they could pursue Joy's original idea and just talk to the woman. Whether she was a hardened criminal or not, surely she'd be willing to help if she knew the safety of the city was on the line.
…But that was all a big if. Unless Harbor had managed to pull a trick out of his hat, no one had been successful so far, which left Jericho. Jericho going toe-to-toe against Sahota's boundless willpower. No big deal, just a stranger's life hanging in the balance.
If he failed, could they still back out?
There were other avenues. Both Sahota and Vic had been clear on that, but the group's own insistence had gotten them to this point. If they completely gave up on Finley as a lead now, they'd have just wasted a day, and he doubted Vic would be very happy about that, but between wasting a day and throwing away an entire person, Jericho knew what he'd choose. 
From the moment the challenge was announced, he knew what method he'd be using. Bad-cop good-cop, sans the bad-cop. In his experience, difficult people could be swayed to a cause if the reason behind it was just explained, if he pled to their humanity and compassion. And sure, some people were so far up their own bias that they'd refuse to listen, but it was worth a try.
Hell, it was how he got Ari to take a chance on asparagus. 
He was prepared to act on the same technique he'd use if they actually won, if they got a chance with Finley: Just talk. A conversation might be all they needed. The Reality Cage was potentially destructive. If Finley knew that, knew what was at stake, wouldn't she help them? It wasn't even as if she'd be responsible for destroying it. She'd just have to tell them how. Some part of her had to exist that would want them to succeed, to save people.
Jericho was inclined to believe that the same could be said about Sahota. He'd given them this chance in the first place, hadn't he? Why let them try at all, unless he wasn't too keen on killing Finley either? If that was true, if this was more than just a lesson in their own inadequacy, Jericho had hope that this whole mission wouldn't wind up as violent as he feared.
Footsteps drew his attention back to the corridor ahead, and he looked up to see Harbor, head drooping, wild multicolored hair obscuring his face. His walk was usually something between a sway and a stumble, but it looked more erratic now, with him nearly bumping into the walls as he went.
“Hey,” Jericho started, but his voice caught when his gaze landed on Harbor's hands. His knuckles were red, skin splitting in some places, blood drying in the lines of his fingers. Totally cut up, and not from the morning’s sparring matches, so that meant… Jericho’s stomach twisted.
Sahota.
Harbor didn't look up, passing right by him as if he wasn't even aware he was there.
“Harbor—”
“Fuck off,” he said in a voice that sounded bitten off, and disappeared around the corner. Jericho had to stop himself from chasing after the other man, from asking what happened.
It was pretty clear what had happened, but why? Harbor was rough around the edges, but he didn't seem like the kind of person who enjoyed hurting someone else, especially not a someone else who was already injured. A part of him hoped that he was jumping to conclusions, that Harbor had just… punched the wall or something to try and intimidate their trainer. But before he made it to the end of the hall, before he could even open the door, he knew what he would see.
An anxious sort of nausea built in Jericho’s stomach as he took in the scene, deliberately avoiding the focus of it as long as he could. The briefing room had been cleared, the big table pushed to one side to make space for the day's challenge. 
In the center, tied to a chair, sat Sahota. Blood and spit hung from his face in sticky strands, and his head sat heavy atop his shoulders, like he was struggling to keep it up. His cheek was split, the cut on his lip reopened and dribbling blood, and the eye that had been bruised was now nearly swollen shut.
Jericho’s heart beat faster. 
“Is your plan just to stand there?” Sahota mumbled. “Or do you have a better idea?”
And he was just acting like it hadn’t happened. Jericho had already gathered that Sahota didn't like to show any weakness, but this was bigger than pride. Their trainer had been hurt, while he was tied down, by someone who was supposed to be on their team.
“Are you okay?” He clearly wasn't.
“Fine.”
“Did Harbor do this?” Why was he asking such stupid, obvious questions? Why couldn't he make himself step forward to untie the other man? Because of how little he wanted to believe it was true? Because of how surreal it was?
“I… I told him to,” Sahota replied.
What? Hadn’t he warned them all not to do anything he couldn’t sleep off? No matter how tough Sahota was, this didn’t look like it fell into that category.
“Let me cut you loose,” Jericho said, finally breaking a leg free of the uncertainty that held it captive, taking a step closer.
“No,” Sahota said, and he froze in his tracks. “Do what you came to do or get out. I don’t need your help.”
Jericho grimaced. “Should we really continue? You should get cleaned up, maybe—”
“I said I'm fine.”
Same song, different verse. He'd said he was fine yesterday, even after they'd all seen the video that so clearly told them he wasn't. 
“Sahota…”
“Davis,” he answered in a clipped tone. “If you can't ignore the blood, leave.” He took a shaky breath, coughed, sent little flecks of red flying. “Tell me what information you're after and pursue it, or get out.”
Jericho exhaled through clenched teeth. It was pretty clear that no matter what he said, their trainer was determined to suffer through this. Was there any point in continuing? He could just leave. Walk away, abandon Sahota to his own wounds and pride, but it didn't feel right. What would happen? How long would it take Sahota to get free on his own? Better to finish the exercise and hope his trainer allowed help after it was completed.
“Okay,” he said, letting out a resigned sigh. “I want to know your first name. That’s what I’m after.”
“Then get on with it.”
Jericho took a deep breath. Ignore the blood. How was he supposed to do that?
“Hey,” he began, forcing a smile. “My… uh, my name's Jericho. I have a few questions for you, and…” he couldn't stay on track with this. He couldn't just pretend Sahota wasn't actively in pain in front of him.
“And I'd like to apologize for any rough treatment you received before I got here. It… that wasn't my intention,” he said. “I didn't want to hurt you.”
Sahota scoffed. It sounded closer to a wheeze. “Do you think Finley will buy that?”
“I don't… Maybe.” Jericho sighed. “Let me start again. Hey,” he said. “You… uh, you have some information that I need. Pretty badly." Everything he said just sounded dumb. "I want to know your name. Sounds weird, I know, but this… you could help me stop a lot of people from getting hurt.”
“What if she doesn't care?” Sahota said.
“There's hundreds of thousands of people in this city,” Jericho continued, trying not to let the other man's words deter him. “Right now, all of them are at risk. If you’ll just work with me here, we can keep them safe.”
Sahota didn't answer. And really, he had a point. Even if Finley did care about the well-being of the city, she’d have no reason to believe anything they said. How could they convince her?
“My family doesn't live here,” Jericho tried. He was truly thankful that they didn't. Having to worry about their safety, their potential destruction at the hands of an uncaring company would be terrible.
“My mom, daughter, aunts, uncles, cousins… they're not the ones in danger," he continued. "But people like them are. I’d never be able to sleep again if something just… destroyed people's lives. Something I could've prevented.” He clasped his hands together, hoped the motion looked sincere. “That's why I'm here. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to be your enemy. I just want to help people.”
Jericho sighed when that didn't get a response. He shouldn't be too disheartened. Sahota probably just didn't have much energy for conversation. Not after Harbor… did that. He glanced down at his own knuckles, still sore from fighting the taserbots just a few days ago. He'd saved Harbor. He’d thought they were finally starting to meld together and work as a team, but teammates didn't do this to each other. Even if Sahota had ordered it, why would he take it that far?
