#he imitates the way they stand?? THE WAY THEY STAND??? the implications this has...

[justiceburst]

learning about naoto is going to affect my understanding of akechi a bit, i think 😅

#he imitates the way they stand?? THE WAY THEY STAND??? the implications this has... #i always thought that pose of his was weird because it seems so at odds with his normal posture #and um. i know why he does that now!!!! #to dust or to gold || ooc

[korpuskat]

Engineering Ecstasy

[Ao3 Mirror] Pairing: Ramattra/Reader (Gender Neutral, implied to have a vagina) Rating: Explicit WC: 2,065 Warnings: None

-----

Surrounded by tools and screens and lights, Ramattra stands in his workshop and stares at the device before him. It floats softly on a light pad. Beside it, a screen shows off its blueprints, complete with a cut-away view, to show where each piece will lay, where the sensors are suspended, the indicator lights. It's rather a marvel, if he's truly being genuine- the design is custom, the inlaid nodes are all cutting edge, fast and sensitive and durable. Every aspect has been nurtured and guided into the form displayed before him.

And this is the lowest he has ever felt.

Because the appendage that floats before him is an imitation of a human cock. A mockery, even, intended in every way to be better, but perhaps... familiar enough to not be off-putting. He hopes.

It's shameful.

Making the thing itself is not the problem. Life was meant to be enjoyed, omnics were meant to explore and seek new experiences and integrate themselves among humanity- sex was a part of that. Even at the monastery it wasn't unusual for those omnics that had the hardware to use it- and to discuss the implications of having it to begin with. But he did not envy his brothers and sister who were made with genitals. Ramattra had never seen the appeal; all the ecstasy and release from sensory overload could be achieved without any attachments.

He had not understood the desire until you.

You and your laughter that plays endlessly in his memory banks, your soft, fleeting touches to his plating that tingle hours after, your kind words that pull his mind from the task at hand. He's itched endlessly to reach out and touch you, to know what it is about you that's made his processors hang, caught endlessly in the minutia of your existence. And how he wishes it was just simple fascination- he hates how quickly it turned to him prodding at his own sensory nodes, plucking wires in his hips and wishing it was your hands instead.

This- the purple silicone device in his hand- is only the latest fantasy he's indulged.

After all, what if he were to finally approach you and you were uninterested in toying with his systems? And even if you were, he wouldn't be able to please you at the same time-- he would not risk an unintentional twitch of his hands. This... this was just an investment in the future. He hadn't quite gathered your input on the design or shape or size-- or expressed his interest in you at all-- but he'd invested time to research popular shapes, ones well-received by humans. This... he's fairly sure will please you, if you let him- and if it isn't to your tastes, then he'll make it again and-

...

He should probably test it, before he gets ahead of himself.

He takes the cock in one hand and examines the ports, where it will connect to his frame. He squeezes it, feeling the firmness of the silicone. Honestly, he isn’t sure what density he was aiming for; it’s so much softer than his plating, he has no idea what would be ideal. Not just for what you want from him either; if the silicone's curing has somehow distorted a wire or dulled the sensors’ abilities, then the whole design will have to be scrapped.

Ramattra's hands shake as he disconnects the paneling at the end of his torso. Before, this little crevice had only housed a chip for monitoring the health of his hip joints. Now that was pushed further back towards his spine- with a minor upgrade to allow for more precise movements, smoother rotation of the joint- given the purpose of the device, it felt appropriate to make sure he could use it correctly. Where the chip had sat before is a new plate with two jack outputs.

They line up with the ports, at least. Ramattra allows himself one more moment of preparation before slotting them together. The circuits connect at once- and the buses inside are still working, aligning themselves with his systems, synchronizing, adjusting the pre-loaded drivers, running a self-check automatically. The internal display of his model updates- and another wave of shame nearly makes him pluck it off again as the cock- his cock- appears on the diagram.

The self-check concludes, the indicator lights flash green- muddied through the purple- then match his preset red. Every system reports back: ready, online. Between his legs his cock stands proudly. The translucent silicone glows where the red lights shine just under the surface.

He could leave it at that…

but he should test the sensors. After all, they all might be online, but they still might need adjustments. He has no idea if the silicone has disturbed their functionality at all. Hesitantly, as though the appendage would burn him, Ramattra touches the surface above one LED. It's smooth and cool to the touch. Something prickles in his sensory subroutines, the data input on his cock is so minuscule and yet so sensitive.

He wraps one finger and thumb around the base. Instantaneously, warmth spreads through his circuits, settles into those wires at his hips. He strokes upwards-

”Aaah…” The noise slides from his voice box unbidden, a kernel-level reaction to stimuli coming forth unintentionally. And Ramattra would make a note to investigate that, to minimize uncontrolled reactions- except that every process is overridden by the drag of silicone on metal, on the rubber pad of his palm, on how every wire in his body is lighting up.

One stroke and it’s like you’ve breathed on every sensor in his body. And you- how does his mind always wander back to you?- your hands would be so much smaller, softer- delicate, even. You would- he shudders, delves into fantasy- You would start so slowly, fingers barely touching him. His hand mimics his thoughts, loosening until there’s barely any pressure, stroking so slowly it hurts. Maybe you’d be nervous- it’s okay, he would be too.

And you- you would see how he’ll try to be still, to let you explore him, and you’d see how badly he needs more. You would be kind to him, wouldn't you? With those soft smiles, you wouldn't deny him. At least, in his fantasy. His grasp tightens again, thinks only of your little hands on his cock.

Each motion brings fire through his circuits, a haze to his mind. You… oh, you could do this to him as long as you wanted. Forever, maybe, if it always felt like he was burning from the inside out. Maybe... you would touch him elsewhere, too. Perhaps bracing yourself against his chest or shoulder, or exploring his ribbon cables or along his neck, down the sensitive, covered wires of his spine. He can almost feel you, your weight across his thighs, stroking with one hand and holding him close with the other- and he would hold you, splay his hands across your back and lean in closer to press his array to your forehead.

The thought alone has him shuddering, warmth spreading in his chest and-

and he needs more.

He would whisper to you, May I have you?, but even in his own mind he sounds desperate, aching.

It wouldn't matter, because you would say Yes, of course, I'm yours.

He groans aloud at the last one; yes, yes, he wants- he needs you. To have you, not just in physicality, but in every other way he can imagine. And he imagines much. Like how you'd move, how you'd reveal yourself to him. It isn't what lies beneath that excites him- it's you doing it at all, showing him what you hide from everyone else. Letting him explore you the same way, though he's not sure what you would feel like. Most of his experience with human skin and flesh is not what he wants to associate with you, so he skims this part of his fantasy until he's prodding between your thighs.

The internet has helped him visualize this part. He may not know what sensations you would provide him there, but he can picture your face when he slides into you. How your brow pinches, how your lips part- and you would be so wet for him-

and suddenly the drag of metal and rubber on silicone is not nearly enough. He needs- he needs to know how it would feel, that slickness you would surround him with. His workshop table provides an obvious option. A bottle of machine lubricant would be close enough- anything at all to sate the impulse. He pours the oil over his hands- and thinks of his fingers covered in your arousal instead.

