#this prevents corruption and you should use it for its purpose

[gayhenrycreel]

everyhing feels a bit shit right now, but its wonderful that so many people support the hīkoi. ACT is deeply unpopular right now. however leftists also need to get off their asses and vote whenever possible. dont forget the mayor elections. they have power in government and when you have leftist mayors youre more likely to get leftist MPs and then leftist PMs. if people stop collectively thinking their votes dont matter, we can actually make a difference. if your vote didn't matter they wouldn't try to get your vote

[comicsohwhyohwhy]

Arcane theory - Viktor's utopia and the eldritch horror

Sooooo been thinking. Clearly Viktor's 'healing' isn't actually healing, it's turning people into husks and vessels for some sort of arcane horror. Look at what Jayce sees when he walks through the camp and looks at the 'people', those images being overlaid really fast onto the supposedly serene faces (and also think about Salo not breathing and the like, and this sort of husk-face also appearing from Jayce's pov when he looks at him):

I fully believe Jayce sees the 'truth' here, and that's why he has to kill Viktor. As Viktor said in season one - 'Jayce, you have to destroy it. You have to. Promise me'. As he said beginning season two: 'I should have died. What am I? The hexcore killed Sky, Jayce.' This force is evil, and I'll come to what exactly it does and what it means for Viktor's arc in a moment.

And as I've said before, not only does Jayce kill Viktor with Viktor's blessing - the entity within Jayce, the 'second will' that herald Viktor feels - that's Viktor himself, the part of Viktor unsoiled by the corruption by the hexcore. We see this because the Jayce coming back after months within the hexcore carries traits of Viktor, he has the leg brace, the shoulder brace, he's Jayce, but he carries Viktor's 'essence'. It's Viktor's choice that this version of him causing so much evil in the world has to die. It's Viktor taking back the autonomy over himself that Jayce took from him when he changed him with the hexcore against his will.

This sort of split, two wills being at work, is imo exactly what's happening with the eldritch horror hexcore force in Viktor's body and mind too. I thiiiiink that Viktor's still fully in there, only totally under the thrall of that force and deceived by it into believing he's really healing people, and we see glimpses of him - e.g. when he refuses to use Vander for his own purposes. I think what's still purely Viktor is the Viktor we see on the astral plane, the one with the amber eyes that we know so well, the one who shows emotions and has facial expressions that we recognise.

This is the Viktor that ultimately allows Jayce to kill him - because that's what happens, the boy/husk leading Jayce to Viktor is under his control, after all, and Viktor, with all his amazing powers, doesn't even lift a finger to try and prevent Jayce from killing him. Maybe this Viktor has started to realise that he's being tricked and used, that he's bringing evil into the world.

So probably that's the Viktor (or a version of that) that lives within Jayce now too. And Sky, the supposedly benign 'guide', his inspiration - that's the hexcore, it's the form the eldritch horror takes to influence Viktor, to bend him to its will, to make him think he's healing when he's in fact killing and making a conduit for evil in this world. The hexcore knows that Viktor's feelings of remorse towards Sky make her the perfect form for toying with Viktor, for deceiving him.

Now, this is suuuch a mean arc I'll have to say. Viktor, who's always wanted to help people, whose main clash with Jayce was over the urgency of that need vs. Jayce's other ambitions, like being well respected within Piltover, ends up killing so many, doing so much harm, while thinking that he's doing good and healing people. I really hope that this won't just be it - Jayce managing to kill Viktor, the Viktor-essence within Jayce evaporating. I do hope that this character does get another chance to actually do good, a less hopeless ending. But it's Arcane, it can be VERY MEAN AND TRAGIC, so we'll seeeeeee what they do with my fave tragic twink...

[eugenedebs1920]

The situation we find ourselves in is on account of 2 things! Democrats kind hearted, trusting nature, and Republicans lust for relevancy, power and their spinelessness.

Trump should be either, in prison/Guantanamo bay, or on trial heading towards one of those locations.

The corruption is infuriating! I’m no law scholar or a constitutional lawyer, just some dumb plumber, but the fourteenth amendment section 3 CLEARLY states:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President or Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military under the United States or under any State, who having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature,or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemy thereof.

It’s not hard to comprehend what they were articulating. It’s not hard to understand their meaning in some textualism nonsense! Simple! If you, as an American holding federal office, rebelled against or staged a coup, albeit failed or otherwise, violated the oath you took, to protect and defend, the Constitution of the United States, you are disqualified from holding any federal position again! Simple!

To say this Supreme Court isn’t partisan. To say they aren’t corrupt, can only be attested to being deaf blind and dumb, or pure partisan hackery! Shame on them! Shame on Mitch McConnell, and frankly shame on garbage MAGA! It is clear the simple minded loyalty far outweighs the Constitution to them. It is easy to see the sycophancy holds more reverence to them than their nation. The lack of foresightedness to the consequences of their allegiance to one man, one party, one view of the United States has potential to result in its downfall. For when the structures of government are burdened to the ground, in their ashes lie the remnants of democracy, with our republic wafting away like smoke from the rubble.

What will be built upon the heap of a once free and prosperous nation, will be the unqualified craftsmanship of the terrorist responsible for its demise. Raised on the flimsy ground of oligarchs and plutocrats, a foundation reinforce with the same seditionists who oversaw the demolition. With its structure made, not for the people, but for those who seek its exploitation. A decor of fascism and oppression hanging on the walls of tyranny, portraits resembling an illusion of what once was. Above head the autocratic shingles drip the rewards to its inhabitants poured down from the servitude of the constituency. This flimsy construct of a building erected for the benefit of the few, by the many, will find its supports fail time and time again, only worsening the conditions upon those whose labor constructed it.

The whole purpose of the tripartite system, the whole reasoning behind checks and balances, the entire point of the three branches of government was to prevent consolidation of power, not to enhance it! With a minority rule this has been achieved.

In their gullibility Democrats, liberals stood by assuming the structures of our Constitution would hold. Actively watching this demolition take place. Hardly putting forth a struggle against it. Their morality prohibiting the defense of democracy in some self righteous weakness against tactics of corruption not on the same grounds of that in which this code of conduct would give good grace. When one comes to dismantle the very structure of your republic you do not stand as a nail but as an iron beam. Not all can be trusted, not all have a standard of ethical conduct upon which they stand. You cannot win a boxing match when your opponent shows up with a machete.

It is the trust from the left that allowed these attacks on our Constitution to occur as much as it was demonsterous betrayal of it from the right.

[the-most-faithful]

Hello, I hope you are well. What do you think about the dark arts being bad? I think they are to a certain extent but any spell does damage so what's the difference? J.K Rowling doesn't even know what the dark arts are, could you give your opinion on this please?

Hey hello, yes I'm fine (apart from the heat here in Italy) You asked a super interesting question. Let's say that in the saga there is no clear explanation of what the dark arts are, the only canonical definition is the one that Snape gives us which is very poetic but unclear.

"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible." — Severus Snape's description of the Dark Arts

The Wizarding World definition doesn't help much either:

Dark Arts referred to any magic that was mainly used to control, harm or kill its target. Brewing harmful potions, using hexes and curses, and breeding dark creatures could be illegal, not only because of the terrible consequences of using it but also for the corrupting nature of the practice which affected the practitioner themselves. - wizardingworld.com

I think it's all about intention. Let me explain, magic is not good or bad in itself, it's like a knife, you can use it to cut tomatoes or to hurt someone, it's up to you, but in itself magic is just a tool and depends on who uses it. Now let's talk clearly, the world of Harry Potter is beautiful but it is lacking in naivety, practically every spell is potentially harmful. A simple Diffindo that is used to cut branches could seriously hurt a person to the point of killing them, yet it is not considered dark magic, why? For the same reason that having a knife in the house is not illegal. It is not the object or the spell itself that is dangerous, or rather it is not born with that purpose. Here we return to the intention, everything that follows is my interpretation.

