#impact of world war 1 in europe

[the-joy-of-knowledge]

Becoming an Intelligent Woman

My Dears,

There is no greater goal than being a fine woman who is intelligent, kind, and elegant. As much as we all want to be described with these adjectives, it takes a great amount of discipline to get there. It is very doable only if you are ready to put in the work.

Here are steps you can add to your routine in the next 4 weeks that will make you 1% more intelligent than you were before. This is a process that should become a habit not a goal. It is long term, however, I want you to devote just 4 weeks into doing these steps first and recognize the changes that follow.

Watch documentaries: This is the easiest step, we all have access to Youtube. Youtube has a great number of content on art, history, technology, food, science etc that will increase your knowledge and pique your curiosity. I really did not know much about world history especially from the perspective of World war 1 & 2, the roaring 20s, Age of Enlightenment, Jazz era, monarchies etc but with several channels dedicated to breaking down history into easily digestible forms. I have in the last 4 weeks immersed myself into these documentaries. Here are a few I watched:

The fall of monarchies

The Entire History of United Kingdom

The Eight Ages of Greece

World War 1

World War 2

The Roaring '20s

The Cuisine of the Enlightenment

2. Read Classics: I recommend starting with short classics so that you do not get easily discouraged. Try to make reading easy and interesting especially if you struggle with finishing a book. Why classics? You see, if you never went to an exclusive private school in Europe or America with well crafted syllabus that emphasized philosophy, history, art, and literary classics, you might want to know what is felt like and for me this was a strong reason. Asides that, there is so much wisdom and knowledge available in these books. In these books, you gain insights to the authors mind, the historical context of the era, the ingenuity of the author, the hidden messages, and the cultural impact of these books. Most importantly, you develop your personal philosophy from the stories and lessons you have accumulated from the lives of the characters in the books you read. Here are classics to get you started:

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Candide by Voltaire

Paradise lost by John Milton

3. Study the lives of people who inspire you: I dedicate one month to each person that fascinates me. I read their biography (date of birth, background, death, influences, work, style, education, personal life) For this month, I decided to study Frank Lloyd Wright because I was fascinated by the Guggenheim Museum in New York. I began to read about his influence in American Architecture (Organic architecture, Prairie School, Usonian style), his tumultuous personal life, his difficult relationship with his mentor (Louis Sullivan), his most iconic works etc. By the end of the year I would have learned the ins and outs of people I am inspired by through books and documentaries. Here are other people I plan to learn more about:

Winston Churchill

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Ada Lovelace

Benjamin Franklin

Helen Keller

John Nash

Isabella Stewart Gardner

Caroline Herrera

Ernest Hemingway

Catherine the Great

Ann Lowe

My dears, I hope you enjoyed this read. I cannot wait to write more on my journey to becoming a fine woman. I urge you to do this for four weeks and see what changes you notice. Make sure to write as well, it is important to document your progress.

Cheers to a very prosperous 2024!

[contentloadingandstuff]

About Me

Hello there!

It's been three years, so it's high time to tell you guys something about myself.

Here I go by contentloadingandstuff - just 'content' for short. I'm male, straight, born on the same day as the world famous aquarelist - the 20th of April. I have a younger sister and a cat, named Kota (she-cat in Polish, sort of). I'm studying law, but I'm unhappy with it and waiting to jump over to psychology.

I'm from Poland, the land over the Vistula, of the blooming onion, the eternal occupation/invasion joke. While Poland isn't in the top echelons of the world, I'm still proud of our history and happy to see my nation develop. I'm fluent in English, but I can also understand German on a basic level, read the cyrilic alphabet and speak a tiny bit of Japanese.

I've been playing Genshin Impact since Shinobu's release in 2.2. AR 50, did most things you could do in the game. My favorite character is and was always Ganyu. I've started writing for the game for two reasons - first, my dusty old Necro AU and the lack of male reader content in terms of fics. I'm quite happy to have this blog. You can find me under Polski_Cynamon on the Europe server.

Although my interests are very broad, my hobbies focus primarily on gaming, cultural analysis and writing. I'm a big World War II buff, but the history of warfare in general also catches my fancy. Truth be told, I could get into and talk about any topic really. Except politics - at least not on the blog. I'm not afraid to argue my points, just not here. Thanks for understanding.

Now for some quick trivia. Here are some...

Games I like: Genshin Impact (obviously), Company of Heroes 2, FnaF 1 - 6, Dungeon Keeper, Payday 2, The Forest, Witcher 3, Vermintide 2, Hotline Miami 1 & 2, Battlefield V, Helldivers 2, Warlords Battlecry 3, Dark Omen, Shadow of the Horned Rat, the Myth series, Papers Please.

Youtubers I watch: The Little Platoon, Horses, Despot of Antrim, Saveafox, TheBones5, Chickeninja42, Junkzero, ZERO, Fingees, AstralSpiff, big boss, Shrouded Hand.

Books, stories and Authors I like: "Ferdydurke", "Hauptstellung Moskau", H.P. Lovecraft, V. Suvorov, "The Red Hunger", The "Fazbear Frights" series, Tadeusz Borowski, The "Abandoned by Disney" series, "1999", "Dziady III", SCP-5000, SCP-1730, The Spiral Path.

Movies and Shows that I like: Downfall, Stalingrad (1993), Warsaw 44, Burnt by the Sun 2, The Pacific, Letters from Iwo Jima, El Alamein: La Linea Del Fuoco, Barefoot Gen, Hacksaw Ridge, The 800, Das Boot, Black Adder, Monthy Python - Holy Grail and Life of Brian, The Pianist, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopathra (if you know why, you know), American Psycho, Halloween (2018 and only this part of the new thrillogy), Hellraiser I and II.

Music that I like: All over the place. Includes the remix of Perfect Girl, Freaks, Cheri Cheri Lady, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Everybody Wants to Rule the World (both og and remix), Brainiac Mainiac, Operation Blacklight, Confirmed Thrills, Another Round for Everyone, Miami Disco, The Forest: Main Theme, Friday Night Fire Night, I Really Wanna Stay At Your House, Addict, Do Prostego Człowieka - Akurat, Czerwona Zaraza, Encounter Z Mixed, Maradona - smkkpm.

DEDICATED FELINE SECTION

Behold, Kota. I got her four years ago from my uncle; her mother was a very wounded stray named Anka (Annie, yes a human name) that had four kittens - two of them died thanks to my uncle's horde of basset hounds (to quote my grandmother, they are big and heavy like swine). From there on she leads a happy life being what most cats are - spoiled, antitled and loving in her own way.

She might look cute (she is), but don't be mistaken - she's a little devil. She relentlessly hunts the feet of my sister, chewing and kicking them for fun; she generally likes to wrestle with lots of teeth, but she also fetches when she wants. My mother is the unfortunate favorite person of my cat, and as a result she is followed at all times, woken up at dawn to feed the feline and constantly pestered for raw meat or treats. Kota is quite talkative and often holds conversations with me.

Oh, and vet visits are a nightmare. She's always given gabapentine to be less of a threat to doctors when trimming her nails. She once swiped the facemask of a vet tech clean off their face, but luckily the woman was okay. So yeah - an imp, adorable, but hellish.

Now, enjoy picures of my bejbe.

I'll be adding on to this page as time goes on. But for now, it's gonna be all.

Curious about something? Don't hesitate to ask!

[blackstarlineage]

The Fall of the Berlin Wall and African Liberation: A Garveyite Perspective on Global Power Shifts, Neo-Colonialism, and the Unfinished Struggle for Black Sovereignty

The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, marked the symbolic end of the Cold War and the collapse of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. This global event had profound implications not only for Europe but also for Africa, as it signaled the decline of socialist support for African liberation movements, the rise of unchallenged Western capitalism, and the acceleration of neo-colonialism across the continent.