“I'm sorry about what happened,” he said. “I know someone on my team hurt you.” He swallowed. “Whoever… whoever touched you was in the wrong. You didn't deserve to be hurt like that, and… I'm sorry.” He was. He really was. He'd need to find Harbor after this. They could talk it out.
“I won't let it happen again,” Jericho said. “If someone tries to touch you, just let me know, okay? I'll stop them. I know I'm basically a stranger, but I promise I want to help you. I promise you're not alone. I—”
He stopped at an odd noise. A catch in Sahota's breath, a sound that was oddly familiar but out of place. It took a second for Jericho to realize that Ari made a sound just like it sometimes. When she was trying not to cry.
“Sahota?”
No answer, just another shaky inhale. Shoot, he knew he shouldn't have proceeded, not when he was all beat up like this. Even with Finley on the line… Vic be damned, he'd fight for it to be nothing more than a wasted day. He was fine abandoning the lead, he was fine admitting defeat here.
He wasn't fine leaving Sahota like this.
Jericho exhaled sharply through his nose, crossing the room in two strides to reach the chair their trainer was strapped to and setting to work on the knots. Surprisingly, Sahota didn't tell him off this time, just sat with his head bent and his shoulders shaking.
Why was he crying? Of course, Jericho couldn't blame him. He was probably overwhelmed with everything that was going on, and this was just the straw that had broken the camel's back. But what was ‘this’? What had been his breaking point? Had something he said triggered it?
He fumbled with the ropes, eventually managing to find a weak point in each knot and pull them loose, letting the bindings coil to the floor.
Now with his arms free, Sahota buried his face in his hands.
“Fuck,” he whispered in a thick voice. “I… I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Jericho said, taking a step back. The other man refused to look up. He could understand if he was embarrassed. Holding up an emotionless, unshakable facade all the time must be exhausting, but it would also be jarring to ever let it drop. He got it.
“The exercise is over,” Sahota said, still not raising his head.
“Alright.” Jericho couldn't let himself be mad about it. He'd given it a try, but if their trainer was just too overwhelmed right now, and no way was Jericho going to push him further. They could worry about Finley later. “Seriously though, are you okay?” he said. “There's no shame in not being fine. I know you're under a lot of stress.”
It took a moment for the other man to respond. “Go wait by the mats. I need to reset this room.”
I need some time alone.
“Okay,” Jericho said softly, backing towards the door. “Do you… want a hand getting patched up?”
“I'll handle it.”
Alright. He wouldn't push him. “Okay,” he said again. “I… guess I'll give you some space.” 
It felt like it was all for nothing. Their idea for a peaceful approach had already resulted in violence, and for what? They’d all failed. They were no closer to their goal than they'd been yesterday. 
He had one foot out the door when Sahota called after him.
“Davis.” It wasn't loud. It sounded uncertain, like he might ‘nevermind’ him and send him on his way. Jericho turned around, determined to be patient, to show he was at least willing to listen, even if their trainer said nothing else. But instead of sitting silent, instead of ordering him off, Sahota spoke. His head stayed bowed, hands tangled tightly around each other, eyes on the floor.
“It's Ander,” he said. “My name is Ander.”
×~×~×
tag list:
@theonewithallthefixations , @violets-whumperflies , @whump-me , @pirefyrelight , @soheavyaburden , @snakebites-and-ink , @whumpsday , @kixngiggles , @echo-goes-aaa , @whumpcateyes , @clickerflight
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marquezian · 29 days
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‘Some PRs won’t be happy until MotoGP is just a corporate event, stripped of its beauty and soul’
(OP Note: Mat Oxley has a new article out about his battle with KTM's PR but its behind a paywall so I grabbed it since it's a great read! here's the original link)
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The MotoGP paddock can be a battlefield between PRs and journalists, who have opposing goals. Once again Mat Oxley has a MotoGP PR machine coming after him and this time the fallout is gloriously entertaining
A couple of years ago I had a disagreement with the PR people from a MotoGP team who tried to stop me doing my job.
I wrote a blog about it. Because a journalist’s only power comes from his or her laptop. If we don’t tell these people to back off, pretty soon there’ll be no point in journalists attending races, so you’ll all just have to enjoy the PR releases instead.
Also, these stories offer fans an interesting insight into the weird and occasionally wonderful dynamics of a journalist’s life in the paddock.
Even better, this latest story is hilarious in its craziness. The team’s PR machine started out complaining that I hadn’t used a certain word in my story (even though I had), while banning their engineers from using that word.
Freaking weird.
It seems like PRs like these won’t be happy until MotoGP is no more than a soulless corporate marketing event, stripped of all its joy and beauty, existing purely to sell you stuff, with a bit of motorbike racing on the side. Just like Formula 1.
Most MotoGP PRs do a great job. They arrange interviews and generally help us to write about MotoGP. Back when I started, in the late 1980s, the only way to talk to a rider was to go knocking on his motorhome door. Or his tent.
Now some PRs behave like we’re there to help them do their job (flog product), rather than the other way around. If any PRs are in doubt about this, the clue is in their job title: PR, for press/public relations.
I still love MotoGP for the racing and technology, and I enjoy talking to the world’s greatest riders and engineers, but the layers of PR bullshit grow thicker and stickier each season.
Clashes between journalists and PRs are inevitable, because they have contradicting objectives. Journos want to dig into what’s going on, while a PR’s job is to protect the brand. Truth isn’t their number-one priority.
Like George Orwell wrote, “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations”.
The world’s first PR person was American Edward Bernays, who during World War I was hired by the US government to sell the idea of the country entering the war, when most Americans weren’t keen. He was so successful that he set up the world’s first PR agency after the war.
Among his numerous corporate gigs, Bernays was employed by the US tobacco industry to get women smoking, because at that time few women smoked. He consulted a Freudian psychoanalyst and promoted cigarettes to women as ‘torches of freedom’. This campaign was another big success.
Bernays’ work spawned a global PR industry that now works in every sphere of human endeavour.
Press relations – as Bernays proved – is a psychological game: you tell journalists selective truths, giving them information you want them to have, while hiding information you don’t want them to have. You cultivate friendships with journalists, because if they like you, they just may be nicer to your brand. And you stay friends, even if you hate their guts, because that’s a game.
Also useful is the possession of a vague idea of how journalism works. That’s why some of the best PRs are former journalists, who swapped sides to make more money. “Journalism is more fun,” one journo-turned-PR told me. “But PR is much more lucrative.”
The Red Bull KTM team is one of MotoGP’s best – hugely dedicated, massively hardworking and well looked after by its management. It enjoys possibly the best morale of any factory team. There’s always a buzz in the KTM garage – the mechanics really enjoy what they do and usually give a friendly nod when you walk down pit lane.
Its riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller are great to talk to and its engineers are generous with their time when you want a quick chat behind the garages. And I’ve had some great interviews with motor sport director Pit Beirer, engine designer Kurt Trieb, technical director Sebastian Risse, crew chief Paul Trevathan and others.
