#(HELEN GYM SHOULD HAVE WON)

[thewynne]

This. Coming from Philadelphia, starting at the local level works.

Philly's charter mandates more than one party on City Council; even if one party sweeps the vote, at least two at-large city council seats HAVE to go to a second party or independent candidate. That made space for a progressive 3rd party, Working Families Party, to successfully run a candidate for one of the minority at-large seats in 2019. Once they knew it was possible, WFP ran a second candidate in 2023 and successfully got them into the second seat.

As of the last City Council election the minority leaders are leftist progressive 3rd party members on a Democratic-majority board; there are 3 parties on our City Council and the lone Republican comes from one red district in the northeast. And with that clout, leftist 3rd parties like WFP and the local DSA are also working to leverage the local dems into running more progressive candidates on their slates as well.

What nobody understands about American politics is that creating a third party big enough to compete with the top two is a project that would take at least ten to twenty years, meaning it would still not be viable for decades worth of elections. It would have to be built up slowly and steadily first for all that time. Currently there are none who can get even 1% of the vote. They're jokes. Additional parties exist only as a kind of nice gesture and tradition right now, barely getting news coverage other than novel curiosities.

In some other countries you can vote for your "preferred" choice and if they lose, your vote goes to your backup choices. Not in America. You get one vote for one guy and if they lose your vote evaporates.

Also, the electorates get the majority voting power and even if everyone in a district voted for a third party, every electorate is dedicated to voting either Republican or Democrat and will still do so. The time to urge people to support a third party is basically an ENTIRE GENERATION ago, or you can start now, with the understanding that it may, with enough effort, have a shot at presidency in time for your grandchildren to vote, if you can ensure there are some 50-100 million people in the country united under that party's clearly stated ideals by that time.

[imaginesmai]

Tom Holland-Back to you

Inspired by Back to you-Selena Gomez. It’s really sad and it might be unexpected, so I’m not going to put any warnings. Just, ANGST AND SOME SENSITIVE TOPICS THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU CRY

Took you like a shot

Thought that I could chase you with a cold evening

Let a couple years water down how I’m feeling about you

Tom knew that he never should have gotten involved with you in the first place; his best friend’s sister, his friend since forever and the woman he imagined a world with. He should have known something would go wrong. His luck with women wasn’t good, and he took the chance without caring about the consequences. About the feelings afterwards, about the broken friendship and the endless tears.

He was so wrong.

In his mind, he could still picture the video he first recorded you on. Smiling at the camera with your brand new shirt from Spiderman, giggling like a proper fan and trying to cover your face from him. He could still hear your sweet voice calling out for Tessa when she did something wrong, only to finally let her hop into the bed with the two of you, cuddling together. When he closed his eyes, he could still see your teary face the last time you closed the door on him, bags in hand. Leaving a whimpering Tessa and a broken-hearted Tom behind.

Tom’s throat burned once more as the fiery liquid from the glass bottle in his hands darted down his throat. He had several missed calls from his family and friends, some of them from the director of the film he was working on. He had promised you he would be okay, that he would carry on with his life and find someone else that, maybe, could give him half of what you gave. You had laughed, and he smiled, knowing not even that was possible.

But that day was different. Because it would had been your birthday, and Tom still had your gift wrapped in the back of the wardrobe. He couldn’t remember what it was, just that he had been squealing in happiness when he brought it.

Last year, the two celebrated all day together in bed, wrapped up in each other’s warmth. You had said it had been your favourite birthday yet, and that you couldn’t wait to see how you would spend it next year. How ironic that, the next week, you left.

Harry had checked on him earlier, but he decided to keep his distance since he knew that Tom was still too sensitive about it, and that the wrong words could get him into a hole that Harry didn’t want to see his brother in. Jacob had called around noon to discuss something about the scrip, but Tom knew he was really just trying to distract him. It had been a good distraction thought, Tom had spent the better part of two hours on the phone, not thinking about you.

But soon after he had hung up, the memories came back. You and him stealing glances across the room, before dating, and then him telling it to his brothers like a teenager in love. You and him laughing about something you just knew, and holding hands after that. Saying I love you for the first time, between kisses, and for the last time, between tears.

Tom took another sip at the bottle.

I wanna hold you when I’m not supposed to

When I’m lying close to someone else

You’re stuck in my head and I can’t get you out of it

Tom had tried to move on, he did. Truly.

It was just a lot harder than what he thought it would be. He would compare every aspect of a girl to you. Because that girl ate her pasta like that, and you swirled it around your fork before shoving the first bite into his mouth. And the other had that laugh, while you started noiseless before breaking into a fit of loud and airy laughs that made his chest clench.

They weren’t bad people. Carri was loving and kind, Barbara was an advocate for children’s education, Marie spent her weekends volunteering to save the environment, and Helen loved dogs as much as Tom. But they weren’t you, not even close, and Tom stopped trying after he called the second girl your name in bed.

Some mornings, he would wake up early and pull you closer. He always thought about you first, and had a smile since he opened his eyes. Tom still thought it was like that some mornings, and woke up crying. Remembering, that you had left, that he had agreed and that you weren’t coming back.

It was never the same for him when he slept with other people. Barbara was too loud. Carri was too freaky. Marie was too shy. And Helen too dominating. Sometimes, Tom would imagine your face in other’s girls faces. Half-closed eyes, rounded lips in an o shape and flushed cheeks. He tried to imagine it was you moaning his name and touching his skin, and not someone else.

He imagined that it was you holding his hand as he walked through the park, not Tessa’s cold lash, that it was you who held his arms when he went ice-skating, not that awful date of the past month, and that it was you who he spent all day texting back and forth with.

Most important, Tom imagined a day where he wouldn’t imagine he was with you instead of the person he was actually with. He hoped that day would come soon, and each time the doorbell rang he stepped up with the same glint of excitement that died every day.

Tom felt that he had won the jackpot with you, that he had finally done his ace in golf with you. Everyone else felt like a mediocre prize.

Playing and replaying old conversations

Overthinking every word and I hate it

Cause it’s not me

His nightmares were plagued with you; and his dreams too. His sweet dreams turned sour as he brain too him back to your last moments together, over and over again.

Tom had found the letter early in the morning on Monday; and had went to the gym not knowing what it was or what it meant. It had some strange logo on the front and was thicker that the rest of them, but he had been in a hurry; sometimes, he wished he had stayed and read it with you. Because receiving the condolences of your private clinic for not being able to do anything against your cancer was hard, and that was the first mistake Tom made.

The second one, was bursting into tears and sobs, until he fainted for exhaustion and pain, leaving you to deal with it for the night. He had woken up thinking it was just a dream, yet your teary face and sad smile said otherwise.

He had never met someone as selfless as you. While you walked out of the door, two weeks later, he felt his heart clench at that. Tom knew you were doing it for him, to avoid him from watching you at your worst and make him suffer more. Pleas, cries and begging didn’t work; you left after spending a whole night awake just hugging each other and the second letter came. Before the five day of him being alone and drowning on his sorrow, it arrived; a small yet effective goodbye letter you had written to him for when all of it ended. It was signed with your mother’s writing.

Even after months had passed, Tom hadn’t gone more than three nights in a row without wondering if he did the right thing by respecting your wish of dying without him until your last breath. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself it was your decision, and he did well; a shadow of your disappointed face chased him in his dreams.

And what’s the point in hiding?

Everybody knows we got unfinished business

And I’ll regret it if I didn’t say

This isn’t what it could be (isn’t what it could be)

“Tom Holland’s bigger strike, and final set”, the headlines had called it.

Once it had gone public, his temporal retirement and the reason behind it, the fans and the media had been behind him. The press and the public didn’t know many details, like that Tom had three websites written down on his favourite notebook along with some phones of real estate agencies that had economic flats in LA. The press didn’t care about those things, they didn’t care about Tom having his life planned with you or the pain he was in, the only wanted every juicy detail about Tom and Harrison ‘break up��� and when he was going to come back to the industry. They didn’t care neither about Harrison, who couldn’t look at his best friend without thinking about his dead sister.

The world only wanted to know as much as they could on the non-important details about Tom’s girlfriend, not about Y/N Osterfield, young girl who died because the government didn’t invest enough money in cancer treatment.

Tom hated that.

You can break my heart it two

But when it heals it beats for you

The night of your birthday, as Tom was going to bed, he found himself wandering around the house you used to share in London. He walked around until he stopped in front of your studio, where he had put all the things after you had left. The brown wooden door seemed to stare back at him, daring him to open it. After a few moments, he gave in, and slowly began to twist the doorknob.

When Tom got back from the funeral, after being left alone by a overprotective mother and worried brothers, he went to your studio and the realisation of what had happen drawn to him. He hadn’t cried in the funeral, and hadn’t talked to your family; after the official ceremony, he spent the next week holed up in your side of the bed and hugging your clothes.

He had tried to enter your studio that same day, and he had been met with silence

He got angry, really angry. Tom started yelling and screaming as waves of anger washed through his body. He began to grab everything he was and threw them across the room; your computer, books, the television, the lamp, notebooks, clock. He cursed out loud to Got for taking you so soon. Tom threw random little knickknacks he found and chucked them as hard as he could; his hands were bleeding by the end of it. The last thing he picked was a picture frame of the end of your desk, with a photo of you and him he had taken during your best vacation.

I know it’s forward but it’s true

Won’t lie I’d go back to you

Tom picked up the photograph, and the anger in him subsided, feeling drained. The screams turned into sobs and pitiful cries, and he started wheezing. With shaky hands, he turned around and placed the picture frame on your then flipped bed, and  walked out of the room. He knew he wouldn’t been coming back any time soon.

The day of your birthday, the room was the same way it was when he first visited. There were shards of broken glass everywhere. Piles and piles of ripped papers were strewn across the floor. Tom couldn’t help but since at the sound of glass under his shoe. He let one last tear roll down his cheek and rolled the sleeve of his shirt, ready to do what he had been trying to for a whole year.

He looked back, and saw Harrison with a small smile and a brush on his hand. His hair was longer, he seemed ten years older and he was wearing an old shirt that did nothing to his already skinny body.

Tom wasn’t looking much better. He had had his hair cut recently, not bearing anymore the absence of your fingers through his hair. Luckily, Jacob had dragged him out of his apartment a couple of times to go to the gym and his mother made sure he ate at least twice a day. So even if he was thinner, he was still healthy.

If I could do it all again

I know I’d go back to you

When he sat down that night on bed, exhausted and with aches in all his body, he took the frame in his hands and looked at it closely. He promised to himself, once more, that it would be the last time he cried over you, as the tears soaked the picture. In the pit of his stomach, he knew that if he had the opportunity to go back in time and tell his past self all that had happened, to tell himself about the pain of falling in love with an expire date, he would still do everything the same  exact way. Tom realized, that even though he had lost you, he hadn’t lost the memories of you. And the good ones were much more better than the bad.

