Daily Archives: July 11, 2022

What Is a Breeding Kink? How Unprotected Sex Became a Turn-On – VICE UK

Posted: July 11, 2022 at 3:54 am

If you, for whatever reason, find yourself searching breed me or breeding kink on Twitter one day, expect to find a flood of posts celebrating sweaty bodies and close-up shots of dicks. Cum lots of it is almost always present, along with captions like wish someone would fill me up like this! or I need to swallow loads upon loads of your cum!

You might expect this to be pure heterosexual fantasy, but a lot of the posts are super gay. Dont get me wrong, there are plenty of photos of people Kegel-squeezing ejaculate out of their vaginas, but there are also gay orgies celebrating the joy of cum dumping. People of all genders, it seems, can have a breeding kink.

The increasingly popular fetish refers to arousal at the thought of being impregnated or impregnating someone, or if you want to get specific about it ejaculating in them. There are overtones of domination and objectification; you are a hole, a cum bucket, or, in the parlance of the kink, a breeding bitch.

According to Google Trends, searches for breeding kink started to pick up in 2020, peaking late last year amid a flurry of jokey TikToks about taking the breeding kink too far, followed by a pan downwards to a positive pregnancy test or protruding belly.

Getting turned on by somebody coming inside you is nothing new after all, the sex toy industry has an entire subsection of ejaculating dildos. Think of it as a sliding scale: There are those who love cream pies at one end and people who really get off on impregnation at the other. Then theres forced breeding, where the kink combines with consensual non-consent (CNC) or rape play, in which willing victims ask breeders to force your seed into my little fertile pussy! as one Reddit user puts it.

Valentina Bellucci, a porn creator and studio head of StepHouseXXX, has noticed the fetish picking up steam online, particularly in amateur style porn. In fact, shes already been asked to do a few breeding kink scenes herself. Bellucci thinks its directly related to the growing popularity of hotwife women in relationships who have sex with other people, especially men, often with their partners consent and encouragement and swinger content.

The term breeding was being used in the swingers community for years, she explains. You could find a lot of posts on the swinger groups where a guy would look for a bull who will breed his wife. Now I see a lot of content like this.

But whats the appeal of all this farmyard language like bull, seed, even breeding sow? I think it has to do with dominance, and taking ownership of another man's wife, she says. Based on my experience, there are swingers who are more into this aggressive approach and those who are more interested in creating some type of relationship or friendship with another couple. Usually, people who use animalistic language are all about sex. In this type of scenario, it feels like the bull is just a tool. He has to show up, fuck and leave.

Anonymous Twitter account @eyes4pies exclusively tweets breeding fetish content to hundreds of followers. His bio describes him as a 33-year-old breeding obsessive who spends all day imagining fallin in luv [sic] and filling every pussy on earth!.

I prefer it more than any other way [of sex] and do it as much as I can with consent of course, he tells me over DMs. But I dont have sex with women not on birth control, so maybe the breeding aspect isnt the focus in real life. But I think about it while having sex, nearly every time.

He identifies as a switch, and enjoys the possessive aspect of internal ejaculation. Of course you dont own them, but you are driving in and planting your seed and leaving yourself inside of them. Thats crazy hot to me.

Baby Bunny, a 25-year-old sub, tweets from @BunnieHumper96 and describes herself as an aspiring housewife with a breeding kink. For me, breeding is almost primal, she says. Its a man choosing me to carry his children.

Is it fantasy play or does she really does want loads of kids?Id classify myself as a monogamous breeding submissive, Bunny replies. I'm not going to just let any Dom I have impregnate me and then find out in a year we dont work out. But Id like to have as many babies as we can afford when we do get to that point of no longer pretending, but living, our kinks.

In the most literal possible interpretation of the kink, OnlyFans star and self-described good little church girl gone wild Daisy Mae caters directly to her followers fetish for breeding and pregnant bodies.

I didnt feel sexy during my first pregnancy, so when I found out I was pregnant just after I started OnlyFans, I was like, There goes my chance of having a job through this pandemic, she tells me over FaceTime. Little did I know, so many gentlemen love, love, love hearing about the body changes that you're having.

I have men from all walks of life [on OnlyFans] tell me it's the most beautiful form a woman can be in, because it's embracing her true genuine femininity, she adds. I'm able to get men to come just by talking about how my boobs are fuller, and my skin is stretched really tight.

So does this mean shes permanently pregnant? I cant get pregnant too soon [after a previous pregnancy] as its just so hard on my body. But I can recycle content. With my last pregnancy I took 45 videos and 2,000 photos.

Like @eyes4pies, though, many people who engage in a breeding fetish dont actually want pregnancy to result from sex, in the same way that consensually engaging in rape play doesnt mean you actually want to sexually assault someone, or be assaulted yourself.

The r/childfree subreddit, a popular forum for people who dont want kids, has several posts from people weighing up their fetish against a fear of pregnancy. Do any of my childfree friends here have a breeding kink but are REPULSED by the idea of actually getting pregnant/having children? one user, Mother_Of_Draigainzz, writes. It's a dangerous kink to have.

Porn legend Bree Mills, who heads up Adult Time, a porn streaming platform, emphasises that breeding porn is not reserved for straight couples, either. You definitely see a lot of breeding scenarios within gay male content, she explains. In fact, I recently wrapped a production for my studio, Disruptive Films, all about a dystopian future breeding farm for men!

Her sentiments are echoed by Joao Florencio, a senior art history lecturer at the University of Exeter, and the author of Bareback Porn, Porous Masculinities, Queer Futures: The Ethics of Becoming-Pig. He suggests the fetishisation of breeding may even have originated in gay male sex scenes in the aftermath of the AIDS crisis.

In that context, breeding appears first among the barebacking subcultures of gay men who eroticised HIV transmission at a time when we didnt yet have PrEP to prevent HIV transmission, he says. Those men understood sex without condoms and potential HIV infection as something akin to heterosexual reproduction and its associated blood kinship, whereby they felt connected by blood to one another through HIV, just like a biological family.

It might be tempting to conclude that the desire to be bred is reflective of a wider generational fear of parenthood in a world that has priced millennials out of having children and is heating up at a terrifying rate, what feels more forbidden than using sex to procreate?

But at its core, the breeding fetish seems to be a celebration of something more animalistic; a simple game of domination and risk, with a little dash of taboo misogyny thrown in. After all, if you believe that you can be a complex, smart and interesting person beyond your reproductive organs, what could be naughtier than pretending youre not?

@iamhelenthomas

More:

What Is a Breeding Kink? How Unprotected Sex Became a Turn-On - VICE UK

Posted in Childfree | Comments Off on What Is a Breeding Kink? How Unprotected Sex Became a Turn-On – VICE UK

Expert Investing Tips: Where To Start When Buying Stocks for the First Time – GOBankingRates

Posted: at 3:54 am

Many people are considering investing in stocks during the bear market. Whether you didnt have the funds previously or you simply cant resist the relatively low prices right now, investing in stocks can be a good hedge against inflation.

