#economy does impact on content

[blonndiec]

This is totally unrelated to Yoi, but you see...I've been following the Watcher debacle and it confirms the grand scale, live Case Study that we product designers have been seen about streaming services: Consumers are tired slicing their life's away in subscriptions and so many platforms are not intuitive, nor easy to maintain. Also, is not possible in the economic reality of 2024.

This is why -now linking it to YoI- I do hope Netflix hasn't taking into account the noise created by those looking for a quick fix to the Ice Adolescence situation. They don't have the resources or budget, to create something that could do justice to YoI fans. And I wouldn't want Netflix to do a live action with B-actors and botched plotline just to put *something* out there. And if they were to keep it as an animation, I wouldn't be sure they could provide good conditions for creators and animators. Just again, my two cents taking in consideration my field of expertise, and having study the reality and context of media.

[psychotrenny]

There's a real unearned confidence to the way that Social Democrats talk about their ideology, like they've cracked the code and found the perfect way forward and the only reason people disagree is because they're misguided or evil. Like they'll correctly point out problems within Neoliberal Capitalism before spouting some absolute nonsense about how uniquely evil and dysfunctional Communism was (nearly always in the past tense too; they take it for granted that the end of the USSR was the end of all Communism) and then going "Don't worry though, there's a third way; a mixed regulated economy. We can have a free market in consumer goods while making sure that corporations pay their fair share in wages and taxes that can fund the welfare that looks after everyone". And like putting aside the fact that such a model relies on the super-profits of imperialist exploitation to actually function, and the inherent instability of an arrangement where the Bourgeoisie make concessions even while maintaining ultimate control of the economy, there's the simple fact that much of the Imperial Core did indeed had Social Democracy but does not anymore.

Like these Social Democrats never think about why that might be, why their ideology failed and what they can learn from it going forward. They just act as though some dumb individuals (i.e. Ronald Reagan, Milton Friedman etc.) managed to slip into power and make bad decisions and like the best way to fix this is to vote good people in who'll change it back. Like hell a lot of these people take the previous existence of these policies as like a good point, the whole "We had them before so we aren't being radical by wanting them back. We don't want anything crazy we just wanna bring back The New Deal or Keynesian Economic policy or whatever". There's never any thought about why those policies failed (how often do you hear these people even talk about "stagflation" or "the oil crisis" let alone the impact of the fall of the soviet union) and what implications this might have on the viability of bringing it back. They also love talking about how Social Democratic institutions are still largely intact in the Scandinavian countries, but rather than even consider what specific factors in their political-economic situation led to this these people just go "Damn isn't Sweden great. Why aren't we doing exactly what they do?"

And sure some people might compare this to Marxism-Leninism, the whole "trying to bring back a defeated ideology", but for one it's stupid to treat the dissolution of the USSR as the end of Communism as a global political force. It may have been a major blow, but even if you write off like Cuba and Vietnam as too small and insignificant to matter you can't just fucking ignore that over 1/6 of the world's population continues live under a Marxist Leninist party. Whatever concessions these countries may have made to global Capitalism, it's just plain ignorant to act as though Communism suffered anywhere near the humiliating loss of global power and credibility that Social Democracy has. Sure the latter may be more politically acceptable to toy with in "The West", but "The Western World" ≠ The Entire World. Also, nearly every ML on the planet is painfully aware that Soviet Communism collapsed and that it collapsed for a reason. There might be plenty of contention about why exactly it died and what exactly we can learn from this, but nearly everyone agrees that we need to learn and ideologically grow. No serious Communist wants to "bring back the USSR" in the same way that many Social Democrats want to "bring back The Welfare State". Far from being a form of "best of both worlds" mixed economy, Social Democracy is nothing more than a flimsy tool to stabilise Imperialist Capitalism at its moments of greatest strain. And if people are still gonna promote it wholeheartedly as the best possible solution, I wish they'd be a little less arrogant about it. It's not as though they have history on their side

[noxxmyosotis]

750 Days and more of Never-Ending Terror: Understanding the Unending Ukraine War | Full Text

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Introduction

Since 2014, the Russo-Ukrainian War has been a time bomb for the security of Europe, causing a great deal of suffering for the residents of Eastern Ukraine. In February 2022, Russia decided to escalate the conflict by invading Ukrainian territory, making it one of the largest scale hostilities to occur in Europe since World War II (Walker, 2023).

Despite initial hopes that the war would end quickly on both sides, it is still ongoing at the time the script was written (December 2023), which means that there is still constant bombing and threat within Ukraine's borders, causing daily suffering to both Ukrainian and Russian civilians. Although both sides claim that the other cannot hold out for much longer, there appears to be no end in sight. According to some news sources, Russia's local economy has become more precarious due to the departure of foreign investment, and the living conditions and welfare of its citizens have become more uncertain as a result (McHugh, 2023).

The situation raises two important questions: why does Russia continue to prolong the invasion war when they are not necessarily receiving any benefit from the war itself? and how is Russia able to sustain itself in a state of war, going against international communities, tarnishing its reputations, suffering intense scrutiny, and creating a chaotic political state externally and internally? Were Putin's one-man show and lunacy the only factors propelling the war forward, or were there additional structural reasons for the war to continue, despite its lack of success?

Through this essay, I wish to explore the situation of the Ukraine War through the following areas:

The causes of war and their current impact.

The impact of the war on the internal politics of Russia.

The societal conditions of Russia that allowed the war to be prolonged.

The future of the conflict and the conditions needed to end the war.

Classical and contemporary theories related to sociology of war and violence, political sociology, including the framework of organized violence will be examined. I will also consider the current account of Russian history, the unique structure of Russian society, and the theoretical frameworks, to answer the question: why the conflict has not ended?

The Prelude of Invasion Part I: The Crimean Invasion

Before the invasion towards the mainland Ukraine happened in 2022, it is important to remember the war has already been happening since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, a majority ethnically Russian area with a strong pro-Russian separatist force exist (Walker, 2023). At the time, most international organizations and nations took a relative neutral stance on the incident, stating that the primary cause of the annexation was local civil unrest and that Russia, and Putin in particular, should be condemned for failing to de-escalate the conflict, but not for launching an invasion.

There are several social reasons why pro-Russian ideology is particularly prominent within the region. The most significant and obvious is related to the ethnicity of the Crimean people. Despite the predominant Russian population in Crimea, the region has historically accommodated various minority communities, such as Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. Prior to the Russian conquest in the 1700s, the Crimean Tatars constituted the majority ethnic group. Consequently, the historical context reveals a dearth of unequivocal legitimacy regarding territorial claims (Dawson, 1997).

The intricate ethnic makeup of the Crimean region emerged as the primary catalyst for tension and political turmoil inside the area. The Crimean region is characterised by a complex political landscape, consisting of three distinct factions. Firstly, there are Ukrainian-aligned parties that advocate for the further integration of Crimea into Ukraine. Secondly, there are Russian-aligned parties that aim to reduce Ukraine's influence in Crimea and increase dependence on support from Russia. Lastly, the Crimean Tatars aspire to establish an independent and legitimate ethnic state. Each faction actively pursues strategies and tactics to advance their respective goals while simultaneously discrediting the objectives of the other factions (Dawson, 1997).

Such complications are further entrenched through the fall of the Soviet Union. Following the Ukrainian parliament's declaration of independence, a significant number of individuals residing in the Crimean region expressed discontentment with the ensuing economic decline experienced by the country. These individuals drew comparisons between their situation and the more prosperous Russian economic reforms, leading them to believe that aligning with Russia would bring greater economic prosperity to both the region and its inhabitants (Dawson, 1997).

It is important to note, however, for the following decade, there is evidence where both the ethnic tension and political dissatisfaction within the region has decreased over the years. The economic situation of Crimea also significantly improved since the initial downfall from USSR by the time 2010s rolls around, and majority of the media consumed within the region were Ukrainian affiliated, with many young people stop identifying themselves as Russian and affiliate themselves with Russian culture, rather supporting a newly formed Crimean identity, while even some of the most radical Russian supporters suggest a strong preference for peace over war (Knott, 2018; O’Loughlin & Toal, 2019).

However, narratives that propose Crimea not only belongs to Russia, but would also benefit from joining Russia, hold considerable sway within mainland as well. Russian mainstream media extensively highlights the plight of individuals in Crimea, emphasising the necessity of rescuing them from both economic destitution and the unlawful occupation of their land by the government, which also discriminates against their fellow Russians while promoting an unjust agenda in the region (ForPost, 2013; Pravda, 2013; Shurkhalo, 2013).