I’ll go back to you

I know I’d go back to you

Tom may had had his heart broken by you. He had lost his friendship with Harrison, a lethal wound on their relationship. And he had suffered what he thought it wasn’t possible. But he knew, if he had a choice, he would go back.

Every. Single. Damn. Time.

Want to know more about me? Here is my Masterlist! Feedback is always appreciated!!

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@delicately-important-trash​

[su-majestad]

Trying new styles and references, to match something I wrote...

Max spends his money on a pick up truck. It’s used and the paint is a bit chipped, and if you ever try to picture the word retro in your mind, this is the truck that appears in your mind’s eye. It’s a metallic red color and it’s pretty when it gleams under the sun. The door handles are chromed and the back box of it is big and sturdy. The truck squeaks when you hit the brakes, and the motor rumbles loudly.

Usually Max, Helen, and you fit alright in the front part of it. You sit in the middle, sandwiched between them. One half smells good, like the roses and daisies in Helen’s perfume, and other smells like the Barbasol and Bengay scent that clings unto Max. It smells like home.

The air conditioning hits you face-on. You feel it in your forehead and it pushes against your bangs and they usually stick up whenever you get off the vehicle at the end of the day.

When you’re too tired, you lean your head against Helen’s shoulder and she wraps an arm around you as she keeps softly singing whatever plays on the radio. The world is soft as the Manchester scenery speeds away and the truck sways a bit to the right to avoid a pothole, and Max grumbles.

Wally I rarely comes by. So does Wally II. The Wallies live in different cities and are usually under Barry’s shadow the whole day. But when they do come by Manchester to spend time with you and laugh, they sit in the back of the pick up truck, in the sturdy big box. It eternally smells like oil because you forgot to pick up a can that spilled there when Max had just bought it. The Wallies don’t mind it, they both have an affinity for mechanics, and the smell of car oil is a welcome one. Whenever they help each other up the back of the truck, they take a big whiff of it and smile at the same time. You smile after seeing them smile. Your hearts beats fast when it feels such good, genuine emotion. You feel like part of the grandparent’s house where they come visit to unwind. You’re proud to be part of that.

Wally I towers at six feet and four inches. He ruffles your hair whenever you’re at arm’s length and chuckles low in his throat. Kind of like the way a dad does. You always push his hand off and try to ruffle his hair back, but it stays neat in its orangey glory, because your short arm doesn’t reach the top of his head. Wally II laughs at that and pats your head too, and crouches down to allow you to have your vengeance on him, at least. But his hair is cropped tight and your hands just pats at the fluff of black curls split apart by a cropped lightning bolt. Wally II is easier on you, Wally I says he likes the face you make when you’re angry. In the end, both Wallies are good cousins.

You always think that when they sit next to you in the back of the red truck. Wally I is all limbs, and he just lays black, limbs akimbo, red hair fluttering in the wind. He’s happy and free. Wally II likes to sit close to you and ask you how you’ve been as Max speeds away in the truck. He laughs at what you say, he’s warm and relatable, and he cracks a few corny jokes on you, complaining Barry doesn’t laugh that much at them. You and Wally II have a secret handshake you can’t quite get the hang of yet, but he still encourages you anyway to keep trying.

If Max is in good spirits, he opens the little back window of the truck and turns on the radio and sings along to the country songs. If Helen is along, she laughs. The Wallies don’t know the lyrics, (bunch of city slickers), and instead clap along to the beat and sing nonsense that just matches the words coming out of the speakers. You just look at them and laugh and feel wonder and kindness and good in the world.

Max takes you to a nice ice cream Parlor downtown and brings you all the ice cream you can enjoy in the back box as he keeps on driving. Then there’s silence as everyone licks away the frozen treats and the music plays louder. The wind is nice and warm, and there’s a smudge of chocolate that clings to the tip of your nose as you wolf down the ice cream, sprinkles and cone and fudge and all. Pine trees grow on each side of the road, and sometimes you pass a classmate on a bike or a skateboard that yells out ‘Bart!’

You smile and wave back, and so do the Wallies, because they’re very polite deep down somewhere.

The truck is the second thing you drive, close after after a friend’s car that you may or may not have driven off a cliff way back when. Wally II volunteers to teach you the gear shift mechanism and you still can’t get the hang of there being three pedals to step on when you only have two feet. When you tell this to your cousins, they laugh until they cry, big belly laughs, and by the end you’re all laughing.

You end up sitting on Wally the first’s lap. He’ll step on the pedals. Wally the second manages the gear-shift. You focus on moving the steering wheel. That way you three drive around the block and back to Helen’s house, and she bursts out laughing when she sees the three of you cooped up in the truck like that. There’s so much laughing around them. You like that.

By the end of the week, Barry runs by to get the Wallies back. That’s the worst part of the week. They leave and it’s happy. But you’re alone in your room watching them speed away in lines of red and orange and silver and white. That’s not as happy.

The few moments Barry has to spend in Manchester before leaving with the Wallies are fun, though. He always lets you race him, and one time you almost won. He asks you about school, sports, and the shows you watch. He asks you about girls, and when you stick your tongue out at him he asks you about boys. You stick your tongue out all the same and he sticks his tongue out too, and he feels more like an equal. More like a pal, like a guy to joke around with, rather than the man you look up to every day and aspire to be. (Besides Max, but don’t tell him that). You let him ruffle your hair. He has the privilege. His blonde hair is cropped too short to ruffle back.

When you wear your suit you notice the red in it matches the red of the retro truck. You ask Max if he can paint white stripes on the side of the truck and call it the Impulse-Mobile. He grunts and says something like ‘over my dead body blah blah blah’.

Sometime over fall, a new superhero emerges, his name is Blue Beetle and when you look at his picture on the internet it reminds you of passing images in the future, when you ran away with your mom and Carol. It unsettles you for a while, but you get to meet him one day. He saves a little kid from drowning in the river nearby. You both got there at the same time, but he didn’t hesitate in jumping into the water. Plus, he can fly. Pretty cool.

Blue, that’s what you call him now, turns out is a great guy. Super chill, and he loves to talk about the stuff he likes, and his little sister. One day he calls you on the phone and starts to talk super fast (like almost speedster-fast) about how he met the Green Lanterns that day. You listen to his story and his amazement, and decide Uncle Hal really is pretty cool if you describe him as a flying green powerhouse monster man. You write that down in a notebook somewhere so you remember to call him that the next time you see him.

As you scribble on the notebook, Blue keeps talking and his voice changes pitch. You focus on the call.

��El Paso got destroyed though...” he says. And keeps quiet after that. The reality of the situation claiming him over.

You hesitate, and the pencil in your hand dances. “Yeah, but you saved the people.”

“Yeah, but there’s a giant hole in mi casa,” he sighs. “And my school is destroyed, especially the gym. Oh my god. I should go and help them. I should see if the Beetle suit can fix something...”

You’ve never seen Blue without his suit. To you, he’s a mechanical Mexican teenager. Likewise, he hasn’t seen you out of your costume. But you feel empathy gnaw at you. You can help too. You can get there so fast!

“I’ll go too, let me help you too!”

“What? No, Impulse I didn’t call you to— I mean, it would be great but— have you even been here before??”

You see him talk into his phone as you sped towards El Paso, having left a note in Helen’s kitchen counter. He feels the burst of wind and looks to the side to see you. You always knew he was a kid just like you, but seeing him so broken up and panicked about having destroyed his hometown made him look all the more vulnerable, killer alien-scarab on his back aside. You watch the Beetle suit take over tiny dot by tiny dot until it encases him and you both spend the afternoon picking up rubble from the streets of El Paso.

By nighttime, Blue’s mom made food, and invites you into her house even if he was still clad in white and red spandex. Blue sits on the dinner table next to you without his armor, and Blue’s little sister is fascinated with your goggles. You let her keep them when you run back to Manchester. You have dozens of them in your room. There’s a retro truck just like the Impulse-Mobile in front of Blue’s house (only a different color) and you realize the world is, in fact, quite small.

[reneeacaseyfl]

Indonesian President Joko Widodo: We are a tolerant nation

“I still believe that Islam in Indonesia is a tolerant and moderate Islam. Islam in Indonesia is modern, it is forward thinking,” said the leader, who is popularly known as Jokowi — a nickname he said was given to him by a French businessman while he was working as a furniture salesman.

In his second term as leader, Joko faces an uphill battle of uniting the world’s most populous Muslim nation, and fighting what he calls “hoaxes and fake news that influenced the mind of the people.”

“We now have to restore the situation and work together to build this country,” he said, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Joko’s comments came aftera bitter electoral race against his longtime rival, former general Prabowo Subianto, who refused to accept the election result, alleging widespread ballot-rigging that sparked deadly clashes in the capital. The Constitutional Court subsequently threw out Prabowo’s bid to overturn the result, calling it “legally groundless.”

Putting their differences aside, the two political rivals earlier this month vowed to work together. Pointedly, their first face-to-face meeting after the heated contest took place on the country’s inaugural metro line (the MRT) — one of Joko’s first-term infrastructure wins.

No compromising values

Five years ago, Joko won the presidency on a promise to increase jobs, crack down on corruption and bolster human rights. But during his re-election campaign, he embraced elements of Indonesia’s religious right.

His running mate was conservative cleric Ma’ruf Amin, who supports Sharia law and believes that homosexuality should be criminalized. Amin is now Indonesia’s vice president. That was seen as an effort to eat into Prabowo’s conservative support base and appease those who claimed he was not Islamic enough.

Joko denied that he befriended hardliners to win the election, suggesting his outwardly secular values had not been compromised.

“We would like to work with all elements of society. We would like to work with everyone to develop this country, but not with those who want to ruin this country in terms of its ideology and in developing our economy. There is no compromise for me,” he said.

Joko called Amin a “moderate Muslim” and said it was logical to have a cleric running mate in a country that has the largest population of Muslims in the world.

“I’m not going to change,” he said. “I will not change what I believe.”

Rising intolerance

While the President upholds that Indonesia is a tolerant and diverse society, rights groups say there is rising intolerance from hardline religious groups, especially against religious minorities and the LGBT community.

In 2016, Jakarta’s Chinese Christian governor (a Joko ally) Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, was accused of insulting the Quran and jailed on blasphemy charges. Massive rallies calling for his jailing paralyzed the capital.

Ahok was released in January after serving just under two years in jail, but the incident showed religious fundamentalism to be a powerful force.

Discrimination against LGBT people was already intensifying during Joko’s first term, fueled by what Human Rights Watch (HRW) said was “government-driven moral panic.”

In Indonesia, homosexuality is not illegal apart from in ultra-conservative Aceh province, which observes Shariah Law and publicly flogs those found guilty of having homosexual sex.

