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stellocchia · 3 years

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This is part 6 of the Comprehensive Analysis of c!Tommy and c!Dream’s relationship during the Exile Arc

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

Here we go again. So, just to clarify: I honestly think that for the Mexican Dream stream almost only the parts where Dream is Dream and not Mamacita are canon, but I will check those other ones out as well for anything interesting. Drista’s stream however is like as vaguely canon as possible, so I will mostly give a general outline of it more so then analizing it bit by bit.

That said, a reminder that from here on out I will be only talking about the characters unless stated otherwise and that we will be talking about sensitive topics, so keep that in mind.

First stream we will be looking at is the infamous Mexican Dream stream: Tommy Speaks to Mexican Dream in Exile

Once again Tommy wakes up drowning, again just slightly further away from the coast in the opposite direction from L’Manburg. He also immediately takes off his armour.

“Wait, no, we don’t have enough friends to afford being angry at people” (by now even Tommy himself doesn’t value much his own feelings)

“So at the end of our last Dream smp stream, uh, we died [non canonically], but it’s okay because I got some of our things-” *Dream joins the game* *distressed noises* (I’m never not gonna point out Tommy’s reactions at Dream appearing)

Dream appears and immediately digs the hole for the armour. Tommy immediately gives it up actually apologizing for not doing it even before. Also right after this Dream investigates on wether or not someone visited Tommy while he was gone and he finds out about Ranboo.

“I’ve just been trying to keep you company” “Yeah, yeah, no, it’s been pretty nice” “We’ve became better friends” “Yeah, yeah, we have” (Dream and his ‘friendship’ agenda)

This is when they meet Mexican Dream who was just outside Tommy’s Nether portal. An interesting thing I want to point out is Dream immediately moving directly in front of Tommy when he notices him (probably got used by now to assuming a defensive position).

“We’ll make this place like home man...” (MD already making everything better)

“What did you [Dream] do to him man?” “No but he is my friend now, apparently- I think. You are my-?” (immediately starts questioning things with MD presence there challenging Dream’s)

“I’m your new friend man” “Oh, do you need me to put my items in a pit for you?” (...) “This is what Dream always makes me do, is this right?” (looking once again at Dream for approval in the last bit)

“Hey, wait, so now that you’re here do I even need to follow this man?” (talking about Dream here)

“Okay, wait, how do I know that this isn’t a Dream? Because I keep having Dream’s and shit. I’m like a hallucinator” (so we can add recurrent hallucinations to his ever increasing list of symptoms)

"Even though he may be naked and homeless- are you homeless? Do you need a home?” “I’m homeless man” (And this is why MD was a problem to Dream, he was more then willing to stay with Tommy)

“Oh no that guy [a squid] has committed suicide just at the sound of it! Oh that’s... I envy him” (he is now openly suicidal)

“I don’t like Mexican Dream, Mexican Dream is weird” (sure it’s not just because he admitted to wanting to move to Logstedshire permanently there Dream?)

“Alright, Thomas, come over here, come over here” *Dream starts following as well* “NO! NO! You stay the fuck away!” (this is why we love MD)

“You know actually, he is sort of actually borderline my owner” (I hate that there was a time were both Tommy and Dream thought this)

After this Dream swaps for Mamacita, so I’m really not sure how canon things are here... there is a scene where MD comforts Tommy while he’s looking at pictures of Tubbo and then Mamacita destroys all but one of them.

“I really miss my family man” “Oh I miss my- I miss my family too” (would his family be Tubbo for Tommy?)

Dream does swap back to being Dream for the last 25 minutes. And he proceeds to immediately takes one of MD’s lives. It’s technically his second life because the first one was from a creeper exploding.

“No no shoot me not them, [the pictures of MD’s friends(?)] actually shoot them. I definitely don’t have my confidence back” (Dream immediately setting him back on his progress)

Right after the kill Tommy asks if he can bodyguard Dream in hopes of keeping him and MD from fighting so that MD would be safe. It doesn’t work. Also pretty sure that Dream canonically decapitated somebody.

“Mexican Dream, I-I’ve had enough of you” (Dream immediately ging back to be terrifying right there)

Dream then takes MD’s third canon life. Of course, in true Dream style, he immediately ignores all the distress Tommy is in and moves on like nothing happened.

“You just killed my last friend” (I hate that he’s not even angry)

“So Dream, do I not have any friends left?” “What do you mean ‘you don’t have any friends left’? You have me!” (Dream is the only friend that Dream is willing to allow Tommy to have)

Also I want to point out how Dream keeps ignoring any and all accusations of having killed MD, despite having done so right in front of Tommy. And then he proceeds to try and convince Tommy that he died of a drug overdose (which is just yet another example of gaslighting there from Dream). He then proceeds to make Tommy burn his remains, despite Tommy opposing this quite a bit.

“I know I haven’t really delved into my health with you ever, because I know you don’t really care, but I don’t think I have really long left” (at least he is somewhat aware about Dream not caring)

“I thought maybe we could have someone move in with us today, no. No He doesn’t allow that. Which is fine! Which is fine because, you know, it’s his- his uh- his rules now”

Once again I want to point out that this truly is just a glorified kidnapping. Tommy not only is confined to a very small area and not allowed to keep many items, he also doesn’t get to have anyone move in his area. Dream doesn’t want him to have any company that isn’t him, going as far as to literally kill someone to insure it (not too different from what he was planning to do in the season 2 finale). Either way the stream ends on a very pessimistic note about Tommy not having the will to go on for much longer at this point.

Now let’s move on to the Drista stream: TommyInnit Speaks To Dream's Sister AGAIN

As I said I’ll just give a general outline for this one since it’s honestly barely canon as is, so here we go:

Tommy doesn’t start off drowning this time. Drista arrives and starts immediately being chaotic as usual. They mess around for a while in the Nether, start building a tower (Dream at one point tries to convince Drista that it was Tommy to have killed MD), get bored and mess around some more. Also Drista gives Tommy a bedrock block and writes “Drista” out of bedrock near Logstedshire. Then Drista convinces Dream to let them go back to the main Smp for a while (though we do see Punz trying to kill him for breaking the rules before finding out Dream had given his permission). Once in Dream Smp they meet up with Quackity for a little bit.

Also, Tommy, king of always being in character, constantly asks very uncertainly: “Are you sure that I’m allowed here? This feels wrong...”

They then spawn in a bunch of dogs and wonder around in the smp. After a while Techno gets added to the call and Tubbo starts kinda following them around (though Tommy thinks he has a hallucination). I honestly don’t think any of this is canon. Anyway after a while Techno gets a bedrock block as well and he almost manages to give a stolen Pigstep to Tommy, but it gets intercepted. After a while their time is up and he has to go back by Dream’s order.

“If you don’t see me again in this, you know, in this shape, I’m sorry. (...) Yeah, in this alive form on this server... you might see me you knoa a bit- a bit- I don’t know... maybe a bit ghostly” (foreshadowing to his death that never actually happened during the Exile Arc thankfully)

The stream ends with a promise from Dream that he’ll be there the day after.

Moving on to the last one for today, we have Quackity’s visit: Quackity Visits TommyInnit in Exile

So, Quackity decides to go visit Tommy to try (and miserably failing) to lift his mood by giving him gifts supposedly from everyone in L’Manburg (which are pictures).

“I’ve got no reason to live” (and we start off immediately in the most depressing way possible)

Also, while we’re talking about this stream I have to point out that Tommy has a lot of self-harming behaviours, mostly drowning himself and shooting himself with arrows. Which is rather worrying to say the least.

“Big Q I have very little will to live right now” (again he's very open about his suicidal thoughts by now)

“Forget about Tubbo! Listen, listen Tommy, there are so many things you can turn to when you’re depressed, alright?” “I’m not depressed... I’ve got Dream, I’ve got Dream, I’ve got Dream” “Dream?! (...) Who escorted you out of L’Manburg? Who escorted you out of L’Manburg? Who gave you 30 minutes to go to L’manburg? [In the Drista visit]” “I want Dream”

This is Quackity trying albeit clumsily, to break Tommy out of Dream’s conditioning, though by this point it was far too ingrained for anything to be effective. Also we can see Tommy asking for Dream when he is distressed, which is something that keeps happening during the Bedrock Boys Arc as well.

After a little bit they decide to build a church and a “gambling place”. Techno also joins them after a while. (Also, according to Quackity, c!Dream is canonically racist for killing MD, do with that what you will). Also why does Quackity have a flight or flirt instinct with Techno?

Tommy, sarcastically: “I’m fine, I’m okay, it’s not like I have canonical depression”. That is a fair objection in any and all conversations.

The stream end a while later with nothing else of note. It is very funny though, so do give it a watch if you feel like it.

#tommyinnit #dreamwastaken #quackity #dream smp #exile arc #tw abuse #tw self harm #tw suicidal thoughts #long post #my post #relationship analysis #character analysis #this is basically the lightest post in the exile arc series #mostly because they all have questionable canonicity #though we do know now that md was entirely canon #so there's that #anyway next one will be the last one and then I'm free #also md says 'man' as frequently as dream says 'tommy'#I don't know what to do with that information

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lisasworlds43 · 3 years

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Let's talk about what an awful president Trump was. He did nothing the whole four years he was president. He was going to build a wall to keep Mexicans out of American. Which in its self is racist. HE ripped families apart.. Sparating children from their mothers. They was locked up like criminals. THE wall was never built money sent in for the walls construction was stolen and the man who stole it was pardoned. He was going to get rid of Obama Care and he replace with a better more beautiful plan wait until we saw it, guess what we never saw it. I must have blinked. I THANK GOD he wasn't able to get rid of it, my father had heart attack, because of it being a precondition he wasn't able to get health insurance now due to Obama care he does. Here's another lie covid-19 was fake ,the democrats made it up to make him look bad. He lied about how bad it was and down played it. HE had no stock pile of VACCINES, he didn't even have a plan on how to better handle the pandemic and finding a cure.When he would do briefings he get up there and talk about what a great man he was and what great job in he was doing. He put our country in a constant state of chaos. He was behind the riots on the capital building. He would've probably pardoned if the mission was successful if the speaker of the house and vice president where hung. Why because she didn't kiss his ass and Pence wouldn't go in there and say Trump wom the election. Something he didn't even have the power to do. He claims the election was stolen and Biden cheated, four years ago when he ran against Hillary Clinton and won, her supporters said she was cheated and he said in the great country we have its impossible to steal an election. He bought up that Biden smelled a woman's hair and called him a predator to his supporters I guess you forgot how he said pat the pu**y. He made fun of people with disabilities. He didn't want to get out of the car at Allerton cemetery because his hair would get wet and messed up. He call the soldiers who died for our country losers and what was in it for them. So no he was not for our military either. He had was impeached twice so he can never run again. This is just my opinion and I know some people will not agree with me,but that's okay. Its your right think and speak and even write what e er you want because we are In America and for the first time in four years I can go to bed and rest easier because a mad man is no longer running our country.

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bountyofbeads · 4 years

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https://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/28/dear-world-from-america/

#DearLeadersOfTheWorld for 24 hours, lay down your guns, stop your tanks and missiles, end the cyber attacks...and talk. Please. Just talk.

#DearLeadersOfTheWorld

The ice caps are melting.

The rain won't stop falling.

The forrests are on fire.

Eco systems are being wiped out.

The deepest dive ever recorded found a plastic bag on the sea bed.

The rivers +coastlines are polluted +so is the air.

Wake up before it Is to late.

#ClimateChangeIsReal

#DearLeadersOfTheWorld

We're sorry to the leaders of the world, who instead of being met by level-headed, measured, intelligent dialogue, are now greeted with the social media rantings of a furious man-child.

https://t.co/Z6Hbnl3uYc

Dear World, From America

Published JANUARY 28, 2017 | JOHN PAVLOVITZ | Posted January 08, 2020 |

Dear World,

We felt we needed to say something while saying something is still allowed.

We know many of you have lived under malevolent, unhinged dictators before, but this is new for us. For its history our nation has been led by men and women who, despite their varying flaws and deficiencies, some of which were quite disturbing—were by and large, normal human beings.Whatever darkness in them, they had at the very least, a baseline of humanity and decency that more often than not insured rational behavior.

This man is not normal.

He is unstable, malignant, devoid of integrity—and he does not speak for us.

Please understand that nearly three million more people voted for his opponent Hillary Clinton than for him. (Yes, we realize this is completely screwed-up). Millions more voted for other candidates, and sadly nearly 90 million of our people did not vote at all. The point is, the vast majority of Americans are not with him. He does not speak for us. His America is not our America.

Over the past few months, we’ve watched long erected pillars of our Republic bulldozed in the stroke of a madman’s pen.We’ve seen the very hallmarks of who we are as a nation tossed in the garbage; the celebration of diverse coexistence, the open welcome to the oppressed, the guarantee of unalienable rights for every person, the same access to health and opportunity and safety afforded to everyone, the freedom to speak without censor or restraint. At this moment these are all in great jeopardy.

Things we took for granted in our leadership: things like goodness, wisdom, and basic truthfulness are no longer in play, and as things are eroding quickly we wanted to let you know that we’re sorry.

We’re sorry that our apathy and laziness have yielded such a reckless, impulsive, small man to steward this nation.

We’re sorry for the jagged, bitter ugliness that is characterizing us in these moments.

We’re sorry to those suffering greatly, who have braved such peril to seek refuge here and who’ve now been turned away based on the faith they profess.

We’re sorry to our Mexican neighbors who’ve been fashioned into convenient villains to justify erecting a grandiose, wasteful display of false protection that we do not want.

We’re sorry to Muslims everywhere who’ve been used as pawns to generate irrational fear among those already susceptible to bigotry and discrimination.

We’re sorry to the leaders of the world, who instead of being met by level-headed, measured, intelligent dialogue, are now greeted with the social media rantings of a furious man-child.

We’re sorry to those who now experience the Christian faith as a racist, Nationalistic bully pulpit wielded with malice toward the very diverse Humanity Jesus lived and died for.

We’re sorry to people everywhere whose lives are now more tenuous, more violent, less safe, less secure than they had been before.

We want you to know that this is not who we are. It may be who this man is. It may be who those sharing power with him are. It may even be the tens of millions who originally voted for him (though that support is vanishing quickly among those who are not among the religious zealots and extremists).

But this is not America. It is not the steady, strong beacon of freedom that it was intended to be. It is not the America our people have fought and died for. It is not the one first formed in the crucible of oppression and cast into the words of our ever-disregarded Constitution.

This is not our America. Our America affirms the inherent, priceless beauty of every human being. Our America declares that no person is ascribed less value because of their skin color, religion, gender, financial means, sexual orientation, nation of origin, or any other variable. Our America is home for those seeking hope and joy and rest.

And we are going to fight for this America.Through political channels and through grassroots activism, through the use of our Press and of our personal voices, we’re going to expose this man’s incompetence, call out his heart sickness, and condemn every violent, reckless, vicious act when it does not reflect our hearts and our will.Please do your best to disregard anything that comes from his mouth or those loudly and continually parroting his propaganda.They have proven themselves mortally allergic to the truth.

And we hope that in whatever way you can, that you will stand with us. We know that we have made this mess ourselves. We understand that you have your own problems to contend with, some far more urgent and pressing than this, but we believe that we are a single community; that we are tethered together in our Humanity, that we are in real-time crafting the life our children and their children will inherit.

Dear World, we’re sorry and we hope you’ll endure these days with us.

With despair and hope in equal measure, in peace and unity with you,

The American Majority

🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍🌎

#DearLeadersOfTheWorld

War is not something we enter into flippantly; not a showy public exchange for the sole purpose of making small, insecure men feel big and strong.

It is not something we threaten to feel the cheap aphrodisiac of stranger's retweets.

https://t.co/BHOMf8E2AI

Because World War is Not A Twitter War, Donald

By AUGUST 9, 2017 | JOHN PAVLOVITZ

Posted January 08, 2020 |

Texting is easy.

My children can do it (in fact, far faster than I can.)

It’s an effortless thing to toss out 280-character salvos at people we disagree with, to drop mic drop bombs on strangers, to unload rapid fire violence from behind the safety of touch screens.