Dark spells were born expressly with evil intentions, aimed at hurting the target.

The Avada Kedavra is the most obvious, kill and in the magical world it is the worst thing you can do, it is the act that breaks the soul.

The Cruciatus was born to torture.

The Iperius to take away the free will of a living being.

Other Dark Spells consist of creating Inferi that is disrespecting corpses and using them as puppets.

The Sectumsempra leads to the target's exsanguination and unlike the Diffindo is very difficult to stop.

The Engorgio Skullus swells a person's head painfully.

So all Dark Spells are clearly born with a negative intent and no matter how they are used, they always have a harmful effect. BUT, and this is an interesting point, it is a simplistic view, even “neutral” magic could be used for evil, but it cannot be denied, otherwise wizards should be prevented from doing anything, while Dark Magic is not always evil.

An Avada Kedavra apparently kills without pain, it does not break the victim's soul and from what we see in the saga it can be an act of mercy, see Snape with Dumbledore. Could it be used as a form of euthanasia? Obviously I'm going ahead with theories, but the morality of the wizarding world is very malleable. The Unforgivables are such and yet many “good” wizards use them. The Aurors used the Cruciatus and Avada Kedavra against the Death Eaters during the war with the idea of ​​“fighting on equal terms”.

This is a delicate point because there is a risk of overriding morality and going over to the other side. If everything can be legitimate for defense, it goes to excess. And I think this is exactly the point. In reality, If someone attacks you, you are entitled to defend yourself but there is a limit, if you get to the excess you pass on the wrong side. Therefore neutral spells are legitimate, until you cross the limit. Dark Magic, on the other hand, is born beyond the limit and one can only try to "justify" them or use them for specific non-evil cases, but they are exceptions.

I don't know if I actually answered your question, it's a topic that deserves to be debated. Thanks for bringing this up, and sorry for the length of the post.

[schafpudel]

Epidemiology of the Raven's Blood

Part 0: Prologue

Realistically, the blood does things because it's convenient to the plot of the anime, and no deeper thought needs to be put in than that. However, while it does explain inconsistencies in its writing, it's boring and not fun to my pattern-seeking brain. I like to piece together coherent internal logic to stuff in fiction, even if I know the authors themselves didn't think that hard about it. It's fun to me!

At the same time, Princess Tutu's meta-fictional conceit does give us some wiggle room to borrow the Doylist understanding and smuggle it back into a Watsonian explanation. So...

In-universe, I think, the purpose of the Raven’s Blood can be understood as a plot device to easily convert a separate “character” and their body into a narrative extension of the Raven; that this is why Drosselmeyer would write it into the logic of his story. Bored of a character you introduced previously and want to heighten the stakes? They're a toadie of the Raven now. And when we go a level down in fictionality...

To the Raven, other living things exist to be exploited. The only use you can have, beyond being a meal, is being a pawn who can get it what it wants – and what it wants is to consume. Like some ancient castle-bound vampire or wicked dragon, its power and intelligence are ultimately in service of a simple predatory desire. If you are neither edible nor manipulable, you are simply a nuisance.

Diseases and parasites will manipulate pain and pleasure, fear and love, the body and the brain. But while a real disease or parasite’s goal in psychological and physiological manipulation is to reproduce, to turn the infected into a means by which to spread itself to new hosts... the Raven's curse is uninterested in this. What matters, to the Raven, is that the cursed becomes a minion and a pawn, who can bring its prey closer to its own mouth.

Part 1: Lay All Your Love On Me

Did you know rabies induces spasms of fear and hallucinations in its victims, to get them to bite? That the characteristic fear of water is caused by the virus tightening its victims throats if they even think of drinking, all to the end of preventing the miserable animal from washing away its contagion-rich saliva? It presses levers and pushes buttons of abject misery on the control panel of the animal, on its quest to get what it wants.

One symptom of the Raven’s blood illustrated by Mytho’s progression that fascinates me is pain. This is not simply a magic juice that makes you evil; it is a sickness.

Let’s look at the the scene in episode 19, where Kraehe dances a pas-de-deux with (a clearly pained, unwilling, and unhappy) Mytho to try and convince him to “give in” to the Raven’s Blood and become her prince. She succeeds, causing Mytho to become possessed by Raven!Mytho, who immediately retaliates that he’s owed her love as a prince and that she should love him more, and him alone. (Strange, as Kraehe/Rue has never once indicated that she has any romantic feelings towards anyone else at all…)

What’s odd is what happens immediately after this point. Mytho’s eyes widen, as if what he’s just said has triggered some kind of… realization. We then see him tremble and close his eyes as they shift from pink to gold and back, indicating – as always – either a struggle between Raven!Mytho and “the Real Mytho,”or a struggle by Mytho against the Raven’s blood influence. (It often seems the show isn’t entirely sure whether to treat Raven!Mytho is a corrupted mental state and therefore part of Mytho, or as an intrusive raven persona possessing an agency-less Mytho’s body against his will.)

Mytho, once again under the blood’s control, pushes Kraehe away and stumbles off, clutching himself in a self-hug as he mutters about not having enough love. The crows rejoice as Kraehe looks on sadly.

This is clearly, from context, not just about Raven!Mytho needing to acquire love for sacrifices, because demanding more love from Kraehe would not accomplish that goal. He feels like he needs love, exclusively directed at him, from as many sources as possible. Viscerally, like a hunger or an addiction. And it hurts. The audience is invited to share Rue’s concern and sadness at this pitiful sight.

(This narrative choice *gets* at me a little, because we are not normally meant to sympathize with Raven!Mytho. By and large, he is treated as an unambiguously evil Other that has usurped the “real” Mytho’s body and identity. Yet here, he elicits pity. The monster in the prince is pitiful.)

Here’s the same body language earlier, in episode 15, as Raven!Mytho meets Pique to sacrifice her:

Saying he needs her love immediately reads as an act of manipulation: “only you can give me what I need” as emotional priming for the ritual phrase that will turn her into a willing sacrifice. It also reads as simply a statement that he needs her for the purpose of the sacrifice. (It is, of course, able to be said openly because Pique does not have the context to know this, and accordingly run the fuck away.)

But going back after episode 19, this moment (and several others, on a rewatch) feels a little... re-contextualized. All the above is still true, yes. But it also seems that Raven’s Blood Mytho really does feel like he needs other people’s love, on a visceral, gnawing level.

And the Raven eats love.

'I'm in control of the situation', Raven!Mytho said, sweating, "I'm not getting owned,"

If a real parasite did this - if, say, there was some animal that rewired its victims brains in such a way that they could only feel relief from pain when taking steps towards feeding it or its young - it would be internet famous for its insidiousness. Can't you imagine? There'd be a Bogleech.com article and everything.

As Mytho’s condition progresses towards its final stage from episode 21 onwards, we see these feelings explicitly infect the psyche of Mytho further, shown physically trembling as he describes his disorientation and confusion:

By the end of episode 23, Mytho's... condition has run its full course. Yet the pain continues, and it only gets more obvious that these are spasms of literal, physical pain. In episode 24, Mytho shudders in pain as he screams, clutches his chest, does some agitated fouettés, bows over in pain again, and then jumps out the door as he begs for somebody, anybody to dance with him.

We also get confirmation that the physical pain is accompanied by emotional pain, such as intensified feelings of loneliness:

(And, judging from other scenes, as well as Rue's behavior, intensified jealousy too.)

But Mytho cannot get anyone to dance with him, in this state.

