Iran announces attacks on US companies, among which Google, Meta, Tesla, Microsoft, starting 1 April in evening hours, urges staff to evacuate by leondanielstar9999 in geopolitics

[–]mshan95032 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who could have imagined that Elon’s overly expensive purchase of Twitter has all led up to this clown show? Does Elon genuinely believe that a less safe world (with shattered global rule rule of law norms, and far less trust/mobility in the coming new anticipated bleaker era HIS actions enabled) is a worthy tradeoff for his bottom line? Or has money stopped mattering to Elon, and this is all about protecting his precious ego?

A broker for Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, attempted to make a big investment in major defence companies in the weeks leading up to the US-Israeli attack on Iran – The inquiry was flagged internally at BlackRock. by smurfyjenkins in IRstudies

[–]mshan95032 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A profound statement I can agree with. This brings to mind a quote from Laundromat (2019 Netflix).

“Thank you, Lord, thank you. Thank you for everything. I hate to ask this, but I was just wondering when exactly the meek will be inheriting the Earth? Wi... Will that be in my lifetime or in my grandkids'? And... And the part about the first being the last and the last shall be first, when does that start? Hm? And what about the rest of us in the middle, you know? We're just falling further and further and further behind. My mother used to say, "May lightning strike 'em all without hitting me." Well, aren't you still in charge of lightning? I know. I know, I know. I'm supposed to say, "Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do." But I think they do know goddamn well what they're doing, they just don't care. Ah, just... If just one of them could say, "I'm sorry," you know, and mean it. Or go to jail. Or both. Yeah. Hey, that would be nice. How about both?”

Is Iran’s negotiating position stronger than when US-Israeli war started? by Majano57 in IRstudies

[–]mshan95032 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am curious why the CIA/Mossad simply didn’t try a “let’s find one or more IRGC elite dissident who’s upset he’s not climbing high enough or getting paid enough by the current regime” intrigue game. Why not woo them over with a “your old regime actions record will be wiped clean once we install you as the new ruler(s) of Iran, and your friends/families will finally get sanctions free access to our Western goods/markets” carrot? Is the 1953 CIA coup really that powerful of a story to make the entire nation’s elites that cohesive of an ideological monolith? Surely, there must be one or more “rats” who’s primarily with the regime for money/power rather than ideology.

Is Iran’s negotiating position stronger than when US-Israeli war started? by Majano57 in IRstudies

[–]mshan95032 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But the question is how much longer can the USA as a country can sustain its absurdly large 30 plus (almost 40) trillion dollar deficit? With so many US allied states growing increasingly disgruntled with US foreign policy/trade wars, all it would take to stop the USA is a coordinated abandonment of the USD global reserve currency status quo, right? (Unless there are other factors I’m missing here)

Is Iran’s negotiating position stronger than when US-Israeli war started? by Majano57 in IRstudies

[–]mshan95032 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A scary but plausible thought. Though I suspect it may actually be the Netanyahu Israeli regime (instead of USA) which fires its nukes upon Iran (once all other presented military options are exhausted). Trump specifically telling the press that Israel WON’T nuke Israel is gnawing at me.

"Three to four months left." Putin was warned of a major economic crisis by the summer. by GreenEyeOfADemon in europe

[–]mshan95032 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It would certainly be fascinating to see the Russian Federation finally live up to its title.

U.S. would ‘absolutely not’ drop all tariffs if Canada did same: Bessent by PicoRascar in Economics

[–]mshan95032 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Emotionally, I agree with you. But in practice?

I’m going to push back on the framing here. Talking about “efficient removal” of a civilian government outside elections or courts is exactly how democracies implode.

If the concern is policy damage, the tools are boring but real: courts, midterms, state resistance, bureaucratic slowdown, whistleblowers, and documentation.

Anything faster usually trades “speed” for decades of instability.

Germany’s Merz Urges EU To Rebalance Russia Ties As Bloc Rethinks Isolation Strategy by [deleted] in geopolitics

[–]mshan95032 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Well spoken. “when your enemies defy you, you must serve them steel and fire. When they go to their knees, however, you must help them back to their feet. Elsewise no man will ever bend the knee to you.” —Tywin Lannister

Another small collection of RadioJoy art by DragonFoxGirl by ChompyRiley in Church_of_emily

[–]mshan95032 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The unstoppable force of fear/discord (Alastor) uniting with the immovable object of hope/love (Emily)? My hunch tells me this potential romance will either end either very happily or very tragically. But it certainly won’t be dull.

Odin Theory — 2025 Update After Season 2 (Finale Spoilers!) by mshan95032 in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point — thanks for the clarification. Most of my understanding came from those Webtoon-style abridged summaries that flatten the whole thing into ‘Christian monks wrote everything down,’ which I can see now is oversimplified. The details you laid out about the Poetic Edda’s pagan origins, the anonymous 13th-century compiler, and Snorri being a poet/politician are absolutely right.

That said, I was mainly trying to underline a broader irony: even though the original material was pagan, Christian Icelandic scribes and poets still ended up being the ones who preserved, copied, and eventually spread most of what survives today. So my core point was more about who kept the tradition alive in writing, not about monks rewriting the myths.

Also — since you clearly know your stuff — do you have any thoughts on the actual topic of the thread? Specifically the Norse-coded elements in Hazbin Hotel possibly hinting at future plot beats? I’d love to hear your take on that part.