See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsCompare: 4 Unusual Places To Invest Money During a Bear Market

The definition of a bear market is when a market experiences prolonged price declines, typically falling 20% below their recent highs, John L. Savarino, an investment advisor representative at Rooted Wealth Advisors, explained. This makes for a good time to begin investing because you can look at it from a perspective that securities are at a discounted price. The market is cyclical, so if you begin investing when the market is setting record highs, the chances of the market declining eventually are very high.

If you can manage the stress of watching your balances fall on paper until the market turns around, bear market investing can ultimately pay off when the market turns bullish again. And that will happen. Patience, consistency, and discipline are necessary when it comes to investing, Savarino said.

What else should beginning investors know before buying stocks for the first time?

Investing does not need to be complicated, but you do need to take the time to learn, said Jay Zigmont, Ph.D, CHP and the founder of Childfree Wealth. He recommended reading as much as you can on the topic, including classics like The Little Common Sense Book on Investing, The Simple Path to Wealth and A Random Walk Down Wall Street.

Zigmont also echoed the advice of Warren Buffett to never invest in a business you cannot understand. He said, Follow the general rule of only investing in things you understand. Understanding an investment includes knowing what you are investing in, how it impacts your financial plan and where to hold it.

Dont be afraid to ask for help navigating the investment landscape, experts agree. Zigmont suggested looking for an advice-only, fee-only fiduciary certified financial planner.

Catherine Valega, CFP, CAIA and wealth consultant at Green Bee Advisory, said, The fee you pay for an advisor to help with your overall plan is more than recouped based on how we can help you invest for growth, protect your assets and reduce taxes.

When youre choosing a financial advisor, look for one thats willing to help you grow your wealth in the long term, no matter how little youre starting out with, advised Andrew Gold, a financial advisor and investment strategist at Prestige Wealth Management. If they wont work with you now, you probably dont want to work with them later when you have the extra money, he said.

Before you put a dime into the stock market, youll want to understand your own risk tolerance.

Heather Winston, CFP and director of financial planning and advice at Principal Financial, explained, Risk tolerance is the amount of risk one is willing to take, and it will remain reasonably static throughout your lifetime. That said, risk tolerance is only one component of investing its also important to apply that tolerance to your timeline to meet your goals. Generally, the more time you have, the more risk you can assume because time can help smooth out the markets gyrations. Conversely, if your time horizon is short, reducing risk can enable you to preserve what you have amassed.

She noted that its normal to feel the pain of losses more significantly than the joy of gains. This can cloud our decision making, she said. One of the most efficient risk-management strategies is simply sticking to your plan. Youre giving yourself time to ride out and recover from periods of volatility and bear market cycles.

In a bear market, it might be tempting to try to find the bottom of your favorite stocks and buy at that low point. But you never know a stocks low point until it begins to climb again. Instead, experts suggest using dollar cost averaging to reduce the risks of short-term volatility.

Gold recommended getting started with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are collections of similar stocks to be able to trickle into the market in a broad basket of companies without committing to the success of one company alone.

Savarino echoed Golds sentiments about beginning with broad exposure to the market. Index funds that track the total stock market are a really good place to start, he said. They are usually very low cost and simply track the performance of the stock market instead of taking on the risk of one single company at a time.

As your portfolio expands, you may feel comfortable investing in larger companies that you like. But low cost index funds are the best place to start, in my opinion, Savarino said.

Its important to remember that the stock market is a long game. A beginner investor should be buying stock for long-term growth and accumulation, Savarino said. That means before you begin investing, youll want to make sure you have adequate emergency savings in an easy-to-access account.

Experts traditionally recommended having at least six months salary set aside, but Valega said she recently upped that recommendation to 12 to 24 months of expenses saved, based on the possibility of a weak job market in the near future.

The cash you invest, Winston said, should be money that you have left over after you have established an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses, and after you have reduced or eliminated unmanageable debt obligations.

When youre ready to get started, youll need to choose a platform. Savarino pointed out that most platforms today have no fees to open an account, buy, sell or trade assets. I think the biggest thing a first-time investor needs to be aware of is what resources the platform offers, preferably at no cost, he said.

He noted that larger platforms like TD Ameritrade provide a wealth of training resources, material, and personalized, one-on-one help. Smaller platforms may not offer that, he said.

Some first-time investors lean toward Robinhood because of the ability to buy fractionals, or a small percentage of an expensive stock. However, Gold warned, I would steer clear of Robinhood because of the lack of transparency. Also, during times of volatility, they sometimes shut down, which isnt good, he added.

Gold said that a bear market represents a good time to start investing since most stocks are 20% to 30% off their highs. But first, you need to get into the habit of setting that money aside for investments.

Focusing on the behaviors rather than the results will more often lead to success, he said. Both saving and investing are important when it comes to getting a head start on your financial future.

Whether youre starting to build out your portfolio or just aiming to save for a rainy day, make it automatic, Gold recommended. Everyone has a transaction size that takes it from a no-brainer swipe of your card to something youll want to consider more carefully. That number could be $50, $100 or even $500. Decide what that number is and set up your bank account to have one-quarter of that come out each week when you get paid, he said.

Cash App Users: Use Cash Card Round Ups To Invest Spare Change in Stocks and BitcoinLearn: Podcaster Andrew Sather Shares His 3 Foundations of a Prudent Investing Strategy

If you get paid bi-weekly, youll want to pull half the amount with each paycheck. Dont go into stressing about that money being pulled out of your account. If you can conquer the first couple of months of saving, you will have an easy time transitioning to be a savvy saver and investor in the future, Gold said.

More From GOBankingRates

Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer and content marketing specialist who geeks out about finance, e-commerce, technology, and real estate. Her lengthy list of publishing credits include Bankrate, Lending Tree, and Chase Bank. She is the founder and owner of GeekTravelGuide.net, a travel, technology, and entertainment website. She lives on Long Island, New York, with a veritable menagerie that includes 2 cats, a rambunctious kitten, and three lizards of varying sizes and personalities plus her two kids and husband. Find her on Twitter, @DawnAllcot.

View original post here:

Expert Investing Tips: Where To Start When Buying Stocks for the First Time - GOBankingRates

Posted in Childfree | Comments Off on Expert Investing Tips: Where To Start When Buying Stocks for the First Time – GOBankingRates

Permanent Birth Control Is in Demand in the U.S.But Hard to Get – Yahoo Life

Posted: at 3:54 am

The fall of Roe v. Wade stands to dramatically shake up contraception trends. In the days following the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs ruling, clinics began to report a surge in people requesting tubal ligationsmore commonly known as getting ones tubes tied. This is a procedure in which the fallopian tubes are surgically blocked or sealed to prevent future pregnancies, one that is very difficult to reverse.

But those requesting the procedure often encounter a big barrier: doctors. Despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advising that respect for an individual womans reproductive autonomy should be the primary concern guiding sterilization provision, people who can get pregnant are often refused the procedure. By and large, the decision still lies very much in the hands of the physician.