The historical and ethnic tensions in Crimea were further intensified by the wider political situation in Ukraine during the early 2010s. This occurred as the public became divided over problems concerning the relationship between the Ukrainian government and the European Union (EU). The pro-EU movement, known as the "Euromaidan movement" after their large-scale protest in 2013, advocates for a stronger economic and social connection with mainland Europe. They also advocate for social progress and reforms, such as the inclusion of ethnic minorities and queer individuals. (Kvit, 2014). Meanwhile, the counter-EU movement, referred to as "Anti-Maidan" in reference to their oppositional protest in 2013, mostly centred around traditional orthodox doctrines, including portraying queer imagery as "western propaganda" and displaying a fervent inclination towards bolstering Russian supremacy and embracing imperialist aspirations (Makarychev & Yatsyk, 2018; Shekhovtsov, 2014).

It is important to highlight the role of social media propaganda played in pushing the agenda of the Anti-Maidan movement further. During this period, various websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, disseminated specific advertisements endorsed by the Russian government under Putin's leadership to sway Crimean voters towards supporting independence from Ukraine. Additionally, numerous counterfeit accounts and social groups were established to propagate deceptive information and construct a false narrative that portrays the interests of Western nations as inherently corrupt and incompatible with Russian identity (Demartino, 2021; NATO Stratcom, 2015).

While ethnicity and culture are important factors, the Russian government's involvement extends further. Throughout the past two decades, it actively promotes the broader ideology of the "Russian World" to counter western influences, not only to destabilise the Crimea region and other regions within eastern Ukraine, but also to shape the perception of the government and stabilise internal power structures within the mainland. Through creating a narrative that there exists an inherent Russian world that are incompatible to the west, incorporating both Ukraine and Belarus, highlighting the common past exist between the nations, while establish the need for Russia to be the centre of the hierarchy within this world, the government is able to successfully leverage its people in supporting more aggressive actions within its borders, gaining soft powers domestically to support its following imperialistic actions (Feklyunina, 2016).

In late 2013, civil unrest broke out following a prolonged period of growing tension in the local area and wider political scene, driven by Russia's clear intention to disturb the region. The disturbance was further instigated by the former President Yanukovych's rejection to ratify agreements with the EU because of Russian influence. Over the subsequent months, there were confrontations between Euromaidan and Anti-Maidan organisations across southern and eastern Ukraine, with occasional instances of violence (Euronews, 2014; Salem et al., 2014). Shortly thereafter, Russia opted to intensify the situation by deploying its military to bolster the independence movement in Crimea, thereby commencing the initial phase of its continuing incursion into Ukraine, marked by the annexation of the Crimea area.

The Prelude of Invasion Part II: From “Russian World” to “Russia’s World”

The annexation of Crimea prompted swift and unfavourable reactions towards the Russian government from Western countries, notably the United States and the European Union. These responses primarily involved two actions: firstly, bolstering the alliances among NATO nations and enhancing NATO's military capabilities along the eastern border; and secondly, imposing economic sanctions on Russia (Pifer, 2015).

However, both efforts have only been resulting in limited success. The annexation of Crimea cast shadow on the previous efforts and the overall effectiveness of NATO, while highlighting the failure of NATO to actually provide regional stability to the eastern Europe, allowing the general public to cast doubt on the necessity of NATO and military actions while being fearful of further Russian retaliation (Gardner, 2014; Simmons et al., 2015). Meanwhile, Western firms have shown tepid support for the sanctions, either seeking loopholes or openly defying its implementation. Moreover, the validity of the penalties is routinely contested in international courts. Meanwhile, Russia has chosen to enhance its collaboration with its eastern allies, including China and ASEAN nations (Paul, 2017).

Although Russia is less affected by exterior influences, the internal political landscape rapidly changed following the crisis. Within the dominant demographic, who are swayed by the state-controlled media and constant exposure to official propaganda, there is a significant level of endorsement for the annexation of Crimea. This has consequently bolstered Putin's popularity and solidified his reputation as a formidable leader who is unyielding in the face of adversaries (Stoycheff & Nisbet, 2017). In the meantime, the response from the west has also been framed as a deliberate attempt to delegitimise the Russian identity, allowing Putin to rally individuals to overlook the potential economic problems and humanitarian issues posed by the act of annexation (Gerstel, 2016).

During the same time frame, Russia's official position on matters concerning Ukraine underwent a significant and abrupt change. Initially, the Russian officials advocated for safeguarding the rights of Russians within Ukraine's borders, while also acknowledging the autonomy and choices of other Ukrainians. However, following the invasion of Crimea, the Russian officials swiftly portrayed Ukrainians as consistently hostile towards Russia and individuals who identify as Russian, emphasising the religious and cultural differences between them (Strycharz, 2022). Even the most severe critics acknowledged that the annexation of Crimea is not fundamentally erroneous, but rather questioned the methods employed by Putin to obtain it, leading to minimal dispute regarding the legitimacy of the annexation inside Russia as a whole (O’Loughlin & Toal, 2019).

As support for the integration of Crimea strengthens, the internal politics of Russia are becoming more cohesive. However, tensions within mainland Ukraine have been escalating since the occurrence. The supporters of the recently established government comprise various fragmented factions. Most of these supporters align with the left-wing of the political spectrum, advocating for political and personal rights. Nonetheless, there is a significant minority of far-right individuals who sympathise with Neo-Nazi ideologies and endorse the dominance of Ukrainian culture to counteract the influence of Russian identity. The friction between these two groups escalated rapidly as the latter exhibited growing hostility and alienation, frequently leading to hate crimes. This became a major issue for numerous ethnic minorities residing inside the borders of Ukraine (Saluschev, 2014).

Meanwhile, many anti-Ukrainian government organisations, predominantly situated in Eastern and Southern Ukraine, observed the triumph of the Crimea's annexation, and subsequently initiated the formation of their own armed forces. The Donbas region experienced significant protests in March 2014, triggered by the annexation of Crimea and the inclusion of members from the anti-Russian Svoboda party in the new government. The Svoboda party openly identifies as Neo-Nazi, causing concerns about potential discrimination against the large population of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers residing in the area (Clarke, 2016).

The Russian government took advantage of the turmoil in Ukraine and the widespread support for the annexation of Crimea to quickly provide military assistance to the independent movements in the Donbas region, thus starting the Donbas war. By endorsing these initiatives, Russia rapidly consolidates its position as the saviour against Ukraine and the West, advancing the agenda of the "Russian World" even further (Matveeva, 2016).

It is crucial to acknowledge that the Russian government at that point of time had minimal or no intention of launching a full-scale war against Ukraine. Instead, they are exploiting the existing instability in the region. This is evident from their initial decision not to immediately use military force in the Donbas region. Even when they did engage, most of their forces were involved in intelligence and communications activities rather than direct combat (Robinson, 2016).

The war of Donbas, which officially concluded in early March 2015, resulted in a temporary cessation of hostilities in the region. Nevertheless, even after the signing of official treaties and the agreement on peacekeeping measures, there were ongoing minor conflicts in the region. It has been speculated that many Russian militants have become integrated into independent movements in the region, thereby enabling Russian forces to perpetuate instability. (Robinson, 2016).

While the major conflicts had been resolved and would not resume until five years later, the circumstances of the Crimea and Donbas regions were permanently altered. The economic conditions in the affected areas were severely damaged, leading to the destruction of profitable industries like mining and oil. Additionally, many refugees were compelled to leave their hometowns and seek shelter in either Ukraine or mainland Russia. Unfortunately, these refugees faced challenges on both sides. In Ukraine, they were often viewed as potential threats to national security, while in Russia, they were frequently used as political pawns to reinforce the narrative of Russia's superiority over the West (Giuliano, 2018; Rimpiläinen, 2020).

How it all started: War as an intentional act of Russia

While the Donbass and Crimea territories played a significant role in the hostilities and offered valuable historical and cultural context, they were not the only causes of the full-scale invasion that took place years after the initial peace treaty was ratified. In the western media, the primary attribution for the invasion is frequently assigned to Putin himself, along with his inner circle of political and military confidants. Putin was widely perceived as the mastermind and prominent figure behind the invasion, and his absence would have had a profound impact on the situation in the Russo-Ukraine region.

