#compare and contrast

[reality-detective]

The difference between a Constitutional Republic and a democracy.

Remember this every time you hear the democrats crying about losing our "democracy" 🤔

[noelle-abwola]

[greatwyrmgold]

Confirmation that, for all her botanical and medical knowledge, Maomao needs Shisui's help for anything entomological.

[odinsblog]

Compare and contrast:

And keep in mind, it was Trump himself who gutted the aviation safety committee only days before the deadly mid-air collision.

[colleybri]

Going up and down

More reverse-parallels between Cassian and Syril. Cassian is frequently seen climbing, and the soundtrack for this escape through The Eye of Aldhani sequence is called “Climb!”, as screamed by the dying Nemik (in a way in that in five years’ time will be echoed by the dying K2SO in the Citadel Tower on Scarif).

Syril, meanwhile, descends. Having lost his job, his hope and his self-respect he goes down-down-down in the elevator to the poor part of Coruscant and his judgemental mother. The music for this sequence is called Syril Suite.

Nicholas Britell makes the point even clearer. Throughout “Climb!” the insistent rhythm of the backing strings slowly ascends the scale. It ratchets up the tension to unbearable levels of excitement. In Syril Suite, the music repeatedly plods its lonely way down the scale. Cassian as a character is on the ascent; Syril is on the descent.

There’s such an impressive level of detail in this show.

[metalinjector95]

⚠️ (MAWS Spoilers!) ⚠️

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Close enough, Welcome back Sasha Waybright!

[mariopokemonuniverse]

Super Mario RPG: Bowser Accidentally Kissing Mario in 1996 vs 2023

An unexpected classic, hilarious accidental ship from gaming history reborn.

[aurae-rori]

after pain : aventio fic

— #aventio #ratiorine fic

— poetic narrative

— relationship/character analysis

— fluffy and comfy :)

— technically wrote this awhile back lmao

— 2.3k words https://archiveofourown.org/works/54107008

[reverseenchancia]

👑Comparing Amber Beginning to Finale👑

Amber's character arc in Sofia the First is one of the most compelling transformations in the series. Comparing Amber in the pilot episode, "Just One of the Princes," to Amber in the series finale, "Forever Royal," reveals how far she has come as a person, a sister, and a princess. Her journey is a testament to the show's themes of growth, empathy, and the importance of family.

Amber in the Pilot: The Spoiled Princess

When we first meet Amber, she embodies many of the stereotypical traits associated with a spoiled princess. She is self-centered, vain, and dismissive of others who do not fit her idea of "royalty." Her behavior toward Sofia is particularly telling. In the pilot episode, Amber feels threatened by Sofia's sudden inclusion into their royal family. Having been the center of attention her entire life, Amber struggles with jealousy and a fear of losing her status as the kingdom's beloved princess.

Some key traits of Amber in the pilot include:

Entitlement: Amber expects everything to go her way simply because she is royalty. She often uses her position to boss others around or manipulate situations to her advantage.

Superficiality: She values appearances and popularity above all else. For example, she cares more about being admired at royal events than about forming genuine connections with others.

Jealousy: Amber's initial interactions with Sofia are tinged with insecurity. She sees Sofia as an outsider who might overshadow her.

Lack of Empathy: Amber struggles to understand or care about others' feelings, especially Sofia's. This is evident when she sabotages Sofia's attempts to fit in at Royal Prep.

In these early episodes, Amber serves as an antagonist of sorts—not a villain, but certainly an obstacle for Sofia as she tries to navigate her new life as a princess. However, even in these moments, there are hints that Amber's behavior stems more from insecurity than malice. Deep down, she fears being unloved or replaced.

Amber in the Finale: The Compassionate Sister

By the time we reach the series finale, "Forever Royal," Amber has undergone a profound transformation. She is no longer defined by her insecurities or selfishness but by her loyalty to her family and her willingness to put others before herself. Her relationship with Sofia is now one of mutual respect and love—they are true sisters in every sense of the word.

Some key traits of Amber in the finale include:

Empathy: Amber has learned to consider others' feelings and perspectives. She genuinely cares about Sofia's happiness and success, often supporting her instead of competing with her.

Bravery: In "Forever Royal," Amber proves that she is not just a pampered princess but someone who can rise to the occasion when it matters most. She helps defend Enchancia against Vor's threat and shows courage in standing by Sofia.

Selflessness: Perhaps the most striking change in Amber is her ability to put others' needs above her own. She no longer seeks attention or validation but instead focuses on doing what is right for her family and kingdom.

Maturity: By the finale, Amber has grown into a poised and responsible young woman who understands what it means to be a princess—not just wearing a crown but embodying kindness, wisdom, and leadership.

