Political Development And Government Power

There's no such thing as perfect political systems, but there are definitely wildly ineffective ones. This is why development of a strong, consistent political structure is important.

The Importance of Political Development

The success of a state is measured by three metrics; political development, social development, and economic development. Political development is a necessary basis for economic and social development because a state that is powerless to enact its will is powerless to benefit its people.

Without a strong state presence upholding a common set of laws, people will adopt varying forms of self-regulation that create conflict and perpetuate misery. On the other hand, a government that can efficiently enforce its laws, and mediate interpersonal conflict within its state will both promote social and economic growth, and feed off the increased perception of legitimacy resulting from these successes.

Politics is sometimes defined as "Who gets what when, where, and how." This places effective management of resources at the center of political interests.

Good Infrastructure Makes for a Strong Economy

Economic development may benefit the most from a strong political establishment because of the importance of logistics to material success. Establishing trade deals relies on a mutually accepted set of rules; such as honoring contracts and upholding ethical standards.

The ability to enforce these rules without resorting to violence or coercion is something a developed legal system can provide to merchants within its jurisdiction.

Pirates are still a thing, and they have bigger guns now. Modern piracy is lucrative, dangerous, and not going away any time soon.

Crime Control Matters

Protection from theft and harassment when storing or transporting goods also contributes to economic successes. Without adequate protection from criminals, merchants may be compelled to expend resources on private security; or else avoid trade with, or travel through, certain regions.

Most laws and policies that are taken for granted in more developed countries don't even exist in less developed ones. Sometimes people forget that their job is safe because it's literally illegal to make it unreasonably dangerous.

Sensible Regulation Levels the Playing Field

Effective regulation and enforcement of health and safety standards can prevent unscrupulous actors from gaining an unfair economic advantage by engaging in dangerous and unsustainable practices, such as exploiting workers and exhausting natural resources. The strength of the state lays the foundation on which the national economy is built. If the foundation is poor, the entire structure will crumble and collapse under its own weight.

Some U.S. politicians say the state should handle more of the country's wealth. Others support the private sector's right to control assets it generates. Neither choice would be possible without a sound underlying system of trade regulations

If You Don't Regulate Your Economy, Someone Else Will

One example of inadequate political development causing economic development to suffer is in the case of the so-called "Third World" countries that were former colonies. When colonizers withdrew from newly independent states, many economic ties still remained. The new governments were unable to adequately regulate trade while they were still in transition. As a result, they exposed themselves to unbalanced trade deals, and perpetuated patterns of exploitation, giving rise to neocolonialism.

When tensions run high between capitalism and communism, it's hard for anything in between to fit in. Smaller states were pressured to pick one side or the other to gain more powerful allies. (Or avoid more powerful enemies!)

A Casualty of War

On the ideological battleground of the Cold War, continued failure to politically develop further exposed the former colonies to being swept up in the conflict. The polar opposite philosophies, contending for political control of as many states as possible, pushed for many economies to be painfully restructured. Depending on whom they were politically aligned with, the economic systems of vulnerable states were picked apart, and cobbled back together to suit either Communism or Capitalism.

Marriage is one of many socially important aspects of everyday life that is recognized, recorded, and regulated by the state.

Bringing in the Referee

Social development is dependent on political development because an effective government provides its citizens with the means to peacefully address interpersonal issues. Like the negotiation of contracts, the negotiation of various civil agreements requires effective moderation by a relatively neutral party. The borders of personal property, for example, are much easier to establish and enforce when legal documents can be filed and referenced as needed. When someone feels wronged by another, an effective police force, and fair justice system, provide an alternative to prolonged feuds. Without them, people are forced to rely on personal retaliation.

People can trust identifying documents issued by a competent government. These documents can be used to uphold legal and ethical standards that benefit everyone. Plus, it just makes sense to make sure people are who they say they are.

Handling an Identity Crisis

Reliable means of personal identification for individuals facilitates a level of trust among strangers, by promoting accountability. If a government is relatively trusted and competent in enforcing its laws, it can empower citizens whom it holds in good standing with a certain amount of social capital. A clean criminal record, educational credentials, or a license to practice certain activities actually means something when people have confidence in the government that’s backing it up.

Too Young To Wed is an organization that rescues child brides from disadvantaged situations. It's not uncommon for the girls to be in their early teens, and to have borne multiple children.

