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dangermousie · 5 months

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2023 End of Year Post - cdrama edition

Yes, we have a lot of December left, but I don't think anything else I want to check out will air before 2024 hits (it's cdrama so caveat is - you never know.)

This is only going to cover cdramas that aired in 2023; if I watched it but it was made in a different year, it's not on the list. This was a pretty good cdrama year, all in all.

DRAMAS WATCHED

(In order of liking from least to most as opposed to pure quality; I am including if I’ve seen enough to make up my mind; yes I realize that’s inaccurate, but that’s my list)

30 legend of twin flower - Not dignifying that drama with capital letters, as the only capital that should be associated with this is capital punishment - which is what watching this feels like.

29 Dominator of Martial Gods - sounds like a bdsm gay porn title. Would probably be better acted and written if it was.

28 Beauty of Resilience - you'd need a lot of said resilience to sit through this incoherent, barely acted mess. The thing that I remember the most other than my annoyance is all the jingly-jangly head gear on JJY. Perhaps they could have sold some of them and spent the money on a better script.

27 Divine Destiny - if you think you have too many brain cells and want to get rid of some, boy do I have a drama for you!

26 Wanru’s Journey - honestly it's probably tied with SEL - I mean it's worse but it has actors who are nowhere as well known and a fraction of SEL's budget. Still, this is a big fat nope. I will not say what I think of Aoi Rupeng's "acting" or I'd have to put money in the curse jar.

25 Snow Eagle Lord - Gulinazha's stone face, nonsense plot, terrible CGI. Take your pick as to why this is terrible.

24 Scent of Time - it was uneven but fun but then that ending was dumb enough to destroy the whole thing. Show me on the doll where common sense hurt you, makers!

23 Royal Rumors - Jeremy Tsui and Meng Ziyi are utterly wasted in this nothing trifle of a drama.

22 Legend of Anle - I had high expectations but alas. This is the drama version of color beige. There is nothing offensive about it but nothing good either. Mediocre actors are mediocre, good actors become mediocre, this is just a waste of our finite time on planet earth.

21 Romance on the Farm - it's not you, it's me in action. I can see why people would like this wholesome slice of farming family life, but it's tailored to trigger every one of my "nope" opinions.

20 Back from the Brink - if I were 12, it would be my favorite thing. I am not 12.

19 Journey of Chong Zi - objectively a terrible drama with plot holes the size of Mars and a leading lady whose face has apparently frozen when the wind changed. But I am a total sucker for the trope of upright shizun falling for his demonic disciple and going mental so here we are. Objectively, garbage, subjectively my precious!

18 Love you Seven Times - just call poor Ding Yuxi "Atlas," he carried this mess so hard.

17 Blooming Days - trashy dogblood harem fight fun throwback. It's not that great (and the fact that it was shredded doesn't help) but it's probably the last gasp of that genre for the foreseeable future, so I am grading on a curve.

16 The Starry Love - a fun fantasy where the secondary OTP stole the thunder but overall a really solid fantasy xianxia romance.

15 The Longest Promise - it could have been better - the secondaries were unbearable and there was too much of them and what they did with Alen Fang's character still gives me rage fits, but the main couple was impeccable and lovely and I rooted so hard for them.

14 Chang Feng Du/Destined - visually gorgeous, solidly acted, impeccable first half. Bland as hell second half. Win some, lose some.

13 Circle of Love - this drama is a nonsense trash heap on fire. After a typhoon hit it. It was also the most entertaining, addicting drama on this whole list.

12 Hidden Love - the sole modern on this list, this story has barely any plot but it made me care about the young, decent lovers so hard.

11 Choice Husband - starts out wacky, continues with angst and blood and happy ending. I loved it, but I've always had a soft spot for melo and schemers turning devoted.

10 Pledge of Allegiance - bromance, super solid acting, visuals, a really dark take on officials and the world. Insanely underrated.

9 Provoke - a truly fun Republican revenge and love tale, showing that short format can be wonderful.

8 Gone with the Rain - some of the secondary characters are rage-inducing (hi there, cardboard boy!) but the scheming, ruthless, vulgar FL is amazing and her slowburn with her age gap general who is delighted by her out-there-ness is great!

7 Wonderland of Love - Fei Wo Si Cun goes wholesome and the result is surprisingly entertaining. Battle couple, glorious visuals, a fast paced plot. It's the first Xu Kai drama I enjoyed in years (and he plays a rare cdrama ML it would be pretty neat to pair up with in rl.)

6 My Journey to You - that ending is infuriating (and I am OK with open endings if done properly) but what a visual feast, probably the most gloriously shot drama on this list, and that's a tough competition. Also it packs a hell of a lot of couples and familial and adversarial relationships into its slim running time; assassin lady won over by a gentle man is my favorite trope and so this is extra great.

5. Till the End of the Moon - the ending is a rage-inducing disaster for me, but this drama was the most incredibly emotionally intense, visually eye popping experience. It was deeply flawed but when it was amazing, it was like nothing else in its visuals, its characters and its narratives. It took insane risks; some paid off and some did not, but it was glorious.

4. Story of Kunning Palace - I don't often care for reverse harem stories but this one was such fun - the main OTP was glorious (strong FL, unhinged ML) but honestly everything about this was just so excellently done.

3. The Ingenious One - the most adult drama on this list. Smart protagonists, intelligent plot, emotions that felt true, this is a revenge and a mystery and found family and goes into so many directions you do not expect (Su Mengyu's PTSD after his first kill - that is something you never see in dramas, definitely not prolonged and profound - not like this.) If I was to say which drama was objectively the best on this list, as opposed to favorite, it would be this.

1 (tie) Lost You Forever 1 - this is an exquisite emotional jewel of a story about damaged people moving forward, with damage always present - their past informs their present and always will. The narrative about Xiao Yao and three very different men in her life makes me think that it's an equivalent of a neutron bomb going off right before the main narrative starts and now we are watching the survivors wander in the wreckage. This is very high fantasy setting but it's one of the most emotionally human narratives out there.

1 A Journey to Love - everything I ever wanted - assassins, ride or die adult OTP with genuine believable conflicts, great and complex secondaries, beautiful fights. Oh, and yeah Liu Shi Shi domming the hell out of every man in a ten mile radius, as she should.

FAVORITE DRAMA

It's a tie between Lost You Forever Part 1 and A Journey to Love. LYF1 is a bona fide art piece but it's only part 1 and who knows if part 2 will be any good (seeing the huge ep number cut, I have my doubts) and so it's incomplete. AJTL is an old school wuxia romance with incredibly competent, adult people in love and great cast of secondaries. I can't pick.

WORST DRAMA

romance of twin flower - this is a drama that should not exist. If I could hex everyone involved with it, I would. It's a terrible, stupid, shrill, badly acted drama to start with, but where it really is catapulted into stratosphere of horror is that is took my very favorite non-danmei web novel of all time, a smart and complicated tale with incredible protagonists and turned it into that barftastic abomination. Peng Xiao Ran kept making horrible drama after horrible drama but I kept giving her a chance because of Goodbye My Princess but after this disaster, I've had to accept GMP was a fluke and she is on my "if she's in it, I am out” list. Ding Yuxi is not that far yet (his performance in Seven Lifetimes was the one thing carrying that mess afloat) but he's on freaking thin ice. Anyway, I like to pretend this drama does not exist.

FAVORITE MALE CHARACTER

It was hard because there were so many I loved this year - Deng Wei's traumatized, gentle Seventeen from LYF1 (if someone told me I'd swoon and weep for a character played by Deng Wei, I'd have told them to examine their brains asap), Liu Yuning's incredibly capable, deadly, contained Ning Yuanzhou from AJTL, Zhang Linghe's unhinged Xie Wei from SoKP, Chen Xiao's schemer with a heart Yun Xiang from TIO.

But ultimately, it couldn't be anyone else but Luo Yunxi as Tantai Jin/Demon God/Ming Ye/Cang Jiumin in Till the End of the Moon. He was everything - a demon, a saint, a martyr, a monster, a tormented abuse victim, a savior, joyful, unhinged, smart, pitiable. It was the cdrama performance of the year for me. Luo Yunxi even in a mediocre role is impressive but in a complex (series of) role(s) designed for his strengths, he is a force of nature.

FAVORITE FEMALE CHARACTER

Xiao Yao (Lost You Forever Part 1). Once again, there were runner ups - Bai Lu's smart a little evil FL in Kunning, the gloriously unhinged assassin domme Liu Shi Shi in AJTL, Esther Yu's assassin longing for a different life in MJTY etc etc etc. But Xiao Yao's damaged, difficult, very self-aware woman stole my heart. I was skeptical going in because I haven't enjoyed a Yang Zi performance in a long time, but she was the wounded beating soul of this incredible drama.