A doctor will typically refuse to perform a sterilization procedure on the grounds that the person is too young, that they dont have enough children, or that they might come to regret the decisionor a combination of these factors. Without a partner or any children, a persons chances of obtaining the procedure drop even lower. (There is no existing ethical guidance from the male counterpart to ACOGthe American Urological Associationon the provision of vasectomy services.)

The attitudes of todays doctors are grounded in a history of pronatalism thats existed for decades in the United States. In the 1970s the criteria for allowing sterilization were even stricter: A woman would be denied access to the procedure unless their age multiplied by the number of children they had equaled 120 or greaterif you were 40 years old with three children, you would be approved for the procedure, for example. In essence, a womans reproductive autonomy was decided on the basis of a mathematical calculation. Even today, doctors often require the sign-off of the patients partner.

Story continues

Lisa Harris, an ob-gyn and professor at the University of Michigan, has seen an influx of young women requesting tubal ligations at her institution since the fall of Roe. Many of the patients have come to her after having been refused by other doctors. Its a different manifestation of society not trusting women to know what they need, Harris says, and probably related to the same distrust that leads to things like abortion bans.

For Kayla, who lives in Chicago, a traumatic experience when she gave birth prematurely to her daughter last year meant she is sure she never wants to have another child. I cant see myself going through that again, she told her doctor. When her physician suggested birth control, Kayla pleaded for something more permanent. And she told me, No, Im too youngMaybe my daughter will want siblings. Since then, Kayla has visited at least three doctors requesting a tubal ligation, and all have refused, for similar reasons.

The concept of the risk of regret is a significant barrier to access and is based on the subjective opinion that people who can become pregnant will always want to bear children. In reality, this isnt true. The largest study to look at rates of reported regret in sterilized womenthe Collaborative Review of Sterilizationfollowed 11,000 sterilized women for 14 years after having the procedure. It found that child-free women who had been sterilized reported the lowest rates of regret among all groups of patients. And yet this myth that women, especially women without children, will come to regret their decision to be sterilized persists, says Elizabeth Hintz, an assistant professor of health communication at the University of Connecticut.

All of these reasons for denying sterilization are in direct contradiction of ACOGs ethical guidance. Yet doctors face no repercussions for refusing to perform procedures; the U.S. does not track data on how many sterilization requests are denied. So theres no accountabilitytheres no capacity to enforce a consequence, Hintz says.

Access to the procedure isnt equitable across society. Echoes of sterilizations checkered pastin which marginalized groups of women were forced to undergo the procedure, including women of color, women who were poor, and those living with disabilities or mental illnessesstill linger today. Black, Latina, and Indigenous women in the U.S. are up to twice as likely as white women to be approved for sterilization, while women with public or no health insurance are about 40% more likely to have the procedure than privately insured women.

The bottom line is that the way that this is legislated aroundand the way that these very subjective sorts of assessments are able to be madeis just a means of perpetuating this very white, wealthy, able-bodied, and cisgender idea of who ought to have children, says Hintz.

One corner of the internet in which those seeking the procedure can find advice and tips is the r/childfree community on Reddit. The subreddit has folders with extensive information on how to request the procedure, a collated list of doctors who will perform it, and a sterilization binder that members can take to their doctor with a template consent form and a form to list their reasons for wanting the procedure.

Alongside rising requests for permanent forms of birth control, the overturning of Roe has already triggered an uptick in the number of people seeking longer-lasting but nonpermanent birth control, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs). But the idea itself that birth controlpermanent or otherwisecould replace access to abortion is inherently flawed, says Krystale Littlejohn, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Oregon whose work explores race, gender, and reproduction. Despite the fact that the majority of people who can get pregnant use some form of birth control, one in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime. This is why the just get your tubes tied or just get an IUD rhetoric that has emerged in the wake of Dobbs isnt helpful, she says.

For one, choosing these forms of birth control is not a trivial medical decision: Heavier, more painful periods and a potentially painful implantation procedureoften with no pain reliefare among the possible consequences of getting an IUD. Tubal ligations require an invasive surgical procedure and, as with any surgical procedure, can lead to complications.

In fact, the advice to use birth control can be seen as just another form of policing peoples bodies, Littlejohn says. When it comes to people suggesting that their friends or their loved ones get on long-acting birth control, I think that people believe that theyre helping other people, but what theyre really doing is encroaching on their human right to bodily autonomy, she says. Roes fall wont just mean that people with a uterus are forced to give birth, she says; its also about compelling them to use longer-acting or permanent forms of birth control.

A person living in a restrictive part of the U.S. may now feel compelled to seek out longer-term contraception or get their tubes tiedwhich is tantamount to compulsory birth control. Thats not the solution right now, she says. I think its really important that we dont try and fight reproductive injustice with reproductive coercion.

This article first appeared on Wired.

Originally Appeared on Glamour

Continue reading here:

Permanent Birth Control Is in Demand in the U.S.But Hard to Get - Yahoo Life

Posted in Childfree | Comments Off on Permanent Birth Control Is in Demand in the U.S.But Hard to Get – Yahoo Life

Deafhood IELTS Reading Academic with Answers – IELTSXpress

Posted: at 3:53 am

Deafhood IELTS Reading Academic with Answers

Reading Passage 3You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.

Real IELTS Exam Question, Reported On:

AAt this point, you might be wondering: what does deafhood mean? Is it a synonym for deafness? Is it a slightly more politically correct term to express the very same concept youve grown accustomed to-a person who lacks the power of hearing, or a person whose hearing is impaired? Whats wrong with terms like hard of hearing or deafness? Have they not represented the deaf community just fine for the past few centuries? Who came up with the term Deafhood anyway, and why?

BThe term Deafhood was first coined in 1993 by Dr Paddy Ladd, a deaf scholar in the Deaf Studies Department at the University of Bristol in England. First explored through his doctoral dissertation in 1998, and later elaborated on in his 2003 book, Understanding Deaf Culture In Search of Deafhood, the idea behind Deafhood is twofold: first, it seeks to collect everything that is already known about the life, culture, politics, etc. of Sign Language Peoples (SLPs); secondly, it attempts to remove the limitations imposed on SLPs through their colonization from hearing people. IELTSXpress

CIn order to understand what Deafhood represents, its first important to understand what is meant by colonisation. To do that, we need to examine two terms: Oralism and Audism. Oralism is a philosophy that first emerged in the late 19th century, and which suggests that reduced use of sign language would be more beneficial to SLPs, as it would allow them to integrate better to the hearing world. In that respect, sign language is dismissively regarded as a mere obstacle to listening skills and acquisition of speech-treated, in effect, in the same manner as the languages of other peoples who were oppressed and colonised, e.g. the Maori in New Zealand, or the Aborigines in Australia. Audism, however, is an even more sinister ideology: first coined in 1975 by Dr Tom Humphries of the University of California in San Diego, it describes the belief that deaf people are somehow inferior to hearing people, and that deafhood or, in this case, we should say deafness is a flaw, a terrible disability that needs to be eliminated. It is the effect of these two ideologies that Deafhood seeks to counter, by presenting SLPs in a positive light, not as patients who require treatment.