I last interviewed Risse (whose nickname in the team, which includes several Sebastians, is Clever Seb) during last November’s Malaysian GP.
The full interview was published on this site a while back, running to more than 2200 words. The print magazines I work for – in Europe, the USA, Australia and Japan – are more restricted on space, so I had just 500 words to cover each manufacturer, including rider and engineer quotes.
If an editor says he or she wants 500 words, you write 500 words, not 499 or 501. Magazine writing has to be tight, with quotes edited for clarity and brevity. I’ve been doing this for more than forty years, so I think I have the general idea.
PRs who try to control me by telling me what to write is like me walking into the KTM garage and telling the mechanics how to tighten the RC16’s brake bolts. I’d rightly get a slap.
And yet a KTM PR thought it a good idea to tell me how to do my job. This PR accused me of making “misquotations” in my magazine story and asked me to contact my editors, so they could make “the necessary corrections to reflect what was said accurately”.
At first, I thought it was a joke because I still have the tapes and transcripts of the interviews.
But I take the attack seriously. KTM asked these magazines to correct my text. I have no contracts with any of the magazines that publish my stuff, so I’m only ever as good as my last story. And why would an editor want to employ a journo who changes quotes to alter their meaning? Because that’s a serious crime in this job.
The attack seemed especially perverse because my story was very complimentary about KTM’s MotoGP project – “It’s a fantastic motorcycle to ride,” said Miller
To make sure I wasn’t being wrongheaded, I forwarded KTM’s email to two renowned MotoGP journalists, who between them have covered the championship for eighty years.
“I can’t understand what the complaints are about,” wrote Michael Scott, the doyen of MotoGP journalists, who started covering GPs in the early 1980s. “It is a journalist’s job to edit comments for brevity and comprehensibility. However, if someone is going to nitpick about exact wording, you either have to adopt the approach of [a former MotoGP journalist] and publish every ‘um’ and ‘er’ and every half-finished sentence and end up with overlong garble, or report in indirect speech, to preserve clarity and ensure brevity. They are nitpicking because they are nits.”
Sounds like a carpet stroller trying justify their existence,” wrote my other colleague, who covered his first GP around the same time. “It’s astounding, just mindless nitpicking. The really baffling thing is that the context of your story is 500 words of positivity about how KTM are tech trendsetters!”
I would’ve published the rest of this email, but it was way too rude.
I even contacted Britain’s National Union of Journalists to ask its opinion. “I can’t see anything that changed the meaning,” replied an NUJ advisor.
So why is KTM so mad at me?
The first complaint concerned my magazine headline and subsequent discussion about the RC16’s carbon-fibre frame.
(Italics denote their words.)
“We note that in the headline you included ‘CARBON’ whereas in the text itself you’ve removed this and kept it to just ‘frame’.”
A quick read of the story – below – reveals that the word ‘carbon’ did indeed appear within the story. Twice. Whatever they’re smoking is making them paranoid and confused. And a bit sleepy too.
Next, KTM complained about this.
“We are convinced that sooner or later everyone will have carbon frames,” says Risse.
This sentence was edited for clarity from the original, “We are convinced that sooner or later everyone will end up on this”. This was Risse’s answer to my eighth consecutive question about the RC16’s carbon-fibre frame, so there was no doubt that “this” referred to carbon frames, so the meaning hasn’t been changed.
Their last complaint concerned this Miller quote…
“We’ve been able to find more grip with the carbon-fibre frame, so the thing I’ve been working on is understanding the front end to carry more corner speed.”
This quote was subbed for clarity and brevity, from 49 words to 28. Cutting text is a major part of a journalist’s job – in fact it often takes longer to edit a story down to the required word count than to write the first draft.
This was Miller’s full quote…
“We’ve been able to find quite a bit more grip with the new chassis, so that’s the biggest thing we were trying to chase and we’ve got some steps coming to keep improving that and trying to understand the front end a bit more, to carry some corner speed.”
Again, both quotes say the same thing: the new frame gives more grip, but we need to find more corner speed.
What the PRs would’ve liked me to write was something like this, to signal each of my edits to the reader…
Risse, “We are convinced that sooner or later everyone will end up on [have] this [carbon-fibre frame technology]”.
And…
Miller, “We’ve been able to find [quite a bit] more grip with the new [carbon-fibre] chassis [sic, the swingarm was already carbon-fibre], so [that’s the biggest thing we were trying to chase and we’ve got some steps coming to keep improving that] and [Ed: what he’s been working on is] trying to understand the front end a bit more, to carry some corner speed.”
There’s a reason you never read quotes like this: because they’re ugly to read, they make the speaker sound ridiculous and they use twice the space, so the story would contain half the information.
This is why I don’t like PR people telling me how to be a journalist.
As already noted, the story praised KTM’s valiant attempts to beat Ducati. Perhaps its PR geniuses would’ve been happier if I’d more accurately reflected KTM’s recent efforts in MotoGP and written this instead…
Despite massive investment from KTM and Red Bull, working with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (arguably the world’s foremost motor sport aerodynamicists), having one of the best riders on the grid and taking some of the key brains from MotoGP dominators Ducati and Öhlins, KTM is the only manufacturer not to have won a single dry-weather grand prix in almost three years, since June 2021. Even Honda and Suzuki have won more dry GPs in that period.’
During the Sepang tests I had a lively, er, conversation with KTM, in the hope they’d realise their accusations were false. The PR doubled down, so I suggested KTM sues me, so we could go to court and let the experts decide. My offer was declined.
When I got home from Sepang I contacted the magazines that had published the story, because KTM wanted them to make corrections, where possible.
And this is when things got really funny.
The first of my editors that contacted KTM’s PRs told them he had reviewed the transcripts and story and saw no need for any corrections. It provoked this response from KTM’s motor sport PR chief.
“To be clear on this – nobody from KTM clarified that the new chassis was a carbon fibre chassis in 2023 and we were surprised and disappointed to read it as a quote from an official KTM spokesperson.”
So that’s it! KTM engineers weren’t allowed to use the term carbon-fibre to describe the RC16’s new frame, even though everyone was talking about it.
Risse and I spent more than three minutes talking specifically about the carbon frame. He went into some detail describing how it improved the bike but couldn’t actually say carbon-fibre.
How wild is that?!
KTM’s PR wonks had gone wonky – they were in a terminal tank-slapper, triggered by diametrically opposing brainwaves.
What I would’ve given to be sat in that PR/marketing meeting…
“Ladies and gentlemen, our genius MotoGP engineers have designed a genius new frame, so our genius marketing plan is to ban our genius engineers from mentioning their genius creation to anyone. Even though everyone already knows about it.”
“Dude, you’re a marketing genius!”
High-fives all round.
I assume that following this great meeting of the minds the KTM PR team gave KTM’s actual chief MotoGP engineer a bollocking for not telling me that the carbon-fibre frame didn’t exist.
Talk about the tail trying to wag the dog.
And now the crowning glory to this comedy wild-goose chase.