Vulnerable Populations Suffer from Underdeveloped Legal Systems

While a strong state can deter social unrest, a weak one practically invites it. Such is the case with the overall state of women’s rights in the global south. Domestic violence, child marriage, honor killings, and rape run rampant, despite such practices being illegal in most countries. Women are often denied education and employment opportunities, even in countries where it’s legal for them to work and go to school. The continued marginalization of women, in the modern era, is a direct result of the failure to protect them from abuse.

China is considered by some to be a superpower. It's also considered a developing state due to its rough road to recovery from extreme political policies. Impoverished masses, pollution, and persistent human suffering continue to plague this country.

A Big Government Isn't Necessarily a Developed Government

Growth itself doesn't equate development. The human race has an astounding capacity to increase its numbers, identify forms of wealth, and compete for control and possession of tangible and intellectual assets. It’s the form this growth takes that requires direction and guidance to determine whether it benefits human society. Unchecked growth in the social sector can lead to the development of radical ideologies, and warring identity groups. Likewise, unchecked economic expansion can drive the exploitation of man and land to the extent that both are pushed to their physical limit, until their useful lives inevitably expire. Only when growth is moderated, and guided into a form that contributes to the greater good, can it truly be called development. 

Cultural Authentication Explained With COVID Masks

Freedom of expression or cultural appropriation? Where do you draw the line? | Source

Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Authentication

Cultural appropriation is a phenomenon that has been villified as the little brother of racism. It conjures mental images of ignorant fashion models strutting down the runway in exotic styles stolen from ethnic groups they're not part of. Outrage over this contraversial issue is fueled by feelings of racial injustice. The minority often feels robbed or exploited by the majority.

At the same time, suppression of art and ideas from different cultural groups can also make them feel marginalized. Stealing is wrong, but whitewashing and cultural segregation aren't okay either. So what happens when the free exchange of ideas, and artistic expression naturally lead to the adoption of ideas from other cultures? When something from one culture is incorporated into another, and takes on its own unique meaning, it's known as cultural authentication.

Before the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, masks were for medical professionals | Source

You Want Me to Wear a Doctor's Mask?

One example of cultural authentication is the widespread adoption of the cloth facemask, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The garment is a shaped enclosure of the mouth and nose, fastened to the face by a set of strings or elastic straps. These masks were commonly called “Doctor’s Masks,” and associated only with medical professionals or patients in medical settings. Everybody knew these masks existed to reduce the spread of germs, but most people didn't see the need to wear them in daily life.

In some Asian countries, it was normal to wear a mask if you were sick, even before COVID | Source

Japan Was Already Doing It

Some Asian countries, like Japan, were an exception to the rule. Wearing a mask in daily life, sometimes, was normal. Foreigners often speculated that masks were worn due to pollution. In reality, it was to prevent the spread of illness. Rather than take a sick day, if they were feeling ill, people would wear masks to keep from getting customers and co-workers sick. Masks were also used to filter out pollen and allergens, to prevent hay fever. Even though seeing someone in a mask wasn't uncommon, healthy people didn't mask up en-masse like in the post-COVID world. And while there were a few high-fashion cloth options (particularly in Korea), most people tended to stick with the disposable masks worn by doctors.

In 2021, it's normal to wear a "doctor's mask" while doing everyday errands | Source

The Pandemic Normalized Mask Wearing in 2020

In 2020, the style and construction of face masks rapidly evolved to include more reusable cloth versions, in addition to the single-use disposable masks previously worn by medical professionals. Many masks were handmade, and some were quite expressive. The emergence of reusable masks was partially due to necessity. In the earlier weeks of the pandemic, there were widespread shortages of single-use masks that forced those who needed them to turn to reusable solutions. Reusable masks were also favored by environmentally conscious people who realized the need for reducing waste, while still maintaining a sustainable, personal supply of masks.

Masks became more common once it became illegal not to wear one | Source

The Politics of Mask Culture

Mask-wearing quickly spread to the general population with the help of mandates adopted by both private entities and government authorities. Doctor's masks became referred to as “Face masks” or simply “Masks.” The garments were worn not only for protective reasons, but also to signal that concerns about the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 were being taken seriously. Not wearing a mask also became a nonverbal statement about the importance of freedom of choice, or a mitigation of early scare tactics associated with the virus. The face mask as we know it had firmly affixed itself as a symbol of growing health-consciousness, in the face of an unprecedented global phenomenon, centered around an infectious disease.

