'His record is going to be a problem'

'one of the smartest things' orchestrated by the Democratic Party

'Some kind of damaging moments'

'He went to the higher ranks'

Column Close Reads A Gentle Request for More Witches in Star Wars Maybe we need a new point of view. By Leah Blaine | Published on August 8, 2024 Credit: Lucasfilm Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: Lucasfilm Welcome to Close Reads! Leah Schnelbach and guest authors will dig into the tiny, weird moments of pop culture—from books to theme songs to viral internet hits—that have burrowed into our minds, found rent-stabilized apartments, started community gardens, and refused to be forced out by corporate interests. I love witches. I love them in any iteration, in any universe, and in every way. The thread found in most stories of witches tends to be that they are women at the fringe of their culture practicing an art, be it healing or midwifery or potions or spells or fortune telling, that is seen as “mysterious”. That mystery typically translates to “dangerous”—and ends with pitchfork mobs and burning stakes. Sometimes a healing potion is just a healing potion, but sometimes a healing potion is a poison meant for an abusive husband. (Honestly, that is only dangerous if you are the abusive husband type, but the fear turns to suspicion that then takes hold in very real ways.)  And while it’s long been held in most stories that a woman with magical powers is automatically coded as a witch by audiences, the idea that they are somehow dangerous, underhanded, untrustworthy at times also made its way to the arc of storytelling. From Galadriel in Lord of the Rings to Melisandre in Game of Thrones to Elphaba in Wicked, we never truly know or trust what these women could do with their powers. They could do something if they can do anything! Avert your eyes and hide the children! Part of me wants to decry how unfair that is to women, while another part wants to say that’s how it should be. Maybe women should be feared for what they could do—and who am I to say what I’d do, had I the power to read minds, keep my gray hairs at bay, or turn people who annoy me to monkeys? (I mean, maybe be a little scared is all I’m saying. If we aren’t going to be trusted with power, then fine. Fear me. Well, fear me while you admire my many necklace trinkets and witchy boots and would you like an apple, my dear?) My favorite world by far is that of the Star Wars universe, so obviously I have a very high affinity for the witches in that galaxy. Witches, specifically the Nightsisters, have long been seen from the Jedi’s perspective: women who use the force in ways that are different from what is sanctioned by the peacekeeping Jedi. They are evil, full stop. And, well, some of them are baddies. Revenge is a dish best served as a force choke, after all. But some of the Jedi are bad, too, so no one can safely throw kyber crystals from Coruscant balconies, ok? (It would mess up space traffic for DAYS; just don’t do it, trust me.) The Nightsisters appear in The Clone Wars film, with the formidable Ventress going sabre to sabre with Yoda and later Obi-Wan and Anakin in the animated series. Their banter is a whole vibe with sarcastic quips flying faster than you can jump to hypserspace. One battle on Teth, Ventress tells Kenobi that he’s late and to “never keep a lady waiting.” In Obi-Wan’s typical dry manner, he replies that he was simply looking for Anakin, who must have stood her up. “Consider me on the rebound,” she declares, their frenemy status firmly set. As we move through the series, more about the Nightsisters come to light: their planet, Dathomir, has long been strong in the force, they dominate the men who they test to make Sith (hello Darth Maul), and they are dangerous and deadly when it comes to the force. Ventress grapples with her ties to her home, her sisters and family, but also the dark side; the leader of the clan, Mother Talzin, has her own arc later in the Clone Wars series where she sets about to drain the power from another planet, a genocidal plan Mace Windu thwarts in all his badassery (props to Jar Jar for the assist).  Through it all, though, the Nightsisters, as dark force users aligned with the Sith, color all the audience knows about witches in the galaxy. While the witches in The Acolyte are not the Nightsisters, various types of witches clearly occupy the galaxy as Indara initially seeks to respect their practices and culture, a solid fistbump of sister solidarity. (And if Obi-Wan taught us anything, it’s that from a certain point of view, things can look murky.) The story of the force, however, has largely been told through the lens of the Jedi: only Jedi are sanctioned to force wield, only Jedi determine who is trained in the force, only Jedi decide how and in what ways the force may be used, only Jedi can take children away from their families and train them to be deadly weapons.  What is generally left out of these passive voice declarations is that these directives are self-appointed. The Acolyte expands on what some Jedi-suspicious Star Wars fans have long thought: that the Jedi are a cult with strict and repressive practices, leading us and Senator Rayencourt to ask “who made you boss?” The show gives us a different and more measured view of witches than we saw in The Clone Wars’ handling of the Nightsisters (who, well, really did love making Siths).  Indara clearly outlines that they will not involve themselves in the coven, even if Sol felt they were too cult-like (insert irony here). He claims they have weird rituals! a weird temple! can move things with their minds! are super secretive about what they do and oh no, only we can do that! Jedi Trinity doesn’t know or even care to know, which means we also don’t know; the witches were living, laughing, and loving their best lives, and Indara had no reason or desire to interfere. Being a Jedi gave him and Torbin an inflated sense of importance. They saw the Jedi as arbiters not just of peace, but of freedom, justice, and security. It’s that entitlement (and boredom from Torbin) that fuels them into bullying the coven to do what they wanted, but no matter the perspective here, all the dead bodies were witches, not Jedi.  And what of these witches? They were keenly aware of the Jedi’s feelings about them, their practice, and even their existence. They stayed hidden for a reason with some hints that they were forced into hiding. Indara is either an outlier or magnanimous or both, but The Acolyte showed them as people; not fully power hungry, not inherently evil, and certainly not deserving of death when Jedi show up at their home with questions they already know the answers to (yes, these children are force sensitive; no, you cannot take them; yes, we will get mad and fight you if you try). Sol’s late justification that his theory about them was correct, that they were the result or cause of a Vergence, still fails to align with his actions 16 years ago on Brendok. And Venestra’s revision of the cover-up, blaming Sol in order to protect the Order, failed to soften the idea that witches were dangerous. Because, really, who cares if the witches were up to no good? I mean, not me, honestly. (I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself.) They made twins from the force. Ok. Someone with a brief cameo in The Acolyte likely made Anakin, after all. The Jedi had no problems using Clones, bred and grown to champion their cause. And I, a red lightsaber lover, am certainly not saying that witches need to be good. Far from it, in fact. It’s delightful when they are bad because bad usually means they act counter to the ways a woman should act—they are weary of insipid men, use sarcasm like a well-sharpened dagger, and dress for ease of comfort rather than the male gaze. I do think the trope that they are always bad is tiresome, though, and they aren’t bad merely because they are shunned. Or because they are women. Or because they have power. Or because they were scorned. Mostly because they are people and sometimes people are just bad and need revenge or like causing chaos or do it for the plot.  At the end of the day, though, is there anywhere a witch can go to safely practice throwing the force, eat spice creams, and chant in unison under the moons without some dry-cleaned Jedi with a fancy laser sword showing up? Is that really too much to ask?[end-mark] The post A Gentle Request for More Witches in Star Wars appeared first on Reactor.