A few weeks after my chat with Risse, another journalist interviewed Risse and he did say the word that should not be said. (I wonder if the crack PRs returned to the office of their actual chief engineer to give him another bollocking.)
So, the PR boss was being economical with the truth when he told me that, “nobody from KTM clarified that the new chassis was a carbon fibre chassis in 2023”.
These people have their knickers in such a twist that I wonder how they get out of bed in the morning.
One last thought: a PR’s job isn’t only to establish good relations with journalists, it’s their job to promote MotoGP to a wider audience.
Considering that motorcycle racing is currently the world’s 30th most popular sport (after horse dressage!), I believe these PRs would be better spending their time trying to grow the sport – by getting stories in mainstream magazines and so on – instead of chasing after journalists for petty nothings.
Finally, I’d like to wish Red Bull KTM all the best for the 2024 season. They’re a great bunch of people (mostly) and I’d love to see them winning GPs again.
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fatfables · 17 days
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New Story! - Fat Boys in Space!
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“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe they chose me! After all the hard work I’ve put in, I’ve finally made it!”
Shane had good reason to be ecstatic. He had been dreaming of this since he was seven years old. For the last twelve years he had done nothing but sit around snacking and playing simulated games in his room. He always did his best to consume the minimum daily calories, he had skipped school, given up all sports, sat on his ass, and eaten his way to success. He had done everything required of him to become a test pilot and had actually been chosen out of thousands of wannabe Surfeits to represent the Surplus Space Core. His parents were delighted.
The day before he left for Florida his friends threw him a surprise party. The whole town of Abundance, Oklahoma, population 136, came out to celebrate with him. All of his best friends were there; ‘Chonky’ Charlie Cheesecake, ‘Meaty’ Mike Mitchell, ‘Flabby’ Francis France, and ‘Portly’ Paul Porter. The whole gang was there. They were all super stoked for their friend but also incredibly jealous.
“I can’t mmfff believe that you got mmff picked,” Chonky said through a mouthful of Cadbury’s Chocolate Roll.
“What did you mmff do that’s so mmff fucking special?” Asked Meaty through a mouthful of meatloaf.
“He mmff did fucking mmff nothing. He just mmff got mmff lucky,” said Flabby through a mouthful of sour Kimchi.
“I mmff guess they mmff just appreciated mmff just how mmff fat and mmff lazy I’ve mmff been,” said Shane through a massive mouthful of mmff meatballs.
“He is mmff the laziest mmff kid in mmff Abundance,” said Chonky supportively through another mouthful of Chocolate Roll.
The other boys were forced to nod in agreement. All of their mouths were too full to speak. 
All of them had been born into the Abundance community within the last twenty years and took their mmff lifestyle for granted. Their parents, or their grandparents, had at some point chosen to join the Surplus, they knew no different.
Life for them was all pizzas and parties. None of them knew when or where the Surplus movement had started and none of them cared to ask. Life was too much fun, too fulfilling. Everything tasted too good to question why. All they knew to do was play simulated games and eat. What else was there?
All of the adults in Abundance were at least 300 lbs and most of the kids were fatter. Especially the teens. Afterall, every parent wants their kid to have a better life than they’ve had. This was the Surplus way.
Shane was 332 lbs and 5 ft 10 in tall. He had short brown hair, parted on the left, and big chubby chipmunk cheeks to match his wide oval belly. He had always been a contented and happy boy, who never wanted for anything - except to go into space. His loving parents had always doted on their only child and had always supplied him with all the food he could ever need. They were so proud of their ‘Sugarplum boy.’ And now he had been selected to represent their kind in the race to find a new home.
The dream of building a moon base where the Surplus could live comfortably and grow to as of yet unachievable sizes in a lower gravity atmosphere had been out of reach for the last three generations due to the financial efforts required for such a mission. Now after the government purchase of the McDonald’s corporation the money was finally in place to actually do it. And Shane had been chosen.
As the guest of honour at the party Shane was expected to consume more than any other person there. Outeating the other 135 members of his town was a challenge that he was relishing. He had long been able to out eat his parents, a source of pride for them, and his friends, although they hated to admit this. However, there were one or two locals there who made him very nervous. The main one was an older boy called Dave Domycket. Dave was a lot heavier than Shane though also quite muscular. He had bought into the gluttony of his parents lifestyle but had never quite got to grips with the sedentary nature of it. He had always been full of energy and hence moved too much. This is why he had not been chosen. He really needed some Ritalin with his ramen.
Shane shouldn’t have worried, ‘Chonky’ Charlie had him covered. He had spent the last two hours filling the hyperactive twenty something with beer. Dave was too drunk and bloated to pose a threat. Being unaware of this Shane ate with gusto. He gobbled down gammon and gravy, pigged out on pork, and stuffed himself silly with spaghetti. His rotund belly swelled and he went to bed that night safe in the knowledge that he would turn up in Florida the next day as fat as a ball of butter.
Corpulent Chuck met him the next day at the gates to the base.
“My you are shorter than your weight is designed for aren’t you!” He said as he welcomed Shane with a big bear hug. “I’m sorry that the Captain isn’t here to meet you himself but he couldn’t be bothered. He’s in his room eating pure bacon and playing simulated Restaurant Owner 5.”
“No problem,” said Shane, “I’m sure he’s not a very busy man.”
Corpulent Chuck showed Shane around the base. It generally went like this:
“This is the mmff human mmff centrifuge. We probably mmff won’t worry about mmff putting you in that.”
“This is the mmff vending machine by the mmff centrifuge. Would you like an mmff Snickers?”
“Yes please.”
“This is the mmff anti-gravity rig. We mmff don’t need to mmff concern ourselves about mmff that.”
“This is the mmff vending machine by the mmff anti-mmff-gravity thingamajig. Would you like another mmff Snickers?”
“Thank you.”
“This is the mmff control centre. I probably should mmff introduce you to the the mmff people in there but over here is the mmff canteen shall we get some mmff lunch?”
“Yes please. I’m starving!”
The two of them sat down to a light lunch of twenty six cheeseburgers. While they munched, Corpulent Chuck explained the nature of the mission to Shane in more detail. I’ll paraphrase it for you so that it goes mmff quicker.
The basic Surplus moonbase is already in place but is currently unmanned due to an incident that Corpulent Chuck can’t divulge. Shane’s job is to fly up there solo to check out the base in order to ensure that it’s safe for habitation. He won’t need any special training for this because if it isn’t then he will die. They will then know that there is a problem that hasn’t gone away. If it is safe, then all he has to do is call them from the base and they’ll send another team up to join him. Simple.
Shane smiled and nodded in agreement, like he understood, because he wasn’t listening. He was too busy eating his cheeseburgers and watching his stomach grow like a good boy.
The next day he was dressed up in a spacesuit, shoved into a rocket, shown where the food dispenser was, and told that the autopilot would take care of everything.
The G-force during take-off was like nothing he had ever experienced before. His heavy 48 inch ass was flattened out as he was pushed down into his chair. His belly sank down to his knees and splayed out over his thighs like a tablecloth. His moobs pressed down into his chest like an elephant was sitting on them and his chubby chipmunk cheeks jiggled around at a fantastic speed. He had never felt so heavy. He loved it. It was like he had suddenly become a hundred times heavier. Space really was a dream come true. I never knew that zero gravity would feel this good, he thought.
