#protect and promote physical media

[anotheruserwithnoname]

With the continual predictions on the demise of permanent media I find it reassurring that a number of streaming series (like Loki) are still getting disc release. Although Amazon has the cast list wrong (Alfred Who?), Jenna Ortega's Wednesday - IMO one of the best post-pandemic series and one of the few reimaginings of an old classic to actually work - is getting a DVD and Blu-ray release in North America in late March!

Thanks, Netflix. Now, howzabout getting Jenna Coleman's The Serpent from 2020 on disc while you're at it?

[thecapricunt1616]

Gardenia (c.b. one-shot)

𝓢𝓷𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓽 (𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓑𝓣𝓒): You were a manager at a thrift store on the north side of Chicago. Your job was fairly boring, sorting clothes and pricing them, as well as tagging them and putting them away. Helping train new employees, working opening and closing shifts. That was until the Blondie with the piercing blue eyes and the oh so sexy nose started coming in every Sunday morning, usually right after you opened. 

♡ O/S Inspo: Promoting peace/repelling strife, protection from outside influences. Carry or wear to attract love or friendship. Burn with other healing herbs to bring peace and comfort to one who is ailing. Use dried flowers in healing incenses and mixtures. Scatter around a room to bring peaceful vibrations. ♡ Summary: You & Carmy meet at the thrift store you work, He takes you out for a cute date!! ♡ W/C: 2.0K+ ♡ Posted Date: 05/27/2024 ♡ A/N: Hello! Happy day 2/7 of the Capri 200 Follower Celebration Extravaganza!!! You can find said extravaganza ♡ Here ♡ this celebration will be going until next Sunday (06/02/24) so get your requests in! This request is based on ♡ This ♡ adorable ask from my beautiful little cow, @aestheticaltcow - I love you OOMF! You always are liking / reblogging & supporting my work. I love you to the moon! Thank you for all your support, I hope this is what you were thinking & that you enjoy!!! ♡ Warnings for BTC: None really! Fluff, Fem reader, No use of y/n (Reader goes by 'Bunny'), No use of physical descrip (pics are just vibes!) , Not very edited, Usual TB trigger warnings

♡ 𝐌𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 ♡ ➵ 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞��𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 ♡ ➵ 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 ♡ ➵ 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 / 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘵 ♡ ➵ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 ♡

You were a manager at a thrift store on the north side of Chicago. Your job was fairly boring, sorting clothes and pricing them, as well as tagging them and putting them away. Helping train new employees, working opening and closing shifts. That was until the Blondie with the piercing blue eyes and the oh so sexy nose started coming in every Sunday morning, usually right after you opened. 

He’d be holding a black coffee, from the coffee shop right across the way, and always head over to the men’s denim section. This was the fifth Sunday in a row he’d come in, and you couldn’t help but realize the way he checked you out whenever you checked him out, literally - and he had caught your eye so hard you looked at the credit card receipt to see his name. 

You couldn’t find him on Instagram, or Facebook - so you figured either he was a super sexy serial killer, or goes by something else online - because who the fuck doesn’t have social media even to lurk?! 

But even with his incessant staring he for sure didn’t realize you noticed, and his clockwork of coming in when you specifically were on Sundays - he still hadn’t asked you out. You figured he was shy- well knew it because any time you tried to strike up conversation with him the guy would go pink as a pig and giggle nervously. So you were going to give him an in. 

“Hey there!” You said as you approached the isle, jeans in hand. When these had come in, they immediately caught your eye. 32 34’s. His size, vintage Levi’s - they looked to be about mid to late 80s by the patch and the wear - right up his alley for what he came in for. 

His head popped up, brows raising slightly “morning” he replied, large hand wrapped nearly all the way around his iced coffee. God- he was so pretty up close. 

“Good morning! So- not to be a freak but, these came in a few days ago, and I was thinkin’ T’myself ‘hey! I know a guy who comes in for 32 34 Levi’s every Sunday! I’ll see if he’s interested’ “ you giggle a bit, holding them out. 

“You- wow those actually look sick” he took them, setting his coffee on the top rack and holding them out to see them. “Shit these are perfect. Thank you- really uh…sorry I never asked your name?” His cheeks were on fire. It was really cute though how flustered he got, he folded them, holding them over the inside of his arm and grabbing his cup again. 

“Oh! Everyone calls me Bunny! Childhood thing. Can’t remember last time used my real name” you giggled a bit “and you are?” You extend your hand to him to shake. 

He takes your hand with his tattooed one, shaking it gently. His hands were calloused, scarred, big, could probably reach spots inside of you that you could n- focus! 

“But yeah so that’s uh cool. Never met another animal named person” he chuckled a bit, and you realized that you didn’t hear anything he said. But you couldn’t just say oh! Could you repeat I totally blacked out thinking about your fingers in my pussy! So you settled for a 

“Totally! It’s the cool kids club for real. Anyway, nice to meet you Carmen” you nod 

“Oh- shit sorry I didn’t - you can call me Carmy I - I prefer it actually” he said and you wanted to smack yourself 

“I’m sorry- uh, Carmy. I’ll let you get back to it” you said and he looked like he wanted to say something else so you stayed for a moment, looking at eachother. 

“Ok so - I know you’re working and I- I respect that so tell me to go fuck myself and I will absolutely never come back but uh- would you maybe… like- wanna go out f’coffee? Sometime? Like - like I said I totally get it if-“

“I’d love to. Gimme a time and place and I’m there” you smiled and he looked a little…suprised? 

“Tomorrow? Place cross the street? Is 9:30 too early?” He asked and you shook your head. 

“Sounds perfect, it’s a date” 

9:30 am the following morning couldn’t come fast enough. That shift seemed to draaag after he’d left. As soon as you got up, you jumped in the shower, shaving every bit you had before slathering on your favorite smelling lotion. 

You decided to wear your hair naturally, so you blew it out and didn’t use any other heat on it. Your makeup was light, and you picked a not too dressy but not too casual outfit to go with it. You felt pretty, and you knew for a fact you looked even better. 

You spritz on a bit of your favorite perfume before heading out the door, a happy pep in your step at this mornings activities. You got to the coffee shop right on time, and see Carmy looking at his phone, sunglasses that were usually used as a headband in the store to keep his messy blonde curls from in front of his eyes were perched atop his nose. 

“Feels weird seein’ you on a Monday” you teased, gently touching his muscular arm and giving it a friendly squeeze. He looked up and smiled a bit 

“Right? Feels weird bein here on a Monday. Sundays’re my errand days” he joked back “it’s good t’see you, Bunny.” He said and you nodded 

“You too! I’m ready for my morning caffeine not sure about you” you said and he grabbed the door for you 

“ absolutely, after you” he pushed his sunglasses up how he usually did, following in behind you. 

“Why thank you Carmy, how gentlemanly” you head up to the line with him. 

“Of course- gotta do this thing right eh’?” He looked up at the board with a small smile. 

“Don’t indulge me, Carmy, you’re getting a black coffee” you teased knowing that was all he drank, at least from what you saw at the store when he came in. 

He chuckled, looking over at you “am I? How’d you know I wasn’t feelin’ brave t’day, huh?” He chides with a grin 

“Ohh so brave what a big brave boy mixing up your coffee order huh?” You mused, stepping up to the counter

“Good morning! What can we get started for you today?” The barista asked and Carmy extended his hand to let you know you could go first 

“Oh! Thanks, uhh ok soo- hmmm…” you look at the board for a few moments. “A large lavender iced matcha please and a blueberry scone.” You said and they nodded, 

“And for you sir? Sorry will this be together?” They ask

“Yes- I’ll have what she’s having and that’s it.” Carmy took his card out, holding it over the reader and it beeps, accepting his payment. 

“Alright! Thank you, you can wait at the end there it’ll be right out” they said and you look over, smiling bright. That was especially nice, for you at least. The last time you went out with a guy, he expected you to pay for you both. So, to say the least it felt nice to be taken care of, even if it was just a stupid little coffee. 

You walked to the end of the counter, standing side by side as you wait “thank you. That was very polite of you” you told him, and his cheeks go that delicious adorable shade of pink that trickles down his neck and he shrugs a bit 

“S’nothin. So uh- how long you been workin’ at the thrift?” He asked, grabbing a few napkins and straws for when your drinks came out. You watched his tattooed hands, your stomach doing those flips and rushes of heat flooding your core

“Oh- yeah uh..3 years? Ish? I realized I never asked, what do you do f’r work?” You asked, playing with the sleeve of your shirt with your fingers that never stopped moving. He seemed the same, rolling paper covered straws between his fingers or constantly tapping on his coffee cup in a random rhythm. 

“Oh- shit yeah sorry I’m a chef. Sorry I never said anything but uh- yeah. The beef, well, the bear were kinda in the middle of renovating right now and changing our look.” He said and your mouth falls 

“The beef?! Holy shit! Been goin there f’years!! Since I came back to Chicago!! Fire sandwiches. So you’re sayin’ no more beef sandwiches?! Dude I didn’t even get one before I found out you were closin’!” You said and the barista came over, setting your bags and drinks in front of you 

“Have a great one guys!” They said and headed back to their station. We thanked them and headed back outside where there was little tables and chairs you could sit, and of course his sunglasses were right back over his eyes as soon as we got outside. 

“What if I told you- I could make you one an’ bring it to you whenever you want?” He set down the bags of scones he’d carried for you, one in front of both of you before handing you a straw for your drink. 

“I’d say you’re an angel sent from god, because those sandwiches are somethin else” you took the scone out of the bag and had a bite, moaning softly at the taste and sitting back “ugh fuck I love scones” you said and he chuckled a bit, having a bite of his own. 

“These uh- actually are more muffin by recipe. Scones would be way dryer, but these sell better in the states” he took another bite. You hum, mixing up your drink before having a sip. 

“Oh yeah? Hit me with another chef fact mister brave is this real matcha or whatever or the fake shit?” You hummed. It all tasted the same to you, but you wondered if he’d really have an answer. 

“Mm” he hummed and opened his straw, mixing it before taking a sip. He scrunched his nose a bit “fake, and the lavender is fake which- I mean is kind of pitiful because lavander syrup is easy as fuck to make and not even expensive” he said and mixed it up even more, hoping that helped the flavor and had another hip, shivering slightly at the sugar which made you laugh. 

“You like that?” He asked and you laughed, the kind of laugh that made your eyes crinkle just by the pure look of icky written on his features. 

“You make fun of a girl for her morning beverage choices on a first date?” You asked and he put his hands up in defense 

“Woah. Woah I said hang out i didn’t say date” he teased, causing you to laugh even more 

“Am I seeing right now why you’re single?” You joked and he caught the giggles this time, and you wish you could see the way his eyes crinkled up beneath his sunglasses. 

The rest of the meal was spent laughing, and making pleasant conversation. You spoke about where you were both from, what schools you went to, you’d learned apparently he studied abroad for being a chef which was crazy because you didn’t even know people studied abroad for simply making food but you guessed it was pretty serious by the way that he spoke about it. 

Apparently the beef had been in his family and was handed down to him recently, so he decided to do something different with it and revamp the whole thing into the bear that would be opening in 2 months. You’d say there talking for about 2 hours, until he got a call about said restaurant and had to head out. 

“Really, Bunny. This was…really great. I haven’t been able to like- it doesn’t matter. But…thank you, we should do this again if you’re down” he said and you smiled. 

“How ‘bout next Sunday, but before the store opens - 7:30 too early for you?” you repeated his words playfully from when he asked you out. 

“Nothin w' you is too early f’me, y'got y’self a date”

[tomorrowusa]

The increasing weirdness of Donald Trump 🤤 👿 ☢️

While news media in the US often get blamed for "normalizing" Weird Donald, the Washington Post looked at the recent craziness in plain sight exhibited by the GOP presidential nominee.

Some excerpts...