NEEDS TO BE MURDERED

Where do we start? How about all of Seventeen's (LYF1) monster family? His brother, who tortured him for years physically and emotionally to such a degree his body is a horror map and his personality is permanently altered because "mommy liked you better." Psycho mother who created a situation where the kids were going to turn on each other and "let's get my grandson raped" grandma. Where is a well-placed meteorite when you need one.

FAVORITE SHIP

Xiao Yao/Seventeen, LYF1. Yes, a ship of characters played by Yang Zi and Deng Wei is my favorite. Leave me alone, I am on my tenth helping of crow already. They are both incredibly damaged, barely functioning survivors who find what they need in the other - he finds a savior and someone who sees him as a man and rebuilds himself around her and she finds someone who will always put her first and only, and subsume himself in her. Is it healthy? No. Does it make sense for them and is it making them slowly functional? Yes.

Runner up: Ren Ruyi/Ning Yuanzhou, AJTL - two adults, so competent, so chemistry full. She has so much damage and so little normalcy but is so strong and he is oddly gentle (in between murders) and incredibly self-reflective. They are each other's mirrors and I love them.

FAVORITE SECONDARY OTP

Su Mingyu/Ke Menglan, The Ingenious One - the idealistic merchant who wants to join jianghu until he sees its horrors firsthand and a slave entertainer who wants security but decides she wants him more. They are gorgeous and glorious and wholesome and I adore them.

Runner up: Liu Gong Quan/Ming Zhu, The Ingenious One - that drama was a shippy gift, especially impressive considering it wasn't even romance-centric. He's the officer who has to bring down her treasonous father but loves her. Delicious.

Another runner up is Chao Feng/Qian Kui, the angelic good girl and the scheming bad boy in The Starry Love. They stole the drama from the main OTP for me.

NOTP

Scent of Time endgame. What the hell was even that. It made NO sense.

FAVORITE SCENE

So many good scenes this year - Tantai Jin taking apart Li Susu in prison in TTEOTM, the OTP fighting in perfect sync and insane rhythm in the gorge battle in AJTL, Chen Ruoxuan's character stopping the execution in Pledge, Yan Lin's coming of age in Kunning, the poison/antidote "gamble" in MJTY, Cang Xuan detoxing in LYF1. But I think ultimately, me being who I am, my favorite scene is Xiao Yao kissing Seventeen's damaged, scarred knee to show he is in no way inferior for her. AAAAA!

In terms of pure jaw dropping visuals tho nothing will ever beat Ming Ye’s battle against the Devil God in TTEOTM.

BIGGEST CRUSH

Ning Yuanzhou, AJTL. He's sexy as hell (that height, that way he moves in battle) but he's also so incredibly competent, so adult, so self-reflective and so attracted to a woman for her strength. He also gets whumped on the reg. Anyway, my hormones are ready.

BEST SCENE STEALER CHARACTER

Gong Yuanzhi (My Journey to You) - I loved the unhinged, brocon poison boy. He was everything. Also Yan Lin (Kunning) - talk about sunshine; I totally got why all these people felt they needed to save him.

NEEDS A SEQUEL

My Journey to You - what the HELL was that ending?

NEEDS SCISSORS TAKEN TO IT

legend of twin flower - that is, stab it with scissors like it stabbed the novel until it's dead.

TOO MANY SCISSORS TAKEN TO IT

Till the End of the Moon - they clearly cut stuff to fit into the new regs about runtime and it made the last 1/5 rather abrupt. Gimme!

TROPE THAT NEEDS TO DIE

The emperor cannot be irredeemable. WTF, China, you are a communist country!

FAVORITE TROPE WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF

This is the year of a ML who yearns to be dommed by his FL. Long may it continue.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The Legend of Anle - the novel had a great plot, the cast were all actors I either enjoy a lot or somewhat and we got - whatever that soggy piece of wonderbread toast was.

BIGGEST GOOD SURPRISE

LYF1 - I only checked out to mock because nobody could explain the story to me and nobody in the cast did anything I like either ever or in years. And then I fell utterly and completely in love and had to eat so much delicious crow.

2023 DRAMAS I HAVEN’T SEEN THAT I MOST WANT TO WATCH

Ancient Love Song is the only one on that list. It looks really good, I just need to brace myself.

BEST NON-2023 DRAMA I’VE WATCHED IN 2023

The Imperial Doctoress - best slowburn and pining and glorious character development and adult leads.

MOST ANTICIPATED

Anticipating any nonaired cdrama is a mug's game but if they air, I will definitely check out all the Fox Matchmaker dramas, LYF2, JoL2 and The Last Immortal. If Prisoner of Beauty ever is allowed out of the vault (dubious), it goes on the list too.

#cdrama #lost you forever #a journey to love #till the end of the moon #my journey to you #choice husband #provoke #the starry love #the ingenious one #wonderland of love #story of kunning palace #gone with the rain

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unpretty · 2 months

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waiting patiently for the info post/referral link about ynab because uh, the credit card situation is a skotch uncomfortable, you can tell i've been doing "just a lil' treat for morale" since 2016.

i had to wait until my free trial was over to get a referral link (no infinite free trial for me, alas)

here's my You Need A Budget referral link! you get a free month, i get a free month. if you decide you like it the cheapest option is the $99 annual plan but if you don't have a hundred bucks to spend on on a website that tells you to spend less fucking money they also have $15 a month. i guess ideally if the $15 a month plan digs you out of your hole well enough you can save up for the annual. it also comes with a family plan built-in, so in theory you can split the cost between six people if you all need some fucking help. in my case i'm sharing my household budget with my spouse, but i'm also sharing the plan with my mom and my sister who both have their own budgets that they don't share with me. i come from a long proud line of women juggling which utility is about to be shut off.

NOTE: if you are straight-up not making enough fucking money, ynab won't do shit. this is only helpful if you should be making enough money but money is cursed and you can't stop spending it because money is fake. no amount of budgeting the amount you spend on hot drinks will dig you out of poverty and anyone who says otherwise is full of shit. spam your resume to higher paying jobs and hope you get lucky enough to need ynab someday.

YNAB EXPLANATION: it's very similar to envelope-based budgeting, which is the kind where you set cash aside in labeled envelopes and whenever you need to spend money on different things it comes out of the envelopes. except it's 2024 and i don't use fucking cash. so with ynab i assign money into categories and then when it's time to spend money i check the app and see how much money i have in my energy drinks and vapes budget.

except i spent my first month frantically rearranging money into different categories to try and cover what i'd already spent despite not having the money for it, and also it took forever to figure out how it handles credit cards.

anyway. i'm not there yet. i'm working on it. i'm still riding the float on my credit cards and i need to stop doing that because it's bad actually. i recommend watching youtube tutorials about ynab because it can be really confusing at first and that makes it easy to give up. but even though i'm not there yet, i'm already doing better than i was a month ago and progress is progress.

#original #affiliate links jsyk #my credit card situation is... still not great #but it's way better than it was when i realized i'd been having An Episode lmao

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percheduphere · 5 months

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What's frustrating about being a supporter of a mlm ship is the immediate presumption of the shippers' identity as a "cis heterosexual woman" who fetishsizes homosexuality (not that that problem doesn't exist, but that's not what this post is for).

Our identities also include:

Cis gay man

Gay/bi/pan trans/woman/man/enby

Cis/trans polyamorous gay/bi/pan woman/man/enby

Cis/trans gay/bi/panromantic asexual woman/man/enby

On and on, the intersections within the LGBTAI+ community are infinite.

Yet our mainstream media shies away from canonizing mlm relationships on screen, by whatever arbitrary measure deemed correct by the heteronormative power structure, which means bi or pansexuality and gender fluidity can be masked beneath an optically cis heterosexual relationship that is spoken of as queer only in dialogue.

I am a queer person. The argument I most often see is that being in a relationship with someone of the opposite gender doesn't negate a person's bi or pansexuality. This is ABSOLUTELY TRUE in real life. I'm in such a partnership, and here's the thing ...

When I share my queer identity with others and they see my partner of 15 years, the question I get asked is:

"How can you still be ×-sexual if you're in a heterosexual relationship?"

It is as though, by committing to someone who presents as the opposite gender, my lived experience (all the people I loved deeply in the past; the pain of coming out not once, not twice, but three times; the pain of permanently cutting off people in my life) was completely erased. My partner and I are optically viewed as "straight" despite how we actually define our individual genders and sexuality. Despite continuing to feel queer attraction. Despite continuing to remember previous queer loves with incredible fondness. Despite still celebrating with friends in the community and proudly bearing my flags.

This is why I truly believe there needs to be a greater push for more same-sex representation ON SCREEN in the MAINSTREAM. We cannot have authentic stories of the queer experience without it. It is a stepping stone to representing all the other identities that are swept under the rug. There is a big difference between knowing who you are in real life and interpreting what big money media is doing with your identity for the sake of pleasing the heteronormative masses and offering only subtext for the queer community in order to get the highest amount of views. Subtext, which by the way, is immediately dismissed as reading too deeply into it!