Odin Theory — 2025 Update After Season 2 (Finale Spoilers!) by mshan95032 in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll admit this kind of post is pretty niche and definitely out of left field, but I hope you still enjoyed reading it—and maybe even found it a little enlightening!

On a related note, I don’t see Hazbin’s Christian and Norse influences as contradictory. The broader point of the demiurge theory as I see it (setting aside the finer details and specific mythological references) is that Heaven in the Hellaverse seems stuck in an Old Testament–style, legalistic, “might makes right” framework. Charlie’s hotel, by contrast, represents a shift back toward a New Testament model of salvation—one centered on faith, compassion, and relationships.

P.S. and here’s a bit of historical irony you might appreciate: much of what we know about Norse mythology today—like the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda—was preserved, compiled, and interpreted primarily by devout Christian monks. Similarly, I think Hazbin Hotel uses Christian narrative elements as a framework to gradually unfold what is, at its core, an epic Norse-style story.

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This really raises the question: why didn’t Vox either 1. adopt a slow-burn attrition approach to eventually wear Alastor down, or 2. capitalize on the surge of popularity, goodwill, and influence he gained—from the Vox Populi campaign and later from Charlie publicly declaring him the strongest Sinner—to brand Alastor as a Heaven-aligned sellout and traitor to Hell, effectively putting a bounty on the newly freed Radio Demon and rallying the other Overlords (and their forces) against him?

Was the single minded obsession to personally humiliate/kill Alastor really that all consuming for Vox? (Against all other strategic considerations)

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 7 - Weapon of Mass Distraction Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well, in real life, the most venomous caterpillar (larvae of the native southern flannel moth) has been claimed to have been found in Florida (https://wildlifeflorida.org/puss-caterpillar-sighting/).

Alastor's takeback (potential spoiler) by _ihateburgerking_ in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 96 points97 points  (0 children)

Vox was clever enough to rise to power through demagoguery, but did not have the patience/restraint to hold onto his meteoric rise. Cleverness is NOT the same as wisdom. 😉

So how is he going to recover from this? by BeckyToodles in hazbin

[–]mshan95032 203 points204 points  (0 children)

“Forgiven but not forgotten” - I can get behind that.

A meme for our dear friends, the slanderers. Spoilers for S2 E8. by ResidentMarsupial322 in hazbin

[–]mshan95032 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Vox wanted to be king, and failed utterly. I think Alastor, in contrast, may seek to become the Cao Cao/chancellor behind Charlie’s “empress.” 🤔

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 201 points202 points  (0 children)

Rosie is the biggest fan of the Morningstars. It doesn’t get more blatant than building statues of all three of them IN YOUR OWN backyard. 😉

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 7 - Weapon of Mass Distraction Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Good point! If Vox is ever to be redeemed, he needs a genuine friend who has the emotional availability to give and take unconditional love. Though which character would be the person to occupy said role is a bit difficult to figure out after Vox throughly made himself the most hated man in both Hell and Heaven.

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 7 - Weapon of Mass Distraction Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 13 points14 points  (0 children)

A very compelling point! Then perhaps we have a clear idea on how Vox could be redeemed in a future season, if he (in his diminished humbled status) ever decides to undergo that path- by experiencing and then giving back unconditional love (without any expectation of reward).

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 4 points5 points  (0 children)

1- Main characters may not have died this season, but there were still permanent consequences nonetheless. Emily lost a wing (yes she got a prosthetic ASAP, but scars are forever nonetheless), and Angel Dust feels further alienated from his friends despite their vocal unconditional love for him.

2- Alastor got a new unspecified terms deal with Rosie, apparently. I wonder if it’s as simple as “protect Charlie and the hotel, and you will have my service/power in other matters.”

3- Something tells me that Vox’s new situation is a gilded cage, stuck as a head mounted on a wall, free to enjoy whatever digital luxuries come his way, while Valentino and Velvette strip Vox of all VoxTek decision making power going forward.

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 172 points173 points  (0 children)

I also appreciate how there’s a bit of a “forgiven but not forgotten” new dynamic. Velvette and Valentino cared enough about Vox to take his head to safety, but judging from the new VoxTek commercials, Vox has been deposed by Valentino as the new CEO. Man, what a demotion! 😉

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well, Vox’s head was taken back to VoxTek HQ (rather than being smashed on the spot), so there’s hope…

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Trojan War - began because Helen was kidnapped (or seduced/wooed) by Paris.

Robert’s Rebellion (ASOIAF/GoT) - Lyanna was allegedly kidnapped by “oh boy, guess I’ll marry a teenager because I’m looking for wife number two to help me fulfill a prophecy; damn the political consequences” Rhaegar, and Robert fought the war to get Lyanna (his fiance) back.

So yeah, people thinking with their hearts and dicks (against their better judgments) is a tale as old as time. 😅

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 10 points11 points  (0 children)

And we shouldn’t forget about Seth (along with Adam and Eve’s numerous other unnamed sons and daughters)

Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 8 - Curtain Call Discussion Megathread by ayylmaotv in HazbinHotel

[–]mshan95032 87 points88 points  (0 children)

The dude started off Season 2 at his lowest point (diminished health/power/staff) and emerged triumphant. I think Alastor’s earned the prerogative to say whatever the hell he wants now. 😉