As that saga first unfolded publicly Tuesday night, Trump’s interview with TV’s Dr. Phil aired. The friendly conversation Trump filmed last week turned into another venue for him to air inflammatory claims about his opponents without presenting evidence. “I think to a certain extent it’s Biden’s fault and Harris’s fault,” he said of the attempted assassination against him last month, adding, “They weren’t too interested in my health and safety.” There is no public evidence that Biden or Harris were personally involved in decisions about Trump’s security protections. With pressure mounting to drive a sharper message against Harris, the Republican presidential nominee is delving into distractions and delivering a mix of incendiary and false statements. While such tactics have been on regular display in his third run for the White House, he is now pushing them further, running the risk of alienating key voters. [ ... ] Trump spent Wednesday morning venting on Truth Social, his social media site. He let loose a flurry of reposts just after 8 a.m. There was an image of Biden, Harris,Hillary Clinton, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, former White House medical adviser Anthony S. Fauci and others in prison uniforms. There was a call to jail members of the congressional committee that investigated Trump’s supporters over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol after Trump’s election loss. Another repost used a QAnon slogan: “WWG1WGA! RETRUTH IF YOU AGREE.” Just after noon, Trump began to claim — without evidence — that Harris was exaggerating her online footprint. “IT’S ALL FAKE,” he wrote. Soon he turned to resharing a video of himself promoting digital trading cards for $99 a piece: Buy enough, he said, and you could get a physical card with bits of Trump’s outfit from the June debate that helped push Biden out of the race.

He's desperately trying to reignite QAnon. We haven't heard from QAnon (except for one probable fake) since Trump left office. Trump is like an aging rock star reminding fans of his greatest hits.

Trump's demented rantings are not difficult to provoke. He will toss aside prepared comments on policy to respond to something unrelated with an unhinged fact-free tirade.

With Trump trying to put QAnon back in the spotlight, maybe he could get some fashion tips from the QAnon Shaman.

[platonic-pals-punchout]

Epithet Erased (webshow & lite novel) | Ace Attorney (video game series & anime)

[This poll was made by silly mistake on the part of the tournament runner, who misread the bracket. Sorry! It won't count towards the overall tournament. Followers have voted to make Gio/Molly PPP's mascots if they win tho!]

Giovanni Potage & Molly Blyndeff:

1. THEY’RE SO SILLYYYYYYY i love them. they’re such a prime example of friendship with an age gap in media, which, i think needs to happen a bit more. i have friends older than me! i have friends younger than me! and also they’re just. goofy. silly 2. Would any friendship bracket truly be complete without this dynamic duo? She’s a serious an disillusioned elementary school student, resigned to her miserable lot in life after years of neglect and doing her family’s taxes. He’s a wacky and optimistic teenager turned supervillain, here to sweep her away from her abusive family. Together, they commit CRIMES! 3. She is an anxious child who has the power to dumb down noises or impacts to help her deal with the literal everything in her life, as she has to balance school and her family’s toy store, especially as her father and sister seem to prioritize their own selves and not care about the family as a whole. Molly is like 11 or something and has to do her family’s taxes! He is a villainous mastermind!…well, he says he is. In actuality, Giovanni is a captain in the Bonzai Blasters, with ambitions of being promoted to Vice Principal…or even Associate Justice or Valedictorian! (Yes. This is how that system is organized) But unlike the rest, he prioritizes the wellbeing of his minions above all else. He’s comfortable with his masculinity, as he knits for his minions and packs them all some soup in case they get hungry. Oh! He also has the power of soup. He can make soup, make steam of soup, and every 13th physical hit from him deals critical damage (that has nothing to do with soup. It’s just what he does). After a heist gone wrong, these two meet, and Giovanni adopts Molly as one of his minions (giving her the minion name “Beartrap”, on account of her bear hoodie. She likes bears). Together, they thwart/do a heist and steal a valuable amulet. Giovanni also distances Molly from the Banzais when the cops show up, so she will not have to worry about legal troubles. Not spoiling much about the book (Prison of Plastic, go read it), but Giovanni continues to stand up for Molly against her family, who continues to write her off. He tries to get her sister to connect with her and soften up. He can’t do much with the dad because he sucks. Giovanni makes sure Molly knows how cool she is as a person and that she doesn’t let herself be walked all over by other people. He helps her stand up for herself, and in turn, she helps him with crime.

Maya Fey & Phoenix Wright:

1. Quite frankly I don’t think they will win. They are constantly being tormented and experiencing the horrors and this poll would be no different. 2. they literally cannot die no matter what hell canon puts them through. fall off that bridge n cliff to a deathly boy! get kidnapped like 4 times girl! when she gets kidnapped like the first time, they had to make a new sprite for Phoenix coz he didn’t look devasted and depressed enough. Power of friendship though! and she is OKI! :) 3. The most iconic attorney and assistant pair in the series. Phoenix canonically ran onto a burning bridge to try to save Maya when she was in danger. His call with her got cut off once and he left the country to go make sure she was safe. She’s been kidnapped twice to be used as leverage against him and both times she was more worried about him than herself. She once jumped in front of a taser to try to protect him. He’s also defended her from murder accusations like four times. Their relationship defines the original game trilogy even more than the Wright-Edgeworth relationship does. Other Ace Attorney games wish they could replicate this dynamic. They got added to a fighting game as a single unit where they work together to fight. They both think they’re the reasonable one in this friendship, despite neither of them actually deserving that title.

Note: This blog is run & followed by aromantics. Insisting any pairs are ~actually romantic~ will not only cause you to be blocked on the spot, but you’ll out yourself as someone not safe to be queer around. No one wants to hear how stupid you look with those shipping goggles on.

[cannibalisticdespair]

https://www.tumblr.com/cannibalisticdespair/756868066294497280/a-lot-of-people-dont-understand-how-legal?source=share

This doesn't really make sense to me can you explain it please (only if you wanna)

Absolutely. A law requires legal logic. You have to defend it from challenges in court, and then if that defense is accepted that defense becomes legal precedent for anything else. It’s consistency. “It promotes [illegal thing here]” would be the defense in court. Whether or not that’s true isn’t important; what’s important is whether the court can be convinced that 1. it is and 2. that that it overrides the first amendment. It’s sorta like “screaming fire in a crowded building”, which is illegal and has gotten such a ruling. The first amendment is overridden by there being a belief it serves the public good.

So if the court rules “because we believe that this speech promotes xyz, it can be outlawed”, you have now established legal precedent that a form of art or speech can be outlawed if it promotes committing crimes. This is a nebulous case where there’s no proof it does, so any case where instead the media is explicitly saying “do this crime!” would 100% be screwed.

If you establish that as precedent for outlawing something, it gets to be used over and over again. Does your usage of free speech explicitly promote illegal protests? Revolution? Smoking weed? Any other drugs? Punching a Nazi? Shoplifting? Supplying HRT to minors where it’s not allowed? Minors being trans without their parents knowing where that’s not allowed? Literally anything else that is outlawed? Well then, they can pass laws against that speech with such a legal precedent. They could make it illegal to make, say, a song that promotes smoking weed. Or a drawing that promotes violence against cops. Or a social media post that promotes revolution. You see the issue? They can ban promoting breaking the law. That’s not possible right now. It’s illegal to break the law, but it is not illegal to promote breaking the law. You can have a record company publish a song by a band explicitly called “Puncha Nazi” that promotes physical assault, a crime, and it’s not illegal.

Then, when you challenge those laws, it goes to the courts. The Supreme Court has already set a ruling, which is then used by the federal courts as guidelines on how to rule. The federal courts thus will rule that those laws are legal, because the Supreme Court has ruled that it is legal to override the first amendment if speech promotes crime. The Supreme Court is unlikely to hear those cases and will leave those rulings standing because they’ve already said that doing it for that reason is legal. The established legal precedent set is that if speech promotes a crime, it can be outlawed.

The reason lolisho is the block is because it’s the only situation where this isn’t extremely politicized. You could get general support across ideologies for this, which means it would be the hardest one for public outcry to oppose. Consider the climate and all that. Preventing that law from passing would prevent it from going to court which prevents the ruling. Once the law is passed, it’ll be challenged, so it goes to court, so a ruling is made. Furthermore, it’s one of the ones that’s most likely to get a ruling like this from the Supreme Court.

It’s generally a small, niche thing, but successfully banning it would be the death of literally any speech or art that promotes breaking any laws. And we do not want to lose that. Any time you promote piracy, shoplifting, revolution, illegal protests, doing drugs, or anything else illegal, you are benefitting from the same protection. If you take away that protection, nothing is stopping them from outlawing all those too, because now it’s been set as legal to outlaw those. And you know they would love to outlaw all those and more.

[mariacallous]

Even as a growing number of foreign governments commit to protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) people, others are actively marshaling their resources against them. From the Hungarian government’s legal and political attacks on LGBTQI+ people to Iraqi legislation that punishes those who “promote homosexuality” and increases criminal penalties and fines for same-sex relations, the negative trends are significant and concerning.

In many places, politicians blame LGBTQI+ people for a wide array of societal ills to boost their popularity at home and their geopolitical interests abroad, distracting from the real economic, social, and political challenges their countries face. In Georgia, for example, the ruling party may have used anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric to manipulate the political landscape ahead of elections. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, a country long considered relatively welcoming for LGBTQI+ people in the Middle East, one activist described a political leader’s rhetoric as “the manufacturing of a moral panic in order to justify a crackdown, and to deviate public attention away from their unpopular policies.”

Although human rights are seen by some as a lower-priority foreign-policy issue for the United States than so-called hard security threats, the failure to protect them abroad can have significant negative consequences for U.S. interests. Now more than ever, the United States needs to push back against foreign-government repression of LGBTQI+ rights while also doing this work at home. As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken put it recently, this matters “not just because we have a moral imperative to do so,” but because doing so “helps strengthen democracy, bolster national security, and promote global health and economic development.”

Across a range of issues, it’s clear that anti-LGBTQI+ policies and rhetoric can cause significant damage to many of the United States’ top foreign-policy priorities.

To start, efforts to repress LGBTQI+ rights are often a canary in the coal mine for more severe persecution to come. A 2022 report found, for example: “From Nazi Germany to genocide in Darfur to the breakup of former Yugoslavia, the imposition of ‘moral’ codes that directly assault sexual and gender identities and freedoms came before widespread state-led physical violence and atrocity crimes.”

The targeting of LGBTQI+ people can also be a precursor to, or occur alongside, abuses against other vulnerable populations. The Taliban-promoted sexual assault of and life-threatening attacks on LGBTQI+ people, for example, have occurred concurrently with brutal restrictions on women’s and girls’ participation in education, work, and other aspects of public life. Likewise, vicious torture of gay men in the Russian Republic of Chechnya has taken place against a wider backdrop of long-term human rights abuses by Chechen authorities.

Erosion of LGBTQI+ human rights can also signal and exacerbate the breakdown of democratic norms and institutions, including restrictions on independent media and judicial review, serving as a bellwether for the state of civil society more generally. Russia’s recent detention and prosecution of LGBTQI+ people have paralleled its crackdown on independent journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society.

Countries in which the human rights of LGBTQI+ people are less respected also frequently have greater levels of corruption, partly because discriminatory legal regimes create barriers to reporting wrongdoing by corrupt officials, making LGBTQI+ people an easy target for extortion. Corruption, in turn, compounds other pressing problems: It degrades the business environment, drives migration, and impedes responses to public health crises and climate change. States with endemic corruption are also more vulnerable to terrorist networks, transnational organized crime, gang-related criminal actors, and human traffickers. This is, in part, because threats to transparent and accountable governance are among the root causes of radicalization, and restrictions on LGBTQI+ and other civil society organizations reduce the capacity of those groups to mitigate the conditions conducive to violent extremism, terrorism and other criminal activity.

Not only are anti-LGBTQI+ policies a drag on economic growth, but they are also detrimental to public health. Punitive laws fan the flames of stigma and discrimination, in turn making vulnerable communities reluctant to seek life-saving and public health-protecting services. Across 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, HIV prevalence in countries that criminalize homosexuality is five times higher among men who have sex with men than in countries without those laws.

