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rippleberries · 4 months

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Your Weyounsday treat: One of the first articles about Jeffrey Combs published.

Arizona Daily Star Sun [Tucson, AZ], 29 April, 1979, pp. 1, 4

Did they have to give the article that title? (ಥ﹏ಥ)

[BEGIN ARTICLE TRANSCRIPT]

The Arizona Daily Star TUCSON, SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 1979 Sunday Loneliness comes with actor's role

At 24 and looking as if he still drips with innocence, young is a word that can be freely used to describe Jeffrey Combs. He is young, looks young, and is in the young years of his professional life.

Also, he had an early and, given his calling, perhaps prophetic brush with a person of that name.

"My parents had a car accident when I was about a year old and we had to go into a hospital," explained Combs over lunch. "Loretta Young was in the same hospi- tal and had requested that a nurse bring a baby to her every morning to hold. So, while I was there, a nurse would come to my mother in the morning to take me up to her room and Young would feed me."

Youthful naiveté is what Combs' character in the Arizona Theatre Company production of "The Show-Off" is all about. In the play, which has its last performance tonight at 7 in the Tucson Community Center Little Theatre, Combs plays the youngest son of the family, a con- stantly preoccupied fellow who trips over his tongue and shoelaces and brings home the bacon with a formula.

This has been Combs' first season with ATC and he says "The Show-Off" has been his favorite play. Tucson audiences have also seen him as the narrator/nephew in "A Christmas Carol," as Valere in "Tartuffe" and as Diego in "The Royal Hunt of the Sun." But it's the current George Kelly comedy that places as the favorite, partially because it feels so familiar.

"The whole feeling of the show is so human, so close in a way to my own life that I didn't have to reach that far to get the feeling." Combs, the fifth of seven children, knows what a tightknit family is like.

"My own family ties are very, very close and I miss the times of being together with them. It's hard to be in such a nomadic kind of work I always want to see them.

"At times, being an actor can be one of the most rewarding things in the world. And at other times it can be very lonely."

Combs is the youngest member of the ATC resident company and he has experienced both the rewards and the loneliness this season. He says that it's part and parcel of the career he's chosen, and that it will be tempered as he grows older and gets more professional experience in the process. But he's impatient and knows it.

"One of the disadvantages of working in Tucson is the isolation. The sheer locale of the city being geographically where it is.

"I am an impatient person. There are people that I love, to whom I've had to say 'see you later.' They ask 'why?' and I have to say I'm going to Tucson to this theater. And that I might not be the same person when I get back, just as they might not be the same."

But, Combs says philosophically, the phases of life are like that. And he knows that he has been free in making the choices, even though they still hurt at times.

"There was no question in my mind whether I wanted to come here or not - certainly I felt the sacrifices were worth it. And I would like to come back here next year."

But he would also like to have the chance to experi- ment with his own ideas, collaborating with others in improvisational structures, using his own material to cre- ate worlds, rather than someone else's.

"The chances to do those things would be the only reservations I would have about coming back. It's not that I wouldn't want to-Sandy (Rosenthal) is one of the most energetic spirits of the theater. He loves it more than anybody I've ever seen. But I have this itching and my focuses and desires may go in a direction that might not be appropriate here."

Combs says that the idea of an ensemble resident company is not new to him; in some ways, it's the system he knows best from his work with the Pacific Conservatory Theatre of the Performing Arts and the Old Globe Theatre.

"I've pretty much been nurtured, pushed in the en- semble direction all along. I haven't really gone out and jobbed into a company for a short period of time, or been put in the position that the prime directive is to 'get the show up by 8 p.m. Tuesday." But he's found that he's grown in the season he's spent with ATC.

"I've synthesized some of the things I've learned relearned them through experience. I feel really relaxed in this company. Not in the sense that I'm so confident that what I'm doing is good, so I can relax, but in the sense that I can make a mistake and not feel like I've really let someone down. I can learn from the situation.

"And I've learned a sense of what the professional world is like, what the good side is like. Take someone like Bob Ellenstein. He doesn't have to be here - the only reason he is is that he's dedicated, that the experiences here will make him a better actor. He could just as easily be making 15 times more money somewhere else, doing things that were not as enriching to him."

Combs says he is unhappy with a portion of his abili- ties, particularily when he senses he's acting out of techni- cal proficiency rather than a more emotionally-based ground. There needs to be a balance, and he says that his season with ATC has given him the opportunity to work on that weakness.

And he says he waivers between the acting world and his own desires for domesticity. On the other hand, he's exactly where he wants to be.

"I love what I'm doing. The commitment is so drastic that it can be frightening, at times. The more renown you get, the more value placed upon you as an artist, the more freedom you have and the more choices you can make. But, being a young actor, you can't have all those freedoms yet.

"One needs to have some sort of perspective from other things. It's just that I want so badly to be in this business and to do the things I want to do. Maybe it's an obnoxious thing for someone only 24 years old to say, but I don't want to be a victim. I'd rather be the perpetrator, if you will." [END ARTICLE TRANSCRIPT]

[BEGIN PHOTO CAPTION TRANSCRIPT] Combs says that he has felt lonely at times this season, away from his family, friends and home base in California. At the same time, this year has been one of growth with the sort of challenges any actor needs, particularily in the formative, initial years of a professional career.

Now finishing his first sea- son with the Arizona Theatre Company, Jeffrey Combs hopes that it won't be his last. But the 24-year-old actor also wants to scratch the itch he has to do some of his own work in a collaborative, improvisational situation.

Photo by Tim Fuller [END PHOTO CAPTION TRANSCRIPT]

#jeffrey combs #it is Weyounsday my dudes #Weyounsday

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ddarker-dreams · 2 years

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Yan Genshin Boys / Overhearing Darling Say They Dislike Them.

Warnings: Yandere themes, unhealthy relationships, some feelings have been hurt on this day, implied stalking/eavesdropping.

Childe

Not the best idea on your part, even if you were taking care to keep the admission on the down low. Childe is beaming as he strolls up to you. Greets you like an old friend, but turns his back to your company, making it clear that he’s here to whisk you away whether you like it or not. Whispers in the most lifeless tone you’ve ever heard him take to come up with an excuse to leave or he’ll think of something. The following walk is the most nerve-wracking you’ve ever experienced — he purposefully stays quiet so you’re forced to awkwardly fill the air.

Diluc

This isn’t a report he was expecting (or wanting) to receive. Those in his information network that shadow him seemed rightfully hesitant to provide this in their accounts, but Diluc was stern about what he wanted; including transcripts of your conversations. He stays planted at his desk for some time, shrouded in darkness as the light from his candle went out hours prior. His self-righteous beliefs about “looking after you”, no strings attached, and confronted directly. This isn’t altruism. It never was. Diluc wants from you more than you’re willing to give. Which leaves him with the unfortunate alternative of taking what he wants instead of waiting for reciprocation that’ll never come.

Kaeya

Kaeya isn’t going to drag you away, oh no, not when you’re speaking your heart out like this! As a shadow leans over you from behind, he tells you that he wants in on all the details. Implores you to start from the top and to leave nothing out. He doesn’t mind working with this antipathy of yours, it must mean he’s on your mind more often than he’s not. What stings his pride a little bit is that you’re openly sharing this information with others. Now that just won’t do, he can’t have any loose ends lying around should he ever have to take you into his custody. He’ll need a way to smooth over this blip lest an unfortunate fate befell the one who learned this.

Zhongli

Zhongli feels little reason to intervene when the person you revealed this to isn’t giving it much credence. His reputation precedes him, they’re singing his praises while you stand there, unsure of how to articulate what is technically an unfounded hunch. If there’s anything the archaic god understands well, it’s negotiation. He doesn’t consider his previous conversations with you to be negotiations gone wrong, oh no, not with his meticulous planning. He took into account that you might not respond kindly to his thinly veiled threats and coercions. This just means that when you inevitably budge due to circumstance, he’ll have more to work with. That was the offer then, he’ll tell you. Matters are different now. I expect more in return. Zhongli’s patience makes it so waiting for that day is no straining matter.

Albedo

Albedo likes to think himself above holding petty grievances. He returns to his workshop without issue, picks up where he left off, only realizing moments later that he mixed the wrong contents together in his reverie. The ensuing explosion’s residue is still refusing to come off his coat to this day. Albedo struggles to concentrate on anything the rest of the day and eventually comes to terms with the fact nothing will be getting done in this state. Human instinct is a deviant variable he could never account for, he decides. His performance around you could be immaculate and your intuition would still steer you toward caution. He decides to lay off his direct interactions with you for the near future and focus his efforts on observation.

Xiao

Xiao doesn’t really comprehend it at first, not when he’s too preoccupied with making sure the paths you’ll be using shortly are safe for travel. It might not be until days later that the entire weight of your words hits him like a ton of bricks. Frustration mounts more than anything — what do the inconsequential musings of a mortal mean to him? Xiao tells himself this despite dwelling on the issue frequently. He can’t help but look at those you do see to like with disdain. The word envy is foreign to his vocabulary and he wants to keep it that way. There’s comfort to be found that in the company you do keep, his abilities far eclipse whatever puny resistance they could muster. When it matters most, he will be indispensable to you.

Scaramouche

No, he’s not upset about it, he’s not even bothered by it. It’s whatever, honestly. Your taste is abysmal. If anything, this is probably a compliment, he’s seen the simpletons you call ‘friends’ and would rather perish than be grouped into any category with them. Expect thunderclouds overhead even if it was a sunny day minutes prior. What truthfully bothers Scaramouche the most about this is that deep down, he already knew, yet was managing to convince himself otherwise. Hearing it from your lips means he can’t feign ignorance any longer. He comes to the conclusion that the word like is inconsequential to his designs anyway. He’s going to have you loving him, no, worshipping him.