Many places lifted mask mandates when the Corona Virus Vaccine became available to the public | Source

Beyond the Pandemic

In the post-pandemic world, face masks are no longer pressed as a social necessity, but they haven't really gone away. In 2026 they can still be found in the back corner of department stores, and the deep recesses of Amazon. It's not unusual if someone covers up to keep from spreading their cold, or to keep out germs or dust. Though the dire need for them has passed, masks have assimilated into everyday life so that they're no longer "for doctors" or for the very sick.

To the point of cultural authentication, the normalization of wearing this accessory meets all the requirements for cultural authentication of dress. The mask was selected to meet a need in society. It was characterized as the "COVID mask" or "Face Mask;" both new names to identify the accessory. It was incorporated into our daily lives as we were encouraged and even compelled to never leave home without it. Society transformed it by creating multitudes of designs to make them more comfortable, fashionable, or effective. The world will never look at the "Doctor's Mask" the same, much like the Western world no longer looks at ankle-bearing skirts the same as it did in the Victorian era. Before the pandemic, face masks were a thing you wore in the hospital. Now, they are just a thing.

No Spoiler's Review Of "Rogue One, A Star Wars Story"

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the first big-screen, live-action, Star Wars movie that was never meant to be part of a trilogy. It's a stand-alone story that takes place immediately before the Original Trilogy.

Rogue One stars Felicity Jones as the streetwise Jyn Erso, and Diego Luna as the Rebel spy Cassian Andor. The 2016 film is about the events that led to the Rebel protagonists from Star Wars: A New Hope capturing the Empire’s secret plans for a planet-killing battle station known as the Death Star. It also features quite a few cameos from Original Trilogy characters. These include the much anticipated CGI portrayal of one of the lead villains in A New Hope, Governor Tarkin.

Rogue One promised a lot of amazing things, but did it live up to expectations?

Rogue One: Movie Review

The first thing that stood out about Rogue One is that it was definitely on the darker side. Other Star Wars movies tend to idealize the struggle between light and dark. If a good guy has to kill someone, it's usually a faceless Stormtrooper, a soulless droid, a slimy monster, a long-distance explosion, or a main character whose death-by-good-guy was imminent.

If a situation is hopeless, there will usually be some deus ex machina by which a narrow escape can be made. In Rogue One, the good guys aren't as pure as the driven snow, and miracles aren't as common as usual.

While some fans may have mixed feelings about Rogue One straying from tradition this way, I think it was good for the movie because it made it less predictable. Let's face it; we all know how it's going to end. We've seen Star Wars: A New Hope. To pull off a movie in which the ending is inevitable, you need to do something to make the journey there as interesting as possible.

One way the first stand-alone film in the franchise connected with its roots in the Original Trilogy was through the use of several cameos. James Earl Jones returns as the voice of Darth Vader, who plays a short but significant part in the story. Governor Tarkin, originally portrayed by the late Peter Cushing, appears in the film via the magic of CGI. His role is integral to the plot, and he gets a surprising amount of screen time. There are also a few smaller cameos peppered throughout the movie, which I won't give away. One or two may have been a little forced, but as a lover of "Easter Egg" style references, I enjoyed them.

The most buzzed-about appearance by an Original Trilogy character had to be that of Grand Moff Tarkin. Peter Cushing, who played the iconic Star Wars villain in 1977, passed away in 1994. In Rogue One, a motion capture headset was used to record the facial expressions of actor Guy Henry. Those movements were then painstakingly applied to a CGI doppelganger of Cushing's Tarkin. In this way, they hoped to resurrect the image of the classic character long after the actor who portrayed him passed on.

CGI animation has made great strides in recent years, but is it that good?

Yes and no. It was good. Really good. It looked just like the original, but you could tell he was CGI. There's a certain way digital characters move that, sometimes, fails to trick the eye. There's not much getting around that. However, Rogue One's Tarkin was the best digital portrayal of a human that I've ever seen in a movie. He surpassed the quality of many of the aliens we've seen so far. There were even a few moments where, if I hadn't known he was digital, I would have sworn he was human. They definitely proved that CGI is a completely viable option for bringing characters back to life.