(Saying the Raven "awakened" him, in episode 19 - did he mean the suite of demonic powers that the Raven's Blood has granted him? Did he mean the uncharacteristic charisma, eloquence, and manipulative cunning that burned in him like a fever while under its power? Those boons were all just to make it easier for him to seduce prey to feed the Raven. He loses them all once he's outlived that purpose.)

(No need for the infected slowly lure prey in with a silvered tongue and honeyed charms when they have a big strong beak to peck hearts out of chest, after all.)

He is no longer useful as a lure for prey.

His only remaining use to the Raven is as food himself.

Part 2: Serving Your Heart On A Platter

(In its own post on account of the image limit.)

For now, though, our conclusions:

1. Mytho's life is terrible. It is known.

2. Rue probably suffers from magically and emotionally induced chronic pain!!! and has her entire life!!!

Thanks for coming to my Lecture. See you next time for Part 2.

[chronicler-of-narrative]

Hello genshin tumblr!

So, making good on my promise, i return to tell you about my first and main oc: Sigurd!

(Art made by the fantastic @the-fallen-aesthetics, go and show them some love! They're an incredible multi-fandom artist!)

Now, before i get into his backstory, I want to point out a small detail regarding his desogn: How, unlike most genshin characters, Sigurd appears to be masked (yes, I know Xiao, Freminet and Gaming all put on headwear during their bursts, but I dont count that). But, what if I told you that in fact, this is Sigurd's face? That Sigurd is not the man, but the mask?

So, with that narrative hook added to convince you read more, here's the gist:

In the kingdom of Khaenriah, there existed two noble brothers. One of them was Sigurd. The two saw themselves as fierce rivals, and they were pretty evenly matched, until one day, when a squabble taken too far led Sigurd to killong his brother with an axe

Eventually, Sigurd's crime was discovered, and so he was put on trial, with a mask over his face to indicate his sinner status and to prevent him the shame of being known. Though, as a result of some shady dealings between the court and an enigmatic acquaintance of Sigurd's, instead of finding himself in the gallows, Sigurd instead found himself in the dungeon, still wearing that same mask, although now, curiously...He was holding a greataxe.

For the punishment was, ironically enough, for Sigurd to continue engaging in the very crime that had put him there, though this time his victims were the worst of the worst. Sigurd was now a captive executioner.

Little did Khaenri'ah's court know, howevery that instead of providing Sigurd with repentance, they had instead created a monster.

After being locked up for so long in a dark, dusty tunnel surrounded by naught but corpses and sin, Sigurd began to go mad: In his eyes, he was no longer a criminal enduring punishment, but a righteous champion of justice who was graciously given the honor or disposing of the nation's filth.

In fact, it got so bad that, even when his sentence was up, the locks on Sigurd's dungeon grew ever stronger. The very people who prosecuted him grew so terrified of the violent lunatic stuck in their basement that they just started throwing the most banal of criminals at him, if only in hopes to keep him sated.

Eventually, the Cataclysm came. And Sigurd, now fully convinced of his noble purpose, thought it the perfect time to leave the dungeon in hopes of saving his people from the influx of monsters. Though, he never did reach the warzone, for an encounter with said enigmatic acquaintance lead to Sigurd's vision fading to black.

And yet, when a corrupt Garde named Lestat, desperate to avoid judgement for his actions, chanced upon a strange mask washed up on Fontaine's shores, he had no way of knowing that by dawning it (in hopes of using it as a disguise)...He would end up unleashing a madman with 500 years of built up vitriol.

So yea, thats about it. Had to rewrite this whole post once because im an idiot who forgot to hit save to drafts. But yea, hope you guys enjoy him, and my ask box is always open. I also originally had a fic go go along with it, but since i didnt quite like how it came out, its currently rotting in my notes app. However, should you folks like my little executioner, I might be more inclined to actually fully work on it (which I might do anyway, but im really not sure).

If you took the time to read all the way to hear, thank you so much and have an incredible day!

[indignantlemur]

Did a thinky think while on the elliptical- now I gotta know if Andorians have any awards like our Nobel or Pulitzer.

-Horta-in-Charge

This is a fascinating question! Thank you!

Alright, to set the baseline I'll define what the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes are actually awarded for.

The Nobel Prize is granted to individuals and organizations that have made contributions toward the improvement of human welfare, such as chemistry, medicine and physics. This is an international prize. The Pulitzer Prize acknowledges journalism that has best exhibited “distinguished journalism, outstanding writing and photography. This is specific to the United States, though there are international equivalents.

Or, to really render it down to bare bones: the Nobel is for improvements and advancements for our entire species, through science, while the Pulitzer (and its international equivalents) is for contributions to culture in the form of art and writing, including journalism.

So, looking at the purpose of the awards, I think it would be reasonable to assume that Andorians would have something in the same vein, if not necessarily exactly the same. Since Emigre takes place at the beginning of the Federation, however, I imagine that there's still some significant separation between Andorian awards and ceremonies and everyone else's. The Federation is still in its infancy, and while I think eventually everyone will be on the same page it's not quite reasonable to me to assume that Andoria would just dump it's old and familiar ways of doing things and adopt a whole new system right away. In fact, I can't see Andorians as I've envisioned them ever really getting rid of their original versions of anything.

So, what would prestigious awards for Andorians look like?

In previous asks, we've established that Andoria is run by the civil government, the Imperial Guard, and the Guilds, all of which function under the umbrella of the Emperor. Thus, it makes sense to me that the most prestigious and sought-after awards stem from these four sources.

Let's start with the Guilds. Guild awards would be primarily for lifetime excellence and contributions to Andorian culture, I think, and would be selected by a council of senior members from each Guild. To prevent any corruption or internal politicking, no one from the same Guild as a nominee would be permitted to vote on their selection, and generally the council members voting would be required to remain segregated from the others until the voting was complete. It's not fool-proof, and there have been scandals in the past where it was discovered that so-and-so gave 'incentives' for someone to vote a particular way, which usually had everyone else up in arms about it for weeks afterwards while the whole thing was investigated by a neutral third party.

The civil government has very little to do with awards. In the past they used to present awards to individuals who, through their position, introduced revolutionary laws or worked to shape the future of Andoria, but the general populace actually protested the idea. It felt, to many, to be too much like a bunch of politicians patting themselves on the back for the work of their underlings. The awards were very quickly declared defunct, and most Clans who have these awards in their family history find them a little embarrassing.

The Imperial Guard is less about awards and more about medals and merits, and individuals are recognized for their accomplishments based on performance reviews, recommendations by superiors, and quite often by recommendations from their peers as well. It's very common for a Guardsman to be recognized by their peers and put forward for a commendation, often with the thought that what benefits the individual is to the benefit of all. The highest possible commendation is given directly from the Emperor (and/or his proxy) for exceptional service to Andoria and her people, though it should be noted that this award is often given posthumously. The last military award given by the Emperor was given to Thy'lek Shran alongside a promotion to the rank of General for his accomplishments in the field in service to Andoria.

And now, we look at the Imperial Family. Very, very rarely will the Emperor (or Empress, as the case may be) give out any kind of commendation or award himself or via a proxy, but when it happens it's a big deal. Most often, it's for a Hero of Andoria (who is almost always a Guardsman, and usually a deceased one at that) but now and then someone contributes something so fundamentally valuable to the culture of Andoria that the Emperor recognizes them. The last cultural contribution that warranted such an award was the work of an Andorian woman who personally lead a small team to excavate and translated ancient texts carved into the ice surrounding an extinct Clan's holdings describing the roots of early Andorian civilization.

Hopefully this covers everything, but feel free to ask for clarification on any points I might have been a bit vague on!

[therevelationofjohn]

"The Theion." From the Book of Revelation, 19: 19-21.

The Rhythm of God's Redemption continues!

