Nice choice, hope you have many more to come.

Cute.

Die.

Great! What are you planning for your first meal made with it?

If I could jump in, I see what you mean by lack contextualization as a symptom of bad writing creating pointless arguments in communities. The example I come to probably would be an animal as well, Code Geass. I personally love the show, but I think the charecter of Suzaku is very badly written for what he’s supposed to be. However, if you act like his chatecter is the way that it is intentionally, he’s probably one of the best for what he is.

In the series of Code Geass, Japan has been conquered by the Holy Britainian Empire (a mix of the US and British empires which has conquered like a 3rd of the world). The son of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Suzaku, joins the Britanian military after the fall of the nation. Joining the Britainian military as a Japanese earns someone the title of honorary Britainian. The Britainian occupation renamed Japan to “Area 11” which they do with all their colonies, and outlaws mentions of the former national identity (So, Japanese are called Elevens in the show).

Suzaku throughout the series acts like your typical liberal idealist. He moralizes everything and disdains any end achieved through what he considers “immoral” means. He consistently enforces the colonial policy of Britainia against his people under the illusion that he’ll be able to rise up in the ranks to change the system from within.

You can probably already see how this creates problems for his framing. You see, the show frames him to be a moral paragon of justice who stands above the rest of the cast be they the more callus protagonist lelouch or the more bigoted Britainian military. However, as an audience, it’s very hard to accept that framing when golden boy suzaku assists Britainia in committing a pogrom (It could honestly be charged as a genocide) in the 2nd episode by fighting Japanese militants defending the city. It’s not left up to interpretation at all that Britainia is doing this, the show has scenes of Britainia soldiers sweep through floors of an apartment and execute civilians on sight.

The reason I provide all this context is because Suzakus story should be a very simple tale, and frankly it is (though not by intention I believe). It’s an example of how trying to work within an inherently corrupt colonial system will never lead to emancipation, instead only blooding the hands of idealists naive enough to attempt it. That’s what happens in the show as well.

However the writers constantly attempt to frame Suzaku as if his hypocrisy is somehow morally complex, or as if he isn’t one of the most despicable individuals in the narrative. He continues to morally grand stand against “terrorists” while helping his oppressors butcher more of his people, all because he’s honestly more concerned about his own personal ego over the well being of his nation.

The story is fantastic if you ignore what the show us trying to say and take it for what it is. Regardless of everything outside the material explicitly provided to you, Suzaku is a perfect example of how liberal idealists end up being morally reprehensible to the revolutionaries they oppose but still fund ways to justify everything to themselves. For this reason, many people recognize Suzaku for what he is, a traitor to his people whose more interested on proving himself right then bettering peoples lives.

Yet so many on the Code Geass Fandom take everything from the source material, and still view Suzaku as an upstanding individual who is more correct than he’s not. They will constantly argue using the charecters personal details and past that he’s actually more justified then others make him out to be. Some like to treat him as the “other side” of the coin that holds the series protagonist, Lelouch. Tons of both siding and all that even though, frankly speaking, Lelouch’s schpeal that you need to get your hands dirty to fight an empire and make a better world is entirely correct. Suzaku proves it through dirtying his own hands by aiding Britainia, just because he does it legally doesn’t deny the fact he’s upholding an inherently racist system.

I think the writers of Code geass were massive libs, and they let it show with how they frame the events of the show. However it makes Suzaku appear relatively transparent to anyone who chooses to judge his actions on context of the events presented on the show rather than rely on musical scores and directorial decisions to inform their opinion.

I guess in the example I’m talking about, it’s less so the writers didn’t provide context, but that the presentation of that context clashes with how an astute audience would perceive it. For that I’d say it’s bad writing.

As salty as I am about Iran’s treatment during this world cup, watching Belgium kick Yankee ass was satisfying. If only because it proved that team Melli went down swinging and was a worthwhile opponent.

I’ve been having a pretty good week. Not perfect, but nothing ever is. In an attempt to not go too in depth, I’ll just say that I’ve manage to find someone I’m comfortable being vulnerable with. I didn’t expect to, but I did, so I’m in quite a pleasant mood.

Congratulations, I hope I can join you soon in the employef category. People assume finding worm is much easier than it actually is, but I’ve been frustrated by this process long enough to recognize that it’s unnecessarily brutal.

Inshahallah, future success finds you in all your endeavors!

I’d love to work outside the US or internationally, the issue is I need an entry level position, bit so many are like “Entry Level: requires B.S. with 2+ years experience:”. My problem isn’t me being picked about who to work with (beyond the US military or major weapons contractors) it’s that I can’t even get a response after applying.

Nuclear. I was fascinated with it from a young age, and wanted to be in a career that could produce power cleanly. It’s unfortunately very difficult to find work in the field if you choose not to work with the US Navy (a red line for me).

And yes, I’m aware of the irony of an Iranian descended person studying nuclear physics.

