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miyamiwu · 5 days

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On Kaiser’s Trauma

I’ve thought it over, and I think there’s really no way for Kaiser to awaken this match. Be it scoring a goal or getting one over Isagi, he is not winning. I don’t see it at all.

I’ve reviewed the previous character development arcs, and one thing Kaneshiro has been staunch about is that internal development comes first before external development:

Chigiri - Chigiri had to get over his fear of losing his old self by putting his leg at risk again before the narrative rewarded him with a goal.

Bachira - Bachira had to overcome his fear of being alone before being rewarded with, not a goal, but with a friend who met him where he was.

Barou - Barou had to experience his arrogance being crushed and overcome the subsequent resignation he felt before he could reclaim his role as “main character.”

Hiori - Hiori had to first come at peace with giving up soccer entirely—something he had been hesitant to do, even when it hurt him, because he didn’t know what else to do—before discovering what soccer really means to him.

Yukimiya - Yukimiya found salvation when Isagi saw him as he was desperately fighting for a chance while he could still see.

It’s a bit different for Isagi’s main rivals, though:

Nagi - Nagi got motivated to put in an effort because of Isagi -> Got stronger during Second Selection -> Went back to old habits just to beat Isagi once -> Regressing in the rest of the NEL arc

Rin - Rin had to stop seeking answers outside of himself -> Unleashed his true ego during the U20 match -> Subconsciously sought affirmation from Sae at the end of the match -> Felt rejected by Sae -> ??? (The current match against PxG is ongoing, so I don’t know how he is right now)

Nagi’s and Rin’s development arcs are not linear, and currently both are in the lower curves of their arcs. This is because they haven’t fully solved their internal problems. Until Nagi finds a reason to push himself outside of beating Isagi and until Rin gets over his brother issues, they can never fully grow.

Likewise, Kaiser, who is undoubtedly also a main rival, has to first fucking get therapy process his childhood trauma before he can truly awaken.

But trauma is not easy to overcome. In fact, you don’t even really “heal.” Kaiser “getting over it” in just one match is impossible. As such, I don’t see him winning. At least not now.

Isagi throwing Kaiser’s words back at him by calling him a “clown” has gotten some people to think that Kaiser’s awakening is imminent. After all, a similar thing had happened to Barou before when Isagi called him “donkey.”

But Kaiser is not Barou. Both may be arrogant, but one of them didn’t grow up under violence. And as I’ve said before, internal development comes first. Barou’s internal problems, compared to Kaiser’s, are much easier to resolve.

And unlike Barou’s, Kaiser’s problems are not confined within soccer. They seep into his every being and in all aspects of his life, as we can see in how he treats himself and others off the field.

To begin, let’s talk about what Kaiser thinks of himself:

Alternatively, Hoshi’s translation of Kaiser’s monologue goes like this:

These guys are “humans.” Different from me, they were born wanted “humans.”

Having been abandoned by his mother and growing up abused by his father, Kaiser’s sense of worth is so low that he thinks he was born without it—which is wrong. Everybody is born deserving to live.

But Kaiser thinks otherwise. He sees himself as not even human because nobody wanted him alive. Still, he has this strong desire to live—a desire that had first made itself known to him at this moment:

Right before this, he had looked so dead inside:

He didn’t flinch when the cops came to arrest him. He didn’t try to fight for the escape money he had stashed away. He was so passive and tired and helpless that he might as well be truly dead.

But at that moment his father was about to destroy his soccer ball? A fire lit up inside him. A fire so bright and strong that he got to beat seven cops while handcuffed.

That fire was the love he had for soccer. All his life he’d been in a passive position, but when he fought for what he love, the reins of his life got transferred into his hands.

And in that moment, Michael Kaiser, for once, was truly alive.

Now, he’s living his life in constant search of that fire—or “proof of his existence,” as he puts it.

However, Kaiser has misunderstood what that fire is. After all, how can he recognize love when he’s never been loved?

Only pain and violence are familiar. Thus, it is honestly no surprise when he misattributes “proof of existence” to “inflicting malice on others, living on inside them as a scar.”

For Kaiser to grow, he has to redefine “proof of existence.” How can his own existence depend on the number of people he defeats? That’s unhealthy. And as with Rin’s problem, it’s just seeking answers outside of himself.

But for Kaiser to even begin redefining it, he must first learn to recognize love for what it is.

Love was the fire that was lit inside him. He must go back to it. (Like how Bachira awakened by going back to how he used to play as a child.)

Love is also the main thing that sets Isagi apart from him—the former having been raised by loving parents and having companions sincere to him—so it’s crucial that he learns this if he wants to defeat Isagi.

How can he do this? With the way he was raised, I don’t think Kaiser can learn love on his own. He has to learn it from others. But before that, he must see himself as “human.” While he still views himself as “non-human,” Kaiser won’t be able to connect deeply with “humans” and welcome any love from them.

And this is the crux of his problem...

Kaiser has made attempts to be more “human,” but...

... he’s going about it so horribly wrong 😭😭😭

@galaxynajma also sent this question:

What do you think is the new reason for why kaiser does this every morning: His morning routine consists of: standing before the mirror naked, gazing at himself while having a conversation (to himself), getting into the mindset that nothing is impossible, and then smiling while thinking ‘this is me’. (Trivia from Blue Lock wiki)

“This is me” is Kaiser reaffirming to himself that he is becoming more “human” when he sets out to achieve the “impossible.”

How to be Human 101

Okay, fuck, to be completely honest, I have no idea! I didn’t expect to get this psychological while I was writing 🫠

I had… written myself into a corner. But anyways, I’m gonna try seeing this through...

So, I’m no psychologist, but… I relate on a deeply personal level with Kaiser’s “human vs non-human.” But in my case, I had used the words “normal vs not normal.”

(This is gonna get a little bit personal, but bear with me!)

This distinction was something I strongly felt during my peak depression years. I felt like nobody truly understood me because they hadn’t been through what I had been through. Whatever the doctors said just went from one ear to another because I couldn’t trust them. In my head, I had categorized them as one of the “normal” people—their lives were so put-together and they were so in control and on top of things! Not like me, who was drowning.

I also slowly distanced myself from friends because they, too, were the “normal” ones.

One friend, however, stuck around. She didn’t mind me going missing for months without a word. And whenever I showed up again from who knows where, she would always excitedly welcome me back as if I never even left. And this was the friend who I thought to be always better than me in every way because she was prettier, smarter, and had a better financial status. So I never really expected her to get me.

But oh, she did. I found out that she wasn’t “normal,” too. She too had her own problems, and we got to share our sorrow with each other...

So, I guess what I’m trying to say here is that...

It’s not really a matter of erasing the distinction between “human” and “non-human.” It’s enough, for now, that Kaiser finds another “non-human” like him, and with whom he will slowly start to feel “human”—worthy of living and being loved.

I know Kaneshiro isn’t fond of therapy talk, but for Kaiser, I think it’s a must that he gets to open up to someone. He doesn’t have to share the full story. He just has to be sincere about it.

And who is the closest “non-human” that we have around Kaiser who’s also unwanted by his family?

Ness.

This doesn’t even have to be about shipping. And I know their relationship is looking pretty grim right now because of how Kaiser has been treating Ness since the beginning, but...

...I still believe that this, at least, was real.

Together, they can learn what it is to be “human.”

In summary, for Kaiser to awaken, he must first resolve his internal problems. To do this, he must...

Find a fellow “non-human.”

See himself as “human.”

Recognize love for what it is.

Redefine his “proof of existence”

Thank you for coming to my TED talk, *bows

---

Okay, so I don’t normally do this at the end of my posts, but I just recently launched my Alpha Reading Service. If you liked my analysis above and would like me to review your story the same way, do check it out!

Or, if you don’t need any alpha reading, consider tipping me on Ko-fi instead. Thank you!

#*checks time #THIS TOOK ME ELEVEN HOURS TO WRITE HOLY SHIT #AAAAAH #I still have to prepare for my classes 🥲#i’m going back to reality folks #take this and go!#michael kaiser #blue lock #michael kaiser meta #blue lock meta #michael kaiser analysis #blue lock manga #miyamiwu.meta #miyamiwu.src #kainess #alexis ness

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boinin · 1 month

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Blue Lock volume cover analysis

An examination of unusual features and chains among the 28 volumes released to date. Subject to revision.

Like this? Want to reference these points in your own analysis on Reddit, YouTube, wherever? Go ahead! A shout out to this post is appreciated. Straight up plagiarism isn’t.

