Lion's Den

Where the domesticated lion roams.

[occasionalvirgin]

Right wing manipulation tactics explained

[taraljc]

this is an epic exposure of how propaganda functions.

[aniseandspearmint]

Always worth watching, even if you've seen it before, bc its a great refresher for how propagandists like Kirk work.

[writerben01]

Chapters: 52/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship, Happy Ending Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

End note:

It’s finished! After 8.5 years. What a ride =D

[writerben01]

Chapters: 51/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Updates Monthly, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

Chapter summary:

Back at the village, as history's first nine-beast Jinchuriki.

[dramaticallychill]

a thing that i particularly love about the hunger games prequels is how it shows that people have been fighting against the games since their inception

when i was younger and read the original trilogy for the first time i was so bothered how it was 74 years of games, i remember thinking how could it have gone on so long without anyone doing anything

these prequels highlight that people have been fighting from the get-go: lucy gray's defiance, reaper ripping down panem's flags to cover the fallen tributes, haymitch's games and how many others shared his ideologies - the capitol just drowns them out, they rewrite their stories so their efforts are forgotten

liberation takes time and it's built upon the actions of those in the past

[a-missing-gender-case]

Liberation takes time and it's built upon the actions of those in the past.

An important message in the current times

[writerben01]

And to add, in the Hunger Games books we don't pay that much attention to the past actions. The capitol wants to frame every rebellion as useless crime, and refuses to talk about it. Katniss may know about the past rebellions, but she'll never learn how they were building. That resistance just exists in the back of her head.

The more the enemy says how fruitless your actions are, the more you're worrying them.

[azaablue]

the best fanfiction you've ever read was written by a woman in her 40s before she made dinner for her kids. it was written by a teenager after school when they should've been studying for a history test. and a barista came up with the idea while they cleaned the espresso machine and busser fact-checked it on their break and the post-doc edited between writing grant proposals and the nurse apologized for typos in the notes after a long shift and behind every drabble and one-shot and multi-chapter fic there is a person with a wonderful and interesting and chaotic life and it is such a privilege that we get to be apart of it because they decided to do this thing we all share, for fun.

[luna-azzurra]

A non-writer asked me "but where do you get your ideas" and i genuinely did not know how to explain that it's not a place. it's not a website. it's not a folder. it's that i was on the bus and a woman was holding a paper bag very carefully and something about the way she held it made me need to know what was inside and then i needed to know why she was sad about it and then there was a whole person and then there was a whole story and the bus had already stopped and i missed my stop. that's where.

[writerben01]

some ideas are carefully shaped behind a writing desk, but most are encountered. i was reading a book and a house had a red door. instead of staying focused, my mind wandered into a hellscape where demons lived in suburbs. i was watching a show and it was stupid. instead of turning it off, i imagined a better story out of spite. i was walking through the park and noticed an old bench that would be perfect for an old man to meet their grandchild for the first time. their separation needed to be suitably dramatic, so it would need a war and magical destiny and a knight of spring flowers who finally arranged the reunion.

after ten minutes a friend was tired of being ignored even though they had been waving to me and waiting to see how long it took me to notice them. they asked me why i didn't see them even though i walked alone. but i was not alone. i was walking with a whole world behind my eyes.

[writerben01]

Chapters: 48/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Updates Monthly, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

Chapter summary:

Akatsuki is sitting on the daimyo's throne, but we're coming for them!

[writerben01]

Chapters: 47/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Updates Monthly, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

Chapter summary:

Killer B is gone and now Naruto is the only Jinchuriki left. What is Akatsuki planning?!

[natalieironside]

"'I don't know' isn't an answer" alright man then I'll just. Fuckin. Enter my philosophical mind-palace and check the fuckin akashic records. Real quick lemme just catch and cook and eat the Salmon of All Knowledge. Tell me ur question again so I can real quick climb to the highest branches of the Yggdrasil and lay it at the feet of Freda the all-wise Queen of Heaven. Dickhead.

[patheticperipatetic]

Unironically this is why Al lies. There's science papers on this, that shows since they programmed it that "I don't know" isn't an answer and that guessing is rewarded, it lies. Then they called it hallucinating.