A shy kitten was found sitting at a McDonald's drive-thru. Once inside, her demeanor completely changed. Apple the kittenClare at Saving StevieLast Friday, Clare, who volunteers for Saving Stevie (a cat rescue), received a text message about a stray kitten found at a local McDonald's."The kitty had been there since Monday. She was teeny and seemed to want help. She would come up to the car and cry but would bolt when the door was opened," Saving Stevie shared.When Clare saw the pictures of the kitten at the drive-thru, she immediately picked up her rescue supplies and hit the road. She was found sitting at a McDonald's drive-thruClare at Saving Stevie"I got right in the car and headed over to get her," Clare told Love Meow.Upon arrival, Clare spotted the stray standing directly underneath the speaker where customers order at the drive-thru. Though scared, the kitten remained there, as if waiting for some food to fill her belly. She was very timid but seemed to want helpClare at Saving StevieShe had been alone and hungry for days, darting away from people who tried to help her. "She was skittish and ran away when I approached her."Clare set up a humane trap with food inside, and within five minutes, the starving kitten walked in. Clare at Saving StevieWith the kitten safely secured, Clare brought her home, gave her a quiet room to decompress, and lovingly named her Apple.At first, Apple was scared and lost and scanned the room with a worried gaze, but soon, her fear gave way to curiosity as she explored her new space. Apple was finally rescuedClare at Saving StevieWith plenty of food and a cozy bed, she came out of her shell and began to seek attention from her rescuer. "She was scared of me for all of three minutes before she realized she was safe and started loving on me."Apple discovered the sink in the bathroom and swiftly claimed it as her throne. She came out of her shell when she realized she was safeClare at Saving StevieThe second she heard Clare's voice, she turned to her, eagerly asking for head scratches. She made sure Clare was near, rubbing against her, basking in the love."She is so affectionate, purrs so loud, and just loves to rub her face all over me. It's clear she was always meant to be inside." She rubbed her face all over her rescuerClare at Saving StevieApple let her rescuer clean her up and wrap her in a towel for cuddles. Before long, she jumped on Clare's shoulders to survey the room and eventually curled up in her arms, completely content.When she's not tucked in with Clare, she stays by her side, making up for those lonely days outside. Clare at Saving StevieHer purr motor is constantly running, filling the room as she snuggles close. It's been almost a week since Apple moved indoors, and she's transformed into a snuggly love bug."Her favorite thing to do right now is cuddle." She has blossomed into a snuggly love bugClare at Saving StevieShe seems so content with a roof over her head and the assurance that she'll never have to worry about where her next meal will come from.Apple waited at the drive-thru, hoping for a hero. Now, she's thriving in foster care, savoring every second with her people. Clare at Saving StevieShare this story with your friends. More on Apple the kitten and Saving Stevie on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks to Clare @claremadams.Related story: Kitten Found Outside Using Only Front Paws to Walk, Immediately Wants Play and Affection from Everyone