Undoubtedly, Putin exerts significant influence on the invasion, driven by his personal motives and strategic calculations. Putin's previous experience in the Kremlin has shaped him into a perpetually power-hungry individual who constantly seeks to tighten his control over everything. Through long-term propaganda efforts, he has been portrayed as a strong leader, effectively suppressing critics and independent media outlets; the political infrastructure established during his presidency also ensures that people prioritise appeasing Putin's personal beliefs and emotions above all else (Rochlitz, 2015).

Nevertheless, the invasion cannot be only attributed to Putin's insanity, but rather stems from the intricate workings of the Russian state. As previously shown, Russian attitudes towards Ukrainians have undergone a notable transformation. Initially focused on Crimea and the well-being of Russians within the area, these attitudes now encompass a broader perception of Ukraine as a symbol of the West and a source of existential anxiety for Russian national identity. Although the state's top-down propaganda may partially account for it, this explanation alone is inadequate to justify why the war was widely regarded as the preferred solution to the cultural clash, without considering the active role of the Russian population and their impact on the state's decisions.

To look for reasons beyond personal and cultural reasons, one theoretical framework we can investigate is the theory of organisational materialism. Charles Tilly, a prominent scholar who developed the theory, stated that war is a vital component of the state's function within the framework of organisational materialism, as it serves as an effective mechanism for social control, state expansion, capital accumulation, and resource extraction (Tilly, 2012). Furthermore, organisational materialism scholars argued that modern state-building is a consequence of war, where the distinction between allies and enemies is defined by national borders, while it also leads to cultural changes through war-related activities and promotes the development of institutions like legal systems and financial structures, which enable the state to consolidate power (Malešević, 2010).

Such principles can be easily observed through the actions of Russia, particularly in relation to Ukraine. Throughout the years, as Russia grew larger interest within the Crimea region, the need to distinguish between what is Russian (i.e., those who live and shall live under Russian rulings with the centralised Russian state) and Ukrainian (i.e., those who are opposing the Russian state) through national borders signified, hence the birth of the concept "Russian World," opposing the idea of the "Western World." The annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Donbass further push the idea that the Russian state has a legitimate monopoly of violence over the ethnic Russians, consolidating cultural power with the political power that the institutions hold over the people within the region.

In addition to expressing military power and consolidating political power through the explicit demonstration of violence, it is important to be reminded that the legitimacy of the state often comes also through economic activities and ideology supremacy over the individuals (Malešević, 2010). Sociologist Michael Mann has argued that modern statehood is established through a process he calls "social caging," in which the state imposes restrictions on individual freedom in return for economic stability and military protection, which leads to long-term social stratification and institutional centralisation (Mann 1982, as cited in Malešević, 2010).

The process of social caging can be easily observed within Russian society after the invasion of Crimea. Immediately after the annexation, the West quickly responded by imposing sanctions against the Russian economy. However, instead of pushing extra pressure against the Putin government, it was able to spin the narrative that the sanction is meant to "humiliate and weaken Russia," rallying people to fear the existential dread that is the EU (Gerstel, 2016). Seeking protection from the external threat, the approval rating of Putin increased in the immediate months after the annexation, which in turn allowed policies that strongly restricted the rights of individuals in terms of freedom of speech, immigration around the border, and military conscriptions, as well as increased military actions and plans within the western end of the border.

Nonetheless, organisational materialism could partially explain why war is an ideal method for social control and reinforcement of the power of the state but lacks justifications as to why many individuals within Russian society are enthusiastic about the war and willing to sacrifice themselves, hence legitimising war as a strategy. Hence, beyond recognising the coercive nature of the state, it is also important to recognise how citizens within the state internalise such ideas and form cohesive ideologies that they believe in.

The connection between ideology and war is frequently described as a "manifestation of consensus," where individuals associate their habits, customs, and traditions with the communities and institutions around them. This leads to labelling those who do not follow these actions as "others" outside the community, giving institutions and communities the authority to use violence and oppose change in the name of self-defence. Moreover, modern warfare was further legitimised through the breakdown of traditional communities and media sensationalism, where individuals often feel extra vulnerable, needing protection from a greater force, and the connections transcend their personal experiences, allowing the rise of nationalism and exceptionalism within the boundaries of the state (Trepanier, 2018).

The ideologies of the Russian state are hard to define, but it is easy to identify why individuals associate with them in the events leading up to the invasion. The remanent of the cold war from the USSR times still lingers amongst the elder generations, blaming the downfall of a once glorious empire on the influence of the west, while the "western-centric" worldviews constantly defy their own cultural upbringings and understanding of normality, pitting them to believe that the westerners were the "others," and within an environment where social stability often could not be guaranteed, in particular after the long stagnation of economic situations since the 2008 financial crisis, all making individuals vulnerable to ideological propaganda that proposes the west against Russia and the need to establish a "Russian world".

From then on, support for the war was born. In the simplest summary, beyond Putin’s personal will, the need for stability and structure in an unstable time allowed individuals to give in their personal freedom towards the state, which further legitimised the acts of violence that the institution committed, allowing the state to push war onto those who were “others” and consolidate resources to benefit itself. The war is beyond a coincidence or a madman’s choice, but a rational and intentional choice of the state to preserve itself at the cost of people both seen as others and individuals who belonged to the state.

The Red Square Never Falls: The Never changing Russia.

Earlier, we explored how the geopolitical climate contributes to the likelihood of conflict and Russia's intentions in supporting the war prior to its initiation. However, it is crucial to analyse why Russia has not altered its attitude while facing external pressures like sanctions, public censure, and internal political turmoil to answer the question: Why is the war still going on?

Western countries responded to the invasion in three ways: providing direct military assistance in the region, imposing economic restrictions on Russia's economy, and engaging in information warfare on online media platforms. Although these factors influence the war to some extent, none of them can significantly create a powerful enough force to change the conditions of the war to the point where Russia would agree to a ceasefire.

The direct military assistances perhaps were the easiest to argue why it failed to become the tipping point for the end of the war. While countries within NATO, particularly the US, UK and Poland have provided supports in terms of both spendings and machinery towards Ukraine, the response from Russia resulted in extra militants, including Syrian mercenaries and the Chechen troops, to further engage in direct combat against the western support (Singh, 2023). Though many speculate that Russia has been draining all its military power in dealing with the Ukrainian army supported by the west, it is important to note that the support has also been in the danger of drastically decreasing due to both the domestic political contention within both the US and the UK and the normalisation of the issue over the years, meaning less awareness channel and political support for future Ukrainian aid (Chivvis, 2024; Kaarbo et al., 2023).

Even from a historical perspective, military aids rarely became the factor that drastically deescalate the status of the war. Previously in Iraq, the continuous military backing provided by the US to the government led by former Prime Minister Maliki resulted in heightened oppression of the Sunni ethnic minority, leading to further uprisings in Sunni majority areas. Boutton (2021) argued that military aid often creates incentives for regimes to rely on the military aids to survive the fallout, and become more aggressive in their own actions, leading to more instability and insecurity for individuals.

In the Ukrainian war, military aid has been beneficial in resisting the Russian invasion, but it is unlikely to be the decisive factor in altering Russia's strategy. The clear attitude of Putin is that the war should be prolonged, regardless how grand the cost is, as it serves justice in resisting the western control over the "Russian World". As previously identified, the people's support for the war is influenced more by cultural and ideological factors rather than by belief in Russia's military capability. Therefore, Ukraine's military strength has limited impact on popular opinion about the war currently.

The sanctions and pulling out of companies seemingly have an impact on the Russian economy at least. According to Ahn & Ludema, (2020), the companies of Russia, especially those that are in industries that are targeted, have a significant loss in terms of both revenue and assets. In addition, the sanction has also been projected to stagger the long-term growth of Russia, while Russian retaliation has shown limited effect in countries outside its immediate neighbours and could hurt themselves more than other countries (Hosoe, 2023).

However, despite the negative effect of western sanctions, it is unclear that sanctions contributed to the anti-war sentiment in the Russian society. Historically, sanctions have often been framed as a tactic used by an "evil external aggressor," and the inner opposition can then be prosecuted as the supporters of the aggressor. In addition, the economic effect of the sanction is often transferred to the already economically stricken, further fuelling their anger towards the opposition (Pala, 2021). Connecting such sentiment with the strong, ideological belief that the "Western World" is an inherent opposition against the "Russian World," it would not be hard to understand why many believed that the purpose of the sanction was to weaken Russia and hence curate more support for the government in its strong stance.