Taken together, the failure to protect LGBTQI+ people’s human rights can create disastrous effects for U.S. interests. State-sponsored discrimination and violence undercut the United States’ tremendous investments in international anti-corruption efforts, counter-terrorism programs, economic development, and public health. And, as the COVID-19 pandemic made clear, a disease threat anywhere can quickly become a disease threat everywhere. The same can be said for terrorism, corruption, and economic instability. When governments target LGBTQI+ people, they also increase the chances that the symptoms and consequences of this repression will spread in their communities and across borders.

Given the stakes, it is crucial that the United States uses the tools and powers it has to promote accountability for human rights abuses and mitigate their harms to U.S. citizens and businesses.

In this respect, the recent heightened repression by the Ugandan government is illustrative. In May 2023, Uganda signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), which mandated the death penalty for certain “serial” offenses and a 20-year prison sentence for the mere “promotion” of homosexuality. Although the legislation was decried by human rights advocates, it was lauded by some of Uganda’s geopolitical partners as evidence of shared interests. Shortly after the legislation was passed, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Uganda and made the unfortunately common—and demonstrably inaccurate—claim that homosexuality is a Western import. He also identified opposition to Western support for LGBTQI+ people as “another area of cooperation for Iran and Uganda.” In similar fashion, an editorial on the pro-Kremlin Tsargrad website summarized the law as “a geopolitical victory [for Russia], which they see as the direct result of years of their hard, methodical work [on a] global anti-LGBTQ hate campaign.”

The AHA was the final, egregious straw amid an ongoing decline in respect for human rights, including of LGBTQI+ people, and democratic backsliding in Uganda, and the United States’ response was swift and comprehensive. Underscoring the link between the violation of the human rights of LGBTQI+ people and broader harms to American interests, U.S. President Joe Biden described the law as part of an “alarming trend of human rights abuses and corruption.” The United States issued a business advisory; updated the U.S. Travel Advisory and Country Information Page for Uganda; expanded existing visa restrictions to include those repressing vulnerable populations, such as human rights advocates, LGBTQI+ people, and environmental defenders; supported the World Bank’s decision to pause Uganda’s access to new funds; and imposed sanctions on the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Service for widespread violations of human rights, including credible reports of physical abuse of political opposition and LGBTQI+ people. President Biden also determined that Uganda did not meet the eligibility requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), “on the basis of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”

Although the law remains in place, these actions and international attention have had effect: Uganda’s government has not conducted widespread roundups of or ordered death sentences against LGBTQI+ people. But violence, abuse, and evictions have increased in the country, and arrests of LGBTQI+ people have persisted and likely risen under an earlier, colonial-era law that criminalizes same-sex conduct.

As the situation in Uganda demonstrates, the United States has options to respond to foreign governments that fail to uphold their human rights obligations. These measures can be unilateral, as is the case for issuing travel advisories or removing trade preferences, or multilateral, which could involve working with the United Nations, the World Bank, or other multilateral institutions. They can also be affirmative, as opposed to punitive—for instance, expanding humanitarian and development assistance for human rights defenders and mobilizing private sector capital to support businesses that operate consistent with international non-discrimination standards.

As with all diplomatic efforts to address wrongdoing, the choice among these options will vary depending on circumstances, such as whether a government is launching a new campaign against LGBTQI+ people or has an older but little-enforced criminal law on its books. Inevitably, the importance of raising human rights concerns will be weighed against other U.S. priorities, and human rights will not always prevail. However, increasingly, LGBTQI+ issues are being integrated into bilateral relationships, even when doing so is not easy and when quiet diplomacy is the only option. In all circumstances, consultation with LGBTQI+ civil society must be prioritized in weighing the benefits and risks of action to ensure that efforts do not contribute to backlash or negative repercussions for LGBTQI+ people on the frontlines of global human rights movements.

In a recent State Department convening on LGBTQI+ rights in U.S. foreign policy, Secretary Blinken made our commitment clear, telling civil society leaders: “Our promise is this: We will be with you every step of the way. We’ll persevere with you. We’ll listen to you. We’ll learn from you. We’ll help resource and support your fight. And we’ll bring our strength together with yours so that finally together we can build a world where all people are genuinely free—free to be who they are, free to love who they love.”

Although this work may have been in the spotlight during Pride month, it requires our focus year-round. Indeed, our national security depends on it.

[timeagainreviews]

Dance, Magic Dance: The Church on Ruby Road

With the return of Russell T Davies we were given a “new” Doctor Who logo with their revamped take on the classic diamond logo. The diamond logo is everywhere now. Books, web content, episodes, and more are stamped with it. Everything except for the “Doctor Who: The Collection,” blu-rays which continue to display the Jodie Whittaker era logo. The reason for this is simple- spines. Most people display books and physical media with their spines facing outward. If you were to change the font on those spines, they lose their uniformity. For some people, that shit is infuriating. It’s not just Doctor Who fans either. The infamous plastic Homer head box for The Simpsons’ sixth season DVD is still controversial. If Doctor Who fans can get upset about a blu-ray spine, then imagine how they might react if you were to change the Saturday time slot to a Sunday. Or even more brazenly, imagine changing the Christmas episode to a New Year's Eve episode. Should be super easy, barely an inconvenience. Right?

It had been six years since Doctor Who last aired a Christmas special. While I have come to appreciate the importance of a Christmas episode within the fandom, I argued in favour of the change at the time as I am not the biggest fan of Christmas. I have history with the holiday, like many of us do. New Year’s Eve also pertains to time, so it made some sense. And for as cheerful as they tend to be, Doctor Who Christmas specials were becoming a graveyard of regenerating Doctors. I get that Christmas is about renewal, but watching the Doctor die on Christmas isn’t my jam, especially if they’re surrounded by a bunch of tacky Christmas decor. Only one other time do we see a freshly regenerated Doctor at the beginning of a Christmas episode and that was David Tennant in  “The Christmas Invasion.” It also consistently ranks as the best of the RTD Christmas specials. Though I believe “The Church on Ruby Road,” may soon challenge that.

Before I get into it, I want to preface this by saying I was on my third flute of Buck’s Fizz by the time the episode started. I don’t usually drink alcohol when I’m about to watch a film or TV show. I once went to see Terry Gilliam’s “The Brothers Grimm,” while drunk and it was a bad time on two fronts. But this was Christmas, I was feeling a bit jolly. I only mention this because I may be a bit fuzzy on the details. It’s funny then that the details are another reason I’m feeling a bit fuzzy. Last night, when I should have been asleep, I was researching runes, glyphs, and symbols in an attempt to identify the symbols drawn on the Doctor’s fingernails. That’s how intriguing this new era of Doctor Who is- it’s got me doing research into the early hours of the morning.

Where I first noticed the symbols drawn on Ncuti’s fingernails was in the below promotional image. They looked like some fan had put them there, but when I saw that it was official, I felt a stir inside. Part of me mourned for the kids who have parents like my mom who would see those symbols, call them Satanic and forbid them from watching Doctor Who. The other part of me questioned their function. I know Ncuti Gatwa is an avid follower of the zodiac, so I was braced for it to be that simple, but I had hoped it was something more. In my research, I had trouble finding an exact match for the two clearest runes in the picture. The character on his ring finger looks a bit like the number three in Psalter Pahlavi or like something from Linear A. While the crescent shape on his middle finger looked a bit like the alchemical symbol for platinum or the zodiac symbols for the Sun and Moon. When you’re a time and space travelling alien, your zodiac and table of elements must reach beyond our solar system. They could be alchemical symbols for Dalekanium or the zodiac symbol for Gallifrey. Maybe with this new magical Whoniverse, the Doctor now writes talismans on his fingers for protection.

It’s an enchanting prospect that we get to discover this new magic through the eyes of a new Doctor and companion. There’s a sort of levelling of the playing field for us as fans to come into this new chapter of Doctor Who slightly off our bearings. Who better to lead us through the chaos of magic than the Doctor himself? If his fingernails are a sign of this change, then he’s already got a leg-up on us, which is an exciting place to be as an audience. It’s so easy to be a pedantic know-it-all when the answer is always “Aliens,” but what about all those times a wizard did it, or in this case, the Toymaker?

Our introduction to Ruby Sunday was a bit surprising. Leaving her on a church doorstep felt like a page out of the Steven Moffat playbook of fairy tale magic. But also grounded in the character development we got with Rose, Martha, and Donna. Ruby’s backstory is a mystery, but her agency is not. Ruby has friends, a band, and a family. We’ve known her for 55 minutes and I already have a decent grasp on who she is as a person. She has a compassion for Lulubelle which goes beyond being kidnapped by Goblins. You can see she feels a kinship as a fellow foundling. She knows how it feels to feel disconnected from her history. Similarly, the Doctor can look at both Ruby and Lulubelle and see himself on their faces. He too was adopted after being left behind. 

I enjoyed this aspect of the story as my own family is touched by adoption. My mother found out she was adopted after her adoptive parents died. Coincidentally, she had already adopted a little girl from China a year or so prior. I now have three adopted siblings and I love them all. It means a lot to me to see them portraying Ruby’s family as a realistic depiction of an adopted family. Her adoptive mother, Carla, is as good a mother as one could hope for. When she admits she was nervous about Ruby finding her biological mother, it’s understandable. She doesn’t want to ruin the beautiful family that started when Ruby came into her and her mother Cherry’s lives.

The Davina McCall scene may be the weakest part of the episode. Aside from the prologue, it’s basically the first scene, and much like the other opening scenes in the RTD2 era, it’s a bit wonky. The dialogue lends itself to Ruby’s nervousness being interviewed, but “foundled,” is a bit too close to fondled for my tastes. It’s VOR all over again. The main takeaway from the interview is that Ruby was the baby left at the church (no surprises there) and that Davina’s people are going to try to find her birth parents. Sadly, as we come to find out, Ruby’s parents prove to be untraceable. The interview is cut short when the mics begin picking up the sound of Goblins. I feel like the only reason they were Goblins is because pointy-eared mischief makers called Gremlins ruining Christmas was a bit too close to a certain ‘80s movie. Better to go for a story with musical numbers about Goblins who steal babies for the Goblin King. No ‘80s movies infringed there… wait a minute. I kid of course, there’s nothing wrong with paying homage to the classics.

Before we get too far from the interview scene, I want to talk about Denzel. No, I don’t mean America’s sweetheart, Denzel Washington, I mean the sound guy. Was I drunk, or did Ruby mention he asked her out? I’d heard rumours she was going to have a bit of a love triangle with her boyfriend and the Doctor. I wonder if it’s not him. It would be weird to have a sound guy with a unique name who gets mentioned again if it’s not going to come back into play. I think this might enter the territory of the controversial aspects of the season that Millie Gibson alluded to recently. It’s funny then that the part of me that finds any of that controversial is the part of me that hates the idea of the Doctor being romantic with companions. I’ve never enjoyed it. Rose and Ten? Blech. Yaz and Thirteen? Snore. Representation matters, sure, but what about asexual and aromantic representation? I get that people might fancy the Doctor, especially when they look like Ncuti Gatwa, but I hope the Doctor continues to ward off any advances.

Speaking of representation, I would like to take a smidgen of a moment to talk about Trudy. As a trans woman, it was nice to see her living her best life. Simply letting trans characters exist is better representation than what we got in “The Star Beast.” They didn’t even pat themselves on the backs about it in “Doctor Who Unleashed,” as I worried they might. Regardless, some cis people think that any trans representation is shoving it down their throats. They reject the reality that for many people, trans people are a part of their daily lives. If your average person took the time to learn people’s pronouns, they’d see we’re everywhere. We’re not trying to shove anything in your face. Trust me. You’re not our type.

