The Batman: Part II Casting Spoiler
Jan. 10th, 2026 12:11 pmLook at me being Responsible and not using my relevant (SO relevant) icon! Because some people would like to be unspoiled! I am such a good fannish citizen.
( Ahem pt. 2 )

Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page: Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
I braced for CW-core melodrama in space and instead got a Star Trek show that actually understands Star Trek.
In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts.

Last November we asked the community to submit questions to our OTW volunteers in celebration of International Volunteer Day. In this series of posts we will spotlight some of our committees' responses.
The Translation committee's main responsibility is making content from the OTW and its various projects accessible to fans who don't speak English. This includes content for the organization's main site, FAQs on AO3, Open Doors import announcements, and AO3 news posts, among other things. They also collaborate with other OTW committees, for example to help them communicate with non-English speaking fans and users.
We asked the Translation committee for replies to your questions, and received a lot of feedback! Below you can find a selection of their answers:
Question: Is there a software required if one wanted to volunteer? Also, are there any specific devices required?
Committee answer:
While we have no specific software requirements for volunteering, we definitely recommend using a device with a bigger screen in general, like a desktop or a laptop, or at least a tablet, as that makes it easier to keep everything you need for your work on your screen. One of our requirements for any software we use is that it can run in a common internet browser on a computer, without any local installs, though they may require an app on mobile devices.
How many hours a week do you spend on your OTW volunteer work?
How do you manage your volunteer time, and do you do the same thing every day like with a day job?
What's your favorite part about volunteering at the OTW?
What's the aspect of volunteer work with the OTW that you most wish more people knew about?
What does a typical day as an OTW volunteer looks like for you?
What is your favorite animal? Alternatively, do you have a favorite breed of cat/dog?
Do you enjoy reading fanfic? If so, what's your favorite work on AO3?
Do you write any fanfic yourself? What do you enjoy about it?
What fandoms are you (currently) in?
Do you feel glad or proud to see fanfiction in your mother tongue?
Thanks so much to every volunteer who took the time to answer!
(For more answers from Translation volunteers, check out this work on AO3, where we'll collect additional replies to each question!)
The Organization for Transformative Works is the non-profit parent organization of multiple projects including Archive of Our Own, Fanlore, Open Doors, OTW Legal Advocacy, and Transformative Works and Cultures. We are a fan-run, donor-supported organization staffed by volunteers. Find out more about us on our website.
Jesse Ventura has had a successful career as a pro wrestler, actor, and politician — all largely built on the foundations of his mastery of pro wrestling rhetoric. And recent events have brought him back into the public eye. His Jan. 8 interview on the Minneapolis Fox News channel got 2.7 million likes and more than 47 thousand comments on TikTok, lots of play on other news-ish outlets, 295k views and more than 7400 comments on YouTube, and 3.7 million views and more than 1400 comments on X.
See "The art of the promo" (10/31/2020) for some background on this rhetorical style, including its role in Donald Trump's career. And if you haven't listened to Ventura's interview, you should do so as background for this post.
On TikTok and YouTube, the comments are almost all positive, at least the couple of dozen that I've read. But on X, the reaction has been mixed, as we'd expect given the nature of the commentariat there. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to scrape the whole set of comments so as to pull a random sample to classify, but X's sidebar invited me to ask Grok, so I did — with plausible results.
Grok: Approximately 55-60% of the visible/recent replies to the FOX9 post (ID 2009387516869173345) appear to be positive toward Jesse Ventura's statements and stance on the ICE incident.
From a sample of around 50-60 direct replies and early quoted context (fetched via latest mode, focusing on the conversation thread as of January 10, 2026):
This is not an exact count of all 1,442+ replies (sampling captures the most recent and visible ones, which tend to reflect broader sentiment trends on polarizing political topics). High-engagement positive replies (e.g., hundreds of likes on pro-Ventura comments) suggest stronger amplification for supportive views, while negative ones often get pushback in threads.Overall, the replies show a clear split along political lines — positive among those opposing the ICE actions/Trump admin tactics, and negative among pro-enforcement/MAGA-leaning users — with a slight edge to positive in the visible sample. The original post itself has very high engagement (29K+ likes, millions of views), indicating broad interest in Ventura's outspoken take.
This is similar to my own classification of the "visible/recent replies", but I wondered what a sample of the whole set would show, so I asked again:
Grok: From a randomized sample of approximately 120-130 direct replies pulled across multiple fetches (Latest mode, focusing on a broad spread of timestamps from the post's creation on Jan 8 through early Jan 10, 2026, including both low- and higher-engagement ones), the sentiment breaks down as follows:
, Bravo!), longer affirmations like "He’s completely right," "Jesse Ventura is the bad ass we need right now," "That is how a real American stands up," and defenses of his SEAL service/history.This sample shows a slight majority positive (around 60%), consistent with the visible/high-engagement trend in the thread—where supportive replies (especially those highlighting his veteran status or constitutional points) receive more amplification and likes. The split remains heavily polarized along ideological lines:
Note: This is still sampling (not exhaustive of all ~1,447 replies), but the randomization across fetches reduces bias toward just the most recent or viral ones. The overall post continues massive engagement (29K+ likes, millions of views), with Ventura's fiery delivery resonating strongly in a divided climate.