DBut even if we understand the oppression that SLPs have suffered at the hands of hearing people since the late 1800s, and even if we acknowledge that deafness is a medical term with negative connotations that need to be replaced, that doesnt mean its easy to explain what the term Deafhood represents exactly. This is because Deafhood is, as Dr Donald Grushkin puts it, a physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, cultural and linguistic journey that every deaf person is invited-but not obligated-to embark on. iets xpress

EDeafhood is essentially a search for understanding: what does being Deaf mean? How did deaf people in the past define themselves, and what did they believe to be their reasons for existing before Audism was conceived? Why are some people born deaf? Are they biologically defective, or are there more positive reasons for their existence? What do terms like Deaf Art or Deaf Culture actually mean? What is the Deaf Way or doing things? True Deafhood is achieved when a deaf person feels comfortable with who they are and connected to the rest of the deaf community through use of their natural language, but the journey there might differ.

FAside from all those questions, however, Deafhood also seeks to counter the eect of what is known as neo-eugenics. Neo-eugenics, as described by Patrick Boudreault at the 2005 California Association of the Deaf Conference, is a modern manifestation of what has traditionally been defined as eugenics, i.e. an attempt to eradicate any human characteristics which are perceived as negative. Deaf people have previously been a target of eugenicists through the aforementioned ideologies of Audism and Oralism, but recent developments in science and society-such as cochlear implants or genetic engineering-mean that Deafhood is once again under threat, and needs to be protected. The only way to do this is by celebrating the communitys history, language, and countless contributions to the world, and confronting those who want to see it gone. ielts xpress.com

GSo, how do we go forward? We should start by decolonising SLPs-by embracing Deafhood for what it is, removing all the negative connotations that surround it and accepting that deaf people are neither broken nor incomplete. This is a task not just for hearing people, but for deaf people as well, who have for decades internalised societys unfavourable views of them. We should also seek recognition of the deaf communitys accomplishments, as well as official recognition of sign languages around the world by their respective governments. Effectively, what we should do is ask ourselves: how would the Deaf community be like, had it never been colonised by the mainstream world? And whatever it is it would be like, we should all together-hearing and Deaf alike-strive to achieve it.

Questions 28-34The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.Which paragraph contains the following information?Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 28-33 on your answer sheet.

28 Examples of other groups treated the same way as deaf people IELTSXpress29 Why the word deafness is no longer appropriate30 The definition of the word dear31 Why deaf people might sometimes think negatively of themselves32 How one can attain deafhood33 Where the word deafhood came from34 Why deafhood is currently imperilled

Questions 35-37Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write your answers in boxes 35-37 on your answer sheet.

35. According to Dr Paddy Ladd, Deafhood

A. is a more appropriate term than hard of hearing.B. doesnt colonise SLPs as much as deafness does.C. strives to get rid of the effects of colonisation.D. contributes positively to the life and culture of deaf people.

36. Oralism suggests that

A. SLPs have no use for sign language.B. SLPs dont belong in the hearing world.C. hearing people are superior to SLPs.D. SLPs are unable to acquire speech.

37. Aborigines in Australia are similar to deaf people because

A. eugenicists also tried to eradicate them.B. they were also considered inferior by their oppressors.C. their languages were also disrespected.D. their languages were also colonised.

Questions 38-40Answer the questions below with words taken from Reading Passage 3.Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

38. What should deaf people use to communicate with each other, according to deafhood?39. Who has used oralism and audism to attack the deaf community?40. What does the deaf community strive to achieve for sign language worldwide?

28. C

29. D

30. A

31. G

32. E

33. B

34. F

35. C

36. A

37. C

38. natural language

39. eugenicists

40. official recognition

Also Check: Preserving Gardens IELTS Reading Passage with Answers

View post:

Deafhood IELTS Reading Academic with Answers - IELTSXpress

Posted in Neo-eugenics | Comments Off on Deafhood IELTS Reading Academic with Answers – IELTSXpress

Nyle DiMarcos Deaf Utopia Model, Actor And Activist Opens Up About …

Posted: at 3:52 am

Nyle DiMarco in DNA #193 (Christian Scott)

We were first introduced to Nyle DiMarco after he won season 22 of Americas Next Top Model. That wasnt the last we saw of him, he went on to win Dancing With The Stars and has graced the covers of many magazines including DNA #193.

Since then, he has proven to be more than just a pretty face although he is that, too. DiMarcos new memoir Deaf Utopia is a love letter to the Deaf community and a deeply personal telling of Deaf culture from his perspective, reports Entertainment Weekly.

The title of the memoir is derived from Nyles blissful childhood. He reports that he is fourth generation deaf, which is a rarity among the community with only 10 percent of deaf people having deaf parents, reports Entertainment Weekly. Despite his Adonis-level good looks and idyllic family upbringing, being deaf has wrought its unique hardships for DiMarco and he has found strength and unity within his community. His unique perspective also comes from identifying as sexually fluid; its these overlapping identities which make Nyle such a strong advocate for his communities.

Nyle uses his platform as a model, actor and producer to advocate for the Deaf community every chance he can. On his season of ANTM, DiMarco had a moment where he was left without an interpreter for hours and hence had no avenue to communicate with the hearing contestants or crew.

Producers should just ask people what they need, says Nyle. AtANTM, I was never asked what I needed, it was just other peoples assumptions. And there were a lot of mistakes made in the process that were easily preventable.

These misconceptions are detailed in Deaf Utopia; its a memoir made to celebrate the Deaf community, but it doubles as an anecdotal guide that hearing people can use to unlearn problematic behaviours related to being around deaf people.

According to EW, DiMarco details his parents experience of learning that Nyle and his twin brother Nico are deaf. The doctor feared the news would come as a disappointment not realising that the Deaf community has a rich culture and doesnt feel shame around being unhearing. Stories like these are important for hearing people to know and they help us to break down those misconceptions.

I definitely think a lot of hearing people dont realise that we have a culture and that we have a very rich community, says Nyle. Looking at the challenges Deaf people face with representation, Nyle has been at the helm of many projects that bring the culture and community to the forefront of the mainstream consciousness. He produces the reality program Deaf U on Netflix that followed deaf students at Gallaudet, the one university for Deaf people in the US, as well as being apart of the Oscar-nominated documentary Audible.

I have never seen an accurate fiction [in films or TV] of something that really reflects my own experience, he says. Most of the time when were pitching ideas, the big question is can we sell a story with deaf people in it? But nowCODAhas removed all doubt, theres no excuse anymore.

When we had the chance to sit down with Nyle for DNA #193, he told us that what he wants the most is for deaf people to be 100 percent heard. He says, Respect our requests because we know what is best for ourselves. Give us a voice. Learn sign language. Become an ally.

