#As was more importantly the author of the article in question
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Mine || Charles Leclerc #16
pairing: charles leclerc x girlfriend!reader
summary: in which seeing people ship you with other drivers fuels the possessiveness in charles.
author notes: can u tell ive been obsessed with culpa mia. also this is my first charles fic (!!!) i made sm tweaks to the original req im so sorry 😭 deff been in a slump recently bc exams but 🙏 no beta read!! this one is still raw asf lol
req: yes/no.
wc: 1.2k words
————
the air as the weekend approached was filled with an adrenaline of its own. drivers loitering on the paddock, a camera shoved up each one of their faces. most of them were making videos for their teams social media, while others were giving interviews. silly banter & playful hazing surrounded the place as the free practices neared. as calm and laid back as the environment was, a new buzz had taken over the virtual world. it seemed like the redbull fans had taken on a new intrest in a the friendship you and max shared, suspecting it could be more than just friends. you’re shocked as you read through the articles, what could possibly make it seem like you were both in any sense more than just friends? max was like the brother you never had, and you, the sister he had always hoped of having. as much as the articles were delusional, you didnt really care that much about them, i mean why would you be afraid when there’s nothing youre scared of being open to the public? okay, maybe not everything. not the time when you were so drunk you demanded every guy on the paddock to quote “settle it with me on the ring”, not the time when you were the culprit behind the hilarious azerbaijan mix up where you stole the champagne on the podium and replaced it with an empty one, and definitely not the fact that you’re already taken, by a person known to all on the paddock.
—
The morning of the race was always an exhilarating one no matter which team youre driving for, or which team you’re rooting for. the passion, the dedication and the confidence in the each and every drivers persona was enough to fill you in the same mindset. though youve always been a redbull fan, which, i mean is definitely not even surprising considering you probably frequent their garage more than some of their own engineers, youve always held an admiration for all the drivers. even you knew how dominant the redbull cars were, so seeing the rest of the drivers still catch up with less resources filled your heart with pride. you look up at the fan’s waiting impatiently for the race to start with a smile on your face. this, will never get boring, you think.
Lord Percival 👑
can’t find you anywhere near here, don’t tell me you’re ditching me today yet again 😔
a chuckle escapes your lips.
You
i wouldve come over but you’re all the way across rn 😭 i’ll definitely be waiting for you after the race tho.
Lord Percival 👑
wow. way to betray me over text babe
You
okay drama queen 😒
Lord Percival 👑
guess you rubbed off on me then mon jolie
You
ill make it up to you, i always do.
just before you press send, you notice the drivers had already left for their respective interviews. whats the point in sending it now anyways, you decide.
—
the dark looms over the sky as celebrations near. the smell of alcohol, weed and god knows fucking what become all too familiar to you at this point. you reach the party alongside max, which considering he’s your best friend was not out of the ordinary for you, but little did you know, it didn’t help the ongoing rumours one bit. the familiar stench of reporters clogs your mind. what the hell were the doing here? and more importantly why were all of them suddenly taking an intrest in your friendship with max? question after question is thrown at you which makes you realise youve had enough of this. you reach for your phone.
You
screw this party
wanna meet up at our usual spot?
Lord Percival 👑
im always down 🙏
—
you could never get sick of this. the same ride, the same atmosphere, the exact same playlist playing over and over again, the curves of the road as you drive through. because you know, at the end of this journey would be the same thing you look forward to, every time. so you get into you car, and drive the same drive to the same spot, once again. at a pillar reading out “623” you stop by the ferrari you know all too well.
there he was. i could never get used to seeing him like this, you think, dressed up in formals but looking formal in no way whatsoever. shriveled hair, buttons unbuttoned, jewellery he knows how to style in just the right way. his crazed eyes of emerald, gazing into you with an intensity that makes your nerves shiver.
“took you long enough to come here” he says, holding you waist. “it was a longer drive than usual” “is that so?” he says, stepping aside you to rest against his ferrari, right beside you. folding his arms, he continues, pulling a cigarette out of his blazer, “want one?” “please, today was a bitch” “i could say the same for me, really” he reaches towards you, lighting your cigarette. “races in monaco are my favourite” he says, looking up at the sky. “yeah, id imagine so. nothing beats home” “yeah, it’s great to be home and all, but theres also something in monaco that beats the thrill any race could give me” he steps forwards, hands placed beside either sides of you.
he pulls the cigarette from your lips, taking in a puff himself. he brings his lips to your ear, “or rather, theres someone in monaco, who beats the thrill any race could give me” he whispers, blowing the smoke away. he flicks the cigarette aside and steps on it, as he lifts your face up, meeting your eyes with his own. “someone who sighs right when i kiss her here,” he goes on to place a chaste kiss on your mole, right on your neck by your jawline. and like a story repeated enough times, you sigh. “someone who arches her back when i pull her hair slightly like this,” he gently tugs your hair, making a makeshift ponytail and like a telltale, you arch your back, the satisfaction of being right sprawled across charles’s face.
“but of all, the one thing that makes me come back to this place again and again, is knowing that—“ he lifts your hips up, making you wrap your legs around him. “you’re mine.” the second he says that, its like all the dots connected in your head. you never thought charles would be jealous of the rumours, given how he was the one who didn’t want your relationship to be public. “charles, are you jealous?” you ask. “so what if i am?” “well, i for one wouldnt want my boyfriend to be feeling like that anymore” “what do you mean?” you pull out your phone from your clutch, “kiss me” “wait what are you doing?” “i said, kiss me” you say, pulling him in by his jaw. “im conf-“ you kiss him, shutting him up. as he closes his eyes he finds himself to not be able to help himself from drowning into you, well atleast until a flash brings him out of his trance. “im going to post it.” “you don’t have to, you know” “but i want to. i want everyone to know how much you mean to me charles. you’re my favourite person and i would hate to see you be jealous”
——
“i can’t believe you actually did it, jolie” “its the least i could do” you say, pecking his cheek. “but ive gotta say, i definitely wouldnt mind seeing this shade of you more often” “you haven’t seen the end of me yet, mon ange”
#charles leclerc fluff#charles leclerc x reader#charles leclerc#charles leclerc fanfic#charles leclerc smut#charles leclerc fanfiction#charles leclerc blurb#charles leclerc imagine#formula one#formula 1#f1 2023#ferrari#charles leclerc scenario
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every—lesser known—canon fact about Levi Ackerman.
infamously over the years, there have been countless false rumors about Levi in particular out of the cast. many of them have become popular, even ubiquitous, and it's annoying!
and also disheartening when you find out it's not true....
and hurtful when you realize it was - sometimes - made up by trolls.
so i'm making this post<3
credit to @levisfavoriteacup for the idea!!
*disclaimer: i'm not perfect, so this may not be Everything™️ but I am confident that it's the majority of information available, and that it's trustworthy. :)
First the most populars. There is no evidence across interviews nor other content over the years that:
Levi is ugly, and is considered ugly in AOT.
Nope. See here: (tumblr link), or:
Isayama finished his first sketch of Levi mostly on a whim, but the moment he drew his face, he had a sense it would work well / he knew he had something good. Something told him: "the yaoi fangirls are going to like this one".
As time passed and his popularity grew, Isayama caught onto this and wanted to portray him more attractively (in multiple ways) to the viewer/reader.
But from the beginning, this was something of the goal. He is short because Isayama had in mind what young women/fangirls in Japan consider attractive: a man with a higher-pitch voice; has a small face; and who is "short but strong".
In the world of AOT, he (in a nutshell) is mostly considered plain or awkward, but combined with his reputation and style, he's very charming. "He cleans up nice." Overall, it is positive :) But more importantly, realistic I think.
He's also something of a celebrity. People who advertise their product as being used by him are more successful; when he's seen in a shop, this by itself is considered "advertising" and more people come in. Quote: ""the tea that the hero bought”".
He's definitely not a 2/10 at any rate😇.
—the 24th episode of Naoki Yoshida's Anime Plan, 2013 / Interview with Frau Magazine, 2013 | Hajime Isayama x Hikaru Suruga (2014) | AU Smartpass - Erwin & Levi Close Up Interview Part 1 | Taking shelter from the rain reprise: Levi and Peaure
Levi’s type would be someone who’s "tough, feminine and sensual".
Levi's type "might" be tall people. But context matters, because in multiple translations "don't you think?" and "might be" are thrown around a lot. Isayama isn't known for his clarity. When asked, he practically said the question right back.
—fan Q&A from a festival in Betsumaga, Aug.2014
What this quote might have come from is a statement by the author of an article Isayama was likely involved in. I can't say this is 100% canon, but in my opinion it's a little less canon than the Smartpass AUs; if those are sub-canon, then this is sub-sub-canon:
Levi's romantic type is someone who walks three steps behind him, and likes cleaning.
In the past, in Japanese culture, for a wife to walk three steps behind her husband implied highly traditional gender roles. What this is much more likely to mean is that Levi's romantic type is someone who will let him protect them, or will run away and survive even if it costs his life. (And they have to like cleaning.)
—the article is from 2013, and no longer exists. but the link was used as recently as 2021 as a source in this post by a reliable translator. I've found this quote also in varying qualities of translation across Japanese and English forums, so to the best of my knowledge, it's reliable.
Levi's cravat is a piece of his mother's dress + he was wearing her dress when Kenny found him.
This is a popular rumor that Isayama has never confirmed (i think it is true, tho.)
December 25th was chosen by his comrades because he doesn't know his actual birthday.
The guidebook only states that it is his birthday. I can't find any more context on this.
—AOT Guidebook; p.256
His character profile:
—AOT Guidebook; p.78–79
His name is Hebrew, and means "attached" or to be "joined".
Isayama came up with Levi's name after watching American documentary "Jesus Camp". (It's about a summer camp-type program where evangelical Christian children are taught extreme beliefs. One of the children was named Levi.) Isayama heard it and thought it sounded cool.
—Hajime Isayama x Hikaru Suruga (2014) | 2010 blogpost by Isayama
Levi is in his early 30s (in s3/RtS/volume 19).
–Interview, Universal Studios Japan’s SNK THE REAL exhibition, 2016 | confirmation
If Kuchel was still alive, Levi would want to make sure she had an easy life. This means specifically filial piety, a concept exclusive to the East: he would fulfill his duties as a son for her.
(tldr he's a mama's boy :3)
—Bessatsu Magazine, 2019
Levi would have thin facial hair, but he prefers not to, so he shaves frequently.
—January 2020 issue of Bessatsu Magazine (chapter 124)
He doesn't like coffee milk or coffee jelly. They're out of the question even.🤐
—July 2018 issue of Bessatsu Magazine (chapter 106)
He just gets depressed when he drinks coffee. Maybe he loves tea that much?
He stopped calling Hange names like 'shitty glasses' since they became commander because he "seems" to respect their position that much.
However, a Smartpass story delves deeper into this (and states as I suspected):
[After Hange makes a joke] "Since becoming the commander succeeding Erwin, they’d toned down on their past speech and behaviour that had a touch of tomfoolery; Levi understanding that they were nevertheless trying to maintain the self “that was the case then”, also loses the will to curse at them."