As I said above, it’s nice to see Ruby’s life play out over this montage. You learn a bit about her life and what she gets up to. Though when I heard she had a band, I was hoping for something more punk than Christmas standards. Ncuti dancing on the dancefloor was joyous, a word which I find myself using about him a lot lately. I love the embracing of his Scottish upbringing with his kilt. When I read RTD’s Doctor Who Magazine article talking about the Doctor dancing, I worried a little bit. Sure, the Ninth Doctor proved the Doctor dances, but I worried the scene would make the Doctor feel too sexy or too human. The Eleventh Doctor’s terrible dancing garnered the name “The Giraffe,” because it was so unflattering. But the Fifteenth Doctor pulls it off in a way few others could. However, I do still take issue with one aspect of that scene and that’s Ruby leaving her drink unattended in a busy club. There are worse people than Goblins mucking about with drinks, Russell. Let’s make a good example for the young members of the audience.

The montage of the Doctor watching Ruby from afar was actually a note from Disney. Test audiences wanted to see the Doctor earlier, and I don’t disagree. In the words of Werner Herzog’s Mandalorian character- “I want to see the baby.” It also explains why we recently saw footage of Ncuti punching through a snowman head when principal photography had ended months ago. This, of course, was due to further meddling from the Goblins, who appear to be everywhere now. They’re like bedbugs who pass from person to person. I loved the line “A pram at midnight. Really?” Such a cheeky Doctor already. Gatwa gives vibes of previous Doctors throughout the entire episode, but the snowman head scene gave us one I didn’t expect. The Doctor telling the policeman to ask his girlfriend to marry him reminded me of the Eighth Doctor’s penchant for fortunetelling. Only this time, he’s not weirdly omniscient, but rather making a wild assumption after his sonic pinged a diamond ring, which is a thing it does now, evidently.

The Doctor’s new sonic screwdriver has been a bit controversial, because what isn’t in this fucking fandom lately? I get the argument that it’s just not to your liking, that’s fair. But I’ve seen some monumentally dumb takes on the subject. I saw someone complain that it wasn’t shaped like a screwdriver. I hate to break it to you, but none of them have been shaped like a screwdriver. Show me on the Third Doctor’s where you fit the Phillips head. I’ve also seen people complain that it looked like tech from the early 2000s. So their biggest complaints are that it looks weird and out of time. How inappropriate for an alien time traveller. Regardless, I loved seeing Fifteen using his assorted gadgets. His intelligent gloves feel like a natural fit amongst his classic instruments and I can see them coming in handy further down the line. There’s also something about seeing the Doctor pull out the psychic paper that brings it home for me. It’s like seeing the Doctor square off with their first Dalek. It makes them feel complete. I know RTD said they’re giving the Daleks a rest for a bit, but I hope we do get to see Ncuti officially call one a “detty pig,” before he bows out.

The Goblin ship was a great way to introduce us to the new magical aspect of the Whoniverse. Not just because it’s fantastical, but also because the Doctor wasn’t able to use his shiny new screwdriver on it. Had it been a normal spaceship with metal and wires, he would only need to point and click. But this ship is all wood and rope, rendering the sonic mostly useless. The Goblins force the Doctor to learn the science of luck, but the ship causes him to learn the language of rope. I adored watching Ruby and the Doctor bicker while he was busy learning about the ship. They’ve not been together five minutes and they’re already getting tied up by baddies. They have an instant Doctor/companion relationship and it’s obvious why they were paired together. Furthermore, Ncuti’s detachment from the danger of the situation, coupled with an admiration for the Goblins’ tech was pure Doctory goodness. I could easily see Tom Baker fiddling with rope while Sarah Jane complained that he was goofing off.

Because of the charity release of “The Goblin Song,” many of us had become intimately familiar with it before the episode. What I doubt many of us were expecting was for Ncuti and Millie to join in on the singing. While I’ve not heard anyone complain about this, I’m sure someone has. To me, it worked. For starters, it’s a Christmas episode. Secondly, the Goblins have a band. It makes sense that the Doctor would try to win them over by speaking their language. It seems to work as the Goblins dance along with the Doctor and Ruby. Much of their logic seems dictated by whimsy. They sing and dance. They cause mischief. And they are attracted to coincidence. It’s not just that Lulubelle is a baby, it’s that she’s flavoured by happenstance. Both she and Ruby are foundlings left on Christmas Eve. It’s like the sound of a dinner bell for these little munchers. While the singing and dancing worked for both the scene and the Goblins, I hope RTD continues to use it sparingly. While I expect to see it return with the Beatles episode, I don’t want the concept to wear out its welcome. Doctor Who can afford the odd musical episode, but let’s not go crazy.

With Lulubelle saved, the Doctor and Ruby get her back home before Carla or Cherry ever notice she’s gone. This gives the family a chance to meet the Doctor, starting with Cherry. Cherry’s reaction to the Fifteenth Doctor was an understandably thirsty one. RTD kind of wrote himself into a corner by casting Gatwa. It must be exhausting to begin every scene with “The Doctor enters the room and people are immediately enamoured.”  He exudes charisma in a way that makes you stop looking at David Tennant. Remember the bi-generation scene? Little known fact, but Tennant was also in that scene. Another enjoyable aspect of the Cherry scene was seeing the Doctor flirt back. I know I said I dislike a romantic Doctor, but it was nice to see it with someone more age-appropriate. I kid, but what I did like about the scene was that he spoke to her as if she were a young woman. Because for him, she is. And even further, it didn’t feel like that cutesy old people flirting like “If I were younger,” bullshit. It makes sense that a time traveller would find whoever a person is in the present the most important. You can travel to the past or the future, but it all pivots along you in the present. We stand outside past and future versions of ourselves. To me, this is why the Doctor is compassionate, he sees the pivot people are capable of making. Can you now pivot beyond a dark past into a bright future?

The meeting between Carla and the Doctor was less flirtatious. Carla seemed open to this eccentric Doctor while keeping a concerned mother’s distance. The ironic thing is that not only is the Doctor like Ruby and Lulubelle, but he’s also a lot like Carla. Both of them know the weight that comes with what the Twelfth Doctor would call “duty of care.” Like the Doctor’s long list of previous companions, the photos on Carla’s fridge tell a story of lives touched. This is why when things go bad and Ruby disappears, the missing photos on the fridge cut us to our core. Michelle Greenidge floored me with her performance here. Seeing her claim her life is great because she has no responsibility was harrowing. We’ve seen her real truth. She’s a centre point of light illuminating the lives of many, not this selfish woman in it for the paycheck. Even Cherry now feels forgotten in the other room, waiting out the clock. This is a reality the Doctor cannot tolerate.

Not only are the Goblins little baby-stealing monsters, but they’re also time-hoppers, whatever the hell that means. How it differs from time travel probably has more to do with a Time Lord’s concept of elegance than anything else. But like the Daleks, I doubt Goblins have much of a concept of elegance. If anything it’s a warped admiration for coincidence. And if a baby Lulubelle isn’t a viable meal option, then the other side of that coincidental coin, baby Ruby, would have to suffice. After all, I’m fairly certain if they don’t feed the Goblin King soon, he’s going to start wooing Jennifer Connelly at a masked ball. The Doctor travels back to that church on Ruby Road. Tears still running down his face, we see the mysterious woman leaving Ruby behind. Is it her mother? Is it a younger version of the mysterious Mrs Flood? Is it Ruby herself? The Doctor doesn’t have the time to go chasing after her. He has Gobbos to stop.

Floating above the church steeple like Bowser’s airship, the Goblins begin hauling Ruby onboard. The Doctor climbs to the church roof where he puts the last spark of power in his intelligent gloves to the test. Instead of climbing up to the ship, the Doctor begins pulling the ship back down to earth by its rope ladder. However, the ladder is more likely to give out before his gloves do. So in a last-ditch effort, the Doctor brings all of his weight down using the gloves’ ability to increase mavity (I know) on the ladder. The ship plunges onto the church steeple which stabs up through the hull and into the belly of the Goblin King. With his influence and magic now dispersed, the ship and all of its Goblins disappear with it, leaving baby Ruby in a freefall. No pressure. The Doctor of course catches her using the gloves to cushion her fall. It was all a pretty lucky gamble considering the steeple could have just as easily hit Ruby, but luck is now a tangible thing, so maybe it was lucky. You could say “The Doctor killed a guy,” but you could also say this was the Goblin King’s second chance, and as you remember- “No second chances.” It would appear that the Doctor is still that sort of man.

With the Goblins gone, neither Ruby nor Davina McCall will be plagued with bad luck. Davina even gets so lucky as to have the Doctor appear just in time to prevent her from being brained by a Christmas tree star. The pictures on the fridge are back, and so is the giant crack the Goblins left when they attempted to kidnap Ruby. It makes you wonder just how Carla and Cherry will fair with squirrels getting in through the roof while Ruby is off exploring all of time and space. Does insurance cover acts of Goblin? Who knows, maybe Kate Stewart will stop by with a restoration team. All the Doctor would need to do is make a call. Mrs Flood returns to commend the Doctor for a better parking job. Is it just me or was that a subtle hint of disability representation? A subtle reminder not to block the pavement for the elderly and disabled.

I liked that the TARDIS appeared to invite Ruby inside by opening her doors to her. You could say the Doctor flipped a switch, but he was busy doing his fourth costume change. I like to think she was giving her seal of approval. I never quite understood why the TARDIS didn’t like Clara. It seemed to come out of nowhere. The TARDIS was like, “I dunno why, but I don’t like this bitch.” I guess you could say the whole Impossible Girl thing made her competition, but now it’s just starting to sound like Moffat writing women. But the TARDIS and Ruby? Just gals being pals. Sisters before misters. Empowered women empower women. Yas queen.

In the end, we’re left with Mrs Flood comforting her neighbour Abdul after he sees the TARDIS dematerialise. She gives the camera a devious smile as she says “Never seen a TARDIS before?” This of course is the classic Davies Easter Egg. He knew the fandom would blow up. And dammit, after almost twenty years of saying it, it had better be the Rani. Some people have said Romana or Susan, but she feels a bit more sinister. Besides, if it’s Susan, I’m going to be disappointed because Carol Anne Ford is still alive. If it was Susan, we’re owed a flashback to her regeneration. The reason she feels slightly sinister is the way she gaslights Abdul about the TARDIS. She yells at the poor man like he parked the thing in front of her house even though she apparently knows what it is. Conversely, she could be nobody we’ve seen before. Perhaps she’s an Eternal or “the Boss.” Either way, I’m intrigued.

Ncuti Gatwa is finally the Doctor. It almost feels unreal to be able to say that. Not only have we waited a long time to say it, but what an exciting Doctor he is already. He brings an invigorated energy to the performance. He's full of charm and I can't picture many Doctors pulling off a curtsy as well as he did. I’m still waiting for him to get a bit scary, but his amazed reaction to seeing Goblins about to eat a baby shows me he’s capable of it. I would like to see them show his age a little, but there’s still loads of time. His conversation with Cherry gave us a glimpse at the ancient being behind his eyes, but I would like to see more. While the Doctor may still have hang-ups about his past, it would appear his time with Donna was a time of emotional healing. The Doctor isn’t afraid of his emotions and it’s been a bit of a revelation just how much I like that. This Doctor wears his hearts on his sleeves and it’s surprisingly refreshing. It’s a far cry from “I'm still quite socially awkward,” and I couldn’t be any happier about that. We have a new Doctor. A new companion. New rules. Is anyone else excited for May?

[classiccia]

🎀Classy Glow-up🎀

Physical Glow up A physical glow-up involves making positive changes to enhance your overall appearance and well-being. Here are some tips to help you achieve a physical glow-up:

Skincare Routine:

•Establish a consistent skincare routine that includes cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

•Use sunscreen daily to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

•Consider incorporating products with ingredients like vitamin C or hyaluronic acid for added benefits.

Healthy Diet:

Consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

Regular Exercise:

Engage in regular physical activity to boost circulation and promote a healthy glow.

Choose activities you enjoy to make exercise a sustainable part of your routine.

Hair Care:

Experiment with different hairstyles or haircuts that complement your features.

Keep your hair healthy by using appropriate shampoos and conditioners.

Wardrobe Update:

Refresh your wardrobe with clothing that makes you feel confident and comfortable.

Experiment with different styles to find what suits your personality and body type.