Well, guess what? Being queer inherently means reading deeply into subtext. This has been our language for decades. I should know, I'm OLD. Picking up subtle cues was and is part of queer courtship in real life because you absolutely could not out yourself in public. In more than half of the U.S. that is STILL the case!

I have a very close cis straight friend who thought Korrasami came out of nowhere. I had to sit them down and explain all the little cues, including the infamous hairpin in Asami's lips close-up. They remarked, "Wow, that's a lot of work. Is that how it worked when you tried to meet someone in public?"

YES! And it's 2023 coming on 2024, and we still have to go through this extra bullshit cis heterosexual people take for granted! If there is even a hint of queer mlm romance, you know what happens? They either get separated or killed or BOTH!

They are separating us and killing us on screen because we can only exist in subtext and tragedy. And then, when we dare to hope another ship might make it, that finally, we will have our moment in the sun, we are told:

"You weren't baited. Nothing was confirmed. What did you expect? They're just friends. You looked too deeply into it and did this to yourself. You are gross and keep migrating from one gay ship to another, you homosexual fetishsizing misogynistic pervert."

These people take intersectional social justice language and weaponize it against us. They moralize us on our own identities without even knowing who we are or what we've been through. They think we're desperate and delusional for the audacity of hoping we might see a happy ending that reflects us in the mainstream.

I am so, so tired.

#lgbtqia #lgbtq community #queer community #queer #representation matters #lgbt representation #queer representation #loki #mobius #lokius #loki series #dean winchester #castiel #destiel #house md #gregory house #james wilson #hilson

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talonabraxas · 4 months

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January 15, 2024 Sun Sextile Neptune The Moon spends most of the day in the sign of Pisces, aligning with Neptune and harmonizing with the Sun as it hooks into the accepting energy of today’s Sun-Neptune sextile. This influence helps us tune into our imaginations and intuition. Instinctual judgment is enhanced. We see things from a perspective that celebrates our differences. We take things as they come, finding meaning in our experiences more readily than usual. This influence sets an excellent mood for respecting our intuition. We’re tuned in, inspired, and charitable. What feels like serendipity experienced now may have to do with a good sense of timing and a feeling of being in sync with the universe. Emotional or mental refreshment helps us gain perspective. Adding a layer of restlessness to the later day’s astrology is a Venus-Jupiter minor square. With this transit, we seek a little more from our pleasures, money, or relationships. Channeled well, this transit can encourage us to improve our situation but otherwise might lead to over-indulgence, immoderation, or exaggeration. High expectations can leave us vulnerable to ups and downs. The Moon enters Aries tonight, and we’re gearing up for action. The Aries Moon is forthright and enterprising. Galactic Sun Center Passport, Universal Citizen by Talon Abraxas

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posttexasstressdisorder · 21 days

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The arc of justice finally bends against Big Oil

Sabrina Haake

April 14, 2024 6:15AM ET

An oil refinery blow off stack is seen, Sept. 16, 2008, in Texas City, Texas. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

In an historic ruling that could change the trajectory of a rapidly heating planet, a court of law with binding jurisdiction over most of Europe has ruled that governments can be held liable for inadequate responses to climate change.

The European Court of Human Rights determined that rising temperatures in Switzerland caused direct and tangible health consequences among Swiss citizens, and that governments failing to take adequate steps to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions could owe damages to people hurt by their inaction.

So what, in practical terms, does this mean for a planet that is literally burning in an increasing number of locations?

Europe could take climate cases in a new direction

The ECHR ruling is unprecedented in several respects, beginning with its reliance on principles of human rights.

The Court ruled that governments failing to do enough to address climate change were violating the European Convention on Human Rights, which holds as its first tenet that, “Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law.” By failing to meet its own climate goals, the court held, the Swiss government impaired citizens’ fundamental rights to life.

The plaintiffs themselves were also unique. In climate cases pending around the world, including in the United States, the vast majority of plaintiffs are young people worried about how they will survive on a sweltering planet with rapidly disappearing habitats and resources.

ALSO READ: 15 worthless things Trump will give you for your money

The ECHR case, in contrast, was brought by elderly plaintiffs, most of whom were women in their 70s who proved that their age and gender make them particularly vulnerable to health risks linked to climate change. Heatwaves, in particular, can be deadly for the elderly as excessive heat triggers a strained cardiovascular response. Cognizant of their own time limitations, these women sued to benefit the next generation. One plaintiff told the BBC, “We know statistically that in 10 years we will be gone. So whatever we do now, we are not doing for ourselves, but for the sake of our children and our children's children.”

Because there is no avenue for appeal, the ECHR ruling will directly influence energy policy throughout the industrialized economies of Europe. Although it falls to Switzerland to comply with the ruling, its precedent is legally binding on all 46 member states, including Germany, the U.K., France and Italy — all fuel-burning heavy hitters.

Climate challenges in the U.S.

The European Court ruled that Switzerland’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions had been “woefully inadequate.” Although the ruling isn’t binding on U.S. courts, the domestic fossil fuel industry will be directly affected by it, since the U.S. has recently become the biggest supplier of crude oil to the European Union.

ALSO READ: Revealed: What government officials privately shared about Trump not disclosing finances

Climate litigants in the U.S. follow a different strategy. State and local governments are now suing fossil fuel companies and the American Petroleum Institute for damages caused by climate change — astronomical damages that inevitably fall to states, cities and towns that can��t afford to pay for them.

These climate cases name private fossil fuel companies as defendants, seeking to hold responsible various for-profit companies, including BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell, for increasing carbon dioxide and methane emissions caused by their products.

Big Oil’s campaign of deception

Legal claims and allegations pending in the U.S. focus largely on Big Oil’s deceptive practices. Like the tobacco disinformation cases from the 1990s, these cases allege fraud, nuisance, conspiracy and negligence arising from the industry’s long-standing public disinformation campaigns.

Congress has conducted numerous investigations into Big Oil’s pattern of deception. Despite conclusive evidence that oil executives have long known the causal connection between fossil fuels and climate change, industry executives have consistently lied about it to protect their profits.

Nearly 10 years ago, Democratic members of Congress addressed a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists concluding that “there was a coordinated campaign of deception” on climate science by ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, Shell, Peabody Energy and other members of the fossil fuel industry.

Tanker drivers working for Shell in Grangemouth, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Big Oil’s targeted acts of deception over a decades-long campaign included “forged letters to Congress,” secret funding of allegedly independent but industry-controlled scientists, creating “fake grassroots organizations” to influence policy, and multiple, ongoing, and in-depth “efforts to deliberately manufacture uncertainty about climate science.”

Evidence of the industry’s deceptive practices could be pivotal in cases brought by state and local governments paying a staggering tab for intensifying storms, flooding, crop-destroying droughts, extreme heat events and, for states and towns on major bodies of water, coastal erosion.

In the meantime, the fossil fuel industry continues to profit outrageously from extracting, distributing and marketing dangerous products known to increase Earth’s already feverish temperature: March was the 10th month in a row to set a new monthly global heat record, both on land and in the oceans, as global reliance on coal — the dirtiest fossil fuel of all — continues to climb.

Landmark climate cases in Montana, Hawaii

The ECHR decision was the first to rule that governments are obligated under human rights laws to address climate change, but it won’t be the last. Cases pending in Montana and Hawaii also allege damages from unmet climate obligations by their respective state governments.

Last August, 16 young plaintiffs scored an unprecedented victory in Montana. They argued that the state violated a state constitutional provision that guarantees Montana citizens a healthy environment, and Judge Kathy Seeley agreed. She ruled that permitting coal, oil and gas production worsened the climate crisis, in violation of the “healthy environment” guarantees found in the Montana constitution.

In result, state regulators issuing permits for fossil fuel developments must now consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions as part of their overall analysis of whether to grant or deny the permit. After the state appealed the maverick ruling, Montana’s Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, denied the governor’s request to block the ruling pending appeal.

In Hawaii, another pending climate case involves 14 youths. Plaintiffs in Hawaii allege that the state’s transportation department, by funding highway projects that increase fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, violated a constitutional duty to protect the environment.

A protestor holds a 'Polluters Pay Up' sign outside the Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery Wilmington Plant on Nov. 28, 2022, in Wilmington, Calif. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

After the state challenged plaintiffs’ standing, claiming they could not show particularized harm because climate damages are already “baked in,” the judge ruled that climate damages to plaintiffs “are not hypothetical,” and allowed the case to proceed.

When the state asked Hawaii’s legislators for more than $2 million to hire outside counsel to fight the case, one state legislator told Hawaii Public Radio that instead of “spending the millions of dollars we’re spending on some hotshot law firm,” Hawaii should apply that money toward emissions reductions instead.

The case was scheduled for trial this summer, but in February, the fossil fuel defendants petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming that federal law precludes damages claims against them.

