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for-a-longlongtime · 8 months

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On Dieter, Goya's Black Paintings, and Pedro on Talk Art

Alright y'all, it's Saturday evening, I have nothing better to do (I actually do but I don't feel like it), so welcome to my mini TED Talk about 'how to pay too much fucking attention to the Pedro cinematic universe'. None of this is new, and maybe everybody already knew about this, but I didn't... so here's a nerdy tangent courtesy of googling/wikipedia-ing.

I was reading a Dieter!fic (this one right here by @chaoticgeminate - go read her writing!) earlier today, which refers to the 'Saturn Devouring His Son' painting - that giant mural Dieter is working on in The Bubble:

(his brush isn't even touching the wall tho, ha)

The original 'Saturn' by Goya

The fic mentioned its part of 'The Black Paintings', so I got curious and started googling. I'm no art major or expert, so please allow me to just paraphraze the Wikipedia page. 'Saturn' is part of a group of 14 Goya paintings that are called Pinturas Negras/The Black Paintings. They "portray intense, haunting themes, reflective of both his fear of insanity and his bleak outlook on humanity" --this was late in Goya's life, and was connected to several illnesses he had experienced (and the fear of relapsing) and political turmoil in Spain at the time (post-Napolean war, changing Spanish government, etc.

Trivia fact 1: Goya actually made these paintings right on the walls of the Quinta del Sordo (so-called Deaf Man's villa) where he was staying -- so I love that Apatow had Dieter also paint right on the walls.

Trivia fact 2: while Goya was living in this villa, he actually became gravely ill (again) - not by a pandemic obviously, but it's hard to not link that loosely to the COVID period. He had never intended for these 'Black Paintings' to become public; "these paintings are as close to being hermetically private as any that have ever been produced in the history of Western art" (the murals were eventually transfered to canvas by other folks once he had moved out of the villa). Switching back to The Bubble -- I love how the tragic influence of Goya's illness(es) and art/things 'made at home away from the world, not intended for an audience' (so obviously, in a bubble) has that connection to the COVID experience and how many folks were suddenly homebound, along with the burden of illness in many ways (lord knows this all did a serious number on our mental health). In the movie, Dieter and the others do not want to go into isolation again, but that solitude is what eventually led him to painting on the walls in his room. This is not a 'grand discovery' of any kind, but I got a kick out of the parellels once I read up on it - and honestly makes me appreciate the movie a bit more, haha.

Not happy about another quarantine period.

Alright, more hyperfocusing after the cut:

Some googling led me to a post from last year by @nicolethered (gifs in this post are hers), and she included screencaps of the walls of Dieter's room (during that drug scene), which I hadn't even noticed while watching the movie. Upon taking a closer look, I noticed they're outtakes from other pieces of Goya's Black Paintings! I thought that was really cool, they sure worked on the details with that set (there's one more that's shown in a different shot but I can't exactly figure out which outtake that is):

First one is a mirror image from Two Old Men Eating Soup and the second one is basically Satan aka 'The Great He-Goat' from the Witches' Sabbath painting. Which IMO makes for fucking hilarious perfection a.k.a. trivia fact 3 -- because we all know about Dieter and his little emotional support goat, LOL. Excellent connection.

*insert sound bit from Hot Ones interview* : "Just let me love you!"

Anywaaay there's more. The Bubble was shot during Feb 22, 2021 to April 16, 2021, right? Pedro has spoken about how his input in shaping Dieter was mostly regarding his outfits (the Crocs, the robe, etc). But then I suddenly remember the Talk Art interview he had done in 2018, and how he namechecks 'The Dog' by Goya - and lo, guess which painting is actually part of the 14 Black Paintings? Yeap - the dog! So I checked the podcast and he was asked, 'if you could be any painting, what painting would you be?' by Russell. Here is the painting, and below it is what he said on Talk Art:

'The Drowning Dog' by Goya

"I think… it's a Goya. Yeah, old school. I think it's called 'Dog Buried in Sand' or something like that. It's so… I remember feeling it was such a visual representation of helplessness, in such a… come on, let's all admit that helplessness is a very recurring feeling for many of us, you know what I mean? When it comes to so many things. I guess… I was in Spain, in Madrid, and I was 20. And I went to the Goya museum. What's interesting about it is that the head of the dog is really quite small and sort of adorable, it looks like a stray mutt, and the painting - if I can remember it correctly - is very rectangular. There's so much above him, like the world just seems so big. It's quite incredible, isn't it? I know it's really sad, and sort of dark, and maybe I really like enjoy perceiving myself like..." (He gets interrupted by Russell, and then continues;) "Yeah, he's certainly not dying, it's sort of - it's a moment", (then interrupts himself with;) "Maybe he's totally dying, there's no way that dog is getting out of that. That dog is SO fucked. Anyway, that's the painting that represents my life". (All three of them burst out into laughing.)

If you're still reading this - I am impressed with your dedication to my silly little post, haha. Anyway, I just thought it was so striking that there basically is a straight line from the painting he mentioned in Talk Art to what Dieter is painting in the Bubble. Makes me wonder if perhaps he - or even Russell/Robert - had any input in that part of Dieter's backstory.

Thank you for attending my TED Talk on artistic analysis of Dieter Bravo during COVID, we now resume your regularly scheduled program for Saturday night. 🤪

(Have I been smoking because a local dispensary actually had 'Mando' bud? I sure as fuck have and I blame that for this post.)

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scammysmileroksuu · 10 months

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There are many characters I love in lcf, and there are many relationships I adore.

But I think the relationship i love the most is (well okay maybe after the soos) cale's relationship with his ancient powers, and the way each of them somewhat represent a part of cale's personality.

Like in the crazy kid, cale's disrespectful-punk behavior and thevway he cusses and curses a lot, in the glutton; his appreciation of food, in the super rock; his determination to protect his family and the people he care for, in the crybaby; his fear of vicious people or hate towards the thought of getting hurt, in the cheapskate; his love for money and their crazy behavior when it comes to shitshow-ing, in the thief; his love for treasure hunting, looting and causing chaos upon the enemies' heads.

...etc etc etc. Cale is the mashup version of all these souls.

Additionally, they are literally a part of his soul. They kinda know about his past as Kim Roksu (at least some snippets of it), are fighting with him wherever he is, be it in an illusion or a different world, and are always with him 24/7, when he's calm, panicking, happy or sad, even when he doesn't understand what he's feeling.

It also hit me real hard when the super rock explained why Cale can still hear their voices, and Cale still decided not to absorb the ancient powers completely.

Because they're basically cale's only way out of his fear of being alone, because they are always with him no matter what, unless Cale himself dies or decides to take theor power fully in. And that was what made the wind island test 10 times more angsty for me.

He called out to them, but they were not there.

I also love that part when cale went to get the crazy kid's power and named her the sky eating water instead of the water of judgment; it was especially mind-blowing because unlike other ancient powers' trials, this one was actually really hard. And wasn't one mentioned in tboah. And cale was pretty much dying before obtaining that element.

Same goes with the wind island test where their past was revealed and the dots were finally connected– the western continent's past, how the super rock, the hero of the boulders and his friends were separated and died one by one in the mist tragic ways possible.

The super rock's wish for cale and his party to not be separated, it hurts more when you remember he had built the rock villa originally for him and his companions. His comrades he never got to live there with. But then gifted Cale and his family that villa.

Cale calling super rock the scary giant cobblestone at first was a great crack element in the story, hilarious to say the least, especially when he used to ask him if he was going to sacrifice himself. But then super rock told cale not to sacrifice himself when he actually answered yes, super rock's wish for cale not to end up like him, the lonely hero who sacrificed himself for the world.

Not to end up like them, like how him and his comrades did, separated and dying without each other's knowledge.