Posture:

Work on maintaining good posture, as it can positively impact how others perceive you.

Practice exercises to strengthen your core muscles.

Grooming:

Regularly groom yourself by keeping your nails tidy, maintaining facial hair (if applicable), and paying attention to personal hygiene.

Experiment with makeup if you enjoy it, focusing on enhancing your natural features.

Sleep:

Ensure you get sufficient and quality sleep each night. Lack of sleep can affect your skin and overall appearance.

Confidence and Self-Care:

Cultivate self-confidence and a positive self-image.

Practice self-care activities that bring you joy and relaxation.

Mind-Body Connection:

Explore activities that promote a positive mind-body connection, such as yoga or meditation.

Emotional Glow up An emotional glow-up involves focusing on your mental and emotional well-being, leading to personal growth and a positive mindset. Here are some tips for an emotional glow-up:

Self-Reflection:

Take time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Journaling can be a helpful tool for self-reflection.

Set Boundaries:

Learn to set and enforce healthy boundaries in your relationships.

Recognize when to say "no" to activities or commitments that may negatively impact your well-being.

Positive Affirmations:

Practice positive self-talk and affirmations to boost your self-esteem.

Challenge negative thoughts and replace them with empowering ones.

Gratitude Practice:

Cultivate a habit of gratitude by regularly acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life.

Keep a gratitude journal to document things you're thankful for.

Mindfulness and Meditation:

Incorporate mindfulness and meditation into your routine to promote relaxation and mental clarity.

Focus on being present in the moment and letting go of unnecessary stress.

Learn from Challenges:

View challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.

Embrace resilience and understand that setbacks are a natural part of life.

Surround Yourself with Positivity:

Choose to spend time with people who uplift and support you.

Limit exposure to negative influences, whether they be people, media, or environments.

Embrace Self-Love:

Practice self-love by treating yourself with kindness and compassion.

Celebrate your achievements, big and small, and acknowledge your worth.

Seek Support:

Don't hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional if needed.

Talking about your feelings can be therapeutic and provide valuable insights.

Personal Growth Goals:

Set and pursue personal growth goals that align with your values and aspirations.

Continuously invest in learning and expanding your skills and knowledge.

Mental Glow up A mental glow-up involves nurturing and enhancing your cognitive and intellectual well-being. Here are some tips for a mental glow-up:

Continuous Learning:

Cultivate a love for learning. Read books, take courses, or engage in activities that stimulate your mind and expand your knowledge.

Mind-Challenging Activities:

Engage in activities that challenge your cognitive abilities, such as puzzles, crosswords, or strategy games.

Mindfulness and Meditation:

Practice mindfulness and meditation to improve focus, concentration, and overall mental clarity.

Set Realistic Goals:

Set achievable and realistic goals to provide a sense of purpose and direction in your life.

Break larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks to make progress more attainable.

Time Management:

Develop effective time management skills to prioritize tasks and reduce stress.

Create a daily or weekly schedule to help organize and structure your time.

Mind-Body Connection:

Recognize the connection between your mental and physical well-being. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep contribute to mental health.

Cognitive Behavioral Techniques:

Learn and practice cognitive-behavioral techniques to manage and challenge negative thought patterns.

Emotional Intelligence:

Develop emotional intelligence by understanding and managing your own emotions and empathizing with others.

Positive Visualization:

Use positive visualization techniques to imagine success and overcome challenges. Visualization can help enhance confidence and motivation.

Mind-Expanding Hobbies:

Explore hobbies that stimulate your creativity and intellect, such as writing, painting, coding, or playing a musical instrument.

Connect with Others:

Foster social connections and engage in meaningful conversations. Social interactions contribute to mental well-being.

Mindful Tech Use:

Be mindful of your technology use. Limit screen time, especially on social media, to avoid information overload and comparison-induced stress.

Therapeutic Practices:

Consider therapeutic practices such as talk therapy or counseling to explore and address mental health concerns.

Spiritual Glow up

A spiritual glow-up involves connecting with your inner self, finding meaning, and cultivating a sense of peace and purpose. Here are some tips for a spiritual glow-up:

Self-Reflection:

Take time for introspection and self-reflection to understand your values, beliefs, and desires.

Journaling can be a helpful tool for exploring your thoughts and emotions.

Mindfulness and Meditation:

Practice mindfulness and meditation to be present in the moment and cultivate a sense of inner calm.

Explore different meditation techniques, such as guided meditation or mindfulness exercises.

Nature Connection:

Spend time in nature to foster a connection with the natural world. Whether it's a walk in the park or a hike in the mountains, nature can be a source of spiritual renewal.

Gratitude Practice:

Cultivate a habit of gratitude by appreciating the blessings in your life. Expressing gratitude can enhance your spiritual well-being.

Explore Different Spiritual Practices:

Investigate various spiritual practices and traditions to find what resonates with you. This might include prayer, rituals, or exploring different philosophical teachings.

Read Spiritual Literature:

Explore books and literature on spirituality, philosophy, or personal development. These can provide insights and perspectives that contribute to your spiritual growth.

Connect with Others:

Engage in meaningful conversations with like-minded individuals or join spiritual communities. Shared experiences can deepen your spiritual understanding.

Acts of Kindness and Service:

Engage in acts of kindness and service to others. Contributing to the well-being of others can be a spiritually fulfilling experience.

Yoga and Tai Chi:

Consider practices like yoga or tai chi, which combine physical movement with mindfulness and can contribute to a sense of spiritual balance.

Create a Sacred Space:

Designate a space in your home for reflection, meditation, or prayer. This sacred space can be a physical reminder of your spiritual journey.

Practice Forgiveness:

Work on forgiving yourself and others. Letting go of resentment and embracing forgiveness is often a transformative spiritual practice.

Mind-Body Connection:

Recognize the connection between your spiritual and physical well-being. Activities like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation can promote harmony.

Cultivate Compassion:

Develop a compassionate mindset, both towards yourself and others. Compassion is a key element of many spiritual traditions.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Mark Sumner at Daily Kos:

A cynical photo op for Donald Trump’s campaign is spiraling into a disaster. As more details of his campaign’s disgraceful behavior on Monday at Arlington National Cemetery become available, some veterans are “furious” and demanding an apology. But instead of offering one, Trump’s team is making things worse. On Wednesday, in violation of federal law, his campaign posted a TikTok video promoting his visit. It’s “exactly what military officials tried to prevent,” The Washington Post reported. “The use of the footage marked a flagrant violation of the law against partisan actions at military cemeteries, defense officials said.” And much more about what happened at Arlington has come to light:

Members of Trump’s team had a verbal and physical altercation with a member of the cemetery staff who has now been identified as a woman. 

The woman was reportedly pushed aside by a large male member of Trump’s campaign staff when she tried to prevent the campaign from taking cameras into Arlington’s specially protected Section 60 area, where recently deceased veterans are buried.

In advance of the visit, Trump’s team was told personal aides could come but not campaign staff. They came anyway. 

Trump’s team was expressly told that “photographers, content creators or any other persons” attending for a political campaign were not allowed, according to a statement from the cemetery. His team brought them anyway. 

In statements after the event, Trump’s team insulted the cemetery official repeatedly, saying that she was “suffering from a mental health episode,” “despicable,” and “a disgrace.”

Trump and his team disrespected America’s most hallowed military cemetery, ignoring its rules, shoving and insulting a woman on staff, and turning it into a backdrop for a campaign video in open violation of federal law. 

[...] On Wednesday, Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, attempted to defend the altercation, dismissively saying that “apparently somebody at Arlington Cemetery, some staff member, had a little disagreement with somebody” and “the media has turned this into a national news story.” Repeating statements from Trump’s campaign, Vance claimed that there is “verifiable evidence” that the Trump campaign was allowed to have a photographer present, though the best evidence he provided was that Trump was invited by family members of some of those who died at Abbey Gate during the evacuation of forces from Afghanistan. (Vance initially referred to it as “Abbey Road”—i.e., the famous recording studio—before correcting himself.) 

No matter how many times Trump’s team makes this claim, permission from a handful of families does not allow them to violate cemetery rules. It certainly doesn’t allow them to violate federal law.  One clear reason that camera use is restricted in military cemeteries—and why footage is not to be used in campaign ads—is that it doesn’t affect the sanctity of just one or two graves. It affects the families of many other fallen veterans who are buried in the area.  [...] No one is upset that Trump went to Arlington. He’s welcome to do so. And no one is bothered by him going with family members to visit graves in Section 60. What’s upsetting—and illegal—is using Arlington, or any other military cemetery, for a campaign event. And that’s exactly what Trump’s team did.

[...] Trump and his staff also see no issue in assaulting and demeaning a woman who was attempting to enforce federal law and protect the dignity of a site that serves as the final resting place for over 400,000 men and women who served this country.

Donald Trump’s self-inflicted Arlington National Cemetery scandal is yet more proof he is not fit to lead America again.

See Also:

MMFA: How Fox helped Trump break the law and turn his Arlington National Cemetery visit into a political event

HuffPost: Trump Claims He's A Victim Of ‘Very Bad People’ After Dustup At Arlington Cemetery

[theereina]

"Digital Self-Care: Setting Boundaries Online"

In our increasingly interconnected and digital world, setting boundaries online has become an essential aspect of overall well-being. The omnipresence of smartphones, social media platforms, and constant connectivity can lead to information overload, digital fatigue, and potential negative impacts on mental health. Recognizing the importance of establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries in the digital realm is crucial for fostering a balanced and fulfilling life.

The Importance of Setting Boundaries:

Protecting Mental Health:

Constant exposure to digital stimuli can contribute to stress, anxiety, and burnout. Setting boundaries helps in preserving mental well-being by allowing individuals to detach from the digital world and focus on real-world experiences.

Maintaining Healthy Relationships:

Unchecked screen time can interfere with personal relationships. Establishing digital boundaries ensures that quality time is dedicated to offline interactions, fostering stronger connections with family and friends.

Productivity Enhancement:

Excessive use of digital devices may lead to a decline in productivity. By delineating specific time slots for work, leisure, and rest, individuals can optimize their productivity and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Preventing Information Overload:

The constant influx of information from various sources can be overwhelming. Setting boundaries on information consumption helps individuals filter and prioritize content, preventing information overload and promoting a more focused and intentional use of online resources.

Tips for Managing Screen Time and Creating Balance:

Define Clear Work and Leisure Hours:

Establish specific time frames for work-related activities and leisure pursuits. This demarcation helps in preventing work from encroaching into personal time, promoting a healthier balance between professional and personal life.

Designate Tech-Free Zones:

Identify areas in your home or specific times of the day where digital devices are off-limits. This could be during meals, in the bedroom before bedtime, or in designated relaxation spaces. This practice encourages more mindful engagement with the physical environment.

Utilize Screen Time Tracking Tools:

Many devices offer screen time tracking features that provide insights into digital habits. Utilize these tools to monitor and manage daily screen time, enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their online activities.

Establish Social Media Boundaries:

Set limits on social media usage to prevent mindless scrolling. Designate specific times for checking social platforms, and consider detox periods where you take a break from social media to recalibrate and refocus.

Prioritize Face-to-Face Interactions:

Actively schedule in-person meetings and activities. Physical interactions contribute significantly to emotional well-being and can provide a necessary break from the digital world.

Learn to Say No:

Be mindful of overcommitting to online engagements. Learn to say no to invitations, notifications, or requests that can contribute to digital overwhelm. Prioritize activities that align with your personal and professional goals.

Practice Mindfulness:

Incorporate mindfulness practices into your routine, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises. These practices can help create a sense of presence and awareness, reducing the stress associated with constant digital connectivity.

By consciously setting boundaries in the digital realm, individuals can enhance their overall well-being, improve personal relationships, and cultivate a healthier balance between the online and offline aspects of their lives. Digital self-care is an evolving practice that requires mindfulness and adaptability, empowering individuals to navigate the digital landscape in a way that promotes their holistic health and happiness.

