#moroccan legacy | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

azure-cherie · 6 months

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☀︎︎𝑃𝐴𝐶 : 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 ☀︎︎

Pile 1. Pile 2. Pile 3.

Hey there guys , I hope y'all are having a lovely time so for this PAC

THE CONCEPT is in this pile i call upon one of your ancestors to narrate a story from their life so that you can learn something from it or just get the Ancestral tea ☕ .

Reblogs and feedback are highly appreciated !!!!

Want a personal reading: Paid readings , Paid readings 2

Masterlist

Choose using your intuition, you can choose multiple and take what resonates and leave the rest . Since this is a general reading take what resonates and leave the rest .

Pile 1 :

My dear pile 1 , i hope you're doing well

Some charms for confirmations and messages: Maple leaf , moon , bicycle , trumpet , tortoise, panther , yantra symbol , peacock , camel , flower wings , infinity symbol, clown , lantern. Some numbers : might be age , year or era ; 5,1,6,5,7 ; some initials : K , L , I , Q .

Who will I be channeling : The Empress card they could be a very nourishing female who was well regarded in their family , they were a queen , princess , authority , they married rich . They were really a successful and kind women

They want to tell you a story about : Strength , how they were courageous

Once upon a time in your ancestry , born in either Mongolian , Chinese , French or Italian roots , your ancestors were regarded as inventors of something creative , they liked romance a lot , they wanted to keep the fire in themselves alive , they could be cavemen and drew various types of architectural plans , for some buildings , could be of Moroccan descent , you had a very big family , the head of the family was a very nice man , your ancestor was the head of the family as well , as the wife of your male ancestor , she also was a very creative person , made antiques and stored them , was regarded as one of the bad bitches of that era, and everyone wanted to marry her , though she broke many hearts she married your male ancestor , they lived really happily until there was some , war in your place and some things were burned down in your place or in your home , the fire could be symbolic as well , they were left with no choice then to sacrifice themselves . Either they sacrificed themselves or something that belongs to them . I think some of your family history also burned along with the fire , could be representative of also fury of old powerful people lurking into your family wellbeing .

Through the course of wheel of fortune ,there was a change because of a smart person in your bloodline who really finally crafted a way to rise again , this could be your ancestor herself or some other person from your family I get the vibe of the sister in law , or an aunt . Because of that you were capable , your ancestors could be into herbal medicine or Ayurveda . Your ancestors helped the poor a lot and conducted lots of charity . They either had a rabbit or a furry animal by their side , the pet was one of the legacies and the pet really protected , could be a dog as well , if cat they protected from spiritual attacks .

Your ancestors later became the leader of some organization , and they were some sort of vigilante and served everyone with justice , were one of the most powerful . One of the next generation male member sore really high and was regarded , they gave everyone a head start at creative potential , they rose again from what hurt them , they later settled in some colder place probably .

There could be some curse due to which your family went into hiding , because the son of the empress was a vigilante they rose again and built up after moving places , they brought lands and could be the family was travelling , that could mean some hippie ancestors for some of you , and it could also be someone wanted to move places , lastly your ancestor went on a spiritual journey , the empress went on a quest to find herself and was looking into a peaceful life

She wanted to tell you about this lesson of strength , that no matter what happens you should go on , also they wanted to tell you that if you want something good in life you must also leave something , to understand the value of sacrifice , despite the hardships she went on a quest , her main aim to wait was to see her family well and after she was done she was ready to leave , this story might also be about detachment .she wants to tell you that though everything is nice , if you feel you're missing something , you must go after it , and that’s how your soul will feel happy

Pile 2 :

My dear pile 2 , hope you're doing well

Some charms for confirmations and messages: Fox , mermaid tail , shell, angel, coconut tree , crescent moon , sun , kangaroo, wine bottle . Some numbers : might be age , year or era ; 7,2,9,2 ; some initials : R,U,O.

Who will I be channeling : Ace of swords ,could be a warrior , they were really courageous , free thinker .

They want to tell you a story about : Page of coins , of abundance of a bright future

Once upon a time there was a break in your family because of lot of disagreements , everyone fought each other or just left their own ways , this could be about middle eastern , desert areas , ancient India , Mediterranean , there was lot of conquest , here comes about your grandmother or just a women in your family who was a psychic , she wanted everyone to be together , that lead to the family coming back together because she made everyone thinking she was sick , they later came to know she wasn’t ,

She realized there was someone was casting a spell for your family to break apart , your ancestor already had the vibe , and they worked hard to let it into their heads , might have conducted an uncrossing spell to get rid of the damage , the spell came from a family member who was obsessed with money and wanted to keep everything to themselves , your ancestor wanted to keep everyone safe and happy , and because of their good deeds things were right , there were minor issues but because your grandmother was so observant and a psychic , the family didn’t break and was happy . They kept lot of optimism.

They wanted to tell you this because you are having self-doubts about your abilities or judging people without knowing the whole story , listen more to your intuition , you're reaching conclusions without thinking and analyzing things properly and they wanted to let you know that . I picked another card , so they tell you to take rest and not think too much .

This is actually really cool because I was about to start pile 3 but I couldn't remember the image , haha they want to tell you one more story woah , this could either be for the same group or this story might not be for you , use your intuition

This is about a situation where they had both of their hands tied , they were people putting allegations onto them and they wanted to about sometimes to get forward you'll have to lose something , you have to work hard and put all in , you shouldn’t run , things may become severe but know that youre stronger , don’t run away , you must hope for the best because only then it comes to you , being emotionally connected is a blessing , never take your own emotions for granted

They served a king or a higher authority could've worked as warriors or oracles of their place , they were considered very courageous , this could also be someone from Salem witch trials , there's lot of fire as well as witch symbolism , so I feel this could be it , they revolted a lot against the men who were capturing them . There was someone who was so in love with your ancestors and tried to save her , she tried and got away though it was painful , they came together and lived happily ever after , this story could also go about some Brazilian , Hawaiian , ancestry .

They wanted to tell you this as a sign that hope can be found even after most gut wrenching times .

Pile 3 :

My dear pile 3 hope you're doing well

Some charms for confirmations and messages: fish , elephant, gun , cap , shell , infinity symbol, witch , cat . Some numbers : might be age , year or era ; 9,8,2 ; some initials : M, A . Please check pile 2 if you were drawn

Who will I be channeling: Knight of wands adventurous, enigmatic person

They want to tell you a story about : The Sun , of fame and dignity

Once upon a time there was someone who was a miser and wanted your ancestor to be wed off , just so they could get rid of your ancestor , they thought your ancestor was a crooked person , who wanted to be reckless all the time , they didn’t appreciate your ancestors free spirit at all , the guardian showed they were happy but they wanted to destroy the life of your ancestor , your ancestors might have been kept hostage or had an evil step parent for some of you .

Someone could have died or poisoned , the husband of your ancestor was very supportive , the guardian didn’t like it , someone might have told that to your guardian , or higher authority , only to cut the wings of your ancestor , she yet lived with happiness because she was actively practicing freedom and was loved and supported by her husband , I think she wanted to be in a higher position , in education or in the swordsmanship sector , this could go back to Europe , in the renaissance period , haha your reading is reminding me of the anime called " Arte " .

She was shown love because fate turned her life around This reminds me of " My happy marriage " (anime).

There could be a lot of jealousy shown to her by the men around, the neighbor's , but your ancestor was always rising higher , there could be someone who sabotaged her telling her that she's a bad person , she payed no mind to them , she became one of the greatest of her times , swordsman , merchant . This could also be in the education sector , they became highly educated , just saw 333 might be significant to you .

They were abundant and happy , they later became a teacher in their sector , kids loved them a lot , probably rose to nobility , were honored as a survivor and a riser .

They want to tell you this story to make you believe in the power of love , though its mostly about bravery her husband helped her get through a lot of it , she wants to show how if you take a chance in love , love can be good for you . Though her arranged marriage was scary things turned out for the better so will it turn out for you , keep the belief , I got one more card , they also wanted you to let go of your mentality that everything will go bad trust that good things will happen to you , if you hit the rock bottom you can only go higher do what you need to do

The back of the deck is Empress , how sweet is it that the pile 1 started with empress and you're finishing at it , you come from line of very powerful women who worked so much for their dreams they're always here for you just call upon them . I see 555 as I conclude can be significant for you.

Thank you so much for reading have a great day/night 🧡

#pick a card tarot #pick a photo #pick a picture #pick a card reading #pick a card #pick a pile #tarot pac #pac reading #pac readings #pac tarot #pac #tarot card reading #tarot reading #tarot cards #tarotblr #tarotcommunity #intuitive tarot reading

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i0veless · 1 year

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GUITAR STRING HEART 2 :: KYLIAN MBAPPE

𖥻 SUMMARY ー [ sometimes they're an unexpected chapter in the story ] 𖥻 PAIRING ー [ kylian mbappe x fem! guitarist/singer! reade ] 𖥻 GENRE ー [ social media au, band au, ex's to ???, angst, fluff ] 𖥻 WORD COUNT ー [ 3.9k ] 𖥻 WARNINGS ー [ mentions of arguements and ghosting people, drinking, jealousy, and suggestive content - let me know if I missed anything ] 𖥻 AUTHORS NOTE ー [ HAPPY NEW YEAR, part 2. Let's go. Sorry, this is late, also not really happy with the way this turned at - but we move. I just want to thank you so much for all the love you have given part one while I'm writing this. It has 300+ notes, and it's only been out for a couple of days. words can't describe how much this means to me. also, part 3 will be the final part to this series - also if you see any mistakes ignore them please as they will be corrected later ]

➛ previous | taglist | masterlist | next

Walking off the pitch drenched in sweat and boiling with rage - Mbappe was anything but happy. His team had drawn, which would have been perfectly fine under normal circumstances. But not when he faced Halland. He had too much to prove to tie. he needed to win, but he didn't. Kylian would give anything at this moment to wipe the smug smirk off the Norwegian player's face. But his teammates had made a human blockade around him to ensure he didn't get into a physical altercation with the opposition's striker.