Related

Follow this link:

Nyle DiMarcos Deaf Utopia Model, Actor And Activist Opens Up About ...

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on Nyle DiMarcos Deaf Utopia Model, Actor And Activist Opens Up About …

The WBUR Read-In: Utopia – WBUR News

Posted: at 3:52 am

New England has long been fertile ground for experimental societies. One of the most influential utopian societies was formed close to home in West Roxbury. In 1841, a man named George Ripley bought 179 acres and created an intentional community called Brook Farm. The community, which had 120 members at its height,was inspired by the transcendentalist movement and sought to create a place that honored individual freedom, focused on humane relationships and the merging of values. Because of the communitys goals, Brook Farm grew, attracting academics, feminists, and thinkers from that time. And although it eventually fell apart, the commune's six-year existence was born out of a kind of radical imagination.

The idea of radical imagination is one I think about often. The expression is an invitation to view the world and its systems not as they are but as they could be. Its a helpful framework for thinking about change when conversations about the future especially those regarding the fate of the United States become cyclical. Imagination is the catalyst for everything in existence, from the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the cars we drive to our countrys founding. The idea of radical imagination takes systems and laws out of the concrete and places them back into the abstract. When I get overwhelmed thinking about this country and its codes, both written and unwritten, I find it helpful to think about whose imaginations we live in.

True utopia is not possible. However, the concept of world-building is fascinating. What do imagined literary societies tell us about our own? I dont think we should all skip town to join communes, but we could use a bit of radical imagination as we attempt to keep moving forward as a country. This week, I have a few recommendations for reads on utopia, world-building and reimagining.

In this nonfiction book, J.C. Hallman goes on the search for real-world examples of utopia. The author grew up in a master-planned suburb in California on a street called Utopia Road in a house that he says housed him but did not raise him. In the book's opening, Hallman explains that utopias, as a rule, slip. The history of utopian thought sheds light on civilization that both illuminates and scalds: Civilization triggers utopia, embraces it then indicts it, explains Hallman. Using literary utopia as a framework, Hallman explores the idea of perfection and the tensions that arise between, for example, the desire to be free from existential threat and the removal of nature. This book is rich, mixing narrative storytelling with investigation and history. Its a non-judgemental look at utopia and why experimentation with the idea is important, even if they have failed before.

This is an anarchist utopian novel and one of the authors many famous reads. In The Dispossessed, Le Guin has created two seemingly opposite societies. One is an advanced capitalist world. The other is an anarchist and classless civilization. The book takes place 200 or so years after revolutionaries were given a mining planet to live on, where they attempted to create a kind of utopia. The story follows physicist Shevek as he journeys back to the mother planet, where he discovers that civilizations, no matter how different, have similarities. Le Guin was a political person, and the injustices in the world around her inspired her fiction. Threads like that of an oppressed underclass and imperialism run through her work.

Using inspiration from real towns founded by African Americans in the 19th century, Morrison crafts the community of Ruby. The novel is about a created utopia that is completely exclusionary to the outside world, its conservative, patriarchal, and follows a strict moral code. But the all-Black town borders a convent, which Morrison has written to be raceless and free-thinking. Because of the two communities' differences and Rubys obsession with self-preservation, violence erupts. The story is a masterclass in worldbuilding. In a 1998interview with PBS, Morrison said, All paradises, all utopias are designed by who is not there, by the people who are not allowed in.

Read this article:

The WBUR Read-In: Utopia - WBUR News

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on The WBUR Read-In: Utopia – WBUR News

Royal Caribbean Goes Even Bigger in its Battle With Carnival – TheStreet

Posted: at 3:52 am

When Wonder of the Seas began sailing out of Fort Lauderdale in March 2022, the ship claimed the title of "largest cruise ship in the world" from its sister ship, Symphony of the Seas. In fact, Royal Caribbean (RCL) - Get Royal Caribbean Group Report has essentially traded that title from one Oasis-class ship to the next.

Before Symphony, it was held by Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and even the original Oasis-class ship, Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has generally built each new Oasis-class ship a little bit bigger than the last. That's not something overtly noticeable when onboard -- Wonder of the Seas does feel notably bigger than Symphony of the Seas -- but the cruise line clearly wants to be able to claim the "biggest ship in the world title."

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) - Get Carnival Corporation Report signature brand only has one ship, the Mardi Gras, that cracks the list of the top-15 biggest ships. And while passengers may not feel they're missing anything on a smaller ship (and certainly not one as large as Carnival Mardi Gras, which has an onboard roller coaster) the "biggest ship in the world" crown clearly has value both for marketing and bragging rights.

Now, with its next Oasis-class ship, the seventh of that class Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean will once again claim that title and add some new bells and whistles.

TheStreet

Oasis-class ships have some unique features including the outdoor Central Park area -- a literal park onboard the ship -- as well as another outdoor area, the Boardwalk, which features the impressive Aquatheater as well as a carousel. Utopia of the Seas will offer both of those and it will be the second Royal Caribbean ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Scroll to Continue

The company shared some news on that during the hull-laying ceremony for the ship.

As the second Royal Caribbean ship that will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Utopia will also advance Royal Caribbeans decades-long commitment to the environment. The ships LNG technology will join a lineup of the cruise lines already-established environmentally friendly initiatives on its ships. From shore power connection to waste heat recovery systems, the applications have been developed and continually enhanced as part of Royal Caribbeans dedication to innovation and making strides toward a clean-energy future.

Royal Caribbean has opted to keep building ships -- basically one a year -- despite the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the cruise industry. President Michael Bayley detailed that commitment at the ceremony

The keel laying for Utopia of the Seas represents the first milestone of an incredible ship and the next step toward a bolder, thrilling future for Royal Caribbean and vacations, he said.. Utopias debut in 2024, on the heels of Icon of the Seas setting sail in fall 2023, will build on a new, exciting chapter that is set to redefine family vacations and getaways for all ages in ways well soon reveal.

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have placed their bets on big ships (Carnival's next ship, the Celebration will be a sister ship to Mardi Gras). Larger ships offer more to do -- things like water slides, roller coasters, ice skating rinks, unique performance venues, and a stunning array of dining choices -- but they're also limited at to what ports they can visit.

Oasis-class ships are destinations in themselves where you can't experience everything they have to offer on a seven-day cruise. Royal Caribbean uses many of its largest ships to make stops at its CocoCay private island, a destination that serves as an extension of the ship.

Royal Caribbean has committed to building big ships (Icon of the Seas will briefly be the biggest ship in the World when it launches). That's a strategy that Carnival has opted to follow, but not quite emulate as it has never tried to build a ship a tiny bit bigger than Royal's last effort.

Read the original:

Royal Caribbean Goes Even Bigger in its Battle With Carnival - TheStreet

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on Royal Caribbean Goes Even Bigger in its Battle With Carnival – TheStreet

EXCLUSIVE: Beyonc Invites Fans to Discover Their Utopia – WWD

Posted: at 3:52 am

How does Beyonc define utopia? Well, her legions of fans are about to find out.