Every one of us understands the ease at which our words, carelessly dispensed in a moment of anger or frustration or fear—can be terribly destructive. We’ve all lost our heads for a moment and found ourselves stepping into the minefields of our own hubris and impulsivity while all hell broke loose around us. We’ve all reached that place of knowing that we had to either retreat and fallback, or press ahead into the mess we’ve made—reputation and collateral damage be damned. We’ll all have to look back and realize we’d been irresponsible with the technology in our hands and grieved our stupidity.

Fortunately, most of us will never lead nations.

Our reckless words sent out in haste may emotionally wound people and it may lay waste to relationships—but people likely won’t actually die. They won’t find themselves crammed into stifling military vehicles on foreign soil, or launching nuclear warheads at strangers thousands of miles away or laying in hospital beds with burns, simply because we weren’t mature or wise enough to step away from our phones when conflict invited us in.

And even if we were blessed with the awesome responsibility to lead a nation, most of us would find a humility and restraint that we hadn’t possessed before.We’d become a more honorable version of ourselves. We would grow into the lofty position. We’d respond differently than we had before to taunt and threat, because we’d understand the gravity of our words.

That’s because War is not a Twitter War—and decent, rational human beings know that.

War is not something we enter into flippantly. It isn’t something we run wildly into led by ego and bravado. It is not a showy public exchange for the sole purpose of making small, insecure men feel big and strong. It is not something we threaten only to feel the cheap aphrodisiac of stranger’s retweets.

War is brutal, bloody, vicious, family destroying, joy-depleting, History-altering, sickening stuff—and lots and lots of people die. It is rampant fear and gaping wounds and orphaned children and terrified parents. It should be an outcome honorable leaders do everything they can to avoid.

And world war should not be as easy to stumble into as a Twitter War. It should never be in the tiny hands of minuscule men, who have such little regard for the Office or the people they represent, that they would prize the momentary high of putting someone on blast, above the lives of millions of human beings.

Tweeting is not leading, and it’s time we stopped allowing the most powerful man in the Free World to behave in ways we’d find unacceptable for our teenagers. It’s time someone took the power from this easily baited man-child who is not capable or worthy of it.

America cannot be led into annihilation, death, and disaster, simply because our President wants to overcompensate for his emotional insecurities, his physical inadequacies, and to have his historically fragile ego virtually stroked.

And he’s not a human being worth risking the lives of our children over. Not my child.Not yours. Not a North Korean’s. Not a Russian’s. Not a Syrian’s. Not an Iranian’s.

Yeah, texting is easy.

Killing millions of people, shouldn’t be.

🌏🌏🌎🌍🌏🌎🌍

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joeyvoeman · 5 years

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What’s Up Doc? | Joey & Miguel

Joey takes his rabbit Cindy to the park, where she is injured. It’s a good thing a friendly neighborhood healer is there to save the day.

@bumblingbrujo

Joey liked to take his rabbit Cindy to the park at least once a week. It wasn't really because she needed to be there (the back yard of his duplex would have worked just as well) but he used to take his sister Cindy to the park once a week back in the day. Cindy was dead now though. So were most of the people he'd known in his life. This was his small way of connecting with his past in a non-painful way. Cindy had hopped up on a piece of playground equipment, and a child had asked to pet her, to which Joey let him. Before Joey could reach though, the boy had pushed her off of the equipment, and Cindy had landed on the woodchips wrong, now limping about. "Cindy, what's wrong? Is it your foot?" he asked, rather pathetically. He glanced around the park helplessly.

Miguel was in the park playing fetch with Molly. She was a good dog and a wonderful familiar. And sometimes he worried that he didn’t play with her enough. She dropped the tennis ball they had been tossing around and her ears pricked up. Miguel hadn’t noticed anything but when she stood at attention he looked around for what she had noticed. There was an atronach cradling a fluffy black mass. Miguel was curious. And his deep desire to help couldn’t be held back. He approached the atronach carefully, looking over his shoulder at what he could now see was a bunny. “Hey there, need some help?”

Joey was so focused on Cindy that someone else approaching had startled him. He was usually very observant. It was part of his job and his training, after all, but this was a special circumstance. "Oh, hi." He stood, still cradling Cindy to his chest, who wasn't moving now. Had she hit her head too? Joey just now noticed that the boy that had pushed her was long gone. "Uh, do you know where I can find a vet? I think she's broken a leg."

There was a vet in town... but the little bunny looked so distressed. Miguel sat down next to the atronach, lap open. “I’m a healer,” he said, gentle but firm. His voice taking on the authoritative edge of a doctor. “Let me see.” He held his hands out and his eyes started to glow golden - his tattoo and hands followed suit dimly.

Joey furrowed his eyebrows at the offer. He'd really like to take her to a vet, but her unresponsiveness worried him now. He shook her gently in his arms, and she didn't move, just breathed and looked off to the distance. As the healer sat down, Joey sat down again as well, ignoring a woodchip trying to get fresh with him through his shorts. "Okay," he relented, watching as the man's eyes started to glow. He held Cindy out to him. "Just, be careful."

Miguel pet the rabbit gently and felt her injuries. A few torn muscles, it seemed she was keeping still because moving was painful. Poor thing. She must have been pretty scared. As he pet her he took her injuries. They were relatively small on Miguel, in comparison to the size of the rabbit from which they came. But they made him wince. Torn muscles hurt like hell. It took a minute or so, but when he was done he set her down and she hopped toward her atronach. Miguel needed a few deep breaths and a moment to himself to heal the new injuries on his body. When he was done his muscles were still sore and he wasn’t sure if he could walk home just yet. So he stayed sitting. “What’s her name?” He asked. Molly was at his elbow, ready to help him if he needed it. And she nosed his shoulder. “This is Molly,” he introduced his familiar. “And I’m Miguel.”

Joey watched as the healer took Cindy, holding his breath. He only let it go when he saw her jump up from his lap happily, hopping over to him. He let out a choked laugh and picked her up, putting her on his shoulder where she liked to sit. "Thank you mister," he said before the man could ask him any questions. "Thank you so much. You're a good fella." He reached up to pet her floppy ears. "Oh, her name's Cindy, and I'm Joey." He held a hand out to Miguel.

Miguel smiled, even though he was sore. He was just happy to help. “Don’t mention it,” he said, sounding a little shy. But then Joey offered his hand and Miguel shook it. Even if he could tell the other man was an atronach by the horns, he wanted to know more. Fae Magic was always so interesting. And Joey didn’t disappoint. There was deep rumbling magic and thunder under his skin. Some aspects of it reminded him of his cousin Lupe. And some aspects of it reminded him of his abuela. Connected to the land. “Nice to meet you, Joey.”

Joey squinted his eyes with a small smile. "So do you go around the town healing random people's pets as a pastime, or is this a one off?" he asked. He reached over and offered a hand to Molly as well, who gave it a lick before he gave her chin a scratch. What a nice dog. Or, if he was a witch, then probably she was his familiar. "Nice to meet you too, Miguel..." He stood carefully, making sure Cindy didn't fall again. Damn, he wished he could get his hands on that kid and tell his mother what had happened. "I saw you wince when you were healing her. How do you do it?"

He was perceptive. Miguel was impressed. Plenty of people with invisible injuries never even suspected anything. Miguel’s face was sunny and vague. “Well not usually pets, usually people. I’m a doctor. And I can’t seem to not be a doctor when I leave work.” Molly seemed to enjoy the chin scratches and he used his big dog to stand up slowly. “I take the injuries onto my body. From there I heal it.”

Joey gave Miguel a rye smile. "A doctor, huh? Good thing I've got a great health insurance package. How much do I owe ya?" Joey nudged him with his elbow gently. He was kidding, but if the guy threw out a dollar amount, he was more than willing to bust out his wallet. "That's...amazing. So you're a witch then?" He remembered how much his mother had hated witches. Said they were always after their kind's inner magic. He'd realized in his own life it was all baseless prejudice passed down the generations, but he couldn't keep the edge out of his tone. He cleared his throat. "Are you busy? I'd love to buy you lunch, as a thank you."

Miguel shook his head. “I don’t know how to price rabbits. So I guess lunch will have to do.” There was a certain tightening in Joey’s tone on the word witch, but Miguel shrugged it off. His own mama had plenty of prejudice against other supernatural species, prejudice that Miguel was still trying to sort through. “Mhmm biology witch, I like to call it. But witch doctor works too.” He followed after Joey. “So are you new in town?” Miguel was finally settling into town after a year. He finally felt like a citizen instead of a visitor.

Joey smiled. "Good, I know a great little bistro by the docks. Follow me." And he did. Cindy tottered on Joey's shoulder a little bit, and he let her hop down into his crooked arm. "Yeah, 'bout six months now I think. Great find, really. A town were we can all just be open like this? Haven't felt like this since I was young."

“Where did you grow up?” Miguel asked. Growing up in LA was just as hidden. It was hard to be open about being a witch. But there were certain freeing aspects of being a brujo. If it was weird Mexican mysticism then people seemed to ignore it easier than ‘real magic’. He followed Joey at a slow pace. Molly was at his side in case he needed her, bumping against his legs encouragingly.

"Tennessee," Joey replied, suddenly self-conscious of the subtle twang in his voice. "Real close to the mountains. Sometimes I miss all the green." Soapberry's upper west coast climate had lots of green to offer, but nothing beat those endless mountain forests. "What about you?"

Miguel chuckled a little. “LA, about as far away from Tennessee as you can get. Though I think the Sheriff here is from around those parts...” though maybe Ephram was from a Kentucky. Somewhere south. “I like it here though, plenty of green. And there’s people but not so many as LA where they’re always breathing down your neck.”

"Oh, I could never live in a city that big. Like to keep to myself when I can. City like that, everybody's just shoulder to shoulder. Like a bunch of sardines." Joey gave a little shudder, but perked up when he saw they were approaching the bistro. "Hi Dorothy!" He said to the waitress tending the tables out on the front patio. He grabbed a table out there and motioned for Miguel to sit. "How long have you been here, then? What made you leave LA?"

Miguel sat across from Joey and Molly settled down next to him, head on his lap. “Had to cut the umbilical cord eventually, mostly had to get away from my coven.” He shrugged. “Plus you’re right. Everything you’ve said about LA. I wanted more greenery. Here I can climb and hike and swim.” He scratched behind Molly’s ears. Miguel picked up the menu and hummed. “What’s good here?” He asked Joey.

Joey squinted a little. "Why'd you have to get away from your coven?" he asked before he could stop himself. He cleared his throat, a subtle indication that he didn't have to answer if he didn't want to. "Uh, I'm a sucker for their salmon."

Miguel made an interesting face, his lip curled up but he had one side of his bottom Iip mashed between his teeth. And his eyebrows quirked. And then he took a deep breath and his face smoothed our. “We didn’t see eye to eye,” he said simply. “Salmon sounds great! And it comes with rice that’s my favorite.” He nodded and ordered the salmon when the waiter returned.

Joey gave Miguel a tight smile, knowing he'd crossed a line. When the waiter returned, he ordered the same as Miguel, but was very particular on the herbs and spices used with his dish. "I'm sorry to hear that," he replied once the waiter was gone. "It can be hard to leave a family like that." But he knew he shouldn't dwell, so he tried to change the subject. "So what do you do for fun around here? Besides the hiking and swimming and such."

That was usually enough for people... “I like books. And tea. I know I sound like a grandma when I say that but...” Miguel shrugged. “How about you?” He looked over Joey’s broad shoulders and muscles. He seemed like the outdoorsy type.

Joey put up a hand. "Books and tea seem to be the hip thing now from what I've seen," he said, thinking back on all those coffee shops he'd visited since waking up. What had the barista called them? Hippers? "Me? I like hiking and camping and woodworking, mostly. Used to whittle a lot too. Thinking about taking it back up soon."

Miguel smiled. “Wood whittling! It’s been awhile since I’ve heard of someone doing that. But that’s cool. It can come in handy too if you’re hiking and desperately need a spoon.” Hasn’t he... yes in the alternate universe Prince Miguel has liked wood whittling. Maybe he would pick up the habit. “If you’re ever in the mood to give someone a few pointers, I think I’d like to learn how to carve.”

Joey let out a small laugh. "You're telling me! It happened to me once, actually. Went hiking and forgot a spoon, but not my trusty knife." He picked his out of his pocket and brandished it, flipping it open. It had a US Army emblem on it in silver, laid into the cherry wood. A gift from his lieutenant when the war ended. He closed it quickly when the food came. "Of course. I'd be happy to."

The ease and grace with which Joey flipped open his knife made Miguel’s tummy tighten. And not in a bad way. “You seem like a handy guy to have around...” Miguel said, and then berated himself for how lame that sounded. Thankfully the food came, and Miguel was a bit distracted by the steaming salmon and rice. It was delicious. And he gave Molly a little nibble of fish. Miguel was still thinking about the knife. He hadn’t missed the military emblem. Has Joey served? He seemed pretty young. But that didn’t stop people. Especially not when the army tended to target the young kids fresh in or out of college. Young to Miguel being anyone under 50.... still that was more than enough time. Miguel wasn’t sure if it mattered, or why it mattered. He just knew he wanted to know more about the atronach. “Your magic... is it wind based?” He asked tentatively. He had used atronachs for their magic, for their glyphs, before. And he didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.

Joey nodded, smiling at Miguel. He seemed a little nervous, but Joey couldn't imagine why. Had he said something wrong? "So I've been told." He could see that Miguel was enjoying the food, and this made Joey smile to himself as he nibbled on his fish. The waiter had also brought a bowl of veggies for Cindy, who munched on them happily on the table. Did he really come here that often that the staff just knew to do that? He had always liked to be a 'regular' at places. He was a little caught off guard by Miguel's question, still not completely used to keeping it a secret. "Sort of. Electric. Or, storm, I suppose. That's how my mother always described it."

Miguel: “That’s cool. I can sort of feel magic, as a witch. And your magic feels like my cousin’s. She can do storms and electricity. But her base is wind.” There was also the abuela feeling but Miguel was 100% sure it wasn’t great to compare cute men with incredibly jawlines to your grandma. The way the waiter brought the vegetables for Cindy made Miguel smile too. “I’ve seen a lot of ateonach’s with rabbits, are they some kind of familiar? Or is it different?”

Joey nodded. "Huh," he said, rather matter of factly. It was interesting, but he always felt weird talking about his inner energy. It was a private thing. Something he himself still hadn't wrapped his head around after all this time. Something dangerous to only be brought out in an emergency. So he was grateful for the subject change. "Oh no, Cindy's just a regular rabbit. My kind and her's are just drawn to each other is all. My tribe use to breed them."

Miguel nodded. Bred them for companionship? “She’s so well behaved.” Maybe atronachs had a certain way with rabbits, the way selkies had with animals. “I guess my people are known for breeding dogs. But not ones as pretty as Molly.” He rubbed her head. Xolo dogs were honestly ugly. And the big ones scared the crap out of Miguel. He took a break from eating to drink the water that was on the table.

Joey smiled. "Thanks. I've only had her for about a year now but we've gotten keen on each other real quick." He gave her a little scratch between the ears as he shoveled a bite of rice into his mouth with his other hand. "And Molly is beautiful," he agreed, not quite sure what sort of dogs Miguel was referring to. The waiter came and asked if they'd like dessert, and Joey just couldn't help himself. "We'll take the chocolate volcano, two spoons," he said, before Miguel could interject. He cringed sheepishly as the waiter walked away. "Hope that's okay?"

Miguel preened. Even if he had nothing to do with how pretty his dog was. “Thank you!” Her tail wagged under the table, hitting one of the table legs. Miguel looked up at the waiter to decline dessert, he had ice cream sandwiches in his freezer with his name all over them (because he lived alone). But Joey ordered the cake before he could open his mouth. Which, it sounded delicious and Miguel wasn’t about to complain. Sharing food was just so... intimate for a new friend. (Yes, he was already thinking of Joey as a new friend, which was exciting for him. He hasn’t had any NEW friends in a couple months.) But somehow refrained from blushing when the waiter came back with a mouth watering warm chocolate cake for them to share. “Wow it smells good. You get the first bite. I wanna watch the chocolate lava.”

