#and thus it's just an issue of poor self-discipline

[smile-files]

i always have to take my therapist's advice with a grain of salt because i have the tendency to tell things to him in such a way where everything he answers in turn is what i expect to hear. the way i go about therapy it is in active opposition to my therapist's ability to do his job properly. i tell him a fair bit more than i tell other people, but that information is inevitably filtered through the way i want it to be understood, which is unsurprising considering how many years i've spent picturing the exact way i might present my emotions and experiences to others without actually presenting them. ultimately everything he says only holds true if you assume my internal logic is correct; my internal logic isn't correct, but most of the time i'm depriving him of the freedom to even think that, and thus i am all the more enabled to continue living my life as it currently is. i am consciously and/or unconsciously manipulating my therapist into thinking i'm a good, thoughtful, rational person and thus dooming myself to my own notion of doom

[rosemaryentombed]

my favorite thing about about the 90's young justice solos is that they catered towards three distinct audiences, and yet after all these years, the one that would have been LEAST likely to be projected into nowadays is now the MOST woobified out of the three.

tim: a story for white kids, by a white guy who hates poor people, and didn't really take itself OUT of that white-male-projective-state even after all these years. bonus note, now the gays can project into tim cuz timbo's finally out the closet, and chuck dixon wants to kill himself over it, but it's ok bc we like tim even tho we don't like chuck.

bart: a story initially about a time-displaced refugee whose narrative heavily mirrored a refugee's forced assimilation into a new culture WHILE also appealing to the adhd/autism crowd, which the writer was absolutely OK with because bart's story can be accepted by BOTH the refugee narrative enjoyers and the adhd/autism crowds without impinging on his narrative poignancy, plus mark waid actually loved bart and he loves that WE love bart. inshallah he will write his boy again.

kon: a story about teenagers who are being neglected, and so he's acting out every which way and partying it up because he was meant to appeal to the 90's teenage rage and show how easy it is for kids to get caught up with predators like knockout and tana because of the lack of structure and discipline in their lives, but when geoff decided to ignore nearly ten years of creator-run canon, we had to deal with his timkonnie dreams, and now geoff's leaving, so now we gotta deal with the yja nonsense and some lady's self-insert dreams going into a character whose writer is not only still alive, but actively on the bi!kon train but from the 90's crackhead era perspective. and HE'S the one most woobified.

it's absolutely facinating cuz you'd think kon would be the most hated out of the three bc of his issues with consent and the unhealthy ways he frames relationships, but instead it's BART who people hate the most! bart's being infantalized and discounted and used at a third-man-ship-prop, while tim's being rewarded for being an emotionally strugglesome white man who just came out of the closet, and it's not nearly as bad as how bart's getting his ass beat in the fandumb, but poor tim can't even date his high school homie in peace without someone crying about how he 'deserved' kon instead.

to think that the character with that many issues would be the MOST woobified character in the yj cast is insane, bc what are you even woobifying? his depersonalization? his lack of boundaries with women? his inability to read a room? the fact that nobody loves nor cares about him enough to protect him from the horrors of the world? the fact that he was a stellar example of a CSA survivor who didn't even KNOW he was a victim of CSA, and thus wasn't really able to understand the ramifications of his inappropriate behavior until years later when he forced himself into a masculine fold so he didn't fall into the trap of being like 'the old him' again?

kon's story was a story of self-hatred come to life in the most fantastical ways. he thinks it's ok to publicly date a grown woman other people are judging for dating a dumbass minor. he didn't know what a mother's love was, and had to witness it first hand with nanaue's mother. he thinks an emotionally unavailable and distant clone handler is his dad bc he doesn't KNOW anyone else who can fit into that mold. he thinks roxy's his sister but still has no problem sexualizing her in his head bc he thinks it's ok to find your older sister hot.

kon was the DEFINITION of the kids are not alright, nope, not at all, hell to the fuck no. geoff was the single biggest driver in stripping all the nuance from his character post-graduation day, but he not even here no more... what's the excuse in continuing to strip away at what makes kon, kon? i know dc's afraid to admit lois and clark looked the other way when a teenaged clone was dating an adult woman, but you woulda thought he woulda been a turnoff to the fandumb as well. he aint tho, so he suffers for it accordingly.

i can only hope karl kesel lands another contract after these new movies flop, so we can finally get a REAL follow-up to the 1994 solo. you could never make me hate that man's insane writing. justice for 1994 kon. if dc still had good writers, we coulda had a multi-year healing arc exposing how horrifying superheroing really is for people, and why clones deserve something to the equivalent of human rights. instead, he's doin fuckall and kissin m'gann. no shade to m'gann, she absolutely deserves more than the current caricature.

[liverpoolgolf02]

The Benefits of Golf Lessons for Kids in Sydney

Golf is a complex game that embraces both an active movement, a strategic brawl in the fairway, and a harmonic relationship with the environment. By taking lessons for kids, young people in Sydney are able to enjoy more of the outdoors and the good climate by practising golf. Teaching children the game of golf goes beyond the aspect of improving athletic skills; there is always the issue of instilling something new in the child and steering him/her into becoming a responsible citizen in the future. This is why it might be a good idea to arrange some golf lessons for the children in Sydney. golf lessons for kids

Physical and Mental Benefits

Physical Fitness

The game of Golf involves moderate movements of the body and is thus universally acknowledged as a game that promotes physical health but does not bear the toughness associated with sports that involve body contact. Moving around the course, hitting balls as well as carrying their equipment which in this case are golfing bags contribute a lot in offering the best of cardiovascular features as it supports strength and flexibility in addition to coordination.

Focus and Concentration

One aspect is that golf is very much a difficult game in terms of concentration. The ability to focus on their swing and stance and the best way to go round the golf course facilitates the development of these skills required in classes and other fields.

Patience and Discipline

Golfing is not a game for the impulsive person; its nature entails a lot of waiting and even mastering of oneself. Children acquire lessons on the actuality that golf entails practice, patients and going slow in the process. These lessons are important arising various situations in one’s life starting from school and extending to interpersonal relationships.

Social and Emotional Benefits

Building Confidence

Poor concentration: lack of focus is bad for children’s performance as they are unable to hit the ball, enhance their capabilities and realise individual goals, therefore increasing self-esteem. Through golf, children can have their goal built for them and can then be expected to meet these goals, thus giving them self-esteem.

Social Interaction

Golf is not a solitary game of individualists as some people suppose. Some usual activities may be group lessons which enables children to interact with each other and acquaint new friends, cooperate, and also learn how to communicate in front of other people. Such interactions foster social confidence and thus help develop teamwork skills.

Stress Relief

This is true; it is refreshing to wake up in the morning and take a walk in parks or any area of natural landscape. Most of the Youth engage in playing golf due to its late addition of stress and also since it can be played in a natural environment.

Learning Life Skills

Strategic Thinking

Golf is not your ordinary sport since it is based on the strategic planning of the players. Children also get to develop strategic thinking skills in order to evaluate all the areas where they are placing their shots, decide on how to approach every hole, and finally make their decisions based on factors such as the wind, distance, and even the type of terrain. It must be noted that the concepts, whereby strategic thinking ability is being practised, are not limited to golf fields.

Honesty and Integrity

Just as other professional sports, golf also has a strict moral code with a high regard to personal character. They have to keep the players score too and follow all the rules and regulations of the game. This assists children learn the basic value system of putting into practice simple virtues, such as truthfulness and integrity in game play.

Etiquette and Respect

Another consideration is that of the etiquette of this game, which inculcates in children courtesy towards other players and the course. They have to learn how to handle it properly, share with others, how to keep their hands to themselves and let others who are still waiting play the game, and many other aspects of being in society.

Accessibility and Opportunities in Sydney Florence Oru Executive Summary: This paper covers the accessibility of people with disability in Sydney and opportunities available to them in the society This paper focuses on the subject of people with disability and the opportunities offered to them in the society especially Sydney.

Quality Courses and Facilities

Sydney has many golf courses and other related facilities that include the professional, amateur and junior golfers. Teaching and playing: Golf has spread to all corners of the country, answering the question of where children can learn and practice golfing by offering a multitude of opportunities, from public courses for the average child to private clubs for the child who wants the fanciest equipment.

Professional Instruction

Golfing facilities in Sydney have latched on this trend and provide golfing lessons to children to enhance professional acting skills. These lessons are taken by professional trainers who know how to go about it when teaching golf.

Programs and Camps

It is possible to find a number of golf programs and camps to participate in at different times of the year, especially during the holidays. These programs typically involve a combination of the sessions where the participants are taught the new information and skills as well as the practice sessions including games.

Choosing Where to Create Your Ideal Golf Club

Choosing the Right Program

Here are some tips that can help you decide on the type of golf program for your child: When choosing a golf program for your child, you have to take some aspects such as experience of the trainer, the program and the group size, etc. Search for functions that are more capturing, where fun and educational values are primary goals rather than scores.

Equipment and Attire

In most cases, developing beginner programs, training equipment is offered; However, the way forward for your child may warrant purchasing personalized clubs and apparels. He cited proper sizes of clubs and comfortable dressing to improve the learning outcomes as some of the factors that could affect the selection of the appropriate golf equipment.

Encouragement and Support

Let your child have fun and strive hard by themselves instead of desiring to be like those players you have seen in the game. It entails encouraging the kids and being nurturing in their approach so that they can maintain their focus and passion for golf.

There are numerous features that make golf lessons for children in Sydney enjoyable and equally favour children in numerous ways apart from Golf. Golf not only enhances a child and young adult’s physical development such as fitness endurance but also improves the student’s ability to focus. The best thing about learning golf is that children who go to Sydney can be assured to receive instructional services from professional instructors, use facilities that fit their needs and develop a liking for the game. To learn, to exercise and to dream, golf may add value to any child’s life out on the course.

For more info visit here:- golf for kids

[eazy-group]

Alicia lost 100 pounds

New Post has been published on https://eazydiet.net/alicia-lost-100-pounds/

Alicia lost 100 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Alicia lost 100 pounds. Facing a number of challenges, including grief, GERD, and high blood pressure, she realized her body and mind were in distress, and denial was not helping. She committed to discipline and fitness and got the tools to succeed, including Wegovy.

Social Media Instagram: @aye.shanice TikTok: Aye.Shanice

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? The convergence of various circumstances served as the catalyst for embarking on this journey. Initially, the weight gain following the loss of my cousin to suicide compounded my ongoing struggle with mental health. Spiraling into a cycle of drinking and isolation, I found myself disengaged from life’s pursuits, neglecting my well-being both physically and emotionally. With worsening health issues such as severe GERD and the looming need for blood pressure medication at a mere 28 years old, I faced a stark reality: my body and mind were in distress, and denial only perpetuated the struggle.

Simultaneously, discontent brewed in my professional life as I realized the disconnection from fulfillment in my current career mirrored previous experiences. Recalling a long-abandoned aspiration from law school to become a JAG officer, I confronted the self-imposed limitations that had thwarted this dream.

In this, I discovered a new purpose: to confront grief, depression, and anxiety head-on, forsaking unhealthy coping mechanisms. I resolved to address the physical repercussions of poor lifestyle choices and to test my potential for military service by committing to discipline and fitness. This journey symbolizes not just a pursuit of self-improvement, but a testament to resilience and the power of reclaiming one’s narrative.

How did you change your eating habits? My eating habits underwent a significant transformation when I began taking Wegovy in March 2023. Surprisingly, this marked the initial step in my journey even before incorporating exercise. Recognizing that physical activity tended to heighten my hunger, I believed Wegovy would help suppress my appetite, thus preventing my physical activity from being consistently undermined by excessive eating.

Due to the slower onset of food aversion and prolonged satiety, I find myself unable to consume even half of what I used to. Previously, I could indulge in an appetizer, a full meal, and three drinks before feeling satiated. Now, I forgo appetizers entirely, knowing that indulging in one would leave me unable to finish my main course. I limit myself to a single drink, as alcohol alone is sufficient to fill me up. Typically, I can only manage a few bites before feeling full, resulting in leftovers after every meal.

Until recently, the content of my diet had remained largely unchanged. However, I have recently made some minor adjustments in response to my new weightlifting regimen and calorie deficit. Recognizing the increased need for protein, I have switched to a plant-based milk option with higher protein content. I am incorporating more fiber-rich foods and opting for filling low-calorie options. While calorie counting can be exhausting, it complements the effects of Wegovy well, as my reduced appetite naturally limits my food intake. This necessitates a deliberate and mindful approach to my dietary choices.

What is your workout routine? Currently, my routine consists of a one-hour walk every day, cardio (a 5k run) three times a week, and weightlifting sessions three to five times a week. On the days when I both lift weights and run, I prioritize weightlifting before the run. This typically occurs either in the morning after my walk or in the afternoon just before I go for my run on cardio days.

How often did you work out?

When I began my workout regimen in August 2023, I initially only used the elliptical for 30 minutes 5 days a week. After a few weeks, once my body adjusted to this routine, I increased the duration to 45 minutes. However, I soon found myself becoming bored with this routine, and my heart rate wasn’t reaching the levels it used to with just the elliptical alone. To add variety and intensity, I incorporated boxing for 20 minutes alongside 30 minutes on the elliptical. Yet, even this combination became monotonous over time.

Realizing the need for change, I confronted my reluctance towards running—an activity I had avoided. Running had always made me uncomfortable due to my lack of experience and concerns about my pace and appearance. However, recognizing its importance, especially in military fitness requirements, I confronted this challenge. I downloaded the Nike Run Club app and began following their 5k program. The accessibility and structure of the program proved invaluable in not only cultivating my running ability but also boosting my confidence to embrace this activity.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?