They are one of the reasons I actually believe lcf is going to have a happy ending. Because unlike the heroes of the ancient times, our Cale knows he should fight for his and his family's happiness, and not just for the world. To run away when it's really dangerous. Because Cale has them to remind him that sacrifice was never the right solution.

And I hope, through Cale and this timeline's heroes, these ancient souls would see peace and happiness after a lifetime of war and loneliness. Would experience what they never got to in their lives.

#lcf #cale henituse #lout of the count’s family #lcf ancient powers #kim roksu #kim rok soo #lcf cale #lcf spoilers #lout of the count's family #lcf novel #just me ranting #i love them sm #brainrot thoughts

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eretzyisrael · 4 months

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by Seth J. Frantzman

The Combat Engineering Corps. officer said that the way to see this tragedy is from a “glass half full” perspective, doing the best that can be done in these difficult circumstances.

The engineers continued their work in the lead-up to the ground offensive on October 27. Then they helped the IDF armored and infantry units maneuver along the coast. The D9 helps clear the way and neutralize threats. Terrorists were eliminated in villas and hotels along the coast.

Later, the unit moved into western Jabalya, a densely built-up area near Gaza. The IDF’s 162nd Division has done the heavy lifting there, penetrating into Jabalya and defeating the terrorists there. The goal of the engineers is to help prepare areas for maneuvers and bulldoze areas that might be threatening to troops.

For instance, troops might need to go through an orchard or an area of trees bifurcated by small wadis (streams). The bulldozer can go in and flatten a path. It will churn up the dirt as well, removing booby traps or other dangers. This will help prevent anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) or RPG attacks.

Many IDF armored vehicles these days have active protection systems, such as the Trophy system that is on Merkava tanks and Namer armored personnel carriers. Israel’s D9s and Eitan APCs are supposed to be kitted out with the Iron Fist protection system. Despite these protective systems, vehicles can be damaged and soldiers killed by the ATGM and RPG threat. Harari described how there were ATGM threats in Jabalya. The unit brought in tanks and eliminated two terrorists in one instance.

Engineering units come in various types and sizes. There are the elite units such as the Yahalom that perform special missions. There are other units that are experts in explosives and demolition; they can act with great precision. Then there are the heavy machinery engineers, like those in Harari’s unit.

Today, many engineering units are in Gaza, including Yahalom, the 614th Combat Engineers, the 603rd, and the 8170 and 7017 Battalions. In many cases, these units work closely with other ones in the IDF, such as infantry and tanks, as part of larger organic units, such as the 162nd or 36th Divisions.

#idf #idf combat engineers #armored vehicles #hamas #gaza

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polaroidcats · 3 months

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Dear cat, how would Austrian marauders look like.... Assign everyone a hometown and tell a little about their life in Austria

ohhhhhh okay amazing question!! I'm also tagging @neongreenllama bc in one of our first convos they were talking about Remus listening to Falco and I said if Remus was from Austria he would be from Vorarlberg, so that's what I'm sticking with. He's from the most western part of Austria, grew up somewhere in a village in the alps and has the most iconic beautiful dialect (I may have.. a thing.. for that region's dialect... it's just so great! It sounds almost more like swiss dialects than austrian and I barely understand the people there when they talk to each other but ugh I could MELT when I hear them talk. I digress uhmmm this was about the marauders, right!)

Peter is either from Amsttetten or Klosterneuburg or St. Pölten i don't make the rules but yeah. That's just facts (I love that pretty much no one will know any of these places anyways ahahah).

Sirius and James are both from Vienna, or maybe James is from Vienna and Sirius is from Salzburg. But I think they're both from Vienna.

Okay WAIT I WANT TO ASSIGN THEM VIENNESE DISTRICTS. this post is so unhinged and self-indulgent but idc here we go marauders as viennese districts:

Peter is Liesing. Also part of Vienna but kind of sometimes forgotten bc it's the 23rd district. it's all the way in the south. idk

Lily is the 9th district idk why just vibes (Uni, hipster cafés, pretty old buildings, one of my faves!). or maybe she's 5th, cool up and coming (aka currently being gentrified), close to the hipster areas but a little more affordable than the surrounding districs.

Remus is 21st or 22nd district, the ones across the danube. Or maybe actually the other end, one of the western districts close to the viennese forest? he would like that!

Sirius is either from the 1st,13th or 19th district bc old money. When he gets to chose where he lives he'd first move to the 4th, 6th or 7th bc of the queer spaces, but eventually they are not green enough for him so he moves out west closer to the forest, maybe 16th or 17th or 18th.

James is from the same area as Sirius but new money, Sirius grows up in an old inherited villa in hietzing or döbling that's starting to fall apart, James grows up in a flashy newly built ultra modern home with a pool on the rooftop. Sirius's parents HATE James's house "ruining the neighborhood", Sirius thinks it's the coolest house on the whole street!!

Sleepover ask game!

#bat tag #ahahahaha sorry this is so unhinged and probably not very interesting if u dont know the places #ask game

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cheesy09 · 2 years

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[CN] Kiro's Escape Date

🌸 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date that hasn't been released on the EN server yet! 🌸

[Note: This date was translated with the help of Google Translate :>]

[PART 1]

Savin: All in all, Kiro can’t stay at home this week. He has to move out.

Kiro: No, why--

As soon as Savin finishes speaking, Kiro raises his voice in protest and I, too, raise my hand.

MC: That’s right, hasn’t it been announced already? Why do we have to move out?

A few hours ago, a paparazzo posted two videos online.

One was a video of Kiro wearing a vest, playing with Apple Box in the yard; The other was an image of a long-haired figure wearing a white T-shirt walking into Kiro’s house.

Although the netizens were very keen, they quickly deduced that it was just a man with long hair. At the same time, Kiro’s studio had also quickly issued an announcement and released a complete monitoring.

In fact, there had been several people behind the long-haired man. They were all members of Kiro’s music team, but the paparazzi maliciously attacked him, and in the video clips, left only the former.

Although the misunderstanding has been cleared out, such ulterior motives still bring a lot of trouble to Kiro. Now, the two hot searches #Kiro’sHouse and #Kiro’sPhoto are still in the first two places in the list.

Inside, there is a melee happening between the fans and haters, wrapped in the flames of war, and probably only the social platform operator is turning a blind eye to all of this.

I throw away my phone with a headache, not wanting to watch the rising “gun smoke” anymore. Savin also sighs on the side.

Savin: The timing of the release of this photo is very sensitive. Recently, other actors in the movie Kiro participated in also happened to have some public opinion turmoil...

Savin: After the PR evaluation, it’ll be better to keep a low profile temporarily for fear that someone may use this to cause a commotion and create specific economic losses.

Kiro: So what does this have to do with me not being able to live at home...

Savin: You kid... of course this has something to do with it!

Savin pats the sofa, dissatisfied.

Savin: If something like this happens, I must strengthen the security around your house; And also hold accountable this paparazzi subordinate company, as well some of the media that are fanning the flames:

Savin: For that reason, it would be better to hide your “fuse” for a few days. I’ve already booked a luxury guesthouse in the western suburbs of Loveland City. The scenery is very good. I’ll ask the driver to take you and MC there.

Kiro: But I finally have no work this week. Do I only have to spend it at a guesthouse?

Savin: Do you think I don’t know that you usually play games with MC during your holidays?

Kiro: That’s different, and...

Savin: Do not limit your schedule and snacks for the week.

Kiro: ......

Kiro opens his mouth and seems to want to say something, but in the end, he just nodds.

Kiro: [sulking] All right.

[PART 2]

MC: Wow... this can’t be called a guesthouse, it has to be called a villa!

As soon as I get out of the car, I am struck by the luxury of the guesthouse.

In front of me is a three-story building surrounded by a wall of beautiful flowers, and against the backdrop of the rolling mountains in the distance, it looks like a small peach garden. The red-tiled and white walls are hung with lush vines, and the leaves sway when the breeze blows, as if greeting us.