In May 2017, a police raid on a gym and sauna led to the arrests of 141 people in a single night because of their presumed sexuality. But Human Rights Watch reported that police raids and vigilante attacks led to the arrests of at least 300 people that year — the highest number ever recorded in Indonesia.

A number of high-profile Indonesian politicians, including several government ministers, have unleashed anti-LGBT rhetoric and a parliamentary proposal still being debated would criminalize gay sex and extramarital sex.

In its World Report 2019, HRW said that while Joko’s administration “took small steps” in 2018 to protect the rights of “some of Indonesia’s most vulnerable people” more could be done.

“Although Jokowi issued a plea for religious tolerance in his annual State of the Nation address on August 16, his administration has failed to translate his rhetorical support for human rights into meaningful policies during his first term in office,” the report’s authors said.

On this issue Joko is noncommittal, suggesting that because Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, its Muslim citizens would not accept greater rights for LGBT people. A 2013 Pew survey found that 93% of the country refused to accept homosexuality.

“Tolerance in Indonesia, we can see. Everybody has good tolerance. However, when it comes to regulations and laws, I can ensure you, there will be major rejection by the people,” he said.

‘No tolerance for terrorism in Indonesia’

While the LGBT crackdown was driven in part by Islamic hardliners, Joko said he is not worried about the rise of religious fundamentalism in Indonesia.

In a country of 267 million people, spread across 17,000 islands it is normal to have “two, three, four percent of people who are hardliners,” he said.

“It is the obligation of the country to know how to embrace them. So that (is) the goal of this country: to become an opulent, just and prosperous country,” he said.

But that embrace became a political flashpoint recently when Abu Bakar Bashir, a radical Islamic cleric and the alleged mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombings, was granted early release from jail on humanitarian grounds.

Following an enormous backlash — from liberals as well as hardliners — Joko backed away from the plan. Bashir remains behind bars and on his fate Joko is now unwavering. “The final decision was no,” he said.

The threat of homegrown terrorism remains. In May 2018, a spate of deadly, ISIS-inspired bombings rocked Indonesia’s second-largest city Surabaya, targeting churches and the police.

Returning Indonesian ISIS fighters also present a new challenge to the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Police reportedly foiled an attack just before the election, arresting at least nine fighters affiliated with ISIS — at least six of whom were known to have fought in Iraq and Syria, police said.

Joko said his counter-terrorism forces — known as Detachment 88 — have a two-pronged approach.

“There are certain cases where we can embrace them, and return them to normalcy. But, if it is hard to do, then the hard approach is done through strict law enforcement. We do not tolerate terrorism in Indonesia,” he said.

Joko said deradicalization programs were working.

“Major terrorists have returned to society, established foundations to embrace ex-terrorists who can live normally. That is the success of deradicalization in Indonesia,” he said.

Growth and development a priority

But Joko’s focus remains on the economy and on Indonesia’s development.

During his first term, Indonesia’s economy grew at just over 5% per annum — shy of the 7% promised, but enough for the country’s GDP to surpass $1 trillion in 2017. The IMF believes that with economic reform and investment, Indonesia’s economy could grow by 6.5% by 2022.

To achieve that goal, Joko said: “We must conduct reform on a massive scale.”

That means teaching workers new skills, introducing tax reform and attracting investment and building the large-scale infrastructure projects that have become a hallmark of Joko’s presidency.

The latter will involve Indonesia’s biggest trading partner: China. After the election, the government signed deals worth billions of dollars with the Chinese government for major infrastructure projects as part of Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road initiative. And this month Indonesia reportedly asked China to set up a special Belt and Road fund after offering $91 million in projects, according to Reuters.

But reports suggest that smaller nations are being saddled with debt from these huge Chinese mega-projects and one concern is that China will be in a strong position to influence their strategic decisions if they default.

Joko said Indonesia won’t fall prey to the so-called “debt-trap diplomacy” problem, because the deals made were business to business, he said, and will “benefit the national interest of Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, on July 11, 22 countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement condemning China’s mass detention of Uyghur and other minorities in the country’s Xinjiang region.

Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim nation — was not a signatory.

While Joko said he “continues to monitor problems in China” with regards to Uyghurs, “To be frank, I do not have enough data about that,” he said.

Anna Coren, Jane Sit and Masrur Jamaluddin reported from Jakarta Indonesia and Helen Regan wrote from Hong Kong.

Credit: Source link

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[velmaemyers88]

Indonesian President Joko Widodo: We are a tolerant nation

“I still believe that Islam in Indonesia is a tolerant and moderate Islam. Islam in Indonesia is modern, it is forward thinking,” said the leader, who is popularly known as Jokowi — a nickname he said was given to him by a French businessman while he was working as a furniture salesman.

In his second term as leader, Joko faces an uphill battle of uniting the world’s most populous Muslim nation, and fighting what he calls “hoaxes and fake news that influenced the mind of the people.”

“We now have to restore the situation and work together to build this country,” he said, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Joko’s comments came aftera bitter electoral race against his longtime rival, former general Prabowo Subianto, who refused to accept the election result, alleging widespread ballot-rigging that sparked deadly clashes in the capital. The Constitutional Court subsequently threw out Prabowo’s bid to overturn the result, calling it “legally groundless.”

Putting their differences aside, the two political rivals earlier this month vowed to work together. Pointedly, their first face-to-face meeting after the heated contest took place on the country’s inaugural metro line (the MRT) — one of Joko’s first-term infrastructure wins.

No compromising values

Five years ago, Joko won the presidency on a promise to increase jobs, crack down on corruption and bolster human rights. But during his re-election campaign, he embraced elements of Indonesia’s religious right.

His running mate was conservative cleric Ma’ruf Amin, who supports Sharia law and believes that homosexuality should be criminalized. Amin is now Indonesia’s vice president. That was seen as an effort to eat into Prabowo’s conservative support base and appease those who claimed he was not Islamic enough.

Joko denied that he befriended hardliners to win the election, suggesting his outwardly secular values had not been compromised.

“We would like to work with all elements of society. We would like to work with everyone to develop this country, but not with those who want to ruin this country in terms of its ideology and in developing our economy. There is no compromise for me,” he said.

Joko called Amin a “moderate Muslim” and said it was logical to have a cleric running mate in a country that has the largest population of Muslims in the world.

“I’m not going to change,” he said. “I will not change what I believe.”

Rising intolerance

While the President upholds that Indonesia is a tolerant and diverse society, rights groups say there is rising intolerance from hardline religious groups, especially against religious minorities and the LGBT community.

In 2016, Jakarta’s Chinese Christian governor (a Joko ally) Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, was accused of insulting the Quran and jailed on blasphemy charges. Massive rallies calling for his jailing paralyzed the capital.

Ahok was released in January after serving just under two years in jail, but the incident showed religious fundamentalism to be a powerful force.

Discrimination against LGBT people was already intensifying during Joko’s first term, fueled by what Human Rights Watch (HRW) said was “government-driven moral panic.”

In Indonesia, homosexuality is not illegal apart from in ultra-conservative Aceh province, which observes Shariah Law and publicly flogs those found guilty of having homosexual sex.

In May 2017, a police raid on a gym and sauna led to the arrests of 141 people in a single night because of their presumed sexuality. But Human Rights Watch reported that police raids and vigilante attacks led to the arrests of at least 300 people that year — the highest number ever recorded in Indonesia.

A number of high-profile Indonesian politicians, including several government ministers, have unleashed anti-LGBT rhetoric and a parliamentary proposal still being debated would criminalize gay sex and extramarital sex.

In its World Report 2019, HRW said that while Joko’s administration “took small steps” in 2018 to protect the rights of “some of Indonesia’s most vulnerable people” more could be done.

“Although Jokowi issued a plea for religious tolerance in his annual State of the Nation address on August 16, his administration has failed to translate his rhetorical support for human rights into meaningful policies during his first term in office,” the report’s authors said.

On this issue Joko is noncommittal, suggesting that because Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, its Muslim citizens would not accept greater rights for LGBT people. A 2013 Pew survey found that 93% of the country refused to accept homosexuality.

“Tolerance in Indonesia, we can see. Everybody has good tolerance. However, when it comes to regulations and laws, I can ensure you, there will be major rejection by the people,” he said.

‘No tolerance for terrorism in Indonesia’

While the LGBT crackdown was driven in part by Islamic hardliners, Joko said he is not worried about the rise of religious fundamentalism in Indonesia.

In a country of 267 million people, spread across 17,000 islands it is normal to have “two, three, four percent of people who are hardliners,” he said.

“It is the obligation of the country to know how to embrace them. So that (is) the goal of this country: to become an opulent, just and prosperous country,” he said.

But that embrace became a political flashpoint recently when Abu Bakar Bashir, a radical Islamic cleric and the alleged mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombings, was granted early release from jail on humanitarian grounds.

Following an enormous backlash — from liberals as well as hardliners — Joko backed away from the plan. Bashir remains behind bars and on his fate Joko is now unwavering. “The final decision was no,” he said.

The threat of homegrown terrorism remains. In May 2018, a spate of deadly, ISIS-inspired bombings rocked Indonesia’s second-largest city Surabaya, targeting churches and the police.

Returning Indonesian ISIS fighters also present a new challenge to the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Police reportedly foiled an attack just before the election, arresting at least nine fighters affiliated with ISIS — at least six of whom were known to have fought in Iraq and Syria, police said.

Joko said his counter-terrorism forces — known as Detachment 88 — have a two-pronged approach.

“There are certain cases where we can embrace them, and return them to normalcy. But, if it is hard to do, then the hard approach is done through strict law enforcement. We do not tolerate terrorism in Indonesia,” he said.

Joko said deradicalization programs were working.

“Major terrorists have returned to society, established foundations to embrace ex-terrorists who can live normally. That is the success of deradicalization in Indonesia,” he said.

Growth and development a priority

But Joko’s focus remains on the economy and on Indonesia’s development.

During his first term, Indonesia’s economy grew at just over 5% per annum — shy of the 7% promised, but enough for the country’s GDP to surpass $1 trillion in 2017. The IMF believes that with economic reform and investment, Indonesia’s economy could grow by 6.5% by 2022.

To achieve that goal, Joko said: “We must conduct reform on a massive scale.”

That means teaching workers new skills, introducing tax reform and attracting investment and building the large-scale infrastructure projects that have become a hallmark of Joko’s presidency.

The latter will involve Indonesia’s biggest trading partner: China. After the election, the government signed deals worth billions of dollars with the Chinese government for major infrastructure projects as part of Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road initiative. And this month Indonesia reportedly asked China to set up a special Belt and Road fund after offering $91 million in projects, according to Reuters.

But reports suggest that smaller nations are being saddled with debt from these huge Chinese mega-projects and one concern is that China will be in a strong position to influence their strategic decisions if they default.

Joko said Indonesia won’t fall prey to the so-called “debt-trap diplomacy” problem, because the deals made were business to business, he said, and will “benefit the national interest of Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, on July 11, 22 countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement condemning China’s mass detention of Uyghur and other minorities in the country’s Xinjiang region.

Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim nation — was not a signatory.

While Joko said he “continues to monitor problems in China” with regards to Uyghurs, “To be frank, I do not have enough data about that,” he said.

Anna Coren, Jane Sit and Masrur Jamaluddin reported from Jakarta Indonesia and Helen Regan wrote from Hong Kong.

Credit: Source link

The post Indonesian President Joko Widodo: We are a tolerant nation appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/indonesian-president-joko-widodo-we-are-a-tolerant-nation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=indonesian-president-joko-widodo-we-are-a-tolerant-nation from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.tumblr.com/post/186601880142

[weeklyreviewer]

Indonesian President Joko Widodo: We are a tolerant nation

“I still believe that Islam in Indonesia is a tolerant and moderate Islam. Islam in Indonesia is modern, it is forward thinking,” said the leader, who is popularly known as Jokowi — a nickname he said was given to him by a French businessman while he was working as a furniture salesman.

In his second term as leader, Joko faces an uphill battle of uniting the world’s most populous Muslim nation, and fighting what he calls “hoaxes and fake news that influenced the mind of the people.”

“We now have to restore the situation and work together to build this country,” he said, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Joko’s comments came after a bitter electoral race against his longtime rival, former general Prabowo Subianto, who refused to accept the election result, alleging widespread ballot-rigging that sparked deadly clashes in the capital. The Constitutional Court subsequently threw out Prabowo’s bid to overturn the result, calling it “legally groundless.”

Putting their differences aside, the two political rivals earlier this month vowed to work together. Pointedly, their first face-to-face meeting after the heated contest took place on the country’s inaugural metro line (the MRT) — one of Joko’s first-term infrastructure wins.

No compromising values

Five years ago, Joko won the presidency on a promise to increase jobs, crack down on corruption and bolster human rights. But during his re-election campaign, he embraced elements of Indonesia’s religious right.

His running mate was conservative cleric Ma’ruf Amin, who supports Sharia law and believes that homosexuality should be criminalized. Amin is now Indonesia’s vice president. That was seen as an effort to eat into Prabowo’s conservative support base and appease those who claimed he was not Islamic enough.

Joko denied that he befriended hardliners to win the election, suggesting his outwardly secular values had not been compromised.

“We would like to work with all elements of society. We would like to work with everyone to develop this country, but not with those who want to ruin this country in terms of its ideology and in developing our economy. There is no compromise for me,” he said.

Joko called Amin a “moderate Muslim” and said it was logical to have a cleric running mate in a country that has the largest population of Muslims in the world.

“I’m not going to change,” he said. “I will not change what I believe.”

Rising intolerance

While the President upholds that Indonesia is a tolerant and diverse society, rights groups say there is rising intolerance from hardline religious groups, especially against religious minorities and the LGBT community.

In 2016, Jakarta’s Chinese Christian governor (a Joko ally) Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, was accused of insulting the Quran and jailed on blasphemy charges. Massive rallies calling for his jailing paralyzed the capital.

Ahok was released in January after serving just under two years in jail, but the incident showed religious fundamentalism to be a powerful force.

Discrimination against LGBT people was already intensifying during Joko’s first term, fueled by what Human Rights Watch (HRW) said was “government-driven moral panic.”

In Indonesia, homosexuality is not illegal apart from in ultra-conservative Aceh province, which observes Shariah Law and publicly flogs those found guilty of having homosexual sex.

In May 2017, a police raid on a gym and sauna led to the arrests of 141 people in a single night because of their presumed sexuality. But Human Rights Watch reported that police raids and vigilante attacks led to the arrests of at least 300 people that year — the highest number ever recorded in Indonesia.

A number of high-profile Indonesian politicians, including several government ministers, have unleashed anti-LGBT rhetoric and a parliamentary proposal still being debated would criminalize gay sex and extramarital sex.

In its World Report 2019, HRW said that while Joko’s administration “took small steps” in 2018 to protect the rights of “some of Indonesia’s most vulnerable people” more could be done.

“Although Jokowi issued a plea for religious tolerance in his annual State of the Nation address on August 16, his administration has failed to translate his rhetorical support for human rights into meaningful policies during his first term in office,” the report’s authors said.

On this issue Joko is noncommittal, suggesting that because Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, its Muslim citizens would not accept greater rights for LGBT people. A 2013 Pew survey found that 93% of the country refused to accept homosexuality.

“Tolerance in Indonesia, we can see. Everybody has good tolerance. However, when it comes to regulations and laws, I can ensure you, there will be major rejection by the people,” he said.

‘No tolerance for terrorism in Indonesia’

While the LGBT crackdown was driven in part by Islamic hardliners, Joko said he is not worried about the rise of religious fundamentalism in Indonesia.

In a country of 267 million people, spread across 17,000 islands it is normal to have “two, three, four percent of people who are hardliners,” he said.

“It is the obligation of the country to know how to embrace them. So that (is) the goal of this country: to become an opulent, just and prosperous country,” he said.

But that embrace became a political flashpoint recently when Abu Bakar Bashir, a radical Islamic cleric and the alleged mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombings, was granted early release from jail on humanitarian grounds.

Following an enormous backlash — from liberals as well as hardliners — Joko backed away from the plan. Bashir remains behind bars and on his fate Joko is now unwavering. “The final decision was no,” he said.

The threat of homegrown terrorism remains. In May 2018, a spate of deadly, ISIS-inspired bombings rocked Indonesia’s second-largest city Surabaya, targeting churches and the police.

Returning Indonesian ISIS fighters also present a new challenge to the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Police reportedly foiled an attack just before the election, arresting at least nine fighters affiliated with ISIS — at least six of whom were known to have fought in Iraq and Syria, police said.

Joko said his counter-terrorism forces — known as Detachment 88 — have a two-pronged approach.

“There are certain cases where we can embrace them, and return them to normalcy. But, if it is hard to do, then the hard approach is done through strict law enforcement. We do not tolerate terrorism in Indonesia,” he said.

Joko said deradicalization programs were working.

“Major terrorists have returned to society, established foundations to embrace ex-terrorists who can live normally. That is the success of deradicalization in Indonesia,” he said.

Growth and development a priority

But Joko’s focus remains on the economy and on Indonesia’s development.

During his first term, Indonesia’s economy grew at just over 5% per annum — shy of the 7% promised, but enough for the country’s GDP to surpass $1 trillion in 2017. The IMF believes that with economic reform and investment, Indonesia’s economy could grow by 6.5% by 2022.

To achieve that goal, Joko said: “We must conduct reform on a massive scale.”

That means teaching workers new skills, introducing tax reform and attracting investment and building the large-scale infrastructure projects that have become a hallmark of Joko’s presidency.

The latter will involve Indonesia’s biggest trading partner: China. After the election, the government signed deals worth billions of dollars with the Chinese government for major infrastructure projects as part of Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road initiative. And this month Indonesia reportedly asked China to set up a special Belt and Road fund after offering $91 million in projects, according to Reuters.

But reports suggest that smaller nations are being saddled with debt from these huge Chinese mega-projects and one concern is that China will be in a strong position to influence their strategic decisions if they default.

Joko said Indonesia won’t fall prey to the so-called “debt-trap diplomacy” problem, because the deals made were business to business, he said, and will “benefit the national interest of Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, on July 11, 22 countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement condemning China’s mass detention of Uyghur and other minorities in the country’s Xinjiang region.

Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim nation — was not a signatory.

While Joko said he “continues to monitor problems in China” with regards to Uyghurs, “To be frank, I do not have enough data about that,” he said.

Anna Coren, Jane Sit and Masrur Jamaluddin reported from Jakarta Indonesia and Helen Regan wrote from Hong Kong.

Credit: Source link

The post Indonesian President Joko Widodo: We are a tolerant nation appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/indonesian-president-joko-widodo-we-are-a-tolerant-nation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=indonesian-president-joko-widodo-we-are-a-tolerant-nation

[bettysnooze]

i can't remember if i asked or not so!! 6, 7, 12, 13, and 28!! long ones im soz

6. which one of your muses have you been playing the longest?

answered here !!

7. which one of your muses has the most ships?

HELEN RIGHT NOW OH MAN, i never realised how flirty she is wow, and the chemistry is off the charts for so many ppl i don’t even know how to begin, half of this might just be in my head so um pls lets talk about sHIPS WITH HELEN

12. what is something everyone should know about your muses before interacting?

betty: she’s made a name for herself among students, i feel like it’d be pretty common knowledge that auradon prep and arcadia uni has its own sandman. they might not know its specifically betty?? but definitely once they’re around her, you’d just know. so if you need a good night’s sleep or some help with nightmares, betty is your girl. 

veronika: she’s a tour guide for auradon prep students! so she’s good for characters that come in for the first time ever. she always has some sort of bag with her and it’s basically a survival kit (water, umbrella, maps, auradon keychains). 

makaria: she always looks amazing. girl with the awesome fashion sense, great nails, great hair. always put together. she had a good relationship with her father, so on the isle they were basically this strong unit. if hades was walking, you’d know mak wasn’t too far behind. 

hershey: he comes from a playable game! the arcade’s on the west coast somewhere, but yeah sugar rush is 100% playable so if it’s relevant for your character to have went there and played sugar rush by any chance, then they probably would remember hershey from there. 

cestrum: he’s tall. like…6 foot more. i think i said he was 6 foot 2. in a crowd he’s one of the tall ones. when he’s sitting down in a low chair, his knees are really knobby it’s like watching a giraffe sit down. 

aiwei: he’s got visible frankenstein’s-monster type scars. recently, he’d had to stitch himself up a lot (without a good access to magic) so along his arms and fingers especially. his skin isn’t warm, it’s a little pale actually but honestly the life comes from his eyes and his smile.

otto: he’s handsome af. literally classic prince charming. comes from snow white’s family, so very posh, very rich boy trope. sits with the cool kids, acts like a cool kid, lives like a cool kid. will only be seen associating with other royals (or those close to royals) or sitting alone. but he always looks busy too. 

illyria: she’s a bit ‘mona lisa painting’ in that her eyes will literally follow you even if she doesn’t move. once you catch her attention, she won’t look away until she’s had her fill of analysing you. also she speaks a lot in class (more in recent months) and if she’s curious about you, you’ll know. she bothers a lot of people in class too lmao.

kirsa: she’s a cheerleader! super team spirit all the way. she’s got makeup on her all the time, has her own version of a survival kit. need lip balm? she’s got new ones you can just take. need pads or tampons? she’s got light, heavy, and super. need a snack? she’s got a brownie in a tin. need alcohol or smokes? she’s got them too. omg she runs high school contraband.

dignan:��LITERALLY SO BUSY WITH CLUBS. you will literally always see him hanging out with someone from a sports team, usually the baseball team. he’s literally a jock. since he joined the team he’s taken to wearing some sort of sports fashion – a cap, or shoes, or a jersey or jacket. BUT ALSO he’s in mathletes!! if he’s not in any of his other extracurriculars or studying or hanging with friends, then he’s at the gym or training. 

helen: also a jock. but she’s more known for having aurelius hanging around her all the time. he knows he can’t go into any buildings, so he’s always waiting outside. sometimes he hangs out by the classroom window and watches lessons LMAO. 

penelope: if you look poor, she’ll scoff at you, if you look rich, she’ll wink at you. she may also try to steal your shit, rich or poor. her luck with stealing comes and goes, sometimes it’s a smooth steal, most of the time she gets caught. she always tries tho.

