BC CULTURE
Saved by @jay_millerjay

[thread]

Folks at Marvel were trying to figure out how to launch phase 4 of the MCU, incorporate the addition of the X-Men, the relaunch of the Fantastic Four, and help the MCU on Disney+ get off the ground, and Feige was like:

 The meta goes deep on WandaVision. This bit might be unintentional, but there's poetry in Marvel Studios launching its first foray into TV shows with a show about TV shows. Some history:
The previous Marvel TV properties were (mostly) run by Marvel Television and Jeph Loeb. They did some brilliant work, but the MCU films largely ignored the goings-on over there.

Now everything is in one house. It has the potential to be a huge freaking mess.
Part of the problem is how to insert the "first family" of Marvel comics into the MCU timeline. The Fantastic Four are old-school. The MCU heroes we know looked up to them and went to them for advice. Now they are going to get an MCU origin story. That's a conundrum.
Kevin Feige is a big comic nerd with a whole team of comic nerds, and one of them was probably like:

"Hey, did you know the witch who mentored Wanda was a nanny for the Fantastic Four? Maybe she could be in this."
Wanda is the ultimate glue in the Marvel Universe, being both a mutant and an Avenger. She first appears in an X-Men comic, but becomes an early (not quite original) Avenger, and her identity is more closely tied to the latter.

Fox and Marvel fought over her before Marvel said:
Until now, Marvel Studios has not been allowed to have mutants in their films, because Fox owned the rights to the X-Men. No mutants! They couldn't even mention them! How insane is that?
It's only as insane (at times) as the Scarlet Witch herself. I remember when House of M came out, and us weekly comics readers lost our collective, oversized brains.

Wanda was bending reality and causing a ruckus. Then she said these 3 words:
And like that -- *poof* -- they were gone. Most of them, anyway. A handful of really lucrative characters remained for $$$ reasons.

In some ways House of M was a reaction to a Marvel comics problem: too many mutants were being created. The universe was getting messy.
Wanda, who began her comics career as a bad guy before becoming an Avenger and saving the world multiple times (like in the films), has always wrestled with her past, her pains, and her powers.

WandaVision is nailing this.
But the real genius is that Marvel is about to introduce mutants into the MCU in a way that pays homage to the comics.

Wanda rid the world of Mutants, but she also brought them back. Her fight to shape reality was both a destructive and creative force.
In the last two episodes, we've seen Wanda's brother return from the dead, but he's the version from the X-Men franchise! We've seen her turn Monica Rambeau into a mutant! And now the nanny for the Fantastic Four (her old mentor) is the primary antagonist!
A whole lot is being done in a show that some have said is about nothing.
There are so many layers upon layers and nice little touches. From the retro costumes, to the decade-nailing advertisements, to the screen ratio changes, to the evolving way that TV stories have been told, all while launching a new TV venture that breaks every mold!
When my partner heard me waxing philosophically about how brilliant WandaVision is, she asked what made it so good. I realized that the full enjoyment would require a lot of prior reading and film-watching.
I'm sure WandaVision is an entertaining watch for non-comic-nerds, but it's absolute nirvana for us geeks. This is the episode when the parents get back together, when all the kids move under the same roof, and the storytelling potential explodes with opportunity.
We will someday see an MCU scene with the Scarlet Witch and Reed Richards, one with She Hulk and Wolverine, maybe even a fight between cosmic Spidey and the Incredible Hulk. And looking back, it'll be Wanda who opened that door.
As a postscript: the ad for Nexus, which looks like every awful prescription drug commercial, is it's own self-contained genius. The Nexus in the comics connects all possible realities. The multi-verse is also being launched in this show where "not much happens."

More from Culture

Beth Moore
Beth Moore
@BethMooreLPM
Well, folks, the reason I haven’t been sharing many short clips from my morning readings lately is that, well, I’m in chapters 11-17 of Ezekiel. They involve complicated visions that don’t lend themselves to Twitter threads. But at the end of my reading today in Ezek 17,

God delivered a word to the prophet depicting a theme that may be uncomfortable but it’s not incomprehensible.

“I bring down the tall tree and make the low tree tall. I cause the green tree to wither and make the withered tree thrive. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do it.”

God’s got this thing about pride. He does not let it go unchecked. When his people continue in arrogance after multiple warnings, he is going to bring them down. He will turn the tables. That which has been high will be brought low. This is why we are told by both James and Peter

in the NT that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. We need his grace so badly. Repentance is our only real way forward. He also views idolatry as spiritual adultery. This was the case in the judgment that was coming to his people through the Babylonians.

