I want to talk about Princess Mononoke for a second, as this movie has become kinda personal for me.

I'm about to say the funny "Literally me" thing about the protagonist, because I feel like Miyazaki saw the future and made this movie just for me. Ashitaka is a character that I really connected with in really unexpected ways.
For one thing, I'm most often a neutralist when it comes to most things, especially politics, so I'm getting that out of the way. I waver between respecting and admiring both sides to flat-out despising them both, which is a struggle. I've often felt like I'm cornered when it comes to conflicts, mostly because it seems like I'm on neither or any side. Seeing Ashitaka perfectly embody what I want to be when it comes to conflicts was actually really cathartic and inspiring, as I've usually resorted to just shutting up and look like I'm playing whichever side I'm talking to.
Another thing is the arm. I think I've talked about this before, but I have chronic hand eczema, which means my hands are either in total agony, itchy and dry, or bleeding and opening at the most inconvenient times. This skin infection has actually been a point of contention between me and my faith; I've seen God heal people plenty of times, but why won't He heal me? Why am I left out? I've grown to sorta accept the infection as a part of myself, though it still stings seeing miracles while I'm forgotten. And Ashitaka's cursed arm, though definitely not the same thing as me, fit so perfectly as a metaphor for some sort of chronic condition: the feeling that there's something in your body that's outside of your control and directly malicious towards you; the odd moment or two where you look at it (if it's visible) and notice that it's gotten bigger or smaller than last time; even the scene in which Ashitaka is healed of one thing by a literal god, only to find the curse is still there, unfortunately festering and healthy. The moment after that last realization in the movie nearly broke me, as I've felt that same twinge of disappointment a hundred times, waking up and seeing that I'm still not healed after praying for years.
Aside from Ashitaka, Princess Mononoke just gets me. It totally gets the style of stories I love, which are mostly either the surreal fairytales or the serious political dramas, and it just so happens to be a unique mix of both. The majesty and fickle unpredictability of the gods and spirits; the blending of the lines between good and bad people, instead being just about people trying to achieve their own goals, often at the cost of others; and clear personalities of each setting and character making the world feel alive and independent of whatever we may want the world to be.
And the possibly-romantic-subplot ends with them embracing and leaving one another with an oath of friendship instead of a kiss and a dramatic sunset; heck ya! This movie is perfect!

Thanks for reading my thoughts for a minute. Princess Mononoke is amazing.

Quick edit: I don't actually know if this story is true. Either way, this is so cool.

Alright, so I need some romantic advice from y’all (I’m gonna regret asking you people), but first, a timeline of events:

November 2022: I get my friend’s phone number, and we text semi-frequently
April 2023: we have an argument and she blocks me
May 2023: we resolve things and our friendship resumes like nothing happened; however, neither of us text each other again
November 2023: I’m added to a group chat with several unknown phone numbers and some of my friends’ numbers; one of the numbers is my friend’s, but it’s different from the one she had given me the previous year
February 2024: I start to develop a crush on her (to quote my friend when I told him last week, “hormones are sucky”)
Later in February: I text her new phone number (the group chat one) “hi”; no response
Yesterday: I text the new number again, and receive the response “Who is this,” prompting me to text back with my name; in response, she says “Wrong number”

So, either that phone number is someone else (which I’m leaning towards since it didn’t exactly seem like that was my crush texting, so maybe she was using that temporarily or smthn) or she’s trying to avoid getting texts from me

I have the number she gave me in 2022; should I try tenting that one? And if so, should I do it later today or wait until next weekend?

I AM IN CRISIS DUE TO DUOLINGO

Lyrics of the Day:

“Father of toxic gas and chemical warfare
His dark creation has been revealed
Flow over no man's land, a poisonous nightmare
A deadly mist on the battlefield”

- “Father” from Weapons of the Modern Age (EP released 9-30-2022) by Sabaton
This track is about Fritz Haber, a scientist who, on one hand, weaponized poison gas for the Germans, but who, on the other, created the Haber-Bosch process, which was very important for agriculture.

The chosen comment:

When your PC has an ID 10 T error

lol my dad is playing a compilation of Sun Tzu quotes on his phone

POV: You're making a personality quiz for your schoolmates to see how well they know you

Thinking about The Boy and the Heron again.

Ah, after some inactivity, I come to see that Cyprezz has finally added the feature I've been waiting for! This will def help me with my content ideas too!

fellas, judging our boat... are we cooked?

Which is more worth it?

1. A Single-Scoop Ice Cream ($9)
2. A Double-Scoop Ice Cream ($15)

joined skinfight for the first time xd

would it be considered cheating if i knew what teams you're on so i can start pre-making skinfight attacks...?

cheeseburger