From a Garveyite perspective, the fall of the Berlin Wall was not a victory for true African liberation—it was a moment that exposed Africa’s continued dependency on foreign superpowers and the lack of self-sufficient economic and military structures needed to withstand Western neo-imperialism. Marcus Garvey’s ideology warns that African freedom can never be dependent on the shifting tides of global politics; it must be built through Pan-African unity, economic self-reliance, and military self-defense.

This analysis will explore:

The Cold War’s impact on Africa and how superpower rivalries shaped African liberation movements.

How the fall of the Berlin Wall weakened African nations and increased Western economic control.

The rise of neo-colonialism and U.S.-led globalization in Africa after 1989.

How Garveyism provides the solution for real African independence beyond the East-West struggle.

1. The Cold War and Its Impact on African Liberation

For nearly four decades, Africa was caught between the superpower rivalry of the United States (capitalism) and the Soviet Union (socialism).

A. Africa as a Battleground for Cold War Ideologies

Many newly independent African nations, struggling with underdevelopment and instability, sought support from either the U.S. or the USSR.

The Soviet Union supported African liberation movements, providing weapons, training, and financial aid to fight colonial rule.

The U.S. and Western allies backed puppet regimes and right-wing dictatorships that aligned with their economic and military interests.

Example: The Soviet Union provided military support to Angola’s MPLA, Mozambique’s FRELIMO, and South Africa’s ANC, while the U.S. and apartheid South Africa funded UNITA and RENAMO to destabilize these governments.

B. How the Cold War Strengthened African Liberation Struggles

The USSR’s backing of revolutionary movements gave African nations a counterbalance to Western dominance.

Cuba played a major role in anti-colonial struggles, sending 36,000 troops to Angola to fight against apartheid South African forces.

African leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), and Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso) implemented socialist-inspired policies that sought self-sufficiency.

Example: The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale (1987–88) in Angola, where Cuban and Angolan forces defeated apartheid South Africa, was a turning point that accelerated the fall of white minority rule in Southern Africa.

Key Takeaway: During the Cold War, Africa had an alternative to Western neo-colonialism. The fall of the Berlin Wall ended that counterbalance, leaving Africa exposed to full Western domination.

2. The Fall of the Berlin Wall: How It Affected Africa

With the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991) and the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), Africa lost a key source of support for anti-imperialist struggles. This led to three major consequences:

A. The Withdrawal of Socialist Support Weakened African Nations

Without Soviet aid, many African governments lost financial and military backing.

Cuba could no longer send troops or resources to African liberation struggles.

African socialist experiments collapsed, leading to economic crises and internal conflicts.

Example: The end of Soviet support led to economic collapse in Angola, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, forcing these nations to turn to Western financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) for aid, which led to deep debt and structural adjustment policies.

B. The Expansion of Western-Controlled Globalization in Africa

With socialism weakened, the U.S. and Europe expanded economic control over Africa, forcing nations to adopt pro-capitalist policies.

The IMF and World Bank imposed Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), which forced African governments to cut public services, privatize industries, and open markets to foreign investors.

Western multinational corporations took advantage of Africa’s economic instability, gaining control over natural resources and industries.

Example: In the 1990s, the IMF forced Ghana to privatize its industries and cut social spending, leading to worsening poverty despite economic “growth.”

C. The Rise of Western-Controlled Regime Change in Africa

The fall of the Berlin Wall gave the U.S. and NATO free reign to overthrow or manipulate African governments without fear of Soviet intervention.

Western-backed coups increased, targeting African leaders who resisted neo-colonial control.

The U.S. used “democracy promotion” as a cover for regime change, while maintaining economic control.

Example: Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso was assassinated (1987),with Western backing, because they resisted U.S.-led globalization.

Key Takeaway: After 1989, Africa was left defenceless against Western capitalism, neo-colonial exploitation, and foreign economic control.

3. The Garveyite Critique: Why the Fall of the Berlin Wall Was NOT a Victory for Africa

From a Garveyite perspective, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union did not bring freedom to Africa—it increased neo-colonial domination by the West.

A. Africa Was Still Economically Dependent on Foreign Powers

Even after independence, African nations did not control their own economies—Western banks, corporations, and foreign governments did.

Marcus Garvey taught that true liberation requires economic self-reliance, not just political independence.

Example: Even today, 14 African nations still use the CFA Franc, a currency controlled by France.

B. No Unified African Military Defence Against Western Imperialism

Without Soviet backing, Africa became vulnerable to the U.S. and NATO military interventions.

Garvey envisioned a strong, self-sufficient African military, but Africa instead remained divided and dependent on foreign security.

Example: The 2011 NATO bombing of Libya, which overthrew Gaddafi, showed that Africa had no defence against Western military intervention.

C. The Absence of a United States of Africa Allowed Foreign Exploitation

Garvey believed in a single, powerful African nation-state, not separate, weak countries easily controlled by foreign interests.

The African Union (AU) remains politically weak, with no real power to challenge Western economic control.

Example: Despite Africa having vast natural resources, foreign corporations and banks still control African industries, from oil in Nigeria to cobalt in the Congo.

Key Takeaway: The collapse of the Soviet Union left Africa politically and economically vulnerable, proving that true liberation requires complete independence from all foreign powers—not just from one side of the Cold War.

4. The Garveyite Solution: How Africa Can Achieve True Liberation

To reverse the damage done after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Africa must:

Nationalize Resources – African countries must take back control of oil, minerals, and agriculture from foreign corporations.

End Foreign Economic Control – Africa must break free from IMF, World Bank, and Western trade policies that keep it in debt.

Create an Independent African Military – Africa must build its own defence system to prevent the U.S. and NATO interventions.

Unify Under a Single African Government – A United States of Africa, as Garvey envisioned, is the only way to resist Western neo-colonialism.

Strengthen Pan-African Trade – Africa must trade within its own borders rather than relying on Europe, the U.S., or China.

Final Takeaway: The fall of the Berlin Wall was not a victory for Africa—it was a warning that Africa must become self-reliant, or it will remain under foreign control forever.

Conclusion: The Struggle for True African Independence Continues

The post-1989 world order made Africa more vulnerable to neo-colonialism than ever before. Today, Africa must:

Reject all foreign economic domination.

Unify into a single powerful African nation.

Build its own military and financial institutions.

As Marcus Garvey warned, political freedom without economic and military power is an illusion. Africa must finish the revolution—only then will true Pan-African liberation be achieved.

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

info dump away. I enjoy reading your posts, even if I don't know what you're talking about

Thanks! I really wish I could.

Instead, here's a bit of an infodump on why I am being so cagey about this.

Aside from not wanting to say what I work on specifically for "not doxxing myself" reasons, there's a problem with my field.

Very detailed answer under the cut:

Most historians, especially those that work on the modern period like I do, aren't revealing tons of new brand information anymore. We know generally about the events of the modern period, and for most fields the value of your research comes from putting new interpretive lenses on that information. We have old men who combed the archives and created massive volumes when historians could take forever to write and publish to thank for that. But they brought all of the biases of old school historians at Oxford or Harvard to that work, and much of modern history academia is challenging that. The value is in providing new ways to think about these events that might be between the lines in the archives or not foregrounded, especially for groups of people who are in some way subaltern. Ex: We may know the general contours of World War I, but what happens when we view it through the experience of a French Colonial solider recruited from Senegal? How does that impact what we know about French empire?

You're not changing what we know about the outline of events or finding totally new unknown events in the archives.

And then there is the Habsburg Empire.

I am going to try to explain this without sounding like I feel superior for what I work on, because believe me, I am mostly frustrated.

As a field, we suffer from really big archives and not enough people working on it. Our old big volumes are all married to the anachronistic idea of the "prisonhouse of nations" and even on a strictly technical level they miss or misrepresent a lot. (I am convinced my advisor had me read A.J.P. Taylor to test if I would turn into The Joker while reading it, because it is that bad.)