+
"In the past, Hange had a Hange-type dream, and should have been progressing to that purpose. That lately, was it the weight of the office of commander, or was it due to the reality that is “all the world was our enemy”, their manner had changed considerably."
—May 2017 issue of Bessatsu Magazine (chapter 92) | Goodnight. Sweet dreams, dear. Act II: Levi
If he and Kenny had fought one-on-one, Levi would've won.
—December 2016 issue of Bessatsu Magazine (chapter 87)
intermission: all about tea
His favorite "food" is black tea. No actual food.
He doesn't add sugar or milk to his tea because he considers it too expensive—which it is canonically. Despite this, he will share his tea with his comrades (his original squad as far as is seen).
Even though he's Captain, he'd rather drink it straight (the implications of which are he's a hardworking man, like that of a farmer. aka, this makes him seem humble).
If a time of peace ever came, Levi wants to open a black tea shop (he said in a dreamlike way, not so much based in reality).
He also knows a good amount of facts and history about it. He's a tea enthusiast!!
Levi receives pilfered tea in shipments monthly, thanks to Erwin.
—AU Smartpass - Erwin & Levi Close Up Interview Part 2 | Part 1 | Taking shelter from the rain reprise: Levi and Peaure | Bessatsu Magazine, Jan.2014 | September 2016 issue of Bessatsu Magazine (chapter 84) | AU Smartpass My First Time Around: Levi Ackerman | The Case of the Corps Tea Party - File No. 09 Levi's Side (3/3) | sugar and milk in tea from the Japanese perspective
Levi, out of his original squad, found Petra cute/sweet in the general sense of the word "kawaii".
Like Levi's romantic type however, this was sort of a non-answer to the question (of whether Levi thought she was cute).
—2014 interview
After RtS, Levi seems to consider Hange and the 104th his family.
—AU Smartpass My First Time Around: Levi Ackerman
He wears a cravat because Isayama based part of his design off Rorschach from the movie 'Watchmen'.
He looks "delicate" because of his size and weight, but he's so powerful because [in issues before the reveal of the Ackerman bloodline] of "invisible power" at work.
—January 2016 issue of Bessatsu Magazine (chapter 76)
The best way to describe the way he thinks is to compare him to the main character from the movie The Hurt Locker (2008).
His character was born from Hiei from the manga 'Yuyu Hakusho', and Rorschach from the movie 'Watchmen'. The former was the basis for his appearance (especially his eyes), and the latter was the basis for his personality. Firstly though, Isayama had an image of a small man being the strongest.
—Hajime Isayama x Hikaru Suruga (2014) / Brutus Magazine (2014)
He is something of a protagonist (especially in s3p1).
— Animedia, June 2018
His favorite tool (in general...?) is microfiber cloths (for dust I guess. Levi has no need for weapons :3)
—July 2015 issue of Bessatsu Magazine
He will usually laugh/smile when he sees convenient cleaning goods (i.e., vacuum cleaners? feather dusters? ((cuz he's a shorty?❤️))
—Bessatsu Magazine, Dec. 2013
He does want to be taller sometimes.
He gets eager to clean up after meals rather than cook at all. He can cook, though.
—Bessatsu Magazine, Aug.2014 | fan Q&A in Oyama, Oita, Mar.2018
Levi mostly couldn't adapt to the changes that came about after the truth was discovered. Only he wears mostly the same uniform, cape, and blades.
After RtS, Levi personally retrieved Erwin's remains himself, for whom there was a special memorial service.
After Eren (inadvertently) called him a "tiny old man" in season 3, Levi didn't care, but when he thought of it by himself later, he was hurt (unclear exactly why).
Levi's father, most likely one of Kuchel's customers, is an insignificant man who's short. That's where Levi's height comes from. His face comes from his mother.
At the start of season 4, Levi didn't change much compared to the 104th because he's turning into an "old man" who'd rather stick with his flip phone so to speak.
He "doesn't break out into cold sweats". AKA he's always calm under pressure.
He considers prostitution to be an ordinary job because of his childhood.
Levi's vision is very sharp, way above average.
He thought Eren's new look beginning season 4 was unclean/dirty (in more ways than one perhaps).
—fan Q&A in Oyama, Oita, Mar.2018
He has slight bouts of insomnia.
He never snaps/explodes when he's angry. But he does get angry or grumpy a lot, in general.
He doesn't sing. It's more likely he would dance.
If he was a fan of Momoiro Clover Z (jpop girl group), his favorite would be Momoka.
When/if he drinks, he has a high tolerance, but he can get a little drunk :)
One thing he highly hates and fears is mold.
He is the one who ordered Armin to dress as Historia during the uprising.
His blood type is A. Blood types are much like horoscopes in Japanese culture, and Levi's is as such: kichōmen, or well-organized; he likes keeping things neat, but can be stubborn and stressed out easily.
Whether he eats enough or has a good diet? He is "a bit lax".
Maybe he forgets to eat sometimes, or has a low appetite.
When Levi bathes, he goes for a quick shower then soak in hot water, which takes about ten minutes. Like a bird :'))
He on any given night gets about 2-3 hours of sleep.
He thought Eren was the best at cleaning (in season 3 / uprising arc).
Because of his childhood in the Underground, Levi has a preoccupation/obsession with cleaning (specifically to ward off disease).
He also doesn't have any pajamas, mostly keeping day clothes on when he goes to sleep - which is in "his" chair.
Levi cuts his own hair using clippers. (Something like:)
He's aware Oluo imitated him, and found it annoying.
Levi's horoscope (in general) as a Capricorn:
Humanity’s Strongest Soldier - Levi. He possesses warmth in the midst of a dispassionate nature, and he is capable of leadership without verbal expression – both of which are special qualities of a Capricorn. Capricorns tend to hold certain levels of authority, even if they must carry out somewhat unreasonable tactics while in such positions. But when such authority is backed up with actual abilities, a Capricorn can gain Levi’s type of confidence and also be put on a pedestal by those around them.
However, Capricorns won’t be dependent on others, much less trust them easily. They don’t hold high expectations and thus never feel a sense of failure.
Levi’s faults include the inability to express himself clearly. Even though he wants to encourage his companions, he always speaks in a roundabout way, and without Hanji’s translation it’s nearly impossible to understand Levi’s intended meaning.
Even though he is dependable in most situations, when it comes to love/romance, he expresses himself clumsily/awkwardly.
—FRaU Magazine, Aug.2014. | fan Q&A in Oyama, Oita, Mar.2018 | Levi: Close-up Report (Part One) | Translator
*the horoscope wasn't written by Isayama, but was published alongside canon information, and it's also not factually wrong, so I'm including it.
The dark circles under Levi’s eyes are to convey the “self-destruction” he takes on to reach the “standard” of Humanity’s Strongest.
—Interview on the topic of Levi, May 2015
His 'liege'—as Eren is to Mikasa, and Uri is to Kenny—is Erwin.
He is afraid of making deep relationships because of the cruel world he lives in; he can't know when someone he cares for will die or how soon.
That 'gap' left in Levi's heart by Kenny's death was filled by his squad (the 104th).
If Levi hadn't joined the Survey Corps, he would've been a "very irresponsible person". Risky with his life perhaps?
As a kid, Levi used to make himself stronger in order to receive praise from Kenny. When he abandoned him, he wondered what his strength was even for. He was able to find peace with Kenny after his death.
In CH72, the reason Levi kicked the shit out of Eren and Jean is because of his argument with Erwin earlier.
He knows he's a slave to his own strength, aka the idea of being a hero. He realizes it when Kenny asked what he's a slave to in s3/ch69.
—Answers Guidebook, Aug.2016
If he ever changed his appearance, the one thing Levi couldn't be able to give up is his undercut :') He would grow out the top and tie it up :3
—Oyama homecoming event Q&A in 2014 | 2 | 3
Levi knows how to use a gun, but he "places more trust" in knives.
—Bessatsu Magazine, 2019
Levi tolerates saunas. But instead of enjoying himself he seems to see it as a test of endurance. (LOL)
—Bessatsu Magazine, 2020
Levi has newspaper-level handwriting that he practices often. He's very conscious of it and being connected back to the Underground.
—AU Smartpass TEXT: Levi’s Signature
Isayama had considered killing Levi around the time of the thunderspear explosion. (As always) Isayama deliberated with his editors whether or not it'd be meaningful if he died, and they decided it wouldn't be.
—Kawakubo interview, 2021
Specially, Levi holds his swords in a reverse grip "his own way" since he wasn't officially trained.
—Illustrate Note Magazine, 2017
Levi forcefully bathes Hange by knocking them unconscious.
—AU Smartpass - Erwin & Levi Close Up Interview Part 1
Levi is 4 at the time that Kuchel dies.
—What the director informed Kamiya Hiroshi of on set
His character song is called "Dark Side of the Moon", found on YouTube here. Translated lyrics here.
how to draw Levi:
—AOT Guidebook; p.229 | +Illustrate Note Magazine, 2017
#please share... this took days of time and effort#levi aot#snk levi#snk levi ackerman#levi ackerman#levi attack on titan#captain levi#rivaille heichou#levi heichou#captain levi ackerman#levi rivaille#rivaille ackerman#aot manga#snk#levi art#levi shingeki no kyojin#attack on titan#levi.thoughts
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Howdy Dr Chuck! It's kinda late but I keep wondering what was up with that deer on the Camp Damascus archery range? I think Rose noticed something was stuck to it or dragging something but I don't think I ever found what was going on and I wondered if you might have an answer you're willing to share? Ps. I LOVED the book and got Bury Your Gays pre ordered!
CAMP DAMASCUS SPOILERS TO FOLLOW: this is a funny one because when i wrote this part i thought it was obvious but i get asked ALL THE TIME about this (maybe most common question about camp damascus besides what is saul listening to in his big scene). so you are NOT ALONE in wondering.
really goes to show how delicate balance is as author when you are wondering HOW MUCH TO SAY in the text. i think my balance was WAY OFF and you are correct in wondering, or maybe its good to keep as a little mystery i do not know
anyway here is answer: as with NEWS ARTICLE about someone finding a worm in the woods at the beginning of book, the 'ligeian worms' are to blame. during breeding program of worms we know that SOME still produce a natural lifecycle while others have had aging bred out of them. those flies escape into the woods from the lab and then grow into ligeian worms that kinda just make this dang timeline their home.
so the deer was confused from its memory loss and the 'deflated football' hanging from its leg was a ligeian worm that had not retracted its dang proboscis. there are a few later on that do this with dr smith it is not common but it happens.
ALSO in case you were wondering they are called ligeian worms because they are a reference to THE CONQUEROR WORM by edgar allen poe but more specifically the story where this poem appears called LIGEIA about a woman with the same name. this story has heavy themes of transformation and most importantly MEMORY LOSS
also since it is left up to the reader to question wether or not the worms and the demons are the same species, i will say THEY ARE NOT.
they are two different natural species from the same other timeline, which is a place we would call hell
THANK YOU FOR ASKING this is great question. LOVE IS REAL
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There's a lot this article touches on, but the parts about fossil preparation are kind of in poor taste. I'll go over some of it under the cut.