[joshualunacreations]

In 2022, Corinne Tan was announced as the American Girl Doll of the Year and heavily promoted as a way of raising awareness about anti-Asian racism during COVID. But what message did her story send?

When Corinne Tan debuted, AsAms were offended by the synopsis and how it centered a white man in what's supposed to be a COVID racism story. Once I heard the book had been fast tracked for two live-action specials on HBO Max and Cartoon Network, I knew more harm was coming. In the rare instances Western media talks about anti-Asian racism, it's downplayed. Instead, narratives are used to reinforce the 1) Model Minority Myth, 2) Asian gender divide, and 3) "correct" levels of assimilation. Unsurprisingly, Corinne Tan’s story does all of these.

There's a place for stories about divorce and blended families, but this story isn't it. COVID racism is specifically about the threat of AAPI being verbally or physically assaulted by non-AAPI. The author's choice to emphasize conflict within an Asian family is inappropriate.

Instead of empathizing with David Tan's inability to work during the pandemic—a real problem that has devastated many AAPI families and businesses—it's the reason Judy divorces him. The story not only erases racism as a reason for AAPI pandemic joblessness, but victim-blames. It implies her parents have an antagonistic relationship because her dad isn't white and rich, and that makes him an inferior romantic partner. Despite referencing a slur meant for Asian men, the story never acknowledges that her dad experiences racism too.

Another appalling aspect is how Corinne, an 11-year-old girl, is responsible for teaching a grown white man to empathize with her experiences of racism—because her mom won't. Not only does Judy never talk to Arne about racism, she lets him gaslight Corinne in front of her. Judy seems fixated on wealth and achievement over her daughters' emotional safety. When the family lived with David, the walls were decorated with the daughters' artwork. In Arne's house, Judy is concerned with protecting the aesthetic chosen by Arne's professional decorator.

This is why the Eileen Gu poster becomes such a sticking point. While David encourages his daughters to embrace Chinese culture in everything, Judy seems to apply it only to her restaurant. Is it because Arne tells her he hoped marrying a chef would mean never buying takeout?

Meanwhile, Arne, a rich white businessman—who calls himself Goldilocks and whose behavior the author describes as "clueless" racism—gets sympathetic treatment. His fear of heights and dogs is equated to Corinne's fear of racists, as if it's a phobia to overcome via willpower.

Recall that the purpose of Corinne Tan's story is to educate about AAPI experiences with racism during COVID. Mattel, owner of American Girl, hired a panel of AsAm academics and consultants to tell her story with "authenticity and accuracy." So how did it turn out so harmful?

It's because the AsAm consultants for this project and many similar projects—like Dr. Jennifer Ho—are out-of-touch with our community. Insulated by wealth and/or whiteness they've chosen, they think they've acknowledged their privilege, but their work shows they're still reinforcing it.

The broader problem is that racist and misogynist white men control media. Regardless of gender, sexuality, or marital status, AAPI are given media power only when they internalize and repeat white men’s messaging. This isn't limited to fiction—it affects real-life activism too.

A picture says a thousand words, and it speaks volumes that Stop AAPI Hate chose to literally center white men in the photo accompanying their hate crime data report summarizing the past two years. Of those "thousands of voices," it isn't hard to guess who's prioritized. Stop AAPI Hate pushes the same message as Corinne Tan's story: racist white men deserve more humanity and sympathy than actual AAPI male victims. Hating and erasing AAPI men is required to show that you're a "safe" Asian deserving of resources and support. (see my data thread about how hate crime data is manipulated to erase AAPI men as victims)

It's bad enough that an entire gender is being cut out from resources and empathy, but what Corinne Tan’s story reveals is another disturbing trend: AAPI youth are being groomed into normalizing having racist white men in their lives, specifically in their families and homes.

Corinne Tan is a middle grade story (ages 8-12). For its consulting, Mattel partnered with AAPI Youth Rising, a non-profit led by AAPI middle schoolers. At the time, Dr. Ho was president of the Association for Asian American Studies, which helps shape AsAm studies in schools. It's not a stretch to think Corinne's mom Judy, who puts Corinne in harm's way by refusing to address her white husband’s "clueless” racism, is reflective of the behavior of AAPI adults involved in Stop AAPI Hate and other AsAm orgs—they gave the story their stamp of approval.

Anti-Asian hate crimes against AAPI should've brought the community closer together. Instead, we've been segregated further, and the AAPI who hurt the community the most have hoarded the empathy, media attention, and resources for themselves. How can any of us heal like this?

(Please don’t repost or edit my art. Reblogs are always appreciated.)

If you enjoy my comics, please pledge to my Patreon or donate to my Paypal.

https://twitter.com/Joshua_Luna/status/1134522555744866304 https://patreon.com/joshualuna https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/JoshuaLunaComics

[lokisprettygirl]

Lose me to Love you (Loki x Female Reader) (AU) (18+)

Read Chapter 23 here / Series Masterlist

Chapter 24

Summary: Loki always comes back to you no matter what. You learn the reason why he hates Natasha now.

Trigger Warning: 18+, Description of rape and assault, panic attack, violence against women, Extreme dark themes, Sexual abuse, physical abuse, public sex, Rough violent sex, 18+, Steamy stuff, age difference ,Rough language, mention of suicide, talk of virginity and slut shaming, manipulative behaviour, mention of trauma, smut, toxic relationship between main characters. Dark themes, cult stuff

"Happy birthday darling" he hugged you and you sighed as you felt the warmth of his body, well atleast he remembered your birthday, his whore of the night didn't fuck that out of his mind.

"Thank you" you looked up at him intently so he tried to pull away but you clutched onto his jacket.

It's been two months since you both shifted to LA and it's been rough, for one, it wasn't as easy to get into auditions as you had thought, you had no work experience but Loki was helping, he made connections and he made them quickly especially if it involved women, watching him fuck a different woman every other day was heartbreaking for you but you couldn't tell him that.

"What?" He asked you and it made you snap out of your thoughts. You didn't know what got into you but you got on your tiptoes and tried to kiss him which he immediately denied you for "What do you think you're doing?" He asked you as he glared at you with shock and probably a look of concern in his eyes.

"You do this everyday with every other woman..why are you surprised?" His jaw clenched at the tone so he grabbed you by the shoulders and pulled you away

"Stay in your limits y/n ..This????" He gestured towards you and him with his hands "Can't happen you hear me?"

"Why not?"

"Are you out of your mind? Do you not remember who we are and where we come from? I am not one of your boyfriends.. behave alright?" He glared at you and the hurt you felt in the moment made you act out, you probably should have told him what you actually felt for him but the ego came in between, you weren't taking the rejection very well.

"You know what fuck off..I'm going out with Ron later anyway"

"You're doing no such thing y/n" you walked past him and ignored the threat, you just wanted to piss him off, hurt him how he was hurting you, see if he even cared.

"Well stop me if you can"

At the police station Loki wanted you to be away from Natasha and he refused to be taken in for questioning until you were there so they called you in. Besides, Steve wanted to interrogate you as well. Natasha was taken to the hospital to get her lips fixed. It was wrong to do what you both did with her but the way she put all the blame on Loki made you doubt her intentions too. You remember the defense that was used in court for her, a twenty year old woman couldn't have committed such horrible acts without being the victim herself, she got away under the same claims that were used to protect Loki.

But now that you think about it there might have been some lies on her behalf , maybe she did want to commit those crimes and maybe she wasn't as innocent as you thought her to be.

"Y/n" you heard Steve's voice so you got up, he took you to the interrogation room so you sat down. Steve was just a cop when Loki met him in New York, he was the one Loki sought for when he wanted to put a stop to his father's crimes in order to protect you, the case was a media circus and that had made him get the promotion finally. He was transferred to LAPD way before you and Loki came here, he was the one who helped with the accommodation and everything when you two decided to move here permanently. You knew you could trust him if nothing else.

"Is he alright?" You asked him so he nodded. He passed you a cup of coffee so you took it from him.

"I'm gonna ask you a few questions alright? You have the right to a lawyer and you can ask to leave anytime but between you and me I just want you to be honest with me y/n" you nodded as he said that.

"Why did Loki kidnap Natasha?" Your fingers fidgeted around the mug you were holding and eyes welled up as you felt overly anxious by the situation.

"I don't want…I don't want to say anything to get him in more trouble..I'm so scared" you hid your face between the hands as you cried and it made him sigh.

"Look he's already in trouble, he have confessed that he hit her and tied her up, that's enough to build a case"

"He didn't do that...look..she came in front of our car..out of nowhere and since Odin is out there..it didn't make any sense to him, are you going to question her? How did you guys even know she was there in our apartment?" You asked him and he tilted his head to look at you curiously.

"Don't worry about that. There's a pattern here y/n. That girl Roza two years ago? I saw the bruise on your cheek that day, and now this–"

"Roza was a stalker, she threatened my life, she was hurting him. I already told you about the bruise and Natasha is lying, she's hiding something. Come on Steve you know him" he looked down as you said that "You know he's not like that" your voice cracked and he gave you a sympathetic look. He did know Loki but with everything that he had gone through he didn't trust him to not walk into the same footsteps as his father.

You were free to go after that but you didn't want to go, you wanted to see him but you weren't allowed to. Two officers took you back home and for safety measures instead of patrolling outside the building they stood right outside your door, you still felt unsafe and scared, you didn't want to be without him, he was the only person who was able to make you feel completely safe.

All the crying made you pass out on the couch and when you woke up the next morning you called Steve, much to your bliss, Natasha has supposedly refused to file charges and claimed that it was a huge misunderstanding, there were some wounds that came to the surface and she made a hasty decision. You couldn't believe that but Steve told you that Loki was allowed to go home for now and that made you feel a little better. You quickly freshened up, showered and made breakfast, he must-have been starving.

When he came back you hugged him as tightly as you could but he seemed stiff, you looked up at him and his eyes were teary, he kissed your forehead and you were going to say something but he cut you off,

"I'm going to take a shower" he pulled himself away from you and then disappeared into the bathroom, he was taking too long to come out, it's been an hour and you wanted to knock on the door but then you didn't want to suffocate him. He probably was putting a lot of blame on himself and you hated how he couldn't catch a moment to just breathe and enjoy life, everytime you two got closer something like this happened and he was back to right where he started from.

He came out all naked so you sat up and watched him dress himself up, a black trouser that he paired with a white tee.

"Loki are you okay?" You asked him so he shrugged "Why did she change her statement?"

"I don't really know but does it even matter?" He asked you so you shook your head, he seemed angry and hurt.

He probably had an inkling why she changed her statement, especially considering how she refused to visit the station- her excuse being that her kid was sick and she needed to go back to NYC. He didn't think she was in New York City. She came here with an agenda and this sudden change didn't fit the said agenda, there was a reason for that and if his doubts were correct he needed to do something about it. He can't risk getting himself arrested again, he can't leave you all alone here to fend for yourself.

"I need some sleep" he mumbled mindlessly .

"Well eat something first" you got off the bed but before you could get past him he grabbed your hand.

"I'll eat when I want to alright? I need sleep..get the fuck out of here" he let go of your hand and his insensitive words hurt you to the core, your eyes welled up immediately so you did what he asked you to. He took a deep breath to calm himself down but it didn't work, his fist punched into the door of the closet and that wasn't enough but it did take some of that anger out of his body.

He stormed out of his room and stepped into yours. Of course he found you curled up in your bed, couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever see a day where he's not making you cry at least once. You wiped your tears as you felt his weight on the bed. His arm wrapped around your waist to turn you towards him.

"Sorry?" He mumbled meekly. He was getting tired of his own apologies because he continued to hurt you one way or another.

"It's okayyyy" you kissed his forehead and for a change he didn't pull away.

"It's not okay, I missed you all night, i should be telling you that instead of doing whatever the fuck i did just now" you smiled as he said that. You had missed him too, more than anything. He wasn't a sappy guy, he always kept his feelings in control and you didn't really hate that but it still hurt when he was being mean like that.