In addition, the sanctions could not be useful so long as the Russian government believed that they would not be sustained, and there are alternatives to circumvent the issues that the sanctions will cause. Since the initial sanction has been in place, Russia has been active in funding independent financial institutions and actively drawing funding from alternative sources to counter the influence of the US and EU (Ashford, 2016). At the same time, the popularity of the sanction has also decreased over the years, with many people, though they still broadly support Ukrainian causes, now hesitant to support the sanction as concerns about cost and priorities emerged (Chivvis, 2024).

Beyond direct military conflict and economic sanctioning, social media emerges as the new battlefield of information between the West and Russia. Even before the annexation of Crimea, Russia has been purposefully spreading propaganda in online social media spaces such as Facebook, Twitter (now X), and regional medias such as VTontakte and Odnoklassniki (Demartino, 2021). Since the annexation, the Russian government has been purposefully curating narratives within social media spaces through awarding Kremlin-aligned media posts, fabricating false news events, and controlling Internet trolls to contaminate legitimate discussions (NATO Stratcom, 2015).

In the meantime, the West has been employing tactics to counter the narratives of the Russians. The way narratives spread in the west, in contrast to Russian media, has been largely decentralised, mostly with individuals who do not share apparent relationships with the government, sharing their personal stories, and creating genuine connections with their audience to illicit emotional and empathetic responses. In addition, as the Ukrainian president Zelensky previously worked within the entertainment industry, the experience has also allowed him to be naturally appealing on camera, generating apathy amongst the viewers (Ciuriak, 2022).

The social media stories have been effective in influencing the decisions of people on both sides. The narratives pushed forward by pro-Russian media, including those that defame the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the EU, and the current Ukraine government, have been shown to have a strong correlation with showing a neutral or negative attitude towards policies supporting Ukraine, though whether the narratives are the direct cause of support is unclear.  (Maschmeyer et al., 2023). Simultaneously, using platforms such as Facebook groups, people from the west are able to bond through the traumatic experiences and heal mental health through verbal expression (Zasiekin et al., 2022).

Though the high visibility of information generated awareness of events across the world, whether social media can generate crucial momentum changing the direction of war is unclear. Social media, despite being vast and diverse, is a highly segregated space where people share similar sentiment often only view, comment and share information which reaffirm their previous beliefs, creating strong echo-chambers (Cinelli et al., 2021). Even when interactions happened, they have often resulted in arguments which strengthens their own belief that the opposing party often is unreasonable and irrational, further polarise the online communities apart (Gillani et al., 2018).

Within the context of the Ukraine war, with many individuals within Russia already supporting the Putin-led government and the right-wing sentiment surrounding the narratives proposed, in addition to the language barrier, they are more likely to stay within the information bubble filled with Russian propaganda rather than interacting with stories from the perspective of the west in a rational and open-minded manner. Furthermore, as the war has been intrinsically linked to the national identity of individuals, many of the communities have actively blocked the existence of potential outsiders who do not partially or completely identify with said group, further locking away opportunities to engage (Abramenko et al., 2024).

Worsening polarisation is the censorship, either by the Russian government directly or by the self-censorship of the Ukrainian supporters within Russia. Through threats, forceful blocking of certain sites, and criminal charges, individuals are often forced to silence their voice to protect their safety and that of those who are around them (Rudnik, 2020). Many of these supporters then subsequently migrated out of Russia, further preventing them from voicing their opinions from within the country.

With most tactics failing to change the status of the war, it is natural to wonder: Will the war ever end? Especially after 10 years of never-ending back-and-forth with no mutual agreement in sight. Will the war be a perpetual state that individuals within Ukraine, particularly those who live in Donbass and Crimea, must endure?

The Light at the End of the Tunnel: The Future of the war

Though it is easy to be pessimistic as negative news constantly pops up on media channels, there are some optimistic aspects to the situation in the war. In recent history, most wars ended with a peace agreement or a ceasefire after a certain period, and often, the weaker actors ended up being victorious in defending themselves against the stronger actors. In the meantime, peace agreements and ceasefires often last for a sustainable period, where the tensions between parties eventually cool down and resume normal (Lieven, 2022).

The prerequisites for achieving peace can be categorised into three levels: the systemic level, the society level, and the individual level. The framework, called the levels-of-analysis framework, argues that these levels are interconnected and can influence each other during the process of ending a war, though the incentive to reach peace on one level does not necessarily lead to a positive outcome on another (Levy, 1998).

From a systematic standpoint, as previously said, the war was started because the advantages that come with it are greater than the advantages of peace, such as the consolidation of power and the exploitation of natural resources by the Russian government. Military capability is often seen to stabilise existing coalitions that were disrupted by outside forces, and war is needed for the system to restore equilibrium (Levy, 1998).

Through this point of view, peace can be achieved, or at the very least anticipated, when it ceases to function as a stabilising force and instead actively contributes to instabilities inside a nation, both internally and externally. As time went on, the return of war became increasingly marginal in contributing to the stability of the Russian government. The direct financial cost of the war, compounding with the decrease in oil prices and western sanctions, means that the war has become increasingly expensive over time, while Russia is expected to enter a recessionary period soon (Liadze et al., 2023).

In addition, the events related to the betrayal of the Wagner group, alongside the assassination of Navalny, all reinforce the existing fear and instability within the society as a direct consequence of war. Compounding with the fact that Russia has yet been successful in capturing Ukraine at the rate they expect, with many towns and cities recaptured by Ukraine, individuals are increasingly afraid of getting drafted by the military, generating negative attitude towards the government (Nechepurenko et al., 2023). Meanwhile, the immediate rise of government support due to the initiation of war has traditionally died off over time, as people losing trust in the ability of the government in protecting them, and increasingly traumatised by the war itself (Hong & Kang, 2017).

Beyond the structural implications of war being unsustainable over a long-term period for Russia, the societal attitude of the elites has also been shifting since the start of the war. As previously seen, the initiations of war were often the result of scapegoating and othering of a certain group, creating a divisive force amongst individuals. However, Snyder (1991) has argued that the elites, who perpetuate the divisive wars, often have different interests in mind, and if the regime tried to overexpand their power, the internal collision would fall apart as many of them stopped benefiting from the over-expansionist policies with the resources they ought to provide.

We could observe such a fall of grace in action in the event of the betrayal of the Wagner group. For a long period of time, the Wagner group and Prigozhin functioned as a part of the Russian army in exchange for political favour from Putin and lucrative monetary incentives the invasion provided. However, as time went on, the mercenary group could not see the war end in sight, causing a significant increase in the cost of providing people. In addition, Prigozhin has become increasingly frustrated with the Russian government bureaucracy, even going as far as directly clashing with the Ministry of Defence himself. Subsequently, as the benefit of participating the war on Putin’s side became increasingly marginal, Prigozhin decided to turn on Putin, hoping the war could be ended sooner with his actions (Gurbanov, 2023).

Although the insurrection ended with Putin successfully rising to power and being able to prevent the coup with the help of Belarusian President Lukashenko, it did demonstrate that the Russian elites do not have a uniform view on the status of war, and should the war drag on, the more likely Putin is to face infighting amongst his own cabinet, which creates factions that generate instability within society.

With instabilities and infighting on both structural and societal level, it is hence easy to observe individuals changing their position in what is best for their interest. As time went on, the enthusiasm of war on Ukraine has died down domestically, with increasing amount of young individuals being sceptical of the Putin regime, and vast majority of the individuals oppose a second wave of mobilisation in military actions (Milov, 2024).

It is crucial to note that war is often unpredictable, and geopolitical tensions can change drastically within the span of months or even weeks. However, there is hope, as though the war is currently sustaining itself; whether it could sustain itself in the longer term seems increasingly questionable as it drags longer.

Conclusion: When the Snow Stops

The war has been going on for two years, or around ten years, depending on what you define as the starting point. Countless individuals lost their lives in the process, and countless more were traumatised, forced out of their communities, lost their ability to conceptualise the horror and grief they face, and altered their life trajectory forever.

There is no real way to heal unless the horror stops. Regardless of where you are or who you are, being constantly reminded of a war that seemingly has no end does not bring hope. It is easy to open social media and wonder, "What is wrong with the current world? Will the world ever be normal again?"

In the essay, I have investigated the historical and cultural reasons behind the war, the sociological reasons that allowed the war to be initiated and prolonged, and most importantly, whether there could be an end to the war. Through this, I seek to provide insights that not only help people rationalise what they see and hear about the Ukraine war but also provide hope. The hope that the war one day will end, and there is a glimpse of a light on the horizon, and a chance that the world can resume to normal, at least in relation to the Ukraine war.