Volume 8: Mikage Reo

Reo's chains are noticeably shaded green. Guess whose eyes glow green when they're fired up...

In addition, @thyandrawrites has a theory that Reo ties/reties his hair up as a way to maintain emotional composure. The volume covers tend to represent the character's personality or struggles in some sense. If so, this is an early nod to the emotional trials Reo endures during the series.

Volume 10: Tokmitsu Aoshi

No chain weirdness here, but Tokimitsu is surrounded by black gunk in his cover. This may be a visualisation of his anxiety and the way he copes with it: running at speed and bulldozing through his opponents.

Volume 11: Ego Jinpachi

Ego's cover depicts him totally immobilised by the four chains bound to his neck. To date, no other character has been more restrained by the chains. This likely represents that Ego's fate is utterly dependent on the outcome of Blue Lock. His cover also suggests that Blue Lock (and football) consume Ego's life.

Volume 12: Shidou Ryuusei

Shidou's chains have a blue glow, much like Sendou's in volume 27. This glow is far closer to Shidou's collar however. It could imply that Blue Lock is the beginning of Shidou's pursuit of football.

He's also depicted with demon wings. The collar or chains don't impede his movement significantly, unlike other characters. In addition to portraying his incredible physicality, this could also visually represent how Blue Lock has failed to subdue Shidou.

Volume 16: Oliver Aiku

Aiku's chains are wrapped tightly around his arm and he's pulling them taut. The chains themselves appear rusted and cracked, most notably on his collar. This could represent Aiku's relationship with football. He grew jaded with being a striker in high school. Becoming a defender, then the match against Blue Lock, revitalised his enthusiasm. Hence, the chain is holding fast: he's just as ensnared by football (and Blue Lock) as the others.

Volume 17: Itoshi Sae

Sae and his chains are bathed in radiant gold light, which is associated with both divinity and wealth. His chains crumble in one place, and remain barely intact. I offer two interpretations for this. Firstly: unlike the others, Blue Lock does not have a strong impact on Sae—his success as a footballer is completely independent of it.

Secondly: if we take the chain to represent Sae's footballing career, the crumbling chain could allude to a time when football negatively impacted him. Perhaps whatever happened in Madrid? But he came back stronger, as the rest of his chains appear even more golden.

Volume 18: Teieri Anri

Anri is the only character depicted without chains or a collar. While working with Ego is a prison sentence in its own right, the artwork suggests that her ambition and future isn't connected to the outcome of Blue Lock. It can also be interpreted as a nod to the hierarchy within Blue Lock. Anri is Ego's boss and thus, she is free while he is constrained. However...

Zoom in on the reflection on her phone screen. It appears to reflect a wide grin—which can only be one person's. Taking into account her passivity in chapter 247, this detail positions Anri as Ego's accomplice: willing to do his bidding, no matter how amoral.

Volume 19: Michael Kaiser

Kaiser's collar and chains are made of glass, through which his blue rose tattoo is visible. As chapter 243 told us, a blue rose represents the impossible to Kaiser. Glass chains suggests that his ego or ties to football are fragile, and could be broken easily. Symbolically, glass can also represent transparency. As a character, Kaiser is upfront about his talent and desires. Nobody is in doubt about his footballing mantra or his intent to undermine Isagi.

Volume 20: Alexis Ness

Ness's chains are entwined with blue rose brambles, all but for a short length to the top right of the image. While Ness came to love football independently, seeing it as magical, the rose brambles show that his connection to football is now inseparable from his devotion to Kaiser. It also reflects that Ness would not be a professional footballer without Kaiser, as per chapter 242/243.

Volume 24: Hiori Yo

Hiori is the only character shown holding the end of his chain, which is secured by a football-shaped weight. This suggests that Hiori himself is the one in control of his career, rather than external forces. Football is a burden to him, albeit something he can carry. Therefore, Hiori is not ensnared by the chains (or Blue Lock) to the same extent as other characters. Appropriate for a character guaranteed to succeed as a footballer, but who ultimately may not choose to pursue it.

Volume 25: Niko Ikki

Niko's volume cover is hilarious. I'll leave the explaining to Tomo-tan, who lays out the humour and genius of Niko's cover in this great Reddit post.

Volume 26: Don Lorenzo

Members of the New Generation World XI have no chill when it comes to their covers, and Don Lorenzo is no exception. His collar shows bite marks, as though chewed through. Gold teeth are good for more than caramel popcorn, apparently.

Lorenzo's chains are accompanied by what looks like electricity. This suggests that football reanimated Lorenzo from near death, as per chapter 216. It's a visual nod to his playstyle, which resembles the incessant pursuit of a zombie. Guess we can call him Snuffy's Monster.

Volume 27: Sendou Shuuto

A blue glow appears on Sendou’s chains, halted from travelling further by his fist. This may represent the threat Blue Lock poses to Sendou's footballing career. He's already been kicked as the striker of the national team; now in the Neo Egoist League, he must battle for a place on the new U20 line-up. No easy feat, as his sweaty face implies.

Another detail worth mentioning is that the trajectory of one of Sendou's chains appear to align with the chain Aiku's pulling in his cover. This similarity, and the fact that they're both holding their chains, may be interpreted as a nod to their status as former U20 teammates—likely the only ones that will make the new team, going off the latest NEL auction table.

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oliveraiku · 1 year

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I think that despite and past the initial childish disappointment that Isagi wasn’t the one to score the victory goal, it does make sense that Yukimiya was the one to seal the deal.

Why? Three factors.

1. We saw it already with Barou AND Rin in the second selection and the U-20 match respectively, how good Isagi is at exploiting someone else’s strength (and luck) and turn it into an advantage for himself. Which in turn means that when Yukki refused to collaborate with Isagi, for a rational plan in order to score, it was a foreshadowing for the fact that despite his protagonism, Isagi would be using Yukimiya, exploiting his inferiority complex, his will to beat Isagi and prove him wrong, and his fear of being forgotten.

Even Ego, here in chapter 196, actually explains why it makes sense for Yukimiya to score the goal in those circumstances, but not in the others - because once again, this match isn’t about Yukki’s goal, but Isagi’s realisation of protagonism and how to use that of other’s.

2. Yukimiya has simply a better physical spectrum than Isagi. Isagi says it himself, that what he misses is not the insight - but the physical prowess to actually make justice to it (which is what I believe next chapters will be about, especially if the next match is against Barou’s team - which makes sense, so that Isagi and Kaiser can have the last match showdown with Shidou and Rin).

3. The fulcrum of his whole match was not the goals, but rather Isagi realising how Protagonism works and if Yukimiya, Reo, Nagi, Kunigami and Kaiser were not present in the same limited space it would have not been possible. Currently, these are the people that besides Rin and Barou, have a ‘personal’ hang-up on Isagi, and his prowess, and therefore challenge him as a player the most. The Bastard Munchen VS Manchester is not about winning, but showing how Isagi, once again, acknowledges that despite having an edge on others he cannot push it, because he’s still lacking something, he is still evolving. In a twisted sense, this was about Isagi showing that even if Yukimiya is the one to score, he is still on Isagi’s palm, and that his protagonism does not stop at scoring (making himself memorable, which is the core of Yukki’s), but instead it goes over the single action performance. The whole match is Isagi’s playground.

And he’ll make sure to devour everyone on it.

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katasstrophy · 1 year

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Do you have any hcs for Kaiser and/or Ness backstory?? I'm worried we won't have that much time left with them so I've been pondering, and Ness def gives me only child, middle class (maybe upper middle class), and lonely childhood vibes 😔 I feel like part of his obsession with Kaiser and a big part of his personality is accepting any and all crumbs of affection and recognition, which leads to an easy dependence on a sole model. I like to imagine though, while he didn't get to spend the most time with his parents especially as he started school, that he used to go mushroom and truffle hunting with his mom. I also see Ness as someone who likes or used to train as an ice skater!! I think it suits him and would be helped/lead to his flexible ankles. Also, has some kind of music background whether it's playing violin for a bit or being a choir boy.

He and Kaiser def have major theater kid energy, but I also see Ness as a lit nerd!! Used to be a bit of a snob about it too the little shit but he likes classics, mystery, and fantasy. Def see him as a LOTR fan while Kaiser doesn't know LOTR or Star Wars lmao.