John confirms the existence of the inexplicable Self underneath the same flesh and blood all of us share. He says only the good and wise things other people do should be allowed to rub off on the Self. The icky and nasty, the cruel, corrupt, senseless, and ignorant stuff, that has to be eradicated, and in public so everyone sees and learns.

Next, John does what all Torah texts must do, he creates a stochastic progression by mixing elements from earlier in the text with those which are more current. In this node of the model, he says a false prophet caused people to mark themselves and worship the Beast. John says the beast is captured, the words of a true Pophet of Yah kill him, and the birds, the media talk about it all day long.

Do not forget we are working within a massive positive Mitzvah called a Simchat Torah, a message from God to stop the war and violence and delusion that are troubling our world and observe the Shabbos instead. A false prophet that prevents the rolling of the Simchat Torah in defiance of the Mitzvah is a very bad thing.

The false prophet who performed signs=2112, ךאיב, techa'iv, "a painful hobbyhorse."

Horses are used for the purposes of pursuing escaped slaves or wanted criminals. They are not needed during the Shabbos, which is why they are forbidden.

In the context of Chabad-Lubavitch, a "hobbyhorse" is a term used to describe an issue or idea that someone becomes overly passionate about, often to the point of obsession or disproportionate focus, which can sometimes be seen as a distraction from more important matters. 

A false prophet is the antithesis of Shabbos and one will not attain to the Self and learn one's real name if one follows a false prophet. If you listen to Donald Trump anytime at all, you will hear him say the border is a problem because of fentanyl, DEI is wrecking the country, and the government is too expensive, but he never once speaks of solving our problems, making people happy, cooling the oceans or the atmosphere down, nothing good comes out of that man's mouth but he is treated like he is a god. So the positive Mitzvot we need to work on include ways get rid of him, fix the damage, and reassure people the Gospels are real, true, correct, proper, and fixed firmly in our hearts. Once we agree to do this, John says we will see, we will automatically learn more about the Self:

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 

20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 

21 The rest were killed with the sword��coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

All delusions about violence and impropriety, rape, murder, thievery, and false religions must be dumped like Sodom and Gomorrah into the Lake of Sulfur.

The Lake of Sulfur=688, םףח‎, mephach‎, "breathing out disillusionment."

Sulfur was one of the few remedies for disease available to the ancient world. Once one treats a fungus like disbelief or blasphemy with sulfur it does not return.

The Hebrew word for "sulfur" is "תֵּאֵי" (thei-on), which is the Septuagint's translation of the Hebrew term and shares the root of the verb "to burn, to smoke".

Here's a more detailed explanation:

Hebrew Term:The Hebrew word for sulfur, as translated by the Septuagint, is "תֵּאֵי" (thei-on). 

Septuagint Translation:The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, uses the Greek word "θεῖον" (theion) to translate the Hebrew term for sulfur. 

Meaning of the Greek Word:The Greek word "θεῖον" (theion) shares the root of the verb "θυμιάω" (thumiáō), which means "to burn, to smoke". 

Historical Usage:Pliny the Elder writes that sulfur was widely used as a fumigant, medicine, and bleaching agent. 

We know the false prophecies of the Republican Party and its President are destroying life on earth. We need to inhale the sulfur, cure ourselves of their lies and exhale them away forever.

v. 19: Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth. The Number is 6850, ס‎ח‎ן, sachan, "indeed, form a social identity with your neighbor."

Sachan is yet another modification of the base modron of achan.

As I stated in the prior frame, the more we "learn about the mystery in a just way" AKA achan, we eke out more justice for ourselves and our neighbors. In addition to this we perform sachan, and realize we all enjoy and suffer from the same delusions. Some we should cure, like hatred of black people and the poor. Others like the Commandment to write your lover's name on your thigh, we can maintain.

Either way, everyone wants to know the Self, their secret identty and how it performs its mysterious work within a safe and just clime.

v. 20: But the beast was captured. To capture is to assimilate information. When I say 2+2=4, and you know exactly what I mean, that is a capture. The Kabbalah means something is also set free.

In Hebrew, the verb "שבה" (shaba) means "to take captive," while the verb "אחז" (ahaz) means "to take hold of, seize or grasp". 

שבה (shaba):This verb, as explained by Abarim Publications, means "to take captive". It conveys the idea of a military or paramilitary force subduing a foe and taking their possessions. In the New Testament, this military term came to illustrate Jesus' redemptive mission of setting captives free. 

The Number is 6850, סחן‎, sahan, The verb שאן (sha'an) basically means to be undisturbed: to be comfy and unmoved to the limit of being lethargic. It occurs less than half a dozen times. YHWH promises that Jacob shall return and be comfy and at ease, and no one will be able to scare him (Jeremiah 30:10).

=Do not fear God, only observe the Passover Seder, the Shabbos and Shabbat and define the Self. The part about naming the thigh is sweet too.

As John said, if persons want to remain affiliated with the false Church and its boy raping Pope or the Republican Party, then that is their choice. You are obviously mistaken, your faith is false,your behaviors are repugnant and despicable and you shall not be loved by your neighbors who will probably try to destroy you.

As for the others, Jesus is gone, but Jeshua, His Celestial Self is real, He is watching and waiting, and this Revelation is His effort to turn the world towards Him once again.

v. 21: The rest were killed with the sword. The Number is 7540, ahem, "let the lion have its prey/the way for the crowd to deal with its anguished heart."

This node on the model then represents how God wants us to deal with the betrayal of America of its people and its neighbors and resume our spiritual journeys. In the passage above, He says to illustrate the redemptive mission "with comfort and ease, and set the captives free."

[almaqead]

"The Spread." Surah 30, Ar Rum, "Stripped!"

We continue our discussion on how to build up and tear down a section of the Quran. One should first understand why the Quran was written. It is not a random religious diatribe, and has specific measurements for success. One is obvious, to teach man how to avoid temptation and become corrupt. This has a superordinate goal, to be magnificent, wise, merciful, especially merciful." In addition to cultivation of a a pervasive cleanliness in governmnet and the society at large, one must feel the ways others feel without suspicion or fear.

So Muhammad said a meeting of the faiths was need to discuss how to accomplish across racial, ethnic, language, and economic borders. He was very far ahead of his time, we are very far behind ours.

Without empathy, man is not considered sentient by God or the gods. Without it, one cannot properly love or be loved and this Muhammad explains is the end point of the study of the Quran, to learn how to come to life, called the "soundest knowledge."

30: 19-26:

"He brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living. And He gives life to the earth after its death. And so will you be brought forth ˹from the grave˺.

One of His signs is that He created you from dust, then��behold!—you are human beings spreading over ˹the earth˺.

And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.

And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and colours. Surely in this are signs for those of ˹sound˺ knowledge.

And one of His signs is your sleep by night and by day ˹for rest˺ as well as your seeking His bounty ˹in both˺. Surely in this are signs for people who listen.

And one of His signs is that He shows you lightning, inspiring ˹you with˺ hope and fear.1 And He sends down rain from the sky, reviving the earth after its death. Surely in this are signs for people who understand.

And one of His signs is that the heavens and the earth persist by His command. Then when He calls you out of the earth just once, you will instantly come forth.

And to Him belong all those in the heavens and the earth—all are subject to His Will.1"

Commentary:

That feeling we have when we see other persons, the one we cannot explain, that is the feeling we must capitalize upon. When we turn it off, hell on earth is unleashed. Surely everyone understands this.

All arguments for and against an issue confronting mankind that employ the Quran must explain how they will expand the reach of compassion and the blessings of heaven to those that go without. This is the very meaning of what is called the lightning of Allah, "touched by the Most High." Everyone else is a hypocrite.