When he strokes this time, there's hardly any friction at all. A smooth glide from root to tip has him throwing his head back, voice box crackling out another broken moan. All of that burning inside becomes liquid, waves of hot pleasure that crash over him with stunning ease. His hips twitch into his palm- and he lets the instinctive chase of desire take over, fucking into his fist with abandon.

He imagines you on top of him- and oh, he'd have to be so gentle with you, but he can't with himself now. He'd hold you, careful with his hands when his hips aren't. You'd cling to him, barely keeping yourself up as he fucks you- and he likes that, how you'd melt against him in pleasure. The pleasure he gives you. You would trust him with this, that he wouldn't harm you. And in turn, the moans he's heard in his research would be nothing compared to the noises from your lips. Would you be loud, quiet? Would you call his name- oh, yes- an overheat warning pops into his HUD, he likes that. How you'd sound saying his name, moaning it in broken tones, like his staticked voice as he pleases you until you-

his frame shudders as he strokes himself faster, imagines how your face would twist and pinch as you'd near your end with him. Would you tremble when you finished? And inside, what does it feel like in-

His ventilation falters, half his fans seizing as tips over the edge. Pleasure floods the same wires he used to manipulate, a white static rushing through every logic circuit, drowning out every thought as his body rushes to dump the excess sensory input. Heat surrounds him- literal heat, as his processors run and run with no coolant pumping. A droning noise fills his workshop- and it takes much too long for him to realize it's his own synth.

A pop-up tells his release vents have opened- a quiet hissing of steam and hot air rushing out somewhere. His fans resume their buzzing pace as he finally begins to cool off.

Ramattra falls back onto his workshop table and lays there, waiting for his systems to completely refresh- and enjoying the lingering tingles like sparks between wires. After only a few moments the high has passed, systems flushed and returned to working order. An automatic check returns ready, online across every parameter.

And Ramattra is left with his own cock once more standing proudly between his thighs. Perhaps that would be awkward for you, in the time afterwards.

Afterwards. When you're flushed and panting and curled up next to him- you would stay, wouldn't you? He's read humans need care once the activity itself has concluded. His refresh would mean he could tend to you in whatever way you needed; sustenance, contact (though, he would have to purchase pillows), perhaps he could clean you. A stray thought slips by, the image conjured before he can stop himself: What would you look like with...?

The shame returns, but Ramattra suspends the feeling and adds a note to the blueprints of his cock- should he make another, he'll add a fluid reservoir tank. It's practical, he argues. Self-lubrication would make this much easier.

With an internal tank he could leave his fluids on you- in you. Non-toxic- in case you wanted to... A prickle of stray electricity runs down his spine. His fist curls around the silicone again, still slick with oil. With the thought of your tongue peaking out to taste him, he can't stop himself from beginning to stroke again.

After all, another set of data would be very useful...

#ramattra x you #ramattra x reader #overwatch #ramattra #overwatch x you #overwatch x reader #reader insert

[freesidexjunkie]

"If the Dalish could raise someone with a spirit like yours... have I misjudged them?"

This isn't blind flattery towards the Inquisitor. It's not "I'm questioning my whole plan of world ending because I have a crush" (if you romanced him.) "Have I misjudged them?"

He woke up and saw a hollow, empty, husk of a world with husks of people walking around, bickering and fighting over everything and nothing. He didn't expect to find beauty here. He didn't expect to find friends to care about (and he does genuinely care about them, in his party banter and dialogue). He didn't expect to find someone to love. Has he misjudged the Dalish, in his haste to write them off as a pale imitation? Has he misjudged the worth of this world?

The implications of that are staggering though. Imagine you have a house with your family. The house is rotten through and through; mildewed and molded, rotten floorboards, leaking ceilings. Doors and windows don't close, holes in the walls, termite-riddled supports. But there is no other house to live in. What do you do? Do you let your family keep living in that house, cold and wet and sick? Do you try to fix it? Where do you start? How much work will these renovations take? When do you start to consider that you could just tear the house down, and build a new one? You don't want to leave your loved ones with nowhere to live, but look at this house. It won't last like this. They deserve better.

So you do it. You start to tear down the house, even though it's a big risk. The biggest you've ever taken. But now, in this transitional period, where you're finally free to build a better house with sturdy walls and strong supports and a watertight roof and windows that shut - you lose your whole family. They can't live without a house.

You can't live without one, either. But imagine you come back, decades later, to find the house even more run down and destroyed. And there are people living in it. People who don't seem to care that the house is in such a sorry state - it's the only way they've ever known the house. And even though it's so ruined and rotten, it's far better than no house. They can't live without a house, either. But these squatters, these primitive, unrefined, barely grasping at how to live people. They are still in the house. The house you tried to tear down to build a better one. And maybe if you can just build a new house, a really good house, your family can come back. Or at least you can start to reclaim what you lost. And this miserable, dilapidated, sorry excuse for a shack is nothing but a sore on your memory now. The people inside are nothing compared to your family.

So you knock a giant fucking hole in the side of the wall. Didn't help, but you didn't get caught, and the people inside welcome you with open arms. You say you can help them, you know a lot about the house. Your nature isn't cruel and callous; you took these big risks in the first place because you can't help but care about people. So why does it surprise you so much when you start to care about these people? They're little more than children rooting around in the dirt, struggling to understand the house. They don't even know how bad the house is.

The house can't be left standing the way it is. That's very clear. But tearing it down, to make way for the house you dreamt of building... wouldn't that doom these people too? But can you let them keep living like this, in this filth and muck? You hate this house, this house that's taken everything from you. You want to destroy it and build a better home for all of you. Maybe even your family; if not them, you can build something new and reclaim what you lost trying to fix this house. But the house isn't a blight to the people here now; it's home, as horrid as it is. It's where they've loved and lived and wept.

Do you still try to repair what you can, piece by piece? Hoping your hands can replace the rot faster than it spread? Do you leave the house the way it is, pretend it's better to have this than nothing, even knowing how soon it could be nothing? The people here are sick, cold, dirty - just like your family. They're suffering, even if it is home. How do you handle this?

There are no easy or right answers. If you ignore the rot, it will spread; the effort it will take to fix the house might be more than building a new one, and people will fight you every step of the way to preserve their image of the house's wonky beauty. If you do tear it down, the people here now might die of exposure. If you told them you wanted to tear it down, they'd fight you tooth and nail; if you didn't, they'd still be inside when it came tumbling down. You'd lose more people. How much do you care about these people? Can you even reclaim your family, even if you do build the new house?

There don't feel like any right answers. The only wrong answer feels like inaction. But what action can you possibly take?

#solas #da solas #solas dragon age #solas dread wolf #solas dai #dread wolf #dragon age #da:i #da: inquisition #dragon age inquisition #solas apologist and I will die on this hill

[running-with-the-feels]

I don't think you saw it, but I did answer your ask and am now here to bring you Kung clan headcanons.

The great Kung Lao used a whip as a weapon. His fighting style relied heavily on quick movements. As honorable as he was, he had a bad habit of toying with whoever he was fighting. Often lassoing them and throwing them around. The whip is now hung in the main house of his clan.

Hair holds great importance to Kungs. Long hair is a sign of pride. The traditional style is a low, tight braid. If a member is dishonored, they are to shave their head.