13. what’s a weird headcanon you have for each of your muses?

betty: idk if this is weird but betty has the ability to literally sleep anywhere. once she decides she’s comfortable and wants to sleep, she’s done. betty’s been found sleeping in a closet, under a desk in a student’s lounge, IN CLASS…

veronika: she knows like every word to a handful of like early 2000s songs. outkast’s “hey ya”, eminem’s “without me”, coolio’s “gangsta’s paradise”, black eyed peas “where is the love”. a lot of avril lavigne. she won’t sing it (unless you’re noelle) but she can recite and mouth along to the song

makaria: she had a cooking phase. but only she eats the food bc she doesn’t want to accidentally poison anybody or make them puke. she likes cooking food. considers herself a good food critic.

hershey: hated ice-cream for the longest time bc, as a kid, he couldn’t get through the ice-cream catapult range on the sugar rush track. full-on boycotted ice-cream from like ages 6-10. it was a sad time for hershey.

cestrum: i’ve talked about it before but his tapdancing! started when he found a pair of dancing shoes in wonderland. then he found an old gramophone and some records. he basically taught himself how to tap dance. he doesn’t do it so often now because there’s every chance someone’s going to catch him doing it.

aiwei: secretly tried all sorts of things to make himself taller. he’d do stretches. he’d hang upside down. the last straw was when he would hang by his arms off a tall beam, with weight attached to his feet. he can’t feel pain so he just added as many weights as possible, and one foot literally popped off the socket. there’s a scar there too.

otto: scared of open water. doesn’t like the idea of drowning. he frantically trained himself to be able to swim well (in a pool) but he’s still wary of going to the beach. doesn’t like flying on a plane over large bodies of water. just……..no open water.

illyria: she’s really really bad with makeup. all she had to go on for years was tia dalma’s intense eyeliner, smokey-eye look LMAO. she tried makeup for a while but got too lazy and is just bare-faced now (she loves moisturising though and buys all sorts of sea-themed facewashes and things).

kirsa: she’s really picky about food. she’s a little self-conscious about it so when u eat with her for the first time she just goes with whatever but once she’s comfortable it’s just gonna be so specific. “hi so i’d like the apple pie for dessert with the ice-cream on the side, and if it’s home-baked pie then i’d like it heated but if it’s not then leave the ice-cream and i’ll have whipped cream instead. otherwise, i’d still like the ice-cream on the side – and for the salad, can i also have the dressing on the side please?” this is shamelessly taken from ‘when harry met sally’ but EVERYTHING IS ON THE SIDE

dignan: he’s superstitious especially about competitions. the first baseball game he won, he ate ice-cream beforehand so like now every time he has to eat ice-cream before a game. different rule for mathletes though, whenever they have a competition, he has to do like ten sit-ups. he will do those sit-ups anywhere, but he has to get them done. doesn’t walk under ladders. doesn’t open umbrellas indoors.

helen: she’s really not looking to love anyone right now, but she ends up liking so many people and she kinda loves that physical side of the relationship a lot ??? she also loves showing off and that’s not really a quirky headcanon but like she loves showing off

penelope: idk yet but i think maybe she once tried singing to the birds on the isle (back when her grandmother was still like ‘yes penny sing!!’) and honestly like the birds either died or tried to attack her, she probably has a fear of birds now because of that. 

28. can you sort your muses from weakest to strongest?

PHYSICAL STRENGTH-ABILITY WISE

aiwei: is a pacifist but also just like no upper-arm strength and literally you could rip his arms off with the right amount of force so no

cestrum: could literally knock him over with a strong wind but at least he’s a little more solid than aiwei. also a pacifist. also has a little trauma when it comes to physical harm so he just freezes and let’s things happen to him.

kirsa: has no idea how to defend herself and literally just runs or something and she’s not even a fast runner. she can scream tho and she panic-fights so she has every chance to scratch someone’s eyes out.

hershey: also panic-fights. would rather run (or drive away) than fight. if he had a car in his disposal he would still choose to just drive away with as little injury to anyone as possible. not very powerful in terms of physical fights; he gets beat up a lot.

veronika: knows how to avoid fights. calm in a brawl. uses her environment to her advantage (ie. broken glass, distractions). looks to leave fights rather than end them.

dignan: only more powerful than veronika physically but strategically he’s a mess. impulsive fighter. will throw himself into anything. upper-arm strength because of recent training and exercise; good aim, has amazing aim. 

illyria: calm, strategic, trained fighter. but only good with weapons, not very good with hand-to-hand combat (would rather not touch anyone at all). different scenario if she was in the water, but by herself she’s at this stage of the scale.

otto: brute strength. brawls. boxing. clenched fists and can take a hit and doesn’t stop hitting until the other person gives up. also swordsmanship. 

helen: the most powerful out of all my non-powered people. she’s got the strength, the strategy, the experience and the training. actual warrior princess helen rider. can also do everything in heels and on horseback. can probably do motorcycle stunts.

betty: she has so much untapped potential; the ursula event was only like a small dose of what she could do if she decided to use her powers that way. could end a fight before it even started.

makaria: ofc a goddess of death would be like the most powerful. fire (hellfire) powers, and shadow manipulation and basic magic and teleportation and also she doesn’t know it yet/hasn’t had a chance but she can manipulate the dead that are devoted to hades. also she’s gonna get her immortality one of these days so Full God Mak Aidoneus™

[debbimacktoo]

A Detailed Analysis Of Realistic Strategies Of Iso Xp Grass Fed Whey

Useful Guidelines For Fundamental Issues For Whey Protein New Zealand Canada

Consider your dietary requirements and training goal Your dietary needs will play a big part in what protein is the best fit for you. "Firstly, it's important to identify your training goal and need for protein as a supplement in the first place. Different goals will call for different ingredient requirements," Clark said. "Also, if you suffer from any food allergies or intolerance, that will determine what protein powder you should choose, as well." If you don't have any food intolerances, Dennaoui recommends a "multidimensional" protein powder. "However, if that is not the case, an economical way to go about choosing a protein powder would be to look for a multidimensional brand that contains fast and slow digesting proteins. That way you keep your blood sugar levels stable and avoid binge eating, increase nutrient absorption from food and avoid unnecessary storage of fat." Your diet should be the first place to get protein, while powders should always supplement. 2. Take time to research the brand and product When choosing a particular brand, it's important to take the time to compare ingredients, nutrition information and claims, as well as research the credibility of the company and to not let hype influence your decision. "It's also important to recognise that supplement manufacturers are notorious for hyping up their products with unrealistic claims and promises," Clark said. "Don't buy into the hype of major companies that price their product well above what you really need to pay because you can probably gain the same benefits from a cheaper protein powder." In Clark's opinion, the quality of the protein supplement is more important than the total quantity you consume. When in doubt, think of the old saying 'you get what you pay for'. "Always look at the label when deciding on a protein powder and make sure it doesn't contain any more than 7-10 ingredients and try and find a powder with more natural ingredients," Clark told HuffPost Australia.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/12/your-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-the-best-protein-powder_a_21469917/

Making The Most Of Fitness: Suggestions For An Optimal Fitness Lifestyle

While millions of people are interested in starting a fitness program, few are sure how or where to begin. This article contains some great tips and tricks to get you started without feeling discouraged. Follow what you learned from reading this article if success is your number one priority. Stay motivated about fitness by using a variety of fitness classes. Rotating among different types of exercises can give you the opportunity to find several that you love and keep you going back for more. You have options ranging from dancing to spinning to yoga. If you really want to get creative you could try a kickboxing class. Remember you only have to try each class once, and you'll be losing weight along the way. Endless crunches are not a way for you to obtain a six pack. You aren't going to lose tummy fat with abdominal exercise, but you can make your muscles stronger. If you desire to have washboard abs, you need to improve your diet and also take part in cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. You need to have good footwear when you are working out. Wearing the right kind of shoes is key to getting the most out of your workouts. In addition, it will make you feel uncomfortable when you're done, which can make you not want to exercise as much. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in during workouts. Do not give in to peer pressure and wear fancy clothes to the gym. Buy some clothes you feel good about working out in. Wearing comfortable clothes keeps your mind focused on fitness. As a way to strengthen the muscles in your forearms, try an excellent tip from people who play racquet sports. Start by placing an open newspaper on the floor or on a table. Take your dominant hand, and just crumple up the paper four about 30 seconds. Repeat the crumpling exercise twice then switch hands, finally switch back to your dominant hand for two more repetitions. Flex your glutes when you lift weights above your head. This gives your butt a great workout, while also exposing you to less of an injury risk due to your body being in a better position. Holding this position keeps your spine more stable. Wear exercise shoes that fit. Your feet tend to swell a little during the day, so you should shop at night for shoes; your feet will be a little larger than normal. The toe-box of the shoe should allow one half inch of wiggle room for all of your toes. Make sure you have some toe movement. Improve your volleyball game by working on your contact skills. You can play foosball to achieve this. When you are playing foosball, you need to have excellent hand-eye coordination, and that is a great skill for a volleyball player to have. The same skills that you perfect to win at foosball can also help you play a better game in volleyball. You must plan ahead if you want to see results. Take the concepts in this piece to craft a fitness plan of your own. Not knowing where to begin is no longer an excuse. This information will get you started.