We are caught in a cycle. We keep repeating the same offenses and keep excusing them the exact same ways. Study even just the last century. I beg you to. Face how we evangelicals have bedded down with worldly systems for power. See how every time prophetic voices confronted us
CULTURE
Farnam Street
Farnam Street
@farnamstreet
The Blank Sheet Method that will 10x your reading comprehension.

Here is how it works.

Before you start reading a new book, take out a blank sheet of paper. Write down what you know about the book / subject you’re about to read — a mind map if you will.

After you finish a reading session, spend a few minutes adding to the map with a different color.

Before you start your next reading session, review the page.

When you’re done reading, put these ‘blank sheets’ into a binder that you periodically review.
CULTURE , ALL
Advertisement
Lu_lu\U0001f498
Lu_lu💘
@luciame16
Some thoughts on episode 54 of #Hercai

If you ever cross the distance and come to me, come with love that blooms in your heart.
~ Şems-i Tebrizi

#Reyyan #Miran #ReyMir #EbruŞahin #AkınAkınözü
#HercaiThoughts


1
I have to make a note before writing about this episode. I was the person (still am) who thinks that bringing back D. was a bad idea. I repeat it that for me the writing of S1 and S2 is like tossed into the bin with that plot evolution, but they had to invent something+
#Hercai

2
+ to be able to continue to prolong the general story after Aslan’s story did not work out. All the suffering of M., all the crying seems for “nothing” for two seasons and we viewers are also kind of fed up in seeing him cry all the time when with the upcoming episodes+
#Hercai

3
+he is justified the most to cry. With her resurrection now the attention shifts back to Miran’s storyline and I don’t know if I like this to be honest. This said, Dilsha is here and we have to deal with her.
#Hercai

4
So, my comments are going to be how I find they wrote her into the story, the details we get to know, the flashbacks we get to see, the way it was filmed and directed, with leaving out if I agree on it or not but describing along the way what I saw.
#Hercai
CULTURE
Cory Doctorow #BLM
Cory Doctorow #BLM
@doctorow
One of the most Monkey's Paw things about my life is my relationship to books. When I was a teenager, I read all the way through the school and public libraries, spent everything I had on books, and still couldn't get enough and dreamt of more.

1/


Today, as a reviewer, I have more books than I can possibly read, huge, teetering mountains of books that I'm desperate to read, far beyond my ability to ever get through them. Periodically, I declare "book bankruptcy," sweep away the backlog and start over.

2/

Even then, my eyes are bigger than my stomach: I keep back a few books that I can't bear to part with and promise myself I'll read them someday. Usually I don't, but I just did, and boy did I ever make the right call with @TheUniverse's BROAD

I have read a LOT of histories of computing, and I had a front row seat for a lot of the events depicted in this book - people I worked with, people I worked against - and yet I was surprised over and over again with details and perspectives I'd never encountered.

4/

For example, for some reason, my ninth grade computer science course included lengthy readings on ENIAC, Univac, the Mark I and the Mark II, but none of those mentioned that they were all programmed exclusively or primarily by women.

5/
CULTURE
Noah Berlatsky
Noah Berlatsky
@nberlat
I've completely fallen down a well of reading crappy superhero comics. (virtually all superhero comics are crappy.)

it's a comfort food thing. takes me back to my ill spent youth.

read a bunch of Dan Slott's she hulk run, which is depressingly sexist, all things considered. (the old, there's something wrong with you if you're a powerful woman who enjoys being powerful trope.)

Gail Simone's Birds of Prey is pretty fun; character interactions are great but she's got trouble figuring out worthwhile plots. all the villains are pretty eh.

read some Bendis avengers and new avengers. he writes fun characters, but the crossover stuff is so omnipresent it's hard for him to develop any narrative cohesion.
CULTURE

You May Also Like

Kestrel \u2664 lwj kin
Kestrel ♤ lwj kin
@slutxian
MDZS is laden with buddhist references. As a South Asian person, and history buff, it is so interesting to see how Buddhism, which originated from India, migrated, flourished & changed in the context of China. Here's some research (🙏🏼 @starkjeon for CN insight + citations)

1. LWJ’s sword Bichen ‘is likely an abbreviation for the term 躲避红尘 (duǒ bì hóng chén), which can be translated as such: 躲避: shunning or hiding away from 红尘 (worldly affairs; which is a buddhist teaching.) (https://t.co/zF65W3roJe) (abbrev. TWX)

2. Sandu (三 毒), Jiang Cheng’s sword, refers to the three poisons (triviṣa) in Buddhism; desire (kāma-taṇhā), delusion (bhava-taṇhā) and hatred (vibhava-taṇhā).

These 3 poisons represent the roots of craving (tanha) and are the cause of Dukkha (suffering, pain) and thus result in rebirth.