The latest drop from the superstar entertainers Ivy Park collection with Adidas is being called Ivytopia and is defined as a journey to discover ones own nirvana.

In this post-pandemic world, Ivytopia explores the collective connection we share after emerging from a period of isolation, the brand said. Ivytopia imagines the possibilitiesofthis journey with one another, dreaming and exploring our infinite potential.Whether a beach, mountain range, or urban oasis, the setting is unlimited,as long asit makes you feel hopeful for whats yet to come.

The news of the drop comes on the heels of the release of the singers throwback single Break My Soul, which just hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

In terms of the collection, this translates into a wide variety of inclusively sized gender-neutral fashion and performance apparel, footwear and accessories for adults and kids. It also features the brands first childrens-specific swimwear offering.

The Adidas x Ivy Park Ivytopia collection will include 52 pieces of apparel, seven accessories and four footwear styles for adults in XXXS to XXXXL as well as unisex regular and oversize fits, mens regular and tight fits and womens tight, regular and oversize fits.

For kids, 14 apparel styles, three accessories and two footwear models will be offered.

The collection was created with every body type in mind and comes in an array of colors including off-white, silver, cyan, khaki and yellow along with a crystal and floral-inspired print. Fabrics include printed power mesh, metallic spandex, stretch twills and French terry all intended to speak to Ivy Parks propensity for athleticism and fashion.

The accessories include a five-panel wide brim hat constructed in a swimwear material with a detachable Cuban link chain offered in both a solid and the crystal print. There will also be a reversible bucket hat and an oversize tote with removable exterior pouch pockets. The collection will include a three-pack of socks in off-white, cyan or silver.

In terms of footwear, Ivytopia once again takes on Adidas signature Stan Smith sneaker that has been reworked into a bold and slightly futuristic look, along with a new iteration of the Savage with intricate paneling and pops of color, and an updated mule featuring a light mesh fabric intended to complement the apparel. Theres also an Ultra Boost in an engineered knit.

Prices range from $30 to $200 for the adult collection and include swimwear for $45 to $120, a reversible bomber in the crystal print for $150, the Stan Smith for $110 and the Ultra Boost for $200.

The kids assortment will range in price from $30 to $120 and will include the inaugural swimwear assortment that will retail for $35 to $65.

Ivytopia will be available beginning July 21 on adidas.com and in select stores globally on July 22.

To promote the launch, the brand has created a cinematic campaign focused on the idea of being isolated from the outside world and finding healing through connection and sharing dreams of escape to Ivytopia, whether that is simply daydreaming or hitting the road for a trip. The cast includes models Irina Shayk and Joan Smalls along with Harvey Newton-Haydon, Adut Akech and Alva Claire.

The first Ivy Park collection under Adidas debuted in January 2020 and has become a perennial bestseller. Beyonc initially launched the brand under Topshop in 2016 but parted ways with the company and assumed full ownership of the label before teaming up with Adidas in 2019. Since then, they have offered several collections including Ivy Heart, a capsule inspired by love that launched for Valentines Day, Halls of Ivy, a line intended to unite people regardless of background, color or creed, as well as collections centered around Black cowboys and rodeo, swimwear and ski-inspired apparel.

PHOTOS: Looking Back at Beyoncs Best Fashion Moments

Read the original:

EXCLUSIVE: Beyonc Invites Fans to Discover Their Utopia - WWD

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on EXCLUSIVE: Beyonc Invites Fans to Discover Their Utopia – WWD

Is the federal bureaucracy broken?- POLITICO – POLITICO

Posted: at 3:52 am

Send tips | Subscribe here | Follow Politico Canada

Thanks for reading the Ottawa Playbook. Im your host, Maura Forrest. Today, whats going on with the public service? Also, we translate PIERRE POILIEVREs new video. And we get into the weeds of the clean fuel standard.

Did someone forward you this edition? Click here to sign up for your own subscription to our free newsletter.

BACK TO EARTH Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is back in Canada after two weeks abroad and with three summits under his belt. He may be disappointed to find that many Canadians are less interested in what he was doing overseas than with their own inability to travel overseas for want of a passport.

That frustration is making waves in Quebec, where police at one point had to be called in to manage the crowd outside a Montreal passport office.

Its not just passports, of course. On Sunday, La Presses MLANIE MARQUIShad a rundown of all the areas of dysfunction in the federal bureaucracy: passports, airports, visas, refugee resettlement, employment insurance, and so on.

The source of the problems? Some combination of power centralized in the Prime Ministers Office, federal public servants still working from home, and a lack of interest in modernization, according to La Presse.

Notable excerpt: Former privy council clerk PAUL TELLIER sounded off on the Liberals to La Presse, saying the government never learned to work with the public service in an efficient and productive manner, and that federal ministers are kept on a short leash.

In the National Post: Former senator ANDR PRATTE has a dire warning for Trudeau from Quebec, arguing the breakdown of government services weakens the trust that Canadians have in their national government.

Its fine to issue statements and tweets about Ukraine and abortion in the United States, but when your government cannot deliver passports or unemployment cheques, it is your responsibility and your duty to come back from your worldly travels and get to work, he wrote.

In Quebec, he said, the prevailing sense of indifference toward the federal government could easily turn to anger if the Trudeau government does not tackle the current bureaucratic disarray head-on.

But hey: At least theres a task force!

Related: Heres CTV News MICHAEL LEE with a fresh rundown of the horrors of Canadian air travel.

10:30 a.m. The Bank of Canada will release the summer issue of the Business Outlook Survey and the latest Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference will be held in Lugano, Switzerland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers opening address via videoconference at 1:30 p.m. local time. Watch here.

TRANSLATION Conservative leadership candidate PIERRE POILIEVRE on Sunday released a campaign video in which he used an old, scarred wooden beam to make a point about reclaiming timeless values (i.e. freedom). Here, we present to you a translated version.

Poilievre: This post and these boards were probably on a barn for centuries.

Translation: Back when barns and the people in them were free.

Poilievre: I had to clean them by hand, you know, scrape off all the shit and mud and debris in order to bring out this beautiful honeycomb exterior that you see now.

Translation: Did you think I couldnt work with my hands? I can work with my hands. Also I can swear, just like regular people. Im just a regular guy in a Lacoste checkered shirt.

Poilievre: And what Im doing and what all of us do when we bring these boards into our house is we are reclaiming something that was already there.

Translation: Please ensure your seatbelts are fastened as I pivot hard.

Poilievre: [My campaign] is not about inventing some brand new utopia out of scratch. Its about reclaiming the freedom that is our natural right.

Translation: Go ahead. Call it a dog-whistle. See if I care.

Poilievre: Our tradition of freedom goes back about 800 years to the Magna Carta in the fields of Runnymede when the commoners forced King John to sign the Great Charter.