Kiro also widens his eyes and looks around the guesthouse.

Kiro: Gardens, swings, pools... BBQs and outdoor speakers!

Kiro: Aren’t these the game consoles and projectors from home? They moved those here too? Great, now we have nothing to worry about!

Savin: No. For the sake of you staying put, I’ve had to rummage through almost all the guesthouses in the city! Finally, I found a friend to help me get in touch with this place.

Savin: You two treat this place as a “secret base”, don’t tear it down.

Kiro: Savin, what are you talking about? MC and I aren’t Apple Box!

Kiro: Don’t worry, we promise to stay put. You can deal with things at ease!

Savin checks the facilities in the house again, and after instructing us about some living matters, he leaves in a hurry.

Kiro stretches his waist, lays back and slumps onto the couch.

Kiro: ...Savin’s so generous all of a sudden, it’s making me nervous.

He puffs out his cheeks and exhales lightly. His eyes fall on the brand-new furniture in the room, but it is obviously dazed and unfocused.

Kiro: It’s awesome here...

...Who are you kidding? His tone doesn’t make it sound awesome at all. I pout, take two steps and lean closer to him.

MC: Kiro... are you not happy?

MC: Does this not satisfy you?

Kiro: No, why do you think so?

Kiro immediately shakes his head in denial and speaks righteously.

Kiro: Nothing is more satisfying or more enjoyable in the world than being able to go on vacation with you, without anyone restricting me from eating snacks and playing games!

Kiro: If I’m being honest, last time we discussed about going to the mountaineering camp during my next long vacation...

Saying this, he raises his head apologetically.

Kiro: But now you’re stuck in this place with me... This does make feel a bit sorry.

Those azure blue eyes look at me softly from bottom to top, like a sincere and wounded puppy. Unable to resist, I wave my hand quickly.

MC: It doesn’t matter~ Mountain climbing with you is a holiday experience, and staying with you at a guesthouse is also a holiday experience.

MC: Anyway, it’s not like I won’t have the opportunity to participate in a mountaineering camp in the future!

I pull out a stack of games from the game cassette on the table and hand it to him with a smile.

MC: Also, we’ve cleared the level of ‘Let’s Climb’. That can be considered to be climbing a mountain, right?

Kiro: Pfft... Does a game count as climbing a mountain?

That being said, he has also taken over the game in my hands.

Kiro: Well~ the goal for this holiday is to clear three... no, five games with you!

He raises his smile again, but not knowing if it is just my illusion, I feel that his smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

Ring-- ring---

MC: ...Mm... Whose phone is ringing...

The crisp ringtone of the mobile phone rings throughout the room. Tired and confused, I close my eyes and reach out to grope for the source of the sound, and by the time I finally find the “culprit” that disturbed my dreams, the ringtone stops.

I look at the dimly lit screen and Savin’s name flashes as a missed call, but the feel of the phone case is strange.

MC: Ah, this is Kiro’s cell... Honestly, why didn’t you answer the phone... Eh?

The sleepiness gradually fades and I realize that the other half of the bed is empty -- Kiro isn’t there.

MC: Maybe he went to the bathroom...

I put the phone back in place, turned over indifferently and waited for him to come back.

During this period, Kiro and I have played three games, watched three movies, and eaten five barbecues... There are no phone calls from work, and no snack restrictions. We’d play when we wake up, and sleep when we’re tired.

MC: In a way, this week is in our top three indulgent vacations over the years...

I mutter a little guiltily and lightly take up the bed’s vacant space of a certain “accomplice” with my foot. But even as I wait until the sunlight outside the floor-to-ceiling windows moves up two degrees again, there is no movement inside the room.

I sit up in confusion.

The bedroom is quiet and peaceful, except for the game console that I forgot to turn off before going to bed, which is still running tirelessly, making a humming sound.

The screen is still stuck on the level we didn’t finish last night, two little button figures sitting on Coke cans, watching the fake sunset outside the window.

When I pick up my jacket and put it on, my hand accidentally touches the gamepad.

Wendy: “I don’t think you’re happy.”

The pink button figure suddenly speaks. I startle, and the game continues playing the following plot.

Jack: “No, I’m happy to venture out in this house with you.”

Wendy: “But have you ever thought that we might be able to go outside the house?”

Jack: “Outside the house? But we’re just two buttons. Our goal is to find the missing piece of clothing first. This is the fate of being a button...”

Wendy: “But I want to go outside the house! We can also go round and round and see what the world looks like!”

Wendy: “Do you just want to be sewn back into place and walk around with the master?”

Jack: “Wait, I don’t understand what you mean...”

Wendy: “I mean... even if it’s only for one night, let’s escape.”

The screen stops there and the cursor jumps, prompting the player to make a choice for the two buttons.

MC: .....

I blink and press the pause button.

MC: I’d rather agree with Wendy’s dream, but well, I’ll have to find my “Jack” first and ask his options.

[PART 3]

MC: Kiro...?

MC: Strange, where did he go?

I walk around the house and don’t see Kiro.

MC: What’s going on... He shouldn’t have gone out, his phone’s still on the bed... Oh right, the garden!

Reacting quickly, I hurry outside the house.

MC: Kiro, you’re--

The moment I push the door open, I swallow back my voice abruptly.

Kiro is indeed in the courtyard.

He lowers his head and sits on the swing in the garden. The hem of his open shirt is hooked to his earphone cable and dangles with a swaying arc. The early morning light sprinkles on the ends of his slightly curled hair, dyeing the original golden color into a lighter white, which is clearly visible in the sunlight.

Just the right languidness and invisible loneliness makes the scene in front need almost no framing. It has become the best picture under the artist’s pen.

Kiro: ...Hm?

Suddenly, Kiro seems to sense my breathing and turns his head towards me.

In an instant, as if the stratus of clouds have cleared away, a clear sky falls into Kiro’s eyes. He takes off his earphones and smiles at me.

Kiro: You’re awake?

Kiro’s voice still carries a bit of grogginess and his lazy tone instantly smooths the ripples in my heart.

The corners of my mouth also turn up, but my tone is serious when I speak.

MC: Hmph, someone actually got up early in the morning after playing games all night. I’m here to bestow judgement upon him!

Kiro: Ahh - I plead guilty!

Kiro immediately raises his hand in surrender.

Kiro: I shouldn’t have gotten up early. I should’ve accompanied Miss Chips to sleep and been a pair of happy little slackers!

MC: HAHAHA!

I can’t help laughing. Kiro also takes this opportunity to grab my hand and put me on the swing.

MC: By the way, this is for you. Savin just called.

I take his phone out of my pocket and give it to him. He glances at the screen, smiles, then puts it on the table.

MC: Don’t you have to call him back?

Kiro: No, it’s just a small matter, he’s sent a text to inform me.

The rope keeps squeaking, swaying and carrying us both in the sun. Kiro gives me a pair of earphones and the melodious and light music that flows out from the earbud is so soothing that it makes one’s eyes droop.

Kiro: What do you want to eat later?

MC: Breakfast? I’m not very hungry yet. Why don’t we eat it with lunch? It just so happens that Savin brought some ingredients yesterday. Why don’t I give you a hand with them?

Kiro: Okay! But it’s a bit of a loss to eat one less meal on a day like this... Let’s make it up with afternoon tea?

MC: For afternoon tea, I think there are enough snacks at the guesthouse.

MC: But alas, I really want a freshly baked souffle with a little bit of butter and strawberries on top...

Kiro: I totally get it! Freshly baked souffles like the one on Huapu Street are especially delicious!

Kiro: Their coconut cheese jelly is also very delicious! It’s a pity that...

MC: It’s a pity that we can’t eat it here. We can only eat it when we go back, right?

I continue to say what Kiro said with a smile and he pouts in dissatisfaction.

Kiro: Miss Chips, when you mentioned afternoon teas, did you deliberately say it to make me crave things?