And I think it'd be cute, if their friendship started more normally (though...who knows smh), that Kaiser and Ness used to talk about plays and musicals together. I think Ness would be a tragedy and romance fan (Cyrano de Bergarac, Medela, Titus Andronicus) while Kaiser loves EVERYTHINGGGG but is ofc a huge proponent of the classics, and is very pretentious about his personal meta and deep takes on them.

Also, between the two, only Ness knows some video games. Not a lot, but I think he would have played nintendo games like Kirby, Legend if Zelda (fave), and Mario and would know MegaMan, DOOM, some Resident Evil and such. I see him being given game consoles as a kid to make up for his parents not being there for him, which worked but the intent pushed Ness away from really enjoying video games to the fullest. But I think he'd have a soft spot for a lot of OSTs from different series, and with time, I think he could be a horror game fan but only now and then.

Meanwhile, Kaiser is like...bankrupt when it comes to video game knowledge and references. Anything he knows is from brief osmosis from being an attention seeker as a kid trying to make friends by lying out of his ass. If he ever were to play video games as a young adult, I think he might be interested in MMORPGs but his attention is short with them and he gets pissy if he's not instantly amazing at it. Which I see happening a lot bc I think video games would be a weakness for Kaiser lmao.

Sorry this ran rather long!! Ty for your time!!

hi nonnie!! no worries at all my apologies for replying so late. i have like, a few headcanons for our unhinged bastard münchen duo but some of them i plan on exploring in fics later on so i’ll be keeping those selfishly to myself for now sorry <3 but i feel like kaiser and ness won’t disappear on us any time soon!! we’ve already been with them for quite a while, and after the ubers game we’re still getting the pxg france match, so there’s plenty opportunity for us to learn about their backstories. imo they’re such interesting characters that it would be a waste - and if i can be so bold, bad story writing - not to explore their dynamics further in the manga. so i’m sure we’ll know more about them in due time!! but yeah it’s kinda criminal that their blue lock wiki pages have barely any trivia on them :((

sadly i’m not very well-versed in either theatre or video games but it seems like you def know your stuff!! and that’s really the beauty of hcs - that if it feels right for you why not own it? i can tell you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into mapping out their childhood and interests :)

so let me leave you with this lil brain nugget i’ve been pondering about: i really do wonder if it was ness who made kaiser into the self-obsessed bastard he is today. i feel like kaiser wasn’t born with a superiority complex. he was always good at football, but never thought too deeply about it until he met ness. ness was the original egoist. i mean, from his current skill set, he still surpasses isagi in many aspects. so it was ness who was really good at football, who didn’t have an equal until he saw kaiser play and it shattered his entire worldview, because just like isagi, he realised kaiser embodies that “perfect form of soccer.” and he made it look easy, effortless. so ness became obsessed and decided to devote himself to kaiser, who measured up to be the best in his eyes, and thus, slowly, kaiser started believing himself to be the emperor that ness made him out to be. wouldn’t you develop a god complex if someone was constantly at your beck and call and praised you for it? defended you against everyone who tried to stand in your way but ultimately failed? i’m pretty sure that’s not how their story will go but it is an intriguing food for thought no? (okay now that i'm reading this back it's low key giving a reonagi foil lol but i still stand by it)

i also wonder if kaiser’s rose tattoo has anything to do with his desire to leave bastard münchen but being unable to do so as of right now, hence the thorns symbolising that he is “shackled”. which means he’s looking for something or someone to set him free by “unlocking” the keyhole on his left hand. my guess is that isagi is definitely involved in that process somehow but we shall see!

#—ping! new message from (anon)#phew haven't done blue lock meta theorising in a while hehe so this def worked the cogs in my brain a bit #i'm also a bit behind on the manga so hopefully i'm not just talking utter nonsense lol #blue lock #michael kaiser #alexis ness

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pistatsia · 4 months

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for old times' sake

ao3 | M | Michael Kaiser/Alexis Ness | 6k

Ness’ gaze radiates concern. "I'm glad we met. It's great to see you're still the same. Oh, and have a good game!" For a moment, Kaiser sees it as if it were real - the face flushed with pleasure, the trembling tension of the other's thighs over his own and the soft sobs, the moisture on his shoulder and the softness of youthfully curling hair. "Likewise," Kaiser replies in a friendly manner. His smile is perfectly even and soft, on the thin line between cold politeness and detached friendliness. Only the teeth beneath it are perhaps clenched a little tighter than they should be. But that's it.

Two boys meet again. One of them is a liar.

Tags: Post-Canon, Angst, Hurt No Comfort

read on ao3 | kainess short meta

#threw me into winter depressive episode #worse than pyrrhic victory #michael kaiser #alexis ness #kainess #blue lock fic #blue lock

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nntheblog · 2 years

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Michael Kaiser Blue Lock : Everything You Need To Know

Michael Kaiser is the major antagonist of Blue Lock (Manga) in Neo Egoist League Arc. Kaiser, a German prodigy forward, arrives at Blue Lock to take part in the Neo Egoist League as Bastard Munchen's member. Kaiser is considered a genius. He is also a member the New Generation World 11. Appearance Michael Kaiser Kaiser is a young man of average size with blue eyes and blonde hair. His hair has a mullet that has blue streaks at his ends. Kaiser has blue rose tattoos across his neck and left arm. He can be seen wearing his Bastard Munchen red and black with golden stripes Bastard uniform, with black and white striped socks and sneakers. Personality Of Michael Kaiser Kaiser is portrayed as an arrogant young man with a superiority complex. He regards everyone around him as minor actors in comparison to his main role as the star of his universe. Although he can be arrogant and rude to those he considers to be beneath him, he will not let them down if they are causing trouble for himself. Although Kaiser can be rude and arrogant, he is able to manage his anger around those who are clearly better than him. Abilities Of Michael Kaiser Blue Lock - Clinical Finisher - Clinical finishers specialize in accurate shooting. They have a "clinical" ability to place the ball precisely where it will be able to beat the goalkeeper and they require few chances to score a goal. Their high goal-to-shot ratio can help you identify them. They are usually centre forwards, but can be identified by their high goal to shots ratio . Kaiser is the Bastard Munchen's ace scorer. He has an omnipotent eye, high football intelligence, and the fastest kick speed. Kaiser can easily score any goal, get into the ideal scoring position and receive any type of pass. Skills Pro Football Technique: Kaiser has been regarded as a genius football player. As the primary striker, he plays for one of the top teams in the world. His abilities are highly regarded by his teammates, other teams, club owners and investors as well as the best strikers in the world. His technique and skill are so exceptional that the team's philosophy and style revolve around his play. Meta Vision: This term describes a player's enhanced vision, which gives them an omnipotent view of the field. Kaiser continuously uses his peripheral and central vision to collect data from every player and every play. This data is combined with Kaiser's high football intelligence to be able to interpret it and make unpredictable moves and identify opportunities before the rest. Even the most advanced football players cannot comprehend this ability. Kaiser's vision, combined with other talents, allows him to dominate the field and create illogical opportunities. Off the ball Movements: This term describes moments when players do not have possession of the ball. These moments are used by Kaiser to position himself so that he can receive passes, regardless of whether he is in the blind spot of his teammates or opponents. Kaiser will always run towards the obstacle in his opponent's path and then move in the opposite direction to find an open spot for himself. Kaiser Impact Kaiser executes a high-level volley at a speed that makes it difficult to see him kick the ball, or the ball enter the goal. Kaiser's Metavision enables him to score almost impossible shots with incredible accuracy. He can pass through five defenders and the goalie's heads with speed and power. Etymology - Michael is the name that means "gift from God". - Kaiser is Michael's surname. It means "emperor" or "a ruler above a king". - Michael Kaiser's name can be translated as "God’s chosen emperor". Read the full article

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onaperduamedee · 3 years

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“Have you ever heard the one about the unstoppable force that met an immovable object?

You are the object.”

Meta: to the death

Two silhouettes against a brightly lit backdrop, facing each other, weapon in hand. The image is familiar, cinematic, although mostly a thing of the past in western culture. Duels were a way to resolve a conflict between two individuals, often military officers, through a codified and supervised fight. The goal of this trial by combat was not necessarily to kill, but to restore one’s honour.

A familiar sight, even in Star Trek.

The image takes it time to affirm itself in Terra Firma part i, a remanent reading, superimposed to anger, grief, desperation – at first, a confrontation like any Michael and the Emperor has had in the past and then…

A duel to the death.

When Michael finds Philippa at the gym and offers help with her deteriorating condition, Philippa refuses and attacks, first with her bare hands, a sign of impulse or how personal an affront Michael’s open hand is.