Miguel seemed excited about the idea of dessert, so Joey took it as a yes. When it came, he was more than happy to take the first bite. His mouth was watering. He dug in, watching the 'lava' from the inside spill out, and put the chocolate goodness in his mouth, letting out a long, satisfied, "Mmmmmm," from his mouth, closing his eyes.

Miguel tried to watch the chocolate lava for the satisfaction of it. But watching Joey’s face was a lot more satisfying. A moment after he took the first bite, Miguel took a scoop, careful to get the cake bit and the fudge sauce. He wanted to taste what Joey was tasting. It was good. But Miguel was far too shy to make any noises of appreciation. “You were so right to get dessert,” he said instead.

Joey nodded in agreement, opening his eyes. "I know," he said cheekily. "Mama would always urge me to get dessert." His twang really came out when he said 'Mama'. "Trying to put meat on my bones, she'd say. Doesn't really apply to atronachs, but I think she'd picked it up from a human somewhere." He let out a little laugh.

Oh no. He was adorable. Hearing him talk about this mama in that deep voice had done it. Miguel had a crush. “That’s so sweet. My mama was the same way.” His smiled mirrored Joey’s. “Thanks for inviting me to lunch, I uhm...” he looked at the empty plate and tried to think of an excuse to spend more time with Joey. “It was nice, meeting a new face.”

They'd finished the cake in no time, both of them having a mighty sweet tooth, it seemed. "No problem, Miguel. Thank you for helping Cindy." Joey gave her a few pets, and as he did he caught a glimpse of his watch. "Oh heck, it's later than I thought. I got a shift at the Museum in an hour. I gotta go get ready." He pulled money from his pocket and put it on the table before scooping up Cindy. "It was real nice meeting you too," he said genuinely, offering a hand for him to shake again before giving him a quick wave and striding away with Cindy in his arms.

Miguel smiled and shook his hand. Two hand shakes! That was double the usual amount of hand shakes. “I’ll see you around. And I’m always happy to help.” He got up and watched Joey leave before ambling off with Molly at his side. His muscles were starting to feel normal again and walking was easier.

#chatzy #w:miguel

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mst3kproject · 5 years

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Tarantulas: the Deadly Cargo

I tend to associate this movie with Killer Fish – probably because I originally watched them on consecutive days, but they’ve got many other things in common. Both feature dull 70’s actors facing off against small animals that aren’t nearly as dangerous as pop culture would have us believe. Both go out of their way to avoid showing us anything genuinely exciting or cool. Both have boring, contrived climaxes, and both have titles that are technically accurate but dismally forgettable. If this one had dropped the Tarantulas and just called itself Deadly Cargo, that would be ten times better already.

A couple of crooks fly out of Ecuador with no idea that their cargo of coffee beans and illegal immigrants is, for some reason I cannot even begin to fathom, infested with spiders. A bad engine and the aggressive spiders lead to a crash landing in Finleyville, California. This is a sleepy little hick town that depends on the citrus industry, and they clearly haven’t had an emergency in about twelve years but they do their best to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately, their attempts to help only unleash the deadly arachnids on their community. Eventually, the townspeople find that the spiders have made themselves at home in the town’s fruit warehouse. If they cannot be somehow removed, the oranges will be unsalable, and Finleyville will go broke without a crop.

No shit. The greatest threat presented by the spiders in this movie is to the town’s economy. I don’t know why I find that so funny. Most spider movies present us with the horror of a slow venom death, often while playing up the omg, it’s touching me! angle. Giant spider movies give us huge monsters that can entangle and devour us. Tarantulas: the Deadly Cargo threatens that not only might we be bitten by spiders, we won’t be able to afford health insurance afterwards!

The economic angle is the key to what this movie is. It’s trying to be something, and the first time I watched it, I wasn’t paying enough attention to pick it out. On the second viewing, when the owner of the orange-packing plant refuses to shut down operations because of a few spiders, it clicked – this was a Jaws ripoff! It’s got the shark and the Fourth of July Weekend and the whole thing! There’s even a Little Alex Kitner, in the form of a kid who climbs a truck to see one of the spiders after the driver assures him it’s perfectly harmless. Deadly Cargo has changed enough details that it could have been an interesting variation on this formula, but by the time the movie’s over its choice of shark stand-in has pushed it into a couple of corners it just can’t get out of.

I’ll come back to that – first, it’s Spider Nerd time again, and I actually do have to give Deadly Cargo some points for research. Characters present a dead spider to some sort of scientist, who identifies it as a Brazilian Wandering Spider, Phoneutria nigriventer. This species can be dangerous to humans, but usually only to small children, and they’re one of the few spiders capable of delivering a ‘dry’ bite that’s intended to scare rather than to kill. They’re sometimes called banana spiders because of a reputation for hanging out in shipments of fruit, but I don’t think they’ve ever been found hiding in coffee beans. Why would a spider hide in coffee beans? Spiders like small spaces to crawl into, such as those you find in between bunches of bananas or oranges in a box. Coffee beans are too small to create spider-sized hidey holes!

The Nondescript Scientist also notes that Phoneutria isn’t a tarantula – another reason why the word Tarantulas should not have been in the title. It also got a snort out of me because almost all the spiders we see in this movie are in fact Mexican Red-Knee Tarantulas (there are also a couple of Chilean Rose-Hairs). These are the same spiders we saw in Ator: the Fighting Eagle, and are the spiders of choice for horror movies because they are docile, easy to handle, and don’t bite. So yeah, if you ever actually see one of these in real life, you can just push it the hell over.

As long as I’m talking about the spiders in this movie, I’d like to know how they got into town so fast. One minute the spiders are at the crash site in the middle of empty fields, the next they’re harassing the faculty at the School for Autistic Children (are you already cringing? Wait until you see the kids marching in lockstep to an obnoxious whistle). Spiders move at like one mile per hour. Did the plane explosion just spray them across the entire state?

Plane explosion? Yeah, of course there’s a plane explosion in this movie, and it’s fucking annoying because they came so close to not having one. After the crash the plane develops a fuel leak – but the town’s fire chief immediately notices it, and directs people to dig a trench the fuel can flow into so it won’t pool. He goes around making sure nobody lights a cigarette or anything, and for a moment I really thought this might be a movie in which common sense prevails… but then some jackass on a motorcycle drives straight into the trench. Seeing a giant fireball in a movie has never left me more disappointed.

I have digressed, though. Let’s talk about the climax of the movie, which is one of the places where it most strongly resembles Killer Fish. Killer Fish had the whole cast trapped with piranhas all around their boat. Tarantulas: the Deadly Cargo has them all in a warehouse full of spiders, as a power outage simultaneously shuts down the noise that had paralyzed the creatures and locks the doors.

This situation is so forced that it probably requires more explanation. The spiders must be removed from the oranges so that they can be shipped, but the townspeople cannot just spray the fruit with insecticides, because their buyer specifically paid for chemical-free (somebody does try to argue that he didn’t pay for spider-free, which amuses me more than it should). Therefore they paralyze the spiders with the sound of angry wasps and go around shoveling them into buckets of booze.

Like Banana Spiders, Spider-Wasps are actually a thing – the family pompilidae lay their eggs inside living spiders so that the larvae will hatch surrounded by something they can eat. What I can’t find when I looked these up is any reference to the spiders being paralyzed by terror when they hear the wasps coming. This seems pretty counter-productive from the spiders’ point of view – if you hear your deadliest enemy closing in on your, wouldn’t it be far more effective to run and hide, rather than roll over and present your belly to be ovipositored?

So that’s all ridiculous, and then we don’t even get a real sense of anybody ‘winning’ at the end. The supposed moment of triumph isn’t the spiders being out of the oranges, it’s the trapped people escaping through the roof. In Killer Fish the piranhas ate the human villain and Kate escaped with the jewels. Deadly Cargo doesn’t have a human villain – the greedy plant owner looks like he might be able to fill this role, but no, he’s later treated as vindicated when they almost lose the orange crop! This means the only ‘bad guys’ here are the spiders, and dropping their helplessly paralyzed bodies into poison just doesn’t feel like a victory. Neither does watching boxes of oranges go out on a train. It’s just lacking something.

It doesn’t help that the end of both movies also just leaves the killer animal problem lying there. In Killer Fish the whole area is still infested with piranhas – what does that mean for the tourism industry? Is there any way to get rid of them? In Deadly Cargo we can’t possibly be a hundred percent sure all the spiders are gone. Some might still be hanging around in somebody’s fruit bowl. Someone in another part of the country might find a hairy leg in their organic marmalade. We never knew how many spiders there were, so we can’t be sure they’re all gone and not out invading ecosystems where they have no natural predators.

Another big part of why Deadly Cargo is so unsatisfying is not only does it lack a villain, the good characters are never well-defined enough for us to really identify with any of them. There’s a young couple and a fire chief and the plant owner, but I can’t remember any of their names. The only people we get a sense of are the spider victims, who are introduced just enough to tell us that they either deserved to die (Mrs. Beasley, cheating on her husband) or didn’t (Little Alex Kitner). We can’t even feel for the girl weeping over her dead brother.

There’s a heap of other silly bullshit in this movie. Like the guy who opens a trapdoor in the ceiling and then just stands there screaming like an idiot as three or four spiders fall on him – a shot that probably looked way cooler in the director’s imagination. Or the straight-faced implication that the spiders could sense the warehouse full of oranges from four miles away and headed directly for it. Most of this is just mildly amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny. I’m sure Jonah and the bots could make a diverting episode out of this, but I don’t know if even they could make a memorable one.

#reviews #mst3k #tarantulas: the deadly cargo #episodes that never were #tw: spiders #70s

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everlarkingjoshifer · 6 years

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Trump signed an executive order to abolish what he did....

I don’t normally come in here to post long political pieces. However, after the disgusting comments that I’ve read on social media as Democrats held a press conference to speak about children being ripped apart from their parents at the border, is more than I can take. So, because I am pretty fucking annoyed with all the baseless accusations, and major misinformation I would like to dispel erroneous conclusions along with the comments I have been seeing on social media.

Immigrants are taking our jobs!

No Becky, they’re not. Immigrants are bringing in jobs and taking the low wage, often dangerous and non-union jobs that YOU don’t want to take. How about you go pick those strawberries in the blazing heat for as little as 6$ an hour, doesn’t sound very appealing right? So if it’s not good enough for you because you want a cushy job, what makes you think Immigrants want to do it too? They don’t, but they’re so desperate to make a living that they’re willing to do anything so long as they can provide a better future for their own families, something you can easily understand. As a matter of fact, while you enjoy your burrito know that none of it would be possible if it wasn’t for an immigrant who brought in their culture and food to enrich our country. Yeah, that big old Mexican franchised fast food joint? Would not have existed for your high school kids to work at, so while your sitting on your ass enjoying someone else’s culture, know that none of it

would be possible without an immigrant.

Immigrants are taking our resources and our taxes pay for them to live here!

Noooo, Immigrant individuals cannot ever receive federal based help such as SSI. They can’t even get health insurance. Some states do hand out some help to aid immigrants but it would only be something as small as being able to use the WIC program which is very limited. (I’ve used it when I had just given birth). As a matter of fact, white citizens are amongst the highest percentage who receive federal assistance and immigrant people pay INTO our social security and taxes without hope of ever getting that money back. If you want to talk about needlessly spending your money on immigrants then you should definitely be against the barbaric procedures that are happening right the hell now. There are companies profiting from your taxpayer money in order to house children that didn’t need to be housed in the first place. It’s all a big scam and those 1 % who don’t really need the money are making millions that you’re paying into JUST because you want to be a paranoid idiot. It’s a pretty simple concept actually, it’s called security theater. Except this theater is of the Third Reich.

They’re bringing in disease!

See, now you just sound like a Nazi, and come on, we’re not exactly one to speak about diseases when you’re refusing to vaccinate your fucking kid because of “big pharma, unfounded conspiracies, and autism”. Cry me a fucking river, Shania. The whole notion of disease comes out of fear of the unknown but we cannot throw a stone at someone else knowing we do the same. We won’t vaccinate and now measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, and many other diseases are on the rise because you’d rather let your kid die than have autism, which by the way has been dispelled at every turn by various scientists.

Obama/ Bush administration were the ones who implemented the law of child separation.

Oh Brandon, you xenophobic dick. First of all the Obama and Bush administration NEVER placed an order of removal between the parents and their children. What is true is that there is no law saying these current atrocities have to be carried out. Crossing the border illegally is a misdemeanor that can get you jailed for up to 20 days or so and then you’re automatically sent to your country of origin. The immigrant parents who are caught with their children are never separated from them and there are no real lasting repercussions. If I was to take your reasoning into account then that would mean people who have had a DUI, or those who have been arrested for public disturbance should have their children taken away as well? Secondly, when the Obama administration implemented certain facilities to house kids it was due to an immense influx of unaccompanied minors who were immigrating to the USA by their damn selves. Most, of these children, were from Central America and were not deemed a threat to the nation after very careful vetting. These kids ranged between the ages of 12-17 years old and they were TEMPORARILY housed or often placed in foster homes with other immigrant adults till the Government could get a hold of their parent. Of course, everything wasn’t always handled perfectly as there were a ton of problems because sometimes the foster parents would refuse to answer their phones to various federally appointed counselors or even gave the Government the wrong information. Some of the facilities in which the children were housed were not as top notch as we expected and there were abuses happening at the time. But by that point, the children were really alone. They didn’t come in with their parents to protect them and sadly things didn’t always go the right way. The few kids who were separated from the adult were either trafficked here or were in deep danger of those adults that surrounded them

They should come here legally if they want to enter the country!

Kathy, you sad simpleton. Looking for Asylum is not against the law. Actually, the ports of entry for refugees are being blocked by ICE agents to deter them from reaching the United States legally. Usually, when an immigrant came to the port of entry looking for asylum they would have to bring proof which then they would be taken to a holding facility where their case was carefully reviewed and then after about a month or so they would either be allowed to stay or leave depending on the severity of their situation. Now, Looking for a way to come to the united states legally especially in countries that are extremely corrupt is very difficult. I myself applied for a visa in order to come to the united states twice and both times it was denied even though I was a 4-year-old child who was about to die of a severe heart condition. If it hadn’t been for a charitable company that had put their name behind me and petitioned for me to travel I would never have even set a foot in the United States and I would never be able to write this because I’d be dead by now. That’s how difficult everything is. The immigration system is so broken and instead of looking for a solution you shining citizens can only proclaim your distaste for a president that hasn’t been in office for over 2 years. Obama, Bush, or Clinton are no longer running the country. Take responsibility for the mistakes YOUR amoral president is making.

But MS-13!

Ms-13 is a Mexican terrorist group that has been used as a cop out to paint innocent people who are Latino and Hispanic in an unflattering light. Gang members don’t really want to come here, their profit is not here. They are already immensely powerful in Mexico, why leave if things are good for them? It makes no sense and if again I were to take your reasoning into consideration I would say that other countries should never allow an American entry because they could be from the KKK. What makes sense is to have a racist, xenophobic, sexist president using something like gang violence in order to disenfranchise a group of people who don’t match his ideas for the perfect immigrant. Case in point, he very clearly said he would like Europeans (meaning Caucasians) to immigrate here (They wouldn’t. Europe is not perfect but at least it has universal health care among other things.) Mexicans, meaning all Latino because that how you all like to categorize us not realizing that Latinos are very diverse but those of us who are brown in complexion are rapists, killers, we’re infesting the country, we’re bringing disease, we’re animals among other ludicrous things Trump has said about the Latino community and for the record, not all immigrants are Mexican. Most at this point are from Central America. It's the same as not all Asians are Chinese, not all black people are thugs and not all white men who wear penny loafers are entitled pricks who call on their daddies to fix their problems. You see how stereotypes work? Those of you who applaud him while desecrating the flag by wearing it as a shirt or bandana and eating off of flag emblazoned paper plates like to think you’re somehow better and patriotic because you won the lottery by being born here. It’s as simple as that and if you want the immigrants to fix their problems back home maybe tell your government not to meddle in their democratic systems. It’s a cop-out to make yourselves feel better about the atrocities that are happening.