Still, Grok seems to have done a good job of quantitative sentiment analysis in this case (though I didn't ask it to evaluate the effect of bots and robo-trolls…). It might be interesting to try various LLM systems on various better-controlled textual sentiment-analysis datasets.

This one isn't part of the standard sets of football drills — but it seems to be having a good effect on locker room atmosphere.
It's interesting that two of the immediate answers, "giraffe" for G-F and "zone" for Z-N, are based on pronunciation rather than spelling — phonics FTW!
,
Beaufoyle Beaufoyle, Duke of Mulcaster – Biffle to his family and close friends – had a particular fondness for his hoyden daughter Bella. Even did it fret him somewhat that she so closely resembled the portrait of that scandalous ancestress of theirs – in the days of the Mad King had played high – driven her own phaeton and even raced it – not merely had duels fought over her favours but was rumoured had fought a duel herself with some rival – horsewhipped a fellow that had published a satire upon her –
That had not been so outrageous as for her to be ostracized from Society, sure manners had been a deal different in those days, she had perchance been somewhat wilder than most, but unlike many ladies of that time, had never brought a cuckoo-child to the marital nest.
But times had changed! Here was Her Majesty setting an example of domesticity and moral family life. Indeed such a life was an excellent thing! Biffle himself had been very happily married to his second wife these many years – but he fancied that there came about somewhat of a narrowness, one could only say priggishness in the general tone of Society. Much of it, he felt, had something hypocritical about it.
Indeed, one could only commend the fiery Miss Ferraby for the way she spoke out on the injustices towards women, and would by no means write her off as a fit mate for Essie – his heir Lord Sallington, child of his first wife – no, not in the least. The Ferrabys had been quite his greatest friends, one would far rather unite with that fine industrialist and yeoman farmer stock than with some of the vitiated aristocratic blood that aimed at a union. But alas, Flora Ferraby considered marriage for a woman servitude, and one must suppose that she would find the life of a duchess-in-waiting confining.
Did not dear Viola sometimes roll her eyes, saying, la, here I must be going about Duchessing? He smiled. These days, no doubt, a young woman of Viola’s intellect would be pursuing studies at one of these colleges for ladies, like their niece Janey. But over the years she had become a respected scholar of the languages of the Orient, and they both found themselves great sympathizers of this new Bengali reform movement.
But Bella, though she had shown surprisingly well at the Miss Barnards’ school, did not seem particularly inclined to intellectual pursuits. Was there an older lady that she was at the feet of, it was undoubtedly Lady Emily Merrett, prime horsewoman, famed for her revival of the antient art of falconry, noted archer, residing on the small family estate of Attervale as quite Lady of the Manor with her cousin Lalage Fenster.
That was somewhat more eligible a model for a young lady than Belinda Penkarding, as she now called herself, widow of the late spurious Marquess of Bexbury, the lunatic bigamist, that she had left long before his elevation but returned to denounce on his attempt to marry an heiress following his succession. Had lived for years with the late Captain Penkarding breeding and schooling race-horses – noted for her skills in horse-doctoring – a fine woman but very much not In Society! Would he dared say be somewhat of a scandal was it known that Bella occasional met her. Though sure there were ladies presented at Court and received everywhere that he would consider presented a greater danger to a young woman!
But here they were at last at Attervale! A very tidy property, one saw that the Ladies of Attervale kept it all very proper – a quaint old-fashioned dovecote, beehives – as they approached the manor house. The mews for Lady Em’s hawks was, he fancied, somewhat more distant.
And Bella standing upon the step! He had been somewhat concerned as to how he should find her. Had been so unwonted languid following the Hackwold Incident, even after recovering from the chill caused by a wild ride on a sleety winter night. Quintus Ferraby had put it to him that she had sustained a shock to the nervous system – that Biffle, who knew more of the whole matter than they had felt wise to disclose beyond the family, felt very likely. A girl like Bella would not have anticipated encountering the like of Gothick villainy whilst attending a house-party at – of all places – Hackwold. Sir Antony and Lady Chellow were known for the excellent ton of their parties, but alas, had been called away to a sick relative, leaving all in the hands of Sir Antony’s detrimental half-brother Mortimer, and an aged spinster aunt.