I am desperate to see man withdraw from its theaters of pain and tend to the needs of the wounded as the Messengers have been asking us to do. Then we must as the Quran states do what is necessary to prevent further scarring. For this purpose alone are all believers called out of sleep into the world of the living.

[removeload-academy]

Understanding PHP Access Modifiers: A Guide to Object-Oriented Programming

In object-oriented programming (OOP) with PHP, access modifiers play a crucial role in defining how the properties and methods of a class can be accessed. These modifiers help encapsulate data, enhancing security and ensuring that the internal state of an object is protected from unintended modifications. This article explores PHP access modifiers, their types, and practical applications to help you master this essential aspect of PHP programming.

1. What Are PHP Access Modifiers?

Definition and Purpose

PHP access modifiers, also known as visibility keywords, determine the accessibility of class members (properties and methods) from outside the class. They help control the level of access to an object's attributes and methods, promoting better data encapsulation and reducing the risk of accidental data corruption.

2. Types of Access Modifiers in PHP

a. Public

The public access modifier allows class members to be accessed from anywhere—inside the class, by subclasses, and by external code. This is the least restrictive access level and is typically used for methods and properties that need to be freely accessible.

b. Protected

The protected access modifier restricts access to class members to the class itself and its subclasses. It is used to hide sensitive data or functionality that should not be directly accessible from outside the class but can be inherited and used by derived classes.

c. Private

The private access modifier restricts access to class members strictly to the class itself. No outside code, including subclasses, can access private members. This level of access is used to encapsulate and protect internal data from being modified or accessed directly.

3. Practical Applications of Access Modifiers

a. Encapsulation

Encapsulation is a fundamental OOP principle that involves bundling the data and methods that operate on the data within a single unit or class. By using access modifiers, you can ensure that the internal state of an object is protected and only modified through well-defined methods.

b. Inheritance and Overriding

Access modifiers control how methods and properties are inherited and overridden in subclasses. protected members can be accessed and overridden in derived classes, while private members cannot.

4. Best Practices for Using Access Modifiers

a. Use private for Sensitive Data

For data that should not be accessed or modified outside the class, use the private modifier. This ensures that your class maintains control over its internal state and prevents unintended interference.

b. Prefer protected for Inheritance

When designing classes meant to be extended, use protected for properties and methods that should be available to subclasses but hidden from external code.

c. Expose Public Interfaces

Use public access for methods and properties that need to be accessed from outside the class. Ensure that these public interfaces are well-defined and robust to prevent misuse.

Conclusion

Understanding and correctly using PHP access modifiers is essential for effective object-oriented programming. By utilizing public, protected, and private, you can enhance the security and maintainability of your code, adhere to OOP principles, and build more reliable applications. For further exploration of PHP's access control features, refer to the PHP Access Modifiers Guide. Master these concepts to elevate your PHP programming skills and build more robust software.

[justrepairnet]

The Ultimate Guide iPads repair services in Dubai

In the vibrant city of Dubai, where technological advancements permeate every corner of life, the iPad epitomizes convenience and flexibility. For work, entertainment or education purposes, numerous people have come to appreciate having these kinds of devices online all the time. Nevertheless, like any other electronic gadgets, iPads can develop problems that may hamper their effectiveness.

Why Professional iPad Repair Services in Dubai?

Getting professional repair services done on your iPad guarantees you high-quality service along with genuine parts aimed at securing your investment. Here are a few reasons why professional repairs are always preferred:

Expertise and Experience: In Dubai’s professional repair centers, there are skilled technicians who have dealt with iPads from different models before. They understand how to detect and correct various issues owing to such skills set as well as special tools.

Use of Genuine Parts: Reliable repair companies replace broken sections with authentic Apple components; hence this ensures durability and efficiency of your machine. The use of counterfeit elements can further damage it leading to its short span.

Comprehensive Warranties: Services and parts are warranted by approved repair centers. Being under such warranty, you will be calm and prevent future troubles.

Efficient and Reliable Service: Dubai repair shops are known for their quick service. They try to reduce the time when your iPad is not working in order to ensure that all repairs are done fast and properly.

Common iPad Problems and Professional Solutions

If you understand some of the widespread problems faced by ipad users in Dubai which sometimes might demand professional repair services, then it can help you make better choices. Here are several frequently occurring problems as well as answers to them:

Screen Damage

Cracked or shattering screens are the most common issues affecting ipad users. When it falls or hits something, the screen breaks making it difficult for someone to use it anymore.

Solution: Using real replacements, expert repair centers change a broken screen with a new one; thus, both the initial appearance and functionality of this gadget can be recovered.

Battery Disintegration

Gradually, iPad batteries may fall apart, which results in shorter battery life and unexpected shutdowns. The problem is more common with older or heavily used devices.

Solution: Experienced professionals can install a new battery so that the device’s overall performance and its battery life get improved.

Water Incursion

When an iPad comes into contact with water or other liquids, major damages can happen inside it. Immediate action should be taken regarding water damage to prevent further decay of the gadget.

Solution: Repair services by Dubai based professionals are capable of diagnosing and fixing water affected iPads; by use of specialized gadgets as well as techniques to clean and refurbish the device.

Problems on Charging

Maybe you have noticed that your iPad does not charge as usual? This issue might be due to a cable, port or a battery. Consequently, your ability to use the device may be hampered because of this challenge.

Solution: By identifying the source of the fault and replacing faulty parts, repair centers make sure that your tablet charges normally.

Software Malfunctions

Your iPad’s performance can be hampered by software problems such as unresponsive apps, freezing and system crashes. These glitches may arise from outdated software or corrupt files.

Solution: Technicians can perform software updates, diagnostics, and repairs to resolve these issues, ensuring your iPad operates smoothly.

Tips on Finding the Greatest IPad Repair Service in Dubai

There are many repair hubs available in various locations but finding the right one can be difficult; thus here are some hints that will help you find the most valuable IPad repair service in Dubai:

Research and Reviews

You will get some important details like customers’ satisfaction rate hence know where to take your gadget for fixing.

Check for Certifications

Be certain that your selected repair center has authorized technicians who have been trained and certified accordingly. In most cases official centers have clear visibility of their credentials.

Ask About Warranty

A well-regarded service provider should give you warranties regarding their repairs as well as replacement parts used during the entire process. By doing this, they will always be responsible when anything happens to your device after it has been repaired.

Price Comparison

Cost should not be the only determinant, but it is good to compare costs associated with different repair centers. Be wary of very low charges because they may imply the use of inferior parts.

Timeliness Consideration

Time is money, especially if you depend on your iPad for your work or daily activities. Ask how long it takes before your device is back after repairs.

What the Future of iPad Repair Services in Dubai

With time, iPad repair services in Dubai have improved as well. some of them are:

On-Site Fixing

Many repair shops have come up with on-site fixing services to cater for their clients’ busy schedules in Dubai; this includes technicians who can come to fix your iPad at your own location, hence convenient and time-saving.

Environmentally Friendly Methods

Repair centers have embraced green practices due to a growing emphasis on environmental sustainability; these include recycling used parts and reducing electronic waste that ultimately leads to a healthier environment.

Wide-ranging Services

A complete service approach is provided by several stores as they venture in other gadgets produced by Apple such repairing iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches apart from just iPad repairs. This way, all the needs for the device repair are satisfied at one place.

Inference

For Dubai’s iPad professional repair services they offer a credible efficient solution to your device once it has issues. Trusting your iPad with genuine parts, master technicians, and full guarantees is what you need to do. When you rely on a recognized repair firm and keep all information about most recent improvements in mind then you can be sure that your iPad will serve you well for years.

Dubai's leading fix agencies are equipped with everything required to sort anything from cracked screens, battery problems as well as issues related to water intrusion or software errors. Therefore, take your broken iPad to an authorized repair service provider so that they could make it work properly again.