Kazuha

Kazuha drops whatever he’s holding and just stands there, while those behind him grunt impatiently, pushing him along. The tightness in his chest is unlike anything he’s ever experienced — it’s a wonder he has enough wits about him to leave and find refuge in nature. He comes to the conclusion that he’s been coming off too strong. It’s a tricky, uphill battle in his view, there are so many praises for you that he wants to sing that he rarely holds his tongue. Does this mean he should perhaps examine his ways and change them? He thinks not. There must be another, more suitable solution for him to find, such as making it so he’s your only choice for company...

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arocoded · 4 months

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Hi everyone! I haven't seen a post about it on here yet, or really anywhere that's not Twitter, but there's a week-long strike from the 18th to the 25th for Palestine, Sudan, Congo, and every other country experiencing genocide. It started yesterday and I believe that it was organized / started by @alien_bunny_ on Twitter.

Also, it's a Monday, and the PLFP has requested a strike for Palestine every Monday, so please remember that as well!

[ID: An infographic by @alien_bunny_ on Twitter. The background is mint green with purple squares that have information about the strike in them. There is a logo in the bottom left corner, a globe with the letters GSAG over it, standing for Global Strikes Against Genocide. Text transcribed below. End ID.

"Global Strikes Against Genocide

Goals

Stand up against genocides worldwide

Spread resources and info for countries in need

Impact sales of companies who are profiting off genocide

Plan

Stop economic movement during scheduled time

Protest and contact your representatives

Coordinate with your communities to stand up against genocides

When

February 18th - February 25th

Some strikers have said they wish to start on the 14th, if you can do this, please do!

Accounts to follow to stay informed:

@BSonBlast

CongoFriends

PalestineRCS

WizardBisan

CareForGaza

AlJazeeraWorld

Errfnern

Suna_Agency

RSFSudan

WestPapuaNow

Yemen_PM

@alien_bunny_

GlobalStrikesAgainstGenocide.org

discord.gg/q2Ru7k2UrM"

End transcription.]

#important #resources #accessible #free palestine #keep eyes on sudan #free congo #free yemen #free west papua

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leeeeeeef · 1 year

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stil thinking about mia fey and dahlia hawthorne as foils in the different ways that they channel their past suffering.

mia was supposed to be the next head of the fey clan. dahlia was the heirress of a multimillion dollar jewelry company. in a way, both of them had their roads cut out for them the moment they were born. neither of them accepted these paths, however; mia pursued a career in law while dahlia, in much more violent fashion, faked her death and stole one of her father's most expensive diamonds. already, their motives are a pretty big indicator of how different they are; mia becomes a lawyer out of obligation towards her mother, while dahlia stages the kidnapping out of greed and resentment for her father.

another major difference is in how they treat their sisters. both mia and dahlia are separated from their sisters for extended periods of time. however, maya and mia are still very close; they tease each other and go for meals and its clear that they love each other very much. mia even relies on maya to hold onto evidence for her.

on the other hand, dahlia's treatment of iris is drastically different. i think the transcript speaks for itself:

mia leaves maya behind to live by herself. however, mia makes an effort to remain cordial with her no matter how long they are separated. dahlia leaves her sister behind so she could have more money to herself. and while dahlia drags iris along as an accomplice, iris often defies her, such as in the case of the staged kidnapping and when she falls in love with phoenix.

from the patterns we've established through their motives, its pretty safe to say that theres one huge difference: mia's love for others vs dahlia's selfishness. and ironically these two completely opposite things are rooted in the same thing: their mutual suffering at the hands of neglect and greed.

mia's goal of becoming an attorney is directly influenced by her mother's absence. she was only eleven when her mother was wrongfully accused of fraud, when misty fey abandoned her children and disappeared from the public eye. and at such a young age, mia had to be the sole guardian and provider of her one-year-old sister. it would be daunting for any child to be an orphan who basically had to raise her own sibling. and it's because of the allegations against mia's mother that she and her sister had to suffer so much.

when mia set out to convict redd white, she didn't have to become a defense attorney. (remember, godot could easily track down misty as a prosecutor! and a detective has more investigative authority to look into redd white's crimes) mia's entire job is to help the disadvantaged stand up to false accusations. in a way, she becomes the person who could have prevented her mother's disappearance. and she even plays a massive part in convicting the man responsible for it. she brings closure for herself and her sister, even beyond the grave, and she makes sure that no one else has to go through what her family had experienced for fifteen years.

likewise, dahlia's yearning for money and power comes from the neglect she faces from her parents. she openly condemns the people around her; her father only married into the family for financial gain, while her mother only cared about her and her sister for their spiritual power, of which they had none.

ironically, while dahlia criticizes her parents for being power-hungry and vengeful, she exhibits those same traits herself; she kills people for her own personal gain and attempts to murder maya out of revenge. what i think happened is that dahlia adopted these traits as a way to survive in a world where no one, not even her parents, would take her side. her kill-or-be-killed mindset protects her against people like her parents--and people like herself. and because dahlia makes no effort to stop this cycle of suffering that caused her so much grief, it continues to hurt iris, maya, mia, phoenix, diego, and so many others. mia seeks to protect others. dahlia seeks to protect herself.

it's said that you cant control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it. and i think thats especially true here. its pretty clear to see that mia and dahlia's responses to their suffering is very different. and these responses ripple outward to others, for better or for worse. when mia finally triumphs over dahlia, she cuts short another cycle of suffering and she puts a stop to the pain of others by giving them the much needed closure that they deserve.

and thats pretty neat i think

#rambles #ace attorney #mia fey #dahlia hawthorne #absolutely devastated that mia dies like two cases in smh #she deserved so much more #aa3 spoilers

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tundrakatiebean · 1 year

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This is such bullshit. They’ve decided that there’s too much money going to causes that don’t align with corporate interests so they’re going to only give to things they agree with - including their own disaster relief.

Transcript of the email under the cut

[image transcript:

Dear customer,

In 2013, we launched AmazonSmile to make it easier for customers to support their favorite charities. However, after almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped. With so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.

We are writing to let you know that we plan to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. We will continue to pursue and invest in other areas where we’ve seen we can make meaningful change—from building affordable housing to providing access to computer science education for students in underserved communities to using our logistics infrastructure and technology to assist broad communities impacted by natural disasters.

To help charities that have been a part of the AmazonSmile program with this transition, we will be providing them with a one-time donation equivalent to three months of what they earned in 2022 through the program, and they will also be able to accrue additional donations until the program officially closes in February. Once AmazonSmile closes, charities will still be able to seek support from Amazon customers by creating their own wish lists.

As a company, we will continue supporting a wide range of other programs that help thousands of charities and communities across the U.S. For instance:

Housing Equity Fund: We’re investing $2 billion to build and preserve affordable housing in our hometown communities. In just two years, we’ve provided funding to create more than 14,000 affordable homes—and we expect to build at least 6,000 more in the coming months. These units will host more than 18,000 moderate- to low-income families, many of them with children. In one year alone, our investments have been able to increase the affordable housing stock in communities like Bellevue, Washington and Arlington, Virginia by at least 20%.

Amazon Future Engineer: We’ve funded computer science curriculum for more than 600,000 students across over 5,000 schools—all in underserved communities. We have plans to reach an additional 1 million students this year. We’ve also provided immediate assistance to 55,000 students in our hometown communities by giving them warm clothes for the winter, food, and school supplies.

Community Delivery Program: We’ve partnered with food banks in 35 U.S. cities to deliver more than 23 million meals, using our logistics infrastructure to help families in need access healthy food – and we plan to deliver 12 million more meals this year alone. In addition to our delivery services, we’ve also donated 30 million meals in communities across the country.

Amazon Disaster Relief: We’re using our logistics capabilities, inventory, and cloud technology to provide fast aid to communities affected by natural disasters. For example, we’ve created a Disaster Relief Hub in Atlanta with more than 1 million relief items ready for deployment, our Disaster Relief team has responded to more than 95 natural disasters, and we’ve donated more than 20 million relief products to nonprofits assisting communities on the ground.

Community Giving: We support hundreds of local nonprofits doing meaningful work in cities where our employees and their families live. For example, each year we donate hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations working to build stronger communities, from youth sport leagues, to local community colleges, to shelters for families experiencing homelessness.

We’ll continue working to make a difference in many ways, and our long-term commitment to our communities remains the same—we’re determined to do every day better for our customers, our employees, and the world at large.

End transcript]

#amazon smile #Amazon #corporate bullshit

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shrike-dyke · 8 months

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so apart from betterhelp being ragingly unethical in the sense of hating privacy, it's also ragingly unethical in the sense of being pro-occupation

[link transcript: twitter thread by jennine @jennineak

Feel like I can share my story about BetterHelp.

During a particularly dark time and being affected by Israeli lobbyist attacks on me and my livelihood, feeling paralysed, lost, I signed up to trial online therapy. How BetterHelp works is that it matches you with a therapist after 24 hrs. You’re able to ask for the kind of therapist you want — if you prefer someone who is not white etc which I did. I wrote a few paragraphs about the immense anxiety from racism I’d been experiencing, a very lonely feeling as a Palestinian in this world.

Within an hour, I was surprised to get a match with a therapist from NYC. She was a white woman, had her credentials up but I also searched her up on LinkedIn as I wanted to understand if she was someone who could get what I’ve been experiencing. I discovered that she lived between NYC and occupied Palestine as a settler. I’d never shut down an account so fast.

It felt strange that this happened — it seemed intentional. So I looked up info on the founders of BetterHelp (which I should’ve done before) and discovered that it is an Israeli company founded in 2013 by two men in who served in the Israeli occupation forces.