He Might Wear a Barn Jacket But Rural Types and Farmers Not Really Diggin' Tampon Tim

A fossil hunter has been honored with the most coveted of rewards among nature enthusiasts: getting a shiny new-to-science species in his name. Steve Edwards is also a safari guide in northern Zimbabwe, where he found a fossil of a curious fish that lived when the dinosaurs were just getting started around 210 million years ago.The fossil is of a new species and has been named Ferganoceratodus edwardsi to commemorate the efforts of Edwards, who also has a phytosaur and a new dinosaur in his fossil finds portfolio. It’s a type of lungfish, a group of animals that has endured for 420 million years – you can still see them alive today.Lungfish, as the name suggests, are notable for the strange ways in which they breathe. Like many fish, they have a swim bladder. Unusually, this develops into a kind of adapted lung as they get older, allowing them to breathe out of water.That skill came in handy when these fish decided to drag themselves up on land, eventually becoming tetrapods: the four-footed animals that encompass all vertebrates higher than fishes. This means they hold a lot of secrets when it comes to understanding the innovations associated with terrestrialization, which is why scientists were so excited to sequence their massive genome back in 2021.Those early innovations include the lungfish’s unusual talent for sleeping through the heat by hiding out in a burrow wrapped in a mucus cocoon. They leave just enough space for the mouth to breathe while they go without food and water for up to four years.It’s an awesome behavior and one of many quirks of lungfish scientists are eager to learn more about. So, the discovery of a new species of lungfish is always a remarkable fossil find to be added to the ichthyological collections.In the case of Ferganoceratodus edwardsi, it’s a reminder that you don’t have to be a full-time paleontologist to make a discovery that changes natural history.“Steve is an important force for palaeontology, having discovered several Late Triassic sites in southern Africa,” explained co-author of the research Prof Paul Barrett to the Natural History Museum, London, where he is Merit Researcher for Earth Sciences.“This is a time in history when the rise of the dinosaurs was starting, and bony fish were diversifying. By sharing his discoveries, Steve is helping us to better understand this important moment in evolution.”The study is published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