Some Simple Guidelines For Practical Tactics For Canada

Gallery: Canada’s spring classic, Paris to Ancaster 2018 Nearly 2,500 participants roll-out for a beautiful day of spring riding across farm tracks, gravel and recreational trails. April 30th, 2018 by Canadian Cycling Magazine | Posted in Rides+Events Gunnary Holmgren, 19, won his third straigth P2A title. Riders dig deep to make it to the top after 70 grueling kilomters. Riders use an assortment of bikes for the 40 and 70 km rides. 10-time British cyclocross champion Helen Wyman was second. The winner of the fat bike category, Jeff Shikaze. The finish line was packed with spectators on hand to cheer on friends and family on a beautiful spring day. Covered in mud, riders made their way to the finish line in Ancaster. The 25th edition of Paris to Ancaster was raced on a beautiful spring day. With sunny skies and mild temperatures, participants raced across farm tracks, recreational trails and gravel. Through thick mud and on fast pavement, nearly 2,500 participants enjoyed a fun day on the bike. An early mishap at the startline as wave 4 rolled out saw the barrier come down on the road but thankfully no riders were injured. The ride finishes with a steep run into the line.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/ridesevents/gallery-canadas-spring-classic-paris-to-ancaster-2018/

Great Advice About Vitamins And Minerals That Anyone Can Easily Follow

How do you feel today? Do you have as much energy as you used to? Are you able to get out of bed easily? Do you feel like you are in shape? If you are feeling lackadaisical, vitamins may be the best solution for you. This article will show you more on this fascinating topic. If you want the most from your workout and the body you desire, remember to take your vitamins. Your body needs appropriate nutrition to both recover from workouts but also fire up the metabolism you need to shed pounds and build lean tissue. To promote good bone health, it is important to take calcium. If you wish to have your body more ready to absorb the calcium, you need to have enough vitamin D in your system. You can get it in a lot of ways, including multivitamins, other foods, and even a little sun time. These all improve your body's ability to absorb calcium. When taking a supplement that lists fat as an ingredient, take it with food. Vitamins E, K and A are vitamins that do not absorb into the body without the help of food. These fat soluble vitamins need fat to be properly absorbed. Iron is an essential nutrient to build red blood cells. These red blood cells deliver oxygen through your system. Women need more iron than men do, and many women's supplements are designed with this in mind. Iron deficiency often causes exhaustion and breathing problems. To get more B2 vitamin into one's diet, eat foods like diary and bananas. A deficiency will reduce the quality of your skin texture. It has been said that B2 can help to ward of anemia and some types of cancer. When it comes to our diet, we don't always know how to get healthy foods without breaking the bank. Vitamins and minerals taken regularly can help your body work the way it's supposed to in order to better burn the junk food you consume to stay healthier. Supplements are very important to keep your vitamin and mineral intake at the proper levels. Most store-bought food is over processed, which causes the nutrients to deplete. Taking a natural multivitamin is one way to make sure you're getting essential nutrients. If you are past the menopause stage in life, avoid taking prenatal vitamins. Some women take these vitamins when not pregnant for their positive effect on hair and nails. This is generally a good idea, but often means too much iron for women that have already reached menopause. Take several children gummies if you are older. Children's supplements contain a lower dose of vitamins, and more than one will typically be needed for an adult. However, be careful that you do not take too many, as that can also be bad. It's true that your body requires fruits and veggies for their nutrients; however, know that fresh products are much better than those that are canned. A mineral supplement is something that you will want to add as well. Visit your doctor to learn if you have deficiencies. Deficiencies are the first thing you need to target with supplementation, so it's good to know just which ones you need first. In today's difficult economic times we often neglect our bodies by eating from the dollar menu at our favorite fast food restaurant depriving it of the vitamin and minerals we require. Grab a few bottles of primary vitamins to ensure that you are getting what you need to fight off colds and allow the body to convert fat to Whey Protein energy. No matter how you are feeling right now, tomorrow is always a new day. You just have to figure out how to utilize the vitamins and minerals to make sure that occurs. You should start right now because the sooner you begin, the sooner you will feel better.

[coups-critiques]

A Detailed Analysis Of Realistic Strategies Of Iso Xp Grass Fed Whey

Useful Guidelines For Fundamental Issues For Whey Protein New Zealand Canada

Consider your dietary requirements and training goal Your dietary needs will play a big part in what protein is the best fit for you. "Firstly, it's important to identify your training goal and need for protein as a supplement in the first place. Different goals will call for different ingredient requirements," Clark said. "Also, if you suffer from any food allergies or intolerance, that will determine what protein powder you should choose, as well." If you don't have any food intolerances, Dennaoui recommends a "multidimensional" protein powder. "However, if that is not the case, an economical way to go about choosing a protein powder would be to look for a multidimensional brand that contains fast and slow digesting proteins. That way you keep your blood sugar levels stable and avoid binge eating, increase nutrient absorption from food and avoid unnecessary storage of fat." Your diet should be the first place to get protein, while powders should always supplement. 2. Take time to research the brand and product When choosing a particular brand, it's important to take the time to compare ingredients, nutrition information and claims, as well as research the credibility of the company and to not let hype influence your decision. "It's also important to recognise that supplement manufacturers are notorious for hyping up their products with unrealistic claims and promises," Clark said. "Don't buy into the hype of major companies that price their product well above what you really need to pay because you can probably gain the same benefits from a cheaper protein powder." In Clark's opinion, the quality of the protein supplement is more important than the total quantity you consume. When in doubt, think of the old saying 'you get what you pay for'. "Always look at the label when deciding on a protein powder and make sure it doesn't contain any more than 7-10 ingredients and try and find a powder with more natural ingredients," Clark told HuffPost Australia.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/12/your-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-the-best-protein-powder_a_21469917/

Making The Most Of Fitness: Suggestions For An Optimal Fitness Lifestyle

While millions of people are interested in starting a fitness program, few are sure how or where to begin. This article contains some great tips and tricks to get you started without feeling discouraged. Follow what you learned from reading this article if success is your number one priority. Stay motivated about fitness by using a variety of fitness classes. Rotating among different types of exercises can give you the opportunity to find several that you love and keep you going back for more. You have options ranging from dancing to spinning to yoga. If you really want to get creative you could try a kickboxing class. Remember you only have to try each class once, and you'll be losing weight along the way. Endless crunches are not a way for you to obtain a six pack. You aren't going to lose tummy fat with abdominal exercise, but you can make your muscles stronger. If you desire to have washboard abs, you need to improve your diet and also take part in cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. You need to have good footwear when you are working out. Wearing the right kind of shoes is key to getting the most out of your workouts. In addition, it will make you feel uncomfortable when you're done, which can make you not want to exercise as much. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in during workouts. Do not give in to peer pressure and wear fancy clothes to the gym. Buy some clothes you feel good about working out in. Wearing comfortable clothes keeps your mind focused on fitness. As a way to strengthen the muscles in your forearms, try an excellent tip from people who play racquet sports. Start by placing an open newspaper on the floor or on a table. Take your dominant hand, and just crumple up the paper four about 30 seconds. Repeat the crumpling exercise twice then switch hands, finally switch back to your dominant hand for two more repetitions. Flex your glutes when you lift weights above your head. This gives your butt a great workout, while also exposing you to less of an injury risk due to your body being in a better position. Holding this position keeps your spine more stable. Wear exercise shoes that fit. Your feet tend to swell a little during the day, so you should shop at night for shoes; your feet will be a little larger than normal. The toe-box of the shoe should allow one half inch of wiggle room for all of your toes. Make sure you have some toe movement. Improve your volleyball game by working on your contact skills. You can play foosball to achieve this. When you are playing foosball, you need to have excellent hand-eye coordination, and that is a great skill for a volleyball player to have. The same skills that you perfect to win at foosball can also help you play a better game in volleyball. You must plan ahead if you want to see results. Take the concepts in this piece to craft a fitness plan of your own. Not knowing where to begin is no longer an excuse. This information will get you started.

Some Simple Guidelines For Practical Tactics For Canada

Gallery: Canada’s spring classic, Paris to Ancaster 2018 Nearly 2,500 participants roll-out for a beautiful day of spring riding across farm tracks, gravel and recreational trails. April 30th, 2018 by Canadian Cycling Magazine | Posted in Rides+Events Gunnary Holmgren, 19, won his third straigth P2A title. Riders dig deep to make it to the top after 70 grueling kilomters. Riders use an assortment of bikes for the 40 and 70 km rides. 10-time British cyclocross champion Helen Wyman was second. The winner of the fat bike category, Jeff Shikaze. The finish line was packed with spectators on hand to cheer on friends and family on a beautiful spring day. Covered in mud, riders made their way to the finish line in Ancaster. The 25th edition of Paris to Ancaster was raced on a beautiful spring day. With sunny skies and mild temperatures, participants raced across farm tracks, recreational trails and gravel. Through thick mud and on fast pavement, nearly 2,500 participants enjoyed a fun day on the bike. An early mishap at the startline as wave 4 rolled out saw the barrier come down on the road but thankfully no riders were injured. The ride finishes with a steep run into the line.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/ridesevents/gallery-canadas-spring-classic-paris-to-ancaster-2018/

Great Advice About Vitamins And Minerals That Anyone Can Easily Follow

How do you feel today? Do you have as much energy as you used to? Are you able to get out of bed easily? Do you feel like you are in shape? If you are feeling lackadaisical, vitamins may be the best solution for you. This article will show you more on this fascinating topic. If you want the most from your workout and the body you desire, remember to take your vitamins. Your body needs appropriate nutrition to both recover from workouts but also fire up the metabolism you need to shed pounds and build lean tissue. To promote good bone health, it is important to take calcium. If you wish to have your body more ready to absorb the calcium, you need to have enough vitamin D in your system. You can get it in a lot of ways, including multivitamins, other foods, and even a little sun time. These all improve your body's ability to absorb calcium. When taking a supplement that lists fat as an ingredient, take it with food. Vitamins E, K and A are vitamins that do not absorb into the body without the help of food. These fat soluble vitamins need fat to be properly absorbed. Iron is an essential nutrient to build red blood cells. These red blood cells deliver oxygen through your system. Women need more iron than men do, and many women's supplements are designed with this in mind. Iron deficiency often causes exhaustion and breathing problems. To get more B2 vitamin into one's diet, eat foods like diary and bananas. A deficiency will reduce the quality of your skin texture. It has been said that B2 can help to ward of anemia and some types of cancer. When it comes to our diet, we don't always know how to get healthy foods without breaking the bank. Vitamins and minerals taken regularly can help your body work the way it's supposed to in order to better burn the junk food you consume to stay healthier. Supplements are very important to keep your vitamin and mineral intake at the proper levels. Most store-bought food is over processed, which causes the nutrients to deplete. Taking a natural multivitamin is one way to make sure you're getting essential nutrients. If you are past the menopause stage in life, avoid taking prenatal vitamins. Some women take these vitamins when not pregnant for their positive effect on hair and nails. This is generally a good idea, but often means too much iron for women that have already reached menopause. Take several children gummies if you are older. Children's supplements contain a lower dose of vitamins, and more than one will typically be needed for an adult. However, be careful that you do not take too many, as that can also be bad. It's true that your body requires fruits and veggies for their nutrients; however, know that fresh products are much better than those that are canned. A mineral supplement is something that you will want to add as well. Visit your doctor to learn if you have deficiencies. Deficiencies are the first thing you need to target with supplementation, so it's good to know just which ones you need first. In today's difficult economic times we often neglect our bodies by eating from the dollar menu at our favorite fast food restaurant depriving it of the vitamin and minerals we require. Grab a few bottles of primary vitamins to ensure that you are getting what you need to fight off colds and allow the body to convert fat to Whey Protein energy. No matter how you are feeling right now, tomorrow is always a new day. You just have to figure out how to utilize the vitamins and minerals to make sure that occurs. You should start right now because the sooner you begin, the sooner you will feel better.