All this to say: don’t sign up to BetterHelp and/or close your account if. Be wary of who you share what you’re experiencing, had me questioning what they do with our info. It’s no secret that these Israeli tech companies can use people’s information in service of the state, as many of these start up founders work in or have work in intelligence units, and it’s particularly scary when it involves therapy & bearing your vulnerabilities and anxieties. I have not bothered with therapy since. It was the first time in a long time that I felt I really needed it, esp after years of harassment, smears, attempted legal proceedings against me and legal action I took last year that affected me deeply but am not at liberty to speak on.

end transcript]

#betterhelp #palestine #israel

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cacklefrendly · 4 months

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I love how you draw your gin and vodka!!!!!they so cool and cute!!!now I wonder what is you're gin backstory.like do he parent work with the organization or something like that??I'm just curious

:D AWW THANKIEEE ANON!! i keep telling myself that i'm gonna draw them being threatening and. it doesn't happen. they end up being sappy again. so im glad i'm not the only one who enjoys it regardless lmao

as for backstories. uh.

good question.

what backstory my personal versions of Gin and Vodka DO have — and my versions of the entire Black Org. team, too — is vague enough to be almost canon-compliant while leaving plenty of wiggle-room in case future canon declares any new information i think is interesting. it's not a tactical choice! working around canon to make things complicated is part of what makes playing with side characters fun for me. :>

also i'll admit: i usually don't think much about a character's childhood unless it gives something meaningful to the story. i don't think it matters too much why Gin got into the Black Organization? to me, it matters more that he's there and making it everyone else's problem :P i might change my mind later though, we'll see!!

for Gin and Vodka, at least, their backstories are more of a years-long, vaguely three-arc showcase of who they are at wildly different points in their lives together, which has some really interesting moments implied but not explicitly stated.

just for fun, here's a synopsis of those 'Arcs': (i remembered to write a transcript this time, it's under the read-more)

“ARC” 1: SETUP (met once, briefly, by accident.)

VODKA (asides: “Just some dude” & “he uses cheap ballpoints and it hurts my soul. he gets better I promise.”)

maybe grew up in a rural area?

recently finished college, working at one of the Black Organization's front companies

dealing with being a closeted gay man while also trying not to get involved in normal office drama and still hear all the gossip

Very Aware that the company is doing some shady illegal stuff and is SUPER CURIOUS, but 1), he'd like to keep being payed thank you, and 2), he has enough self-preservation to know better than to go snooping

honestly he's just Some Guy

GIN (asides: “dysphoria hoodie” & “[PROTOTYPE] called, Alex wants his damn clothes back.”)

where did you even come from-

working as a low-level assassin with the Black Organization but already starting to garner attention from some of the higher-ups

aggressive, paranoid, AND experiencing dysphoria all at the same time!!! uh oh!!

dealing with the gradual realization that being trans is. a Thing. while also having a really bad-ass action movie as a life, complete with betrayal and murder and explosions

starts transitioning after he climbs the Organization's ranks enough to carve out a place he KNOWS he's safe and can relax

“ARC” 2: MEET-NOT-CUTE (a year or two after “Arc” 1)

VODKA

suffering from the aftermath of The Incident and trying to grapple with the fact that he's been working for an international crime syndicate

and trying to understand his role in all of this mess

and trying not to get killed by his new boss

AND is trying not to think about the fact that his new boss is SO scary and mean

AND trying SO HARD NOT TO THINK ABOUT HOW HE'S KINDA INTO THAT-

GIN

high-ranked enough that he can no longer keep working alone and he HATES IT SO MUCH

it's not just a blow to his pride, it's also all the paranoia. it's mostly the paranoia, to be quite honest

called dibs on the most harmless, pathetic-looking man he could find who still seemed to be useful. and that man was Vodka

even so, spends a good while CONVINCED that Vodka will turn on him if Gin gives him the chance.

BOTH

Gin keeps trying to bait Vodka into trying to kill him and is infuriated as nothing happens.

Vodka sees the bait and is confused at first, later horrified when he figures out what Gin's expecting him to do

as Vodka shows his usefulness, Gin starts to calm down. full-on Trust takes several years to develop

the first time Gin falls Asleep near Vodka freaks Gin out more than a little

“ARC” 3: GET A FUCKIN ROOM (roughly a few years before and into Canon)

Vodka: “If you want coffee you gotta’ let go.” Gin: “*unintelligible sounds of disapproval*”

they aren't in a romantic relationship. they haven't even had a one-night stand. and yet they carry a very "aging gays who've been married for 30 years" energy. it drives the Team up the wall.

before the Trust developed, Vodka let Gin control/initiate all contact as an appeasement/self-preservation strategy. at this point he still does it, but out of habit more than anything.

plot twist, Gin's actually super tactile with people he trusts. he invades Vodka's personal space constantly. it's especially bad when he's cold or tired (so, most of the time)

they know each other's boundaries very well even though they never, like, sat down and talked about it. it's been trial and error thus far. it helps that they're also good at reading each other.

Vodka's uncomfortable attraction turned into a crush, which turned into quiet love. Gin's wariness turned into trust, which turned into love. BUT Gin's doesn't think much about trust OR romance so he's not actually aware (yet) that his feelings for Vodka are more than Really Strong Trust. he also doesn't know Vodka's feelings for him (YET)

there are so many ways this fucking slow-burn could end and I love all of them too much to pick just one

#gin detective conan #vodka detective conan #detective conan #long post /#cackle draws #not pictured: all the fuckim MURDER they do #canon has that handled already im just here to fill the gaps (make things gay)#cackle answers #cackle rants

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violet-amphithere · 7 months

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One of them character relationship charts for my interpretations of the slugcats. Except Saint, because I don't know how to write them sorry.

Not all of these descriptions are said "in-character" so to speak because not all of them would ever say how they feel about someone else outright. The white squares in particular are my OOC descriptions of them, not what they think of themself.

Image transcription under the cut

OOC descriptions of how I characterize that character: Monk Curious, somewhat impulsive. Loves their family. Wants to go home.

Survivor Cautious. Loves their family. Values their own freedom.

Hunter Goal-oriented. Loves life; resents the idea that she was not made to experience it.

Gourmand Values the well-being of their colony first of all. Has some trouble with showing vulnerability.

Artificer Angry (grieving), Angry (regular). Stubborn. Values family bonds very, very highly.

Spearmaster Not so sociable with most others, but not unkind. Values freedom, connection.

Rivulet In love with the experience of having a physical body. Largely a loner. Not so good at emotional intelligence.

-- How each character feels about another:

Monk, about Survivor My beloved sibling for whom I would go to the ends of the world to bring back home

Monk, about Hunter Friends, I like to talk and hang out

Monk, about Gourmand Cool. Intimidating. Wants to have a part in the sense of community that Gourmand fosters. Is a little scared of it all.

Monk, about Artificer Deeply sympathetic but frustratingly distant

Monk, about Spearmaster ….jealous????

Monk, about Rivulet would like to befriend (not happening)

Survivor, about Monk I love you but I wish you would let me live my own life. I wish you had not made sacrifices for me and wish you had not made yourself my responsibility.

Survivor, about Hunter Friends, slightly distant

Survivor, about Gourmand Very intimidating. Tries to learn from them, actually learns exactly what they don't want for themself.

Survivor, about Artificer Hey can you just real quick let me believe you are a reasonable person? No? ok.

Survivor, about Spearmaster Envy, admiration, awe? Would like to see the world with them, or a least with the freedom they have to do so.

Survivor, about Rivulet Neutral

Hunter, about Monk Friend. Likes to teach Monk anything they can

Hunter, about Survivor Reminds me of myself. I hope life is kind to them

Hunter, about Gourmand Feeling indebted, which makes for tension. I wish I could do more in return.

Hunter, about Artificer How are you comforting company

Hunter, about Spearmaster Built better than me. Can explore and travel and I can't. Why? More care put into them..? (which changes into) Friendship kinship artist buddies who will reclaim the act of creation together.

Hunter, about Rivulet Confusing? Neutral

Gourmand, about Monk They get along great. No notes.

Gourmand, about Survivor Angsty lil guy. They'll be alright.

Gourmand, about Hunter Cares, but has a lot of difficulty conveying the mutual respect that Hunter needs

Gourmand, about Artificer PLEASE stop throwing bombs and listen to me for 5 seconds. please.

Gourmand, about Spearmaster Acquaintance; always nice to have come by

Gourmand, about Rivulet Good friend. Could almost be second in command, except Rivulet is not interested

Artificer, about Monk IM TAKIG IM TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF THIS KITTENS

Artificer, about Survivor IM TAKING GOOD CARE OF THIS KITTENS GET BACK HERE

Artificer, about Hunter Why do i wish i were you

Artificer, about Gourmand Fucking goodie goodie thinks they're so smart and responsible and experienced and resourceful and happy, Well guess what!!!! You're right [beat] fuck you

Artificer, about Spearmaster Very vocal judgment

Artificer, about Rivulet Fun challenge to spar with. Knows nothing about me. (and thus does not like me, which would be unacceptable) My friend my buddy

Spearmaster, about Monk can i help you

Spearmaster, about Survivor Mentorly, friendly. Likes their company

Spearmaster, about Hunter Why are you mean to me (which changes into) Oh. We can hold hands

Spearmaster, about Gourmand Acquaintance; nice to visit with and trade stories with if I'm in the area

Spearmaster, about Artificer Silent judgment

Spearmaster, about Rivulet Neutral

Rivulet, about Survivor and Monk These two have some sort of contrived interpersonal emotional hardship going on, and frankly, I want no part in it.

Rivulet, about Hunter Neutral

Rivulet, about Gourmand Gets It

Rivulet, about Artificer Yeah I see them every week and we hang out and beat each other up. I don't know their name and they don't know mine. Positive relationship yeah why?

Rivulet, about Spearmaster Neutral

#may be interpreted as ship wherever the viewer desires. whatever.#this might also be the most that i ever show of that fanfic i mentioned #there are plot points and developments that I want to capture and this could not do justice but. eeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh #rain world #noodlebabble #finally. i am done with this.

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the-rewatch-rewind · 7 months

Text

Here it is! My most frequently rewatched movie! Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

Script below the break

Hello and welcome back to The Rewatch Rewind! My name is Jane, and this is the podcast where I count down my top 40 most frequently rewatched movies in a 20-year period. Today, at last, we reach the end of that list as I discuss my number one: MGM’s 1940 comedy The Philadelphia Story, directed by George Cukor, written by Donald Ogden Stewart with uncredited contributions from Waldo Salt, based on the play by Philip Barry, and starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart.