Build the WALL!

Yes Brayden, because a wall is gonna stop a bunch of plane riding immigrants to come to the United States. Newsflash, most people who end up here illegally came here legally through a visa but overstayed their welcome. Most of the people who came here otherwise, seek asylum, which is not illegal. There are actually very few people who cross the border illegally and stay here. No one wants to leave their life, culture, and language behind unless it’s absolutely necessary. The wall will stop nothing. Separating kids and now babies from their parents have not deterred the parents from continuing their long arduous trips to the United States. The wall only serves as a trophy for the GOP to pat themselves on the back and say what good little legislators they are. It’s a sign of oppression and a sign of unwelcoming. It’s as if I had a picture of Jesus in my living room but a satanic altar in the next room. It’s counterproductive and we’re the ones who are gonna pay for it. Mexico will pay for nothing even if Trump is holding these children hostages. The procedures are very eerily being carried out in much the same way the Nazi's carried out their atrocities. First, they block all potential legal ways for the marginalized group to carry out their mission legally. Then, they used false rhetoric and fear monger civilians so that the marginalized group can be dehumanized and therefore easier for the government to carry out whatever it is they are planning without dissent. Then they sanitize the living conditions in which the immigrant group are living in. Finally, they discredit or all accounts that are cited by reputable resources in order to keep the masses confused and ignorant. It's exactly what happened when the Japanese were placed in internment camps.

Immigrants will never assimilate to our way of life!

Say the people whose grandpappy’s and Nanas never learned English and continued to live their lives the way they did in Poland. English is not a designated American language. No language has been designated to the USA, you morons.

Immigrants should look for a way to legalize their situation.

Ok, how about you fork over $20,000 while working a minimum wage job that you can’t quit from no matter how bad it is because if you do there’s nowhere else for you to work at without breaking the Law. Immigration lawyers are some of the worst wolves in sheep’s clothing I have ever met. I spend about $10,000 just to get a green card while having nowhere else to live but at my Mother in law’s tiny ass house in the middle of the ghetto while pregnant. I slept on the floor with my husband because the place was so small we couldn’t even put a bed in there, much less afford one. When I was about to apply for citizenship my Lawyer up and left after I had paid her the money to file in the citizenship paperwork. She disappeared and I have no way of recuperating my paperwork from her. Thankfully no everything was lost but I am not an isolated incident, there are countless stories of people who have been duped by lawyers and there are more fast food joint in the USA than immigration courthouses. So you guys do the fucking math. It takes so much of you and so long for you to even reach the tip of what American citizens expect from you.

They broke the law, therefore they should pay the consequences.

We break the law every single day Khayyley, it's not an exaggeration or even something that I'm making up. I live in Connecticut and lord do we have some ridiculous laws like, husbands who cannot kiss their wives on any Sunday. If a cyclist goes above 65 MPH they have be stopped by a police officer and we're not allowed to educate dogs. (lol, what?) Anyway, the point is we don't get citations, incarcerated or even have enforcement carried out for the most menial lawlessness so why should we punish these kids who have done nothing wrong? This used to be the country that was known for checks and balances, the country of separation of church and state. Somewhere along the way, we've lost ourselves and we've become the country of checks and cherry picking. The country that puts babies in cages and we don't allow the staff to offer any comfort. These are not "summer camps" and we shouldn't find a way to sanitize the word cage but we have gone so far off the deep end and our expectations for our leaders are so low that we may as well be licking the ground. These are kids who are screaming for their mothers and fathers who may never see them again just for committing the sin of being born brown, something that they obviously have no control over. It's a harrowing reality but their voices are falling on deaf ears as politicians use the bible to excuse their horrid laws as they smile because they're the ones all cozy with big fat paychecks provided by their citizens. We're duped into thinking that these current politicians have our best interest at heart when in actuality they don't. Just because an abusive parent says they care about you doesn't mean they actually do. The GOP is a cesspool of corrupt, self-serving, amoral group of people with Trump at the head.

Our Lawmakers are making due with what they were handed.

How, exactly how have we been improving the country? The rich are getting richer while the poor still have to rely on governmental help that is slowly dwindling while those very same poor people have to deal with being called moochers. Our children are dying off at alarming rates because our government wants to continue catering to the NRA's demands as they go about spreading baseless lies and flimsy excuses for mass shootings. Our healthcare system is a fucking joke and we sit idly by as Men in power oppress our women because they don't want to bring a child into a world full of problems that cannot be easily fixed. We cater to our very own terrorists who use the bible in order to justify themselves and call it "freedom of speech" yet we call people color sons of bitches for simply daring to protest peacefully for the flagrant disenfranchisement of his fellow people. We slap the, what about isms and point fingers to others without realizing we're the ones putting them in those positions while simultaneously squashing the education system in order to keep future voters ignorant. Republicans can't be voted in if we have intellectuals willing to question their agendas. It's much easier to have dumb, compliant, narrow-minded morons in order for them to make that money. Can't you see what it is they're doing? They are dehumanizing these people and saying that they're all criminals and or will become criminals in the future so that the white elitists can feel alleviated of all culpability in order for them to be able to sell their soul to the administration that is quietly pocketing civilian's money. Money, that they say will go to charities but never do. It doesn't matter if these kids have television, air conditioners, or even a meal because they have been so traumatized by being ripped apart from their parents that even if they were being housed at the Ritz Carlton the practices would still be inhumane.

But Trump signed the executive order, stop complaining already.

Wow Tammy, first of all, he didn't need to. Separating children from their parents is not a law, never has been. The separation of children who were accompanied by an adult usually happened if the child was found to have been a product of human trafficking, which by the way, has a very low percentage. Instead, the manner in which these kids are being handled now is more cause for worry because they can fall prey to actual human traffickers. Case in point, the over 1,000 children that were mysteriously lost and haven't been found yet and no one has any clue where or how they might have disappeared. It's insane for you to think that just because these kids are in these prison camps they're somehow being treated correctly. These children only see the light of day for 2 hours and the rest they spend it inside and security measures have been implemented to keep the child from escaping as if they were high-security inmates. They're being treated like prisoners and now they're being forcefully injected with psychiatric drugs in order to keep them from crying. I don't think I need to tell you about the long-term repercussions these drugs can have but I will anyway. It can cause obesity, adult onset diabetes, dizziness, listlessness, and are left incapacitated. Easy prey for any trafficker. it's callously barbaric. These kids are set up for a plethora of mental health problem that will never go away. This new executive order was unnecessary and Trump just needed to feel like a dictator because that's what he truly wants. He doesn't believe in a democracy. He values people like Stalin and Kim Jung Un and insults our allies (sorry Canada!). The paper he signed keeps families together yes, but at the cost of their freedom because they are to be kept in what I would guess to be newly built facilities that will most definitely be paid by us for an indefinite period of time as opposed to deporting them back to their countries after about 20 days. It'll be a real concentration camp and I wouldn't be surprised if gas chambers and fire pits begin to appear all over the United States and all Latino immigrants are rounded up regardless of whether they are legally here or not.

We should worry about our own citizens instead of immigrants who are only a distraction to our own problems.

You're right up to a point. We should definitely worry about our citizens and maybe worry about our very own problems that plague our nation, yet we don't. We should be working towards implementing Gun control and worrying about human rights abuses towards people of color, but we don't. Instead, we blame those very people that are being needlessly maligned because we'd rather think it's their fault as opposed to us saying that we fucked up, that we cannot do enough to help our own people. Immigrants aren't looking to distract us from our own problems but the GOP sure is using that scapegoat in order to confuse us and turn us into megalomaniacs who claim to care for this country while rationalizing the heinous laws that this administration is implementing. Understand that just because I sympathize with the plight of immigration it doesn't negate my love or even my worries for the problems that are in my country. I love this country and I'm thankful to this country for all its wonderful opportunities. I believe we can be better and I don't think we're perfect but we're definitely capable of being great indeed. It was before and I'm sure we can be now and in the future.

Listen, all I’m trying to really say is that the things that are happening are beyond horrible and at such an alarming speed that I am scared for the future of my country. This president is giving a pathway for all the fascists to wave their flag and complain about how they suffer at the cost of people they refuse to understand or even get to know. It's giving way for racists to be open about their disgusting assumptions by calling it honesty, and "well I'm just telling it like it is, and everyone else was thinking it, anyway".

Just like President Snow from the Hunger Games, Trump is using children to shield himself and get what he wants. This is no longer a, “I wonder what a dystopian future would be like.” situation we are there already. This is the Handmaid’s Tale. This the Hunger Games. This is Nazi Germany, and the trail of tears coming to fruition all over again and we’re allowing it. So, come November if you do not vote blue and later regret not doing so then it will be entirely your fault that this once great country will crumble and burn to the ground with only the ashes to left as a reminder of what it once was. Our founding fathers would ashamed of us and we should too. Have a little humanity and compassion but if you're not capable of that, at least know that your stance will follow not just you but your entire lineage till the end of time just like the Nazi regime was because you are most definitely on the wrong side of history.

#Trump #child separation #concentration camps #immigration

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wineanddinosaur · 3 years

Text

Alejandro Castillo Llamas Is Making Napa Cabernet With Famous Grapes Planted by His Family

Long before he settled in the Napa Valley and began producing his family wine, Alejandro Castillo Llamas grew up following the harvest cycle. The California-born son of migrant workers from Guadalajara, Mexico, spent much of his childhood with his family, traveling from California’s Coachella Valley, where he was born, up north to Oregon and back down to Mexico picking cherries, pears, olives, and grapes. It was during this period Llamas learned a skill set that would later become the core of his work as a winemaker.

When Llamas was a teenager, his family found work as planters on the early Stagecoach Vineyard property. After planting the vineyard’s first two acres of Malbec, Stagecoach founder Dr. Jan Krupp contracted Alejandro’s father to build a beautiful, rustic entryway for his property. Pleased with the work, Krupp offered Llamas a position managing the property. The elder Llamas declined — his request for health insurance was denied, says Llamas — and the position remained open. Shortly after, Llamas’s uncle accepted the position.

“Once Jan Krupp started purchasing what is now Stagecoach Vineyard and developing the vineyard, it was all led by my uncle Estaban Llamas,” Alejandro says. “Naturally, as that project, that property, that company grew, he started hiring cousins, brothers, sisters, so on and so forth.”

Llamas also spent time with these vines, and says the labor taught him “to truly respect the grapes,” and that he draws from these experiences to produce what he calls “wines of memory.”

Today, Llamas is a founding partner and head winemaker at Llamas Family Wines, a small, family-owned operation that he heads with his relatives Oscar and Lola Llamas. Never forgetting his roots, he continues to source grapes from Stagecoach Vineyards, which became the Napa Valley’s largest contiguous vineyard. Sold to E&J Gallo Winery in 2016, Stagecoach sells fruit to more than 80 wineries, according to the company.

Though his path to winemaking wasn’t exactly traditional, Llamas believes his experience prepared him for the role. “I understand a lot of people learn winemaking, and then backtrack to learning viticulture. I was learning viticulture and then was presented the opportunity to transform the grape into wine,” he says. “It reminds you of what you had to do to get that [vine] planted, how pruning began in January and February; [and that] the grapes didn’t make it to the winery until September, October. There was more there than just the tangible grape itself. It was the blood, sweat, and tears of hardworking individuals that brought those grapes. And that’s what makes those wines memorable.”

Here, Llamas tells his story from roots to vines, beginning with his Mexican heritage through the harvests, his fine-dining career at such lauded establishments as French Laundry and Per Se and, finally, starting his own family winery in the Napa Valley.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

1. What was it like growing up and working the harvest cycle with your family?

Alejandro Llamas: I was born in the Coachella Valley. My parents were immigrants from right outside Guadalajara, Jalisco. They would come up annually to work in table grapes in the Coachella Valley, move north into the fields of Modesto, Delano, then Fairfield, Calif., [to] pick pears, then move north into Oregon, where they would harvest pears and cherries. On the way back down, they’d stop in Redding, Calif., and pick olives, then go into Mexico.

The migratory pattern was about nine months out of the year [with] three months in Mexico. I was born into that cyclical pattern with our family unit. My grandfather, Jesus Llamas, was the patriarch and my grandmother, Chayo Rosario, the matriarch. I grew up with this troop of family members that fluctuated anywhere from 10 to 20 individuals. It wasn’t until one year when the pears weren’t ready for harvest, and my grandfather decided to drive around and look for work, [that we were] able to get a harvest contract in Napa. The family went in and picked the grapes and did such a tremendous job that a couple of my uncles and father were offered full-time positions. That’s how the Llamas family started to establish roots in the Napa Valley.

2. Were you offered any chance to work with the grapes or winemaking head-on during that time?

AL: In terms of the technical side of wine production, there was always a viticulturist. In this case, my family had worked many years in vineyards, so they were essentially the knowledge behind the viticulture, and also consulted with other local viticulturists. When I was working in Stagecoach Vineyards, I was a young man, 17 or 16 years of age, and they had us doing a lot of backbreaking stuff; picking up rocks as we cleaned out fields, digging the holes for the planting of the vines. A lot of the hauling around of materials –– we certainly got the least desirable work.

3. From there, how did working in fine dining shape your goals as a winemaker, or your outlook on wine in general?

AL: My time in the Napa Valley was a transformative time. Growing up [there] meant long hours, hard work, and early mornings. I wanted to leave and travel; to save money and see Europe. That’s what drove me to start working in fine dining.

I was working in the vineyards with my father first thing in the morning and then I’d come home and go to school. Eventually a friend of mine said, ”Hey, you got to come and work at this restaurant. We make great money over here.”And it was the French Laundry. My initial response was, ”What am I going to do at a laundromat?” That’s how naive and new I was to Napa, to the wine industry, to the true landscape of gastronomy and oenology that I lived in.

Even though I lived there, I never had that. And when I started working there, that’s really when I started to learn how food and wine can pair together and be elevated.

You really can’t help but see the expression and the gratification on the guests’ face and want to become submerged in that and usurp as much of that as you can. And in the Napa Valley, I think a lot of people don’t get an opportunity to see the true breadth of wine on a global scale. But by working at the French Laundry, at Per Se, and places like Mustards Grill, where the wine programs really highlighted other parts of the world, it cemented in me that I wanted to be in the wine industry. It pushed me to pursue wines with cleaner lines, wines of memory, of meaningfulness, and age-worthiness. And I think that that’s still something that defines my winemaking aspirations.

4. It’s important to your team to only source grapes from the vineyards your family works on. How have you seen these change over the years? What are the strengths of working with these specific grapes?

AL: I’ve done so many grape harvests and harvesting grapes is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s intense, it’s demanding, and because I had an opportunity to do that for so long with my family –– and particularly those that work at Stagecoach Vineyards –– I grew up in a culture that was immersed in grapes and vines, in viticulture.

A lot of people go to the family barbecue and might be talking about what’s going on with family members. All the barbecues I went to were typically about soccer, and what was happening in a grape –– what was happening in the vineyard. What was the growing season looking like? If we were in a drought, or block seven needs more water, block eight needs to be thinned.

Even as I distanced myself from the vineyard, I never distanced myself from the family. So in a sense, I never left the vineyard. I was always on the pulse of what was happening.

Now the family members know I have a project, know which block I’m sourcing from, [and] it almost feels like they want to take that extra step. They want to do that extra thinning, that extra pruning because they know that those grapes are going into a bottle that bears their last name. These people have farmed this particular vineyard going on 30 years now, and anyone who farms the land gets to know the land better. That makes for a better grape, and given the adage that “the best wines come from the best grapes,” I’d like to think it makes our wine better every season.

5. What are two ways in which you hope to see the Napa Valley wine scene or larger wine industry change in the future?

AL: I would like to see the voices of small producers amplified at the city and state legislative level so that we’re not usurped or drowned out by the large corporate and financial interests currently flooding the Napa Valley.