The PSG Team filled into their locker room, hot and rowdy, as they talked and laughed about the match. But not Mbappe, he was silent, and it was unnerving. The moment the man entered the room, he walked straight to his cubbie and pulled out his phone. He sat staring at his luminescent screen, fixated on the comments on all social media platforms commenting on who was better, Mbappe or Halland.

It was him - it had to be. There was nothing Halland could do that he couldn't do better. He was the next greatest, not some Norwegian nobody. Maybe in another life, the two could have been friends, heck they could have been friends in this life. If not for the constant parallels drawn between the two (which got very annoying), the other player constantly bashing him in the press, and the fact that his celebrity crush was non-other than Y/N L/N. A simple video of him confessing his admiration for the musician is ingrained in his mind as to why he hates the blond twit so much. He already wanted to steal his legacy, his spotlight and now the girl of his dreams.

There was no way in hell that he would let that happen. As Kylian's rabbit hole of thought spiralled further and further into the abyss, he stopped momentarily after feeling a firm hand on his shoulder. Hakimi noticed his friend's abnormally quiet demeanour and instantly understood what was happening. "You know you should stop looking for approval from people online," the Moroccan player said as he took a seat beside him. Letting out a heavy sigh in reply, the forward put his phone down and looked at the defender.

"you still thinking about her" Achraf was one of the only people, besides Neymar and Messi, who knew about Mbappe's relationship with the guitarist. So they were sad to hear that the two had broken up as they had never seen the player happier than when he was with Y/N. They understood why they had broken up, but it was clear that Kylian still had feelings for her, whether he liked to admit it or not, so the trio had a silent agreement that if a chance ever presented itself, they would play cupid.

"Do you know" the defender's question made Mbappe look up, confused about what he was asking. Choosing to show him rather than speak, Hakimi handed him his phone, showing a gossip page headline - Y/N was here. She was here, "Heads up, guys, incoming", Neymar yelled as all the players rushed to look more presentable. Most of the PSG team were Bloody Valentine fans, and the manager told them that if they won or drew, they would get to meet them. Their coaches told them this during the previous day's training. Too bad Kylian took that day off.

All eyes were on the door as it creaked open, with three figures entering shyly behind security. But one person was missing, and the security team quickly left the room, leaving the stars to mingle. As the players greeted the musicians, they invited them to take a seat. "Can I just say yall were fucking incredible, like oh my god fucking respect" Onyx started making the players laugh and thank him for the words of affirmation. "Thank you so much, man, that means a lot to us - glad we made it worth your time," Messi said, smiling at the trio with questioning eyes wondering where the 4th and most anticipated person was.

Noticing the curious glance from the footballer, Axel pulled out his phone and dialled Y/N's number, putting it on speaker. The phone rang twice before connecting - "Axe, I'm lost." everyone burst out laughing "where are you?" Sabrina asked through her laughter. "I have no fucking clue Bri." the confused guitarist said, the sounds of her footsteps protruding through the speaker. "Try and find a sign that can tell you where you are", Neymar suggested as the whole of PSG where now on board with project find Y/N.

All except for Kylian, who was still in a daze as he heard her voice. Mbappe reminisced. Her voice was still sweet like honey to his ears and gentle on his broken heart, reminding him of the remarkable woman he had lost- oh, how he wished he could take it all back. He needed her back. He realised that a long time ago, but boy, was that feeling stronger than ever. And vowed there and then that he would do everything in his power to ensure that Y/N ended up back in his arms, even if it killed him in the process.

The rest tried to help the girl find her way back. "Hate to break it to you, but I can't read french." the room was silent; this was a problem. "Babe, you took french for four years…" the bassist said with her face in her hands at her best friend's situation. "Just because I took it doesn't mean I was any good at it."

"Wait, is Johnny there?" the panic in the singer's voice made the situation ten times more amusing, "No, not yet, anyway. But seriously, where are you" Onyx said, now getting worried, "I'm working on it." she said, followed by more footsteps before the phone disconnected. Oh boy.

yourinstagram . 20min ago

seen by k.mbappe achrafhakimi and 1,444,432 others

yourinstagram

liked by sab.rina neymarjr and 6,434,555 others ➻ tagged psg

yourinstagram pov : your lost in parc des princes

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sab.rina where the fuck are you ⤷ yourinstagram bro I have no fucking idea

onyxisastone sexy mf ⤷ yourinstagram my boy

axeman johnny just called hurry up you dumb shit ⤷ yourinstagram on my way 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ ⤷ axeman why were you filming tiktok's then ⤷ yourinstagram 🫢🫢🫢

psg don't worry help is on it's way ⤷ user in psg we trust 🫡🫡 ⤷ yourinstagram 🫡🫡

user bestie what is going on?!?! ⤷ yourinstagram idk bro help me

user kylian and Y/N confirmed? ⤷ user shut up ⤷ user why it's just a question

user okay I know that everyones focusing on the fact that she's at parc des princes but can we take a moment to appreciate these photos ⤷ user facts

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yourinstagram . 10min ago

seen by justinebiber sergioramos and 2,493,432 others

Y/N was no genius, but at least her plan worked, bidding goodbye to the gorgeous fans she had met. She walked alongside the lovely middle-aged security guard, who introduced himself as Marco, down the labyrinth of corridors. She was skittish. Her heart hammered against her chest as she clenched her clammy hands and breathed slightly heavier than usual. As her head went into overdrive, she thought about what to do when facing Kylian. How should she act? What should she say? Should she ignore him - who fucking knew what she would do? All she understood was that this was going to be anything but easy.

Eventually arriving at the intended destination, the sweet security guard bid her farewell. Now left in front of the door. That may as well have led to hell, with fire and all. As her thoughts swarmed like wasps, she couldn't think straight. Her hand rested on top of the handle. Maybe I should have just stayed in the bathroom, she thought as she examined the door that separated her from the uncomfortable situation behind it. Letting out a deep sigh, the singer decided to get it over with - the quicker she got in, the faster she would get out. But when opening pandora's box, you never know what to expect.

Opening the door and stepping into the room quickly, the change in atmosphere was enough to give Y/N whiplash. In an attempt to enter quietly - she failed. With all eyes now on her, she tried to make herself seem less awkward as multiple eyes bore into her soul. "Whoever designed this stadium is either Albert Einstein or a fucking idiot." the guitarist was quickly embraced by her bandmates and ushered further into enemy territory. "Uh-huh, so you had time to post on Instagram, throw it back on tiktok, and tweet multiple times but are unable to find directions" Axel's face palmed at how stupid the idea sounded, but it worked in his friend's case.

"I'm just glad I got here before Johnny," The female vocalist said, rejoicing that she wasn't in trouble. "By the way, great match. You guys were amazing," she said, turning to face the PSG players, who thanked her as they all took a seat. Now comfortable on the floor, the players and musicians exchange questions regarding their professions. "Proudest moment?" Messi asked, receiving multiple 'ooh's' from the musical artists at the questions. "I've gotta say the Grammys. I mean, come on, we were nominated six times and won five - great night." Onyx said, "Uff, I've gotta say Coachella, that was mental" Axel considered

"What about you, Y/N?" Sabrina asked her friend, "We all know the answer", Axel said sarcastically. "Meeting Metallica", Cue groans from the rest of her bandmates. "What?" the singer laughed, looking at her bandmates, "baby, you are obsessed. Get help." Sabrina chimed in at her friend's fixation on the heavy metal band. "Okay, but Lars Ulrich knows who the fuck I am," the girl tried to reason with them, but it only dug her ditch further down. "We know we were there", Onyx sighed. "Then you should be able to grasp why this will be my only personality trait until I die."

As the band entered a heated discussion, Y/N almost forgot that she was in a room with her ex. However, she had yet to acknowledge him, avoiding all eye contact and keeping her distance. Safe to say, she thought no one had noticed - except someone had. Mbappe felt paralysed. He couldn't move or speak as he watched her in her little bubble, laughing and conversing with passion for the subject. Safe to say that the football player was jealous of Metallica for being such a crucial part of her life for so long - unlike him.

He thanked every god out there that they were all in their late 50s, knowing full well that if they were closer to her age, he would have more competition than he already did. I mean, who wouldn't want her? She was perfect. As he watched from afar, smiling at the self-proclaimed 'girl of his dreams, ' three other psg boys were scheming and preparing the beginning of what would be known as a project guitar string in one final attempt to get the soulmates back together again.

As the group continued to talk and laugh, Neymar suggested they take a group photo. As the group crowd around, the camera 5-second timer. Y/N stood obliviously in the middle of Messi and Neymar. Not realising it, Neymar removed himself from her side and, in his place, put Kylian, forcing his arm around her waist. Multiple pictures later, Y/N was still oblivious that she was cuddling into her ex's arm as the sound of the locker room door opening interpreted their photo shoot. None other than Mangere extraordinaire Johnny entered, "Good to see that your all are getting along."