There's a reason we usually don't publish on things we prepare. They say it right here - we can literally, whether purposeful or accidental, modify fossils as we see fit. We could imitate pathologies or create marks with air scribes or picks that are misinterpreted as pathologies, remove or obscure parts of a fossil that may be diagnostic, etc. (Of course we don't endear to do these things, they're just possible).
Whether through inexperience or poor dexterity some budding preparators can cause damage that only someone with a trained eye could notice. Preparators aren't always required to be trained in the sciences or have thorough anatomical knowledge, and thus can reconstruct things wrong, without scientific guidance. Like filling holes where there's supposed to be… holes! Like a fenestrum or foramen, for example. This is why we have references, but more importantly, we do the minimum unless instructed to do otherwise by a supervisor or exhibits team - one of a few scenarios where a curator can rightfully step in.
This is why we're trained to preserve almost any bone we see. Often there are small isolated bone chunks hovering in matrix that are thrown in a box with the specimen. A lot of pieces can't be reattached because they're too weathered or of indeterminate origins (“IBF’s” for short).
"Creating" something "artistic" is another way of implying we're making it up as we go.
If someone hands me a fossil and tells me to look at this "multimedia sculpture", I'd be confused. It's a fossil, not an art project.
Academic fossil preparation is fundamentally a scientific endeavor that also requires artistic abilities, but not creativity. We use various methods that are tried and true (and sometimes experiment with new ones) to expose an element from matrix.
The act of preparing a fossil is not providing new data. The fossil itself is the data. We just make it available. That being said, if we provide measurements, take and analyze samples of the matrix for various analyses, then that's providing valuable data. Would that warrant an authorship? Maybe.
This raises another question though. If anyone who worked on a fossil gets an authorship, then can authorship compound?
The person who found the fossil but didn't do anything with it afterwards - just dug it up and sent it to the lab, for example. Do they get to be an author? On our field crews we have up to 30 people over the whole season. 30 coauthors and 99% of them are not scientists.
The collections manager who just painted a number on it, catalogued it, and put it away?
How about the curator who allowed a researcher access to the collection who didn't collect any data but just answered some emails and opened the drawer for it to be studied?
The land owner who gave you permission to dig?
Finally, the preparator who just exposed it from the rock. They do more science inherently than the others, but if no parts of the scientific method were conducted and no data was produced (save for the fossil simply being brought back into the world), do they get an authorship?
tl;dr We don't need authorships for the act of preparing fossils unless we provide data and go through the scientific process (like what's usually required for any authorship). Many parts of the process is not science. Just acknowledge our work in your paper and we'll be more than happy.
#fossil preparator#fossil preparation#science#paleontology#palaeontology#paleoblr#palaeoblr#fossil prep#fossils#dinosaurs#fossil
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Hey, I have a question stemming from the most recent splatoon band lore. My understanding is that a) Shiver is an Octoling b) Octolings did not live on the surface until recently and yet c) Deep cut knew (of) each other as kids. Am I missing something, because I can't figure out how all of these things can be true at the same time.
I've seen some confusion floating about and I've gotten a few asks about this exact thing, so I think its about time I made a little write up about it.
the fault here is in point b. The truth is:
In Inkadia, Octolings did not openly live on the surface until recently.
Meaning that
-outside of Inkadia, there were Octolings living freely.
-within Inkadia, there were Octolings living in Inkopolis in secret, before the events of Octo Expansion, and even before Marina left the army.
For the first point...the band Diss-Pair!
its mentioned in the Haikara Walker artbook that Ikkan met Warabi overseas, as in outside of Inkadia. it's mentioned in Warabi's bio that his parents (presumably octolings!) are famous actors, and that Warabi has toured around many different countries. (source)
And more importantly...
Massive floods were the catalyst for the Great Turf War, with habitable land being an already scarce resource.
Deep Cut's ancestors used their clan's powers to create a whirlpool that drained the floods and saved their homeland.
(ENG just says the '3 lights consumed the disaster' but JP states they made a whirlpool. with the Eiffel tower's presence and all the debris in the crater...could it be the floodwater drained into Alterna?)
So what happens if there's no flood? No war, no octarian exile. I doubt Shiver's clan is the only long standing family of Octolings living freely in that area. after all, Octolings and Inklings living in harmony was the norm before the war.
I'm thinking that the Great Turf War was limited to inkadia... Or its something like the great floods affected various parts of the world, and the GTW was actually a world war, and battles broke out globally. Regardless, not everywhere had such battles between inklings and octolings, such as the Splatlands. (I'm leaning towards it being an inkadia-only thing, but we know next to nothing about the rest of splatoon's earth right now)
Note how far the GTW craters are from the Splatsville. (hi res)
as for Octarians other than Marina living in Inkadia before OE...there's tidbit that implies this.
In Haikara Walker, there's an article about the Inkopolis Backstreets (the s2 tutorial area). It was the center of Inkopolis street fashion culture before Inkopolis plaza took the stage. So at least prior to ME 2014. The article is written in-universe by an author who personally experienced this change in culture over the years. (you can read it here)
At the end, it is revealed the author is an adult octoling wearing a hat and mask to cover some Octarian traits.
(It's just a reused player model. but interesting to think about...woody kawahagi, what is your origin story?)
#asks#splatoon#long post#splatoon lore#please feel free to pass this post along to anyone u see wondering about this#octolings#great turf war#octarians
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Hi! I've seen your recent post about Goodbye Eastern Europe, and I was really interested at first. Unfortunately, after a couple of research in a few different languages related to some of the countries concerned by the umbrella term of 'Eastern Europe' I failed to find any reliable review praising the book. The author (a journalist)'s own website pops up, as well as articles on History Today and The Washington Post... But the great majority of the results are US-centered and I fail to see a review written by someone whose job it is to study and explain any of the territories concerned. Considering this, why should people read it? (I don't mean to be rude, it's an honest question)
Wow, okay! First of all, sincerely, I am glad that you are interested in assessing the credentials and qualifications of the authors of trade market histories. Many of these are, alas, 'histories.' Many are the emails I have sent to publishers saying "What qualifies this agèd political scientist to opine about Shakespeare?" or "Why does this economist think he knows anything about the Middle Ages?" So: I do appreciate that your skepticism is both healthy and well-earned. Secondly, let me say that I, um, appreciate that after implying that I am incapable of both critical reading and even superficial research, you clarified that you did not mean to be rude. Noted.
I'm going to discuss Mikanowski's credentials and methods first, and then offer a brief excursus on the respective timelines of mass-market and academic review publishing (which, I realize, you did not explicitly ask for. But I think it's relevant to your concern about not seeing academic reviews.) One: Mikanowski has done graduate-level training in history. I'm not sure whether or not he defended his dissertation at Berkeley (their list of abstracts is limited to institutional access.) I suspect he may not have done; but he does include his dissertation advisor in the acknowledgments of his book, which I think is important, as it indicates that he's part of the category of ABD graduate students who decided that completion didn't match up with their personal/professional goals but still made enough progress and did good enough work to be on cordial terms with their supervisors! This, uh, matters (there's also the kind of student who studiously avoids their advisor as a prelude to leaving the program.) Also, Mikanowski's work was far advanced enough, and of high enough quality, that he got an ACLS fellowship for it. Also also, I would weep with joy and disbelief if my students (B.A. or M.A.) were doing the kind of work he was doing as an undergrad at Princeton. They aren't. I digress. My point is: the fact that he has work completed in top-rank programs, acknowledged by competitive grants, and affirmed by ongoing cordial relationships with respected scholars matters. Tony Grafton is in the acknowledgments as having read and critiqued the manuscript, and while Tony Grafton is a very kind man in ways that many academics of his stature are not, he also has a very low bullshit tolerance, as is right and proper.
So much for credentials. But even more importantly, Mikanowski's notes and bibliography reveal that he is using this training profitably. The work contains more thorough references than many books for crossover markets, which I appreciate; also, the bibliography is academic in character, even though it would be light for an academic monograph. My point is: it's using up-to-date research and niche research and primary sources, all in multiple languages (I honestly lost track of how many languages. I think it was at least five, because I am research-fluent in four and thus think of more than that as impressive.) For what it's worth--and you may think that little!--I was also impressed by how he was using his sources, and supplementing them with the kind of embodied research that may sound nebulous but is, I think, genuinely helpful in helping us answer questions like: in what ways does a building dominate a square? What is the relationship of a town to its environment? How long does it take to walk from Point A to Point B, and what does one see along the way (or: what would one have seen in the fourteenth, sixteenth, nineteenth centuries?)
Finally: Goodbye, Eastern Europe was published less than three months ago. Academics may not even have been asked to review it yet. Standard turnaround time for writing a review is about three months. Time from submission to publication can be six months to a year. This is not taking into consideration that since the start of the pandemic, particularly, the fact that academic labor has been deliberately gutted and casualized means that it's hard to find people to do this unpaid work (we often don't even get copies of the books to review anymore.) The book may or may not be reviewed in academic journals. But if it's going to be, I'd be looking for those reviews in... maybe a year.
I hope this is helpful.
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By: Christina Buttons
Published: Apr 7, 2023
Why do progressives and gender activists fervently believe that “transgender” women are literally women? Why do they believe in the existence of “transgender children” that must be medically transitioned to avoid going through the “wrong puberty”? Why is “gender identity” taking precedence over biological sex in legislation like Title IX? How can they confidently assert that “the science” is on their side?
The answer to all of these questions is due to the belief that being transgender is an innate biological property of human beings. The notion that “gender identity” is brain-based and innate has captured the political left. This is due to a collection of brain studies that purport to show that people who identify as transgender have brain structures that are more similar to the sex with which they “identify” than to their actual sex. Widespread media coverage of these studies lauds them as “proof” that transgender people “are who they say they are.”
Progressive media outlets have glommed onto this narrative and published dozens of articles asserting that “transgender people are born that way” and that “science proves trans people aren’t making it up.” Mainstream media like CNN, the New York Times, Newsweek, the Telegraph and scientific sources like Nature, National Geographic, the Cleveland Clinic and Scientific American have also repeated this misinformation.
To make matters worse, the “brain sex” conjecture is baked into clinical guidelines for medical transition and legislation for employment, healthcare, and education.
The transgender “brain sex” argument is a load-bearing pillar supporting the belief that people are born transgender and should therefore medically transition as early as possible. Several female detransitioners who were medically transitioned as minors have even discussed how their doctors wrongly informed them that they possessed "a male brain in a female body." This claim is so absurd you’d wonder how the average person, let alone a medical doctor, would believe it.
One major player responsible for perpetuating this myth is Dr. Joshua Safer, an endocrinologist and the executive director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City. Safer is a leading advocate of "gender affirming care" and believes that "gender identity" is biologically determined. A review article he published on the topic relies heavily on brain studies and disorders of sexual development (which are often used to argue that the sex binary should be represented as a spectrum).
A 2016 interview with WBUR gives insights into how the “brain sex” theory shifted Safer’s perspective of the transgender experience from a mental health issue to a medical one.
"Up until a decade or so ago, the view among many providers was that this was probably a mental disorder and the fear was that doing hormone therapy or doing surgery might be abetting a mental disorder and the correct intervention would be to counsel people," Safer said.