To be initiated into the Shaolin, one must shave their head to show devotion. They only have to do it once and can grow their hair out afterward, with the more dedicated monks keeping their heads shaved. The Kungs actively fought the Shaolin for Lao to keep his hair, but he ended up bald anyway.

After the first Mortal Kombat, Lao decides to shave his head because he believed his actions during it were dishonorable and immature. Liu Kang tried to persuade him not to, but he insisted. Kang shaved it for him.

Lao is overly protective of his hair. Can, has, and will smack someone's hand away if they try to touch it without permission. He's like a cat in that way. Also takes amazing care of it. He has oils, masks, and expensive shampoo and conditioner.

After being disowned, Jin was forced to shave his head but grew it back out of spite. Him wearing a high ponytail while using the Kung name is seen as a sign of disrespect.

If Huai ever left the clan, she'd shave her and Jin's heads (because she refuses to leave him in the clan's care).

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Kungs have insane upper body strength. Even the civilian members. Takeda is convinced that his type is people who can lift him without breaking a sweat.

Most are also tall, but Jin is massive, standing at 6"4'. It's the Kyrgyz genes.

The first step in Kung courting is to ask for a blessing from a family member. Lao ended up asking Jade for her blessing to court Kitana and brought gifts to Liu Kang's parents' graves. He spent over an hour speaking to them before leaving.

nooooooo I missed it! I'll go check it out asap!

I Love these headcanons sm

Both Kung Lao's are actually very similar personality wise, but Raiden has kinda mythologized the great Kung Lao to the point that he sees him as a paragon and our Lao as a poor imitation, a sentiment a lot of the monks share

Kung Lao learned a lot about haircare and styling from his family and will do Kitana's hair for her for important events. She shows up one day when his family is visiting with a traditional Kung style braid and the family loses their shit over the implications (whether from happiness or anger is your call)

Kung Lao cried when they shaved his head and wouldn't talk to anyone for a week

Liu then cried when he had to shave Lao's head for him, and was over the moon when Lao started growing it back.

Lao and Johnny bond over their hair care routines and swap tips and products, with Johnny being the only person Lao has ever given a bottle of his family's hair oil made from a recipe they've had as long as they existed.

Kung Lao will fight anyone who says that Jin has no right to the name or his hair and when he joined the Shaolin and was asked to shave Lao raised hell until the monks gave in, not wanting Jin to go through what he did.

Huai has contemplated leaving the clan multiple times, its kind of an escapist fantasy for her at this point (pls feel free to ignore that, she's your oc not mine)

Kung Jin once lifts Takeda over his head ballet style to prove a point and Takeda loses the ability to speak for a while. Jin's form is perfect and he doesn't even tremble.

Jin is the tallest kombat kid (Cassie is 5'11, Jacqui is 5'6, Takeda is 5'10 and Frost is 5'3)(no one mention's Frost's height bc it took three people to hold her back last time)

Jade was touched by Kung Lao asking her for permission to date Kitana and when Kitana learned of the custom, she went to Lao's parents and asked them for permission as well

Kitana and Liu also both love to run their hands through his hair and are the only people he will allow to do that

#kombat kids #kung lao #kung jin #mortal kombat #mortal kombat x #mortal kombat 11

[haggishlyhagging]

Virginia Woolf's politics are not (male) party politics, but feminist politics, and I think that there are few areas of feminist thought to which she has not made a contribution. Her fundamental thesis that those who are in power perceive the world differently (and determine the scale of values) from those outside the power structure (and whose values are therefore decreed to be deviant, eccentric, neurotic, irrational, inexplicable) is for me one of the touchstones of feminism, and helps to explain the way she has been treated, removed from the realms of philosopher or political analyst, and cast into the mould of delicate and elaborate artist. (There is even a jarring of images if one tries to visualise Virginia Woolf as a tough political thinker - which indicates how pervasive the portrayal has been - yet in Three Guineas, which she carefully planned in order to 'strike very sharp and clear on a hot iron' (Carroll, 1978, p. 103), her avowed intention was - as is the title of Carroll's essay - ‘To Crush Him In Our Own Country’, which is a tough stand in the face of the drift to war.)

Woolf herself would not have been surprised at the treatment she has received, consigned to a separate and acceptable women's sphere outside the mainstream of intellectual recognition, for after all, were women not literally locked out of men's libraries? She understood this process and it was precisely the one she was attempting to subvert with the documentation of women's heritage - and possibilities - in A Room of One's Own. She tried to construct a coherent context in which women's values were meaningful and invested with layers of symbolism, and celebration - no mean feat in a society in which the symbolism of the phallus is so pervasive and where men consistently celebrate their own achievements, but where women's imagery and celebration is invisible. And she tried to do this because she recognised the political nature and the significance of the act of creating a different and autonomous women's culture outside the control of men, although still rooted in the culture of men, and in opposition to it.

When Florence Howe asserts that women's studies is not a ghetto but the centre of the construction of knowledge, based on the experience of half the population (with the implication that it is men's studies which is on a side-track), she is doing nothing less than Virginia Woolf, who made it a virtue to be an outsider in an exploitative and oppressive society. Women can best help society, can best serve the interests of achieving freedom, equality and peace, by not helping men, argues Woolf, in Three Guineas, by not imitating them or supporting them in their aggression, violence, and war. She urges women to stay out of patriarchal institutions, to find their own critical and creative means of promoting change (1938, p. 206), and to remain free from unreal loyalties, to remain outside that ‘loyalty to old schools, old colleges, old churches, old ceremonies, old countries’ (ibid., p. 142).

This was the book Leonard Woolf decreed as not very good, indeed to which he was hostile: ‘“Maynard Keynes was both angry and contemptuous: it was, he declared, a silly argument and not very well written.” E.M. Forster thought it "the worst of her books." Quentin Bell perhaps best displayed the depth of incomprehension of the book in reporting his own reactions: “What really seemed wrong . . . was the attempt to involve a discussion of women's rights with the far more agonising and immediate question of what we were to do in order to meet the ever growing menace of Fascism and War. The connection between the two questions seemed tenuous and the positive suggestions wholly inadequate”’ (Carroll, 1978, p. 119). Bell missed Virginia Woolf’s thesis that tyranny begins at home; Adrienne Rich (1980) did not. In her appeal to women to be 'Disloyal to Civilization' she quotes and builds upon Woolf's concept of ‘freedom from unreal loyalties’. To Rich, as to Woolf, it was the values of a society controlled by men which women must disown, and challenge, in the interest of freedom, equality and peace.