But then, she picks an axe, an execution weapon, and throws it at Michael. Michael dodges, puzzled, and Philippa yells at her:

“Fight me!”

Philippa issues an order that in itself is a show of weakness: she needs to clarify that she is looking for a fight, a duel.

“This is the coward’s way out.”

The show of incomprehension is a first way for Michael to reject the game Philippa is playing: an old-fashioned, inefficient duel to the death. Michael fails to see the logic in Philippa’s actions as this is the easy way. Philippa doesn’t want a duel - she wants an execution as previously stated: “If I were you I’d find a phaser and put me down like a dog.”

But a duel follows a code of honor and set rules the different parties have discussed and approved. If Philippa’s goal is to ensure her honor, she is already disregarding what would allow her to gain satisfaction.

Their understandings of the situation are unaligned at this point: Philippa wants to provoke her into killing her and Michael is trying to understand and gather clues as to how Philippa needs to be approached. Hence, her words of reassurance and defiance after the initial judgment:

“You know I would never hurt you.”

It’s a second way to reject the game Philippa is playing: in this universe the rules are different. Michael is different and the situation doesn’t need to be where it is now, with blades drawn and ultimatums. This is Michael the negotiator we saw in many episodes this season, as much as the deeply wounded fallen officer who wanted to atone for her captain’s death in the first season. She needs Philippa to trust her, however dangerous the move is right now.

Philippa stalks closer and hits Michael in the face with a slap, not a punch. The assault is both a provocation and a punishment, a way to put Michael in her place in relation to Philippa. It was the essence of a duel in its legal reality – to face a judgement or answer a slight. Philippa provokes Michael.

Michael bears the slap, head following the movement but not budging. Her body is turned toward Philippa, her arms down, her face looking the other away. If Philippa were to attack again, Michael’s neck, her chest would be exposed. This is Michael choosing to show trust despite her fear, for herself, for Philippa. (“A Terran’s basic instinct is to find a way to die in battle.”//”You want to set that loose on your ship?”)

But Philippa is still hell-bent on defining the situation: this is a duel, whether Michael wants it or not.

“Then you will die.”

Philippa grabs a sword and swings at Michael’s face, stopping short of slicing her neck. Michael holds her gaze. Michael hasn’t answered Philippa’s call to fight and Philippa is still breaking the rules of the duel she insists on getting.

“Killing me would have been the greatest honor of my Burnham’s life. It would have been my greatest honour to have been killed by her.”

Philippa lays down her request again, but her angle of attack is different. A duel has emotional weight in these circumstances: you killing me is a privilege and honor. More than that, from her point of view, it is love: “Lorca loves me for me and he honors me for me,” her Michael would say. Michael would not be simply agreeing to kill her but to honor and love her.

But by explaining as Philippa is doing she has agreed to Michael’s weapon of choice: her words. She’ll take a duel where they don’t trade blows but verbal attacks. The preferred outcome for Georgiou has shifted from dying to convincing Michael of her point of view.

The immovable object has budged.

Which is why when Michael answers, collected, “I’m sorry to disappoint,” she is not sorry in the slightest. Michael has managed to change the setting for this duel: they are now in this universe where people talk instead of killing each other.

And it’s uncomfortable for Philippa, enraging.

“A Terran greets death every morning. Being ill simply means my birthday is arriving sooner.”

Philippa is still justifying herself, pleading even, not attacking Michael verbally yet. This is Philippa talking about her nature: denying her who she is means denying her Terranity. An argument that Michael the xenoanthropologist is bound to hear. This is about identity, not which Universe they are in. Even if the rules of her universe don’t apply, she is owed respect for her identity.

It gives Michael the opening she needs after several parries. If this is about identity, these are the consequences to Philippa being a Terran in this world: her agency does not matter anymore. Michael knows this well as a Human raised on Vulcan, as a Vulcan in Starfleet, as a mutineer in the middle of a war. Identity never exists in a vacuum and this is where power comes into play.

Michael charges for the first time since the beginning of the argument:

“Philippa, you’re never gonna get the death you want here.”

And what a charge it is.

The structure be going to indicates near future, but also predictions based on present elements and intention: based on Philippa’s current choices, on her stubbornness, the logical conclusion is that Philippa will lose control over her death, plain and simple. Michael’s reassuring “We’ll get through this” on Book’s ship (Scavengers, 3.06) is old news.

Philippa’s face shows nothing but terror at this point. Having no say in her death would be an abject loss of control.

“You’ll be a study. Just a point of reference.”

Death would not be a present but as a legal and medical act, something banal, and, worse, something to use as reference: Philippa would not be the centre of the universe and she wouldn’t even be the centre of her own death. Michael, full of confidence, has found the key to the situation after having redefined the rules of the duel – Philippa wants honor, she wants identity, she wants control.

It’s something Michael can understand, castigated as she was on Vulcan, then on the Discovery.

“You want honor? It’s out there.”

Appealing to what Philippa understands, to what she seeks, Michael uses Philippa’s words in order to draw in Philippa to her reasoning, rather than scare her: she handles the concept Philippa was more comfortable brandishing as a shield, honor, rather than the others.

“No more tests or poking or prodding.”

Michael deciphered what Philippa wanted, redefined the situation so that the rules applied to them both, and now she is trying to offer Philippa what she wants, face to face, on equal terms.

“Just you and me and whatever’s waiting for you on that planet.”

The backlit shot mirrors Michael and the Emperor plotting against Lorca in Philippa’s quarters (What’s Past Is Prologue, 1.13), except their positions are reversed. However difficult the situations, Michael and Philippa have been together for two years now, having each other’s back. Their shared experience is real, not a subject of debate, even for Philippa’s distrust.

The move appears to be a mistake at first and Philippa lashes out again:

“In my universe, I plucked you off a rubbish heap.”

Someone being Philippa equal means she does not have control over them. Philippa lashes out as she did on Book’s ship (Scavengers, 3.06), attempting to put Michael in her place, both as a reflection of Mirror Michael who owes Philippa everything and as someone who cannot be her equal.

The blow is meant to be personal for Michael, but Michael has no connection to the other Michael. There is no bite to the attempt at control Philippa is trying to exert over this Michael. But Georgiou getting so personal is a clear sign she is losing ground and edging closer to desperation.

“How kind of you,” Michael answers, hints of sarcasm in her voice.

Michael knows that Philippa wants to be in control, of her, not only herself. There is no kindness in her past act, but it’s a double-edged sword swung at Philippa here: if Philippa was trying to help her, genuinely, then she is in her own words weak – if this is bare manipulation, Michael saw right through her and Philippa missed the hit, spectacularly.

“You think you are so different from her. You have the same need to bend people to your will. The only difference is that you lie about it to yourself.”

Finger jabbing at Michael’s chest, Philippa directs an ad hominem attack at Michael, zeroing on Michael’s nature in this universe, based on her understanding of her Michael in the other universe, but also of this Michael. The analysis is not entirely wrong, as shown by the way Michael has expertly maneuvered the argument, following the codes of the debate, never losing sight of the bigger picture as she did while facing the Ni’Var representatives (Unification III, 3.07). Yet, whether or not Philippa’s observation is founded is useless at this point.

Anyone who resorts to ad hominem attacks has already lost the argument.

All the more so here that Michael indirectly pointed out before that identity alone is not enough: the environment around is essential. Who Michael is, what she does has no impact on the reality of Philippa’s situation. And Philippa knows it.

“Does all that mean you’re coming?”

It’s an invitation to concede, in accordance by standard practices. First blood has been drawn, and by following Michael into a debate Philippa has already agreed that the fight will not be to the death. Refusing would be showing weakness, would be lacking honor, even in Philippa’s world.

Philippa is cornered, by her own doing: they have been here before, at the shrine of Molor (Will You Take My Hand, 1.14) and in the mirror universe with the treacherous Michael. If Michael, like her counterpart, bends people to their will, the only solution for Philippa is to kill her like she did in the mirror universe, yet when placed in a similar situation at the shrine of Molor, Philippa caved and could not kill Michael.

By her words, Michael is reminding Philippa of this: “we’re not doing this again. you know I will bend you to my will, you know the solution is to kill me, you know you won’t. This is over.”

Michael is accepting Philippa’s judgement of her for the first time, as a concession: the blow is inconvenient, humiliating, but it allows her a final attack, all-ending. She may try to bend people to her will, effectively did in the last five minutes, but Philippa is still alive and not fighting Michael anymore.