Take heart, then take action

Climate activists should be uplifted and encouraged by the ECHR decision, particularly as its effects begin to ripple through the fossil fuel industry, industrialized economies and reluctant courts.

It won’t change the prognosis or the immediate future — today’s youth throughout the world will still live through the worst effects of climate destruction, even though they had nothing to do with the policies that caused it.

It’s the same lament heard from emerging economies in Asia and Africa. Struggling countries and coastal populations who had nothing to do with industrialization over the past 150 years are now paying the steepest price through their own rapidly disappearing habitats.

Thousands of school students join protesters in a Climate strike rally on September 20, 2019, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

But one major, outcome-determinative difference between these two rightfully aggrieved populations remains: the right to vote.

As enraging as it is for young Americans to hear oil-financed politicians deny climate change (“Drill baby, drill!”), we could fund the transition to clean energy — including an upgraded, nationwide grid of sufficient capacity — if every young adult simply voted.

Sabrina Haake is a columnist and 25 year litigator specializing in 1st and 14th Amendment defense. Follow her on Substack.

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canonicallyobserving911 · 5 months

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WIP Wednesday

Fanonwriter2023 on AO3

Where CANON and FANON collide!

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

Season 7 FANON Speculation: Buddie Multi-Chapter Fanfic - Hiatus Reading: “I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Chapter 15 is available on AO3 & Chapter 16 will be posted soon.

Currently 15 chapters completed: 484.9K Words Rated: Mature

One chapter will be posted at a time.

I'm so excited to finish writing Chapter 16 because there are so many things happening for Buck and Eddie and the Diaz Family. For anyone who hasn't read Chapter 15, here's a brief overview: Buck and Eddie got engaged however the day they're getting married is different from the day they're planning to have a wedding ceremony. They're going to get married before Christmas in 2023 but their wedding will be in May 2024 so they can invite their found family and Eddie's family. Buck told Eddie he wants to take his last name and they immediately started saying they're going to be Mr. & Mr. Diaz. Also, two more people discovered they're in a relationship but who was it and what did they see? Bobby already knows but who else saw something that caused them to believe they're already together?

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Here's some Buck and Eddie domestic fluff from Chapter 16 as they plan their international adventure.

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“That’s good. Also, we should probably start looking at the places we want to stay while we’re there. I mean we don’t have to book anything yet but uh… we should at least have an idea of the types of places we’re interested in staying.”

Eddie nods but he’s sure Buck’s already looked at some on the internet. “I agree but have you already done the research on the places that are available?”

He smiles. “I did and honestly, the hotels are nice and all but I think it’ll be better if we rent some homes while we’re there instead of us staying at different hotels.”

Eddie likes the idea; he really does but he’s still worried about the cost. They’re adding up and he remembers Buck saying the settlement money will cover it but he’s not sure if there will be enough to cover everything they’re talking about doing while they’re in Italy for almost eight days along with the seven days they'll spend in London. He sits his fork onto his plate and inhales because he’s trying to figure out how to say what he wants to say.

Buck furrows his eyebrows. “Is everything ok?”

“Yes it is but… the costs are adding up and I know you said the settlement money will cover it but Buck… that’s your money and you’re getting it for your pain and suffering. We shouldn’t spend it all on a trip to Rome. Let me do something to help because…”

He leans in and kisses him to make him be quiet. He knows Eddie worries about money and he’s never asked for anything but this is their adventure and he could care less about that settlement money since he was planning to pay for the trip anyway and that was before he found out Harmony Clinic agreed to settle.

After he pulls back, he takes Eddie’s hand in his and replies, “Listen to me… there’s more than enough money to pay for our trip, to pay off this house and to pay off your truck and there’s still going to be a lot left over even after we do all of that.”

“But…”

“Remember this is our money… OURS! We’re getting married which means it’s money for our family. I didn’t tell you this but I was planning to pay for the trip before I was awarded the settlement. I was going to give it to you and Chris for Christmas.”

“You were?” Eddie responds with a high-pitched tone in his voice because he’s shocked.

“Yes. I have money in my savings account, it’s not a lot but uh… it’s enough to pay for the trip. But now that the settlement money will be deposited into my account within the next couple of weeks, we don’t have to worry about the cost. It’s our first international adventure.”

Eddie bites his bottom lip and before he can say anything else, Buck starts talking again.

“I just realized I didn’t tell you how much the settlement is…???”

How much money will Buck receive after Harmony Clinic pays him the settlement from the sperm donation mix up lawsuit? 👀

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Fic Summary: Months after Buck and Eddie were hit by the same lightning strike; they’re still struggling with the aftermath of it. But before they make their love confessions, they’ll spend time getting to know themselves as individuals first. Eddie learns to enjoy the simple things in life as he participates in activities on his own and with new friends while Buck learns the rest of the 31-year-old deep dark family secret about his conception and birth. Their journey to forever is still a work in progress but once they finally admit they’re in love with each other, everything that follows their love confessions will be cataclysmic.

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Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 - Eddie makes a new friend while Buck receives devastating news regarding the sperm donation he made for Connor and Kameron.

Chapter 2 - Buck does a lot of research to learn more about the abnormalities found in his red blood cells and Eddie starts a new therapy journey that’s all about him and not the traumas he’s experienced.

Chapter 3 - After more than a month, Buck and Eddie finally spend time together outside of work but it doesn’t end well and they part with a lot of uncertainty regarding their places in each other’s lives.

Chapter 4 - Eddie has a few realizations about his life which causes him to consider moving back to El Paso, TX while Buck continues to be reminded of his past which causes him to take an impromptu road trip across America.

Chapter 5 - Both Buck and Eddie have difficult conversations with their parents and Buck finally learns the truth behind the reason why his mother despised him while Eddie finally tells his mother about the way she tries to control him.

Chapter 6 - More than two weeks after Buck pushed Eddie away after suggesting they needed a break; Eddie decides to try again. Eddie’s there for Buck when he’s at his worst just like Buck was there for him when he was at his worst and he won’t let Buck give up.

Chapter 7 - After Buck’s mental breakdown, Eddie has his back the same way Buck had his when he had his own breakdown more than a year ago. They share several vulnerable and emotionally intimate moments with one another and they begin to realize their small, sweet and caring gestures matter just as much if not more than any grand gesture ever could because these are the foundations of a long-lasting love relationship.

Chapter 8 - Buck, Eddie and Chris all have their own therapists and during their sessions, they reflect on their pasts while they’re in the present so they can prepare for their future together as a family.

Chapter 9 - Buck and Eddie are there for each other when Buck has to testify as a witness during the trial. But by the end of it, they’ll both realize their individual and shared traumas are going to keep resurfacing until they talk about them, deal with the fact that they’re in love with one another and face the fact that they can’t live without each other.

Chapter 10 - As Buck and Eddie finally begin to confront their past traumas, they realize how much they need each other to fill in the gaps of their memories. Additionally, the universe screams at them for what appears to be the one hundredth time so Buck can realize he doesn’t have to ‘find it’ because he already ‘made it’ and Eddie’s reminded tomorrow isn’t promised and he doesn’t have to die alone if he doesn’t want to.

Chapter 11 - A “virga” or dry thunderstorm is in the forecast but once the rain starts, the thunderstorm happening outside won’t be able to match the storm brewing inside between Buck and Eddie. It’s the universe’s final scream and when the tumultuous winds begin to blow, they’ll have one last chance to hold onto everything they’ve built over the last six years or they’ll lose it all forever.

Chapter 12 - Buck and Eddie have always shared a deep physical attraction and an emotional intimacy that’s unmatched but now that they’re in a relationship, they’re learning how to navigate the romantic intimacy they’ve been waiting for six years to explore. The love they have for each other is a once in a lifetime, soulmate, love of their lives type of love that transcends space and time.

Chapter 13 - While navigating the newness of their romantic relationship, Buck and Eddie take advantage of every moment they spend together. As their individual lives, people from their pasts, time constraints and the possibility of losing each other again make attempts to interrupt and interfere with their journey to forever, they love, care for, support and hold onto each other even tighter to withstand it all.

Chapter 14 - Buck and Eddie can see the lights at the end of the tunnels regarding the results of Buck’s Cancer Screening along with everything else they’re dealing with. But are the lights they see exits to the tunnels or are they headlights on different runaway trains that are speeding towards them in an effort to interrupt their forever?

Chapter 15 - Buck and Eddie have known they were exactly who the other one wanted in a partner since they met six years ago when they agreed to have each other’s backs. They’re in a romantic relationship, they’re both preparing to ask the other one to spend forever with them and by the end of the seventh week into their relationship, together they will plan their most important and greatest adventure for their future.

Chapter 16 - Will be posted soon.

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Read chapters 1-15 are available on AO3.

Continue reading on AO3

Chapter 16 will be posted soon.