In December 2022, I reached my heaviest weight at 258lbs.

I started taking Wegovy in March 2023 when my weight was 249 lbs. It wasn’t until August 2023, when I had dropped to around 220 lbs, that I began exercising regularly.

As of February 2024, my weight has decreased to 158 lbs.

What is your height?

I’m 5’1″.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?

I have not undergone surgery. My approach to weight loss has been centered on achieving my goals through my own efforts. I believe in cultivating sustainable habits that endure over time. Surgery, if ever necessary, would be considered solely for skin removal purposes.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?

I started taking Wegovy in March 2023 when I weighed 249 lbs. Through the use of Wegovy alone, I managed to shed about 25 lbs.

In August 2023, when my weight had dropped to approximately 220 lbs, I began incorporating regular exercise into my routine.

Between August 2023 and December 2023, I lost an additional 39 lbs.

In total, from March 2023 to February 2024, I succeeded in losing a remarkable 91 lbs.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?

The most profound lesson I’ve embraced is the recognition of my humanity and the acceptance that comes with it. While setting goals and maintaining discipline are commendable, it’s equally vital to acknowledge the journey we’ve undertaken thus far and grant ourselves the grace to simply be human. Progress isn’t always linear; the scale won’t consistently tip downward, and not every workout will feel like a personal best. It’s perfectly acceptable to indulge in foods we enjoy in moderation, to experience frustration and fatigue, and to grant ourselves the rest we deserve.

Perfection isn’t the aim; progress is. We’re permitted to stumble along the way, to confront our limitations, and to rise above them. As long as we’re advancing from where we began, improving upon yesterday’s self, and transcending the barriers imposed by our insecurities, we’re on the right path. Embrace the journey, honor your humanity, and celebrate the growth that comes with it.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?

You don’t have to be head over heels for the process. I find every run challenging. Lifting weights isn’t my cup of tea, and the idea of switching up my routine doesn’t excite me. The gym doesn’t necessarily bring me joy. But here’s the thing: enjoyment isn’t a prerequisite for achievement.

What I do appreciate is how I now feel about my body. I relish the newfound comfort within my own skin. I cherish the absence of acid reflux disrupting my daily routine and the freedom from blood pressure medication. I revel in the ability to climb stairs without feeling like my lungs are failing me and the improvement in my quality of sleep. Most importantly, I adore the life that weight loss has afforded me.

If you’re not head over heels for your current routine, that’s okay. Find what you can tolerate, and focus on the rewards that await you on your weight loss journey. Embrace the journey, and let the promise of a healthier, happier future propel you forward.

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[free-and-to-none-accountable]

Posted on September 30, 2022 by Jay Bettencourt

In an uproarious interview with Vice published in 2013, the philosopher Slavoj Zizek describes a dynamic all too familiar to many workers today. He says, today “a typical boss no longer wants to be a boss.” He goes on to describe how, in the postmodern workplace, workers are forced to pretend their employers are their friends. You have to be overly polite, give the boss a hug, “exchange vulgarities,” and so on. The whole time both parties act like this is a relationship of friends and equals. 

Management sometimes goes to absurd lengths to keep up this illusion. They will go out for after work drinks or parties with workers, engage socially during off time, invite workers to funerals and weddings, and even try to position themselves as on the side of workers, really. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard my manager say, “I’m on your side guys. I asked the owner for a wage increase but he said no and there’s nothing else I can do.” 

This game wears you down fast, especially if you work a low-wage job. Management or HR expects you to maintain a good, polite mood and passion for your job while making your life materially miserable. Some even deploy a line like, “this is a very chill workplace, I try not to be too hard on you guys” as if it were a benefit like decent healthcare or ample vacation time, which are usually missing. All the while, consumer price inflation leaps ahead, wages stagnate, and working conditions steadily decline. 

On the flip side, this dynamic can lead to some workers trying to overperform to impress the boss or play into favoritism to secure preferred treatment and respite. Management’s intrusion into the off-hours social lives of their workforce can also act as a form of social surveillance and conditioning on the workers – you can’t talk frankly or even safely vent about your issues if your management is there. Or, if you do, management can easily use that to bribe, isolate, or otherwise retaliate against workers. They threaten to stop being nice.

When you dispense with the niceties and pull back the curtain, the whole sham reveals itself as a classic divide-and-conquer strategy. Employers set up pay structures and work conditions that pit workers against each other in productivity competitions. But to keep workers from cutting each other’s throats, management’s “door is always open” for workers to vent to a friendly ear if they want. Management wants workers to have good social relations only with them. Snitching and ratting out are encouraged, every worker is expected to be a teacher’s pet, and the only way to get any relief from poor working conditions is to play into a manager’s favoritism. 

The late Mark Fisher touches on this form of working class isolation in his hard-hitting 2009 book Capitalist Realism. Like Zizek, he hones in on the postmodern workplace and argues that this pervasive structurelessness serves to both alienate workers from each other and break our will to fight. He illustrates this with a point about discipline; during the earlier parts of the 20th Century, workers were regularly subjected to rigid discipline directly from capital, the state, or their agents. Today, workers are socially conditioned to have a “good work ethic,” practice “self-discipline,” and “hustle” to increase labor productivity instead of withstanding discipline meted out by the employer. Management hardly has to intervene.

Furthermore, Fisher argues that this state of affairs conditions working class resistance to capitalism into useless individualized channels like consumer activism. Without knowledge of a class structure (and capitalists pretending to be Just Like Us), there is no clear target to force into giving us what we want. And thus, the problems of capitalism feel as though they have no beginning and no end, intractable as the movement of the planets around the sun.

Unfortunately, Fisher does not offer us much in the way of practical advice for moving forward. Luckily, the IWW is full of battle-hardened class warriors who have learned many hard lessons over the years. In my personal experience, the “nice employer” has proved one of the toughest barriers to getting a union drive off the ground. I generally see management organizing after-work socials, happy hours, and events much more than workers themselves. In my own workplace, managers join workers for game nights and often accompany workers on outdoor activities like biking or camping. It seems they will do anything to make workers forget that the labor relationship is anything besides fundamentally economic in nature.

Management’s deep tendrils in workers social lives tends to make workers reluctant to take actions that may jeopardize their friendships. Organizers must know who is close to whom in the workplace in order to avoid this trap and prevent management from turning workplace leaders and other workers against an organizing effort early on. In our Organizer Training 101, we teach new Wobblies this, what we call Social Mapping, as one of the very first steps in a budding union drive. 

In that section, trainees learn that the workplace is already organized. Only, it is organized by management with the capitalist’s interests in mind – usually for maximum labor productivity and profit extraction. I see management’s efforts to infiltrate and structure (or isolate) workers’ social lives as a deliberate way they organize the workplace. It is the organizer’s job to clearly see that and start to break management’s structure down. But organizers must know the lay of the land first if we are to make effective strides toward collective action. 

Once the organizers are armed with a good understanding of the social structure and who the leaders are in the workplace, they can start building relationships and pulling workers away from management toward the nascent union with Agitation and Education, or even before that starting to “socialize the workplace;” i.e. developing relationships with coworkers outside of management’s view. This step may be increasingly necessary to counteract the growing alienation and isolation of the modern workplace and getting workers to care about each other and be a bit more involved in each other’s lives. This is the raw material that class consciousness and class conflict is built on, but it can take time and effort to grow. 

While Fisher is a bit nihilistic about our prospects, Zizek goes on to say in his interview, “the first step toward liberation is to force [the boss] to really behave like a boss.” He is a bit glib, but his point is a good one. In today’s muddy waters where class organization has been suppressed almost to nil and everyone is forced to act as if they are an “independent contractor” who works for the passion of it, even drawing the lines clearly seems like a radical step. But it is a necessary one that can cut through the confusing fog of modern existence and lay the groundwork for a brighter, revolutionary future free of capitalist exploitation. As the old labor saying goes, “united we fight, divided we beg.” I, for one, am sick of begging.

We must be able to bring our coworkers together to see past management’s superficial niceness in order to fight for that future. I teach new Wobblies in Organizer Trainings that one of the most important and powerful parts of Agitation and Education is helping our coworkers slice through the propaganda to see the world for how it really is. In this case, management’s politeness comprises a small tactic in a much larger strategy on the part of Capital to delude workers and maintain labor peace. We must help our coworkers stand firm for ourselves, together, against management. We can’t be afraid of not being nice –in fact, we can use it as a weapon just like they do.

Furthermore, in many workplaces management remains the sole puppetmaster of workers’ social lives. Modern management theory seems to have recognized the fractured state of the working class and seeks to prevent our organization by relentlessly trying to mediate, filter, and prescribe workers’ social lives. I think this is a key to building an effective organizing committee; sometimes even before having one-on-ones, IWW organizers must build up some on-the-job social life to pull workers away from management. Meet up for coffee and chit-chat. Have small group events with no managers. Having a stake in each other’s lives is a crucial building block toward effective one-on-ones and toward the trust necessary for taking collective action. 

Slow, steady building will pay off in the long run. Take the time to build some friendships and other long-term relationships in the workplace. Agitate and Educate coworkers effectively. Over time, we can build strong worker committees that can finally drop the curtain of politeness, make clear demands, and take collective action to materially improve all our lives. Just don’t fall for the bait.

Jay Bettencourt is an Organizer Trainer with the IWW. Read more about the history of the IWW Organizer Training program here.

Contact the IWW today if you want to start organizing at your job.

[greatsagestonemonkey]

About “Shadow Play”

Warning! Spoilers ahead!

Okay, so, after watching “Shadow Play”, I had to write this out because a lot of people are talking about it and I had to lay out my two cents without being limited to a tiny box...

Possible spoilers for both Lego Monkie Kid Season 2 episode “Shadow Play” AND for Journey to the West, so be warned!

Okay for starters, the episode had a lot to unpack, but this is going to be covering the whole issue of “Poor Macaque” and “what the fuck Wukong”. THAT being said, I definitely LOVED the episode, it was fantastic! But I feel like this needs to be talked about because the writing for the episode tells a LOT more than I think people are seeing. That’s what I want to discuss here.

So, we all know from the story Macaque told in the episode, that he and Wukong go WAY back, the parallel of the Sun and the Moon was used, with Wukong being the Sun and Macaque being the Moon, of course, and that eventually Macaque was left behind by Wukong and he appears to be quite bitter about that. This is where I’ve noticed a lot of people bringing up the “what the fuck Wukong” bit... BUT, they seem to be overlooking something important here:

Wukong’s circlet. Also known as the “cursed hat” or “tightening band”. People who have read the book know that this circlet was given to Wukong by Tripitaka (also courtesy of Guan Yin) to keep Wukong in line. “Why?” many of you are probably asking... Well, it’s not just because Wukong is insanely powerful, that’s just part of the reason; a very MINOR reason.

The main and most important reason that people often forget about Wukong is that he is IMPULSIVE to a fault. For the first six chapters of Journey to the West, Wukong is driven PURELY by his impulsive desires. He never listened to anyone! His rampage through Heaven was testimony to that, as was his taking Buddha’s challenge to escape his palm, and in the end, his own hubris was his downfall. But even after being imprisoned for 500 years, Wukong hadn’t changed much. Or at all, in fact. That is why Tripitaka needed the circlet and the tightening mantra that came with it to control him; because Wukong wouldn’t listen to him AT ALL. It was only after Tripitaka had an effective way to discipline the monkey that Wukong started to actually do as he was asked. And as the book goes on, Wukong becomes more compliant, actually listening and doing as asked without Tripitaka having to use the tightening mantra to get Wukong to calm down. There’s actually a pretty compelling scene later on in the book (I don’t remember the exact chapter or page) where Tripitaka stops Wukong from attacking a demon minion JUST by calling out his name, whereas before he would have to recite the mantra to get him to stop.

There’s another infamous scene where Wukong is moved to tears by Tripitaka’s compassion for others, whereas earlier in the book Wukong wouldn’t have really bothered much with pity for others. Like seriously. He couldn’t be bothered to look after anyone but himself or his monkeys. He was kind of a selfish dick that way. But in that particular scene, it showed that Wukong had changed A LOT since being made to stop and listen to Tripitaka every once in awhile via the circlet. It was kind of like a wake-up call for him, in a way.

Anyway, we can clearly see the circlet on Wukong’s head in this scene when Macaque is showing how Wukong left. I know we can see it in earlier ones too, but I think the reason for that is because that’s how Macaque sees Wukong, but we’ll come back to that in a bit.

Now, we all know that Macaque is supposed to represent Wukong’s darker side, his “shadow”. And one thing that I think the writer’s made clear in this episode is that Macaque hasn’t changed much. He’s still the dark half, the side of Wukong that will always be in the shadows; the part of him that was BEFORE Wukong changed due to his travels with Tripitaka. Since it’s hinted that Macaque was with Wukong before his rampage through heaven and his 500 year imprisonment, we know that he saw the side of Wukong that existed before Wukong went through the various level of character development that he did in the Journey to the West. And the thing that the writers for “Shadow Play” make clear is that Macaque doesn’t completely understand why Wukong changed.

Macaque wasn’t there for the Journey. Which was probably his choice. The writers of this episode, and of the episode “Macaque” make it clear that Macaque hasn’t changed much in the centuries. He himself makes that clear by referring to himself as Wukong’s shadow, and with the parallel of the sun and the moon. And because he wasn’t there, because he stayed in the shadows, he clearly doesn’t understand the reason behind Wukong’s change and choice to stay by Tripitaka’s side through the Journey, despite being jilted and hurt by the monk plenty of times.