Two years after the disastrous end of her first marriage to childhood friend C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), socialite Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) is preparing for her second wedding, to George Kittredge (John Howard), general manager of her estranged father’s coal mining company. Eager to cover this story but knowing that Tracy loathes publicity, Spy magazine editor and publisher Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell) enlists the help of Dexter to get reporter Macaulay “Mike” Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Elizabeth “Liz” Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) to the Lord house the day before the wedding. In those 24 hours before her second marriage begins, Tracy is prompted to rethink not only her choice of husband, but also her entire attitude toward people and life.

This must have been one of the first old movies I saw in 2002 because the only thing I remember about my initial experience of it was that I expected Tracy to accept Mike’s proposal, and if I’d been an experienced old movie watcher by then I would have known that obviously Katharine Hepburn was going to end up with Cary Grant, not James Stewart. I certainly did not immediately fully appreciate this movie, although I was intrigued enough to keep revisiting it until eventually it became my favorite. I watched it five times in each year from 2003 through 2005, four times in 2006, twice in 2007, 2008, and 2009, three times each in 2010 and 2011, five times in 2012, once in 2013, once in 2014, twice in 2015, once in 2017, twice in 2018, four times in 2019, once in 2020, twice in 2021, and once in 2022. Part of why I watch this so much is because it has three stars whose birthdays I celebrate almost every year, so I often watch it for Cary Grant’s birthday and then either Katharine Hepburn’s or James Stewart’s (their birthdays are only about a week apart so I don’t usually watch it for both). I think part of why I didn’t watch it in 2016 is because I watched it in late December of 2015 for the 75th anniversary of its release, so Grant’s birthday in January felt too soon to revisit it, and that May I decided to watch through all the Fred and Ginger movies starting with Astaire’s birthday, so I was less focused on Kate’s and Jimmy’s birthdays that year. And then later in 2016 I was too obsessed with Poe Party to watch much of anything else. But to make up for that, the reason I watched it so many times in 2019 is because Mary Kate Wiles used to host readings of plays and movie scripts with her actor friends for her Patreon, and I offered to transcribe the script of Philadelphia Story so she could do a reading of that one, and even though I knew the movie very well by then I decided to go through it a few more times to make sure I got all the details right, so eventually my love of Poe Party led to more rewatches of this. And the current Shipwrecked project, The Case of the Greater Gatsby, takes place in December of 1940 so there are lots of Philadelphia Story references in it and they make me very happy. Anyway, I’ve put quite a bit of effort into not watching this movie too many times too close together because I don’t ever want to overwatch it to the point of getting tired of it, like I did with a few other movies I’ve mentioned on this podcast, and many more that I burned out before they could make it into my top 40. While the stars’ birthdays have contributed to the view count, mostly this is my number one comfort movie that I know I can always turn to when I need something to watch, and I’m afraid of pushing it to the point where that no longer works. Although the fact that I sat through it 51 times in 20 years – the same number of views as number two plus number 40 on this list – and haven’t come close to getting tired of it yet indicates that I probably never will.

I don’t think I can really articulate what exactly it is about this movie that makes it my favorite to revisit, but I’m going to try. Certainly the fact that it features three of my favorite classic film stars helps, although a big part of why I love those stars so much is because of what they did in The Philadelphia Story. Every single member of the cast gives an absolutely fabulous performance. There isn’t a ton of action, but the dialogue is a perfect example of everything I love about the best Old Hollywood scripts: snappy and witty and clever on the surface, with real human emotion and intriguing philosophy underneath. The movie features many different kinds of brilliantly executed comedy, but the more serious moments still hit without feeling out of place. It deals with taboo subjects like divorce, infidelity, and alcoholism in ways that complied with production codes but still don’t feel too watered down. Basically, it has all the aspects I love about the other old movies on this list, only more so.

Several of my very favorite movie scenes of all time are in The Philadelphia Story. One is when Mike has had a lot to drink at a party and decides to visit Dexter in the middle of the night. The way drunk Jimmy Stewart and sober Cary Grant interact is hilarious and makes me desperately disappointed that the two of them never appeared in another movie together. At one point, Stewart makes a noise that’s kind of a mix of a hiccup, a cough, and a burp. Grant, thinking that Stewart has ruined the take, goes, “Excuse me,” sounding a little annoyed but trying to make a joke out of it, but then Stewart drunkenly responds with, “Huh?” indicating his intention to go on with the scene. Grant looks down, stifling a laugh, and then they continue with the dialogue, and I love that instead of reshooting it, or editing around it, they kept that in the movie. There may not be a blooper reel, but we still get to watch Jimmy Stewart almost break Cary Grant, and that’s good enough for me.

Another of my favorite scenes comes a bit earlier in the film, when Tracy and her younger sister, Dinah, played by Virginia Weidler, meet Mike and Liz for the first time. Tracy immediately saw through Dexter’s story that they were friends of her older brother’s and knows they’re reporters, but agreed to play along when Dexter informed her that Sidney Kidd intends to publish a story about Tracy’s father’s affair with a dancer unless he gets a story on her wedding. To protest the situation, Tracy and Dinah decide to put on a show for Mike and Liz, who don’t know that they know they’re reporters, and it is maybe my favorite comedic scene in any movie. First Dinah dramatically stumbles in wearing pointe shoes and some gaudy jewelry that was a wedding present she previously insulted. She then puts on an overly posh voice as she explains that she spoke French before she spoke English – “C’est vrai absolument!” – and boasts that she can play the piano “and sing at the same time!” She makes her way to the piano with the least graceful toe walk possible, and then bangs out a very silly rendition of “Lydia the Tattooed Lady,” a song mainly associated with Groucho Marx. While Mike and Liz are staring at her in bewilderment, Tracy peeks into the room and beams like she’s never been prouder of her sister. Once the song is finished, Tracy enters and praises Dinah in French, comparing her to Chopin, and then saying Dinah looks ill and she hopes it’s not smallpox, which freaks out Mike and Liz, but the audience knows it’s a private joke because earlier Tracy told Dinah that the only way she could postpone the wedding was to get smallpox. After Dinah leaves, it’s Tracy’s turn to confuse the reporters, and it is truly brilliant. The dialogue and the way it’s read, as Tracy turns the interview around and starts asking them invasive questions, is so good. Like when Tracy’s talking about how they don’t let any reporters in, “except for little Mr. Grace who does the social news. Can you imagine a grown-up man having to sink so low?” or when she’s welcoming them to Philadelphia and says, “It’s a quaint old place, don’t you think? Filled with relics, and how old are you, Mr. Connor?” It’s the seemingly accidental but actually very deliberate insults that get me. And then on top of that, there is some incredible yet subtle physical comedy going on throughout the conversation. Tracy accidentally-on-purpose pushes Mike and Liz into each other as she offers them seats, and there’s a whole very long bit between Tracy and Mike involving cigarettes, matches, and lighters that I didn’t even notice the first few times I watched it because I was too focused on what they were saying. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable scene all the way through, and every time I watch Tracy exit that room, leaving the reporters to ponder their bafflement, I have to applaud.

But the movie also excels at mixing some drama and seriousness in with the comedy. There’s a lot of focus on how Tracy demands perfection from herself and everyone around her, and as a result is missing out on the joys of human messiness. She makes a big deal about never drinking alcohol, although Dexter reveals that she did get drunk one time when they were married, and later remembered nothing about it. But after Dexter tells her that being married to her felt like being a high priest to a goddess, and George tells her that he worships her like a queen, and her father, who showed up uninvited, tells her she might just as well be made of bronze, Tracy gives in and starts drinking heavily at the party the night before her wedding, which was where Mike also got very drunk. Tracy and Mike meet up at Dexter’s house, then go back to her place, and dance and argue for a while until Mike kisses her and tells her that he sees her as a human being, which is a wonderful change of pace for her, so she suggests they go swimming together. Later, Dexter and George see Mike carrying Tracy back to the house, both of them in bathrobes, and George assumes the worst. The next morning, Tracy can’t remember what happened, but Dinah tells her that she saw Mike carry Tracy into her room – which is another excellent scene, Virginia Weidler was one of the best child actors of all time and people barely ever talk about her anymore, but she and Katharine Hepburn do a fabulous job of getting the point across that they both think Tracy slept with Mike the night before without breaking production codes. And then after that when Mike appears, he and Tracy have the most excruciatingly awkward conversation, and it’s so painful but so good. Dexter also shows up trying to comfort Tracy, and I love the way he doesn’t accuse her or condemn her or even ask her what happened, partly because he knows she doesn’t remember, partly because Mike told him nothing happened, but partly because you get the feeling that he wouldn’t think any less of her if she had drunkenly hooked up with Mike. And maybe that’s reading too much into this, but his reaction is certainly quite different from George’s, which I guess makes sense because technically she would have been cheating on George and not Dexter, but George doesn’t even let her explain before breaking up with her by note. He does finally show up in person as she’s reading the note aloud to Dexter, Mike, and Liz, and their confrontation is so well done – I particularly love Liz’s “Say something, stupid!” to Mike, who is just standing there listening to George accuse Tracy of having an affair with him. But after a while, Mike does eventually reveal that their so-called affair consisted of exactly two kisses and a rather late swim. Tracy and George don’t believe him at first, and then Tracy is offended, until he points out that she was very drunk and he didn’t want to take advantage of her. And like, I know that this movie was made in 1940, so the censors weren’t going to let Tracy actually have sex with another man the night before her wedding anyway, but I still can’t help loving the way they handled this. Tracy makes a bit of a fool of herself and learns that George is not the right man for her without going too far, and Mike demonstrates that it’s not that difficult to respect a woman’s autonomy and recognize when she is unable to consent.