I once had a lengthy conversation with my advisor while I was trying to design a syllabus for a hypothetical Habsburg Empire class about how there isn't really a good book to use as a textbook. Pieter Judson's The Habsburg Empire: A New History is an ok sort of ersatz solution because it's strong on a thematic level, but it is not a comprehensive history of the empire. John Boyer's recent book on modern Austria is comprehensive, but it was also written by John Boyer, whose writing style a colleague once described as "a cure for insomnia." And it starts with Dualism.

This is largely because the ratio of number of historians to size and importance of the empire is way off. During the orientation for the grant I am currently on (which is a big one), one of the admin people sort of chuckled and said "there's always one Habsburg historian." Which may sound fine. One per year for a big grant. But that is for all periods of time for an Great Power that took up most of Central Europe.

I want you to imagine saying that about France or England "oh there is always one British empire historian" and they mean one person who could be doing anything from the Elizabethan Period to World War One. And imagine this is being said about a grant to do research in London.

I am the first grad student my advisor has had, in a decade of teaching, who is actually a Habsburg historian. The other person in the cohort below me who works on the Habsburg Empire is one of my favorite people for a number of reasons, and one of them is that they make me feel less alone in my madness for one of the first times ever.

And I think there are two main reasons for this: 1. Most people get a really suboptimal introduction to the empire (if they get one at all) in European history classes. The knowledge base just isn't there for someone to sit in Euro 101 and think "hey, that sounds like an area I want to specialize in." 2. The barrier of entry on a linguistic level is high....really high. The Empire had fourteen official languages. This means that even just looking at governmental papers, you're going to need a lot of language competencies. I have six (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch). So far in my research, I have come across those and also: Latin, Yiddish, Greek, Arabic, Polish, Croatian, Hungarian, Serbian, and Slovenian. It's a constant struggle. I'm glad that I have friends who speak Polish and an advisor who speaks Hungarian, because it helps to at least let me know if something is essential.

I want to be very clear: I don't blame anyone for thinking it sounds hard and choosing more monolingual fields.

But, the end result is that there are not enough of us for the size of this state and the mass of these archives. So, unlike other parts of the history discipline, there is new stuff just sitting there untouched. There are things people haven't read probably since those papers were put in those archive boxes.

Two of my core chapters are describing events that are literally never mentioned in relation to the historical figure I'm talking about. And I pulled these connections from his diaries. I was almost relieved to find passing mentions to it in: 1. One footnote in a 50 year old book. 2. A different book that is over a century old. because I was this close to thinking I was imagining things. Neither of those authors read the diary I read, so that information must be corroborated elsewhere (and I've since found it other places)

In a way, it makes me feel imposter syndrome in a different way, because surely I am just stating the obvious to anyone who bothered to read the documents, right? There are biographies and books that should have found this, right?? Right?!?

My advisor reassured me on this by telling me about how he found a bastard child of a historical figure in the archives who definitely has enough biographies that should have found this. (don't ask me who, it isn't mine to tell)

I'm writing about events and relationships that are actually new information. My homoromantic naval officers that I've been posting about? Yeah, other mentions of them don't even call them friends or suggest an interpersonal relationship of any kind. And neither of these people are particularly obscure figures. Their relationship is also small potatoes next to some of the things I'm digging on.

My work is hinging some of its importance on describing new things and how these new things radically change how we understand big thematic ideas. And that's why I'm being cagey. I want to keep a lid on some of this until it can appear in a chapter or article with my name on it. The newness is my bombshell, my mic drop.

Please know this is hard for me. I'm a chronic yapper and infodumper by nature (and probably brain chemistry) and I want to post about everything. I am buzzing to tell people what I found in the archives because it is so much more than I even hoped for when I wrote my prospectus. But I can't, not unless I'm intentionally vague because some day I need to sell this to a publisher as information that is nowhere else.

Capitalism in academia sucks, but this is our paradigm right now.

[absolutepokemontrash]

Why do you care about American politics if you're Canadian? /gen

Note: I know this question was not asked in malice, so don’t take this as me being upset at the person who asked this.

I care about American politics because

1. My girlfriend is American, and they’re a queer person who falls under the trans umbrella in a time where it’s sometimes dangerous to be visibly queer in America. I care deeply for her safety, I care about her ability to pay for school, I care about her health while she lives in a country that basically EXTORTS people who are ill or injured, I care about her right to not have a religion that isn’t her own shoved down her throat and in her face at all hours of the day, I care about our ability to be seen and recognized in a country who’s Supreme Court walked back abortion rights and said they might try and do the same for gay marriage and a HOST of other shit, and I care about her ability to enjoy her fucking life and live as an independent adult in a country that is ridiculously expensive and inhospitable to people young and old just trying to get by.

2. I have friends who live in America. I’ve met some wonderful, truly amazing people through this absolute hellsite, and some of them are American. Now Canada isn’t a complete health paradise by any stretch of the imagination, but the fact that the majority of my American friends can’t get needed mental health interventions when they are really in danger, can’t get necessary cancer screenings so they can not die, and even stuff as simple as regular doctor’s visits even after working two jobs and going to college because they can’t afford it is disgusting.

3. America is a global superpower. America is constantly in the global spotlight, and like it or not, people from other countries absorb what it spews. I have a friend in the fucking Caribbean whose parents and grandparents parrot Trump and Republican talking points. Also, on the topic of being a global superpower, they’re also a global target. If the American president decides to… I don’t know… piss off another world leader who has access to nuclear weapons, my country is going to feel the impact of those bombs too, especially since many of our major cities are close to the border, and I’m sure I’ll be really upset about nuclear winter rolling in once I’m done mourning the deaths of my friends and family in the states because of a war they (innocent citizens) didn’t start :) I also have friends in Europe who are dangerously close to certain other superpowers who may be put in actual real danger if a war starts even if they aren’t directly involved!

4. Oh yeah, on the topic of war, I CARE ABOUT THE SHIT GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST RIGHT NOW???? AMERICA IS FUNDING A GENOCIDE????? AND TRUMP WANTS ISRAEL TO “hurry up and finish the job”???? FUCK NO.

5. I care about global warming and climate change. You guys can see what Hurricane Helene did, right? Climate change fostered an environment that allowed that storm to get so big and so deadly. I also care about how California is like- perpetually on fire???? It shouldn’t be like that, guys.

6. Global trade. American trade policies are going to affect the prices of food, and other goods here in Canada, and I’m a university student with a part time job with some members of my family who can’t work, or who work over 40 hours a week who can barely afford to live right now, let alone after the prices of things get inflated more.

7. People are human beings. American citizens who are going to suffer under another republican presidency are human beings. The people in the Middle East who are dying right now are human beings. My friends and family who are affected by the actions of a country that isn’t even close to them right now are human beings. I can’t just artfully look away and think what my country’s next door neighbour is doing is okay.

[inapat18]

The (Re)Discovery of Mädchen in Uniform (1931), a Pioneering Lesbian Film

A pioneering avant-garde lesbian film, Mädchen in Uniform was released in 1931 and directed by Leontine Sagan, one of the first openly lesbian women in Germany. The work is based on the play of the same name by novelist Christa Winsloe, who was openly pansexual and was executed along with her partner, Simone Gentet, by French soldiers during World War II.

The story follows the arrival of a young girl, Manuela von Meinhardis, at a girls’ boarding school in Germany during World War I. There, she meets a teacher, Elisabeth von Bernburg, with whom she falls in love. Also captivated by Manuela, von Bernburg is unable to show her affection for fear of the faculty’s reaction.

Mädchen in Uniform was banned under Nazi Germany, and the original version disappeared from film archives. The few versions found outside Germany were often of dubious quality or lacked sufficient subtitles. An openly antifascist film, it was rediscovered by feminists in the mid-1970s. It was subsequently embraced by lesbian audiences and became a classic reference in lesbian cinema in both the United States and Europe. Its impact on lesbian film is considerable, as it was the first in a long line of films exploring the theme of girls’ boarding schools and same-sex relationships within them.