But Safer's research traces the increasing evidence that gender identity is rooted in biology, "which makes it so logical that an option for people in 2016 is to change the external appearance to meet that gender identity," he said.
Why does it matter? Because Dr. Safer is currently the co-chair of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and has been involved with the organization for many years, including serving as the first president of USPATH, the United States affiliate of WPATH. Most importantly, he co-authored two sets of clinical guidelines for the medical care of transgender patients: the WPATH's Standards of Care and the Endocrine Society guidelines. These guidelines are considered the gold standard in gender medicine and are used by gender clinics worldwide.
Dr. Safer has testified in numerous legal cases related to "transgender rights," providing expert testimony on the purportedly scientific aspects of “gender identity,” particularly as it relates to "brain sex." He appeared on a panel with comedian Jon Stewart last year and has discussed the concept of "brain sex" in various media outlets, including the New York Times and a PBS documentary.
The assumption that being transgender is an innate property that can be detected by brain scans is central to all of the problems we see today surrounding transgender issues. It is therefore crucial to be aware of and challenge the transgender “brain sex” argument whenever it arises.
The “brain sex” argument
The “brain sex” argument claims that transgender people have regions in the brain that structurally resemble that of the opposite sex. This assertion is based on a number of studies conducted in recent years on people who identify as transgender to gain insight into the potential biological basis of their condition. Some studies have even purported to show that the brain structure of transgender individuals more closely resembles the sex they “identify” as than their natal sex.
The "brain sex" argument is based on the idea that there are differences in brain structure and function between males and females that are influenced by hormones and genetic factors. Advocates of this argument argue that these differences can also be seen in the brains of transgender individuals and that these differences may contribute to the development of a “gender identity” that is different from their natal sex. They believe that a biological male who identifies as a woman has brain structures that more closely resemble that of typical females, and vice versa.
Here’s why it's wrong
The majority of the studies on the “transgender brain” have a fatal flaw: they didn’t control for confounding variables like cross-sex hormone use and, most importantly, sexual orientation. When a study doesn't control for confounding variables, it means that the researchers did not take into account other factors that could have affected the results of the study, which make it difficult or impossible to determine whether the relationship between the two variables being studied is truly causal or a byproduct of other unrelated factors.
Cross-sex hormone use can have effects on the brain, including changes in brain structure and function. But more importantly, many trans-identifying individuals are same-sex attracted, so the research on the “transgender brain” claiming to find structural regions that resemble the opposite sex are essentially rediscovering findings on the “gay brain” and reinterpreting the results to fit their preferred conclusion.
In the early nineties, neuroscientist and author Simon LeVay made the breakthrough discovery that the brains of homosexuals had structural differences that resembled that of straight members of the opposite sex. So it seems that while undertaking the hunt for the “transgender brain,” researchers have forgotten all about the discoveries made about the brains of same-sex attracted people.
The first “brain sex” study that did take into account the participants' sexual orientation found that the brains of transgender individuals were similar to those of people of the same birth sex rather than the opposite sex.
When researchers scan the brains of heterosexual people who identify as transgender, they also find they are typical for their natal sex. Samuel Stagg, a U.K.-based Ph.D. student of neuroimmunology, explains: “The homosexual sub-group show brains skewed along the male-female dimension. However, this is predominantly due to their co-occurring homosexuality. When we scan the brains of the heterosexual type, we find they are more typical for their natal sex.”
“Gender identity” not gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria, like other psychiatric conditions, may have some biological underpinnings. There are traits like neuroticism that can predispose people to psychiatric conditions and research suggests that neuroticism has a strong biological basis with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to its development.
But gender activists are not concerned with gender dysphoria, rather they aim to establish a biological basis for being transgender that ceases to categorize it as a mental illness. Activists have pushed for a more “inclusive” definition of what it means to be transgender that seeks to reduce stigma and perceived barriers to medical transition services.
After the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, civil rights and gay rights organizations that may have otherwise had to shutter their doors pivoted to championing “trans rights.” The success of the "born this way" campaign in promoting the idea that sexual orientation is an innate, immutable aspect of identity has prompted activists to also present being transgender as innate and immutable.
Manhattan Institute fellow Leor Sapir wrote his Ph.D. dissertation on the rapid proliferation of the “transgender rights movement” and its efforts to obtain civil rights jurisprudence for “gender identity.” To this end, they have attempted to prove that “gender identity” is an innate, immutable trait called “neurological sex” or “brain sex,” which they say should override natal sex.
“In the American civil rights tradition, if you can convince a judge that being transgender is like being black, then you can tap into this entire body of judicial precedent and civil rights laws that immediately applies and gives you all the policies you want,” Sapir told me. Leor Sapir has written a number of important articles on this topic for City Journal, be sure to read them for further understanding.
More context: the trans community is divided
Interestingly, on the surface the transgender community presents as a unified front, but in reality it is divided into opposing philosophical factions: those propelled by civil rights organizations who seek to prove that being transgender is an “innate, immutable trait” for political and legal reasons, and the queer theorists who question the basis of scientific authority.
Last December, a transgender rights organization announced they were publishing a “groundbreaking article” that claims “being trans is a biological condition.” But after hundreds of critical comments from transgender people claiming that the search to find a biological basis for being transgender could be exploited, citing “eugenics” as a top concern, the organization spiked the article and issued an apology.
A self-described queer theorist named Eirnin who had early access to the article said it was not peer-reviewed nor written by an expert in the field but was merely a short letter that combined several theories of “brain sex” based on “debunked science.”
Another key point
If “gender identity” were solely biologically ingrained, it would conflict with the fact that gender dysphoria has been observed to resolve spontaneously or through psychotherapy at various ages. As we know from the growing population of detransitioners and a large body of research on desistance in children, transgender identities are not necessarily fixed. Currently, there is no brain, blood, or other objective test that distinguishes a trans-identified from a non-trans identified person.
Group project
This article is intentionally simplified to convey the main points effectively. It is my hope that it will assist individuals in countering the transgender "brain sex" argument when they encounter it. However, I am collaborating with neuroscientist Sammy Stagg on a group project to publish a paper that highlights the methodological flaws present in current "brain sex" research in a more comprehensive way.
==
But wait, we were told that "gender is a social construct," and that "gender is fluid" and "separate from biology." God is real but undetectable, good but mysterious, all-loving but tortures for eternity.
If even they can't make up their minds, how is anyone else supposed to accept their claims?
"People should be able to be trans just because they want to be, regardless of whether they 'biologically' are."
It should come as no surprise that well known anti-gay hate preacher, homophobe and child mutilation enthusiast Colin "Katy" Montgomerie is opposed to anything that would constrain the assertions and demands of the fantasists to objective reality.
Reminder again, the activists removed gender dysphoria from the definition so they could use the term for queer theory activism.
https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms
Transgender | An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/list-lgbtq-terms
Trans | An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
I don't know what else I can do to demonstrate this is ideological and political, aimed at reordering society around the principles of Queer Theory, and not about helping people whose quality of life is impacted by a disorder. Especially since they've already been erased.
#Christina Buttons#brain sex#human biology#human brain#neuroscience#neurobiology#female brain#male brain#trans brain#gay brain#gender ideology#genderwang#queer theory#biology denial#religion is a mental illness
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For Day 2 of the @a-mag-a-day event, Statement 1: Anglerfish (I was going to send an ask but this got way too long so I’m making my own post.)
I want to focus on Jon and specifically on the way Jon structures the statement recordings.
I just started taking a management course, and since it’s going to involve reading articles and writing essays, as part of our introductory materials we got this description of reflective writing in a research writing style:
“First, identity the most pertinent points from your reading. Make reference to this reading by quoting the original text/author and support this research using examples from your own experience if the question requires. A reflective piece of writing should describe 1. what happened, 2. a consideration of possible factors influencing the process, 3. the outcome, and 4. a ‘take away’ factor.
And I realized that, with his Research background, this is exactly how Jon structures his recordings of statements.
Jon starts by giving the listener the most pertinent information—who gave the statement, what the statement is about, and when it was given: “Statement of Nathan Watts, regarding an encounter on Old Fishmarket Close, Edinburgh. Original statement given April 22nd 2012.”
Next he describes what happened, recording the statement in full exactly as it was written.
Afterwards, he reflects on the statement following the reflective structure:
1. He describes the outcome of the statement, as well as all facts about what actually happened, as far as the research team could determine: “The investigation at the time, and the follow-up we’ve done over the last couple of days, have found no evidence to corroborate Mr. Watts’ account of his experience. […] However, Sasha did some digging into the police reports of the time and it turns out that between 2005 and 2010, when Mr. Watts’ encounter supposedly took place, there were six disappearances in and around the Old Fishmarket Close: Jessica McEwen in November 2005, Sarah Baldwin in August 2006, Daniel Rawlings in December of the same year, then Ashley Dobson and Megan Shaw in May and June of 2008. Then finally, as Mr. Watts mentioned, John Fellowes in March 2010. All six disappearances remain unsolved.” He doesn’t do it here—likely because he doesn’t have any—but in some of the following statements Jon will mention personal experience related to the statement contents.
2. He gives a consideration of possible factors influencing the statement: “Baldwin and Shaw were definitely smokers, but there’s no evidence either way about the others, if they’re even connected.”
3. And he ends with a take-away factor: “Sasha did find one other thing, specifically in the case of Ashley Dobson. It was a copy of the last photograph taken by her phone and sent to her sister Siobhan. […] It appears to be the same alleyway which Mr. Watts described in his statement, […] and increasing the contrast appears to reveal the outline of a long, thin hand, roughly at what would be waist level on a male of average height. I find it oddly hard to shake off the impression that it’s beckoning.” The take away: the series of unsolved disappearances, combined with the photograph, mean the statement cannot be entirely dismissed.
I know people in tma fandom like to joke about Jon being bad at archiving and turning the Archives into Research 2.0, and that’s not wrong exactly, but from his description of the state of the Archives, Gertrude was even worse in terms of actual archiving:
“From where I am sitting, I can see thousands of files. Many spread loosely around the place, others crushed into unmarked boxes. A few have dates on them or helpful labels such as 86-91 G/H. Not only that, but most of these appear to be handwritten or produced on a typewriter with no accompanying digital or audio versions of any sort. In fact, I believe the first computer to ever enter this room is the laptop that I brought in today. More importantly, it seems as though little of the actual investigations have been stored in the Archives, so the only thing in most of the files are the statements themselves.”
Jon might not have all the right equipment or techniques, but at least he’s trying to organize the statements and make digital and audio copies, instead of just flinging them around or shoving them in a box. I’m also struck by the fact that Jon describes the Institute’s process of Take Statement—>Research Department Investigates—>Statement and Follow Up Report Are Archived, but then notes that most of the files he’s encountered in the Archives are missing the investigative information from the Research department. Was Gertrude not passing along statements to the Research department? Or was she taking their hard work and throwing it out? Either way, it’s small wonder Jon—insecure in his new position—tries to handle it within his team rather than send so many old statements back up to the Research department.