A lot of the conversations that are happening and the legislation that’s being drafted is favoring those that have strong financial backing. So if we start caring more about our small producers and understand the nuances of being a small family-owned brand –– that we do need help and that we’re not trying to circumvent laws. We want to do everything by the book, but it’s difficult when a lot of the language and legislation really eliminates the small farmers; the small brands that don’t have brick and mortars.

It’d be a shame to lose that in the Napa Valley, because many of those grassroot producers embody the original spirit of the Napa Valley.

And then I’d like to see more innovation and experimentation with grape varietals to adapt to new climate trends, and basically broaden the Napa Valley wine palette. I think Napa Valley makes world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot, but it does become redundant, so it’d be nice to see some diversity.

The article Alejandro Castillo Llamas Is Making Napa Cabernet With Famous Grapes Planted by His Family appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/alejandro-castillo-llamas-family-wines/

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ninawritesastory · 6 years

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Tbh I don't think stan should concern himself with romantic relationships right now especially if he's still going on with untreated depression.

Ehhhhh, I’d be careful with that phrasing because that kind of sounds like it’s skirting the boarders of ableist rhetoric, which I’m certain wasn’t anything close to your intent, but still: semantics. However, I get what you’re getting at, and in a lot of ways, I definitely agree. Stan has issues of his own that he needs to work through, and maybe focusing on pursuing relationships should take something of a backseat until he’s at least started seeking out professional help.

The thing with Stan is that he’s dealing with depression and he’s been shown as developing a pretty poor coping mechanism in terms of alcohol abuse. Between those two, I’d much rather see Stan getting help for the alcohol abuse first and foremost. And I’m not sure if he’d be able to get put on antidepressants due to his age; although, I don’t know how young is too young to be put on them, and part of me is fairly certain that it varies depending on the doctor in question. If nothing else, I’d like to see Stan talking to someone about his problems. Big Gay Al, Satan, even PC Principal would be good starting points.

At this point in their character developments, I think Stan should expand his friend circle. Cartman is not a good influence in his life, and Kyle’s kind of self-centered and hasn’t really had a strong enough Come To Jesus (or Moses, I guess) moment to shock him out of that way of thinking. The whole thing with Canada might’ve come close, at least gotten the ball rolling, and maybe we’ll see more ramifications of that in the next season, but Season 21 kind of ended on an ambiguous note when it comes to Kyle’s development. And it seems like Kenny’s started to branch off from the main group; considering the Tuckers immediately went to the McCormicks to see if they’ve seen Craig and Tweek, it’s likely Kenny’s starting to hang out with them more.

I’d like to see Stan getting closer to new people, and maybe getting some healthier influences in his life. Getting on antidepressants is absolute hell for some people: figuring out what combination of chemicals is necessary to get your brain to respond can really put you through the wringer. I ended up with a one-semester suspension from my university because of the switching playing merry hell with my brain, and ended up turning it into two years just to make sure I stabilized before I put myself back in that kind of environment. But, then again, I had to do it pretty much on my own: none of my friends were available or able to help me, pretty much everyone in my family has an undiagnosed and untreated mental illness because insurance fucking sucks, and most of the professors and professionals who were involved with my life at the time had no idea how to handle someone trying to find the right antidepressant medication. And I sincerely doubt there’s a wealth of people in Stan’s environment who would be capable of helping him through something like that.

Big Gay Al and Satan would probably be the best adult figures Stan could go to, and stepping away from the toxic levels Cartman and Kyle are currently putting out would probably be a huge step in the right direction. Personally, I’d like to see Tweek catching on to what’s going on with Stan and offering to help him. Tweek’s got Craig helping him out with his mental health, and we can already see the impact that support has had on him, so I can see Tweek wanting to pay it forward.

…Actually, Kenny and Tweek inadvertently dragging Stan into a Blonde Squad meeting/hang out would be both hilarious and good for Stan. Bebe giving him grief over his hair (it’s a goddamned disaster and any self-respecting person can acknowledge that) and teaching him how to take better care of it. Maybe Kenny teasing him that they should dye his hair blond so he can fit in with the Blonde Squad. (My god, what the hell would Stan even look like as a blond? It would have to be a darker shade of blond, because no way in hell could Stan pull off any shade lighter than Kenny’s.) Butters giving him back rubs when he’s spiraling because fucking hell that boy has magic fingers and his massages are like ascending to the astral plane. Stan and Tweek have a long conversation about substance abuse once Tweek figures out exactly what’s in his coffee.

Craig begrudgingly offering Stan a place to hide out when Randy’s up to his bullshit again, because Kyle may be Stan’s best friend, but Kyle’s also kind of a douche and he doesn’t own a guinea pig. And everyone knows it’s impossible to be sad for long if there’s a cute, cuddly ray of sunshine in your arms. Besides, helping Stan out becomes important to Tweek, and therefore it ends up on Craig’s priority list. This ends up devolving into Clyde dragging Stan to Taco Bell at two in the morning sometimes because he knows what it’s like to lay awake at night and overthink everything, and nothing takes your mind off the bullshit like shitty off-brand/pseudo-Mexican fast food. Token offers to help him out with the schoolwork while Stan and his doctor are trying to find the right anti-depressant.

It would be better for Stan to focus on addressing his own issues rather than trying to date, but then again, I’m one of those who never understood why kids that young date, so your mileage may vary. *shrug* I just want Stan to get some decent help that doesn’t come from Randy’s liquor cabinet.

#nina answers asks #anon #sp stan #stan marsh #the boy needs some help #and i want him to get it #i also want him to find new friends #because dealing with kyle and cartman has to be exhausting

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stingrayvilla · 3 years

Text

The Actual TRUTH – Is Cozumel Safe?

It’s only reasonable that you demand to know the actual truth – is Cozumel safe? The news media does not paint an actual picture of Cozumel. I will not start saying “fake news” but let us show you the data!

Thousands of people visit sunny Cozumel each year and return home from a trouble-free trip. With a dose of common sense and some inside intel, you can too! I will examine everything you need to recognize. Despite the media headlines painting Mexico as a place rampant with corruption and drug disorder, my experience has been different. By choosing the same basic safeguards as you would travel anywhere (including metropolitan cities in the US), Cozumel is safe for you and your household. The Mexican government will not let millions of dollars slip through their network because the most prominent spots aren’t secure.

Street Safety

To be safe anywhere in the world, you must apply your common sense, be attentive to your surroundings, don’t wander down dark unlit streets alone, and place your treasures out of sight. You wouldn’t spot me strolling down a dark alley in Saint Louis MO, alone at night. Again, apply common sense. Street safety is an essential subject to cover if you enjoy exploring on foot. Compared to other places I’ve visited, Cozumel is nowhere near as high risk with street safety. That said, just always be mindful of what’s going on around you and act accordingly.

Scams in Mexico

Scams are a worldwide issue. I’ve had credit card fraud in the United States on more occasions than anywhere else in the world. Here are the scams to look out for in Cozumel:

CASH MACHINES – This one is at the top of my list and by far the most prevalent. It’s never happened to me, but some tourists have fallen to this scam. Do not utilize random cash machines on the boulevard. Although they are accessible, they aren’t protected and observed by officials. Use cash machines at a bank to be extra secure. In Cozumel, there is no scarcity of banks to choose from, just be certain to notify your branch before leaving your home country so the card isn’t rejected or blocked.

TAXIS – Many people worry about getting into taxis in an unfamiliar country. Once you learn the ins and outs of how taxis work in Cozumel your fears will be alleviated. Always agree on a cost before you get in the taxi this way both you and the driver are clear on how much it will cost before the trip commences. Most residents aren’t out to defraud you, but with a little care and being aware of who is around you will be secure.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE – If you will bring cash along with you, just do your homework before you get here. Research the strongest exchange rates before you go to evade being ripped off. Many places accept USD, but if you go in a taxi or shopping in Cozumel, it’s suggested that you utilize the local currency (Mexican Pesos).

Is drinking alcohol in Mexico safe

A few years ago the US State Department warned travelers about possible tainted alcohol in Mexico, because a girl was found deceased in a pool at a resort after a night of drinking. We’ve dealt with a lot of guests wondering how safe it is to indulge in their vacation margaritas. It’s justifiable to be concerned. Rule number one, drink responsibly! You should not avoid consuming alcohol in Mexico, but you should be cautious. As you will stay with us, pick a beach club with a great drinks selection boasting brands that you know and trust. I’ve encountered nothing evil but here are 9 top tips to remain safe on a night out:

Insist on observing your drinks being made

Consider bottled or canned drinks

Buy your alcohol at a liquor store

Never leave your drink unattended

Don’t drink in the sun

Drink enough water in between drinks

Observe your surroundings

If you feel ill seek medical attention

Take out travel insurance

Drugs and Cartels

Mexico has a position for drug-related cases. None of us are alien to drug culture, specifically if we live in a big city. It’s just part of life. It’s an issue, but it appears everywhere. Whether you choose to call it gangs or cartels, it’s all the same. You don’t want to get tied up with these sketchy people. Avoid them at all costs and you will be fine. Back home if someone ran up to you on the highway and offered drugs you would say no. The same applies here.

Transportation Crime

Mexico is an amazing place where you can travel almost anywhere in the country via bus. It’s society’s main transport service. The ADO service is the finest one to use. The site is super simple to work and you can book your tickets in advance. There is a problem that has been going on now for some time. Do not use the overhead bin for your backpacks, purses, or luggage. At a stop, someone may “accidentally” take your bag from the overhead bin and others will not allow you to go forward by standing in your way. Keep your belongings by your feet while seated. It is a little uncomfortable, but you will prevent your bags from growing legs.

Night Safety

From sundown to sunrise it’s essential to look after yourself. If you are out with your companions or family just watch out for each other the same as you would at home. If you’re headed back to your hotel in a taxi try to do so in groups or at least pairs just in case one of you has had too much alcohol and requires a little extra support. Be mindful of your surroundings, keep your eyes peeled, and be sure to mention anything questionable. Don’t wander off alone at night and always go in well-lit areas.

LGBT Safety

It will please you to recognize that Cozumel is very LGBTQ-friendly. Cozumel has developed into a sanctuary for gay couples who choose to get married and require an ultimate wedding destination.

Natural Hazards

Nature is a force in the Caribbean. Things got very exciting in 2020 with hurricanes in the state this year. After previous catastrophes, the island is fully prepared to handle natural disasters and possesses the best hurricane shelters and state-of-the-art hospitals.

Travel Health

Because Cozumel has a tropical climate mosquito-borne infections such as dengue fever and chikungunya are a risk. Speak to your doctor well in advance to prepare and have the correct precautions before your trip. Avoid getting bitten altogether by bringing bug spray with you. Cozumel can become hot, so preserve your skin with sunscreen. Try to use biodegradable bug spray and sunscreen as it undermines the coral reef systems when you go in the sea, plus it’s better for your body. Drink bottled water and make sure you drink plenty of it to stay hydrated in the heat. Now let me talk about the elephant in the room. COVID-19 is now with the human race forever. There will be cases in the population from now till the end of time. Change your habits and take precautions whenever you can not social distance. Mask use must become the new norm. With simple precautions, we will protect ourselves.

Need Help to Book Your Vacation?

Safety is our absolute priority. We live in Cozumel. Silvia and I respect the opinion of all travelers and our sole mission is to present you with all the tips and facts you require to ensure you have a marvelous vacation! We know the area, restaurants, and tours better than anyone. Our prices are great too! Need help to formulate your vacation? Book today here. We offer free advice and can save you tons of cash on your next holiday!

Written by Stingray Villa

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vacationsoup · 4 years

Photo

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/the-actual-truth-is-cozumel-safe/

The Actual TRUTH - Is Cozumel Safe?

It’s only reasonable that you demand to be aware of the threats and risks when traveling to an unknown place. The news media does not paint an actual picture of Cozumel. I will not start saying "fake news" but let us show you the data!

Is it safe to travel to Cozumel?

Street Safety

Scams in Mexico

Scams are a world-wide issue. I’ve had credit card fraud in the United States on more occasions than anywhere else in the world. Here are the scams to look out for in Cozumel:

CASH MACHINES - This one is at the top of my list and by far the most prevalent. It’s never happened to me, but some tourists have fallen to this scam. Do not utilize random cash machines on the boulevard. Although they are accessible, they aren’t protected and observed by officials. Use cash machines at a bank to be extra secure. In Cozumel, there is no scarcity of banks to choose from, just be certain to notify your branch before leaving your home country so the card isn’t rejected or blocked.

TAXIS - Many people worry about getting into taxis in an unfamiliar country. Once you learn the ins and outs of how taxis work in Cozumel your fears will be alleviated. Always agree on a cost before you get in the taxi this way both you and the driver are clear on how much it will cost before the trip commences. Most residents aren’t out to defraud you, but with a little care and being aware of who is around you will be secure.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE - If you will bring cash along with you, just do your homework before you get here. Research the strongest exchange rates before you go to evade being ripped off. Many places accept USD, but if you go in a taxi or shopping in Cozumel, it’s suggested that you utilize the local currency (Mexican Pesos).

Is drinking alcohol in Mexico safe

A few years ago the US State Department warned travelers about possible tainted alcohol in Mexico, because a girl found deceased in a pool at a resort after a night of drinking. We’ve dealt with a lot of guests wondering how safe it is to indulge in their vacation margaritas. It’s justifiable to be concerned. Rule number one, drink responsibly! You should not avoid consuming alcohol in Mexico, but you should be cautious. As you will stay with us, pick a beach club with a great drinks selection boasting brands that you know and trust. I’ve encountered nothing evil but here are 9 top tips to remain safe on a night out:

Insist on observing your drinks being made

Consider bottled or canned drinks

Buy your alcohol at a liquor store

Never leave your drink unattended

Don’t drink in the sun

Drink enough water in between drinks

Observe your surroundings

If you feel ill seek medical attention

Take out travel insurance

Drugs and Cartels

Mexico has a position for drug-related cases. None of us are alien to drug culture, specifically if you live in a big city. It’s just part of life. It’s an issue, but it appears everywhere. Whether you choose to call it gangs or cartels, it’s all the same. You don’t want to get tied up with these sketchy people. Avoid them at all costs and you will be fine. Back home if someone ran up to you on the highway and offered drugs you would say no. The same applies here.

Transportation Crime

Night Safety

LGBT Safety

It will please you to recognize that Cozumel is very LGBTQ friendly. Cozumel has developed into a sanctuary for gay couples who choose to get married and require an ultimate wedding destination.

Natural Hazards

Nature is a force in the Caribbean. Things have been quiet on Cozumel for over a decade with no major hurricanes in the state. After previous catastrophes, the island is now fully prepared to handle natural disasters and possesses the best hurricane shelters and state-of-the-art hospitals.

Travel Health

Because of Cozumel has a tropical climate mosquito-borne infections such as dengue fever and chikungunya are a risk. Speak to your doctor well in advance to prepare and have the correct precautions before your trip. Avoid getting bitten altogether by bringing bug spray with you. Cozumel can become hot, so preserve your skin with sunscreen. Try to use biodegradable bug spray and sunscreen as it undermines the coral reef systems when you go in the sea, plus it’s better for your body. Drink bottled water and make sure you drink plenty of it to stay hydrated in the heat.

Need Help to Book Your Vacation?

Safety is of our absolute priority. We live in Cozumel. Silvia and I respect the opinion of all travelers and our sole mission is to present you with all the tips and facts you require to ensure you have a marvelous vacation! We know the area, restaurants, and tours better than anyone. Our prices are great too! Need help to formulate your vacation? Book today here. We offer free advice and can save you tons of cash on your next holiday!

