fact or fiction
Is it a fact or is it merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the lesser known truths in the geek universe.
The Social Brain
Where is your mind? Is it in your head? Well, that’s where your brain is — and your brain remembers, plans, makes judgments, solves problems… but you also use other things to remember and plan, like your phone or a notebook. You solve problems and make judgments with all sorts of other tools and resources, too. The more you think about it, the more you realize that while the brain is a squishy lump of fat and protein, the mind is something much larger: it’s an ever-expanding organ of tissue, wood, stone, and steel. And people. Because of communication, we can even make other people extensions of our minds. We can access their memories and knowledge by simply asking.
By Tea Quinix2 years ago in Geeks
Subconsciously "Beauty and the Beast" motivates women in romance. AI-Generated.
I've been like Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" - the good girl who has a taste for the bad boy. That's really what "Beauty and the Beast" is all about. It's not just some musical animated by Disney to make little kids happy. It's a deep story about love overcoming darkness. It's actually a very Christian theme, but it's written to be a romance. Deep, deep in the subconscious of many Christian women is this longing to be the "Belle" that can transform the heart of a beast. Realistically and maturely, we know, men don't change and they don't want to change for a woman. Yet if you see a good girl going crazy about a bad boy, just know, she's "Belling" it. She's got her heart set on a Christian romantic project or experiment to see if she's got what it takes to change the man. It's a "tale as old as time" as the song goes.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in Geeks
Four modern movies that touch on the Cinderella theme
It doesn't matter if you are a Disney fan or not. It doesn't even matter if you like the story of Cinderella or if you've never even heard of it or seen her castle. The idea, that a poor girl can marry a rich guy and live happily ever after is a central idea in American romance and is deeply rooted in feminine ideology. It is why women cry at weddings. It is why women gasp at wedding dresses and open ring boxes. It is why men who attempt at being romantic get down on their knees to propose, or plan some memorable way of popping the question.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in Geeks
A Treachery to the Faithful . Content Warning.
The Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest institutions in history. It is an ancient organization that has preserved itself through layers of secrecy, holy rituals, and worldwide acceptance of Catholic doctrine. It is this faith that wills this system to outlast the lives of all their believers, thus, clearly showing the power of collective faith and belief. But this power, this trust, was immensely and systematically abused, betraying a billion people all believing and relying in this religion. The Boston Globe revealed a major discrepancy that exploded into a major scandal that shook the long-standing beliefs of Catholics right down to its cultural core. It is important to look at a wider scope beyond faith and deep-rooted cultures to critically look into these kinds of issues. Therefore, in order to properly discuss and analyze this sensitive issue, two major sources will be used and analyzed: the investigative team of Boston Globe's Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church and the movie adaptation, Universal Studios', Spotlight. On Betrayal: the Crisis in the Catholic Church The Betrayal tells the full, in-depth story of countless of priests commiting sexual abuse towards kids, these kids' experiences as they grew with trauma, and how the Church knew of this matter and dealt with it horrifically. What started as an investigation on a single file unearthed a large, systemic evil that lurks within the holy confines of the Church all around the world. Told by an investigative group of reporters in the Boston Globe, the book explores multiple points of view of people involved with the case and tries to understand all of the sides by providing context regarding the scandal and the individual lives of the people involved. This journalistic book was written in a literary way that is filled with rich, appropriate imagery that provides readers just enough images to convey the proper emotions needed to be delivered. The scenes of the abuses were delicately touched and shown with no outright vulgar terms that distracts from the point. It was written in a way that captures the reader's rage and in some cases, even twist it into rage for the system of the Church itself. The overall serious voice of the text is balanced by the frequent witty quips and sarcastic one-liners that entertain the reader, but still remain to tell the stories with honesty that does not, at all, lighten the stakes of the issue at hand. Set mainly in the United States, with mentions of other countries with similar cases and the Vatican, the book details stories dating back from the late 1950s up until early 2002. The focal place of the abuses from which the first case of Father Geoghan was narrated was the city of Boston, a culturally-protective city that was home to more than 2 million of Catholics amounting to a number exceeding 50% of the Boston population. It was immediately elaborated for context that Boston is a city that gatekeeps its culture. Its