One particularly touching moment in "Forever Royal" is when Amber expresses pride in Sofia for becoming the Protector of the Ever Realm. This moment underscores how far their relationship has come—from rivalry to genuine sisterly love.

Key Moments That Shaped Amber's Growth

Amber's transformation did not happen overnight; it was built gradually over the course of the series through key moments and lessons:

"The Big Sleepover" (Season 1): When Amber invites Sofia's village friends to a royal sleepover, she initially looks down on them but eventually learns to appreciate their differences. This episode plants the seeds for her growth.

"Princess Butterfly" (Season 2): Amber learns that being popular isn't as important as being true to herself. This marks an early step toward maturity.

"The Curse of Princess Ivy" (Season 3): After accidentally summoning Princess Ivy and endangering Enchancia, Amber takes responsibility for her actions and works with Sofia to fix her mistake. This episode highlights her growing sense of accountability.

"A Royal Wedding" (Season 4): As maid of honor at Aunt Tilly’s wedding, Amber demonstrates leadership and grace under pressure—qualities that foreshadow her eventual maturity.

"Forever Royal" (Series Finale): In this climactic episode, Amber stands alongside Sofia during Vor’s attack on Enchancia, showing courage and loyalty.

Themes Reflected in Amber’s Arc

Amber’s journey reflects several key themes central to Sofia the First:

Redemption: Amber starts as someone who prioritizes herself above all else but learns that true happiness comes from helping others.

Family Bonds: Her relationship with Sofia evolves from rivalry to deep sisterly love, showing how family can inspire personal growth.

Empathy and Understanding: As Amber matures, she becomes more aware of others’ feelings and learns to value people for who they are rather than their status or appearance.

Amber’s Legacy: A Fully Realized Character

By comparing Amber in the pilot to Amber in the finale, it’s clear that she has grown from a one-dimensional "mean girl" into a fully realized character with depth and complexity. Her flaws make her relatable, while her growth makes her inspiring.

Amber’s development also enriches Sofia the First as a series by showing that even those who start off selfish or insecure can change for the better with time, effort, and love. Her transformation reminds viewers—both children and adults—that it’s never too late to become a better version of yourself.

In short, while Pilot Amber may have been "Princess Perfect" on the outside but flawed within, Finale Amber shines as someone truly worthy of wearing a crown—not because she was born into royalty but because she has earned it through kindness, bravery, and growth.

[samasmith23]

I FREAKING love Makoto’s declaration immediately before the boss fight with Kaneshiro! This quote perfectly encapsulates her evolution from a blindly obedient student council president into a rebellious Phantom Thief & heroine of justice:

Also, some weird trivia! Makoto’s line above was actually a rewrite for the Royal edition, since the line from the original base game was stiffer IMO and the overall scene lacked voice acting:

It’s kinda amazing how Atlus included so many minor dialogue & voice-over updates for Persona 5 Royal that only serve to help further elevate an already fantastic game!

[scionofurza411]

Venn diagram time. Sorry it's late and just a shitty compare-and-contrast list, it turns out I'm really bad at editing images. Also worth noting that I have not read the Dungeon Meshi manga.

If you enjoy The Locked Tomb, go watch Dungeon Meshi, if you enjoy Dungeon Meshi, go read The Locked Tomb.

Griddlehark:

Mage and warrior

Resurrection-ish thing was not done by one of them

Their scene involving indoor water was a lot more fucked up, and in a pool, and with clothes on

May have known each other since they were children, but childhood friends does not properly describe them

Both

Lesbians

Had a scene involving indoor water

Biggest ships of their respective fandoms

Not actually together yet

The one that got brought back is taller and has yellow eyes

They go significant periods without seeing the other

Known each other since childhood

Resurrection made them come back different (chussy and chimera, respectively)

Farcille

Mage and mage

Resurrection thing was performed by one of them

Their scene involving indoor water was a bath, with no clothes, and was just very different from the pool scene

Childhood friends

[greatwyrmgold]

I've been watching both Raven of the Inner Palace and the new season of The Apothecary Diaries lately. It's obvious why people compare the two series, but one big difference I've noted is the protagonists' social awareness.

The semi-titular apothecary isn't a social savant, but she knows her place and how to keep it. Maomao is a lowborn servant surrounded by noble consorts and high-ranking eunuchs and the like. If she annoys them, her life will get harder; if she pisses them off badly enough, her life might end.

She acts accordingly. Maomao doesn't always do the socially appropriate thing, but she needs some unusual stress before she snaps.