If she is not like Philippa’s Michael, well… Philippa has committed a mistake in her reasoning and Michael has won nevertheless.

What Philippa sees as Michael bending Philippa to her will is a level-headed, very Vulcan approach, something her Michael wouldn’t have been able to muster. Philippa has to accept that she is doubly defeated. Philippa fought hard to be the unstoppable force that moves the plot along and unblock situations; in the end, Philippa is the object.

“Lead me to my death, Angel Michael,” Philippa answers.

The phrasing makes a prisoner: it’s a final attempt to redefine the fight in terms that are acceptable to her. She was defeated and will die not on her terms. Yet, the vocative holds meaning in itself: on one hand, it calls back to Michael and Philippa’s first encounter after she joined Section 31 (Saints of Imperfection, 2.05), where Philippa had no issue presenting herself as the snake challenging Michael on her path. Second, as an envoy, angels are not meant to remain in the living realm and they descend to guide, warn or communicate with Humans.

Philippa is someone who has been dead from the start, always meant to come back to death, to hell (“Perhaps, I should join your Philippa Georgiou in hell.”)

This also places Michael and Philippa in the same realm. Angel and serpent. Two women who died and remade themselves. Two creatures of the in-between. Their natures are not the same, but their substances are. In constantly trying to find the mirror Michael in Michael, Philippa failed to consider the evidence: Michael, as she is, is like Philippa, not like Mirror Michael.

Identity, again. And what is Philippa owed as Michael’s counterpart?

“Hold out your wrist.”

Michael is not issuing a request, but an order that the Emperor eventually complies with. It’s the first time Philippa obeys Michael with so little recrimination. Because she was defeated? Because they are the same; the way Michael trusted Philippa not to hurt her during their duel, Philippa does Michael.

The monitor offered is essentially a cuff, meant to track her and count her remaining hours: yet Philippa gives Michael her hand willingly and Michael fastens the device around Philippa’s wrist with great care, almost tenderness. The gesture looks like a binding, to death, to Michael.

From the start, Michael has pinpointed that this was about power more than it was about honour or identity. But it wasn’t necessarily about Michael’s power over Philippa: it was about releasing power to attain equilibrium, that point where their trust is matched in the other, after two years of push and pull. Michael lets Philippa see her as she is, in all her might, however similar to Philippa it makes her, and Philippa accepts Michael’s hand, her lead, not as a show of weakness, but as bond.

It means that whatever realm Philippa will be crossing – again – Philippa will not be entirely alone.

#Star Trek Discovery #stdiscoveryedit #discoveryedit #michael burnham #philippa georgiou #emperor georgiou #milippa #medical #violence #text heavy #disco meta #Star Trek Discovery spoilers #Star Trek Discovery season 3 #mine:disco #mygifs #remblai #trickster kaiser specter spy #the only word to effectively describe it is wow #Be good... Philippa #very self-indulgent meta #look I had to #this is only my interpretation of the scene but I had many thoughts about duelling and debating and power and etc.#would have wanted to spend more time on this but it's already late and boy will next week be busy #I didn't even have time to make butterbredele #I can't believe I've written meta again #it's been so long #I hesitate to tag it as milippa since the meta itself is pretty general?#maybe tagging it just to be safe #it's going to get 10 notes anyway #I hope you enjoy it -- I know I had fun dissecting everything

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gordonwilliamsweb · 4 years

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Covered California anuncia una baja récord en las primas para 2021

Las primas para los planes de salud vendidos a través de Covered California, el mercado de seguros establecido bajo la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA), aumentarán un promedio de 0.6% el próximo año, el incremento más bajo desde que comenzó a ofrecer seguros de salud en 2014, dijo la agencia.

El aumento modesto le sigue a un incremento promedio a nivel estatal de 0.8% en la cobertura que comenzó en enero de este año, que también marcó un récord por lo bajo.

Los cambios en las tasas variarán según las regiones, desde un aumento promedio de 5.6% en el condado de Santa Clara hasta reducciones de 2.1% en el suroeste del condado de Los Ángeles, y 2.6% en los condados de Imperial, Inyo y Mono.

Antes del anuncio, algunos observadores de la industria habían instado a recortes de tasas, ya que este año se ha gastado mucho menos en atención médica no relacionada con el COVID, y la cantidad del dinero ahorrado ha sido enormemente superior al costo de tratar a pacientes infectados por el virus.

En la primavera, se cancelaron las cirugías electivas por causa de la pandemia de COVID-19 y se han estado reduciendo dramáticamente las visitas a oficinas médicas, salas de emergencias y clínicas ambulatorias.

Sin embargo, Peter Lee, director ejecutivo de Covered California, dijo que las compañías de seguros del mercado “están recuperando sus costos de atención médica y están proyectando que en lo que queda del año se pondrán al día con los gastos de salud que pensaban que iban a tener en 2020.”

Los planes de salud que participan en el Covered California proyectaron aumentos en los costos médicos no relacionados con COVID de 4% a 8% el próximo año, y no pensaban que necesitarían un presupuesto adicional para la pandemia, explicó.

El incremento de las tasas ha sido modesto principalmente debido a un aumento de nuevos afiliados “más saludables” tanto durante el período de inscripción regular para la cobertura de 2020 como el período especial de inscripción actual, recientemente extendido hasta el 31 de agosto, para las personas cuya cobertura se ha visto afectada por la pandemia, dijo Lee.

Covered California dijo que un análisis del riesgo médico y de la demografía de estos recién llegados mostró que “son más saludables en promedio que las cohortes equivalentes de 2019”.

Pero Kaiser Permanente dijo en una presentación reglamentaria que no vio ningún cambio en la salud general de los beneficiarios, y Anthem Blue Cross esperaba una combinación de pacientes menos saludables, lo que elevó los costos en un 2.2%.

Covered California dijo que otros factores permitiendo limitar la magnitud del aumento de tasas incluyen la derogación de un impuesto federal sobre los planes de salud, que reducirán las primas de 2021 en un promedio de 1.7%, y un recorte el próximo año en la tarifa de “participación” que los planes de salud pagan a Covered California, del 3.5% a 3.25% de las primas.

El mercado brinda cobertura a aproximadamente 1.5 millones de californianos que compran su propio seguro. Alrededor del 90% de ellos reciben asistencia financiera del gobierno federal o estatal, o de ambos, para ayudar a pagar sus primas.

Otros 800,000 californianos compran cobertura en el mercado abierto, donde la asistencia financiera no está disponible. De ellos, alrededor de 600,000 están en planes que son idénticos a los de Covered California y verán el mismo aumento de tarifas.

Glenn Melnick, profesor de finanzas públicas en la Escuela de Políticas Públicas Sol Price de la Universidad del Sur de California, no estuvo de acuerdo con la opinión de Lee sobre la tendencia del gasto médico, diciendo que los planes de salud probablemente continuarán beneficiándose del volumen bajo de pacientes el próximo año, lo que compensará con creces su supuesto aumento del 4% al 8% en los costos no relacionados con COVID.

Las visitas a las salas de emergencias están a la zaga de los niveles pre pandemia en aproximadamente un 20% y el volumen de pacientes ambulatorios es entre un 5% y un 10% más bajo, dijo Melnick. “No veo que esas personas regresen a menos que haya una vacuna, y cuando haya un pico, más personas se quedarán en casa”.

Michael Johnson, observador y crítico de la industria de seguros de salud que trabajó como ejecutivo en Blue Shield of California de 2003 a 2015, dijo que las primas del próximo año deberían ser más bajas. “Las indicaciones preliminares muestran que las tasas para 2020 son demasiado altas, por lo que para 2021 deberían estar bajando, no subiendo”, dijo.

El aumento promedio en todo el estado entre los operadores de Covered California es menor que lo que se ha propuesto en muchos otros estados.

Un análisis de KFF de julio de las tasas propuestas para 2021 en los mercados de 10 estados y el Distrito de Columbia mostró un aumento promedio del 2.4%, con cambios que van desde un aumento del 31.8% por un plan de salud en Nuevo México hasta un recorte del 12% por uno en Maryland.

Los anuncios de tarifas de este año se producen en un momento en el que CA sigue amenazada por una demanda federal presentada por funcionarios republicanos de 18 estados, junto con la administración Trump, con la meta de revocar la ley.

De ganar la demanda, más de 20 millones de personas podrían perder su cobertura de salud y se podrían eliminar las protecciones populares para el consumidor que brinda ACA, incluida la prohibición de negar cobertura o cobrar más a las personas con condiciones preexistentes como hipertensión o diabetes.