MC: That’s right, I did it on purpose. If I didn’t lure you out with some delicious food that you couldn’t eat, you’d keep alluding me.

I rub my head against Kiro’s shoulder and look at him confidently.

MC: Kiro, I want to hear you tell me the truth.

MC: Are you happy with this vacation?

Kiro is a little surprised that I would ask him this, and he almost nods subconsciously, but then purses his lips again.

Kiro: ...If I tell you the truth, would you be unhappy?

MC: If you say so, I already know the answer.

I let out a long sigh of relief. It doesn’t sound like a good answer, but the boulder that has been weighing on my heart this whole time, is inexplicably dropped. Just as I am about to change my posture, my waist is tightened and Kiro’s hands firmly clutch me.

Kiro: Don’t go, just listen to me first.

MC: Pfft... I’m not leaving~

MC: Moreover, I just wanted to have a good chat with you, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked you like this.

Kiro doesn’t loosen his grip. His head is very close to me and when he speaks again, all of his breath falls on my neck.

Kiro: I know.

Kiro: I know what you want to say.

Kiro: There’re no worries about work this week, and you can do whatever you want here, except for the fact that you can’t go out. In terms of holidays, there are no disadvantages.

Kiro: But that’s what makes me feel like I’ve lost.

MC: Lost to who? The Paparazzi?

Kiro: Not at all... I feel like I’ve lost to the “eyes” of the outside world.

Kiro’s voice is very soft, but every word he speaks is very clear. It’s obvious that he has been thinking about these words for a long time.

Kiro: Of course I know that being a public figure will give me more and less choices than the average person.

Kiro: More in attention, income, responsibility...

Kiro: Less in privacy, freedom, time...

Kiro: But when the eyes of the outside world have clearly crossed that line, why am I the one who has to escape and hide?

The swing slowly stops. Kiro raises his head and looks around.

Kiro: It’s fine here. I can play like crazy, dress casually, and embrace you like this... No eyes can pass through that flower wall and fall on us.

Kiro: But it’s like a cage here, and it’s outside too.

The lush flower wall isolates everything from the outside world, and together with the sky, forms a beautiful prison.

Kiro: You know, I can be greedy sometimes.

Kiro: I’ll wonder if there’s ever a moment when I can be with you too...

He takes a breath and doesn’t finish.

Although Kiro’s sense as a public figure since he was a child prevents him from speaking unbridled words, his voice is sullen and he looks very depressed.

I rub Kiro’s head, and the plot of the game from before flashes through my mind.

Perhaps, before “Jack” can take that step, “Wendy” has to give him a push.

[PART 4]

We have another “happy” day on schedule.

I wait until about two in the morning when I shake Kiro gently.

MC: Kiro... Kiro....

Kiro: Mm...

Kiro is fast asleep. His eyes are too lazy to open his backhand and he wants to press me back into his arms.

Kiro: This cake smells so good...

MC: Who is the cake!

I am annoyed and tickled at the same time, and since I am unable to break free, I simply wrap an arm around his neck and move closer to his ear.

MC: Kiro, let’s “break out”.

The hand that was being restless, stops. Kiro opens his eyes in confusion.

Kiro: ...Break out?

MC: Yes, right now the moon is dark, the wind is high and the night is quiet. It’s the perfect opportunity for a prison break.

I sit up propped on the pillow, fondle his ear lightly with my fingers and speak in cadence, learning the tone of the characters in the game.

MC: Even if it’s only for one night, and there is no destination, and we may be sewn on clothes when we get back... Let’s escape!

Kiro’s originally half-lidded eyes widen as I say every word.

Kiro: You are... you are the greatest genius in the world!!

MC: ...!

There is a flower in front of my eyes, and I only feel his shadow coming, but the next moment, something soft nibbles on my lips.

Kiro kisses me fiercely, his eyes shining with the brightest brilliance of the week.

Kiro: Let’s go, the “prisoners” are going to riot tonight!

At midnight, the suburbs of Loveland City are empty, and there isn’t a single person in sight. At the end of the road, there are star lights that belong to the city and there are a few dim streetlights left in the countryside.

The cool evening breeze passes through our clasped fingers, and I look up at Kiro who is beside me.

Without any disguise or concealment, his handsome face and splendid blond hair are generously displayed in the moonlight, like a little prince who suddenly broke into the night.

As if to vent the depression that he had been trapped in for a week, his footsteps are getting lighter and lighter, and he is almost on the verge of trotting. I am also infected by his excitement and can’t help asking him out loud.

MC: How does it feel to escape from prison?

Kiro: Feeling... one word, cool: second word, happy: third word - very happy!

MC: Hey, that’s four words!

Our unbridled laughter alarm the cats on the roadside, and a kitten jumps into the grass with a meow and disappears.

Kiro: Don’t you think it looks a bit like Cello?

MC: Maybe a bit... Maybe it’s Cello’s long-lost sibling?

Kiro: It’s a pity that it ran too fast for us to get a closer look.

We smile at each other and continue to walk forward.

MC: Turns out that there’s a river nearby! Why didn’t we find it on our way?

Kiro: Because we were both sleeping on the way?

MC: No, we were already awake by then, and I remember discussing with you whether we could order takeout from nearby...

We talk about an array of trivial topics. The night wind, the overhead dilapidated street lamps, the cars passing by by chance... These are not uncommon images, but they also make up the nights in Loveland City that we have never experienced, forming the theme of tonight’s adventure.

It doesn’t matter whether Kiro and I have a lot to talk about or nothing at all, our shadows continue to overlap with each other and keep moving forward.

MC: ...Looking back, I can’t seem to see where the guesthouse it. Do you want to go back?

Kiro: Don’t want to.

MC: Huh? You don’t want to walk like this till dawn, do you?

Kiro turns his head to look at me and actually gives it some serious thought.

Kiro: ...Well, can’t we?

Kiro: At our speed, we might be able to make it to your place at 8:00 in the morning, and still get a good night’s sleep~

MC: Are you serious? You don’t even have a mask right now, people in the city are going to see...

Kiro: MC. What if I’m serious?

Kiro: If our current time was changed to daytime, and our background was changed to that from downtown, would you be afraid?

MC: I won’t.

Without hesitation, I shake my head vigorously.

MC: Just like last time on the airship. If you’re serious, then I’m always ready.

MC: After all, we’re buttons sewn together, forever bound, right?

Kiro: Certainly.

Kiro smiles and hugs me, his voice firm and gentle.

Kiro: [lets out a lovesick sigh] Then give me a little more time and let me sew us together a little tighter... There will come a day when nothing will cut that line between us.

MC: Mm, I’ll be waiting... uh, Kiro, is your phone ringing again?

Kiro: ......

Kiro reluctantly takes out his phone with a dejected expression on his face and the atmosphere is ruined by the ringtone.

Kiro: Hey, Savin, how long will it take for you to get here? We really can’t go on anymore...

MC: Savin? Huh?

I don’t know what Savin says on the other end, but Kiro neatly hangs up the phone, leaving me alone in confusion.

MC: Wait, why are you and Savin...

MC: When did you contact him? Has the paparazzi thing been sorted out?

Kiro: To be precise, today... ah no, it was completely resolved last night. Savin’s phone call yesterday morning was to tell me about the compensation. Originally, I planned on waiting until dawn for him to drive to pick us up, but the escape plan you proposed tonight made me unable to wait even a minute longer.

As he speaks each word, a car approaches us in front. Savin is sitting in the driver’s seat. It stops on the side of the road and the lights flash twice. Kiro gives me a sly and bright smile under the flashing lights.

Kiro: I want to go home with you.

Kiro: To our home.

T/n: Those of you who’ve read my past translations probably realized that I’ve translated this date in present tense. I did this because it’s the form of tense that I’m current practicing to write stories with. Let me know what you guys think. Do you prefer the past tense version, or do you like it this way? Because I think I’m going to keep using this tense from now on.