[carolinemillerbooks]

New Post has been published on Books by Caroline Miller

New Post has been published on https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com/musings/the-truth-is-the-truth/

The Truth Is The Truth

She’s a star within the Evangelical community, but I won’t identify her for reasons that will become clear.  We met decades ago when I was an elected official. Though I am an atheist, I treated members of the religious right with the same courtesy I gave to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (Madd) when they chose to give public testimony. That’s how it should be. Besides, I understood their reasoning and knew it was heartfelt. If a fertilized ovum is a person, then it has a soul, and destroying a soul would be a sin. I never interrupted to comment that soul and sin had no meaning in secular law. Nor did I point out their logic was flawed. If a soul is immortal, then destroying it would be impossible. What Evangelicals and I do agree upon is that society requires moral underpinnings–an admission that explains how I came to meet a celebrity of the faithful. I was late in arriving at the luncheon to which I was a guest. Sliding into the chair reserved for me, I offered a general apology and then introduced myself to the woman seated at my left. She told me she’d flown into town that day to be the keynote speaker at a spiritual rally that evening.  A woman in her early thirties, she bore a strong resemblance to Doris Day, her smile welcoming and crowned by a row of white teeth. Observing that she was confined to a wheelchair, I never doubted that she lived a life of courage.   We chatted over salads and I learned she was traveling across the country, fundraising to provide wheelchairs for the needy. My ears pricked up like a dog’s at the sound of an electronic can opener when I heard her.  Many of my constituents could have used a wheelchair. I suggested we might work together.     The woman shook her head to reject my suggestion. Her wheelchairs, she clarified, were intended for potential church members.   “You use the chairs to recruit the poor,  you mean?” If I’d sounded incredulous, she didn’t get my drift.  Instead, her lips parted in a dazzling smile.    “Exactly!” By some miracle, I managed to hold my tongue, though I wanted to reply that the church enjoyed tax subsidies, a fact that should entitle believers and non-believers to assistance. Using public money for private purposes was dishonest. Nonetheless, by the time I parted from her, our salads finished and the bread basket emptied, I confess I liked the woman.  My reaction to her duplicity, therefore, was to turn inward. I knew I should have spoken out about the misuse of public funds. Yet, for the sake of peace, I’d said nothing. Returning to my office in the plashing rain, I fell into a blue funk. A lie can be either good or bad depending upon circumstances, but it is always a violation of the truth.  Either way, we humans have practiced verbal deception since we developed a jaw that enabled speech. Many women oppose men-only clubs because absent a feminine voice, they encourage masculine delusions.  At least that’s true for one male.  He admitted that these watering holes were places that allowed men  to exchange ideas and learn from each other without being “canceled” for having the “wrong opinion.”    Many have said a democracy without an informed electorate will fail. When we allow lies to co-mingle with truth, we empower subversives, and that’s why, according to  Eric Hoffer, The character and destiny of the group are often determined by its inferior elements.” (“The True Believer,” HarperPerenial, 2002, pg. 24. To prevent corruption, people should confront those who use free speech to pervert facts. That much is obvious. But a citizen’s responsibility goes deeper. Rooting out the lies we tell ourselves helps us become patriots.   Liz Cheney, recently rejected for the Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service, is a patriot. She refused to deceive herself in the rough and tumble of politics, though she might have benefited. Instead, she defended the truth and it cost her– unlike the Evangelical celebrity who used charity to be exploitative.  And, also, unlike me who saw the deception and said nothing.    

[howcaniseesomeonesipthroughvpn]

can't access icloud.com with vpn

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iCloud.com VPN block

Title: Understanding the iCloud.com VPN Block: What You Need to Know

In recent times, users have encountered challenges accessing iCloud.com while connected to certain VPN services. This occurrence, commonly referred to as the iCloud.com VPN block, has left many puzzled and seeking clarification.

Firstly, it's essential to grasp the purpose of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPNs encrypt internet traffic and route it through servers located in different regions, enhancing online privacy and security. However, some services may restrict access to their platforms when they detect connections coming from VPNs. This restriction is often implemented to prevent unauthorized access, protect against potential security threats, or comply with regional regulations.

When users encounter the iCloud.com VPN block, it's crucial to understand that Apple, like many other companies, takes measures to safeguard its services. This includes preventing access from sources that may pose security risks or violate its terms of service. Consequently, users utilizing VPNs may find themselves unable to access iCloud.com.

While the exact reasons for the iCloud.com VPN block remain undisclosed by Apple, speculation suggests it could be related to security concerns or efforts to enforce regional access restrictions. Additionally, Apple's stringent policies regarding VPN usage may contribute to this block.

To mitigate the iCloud.com VPN block, users can try accessing the service without a VPN connection or switch to a different VPN provider. However, it's essential to exercise caution and adhere to Apple's terms of service to avoid potential account suspension or other repercussions.

In conclusion, the iCloud.com VPN block underscores the importance of understanding VPN limitations and the measures taken by service providers to safeguard their platforms. As users navigate these challenges, staying informed and exploring alternative solutions can help maintain access to essential services while prioritizing security and compliance.

Troubleshooting VPN access to iCloud.com

If you are facing issues with accessing iCloud.com over a VPN connection, there could be several reasons behind the problem. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the issue:

Check VPN Connection: Ensure that your VPN connection is stable and has no connectivity issues. Sometimes, a weak or intermittent connection can lead to difficulties in accessing certain websites, including iCloud.com.

Change VPN Server: Try switching to a different VPN server. The server you are currently connected to may be experiencing high traffic or technical problems that are affecting access to iCloud.com.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies: Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can help resolve loading issues. Sometimes, corrupted files stored in your browser can interfere with accessing certain websites, including iCloud.com.

Disable VPN temporarily: Temporarily disable your VPN connection and try accessing iCloud.com without it. If you can access the site without any issues, the problem may be related to your VPN service.

Check Firewall Settings: Your firewall settings may be blocking access to iCloud.com while using a VPN. Ensure that the necessary exceptions are configured in your firewall settings to allow access to iCloud.com.

Contact VPN Provider: If none of the above steps work, reach out to your VPN service provider's customer support for assistance. They may be able to troubleshoot the issue from their end and provide a solution.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the VPN access issues to iCloud.com and regain seamless access to your iCloud account and services.

VPN restrictions on accessing iCloud.com

When it comes to accessing iCloud.com from certain regions, users may encounter restrictions due to various reasons. One common way to bypass these restrictions is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

VPN services allow users to connect to servers located in different countries, thereby masking their real IP address and location. This can help users access iCloud.com even if it is blocked in their region. By connecting to a server in a country where iCloud is accessible, users can bypass any restrictions imposed on their local network.

However, it is important to note that some VPN services may also be restricted in certain regions. This may require users to choose a reliable and secure VPN service that is not blocked in the region they are trying to access iCloud from.

Additionally, users should be aware of the legal implications of using a VPN to bypass restrictions. While using a VPN is generally legal, circumventing geo-blocks to access content that is prohibited in your region may violate terms of service or copyright laws.

In conclusion, VPNs can be a useful tool for accessing iCloud.com when facing restrictions based on geographical location. Users should exercise caution and ensure they comply with laws and regulations regarding online content access when using VPN services.

Bypassing iCloud.com block with VPN

Title: How to Bypass iCloud.com Block with VPN

In recent years, iCloud.com has become an integral platform for Apple users, offering services like email, storage, and Find My iPhone. However, accessing iCloud.com may sometimes be restricted due to geographical limitations or network restrictions. Fortunately, one effective solution to bypass such blocks is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN works by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through a remote server, thereby masking your IP address and making it appear as if you're accessing the internet from a different location. This functionality proves invaluable when trying to access blocked websites like iCloud.com.