-Dale Spender, Women of Ideas and What Men Have Done to Them

#dale spender #virginia woolf #male violence #female oppression #feminist thought #women’s studies #women’s culture

[datastate]

gashu's view on ais is so... fucked.

with hiyori, it's no surprise he still manipulates them - in fact, by virtue of being programs, it's much easier to manipulate them if something goes awry! (though the only issue there would then be the cost of integrity; they are just as human, after all, as that is what michiru claims and takes pride in and what midori admires her for (if nothing else)). meanwhile, emiri puts the physical frames together, rather than code (though we haven’t gotten enough on how she views her work just yet...)

but w gashu... the implications behind his creation of ranger after kai was essentially written out of the organization, written off to die... it hurts. gashu wasn't a good father - we know as much from what kai says abt him, and even if kai has matured enough to understand gashu's situation, he still sees his father as a dangerous individual serving that force. but gashu is also someone who seemingly cared about kai (in his own way), even before i bring ranger's existence into account - he was disappointed in kai's inability to follow through on assassinations (he believed in kai's potential to prove his worth to asunaro, even if this was an expectation forced upon him) and he reacts to keiji mentioning kai like it's still a sore subject. but then with ranger as a factor... there was no need for gashu to let ranger call him 'dad' - not something more impersonal as 'father' or 'creator' or any term michiru/emiri would use for their superiors/coworkers, but instead 'dad'... gashu may have simply wanted another apprentice in kai's absence who doubly served as a project to study, but ranger claims gashu carried some affection for him as well. although that may have been offered only in return for ranger fulfilling the work requested of him, it's still. significant. for someone who had all “positive” feelings derived from emotions removed, for him to still recognize that and form some trust that, no matter the harm done to his body, he matters enough to gashu to warrant help... makes this a curious case.

gashu may care for them, but he values asunaro much more. and always will. he trusted ranger with holding key information, and i doubt he expected ranger to outright kill a participant - terminating rio was of necessity. just as kai. this replacement, although experimental, faced the same terrible truth kai found: the organization drove their father mad. it is the only constant. the humans are meant to die, the ais may corrupt, it’s simply life. it’s simply human, and its imitations’, nature. whether or not ais are human, they still fall to fault... asunaro alone, stands perfectly holy in his eyes.

#FOUND THIS IN MY DRAFTS. NEVER POSTED IT ? UM. #i forgot what the context of this was but you know what. sure #i'll add the meta tag... later. i'm nervous. #jestersvaguely #yttdposting #yttd meta

[sinhasaheart]

Hal introduces Helen to his boyfriend Thaal ?

In a blaze of green light, Sinestro enters the room. Faint traces of blood glitter on his shoulders and he's a ferocious sight. All of that pauses as his gaze falls on Helen.

"Uh..." Weirder things have happened to Hal recently, but not a lot of them. "Didn't I...?" He gestures with his arms to indicate neck snapping.

There's a finger against Hal's lips, and Sinestro is in his space. "Don't question it," is the murmured advice.

At Hal's back, Helen peers around his legs and the folds of his cloak to watch Sinestro with wide eyes. The gaze is returned, although Sinestro is more assessing than awed.

A quiet pause passes, and Sinestro tilts his head, gaze flicking to Hal. "Is this your secret daughter?"

"Why," Hal responds, totally bemused, "would I have a secret daughter?"

With exaggerated disinterest as though the topic has nothing to do with him, Sinestro pulls away. "Do not dwell on it," he retorts casually. Then he nods back to Helen. "Your niece?"

"Uncle Hal is the greatest," Helen enthuses helpfully, and she steps out a little further from behind Hal. "Are you his boyfriend?"

"He's not even real," Hal interrupts, eyeing Sinestro closely. It's a good imitation but impossible.

Golden eyes catch Hal's gaze and it's a honey trap. "How would you know?" The implication oozes its way in.

After everything, Hal can't be sure how much he really knows about Sinestro and the reminder makes him doubt himself now. It's not impossible that Sinestro is truly standing before him.

A hand cups Hal's cheek, unflinching on his cold skin, and a whisper of thought touches his ear. Sinestro is gone.

Immediately, Helen pipes up, "Who was that?" and she's staring up at Hal, trusting him to answer.

"An echo..." is Hal's best guess, "and a warning." Thinking over what Sinestro has told him, he scratches his head. Nothing is any clearer than before.

Plainly unsatisfied, Helen drops her gaze and looks to where Sinestro disappeared. There's that expression on her face that Hal has seen in the mirror too often, disappointed puzzlement.

With a sigh, Hal kneels down before Helen. "Sinestro and I were Green Lanterns together a long time ago."

At once, Helen is eager to hear more. "And you were in love?" she prompts.

"I suppose..." Frowning, Hal looks away and into the distance. "I'd give it up a hundred times for him call me friend again."

Though Helen screws up her face with confusion again, she doesn't say anything. Instead, she's listening curiously, waiting for Hal to continue.

"No matter what I did," Hal elaborates, "he would've been there for me. When it really mattered. Until..."

"Like right now?" Helen interrupts with a gasp. "The warning?"

Whether Sinestro really has visited or it's some other trick, maybe only a dream of Hal's mind, that intention behind it is the same.

"Yeah," Hal agrees. "So let's not let it go to waste by staying here talking."

#halsinestro #my fic #helen jordan #the spectre #ask

[unohanadaydreams]

Jugram’s flashback was more depressing than I remember it being and actually has more mentions of timeline than I thought it did.

None of them look like they know what the implication here is. (Y’know, that whoever they choose will be rendered an immobile relic)

Also RIP to Aizen, who genuinely could have waited until the Quincy came back to make his move and may have had greater success in leveraging a throne that isn’t 600 feet underground.

So everything ISN’T ending, he just plans on consolidating them into one world? It makes what Komamura’s grandfather said make a lot more sense.

I see why the shinigami fear this as much as the worlds all ending entirely—their whole schtick of upholding the balance of the worlds is useless when there’s only one.

I also like the ‘be not afraid’ reference when they see him with his multiple eyes for the first time.

The implication that Zaraki led a group bathroom break is astounding. What else could you expect of an expert toddler wrangler.

Hanataro catches zero break at all times, like always.

Also, the tension between Mayuri and Kenpachi is delicious. My little gremlin brain is working in overdrive. You can tell how ALIVE and happy both of them feel about this war happening which is like, not well adjusted. But it is sexy.

SOBBING. Yes girl, give us nothing!

Hanataro is like ‘I’m literally alone out here fighting for my life among the weirdest outliers in the Gotei 13, pls someone say they’re worried too’. And the most ‘normal’ one he could find is a woman who could literally stand in the same place for days if she was told to and not feel too deeply about it.

I know we find out later that Jugram’s powers are what his uncle is useless without. But the way they draw these panels makes you feel the implication that there are worse things going on. ‘My sweet, Jugo….’ For example.

No wonder he was never angry at Yhwach like Bazz was.

So this is before the war 1000 years ago, then. They also have Yhwach state later on he was born 200 years ago, per this flash back.

Bazz and Jugram grew up in what existed before Soul Society became the prolific, all consuming power of the after life. So, I guess their aging was halted for 1000 years when they went into hiding in the shadows? Because even Yamamoto changed within those 1000 years substantially.

I’ve seen people imply this flashback and the war 1000 years ago took place in the human world, but I don’t see anything that points toward that conclusion.

Bazz’s clothes are a poor imitation of Roman armor and seems purely for play. No one else is dressed as if they are limited to human world fashion and tech. They look more advanced than the human world—just like the Seireitei.

They say invade the soul society like it’s a neighboring kingdom, which makes a lot of sense!

So there was an Empire of Light, which is obviously home to quincies and ppl with innate quincy-like powers that managed to thrive and not kill off the balance of the worlds while the Soul Society was still just an up and coming place.