#buddie #eddie diaz #evan buckley #christopher diaz #the buckley diaz family #buckley diaz family #buddie fanfic #ao3 fanfic #911 fanfic #buddie wip #Fanonwriter2023 on AO3 #Hiatus Reading #911 on abc #911 abc #WIP Wednesday

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nereidaa · 7 days

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so the whole storyline about ✨him✨ is here

(I ACCIDENTALY CLOSED THE SITE AND A WHOLE FUCKING LIST JUST DELETED. I'M MAD BC I HAVE TO REWRITE IT AGAIN. BUT ANYWAY.)

so we met this year when i went to this school

he's a grade older than me but i assume we're the same year (cause he's 15 now and i'll turn 15 this year) (i don't know if i say it the right way but i just don't know how to explain it)

i was friends with a girl in autumn, and he was friends with her too (now we both don't talk to her, idk why he doesn't tho) and we interacted in some way bc of it

in our school we choose the classes we want to attend and it doesn't depend on the grade you're in, so we had some mutual classes during this year. also we have not only the regular school subjects, but some interesting courses on very different topics (i'm not showing off, just saying that i'm glad to be from an upper middle-class family and go to a private school)

we had a class that is about the society or smth, and there was a lesson about marraige. he just leaved like after 5-10 minutes (idk if people still make those awful sigma jokes but yeah) (and yeah we're allowed to do so, you can leave anytime you want). no point here, i just remembered that and thought it could be important to understand his character or something

he's from a friend group i don't really like (they're loud chess nerds who speak in russian and that pisses off the whole school. there're a few nice guys there tho) but he's also friends with a lot of other people (he's a goddamn extravert and literally knows everyone)

back to the classes. we had physics together in winter, and we imitated electron movement (i'm from ukraine and i don't give a shit how you call all these things in english, i hope you get it), and we needed balloons for it. i helped him to tie his balloon (also he sat next to me? but idk if that means something or he just sat down somewhere bc all other seats were occupied, i don't remember)

then i remember how we just accidentaly got distracted and he showed me some tricks he can do with his hand but then the teached noticed it (like boy? why me? no complaining tho)

i don't remember anything til now tbh and so we're here in april 2024

we have like 4 mutual classes now

it's a format where we have different lessons everytime, history of music, history of ukraine and history of antiquity (it's not bc he's a history nerd, it's bc i am a history nerd lol. i have like 5 different history classes rn)

this tuesday we had the format and it was a game called 'two states' where we were in the same team. the point of the game was to increase the state budget and also to not have any dead citizens (if you don't have any money left by the end of the round you die). i convinced my friend alice, with whom we played as a family, to help him so that he did not die (we basically gave the guy money lol, but she didn't even want to help)

also there is a thing among us, when we do those little charades to communicate when we're too far from each other to talk (I SWEAR I DUNNO WHAT THAT WAS PLSS. MY BSF SCREAMED INTO THE PHONE WHEN I TOLD HER.)

and there it was then too

and also we often just look at each other and shake our heads at the same time when our mutual friends do something stupid and laugh

and after that alice and i went to the subway together and before that we chatted with him in the cloakroom, where he told us about our other friend (myrosia) annoying him on purpose after he told her to stop. i just don't get it??? like what's the point of doing that??? it used to be a local joke before but if it annoys the other person why do you continue???

anyway so. on friday we had history of antiquity, he was late for school and sat down on the floor next to me (i don't remember if i ever mentioned it on my blog before but probably not. we don't use desks and all this stuff, we just sit in the auditorium/classroom on the chairs or the floor) and greeted with us (i assume us?? like our friend group??), i told myrosia to shut up before she tried to do the joke again, she did anyway and he just leaved and sat in the other side of the room

we had a group task and he joined our group for it, we did some small talk where he mentioned he didn't sleep well or something like that, then i got up from my chair and sat on the floor to help with the poster and he just sat on my chair (i mean, boy why me??? there were other empty chairs. i didn't protest tho (if it was someone else i probably would) and let the poor boy to sit on a chair)

after a lot of jokes from myrosia and alice he leaved before the break was announced again (i just don't get why they keep doing this if they know it annoys another person)

after the break he sat in the other side of the room again and when girls from our group were about to present our work we just did the whole shaking heads and then laughing thing again

then we had the school meeting and there was this thing again

by the way i feel like i forgot to say this. we never actually greet if we walk past each other in the hallway

BUT THE WORST PART IS

i'm going on a school trip in may. and so does he. and we'll be around each other for 5 (five!!!) days. WTF

so that's it. thx for reading this shit if you actually did

fuck it probably doesn't really mean something😭😭😭😭 but anyways love you xoxo

#bla bla nana #this whole post was a freaking english practice #learned so many new words haha #still don't know if everything is right but idc #that's just ridiculous #and his name is artem btw #i often just write random letters when i'm bored and i just don't want to think why it's recently a capital 'a' okay #i'm literally burying myself even further with those random facts rn #help me and just turn off the delusion in my mind pls #or convince me that it's not a delusion idk what i want better😭😭#˚₊‧⁺˖ 🫢

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mostremote · 4 months

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reflecting on 2023, thoughts for 2024, long personal post

How would I sum up 2023? Well, it's certainly been productive. Securing a permanent position at a university I adore is unreal, and I still subconsciously assume there's been a mistake and they'll fire me any day now. After what was essentially 7 years of precarity, having professional stability is absolutely wild. I love my job, I love my students, I love my colleagues, and it's insane to me that I seem to have actually "made it" professionally.

My second book is coming out with a Big Publisher and that's very nice too. I don't have much emotional attachment to that project, but it took a lot of work and I'm satisfied that it is reaching its appropriate conclusion. I will make, I am sure, zero money out of it, but that's academic publishing for you lol

I gave my first keynote paper at a (cute, small) conference, so that was also a milestone. I also organised a very successful conference in which like 1/4 of the speakers cited my work, which was absolutely surreal and made me want to disappear into the ground.

I made a huge amount of progress on my novel, it's pretty much finished, and my one real resolution for 2024 is to make a proper effort to get it published. I'll wait until my academic book is out to start that process, but that's the one resolution I'm setting for myself. I don't know if I'll have any luck (it's not exactly a book with mass appeal) but I want to at least give it a shot.

Healthwise, well. It's been a ride. A good ride, but a ride nonetheless. I switched medications for my chronic illness, coming off a really major one and getting onto a much milder one, as I've been basically asymptomatic. This is good news all round: I've adapted well to the new meds, and I don't have to deal with all the nasty side effects of the old meds (they fuck you up long term). The main problem I have now is that I can't drink much alcohol, but that's a small price to pay for good health.

But one side effect of the medication was weight gain. I gained around a stone after I'd been on it for a year but I figured that was just "not being in your early 20s anymore" weight gain. Turns out nope! I haven't weighed myself lately but I have visibly lost a lot of weight and it's a little disconcerting to be suddenly, well, very skinny again. I look much younger and smaller. It's not bad, it's just a stark difference to adjust to and not something I was expecting to happen in my 30s.

I've also adjusted my hormone regimen. I don't have any long term plans (i never do lol) but I've been enjoying playing more with feminine presentations. I'm just, comfortable with my body and happy with who I am. How about that!

Mental healthwise, hoo boy. Let's address my being cursed by an ancient amulet and becoming crushingly obsessed with the fictional villain of The Hunger Games. I haven't spoken about this on here but The Shivering Season is significantly informed by my own experiences with different forms of abuse and mental health problems, and I have been processing a lot while writing it. Sometimes I've had anxiety attacks while writing, which never happens to me! There was a point before Christmas I was having anxiety attacks at random everyday, just hanging out watching TV, because it seems I was bringing so much stuff to the surface. And I seem to have worked through some things, because the intrusive sexual abuse thoughts/fantasies I have experienced compulsively for, idk, 15+ years have gone. Completely gone. Really, really weird! I need to go back to therapy about this but I just don't know how to explain "I became obsessed with The Hunger Games and now I have 70% less trauma" in a normal way.

And I have been extremely manic these past 2 months. That is probably obvious from how I've been posting, but jesus christ. I wake up at 5am, I fall asleep at 11pm (and as someone who historically needs 8-9 hours every night, this is significant). I write thousands of words almost every day. I am generally inclined to periods of mania, but this is extremely intense and it has lasted since the start of November. I'm scared of crashing, both because this hyperproductivity is giving me a lot of positive brain chemicals and because I don't know what kind of person I'll be if it goes. Will the intrusive thoughts come back? I don't want them to! I've been very happy without them!!

And that's the conclusion, really: I've had a very happy year. I'm mistrustful of happiness, but I am still happy. I don't know what to expect of 2024, but I am optimistic, and content, and marvelling at in what a good place I'm in now compared to how I was.

Happy new year!