#Cozumel #HolidayOnCozumel #Mexico #PlayaDelCarmen #VacationOnCozumel #VacationSoup

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identybeautynet · 3 years

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best 10 Tips for Women Traveling on a Trip

10 Tips for Women Traveling on a Trip Top 10 Travel Safety Tips for Women Is it possible for a woman to travel the world and stay safe? Absolutely. Even if you steer clear of resorts. Even if you go to developing countries. Even if you don’t speak the local language. Even if you’re traveling alone. I’ve got travel safety tips to help you travel anywhere. I created this site so I could help women travel safely and independently around the world. And after a decade (!) as a full-time travel blogger, it’s working — I get daily emails from women who have gone on their first backpacking trips, their first non-resort trips, their first solo trips, all because sites like mine gave them the confidence to do so. They survived, they thrived, and they had the time of their lives. But the women who took these trips did so well in part because they prioritized their safety while traveling. What does that mean? Well, this list of travel safety tips for women will give you an idea! This post was last updated in January 2020. Table of Contents Travel Safety Tips The biggest part of traveling safely is using common sense. None of these travel safety tips are going to be revolutionary, but you can use them everywhere around the world. Many of my own travel mistakes have been because I didn’t follow these simple tips. Adventurous Kate's Top 10 Travel Safety Tips for Women Play Video I got pickpocketed in Buenos Aires (on my first day of solo travel EVER!) because I was using a large, open purse that didn’t close. I had the worst train ride of my life in Bulgaria because I hadn’t done my research beforehand. All the guides said to take buses along that route, that they were faster and a million times nicer. BUT sometimes you’re in a better position to travel safely if you follow these tips: I survived having my wallet stolen in Sri Lanka because I had a backup ATM card in my main luggage that I used to get by financially before getting home. I’ve never had my passport stolen while traveling because I always keep it locked up. And sometimes it’s the opposite — it happens in spite of you taking precautions. I was shipwrecked in Indonesia after booking an overnight cruise that Lonely Planet called “one of the safer options.” (Later, they referred to a “well-documented March 2011 sinking.” That was me! I documented!) Research Your Destination Thoroughly Before Your Trip For many travelers, planning and researching is almost as fun as actually traveling! In between scoping out the most beautiful beaches and coolest cities, take some time to look up safety information for where you are headed. What are the best neighborhoods and the ones you should avoid? Are there only certain kinds of taxis you should take? Is there a medical center in the city, just in case? When it comes to your lodging, how are its ratings for safety? What are former guests saying about their experiences? Are there any patterns emerging in the reviews you should be concerned about? How are you going to get around? What is public transportation like in your destination? Do you need to rent a car? Is it possible to travel safely at night? Visit a travel clinic beforehand and talk to a doctor or nurse where you’re going. Do you need any vaccinations or prescriptions? Are there local health issues for which you should prepare? When it comes to activities, especially adventure sports, what are the risks? If you injure yourself, will you be covered by your travel insurance? I know a lot of people — I estimate upwards of 95% of them are male — who like to rock up to a destination with no preparation at all, just learning as they go. I disagree with this enormously. This is a good way to endanger yourself. You need to do your research in advance, well before your trip begins. Keep Your Valuables On You While in Transit But you shouldn’t bring valuables in the first place! True. You shouldn’t bring anything you would be despondent to lose: family heirlooms, expensive jewelry, your birth certificate, and the like. Today people travel safely with an amount of technology that was unfathomable a decade ago. Most travelers bring a smartphone at the very least; many bring laptops, tablets, Kindles or other e-readers, DSLR cameras with pricey lenses, and more. When you consider the costs to replace any one of those items, they definitely count as valuables. You should have a day bag into which you can fit all of your important items: your passport, your camera, your medication, your jewelry, your credit cards, your smartphone, and any other technology, photography or otherwise valuable equipment. Spend good money on this — this is one of my top travel safety tips. Never put these items into your general backpack. Never put these items into the luggage hold on a bus. Never put any of those items into your checked luggage on a plane. If you let them out of your sight, there’s a fair chance that they could be taken away from you forever. Only Take What You Need and Leave the Rest Locked Up There’s no need to go out for a walk in the city with all of your credit cards, your passport, and the equivalent of $500 in cash. Take what you need for the day: maybe around $50, tops, and a backup debit card (don’t have one? Get one with Transferwise), and keep the rest locked up in your accommodation. Almost every reputable hostel has lockers available for guests. Use them if they have them. In guesthouses, hotel rooms, or other places that don’t have a locker or safe for you, use a portable safe instead: a slashproof bag you fill with your valuables and lock to a pipe or something else sturdy in the room. Here’s a full review on the one I use and love. It’s an essential item to travel safely. While it doesn’t eliminate the risk 100% (if a professional criminal is determined to rob you, he will rob you), most criminals are opportunistic. If you remove the opportunity, they’ll go after someone else who left his or her valuables out in the open, much more easily accessible to them. Don’t Trust People Too Quickly When you’re traveling in a new destination, and especially when you’re traveling on your own, it can be tempting to join up and find a tribe. Sometimes these tribes turn into lifelong friendships. But they don’t always. Some con artists have mastered the art of befriending travelers, getting them to leave their valuables unattended, and robbing them before taking off. When it comes to romance, you might want to crank up the speed when you meet someone outrageously sexy, but that’s not always the best idea. Sex is prevalent on the road, but be sure to protect yourself as much as possible. Sometimes, we want to be part of a group so badly that we start trusting people before we should. Instead, err on the side of caution. If you’re just getting to know someone, don’t trust him or her to guard your expensive electronics while you’re in the bathroom. It’s not rude to be cautious. Take things slowly, and if someone earns your trust, that’s when you depend on them. Watch Your Drinking This is a travel safety tip that doesn’t get said often enough. It’s applicable whether you’re at home or on the road. When you drink alcohol, you dull your senses and slow your reaction time, which in turn makes you vulnerable to others. That doesn’t mean that you should avoid drinking altogether. Instead, drink slowly. Pace yourself. Eat beforehand or during. Have a glass of water in between each drink (your body will thank you in the morning). Be cognizant of what you are actually drinking, and always take drinks directly from the bartender. Constantly ask yourself, “Do I want to be less in control than I am right now?” and stop if the answer is no. Most importantly, resist the pressure, gentle or otherwise, to keep up with others who might be able to drink more than you, especially in countries where it’s common to “shout” drinks for a group, like Britain and Ireland. If people are taking turns buying rounds for the whole table, say up front that you don’t plan on drinking as much as everyone else and they’ll understand. Don’t think you need to go drink for drink with your companions, especially if they happen to be beefy rugby players from New Zealand. Or beefy frat boys from Oklahoma. Or Russians. Blend in as Much as You Can Want to have the attention of every pickpocket in Paris? Show up in shorts and a t-shirt. For extra credit, wear Birkenstocks. Or a sweatshirt with a university on it. As normal as shorts and a t-shirt would be in North America, you would never see that style in most of Europe. Shorts are rare and Europeans in general dress much more neatly than North Americans, especially in France and Italy. The more you stand out, the more you brand yourself as someone who is unfamiliar with the location, which makes you more vulnerable to criminal attention. Instead, research your destination in advance, observe how people dress, and try to pass as a local – or, if that’s impossible (like if you’re in Thailand or Mexico and look neither Thai nor Mexican), try to pass as a longtime resident. That means eschewing the backpacker trail uniform of drop-crotch hippie pants and souvenir beer t-shirts in favor of casual but neat and tidy clothing. That means covering your arms, legs, and cleavage in Muslim countries, wearing loose clothing in India, and wearing long pants in Europe and Latin America. In tandem with blending in, it’s important to maintain confidence at all times, and even if you’re not confident, at least maintain the appearance of confidence. When you’re walking down the street, hold your head up and your shoulders back. Look straight ahead and walk with a purpose. Pretend that you have somewhere important to be, and if you fall prey to street harassment, ignore it and keep moving. If you become lost and you need to find your way, slip into a shop or café to consult your map privately before continuing on. Spend Extra Money on Staying Safe If you’re traveling long-term on a shoestring budget, it can be hard to justify spending extra cash when it could go toward so many more fun activities. But it’s a smart idea to financially invest in your own safety. What does that mean? It means that if your flight is scheduled to land in a rough city late at night, you should spend more money on a hotel that will pick you up right from the airport instead of taking a bus into town and trying to navigate your way there on foot. It means you should pay extra money to take a taxi home at night if you don’t feel comfortable walking through the neighborhood on your own. It means paying more to stay in a central neighborhood with lots of lively activity instead of a cheaper, quiet residential area where you feel isolated. It means you should choose the dive school with the stellar safety reputation and hundreds of positive TripAdvisor reviews instead of the rough-around-the-edges dive school that will do it for much cheaper. Build an extra financial cushion into your trip and use it for situations like these: ones where you could travel safely if you spent a little more. Prepare for the Worst with Documents and Secret Cash In the event that the worst happens – your purse is stolen, your credit cards are suddenly maxed out, you get sick and need to go to the hospital – it’s good to have a backup plan. For documents, keep front-and-back copies of your credit cards saved to cloud storage like Google Docs or Dropbox, as well as a copy of your passport. It’s a good idea to keep your bank and credit card phone numbers stored in a document as well. In addition to the documents, keep a backup cash stash. Keep at least $50 in US dollars hidden in a secret spot deep inside your luggage, like inside a tampon applicator or hidden in a sock. In a separate spot, keep a backup credit card. If your purse or day bag is stolen off your body and literally everything is taken away from you, this will provide you with a temporary financial cushion. If you’re traveling somewhere with less-than-ideal ATM and internet access, you’ll want to be even more prepared. One of my top travel safety tips for Americans traveling to Cuba is to keep an extra stash of secret money, enough for transportation to Havana Airport and a flight to Cancun, hidden in your underwear at all times. It may sound a bit extreme, but in a country where you can’t use credit cards or ATMs, you need to be even more prepared than usual in order to travel safely. Get Travel Insurance Do you really need travel insurance? Absolutely. It could save your life, and in this day and age, with so many online providers, there’s no reason not to get it. Whether your luggage is lost, you end up in a political coup or natural disaster, or you need to go to the hospital while on the road, travel insurance will reimburse your expenses. If you’re robbed, travel insurance will provide you with the security you need. If the very worst happens and you end up losing your life, good travel insurance will allow your family to bring your body home without paying tens of thousands of dollars and getting wrapped up in mountains of red tape. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you shouldn’t be traveling in the first place. Be sure to examine prospective travel insurance policies in depth, because they might not cover your personal situation. Many insurance plans won’t cover certain adventure sports or particular countries or regions. Most plans will only cover a fraction of the value of your electronics. What’s a good company? I personally use and recommend World Nomads. Check in Regularly It’s a good idea for at least one designated friend or family member to have a copy of your itinerary in advance: your flight numbers, your accommodation, and a general schedule of where you’ll be on which dates, as well as information on your travel insurance, credit cards, and a bank account number Plan ahead of time how you’ll check in and how often, whether it’s through daily emails, texts, social media updates, or regular Skype chats. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you keep a consistent schedule. When I left for my first long-term solo trip to Southeast Asia in 2010, my parents insisted I email them every day. At first, I thought this was way too much — but I was surprised how much I enjoyed checking in with them each day and telling them what I was up to! These days, we’re more relaxed and I email them every few days when on the road, but I send them a daily update when I’m somewhere they’re a bit more nervous about, like Lebanon or Colombia. Staying in touch is a way to assuage the fears of your loved ones, but if you find yourself in trouble, they would be able to locate you much more easily than if you had been vague about your whereabouts. 10 Tips for Women Traveling on a Trip ,Top 10 Travel Safety Tips for Women Read the full article

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littledonkeyburrito · 6 years

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So Unclean

1. Quick! Chinese or Mexican? Both!

2. How many significant others have you had in your WHOLE life? I don’t think any of them would count as “significant”

3. I have to ask: What does the last message you received say? “I saw the corpse touching party photo again”

4. How about the last message you sent? *laughing face emoji*

5. Have you shared any kisses today? No.

6. Did the last person you kissed have soft lips, or were they kind of crusty? Soft. Can I just say that “crusty” is like the worst possible adjective you could have used.

7. Do you think your life will be any different a year from now? Yeah because I’ll probably be in Australia and working and stuff

8. What is in your wallet? My licence, bank card, health insurance card, metro ticket and I think about 30 euro

9. Have you ever been in a fist fight? 11 years of martial arts will do that to you

10. When was the last time you went to the doctor? Back when I got my yellow fever shot in august

11. Are you going out of town anytime soon? I'm going back to australia in 2 weeks. There was talk of a family friend maybe paying for me to visit her in london next week but idk what’s happening with that.

12. Do you hate your ex? There is one I dislike, the rest are fine.

13. When are you going to get a haircut? When I’m back in Australia

14. Can you fit your hand around your wrist? Yes

15. When was the last time you applied chapstick? A couple of hours ago. Need to put more on though. Winter is a bitch for cracked lips. I swear I have to drink like 10 litres of water to stop them drying out

16. Are you a coffee person or a tea person? Neither, but if I have to choose, then tea.

17. When’s the last time you had a phone conversation for more than ten minutes? Does a voice call on google hangout count? If yes, then today with Maggie and Patrick while we played The Elder Scrolls

18. All the people you’ve kissed, what did their names start with? God, I’ll just list the letters in alphabetical I guess: A, B, C, D, E, I, J, M, N, R, Z Most of those letters are multiple people though. Surprisingly there are two Z’s and neither of them are a name you expect.

19. What did you and your ex fight about most? I have never had anything last long enough for fights.

20. Don’t you love long hugs? Generally, no. But if they’re from certain people, yes.

21. And long kisses? Sure, why not

22. Have you ever purchased condoms? Yes

23. Do you have a dirty mind? My mind is So Unclean.

24. Do you check the mail everyday, or somebody else? Nah I never get post here so I only check like once a week.

25. Did you think braces were cool when you were little? I don’t recall ever having an opinion

26. Put your iTunes on shuffle RIGHT NOW and tell me the first song it plays. I can’t be bothered waiting for itunes to open but I can tell you that I currently have “La Raza Es La Pura Raza” by Molotov currently playing youtube.

27. What is the last song you added to your iTunes library? That would have been an album by Alvaro Soler. But I’m going to put a bunch of new songs on there soon before my flight back to aus

28. Are you embarrassed by any of the songs in your iTunes? Not really. I have no shame.

29. When was the last time you were sick? No idea but I’ll probably get a cold from the 26 hours of flying I’ll be doing soon.

30. Who was your Valentine this year? Nobody

31. When did you first kiss the last person you kissed? September

32. And when did you last kiss the last person you kissed? October

33. Did you borrow that shirt from somebody? No

34. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? Dark chocolate with almonds

35. Do you like to swim? I used to hate it because long hair took forever to dry. Now I don’t mind but I don’t actively try to go swimming often.

36. How many vacations have you been on in the past year? Oh My God so many this year has been awesome. And since I’ve been living in spain the whole time I guess it’s basically been a year long vacation.

37. Have you ever gone on vacation with your boyfriend/girlfriend? No

38. Do you have to wake up early tomorrow? No but I might anyway because I barely slept last night and I’m going to bed after I finish this quiz.

39. When you put an album into your iTunes, do you delete all of the songs that you dislike, or do you prefer to keep the complete album in your library, and why? I keep the whole album. But I have playlists of my favourite songs.

40. How often do you get confused about someone’s tone through the internet or texting? (For example, taking something serious that was intended to be taken sarcastically?) Not often. My friends and I get each other pretty well and if we can’t understand the tone we just ask.

41. What was your most awkward sexual experience? (If you don’t have one/are too embarrassed to share, what is the funniest sex story you’ve heard?) I don’t think I really have any funny or awkward stories. The most amusing one for me was fooling around in the back of his car and ducking every time another car drove past and him saying that if anyone looked in they’d only see me because I’m so pasty I pretty much glow in the dark.

42. Have you ever called in and won a radio contest, and, if so, what was it, and what’d you win? No but this reminds me that when I was a kid I won an easter colouring competition and my prize was a 3kg chocolate bunny which my dad smashed up with a hammer and put all the pieces in a cooler and then most of it was eaten by him and my brother. Although in fairness to my brother he did trade me a stuffed monkey toy for half the chocolate.