La Corte Suprema planea escuchar el caso en el otoño.

Las 11 compañías de seguros que operan en Covered California este año permanecerán en 2021, y no entrarán nuevas en el mercado. Pero Anthem Blue Cross y Oscar Health Insurance expandirán sus ofertas geográficamente, según informó el mercado.

Anthem ingresará a los condados de Inyo, Kern, Mono y Orange. Oscar se unirá a la competencia en el condado de San Mateo. Muchos de los planes de salud de Covered California están disponibles solo en ciertas regiones.

Kaiser Permanente es el mayor operador en Covered California, con cerca de 526,000 afiliados este año, más de un tercio del total. A Kaiser le sigue Blue Shield of California, con 392,000, y Health Net, con 232,000.

Kaiser está buscando un aumento promedio de 0.9% en sus planes individuales, incluidos los que se venden en el mercado y fuera de él, de acuerdo con una presentación ante el Departamento de Atención Médica Administrada del estado. El año pasado, Kaiser aumentó sus tasas en un promedio de 0.7%.

Blue Shield of California planea reducir las tasas en un promedio de 2.4% en todo el estado, luego de un aumento de 3.6% este año, según sus documentos regulatorios. Según dijo, uno de los principales factores en la reducción de tasas del próximo año es que fijó las primas actuales con una proyección de costos médicos que era demasiado alta.

Las tarifas difieren no solo de un operador a otro y de una región a otra, sino también según la edad de la persona cubierta. Las primas también difieren según el nivel de beneficios, desde el nivel de cobertura “bronce” más barato hasta el más alto, conocido como “platino”.

Cuanto menor sea la prima, mayores serán los deducibles y los pagos de coseguro por la atención.

El deducible individual para el nivel de bronce en 2021 se establece en $6,300, igual que este año. Para el nivel de plata, el segundo nivel de cobertura más barato, el deducible individual completo en 2021 será de $4,000, también, el mismo que este año. Pero muchos afiliados en el nivel de plata están en planes que ofrecen ayuda financiera para reducir su parte de los costos médicos, y eso puede hacer que el deducible para 2021 baje hasta $75.

Además, numerosos servicios médicos no están sujetos al deducible en los planes de plata, incluidas la atención primaria y visitas a especialistas, análisis de laboratorio, radiografías y otros. En los planes de bronce, las primeras tres visitas de atención primaria no están sujetas al deducible.

Covered California dijo que, en promedio, los beneficiarios del mercado que planean renovar para 2021 pueden ahorrar un 7.3% en las primas al cambiar al plan menos costoso en el mismo nivel de cobertura.

Las tarifas de 2021 están sujetas a una revisión final por parte del Departamento de Atención Médica Administrada y el Departamento de Seguros del estado, pero es poco probable que ocurran cambios significativos.

El período de inscripción para la cobertura 2021 comienza el 1 de noviembre y se extiende hasta el 31 de enero.

Esta historia de KHN fue publicada primero por California Healthline, un servicio de la California Health Care Foundation.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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Covered California anuncia una baja récord en las primas para 2021 published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

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stephenmccull · 4 years

Text

Covered California anuncia una baja récord en las primas para 2021

El aumento modesto le sigue a un incremento promedio a nivel estatal de 0.8% en la cobertura que comenzó en enero de este año, que también marcó un récord por lo bajo.

Covered California dijo que un análisis del riesgo médico y de la demografía de estos recién llegados mostró que “son más saludables en promedio que las cohortes equivalentes de 2019”.

El aumento promedio en todo el estado entre los operadores de Covered California es menor que lo que se ha propuesto en muchos otros estados.

La Corte Suprema planea escuchar el caso en el otoño.

Cuanto menor sea la prima, mayores serán los deducibles y los pagos de coseguro por la atención.

El período de inscripción para la cobertura 2021 comienza el 1 de noviembre y se extiende hasta el 31 de enero.

Esta historia de KHN fue publicada primero por California Healthline, un servicio de la California Health Care Foundation.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

USE OUR CONTENT

This story can be republished for free (details).

Covered California anuncia una baja récord en las primas para 2021 published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

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miyamiwu · 10 days

Note

I really liked your meta post on Kaiser's name, so I was wondering what your thoughts are on the idea of Kaiser having changed his last time? It's a headcanon of mine that I assumed debunked after 260, but the way you phrased point #1 as "Michael Kaiser is not the boy who was abused. It was the boy who was abused who became Michael Kaiser." got me thinking again. I like the idea of him reclaiming his name, but I can easily see him wanting no association with it or that man ever again.

(OP is referring to this post)

what your thoughts are on the idea of Kaiser having changed his last time?

Uhh not sure if I understood your question correctly. Did you perhaps mean that Kaiser had changed his last name?

Assuming that’s what you meant… it has honestly also crossed my mind.

Personally, I’d prefer it if he did change his surname. But logically, I don’t think this aligns with Kaiser’s character. He’s not one to run away from the past. Heck, he even tattooed a rose on his neck.

And if he did change his surname, there should’ve already been hints of his original surname in c260. But there was none of that. It was also explicitly mentioned that “Michael Kaiser” was the name the thief gave to the police to frame him. The narrator could’ve just said “The thief gave his name,” but nope, they spelled it out for us:

#michael kaiser #blue lock #michael kaiser meta #blue lock meta #blue lock manga #ephemeralflower #miyamiwu.msg #miyamiwu.src

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boinin · 9 months

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Flairs on /r/BlueLock

A meta commentary/shitpost. I'm not sure which.

For Tumblr-onlys: Reddit allows users to add a flair beside their usernames, much like Tumblr allows badges. Flair are unique to individual subreddit, and only appear when that user comments or posts in that subreddit. The Blue Lock subreddit allows users to set custom text flairs, which may include a selection of emojis or character thumbnails.

This post contains adult humour/explicit references.

I posit that there's three categories of user flairs on Reddit.

The first category is what I refer to as normie flairs.

These include much of what you'd expect, if you maintain the false assumption that enjoyers of football shounen are straight, well-adjusted young men. Many users take this opportunity to represent their appreciation for a particular character (i.e. "Isagi Yoichi"). Admirable, but ultimately boring.

Much like Tumblr has its microcosms and meta humour, so does /r/BlueLock. In flairs, users make reference to fandom in-jokes (e.g. "Red Keys #1 fan", or "#1 Paralympic Footballer" next to a thumbnail of Yukimiya Kenyu). Other flairs reference quotes from the manga that inspire them (e.g. "Shut the fuck up Ness", "There is a monster inside me"). Although edgy in tone, these flairs are still reasonably explicable, should their parents check their browsing activity.

A recurring theme among this user group is a desire to distance themselves from homosexuality. Although excessive gayness is canon in Blue Lock, some users are defiant in their assertion that the series is about ball handling and nothing else. Hence, the existence of flairs such as "Miss Me With That Gay Shit" and "I'm just here to talk football dude".

For these users, the most relatable character in the series is Adam Blake: Mr. "I have no interest in male bodies" himself.

True martyrs. We salute them.

On to the second category.

Again, this is a loose category in terms of content and theme. You may question why I've chosen to differentiate these from the normie flairs. However, while all of these users are expressing admiration for the characters, the way they do so is hornier than a bunch of imprisoned football virgins. They are more worked up than Shidou, when he scores a goal.

I introduce this grouping as… the down bad flairs. There's a lot to unpack. Take your time.

We cannot infer that all the flairs in this group are the result of users biting their lips and moaning whenever a certain character appears. There may be a innocent explanation for why someone would designate themselves "King Barou's Chair" or "Muscle Mommy Kunigami's Squat Bar Pad".

Perhaps they simply kin as furniture.

Users among this group embrace the fruity nature of the series. Although it's untrue to say all Redditors are male basement dwellers and thus, in gay denial. There's evidence that women also frequent the subreddit to thirst over pretty manga boys, using the broadband their parents paid for. At least, this is what flairs such as "Kenyuu's beloved waifu" and "Impregnate me, Shidou!" suggest. There's even straight men present, if "Drinking Anri Mommy Milkies" and "Bachira's Mom's boyfriend" are anything to go by. Forgive them their sins, they know not how to play along.

But cis-heteronormativity is a scourge, something Blue Lock fans understand better than most. After all, no particular gender is required to become "Noel Noa's sugar baby" or "Isagi's personal toe sucker".