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hyperionwitch-art · 4 months

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🖤✨HEADSHOT STREAM CHANGES✨🖤

Hi, yeah, so here's my official announcement about the changes to the monthly headshot streams! TL;DR, the raffle part of the streams isn't changing, but now:

INSTEAD of Tier 2 Twitch subs, you can buy a monthly headshot by subscribing to my Ko-fi membership at either $5 for lineart/color previous headshot or $10 for a color headshot--TWITCH SUBS WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED AS PAYMENT FOR HEADSHOTS (though of course I appreciate you if you sub anyway!)

INSTEAD of unlimited (sort of) free Twitch Channel Points headshots during the streams, I will be limiting these to 10 PER STREAM, and you'll only be able to buy one every 15 minutes or so

ONLY the Ko-fi raffle headshots and the Channel Points headshots will be drawn on stream, everything else will be drawn off stream and posted to Ko-fi by the end of the month!

You can find a link to my Ko-fi by either clicking the banner image above OR clicking here! Otherwise, the next stream will be Jan 16th (with the raffle on the 15th)~

I'm including the same information but in a less TL;DR mode below the cut, if you want more details! 👇👇👇

Yeah, so after talking to my chat about switching things up next year, and after dealing with like...a lot of problems with Twitch subs (primarily not getting notifications from renewals and issues with renewal dates not matching up well with the streams themselves), I've decided to move to a different system!

First up, there will be NO change to the Ko-fi raffle--it'll still open up the day before a monthly stream, it'll still be 7 slots, and it'll still be $6 dollars. Easy peasy!

The big changes are that TWITCH SUBS WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED FOR HEADSHOTS--I just keep emphasizing this so people can cancel before it renews!!--and CHANNEL POINTS HEADSHOTS WILL BE NOW BE LIMITED TO 10 PER STREAM and they'll only be available every 15 minutes to try to make space for anyone who shows up late to the stream! (Though do note that I haven't tested this out, so it mmmight change a little if it doesn't work the way I expect, pbbthth Twitch)

Aaaand instead of Twitch subs, you can now join my Ko-fi membership! As of right now, you can sign up for one of two tiers on my Ko-fi:

For $5 you can purchase either a lineart headshot or have a previous lineart headshot colored once a month! This is the same as the Channel Points headshots but they aren't limited to 10 per stream, you can just buy one once a month if that's your jam!

For $10 you can purchase a color headshot once a month! This is the same as getting a slot in the Ko-fi raffle or as subscribing previously.

NEITHER of these will be drawn on stream, but I will post your headshots to Ko-fi as normal (including the lineart ones) by the end of the month!

These changes should help streamline requests (and keep my terrible adult-ass body from breaking down too badly, pff)--and, frankly, I was not getting everyone's Twitch sub headshots drawn on stream anyway, so nothing is really changing there! :P As for the new tier for lineart, I included it so that there's something available that's still less money than a full color headshot and you don't have to compete for the limited and time-sensitive slots on stream!

(Which, speaking of the Channel Points headshots--IF YOU ARE A KO-FI MEMBER, I won't explicitly ban anybody from buying channel point headshots, but it would be really great if members could try to only buy them if no non-members are vying for them--I'd like to make sure they're available for new folks and those who can't afford to spend real dollars! Thank you for being understanding~ 😘)

I'm super new to Ko-fi's membership system (used to have a Patreon but that's loooong gone), so if there are any problems, we'll try to sort them out as quickly as possible, just please be patient with me while we get this started! And please holler if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them!

Looking forward to workin' with y'all in 2024~ 🖤🖤🖤

#art stream #headshot requests #ko-fi membership #at the moment there are no other rewards for being a member #but if you have any suggestions you'd like to see you're welcome to send them!#can't promise I'll do anything specific as this is my side job #but I'm always happy to hear from you guys!

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georgegraphys · 20 days

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Dissecting this article "Mercedes F1 report over £500m turnover for 2023"

So according to the financial report, it is reported that Mercedes, despite a flop season, records the highest turnover in Formula One world with +£500M revenue which is a +£71.9M increase from 2022.

"How are they exactly able to do this?? Didn't they flop? Didn't *** or ******* do better?? We didn't have any wins last year!"

According to the article, the sponsorship revenues were the highest contributing factor to the financial growth for Mercedes. This also brought them more partnership in 2023 and later for 2024. And it is worthy to note that although

"“The team’s share of television coverage showed a small decline to 14.7% for 2023, reflecting the lower number of podium finishes the team enjoyed versus 2022, The cumulative Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE) remained strong for commercial partners and shareholders, at $5.3 billion. The team continued to grow strongly on social media, with a cumulative followership of 36 million (+15%) and a total of 465 million engagements (+9%).”

Let's first talk about AVE. What is Advertising Value Equivalency? AVE is a commonly used term in the PR world that measures the monetary values of media coverage of a PR campaign. How do you exactly measure an AVE? It is done through ROI (Return on Investment), Revenue made by the company, CPC (Cost per Click), Conversion Rates, Average CTR (Click-Through Rate), ROAS (Return on Ad Spend), and others. It is also noteworthy that even though AVE is commonly used, AVEs do not FULLY measure the value of a company's PR work and is never the standard for a company's successfulness i. AVE just measures the monetary part and reflects nothing to the whole PR works (Some damned it too lol).

But back to the topic, this case shows that in the end even if Formula One is a sport, money stood the highest and the contributing factors around it are sponsors, every single PR campaign, media coverage, etc. It is no surprise that this year will generate more profit for Mercedes in terms of AVE, television and media coverage, etc. And this is all thanks to the second seat drama that is going on right now.

Judging by how the drama is boiling hot, I doubt that the second seat will be announced soon because the drama generates a crazy amount of coverage for Mercedes' rn. Every week, Mercedes name got to be one of the most mentioned of all as everyone waits out in anticipation of the second seat. This does not only benefit Mercedes but to all the sponsors, shareholders (Toto, Benz, INEOS), George, and to everyone in F1 that has their name mentioned. This type of coverage would boost Mercedes valuations and stocks like crazy and that is the amount of money you'd never think about. Think of every time Mercedes' name is mentioned, it is a money in the pocket for them thanks to the coverage and exposure they got.

This whole thing shows that money wins and money talks. From a PR and business standpoint, it's not always about the idealism of "who wins" but sometimes it's about "who's the most talked about". The next time you see Toto Wolff yapping, think of it as a way of him and everyone else involved getting the ka-ching. Because in the business world, good or bad publicity has a paper thin difference as they both generate money and money is the most important thing. As much as you'd think my word is dramatic, the amount of money they generate from the exposure and coverage also helps the human resources they recruited and the development of the team. It is also reported in the report that they increased the staff in the factory, they paid a lot for it and they must pay more taxes. Again, this is not just a two-dimensional way of seeing capitalism happening but also by seeing the small percentage of people getting a job in these tough times (reducing unemployment for a country) and the taxes regulating back to the citizen (well if it's not corrupted but if it did yeah...). So yeah, the money they get from benefitting on those media coverages, no matter how stupid it is, will come back to the people working for them and to other external parts. It is a very complex yet interesting economic cycle that starts from maybe the tiniest PR agenda 😉

#corporate talks #pr talks #sponsor talks

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open-hearth-rpg · 2 months

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Open Hearth Video Roundup - March 15, 2024

Welcome to the weekly Open Hearth Gaming video roundup!

These recorded sessions represent only a portion of the games we play every week, and anyone is welcome to join the fun! If you'd like to play in games like these, join our Playabl community and click on the "Calendar" tab to sign up for upcoming games. To browse our entire library of session videos, please visit our YouTube Playlists page.

Discussions, Panels, and Seminars

Talking Hard Moves, Costs & Consequences Lowell Francis A community event talking about GMing and playing hard moves, managing costs, and balancing consequences for PbtA, Forged in the Dark, and other storygames.

Open Hearth Gaming Calendar

#Rich Kid Problem$ (Session 1 of 2) Donogh runs for Madelancholy, Sabine V., and Thomas Manuel Our kids show that they have 'more money than sense' by throwing around their influence, time and money like there’s no tomorrow. Alen, the offspring of powerful black marketeers works with Delilah, the scion of old money to float a new must-experience party boat. Leo, the mid-child of a Novae Rich family does his best to help them out while Zara, the fledgling of a military dynasty aims to sabotage!

#Rich Kid Problem$ (Session 2 of 2) Donogh runs for Madelancholy, Sabine V., and Thomas Manuel Our kids know that, when you hit rock bottom the best thing to do is get out the kanji-hammers and keep digging! Alen attempts to prise away their cousin Vladimir from Zara’s embrace, but this doesn't quite go to plan and there is serious blowback on the way! Leo and Delilah continue to grow closer but there’s a surprising fly in the ointment...

AKA: The Transponder (Session 2 of 2) Donogh runs for Anders and Jonathan With our agent Carter off the grid in Baikonur it falls upon the conspirator JC to push through the deal. But handler James finds him an altogether different prospect. Meanwhile the boss Robert wonders who he can trust (if anyone)...