He really hadn’t been to school in the last five years.
After a few minutes the force began to lessen as the rocket left the Earth's atmosphere behind. After ten minutes a big sign lit up telling him that it was safe to remove his seatbelt.
He was shocked and amazed when his huge 338 lb ass floated up out of the seat. For a moment he was caught up in a mild panic as he just floated aimlessly around the cabin bumping into instruments. But he quickly got used to it and remembered about the food dispenser.
Having never been swimming it took him a few more moments to realise that he needed to move his arms in order to propel himself in the direction that he wanted to go. Nobody had warned him that he would be required to exercise. He swam ungracefully through the air banging his belly and butt into everything along the way. One machine buzzed at him when he did so but he didn’t worry about it.
When he reached the food dispenser he tried to browse the touchscreen menu in order to select the McDonald’s items on offer in space. This proved to be difficult due to the thick gloves that he was wearing on his fat hands. He bashed his fat fingers against the screen in frustration and by sheer chance and will power managed to order thirty two Big Macs, seventeen quarter pounders, ninety two nuggets, twenty six strawberry milkshakes, and a hundred and twelve portions of fries. He really wanted some standard cheeseburgers as well but couldn’t seem to manage it, no matter how many times he bashed his fat palm against the menu.
He punched the screen in frustration. There was a loud whirring sound and thirty two Big Macs, seventeen quarter pounders, ninety two nuggets, twenty six strawberry milkshakes, and a hundred and twelve portions of fries were fired out of a dispensing hatch straight at him.
The shock of this caused him to fly a few feet backwards and he bashed into another machine that clicked and clunked. He looked around him at all the tasty floating meaty treats and wondered how in hell he was supposed to eat any of it with this stupid helmet on.
In the cockpit a screen was flashing telling him that the oxygen level was in standard parameters and that it was safe to remove his suit and helmet.
He screamed in hangry frustration and once more flew backwards, this time onto a remote latch with a red warning light on it. The light flashed behind him and the emergency door opened. His bulging ass, thirty two Big Macs, seventeen quarter pounders, ninety two nuggets, twenty six strawberry milkshakes, and a hundred and twelve portions of fries were sucked out into the vacuum of space.
“I need to talk to KOFC. There’s been another incident.”
“Please wait a minute. I’ll try to connect you.”
“Hello Mr President Sir, this is Captain Crunch. We’ve lost another one.”
“Oh for mmff’s sake! You useless fucking mmff piece of mmff shit! Do you have any fucking mmff idea how much these fucking mmff rockets mmff cost?!”
“Apologies, Sir. Yes, I do, Sir.”
“What the fuck happened this mmff time?”
“Emergency door malfunction.”
“And the mmff pilot?”
“Dead Sir.”
“Oh well, Just chose another fucking mmff one. At least we’ve got plenty of mmff them!”
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turtlesandfrogs · 6 months
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Tips for foraging inside city limits!
For those who don't know me, I've been foraging my whole life, and while I started off down a gravel road and backed up to timberlands, I now live less than a block from a strip mall.
The first thing to know about foraging in city limits is that there's way more wonderfully tasty food growing for free than you'd think.
The second thing to know is that you'd better wash your food and make sure you're not harvesting from a superfund site unknowingly.
The third thing to know is that there's a little more networking involved than when you're foraging "undeveloped" land.
Getting started:
There are two keys to successful urban foraging: you need to get to know the area, and you need to get to know the plants.
I strongly recommend developing a walking (or wheeling) habit. As a forager, you're going to want to get familiar with the individual plants in your area, and you just can't do that at the speed a car or bus moves. Make note of the potential plants, and watch how they're growing and yielding from one year to another (pear trees, for example, are famous for being alternate year barers- meaning if they have hardly any this year, they might have a bumper crop the next).
You also need to learn the plants- in urban areas I tend to focus on foraging from invasive species, and agricultural species that I know grow prolifically where I am. Check your local invasive species, and see which are edible. In my area, Himalayan blackberries are very invasive, and pretty darn good. No one is going to mind you picking Himalayan blackberries, because they are so prolific that there will always be more. Different areas will have different edible invasive species, and it pays to learn them.
I recommend going to a plant nursery and seeing which fruiting trees, bushes, and shrubs do well in your area and bare prolifically. People often plant a tree, and then years later, they realize it produces enough for five families, and they'd love for someone else to come pick. Or someone planted a tree decades ago, and now someone else lives there and doesn't care for the fruit. Sometimes, they even pick the fruit for you and put it out with a little free sign. I've also had great luck asking. Usually, people are more than happy for you to take some because to them, it's just a mess. I've also had good luck posting to local gardening groups on Facebook, or buy-nothing groups, or Craigslist, or putting up flyers that say something along the lines of "I'll come pick your fruit and leave you a portion" or "let me pick your fruit and I'll make you a crumble". That usually gets me more than I want.
Places to forage:
Peoples' yards: While you're wandering around, observe which fruits and nuts in your area are so prolific that loads go to waste. Here, it's usually apples, pears, figs, blackberries, raspberries, plums, walnuts, chestnuts, and acorns. Complement (authentically) people on their yards when you see them, gardeners are enthusiastic and generous and love enthusiasm from others. Be authentic in your appreciation, though, and don't expect anything. Part of what you're doing is building connections and recognition. If they offer you something, be excited and thankful, and they might tell others about you when excess food comes up. I've indirectly gotten apples, figs, peaches, plums, and walking onions this way. I've also written notes and left them in mailboxes before, and I have had some success just straight up asking about figs and apples. I've even gotten foraging permission by being an enthusiastic young person at a gardening club, class, or show.
Back alleys, overgrown fences between public and private spaces, corporate grounds that someone planted and forgot about: is obvious when food isn't wanted or cared for. If there are pounds of fruit or nuts laying on the ground, and some has already gone bad, and it's in a public area, I say go for it. I'll often pick up the bad ones too, and bring them home to compost, just to make the area nicer for others.
College campuses: often edible species get planted because they're pretty, and no one cares if you pick up the nuts or fruits. It pays to learn some unusual edibles. I've gotten strawberry tree fruits, edible dogwood, and ginko this way. Sometimes they've got demonstration gardens, and they want people to take the food. It is worth it to ask.
Some examples from within short waking distance of one bus route in a town:
These are Himalayan blackberries.
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These are everywhere. These are very prolific where I am, and if one section is picked clean, there's another 100 feet away that's still loaded.
This is a plum tree.
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Actually, it's several plum trees, because plums come true from seed and this one has been dropping plums for years. This is in a public park, and probably got started in the neighbor's yard. Every year, I pick dozens of plums from the ground and tree, and every year there are hundreds more that don't get picked.
This is a pear tree:
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I've gotten permission to pick from this tree before, but this year was a bad year for it. Next year it will probably be loaded, as it has in the past.
This is yarrow.