43. If you’ve used pads, do you prefer them with or without wings and why? What kind of sadistic fuck uses pads without wings? Fun fact: pads are the reason I know the spanish word for “wing”

44. Who was the last person you had actual sex with in a dream? I think I had a sex dream about my ex recently

45. If you went to a bookstore, what section would you most likely end up at? The exit, tbh. I’m not a big reader.

46. What is in your left pocket? There is nothing in any of my pockets

45. How much alcohol did you have this weekend? I think I had 2 beers on Friday night

46. Do you eat gas station food? Pies.

47. What color underwear do you have on? White and blue speckled

48. Do you sit or stand in the shower? Stand, unless I’m particularly tired or I’m feeling sick. Sitting under the shower is a really effective method of stopping nausea for me.

49. Where were you born? UK

50. Where do you work? Or go to school? Or are you a bum? Currently a total bum but soon will be back working in security

51. What do you want to be when you grow up? Who the fuck even knows. I’m open to suggestions if you wanna throw some at me

52. When did you join Facebook? Why? 2008 because all my friends had facebook. I think I got myspace then too.

53. Do you like to cuddle? Only with sexual partners.

54. Do you believe that the last person that you kissed cares for you? Don’t know. Maybe a little?

55. How long does it take you to fall asleep at night? Lately, so fucking long. Like, 4 hours.

56. Do you prefer to take your showers at night or in the morning? Morning because I’m a sweaty sleeper.

57. Is there a night you would like to repeat and allow it to live on forever? Yeah, there is one night that comes to mind

58. Name a person whose name starts with the letter M. Me, Maddie

59. Do you eat ranch with your pizza? I am but a simple australian and I’m not even entirely sure what ranch dressing is

60. Is there a place that you wish you could visit? So many

61. Do you believe that this weekend will be a good one for you? Depends if I do actually end up going to London

62. Is there anyone that is jealous of you or anything that you have? I hope so. People’s jealousy of my travel kinda fuels me tbh

63. Have you told anyone that you missed them lately? Yeah I told my mama I miss her

64. Why will/won’t you and your ex get back together? We probably will when I’m back in australia. We’ve already agreed to catch up once I’m back.

65. Have you ever kissed anyone while driving? No, that sounds dangerous

66. Think of the last person you kissed. Have you ever kissed them on a bed or a couch? Yes and no I don’t think we ever kissed on a couch. It was mostly in hotel rooms so I don’t think there were any couches

67. Is your best friend single? Yeah

68. What are you going to be doing later? Sleeping hopefully. I’m so tired

69. The last kind of lotion you used, what does it smell like? Probably like lotion with argon oil. Y’know because that’s what it was.

70. Have you hung out with any guys recently? I have not physically hung out with anyone for a long time.

71. Can you go a whole day without drinking any pop or eating any sweets? Yeah, that’s not uncommon. I’ve kinda surprised myself by how unintentionally healthy my diet has gotten this past year. Like, I eat a ton of vegetables every day and drink mostly water, milk and orange juice. And I started eating eggs for some protein too.

72. Who’s the weirdest teacher at your school? There was a teacher at my highschool called (I think) Mr. Moore. He was always powerwalking and/or spilling his coffee. He was just.. hell I don’t even know how to describe him but I guess he was like a human version of a hyperactive vibration. I’m sure that makes absolutely no sense but that’s all I think to say

73. How old were you when you learned how to ride a bike? 5 or 6

74. Who do you talk to first when you’re upset? Mum or Maggie

75. Do you have nightmares often? Not proper nightmares but my dreams are often quite anxious

76. Do you think you could be with someone for over four years? No idea.

77. Were you happy when you woke up today? No, I just wanted to go back to sleep. I only got like 3 or 4 hours sleep.

78. What are you thinking about right now? Which surburbs in Brisbane I should look for apartments in

79. Are you wearing jeans, shorts, or sweats? Jeans

80. Would you live with someone without marrying them? Yes. I wouldn’t marry someone if I hadn’t lived with them for a while first

81. When is the last time you really laughed? When I read that story about communion with the life size bread jesus earlier

82. Have you ever skipped school because you were tired? Not school but I skipped uni lectures a lot

83. What was the last thing you had to drink? Water.

84. Your most recent ex needs you at 3 AM, do you go? Depends what he needs me for, but probably 85. Would you rather kiss someone 5 years older or 5 year younger? 5 years older. Five younger is like 18 and hell nah I’m not going to kiss an 18yo kid.

86. Do you like your parents? Yeah they're pretty awesome as far as parents go. My Ma especially is just a fucking awesome lady, I know it sounds cliche but she is genuinely one of my best friends.

87. Do you make smart decisions? Usually but I have been known to fuck it up every now and then, usually with money stuff.

88. Would you consider yourself tall? No. I can’t use the top 2 shelves of my fridge.

89. Have you answered all of these questions honestly so far? why would I lie?

90. Have you ever lived in a house with a basement? I don’t think so

91. What woke you up this morning? My alarm

92. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? 3 or 4

93. Anybody tell you they miss you lately? When I told Ma I miss her she said she misses me too

94. Have you ever kissed someone who was high? Yeah

95. What were you doing at 4am this morning? I’ll tell what I wasn’t fucking doing was sleeping even though I’d already been in bed for 3 hours.

96. Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed? Well he’s in Costa Rica so the physical distance would make it a little more difficult.

97. What time is it right now? 10:23pm

98. Have you ever been led on? I wouldn’t even notice, I am so oblivious to that stuff

99. Do you know a secret about your ex and if he/she pisses you off, will you tell? No

100. Are you excited about anything today? I’m getting kinda pumped to start looking at apartments back in Brisbane. I really like looking at rental apartments. That’s why I always offer to help my friends find a place.

101. Do people ever call you by your last name? Actually yeah there’s one guy at work that calls me by my last name but he’s gonna get confused once I’m back because my brother works there too now.

102. Have you ever gone camping? I used to spend a couple of nights with my aunt and uncle every year when they went camping over the christmas break

103. Would you sleep with the last person who Facebook messaged you? Probs not

104. When’s the next time you will consume alcohol? Whenever I buy beer next, probably within the next week

#Other potential titles:#I guess it’s basically been a year long vacation #I’m so pasty I pretty much glow in the dark #dad smashed it up with a hammer #a human version of a hyperactive vibration

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theyearofcancerousthinking · 5 years

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June 13, 2019

Edith Gonzalez just died. She was a beloved Mexican soap opera icon. I loved her from Corazón Salvaje and knew she had been diagnosed in 2016.

I have a weird relationship with celebrities who have cancer - especially breast cancer. I look to those who have cleared their benchmarks: Christina Applegate, Rita Wilson. I keep tabs (from a distance) on those who were diagnosed at the same time I was, mainly Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Every time I catch myself thinking that it can’t possibly be true that I have a clean bill of health I look to the former. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a way to go before I can look to her for comfort.

Last week another celebrity died unexpectedly - one of those you have grown up with, always seeing them on tv. And it hits me harder than expected. Knowing how young they were and how sudden their deaths were just drives home one of the main feelings I’ve had since my diagnosis: life is too short to not do whatever the hell you want. Do it, and do it well. Give it everything. Don’t suffer fools. Create the life you want.

Which is a great segue to the following mental health update I have: after months of my shrink recommending an anti-depressant, I finally relented. My oncologist wanted to refer me to a rheumatologist to explore the source of my debilitating fatigue. He wasn’t down with my blaming chemo + the ongoing hormone treatment.

My shrink had brought up the option before, but had also told me I did not have a straightforward diagnosis of depression, so I had rejected it. But then, after a trip to celebrate my nephew’s second birthday, I went through three of the saddest, heartbreaking, mentally twisted days where I convinced myself that the sadness I felt at leaving him was proof that the universe knew something horrible that I didn’t. And that S was going to die in a plane crash - and I was filled with anticipatory guilt. It was Doom & Gloom City. I was able to shake my self free from it on the third evening by realizing that I had been there before - I had had those feelings before and the universe hadn’t shown any of its cards. Three days is a long time.

I had a shrink appointment scheduled already so it was fresh in my mind as I told him about my thought process. My mind did not have time to pull any revisionist history. And yes, I am referring to my mind as someone separate to me because that is how it feels.

One of the driving points of therapy post-cancer is to find meaning in your life. I have struggled with this concept: what is meaningful? And how does anything meaningful cancel out how shitty life can be? (I definitely scared my brother-in-law and S one night, when I explained there were definite scenarios where I would rather not have been born - I was serious and thought I had good examples, i.e., the Holocaust.) One of the main, if not the only, meaningful experiences of the human condition is connection with those around us. And as someone who is super social and a relatively good judge of character, I have many wonderful people in my life who have been nothing but supportive during this ordeal. But, this was not as heart-warming as it could have been. Maybe as someone super social and open I took it for granted, but it just wasn’t enough.

For example, I witnessed an exchange between a homeless man and a gruff Long Island type, who did not allow him to pass through the train cars because he was clearly too weak to stand up-straight. My shrink thought that was a nice, heart-warming, meaningful moment. I thought it was nothing in the overall scheme of things. I have a bunch of these conversations with my shrink - no human interaction is enough to convince me that life is not fundamentally hard.

But now, with my nephew in particular - I was smitten. Thrilled to be bonding now that he is two and has more of an idea of who I am. Proud of that he is a healthy, brilliant, growing little boy. So incredibly proud of my sister and Bro-in-law for how they are raising him. And in the same instant I was feeling these things, I felt sadness that he lives far away, that I didn’t know he had been hitting all these milestones, and then guilt that I couldn’t be happy that he is great, and that in some twisted way I was making this about me? Why couldn’t I just be happy that he was healthy and growing? Why, when I finally found something meaningful did my mind swipe it away and replace it with fear and sadness? As humans we can feel awe and fear - and I can easily find and feel awe - and as it follows, meaning. But I cannot sit with that emotion. But fear? Hell, we have slumber parties, go to sleep away camp, go to boarding school, take long baths. The works.

My shrink recommended the medication again, and explained that he was not recommending a cast for a non-broken leg (my example) but rather a splint for a sprained ankle. He said I have a mild depression in relation to the menopause. Interesting right? Not the cancer. Not in relation to fear of a recurrence. Menopause.

I thought about this recommendation for two weeks. I spoke to friends who have been open about being on similar medications or open about contemplating them. I had one more quick episode of the twisted mental gymnastics that my mind engages in when it thinks I am not paying attention. I caught myself thinking that I was tidying up our apartment before a bike ride because if I died people would have to come over to pay their respects in a messy apartment. I was thinking this as if though it were the most normal thing in the world.

This time, 20 minutes passed before I realized it - not 3 days. Was this proof that I didn’t need medication? Maybe now that I was aware of the problem, I could get out in front of it?

And then, I saw the Brené Brown special on Netflix. I have been a fan for a long time. She spoke about how some people fear happiness. I thought that, clearly, was not me! Right? Who fears happiness? But then she went on to explain that some people feel happiness and then immediately rehearse tragedy, fearing that the other shoe must be about to drop. And I knew she was describing me. And I knew she was not contradicting anything my shrink had said - it might be human nature to want to control outcomes but engaging in this doom & gloom cycle was not healthy. Brené also mentioned that people who were resilient were good at gratitude and that set them apart from those who rehearsed tragedy.

I never would have thought I wasn’t somebody who was naturally grateful. NEVER. I have such a controlling sense of guilt that I thought I was a gratitude champ. But, my gratitude spirals very very very quickly into guilt, resentment, anger. Happy I caught my cancer early? Anger for all those who didn’t. Grateful I have great health insurance? Rage for those who don’t. Glad I have loving friends + family who rallied from near + far for me? Deep sadness for those who have to go at it alone. Of course I also mentioned this to my shrink and he pointed out that gratitude exercises are built to circumvent this by asking you to identify small joys: a great cup of coffee, a breezy bike ride, a great new album.

In the end, I thought long and hard about this decision. As open as I am about mental health (I mean, I do have this blog) I had to confront my open deep-rooted prejudice regarding depression. Shouldn’t I be smart enough to analyze my way out of this? Aren’t I mentally strong (even if I am not as resilient as I thought I was)? Aren’t I high functioning?

But then the feeling I described at the beginning of this post broke through it all: who the hell cares if I need a pill? Who am I trying to be strong for? Who am I trying to prove this to? At the end of the day, do you think my life will be marked as being someone on an anti-depressant? If I take a pill and it works, then I just improved my life. And if it doesn’t work (it might not with mild depression), I will have tried. I will continue to put the work in during therapy, and maybe one day I won’t need it anymore. I gave my shrink (and me, really) one year of being on it - I figured we could accumulate enough data in a year. But, if I need it until the day I die at 90 years young, and it made my days lighter + happier, then fuck it. Honor those who didn’t make it by taking life by the horns. We get one life and death is a total mindfuck but being hyper aware of it is mind-bendingly freeing.

#death #cancer #breastcancer #selfbreastexam #depression #antidepression #mentalhealthadvocate #mental health #cancersucks #brenebrown #brene brown #netflix #netflixandchill #mentalhealthparity #thrivenyc

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zmduelist74 · 7 years

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So I noticed this thing.

Call it coincidence, arithmancy, destiny. Anything, really.

I met this person on 11/17/09.

We officially stopped talking to each other on 09/11/17.

11/17/09.

09/11/17.

Haven’t seen this type of thing happen in other relationships, or maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention.

Either way, she was a narcissistic, manipulative, emotionally abusive whore. She keeps begging for death, and I’m tired of begging her not to jump off the proverbial ledge, so hopefully They come visit soon. Tomorrow, maybe. Perhaps gods of death like slutty mac n’ cheese and Coke as offerings?

As for the things we talked about; I’ll keep those and make my own use for them. Hopefully my creative flow will return with one less negative presence floating around. If she tries using our ideas, it’ll be interesting to see what she can create with 1/18th of an archive, compared to my 8/9ths. Regret writing off the position of scribe, bitch?

Good luck toting along that idea of accomplishing anything with it. You say you’re too busy being a housewife, and too anxious to work on anything, and how some days you’re too disabled to get out of bed. Yet you still wanted to take my half of the work, as if you’re somehow entitled to it? When I’ve been putting in 175% more effort, the entire time? What a self-absorbed jerk. And she said that I lacked empathy.

Oh, and that box you so badly want me to send? If you want it, come and get it. After all, isn’t that exactly what you told me when I asked you for your portion of the archive - like a true scribe - and the debt you owe me - like a responsible adult? Oh, and my asking for status updates once a month was asking too frequently. How frequently am I supposed to go off of when you say ‘I’ll pay you back as soon as I can’? How in the world do I lack empathy when you say you’re too ‘disabled’ to get a job, and I come up with the perfect compromise, saying you draw your way out of the hole? I’m not heartless, I can be accommodating. That’s why I said you could draw stuff for me in the first place, rather than coughing up $500 out of thin air. But making someone wait 18 months is way over the line, even for you. That’s not me pestering and lacking empathy. That’s me holding you accountable for your shortcomings, and demanding resolutions. Welcome to adulthood, honey~ If the utility companies and landlord can pester you for money once a month, why the fuck can’t I?

Bitch, if I had treated you the way you treat me, our friendship would have died when you cheated on me in 2014. I don’t care if you’re a Leo; according to NASA, you’re a fucking Cancer, and you certainly acted like the disease you are.

You set up the dynamite on the strong bridge we had, and this time, I’m done cutting wires. Burn down the bridge; I’m the last solid one you had, and we both know it. You burned the bridge with your parents, older brothers, friends from high school, family in Mexico; heck, even your current girlfriend’s family doesn’t like you all that much, and your bridge with her isn’t all that stable either. Why would you get back with someone who dumped you three days before you leave on a three month trip, and then three years later started talking to you as if nothing happened? You dumped me for that type of terrible person.

You said you could deal with only one emotionally unstable girlfriend. Now your current one is too unstable to hold down a decently paying job, couldn’t care less if you had health insurance, decent glasses, therapy to deal with whatever issues you’re still carrying in life; now we’re adding onto that list a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, and food to eat. Both of you are at risk of ending up in a shelter. No support system, no pets, no money. Had you stayed with me, you would’ve been provided for, kept healthy, surrounded by your chosen pets, receiving much-needed therapy to get over your abusive tendencies, but nope. You decided to go with the person you could more readily fuck on any given basis.

