Underneath the Moonlight

I collaborated with the Human Artistry Project to make this strip alongside other web cartoonists to make the point that “Stealing isn’t Innovation” when it comes to A.I. usage. It seems to be doing numbers on instagram and elsewhere, so you may also read it here, tumblr.

My wife pointed out to me the other day that apparently most people were literally only taught how to say Sorry and not how to Apologize or even that they are different things so here.

via indiarosecrawford

Frog Paints a Water Lily Pond 🪷🎨🐸

my brain: 45 years ago this person could've made a public access television show that ran for half a decade on the strength of this concept with the right framing device and it would've been paid for with federal arts grants and maybe even national syndication rights. now they're begging for a single minute of engagement on tiktok in the hopes that maybe someday the abstract metrics of digital media platforms will translate into a tangible career

me: yeah me: cute frog though

On Sokka, non-benders and Katara not being out of water.

Disclaimer: This is an angry rant. You are allowed to disagree or rant back at me in the comments, just don't be a dick about it. I apologize in advance because you will see excessive punctuation, profanity and me getting more and more unhinged. Spoilers ahead.

I have to begin by saying that this movie is an absolute visual delight (props to all the artists!) and it was a lot of fun to meet the characters again, this time as adults. I was laughing and crying and yelling by myself at home almost the entire time, so I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself.

However, one of the reasons for my yelling was also frustration LOL

I watched it twice, and once the excitement of having new video content after decades cooled off, the problems became much louder in my perception and no amount of nostalgia can make me unsee them.

It felt like seeing old friends for the first time in years, but then also being upset at what these friends have been doing with their lives. Not to sound like a disappointed parent, but… where did all the potential go?

Several points upset me, but in this post I want to talk about a few that are interconnected.

Characters weren't explored properly.

This movie is about Aang dealing with the loss of his people. That focus isn't a problem in itself, but it became one, because unfortunately the screenplay didn't manage to deal well with the rest of the characters in the short time it had.

As a consequence, we ended up with characters that felt quite flat. I'd say Zuko feels the most similar to the OG, but he had such few lines that it might just be my mind filling in the gap. Suki was removed completely without even a mention, which was a pity. 

But the worst effect of that was seen in Sokka, in my opinion, because:

2. Sokka-who?

Who was that caricature of Sokka on my screen?? This movie did my guy so dirty.

Sokka is introduced working alone in a messy workshop. The only people interested in him are a handful of kids who don't know who he is or why the Avatar would consider him a valuable ally.

Are you freaking kidding me? 

Sokka was arguably the smartest member of the Gaang. He was the guy with the plan, the pragmatist, the person who kept things on schedule, who planned WHOLE INVASIONS at sixteen! He was brave, strategic, and skilled! 

And you want to convince me that this guy spends his days tinkering away with weird prototypes that only half-work? That he works alone instead of with a team? You are telling me that no one invited him to work on anything with any prestige or importance even though he was on the hotspot of the group of rebels who ended the war and set the stage for how the new world would be rebuilt? 

You really want to convince me that Sokka was so sidelined that a group of random kids has easy access to pester him during the day, and he has to paint exaggerated pictures of his very real and very heroic actions during the war just to make himself feel better?

Oh, and this is, apparently, also someone who, despite being the Tech Guy, has never learned how to pilot an airship even though one of his best friends is the literal Fire Lord and owns a whole fleet. 

Worse, you want me to believe that the guy who was a leader on two separate invasions, saved his friends’ lives multiple times, and made fun of Fire Lord Ozai to his face, now can only go into panic mode when a crisis presents? This guy has been through a literal war!

And since we're talking consistency in characterization: Sokka likes to shop and has great sense of style and YOU PUT HIM IN ILL FITTING CLOTHES /screams/

He's supposed to be 29 and they tried to keep him an awkward teenager that, I'd argue, he never even was in the first place. Everything was meant to reduce him to comic relief and it is such.a.waste. Sokka is plenty funny originally, with all of his other characteristics in place.

He isn't allowed a single heroic moment in the movie without it being undermined in some way. The one moment he is treated the same as the other heroes is when they are beaten by Tagah, that's it.

The crisis in the ship? “He steered with his feet” – Why? Why do all the others get their big moments of contribution to solve the crisis and Sokka's has to be something that gets him laughed at?

I kid you not, during the ship crisis, here is how the rest of the gang is shown:

Focused, strong, putting their strength and skill to impressive use. Katara goes biblical and pulls a Moses.

Meanwhile, this is Sokka in that same situation:

…

Oh, for crying out loud!

And if anyone says this is because Sokka is The Funny One, I will remind you that a character can be funny without being made the butt of the joke every time.

Because it gets worse. Later on, there's the fight in Republic City, when he disappears early on, having fallen into a storehouse, just to show up later on an absolutely OUTRAGEOUS scene where lobotomized Katara says:

3. “Oh, no! I'm out of water!”