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A lot of eco-concious cities are starting to add yarrow to their lawns, because it's drought tolerant, native to North America, and tolerates mowing and foot traffic very well. Also, my city doesn't spray herbicides. Yarrow makes a lovely tea. Also, if you go to the edges of the lawn area, up against trees and shrubs and such, they often don't quite get the edges so you can get the flowers, too. Just be cognizant of how many dogs are likely to have been doing their business and try to pick an unpopular spot.
This is a red currant that someone planted, and someone else did a terrible job of pruning:
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It's in a volunteer park, where people want you to pick the food. I have snacked often on this plant.
These are acorns:
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I'm only competing with non-native squirrels for this one. I'm going to try to make something from them this year.
No matter what you're harvesting, never take more than you can use. Learn some ways to preserve the harvest too- freezing and drying are probably the easiest, but canning, jams, and jellies aren't that hard. You will probably end up with more than you need or want if you're anything like me. In that case, buy-nothing groups, gardening groups, and mutual-aid networks are a great way to share the bounty and sometimes set up trades, or get future foraging opportunities.
Hope that helps!
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mr-jaybird · 2 months
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actually, reblogging that post about not looking down on community college makes me want to talk about my experiences and career to show like look. you don't have to do what your high school guidance counselor said was best
at 19 (august birthday), i went straight from high school to a four year college. i did really well academically but my mental health was BAD and after two years admin insisted i leave to receive treatment. straight up would not let me be at school anymore (undiagnosed bipolar is a bitch)
at 21 i dropped out and worked for $7.25/hr at starbucks and also got mental health treatment (and meds!!!). at 22 i went back to school at community college part time and knocked out some gen eds (and also a couple classes just for fun, like theater)
at 24 i went to a different 4 year school. i changed my major (to psych), did three years there and graduated with an excellent gpa and extensive research experience (i busted my ass there, and since i took time off to get healthy, it went a lot better!). since i'd knocked out most of my gen eds, i got to concentrate on classes i cared about. my last year i was a part time student and worked as a paid research assistant more extensively, and did a honors thesis. i also taught myself the basics of programming my last year
i graduated at 26 and got my first programming and data science job (in fintech, blegh). it was terrible. my degree was largely unrelated and they didn't give me any training. they also expected constant unpaid overtime. i was just trying to hang in there and make enough to pay my rent. i actually was struggling so much i almost got fired. i had something of a nervous breakdown but stayed there long enough (18 months) to get a better job in the same field
at 28 i went back to the tech side of public mental health health (yay! and my degree is sorta relevant again). i worked for government. their tech stack was...less than corporate, and i was pretty bored. but i did really well there since i was overqualified! but they wouldn't promote me because i had the "wrong" degree :(
i was planning to leave that job because of no upward mobility when i was invited to apply for my current job, which is the head of data science for a public mental health lab at a public ivy university. they had heard of me from my boss's boss at my government job (networking!). i got that job just before i turned 30. my first year there was really stressful because of the neglect of my predecessor. i had another nervous breakdown. but this job was cool about my mental health and gave me a paid leave and i was able to fully recover and come back and thrive. i love what i do now and at 31, i'm getting a significant promotion from where i was when i started here!
the point of all of this is, i did a lot of things people think are "wrong". i took gap years, i dropped out, i changed my major, i went to community college, i had the "wrong" major, i had to take mental health leaves, etc etc. but i'm still successful and happy with my career! when i was working at starbucks and sleeping on a friend's air mattress i thought i'd be there forever. you never know what might happen in the future (good or bad).
if you can avoid having 3(!) nervous breakdowns in a decade that's better than i've done. but listen: i've failed. i've fucked up. i've been kicked out of school and almost fired and i've come back from it! i had to go on a mental health leave from my current job and they are still really happy with everything i've done there (now i'm just working on doing it in a way that's more sustainable). you don't have to be a perfect person to do well.
and seriously, community college saves a ton of $$$ and no one has ever cared i knocked out my gen eds there. you don't have to follow the "traditional" path, you just need to find something that works for you!
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moonartemisia · 4 months
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BLUE LOCK TAROT ANALYSIS
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Blue lock Tarot and their numerology analysis post! Since the official art of the illustrations came out for the new merch, I'm surprised to see the boys in all Major Arcana cards that resonate their personality through each of them. Major Arcanas in tarot are the Nature in all the richness of its infinite possibilities, and there is in it as in Nature, not one but all potential meanings. These meanings are fluent and ever-changing. Major Arcanas also represents the human consciousness, these kinds of cards you'll see in a tarot set. Major Arcanas are the full-time cards that hold your life choices and other changes that resonate within you. So, let's start
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It's no to surprise that Isagi's Major Arcana is "The Fool" numerology stands for is the unnumbered card 0, this represents The Fool as the main character of the Major Arcana and makes his journey through each of the cards, meeting new teachers and learning new life lessons along the way, and eventually reaching the completion of his journey with the World card. This is known as the Fool's Journey and is a helpful way of understanding the story line of the Major Arcana Tarot card meanings. This makes sense as he is the MC of Blue lock, and better yet, noticing his rank place in the facility is 299! Also, meaning to say that Isagi, being the Fool, resonates his improvements and meets new players within the Blue Lock facility, holds guidance, and stepping stone to his adventures.
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As it stems moving in the numerology 0, the standing number of the fool card. 0 is a symbol of nothingness or complete freedom from limitations. In numerology, it is often referred to as the void, as it represents potential and choice. It most likely means that positive change is on the way. This connects to Isagi's rational and spatial awareness when it comes to see or he predicting his next goals in soccer. But when in reverse, "The Fool" card, it serves as a call to reevaluate your intentions, motivations, and inner guidance. It prompts you to examine if you might be holding back due to concerns about others' opinions or unrealistic expectations.
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This makes total sense of Bachira's Major Arcana that he is "The Sun" numerology is 19. This card is generally considered positive. It is said to reflect happiness and contentment, vitality, self-confidence, and success. Sometimes referred to as the best card in tarot, it represents good things and positive outcomes to current struggles. In this case, we know how Bachira is full of his enthusiasm. As Bachira being the sun card resonates his positive nature of being himself. Glowing his self-acceptance like how he surfaces his inner monster to create his unique ways towards Blue Lock. In the reversed position, the Sun indicates of significant difficulties finding positive aspects to certain situations. The clouds might be blocking out the warmth and light that needs to progress. This might be preventing from feeling confident and powerful. May experience certain setbacks which are damaging your optimism and enthusiasm. In numerology, 19 defines as highly ambitious and have a strong drive for success and power.
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I'm a bit surprised to see Rin having the emperor card here. So the emperor card often represents a mature figure seated on a throne or a soldier holding a shield and sword. This card signifies responsibility, courage, and intelligence. Sometimes, it can even symbolize a real person in your life, like a corporate executive, a political leader, or a respected warrior. It really personified Rin in the truly card because of his own goals and what he can do in his ways to achieve them — like an emperor conquering what he does at best to prove which it is no doubt! This card is suggestive of stability and security in life. You are on top of things and everything in under your control. It is the essence of hard work, discipline and self control that have bought you this far. It means that you are in charge of your life now setting up your own rules and boundaries. This takes place as to what Rin stabilize himself to be better at his game in soccer. He would do whatever it takes to be on top of his league just like that.