Wukong chose to stay with Tripitaka because he was changing, growing, for the better, even if he himself didn’t realize it right away. But when he did realize it, he chose to stay, even if that meant leaving behind a part of him--or even someone--that he held very dear; Macaque.

Which now brings us to this next part people keep talking about:

The scene where Macaque apparently gets his scar.

We now know for certain that Macaque gets his scar from Wukong. And a lot of people have been expressing their curiosity over why the two ended up fighting each other, or what could have prompted Wukong to wound someone he was supposed to have cared about in such a way.

Well, for those of you who have read the book, you probably know why exactly why. For those who haven’t, in the chapter where the Six Eared Macaque first makes his appearance, he attacks and wounds Tripitaka badly; like with the full intention of killing him kind of badly. I won’t spoil the whole chapter for you, but long story short, is that when confronted after his identity as “the false monkey king” is revealed, he confesses that his plan is to kill everyone in the Journey Crew--minus Wukong--and replace them with duplicates that he has created.

Now, we know from previous episodes of the series so far, that Wukong cares for the rest of the Journey Crew VERY MUCH. He’s kept momentos from the Journey and even made those little origami figures of them with that little shrine in the New Years Special. And we’ve seen how he gets when you threaten someone he cares about via the scene of him with Lady White Bone in that very same special.

THAT is what their fight was about.

Macaque hurt someone Wukong cared about, and Wukong retaliated in kind. Maybe he went a little too far, but he definitely wasn’t going to let it slide. It was almost literally “an eye for an eye”.

Now we come back to that bit of how Macaque sees Wukong, as promised. Macaque shows off Wukong with the circlet in the play because he again, doesn’t understand the reason behind Wukong’s change. He probably knows what the circlet does, and thus sees it and the one who controls it as the reason. This is probably why he attacked Tripitaka; in Macaque’s mind, without Tripitaka, without the tightening mantra, Wukong will go back to being his old self.

Macaque doesn’t understand that Wukong was changing without the circlet being used on him. He says this himself in Episode 9 of Season 1, when he delivers the line, “The old you would have leveled this whole mountain range to stop me! But you’re scared of hurting some kid?!”

That. Right there. Says SO much now that we’ve seen Shadow Play.

Wukong changed for reasons that Macaque doesn’t understand; Wukong grew to care about others and the consequences of his actions. But because Macaque stayed behind, he still holds onto Wukong’s old ways, and he wants that back. He used the analogy of himself as the warrior in the story, and even told MK about the “happy ending” because deep down that’s what he wants. He wants the old Wukong back because that’s the Wukong he understands.

Then we come to the line where he tells MK that he’s “a bit too much” like Monkey King, right after the flashback of how he got his scar. If we refer to that bit above again, we know that Macaque got his scar from Wukong after he tried to kill Tripitaka and very nearly turned the whole Journey Crew against Wukong completely. And what was Macaque doing in this scene?

The same thing.

He was using MK’s friends against him, which ticked MK off to the point where MK went almost blind with rage in an effort to get his friends back. We see in that brief flashback, that Macaque saw that bit of Wukong in MK; the part that cared too much.

This is also where we see a bit of growth in Macaque, and again I refer to the flashback. He realizes he’s reliving a moment where he possibly went too far, and decides to back out before it goes even further to a point where he gets hurt. But that’s also testament to how much he hasn’t changed over the centuries; he’s still only the best at looking out for himself, just like Wukong was before Tripitaka changed him.

His whole conversation with MK after the fight also shows how much he wants the old Wukong back and doesn’t want to see MK go down the same path, and we see it through the whole episode; he sees MK and Wukong as too “soft” now. They get concerned too easily with others, and what will happen if they fail, whereas Macaque is overconfident to a fault, looks out for “old number one” (himself) and doesn’t have the inconvenience of looking out for others to weigh him down or to blind him from his person goals. That’s why he tells MK he’s not ready, not because he lack the ability, but because he lacks the survival instinct. That same survival instinct that Macaque is used to.

In conclusion, Macaque both is and isn’t the victim here. He’s not Wukong’s victim, he’s his own victim; victim to his own misunderstanding and his own unwillingness to change or to accept change. It’s actually something we see in a lot of people, but we’re often unaware of because the signs are often hard to read, and I think that’s why a lot of people have reacted to this episode in the way they have. Again, I’m not saying that this episode was bad or anything, again, it was fantastic! The writers did an outstanding job, I just think there’s a lot more that they were trying to tell us with how they played it out that a lot of people aren’t seeing, and I really wanted to address that.

WHEW! Anyway, I think that about covers everything... sorry this is so long, and if you read this far, thank you so much for giving this a read!

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Evictions and utility cutoffs are covid comorbidities

"Public health" isn't just about vaccinations, clinics and urgent care: it's a holistic discipline that encompasses all the contributors to health outcomes, which include things like housing, employment, transportation, pollution and more.

A new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the number of US covid deaths that could have been prevented with a coherent, effective eviction moratorium and a ban on utility cutoffs: 164,000.

https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28394/w28394.pdf

The paper, written by a multidisciplinary group of Duke researchers from medicine and economics, found that housing precarity (a risk of losing your home) drove risky behavior that increased the spread of the disease and the resulting deaths.

For example, it forced people to double-up on lodgings, making social distancing impossible, to say nothing of self-isolating after an exposure. It also drove people to tolerate high-risk workplace conditions, including illegal conditions.

The authors used regression techniques to control for confounding variables, and used like-for-like counties with different utility and eviction policies to estimate the effect that these had on infection rates.

"Public health" is a notion that challenges the very foundation of neoliberal ideology, which says that all outcomes are the results of your individual choices - that your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose.

Public health says that our decisions about treating covid (and other health issues) affect all of us - that the system matters more than individual choices.

Public health says that we're all in the same swimming pool. Neoliberal choice theory says that if some of us want to piss in the pool, we can just create a "pissing" and a "no pissing" end.

And that the answer to the yellowing of both ends is to make the pool longer, and that the market opportunity is to charge people who want to swim in the no pissing end to use the toilets and fine them if they can't afford the charge.

Because here's the kicker: although covid mostly kills poor, racialized and otherwise marginalized people, it doesn't do so exclusively. Even people who can afford high quality care and thus recover face unknown, long-term health consequences.

Keeping rentiers' income streams intact by allowing evictions made us *all* sicker, put us *all* at risk. Even the landlords.

Treating system problems as a matter of personal choice is like telling people to recycle harder to avert the climate emergency.

The parochial gains to the minute class of landlords came at the expense of mass-scale, social costs - human lives, human misery, widespread infection, and traumas and waste that will drag us down for decades to come.

Image: Luis Prado (modified) https://thenounproject.com/term/eviction/48601/

CC BY https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

[vesperlionheart]

Vesper’s Quarantine ‘Finished’ Reading List

If you’re stuck indoors and feeling anxious sometimes the best thing is to drown your brain in distractions until you’re able to function again. Thus, I’ve put together a list of Sakura centric stories to entertain you. There’s a lot of shameless self promo here, fair warning, but it’s my blog and my blogpost so that’s where we’re gonna start.  Some of my favorite fic are ones still being updated but this list includes only stories marked as [complete]. 

[Finished personal fic]

Obelisk: Kingdom of Man By: VesperChan 'She could swear she smelt sulfur when she exhaled. Nothing good ever came from boys who smelled like sulfur.' An ancient Egyptian curse and a world of dreams opens Sakura up to a life devoid of safety. In the darkness her nightmares bow themselves to her. In the morning they feast on her heart. AU SakuraMany Obelisk: Kingdom of Beasts By: VesperChan One Kingdom down, three to go. Carrying the scars on her heart, Sakura must brave the dreams again as this time, there are more sinister things then men waiting for her when she goes to sleep. The wolves have come to feast and her body will know their teeth. AU SakuraMany Obelisk: Kingdom of Monsters By: VesperChan More than halfway through the curse, Sakura's nightmares hold nothing back as fangs and spells seek to drag her down and bury her with the dead. Monsters have come at least to feast on what is left of her bones and devour her wounded heart. Beyond the scars and bloodshed, her soul is beginning to fade under the dim lights of another enchanted speakeasy and ruby eyes. AU SakuraMany Obelisk: Kingdom of Gods By: VesperChan Entering the final kingdom, Sakura stands atop a castle of sand to face down the gods who first orchestrated the curse and began the bloody tradition of collecting human souls in a little black obelisk. Gladiators, Egyptian gods, and blood thirsty pharaohs paint a vivid picture on the inside of her mind as she sleeps, dreams, and struggles once again. AU SakuraMany Total word count for Obelisk series: 565,292 (just over half a million words)

RED KING By: VesperChan In the wild country where it never snows but always freezes, the Red King marches his armies against the White Tsar. That is why Sakura is swept away from the lonely streets and the empty barracks into a car with a bastard prince and a promise of redemption, but if only she can face the demons that chased her in the first place and be what the king needs in his war. SakuraCentric 

Touken Revolution by Vesperchan (rated E)  Sakura, a sword smith, is nearly killed for what she really is: a sage, one who can animate weapons into warriors and give bodies to the souls she hears inside swords. Now a refugee in the land of Kiri she's building an army because it's her only hope for survival and maybe even happiness. SakuraKiri Sakura centric

Things We Lost in the Fire By: VesperChan Years later, living alone in the woods with half a dozen dogs, questionable reading material, and crippling non-attachment issues, Sakura realizes she has turned into her teacher. Agebent Sakura Sensei ShiSaku

Jealous gods by Vesperchan When a coup takes the lives of the king and the rest of the royal family, Sakura, the sole surviver, escapes to the edge of the world with Kakashi to strike a bargain with an old god. Her worship in exchange for his power. She's warned he's a dark and jealous god, but that's not enough to sway her. ItaSaku Kakasaku darkItachi AU

Lindworm & the Tam Lin Love a Changling by Vesperchan Sakura travels as a curse breaker across the land, doing what she can to put some peace back into the world. She doesn't think much of it when she breaks the curse on a lesser dragon or a fae knight, but maybe she should have. MadaSaku, HashiSaku Poly

A Confluence of Stars by Vesperchan (my WitcherAU) With the war over between two princedoms, Sakura, a sniper, returns home to celebrate Confluence with her grandmother, the local Story Keeper. She had expected it to be nothing more than just another celebration when the star rivers overlapped and the poor people partied. But, along with the rest of the world, Sakura soon realizes that Confluence did more than just give people a reason to celebrate. A wicked new world filled with monsters and magic straight from Baba's tales spills into theirs, and Sakura is forced to turn to her rifle and her stories to make sense of it. Sakuracentric 

Sugarplum by Vesperchan "They will use you up, and love you all the while, until there is nothing left of the girl you used to be." Sakura had been a chosen one, once upon a time, but that was years ago, and all the magic has left her. Still, the world calls her back and she has a new role in supporting the next girl savior many years her junior. ItaSakuSaso

Stag by Vesperchan  He was a wizard with a tower and a set of rules he should never break. Sakura was a girl with just a bit of budding magic he decides he can't ignore. Some things were made to be broken. TobiSaku 

[Finished general fic list]

Hollow Point by Sariasprincy @sariasprincy​ Arms dealing is her trade, but young and in a man's world, it takes a criminal mastermind to play with the big dogs without getting bit. TobiSaku/ItaSaku. Crime!AU. Rated M for mentions of adult themes.

Where it Happened also by @sariasprincy​e He was the new head of Cardio and her new boss, and though she thought him a little full of himself, it seemed there was more to the famed Uchiha Itachi than he led on. Not that she could claim her life was that uncomplicated as well. ItaSaku. Modern AU. Grey's Anatomy AU. Rated M for mentions of adult themes.

Nightmare in Red by @sariasprincy​ Haruno Sakura used to think the eyes were the windows to the soul, but after witnessing the horrors of the Sharingan firsthand, she's convinced they are the doors. ItaSaku. Nonmass. Rated T

Blurred Lines  by @sariasprincy​He was an international criminal. She was a federal agent. And she wanted nothing more than to arrest him - or shoot him - if only he would stop providing her leads to more desirable criminals first. MadaSaku. Rated T.

The Man in Black  A man in black haunts her hospital. But what does he want and why is it that Sakura is the only one that can see him? ItaSaku. Modern Myth AU. Death AU

The Choices We Make by @sariasprincy​He was the Head of the Uchiha Clan and she the fearless discipline of the Hokage, but how the hell was she supposed to find the strength to tell him she was pregnant? MadaSaku. Rated M for mentions of adult themes.

halcyon days by jaylene @thefreckledone​ Sakura sees dead people. Well, two dead people to be exact. Everything changes. Sakura-centric. Indra/Sakura/Ashura. 

hands like houses by @thefreckledone Sakura finds herself trapped in the past and discovers a new family along the way, however unwilling she may be. Time travel. Fix-it fic. Sakura-centric.

Borage by @thefreckledone Sakura is in search for answers. What she finds doesn't please her.

Forest Fire by Moor @kendochick-moor Mod AU. Sasu x Saku x Ita. A small spark can launch a forest fire.

Forest Fire II by Moor @kendochick-moor Sequel to "Forest Fire". University AU. Sasu X Saku X Ita. After Sasuke inexplicably broke up with her when he leaves for Oto, Sakura throws herself into her school and social life. Friends like Ino, and surprisingly Itachi, are there to help her along the way. Meanwhile another threat, in the form of unbalanced Uchiha Madara, stalks her, ever nearer.

Tipsy series by Moor @kendochick-moor Mod AU. MadaSaku. The 1-5 part  of the "5 Drunkfics" prompts.  (Rated 'M' for language & themes)

Akatsuki Sakura AU by moor  DeiSaku, ItaSaku. Konoha-verse AU. Akatsuki Sakura AU. Raised by Uchiha Madara as part of the Akatsuki, Sakura is sent to infiltrate Konoha's ranks. Things become complicated when she is promoted to a team with one of Konoha's most well-respected ANBU captains, Uchiha Itachi.