Rouge One: Final Thoughts

As a stand-alone story, Rogue One does a great job of taking you on an adventure worthy of the franchise. Aside from connecting with other movies in obvious ways, such as making various references, the film stays true to the spirit of the Star Wars galaxy. At its core, it's still a classic story about Rebels with a cause standing up to the Evil Empire. Rogue One is definitely a must-see for any Star Wars fan.

What Child Psychology Says About Pixar's "Turning Red"

Some parents are triggered by the way "Turning Red" handles puberty, but others applaud it for being relatable and positive | Source

What is "Turning Red" Actually About?

Pixar's direct-to-Disney Plus release has caused some debate. People boycotting Disney say Turning Red pushes a "woke" agenda. Others applaud the movie as relatable. What's the story actually about, and what do leading child development theories have to say about it?

Thirteen-year-old Meilin works with her mother, Ming Lee, running the family's traditional Chinese temple in Toronto. She soon learns the family secret: strong emotions turn the women in her family into giant red pandas! There's a way to cure it, but until they can perform the ritual, she's stuck shapeshifting at the most awkward moments.

In the movie, Meilin's family runs the oldest traditional Chinese temple in Toronto. It has been in the mother's family for generations!

Is "Turning Red" About Periods?

Director Domee Shi confirmed the panda is a metaphor for how we deal with "Everything we inherit from our moms," not just puberty. That said, the movie does reference periods. In one scene, a terrified Meilin locks herself in the bathroom after shapeshifting. Ming Lee bursts in, armed with pads, enthusiastically proclaiming a woman is a "Delicate flower" who needs to "Wash her petals." Meilin hides in the shower and shoos her mother away before anything else is said about it. Nobody ever says "Period," but there are some gags later about offering extra pads. The movie somehow manages to acknowledge periods while still being less informative than a Tampax commercial.

Menarche (a person's first period) is occurring at ages earlier than many people expect. It's considered normal for someone as young as 9 to begin menstruating. Ming Lee was right to be prepared, even though Meilin was only 13!

Is "Turning Red" About Sex?

There's no sex in Turning Red. There's not even kissing, unless you count Meilin's notebook doodle of her crush. When her mom confronts her about the drawings, she's more embarrassed than anything else and clearly has no intention of doing anything. The girls have crushes and scream over boy bands, but nobody actually does or talks about anything sexual. They're content to admire boys from afar.

Meilin doesn't get in trouble for drawing embarrassing pictures of her crush, but her mother is instantly concerned.

Social Learning Theories Explain Why Teenagers Act That Way

Parents concerned about bad influences might agree with Bandura and Vygotsky. Lev Vygotsky theorized that new behaviors are learned when others encourage them. Basically, learning things with help makes you capable of doing things without help. Similarly, Albert Bandura's social learning theory claims children naturally imitate behaviors they see. It defines behavior as the result of how a person experiences outside influences. Both theories emphasize the role of the impressionable child mind.

Albert Bandura's social learning theory suggests children naturally imitate behaviors; like hitting this toy after seeing other kids do it. His predecessor, Lev Vgotsky, also theorizes that childhood learning is dependent on outside influences.

She Gets It From Her Mom

Meilin's mother teaches her to run the temple. Ming Lee encourages her to clean up the grounds, pray at the shrine, and promote the location to tourists. She sets examples for her daughter and walks her through them. These skills are eventually used without Ming Lee's approval, once Meilin can do them without her help. Much to her mother's dismay, Meilin uses the business savvy she learned from her mom to "Hustle the Panda" for concert ticket money.

That's because Meilin is obsessed with 4 Town, a boy band popular with her friends. Meilin also develops a crush on a boy she was previously disinterested in after watching her friends swoon over him. Bandura would agree these influences are just as important as her mother's influence. The girls bond over their music and use each other as examples for how to act. In sociology, this is known as a reference group, a collection of similarly situated individuals who pick up social cues from one another. It's not just for friends, either! Why does Meilin hide from her mom when she's nervous about being judged? Probably because Ming Lee hides from her own mom, and Meilin is unconsciously referencing that behavior.

The number 4 is considered unlucky, in some Asian cultures, because it's associated with death. The superstition is on par with the Western disdain for the number 13.