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When in reverse the card can be tyrant, domineering, rigid, stubborn, lack of discipline, recklessness. Definitely describes Rin as his stoic and unfriendly behavior shows within the series. Number 4 is the standing number of this major Arcana card meaning Memory. Logical mental reasoning by the physical man full of Spirit. Being able to express oneself in a socially accepted way in the material universe. Measurement. The reality of life on earth and being able to express oneself in it.
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Now let's move onto KuniGiri cards, respectively they are "The Death" (13) and "The Magician" (1). But, first let's start with Kunigami first.
Kunigami takes the first numbered major Arcana card which is the Magician, the Magician is one tarot card that is filled with symbolism. The central figure depicts someone with one hand pointed to the sky, while the other hand points to the ground, as if to say "as above, so below". This is a rather complicated phrase, but its summarization is that earth reflects heaven, the outer world reflects within, the microcosm reflects the macrocosm, earth reflects God. It can also be interpreted here that the magician symbolizes the ability to act as a go-between between the world above and the contemporary, human world. Indeed as the Magician bestows there's balance in between the space of human nature meaning this interprets Kunigami's personality depicted as the hero or so well term for his respective mannerism that being differed from the facility. The Magician also has the potential innate to the fool! Speaking of how he and Isagi before the previous interactions and now in their NEL matches that made changes of how they build-up together as 0 and 1 are closely in order of the major arcanas. It is hard to believe that in the reverse of the Magician implies as manipulation, cunning, trickery, wasted talent, illusion, deception. Which we all know what Kunigami put himself into the wildcard in the present chapters. 1 in numerology represents fiercely independent, competitive, determined, value their freedom, are original, have leadership qualities, are self-reliant, etc. Number 1's, can accomplish whatever they set their minds to. They are perpetually brimming with new ideas and this is what gives them happiness.
On Chigiri's analysis of "The Death" card, death is one of the most feared cards in a Tarot Deck, and it is very misunderstood. Many people avoid mentioning this card because it has that much power. Most times, people take the name of the card literally. However, the real meaning within the Death card is one of the most positive in the whole deck. The Death card signals that one major phase in your life is ending, and a new one is going to start. Leaving to close one door, so the new one will open. The past needs to be placed behind you, so you can focus your energy on what is ahead of you. Perfectly fitting for our princess Chigiri as it reminds me of how his past brings a burden for him, in the ACL injury incident that thought himself that he wouldn't be the genius at soccer he wouldn't be. But let alone he was free after taking another new form of himself as a "rebirth" or transition of his new path in Blue Lock! The old version needs to ‘die’ to allow the new you to be created. This can be a scary time for you because you may be unsure of what will happen in the future. Even if you are scared, you should welcome the change because you are opening the door to new life events.
The Death reversal meaning is still about change, but that you have been resisting it. You could be worried about letting go of the past, or could not be sure of the changes that needs to make to go forward. Resisting the change and holding onto the past can limit your future, which can cause you to feel like you are in limbo. Man, if this ain't Chigiri when he is contemplating when he should run like before or nah well it resonates his hesitation during the previous chapter where he is afraid of breaking another limb or he will quit soccer. But that's a beautiful trump card he got imo. Thus, the number 8 of the card indicates major changes.
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Lastly, NagiReo. Nagi resonates the star card (17) while Reo is the Hermit (9). So let's analyze first Nagi's cause it's really interesting. So The Star card defines within the tarot embodies a sense of hope, inspiration, and profound positivity. It signifies a renewal of spirit, bringing forth calmness, serenity, and an optimistic outlook for the future. This is a time of significant personal growth and development as you are now ready to receive. I see that no wonder The Star card is on Nagi is he symbolizes what we know him as the potential lazy genius player that today in his self-development grind to where he is today being motivated and finding his purpose goal in attaining to reach the blue lock ego level and yet being the best of the best as he changes throughout every chapter. In the reverse is what we get as his usual unmotivated self the opposite of the tarot. The Star Reversed can mean that you’ve lost faith and hope in the Universe.
The numerology of the star card means of the number 17, which reduces to 8. The number 8 is about power and success.
Reo's card being The Hermit respectively is the "withdrawal from events and relationship to introspect and gather strength." Seeking the inner voice or calling upon vision from within. A need of understanding and advice, or a wise person who will offer knowing guidance. A card of personal experience and thoughtful temperance. This goes to the ideals and plans that Reo visualize with Nagi when they set foot to play football and has a calling for having Nagi being his best duo when it comes at all times. It really resembles how Reo defines the Hermit card. The hermit's appearance in a reading can also denote the appearance of someone who will come to your life that will be your mentor. In reverse, the Hermit card stems, loneliness, exile, withdrawal from loved ones, misfits, and sadness. In the numerology, the number 9 is powerful. It represents completion, although not a final ending—more like the fulfillment of one cycle so that you can prepare to initiate the next one. It's a recognition of life's ongoing ebb and flow.
That's all for the analysis of this post! What do you all think?
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roguenancy · 1 year
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I feel like people have theorized to hell and back about Steve’s family situation (no problem with that, of course!) but I rarely see anything about Robin. What do you think her relationship with her parents is like?
Oh for sure! I personally really enjoyed the characterization we got for them in Rebel Robin. I realize it's not necessarily considered "canon," but for me, it scratched such an itch and was better than anything I had come up for them prior, so I was happy to let it take over.
In Rebel Robin, Robin says her parents (Melissa & Richard Buckley) had her on accident, the result of a lovely little adult session in the back of a VW van. They're hippies. Flower children who — according to Robin — are very much still stuck back in the 70s. There are a lot of comments regarding how they have zero tolerance for dehumanizing talk, stand for free love, often went to protests, are against "The Man," skipped school for days at a time, and took entire summers off to travel all around the country, were nude in most of the photographs from their youth, or had unruly, long hair— specifically Robin's dad who did it as a form of rebellion against his own parents!
They aren't the type to believe in worrying. In fact, at one point, Robin admits that once when she was younger, her parents had caught her worrying and responded by making her chant affirmations and putting crystals on her forehead. Instead, they're the type of parents who, Robin says, "are always disappointed when [she is] not wilder." Her moments of tucking herself away in her room at eight p.m. sharp are often met with long-winded recounts of all the things they used to do at night when they were teenagers, like sneaking out, skinny-dipping, begging for cheap beer from older friends, and howling at the moon. The latter of which Robin says her mom still does sometimes.
They don't believe in heavily parenting or punishing/grounding their kid, openly smoke pot in front of her while dancing around their living room to Fleetwood Mac, throw mantras around like they're the only sense of reason in the world, taught their daughter that family dinners were nothing more than "patriarchal bullshit" and that the four food groups were a "corporate scheme by Big Dairy," and all but worship macramé and lava lamps. All of which begins to add up to parents who are anything but traditional.
This resulted in Robin growing up with a sense of family that wasn't exactly... balanced.