Pulp Cthulhu: Dark Passage (Session 1) Lowell Francis runs for Horst Wurst, Paul Rivers, Puckett, and Will H We meet our heroes coming off of a job is Los Angeles which cost them dearly. They're called to San Francisco where they must board a cruise liner headed for Shanghai. Their task: locate the person who has taken possession of some stolen occult relics. But things turn nasty quickly with one person murdered and another vanished.

Pulp Cthulhu: Dark Passage (Session 2) Lowell Francis runs for Horst Wurst, Paul Rivers, Puckett, and Will H Further investigations aboard the Coolidge point to an occult murder-- but the truth may be more complicated than they first thought. What's the connection behind the artifact smuggling person they seek and the shape-changing sorcerous killer. And what is this music?

Monster of the Week: The Rockies (Session 7) Blake Ryan runs for Brandon Ungar, David Montgomery, Dom, and Grey Dodgy Deals Delivery

Monster of the Week: The Rockies (Session 8) Blake Ryan runs for Brandon Ungar, David Montgomery, Dom, and Grey Fickle Fey Fortune

Eotenweard: Tarham (Session 1) Alun R. runs for Dom, Dominik, and Pawel S. Cola the Hunter, Izold the Storyteller & Gwylog the Revenant arrive at the village of Tarham to find a settlement recovering from a recent attack. There's a disloyal warrior, a cowardly herder, a loyal outcast and an aging Lord. Then...carrion crows return along with the stench of death, shadows take on a life of their own, and there's 'something' out there in the dark...and bagpipes...

Godbound: Sundered Cycles (Session 30) Lowell Francis runs for Dan Brown, Ethan Harvey, Patrick Knowles, Sherri, and Tyler Lominack The first half of a journey into the mythic plane-- the crossing of the threshold, a journey across the ocean of souls, and a challenge atop a mammoth lotus flower.

Trail of Cthulhu: Fearful Symmetries: Arc Two (Session 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alun R., Paul Rivers, Sherri, and Will H Having made their made into the Bradbury estate-- the circle realizes the threat is both more dire and more immediate than they thought. After wrestling with various plans and consciences, they split up-- with Isabel and Richard trying to find Flora and the grove while Wilford and the Doctor try to see what they can do with Mrs. Bradbury and her impending delivery. Things do not go well. They go messily. Very messily.

Orbital (Session 1 of 3) Donogh runs for Mark and Puckett Discover our orbital, a strange place of crystals, fractal architecture & psychic warnings - the perils it faces: hunted star-crossed lovers from the War, a damaged warship seeking assistance, and something ancient stirring in the depths... Meet the orbital's residents: Cash Only - the Source of exactly what you're looking for, Rye - the Heart of a bar that epitomises the genuine warmth of the station, & Hemlock Pangolin - a Shadow on a secret mission to ensure the Orbital remains neutral ground a stoic hydroponics engineer who minds their own business.

Star Wars Saturday

Fellowship (Session 4) Rich Rogers runs for Greg G., Kae, Steven Watkins, and Tyler Lominack The fellowship dances and fights until they uncover an ancient artifact that will rock an entire world.

Fellowship (Session 5) Rich Rogers runs for Cody Eastlick, Greg G., Kae, and Steven Watkins The fellowship makes a difficult choice about the holocron of stillness and escapes Vuarlock for Dathomir.

Stars in the Dark: Stars in the Dark II (Session 2) Anders runs for Marc Majcher, Mark (they/them), Rich Rogers, and Steven Watkins Strange Smugglers and Gamorrean Grapplers - Our stalwart spies follow their target(s?) and discover that not everything is as it seems. Also: Gamorrean wrestling! Hotwired speeder bikes! A traffic stop!

Stars in the Dark: Stars in the Dark II (Session 3) Anders runs for Marc Majcher, Mark (they/them), Rich Rogers, and Steven Watkins Industrial Automaton Entanglements

Off-Calendar Highlights

The Between: Stars and Suns, Season Two (Session 5) Madelancholy runs for Jack, Sarah W., and Steph "A Tale of Two Parties" - New opening credits! 🎉 A little bit of chaos ensues when the Explorer and the Undeniable throw separate parties at Hargrave House. A sinister royal personage drops by. Come day, a demonic presence is reported at Kilborn Abbey, Ernest experiences time distortion, Dame Georgie talks to Mr. Figg, and Liat pressures the abbot for some answers.

The Between: Stars and Suns, Season Two (Session 6) Madelancholy runs for Jack, Mike, and Steph "For All Good Intent" - Sir Atticus returns from the Void with the help of a familiar friend, and returns to Hargrave House with Ragg in tow. Dame Georgie comes to an uneasy truce because of his new state, and Liat invites her fellow hunters to tea and oh-so-innocuous conversation.

#ttrpg #rpg #rpg actual play #rpg ap #ttrpg ap

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mcufandomhatespeopleofcolor · 2 months

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I think about the fact that of all the confirmed upcoming mcu projects, the only ones with poc as leads are cap 4 with Sam as captain america, armor wars with Rhodey as the main focus, ironheart with Riri as the main character and Blade. I worry that after the marvels and deadpool 3 potentially doing "better" at the box office, Disney is gonna go back to the whole "white sells" situation and I don't want that and will be angry if that happens. Feels like the only want to prevent that is to support those projects and there's already backlash with cap 4 having a character named Sabra

It is very disappointing. Speaking of Deadpool 3, Zazie Beetz isn't returning for her role as Domino! :( I share your fear on Marvel becoming mostly White again, which is I'll have to spend my money and stream the shows that have actors of color in the leads. Since that's the only way they seem to be listening :(

Screenrant updated their article about MCU's Phase 5 and 6 list, updated on Feb. 15, 2024. Apparently Ironheart show is not confirmed either or anymore. A list of films on the list which star actors of color are:

Captain America: Brave New World - February 14, 2025

Blade - November 7, 2025

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty - May 1, 2026 (However, script is penning, confirmed Jonathan Majors but don't know what's happening now)

Avengers: Secret Wars - May 7, 2027 (Same as above with Majors)

Armor Wars - Release Date TBD

Shang-Chi 2 - Release Date TBD

Among others with no release date

There were other films on the list that listed actors of color among the main cast. I don't know the amount of screen time they will have, but some actors of color who apparently are also heading upcoming titles are:

Chiwetel Ejiofor (Black) in Venom 3 - November 8, 2024

Ariana DeBose (Latina Biracial) in Kraven The Hunter - August 30, 2024

Hannah John-Kamen (Black Biracial) in Thunderbolts - May 2, 2025

This isn't counting the show or the third Spider Verse film planned.

At the end of the day, I think you're right in that all we can do is talk with our dollars. I don't know what they're planning on doing with the character Sabra among the Palestinian genocide currently going on.

In Newsweek Magazine it said:

"It's potentially offensive, because spotlighting an Israeli superhero, specifically an Israeli intelligence anti-terrorist, on this global scale, with the wide reach that Marvel has, risks further polarization," she told Newsweek. "It could be seen as Marvel and the United States supporting and aggrandizing Israel's policies."

Personally, I think having Sabra in the film isn't a bad thing but I can only see that happening better if she's the villain. After all, there are Nazi characters and government officials throughout MCU films and shows.

And:

Sabra's nationalism is not unique in Marvel comics. The 1960s introduced readers to Red Guardian—the communist Russian version of Captain America, played by David Harbour in Black Widow (2021)—while other cultural counterparts include Captain Britain, who was gifted magic powers by King Arthur's sorcerer pal Merlin. According to Schneider, Marvel could give Sabra the same treatment it gave Red Guardian, fleshing her out into a more complex character that doesn't rely on stereotypes. "Perhaps this is an opportunity for a character to experience life and love from both sides of this conflict," she said.

Allegedly (because I haven't read the comics): "Sabra went on to feature in some stories that weren't very pro-Israel, it was already weird back then."

Everything is still up in the air, it seems. Personally, I wished they would go a different route but only using good writers. I hope it won't be another Captain America: Serpent Society --> Captain America: Civil War

#mcu phase 5 #mcu phase 6 #mcu list #mcu movies #mcu sabra

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ellen-shame · 4 months

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15 people 15 questions

thanks for tagging me @sidsthekid!

1. are you named after anyone?

Yup, at least two different relatives. It's a family name.

2. when was the last time you cried?

Uhhh I can't remember, I don't cry that easily. I lowkey cried at that YCDT episode about both the Caps and the Pens missing the playoffs though lol. Hand in unlovable hand.

3. do you have kids?

Nope and pretty sure I don't want to.

4. what sports do you play/ have you played?

I was a mediocre competitive fencer for a while, now I just do yoga and jogging. I always hated sport in school.

5. do you use sarcasm?

I'm British lol, the idea that anyone does not use sarcasm is baffling to me.