More Dates: Here

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc kiro #spoiler-free summary: kiro sad boi hours #kiro n mc are not married in name only #kiro completes the challenge of proposing without actually saying 'will you marry me'#mc is kiro's rock. she's amazing. i love her.#BUTTON ANALOGY!! BUTTON ANALOGY!!

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exhausted-archivist · 9 months

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A list of all rifts mentioned in Dragon Age Inquisition, both ones the Inquisitor interacts with and the ones they close after sealing the Breach for good. There is a total of 97 identifiable rifts locations - 95 are through base game and Jaws of Hakkon, 2 are done during the 2 years between main game and Trespasser, and 1 happens in the comic Mage Killer.

There are 4 instances where there are a "few", "multiple", or just a general plural used where we cannot give solid numbers. These are located in Kirkwall, Rivain, Wycome, and "places beyond the Inquisitions reach". The following nations have confirmed rift locations, and the number next to them is the concrete number we are aware of.

Antiva (1) Ferelden (36-40, Conditional) Free Marches (1-Multiple, Unclear) Orlais (56) Rivain (1-Multiple, Unclear) Others (1-Multiple, Unclear)

Below the cut is a more thorough list of their locations.

Note: Will update this as more are found through out codices or war table missions.

Antiva

Antiva City Port (1, Conditional) Mentioned by Cassandra only if she isn't encouraged to rebuild the Seekers. She mentions speaks of the Inquisitor closing it in the spring.

Ferelden

Crestwood (5) Caer Bronach; east Flooded Caves North Gate Camp; east Three Trout Farm; south, southwest

Fallow Mire (2) Old Thoroughfare Camp; west West in the bog, in an arena-like structure

Frostback Basin (9) Basin Floor Camp Cliffside Camp; north-west Fortress Gates Lady's Rest River Camp; north, north-west, northeast Swampside Camp; west, southeast

Frostback Mountains (4, Prologue) Inside the Temple Meeting Solas and Varric Outside the Forward Camp The Path to the Temple - Mountain or Soldiers

Hinterlands (11) Calenhad's Foothold Dwarfson's Pass; southern border, east Grand Forest Villa; east Old Simeon's Cave Outskirts Inquisition Camp; north, south Redcliffe Farms; north, ravine to the east Winterwatch Tower Witchwood

Redcliffe (2 - 6, Conditional) Redcliffe Chantry Redcliffe Castle - 4 during In Hushed Whispers Outside of Redcliffe

Storm Coast (3) Morrin's Outlook Morrin's Steps Waterfall Cave

Free Marches

Kirkwall (1, minimum) In Trespasser we learn the Inquisitor closed at least one rift in Kirkwall, but it is mentioned that there were multiple rifts with "weird glowing fade ricks" appearing within them.

Wycome (Unknown) Keeper Deshanna describes that Wycome is a safe place with "few rifts", indicating there are some but less than other locations.

Orlais

Emerald Graves (11) Argon's Lodge; southwest Briathos' Steps Inquisition Camp; southwest, northwest Din'an Hanin; south Direstone Inquisition Camp; northeast inside a crater Gracevine Inquisition Camp; northwest Great Bear Cove; northeast of Hill Inquisition Camp Rush of Sighs Silver Falls, Riverbank Silverspray Perch, Outisde Chateau d'Onterre Stonewolf Green

Emprise du Lion (6) Drakon's Rise Inquisition Camp; southeast, northeast Elfsblood Tower; north on the frozen river Etienne's Ring; north Judicael's Ring; behind the amphitheater Sahrnia Inquisition Camp; north on the frozen river

Exalted Plains (11) Ancient Baths of Halin'sulahn Fens Inquisition Camp; southeast, northeast, north Path of Flame Inquisition Camp; southwest, southwest near the river bed, northwest Riverside Garrison; inside, outside on the river bank Riverwatch Inquisition Camp; southeast, northeast

Forbidden Oasis (5) East of the Inquisition Desert Camp Elizabeth's Garden, North of the Desert Camp Envers Mining Camp; above and below South of the Desert Camp

Halamshiral (1) Florianne's trap

Hissing Wastes (12) Canyon Inquisition Camp; southeast, northeast, northwest Cove Inquisition Camp; north, northwest Sand Crags Inquisition Camp; east, southeast, west, northwest Statue Inquisition Camp; northwest, east Sunstop Mountain Inquisition Camp; east

Western Approach (10) Adamant Fortress Craggy Ridge Inquisition Camp; northwest, southeast Echo Back Canyon Inquisition Camp; east, south Nazaire's Pass Camp; west, south Lost Spring Canyon Inquisition Camp; south, north Still Ruins

Rivain

General

Unknown

Small farming Village (1)

Locations outside of the Inquisitions Reach (multiple)

Sources

Dragon Age Inquisition + DLCs Mage Killer Codex: Cassandra and the Last Few Years Varric and the Last Few Years War Table: Obtain Amulet for Cole Protect Clan Lavellan

#dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dai #lore #rift lore #fade rifts #lore: rifts #long post

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gothicnyc · 2 months

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Gothic Events Happening in NYC March

Inferno

Widely hailed as one of the great classics of Western literature, INFERNO details Dante's journey through the nine circles of Hell. After meeting his guide, the eminent Roman poet Virgil, in a mythical dark wood, the two begin their descent through a mysterious world of miserable souls, horrifying tortures, and unending suffering.

Until the end of April

$35-65

165 West 86th Street New York, NY 10024

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inferno-tickets-792312296407?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Trivia

Did you spend your youth pinning for vampiric affection? Then gather your Scoobies and join us for Buffy the Vampire Slayer Trivia at Home Base Bistro, our Bronze for the evening to celebrate The Chosen One

3/6/2024

Free

416 Third Avenue New York, NY 10016

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-trivia-tickets-831196419867?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

BLOOD FOR DRACULA

Immediately after completing Flesh For Frankenstein, filmmaker Paul Morrissey and star Udo Kier created Blood For Dracula, a sumptuously depraved Euroshocker that tows the line between art and bad taste. Desperate for virgin blood, Count Dracula (Kier) journeys to an Italian villa only to discover the family’s three young daughters are also coveted by the estate’s Marxist stud (Joe Dallesandro of Morrissey’s Flesh, Trash and Heat). Stefania Casini (Suspiria) and Bicycle Thieves director Vittorio De Sica co-star in one of the most unique and outrageous vampire films in history, now scanned uncut in 4K from the original negative for the first time ever.

3/8/2024

$ 15.00

136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

https://nitehawkcinema.com/williamsburg/movies/blood-for-dracula/

The Red Party

Hosted by Elder Goth & DJ Sean Templar, the red party is sure to delight. Enjoy a night of gothic music and drinks at the mercury lounge. Come watch me dance my ass off.

3/23/2024

$ 15.00

217 East Houston St, New York, NY, United States, New York

https://linktr.ee/redpartynyc?fbclid=IwAR0LwDx2k-MBUlFnIQFitfPx--Nmr7A9AJ-U8xDlibsAASMus7lgRzCG1j0

SAW The Musical The Unauthorized Parody of Saw (New York Off-Broadway)

One of the most thought-provoking horror films of all time now is…a musical. SAW The Musical hilariously captures the events of the first movie parodying the Saw that started it all following from where Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight find each other for the first time in the bathroom trap. Will they follow "the rules" as they discover each other's secrets? Will they escape the game in time and saw right through? A love story with fluidity (and lots more fluids), 'SAW The Musical The Unauthorized Parody of Saw' is Little Shop of Horrors meets Avenue Q, pushing the boundary on sexuality and how to love. [Parental Advisory: Explicit Content]

3/11/2024

$41 – $123

354 West 45th Street New York, NY 10036

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saw-the-musical-the-unauthorized-parody-of-saw-new-york-off-broadway-tickets-823186150937?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Dark Delights

Step into a world of darkness and decadence as Dark Delights presents an unforgettable dining experience like no other. Join us in the grand hall, where an 8-course tasting menu awaits, presented by a staff of elegant vampires and their human servants. Event Admission Includes: 🍽️ 8-Course Tasting Menu 🍷 Unlimited Wine (Type A or B) 🥤 Soda & Water

3/19/2024

$ 107.48

1745 Express Drive North Hauppauge, NY 11788

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dark-delights-tickets-838683534027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Charming Disaster's Musical Séance

Charming Disaster’s Musical Séance is part concert, part spirit divination, part guided tour of what may lie beyond the mortal veil. The playfully macabre goth-folk duo take on phantoms, poisons, witches, monsters, mediums, and more of their favorite things in this performance of original songs and mysterious onstage rituals. Charming Disaster invites you to get haunted with them – exploring the dark side with tongue in cheek and drink in hand. Séance kit included with VIP ticket!