There needs to be hope because it is hard to fight without any hope. However, even with only a glimpse of hope, people will continue to fight against injustices and make a better life for themselves and those around them. This is no less true for people at wartime. I hope the essay is beyond informative, but also provides hope to those who may have lost it, to say to them "Keep on fighting."

There is nothing better to end the essay than a poem by Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrainka. Composed in the 1890, it illustrated the author’s strength, despite her unfortunate political persecution and bodily circumstances. It is one of the most hopeful and beautiful pieces of poetry, and I hope it grants you strength.

Thoughts away, you heavy clouds of autumn!

For now springtime comes, agleam with gold!

Shall thus in grief and wailing for ill-fortune

All the tale of my young years be told?

No, I want to smile through tears and weeping.,

Sing my songs where evil holds its sway,

Hopeless, a steadfast hope forever keeping,

I want to live! You thoughts of grief, away!

On poor sad fallow land unused to tilling

I'll sow blossoms, brilliant in hue,

I'll sow blossoms where the frost lies, chilling,

I'll pour bitter tears on them as due.

And those burning tears shall melt, dissolving

All that mighty crust of ice away.

Maybe blossoms will come up, unfolding

Singing springtime too for me, some day.

Up the flinty steep and craggy mountain

A weighty ponderous boulder I shall raise,

And bearing this dread burden, a resounding

Song I'll sing, a song of joyous praise.

In the long dark ever-viewless night-time

Not one instant shall I close my eyes,

I'll seek ever for the star to guide me,

She that reigns bright mistress of dark skies.

Yes, I'll smile, indeed, through tears and weeping

Sing my songs where evil holds its sway,

Hopeless, a steadfast hope forever keeping,

I shall live! You thoughts of grief, away!

Lesya Ukrainka (1890), translated by Vera Rich (2009)

[mobiuslab]

Reverse: 1999 seems unreal; too good to be true.

The reason I even took notice of it in the first place was its soundtrack. I hate jazz, but they made a jazz song that I actually like, and then there's ReReReRegulus!, what a banger. And then I watched the trailer, to get a feel of what the game is even about. First of all, the accents! Hello? I normally always play games in JP, but this game seems to be set not in some fictional world, but in our real world, in the real London, so the British English dub would be so much more immersive (but of course there are a lot of familiar JP seiyuu, I'm very conflicted.) If this game, unlike Genshin, has a good voice director, who actually does their work and tells the VA's how the character is supposed to sound, I might play in English tbh. As a former FGO player, traveling to the past isn't an entirely novel concept to me, however, we are going to the 20th century, which is quite interesting. I mean, think about it, the 20th century of our real world, there are so many fascinating historical events. And it seems that they are putting in much more effort in portraying the zeitgeist of the era than FGO ever did. The artistic direction seems to be on point for this game. Apparently there is a main character, with a canon personality and fully voiced dialogue. Hoyo making Honkai Impact 2.0's new MC a self-insert was the stupidest move, and I'm so glad that this game understands how much better a canon protagonist is. It really convinces me that they care about storytelling and characterization. The general artistic direction is so impressive, but the game itself also surprises me. The base rate of 6-stars is 1.5% (compared to Genshin and Star Rail's 0.6%) AND the soft pity starts at 60, with hard pity being at 70. There doesn't seem to be a weapon gacha and the dupes only increase skill multipliers instead of completely changing how a character can be played. At first, I thought it was unfortunate that pick-up rate was only 50%, but every character joins the standard pool, so losing the 50/50 won't be nearly as bad. Unless the gacha currency economy is completely fucked, this seems extremely generous. The combat is thankfully not one of those god-awful auto-fights like Blue Archive or PriConne, but it's turn-based, which is much more engaging, allowing for challenging battles that actually pick your brain and require some skill.

However, there is an auto-mode for the mundane stuff, and get this, you can record your actions, rather than having an AI do everything wrong. And thankfully, there is no PvP, so you don't need to compete with whales. Knowing all this, I really have to wonder, where is the catch? There must be some huge flaw, right? It is as if the devs of Reverse: 1999 looked at all the complaints and criticism of all other gacha games, and just decided to address all of them. As long as the game doesn't have a huge reliance on meta characters to clear endgame content and event-limited content and the writing doesn't absolutely suck, then this game might be the perfect gacha game. I'm so excited to give it a try!

[bloggerkeke]

How is AI transforming every aspect of human life?

AI is transforming every aspect of human life by revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, learn, and live. Here are some key areas where AI is making a significant impact:

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that can perform tasks requiring human-like cognitive abilities. It involves machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and other advanced techniques.

How does it impact every industry?

AI has the potential to revolutionize every industry by automating processes, analyzing vast amounts of data, and making intelligent predictions. It improves efficiency, enhances decision-making, and drives innovation across sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and transportation.

How does it impact every individual?

AI impacts individuals by providing personalized experiences, virtual assistants, and smart devices. It enhances daily life through voice recognition, recommendation systems, and virtual customer support. AI-powered technologies make our lives easier, more convenient, and efficient.

AI is transforming every aspect of human life by revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, learn, and live. Here are some key areas where AI is making a significant impact:

1. Healthcare: 

AI is enhancing medical diagnosis, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans. It helps analyze vast amounts of patient data, identify patterns, and provide accurate predictions for disease prevention and early intervention.

According to Accenture, AI in healthcare could potentially save up to $150 billion annually for the U.S. healthcare economy by 2026.

The global AI in healthcare market is projected to reach $45.2 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.9% from 2019 to 2026.

2. Education: 

AI is revolutionizing education by enabling personalized learning experiences, adaptive tutoring, and intelligent assessment systems. It helps tailor educational content to individual student needs, track progress, and provide timely feedback for better learning outcomes.

The global AI in education market is expected to reach $3.68 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 38.17% from 2018 to 2025.

A study by the American Institutes for Research found that AI-powered tutoring systems have a positive impact on student learning outcomes, resulting in an average percentile gain of 28 points.

3. Transportation: 

AI is driving advancements in autonomous vehicles, optimizing traffic management systems, and improving transportation efficiency and safety. It enables self-driving cars, real-time navigation, and predictive maintenance, revolutionizing the way we commute and travel.

The global autonomous vehicle market is projected to reach $556.67 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 39.47% from 2019 to 2026.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AI-powered advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) have the potential to reduce traffic fatalities by up to 94%.

4. Communication: 

AI-powered language translation, natural language processing, and speech recognition technologies are transforming communication. Chatbots, virtual assistants, and language translation tools facilitate seamless cross-cultural communication and enhance accessibility.

The global AI in communication market is expected to reach $3.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 34.7% from 2019 to 2026.

AI-powered language translation technologies have advanced significantly, with Google Translate handling more than 100 billion words daily in over 100 languages.

Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant leverage AI to understand and respond to user commands, making voice-based communication more convenient and efficient.

5. Entertainment: 

AI is reshaping the entertainment industry with personalized content recommendations, virtual reality experiences, and computer-generated imagery. It enhances user experiences, facilitates content curation, and enables immersive storytelling.

The global AI in the entertainment market is projected to reach $5.5 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 25.4% from 2019 to 2026.

AI algorithms are used in content recommendation systems of streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify, which account for a significant portion of their user engagement and revenue.

AI-powered computer-generated imagery (CGI) has transformed the visual effects industry, enabling the creation of realistic and immersive experiences in movies, video games, and virtual reality.

6. Finance: 

AI is revolutionizing the financial industry with automated trading, fraud detection, risk assessment, and personalized financial advice. It enables efficient data analysis, real-time market insights, and improved decision-making processes.

A report by PwC estimates that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with the financial sector being one of the largest beneficiaries.

AI-driven automated investment platforms, also known as robo-advisors, managed over $1 trillion in assets globally in 2020.

7. Smart Homes: 

AI-powered smart home devices and virtual assistants, such as voice-activated speakers and smart thermostats, make our daily lives more convenient and efficient. They automate tasks, provide personalized recommendations, and create a connected and intelligent living environment.

The global smart home market is expected to reach $246.97 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 11.6% from 2020 to 2027.

Voice-activated smart speakers, powered by AI assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, have seen widespread adoption. As of 2021, there were over 200 million smart speakers in use worldwide.