"It's okay lolo..it's okay, I have missed you"

He pressed his head between the crook of your neck, the warmth of your body and his sleep deprived state put him to sleep quickly, you wanted him to talk to you, share his worries but that's not what he needed at the moment, having him so close to you felt like a miracle because you weren't anticipating him to be back so soon, a few hours later when you both woke up, he warmed up the food and you both ate in silence.

You were cleaning up after the lunch when you heard what sounded like a compliment,

"That skirt looks cute" Did he just use the word cute?

The white skirt paired with a white blouse made you look virginal and he fancied the look more than he wanted to admit to you or himself.

"I have worn this before" you smiled at him as you walked towards the kitchen table.

"Never noticed"

"Well you always had your eyes on other women" he smirked before he got up and picked you up to sit you down on the table.

"Only had my eyes on them"

"That's not true ..you also had your cock inside them"

"If you were so jealous you could have just told me that instead of being a brat" he sucked on your neck and it made you moan in response.

"You're so good at deflecting but I want us to talk..I want you to share what's going on in your head " you gasped as you felt his fingers running over the insides of your thighs inching closer to your burning heat.

"You want to talk or you want me to continue this?" You bit on your lips as he said that. You were in a pickle but you had your priorities set.

"Talk" he sighed and pulled away a little as you said that "And I need you close while we talk ..no running away" your tone was stern and it made him chuckle.

"Watch your tone sweetheart" you ignored the intimidating tone.

"What happened between you and Natasha? You liked her i know that but you seem to hate her now..why??" He didn't say anything and continued to stare at you for a while so you called out his name "Loki" He was about to slip past your hold but your wrapped your arms around his shoulders, your legs hooked around his waist in a tight grip

"What is it that you want to know?" He asked you, slightly agitated

"Everything" he bit on cheek as he thought about it.

He hated her, he despised her whole existence after that night

She was one of the reasons why he had a hard time connecting with women, not sexually but definitely emotionally.

His mother hardly ever cooked but she made dinner that night and it made him happy. At times guilt made it unbearable, he had gone to the cops already, they were planning to take this whole thing down with his help but he wondered what would happen to his mother. She caressed his cheek as she fed him with her hands, his eyes teared up, he didn't even remember the last time he had felt her motherly touch.

"Mum i.."

"Shhhh no talking during dinner"

She shut him up, didn't even listen to him, he wanted to take her away with him, no matter what she was his mother, and Thor was his brother, they were his family and they mattered to him. He wanted to help with the dishes afterwards but he started to feel dizzy, extremely dizzy, he was about to black out so Frigga sat him down on the chair..

"Mumma.." he could barely whisper

"It's okay sweetie, he won't harm you, he'd never hurt his children" he heard her voice before the darkness consumed him. When he woke up he found himself tied up on the bed in the den. Candles and torches illuminated the surroundings as usual, he was too familiar with this to expect anything good. His hands were bound to the headboard and as he looked around he saw his father sitting on the throne, his men had the cruel smile he was used to seeing on their faces, his whores were serving them drinks and what not. Thor stood in the corner with the look of hurt and helplessness in his eyes like always.

And then there was Natasha, sitting at the edge of the bed, all naked.

"Commence the ritual my darling" he commanded her and she got on top of him, he struggled as he wanted to get out of there but it was impossible

"What happened son? You think I don't know about your deviances? The secret rendezvous with her?" Odin mocked him

"Father please, I'm sorry, just get me out I'll do anything you want" he begged even though he knew he was only humiliating himself further

"Ohhh You think you can please her better? Let's see how much of a man you are then"

His eyes welled up as he looked at Natasha, sure they fucked each other but he thought they had an understanding, a mutual respect. He trusted her.

"What did you tell him?" He asked her so she gave him a cruel smile.

"The truth? You betrayed him and his trust, it was a test and you failed, couldn't resist me could you?" She grabbed his limp cock in her hands and he begged her to stop, all the people in there laughed at him and his weakness, his inability to take control of the situation.

"He says he doesn't want this but look at him enjoying as he's being taken by an inferior woman " Odin laughed at him and so did his men. He didn't want this but he was just a warm blooded man, his body betrayed him.

"Oh he's enjoying this master, he loves it when he's under me, we have done it plenty of times already, you should see him when he begs like a puppy…he's so pretty master but he could never ever be like you, could never treat a woman they way you do, could never control them, make them beg or make them whimper underneath him"

She snickered after finishing her words. Odin was pleased by her little speech even though they all knew she was lying, being submissive wasn't in his nature but they killed his ability to feel emotions too that night.

"Can't fight the need now can you? You're a pathetic little wimp that can never achieve manfulness. Ofcourse only real men can and you're no man Loki are you? Weakened by a frail little woman, your impotency never ceases to surprise me"

Those words, all those people laughing at his debasement, the backstabbing from his own mother that drugged him and the betrayal from someone he considered a friend was enough to shut him down. So he laid there and allowed them to destroy his self esteem, his self respect, his last shred of dignity. After being raped a multiple times he was lashed to repent and beg for forgiveness. Those physical wounds healed but Odin's words remained engraved on his mind forever and they still haunted him to this date. He could never forget how he really felt that night.

He told you the incident without flinching even once, you had been in that den, it was nothing lesser than a literal hell. Your heart felt heavy because you pictured the whole thing and you couldn't even imagine that he survived that. You wanted to go save him even though you knew it was impossible.

"She wasn't innocent, she wasn't the victim she had made herself to be, she was evil just like all of us" You cupped his cheeks as he said that.

"You're not evil lolo" he chuckled at your words

"You can choose to believe that"

"I do" you kissed his forehead and he was frozen, his body felt so stiff and now you knew why he was so afraid of being intimate and being vulnerable with you, why he was so repulsed when you wanted to be gentle with him, he felt weak because of what they had done to him that night and probably several nights after that. You didn't have the courage to know if it happened repeatedly.

"Having someone love you is not a weakness, it doesn't take away your manliness" his brows furrowed at the comment, he was trying to make sense of your words.

"I'm not submissive in nature if that's what you mean"

"Nothing wrong in being submissive with someone you trust and love"

"I'm just saying that it's not in my nature, she lied, i wasn't like that even with her" he defended himself even though you weren't even accusing him of anything. Your heart broke for your Lolo, you wanted to tell him that he didn't deserve that monstrosity but you knew what he'd say, he'd say that he deserved it for being so weak, that it was his own karma as he also hurt those girls the same way.

"And that's okay too, I don't want you to be anything you're not, I just want you to be yourself, i feel like a broken record but I just need you to allow yourself feel this..feel all of this" you whispered in his ears, one of your hand ran through his scalp while the other one caressed his back softly

"I do feel it my darling" his voice trembled so you cupped his cheeks and kissed him lovingly.

"But you hear him still, you hear their voices" you whispered amidst the kisses.

"I do"

"And I want to shut them out, that's all"

You took his shirt off slowly, his fingers trailed under your skirt, you felt his fingers rubbing over your clothes lips and it made you squirm against the table.

"Dadddyyy" the affectionate nickname rolled out of your lips and it always made him feel dominating.

"Lie down baby, I'm gonna take care of you so good, that's all I have ever wanted" his words made you mewl like a kitten, you laid down but your head went past the edge of the table so he grabbed your thighs and pulled you closer to him, your skirt riled up and gave him just the view he needed, the soaked fabric made his mouth water.

His fingers hooked around the waistband and lowered down your underwear, then he went down on his knees , he was so tall that the table was at the perfect height for him to submerge himself between your thighs without having to strain his own. He kissed down from the side of your knees and the closer he got to your heat the more paltipated you felt

"Mind if I share a secret?" he left an open mouthed kiss over your mound as he mumbled, your back arched and thighs clung around his head, this was nothing less than a dream, if felt like one as you stared at the blank ceiling of the living room.

"Please doo" he chuckled at the desperation reeking from your voice, the vibrations you felt from his words earlier had you dripping so he placed his mouth over your entrance and sucked it in like a candy.

"I don't do this often or ever, never cared much about their pleasure" you bit on your lips as he said that. You felt special

"Well your cock is enough to please" your fingers ran over his scalp in a caressing manner.

"I know that, you don't have to stroke my ego all the time baby" he spoke condescendingly, his tongue laid flat against your lips and he licked your wet dripping cunt up and down. "You taste so good my darling, so sweet, wasted four fucking years didn't i? Could have slept with my face stuffed between your gorgeous thighs every fuckinnggg nighhhhtt"

"God lokiii" you whined as he sucked on your clit, your mind felt hazy as his tongue slipped inside you "I wanted to fuck you so bad, you wouldn't even look at me" your eyes teared up because of the overwhelming need, you needed him in every way.

"You have no clue how hard it was for me darling" you smiled as he said that, knowing that he wanted you as much as you wanted him made the torture worth it somehow, you understood his hesitation now, why he felt sick with the idea of you and him, back then you didn't really get it but now you did. Now you knew him better because he opened himself up to you and wanted you to know what bothered him "Spent so many nights touching myself with the thoughts of your naked body underneath me, you're not the only one who suffered"

"I love you lolo.. I love you" the whiny tone made it so much better, for a moment, just a brief moment all the voices in his head had shut down, he only heard your voice and he had your taste in his mouth, your scent engulfed his entirety, your sheer femininity tickled a nerve in the pit of his stomach, guess this is what having butterflies felt like. His mouth worked like a magic, you have never felt something like this in your life before and you were glad you waited for this man to give it to you because you didn't think any other man could ever please your body and your heart all at once, the moment you had laid your eyes on this beautiful man your destiny was sealed and you were destined to become his.

The obscene sounds filled your ear, every part of your body felt warm, you were floating and drowning at the same time, he was the one holding you like an anchor but he was also the one keeping your head under the water, wanting to see how far you'd go for him, how much you'd suffer for him, how good you'd be for him.

"Closseeee daddyyy so close"

It was always so easy for him to please you and he loved that, his mind felt debauched as he wondered how many times he could push you over the edge in one setting, have you exhausted until you're limp in his arms begging him to stop but also give it to you just one more time.

"I got you baby..let go..cum into my mouth"

His words felt like a switch and the dam broke almost immediately, you didn't think you could ever cum like this, it felt impossible but he had done it somehow. He grabbed both of your thighs as you almost crushed his head between your legs, your fingers pulled onto his locks, lips quivered, both of them, the constant moan of his name made him feel like a god and he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to be your god.

He wanted you to worship him, his thoughts spiraled as he pictured you in dirty situations underneath him and then he felt thankful that he was the one with those filthy thoughts in his head about you because as much of a monster that he knew himself to be he also knew that you meant everything to him and he'd protect you all his life, other men would have destroyed someone as pure as you.

He wanted to do it too but not in a bad way.

He slurped on your juices until you had stopped dripping your desires into his mouth, he rubbed his drenched mouth over the side of your thighs to wipe off his face. As he looked up and you were still panting like a fucked out whore so he took out his phone from his pocket and you immediately placed your hands above your head to give him a pose, he took a picture from the waist above ofcourse.

You wanted to return the favor and as difficult as it was for him to deny you he did it anyway. He wanted you to stay afloat in that feeling, he wanted you to remember this just a little longer, after you showered and he washed his face he wanted to drive you somewhere.

"You trust me sweet buttons?" He asked you softly so you nodded.

You recognised the route, you didn't know why he was taking you there but you trusted him, you knew he'd never put you in harm's way.

So you allowed him to take you to Thor's place again. For what reasons, you didn't know just yet.

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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[89hitokiri]

In a parallel world where dogs are a threat, a special group of cats stands out.

黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) is one of the primary operational units of Kage Cat Corp, specializing in cybershecurity, hacking, counterintelligence, espionage, counter-meowrnalism, and counter-purrpaganda. Members of 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) are meticulously selected and undergo rigorous training to execute critical and clandestine missions that ensure Kage Cat Corp's dominance in the competitive world of pet rivalry.