Yhwach is supposedly father of quincies but we see in this flashback that there were people that could be considered quincies born before him; he just put a name and uniform to them. So these powers WERE HERE before him. Obviously, since the soul king and Yhwach also have major similarities. Like, it wasn’t quincies that were the problem—it was YHWACHS quincies.

And Yhwach was the aggressor, so we don’t see any reason to believe Soul Society was actively trying to take out this Empire. Which means ‘Quincy need to be genocided’ was and is Propaganda based on fear & anger toward Yhwach and is perhaps by design. Y’know, if you rebuild the afterlife to need shinigami….you don’t need Quincy, who work at odds with you.

I mean, he wasn’t wrong but we also won’t ever know if what happened to quincies in the modern world would have ever happened if Yhwach hadn’t pulled this.

Feels like a self fulfilling prophecy sort of thing here. Yhwach sees the future of shinigami and quincy and proactively tries to stop it, but in doing so, may very well have caused it.

But at the same time, can’t really blame him, since like….the shinigami really do go after quincy under a defense of ‘they’re born wrong your honor’.

Wow, the parallels to his uncle SUCK to see, like the pain of it all. It’s well done angst; brava.

You see so much emotion in his eyes. He feels helpless again. Like he’s right back in the woods, going back to his uncle—because he’s needed and it’s the only way he knows to be needed.

I love that Kenpachi is so consistent. He doesn’t care about the deeper things unless it will help clarify if it’s worth a battle—he’s just gonna swing.

And I like how Mayuri only asks Nemu these things when he feels negatively about how something turned out for him. He knows he’s been redundant to the point where Kenpachi got bored with it and soldiered on.

So instead of voicing that, he plays at punishing Nemu for knowing he feels that way. He thinks something and knows Nemu is thinking something similar since she’s so intune to Mayuri and well…why the fuck is she critiquing him??

Although to be fair to Kenpachi, he bores easy.

Mayuri is just neurotic, there’s no excuse for him lmao.

#we are finally getting to Mayuri versus his defeat!!!! #also got to the Jugram flash back #I forgot how much world building they’d stuffed into it #in terms of timeline and who initiated what #R&D backlog

[anti-cosmofangirl]

They did Fifth Brother dirty too. He’s too short and his accent is wrong. (I swear it’s American but I have to rewatch.) Not only is the makeup so low effort, but I don’t think a Chinese actor was right for the role. I would have picked someone bigger with stronger features and a Latin accent. Fifth Brother the pompous and prideful one in Rebels and it shows in his haughty delivery and brute force approach. Not here. They really said screw the established Inquisitors to make Reva work

I actually thought that Kang did a good job with what he had. He sounds intimidating but we don't get to see enough of him talking to gauge his character. I feel like 5B was directed and written badly, but that's not Kang's fault.

For example, in this scene where he pins Reva to the wall

He's not any taller than she is, they could have had him stand on a box like they did for Robert Downey Jr. in any of the Marvel movies. Or used forced perspective to make him look taller. He doesn't look much larger or more intimidating than Reva. (Who should be like a teenager if she was one of those little padawans in the beginning??)

And, honestly, I don't think Kang's features are the issue either. Just like Friend as the Inquisitor, the costume and makeup do not flatter his facial structure. Instead of using the contoured lines the 5B has originally they just decided to paint random blood vessels on his face?? And don't get me started on his head cap:

I know he's probably not a Zeffo but I liked the concept of his head plate being a part of his skeletal structure, not just a helmet. The one in Kenobi looks so goofy. It's like a terrible parody of a coolie, which I hate because of the implications of having Kang look like that.

And finally, I do agree that I miss his voice. His original Latino accent was a very nice touch. I'm not as heated as I am about the GI's because at least it's original and doesn't seem like a bad imitation. 5B's OG voice reminded me of a Zorro-esque character and it was very bold and intimidating. Kang just seems rough and angry but again, he didn't get much screen time.

As a final note, I do agree that it feels like all the other Inquisitors got altered to support Reva's arc. It feels like the writers were so scared of her being outshined by the others that they had to really dumb them down. The motivation of all of them being angry at her is confusing and nonsensical as well. Shouldn't the 5B be chopping off hands right alongside her? Or if they're trying to make them diplomatic agents of the empire and she's really out of hand, then we should be angry at her as an audience for her rampage/kidnapping/threats? But I feel like we were intended to celebrate her victory when she stabbed the GI. I'm not getting how we're supposed to feel about Reva or the Inquisitors as a whole here. I wish they would have taken the time to fit her development into pre-existing canon in a more satisfactory way.

TLDR: Somebody please take the Fifth Brother for a makeover.

#star wars #kenobi #rant #fifth brother #inquistiors #grand inquisitor #disney plus #bad makeup #bad alien designs #the inquisitors were so scary in rebels #like I get they were hammy at times but they were all so over the top megamind level showy that it made up for it #the kenobi inquisitors are just stale #I can't take a single one of them seriously #except maybe the fourth sister and that's because she's literally not opened her mouth yet

[zoewilkinson]

Blog Post 5 - A Semiotic Analysis of The Mario Characters

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and the way we interpret them. There are many theorists involved with semiotic theories, but I will be looking at Ferdinand de Saussure, the founder of linguistics and semiotics, Charles Sanders Peirce, and Roland Barthes to analyse the way characters are portrayed in the Nintendo game New Super Mario Bros (2006).

Ferdinand de Saussure’s Semiotic Theory

New Super Mario Bros (2006) was my favourite Nintendo DS game growing up, I always felt very connected to the characters and the game’s use of colour throughout each level. Saussure’s theory suggests that language is made from different signs, through the use of a signifier and a signified. The signifier is the physical form of the sign, and the signified is the mental concept of what the sign represents. Applying Saussure’s theory to New Super Mario Bros (2006), we can see how the design choices of each character are actually used to represent their character roles.

Mario wears bold colours, his red cap and his blue overalls making him stand out next to all other characters. The colour red has implications of bravery and power, while the blue overalls make him easily identified as a regular working man that appeals to the players. The key feature that sets him aside from the other characters however is his iconic moustache. The moustache implies maturity or age, creating a symbolic representation that he is experienced and likely more capable at achieving goals.

Princess Peach is used to signify royalty. The symbolism use of her softer pink colour palette implies femininity and kindness, which are traits people would often connect to a princess. Similarly, the symbolism of her crown and large dress are seen as traditional clothing items for a royal family member, the crown especially being used as a symbol of authority. Peach is often a damsel in distress character, so the use of her gentle colour palette also plays into this idea because femininity is often perceived as weaker.

Bowser is the clear villain of the story. His character design uses his size to imply his strength, making him much larger with more muscles than any other character. Additionally, the use of spikes and fire breath are clear signs of danger, alongside the use of dark shades of green and red to create an overall intimidating feeling.

Roland Barthes’ Semiotic Theory

Barthes semiotic theory looks at uncovering hidden meanings using the ideas of a denotation, connotation and myth. The denotation is the literal meaning of the sign, whereas the connotation uses the deeper associations connected to the sign. The myth combines the meanings from both the denotation and the connotation and shows the ideological meanings of the sign.