[nofomoartworld]

Hyperallergic: Philadelphia’s Monument Lab Asks, “What’s Right for Public Space?”

Michelle Angela Ortiz, “Sequimos Caminando (We Keep Walking)” (photo by Steve Weinik for Mural Arts)

Five years ago, Philadelphia curators Paul Farber and Ken Lum launched a speculative project called Monument Lab to ask Philadelphia artists and residents a complex, yet necessary, question: What is an appropriate monument for the current city of Philadelphia? In 2015 the group invited the public to City Hall square, where a makeshift classroom, designed by the late Terry Adkins, functioned both as a monument to Philadelphia schools and as a creative space to consider this question. This autumn Monument Lab undertook its fullest realization yet with a new urgency, as the topic of monuments became a lightning rod for controversy and scrutiny post-Charlottesville. “This [conversation] started before the recent spike in monument removals, though has now evolved in important ways,” Farber said. “We have a hunger to learn about our related goal of unearthing the next generation of monuments in ways that honor social justice, solidarity, and alternative uses of the past.” Now partnered with Mural Arts — arguably Philly’s most powerful engine for public art — the project has installed ten “prototype monuments” across the city from September 16 to November 19, each created by an artist or artist team seeking to answer this central question.

Monument Lab’s roster of artists on this project changed significantly after it was announced in February 2017; among the dropouts were Ai Wei-Wei and acclaimed Philadelphia photographer Zoe Strauss. Despite this, the roll-out of Monument Lab earlier this month was met with excitement and curiosity about the ambitious project. The majority of participating artists are based in Philadelphia, and feature a range of media and approach, from video artist Marisa Williamson to the sculptors of RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residence). All of the prototype monuments explore and challenge the concepts of remembrance and paying homage, focusing on different elements of what Philadelphia is about. “Whether in memory or in future-minded iterations,” Farber explains, “these monuments will carry significance if they can influence the ways we think about monuments in this city: as statements of power, presence, belonging, and in need of renewal.”

So far, the piece that has garnered the most media attention is Hank Willis Thomas’s “All Power to All People,” an eight-foot-tall gleaming black Afro pick with a clenched fist for a handle. “Power” is installed in provocatively close proximity to an existing statue of controversial former mayor and police commissioner of Philadelphia Frank Rizzo. In recent months there have been calls for the Rizzo statue’s removal, due to his persecution of Philly’s African American community. Acts of vandalism against the statue event prompted the Philadelphia Police Department to stand guard over it for several days. This has imbued Thomas’s piece with an additional level of urgency. (City government is currently reviewing proposals to remove the Rizzo statue). Although the location for “Power” was chosen a year ago, and with no explicit consideration of the Rizzo statue (or direct knowledge of the controversy that currently surrounds it), the piece openly engages a consistent and prevalent misunderstanding of political movements that support black voices and identity. Thomas addressed this misperception at a talk for Monument Lab’s launch in the City Hall courtyard: “This idea sometimes that black power is supposed to be a negation of other people’s power – rather than an elevation of all of us to an equal level — is forgotten about the Black Panther movement.” The physicality of “Power” is inviting and engaging, with its shimmering surface and spindly comb teeth — the total opposite of Rizzo’s domineering bulk descending the stairs.

Artist Hank Willis Thomas with his monument, “Power to All People” (photo by Steve Weinik for Mural Arts)

Although not a direct call to action, Karyn Olivier’s “The Battle is Joined” approaches the question of what might be done with existing monuments to update their contemporary resonance. Olivier turns “The Battle of Germantown,” a monolithic rectangular monument in Vernon Park commemorating the 1777 conflict, into a dynamic, mysterious physical space that pulls its surroundings into a new, amalgamated monument to the present moment. Surrounded by a full-scale box made of mirrored Plexiglas, the original monument is turned into a shimmering, reflective void. The monument is almost invisible from some angles, mirroring both a dense green canopy of leaves and a bustling but economically depressed strip of Germantown Avenue bordering the park. Altering the face of this often-overlooked monument to early American history to make it an inclusive reflection of the present community has particular resonance for Olivier, who lives in Germantown and has spent a lot of time discussing the monument with her neighbors. Olivier paraphrased a comment she heard from one during an artist talk at University of the Arts: “If the city is willing to spend this money on this park and this neighborhood, maybe they realize we’re still here, maybe they’re seeing us.”

Karyn Olivier, “The Battle is Joined” (photo by Karyn Olivier for Hyperallergic)

Many of the monuments pay tribute to elements of Philadelphia that are often forgotten, yet remain foundational to its development as a city. In Society Hill’s Washington Square, Kaitlin Pomerantz’s “On the Threshold (Salvaged Stoops)” calls attention to the rapidly changing landscape of the city by recreating a somewhat innocuous — yet much beloved — ubiquitous piece of architecture: the front step. Pomerantz temporarily replaces a row of park benches with stoops of various shapes and sizes, each rebuilt using materials from demolished buildings salvaged from the waste stream. While the project is immediately enticing (“Everybody knows what to do with a stoop,” Pomerantz said of park-goers who unquestioningly accepted their presence by sitting on them as soon as they were installed) it tackles a major issue for this old city: the protection of historical buildings and sites in the face of rapid development. The installation of heavy slabs of rock also serves as a reflection on the original role of Washington Square, as a potter’s field for the local African-American community.  By pulling what would be lost elements of architecture — pieces of marble, brick, and brownstone — from salvage yards, and working with a local bricklayers’ union to re-form the stoops, Pomerantz holistically embraces the form, function, and creation of monument, while simultaneously paying homage to a beloved element of architecture and symbol of urban community.

Kaitlin Pomerantz, “On tbe Threshold” (photo by Kaitlin Pomerantz for Hyperallergic)

Some of the prototype monuments are ephemeral, composed of light and sound. An animation by Michelle Angela Ortiz honoring mothers incarcerated at Berks Detention Center, entitled “Seguimos Caminando (We Keep Walking),” is projected bi-weekly onto the face of City Hall. Some are interactive, like Kara Crombie’s “Sample Philly,” a sound bank of samples from Philadelphia musicians that is also a programmable loop station where visitors can make their own songs. But all of them challenge our fundamental understanding of monuments and public art, and the very function of a “monument.” Visiting the sites of installation is as much about seeing the physical work as people-watching; the pieces transform the landscape of the parks they inhabit, and locals investigate these new objects with curiosity and interest. Sharon Hayes’s “If They Should Ask,” a cluster of empty platforms intended to serve as vacant reminders of the lack of representation of notable Philadelphia women in the city’s roster of monuments, often hosts children jumping from one plinth to the other. In memorializing absence and vacancy, the monument (intentionally or otherwise) invites living Philadelphians to fill the void. In the City Hall courtyard, Mel Chin’s “Two Me” proposes this idea more literally: the viewer is directly invited to become the statue atop one of two matching plinths, following a winding ramp to arrive at the top of one of the pedestals, each labeled “Me.”

Mel Chin’s “Two Me,” with City Council members Mark Squilla and Helen Gym (photo by Samantha Mitchell for Hyperallergic)

In addition to the prototype monuments, Monument Lab has established mobile Monument Lab hubs that invite the public to submit proposals for monuments. This collection of data streams to an installation at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (where visitors can see it accumulate live in a viewing room) and will be analyzed in a “final report” that Monument Lab will present in 2018. “When we rush to ‘solve’ monumental dilemmas we cut out the creative process,” Farber explained, “as well as meaningful modes of remediation.” He sees this multi-phase approach as an important element of the project’s ultimate goal: “to unearth the next generation of monuments in this city.”

But even as Monument Lab examines public art, new permanent monuments are going up that reflect changing views on what deserves to be memorialized. On September 26, Philadelphia unveiled a permanent statue of civil rights activist Octavius Catto — the first monument dedicated to an African American on public land in Philadelphia. Catto fought for and won the desegregation of Philadelphia’s horse-drawn trolley cars in 1869, and was murdered on his way to vote on election day two years later. A sculpture of Catto, mid-stride with arms outstretched, now occupies the southwest corner of City Hall. While monuments everywhere are currently under a critical gaze, their future — at least in Philadelphia — looks more inclusive. “We get a sense of the hierarchies of history,” Farber said. “In this city, there are statues that punctuate so many of our public spaces. When you look closer you can see the gaps.”

  The Monument Lab project is on view through November 19. More info here.

The post Philadelphia’s Monument Lab Asks, “What’s Right for Public Space?” appeared first on Hyperallergic.

from Hyperallergic http://ift.tt/2gqcL6e via IFTTT

[fasterthanyouvidia-blog]

Fighting or Training || Self Para

“Faction House. 7pm. Don’t be late.”

Vidia looked at the small card that was delivered during dinner. She knew who is was from. Or at least she thought she did. Trina was the only member she didn’t see for training, with the exception of Helen’s attempt at getting Vidia to be friends with everyone.

****

As Vidia was blindfolded and brought to the faction house, she tried to think of the different possibilities of what Trina had to teach. What could the bean pole of a woman have to offer petite little Vidia Ligeiro? More tips on how to be a bitter bitch? Maybe she'll try to get Vidia to quit. If that were to happen, Trina was in for a rude awakening. Vidia was a competitor. She wasn't the type to run away because something was too demanding or challenging.

The still air of the Faction house was unique and Vidia instantly knew she was there. The men who escorted her took the blindfold off and led her the rest of the way to a training area she had never seen before.

“We're working on flight combat today,” Trina held out a broom for Vidia as she spoke. “As you learned from Claire, sometimes we're called into situations to help with disagreements. Sometimes we need to fight. Today, I'll assess your skill level then we will work on where your weak points are. I have a feeling there will be many.”

Vidia’s grip on the broom handle tightened as she fought the urge to beat Trina with it, “you would be very surprised what I can do on a broom.” And with one, she thought to herself while recalling the memory of the time she used her broom to defend herself in a fight.

“Whatever,” Trina rolled her eyes and motioned for Vidia to follow then took off into the air. “Keep up.”

Vidia had to give it to Trina. The girl was fast and stealthy for someone so tall. Vidia knew from experience, the taller the flyer the more work it took to stay streamline with the broom. There were the added wind resistance and the extra weight in comparison to the shorter fast flyers. Although, Vidia wouldn’t attribute her height to why she was such a good flyer. It did help though.

Trina dipped and dodged around pillars of the darkened room. Any light that had emitted from the far reaches of the room was extinguished by Trina as she flew by until the room was so dark, Vidia couldn’t see her own hands around the broomstick. She stopped and hovered. Trina wasn’t as quiet as she thought she was. Maybe she needed to do training with Rodney that didn’t involve getting horizontal.