My preferred response to those who question my sanity. It’s overrated in my opinion.

I chose to go into engineering both because my field interests and, probably more pressingly, I wanted money (yet to materialize). I grew up lucky, so the economic position we were in did not reflect what economic position we probably should have been. Basically, lower “middle class” bit who by all means would have been impoverished if not for our relatives.

At the end of the day, I want to make a large sum of money so that my family is secure. Even still, I’m sure I’ll continue to be a cheapskate, as it physically ails me to waste money. A single purchase that isn’t worthwhile will have me kicking myself for weeks.

Unfortunately, the current job market in the US is horrible, and I don’t have the bare minimum I need to apply for a k-visa to China. I just need one prolonged portion of professional experience in my field, and I’m probably getting out of this country.

If I has the option, I’d probably stay in the university setting in some way my entire life, but that’s not at all feasible. I love the academic world, regardless of all its flaws, being able to engage with knowledge and the pursuit of the future every day is something I truly wish I, and anyone else was allowed to pursue.

My younger relative, whose not on social media mind you, loves to learn about flags and geography, and mentioned to me a few things about MLK. Obviously it was all sanitized and very basic, as they are not even in secondary school, but the interest in the subject did put a smile on my face.

Children and young adults are much sharper than we often give them credit for, so I’m actually quite hopeful of their development coming into this world.

Türkiye is not going to be a progressive force until the region is already decolonized. Until then, it will continue to be an outpost of NATO and the US.

The salvation lies with revolutionary factions of Iran, along with the greater axis of resistance.

Congrats on the world cup win! I’ll be honest and say I had little faith, but was rooting for Türkiye nonetheless.

I’ve seen many people display confusion regarding the actions of Iran during the negotiations process, so I thought this video can better help explain on detail what’s going on.

I highly suggest for anyone who wants to know more about the internal dynamics of Iran’s reformist and principalist factions.

Ali Alizadeh in general is a great resource of this topic, so scour some interviews from him if you wanna hear more.

I’ve technically been banned and unbanned from LSC (not been banned again), though my reason was fair I’ll admit. I told a fascist to walk into traffic and got permabanned, but a mod ended up lifting it and just warning me not to do it again and I gave my word. I’m trying to not be as toxic online, and Gabe made good progress, but I’ll admit the “kys” trigger instinct is still there, albeit much more muted than before.

I just gave very little tolerance for fascists and zionists, I prefer propagating to socsems and baby leftists.

I’m biased because that trilogy is my guilty pleasure but a good way to describe them is: 1 is classic, 2 is unnecessary but is more of what to like in the first, and 3 is fucking bonkers.

1 and 2 are actually pretty well done, while 3 is ass but the villain is so off the wall that it’s an absolute joy to watch.

If you’re a fan of the original Karate Kid trilogy, then Cobra Kai is great mind numbing TV.

I’m not too into football as a whole, but my family and I watch a few games of the World Up every time it comes around. Obviously not buying tickets, they’re absurdly expensive, but we’ll probably tune in for Iran’s games, as well as the games for a few other countries we have relatives in. I’m not into sports so I don’t care much for that aspect of the World Cup, it’s definitely more an exercise in cultural pride for me.

Also, the blatant hypocrisy of liberals who were up in arms saying to boycott Qatar last time but have nothing to say about games in the fucking US is not lost on me. I’d bet that the stadium was constructed using undocumented people since they’re such a massive part of California’s construction industry (as well as other states). I’ve only seen a few protests from local groups here on SoCal that are protesting the World Cup, specifically due to ICE, but nothing from the wider mainstream liberal outlets.

I can only tell you what Afghani family friends have told us, that being that the Taliban have actually done a pretty good job on issues of food security and basic governance. They’ve stopped the ludicrous farming of opium and instead begun programs to replace those fields with wheat and other edible crops. They’re mired by US sanctions, attacks from fundamentalist forces (the Taliban has moderated quite a bit since it’s inception), and threats from Pakistan which are still occurring.

The biggest issue that is being faced in our and our friend’s opinion is the total lack of women’s ability to participate in education. This is probably the issue that we think is holding Afghanistan back more than anything else besides the sanctions. Women not having these rights, specifically the fact that their is very little infrastructure for mass education programs, is stunting Afghanistans development in every respect.

It’s particularly egregious considering the model of academic excellence right next to them in Iran, which is a country that’s scientific industry is predominantly women. Not to mention the massive strides political thought that have occurred since the revolution due to campagin to increase women’s literacy and access to education.

There are talks between the two countries, which our friends hope mean that the Taliban is asking for help regarding this issue. However it still remains a core concern that’s holding the country back. Half the population, ready and willing to transform their soceity are bring systematically shut out, and everyone suffers as a result.

It’s not exactly looking bleak in the country, at least compared to the last 20 years, but there is a lot that needs to be done, and many challenges to be confronted.