Soulmates by Moor - KakaSaku. Age-swap AU. Based on the "Soulmates" prompt from the October 2015 tumblr KakaSaku fest. Kakashi has a reputation as an enfant terrible; at least, until Sakura sensei takes him under her wing. Rated M for later chapters.

Fancy Footwork by silverfootsteps @silverfootstepswrites For Sakura, there's always been dreary days of schoolwork and unreliable people. Who knew a clumsy womanizer, an accidental pervert, a soft-hearted glutton, and an incredibly sexy virgin would light her life up like this? A friendship founded on dancing and the strange threat that tied them all together: "Fiji". AU

Equinox by silverfootsteps Sakura is half-siren, half-human, and 100% unprepared for what waits for her when she moves to a little seaside town. A place where calling someone a monster always receives the answer: "….well, duh". Monster AU. Multisaku.

Lullaby by Silverfootsteps Sakura is part-siren, part-human, and learning how to deal with a nest of lovable dorks. But nothing seems impossible in the sleepy little town of Old Pines, where magic hangs heavy in the air and a certain werewolf has learned to stop pissing everywhere. Sort of. Sequel to Equinox. Monster AU. Polysaku af.

Butterfly by silverfootsteps After winning her first and only Olympic gold, Haruno Sakura shocks the world by announcing her retirement from skating. When she returns to her little hometown of Konoha, she finds that not much has changed. The same old temples, the same old persimmon trees. Resigned to a quiet life, she settles in for what she hopes will be an uneventful retirement. Skating AU. Itasaku.

Five Kingdoms for the Dead by Evil Is A Relative Term After the Forest of Death, Sakura comes to realize that being weak is no longer an option. However, she finds that change is sometimes painful and that truth doesn't always come easy. Luckily, she'll have some help along the way.

Vertigo by Cynchick Sakura accepts the most critical and dangerous mission of her life, but the price of success may very well be her soul. When your entire world turns upside down, how do you keep from going under? DeiSaku.

An Indispensable Assistant by TayMor Professional. Intelligent. Intuitive. Haruno Sakura is the assistant every boss wants. She is smart, she is capable, and she is experienced. Operating with her own hard and fast rules, Sakura has one, very important personal rule. Never fall in love with your boss. However, being indispensable to Uchiha Itachi will put that rule under heavy duress. AU. 

The Third Chance by TayMor reviewsJust because he died didn't mean he got to stay dead. The Rikudo Sennin reincarnates Uchiha Madara as his 26 year old self and he begins his third life broken, humiliated and full of despair. But things change as Madara finds himself competing against Sasuke for the attention of Konoha's favorite medic... MadaSakuSasu Set after the final battle and during the blank period.

Rainy Days by Wynth It took her a while before Sakura was convinced that she was once again in her twelve year old body, but by that time it was too late. •Time-Travel / AU•

Consequences of Saving a Life by BelleDayNight reviewsAt the end of the war, Neji is revived by Sakura. She has saved his life, now she is responsible for it. The Hyuga clan leader covets the power that Naruto and Sakura could bring the clan with unions with Hinata and Neji. Can they survive the politics of the noble clan? Naruto trains with Sasuke and Hanabi for CPE while Sakura and Neji embark on a mission together for the Daimyo.

Take It or Leave It by kc-archive  Akatsuki & Sakura. After a moment of shock, Sakura realized that two fully grown, fully naked men were sitting squished uncomfortably together in her bathtub. (dubcon warning)

Till Death Due Us Apart  by SpeedDemon315​ Ever since he was gone, she never was the same. The world was warm and cheery while she was cold and dreary. She thought there was no hope left for her…or was there? Oneshot, character death [SasorixSakura]

Bringing Back What's Dead by SpeedDemon315  Sequel to Till Death Due Us Apart. She made a promise to herself to discover a way to revive him and have him finally see his son. What happens when your greatest enemy from the past is the only one who can grant your fondest wish? SakuraxSasori

Time Flies Like An Arrow by katlou303 Sakura traveled back in time with the intent of changing everything, but something went wrong, and now she's a four-year-old civilian having nightmares about impossible monsters and losing friends she has yet to meet.

Uneasy coexistence by DeGlace One grinning shark–man. One pink–haired medic. Ankles. Teeth. Kisame x Sakura. Yes, you read that right.

The Art of War by leafygirl  Entry for the LJ Kakasaku AU contest. Sakura gets stuck following her teacher after a bet with her friends. But his mysterious life is nothing she ever expected.

Vespertine by Cynchick  Two enemies strike a bargain to save what they both hold dear. He will reveal a truth that shakes her beliefs, drawing her into a web of lies and betrayal. She will offer the redemption for which he never hoped and show him how to be human again. ItaSaku.

Caught and Set Loose by Celtic Oak AU. On a mission, Sakura and her companions find themselves in the custody of the wildest clan of the East Province. Forced to accept their hospitality and a redheaded escort, the medic must make the best of her situation, wherever it leads her. GaaSaku. 

[viviane-lefay]

Yeah, no fucks to give here!

Really not into this ship - at least not in a romantic & sexual context.

—

At this point, I think it is best, if I put a little clarification here, before I continue:

This is just about my personal opinion, theories & headcanon - and by no means lays a claim to general validity (nor does your POV, btw).

I have more of a pick & choose approach to fandom subjects, anyway, so I can customize the experience exactly according to my needs and wishes. This is fiction, after all - the realm of endless possibilities - where anything goes, and where there is a place for the preferences of all of us.

That said, I really want to point out that I have nothing against people shipping the Dr. with Agent Stone - but since I, personally, prefer m/f ships, I’d rather choose the female OC approach, as it’s also my beloved villain x heroine constellation (not the subject of this post, though).

My take on the dynamic between the Dr. and his assistant is, therefore, quite a bit different from the fandom popular one. Well, to each his own.

What this post definitely is not, is an invitation for a debate regarding character interpretation, shipping choices, etc. - and all the potential drama that this might entail. If that is what you’re after, then I’d politely ask you to leave now, because all you are doing is wasting both of our time.

Let’s just agree to disagree and move on, k!?

I do my thing and you do you, guys!

I suppose, I made myself abundantly clear now.

—

Anyway, to return to the topic …

Where have all the male friendships & professional partnerships in fandom gone!?

Because, personally, I think agent Stone rather relates to his boss on that level…

Robotnik being a role model of some sort, that is - not unlike a kohai & senpai, or a younger & older brother constellation, actually - where the former looks up to the latter due to certain traits that he admires (and Stone certainly does). Regarding the age difference of the two, this could also make sense.

I’d estimate that Stone can’t be much older than his mid-twenties at most, since he’s in the position of a junior agent and assistant - still at the very beginning of his career path. And he’s very capable, disciplined and professional, at that, which is probably why he made it as Robotnik’s assistant at all (unsurprisingly, given the man isn’t the most patient).

Speaking of whom - I think, regardless of Jim Carrey being in his late fifties at that point - he, himself, can’t be that old, actually. My personal take (& preference) here would be late thirties, which would still make a lot of sense regarding his academic and occupational career. Being this overachieving genius, I guess that he finished school in time-lapse mode, skipping one, or even more grades - same goes for uni. Therefore, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was done by the age of 25 - his five PhDs included (bet he did two at once), which would still give him plenty of time to make his way as an agent and scientific government official up to the time of the events of the movie.

Aside from that, I can’t help but see parallels to the dynamic of Piett and Vader here, as well - a mixture of professional esteem and a bit of intimidation. But certainly no outright fear, as Stone is hardly under the threat of being strangled to death by his superior, like poor Piett is.

That is not to say that Robotnik’s still frequent misconduct towards him is ok (it definitely is not), but it certainly is more mild than he behaves towards, say, pretty much anyone else. Btw, that includes the “pin yourself to the wall”, grabbing him by the bottom lip and dragging him towards himself, while glaring at and chiding him (For what exactly!? Not being perfect, or as smart as him!? Chill, man, the boy is doing his best, and he’s doing a good job!).

Fandom, of course, does what it always loves to do - construe this as “evidence” for the alleged attraction between the two, which is pretty far-fetched, imho (…although you’re surely free to interpret it this way, if you so please. As I said, this is just my pov & to each his own. *shrugs*).

Anyway, you can clearly see Robotnik displaying this type of behaviour, along with the invasion of personal space, towards other male characters as well - be it “Major Nobody Cares”, “Officer Brainfart”, the big bar dude he threw out of the window, or Tom Wachowski. So, following this line of argument, does that mean he’s into these guys, as well!? Honestly, that’s pretty ridiculous!

If anything, it is a blatant display of asserting dominance, bringing the message home that he is the alpha male, while putting his opponent / subordinate in his place - and that’s it! What this behaviour definitely is not, however, is something remotely shipping related.

Besides, there are many examples of other male characters doing this for similar reasons, too - amongst others Darth Vader (remember that scene between him and Orson Krennic!?), and Severus Snape (after Harry invaded his memories during the occlumency lessons). And Robotnik does that quite aggressively in the cases above. In fact, it seems to be a fairly consistent behavioural pattern with him (not that he actually needed that though, but that’s an entirely different matter).

As for Robotnik’s personal attitude towards his assistant, I think Stone’s one of the very few people he actually respects, and even likes, because the young man’s esteem for him is so genuine, while everyone else regards him pretty much like nothing more than an asset, or a threat.

It’s not like he doesn’t somewhat encourage being kept in that position himself, behaving like he does - aside from actively reducing himself to his intellect & academic prowess. This isn’t all that surprising, as it is something he apparently gets his entire sense of self-worth from, and likely the only thing he got any appreciation for from others, which is, perhaps, also why he constantly needs to spotlight said trait (no behaviour someone truly at one with himself & his abilities would display, btw). Then, there is his little tolerance for failure - especially when it comes to himself. He truly expects to perform flawlessly, like a machine, and when he doesn’t, that really seems to unsettle him (that face when Tom points his unsuccessful attempts to catch Sonic out to him … he was so offended, he almost looked like he wanted to cry ^^;;).

So, of course it is likely that he becomes quite attached to the sort of attitude and behaviour that Stone displays towards him, even though he wouldn’t think of it this way - because, you know, emotional bonds with other human beings obviously are beneath him (Yeah, sure, we did see the veracity of that claim afterwards, didn’t we!?).

But, then again, growing up as an emotionally starved child and adolescent, used to being brushed aside, and, later, deliberately distancing himself from other people, he actually might have no clue whatsoever how to appropriately deal with things like these, and thus brushes them aside as “weakness”, which really does make sense, especially in the context that he was bullied as well.

Same goes for him eventually adopting the habit of pushing other people away via plain disagreeable behaviour. I think this phenomenon is called “hedgehog’s dilemma”, and it is quite ironic that he is more afflicted by it than his blue nemesis.

It is so painfully obvious that this guy has some massive issues, stemming from past emotional neglect and negative experiences - so much, that he even rejects all things human altogether, along with his own humanity.

His excessive idealization of and identification with technology, therefore, comes quite in handy as a defense mechanism in order to cope with said experiences.

Machines don’t ask much of you, they do what they are told, they are predictable, and they - above all - can’t suddenly abandon, betray, humiliate, and hurt you (which, I think, is the crux of the matter here).

Even though he might claim that his robots are everything to him, and that he doesn’t need anything and anyone else - his actions, however, prove otherwise … let alone his constant spiteful remarks on the matter, which just sound so damn bitter.

We can recognize that quite clearly when he is forced into involuntary seclusion on that mushroom planet at the end. This is where we see that what he truly is missing are not his machines (I bet he could have easily built a robot to accompany him out of the wreckage of his vessel), but one of the few people (maybe even the only one at that point), that he had apparently grown to value as worthwile company - namely agent Stone.

And, yes, it is very evident that he misses him (platonically, for me - but this isn’t even the point here) - he even tries to make a rock resemble Stone’s likeness in order to have someone to “talk to”, and mimic the social interactions he had with him.

Essentially, all those objects and machines are but a substitutive gratification that he tries to use, but that never come remotely close to the real deal, let alone are ever able to replace it.

In the end, he’s still a human being, along with all the human needs that go along with it - human contact and care included.

If the psycho-social and emotional makeup of his closest known relatives is any indicator to how his own might be structured - and it usually is (I’m speaking about the nature aspect, not nurture) - then he can’t be such a bad guy, after all - at least not inherently.

Taking his grandfather Gerald Robotnik, for example, who loved his granddaughter Maria (a total sweetheart) so much, that he was willing to do anything for her, in order to heal her from the fatal illness that was afflicting her - and who literally went insane with grief after losing her - then it shows someone with a strong emotional life, who feels what he feels very keenly and deeply. Furthermore, he is also someone that happens to bond very selectively, but if that is the case, it has this virtually absolute quality about it, with a love just as intense and profund to match (which is quite beautiful, actually).

On the other hand, though, that can also mean someone that has a high degree of emotional vulnerability, and who, therefore, is susceptible to sustain lasting damage from interpersonal traumatic experiences (which happens to be the case here, imho).

More often than not, it is this type of person that is likely to cork up their feelings and harden their hearts as a result - and who use every opportunity to deride the very traits, needs, and wishes they worked so hard to push away, if they see them in others. That is, amongst others, what gives them away. It’s pure projection - which is why I think that his caustic remarks should definitely not be taken at face value.

There are many, many examples of villains (or anti-heroes) that fit this type. Robotnik would hardly be an exception.