3/22/2024

$ 18.80

21 A Clinton Street New York, NY 10002

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charming-disasters-musical-seance-tickets-796951913627?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

LGBTQ Secrets of the Met Museum Tour • NYC

Professor Andrew Lear, a four-time winner of the Harvard Certificate for Excellence in Teaching, will decipher the meanings of symbols, poses, and context while telling you the low-down on what's really going on. For Lear’s peerless insights on just one of the works in the Met’s unrivaled collection, visit The Gay and Lesbian Review. Famous artists and subjects appear but so do lesser-known artists and works whose homoerotic charge is often ignored.

3/23/2024

$ 60.54

1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-secrets-of-the-met-museum-tour-nyc-tickets-771099448207?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Remembrance, Commemoration & Myth-Making: A Critical Look at Monuments

Join the American Federation of Arts for a panel discussion inspired by the AFA's traveling exhibition Monuments and Myths: The America of Sculptors Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French. This talk will highlight the perspectives of artists, curators, and scholars engaging with monuments and the ways in which they influence history, identity, and memory in contemporary contexts. The program will be followed by a light reception and exhibition catalogs will be available for purchase.

3/26/2024

Free

215 West 57th Street #Suite 1 New York, NY 10019

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remembrance-commemoration-myth-making-a-critical-look-at-monuments-tickets-829099247167?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Be sure to keep you eyes out! More events to be posted as the weeks progress!

#goth #city #gothnyc #events #gothevents #emo #21+#nyc #gothic #new york

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jabbage · 3 months

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#Letters from Watson #lettersfromwatson

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aesthetepogi01 · 1 year

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MY REMARKABLE WRITERS

2 Remarkable Filipino Writers in the Different Periods in Philippine Literature

A vast and varied body of writings, Philippine literature reflects the history, culture, and customs of the nation. Over the years, a number of superior writers have come out of the Philippines, establishing works that have won over readers both domestically and abroad. Two of the most notable Filipino authors from various eras of Philippine literature will be highlighted in this introduction.

In the Period of Enlightenment (1872–1888), the Filipino spirit was reawakened after 300 years of apathy under Spanish control when three priests, Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, were guillotined without adequate evidence of guilt.

Dr. Jose Rizal was a nationalist, author, and revolutionary from the Philippines who inspired a movement for Philippine independence. His legacy has continued to motivate Filipinos to fight for social justice and independence.

Graciano Lopez Jaena was a key figure in the late 19th-century Philippine independence movement, rising to prominence in the Propaganda Movement. He was persecuted and exiled, but never wavered in his dedication to the nationalist cause.

Dr. Jose Rizal and Graciano Lopez Jaena were both influential figures in the Philippine nationalist movement during the late 19th century. Both Rizal and Lopez Jaena were important figures who played a key role in the development of Philippine nationalism and the struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule. Their works and ideas continue to inspire and influence Filipinos today.

Consequently, the American Regime (1898–1944) was heavily influenced by American culture and values, resulting in a shift from traditional forms to modern and westernized styles. English became the dominant language of literature, replacing Spanish, and many writers adopted the themes, forms, and techniques of American writers.

This period saw the emergence of notable writers such as Jose Garcia Villa and Paz Marquez-Benitez, who explored diverse themes such as identity, colonialism, and social justice. Despite its American influence, Philippine literature during this time also reflected the unique experiences and struggles of the Filipino people under colonial rule.

Jose Garcia Villa was a Filipino poet, author, and visual artist renowned for his avant-garde writing style and influence on generations of authors and poets.

Paz Marquez-Benitez was a Filipino author and educator born in 1894 who wrote "Dead Stars" and contributed plays, short stories, and essays to publications. She died in 1983.

Both Marquez-Benitez and Villa were important figures who helped establish Philippine literature in English as a vital part of the country's cultural heritage. Through their writing and criticism, they contributed to the growth and development of modern Filipino literature and helped pave the way for future generations of writers.

After the Americans, the Japanese Period from 1941 to 1945 entered. One of the two remarkable writers during this period was Juan Laya who is unable to adapt to the Japanese occupation and become a prolific writer in Filipino, contributing to Philippine literature and social realism.

And one of the most important authors in Philippine literature Liwayway Arceo is a well-known Filipino author who examines social and political concerns in her short tales and novels, such as "Lupang Tinubuan".

Both Laya and Arceo were important figures who helped shape Philippine literature during the Japanese period. Through their works, they captured the complexities of life under occupation, and helped preserve and promote the Filipino language and national identity during a time of great challenge and upheaval in the country's history.

In this period, it involves and introduces the poems Haiku, Tanka, Tanaga, and Karaniwang Uri, which are known in this new century.

Alternatively, Philippine literature in English from 1941 to 1945 was halted because of the strict Japanese prohibitions on the writing and publishing of works in English. Philippine literature in English experienced a dark period. But there were two unforgivable and remarkable writers during this dark period.

This period was connected to the American Regime, where there are three sub-periods: the Period of Re-Orientation (1898–1902), the Period of Imitation (1910–1923), and the Period of Self-Discovery (1925–1941), where there are two remarkable writers, Fernando M. Maramag and Carlos P. Romulo, who are the pioneering English poets during this period.

One of the founders of contemporary Filipino poetry Fernando M. Maramag was a founding figure of contemporary Filipino poetry, using English language and a formalist style to explore the struggles of a young woman in the country.

Another one, Carlos P. Romulo was a Filipino diplomat, journalist, author, and politician who achieved significant accomplishments for his nation, both domestically and internationally.

Overall, both Maramag and Romulo were important figures who made significant contributions to the development of Philippine literature in English during the period from 1941 to 1945. Through their works, they helped to establish and shape the literary culture of the country, and their legacy continues to inspire and influence Filipino writers today.

Following that, the Filipino youth are awake during the Period of Activism, known as the Bloody Placards Period from 1970 to 1972. Pociano Pineda claims that domestic and international issues contributed to the 1970–1972 youth activism. Activism and our country's history are intertwined. Pineda added that the youths had demonstrated at this point that our nationalism and race are not formed by perpetual denial. The amount of patience one has is limited. If overworked, it can erupt like a volcano.

However, the New Society Period from 1972 to 1980 approached, and it was interconnected to the Period of Activism, where the Green Revolution, family planning, a healthy diet, the environment, drug addiction, and pollution are just a few examples of subjects that were almost universally related to how the country was developing or progressing. The New Society made an effort to stop pornography and other publications that had a negative impact on people's morals. The school organizations and all newspapers were temporarily suspended.

Because of that, the two remarkable writers facing this period are Ponciano Pineda was a poet who was known for his socially relevant poetry that tackled themes such as poverty, oppression, and the struggle for social justice. His works often highlighted the plight of the poor and marginalized members of society, making his poetry an important vehicle for social critique and commentary during this period.