Of course it was necessary to discourage Gillie from going challenge Blatchett – one feared that would only disseminate scandal – but indeed, knowing Gillie’s skill with a sword, and also a pistol, one was greatly tempted to give his brotherly wrath full range. Gillie might go deprecate the tales that gossip gave out, but there had been that duel in Buda-Pesth in which he had come off victorious – other tales perchance untold –
Bella came up to embrace her father as she had done in younger days. O, Papa! He held her away a little, to see her eyes bright, colour in her cheeks – recruiting here had been quite the best thing for her.
Why, Bella, he said, sure Attervale suits you.
O, 'tis entirely the pleasantest place! And I do not go be idle here – have been putting myself to study, as well learning somewhat of the domestic arts from Miss Fenster – but do you come in and take refreshment.
He fancied that the charming taste displayed in the parlour – entirely fitted to a country place the like of this – was due to Miss Fenster rather than Lady Emily. A fine jardinière by the window – good old-fashioned furniture well-kept-up –
A maid came in with a coffee-service and a platter of scones.
Bella showed exceeding adept at the pouring out and ritual offerings of cream and sugar! Did she at last acquire a little polish?
Sitting back in her own chair she said she supposed that he was on his way to Qualling, on account of this election?
That was something to startle Biffle! Then he saw the pile of newspapers and periodicals on the low table beside the sopha – was that what Bella had been putting herself to study?
What, do you turn to politics?
Bella blushed a little and cast down her eyes. Why, you knew I was reading the writings of Miss Ferraby – and she and Miss Roberts came visit here some little while ago, o, is she not remarkable? Such a mind – such a way of putting things – and got me into thinking of these matters –
Biffle’s mind was cast back to a foolish young fellow that had run about with a crew of debauchees, that had one night been abandoned by 'em incapacitated drunk in a gutter. And a musical voice saying, la, this will not do, 'tis Lord Sallington, I apprehend, let us get him into a chair – and seeing what, though decked in quite the height of fashion, seemed a golden-haired angel. That had took him to her apartments, give him a bath, a bed to sleep in, much strong coffee the morn, and demonstrated to him finer pleasures than he had found with those chaps.
Eventually turning his mind to his position and his responsibilities, and quite firmly arguing that these would not sit well with a flight to Gretna with her.
He had long since guessed that Flora Ferraby was Clorinda’s child – the resemblance was generally supposed to support the common belief that she was some relative of Eliza Ferraby’s. There had been nothing stern about her gentle persuasions towards duty and he dared say that Flora had the same gifts.
He smiled at Bella and said that Miss Ferraby’s powers of mind were only surpassed by her rhetorical capacity.
I know, said Bella, that there are those that deem certain matters upon which Miss Ferraby discourses unsuited to young women: but indeed, she spoke of nothing improper, but that ladies should be informed about the ways things are in society – and that it should not be considered unwomanly to take an intelligent interest in politics and economics &C –
Biffle chuckled. Bella blushed. Sure I have seen that Mama and Lady Wallace in particular – and of course Cathy – understand these matters a deal better than some gentlemen. But I have been wondering – she folded her hands in her lap and looked unwonted sober – whether there is any way I might come about to be useful?
Well! He had been pondering whether he might persuade Steenie to put aside poetry and be of some assistance to Essie during these next weeks, for his eldest son would be hard-pressed – ought to go be dutiful at Nitherholme besides assisting his father – was it only the duller tasks of keeping papers in order and pens sharpened and inkwells filled –
He was saying somewhat of the kind of work that might be wanted, when came in Essie himself, bearing a bundle wrapped up in sacking.
How now, Essie! What have you there?
Essie laid his burden very gently down upon one of the low tables that was not already encumbered. I finally persuaded Sir Hobday Perram to sell me a couple of paintings – two charming pieces of frivolity of the French school of the last century, I am of the strongest suspicion that one will turn out a Fragonard – so that the poor fellow can mend that leaking roof. He was very pressing for me to take 'em – so grateful for the introductions to Davison and Hannah &C – Davison has excellent news concerning the publication of his treatise –
However, I managed to make something of a bargain, by prevailing upon him to have call upon him one of Matt Johnson’s agents – I daresay 'twill be Miss Hacker – to advize upon making his valuable collection of Persian things more secure, for does word get about more generally, one fears 'twill be a temptation to thieves.
Biffle and Bella looked at him with great admiration.
That was very well done!
Essie shrugged. Then grinned. So, Father, has Bella prevailed upon you yet to let her come be your political secretary and one speculates in due course come about to emulate Aspasia in her writings upon Parliamentary matters?
Bella groaned at this brotherly teazing.
Aside from how charming it would be to have Bella occupied in this new fashion, Biffle took the thought that perchance she might in due course take thought towards a political match for which this would be educational instructive!