"Well, I would think I would let you know before your coach tells you - that we're returning the favour and have got your tickets to tomorrow's concert and after party." safe to say that the entire team were over the moon. As Y/N turned to her correctly, expecting to see Neymar only to be greeted by the face of the man she spent countless nights crying over - Kylian fucking Mbappe. Frozen in place and on the verge of a panic attack. Only to be discretely dragged out of the touch of her ex by non-other than Sabrina.

Ignoring the searing heat from where his arm rested on her exposed skin, Y/N patiently waited for her friends to finish talking so they could leave - praying for them to be fast. When Hakimi approached her, the two acknowledged each other before falling into a pregnant silence. "You know he never stopped loving you," the Moroccan said before walking off - and with that, it was time to leave.

psg

liked by bloodyvalentines k.mbappe and 25,374,522 others ➻ tagged bloodyvalentines

psg nos rockstars préférées - translation our fav rockstars

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bloodyvalentines équipe de football préférée translation - fav football team ⤷ onyxisastone ❤️ ⤷ sab.rina ❤️ ⤷ axeman ❤️ ⤷ yourinstagram 🤍

user 🔥🔥🔥

user my favs

Y/N hey u up?

HALLAND yeah why?

Y/N you down to hang out or somethin?

HALLAND yeah sure everything alright?

Y/N yeah all good I'll swing round your hotel room?

HALLAND sounds good do you mind if the boys hang to they have been dying to meet you

Y/N yeah sure the more the merrier

HALLAND cool i'll text yeah the address

Y/N okay

Knocking on the door to the hotel room, Y/N messed with one of the rings on her finger. As the door opened, she was met with the comforting sight of the blond Norwegian she had grown fond of as he allowed her to enter. With a shut of the door, shedding coats and a brief exchange of greetings, the two walked towards the sitting room where the group of man city players sat playing FIFA. "Hey guys, look who's here." a slight turn of the head turned into a wave of shocked gasps and stunned faces, "And she's bought alcohol", the blond finished as they sat amidst the city squad.

"So she can play the guitar, sing, and is considerate - might as well change ya name to angel" Jack Grealish's heavy Birmingham accent made the singer smile - it reminded her of home. As the group opened the bottles of alcohol and shared them amongst themselves, they continued to talk and play FIFA. Talking with some of the other boys but still sticking close to halland, she enjoyed herself. She was indulging in alcohol, playing FIFA, and talking with her lovely new mates.

Completely forgetting the whole reason she came. To find a place to seek refuge from her argument with Axel. Y/N did appreciate them for worrying about her, but she felt suffocated. She wasn't a child. Yes, she wasn't 100% okay, but she was good enough to get by - long enough to get out of this cursed city. Hours felt like minutes as the others turned in for the night, leaving three. Y/N, Halland and a bottle of vodka.

"Everything alright?" Halland finally asked, leaning forward slightly. "Have you ever been in love" the sudden question confused the blond. "Can't say I ever have. Why?" As the distance continued to reduce by the second. "Then you wouldn't know what it feels like to have your heart ripped out of your chest" It didn't take long for Earling to figure out who she was talking about, Kylian. Guess the rumours were true.

"he didn't deserve you." the sudden confession made the girl look up with teary eyes. "Really?" the two were clearly under the influence of alcohol, "yeah, if you were my girl, I would have never let you go" somehow, Earling's hand curved around her neck. His mouth coming down on her, hard and fast yet sweet and so, very gentle. one might have been sickened at the sight - the way they gripped onto each other as if the other would disappear. The way Y/N sighs into his mouth, her head lolling back as Halland's lips ghost over her neck.

As their intimacy escalated rapidly, with clothes now on the floor, they were both hyper-aware. Not even sure if they had locked the door - but that wouldn't stop them. Nothing would. They were high on each other and drunk on cheap liquor. They had no intention of stopping. It was wrong, and she knew it was wrong. So profoundly, intensely, and morally wrong. If it hadn't been for the fact that Y/N had been in an argument with her bandmate, she would have left it there that night. But she didn't.

She lets his lips latch onto her again, humming against his mouth as his whole body climbs on top of her, engulfing her in his warmth. But all she could think about was Kylian. The thought made her want to scream, that she was about to get dicked down by a hot Norwegian, and all she could think about was her fucking ex. But her thoughts weren't going to stop her - not tonight. Between the curses, moans and kisses, Y/N gave herself over to Earling in the most precious yet innermost way.

A way that she once only ever did with Kylian. And if it weren't for how she and Halland collapsed against each other in a heated mess, limbs tangled with lips finding one another's in the early morning hours. The singer could almost forget the troubling tsunami her momentary lapse in judgement caused. She wasn't sure what time it was when Earling's soothing voice interrupted her as she responded to Onyx's text message. "your so beautiful," he murmured, his fingers running past her eyebrow as he engraved the features into his memory. Y/N didn't answer. Because all she could do was draw comparisons in the comfort she was receiving, the sickening sense of Deja vu made her want to cry. What had she done?

yourinstagram . 20hr ago

seen by axeman k.mbappe and 12,333,212 others

AXEL where are you? I'm sorry please come back are you still made at me? answer my texts please I need to know that your alright

(39 missed calls)

AXEL please pick up

(58 missed calls)

SABRINA look axe is sorry please come back are you drinking I saw your Instagram story who are you with please respond I'm getting worried

ONYX look I'm not going to pester you to come back If you need your own space just respond if you are okay so I don't have to file a missing person report even though it hasn't even been 24 hours

Y/N :)

ONYX okay I'll see you in the morning stay safe bye

Y/N :)

Hangovers were the worst, but they came second to the walk of shame. Y/N left before Earling woke up, leaving a note and some food she had made after she showered - the message explaining apologising for the hasty exit and hoping to see him at the concert. Walking through the quiet Parisian streets, the singer decided to take a quick detour into a bakery to get a gift of apology to give to her friends for her storming out and ghosting them the entire night. She left the lovely bakery with various pastries and treats and continued her journey back to her hotel.

She arrived at her destination with shortness of breath courtesy of the stairs she walked up. Knocking on the door, she waited until she heard footsteps on the other side of the door. As the door flung open, seeing the messy state of Axel, who looked like he had been crying his heart out. His eyes were red and puffy, and his face was void of colour. Y/N had little time to eat her share of guilt, being pulled quickly into a hug. They stayed in the embrace for a while. The sound of a throat clearing brought them back to reality. "Come on, Axe, stop hogging her."

As the singer entered the room for the first time since the fight, she made sure that she patched things up with everyone before enjoying the treats she had brought. "So who were you with, cuz you did not spend the night alone with that much alcohol," Sabrina asked, taking a bite of her pastry and groaning at how good it tasted. "Spent it with a friend", the songwriter replied. "You spend it with a friend. I don't know, Y/N, that sounds hard to believe," Onyx said, knowing how difficult it was for his friend to socialise on her own.

"Alcohol makes things easier," the girl said without a second thought, but she instantly regretted it as her friends gasped - it turns out they weren't completely brain-dead. "Oh my god, did you…" Axel asked, trailing off and waiting for a reply. "Yeah, it sorta just happened," the singer said as she took another sip of orange juice. "It wasn't him, was it," Sabrina asked, genuinely concerned that Y/N ended up in Kylian's arms after the fight. "Oh god, no." the singer's eyes widened at the thought, though what she did maybe ten times worse in some people's eyes. "Look, you don't have to tell us, just know that we are here for you", and with those words of comfort from Sabrina, the group of four got ready to put on the show of a lifetime.

sab.rina . 2hr ago

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onyxisarock . 2hr ago

seen by vicdeangiles ethanskin and 8,117,389 others

bloodyvalentine

liked by sab.rina k.mbappe and 45,911,346 others ➻ tagged yourinstagram sab.rina onyxisarock axeman

bloodyvalentine are you ready paris

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yourinstagram can't wait

sab.rina dame who are those cuties? ⤷ onyxisastone idk where can I get their number

axeman 🔥🔥🔥

user can't wait for tonight

user wish i had tickets

axeman

liked by onyxisastone yourinstagram and 30,119,696 others

axeman been ready my whole life

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youridlisen · 6 months

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Berber Tattooing: Exploring Amazigh Tattoo Culture and Moroccan Women’s Face Tattoos (Book)

Berber tattoos, also referred to as Amazigh tattoos, serve as a vibrant reflection of the diverse cultural heritage of North Africa's indigenous Berber population. These meticulously crafted and captivating tattoos transcend mere skin-deep artistry; they function as vessels embodying the rich tapestry of heritage, social standing, and personal narratives seamlessly interwoven into the very fabric of Berber identity.

With a historical lineage stretching back millennia, the Berber people have fostered a profound connection with the natural world. Within the realm of Berber tattoos, this deep affinity manifests through a striking array of symbolic depictions, each laden with profound meanings that resonate with life, belief systems, and pivotal moments.

Nature assumes a central role in the realm of Berber tattoos, where symbols bear the imprint of animals, plants, and celestial bodies. The towering palm tree, symbolizing strength, growth, and resilience, serves as a potent representation of life and prosperity deeply ingrained in Berber culture. Likewise, the snake, embodying a guardian spirit, symbolizes wisdom and healing, acting as a protective force against malevolent influences and ushering in good fortune.