people protect their heritage in a way that isolates some, if not all newcomers. Cardinal Medeiros, the predecessor of the pseudo-protagonist, Cardinal Bernard Law, was described as a cardinal that was almost blatantly rejected by the people of Boston for not sharing the same cultural heritage as them. It was also multiply implied that this hardcore cultural-protection is the very reason why the sexual abuses of the Boston priests thrived for so long. Although there was no central character in this story, as it focused on the balanced story-telling of all the parties involved, Cardinal Bernard E. Law shared more than a welcome amount of spotlight in this story. He was the only person in the stories that had enough background and a character arc that the readers could easily notice. Law was a very ambitious priest. He climbed up the ecclesiastical ladder fast, bringing with him an agenda to fight for civil rights and minorities. His motivation was clear and simple, to be the first American pope of the Catholic Church. It is this high ambition that allowed him to be blinded by all the evil that was going on in the Church. Contextually, this choice of focus made sense as the book required more tension and a story that could be followed chronologically, especially because it was written as if it were a long newspaper article. It was also commendable how Cardinal Law's story was built-up through short appearances and mentions in beginning chapters before becoming the central point of action and name in the last remaining ones. It is not clear if this method was purposely used or it was a coincidence. Either way, it worked out fine as it satisfied the need for a proper ending which the main plot could not possibly give. The book revealed little about human nature, but it bared the priests of the Church of their holy veil and exposed the flawed human beings underneath. In no way does the book outright blame these priests as it was clearly explained that some of the priests' mindset towards what they did was twisted to a point that they think what they did was normal and necessary. The book even tried to explain why priests take these kinds of actions and how their celibacy might have affected them. Essentially, the book attacked the system that allowed these abuses to persist, not directly the abusers themselves. But the more important thing that the book revealed was the victims' trauma. What a single incident of fondling has done to the victims that eroded their Catholic faith completely, drove them down the dark, horrible path of addiction, drunkenness, and depression. Although not heavily detailed on the traumatic experience of victims as they miserably try to move on, the number of mentioned victims certainly added weight to the realization that the book wanted its readers to have. Since this is the kind of book that would have the readers' intrigue even just by knowing the title and the short gist of what it is about, it required a lot of craftsmanship to keep the readers reading. Interestingly, the book opened in a catching way: a little background and smacked right into a scene of abuse. This opening is a perfect choice as intrigued readers would automatically look for the events that would be central to the book. Although the pacing is fine, it felt like the book suffered from a lack of chronological progression as each chapter began in different settings to give way to the different points of view that seemed to matter more than the events itself. It was fine but it did render a few confusing moments of reading. The book, although understandably journalistic in nature, sometimes dumped numerous names that did not seem important at first but turned out to have a large role in the next chapters. It was tempting to yearn for a proper resolution in an event with a large magnitude of conflict that covers pretty much a religion that has a billion of believers but the book diverted the focus on Cardinal Law and told a redemption arc for his character that satisfied the need for an ending. The book, being an in-depth explanation of a worldwide scandal, holds enough intrigue and interest for patronage of people. Additionally, the writers have also done a good job providing the sufficient information to sustain reader interest even up until the last words of the afterword. On Spotlight The movie version of the issue was, in a way, difficult to even begin to envision prior to watching. The scope of the issue is just too big and too wide for a two-hour movie to give justice to, especially as the topic deals with sensitivity, actual events, and actual people. Spotlight deviated from the storyline of the book and focused on the titular team which is composed of Boston Globe's investigative team of reporters. Basically, the movie adapted the introduction and the foreword of Betrayal. It is commendable how the movie managed to make the plot work as it involved topics that are mostly uninteresting to audiences. Tension was really needed in most scenes as the premise was focused on the uncovering of these abuses. And while the actors and the plot provided, the accompanying score sometimes could not catch up. It did not help that it was mellow all throughout, which might explain why some scenes felt off, with the score not quite fitting them. It would've fared better if it took notes from David Fincher's The Social Network, especially as that movie dealt with a plot much simpler and plainer than Spotlight. The cinematography was brilliant. The camera moved around satisfyingly, providing