The denotation of Mario is his physical appearance. His clothing shows his regular job as a plumber, which is consistent through every variation of his character design in the games. The connotation is the heroic symbolism, even though he looks like a regular guy, he’s more than just a plumber.  The myth is shown through a few aspects of the gameplay. Mario’s narrative follows the classic hero’s journey, which is an idea shown in many different games, while also incorporating the use of the damsel in distress through Princess Peach, which reinforces the heroic symbolism along with traditional gender roles.

Charles Sanders Peirce’s Semiotic Theory

Charles Sanders Peirce introduced the idea of symbolism consisting of three key typologies: the symbolic, the iconic, and the indexical. The symbolic shows that the signifier is arbitrary and conventional, and the iconic is an imitation of the signified. The indexical has a direct link to the signifier, almost like a secondary action. In relation to the characters in New Super Mario Bros (2006), Bowser is the symbolic, Mario is the iconic, and Princess Peach is the indexical.

Bowser symbolises danger and evil, making him the antagonist. His appearance is completely symbolic to represent danger, his spiked shell and dragon/dinosaur appearance aren’t connected to reality but are recognised as unsafe and menacing. Bowser himself is used symbolically throughout the game, with his face appearing throughout to show he is the main cause of the obstacles Mario faces.

Mario is the iconic symbol of the story. When you think of the games, you immediately think of Mario and his distinctive appearance. Every aspect of his appearance works together to create the iconic design, while still resembling a regular person. He is immediately identifiable in any environment or scene because of his iconic appearance.

Princess Peach is directly connected to Mario. Since she is represented as the damsel in distress character, she can’t exist without Mario. The fact that she is taken by Bowser in every game is important to continuing the narrative, which in turn makes Bowser the main conflict or obstacle in the game.

Each main character in the New Super Mario Bros(2006) game uses semiotics effectively to create their identities and their role in the game. The use of colour choices and features has the biggest impact on their symbolism and makes them recognisable. Considering semiotic meanings in game characters creates a connection between the characters and the player, creating a clear underlying meaning that can be recognised as iconic.

 

Bibliography

Anderson, J. P., 2022. Why Mario Is an Amazing Character. [Online] Available at: https://medium.com/@JonathanM2C/why-mario-is-an-amazing-character-e6f23a1d81de [Accessed 24 November 2023].

NINTENDO EAD. 2006. New Super Mario Bros. [CARTRIDGE] Nintendo DS. Kyoto: Nintendo

#Digital Media: Sources and Significance

[maroonghoul]

Cozy Horror?

I've been hearing this above term recently plus some of the blowback against it. I'm one of those who doesn't care for it, but it doesn't make me angry like how I am with "Elevated Horror". I'm more confused. It's like every term I hear to define it, I think they're already terms for.

"it has low stakes and is not all that bloody." Oh you mean like gateway Horror or a kid's horror movie?

"It has the aesthetics of a horror movie but is not all that intense" so it's spoopy?

"it reminds me of all the nice things of fall" because it's a horror movie set at fall?

The term itself again feels redundant. As for the attitude of those who championed the term and get angrily defensive? I kind of get it, but I think they're looking at it the wrong way.

I get not finding the more intense or hardcore horror films fun to watch or easy to rewatch. It's typical. But the edgelord a-holes who would apparantly shame someone for not liking harder horror films don't speak for the general horror community. They are just another loud minority. A lot of female fans like horror media that don't invoke coziness at all, and plenty of male fans like the cozier horror films just as much as the non-cozy variety, whatever that is.

People who talk about it see it as a binary. But for me, I see all of Horror as an abyss or cave. That sounds negative, but hear me out. What would be called "Cozy Horror" would be around the edge if not a little bit in. All the other varieties are further in, with something like the French New Extremity as the bottom. (If I'm wrong, I'm not ready to guess what is.).

All of us, casual and superfans alike, are climbing into it all the time. A few just pear over the edge from time to time. The reason I picked an abyss instead of a mountain for this is that with a mountain, there's more of an assumption of either competition or "you're less of a man" if you don't try it. Instead, it's with something a bit more spooky, (heh), and more understandable about not wanting to go down there, if you're afraid of the dark or tight spaces. But because of that, most of us are understanding if others don't want to go far in, even if some of us have been doing it long enough to only feel satisfied going a bit deeper. It's all actually a matter of personal comfort.

If your favorite subgenre of horror is one that gives more deliberate cozy vibes or that's the only one you can stand, that's okay. That's fine. The least I can ask for is similar understanding that what gives me the same comfort is, for example, a bleak future where people who are still underpaid or overworked are force to make first contact with a brutal alien species that uses them more for breeding than food just because their employer only sees dollar signs. Or a bunch of naive college students trip out to the woods ends with their bodies eviscerated and their souls literally torn apart by demons beyond human comprehension who did it just to amuse themselves. Or a selfish abusive family man drags his family to a remote sketchy place in the middle of nowhere only to go crazy because of his lack of foresight and his inability to accept any real responsibility and grow up cause him to be susceptible to a horrible plan involving said family. Or a last of it's kind dinosaur is painfully irradiated to the point it lashes out on any nearby life, regardless if they're victims of the same disaster, only to die in one of the worst possible ways at the hands of a man who destroyed himself as well because he couldn't forget the full horrible implications of all that he found. Or, in the most isolated and inhospitable place on the planet, people deadened to any sort of attachment to each other, are invaded by an organism so alien to them, not can it look like something out of their nightmares, but it can also imitate them to such a degree so as to not only tear their bonds to each other asunder, if any, but can also make one realized how limited the human perception of the natural world, each other, and themselves really is.

I don't know why these make me feel cozy, but they do. Are they cozy to you? They might not be now. But they could be later. Along with much worse.

If the time comes you're ready, I'll wait for you deeper in the cave. We can share a blanket.

#cozy horror #godzilla #the thing 1982

[the-firebird69]