Jon and his team have been given a real mess to handle here, especially with no guidance or relevant prior experience. The frustration at this impossible task he’s been assigned and the minimal support he’s being given bleed into his voice despite his efforts to put on a professional front. Anyway, the reason I loved Jon starting from episode 1 is that to me he feels like someone who is completely out of his depth in a new situation and doing his best to handle it using the skills and experience he already has, while aware they are woefully inadequate.
#a mag a day#tma#the magnus archives#tma relisten#mag 001#mag 1#jonathan sims#tma meta#research writing
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"Learn Your History" Is Not A Battle Cry To "Abandon Your Practice"
The point of older and / or better researched, more historically oriented practitioners (often Reconstructionists who get demonized for doing so) pointing out the historical inaccuracies in modern lay information, and pressuring people to learn the legitimate academic history of their religion and its traditions? Is not meant to say “you can’t practice them because they’re not ancient; you’re just a pretender if you’re not celebrating the real ancient stuff”.
It’s to say that you don’t need to manufacture fake histories for your holidays, your traditions, and your Spirits in order for them to be considered valid in the first place; the main point is that you don’t have to continue believing (for example) the historical lie that Eostre is an ancient Goddess in order to continue celebrating Ostara, or for that celebration to be perfectly valid in its own right ... The false myth of Eostre doesn't have to factor into it at all.
It's to say that whether it's a genuine 2,000 year old tradition (incredibly rare by the way), a 300 year old one (much more common), 50, 10, or even just a 1 year old tradition that you just started ... They can all be as equally valid and spiritually fulfilling as one another. It ultimately doesn’t matter if it has significant meaning to you.
What does matter, however, is that we’re always transparent about the truth of things: Where what we practice comes from, how old it is, what its origins are, and how we came about this information (personal creation, gnosis, or historical record; etc). And more importantly: That we make concentrated efforts to continuously do better; that we continue to try and right the wrongs of our predecessors and Elders- especially when those wrongs are still causing blatant and provable damage both inside of, and outside of, our communities (and to the cultures from whom many of these vestiges originate or are pinned to in some form).
If you want academically aligned proof of this, one should really look no further than Ronald Hutton himself for validation; according to Wikia alone:
Interviewing Ronald Hutton for an article in The Independent, journalist Gary Lachman commented that Hutton had “a very pragmatic, creative attitude, recognizing that factual error can still produce beneficial results”- for instance noting that even though their theories about the Early Modern Witch-Cult were erroneous, Margaret Murray and Gerald Gardner would help lay the foundations for the creation of the new religious movement of Wicca.
If you somehow have no clue who Ronald Hutton is, and have never heard his name before: He’s a Professor of History at the University of Bristol and is considered one of the leading experts on Pagan studies in the world, with a specialization in Early Modern Britain (which extends into some Celtic* areas of the UK by proxy). You’d probably better know him as the author of works such as Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain, and Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain- absolutely all of which you’ve seen me either directly source quote from, or reference, over the course of my existence (especially when I was actually a Reconstructionist, if you've been around that long).
Unfortunately the Independent article referenced on Wiki (titled “Ronald Hutton: Wicca and other invented traditions”) seems to have been removed from the site at some point. As of now, I’ve been unable to track down a working and fully archived copy. Still, several other (far more questionably sourced) articles I’ve stumbled across- including some interviews- in looking for an archived copy, have likewise referenced Professor Hutton’s seemingly enthusiastic views about, essentially, just making things up yourself without the need to pass it off falsely as being ‘ancient’ in order for the practices to be spiritually or otherwise “valid”.
So truly: If one of the leading experts on Paganism in the world is telling you to make things up all you like, but just don’t make things up about history? Then I think it’s pretty safe to say that us more historically oriented practitioners on Tumblr (of all places), correcting you about said historical fallacies genuinely shouldn’t rock your spiritual boat too badly. Honestly, if anything, learning the true history of things and correcting any misinformation you were given at any point in time (wherever it came from) should further deepen your ability to connect with and celebrate these things- not destroy them.
If your knee jerk reaction to finding out that you’re wrong is ever “now I have to completely abandon everything I hold dear, and give everything up”, you have a lot of internal work you desperately need to do. Because that’s neither healthy, nor appropriate, and it signifies a lot of personal problems in relation to your beliefs and practices and how you (subconsciously or not) incorrectly moralize the entire concept of "being wrong".
This is an opinion post based in 20+ years of experience and research. If you found this helpful or interesting, please consider Tipping or Leaving a Ko-Fi (being Disabled, even $1 helps); you can see my other "Original Content" here
This account is run by a Dual Faith «(Converting) Masorti Jew + Traditional NeoWiccan» & «Ancestral Folk Magic Practitioner» with 20+ years of experience as a practicing Pagan and Witch. If that bothers you, don't interact.
#Old Blog Reposts#2021#Original Content#Original Witchy Content#Academia#Religion & Magic#Being A better Human Being#Paganism#Eclectic NeoPaganism
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Title: Whalefall
Author: Daniel Kraus
Genre/s: thriller
Content/Trigger Warning/s: suicide, gore, blood, depiction and discussion of cancer and cancer treatment, body horror
Summary (from publisher's website): Jay Gardiner has given himself a fool's errand--to find the remains of his deceased father in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Monastery Beach. He knows it's a long shot, but Jay feels it's the only way for him to lift the weight of guilt he has carried since his dad's death by suicide the previous year.
The dive begins well enough, but the sudden appearance of a giant squid puts Jay in very real jeopardy, made infinitely worse by the arrival of a sperm whale looking to feed. Suddenly, Jay is caught in the squid's tentacles and drawn into the whale's mouth where he is pulled into the first of its four stomachs. He quickly realizes he has only one hour before his oxygen tanks run out--one hour to defeat his demons and escape the belly of a whale.
Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/whalefall-daniel-kraus/19784983
Spoiler-Free Review: So I picked this up because I recently read an article that announced it had been picked up for screen adaptation, and I got curious. It was being pushed as a thriller, and after reading the summary, I wanted to know how this would play out if it were adapted for the screen.
The thing is, I’m honestly not sure how they’re going to pull this off in a visual medium. This novel is largely made up of flashbacks and Jay Gardiner’s musings, punctuated by spurts of harrowing (and I mean HARROWING) action as he tries to get out of the whale before he runs out of air. And the point of this novel isn’t really the action, but what’s going on in Jay’s head: the “demons” the summary says he’s trying to escape.
See, when I picked this up I thought it would be along the lines of The Martian, wherein a scientist finds himself stuck on Mars and has to find a way to get back to Earth before he reaches the limits of his problem-solving ingenuity. With that in mind I thought this novel’s one-hour time limit would create a more frenetic, compressed story than what was presented in Weir’s novel, with Jay pushed to the very limits of his ingenuity trying to find a way out before he died in the whale’s guts or his air ran out.
But that’s not what this novel’s about. In fact, comparing it to The Martian wasn’t right, either. It’s a lot more like the Book of Jonah - which, yes, I realize is VERY on the nose in this case, but the two align thematically in ways that I didn’t expect. Just as Jonah finds himself in the belly of the whale because he’s trying to run away from doing the things God wants him to do, so too does Jay (and don’t those two names parallel each other?). The difference is, Jay isn’t running from God, but from his fraught history with his father (which is kind of the same thing, come to think of it).
So what this novel’s about, aside from the bits about trying to get out of the whale, is about Jay trying to navigate and negotiate his complicated relationship with his father, trying to find closure. This novel hones in on that relationship, and though it’s hard to relate to the specifics of Jay’s relationship with his father, the shape of it will likely be familiar to a lot of readers. Because this novel isn’t about trying to escape the belly of a whale in an hour, but about the complicated relationship of parents and children: the ways each can shape the other, for better and for worse. It also asks questions about forgiveness, and grief, and how those two things are made even more complicated and bittersweet when one believes one was hurt by one’s parents as a child. And most importantly, it’s about bridging that gap: finding a middle ground between the child-who-is-now-an-adult and the parent, finding ways to finally see each other eye-to-eye.
And I have to say, it pulls that aspect off pretty well. The chapters are short and choppy, jumping from past to present, in a way that’s kind of reminiscent of how time tends to get weird when one is a dangerous situation. That trick with time gives the story some breathing room, lets the story unfold on its own and lets the reader really come to understand Jay’s relationship with his father. It also ties Jay’s past and the whale escape together in a way that is very emotionally impactful - enough that I actually got choked up in certain points. This is the aspect of the novel that I worry might not translate very well onscreen, because I think it’s the beating heart of this story and it would be sad to see that get flattened or ripped out completely.
It also helps that the characters are easy to latch onto. Jay is, frankly speaking, kind of pathetic but in a relatable way: so deeply wounded by his past with his father, and now also deeply regretting not going to see him in his last moments, that he dives headlong (sorry) into a hare-brained scheme that lands him in the belly of the whale. His memories of his father are initially very unflattering, but as he manages to recover more and more of his memories, he begins to realize that maybe, just maybe, his father isn’t the only one he can blame for the way his life turned out. His father is not COMPLETELY innocent, of course, but Jay slowly comes to realize that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t completely understand his father, just as his father never completely understood him.
So overall, this novel is very definitely worth a read, but don’t expect it to be all high-octane, MacGyver-esque situations. While there ARE a few thrilling (and admittedly gross) moments of action, this book has a deeply emotional core that I hope will be translated well to the small or big screen. Readers who have (or had) a fraught relationship with their parent/s and/or parental figure/s will likely have a very strong emotional reaction, so having a box of tissues nearby is recommended.
Rating: five giant squid beaks
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Help, I am a new student and have no clue what to do with so much reading: a guide
Hi, I'm a master student currently and I do a major that is pretty heavy on the reading for all the courses. I have developed a system that works for me and helps me manage the course work - which can be quite overwhelming at first - so I thought I'd share in case anyone else will find it useful :D
Okay, so, before your classes even start, you're going to look at the syllabus! This is important, because usually the reading will be in there and you get a feel for how much it is. However, more importantly, you're going to figure out if there is an exam or a paper as final. This will impact how you're going to read.
If there is reading for the first class, get prepared to do that reading. I know reading can suck, but doing the reading will save time. It's all fun to have the college fucked up sleep schedule and I get that you want the experience, but that shit isn't funny for 4 years straight and by keeping up, you will save yourself all nighters during the exam period. At some point, you will start to appreciate it, I promise.
Most classes will have a consistent amount of reading each week. This is good. You will start to figure out how long it takes you to read an article and thus how much time each class will take. Create a pattern for yourself. For me, I like to schedule it per weekday, like on Mondays I do readings for this course, on Tuesday for this course and on Wednessday I won't do reading, so I can plan social activities then. This will help stay on top of things without being a hermit with no time for a social and your hobbies.
I would reccomend making a file for each course and labeling your reading with the number of the week first and then the title, so you can find them easily when you need them. I also reccomend getting a seperate notebook for each subject. If you loose notebooks easily, use your computer or have one big notebook with tabs.
If the class has an exam at the end:
I find that if you have an exam, highlighting is the most productive way to do the reading. You do the reading before class, and highlight all the important parts. Not everyone is great at knowing what to highlight, so my guide is to have max one highlight per paragraph and minimally one per subheading, often the important parts are at the start and end.