and conveying the depressing message the film wants to tell in some scenes. The montage of the victim interview was particularly remarkable as many scenes displayed a looming presence of a church in the background, signifying a larger entity that was ever-present and always watched. It was a subtle, yet unconsciously irking presence that helped out in delivering the mood of the movie. While the film could not possibly put the names of all priests that were uncovered while giving enough context to each, it is rather gratifying for a reader of the text to see some names were added. Father Liam Barrett, not appearing in the book, was a constantly mentioned priest in the movie. Upon research, it was found that Barrett was a real sexually abusive priest that was not covered in Betrayal due to the time of his conviction. And even though the film could not hope to fully deliver the same emotions that the book did, it made up for excellently portraying the frustrations that the Spotlight team felt as they slowly dug through newspaper clippings and searched courthouse files to uncover this phenomenon. It also added to the movie that it featured the 9/11 terror incident as something that had affected the investigation and release of the story, a fact that was not mentioned in Betrayal. It was also a subtle reminder of reality as the Spotlight team was about to jump over the typical, hardworking, passionate reporter doing the right thing cliché. Overall, the creative choices that were made for this film was, at first, questionable and sometimes off-putting. But it was well-rewarded with great cinematography and a satisfying conclusion that, while deviating from Betrayal, managed to be its own thing. On the Catholic Crisis itself The Catholic Church has been a very significant part of the world's history. It was shaped alongside humanity as it formed to be what it is today. Despite this, the states must remain apart from any church evidenced by the First Amendment of the United States and the Philippines' 1987 Constitution which upholds the separation of church and state. With this in mind, Catholic nations still consider the advice and the wisdom of the Church. And there also exists an immense amount of respect to this ancient institution. It is the promises of paradise and eternal life that draws many people to follow what many assume to be morally good. So, having that kind of power also means having a tendency to abuse it. As the saying goes, absolute power corrupts absolutely. In all of this, it is very enraging to be aware of these abuses as it not only taints the image of a Church more than a billion people believe in, it also damages the faith of these believers on a personal level. It is disheartening to know that the Church knew about this and tolerated it just to save its pure facade. What also must be pointed out here is that the abuses revealed were not only exclusive to Boston or even the United States. Betrayal mentioned several countries outside the Americas and that was not even all that was exposed. Spotlight even named 4 places in the Philippines with confirmed clergy abuse. Inside the ginormous domes and arches of churches could be another sexual abuse victim scared and/or confused about what just happened to them. This alarming pattern of abuse should not persist in any way, especially from a place of spiritual and moral cultivation and more importantly, from people who lead these places. Disappointment is not a strong enough word to express sentiments from how the Church responded to these abuses. Shuffling and transferring priests, changing their environment could never stop this problem and that should have been common knowledge for a long-standing organization like the Catholic Church. It is lucky for Boston to have a very functional press to uncover this truth that if not handled properly, would have been buried forever. Hopefully, this sets a standard for media reporting that would not be hindered by any organization or agenda no matter how big or small, a media that would always uphold morality and the public interest at all cost. Finally, this crisis proves that no institution is flawless and even the ones that uphold righteousness and goodwill can be subject to corrupt practices and tolerance for their own agenda. It is easy to sweep anything under a rag if the power one wields is immense, if the sound one makes is deafening. And in these cases, it is the media's job to find the voiceless, give them a megaphone and broadcast their side to the entire world, repeatedly, tirelessly.
By CJ Argallon2 years ago in Geeks
Ishq Vishk Rebound's Love Narratives: Recognizing Tokenism in Bollywood
Ishq Vishk Rebound's Love Narratives: Recognizing Tokenism in Bollywood The latest romantic release 'Ishq Vishk Rebound', delves into the complexities of modern relationships and the blurred lines between love, friendship, and heartbreak. Co-written by Vaishali Naik, Vinay Chhawal, and Ketan Pedgaonkar, the film navigates the confusion surrounding love in today's society. Following the story of childhood friends Raghav, Sanya, and Sahir, played by Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, and Jibraan Khan respectively, 'Rebound' explores the dynamics of their intertwined relationships. As Sanya and Sahir's tumultuous romance affects Raghav and Riya, played by Naila Grewal, the friends find themselves entangled in a rebound romance that threatens to jeopardize their bond. Can their 'ishq vishk' fling survive the test of time, or will it ultimately tear them apart?