Interesting that MXTX used this name for one of the characters who suffers, arguably, the worst of these three emotions.

3. The Qian kun purse “乾坤袋 (qián kūn dài) – can be called “Heaven and Earth” Pouch. In Buddhism, Maitreya (मैत्रेय) owns this to store items. It was believed that there was a mythical space inside the bag that could absorb the world.” (TWX)
RELIGION
Jaya_Upadhyaya
Jaya_Upadhyaya
@Jayalko1
HORANADU ANNAPOORNESHWARI, CHIKMAGALUR (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Annapoorneshwari is the Devi of nutrition and food. The literal meaning of Annapoorneshwari is “Feeding one and all”. Anyone who comes here is offered meals and shelter within the premises.
@LostTemple7


Maharshi Agastya is believed to have done pratishtha here.

Once, Shiva and Parvati had an argument. Shiva declared everything in the world including food to be Maya or illusion. To prove him wrong, Devi Parvati disappeared resulting in entire Earth becoming still.


Taking pity, Devi appeared as Annapoorna and relieved everyone.
Another belief is that once Shiva beheaded Brahma and his skull got stuck in Shiva’s hand. He was cursed that till the skull is not full of food or grains, it will remain stuck to his hands.


Shiva went everywhere and asked for food but the skull was never full. He finally came here and Maa Annapoorna filled the skull with grains and reversed Shiva’s curse.

It is believed that who ever visits Devi Annapoorna here will never be without food in their lives.
ALL
Advertisement
WORLD OF SANATAN DHARMA
WORLD OF SANATAN DHARM...
@world_sanatan
WHY BABUR NEVER TRIED TO ATTACK SRI KRISHNADEVARAYA ?

A🧵u must read

It is very well known that Babur considered Krishna Dev Raya as the strongest ruler of the entire subcontinent, and Vijayanagar empire the strongest during that time in India.

1/10


The Vijayanagar empire reached its peak during 1509-1529 around the reign of Krishna Dev Raya.

Vijayanagar’s famed elephant brigade 👇

2/10


At his command there were over 50000 elite troops with a regiment of Portuguese gunners and 3200 cavalry with 600 elephants.

3/10

Along with that more than four hundred thousand ( four lakh) peasant levies and irregular military made this empire one of the largest in all of South Asia.

A typical Vijayanagar levie soldier 👇

4/10


During Baburs invasion, Krishna Dev Raya ruled supreme in all of deccan.

In fact, in an all our brawl, Krisha Dev Raya will beat Babur fair and square.

Babur could muster at max 50000 troops with 50 canons.

While Krishna Dev Raya had these numbers in Hampi alone

5/10
ALL
Anu Satheesh
Anu Satheesh
@AnuSatheesh5
Importance of Famous Payyannur Pavithra Mothiram or Ring

Payyanur Sri Subramanya Swami Temple 🚩
Kerala

Temple, constructed by Parasurama is known as the 'Pazhani' of Kerala.The place got its name from 'Payyante Ooru' where Payyan is another name by which Subramanya was called.


There are references about this temple in Brahmanda purana. Muni Garga mentions this temple and the place to  the Pandavas when they were in Vanavasa. Temple was destroyed two times, once due to fire and then during the attack of Tipu Sultan.


Important tradition here is wearing of Pavithram by the temple priest. Pavithram is a sort of  ring worn during performing Vedic rituals or during the "pithrubali". Usually worn while performing Tarpana or Shradham. The traditional Pavitram is usually made of Dharbha grass
ALL
Anu Satheesh
Anu Satheesh
@AnuSatheesh5
Dhanwanthari Temple, Nelluvai
Thrissur District, Kerala.🚩🚩

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलश हस्ताय
सर्वामय विनाशनाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय श्री महाविष्णवे नमः
#temples

Dhanwanthary Moorthy temple in Nelluvai is one among the ancient temples in Kerala.


Dhanwanthari is the Deva of Ayurveda. It is said that the murthy at the temple was installed by Ashwani Devas and it was the same idol worshipped by Sri. Vasudevar in the Dwapara Yuga. The Dhanvanthari Moorthi is facing towards the west
@SriramKannan77


Smrata-Matrarti-Nasanah', Srimad Bhagavatam states that the one who remembers the name of Dhanwantari will be cured and protected from all the diseases. Temple is known for its Oushada Prasada with Ayuvedic medicinal values, called Mukkudi.


Mukkudi Nivedyam is a very special offering to Dhanwantari. It is prepared by using dry ginger, pepper, pomegranate peel, cumin seed, turmeric, rock salt and other medicinal items. It is offered during 'Usha- Pooja', and is later on distributed to the devotees present there.
ALL