Watch "Halloween 1978 Escape" on YouTube

She has the face and the whole thing and cut it off him to imitate him and they do that. This is particular reason and it's because he's taking all the higher-ups so they want the intel on it and we don't have the Intel and they're infected and people know it and they can't stand it but here's how it goes this guy is tormenting my husband for years and me she's just like we're absolutely nothing and he's got to go you don't want to have a plan at all and my husband said it earlier and Max said if you get him a little money and you heat it up and you do work you don't just expect them to do it for us cuz you're threatening the s*** out of them personally he's implying that but it's true it's so much money and power and he's going to have no access and all of you are going to kill yourself saying that he does he's going to sit there poor cuz if I have to I will and that's the way it goes but Olympus says it won't last forever I agree too all the people are stupid are you going to beat the s*** out of themselves that's stupid about it and then there's a bunch of criminals who want him to have some and they'll pop up like crazy and it's a bunch of wimps. But here's another thing about it another movie another genre and it is about the computer the mega computer and it is about what happened to Dave's computer or at least one of them or one of the modules and you see it leaving the area of Jupiter and that's space Odyssey 2001 I believe and it goes towards the Moon and the rest of the crew and leaves somehow and it is a board a part of the vessel and he stays on and supposedly deactivates the computer but my husband says those diamonds are way too big and those are for a small laser and his known as for what I do is for going up to a ship and cutting a hole in it when you're right next to it and it's white leaves or you can't see it and he was hijacking everyone's stuff and so the ship itself landed on the moon and that's where it is and people are fighting to get there and they did find the object up there and he says I don't think it's happened yet and that's actually true it does happen in Star wars it knocks the module loose and the ship part finds it it's really strangers he's deactivated laser of the computer is fully you guys don't even think twice about it but really that situation you can't and it's not really stupid you have to deactivate the laser to get off the ship and saying yes a gun and he says it over and over to escape anyways and really this computers trains and your clones and they're horrible. This is starting up tonight she went missing and went missing in Vegas got killed over and over they sauga killed and get up and she goes to la gets jealous kills her and gets captured by the good doctor Peterson and people still think that it's Tommy f and he's a competitor this is trying to keep stuff away from him and he goes down and his face gets taken turns into the detective and falls her around throughout the entire series trying to get his face back to avoid being implicated in a crime kind of tells you what he's been doing with the museum who's a ton of people after his plan because he had all sorts of people there no he still does and the same time you have to us and it's not true he's the one with all those people in the Intel so how is Tommy have doing this stuff I'm just getting the designs from people who's stealing from and he knew about the museum and he's taking it from this clan and this clan speak to a pulp and it's like a front and a clearing House and a way to get away with it and Tommy F thinks he's going to take over everything and he's preparing to take these specimens and get the rest of it

Hera Zues

He used me his cover and I'm disgusted and we figured it out and it's horrible and he's the fighter he's a machine and it's true and he misses some things but you know he's going to see grade 70%, it's not good enough and we're deplorable because of his surgeries and it is him doing it

Mr petersen

#Youtube

[fmp2halimekaraca]

Art Studies ( Simon Stalenhag + Röki )

Rather than looking at the style in which the game Röki is made, which is pretty similar to the other two games I have already looked at, I decided to concentrate on their concept art instead. The concept art for this game still holds a certain amount of simplicity and shape language but it also adds texture, painted effects and brush strokes.

The way in which the trees are made reminds me of old Disney backgrounds. especially due to the long trunks and abundance of foliage. One of my favourite artists Eyvind Earle is the perfect example of that. His work has always been an inspiration for me especially in his flexibility when it comes to rendering.

I have always found it difficult to incorporate far objects into my backgrounds without them standing out or looking weird so studying the way in which Simon Stalenhag creates depth while maintaining appropriate scaling and the harmony of a colour scheme has helped me a lot.

I have started looking at this artist ever since I have settled onto my new project idea. Rather than fully trying to emulate this style, I mainly wanted to imitate the artists ability of conveying story and action. In most of these illustrations, there is a mix between robots and humans. A moving car, character or human settlement is always present and in each one of his artworks, these 2 elements always seem to work so well together and even co-exist peacefully.

I really enjoy this familiarity and the casual interactions between the two, especially the ones that involve children, due to the subtle implications of this being the status quo in this world and the kids not being afraid of these huge robots and androids shows a sort of innocence and nostalgia.

I find the movie Arrival to have a very similar atmosphere and aesthetic to Stalenhag's artworks. In this movie, the world is desperately trying to understand the reason for which 12 alien spaceships have landed on earth and weather or not this could mean the end of the world.

The quietness and strange familiarity is also present here and when it is combined with the stereotypical ''aliens conquering Earth' trope makes for extreme suspense and an emotionally investing story.

My illustrations were, once again, and attempt at combining the two styles into a single one. For the robot one, I really tried to get out of my comfort zone and rather than concentrate on the foreground, I would put more detail in the robot and the ''story''. I wanted a lot of emotion and so I decided to go with a bit of perspective to show how big the robot actually is, which is something I have seen Stelengah do a lot.

I also tried to keep the colours of the robot very similar to the colours of the sky (outside of the yellow accent colour) to suggest how the robot is so tall and far away that is mixes with the background. I did the exact same with the mountains behind the robot and the planet behind the whale in the left illustration.

This apparently is called aerial perspective and it is a method of creating the illusion of depth and show the changes in colour created by the atmosphere to objects in distance/far from the camera.

The bottom ones were a lot more Roki inspired and I believe that I managed to incorporate that specific visual language that was present in their concept art, especially with the winter scene and the rendering of the trees and the snow.

[shao-hujiaqi]

Hu Jiaqi: Happiness Is Acquired in Eternal Pursuit

Happiness is a product of comparison, and is acquired in eternal pursuit. Absolute happiness does not exist, nor does eternal happiness.

—— Hu Jiaqi

It’s unknown since when the word “happiness” has become a tune which can be heard every now and then, filling all corners of life. We can get a glimpse of its wandering shadow but it’s hard to find any trace.

Before 2012 double festival (Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day), CCTV launched a special investigation program titled "Grassroots Visits: Getting to Know the Common People". A question was put forward: “Are you happy?” , which aroused a heated discussion about satisfaction with life.  

Four years later, in July 2016, a stage photo called “Ge You Slouch” became an extraordinary popular meme on the internet. Those young people, who felt dispirited by the status quo of life, identified with it. The word “sang” has become a representative culture. Simply put, ”sang” refers to a reduced work ethic, a lack of self-motivation, and an apathetic demeanor.

All of a sudden, a new generation of young people found the vibes of their times. Decadent emojis and ironic memes sprang out like bamboo shoots after rain.

At the end of 2017, an article titled “The First Post-90s Generation Has Developed a Buddha-like Mindset” was published, which mildly described the youngsters’ apathetic behaviors. The young people tend to act negatively in the way they make friends, work out, have meals, go shopping, post Moments on WeChat, or manage their relationships. All the above is concluded as “Buddha-like”.

Whenever something difficult or sad happens, the statement of “I am a Buddha-like person” seems to reveal the true meaning of life.

In 2020, the spiritual core of the "Buddha-like mindset" evolved into a new version, and the concept of "involution" took shape.

This word originates from a short video filmed by a college student, in which the students usually pretend to have fun and spend time idly; but in reality, they hide in dorm and learn, trying not to be noticed. Originally, the video aims to satirize the fact that some college students scheme against each other for GPA.

As the video spreads across the internet like wildfire, the implication of involution has been developed in the process of being imitated. The current meaning of “involution” (literally translated to an inward curling) refers to making meaningless extra labor for competition.

For instance, as everyone sits in the cinema and enjoys the movie, someone in the first row stands up with a straight military posture to make others believe that he is watching the movie seriously. As such, the people behind him/her have to stand up as well because their view is blocked.

Compared with colleges, the competition in the workplace is more direct and intense. Accordingly, the concept of involution is accepted immediately to describe the vicious competition in company.

With the popularization of the concept of involution in all aspects of the society, the ideological trend of avoiding it begins to emerge.

In 2021, a post entitled "Lying Flat Is Justified" has sparked a wave of discussions about the differences between survival and life.

One passage of the post says: “I can sleep in my own barrel and enjoy the sun like Diogenes. I can also ponder over ‘logos’ in a cave like Heraclitus. Since there is no such trend of thought advocating human subjectivity, I can make one by myself. Lying flat is my wise movement and only by this can human beings become the measure of all things.” What is said in this passage has been taken as a model by the youngsters who are suffering from involution.