By Hridya Sharma2 years ago in Geeks
Tuesday
I have just watched this movie and wanted to write up my impressions while they are still fresh. I'll use my already familiar media literacy critique formula: any good creation of art (a movie, a painting, a book - anything, really, that has some encoded information in it as a medium) will affect us humans on four different dimensions. The best ones will pull all four strings, but a successful creation would probably have at least two:
By Lana V Lynx2 years ago in Geeks
Are you as confused as me?
Everyone who knows me knows that I am a big fan of the HBO show Game of Thrones. I thought George R.R. Martin was a genius, and I thought the team that brought us the show was simply brilliant. I refer to that show very often as I got to know all of the main characters very well glued to each episode and rewatching it on DVD multiple times.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in Geeks
Exploring the Unknown: Recent UFO Sightings Across the Globe
**Exploring the Unknown: Recent UFO Sightings Across the Globe** The truth is out there, and in this article, we will delve into some recent UFO sightings that could potentially prove we are not alone in this world. From the mountainous regions of Iraq to the waters of Seneca Lake, these intriguing encounters offer a glimpse into the mysterious phenomena that continue to baffle and fascinate us. Let's explore these sightings in detail and examine the theories and evidence surrounding them. ### The Iraq UFO: A Mysterious Encounter in the Kurdistan Region On April 24, 2024, a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted a video capturing an unidentified object in the mountainous regions of Sania, a city in the eastern Kurdistan region of Iraq, near the Iran-Iraq border. The footage shows a white light aura surrounding a potential craft, with many speculating that this ambient glow is actually the propulsion system of the object. The user mentioned that this was not the first time they had seen such a phenomenon, but it was the first opportunity they had to record it. The video provides a fascinating look at the object, which hovers in the sky with an otherworldly presence. Despite the lack of additional information about unusual activity in the region, this sighting has sparked considerable interest and debate among UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. ### Seneca Lake Anomaly: Underwater Mystery or Natural Phenomenon? Another intriguing sighting comes from Seneca Lake, the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes in New York. Uploaded to TikTok, this video shows what appears to be a dome-like structure emerging from the water. There are three main theories regarding this sighting: it could be an underwater alien spacecraft (also known as a USO, or Unidentified Submerged Object), a sea creature, or a natural phenomenon. While many would prefer the first two explanations, some believe the sighting is simply fog settling and creating the illusion of a dome. However, the individual who recorded the video claims they have lived by the lake for seven years and have never seen anything like this before. This has led many to speculate that the object could indeed be a cloaked USO hiding beneath the water's surface. ### Florida Orbs: Invisible Technology or Imagination? In Florida, UFO researcher John Bal captured fascinating footage on April 29, 2024. In his video, John uses a laser and infrared technology to point directly at a circular light in the sky. According to John, these UFOs are often invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen with specialized equipment. The idea of an advanced civilization possessing technology capable of rendering their crafts invisible is not far-fetched. Such technology would certainly make sense for beings capable of visiting Earth undetected. The footage John captured shows a circular light responding to his laser, sparking further intrigue and speculation about the nature of these mysterious orbs. ### Ukrainian Troops Spot a UFO: Conflict and the Unknown UFO sightings during times of conflict are not uncommon, and a recent incident involving Ukrainian troops adds to this phenomenon. Troops from the 406th Battalion of the Armed Forces recorded a stationary object using a militarized heat vision quadcopter drone during a reconnaissance mission. The shape, size, and shadow of the object resemble the stereotypical flying saucer often associated with extraterrestrials. The object's stationary position allowed the troops to zoom in and capture detailed footage, leading to widespread speculation about its origin. Could it be a secret military craft, a foreign spy drone, or something not of this world? The lack of movement and the distinct shape of the object leave many questions unanswered. ### Blink and You'll Miss It: A High-Speed Encounter Over New York City A sighting recorded from a plane window over New York City offers another puzzling encounter. Initially mistaken for a bird, closer inspection reveals an object moving in the opposite direction of the plane at high speed. If it were a piece of the plane falling off, it would likely