Amazon Link: a.co/d/gRSF3Jy

Drawing from ancient Egyptian iconography, the Berber people adopted the Eye of Horus, a potent symbol believed to ward off evil and usher in good luck. Equally significant is the Hand of Fatima, an open palm that serves as a protective talisman against the evil eye and negative energies.

The Amazigh Cross, often referred to as the “Agadez Cross,” serves as a compass of sorts, offering guidance and orientation during travels and life’s journeys. In the vibrant world of Berber tattoos, women play a central role, embodying themes of fertility, femininity, and the enduring legacy of the tribe.

Berber tattoos are not mere embellishments; they are markers of life’s milestones and rites of passage. For young Berber girls, their first tattoos, often received during puberty, symbolize the transition into womanhood and eligibility for marriage. These tattoos bear not only ink but the weight of cultural identity and pride.

The complexity and number of tattoos worn can also signify an individual’s standing within the community. Leaders and elders, with their wealth of wisdom and life experiences, may display more intricate and elaborate tattoos.

From “Berber Tattooing: Exploring Amazigh Tattoo Culture and Moroccan Women’s Face Tattoos”, illustrated by Mohammed Jiari

In recent times, there has been a renaissance of interest in Berber tattoos. Efforts to preserve and reinvigorate this ancient art form have borne fruit. Modern-day artists and tattoo enthusiasts explore the depths of Berber symbolism, infusing tradition with innovation to create contemporary designs that pay homage to the past.

This resurgence is not only about the art itself but also about nurturing cultural pride and identity among the Berber community. These timeless designs remain a vibrant and integral part of Berber heritage, ensuring that the symbolic meanings of Berber tattoos continue to thrive, enchanting and resonating with generations to come.

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caleb-marlowe · 6 months

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Henry Kissinger was Secretary of State for the US. His legacy is:

1. Organizing detente with China. Which would lead to normalized relations with China leading to the China of today, which depending on where you live today might either make you happy, sad, concern, or furious.

2. Advocating for the unrestricted bombing in Cambodia to stop the Vietcong from using the Ho Chi Minh trail, a complete fucking war crime as Cambodia was not involved, was at peace with the US and had little to do with Vietnam. This laid the groundwork for an upswell of support for the Khmer Rouge, who then went on to commit genocide. Even after the genocide, Kissinger advocated for friendship with the Khmer Rouge, as they were more aligned with Beijing than Moscow.

3. He supported Pakistani military dictators and generals against Bengal's war of independence. The Pakistanis were committing what has been called "selective genocide".

4. He worked towards detente with the USSR and Brezhnev, including SALT 1, aimed at limiting nuclear proliferation.

5. Kissinger didn't tell Nixon immediately about the outbreak of the Yom Kippur war, as he worried Nixon would get involved before the situation would be beneficial to Israel.

6. Kissinger was a key player in having Allende assassinated in Chile, replacing him with the right-wing dictator and murderous bastard, Augusto Pinochet.

7. He supported the Argentinian Junta for couping Isabella Peron, who had won her democratic election. This junta would go on to murder and disappear tens of thousands, culminating in the Falklands war.

8. Kissinger was a proponent of Brazil getting a nuclear weapons program, mainly because it was a right-wing junta in power.

9. Kissinger publicly engaged in talks with Rhodesia to put an end to the war, and transition to black majority rule. Privately, he told the racist, apartheid loving Ian Smith that he admired him.

10. Following the breakdown of Estado in Portugal (Salazzar's dictatorship), decolonization started for what remained of the Portuguese empire. One of those was East Timor. Sudharta, Indonesia's military ruler, decided he would annex the territory, and damn the wants and desires of local East Timorans. Kissinger supported the Indonesian president, in an on-going occupation that has killed many, many tens of thousands. It's possibly worse and more brutal than the Israeli occupation of West Bank, but no one cares.

11. West Sahara, a problem area to this day, was forcibly conceded away from Spain. Kissinger supported passing this territory, despite the locals desire for independence, and didn't inform President Ford about an upcoming Moroccan invasion. Another whoopsie moment, I guess.

12. Aided in behind-the-back talks with Vietcong forces to keep the Vietnam War going, sabotaging peace talks with Johnson and South Viet government which prolonged the War another five years (!) until Nixon could conveniently end the war. As well as Operation Menu and Operation Freedom Deal, Vietnam War era atrocities ordered by Nixon and Kissinger to bomb the ever-loving shit out of Cambodia, with an estimated 55,000-150,000 civilian deaths and causing a massive refugee crisis, and to this day the soil in that region of Cambodia is thick with unexploded bombs.

Via Reddit, u/JustMyOpinionz

#henry kissinger #kissinger is dead #burn in hell

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zvaigzdelasas · 9 months

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[Atalayar is Spanish Media]

The dismissal last December of former president Pedro Castillo has left Peru in an unprecedented political crisis.[...]

However, the issue of greatest concern to Congress today is the legacy of Pedro Castillo's position on the Western Sahara question. It should be remembered that the policy advocated by the former president was favourable to the Polisario Front, a political, armed and pro-independence movement in the Western Sahara. This stance led the country into a diplomatic crisis with its old ally Morocco, a crisis that did not subside after Pedro Castillo's dismissal and arrest. Congress calls on the executive to rethink its position on the SADR [...]

[An MP from Avanza País party] recalled that Morocco and Peru share a “common history” which “invites us to strengthen and consolidate ties with the Kingdom of Morocco, an increasingly important power in Africa and in the current system of international relations, and to work together to promote peace, security and respect for territorial integrity”. [...]

In her letter, Patricia Chirinos recalls that relations between Morocco and Peru have often been weakened by the dispute over the SADR. Peru recognised the SADR in 1984, “in an international context marked by the bipolar world of the Cold War”. The Peruvian MP welcomes the updating of this position in 1996, “when this recognition was suspended, thus opening up a promising new bilateral chapter between the Peruvian and Moroccan states”. [...]

In addition to the fact that recognition of Western Sahara would be a breach of international law, the Peruvian MP is concerned about “a series of new and emerging threats based, among other things, on the interconnection between states that do not respect democratic principles and terrorist organisations, separatist movements or organised crime”. In her view, “this situation poses a serious threat to the security of our countries, a threat that has increased in the Latin American region["][...]

The former Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Angel Rodriguez Mackay, shares the Congress' point of view. He published an opinion piece last Friday in the Peruvian daily Expreso, stating that his country should follow the common-sense approach adopted by countries such as the United States, Spain and Israel, which have recently recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara, as have the vast majority of countries in the international community.

24 Aug 23

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mywifeleftme · 1 year

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59: Nass El Ghiwane // Nass El Ghiwane

Nass El Ghiwane Nass El Ghiwane 1976, Plein Soleil

The job of a label press release is to pique interest in a record, and when you’re in the ~*world music*~ reissue business that usually means trying to find a parallel between your artist and a familiar touchstone, angling for the off chance an openminded shopper will take a shot and throw your record into the day’s stack. This is the ship that launched a thousand “the [western artist] of [non-western country]” blurbs (“The Hendrix of Turkey!” “The Joni Mitchell of Zambia!” “The Mort Garson of Brunei!” etc.). It worked on me when a somewhat younger, much callower version of myself snagged Nass El Ghiwane (1976) from a shop that’d taped an excerpt of the press release to the sleeve. Here it is in full:

“Formed in 1971, Nass El Ghiwane's five members first performed in the avant-garde of Morocco's underground theater scene. Following their debut performance as a band in Rabat at Tayeb Seddiki's Mohammed V Theatre, their songs became the 1970s anthems of Moroccan youth -- nationalist, rebellious, experimental, and bygone all at once. They are Morocco's most enduring musical legacy. They modernized the way music was transmitted to the disenchanted and rebellious youth of their country. Their concerts would turn into riots as their music and lyrics incited deep affection from their virulent fan base. Their music echoes medieval Moroccan oral traditions; coming from the Gnawa trance music of their ancestors, they sang tales of Sufi mystics and wrote lyrics that criticized the conservative monarchy of Mohammed V. They were the first to introduce the banjo, guembri, and colloquial Moroccan Arabic in their version of the shaabi genre. Nass El Ghiwane were a huge influence on Algeria's modern Raï movement, as Cheb Khaled started his career covering Nass El Ghiwane's songs. This is exemplary trance music and the foundation of the modern era in Moroccan music. Martin Scorsese has called them "‘The Rolling Stones of Morocco.’" It could be argued that Scorsese's claim would be more accurate if the Stones were fronted by Bob Dylan. This is the first ever vinyl reissue of their third album from 1976, one of the most desired LPs in their legendary discography. Fully remastered sound.”

It's a near platonic ideal of its kind—rife with dope-sounding references (Gnawa trance music! Sufi mystics! Concerts breaking out into riots!), and intriguing bold-type names.* I might have had no idea who Cheb Khaled was, but the wording insinuated I should and would like to, and the references to the Stones and Dylan suggested I was holding some kind of wicked fusion of Arabic folk music and heavy rock. Which anyone who knows anything about Gnawa trance music, or shaabi, or Raï, probably could’ve told me it wasn’t, but none of those people were in Sonic Boom Records at that time, so they didn’t, and I ended up with a record I really didn’t know what to make of for quite a while.