In terms of distribution, no one is safe from the thirstiness of /r/BlueLock users. Nearly every character has a thirst flair to their name. The ones that seem to inspire the most unhinged flairs are Shidou "dress sluttily, I can fight" Ryusei, Michael Kaiser ("Reincarned as Kaiser's Wet Underwear") and Bachira Meguru ("Bachira's leaking rosebud").

As the protagonist, Isagi naturally attracts a lot of favour. Some flairs highlight his prowess (e.g. "I love it when isagi shoots from behind", or the more possessive "isagi meatrider get out kaiser"). These users are, unfortunately, deluded. I regret to inform them that there is no universe in which Isagi is a top. He'd be devouring your dick, not the other way around.

To the conclusion. If you are a /r/BlueLock veteran (my condolences), you will have noticed a conspicuous absence among the second flair group. You may be thinking, is this chick blinder than Yukimiya? Can they even read?? They missed the worse ones.

To this I say: Do not cite the deep flairs to me bitch. I was there when they were written.

One image lies below the cut. Unlike the other two, the third category of user flairs has an obvious theme.

However, there is no returning beyond this point. Once you have borne witness to this forbidden knowledge, you will be irrevocably changed. It may ruin your life... or awaken something in you. Either way, a price must be paid.

Consider this my final warning. You may yet walk away from this post unscathed. Even with the words "Devouring Aiku's Hairy Ass" branded on your psyche.

But if you are determined—if you have steeled your mind (and your eyes), open this video in another tab and read on.

Anyone who guessed horny Chigiri flairs, take 1,000 Jeopardy points and a shot of something strong.

I'm not going to invent pseudo-intellectual commentary for this. Y'all came this far, see for yourself. I can't justify some of these, nor begin to explain them—and I write Blue Lock fanfiction. These users are in another dimension of Chigiri worship, one I can never bridge.

Source and references: this

#do not take a word of this seriously #it's satire #or proof of a mental breakdown #reddit lurkers... I see y'all checking to see whether your flair made it. ya nerds #I included my own flair. if you can guess my reddit handle... i'll make a sequel or something #blue lock #bllk #shitpost #long post #fandom meta #minors dni #mine #boinin talks bllk

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oliveraiku · 1 year

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Would you consider bllk to be an example of the obsessed artist trope?

I had to think about what the ‘obsessed artist trope’ was, for a moment. But if I did understand correctly, it comes down to two prime example from the Naruto world: Deidara and Sasori.

Obsessed with their art, while in different ways, both Deidara and Sasori are fundamentally lost to the human perception and transcend the ‘obsession’ by ultimately becoming art, and fulfilling their credo. While Blue Lock, does somehow fit in the ‘obsessive’ type of artist, I do not think that ultimately it quite follows the trope (at least not every single character).

There are different types of obsessions, explored in Blue Lock, that are however close to the artist type, but in this context I would not rather say it’s an artistic obsession trope, while on the other hand it can be defined as ‘protagonistic obsession’ which in the end is a synonym to egoism.

Which, you'd say: well, of course it is. But if we do break down the 'egoism' trope (if we talk about tropes), it does circle back to obsession, but not towards an art, but rather focus on oneself, while interacting with other people. This seems very theoretical and abstract as a statement, but consider how there are four pinnacles of obsession that are explored in Blue Lock: the most obvious one, Isagi Yoichi - and his core point as a character being the development of an egoism that goes beyond the simple play of soccer, and goes deep instead into reforming the way Isagi thinks. It’s an obsession rooted in evolution, where the character destroys and creates anew (he is one of the examples I’d say fits the artist obsession trope).

Isagi is not obsessed by wanting to become a God, but by the by-processes that ultimately allow him to become that : a masterpiece (the creation of a play, exactly as he wants it to go, as he envisioned to). The fault is that he does not strive for perfection, because he ultimately knows that even if he became n.1, there would also be the possibility of being devoured. He does not want to become Noa, he wants to beat him.

Then, on the other side of the ring, we have Barou and Rin. I lump them together because in the end, what they have in common is two fundamental things: the obsession they both sport are tailored and rooted in both themselves and another core person that becomes a challenge to overcome, and is seen as somehow the final goal (if they beat that person, it means that their ego is fulfilled). Clearly, for Rin that person is Sae (who I’d argue is probably the most refined and artistic character of Blue Lock, who is therefore plagued by perfection), and for Barou it is Isagi.

Why? Because they both do what Rin and Barou would never allow anyone else to: they push them off the pedestal they have built for themselves, and show why exactly was it possible to. It creates an obsession to win, to demonstrate one self, to prove better - but not to fulfil an obsessive artist trope, not to become perfect. Perfection takes another meaning all of a sudden, and somehow it both falls short on the two of them (Rin is defined as villanuous, and Barou is the king of villains - they are already, in a sense, fulfilled in the trope).

Look here, Rin is already convinced that there is little to improve himself on. He’s not striving for more.

While Barou has find a goal for himself in the middle of it, while he thought he already reached his peak.

And then, last but not least, we have Kaiser, who finishes the four-angles formation. Together with Sae, Kaiser is probably the one that the most might fit this trope, but at the same time, he also falls on the same obstacles that Rin and Barou do (but I do not think it will last long. Kaiser’s striving to become Noa, and then surpass him, so he is only going to grow from now on - even though Mineyuki might go through the stubborn way and let him prove to himself that he can beat Yoichi even without adapting and going even further).

However, Kaiser is ultimately both the prototype and the patient 0. Kaiser is a perfectionism, and he does not allow anything to stray away from his plan: look at the interaction he and Isagi engage when they meet. Kaiser does not dismiss him like others have done, but instead he employs Yoichi in a way that would fit him the best, because in the end Kaiser knows he's still not quite there, and that despite being good, he has still things to learn and grow into. It's the same way that Sae feels, I believe, when he sees Shidou. Shidou is a supernova, and where others find him unmanageable, Sae tries to build a play that is flawless, and not lukewarm - but he did not believe he would find a striker worthy of his own talent in Japan, before Shidou, which implies that Sae has still not arrived at his peak (which is then underlined by the fact that no matter how good their duo is, they are still fallible). Kaiser is an obsession that is rooted in a 'being better than’ or that of being better than anyone else, as that would surmise that he is not the one in the fault, or uncapable of reaching such a level of plays. He strives for perfection.

Ultimately, as you see, I would say that Blue Lock uses the artist obsession trope, and does it quite well, but it cannot be quite called an example of it. But then again, this is my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt, because ultimately art is up to the individual perfection, and what Blue Lock most strives for is to give space to their own protagonism, that expresses itself in many and different ways.

#blue lock #bllk #blue lock manga #bllk manga #isagi yoichi #itoshi rin #barou shouei #michael kaiser #bllk meta #blue lock meta #sunn’s mailbox corner #. with ; anon #blue lock analysis #bllk analysis #character analysis

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dinafbrownil · 4 years

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Covered California anuncia una baja récord en las primas para 2021

Las primas para los planes de salud vendidos a través de Covered California, el mercado de seguros establecido por la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA), aumentarán un promedio de 0.6% el próximo año, el incremento más bajo desde que comenzó a ofrecer seguros de salud en 2014, dijo la agencia.

El aumento modesto le sigue a un incremento promedio a nivel estatal de 0.8% en la cobertura que comenzó en enero de este añ, que también marcó un récord por lo bajo.

Antes del anuncio, algunos observadores de la industria habían pedido recortes de tasas, ya que este año se ha gastado mucho menos en atención médica regular.

En la primavera, se cancelaron las cirugías electivas por la pandemia de COVID-19 y se han estado reduciendo dramáticamente las citas médicas, y a salas de emergencias y clínicas ambulatorias.

Sin embargo, Peter Lee, director ejecutivo de Covered California, dijo que las compañías de seguros del mercado “están viendo cómo recuperan sus costos de atención médica y están proyectando que en lo que queda del año se pondrán al día con los gastos de salud que pensaron que iban a tener en 2020”, dijo Lee.

Los planes de salud en el mercado habían proyectado aumentos en los costos médicos no relacionados con COVID de 4% a 8% el próximo año y no pensaron que necesitarían un presupuesto adicional para la pandemia, explicó.

El incremento de la tasas ha sido modesto principalmente debido a un aumento de nuevos afiliados “más saludables” tanto durante el período de inscripción regular para la cobertura de 2020 como el período especial de inscripción actual, recientemente extendido hasta el 31 de agosto, para las personas cuya cobertura se ha visto afectada por la pandemia, dijo Lee.