fall straight down, not move horizontally. This brief but intriguing sighting raises questions about the nature of the object and its capabilities. The speed and direction of its movement suggest it is not a conventional aircraft or a natural phenomenon, adding another layer to the mystery of UFO sightings. ### Potomac River Sighting: A Massive Craft Over Maryland On November 28, 2023, a resident of St. Mary's County, Maryland, recorded a massive craft hovering above the Potomac River. The three-and-a-half-minute clip shows the object lingering silently in the sky for nearly five minutes before disappearing. The sheer size and presence of the craft are both intimidating and awe-inspiring. Interestingly, in 2018, an April Fool's Day prank claimed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had recovered a small alien spacecraft from the Potomac River. Although the story was later exposed as a joke, it has since fueled speculation about the possibility of hidden extraterrestrial activity in the area. Could the 2023 sighting be connected to the alleged recovery in 2018? The silent, massive object hovering above the river remains an unsolved mystery. ### Cornish UFO: A Translucent Object Over Cornwall On April 17, 2020, in Cornwall, England, a translucent object was captured on film, baffling those who have studied the footage. Filmed on a webcam across St. Ives Bay, the object appears in the distance, hovers above the water, and emits a foggy trail before shooting up into the sky at high speed. This type of phenomenon, known as instantaneous acceleration, is rarely seen in man-made aerial technology, except perhaps in advanced drones. Video analysts have not detected any tampering with the footage and remain unsure about the nature of the object. A similar sighting occurred on January 29, 2011, in Jerusalem, where a ball of light hovered above the Temple Mount before shooting off into the sky. The resemblance between these sightings raises questions about the existence of extraterrestrial technology. ### The Jellyfish UFO: An Unusual Encounter Near a Military Base Our final clip comes from Jeremy Corbell, an American ufologist known for his work on UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) disclosure projects. Filmed near a U.S. military base, this footage shows a circular object with tentacle-like attachments moving steadily in one direction. Captured in October 2018, the video spread rapidly across social media after Jeremy posted it on his Instagram channel. The sighting raises several possibilities: it could be a militarized or undercover test, a spy craft sent by an enemy nation, or genuinely extraterrestrial in origin. The unique appearance of the object and its proximity to a military base make this encounter particularly intriguing. ### Conclusion: The Ongoing Mystery of UFOs These recent UFO sightings from around the world continue to captivate and mystify us. Whether they are natural phenomena, advanced military technology, or evidence of extraterrestrial life, the intrigue and speculation surrounding them persist. As technology advances and more sightings are recorded, we may one day uncover the truth behind these enigmatic encounters. Until then, the mystery of UFOs remains an exciting and thought-provoking subject for exploration and debate.
By Mbeha maliwa 2 years ago in Geeks
Unraveling the Notions of Love and Capitalism through The Maxton Hall Series
We all love the romantic trope of enemies to lovers that serves a slow burn, leaving us gasping for air amidst the sizzling chemistry of the main characters, diving us deep into the escapism of their romance. Adolescent angst and feelings take centre stage in this show, which is perfect if you enjoy typical high school teen dramas. Your heartstrings will be pulled by the series' poignant depiction of love. The series is unique because of its sharp lines, which strike a deep chord with us. Amazon Prime’s most recent release Maxton Hall embodies the romantic dramatism of the pro-capitalist enemies of lovers James and Ruby, giving us a breathtaking onscreen presence yet the predictability of the plot and the fine crevices of incompleteness in the evolution of the subplots hampers it from being a massive feature of swoonworhty foes to romantic partners. Let's dive deeper into the nuances of the series
By Hridya Sharma2 years ago in Geeks
From Plot to Characters: The Ultimate Review of The Mother of the Bride
Ever wanting to escape in the picturesque beauties of nature while aimlessly wandering in the darkness with no mobile phone or a torch, sounds like a morbid plan without thoughtful execution behind it. While it is a celebratory year as this year is marked as a renewal of the cherish of romantic comedies with movies like Anyone But You, Idea of You, Players and many more, Netflix's most recent romantic comedy released in the week of Mother’s day, The Mother of the Bride tries to sell the second chance romance in the exotic location of Phuket, Thailand, yet its formulaic plot and half baked characteristic execution makes it dull and cliched. Let's dive deeper into the nuances of the plot.
By Hridya Sharma2 years ago in Geeks