One of the film's most memorable scenes involves a kiss, after an interminable wait, between the teacher and the young girl as the boarders go to bed. In this scene, the teacher kisses the boarders on the forehead one by one, but when she arrives at Manuela's bed, the two kiss on the mouth, sealing the desire between them. In this sequence, every shot shows the teacher kissing the pupils on the forehead (fig. 1), supporting a different desire between the latter and Manuela, who passionately embraces her teacher before kissing her.

(fig.1)

A homo-eroticization of the boarders awaiting their kiss is perceptible (fig. 2).

fig. 2

They look at each other and at the teacher as she strolls between the dormitory beds. This is achieved by a succession of long shots of the dormitory and close-ups of the girls looking at each other. The music that accompanies this scene creates a long suspense until the long-awaited kiss (fig. 3).      

fig. 3

The film Mädchen in Uniform truly established a genre that would be repeated in cinema, notably through several remakes, including the 1957 version of the same name starring Romy Schneider (Mädchen in Uniform) and the Mexican adaptation Muchachas de Uniforme (1951). The emergence of lesbian desire in a boarding school setting has been a recurring theme in cinema since this pioneering film, with several Hollywood films depicting romantic relationships between young girls in boarding schools.

Pauline

[realunderlake]

Fantasy Ideology Part 1: Magic

I don't know if this is anything, but sometimes I like to think about the ideological and social impacts about elements of fantasy worldbuilding.

Like, take magic for example. There are generally different ways it's presented in fantasy fiction. Sometimes, it requires an innate aspect of being to use (a la the force in Star Wars, or however the heck harry potter magic works.) Sometimes this innate aspect is heritable, and sometimes it is completely random. Other times, magic is something that requires rigorous study. And yet, we seem to have one broad conception of magic in most fantasy media: Wizards sitting off in their tower, doing spells and stuff. Most settings don't think about how magic would impact the world that much, and instead make the world a bland, medieval Europe pastiche.

But lets look at magic from a social perspective, taking the classic DnD approach of "A wizard can be taught magic, though it generally takes a long time, and they should start from adolescence." You know what Magic is then comparable to? Because it's not a university professor... It's a Knight. For much of human history, aristocrats were warriors, because learning to be a *good* warrior, who used the most high tech stuff (whether that be chariots, or the couched lance) took a lot of effort, and you had to start pretty young, similar to how magic works. Thus, the social consequences of magic should be obvious, magic should be something that is used by the upper classes of a society, as they are the ones that are able to invest the time and energy into mastering it.

Perhaps however, as technology advances, magic becomes more widespread. Rather than having to painstakingly craft your own equipment, you can get it mass produced. Rather than working on outdated theories of physics (Aristotelian perhaps) you can observe the effects and costs of magic in a much more scientific way, increasing the effectiveness, and perhaps lowering the barrier to entry. Magic would be less blacksmithing, and more welding.

But in an instance like that, the ruling classes would not simply give up this power that they have, unless they have a reason to do so. Perhaps a king supports an up and coming magical bourgeoise to counteract the power of the magic-wielding noble class, for example. A good example of this is in the webnovel Mother of Learning, where the social forces have driven magic to be more equally available, after a devastation of the magic using ruling class through a combination of calamitous war, and the magical equivalent of the black death. In this gap of experienced mages, most of the polities have begun to allow "middle class" non-mage families into magical academies to bolster their ability to fight in the next continent-spanning conflict. This in turn has led to a backlash by the magic-wielding aristocracy, who have engaged in power struggles with the central government of the kingdom in which the story takes place, with many of these "Nouveau Riche" mages taking the side of the monarchy which has formed an unsteady alliance with these more progressive voices.

In any setting that puts some thought into how magic works in it's society, magic should be, by necessity, controlled by the ruling class. Whether that be because the ruling class are the only ones with the means to produce mages due to the required investment, or because those with the power to warp reality itself have decided that they, quite reasonably, want to be in charge.

Most wizards are written as weirdos off in towers because of Lord of the Rings, and because of cultural assumptions from Europe. But crucially, Europe never actually had wizards, and Gandalf was an angel, not a mortal man.

Even in settings where magic is not something trained, but instead something innate, there would be some method by which mages interact with society on a systemized level. Having them be simply random hermits makes no sense. Ars Magica, the TTRPG, for example, has a situation where most mages have a magical "gift", but said gift also makes it impossible for them to be liked or trusted by normal people. Despite this handicap, the Order of Hermes in that setting controls a good amount of political clout, with powerful Covenants being able to ignore the rulings of kings, and the Tribunal of Transylvannia basically co-ruling much of the Kingdom of Hungary with it's actual king.

These interactions of magic with class dynamics has interesting implications for the developments of ideologies. Will access to magical education be seen as a proletarian struggle in the development of socialism? Will Aristocracy persist for longer periods due to the inherent bias of the elites literally having magic? Can liberalism exist in a society where some people can warp reality with a snap of their fingers? Will it do *even better*, due to the radical individualist message meshing with the individual power held by magic?

Interesting Questions.

[ememkeyyy]

Reading in The Philippine History

HRM 2B

Pongco, Mary Kyle B.

Anicete, Kenidy I.

Gabito, Dennis Carl A.

Definition of Terms • Part I

Part II

1. Pangkami

"Pangkami" is a Filipino word that means "for us" or "belonging to us." It is used when talking about something that a group shares or owns together. This word helps show that something is not just for one person but for everyone in the group, like a family or a team.

11. Herencia

"Herencia" means inheritance or heritage. It is something passed down from older generations, like land, money, traditions, or culture. It can be physical, like a house, or something you can't touch, like family values. It helps shape who we are and connects us to our past and ancestors.

111. Panitikang Pambansa

"Panitikang Pambansa" means "National Literature" in Filipino. It includes all the stories, poems, plays, and other writings that show the culture, history, and beliefs of the Philippines. It helps Filipinos understand their identity and traditions. These works are written in different languages and passed down through generations.

1v. Ilustrado Movement

The Ilustrado Movement was a group of educated Filipinos during the Spanish colonization who wanted reforms and freedom for the Philippines. They studied in Europe and used writing, newspapers, and books to spread ideas about equality and rights. Their works inspired Filipinos to fight for independence and helped shape the country's history, culture, and national identity. Famous Ilustrados include José Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano López Jaena, who used their knowledge to awaken the minds of Filipinos and push for change.

v. Global Politics

Global politics is about how countries interact, make decisions, and solve world problems. It includes issues like war, peace, trade, human rights, and the environment. Governments, leaders, and international organizations work together or compete for power and resources. These decisions shape relationships between nations and affect people’s daily lives.

v1. Racist Portrayal

Racist portrayals in media and history often reinforce harmful stereotypes, dehumanizing individuals based on their race. These depictions not only perpetuate ignorance but also contribute to systemic inequality. The long-term impact of such portrayals is a cultural normalization of discrimination, making it difficult for marginalized communities to be seen as fully human or equal. A reflection on this topic emphasizes the need for a shift in representation, focusing on authentic, multifaceted portrayals that challenge ingrained biases. It calls for society to actively deconstruct these harmful stereotypes and promote diverse narratives that encourage understanding and empathy.

v11. Comfort Women

The term "comfort women" refers to the women and girls, primarily from Korea, China, and other occupied territories, who were coerced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. These women endured physical, psychological, and emotional trauma, and their suffering was largely ignored or denied for many years. Reflecting on their plight highlights the enduring scars of wartime atrocities and the importance of acknowledging historical injustices. The continued struggle for recognition, apology, and reparations for survivors emphasizes the need for global accountability and the protection of human rights in conflict situations.

v111. Cultural Imperialism

Cultural imperialism occurs when one culture dominates or erases the practices, beliefs, and traditions of another, often through media, education, or economic power. This phenomenon is especially evident in the global spread of Western ideals, which can marginalize indigenous cultures and identities. Reflecting on cultural imperialism raises important questions about the preservation of cultural diversity and the ethics of influence. It calls for a more equitable exchange of cultural values and practices, where all cultures are respected and valued. The reflection encourages individuals and societies to question whose values dominate the global narrative and why.