Besides, it is nice to see that Jim Carrey seems to have a fairly similar take on that matter (not that I actually care, but still):

“… and all it really comes down to is, he wants to be special to somebody, only it’s gone megalomania for him.”  [x]

Ouch! Poor guy, actually.

He seems a lot like Ozai in that regard. No wonder I dig this dude (aside from him being hot, that is, haha) - he’s totally the type of villain I fancy.

And also, like it’s the case with Ozai, I can’t help but wonder about his past, given there is known so little about it (aside from a few hints), so the following will be about some of my personal theories and headcanons about him, his family, and his past.

These are such important characters (main antagonists, no less), yet the creators can’t bring themselves to be more specific about the most basic facts concerning their families. Ugh, huge pet peeve here! Nobody expects a huge ancestral chart down to the tiniest details, but they could at least offer more info about their closest relatives - especially the parents, who happen to have the most formative influence on a person.

How old was he, when his parents died, anyway!? That they died seems pretty much a given, as that is what being an orphan is about, per definitionem (and he referred to himself as such). But how did they die? Did he witness their death, or was he absent?

Personally, I have this theory that their demise might very well be linked with what happened to his grandfather Gerald Robotnik, and his cousin Maria. Perhaps they were on that space research colony during the military assault, and were also amongst the “collateral damage” there.

From what I read, the recruited scientists lived there, so I reckon that they did bring their families with them, which is likely, since it is said that Maria was born there, so at least her parents must have lived there for an extended amount of time, as well. Since Ivo isn’t Maria’s brother, but her cousin, Gerald must have had at least two children, who lived alongside him (… and his wife!? No info about her, either.) on that station.

While I think both of Ivo’s parents were from prominent scientist families (after all, that is what the population of this space station was comprised of), it is still unclear whether or not they remained on that station. I am inclined to believe they might have split their time between there and Earth, as Maria and Ivo don’t appear to have been particularly close, such as, for instance, her and Shadow (who was pretty much her only friend there), but I think that might also have been the case due to a difference in age.

Maria was 12 years old when she died during the military attack on the station. Since Ivo apparently seems to have no significant memory of his parents, and seems to have spent his childhood as an orphan, he can’t have been older than 3-4 during this incident.

With Gerald arrested, and pretty much the rest of the inconvenient Robotnik family gone, aside from that small child, I think the military decided to take him along, simply because of the vast potential of this child, coming from a bloodline of geniuses, that was now theirs to mold and to exploit.

They likely left the boy in an orphanage afterwards, mostly to his own devices, and without any support, or caregiver whose bonds transcended the mere duty of keeping their fosterling alive - a lonely life, largely deprived of emotional warmth and attachment.

However, they did keep him under close monitoring, so they could intervene anytime they saw fit, to stir him in the direction they wanted - like a psychological experiment of sorts. I remember that in the movie the presiding pentagon guy referred to him as “a lab rat with teeth” - which is rather telling regarding how they perceived him, and pretty nasty, considering the implication.

The Robotnik name, though, they obviously did not refuse him - a decision they would come to regret later. While this allowed him the only tie to his ancestry, their legacy, however, didn’t do him much good.

Gerald Robotnik was a disgraced man, known to the world as the genius madman, imprisoned and sentenced to death as a criminal - which was, by far not the whole truth. And yet, he was turned into this idealised picture of a hero by his grandson, who so admired his achievents and strove to become a scientist because of it, despite knowing only the official version of the story.

The tainted reputation of his grandfather would haunt Ivo for a long time to come. It would also become the lens through which he was perceived and judged by the world at large, and this turned out to be the main reason he was rejected, and, furthermore, relentlessly bullied by his peers - irrespective of his own accomplishments, which earned him at least the praise of his authority figures.

That he eventually snapped and retaliated, did not exactly improve the situation for him. While the bullying did stop for the greater part, the peoples’ suspicion had turned into fear, as their concerns had come to pass after all, and, as a result, he was shunned even more.

In the following years, he was further on groomed to become this perfect military asset - a morally unchecked scientist and ruthless agent, that the government could deploy like the weapon they undoubtedly saw him as.

Unfortunately for them, however, their experiment didn’t quite have the outcome they had anticipated, as he not only exceeded their expectations on an intellectual and scientific level, but, at the same time, became increasingly unstable, unpredictable (”psychological tire-fire”) and, hence, potentially dangerous - to such a degree that they became very hesitant to deploy him at all (despite the “perfect operations record”), and even downright terrified of him.

Frankly, I think they’d also have ample reason to be afraid of him, other than just his obviously ambitious nature. The most prominent being a possible event, where he finds out about what truly happened to his family and himself, as well as their role in this. Needless to say, that he wouldn’t take this lightly, considering all the shit he had to endure because of it, and likely seek revenge. I’d really be curious about such a scenario.

[samanthazambarano]

Case Study Analysis: Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant- Motivating in Good Times and Bad

Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant is a privately-owned business that has been operating since 1948. This small supplier-based company is located in Richmond, Indiana. The company had roughly 255 employees, however it was not always the best of times. The Plant Manager was, Ron Bent and his assistant was, Joe Haley. During May 2007, the two men did not fall blindly to notice the changes occurring around them. The plant was experiencing a major decrease in sales and business, which in turn caused negative morale from the employees. Bent was forced to lay off 46 employees, leaving him with 209; however, this did not resolve the issues at hand, it only caused more outbreak. Bent had a handful of issues at hand, everything from productivity declining to poor quality products being made- something needed to be done.

Engstrom has experienced the “red” prior to this in 1998. During that time Bent implemented the Scanlon Plan, an organization-wide employee incentive program. This worked flawlessly for about seven years, until 2006 when their employees were not happy with their lack of bonuses. At this time, employees had not received a single bonus for a rough seven months, which definitely caused a lot of resentment in the workplace. Employees began looking at their job differently and started performing less. Bent was then forced to reevaluate his incentive program, in hopes to motivate what employees he had left, increase product quality and boost their sales back up. Bent’s findings were as so, “The heart of these plans is the concept of participative management. Scanlon believed that individuals will work hard to help achieve their organization’s goals so long as they have an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and apply their skills” (Newstrom, 2016). By breaking down the pros and cons of the Scanlon Plan, Bent was able to move forward with what knowledge he know knew to create a better plan.

Organizational Issues

Throughout the lows this company was facing, there were certainly some issues that needed addressing, in order to get out of the rut. To run smoothly, a company must be supported by a strong and motivated team- Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant did not have this. The employees here felt unappreciated and disposable. There were a number of reasons why these employees felt this way, such as bonus calculations, job security, and lack of communication between management and employees. Each of these aspects truly come back to the main issue which is the organization of the company. The company was embarking on design changes with new technology, however, this in fact caused them to lose clients and slow down production. With the union changing and not being completely flexible with the ideas, everyone felt that their job was in jeopardy. Leading back to the negative morale throughout the work environment, employees began to take longer when producing for some of the important clients left.

Now, sales are down as well as morale- what is next? Bent started facing reality, he could possibly lose majority of his team due to anger, but he could also lose some of his top accounts at the Toyota Plant assembly line. In order to complete jobs done on time the organization was forced to airlift completed parts to their customers. This method ended up being very costly for the company, which just set themselves back even more.

In order for Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant to get where they need to in order to not go under, they must make some changes- starting with the employees’ satisfaction levels. As stated in the David Sirota’s and Douglas Klein’s book; “…there is only one key to profitability and stability during either a boom or bust economy: employee morale” (Kelleher 2013). Bent knows that his employees are upset over their lack of bonuses, thus the solution for improvement is to reevaluate and roll out a new incentive program and this is exactly what he did.

Root Causes

The privately-owned business, Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant in Richmond, Indiana, has faced a number of organizational and operational issues in its days. The plant was experiencing a major decrease in sales and business; thus, it was transparent that the company was facing a major crisis. It is evident that the organization’s issues revolved around a failing incentive plan, poor employee morale, slow productivity levels and a major lack of trust between employee and management. Each of these combined makes for a very unsteady foundation- which cannot lead to great success.

How did Engstrom get to the point they were at? The root causes needed to be identified in order for the company to stay afloat. One root cause that is most pivotable, is the lack of organization with the Scanlon Plan. The Scanlon Plan was the original incentive program rolled out by Bent. The program was organization-wide and only lasted about seven years, until 2006 and the employees spoke out about being unhappy with their lack of bonuses. At the time of roll-out, the Scanlon Plan was meant to artificially boost morale and happiness, but it ultimately led the company down the opposite path.

The Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant faces major productivity loss due to lack of motivation from the employees. When looking at the reason behind their lack of motivation, the root cause stems from lack of support us human beings crave in our everyday lives. In the plant’s case, the lack of focus on intrinsic motivation is apparent, which can greatly hinder an employees desire to become engaged (Froiland, 2015). As humans, we search for this feeling of acceptance and acknowledgement- we also thrive off rewards; so, without each of these key motivators you are looking at a team simply going through the motions.

Once one problem arises, they all begin to appear. In the case of Engstrom, after the discussion about lack of bonuses came about, then fellow employees believed not everyone deserved bonus checks since they were not contributing as much as the next guy. It is said that, individuals within a company will compare their contributions and what compensation they have received for that work compared to those around them (Hoffman-Miller, 2013). What that says for the plant, is that once the unfairness was presented to the team, everyone slowly began to put in less effort. The physiological state of weighing out the outputs versus the compensation or benefits is known as equity theory (Hoffman-Miller, 2013). Ultimately, the lack of trust between employees and management led to the reduced work performance, poor employee morale and lack of motivation.

At this point, Engstrom, was stuck in a difficult situation. After hearing all of the negative feedback, management decided to alter the incentive program to the liking of their team. The idea behind this was, hopefully by fixing the areas the employees disagreed with, everything could get back to normal. However, this resulted in another major organizational dilemma. The employees were indeed not happy with their current incentive program, but they were even more disappointed that management was constantly changing the formula. The adjustments led to confusion which had everyone feeling used, employees were working towards a goal that they did not even know how to reach. Thus, the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant was in a serious bind.

Poor communication skills can kill just about anything in life and that is exactly what was happening at the plant. As mentioned, the employees were frustrated because they could not comprehend the calculations behind the Scanlon Plan, leaving them feeling hopeless. It is noticeable that the management team was too focused on communicating financial data of decreasing sales and performance levels versus explaining the ways to earn their employees more money, which is realistically all they wanted to know. The communication climate within an organization and the communication with superiors are the most important factors determining satisfaction among employees (Baird, et. al, 978). The lack of communication became a domino effect in this work environment, because the team did not understand how their incentive plan was calculated, they did not want to work and because they did not want to work business slowed down and once the management team wanted to host a meeting to explain the process- it was too late, all motivation was gone.

The Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant organizational issues are causing the company many stressors that could have been avoided with proper human behavior theories and concepts. It is apparent that the plant cannot be fixed overnight due to the severity of the issues at hand, however if management took the appropriate steps, eventually the issues will become at ease. There is a hand full of tools that human behavior research has done that can support the various issues the plant faces on a daily basis.

Starting with, motivation, I find this to be the most important area that needs improvement. the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant saw the power of discipline and effort from their employees can do to their sales thus putting in the time to uncover what it is the employees want is crucial. When taking the time to discover, the disappointment revolved around the Scanlon Incentive Plan, which makes sense. Humans strive not only for incentives such as money, but also meaningful work that they find rewarding (Schroeder, et. al, 2015). Knowing this, I would put together methods of rewards that drive employee engagement: meaningfulness, choice, competency and progress. Each of these elements will result in a boost of positive emotions. The four intrinsic rewards also create a strong form of commitment with one’s organization (Thomas, 2009). Employees who self-manage tend to hold themselves to a higher standard. When an employee starts to feel that meaningfulness in their job, there becomes this feeling of acceptance and nourishment. In turn the company will begin to see a dramatic change in behaviors all around. The energy from the positive emotions will lead to clearer expectations and appropriate intrinsic rewards due to the new culture.

The lack of communication is the other root cause to the many issues Engstrom faces. After breaking down where and how the employees feel as though they are not understanding the expectations management has set and how they can get there, the problem area is that management does not seem to share enough or understand their team. To create a better environment with a positive communication flow, I would implement a data fluent culture. The strategic actions to create such a culture would involve creating a clear vision for how important data fluency is within the organization and how it will increase productivity and other positive factors (Schroeder et. al, 2015). Providing on-going trainings to build data knowledge, will completely set new intentions at Engstrom. This will allow managers to hold individuals accountable on a new level and ensure those meeting the necessary goals will be rewarded properly. Having the data clearly presented to the team will only result in performance levels rising and a decrease in discrepancy in bonus amounts among the team. Once these actions are met, I can foresee success rates moving up, all contributing to better communication, job satisfaction and motivation.

References

Baird, J. E., & Bradley, P. H. (1978). COMMUNICATION CORRELATES OF EMPLOYEE

MORALE. Journal Of Business Communication, 15(3), 47–56

Froiland, J. M. (2015). Employee Engagement. Research Starters: Business.

Hoffman-Miller, P. M. (2013). Equity theory. Salem Press Encyclopedia

Intrinsic Motivation at Work, 2nd Edition by Kenneth W. Thomas Published by Berrett-

Koehler Publishers, 2009

Schroeder, J., & Fishbach, A. (2015). How to motivate yourself and others? Intended and

unintended consequences. Research In Organizational Behavior, 35123–141.