Here's how to bypass the iCloud.com block using a VPN:

Choose a Reliable VPN Service: Start by selecting a reputable VPN provider that offers servers in locations where iCloud.com isn't blocked. Ensure the VPN service prioritizes user privacy and has robust encryption protocols.

Install the VPN Application: Download and install the VPN application on your device. Most VPN providers offer applications for various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Connect to a VPN Server: Launch the VPN application and connect to a server located in a region where iCloud.com is accessible. This will assign you a new IP address from that region, allowing you to circumvent the block.

Access iCloud.com: Once connected to the VPN server, open your web browser and navigate to iCloud.com. You should now be able to access the website without any restrictions.

Ensure Security: While bypassing the iCloud.com block with a VPN, prioritize your online security by choosing a VPN with strong encryption and a no-logs policy. Avoid free VPNs, as they often lack the security features needed for safe browsing.

By following these steps, you can easily bypass the iCloud.com block with a VPN, ensuring seamless access to your iCloud services from anywhere in the world. Remember to prioritize privacy and security by using a trusted VPN service.

VPN issues with accessing iCloud.com

VPN issues with accessing iCloud.com can be frustrating and problematic for users who rely on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to protect their online privacy and security. When attempting to access iCloud.com while using a VPN, users may encounter difficulties due to the restrictions and security measures put in place by Apple.

One common issue that users face is being unable to log in to their iCloud account while connected to a VPN. This is often caused by Apple's security protocols flagging the VPN's IP address as suspicious or potentially compromised. As a result, users may be blocked from accessing iCloud.com or experience repeated login failures.

Another issue that users may encounter is slow or unstable connection speeds when using a VPN to access iCloud.com. VPNs can sometimes slow down internet connections due to the encryption and rerouting of data traffic, which can lead to difficulties in loading iCloud services or syncing data.

Additionally, some VPN providers may have servers that are blacklisted by Apple, making it impossible for users to access iCloud.com while connected to those specific servers. This can be frustrating for users who have limited server options with their VPN provider.

To resolve VPN issues with accessing iCloud.com, users can try switching to a different VPN server or provider, clearing their browser cache and cookies, or temporarily disabling the VPN while accessing iCloud services. It is important for users to ensure that their VPN is compatible with iCloud.com and that they are following Apple's security guidelines to avoid any potential conflicts or issues.

[sneakyboymerlin]

“… because he hates hunting the innocent creatures simply for being born as they are?”

This is touched on in 1x11 with the unicorn.

1x11:

Merlin: I don't understand how Arthur can have taken any pleasure from killing the unicorn.

Gaius: Arthur is a hunter. It's in his blood. Whereas you are something entirely different.

Merlin: It was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.

//

Merlin: I don't think you should have killed it.

Arthur: Oh, really? And why is that

Merlin: It was... It was doing no harm. What purpose did you serve by killing it?

Arthur: We were hunting. It’s what you do.

The unicorn is a transparent representation of Merlin, as both are innocent, “pure of heart” creatures of magic hunted for the simple fact that they were born as something unfavorable.

Merlin cannot comprehend how Arthur could have enjoyed killing the unicorn — a creature which Merlin sees the beauty in, as he does in magic — but he shows no awareness that the unicorn is a mirror image of himself. Gaius, as a wisened mentor and narrative mouthpiece, hints at this subtextual element himself by drawing a parallel between Merlin and the unicorn: Arthur enjoys killing the unicorn because it’s “in his blood,” while Merlin adores it because he is “something entirely different.” Arthur is the hunter, while Merlin (textually aligned with the unicorn) is the hunted. It’s a near variation of The Fox & the Hound.

On that note, there are two important fragments of the plot being set up here:

Merlin is the unicorn.

Arthur is his father’s son.

So, when Arthur kills the unicorn, this is not only akin to him killing Merlin despite his innocence and thereby dooming Camelot through his corrupt reign. It hints that this is one possible future that Arthur can create, depending on whether he sheds the faults he has inherited from Uther or leans into them.

Diving deeper into this, as we watch Arthur condemn Camelot by his own thoughtless actions, we see Merlin again in the position of the unicorn. For Arthur’s third test, Merlin is used as a replica of the unicorn in the original scenario, creating the ultimate test that this episode has been leading up to: if it was Merlin in the unicorn’s place, what would Arthur do?

Fans (and Arthur himself) often criticize this test because it seems irrelevant to the issue at hand. How does this relate to Arthur killing the unicorn? If Arthur doesn’t know about Merlin’s magic, then how is it comparable? But Anhora is not necessarily asking if Arthur is willing to die to save Merlin, someone who Arthur already deigns an innocent — a perception which is not afforded to the unicorn. He is asking whether or not Arthur will kill an innocent for his own personal gain, as, taken to its logical conclusion, this is the common theme in hunting unicorns as a trophy. It is also the core of the test that Arthur did fail, wherein he killed a man not because he was a thief, but primarily because “He insulted [Arthur’s] honor!” It’s the one he must redeem himself from to prevent Camelot’s downfall.

Arthur proves that his heart contains more purity from his learned humility and acceptance of the truth/this instance of magic than it does the willful ignorance from his pride, his inability to confront his wrongdoings, and the corruption of his upbringing.

In the end, Arthur buries the horn — the very prize that he took to begin with — and thereby buries a portion of Uther’s legacy through him. He buries a physical representation of his pride and bigotry. In doing so, the unicorn is resurrected — as is Merlin’s faith.

Merlin’s faith in Arthur has been challenged on repeat throughout this episode, whether he’s sending Merlin into danger without a thought, killing the unicorn for fun/pride, ignoring Anhora’s message, condemning all sorcerers, or being physically rough, Merlin is struggling to uphold his faith in Arthur. But, extending his good graces, he doesn’t give up on Arthur and asks Anhora to offer him a second chance, which is what gives Arthur the opportunity to not only prove his potential and save Camelot, but shows an instance of magic saving Camelot while the magic ban harms it.

All of this is to say, there is some very deliberate cinematography in the scene where Arthur buries the horn. It’s in the seconds after he buries it that Merlin is revealed, standing at the head of the grave like a ghost watching over him. The unicorn is revealed shortly after.

Slightly less direct, but similarly relevant, is Merlin’s expressed motive in 2x09. When Freya asks why Merlin saved her from the bounty hunter who kidnapped her, he replies, “It could’ve been me in that cage,” an answer which is both genuine and realistic enough to quell her suspicions of any ulterior motives. Regardless of its effect, it’s clear how deeply influenced Merlin is from being hunted (by bounty or otherwise) under Uther’s regime. “But she’s just a girl!” is the same essential logic that Merlin uses to defend the unicorn.

But Merlin only ever explicitly expresses his dislike of hunting in one episode.

4x11:

Merlin: I have to go hunting. I hate hunting.

//

Mithian: You’re not a fan of hunting?

Merlin: What sport is it when one side has dogs and spears and crossbows and the other nothing?

Merlin ultimately sees hunting for sport (not out of necessity, which he himself has done) as unfair and, to some degree, sadistic. Whether this is significantly influenced by how much of himself he sees in the prey is not certain, but he clearly treats the animals with the same sympathy as he offers people and the unicorn.

Can Merlin directly feel what the animals do? Perhaps only in certain situations, where he may get his “funny (read: psychic) feelings” or otherwise react to his surroundings with the same intuition that an animal might. His speech on how he feels “every tree, every leaf, every insect” reacting to the magic of the sacred grounds of the Disir comes to mind. He is also strangely attentive towards the “deer” that Arthur and Mithian hunt, before he realizes that there’s magic involved. Either he is able to discern the difference between a deer and a human enchanted to become one, or it is simply another case where he’s drawn in by magic. Regardless, this is the same episode where he makes clear his hatred of hunting and overall sympathy for the prey animals, again in juxtaposition to Arthur the Hunter.