To paraphrase writer Ralph Wiley’s rejoinder to Saul Bellow’s (allegedly) dismissive question, “Who is the Tolstoy of the Zulus?”, the Rolling Stones are the Rolling Stones of Morocco, and Dylan is the Dylan of Morocco. Nass El Ghiwane are similar to these acts in the sense that they were famous and countercultural in their own society, but what that meant in a Moroccan context, and in musical terms, is very different. “Nass El Ghiwane isn’t a pop group in the classical sense, but more of a theatre group that sings,” noted Tayeb Seddiki, a theater director who helped launch their career. He continues:

“They’re sort of troubadours. In the Atlas Mountains, we have three or four poets who travel from souk to souk, from village to village, singing stories from a political, economic or sociological viewpoint that deeply interests people. […] Nass El Ghiwane were the first, and they still are. Moroccans recognize themselves in the group. They see their problems reflected in their songs, their daily lives and all their issues.”

This is something close to a working definition of the appeal of any ethnic or national folk music, music that seems to concentrate the experience of living within one’s culture into song. Like many American and British folk revival artists of the ‘50s and ‘60s, Nass El Ghiwane began by performing and reinterpreting traditional songs. In their case, this was romantic poetry that had been preserved through oral traditions going back generations. Once thoroughly steeped in the scales and structures of these familiar songs, they began to also create original material that felt to Moroccans like an organic outgrowth of their proud musical lineage.

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Though I eventually grew to appreciate the insistent rhythms and passionate group vocals of the LP I’d purchased, it wasn’t until I watched the 1981 documentary/concert film Trances (الحال) by director Ahmed El Maânouni that I got a better handle on what made Nass El Ghiwane such a profound experience to their fans. (I highly recommend this 88-minute film, which Criterion re-released in the 2000s. I was able to easily find a high quality rip on the Internet Archive, and this YouTube version is decent.) Nass El Ghiwane’s performances alternated between dramatic spoken word monologues and incantatory rave ups which left audiences in exhausted, cleansed heaps. The film makes explicit the connections between the ecstatic healing rituals of the Gnawa and the wild dancing of the band’s young fans:

Here, at last, comes the time of ecstasy, of trances

Those who refuse to their senses the gift of trances shall wither

Trances also gives welcome insight into each member’s personality and role in the band. There is virtuosic banjo player Allal Yaâla, a quiet Black Moroccan with a mastery of Arabic, Berber, and occidental scales who taught the others much of their original repertoire. Tabla drummer and frequent lead singer Larbi Batma was their soul, a lanky, intense poet whose seriousness was offset by the sly humour of bendir (handheld frame drum) player Omar Sayed, the strongest actor of the troupe and perhaps its most gifted singer. The longest-running version of the band was rounded out by Abderrahmane "Paco" Kirouche on sintir (a sort of bass lute) and daadoua (a shoulder-held goblet drum), a robust man who’d been a woodcarver before finding musical success.

Nass El Ghiwane is an LP I appreciate more as I discover more of its context, knowing not only who these men are but how their talents fit together; some notion of where their music came from, and how audiences of their time received it. It benefits from being played as loudly as you’re comfortable with and being listened to in a meditative frame of mind. Nass El Ghiwane were “the Nass El Ghiwane of Morocco” just as they are the Nass El Ghiwane of Canada, Cambodia, and Fiji—but if a Scorsese quote comparing them to the Stones is what got me listening to them, I reckon that’s fair enough.

59/365

* Also, bless the Plein Soleil press release writers for bolding Mohammed V’s name, in case there were any real Alawi-dynasty heads out there in record-land. Worth noting they got the wrong king though, as it was actually Mohammed V’s son Hassan II who was in power during NEG’s heyday!

#nass el ghiwane #gnawa #trance #moroccan music #Ahmed El Maânouni #rai #music review #vinyl record #martin scorcese #'70s music #north africa

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lgbhistory · 2 years

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Morocco - a hub for homosexuals?

Did you know that the country with strict islamic laws where homosexuality is punished, was once a place where homosexual men from America could take a break from their home country’s oppressive atmosphere.?

For decades Tangier and other Moroccan cities were magnets for gay tourists. It’s because for so many years prior to 1956 Tangier was a territory without an “owner” ,an international zone with no defined laws. It attracted a lot of american toutists who loved to indulge in discreet homosexuals behaviors and smoke local cannabis.

A writer William Burroughs published a book about his experiences in Morocco that was banned in US.

In fact, Tangier has a huge literary legacy and it always attracted mostly male homosexual writers like Jean Genet, Andre Gide, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Gore Vidal and Joe Orton, also Mark Twain and Samuel Pepys ( who were both straight). Another Writer and English aristocrat, David Herbert ,wrote about “queer reputation” of Tangier in his autobiography.

And while it’s shocking how such a religious country with anti-lgbt laws could attract so many homosexuals back in the days, it might have been one of those society’s paradoxes.

You can read more about Tangier’s fascinating gay history here:

#lgbhistory #lgbgay #lgbbi #lgbmorocco #lgbnorthafrica #lgbafrica

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laforzadelvoila · 1 year

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Loreen: how a legacy of warrior women helped the star win Eurovision

I get to sit down not once, but twice, with Loreen, all in the space of a week. Our time together has done my soul a lot of good, she’s definitely calmed me. The first thing you need to know about the Swedish pop star is that spirituality is everything to her. This also leads to the Libra quickly trying to guess every crew member’s star signs on set for her Rolling Stone UK digital cover shoot. We’re meant to delve into the enigma that is Loreen right at the end of a frankly delirious day on set (soundtracked nearly solely by FKA Twigs’ and Pa Salieu’s banger ‘honda’). But everything runs well over and a planned eight-hour day, quickly slips into 11 hours, and she’s pretty exhausted. Our interview is subsequently moved to the weekend to take place at her London hotel. And breathe.

Loreen, a name now so synonymous with Eurovision, never watched the singing event, or its Swedish feeder, Melodifestivalen as a child. She’s one of six kids, raised by a single mum. “I was just a weird kid. I preferred my own company,” she recalls. “I was raised in a big family. A lot of siblings, a lot of helping Mother out because she was alone, trying to make ends meet. We didn’t have much. We had three channels and I didn’t know anything about Melodifestivalen or Eurovision. I just knew at some point in my life, very late though, that I wanted to work with music. I was just trying to find my way wherever I went.” Loreen, 39, has now competed in the Swedish Eurovision selection process four times, making it through twice, and winning both years – pretty good going. Her determination means her name will forever appear in pop music history books.

Raised in a spiritual family, it continues to act as a key component to her personality and outlook on life. She loves nature, star signs, meditating and even has a house she can take herself away to on the remote Swedish island of Gotland. Her Moroccan roots and heritage, she says, provide for a very spiritual backdrop and are a massive influence here, too. “I know what suffering feels like. If you’ve been in pain, and allowed yourself to be in pain, or life has given you painful situations, at some point, when you see another person in pain? Ooof, I can feel that, and I know what you’re going through, I can imagine what you’re going through. That’s why you can’t stop from reacting.”

Her childhood wasn’t easy. Along with her five siblings she grew up “poor”, which led her to start questioning things at an early age. “Why is that happening? Why am I doing that, what is this all about? That’s where spiritually starts,” she says. “So in my house, these conversations happened. ‘Why don’t we have what they have? What’s the purpose of that? That’s unfair. Those people died over there. Why is it like that?’ Spirituality is about questioning your environment and understanding the bigger picture of things.”

Meeting the artist for a second time feels like a huge intake of fresh air. I arrive at Kings Cross, albeit 10 minutes late, and there’s a massive air of calm ready to greet me. Loreen is sitting in the lobby of The Standard London hotel drinking a slightly tepid cup of Earl Grey tea. This time she’s dressed down in an all-black ensemble and instantly recognises me when I arrive. After giving me a hug, she is desperate to know what we’re going to talk about. We settle on: everything.

The star has been vocal about her initial reluctance for a possible Eurovision return. So much so that she originally turned down the idea of using fiery pop anthem ‘Tattoo’ for Melodifestivalen after being sent a demo. How different things could have been. “I was afraid,” she admits. “That was just my initial reaction [when asked to return to Melodifestivalen], because everything went so fast for us. First there was a song, and I loved the song. There was no talking about Melfest. It was just a beautiful song and I wanted to release it.”

From all directions, she was firmly nudged into entering it, in what turned out to be her fourth whirl at Melodifestivalen. “Initially, I said, ‘No, no, no, no!’ I usually do that when I don’t know the purpose of why I’m doing something. Initially, I said no, because I needed time to figure things out. When I say time to figure things out, what I mean is, I need to understand why I do things.”

Everything that happens in Loreen’s life acts as a test, she believes. The prospect of a Eurovision return is a prime example. “What is the story? What can I give you guys? Is this meant for me to do? If you’re at a crossroad, are you going to go right? Or are you going to go left? You can’t really rush into that. That’s why I said no. I said no for a while. I just thought, ‘How do I navigate this?’”

As time passed, signs it was lining up to be a good call started to appear, pointing in her direction. “They were beautiful, beautiful signs. The first was the song, the second sign was the people that I trusted around me, they were so happy whenever I said, ‘Yes’. There were so many positive things happening. People were happy and curious. That’s why I said yes, basically.”