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Then you're going to take notes in class, this is important. You have done the reading, so your brain will make easier connections and by writing it down (physical notebook is reccomended if you are able) you will fill in what is being talked about easier. This will also be the second time you take the subject to yourself and in three ways; reading, hearing, writing.
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After doing that every week, the exam will come closer. You're going to take the highlighted reading and flip through it while typing all the highlighted parts in a document. This way you'll see everything again in context and you're actively seeing it, instead of passively. And at the end you have a summery of the course you can study. Personally, I have a pretty good memory so retyping is all the studying I have to do when using this method.
If the class has a paper at the end:
I find that if you have a paper at the end, making notes is the most productive way to do the reading. I like making them on paper, bc it'll make it easier to flip through later, but computer also works with ctrl+f. Again doing the reading before class is reccomended, so you can ask questions about it and take notes on what the lecturer says about the reading to get a feel for kind of interpretation that will be expected of you in the paper.
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How you take the notes is the important part, at the top you write down the authors (et al. if there are a lot), the publishing year, and the title. Then right underneath you write the point the paper is making, this can be found in the abstract or in the conclusion, if that isn't there.
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Then you start actually reading the paper, while taking notes. I reccomend 1 A4 page for articles under 20 pages. But don't make it a hard rule, the harder you find a paper, the more notes you should take. You take notes on the kind of arguments the paper makes, suggestions that are done, counterpoints, and nuances that are given. Make them bulletpoints so you can easily skim them later.
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What you have done by doing this is created a basic understanding of the topic and created a referencing system for yourself. When writing your essay you already know what kind of topic to write about (see which topics you gravitated to during the course) and you can easily find the relevant reading by quickly scanning the titles and first part you wrote down. When you find the right article you don't have to re-read it to get all the important parts and you have everything for in text referencing right at the top (in APA at least).
I understand that this won't work for everyone, but I have perfected my studying system over the years (and I'm pretty proud of it), so I am sharing it for those who can use it. I know a lot of people struggle with figuring out how to start and they kind of throw you in the deep end without help when you get to college. So this is to give those who are overwhelmed a little start :D
If you are a new student, I wish you so much luck and fun! <3
#rrrambles#college life#college#uni#university#studying#academia#academics#advice#college advice#social studies#students#neurodivergent#studying aid#literature
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Scared to Death: Final Part
Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader
Word Count: ~2.3k
Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill
Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there is any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them. If you’ve seen the show, then it’s the same level of angst unless otherwise stated
You four head to Jenny's area to see if there are more fliers around the places where she liked to hang out. In her local coffee shop, there is a bulletin board with a bunch of fliers. Most importantly, there is another flier just like the one you found in the laundromat.
"These fliers have all been hanging in places where our victims could have seen them," you say and take it down. "Look at the date: Friday, August 25th. That was last summer. If he's been luring victims for at least that long, then we have missed a lot of people."
"We need to go back and check the rest of that trail," Derek says.
Your phone rings, and you see that it's the fire department calling you.
"You two go. Spencer and I will hang back." You answer the phone and bring it to your ear. "This is Y/N."
"Yes, this is the Quantico Fire Department. After further investigation, we determined that your main gas line was sabotaged. It looks like someone yanked it from the wall. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find any prints off the broken gas line. We're still combing through everything, but there isn't much that is salvageable."
"Is that how the fire started?" you ask.
Spencer perks up when he hears you talking about the fire that happened in your apartment.
"No, it's not. I guess it served as a distraction."
"Then what did?"
"Fire most likely started by rubbing alcohol and flour. You know, stuff that you had in the apartment already. The person also used a lighter because there are no matches to be found."
"Well, I appreciate you telling me this."
"We'll call you if we have any other questions."
"Great, thanks," you hang up with a sigh.
"Everything okay?"
You tell Spencer everything that the fire department has told you.
"I'm assuming I'll be getting calls from the police department so they can rule out arson. Something about this doesn't add up."
"What do you mean?"
"If this person really wanted me dead, I would be. There are a million other ways this person could have killed me. There's a reason he chose fire. It's almost like--"
You stop yourself from saying it. If you say it, then it could change everything.
"It's almost like what?" Spencer asks in a soft voice.
"Fire is the one thing that I am not able to connect with spiritually. Fire burns, and it burns everything. Whoever set that fire knew I wouldn't be able to trace them or connect with them. There's only about a handful of people who know what I can do in depth. I know the person who set the fire... and this person clearly doesn't want me to know who they are."
"Do you know of anyone who would want to do this to you?"
"No. Everyone who knows, I love dearly. I don't know who would want to do this to me."
"We'll figure it out together," he smiles kindly.
Meanwhile, Derek and Emily got to the trail and found another dumpsite close to where the first three bodies were found. However, this time, they found much more than they were bargaining for. Eight more graves, twelve more bodies. The trail is forty miles long, so it's easy to miss stuff like this. You're not going to have search dogs sniff the ground for forty miles, so this unsub was smart in scattering them around like this.
While they were unearthing the bodies, Penelope and JJ were looking into the website that was on the fliers. To the untrained eye, the Goodman Institute is just another website that looks totally legit. Someone went to greath lengths to make this website look real--the articles are even well written. However, Penelope is more than meets the eye. Everything on that website leads to dead ends.
This website is a bogus business that is claiming to be the leading researcher in behavioral therapy. There are no tax records, no business license, and no evidence that it actually exists. It's supposed to be run by a man named Dr. Barry Goodman. The website claims he is renowned in curing fears and phobias. He even has an online questionnaire about phobias.
It's how he knows which people he wants to kill and how to kill them.
You met back with everyone at the station with the new information and a new attitude. Now that you have a name and a place, then you can form some kind of plan to get him.
"Look at this, guys. He calls them phobias instead of anxiety disorders," Spencer says, reading off the website.
"Yeah, this guy's either an amateur or he studied psychology in the eighties. His phrasing of the questions are clinical. This guy's a professional."
"Well, he's able to pick the perfect victims. Are you close to your family? Easy making friends? Just answer yes and you're spared the torture," Hotch sighs.
"We figured out how he chooses his victims, but how does that get us his real name?" Bill wonders.
"JJ, can you get Garcia?" Hotch asks, but you keep the conversation talking.
"I think the guy's a real psychiatrist. No one would go to this length if they weren't once in the field," you point out. "Also, he's afraid of being alone, so he's most likely married. Maybe he adopted some children."
"Why?" Bill asks.
"Well, because the tortures lack a sexual component."
"Oh, right. He might be impotent."
"Also, he's desperate for a sense of community. He'd definitely have kids."
"Okay, I'm crossing Portland doctors with adoptions," Penelope says over the phone.
You didn't even know she was phoned into the conversation.
"Given the obsession to control his victims with torture, he might have been abused," Hotch adds.
"Okay, juvenile records are going to be sealed, so you gotta give me a minute," Penelope says. It takes her a few minutes, but she finally gets into the records. "The creep of the moment award goes to... One forty-three-year-old Dr. Stanley Howard, psychiatrist."
"This guy was killing his own patients?" Bill wonders.
"No, he's smarter than that. It's why he created Goodman and the research ruse."
"Stanley is married to Jane Howard and has one eight-year-old daughter. He started a center for abused kids."
"Probably because he could relate," you scoff.
"One good deed isn't fortifying his karma sufficiently. Looks like his practice shut down last year," Spencer says using his phone to look this up. "Right about the time the killings started."
"He still has a lease on his old office building. City permits were pulled due to renovation, but what do you know? They've been delayed. Yikes! His bank records show a seriously depleted savings account," Penelope gasps.
"So, he's keeping up appearances. Where's the building?"
"427 Cedars Avenue."
"It's not far from here," Bill states.
"Let's go check the building. You two talk to the family," hotch says to JJ and Emily.
"Got it."
"Thanks, Garcia."
You, Hotch, Bill, Spencer, and Derek all head out to visit the building, but you have a feeling that you're not going to find anything there. Your theory is proved right when you arrive at a demolished site where a building once stood. Instead, there is only dirt and a few columns to prove there was once a building here.
"This is 427 Cedars Avenue. Where's the office?" Spencer asks.
"He must be luring his victims to another place. He couldn't have brought them here."
Hotch gets on the phone since Emily and JJ are at Stanley's home talking to his wife.
"Hey, Prentiss. We're at the office. The building's gone. ... Right. All right." Hotch hangs up and looks at you. "There is a building in the wife's name. It's downtown and it's still standing."
That is where you head next, and this time, it's an actual building with multiple floors and signs to make it look like it's a real place. Instead, there are signs telling people where different offices are and on which floor. Stanley really made it look like a real place so as not to freak out his victims.
"There are no tenants in this building. These must be fake names," Bill says.
"Helps with the ruse. Goodman's on the fifth floor."
This time, all of you travel up the stairs instead of taking the elevators. The higher you go, the more you feel the panic of another potential victim. His office is two doors on the left as soon as you get to the fifth floor, and you hustle inside with the hope that he is going to be in there. He's not, but he did leave something behind in the logbooks on his desk.
"Missy Cassell was the last person to sign in."
"When was that?"
"Hours ago. Let's split up. Calvert, you and Reid take the west side," Hotch orders.
Spencer and Calvert leave for the west side, and you turn to Hotch with a frown.
"Hotch, I can feel her panic. She's still in the building."
"Good. Follow that. Stanley isn't going to go quietly."
You immediately leave the room and take off down the hall with a few officers right behind you. Derek and Hotch go off in a different direction because if you're looking for Missy, then they are going to try and find Stanley. Missy's energy isn't strong on the fifth floor because she had no indication that Stanley was ever going to hurt her.
The more you get to the ground level, the stronger it becomes, and even that, it's not very strong. At some point, all you're doing is chasing your own tails, so to prevent any more time from being wasted, you try to find Hotch and Derek. Spencer and his officers meet up with you, but you're too late.
As soon as you step outside, Stanley's body falls to the ground with a sickening crack.
You jump back and scream from shock, seeing some of his blood splatter on your clothes and shoes.
"We found Missy Cassell's car in a parking lot next to the building. Howard's is around back," Bill says once you're calm.
"Before he jumped, he said that my biggest fear was not being able to save everybody."
"Hotch, this guy wasn't well in the head. You know that," Derek sighs.
"I know that, but what I think he meant was that she's here somewhere. YN, where is she?"
Everyone turns to you for answers. You look around the place in hopes you'll latch onto Missy's energy, but it's so bright that you can't see anything outside. You look at Stanley to see if you can get anything off of him when you notice something about his blood. It's not pooling in one spot. It's flowing to the sewer grate right by his head.
Suddenly, you see flashes of where Missy is, and you know exactly how to find her.
"She's in the basement. Follow me."
You don't wait for an answer before you book it toward the building, and thankfully, no one questions you. You burst through the door and head to the staircase, rushing down the stairs to the lowest level. Stanley would have to do this in private somewhere, so what better way, than a secret basement.
Missy's energy is strongest in here, so you know she is here somewhere. It's dark, so you take out your flashlight and light the way all the way to the back where there is a hole with a bunch of dirt on it.
"She's in there," you point. "She's alive."