Covered California dijo que un análisis del riesgo médico y la demografía de estos recién llegados mostró que “son más saludables en promedio que las cohortes equivalentes de 2019”.

Otros factores, dijo, incluyen la derogación de un impuesto federal sobre los planes de salud, que redujo las primas de 2021 en un promedio de 1.7%, y un recorte el próximo año en la tarifa de “participación” que los planes de salud pagan a Covered California, del 3.5% a 3.25% de las primas.

Covered California brinda cobertura a aproximadamente 1.5 millones de californianos que compran su propio seguro. Alrededor del 90% de ellos reciben asistencia financiera del gobierno federal o estatal, o de ambos, para ayudar a pagar sus primas. Los planes en el mercado son semejantes a los del mercado abierto, donde las personas compran seguros sin asistencia financiera.

Algunos expertos en sistemas de salud creen que las aseguradoras continuarán gastando menos en atención médica el próximo año.

Glenn Melnick, profesor de finanzas públicas en la Escuela de Políticas Públicas Sol Price de la Universidad del Sur de California, dijo que los hospitales, especialmente en la sala de emergencias y las visitas ambulatorias, aún no llegan a tener un volúmen de pacientes y procedimientos como tenían antes de COVID y podrían continuar así hasta que haya una vacuna disponible.

Michael Johnson, un analista de la industria de seguros de salud que trabajó como ejecutivo en Blue Shield of California de 2003 a 2015, opinó que “los reguladores deberían estar obligando a estos planes a justificar por qué no están reduciendo las tasas, dado el efecto que hemos visto que la pandemia está teniendo hasta ahora”.

El aumento promedio en todo el estado entre los operadores de Covered California es menor que lo que se ha propuesto en muchos otros estados.

Los anuncios de tarifas de este año se producen cuando ACA sigue amenazada por una demanda federal presentada por funcionarios republicanos de 18 estados, junto con la administración Trump, con la meta de revocar la ley.

De ganar la demanda, más de 20 millones de personas podrían perder su cobertura de salud y se podrían eliminar las protecciones populares para el consumidor que brinda ACA, incluida la prohibición de discriminar o cobrar más a las personas con condiciones preexistentes como hipertensión o diabetes.

La Corte Suprema planea escuchar el caso en el otoño.

Cuanto menor sea la prima, mayores serán los deducibles y los pagos de coseguro por la atención.

El deducible individual para el nivel de bronce en 2021 se establece en $6,300. Para el nivel de plata, el segundo nivel de cobertura más barato, el deducible individual completo en 2021 será de $4,000, también. Pero muchos afiliados en el nivel de plata están en planes que ofrecen ayuda financiera para reducir su parte de los costos médicos, y eso puede hacer que el deducible para 2021 baje a $75.

El período de inscripción para la cobertura 2021 comienza el 1 de noviembre y se extiende hasta el 31 de enero.

Esta historia de KHN fue publicada primero por California Healthline, un servicio de la California Health Care Foundation.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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This story can be republished for free (details).

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/covered-california-anuncia-una-baja-record-en-las-primas-para-2021/

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defpost · 4 years

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Boston Ship Repair Wins $13M Contract for Mid-Term Availability of USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195)

#BostonShipRepair Wins $13M Contract for Mid-Term Availability of #USNSLeroyGrumman (T-#AO195). #USNavy

Boston Ship Repair LLC is awarded a contract for an 87-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability of U.S. Navy Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195).

The firm-fixed-price contract, worth around $13 million, was awarded by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), the vessel’s operator. The total amount consists of the amounts listed…

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#Boston Ship Repair #Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler #Mid-Term Availability (MTA)#Military Sealift Command (MSC)#Northeast Ship Repair #Replenishment oiler (AOR)#U.S. Navy (USN)#USA #USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195)

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mystlnewsonline · 5 years

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Alaska musher leads in the early stage of the Iditarod

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)— A longtime musher from southwestern Alaska is in the lead of the early stages of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Pete Kaiser was the first musher to leave the checkpoint at Finger Lake. He is a 31-year-old running in his 10th Iditarod, Kaiser stayed only five minutes Monday morning after arriving at the checkpoint about 125 miles (201 kilometers) into the nearly 1,000…

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#Alaska #general news #Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race #LeadingNews #North America #Sled dog racing #Sports #United States #US-Iditarod

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careergrowthblog · 6 years

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🙏 @teacherhead Blog 500 🙏

Wow! I’ve checked the blog stats and I’m astonished to see that I have notched up 500 blog posts. This is Blog 500 – which is a bit meta because it’s a not much more than a blog about being the 500th blog post.

Except, it gives me a chance to reflect on the whole thing – of having a blog; of being a blogger – and to say a few thank yous.

A reminder of where it started: May 2012; an Essex Heads’ event where Alan November was talking about getting students involved with social media and blogging. I was sitting with Vic Goddard. He was dead famous after Educating Essex with a zillion followers on twitter already! I wanted to see what it was all about – so I thought I would try it.

WordPress account at the ready, here was my first blog post – me in my kitchen, weirdly in reverse. An inauspicious beginning.

Then I started writing things and an early post was this article about I felt arriving at KEGS, the grammar school I worked in. It’s interesting for noting how the ASCL magazine had rejected me and for the reference to the rainforest and plantation – a metaphor that I’ve now turned into a whole book. From Comp to Grammar; Plantation to Rainforest.

And it grew from there…. every few days, on average, I write something and, miraculously, people seem to read it. Only today I met someone high up at Ofsted who said, ‘I read the blogs’ – meaning, when I write about Ofsted, they read it. Gulp! I’d better be nice.

My blog has notched up 3.4 million views since I started – mind-boggling. Normally it’s about 2000 views or more a day. Here’s a list of the blogs with the biggest reach – all the ones above 20K views, to give a flavour of the topics that resonate:

I’ve found that there are three types of blogs that people read the most: blogs that are personal, written with authentic emotion, passion or anger; blogs that deal with the nitty-gritty down-and-dirty details of what teachers deal with every day – behaviour, marking, differentiation, workload…. And Ofsted.

And then there’s the lists. This something I’ve discussed with Ross McGill (aka @teachertoolkit – as I like to remind him, I used to be his boss!). People love a list. The 10 strategies for X or 12 ways to do Y are clickbait deluxe! Sad but true. 10 low impact strategies to do less of or stop altogether broke my records last December with 30K views over a weekend. It struck a chord towards the end of a long hard term. I’ve also had lots of hits for blogs that link to other blogs -like the Pedagogy Postcards all in one place. People like life made simple.

I am constantly blown away by the feedback I get for writing about teaching; our humble but vital profession. It’s good to know that blogs help people to think, to push ideas through, to get some perspective or to develop new ideas. I’ve had to make a few blogs private – some very intimate, raw blogs written last year when I was all over the place. They served their purpose but they now need to be for my eyes only; it’s not always healthy to put your honesty on show.

Perhaps the best bit about about blogging is the opportunity to engage with so many other people. It feels like being part of a community – and I love that. The Bloggers.

I’m indebted to a few people for getting me on the road: David Didau, The Learning Spy, was my original inspiration for writing about education. A mighty force that I’m still in awe of. Then where was Chris Waugh (@edutronic_net), a deeply principled teacher who engaged with me via my blog and made we feel that my ideas had some resonance in the ether. And then came Alex Quigley – we’ve been writing and blogging more or less in parallel since we started in 2012. And then John Tomsett – my hero blogger soul mate. We met just after we both posted blogs about our Dads on the same morning. Blogging has led to beautiful friendships.

Now, I’m continually inspired by bloggers who share there ideas and feelings – it’s a constant joy. Debra Kidd, Summer Turner, Jo Morgan, Jill Berry, Ben Newmark, Michael Fordham…… endless list

Just today I read this http://www.ollielovell.com/pedagogy/johnsweller/ by Ollie Lovell based on his interview with John Sweller. It’s so interesting. It’s one of so many blogs that are so helpful in keeping debate alive and well in the edusphere.

And how about this for a classic example of blogging at its best, a collection of blogs gathered under the heading #aflinscience featuring Ros Walker, Niki Kaiser, Adam Boxer, Deep Ghataura and Ben Rogers.

So – thanks so much to everyone who has read any of my posts. I wonder if I’ll make it to 1000. Maybe eventually. But only if you keep reading. Thanks again. It means a lot to me.

🙏 @teacherhead Blog 500 🙏 published first on https://medium.com/@KDUUniversityCollege

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