Thomas W. Kenneth (2009). Intrinsic Motivation at Work, 2nd Edition Berrett-Koehler

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: 5 PILLARS OF ISLAM: ALMS AND CHARITY: VIRTUES OF ZAKAT: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ZAKAT ON SOCIETY? (PART 1)

Zakat, with its innumerable facets, is a bond between members of society, one wherein collective harmony is dependent on individual harmony. For zakat explicitly creates a virtuous setting that eliminates various social problems by establishing a harmonious atmosphere for both the rich and the poor. In a nutshell, zakat forestalls, reduces, or eliminates social conflicts, strengthens the growth of the middle class, and obviates all of the greatest social diseases pertaining to financial issues, especially interest and money-hoarding.

ZAKAT

REDUCES CLASS STRUGGLES

The establishment and maintenance of social solidarity is maximized when the gap between social classes is kept at a minimum and the voids likely to cause social conflicts are filled. In other terms, relations between the rich and the poor must not deteriorate if anarchy is to be avoided. Undoubtedly, the most important power that upholds these crucial relations between the rich and the poor is zakat and other principles of assistance. In societies where zakat ceases to exist, the precipice between the rich and the poor widens to the effect where abhorrence and hatred replace love and appreciation for the poor, and concomitantly, disdain and scorn replace compassion and charity for the rich.

Leaves of history attest to the gradual deterioration of civilizations that have opted to divide themselves into conflicting classes. Their initial happiness, a fruit of uncompromising discipline, has always been, more or less, short-lived, a prelude to their swift exit from the world stage, under the debris of their own civilization, as they have paid the ultimate price for their social injustices.

By pronouncing, “Zakat is the bridge of Islam”42, the Noble Messenger amplified the importance of zakat in abolishing economic gaps between members of society. Zakat is a bridge used for passing over economic strife and when the whole community makes use of this bridge, class conflicts have the potential to become part of history. This bridge also constructs a stable middle class through which increasingly more recipients of zakat can become its donors and a possible clash between the rich and the poor is prevented.

ZAKAT

STRENGTHENS THE MIDDLE CLASS

By the prevention of the polarization of society, Islam envisages the construction of a strong middle class. In providing an opportunity for the unemployed to embark on new business

ventures, zakat gains them back into society, stronger than ever, instead of deserting them to become burdens of the community. The strengthening of the middle class in Islam is not encouraged just through zakat and sadaqa; in actuality, there are more precepts pertaining to this issue. For instance, when dividing booty or the spoils of war among members of society, God declares:

That which God gives as spoil to His Messenger from the people of the townships, it is for God and His Messenger (for the State) and for the near of kin, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer so it will not become the property of the rich among you. (Hashr 59:7)

The circulation of capital solely in the hands of the rich inevitably leads to them becoming richer at the expense of the poor, who then become even more stricken. In actual fact, wealth has been created for the benefit of the whole of humanity, indiscriminately. In societies where individuals are deprived and usurped of the wealth bestowed by God, the existence of social classes is tolerated and the scorn of the rich towards the poor is sustained, riches never bring true happiness; on the contrary, financial resource easily becomes a profound source of conflict, even within families and close-knit groups. Additionally, in such societies, the poor remain in perennial anxiety in regards to attaining their sustenance whereas the rich foster a similar anxiety pertaining to the security of their wealth. The resort to dangerous alternatives can thus evolve into an option for the poor, a plight we have been so used to witnessing around the world. In contrast, zakat eliminates all of the illegitimate options, graciously providing the poor with an ethical way out of their strife—exhaling into the community a fresh breath of life.

ZAKAT

CURES SOCIAL DISEASES

The prime hindrance of the formation of a harmonious atmosphere within societies is the existence of social classes based on wealth. It is self-evident that it is an impossibility for the poor to nurture love for the rich in a society where they are turned a blind eye on. As prevalent experience has shown, such a society is destined to become a hotbed for social conflict. The following verse corroborates this proposition:

Spend generously for the cause of God, and do not cast yourselves into destruction by your own hands. And know that God loves the doers of good. (Baqara 2:195)

The embracement of self-centeredness, at the expense of abandoning an altruistic life with social awareness, would be tantamount to trotting dangerously, as brilliantly illustrated by the Qur’an. Throwing one’s self into danger is due to deserting infaq or spending in the way of God and its grave outcomes that immediately c o me to mind, including anarchy becoming the dominant force over society that further leads to inextricable national and international complications. This dissipative demeanor of the aristocratic class, indubitably, remains the prime cause underlying anarchy. It is this shockingly irresponsible attitude of the rich, who squander astronomical amounts of money to attain luxuries in an attempt to satiate their interminable carnal desires, which causes the insurgence of crude souls, leading to anarchy and eventually turning the social welfare system upside down.

Wasteful displays as such will, no doubt, wet the appetite of the poor, inculcating in them an insurmountable feeling of hatred for the rich and perhaps, an excuse to usurp their property upon the first chance given. Obstinately abiding by the notion that enormous financial gaps between individuals do not cause an implicit or explicit upheaval is simply ignoring the realities of life.

The inveterate enmity the poor have for the rich, through zakat, providentially evolves into love and respect, patching up the wounds initially caused by greed and selfishness.

By responding to hate with love, the rich will attain an immense respect, and consequently the

bond of fraternity throughout society will be reinforced. Those who do not spend in the way of God impede the rights of others by depriving them of what is theirs and simultaneously, wrong themselves by evading an obligation. God, indeed, dislikes wrongdoers and following such a line of action would ultimately attract the dislike of the Creator.

“Indeed God does not wrong humankind in any way; but humankind wrong themselves” (Yunus 10:44) underlines how human’s worst enemy is, ironically, himself. Those who indulge in “self-oppression” by avoiding zakat will suffer an assault of another form of oppression. “The oppressor is the sword of God; taken revenge with and then taken revenge of”43 is a vital principle of social life. Thus the wealthy that are in denial of their duty with regards to alms are prone to suffering onslaughts from the poor as immediate punishment for their ignorance. The poor, given they partake in such an upheaval, are also punished in turn, as the realization of the celestial cycle enunciated by the Prophet of God. God may delay a punishment, but when His verdict is decreed, there is no turning back.

Those who furtively stockpile wealth and withhold it in fear of zakat are bound to receive an uncalculated slap in the face as their insatiable greed generates unavoidable calamities from their wealth.

By fixing the problem before it spreads, zakat forestalls the potential complications of society, establishing a firm social structure. Looking from this perspective, many current issues could be avoided if zakat is effectively utilized.

[hyannah]

Anon Archives vol. 4 (right?)

full res: x I miss him too. He was the first of the cast I ever designed and without him, there would simply be no TBoA. Rest assured there will be no shortage of him in the comic :) I understand that the concept of Wolfe with facial hair will be like marmite for most of you, but it’s probably something that you should prepare for regardless! Wolfe no longer has use of his hands due to extensive nerve damage and he has to get imaginative with ways to keep his grip on things - but some tools, like razors - are simply impossible for him to use anymore due to his tremors. Before the gang comes together he will be looking quite worse for wear. 

full res: x She calls him “Marty” :) Her mother called him that so it makes him happy. He’s not her father but he loves her as one would. He was the one who delivered her as a baby, though during the process there were complications. She broke her leg on the way out and though Martin was able to treat her, it caused her to walk with a slight limp growing up. Teaching her to dance wasn't just Martin's idea of physiotherapy but his way of showing her how dearly he cared for her. Music and dance are our good doctor's love languages, you see. He will have Twinkletoes refer to him as “Sir” when he reprimands her, but due to some of Martin’s own issues growing up, he hates disciplining children. If he absolutely must, it’s firm but merciful, and under no circumstances would he ever raise his hand to them.

full res: x Michael Graves is one of three of Ashwick’s Senior Wardens, the other being Hunter Gerhardt and an as of now unannounced third. Wardens are the town’s law enforcers who work directly under the church’s orders. Neither entirely police nor militia, they’re a bit of both. Wardens patrol the streets at night and make sure no one is out after Curfew. Wardens are simultaneously feared and revered amongst the deeply religious townsfolk who view them as God-sent, but no one strikes pure terror into their hearts quite like Graves. While Hunter is known for being terrifying but sometimes merciful, Graves holds no such reputation. If gunshots are heard in the night or blood stains the cobblestones in the morning, townfolk know to keep their mouths shut and heads down.

Thank you so much! I still have some demons to battle but I want to get better, and your support means the world.

Thank you! I kinda wanna die when I look at that piece. Damian deserved better than my art in that funky phase and I will capture his true beauty one day.

LOL Bloodborne has been a huuuuge visual influence on me over the last few years. Expect to see some similarities I'm sure.

Thank you ;.; I used Paint Tool Sai religiously but I've unfortunately fallen out of love with it in the last year in favour of Clip Studio Paint. I would highly recommend CSP and since it comes with a one-month free trial you'd be missing out not to give it a go. I occasionally use Photoshop for some final touches but not enough to say it's worth paying that silly subscription fee for. Lately, I've been using Procreate on my iPad. It was one hell of an investment (😔💸) but it was worth it - the iPad feels great to draw on.

Thank you! Yes, definitely expect that. There are a few timeskips in canon and I have outfit changes planned.

Wolfe can sometimes be seen circling a bed or chair a few times before sitting/lying down not unlike a dog would. Rose cannot - and I truly mean this - fathom numbers. To say she is bad at math would be a terrible understatement. Martin needs a few shots of whiskey a day to keep him going but he never seems inebriated so it’s impossible to tell (unless you’re Hunter). Hunter is so tall that churches are the only buildings he doesn’t have to duck to get in to and he Riker Sits everywhere. Gloria is a little superstitious, and Graves is a cigarette smoker. Twinkletoes likes pigeons.

I would certainly recommend it! If drawing inspires you, give it a shot! Though whether or not I recommend going to school for it is a more complicated question. The good thing about pursuing a career in art is that at the end of the day your work ethic and portfolio are your best friends. Having degrees and connections will help in the industry for sure (and why I DO recommend art courses for people who have the money and want to experience student life), but if you're a poor kid that can't shell out the dough for art school or if you studied a different field, or if college didn't/isn't working out for you, it's not the end of the road. You can build your career on your own terms if you're driven enough.

Hm, let's see. I think Wolfe and Gloria would appreciate some sweet treats! Hunter rarely eats anything that isn't meat, and Rose has lived on the road most of her life so campfire food is what she's used to. She's the kind of person you'd see eat something horrifying like uncooked beans straight from the tin. Gloria appreciates her guilty pleasures and Wolfe recalls her sharing taffy with him as a little boy. But those memories are hazy now, and he's long since forgotten the taste.

Oh jeez, that would mean the world to me! As for the dialogue, it’s probably a bit of both honestly haha.

Hunter: 43, Wolfe: 23, Gloria: 41, Martin: 45, Rose: 19, Graves: 38. Some of you may recall Hunter being younger but I had to make a few timeline adjustments. Otherwise, everyone has remained the same.

Oh, well, it just might be! Wolfe is used to carrying the frail and sickly through the Charnels, but human touch in that regard is alien to him.

You're right about one thing, Ashwick is certainly in the title! I'm pretty close to revealing it so hopefully you won't be stumped for too long. I can reveal however, if I haven't already (and I think I may have, I haven't read the previous Anon Archives in years), that TBoA was going to be called Memento Mori.

He raises an amused brow at your sentiment but if you're under 35 you're all toddlers and babies to him. Plus he can't go 5 minutes without thinking about his wife so it's safe to say he’s settled down.

Haha, yeah! All of the above. Though it goes both ways. Hunter’s antics drive the poor man up the wall for sure but Hunter will be the first to tell you that doc is a force of nature too when he’s got to be. They’ve known each other for decades. They’ve taken bullets and bruises and stabs wounds for one another. Martin makes sure Hunter doesn’t get himself killed (at least he did before Malignancy took that off the table) and Hunter makes sure Martin doesn’t work himself to death. Gloria just wonders why they both have to be so damn dramatic.

1. Rose's candles simulate artificial sunlight and can temporarily vanquish Spectres from the area at night until the wick runs out. These are especially useful to the common folk who may be suffering from seeing their dead loved ones night after night. Her special coloured candles are different, though. They block a Malignant from being able to possess their Host's body and thus allow the Host to keep control of themselves when night falls. You'll learn more about the ins-and-outs of this mechanic in the comic.

2. I can't share that! You'll just have to wait and find out. Though it is a wonder how someone as formidable and self-disciplined as Hunter could fall prey to a Malignant's manipulation … I suppose even men like Father Gerhardt have been vulnerable at one point in their lives, huh?

It’s private, sorry :( It was a kind gesture from a fan who wanted to show their appreciation but it quickly got a little out of hand and very inappropriate. I’m good friends now with the few who did join so it’s not so bad and we have a good laugh, but it’s given me a small taste of “Fandom” on a grander scale and it was enough for me to realise it makes me pretty uncomfortable to be in the middle of it. I love being able to communicate with you all but I don’t love being in awkward situations so much. I might try again in the future, we’ll see.

Malignancy is unpredictable and what happens to one Host won't necessarily happen to the other!

ohohohoh who knowsssssss ;D

Nope, she’s Hunter’s danger noodle gal.

Yes, I love them!!!! I recall checking them out after you sent this message quite some time ago. I had heard a few of their songs before but I've been listening to them regularly ever since. I appreciate the recommendation since music is a really big thing for me.

Oh thank you very much! They're my own characters yes :) I first created them when I was 16 for a college project. One day I would like to share that with you all because it's come a long way. The comic is in development. Thank you all for your questions, I think that’s most of them. If you don’t see your ask in here it’s because it was asked already, I got a similar question and took a screenshot of that instead, it was too inappropriate, I can’t reveal the information yet, or I simply didn’t see it. As always if you’re looking for more prompt responses please message me off anon so I can reply privately since I respond to most anons in bulk!