Translation: I am the kind of guy who can talk about the Magna Carta and mortises and tenons in the same breath. Tell me you dont want me as your leader.

Poilievre: [The loggers] discovered something. They unlocked something that was already inside that log. It was naturally there.

Translation: And that thing was a beam. But also it was freedom. Stay with me!

Poilievre: [The Liberals] dont want to restore the timeless ideas. They want to sweep away our history so that they can invent a new utopia from scratch.

Translation: A utopia built from vinyl siding.

Poilievre: Im here to allow you to reclaim what has always been yours. Reclaim your life. Reclaim your freedom.

Translation: I see you and your anger. Im looking right at you. I know what you need to hear, and Im getting damn good at this.

Here are a few reactions:

Hes putting on a clinic on winning. Its terrifying, but Im taking notes. NDP operative GEORGE SOULE

Prediction: if Poilievre did a video about the importance of sorting your laundry into darks and lights, blue check Twitter would slam him for shameless racist dogwhistling. Macdonald-Laurier Institutes AARON WUDRICK

Poilievres messages are getting better and better. He is a gifted communicator, has a vision of the country. Journalist STEPHEN MAHER

Meanwhile: The Conservative leadership race hits another deadline today. The party released a preliminary list of 675,000 members last week, and the campaigns have until today to challenge any names they think shouldnt be on it.

Stay tuned for more VIP summertime bookshelf selections. And send your reading suggestions to us! We'll share your picks with thousands of your closest friends i.e. in our Playbook newsletter.

CLIMATE COSTS Heres a thing we noticed. The federal government published final regulations for its long-delayed clean fuel standard last week, and the numbers look well, a bit different from what was published in draft regulations in December 2020.

The regulations, which are a key pillar of the Liberals climate plan, will require emissions from gasoline and diesel to decline gradually, and will take effect in July 2023. Fuel suppliers have several options to meet the emissions intensity cap, including by adding ethanol or biodiesel.

Into the weeds: Ottawa expects the clean fuel standard to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 18 million metric tons in 2030. Thats similar to the 17.5 million metric tons expected in the draft regulations.

But the expected costs look a little different higher, to be precise. Playbook did the nerdy compare-and-contrast work so you dont have to, and heres what we found. All these costs are projected for 2030:

Gasoline price: Will rise by 6 to 13 cents per liter, compared to 4 to 11 cents in the draft regs

Diesel price: Will rise by 7 to 16 cents per liter, up from 4 to 13 cents

Hit to GDP: Up to C$9 billion, compared to C$6.4 billion

Cost to average household: C$220, compared to C$136

Cost per gas-powered vehicle: C$127, compared to C$100

Cost per metric ton of emissions cuts: C$151, compared to C$94

The clean fuel standard has been delayed more times than we can remember since the Liberals first pitched it in 2016. But as the Canadian Press reported last week, the final regulations are tougher than the draft regs, requiring a 15-percent cut to emissions intensity in 2030, up from about 13 percent.

RISK REPORT How worried should Canada be about political instability in the United States? Homeland security consultant PAUL ROSENZWEIG tackled that question recently for the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. In an imagined threat assessment that CSIS might have written, Rosenzweig speculates about how Canada stands to be affected by an increasingly unpredictable southern neighbor. Here are some of the highlights:

Does all of that sound pretty grim? Well, there was a spot of optimism near the end. We assess with a high degree of confidence, Rosenzweig wrote in the voice of Canadian intelligence officials, that a military confrontation between the United States and Canada is unlikely. Phew.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE? Speaking of security risks, Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND had a lot to say last week about her habit of bicycling to political events (Borgen, anyone?).

When Freeland met U.S. Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN in Toronto last month, she cycled to the Royal Ontario Museum to meet her, and then joined Yellens security convoy for the rest of the day. Heres how Freeland recalled their conversation:

The Secretary said to me, You rode your bike here, I hear. How does your security detail feel about riding bikes to be with you? And I said, They dont because I dont have a security detail. I just rode here by myself and locked up my bike and walked into the ROM.

That is a great thing about our country. I think it is great that people in my riding see me at the grocery store, that they can stop me while Im running in the ravines they very often have specific issues they wish to raise. So thats something that keeps me in touch with how people are thinking.

A real strength of Canada is that I feel safe being out there on my own. I hope that that can continue. I think actually its something that we as Canadians get to choose.

We get to choose: Do we want to be a country where our elected political leaders can just be regular people and hang out in their neighborhoods? Or do we want to be a country where theyre separated from the rest of us? I know what I prefer.

The Globes NANCY MACDONALD pieces together what is known about the brothers killed in a shootout with police after a botched robbery last week in Saanich, B.C.

The world needs more than crumbs from the G7s table,MARK MALLOCH-BROWN writes in the NYT opinion piece this morning.

Worry has long driven Canadian interpretation of American culture, COLIN HORGAN writes at Modern Hell. Whats driving people here now is something more profound, and more distinctly American. Paranoia.

The Hill Times CHELSEA NASH talked to Immigration Minister SEAN FRASER about immigration backlogs, the war in Ukraine, and the digitalization of Immigration and Citizenship Canada.

ICYMI, the latest episode of the Policy Options pod features JENNIFER DITCHBURN, ANITA LI, SEAN SPEER, ERIC MERKLEY and DARRELL BRICKER in conversation about polarization and public policy.

Over at Chatelaine, STACY LEE KONG asks: Should Canada finally abolish the monarchy?

BOB RAE, Canadas ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, spoke to DAVID COMMON on The Sunday Magazine about the U.N., Ukraine and finding hope against despair.

For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter:Why gas prices in Canada will only go up.

In other headlines for Pros: Bracing for a new global health fight. Interior offshore oil drilling plan skirts tough choices. World Bank establishes the pandemic preparedness fund. How Biden can still meet his climate goals. 'We dont have to pretend anymore': Greens ready to bail on D.C.

TELL US EVERYTHING What are you hearing that you need Playbook to know? Send it all our way.

Birthdays: HBD to political strategist BRIAN TOPP, retired Senator MARJORY LEBRETON, MNA CHANTAL ROULEAU and former MP CHRIS CHARLTON.

Spotted: CHRIS HALL, honored in LEGO after his final show as host of CBCs The House.

NDP MP RICHARD CANNINGS, doing one of the toughest jobs of an MP.

Movers and shakers: Banff Forum has announced the arrival of NADIA THEODORE and JENNIFER DITCHBURN to their board. AYESHA CHUGHTAIsaid farewell to the PMO last week. And ALEX KOHUTbid the PMO adieu on Sunday, after 2,250 days.

Media mentions: ADRIENNE ARSENAULT has been named chief correspondent for CBC News and sole anchor of The National. ANDREW CHANG is departing the flagship program to host a new daily digital newscast.

The APs KATHY GANNON writes about leaving Afghanistan after 35 years of reporting on the country.

CBCs IOANNA ROUMELIOTIS tells her story of being a living organ donor.

NUNATSIAQ NEWS picked up 14 nominations in the Quebec Community Newspapers Associations awards.