1x. Revolutionary Spirit

The revolutionary spirit embodies the desire for change, the willingness to fight against injustice, and the courage to challenge oppressive systems. Historically, it has driven movements for civil rights, independence, and equality. Reflecting on this spirit highlights the importance of resilience and collective action in shaping social and political landscapes. While revolution can bring about positive transformation, it also carries the risk of violence and chaos. The revolutionary spirit, therefore, must be tempered with wisdom, compassion, and a deep commitment to human dignity, aiming for a future where justice and equality are foundational values.

x. Casta System

The casta system, a complex social hierarchy that emerged in colonial Latin America, stratified society based on race and ethnicity. It created rigid divisions between different racial groups, particularly between Europeans, Indigenous people, and Africans, and reinforced systemic inequality. Reflecting on this system brings awareness to the lasting effects of colonialism on identity, privilege, and social mobility. It highlights the ongoing struggles against racial discrimination and calls for a deeper understanding of how historical injustices shape contemporary social structures. Challenging the remnants of the casta system involves deconstructing these inherited racial hierarchies and striving for a more equitable society.

[mariacallous]

On a chilly spring morning in March, British coast guards spotted something unusual around 100 kilometers off the Scottish shoreline: a dark stain, stretching 23 kilometers into the North Atlantic Ocean.

According to an internal analysis prepared by the coast guard’s satellite services and seen by POLITICO, the likely source of that stain was Innova, a tanker roughly the size of the Eiffel Tower that at the time was hauling 1 million barrels of sanctioned oil from Russia on its way to a refinery in India.

Yet the coast guard did little to investigate further, and the tanker — free from any repercussion — continues to trade oil today, helping fill the Kremlin’s war chest more than two years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Innova is just one of hundreds in the world’s so-called shadow fleet, a collection of often aging, poorly maintained ships sailing in defiance of Western sanctions — and spreading environmental harm without consequences. 

A joint investigation by POLITICO and the not-for-profit journalism group SourceMaterial found at least nine instances of covert shadow fleet vessels leaving spills in the world’s waters since 2021, using satellite images from the SkyTruth NGO paired with shipping data from market analysis firm Lloyd’s List and commodity platform Kpler.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told POLITICO the ships posed a “significant danger” to the marine environment. “The incidents [here] illustrate this.”

It’s a problem that’s only grown worse following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With Moscow under Western sanctions, an increasing number of tankers are ferrying illicit goods — and potential environmental devastation — across the globe. Not only are these vessels creaky and largely unregulated, they’re often uninsured, meaning that in case of a leak, or more serious spill, a government would struggle to hold them accountable. 

POLITICO and SourceMaterial identified discharges everywhere from Thailand to Vietnam to Italy and Mexico, all linked to the shadow fleet. The tankers also passed through busy shipping corridors like the Red Sea and the Panama Canal, meaning any serious accident could rupture international trade routes. 

Experts believe it’s only a matter of time before one of these ships suffers a catastrophe with major environmental — and economic — devastation.

“The oil spills and risk of slicks are horrendous,” said Isaac Levi, Europe-Russia lead and a shadow fleet expert at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a think tank. “Beyond the environmental damage, some of which will be irreversible, it’s a huge impact to coastal states that have to bear the cost of cleaning this up.”

In short: “It’s a ticking time bomb,” Levi said.

[dollypartonswig]

my top 10 books of the year!

Add me on StoryGraph and Goodreads!

1) Normal People - Sally Rooney

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.

A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.

2) Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.

Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything.

3) Invisible Women : Data Bias In A World Designed By Men - Caroline Criado Pérez

From government policy and medical research, to technology, workplaces, and the media. Invisible Women reveals how in a world built for and by men we are systematically ignoring half of the population, often with disastrous consequences. Caroline Criado Perez brings together for the first time an impressive range of case studies, stories and new research from across the world that illustrate the hidden ways in which women are forgotten, and the profound impact this has on us all.

4) South - Ernest Shackleton

As war clouds darkened over Europe in 1914, a party led by Sir Ernest Shackleton set out to make the first crossing of the entire Antarctic continent via the Pole. But their initial optimism was short-lived as ice floes closed around their ship, gradually crushing it and marooning twenty-eight men on the polar ice. Alone in the world's most unforgiving environment, Shackleton and his team began a brutal quest for survival. And as the story of their journey across treacherous seas and a wilderness of glaciers and snow fields unfolds, the scale of their courage and heroism becomes movingly clear.

5) The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells--taken without her knowledge--became one of the most important tools in medicine: The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, which are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb's effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Henrietta's family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits.

6) Babel - R.F Kuang

Babel is the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization.

For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide…

7) The Black Angels: The Untold Story Of The Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis - Maria Smilios

New York City, 1929. A sanatorium, a deadly disease, and a dire nurse shortage.

During those dark pre-antibiotic days, when tuberculosis killed 1 in 7 people, white nurses at Sea View, New York's largest municipal hospital, began quitting. Desperate to avert a public health crisis, city officials summoned Black southern nurses, luring them with promises of good pay, a career, and an escape from the strictures of Jim Crow. But after arriving, they found themselves on an isolated hilltop in the remote borough of Staten Island, yet again confronting racism and consigned to a woefully understaffed facility, dubbed 'the pest house' where 'no one left alive'.

Spanning the Great Depression and moving through World War II and beyond, this story follows the intrepid young women, the 'Black Angels', who, for twenty years, risked their lives working under dreadful conditions while caring for the city's poorest - 1,800 souls languishing in wards, waiting to die or become 'guinea pigs' for experimental (often deadly) drugs. Yet despite their major role in desegregating the NYC hospital system - and vital work in the race for the cure for tuberculosis and subsequently helping to find it at Sea View - these nurses were completely erased from history. The Black Angels recovers the voices of these extraordinary women and puts them at the centre of this riveting story celebrating their legacy and spirit of survival

8) The Mermaid Of Black Conch - Monique Roffey

On a quiet day, near the Caribbean island of Black Conch, a mermaid raises her barnacled head from the flat grey sea. She is attracted by David, a fisherman waiting for a catch, singing to himself with his guitar. Aycayia the mermaid has been living in the vast ocean all alone for centuries.

When Aycayia is caught and dragged ashore by American tourists, David rescues her with the aim of putting her back in the ocean. But it is soon clear that the mermaid is already transforming into a woman.

This is the story of their love affair, of an island and of the great wide sea.

9) The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected also that someone had been blackmailing her. Then, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with an apparent drug overdose.

However the evening post brought Roger one last fatal scrap of information, but before he could finish reading the letter, he was stabbed to death. Luckily one of Roger’s friends and the newest resident to retire to this normally quiet village takes over—none other than Monsieur Hercule Poirot.

10) Penance - Eliza Clark

It’s been nearly a decade since the horrifying murder of sixteen-year-old Joan Wilson rocked Crow-on-Sea, and the events of that terrible night are now being published for the first time.

That story is Penance, a dizzying feat of masterful storytelling, where Eliza Clark manoeuvres us through accounts from the inhabitants of this small seaside town. Placing us in the capable hands of journalist Alec. Z. Carelli, Clark allows him to construct what he claims is the ‘definitive account’ of the murder – and what led up to it. Built on hours of interviews with witnesses and family members, painstaking historical research, and most notably, correspondence with the killers themselves, the result is a riveting snapshot of lives rocked by tragedy, and a town left in turmoil.

The only question is: how much of it is true?