[kattloaf]

Awakening

  I don’t think we should do this.

Such was Four’s continuous consensus as she stood at the edge of the clearing, casually leaning a shoulder into a tree trunk, arms folded. 

  We all agree that learning this, and how to better use it, is in our best interest. All of us. Even you.

Speaking without a true voice, as was her way, Three quietly paced the clearing, the soft grass unbowed as she strode. They were both naught more than mental projections, presenting their self-images in the world without truly having a tangible presence.

  You did agree that we should pursue this, Four. 

Two, as per usual, sat on the ground idly looking over a blade she held in hand. She didn’t look up from her work with the weapon, claiming a small whetstone and making rhythmic strokes along the blade’s edge. It was unnecessary. A formality that belonged to someone wishing to maintain social decorum. Two had no need for that. They were, after all, parts of a greater whole. The other parts knew to whom, if anyone in particular, she was speaking to.

Four’s immediate response was to roll her eyes and shrug. 

  I get that, but I don’t like what this entails. You don’t know what you’re agreeing to. Trust me.

“We do trust you, otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” One, sitting atop the mostly flat stone that was nestled in the center of the clearing spoke audibly, the deviation from a purely mental dialogue putting the matter to rest. Kat’s other selves took the cue, and began to vanish from sight. Only Four lingered, shaking her head with an almost rueful demeanor.

  Fine. Fine. Just… this isn’t going to end well. For all of us.

Settling in, Kat sought to quiet her mind. Such was no mean feat, considering there were four distinct voices that made it up. Since the inception of their mental organization, they each had been afforded the ability to work on and ponder matters while others were either resting or taking the lead externally. Such an arrangement was terribly efficient for learning and problem-solving, but it left something to be desired in their present pursuit. Being still, relegating her selves to complete inactivity outside of the expressed goal, was exceedingly difficult. It was, however, the path that had been chosen; and so, as a collective, she set to achieving true inner quiet. 

It was a laboriously slow process, at first. Normal meditation allowed for other parts of her mind to toil away quietly, and thus was easy compared to this new venture. Every birdsong, every chittering of the forest life, brought to bear a mental catalogue of what creature made the noise, and whether it was a threat. Every shift of the wind or change in the light as clouds passed over invoked thoughts on weather patterns, and if, perhaps, it would rain unexpectedly. Every snapping branch or twig heralded a spike of adrenaline, and a call to alertness that was frustratingly appropriate, if unwanted.

Her first day was spent this way, making a small stride towards achieving the goal of inner quiet, only to take two strides backward. Some might get discouraged, making so little progress for their efforts. Kat was not one of those people. To her, this was simply a challenge to rise to and overcome. She had endured a great many things. Training herself to have some additional self-discipline was hardly an insurmountable task.

The second day was similar to the first, though with more forward progress than backwards faltering. It was not until the third day that true, tangible headway was noticeable. Finally reaching the point where the whole of her mind was stilled, she was able to expand her focus. Conceptually, it was not unlike trying to feel out a room when trying to be stealthy. You used your senses to their furthest limits, seeking out the small hints and clues that were present. It was even more similar to listening to the wind, a talent she had, entirely unintentionally, developed during her normal meditations. So, unsurprisingly, it was the wind she heard first, its fluting, whimsical presence cavorting through the leaves and branches overhead, a consistent -but not unchanging- sound that provided a foundation for every other sound in the clearing. 

The next sounds to become discernible to her were the aged groaning of the trees. Their leaves and branches shifted and rustled, so capriciously toyed with by the wind, but the beams and trunks let out a deeper, more profound call. It was the sound of decades, even centuries, of slow and patient growth, of basking in the sun’s warmth and weathering the violent storms. Of observing the fleeting lives of the creatures of the Shroud and remaining. Those lives were quickly spent, flitting about from place to place, experience to experience. Not the trees, though. Their stalwart, unmoving nature provided a longer view of existence. A view that sang low and strong beneath the ocean-like ebb and flow of the canopy’s voice. 

Days passed, and with the passing of each day Kat’s awareness of the song, and it was a song, being perpetually sung around her grew. Vyalise, the one who had set her on this path, described nature as having a song, one of balance and harmony. It was only the faintest, most ephemeral of glimpses, but Kat began to hear this, and to recognize it for what it was. There was something else, though; a growing sense of pressure deep within her. The need for something, some force to be released, or some action taken. What exactly, she wasn’t certain, much less what she could do to address the issue. What she could do, for now, was to continue to listen, and hope that such answers would come to her in time.

A full sennight passed in her isolation. Each day, more of the harmony of life became clearer and more discernible to her. One day she had committed entirely to listening to and understanding the way the birds’ songs and lives weaved melodic strains into the greater harmony. Another had been devoted to the staccato scurrying of squirrels and other small animals, underpinned by the tireless, nigh endless toil of the insects that positively crowded the clearing. Bringing her internal chorus to silence, Kat became able to hear and, to some small degree, understand the music of life around her; how each individual part wove into the greater melody in a harmonious fashion. It was only a beginning, she knew. She was far from the level of inherent, inane comprehension that Vyalise had, but it was a significant step in the right direction. And yet, there was something lacking to her. A voice that, as she listened to and scrutinized the symphony around her, was absent. More and more she understood that the voice that was missing wasn’t something around her, but something from inside her. The voice missing was her own.

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Her time in the clearing had been well-spent for Kat, but the world did not stop just because she was fostering personal growth. The Institute had a meeting that had, in her time spent in the clearing, approached rapidly. She would not rush the process, she knew that led to poor and improper development more often than not. She did, however, begin to labor with the knowledge that time was a factor. As her final day in the clearing dawned, she knew that she needed to do something more. Having realized her own voice was the one missing, she began to listen.

To listen in her yet-amateurish manner, understand and appreciate the harmony of the world around her was one matter. It was another matter entirely to add her own voice to it. Throwing herself fully into the song of life around her, she strained to immerse herself. And she failed. Again and again she tried to push her way into it, that she might add her own melodic strain, but each time she found herself lacking. There was an alternative, however, in that indefinable something within herself still wanting to be released. So, with several more failures and a shortening of time remaining to her, she let her mind and body relax, and opened herself to the song once more. This time, for the first time, she succeeded. The inscrutable, undefined sense of impetus and pressure within her at long last found the means to pour out. It was something she was, on the surface, utterly unfamiliar with. Deep down, in the recesses of her mind and, indeed, soul, there was a recognition. A familiarity. A rushing tide of sensation she hadn’t known was resting within her was being released.

And it hurt. 

It was standing over a shallow grave in the pre-dawn gloom, her fingers raw and bloodied, fingernails cracked and torn. Knowing that they should be aching furiously, but not feeling them at all. No one would know where he was buried. No one would care. Just another street rat devoured by the gnashing maw of despondency that was Radz-at-Han. No one but her. 

It was being pulled out of a barrel by her shorn hair, moments after being blinded by the light of the lid being removed. Her whole body was numb but for her lungs and throat, which ached with the deep-set pain of physical exhaustion. She didn’t know how long she’d been left in the barrel, sealed inside with water that rose to allow only a few inches of empty space. There was a hole for fresh air, but it did nothing to alleviate the dark, wet, hideously cramped confinement. Forced to stand and shuffle away, her body came alive with pain. The aches of stiff joints and muscles were set ablaze in unison as the air warmed her, the movement made her stretch. It was agony. But it was also nothing.

It was laying on her back yet again, swathed in silken sheets as the man atop her went about the business he’d paid an exorbitant sum for. Her body made the correct motions, her lips made the right words and sounds. It was what she -what they- were good at: making people feel how they wanted to feel. Inside, however, deep in a place that was quickly becoming forgotten by even the most enduring remnants of her psyche, something whimpered as it died just a little bit more. 

It was all of these things, and so many more. Stacked and layered upon one another, each memory with its own unique flavor of suffering that only added to the grander sensation they were part of. They gave the abyssal tide that was swelling within her nuance and texture, making certain that each distinct taste was felt as sharply as it had been the day it first happened. This flood of sensation washed over her, through her, utterly, drowning her in the depths of its expansiveness. 

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She wasn’t sure when she finally became aware of her surroundings again. Her first sight was that of wilting grass brushing against her nose, the shades of green and brown awash in an orange light. The sun was setting, she realized slowly. It had been near midday when… it didn’t matter. Then there was the matter of an odd noise that, she realized, was coming from her own mouth. It was a single held note, hoarse and faint from enduring so long, but undaunted in its perseverance. Clamping her mouth promptly shut, she pushed herself into a seat on the grass. Hadn’t she been on the rock? Pondering this displacement of her self, she only then realized that the clearing had something peculiar about it. It was perfectly, utterly silent. 

There were no leaves rustling as the wind danced through them, nor were there the tired creakings of the obdurate trees that encircled her. No birds sang their songs of love and warning. Not a single creature stirred, either in the underbrush, or in the boughs above. Climbing to her feet, she slowly strode around the clearing, suddenly alert for anything amiss. And there was indeed aught amiss. The grass, so verdant and alive that morning, was wilting and browned. Not dead, but dormant and weak. The leaves above also had begun to wilt, their edges curling inward as yellows and oranges began their death march from edge to stem. She nearly stepped on the first animal she came across. It was a squirrel, its form curled in on itself as it shivered and twitched. Its eyes darted manicaly, its little nostrils reddened with flecks of blood as it panted desperately for air. Kneeling down, she reached out hesitantly to stroke the creature’s fur, to try and soothe it. In that moment, whether through panicked ‘fight or flight’ response or from what held it in place being gone, it writhed and sprinted away abruptly. Skittering up the trunk of a tree at the clearing’s edge, it turned to look at her, chattering away in what was clearly a scolding manner before scurrying off. Did I do this?Such was the first truly coherent thought she had. Until this moment she had simply been… existing. Her mind stilled as she took in the world around her. Still, it was a valid question, all considered. The response came weakly, as from far away, and not for no insignificant amount of time. It was, strangely, neither Four nor Three, but both speaking in unison.

   Yes. It was us.

In that moment, another wave of that cascading, obliterative anguish of the soul struck her. Gasping, she fell again to her hands and knees, then to the ground, where she curled in on herself. It gnawed at her, eroding her cognizance of the world around her, of the tentative birdsongs that were beginning to return as the avian choir recovered from their own sojourn with anguish. Lost to the world, drowning in the pain of a life lived without reconciling the condition of the soul, she wept.

[lawrenceop]

HOMILY for 29th December

The Feast of St Thomas of Canterbury

Today’s celebration is unique to England. For only in England, in the extraordinary form calendar, is today’s feast of St Thomas of Canterbury ranked as a first class feast, and so allowed to be celebrated in the Octave of Christmas, and even on a Sunday. However, there is a fittingness to this since the Christmas Octave is, we’ll have noticed, a time of martyrs. For the liturgy draws our attention to the many different ways in which people have witnessed to Christ, even to the point of death. The Liturgy thus teaches us that because of the Incarnation of Christ, and by his saving work on the Cross, the martyrs bear witness to a new transformed reality for mankind: that henceforth those who die in Christ and particularly for the martyrs, the day of one’s death becomes one’s birthday, one’s day of entry into heaven. Hence the protomartyr St Stephen said as he was stoned to death at the gates of Jerusalem: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” Thus, the martyr went in through the gates of the new Jerusalem to share in the victory of Christ.

So, on this day in 1170, a poor-born Londoner who became an Archbishop, in his own Cathedral of Christ Church at Canterbury, ordered that the doors of the cathedral be thrown open to admit the four knights and one subdeacon who would consequently murder him. Thus the doors of heaven were also thrown open to admit the new martyr of Christ, St Thomas Becket.

In T.S. Eliot’s magnificent dramatisation of this day’s events, Murder in the Cathedral, St Thomas says: “Unbar the door!… I give my life/ to the Law of God above the Law of Man… Unbar the door! unbar the door! We are not here to triumph by fighting, by stratagem, or by resistance. Not to fight with beasts as men. We have fought the beast/ And have conquered. We have only to conquer/ Now, by suffering. This is the easier victory. / Now is the triumph of the Cross, now/ Open the door! I command it. open the door!” The authoritative account of St Thomas’s last words likewise says: “It is not right to turn the house of prayer, the church of Christ, into a fortress… we will triumph over the enemy not by fighting but by suffering, for we have come to suffer, not to resist… See I am ready to suffer in the name of Him who redeemed me with His blood.”

The martyr, therefore, is one who is ready to suffer for Christ and with Christ. For he is infused with the virtue of fortitude. After his death, St Thomas was found wearing a hair-shirt, and it was said that during his years of exile to the Cistercian monastery of Pontigny in France he lived a life that exceeded the austerity of the monks. This is unsurprising for one is prepared for the grace of martyrdom by acts of penance and self-discipline which fortifies the soul. So fortified in himself by these acts of devotion and prayer, St Thomas thus had the courage to say: “The church is not a fortress but the house of prayer.” 

So, if we wish, in our time, to defend the faith, to stand up for the Church, and to witness to Christ’s truth, then the Church puts before us today the example of St Thomas of Canterbury. We are called to pray, and to be ready to suffer for Christ. Victory belongs to Christ and has already been won, but we may not see this temporal triumph in our own lifetimes, nor in our own political and social struggles. Rather, Christ promises only that, if we are faithful in prayer and penance, that we will see the triumph of his grace in our lives; that he will give us heavenly gifts and virtues that will enable us to endure to the end. Strikingly, T.S. Eliot calls this the “easier victory”. Why? Because we have only to conquer our own selves. Granted, it is the hard work of a lifetime to conquer our fears, our sins, our pride, our disordered desires, and to submit in humility to the Cross. But nevertheless, this is the gentle yoke of grace, which Christ rightly says is a burden that is “easy and light”. 