I have a lot of mixed and complicated feelings about this story from an aroace perspective. On the one hand, it is very focused on romance and marriage. Also the whole thing about characters describing Tracy using phrases like “virgin goddess” and “perennial spinster, however many marriages” to illustrate her coldness and lack of human understanding is…not exactly an ace-affirming metaphor. On the other hand, I always appreciate stories about adults who have the chance to sleep together and choose not to, even when I know it’s at least partly because of production codes. And somehow, something about the way Dexter, Tracy, Mike, and Liz all interact give me hints of queer found family vibes, even though they end up paired off heterosexually. Maybe it’s the fact that it was directed by a gay man and features at least two probably queer actors that’s giving me that vibe, I don’t know. Another of my favorite scenes – I know, I have way too many – is when Dexter and Liz return to the Lord house after writing a blackmail note to Sidney Kidd. It’s a fairly short scene, but the way the two of them interact as platonic friends who understand each other but clearly don’t like each other romantically is not something I’m used to seeing in a scene featuring a man and a woman alone, and it makes me happy. Mike also has some great moments with Dexter, as does Tracy with Liz. I like to think that the four of them maintain their friendship after the events of the movie, rather than amatonormatively going off and doing their own thing with their spouse and forgetting about their friends. This movie does portray sex and romance as part of the human experience, but I don’t feel like it portrays them as the only important part. The message is all about pursuing the life that’s right for you, and not looking down on people who have different priorities, and when you look at it from that perspective, it actually is kind of ace-affirming, albeit probably unintentionally. But as I’ve indicated multiple times in previous episodes, asexual representation is so rare, and aromantic representation is even rarer, that if you can find an approximation of affirmation by tilting a story and squinting at it, even that feels exciting. That’s how low the bar is.

With that being said, as a teenager I definitely did relate to Tracy Lord, at least in terms of the way I was perceived. I think a lot of my peers thought that I thought I was better than them, when it was mostly that I just didn’t understand them. I don’t remember anyone calling me a goddess or a queen or a statue, but other middle and high schoolers definitely teased me for being “perfect”, which told me that they didn’t really see me as a person, so I felt Tracy’s pain and confusion when she got called out like that. I do think that like Tracy, I had a lot to learn about letting myself make mistakes and not judging other people too harshly for theirs, but I also still strongly feel that some of the criticism leveled at Tracy – and at me – was unwarranted. I can’t tell if the movie wants us to agree with Tracy’s father when he blames his philandering on not having the right kind of daughter, but I think that’s entirely unreasonable of him, and Tracy absolutely does not deserve that. And I’m not sure it’s fair of Dexter to blame her for contributing to his alcoholism, but at least Dexter takes some responsibility for his actions, unlike Seth Lord. I think my peers didn’t understand me any more than I understood them, but I probably could have cut them more slack and tried to get to know them better before writing most of them off as too different for me to possibly get to know. The circumstances in this movie are very different from being a high school misfit, but as a high schooler who often had trouble relating to movies that were actually about high school misfits, somehow this movie spoke to me. It was an escape from high school that also helped get me through high school. The story helped me become a less judgmental and more forgiving person toward others while also helping me feel better about being who I was unapologetically. I also got similar messages from other sources, so I don’t want to give this movie too much credit, but at the same time, I don’t think any single movie affected my teenage years more than this one, so I would certainly be a different person if I had never seen it.

The story of how this movie came about and what it led to is also very important to me. After appearing in several box office flops in the late 1930s – several of which made it onto this list – Katharine Hepburn left Hollywood for Broadway to star in and financially back the stage version of Philadelphia Story, which Philip Barry had written specifically for her. Howard Hughes purchased the film rights as a gift for Hepburn, with whom he had been romantically involved, although it seems like the romantic part of their relationship was over before that, so this is like My Man Godfrey in that it turned out the way it did partly because of exes who were still friends. Katharine Hepburn then sold the rights to Louis B. Mayer for only $250,000 on the condition that she would have input and veto power over producer, director, screenwriter, and cast. She got the director and writer she wanted, but her first choice for the two male leads – Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy – were unavailable. Gable reportedly hated George Cukor and was rumored to be at least partly responsible for the director being kicked off of Gone with the Wind, so it’s probably just as well that he wasn’t involved. Future lovers Hepburn and Tracy hadn’t even met yet at this point, so it would have been interesting if this was their first movie. But ultimately, Cary Grant came on board, under the condition that he would receive top billing, which feels a bit strange to see because Hepburn is clearly playing the main lead, but Grant also donated his entire salary to the British War Relief Society, so we can’t accuse him of too much selfishness. And James Stewart’s performance as Mike would earn him one of the film’s two Oscars, although he apparently thought that Henry Fonda should have won for The Grapes of Wrath, and that he had only received it as belated recognition for his performance in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington the previous year. Donald Ogden Stewart also won for Best Screenplay. The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Cukor was nominated for Best Director, and the performances of Katharine Hepburn and Ruth Hussey were nominated as well. The fact that Hepburn didn’t win – and lost to her rival Ginger Rogers, no less – indicates that Hollywood was still a little reluctant to welcome her back. But this movie crucially changed the public’s perception of Katharine Hepburn, transforming her from box office poison to a box office draw. They were calling her a has-been in 1938, but with The Philadelphia Story she showed them that she still had more to contribute, and her career took off in the 1940s, and lasted into the 1990s.

Even now, generations later, twenty years after Hepburn’s death, it’s easy to tell just by watching this movie why it was such a turning point for her. She completely embodies the spoiled socialite, but she makes Tracy sympathetic enough that when she is taken down a few pegs, as she needed to be, the audience feels sorry for her rather than gloating. Tracy is radiant enough that we understand why George worships her, yet she is down to earth enough that we understand her yearning to be seen not as an object of worship, but as a human being. Hepburn nails both the comedic scenes and the more serious dramatic scenes, with no hint of the desperately-trying-too-hard actress who comes across too often in some of her earlier films. While I obviously still love many of those films, watching this one feels like we’re seeing a Katharine Hepburn who has finally come into her own. There certainly was an element of trying to get the public to like her, but there’s no desperation about it. She gets this character, and knows how to make the audience get her too. I don’t think I could have found Tracy so relatable if she hadn’t been played like that. And listen, I’m thrilled that Ginger Rogers won an Oscar, especially because Hepburn would end up with four and didn’t really need this win, but if I had to pick one single all-time favorite film performance, I can’t think of any that would beat Katharine Hepburn’s Tracy Lord. Although I also have to say that I think Cary Grant’s performance as Dexter is incredibly underappreciated. I’ve said before that sometimes I have trouble taking him seriously in dramatic roles, but this was the ideal blend of seriousness and silliness for him, and he nails every emotional beat. He does an excellent job of showing the audience that he has grown and learned from the mistakes of his first marriage and is ready to move forward with healing his relationship with Tracy, which makes this a much better remarriage story than His Girl Friday, for example. There were a lot of movies made around this time about a divorced couple reconciling, mostly because that was the only way the Production Code allowed the scandalous topic of divorce to be addressed on film, but Philadelphia Story feels different from most of those. It’s more like Pride and Prejudice, if Pride and Prejudice started right after Elizabeth turned down Darcy’s first proposal. Both are about a couple who needed to grow and reflect before they could be happy together. I think those are my favorite kind of romances because they have less to do with attraction, which I don’t really understand, and more to do with trying to become the best version of oneself, which everyone can do regardless of how they feel about romance. Anyway, I’m a little sad that this was the last time Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn worked together, but I’m so glad they got to make this masterpiece before their careers diverged.

In 1956, The Philadelphia Story was remade as a musical film called High Society, which I watched 12 times. I enjoy that version too, although obviously not nearly as much as this version. It’s a fun romp, and the Cole Porter songs are great, but it doesn’t quite pack the same emotional punch as The Philadelphia Story. Strangely, considering I don’t think anything can touch Hepburn’s original portrayal, my favorite part of that movie is Grace Kelly’s performance as Tracy. She put her own spin on the character and was clearly having fun – probably at least partly because she’d already decided to retire from acting and marry a prince, and was wearing her actual engagement ring in the film. My biggest objection to High Society – and yes, I know I’ve complained about this too many times on this podcast but bear with me one more time – is the age gap between Dexter and Tracy. They’re supposed to have grown up together, but Bing Crosby was 26 years older than Grace Kelly, and their dynamic is just all wrong. The story doesn’t work if Dexter is old enough to be Tracy’s father! Whereas in Philadelphia Story, we’ve got Cary Grant who was born in 1904, Katharine Hepburn who was born in 1907, and James Stewart who was born in 1908. They were all basically the same age! It can be done! John Howard was born in 1913, so he was a bit younger, but I think that works for the way George looks up to and admires Tracy, and still that’s a relatively small gap. Anyway, we can add “getting actors of appropriate ages” to the long list of things The Philadelphia Story did right.

So there we have it. I’ve talked about all of my top 40 most frequently rewatched movies of my first 20 years of keeping track. Thank you so much for listening to all my rambling! I hope you’ve found this entertaining and informative – I know I have. I’m planning to do one more epilogue episode in a few weeks summarizing what I’ve learned from this project, so stay tuned for that if you’re interested. I also have lots of other ideas for movie-related podcasts that may or may not come to fruition, we’ll see. Since I don’t know what the next movie I’ll podcast about will be, I’ll leave you with one last quote from The Philadelphia Story: “We all go haywire at times, and if we don’t, maybe we ought to.”

#the philadelphia story #george cukor #katharine hepburn #cary grant #james stewart #i love this movie so much #this project has been a lot of fun #i'll be back with a conclusions episode soon-ish #but i'm going to take a break first

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lizardsarecute · 7 months

Text

Transcript Half Rest Ch 5

for the overseas homies. Posting this before I post the chapter so I can link to this in the notes.

Page 1 Chapter Image

Page 2

WING 2 CLOSED FOR REPAIR

Korsica: “Thanks for the help. There’s a meeting at the terminal today–the details will be on your feed soon. You are dismissed.”