Meilin Has an Identity Crisis; Erikson Says That's Totally Normal

Different reference groups can have different effects on people, however, depending on their situation. Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development suggest that, at Meilin's age, friends are actually more important than parents. Thirteen-year-old Meilin is in the "Identity vs Role Confusion" stage; where people constantly compare themselves to their peers and develop unique identities as individuals. That means a teen's main struggle is figuring out their role in life; something we clearly see in the movie. Meilin can't bear to tell her mom that she uses memories of her friends, not her family, to calm down. She also makes a valiant effort to explain her responsibilities to her friends and explain "4 Town" to her mom. She doesn't find a balance between these two roles until she embraces her unique identity.

Children, like Tamagotchi, develop in a series of well-defined intellectual stages that determine what they're capable of. At least, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

It's Not a "Stage," Mom! Piaget Also Defines Development in Stages

According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, kids older than 11 have mastered the concrete operational stage and are in the formal operational stage. They're moving past the black-and-white rationality of childhood and learning to embrace abstract thoughts. We see this with Meilin, who gets amazing grades, loves her friends and family, and always does her work. Everything is simple until it's not.

When her social life clashes with her family life, Meilin is forced to rationalize and set priorities. She starts asking things like, "If they don't trust us anyway, then what's the point?" and forming long-term plans to achieve her goals. This characteristic transition from concrete to formal operational is a developmental coming of age. According to Piaget, Meilin is right to say she's "practically an adult."

A Realistic Picture of Teen Development, Overall

Aside from literally shapeshifting into a panda, Meilin isn't much different from most teenagers. The kids have developmentally realistic interests. Their parents have legitimate concerns. The characters have realistic moral conflicts that, judging by the controversy, carry over to audiences. Is that a bad influence, or is it good storytelling?

Was Jeanette Walls, Author Of "The Glass Castle", A Victim Of Domestic Abuse As A Child?

Jeannette Walls, author of "The Glass Castle"

How Do You Define Abuse?

Was Jeanette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, abused? In the 2005 memoir, her father’s alcoholism and her mother’s crippling optimism are a constant source of hardship on the Walls family. The parents raise their children on the principle that they should take care of themselves. Though the children learn some lessons from their experience, they also suffer neglect to the point of serious injury, and risk of death.

One quote from the Walls cites from her mother sums up the situation perfectly. “Mom fell through a rotted step and went tumbling down the hillside. 'My husband doesn’t beat me,' she’d say, when anyone stared at [her bruises]. ‘He just won’t fix the stairs.’” The parents may never physically abuse their children, but when the end results of chronic neglect are the same as that of abuse, can the two really be distinguished from one another?

When doctors ask the three year old why she was cooking by herself, she doesn't understand why. It was normal for the children to fend for themselves.

Free Range Children

The tale of Walls’ childhood begins with a story in which, at three years old, she’s cooking hot dogs while her mother paints. Walls ends up hospitalized with burns. The hospital is described as a luxurious place where everyone is quiet and everything is clean; a sharp contrast to the rough-and-tumble lifestyle her family lives. Always on the run from something, or in debt to someone, her shiftless father tells his family that the FBI or the mob is after them, as they hop from one dusty, western desert town to another.

Walls' mother is the epitome of toxic positivity; ignoring her husband's grief and her children's struggles.

Toxic Positivity

Her mother turns a blind eye to their impoverished and often dangerous circumstances; framing their experiences as adventures, opportunities, and learning experiences. Things like toothpaste and seatbelts are for sissies, and freedom is always made a priority over stability. When it comes to medicine, doctors aren’t to be trusted. Even on the day that Walls is recklessly whisked out of the hospital, her little brother is suffering from a bleeding head wound, wrapped in dirty bandages.

Perpetuating The Cycle of Abuse

Throughout the course of the book, things go from bad to worse. The family ends up back in the father’s hometown; a damp, depressing, coal mining town called Welch. There, the children are abused by their relatives and bullied by their peers. The family endures the elements in a rotting shack with faulty wiring, and no plumbing. They stagnate in their situation until the children are old enough to gather what little money they have, and pick up and leave of their own accord.

Walls' father loves his kids, but sadly, his addiction is stronger.