Vidia heard the other witch as she flew over head. She also caught a whiff of the floral perfume she wore. Vidia knew it was Trina because the last time she smelled it, Vidia noted how disgusting it was. It reminded her of old lady church perfume. No one under the age of sixty-five should even own it, let alone wear it.

A gust of cool air swayed Vidia’s ponytail causing her head to snap toward where it came from. As she did, Trina clipped the front of her broom and launched Vidia forward. Her fingers clambered at the stick as her legs held on for dear life. The tail tumbled over a few times and when it stopped, Vidia’s thighs were clutched onto the broom as the rest of her dangled in midair. “Have to do better than that to get me off the broom. Six years of quidditch and you don’t think someone’s tried that move?” Vidia shouted into the void as she righted herself.

It was silent for a few seconds. “I’ll have to up the ante then, Miss Ligeiro,” Trina chuckled as she said her name. Then more radio silence.

“You must think you’re pretty cool. You get to beat someone up while in the dark. Why don’t you put the lights on? Then we can really have a good time.” Vidia fell silent and waited to hear Trina’s movements. Then a flash of light came flying toward Vidia and if she didn’t dip out of the way, it would’ve hit her. “I didn’t know we were allowed to play with wands? You’ve been holding out on me, Trina.” Vidia slipped her wand from its hiding place and held it at the ready. “Have I ever mentioned I’m in the dueling club at school?”

No answer.

“Well, in case I haven’t now you know,” Vidia moved slowly and silently. She didn’t want to crash into anything to give away her location.

A rush of air coursed through the room. A dim light emitted from the distance and a flash went through it. Vidia raced to it and came to a door. As she hovered in the doorway she could see Trina floating as rain pounded down. Vidia could fly in just about any condition. However, rain was a bit of a struggle. Rain made brooms slippery and that made it hard to hold onto. It wasn't impossible but it required a bit more skills than any other flying condition.

“Scared?” Trina shouted and Vidia took it as a challenge. She wasn't about to let Trina think she was better than her.

Trina jetted forward as Vidia was drenched from the downpour. Vidia looked around to see where they had gone. All she could see was gray. What was the room? Were they even inside anymore?

“Come on, Vidia,” Trina called from the gray emptiness. She was in for it as Vidia dipped low. She wanted to see how far down the place went and when her toe skimmed the bottom she steadied herself and kept her eyes up to find Trina.

“Vidia?” Trina called, “I see your training with Rodney was fruitful.” Vidia went slowly as the voice got closer and closer. She learned from Rodney that sometimes slower was better.

Vidia saw something break through the muted tone of the room. It was a foot. Better yet, it was Trina’s foot. Vidia reached up and yanked the large paddle and watched as she dropped from the sky. Vidia was about to make a smartass comment when Trina yanked her from the broom by the neck.

Trina was tall so she had that advantage over Vidia but Vidia was used to fighting people taller than her. Her feet dangled off the ground as she felt Trina move backward away from the brooms. Vidia's head was getting foggy but she needed to think of what to do. If she was at the gym and in a controlled environment she would have people egging her on and shouting potential moves. She tried to focus on if they were there. What would they be yelling?

Vidia’s heels slipped along the slickness of Trina's legs. The long stems seemed to go on forever but Vidia was able to feel the knobs she had for knees. Vidia elbowed Trina in the side causing the taller girl to flinch backward. The split second gave Vidia a surface to plant her feet and use Trina’s own thighs as a launching pad to flip the girl over.

Trina recognized what Vidia was doing and let the smaller girl go. Vidia flipped and the tips of her toes skimmed the ground. Luckily, Vidia rocked back and her feet planted inside a deep puddle. She jumped around to face Trina as the sound of sloshing came quickly toward her. Vidia didn't have to duck low to catch Trina at her center of gravity and toss her to the ground. Truthfully, the fight would've been harder if Trina was closer to her height. Her experience lied more with the taller opponents than the shorter.

Vidia and Trina rolled around on the ground in a mess of grunts and flying limbs. Trina thought she had Vidia pinned but Vidia's tiny legs pulled up to her chest and sprang outward to launch the string bean through the rainy room. Water sprayed outward as Trina made contact with the ground. Foul words escaped her lips as she threw a mini tantrum, sending more water outward.

Vidia scrambled to her feet and took heavy breaths, “Had. Enough. Yet?”

“Go! We're done!” Trina shouted and the rain stopped. Vidia strode through the water with a huge grin on her face. She might not have knocked out Trina but she forfeited. On those terms, Vidia won.

[iheartsurveys]

116

Which is harder - walking in the snow or sand? Both suck...I guess it depends on how much snow there is, like if it's just a little it's fine but a couple of inches can get tricky and then I'd say that's more difficult than sand. Sand sucks when it's hot af or you're walking uphill Do you like sour candy? I only like sour patch kids and even then I'd choose something else over them most of the time If anyone, who did you sit with at lunch today? My dogs lol What is the last letter of your favorite song? Idk what my favorite song is...like it changes by the day Have you gotten any injuries lately? If so, what & how? Just my feet from falling down stairs Are you a clumsy person? Absolutely How about disorganized? No I like to be organized Have you ever thought about being a pirate? Nope If you text, who were the last three people you texted? Jordan, Helen & Zoe Does today’s date mean anything to you? No How are you currently feeling? I'm okay, my head kinda hurts Last male you talked to in person? Stepdad Have you ever had a sunburn? Yep quite a few times Do you use Firefox or Internet Explorer? Chrome Are you thinking about asking anyone out? Nope Pink lemonade or regular lemonade? Regular, or Arnold Palmer Chocolate or strawberry milk? Chocolate duhhhh Does it annoy you when people answer surveys with “idk”? No because I do What is the current time? 12:31 am Should you be doing something other than this? Not really When is the last time you did laundry? Wednesday What volume is the ringer on your phone? Low Have you ever won a contest on the radio? No What shirt did you wear to bed last night? A gray college shirt Where did you get that shirt? ...college Do you hear any music right now? Yes, listening to Ed's new album, so far so good. Currently listening to Happier Are you a fan of the band Gym Class Heroes? I was more back in the day when I saw them on tour with fall out boy Overall, how was your day today? Decent Silver or gold jewelry? Gold In one word, how would you describe your best friend? Awesome Is there a song that reminds you of your best friend? Probably a bunch honestly but recently first by Cold War kids Do you have an alarm clock? I use my phone What was the weather like today? Chilly Do you often write on yourself? No Is there writing on the shirt you are currently wearing? Yes Would you rather be cold or hot? Cold. Frosted flakes or frosted mini wheats? Ew neither Do mushrooms really add flavor to food? Not very into mushrooms What about onions? Yes I loveeeee onions Are you a fan of Thai food? I recently got into Thai and I'm quite the fan How about Indian food? Never had it Have you ever tried sushi? Twice and wasn't impressed What is the weirdest food you have eaten? Nothing too weird, like calamari is normal to people, and probably so is lamb... I'm not very adventurous but I'm expanding my horizons Do you know who LL Cool J is? Yes You have a pocket full of change - what do you do with it? Put it in my wallet Guitarists or lead singers? Lead singers. Or both maybe, just I've liked a lot of lead singers

[shortsweetandfree-blog]

The Best of Intentions

Once upon a time there was a woman. Not a Queen. Or a Princess. Or even a Lady. No, those titles were reserved for others and the woman was glad not to bear their burden. The woman lived in a town, with her husband and children, not far from the shore.

It was the beginning of a New Year and all around the Land, people were making resolutions.

I will go to the gym five times a week, she heard one proclaim.

I will give up drinking and smoking, another lied.

I will get a new job, a fancy car, a mansion and a holiday home for when things get tough, someone dreamed.

Not quite knowing what to promise for the year ahead, the woman visited a Wise One, who she knew would offer some sage advice.

Do not make promises you cannot keep, the Wise One warned. It will only lead to guilt and unhappiness. The Wise One went on to explain to the woman that rather than resolutions, it might be better to set out a list of intentions.

Whatever do you mean? the woman asked, unsure of the difference between a resolution and an intention but as always, she was keen to write herself a list.

Well, the Wise One explained, you could make a resolution to lose two stones by the Summer. Or, you could make an intention to live more healthily. The former sets you up for failure when you only lose one stone and the latter will make you change your habits in the long term, leading to all things peaceful and wondrous.

The woman looked down mournfully at her post-Christmas muffin top and couldn’t help but think that Wise Ones were supposed give help and support, rather than dole out weight-related shame.

It was theoretical, the Wise One added quickly and the woman was thankful for that, although ever so slightly more self-conscious than before. I was merely explaining that an intention comes from within and is about who we are and how we want to live our life. There is no external goal and so we cannot fail.

So I could intend to be less judgemental? The woman felt like she got it now and did feel rather guilty when she thought back to the last episode of Topsy and Tim she had endured. Deciding that Joy O’Dell’s endless patience with those two little shits must be because she is heavily medicated might have been a bit of an unfair presumption. Although Joy’s episode-long visit to Granny Molly could feasibly have been a cover-up for a stint in rehab…

Yes, confirmed the Wise One. I am sure that with time, you will reap the rewards of trying to understand things from someone else’s perspective and accept their words or actions. But you will have to work harder at not judging yourself. Do not berate yourself for feeling angry, frustrated or upset or for thinking you got it wrong. These are human emotions and they will pass. Go easy on yourself.

And I could intend to be more patient? The woman suggested and blushed as she remembered losing her shit completely the last time one of the children forgot that the sofa wasn’t a climbing frame and decided the vaulting over the furniture was far easier than walking around the bloody thing. Joy O’Dell would only have had to gently reminded her twintastic Topsy and twintabulous Tim it wasn’t a very good idea once, they’d have apologised to her and carried on writing their own birthday invitations or something. Bitch.

Yes, agreed the Wise One. Not only could you be patient with others but you should be more patient with yourself. When you don’t get everything done in one day, there will always be another. When things don’t work out quite as you imagined, consider that maybe life was meant to follow a different path and wait. Give yourself time and space.

So it’s more about me than other people? clarified the woman.

Sort of, went on the Wise One. When you find inner peace and kindness, you can pass it on to others.

Then I intend to take better care of myself too, the woman declared proudly. And in order to do that I will eat better, exercise regularly and sleep more. This muffin-topped body is the only one I’ve got and if I don’t look after it then no-one will. That’s obviously how Joy always looks so fucking fantastic.

Er, right, agreed the Wise One. Look at it this way, if you treat yourself like one of your children, you won’t go far wrong. With these intentions you will live a happier life this year and into the future.

The Wise One was certain that they had reached a moment of enlightenment with their discussion of intentions but the woman still looked a little bemused as she added one last question,

What if I still intend to have the occasional glass of wine?

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this #shortsweetandfree story. If you did, please like, favourite or share - your feedback means a lot. Visit www.helenbatemanauthor.com for more.

Helen Bateman

Writer of Short Stories, Tall Tales and Long To Do Lists