In memoriam: The Canadian Jewish News reports that historian and academic IRVING ABELLA has died. He was a scholar, a sage, a friend and a wonderful spouse, dad, and grandfather, BOB RAE said on Twitter last night.

Abella was 82. Here is an appreciation his life and legacy, written on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Thursday's answer: Yathkyed Lake, Nunavut, was the answer we were thinking of: 62.3 degrees north, 97 degrees west. This is the center of Canada, as measured by the Canadian Cartographic Association.

Heres Macleans from 2015 with a story that explains why other spots brag about their centrality.

Props to ANNE-MARIE STACEY, LUCAS BORCHENKO, DOUG RICE, JAMES RENFREW, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, STEPHEN KAROL, KEVIN BOSCH, JOANNA PLATER, GARY ALLEN, CHRISTOPHER LALANDE and BOB GORDON.

Mondays question: How many U.S. states border Canada and with how many provinces?

Send your answers to [emailprotected]

Playbook wouldnt happen without Luiza Ch. Savage and editor Sue Allan.

See the original post here:

Is the federal bureaucracy broken?- POLITICO - POLITICO

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on Is the federal bureaucracy broken?- POLITICO – POLITICO

‘Moonhaven’ Is the Smart Sci-Fi Show You’ve Been Waiting For – TIME

Posted: at 3:52 am

Why would a person ever willingly leave utopia? For the citizens of Moonhaven, a verdant, peaceful community nestled in 500 square miles of the moon, the answer is: in order to save the world. The year is 2201. Earth has been ravaged by climate change, war, and a cascade of related plagues. Now, the only hope for humanity lies with the so-called Mooners, whove spent more than a century building a kinder, more sustainable society. AMC+ sci-fi thriller Moonhaven, premiering July 7, opens just two weeks before a crucial event known as the Bridge, in which the first wave of Mooners will relocate to Earth to help their terrestrial brethren heal the planet.

Its at this moment that the lunar utopia starts to look less perfect. First, a young woman, Chill (Nina Barker-Francis), is murdered. Then, two hilariously ill-prepared Moonhaven detectives, Paul (Dominic Monaghan, a.k.a. Charlie from Lost) and Arlo (Kadeem Hardison, a.k.a. A Different Worlds unforgettable Dwayne Wayne), discover a strange connection between Chill and a pilot, Bella Sway (a taciturn Emma McDonald), who has just arrived from Earth with the powerful envoy Indira (Amara Karan from The Night Of) and Indiras bodyguard Tomm (True Bloods Joe Manganiello, playing a sentient snarl) to aid in final preparations for the Bridge. As an Earther with a violent past and a sideline in smuggling, Bella arouses the suspicion of the colonys leadersincluding Maite (Ayelet Zurer of Losing Alice), a council chair with big mother-goddess energy who is beloved by her people. Yet in Moonhaven, a philosophical near-future epic whose ambitious ideas compensate for sometimes-flimsy execution, characters tend to be more complicated than they seem.

All of these personalities provide ample research fodder for the shows all-seeing, yet unseen, main character: Io. Lurking beneath the moons surface and described in a commercial by its parent company Icon as humanitys self-teaching artificial intelligence, Io inspires an almost spiritual reverence on the part of the Mooners. With its sketchily explicated guidance, and after a few tragic false starts, they have constructed a society whose founding principle is interdependence. Couples raise other peoples offspring; children only encounter their biological parents at their own birth and immediately before the parents death. By obscuring bloodlines and forming unrelated families, Moonhaven incentivizes its citizens to value the collective.

Daily life in this utopia can feel generic by sci-fi standards, which is understandable in the absence of a Foundation-sized budget but also a bit of disappointment coming from creator Peter Ocko, an alum of AMCs exhilaratingly odd, prematurely canceled Lodge 49. The glimpses we get of the culture in Moonhavens six-episode first season suggest a familiar fusion of the Western canon (spot the literary references), Eastern spirituality (minus all deity worship), and techno-optimism. Because this is an earnest show set within an extremely earnest society, the dialogue can get precious. There is a lot of singing, dancing, and frolicking in bucolic bliss. Mooner fashion splits the difference between Comme des Garcons and ashram chic. Everyone seems thoroughly invested in the mission to save those unfortunate souls left on Earth. They are us. We are them, goes one of the colonys most frequently repeated maxims.

Emma McDonald in 'Moonhaven'

Szymon Lazewski/AMC

Yet theres reason to fear that the Bridge will fail. Not everyone on Earth welcomes the arrival of lunar elites. Nor are the naive youth of Moonhaven necessarily prepared for the horrors theyre sure to encounter hundreds of thousands of miles from home. Earth forges people like Bella: survivors who can throw a punch, land a kick, and sense when a persons motives are less than pure. Although Chills killer is easily apprehended in a world monitored by an omniscient AI, Bellas skills make her instrumental in the ongoing investigation by Paul and Arlo, whose goofy Sherlock-and-Watson schtick seems unlikely to detangle the knotty politics behind the murder.

Its this psychologically rich story line, which takes a few episodes to develop but dominates the back half of the season, that makes Moonhaven more thought-provoking and exciting to watch than some of its staggeringly expensive predecessors, from Westworld to Stranger Things. One compelling question is whether the lunar community has actually refined human nature to eliminate destructive traits like selfishness, or if the ease and abundance of life on the moon is simply holding those flaws in abeyance. How might Mooners navigate the harsh, kill-or-be-killed conditions on Earth? Will they compromise their collectivist values? Can Earthers really trust a privileged minority to sacrifice its security to help billions of strangers survive? Or is one character right to insist that the strong take what they want and leave the rest to suffer?

Read More: The 50 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2022

These are the kinds of inquiries that good science fiction makes. And despite some tin-eared dialogue, Moonhaven poses them subtlya particular relief at a time when genre fiction more often screams its political allegories from computer-generated mountaintops. It doesnt gloat over the colonys multiracial families or overwhelmingly female leadership; if anything, it plays with the assumptions viewers might make about matriarchy. It doesnt linger over a nonbinary characters pronouns or explain the complete normalization of same-gender relationships. The result is a rare story with no use for identity politics. In a society that ignores external markers of difference, everyone is both an individual and an equal member of the group. Thats refreshing.

And its refreshing that Moonhaven, for all its minor flaws, trusts viewers to make our own connections between the lunar colony, what little we get to see of 23rd-century Earth, and the various geopolitical cataclysms of today. Of course the conflicts it sets up around power and privilege are relevant. But the resolutions arent simple; in a first season thats almost prefatory, apparently easy answers often lead to new, more complicated questions. Why would a person willingly leave utopia? Before you ask, make sure you understand what utopia really means.

More Must-Read Stories From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

See more here:

'Moonhaven' Is the Smart Sci-Fi Show You've Been Waiting For - TIME

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on ‘Moonhaven’ Is the Smart Sci-Fi Show You’ve Been Waiting For – TIME