There is such a strong sense of purpose that ripples through everything Loreen does. When she competed in Azerbaijan back in 2012, a country marred by its questionable human rights record, she was the only entrant to meet local human rights activists. She told reporters: “Human rights are violated in Azerbaijan every day. One should not be silent about such things.” An Azerbaijan government spokesman responded critically, calling for the contest to not “be politicised”, and demanded the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) prevent such meetings. But Swedish diplomats stayed firmly on her side. They replied that the EBU, the Swedish broadcaster SVT and Loreen had not acted against the competition’s rules.

Loreen is publicly bisexual, coming out in a TV interview in 2017. Eurovision and the LGBTQ+ community have strong ties, too. Previous LGBTQ+ contestants and winners such as trans star Dana International, drag queen Conchita Wurst and Duncan Laurence have all found success in the competition. She loves her queer fans dearly, too. The ‘Euphoria’ singer told TV host Renée Nyberg at the time: “Many people are so focused on sex, on sexuality. Love is so much more. I usually say ‘Love is where you find it’”. When asked to clarify whether this meant she identifies as bisexual, Loreen said she “quite simply” was.

Unsurprisingly, she has LGBTQ+ fans messaging her all the time. “I absolutely love that. Queer or not queer, I don’t see that, I just see us as people with certain attributes. That’s why I say these are my people. We have the same mindset. The thing is, if somebody asked me, ‘What is freedom, what is feeling free?’, that is just doing exactly what you feel like, expressing yourself exactly the way you want to express yourself. Clothe yourself the way you want to clothe yourself, talk the way you want to talk. Don’t care about what other people think. This is true freedom.”

She goes on passionately: “This community, we know what freedom is about and what that feels like. If you compare it to another community where there are rules and regulations… where someone says, you need to talk like this and be like this, that’s a f**king jail! I cannot do that. For me, when somebody says, ‘You are weird’ to me, that’s [them saying] that I’m free.”

“The women from my mother’s mother’s side, these are real warriors. Historically, the women from my tribe, they’re called Berber.” She explains that this word comes from ‘Barbarian’, and adds: “They were called Barbarians by the Egyptians because they were so aggressive. The women were so aggressive. Isn’t that interesting?” She smiles: “The women from my tribe, they weren’t so interested in monogamy, but being in a relationship. Historically, they went out to the village in search of a man. ‘You’re coming with me,’ right? They did whatever they wanted to do. Then they said, ‘Ta ta,’ and they raised their children by themselves. This whole concept of husband and wife was never a concept. They used these women in war, because they were like, ‘Ahhhhhh!’”

This energy is “generational”, Loreen confirms, but that seemed obvious from the get-go, and especially reflective, she says, through her grandmother. “My great grandmother, my grandmother, all of these women, they had a life presented to them. They were told, ‘This is what your life is going to be like,’ by men, but instead, they were like, ‘F**k no!’ They fought for their freedom. My great grandmother, she loved her husband, he died in the war. They wanted her to marry someone else. So, what does the bitch do? She says, ‘F**k no’.”

Her grandmother took her two children away to a different city, dressed as a man “with a kaftan and everything” and they fled, alongside her housekeeper. “I have pictures of her at home, seriously! She left everything behind, dressed as a man, so that nobody would notice her. She had a cousin in the next city, opened up a store, still dressed as a man, till she got f**king old. She raised those two children by herself with some help from her cousins and never married again. I have a picture of her; she didn’t stop wearing male clothes, she did until she died. The kaftan, the hat, the gold tooth. That was hardcore from my grandma!”

The unravelling of these “huge” stories leads her to repeat my initial question back to me: “So how was it, raised by these women? It’s a lot of pressure!” she laughs. “They have a lot of expectations of me. Like, girl, you better step up your game, change something in the world. It’s crazy to see what women can do. Women are so much more powerful, stronger than men are. That’s why we can have babies and s**t like that, just saying!”

It’s not just the women in her family who provide inspiration, but “all women within the industry that stand their ground”, she tells me. “You can tell when women are standing their ground and not buying into that whole concept of what a woman’s supposed to be. I’m not saying that women aren’t supposed to be sexy. Grace Jones, for instance, she owns her sexuality. She can run around naked. She’s still doing it! There are so many, not even just in the industry. All women [inspire me] because they’re taking positions for the next generation, they’re balancing things up. It’s necessary and it’s inevitable. It’s going to happen. The shift is going to happen, and men will take a step back. The thing is, they’re longing for it, because they’re messing things up…”

Her Eurovision victory was Sweden’s seventh win, and means the nation will host the competition on the 50th anniversary of Abba’s 1974 win. Many fans are begging the group to make a triumphant return to the stage, but after Abba recently created the Voyage experience featuring avatars of themselves, surely that amounts to a deliberate act to make sure they’d never have to perform again? Loreen is convinced they will be at the event. If I were a bookmaker, I’d feel inclined to back her on this.

“They’re going to be there,” she insists. “Maybe not all of them, but they won’t miss it. I promise. How old are they? They all have their own lives. They haven’t really played together in a while. But I’m pretty sure that some of them will be there. Don’t tell them I told you!”

Before she returns to Eurovision again, there’s a giant 2023 in store for Loreen. With tickets for her ‘Tattoo’ tour selling out in literally seconds, it seems Loreen’s going absolutely nowhere. “I’ve been waiting for this tour for years,” she exclaims. “My fans are like, ‘Can you please come to England? Can you please come to Spain? Can you please come to France?’ and now I’m coming! Finally, I’m doing this, and with everything that’s happened with ‘Tattoo’ it’s just a perfect time. I’m longing for it. I’ve longed for it for many years. So it’s going to be nice. I’m a people’s person, I just want to connect.”

Connection is the key feeling again for Loreen. It all feeds back to her spirituality, which has been the dominant force in her life since she was a kid. I point out that there’s no better place for an artist to connect with all their fans than taking themselves on tour. “Yeah! because we gather,” she notes. “They’re there because they want to be there, and I’m there because I want to be there. It’s effortless.” Loreen is already full of ideas. She is, she reminds me, “a bloody creative” after all. “I’m working with the same team that I did ‘Tattoo’ with. It depends on the venues, but it’s going to be a visual performance, obviously.”

She’s heading straight to the studio after our interview. “I haven’t released that much music over the years,” but she promises that absolutely will change. “Now there’s a shift going on, there’s going to be a lot more releases, which is nice. This year and next year. My medium, she told me that!” A move to London is likely, too. “I think it’s actually going to happen. I’m pretty sure. Hello, London! I don’t know what it is, but it’s almost like the UK is a creative hub.” Her top picks of UK artists to work with? Labrinth and Burna Boy. Watch this space.

As our interview wraps, Loreen gives me a huge hug. She made a point of hugging the whole crew on our shoot day earlier in the week, too. It’s a warmth that exudes from her at every stage. “I know we’ll meet again soon,” she says before she departs. “I just know it will happen.”

• Source: Rolling Stone UK •

#eurovision #loreen #news #my post

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babalmaghrib · 11 months

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Zellij fragment, 1350 ~ (14th century), Tangier, Morocco

— Conserved at the Royal Museums of Art & History in Brussels, Belgium

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angchongyicritic · 8 months

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The World of Plant-Based Gastronomy Explored: Ang Chong Yi's Perspective

In an era marked by a variety of dietary preferences mirroring the rich tapestry of cultures, an individual has emerged as a singular voice in the exploration of plant-based fare from across the globe. Ang Chong Yi, an epicurean and globetrotter, distinguishes himself through his distinctive odyssey through the realms of cuisines, surpassing conventional gastronomic norms. With an acute palate for flavors, an unwavering commitment to well-being, and an insatiable wanderlust, Ang Chong Yi - Exploring the Health Advantages of a Plant-Based Diet is nothing short of an enlightening and inspirational epicurean voyage.

Unveiling the Health Advantages of a Plant-Based Diet

A key theme in Ang Chong Yi's gastronomic expedition revolves around the health merits of embracing a plant-based regimen. His exploration has unearthed a multitude of ways through which plant-based foods can augment one's overall well-being. From the heart-healthy Mediterranean culinary tradition to the nutrient-dense tapestry of Asian gastronomy, Ang Chong Yi has ascertained that plant-based diets proffer an expansive spectrum of health dividends, encompassing improved digestive function, diminished susceptibility to chronic ailments, and augmented vitality.

The Mediterranean Enigma

Amidst his stopovers across the Mediterranean, Ang Chong Yi plunged headfirst into the allure of the iconic Mediterranean dietary ethos. Filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and wholesome fats, this dietary paradigm is renowned for its cardioprotective attributes. Ang Chong Yi indulged in delectable creations like Greek salad, falafel, and ratatouille, all of which served as compelling testaments to the healthful attributes of plant-based constituents.

Asiatic Expeditions

Ang Chong Yi's epicurean quest also led him to the far corners of Asia, where plant-based nourishment has been cherished for centuries. He was captivated by the kaleidoscope of vibrant ingredients in Thai cookery, savored the umami-loaded profusion of Japanese plant-centric dishes, and reveled in the invigoration imparted by Indian vegetarian delicacies. These culinary escapades not only expanded his taste horizons but also strengthened his belief in the health benefits of plant-based foods.