You tried bowing out five times over the eight years we’ve known each other. I never tried bowing out once. You burned me, and wounded me, and shattered my heart, but I never thought about cutting you out of my life. I never abandoned you, I never cut you down, but guess what? You’ve lost a very loyal friend with your antics. You called me an aggressor, you called me a passive-aggressive dirtbag, you implied I wasn’t honest with you about my feelings, you stated that I was not looking out for your best interests, and that I was intentionally trying to keep you from ever being happy. Never, in the long on-going conversation with you, did I ever call you names, did I ever give you suggestions that I thought were outside your control or were malicious in nature; heck, most of my good ideas you never entertained or dismissed without explanation. I always offered my support, or tried to distract you with our work in an attempt to keep you happy. But no. You’re tossing all of that aside because you’re too narcissistic to swallow your pride, set aside your anxieties for a bit, and care for yourself, and show a shred of humanity for me. All of that comes from a very twisted mind with a very clouded worldview.

You made your bed. You can lay in it. I am not going to save you anymore, and if you lose your bed, the only one to blame is yourself. You can’t burn me with your inaction any longer. You left it up to me to call it quits, and I’m fucking done with your heaping helping of nope. Good luck on the streets. I hear that skinny Mexican girls are a niche market down there.

#Dear John letter #Dear Jane letter?#Either way #her name starts with J #so it doesn't really matter #breakup #breakups #burn notice #break up letter #bad blood #tainted history #excerpt from the book I'll never write

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50books50movies · 7 years

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The LEGO Batman Movie (2017), Logan (2017), and The Fate of the Furious (2017)

Trailer

I’m at an age where many of my friends have become or will become parents. Since I was the first person in my peer circle to become a father, they sometimes turned to me to ask what advice, practical or philosophical, I could give about becoming a parent. By this point, I’ve refined my patter to a performance. I will consistently tell my friends, “Don’t have kids.” Either that draws them in further to inevitably ask why, or they take the words on the superficial level and move on with the conversation. If they ask why I, a father of a delightful kid, would say that, I ask if they want the practical or the philosophical reasons. The practical reasons are simple: having a child is a major financial commitment, a guarantee that you will never have a sound night of sleep ever again (and not just because an infant’s needs will interrupt your sleep), and a turning point in the relationship that you and your partner have. You and your partner’s relationship may not survive; the roles that you and you partner played in the relationship before you became parents will not be the roles that you will play after. The philosophical reasons are based in pessimism: if we accept that any actions that lead to the suffering of others is immoral, then having a child is an immoral act because human sentience means that we all live in constant pain born from a terror of knowing that our lives are finite. We are always dying. We die every second. In response to the absurd notion that we are born only so we can live to know that we will die, the most common options are: commit suicide, embrace the absurdity of life, or to recognize how absurd life is and rebel. How could you then morally justify creating life?

What could have been in the creative air to inspire three major blockbuster films (The LEGO Batman Movie, Logan, and The Fate of the Furious) from three different distributors (Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, and Universal Pictures, respectively) to tackle the ideas of family unity and fatherhood in three different ways? (And it’s noted that these three films offer their takes on fatherhood specifically, not parenthood.) I suppose it’s natural that someone will explore the paradoxical idea that characters like Batman and Wolverine, who are so often defined as loners who don’t believe that they deserve human connections to other people would actually have many relationships that form an extended family with characters who choose to be with them. In other words, you could imagine Batman, Wolverine, and Dominic Toretto each saluting their respective families with their beverages of choice.

Colorful and bombastic, The LEGO Batman Movie contextualizes the characters around Batman as his extended family. From Alfred the patriarch (voice by Ralph Fiennes) to Batman (Will Arnett) to Batman’s adopted son, Robin (Michael Cera), to Batman’s co-dependent nemesis, the Joker (Zach Galifianakis), to Batman and Joker’s extended work friends and acquaintances like Harley Quinn (Jenny Slate), Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson), and Clayface, the many bonds that Batman has with the world around him are highlighted in bright neon explosions. As Batman’s surrogate father and like a father who worries about his kid’s ability to make the right kind of friends at school or meet the right partner, Alfred worries about his charge’s ability to form social bonds that will sustain Batman if he were to ever die.

The film’s inciting incident is Batman breaking the Joker’s heart by telling him that he means nothing to him; the movie ends with a play on romantic comedy beats by climaxing with Batman and the Joker telling each other that they hate each other. It’s the psychosexual dynamic between the two that Frank Miller famously explored in The Dark Knight Returns and Scott Snyder years later in “Death of the Family” sanitized for the elementary school set.

The cinematic versions of Batman always come around to embrace the idea that Batman isn’t the loner that he thinks he is. He travels with gods like Superman and Wonder Woman. In The LEGO Batman Movie, he craves the attention from his peers in the Justice League so badly that he has to put up a front to pretend that he doesn’t want it when he doesn’t get it. In other films, he actually founds the Justice League.

He’s also a father figure, whether in the figurative sense (Batman’s vigilantism gives birth to a more demented class of villains, and his rogues slowly transition from mobsters to supervillains) in a more literal sense (Batman becomes the guardian to the various Robins over the years and the central figure in a cohort of vigilantes, from the Huntress to Spoiler to Red Hood to Batwoman to Batwing). Michael Cera’s performance as Robin in The LEGO Batman Movie makes the character guileless and eager to please than normal to contrast with the bravado that Will Arnett infuses into his Batman.

Like his bald counterpart in The LEGO Batman Movie (coincidentally portrayed by Ralph, another Englishman, Fiennes), Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier is concerned that Logan (Hugh Jackman) will lose his chance to reforge a connection to the wider world around him in Logan. Bitter, broken-hearted, and betrayed by his body, Xavier insists to Logan that there is still time for him to reconnect with the world after the rest of the X-Men were killed when Logan meets Laura (Dafne Keen). Logan, Laura, and Charles’s adventure across America remind Logan what a warm household full of affection, as the X-Mansion might have been once, looks like compared to the dusty and solitary existence he, Caliban (Stephen Merchant), and Charles lived in Mexico as he tried to raise enough money to go somewhere so he and Charles can die in peace. As Logan undergoes this journey and reforges connections, he travels from a dusty broken down industrial plant to a neon-bathed city to a corn farm and back to nature, his soul undergoing a revival even as his body continues its breakdown.

Both Logan and Batman begin their films as reluctant fathers, each haunted by loss and unable to figure out the hedgehog’s dilemma. Both are convinced that their lonely lives are the only ways that they can pass their days. Both are pushed by their surrogate father figures to bond with children who unexpectedly enter their lives. And both try to demonstrate their acceptance of the responsibility of fatherhood through sacrifice. Logan overdoses on a drug in order to protect Laura and her friends from a physical avatar of his wild past, while Batman volunteers to return to the Phantom Zone to honor the agreement he made with the Phantom Zone’s keeper that allowed him to return to save his fledgling family.

There’s a thrill to seeing Logan cut a bloody swath across the screen, but the film’s melancholy gives it a bitter taste. The shock of Logan cutting off an arm from a man who was trying to steal the tires from his rented limousine is undercut by how hard it was for the legendary Wolverine to fend off those four men. The excitement of Logan bearing his claws at Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and the Reavers is undermined by how ineffectual Logan is against them. You might be surprised that Logan is casually murdering Reavers who were trying to capture Xavier, but the surprise is subverted by the realization that the Reavers were completely defenseless and neutralized by Xavier’s psychic seizure. Logan facing down goons to help Will Munson (Eriq La Salle), a farmer that he helped on his journey, but his violence against the Reavers and the goons only brings more violence upon the Munsons, which leaves them all dead. In the climax, Logan is temporarily restored to his former vitality due to a healing serum, but by the end of that burst of violence, Logan can barely stand. Violence in Logan is a bittersweet fruit.

Every time Logan fights the Reavers, they come back with more and stronger soldiers. When he faces them in Mexico, the Reavers have heavily armed Mexican police officers riding in SUVs. By the time that he faces them in North Dakota, the Reavers have armored trucks, jeeps with mounted machine guns, and a young feral clone of Logan. Nonetheless, Logan can’t help but feel fatherly pride during the climactic fight against the Reavers. Laura had already saved him once after he collapsed on the side of a highway by getting him medical attention. But he becomes proud of her when she fights to defend her friends against the Reavers, and they coordinate their attacks. They bond through violence because, as Xavier said, they’re very alike.

The price of violence makes explicit the idea that becoming a parent raises the stakes. One might be tempted to quit an unsatisfactory, unfulfilling, underpaying job, but the income or health insurance from that job might be the only thing that protects your family from deprivation. One might be tempted to lash out at the world or to go it alone, but that might be the selfish thing to do.

James Mangold, the director of Logan and one of the screenwriters, along with Scott Frank and Michael Green, unintentionally struck political relevance in the current political climate. The film’s development began in 2013, and the screenplay was complete by early 2016, around the same time that Donald Trump was campaigning for President of the United States on a platform of xenophobia and racism. In the film’s opening scenes, we see Logan chauffering four young white men past a Mexico-US border checkpoint. They’re standing through the limo’s sunroof, chanting “USA!” at the immigrants waiting to pass the border. By March 2017, President Trump’s administration is floating trial balloons to test the idea of separating women and children who are caught crossing the Mexico-US border together. Laura and her friends are Mexican children whose humanity has been denied by a corporation so they can be experimented upon and trained to be weapons. As Donald Pierce references repeatedly throughout Logan, Laura and her friends are commodities, patented intellectual properties of the company that employs him. Whereas other X-Men stories would be metaphors about how the Other is demonized, here the Other is completely dehumanized. Principal photography for Logan ended in August 2016, but the idea that Laura and her friends are not seeking refuge in the United States because the United States is not a hospitable place for children born from Mexican mothers and the image that they are running toward the Canadian border to seek asylum make for accidentally potent juxtaposition.

While The LEGO Batman Movie and Logan present their protagonists in trigenerational families, The Fate of the Furious presents two different types of families. There’s the circle of friends that become a family that Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) often toasts with a bottle of Corona. Then, there’s also the son that he and Elena (Elsa Pataky) created during their relationship when he thought that Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) was dead. Dominic accepts fatherhood without reservation and is willing to betray his la familia in order to protect his biological family until he can find a way to save his son from Cipher (Charlize Theron, mostly underutilized in the film), a legendary cyberterrorist who is blackmailing Dominic to steal an EMP device, a Russian nuclear football, and a Russian nuclear submarine for her.

There is, of course, another father in la familia who is noticeably absent. Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), Mia Toretto, and their son are written out of the film with a line delivered by Letty to explain that they cannot contact Brian for his help in subduing Dominic and capture Cipher. Within the context of the film, this allows Brian and Mia to raise their child in peace, though I cannot imagine that they would feel much peace watching news reports of the theft of an EMP device in Germany, the assault on a Russian defense minister in New York City, or the chaos in New York when la familia attempted to take Dominic down. Outside of that context, this allows Walker, a father himself, to live on through his character.

With Brian removed, The Fate of the Furious screenwriter has to pile the human pathos on to Dominic, Letty, and Elena, and the film creaks and moans under the pressure. Making Dominic a father certainly raises the stakes for him, and the film is focused only on what becoming a father would mean to Dominic. Unfortunately, the film again can only define Dominic’s fatherhood by his sacrifice of his honor and his betrayal of his familia; the film is completely uninterested in Elena’s experience or perspective as the child’s mother. Because the existence of Dominic and Elena’s son is a shock revelation, there’s no time for them to form a connection or for the viewer to form a connection to them. We feel sympathy for Dominic in theory (one can only imagine the horror of someone holding your child hostage and leveraging them to make you commit crimes and betray your loved ones), but the film tries to split our focus by making us feel the pain from Letty’s perspective as the loved one who is abandoned for unexplained reasons. It’s an attempt to give Dominic a shade of humanity, but it’s done only in abstract.

By comparison, we have a better sense of the surrogate paternal relationship between Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) and his trainee, Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) or between Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and his daughter, Samantha (Eden Estrella). Hobbs is a devoted father to Samantha and a committed coach to her soccer team; the cinematic appeal of their relationship lies in Johnson’s charm and their characters’ shared history, which dates back to Furious 7. Even the Nobodies evoke a more real emotional reaction than Dominic and his son because we see how they interact with each other and how Mr. Nobody tries to teach Little Nobody the tricks of the trade.

Without the human connection, the spectacle of The Fate of the Furious felt hollow. I should have been wowed by remotely controlled cars barreling through New York City’s streets and raining from parking lots in skyscrapers, but I was bored. I should have been impressed when Dominic and company were racing across ice away from a nuclear submarine, but I was bored and almost nodding off. While the stakes for Dominic as a character were raised with his son’s introduction, the movie itself felt rote, from Cipher’s poorly outlined motivations to a moment that upends the importance of family that is the core of the franchise.

Dominic pays tribute to the bond between his peers that form la familia. However, there is dissonance in the way that Letty, Roman (Tyrese Gibson), and Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) seemed to have no objection to Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) joining the team. Shaw murdered Han Lue/Han Seoul-Oh and attempted to kill Dominic, Mia, Brian, and Mia and Brian’s son in Furious 7. Even though Dominic was desperate, contacting Deckard’s mother (Helen Mirren) in order to convince her to persuade Deckard and Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), who has his own disagreeable history with Dominic and company, to save Dominic’s son seemed to betray Han’s memory and to put aside the threats that were made to his family.

The LEGO Batman Movie, Logan, and The Fate of the Furious presented their respective protagonists in non-traditional families. Batman adopts Robin, and they form a trigenerational family with Alfred. Logan becomes Laura’s de facto guardian, and they form a trigenerational family with Xavier. Dominic, Letty, and Dominic’s biological son form a blended family. Indeed, the only traditional nuclear families that we see in these films are the Waynes, which is broken when Batman’s parents are murdered, and the Munsons in Logan.

You could strain to draw a connection between how casually the Munsons are killed to how dystopian the world in Logan is, but the Munsons’ deaths feel almost cruel. From the moment that Logan stops the truck to help them wrangle their horses, the audience begins to wait for the Munsons to die. It gives the otherwise tranquil scenes of Logan, Xavier, and Laura observing what a normal family looks like as they dine together suspenseful tension. Their deaths for doing nothing more than extending hospitality to Logan, Xavier, and Laura felt like a manipulative exercise in cynicism and nihilism. They’re collateral damage in Logan’s violence trap, and the viewer empathizes with Will Munson when he pulls the trigger on Logan after they’ve incapacitated X-24, the younger, feral clone of Logan that was sent to subdue and capture Laura. With his dying breath, Will doesn’t distinguish between X-24 and Logan because they are both monsters that trampled the Munsons’ lives. That the gun’s chamber was empty only emphasizes that violence, even in the cynical world of Logan, isn’t a solution.

Finally, if we accept the notion that becoming a parent is one of the few rites of passage into adulthood left in today’s America, then the other side of that passage is observing your own parents’ decline and eventual death. In Logan, Charles Xavier is suffering Alzheimer’s disease, and Logan and Caliban are Xavier’s sole caregivers. When Xavier doesn’t recognize Logan, he is afraid of him because, to Xavier, Logan is the person who drugs him into unconsciousness. When Xavier is awake and lucid enough to recognize Logan, he berates him for being a disappointment. Xavier’s seizures cause Logan physical pain, and his words cause Logan emotional pain. Xavier is angry at himself and Logan because he needs Logan’s help with something as fundamental as using the bathroom; Logan is resentful for Xavier’s role in the Westchester incident, the physical and emotional pain that Xavier causes him, and the fact that he has to take care of his father figure in his decline.

It was curious to me that three different and big budget films released within two months of each other wove in different ideas about fatherhood into their tales. Each film tried to examine its respective protagonist through the lens of fatherhood and came away with slightly different conclusions. Batman, for as much as he describes himself to be a loner, is character with myriad connections. Logan, another self-professed loner, can’t help but to connect to his daughter when they both do what they do best, even though what they do isn’t very nice and could trap them in cycles of violence. Dominic, a man who talks constantly about his familia, showed that his biological family is ultimately more important to him than the friends and peers around him.

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