Bonus my top 10 worst books of the year

1. Dark and Shallow Lies - Ginny Myers-Sain 2. The Terror - Dan Simmons 3. The Chestnut Man - Søren Sveistrup 4. Emma - Jane Austen 5. The Dead Romantics - Ashley Poston 6. Prophet Song - Paul Lynch 7. The Farm -Joanne Ramos 8. As Good As Dead - Holly Jackson 9. A Haunting in The Arctic - C.J. Cooke 10. Desire or Defence - Leah Brunner

[brandonwritesgames]

Check out Dieselpunk 1921 Here! Rather than having a system of classes, Dieselpunk 1921 presents players with a number of Background and Occupation options for their professional. The world of Dieselpunk 1921 sits on the edge of chaos as Imperial Powers negotiate "peace" in the Paris Peace Conference, and those caught in the mess do whatever they can to get by. It's The Industrialists' world, we just live in it. Here is a preview of some of the Backgrounds and Occupations you'll find in Dieselpunk 1921!

BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds are an optional feature that may be added to your character. These backgrounds provide both bonuses and drawbacks to your character, and can give mechanical changes to your character based on their history. If you do not want to apply any of the Background packs to your character, skip this part. You may take up to two Backgrounds. Backgrounds are presented in the order of how common they are in the default Dieselpunk 1921 setting.

GREAT WAR VETERAN

Everybody's lives were touched in some way by the Great War, but no one’s lives were impacted more than those who found themselves thrown into the mechanized horror of the trenches, tanks, and Striders.

If you select this background, your professional receives the following changes: +2 STR, +5 Firearms, -1 CON, -2 Charm, one Lingering Injury (Select one characteristic to reduce by 1 point, or select a hand, either left or right: all checks attempted using that hand are done at disadvantage).

In addition, your professional also receives the following equipment:

100₣ (francs) or relevant local currency of the campaign (ex. Goldmark/ℳ︁, French Franc/₣, Great British Pound/£, etc).

Any rifle. Detailed information can be found in Chapter 3: Equipment and Machines.

20 rounds of ammunition for your rifle.

Your dress uniform

STEP FOUR: SKILLS & OCCUPATIONS

An occupation is the job or the employment that your character is assumed to have when play begins. Some occupations may suit some settings better than others, so it’s important to work with your group, including your narrator, to select or construct an occupation for your Professional.

Your Professional’s occupation provides a description of their skills, their background, and the ways that they typically make money. While occupations provide some information about what skills your professional is trained in, this by no means limits the skills they may use, or the equipment they have access to.

Occupations are presented here with a short description, the Occupation skills, and any associated Status bonuses if applicable. The descriptions presented for each occupation are meant to be general guides for outlining your character. Players are encouraged to work with your group to alter the flavor, skills, and status bonus in a way that fits better with the story being told at your table. You get 250 + EDU or INT points to spend between the skills provided by your Occupation. The maximum rating a skill may have is 95%.

LABOUR ORGANIZER

Those who find themselves on the shop floor seeking to organize the disparate working class find themselves in considerable danger. Outlawed in much of Europe, labour organizers seek to build a united front against the wavering tide of imperialism, using a sharp tongue, street fighting, and clandestine activities.

Occupation Skills: Athletics, Bargain, Brawl, Etiquette (Working Class), Fast Talk, Firearms (Handguns), Grapple, Insight, Listen, Stealth

Faction: Local Law Enforcement beings with Faction Rating 3, Local Labour Unions begin with Faction Rating 6

[girlactionfigure]

*ISRAEL REALTIME* - "Connecting the World to Israel in Realtime"

🔅MORNING SUMMARY:  

Alert for northern Israel near-Lebanon towns, gates and roads closed.  Several rounds of rockets from Lebanon overnight, heavier attacks expected.  IDF attacked heavily overnight and continues this morning with airstrikes and artillery, including ranger farther into Lebanon that previously.

Hostage negotiations seem to be at a standstill, with Hamas or Islamic Jihad demanding a comprehensive end-of-war agreement where everything returns to how it was, instead of a ceasefire.

Yemen’s Houthis are mass recruiting an Israeli invasion force… with no way to get to Israel.  But those zealots tend to try to do whatever they claim, regardless of consequences.  Could they load up hijacked container ships with fighters and head towards Israel?  Related, a weapons warehouse exploded in Yemen, and U.S. jets are doing Yemen reconnaissance from the U.S. aircraft carrier.  And more shipping companies abandon Red Sea / Suez Canal routes, increasing shipping costs to/from Europe.

Yesterday’s weird story to be censor-released at midnight… turned out to be a Hamas prisoner in Israeli prison being beaten, not the kind of explosive story channels built it up to be.

In Israel internal issues, the IDF put forth a plan to bribe near-Gaza residents back to their homes, while the local governments adamantly refuse until the war is won and the towns are safe from Gaza massacre or rockets.  In the meantime over 130,000 people are evacuated to hotels around Israel, and besides personal and family impact have job impact, school, mortgage payments on homes they can’t live in, etc.

Heavy fighting continues in Gaza as the IDF pushes further into every neighborhood — which unfortunately is required as every clinic, every school, every mosque, etc is a weapons warehouse, tunnel junction, and/or rocket launching facility.

ector: 

 שניר, דן, דפנה, הגושרים, מעין ברוך, כפר גלעדי, משגב עם, מ��רה, יפתח, מלכיה, יראון, ברעם, סאסא וצבעון. 

Residents staying in these settlements are asked to reduce traffic in the settlement.  A large number of related roads and intersections will be closed as well.

▪️OVERNIGHT ROCKETS… from Lebanon, Kiryat Shmona, Misgav Am and surrounds, 2 rounds, from Gaza, Nirim, 1 round.  A few minutes ago, near-Gaza 1 round.

▪️LEBANON… Heavy IDF airstrikes and artillery continued overnight and this morning.  Hezbollah attacked the IDF navy base in Rosh HaNikra, launched fire bombs to intentionally start forest fires in Israel, and fired rockets overnight.

▪️IDF ATTACKS GAZA… IDF launched a broad attack on the Daraj a-Tupah neighborhood in Gaza City with the aim of destroying, among other things, Hamas's rocket-launching capability. Most of the launches recently were from this area.  Heavy fighting around Khan Yunis, Jabalia, Shahja'ia, Al-Safatawi, Sheikh Radwan and Beit Hanun.

▪️HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS… "Sources in the Palestinian Resistance”: We reject the occupation's proposal for a 7-day temporary cease-fire. Hamas has made it clear that the time for ceasefire has passed. Any proposal that does not include a comprehensive (and final) cease-fire is futile.  

▪️HOUTHIS (Yemen) RECRUITING FIGHTERS TO INVADE ISRAEL… Tens of thousands of Yemenis are on their way to the assembly area from where they are supposed to go out to fight against Israel, with the slight problem of how will they get to Israel.  While this may sound like a joke, these zealots usually do what they say - without consideration of consequences.  

Related (1): A fierce explosion in a weapons warehouse belonging to the Houthis in the city of Aarb, Yemen, with casualties.

Related (2): U.S. jets have begun conducting reconnaissance flights from the aircraft carrier Eisenhower, which is stationed in the Gulf of Aden, in front of Yemen.

▪️3 HERO SOLDIERS FELL in Gaza.

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

How to spend €1 TRILLION on defense WISELY?

Today we delve into the dramatic surge in European defense spending. With geopolitical tensions escalating and traditional alliances under strain, Europe is re-evaluating its military budgets. But what's really behind this sudden increase? Is it a response to recent global events, or is there more at play? From the fallout of the Soviet Union's collapse to the impactful policies of the Trump administration, we explore how historical events have shaped current spending trends. We'll compare these developments with U.S. defense strategies, revealing stark contrasts and surprising similarities. This video isn't just a review of numbers—it's a story about security, diplomacy, and the future of Europe on the global stage. We'll answer pressing questions like: How do current spending levels compare to the Cold War? What does this mean for the average European and for global security? Can Europe sustain this financial trajectory in defense? Dive into a detailed analysis, complete with expert insights and real-world examples, to understand why Europe might just be getting its biggest defense overhaul in decades.