African Delicacies: Vegetarian Marvels

Ang Chong Yi's odyssey did not halt in Europe and Asia. He ventured deep into the heart of Africa, where he encountered the resplendent universe of African plant-based gastronomies. From the Ethiopian staple, Injera to Moroccan tagines brimming with vegetables, he came to realize that plant-based diets were not solely a source of nourishment but also a tribute to the opulent culinary legacies of the continent.

In Conclusion

Ang Chong Yi's pilgrimage into the sphere of global plant-based diets serves as an illustration of food's ability to bridge cultures and bolster health. Through his odyssey, he has not only underscored the delectable nature of plant-based diets but has also demonstrated Greens for Greatness Ang Chong Yi's View on Plant Based Food Expedition. His gastronomic escapades stand as a wellspring of inspiration for those inclined towards embracing the verdant embrace of plant-based sustenance while embarking on a world-spanning culinary excursion.

#Ang Chong Yi's #nourishment #gastronomies #Vegetarian Marvels #Mediterranean #Plant-Based Diet #Perspective

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"Tron: Uprising": A Cyberpunk Drama That Is Out of This World

Beck and Tron [Screenshot: Tron: Uprising]

What if a program, in a virtual world, could start a revolution against their overlords? Tron: Uprising tries to answer that exact question. This series follows Beck, a program trained by a legendary warrior to take down the military dictator and his oppressive forces by any means necessary.

Reprinted from The Geekiary, my History Hermann WordPress blog, and Wayback Machine. This was the thirty-fourth article I wrote for The Geekiary. This post was originally published on March 16, 2022.

Tron: Uprising is developed by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and is based on the 1982 film, Tron, and its 2010 counterpart, Tron: Legacy. It is related to other parts of the Tron franchise, such as the video game Tron: Evolution and the comic book series Tron: Betrayal. It is the only TV series that is part of the franchise, as a live-action series had been in development but was later cancelled. This 19-episode series had Charlie Bean as the showrunner and Robert Valley as the co-director. Although I wasn't sure what to think about this series at first, its combination of action, sci-fi, cyberpunk, drama, and superhero elements drew me in like no other show.

As a warning, this recommendation discusses some spoilers for Tron: Uprising.

Paige and the programs of Argon City

Tron: Uprising centers around Beck (voiced by Elijah Wood), a young program in a computer world known as the Grid. He becomes the leader of a revolution against Clu (voiced by Fred Tatasciore), a dictator who rules over the Grid with an iron fist. As the story goes, Clu turned against the Grid's creator, Kevin Flynn, and the Grid's original protector, Tron (voiced by Bruce Boxleitner). Tron was reportedly killed by Clu, but somehow survived and vowed to train Beck, believing he could be the next person to defend the Grid.

Clu's loyal enforcer is the brutal General Tesler (voiced by Lance Henriksen). He is assisted by his field commander, Paige (voiced by Emmanuelle Chriqui), and Tesler's sadistic lieutenant, Pavel (voiced by Paul Reubens). Beck works at a garage and repair shop in Argon City run by Able alongside his friends Mara (voiced by Mandy Moore), Zed (voiced by Nate Corddry), and Link (voiced by David Arquette).

The series also features characters such as Bartik (voiced by Donald Faison) and Hopper (voiced by Paul Scheer) who are part of Paige's task force which is trying to find Beck, known as "Renegade" or "Tron" by the public. In addition, there's a criminal gang member named Perl (voiced by Kate Mara), a scientific program named Keller (voiced by Marcia Gay Harden) employed to brainwash those in Argon City into obeying the dictates of Clu, and a technician named Gorn (voiced by Kathryn Hunter) who specializes in modifying and erasing memories.

In some ways, Tron: Uprising begins on a similar note to Star Wars Resistance, as the protagonist of that series, Kazuda "Kaz" Xiono, works as a mechanic on the refueling station known as the Colossus, along with other mechanics. While the two series are nothing like each other, having different tone, themes, characters, and stories, there is some more overlap in terms of the voice talent. Wood and Faison voiced characters in the aforementioned series while Tatasciore and Reubens had roles in other Star Wars series.

Tron: Uprising has some diversity in its cast, as Chriqui is of Moroccan-Jewish descent, while VelJohnson, Faison, and Reddick are Black men. Although the show's cast is mostly composed of White people, Parminder Kaur Nagra, who is of Indian descent, guest stars in one episode, as does Jamie Hector, a Black man, in another episode. Even so, the series shines in other areas.

For one, the voice actors are well-established and carry the story, and characters. Apart from those who had roles in the Star Wars series, I was aware of Moore from Tangled: The Series, VelJohnson from 3Below, Scheer from Star Trek: Lower Decks, Mara from House of Cards, and Wilde from her many films. I was not familiar with the other voice actors before watching this series, so they were new to me. The voice of Boxleitner, especially, was very defined and I think one of the best voice acting performances of the whole series.

The music of Tron: Uprising is composed by Joseph Trapanese. It is fitting for a series that often deals with dark themes, even if it is said to be for "children." This includes characters being stabbed and disintegrating into nothing. In my opinion, this series is clearly not for children, even though it is within Wikipedia categories for children's animated series and was rated TV-Y7 when it aired on Disney XD. It is a mature series.

This reminds me of how Samurai Jack was given the TV-Y7 rating, with a subheading for fantasy violence, meaning it should be suitable for those over age seven. This is despite the fact that in the third episode, "Part III: The First Fight," the protagonist, Jack, is covered in black ink from the robots, which looks like blood.

The animation style of Tron: Uprising is one of the strong suits. Some described the series as a mix of 2-D animation and CGI. Variety described the series as borrowing from anime style. Showrunner Charlie Bean later said that he wanted to create a "distinct style" which hadn't been seen anywhere else, and this series fulfills that idea.

Animation of characters and settings is very fluid, blending together in a powerful way, especially in action sequences, like the one in the episode "Blackout." Even some of the scenes where light jets are chasing Beck, in his persona, make me think of the innumerable space battles in Star Wars Rebels. Animation of the bikes and the character designs were one of the most amazing parts of the show. The series looks and feels like something I haven't seen anywhere else before, with its impressive chase and fight scenes and amazing background art.

This makes it no surprise that the series was nominated for Annie Awards in animated production and storyboarding for specific episodes, while it won Annie Awards for character and production design. The show's art director Alberto Mieglo even won an Emmy Award for art direction in animation due to this series. The animation draws you in from the first episode and makes you want to keep watching. The show's art work was one of the many reasons it was positively received.

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The story of Tron: Uprising is simple. It falls into the good/evil dichotomy, with Beck and Tron shown as "good" while Clu, Tesler, Paige, and Pavel as portrayed as "evil." Beck is pushed to act and refuses at first, and is guided forward by Tron, a magical helper/guide, part of the first three stages of the "hero's journey." However, Beck does not go on a trek of any kind. Instead, the series begins a little like the first episode of Samurai Jack where Jack learns to become a warrior.

Boxleitner described the series as akin to The Mask of Zorro where he is "looking for a young one to train and...[they] have that master-student relationship." Beck goes through training, which is, at times, brutal. He even saves one of his enemies, Paige, from being obliterated in one episode, and from being sucked into a sinking island in another.

On the other hand, he is drawn to devices that give him more power, like a special disk which he acquires in the episode "Price of Power," which makes him more aggressive. He tries to keep it in order to save his friends, even though Tron tells him that it is dangerous. This focus reminds me a bit of Steven in Steven Universe or Elena on Elena of Avalor whose powers are tied to their emotions.

His boss at the garage, Able (voiced by Reginald VelJohnson) is akin to Yeager in Star Wars Resistance, as he discovers Beck's life as the figure of resistance after thinking Beck is a slacker at first. He doesn't directly support Beck but covers for him when Beck is absent from work. Later he ends up being killed by Cyrus, when a bomb gets reactivated and explodes.

Cyrus (voiced by Aaron Paul) was chosen by Tron as the first renegade and later described as his "mistake." He believes that the only way to save everyone is to destroy the grid, that there is no free will, and that everything is pre-determined. He uses Beck in an attempt to activate an EMP but fails in this endeavor.

The character of Cyrus symbolizes the antithesis of Beck, in that he is willing to engage in violence and destruction to achieve his goals. These actions are not targeted, but are rather meant to send a message. Although Tron later kills him, he becomes weaker and is on the edge of death. Luckily, Tron is healed in the final episode and barely escapes from being reprogrammed for evil.

Yeager in Star Wars Resistance covers for Kaz, but never meets his demise. Similarly, Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels takes on Ezra Bridger as his apprentice to be trained as a Jedi. For Beck, it is different. He has a double life, struggling to balance being a freedom fighter and a mechanic at a shop. Although Able, just like Yeager, soon knows of Beck's secret identity, he also has a history with Tron, his old friend. He first tries to convince Tron to not involve Beck, but then helps out more directly.

Tron: Uprising includes the usual themes of romantic tension. Specifically, Zed is romantically attracted to Mara and becomes jealous of how she strongly supports Beck in his Renegade/Tron persona. This is made worse by Beck, in this persona, taking advantage of Zed, time and again, annoying him even more.

Mara also has a crush on the Renegade, something which Beck is unsure of how to handle. Even so, he still helps Mara, along with Zed, to free her and other programs from mind control. In a few episodes, Beck and Paige flirt with one another and go on several dates, even though they are on different sides of the conflict. This is short-lived. It comes to an abrupt end with Pavel's scheme to get back at her. She later claims that she got "soft" and lost focus, so she can no longer be with him. It is an open question as to how much Beck liked Paige, as he may have seen her as more of an asset and possible revolutionary than a girlfriend.