BITCH, NO YOU'RE NOT!!!

YOU'RE LITERALLY NOT!!!!!! WHATAREYOUEVENTALKINGABOUT??!!

Water is everywhere YOU LEARNED THIS AT FOURTEEN!!! it was a major plot point and everything  Where is Master Katara???? Has the hair-straightening treatment she's been using caused her brain damage? Who is this impostor?

The water you just used is still in the air. You're in the middle of a city where people 100% have water around. And are you gonna tell me NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE SWEATING? there are two sweaty shirtless hunks right beside you, are you pretending not to see so you won't be tempted?

What the hell was this scene, honestly? 

Why would anyone announce any weakness out loud when cornered by enemies? And, I'm sorry, why did the others stop fighting? Was Toph out of earth to bend? Was Zuko out of fire? Were they waiting for mommy's permission?

It's obvious that this atrocity of a scene was just the set-up to give room for Sokka to come “save the day” with the water bombs and I can't even begin to express how mad that makes me. 

His workshop is implied to be in the South Pole. Are you telling me he built this in a few minutes in the middle of a fight while the city was on fire and people needed help evacuating? Someone please give this man his sword and his personality back.

Balloon water bombs are things kids play with. They might have thrown The Denied off balance, but they didn't do any real damage:

They only became a real threat once the water got in the hands of a bender:

Also you cannot convince all that water came from those balloons. Did Katara look at Toph and remember that time they were in prison and that she can pull water from the air?  Did that come from all the women looking at Zuko shirtless?

“But he's not a bender, what did you want him to do?”

Things like these:

Which still gave us funny moments like these:

The OG series managed to give Sokka plenty of truly heroic moments without the need for this kind of cheap device that does nothing but nerf a genuinely strong character.

Which is why I say that this treatment of Sokka was absolutely a decision. One they didn't have to make.

4. The non-bender situation

How ironic is it that in a movie where the “bad guys” are non-benders, who believe the only way to get power is by getting bending, the writers give such an infantilizing treatment to the only non-bender of the Gaang?

None of the other character is treated like that. Even Aang who's still disapointingly immature is not infantilized like this.

There was no resolution to that plot point either. Once again the writers are not quite able to resolve this problem, and I don't even mean give a solution in universe, I mean that in the narrative, there's no direction given to this problem, not even a decision or policy that is wrong in the long run but at least moves the narrative along on that front.

We have a scene in the credits where some of the Denied seem to be doing community service? It is unclear. And we have that girl becoming an Air Acolyte, but that's it.

And then there's Tagah, who Avatar Sonam had to trap in an ice sphere, creating a huge mountain, but conveniently disappears in mist and sparkles as our boy Aang recites poetry :) 

It's no wonder the inequality of non-benders is a sore that festered for years and years until it exploded in Korra's days for her to deal with.

Hey there, it’s Erica! Welcome to another edition of Feel Good News — here’s your weekly dose of uplifting stories.

1. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Turned Down Million-Dollar Offer to Perform in Saudi Arabia: ‘I Don’t Need to Take Any Money if It Makes Me Feel Icky’

“Weird Al” Yankovic recently disclosed that he declined an offer of at least $1 million to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia last year, expressing discomfort with participating in the event. He emphasized his decision by stating that he wished for offers he could accept without feeling bad. The festival, which featured several prominent American comedians, faced criticism due to its ties to the regime of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and human rights violations, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Several comedians, like Atsuko Okatsuka and Shane Gillis, also turned down offers due to similar ethical concerns, while others defended their participation, suggesting that comedy could promote openness in the region. The future of the Riyadh Comedy Festival remains uncertain.

2. Illinois has erased more than $2 billion in medical debt for over 1 million residents across all 102 counties, and recipients don’t apply, they simply receive a letter saying their debt is gone.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the elimination of $2.6 billion in medical debt during a meeting with Cook County health officials. Of this, $1.5 billion was erased through a Cook County program. The initiative provides relief to over a million residents across the state, averaging $1,200 in debt relief per patient. The state’s Medical Debt Relief Program was established in July 2024, partnering with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which committed $10 million to address these debts. CEO Allison Sesso explained that they buy debts from collections agencies at low prices and notify individuals of their debt relief. Cook County Health’s Erik Mikaitis emphasized that the relief could support families financially amid potential Medicaid cuts. However, a 2024 study suggested that the relief’s impact on financial wellbeing and healthcare usage was minimal and may harm the repayment of other medical bills. Despite losing federal stimulus funding, Cook County plans to continue the debt relief program.