By contrast, the semi-titular Raven Consort is a mixture of sheltered, isolated, and naive. There's a lot she just doesn't understand about the "proper" way for a noble consort like her to act. She didn't understand how giving Jiujiu something the Emperor gave to her could be insulting to either of them, let alone both. And even when she's not overtly oblivious like that, she's relatively informal and headstrong, even in the presence of the Emperor.

Luckily, she is the Raven Consort. On one hand, she's isolated from any schemers who could exploit her political incompetence. On the other hand, her status is grand enough that she can get away with more; even the Emperor is not that high above her station. No one would behead her for breaking a mirror.

Of course, she spent most of her childhood in the palace, being raised/trained as the new Raven Consort. Meanwhile, Maomao spent her entire childhood in the red-light district, learning how to be a skilled commoner while the rich and powerful tower above you. Of course they would have different relationships to power.

[spiderandmosquito]

Can drama affect critisism (RWBY)

[alasarys]

"Kudos to Lando, because Lando is the inspiration of this slam"

[blondebrainpowered]

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World (MTV Unplugged)

MTV Unplugged in New York is the first live album by the American rock band Nirvana, released by DGC Records on November 1, 1994, nearly seven months following the suicide of Kurt Cobain. It was part of the cable television series MTV Unplugged and features a mostly acoustic performance. It was recorded at Sony Music Studios in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, on November 18, 1993 and aired on the cable television network MTV on December 16, 1993. 

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

[Mike Luckovich]

* * * *

"An idea unlike any other."

May 28, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

On Memorial Day, President Biden hosted a breakfast for military leaders, veterans, and Gold Star family members. The event was closed to the press, so there are no photos or media reports of his remarks. Rather than turn a White House reception honoring fallen soldiers into a public event or campaign opportunity, the President met privately to express gratitude to soldiers and their families.

Later in the day, the President participated in the Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and then delivered the Memorial Day Address the Memorial Amphitheater.

In his remarks, President Biden said,

America is the only country in the world founded on an idea — an idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives. We’ve never fully lived up to that, but we’ve never, ever, ever walked away from it. Every generation, our fallen heroes have brought us closer.

President Biden also issued a statement commemorating Memorial Day, writing (in part):

Since America's founding, our service members have laid down their lives for an idea unlike any other: the idea of the United States. Today, as generations of heroes lie in eternal peace, we live by the light of liberty they kept burning. May God bless them, always.

Joe Biden’s presence in the Oval Office elevates us as a nation. We are fortunate to have him as our president during this challenging time in our nation’s history.

Defendant Donald Trump issued his own statement commemorating Memorial Day. Trump posted a statement that began as follows:

Happy Memorial Day to All, including the Human Scum that is working so hard to destroy our Once Great Country, & to the Radical Left, Trump Hating Federal Judge in New York that presided over, get this, TWO separate trials, that awarded a woman, who I never met before (a quick handshake at a celebrity event, 25 years ago, doesn’t count!), 91 MILLION DOLLARS for “DEFAMATION” . . . .

What is notable about Trump's Memorial Day greeting is that it does not mention veterans—living or dead—but is instead devoted entirely to himself. In contrast, President Biden’s message mentions only those veterans who gave their lives for “the idea of America” and does not mention himself.

The same contrast is seen in President Biden’s private meeting with Gold Star families. Trump took a group photo with Gold Star family members at the Coca-Cola 600 while wearing a “MAGA” hat and giving a “thumbs up.” Photo Trump at NASCAR Event.

Trump also used Memorial Day Weekend to announce the creation of “Veterans and Military Families for Trump,” an announcement that included the following statement:

Unlike the weak Joe Biden, President Trump has consistently proven he cares deeply about the unbelievable sacrifices made by our nation’s Veterans and their wonderful families.

In short, Trump's relationship with veterans and Gold Star families is transactional, like everything else in his life: Fallen soldiers and veterans are props for his campaign. They matter only because they are part of a campaign organization supporting Trump.

The saddest part of that transaction is that the veterans’ sacrifices and their families’ grief are being exploited by a man who has called fallen veterans “suckers and losers.”

Rarely has our nation faced such a stark choice. On this Memorial Day, that choice is viewed through the lens of the sacrifice of more than a million Americans who died defending the “idea of America.” As President Biden said in his remarks today, we have “never fully lived up to the promise” of that idea. We cannot allow our past failures and present challenges to discourage us.

The question of whether a million Americans died in vain is for us to answer. They kept their oath; we must finish the story of their sacrifice. In 2024, we must honor America’s fallen veterans by ensuring that their sacrifice was not in vain by defending the democracy for which they gave their lives.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]