Losing a Child Pushes Him Over The Edge

The father is an intelligent, ex-Air Force man with a mind for design, and a love of independence. He also has an addiction to alcohol, and a history of tragic episodes in his life. His own parents are alcoholics. The story hints at the possibility of sexual abuse in his childhood. He also suffers the loss of a child; a story which Jeannette Walls’s mother relates to her with chilling detachment:

He was the one who found her body in the crib, and Mom couldn’t believe how much it shook him up. “When he found her, he stood there like he was in shock or something, cradling her stiff little body in his arms, and then he screamed like a wounded animal,” she told us. “I never heard such a horrible sound.” Mom said Dad was never the same after Mary Charlene died. He started having dark moods, staying out late and coming home drunk, and losing jobs.

— Excerpt from The Glass Castle

Losing his infant daughter devastated Walls' father, and drove him to succumb to his addictions

Castles in the Air

There are a lot of episodes in which he expresses affection for his kids, and shows a genuine interest in their well-being. He tells them colorful stories from his Air Force days, fills their heads with dreams of a grand glass castle he’ll build for them when they strike it rich, and tries to teach them to hunt their demons back when they’re scared. Sadly, his own demons always seem to catch up with him in the form of drunken rages, job losses, and vicious fights with the mother.

Walls' mother clings to her toxic relationship because of her Catholic faith.

Taking Self-Care to Extremes

The mother suffers her own mental health issues. Aside from being absorbed in her fantasy of becoming a famous artist, she’s also subject to drastic changes in mood. At her best, she’s blindly optimistic; often seeing the good in the situation at hand, and minimizing or completely ignoring the bad. At her worst, she’s crying and screaming over her unfulfilled dreams, or putting her self-esteem and comfort ahead of the basic human needs of her own family. Though she considers her marriage to have been a mistake, she refuses to leave her husband, citing her Catholic faith. Throughout the book she justifies her bad decisions by likening them to her husband’s addictions, and insisting that she should be forgiven too.

Today, mental health advocates raise awareness for invisible forms of trauma that don't always leave physical scars.

More Than a Beating

Though The Glass Castle never mentions an instance of the parents hitting the children, it’s a prime example of how abusive relationships are more than simply one person striking another. We see psychological abuse, child endangerment, domestic violence between mother and father, and a constant theme of neglect.

The children suffer mental and bodily harm, on several occasions, due to the negligence of their parents. There isn’t any one thing that goes wrong. There are a number of things that pile up because, like the rotting stairs of their shack, nobody fixes them before someone ends up getting hurt.

Dolores And Bruno From Disney's "Encanto" Had A Special Family Bond

Dolores hears everything in the "Encanto" village, even Bruno "stuttering and stumbling."

We Don't Talk About Bruno, But Dolores Hears Everything

In Disney's award-winning 2021 animated film, Encanto, was an instant family favorite. In the movie, Bruno and Dolores are part of the magical Madrigal family. Bruno is made to be Encanto's Disney villain because of his frightening powers. Bruno can see the future The hard truths he revealed to his family made him the least popular Madrigal in the Casita. By the time Encanto's bespectacled Disney heroine Mirabel finds out about Bruno, his visions have already made him a family outcast for several years. We son't talk about Bruno, but cousin Dolores, whose power is super-hearing, has known everything all along.

Abuela Alma, matriarch of the Madrigal family, believes it's her responsibility to protect the miracle that gives her family their magic.

Bruno Is A Second Generation Madrigal

Bruno is one of three children born to Alma and Pedro Madrigal. Shortly after Bruno, Pepa, and Julieta were born, the young Madrigal family was forced to flee their home as refugees. While Alma protected their infant triplets, Pedro faced the mounted men on horseback who were pursuing them and tragically lost his life in the encounter.

His sacrifice blessed the family with a miracle that took the form of a magical candle. The miracle also created a ring of mountains around the refugees to protect them, and a magical home for his family to live in. Alma raised Bruno, Pepa, and Julieta in this enchanted village built around their magical house.

The house, affectionately referred to as "Casita" by the Madrigal family, is also an embodiment of the Madrigal family miracle. It comes to life; much like the furniture in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The Casita can change form, adding new rooms to accommodate the growing Madrigal family. When a Madrigal child reaches a certain age, they are gifted with magical powers, and the house grows a magical door with their name on it, that leads to a brand new room.

Pepa, who is the mother of Dolores, Camillo, and Antonio, has the power to change the weather with her mood; though it doesn't appear that she can control it much. Julieta, who is the mother of Isabela and Encanto's protagonist, Mirabel, can bake food with magical healing powers. Bruno, who is apparently childless, was gifted (or cursed) with the ability to see into the future. By the time the movie begins, his magical room is already abandoned, and nobody talks about the mysterious Madrigal uncle who disappeared years ago. Alma, now Abuela Alma to the five Madrigal grandchildren, is the head of the enchanted household.