3. Trained rats that sniff out landmines have destroyed more than 31,700 landmines, cleared an area the size of Paris, helped make Mozambique mine free, are clearing land in Cambodia, and are now helping 33,000 displaced families return home in Azerbaijan

In December 2023, APOPO celebrated a significant achievement in humanitarian mine action by clearing 100 million square meters of land since its inception. This area is comparable to the size of Paris and was previously contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, threatening local communities. By the end of 2023, APOPO had removed 31,739 landmines, 90,140 explosive remnants, 36,205 small arms, and 2,731 cluster munitions, benefitting over 2 million people in affected regions. Their programs also emphasize mine risk education, victim assistance, and community support for socio-economic development. APOPO employs trained animals, such as HeroRATs and HeroDOGs, alongside traditional manual demining techniques for effective mine detection and clearance. Their operations have restored land for productive use, aiding community recovery. Key contributions include: - Angola: 8.2 million sqm cleared, supporting post-civil war recovery. - Azerbaijan: 1.3 million sqm cleared, focusing on landmine issues from the 2020 Karabakh conflict. - Cambodia: Nearly 50 million sqm cleared, contributing to safety and cultural heritage protection. - Laos: Over 22 million sqm cleared, addressing WWII-era unexploded ordnance. - Mozambique: 11.5 million sqm cleared, aiding the country’s path to becoming mine-free. - South Sudan: 1.7 million sqm cleared, enhancing safety in conflict regions. - Türkiye: 641,029 sqm cleared to improve safety along borders. APOPO remains dedicated to eliminating landmine threats and enhancing community safety, expressing gratitude to its donors and partners who support its mission.

4. Cambodia has become the first country in Asia and the Pacific to meet the UN’s toughest HIV targets, with 95% of people living with HIV now knowing their status, receiving treatment, and achieving viral suppression

The announcement jointly made by the Royal Government of Cambodia and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS marks a major step in Cambodia’s progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It also comes as 2026 marks 30 years of Joint United Nations Programme support to Cambodia’s HIV response - three decades of partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, communities, civil society, development partners and people living with and affected by HIV.

5. A brain injury left a Seattle man unable to remember the career he’d spent 20 years building, but he still remembered how to fix bicycles. Now he repairs broken bikes for free and gives them away to people who need them.

Rob P. spends hours restoring a broken bicycle shifter instead of replacing it for $10. He repairs bikes for free and gives them away to reduce waste and find purpose after a traumatic brain injury from a car accident in 2017. This injury led to cognitive and physical challenges, including memory loss and partial blindness. Previously a computer programmer, Rob revived his bike repair skills from youth to engage in meaningful work, slowly overcoming depression. He began fixing bikes for friends and expanded his efforts through an online group, making hundreds of repairs. Rob’s meticulous approach, supported by his wife Becky, has helped him regain a sense of identity and accomplishment, offering joy to both donors and recipients of the bikes. Experts note that fixing bicycles taps into procedural memory, enhancing recovery possibilities. Rob, focused on his abilities rather than his limitations, finds fulfillment in helping others while navigating the challenges of life after injury.

6. Hawaii just signed healthcare measures that could erase up to $91 million in medical debt for 50,000 residents, with qualified people simply getting a letter saying their debt has been canceled, while also expanding fertility preservation coverage and colorectal cancer screening access

Gov. Josh Green signed three health measures into law on July 9 aimed at expanding care and creating a state program to forgive medical debt. The package includes new insurance rules for fertility preservation, financial help for colorectal cancer screenings, and a Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program to cancel qualifying bills. One bill (Act 218) requires insurers to cover standard fertility preservation for patients facing medically necessary treatments that could cause infertility — think chemo, radiation or certain surgeries — and applies to policies issued or renewed after Dec. 31, 2026; Hawaii will be the 22nd state with this requirement. Another (Act 219) directs the Department of Human Services to provide financial assistance for colorectal screening for people who are uninsured, underinsured or ineligible for Medicaid, and forces some plans to cover necessary follow-up colonoscopies after a positive screen with no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance; colorectal cancer is the state’s second-leading cancer killer, about 260 deaths a year. The debt bill (Act 220) sets up a program under the Office of Wellness and Resilience to partner with nonprofits to buy outstanding medical debt for a fraction of its value and cancel it, potentially wiping out as much as $91 million for up to 50,000 residents, though it’s subject to available funding. Officials say about 1 in 20 Hawaiians has medical debt on their credit report; people won’t apply — if their debt is purchased and erased they’ll just get a notice. Supporters called it a major step to prevent medical bills from wrecking families’ finances, noting estimates that a relatively small state investment could cancel huge amounts of debt.

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That’s it for last week :)

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What to do if you find a baby bunny.

This Tumblr post is the first time someone has explained to me *why* I couldn’t feed them before those instances.

every single time i have had to say, "i understand that if he had food or water, he could aspirate it into his lungs under anesthesia. i am not lying to you." THEN someone would make a little note and i would stop being repeatedly asked.

not a single time was that risk explained to me. the only reason it came up was because i already knew. i still don't understand why it isn't standard pre-op counseling or pre-op check information, when me as a parent acknowledging the actual risk also put THE MEDICAL STAFF at ease because i conveyed that i had informed understanding as reason to not lie about giving my kid food.