Aniceto Silvestre, on the other hand, was a poet and literary and cultural critic who played a key role in shaping the development of Philippine literature during this period. He wrote a number of influential works on Philippine literature, including "Philippine Literary Criticism," which remains an essential resource for students and scholars of Philippine literature.

Overall, both Pineda and Silvestre made important contributions to Philippine literature during the New Society Period from 1972 to 1980. Through their works, they helped to shape the literary and cultural landscape of the country, and their influence continues to inspire and influence contemporary Filipino writers today.

Then came the Period of the Third Republic from 1981 to 1985, when the lifting of military rule in the Philippines led to a new nation known as the "New Republic" or "Third Republic," as our late President Ferdinand E. Marcos proclaimed during this period.

The two most remarkable writers during this period are Gilda Cordero-Fernando is a well-known writer, publisher, and cultural icon who has published extensively on topics such as women's issues, Philippine culture, folklore, and history.

Damiana L. Eugenio was a Filipino folklorist and literary expert who specialized in Philippine folklore, mythology, and stories. She received numerous honors for her contributions to Philippine culture and literature, including "Philippine Folk Literature".

Both Eugenio and Cordero-Fernando were instrumental in shaping the literary and cultural landscape of the Philippines during this period. Through their works, they helped to preserve and promote traditional Philippine culture and literature, while also addressing the contemporary concerns and issues of the time. Their contributions continue to inspire and influence contemporary Filipino writers today.

In the year when the Post-EDSA 1 Revolution (1986-1985) was published, journalism underwent a change from years of "guided newspapering" to free and ethical reporting. The "establishment" publications that supported Marcos shut down, while the alternative press rose to prominence.

During this time, two remarkable writers were Bienvenido N. Santos was a Filipino-American writer, professor, and diplomat known for his works that addressed the lives of Filipino immigrants in America and the Philippines, such as "March of Death".

Lastly, Salvador P. Lopez was a writer, journalist, and educator who played a key role in shaping the development of Philippine literature and culture in the post-World War II era. He is best known for his influential essay, "Literature and Society," which argued for the importance of literature as a means of cultural expression and social criticism. Lopez also served as the first Philippine ambassador to the United Nations.

Overall, both Santos and Lopez made important contributions to Philippine literature during the period Post-EDSA 1 Revolution. Through their works, they helped to shape the literary and cultural landscape of the country, and their influence continues to inspire and influence contemporary Filipino writers today.

The literature of the Philippines has a long and varied history that reflects the culture, traditions, and struggles of the country.

Famous authors have contributed to the growth and evolution of Philippine literature from the Enlightenment to the Third Republic. Crafted by Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez, Jose Garcia Villa, Paz Marquez-Benitez, Liwayway Arceo, Fernando M. Maramag, Carlos P. Romulo, Ponciano Pineda, Aniceto Silvestre, and Gilda Cordero-Fernando proceed to move and teach pursuers both locally and globally.

These authors have contributed to the development of a variety of literary forms, including poetry, short stories, essays, and plays, and they have investigated topics like identity, colonialism, social justice, and activism. Literature in the Philippines continues to be a vibrant and dynamic art form that adapts to the nation's challenges and shifting times.

#My Remarkable Filipino writers in different periods

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jonnyparable · 1 year

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Journey to Yukimatsu

Hello! Time to hit the slopes with Yukimatsu! Originally when I got this pack, I thought I'd not really spend much time here since I don't like skiing or snowboarding or just sports in general but the mountain is beautiful so here we are.

The area here is more or less a small commercial cluster of businesses catering to visitors, like a small Ski lodge village, so there's a visitor center/ranger station, ski apparel shop, gift shops and restaurants.

The Onsen, now renamed the Daidouji Onsen is modelled after a traditional ryokan inn, and rather than bulldoze the lot, I actually just built on what was already there, adding some functional floors, with an indoor Onsen, spa facilities upstairs, and some wings to either side using debug.

Kiyomatsu Point is now the sprawling private estate of the Ito family. The property towers over the area, and in keeping with what I think the narrative around them was supposed to be, their home is a thoroughly contemporary, minimalist, slightly obnoxious expression of modern Japanese architecture, with my main inspiration for it being the Falling Water house by Frank Lloyd Wright.

I kept one rental lot here, but decided to turn it into a modern ryokan experience, the Kiyomatsu Ryokan. So kind of a cross between a traditional inn and an international hotel. The original rental lots' locations right at the base of the slopes made it a bit odd for me to have ground floor villa style homes there, so the architecture here feels more urban and commercial. The terraced slopes behind the lots, with a bunch of houses on it would have been a great place to have rental homes of that nature but oh well, it's all just set dressing.

Anyway, this place is not the most sleek or stylish place to stay, and that's the point, it's kind of an old 90s style kind of joint, built with modern sensibilities, but with an almost overcompensating Japanese facade, with interiors that haven't been updated that much over the years. As of this posting, the interiors aren't done, but I'm in no hurry.

The other rental lot is now the Yukisumi Cafe. It's actually a restaurant lot, meant to be an old family biz, and serves Western fare mostly. I kept the menu to wine, cocktails, coffee, hot cocao and other hearty Western dishes. The cafe is located along a small shopping street, again, lined with businesses catering to the montain's visitors.

And that's all for Yukimatsu!

#the sims #ts4 pictures #ts4 screenshots #ts4 #snowy escape #sims 4

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mitchipedia · 2 years

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American Gentry

Much of America is governed by a class of wealthy gentry—not billionaires but not middle class either. Their wealth is in the millions and tens of millions.

Patrick Wyman:

This kind of elite’s wealth derives not from their salary - this is what separates them from even extremely prosperous members of the professional-managerial class, like doctors and lawyers - but from their ownership of assets. Those assets vary depending on where in the country we’re talking about; they could be a bunch of McDonald’s franchises in Jackson, Mississippi, a beef-processing plant in Lubbock, Texas, a construction company in Billings, Montana, commercial properties in Portland, Maine, or a car dealership in western North Carolina. Even the less prosperous parts of the United States generate enough surplus to produce a class of wealthy people. Depending on the political culture and institutions of a locality or region, this elite class might wield more or less political power. In some places, they have an effective stranglehold over what gets done; in others, they’re important but not all-powerful.

Wherever they live, their wealth and connections make them influential forces within local society. In the aggregate, through their political donations and positions within their localities and regions, they wield a great deal of political influence. They’re the local gentry of the United States.

Gentry classes have been common throughout history: The Roman Empire, Han China, medieval France, and the planters of the antebellum South.

By definition, they’re local elites.

In the early Roman Empire, for example, local civic elites were essential to the functioning of the state. They collected taxes in their home cities, administered justice, and competed with each other for local political offices and seats on the city councils. Their competition was a driving force behind the provision of benefits to the common folk in the form of festivals, games, public buildings, and more basic support, a practice called civic euergetism.

These local elites of the Roman world served as the linkage between the central administrative apparatus of the earlier emperors like Augustus or Hadrian and the archipelago of cities that made up the Roman Empire. This was how the Roman Empire could function with a central administration of only a few hundred scribes, clerks, and functionaries gathered around the emperor: The central state essentially outsourced the day-to-day running of the empire to the city councillors of Marseilles, Tarragona, Antioch, Athens, Carthage, and a hundred other cities scattered from Britain to Arabia.

…

When we talk about inequality, we skew our perspective by looking at the most visible manifestations: penthouses in New York, mansions in Beverly Hills, the excesses of hedge fund billionaires or a misbehaving celebrity. But that’s not who most of the United States’ wealthy elite really are. They own $2 million houses on golf courses outside Orlando and a condo in the Bahamas, not an architecturally designed oceanfront villa in Miami. It’s not that those billionaires and excesses don’t exist; it’s that they’re not nearly as common as a less exalted kind of wealth that’s no less structurally formative to our economy and society.