When thinking of a place to put a telescope, the ocean bed is probably the last place on your mind, following the age-old "sky = up" principle. But it really depends what you're looking for. The partially built Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT), is looking for high energy neutrinos, in an attempt to study them and to find what astrophysical source sent them flying across the cosmos. To do so it uses the ocean as a sort of detector, and exploits an effect that happens when subatomic particles travel through a medium faster than the speed of light in that medium.        The speed of light in a vacuum is the absolute speed limit of the universe. Nothing will go faster than 300,000 kilometers per second (186,000 miles per second), according to Einstein's work, as it would require an infinite amount of energy to do so. However, that doesn't mean that light can't be beaten in terms of speed under the right set of circumstances, and when that happens something strange called the "Cherenkov effect" can take place. In water, for example, light is slowed down to a sluggish 200,000 kilometers per second (124,274 miles per second). Ok, we will grudgingly admit that that's still pretty fast, and any particle wishing to break that speed would require 175 kiloelectron volts of energy behind it.This does sometimes happen. In 1934, Soviet physicist Pavel Cherenkov witnessed what happens when it does, after bombarding water with radiation. A blue light, now known as Cherenkov light or Cherenkov radiation, was emitted from the water.         He and colleagues Il´ja Mikhailovich Frank and Igor Yevgenyevich Tamm figured out what was causing the strange glow: charged subatomic particles moving faster than the speed of light (in water) producing an effect similar to a sonic boom, which occurs when (for example) a plane travels faster than the speed of sound. For their work, they were awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physics.It is Cherenkov light in the ocean that KM3NeT is aiming to detect, produced by neutrino interactions within the ocean. The Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss (ARCA) observatory forms the largest part of KM3NeT. The detectors are attached to long strings, with the bottom detectors placed around 3,500 meters (11,482 feet) under the sea. More detectors helps them filter out ocean "noise", such as the decay of potassium 40.Excitingly, ARCA appears to have detected what Francis Halzen, a physicist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Nature News was "a fantastic event". The bright event seen by ARCA has so far only been teased with neutrino physicist João Coelho reportedly telling the Neutrino 2024 conference in Milan, Italy, but revealing little other than it “really stands out, very far away from anything else."For now, researchers are staying tight-lipped about the direction and time of the detection, in case other teams could use this information to track down the cosmological source, Nature News reports. We will have to wait and learn more of the exciting detection.[H/T: Popular Mechanics]

Viral TikTok sensation Apollo has proved he’s not a bird brain by breaking the world record of the most items identified by a parrot in 3 minutes. The 4-year-old African grey parrot broke the Guinness World Record after successfully identifying 12 items on December 18, 2023. Based in Florida, USA, Apollo belongs to Dalton and Victoria Mason, who are both content creators. Apollo’s TikTok profile boasts 2.8 million followers and many of his videos rack up millions of views. Similarly, his YouTube account has over 1.3 million subscribers. Breaking the record included naming things such as “bug”, “book”, and “sock” – but his owners believe he could be capable of more. “There’s no knowing what Apollo will learn, or what records he could break next,” the couple told Guinness World Records.             Apollo first came to live with them in 2020 after they found him in a pet shop. He also shares the house with two white-bellied caiques named Soleil and Ophelia, who also sometimes feature in the videos. Since his arrival, the couple have been training him with Dr Irene Pepperberg's methods and his favorite reward: pistachios. Dr Pepperberg is famous among animal behaviorists for her work with a gray parrot called Alex. Alex was extraordinarily intelligent and among his many accomplishments could count to six, and knew words for all kinds of objects and colors. He was trained in the model/rival method that Apollo’s owners also used to teach him. This involves being taught by one person, with another learning alongside him and modeling the correct responses. However, there is no strict routine to his learning and Apollo is free to pick his own subjects. “We teach him as much as we can naturally in day-to-day life and focus on the things Apollo wants to focus on. We believe he will learn things faster that way,” they explain.Most of all, Victoria and Dalton want to spread awareness about the “natural intelligence found in animals”. Despite one dog recently setting a house on fire by chewing on a power bank, baboons, giraffes, and fish have all been found to possess levels of intelligence previously thought only to belong to humans.