6. what’s the first thing you notice about people?

Uhhh idk, but I do think I decide whether or not I like someone very quickly, which is probably not a good habit.

7. what’s your eye colour?

Blue.

8. scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings bc I'm too much of a wuss for scary movies.

9. any talents?

Writing hopefully???? Also very good at memorising lyrics.

10. where were you born?

Manchester, England.

11. what are your hobbies?

Literally just writing lol I am really going all in on that in 2024. Also going to the theatre and the cinema but to me that is part of writing.

12. do you have any pets?

No :( I live in a small rented flat so not really feasible.

13. how tall are you?

5"5

14. favourite subject in school?

History/Religious studies/French/Classics

15. dream job?

I really loved being a private tutor. The dream would be to make enough money from writing fiction that I could live comfortably off that plus freelance tutoring.

#about me

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autumnmoonsurveys · 4 months

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NEW YEAR’S DAY 2024 4:10 PM

(I love her bathroom!)

What's for dinner tonight?

Pork & sauerkraut with garlic mashed potatoes!

Do you prefer cold or room temperature drinking water?

Cool, not cold. So, closer to room temp. I don’t put ice in my water.

How many different things have you had to drink today?

Water with my morning pill and two mugs of instant espresso with fat-free half & half and a little sugar. About to have my third and final.

When you read a book, do you use a bookmark or simply dog ear/fold the top of the page?

USUALLY, I just remember the page number I’m on.

What's the nearest city to you with a population of at least one million?

Philadelphia is the one PA city with 1mil+.

During the pandemic, did you use reusable or disposable masks?

Both. I bought us reusable masks at first, but learned I preferred the disposables.

What is your favourite local restaurant?

There aren’t a whole lot of “local” restaurants here, but I’ll say Vince’s for their chicken salad wrap.

Have you ever been harassed while minding your own business walking down the street?

Of course.

Do you own a gun? Have you ever thought about getting one?

No; yes.

Do you know anyone who owns a gun?

Tons of people.

What year is/was your 10 year high school reunion? Will you (or did you) attend?

2020, and no.

Do you cut your sandwiches into triangles or rectangles?

Either-or.

Have you ever seen a panda in real life? Where was it?

At zoos, I’m sure.

Are there any postcards hanging around the house? If so, where are they from?

No.

Does it snow where you live?

Yes. It snowed right at midnight the big, chunky, heavy snowflakes and it was magical.

When was the last time you took a flight? Where did you go?

Aug. ‘21, to Mexico — Cancún airport. I had paid $6K (all-inclusive resort & flights) for my husband and me to travel with our friends to Punta Cana again this past August, but we had to take the loss and stay back because the house we bought that we knew we belonged in was going up for auction during our vacation. We won though! 🤍 Side note: it wasn’t a foreclosure; farm auctions are popular around here. It’s a great way to make tons of money if you’re selling a home with a farm or lots of land.

Is there a flight path over your house?

Yep.

Does your neighbourhood have a lot of hills?

We do live on a mountain.

Have you ever had covid? What was your experience like?

Just once, to my knowledge. It was mid-Jan. ‘21. I had my usual flu-like symptoms of severe body aches, headache, and feeling like I’m freezing. It was a 24-hour ailment.

Do you have any alcohol in your house right now?

Yes.

Do you tend to keep alcohol around the house for when you might want it?

I don’t drink, but my husband does.

Has a romantic partner ever given you a pet as a gift?

No.

Do you ever talk on the phone with friends?

No.

What was the last thing someone said to you in person?

My son was explaining to me how he slipped out of the trampoline since it’s wet.

Are you hungry right now? What would you like to eat?

Nah.

How far away are your parents right now?

I don’t know where my mother is, but she lives 7.5 miles away. My father is deceased.

Do you believe in aliens?

I do.

Have you ever been bitten by a spider?

I believe so.

Do you own any clothing made from animal products like leather or fur?

No.

What's the best vacation you've ever been on?

My favorite was Oct. ‘17 when my husband and I took our four little kids (and my mom for help) to Disney World for a week over my daughter’s sixth birthday. Our kids were 15 months, just shy of 4, just turning 6, and just shy of 7. 🥹 They’re now 7½, 10, 12, and 13! 😭

#survey #surveys

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prosopopeya · 4 months

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2023 meme!

it's time

1. What did you do in 2023 that you’d never done before?

went to ireland.

got married again to the same person in ireland. (we finally had our originally planned ireland elopement.)

went to physical therapy

went to the gym and lifted weights (unrelated to the physical therapy)

took my husband to the er

saw death cab for cutie and postal service in concert!!

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year? i don't like to make those so probably not. and also no.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? no

4. Did anyone close to you die? jon's aunt passed away, which was very sad and sudden. jimmy buffett also died. not close to me but a significant loss.

5. What countries did you visit? ireland! not a country but we visited my aunt and uncle in maryland and had a great time!

6. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023? i would like to get a new job that pays more with better benefits. but we'll see.

7. What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? same date as last year's meme, which is june 9. now it is the date where we got married in ireland. :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? working on healing my shoulder pain was pretty significant. also getting 69 bookmarks on a porn-centric fic of mine that's close to my heart. luckily i managed to catch it before it tipped over to 70.

9. What was your biggest failure? quitting going to the gym. i did genuinely enjoy it, but then i got that pinched nerve in my shoulder and the pain was pretty bad. i need to start it up again.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? yes, the pinched nerve in my shoulder. in ireland, i pinched my sciatic nerve and also nearly passed out from heat at the top of blarney castle. had a bad sinus infection when we came back and couldn't hear out of my ears very well for like a week.

11. What was the best thing you bought? the dress i wore to the ireland wedding.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? various tour guides and people in ireland who made our time there so awesome.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? i mean like most americans.

14. Where did most of your money go? wedding, travel, door dash, hotels. same as last year.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? ireland, obviously. starfield, and then womp womp. heartstopper. death cab and postal service concert! seeing the eras tour by myself in the theater.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2023? olivia rodrigo's guts album. noah kahan. the eras tour concert.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. Happier or sadder? the same i think. ii. Older or wiser? both i think iii. Thinner or fatter? i reject this iv. Richer or poorer? richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? talk to people, exercise.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? ordering door dash. but it's just so easy...

20. How will you be spending Christmas? we went to my mom's house this year. my brother broke up with his girlfriend (a good decision on his part) and she proceeded to start a barrage of threatening texts from different numbers that is continuing to this day.

21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve? we watched candlenights and then took turns playing music in a joint spotify jam while he played powerwash simulator and i started working on some of my legos.

22. Did you fall in love in 2023? with the game coral island.

23. How many one-night stands? at this moment i have several games that i started and abandoned because something new came out: tears of the kingdom, red dead redemption 2, baldur's gate 3, starfield, octopath traveller 2. and i'm currently installing spiderman 2 to play that. i do want to go back and finish all these games but god. it's so much work.

24. What was your favorite TV program? heartstopper, probably. i feel like i don't really know what tv i watched this year. i did watch a bunch of sister wives to keep up with tiktok conversations, but i would not rank that a favorite.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? i wouldn't say i'm loving where i work right now. my now ex sister in law isn't high on my list of faves but hate is a strong word.

26. What was the best book you read? i did reread the horse girl au again so there's that. i read most of 91 whiskey. i investigated some a/b/o stuff just to give it a shot. i don't know how many actual books i read.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? noah kahan.

28. What did you want and get? a new ipad, which was nice. powers johns lane, a new fave whiskey. married in ireland. 69 bookmarks. squishmallow. adhd diagnosis and medicine, which is going pretty good.

29. What did you want and not get? an interesting slime rancher 2 update. haunted chocolatier (jk concerned ape take your time).

30. What was your favorite film of this year? i saw everything everywhere all at once which was pretty great. i also saw the eras concert, the barbie movie, dungeons & dragons, the newest puss in boots movie. but there was a bit where i just watched a bunch of gay movies and i might have to give it to this english version of brokeback mountain that i enjoyed: god's own country.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? i mostly sat around and bought myself presents and it was great. i turned 35.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? feeling like writing more often. <- last year's answer is still true.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023? comfy. comfort. comfortable things.

34. What kept you sane? quitting teaching <- still true. my husband. supernatural, bizarrely.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? i had a real olivia rodrigo moment this year.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? i mean i'd rather not think about any of it bc it all is depressing.

37. Who did you miss? my teacher friends. <- still true

38. Who was the best new person you met? we had a contractor at work who really talked me up and made me feel like i could find another job and get paid better. she was nice.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023: work to live, etc.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Oh, yesterdays are over my shoulder, So I can't look back for too long. There's just too much to see waiting in front of me, and I know that I just can't go wrong with these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes; nothing remains quite the same. With all of our running and all of our cunning, If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane

- jimmy buffett, "changes in latitude, changes in attitude"

#happy new year #annual meme

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