In the face of higher housing and commodity prices, as well as fiercer social competition, young people are becoming increasingly anxious.

Different from their parents, young people of this generation no longer have to worry about the problem of food and clothing, so they enthusiastically pursue a better life, but they suffer a crushing defeat.

They have realized there is a bigger world. Although they have got a lot, what they cannot achieve is far more. Everything is generated from comparison.

Anthropologist Hu Jiaqi says: “Happiness is a product of comparison, and is acquired in eternal pursuit. Absolute happiness does not exist, nor does eternal happiness.” 

The “sang” attitude that the young generation holds doesn’t mean they do not want to make progress, but that they fail after many attempts due to all the problems of today's society. After multiple failures and setbacks, they become a part of “sang” group, in which the goals are lowered and their mindset is adjusted accordingly. In this way, they avoid falling into despair, which amounts to a way of self-protection.

It is quite normal to have troubles, and periodic failure does not represent one’s whole life fails. It’s better to try to improve oneself than get lost in decadence. People tend to worry less when they lead a life of privation. Once they have abundance to enjoy, a wider world is open and endless troubles come with it.

Life is a wilderness, not a track. Therefore, we should develop a larger perspective on life. It’s unwise to take working hours as the only way to measure one’s value. We should use our knowledge and specialized skills to free ourselves from involution. Although it may be difficult or fearful, the world will become smaller and smaller if one hides himself/herself once fear comes.

Happiness lies not in others’ judgement, but in the process of self-value realization.

#happiness #humanity #anxienty #competición

[haggishlyhagging]

It is in the area of class that the castelike status of the female within patriarchy is most liable to confusion, for sexual status often operates in a superficially confusing way within the variable of class. In a society where status is dependent upon the economic, social, and educational circumstances of class, it is possible for certain females to appear to stand higher than some males. Yet not when one looks more closely at the subject. This is perhaps easier to see by means of analogy: a black doctor or lawyer has higher social status than a poor white sharecropper. But race, itself a caste system which subsumes class, persuades the latter citizen that he belongs to a higher order of life, just as it oppresses the black professional in spirit, whatever his material success may be. In much the same manner, a truck driver or butcher has always his "manhood" to fall back upon. Should this final vanity be offended, he may contemplate more violent methods. The literature of the past thirty years provides a staggering number of incidents in which the caste of virility triumphs over the social status of wealthy or even educated women. In literary contexts one has to deal here with wish-fulfilment. Incidents from life (bullying, obscene, or hostile remarks) are probably another sort of psychological gesture of ascendancy. Both convey more hope than reality, for class divisions are generally quite impervious to the hostility of individuals. And yet while the existence of class division is not seriously threatened by such expressions of enmity, the existence of sexual hierarchy has been reaffirmed and mobilized to "punish" the female quite effectively.

. . .

As race is emerging as one of the final variables in sexual politics, it is pertinent, especially in a discussion of modern literature, to devote a few words to it as well. Traditionally, the white male has been accustomed to concede the female of his own race, in her capacity as "his woman" a higher status than that ascibed to the black male. Yet as white racist ideology is exposed and begins to erode, racism's older protective attitudes toward (white) women also begin to give way. And the priorities of maintaining male supremacy might outweigh even those of white supremacy; sexism may be more endemic in our own society than racism. For example, one notes in authors whom we would now term overtly racist, such as D. H. Lawrence—whose contempt for what he so often designates as inferior breeds is unabashed—instances where the lower-caste male is brought on to master or humiliate the white man's own insubordinate mate. Needless to say, the female of the non-white races does not figure in such tales save as an exemplum of "true" womanhood's servility, worthy of imitation by other less carefully instructed females. Contemporary white sociology often operates under a similar patriarchal bias when its rhetoric inclines toward the assertion that the "matriarchal" (e.g. matrifocal) aspect of black society and the "castration" of the black male are the most deplorable symptoms of black oppression in white racist society, with the implication that racial inequity is capable of solution by a restoration of masculine authority. Whatever the facts of the matter may be, it can also be suggested that analysis of this kind presupposes patriarchal values without questioning them, and tends to obscure both the true character of and the responsibility for racist injustice toward black humanity of both sexes.

-Kate Millett, Sexual Politics

#kate millett #classism #racism #sexism #misogyny #male behavior #patriarchy #female oppression

[f1]

Aston Martin tech chief Andrew Green calls accusations of copying Red Bull wide of the mark

Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer Andrew Green has brushed off any implication that his team copied the design of the Red Bull RB18 after Christian Horner said that his squad would be conducting an “internal investigation” into the matter. Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, where major upgrades have been implemented by numerous teams, including Mercedes and Ferrari, Aston Martin also updated their car, causing Horner to say that “imitation is the biggest form of flattery” given a perceived resemblance between the AMR22 and the RB18 – with the FIA having carried out an investigation into the matter before declaring that the Aston Martin complied with the rules. READ MORE: The key upgrades that have got everyone talking in Spain – including Aston Martin’s dramatically updated AMR22 Horner added that Red Bull would be ensuring that there had been no illegal transfer of intellectual property, or 'IP', to Aston Martin, who hired Red Bull’s former aero chief Dan Fallows earlier this year. “We will have an internal investigation,” the Red Bull Team Principal told Sky Sports F1. “We've got our own software protections, we know exactly what software is looked at, where that software is controlled. But I think that it’s the job of the regulator, the FIA, because they have that access and we rely very much on them to make sure there is no transfer of IP, that there has been no abuse of that. So it’s very much their job to go and police that.” The AMR22 has aroused plenty of interest since it was unveiled in Barcelona Green, Aston Martin’s technical chief, said on Saturday when asked how big a contribution former Red Bull team members like Fallows had made to the car: “All I can say is, at no stage did we ever receive any data from any team, from anyone. “The FIA came in and did a thorough investigation. [They] examined all the data leading up and the history of this car, they interviewed all the people involved and concluded that it was a completely independent development. And to that point where you’re talking about potential employees – this car was conceived in the middle of last year as a dual route with the launch car and the majority of the releases were made before anybody from Red Bull even turned up. “So, I think the accusations are very wide of the mark.” READ MORE: Aston Martin’s upgraded AMR22 car given all-clear by FIA after investigation into Red Bull similarities Aston Martin are ninth in the standings heading into the Spanish GP Asked if he was surprised or disappointed by any accusation of wrongdoing, he added: “Yes, disappointed. Especially with the fact that the FIA have made a statement with respect to the car and like I said before, they’ve come in and they’ve looked and they’ve declared that it’s independent work. “They’re the ones who see all the data... not just from us but all the teams, so they really are the only ones who can make the judgement and by regulations they are obliged to make judgement on this, and they have. And I think for me, that’s the end of it. READ MORE: 5 things we learned from Friday practice at the Spanish Grand Prix “If you look at the development of the car that is sitting out there right now, you see that this all happened towards the end of last year, before we’d seen anybody. We were on a dual path, so it came as a shock but also a surprise that Red Bull came out with a similar concept as well. “But I think that just reinforced our feeling at the time that, of the two paths that we had open to us, we’d gone the wrong way. And I think that was confirmation of that.” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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