Page 3

Korsica (thinking) “A little cramped, but it should do as a temporary measure”

“I barely had any sleep last night, a coffee oughta–”

Page 4

Words next to the arrow says ‘forgot about decaf’

*coughs* “What did they put in this? Charcoal??”

Sfx on the container says ‘flip’

Page 5

MISSION REPORT

After Roxanne Vandelay took over the company again, repairs around the island started in earnest.

The text in the first sticky note says “DMG LVL (damage level)” HI, MED, LO (high medium and low across the island)

Our immediate priority is to make sure campus residents are out of harm’s way while our crews conduct repairs.

The text in the second sticky note says “SETUP CORDONS”

Thankfully the most severe damage is beyond public view. But we’ve been told that most of the restoration work will be done through an overhaul of company policies.

Third sticky note says “Kale erased Roxanne’s work. Ground up restoration initiative.”

Page 6

Hundreds of thousands of policies, training manuals, and videos need to be re-evaluated. Older and more experienced units are slowly being reassigned to their old positions.

In addition, Security will have to contend with a growing number of…unusual units that have come out of the Production Department. Apparently production never stopped when Rekka and QA-MIL were taken down, because Roquefort wanted to keep those numbers up. Sighs

Left sticky note: “More focus! SEC. DEP. (Security Department)

Send more security to production

Attend to security alerts in person (increase success rate)

Staggered schedules for new workweek. 4 Sundays (how?)

Security paper file re-eval (re-evaluation)

Additional unit training

Bottom right sticky note: PERSONAL

Delivery by EOD (End of day)

Overlook at MON1 (Monday 1). SUN2 (Sunday 2)

Meet in Hangout

(cut off text) Beans?

Page 7

This thing is not helping me stay awake.

Maybe covering security alarms in person will wake me up a bit.

Page 8

Nothing like a bit of exercise to stay alert.

SFX k-chack! Shlk! Crackle! Sounds of shoulder mechanism locking in place and turning on.

“Beep!” “Boop!” Notification sounds

Perfect timing

Page 9

Hmm, knocked out cameras…in an area deep under an active repair site–on the opposite end of the island.

Looks like Peppermint needs help with something.

Peppermint: Hey Korsica! If you have a minute, can I call you in? Need to measure something from your tech

Korsica: Can it w- (the word that’s cut off is ‘wait’)

(She helped save your life)

Written text says ..PAUSE

(And she’s Roxanne’s daughter)

It’ll be quick. I’ll just have to pull available units and remote lockdown this area before the perpetrator gets any farther.

Page 10

“Korsica here. Send any available security in this area to the west side of M-B2. There’s a report of a broken security cam. If it’s an intruder, capture if you can but use evasive maneuvers. I’ll be on my way.”

Alright, call me in. I can help.

Page 11

Hm-never been here before.

Peppermint: “Hey Korsica! Good to see you!”

Korsica: “Hey Peppermint–and 808. What can I do for you

Page 12

Peppermint: “Just hold still! Checking frequencies–”

Korsica (startled): “Oh? Is there something wrong with it?”

Peppermint: “It’s unlikely, but gimme a sec. How’s the prosthetic by the way? Has it given you any trouble lately?”

Korsica: “I still have full range of motion, so it seems to be working just fine.”

Continued: “Though the edges around the upper arm does chafe after a while…”

Peppermint: “Hmm, I can fix that”

Peppermint: “Anything on the ICD?”

Korsica: “It’s been good.”

BLEEP sound effect

Peppermint: “Got it! Nice, I’ll need the numbers for one of my side projects. So thanks for stopping by!”

Page 13

Korsica: “That’s all, huh. What’s it about?”

Peppermint: “Don’t want to ruin the surprise. Let’s just say 808 is helping me with it!”

Peppermint: “Time’s almost up anyways. But before you go–”

Peppermint: “I’ve charged up some extras. They should be keyed in already so you can bring it back with you.

Korsica: “Thank you”

Continued “These will come handy. Good luck on your side project Peppermint. I’m sure it’ll be amazing.

Peppermint: “Thanks! I think you’ll like it!”

Page 14

Effect says “Dodge! Dodge!”

Page 15

WHAM! And CRACK!

Bounce! Fwoooom (wind noise), and CLATTER as the winged robot hits the screen.

Page 16

Page 17

Sound effect says ‘CRASH’

Page 18

Korsica: “Only the two of you?”

Korsica: “Report.What was this unit doing when you found it?”

Gunner1: “It was making a lot of noise!”

Gunner2 (with their hands over their eyes) “Ugh, this guy.”

Gunner1: “It was…uh…flapping its wings at the generator?”

Korsica: “It was overheating it?”

Gunner1: “Yessir.”

Korsica (thinking): “It could be an accident. Or it could be faulty code that could have easily made it past our non-existent QA. Either way, I need more information.”

Korsica: “Request a transport unit and send this VU-TOR1 to R&D (Research and development). Let them pick apart the code that caused this behavior

Page 19

Page 20

Sound effect: BASH!

Korsica (thinking): “Crap, that was definitely–”

Sound effect for hitting the ground: PLONK!

BOOM

Page 21

“Too much.”

Korsica: “Dammit! Nevermind the transport unit. I’ll make a separate report and forward it to R&D in person.”

Korsica: “You, head back to Production for repairs. We’ll go back to the terminal. I’ll be assigning teams to help our repair crews.”

#hfr half rest transcripts

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transcriptionservicephiladelphia · 7 months

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Determining Reliability: Key Factors in Choosing a Transcription Company

In the digital age, transcription services play a pivotal role in various sectors, from legal and medical fields to academia and content creation. However, with multiple transcription companies available, determining reliability is critical when selecting a service provider. To help you make an informed decision, here are the top factors to gauge when assessing the reliability of a transcription company.

Accuracy and Quality

The cornerstone of any transcription service is the accuracy and quality of the transcribed content. A reliable transcription company should be able to provide highly accurate transcripts free from significant errors, including grammatical mistakes, omissions, or inaccuracies. They should have experienced transcriptionists who understand the nuances of different industries and can provide contextually accurate transcripts.

Turnaround Time

Timely delivery is vital, especially when you have tight deadlines. A dependable transcription company should offer reasonable turnaround times that align with your needs. They should also have options for expedited services when you require transcripts in a shorter time frame.

Security and Confidentiality

Transcription often involves sensitive information, whether it's related to legal proceedings, medical records, or corporate data. A trustworthy transcription company should have stringent security measures to protect data and ensure confidentiality. This includes secure file transfer protocols, encryption, and adherence to data protection regulations.

Pricing and Transparency

Reliable transcription companies are transparent about their pricing structure. They should provide clear, competitive pricing without hidden fees or surprises. Additionally, they should offer flexible pricing options, such as per-minute or per-word rates, to accommodate various transcription needs.

Expertise and Specialization

The best transcription companies often have a team of transcriptionists with expertise in different fields. This specialization is crucial, ensuring the transcriptions are accurate and contextually relevant. For instance, legal transcriptionists should understand legal terminology, while medical transcriptionists should be well-versed in medical jargon.

Customer Support

Reliable transcription companies offer excellent customer support. They should be responsive to your inquiries, assist when needed, and maintain open lines of communication. A company that values its clients' needs will go the extra mile to ensure a positive customer experience.

References and Testimonials

Before choosing a transcription service, it's a good idea to review references and testimonials from previous clients. These can provide insights into the company's track record, highlighting its strengths and potential areas for improvement.

Satisfaction Guarantee

A trustworthy transcription company should stand behind its work with a satisfaction guarantee. If you're unsatisfied with the transcription quality, they should be willing to revise and improve it to meet your expectations.

When selecting a transcription company, assessing its reliability is paramount. The factors mentioned above provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating potential service providers. By focusing on accuracy, turnaround time, security, pricing, expertise, customer support, references, technology, scalability, and satisfaction guarantee, you can confidently choose a transcription company that aligns with your industry needs and delivers high-quality transcriptions.

#transcription company #experienced transcription company #reliable transcription company #professional transcriptionists #medical transcriptionists

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alethealarradtye · 7 months

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Modernity animation; Isolation and Failure in the modern era

youtube

I chose to explore isolation and failure in the modern age where there are such heavy expectations on us. Below is a transcript that was originally going to be a voice over which explains my thoughts further:

In modern life, there are strong expectations we have to live up to. Our entire lives are scrutinised and monitored to make sure we don’t fall out of line. We are expected to work to the bone just to survive, expected to mould ourselves to what is deemed acceptable and trendy, expected to give up who we are and fit into a box in fear of being ostracised. But what happens to those that fail to fit this mould? We become ghosts.

What happens to those who look different? Those who don’t fit into the everchanging and impossible beauty standard. Those who wish to express themselves in their appearance but are told this makes them undesirable. Those who were always deemed ugly, were always seen as a freak, still now are judged by society for trying to seek happiness outside the mould set for us.

What happens to those who want to follow their dreams? Those who were always told to follow academics, but instead chose their heart. Those who, even with this choice, feel like they’re never going to achieve “the dream” of stability in such a turbulent work focused society. Those who, no matter how hard they try, can't find a stable job while companies shame those same people for failing to work.

What happens to those who struggle to get by day today? Those who were dealt a bad hand in life, who have experienced horrors most only hear of in stories. Those who, no matter how hard they try, find it impossible to get out of bed most days and are resigned to society's label of “lazy”. Those who are haunted by their past while being neglected by systems that say they’re there to help but turn around and demonise those struggling.

We are left behind

We are outcasted.

We are isolated.

We are judged.

We are deemed failures.

We are alone.

I am alone.

Overall I'm not that happy with the outcome; I struggle with animation and making my concepts come alive in an engaging way. I thought exploring the way modernity breeds isolation would be interesting to explore, but my animation wasn't detailed enough to really get that message across. I feel I should've leant into a technological aspect more as that is where this isolation often stems from, but pairing it with failing the meet expectations also meant I wanted to create a more personal response.