P.S. First don't spend it in the U.S, look in the EU first, than in Europe outside the EU, look in Canada and in Asia. And perhaps in some other countries as well...

[darkmaga-returns]

3/11 ASTROLABE LINKS:

(9) Dallas Texas TV on X: "“Tetas” Rangers hats that were removed from the MLB online store have now hit EBay for $1,000 (Via @rangers__nation) https://t.co/otQXc3eLbU" / X

(6) Dudes Posting Their W’s on X: "Kids today will not get to experience the great feeling of anticipation of Game releases https://t.co/jHh35rkfPe" / X

(6) Baron H. on X: "Why is it nearly impossible to find recordings of sea songs sung as originally intended with a huge group of men? I swear this handicam recording has more presence and impact than half the stuff on Spotify. https://t.co/8y8TnqgRIK" / X

(8) Magills on X: "Looks like a before and after Ozempic ad https://t.co/JBnwfY6wTQ" / X

(9) Trump War Room on X: "Vice President @JDVance delivers remarks ahead of his meeting with the Irish Prime Minister: "One of the things that we try to do with this breakfast is just remind people of the important bonds of friendship between the United States and Ireland." 🇺🇸🇮🇪 https://t.co/TSKlR5Uzx4" / X

(9) Autism Capital 🧩 on X: "Trump proves that “WHAT ARE THOSE?!” can happen with any generation 💀 https://t.co/QCXCRXRD72" / X

(10) Autism Capital 🧩 on X: "🚨 NEW: Trump says he loves Conor McGregor’s tattoos “I do happen to like your fighter. Oooo. He’s got the best tattoos I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if I’m a big tattoo guy but Ooo those tattoos.” LMAO! 😂 He’s the best. https://t.co/HqwKmjJtKw" / X

(10) Autism Capital 🧩 on X: "🚨REPORTER: “Ireland is known for very happy fun loving people with great attitudes. Why in the world would you let Rosie O’Donnell move to Ireland if she’s just going to lower your happiness level?” Incredible 👏🏼 💀 https://t.co/EpE46u2NjC" / X

(10) Autism Capital 🧩 on X: "🚨 TRUMP: “Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I’m concerned. He’s become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore. He’s a Palestinian.” LMAO 💀 https://t.co/dt2UijfDqg" / X

(10) Crémieux on X: "President Trump just sent a hugely important memo to all agency heads. It instructs them to inform courts filing injunctions against them that, per the law, plaintiffs have to post a security equal to the potential costs of the injunction to the Federal Government. https://t.co/9TVQ7oDPFz" / X

(11) Ashley Boldin on X: "@Aristos_Revenge Trump already said that they would push to primary someone who fought against the rollout of the agenda. So Trump is just following through on what he said. It really wasn’t about Massie but about doing what you say you’re going to do. The Massie crowd already knows from" / X

(11) Eighth Century Woodchipper 🌳🪓 on X: "The Trump-Massie thing is kayfabe. Trump has called for primarying him before and it never works. AIPAC spent something like a few million per Jewish person in his district only to lose spectacularly. Massie is untouchable. This is about sending a message to every other GOP" / X

(11) Oilfield Rando on X: "You want people like Massie in there to constantly pull things rightward. “Oh you did this, great, I want more, give me more cuts, give me national concealed carry, MORE!” You always want those folks driving the party rightward, even if it causes friction" / X

(11) Mark Mitchell, Rasmussen Reports on X: "Bloodthirsty redditors cheer Europe but have no idea how this will turn out. As a former submariner, I do. https://t.co/hEsyBKpF5s" / X

(11) Sky News on X: "BREAKING: Russia has accused the UK of being the "main instigator" of global conflict - and has appeared to blame the Second World War on Britain Live updates 🇺🇦➡️ https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/Wwkq6cKaWP" / X

(10) Tablesalt 🇨🇦 on X: "🚨BREAKING 26 MEMBER STATES OF EUROPE ENDORSE THE EU PRESIDENT'S $800B- 1 TRILLION USD DEFENSE SPENDING PLAN This is equivalent to US defense spending. A new global superpower is being born. https://t.co/Rbveanu5oh" / X

(10) Financelot on X: "BREAKING: The European Commission plans to take €10 trillion of citizens' savings for EU defence *Get your money out of European banks. https://t.co/a9my820H0M" / X

(17) Ursula's Predicament - Millennial Woes

(12) Steven Lubka ☀️ on X: "The only thing which matters for markets right now is the Trump administrations policy- what do we know and what is their plan? How long are they willing to tolerate the stock market going down? Is there a timeline where they step in to support it? I explore all of that here👇 https://t.co/IreQcF7pu2" / X

(12) bumbadum on X: "To every Gen Xer and Boomer whining about the stock market. Keep in mind the altnernative ran on taxing UNREALIZED CAPITAL GAINS. So your choice was a possibly small stock market dip (lose some money). Or being taxed on money you don't have, then withdrawing that money (taxed on" / X

(12) Matt Braynard on X: "Interesting take from the internet's most reliable news source. https://t.co/KdVbF1LpmB" / X

(12) Gordo Stevens on X: "Trumps economic play for the remainder of 2025 IMO: 1. Use tariff threats to correct US equity markets which increases demand for US Govt bonds and drives down yields. 2. Refinance $7 trillion in maturing bonds at lower rates. 3. Lower bond yields result in a devalued" / X

(12) TFTC on X: "Bit Bonds: An Idea Whose Time Has Come Full presentation by Andrew Hohns. https://t.co/Hk1Vw8Wvga" / X

Andrew Hohns - Your Bitcoin is Worth More Than You Think (New Collateral Method) - YouTube

(2) The Kobeissi Letter on X: "Morgan Stanley with a MASSIVE call: As Tesla's stock, $TSLA, falls below its November 5th low, MS is calling for a HISTORIC rally to $800 next. This would imply a +300% rally which they say can happen within 12 MONTHS. Here's how they see it happening. (a thread) https://t.co/S10vwT8iO7" / X

(9) Serf on X: "Patriot https://t.co/TKbnFhD9Ys" / X

(13) Jake Rattlesnake on X: ". @eazydebates cooked him 🔥 https://t.co/mfrs2PvCdm" / X

(13) Vagrant of Rhodes 🗡️🕯️ on X: "Quick 🧵: The left doesn't actually know anything, they just make up scary sounding, pseudo-academic terminologies to wish away normal behavior. Wanting a safe home is "xenophobic", wanting to maintain your town is "problematic", wanting a high-trust society is "fascism", etc. 1/" / X

(13) KeriA on X: "https://t.co/UL3SVQcJlC" / X

(13) Trad West on X: "This was actually a great speech! Christ is King! https://t.co/klxiyUimjj" / X

[tmisherewrites]

Chapter 5 Deep Dive: Day 1054 of the Revolution

Chapter 5 is a critical pivot point for Syrus' story. The seeds of her story's outcome are sewn in this chapter.

Because of the above, I'm going to give the spoiler warning pretty early. I've linked Chapter 5 above but if you'd like to read my fic, They Will Come For You In the Night, from the start you can find chapter 1 here.

The Invasion

This chapter starts with Castor Steele's plan to invade the Capitol in order to finally cinch a victory. For those of you familiar with canon, the invasion was the final nail in the rebellion's coffin because the Capitol's geographic landscape of being surrounded by mountains, makes an invasion incredibly risky because the Capitol could very easily pick off ground troops to weaken any sort of ground assault.