8. Manufacturing: 

AI-driven robotics and automation technologies optimize manufacturing processes, increase productivity, and improve product quality. AI-enabled machines and robots perform complex tasks, enhance precision, and enable predictive maintenance.

The global AI in manufacturing market is expected to reach $16.7 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 49.5% from 2019 to 2026.

According to Deloitte, companies that invest in AI and advanced automation technologies in manufacturing can experience productivity gains of up to 30%.

AI-powered predictive maintenance can reduce equipment downtime by up to 50% and maintenance costs by up to 10-40%.

9. Agriculture: 

AI is transforming agriculture by optimizing crop management, monitoring soil conditions, and predicting weather patterns. It enables precision farming techniques, reduces resource waste, and improves agricultural productivity.

The global AI in agriculture market is projected to reach $4 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 22.5% from 2021 to 2026.

AI-powered agricultural robots and drones are expected to reach a market value of $1.3 billion by 2026.

The use of AI in agriculture can increase crop yields by up to 70%, according to a study by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

10. Cybersecurity: 

AI is strengthening cybersecurity measures by detecting and preventing cyber threats, identifying anomalous behavior, and improving data protection. AI algorithms analyze large datasets to detect patterns and anomalies, enhancing security measures.

According to Gartner, by 2022, 90% of security budgets will be allocated to addressing AI-powered cyber threats.

The global AI in cybersecurity market is projected to reach $38.2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 23.3% from 2021 to 2026.

In summary: 

AI is transforming every aspect of human life, from healthcare and education to transportation, communication, entertainment, finance, and beyond. Its applications are vast and diverse, revolutionizing industries, improving efficiency, and enhancing the overall human experience. As AI continues to advance, it holds immense potential to shape a future where intelligent technologies seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, making them more convenient, productive, and enriching.

[tcw-immigration]

Navigating the Canada PR Points System: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Content

Introduction to Canada PR Points System

Understanding the Canada PR Points Table

Factors Considered in the Points Calculation

Breakdown of Points Allocation

How many points do I need for Canada PR?

Impact of Express Entry on PR Points

Strategies to Improve Your PR Points

Conclusion

Canada PR Points System

Canada's Permanent Residency (PR) system is renowned for its welcoming approach to skilled immigrants from around the world. Central to this system is the allocation of PR points, which play a crucial role in determining an applicant's eligibility for immigration to Canada. Understanding the Canada PR points table and how points are calculated is essential for prospective immigrants seeking to make Canada their new home. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the Canada PR points system, providing insights into its intricacies and offering strategies for improving one's chances of success.

Understanding the Canada PR Points Table

At the heart of the Canadian PR system lies the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), a points-based system used to evaluate candidates in the Express Entry pool. The Canada PR points table assigns points to candidates based on various factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. Each factor carries a specific weightage, and candidates must meet minimum point requirements to be eligible for Canadian PR.

Factors Considered in the Points Calculation

The allocation of PR points is based on several key factors that reflect a candidate's ability to contribute to the Canadian economy and society. Age, education, and work experience are crucial factors, with younger applicants and those with higher levels of education and extensive work experience earning more points. Language proficiency, particularly in English and French, is also a significant determinant of PR points, as is adaptability, which assesses a candidate's ability to integrate into Canadian society.

Breakdown of Points Allocation

Let's delve into the breakdown of points allocation in the Canada PR points table. For instance, candidates can earn a maximum of 100 points for age, with younger applicants receiving the highest scores. Education can contribute up to 150 points, with additional points awarded for Canadian educational credentials. Work experience is valued at a maximum of 80 points, while language proficiency can earn candidates up to 136 points. Adaptability factors such as previous study or work experience in Canada or having a Canadian job offer can also boost a candidate's score.

How many points do I need for Canada PR?

The minimum number of points required for Canada PR varies depending on factors such as the specific immigration program and the current Express Entry draw. Generally, candidates need to score above a certain threshold, typically around 470 points or higher, to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR. However, meeting the minimum point requirement does not guarantee an ITA, as the cutoff score is determined by the number of candidates in the Express Entry pool and the needs of the Canadian labor market.

Impact of Express Entry on PR Points

The Express Entry system has revolutionized Canada immigration process, streamlining the application process and making it more accessible to skilled immigrants. Under

Express Entry, candidates create an online profile detailing their qualifications, work experience, language proficiency, and other relevant information. The CRS then ranks candidates based on their PR points, with the highest-ranked candidates receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian PR. By understanding how Express Entry impacts PR points, candidates can strategically position themselves to improve their chances of receiving an ITA.

Strategies to Improve Your PR Points

For candidates looking to enhance their PR points and increase their eligibility for Canadian PR, there are several strategies to consider. Investing in language training to improve language proficiency, gaining additional work experience in a high-demand occupation, obtaining educational credentials assessments for foreign degrees, and securing a valid job offer from a Canadian employer are all effective ways to boost PR points. Additionally, creating a compelling Express Entry profile that highlights one's qualifications and achievements can make a significant difference in attracting the attention of Canadian immigration authorities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, navigating the Canada PR points system requires a thorough understanding of the factors considered in the points calculation, the breakdown of points allocation, and the impact of the Express Entry system. By leveraging strategies to improve PR points, candidates can enhance their eligibility for Canadian PR and embark on a new chapter in one of the most welcoming and diverse countries in the world. With careful planning and preparation, the dream of immigrating to Canada can become a reality for skilled individuals seeking new opportunities and a brighter future.

[themadknightuniverse]

10 films i love

tagged by @michaelmandog 💖 thank you!!

No particular order

Mad Max Fury Road — It's a movie often mistaken for having a story that can be written on a post-it, meanwhile it's actually speaking about a LOTS of different things and there is a lot to say. An absolute favorite, I never get tired to see it over and over again, it still keeps its power. It drains your energy, it's aggressive, frantic. The most striking images made with a complex storyboard so all the action is legible and understandable. Every images tell something, some are literal illustrations (and there are plenty of them). The COLORS work. The designs (I still see details I haven't seen before). The music. The absolute pleasure they took in some scenes just for the fun/dabass look of it all. And the vast list of subjects the movie speaks about (Patriarchy, women status, cults, human status, society organization/functionality, inequalities, climate change, PTSD, the will to take control over your life back, the economy system in a destroyed world, ...) and even if it's addressed with a few words or images, it's there, it's impactful. One of the rare sequel that does it better than the first movies. I could speak about it for hours.

Interstellar — Space, sciences, love. A story that speaks about its characters through a space journey. The emotional scenes always get me. The images and music are haunting me.

You were never really here — A movie that tells the story of a hero failing. I rarely see this in movies and this one does it and does it with a special care for the general ambiance. Very contemplative, it tells everything through the visuals. It has one of the most beautiful scene I ever seen in a movie. The camera work is also very interesting. Also expect some very difficult subjects.

The Green Knight — Dark fantasy, poesy, heavy symbolism (like, it's basically only that from first frame to the last) and philosophical journey, real bold choices, striking imagery, brilliant soundtrack, something I was waiting to see since forever in the dark fantasy world.

The Sisters Brothers — A western. Contemplative but not devoid of action scenes nor dialogs. Imagery carefully done, one of my favorite nightmare scene in a movie too, even if it's short.

Prisoners — I love Denis Villeneuve's work and I had to pick only one so I went for the first movie from him I've seen. That movie is an absolute big slap in the face. Amazing character writing. The soundtrack is from Jóhann Jóhannsson and everything he did speaks to my soul.

The Dark Knight — Heath Ledger's performance. That's it.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier — I had to name one Marvel movie, I just love that license. And this one is the best and most interesting to me. Steve and Bucky are in love and they can't avoid fighting each other. Actions scenes quite ruined by the amount of damn shaky cam but still, knife fights. And Bucky is hot as hell. I don't need more arguments.

Moulin Rouge! — I really don't like musicals. Yet here it is, in my top fav movies. It's super pretty and original in the imagery. The songs choices are just that good. And the story is more than heartbreaking.