Correct answer: +1 point

Guessing (also known as lying, hallucinating, or wrong answer): +1 point

"I don't know": 0 points

I remember in elementary school, vividly, being told that answering my homework with "I don't know" was going to get me in trouble. Guess! You need to guess if you don't know :)

Frickin, fine then the answer is "5/8cm long"

[boycritter]

maybe i like my tech a little bit inconvenient

[boycritter]

maybe i like pulling out my debit card instead of using apple pay. maybe i like untangling my wired headphones. maybe i like typing something into the search bar instead of using siri or whatever. maybe i like curating my own social media feeds over an algorithm. i just don’t think everything has to be perfectly streamlined and efficient i like it when things feel tethered to the real world.

[arch-official]

this has been in my drafts forever because I have a huge rant for it that I haven't had the energy to type out, but I think I finally do

There is one issue with this whole thing and that is: none of these things that tech bros are advertising are actually inconvenient, and in most cases they're the exact opposite.

Setting up apple pay (in my experience) is a hassle, and is a security vulnerability (the more companies directly connected to your bank, the more likely it is to get hacked), all for what? So you can take 3 less seconds taking out and swiping/inserting a card?

Untangling wired headphones? A hassle sure. Not as much of a hassle as losing only one ear pod, or one ear pod consistently dying faster than the other, or pairing issues, or worse sound quality at a higher price because it's wireless. How is any of that more convenient? It's like the same amount of convenience

Or how about siri and google always missing hearing what you say? Censoring swears despite being an adult? Going off when you don't say it's name?

Having algorithms currate your own feed leading to echo chambers, and radicalization pipelines, and making it harder to find the stuff you want,with yts new horrible search algorithm etc etc

None of these are more convenient, they're the same amount or worse. But guess what? They make money. So they're sold as convenient.

Next time you see a product that advertises that it's "convenient" ask for a moment what convenience are you actually getting? And is it comproable to that you already have?

[writerben01]

Recently a company advertised their service of cleaning garbage bins. And that sounds appealing to me, since it's quite a hassle every year to wait until they're empty and remember to rinse them out before throwing new stuff in. Then waiting for it to dry, and possibly having to wash it a second time.

I'm also somewhat annoyed at cobwebs forming around the handles. How convenient would it be if there was a company that cleaned these bins for me? They'd do it every month, so they would stay clean too and I'd get to be happy about having clean garbage bins all the time.

And it took some serious time to break out of that initial selling pitch of convenience to take a step back and realise how little unclean garbage bins affect my life. This is a service looking for a market, instead of a dire need for a service causing a business to spawn.

Sorry about your company cleaning garbage bins, or your special wi-fi connected juicer, or your AI company that spew out moderately useful stuff irregularly. But you don't get to dictate what my needs are.

[writerben01]

Chapters: 46/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Updates Monthly, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

Chapter summary

Killer B is still out there. Let's go find him!

[writerben01]

Chapters: 16/? Fandom: Naruto, Celestial Forge CYOA - Lord Roustabout Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Original Male Character(s), Original Characters, Uzumaki Naruto Additional Tags: Jumpchain - Freeform, Celestial Forge (Celestial Forge CYOA), Family Issues, Friendship, Mental Health Issues, Child Abuse, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Drug Use, Guilt, Murder, Blood and Violence Summary:

Kinzoku Ginyoku was the heir of a great clan. But, unable to use chakra, he was rejected and cast out. It was only after that rejection and as a late-bloomer that his bloodline limit activated. It was not the gift of a single technology like his clanmates but the slowly expanding Celestial Forge: a collection of crafting skills/powers/knowledge that has unlimited potential. Of course, that only helps him if he can survive the dangers in Konoha while his powers build slowly into something that can protect him.

[writerben01]

Chapters: 45/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Updates Monthly, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

Chapter summary:

The haunted village makes its comeback!

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

An adaptation of Sherlock Holmes set in a world in which the fictional character/literary juggernaut Sherlock Holmes, and all the subsequent adaptations thereof, still exist.

Sherlock Holmes (pronounced Holl-mess, as he is constantly reminding people) just had the misfortune of having parents who really liked the books, and his attitude towards his fictional counterpart is pretty much the same as that of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sherlock runs a Youtube Theory channel called Mysteries Unwrapped with Sherlock Holmes. He has received no less than seven cease and desist letters from the Conan Doyle estate, all of which he has so faded managed to rebuff by pointing out that that's literally his name.