It wasn't bad, per say, even Robin admits to how warm and loving her home has always been, but often times things were not exactly set out the way one would expect them to be, let alone the way that they should be. For instance, there's a moment in the book where Robin states, "I hope my parents managed to feed themselves without me around" after she's out late one night. She goes on to explain that she's been cooking about half of their dinners each night since she started high school because her parents both hate domestic chores. While this isn't bad — there are certainly plenty of people I know who took on the role of cooking for their family once they entered high school, and even sometimes sooner — it does start to set the tone for the more hands-off style her parents tend to take on when it comes to responsibilities. Something that is only further confirmed by the fact that Robin often describes herself as a latchkey kid from the fifth grade onwards, mentions having called her parents by their first name rather than mom or dad up until the age of six and says that them even attempting to "parent" comes off a little weird and is usually less than successful since they have no real idea of what they're doing.
Together, all of this made for a nice but distant relationship between Robin and her parents. She loves them, and they love her, but they're hardly sitting down together to take a complete and total interest in each other's lives or learn the day-to-day struggles one another goes through. This leaves things a little limited, with Robin having the idea that her parents do not know or understand her. She also seems to feel a large deal of responsibility when it comes to being the adult in the house since both Melissa and Richard seem to lack and oftentimes holds herself to higher standards than most kids do as a result of wanting to be better in order to make up for her parent's deficiency.
However, despite the distance between them... Robin admits she's not worried about what will happen when her parents find out she's a lesbian. In fact, their reactions are one of the only good things she found herself holding on to since the realization hit. She knew they'd accept her — even when the rest of the town wouldn't, leaving Robin to say she feels like she basically won the "filial lottery."
It's not a perfect dynamic by any means. They're flawed but real in some ways, I like to think. At least in comparison to, say, the Wheelers or even the Harringtons, who are more focused on the classic nuclear family archetype and picturesque images with picket fences and no shortcomings in sight. And while it might not be canon, as I mentioned before, I do really enjoy it, so it takes up a large part of my brain and is usually the backstory I fall back on when it comes to Robin's family!
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jeremywhitley · 1 year
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Julie Power, Queer Relationships and OTPs
Hey, two provisos before I jump into what I’m about to say:
1) My last name is not Marvel and I don’t own these characters. Before and after I write them, other people will write and/or have written them. Most of them. That’s what success in corporate comics looks like in this day and age - not that you get to write a character/group of characters forever but that other creators remember they exist and include them in new stories and they get to have a long happy life. That said, characters change and the valid interpretation is the one that leads to more stories. You, as a fan, are also interpreted to love whatever version of the character you like as long as you don’t hassle creators about it.
2) As always, I am not the perfect person to write this mini-essay, I’m just the one writing the comic and therefore the one that can explain the thoughts and feelings that went into making the decisions I did.
We good? Okay. Let’s continue!
Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual or wherever else a person falls in a spectrum does not make a person more or less than human. It does not make every relationship perfect. In fact, having a sexuality for which there isn’t quite as many years of literature and self-help books often leads to complications that you don’t know how to navigate. It is a rarely acknowledged but pretty obvious fact that this would go double or more for people who were also dealing with the complications of being a superhero in the modern era. A lot of those people have experiences with multiple apocalypse scenarios, a knowledge that there are parallel universes in which pareallel versions of them exist (like a version of me who types parallel the same way twice in a row, one can dream), mind control, reality manipulation, and time travel. Their life is complicated and relationships are difficult in a world where few of those things are commonplace.
In talking about Schitt’s Creek, Glen Weldon expressed a frustration and distaste for the central gay relationship in that show, not because it wasn’t cute and precocious but because it wasn’t realistic. You have a person who has been dating around and having several unresolved and unsatisfying queer relationships paired up with a freshly out, just admitted he’s gay, never dated another man love interest. It’s sweet. It also gives an unrealistic portrait of what life is like for a queer person. It’s hard to argue with people loving that relationship, but it’s impossible to argue with Glenn’s point. Dating is complicated and difficult. Adding queerness to that only makes it more complicated, not less. We often don’t know what we want or need and it’s more difficult to understand what you want and need with less context. Straight people have been struggling with telling their partners what they want and need even as their relationship has been a necessity of human species survival.
But we tend to push the idea of an OTP or “one true pairing” onto queer couples for a variety of reasons, but mainly two:
1) There are so few queer relationships in media that when one happens, queer audiences tend to hold onto it tightly in the worry that there will never be another one like it.
2) The idea that all or most queer relationships are the result of an undeniable love between two halves of the same whole reunited at last and it would be horrible to part them, makes queer relationships more palatable to straight audiences who are still growing in their understanding of the difference between same sex sexual attraction, same sex romance, and same sex fucking.
The end result is a pretty warped understanding of queer people and same sex relationships.
All of this is sort of preamble to say that in this week’s issue of Love Unlimited, I broke up a romantic pairing off panel that I created in Future Foundation a few years ago. In the last issue of Future Foundation, I had Rikki Barnes and Julie Power kiss. They had just been through an extremely dangerous prison break during which they had both almost died and saved one another’s lives. The moment was absolutely ripe for two Sapphic people to get swept up in the moment and intensely make out. It was a relationship I would like to have explored more, especially as they are two characters I care very deeply about. I think it would have been fun. I also do not think it would have worked out long term. Most relationships don’t and they are very different people.
I saw a post somebody made earlier today on tumblr about how Julie Power throws herself at every queer and available white girl in the Marvel Universe. There’s only one part of that I would prefer to not be true and that’s the white part. It is true about the comics as they have come out, but I don’t see Julie as the kind of person who wouldn’t fall in love with a person of color. In fact, to the point of that post, I see Julie as a person who is open to connection and cares a great deal about physical affection. She’s a hugger. She’s constantly taking people under her wing. She falls for people hard and loves hard. Not to get too intimate with it, but she’s probably a person who enjoys sex and physical contact and affection. Those things aren’t important to everyone or meaningful in the same way to everyone, but they are to some people.
But also, that doesn’t mean that every relationship those people enter into has to be THE ONE. We all enjoy our own OTPs and a lot of us have that same investment in people we know in real life. God knows, I have had that investment in queer friends that found love and there are people that have had that same investment in my wife and I because we’re a mixed race couple. Those facts about a relationship don’t make it work out without the same sort of effort, love, affection, and sheer luck as any other successful relationship. I think ascribing that same sort of mythological status to every same sex relationship is ultimately short sighted and harmful.
Julie’s way of finding love, like a lot of us, is to throw herself headfirst into relationships, love hard, experiences extraordinary moments, and get hurt when things don’t work out. She, literally, has a heroic impulse toward relationships. Is that healthy, maybe not. But hey, I kind of admire it.
So yeah, I broke up a relationship off panel that barely had a chance to exist on panel because that’s the way I see it going. On the bright side, she’s in another relationship now and we’ll see how that goes.
If there’s a thing I guess I want people to take away from this, it’s that it’s okay for your relationship not to work out and that you shouldn’t treat your queer friends like they’re characters in a Shakespeare play that have to love each other unconditionally and die together in a crypt if things don’t work out.
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