On the other hand, Mara openly supports "Tron," even questioning official reports and declarations which describe him as a "terrorist." She fully embodies the idea that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, something has been said in different forms since the 1950s. Zed is also attracted to Perl, a program he meets at a bar, until she steals a classic cycle bike.

Throughout the series, Mara comes more into her own, first when she is the temporary leader of the garage, and then as the leader of a group of graffiti artists, including herself, Moog and Rasket, known as the Jolly Tricksters. Toward the end of the series, she leads those defending Tron after she realizes that the Renegade cannot be blamed for the death of Able.

Tron: Uprising clearly indicates to the viewers which groups should be seen positively and which ones negatively. The occupation of Argon city is shown as a brutal takeover. It is akin to the Galactic Empire in Star Wars Rebels dispossessing people from their homes and enslaving others or the First Order in Star Wars Resistance which destroys entire planetary systems in shows of force. There is a curfew in one episode with a message blaring it is for the "protection" of everyone, when it is only a way to control people.

The oppression of Clu and his minions is a menace that Beck and Tron are wholly dedicated to resisting, without question. This is noted by Tricia Helfer, the voice of the Grid at the beginning of each episode. Tesler is shown using his words and messaging to try and turn the people of Argon against the Renegade without using any of his loyal lieutenants while declaring that he rules the state.

This is evident in the episode "The Reward," where he offers anyone who gives him information a special reward, almost like a game show. It causes many people to be falsely accused of being the Renegade. At one point, Dyson (voiced by John Glover), a villain who appears in a few episodes, rightly comments about how badly Tesler and his lieutenants are ruling the city, but no one wants to listen to him.

Tesler is willing to use brutal force against anyone. He de-rezzes those who disagree with him, equivalent to killing them, with his bare hands. He often uses propaganda in an attempt to make fellow programs support his brutality and turn on the Renegade. He is no mere villain. Rather he is cunning and deceitful, with messages that people may latch onto, believing he is speaking on their behalf when he is really out for himself. Even so, he can be manipulated by faulty information.

People's hatred of the "other" is shown in Tron: Uprising. This is most acute in Tron's flashbacks to when he attempted to stop a peaceful demonstration against ISOs (Isomorphic Algorithms), standing between demonstrators and the ISOs. Sadly, a provocateur ends up throwing a disk and the crowd rushes the ISOs, killing them one by one, while Tron and his team are left overwhelmed.

Later, Flynn states that ISOs have just as much a right to be there as anyone. This is similar to those saying that immigrants belong in a where they set down their roots, no matter if it is their "home" country or not, as opposed to faulty arguments about undocumented immigrants.

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One character in Tron: Uprising shows the allure of power and manipulation: Cutler (voiced by Lance Reddick). Originally an ally of the Renegade and Beck, he returns in the final episode. He has been repurposed and demands Tron's surrender. He wants perfection and the victory of Clu. Sadly, despite Beck's attempt to save him, it is clear that he is too far gone, so Beck lets him fall to his death.

Just like Arcane, which is part of the larger League of Legends franchise, watching the films and video games, or reading the comics of the franchise itself is not needed before watching Tron: Uprising. In fact, I had never watched anything related to the franchise, apart from a 2011 Futurama episode which has a light cycle chase scene referencing the 1982 film and its 2010 sequel.

Sadly, like all too many animated series, there are no LGBTQ characters in Tron: Uprising. The closest we have is when Keller holds a device against her neck and it changes her form into a man, so as to disguise her real identity. However, this doesn't prevent fans from making their own headcanons of specific characters and shipping them if they see fit.

There are possible ships one could make, like between Paige and Beck in his "Tron" persona, since Paige is drawn to that persona, even willing to stop fighting it for short periods of time. However, someone could easily ship Paige with one of her female friends, or those shown in the episode "Isolated," like Quorra (voiced by Olivia Wilde).

Currently, there are over 280 fanfics for Tron: Uprising on AO3, often with themes of angst, friendship, fluff, hurt, or comfort. Some of the popular ships on the site are Beck and Tron, as friends, along with Beck/Paige, Tron/Yori, Mara/Zed, Pavel/Zed, Sam Flynn/Quorra, and Beck/Cutler romantically. Of these, the latter appears to be the only popular ship between male characters. Some have also written fics portraying Paige as asexual, and a few writers have shipped her with Quorra, and Radia from Tron: Betrayal and Tron: Evolution, but many more have shipped her with male characters, like Tesler, Pavel, and Beck, instead.

Tron: Uprising has a certain magnetism to it, from its voice actors, the music, animation, and overall feel. It is something you want to keep watching so that you can learn the whole story.

Beck has many near-death experiences and seeing people be de-rezzed in front of him means he is experiencing some level of trauma. The events of the series weigh heavily on his friends and even on Page, especially after Pavel conspires to label her as a "traitor" with manufactured evidence even as she remains a loyal footsoldier and enforcer of Clu.

The latter scheme hints at how easy it is to spin information to take out those you don't like, especially in an autocratic force like those occupying the grid, and that anyone can be a target. It is a very chilling idea and it has relevance to our current technological world.

Beck chased by enemy cycles in the first episode. This scene especially reminded me a lot of those years of playing Armagetron at camp.

To be perfectly honest, one of the original draws of Tron: Uprising was that it reminded me of a game I once played as a camp counselor with campers at a technology camp: Armagetron Advanced or "Tron" for short. It is a multiplayer computer game that tries to, according to the game's official website, "emulate and expand on the light cycle sequence from the movie Tron," and is said to be an arcade game of sorts "slung into the 21st century." That is part of the reason I liked this series so much, as there are a lot of scenes with light cycles.

When watching this series, I kept thinking back to all the fun times I had when I played the game, especially when I cackled when cutting off other players and causing their light cycles to crash into my trails, leading them to explode. Those memories were part of the drive that pushed me to continue the series. So, you could say, that for me, this series was a bit of a throwback. I don't mean that in a negative way, but rather that I like to make personal connections with what I'm watching.

The likelihood of Tron: Uprising of having another season is nil. It is less likely than a possible new season of Sym-Bionic Titan that Gennedy Tartokovsky has floated in the past. This is unfortunate because the show has the potential to be a longer series featuring many parts and chapters, just as series like Disenchantment has done. Even so, some fans have circulated a petition calling for Tron: Uprising to continue.

If there was a second season, they could expand upon the uprising in Argon City, the seizure of Able's garage by Pavel, and the huge fleet led by Clu on its way to Argon, obviously in an effort to crush any resistance. Perhaps there could even be a plotline where Pavel's involvement in framing Paige results in him being de-rezzed.

Tron: Uprising had a rocky airing schedule. It was effectively cancelled by Disney, which never renewed it for a second season, even after Kitsis said that the series needed more viewers. Just like Sym-Bionic Titan, the series was briefly on Netflix from 2013 to 2014, and only recently, in 2019, appeared on Disney+. When the series aired, on Disney XD, from May 18, 2012, to January 28, 2013, it received generally positive reviews.

The series might have felt a little familiar to me because Bill Wolkoff, a writer for many episodes, was most recently a showrunner for Rad Sechrist's Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. He also wrote a few Star Wars Rebels episodes. Additionally, André Bormanis, who wrote a few episodes of Tron: Uprising, is well-known for working on Star Trek series, even serving as a science consultant for various shows, so that undoubtedly rubbed off, in some way or another, into this series.

Some of the scenes in Tron: Uprising echo those in other shows, like General Hux addressing stormtroopers as they destroy planets in Star Wars Resistance, complete with slogans like "perfection is freedom." In an attempt to discredit Beck in his Renegade persona, they even use one of his own friends, Zed, against him.

This tactic is not successful as Mara convinces him that it is wrong. Unlike the aforementioned series, there is a continual power struggle between Paige and Pavel, who are trying to impress Tesler with their plans to take down the Renegade. Pavel, in one episode, even creates a program to falsely accuse someone of being the Renegade in order to cement his power.

Paige is a fascinating and complex character, whose backstory we see most directly in the episode "Isolated." We learn how she joined the forces of Tesler after previously being a musician and medic, feeling that the ISOs somehow "betrayed" her. The horrifying reality is that Tesler set the whole thing up so that she would think this way and join him.

She continually struggles to impress Tesler and cement her place, tracking down the Renegade whenever she can, with whatever forces are at her disposal, even forming a task force. She is so dedicated to Tesler that she rejects a plea by Pavel to form a secret alliance against Tesler. Almost like how the Colossus barely escapes the First Order time and again in Star Wars Resistance, the Renegade manages to escape repeatedly, even when putting himself into harm's way.

It is interesting how Beck takes charge to such an extent that Tron listens to him. It becomes a case of the "master" listening to the "apprentice," rather than the other way around. In fact, Tron is only being held together by a healing chamber and he is easing Beck into the role of being a hero.

With Tron: Uprising currently at the end of its series order, now is the time to watch it on Disney+, Amazon Prime, or elsewhere. It's a great choice to binge over a weekend or a week!

#tron: uprising #tron #cyberpunk #disney #disney plus #disney channel #virtual worlds #programs #asexuality #samurai jack #disney xd #immigrants #Youtube #armagetron advanced #games #gaming

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