(No he won't change his name. He's Sherlock Holmes the real live human person. Let Sherlock Holmes the non existent fictional character change his name.)

John is Sherlock's flatmate. Sherlock almost refused to live with him once he realised that it would mean staying with a medical student named John, and only gave in once John pointed out that: a) he's a biomedical student, which is completely different from an md, and b) his surname isn't Watson.

It's now been three years, which is long enough for them to have developed a genuine friendship, and for John to have a) started working towards his PhD in biotechnology, and b) for him to start dating somebody with the surname Watson.

Sherlock can feel the narrative closing in.

His Youtube channel is meant to be focused on lost media, fan theories and stuff like that, but he keeps accidentally stumbling upon and then solving genuine crimes.

His brother Mycroft may or may not have chosen that name after he transitions specifically to annoy him.

He doesn't even live in London, but somehow the only flat they could afford was on a street named fucking Baker Street.

Sherlock Holmes and the Unescapable Power of the Narrative.

[writerben01]

I love this premise so much.

He goes to the local theatre where they're performing an old play that Sherlock helped uncover, but someone switches a gun around so that one of the actors actually gets murdered. Everyone is looking at Sherlock to solve the case, which he refuses to do. But as he storms off and tries to stay away from everything in the cafeteria, he accidentally finds a vital clue in a trash bin. He has to return, and overhears a suspicious conversation. He can't escape and gets his name in the papers. AGAIN.

A friend invites him to their uncle's manor in the woods to get away from the media, only to stumble on a big party. There's a locked door mystery, and all the phones are dead so they can't call the cops. Sherlock knows all the tropes, but can't seem to avoid them.

Roommate John has started a video blog where he secretly records Sherlock every time he's ranting about being drawn into yet another mystery, where after Sherlock realises he's being filmed, John turns the camera on himself and finishes the video in a posh british accent using as many quotes from the books as he can before Sherlock tackles him.

[boychic-deactivated20230922]

oh! okay, yeah.

[woodwool]

worst part of being an adult is how often youre forced to nag. you Have to be annoying or youre never getting anything done. which is unfortunate considering how common it is to teach kids to never nag and be annoying ever

[woodwool]

a professional i am paying money doesnt show up w zero communication and IM the one who has to feel guilty for having to call him and ask whats going on. because when i was a little kid i would get yelled at for nagging. joke world

[writerben01]

Chapters: 44/52 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hanabi, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama Additional Tags: Talent AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Smart Uzumaki Naruto, Oiroke no Jutsu | Sexy no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, Shapeshifter Naruto, Naruto is Loki? Maybe, Minato is not Naruto's father, Naruto does not learn the kage bunshin, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama & Uzumaki Naruto Friendship, Kyuubi | Nine-tails | Kurama is a Little Shit, Teacher Uzumaki Naruto, This has been called sigma grindset in a joking fashion, Haku (Naruto) Lives, Naruto can turn into a fox, The daimyo's daughter is a disney princess, Updates Monthly, Alternate Universe - Spirits, Spirit Animals, Spirit World, Genderfluid Orochimaru, Evil Uchiha Itachi, Oblivious Uzumaki Naruto, Friendship Series: Part 1 of Sundial in the Shade Summary:

Naruto is not the only Academy graduate without clan heritage, but he is the only ninja in years to graduate without any talent. His generation is filled with geniuses and everyone is convinced Naruto does not stand a chance keeping up with them. If he wants to be Hokage, and he does, he will just have to train a dozen times harder than everyone else.

This story got inspired by an observation that, for a story supposedly about born-a-genius Sasuke versus hard-work Naruto, Sasuke sure trains hard and Naruto is born with a lot of advantages. So, here’s a rewrite of canon where Naruto is born with only disadvantages and he becomes the best ninja that has ever lived through stubborn hard work. Most ninja are blessed with ‘talent’ from spirit animals who will eventually become their summons, and greatly decrease the amount of effort it takes for them to learn new skills. Naruto is cursed instead.

Chapter Summary:

Two nations, divided by Akatsuki, need to come together.