However, why was St Thomas killed? What exactly did he die for? It’s often said that he died for the rights of the Church, and this is true. In 1164, King Henry II had put forward legal claims for the Crown that would have restricted the independence of the clergy, and weakened their connection with the Papacy. St Thomas resisted, and fled into Exile rather than submit to the king, and he threatened spiritual sanctions such as excommunication. 

Among the rights demanded by the king were disputes over land and taxes. However, there was also a claim by the king to the right to put clerics on trial for secular crimes. In our time, this issue remains lively and relevant. For the Church in England is currently being investigated by the State for historical crimes against minors and the vulnerable committed by her clerics, her priests. And this, I believe, is just. For St Thomas Becket did not die so that accused clerics could be protected from the Law, nor so that the Church could shield her priests from the temporal judgement and punishments that their crimes rightly deserve. Rather, St Thomas died for the independence of the Church so that she could stand up for the truth. The right of the Church, for which St Thomas and other martyrs of this land have died, therefore, is essentially this: the right to freely preach and proclaim the truth of the Gospel. 

Sadly, the suspicion – all too often confirmed – that members of the Church in this land, including high-ranking clerics, have hidden the truth of the crimes of certain clerics and religious, has hindered the preaching of the Gospel. It is now harder, because of a vainglorious concern to defend the “rights of the Church”, for us to be seen as preachers of the truth. I think this is because it had been forgotten that the only right we need as a Church is to be free to preach the truth, that is, free to witness to the person of Jesus Christ who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (Jn 14:6) St Thomas of Canterbury knew this. Thus he embraced the suffering of the Cross; embraced his martyrdom for Christ; and so he died with Christ. We too, as a Church in England, need to know this. We need to turn to God in prayer and penance, and be prepared to suffer for Christ and with Christ as St Thomas had been ready. For, as our Lord said, only the truth will set us free (Jn 8:32). Our current situation, therefore, is a call by the Holy Spirit for the whole Church in these lands to be truthful, and to stand up once more for the truth, for the fullness of the Gospel. 

Happily, yesterday, I saw a sign of hope. A Bishop, in his own diocese of Portsmouth, spoke on the national radio (BBC 4) asking for forgiveness for “the wrongs committed in the past” against children and vulnerable adults. But he also proclaimed the Gospel of Life, and had the pastoral courage to ask: “How do we safeguard the most vulnerable creature of all: the unborn child in its mother’s womb – innocent, dependent, defenceless?” Something of the fortitude of St Thomas of Canterbury lives on! Therefore, may St Thomas intercede for us, and especially for the pastoral clergy in England and Wales, whose patron he is. 

[shockpop]

important changes to canon !

after some heavy consideration ,   i’ve decided that the only family denki has from this point on is his MOM ,  KAMINARI NARIKO .    the rest of canon will be the same in that nariko adopted denki from her older brother at a young age ,   works as a nurse at hosu hospital ,   and is very close to her son . 

the decision to cut out the other 2 family members mostly comes from me thinking long and hard about what’s been shown of denki in canon ,   from manga to anime to the first movie and light novels   ---   and honestly ,   i think that being the child of a single parent reflects in a lot of his characteristics !    

not so much the assumed maturity aspect of it ,    but like ,   the role he plays as someone who evens out his class   /   brings people together   /   instigates social interaction can be interpreted as a way of taking initiative when he sees a job that he thinks needs to be completed ,   i . e .  bringing up the general morale or making sure everyone’s emotional needs are accounted for  (   as we’ve seen from his extreme concern   /   empathy for others and how his strong intuition can’t be quelled until he gets to the bottom of something  ) .    

other examples of some typical single - parent - raised characteristics that denki exemplifies in interactions with his friends  : a.     showing an immediate concern for their well - being  (   worrying about kirishima’s grades during the red riot arc ,   about jirou when she initially rejected the attention given to her about her talent and when she was feeling self - conscious around yaoyorozu’s mom ,   and about bakugou and kirishima when they diverged from the class at the license exams  ) 

b.     feeling the need to validate them ,   at times without cause  (   reassuring shinsou that his efforts to become a hero weren’t being made in vain ,   compliment yaoyorozu on her creative  decision - making abilities  ;  tsuyu for the same reason ,   and praising bakugou for his multiple talents ,   even over something as simple as winning an arcade game  )  

c.     encouraging honesty   /   communication   /   overall togetherness  (   implied offscreen time between him and bakugou shows that bakugou has educated denki on the functionality of his grenades and the fact that his parents forced him to take music classes as a kid ,   which means denki bugged him enough to do so but with the intent of building upon their friendship   /   getting bakugou to open up a little more  ) 

denki is also someone who seems to have no problem involving himself in a lot of decision - making scenarios amongst the class ,   eagerly giving his opinions as he might be used to doing so in a single - parent environment   (   having a say in household issues  ) .    

also ,   in the few times they’ve been paired off into groups for mission training ,   denki is usually the one assuming responsibility for the group’s actions ,   or being the one to at least cook up some sort of plan moving forward    ---    perhaps only neglecting to do so in the most recent event of class a  vs .  class b because he’s realized that his plans tend to not be the most thought out .    still ,   the natural mindset to take on some role of leadership could be derived from being entrusted by the parent to take on difficult tasks   /   be expected to pull his weight from a young age .

his fluidity with his social circles and readiness to hang out at any point could also come from being used to having a lot of time in his schedule due to the absence of the working parent ,   even if his current schedule isn’t actually all that clear  (   he’s not doing his schoolwork  /  studying properly ,   so he could be avoiding it to resume a life of no real responsibilities ,   especially if he feels the need to refamiliarize himself with the lifestyle to feel like he’s still a kid in the current climate of his hero career   ) .    

in the same breath ,   though ,   you could draw two other reasons for that   :   that the reason he struggles so much with laziness   /   a lack of time management to begin with  (   besides just being a common symptom of adhd  )  stems from the absence of one - on - one time with the parent who worked a lot ,   resulting in the lack discipline  ;  there might not have been someone there to encourage him to stay focused and make sure he stays on top of his studies instead of goofing around when he came home after school .

or ,   similar to the first reason in that it’s more of a personal choice ,   consider that denki is a generally well - behaved person .    outside of his exclamations and the occasional bad habits  (   falling asleep in class  ) ,   he follows the rules   /   what’s been asked of him and keeps himself in line ,   almost to a fault .    if raised by a single parent ,   denki might’ve been given a lot of rules to mind when his mom was out ,   or chores to do to ,   again ,   help out around the house and whatnot .    his mom was far from strict ,   but being the only parent puts her in the role of being both the “fun parent” and the “disciplinarian”   ;   denki may have started slacking off on schoolwork ,   the thing she was the least on top of in their daily lives ,   to feel like he had some semblance of control over something from a young age ,   similar to the entire concept of treat yo self or getting a new piercing   /   tattoo when things in your life seem like they’re getting too out of hand  (   which he also ends up doing as an adult ,   coincidentally  ) .

lastly ,   on the less fun side of things ,    denki also exhibits some poor behavior  (   being something of a perv ,   disrespect for personal boundaries ,   mild sexism  )   that could also all stem from not getting in enough of that one - on - one time in the more crucial years of his development to understand why it’s not appropriate .   these behaviors are possibly learned  from other friends in middle school ,  who he’d spent a lot of time with in reiterating the fact that he could have had a very open schedule and tons of freetime to fill with friends if his mom wasn’t around much .    

(  and he’s not beyond saving ,  of course   ;   these are just traits of his that i’d rather someone actually teach him about ,   explaining to him why they’re wrong ,   rather than just ,   like ,   write those traits out completely and let him get away scotch free .  )

OVERALL ,   there’re some other things too that play more off of my personal portrayal of him    ----    like a disregard of gender roles ,   and that kind of thing    ----    but that’s kind of a conversation for another day .    my main point of this whole thing is that ,   while denki not be the most transparent candidate for being raised by a single mother ,   it’s definitely a conclusion that can be drawn upon from all that we know of him thus far !    so i’ll be taking that route and playing his canon out according to all of this from this point on .    

the story will remain that his mom is a single woman who still works a ton at the hospital  (   the canon one where all the kids are usually admitted to ,   in fact !    which could bring up some good plot points  )   and that denki visits her when he can on days off .    they’re still really close ,   but he may feel the need to keep some updates from her that might worry her ,   or things that he’s kind of ashamed of ,  as he’s grown to doubt himself a little more without her being around .

[meet-your-yoga-blog]

The Essential Yoga Practice Benefits

Yoga is known as the way to unite body, mind and spirit. Yoga has been proven as an effective way to reduce stress and to eliminate anxiety. It is this union with the infinite through meditation and samadhi that represent the 'yoke' (yoga) or bringing together of all aspects (body, mind,soul). In this way yoga is a direct personal experience of the interrelatedness of all life and of all living things. Yoga is much more than simple postures and breathing. Even though yoga is not always included as a relief, it has been shown to be extremely helpful for many suffering from medical ailments as well as emotional problems. Yoga is the art of uniting the individual soul within each of us with the Supreme Soul or "group soul". Thus it is possible to unite kundalini sakti which is lies in the muladhara chakra (bottom chakra) with siva which is in the sahasrara chakra (top chakra).

Yoga Practice

The practice of Yoga bestows a rich and full life on each one who takes it up. The practice of self-restraint, mental strength, genuineness, compassion and selflessness add up to the practice of Yoga. The really amazing thing is that your yoga practice is always evolving and changing, so it rarely becomes boring as you work to achieve new levels of consciousness expansion.

Meditation

A full yoga session should exercise nearly every part of the body and also include relaxation, pranayama and meditation. Pranayama is also known as breath control practice and includes breath exercises which your instructor will show you.

Health

The Essential Benefits of Yoga include health (back pain) and emotional problems (panic, nerves) and related issues. Genuine yoga has the ability to change your life, habits, and body. You may notice increased energy, vitality, longevity and a new (higher) level of health. Those who are strong and healthy can do yoga even after 50 years of age or older. The purification of kriyas of and asanas (body positions) ensure a healthy body and may even free it from ailments. The practice of Yoga Asanas may help to prevent disease and even maintains a high level of health, vigor and vitality. It's possible that you will also breathe more easily, find new energy, you may notice that your circulation improves; your blood pressure normalizes and you will have an much easier time coping with the stress of daily living.

Weight

If you're overweight yoga has been shown to possibly help you make the lifestyle changes necessary to drop extra pounds. Many people come to yoga because of back pain, sciatica, or neck, breathing, heart problems, anxiety, diabetes, stress disorders, ulcers, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, or they just want to lose weight. People who suffer from obesity dealing with constipation or dyspepsia will especially find that daily yoga practice is useful. Yoga is also ideal for those that are overweight, elderly, or pregnant. If you practice asanas (poses) regularly, your body will gradually achieve a much greater endurance, your spine will eventually become more flexible. Eventually your body will come to its natural weight and rid itself of toxins that may have built up with years of poor living.

Exercises

Exercises should provide both recreation and physical and mental development. Timing in movement exercises is known as Trul khor or union of moon and sun (channel) prajna energies. If you are wise enough, after a perusal of the different exercises, you can easily pick up the right method of Sadhana that suits you best and attain success. Ordinary physical exercises develop the superficial muscles of the body only. Yogic exercises when practiced regularly in the right way, will surely bestow on you all that you want.

Video

Classes offered by registered Yoga instructors are available locally as well as instructional print materials and video sources at your local library. You can also learn yoga from books and videos. What can you expect at a yoga class or when you watch a yoga video. You can zoom in and out on the video, back up, pause. However, books and videos have their place, too. Books, videos and website can be a great help, but nothing beats a live instructor. If you're working from books, try The Sivananda Companion to Yoga; videos, both Lilias Folan and the Yoga Journal offer excellent intro videos (try your local library); or try practicing the postures outlined on the Yoga Site's Posture Page.

Teaching

Teaching a blend of different styles of Yoga, and Integral in particular. Because its emphasis is on the body through asana and pranayama practice, many western students are satisfied with the physical health and vitality it develops and are not interested in the other six limbs of the complete Hatha yoga teaching, or with the even older Raja Yoga tradition it is based on. "There's a great deal of crossover among the various yoga schools, and there's even a diversity in teaching approaches within each discipline. Today, yoga classes teaching the art of breathing, meditation and posing are offered nearly everywhere - from trendy health clubs in big cities to community education classes in small towns.

Specialized Yoga Teaching

Very specialized teaching for small groups and private clients, in a most intimate and peaceful setting. Therefore in order to understand the real meaning of the scriptures or the teachings of the prophets, one must acquire inner experience through the practice of spiritual disciplines. Kripalu Yoga, stemming from the teachings of Swami Kripalu and brought to America in the 1960s by his disciple Yogi Amrit Desai, emphasizes how you practice as much as how you live your life. It also helps to improve posture by teaching relaxation of the neck, shoulders and upper back, easing tension that can trigger aches and pains in the back.

Yoga Mats

A typical beginner level yoga class begins with students laying their yoga mats in rows with space between neighbors so there is room to perform certain poses. Yoga equipments such as yoga mats, yoga clothes, etc, can be a great help for the people who want to practice yoga as they help the yoga practitioner get deeper into the yoga poses.

Yoga Clothes

Yoga clothes, while stretchy, don't have other features particular to the activity, as padded biking shorts do. Yoga equipments such as yoga mats, yoga clothes, etc, can be a great help for the people who want to practice yoga as they help the yoga practitioner get deeper into the yoga poses.