#Youtube

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lostlotus-a · 7 months

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Transcript - 03

00:00 - 02:16

"Maybe it wasn't the right choice to work on this project from the start. Well, I was one of the twelve people to lead it... I have been designated as Hermes, the codename coming from the twelve gods of Greek mythology. At the beginning it was great to be called as that, as if I really became some sort of godly being... But now it's just overwhelming me. I'm not fit enough for that name. And never will be. It isn't even the right kind of codename to be given to people who do unethical things for a damn company. It surely isn't right at all.

Anyways, now I deeply regret what I have done. I've sacrificed too much for a stupid human-controlling chip, what shouldn't have even been made. Even that idea of ARES itself shouldn't have been. ...

What I wanted to say is that I have the USB file for the internal information of Project ARES - including all the planning, blueprints for the chip. It's encoded for most people but I had access to it because I am, I mean was- a project manager- (sudden banging sounds, identified as a metal door being forced open)

Damn it, they're here now... Also, I'm sort of running away from them and- (the banging sounds become louder, almost making the voice uninteligible) I'll just say it quick. Only you, Choi, don't tell anybody of the task force, only you come to the address written on the notepad of that black jacket you have. That one I gave you, you know it, right? T- Then I'll give you the USB. If I'm alive I will be there. I- (gunshots ring, confirmed as one of Icarus-manufactured weapons) I... (coughing sounds) I trust you. Please... give me a chance to redeem myself-"

[The voice message ends here.]

"... Bad that it's just a voice message. I can't just identify him through voices."

"... I think we should go. I mean, we've met Hermes in person before, right? He looked trustable. I have experience in these situations, trust me."

"I still don't understand the reason he trusts me. What does he want from me? And I have to say that we cannot confirm whether he's even currently alive or not. Even though we decide that we go, I'm not going to take you there. The risk is too high. What if he's trying to decieve us? He could still be a part of Icarus."

"... Can't we just think about that later? Let's think of it as getting into his trap intentionally. And don't worry about me, I'm a police officer, come on."

"... I can say this; this is surely different from all cases you've ever experienced. You've never dealt with a whole PMC. So you should stay down this time, you've already helped me a lot."

"I guess I can't stop you from going... Good luck and please don't die or get hurt out there."

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reddeadreference · 1 year

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Saint Denis Times No. 52

-Click here to return to the index for Newspapers-

This issue is available after completion of the mission: The King’s Son

(All article transcripts below the cut)

Articles marked with * are exclusive to this region’s issue.

Articles marked with ** are only there upon completion of the related mission.

Murderous Indian Breaks Free

FORT WALLACE A BLOODBATH. VICIOUS ATTACK AT NIGHT. COLONEL PROMISES JUSTICE.

In an act that further proves their treachery and villainy, restless and disruptive forces amongst the Indian population have once again attacked the American forces, this time in an effort to free one of their own. A murderer known as Eagle Flies was broken out of an Army barracks at Fort Wallace where he was set to stand trial for a series of murders of Army personnel. In a daring attack in the middle of the night, members of his disruptive tribe attacked soldiers, brutally killing them and fleeing with their comrade.

Eagle Flies is the son of Rains Fall, a chief of the disruptive tribe that makes up most of the population of the Wapiti Indian Reservation. The tribe has become unmanageable and more obstinate at every punishment handed down and treaty broken. Colonel Favours, who supervises Fort Wallace, has vowed swift and unrelenting measures to control the Indian problem in the region.

Railway Companies Booming

CONSOLIDATION BRINGS FEARS OF MONOPOLY.

Gone is the New Austin Northern Railroad. Long forgotten is the Armadillo Express Railroad. Only the oldest among us remembers the Valentine Valley Railway. As each year passes, dozens of railway are formed, combine, and break up, the signs changed, the schedules printed anew, and the names are lost to history.

Since completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, the number of companies has decreased, and travel by wagon and horse becomes less and less in fashion, with more people preferring the luxury of a sleeper car. Lawmakers are beginning to investigate whether the railway consolidation has resulted in creating regional monopolies that subject riders to hefty price increases.

Fears of the Grippe Returning

1 MILLION DEAD FROM LAST EPIDEMIC. INFLUENZA CASES WORRY PHYSICIANS.

Just a few years ago an influenza pandemic spread across the globe, spreading fever and misery to all within its touch, killing well over a million people. The Russian Flu, as it was called, experienced recurrences every year for several years then went dormant. Physicians are warning that another Grippe pandemic is due to spread, and advise patients to practice caution and cleanliness.

Fears are prevalent that influenza spreads by letters written by those who are diseased, sending the deadly disease by post. One physician claimed Grippe attacks the higher rather than lower classes, though this claim appears to be false in nature. The disease appears to be more prevalent in milder weather, and for those afflicted, whiskey and brandy are advantageous in finding relief.

On Outlaw Gangs: "We Must Stop Them".

ARMY/PINKERTONS JOIN FORCES. CITIZENS DEMAND END OF THREAT.

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency has been enlisted in the hunt for several notorious highwaymen and gangs responsible for the recent violence and unrest in the Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover. At a recent town hall meeting, citizens shouted over one another, demanding an end to the lawlessness. In recent years gangs have terrorized not only individuals but entire communities, murdering women, children, and the elderly.

Little thought or rumination is given to who or why they butcher, and no amount of blood seems to slake their thirst. In response, the Army and law enforcement coordinated with the Pinkerton agency to seek the imminent capture or killing of gangs with great success in a concerted effort to civilize the region and bring the benefits of law and order to the people.

Gangs such as the O'Driscolls have been hunted to the brink of extinction. Now officials have their sights on the Dutch Van der Linde gang. A spokesperson for the Pinkerton agency believes that they are on the trail of the gang, and the unified purpose of the army, law enforcement and the agency is to bring them to heel.

Prominent Yale Scientist Speaks Out

MIXING OF RACES DISCOURAGED. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT RISK.

Noted Yale anthropologist Harold MacDougal, author of the book "The Scourge of Crossbreeding", presented a paper to colleagues at a symposium last week, reminding fellow scientists that some races are predisposed to create higher functioning societies than others. The paper, titled 'Savage Minds: The Racial Continuum Between Animal and God', has created a stir amongst those in the anthropological community.

It is clear to me that some societies advance, taming agriculture, mastering letters and literature, inventing fantastical things such as the phonograph or electricity while others wallow in squalor, scarcely able to feed and clothe themselves. It comes down to the nature of the savage soul. Savages cannot construct buildings that rise to the heavens, but we have, MacDougal said in an agitated and excited manner.

The Professor of Anthropology at Yale has dedicated his academic focus to the study of race and civilization. His paper was soundly thrashed by his colleague Benjamin Fortescue who asserted that MacDougal has no empirical evidence to support his wild claims.

Widow's Life Savings Chewed Up By Rats

Myrtle Snodgrass awoke one January night recently and moved softly from the bedside to the fireplace which had succumbed to embers. She heard a sound unlike that of the cows baying in the distance, her hound Jesse prancing in his sleep, or the wind through the chimney as the fire burned down. The sound was one of chewing. The widow had spent long days and nights in her home, with an eerie fascination in the dead silence of the night as it is punctured by the howl of a distant coyote or owl.

For years the widow had collected her fortune, a vocal skeptic of banks and their frequent failings. Her bank notes were always squirreled away, far from the prying eyes of friends or family. As she searched her home for the source of the sounds, she, full of dread, lifted the floorboard where she had stored her years of earnings, only to find a rat's nest, made cozy with the chewed up remains of her savings, a total of $250 in bank notes and bonds.

Electric Washing Machine Invented

MOTHERS CHEER WASHBOARDS ARE RELICS.

Every day mothers toil over the washboard, cleaning the dungarees, bloomers and britches and keeping their households happy. However, a new invention out of Chicago promises to make that a thing of the past.The Hathaway Machine Company has announced the invention of a washing machine run by electricity. Clothes are placed in a drum type cavern that is galvanized.

This perforated cylinder contains blades that lift the clothing as it rotates. The new machines are expected to be sold through the Wheeler and Rawson catalogues as of next year. Drying the clothes, however, still requires a clothesline strung outside, or a mangle.

QUESTIONS ONCE AGAIN.

YOUNG MAN STONED TO DEATH.

The shocking tragedy that befell William Bowles is once again in front of the authorities. At the request of a woman in Rhodes, a petition to authorities asks to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death by stoning of her nephew William Bowles. While many variations exist on the events that transpired that day, some in the community say that William was slow of learning and had committed an act that warranted his death by an angry mob.

The stoning created tremendous excitement, and those that gathered refused to testify or discuss the incident, to the great distress of friends and family.

O'DRISCOLL HANGED

NOTORIOUS OUTLAW'S LUCK RUNS OUT

Colm O'Driscoll was hanged in Saint Denis, ending his ruthless time on the run as the notorious outlaw and leader of the O'Driscoll Boys. The gang perpetrated numerous robberies, train holdups, and brutal murders on both sides of the Grizzlies, striking fear into residents and travelers in the area. Since the death of his outlaw brother a decade prior, Colm O'Driscoll has run with both Irish and American hoodlums willing to die for a few dollars and some whisky.

O'Driscoll had previously avoided the gallows following two separate murder convictions, and some members of his gang began shooting at police in retaliation directly after the execution.

The Art of Angling by Jeremy Gill

PERCH.

I consider myself a fisher of man as much as a fisherman. As trouble brews in Europe, and all this nasty business unfolds with Spain, I was asked by the President to tour over there and unite nations by bringing the great leaders together through reigniting a faculty that lies dormant in most men: fishing. Trapped in palaces and attending functions deprives a man of his instinct for self-preservation and joy.

Normally, I plan on teaching confused and lost heads of state to catch Perch. Small, easy to catch and tasty, any inbred dullard or pompous windbag worth his seat can hoist one into a boat with a worm. A sunny day, a grog of ale, and a stringer full of Perch will alleviate the world's weight on one's shoulders. Be well, be wise and be lucky!

#rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 newspaper

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mariacallous · 1 year

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It’s no surprise that international trade is experiencing turbulence. After the global financial crisis began in 2007, a decades-old trend of increased globalization first decelerated and then started to reverse course. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, instantly snapping supply chains. Countries and companies focused on so-called “nearshoring” and “friendshoring.” Then Russia invaded Ukraine, and geopolitics began to impact trade even more. Add in a brewing cold war between the United States and China, as well as a wave of nationalism around the globe, and one can start to see why the world seems to have embarked on an era of industrial policy. From the United States to China, India, Europe, and beyond, major economies are turning inward, favoring domestic expansion over free trade and the global flow of goods.

In his State of the Union address in February, U.S. President Joe Biden deployed the phrase “Buy American” to loud applause. His administration has passed landmark legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS and Science Act, which provide subsidies in clean energy and semiconductors worth well over $400 billion. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at home—not elsewhere. Opportunistic firms in Asia and Europe have already begun to relocate investments to the United States. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition.

If the United States is turning protectionist, it is hardly the only country to consider its own interests above those of others. But it raises questions about whether a subsidies race represents sound economics. After the initial sugar high, will the world end up sacrificing the benefits of efficiency and innovation? Who benefits from a new era of great-power competition?

To understand Washington’s part in fostering industrial policy, I sat down with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the Biden administration’s top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White House’s trade policy. Our conversation was broadcast on FP Live, the magazine’s forum for live journalism. FP subscribers can watch the interview via the video box above. What follows is an edited and condensed transcript.

Foreign Policy: Ambassador Tai, European policymakers look at the IRA or the CHIPS Act and smell unfair competition and protectionism. How do you respond to their criticisms?

Katherine Tai: The CHIPS Act and the IRA are significant accomplishments. Finally, after many years of inability and neglect, we are investing in ourselves. For a very long time, we have pursued a liberalization policy to integrate ourselves with the rest of the world without paying attention to the needs that we have here.

The criticism that you describe is more what I read in the press rather than what I hear in the room. It’s delivered to me as concerns [from] our partners. That’s an important distinction.

Take the Inflation Reduction Act. In all of my conversations with partners and counterparts in Europe, the conversation always begins with congratulations to President Biden for an incredible accomplishment—the largest contribution we have ever made to battling the climate crisis. The reason why the conversation starts there is an important fact to keep in mind: The United States and Europe are completely unified in recognizing the significant challenge that we are all facing as an entire planet with respect to a changing climate and its impacts on the sustainability and the future of our economies.

We take extremely seriously the concerns that our partners and our allies are sharing with us. It is important to recognize that while the IRA is a signature and significant contribution to the fight against climate change, it is also a product of a democratic rule-of-law system that we have here. The partners that we are in conversation with and working with most closely are also democracies. Democracies are coming together in the work we are doing and are seriously grappling with the challenges that we are facing to figure out how we can do this together. In that overall context, the IRA is not going to be the thing that solves [the economic sustainability challenge]. It is an important motivator to incentivize technologies and economies to meet the challenge. This may be the first, but it will not be the last significant policy contribution that will need to be made.

FP: You’re addressing the criticism from Europe, but there’s also a macroeconomic angle. Economists worry about the world embarking on an era of industrial policy. They say that unlike free trade, industrial policy can be inefficient in the long run. They also say that when you subsidize large industries, that can stymie innovation.

KT: The first challenge that the IRA is responding to is the climate crisis, but we are encountering the urgency of this crisis at a time of significant world economic disruption and volatility. What we have seen through the pandemic, through Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine, is a fragility in the world economy that we’ve got to navigate.

The global economy is also experiencing a significant distortion from the rise of a very large and growing economy that has an incredibly important role to play in the world economy but structurally does not operate the way that our economy does.

FP: You’re talking about China.

KT: I am talking about China. That is a factor that we absolutely cannot ignore in terms of the challenge to the fundamental premise of the globalization project that has been going on for the past several decades.

To your point about subsidies being inefficient—to the extent that we are providing subsidies or tax incentives—they’re meant to operate in a market system and to influence firm behavior. The types of subsidies and state support that we see powering the Chinese economy are of a completely different scale. In fact, they power the economy; they are not about creating incentives in a market system. There is a direct through line between the state and expression in the economy. And that is a really important aspect of another shared challenge we have with our European friends and other partners around the world in terms of a sustainable path to economic growth and development. In a version of globalization where the field is not level, we are having to figure out how to adapt. We will need to adapt together.

FP: It always seems to me that so much of U.S. domestic and foreign policy is filtered through the prism of competition with China. Is the United States already decoupling from China?

KT: There are a couple of words used in questions I get asked that I always fight against. Decoupling is one of them, and deglobalization is another one. If you mean by decoupling that we are trying to completely divorce our economies, even if that were the desired goal, I think it would be extremely difficult to make that happen.

What we are trying to do is to ensure and to identify where the risks and vulnerabilities are—in the version of globalization that we see right now. The supply chain challenges we experienced through the pandemic are instructive. Whether it was personal protective equipment, masks, gloves, or ventilators early in the pandemic [or] the semiconductor chip shortage that impacted all of us, we see global supply chains that were designed for efficiency, chasing the lowest cost, without recognition that concentrations of supply and production create significant risks and vulnerabilities.

Our focus is on what I hear my European friends call de-risking, and that is actually quite a helpful way of thinking about things. From my perspective, it is to build resilience in our supply chains and to create incentives to ensure resilience for our economies. Because whether it is geopolitical, climate-related, or epidemics, there will be more crises that we will encounter. What we need to do to be constructive and productive through this period of time is to figure out how to adapt and prepare the global economy to be able to withstand and cushion future shocks. I wouldn’t call that decoupling. It is really about ensuring that we all have more options.

FP: I’m not satisfied with the word decoupling either, so I’ll just point out that several U.S. officials, including your predecessor Robert Lighthizer, have used the term and advocated for decoupling as U.S. policy.

But staying on China: If part of U.S. policy is to contain China or to slow its rise, doesn’t that have negative impacts on the global economy itself?

KT: From my perspective—at least in the trade and economic lane—it isn’t about containing China. It is about lifting up America. Lifting up our workers in certain sectors who felt as if they have been very much invisible in the pursuit of efficiency in global economic integration; lifting up our infrastructure, which is really still coasting on investments that we made a couple of generations ago; and pulling ourselves up to make sure that we can run faster and jump higher. That is probably the most useful lens through which to view our economic policies, including our trade policy.

FP: Of course, your role is to look at America’s interests first. But again, there are economists who will say that in a world in which big countries are building up their own resilience—their own industrial policies—what often ends up happening is that smaller economies end up suffering. The global south doesn’t win in an era where the United States, China, and Europe are looking inward. How do you think through that in your role?

KT: You said “America’s interests first,” and that triggered another pet peeve around [former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy of] America First. All countries are looking after their interest, right? But I would distinguish the Biden administration approach. It’s not America first and only. It’s also about how America can lead and how America can partner. We need to invest in ourselves, but how do we not do it alone? Because that just isn’t the kind of world that we want to live in, that we would be doing things alone.

To your question about what happens to smaller countries or developing economies: All along the spectrum of least developed to middle-income countries, in order to be able to be a leader, as befits the largest economy in the world, we necessarily have to take good care of ourselves while never losing sight of the need to be a good partner.

In trying to facilitate the creation of a new, more resilient version of globalization, there is an important element that we’ve got to innovate in, which is how the United States can improve on previous models of partnership between large, developed economies and smaller, less developed economies.

You are absolutely right that the global economy does feel as if it is in flux, but we all have a certain prejudice against change because change is scary and there’s no guarantee in terms of what the change will look like.

FP: What is the long-term goal of U.S. trade policy with respect to China?

KT: I gave a speech on the U.S.-China trade relationship a little over a year ago. I stand by everything that is in it, which is that we need to find a way that we can coexist and compete fairly and continue to be able to thrive and to safeguard the institutions and principles that we hold dear that are really core to our political and economic DNA. And that is to ensure that we have the space to continue to have a strong democracy and thriving economy based on market competition principles.

How do we accomplish these goals, given that the second-largest economy in the world operates on a very different system, has a lot of heft, is its own sovereign, and makes its own decisions? This is one of the most important issues that we will grapple with as the United States, along with our partners and allies, who are looking to create the space to safeguard and to thrive in the ways that we are.

FP: I have one last question, and I’m going to make it a personal one. I’m an Asian American. You’re an Asian American. Here’s a question I grapple with myself: How do you think through your cultural heritage, your multiple identities, and the many hats that you wear? I should add that you are a fluent Mandarin speaker as well, one of very few in the administration. How do all of these factors inform your policymaking, given that America’s interests are what you were hired to defend but you also have this global outlook that isn’t always the case for people in your position?

KT: Being the child of immigrants, having grown up speaking a different language at home, I love to learn languages. I think I can ask, “Where is the bathroom?” in many languages, and I might be able to understand the response in at least two or three. It underscores an important aspect of the work that we do at [the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative] but also the Biden administration’s outlook internationally, which is that you have to be able to build bridges and you have to be able to bridge gaps—in communication and in understanding. I spend so much of my time seizing opportunities, like this one with you, to have the conversation and be able to elaborate on and explain our thinking and what we’re trying to accomplish.

In terms of our partners in Asia, including China, a very large, important partner with which we have a quite complex relationship, you always have to start with being able to communicate your point of view and then also being able to listen and receive that communication. This is a skill set that is really important to policymaking on the domestic side as well. These differences aren’t just limited to national outlooks. Something that I take particular pride and a sense of responsibility in is maintaining a bipartisan outlook on how we advance American trade policy, because it really is in the title of my job and in the title of our agency: We are the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and it is the interest of all of America, all the component parts of the economy and communities and regions, that we need to drive and formulate policy for.

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