I included this both as an allusion to canon but also as a way to show that Syrus is a strong tactician and leader, being able to see the strategic weaknesses of the invasion plan and her ability to motivate and inspire when needed. I wanted to show at least one example of her good leadership because future chapters will be very much focused on her mistakes. Being a snapshot of the last few weeks of the rebellion, I knew this fic wouldn't be able to show the breadth of Syrus' exemplary leadership so a small taste of it was needed.

The Flu

When we talk about wars, we usually talk about the bravery of the soldiers and the strategic mastery which lead to victory. But we don't often talk about one of the make or break factors of war and that is health, illness, and disability. After all, the biggest killer of American soldiers in WWI was not enemy fire, but the Influenza Pandemic, or Spanish Flu as it's colloquially known.

In the book Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, the author argues that the widespread transmission of diseases (i.e. germs) was a critical factor in Europe's worldwide dominance starting in the 15th century.

Disease and pathogens have the potential to have a world-shifting impact, which we all witnessed with Covid-19, and I think in an environment where the focus is on war and not mitigation, a flu, especially a zoonotic pathogen, has the potential to be incredibly destructive. District 10 being a district with the closest relationship to livestock was unfortunately the perfect candidate for ground zero of a flu of this type.

Freedom vs. Security

There's a pretty big debate in this chapter about how the Guardians will interact with their constituents and vice versa.

This may not be obvious from the first read, but this debate very closely resembled the debate in the early 2000s around The Patriot Act. While that debate focused mainly on the ways in which the government would be able to restrict the privacy and freedoms of its citizens, the debate of this chapter is the inverse, it is about ensuring the privacy and potential lack of accountability of the decision-makers, something that Thena and many other Guardians would find abhorrent.

There's a concept called 'Security Theatre' coined by Bruce Schneier in the book Beyond Fear. Security theatre is the implementation of a set of policies that give the illusion of security in order to improve confidence in an industry or institution. The example used by Schneier is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) whose security measures in airports following 9/11 have been found to be incredibly ineffectual, however, their presence increased a feeling of security for travellers which encouraged them to travel again, saving the bottom line of airports and airlines.

In my opinion, the restriction of all meetings to Inner Guard only were just a bit of security theatre in order to increase confidence in the Guardians, not to actually be more secure, hence the undesired outcome we'll see in later chapters.

Quotes

We've got two quotes this chapter. The first is from Murray Bookchin, an important figure in anarchists movements in the West. He wrote the seminal Post-Scarcity Anarchism, a book which greatly influenced many anarchist and environmentalist movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. If you've every heard of Solarpunk, this book is a huge influence on that. I chose this quote because I thought it was a great rebuttal of the arguments for the limitation of the Guardian meetings. If the people don't have access to their leaders, then they don't have the power over their own lives, that power has been forfeited, which in my opinion, is an aberration.

As for the second quote, we're with Adrienne Maree Brown who I've mentioned before and who to me is a great contemporary and complimentary writer to Murray Bookchin. Brown's writing is greatly influenced by Octavia E. Butler who wrote Parable of the Sower. Quick detour to say if you want to understand the world today and want a quick preview of the next few years and decades, I highly recommend reading Parable of the Sower. I chose this quote from Brown because I often see arguments, even in anarchist circles, about "usefulness" which to me is pretty concerning. Anyone can be "useful", whatever that means, if given the chance and resources to be. When measuring and valuing the "usefulness" of one group over another, or in this case, the usefulness of one district over another, there be dragons. It is not a beneficial road to go down or an instinct to encourage. And in this story, it is one of the many seeds which lead to the concept of Career districts and Capitol loyalists within the districts that we see in Mockingjay.

[ginger-snaps014]

Just been thinking about all the Snow White/Rachel Zegler controversy, and I can’t help getting annoyed at all the pop feminism takes that seem to disregard the value and cultural impact of older female representation

1. Cultural Impact Remaining

This film came out in 1937. Nearly a century ago. Roosevelt was president. The new deal was being negotiated. Amelia Earhart disappeared. The Hindenburg went down. Ernest Hemingway was around. The Golden Gate Bridge opened. The Spanish Civil war was happening. Picasso was still alive and painting. The Great Depression is ongoing. Would War II just started in Europe with the Nazis invading Poland 3 months prior to Snow White’s release date. All these thing feel historical. Old. No longer directly related to our everyday lives. They are just history. Yet- Snow White is their contemporary. And it was so well done that it remains a current cultural touchstone in America and the majority of the western world (if not the entire world). Everyone can recognize Snow even if they never saw the movie. More kids recognize Snow White than the president.

2. Film Impact

Have you ever enjoyed a single animated film in your life. Thank Snow White. She is the first animated film in history. Snow was called Disney’s Folly while in production because no one thought a feature length animated movie could succeed. It was considered impossible. Disney and his team figured out how to create scenes that could be zoomed in on by separating different layers on individual glass plates that could be focused on or blurred by a downward pointed camera. This also made it possible to avoid redrawing a background for every image. They had to create new filming equipment for this to even occur. The film was a masterpiece in innovation. And that was just looking at the technical side.

3. Artistic Value

While the art cannot be separated from the technical aspects, it deserves its own bullet point. The character design was so well done that Snow is still singular and recognizable today. We can even see when just her silhouette is used for inspiration.

The art is so beautiful it still looks good today. Unlike other films which feel like they belong in a different era due to degrading. This 1930s classic still feels as it could have been during my childhood with the Disney renaissance movies. It hasn’t aged poorly like a lot of CGI films have. It’s art. Age means nothing.

Disney and his team created new artistic techniques. Analyzing how movement of clothing did not stop swaying when the character stopped. Creating the ball emotion practice where an artist had to give a ball a full span of emotions with no facial features. They changed the style of animation to be more realistic (at the time, the look was more similar to Betty boop).

Just watch the scene when the Dwarfs hold the candle while walking up the cottage stairs looking for the person who broke into their home. The way the shadows flicker and cling to every surface. As if alive. As if real. It is one of the most gorgeous pieces of 2d animation I have ever seen. And it was the first.

4. Bad Pop-Feminism Takes

Pop feminism became popular in the early 00’s and focused on bringing down cultural touchstones that failed to bring girlboss energy. While some of this analysis was helpful, most was rooted in snap judgement and internalized misogyny. Snow White is the story of a young heroine who is about to be considered a woman. She is a victim of physiological and emotional domestic abuse at the hands of her guardian. A guardian who is not only the most powerful person in th household, but the whole kingdom. A guardian who tries have the girl brutally killed. Snow is forced to leave the only home she knows, with no friends, food, water, shelter, etc. While on her own and lost, she finds a home. She finds a place that has a need to fill. And proves her value. Yes it’s a domestic role. But this character creates for herself a job, and earns shelter, food, water, and allies. Her value is so undeniable that Dwarfs take her in despite the most power person in the kingdom hunting her. A person so influential no one even has the ability to confront her so long as she is not in disguise (and likely do not have the bravery either). Yes Snow is beautiful, but that alone did not get her safety. She never lets what she suffered stop her from living with kindness. When this victim of abuse is targeted again, her allies come to her aid. So what if a domestic abuse victim needed outside help to win? Why is it wrong to ask for help? Shouldn’t we want people to be able to ask and receive help when needed - without being thought of as less? Also, why is domestic labor less valuable than swordplay? It’s a necessity in life. So long as media portrays multiple types of femininity (domestic and not), why should one be worth less other? Because it is not historically male? What crap. Domestic labor has value. And that value should be made clear when both men and women perform it. The non-consensual kiss is a valid criticism. The rest seems like an excuse to hate recognizable aspects of femininity.

5. Personal

I will admit I am biased. This was the film I watched every time I visited my grandmother. It holds a special place in my heart. But I doubt I am the only one who has an emotional tie to the film. And love is always important

6. Timeless Tale

This story ahas been retold and updated many, many times. That would not happen if it had no value. To disregard Snow as a whole because you don’t connect to the 1930s version seems foolish and small minded. After all that is a mere retelling itself.