Bill, Derek, and Hotch begin digging her out, careful with where her head is. Soon, they have her on her back, but there is dirt everywhere. Derek gives her chest compressions, but she is coughing up dirt in no time.
She immediately begins to freak out thinking Stanley is here to hurt her.
"Tell them to call paramedics. Missy? Missy? It's okay. It's alright. We're here to help," Hotch calms her down.
"I thought you said you wouldn't be able to see anything," Spencer says when you two enter your charred apartment.
"I said it's difficult. Not impossible. I don't think I'll be able to get anything, but I have to try. If I know who did this, then I'll be able to recognize the energy."
You are careful where you step, but it's not like it's going to matter. Everything is burned to a crisp, and like the Fire Department said, there is nothing salvageable here. If anyone were to leave behind energy, it's not here anymore. The fire burned its way through that, too.
"There's nothing here," you sigh.
The pictures that were on your wall have fallen to the ground, and while the glass didn't melt, the wood surrounding it and the picture inside have burned. The glass preserved some of the photos, but not enough to save it.
"I'm sorry," Spencer sighs sadly.
"It's not your fault, Spencer. I believe in karma, and I know that this guy will get caught someday."
"It won't bring back your pictures though."
"I'm okay with that. You want to know why?" you ask with a smile.
"Why?"
"Because I get to make new ones with you."
"We should leave. We have work early tomorrow."
You set the charred remains of the photographs onto the ground and head for the front door, but you pause when your eyes catch something in the moonlight.
"Wait, I see something."
You walk over to the item and bend down to inspect it closer. You reach for it, not minding that your fingers get dirty from the soot. In your hand is something you never thought you'd see again.
"What is it?"
"It's a necklace."
This necklace is plain without any diamonds. Just a simple gold chain necklace that might not look like much to any other person. However, you know this is your necklace because it has your family name engraved into the chains.
"A necklace? I'm surprised it didn't burn. Who's necklace is it?"
"It's my mother's. She'd never let me wear this no matter how many times I've asked her."
"Why is it here?"
"I must have boxed it up without knowing. Maybe it fell into a box when I moved out."
You pocket the necklace and leave the apartment with Spencer. You're not going to tell him this, but you know you didn't box it with your things on accident. You know you didn't because the last time you saw this necklace, your mother was giving it to your father.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
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#scared to death#series rewrite#criminal minds series rewrite#spencer reid#spencer reid x reader#spencer reid fic#spencer reid fanfic#spencer reid fanfiction#spencer reid fan fic#spencer reid fan fiction#spencer reid fiction#spencer reid fluff#spencer reid angst#criminal minds#criminal minds fanfic#criminal minds fic#criminal minds fan fiction#criminal minds fan fic#criminal minds fiction#criminal minds fluff#criminal minds angst#cm#cm fic#cm fiction#cm fanfic#cm fanfiction#cm fluff#cm fan fiction#cm fan fic#cm angst
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"they are just husbands. i am evelyn hugo."
a blog by chloe denise nunag of bs psy 2a.
taylor jenkins reid is an american author, well known for her works like daisy jones & the six, malibu rising, after i do, and most notably, the seven husbands of evelyn hugo.
the seven husbands of evelyn hugo is one of the most treasured pieces of literature in the book community. but what is it about, really?
this is a peek into tshoeh, an unbiased and non-spoiling review to get you to read it as well.
for a short background, the seven husbands of evelyn hugo is centered on hollywood movie icon, evelyn hugo. decades have passed since her peak and golden days, and now, she is finally ready to let the public in on the truth about her rather scandalous (love) life.
scandalous, how? well, as the title indicates, hugo married seven times in her life, and this has been a hot topic among the people for years and counting.
with this, monique grant, a journalist for a prestigious magazine, is contacted for a sit-down with hugo. now, hugo has never done exclusive interviews throughout her career, especially not about her private life. so for grant, this could be the scoop that will boost her position in the company and change her career forever.
hugo tells grant about each of her marriages in detail from the first to the last, and grant listens and takes careful note of each one. however, as the book progresses, one would realize that it is not simply a coincidence that hugo personally chooses grant to write her biography.
why?
well, that's reason number one for you to pick up a copy and start diving into hugo's vibrant life.
the story in itself is captivating, but the characters you will definitely fall in love with; evelyn hugo is complex and sometimes morally gray, not often by choice as she was only ever navigating her way through the messy hollywood scene. she is the personification of the idea that is beauty and brains: beautiful, sexy, smart, sensual and ambitious. but she is also mean and calculating, having used people to get what she wanted.
and i'd talk about her seven husbands in detail, but as this review is spoiler-free, i will describe them the way hugo did; poor ernie diaz, goddamn don adler, gullible mick riva, clever rex north, brilliant, kindhearted, tortured harry cameron, disappointing max girard, and agreeable robert jamison.
then, there is also celia st. james, another one of the most famous actresses of hollywood's golden age alongside hugo. being "america's sweetheart", st. james intimidates hugo with her talent in acting, which sparks a rivalry between the two.
of course, there is monique grant. she is charismatic, driven, and like hugo, ambitious. she is a commendable black woman in journalism, consistently standing out for her works, notably for her piece on the right to die.
and that's reason number two for you to grab a copy, physical or virtual.
lastly, aside from the story and the characters, taylor jenkins reid has a way with words that will engulf you in hollywood's golden age and the present time. she stripped bare the movie industry, and she will make you question the truth about the celebrities we know and the lives they present to the public.
she will also make feel a (crazy) range of emotions. one second, you love evelyn hugo, then you hate her the next. reid will make you laugh, then cry. you will be filled with fury with the actions and words hugo leaves, then feel for her and the things she has to go through.
then, there are also the newspaper articles and letters from the past, as well as the features of the present.
more importantly, it is real and raw in a sense that it shows the reality of life and love—how it's never easy, how it's not as glamorous as presented in other forms of media; life is full of twists we never expect, and love will consume you alive.
ultimately, the book was structured and written in a manner that will leave you wondering about what comes next until you are just incapable of putting it down.
yes, that's reason number three of why you need to get into tshoeh as soon as you can.
overall, i can say that the seven husbands of evelyn hugo left me with no words. but at the same time, i have a million things to say. when i first read it, i completed it in one sitting. it was 4 in the morning when i bawled as quietly as i could as to not wake up and alarm the other people in the house.
it's that good.
so, it's your move now.
(cmon, put tshoeh in your shopping cart, and check it out Right Now.)
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Spider-Man Read-Through 008: Medusa and Mysterio
MASTERPOST
ASM 62-67
This entry's very compelling, but what a mess.
In this first issue, Peter says that he has ~never fought a female before~.
*snickers* Oooh this is going to be a good one.
This Medusa attacks with her hair and is apparently part of the Inhumans.
...THOSE Inhumans?
Oh Lord.
So she's there to test the Average Joe or something, which Peter definitely isn't.
More importantly, someone has my name! Love his suit, less fond of his face. He's giving Magnus McGilded (real name) or whatever name you know him under (Cosney Megundal for me).
See the likeness? To be fair, I dig the suit.
So Medusa's here for peace and giggles, but capitalism immediately rears its head and that blond guy above ask her to participate in a shampoo add. Which causes all sort of questions. How would she get paid? She doesn't have a human bank account (presumably), she doesn't care about human money (for now, presumably) and she sets up even more unrealistic standards for the human race (which. is interesting. there's something there. but anyway). And when McGilded/Bliss (...) offers to make a contract, she doesn't care and he's overjoyed. This story better hope it's a communist manifesto.
Even with these panels, I can say Peter's a handsome guy.
Meanwhile Osborn and Jameson are acting like an old married couple and I never thought I'd say this but it makes sense! Do they have a ship name? Osbon? Jamesorn? I'll listen to your suggestions!
The source of Norman's internal conflict is that he's progressively remembering about the times he dressed in drag and was a queen of BDSM with young jock DILF-seeker Peter Parker as partner. Norman hasn't been slaying for a while, and it's time he dons the cloth once again!
*snickers*
McGilded says he'll pay Medusa in fame, which is absolutely a scam, younglings, don't fall for it. She agrees with me and tells the producer to get rekt.
The producer motivates Peter to go fight Medusa fists first, questions later (which makes complete sense, remember when he fought the Human Torch?) and Peter has this to say:
"That's the trouble with women... they just can't keep their mouths shut!"
That is not very slay of you, Peter. Give back your woke badge, you're making me want to go read The Killing Joke.
By now, Peter begs every being he fights to not use up all his webbing, as it's very expensive. Peter, you sound like a broken record.
Peter also accuses me, a respected member of the Homiesexual community, of being a liar. This is a hate crime.
In the end, Peter gets back at McGilded, but can't get his mind off Gwen. This issue is gold and we, commies of the 21st century, deeply appreciate it.
This is a good thing, since the Vulture (apparently still alive) is going all Shadow the Hedgehog on us.
So here I was, enjoying a dark story about the Vulture avenging his name and Spidey having trouble with the rain when I was assaulted by an advertisement:
This sent me in a deep dive: who was Donald O. Bolander?
"Donald O Bolander is the author of books such as Instant Synonyms and Antonyms."
Fascinating biography. Don is/was like that one author you subscribe to for one article, who spams you every week with incredibly boring newsletters, but you can never seem to get the courage to suppress them from your daily life. Somehow, they've become part of your waking hours.
We got a bit more information here if you're curious. Anyway, he died in 2010, but look at you, Donald. It's 2023 and you're still making an impact on our lives. Godspeed!
Anyway, Peter goes back home and goes to sleep in his drenched Spidey costume, which is probably bad but I can't say I ever had this specific experience so you do you. He can't fall asleep because his brain keeps acting up, and this is once again proof that Peter has ADHD, thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Peter has internalized homophobia and thus can't ask Harry to give in to his urges and massage his back, but one other interesting thing happens: Vietnam.
So War on Vietnam has been mentioned a few times during these comics. It's not condemned, which is interesting because by 1968, there were definitely people speaking out against it. I think the writers might have wanted to speak out too, but weren't necessarily allowed to do so -- at least, not at that moment. I'm curious to see if the characters go against it.
Someone knocks, and it's Norman, who's considerably less nice than before. Repression!
So that issue was a fun one, the final battle (Vulture vs Vulture vs Spider-Man) incorporated well both Peter's Spidey and civillian lives. I don't care for the Vulture, but the soap opera is great!
The Vulture's attack continues and Robbie Robertson gets a chance to appear, to my usual delight (although I haven't mentioned him until now, he's a reasonable figure in Peter's life and these are usually rare in these comics. In fact, he directly notices that Spidey mentions him by name and figures it's someone he knows. Good going!
Meanwhile MJ gets a dated haircut, Anna and May are still in love with each other, and Anna really thinks her niece's hair are too masculine. Aaah, the Sixties. Gwen still has her long hair and shows off her legs, so she's a much better candidate for a Parker romance, obviously. Gwen's father suddenly recovered from his memory loss - as is known to happen, see the previous arc - so everything's fine again between Peter and Gwen.
Peter uses his smarts and beats the Vulture, but falls unconscious in the street... Will he get unmasked?
I mean, I could absolutely see it, SM2-way.