Luisa opens up to Mirabel about how hard the Madrigals are pushed to use their powers in the song, "Surface Pressure."

Bruno Was Probably Constantly Pressured To Use His Powers

Abuela Alma impressed a responsibility to take care of the village on her children and grandchildren. In the film, we can see that the more useful the gift, the more the person is pressured to use it. Pepa, whose mood changes the weather, appears to have little control over what her powers are doing. We also see that Pepa isn't burdened with much responsibility, though those around her, like her son Camillo and husband Félix, appear to feel responsible for keeping her in a good mood. Julieta, whose baked goods can cure any ailment, has people lined up for miles, waiting to taste her cooking so they can be healed. With a gift so special, it's no wonder we rarely see her unless she's cooking or handing out food. Camillo's playful gift of mimicry often causes him to be brushed aside as a nuisance, while Luisa's exceptionally useful super strength is exploited to the point that she's forced to overextend herself. It's easy to see how Bruno could have been pushed just as hard and pressured to give people answers about their future, even if they didn't end up liking what they heard.

We see the aftermath of Bruno's treatment right from the start of the movie. In the opening number, all Mirabel has to do is say Bruno's name, and everyone within earshot pipes up with, "We don't talk about Bruno!" As Mirabel gathers more information about Bruno, it becomes apparent that almost everyone in the village has a story about something he said. The people resent Bruno for being the bearer of bad news, but all he did was tell them the truth about what he saw. As Dolores later observes, Bruno's gift was a heavy load to bear.

Pepa resented Bruno because she believed his visions ruined her wedding.

Bruno Was A Cautionary Tale For Dolores

Bruno and Dolores have exceptionally similar powers. Like her uncle, who can see things that haven't been revealed yet, Dolores can hear things that are hidden to others. Her super-sensitive hearing makes her privy to all the secrets in the village, including Bruno's whereabouts. When Bruno was pressed for answers about what he saw, his honesty got him into trouble. Bruno disappeared long before Mirabel was old enough to receive a gift, but Dolores would have been old enough to realize what was going on when everything fell apart. There's no way Dolores could have missed the hard lessons Bruno learned about sharing everything when you know too much.

Dolores is more subtle. She would rather give hints, and nudge people in the right direction, than tell it all. We also see Dolores visibly nervous when questioned about what she has heard. While she does occasionally spill the beans, she also keeps a lot to herself. She told Isabela what she wanted to know about her boyfriend, while keeping her own feelings tucked away. She told Mirabel enough to understand why Bruno did what he did, but didn't completely out him either. It's as if Dolores learned that if people couldn't handle the truth, she would have to handle it for them.

Mirabel persisted in learning everything she could about Bruno, even though mentioning his name was strictly off limits.

Hole in the Plot or Not?

When Dolores eventually reveals that she knew the truth about Bruno all along, some fans cry foul, and claim it's a massive plot hole in the movie. After all, why didn't she just tell somebody? A different take on this would be that it's not a flaw in the writing at all; actually it's a brilliant way to show how young people can be more perceptive than their families think. Dolores understood that Bruno lived in fear, and that he and his humbling gifts were often misunderstood. Not telling the family about Bruno protected him from being dragged back into the same mess he was trying to escape from in the first place. If anyone in the family could relate to Bruno, it would be Dolores, because she can sympathize with the burden of having a little too much information. It's no wonder she ultimately kept her uncle safely anonymous until he decided to show himself on his own.

Kittens Are Toddlers With Fur

ersus Toddlers

Kittens and toddlers are basically the same creature, if you think about it. Both have been stealing our hearts since the dawn of time. There's something about that perfect combination of childish cuteness, uncanny bursts of intelligence, and the tendency to not care what anyone thinks that makes their antics utterly hilarious.

Now I’m not saying it’s time to trade Little Johnny in for a fluffy Himalayan. All I’m saying is that your kid and your kitty might seem like they share a brain sometimes. Then again, there are also times they can be completely contrary to each other. As a long-time toddler wrangler, and a first-time kitten mommy, I’m going to share my stories, and let you make up your own mind.