So, both narratively and literally, Merlin is put into the position of the unicorn, a creature which is wrongly hunted just as he is. Merlin thinks any animal that’s hunted primarily for sport is wrongly hunted and given an unfair disadvantage. This is the reasoning given for Freya’s capture as a bounty (she’s treated as nothing more than a hunting trophy to be sold as a prize), which of course sickens Merlin. It’s also a position that Merlin can see himself in, especially so soon after the Witchfinder incident, where an identical cage was dragged into Camelot to imprison Merlin specifically.

To Merlin’s bleeding heart, it’s all injustice, and it’s all wrong for the same reasons. So, to answer your question: yes, he does.

does merlin hate hunting because his magic allows him to feel the fear and death of the animals or because he hates hunting the innocent creatures simply for being born as they are? does he relate it to camelots hunting of sorcerers? does he feel like a knight chasing after a woman who only wished to grow food to feed her family or a child who didn't know any better and only wished to watch his toys dance in the air?

[apas-95]

So, I know you recently spoke of how a socialist public ownership would work:

"In socialist public ownership, (this factory) and its production would be managed by the people as a whole, through their organ of political power: the proletarian state, led by the communist vanguard party."

I'm genuinely curious, how would you get "the people as a whole" to agree on how the factory should be managed? (wages, hours, worker's schedules, production, which brand of machinery to use, safety regulations etc) That would be thousands of opinions, all which need to be taken into consideration. Mediating something like that would be probably be very difficult, no?

While we are on the topic, how would you ensure that the state would act after the people's wishes, and not be driven by other motivations?

(btw, this is not meant to be aggressive, I have a genuine interest in learning more, but it's difficult to find accessible theory which explains my questions in a comprehensive and understandable way)

Not everyone needs to directly have an opinion on how a given factory is run. That's the purpose of representative democracy - the socialist state acts as the political organ and representative of the proletariat as a class, and manages public enterprises on their behalf. It's not anything unique, either - every state on Earth carries out the collective will of a certain political class. In most cases, though, that's the will of the bourgeoisie, the capitalist class. Every state mediates conflicting opinions - socialist states tend to use methods of political consultation and the principle of democratic centralism as the specific methods suited to the proletariat as a class.

When the state is controlled by the communist party, it carries out the will of the communist party. Every political body is an organ of a certain class. The communist party is an organ of the proletariat, and it has no separate desires apart from those of its own class, the proletariat. By the methods of self-criticism and democratic centralism, elements of other classes are prevented from introducing the desires of those classes to the party. This is also not unique, apart from the specific methods, which are suited to the proletariat as a class. It's impossible for a capitalist state to suddenly be overtaken by the motivations of the working class, because it has its own systemic methods in place to maintain it as an organ of the bourgeoisie. Similarly, the bourgeoisie could not express their will in the feudal states of the aristocracy - so they had to establish capitalist states, through revolution, to express their will over the aristocracy and other classes.

The important thing to know is that the capitalist state is not simply 'corrupt', or 'corrupted by power', it is specifically serving the will of the capitalist ruling class. All states are instruments of political power, wielded by a specific class. Under socialism, the proletariat is the ruling class, and wields its own state, against the bourgeoisie and other classes.

[bugsonthemind]

Alright, I found the words. If this were real, I would think it one of the greatest evils to exist in this universe or perhaps any other universe. The idea of a prison where one's ability to even protest ones confinement - where even one's gestures and basic needs are all policed by wardens to whom there is no account - is so horrific, so blatantly evil, so corrupt and so deeply foolish that it would countenance the idea that both mankind and the gods have totally forfeited morality for the fact that no one has stopped this. To even build such a thing would be beyond a mortal sin. It, like many other atrocities before it, would damn all of humanity by its mere existence.

Let us say, for a moment, that all of this is absolutely necessary, that it is without a doubt it is the only way to prevent further issue from this person - what happens to the next person? What happens when someone less deserving, someone less evil, someone less criminal enters into a similar circumstance? I mean, you've already built it. You made it. To not use such a tool would be a waste, surely - surely this method would correct any fault, so powerful as it is to oppress the mind and body into a total submission. What happens when the wardens of this prison begin to decide what is and is not correct beyond mere physical harm? Words can hurt people, after all, and we couldn't have anyone hurting the system - no, no, we could not have any criticism, could we? And when they begin to torment the prisoners, when they become resentful and torture the prisoners on purpose, when they hurt them, when they rape them - and they will torment and torture and rape these prisoners, because these things are what happen when one person holds such immense power over another in prison or otherwise - and when that prisoner has no way to cry out that cannot be censored, when that prisoner has no recourse, what then? By God, what genius to create a place where, having long grown tired of their bleating and chattering, we can now safely ignore prisoners and let them be as little dolls on shelves, neutered and harmless!

This prison could not be allowed to exist. Every part of it must be dismantled as quickly as possible. Every wall must be torn down, disassembled, reduced to splinters and dust, every part of it, and let us not forget its wardens and its architects. Whosoever ran, built, designed such a monstrous edifice must be destroyed. And when I say destroyed, I do not merely mean death. These architects must be so totally eliminated that there is no trace of them in this life or the next but their infamy. To merely kill them would be a simple transfiguration of the body into the spirit and whatever specters or ghosts should come of it might translate some knowledge, some desire for its existence that may tempt someone into making it once more.

To inter them into the ground would be an insult to the earth and the plants and whatever insects should feed on their corpse. To set them to the pyre would be an insult to flame in its beauty and purity; to scatter their ashes would be an insult and pollution to the wind and the water where they fell. All that should remain of these people - and I greatly hesitate to call them people, having so thoroughly hewed themselves from all human kindnesses and compassion, and for God's sake any sense of hesitation or consideration for one's actions - is their infamy. Every single one of their family members should have their loins girded with iron, every teacher or mentor have their lips and tongues torn from them, and every friend or kith of theirs should be admonished in the highest degree for mere association, so that no more such evil minds could be created. Whatever society raised them must be uprooted, mutilated and turned inside out until it is unable to ever do this again. This edifice, this terrible and vile panopticon, this Tartarus, this weak and effete Hell must go down in history with the likes of the bronze bull, the boats and Judas' cradle as one of the most villainous inventions to ever be devised so that even the most craven and foolish of tyrants would not consider it lest they be deposed.

However, it isn't real, it's just a book. So it's just sorta crappy sounding and confusing, yknow?

so the thing is like. pale and ward love to contrive scenarios of "what if there were no option left but the humans rights violations".

ward goes 'what if the only way to contain these violent capes is bomb collars on their ankles', or 'what if all the prisons are full and bureaucracy is so strained that we Have to drop people in the exile world, oh no how sad, but surely we can't let these violent criminals run around being evil'.

pale goes 'what if evil ghettos filled with violent criminals were real and needed violent enforcement in turn' (undercity) and 'what if this one child was so dangerous we have to take away her prosthetic hands if she tries to flip someone off, no we can't free her because apparently she will instantly murder the protagonist's mom this is the only option'.

i think pale and ward are trying to like. Stress Test their systems by constantly looking at the edge cases of 'what would happen if the usual system doesn't work'. but in creating these outlandish scenarios in the first place and implying they're possible and Must be accounted for you're falling into the trap of like.

this almost copaganda-like philosophy of "you see there are violent and evil people out there so we Must be allowed to do these horrific things to protect people from them".

and like. in worm, for example, when we see similar things happen we're supposed to think it's horrific. cauldron decided the only path forward was case 53s and Being Cauldron and even if they did it to save the world it was pretty awful. but pale and ward just go "oh well the good guys don't have any options so this is fine actually"