It so happens that Papa Stacey is here and will *not* let anybody unmask his favorite hero in his presence. He says he wouldn't do it without a legal expert. I wonder what he means by that.
One character mentions it's election year, and I wonder if it's going to be a prominent storyline. Is Osborn mayor already? Is he going to become mayor? Hm.
At this point, both Peter and Norman have been absent for a while and I have to wonder if people thought they had eloped or something. A politician, having a secret relationship with a younger male? Never seen that before!
Meanwhile MJ cameos to scare all of us. Is she in her Cats costume?
So Peter's in prison, he fakes helping prisoner so that he and Captain Stacey get out safely, but Spidey reaffirms his distrust in the legal system by saying that nope, he's not gonna wait for Stacey to testify to his innocence to leave prison. No way.
What a chad.
In the next issue (66), Mysterio's back! Which is nice.
I'm side-eyeing everyone who says TASM2 had too much going on.
Afterwards, the Marvel editors try to figure out how to give fanservice while not summoning their cis male reader base's homophobia. So far, the results have been middling. Either stick to what you were doing before, or show us more skin!!!
He loves dramatic entrances, and I'm here for them!
However, Peter once again questions his character development. Uncle Ben's principles are nice and all, but Peter's starving and needs money.
At least, Peter and Gwen are finally together! That's nice to see, at last. They didn't kiss yet (due to the CCA? nah). At the coffee shop where they go, Robbie and Captain Stacey talk together and reassure themselves that their interest in Spider-Man is strictly professional (in bold in text, twice!!). These men are not doing anything to beat the allegations.
Meanwhile... the Goblin is back! Norman talks to himself and says that his son is "lily-livered" and I'm sure he'd use a gay slur if he was allowed to (he'd be right, but that's not the subject).
Afterwards, Peter finds back his aunt who's absolutely terrified by the telly, which is a Thing that May Does. She's ridiculously fragile, but she's also gay so I can't help but love her.
Here's a small tangeant: we've been seeing the No More outfit (yellow vest, blue pants) for a while now. It's nice to see continuity like that!
So Peter's dead.
I mean. Not really. He's just miniaturized and placed in an amusement park. It's just like in Silent Hill 3! He has now a six inches............... size. Of course.
The visuals are very entertaining - Romita is creative.
Meanwhile, Aunt May is with her ~dear friend Anna~, who takes care of her. Yeah, I'm sure.
Randy, Robbie's son is introduced! Didn't expect that, but I'm happy that Robbie gets some development. The regular (soap side) cast keeps getting bigger...
Overall, it was a quite entertaining series of issues.
After a very entertaining fight, this issue - and post - ends on this. I had a vague feeling of déjà vu when I saw that, so I checked the cover and first page of the next issue and yeah - we're about to enter year 1969 and its Tablet storyline! I've read this one (as told in the masterpost) but I'll be curious to revisit it, especially as I don't recall the Goblin having any involvement.
But before we get there, we have three issues to read in the next post: Spectacular Spider-Man 1 & 2 + Annual 5.
Next time: Black-and-white pages?! :(
#spider-man#comics#osbon#jamesorn#norman osborn x jonah jameson#norman osborn is a drag queen. good for her!#i'm on fire in this entry#peter parker has adhd#parksborn#parksborn but with the other osborn#tasm2
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Today I have come across a study that stated that children are more likely to open up to robots about mental health issues, and, that robots will likely be used as diagnostic tools in the future.
This is a path we should stay away from. This brings into question not only ethical issues of security and confidentiality but also the issue of the type of care that the child/ patient will receive after.
The reason for why these issues together show why this is likely a bad idea start with confidentiality. The article quotes Prof. Gunes saying that this is a physical interaction, [Its not virtual or video]-- [the children] are physically interacting with a physical entity. The problem here arises when the children have no understanding of the fact that they are being evaluated by the AI. They confide in them and tell them the issues that are on their mind. But then what happens? Does the AI keep this information safe or does a human receive this data so that they can take the child into treatment?
In either case, this will have an impact on the quality of the treatment or care that the patient will be receiving. If we suppose that the robot will be providing the care then we enter the territory of the flaw of robots, that is the unquantifiable nature of human emotion and the fact that robots cannot fully understand that dimension of the human experience. Even if we suppose a child could explain such a thing its unlikely that a robot will provide a deeper understanding and connection. A robot has the potential of saying things that the child may not be ready to hear or understand. All of these issues must definitely be addressed if this is the course that is going to be taken.
However, if the robot relays the information to a human therapist who will take the child into care afterwards then the issue of confidentiality comes up. The child separates the robot from the therapist as different entities and if they confide in one but not the other then a feeling of betrayal can arise in the child, which could lead to further trauma and trust issues. To them, it may be no different as to reading their private journal entries or eavesdropping on a private conversation. To continue, even if the therapist doesn't disclose to the child that they know the information (the information the child disclosed to the Robot), there is definitely a reason that the child did not tell them. The relationship is one that needs to be built up over time the same way mental health does. The difference here is two factors: firstly, as the article pointed out, the children likely looked at the robot as one of their peers because of the robots height and stature making it easier for them to connect. Secondly, and possibly more importantly, the robot could have been seen as completely ignorant of everything, and because of this the children might have felt more at ease because of assuming a role of teacher that teaches the robot about a deeper part of themselves. This can hardly be done when with an adult because they may feel afraid or may feel like they need to respect adults more than the authority they hold over knowledge of their feelings. Therefore it would be simpler to take the robot out of the equation completely as that can also help with interpersonal communication later on.
It is also in the realm of possibility that the child only confined in the robot because that's when they remembered certain details. Being in an environment that makes you think of certain events and feelings can potentially result in the remembering of certain details that the participant did not recall in the beginning stages of the study. We don’t know.
Overall, while it may be more time consuming, making a strong doctor-patient bond can, and more likely will, be better for children who require help with their mental health. How would they be able to open up to friends and family, if they cannot open up to another human who is a professional? The use of AI and robots as a diagnostic tool must be very carefully monitored and given as an option to only adults who can fully understand the consequences of the procedure. Children, especially the age group used in the study in question, should not be put through the risk of potential misdiagnosis, overload of information, trauma and other risks associated with this. (Not to mention cyber security and the possiblity of confidential information leaked to the public.)
For the information on the article visit: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/children-more-likely-to-disclose-mental-health-issues-to-a-robot-study-shows#Sitting-down-with-a-socially-assistive-robot
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I came across a GameRant article that is suggesting that "The upcoming Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider game should refresh Lara Croft by using her archeological skills to preserve instead of destroy." and more specifically that it should "depict accurate archeological techniques and show Lara working with a team of fellow archeologists during her next adventure." while also citing the fact that "Lara is sometimes a bit too callous while exploring -- frequently destroying ruins, hacking at ancient structures with her climbing axes, and absconding with rare and powerful artifacts." as a drawback.
I'm sorry but that is a shit take 🤣
Lara is an archaeologist yes, but, like Indiana Jones or Nathan Drake, she's "not a regular mum, she's a cool mum". She does all these illegal and morally questionable stuff that would be absolutely, unanimously, condemned in our own world, and Crystal actually made the fact that people actively criticize Lara in her own world as a part of her backstory all the way back in 2006.
But that's what makes the character interesting and, most importantly, who she is as a character.
Lara is not a hero. She's not outright evil or a psychopath, like some fans like to suggest, and she would never actively try to destroy the world just to add another artefact to her collection, but if she happens to save the world it's most likely a happy accident because she initially set out to find a new artifact to add to her collection and ended up having to dispose evil maniacs along the way. More personal stakes involving her family have been added in both the Legend and the Reboot trilogies, but Lara is still in it for the treasure. I mean heck it's in the game's title 🤣 she is a tomb raider first and foremost. The series is not called Hero, or Explorer or Archaeologist. It's called Tomb Raider. Lara and the premise of the series itself is inherently problematic. They tried to excuse her stealing artifacts and destroying tombs in Shadow by making it look like she has to do those things to prevent the apocalypse but all it did was end up flirting too much with the boundaries of portraying her as a white saviour to the Paititians.
Lara should absolutely never ever again have other people on the field with her, and the Survivor trilogy, whether knowingly or by chance I'm not yet sure, perfectly illustrated that people like the Endurance Crew or Jonah being on expeditions with her are an active hindrance because none of them could keep up with her and she ended up needing to save them from harm almost all the time. Lara should absolutely have allies around her but they should stay the fuck home. Have Zip and Alister chat with her via radio, sure. Have Jonah or Anaya or Sam or Von Croy pop in to give her tips on artifacts or sites she could potentially investigate, that's great. But she should be doing the raiding part alone. She always worked better alone and it should stay that way. You don't need to have people next to her at all times to portray a bond with them or flesh out her personality and character. Lara doesn't need to have someone to talk to at all times to be relatable or interesting.
Furthermore, the author suggests that previous titles' more supernatural or unrealistic elements like Lara fighting dinosaurs in the first three games and Anniversary (they actually only site Anniversary, which makes me think that maybe they don't have enough experience with the series in the first place) or having a super-powered doppelgänger in Underworld were interfering with Lara being portrayed as a knowledgeable archaeologist. I'm sorry but this suggests to me a clear lack of media literacy.
Lara is always the smartest person in any room she walks in, she is shown deciphering ancient texts, like ancient Egyptian, Greek or Mongolian, and speaking various foreign languages, from Japanese to Russian, with ease. She knows and informs players, and sometimes her own allies, on the myths she's currently investigating. Ever since as early as Anniversary, she also gives players detailed descriptions of the artifacts players find, and in the Survivor games they went the extra mile of having recorded voiceovers of Lara's descriptions of the artifacts and I think this is where Camilla shines the most as an actress because you can actually hear the excitement in her voice as she giddily describes her new find, or her disappointment when she read a "made in China" tag on one artifact in TR 13. If the writer, or any player for that matter, paid more attention to the dinosaurs and the supernatural stuff than the actual archaeology and not the actual archeological knowledge Lara has, that's not the games' fault, and no amount of making things overly realistic will change that, just like dressing and modelling Lara in a more realistic way didn't stop players, gay and straight alike, from gushing about Lara's thick ass (in Shadow specifically) or making sexy mods.
Honestly, yes, making more grounded and realistic games and characters is a good thing, because variety is a good thing to have in general. Making every single game and character realistic is not fun, however, not necessary and, ultimately, not gonna help make a game more successful or more popular or more fun, which is the thing that matters the most. Realistic does not always mean entertaining.
Ultimately, if you feel like Lara Croft being portrayed as a reckless treasure hunter fighting dinosaurs is not entertaining, maybe Tomb Raider just isn't for you? And this is not me trying to gatekeep, but just like I keep saying to all the Core fans who have been crying for almost two decades now about Crystal "destroying" Tomb Raider and Lara Croft but still continue to buy every single game, every single DLC and every single merchandise that comes out, if the series no longer provides what you specifically want, maybe you just need to move on and give your money and time on the things you actually like.
And yes, games and media do impact how we think and act in real life situations, but just because I think it's fun when Lara steals things and keeps them for herself just because she wants to, I don't think the British Museum or the Louvre doing the exact same thing is okay. Context matters.
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