Come True — Horror movie. My absolute favorite dreams/nightmares scenes ever, it's aesthetically pleasing especially if you like the work of very dark smoky tones, heavy symbolism, haunting and efficient. I recommend to go in blindly for the best effect. The ending can be deceptive but still the journey is really worth it. Be careful if you're experimenting sleep paralysis tho, that's a huge subject and visual content of the movie.

tagging : not comfortable with tagging people, do it if you feel like it! 💞

[anarcho-smarmyism]

so this is our third season doing a vegetable garden and we could have a more productive harvest than last year. we're growing several tomatoes and peppers, attempting a watermelon patch (apparently they're very difficult to grow but 🤞🤞🤞), some wheat that he intends to use go brew a braggot, possibly some potatoes, onions and chives, and some herbs (lavender, mint, lemon balm, chamomile) I stole from Walmart. we've got a lot of work to do to prepare our backyard for it but ultimately we've collected enough compost since last season to completely replace the soil where we need to plant with soil rich in nutrients and earthworms, so considering we usually just are adding vegetables to pasta, soups, or stir fry, our goal of replacing 10% of our diet is theoretically achievable (very unlikely since losing some of the plants is pretty much inevitable). it's also something we can and do barter or share with our social circle here; my partner just brought a small amount of freshly grown basil toy cousin, since she's been having trouble finding basil in any grocery stores lately. someone my aunt knows has already given us a couple dozen eggs from her chickens, so I bet we could trade our ghost peppers and bell peppers for even more. the more food and goods we produce that keeps us from driving to the store to buy it, or that keeps someone in our social group from it, the better for the planet and local economy; plus gardening does wonders for our mental health, we get delicious fresh veggies, and we can provide high-quality goods that are starting to be unavailable or prohibitively expensive (last year we got the equivalent of perhaps $15 worth of produce over several months. that stuff would b almost twice as expensive now!). I'm still struggling to get my shit together enough to pay bills and keep our house clean, but soon I'll have the spoons to volunteer locally as well. until then I have to be content making my little quarter acre of rented land prettier, more fertile and welcoming to more types of plants, bring more pollinators to the area. There's a short pecan tree back there too, i got only 6 pecans from ot thos season, sweeter than any ive had before. this garden will have such a small impact on anything but a small number still isn't zero, you know?

[howaboutcastiel]

I posted 369 times in 2022

That's 365 more posts than 2021!

143 posts created (39%)

226 posts reblogged (61%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@romanarose

@toracainz

@my-secret-shame

@howaboutcastiel

@joyful-soul-collector

I tagged 151 of my posts in 2022

#moon knight - 126 posts

#steven grant - 110 posts

#marc spector - 104 posts

#jake lockley - 87 posts

#moon knight x you - 67 posts

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Make Your Acquaintance (Jake Lockley)

Summary: Reader is in an established relationship with Steven and Marc but has never met Jake before and is intimidated by his reputation. When an emergency requires Jake to take control for a while, you decide that it's time to introduce yourself.

Make Your Acquaintance Masterlist

I know the gif is Poe Dameron don’t come for me.

Word count: 5.5k

Content: brief violence and gore, reader is injured (not life-threatening) angst, fluff, whatever. Poor use of Spanish. Gender neutral reader.

Note: I don’t know what this fic is. I don’t know who it’s for. I just kinda wrote it. Drink up boys. Also thank for 100 followers! I am not worthy!

See the full post

1,161 notes - Posted June 21, 2022

#4

All I Desire (Steven Grant x Reader)

Word Count: 6.3k (I'm a mess)

Summary: Reader has not been in a relationship in a while and is scared to have sex with Steven for the first time. After learning of your fear of intimacy, Steven decides to plan an all-out date night to show you that you have nothing to worry about.

Pairings/Warnings: mentions of past relationship trauma, kinda angst I guess, fluff,  smut (duh), plot with porn, Soft Dom! Steven x (afab) Reader, p in v, oral (f receiving), no Marc or Jake but both mentioned. Language is gender-neutral apart from anatomy.

Note: Not proofread. How do y'all just shamelessly write smut all the time I feel like I just killed god

See the full post

1,393 notes - Posted June 1, 2022

#3

Two Steps Forward (Moon Boys)

[18+ content minors leave please]

Summary: A fun night with Jake ends up backfiring as Marc is triggered to front mid-coitus.

Content: Smut-ish, Angst, Fluff (the holy trinity). Handcuffs, impact play, getting triggered during sex, yelling and sad times. Reader is in an established relationship with moon boys.

Word count: 1.9k (aka the closest to a drabble you’ll ever see from me)

A/N: honestly this shouldn’t exist but now it does. Read it and weep. Also google cleared all of the formatting so UGH may be some mistakes.

See the full post

1,721 notes - Posted July 28, 2022

#2

How Do I Ask? (Marc Spector x F!Reader)

[18+] VERY NSFW PLEASE GO AWAY CHILDREN [18+]

Summary: Marc is usually the one to initiate sex. At this point, the reader doesn’t even know how to seduce him (it usually doesn’t require any effort). When the reader wants a change of pace from him, though, she must deal with the conundrum of being the one to make the first move. 

Word Count: 5.4k

Based on an anon request! Lots of love to that mystery person <3 I took some… liberties with the plot. Reader is my body type so sorry skinny gals and NB/FTM babes.

Content: Smut, Like a lot of smut, porn-IS-the-plot kinda smut. Protected sex (we’re not getting pregnant in THIS economy). Oral (M), roughness, a little bit of angst but it's horny angst. Oops there's 2k words of foreplay you can skip that if you want.

See the full post

2,041 notes - Posted July 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Not My Intention (Moon Boys x F!Reader)

Content Warning: mentions of physical/mental abuse

Word Count: 3.1k

Request (Abbreviated) @twhgirl

Could you write one moon boys x female!reader, where they've been dating for a while… They notice she gets anxious and startled very easily, but when they bring it up she always brushes them off so they don't pry. They don’t know she's previously been in an abusive relationship. And maybe they're at an office party and some guy comes to her when she's alone and the boys get jealous since it's obvious he's trying to flirt with their girl.

Content: Angst!! Fluff, poorly translated Spanish (obligatory) this shit is pathetic and soFT (not a comment on the recommendation just my writing) reader is dating the entire MK system

This is the first time I’ve tried to write in omniscient 2nd person so forgive me if I mess up the perspective somewhere <3 Thank you for the request!!! Much appreciated

See the full post

2,803 notes - Posted June 24, 2022

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[sciencespies]

'Plant blindness' is caused by urban life and could be cured through wild food foraging

https://sciencespies.com/nature/plant-blindness-is-caused-by-urban-life-and-could-be-cured-through-wild-food-foraging/

'Plant blindness' is caused by urban life and could be cured through wild food foraging

“Plant blindness” is caused by a lack of exposure to nature and could be cured by close contact through activities such as wild food foraging, a study shows.

A lack of awareness and appreciation for native flora stems from diminished time with plants, and is not an innate part of being human, according to the research.

This leads to the common misperceptions that plants are ‘less alive’ than animals.

Researchers say the key to breaking the cycle of plant awareness disparity lies in introducing individuals to biodiverse places and altering their perceptions of the perceived utility of plants. Plant blindness is a well-evidenced lack of interest and awareness for plants in urban societies, as compared to animals.

The research, by Dr Bethan Stagg from the University of Exeter and Professor Justin Dillon from UCL, shows people’s plant awareness develops where they have frequent interactions with plants that have direct relevance to their lives.

Researchers examined 326 articles published in academic journals from 1998 to 2020. Most showed people had more interest and paid more attention — and were more likely to remember — information about animals.

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There was no concrete evidence this was an innate human characteristic, instead, diminished experience of nature in urbanised societies appeared to be the cause. It was not inevitable if people had regular contact with plants.

The research shows a decline in relevant experience with plants leads to a cyclical process of inattention. This can be addressed through first-hand experiences of edible and useful plants in local environments.

Studies showed it was common for children — especially when young — to see plants as inferior to animals and not to be able to identify many species.

Plant awareness disparity was reported in teachers as well as students, particularly in primary teachers who had not graduated in a science subject.

Older people had better plant knowledge, which studies suggest was because they were more likely to have nature-related hobbies.

Thirty-five studies found that modernisation or urbanisation had a negative impact on plant knowledge. The increased reliance on urban services and a cash economy reduced the utility of plant foraging. School attendance and work reduced the time available to spend in the natural environment. These factors also reduced the time spent with family, negatively impacting the oral transmission of plant knowledge between children and older relatives.

Dr Stagg said: “People living in highly industrialised countries have a plant attention deficit due to a decline in relevant experience with plants, as opposed to a cognitive impediment to the visual perception of plants. People living in rural communities in low and middle-income countries were more likely to have high plant knowledge due to a dependence on natural resources. Interestingly, economic development does not necessarily lead to this knowledge being lost if communities still have access to the biodiverse environments.