There are an enormous number of organizations and institutions dedicated to advancing the interests of this gentry class: Chambers of Commerce, exclusive country clubs and housing developments, the American Society of Concrete Contractors, and fruit-growers’ associations, just to name a small cross-section. Through these organizations and their intimate ties to local and state politics, the gentry class can and usually does wield significant power to shape society to their liking.

It’s easy to focus on the massive political spending of a Sheldon Adelson or Michael Bloomberg; it’s harder, but no less important, to imagine what kind of deals about water rights or local zoning ordinances are being struck across the country on the eighth green of the local country club.

This class is largely hereditary.

Managers run their companies, lawyers look over their contracts, accountants manage their finances, but they’re the owners, whether or not they’ve done a single thing of their own volition to accumulate those assets.

…

Equating wealth, especially generational wealth, with virtue and ability is a deeply American pathology. This country loves to believe that people get what they deserve, despite the abundant evidence to the contrary. Nowhere is this more obviously untrue than with our gentry class. They stand at the apex of the social order throughout huge swathes of the country, and shape our economic and political world thanks to their resources and comparatively large numbers, yet they’re practically invisible in our popular understanding of these things.

Power resides in group photos of half-soused overweight men in ill-fitting polo shirts, in gated communities and local philanthropic boards. You’ll rarely, if ever, see these things on CNN or in the New York Times, but they’re no less essential to understanding how and why our society works the way it does.

#twt

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heavymetalmagazine · 2 years

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This page does a great job of summing up why a lot of people are profoundly disillusioned about the current state of western civilization. (Heavy Metal #287 2017 – Page 9 Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast Preview by Leon, Edginton, West, Gorder, Villas and Bascle)

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troybeecham · 1 year

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Today, the Church remembers Pope St. Gregory the Great.

Ora pro nobis.

Pope Saint Gregory I (c. A.D.540 – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 3 September 590 to 12 March 604 AD. He is famous for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregorian Mission, to convert a pagan people to Christianity. Gregory is also well known for his writings, which were more prolific than those of any of his predecessors as pope.

A Roman senator's son and himself the Prefect of Rome at the age of 30 years, Gregory tried the monastery but soon returned to active public life, ending his life and the century as pope. Although he was the first pope from a monastic background, his prior political experiences may have helped him to be a talented administrator, who successfully established papal supremacy. During his papacy, he greatly surpassed with his administration the emperors in improving the welfare of the people of Rome. He also was an able theologian, and successfully challenged the theological views of Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople before the emperor Tiberius II. Gregory regained papal authority in Spain and France and sent missionaries to England. The realignment of barbarian allegiance to Rome from their Arian Christian alliances shaped medieval Europe. Gregory saw Franks, Lombards, and Visigoths align with Rome in religion.

Gregory was born into a period of upheaval in Italy. From A.D. 542 the so-called Plague of Justinian swept through the provinces of the empire, including Italy. The plague caused famine, panic, and sometimes rioting. In some parts of the country, over 1/3 of the population was wiped out or destroyed, with heavy spiritual and emotional effects on the people of the Empire. Politically, although the Western Roman Empire had long since vanished in favour of the Gothic kings of Italy, during the A.D. 540s Italy was gradually retaken from the Goths by Justinian I, emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire ruling from Constantinople. As the fighting was mainly in the north, the young Gregory probably saw little of it. Totila sacked and vacated Rome in A.D. 546, destroying most of its population, but in A.D. 549 he invited those who were still alive to return to the empty and ruined streets. It has been hypothesized that young Gregory and his parents retired during that intermission to their Sicilian estates, to return in A.D. 549. The war was over in Rome by A.D. 552, and a subsequent invasion of the Franks was defeated in A.D. 554. After that, there was peace in Italy, and the appearance of restoration, except that the central government now resided in Constantinople.

On his father's death, Gregory converted his family villa into a monastery dedicated to the apostle Saint Andrew (after his death it was rededicated as San Gregorio Magno al Celio). In his life of contemplation, Gregory concluded that "in that silence of the heart, while we keep watch within through contemplation, we are as if asleep to all things that are without."

Gregory is known for his administrative system of charitable relief of the poor at Rome. They were predominantly refugees from the incursions of the Lombards. The philosophy under which he devised this system is that the wealth belonged to the poor and the church was only its steward. He received lavish donations from the wealthy families of Rome, who, following his own example, were eager, by doing so, to expiate their sins. He gave alms equally as lavishly both individually and en masse.

The state in which Gregory became pope in A.D. 590 was a ruined one. The Lombards held the better part of Italy. Their predations had brought the economy to a standstill. They camped nearly at the gates of Rome. The city was packed with refugees from all walks of life, who lived in the streets and had few of the necessities of life. The seat of government was far from Rome in Constantinople, which appeared unable to undertake the relief of Italy. The pope had sent emissaries, including Gregory, asking for assistance, to no avail. In A.D. 590, Gregory could wait for Constantinople no longer. He organized the resources of the church into an administration for general relief. Gregory began by aggressively requiring his churchmen to seek out and relieve needy persons and reprimanded them if they did not. To pay for his increased expenses he liquidated the investment properties of the Church, including his own vast holdings of land, and paid the expenses in cash.

Money, however, was no substitute for food in a city that was on the brink of famine. Even the wealthy were going hungry in their villas. The church now owned between 1,300 and 1,800 square miles (3,400 and 4,700 km2) of revenue-generating farmland divided into large sections called patrimonia. It produced goods of all kinds, which were sold, but Gregory intervened and had the goods shipped to Rome for distribution.

Distributions to qualified persons were monthly. However, a certain proportion of the population lived in the streets or were too ill or infirm to pick up their monthly food supply. To them Gregory sent out a small army of charitable persons, mainly monks, every morning with prepared food. It is said that he would not dine until the indigent were fed. When he did dine he shared the family table, which he had saved (and which still exists), with 12 indigent guests. To the needy living in wealthy homes he sent meals he had cooked with his own hands as gifts to spare them the indignity of receiving charity. These and other good deeds and charitable frame of mind completely won the hearts and minds of the Roman people. They now looked to the papacy for government, ignoring the rump state at Constantinople, calling him a fool for his pacifist dealings with the Lombards.

Pope Gregory had strong convictions on missions: "Almighty God places good men in authority that He may impart through them the gifts of His mercy to their subjects. And this we find to be the case with the British over whom you have been appointed to rule, that through the blessings bestowed on you the blessings of heaven might be bestowed on your people also."

He is credited with re-energizing the Church's missionary work among the non-Christian peoples of northern Europe. He is most famous for sending a mission, often called the Gregorian mission, under Augustine of Canterbury, prior of Saint Andrew's, where he had perhaps succeeded Gregory, to evangelize the pagan Anglo-Saxons of England. It seems that the pope had never forgotten the English slaves whom he had once seen in the Roman Forum. The mission was successful, and it was from England that missionaries later set out for the Netherlands and Germany. The preaching of non-heretical Christian faith and the elimination of all deviations from it was a key element in Gregory's worldview, and it constituted one of the major continuing policies of his pontificate.

Throughout the Middle Ages he was also known as "the Father of Christian Worship" because of his exceptional efforts in revising the Roman liturgical worship of his day.

Blessed Gregory, we live in an age of poverty, famine, and war; and in the Church we face heterodoxy, even apostasy, and often the debasement of worship, even as did you in your earthly life. You who worked so tirelessly for the plight of the hungry, the poor, and refugees; for making peace with enemies; for sending out missionaries to share the orthodox and catholic Faith with those who had never head the Good News in Jesus; and labored for the enrichment and ennoblement of Christian worship. Amen.

Almighty and merciful God, you raised up Gregory of Rome to be a servant of the servants of God, and inspired him to send missionaries to preach the Gospel to the English people: Preserve in your Church the catholic and apostolic faith they taught, that your people, being fruitful in every good work, may receive the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #christianity #jesus #saints #god #salvation #early church

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