Cats Versus Toddlers: Do Kittens Win?

A Toddler will Fuss Until you Pick Her Up; A Kitten will Fuss Until you Put Her Down

Cats are independent creatures. Getting a tiny kitten to warm up to humans is hard! My kittens squirmed, clawed, bit, and cried when I would hold them. Don't worry! I didn't hold them captive for long when they were so obviously distressed. I did, however, make it a point to gently handle them pretty often while they were small. The idea was to make sure they would get used to human contact. After about a month of this, it paid off, and both kitties are very comfortable with petting their humans.

If they Decide you are a Chair, you are now a Chair

This is something human and feline tots definitely have in common. If they decide to sit on you, stand up at your own peril. Being human, a toddler will often vocalize (loudly) to let you know he wants to be held. Cats, being cats, are all action. If a determined kitty gets kicked off your lap, don’t be surprised when she jumps, climbs, or claws her way back up there. Perhaps, in hindsight, this could be payback for training them to be petted. They probably think they need to get their humans used to being handled by cats!

Putting a Kitten in a Cage is not Frowned Upon...

Here's where you complete the sentence in your head, and decide I'm a horrible person! Hahaha no. I've never caged a toddler, unless you count playpens and baby gates. The kittens, on the other hand, do sleep in a relatively large crate so they don't wreak havoc at night. Using the crate as a kitty jail is also pretty convenient when they need to be separated or contained for short periods.

Let Sleeping Babies Lie!

While we're on the subject of infantile rambunctiousness, here's another rule that applies to kitties and kiddies alike. Never wake a sleeping baby! They need their rest, and you need a few minutes without them bouncing off the walls! It's really a win-win situation here. So whether you have a fur baby, or a human one, let sleeping babies lie!

Kittens Versus Toddlers: Let Sleeping Kittens Lie!

They Both Love to Share

By share, I mean take your stuff. Anything left unattended (especially food!) is fair game. Never leave anything tasty, fragile, or both within the reach of a kitten or a kid! Otherwise, it may fall prey to curious munchkins. Just keep in mind that kittens can jump higher than toddlers can, but toddlers are sneakier.

"No" is More of a Guideline than a Rule

Like toddlers, kittens are capable of learning what "No" means. That still doesn't always mean they will listen! They also know when your back is turned, and will take full advantage of it. I can't count the times the cats have bolted away from something they're not supposed to climb on when I entered the room!

Cats Groom Themselves more Efficiently

One nice thing about kittens is that you really don't need to worry about them getting messy. Sure, they'll terrorize your house, your plants, your belongings, and so on; but they keep themselves exceptionally clean. There's a lot to be said for that good old feline self-grooming instinct! I guess it also helps that kittens don’t have clothes to wear, hair to brush, showers to take, or lollipops to eat, the way toddlers do. So, in actuality, a kitten has an unfair advantage when it comes to staying clean. It’s even more unfair when you consider that fact that when a toddler tries to lick herself clean, it’s generally frowned upon. A cat can do the same exact thing, in the middle of the living room, and nobody bats an eye. If that’s not cheating, I don’t know what is!

Kittens Versus Toddlers: Pretty Kitty Beauty Shot

Toddlers can Actually Tell you What they Want

Sorry, kittens, but the small humans will always have you beat with intelligence. "I want water," "I want food," "I'm sleepy," "I want in this room," and "Pick me up" all translate to "MYEAHOW" in kitten language. It’s a little bit confusing to human ears! In this instance, toddlers definitely have it easier than their furry friends.

They're both Easily Distracted

Kittens are probably more easily distracted than tots. All it takes is the sound of a jingle-bell to make a kitten prick its ears up in curiosity. A toddler makes you work for it a little more, but can be lured by the unwrapping of a candy bar, or a few notes of the intro to their favorite TV program. In either case, the way kittens or toddlers instantly switch gears is funny to watch.

They both Grow up too Fast

No matter how hyper, how destructive, or how much work the younglings of any species are, they always seem to grow up a little too quickly. One day, you look at them, and they seem twice as large as they were yesterday. Then, you realize they're twice as smart as you thought they were. Then, you find that they're not babies anymore, and maybe you kind of miss the time when they were. Oh well. Getting bigger, smarter, and more mature is what growing up is for. Right? What matters is that you always have that little bit of time, from when they were not-so-grown-up, to look back on.