“The key is to demonstrate some direct benefits of plants to people, as opposed to the indirect benefits through their pharmaceutical and industrial applications, or their value to remote, traditional societies. The level of botanical knowledge in younger generations is shown to be directly related to their perceived usefulness of this knowledge.

“‘Wild plant’ foraging shows considerable promise in this respect, both as a way of introducing people to multiple species and connecting them with some ‘modern-day’ health, cultural and recreational uses.”

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Exeter. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

#Nature

[koreandragon]

Listen as a BTS fan that follows you for kdrama content...there's a whole lotta bashing going on rn for comfort. I like other groups as well (specifically Stray Kids and ggs) but this can be an emotional time for some in the fandom ,yes unironically and they might not put out the best tweets alright so better to ignore and move on.

Yes obviously SK is home to some of the biggest tech and automobile industries (Hyundai, Samsung, LG) and also yes, BTS invariably did have an effect on the economy, through direct tourism, product sales or advancement of hallyu as a whole. Two things can be right at once.

For instance in my Asian country, Korean content was virtually non existent before BTS blew up in popularity. It was only during the pandemic (along with Squid Game etc) did kdrama, food and beauty explode in popularity so yes they impacted big time. Now you even get Bt21 merch and BTS figurines on street stalls and corner shops lmao

Hopefully you do answer this tho

first of all thank you for being nice about it and not screaming my head off lmao

and i do understand that it is emotional and i genuinely feel for you but a lot of people are using this as an opportunity to be straight up xenophobic and weird about sk. boycotting a whole country over a kpop group because they're not accomodating them anymore is crazy and wishing (gleefully i might add) for their downfall is absolutely insane. i think sk has bigger things to worry about than losing a kpop group however big of an effect they had on their economic or the hallyu wave. besides they're not going anywhere, enlisting them does not mean they disappear or their albums/merch or whatever are gonna stop being sold. they're gonna come back and it's gonna be just like they never left and fans are allowed to feel sad about it but this blatant anger directed towards the country is too much. besides the boys have expressed that they wanted to go and fulfill their duty and that needs to be respected and they wouldn't want their fans to boycott their home country that they're serving.

and this has nothing to do with the boys i'm expressing frustration with the fans and some news media outlets who think this will push sk into economic ruin.

[jbt7493]

not all art has political content because political content is the wrong way to view it. it is subjective. you can view it as a cute girl eating a burger, you can consider the implications of a japanese girl eating american food, you can analyze it as a girl eating a burger in a way that shows she is effortlessly cute and highlights her small stature, you can focus on the burger and go oooough that looks so tasty i wanna eat it, you can even go ‘that is not a girl eating a burger, those are pixels on a screen’. you are free to interpret things in a thousand different ways.

and political analysis is generally easy to justify applying to things, because in order to make a piece of media, you need to live a certain way. and while obviously literally every political topic has some relation to the context of the production of a piece of media and to the ideas that went into its production, the  impact of those influences can be more variable/contextual. not everything was *strongly* defined by gender roles or geopolitics, relatively speaking. all anime is strongly linked to the history of japan and the rest of the world and its developments in styles, themes, and production methods. but thats just all anime, so if you’re comparing a specific anime, that anime was probably less *specifically* influenced by those things in its creation as much as it was influenced by other anime and has had so many levels of zeitgeist and cultural development since then that it’s not as useful to discuss when talking about average individual works from similar time periods and genres. if you were comparing old and new, different genres, different cultures etc, those cultural developments can become more relevant. and while you may often see a huge influence from things like religion, etiquette, or gender, if the creator is of the majority in their culture, they *may* not have paid much mind to those things while making it, and so it becomes more of a general comparison, since it wouldnt have very much distinction between its influence from those things and any other work from the same subculture in that time.

but while your mangaka are gonna be majority cis straight japanese japanese guys and thus the analysis relating to gender sexuality race and nationality is probably either relevant because of a very broad culture or time analysis, because they are an other, or because their work has a distinct relation to those categories (and with all of these It Depends how far you’re zooming out and how precisely you’re comparing and contrasting things), they will probably have something in common that does distinguish them from a different Average (or, rather, ‘One’) Person In Their Culture-

theyre a fuckin mangaka! they have a different job! and anyone with an arts career will almost always have a pretty distinctly different relation to politics and the economy from the “Average Person” in their culture. now of course, so will a lot of the “Average People”, but we dont actually see as many films from hobbyist filmmakers as professional ones, so it would mostly be accurate to say that ‘filmmakers have very different work from the average’, and this relatively intense difference in context from the rest of society and culture is noticeable, especially since almost everyone who makes the art you view, even in the same culture and society as you, interacts with the economy differently *and relatively similarly to each other*. so it’s often very relevant to bring up.

[thatwhiteboardpsychstudent]

¡Hola! I'm a 2nd Bachillerato student and I am seriously trying to figure out if I want to go into psychology. Do you have any advice? Why did you choose it?

Holii Nonny! I've been thinking about this ask and how to better answer since you sent it, sorry it's been so long.

I do warn you that my advice is completely subjective and would probably not apply specifically but i can offer you my point of view.

First thing first: since you are in 2do Bach, I'm guessing you are doing the Sanitary one (biology and chemistry). If this is not the case, I should warn you that those are the only two subjects with a 0.2 score in EVAU to get into psychology. I didn't know that fact and did the Social Sciences branch (geo and economy) meaning that with my mark on EVAU I couldn't access to any public university so I am currently studying in a private one.

My overall advice is try to find which branch of psychology is taught at which university. As every other discipline I guess, psychology is known for having different ways of approaching the same concept and depending on which one you've studied (and like more) your therapy sessions will be difference. For example, I know that in UAM they are into cognitive psych, in my uni they used to be cognitive but when I started they changed to neuropsych (i have a lot of bio subjects, basically). This also means that your subjects might change in terms of contents.

So if you can try to find the overall branch because even if you study them all, it does have an impact depending on where you study.

I guess another piece of advice is to have patience. I thought when I first started the career that it would be really practical, and that they would idk teach me the secrets of the universe to help everyone who came to my therapy office and it would be like medicine. It is not. I am in third year and only now we've started to see more practical things. Until now I could probably tell you for example that you had depression according to the manual, but I still don't know how to treat a person with depression, you know?

Along with that one I would say make sure you understand the basics. The first year is all basics and it's all boring. BUT if you don't understand classical conditioning then later on when you study more complex things you won't be able to understand them either because they are based on classical conditioning. So understand and learn the stupid experiments with rats so that you can later get why bullying is reinforced.

Um for the next question I'm gonna quickly drop a tw for bullying because it was a major thing that made me choose psychology.

Honestly I wanted to study psychology not only because I have gone two years to therapy for bullying when I was in middle school, but also because my mom is a psychologist herself.

It is not as important I guess, but you'll probably understand if I told you I was the "mediator" of my friend group when there was a discussion or a fight and people came to me with their problems.

I guess there's like a lot of different small reasons that sum up into it, but if you asked my class for example there's a lot of different examples and stories.

Feel completely free to ask anything else you want to know!

Also good luck with EVAU!!!!! It's a really stressing time so make sure you are resting enough and sleeping well <33

[909hold]

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[alexseanchai]

Locket and Sunset for the fic asks?

Locket: idea for a fic I haven’t written yet

not fic exactly, probably, but someday I am going to write the one that explores the impact on the economy of Sleeping Beauty's father the king ordering all the spinning wheels burned

.

Sunset: a chunk of description that I’m proud of

content note, death (don't worry, it's temporary):

Below ground, Ladybug's armor is substantial as mist. This acrid passage has little else but damp stone, seeming blood-stained in the dim carmine light. The only light source she sees is the faint glow of the cord she holds as though it's her shield and not her lifeline, flickering behind her in time with her heartbeat. She might be able to see her own reflection if she looked down at the open sewage pipe, or at one of the puddles that now and again she splashes soundlessly through. It's better lit behind her.

She remembers Mme Mendeleiev lecturing on human physiology. In healthy humans old enough to have learned how, urination is a voluntary action: one may not know which muscles one tenses and relaxes in order to do so, and one probably isn't paying attention to those details when one is so doing, but one has conscious control over whether one does. Usually. Stress and anxiety mean some people are unable to relax the relevant sphincter muscle and others are unable to stop themselves. It's voluntary for cats, too: it's one way they mark their territories. Cat-boys have other ways.

There is a moment in every human life when all one's muscles relax at once. Many Parisians have had several such moments.

—"Sanguine"