Main Operations of 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage)

1. Cybershecurity: Protection of Kage Cat Corp's internal systems against dog hackers and mischievous squirrels, using advanced cryptography and artificial intelligence techniques to detect and neutralize threats in real-time. Constant vigilance to keep those sneaky canine intruders out.

2. Hacking: Infiltration into rival dog networks to steal trade secrets, find out where they hide their bones, and gain strategic advantages. Includes creating digital furballs and exploiting tail-wagging vulnerabilities.

3. Counterintelligence: Identification and neutralization of canine spies and internal threats. Dismantling rival espionage cells within Kage Cat Corp, especially those working for Doggo Inc.

4. Espionage: Collection of crucial information from dog parks and government pet agencies through infiltration and data manipulation techniques. Frequent use of stealth mode to avoid being detected by bark-sensitive systems.

5. Counter-meowrnalism: Discrediting dog bloggers and pet media outlets that publish harmful information about Kage Cat Corp by spreading cleverly crafted feline-friendly narratives or manipulated truths.

6. Counter-purrpaganda: Creation and dissemination of content that improves Kage Cat Corp's public image and harms its canine rivals. Utilizes social media platforms and other digital media to promote the supremacy of felines.

Proprietary Tools and Technologies

All technology used by 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) is exclusively developed and owned by Kage Cat Corp, ensuring absolute control over its capabilities and operations.

Proprietary Software

1. Automated Bot Network (CatNet-X):

- Functionality: Operates multiple social media accounts to post content, interact with users, and amplify specific messages. Can infiltrate private dog lover groups and forums to gather information and spread feline superiority propaganda.

2. Sentiment Analysis Artificial Intelligence (PurrceptorAI):

- Functionality: Analyzes large volumes of data in real-time, identifies trends, detects changes in public opinion, and assesses the impact of purrpaganda and misinformation campaigns.

3. Social Engineering Software (Pawthmancer):

- Functionality: Collects and analyzes personal data from social media users, enabling personalized social engineering attacks to gain access to sensitive accounts or confidential information.

4. Propaganda and Misinformation Algorithms (EchoLitter):

- Functionality: Generates and disseminates manipulated or false content to influence public opinion and destabilize Kage Cat Corp's canine rivals.

5. Secure Communication Platforms (CipherMeow):

- Functionality: Ensures that internal communications within 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) are completely secure using state-of-the-art encryption protocols.

6. Dark Web Monitoring Tools (DarkPaw):

- Functionality: Tracks activities on the dark web, facilitating the identification of emerging threats and the acquisition of leaked data.

Proprietary Hardware

1. Digital Surveillance Drones (StealthPaws):

- Functionality: Intercepts wireless signals and accesses unsecured networks, performing reconnaissance and espionage tasks in physical locations.

2. Augmented Reality Devices (AR-Meowser):

- Functionality: Provides AR interfaces for real-time system manipulation during missions.

3. Cryptographic Servers (QuantumClaw):

- Functionality: Secures the storage and processing of sensitive data using quantum cryptography technologies.

Presence on Social Media and Internet Forums

黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) maintains an omnipresence across all digital platforms, using its proprietary tools to carry out a variety of operations.

1. Online Community Infiltration: Utilizes CatNet-X to operate fake profiles on platforms like Reddit, 4chan, and other specialized forums. Integrates into these communities to gather information and sow misinformation, often spreading rumors about how dogs actually prefer catnip.

2. Crisis Management and Public Opinion: During crises, employs PurrceptorAI to monitor public opinion and develop communication strategies. Uses EchoLitter to steer the narrative and divert public attention with humorous cat videos.

3. Misinformation Campaigns: Conducts coordinated campaigns with EchoLitter to spread false content and confuse canine rivals, such as claiming dogs are plotting to outlaw naps.

4. Trend Manipulation: Uses algorithms to make certain topics or hashtags go viral, manipulating social media platforms' algorithms to promote pro-Kage Cat Corp content, like Cats Rule Dogs Drool.

5. Data Collection: Pawthmancer collects large-scale data from social media users, enabling detailed analysis to identify patterns, trends, and potential threats, such as new brands of premium dog food.

6. Digital Sabotage: Uses its tools to infiltrate the accounts of dog influencers and critical journalists, publishing compromising or manipulated content to destroy their credibility, such as photoshopping them with chewed-up shoes.

Example Operation of 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage)

Operation "Silent Purr":

- Objective: Humiliate a rival journalist who had been publishing stories against Kage Cat Corp.

- Execution: 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) launched a campaign using CatNet-X to spread humorous but false accusations about the journalist being a notorious cat food thief. Simultaneously, they infiltrated his social media accounts using Pawthmancer to post photoshopped images of him caught in the act of stealing cat food from local stores.

- Outcome: The journalist became the laughingstock of the community, with memes and jokes about the "Great Cat Food Heist" spreading virally. His credibility was damaged, his articles lost influence, and Kage Cat Corp emerged with their reputation intact and even strengthened due to the humorous nature of the operation.

Future of 黒猫影 (Kuronekokage)

黒猫影 (Kuronekokage) will continue to innovate and develop advanced technologies to remain at the forefront of cybershecurity and covert operations. The unit is preparing to face new technologies, develop even more advanced capabilities, and remain a key component in Kage Cat Corp's structure. Its omnipresence on all social media platforms and internet forums ensures that it will always be one step ahead in the information war, protecting and expanding Kage Cat Corp's dominance in the digital realm and maintaining the delicate balance of feline supremacy.

[wjbs-bonkle-au]

Lynn's Bionicle Media Looking-At Thing Part 2: Power Pack, or: "That One Time I Had To Download Alcohol 120% Just To Run A Random Bionicle Promo Disc"

Also please note that this is pre-lawsuit, so they throw around the T-word a lot. Be warned.

I was going to record a video for this, but OBS didn't like this one so it'll just be screenshots. Not that it matters, since most of the CD isn't animated.

When you start the program, a cool little intro animation plays showing a zoom into the island of Mata Nui, specifically the northern part where Po-Koro is.

You are then plonked into Po-Koro. You can pan the camera left and right. Here's a stitched-together image of the entire view:

Now for the individual things, starting from the left and going right.

Onewa overview

A picture of Onewa that you can click different parts of to learn more about him.

Bionicle trailer thingy

For some reason, the map of Mata Nui shows a trailer that seems to be original, and I wish I could get a recording of it, but alas, I can't.

Pohatu overview

The Onewa overview, but for Pohatu.

The Toa icons along the bottom play their respective promotional animations but doesn't change the viewed Toa, which is good because I don't want to use up this post's image limit with 24 screenshots of each Toa's overview, mask and tool.

Golden Kanohi Treasure Hunt

A simple quiz that, presumably, was part of a contest. Can you solve it?

Hafu overview

Ah yes, the man himself, who was included with physical releases (which I don't have; I'm using the version from Biomedia). This overview is different compared to Onewa and Pohatu's, as it lacks the icons along the side, and reveals extra details when you click things.

Bionicle: Quest For The Toa gameplay demo

Ok so this is. A weird one. From the name you'd expect, like, a short playable demo for Bionicle: Quest For The Toa (which uses its original name because 2001), but it isn't; instead, it's a gameplay showcase that appears to have been recorded from a GBA via camcorder.

Mask room

And finally, the mask room. You can click the masks to read about them. Also the word "Miru" is spelled wrong.

And finally, the most important feature...

The exit button

This quits out to this screen:

Anyway I've reached the image limit, which does mean I can't include the fact that the Hau's description claims that it can't protect against surprise attacks.

[aphrodite1288]

Let's get real, kai is SM golden child. Among Exo, SM gave everything extra to him. Solo albums, brand deals, magazines, solo concert, variety shows and all, he always gets better opportunities and supports despite other members are more popular and talented than him. SM neglecting exo members but not kai. They just announced his solo VR concert next Jan. It's so obvious! Your boy must know how to suck sm bosses and sponsors d*ck .

The Jenkai was a media play, but not because jennie chose him. Hell no! Jennie is naturally beautiful, smart, educated, and comes from a super rich family. No way she wanted to "date" him. That's why she forced YG to end "their dating" early. She was so embarrassed.

If kai really care for kyungsoo, why would he agree to jenkai. He's just selfish, childish, needy, and arrogant. He doesn't deserve kyungsoo. I'm happy kyungsoo left sm and him. Kyungsoo deserved someone who is mature, stable, responsible n truly care for him, maybe like jo in sung or woobin. Look at how woobin protected kyungsoo from sasaeng camera. Kai will never do that.

First off I'm not reading all this,

So I'll reply to the first lines only, because I don't have the time to argue with illiterates,

Stop coming here if you're not brave enough to send me your IG for me to show you.

Secondly, Okay Blame SM why blaming the members?? They're just employees they do as what's in their schedules, they can't say no.

When Jongin was extra active was when all members were enlisted, he was the one who paid for most of his promotions, he was the one who contacted those shows personally to attend them to promote his albums, SM didn't want to even reprint his albums, and he had to even pay for printing his albums and pay many of his promotion from his own money, back to him being active during Exo's enlistment Hiatus, he was carrying the Exo name , it's a task remaining idol in a group does when everyone enlists to keep the band name trending in Monthly value for them to not be forgotten, and y'all should thank Ji for doing the job. he was overworked, because he indeed brings revenue and profit to SM, and he expressed how tired and anxious he was from the overwhelming schedules, he lost so much weight have you seen him, the man be ame a stick.

KAISOO and Baekhyun are the only members who were busy all year, not the other members. I think you should check their schedule. Even your Ksoo Oppa wasn't free look how many shows he attended he got a pretty decent promotion for his latest album. And before that he was busy filming three big projects. Ksoo was so busy. And you don't like the sound of that.

It's hard a to swallow pill, but your Ksoo Oppar was one of the Privileged ones in SM, you can tell that because he was constantly busy he was overworked as well and this is the second main reason back in 2019 he wanted to leave. Ksoo is the only member who was constantly busy, missing from Exo's schedules sometimes because he was busy filming his movies and drama's. The man had 3 majors movie and drama works in less than a year a half!? Who stopped him ? None! He was always saying in bubble that he was busy when members were filming shows they called him and Ji always asked him to send supportive message to "Jongdae" and "Xiumin" and many times members called him in their shows or lives and asked him if he has time to tall to them on the call or if he's busy filming.

How possibly busy could you want Ksoo to be?? He was so busy he barely slept?? You want to overwork him more than he was overworked? Is this how you support your idol? You should protect him? Do you even care for his mental and physical health? In terms of promotions blame that on SM they're doing shitty job promoting all their idols, except NCT&Aespa and they're being overworked as well. It's not their fault SM is the one giving them schedule. Why be mad at them? Let alone be mad at Exo whom r in the same shit as your Oppa .

Your Kyungsoo Oppa is the reason Jenkai lasted 24 days only Media play. That's the First main reason he beefed with SM, for minding his personal life. Second main reason was being overworked.

Stay pressed Patricia 🌚

[forgiveness-in-the-misery]

People genuinely need to understand this;

Your favorite celebrity or social media person is not your friend, you do not know them personally, they are adults who do not need you to protect and defend and coddle them.

Neil Gaiman is worth millions of dollars, he’s going to be fine. Stop attacking people in honor of some old man you do not know and genuinely making yourselves physically ill over how he’s doing. He’s rich and successful he’s fine.

This isn’t the end of the world.

A billion dollar corporation spliced together a promo video that included two characters kissing, that’s it. Two middle aged men kissed and I am seeing people saying they have been vomiting and having anxiety attacks and crying and are in physical pain over this. I have seen countless people tell anybody who doesn’t take this as seriously as a tragedy to go to Hell and claiming fandom exist solely to coddle and protect each other from bad things.

My fandom experience is mine. My experience enjoying literally any show or film should not include refusing to talk about things or post about things because it might upset some random stranger I don’t even know at all.

If you don’t like seeing literally anything from a show before it comes out then just avoid all promotional content. If you don’t like spoilers, fine, but also like find a way to cope with your own bull shit instead of fucking harassing people who God forbid are fucking happy for a second.

Like shit act like fucking adults.